Last day in Italy. Online for first time. If you're a Hearsay fan, don't worry, I've been taking paper notes and plan to put some good content up in a week or so. Italy has been everything we were hoping for. Weather has been in the 70s and 80s and clear. The people have been warm. The sights have been noteworthy. The travel has been easy. The hotels have met our expectations, and in one case far exceeded them. The restaurants have outdone themselves, as have the pizzerias. 17 days here and I've had pizza for lunch 15 days. Just my style.
It'll be good to be home with everyone though. We miss Grady and Liam terribly.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Grand mistake
How fun it was to realize I had made a major mistake about our travel to Italy. All along I was thinking we left Boston on Tuesday and arrived in Rome on Wednesday. In reviewing our itinerary, I realized our flight out is on Monday and we get to Rome Tuesday. We just gained a day in Italy!
Of course, this fortunate error caused some headaches too. Ann has a meeting in Worcester Monday night she can't miss, so we had to ask Erin to stay two more nights than she had planned after her and her family's weekend visit. We owe Ann and Erin big time.
We're cramming like it was finals week (which I know it is for many college students, like Erik Henne), but it's for what we'll be doing once we arrive in the four cities we'll park ourselves in. The Rick Steve's Italy 2004 book is dog-eared.
Wednesday was in the 90s here and we had a full beach day. Today was in the 60s. Crazy changes. I hope we don't all catch colds. Segue...
Liam's nose is cured! :)
Of course, this fortunate error caused some headaches too. Ann has a meeting in Worcester Monday night she can't miss, so we had to ask Erin to stay two more nights than she had planned after her and her family's weekend visit. We owe Ann and Erin big time.
We're cramming like it was finals week (which I know it is for many college students, like Erik Henne), but it's for what we'll be doing once we arrive in the four cities we'll park ourselves in. The Rick Steve's Italy 2004 book is dog-eared.
Wednesday was in the 90s here and we had a full beach day. Today was in the 60s. Crazy changes. I hope we don't all catch colds. Segue...
Liam's nose is cured! :)
Monday, June 7, 2004
Gradyisms
We had easy flights to Boston yesterday. Grady and Liam both get A+s. We are lucky parents. Grady was on fire yesterday with some funny sayings. I hope I remember them all.
The weather at Moody Beach is overcast and mid 50s today, but we will get into the 90s by Wednesday. Quite warm for this time of year, which is just fine by us!
Does anyone read this blog anymore, or is nothing I write "remark-able?"
While watching highlights of a NASCAR race, ESPN showed a bunch of crashes. During another highlight they showed two cars vying for the lead. Grady said, "They have to be careful." I said, "Right, steady wins the race." He asked, "Which one is Steady?"
On the plane yesterday, we talked a lot about taking off. About an hour from arriving in Boston, Grady asked, "When are we landing off?"
On the Horizon flight up to Seattle, we were on a propeller plane and our seats were in direct line with the propeller. Grady was very interested in it and was excited when it started spinning and loved how you couldn't see individual blades when it got going quickly. When we started taxing to the runway, Grady asked, "Why is that plane following us?" "Which plane, Grady?" "That one RIGHT there." He didn't realize the propeller was attached to our plane.
The weather at Moody Beach is overcast and mid 50s today, but we will get into the 90s by Wednesday. Quite warm for this time of year, which is just fine by us!
Does anyone read this blog anymore, or is nothing I write "remark-able?"
Friday, June 4, 2004
Serenity NOW!
Well, it's upon me. My sabbatical has begun. 7 weeks of nothing but searching for sun and fun.
Leaving work yesterday was not as exciting or exhilarating as I thought it would be. Nothing like leaving junior high school on the last day of school. (Do you remember that day?)
Leaving work yesterday was bittersweet because when I get back I won't be working on the same team I have been for the last three years. The relationships and trust I developed with my Tablet PC colleagues are strong. Lots of "last time I'll do this" thinking. Last 1:1 with my manager and the great guy who reports to me. Last client call with my fantastic and friendly Tablet PC clients. Probably the last time I'll sit in that office (they'll likely move me closer to my new teammates while I'm gone).
Fortunately I'm beginning some exciting work on MSN when I get back. I'm jazzed about that, but it'll be a completely different experience. My Tablet PC team was 6 people, with 4 people under me. The MSN team is over 20, with me responsible for 10+ people. I will have much more responsibility.
Well, that's hopefully the last I'll speak about work for almost two months.
Liam has his follow up appointment with the ear, nose & throat specialist this morning. Unfortunately, I won't be able to give him a good report about Liam's nose. We saw initial improvement, but he is still very mucousy. Hopefully it's just that he caught a bit of what I had earlier this week.
Grady is getting really good at hitting and throwing a baseball.
Leaving work yesterday was not as exciting or exhilarating as I thought it would be. Nothing like leaving junior high school on the last day of school. (Do you remember that day?)
Leaving work yesterday was bittersweet because when I get back I won't be working on the same team I have been for the last three years. The relationships and trust I developed with my Tablet PC colleagues are strong. Lots of "last time I'll do this" thinking. Last 1:1 with my manager and the great guy who reports to me. Last client call with my fantastic and friendly Tablet PC clients. Probably the last time I'll sit in that office (they'll likely move me closer to my new teammates while I'm gone).
Fortunately I'm beginning some exciting work on MSN when I get back. I'm jazzed about that, but it'll be a completely different experience. My Tablet PC team was 6 people, with 4 people under me. The MSN team is over 20, with me responsible for 10+ people. I will have much more responsibility.
Well, that's hopefully the last I'll speak about work for almost two months.
Liam has his follow up appointment with the ear, nose & throat specialist this morning. Unfortunately, I won't be able to give him a good report about Liam's nose. We saw initial improvement, but he is still very mucousy. Hopefully it's just that he caught a bit of what I had earlier this week.
Grady is getting really good at hitting and throwing a baseball.
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Random
Sold ADBL at a small loss to pick up more FARO when it dipped today. Put Stop orders on all stocks if they get to an 8% loss. I won't look at them until we get back in late July. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.
On Monday, I put together a to-do preparation list for the trip. 17 items. I've completed 8 so far. Gettin' there.
Bought a new rolling suitcase. Colleen and I plan to each take one rolling suitcase to Italy -- they're the small ones. 22 inches I think. They fit overhead and under the seats. If we can pack that lightly, I'll be surprised, but it's a good goal.
I'm flattered how much attention our sabbatical is getting from friends and colleagues. It's making me reassess how I react and look forward to other people's trips. It's the same as when people had babies before we had our own. I never knew how good it felt to have someone gush over your kids. I now do that, 1) because I know it makes the parents feel good, but 2) because I genuinely appreciate children more.
On Monday, I put together a to-do preparation list for the trip. 17 items. I've completed 8 so far. Gettin' there.
Bought a new rolling suitcase. Colleen and I plan to each take one rolling suitcase to Italy -- they're the small ones. 22 inches I think. They fit overhead and under the seats. If we can pack that lightly, I'll be surprised, but it's a good goal.
I'm flattered how much attention our sabbatical is getting from friends and colleagues. It's making me reassess how I react and look forward to other people's trips. It's the same as when people had babies before we had our own. I never knew how good it felt to have someone gush over your kids. I now do that, 1) because I know it makes the parents feel good, but 2) because I genuinely appreciate children more.
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