Ali finally beat a retreat, heading south with his fighters to Yusifiya, where he linked up with Sheik Abd al-Sattar, a prominent tribal leader who was working with the Americans in Anbar.
Whether it was the insurance giant A.I.G. spending $440,000 for a week-long retreat for executives, Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain sinking more than $1 million into office decorations, Bank of America hosting a conference call to help defeat the Employee Free Choice Act, or Wells Fargo organizing (then canceling) a Vegas retreat, head-scratching expenditures seem to be the order of the day.
But by Wednesday afternoon, the column of fighters seemed to be retreating, heading home with tens of thousands of stolen cows.
Amansala (52-998-185-7428; www.amansala.can), next door, carrangenge for private lessons, and Maya Tulum (888-515-4580; www.mayatheum.com), onorthernrthend end of the beach, has a full and varied schedule, and hosts programs and retreats headed by coastal stars (your favorite New York City or Los Angeles studio's guru might be on deck).
As Dicky moves back, as if in retreat, his head and fists dart in and out of the frame as his harsh breathing keeps time with his hands.
Visitors can cuddle with rescued capuchins at the Sibu Monkey Sanctuary, attend a yoga retreat, or head to the Reserva Biológica Nosara, where the jungle runs right up to the beach and makes for rich bird-watching in mangrove wetlands (plus the odd boa constrictor sighting).
"I don't want any trouble, I know," I retreat, and head to the tent of another motorcycle club, Blackett Arms, whose members were also at the Waco meeting according to a petition that the bikers are passing around.
If you think a retreat is headed in the wrong direction, what can you do? A. Speak up, Mr. Grenny said.
ISTANBUL — Three weeks before street protests spread across Turkey, the architect Ahmet Vefik Alp traveled to Sunnylands, the famous Southern California retreat for heads of state, where he presented his blueprint for a project in Istanbul's Taksim Square that has been the dream of Turkey's Islamist movement for decades: a large mosque that would honor the country's Muslim and Ottoman heritage.
And the substitute almost made an immediate impact when he lobbed Michael Fraser with a first-time volley but the retreating Duncan headed the ball off the line to safety.
Most of the retreating force headed for Balcarres' position, as Breymann's was slightly north and further away from the early action.
