Up early,
although not as early as hoped (some perceptual problem re "quarter of six" vs 6:45am),
nevertheless down the
freeway
in a reasonable
time
to head out
from
San Jose Mineta International Airport.
Transitioning from parking to
terminal,
running the gauntlet of security,
catching up on the
news,
there's a window seat adjacent to pleasant female company --
over the
Coast Ranges,
San Luis Reservoir, San Joaquin Valley,
the Sierras,
Tehachapi, Mojave (town, Desert, and National Park),
the Colorado River, the Wickenburg cut-off,
the Sonoran
Desert,
to
Phoenix.
Ridiculously quick transition, then the flight towards Philadelphia, wedged between friendly folks but large folks (tall window man, beautiful aisle woman (Bible opened to Zephaniah, somewhat in the spirit of Old Bull Lee's Tibetan Book of the Dead)... burley shaved-head guy reclining seat directly in front. When a standing passenger takes a handhold directly above, subway style, it's definitely time to get up and stretch the legs. At other intervals, finish Ptolemy's The Almagest and begin Nicolaus Copernicus's On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres, part of the Britannica Great Books, Volume 16 -- appropriate, given the presentation of movements originally from Suite ("Sol[ar]") two days from now. Less serendipitously, realize that the pdf work occurring aloft is finishing the Offertorium of Aerial Requiem, but, mercifully, touch down with no incidents.
Great to be back, staying with George and Bette, with late night local cuisine including several of the major Philadelphia food groups:
soft pretzels, Utz and Herrs chips, and Breyer's ice cream.
