I am an alien

4/23/12:  New York City

When I left the states 22 days ago, I was a naive 31 year old with little to know world view, checking days off the calendar in a Boston that felt very familiar to me.  As a 32 year old pilgrim returning to the shores of my birth to collect a proper visa...its clear how very different the States have become...or is it me?

Taxicabs take credit cards.  You can get food after 8PM on a Sunday.  People descend stairs in an orderly fashion...

Of course, some things don't change.  The cab drivers are still not American and the lobby of the Ace hotel is still packed with euro-hipsters smoking unfiltered cigarettes with girls that look too young to be there.

I am home for a few days getting a visa and I'll try to document the challenges of re-assimmiliating in the 3 days I'm here.  then I get the treat of a 2nd trans-atlantic flight in a week.

Travel notes:  Virgin Atlantic is the truth.  Great flight, tons of movies and tv shows on, red dressed stewardesses and a real pour when you order a drink.  Kudos, Richard.

I sat next to a gentleman who as a diplomat from Pakistan.  Great guy who packs his own whiskey for flights.  He gave me a ride into the city at 1AM in his minivan with blacked out windows and diplomatic plates.  What a country.

Note:  I"ll be having a few drinks at Spring Lounge Tuesday night at 7.