One of the companies I cover is Brush Engineered Materials, based in Cleveland. I inherited the coverage when another analyst left, so Company management invited me out here to meet them and get to know the Company's story first-hand.
Now, one of their plants is in Elmore, where they do a vapor deposition process. Wednesday's meetings are all Conversations With Management, but on Thursday, I get a chance to go see the operation in operation. As part of that, I have to wear a moon suit with a respirator. OSHA requires that a doctor approve this, so I don't turn blue and pass out in the middle of the tour. So what's the first question OSHA asks on its web questionnaire? "Can you read?" That's the question. Consider, for a moment, the implications of answering, "No."
Typically, the airport experience in Denver resembled army logistics: hurry up and wait. After the shuttle bus's tour of the parking lot, I made it to the automated United check-in with two, count them, two minutes to spare before I would have had to make some unpleasasnt choices about what luggage to leave behind.
So naturally, the flight took off an hour late. They announced that with a full flight, they really didn't want to take any chances with the lavatory, and some wit started whistling Humoresque.
In any case, the pilot landed us safely in Cleveland, guiding us in by the light of the river. Just kidding! Of course, the river was obscured by the smoke.
The cabbie was Eritrean, and seemed genuinely happy when I told him he could put his music back on. He had changed it to some muzak station so as not to offend, but it didn't sound like they were singing, "Jihad Jihad Jihad," so since it was his cab, it only seemed fair to let him listen to his music.
And now, here at the hotel, there is only one thing to do.
Go directly to bed.
