In the Shadow of the Mighty Mississippi

Greetings from Baton Rouge. After enjoying a few days in East Texas last week, the Louisiana State capital is my base of operations all this week.  My new job is certainly getting me around a bit, and it's been a delightful trip so far. I'm staying at a really nice hotel not far from the LSU campus, and we've enjoyed cool evenings down into the 40s, and highs in the 70s all week.

Though the week didn't start off too well, as I found myself in a deserted Baton Rouge airport going on for 10pm on Sunday night, missing my luggage, and none too happy that I had to go and meet clients the next morning and all I had to wear was the cargo shorts and ratty t-shirt I was standing in. I was busy trying to figure out if any clothes stores would still be open that time of night, but I've never been anything if not lucky, and of the 5 people who lost their luggage on our tiny flight I was the only one that exited the airport happily reunited with it. I just happened to talk to the guy who had pulled my bag off an earlier flight and remembered it.

Like I say, I've always been lucky.

And it was quite a sight to fly over the swollen Mississippi by twilight. It was supposed to crest early this morning, but I really haven't heard much talk of it around town.

And I've been good today - I actually visited the hotel fitness center and ran on the treadmill.  I'd been a bit wary of hotel treadmills since I maxed out the one in Denver and broke it, but this was an altogether more substantial beast.  So I did intervals, and managed to break out two 5:30 mile splits in a row, which is super fast for me.  Truth be told though, I get so bored on the treadmill I'd do anything to push it along a bit.

Still, I was proud enough that I treated myself to a nice big supper at a local steakhouse, and even indulged in the cheesecake for dessert.

It was wonderful, though I bet it more than cancelled out the treadmill.