Up, Up and Away

Wow, it's been crazy here. Today's my first day of vacation, yet I'm still waiting on a few answers to questions from sources on a story I filed yesterday. Yes, folks, that means I'll be working from the airport today, until I board a big silver jet and fly to Manila. And I still have to finalize catering plans for our reception in October. Sigh. E. is also desperately trying to finish work before we leave.

Speaking of leaving, we have to be packed and out the door within an hour. Guess who needs to finish packing?! So this post's going to be a bit truncated and perhaps also a bit nonsensical.

Running Update: Well, I was going to run this morning, but that idea is shot all to hell. Next!

Palm Trees and Political Intrigue: We're with a delegation of business folks and others on this trip sponsored by the Embassy of the Philippines. It's meant to introduce the country and spur international business development. The Philippines ambassador is officially hosting this tour.

There will be several hundred of us coming from all over the country on this tour. After our 22-hour flight, we arrive in Manila late on Wednesday. Bright and early on Thursday, we take a one-day tour of Old Manila, the presidential Malacanang Palace, and view a trade exhibit and fashion show, and attend a formal dinner at some fancy-schmancy hotel with politicians.

This tour is kind of a big deal: We also will have lunch and meet with the president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has been under political siege these past few weeks for alleged electoral fraud. Veddy veddy interesting.

After the tour ends, E. and I are free and clear for the next 7 days. We'll see some of my big-shot cousins in metro-Manila, then fly here. Also, hopefully we can borrow one of my aunt's drivers so he can drive us up-country a bit. We shall see.

Posting will be a bit spotty from here on out, but I'll put on my travel writer-hat and fill you in as much as I can. Over and out.