Coffee anyone?

I was in a Starbucks this morning and I overheard something that made me chuckle. ".... we'll have a fresh batch of Christmas up in a minute!"

Hmmmm...

I hope you all are enjoying a big ole batch of Christmas!

Schmucks!

Marilyn and I braved the deluge in Philadelphia this week an went to the Wilma Theater to see Schmucks. It was a play of Groucho Marx meets Lenny Bruce in a diner in Manhattan. It has some good laughs and on liners but most of all it was a mess. I could care less about the Lenny Bruce character and all of his problems. The play ended and I'm not sure what the heck it was trying to tell me. I enjoyed it as an evening out but the play is not going win any awards.

Long awaited pictures.....

Here are the pictures form the summer and the all important Thanksgiving pictures. Click on this link.

Made it......

Finally made it home in the Thanksgiving crush. After a three hour delay in Saint Louis we made it into the air. Philly however had other ideas. There was heavy weather around and we were really getting bumped around in the air. I mean so much so that the stewardess were strapped in. When we popped out of the cloud on approach to the runway. Well there was a plane on the runway!!!!! The pilot took off a again and diverted to Long Island. After refueling and taking off again we bumped along back to Philly where at 2 in the morning there was no one on the runway thankfully. By 3:30 we make to our door.

Happy Thanksgiving

Marilyn and I are at Stacey and Jay's home for Thanksgiving. We've been doing a bunch of rushing around and visting. Mostly playing with the nephews and niece. Thanksgiving dinner is done and everyone is watching movies on the DVD player. I've been typing away on my computer on a work problem and getting the weather station on weather underground site. Marilyn has been a good aunt and wrapping presents. Just another enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving travels...

On Saturday I jumped on an airplane going east and Marilyn jump on one going west and braved the thanksgiving travel rush weekend 1 to make it to Mid Missouri. SouthWest is a great airline to travel on provided you check in early enough to get a good seat. I was reading a Clive Cussler book " The Chase ". It's about a turn of century detective and his exploits in 1906 San Francisco to catch a notorious bank robber. I actually left the book on the plane on the way out while I was in the middle of it and I had to buy the book again in order to finish it on this leg of the trip.

Rockstar?

One more night of team building. The interface team went to Juile's home ( our group lead ) and played another round of rock band. Bon Jovi and the Talking Heads songs were massacred for the evening. It was fun to let out you inner rock star. The class I went to take was going well. I was there with a bunch of fellows from the Philly office. On Thursday we wanted to go out for dinner. These guys were not what you call dainty eaters. They were looking for a steak house, not little plates. We had dinner at a Brazilian steak house. The kind where they walk around with grilled meat on a sword and cut it off for you at your table. It fit this group well.

Team building

This week my teammates fro around the country have converged on San Leandro. We had meeting on weathering the current economic storm. Our leaders telling us what they want to do and asking for our input on what we can do. After many power point slides it was time for teambuilding. The team, about 20 people headed to le mans karting. It was90 minutes of fuel driven, tire screeching, yelling and screaming way to blow off some steam. We then went to Alex's ( our boss ) house for a bbq dinner. It was a great time then they broke out the rockband video game. Now the bad singing came out! We all took turns singing and playing instruments and generally looking silly in front of one another. A really good time and great team building exercise.

Back in San Francisco

On the left coast again. . I was strapped into a middle seat all the way here! At least I had a direct flight.

One more class and lots of meetings this week. Just have to get through it and then its off to Thanksgiving! Tired, Jet lagged, Need sleep.......

Paging Al Gore... Paging Al Gore....

Wow, got our first power bill for the winter after putting in the new insulation, heatpump and heater. Al l I can say is Wow! Here it is by the numbers.....

Average temp this year is 13% colder than last year.

Used 8% less electric than last year.

And the big one.... Used 30% less gas than last year!

Wow I'm using the same temp profile on the thermosthat and all else is the same. So we are keeping warm, saving money and keeping the planet green!

Thanks for the thumbs up Al!!!!!!

Weekend Wrapup

Another busy weekend. At least not a travel weekend. Started by tweaking the weather station. I put up the rain bucket on the shed roof and the sensor plug had come out. Had to go up on the shed roof to plug it back in. Cleaned up the basement and darkroom. Before the install of the new heater and A/C unit all the basement STUFF had to be moves somewhere. No it all had to be moved back. The up side is my workshop is now working again and I was working on my crashed radio controled helicopter. Mike had a beer party on Saturday night. About 50 people crammed into his house to feast on wings,cheese, little wieners, and taste beer. The hit, kiltlifter, both in name and taste. The cantaloupe sorbet was super too. Sunday, I hit the gym for the first time in a while. I bought a Garmin heart rate monitor which is a super little gadget to monitor and log your workouts. After the gym I was gripped by an incredible urge to nap. One of those naps that you are telling yourself to get up and your body is not listening. When I finally got up we went to see Madagascar, it's a kids cartoon but I think the penguins are hilarious.

On tap for this week. Dental appointment, I chipped my front tooth and it's cutting my tongue. I need to get it fixed in such a way that I don't look like Sponge Bob Square Pants!

Where were you when.......

Where were you when JFK was shot?

Where were you when they landed on the moon?

Where were you when Obama was announced president elect?


There was a small earthquake centered in polling places all over the United States that was felt all over the world. I don't know how to characterize it. A giant leap in race relations. A breakthrough in leadership. An inspiration. A movement. All I can say that I'm glad I was here to experience this national moment. But I think this moment is not just ours but a world wide moment. A moment where we show the world that anything is possible in this country. That the United States stands for fairness and decency.

So where were you?

Yes We Can.......

Best Political Picture of the Day

I think Biden's tights are a little too tight!

Hey What Are You Doing Here???

GO VOTE!!!!

Home again

Home again. Big bout of jet lag and time change. It's Monday night and I'm still not quite right. The contractor finaly finished the siding outside this weekend. I'm not looking forward to any more home improvement for a while. I put up the new weather station. The thermometer is on the blog. Also, I put up some blinds in Marilyn's sewing room. I finished reading a Clive Cussler book on the plane and I finished that James Bond book " Devil May Care" too. I had a chapter to read and I could not find the time to read it. Just think two more weeks and an other big road trip. San Francisco, Saint Louis, Philadelphia triangle.

Working like a Dog!

Cramming more stuff into my brain today with this course. More that I ever wanted to know about tech support and call centers. I feel I'm going to start to get comfortable with this and then go back to my real job. In six months I'll do it again and I'll have forgotten everything ( or they will change procedures! )

Cramming all information

The visit here is going ok. The course is taught by one of the tech support staff. This course is more of a cram course it was not well designed as the last course that I took. I'm holding my own except that I'm next on the list for support and I'm getting support items coming down the pipe. This is because the other guy is in Europe and can't get to the phone. It would be ok but I need to research the problems but I have no time as I'm in this class...... It's Ok I have a handle on most of it.

Going to rush back to the hotel tonight to watch the Phillies tonight. Watched the game the other night saw the Phils go up 2 but the fell asleep for the rest of the game....Jet lag again!

Major weekend wrapup....

Sorry for no updates. It's been a crazy weekend. Marilyn, Meg and I went out to the 1812 production. " This is the Week That Is" the election special. With this election it just gave them a target rich environment. No politicians were save from the barbs and jabs that were lobed at them. The 2008 Presidential Election Beauty Pagent was a scream.

On Saturday we meet Marj and Roy down at the boat. They were helping us put the boat to bed for the winter. Saturday the wind was screaming at 40 knots and the rain was going sideways. We got all of the inside work for the winter done. It calmed down enough for us to go to the Harbor Shack and have the last crab cakes of the season. Sunday it was beautiful! 60 degrees sunny and no wind. We dropped the sails and the rest of the canvas. I finished the temporary structure for the solar panel. The we packed up and went home.

At home we unpacked the car and then I packed my bags again for San Leandro. I have a week long course here for tech support. It's a little cool here in San Francisco and I did not bring a jacket.

Getting the boat ready for winter

Marilyn picked me up at the airport and we drove down to the boat. I packed my bag last weekend which was 80 degrees. It was high in the 50's this weekend. I wish I packed some long pants! The heater on the boat worked well. It was low in the 40's last night and our dock neighbors were wrapped up in their sleeping bags. We just cranked up the heat pump to 70 and were perfectly snug. Scott finished the new companion way doors. They look fantastic. I'll try and put up a picture before we put the boat away for the winter. The really did their job as we did not have to wrestle with the boards getting in and out and it kept the heat in. In the summer it will keep the cool of the A/C in just as well. We took off the the main sail and folded it up and bagged it and then the wind wipped up and we could not take down the jib. Next weekend for sure and we have to winterize all the water systems on the boat. After Nov 1 Imagination is hauled out of the water and put on land. The old boat was huge when it was out of the water and you were looking up at it, this one is even bigger. Next May we'll be right back in the water and having fun again.

Two Buck Chuck

Good day out here. I don't know what it was all the talk about "Joe the Plumber" or the Phillies winning the NLCS or bad feng shui of my room I could not sleep Wednesday night and I opened up my computer and started programming. I fixed a problem that was vexing a Japaneese customer. This is a big load off my mind as this is one of the two big problems that need solving before the end of the year. The class is going well except that I need to to have a Red Bull to stay awake mid morning.

After the class I confirmed my bug kill with the internationalization specialist here. I was wondering about stenciling a bug on my laptop like when pilots make a confirmed kill. How many do I need to become and ace?

I had dinner a Julie and Jay's last night. Julie is my group leader. We got salmon and salad for dinner and met up with Jay at their home . Jay was in full kitchen mode when we got there. A glass of wine was placed in my hands and the salmon was seasond and places on the grill. The first bottle ran out during dinner and the Two Buck Chuck was opened. It was a great wine especially for dinner. Dinner, conversation and wine flowed then all to soon it was time for a ride back to the hotel.

Today finishing up the class and another round with the internatialization specialist and tonight I'll be staring another red eye in the face. ( <-- Not a pretty picture! )

Stuff, Stuff and more Stuff.......

The class is going well. Not much that I did not know already. But my product support commitment is firming up. I have to take a product support class in October. ( Yup gone another week in October ) and I have 5 weeks of telephone product support between now and the end of January. The good thing is that 5 weeks are in Philly.

I'll be gone three weeks this October when I get back home no one is going to know who I am anymore.

I'm trying to get my commitments done before ski season so that this support stuff doesn't get in the way.

With all this training and support ( the training is mostly for the support! ) I only have about 3 weeks to do two software releases! YIKES! One is a slam dunk which I have completed the changes in Sweden and only have to do the paperwork. The other I have not even started! I'm going to be one tired puppy between now and the end of the year.

Jet lag

My body is beat! It doesen't know when to sleep and when do be awake! So I'm doing a little programming at 4 in the morning... or is that 7 ... or 1.... Nevermind!

I'm down at the Marina in San Leandro right on the San Francisco bay. There is a marina down here lots of motor boats a few sail boats no one was near any of them. It's a nice place but I prefer being downtown. This place is not so friendly as a pedistrian. Downtown I can come and go as I please with the BART, and even in the financial district there are more choices of places to go.

Another Monday another flight....

I'm sitting at the airport ready to get on another flight to San Francisco. I have a meeting today and a class to attend this week.

Went to Ikea....

Went to Ikea the Swedish furniture store this afternoon to get some lingonberry jam and some crispbread. I figured that bringing a jar of jam in my luggage was a risky adventure for sure. We bought a quilt cover and other odds and ends. We lunched at the resturant and Anders was right the resturant at Ikea is quite good!

Universal Beer Server

Since Soft Beer Inc. has introduced the Universal Beer Server the response has been tremendous! I have been deluged with questions like "What do I need to run the Universal Beer Server?".

First if you are a Micro Brewery just go to the Soft Beer site and tap into the "Universal Beer Server" and you may need the "Universal Beer Server API Interface" it will adapt to any standard barrel or keg.

If you are a home brewer get the "Universal Beer Server Home Edition" and this will work for you. ( a 2Gb brewpot required )

We here Soft Beer Inc, the leading providers of network available beer, are proud to announce that Anheuser-Busch has just signed an agreement to purchase the "Universal Beer Server Enterprise Edition".


At home you need the "Universal Beer Client 2.0" ( version 2.0 has more thruput! ) any available USB beer tap, and a 15 liter per hour Internet connection.

And we for a more productive work environment urge you to try "Universal Beer Office 2008" We do not recommend installing on Vista as many hiccups have been reported. Liberal licencing for workplaces of 100 stations or more.

Soft Beer will soon be leading the market in wireless beer delivery with "Pocket Beer" available Spring 2009.

Class Action Settlement

When I got home I found in my mail the Class Action Settlement of Mike Seidman and Gail Howard v IBM ( International Beer Monopoly). I read the settlement and wanted to retain my rights under this lawsuit and remain a member of this class. ( Translation: We got the invitation to the beer tasting party and we are going to come! )


But I wanted to present some more evidence in this case:


With the recent increases in bandwidth on the Internet and advent of the high speed DMcodec ( digital to malt encoder/decoder) I would like to unveil the creative data solution for people that have an under capacity in the fridge. It is the Universal Beer Server!

Universal Beer Server can be setup and scheduled in minutes

Universal Beer Server emails simple instructions and result logs to you or your secretary

Universal Beer Server is a solution without spending big on expensive software

Now available for the Mac OS X Leopard!

Runs all standard packages!

Leaving Sweden

Well I'm at the airport in Stockholm and am getting ready to get on the plane to Newark. I'm a little sad about leaving as all the people I have met here in Sweden have shown me great hospitality and have gone far out of their way to make me feel welcome. We did a lot of great work here and we worked well as a team. Both companies should be very happy with the results of our labor.

I've watched the debates here and I'm starting to get a little tired of the election. I think for what I've seem choosing the Swedish Chef for president may be the best choice we can make!

Hejdå Sweden!

Dinner at REX

Anders, Jonas, Mathias and I went out to dinner at one of Umea's better resturants, REX. It was a really nice place they had to give me a english menu. The food is fine local Swedish cusine.

I had a three course plate , Löjrom från Kalix , Reninnanlår, and Vaniljglass.

The first I item was whitefish roe , second filet of reindeer and last vanilla ice cream with local cloudberries.

More Umetrics people

Here is Jonas during a break in the music.


Mathias relaxing with some local refreshment. ( Note DUI laws a strick here, one beer can put you over the limit, Mathias was riding a bicycle home. )

More pictures .... Eyes closed edition

Here is pictures of Me and Anders......

Swinging in Umea

Jonas, one of the guys in the Umetrics office plays sax in a big band and they had a gig tonight. They were playing for a dinner of doctors of optometery. After they dinner they had an open dance. About 50 people crammed into this house on the university and got down! They played Stevie Wonder, swing favorites, some disco and, yes an ABBA set.

Working in Sweden

Today was my first day at work. I met Anders who is my host here at Umetrics. We sat down over some good strong coffee and started talking and did not stop until late last night. We are getting along great here. A few things about the workplace here. People come in and take off their shoes and wear sandles ( glad I brought my slippers! ). One woman brings her little dog to work. He snuggles under her desk while she is typing. Everyone comes down at mid morning for coffee and mid morning snacks. The workplace is professional, quiet and focused. The office furnishing looks a bit like Ikea. I wonder why??? I can officaly say the the Swedes do eat meatballs for lunch, they are delicious. The meatballs not the Swedes.....

The Streets Roll up.....

The rain slowed enough to drop of the computer and walk around. Looks like everything closed up around 4pm on a Sunday. All of the stores are closed and with the rain the place is deserted.

Back to the hotel.....

When it Rains go to Wayne's!

Still here at Wayne's coffee. The place is still packed and no one has even given me a dirty look about taking up space here surfing the web. I'm just waiting for the line to subside to see if I can get somethnig to drink. It's still coming down outside and people are just looking for a dry spot for a warm drink.

Live blogging from Wayne's Coffee in Umea

Welcome to Wayne's Coffee in Umea. Wayne's coffee is the Swedish equivalant to Starbucks. I'm here because it raining outside. I'm here and the rest of Umea seems to be here too. It's a great place to people watch and the coffee is good. The place is packed and there is a good mix of people young, old, friends and family with kids ( one of which is crying .... for a cookie I'm guessing! ) I got a large Caffe Latte and a piece of choclate cake with what looks like home made whipped cream. They have free internet here, which is the homerun system. You get a card wich is good for about 30 minutes but my 7 day card is working fine. You can get Smorgas here. Which are sandwiches, not all you can eat. Smargasboard is a sandwich table. Ordering a sandwich is a little different. They seem to like their sides on the sandwich. Like roast beef and potato salad. Kind of like in Philly knowing what a cheesesteak wit' is going to get you.

Tips on travel in Sweden

Telephone.

Get an unlocked cell phone or ask you cell provider to unlock yours before you leave. Get a SIM card. It cost about 200kr ( ~$28) and I think you get 100 minutes to the US. Cheap tip incomming calls are FREE! have your friends call you. PS if you want my local Swedish number e-mail me and I'll give it to you. There are not too many people here for me to talk to.

Internet.
Get the Homerun package from Telia. You open up the WiFi page and get the 7 day package. about 199kr ($28). It's a little tricky as the page is in Swedish. Also save the user name and password they give you. They do not mail it to you and if you lose it you buy another. ( voice of experience! )


Water.
In this country the water is safe to drink. They give out a national prize on helping water quality in the third world. Bottled water is hard to find. ( plain water lots of the fizzy bubbly kind )


Coffee. ( kaffe )
Like San Fransisco and Seattle there are coffee shops everywhere. No Starbucks. Coffee shops you can get coffee, dessert, sandwich or light dinner. The Swedes are coffee crazy.


Money.
ATM's work fine. Change cash at Stockholm on the way. Good rates there. Exchange there instead of Newark. Call your credit card company and all will work fine here. On think when using a credit card here they have a pin let them know you are using a card from the US show them ID with a birthdate and they will hit the No PIN option for you.

Shoes
Take slippers with you. You take your shoes off when you come inside. A lot of sidewalks outside are packed gravel and grit. And it seems pretty wet here. So your shoes will be gritty. The indoor floors are wood. The grit scratches the floors. Slippers are floor friendly and comfy.


Language
Generally everyone speaks English to some degree. I seem to have no trouble communicating with people here. Couple of words here.

Hej ( Hey ) -- Hello , Hi

Tack or Tack Tack --- either Please or Thank you.

Pictures from Umea

Here are some pictures from Umea on a quiet Sunday Morning.

Greetings from Umea Sweden.....

First of all I have been saying the name of the town wrong. It's not U-MAY-A it U-MER. Which points of I can't pronounce anything in Swedish. I feel completely illiterate. The town is about 100,000 people. It's a it in a rural area here. It cool here not cold about 48 during the day 35 at night. I'm in the town center there is a shopping street here which is the major attraction. I e-mailed the guy I'm meeting here and asked what was there to see and he basicly said that he did not know. Which was the same answer that I got from two other guys who live here when I talked to them on the plane. Seems like this place is just a regular town. But I disagree. The town seems lively there is a river front. I'm going to see the Umea tourist information tomorrow and see what they have to say. I have my camera and I'll have some pictures on the web site.

My time sense is all screwed up it's about 1:30 and I'm going to try to get some sleep.... I hope.

To Sweden

Flying in the US lately has been a drag. Security, no food, crowded carryon a real pain. I flew out of Newark NJ and I check in to SAS, no baggage fee so consequently there was no rush to pile on the carryon in the passenger comparment. Most of the carryon space was empty. I had a middle seat, in the middle asile of the wide body. There was no one to the left or right of me so I had all the elbow room I needed. The seats had a entertainment center showed a choice of movies on demand or a camera from the front of the airliner or a moving map showing current position, speed and altitude. They served a warm meal with fresh bread, and a complementry cocktail. Two hours to Stockholm they also served breakfast. Rolls, youghrt, OJ you get the picture. Did I mention this is ecomony class! International arrivals at Stockholm was confusing but the aiport was under construction. You show your passport, get your bags and go thru customs. I was mostly waved thru. You go thru security again when you go into the domestic terminal. I woman at the check point patted me down. Boy did I get a Swedish massage. I then got on a flight to Umea the flight was less than half full. Remember that? I took a taxi to the hotel in Umea. I walked and looked around and tell you more and may post pictures tomorrow.

Got a Cold......

Sneezy, sniffly, drippy, yucky, no not the seven dwarfs. I pickup a bug somewhere in my travels. Hoping to get rid of it by Friday when I head to Sweden. Been going to the office in Center City. My badge dosen't work in Yardley. Seems like they got a bad batch of badges. Being in Center City is great I got to see some of my friends in the office and on the train.

I've given a lot of advice about going to Sweden. Bring indoor shoes, the people are fair, knowlegeable, not aggressive, and like their coffee. And I should stay away from the blond women.

Rock Hall Fall Fest

Heading down to Rock Hall today to the fall fest. Busy weekend in little Rock Hall the Fall Fest is on and the Spring Cove Marina Picnic is taking place. The Fall Fest is more fun in two city blocks than I have ever seen. Musicians, art, the lint lady, just a lot of fun stuff. I think that Madaline drafted me to grill burgers for the picnic.

Marj and Roy are coming down for the fun. Roy may help me set up the solar panel charging system while we are down there.

Assignment Cambridge Complete!

The test that we ran last night was a success! Customers computer application running well and he is happy. So my first solo customer service call was a great success. Tried to come home early but all trains were sold out. Have to wait for the 3:15 Acela.

In Cambridge Ma

Welcome from Cambridge! I took the Acela to Boston. The train ride was great Hi Speed rail is sooooo much more civilized than air travel. I'm visiting the a biotech company in the area. I can see both Amgen are Biogen from my hotel room. My visit was a success! The software works great and I jusy have to see how it's running in the morning. MIT and Harvard are around the corner. ( Do I seem any smarter???? Yes, I thoought not too! ) I hope to go to Legal Seafood for dinner tonight to celebrate.

And the Number Is........

The PowerBall is up to 170 million. I gotta put a couple of bucks down on this. Think of the millions that I could have. I could pay for the roof that needs replacing. The taxes will go a long way to pay for that Wall Street Financial bail out too!

Roof Leak Part Deux!

The siding guy is still working on the house. It's looking real good. Bad news the roof is rotten in places on the back addition. Looks like the roof has to come off and a new one put on. It will be for the good though. He will be able to reinsulate or better the roof of the back addition so it will be warmer this year.

Home again....again...

What a week Austin, Tx and San Francisco. Hopped on the red eye again and rode a middle seat home. Spending today trying to ride out the jet lag. Next week I just have to run to Boston for a few days. But mostly I'm home!

Final thoughts on Austin

We stopped for lunch at Rudy's. A Bar B Que place that is a gas station, store.... and smoked brisket by the pound. BBQ brisket, sauce, white bread...... no more need be said.

Wish I has some time to hear some music. It looks like a really missed some good stuff there.

www.bicyclefilmfestival.com was one of the two film fests running at the same time.

Is Austin Weird?

I'm not sure.... spent a lot of time lost..... got a broken GPS from the rental car company. I'm here on business. Went downtown last night to a place called the Ginger Man. Many beers on tap from all over the world. Downtown was hopping for a Tuesday night, looked like a bunch of bands playing in various places. Did not go and investigate. We went to a Italian place for dinner. ( not my choice! I'd be going to a place for some que! ) Talked much business. Found that the New Zealand team used PI in thier boat to win the America's Cup. Rino said that he would get me a cap with Team New Zealand and PI.

Home again....

We're home again.... The house is still getting siding. Seems the contrators have had some weather delays. Have to get ready for my trip to Austin, Tx tomorrow morning.... flight out at 6:45 am eeek! Just time enough to unpack and repack.

Back in Rock Hall

Yesterday morning we took off early around 7 form Tilghman. The forcast was for rain and there was a small craft advisory out. The winds were going about 15 to 20 knots form the south and the current was behind us. This made the boat a little hard to control as were surfing on the wave tops. We made it to the Kent Narrows bridge. I asked the bridge keeper if he was going to open the bridge ar 9:30. His response was " ....should I?" Yes please. Sheesh I didn't know the bridges had trolls? Once past the bridge we could see rain cells passing to the north. The last part was an easy run to Rock Hall from the Chester River. We did not get caught in the rain untill we tied up at our slip. The it started sprinkling. We had dinner at a local pizza joint. After our dock neighbors Al and Ann were there and we invited them over and the had a few people and in a while we had a full boat of people munching and drinking. Ann and I went out for a folding chair. I heard a cry for help and heard splashing. I ran over to the other dock to find John was on the ladder in the water fishing their dog out. It seemed the dog could not see well and walked off the dock. He got the dog out and I helped him up off the ladder. I made it back to the party which lasted to midnight.

Tilghman creek

We left the solomons around 7 am. Wind was 18 knots from the east and 3 foot chop. Around noon it calmed down enough for us to put up sails and sail for a couple hours. Made it the 40 or so miles in 8 and half hours. It was real relaxing. Had dinner at anchor in Tilghman creek. Wind picking up tonight. Should be nice sleeping weather.

Last day in the Solomons

We took our option this morning to stay one more day. The winds were blowing pretty hard in the morning and there was a 4 to 5 foot chop on the water. Tomorrow would be favorable winds and calm seas. We did some shopping at the local West Marine and we got some foul weather gear and updated cruising guide. We topped off the fuel tank and emptied the holding. After watching the blue crabs walk on the pilings we took a walk down town again. We had lunch at a shop and had the best key lime pie. ( see note A ). We saw schools of fish in the water here, up in Rock Hall the water is more turbid and you can't see much of anything. We made it back and jumped into the pool which was chilly. The we had dinner and preped for an early start in the morning. Tomorrow we are shooting to get to Tilghman Creek 40 miles and 7 hours.






(note A ...... Mom for the record YOU make the best key lime pie...... this is best key lime in a place other than home!!!! )

Solomons on Tuesday

We toured Solomons Island today. We enjoyed Calvert Marine Museum where we learned about marine fossils, Drum Point Lighthouse and hermit crabs among other things. On our way to the Solomons we passed beautiful cliffs, which we learned have 24 layers - each taking 1 million years to make - and they contain all sorts of fossils. People continue to hunt fossils there.

Surprisingly among the old oyster boats and oyster house exhibit was an otter exhibit. We stopped by but the otters were taking a nap in the shade instead of frolicking in the water. The lighthouse, built in 1883, was another screwpile lighthouse like the Thomas Point lighthouse we sailed by on Day one. Anyway, as soon as we were at the to of this lighthouse, the guide said we needed to come down because of the storms.

We will be staying here another day because of ugly weather and wind.

Solomons,MD

SECURITE, SECURITE, STAY AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM! THERE IS A 500 YARD SECUITY ZONE AROUND THE PLATFORM! Boomed the voice of the great and powerful Oz. On our way down here we passed a gas tanker offloading platform. The VHF cracked with the warning every hour. We stayed far away. Calm day but no wind. We motored all day. Arrived in 6 and half hours. Saw freighters and barges. The Cove point light house is remarkable. We are at the Solomons in Spring Cove Marina. Not at all like our Spring Cove but livable. They have underwater music in the pool. We are here at least for two days. Weather tomorrow is for rain and a cold front is coming thru.

Thomas Point Lighthouse

Here is Thomas Point Light as we passed it this afternoon. It is about 1 mile offshore proctecting ships from running aground on the Thomas Point shoal. This is what they call a screw pile lighthouse. The pilings that are the foundation are screwed into the bay's bottom.

Going on vacation!

Got under was about 11:30. Fuel and water filled waste empty. Our first leg to galesville. We past under the bay bridge, Annapolis, Thomas Point Lighthose among other places. We sailed for a while then the wind died, motored the rest of the way. At anchor now in Galesville.

Winds now

We have 30 knot north winds now. Showers and the boat is rocking. The marina is having a hurricane party but we are snug here. We are tied up in the center of the slip and it's too far to jump off the boat to the finger pier.

More hurricane live blog

Lots of rain... Some wind..... Not too bad. Sailboat off our stern pulled up anchor and went to a slip. Just sitting here listening to the radio.

Starting to rain

Just started to rain a few hours ago. Hot and steamy no wind yet. A sailboat has anchored about 15. feet off our stern. I hope he is locked down well. Nice in snug here just made a nice warm cup of coffee.

In yer eye Hana

We have started our vacation and we are down at the boat. All is calm with intermittent showers. There are other boaters here George and his wife are in slip d9. And there are a few others so we are not alone. Internet a little spotty but that is the worst of it. Eye passing over us tomorrow sometime. Let you all know how we are doing.

Vacation

Marine Forcast
TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT

SAT
E WINDS 30 TO 40 KT...BECOMING NE 40 TO 50 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT...BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN.

SAT NIGHT
NW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KT... DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. A CHANCE OF RAIN.


We are going to spend the next week on the sailing vessel Imagination. The Solomons is out destination. We are going to start by spending the weekend on the boat with hurricane Hanna going overhead. We're well inland and pretty well sheltered so we'll be ok Saturday. ( If not we'll run like hell! ) The Solomons are two days away. Stopping at Galesville first. Ike could be a factor in the vacation equation. We'll try to not get swept up! But it there is a long pause in our posts........


.... Come looking for us!

Disco?

Went to the Fringe Fest and saw Disco Descending. It was a trip into Hades to rescue Eurydice. But Orpheus can only dance disco and Cerberus is real dog. This is a nice story of a man descending into the pits of disco after the loss of a loved one. Not a word is spoken the dance says it all. So does the flaming mirror ball. Go see it if you can at the Susan Roberts Theater.

Disco still Sucks!

Weekend Wrapup

Never made it to Pirates Cove. Anchored in Tighman Creek with Glenn and Carol. It was a new place for both of us. We had a great day sailing. We were sailing wing on wing, where the wind was hitting us on the stern and boths sails are open to catch the wind. We rafted up at the creek and had dinner of hot dogs and meatloaf on the grill. This was a dark creek and the stars just lit up the sky as we layed on the deck counting them.

Can't wait for our boat vacation next week. Have to watch the hurricanes looks like Hanna may drop some rain on us and delay our departure.

Labor day weekend

Labor day weekend down at the boat. We fixed a bad fuel pump and now we are spending the rest of the day resting. Tommorrow we are heading to Pirates Cove in Galesille Md. At the marina Ronda from Sea Jems broke her ankle and had to air lifted to the hospital. Baltimore is two hours by land and it was a compound fracture.

Travel Alert!

Just got word I may be traveling to Sweden.

I'll be heading to the city of Umea, Sweden to learn more about a product that interfaces with our system. I'll be there for a week next month, still to be worked out.

Facts about Umea, it's closer to the Artic Circle than it is to London. It has the seventh largest airport in Sweden!

I also have to see the Museum of Skiing!

I moost stert vurkeeng oon speekeeng Svedeesh qooeeckly!. Bork Bork!

Pirates Cove ....... or bust Arrrrrrr!

This weekend we are going to try to head down to Pirates Cove in Galesville. We had a problem with the new boat installing the Racor fuel filter. It's a diesel / water separator and it must be installed correctly for the fuel to pump into the engine. We could not get it going last weekend. A couple of new techniques and a new fuel pump should get it going. I hope......

I'm Red Eye

Phew! I know why it's called the red eye! You jump on a plane 10 at night, which is 1 am in you destination. Fly all night. Try to sleep with some guy poking you in the ribs, and the stew running over you foot with the cart of $2 bottles of water that no one will buy unless they are choking on the $7 meal. ( Yes this is a rant..... ) Ok Ok I survived the flight. We get off the plane and I think the plane landed in Jersey. I felt like it took 45 minutes to get to the luggage carousel. Information is money and USAir was saving it as they gave us no clue in what building or over the three football fields of area that out luggage would be arriving.

When I left Philly there were these tough looking guys who were ready to kick my fanny from here to Guantanamo Bay if I did not follow even the smallest of rules that are written, spoken, implied or in common knowledge. I was wondering where these guys were at the baggage pick up as just about every bench had it's own homeless person living under it. I know what you are thinking.... No this was no refugee from a Phoenix flight waiting for his bag. I live in Philly. Homeless here you don't have to see to know. You can use your ummmm.. other senses. I'm not with the chamber of commerce, but you don't have to be a booster to know that the airport baggage claim is the city's front door, and having guests from out town may think twice when they see a festering mass of humanity snoring on your threshold. Not even in the home of the homeless, San Francisco, were there were homeless living in the airport. If you think that I'm being insensitive, Please feel free take one of these "ladies" and "gentlemen" to your hotel room for your stay here.

Hmmm I thought so.

Ok got that out of my system...... I fell asleep for the next 24 hours.

In San Francisco

Last weekend we took the boat to a cove behind Gibson Island. It was a closing of the chapter of some of our sailing failures. This was the place where we were going when the engine broke down last year in the ericson. We finally made it there. We were handsomely rewarded. We saw a great full circle sunset and at the same time in the opposite sky was a full circle moon rise. What a way to break a curse!


Been in San Francisco the last few days. I'm trying to meet people and learn what I have to do for my new assignment in the company. I've been real busy inside the company and have not had a chance to get out an look around. One thing I did see though was a poster with a Maltese Falcon. It was a advert to take a tour of Dashelle Hammett's San Francisco. I though that was a coincidence. Dosen't look like I'll get a chance to do that.

The Stuff Dreams are Made Of.....

Movie Night. Marilyn and I met Meg at the Amble theater were we saw the classic film noir, The Maltese Falcon.

The Dashiel Hammett story defines the conventions of the hard boiled detective. There are dead partners, feme fatales, toughs with guns, witty patter and of course a falcon. Read more here in this wiki link.

Got Quoted in the paper

I was at the train station and a reporter asked me a few questions about SEPTA.

I reposted the article from the Inquirer.

SEPTA to offer more buses, late-night trains

By Paul Nussbaum
Inquirer Staff Writer
More frequent buses. Late-night trains. Better weekend service.
That's what SEPTA promises in the next few weeks and months as it launches what it calls its most ambitious service expansion ever.
After decades of cuts, SEPTA will announce today a $10 million project aimed at easing overcrowding and improving daily service. The first of the 65 upgrades will begin Aug. 25, and all of the changes are to be made by Nov. 3.
The changes will include bigger buses on busy Route 14 along Roosevelt Boulevard between Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County, more frequent service on Route 23 between Chestnut Hill and South Philadelphia, and after-midnight trains on the R5 Paoli/Thorndale, R6 Norristown, and R7 Trenton Regional Rail lines.
"This is really unprecedented for us," SEPTA general manager Joseph Casey said. "We need to respond to increased ridership and other customer needs."
With commuters reacting to higher gasoline prices and switching from cars to public transit, SEPTA's ridership has increased by about 6 percent, or 38,000 trips a day, from a year ago. Rail ridership is up 12 percent, to its highest point in 25 years, and many rush-hour trains are packed with standing passengers.
"It's been getting pretty crowded" on his daily commute, Rico Paolino of Horsham said yesterday as he waited for an R5 train at Suburban Station. When he catches his usual 6:30 a.m. train in Ambler, "you may not get a seat."
Now, at the height of summer-vacation season, crowding isn't too bad, he said. "But the first week everybody's back in school, it will really be packed."
Casey, who became general manager early this year, credited the state's new transportation-funding law, Act 44, with providing the money to make the improvements possible. He said more expansion might be on the way, as SEPTA tries to hang onto its new riders and attract more.
To handle the expanded service, SEPTA is hiring 184 bus and train operators, mechanics, cleaners, police officers, maintenance workers, and customer-service agents.
The new bus service is made possible by the arrival of the first 40 of more than 400 hybrid diesel-electric buses to be delivered over the next four years.
New rail cars also have been ordered, but the first of the 120 Silverliner V cars are not likely to be in service until 2010. In the meantime, eight used rail cars bought from NJ Transit will be added to SEPTA's fleet by October to help ease overcrowding.
SEPTA will tout its improved service with a $1 million advertising campaign on TV, newspapers and radio, and it will pitch its late-night service to college students with whimsical ads on bar coasters, coffee-cup sleeves, and Internet banners.
The chance to add service is a big change for SEPTA after decades of route cutbacks, "doomsday scenarios," and higher fares. After lowering riders' expectations for years, SEPTA officials acknowledged the challenges they face in offering more to passengers.
"Certainly, there is a risk," said Pat Nowakowski, assistant general manager for operations. "We will create expectations, and we have to work to make sure we meet them."
Kim Scott Heinle, assistant general manager for customer service, said, "We don't want to invite people to a party and then have a bad time." Heinle said his staff would work to make sure details such as signs and rider information make the new service easy for passengers to use.
Of the 65 route changes, 26 are designed to reduce overcrowding on SEPTA buses. Nine upgrades involve adding peak-hour trips to improve service, such as the addition of 14 round trips on Route 201 in Fort Washington. And 30 of the changes are designed to improve midday, evening, weekend and late-night service for buses and trains, such as the addition of a 1:32 a.m. train from Trenton to give Friday-night passengers out of New York a later connection.
"We're no longer a 9-to-5 society," said Charles Webb, chief planning officer for SEPTA. He said the later trains "are a test of this market. We've received a lot of requests for later service."
At Suburban Station, Regional Rail riders said any changes to reduce overcrowding would be welcome. But peak-hour commuters said they wouldn't see much benefit from the new late-night service.
"Sometimes we stay in Center City for the theater and dinner, and late trains might help then," Paolino said. "We might not feel so rushed."
Stephanie Hartman, 26, of Somerton, said she would rather see SEPTA add earlier trains.
"When I have to go to the airport early, there aren't any trains running. Even 5 a.m. would be better."
And she bemoaned infrequent midday service: "There's only one train an hour."
Bus riders said more frequent service and less-crowded buses would be a good thing. Regular passengers said that they had noticed the increase in ridership and that, in some cases, SEPTA's actions had made things worse.
On Route 27, from Center City to Roxborough, passengers have noticed that large 60-foot "articulated" buses, which can hold up to 100 riders, have been replaced with standard 40-foot buses, which can accommodate 60. SEPTA says it is shifting articulated buses from Route 27 to Route 14 to ease overcrowding there.
"It's even more crowded now," said Nicole Green, 18, waiting for a bus to take her home to Roxborough from her summer job at a Rita's Water Ice stand at 15th and Market Streets. "I don't understand that."
From a rider's perspective, SEPTA's expansion plan "is all good. . . . The only thing I'd like to see is things they can't do because they don't have the equipment," said Bob Clearfield, chairman of the Citizen Advisory Committee, a passengers' advocacy panel that advises SEPTA.
"I'd like to see more trains or more train capacity, but they're making maximum use of the equipment they have," Clearfield said.

Time for a new job......

Well yes..... I got a new job. WoooHoooo!!!!

Not in a different company but a new position in the same company. I now work for the interface group instead of the RtReports group. My boss is in San Leandro, which is where I am going Monday. I am going to get introduced and get kick started on the project. I might be based in Yardley, Pa. or down in Center City not sure yet.

Hey, Are you paying attention......

I guess not. We had driven to Jenkintown to take the train to the airport with Adrik. On the way home that night I took the express train to Ambler. I realized that I took the wrong train as I saw my car in the window as we zoomed past the stop. I had to jump on a downtown train to get to my car. Whad'a dope!

Look out here comes the dope slap.....

Sunday Brunch... sort of.....

Took Adrik to Chinatown for dim sum this morning. Went to Ocean City ( the old Riverside ) the Olympics were on the big screen and carts of food were being pushed around. Dim sum is small plates of dumplings and rice and other dishes kind of like Spanish tapas. This was an authentic Chinese restaurant as the tables were filled with full Chinese families. Some stuff pushed the yuck button for Adrik but I think he had a good time. We then went to the New Hope Auto Show, A great show but it was outside and it had started raining. A, liked the Ferrari's... and the Porsche's and the Lotus's. Hummmm expensive taste... Rain came down and we went to the the Will Smith Movie "Hancock" Pretty good... but PG-13.... Some word made me cringe with A there. ... Hmmmm never thought about that before. Dinner and Heli simulater at our house.. Discussing a 6 am train to the airport..... Holy smoke 6am! .....

Back to the blog......

Marilyn woke up early on Friday and ran out to the balcony to see dolphins again, she did but not in the numbers she saw Thursday. We had a big breakfast at Mad Batters a B&B in Cape May, the best breakfast of the bunch. After we went out to the Cape May airport and saw the Aviation Museum. Really good as you can get close up to the planes. We then took the Cape May - Lewes ferry, on our way to Rock Hall. It was an 80 minute ferry trip to the other side of the Delaware Bay. We reached our boat in Rock Hall and anchored in Swan Creek for the night. A great sunset was there waiting for us. I was trying to tell Adrik the importance of watching every sunset and sunrise you could. He said he saw them before.......he's 13 give him a while.....After dark Adrik was using the night vision viewer to look at the whole creek. We were hit with 20 knot winds during the night. It was cool but ok great sleeping weather. We sailed to the middle of the bay the next morning, when the wind gave out. Turned on the diesel engine and had Adrik helmed the boat to port where we had lunch and jumped into a cool pool.

Last Night.....

We has dinner at a resturant in Wildwood. The place that i wanted to go was just packed... We parked the car and went to Morey's Pier on the board walk. Adrik rode the Great White a wooden and steel roller coaster that he described as jolty. Marilyn, Adrik and I rode the skyride a ski lift that rode hight over the park. Marilyn was scared but the ride though high was far from scary. We called it night pretty early,

Just Beachy.....

Nice day today.... Had Breakfast and went to the Cape May Lighthouse. It was lighthouse day and there was a crowd. Later Marilyn and Adrik rode bikes and I took a walk. A dip in the hotel pool refreshed us . More Later....

Dolphins

Looking out our balcony this morning we saw several pods of dolphins swimming along the shoreline. Some were jumping out of the water. Looks like another good day at the beach!

Just a day at the beach.....

Well we drove down to Cape May. After a big breakfast at Uncle Bill's we parked the car at the a Grand Hotel and headed for the beach. The water was cool and the sand was HOT! I think I burned the bottoms of my feet. We flew the kite, the winds were a little variable. We spent some time in the water and napping on the beach. Later we walked downtown and got t shirts and salt water taffy. Dinner was at Godmother's we had steamed garlic mussels for appetizers and pasta for dinner, ( Adrik had salad! Smart guy! ). After dinner we headed to sunset beach to watch the sun go down.

In Cape May

Adrik, Marilyn and I are down sunning ourselves in Cape May. Nice cool breezes down here good thing too as the A/C in the living room gave out. Ocean is cool about 75. Adrik puts it as an icy refreshing chill!

Adrik Boarding

Adrik's plane is running late. I have the link to his blog. There should be some adventures there in a day or two.

New Album

New pictures on the web here is a link to the album page. This is one where I'm sailing away with the new boat from the dealers dock.

The album has pictures of the sailboat pick up, Fourth of July, Arts and Crafts with Marj and Roy, and KC Friends.

Trying to stay cool

Woke up early this morning to open the windows and have the fans blow in cool air. The air is cool but very humid. We are coming into home stretch in the clean up. Once this is done we'll run down to the boat!

Pre Adrik Weekend

Got the A/C unit in the window. We now have one down stairs and one in the bedroom. When Adrik visits he can sleep in the living room with the A/C unit. We are still picking up the house for the visit and we have to go down to the boat on Sunday to do the same. Actually Sunday will be the warmer of the two days and we'll clean up when is is cooler and go down to the boat to cool off.

We have big plans for Adrik's visit. Going down the shore to Cape May and Wildwood. Heading to the boat to cool off and then to visit the Battleship New Jersey. Lot's of sand, water, and fun! We'll see if I can get his blog "Adrik's Big Adventure" working again.

The A/C guy will stop by on Monday to give me the bad new on how much our fatally stricken air conditioner will cost us.

Installing Bedroom A/C

I have the window fan in the bedroom and for the past few nights that has been great. It brings in cool air and is energy efficient and quiet. The temps and humidity are rising and it will be in the triple digits here next week. So I'm going to install the A/C unit tonight. Should only take an hour or so.....if I don't have to run to Home Depot.

Weekend Wrapup

Marilyn and I drove down to the boat on Friday night. It was really great to have an extra night down there. I got the GPS wired up and we headed out. There was wind in the bay. Too much. It was blowing about 20 knots and we have never put the sails up on the boat before. We went back in and anchored in the creek for the night. We swong on the anchor in 25 knot winds till morning. On Sunday morning it calmed down and we put up the sails. We practiced out sail handling and had a great time.

Temp measures......

Last night I bought a window fan and a small air conditioner. The guy from Hannaberry said we need a new air conditioner ( and heater.... ) and that won't happen untill at least Spetember ( or October! ) So we have to make due until then.

In other news we are going down to the boat this weekend. ( at least there is air conditioner down there! ). If the winds are with us we are going to cross the bay and head to Gibson Island.

Ski Trip and Air Conditioner

Mike, Linda and I spent a nice evening talking about the details of next February's ski trip to Stowe, Vt. The bus company wants to stick us with a big increase this year. Also, the economy is not doing anything good to anyone's budget so skiing may an expendable experience for many people this year. We just have to be aware of the cancelation dates.....

When I got home, Marilyn asked me to check the air conditioner. I inspected the outside unit just in time to hear it scream in pain .... and die..... Calls to the air conditioner repair guy have gone unanswered.