Update from Indianapolis

All issues, pertaining to my disastrous trip to Indy at the end of April, have been completely resolved; all my expenses were reimbursed in full, including all travel expenses.

I'm very happy right now, and it's time to move on to better stuff in business.

Indianapolis Update

I am currently in touch with Johnson Controls as it investigates what had happened to me in Indiana. I currently have an offer of a full refund (plus some travel reimbursement) and some apologies; even by its own standards, what happened in Indy was unacceptable.

I prefer not to discuss this matter further until everything is resolved.

I've returned home

I've been fed up all day, and my family business could feel it. I was asked to cut the misery short and fly back to California on the next available flight, so I re-booked, checked out of the hotel, loitered at the Speedway without checking out its museum (I was in too foul a mood to ever get out of my car), before returning the car and checking in for the flights home. In the process, I boosted United Airlines' bottom line by another $280 - that's more than the original fare of $240.

I picked an itinerary involving a change of planes in Denver; this turned out to be a hassle, as Denver had a freak snowstorm today, and all flights from Denver, including the aircraft that came to Indy to pick me up and the one that brought me back to Los Angeles, had de-icing delays.

Even during the flights, I found it a challenge to contain my residual anger. I don't think I really calmed down until I started playing George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" (aptly, the theme music for the airline I was flying on) on my iPhone, right over the majestic Grand Canyon.

In any case, I am home, and couldn't be more relieved. From now on, I will find an alternate way to get the education I need in air conditioning controls.

Going back to "lunatic" California

I am unable to make up my mind, as to whether I return to Los Angeles tomorrow night, as scheduled, or return today, as my heart calls out.

Honestly, I have no interest in staying in the Hoosier State any longer. I don't even know if I want to go forward with any of my local sightseeing plans, which had been scheduled for tonight and tomorrow.

On the other hand, the airfare and ticket change fee will get me clobbered if I try to return home today. The fare will practically double, and the flight choices don't look great either. And I need to decide within the next hour or so, as my checkout deadline from the hotel for today approaches. Otherwise, I am stuck till tomorrow. It will be more cost-effective for me to stay as the hotel costs only $70 for an extra night, and 5 days of rental car is same as 6 days.

I will have to make my decision soon. Let's see how things unfold.

Business Terminated in Indy

I am in no mood to repeat myself, so I will just copy-paste what I had posted to Democracy Cell Project:

Update from Indianapolis...

My business trip here was to take an air conditioning controls class with Johnson Controls - the same company that probably made the seats in your car, among other things.

However, the class was an extremely biased environment, where California's environmentalism and gun control laws were dismissed as left wing lunatic ideas, among MANY other things.

When it came to the point this morning where families of victims commemorating the anniversaries of Virginia Tech massacre and other school shootings were dismissed as liberal pansies, and the Democrats were the source of ALL problems in this country, I decided that I had enough, and left.

The ringleader of this whole thing was the class instructor, visiting from Orange County, California.

There is another 1 1/2 days of business to do before I walk away with a certificate (what I came to Indy for), but I have no interest in a certificate from such a reactionary company. And I have no interest in working in such a reactionary field either.

It's very early morning back in California, but my family business has already been notified of my decision to discontinue the class, and is supportive of my decision. It's been left up to me as to whether I want to return home tomorrow, as scheduled, or today, as I feel like now. When I return home, we will brainstorm ways on how I will continue my education, but in any case, Johnson Controls will never be involved again.

And if you ever want me to install air conditioning controls for your building, rest assured that I will NEVER use or recommend Johnson Controls unless you specify it (as the military often does).

Fed up with Indy

I am still in Indianapolis and will continue to be here for another few days.

I don't have much to say, other than that I am utterly fed up with the pathetic excuse of a political discourse here in Indy, complete with those "IN GOD WE TRUST" plates. My business contacts are all reactionary Republicans, and sexist pigs at that, as expected of men in construction. I sincerely believe that these morons need to lose their corporate benefit packages (including $200/night downtown hotel packages, while I rot at $70/night near the airport) and, if they are lucky enough to still have it, union representation. The ringleader is from Southern California - specifically Orange County (and hates being referred to as suburban Los Angeles).

I've never been this fed up with a state, since Alaska and Arizona - and I've been through another 30 states or so. The same reactionary crap did happen to me two months ago in Florida, but at least I had the theme parks of Orlando to unwind in. Not here in Indiana.

Chicago... again

I am practically knocked out, after all day in Chicago.

The drive between Indianapolis and Chicago was uneventful, with I-65 going through a rather flat, rural terrain, interrupted by the town of Lafayette, home of Purdue University and a Subaru assembly plant. Major construction work in Gary made navigating the I-65/I-80 junction tricky, however. My rental Fusion was very comfortable, and got over 26 MPG.

After a three-hour drive, I arrived in Chicago; I found it hard to believe that the city's world-famous skyline was greeting me once again! This was also my first Chicago visit with a car, so I decided to savor it, by taking Lake Shore Drive from McCormick Place to Lincoln Park. I remembered doing the same stretch last year, as a passenger in Marianne Wood's BMW convertible, and thought of her, though she had a packed schedule today and couldn't make time for me.

I arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo at 9:30 in the morning, and spent about 45 minutes going through the small, free zoo. The zoo was underwhelming, but the neighboring conservatory, with its orchids and koi ponds, was quite a sight. I also savored the famous vista of the skyline again from the zoo, with John Hancock Tower being prominent.

I headed for my next destination, Second Unitarian Church, and arrived there right between the two morning services. I attended the second morning service at 11:30, where the sermon emphasized being Earth-friendly by not living beyond one's means - while I agreed with most of the sermon, I also remembered that sometimes pushing the boundaries is what makes positive changes in the world happen. The pastor was a middle-aged blonde woman said to be a Southern California native, but I couldn't chat with her. However, I did chat with many other members - and joined the church's monthly LGBT lunch at a nearby Thai restaurant, where most of the chat revolved around the church's participation in this coming June's gay pride parade, but I also got to spill the beans about my background, my novel, how Unitarianism comes into both, and more.

When all was said and done, it was 2 PM already - I pushed on to Oak Park, 10 miles to the west, where I toured Frank Lloyd Wright's home. This being an older home (1899-1909), it didn't look like a Wright masterpiece from the later years, but the budding elements - overlapping octagons, suspended pianos, and green color theming throughout - were all there. I was too tired to truly enjoy it though.

I left Chicago at 4:30 local time, and by the time I returned to Indy, it was 8:30 after time difference. And those "In God We Trust" theocratic plates really nagged at me from the moment I crossed back into Indiana.

I took a few pictures, but won't be uploading them tonight - I am too tired, and I have business to mind tomorrow morning.

Indianapolis

I am in Indianapolis for a week-long stay, and my first impressions are not good.

I was aware of Indiana being more Republican than similar surrounding states, though a prominent Democrat, Senator Evan Bayh, also calls Indiana home. But nothing prepared me for all the "In God We Trust" license plates here - up to one in four of all privately-owned cars. While "In God We Trust" could be considered a generic nonpolitical message, like "Choose Life," everyone knows that these messages are the work of Christian theocrats.

Though I have to say that I can easily see the same happening in California, especially Southern California, and it's the liberal ideologues of Northern California that prevent such plates from becoming reality in California.

I am heading over to Chicago tomorrow to attend a Unitarian church and do sightseeing. If I wanted only the Unitarian church, there are a few here in Indy, but I'd rather venture out to Chicago. I also got a marvelous view of Chicago today as I changed planes there, and it only makes me want to get out there tomorrow even more.

My ride here is a Ford Fusion V6 that was built only this month, with 370 miles on it. It's a much nicer car than its predecessor, the miserable Contour that I used to drive, though I was expecting a four cylinder model for fuel economy. The rental car company offered me a Hyundai Sonata for a few dollars more, and it is an even nicer car, but I didn't want to risk looking like a Moonie. I hope the Fusion will let me visit Chicago tomorrow in style.