Scanning the waiting area here at D3 at the Charlotte airport, I observe: one team member curled up on the floor under the seats with a sweatshirt wrapped around her head; another teammate sitting up and fitfully trying to sleep; someone chatting on the phone across the room (so as not to disturb the rest of us); someone checking email (free wireless!); two people discussing something intense (though the topic is not discernable to me on account of my ears which are still plugged from a poorly pressurized flight); and yet another team member who appears to be in a daze (but just returned with a steaming cup o’ joe, so not to worry).

Many of us have yet to get any real sleep and have concluded that 5.25am is one of the worst possible times for a flight lasting only an hour and some change. We’ll all try to piece together a few hours of sleep, though, because upon arrival in San Jose this afternoon we’ll hit the ground running with a full agenda – which our next blog entry will recount in fascinating yet mysterious detail. Until then…