Yeah...

So before her trip to Reno, Rachel took the Touareg in for brake pads and an oil change. And she came home from the shop with brake pads, clean oil, and Flowmasters.

Ain't technology wonderful?

Our friend Ted is in Chamba, India right now. I think it is tomorrow morning there already. And we just Video-Skyped. It was flippin' sweet.

And in local high school sports action...

Middletown vs. St. Helena, in a J.V. grudge match, sophomore Jake Storti said "Good bye Mr. Spalding," sending a 2-2 pitch to the yard for a two run, pinch hit GRAND SALAMI!!! That brings Storti's slugging percentage to 3.000 on the season.



OK, it wasn't a Spalding. But he did hit one out- this one...

A genuine over the fence home run.

I never did that.

The really cool thing is that Jake really needed something like this. He's been in a bit of a rut for a while. We've been trying and failing to help pull him out of it. This was a good thing. And I realize that he's at an age now where he needs some things that we can't give him, he has to go out and get them on his own.

There's a bailout comin'...

...but it's not for me.

Neil Young - Fork In The Road


...Leave it to Neil.

I miss my sister...

...and she isn't coming because of the weather.

But I was well on my way to prepping dinner when she called. So we went ahead and had a feast in both her honor and her absence.


I made Herb Roasted Chicken, Savory Root Vegetables, Garlic and Herb Boiled and Bashed Potatoes, and that awful looking black thing in the back is a Yam Casserole. Even that was good. I even opened a 2005 V. Sattui Chardonnay.


And healthy. Man it feels good to eat healthy again. Chicago should put Zocor in the drinking water.

Anyway - I love you sis, sorry you couldn't make it.

We pushed family movie night from Friday to Saturday for the release of...

...Twilight (Twilight twilight twilight!!!!).

And some time after the Laker game is over, we will watch it. It's funny because Jake, Jeff, and I would really rather watch Zack and Miri or a Bond movie or something. But Rachel's excitement is contagious. And I'm looking forward to watching it with her. And I asked Jake to try to feign enthusiasm for his mother's sake. So far he's doing a fine job.

Trip recap...

So like I said, I'm home. I missed my scheduled flight yesterday. That hasn't happened in years.

How did it happen? Well, a series of unfortunate events befell me. I planned to leave the hotel by 8:00 AM to drive the 25 minutes to the airport and leaving plenty of time in case of traffic and to return the rental boat...car. Did I mention the car? A black Lincoln Town Car all week. I felt like a Czech limo driver or a getaway drive for a mob hit.

Anyway, my 7:00 wake up call came at 7:20. I cut my shower short and packed faster and less orderly than I would have liked. I checked out of the hotel at 8:15. Still plenty of time so long as traffic wasn't too bad. Then the Neverlost GPS sat "acquiring satellites" for 8 minutes. So I just started driving hoping it would kick on along the way. It did, and I found myself traveling in the wrong direction. Another 3 minutes lost while I made a U-turn.

Then there was this...



...and then this...



For me, that is one of the worst feelings - freaking out about missing a flight. Because if I miss it, I know that it will have a huge impact on others. And it also means that it will take a lot longer to get home which is where I really really really want to be.

I drive along, a little faster than I otherwise would, cursing every little thing that gets in my way. I scowl, my heart races, and I keep calculating and recalculating the odds of making it. I engage in wishful thinking - oh I hope the plane is delayed! Oh, please, just let the traffic open pick up! Maybe there will be no line to check in.

At some point, I accept the fact that I am just not going to make the flight. The point of acceptance is at least ten or fifteen minutes after the actual point where making the flight became an impossibility. And then a strange sense of calm comes over me. It's a relief, really. I am not going to make this flight, and there is nothing I can do about it. I sit back, enjoy the ride, and begin thinking logically about the tasks I will need to complete to make it home.

Anyway, it was a productive trip. The project is interesting. I am faced with some interesting challenges and problems to solve. And some ridiculous short time lines. But that's what I do. And it will be pretty cool to have this system on my resume. The number is published on every bag, cup, and wrapper McDonald's dishes out.

It was a stressful week, and at the end, our contacts at McDonald's tried to make up for it by showering us with gifts and such. I got a tote bag that looks like a French Fry box, some T-shirts, a collector's tin of playing cards, and 30 bucks worth of McDonald's gift certificates. I think I will find some needy people at Wal-Mart to give those to.

I also got to see our new offices for the first time. Here's me and Brian, my long time boss and longer time friend...

Here's me at customer site on St. Patrick's Day.

Michael took me to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and it was delicious.

You might recall how I have been working really hard to eat better. And, for the most part, doing a good job of it. Well this week, the Healthy Eating Train went off the rails. In between that dinner with Brian and the trip home, there was lunch, you know, at McDonald's. And room service pizza. I tried to get fruit when I could. But it was hard to come by.

Anyway, because Jeff is here, Rachel was able to pick me up in Oakland. And we had a really nice drive home together from there.

Today, well, I'm pretty tired. But I'm getting things done. I just need to fill out my expense report and send a couple of e-mails and I will call it a day.

I believe family movie night will be Quantum of Solace. And I am very much looking forward to that.

And now I hear my dear sister is coming up for a visits, so, you know, double yippee!

I am home...

...safe and sound. Long day, so I'm going to keep this short. More tomorrow or so.

I think I deserve a break today...

...and I'm lovin' it!

OK, here's another V-Blog...




I love that my new laptop has a built-in webcam. And I hate that it is a bit flaky - it keeps disconnecting and reconnecting, like maybe there's a loose wire somewhere in the display housing.

Anyway - among the many stark contrasts I have experienced in my life I need to add one more. And that is dinner last night (www.sola-restaurant.com) and lunch today (www.mcdonalds.com). I don't even need to say anything more, just follow the links.

Here's a picture of me with the newlyweds, Brian and Amy.

The meal was like an episode of Top Chef only without all of the drama and judging.

What am I doing with my hands? Playing "got yer nose" with a child out of frame?

I've got a whole bunch of ideas and possibilities swimming in my head right now. I really wish I had a white board in my room. I'm hoping if I lay down and shut my eyes for a while some picture will emerge about how to best create a system to recognize McDonald's menu items, sizes, and options and read back nutritional information about the item recognized. I am finding that in some ways, it is simpler than I had thought, but in others, it is more challenging.

Anyway, I am glad I am here and getting to spend some time in the same room with the customer. It will make the rest of the project much easier.

Also, I have to confess, I didn't get myself out and about like I wanted to on Sunday. I wanted to see a museum and maybe a parade. I just couldn't be buggered to get out the door until it was time to go to dinner. On the positive side of that, I was up at 6:00 a.m. Central Time and felt wide awake and fresh. so maybe it was for the best.

Oh, Cuz - I'm staying at a Marriott. The wake up call here now comes with coffee outside your door. Remember how we used to take turns going up to the executive lounge to get each other coffee when we were in Dallas for so long? It looks like they stole our idea.

This is an attempt...

...at embracing the new paradigm.