Category: North America

Day 1

The day started off with my normal routine of having breakfast with the family before heading off to the Houston airport.  I took my trusty Honda CRV to the Parking Spot which has become a known destination to me.

The parking shuttle service took me to the C Terminal where I proceeded to check in my bag. I then went through TSA security leveraging the Clear service. I really don’t know if Clear is saving me much time versus PreTSA.   On this particular day PreTSA had a shorter wait time than Clear.  I suppose its always better to have a second option for any unforeseen circumstances.

After passing through security I headed to the United lounge and conducted my Tuesday morning one-on-one calls.  Upon completing my meetings I made my way over to Potbelly. I bought an Apple Walnut salad along with a bottle of water.  This is a healthy alternative to the other quick meals offered at this Terminal.  It also helps that the salad tastes pretty good.

After purchasing my lunch I boarded the plane and a couple of hours later arrived in Cincinnati.   I picked up my suitcase and went to get my car from National Car rental.   On this trip I scored an Audi SUV which was really nice to drive.   It almost tempted me to think about trading in my Honda CRV.   In the end I decided to stay true and loyal to my car back home.

As I was getting into the Audi I began to feel my stomach rumble.   I thought about a Gyro and searched for a place on the Yelp app.  I found a restaurant called Gyro on Main. This place is located in a very nice, historic looking neighborhood.   The street was full of stores, eateries, bars and other cool locales.  It seemed to be really laid back and the kind of place that would be bustling on a summer day.

The gentleman serving me at Gyro on Main was very nice but unfortunately his mother was in the hospital. Before leaving I wished him, his mother and family well. I then drove to the Hilton Garden Inn located in Chelsea Midtown.   I quickly got changed into my workout clothing and made my way to the East Hill Tennis Club. I played for an hour and a half with the local coach and team.

These clinics are a great way to burn off stress and calories.  There is no better way to end the day.  I’m always very grateful for the opportunity to play with nice people.

Day 2

The day started early with me going to Planet Fitness. I did strength workout before returning to the hotel to have breakfast.  While eating my cereal I was listening to the Wall Street Journal News app. This app has turned out to be a great resource for me to stay current with business and Global news.  I really like the being able to listen to the story via the audio feature.  

My local sales rep, Kyle, showed up at 7:15 AM and we both headed out to visit a couple accounts.  After our two customer visits we stopped for lunch at a place called The Clubhouse.  This was a nice family restaurant that primarily serves sandwiches and soups.  I had a very tasty meatball sub. Upon arriving back to my hotel I changed into my workout clothes and headed out to the Western Athletic Tennis Club.

This is another great facility that has 8 indoor courts. The clinic had about 15 people and lasted 1 1/2 hours.  I found it amazing that the coaches were able to keep everyone active and moving the whole time.  This was especially impressive since we only played on two courts! This is one of the best workouts I’ve had in a while. Tennis definitely keeps your feet and body in constant motion.  

Day 3

The day started once again with me going to Planet Fitness and getting in my morning workout.  After having a quick breakfast at the hotel Kyle picked me up and we headed out to our first customer visit in Kentucky.

It was a rainy morning which provided some beautiful scenery throughout the drive.  After we completed our customer meeting Kyle took me to visit the historic towns of Maysville and Augusta.  What made these towns interesting to me was the fact that this is where the Freedom Trail took place.  It was in these homes where Slaves were hidden and held so they could be transported across the Ohio river to their freedom.  It was really a poignant moment and made me think about the significance that one side of the river had for a single black person during these horrifying times.   I feel strongly that these towns should be visited by more people so they can learn more about this country’s history and at the same time support the local businesses.   While metropolitan cities continue to thrive it is important that these towns survive for future generations to experience.  

After a couple of hours we headed back into Cincinnati where we had a great lunch at the Buckhead Mountain Grill.   I had a Kentucky Hot Brown for the first time in my life.   This is an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and Mornay sauce on Texas toast. Needless to say it was very filling.

We then made our way across the street to The Party Source liquor store.   I wanted to see if I could get my hands on a Blantons bourbon bottle.  Upon arriving to the Bourbon aisle I was amazed to see the large selection.   However there was no Blantons to be found.   We then left and headed back to the Hilton hotel to finish up the day.  

After Kyle dropped me off at the hotel I went back to my room to work for a few hours before leaving for another clinic at the East Tennis Club.   This was my second session with the Sarah (the coach).   She once again did a great job moving everyone around and keeping the action going the whole time.   Towards the end of the clinic my legs began to feel very heavy and tired.   It was a good feeling to complete this clinic and the other 2 days of solid tennis play.

Day 4

Is was an early 3:30 AM (EST) start for me as I had a flight leaving Cincinnati’s CVG airport at 6:30 AM. After checking in and passing through security I had to wait an hour before the CVG club lounge was open to travelers. I am able to access this lounge via Priority Pass due to my Capital Venture X credit card. After eating a parfait and cereal I boarded the plane. I then recalled that my seat had been upgraded to First Class. This seat came with breakfast and I instantly began to make some room in my stomach. The airline served up waffles and everything on the tray was very good. I finally arrived in Houston a bit tired but was glad to be home and in warmer weather.

October 25, 2022 ~ Day 1

I started my day by going early to Planet Fitness.  I then headed home to have breakfast with the family and get ready for the trip. After saying my goodbyes I left to the Houston International airport.

Once again I conducted my morning 1-1 team conference calls at the United Club lounge before receiving a First class upgrade notification.  There would no meal offered since this was only a 2-hour flight but the larger seat and extra leg room are always welcomed.  

After arriving in Kansas City I began to search on Yelp for a good to place to eat.  After reviewing different options I ended up at Garozzo’s Italian restaurant.  This turned out to be an excellent selection as this place serves up great food.   I also liked the vibe of the neighborhood that came with an Italian inspired fire hydrant.

After paying the bill I left for my hotel.  I chose stay in the Country Club area because it is near the Country Club Plaza shopping area.   This is a really nice place to walk around in the evening, have a drink and a great meal.  There is also a nearby park that is really beautiful and nice to walk around. It contains a fountain that is very similar to the one found in Versailles.

As I arrived at the hotel I quickly got changed into my tennis gear, grabbed my racket and headed over to the Genesis Health Club in Overland Park.   This is an amazing facility that has 10 indoor tennis courts and a full bar to enjoy after a match.  I got to play in 2 different classes that lasted for total of 2.5 hours.   It was a great workout and a lot of fun.   The tennis coach, Arek, was really good about keeping the lesson fluid and fun.   I am definitely looking forward to my next visit at this facility.

October 26, 2022 ~ Day 2

I started the morning by working out at the local Planet Fitness.  Then returned to have breakfast at the hotel with the local sales rep, Kevin.  

After working for a few hours at the service center we decided to go to one of my favorite restaurants in Kansas, El Camino Real, for lunch.   This place serves Taco al Pastor just like the ones you would find in Mexico City.   The meat is marinated in the same manner and is cooked on a skewer to perfection.   The taste of these tacos takes me right back to the streets of Polanco.

After lunch Kevin and I returned to the service center to finish working for the day.   Afterwards we left to the hotel where I was able to get in a quick cardio workout at the hotel’s gym.

Kevin and I then met in the evening for dinner and decided to go for barbecue.   We found ourselves at the Rosedale Barbecue restaurant which was within walking distance from our hotel.   Similar to Houston, Kansas City is a good destination for Barbecue. As we entered the eatery we were informed that Burnt Ends are a specialty of Kansas City BBQ.   This is the fatty part of the meat.   I decided not to order this meal as heartburn would not be too far off in the distance after consuming it.   I decided to get the brisket and pulled pork with a side of macaroni & cheese and coleslaw.   It was delicious.  Kevin got a rib plate that was so big he wasn’t able to finish it.

Afterwards we headed back to the hotel and called it a day.

October 27, 2022 ~ Day 3

I was able to return home in the early afternoon after a morning visit with an important client. It was a great trip and really enjoy visiting Kansas City. I tell my friends that this city is still an undiscovered gem and one of the best places to live in the USA. Until next time Kansas!

Day 1

10/18/2022

I woke up early to go workout at Planet Fitness before returning home to have breakfast with the family. After arriving at the Bush airport and passing through security I went directly to the United Club Lounge to begin my morning 1-1 team meetings in the private phone rooms.

After four hours I boarded the flight to Detroit. Upon arriving I headed to my favorite restaurant in the Novi area, Alloush Grill. This place serves up fantastic Mediterranean food that is fresh and delicious every time. I usually get the Lamb skewer plate. Yummy!

After completing my meal I made my way to the Detroit Tennis club for another set of drills. I played with a great group of guys that made the hour long class feel like 15 minutes. The tennis pro, Brian, was young but very personable and offered get tennis tips. I then made my way back to the hotel to rest for the evening.

Day 2

10/19/2022

I started my morning by going workout at the local Planet Fitness. Then had some cereal at the very well set and standard Hampton Inn buffet. After getting ready for the day I went looking for a local coffee shop. I was able to use the Waze app to find a local coffee shop around the corner from the hotel. I enjoy going to local businesses as their quality and customer service tend to be better than the larger coffee chains. As I entered the shop a strong scent of cinnamon hit my senses. I then discovered that this store specializes in serving coffee from Yemen. I paused to think if it was worth trying something new or going for my standard cappuccino. I decided to be adventurous and asked the Barista for a standard coffee from this country. A few moments later he handed me a paper cup of scolding hot coffee. I waited about 30 minutes before attempting to drink it. As I lifted the cup to my lips the coffee had a very heavy sweet taste. In the end, I did not like it. I am sure it is great after you acquire a taste for it but its very different from my daily cup of brew. At least now I know that coffee from Yemen is not for me.

After our first customer meeting I met up with our local sales rep, Tom, at the Chandler Cafe in Sylvania, Ohio. This is a small quaint town with a lot of beautiful scenery.

Before leaving the town of Sylvania Tom wanted to take me to a Men’s clothing store called House of Him. I met with the owner, Kevin, who was a youthful looking man, who is very passionate about his business. This place not only offers tailored clothing but is also a Salon that sells personal care items and can offer you a whiskey on the rocks at the same time. You can come into this store and leave a different person. It was quite a sight to see.

In the afternoon I returned to my hotel and noted all the changing leaf colors on the trees. This is something that is sorely missing in Houston.

I decided to make a quick stop at Chipotle on the way to my hotel. I must say the last few Chipotle visits have been very disappointing. There is always something going on that takes away from a peaceful and satisfying meal. The last few times there has been something wrong with the rice cooker, only taking online orders, and the place is usually very dirty. This is a big negative for me and is causing me to go to eat at other places.

After resting at the hotel I went back to Planet Fitness to do an hour cardio workout. Afterwards, I was ready to go back to the hotel to rest.

Day 3

10/20/2022

I started the day by working out at Planet Fitness. Then made my way to visit a cement company. After this meeting there was a scheduled lunch with another customer at Major Biddles. The restaurant served a decent lunch buffet that included tacos and a salad bar. Afterwards I headed out to the Detroit airport to continue working in the lounge. It did start to snow as I arrived which made it the first snowfall for me this year. This was a nice visit to Detroit.

Day 1

October 4, 2022

I traveled to the great state of Massachusetts to visit some customers and spend time with my local sales rep. I once again was leaving from Houston’s IAH (aka George Bush International) airport. I had to arrive around 7:00 AM in order to hold my weekly 1-1 team meetings at the United Club lounge at Terminal C. I love this lounge due to the private “phone rooms” found in the back of the sitting area. By being inside these rooms no one has to hear all the bad words from the sales reps or myself for that matter.

Around noon I boarded my United flight and four hours later landed at Boston’s Logan Airport. This airport is well run but getting to the rental car location can be somewhat of a hassle. After getting my suitcase I had to huddle outside the baggage claim area with a large group of fellow travelers looking for a local bus to arrive. Luckily Boston was experiencing a warm fall day which made the 15 minute wait time bearable.

As I was leaving the airport a strong craving for a Lobster roll came into my mind and stomach. I thought to myself, “when in Rome you should try the local delicacies.” I used the trusty Yelp app to find the Alive and Kicking Lobster restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Needless to say it was worth the stop and satisfied my craving. I then headed out to my final destination the Doubletree Hotel in Milford, Massachusetts. This is one of those large hotels that was designed in the 80s and provides to me a nostalgia of a time when we were all less busy and living without so much technology.

As I was driving into this city the remnants of Hurricane Ian were still being felt as rain was constantly falling on my rental car’s windshield.

After a long day of traveling it was great to Facetime with the family before finally going to sleep.

Day 2

October 05, 2022

I started the morning by meeting with my sales rep, Andy Speer, at the local service center. We had a great in depth discussion about his territory before going to meet with our first customer.

After a productive meeting Andy recommended we try some Peruvian food. I went back to the Yelp app and found Sazon Peru in Lawerence. This restaurant seemed to be in a tough neighborhood but those tend to be the best places for ethnic foods. Andy and I had a great time trying out multiple menu options and left the place very satisfied.

Afterwards we headed to back to Milford before making a stop at the Nashoba winery.

This orchard is unique because you can have wine, beer and whiskey all made from apples.  As I walked into the vineyard’s tasting room house I noticed how quaint and nice all the wood around the place felt and looked.  It really reminded me of a vineyard in Grand Junction, Colorado but instead of peaches its apples. I ended up buying one of their liquors to take home. The server recommended trying to combine it with bacon and for some reason I couldn’t get the idea of this sweet liquor and bacon grilling together and hitting my taste buds.

Afterwards I made my way to the Longfellow Tennis Club where I had signed up for a tennis drill. This is a very nice facility where the instructor was able to effectively manage four courts and 14 players.   The lesson of the day was focused on movement and consistency.  The instructor said that this was the main difference between a 4.0 and 4.5 player.  I was surprised to hear that power was not one of them.  I will make sure to keep this in mind during future practices and matches. Honestly, I feel that this is one of the best things to come out of a training class in a while.

This is a link to a video highlighting some tennis drills you can do to improve your consistency.

Day 3

October 06, 2022

Andy and I made our way in the morning to New Haven, Connecticut to meet up with another customer and visit their project.  

After having a great discussion and meeting with some of amazing people we were told that New Haven is a well known hub for American pizza. It has many restaurants where you can go have, how do they say, “Apizza.” Their claim to fame is that they cook their pizza with coal instead of wood or in an oven.   Our customer recommended several places and we settled on Frank Pepe.   This establishment is famous within the American pizza community and here is a video of a review of this restaurant.  Andy had the white clam pizza and I got a typical pepperoni pizza.  It was good but I still prefer a Margarita pizza cooked in a wood fire stove.

If you are ever in Houston please visit Impero Italiano as it is the most authentic and tastiest pizzas outside of Italy, at least here in Houston.

On the fourth day I made it back to the Logan airport before boarding my flight to Houston.  I left Massachusetts with a warm feeling and remembering fondly of when I used to live in Somerville. It really has to be one of the best cities in this country and am looking forward to coming back with my family one day soon.