Toronto, Canada

Dear Friends:

I can't believe that this is my first business trip of 2012 - and it's February already!  I'm definitely not on-track to match last year's number of flight miles, that's for sure ; )  I think my Heavenly Father created a situation at work to help me spend more time with family and in my calling as the Young Men's President for our local Church.  No matter what, it was strange to head back to the airport, and get back into that travel routine.

This time, my destination was Toronto, Canada.  My layover was in Houston, Texas...which is the exact opposite direction that I wanted to go ; )  However, this allowed me to take a direct flight to Toronto, without worrying about connections in Chicago, New York or Washington, D.C.

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is actually a nice airport...but the layout is insane.  It seems that every gate is miles away from where you're currently standing.  In many ways, it feels like the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport, but not nearly as bad.

I can tell you that the number of "carts" that are taking elderly or lazy passengers from one end to the other, is hands-down the largest I've ever seen at any airport.  You are constantly asked to "move out of the way" for yet another motorized eight-passenger cart, cruising down the hallway. I'm not a fan.

While walking (what felt like several miles) to my next gate, I came upon this piece of art:

The statue is called "Winds of Change" - it's a depiction of President George H. W. Bush, our 41st president. It's rather large - it felt like about 8 feet, as I stood next to it.  From the plaque attached to the sculpture, we learn that it was created in 1990 and "reflects the turbulent changing of the times." It shows President Bush walking into the wind.  He's carrying a book, symbolizing the importance he placed on education.  I like the artwork, but I also admire the man.

I studied George Bush all the way back in junior high school - when he was running against Ronald Reagan in the 1980 Republican primary race.  I have nothing but admiration for the work that he did before entering the White House.  He was a Navy pilot in WWII, member of the House of Representatives, Ambassador to the U.N., Ambassador to China and Director of the CIA!  His charity work, since leaving office, is also impressive.  I'm glad I found the statue.

The airport has really made an attempt to brighten things up.  I found some other pieces of art, located near the terminal railway:

I arrived in Toronto in the early afternoon...and was starving.  What's a guy to do?  If you can't find a Swiss Chalet near the office, you make do with Tim Horton's:

For those that haven't traveled in Canada, these are very popular - like Dunkin' Donuts in the Northeast.  They are big with the coffee-drinkers, but have delicious sandwiches as well.  Following a very quick lunch, I ran over to our office:

This is an old picture, as it's winter...you wouldn't see flowers like this right now...

I was there to give a presentation to the entire Graphics division of our business.  I think it went really well.  I had a chance to catch-up with peers that I hadn't seen in a while.  I used to travel to Toronto all the time, so it's a comfortable place to visit.

My stay was short, as I left the very next day.  In most of the Canadian airports, you pass through U.S. Customs there, rather than when you arrive.  The lines are usually really bad.  Especially on a Friday evening, when everyone is leaving town.  The line through security was particularly bad:

I don't think I'm supposed to take pictures in security...

Despite the setback, I made the flight, and returned home to see my family.  I arrived home at about 1am in the morning, to find this waiting for me:

How cool is that?!?! A special bouquet of sugar-free candy from my sweetheart.  It was a little early, because I'm back on-the-road next week.  I'm a lucky guy... ; )