Work puts me in Columbus, Ohio today, calling on a current client, and I have to say that I really like Columbus. (It helps that it was a gorgeous day here today – 65 degrees and sunny).

I got up at the crack of dawn (4:30 a.m. or so) with Christine’s help, got to the airport in time to catch my 6 a.m. flight (that’s the good part of living town with a small airport) and flew to Chicago for my connecting flight. I had about an hour layover, so I camped out at the gate for the leg to Columbus.

When I got in line for the Columbus flight, I asked the frumpy unhappy looking lady in front of me if she was in boarding group 3, as they’d just called my group, and there was already a line of people still in boarding group’s 1 and 2. The lady ignored me at first. (She was in boarding group 4… I could see that plainly on her ticket, but I figured I’d be polite and ask instead of just muscling my way in line in front of her, which I considered a rude act. I was in a good mood, and excited about my trip to see my client, and “gosh darnit, people like me.”

So I asked again.

She said “hmmmph… I’m in line.”

So I smiled, and said, “OK, having a tough day already this morning?” in a jovial manner with a smile on my face.

She said “Yeah! Now step off!”

Gotta love that mid-west hospitality.

I said “No problem, we’ll all get there at the same time, I’ll just get in line behind you, and I sincerely hope your day gets better.” She stayed upset, which is sad, because she just looked unhappy, and there’s really no reason for that.

The younger guys standing in line behind me sort of chuckled a bit to themselves. One of them looked at me and said “did you get chewed out?” We struck up a conversation about air-rage, and enjoyed each other’s company.

When we got on the plane, the lady sat in her seat (row 2, aisle) and frowned at me, as if I’d somehow wronged her. All I could think was “poor lady… I really hope she has a better day.” And I hope she did. I had a good day today.

So, back to Columbus. It’s really pretty in downtown Columbus. I’m staying at the Doubletree on the river here in downtown (link to map). It’s a block from the Columbus Statehouse, and right next to the river. I have a river view room, which overlooks a quick bend in the river. The river today is beautiful. The sunset was a gorgeous site looking out over the town from the 15th floor of the hotel.

Downtown Columbus is really pretty… and very clean. It’s sort of like Austin (the cities are about the same size) without the dirty streets and vagabonds. I walked around the block after my meetings looking for a place to eat. I didn’t walk around too much (I was starving) but I found a quick chinese place (remind me not to eat chinese food in Columbus, Ohio next time) and watched the people walk to their transportation on their way home from work. It was a nice day. I like this town, and hope to come back in the next 6 months.