Ace parenting on my vacation day

Sure Sunil, you can climb the rickety, old fence.  It's not dangerous if no one gets hurt, right?!?

And the Wailers

And Three Dog Night

Roger Daltry Stage

Yes, I do know how bad these pictures are...

Aerosmith stage

Last Night

Tonight is the big appreciation party out on Treasure Island but before that we have a sushi dinner and afterwards stops at least the Buena Vista and the Redwood Room.  I'm pretty over the Redwood Room by now so I'm hopping to hustle everyone in to Lefty's Irish Pub and Piano Bar instead.

The conference gave me enough to have been worth the trip but I think I won't be back for a few years.  Most of the benefits to me are the time with the IT teams from Italy and San Diego.  They are in Dallas every couple of months we just need to schedule time while they are in town to talk.

Sailing

The tropical storms that are threatening the area have held off long enough for us to risk a sailing trip this afternoon -- my first in the Pacific.  One of the vendors chartered a 65ft boat for the afternoon.  Have I mentioned how much I love my job and this show?

Funky Mirrored Chair

Haight-Ashbury

Still a neat area.

Soft sculpture

I'm sitting in the lobby admiring, of all things, a plush looking black bowler stuffed with an apple.  The whole thing is maybe two feet tall and three feet in diameter.  It's a strange hotel.

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The arm chair in my room at the uber-trendy Clift Hotel in SF,CA.  I may be able to get a picture of the rest of the room during daylight.  It does not look like everywhere else I've ever stayed.  The walls are mostly mirrors and curtains and the night stands are clear acrylic cubes.

Postponed

The golf tournament will be pushed back a month or so because of the amount of rain we received.  Actually I'm really pleased for the delay.  I'm taking a vacation day this week, travelling next week and travelling again the week after.  I really need to go in as much as possible this week.

Dinner

We've made a conscious choice to cook and eat dinner together as a family every Sunday night but more tan that we've started planning our meals for the week on the weekend.  Everyone gets to help decide what we are going to have at least part of the time and they usually help with the cooking.  The food is better and the stress level lower than when we make it up as we go.

This week we lead off with cheese fondue (with crab meat) and a chocolate fondue course.  Monday was chicken quesadillas, tonight is hawaiian pork chops, Wed is lasagna in the crock pot, Thurs is the meat fondue course with schloss sauce.  Friday we left open in case the boys go to the high school football game.

First Concert

One of the dots is Sheela during her first concert.

Apples

For years the only apples I would eat were Granny Smiths.  I love the crunch and the explosion of tart juice.  Over the last few years however I’ve gained an appreciation for Fuji apples.  They are still firm but much mellower in flavor. But now for the first time I have an actual new favorite – the Honey Crisp.  It is every bit as crunchy as a good Granny but instead of tart it is unbelievable sweet.  I’m eating at least two a day.

Service project

Clean the creek

Another rainy day

Spent with Maya.

Six Weeks

I can’t believe today marks the end of the first six week grading period at school. It has gone really fast. Grades won't be out for another week but I believe the year got off to a strong start for both of them.

Taking shape

Because the land around here is generally clear and flat large buildings are generally constructed from poured concrete walls that are then hoisted up in to place and bracketed together.  Here is a snap of the walls being raised on our new facility.  My cube space, or as we call them “snoffice”, will most likely be right inside the front first floor window as seen from here.

It's official

I’m going to Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco.  I have plane tickets, room reservations (at the uber-trendy Clift Hotel) and a full conference pass.  This should be the last of my trips for this year and if not for the six hours of lectures each day would qualify as a vacation.

The entertainment

This year Aerosmith, Roger Daltrey, the Wailers and the Fixx are all coming to the Oracle OpenWorld Appreciation Event on Treasure Island.  Oddly enough I think I’m the most excited about seeing the Fixx again.  It’s been probably 25 years but it was one of my favorite concerts.

Song and Dance

While up here in MA I got to have lunch with a former co-worker.  His nickname is Dance, his wife's given name is Song.  Together they are a competitive Line Dance team, Song and Dance.  They also work as DJs.  He's a very nice guy and he has made a hobby of collecting music.  Thanks to this recent visit I have nearly 300 songs on my MP3 player.  Not bad considering I've only had it for five days.

Not quite the Big E

The Eastern States Exposition is going on here in Springfield and I planned to go tonight with my friend Jeff and his family.  But storms were moving in so we settled a dinner out instead.

The Expo, or Big E, is the New England equivalent of our own Texas State Fair.  I was looking forward to it as I've never been to anything else that was similar.  I've been asked before if the Texas State Fair is bigger than other state's fairs.  Everyone in Texas really does think that they do everything on a larger scale but I don't have a way to judge.

One thing I was going to pass up even if we'd gone was this year's special treat --  a bacon cheesebuger served between two glazed donuts and if I heard correctly deep fat fried.  Doesn't even really bear thinking about does it?!?

International Terminal

Once again I'm flying to Hartford today and I get to leave from the International terminal.  It's my favorite.  The food is better, the window shopping is better and the energy is better.  If that weren't enough of a plus for this trip I also get to fly First Class today.  I don't actually know how that happened but I'm pleased none the less.  I even get an actual meal on the flight and I didn't have to pay to check my bag.  Best of all though is that I believe I've managed to duck Sheela's cold.  It was a close thing over the weekend but it never really developed beyond my annoying coughing phase.  I love my life.

Did I mention

That the rain had stopped?  It's beautiful out this evening.  The kids are spending the night with friends while Sid and I celebrate our 18th anniversary.

Rivers and Storms from the past

The Gales and the Rioses came over for dinner last night.  George, Stephanie and Sid were in JROTC togther.  Richard was a friend from college.  Richard and Amanda just got married and moved to Dallas.  George and Stephanie (and their boys) are driving from NM to NOLA and we are the halfway point.  We may see them again on their way home next week.

Cold and flu season is upon us

Sheela stayed home from school on Friday with a fever and a sore throat.  Have the folks out from work are home with kids that either have the flu (already) or strep throat.  The strep possibility had me worried so I did take Sheel to the doctor.  She is negative on strep but can still expect about five days of fever and coughing.  Without Motrin she is pathetic, with it you can't even tell she is sick.

Ice Blue Irises

For the first time in over a week it isn't raining today.  So I took five minutes and planted the iris rhizomes that Mom gave me in July.  They are pretty well brown and crunchy but they still had a few green leaves and I've seen them come back from worse treatment.  I have a ton of Chocolate Daddies, one really pretty gold and now hopefully some ice blue around the tree in the front yard. 

I was planning to dig them all up do a little bit of thinning and intermixing but it went from HOT to WET too fast this year.  Today was the first real chance I've had and apparently I'm just too lazy.

Palm Springs

I've been invited to present at the National Sales Meeting in Palm Springs in February.  They still have plenty of time to change their minds but I was pleased to just be considered.

AM/FM Radio Kit

Sunil built his first radio today.  It works well but only in a completely silent environment - it's a good thing Sid and Sheela were gone for the weekend.

Bear Year

This marks the beginning of Sunil's 3rd year as a Cub Scout.  He is working on his Bear Rank.  Our den is down to only 4 or 5 boys.  That is pretty small especially if anyone doesn't show for an event.  There are too many events to attend them all but I like the boys (and their families) so we are sticking together.

A mid-zoo nap

8 Years

Of the LaCerte Family Children's Zoo.  We've been bringing the kids here for 8 years and it it still one of my favorite places at the zoo.  I love the "creek" and watching the tiny kids toddle around in the water.  It's about the only place where I like other people's kids.

Zoo day

Shut down

Wow!  It has been a frantic couple of weeks and I’m ready for a break.  I stumbled in from work and promptly fell asleep on the couch.  After repeated “Wake up, Mom” attempts the kids gave up and fed themselves.  Sid wandered in later and did the same.  I’ve been staring at Facebook for an hour now and I realize I’m still not really awake so I’m going to bed.  Tomorrow it’s just me and the kids while Sid rodtrips to Austin with Hudson for a football game.  Sunday we’ll hit the zoo and Monday we’ve got home paperwork to get through.  The common theme here is three days without work.  Can I make it that long?

Orchestra

Sheela ended up borrowing her cousin's viola instead of mine.  Nita played for a semester in 3rd grade and hasn't used it since.  It is an inch or two shorter and so fits her much better.  I kept mine at home for now to see how it goes.

One of the drawbacks to having the instrument instead of renting is that the required music is included with a rental but not provided by the school.  As we joined so late we didn't get the info until Wed and we had to find it before Friday.  It turns out the store is close by but they ran out of the Viola version before we got there so we had to run all the way up to Frisco before that location closed.

Not too different

An industrious Saturday

I woke up early with no one to play with and no pleasure reading at hand.  So instead of lounging all morning I weeded the front flower beds and trimmed the hedges.  I'm a pretty infrequent gardner so this qualifies as news. 

Then I went for a haircut (a picture may follow).  By the time I got back Sid had convinced the kids that we owe him car detailing (we really do).  So we dejunked it and are getting ready for washing, waxing, vacuuming, and Rain-X-ing. 

Then we need to hit the library, the snow cone shop and the grocery store.  It's a fondue night here at the house so that will take the rest of the evening.  We are supposed to camp in the yard tonight.

Tomorrow the kids are going to the zoo with Sid while I go to work in the morning and to see "Mama-mia" at the Music Hall in the afternoon.

A new concept in reading

Sunil doesn't like to read stories but he likes to read.  This totally foreign concept took me forever to identify and I still don't REALLY understand it.  He wants to read books of facts about volcanos, snakes, the Civil War, etc but has no interest in reading about what happened when the volcano blew up the town, or a boy and his pet snake, or the little boy carrying messages to the front line during the battle.  Is it really reading if there is no plot?!?!

2009-2010 School Year

We are underway and off to a good start.  Both kids love their teachers and are still excited about doing their homework.  I know it won't last so I have to enjoy it while I can.

Sheela managed to switch in to the orchestra.  That was the plan all along but took a little bit of doing to get it done.  Tomorrow she'll go for the first time. 

Shavings and Chips - Practice

Sunil is working on his Cub Scout requirements today.  He is carving a racecar out of a bar of soap.

Kaleidoscope

Six Sunils sharing secrets.

That's a lot of vacation

I'm wiped out and we still have to slay the dragon, twice.  It's almost 7PM on the second day and we're done with the water.  The girls are in the arcade and the boys are cleaning up. 

This place isn't so much a nickle and dime operation as it is a $5 and $10 operation but I'm glad we came.  The waterpark is great and inclusive but the Magiquest wands are $15 min plus $10 to make it work.  Then you can dress them with jewels, ornaments, belts, etc.  I hate feeling cheap but I'm not buying bling for a wand.  Or dress yourself in cloaks, armour or fairy garb - which I'm also too cheap for and the kids were too cool for.  You can pay extra for the arcade, the spa treatments.  There is a whole kid spa with a sweet shop theme for the kids - imagine chocolate fizz facials and cheesecake scented scrubs. 

Great Wolf

We are enjoying our mini-vacation at our local Great Wolf Lodge.  There are both indoor and outdoor waterparks.  For a little bit of extra cash you can enjoy a ton of extra activities.  So far however we haven't left the water (and we are on hour six).

Charmed Life

I've always known that I live a charmed life - bad things don't really happen to me, for which I'm eternally grateful, but even the minor inconveniences rarely plague me for long.  All of that just say that Sid and the kids found my camera in the "zoo" backpack yesterday.  Yay!  I got all my vacation pics back and can take the camera with me tomorrow to wish the Sharmas a safe journey and the on to the "Lodge" for a back to school celebration. 

"Value People", "Own It" and "Have Courage"

These, along with "Be One", "Create Dialog" and "Just Imagine" are our company's six cultural beliefs.  I think I exhibited all three of these today by teaching a full day class today on our company's "Journey to Accountability".  I rated "Value People" both for taking the time to invest in myself and for sharing this knowledge with others.  I rated "Own It" for ensuring that my level and breadth of knowledge were sufficient to the task and for ensuring the whole team of trainers gave it our best effort.  I rated "Have Courage" for getting up in front of 30 people to teach a subject I'm still learning.  I still hate talking to groups but I did it.

This was a fabulous experience (that I get to repeat two more time this week) and a few more times later this month and again with the Sales force at the National meetings.

I am so wiped now that I couldn't even eat dinner and I only taught a third of the day.  I can only imagine what it takes to do the full day.

Weekend Work

I’m up here at the office again on a Saturday.  This time I’m helping out the quality department with incoming inspections.  They have a huge backlog and too few hands so a few hours here and there make a big difference.  I’ve posted here almost every time I’ve had to work on a weekend so it seems like it is often but really it’s not.  What I find striking today though is that nearly our entire manufacturing staff and half of the warehouse staff are here again.  The mfg folks work a four day week with Fridays off but they’ve been in every Friday and every Saturday since early June and they are still cheerful.  This is a great group of people.

Sponge War practice

The Cub Scouts are practicing their funnelator aiming skills in preparation for a pirate battle planned for the Family camp out later this Fall.  Mostly it's an excuse to play up at the sprayground on a hot day while showing off pack spirit.  The "sponges" are cloth covered sponge balls soaked in cold water.

New approach to life

Our corporate culture is heading for a shake up. I'm pretty excited about it now that we've gotten past the misrepresentations of what is to come. The initial directive was related to the hyper-precise set-up requirements sent along for the training room layout. Once we got to the actual content I was pleased. The watch words are a "culture of accountability" and the process is very positive. I spent a whole day in training this week absorbing the big picture, the watch words, the goals and the steps in the process. I was in one of the early classes but eventually all of our employees in North America will receive this same training. I was particularily impressed with the number of division Presidents and Vice-Presidents in attendence (and teaching portions of the material). What I didn't appreciate at the time was that I would be teaching the class myself by the end of August.

Yesterday I sat through a second day of training this one "Train the Trainer". A small group of us have been selected to champion this throughout the company. We have two weeks to polish up our act and then we have to start training the rest of the employees. I don't do a lot of structured, formal training so this is going to be stretch for me.

Cracked tooth

Out of respect for Sheela's privacy I no longer blog her every comment and action (Sunil isn't embarassed by it yet) but she was pretty proud of her latest "doins".

She broke a tooth biting in to popcorn last night not even a kernal but the fluffy white part.  A molar split right in half.

Today the dentist pulled both halves out by hand.  The root had already resorbed (which is why the tooth was so weak) and the replacement is ready to pop through her gum.

Sunil - Pretournament Shot

Sheela - Pretournament shot

The money pile

Etruscan Money Amphora

The children have been collecting their change (and a fair amount of ours) since Beckie's Holidaze Party back in Feb.  The jar is full.  Tonight is the ritual breaking of the jar followed by the laborius counting of the change.  The intended wish is for a night at Great Wolf Lodge.

The lodge is a camp themed hotel with indoor and outdoor waterparks.  I hope they saved enough.

Spring 2009 Angel Pics

The pics came a little bit late this year and featured a preprinted back drop instead of the pond/fountain at the park. The rain this year pushed the pictures back so often that they eventually gave up and moved the shoot indoors.

Comedy of Errors

Poor Sunil had a difficult time getting himself retrieved from his unaccompanied minor flight tonight.  First I called one time too many to check his arrival time and gate.  The auto voice indicated a 1 hour delay for causes unknown.  So I told Sid to be an hour late.  Either the message was wrong or they said 5:37 but I heard 6:37 or I mistyped the flight number.  Anyhow we now know that unloved, unclaimed children are taken to a holding cell in a different terminal. 

Then when Sid tried to go through security they had a problem either with Sid not being the obvious nickname for Sudhir or the fact that his business card doesn't have his picture on it - depending on how you look at it.  In order to get around this they had to call Mom to get permission to let him pass.  On the official paperwork Mom would be Marilyn but she thinks her name is Lyn which adds another layer of complexity.

Eventually Sid was allowed to retrieve Sunil from the cell (heavily populated with other unclaimed kids) but then they had to back to the original terminal to retrieve the golf bag from the unloved unclaimed baggage holding cell.  In the end it is a happy ending and I'm pleased to have him home.

Camera

It's official my camera is gone.  I'm afraid I let it behind a bush along the trail.  I'm pretty bummed.  It had two years worth of photos still on it going all the way back to Carlsbad Caverns.  Of course the good pics have mostly been blogged or emailed so it could be worse.  Mostly I lost pics from this trip which was pretty well covered by Sheela and Mom.

Nostalgia

We picked up my old viola today.  I gave it to a friend years ago but she still has it.  Sheela is going to use it this year for orchestra.  It's looking a little worse for wear but still has a good sound... If we could tune it worth a darn.

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Future site of my new building!

Texas

Wow, it's hot here!  Back up tp 108 outside and 98 inside.  The A/C was off while were gone.  I cleaned the fridge when we got back as a legitamte excuse to stick my head in for 20 minutes.  Now I'm going to the airconditioned store... It could take hours to choose dinner.

Mt. LeConte

The family survived the trek to and from LeConte Lodge.  Sid and Sheela topped out in the standard 4 hrs.  Sunil and I stayed with GJ and Grammylyn.  It took us 7 hours all told but we made it -- in time for dinner no less.  We spent the night in a pair of cute cottages, enjoyed a great breakfast and headed back down.  Pictures will follow but now we need to clean up and start the drive back to TX.

Tail removal

Sunil takes his turn

Tip 1

A sharp knife is worth its weight in gold.

Fish cleaning 101

Archery set

Sunil finally got to try out his new archery set.  We aren't bothering with targets at this point and just have him aiming at the side of a hill.  He can hit the side of a hill (and presumably the side of a barn).

Grammylyn modifies a bluebird house

It is time to replace the bluebird houses in the cemetary where Grammy and Grandsir are buried.  There used to be one there for each of them but they've fallen apart and fallen down.  Sheela will paint plaques for new ones.

The culvert

My parents always told me to stay out of the culverts under the road.  They are dangerous.  As surely as god made little green apples a storm will break, the creek will rise, disobedient children will be trapped and drowned.  This one is part of the cart path at the golf course.  If I drown -- tell my mother that "I'm sorry!"

Project 1

Item one on our vacation schedule is to restring the hanging chair.  It broke after nearly 20 years.  They've weathered more here than they did in Michigan.  In MI they were taken in for the winter here it's the summer that's rough.  The birds are stealing fibers from the ropes and the wasps are stealing the wood.

Memphis

We made it past Little Rock before stopping but didn't hit Memphis 'till this morning.  We still have 6 hours to go but might be there in time for dinner.

Underway

We are officially on vacation.  In fact we've already hit the Arkansas border.  I think we'll make Little Rock before we stop for the night.

Joy of joys

Its a three-day weekend for me after all!  The operations portion of the conversion is stable (well we can't really stress it until the financials are cleared) but that means finance will work the weekend while I swim and grill and catch up on sleep.  Then Monday and Tuesday Ops will be back in the hot seat.

108 outside means

88 inside.  Most A/Cs are sized to pull the temperature down @20 degrees.  That just is not enough here.

Summer fun

Sheela left yesterday for her week with Grammylyn and GJ.  She did call to let me know she arrived safely.  In theory Mom's Blog (and even Sheela's) should be bursting with new adventures but I think they'll be too busy to share... at least I got that first call.

Go Live

Tonight is "go live" night on our new processes.  We've done all we can to prepare -- now we'll switch to firefighting mode.  Tomorrow should be an interesting day.

Maxed out

I think we finally have too many employees.  I've watched our numbers skyrocket in the last six weeks and as of yesterday we have more cars in the lot than parking spaces.  Luckily I come in early and haven't been leaving at lunch.

Twilight Camp

This is the last night of Sunil's cub scout camp.  It's over 100 degrees for the third day in a row.  A perfect time for a bonfire..  Sid's done his two volunteer stints already and tonight it's my turn.  I baled out of work early (not an easy feat these days) and I'm not even feeling guilty.

Paddling as fast as I can

We’ve hit crunch time on our process integration for the facility consolidation.  I’m working late, working weekends and waking up in the middle of the night unable to sleep.  Everything is coming together but in fits and starte instead of the seamless transition we were working towards.  At least it is still on track.  Tonight we are taking a break and taking the team out to dinner.  It isn’t the whole team just the core IT team… and me.  I pretend to be IT sometimes because the perks are better (and the work is fun).  Luckily the dinner starts late enough (and is close to my house) so that I can run home and spend a few minutes with Sheela before meeting up with everyone.  She has been feeling my absence more than anyone else.  Sid naps in the evenings and I’m usually home before he wakes up, Sunil is spending his evenings at Twilight Camp (Cub Scouts) but Sheela is home and lonely.

Father's Day

I don't know about Sid but I had a wonderful FatherKs Day.  Sheela and I brought back donuts for the traditional breakfast in bed.  Then we went out to Lake Ray Roberts for some fishing.  Lunch was mongolian bbq followed by a kid-friendly movie ("Imagine That").  Then I scored a two hour nap - with the cat.  Now Sid's grilling dinner.

Poster

This was cropped from Sheela’s school biography poster.  I like the picture. 

The Ahi Tower

After it toppled.  Its sushi night for the Unitus IT team.

Country Codes

We use a feature on our MRP system to prevent accidental shipment to unapproved locations called “County Codes”.  For each part individual assignments need to be made for each allowed country.  I assigned 162,540 country codes over the weekend.  I don’t like it when I have to work during “family” time but at least I feel like the time was well spent.

Deuce and Daisy - RoughRider Mascots

 

OFIX Summer Classic

The spring golf tournament was rained out (a company first) and had to be rescheduled.  This worked out well for me because I was unable to play in the spring.  Shelby, Miguel, Christina, David and I tied (with four other teams) for second place.

Crunch time

We have only 20 days left before we go live on the combined process and we are getting a touch panicky.  It's all good and things that aren't done (and late) are close.  We're going to make it.

Training Day 1

We completed our fist training class today.  We'll teach this one two more times tomorrow and then do one advanced class on Wed.  For now though we are ready for a night on the town or a quiet Italian dinner in honor of Suzi's birthday.

More little things

This is the "smoking bench" between the hotel and the day care center (taken in the weak, early morning light from my 3rd floor window).  It comes with a bench an ash tray and a firehydrant.  It is even labeled as a fire zone.

We each received a "Welcome" package at check in:  two doses of Alka-Seltzer Plus and one of cherry Pepto-Bismol.  We've decided to eat out.

Last night on the national news there was a story about the discovery of three buried pipebombs right here in Wayne, NJ.  The bomb squad detonated all three plus the two old cans of gun powder.  No one was injured.

The score keepers

Annual Riders game

Sunil and Grammylyn during the Roughriders' pre-game.  We were all featured on Rider vision during the National Anthem.

Oma and Opa as pirates

I can’t wait to show this one to Sunil…..

The end for the Quiet Series III?

The dishwasher seems to be malfunctioning.  There doesn’t seem to be any water used during the wash or rinse cycles.  Hopefully Sid is either fixing or replacing this today.

2nd Grade Pirate Day

Just because

Birthday bounty

Sunil is wearing his new fishing hat and sorting through his tackle.

Birthday boy

On baseball photo day

Welcome baby Kiera

Congratulations to Brenda and family on the arrival of baby Kiera!  She was born last night and is beautiful as expected.  I was hoping to get by the hospital at lunch today for a quick visit but I’m still at my desk so I guess I’m not going to make it today.

So close and yet.... Not

We managed to get bumped up two flights out of Gainesville but a weather delay combined with a mechanical delay still have us on the ground.  Our connection through Atlanta is now in jeopardy.  I'm really ready to be home and the estimated arrival ranges from 7:30PM to tomorrow mid-morning.

Sunil's leatherwork

Sunil drills with the guns

Sheela with the army

Civil War Reenactment

We are riding our bikes down to the Allen Heritage Village (via the donut shop) for the Civil War Reenactment.  Hopefully we'll get the chance (for a small fee) to shoot the muskets.  I think I'm the one most excited about going but Sheela's AIM class spent all year studying the war not to mention the 5th grade social studies class covered it too. 

The other Big-D

Nancy and I flew to Denver for the day to meet one of our tissue suppliers.  We got the full tour including the processing rooms.  It was just about what I expected.  I did get the feeling that the current company liason expected us to either turn green or pass out.