I just returned from an east coast jaunt. After spending the past 24 hours falling in and out of sleep, I believe any semblance of jet lag is eliminated. With all my traveling over the years, I don't recall ever having to deal with jet lag screwing up my internal clock. Either I need some melatonin or I'm just getting old. Come to think of it, I seem to be going to bed earlier and worrying if I eat enough fiber. Good lord, I'm turning into my parents.

Back to east coast. I flew into DC and spent President's Day weekend reminiscing with old friends. Both moved back east years ago and I was pleasantly surprised they are both doing very well. Since moving to LA, I've been reclusive toward my close friends and it was good to catch up. I think they were worried about me.

A train ride through Pittsburgh and New Jersey took me to Penn Station in Manhattan. The weather was nippy and the noreaster was howling. The 28 degree (f) air temperature felt like -10 on my tanned Californian skin. I could not remember the last time I was that cold. I think my hair was frozen.

New York was back to back meetings awashed with ethnic cuisine. On Wednesday we went to "Havana" - a local favorite. A band highlighted by the solos of a petite trombonist serenaded us. We enjoyed pitchers of the tasty mojitos as we dined on authentic Cuban dishes. The paella inspired me to break away from my boring "yang-chow" fried rice; and the passing lunar eclipse created the perfect wintery night in Times Square. The joyful waiter told us the festive atmosphere is due to the resignation of the Cuban tyrant, Fidel Castrol. When he told me in heavily accented English of his emmigration from Cuba to Venezuela. I couldn't help but ask if he had any plans to move to North Korea. My attempt at political humor was futile as he rolled his eyes and left to fetch another pitcher of that minty concoction.

As fun as it was, I could not wait to return to LA. The smell of the subway and taxis seem to permeate in my clothing like the funk of an evening spent at Korean BBQ followed by a midnight rave. I'm going to have to Febreze everything.