Since I'm home for a few weeks (my next trip is to Nashville on Nov. 13) I have some time to give a few observations about my first few weeks on the job:

- If possible, avoid the Texas Stadium Restaurant at DFW airport (see roast beef sandwich in photo). The sweet tea was fine, the fries serviceable, but the sandwich was dry and tough. The best thing I can say about it is that I wasn't hungry after I ate it.

- When the airport security people say no liquid, that includes the water in which your pet goldfish is swimming. At the Pittsburgh airport I saw this guy trying unsuccessfully to bring his pet goldfish through the security line. He seemed genuinely surprised that they wouldn't allow his actual fishbowl through even though there were big signs stating "No Liquids". I made it through the line without seeing the resolution to the situation. From look in the dude's eyes I think he expected to eventually fly with the fish, but I suspect otherwise.

- I will never clip my phone, pda or anything else to my belt, regardless of how practical it is to do so. All the business traveler guys I saw at the Hampton Inn breakfast buffet belt-clipped their accessories onto their tan, pleated Dockers. I just can't do it. Belt-clipped accessories are the fanny packs of the 21st century.