Independence

Sheela has become very independent all at once.  She went by herself to pick up her glasses (new lenses), she walked to the doughnut shop to buy breakfast for us all and then walked up to the store to buy salsa makings.

View from the Penthouse

I'm too vain to put the picture of me and the view out here... I look like someone hit me in the face. So here is the view alone.

That's a wrap

The last night was good as the others.  We went to the Slanted Door for dinner, took an actual stretch limo out to Treasure Island for the concerts and then back to the BV and the Redwood Room.

Treasure Island was beautiful at night.  It's a man-made island out in SF Bay.  The midway lights, the water and the city lights were behind the outdoor stage.  We didn't go in and we didn't check out the rides or games.  We arrived just in time for Seal.  I'm not a big music fan.  I love it all but I don't ever know who sings what.  So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I like most of his stuff.  Then we stayed out for Elvis Costello.  Same sort of thing I recognized a lot.

Aside from the wealth of social activities this was a great show.  I learned a ton and made some great contacts.  I'm glad that I came.

The quiet evening

We decided that a quiet night was in order so that we would be adequately rested for the late night appreciation concert tonight which includes: Alan Jackson, UB40, Elvis Costello, Seal and the Psychedelic Furs.

Anyhow we didn't have a corporate hook up for dinner so we went out to the wharf for seafood and made it to the BV by 10PM - right on track for an early night. But on our way back there was a story about the Starlight Room and so we ended up there instead of the hotel. After that we ended up back at the Redwood Room again. I didn't get to be until after 1AM. I still made the morning sessions (the best one so far in fact).

Celebs

Our photo with Mary Matalin and James Caraville.

The Pace is starting to get to me.

I was in sessions from 9am to 6pm with only a few short breaks.  I did get my massages (10 minutes of foot vibration that left an uncomfortable tingle in my legs for a long time and a really good back massage) and a picnic lunch next to a water feature. 

I jumped a bus as soon as we wrapped up and bolted up Nobb Hill to a party in the Penthouse of the Fairmont Hotel (picture to follow).  When we left there we went to dinner at the Stinking Rose (a garlic restaurant).  Then we moved on to the BV for the traditional end of evening. 

We followed that up with the new traditional evening.... A drink at the uber-trendy Redwood Room at the guy's hotel.  It's a place for the beautiful people (and I guess that they aren't that bright).  The tables have a two bottle minimum and the bottles start at $300 a piece.  The place was packed and they only let us in because the guys are hotel guests.

I took a cab back to my hotel even though it was only a few blocks.  I still have shin splints from walking on Sunday.

It's almost 9am and I'm due to scan in for my first session.  More later.

Me

Here I am getting my turn on the big bean bag.  Next break I'm going after a free massage.

Between Sessions

Huge bean bag cushions have been thrown all over the lobby spaces to provide extra seating.  These areas area also equiped with wireless access.  At lunch they provided a decent boxed lunch and a stadium blanket for a picnic in the sun.  I bet if it had rained they'd have passed out umbrellas.

Surprise Guest

Michael Phellps was this morning's surprise guest.  He wasn't really a speaker but he did say a few words.  The guy that hooked us up with the backstage entre last night scored again (but was chastisized for bringing the rest of last night) so we didn't get to meet him.

We have time for one session before lunch and then a full afternoon of the stuff that I'm really here to see.

Day 1

The key note speakers this evening included James Carville and Mary Matalin.  They were both very entertaining and we were lucky enough to meet them (photo to follow) at the after party.  Both were very charming and interesting. 

Then we went to dinner with one our vendors.  Sashimi, Kobe beef and a flight of Sakis.  This was followed by a traditional nightcap at the Buena Vista and a cable car ride home.  As I'm in a different hotel I rode all the way to the end of the line alone before realizing that I don't actually know my way around.  I worked it out pretty quickly.

The fishing fleet

Sealions

Alcatraz

As seen from Pier 39

Jackie

I've missed her.  I need to talk to her more often.  We had a great dinner, just the two of us at a place called Cafe de la Presse.  I had the sea bass with asparagus.  Then we met up with her husband and another Aussie and walked to a pub for a few drinks.  It is still pretty early but the time change is workong against me.

SFO

There are 65,000 attendees expected to the conference this year.  I've arrived at the airport at the perfect time to catch the shuttle to the hotel ahead of the big rush.  Somehow I messed up the times by a few hours.  That isn't really a surprise and I'll eventually figure out what I did wrong but for now I'm content to will the driver to go faster.  Jackie (college room mate) is meeting me tonight.

Fundraisers

On a related topic we've entered the early fundraiser season.  Cub Scout popcorn sales are in full swing.  I've already ordered cookie dough from two different schools.  I purchased my local discount card.  I'm looking for Passbooks but dodging parents selling gift-wrap and greeting cards.  Our school finally scored the king of fundraisers… the one check fundraiser.  The school did the math and determined that a flat out contribution of only $15 per family is the equivalent of our most effective fundraiser in the last few years.  If we'll cough up cash we won't have to harass our friends, family, neighbors and co-workers at all.  I gave extra because I REALLY want it to work.

 

End of an Era

My local area discount card is expiring this month.  The replacement card no longer includes discounts at the one eatery that honored it (where I eat).  In the previous four years the card has saved me $2 on lunch approximately twice a month at this one restaurant.  That's $152 saved after paying the $40 in card fees.  Plus I occasionally used it at other area restaurants but this was my stand-by.  Even better the lunches were usually shared with four of my co-workers that each had cards of their own.

 

Afternoon tennis

Sunil asked a friend to join us up at the tennis courts for awhile after school.  They were certainly enthusiastic and competitive even if their rules were too hard for me to follow.

Ike

Ike did do some damage in Texas this weekend but it wasn't near us.  A ton of scheduled activities were cancelled "just in case" including fencing and Cub Scout Leader training.  Other items went on as planned including middle school football games.  I love that the indoor stuff was called off but they made the kids play in the rain.  All we had here was moderate, for a storm, wind gusts and rain.  The heavy rain only lasted about an hour.  By Sunday it was beautiful.  Even today it is still sunny and cool.  It feels like fall.

 

Huricane Nap

Maya and I have holed up on living room couch for a nap.  We couldn't wait for the storm but have already wasted most of the afternoon.  Lovely.

Hurricane Ike

is expected to pass just close enough for us to know it. Fossil Rim did decide to cancel our bike and actually will be closed for three days. So we are sticking close to the house for the weekend. I'm actually expecting to be babysitting the freezers again when the power goes out.

School commitments

The school year always starts with a flurry of commitments. Last night was curriculum night for both the 2nd and 5th grades. At least I only had to sacrifice one night instead of two but it meant that I was at the school for the two and a half hours between the time I get home and the time Sunil goes to bed. It doesn't leave much time for actual parenting.

Tonight is join scouting night for the cub scouts so we have to go up again tonight with Sunil to sign up again. He's very excited, he got to wear his uniform to school today.

Tomorrow is the first PTA meeting -- this time they disguised it as an ice cream social to get the kids to bring their parents in. I'm hoping to skip this one.

Friday night is the parent's planning meeting for our cub scout den. We need to divide up duties for the year and set out schedule.

Saturday we were supposed to join the pack for the first day of Boy Scout popcorn sales. Unfortunately we are already committed to the bike ride down in Glen Rose.

Yesterday the scouts sent home fliers regarding: scout night at a Ranger game, a Mavericks game, an FC Dallas game, the Mesquite Rodeo, and CUBE (a family event). All of this happens in the next seven weeks.

We were given dates through the spring when the kids are not allowed to travel, have Dr/dentist appointments or be ill due to test dates, practice test dates, assessment dates or conferences.

We spent 45 minutes talking about the 5th graders trip to Sky Ranch. I'm going to be a chaperon so I get to sleep in a cabin with 16 ten year old girls for two nights.

Gaps

We've known the time was coming but it is finally here. Sunil lost two teeth yesterday, one at school and the other while flossing before bed. Actually I got to pull the second one (my first time really pulling one) because the floss knocked it crooked but he couldn't get it out. I told Sunil months ago that the tooth fairy pays double if you lose two at a time.

Sheela still has a gap left in her mouth too. I took pictures of both the kids this morning but neither of them are stellar. The kids are not at their most cooperative early.

Poor tactical decision... repeated

I've given up trying to convince Sid that wine does not cool down any faster in the freezer than it does in the fridge.  He's convinced it does.  So once again we froze a bottle of wine.  This time a Texas Sweet Moscato he's been meaning to try.  It turns out I'm not a fan of this one, but it never had a chance.  Your basic thawed wine is undoubtedly less appealing than your freshly chilled wine. 

Current favorite recipe

We have a new favorite recipe around our house. Its not at all what I expected the kids to like but they swear they love it.... cheesy catfish fillets.

Mix 1/3 parts sour cream, real mayonnaise and cheap grated Parmesan cheese together throw in a handful of dehydrated, minced onion. Spread it over the catfish fillets and bake at 350 oF for 25-30 minutes. If it hasn't browned a little on top -- broil it for a few minutes. It will turn brown and bubble.

I usually mix 1 cup of each and use less than half of it on the fish. The rest I smear on sliced french bread and broil. This has long been my favorite appetizer. If you save it in the fridge the onion flavor gets stronger (better) overnight.

Surveys

One of the most inspired marketing strategies never pursued by my company was their "voice of the customer" initiative. The person driving the project left almost as soon as it was out of the box and no one else seems as drawn to it as I was. Unfortunately it is not my area of the company.

The gist of it was pretty easy... ask the customer what they want before you decide what to sell. It sounds easy but is not the way things are done. We tend to work with a single customer on an idea rather than 1000s. We get a product that is perfect for the one person that give the product to for free and no one wants to buy the product.

I love surveys. I know most people hate them and think that they are an inconvenience but how many times do you get frustrated with something and there is no one there to here your gripe?!? I love having an opinion and being asked to share it as opposed to forcing it down someones throat. I take every opportunity to influence my world.

For example about seven years ago Chrysler called and wanted to ask me about my car buying experiences. I was home alone. There was nothing on TV, so why not? They wanted to know.

The only cars I'd ever purchased were Fords. Did it matter what their adds said, no. Did it matter what features were offered, no. Did it matter where the adds were displayed or broadcast, no. What was Ford doing that they weren't? That's easy, 30-ish years before they hired family. I was the lucky recipient of employee discounts. What would it take to get me to consider buying one of their cars? An employee discount might make it possible. A year later every manufacturer under the sun was offering employee discounts. I'm not really taking credit for that, in fact I find it pretty annoying. But I might have played a part in making a change.

The blogger survey link is listed on the dashboard page. Mostly my responses to this survey were "every thing is great" but they did ask for input on new features. Everyone has to have something that they want and can't do or don't know how to do. In my case I want an easy way to copy my blog to a CD or storage device to save forever. This is the closest thing I've had to a diary since I was 18 and the bulk of the kid's childhoods are recorded here. I'd hate to lose that forever but I don't have time to save it little by little. Maybe they'll create a process for me to archive my memories just because I took the time to answer their questions.

Beautiful Fall Days

The last few days have been too pretty for words. It has cooled off some. It is still more than 90s in the afternoons but the evenings and early mornings are cool. Last weekend we managed a couple of family bike rides plus Sheela and I walk almost every evening after dark. We've been on the go all morning and still have to buy a birthday gift and participate in the Cub Scout Fair but them we get to chill for the rest of the weekend. I'm planning to trim hedges and clear flower beds. I may even plant a few Fall flowers

DTI Scan

The son of our friends is back off to St. Jude's Hospital today. Early tomorrow morning he will have a DTI scan done of the suspected brain tumor. This scan is similar to an MRI but provides much clearer images. Here is a sample scan - pretty don't you think?!? Anyhow keep him in your thoughts on Thursday. We aren't really pulling for either an operable vs inoperable designation as much as we are hoping for a clear treatment decision from the team of Doctors. They've been working on this for 5 or 6 years already.

Rearrangement

Well my boss has restructured our department again essentially giving making my counterpart my boss and putting all of my people under him. This was supposed to be freeing up all of my time to tackle this really big project I've been lobbying for for the last three years. But they aren't going to fund it again this year... even though they actually budgeted the money for it this time. I'm pretty disappointed three years is a long time to wait for something that you know needs to be done and now we've rearranged and I have nothing new to show for it.

Labor Day Weekend

Sunil and I camped out Saturday night. We just pitched the tent in the backyard (the big tent this time) in hopes of a family camp out. It was pretty warm and muggy with it. Sid was gone within half an hour... Sheela left about an hour later. Sunil and I toughed it out. Actually by that time it was cool and pleasant. We had a very nice night. The tent is large enough to hold a queen sized air mattress, two twin sized mattresses and still have room to walk... not to mention room to stand all the way up. This tent is a monster. Sunil started out on his own mattress but somewhere along the line he ended up curled up under my chin just like when he was small. He is such a sweetie.

The next night the night started off a little bit cooler and Sheela stayed out all night with us. both kids competed to see who could sleep the closest to me. As soon as they fell asleep I wriggled free and went to one of the other mattresses for another great night's sleep.

Aside from the camping and some marshmallow roasting we didn't do much over the holiday weekend. I went shopping, Sunil played with friends and Sheela and I worked on our paint-by-number pictures. Actually I'm doing Sunil's. The little spots and the paint mixing were more than he wanted to work through.