Congratulations on the driving test, JP!
And I'm glad you survived that storm, Dad and H! Too bad about the power, but it does focus your mind on what kind of back-up plans you need to have the next time things go screwy. So far, I've bought that keychain flashlight and 2 wind-up radios: one at home and one at the office (the radios also have a flashlight built in...).

I haven't written much; we should all try to keep contributing to this blog, but it's hard when you don't have much new going on.

I think the Prez is staying in the hotel next to my office building:
- On Monday, three of the cross streets were blockaded with concrete barriers on the sidewalk and NYPD vehicles as gatekeepers restricting passage down the street. (The fourth street is a major artery that you couldn't block).
- We're very close to the U.N.
- Tonight, when I was leaving work at 6:15, the Secret Service wouldn't let us cross the street. After about 5 minutes, a motorcade went by with 3 to 4 black Lincoln Towncars (a few decoys, I guess) followed by 2 SUVs with armed folks inside, and a van with open sliding doors on each side and a fully armored and very well-armed gentleman leaning out each side. I guess if something happened to the convoy, these guys could run up to the 'subject' car in about 3 to 5 seconds, and with the heat they were packing, they could immediately clear any obstacles. A couple of NYPD cars in the rear, almost 10 vehicles in all.
Had to be the Prez.
Secret Service is looking younger every day, and I noticed they traded in their white plastic earpieces for clear ones, so it's hard to see the earpiece at all, unless you're pretty close up.

Aah, life in NYC!

C

- posted by Christoph Roggenkamp @ 9/23/2003 11:24:00 PM