Sitting on a flight to Vegas with at least another 3 hours to go. Contemplating the absurdity of this trip. Flying clear across the country for a single meeting.

As I was going to airport, the cab driver told me that he was going to San Diego this coming weekend. It'd be his first time flying in over 10 years.

Sitting here on this flight, my 5th in 7 weeks (including 2 transatlantic trips), I'm actually a bit envious of him. He was so excited of going to Sand Diego .. he was going somewhere.

I've completely lost that sense of excitement. Travel has become a painful form of long-distance commuting. I'm wasting precious hours of my life waiting in airports, airplanes, hotels, conference rooms .. wasting time going nowhere.

I have to change this somehow.

- another note from my phone

We have begun our descent into Charlotte, NC. It's a bit bumpy, but nothing too exciting. In another 20 minutes we'll be on the ground. Then it'll be another 5 or so minutes until we reach the gate, and another 15 minutes to get off the plane.

It's a 15-minute walk to get to the E concourse, and then 35 minutes before boarding the next flight. This is business travel in a nutshell: waiting, walking, sitting, and waiting some more. This is long-distance commuting.

I used to think that travel — all forms thereof — was exciting, but that was a long time ago. Maybe it's because I'm not really going anywhere: it's meeting after meeting, late arrival at some hotel in some city, and quick ride back to the airport to catch the next flight somewhere else.

The sense of adventure is gone. How can I get it back?

- another note from my phone

At the airport again. This time waiting for a flight to Austin, TX, where I'll spend the whole week. It's yet another Sunday ruined due to travel and it's really starting to get to me.

The only reason for all these Sunday flights is that meetings are scheduled without any consideration for travel time by "locals" who only need to endure a mere 30-minute commute to get there.

Is it that they don't think it through? Is it that they don't care? Both? Neither? Who knows? Of course, it doesn't really matter, the end result is the same: I spend my Sunday evening at the airport while they spend it at home.

This must end — life is to short too waste it traveling to meetings.

- another note from my phone

I've been here countless times. Not in this particular store, but they're all the same. Located in some faux town square lined with the usual chain stores.

I have been here countless times with my daughters, but this is the first time I'm by myself since they moved. It's an involuntary trip down memory lane, and it's an uncomfortable reminder of what used to be.

My girls and I used to come here a lot. Cookies or cake for them, coffee for me. Reading princess stories to my little one — the only stories she ever wanted to hear, while the older one read her books.

I miss them so much.

- another note from my phone

It's still early this September morning. Summer is almost over. It's not warm anymore. The 'hood is waking up. People are going to work. It's quiet.

It's different here than in other parts of the city. Life here is different. Life here is unforgiving. Life here is "in your face." I'm the outsider. Have always been. Will always be.

Life here is different. It's very personal. Everybody knows everything about everybody. I'm the outsider, but I know my neighbors .. and they know me.

- a quick note from my phone

It's just after 7am on a Thursday morning in August. Today will be another hot and humid day.I'm looking forward to fall.

This fall will be unlike last fall, and the one before. This fall marks the beginning of a new life. This fall is my "spring".

- quick note from my phone

Friday. Mid-day. August. Sunny. Hot. Busy. Noisy. Crowded. Tourists. Cars. Busses. Trucks. People.

People walking. Running. Standing. Talking. Waiting for friends. Waiting to cross the street. Waiting for the bus.

Waiting for my bus in Chinatown on a Friday in August.

- quick note from my phone

Sitting here waiting for our take-out dinner. Watching people walk by outside. Watching people come inside. Watching people eating, laughing, drinking.

Watching people. So many different people. So many colors. So many languages.

So many people. All so different. All having dinner in Chinatown.

- quick note from my phone