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.