tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31386240712884974962024-03-17T20:01:03.387-07:00buckle-upRichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-29289349374065796442024-02-25T17:15:00.000-08:002024-02-25T17:15:57.616-08:00Could springtime be just around the corner?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9N3_CG-pWbaZlYkiStTFQ9DL_r3CprBzriNlzRNODgYZnY86vVDREN4-JbaXxPZfluIpbrpoio2KVRQUkAUjetCf9OV64U1Mo3VZzwAi3NzN7UKjsCvZv0J5pa9z5Z1H_ACZAH2ve5Z_4MD8QDvW-UIs461KwBb_unXhIvI1j-r9f8W6WZFjJ2PhTE5E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="339" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9N3_CG-pWbaZlYkiStTFQ9DL_r3CprBzriNlzRNODgYZnY86vVDREN4-JbaXxPZfluIpbrpoio2KVRQUkAUjetCf9OV64U1Mo3VZzwAi3NzN7UKjsCvZv0J5pa9z5Z1H_ACZAH2ve5Z_4MD8QDvW-UIs461KwBb_unXhIvI1j-r9f8W6WZFjJ2PhTE5E=w348-h401" width="348" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">OK,
so not fresh from the garden but you get the idea …</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you had been wondering
about the impact of the winter conditions we have faced, then worry no more as
the thermometer has come to life. Once again, we see a gradual but steady rise
in daytime temperatures, so much so that shortly it will be a return to driving
top-down in our convertible. It has rained but not that much and earlier when
it did rain, it turned to snow but hopefully, there isn’t a whole lot more
expected. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For Coloradans, we are
always just a little skeptical when weather warms this early as we know that
March through April it always has something in reserve that has as yet not been
revealed. I only make this observation as come March, when the heavy lifting
associated with our home moves takes place, we will have our fingers firmly
crossed even as our most recent prayers are for something a little less extreme
than we have witnessed during previous transitions to spring. Can’t wait to see
he flowers in bloom sometime soon even if that time remains just around the
corner!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgM2-OUY84_r6MspFW1N7R72AIQXOGj2F5USaqdchxnT_Xj4tkSIuyuimr6pbh3s2drC8yWXbx3Tsg-B1td19Lt2nd-BO9oVsvnbd8qhn_vtdFZICio5XVLdBfxAsvWYGysSHifJk5VNKPkxaTOF8OUo2U890SsZsVEhj2i5sDH40ZRjCOHxsCGc3yJLGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="323" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgM2-OUY84_r6MspFW1N7R72AIQXOGj2F5USaqdchxnT_Xj4tkSIuyuimr6pbh3s2drC8yWXbx3Tsg-B1td19Lt2nd-BO9oVsvnbd8qhn_vtdFZICio5XVLdBfxAsvWYGysSHifJk5VNKPkxaTOF8OUo2U890SsZsVEhj2i5sDH40ZRjCOHxsCGc3yJLGQ=w306-h301" width="306" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All
lined up and waiting to be filled!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Moving house, no matter how
well planned or how many of the anticipated pitfalls are likely to occur, has a
way of compressing time. One moment it’s all theoretical even as real estate
agents are confident of a quick sale and then offers followed by contracts
appear all too quickly. That planned evening out with friends gets scaled back just
a tad even as there are thoughts of what do we do now? For Margo and me, it has
come at a time when we committed to a heavy travel schedule in support of our
client so what we observed as time being compressed only got worse. How to pull
off moving to a condo just purchased, set aside belongings in a longer-term
storage facility while we think of where next we will live on a more permanent
basis and then for us, what do we do with our cars?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Compounding the move is that
the condo just purchased has been temporarily requestioned by our daughter and
son-in-law with the sole garage becoming a storage area while their home
undergoes serious renovations. Select items of furniture that we have held onto
for many years are now wanted by them but the timeline of their renovations
continues well past the original planned completion date. Opting to keep it all
simple and not letting this unanticipated pitfall get the better of Margo and
me, we rented a large, 50’ x 20’ climate controlled secure storage facility.
More like a giant garage, it has power for trickle charges so it will be the
place to store our cars even as it then provides us with more than enough room
to store long term and yes, shorter term, household possessions.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrOy-GtUF9elwLnaziKkIN4eWklE-X0d0tndPt_bWkMQttmHV4PvZQ6vw9_Q7y9CIj6fq87m8Z3fHWEFIGzop_QQcvGytiNj03n654M0qhB4n2_8MCoYc3CCMoZLcMQBYvJBDXW__UTJIi_AY2hqFKieQFfkJ-_N6nMifeea31tZjGUVhjqAgA8LrDL9Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="323" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrOy-GtUF9elwLnaziKkIN4eWklE-X0d0tndPt_bWkMQttmHV4PvZQ6vw9_Q7y9CIj6fq87m8Z3fHWEFIGzop_QQcvGytiNj03n654M0qhB4n2_8MCoYc3CCMoZLcMQBYvJBDXW__UTJIi_AY2hqFKieQFfkJ-_N6nMifeea31tZjGUVhjqAgA8LrDL9Y=w313-h416" width="313" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
cavernous storage facility which we plan to fill.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cleaning house, an
expression that is hard to ignore. Not in the sense of maintaining a cleanly
home environment but going through every item to determine if it is really
needed. An opportunity, if you like, to unclutter your life. For me, it’s easy
to do as I simply throw away pretty much everything that I haven’t had a need
to touch in more than a year. Margo, unfortunately (or perhaps with my penchant
for tossing it all), is less enthusiastic about doing just that. It’s been a
bit of a tug-of-war on occasion but we are getting there. I am not sure of the
exact total but we have done a dozen or more trips to goodwill with the SUV
loaded to the roof. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cleaning house and
uncluttering our footprint in our new condo has its upside. There is no legal
entity on this earth that requires keeping financial records for twenty to
thirty years. We have kept a pair of shredders operating almost around the
clock as we “secured” unwanted documents turning them all to what looks like
paper dust. But it has felt good to do so and it represents a new beginning
unlike what we should have experienced when we first moved into our Niwot,
Colorado home back in 2001. Then again, tucked away in a document or two, we
found papers we long thought we had lost so there’s no shame in saying hey,
look what I found!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFkVHsLMn8Xcqe6sAfrrBr_wYlQLPJCKaut2q-SOXUf9ZjvrkYEfZoA2bLUA8i7Ln4Aae-M_5rfFLZ4QJT3fLlicTjoVX9Y7d62GUIQHy22CZLF5XGJjbLtG8Ptqrei2Ad79-042oT10lG6dujoPSp9pR05F7aGaLbcMvNTvJ-EinEDAu4OdTzc50vlvo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="337" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFkVHsLMn8Xcqe6sAfrrBr_wYlQLPJCKaut2q-SOXUf9ZjvrkYEfZoA2bLUA8i7Ln4Aae-M_5rfFLZ4QJT3fLlicTjoVX9Y7d62GUIQHy22CZLF5XGJjbLtG8Ptqrei2Ad79-042oT10lG6dujoPSp9pR05F7aGaLbcMvNTvJ-EinEDAu4OdTzc50vlvo=w353-h356" width="353" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All
up, we shipped a dozen bags of clothing to good will ...<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And putting our Jaguar F Pace SVR to good use, right?</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spring time may be the
occasion to perform that ritual spring cleaning but we didn’t begin the process
fully aware of just how big a task we faced. But we are well past the halfway
mark with the goal line clearly in view. But the process has allowed Margo and
me to spend a lot more time together than otherwise our simple mix of business
and private time previously allowed us. Yes, as February winds down, we fly
back to Australia to spend a short time in Sydney then Melbourne. All business
mind you, as it’s a tech user community conference but even so, it will give us
an opportunity to spend time with the family. Catching up with family, friends
and business colleagues is something we are tending to devote more time to as
we do see an end in sight for the travels we always seem to take on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In case you missed the news
flash, Margo and I have no cruises planned for 2024 and the two that we had
originally penciled in we cancelled as 2023 came to an end. And with hindsight,
those cancellations were not only timely but a little serendipitous. As 2023
ended we still didn’t have firm plans about changing locations but with Margo
really needing to be at sea level enjoying a full atmosphere of pressure, it
became clear to us both that a change would be a priority for 2024. Spring may
be early and, with it, springtime showers, but as symbolic as making a fresh
start as the timing suggests, we just had to step up and pursue disengaging
from the life we created for ourselves here in Colorado. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBcAi5H7RATyCCtmd9yk-8Lo2qLfnqH8vkawzHKrMpvGydmyOwUlxcYKvdHNTLqr6CpQnX4KmZBJYd34HpjWU_mH73-mDTmPKq8FJbsWEam95BtZBWQU5zW8hvvN_b3eSzQKC-AMq1K4ej-_zTry35RBCF9Tduks_RP6OpYHZ8gwU0ufYFm9YbySp9n34" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="494" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBcAi5H7RATyCCtmd9yk-8Lo2qLfnqH8vkawzHKrMpvGydmyOwUlxcYKvdHNTLqr6CpQnX4KmZBJYd34HpjWU_mH73-mDTmPKq8FJbsWEam95BtZBWQU5zW8hvvN_b3eSzQKC-AMq1K4ej-_zTry35RBCF9Tduks_RP6OpYHZ8gwU0ufYFm9YbySp9n34=w376-h282" width="376" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p>
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What’s
for dinner? And yes, 60” fridges have become the norm of late!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Still
retain the Vegemite option … <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ending house or, at the very
least, questioning the need to actually purchase another house and leaving open
the idea of living for periods of time wherever we want to, has entered our
conversations of late. On the other hand, there has been little time to
entertain such talk as there have been boxes to pack, storage racks to pull
apart and reassemble. Rooms are being cleared out and looking at our
refrigerator, I haven’t seen it looking that empty in quite a while!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From a career perspective
and ignoring the fact that I have been an independent contractor for longer
than what others might refer to these days as having joined the “gig society,”
Margo and I have become comfortable with the fact that I will simply keep on doing
what I have been doing. These past fifteen years supporting my clients is
something I just like to do. Neither onerous nor routine even as it is
challenging every time I sit down at my desk to front my computer, but it’s also
a challenge I enjoy accepting. It may be raining outside even snowing, but once
I am given an assignment to work on, it becomes a simple task to find all the
words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our Longmont condo is
something we accept as a de-facto hotel suite and we are already planning on
spending time in residence each April and perhaps November. Thanksgiving gives
us cause to return to a family environment and as for April, our daughter Anna
did a splendid job of ensuring herself and all three grandkids have birthdays
in April. This simplifies everything as far as travel goes and perhaps those
months will allow us to skip the worst of winter. But then again, if we do end
up along the coast of south eastern states, then maybe we will return during
the height of spring when humidity climbs to an uncomfortable level.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEoHluo-Y-7QXV1AybQ105oxVyS3WOAwglmkdHiw6c2PCPotEZ8tlX1IeHq2y3Rx1I5M6EMkk1mw_V3yReBcfvF7a1AQQpbLYqD2dlrezSNXY6BKbA4XApY5vx3RpWOLGi4bHsI4hc6-R2wuFVX2SZ5S9eVhZ0RqqfEmf1tVWW6Y5OPA7jB4r6BboY474" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="377" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEoHluo-Y-7QXV1AybQ105oxVyS3WOAwglmkdHiw6c2PCPotEZ8tlX1IeHq2y3Rx1I5M6EMkk1mw_V3yReBcfvF7a1AQQpbLYqD2dlrezSNXY6BKbA4XApY5vx3RpWOLGi4bHsI4hc6-R2wuFVX2SZ5S9eVhZ0RqqfEmf1tVWW6Y5OPA7jB4r6BboY474=w435-h326" width="435" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking
forward to their new home (in storage).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If only we had the capabilities of the SUV!</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some things do change,
however. We didn’t buy a new car in 2023 and it’s clear that with priorities
lying elsewhere, we will not be buying another new car in 2024. We did five
cruises in 2023 but then again, there will be no cruises in 2024, but early
2025 will likely see us back cruising once again. We are driving a lot less
from one coast to the other, but even so, we will likely be driving this summer
as we explore possible options for where next we take up residence. What hasn’t
changed is our desire to spend more time with our friends. Whether it is simply
over a shared cocktail in one another’s home, or a night out at a nearby
restaurant, these are times we are looking forward to maintaining. There are no
changes planned in this regard. What we are really looking forward to is being
able to watch the transformation that comes with springtime that is just around
the corner. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our prospects for
maintaining a media room have gone away and our thousand plus DVDs are headed
for short term storage. Our love for hi-fidelity audio has been tempered of
late given our gradual loss of hearing. Who needs to hear those high
frequencies? But as each day ends it has been our pattern to turn on a
selection of tracks from the CD collection we still maintain and take in the
words. Our opportunity to put aside all that might trip us up as the days count
down to our leaving Windsor, Colorado.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me, I have a soft spot
for blues performers and among my favorites are renditions from Joe Cocker,
Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton even as we throw in a little Coldplay along with
a Jimmy Buffett tune or two. And as I type this I am listening to something completely
different – disco mixes from the Pet Shop Boys first introduced by business colleague Terry Bishop while driving away from our Netlink, Inc. office in Raleigh North Carolina (so, not my fault). And as we continue to cover
ourselves in dust and tug at boxes we can barely lift, it's hard to ignore one
of Clapton’s better performances that captures the essence of what I am
experiencing with the move, the changes and yes, the weather – <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her
life was like a desert flower<br />
Burning in the sun<br />
Until I found the way to love<br />
It's harder said than done<br />
<br />
Let it rain, let it rain<br />
Let your love rain down on me<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"></p><p><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1ZPQI5UW8HifvVPRGct2Fla71Yt0ITZx2HeoPRuKDD25-yGPqYA7S8GMZbvKZ5RGjLE8Bg1HfDLNTxqWJdweJ4RDayKdBFopbGNsq_bR7MkcLg2jSu9y6dZnbMxpj_o58DmASWAAcSzSKUWAdZCvi5kfFkxGZmXog960YqdXcYefu16ZWIuW-iHwlv7Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="341" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1ZPQI5UW8HifvVPRGct2Fla71Yt0ITZx2HeoPRuKDD25-yGPqYA7S8GMZbvKZ5RGjLE8Bg1HfDLNTxqWJdweJ4RDayKdBFopbGNsq_bR7MkcLg2jSu9y6dZnbMxpj_o58DmASWAAcSzSKUWAdZCvi5kfFkxGZmXog960YqdXcYefu16ZWIuW-iHwlv7Q=w300-h325" width="300" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></i><p></p><p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-86997606010228729432024-01-31T13:20:00.000-08:002024-01-31T13:20:21.356-08:00Less than thrilling times but the die is cast!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAu8SvDNOeUxgwTzLSMn8bGMPcd90k8LwuLur_o_3IxLNMdUIq8DbdyPvYjCrpRSUxjZD2sT3-r6VAWEFWVAbXLbUoFOzj8LzV6I-wPdm-pI-yQjlKLRshvVx1hbPn4khfPKl1y5nwU0JEfmKNo03vSnDvDQXyvfkOCA3FVnh6XIfP8j8hyo8FIbXlOj8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="529" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAu8SvDNOeUxgwTzLSMn8bGMPcd90k8LwuLur_o_3IxLNMdUIq8DbdyPvYjCrpRSUxjZD2sT3-r6VAWEFWVAbXLbUoFOzj8LzV6I-wPdm-pI-yQjlKLRshvVx1hbPn4khfPKl1y5nwU0JEfmKNo03vSnDvDQXyvfkOCA3FVnh6XIfP8j8hyo8FIbXlOj8=w397-h263" width="397" /></span></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;">But I would not give you false hope (no)</span></i><i><span style="color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">On this strange and mournful day<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking out across our home’s deck as the temperatures plummeted, the
dreariness of the scene hit me rather hard. As the thermometer continued to
drop into the minus teens Fahrenheit, memories of walking along the beach at
Manly or taking in the view from our cruising yacht seem to be fading quickly.
And yet, as Paul Simon wrote so long ago, <i>on this strange and mournful day</i>,
I would not give you false hope as it wasn’t just the drop in temperature or
the bleakness of the scenery that led to our melancholy but rather, the very
clear ending of one of life’s chapters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Doors may close, they say, but windows will open. Or is it the other way
around, I can never seem to get this right. But the combination of birthdays,
anniversaries and an upcoming change in scenery has hit us hard and a reminder,
as you might guess, that you cannot wait-out time. And have we had many
memorable times particularly those that left us up in the air!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;">If only a spreadsheet or project plan conveyed the complexity of all we
face then writing this post would be straightforward. However, this post all
about emotions, empathy and envisioning change on many fronts. Then again,
returning to windows and doors, predictability has never been something Margo
and I have enjoyed for any length of time. Au contraire</span>, spontaneity may
be scary for some couples but it is the stuff that makes our lives together so enjoyable!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyJpSAc1PDpRWYU-R2ggG1LrQSD06xnqppjj14Oa18_1xs6x86uEVjbyynkSyHQ6Os1H7ODCVfTxzGyKt7emWzGAm_wAOlVlQTOjsURrPK5ycaxIx0jRaWZAu-3g1nP-iQoN6SaEvjYp1QnFvA0bou_sgQ_YdOUWzXqY8zWjYtviWsT9veThC_7WEtjQM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="340" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyJpSAc1PDpRWYU-R2ggG1LrQSD06xnqppjj14Oa18_1xs6x86uEVjbyynkSyHQ6Os1H7ODCVfTxzGyKt7emWzGAm_wAOlVlQTOjsURrPK5ycaxIx0jRaWZAu-3g1nP-iQoN6SaEvjYp1QnFvA0bou_sgQ_YdOUWzXqY8zWjYtviWsT9veThC_7WEtjQM=w338-h342" width="338" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The year did start with one
memorable occasion. For those who count milestones and consider them welcome occasions,
then let the record show that Margo and I have now enjoyed our married time
together for twenty-five years. All that glistens may not be gold so we will
simply do with silver. It was a time of enjoying the company of friends even as
it was a time for reflection and in this regard, a special thanks have to go
out to the Poole family. Even as Brad and Jan were unable to make it to our
small soiree celebrating the occasion, the simple thumb drive they provided was
a real tearjerker!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><i><span style="color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white;"></span></span></span></i><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Brad had scanned many photos
he had collected and among the reels he provided was one of our wedding day all
those years ago. The photos were not just of Margo and me but captured candid
moments among our family and friends on that day, many of them having travelled
a long way to join us. In coming posts, I will include a couple but suffice to
say, after recovering from the shock or seeing ourselves on this day long ago
and a time far removed from anything that could be considered as a mournful
day, false hope or otherwise, but rather for Margo and me, a joyous occasion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj96D7nfWg3IXmMTApTFNhk_sGq-WsgdA3s-4bfdVUBBaJs2or8gLnBstl1Xca3gOsun7atoNUKj421-V5kl-n1RcH2EZDOwFJuJ-m8-YA_8CcPALtHDvCSgH4fA571XFihdXZKcDVruUuaPx2hBLa34xymmSLJhABZgJ2WtJoG66gJc1k5l4hcL-MpxBY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="372" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj96D7nfWg3IXmMTApTFNhk_sGq-WsgdA3s-4bfdVUBBaJs2or8gLnBstl1Xca3gOsun7atoNUKj421-V5kl-n1RcH2EZDOwFJuJ-m8-YA_8CcPALtHDvCSgH4fA571XFihdXZKcDVruUuaPx2hBLa34xymmSLJhABZgJ2WtJoG66gJc1k5l4hcL-MpxBY=w337-h253" width="337" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you wonder why the
insertion of this photo which I believe was yet one more taken by Brad Poole or
perhaps Brian Kenny, but it is included here for a very good reason. Many years
ago, I forgot our wedding anniversary and I paid a very high price for being
that forgetful. It was 2009 and my career saw employment ending with the only
prospect being to start out on my own. Not letting too many weeks pass by,
Margo and I created Pyalla Technologies, LLC, which remains active even as it
enters its fifteenth year. Margo was so upset that I forgot that date that she
sought out a way for me never to forget again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That date for celebration
was January 16 and so our Corvette track car was given the number 161. As we
parked it next to the internal door from the garage to the house, we had to
pass it each and every day. The car 161, so Margo believed there was every
chance I would remember. And remember I have done not forgetting a single
anniversary that is until just this year. As that day wound down and the
celebratory soiree wrapped up, we both turned to each other in surprise – for
the first time since 2009 neither of us had bought a card for the other. Oh,
mournful day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUc0Q7Y9SC7JD9Acu_EPeA4muOErevMxNgyGgY2su_gEdSna_tKAvHgglXXmutPNYaYAEHmpB0V7j5jMBXFyBdb3Z_HmBVKlizO3VWAT4yG902TR-ludxpNxuoZCn86gYktV_UeT3yvTEFNjCZ1vBPReNbd7YD7E351o_J8hJbaf7O2dLYYD1Vt1DJPbM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="387" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUc0Q7Y9SC7JD9Acu_EPeA4muOErevMxNgyGgY2su_gEdSna_tKAvHgglXXmutPNYaYAEHmpB0V7j5jMBXFyBdb3Z_HmBVKlizO3VWAT4yG902TR-ludxpNxuoZCn86gYktV_UeT3yvTEFNjCZ1vBPReNbd7YD7E351o_J8hJbaf7O2dLYYD1Vt1DJPbM=w337-h253" width="337" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The candle lit in our honor
and featured earlier in this post was during a dinner that can only be
described as one of the best. Joined by our good friends and neighbors, Don and
Anne Marie Fowler, the setting for this dinner was Boulder’s famous and Michelin
Star recipient (make that two stars I believe), the Flagstaff House. For all of
nine courses we sat captivated by the winter view of Boulder that unfolded
beneath us as light snow began to fall. But that was just the beginning as our
friends from California, Brian and Jan Kenny, flew in for the occasion of our anniversary
and the four of us enjoyed the Flagstaff House dinner. A couple of days later
we wound up in Ft Collins at the downstairs speakeasy bar simply called Social,
a setting featured in the photo above. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Where the sadness began to
set in was with these times. Both families, the Fowlers and the Kennys knew the
circumstance that was befalling us. When we moved from Niwot up to Windsor and
purchased a house (in the early stages of construction), Margo and I believed
it would be the last house we would be building. To some extent, we thought that this craftsman home would become our forever home. A more manageable abode than what we had left in
Niwot. Surely a drop down from 13,000 sq feet to 5,000 sq feet was timely but
it didn’t lessen the feeling of time moving on where the next stop in our
life’s journey was likely to be “the home.” But no, that all changed in the
blink of an eye, so as to speak. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVrDhwoulSEBF6SzFy0bK7mgv_39pqbrvoj6P91jePRezBan1S8HDHvZyM0Ecu65Vedn3Fh02ZWZ3hQrQtHBY07mWtAJrDwag1Q6ml_dc5DzkI-ZHVEnkoOqA1U2PR6maRVYVqrHwfPB5dEs5BpH_D_TjiUQFmeWZSw1pk4HUh279ZNcuEfSHfPfRyW8s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="385" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVrDhwoulSEBF6SzFy0bK7mgv_39pqbrvoj6P91jePRezBan1S8HDHvZyM0Ecu65Vedn3Fh02ZWZ3hQrQtHBY07mWtAJrDwag1Q6ml_dc5DzkI-ZHVEnkoOqA1U2PR6maRVYVqrHwfPB5dEs5BpH_D_TjiUQFmeWZSw1pk4HUh279ZNcuEfSHfPfRyW8s=w389-h292" width="389" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our beautiful and much-loved
home of the past six years was now going onto the market. There was a song in
the sixties by Herman’s Hermits, No Milk Today – <i>people passing by don’t
know the reason why. </i>For longer than I can remember, the words of this song
have stayed with me and now, after all these years – <i>how could they know
just what this message means: The end of my hopes, the end of all my dreams.</i>
It is only a For Sale sign but once embedded in the lawn, it signaled an end to
our time in Windsor. This was definitely a time when a door was about to close
and when a life chapter was coming to an end. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Margo and I spent almost
three months late in 2023 at sea level. Firstly, on a cruise ship that
transited the Pacific Ocean and took us to Sydney. Then there was a month spent
in an Airbnb alongside Manly Wharf followed by a week spent in a hotel on the
banks of Darling Harbor. A change of bags later, we were out to sea enjoying a
Caribbean escapade. What this time highlighted was how Margo functioned without
the need for any breathing assistance. Unleashed, as it were, she was so happy
with her situation so much so, we made the decision to leave the mountains of
Colorado and head for the seashore most likely somewhere coastal in Florida. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1fVYP7G_8mILhvN8I6dgq1oB0qXx5PYMuZg0_PI9UUOTWklZKy_PtnCjAvdxm97I5CfLTwnNf9-TPBz5ZcZVg1gKKQiD3lbxMo9_dc7vSohRpoZAAmcIMMd0rgdnWnZTiGhudu20V4zj6juLQ4tCGgYM2pw7YF-iTRj76-zX9KdjP4jhAPt1MdgjEW2E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="422" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1fVYP7G_8mILhvN8I6dgq1oB0qXx5PYMuZg0_PI9UUOTWklZKy_PtnCjAvdxm97I5CfLTwnNf9-TPBz5ZcZVg1gKKQiD3lbxMo9_dc7vSohRpoZAAmcIMMd0rgdnWnZTiGhudu20V4zj6juLQ4tCGgYM2pw7YF-iTRj76-zX9KdjP4jhAPt1MdgjEW2E=w366-h274" width="366" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Downsizing, yet again. In
parallel to all the activities one can associate with selling a house came the
complexity of Margo and I needing to consider the option of having two places
of residence. With our daughter Anna and her husband Erich together with three
grandkids, the prospect of shuttling back and forth to visit them and spending
time in hotels, didn’t hold any appeal for us both. Call it plain old-fashioned
luck of, consider it serendipitous, but Anna’s in-laws – Erich’s now widowed
father – happened to have a condo that he wanted to put on the market. So, we
jumped and, as from mid-March, we will be taking up residency. <o:p></o:p></span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, that simply added a
level of complexity that has really taxed our combined abilities to cope.
Families normally sell one home and then buy another but we turned this upside
down buying one before selling the other even as we look for a new primary
residence far from Colorado. Simply figuring out how many storage lockers would
be involved and how many moving vans needed to be arranged was only part of the
story. In the middle of it all we are scheduled to spend ten days at
conferences in Sydney and Melbourne and then, if all goes well and our home
sells, moving out at a time we need to be at yet one more conference in Berlin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The upshot of all this
needed coordination in our efforts to simplify and this has begun with many
trips to goodwill. The time has come to really dig deep into our closets and
find the courage to pass on clothes we have retained that date back three plus
decades. To date some fifteen bags weighing close on 600 pounds have made their
way to the local good will store and there’s many more to come. All I can add
is that it has been a very sad week for Margo as realization set in that her
beloved outfits were no more!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6Ux5aHWWVWLC1LwADLTLADUn3kGtxJXLuy2gy0SV1c4s9u4UdOew8j_X3X18z_-t_rbN36Avdz8CefhMC7k3urucndOvGLubbLqMee-p0KjCnCN4QXFFUq3Po663-KcVi04PABWHRFUsAh2bO5LTobEfxYoBhyXNMTH-wb49PydiJ7FOxf-5shFpHI0I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="356" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6Ux5aHWWVWLC1LwADLTLADUn3kGtxJXLuy2gy0SV1c4s9u4UdOew8j_X3X18z_-t_rbN36Avdz8CefhMC7k3urucndOvGLubbLqMee-p0KjCnCN4QXFFUq3Po663-KcVi04PABWHRFUsAh2bO5LTobEfxYoBhyXNMTH-wb49PydiJ7FOxf-5shFpHI0I=w353-h338" width="353" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our newly purchased condo also of the craftsman style will see the downsizing continue. From 13,000 sq feet to 5,000 sq feet now
reduces further to less than 2,000 sq feet. Yes, in time there will be another
abode on the coast but for now, it’s not just sacrificing the clothes and other
goods and chattels but major pieces of furniture. On the other hand, we
lucked-out in scoring a corner condo with an outside deck where we can set up
our grill but it all is still a bit of a shock. Fortunately, the condo has been
well looked after with fresh paint, appliances and a finished basement so we
will adapt quickly – we lived in a similar fashion when we moved into a
townhouse in Southern California back in 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is some good news,
however. Before that sign was erected on our lawn (and pictured above), our
agent did a short marketing campaign to other agents letting them know our home
in Windsor was coming on the market. We signed our agent on a Thursday, had photographers
in on Friday, and had an interested party come by Saturday. By Monday, we
received our first offer that we declined, but later that week, came an offer from
the same folks that we then accepted. Only then did the sign go up as we went
under contract but with contingencies all of which now look likely to be met. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Registering the fact that
our house might no longer be ours in a matter of weeks well, thrilled us yet
didn’t thrill us. It has been a whirlwind number of days and yet, it’s almost
as if the die had been cast from the first day back from our travels. We had
made the emotional decision to move and yet, watching it all happen has proved
to be a heartbreaking time where the future picture remains unclear. The
biggest problem we face or so we are being told by our friends who know us well
– where are you going to park the cars? And which cars will be in what
location? Oh dear, those dreaded first world problems! But we will figure
something out when the full picture is finally revealed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQVJoe6x4MhWg5tppyi5uuJmon1H-TutGayi5EeOMEfaSQOjJUEFO_vO75llm2ymkM48iDTYv8YSDqkYMlbaIAmCpKBLxf7EV_s9XxkWci7hQSnO3dBFEO2z33Un0LWbRpK8K_jvBJ4kVHm328KrvM-PpLmJKLGTSDsi0_HF9QvEPCh1zT1eIK1H4k_jk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="374" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQVJoe6x4MhWg5tppyi5uuJmon1H-TutGayi5EeOMEfaSQOjJUEFO_vO75llm2ymkM48iDTYv8YSDqkYMlbaIAmCpKBLxf7EV_s9XxkWci7hQSnO3dBFEO2z33Un0LWbRpK8K_jvBJ4kVHm328KrvM-PpLmJKLGTSDsi0_HF9QvEPCh1zT1eIK1H4k_jk=w288-h319" width="288" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I ran errands today, it
occurred to me that the day of our wedding anniversary may have passed but
there was no excuse for me to not buy a card. Watching the photos and videos the
Brad provided has proved to have been a very emotional time but even so, I
couldn’t let the time pass without Margo knowing that she deserved a card. With
our friends all returned to their homes, we did go out for one final night. We
went to a restaurant in Windsor we have favored for some time and yet again, we
welcomed one more celebratory happy anniversary plate. The night was cold once
again and with the house empty of guests, on this strange and mournful day, we
knew we would come out alright. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It won’t be easy, but then
again, we have Brad’s pictures to turn to. With all the photos dating back to
the time all three of us worked together, there was one photo in particular
that pulled us out of our melancholy. It was Brad too who captured us both in a
wicker basket beneath a hot air balloon featured at the top of this post. Yes,
on a day when we all became professional bungee jumpers – being paid $1 for our
time filming an advertisement for the owners – it was Brad who just happened to
catch that look. <br />
<br />
Working together as we were at the time, Margo and I had no idea where our
journey would take us but for that brief moment, when the lens caught us
off-guard, many years later that look remains and with it, the knowledge that
bungee cords withstanding, there are still more thrills ahead for both of us!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyLqUGhoYt7W1OVxO1kdHos0-8Fs0V9Mbx96y6EK_7eZWnh_MZfA7_TsKQFBOn6nWICyGLe8wNEMxgWWVk4V1s-hxgl4o-82fVbVSBbEtCOjt7tHcpIHyNX07jKuTzrUbQIj-U-gzpFT259dTpcAaVOSeDngbOSYd93BnQnBqkIWDxESqsH85FuU3eIi0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="424" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyLqUGhoYt7W1OVxO1kdHos0-8Fs0V9Mbx96y6EK_7eZWnh_MZfA7_TsKQFBOn6nWICyGLe8wNEMxgWWVk4V1s-hxgl4o-82fVbVSBbEtCOjt7tHcpIHyNX07jKuTzrUbQIj-U-gzpFT259dTpcAaVOSeDngbOSYd93BnQnBqkIWDxESqsH85FuU3eIi0=w378-h301" width="378" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-6595123440511776532023-12-25T10:24:00.000-08:002023-12-25T10:30:47.134-08:00All at sea … untethered and happy!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy8khOnLowxTGjKSLCUHDbh0DzYm1kDtKPm8SuktcejhGRx0pYzz_IEMPepz56GzPXFwTXqqzHKTN2F8sYFRfL-tQ1eL60NiS-sWHb9lSWXWaFcs6gh1D9UHsBrag2pdhaNj5OsBt2Q2AeHNl44mCGQbRC8ppQNkef8flmQUbdeL9JvZ_6OGjY-slPWMM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="537" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy8khOnLowxTGjKSLCUHDbh0DzYm1kDtKPm8SuktcejhGRx0pYzz_IEMPepz56GzPXFwTXqqzHKTN2F8sYFRfL-tQ1eL60NiS-sWHb9lSWXWaFcs6gh1D9UHsBrag2pdhaNj5OsBt2Q2AeHNl44mCGQbRC8ppQNkef8flmQUbdeL9JvZ_6OGjY-slPWMM=w316-h356" width="316" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Ritz
Carlton Yacht Evrima; San Salvador Bahamas<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are still far from port
as we continue on our voyage through the Caribbean. Once again, for the
Christmas holidays, we can be found island-hopping and today, we will shortly
weigh anchor alongside San Salvador in the Bahamas. Long considered the exact
landing spot where Christopher Columbus first set foot in the Americas, this
island is just the tip of a very high ocean mountain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have journeyed far this
year. Perhaps further than at any time in our married life. We have crossed the
dateline and the equator. We have stood in Greenwich with longitude zero. Or
360 if you prefer. We have been moving our watches forward more times than we
have at any time and our preferred mode of transportation has been ocean-going
liners. There have been a number of airline hops but for the most part, we have
simply been all at sea. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2MInlxtsAW-5dbWbtWZlr1mJH0rEII0GvEnv7AmE_VAFIS6ViERVz22mrJLb8kpZLzGkLvCF2VLfg7G9yw553fMjo_OVvG8Stv32q96fkOIIZuUzoBR4blLJHMG_-6iu8y_dnu3X6WcHNPgUtNbZwgPPjnkeA0BSrJUrOphtbluQiVB5WHa5WRt8RShA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="608" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2MInlxtsAW-5dbWbtWZlr1mJH0rEII0GvEnv7AmE_VAFIS6ViERVz22mrJLb8kpZLzGkLvCF2VLfg7G9yw553fMjo_OVvG8Stv32q96fkOIIZuUzoBR4blLJHMG_-6iu8y_dnu3X6WcHNPgUtNbZwgPPjnkeA0BSrJUrOphtbluQiVB5WHa5WRt8RShA=w369-h277" width="369" /></a><br /></i><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Seabourn
Sojourn; Trinidad and Tobago</span></i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time last year we were
doing a similar cruise through the islands of Eastern Caribbean. Bookended as
it were, for a family well-versed in the traditions of the Antipodes and
Eastern Europe, these islands don’t truly hold our fascination as after a
while, they are all pretty much the same. So similar in fact that we cannot
really name the many islands we have visited over the past two years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What we can cover though is
the peace that comes with being at sea. We have our routines, of course – wake
up and shower followed by breakfast and a time to read that then leads to a
brief afternoon nap before cocktails and dinner. Sleep and repeat. Perhaps it’s
a running commentary on just how intense our daily lives have become back on
land, but no matter, we always look forward to that time when we run away to
sea.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx7gEQjAoJcZeLHJnIHGxsStTG6e7Yk-_dPHW16NJ08-RlcC6ITRd0d5-c9cC4nQ3iBJN3zC4hXEmmk4zQWqE9zybw-wT1jPDsRkTLVUFkO7TZt1xAf2o121m9KEfPeTY4L76Zao37YXkXcGIGR43bX3h20ld7FwaTNb7dXnAXIF7A4NjaC1gi2pxCzWs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="587" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx7gEQjAoJcZeLHJnIHGxsStTG6e7Yk-_dPHW16NJ08-RlcC6ITRd0d5-c9cC4nQ3iBJN3zC4hXEmmk4zQWqE9zybw-wT1jPDsRkTLVUFkO7TZt1xAf2o121m9KEfPeTY4L76Zao37YXkXcGIGR43bX3h20ld7FwaTNb7dXnAXIF7A4NjaC1gi2pxCzWs=w340-h188" width="340" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Seabourn’s
celebrated Caviar and Champaign in the Surf<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, where have we been and
what was our vessel of choice? We sailed this island circuit last year onboard
Seabourn Sojourn. This was the tradition that started a few years earlier when
escaping the Colorado winter for warmer latitudes made a whole lot of sense.
Then again, with winter’s grip firmly holding us hostage in Colorado as March
came around, we headed to Hawaii on Princess as we have done for almost a
decade now. Call it my holiday escape, as that pretty much sums up the timing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>With summer and, as a first,
we joined our neighbors and good friends the Fowlers for a journey into the
midnight sun. This voyage took us out of Greenwich, down the Themes, up past
Scotland and the Shetland Islands to where finally, we sighted the fjords of
Norway. Did someone say summer? If your summer tastes are warm sunny beaches
then sailing to the very top of Norway and indeed the top of Europe may not be
in your best interests. Did someone also say it’s cold during summertime around
these parts?</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF4cWYFX5_zl2on3_nnQftP6jyWLwNeJo5B7bGkUHOoXTq8xjnqfXY9tHcj1LBbZwXacAVMJzCfnivmA3C4yLv765eTtyfL9hthjgoty-vnBfgtDzCiMBkW0LQ3SKA-SzEl25_X9khCd7vTx0wUsYeuomucwM3K5rscIrV_KcCI5MAWZ5nuBMq4ND6xrU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="641" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF4cWYFX5_zl2on3_nnQftP6jyWLwNeJo5B7bGkUHOoXTq8xjnqfXY9tHcj1LBbZwXacAVMJzCfnivmA3C4yLv765eTtyfL9hthjgoty-vnBfgtDzCiMBkW0LQ3SKA-SzEl25_X9khCd7vTx0wUsYeuomucwM3K5rscIrV_KcCI5MAWZ5nuBMq4ND6xrU=w359-h269" width="359" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Viking
Venus about to leave Greenwich to sail into the midnight sun.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It seemed more than
appropriate to be sailing up and down the Norwegian coastline in a Viking Ocean
liner. For some, the similarity in service levels between Seabourn and Viking
are clear, however the Viking is more than twice the size of the Seabourn and
as such, doesn’t provide as intimate a setting. However, both offer similar
levels of peacefulness that allow us to keep working in support of our clients
and didn’t have us skipping a beat as we traversed the oceans. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxcq2r-8YgevzIMR6960uJlKDvTNmp8-jAr7u9tpaUfYptkVkMu6X05Fcve0ADn7PJw3svKfhDmenTkdScScHDXegGG5FHkpDvNzfMjSSr_V75pl4WlOUl0QIWC2IXBnR7wJKswlP88g8WtJh0D0Kvv8zSHx0iEIU_9jxiYBuxQiJRnvH9tkaz7-ziDic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="599" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxcq2r-8YgevzIMR6960uJlKDvTNmp8-jAr7u9tpaUfYptkVkMu6X05Fcve0ADn7PJw3svKfhDmenTkdScScHDXegGG5FHkpDvNzfMjSSr_V75pl4WlOUl0QIWC2IXBnR7wJKswlP88g8WtJh0D0Kvv8zSHx0iEIU_9jxiYBuxQiJRnvH9tkaz7-ziDic=w388-h291" width="388" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The famous
home of Shetland’s TV detective Jimmy Perez<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Opportunities to catch up
with my Australian family gave us all the impetus we needed to sail on Princess
once again, this time out of Long Beach on a journey of 26 days to Sydney. My
daughter Lisa was turning forty and I just didn’t want to miss that birthday! Previously
I had sailed west to east from Sydney to Acapulco, Mexico and so had an
understanding of just how vast was the Pacific Ocean but for Margo, it was a
journey of exploration. Add a stop in Samoa to our growing list of countries
that we have collectively visited.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will pass judgement on
Princess Cruise Lines a little deeper into this post but all thoughts of
Princess were quickly forgotten as we set out for out final cruise of the year.
We may be in San Salvadore where the pristine aqua blue seas surrounding the
island were proving too hard to ignore for those on board who liked to kick
back with a leisurely snorkel glide over coral formations. For Margo and me,
our voyage onboard the Ritz Carlton Yacht, Evrima, has lived up to every
expectation we had after reading promotional materials. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNX2aF2Dm6Tx38JUCcVZ5jIFF0lolaekqYrVsVNK7EShGBs86BqXW32OaUHI4_egvh9vDJgbgI0ZY0Lpum90hCcFq-eguXVuVwpgTqs3OglhnKgNlDvazmBp-rSnLBl343wjdaNNy86wVBtHLvCRKsY-fbbul88q-ivpJ4bMiEDmq086IcQxOS8WTMXKU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="564" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNX2aF2Dm6Tx38JUCcVZ5jIFF0lolaekqYrVsVNK7EShGBs86BqXW32OaUHI4_egvh9vDJgbgI0ZY0Lpum90hCcFq-eguXVuVwpgTqs3OglhnKgNlDvazmBp-rSnLBl343wjdaNNy86wVBtHLvCRKsY-fbbul88q-ivpJ4bMiEDmq086IcQxOS8WTMXKU=w366-h275" width="366" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Through
another’s eye – Princess Majestic arriving in Sydney.</span></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What’s different? No dining
room as such and definitely no buffet. There are a number of restaurants
catering to a choice of different times of day and in support of different tastes.
Want to reserve a table so as to enjoy a true Michelin three-star meal with
wine pairings? Yes, you can but for an additional charge and one too rich for
us mere members of the still-working brigade. Then again, simply having the
option was an indication of the level of service and indeed menu selections
available. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Evrima is a true motor
yacht along the lines of those built to order by oligarchs, industry titans and
select middle-east rulers. With less than 300 guests (more like 200 plus) there
was never a situation where any public space looked crowded and yes, passengers
are given a personal concierge. In our case, she went by the name of Happee
which happened to be a true reflection of her persona. More champagne, perhaps?
All restaurants require reservations and Happee made them for us. Forgetful in this
regard? No matter, show up to the hostess of one where you didn’t have a
reservation and nearly always a table can be found even as the hostess will then
call your prior venue to cancel the booking. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkydsNFItu4-DVfXonGMX6jM0eZN3xftrqB8O6sFx5ewIKXYUXwbH__HW8RUo1zhqHHrwhC0QT57vP64vk9LojQQYbsVlWyPBuvQHek8szRbg0iZPNCG0b3lXIIvSrRrOyYHmqnMtJSBMwItuf1v_-71RC9xuN2SB3VhkfDnWJbnV-a-8miRsps78ODXA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="482" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkydsNFItu4-DVfXonGMX6jM0eZN3xftrqB8O6sFx5ewIKXYUXwbH__HW8RUo1zhqHHrwhC0QT57vP64vk9LojQQYbsVlWyPBuvQHek8szRbg0iZPNCG0b3lXIIvSrRrOyYHmqnMtJSBMwItuf1v_-71RC9xuN2SB3VhkfDnWJbnV-a-8miRsps78ODXA=w255-h340" width="255" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The
artistic license pursued at every turn on the Evrima – one staircase!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Prior to stepping on board
the yacht we had spent a couple of days in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Having
only just returned from Sydney where we had spent a number of weeks, the
transition to Fort Lauderdale could be viewed as an almost seamless progression.
Surely, Manly Beach was a little to the south of us (and not Miami) as the vibe
was so similar. While we miss our time in Manly, we were able to slide
effortlessly into the city of Fort Lauderdale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This reference is consistent
with us being all at sea for as long as we have been this year. Put it down to
the freedom that came post COVID. For a decade and a half we have worked
remotely from a pair of offices in our Windsor, Colorado, home (and before
that, in our former home in Niwot, Colorado). However, now we have come to
appreciate that working remotely doesn’t require us to actually be at home at
all. The ships’ internet connections are now fantastic (thank you Elon for your
satellites!) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmSHbDP_Z58DU_C9luQCT-y2OEYeY7Lluh2SgAnscOFbrlbbi4bzaWhV7Iv5ioDSh0d_tYjz00BiE-vWK7R9h8UxHMXIObD3pkGrBusiWl-qibCmJq6VQpNucXDyPuz3AOmnqQh-_gV0d6-yk-E5MyzBHIP6yPnztOcxKB29PGWGWAfRwhRG9W2eIvUYw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="460" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmSHbDP_Z58DU_C9luQCT-y2OEYeY7Lluh2SgAnscOFbrlbbi4bzaWhV7Iv5ioDSh0d_tYjz00BiE-vWK7R9h8UxHMXIObD3pkGrBusiWl-qibCmJq6VQpNucXDyPuz3AOmnqQh-_gV0d6-yk-E5MyzBHIP6yPnztOcxKB29PGWGWAfRwhRG9W2eIvUYw=w282-h375" width="282" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Not to be outdone but artistry of a different type; <br />looking
down through Princess sky walk<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But here’s the deal; having
a home is now of secondary importance to Margo and me. Shortly we will be
closing on a deal for a small condo / townhouse acquired from a member of our
extended family and its purpose will be to provide us with a “hotel for the
night” experience whenever we need to visit our daughter, her husband and the
grandchildren. It will also play host to our artwork, glasses and the residual
wine collection we are rapidly reducing to next to nothing. But we cannot plan
on living in Colorado for any extended period of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Colorado, being at five
thousand feet and Margo needing to be tethered to an oxygen compressor - as we
discovered in January 2023 -clouds our future residency in this state. So, yes,
this life aboard vessels plying routes at sea level has come as a blessing. Margo
has never complained.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whether it was an outcome
following her second occurrence of COVID – the first being totally asymptomatic
but the second knocked her down for an extended period – we cannot say for
certainty although the timing was more than coincidental. One day we are flying
to meetings when suddenly, she struggled to catch her breath. So yes, could it be
a sailor’s life for Margo and me? After 80 days at sea together with 10 travel
days and another 20 days ashore prior to departure of each of the ships we
sailed, 2023 saw us spend almost a third of the year at sea level.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmrXdKYlORI5l4lDZVWEmrso2N7pcApGsiG_iSF8750NG0DVwY8RjP2b7lKAF81-XM96wUx7ESFFAXaNFpMHhjdwkCY6WHSEFyM42BVld1INn1ml18ssL7lf2rIF-5GHOQUrpVc3RHKgnVcc9CGVUhIRetFalHUsbRXnUezWvh1Q1bo1RfA57NzY1ZGuo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="614" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmrXdKYlORI5l4lDZVWEmrso2N7pcApGsiG_iSF8750NG0DVwY8RjP2b7lKAF81-XM96wUx7ESFFAXaNFpMHhjdwkCY6WHSEFyM42BVld1INn1ml18ssL7lf2rIF-5GHOQUrpVc3RHKgnVcc9CGVUhIRetFalHUsbRXnUezWvh1Q1bo1RfA57NzY1ZGuo=w379-h284" width="379" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas
Eve, Evrima – Havana Nights<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">(A possible reminder of Men without Hats singing We can Dance!)</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No one can really prepare
you for what life might throw your way. That’s part of the deal, really. You
just never know what’s headed your way. What is important is how you deal with
it and Margo and I have faced numerous unexpected situations that have challenged
our abilities to cope. In the later times of our business life, coming to terms
with there being no career guarantees we ended up moving a lot – from Colorado
to Nebraska to California with stops in between. None of which was planned nor
was there ever any expectation that we would have to relearn our core
specialties and adapt to vastly different technology disciplines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But here we are. In 2024 our
lives will change yet again and this time in an even more dramatic fashion.
Will we move to the coast? If so, which one? Will we spend all of our time in
one location or will there be extended periods of time spent elsewhere? Sydney?
London? Nice? The options will all be explored before final judgement is
passed. That is, unless we find that in the twenty-first century gray nomads
aren’t restricted to caravans and tents! Or better still, even to a single
cruise ship.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How do we rate the cruise
lines and the vessels we sailed on in 2023? Well, firmly at the bottom is
Princess and that’s so sad for me as my first career move was to the commercial
container services business group of P&O. My first cruise was a gift from
the company way back in 1973. Given that, my allegiances have kept me returning
to Princess for all the decades that have followed.. But no more. When you
cannot find anything to eat that you would want to share with friends, then it
makes Princess a difficult choice. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYdfy1rzEfUWTJU7MaznWaTv5Fdjb2Btcp0UnnQytXnHW0QPrP9lUW7tiaeZi9V29Swi6NRJYaFtXe5SB0se3p_MROXxG8XNjit8LhouUBOSEqNdKFZu0Nn7VSHayN9n3HAWcO18_q0Cc2wVSgsRIAXFOshqlCZsH1sWLxHIBQXfLtNm27tG818BuPf0c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="549" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYdfy1rzEfUWTJU7MaznWaTv5Fdjb2Btcp0UnnQytXnHW0QPrP9lUW7tiaeZi9V29Swi6NRJYaFtXe5SB0se3p_MROXxG8XNjit8LhouUBOSEqNdKFZu0Nn7VSHayN9n3HAWcO18_q0Cc2wVSgsRIAXFOshqlCZsH1sWLxHIBQXfLtNm27tG818BuPf0c=w259-h345" width="259" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Out
to sea; sail on, sail on!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When it comes to Viking and
Seabourn, each has its plusses and minuses. But ultimately, it comes down to
the individual vessels you choose. Margo and I have had a preference for
Seabourn and have sailed on them for a couple of decades. We were only recently
introduced to Viking and the size difference is noticeable. But both fall down
when it comes to specialty restaurants as neither appeal to us. Seabourn is
changing up their specialty restaurant so we will just have to see and as for
Viking, their two restaurants often don’t give you as good a meal as you would
have had if you stayed in the dining room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That leaves Ritz Carlton
Yacht Collection on top. If you want fun and games and to be entertained each
night then this isn’t for you. Just a simple jazz band for pre-dinner cocktails
and then later in the night should you want to sip that final brandy of the
day. Otherwise, it’s all up to you. As a true yacht that provide an array of
water sports so yes, we see passengers taking advantage of jet skis even as some
simply snorkel off the transom swim platform that is part of the yacht’s Marina
Terrace.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl0ciGzKuUE8JrmNF5nft9_9BmMJ83SCVAfpe4WOmicyqQVbV0qZxQTICDvPabLq3aXj9vzuA_RoDsOBgmqQequKRZ15wZhPTfwIUpx-QEL0BHRltos838oyqskPcfXW_no7cYvNlVMjSMwPz17NUXiKrxbWbHcM8u-lauS2CzsHdYqbaVdCJXIGOb5lA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="647" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl0ciGzKuUE8JrmNF5nft9_9BmMJ83SCVAfpe4WOmicyqQVbV0qZxQTICDvPabLq3aXj9vzuA_RoDsOBgmqQequKRZ15wZhPTfwIUpx-QEL0BHRltos838oyqskPcfXW_no7cYvNlVMjSMwPz17NUXiKrxbWbHcM8u-lauS2CzsHdYqbaVdCJXIGOb5lA=w394-h296" width="394" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A
midday departure by tender somewhere in the Bahamas<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One yacht we didn’t take
this year was the true sailing yacht of Windstar which shares quite a lot with
Ritz Carlton, although the décor last time we sailed on a Windstar yacht was
nowhere near the level of quality dare I say over-the-top opulence you will
find on the Ritz Carlton yacht. On the other hand, there you have it. We have
sailed aboard Princess, Viking, Seabourn and Ritz Carlton and we cannot
overlook how good the Evrima has proved to be; exceptional, by every measure
and standard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With 2024 about to kick off
in earnest, we have so much to consider. Sale of our home in Windsor being top of
the list. But there is one more item to cover for all those who follow our car
exploits – yes, we turned down the delivery over Christmas of our new Corvette
C8 Z06. The timing was just not right so for now, we gave it up to another
anxious individual with the option to reconsider as a 2025 purchase. When all
is said and done, we changed none of our cars in 2023 nor will we be changing
any in 2024 and that will come as a surprise perhaps even as a shock for many.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the seas do call us and
the oceans of the world have become our home. Whether we take up residence
where waves lap the shores or simply sail away for months at a time wherever
there is an internet connection then you will likely find us bent over our
keyboards. To everyone who continue to follow the story we tell, we wish you
happy holidays and the very best for the new year and let the tides take you
where they may and may that breeze you encounter be as gentle as the life you
choose! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8pMq1v8Vd4T2YvqSpwdDDXfcutlWKX_z2__tQsz9TO5NKIhnJauGf7gAwdalZnG8Xd97_SN4EkkSX8H2lwu0Eu_yn_OFu4CNE2gqLzeXb-eFn_RGOvBizWPYVABFLQKMbWoEoiLN5cKn_Rke4NK9VbW1CBfW1MN_LnnbtRyaecZ5skYe335V3bns9o0E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="637" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8pMq1v8Vd4T2YvqSpwdDDXfcutlWKX_z2__tQsz9TO5NKIhnJauGf7gAwdalZnG8Xd97_SN4EkkSX8H2lwu0Eu_yn_OFu4CNE2gqLzeXb-eFn_RGOvBizWPYVABFLQKMbWoEoiLN5cKn_Rke4NK9VbW1CBfW1MN_LnnbtRyaecZ5skYe335V3bns9o0E=w376-h282" width="376" /></a></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">True
reflections of a year spent at sea</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Feel the stinging I've been given</span><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br aria-hidden="true" style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="text-align: start;">Never ending, unrelenting</span></span><br aria-hidden="true" style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="text-align: start;">Heartbreak searing, always fearing</span></span><br aria-hidden="true" style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="text-align: start;">Never caring, persevering</span></span><br aria-hidden="true" style="text-align: start;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="text-align: start;">Sail on, sail on, sailor</span></span></span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-46259058808456655952023-11-05T17:07:00.002-08:002023-11-05T17:08:25.265-08:00When life throws you a curve<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7NXUXbZ62vAq1iq26zvGX-jcwKSSrqa5qu5P92R88Xkep2drZ2M-fmQEaqcwliTht5c8Fm0nbdaAo9TupYX6YRoZQwQIo3NSBsVAlbFL0cP-1CBsJ4hmpUOhTwcdp1Jlt8JhKqbjoCasmveoXoJW37whtNxuYXAeop16toHvDyVcBkVUCSIQiqcCJLA/s339/Blu%20Vette.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="339" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7NXUXbZ62vAq1iq26zvGX-jcwKSSrqa5qu5P92R88Xkep2drZ2M-fmQEaqcwliTht5c8Fm0nbdaAo9TupYX6YRoZQwQIo3NSBsVAlbFL0cP-1CBsJ4hmpUOhTwcdp1Jlt8JhKqbjoCasmveoXoJW37whtNxuYXAeop16toHvDyVcBkVUCSIQiqcCJLA/w353-h349/Blu%20Vette.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It may seem a little odd to
lead off with a photo of Margo behind the wheel of our originally configured
Corvette C6 Z51, but given how this was the very first time that Margo turned a
wheel on a road that only went in one direction and where there were no speed
limits, to say it was a moment filled with anxieties would be an understatement
as both she and I had no idea what to expect that very first time on track. It
was Willow Springs International Raceway, branded as the Fastest Road in the
West and that didn’t help at all. Surely, we knew how to go fast but being on
track was a world of experience away from a daily drive. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The photo depicts Margo
heading up a serious upward elevation shift towards what the track labels as
The Omega. A series of turns designed to challenge even the best of drivers. It
was much later that an instructor told us that the goal was to get through
these twists and turn safely as no race was ever won by passing any other
driver in The Omega. And yet, there it was, every lap. Curves that we simply
had no other option than to face and overcome. Looking back at this photo and
yes, I used it in the second post ever published to this blog, little did we
know that it would be more than cars and tracks that would throw us curves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It turns out life has a way
of challenging you at every turn and facing these challenges oftentimes means
abandoning the course down which you thought you were heading. This post may
feature a number of references to our decade plus outings on road courses
scattered across the western states, but only to illustrate changes we have
encountered this year and as we look to 2024, handling these life curves
continues to be ongoing. All the same, I cannot help but write about them as in
its own way, its just another form of therapy that is a necessity at this time
in our lives. So, before you head for the exit, read all about the curve that was thrown at Margo and me! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLplJLvKBSBj7CEj1s3ShtmgLGlWKywVIgLmWkw8Glqo-Nf6OnBhCrhSFjlg5NMlY3VUxFU-WfzZcZJ5uNRvg5H57bTeJlBPFNu809nJRtK8BXbScM6YzneoUtKN0wBf_BNZjTgilX5J9_gaud31Hma95pMUKPssZ-LV7Xu06tisA_pIR0LgE-Jt8b2qo/s1681/BW%20Esses.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1463" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLplJLvKBSBj7CEj1s3ShtmgLGlWKywVIgLmWkw8Glqo-Nf6OnBhCrhSFjlg5NMlY3VUxFU-WfzZcZJ5uNRvg5H57bTeJlBPFNu809nJRtK8BXbScM6YzneoUtKN0wBf_BNZjTgilX5J9_gaud31Hma95pMUKPssZ-LV7Xu06tisA_pIR0LgE-Jt8b2qo/s320/BW%20Esses.png" width="279" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While our first ever outing
was a track weekend at Willow Springs as referenced above, our second track
outing occurred at Buttonwillow. Located at the southern end of the San Joaquin
Valley itis an ideal place for beginner, wanna-be racers, to fine tune their
craft – there was nothing you could hit apart from a short concrete barrier
protecting those drivers who entered the pits. You could overcook your curves
and not hit anything. But what was a feature of this road course is that club
events could utilize many configurations the track afforded them even as clubs
could chose to circulate clockwise or counterclockwise. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The esses at Buttonwillow
were straight forward but even so, for beginners they represented yet one more
learning curve. Entering the esses may startle the novice but it was always
that last curve that was the one to properly apex. You could run wild over the
rumble strips but in the end, miss that last apex and your entry speed onto
that short straight (clockwise) or into the sweeper (counterclockwise) would be
compromised. Everyone wants to go fast on the straights but not by sacrificing
that last curve. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As joint proprietors of a
company, Pyalla Technologies, LLC., we have entered our fifteenth year of
business. Over the course of those years, we have rebuilt our client list several
times. That old adage of being only as good as your last posting runs true in
our profession and while I always shudder at the dismissive “it’s only content”
responses we sometimes get, the creative side of me still looks to write that
perfect post. And so it is that same seat-of-the-pants sensation you get when
you successfully negotiate the Buttonwillow esses and unleash the full power of
your car occurs when you do get to come out of a technology curve to post an
article or column that strikes a positive chord with your community. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9MiagneE4pBZLtYmwmCEc4nwMApxTKOcXgAXaRrUXiEgAd8fLd_x-5Zo4EuK22kzNoykexb1re228iIRMTZNYwl1glsW2VQ3S0JXQ2KupqTYWKm-Bf4Dd8I_BfS_2TlCZ2AdTSAaHNd2p89fS0qtbhNbVG8xjK3Kz7c85-Rd3I5Wma03f0DQZvwaBWE/s3300/HPR%20Esses.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="3300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9MiagneE4pBZLtYmwmCEc4nwMApxTKOcXgAXaRrUXiEgAd8fLd_x-5Zo4EuK22kzNoykexb1re228iIRMTZNYwl1glsW2VQ3S0JXQ2KupqTYWKm-Bf4Dd8I_BfS_2TlCZ2AdTSAaHNd2p89fS0qtbhNbVG8xjK3Kz7c85-Rd3I5Wma03f0DQZvwaBWE/w362-h200/HPR%20Esses.png" width="362" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was many years of track
outings before we heard about a road course near our Colorado home. Having
spend many years trailering in our car to the west coast who knew we could
spend days on track less than a hundred miles from home. Colorado’s’ High
Plains Raceway, just outside the township of Byers and paralleling US Highway
36, was a true surprise. More than two miles long and taking full advantage of
the contours of the undulating hills, very quickly we recognized that the
designers had incorporated sequences we had encountered on other tracks.
Danny’s Turn (turn 6) required a very late apex in order to avoid going off
track at the exit reminded us of turn 9 at Big Willow. However, it was the
esses “To Hell on a Bobsled” that proved to be the true challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Drivers had to make a
choice. Was it similar to the Omega at Willow Springs to simply be negotiated
or was it an opportunity to truly attack the track? Entering these esses
required an over the shoulder look as you aggressively rotated the car through
the entry hairpin that was turn 8 but then it was all downhill and a rapid
descent it happened to be. At the bottom of these esses you had a short braking
zone before a savage right hand turn where the exit was practically in the
dirt. Miss that apex or run off the track and you lost any possible advantage
for full acceleration along the short straight that followed. Once again, this
sequence called for a full ration of courage otherwise known as a gut-check as
that initial hairpin gave you no indication of what was to follow. With
experience this became a timing situation where you brain counted down to a
very late turn in at the top of the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2023 called for a very big
gut-check on the part of Margo and me. Coming out of her second bout of Covid
late 2022, Margo struggled with the elevation where we lived. With less than
one full atmosphere, normal breathing became problematic. Friends and family
have become aware of our situation and this curve ball so late in our lives
truly put us off pursuing our daily lives. Just as you cannot see through the
hairpin at the top of the Bobsled esses it is fair to say we didn’t see it
coming. To work our way through the curves that followed and to set up for the
straight that followed, we are looking to move to sea level. This is not an
easy decision to make as there is one more curve we have to address that being
our grandkids where it is making such decisions hard to accomplish. We have
plans to secure a smaller residence near to family but our longer term goal is
to be by the seashore but don’t ask us where exactly as this will be the main
focus of the coming year. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjYRvTuVoPWAIXSf8vStnnXnlWvcLub1DGQ64O2P7SNIdRVGAyKl4dUDYEgfNKbNvDyambgnvXoFgHX22WEPJ22uzQ5Kee36WC85Uwgeu8hJktHQP2nTkUgjZZVX_XIVJZwjbZiwMmojSAfcDbow4-OTiGrzyVcPAy52fl-MuXIXfG3DViLljtnECMj0/s2636/Sonoma%20Esses.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="2636" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjYRvTuVoPWAIXSf8vStnnXnlWvcLub1DGQ64O2P7SNIdRVGAyKl4dUDYEgfNKbNvDyambgnvXoFgHX22WEPJ22uzQ5Kee36WC85Uwgeu8hJktHQP2nTkUgjZZVX_XIVJZwjbZiwMmojSAfcDbow4-OTiGrzyVcPAy52fl-MuXIXfG3DViLljtnECMj0/w432-h174/Sonoma%20Esses.png" width="432" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps there is no other
track more challenging that Sonoma. At one time it was called Sear’s Point
Raceway while at another time Infineon. It has played host to many famous races
from NASCAR to Indy and it was where we witnessed the very first on-track Indy
experience of our friend Brian and Jan Kenny’s 18-year-old grandson, Colton
Herta, make his first appearance. It was also the location of my outing with
Mario Andretti in the Indy two-seater that remains a highlight of my times on
track.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, it was also the
only time I put our track car into the wall. Making my way down through the
esses I missed the entry apex badly such that as I approached the final ess
(turn 8) there was no room left and our Corvette snapped-spun on me, rear-ending
the wall. Limping back to the pits I knew our weekend was done and yes, we
blessed our souls that of late we had elected to trailer our car to track
weekends, but ultimately after inspection, the damage was only a minor crack in
the energy-absorbing Styrofoam backing behind the rear bumper. Yes, while your
seat-of-the-pants indicator can tell you when you made a good pass of the esses
so it can quickly communicate that you are truly in trouble. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is not to say that we
aren’t entirely out of the woods but rather to note in passing that 2024 will
be a year where many decisions need to be made. While it would be foolish to
suggest we will get all of them right, just knowing that it is inevitable that
we haven’t seen all possible developments just yet. Who knows how interest
rates will affect everyone and who can tell how likely our Windsor home will sell
in a timely manner. And who can say where we will wind up living. The only
thing we can say with any certainty is that we have no intention of leaving the
US, but whether it is west coast or east coast, it may take all year before
that question is addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbNvgDd58PROwNFlYYNrx3y9F7BlxhPeIWek8xjHzSZV5Jes_e7p0aqE_MijkgX8bKZrgZ_vWIzb1_MxJNRTMFK6XqKXUO-6xpmVH34BKIsvITBHzBx6LDGCDiUMXtRiBDAfnlBOrG13-8bqZv8riyN-xyUTYCTLSeAU8d_Vv1VXeK5NaC2pYH5dUgSE/s2059/Bthurst%20Esses.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2059" data-original-width="1522" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbNvgDd58PROwNFlYYNrx3y9F7BlxhPeIWek8xjHzSZV5Jes_e7p0aqE_MijkgX8bKZrgZ_vWIzb1_MxJNRTMFK6XqKXUO-6xpmVH34BKIsvITBHzBx6LDGCDiUMXtRiBDAfnlBOrG13-8bqZv8riyN-xyUTYCTLSeAU8d_Vv1VXeK5NaC2pYH5dUgSE/w273-h369/Bthurst%20Esses.png" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Five years ago, we travelled
to Australia for an extended stay. We have plans to do this again shortly but
for a shorter period of time. I am looking forward to catching up with family,
in particular with my daughter Lisa. Having said that and conscious of the
coverage I have given to the esses of west coast road courses it would be
remiss of me not to mention perhaps the most famous road course in the world.
The venue for the annual Great Race. That’s right, the circuit on top of Mt
Panorama located just outside of Bathurst. On my last trip down under, my
brother Greg somewhat reluctantly and yet understandably as I hadn’t driven a
right-hand vehicle in quite some time, gave me the keys to his Lexus for a
parade lap around the course. It was back in October 1974 that I drove my own
Holden Torana SLR5000 for a couple of laps around the circuit early on the
Sunday morning of the race. Not sure if you can still do that but it was a
different times all those years ago. <br />
<br />
As I pulled onto the track my brother’s apprehension seemed fully justified as
I immediately dropped two wheels onto the grass. But within minutes, the
circuit took on a more familiar appearance. Around Hell Corner, up the Mountain
Straight, past Griffins Bend on upwards through the cutting. The narrow track
surrounded by concrete barriers was intimidation enough but then it was across
Skyline and into the sharp descent of the esses. With only that one lap there
was not time to think about lines through the esses correct or otherwise but
rather more or less a flashback to the Omega at Willow Springs. Just get
through the esses in one piece and no more grass-cutting excursions in my
brother’s car!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The energy that goes into
the daily creative aspects of writing and the nagging but ever-present concerns
over the future not just of work but family life are never far from my
thoughts. However, what curves, turns and the esses have so often highlighted
(and our seats-of-the-pants experiences reinforced) is that keeping an eye
focused on the exit no matter how far away is all that is required to
successfully negotiate entry into the straight that will clear you from the
potential havoc residing just behind you. 2024 is still a matter of being weeks
away but getting through the curves of 2023 have set us up for the challenges
we just have to face and, in many ways, I can put that down to knowing that
Margo and I continue to face them together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDbFzSk6x-znvR0H9amamWV7H9UTCbvQFLE12SMdim9pJs-lhdmMWTWiyvmw_sIvsc4sXXllUNSQw_0TM5J0WPyx3UkXjTb9jxeFvpLk0cC78lxIVVC9C-_UGYKAW_xWPPtOaTY7zvKusMS5QbRlkUstQrjEYh7oou_N1VW2r0p0mrS6BDF8zyiPDKUg/s793/Greg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="793" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDbFzSk6x-znvR0H9amamWV7H9UTCbvQFLE12SMdim9pJs-lhdmMWTWiyvmw_sIvsc4sXXllUNSQw_0TM5J0WPyx3UkXjTb9jxeFvpLk0cC78lxIVVC9C-_UGYKAW_xWPPtOaTY7zvKusMS5QbRlkUstQrjEYh7oou_N1VW2r0p0mrS6BDF8zyiPDKUg/w356-h267/Greg.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p></div><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-41414917815104920812023-10-22T16:45:00.000-07:002023-10-22T16:45:50.065-07:00We faced a lot in 2023, but it was the faces we remember most.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe3sSpzgSHq6ORfWTruSR0vhPA_hZkEI5FFjYE2We4tz7007EhkZ7zILYnLtqjj_-j2B--yigFQL3wBqz27uQFegNZT7b4fl5a_nnauNCM_LNzKg1m9BP7W95O7Bs5CV82MNjb_G5kQyBP7KIwOYR7ZCJWTdmnQW1Bq-iYkHnpESxwKf5cb4IHSzPUDXA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="353" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe3sSpzgSHq6ORfWTruSR0vhPA_hZkEI5FFjYE2We4tz7007EhkZ7zILYnLtqjj_-j2B--yigFQL3wBqz27uQFegNZT7b4fl5a_nnauNCM_LNzKg1m9BP7W95O7Bs5CV82MNjb_G5kQyBP7KIwOYR7ZCJWTdmnQW1Bq-iYkHnpESxwKf5cb4IHSzPUDXA=w325-h324" width="325" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our appetite for travel went
unabated. With October already a few days old, Margo and I begin our fifteenth
year of working together for our company, Pyalla Technologies, LLC. Our client
list continues to grow and for that we are most thankful. What we enjoy most
though is the opportunity to spend time with our clients and even though the
global pandemic remains fresh in our minds, having the opportunity to reconnect
with friends and colleagues has been a reminder of just how much we missed the
personal connection during those lost years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Travel may dominate our
calendar but then again, it’s not all work, work, work. There are hours where
we can escape the rigors of meetings to simply take in our surroundings.
Ultimately though, when you pack your bags solely by sight – this item should
be here and that item must be tucked in over there – then there is a brief
moment where we muse to ourselves, is this normal for folks like us? Or, the
light at the end of the tunnel is truly the light of an oncoming train?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvnv-drzzvWZBl_BfvkHKiRllk7nwtTAtyUHJt55VixOKrRl1rIfRu89VJPqo2dPzcz8Wdufz_9FwkawNQZLJ_gEDJXyRMRunajiH8znMVd5jjbgECRmZPnV0QES4qe8aj2aNkoX6XrNnQ1W56x124zo3zmYRQCLrzL0K1_nxc5KFEITbWh44y2eM_I3w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="330" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvnv-drzzvWZBl_BfvkHKiRllk7nwtTAtyUHJt55VixOKrRl1rIfRu89VJPqo2dPzcz8Wdufz_9FwkawNQZLJ_gEDJXyRMRunajiH8znMVd5jjbgECRmZPnV0QES4qe8aj2aNkoX6XrNnQ1W56x124zo3zmYRQCLrzL0K1_nxc5KFEITbWh44y2eM_I3w=w346-h317" width="346" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Time with family seemed to
balance the time away from them. When it comes to our grandchildren, Margo spent
a number of hours most Sundays with them, but in 2023 it hasn’t been easy. Margo looks like she did draw the short straw,
facing numerous ailments and many times, it was with trepidation. However, plans are already being drawn up that
will remediate the situation about which more news will follow in the new year.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those who travel through
Denver airport, you may be surprised to read of how Denver is now the second
busiest airport in the US (after Atlanta) and that is now the sixth busiest in
the world. Of a late afternoon, those of you that have arrived at Concourse B
will likely concur with Margo and me in that it feels like we are being frog-marched
to the exit. Waiting for connecting trains that take us back to the main
terminal is not for the faint of heart. Think of trying to get toothpaste back
into the tube. Or think of Tokyo subways without the presence of helpful hands
ensuring our safe entry into the train.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVc0OxmXol-1yOEjtNb2-Vjfdp9Lhs6idM3UkzY815N0JWnzWoGC702fSSXvqijlOQAuSEPAFhhYkYQL99AyrSn-ajLfyhVItEmFy0YxLGY7yYyD5ZBK8_5sHsQ7YHkPBZQixi0kwfZ1xUfh9JU8hkb_yIhnJ22tDvGRYeUOXuawDMqeGlXrvDWha8pXs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="292" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVc0OxmXol-1yOEjtNb2-Vjfdp9Lhs6idM3UkzY815N0JWnzWoGC702fSSXvqijlOQAuSEPAFhhYkYQL99AyrSn-ajLfyhVItEmFy0YxLGY7yYyD5ZBK8_5sHsQ7YHkPBZQixi0kwfZ1xUfh9JU8hkb_yIhnJ22tDvGRYeUOXuawDMqeGlXrvDWha8pXs=w306-h314" width="306" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Margo’s grand daughter Ella –
pictured on the left - is now ten. Already she is showing the results of good
genetics as she masters robotics. Not just their assembly but the programming
of their movements as they are put to the test, battling the creations of
others. By all accounts as well as firsthand observations, she has not only
demonstrated understanding of the basics but also of the competitive nature of
the games being played. It was only a week or so ago, with the climactic
activity of our NonStop TBC 2023 Conference in Denver, <i>Wreck ‘Em Rally</i>,
that attendees were involved a similar activity. If only we could have snuck
Ella into the fray – I am sure our team would have won!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5DWljSUDb0TWt_0IyBz05fkP8uajGogo0lcmKRcooOEq_comYjP4pUQFb1YRiCRGY9EHkU1JLbTQ59prK5WatOr6poc5t5XHdBzVbBxQj0cUEzLs9rl0bdU6v44o-2qjKhtkuZwN3We0bAVvf0QDnTYMAoou0WqsQ-w6IBOsnru6Uri23dro5W-FmRCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="316" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5DWljSUDb0TWt_0IyBz05fkP8uajGogo0lcmKRcooOEq_comYjP4pUQFb1YRiCRGY9EHkU1JLbTQ59prK5WatOr6poc5t5XHdBzVbBxQj0cUEzLs9rl0bdU6v44o-2qjKhtkuZwN3We0bAVvf0QDnTYMAoou0WqsQ-w6IBOsnru6Uri23dro5W-FmRCg=w289-h279" width="289" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Margo’s twin “boys” (here
with their big sister) are now eight and continue to impress us with their
development. At birth, the odds were firmly stacked against them and as early
term preemies, the time spent in ICUs was a test of our support for our
daughter and son-in-law, Anna and Erich. To see the boys as playful as they
have become and to see how each has begun developing special skills in language
and math is impressive to say the least. Surgeries continue and some days its
harder than others for all involved but for the twins, they seem to meet the
challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOjddk-lV0ESpn3Q2BIIog1mDed-Xy7bxgo2p9y3OqBcw8VVAxLtRUigk7dZfkXWcoVoVoVfI2-_-EwKmbk6OwkFcLbrB3dWI2ShRtGlKL2vjKVJWGhNDgABSHira_DVi7OsJQWvm72eWe4ZuoJC5wcSVXxN1QzXoYbrPdwK-nn6DhU-pMXPjCT1pnP7c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="339" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOjddk-lV0ESpn3Q2BIIog1mDed-Xy7bxgo2p9y3OqBcw8VVAxLtRUigk7dZfkXWcoVoVoVfI2-_-EwKmbk6OwkFcLbrB3dWI2ShRtGlKL2vjKVJWGhNDgABSHira_DVi7OsJQWvm72eWe4ZuoJC5wcSVXxN1QzXoYbrPdwK-nn6DhU-pMXPjCT1pnP7c=w320-h301" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shortly, Formula One cars
will be racing down the strip. From the restaurant at Bellagio and across to
Paris, the Las Vegas strip will echo to the roar of F1. Margo and I watched an
F1 race in Monaco back in 2004 and knowing as we do just how loud these cars
are – we heard them far out to sea as we sailed towards the port at Monte Carlo
– crowds assembled around the route will be in for a surprise. What wasn’t a
surprise when last we visited Las Vegas was the time spent with good friends,
Brian and Jan Kenny. Maybe you saw us? Just faces in the crowd? <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoxTGXd8l7xJ9CF3jSXmOS8sphgnr3oSQW-oYT_d2px3qU1mM9SXhKdJjlwHTA-J9vbWmNXLBpRznaAKmRt8HoO5nYxTgURin_aeExraoLXDYtet7wnZIRfHrOIPGCA-QTqWOJKCCtPXdeB2u3t7GXvp5ubhpp1RjSw8iglG3EhtkxXgX-H1ThZn__jjs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="385" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoxTGXd8l7xJ9CF3jSXmOS8sphgnr3oSQW-oYT_d2px3qU1mM9SXhKdJjlwHTA-J9vbWmNXLBpRznaAKmRt8HoO5nYxTgURin_aeExraoLXDYtet7wnZIRfHrOIPGCA-QTqWOJKCCtPXdeB2u3t7GXvp5ubhpp1RjSw8iglG3EhtkxXgX-H1ThZn__jjs=w337-h253" width="337" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Far from the crowds of Las
Vegas, there have been times this year when all it took was to walk the shores
of the Pacific Ocean with Brian and Jan. It seems now well-established patterns
that include a breakfast up at Summerland, just south of Santa Barbara. The
Summerland Beach Café is an attraction all by itself and yet, just a short
distance away, there are small waves breaking along the shore. So close to LA
and yet, so peaceful. Once again, we are treated to the anomalies that are all
part of life in Southern California. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When it comes to our
friendship with the Kennys, distance may on occasion be just as challenging as
at other times with family and colleagues, we always manage to find a way.
Along the way we have certainly enjoyed every opportunity of fine dining and it
seems that circumstances always create situations where a good meal is never
far away. For Margo and me this really reinforces the concept that Face Time
can only take you so far; investing in face time is its own reward for both of
us. Then again, would I like to be in the crowd for the F1 race in Las Vegas? I
will leave you to ponder that one without adding anything more. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNfMiKVYj5NG9VzIIsARsnR3Vj1dTEZfuPFMRgxZ_6ffVv6B-8PhWFBi_3aqIJGtivpEgNaaKyAOn5zQxZLyo8dqFLiUqpbUOwcem2lA7UKbMPgXjl2oE96DflKr58RV9E8iaxZHyFhCcQVsCa6P7PVojmtSFTR2T7zP3GuSO1gf65oU9blB1wBSU9xzo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="332" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNfMiKVYj5NG9VzIIsARsnR3Vj1dTEZfuPFMRgxZ_6ffVv6B-8PhWFBi_3aqIJGtivpEgNaaKyAOn5zQxZLyo8dqFLiUqpbUOwcem2lA7UKbMPgXjl2oE96DflKr58RV9E8iaxZHyFhCcQVsCa6P7PVojmtSFTR2T7zP3GuSO1gf65oU9blB1wBSU9xzo=w271-h300" width="271" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps the photo on the
wall behind me provides a clue as to where I am seated. Or, maybe it’s the
presence of a gentleman with four gold bands on the sleeve of his jacket. Our
appetite for travel means that we spend a considerable amount of time at
airports and yes, this appetite of ours also extends to time spent in airport
restaurants awaiting departure. On this occasion, we were seated at Elway’s
Steakhouse and it is perhaps a reliable, indeed enjoyable alternative to
anything provided on a flight. Whether in the depths of economy or way up front
in first, it seems that every effort has been made to turn our thoughts away
from dining; Elways then has become a more than adequate substitute. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Flying remains our constant
companion. Whether we are headed out on a business trip, a short excursion to
catch up with friends or simply transiting to a planed vacation on a cruise
ship, the experience is almost always the same. Given our home airport is
Denver, we always plan on arriving three plus hours before departure. While our
history with United has rewarded us with lifetime Platinum status, we know that
simply navigating our way to the gate and onto the plane is never as simple as
it sounds. But it is always the same, once seated (and it seems we are finding
our way onto Boeing 787 Dreamliner) the overwhelming sense of relaxation sets
in. The horizons beckon and we have time on our hands to enjoy quiet time
together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQg_gI4rnlSXjkFyZgOYCllCxmvOU5Q_Wk5Zdt4BCIe8yVEeD82gxXX18tCHTf30V9N5JIHmKyAt3dVy4YDB_J5eK68MRYwmZZGqCnjFHRcM4-hdN1wPEwgb9v3JSIocwXTXH6ufxvZK4WzBfORSUDrpZhJtU7SGuRbGWD5hhG30_gL0sij-lIrxgoMkY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="360" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQg_gI4rnlSXjkFyZgOYCllCxmvOU5Q_Wk5Zdt4BCIe8yVEeD82gxXX18tCHTf30V9N5JIHmKyAt3dVy4YDB_J5eK68MRYwmZZGqCnjFHRcM4-hdN1wPEwgb9v3JSIocwXTXH6ufxvZK4WzBfORSUDrpZhJtU7SGuRbGWD5hhG30_gL0sij-lIrxgoMkY=w297-h315" width="297" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From a time before COVID, we
had established a pattern that included a voyage to Hawaii around late February
and early March where we celebrated birthdays and wedding anniversaries. We
established an addition pattern that included a voyage through the Caribbean
later in the year when it came time for holiday celebrations. We only
experienced a short break in this routine because of COVID – between March 2020
and December 2021 – but like what we experience that moment when we are finally
seated on a plane, it is our chance to unwind that entices us to return to
cruising. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The good news out of all of
this is that with COVID, industry rapidly adapted to remote work. So much so
that many enterprises face the dilemma that staff are reluctant to return to
the office. For Margo and me, we have offices in our home – separate, as
apparently, I am the noisy spouse – but with modern communications and easy
access to the internet, for the past five years we have been able to work from
almost anywhere. We are disciplined to the extent where we carve out time early
each morning for writing while travelling for work and then late in the day,
for responding to email. Another face in the crowd? If you are anywhere near a
coffee bar and it’s four in the morning, you will find me heads down and bent
over my laptop hammering away on the keyboard. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFODxl_PDD6hhBZVSo1zupCQpMcheIFQtVzi_jBDtFZEaXSyV8x_tGOHVqQepPrhod_YYFn2tkJxzEOfopOl_jX1gy81GHtfvX9PyQi1LQ_I2mmOQx_dY-IeFIKREqlh9ekfAdwSfllpzYBpAxrUNdhpZe1c2JFhJlk1QFrzJ3_vQFhNKt4CN55PEMXS8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="423" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFODxl_PDD6hhBZVSo1zupCQpMcheIFQtVzi_jBDtFZEaXSyV8x_tGOHVqQepPrhod_YYFn2tkJxzEOfopOl_jX1gy81GHtfvX9PyQi1LQ_I2mmOQx_dY-IeFIKREqlh9ekfAdwSfllpzYBpAxrUNdhpZe1c2JFhJlk1QFrzJ3_vQFhNKt4CN55PEMXS8=w341-h274" width="341" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the past couple of
years, we have really grown fond of our neighbors, Don and Anne Marie Fowler. There
have been times where we have travelled together and whether it is just up to
Vale for a weekend or across to London for a cruise to the very top of the UK,
we somehow find very good places to dine. The Fowlers hail from Virginia and
North Carolina which are both familiar to me. My first serious business
endeavor was for a software company headquartered in Richmond Virginia and then
a decade later yet one more business endeavor that took me to Raleigh, North
Carolina. I have driven from city to coast and from state to Washington DC and
each time we converse with the Fowlers, a well-remembered landmark seems to
find its way into the conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I can appreciate
that there is a very serious side to Don as his business endeavors sees him
crisscrossing the US and beyond. However, whenever we get together it is a much
lighter side of Don we get to experience. This is what Margo and I have come to
enjoy the most with time spent face to face with good friends. The shared
experiences, the fine food and libations and yes, almost always, a scenic view.
Only this past week we dined in the foothills above Boulder at the Flagstaff
House, now the recipient of a Michelin star. We had been dining in this
restaurant for thirty years and didn’t know it had reached this level of
recognition.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFuAJY6MkneQXXsj1cGwEWdDOyamRgkVhjz5xuEhYBsJxqklTTtpjNk7cXCm3EjX6BULV31MEmyjncNSBL0CpNgA7B0Pa_yS8SnOg4Bhcgk1ytWemKtcG9PuaK2uRwhaHeODhIn6RCaN0q8FcaQqHYPC_b840Xh2nikEXAzPf6tQUZgZOgKUix9ndh28U" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="474" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFuAJY6MkneQXXsj1cGwEWdDOyamRgkVhjz5xuEhYBsJxqklTTtpjNk7cXCm3EjX6BULV31MEmyjncNSBL0CpNgA7B0Pa_yS8SnOg4Bhcgk1ytWemKtcG9PuaK2uRwhaHeODhIn6RCaN0q8FcaQqHYPC_b840Xh2nikEXAzPf6tQUZgZOgKUix9ndh28U=w348-h261" width="348" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By the time this gets posted
and you find the time to read this story, Margo and I will likely be on the
west coast. Our plans for the rest of the decade are being decided even as I
type. Simply put, we are going coastal. We have lived at altitude for three
decades and given how we both expected life in Colorado to be a time of
transition. Just passing through seemed to be our response to inquiries as to
what our plans were for the future. Well, that time has finally arrived. In
March we will be taking up residence in a condo near our grandkids and their
parents. As for what follows, the coming months will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, this story is only
just unfolding but what remains a constant for Margo and me is the fellowship
we enjoy with our family, friends and business colleagues. It is the faces we
remember most from this year – the times we have spent relaxing in the presence
of people we really like. It was Walt Disney who said, “To be successful you
must be unique, you must be different.” He had more to say on this subject but
I like these few words best of all. What Margo and I have achieved this year is
to be different and to be unique and in so doing, it will be left to others to
determine how successful we have been. But if it weren’t for everyone who
touched our lives this year, our uniqueness and difference may have only led to
us looking back on a very lonely year. To you, our family and friends, thank
you for playing a big part in what, for 2023, was our life! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8DYl-G_xWMgNX3uKro9ZoxKT7bLACz5Gax5Y-PxO434a33gFXNbCRIBl_4-WXzkij-Wvu5drFxruuVzpc5jWQiBfnnAbTTNDuLLY3ZxG2nn9u-bMrxPLb0HkijevifUyTvJKtErFLgAWJjNOUqrbVzNTX0e5vuDTa1CJyvkbjNY6u2CpiSt71EkZvXNA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="453" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8DYl-G_xWMgNX3uKro9ZoxKT7bLACz5Gax5Y-PxO434a33gFXNbCRIBl_4-WXzkij-Wvu5drFxruuVzpc5jWQiBfnnAbTTNDuLLY3ZxG2nn9u-bMrxPLb0HkijevifUyTvJKtErFLgAWJjNOUqrbVzNTX0e5vuDTa1CJyvkbjNY6u2CpiSt71EkZvXNA=w341-h333" width="341" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
<br /></span></span></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-65385774851071381982023-09-24T15:50:00.001-07:002023-09-24T15:50:03.441-07:00When time comes to reflect, I don’t do a good job!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbe9BCP5mZuSDyj7hDpemMb2W3ZRdm4UgN9KojoHplJloZuM_08x0M45ghUe5QItrkEyETo9BivW7jnRmGYba6-lunNU2oRsOKpc4tdLnt7TyOBjq1sbnqurwM2OkIS28DYrACqzU2PTVQLLOR2h6P6usUprI_pNLA_HHAhlSxqGfj-NrUlU_OfgZaFjk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="412" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbe9BCP5mZuSDyj7hDpemMb2W3ZRdm4UgN9KojoHplJloZuM_08x0M45ghUe5QItrkEyETo9BivW7jnRmGYba6-lunNU2oRsOKpc4tdLnt7TyOBjq1sbnqurwM2OkIS28DYrACqzU2PTVQLLOR2h6P6usUprI_pNLA_HHAhlSxqGfj-NrUlU_OfgZaFjk=w320-h319" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It has always proved
difficult for me to spend any time on reflection. It may be easy to say that
there were highlights even as there were moments of angst. Margo and I have
just returned home having spent a week downtown in Denver at a HPE NonStop
(formerly Tandem Computers) Conference, the TBC 2023. When held at this time of
year these conferences are the annual big-tent marketing affair that draws
equally from the HPE NonStop team, the NonStop vendors as well as HPE NonStop
customers. With the audience and speakers drawn from all quarters of the globe,
these can be invigorating times even as they are exhausting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the event this year in
Denver, Margo and I had the opportunity to occupy the Hilton presidential suite
on behalf of the client. With ours and clients employees present in the suite,
it was also our task to entertain NonStop community members nightly which we
need to explain, meant late nights for the conference duration. All good fun
mind you – yes, the presidential suite came with a pool table that kept those
present entertained – while being the ideal forum to catch up with colleagues
we haven’t seen in quite a while. If there is just one thing these gatherings
represent is a continuation of community warmth dating back decades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And talking of warmth, even
as the summer draws to a close and with the end in sight, there are still days
where temperatures climb well above 90F or the low 30s for those with a
preference for Celsius. The ongoing warm weather meant that most nights ended
with a thunderstorm. A short burst of intense weather events as if to remind us
that fall might be on its way but no, not yet! However, on one occasion as the
storm clouds lifted, we were treated to a double rainbow that appeared to end
in the garden right in front of our home.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtGWcCVlq50jQpZALUiGHdLKfYsljtjoMUnTpLUvYRGNGMuvXgLvFRJZkhLHo7lQF3gRscIetzODMC5o1zRW7tQeGydySJZWp9_ehBt1c9_jhlCWYZy5aBA1KvlqWPjCOvFol6IKYSv_noRa2lV_YouVEx9l_sUoOw64EBvscg0Iv_DmLO27Qv7aj6DpE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="448" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtGWcCVlq50jQpZALUiGHdLKfYsljtjoMUnTpLUvYRGNGMuvXgLvFRJZkhLHo7lQF3gRscIetzODMC5o1zRW7tQeGydySJZWp9_ehBt1c9_jhlCWYZy5aBA1KvlqWPjCOvFol6IKYSv_noRa2lV_YouVEx9l_sUoOw64EBvscg0Iv_DmLO27Qv7aj6DpE=w324-h345" width="324" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In nearby Ft Collins,
Colorado, there is a café called the Waltzing Kangaroo. It’s about as Australian
as you can get where the counters feature a collection of pies, sausage rolls,
apple turnovers, custard tarts and more. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that
stopping by to pick up a couple of pies and sausage rolls and just one apple
turnover, allowed us to enjoy the taste of home. Back home in Sydney, Australia
that is. If here is any cause to reflect then simply enjoying the smell and the
taste of familiar dining elements has to be right up there with the best of
reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They tell me that it is the
sense of smell that is most likely connected to the deeper realms of your
memories and quite able to drag up images that have been long lost. Sitting
outside on our patio deck, enjoying a pie and sauce as thunder rumbles in the distance
quickly ensnared me in a fantasy like setting where I could easily be persuaded
that I was indeed back home in Lindfield, a suburb of Sydney, where the
bushland setting nearby created such bush centric fragrances whenever a storm
happened so reminiscing was almost preordained to take place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was a case of third time
lucky. My first approach in 1976 to migrate from Alberta, Canada, to the US
simply didn’t materialize and I returned to Sydney. A decade later, I accepted
a transfer to Raleigh North Carolina but the visa I obtained didn’t allow me to
seek employment elsewhere. When Tandem approached me with a job, it was back to
Sydney to wait a year for a new visa to be granted. This time, I was off to
California and to Silicon Valley. Three times and now I was where I had wanted
to go from the days spent moving between countries. The even better news was
that my manager at Tandem secured my green card and the rest is history. And
yet, on reflection it has left me wondering what it would be like to be back in
Sydney on a more regular basis. </span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFVu5yCL412aXAu7Fujwup1J0x9BK70z8zIZBl7Ikg02gmnCJc7JN4s1utzT_pGvatmwkc-RrVIaPzSYUCkL6xm-yU12jg7tH7ZrqwprszzIatF6S5uiSz6jBFd5QsRyQ4r60dKQ44RaU0UnJVa3LL_jpqpsGksUSkna7eTtX18YtfHWgDbgTcxiJFr38" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="428" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFVu5yCL412aXAu7Fujwup1J0x9BK70z8zIZBl7Ikg02gmnCJc7JN4s1utzT_pGvatmwkc-RrVIaPzSYUCkL6xm-yU12jg7tH7ZrqwprszzIatF6S5uiSz6jBFd5QsRyQ4r60dKQ44RaU0UnJVa3LL_jpqpsGksUSkna7eTtX18YtfHWgDbgTcxiJFr38=w312-h330" width="312" /></a> </div></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It doesn’t take a
candlelight dinner to make me nostalgic for times past. It takes a lot more
than that, I have to admit. My life is truly based on living here in America –
family, work, cars, appliances and more. When I was still in high school, I
asked a young girl from a nearby high school to join me for a day’s outing at
our school’s fete. I have to say, in hindsight, that this would likely classify
as a first date. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While just a one-time outing
as a teenager, it is a reminder of how different life might have been. What a
different road I may have chosen to go down. I seem to recall her name was Anna,
but now, as happenstance would have it, Margo’s daughter is also called Anna
and it only helps bring back the memory. Fortunately, as life continued to
unfold before me, I suspect I dodged a bullet at such an early age as my time
at high school came to an end a short time later. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No, when it comes time to
reflect, I do a poor job. As good as my memory has been in the past and how it
has helped me immensely in my career development of late it has hindered me
more than provided timely help. With synapses being slow to fire of late
perhaps it is time to head down under. What better way to reinforce long
forgotten connections between these pesky synapses than to renew my love for
all things Australian? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicNBBGcfWLVaH9eh2vcWyEgNHyn6WTZAsWB8MOy5toY34PVqoVipUPmuDIRQe9TEHY1EXhtvmnRLG9D7GtXQM2kUAkwvKZnDIRmXHm014ZJAiIm8sdhWF5jzz3-LBt7RDnZcMxGv5X8DN26_RwkBx_6PaQoLRxOXIrvzlVsL5LWwp1qaD6i2vaxOAkJe8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicNBBGcfWLVaH9eh2vcWyEgNHyn6WTZAsWB8MOy5toY34PVqoVipUPmuDIRQe9TEHY1EXhtvmnRLG9D7GtXQM2kUAkwvKZnDIRmXHm014ZJAiIm8sdhWF5jzz3-LBt7RDnZcMxGv5X8DN26_RwkBx_6PaQoLRxOXIrvzlVsL5LWwp1qaD6i2vaxOAkJe8=w344-h258" width="344" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For me, Sydney is a town loaded
with paradox. Simply put, I love the convenience so much of the city provides
and yet, even with the love I have for that town, with time it is now a place
that is inconveniently a long way away from my life in Colorado. Emulating the
Sydney scene anywhere in the US is next to impossible and in all honesty, there
is a blessing in that even as for me it comes in equal measures with a curse.
There is not a harbor in the world to compare with Sydney but then again, there
are few mountain-scapes to compare with the Colorado Rockies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Through the friendship of my
father with another church member I was given the opportunity to go sailing
every Saturday afternoon. For four glorious years in the 1970s I was part of
the crew of a highly competitive Cole 40 inside harbor racer – a
fractional-rigged sloop with a narrow beam. As a for’ard hand it was my task to
set sails, unfurl and then pack spinnakers, and to ensure the required
halyards, sheets and braces didn’t tangle or otherwise cause havoc. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our owner / skipper, John,
was very competitive and it only took a year or so before it was our yacht that
was the scratch yacht and the target of every other competitor. I so loved
those long runs down the harbor from Manly to Nielsen Park! Whether
working into the wind or on a single downwind reach or perhaps when the wind
was right behind us on a square run under spinnaker, it didn’t matter. Just to
be able to take in all the sights the harbor afforded sailors back then made
these times memorable beyond imagination.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiP_rM3Wm_reOdtl_u3AlBLj-y6TIjq6G6EyFa8PGwu2QHckMIhq4QVVoxtqQEZ984wfjzKEo88z7arj4XWYORkxhVR_wRg5EORKWv743jHi7qlIeRA0-nbAHL1S3kEAiRTeyk6yT6udHwgnZA9ZqaPkvUa9yI5XJl2BQ0kmQVOxa-iWBDXjPwXXNHbGE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="378" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiP_rM3Wm_reOdtl_u3AlBLj-y6TIjq6G6EyFa8PGwu2QHckMIhq4QVVoxtqQEZ984wfjzKEo88z7arj4XWYORkxhVR_wRg5EORKWv743jHi7qlIeRA0-nbAHL1S3kEAiRTeyk6yT6udHwgnZA9ZqaPkvUa9yI5XJl2BQ0kmQVOxa-iWBDXjPwXXNHbGE=w351-h286" width="351" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so, it will come to
pass. Shortly, Margo and I will be once again able to enjoy a sail into Sydney
Harbor. We have finalized plans for a working experience that will give us time
to enjoy as much as Sydney can offer in the time we are there. Just thinking
about it I am reminded of that very first luncheon on North Head the day we
arrived back in late 2018. Yes, it has been five years since Margo and I last
set foot ashore in Sydney. And those years have passed by so quickly with only
the poor firing of the synapses to remind me of just how much we enjoyed our
time down under.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It would be remiss of me not
to mention that we will be spending time with family. My daughter Lisa turns 40
and there was no way I would miss celebrating the passing of that milestone. I
have to think that there are times when Lisa wonders what her dad is up to and
when next he will stop by, but with this trip, Margo and I also planning the
next and it will not be another five years before that event happens. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For now, as summer turns to
fall, the nights are turning chilly. The sting of summers heat is no longer, so
times spent outside are lengthening. More time to grill and more time to simply
kick back and enjoy the evening. The harvest moon gave us occasion to step
outside and the way it illuminated the night was impressive. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I may be bad at truly
reflecting on the past and what is included here is a poor and very incomplete
snapshot, but with the moon waning as it is now doing it’s only fair to admit
that I am enjoying memories even more with the passage of time. Sydney may be
over the horizon but for now, there’s plenty of time to sit back, take it all
in, and look forward to the good times ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif35D32mF3bcBs6Hlf6yv26kFuZyBXhkEAs9Uuc7q3SClnIFSzMkgeZ6m1A-ncDKiFrIyeiH39vdr1umWFQtUXd_R-WsUBXZcpR-PFJwYKCIoLa-okUtdJ1lBPNAum3rnKEUuu4CBhRHOWn3Wk0_jAeBCpS8Nw1j2K6tT3OsLgzMGC0OEXg1HQoPNBue0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="385" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif35D32mF3bcBs6Hlf6yv26kFuZyBXhkEAs9Uuc7q3SClnIFSzMkgeZ6m1A-ncDKiFrIyeiH39vdr1umWFQtUXd_R-WsUBXZcpR-PFJwYKCIoLa-okUtdJ1lBPNAum3rnKEUuu4CBhRHOWn3Wk0_jAeBCpS8Nw1j2K6tT3OsLgzMGC0OEXg1HQoPNBue0=w314-h309" width="314" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-16176258905812184502023-08-21T15:51:00.000-07:002023-08-21T15:51:17.106-07:00Dog days of summer coming to an end<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhO5Ccs-QwyoAEO6RsmuTXW2SDUfrywi84l-tmwMPOprDMpKnGOtBUfwVGn63fqxdPgC-kwe_6tYeafkBx7NTP8k__RP9-LaAg3cmTsWKdqiU6m6Fi2I2KVoz_ljv91D9BZOmd3wsWAM3w7ukNUkssYDyIPvvTzdzpfduqzPASNxBxuybr6eQqKYCjAI9E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="427" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhO5Ccs-QwyoAEO6RsmuTXW2SDUfrywi84l-tmwMPOprDMpKnGOtBUfwVGn63fqxdPgC-kwe_6tYeafkBx7NTP8k__RP9-LaAg3cmTsWKdqiU6m6Fi2I2KVoz_ljv91D9BZOmd3wsWAM3w7ukNUkssYDyIPvvTzdzpfduqzPASNxBxuybr6eQqKYCjAI9E=w411-h233" width="411" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The term “<b>Dog Days</b>”
traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather
occurring during the summer months of July and August as they occur in
the Northern Hemisphere. This period of sweltering weather coincides
with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. I have to admit I never knew much
about the meaning of this phrase other than what I heard in movies and songs, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
dog days are over<br />
The dog days are done<br />
The horses are coming<br />
So you better run<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can think of no better way
to segue to this post’s storyline than this chorus from the song, Dog Days are
Over, by Florence and the Machine. All we seem to have been doing of late is
running and in this heat and yes, it’s been a very hot summer, surprisingly
hotter than we experienced in previous years, exhaustion is near. As for the
horse, not sure what was inferred in the song but all I can think of are the Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfyS5ghTyxJzoDf9Kc4yp2cxhyPbtAyp_CNs7gf7KqMyvu5e9fPED0Kee9wOC12b270nu9dOoeuj9SH2t737mlcQnNphJ2o-oX21LOEdYxytxAcwj-GSog5pzkGeaalIrgHjEEi_m-zYzsK1iyDE-uJZzr3MdsaWv7CzTYeJ3CdKLXXdH9NnWDsAz-iQ4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="439" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfyS5ghTyxJzoDf9Kc4yp2cxhyPbtAyp_CNs7gf7KqMyvu5e9fPED0Kee9wOC12b270nu9dOoeuj9SH2t737mlcQnNphJ2o-oX21LOEdYxytxAcwj-GSog5pzkGeaalIrgHjEEi_m-zYzsK1iyDE-uJZzr3MdsaWv7CzTYeJ3CdKLXXdH9NnWDsAz-iQ4=w386-h291" width="386" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For much of the summer it
has been our participation in industry events that have kept us running and
shortly we will be taking the trip down to Denver for the major HPE NonStop
event of the year – the NonStop TBC 2023 Conference. Being so close to home
this did give us opportunity to pay the venue a visit and this year, at the
Hilton Denver City Center looks as though it will do the city proud as it plays
host to HPE NonStop community members from around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s a hard pill to swallow
when you come to realize you have been supporting this community for nearly
four decades but there you have it; an opportunity for Margo and me to play
hosts to clients and prospects alike. Then again, this is only part of the
story as our running represents a balancing act between business and leisure so
much so that this year, the lines really were blurred. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLt3jEX4uglRBIHnq4RzYYNF5-PpxkKJfWvN_chE8-00nrIS0t-Ms8soSjeX2YxjPp3ZNAto6q_CExVVUKzzMOa2Cxv_VcFbt6gDM411Jghndb-oF_dwlFC6w-5_R94UP347Nm2bcu9m2UfNy7b-pCpXO5W8bo-PkFGpdnJP4sGIP4LZbIWWXdFqM-wBs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="446" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLt3jEX4uglRBIHnq4RzYYNF5-PpxkKJfWvN_chE8-00nrIS0t-Ms8soSjeX2YxjPp3ZNAto6q_CExVVUKzzMOa2Cxv_VcFbt6gDM411Jghndb-oF_dwlFC6w-5_R94UP347Nm2bcu9m2UfNy7b-pCpXO5W8bo-PkFGpdnJP4sGIP4LZbIWWXdFqM-wBs=w407-h305" width="407" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our summer really starter
back in May as the weather turned from winter to give us warm barmy days almost
overnight. We flew to London, took the train to Edinburgh for one industry event. We
then drove to Toronto and back for another event just a week or so later. This
event was followed by yet one more in Dallas before we headed to the airport
for the return flight to London and Edinburgh at which point, being of sound
mind, we caught a ship that took us to Norway where we set sail into the
midnight sun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">That happened in a matter
of two months from May 12 to July 10. Yes, we caught trains, planes,
automobiles, ships and yes, busses. Our car of choice for these long-distance
road trips was our Jaguar F Pace SVR. We have a history of naming our cars –
our Infiniti was Sophia and now our Corvette is, of course, Blanche with the F
Type, Rose – but for this SUV it just had to be Nigel! And (Sir) Nigel always
delivers. When you throw in the occasional taxi and uber rides, there was
barely a moment when we weren’t on the move. Slow down, smell the roses, I am
being told but unfortunately for Margo and me, I think those horses ate all the
roses and yes, their particular fragrance still lingers! </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVCe3hgALGgz_yeSGUxXt8mHAmcSOOhQRuUfW4aP5Cp9JW4kTQVZ6BhJ565CqolewwLB8oT66M1fB8zy4wUBDLoLCs11GmnvgNKiLx6s2hJciLyWZzp2oZywi_5Yid-dTmfByvKScNaTM0rtwaJPGiX4BgOko15cGUDAwJQjMSJ89gXLkxwermqje_c2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="419" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVCe3hgALGgz_yeSGUxXt8mHAmcSOOhQRuUfW4aP5Cp9JW4kTQVZ6BhJ565CqolewwLB8oT66M1fB8zy4wUBDLoLCs11GmnvgNKiLx6s2hJciLyWZzp2oZywi_5Yid-dTmfByvKScNaTM0rtwaJPGiX4BgOko15cGUDAwJQjMSJ89gXLkxwermqje_c2A=w325-h329" width="325" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And yet, with summer comes
the grilling season and we have been able to fill in the time at home evenings
spent outside grilling the evening meal. This time and illustrated above was a
marinated tri-tip steak. Margo and I view this as our summer go-to grill and
over the years, we have got the preparation and actual grilling down to near
perfection. While the detail coverage of our summer days on the road has been
covered in earlier posts to this blog, nevertheless the times at home
represented opportunities to regroup and to enjoy a level of dining that travel
seems to make hard to find. Yes, spending time in Europe where there is fine
dining almost everywhere, to find that balance of quality and affordability
continues to prove challenging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having said that, we cannot
ignore how that combination is just as hard to find here in Colorado. Or
elsewhere in North America for that matter. Blame the global pandemic; blame
the global supply chain; blame inflation and the lack of staff; blame anything
you want, but let’s not forget that when it comes to enjoying a night out with
friends, perhaps the better option is to cook a good steak or grill a tasty
fish. And don’t forget the opportunities that exist here in Colorado to cook
lamb, particularly as the local market seems to be awash in Aussie Lamb!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5DvTuBEc8PkA3igW4ScD4jIfvmEpc-p_fePnjE12_1p5KW1OdLweG8PVPNS_geALnkp4pUnybBTcd3FAJsFr7K3haWTcP1AbwLK8swGNCXlw9WVroJeQ4Uq3sJxvahfYAGk-ecB8IludASi_-MuyeimTsr-K_UpwPz-GzF_WZYOjAi3qo9uyA4-xk6Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="427" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd5DvTuBEc8PkA3igW4ScD4jIfvmEpc-p_fePnjE12_1p5KW1OdLweG8PVPNS_geALnkp4pUnybBTcd3FAJsFr7K3haWTcP1AbwLK8swGNCXlw9WVroJeQ4Uq3sJxvahfYAGk-ecB8IludASi_-MuyeimTsr-K_UpwPz-GzF_WZYOjAi3qo9uyA4-xk6Y=w313-h335" width="313" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thick-cut, short loin lamb
chops are hard to resist so just another night spend beside the grill proved an
opportune time to eat Aussie Lamb and drink Aussie Chardonnay. Or was the wine
from Sonoma? Or Napa? No matter, it was the lamb chops that were the star of
the meal. Presentation could always be better and the plating more appealing
but the inclusion of the mint jelly tells yet another story of how you really
cannot ever take the lad out of Sydney. Or for that matter, far from his
mother’s cooking. There were no dog days of summer to complain about on this
occasion and no, no horses were injured in the preparation of any of these
meals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summers in Colorado have changed
significantly in the years Margo and I have spent in this mountain state. What
hasn’t been mentioned so far is the almost constant appearance of afternoon
thunderstorms delivering torrential rain. On occasion the golf course alongside
our Windsor home became a lake. On two separate occasions, a river formed
through our wetlands where a river had not flowed in all the years we lived
here. Watching a duck paddle by was extraordinary. If I had told you that it
was the result of a winter storm and that was simply snow on the ground, I
suspect it would have more believable but rain? Quite a contrast to the image
featured at the top of this post! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRS9uREwA-jRSX3oVuF3muC5xdGPT97mcLIB9TET0VbOoUkDUl-6PKrkCrenxxJsW7kqkZivg8WtV1RfBRT1wPn94jWvjvkEU7XJqdp1vN5tmHZsUc5BlWGeUbEx7yF6Xwu_G97-2GFxQsiF3dGRu5-y37bAK5jCjjku8vPuEMF5FpWjuHN0iIHnGebFM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="452" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRS9uREwA-jRSX3oVuF3muC5xdGPT97mcLIB9TET0VbOoUkDUl-6PKrkCrenxxJsW7kqkZivg8WtV1RfBRT1wPn94jWvjvkEU7XJqdp1vN5tmHZsUc5BlWGeUbEx7yF6Xwu_G97-2GFxQsiF3dGRu5-y37bAK5jCjjku8vPuEMF5FpWjuHN0iIHnGebFM=w377-h283" width="377" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The dog days of summer may
be coming to an end. There is no way to fool the calendar and yet, residents up
and down the Colorado front ranges have witnessed changes that were entirely
unexpected. Regionally, this tract of land is classified as high desert where
the prairies give way to less than ideal grasses turned brown prematurely each
year. What has changed? As best as we can see, Colorado’s front ranges are now
experiencing sustained periods of high humidity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Put it down to all the golf
courses carved from the soil and covered in grass for as far as the eye can see
or put it down to all the decorative trees that local residents have planted. Add
to it man-made reservoirs, some for fun times spent on the water, some just for
the esthetically pleasant lake-like views. Yes, we have experienced a steady
line of thunderstorms each afternoon that haven’t helped, but this year has
been the most humid that anyone can recall. And humidity has been a stranger to
Colorado so much so that now this increased humidity is raising many an
eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those who have migrated to
Colorado have sought the dry air that comes with altitude. For these new
residents, finding humidity on the rise comes as a shock. Driving through the
suburbs of Northern Colorado you simply cannot ignore how green the place has
become. Perhaps not quite Ireland or Tasmania but, in its own way,
spectacularly green. Lawn mowing services are having a field day and when it
comes to sleep, we have to close the windows at night to keep out the noise of the
grass growing! But it is a strange tale and perhaps worse is yet to befall the
state as so far, the fires that decimate parts of the front ranges each year
have been absent. And for that, we give thanks!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxdYAK1s1Rywbzn2kfO23AAkL9pHjTpt_xVzKTRA0HDIdiPHczaV87Gx2Y8HmQClpUnwViR7ts8W3VVLX9ggH8I4SrjaV79Y_mg4ybCbr30cob4SJjJUYAdhcp9SMCV9_-gYCSX4dlwVIzQnSaMSbOLXBCHJURPLn4AaBSKEszSdnl3mxuFhuxYLaxbIg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="427" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxdYAK1s1Rywbzn2kfO23AAkL9pHjTpt_xVzKTRA0HDIdiPHczaV87Gx2Y8HmQClpUnwViR7ts8W3VVLX9ggH8I4SrjaV79Y_mg4ybCbr30cob4SJjJUYAdhcp9SMCV9_-gYCSX4dlwVIzQnSaMSbOLXBCHJURPLn4AaBSKEszSdnl3mxuFhuxYLaxbIg=w414-h311" width="414" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Driving back home the other
afternoon, Margo and I couldn’t help but notice the evening sunsets we have
been experiencing of late. As the sun peaks through gathering storm clouds, the
display of color it provides is both wonderful to see as it is worrying as to
what comes next. Although I have to add, isn’t there something to be said about
“red sky at night; shepherd’s delight?” No matter, we will take the display of
color whenever the occasion arises. Our journeys this summer are coming to an
end even as we consider pursuing an alternative to Colorado’s winters. It’s
been five years since we headed down under so we think the time is about right
for a return trip to spend time with family and friends. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, you have to be
careful over expectations you set; while the antipodes do not share the legacy
of dog days of summer or at least I don’t recall that they do, heading into yet
another summer, evening thunderstorms and all, may have us thinking more about
those dogs. And the horses. But with fall now just around the corner and the
sunsets occurring earlier each day, retreating downstairs to watch a movie, sip
a cocktail and to light the fire, very soon any thoughts about the further
intrusion of those dog days of summer will lessen. We aren’t saying, bring on
the snow – well not quite yet – or looking for more ducks paddling down the
temporary makeshift river but rather, lower the lights and light the candles as
its time for brandies on the balcony as thoughts turn to S’mores. And yes, an
end to running for the season!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqN2oGoOzqna3zlpUpw2yTBXuqiTorEbHC9Y6pyZAdNSAXFaEqlWFpq9_vxBMEbD-fykBIYA1gsN0yRnRY4L7UUqc6rE5YtP4_bOMt7FlpK7u58x_QqM5ZN0BDciYD16YQ156BU6N_2S0Jw5oV4f4x7FTEgZHoUbN4wkZVVgGyKNFZSsQUDLRe_BOM-pU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="433" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqN2oGoOzqna3zlpUpw2yTBXuqiTorEbHC9Y6pyZAdNSAXFaEqlWFpq9_vxBMEbD-fykBIYA1gsN0yRnRY4L7UUqc6rE5YtP4_bOMt7FlpK7u58x_QqM5ZN0BDciYD16YQ156BU6N_2S0Jw5oV4f4x7FTEgZHoUbN4wkZVVgGyKNFZSsQUDLRe_BOM-pU=w421-h316" width="421" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-45061298169415155162023-07-21T13:18:00.001-07:002023-07-21T13:18:12.471-07:00The UK behind us, it was off to Norway (as newbies)!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtAKXCUA_JDVj8rNkSRPT04p32nbbbgc3uL-NArY5954Z8xtAB9oTmxR8y2LxF_ON1mfHbWhij5_VPqPMWAkLe6ZHaZbcR4afCBMpAJr3EKP-7IqUq2-6uOmHEIJZLm01-Whj4uZtsFZggJk0jstuG--46PUFo_CTpfV6_hlmMzhWlBNRYKGb0dXF5Gh4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="394" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtAKXCUA_JDVj8rNkSRPT04p32nbbbgc3uL-NArY5954Z8xtAB9oTmxR8y2LxF_ON1mfHbWhij5_VPqPMWAkLe6ZHaZbcR4afCBMpAJr3EKP-7IqUq2-6uOmHEIJZLm01-Whj4uZtsFZggJk0jstuG--46PUFo_CTpfV6_hlmMzhWlBNRYKGb0dXF5Gh4=w330-h330" width="330" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finding ourselves between meetings
on both sides of the North Sea, it only seemed fair that we succumbed to the
temptation of making the crossing by ship. After all, it was a long holiday
weekend back in North America as both sides of the forty-ninth parallel
celebrated historically important events. To say it was a sleepy time for all
involved would not be accurate and yet, suggesting fireworks doesn’t seem to
convey the significance. For Australians 1776 marked a change of destination
for ships out of England as one day it was off to Georgia and the next, to
Botany Bay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eking out a little downtime
while maintaining a working schedule is always a difficult proposition at the
best of times and yet, relief was at hand given how Wimbledon was in full swing
as was the ashes battle between old sparing partners, Australia and the
Marylebone Cricket Club (Otherwise known as England and Wales). Not to mention
that supporters of St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox were in old
London town for a couple of baseball games. Exciting times but also a very good
reason to head out of town. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuWmPbACUEjkJenJ37BITSrl8G_fLs2bj6V2ODddgQziR1X62CutFL4_gCt12jbZEo6n1tpCz2gqFkZM-75HKwzhFPS5qL1LEJcu_RXA6zenmqCzMEp4EfpkyyvxqN8ZYpkEE1rsKxofnc8ycudEtp8C8SoTSaMi_uiwynHQo293_ADGHc8HlgpmQBy3Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="391" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuWmPbACUEjkJenJ37BITSrl8G_fLs2bj6V2ODddgQziR1X62CutFL4_gCt12jbZEo6n1tpCz2gqFkZM-75HKwzhFPS5qL1LEJcu_RXA6zenmqCzMEp4EfpkyyvxqN8ZYpkEE1rsKxofnc8ycudEtp8C8SoTSaMi_uiwynHQo293_ADGHc8HlgpmQBy3Q=w338-h254" width="338" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Something strange was going
on all the same. Whenever we stopped at a Norwegian port, out came the
Norwegian and Australian flags. Happened more than once? Was our ship full of
Aussie tourists or was it simply a reminder that misbehaving in Norway might
see your next port of call somewhere in Australia. Didn’t they know that it was
North America celebrating important milestones? No matter, they all seemed a
cheery lot even if the meaning was lost on most of those aboard the ship. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaving London behind us we
sailed into the North Sea, made way to Edinburgh and then it was onto a couple
of islands we had always wanted to visit. The Orkney and Shetland Islands
seemed to be hostile outliers when viewed from Great Britain even as their
climate suggested hostility was the catchword of the day. It was the very
middle of summer but that memo never truly landed on the desk of anyone in
charge, as it was bitterly cold. All the same, we had our reasons to visit
these northerly outposts of Great Britain. </span><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2mEfCSVlXyYwgaNr3l2CgcWBbVudU2gpj7TTeVyFtzC7htPhw2a1eiIMXo-6TZOxeBcjwAL410WjjFzowqPbh__tEqUEJM9rrCHIoD_AUqqZMXhIvrE3PRJ4hDq93X9n_5__f7Cu2abUxooOuWYFiWI0OKydASfvV6422HrrqIleTKftFIfadSRD-u04" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="377" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2mEfCSVlXyYwgaNr3l2CgcWBbVudU2gpj7TTeVyFtzC7htPhw2a1eiIMXo-6TZOxeBcjwAL410WjjFzowqPbh__tEqUEJM9rrCHIoD_AUqqZMXhIvrE3PRJ4hDq93X9n_5__f7Cu2abUxooOuWYFiWI0OKydASfvV6422HrrqIleTKftFIfadSRD-u04=w277-h302" width="277" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Safe to say the rabbit and
Margo knew something was up even as ducking the small gathering of tourists
that often appeared. While some may have headed to a café for pastries and
coffee, Margo and I always took to the streets to absorb as much of the atmosphere
as possible. On this occasion it was Shetland Island and simply walking around
the harbor reinforced the remoteness of the location. Everything came in by
ship and that included those folks coming up from Aberdeen, Scotland, as well
as the catch-of-the-day that made its way to households living off the fruits
of the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shetland Island, we were
told, has a higher number of murders over a short period than that recorded in
Chicago. Before jumping to conclusions those hearing these statistics soon realized
it was in reference to the television drama series, Shetland, that was filmed
on the island. For those who watched the series and who were familiar with
Detective Jimmy Perez, finding the location of his “home” didn’t prove at all challenging.
Perhaps not as pristine as it appeared on television, but even so, it was
immediately recognizable as we explored the shoreline spreading out from the
docks. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSdgEoZk5DEg4xm-Nfc6KhyRSeHTlDg_pM2tzl2tgjOIHbU0OTTkfNXpZzggcmYk1_DtknMPIQM-LOEWNJdcRfjB0-NeHxiDka0RrNVSyWFwyKaPBbcboe-6vhib6EZCZ9G6ugVhE5Xc3wKf2To3tX5IHOwriHJJh76frQr5XiRNndgKjIoC2djcxQS9k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="370" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSdgEoZk5DEg4xm-Nfc6KhyRSeHTlDg_pM2tzl2tgjOIHbU0OTTkfNXpZzggcmYk1_DtknMPIQM-LOEWNJdcRfjB0-NeHxiDka0RrNVSyWFwyKaPBbcboe-6vhib6EZCZ9G6ugVhE5Xc3wKf2To3tX5IHOwriHJJh76frQr5XiRNndgKjIoC2djcxQS9k=w318-h266" width="318" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pictured above, it was every
bit as stoic as we had imagined it. As for the water lapping its foundations,
it was crystal clear, no doubt as chilling as it looked. Considering we didn’t
see anyone venturing into the waters anywhere on the island it was just further
confirmation that sunny days by the seashore might make for good reading, but
in reality, it was probably best left to viewing from a warm café. Pastries,
anyone? However, Shetland Island meant that we had also visited Orkney Island
and even though it was south of Shetland, it was even colder.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Gulf Stream airmass and
sea currents not withstanding a word of caution to those planning a visit
anytime during the summer months. The sun may be present in the sky for many
more hours that you might have experienced elsewhere but I have just one word
for you. Layers! A fine pint of bitters may do the trick but its warmth is only
temporary. Step out onto the street and that pint does little to sustain
anything like warmth. Yes, the Orkneys need to be visited and perhaps the local
Scotch Whisky is enough of a reason to pay it a visit but stepping back into
the warmth afforded us by our ship became a practice we followed even as time
spent ashore lessened with each mile north we sailed. </span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik3UBXnR7M8EsZ73ISJ9-QahkfLFvU56bn1t5fdMRsHgdM20SmQiF3r9TgVtcS_5p-Fr-S40_f0H6JY2wZiUICvURewRzIwBNAjZO-XbgAhs_FXl2LkInvmWVpdkOkkoin4w3babUdhk5UXOf6HNQrH4xEkd6alZSgkkY4pTPf2y2gxfulYcu82tcUvHI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="390" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik3UBXnR7M8EsZ73ISJ9-QahkfLFvU56bn1t5fdMRsHgdM20SmQiF3r9TgVtcS_5p-Fr-S40_f0H6JY2wZiUICvURewRzIwBNAjZO-XbgAhs_FXl2LkInvmWVpdkOkkoin4w3babUdhk5UXOf6HNQrH4xEkd6alZSgkkY4pTPf2y2gxfulYcu82tcUvHI=w256-h342" width="256" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Ring of Brodgar remains
a mystery. Often viewed as the Orkney version of Stonehenge, these circles –
and yes, there is more than one but none as well preserved as the Ring of
Brodgar – they confound archeologists as to the purpose and indeed, with a
distinct lack of trees on the island, how were they moved into place? More or
less a similar quandary as is presented by the statues on Easter Island.
However, as ancient as they happen to be dating back to a time between 2,000
and 2,500 BC by inhabitants whose heritage has been long lost, they remain an
impressive sight. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It took a bus ride to get
out to the site but after a couple of ports of call, we had decided that it was
worth bundling in with a bunch of fellow sailors to see what it was all about.
Margo and I are not ones who are quick to sign-on for a bus ride but as the
Orkneys and indeed Shetland were too big to simply walk around, we happily
compromised. However, the bus we jumped aboard was a bit of a puzzle; who
exactly did this bus company cater to? It only took a few seconds to pass
before Margo pointed out to me that there was an overhead call button for
coffee and cocktails, but no such luck when pushing on the button. Oh
well! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwWlfj3TcZEMWr0--CsVYQGs9DKfkloP4YDvByi7wLJUjYp_xRKXIsC-jR-TYE558ywBoF-UYkkr_fMjRiz6jAFD4wEJ7itfpY1EjHazW4euxEgGx-6Ph1uHbhzElF6erF7MmwcT_KaeJDMKjbFxU8o8-m-S1j69qWD-sM7kW1sX_DU1peXiSzMEmxlMg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="374" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwWlfj3TcZEMWr0--CsVYQGs9DKfkloP4YDvByi7wLJUjYp_xRKXIsC-jR-TYE558ywBoF-UYkkr_fMjRiz6jAFD4wEJ7itfpY1EjHazW4euxEgGx-6Ph1uHbhzElF6erF7MmwcT_KaeJDMKjbFxU8o8-m-S1j69qWD-sM7kW1sX_DU1peXiSzMEmxlMg=w304-h315" width="304" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our journey into the North
Sea eventually took us into the Arctic Ocean as we crossed the Artic Circle.
Ultimately, we reached 70+degrees north where the sun never set. Expecting
warmer weather? Not so fast. Just because the sun was kind to us and beamed
rays directly into our cabin let’s not be confused by sunshine expecting the
weather to turn warmer. On one stop, the locals were quite unprepared as the temperature
climbed past 20C / 70F but then, we weren’t going to complain. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Norwegians are a hardy
mob, that’s for sure. As we watched reindeer clamber down a hillside and were
politely informed that the earliest of dwellings were “painted” red from the
blood of reindeers and hence their picturesque visage, but no longer. Paint in
many colors – mostly a mix of red and white, unfortunately – is now readily
available and I can only imagine what those older, blood-painted dwellings
smelt like during the height of summer.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS8fqgxqipOi1KIdv8dYuBlFQXHYkrCGr56Uz6Y4JRpYuu7nDhMmKLObWaJXjSR_jHGdduyHyrah9wIISxJF45-CRNVRY8Sz89ewWuMIITITq40NjXa65AnKyvCuXV9k2K_x5LBoA3VHkl4biUo_ah0iOTMYU7-ldwgdRHxBC0HvR2rkQ4N0fBF3AzQHY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="402" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS8fqgxqipOi1KIdv8dYuBlFQXHYkrCGr56Uz6Y4JRpYuu7nDhMmKLObWaJXjSR_jHGdduyHyrah9wIISxJF45-CRNVRY8Sz89ewWuMIITITq40NjXa65AnKyvCuXV9k2K_x5LBoA3VHkl4biUo_ah0iOTMYU7-ldwgdRHxBC0HvR2rkQ4N0fBF3AzQHY=w354-h266" width="354" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At each port we visited
there was a mixture of fishing boats and oilrig service craft. I took many
photos of these vessels dockside but one composition stood out for me. It
happened only as I was flipping through the photos that I came across the
juxtaposition above. Would you believe that the vessel called Shining Light was
pointing directly at Valhalla? Who knew; those Vikings had to be onto something
after all. And it was the many shared tales of the Vikings that continued
throughout out trip that finally ended where we needed to be; Bergen and then
on to Oslo.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t just these ships
that caught my eye but the welcome committee of Arctic Code hanging dockside.
At first Margo and I thought they were simply paper mâché depictions of deep-sea
monsters. A talisman that warned other sailors to stay well enough away, else
face a terrible fate. But they were real and part of how the locals go about
curing their catch before either rehydrating them prior to cooking or simply crushing
them into fine powder for shipment elsewhere, where apparently, it was a
seasoning delicacy. Well, at least that’s how I recall the story going but I
could have missed a few of the finer details.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7wuKl7d7Fy_sj_E9FNGbAwjLZSOsWqbXkS1EWOtPtiSggmvsDSsXkJQ1hLAi7jdomxP5aNy0rlKbm9mFmhsx8LDv5JA6ZF3ukWuMzJAm2aje1im3p8baK_Od5RRSU-KDQjPBMH0bddvcxprYd0ySgcZWnMnmdOX3ds7Gd1NEeb69vrPum9GF8cvEJcAs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="368" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7wuKl7d7Fy_sj_E9FNGbAwjLZSOsWqbXkS1EWOtPtiSggmvsDSsXkJQ1hLAi7jdomxP5aNy0rlKbm9mFmhsx8LDv5JA6ZF3ukWuMzJAm2aje1im3p8baK_Od5RRSU-KDQjPBMH0bddvcxprYd0ySgcZWnMnmdOX3ds7Gd1NEeb69vrPum9GF8cvEJcAs=w361-h271" width="361" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having an opportunity to
sail far into the North Sea and then into the Arctic Ocean was so memorable
that Margo and I have already set our sights on returning to Norway. Staying in
Oslo in a AirBnB condo in the “Barcode District” struck a chord with us. Maybe
not this year or next, but it is now firmly in our sights. As for a week at the
Oslo Grand hotel, where apparently only a week or so earlier Bruce Springsteen
had stayed, made us checking just how many Norwegian Krona we would need to
save to make any of this happen. But in all likelihood and as opportunity
presents itself, we could see it being a fun place to spend an extended period
of time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the previous post I wrote
of how there would be more to come and indeed, this is it! Did we unwind? Did
we miss being present for the July Fourth weekend? To be honest, no we didn’t
miss a thing even as yes, we were able to unwind and simply relax. Having flown
to these locations in former times and having travelled by train more recently,
then I am happy to report and, to quote Toad of Toad Hall, when I say, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">there
is nothing – absolutely nothing – half as much worth doing as simply messing
about in boats!</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpEiB5ZilfKR3EWBv3d5XdVAtpT7FugHHTlMd-7fL44eGaMT41aqpbkkPdcWKv95X54sy18B4AEwf5SdFciQaLiU75xt5bkGOtb2Ts5WuLRPKiNQ8PUcYqZB2MW_sE2-xEMZH5SB9w8IzH2tgNqgkD0z788i501v0yRESSKHIxFwlyxf0mc7xTiZm4Zn8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="376" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpEiB5ZilfKR3EWBv3d5XdVAtpT7FugHHTlMd-7fL44eGaMT41aqpbkkPdcWKv95X54sy18B4AEwf5SdFciQaLiU75xt5bkGOtb2Ts5WuLRPKiNQ8PUcYqZB2MW_sE2-xEMZH5SB9w8IzH2tgNqgkD0z788i501v0yRESSKHIxFwlyxf0mc7xTiZm4Zn8=w308-h326" width="308" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-22059200365974290292023-07-18T13:20:00.003-07:002023-07-18T13:20:47.782-07:00Return trips can be challenging but London Called (again)!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5i2EpGfKdLOdW_0zq9L-GVqpQnQFt_wMyWRjK_f2a18OxGas0QckTRnVSrJJxyMuH8W-CNZ2CNvfCHD49Agv78juwZyP4dOwOgCBrDunQ7Vpbq5bviKsT3sZp69LHpJimgk-UpAgoA3OqVntznMrUSL7apVFNKS74BppB8bNpMVd6dESUoGXuv6kUEtI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="493" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5i2EpGfKdLOdW_0zq9L-GVqpQnQFt_wMyWRjK_f2a18OxGas0QckTRnVSrJJxyMuH8W-CNZ2CNvfCHD49Agv78juwZyP4dOwOgCBrDunQ7Vpbq5bviKsT3sZp69LHpJimgk-UpAgoA3OqVntznMrUSL7apVFNKS74BppB8bNpMVd6dESUoGXuv6kUEtI=w428-h322" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having only returned from a
business trip that included stops in London and Edinburgh, it was just a few weeks
later that we boarded a flight to follow a similar itinerary. Mixing a little
business chatter with an opportunity to visit old haunts wasn’t so much a chore
as it was yet one more opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the greater
London town we are getting to know well. When you find yourself back in a place
you only left a short time before, such familiarity doesn’t take long to take
hold. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many years ago, I happened
to be on a trip to London as part of extending the reach of our business. While
I was there, I was given the opportunity to visit a hotel that could serve the
HPE NonStop community well as a place to hold a conference. It was a Hilton
DoubleTree with a location that placed us close by to many of London’s main
attractions and while the designated chatter often extended into the wee hours,
being able to step outside to dine by the Thames in the late twilight made any
thoughts about the wisdom of returning to London so soon meaningless. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkepL4_IB3EwP4d7leQm8Ys1GFdus0u21IImj8KZ_0I4YHWFLt25NrHVxxUsRzl_jFsBvjnApIX--TwtW1y79s_8RXcvqZ-01kl0WV4qq6KGJOV4g3vIVtr1F8lkyyX15bPNOZgPxlDqF0MiRz-IYXWjr_K8_b994J5LHWOGo36T7E8RzPakIKvmiTqlg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="476" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkepL4_IB3EwP4d7leQm8Ys1GFdus0u21IImj8KZ_0I4YHWFLt25NrHVxxUsRzl_jFsBvjnApIX--TwtW1y79s_8RXcvqZ-01kl0WV4qq6KGJOV4g3vIVtr1F8lkyyX15bPNOZgPxlDqF0MiRz-IYXWjr_K8_b994J5LHWOGo36T7E8RzPakIKvmiTqlg=w299-h313" width="299" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That earlier trip to London
did result in holding the conference in this hotel the following year.
Unfortunately, it was at a time where I made commitments to be elsewhere.
Missing out on this event was something I regretted as one of the conference
sponsors held an evening social gathering atop the Shard. With our stay in the
DoubleTree we could see the Shard of an evening so no real surprises here to
find out that Margo and I together with parties we were entertaining, took in
the sights late one night. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">London calling? What really
struck me this time in London was just how much had changed from when I first
visited the town. But what I recognized too was how challenging it is to cross
the Atlantic twice in one month – surely, it would have been wiser to simply “hang
out” in London for a couple of weeks. But work did necessitate a time best
spent back in the office. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was during the mid-1970s
at a time of severe austerity under then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. For
those who may not recall the period, my presence in London occurred during the
final two years of his leadership – 1975 to 1976 and a challenging time indeed!
It was at a time when my career in IT took a pronounced step forward although
at the time I, along with almost everyone else in London, was miserable.
Benefitting from a two-year transfer to “Head Office” I was done after just six
months heading at the time and as quickly as I could, for Alberta Canada. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWUfzp3zzij7corVyc1hTNinOL1UR2zJM89HjW19AJlqOTrk0aqaa4VAWdR7kP0wnoxtuSE_RG1Ic9SAowyIit35CIyo0AZGQiWyJeLm_DWvJh2rf3hr6sT_aqWpa6Vi9DMtRw4BRyPiSSGLpxTrtczmJZRfzmvGnuOTNoacBVtCBFprP-2Umr6m9wYAw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="367" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWUfzp3zzij7corVyc1hTNinOL1UR2zJM89HjW19AJlqOTrk0aqaa4VAWdR7kP0wnoxtuSE_RG1Ic9SAowyIit35CIyo0AZGQiWyJeLm_DWvJh2rf3hr6sT_aqWpa6Vi9DMtRw4BRyPiSSGLpxTrtczmJZRfzmvGnuOTNoacBVtCBFprP-2Umr6m9wYAw=w248-h331" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During those days in the mid-1970s
I had plenty of time on my hands. Broke and unable to afford anything else, I
walked the parks surrounding Buckingham Palace. I was intrigued at the time to
find the lamplights were gas and that there was a lamplighter making the rounds
lighting rows of these lights at sunset. Much to my surprise on this most
recent trip, I came across maintenance being performed on an upgraded lamplight
– the ignition system apparently had been upgraded to where the lights came on
by themselves. Somehow, nostalgia kicked in and I thought what a shame; would
have loved to have seen those lamplighters of former times doing their rounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much has definitely changed
for London across the decades since I first arrived. No longer being able to
simply walk from a park up to and then along Downing Street being one rather
obvious change. There was so much freedom to go pretty much anywhere you wanted
to go, although, there are still many memories of restaurants in Chelsea
sandbagged to the roofline leaving small tunnels between the bags for patrons
to make their way into the restaurant. It was the height of the Irish attacks and
there were places better left alone. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4k6UvqEl6BNX8GEsT6IOnt3AFTbL4-2DK9PqrAp-ikx3_CgMD3nuxiL1XAJ02lMMnDRYi6F9DSACGfau97Ev4Jj4B1Wg5W0CeFYzDjIbifT7s4RZygxS04R0L-XbgDkGWdANSNohlT4G_NATMK7z3aiKmssQy6N-U1eZXgI0mM12LKAyw6MlFp2wFjqY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="448" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4k6UvqEl6BNX8GEsT6IOnt3AFTbL4-2DK9PqrAp-ikx3_CgMD3nuxiL1XAJ02lMMnDRYi6F9DSACGfau97Ev4Jj4B1Wg5W0CeFYzDjIbifT7s4RZygxS04R0L-XbgDkGWdANSNohlT4G_NATMK7z3aiKmssQy6N-U1eZXgI0mM12LKAyw6MlFp2wFjqY=w329-h352" width="329" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Thames River has always
been central to the comings and goings of London. Whether it was in support of
trade, immigration, the arts or simply an opportunity to muck about in boats,
it is a prominent geographical feature of the town than continues to be a
source of interest to all visitors. Spending a long weekend in London meant we
did have time to visit Greenwich and to marvel at its place in history. Then
again, it was the height of summer and the place was inundated with hordes of
tourists. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s what historically
significant locations are bound to do these days. Pulling in the crowds by
Greenwich seemed a natural outcome of the role it played in providing homes for
royalty. Who could have imagined that a simple argument between a King and his
Queen could have resulted in an apology in the form of a regal residence built
to show penitence. And then there is the Cutty Sark about which I was to learn
a lot more, including the meaning behind the name Cutty Sark - an archaic
Scottish name for a short nightdress, apparently, about which I will leave it
up to you to read more on this topic. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZEwMJYAPkbYl4hwhRetVtEx6Ythr8v3JEwDMeW7Vp19J9aO9n7Y6If-lVEGFwDjXeu1WcXwmCojcSdSofU8lLjXHVszpyunzYVd70SJAVVt2fxvgq5gBD-2wYLPepYKt8iVhLTO7-xLzSGt6Oc7Ep08c8MdJQDm0gq6DHV40GeMLZWqntNfSbXFWKU1k" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="459" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZEwMJYAPkbYl4hwhRetVtEx6Ythr8v3JEwDMeW7Vp19J9aO9n7Y6If-lVEGFwDjXeu1WcXwmCojcSdSofU8lLjXHVszpyunzYVd70SJAVVt2fxvgq5gBD-2wYLPepYKt8iVhLTO7-xLzSGt6Oc7Ep08c8MdJQDm0gq6DHV40GeMLZWqntNfSbXFWKU1k=w367-h276" width="367" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Out on the waters of the
Thames River wouldn’t be complete without taking a look at the O2 Arena. An
entertainment complex that to this day, intrigues me as to why and how it was
built. Build the roof first then erect the walls and then figure out the
seating. Close by to the Canary Wharf development – yet one more pseudo city
built long after my departure in 1976 – looking downstream at the city and the
arena you couldn’t help but think that a modern-day jigsaw puzzle was dumped on
the landscape leaving developers to pick up the pieces willy-nilly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">At one time the O2 Arena
was the world record holder for the largest event gathering under one roof. Entertainers
from all genres have performed for Londoners for a long time. And yet, there it
sits on a bend in the river surrounded by some of the strangest artworks. Can
someone please explain to me the significance of an electric power tower deployed
(and supported) that is upside down? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8dgwl4bKir66trhVcE8e1FY3z7AsKDXbK6mtcS2hwOcYWgC3QctbTqLHaaExFUtO02R-UKuwQmnKwbJAddr_nX4_frPMlWE_PtWJsxfrkLBrWouFS-JvaAcNLveqoqsR498YVf8lpvakCe1TF26MOg1WOcPJcbo8G5cPOSMvUKKq6Yibo5t8zkM1Q_f0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="421" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8dgwl4bKir66trhVcE8e1FY3z7AsKDXbK6mtcS2hwOcYWgC3QctbTqLHaaExFUtO02R-UKuwQmnKwbJAddr_nX4_frPMlWE_PtWJsxfrkLBrWouFS-JvaAcNLveqoqsR498YVf8lpvakCe1TF26MOg1WOcPJcbo8G5cPOSMvUKKq6Yibo5t8zkM1Q_f0=w352-h344" width="352" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">London was only one of the
cities Margo and I visited on this latest trip to the UK. As much as we like to
dine in London and we had an opportunity to do so in style – yes, we always try
to get in an outing to Rules restaurant and our party warmed to the opportunity
– and to wander through open markets including the Borough Market, we still had
to make our way once more to Edinburgh. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the previous two times we
found our way to Edinburgh, it was by train. The first time we chose the
western route that took us through Manchester but this year, we took the
eastern route through York. It was this later route that we would recommend to
anyone looking to travel by train from London to Edinburgh but having done it
twice now, we elected to take to the sea for a sail up the English coast. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMxFgB5BBLZAYnVwiGtukXjf4yOFaAPR4ZeXU1QHCL7m8vx7cBlVv5S5mmyyUozUkII7O1yzasvShHfwKVX96fEB93rMTNsqBPVF3JMwEhMqiNRXXO452kuclgV2pwpeT1xmOYs0GcJz58Hlhb1vCnm6MsRz2h6LrJNK2lrW93A8W9hQtjPdL2MQ-QTlc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="495" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMxFgB5BBLZAYnVwiGtukXjf4yOFaAPR4ZeXU1QHCL7m8vx7cBlVv5S5mmyyUozUkII7O1yzasvShHfwKVX96fEB93rMTNsqBPVF3JMwEhMqiNRXXO452kuclgV2pwpeT1xmOYs0GcJz58Hlhb1vCnm6MsRz2h6LrJNK2lrW93A8W9hQtjPdL2MQ-QTlc=w342-h316" width="342" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The deciding factor was that
such a journey can now be undertaken where the voyage begins in Greenwich. This
gave us almost an entire day to sail down the Thames to where it enters the
North Sea. To slowly glide through the Thames Barrier and past the Tilbury
Docks familiar to me from my past life working with Sea Containers, there was
no hiding just how much modernization has taken place on both banks of the
Thames. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Very few ships can pass
through the Thames Barrier and giving us the experience was something to be
seen to be believed. And yet, it saves London from tidal flooding which these
days, with the developments upstream, would prove devastating. With the entry
into the North Sea, it was time to marvel at the many windfarms dotting the
estuary under surprisingly clear skies. Then again, with the height of summer
and the long, languid afternoons with little more than a glass of chardonnay to
slake one’s thirst, it was an ideal backdrop to a gentle exit from old London
town. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ0QkVAgCl-jdGxr3sDMJF3G7qyZL2MLIQmRdgx32VuhpTshTwNHTSDHd6taDCqYL-CFWW6Dmffk8eAudFi9T30UQxWM1Q__1y8lMGSnuaLCeEONHqEMP1h82uCXC40DFGOAprIcpfAemuPpKEA-lh3eIQT4ie6JHoy5NQ32ZlplkK8ub5DbuB_iuylJ0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ0QkVAgCl-jdGxr3sDMJF3G7qyZL2MLIQmRdgx32VuhpTshTwNHTSDHd6taDCqYL-CFWW6Dmffk8eAudFi9T30UQxWM1Q__1y8lMGSnuaLCeEONHqEMP1h82uCXC40DFGOAprIcpfAemuPpKEA-lh3eIQT4ie6JHoy5NQ32ZlplkK8ub5DbuB_iuylJ0=w331-h320" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for those memories of
London in the mid-1970s, that is what they have become; just memories. For now,
there is a realization that with each visit to London it’s not just developing
new memories as it is coming to terms that there are many more miles to travel,
more places to see and yes, new chapters beginning almost every day. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is more to come from
this latest BizCation but look for it to follow shortly. In the meantime,
whereas the trip to the UK only a few weeks earlier was all hustle, it proved
to be the complete opposite this time and for that, Margo and I make no excuses
for allowing ourselves an opportunity to unwind as for all of us from the US,
the extended July Fourth weekend was about to begin. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgoHzl1hwdrun-9-ggtpZZu3JwZJ76c3G7G6XBoQeNi35587iQdoZYozWw99ToQ0gc_G2xEpR0vJYePkmHdbUedG7oHacwgKQuFRZ0cAl6ldf8o3kz2XJk80ohMRxXr-MT-drnq81ynVOXZ89M5lYmasofM7ocTGFFLwzddAGzFiv82GxV7yMprwxzDkY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="472" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgoHzl1hwdrun-9-ggtpZZu3JwZJ76c3G7G6XBoQeNi35587iQdoZYozWw99ToQ0gc_G2xEpR0vJYePkmHdbUedG7oHacwgKQuFRZ0cAl6ldf8o3kz2XJk80ohMRxXr-MT-drnq81ynVOXZ89M5lYmasofM7ocTGFFLwzddAGzFiv82GxV7yMprwxzDkY=w306-h378" width="306" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a><br /></a></span></p><div><div><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript">
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<br /></span></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-33051107272677874612023-06-16T08:04:00.000-07:002023-06-16T08:04:09.631-07:00Out of the blue; yes, there is more to say!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisSZ35ecK5YHw6UK_Fp-sQdoLMiEX4AqgN-0w6gqMJwLM0zq8zkpaYZZbUdAvIIwfLQLE6a0pIZDusgUtYpcQHDUojBOQrihm2xfBJcRtt_GWktNO3jwovjvs-qwp05nDH2gd4b-OzTstw39wjQ6WTprQD00szcubraWrf9ddMtCRuXM-OaI3ZO8ak" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="364" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisSZ35ecK5YHw6UK_Fp-sQdoLMiEX4AqgN-0w6gqMJwLM0zq8zkpaYZZbUdAvIIwfLQLE6a0pIZDusgUtYpcQHDUojBOQrihm2xfBJcRtt_GWktNO3jwovjvs-qwp05nDH2gd4b-OzTstw39wjQ6WTprQD00szcubraWrf9ddMtCRuXM-OaI3ZO8ak=w366-h254" width="366" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If it is June then it is
time again to take to the road. It always seems as though at this time of the
year presenting clients at the conferences takes precedence. But who are we to
even think about complaining or otherwise raising objections when the daytime
hours lengthen and driving for days on end brings with it opportunities to
catch up on conversations planned, but never quite started. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;">There's more to the picture</span></i><i><span style="color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Than meets the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;">Hey Hey, My My</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"> – what an
experience it proved to be this time. The photo above was taken as we entered
Canada on our way to the picturesque village of Mississauga. Just kidding. This
city lies on the outskirts of Toronto, adjacent to their main airport. Perhaps
it’s a good time to quote Toronto’s own storyteller, Neil Young. Yes, with the
photo above with it’s blue skies and black tarmac, there was a lot more to the
picture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlg53xxxGgUtad9n-_jIXkG8rA2PDW3yFd-1MlyuXDoDmRzCLLLdjwTyAb6wyQxuWLkGly-p50zBl1diHjhdxwMuYCr1551ZFqNitM1Jy3o-TNL84SWa19lgVqGQiopE0aSP-09sXLpRWhoJtt_fK3ixofC1pr0EX4AYln2TozCYdYL4TWt2lygk42" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="423" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlg53xxxGgUtad9n-_jIXkG8rA2PDW3yFd-1MlyuXDoDmRzCLLLdjwTyAb6wyQxuWLkGly-p50zBl1diHjhdxwMuYCr1551ZFqNitM1Jy3o-TNL84SWa19lgVqGQiopE0aSP-09sXLpRWhoJtt_fK3ixofC1pr0EX4AYln2TozCYdYL4TWt2lygk42=w377-h283" width="377" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Given that it was June and
summer was at hand, we had decided to make the trip from Windsor, Colorado, to
Mississauga, Ontario, in our C8 Corvette. However, it took no more than a
cursory inspection to determine this coupe didn’t provide us with enough
baggage space. For the event we were responsible for transporting the usual
conference and exhibition paraphernalia. This time, it included numerous tee
shirts featuring our client’s logo and they pretty much filled the Corvette’s
frunk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having said that, turning to
our Jaguar F Pace SVR was no second prize. We had driven almost the same route
just last year and this SUV never missed a beat. It turned out that it was a
wise choice as it wasn’t long before eating up highway miles become
challenging. Notice too we stopped by a roadside travelers’ OnRoute gas and
food stop just to sample Tim Horton donuts! This too is a tradition for Margo
and me whenever we leave the US and head into Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ever read about 11-Mile Road
heading north off Interstate 94 just to the west of the I94 junction with I69?
Neither had we but our navigation told us to drive up this road, pass through
Bellevue before joining I69. This directive simply came out of the blue …<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's the rub; never before
had we seen the major highway network of the eastern states in such repair
frenzy. Yes, roadworks were intermittent and reduced travel times to barely a
crawl. However, the suspension, brakes and steering of the Jaguar were fully
tested and on more than one occasion, we went beyond the pavement boundary to
avoid errant drivers trying to avoid potholes that should it have been raining
would have taken on the appearance of small ponds.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDYHtG9BmiQ72ZFkTbW2mSCrSygUQes4cJSf4zjBtyZA3aqu4KUitSQ28DR0u-qHwmbgGVqhdzOWcknwQfDnma1899RDN1K6inM4-AYnh1SACshpDwPhdPyihXIleX3dhgsvY1ciNSWGftqYNYoUbrNsTY0syv7Fv52nL07SJLpnyyLL4zzsLa6rKu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="421" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDYHtG9BmiQ72ZFkTbW2mSCrSygUQes4cJSf4zjBtyZA3aqu4KUitSQ28DR0u-qHwmbgGVqhdzOWcknwQfDnma1899RDN1K6inM4-AYnh1SACshpDwPhdPyihXIleX3dhgsvY1ciNSWGftqYNYoUbrNsTY0syv7Fv52nL07SJLpnyyLL4zzsLa6rKu=w360-h270" width="360" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year, spring had been
generous in afternoons bringing heavy April showers. It has been a few years
since we last saw such greenery on display. Later in the year our grasses in
the foreground, placed among the roses, will produce golden sheafs. But for
now, we will take this lush foliage in our yard and out across the rough
alongside the fairway of the golf course we face. The highways may have proved
challenging and giving us thoughts about our safety and the possible damage to
the SUV and yet, all across the east they are celebrating a spring that has
truly delivered this year.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On our return to Windsor,
however, mother nature had a change of heart. Rain, yes; cyclonic patterns,
well, no! And whether you want to call the conditions cyclonic or simply a
tropical storm of wicked strength, no sooner had we settled back into our daily
routines than hurricane winds arrived. Unimaginable rainfall occurred over a
short timeframe turning the golf course into a series of lakes. Talk about blue
to black, more like green to gray with just a literal splash of white as it so
happened!</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgViQUPY3tcsjQ6sa1CZhPHL4jWB8BSdMgXuMZjBmoPaJ8VwkVsNDz2J2E4EJ66xMwbYW6WOzduyWe1iNFz7AJZv64RGZb5hf62PeL_9FGtwPbWpFoV8TYaleCbJrDYBFk9YeMb6yNxqW87Ska7z4zHHJkfr0GiiPbc3eri7aiYEiJy8SOuE0xoqPud" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="409" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgViQUPY3tcsjQ6sa1CZhPHL4jWB8BSdMgXuMZjBmoPaJ8VwkVsNDz2J2E4EJ66xMwbYW6WOzduyWe1iNFz7AJZv64RGZb5hf62PeL_9FGtwPbWpFoV8TYaleCbJrDYBFk9YeMb6yNxqW87Ska7z4zHHJkfr0GiiPbc3eri7aiYEiJy8SOuE0xoqPud=w341-h256" width="341" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That is not snow or even
hail covering the fairway but the lake that quickly formed. For those who
follow me on FaceBook, you will have seen some video I took of just how strong
the winds were and just how heavy the rainfall became. To think we had been
talking about starting the grilling season having only just returned the Weber
to near-original condition. Then again, with the amount of water present
everywhere we turned we can only assume that the aquafers that our farmers
depend upon were receiving a much-needed top-up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What is called the I25
corridor – the north-south Interstate running from Wyoming down to New Mexico –
was simply hammered by the storms that have been ongoing from the day we
returned. Here I was looking to wash the SUV after the trip to Canada but no
such luck. Our favorite carwash was flooded and out of action. On the other
hand, just yesterday, we were hit hard with yet one more afternoon storm and
that cleaned off the accumulation of insects present on our grill and
windscreen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgXE5u2Nf-r5w4US7yswxqn8pXnqRwjwogusWJtTxyL6HxA5heAcs2UiCmxAcdoTvxynGpZAhzz4x_3JD_y8mscg56Jc0qY1rNrjl8nSq6CQ9YG5MMwZbvsrrNa1_F-Hhe8yyo4QMvW0s57OmjYl4zaTQR7mDqK28mxHbAnzGSasoQjElcSZBfDmQh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="396" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgXE5u2Nf-r5w4US7yswxqn8pXnqRwjwogusWJtTxyL6HxA5heAcs2UiCmxAcdoTvxynGpZAhzz4x_3JD_y8mscg56Jc0qY1rNrjl8nSq6CQ9YG5MMwZbvsrrNa1_F-Hhe8yyo4QMvW0s57OmjYl4zaTQR7mDqK28mxHbAnzGSasoQjElcSZBfDmQh=w350-h263" width="350" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Picture this. The first hole
on our golf course. Flooded. I took to the road to pick up mail and passed this
image of a gold course out of action. The greenskeeper was present and when I
asked him about his recommendation when it came to club selection for a quick
round of golf he smiled, gestured towards the lake that had formed and
suggested all I need was a fishing rod! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is another line to the
song by Neil Young, “<i><span style="background: white;">When you're out of the blue and into the black.” </span></i><span style="background: white;">This perfectly
describes the afternoons and no matter your expectations with dawn where blues
skies can be seen, by the afternoon there is nothing but black. This still
wouldn’t deter us from hitting the highways yet again but with the global
pandemic a distant memory and enthusiasm for in-person conferences, we have a
lot more miles still to cover. But for now, to have safely covered 3,000plus
miles averaging more than 70 miles per hour! Our next trip will, unfortunately,
be on a plane. </span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About that next trip I will leave for a future
post as right now, it’s back to Zoom calls and I need more coffee. Safe travels
over summer! And as for our dear friends and family back in Australia, perhaps
you will be experiencing as much out of the blue as we have these past couple
of weeks. As circumstances develop, we may even get an opportunity to pay you a
visit down under although, as much as we would like to find a way, we will be
unable to drive whether we color this blue to black or any color in between! </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNsccNSZ2AHCtcpepk9va642YGsUioMZLteNA56OM2Ynjp8GpQdTO4sYf1LGJ2z0W6jGKfToypsUZtmiKLzu9IFHhyvUOq3xhJF8iO_h6EHz9EkXJs5_qsDJSyIzIIp1YST8Vw_0Swxgh8jdvqNaz9Cr3rHFlUr_OICOXZ8humFWR6dlpC8BIUnNEI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="452" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNsccNSZ2AHCtcpepk9va642YGsUioMZLteNA56OM2Ynjp8GpQdTO4sYf1LGJ2z0W6jGKfToypsUZtmiKLzu9IFHhyvUOq3xhJF8iO_h6EHz9EkXJs5_qsDJSyIzIIp1YST8Vw_0Swxgh8jdvqNaz9Cr3rHFlUr_OICOXZ8humFWR6dlpC8BIUnNEI=w375-h234" width="375" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br /></span></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-76843909327767000422023-05-23T13:53:00.004-07:002023-05-23T15:44:28.088-07:00A quick trip to the UK; time to decompress?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf4HgLiAtswq9EWcocEX4-ydr2ry7EiX0Hk1S5H0b_g9cd_su5NYqsiKdV8yOFx_vxDkQyUj-lHGOoFxv-IWKM3bvakfyj-pYi81rS9DWpQ10pmDy1lmqLm4fQ_Xxe-tvmJimB1goB2buFxHxhSiGAHlcx00oEpduWFsU-Nu0KBoKVLNBocLVio6ud" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="363" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf4HgLiAtswq9EWcocEX4-ydr2ry7EiX0Hk1S5H0b_g9cd_su5NYqsiKdV8yOFx_vxDkQyUj-lHGOoFxv-IWKM3bvakfyj-pYi81rS9DWpQ10pmDy1lmqLm4fQ_Xxe-tvmJimB1goB2buFxHxhSiGAHlcx00oEpduWFsU-Nu0KBoKVLNBocLVio6ud=w360-h270" width="360" /></span></a></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For Margo and me, it
continues to be all about the journey. When it was confirmed that I would have
the opportunity to provide a presentation at the first European in-person HPE
NonStop event in Edinburgh little time passed before tickets were booked and
hotel rooms reserved. When you factor into this journey the opportunity to
visit both London and Edinburgh this journey became even more enticing. While
we have been to Edinburgh on previous trips to the UK, it was in 1999 that the
trip took on an extra special meaning as it was the first business trip for the
newly wed, Mr. and Mrs. Buckle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well perhaps not with that
naming convention as we were still very much Margo and Richard to all of our
business colleagues and yet, coming as it did so soon after our honeymoon in
London only a month or two prior, we were still experiencing those early days
where everything was new. Making this trip extra special was that the venue for
this European event would be at the very same hotel we stayed at back in 1999. For
one week we would be reminded of all those times and while the hotel had been
reconfigured at least twice, the location was the same and, in all honesty,
that’s still what counted for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlM3QypXyXjIi63edqOn0rlBMTyMhYXB2fRZfyIdQzC9WUJyBVCUBy2-ve2t0WIY_GuKqKkNWgXT5b1IDbI5gZngW3Qqm4d3BROhpXb0g9yitNu57wGMDDn4HbbaeFR_lFDFRg-Wm7CCv6x32-xOoD_OL-oyVxUFVyATzKq2cGep6CWf2i5YjwGmGE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="375" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlM3QypXyXjIi63edqOn0rlBMTyMhYXB2fRZfyIdQzC9WUJyBVCUBy2-ve2t0WIY_GuKqKkNWgXT5b1IDbI5gZngW3Qqm4d3BROhpXb0g9yitNu57wGMDDn4HbbaeFR_lFDFRg-Wm7CCv6x32-xOoD_OL-oyVxUFVyATzKq2cGep6CWf2i5YjwGmGE=w363-h272" width="363" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We flew into London to spend
one night in the general area of Shoreditch. Well actually our hotel was on the
border of Hoxton and Shoreditch in London’s east end. However, turning back the
clock to when we checked in for the flight at Denver, I realized I was wearing
my sunglasses and not my regular glasses. Don’t ask me how I could forget to
lift my glasses from the console of our car which I just parked, but it
happened. With no time to return to the car I kept the “sunnies” and augmented
them with reading glasses. The ones the drugstores sell for a couple of dollars,
except at the airport, we paid almost thirty dollars. Not a good start to the
trip. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good news is that the
flight took us to London without a hitch; glasses or no glasses. Like almost
everyone we know, getting to the hotel to unpack and shower is always the
priority. And let’s not discuss the M4 / A4 into London; what on earth is going
on with traffic in London? I know politicians are doing their best to cater to
cyclists and to shut down lanes to favor all cyclists but it seems as the
getting across London is to be avoided at all costs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shouldn’t we have taken the
train? Or two? As it so happened, we had tickets on the train from London to
Edinburgh / Waverley so our decision to cab it across town was done to give us
some time away from planes and trains but adding the automobile proved
disappointing. Then again, we did get to see a lot of London. As for the train
journey the following day, choosing the easterly route that included many miles
paralleling the North Sea as we approached Edinburgh meant we were able to see
a lot more of the countryside, which meant passing many old cottages,
farmhouses and country manors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPNKkGY5ImVUQa7wVjebuCOtmUnZJDIuXoIP87XVSUDmN5A0p8d8xYHUhaNNQgmvhWRaEJlea3iWwZBD25fTV8RGtKBf2w3YlO_Lf6IuFwyDSAD14s3hC9kcUbtTDSzNCZ-y9iY0azG9CA4UZiInKpMzlXjb4PpQO2ND2kpQ_97CL4NISGucBUyfvX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="391" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPNKkGY5ImVUQa7wVjebuCOtmUnZJDIuXoIP87XVSUDmN5A0p8d8xYHUhaNNQgmvhWRaEJlea3iWwZBD25fTV8RGtKBf2w3YlO_Lf6IuFwyDSAD14s3hC9kcUbtTDSzNCZ-y9iY0azG9CA4UZiInKpMzlXjb4PpQO2ND2kpQ_97CL4NISGucBUyfvX=w357-h255" width="357" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Storytelling is my
occupation. Imagine my surprise then to walk along the overhead gantry leading
out of Waverley station and see many quotes by Sir Walter Scott. Perhaps the
best quote of all was the one featured in the photo above. Your regular and
determined storyteller … boring? Ouch, Sir Walter, that hurts and I wonder what
led him to make that observation. And to think, for many years, that simple
graphic of connected cog wheels was also the logo of the company I worked for
after leaving Tandem Computers. Somehow, seeing them being used to illustrate
boring machines, like myself, was not something that offended me but rather
made me smile. To find myself in a situation where the story counted for
everything today obviously implies that I have succeeded in passing from doing,
to teaching to simply talking; could be a lot worse, I guess. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">Edinburgh is an ancient
city and the site of intrigue and calamity. Witches were being burnt in their
hundreds just as plots to overthrow the government of the day were being
hatched with regular monotony. On this quick trip to the UK there wasn’t as
much time set aside for sightseeing as on previous occasions but with the
location of our hotel, we could see Edinburgh’s famous castle. On the other
hand we did take a visit to the docks out by Leith where we saw the pride of
Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Yacht Britannica, open to visitors. Perhaps next
time we will complete the tour as having bought tickets, the length of the line
meant time was not on our side so we gave away our tour tickets.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoDvnpBA2s9h1QEl0zUDphsauBd5IjASta97HM1pNDwd__71CM2oESqjOVocZaKEBOTyEO3KfalAjMY5dGWw28EafwsbR3ZowbLqhtR_mBwNmWIimkV9NXBfNKtSKYpDY3DI3nuN9KSlP8kHIwzTerKea_SHh7XxverChEfd5fqbP3E1WQbY_KplDH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="420" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoDvnpBA2s9h1QEl0zUDphsauBd5IjASta97HM1pNDwd__71CM2oESqjOVocZaKEBOTyEO3KfalAjMY5dGWw28EafwsbR3ZowbLqhtR_mBwNmWIimkV9NXBfNKtSKYpDY3DI3nuN9KSlP8kHIwzTerKea_SHh7XxverChEfd5fqbP3E1WQbY_KplDH=w348-h261" width="348" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tucked away just a
stone-throw from the wharf was a quaint Scottish pub where Margo and I joined
with colleagues for a traditional Scottish lunch. Fish and chips, buckets of
mussels, scallops served on shells and yes, a vegetarian haggis proved that
little has changed over the eons that this pub had operated. As for the shelf
with bottles of Scotch, it seemed endless as there were still plenty more
bottles behind me when I took the photo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Proud of their heritage and
today, somewhat divided on where their future might take them, there was no
escaping the fact that the Scottish flag flies high. Somehow, I think Mary
Queen of Scotts would be taken aback by all the bunting that flies so proudly
from every possible location. Scotland the Brave? Who could have guessed it would
be played almost continuously everywhere you turned in Edinburgh. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxaET8SaFB5IoA5IzRy_6qLRrSgebwk5aEc8Q7NnSERBLmosfuJmfZWKzNrWzm1e_qjlvnberoH_mXiU0IulwR0f75qAknYKITGHPXO-A4mD1V3NOYlbGzl7jPI2NvxOhbELY9EMOFmn4ibNePBn39pvHm834y6ZcUTI8WEWOdefy88PiBq4FY-lRX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="271" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxaET8SaFB5IoA5IzRy_6qLRrSgebwk5aEc8Q7NnSERBLmosfuJmfZWKzNrWzm1e_qjlvnberoH_mXiU0IulwR0f75qAknYKITGHPXO-A4mD1V3NOYlbGzl7jPI2NvxOhbELY9EMOFmn4ibNePBn39pvHm834y6ZcUTI8WEWOdefy88PiBq4FY-lRX=w229-h305" width="229" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In time, we headed back to
the train for the return trip to London. Once again, we stayed in the same
hotel in Hoxton / Shoreditch. Having elected to travel by train once in the UK,
we thought it prudent not to try and do the train and plane trips on the same
day. A layover in London wasn’t only a temptation we couldn’t resist but it was
the perfect opportunity to decompress after the long days at the Edinburgh
event. The location and the hotel are possibly not what we would recommend to
anyone as there are many better options, but for our purposes, it suited us as
it wasn’t too far from Kings Cross Station, the origin and final destination of
the trains that took us up and back to Scotland. To sit by the side of a
heavily used throughfare and enjoy a glass of red wine? Maybe not priceless but
it sure did contribute to the decompression that the times called for! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we look at the bigger
picture, it is the times we travel where we do take a break from our daily
routines. For many it is simply an outing to the local Pickle Ball courts. For
others it’s a hike up and through our mountains whereas for others it may be a
short trip to a museum or gallery. However, throughout the many years we have
been married, it is these opportunities to jump a plane to visit places we hold
dear to our hearts. Not every city has played host to out honeymoon or
delivered on what we thought would prove to be a highlight moment. Considering
too that nearly all of our travel is determined by the meetings, events and
conferences we need to attend. And yet, decompression always begins when we
walk out onto the concourse and head for the first flight of the time away from
home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo9TeQCdtIU4C7fdfy1a4ZV5eD3NvOwfLWSW9jX533DkcJlcd3yZeUYjMlCq9X2OAv_X8DgYwjobPyiIF8abR0v7dK2q9R3qXwF7ovojOjr2E6pE89T79sjTYuYqSFNHg9ngyDa9se0dk-qIo2faluiB3jULvI5x0eueQXwELekgIRSyIYNybGsUk8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="421" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo9TeQCdtIU4C7fdfy1a4ZV5eD3NvOwfLWSW9jX533DkcJlcd3yZeUYjMlCq9X2OAv_X8DgYwjobPyiIF8abR0v7dK2q9R3qXwF7ovojOjr2E6pE89T79sjTYuYqSFNHg9ngyDa9se0dk-qIo2faluiB3jULvI5x0eueQXwELekgIRSyIYNybGsUk8=w224-h298" width="224" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the UK, there are many
places to dine just as there are many cuisines to tempt us. Before we headed to
Edinburgh, we thought a traditional English dinner would be a welcome escape
from the normal haunts we usually look for. So yes, it was off to a recommended
Indian Restaurant to dine on Chicken Tiki Masala – the most popular meal option
that has passed a backed lamb dinner in overall popularity. Cabbing it into
Shoreditch proper, we found our way to our recommended Indian Restaurant, the
Dishoom. Not truly a chain although it has more than a handful of locations
around London and yes, even Edinburgh, the quality of what was presented
couldn’t be faulted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Want to try something a
little different to Butter Chicken? Try Ruby Chicken and you won’t be
disappointed. And like the many times in the past, we over indulged but we
simply couldn’t resist working our way down and across a very long list of
dishes. Would we return to this restaurant? Without a doubt, should an occasion
arise of us returning to London, book the tickets! That new plane smell will
get us every time. But this wasn’t the only opportunity to dine out as on our
return to London we headed down to the Thames and to the restaurants along
Butlers Wharf. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7KrNQJMd9mMVMOm7Vr2njvhMfCh8TIpUcKFTEHkrBrWeQFp9dAAu6EV1TkwqU3Igy4tJmnBRaguXe_he_AuudwELDmj5jSnPZPgdWNaoTXKYpkMkCYgYFlof8tv9uD8Rgnq9vFlWZ75gvlQ9gPsEamqkwmLiYvitvtBZQPHBnv2z3X46Xlp-WeYv9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="523" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7KrNQJMd9mMVMOm7Vr2njvhMfCh8TIpUcKFTEHkrBrWeQFp9dAAu6EV1TkwqU3Igy4tJmnBRaguXe_he_AuudwELDmj5jSnPZPgdWNaoTXKYpkMkCYgYFlof8tv9uD8Rgnq9vFlWZ75gvlQ9gPsEamqkwmLiYvitvtBZQPHBnv2z3X46Xlp-WeYv9=w342-h257" width="342" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those readers who have
taken the time to read posts to this blog, it might not go unnoticed that together
Margo and I are beginning our sixteenth year of blogging to this site. I say
together as it is a reality that Margo is involved in the creation of every
post. It is often a comment or observation that becomes the catalyst for a
storyline that otherwise might have been missed. For fifteen years and through
228 posts, more than 90,000 reads have occurred even as we have responded to
150 plus comments. The common theme flowing throughout all of these posts is clearly
one associated with travel – business, vacation, bizcation and more. Call them
whatever you like, but for Margo and me, it’s proving to be a chronicle of what
we have been doing for the better part of our time together.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the coming weeks we will
pick up on an even busier travel schedule about which I will post during the
summer. These outings will include a mix of vehicle plane and boats – yes, the
usual mix we embrace over the course of any given year. Sometimes the outings
are a true adventure whereas at other times it can provide an opportunity to
enjoy a new experience. However, perhaps the best way to sum up these travels
ignoring for now the opportunities to decompress is that they are ultimately
exhausting. Trips that can be quick or otherwise and involve travelling across
the country or over the seas ultimately differ little. As they wind down and we trudge through an
airport concourse for the last time, we always look for that quiet spot where
one last cocktail can be enjoyed. Forget that last touch of makeup or a quick
comb of the hair, homeward bound is, after all, its own reward!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpFMlYYKNpa65oTR3W4F-HMMZ70EyqlovI0cLRD3LN4Yc5b2dLgbAmFw8Bb8KneybBkgRc3Xaoh-eCitJpl8nj56NnU8MonWO1QbdkYluqQyL2w61QsMPRhMafIS9rY7czYAdsTHbbXGzDctZqudNL5-M2hY4a-QQdsmMp-swgrrTXHvPObFi8uqTb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="427" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpFMlYYKNpa65oTR3W4F-HMMZ70EyqlovI0cLRD3LN4Yc5b2dLgbAmFw8Bb8KneybBkgRc3Xaoh-eCitJpl8nj56NnU8MonWO1QbdkYluqQyL2w61QsMPRhMafIS9rY7czYAdsTHbbXGzDctZqudNL5-M2hY4a-QQdsmMp-swgrrTXHvPObFi8uqTb=w248-h293" width="248" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-35399312959204624382023-04-27T15:13:00.005-07:002023-04-27T15:13:26.460-07:00The starting gun has fired and we are off to events!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bRusT5S_VsZG72PEN5m-msshwML_UUI18r-CMFjCgA1jU2Pjj77WwEh4-XKq9WikOE-s4c0fAfuil6zk3PMFFFA38CHLonc2CICG35c4v5BSM1xNlax9jf3QJthnXfyo47zgv67ZfWBfnUBKjfLKsSfpjHDuZPyAbco3A8cDMAb5hZuZuBuJZqe-/s2663/IMG_4611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="2406" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bRusT5S_VsZG72PEN5m-msshwML_UUI18r-CMFjCgA1jU2Pjj77WwEh4-XKq9WikOE-s4c0fAfuil6zk3PMFFFA38CHLonc2CICG35c4v5BSM1xNlax9jf3QJthnXfyo47zgv67ZfWBfnUBKjfLKsSfpjHDuZPyAbco3A8cDMAb5hZuZuBuJZqe-/w312-h345/IMG_4611.jpg" width="312" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shortly we will be boarding flights to take us back to
Europe for a major industry event. I have elected this time to prepare a
completely new presentation and when I go down that path there is always that
small fear that it just doesn’t click with the audience. Following the
introductory presentations by the primary vendor I take to the stage as the
first representative of the independent vendor to present, so I will just have
to see how it goes. But there is no escaping how at this time of year, it seems
like the race has begun and the starter's pistol has been fired!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Margo and I can now report that within the family there
is a fully electric car. Margo’s daughter, Anna, made the brave move to
purchase the Mustang Mach-E and I fear it is the start of a cycle that will see
additional electric vehicles begin to pop up in our collective garages. With
seven cars between the two families – yes, it is America but it is also out of
necessity with family and business commitments – to have one that is electric
seems in line with national statistics. EVs now count for some 12% of new car
sales and we have that covered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoMn3uJjIUQGZkvraoam5_MADUCF_uIlKPpYOw4xYjInka1gQwTQ1xeZoOmx81o_C8ZZrxiQC2RYajVN5gYcD3hu56t6cI3o_HtxzoTH-NhA5O2OkisE2M_7blhSvwrJax7BkBj52992cYG1m0n4TS7FyLYTX7bw0_0lOK7uR9AE5iSipYxADi5-7/s2016/IMG_2891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoMn3uJjIUQGZkvraoam5_MADUCF_uIlKPpYOw4xYjInka1gQwTQ1xeZoOmx81o_C8ZZrxiQC2RYajVN5gYcD3hu56t6cI3o_HtxzoTH-NhA5O2OkisE2M_7blhSvwrJax7BkBj52992cYG1m0n4TS7FyLYTX7bw0_0lOK7uR9AE5iSipYxADi5-7/s320/IMG_2891.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a family that is very much car centric, Margo and I
were a little surprised to get the call from Anna to keep her company during the
selection process. Margo spent time doing the dealer-dance but throughout it
all Anna proved to be a hard negotiator. Ultimately she got the deal that she
wanted done and it was a call late in the day for help driving her to the
dealer to pick up the Mustang that made us realize the seriousness of her
decision. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Picking up my usual stack of magazines I begin turning
the pages to read that our beloved Corvette marque is destined to become
populated with a mix of hybrids and pure EVs. Ahhh – the agony of no longer
being able to hear the exhaust as it pops and crackles with every gear change
and every application of the brakes. For Margo and me and the many long distance
trips we take in support of our business, there is no rush to join the all EV
community. After all we experienced life with hybrids when we leased our BMW i8
coupe and roadster. It sure was nice to take these on long trips as they used
very little gas. They also had very little luggage space, so it was a challenge
at times to fit in what we needed. I think the best part was how these cars
looked – we sure miss them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC1vSiryiVuCLlYmQQyxjw2OKbH7oBVWsJ7J8NdA768nifx15Kv-DKxaX4T3XtE2gnoYKV0xq01PQxZdrWEqVFMTXWQNYfbLWCOk5Sz7sttRJSlmpYL8snfT4q6XCwUBk3jjDWkuxDJGqs8WtsknBmVQj0YHuihWOKrUGA2yZkLS35Z2wQUCxY6Ko/s2016/IMG_2883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC1vSiryiVuCLlYmQQyxjw2OKbH7oBVWsJ7J8NdA768nifx15Kv-DKxaX4T3XtE2gnoYKV0xq01PQxZdrWEqVFMTXWQNYfbLWCOk5Sz7sttRJSlmpYL8snfT4q6XCwUBk3jjDWkuxDJGqs8WtsknBmVQj0YHuihWOKrUGA2yZkLS35Z2wQUCxY6Ko/w258-h344/IMG_2883.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This photo of a recent lamb dinner generated
considerable interest with numerous comments posted to various social media
sites. Mind you, a dinner that is not documented on Facebook is like a meal
that did not happen, right? From the outset this was one of those momentous
meals that you will remember for quite some time so it needed immortalization
in the cyber space. A boneless leg of lamb stuffed with a mix of herbs, celery
and apricots roasted to perfection and then accompanied by regular and sweet
potatoes and shallots together with a liberal serving of spring peas – what
more could you possibly want as a late afternoon dinner. Margo indeed excelled
with its production. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We continue to hear so much about the supply chain
issues and any trip to the markets leaves us looking at shelves that are empty.
It’s not a lot of shelves, mind you, but there’s also the appearance that they
know what we are coming for and pull the items from the shelf just as we step
into the market. Possibly not; it’s now a game to see what we can come away
with. At Costco we are pleased to see that the lamb is now all Australian Lamb
and given its abundance we had a freezer with an ample supply of lamb cuts for
spring dinning. Except we consumed it, so now we need to resupply again!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgharCKiIpm7vrZCFtv0Q0B1J7pKY3EZcCVnIClA3Qi18RfwNrA8ZS-XMT78H3ptUgjAY7T8F0eVzuIXy6_Li6PYSff54UBee4lTHXvuGmIRh3siYx2b3YZVvC-fR5SngY18LKPBBbgFxlEHCllzKQ060AgUhAnp8texSo_3I6GPUxh2Her2Ihsoof1/s3633/IMG_4733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3633" data-original-width="3023" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgharCKiIpm7vrZCFtv0Q0B1J7pKY3EZcCVnIClA3Qi18RfwNrA8ZS-XMT78H3ptUgjAY7T8F0eVzuIXy6_Li6PYSff54UBee4lTHXvuGmIRh3siYx2b3YZVvC-fR5SngY18LKPBBbgFxlEHCllzKQ060AgUhAnp8texSo_3I6GPUxh2Her2Ihsoof1/w281-h338/IMG_4733.jpg" width="281" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> <o:p></o:p>The mention of spring and the reference to the starting
gun having been fired means that it was time to drag out of storage all of our
outdoor furniture. It was also a time to pull the covers off our grill and to
give our outside bar a thorough cleaning. Following a couple of days with
temperatures passing 80 F / 27 C we thought we would be settling back into our
usual spring outside dining patterns but no, snow began falling once again.
Looks like we still have ways to go before serious outside dining can begin.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UA7jHtBwYBAV4rcJU9zZ0dDYbea1CQS7sWmipFhcw9gcdLgQ3KSFHrzeJma3s1Rd0pmBMhrsptwdUC4kH52T1SrbJ5CahWnNQBaIIgSOSjs6sfVU7LgV-z1wIXXqQ-h42foFwqWkniWtS1vozvY73RDXMW_q05kNRBR9t-39SzlphfyvZxsFjt4b/s2016/IMG_2922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UA7jHtBwYBAV4rcJU9zZ0dDYbea1CQS7sWmipFhcw9gcdLgQ3KSFHrzeJma3s1Rd0pmBMhrsptwdUC4kH52T1SrbJ5CahWnNQBaIIgSOSjs6sfVU7LgV-z1wIXXqQ-h42foFwqWkniWtS1vozvY73RDXMW_q05kNRBR9t-39SzlphfyvZxsFjt4b/w256-h341/IMG_2922.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This picture too has done the rounds on social media to
many reviews. The significance of this hasn’t been lost on either Margo or
myself. We have always enjoyed occasions when we can pull the cork from an Aussie
wine and no vineyard does it better than Penfolds. For those of you who spent
time with us in our Niwot, Colorado, home there is the possibility that you might
recall that we once had 300 bottle wine cave in our cellar devoted solely to
Penfolds’ wines. But now after having left that home five plus years ago and
without similar cellar capabilities, it’s been a case of pulling a bottle from
the shelf as the occasion dictated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were reminded of this as we finished up our leg of
lamb. The other day, when neighbors stopped by for a filet steak dinner, it was
a bottle of 2009 St Henri that sacrificed itself. For me the only downside was
that there was only enough for a small “second round” before the bottle was
emptied but then again, as the saying goes (and I often repeat), there’s
absolutely no excuse for leaving behind you cellar for the children to enjoy!
On the other hand, I have to believe that Anna and her husband Erich wouldn’t
be too concerned from pulling bottles out of the cellar for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfM1mQLEc7fQMKvF1gtpIHPJWfMvG3909gWL3ZAEa3fYv9E9yIgA0PRmh-1N5kU5eL7Xu9BrOYcU9a4XhzkLIu4IAL2DYzQB9mx-vsjalpMI4yfo9Ya-Vh67R6IoKltXyDiuknxTJ8Wg9Cwl9k7SRjghxovkKQFy5bAHOnuIXbDYmduswAotaDDCCM/s1533/IMG_4747.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfM1mQLEc7fQMKvF1gtpIHPJWfMvG3909gWL3ZAEa3fYv9E9yIgA0PRmh-1N5kU5eL7Xu9BrOYcU9a4XhzkLIu4IAL2DYzQB9mx-vsjalpMI4yfo9Ya-Vh67R6IoKltXyDiuknxTJ8Wg9Cwl9k7SRjghxovkKQFy5bAHOnuIXbDYmduswAotaDDCCM/s320/IMG_4747.png" width="235" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My daughter, Lisa, is not much into wine and cars – she
too documents events worth documenting on her Facebook posts so we were please
to see that she decided to undertake another challenge and is going for BA with
the major in Medieval and Modern Europe! This, mind you, after she has already
gained a BA and followed up with her MA in Ancient History. She also loves her
cats and it brings a smile to our faces to see the animals relax and play.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIR-QUO7CMc7z2sov70PLS1pmXf8_qQV1Z_9r352onlbiHA75rxd2LLe1mAL_C624RNdRQDUy_1xv6PwDE4ujW3_hkdaTx3UsXEVmC45fDatFHqgLBCuMP6sUf6svhFHPUCtf8KmJmLz6CZ-ZRzplWrghet732ErBMTgdZfCrAHvGJ9mysjXJqDp-P/s871/IMG_4746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="871" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIR-QUO7CMc7z2sov70PLS1pmXf8_qQV1Z_9r352onlbiHA75rxd2LLe1mAL_C624RNdRQDUy_1xv6PwDE4ujW3_hkdaTx3UsXEVmC45fDatFHqgLBCuMP6sUf6svhFHPUCtf8KmJmLz6CZ-ZRzplWrghet732ErBMTgdZfCrAHvGJ9mysjXJqDp-P/w345-h203/IMG_4746.jpg" width="345" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Margo’s grandsons, Evan and Aiden, turned eight last
week and granddaughter Ella turned ten this week and it kind of reminded us
that nothing in life stands still. Margo pulled up a photo of her holding Ella
moments after she was delivered and to think that was a decade ago! Where did
those years go? In a picture of the Mustang being purchased featured above, you
will see Ella standing alongside her Mom and already I can deduce that she is
going to be one tall girl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As
for our good friends Brian and Jan Kenny, their grandson Colton Herta continues
to do battle on the race track. To date, the results haven’t been quite what
the team had been hoping for but after three races, he looks to be back on
course for another good year. After being bumped off the track in the first
race in St Petersburg, Florida and walking away with very few points after
starting on the front row of the grid that left him in twentieth place, the
next race in Texas saw him move up to eleventh in the standings. Just a short
time ago he hit the streets of Long Beach and was placed fourth </span>missing
a podium by a smidgeon, he is now in eight place and only six points out of
being in the top 5.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7UPQfH6gk9CxSkY3xOv-K2NQ2W-or0hmjGzRwjZf-BUlOaadOJ6FrbtKGzkbASP1if-dtAL5xBiE-W_3eduF77fs7sf63-wseLqbkXZnpH3QTMHN1g7BTn88CRRHuYv2uI4OOkMNU78-bu8c5xDCck6FYhZ18UlvSe4OICgBdC7X3F_2ubOwfCIg/s1280/IMG_2913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1280" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7UPQfH6gk9CxSkY3xOv-K2NQ2W-or0hmjGzRwjZf-BUlOaadOJ6FrbtKGzkbASP1if-dtAL5xBiE-W_3eduF77fs7sf63-wseLqbkXZnpH3QTMHN1g7BTn88CRRHuYv2uI4OOkMNU78-bu8c5xDCck6FYhZ18UlvSe4OICgBdC7X3F_2ubOwfCIg/w329-h218/IMG_2913.jpg" width="329" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Changes have been taking place at Andretti Motorsport
that are helping Colton well, mostly, that is. In the offseason Andretti
focused on improving the qualifying pace of their cars and this is really
showing dividends. Colton consistently turns in top of the scoring sheet lap
times and these have been important for him. To finish first you may rightly
need to first finish but equally important, its way, way better to start up
front considering the Indy Car field now runs twenty-six plus cars. Being
mid-pack at the start can be a harrowing experience as almost anything can
happen. To this end, apart from a hiccup over tire strategy at Long Beach,
Colton is doing very well in qualifying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The other change of note is that Colton no longer has
father Bryan Herta calling race-time strategy. In a surprising move, it was
Scott Harner who was moved from Kyle Kirkwood to Colton Herta with Bryan
replacing Scott at team Kirkwood. This was a call by the Andretti management
team but even so, it was an unexpected change. It happened prior to the race in
Texas but provided an interesting turn of events at Long Beach as we all heard
Bryan call the shots for Kirkwood that led him to winning the race! Going to be
a fun year to come as who knows what conversations will take place between
father and son over Tacos down the road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCY7vsvodqyN5ZFVySkpbIO9K5Yrc-5mCm7T1alvqHdfPCL9611VqNM0r9-WitzPd3y0hjPKtuEQXrGeutbde7UmxTfPvoQ7P5Chso8ez_nkQ30UG0I8cj38oALnwdkqJiS_PAhoh_aIsASwHv4_9FVPI7ThSZGCGJxcVH4VINh90pwcIrxB51Akg/s1710/IMG_2898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1710" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCY7vsvodqyN5ZFVySkpbIO9K5Yrc-5mCm7T1alvqHdfPCL9611VqNM0r9-WitzPd3y0hjPKtuEQXrGeutbde7UmxTfPvoQ7P5Chso8ez_nkQ30UG0I8cj38oALnwdkqJiS_PAhoh_aIsASwHv4_9FVPI7ThSZGCGJxcVH4VINh90pwcIrxB51Akg/w352-h220/IMG_2898.jpg" width="352" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Starting guns fired in earnest to start a race is
something we are all familiar with but even so, for Margo and me it symbolizes
the start of a long summer of travel. Some of it will be fun while some of it
will be hard and demanding. At other times, some will simply be routine where
the only concern will be “are we there, yet?” But enjoying a wonderful lamb
dinner and then enjoying a fine wine a short time later all helped take our
minds off the “adventures” that lie ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We will be all at sea on occasion just as we will be
seated in trains, busses and yes, cars. There will be quiet walks along
pathways through parks and yes, castles, and there will be noisy times in
ancient bars. Whatever this year holds for us safe to say it won’t be of the
ordinary kind and for that we are most fortunate. Having written that, it’s
just about the right time to enjoy one last drink in the twilight hours before
nightfall. And yes, to all those who may be travelling, stay safe and enjoy the
moment, too! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9xFafzVXyViCUT9JPGRMVNGLE3gPtCtyqyXPw_0K0V3-PIV4feT1Xb7RZfaJpQ6gsj_GuI_4CCcRXQon4D2g0NC504VwJD1qWhoOnUTwv1ltxQg_dtsHy8jQYmL2j02_l5qn8OHbSH8u9dAqh0Ez5OtTLu_Wxs_XAynTlR6Diseppok2AFJfqxHl/s2016/IMG_2887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9xFafzVXyViCUT9JPGRMVNGLE3gPtCtyqyXPw_0K0V3-PIV4feT1Xb7RZfaJpQ6gsj_GuI_4CCcRXQon4D2g0NC504VwJD1qWhoOnUTwv1ltxQg_dtsHy8jQYmL2j02_l5qn8OHbSH8u9dAqh0Ez5OtTLu_Wxs_XAynTlR6Diseppok2AFJfqxHl/w283-h378/IMG_2887.jpg" width="283" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p></div><br />Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-34337855375129160872023-03-28T14:25:00.017-07:002023-03-28T14:33:54.558-07:00Expectations: Looking at life at sea!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji7T9XMA5mFWClGuZoFUugiiz-kh1YzAWTAJVe_ogQM8Zm9j6Jl2JX4a6XEFQRPooj61sNO0nsCHAXEpMHckycFclUfIxk8s1X2nFYKzSFvCmibpTqEuX125Pn13uWYVjgWfVJKLNhLOaAGbDSMVsyjAxYLn6vG9Wf8zAcIVO_QY6ur6W99MJcUMai" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="237" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji7T9XMA5mFWClGuZoFUugiiz-kh1YzAWTAJVe_ogQM8Zm9j6Jl2JX4a6XEFQRPooj61sNO0nsCHAXEpMHckycFclUfIxk8s1X2nFYKzSFvCmibpTqEuX125Pn13uWYVjgWfVJKLNhLOaAGbDSMVsyjAxYLn6vG9Wf8zAcIVO_QY6ur6W99MJcUMai=w385-h291" width="385" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is no hiding the fact that for the past year Margo
and I have returned to the days of travel of past years. COVID put a big dent
in our plans that saw us, like so many other families, putting on hold any idea
about leaving our home. But eventually, we all began accepting that the global
pandemic that hit us so hard was waning and that seeing the sights was becoming
popular once again.</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We spent Christmas and the New Year 2022 – 2023 sailing
out of the east coast, but this time, it was my birthday cruise that saw us
sailing out of the west coast. With the exception of the time spent housebound
between 2020 and 2022, every second year Margo and I have taken this particular
Princess cruise to Hawaii. Leaving from San Pedro’s Port of Los Angeles,
circling the Hawaiian Islands before heading back to the port via Ensenada,
Mexico, it has become a 15 days change of pace. Yes, we still devote many hours
to working but fortunately remote work has become the norm for many of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time my Birthday happened to be right after we
completed all of our NonStop Insider digital magazine tasks, were about to
finish commitments for the community magazine The Connection and had the next four
week’s tasks planned and ready to be tackled no matter where we happened to be;
all we needed was a decent WiFi, and we had that!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS5GxYi7vOoL32SdaW49QJMt7y_QfQaw9Kx3esYcGie3iI1oWzPZayhX3MgLkF_ryMIV6Mz_IR29Hz_cbeSLWVYeblMZ0LnA9kVd_GmurlFbJ1GVSYdkBgiSP79alkRBx5lisnjW7afmDLZzuauI1XcvkA9IxulP1yuXw9l0y2bb71MOS_CumbmpW0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="202" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS5GxYi7vOoL32SdaW49QJMt7y_QfQaw9Kx3esYcGie3iI1oWzPZayhX3MgLkF_ryMIV6Mz_IR29Hz_cbeSLWVYeblMZ0LnA9kVd_GmurlFbJ1GVSYdkBgiSP79alkRBx5lisnjW7afmDLZzuauI1XcvkA9IxulP1yuXw9l0y2bb71MOS_CumbmpW0=w273-h310" width="273" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Boarding the Crown Princess didn’t go exactly to plan. Technology
adaptation had seen Princess embellish the Medallion Class of sailing (which
now means everyone) following the recent introduction of a wearable RFID ”medallion”
fastened to a lanyard or inserted into a tailor-made watch band. It was the
presence of this RFID that saw every flat screen on the ship congratulating me each
time I passed by.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When it came time to board,
Princess couldn’t find our identifying emblem. It took a very long time to
confirm that no, we didn’t have such a device and even longer to come up with a
plan B. Then misdirecting us on multiple occasions as to where to find a
replacement meant that we couldn’t make reservations at the specialty
restaurants. Plan B was a temporary card that did open our cabin, but all up,
with our expectations set pretty high, it was a letdown that we took some time
to overcome.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC2m2cnL-Lc7wM9dijG1UoG4KXHC8aa1T6_fzWk4NRzP8KSVKoAVsplvXDj5dAd0bJcbAjf5HWZ-3ogzB-X4fgeRpVtd3LSTiGGosMQ7Ef0nK1S3gkiKJpLONmI6E17-Dz2DZ2clYvLVzpoaW4bQbPYHHuuCpSmBXS-lNqCX0jic0jhKv4f5z4rKSH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="199" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC2m2cnL-Lc7wM9dijG1UoG4KXHC8aa1T6_fzWk4NRzP8KSVKoAVsplvXDj5dAd0bJcbAjf5HWZ-3ogzB-X4fgeRpVtd3LSTiGGosMQ7Ef0nK1S3gkiKJpLONmI6E17-Dz2DZ2clYvLVzpoaW4bQbPYHHuuCpSmBXS-lNqCX0jic0jhKv4f5z4rKSH=w244-h293" width="244" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Crown Princess isn’t one of the larger ships of the
Princess Line. The Majestic Princess is almost half as big again and the yet to
be launched Sun Princess almost twice as big. Even so, walking out of your
cabin and looking down the aisle, you swear you could see the curvature of the
earth. A thousand feet long is still a long way. Whereas our Christmas cruise
had been on the much smaller Seabourn Sojourn, the comparison couldn’t be more
ridiculous. There was only a couple of occasions that we were tempted into
walking the length of the ship’s corridor to tackle the stairs at the end of
the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However there is something
about being on a vessel as large as this after being on one so much smaller and
that is the noise level. Certainly the Crown Princess provided many nooks and
crannies to hide out in, but 24 x 7 there was something going on and for almost
every other passenger the level of enthusiasm to engage in boisterous exchanges
seemed endless. Early morning rises seemed to do the trick but the menu was
somewhat limited. Making the International Café – the local coffee shop and
patisserie, our go to establishment each and every morning, was simply a
continuation of what we had been doing on Princess cruises for a very long
time.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZp0I90ehazCv-ABkNQHFhNmrJC7uf4RxCBo4ls3gL909JUUYvdVy0aI9Tw9_thVGjazmSc_BNoPcYkXVqoY0sMTyVo8J3xTwXocrkJlHzXqM2u3TEJXOi9PdnU8bUjexSgn2oobdzAYBe-JaLZ1N0ZiM0oXXlcHKQe1VD-L5HncjcVr2gjr2sy8n3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="209" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZp0I90ehazCv-ABkNQHFhNmrJC7uf4RxCBo4ls3gL909JUUYvdVy0aI9Tw9_thVGjazmSc_BNoPcYkXVqoY0sMTyVo8J3xTwXocrkJlHzXqM2u3TEJXOi9PdnU8bUjexSgn2oobdzAYBe-JaLZ1N0ZiM0oXXlcHKQe1VD-L5HncjcVr2gjr2sy8n3=w276-h308" width="276" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those travelers familiar with the Princess Plaza
layout, we always gravitated to the Vines wine bar where there was a single
porthole fronted by just one table for two. While we didn’t always manage to
score this location most mornings we did and it helped make the start of the
day passable. But only just, as it seemed the cruise director arrived shortly
after we did to turn the Plaza into entertainment for all and sundry. At full
volume! Ahhh; the expectations for peace and quiet do not extend to the lower
decks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We only made it to the
buffet served in the Horizon on the upper deck once or twice and that was to
partake in eggs and sausage as an alternate to our usual donuts and croissants.
No matter where the day started, we seemed to always gravitate to the Crooners
Bar late morning for a Bloody Mary for Margo and a simple Mimosa for myself.
This part of the ship became almost enjoyable with the crowd assembling along
the bar becoming familiar faces in no time at all. What does that say about us?
Appears that there are more than a handful of cruisers that look for similar
friendly hangouts as we seem to want to do!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCOZtfqSOuSW5DFB9H3hA44BhDAwSTSYDSRk9y9DFtVjkv1YQNgCXEmR5BEcf390rZErYtPIDDy7EM1yU54Wu1kmYVGTGnir-dlWGlvCyVOjwLlBVA6pdu_00yEUfH9_eEcHnscng-Xdv4668z_GFLiG7uspGsoKt6eIqc_UMVvpRgvbt-lZTXIqB6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="220" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCOZtfqSOuSW5DFB9H3hA44BhDAwSTSYDSRk9y9DFtVjkv1YQNgCXEmR5BEcf390rZErYtPIDDy7EM1yU54Wu1kmYVGTGnir-dlWGlvCyVOjwLlBVA6pdu_00yEUfH9_eEcHnscng-Xdv4668z_GFLiG7uspGsoKt6eIqc_UMVvpRgvbt-lZTXIqB6=w252-h337" width="252" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Margo and I do not cruise to enjoy the entertainment.
We no longer cruise to enjoy the destinations as more often than not we don’t
even check the itinerary. Taking the same cruise over and over again brings
with it an element of ho-hum – not in an obnoxious way but more or less as a
way of saying “if you enjoy shore excursions then certainly, go for it!” – but
the Med, the Caribbean and the Tasman have been crossed, circled and for all
purposes revealed their best side such that on non-sailing days we get the run
of the ship. Mostly!</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have business acquaintances that are partway
through a 150 day around the world cruise on our Seabourn Sojourn. Stepping
onto the ship the very day we stepped off had us misty-eyed and somewhat jealous of the opportunity that such a cruise afforded those passengers. Maybe in
a few years? Perhaps not quite yet, as the dream would be to actually take a
true vacation; continuing to work remotely on any cruise line represents a
level of disruption that makes any semblance of being able to truly relax
nothing more than a wishful dream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZckUty-lqBrggXB5HciwO5xqTozXOCao-phVtWOz4xOBDoCWS_GsMuAu40i59JBNpEIMnwS5B6xFXKsnSePzPQcPS4bP_zMfAxBtGKg4YAOynyj0UYvKFsM1ErlnWxeoLdY5JP9w4nRZVe9TZC9If5EX9RKsaXnF1lIG20wwIJIhQayyvff34mDDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="221" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZckUty-lqBrggXB5HciwO5xqTozXOCao-phVtWOz4xOBDoCWS_GsMuAu40i59JBNpEIMnwS5B6xFXKsnSePzPQcPS4bP_zMfAxBtGKg4YAOynyj0UYvKFsM1ErlnWxeoLdY5JP9w4nRZVe9TZC9If5EX9RKsaXnF1lIG20wwIJIhQayyvff34mDDw=w268-h299" width="268" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On shore days including those where the ship
overnighted the absence of passengers was not only a relief but an opportunity
to walk out onto the Promenade deck to take in the early evening. On this
voyage there was one opportunity to do just that and in it was a reminder of
yet again one more instant where expectations simply didn’t materialize. For
every cruise we have taken since December 2018, not one sailing stuck to the
itinerary. Not one! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have missed Wineglass Bay in Tasmania and sailing
through Milford Sound. South Pacific? Samoa proved to be out of reach! Alaska? Glacier
Bay and Victoria Island were a no go just as Hurricane Fiona gave us no
opportunity to visit Prince Edward Island! Aruba? Costa Rica? No go and even
Seabourn had to scrub a visit to the eastern side of one Caribbean Island in
favor of the shelter provided on the western side. Expectations truly dashed?
Not really. After all these years we have learnt to roll with the punches. Or should I say, happily ridden the many ocean swells we have encountered. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDtqA1jkIcSujPCz6UiyMh57bXp7yQJCl94NVQpceRsjUXSzzjSp5ivALRPwLmadoYvNBt10YMGkCg6NczhoxtCYzlVYKcZS7rjjY6L5BaBoK4AL3O572V-lPWY0xddKVU1KnJMnDLMMtsG6HE0PUaNYL3ob6_dRZcpwJYoaeJdJA5yBp9qXs8AfbY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="211" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDtqA1jkIcSujPCz6UiyMh57bXp7yQJCl94NVQpceRsjUXSzzjSp5ivALRPwLmadoYvNBt10YMGkCg6NczhoxtCYzlVYKcZS7rjjY6L5BaBoK4AL3O572V-lPWY0xddKVU1KnJMnDLMMtsG6HE0PUaNYL3ob6_dRZcpwJYoaeJdJA5yBp9qXs8AfbY=w237-h304" width="237" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When it comes to life at sea and the expectations you
have as the ship leaves home port there is unquestionably a time needed to make
adjustments, put the concerns and issues encountered ashore to one side and to
begin the process of unwinding and just relaxing. Margo and I rarely sign up
for week long cruises preferring instead those voyages of two plus weeks. This
is simply because experience has taught us that the first week is simply the
time needed to adjust. Put this down to tried and true expectation setting but
it has proved to be correct each and every time we stop onboard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What we really liked about this latest Princess cruise
was that WiFi worked well for us this time around and the level of service couldn’t be faulted.
I am writing about you Pearl, hostess at the Crown Grill, Sarah, hostess at
Sabatini, Bosco at Crooners and Jeffrey at the International Café. These became
important contacts for us as we elected not to dine in any of the main dining rooms
preferring instead to dine in the specialty restaurants each and every night. There
was enough variety juggling our time between the Crown Grill and Sabatini to
make each visit memorable.</span> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO422eXnM8yYyQ0vkPK-wXVvFeZiO837sYUjD6MM3ZBN4BLw3MYlwS2-sNgxley0WCv3JQWl4mLvc7TAcWn9ioX-IPtfryb5RFbmoMN0UixmgcWkgEqSCa73Zdi-3mSpjKubWhJcJU0rWFCM2vF2zdlot6jNZOhdfLv4UZY6_030MtU2BbVRIO6GB6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="344" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO422eXnM8yYyQ0vkPK-wXVvFeZiO837sYUjD6MM3ZBN4BLw3MYlwS2-sNgxley0WCv3JQWl4mLvc7TAcWn9ioX-IPtfryb5RFbmoMN0UixmgcWkgEqSCa73Zdi-3mSpjKubWhJcJU0rWFCM2vF2zdlot6jNZOhdfLv4UZY6_030MtU2BbVRIO6GB6=w255-h296" width="255" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Working remotely
has taken on a variety of meanings. Whether your contribution comes from time
spent in a café bent over a laptop, a more formal régime spent in a home office
or from a desk looking out over the ocean it matters little these days. Devoid
of most distractions that cause us to stray when in familiar surroundings,
working remotely from a ship has considerable upside and one where increasingly
I am finding my time better spent there than anywhere else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not for Margo or
me are the distractions of evening shows and movies under the stars, ports of
call, a flutter on the blackjack table or the many variations of bingo and card
games, but rather, the quiet time we could spend together. It was my birthday
cruise after all and there was little that Princess could contribute that would
make our time any better. Expectations? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes,
frustrations to kick off the cruise but once past that ominous first week it was
nothing but smooth sailing and an opportunity to finish those assignments that
are part of my daily routine, wherever I happened to be. As for next cruise?
There is a couple in the works but about those voyages, it is best that we
leave them to a future post. And next time, Princess may just be ready with our
medallions!</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghzKRZaMhGrtB2FSP8Xcc41NDXdpBsTdRUcZHEZgZS4XpmH0BRtwPaAw9GJiJnMZ2zHnnUQGExqWoEdR7T4k9kLt0HLrRj1LVPymyHedbAXNRgpbrRhrpc7Q1mZa-y9OdR5jcFrxd3yqsEI_S0hXmnb9s1JbYfOnOj8Afy9pHN2af6KWyTZqTmm0-q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="244" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghzKRZaMhGrtB2FSP8Xcc41NDXdpBsTdRUcZHEZgZS4XpmH0BRtwPaAw9GJiJnMZ2zHnnUQGExqWoEdR7T4k9kLt0HLrRj1LVPymyHedbAXNRgpbrRhrpc7Q1mZa-y9OdR5jcFrxd3yqsEI_S0hXmnb9s1JbYfOnOj8Afy9pHN2af6KWyTZqTmm0-q=w276-h315" width="276" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><br /><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-16200453547816695332023-02-20T09:44:00.001-08:002023-02-20T09:44:27.813-08:00Celebrations, just like houses, benefit from location!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw2e1A2Y6ESeNOG8ifpiUnwD_GRkoySqjwlgmC-9EcYjbfQjM6UHM81Re3Ce-YDA4mQLpNe-02xMwMRBqquPAqnOqPeiROFUT2BFrAnno3Yz-YXLZHAHMa544LncfKjY3bzAO-4h-E0NUKQZx1ecYfX8kOPLlMebolf0IeYY_8FrwKHS8m-OS6qT-T" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="306" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw2e1A2Y6ESeNOG8ifpiUnwD_GRkoySqjwlgmC-9EcYjbfQjM6UHM81Re3Ce-YDA4mQLpNe-02xMwMRBqquPAqnOqPeiROFUT2BFrAnno3Yz-YXLZHAHMa544LncfKjY3bzAO-4h-E0NUKQZx1ecYfX8kOPLlMebolf0IeYY_8FrwKHS8m-OS6qT-T=w348-h214" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s not all that often that Margo and I have an
opportunity to combine time for work with time for celebration. However, on
more than one occasion Margo and I have found the time to head to Paris when
Valentine’s Day was around and in 2023, there was no disappointment over the
venue. It may not be Paris, France, but somehow, Paris, Las Vegas, always rises
to the challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the time spent in Southern California we found
ways to escape to Las Vegas for just a couple of days but as we progress deeper
into the year 2023, if there isn’t an associated business reason to hit the
road, we tend to hesitate – taking time to just relax seems to be a tad like
guilty pleasure. I have to admit, the post-COVID nostalgia just overwhelmed us –
we have so missed the freedom of spontaneous decisions to go to the actual
Paris or Rome and making reservations right then and there as we used to do. So,
here comes Las Vegas and it is within driving distance from our Colorado home. At least, in our Jaguar F Pace SVR, that is!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year it was a combination of when financial
services met retail met hospitality. For anyone as steeped in IT as Margo and I
happen to be, it seems that at any time there is a conference, event, symposium
or round table happening somewhere in the US. So why not capitalize on such a
circumstance when the venue turns out to be Las Vegas. The venue was not to be
Paris this time but a Hilton, a little further up the strip. With 36,000 plus
Uber and Lyft share rides in Las Vegas, separation proved no problem at all and
with the weather drifting down the scale to be stuck firmly in the chilly
sphere, the quick responses by those in the transportation business were truly
welcomed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY8XOzCpCElNpyPCa0VcBI1ydS9OPYLKLtd_9VguxxEPqtl5IEMf6E4sQuBWh8XqLQFrIJ0U9woZ0Hc6aGeYj-vYqwsE71t-1W5uvvbACMdhDC8tyA5VStovvfNx20VGHEM2QjrTKhO5c2Erm5jmICkwN9G4x_iKqA1aemguaq2SD88t2Y_j66gEAb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY8XOzCpCElNpyPCa0VcBI1ydS9OPYLKLtd_9VguxxEPqtl5IEMf6E4sQuBWh8XqLQFrIJ0U9woZ0Hc6aGeYj-vYqwsE71t-1W5uvvbACMdhDC8tyA5VStovvfNx20VGHEM2QjrTKhO5c2Erm5jmICkwN9G4x_iKqA1aemguaq2SD88t2Y_j66gEAb=w340-h255" width="340" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, seeing radiators appearing as a backdrop
further reinforced the image of cool nights in Vegas! And yet, seated in Italy
at Bellagio looking across Lake Como at Paris and the lower portion of the
Eiffel Tower seemed normal. Given that it was a belated Birthday combined with
an actual Valentine’s Day and being seated right alongside the big attraction –
the fountains at Bellagio – couldn’t detract in any way just how fortunate we
were to be able to leave the Colorado winter snow far behind us. Joined by the
Kennys of Simi Valley? Even better! Celebrations after all, just as it is with
houses, benefit most from location! This evening, it was nigh on perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Las Vegas has its detractors and rightfully so. There
is so much that is superficial. Los Angeles earned the moniker of Tinseltown
and in New York, there is no downtime for sleeping but Las Vegas wears many
names. Entertainment Capital of the World, the Gambling Capital of the World,
the Marriage Capital of the World, the Neon Capital of the World, the City of
Second Chances, and now apparently a new one, the Bone Yard (for all the
unfinished construction on display). But of late, to this growing list you can
easily add event city as it is events that continue to see us driving to Las
Vegas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_pXns8Qb55OEVXrjVx1-lSmGFW_SBFYz2MZtV_U2qN62v8QepDvqUhwDrCLKvXYzBIyMnjiyIc4tBAma2BKjCJa3Kikm9OLJu6waWg0TjvB8iB7g6ryOk8EC8Nlkr9ia5Wf097rHf015HhDYtawAJ5TMo4F8s39RK1IcRgHPjDu8Ui59VBNkBUu1Y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="275" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_pXns8Qb55OEVXrjVx1-lSmGFW_SBFYz2MZtV_U2qN62v8QepDvqUhwDrCLKvXYzBIyMnjiyIc4tBAma2BKjCJa3Kikm9OLJu6waWg0TjvB8iB7g6ryOk8EC8Nlkr9ia5Wf097rHf015HhDYtawAJ5TMo4F8s39RK1IcRgHPjDu8Ui59VBNkBUu1Y=w278-h276" width="278" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From our hotel window we could readily identify with
the unfinished construction on display. We were last in Las Vegas in June 2022
but we didn’t see any of this activity during that visit. As for the black ball
on the horizon, it is yet one more entertainment venue apparently being
marketed as a kind of super IMAX. However, closer to our hotel was the site of
a lot of activity on the lot of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Wearing all the
hallmarks of an abandoned construction, it stood for many years as a reminder
that not all development dreams come to fruition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">However things apparently
change and with change come a hive of activity. We watched, as palm trees were being
lifted over the surrounding construction elements to be deposited poolside.
Evidently, this hotel plans to open later this year. Behind this site lies
another vacant lot that fronts the Las Vegas Convention Center but it’s almost
a certainty that it wont’ continue as a car park for much longer.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirCyJ7pC-8BIEAUSvqj7K0XZK0xYSF-k9pGsheyiEzKQF3z5QRvSezPhszwFu1TwDSo3WpVYyGO_5d5MCqeYxB7RClScL1iShD0PoFPMKK6xQWm1sCztp5tmie4sQ0Nw3bHqbiKjSk5Tqgu7WKtAAcQXJQvC7vLmIgE8EYbxgXq2KXlongCRZZkkqJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="298" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirCyJ7pC-8BIEAUSvqj7K0XZK0xYSF-k9pGsheyiEzKQF3z5QRvSezPhszwFu1TwDSo3WpVYyGO_5d5MCqeYxB7RClScL1iShD0PoFPMKK6xQWm1sCztp5tmie4sQ0Nw3bHqbiKjSk5Tqgu7WKtAAcQXJQvC7vLmIgE8EYbxgXq2KXlongCRZZkkqJ=w337-h246" width="337" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Fish in Vegas? How about at Bobby Flay’s latest
restaurant, Amalfi. Opened just recently within Caesars Palace it delivered an
eating experience we hope to enjoy again next time we are in Las Vegas. Its
presence in Las Vegas is further evidence of the changing nature of the town as
the shift to events and entertainment in general is driving not only the
construction business but life in general. For those residing in Las Vegas it
is as if the world is now coming to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is no hiding the excitement that is growing as
the biggest event of the year for most Americans – yes, the Super Bowl – is
coming to Vegas. And don’t forget too that for others, an even bigger event is
planned as Formula One is on its way. Racing along the Strip? Legally? And with
crowds going wild? Some might simply sigh and say, what’s new? Been racing up
the strip for donkey’s years!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The label most recognizable given to Las Vegas – Sin
City – appears to be on the way out. Too much business is involved these days
so much so that anything shady has been pushed to the perimeter. And yet, Paris
in Vegas or Bellagio by an artificial lake makes sense. Location may demand a
premium but when it comes to Vegas, and to the times worthy of celebrations that
continue to draw us to this town each year it is hard to ignore either its
history or its demeanor. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may not roll snake eyes but then again, given the
location, for fifty two weeks of the year it’s just as hard to ignore these
bright lights or the fabulous make believe that is present either side of the
strip. It’s enough to leave you scratching your head and wondering; what’s next
for Vegas!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiebaEpuLjmwtb-O1Y0G6r0_a4C5_tn6dbuSUwcPkFtWCxlBPeHgItYLvBsNbttP2jFbFaMHIuqAeYg-g6y6G1pl6fwtA-PfREXQZQwIUanNn4tQRGVfSKkwaXXVN20urqCdjxP54GAKavNYLKJL4F0z-hCNifbeTytEbazuT65QZ8S4vA9gGVA6JKY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="387" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiebaEpuLjmwtb-O1Y0G6r0_a4C5_tn6dbuSUwcPkFtWCxlBPeHgItYLvBsNbttP2jFbFaMHIuqAeYg-g6y6G1pl6fwtA-PfREXQZQwIUanNn4tQRGVfSKkwaXXVN20urqCdjxP54GAKavNYLKJL4F0z-hCNifbeTytEbazuT65QZ8S4vA9gGVA6JKY=w271-h307" width="271" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /></span></span></p></div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-6303777686812835192023-01-25T15:10:00.017-08:002023-01-26T10:48:34.736-08:00No longer in-between; time to reminisce … <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLIzys0qILbarfdgf1bhCl7O2NqqIq_69WKx9MSoayo9kpFpRdy-ylj5EvJSS_wfg1nrK3iLm05oB7GCESe8ic3yadwxHv_-1chKQ8v856kKE5WZ0A-vyLbDAx1Pm3SCf0BxYc5jqLl_0hbNud6OPBRRgn2jEseO3rHN6jfm5TQNZtdTs2LsO6wac1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="252" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLIzys0qILbarfdgf1bhCl7O2NqqIq_69WKx9MSoayo9kpFpRdy-ylj5EvJSS_wfg1nrK3iLm05oB7GCESe8ic3yadwxHv_-1chKQ8v856kKE5WZ0A-vyLbDAx1Pm3SCf0BxYc5jqLl_0hbNud6OPBRRgn2jEseO3rHN6jfm5TQNZtdTs2LsO6wac1=w318-h355" width="318" /></span></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;">Hurry,
don't be late, I can hardly wait</span></i><i><span style="color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">I said to myself when we're old</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">We'll go dancing in the dark</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Walking through the park and reminiscing<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not sure what made me think of the chorus from this song,
recorded long ago by Australia’s Little River Band, but looking back over the
pictures taken this past holiday season seemed to be motivation enough to look
up the lyrics just to be sure. Christmas and the New Year may already be a
distant memory for many of you and yet, for Margo and me it was like picking up
the playbook and repeating a well-known play.<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the coming of dawn and the location being Miami it can
only mean one thing. We were about to embark on yet another holiday sail deep
into the Eastern Caribbean. Call it a repeat of last year’s cruise; the cruise
line was the same, but the vessel was different. Last year it was the Seabourn
Ovation whereas this year it was the smaller vessel, the Seabourn Sojourn. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCyObJyc1MY4QXWOYkNrAxfUNL4VQHdofu8Y1VEppl71o39BBPXolFNaUvOjNvsVVL138DEpn5Tg49YWR4X93HxlOQr2YjTSBLuEf-M-HOPVOohbSWVhpMBBUz5LRTza_xxzV4EehuRa4lFRcMRQCiUpXWcy2VMw4hGAwNa4fOr7mRj3KgNkfOCpK/s3024/IMG_2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3016" data-original-width="3024" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCyObJyc1MY4QXWOYkNrAxfUNL4VQHdofu8Y1VEppl71o39BBPXolFNaUvOjNvsVVL138DEpn5Tg49YWR4X93HxlOQr2YjTSBLuEf-M-HOPVOohbSWVhpMBBUz5LRTza_xxzV4EehuRa4lFRcMRQCiUpXWcy2VMw4hGAwNa4fOr7mRj3KgNkfOCpK/s320/IMG_2419.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">In a previous post I wrote of how there are times when
we find ourselves “</span><i style="background-color: transparent;">in between</i><span style="background-color: transparent;">.” By
this I mean that there are times in our business schedule where we can afford
to take a week or two off work even as we do respond to emails, add new posts
to client sites and as the need arises, participate in conference calls. With
that said then yes, we enjoyed this latest </span><i style="background-color: transparent;">in
between</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> period and now we look back at that cruise with fondness.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As happened last year, we left the Port of Miami well
after sunset but looking across the well-travelled channel and catching a
glimpse of floodlit palm trees brought the previous experience back into
today’s reality. If you need to catch up on what transpired on our last cruise
then you may want to check out post, </span><a href="https://buckle-up-travel.blogspot.com/2022/01/canal-minded-north-to-south.html"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Canal
minded, north to south</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Ovation has a capacity for 600 passengers but last
year it was only half full by our estimate, maybe a little more. By comparison,
the much smaller Sojourn can carry only 450 passengers when full. Which is to
say, Seabourn is for those who don’t need to be entertained (unless they want
to) and where escape is the main driver for stepping on board. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3nLLD2ENkAzIqBQaJInvyXg67GOuOr2IEwl2Sk-u-W-KacoNCcrpn7JBgiSDRYX8UnnX-cpbQCG0dr_BGF8Dvaioer7g_1kzRw15-JDIfxOuKi3uS5ABmOIsLr4jwP17I5kRf6QvnrrIXvLldDU3INilTHz-aQ29YXlJ55xyeANnIy5LdYz_1HBg6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="276" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3nLLD2ENkAzIqBQaJInvyXg67GOuOr2IEwl2Sk-u-W-KacoNCcrpn7JBgiSDRYX8UnnX-cpbQCG0dr_BGF8Dvaioer7g_1kzRw15-JDIfxOuKi3uS5ABmOIsLr4jwP17I5kRf6QvnrrIXvLldDU3INilTHz-aQ29YXlJ55xyeANnIy5LdYz_1HBg6" width="318" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With this voyage we were extremely fortunate. Seabourn
bent over backwards to make up for the misery that betook us last year when the
new Omicron mutation of COVID ravished the vessel. Testing positive, Margo was
subject to ten days of isolation back then even as she exhibited no symptoms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As for myself, given that I was in close proximity to
Margo but testing negative, I was subject to four days of isolation.
Furthermore, the majority of ports we planned to visit wouldn’t let us dock.
But all of that is in the past and as the Sojourn turned seaward, it too was
nothing more than a memory. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It would be remiss of me not to mention the effect
COVID is having on us all. For some readers simply stepping onboard a cruise
ship has them concerned about our sanity. Isn’t the cruise industry a <i>petri dish</i> where all manners of bad
things breed? Are you crazy? It turns out that with the steps the cruise lines
are taking these days there is a greater chance of being infected on shore and
even as our previous voyage struck down half of the passengers, universally
there was a desire to return to the sea. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvEip3zsHNaC1a960yA8Poe5A3SmNGJGfG_u4jO7Ilpxr1GzRpcIWHIYAP8hQsEIuEf_v806OVh7AQOGjRhXgYjSAdCdEpah-xo9s0rDXpy931-Apx7KpBYABWTCVSQvrdrzk6cUKDmY08yvYp3wtqDuAx1Wo11FFeXmI2tz-WS6yMrGf0hcYbENeI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="262" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvEip3zsHNaC1a960yA8Poe5A3SmNGJGfG_u4jO7Ilpxr1GzRpcIWHIYAP8hQsEIuEf_v806OVh7AQOGjRhXgYjSAdCdEpah-xo9s0rDXpy931-Apx7KpBYABWTCVSQvrdrzk6cUKDmY08yvYp3wtqDuAx1Wo11FFeXmI2tz-WS6yMrGf0hcYbENeI" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is no ducking the observation that Seabourn looks
after its customers. Discounting this cruise to little more than port fees, we
were delighted by how well the crew looked after us. Whereas our previous
cruise was for twenty one days while this cruise was just seventeen days, the
overall experience was similar. Looking after us? More like treating us
royally!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stepping into our cabin there was already a bottle of
Scotch on the table – to be imbibed as evenings wound down – and another of
Champagne – to be sipped upon in celebration immediately – the cares of the
world around were quickly shed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And did I mention that with
a simple call to room service, caviar service was available anytime we wished
to indulge in something tasty as we continued to sip that champagne. All of
which is to say that Seabourn has returned to its billing of being the world’s
best small luxury ship. It may not be THE Love Boat but oh my, we truly did love
this boat.</span></span><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi92mkQ1FEThnNLU_JxvAY-cypdwVJBkFtPyAPTfL-qGs9nRFibKsngYm5qmze_9LZcLAOkVCgeGOz0vxv4fsGlu_RIqM83BnTYmK6yTPlcFqKdzjyclplXdW8AEFGCfs9Y9TQblIYn-S8gv1MtWmo4mTya0ehAsMHhc2JkymI510OPhLB5jLYeoP9O" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="308" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi92mkQ1FEThnNLU_JxvAY-cypdwVJBkFtPyAPTfL-qGs9nRFibKsngYm5qmze_9LZcLAOkVCgeGOz0vxv4fsGlu_RIqM83BnTYmK6yTPlcFqKdzjyclplXdW8AEFGCfs9Y9TQblIYn-S8gv1MtWmo4mTya0ehAsMHhc2JkymI510OPhLB5jLYeoP9O" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reminiscing over previous cruises became the dominant
starting point for many evening discussions. While last year’s cruise was light
on numbers with this cruise, it appeared as the Seabourn faithful returned in
numbers. . Yes, it was the holiday season and yet, we would be island hopping
but even so, we had very little prior experiences to share about the islands we
would be visiting.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Given how it was the holidays, the Sojourn did bring
out the season’s appropriate bunting and it made the whole ship a lot more
festive than what we recall experiencing last year. But then again, we were
locked in solitary for a goodly time and may have missed the celebrations.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkmbkkJh5oAxMNZTYzXJqrXaA5hd6p-wr9uFWBY8EEPGo0_4hgp7CZNkuHPVYQPCjJ59YD_4RkeD2tdxCxAtdIlbE2tJuzycRJa8VyIriugcUxehPc8N_nzS9kdxmaHpNEQGd7RT5G-SND4rrMSYVYFgJ0LjnSUCPOIsiiDOF2gai84TYXpUrq32IL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="280" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkmbkkJh5oAxMNZTYzXJqrXaA5hd6p-wr9uFWBY8EEPGo0_4hgp7CZNkuHPVYQPCjJ59YD_4RkeD2tdxCxAtdIlbE2tJuzycRJa8VyIriugcUxehPc8N_nzS9kdxmaHpNEQGd7RT5G-SND4rrMSYVYFgJ0LjnSUCPOIsiiDOF2gai84TYXpUrq32IL=w333-h250" width="333" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />No, that isn’t the Southern Cross atop the circular
staircase but the decorated tree and the lights along the banister certainly
gave us a very starry experience. Seabourn presents itself so well whatever the
season but somehow, when it is perhaps celebrating the most important season of
the year, you are never left to wonder about what you may have missed out on
should you have elected to remain shore bound.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;">Hurry,
don't be late, I can hardly wait …</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"> for those who venture out on Seabourn cruises
there are two events that dominate the cruise agenda. The islands that are part
of the itinerary go a long way to painting that special landscape that is the
Caribbean. However, for those who are less than keen on stepping ashore and
whose destination can best be described as the ship itself, there is a sameness
about the Caribbean islands that is hard to ignore. Standing topside and
watching islands pass by is its own reward and for Margo and me, whether it’s dawn
or the evening, it is all but a backdrop to what passes as a catalyst to
unwinding.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjx4Q7Kmn8kJ-GEOXd-f9rixGUZeOJwaHFewFSF0ygAI8fH2ngZmkjvla0-tWMpyObjiXtwNN7FeUbMEMR-ohAQE4YSsIfFIEFHvq5IZYoXNEMYk-bLoZzQK7L_jdZxZkpxAozW6J1ludh1S6gdzUXtlkS7odsjA0cq5c3MH9o0nRD7xdOSFnBV52hx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="316" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjx4Q7Kmn8kJ-GEOXd-f9rixGUZeOJwaHFewFSF0ygAI8fH2ngZmkjvla0-tWMpyObjiXtwNN7FeUbMEMR-ohAQE4YSsIfFIEFHvq5IZYoXNEMYk-bLoZzQK7L_jdZxZkpxAozW6J1ludh1S6gdzUXtlkS7odsjA0cq5c3MH9o0nRD7xdOSFnBV52hx=w335-h252" width="335" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Returning to those two events that are special to
Seabourn then it’s the stuff of pure fantasy. Yes, Seabourn holds a special
Caviar and Champagne “in the pool” followed a couple of days later by Caviar
and Champagne “in the surf.” In full dress they regaled the passengers with
abundant supplies of both caviar and champagne even as some of the passengers
prefer chilled vodka with their caviar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Nevertheless, it is a sight to behold and yet, with the
passengers we befriended who for the most part were well seasoned in the ways
of Seabourn, it all seemed very normal to them. Yes, </span><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">Hurry, don't be late, I can hardly wait … </span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">seemed to be more than
an appropriate</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> response. But
wait, there is more. Did I mention how this was repeated but not standing ankle
deep in a pool but waist deep in the surf?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaKhMv8bUPGXd0SqJJpwKkV7LROagl24FOHudf0MXopo4Gfr-KaQspenqpQ593q1_fgtzyoTnql5VyB5tudGPSS-Wh0ePQCRqtK0hZdImSs8_pJdG4Fv4OjqANQI9TmCErQxzOVIkD44kUH_3ePNV4l76LCBCA_WnyOA4Hkoyf3JslUKGuXV75MVEL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="286" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaKhMv8bUPGXd0SqJJpwKkV7LROagl24FOHudf0MXopo4Gfr-KaQspenqpQ593q1_fgtzyoTnql5VyB5tudGPSS-Wh0ePQCRqtK0hZdImSs8_pJdG4Fv4OjqANQI9TmCErQxzOVIkD44kUH_3ePNV4l76LCBCA_WnyOA4Hkoyf3JslUKGuXV75MVEL=w342-h258" width="342" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Call it crazy even ridiculous. Perhaps think of it in
terms of what were they thinking. Somehow, through all of the theater this
provided it just worked and the banter that went on between crew and passengers
was something else. Nobody minded an extra splash of salt on their caviar even
as they didn’t think twice about being chased by a crew member anxious to
dispense even more champagne into less than full glasses. Anyone looking for a
top up …</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoie-auhQaPnb6KV5zwGw_m_cZllDh8aoF9MECvfX8ZGOtUYY2XBj7z5wwrMhpMvVrEF4St7kVK-pNdZCk8MhjtZdUGfKXWEfTSf0R19vtcb5yfsLg9os5Sd7B7skxgr3g_eSIPzGKzKfPxE636_eiSZMt0YoXuM-BcNoxP0_chBqODaotTQKfHRzu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="289" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoie-auhQaPnb6KV5zwGw_m_cZllDh8aoF9MECvfX8ZGOtUYY2XBj7z5wwrMhpMvVrEF4St7kVK-pNdZCk8MhjtZdUGfKXWEfTSf0R19vtcb5yfsLg9os5Sd7B7skxgr3g_eSIPzGKzKfPxE636_eiSZMt0YoXuM-BcNoxP0_chBqODaotTQKfHRzu=w313-h299" width="313" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It worked too that Seabourn had its own beach complete
with a covered beach house. As the caviar ceased being dispensed, the crew
ushered passengers up into the beach house where lines formed beside a grill
dispensing as much lobster as you could possibly eat. This time there was no
need to hurry, as no matter how late you were to the party, there was plenty of
lobster to go around.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiOSOCekRiXnCAdfqbSnAx3KWZhf3Zosk4ukrU7EiNqYDpyxPXZAHf7z0liU3_0lmqN2jKeELaKqLTtiwHL8h-bCSgnz7oXV1_HqW9SULzAd6RVLH0RfaYEc3CEvACFgFFrEGJPo6s0Hi81oD1rfvBk00FNr-84Fwleqw9orXvgTsQMEKwjc6Qfd8L" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="273" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiOSOCekRiXnCAdfqbSnAx3KWZhf3Zosk4ukrU7EiNqYDpyxPXZAHf7z0liU3_0lmqN2jKeELaKqLTtiwHL8h-bCSgnz7oXV1_HqW9SULzAd6RVLH0RfaYEc3CEvACFgFFrEGJPo6s0Hi81oD1rfvBk00FNr-84Fwleqw9orXvgTsQMEKwjc6Qfd8L=w291-h335" width="291" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There was always music to accompany any situation. It
couldn’t be a Caribbean cruise with a steel band beating out the tunes. While
not to everyone’s taste each performance reminded you of exactly where you were
should you have found difficulties in recalling specifics with any accuracy?
Then again, only a few weeks have passed but even so, time fools us all and as
we began to </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">reminisce we did
so with an eye on what might come next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Margo and I
continue to work and to serve our clients without hesitation. What our time
this past year has taught us is that with the new normal and with our love for
what we do, there are no set boundaries. A laptop, the internet and a
willingness to rise early and complete whatever tasks have been set before us,
has given rise to a recognition that our office location can be as fluid as our
desire to take in all that is happening around us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The sound of the steel drums has left us and the smell
of grilled lobster no longer tempts our taste buds. The stories we shared are
likewise only a faint memory. </span><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">I said to myself when we're old,</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="background: white;">we'll (be)</span> <span style="background: white;">walking
through the park and reminiscing. </span></span></i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">It’s started and it’s bound to continue
throughout this year as a mix of business travel together with</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> moments of escape will see us return
to Europe as well as to Australia. Then again, it’s difficult to admit that we
may be old just as it’s hard to fathom where our journey has taken us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghQjU6yiAFOvyYm7YxyA6CkdBhGJPZFJcQvvSvCWgOBvgb72bkMS-KI2iXLPCiEOyfmeGUNv_RK7wWKUmSaCL7eLID605w19FX2a50sDF-Uqt5QQ4ehs4WyGKZs4FqLrIvFPuxmcKRWZkuz5Xtr_YqP8zhCUc10pHlVQbzk4YoOvajKVlP03PfM2Pa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="328" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghQjU6yiAFOvyYm7YxyA6CkdBhGJPZFJcQvvSvCWgOBvgb72bkMS-KI2iXLPCiEOyfmeGUNv_RK7wWKUmSaCL7eLID605w19FX2a50sDF-Uqt5QQ4ehs4WyGKZs4FqLrIvFPuxmcKRWZkuz5Xtr_YqP8zhCUc10pHlVQbzk4YoOvajKVlP03PfM2Pa=w329-h247" width="329" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a cruise
line, Seabourn isn’t perfect. No voyage performs flawlessly and yet with
Seabourn they do set the bar high in this regard. Having been on Princess to
Alaska and Viking Ocean to New England (for leaf peeping), this year provided
us with ample opportunities to make comparisons. Seabourn and Viking appear to
mirror each other but the Viking ships are much larger. Should you come across
an itinerary that features either cruise line then you won’t go wrong choosing
either one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of significantly
more relevance however is the prevalence of COVID strains. For those who have
had COVID more than once and yes, there are family members where this is the
case, there is no certainty over the long-term effects. We are keeping our
fingers crossed, but seriously, this isn’t enough. But then is any potential of
catching COVID again worth putting your life on hold or to accept a kind of new
abnormal then no, it isn’t. We have lost too many “off our shelf” over the past
three years for reasons other than COVID and we have no plans to step back to
live a hermit existence. Perhaps being <i>in
between</i> has other connotations apart from cruising. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjky6XCgM1HGFvastRVuJWueIQd3M16ZFis5M_tTRxuW4dTBgKFzZlXIgTnQuAAVfPJVVJirJGDt9ee2jhzQSV26JRAFBPvbQUjX6SIA5gdmTSEsvg7UZegxq1S07Ne1spNXfsxL_772Ra2trqbCmo6RTOH-eJ7nFzRJQaeAKXhBOZzwm1hcERF3wus" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="312" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjky6XCgM1HGFvastRVuJWueIQd3M16ZFis5M_tTRxuW4dTBgKFzZlXIgTnQuAAVfPJVVJirJGDt9ee2jhzQSV26JRAFBPvbQUjX6SIA5gdmTSEsvg7UZegxq1S07Ne1spNXfsxL_772Ra2trqbCmo6RTOH-eJ7nFzRJQaeAKXhBOZzwm1hcERF3wus=w343-h258" width="343" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With what
transpired this last holiday and recognizing that Seabourn did itself proud to
ensure we truly did enjoy ourselves, this time, with what was clearly a
positive make-up cruise, what we can say is our journey isn’t over. We will be
back and already we have plans afoot to join Seabourn yet again. Perhaps not
this year, but next. The sea is a fickle mistress and one not to be dallied
with but all the while, she cannot be ignored.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been on
the sea, in the sea and yes, under the sea and every experience has been the
stuff of commentaries for as long as I can recall. Reminisce? It comes naturally
to Margo and me as with snow continuing to fall along Colorado’s front ranges,
the pull of the sea cannot be understated. And to all those sailing around the
world on Seabourn Sojourn, our thoughts are with you just as it is so easy for
us to say and yes, to mull over, we wish that we were there too. <i>Bon Voyage</i>!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmHdOmI9YsVN8uGwzj9YAaplygEQmbjOucM8SfziadlC52Q-wjeyBaEBIMhs2ewWTzn5B6CtNqFIZzmSp2RKdny_ZGGJdKRh64aqefr0TL3rsSWxRbj95eSKyUcsB4or1x3I72WPn5zQ7nAoEfShse0ySNwX5azxkFoZbvCg-q0lltHwKtGxZv2aKy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="298" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmHdOmI9YsVN8uGwzj9YAaplygEQmbjOucM8SfziadlC52Q-wjeyBaEBIMhs2ewWTzn5B6CtNqFIZzmSp2RKdny_ZGGJdKRh64aqefr0TL3rsSWxRbj95eSKyUcsB4or1x3I72WPn5zQ7nAoEfShse0ySNwX5azxkFoZbvCg-q0lltHwKtGxZv2aKy=w259-h301" width="259" /></span></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-53606485219665077892023-01-11T14:40:00.017-08:002023-01-26T10:42:37.334-08:00From year of living dangerously to risky business; Colton Herta looks to fast times in 2023!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguFhCZXTJrlKqQp2dTx_XukS0Ku36wyslHvooQkQr8eHhMch07YLd1urW3QfW-jSHWYLsG5HrzgqY9-9iMPPzjhsWBjCcC8RMNqfNKRBAcEgZ_aiZ2pFPnz8xq2eahGHhx224SjDGRNkooq62P6wE-zFNhjvhnPXjaHO7SBkI_KvK25RbAsHyoFP55" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="286" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguFhCZXTJrlKqQp2dTx_XukS0Ku36wyslHvooQkQr8eHhMch07YLd1urW3QfW-jSHWYLsG5HrzgqY9-9iMPPzjhsWBjCcC8RMNqfNKRBAcEgZ_aiZ2pFPnz8xq2eahGHhx224SjDGRNkooq62P6wE-zFNhjvhnPXjaHO7SBkI_KvK25RbAsHyoFP55=w303-h300" width="303" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">As I was looking back over posts written in 2022 I came
to realize that there weren’t quite as many posts about young Colton Herta as
there had been in previous years. And yet, this was a tumultuous time for
Colton and the whole family as his rise up through the Indy driving ranks directed
the spotlight more brightly on him than ever before. The expectations for an
even better year in 2022 seemed to be there for the taking.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">The year started well for Colton. In case we forget
about triumphs outside of the Indy Car program, it’s good to reflect on how
Colton drove his DragonSpeed LMP2 sports car to first place in the opening
round of the IMSA Sports Car Championship. Putting this in context this now
means four starts in this series for Colton that delivered two wins for him and
his team. Batting .500 is nothing to be ashamed of – two Rolex watches from
four starts?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0_XPKJNuy8AdPePPIzeXg24OEoYDuMgOzN9U1FSyx3PIUREeD3sQvEqFTApexBu-RuGqCtpLX7TqWqqDFwKZjy6cEwopEOv5bLd0sGkK4Ye9pLmiqpLXHOajR4I2z1QQDb2Rd9NaEguhhGjWTLQnNqJLsRqqo0WNpz7-o2CU8nsY5nGPnxjm01MTd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0_XPKJNuy8AdPePPIzeXg24OEoYDuMgOzN9U1FSyx3PIUREeD3sQvEqFTApexBu-RuGqCtpLX7TqWqqDFwKZjy6cEwopEOv5bLd0sGkK4Ye9pLmiqpLXHOajR4I2z1QQDb2Rd9NaEguhhGjWTLQnNqJLsRqqo0WNpz7-o2CU8nsY5nGPnxjm01MTd=w337-h236" width="337" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I knew of Colton through family connections. It
was during a track weekend back in 2010 or thereabouts at the Auto Club
Speedway, a track I really enjoyed driving in the big supercharged Corvette as
it gave you a real taste for superspeedways and the banking that they provided.
Brian and Jan Kenny were keen to head to Las Vegas as grandson Colton was racing
in an important karting event. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Just another pair of excited grandparents we thought
and pretty much left it at that. However, their enthusiasm kept growing as
Colton kept winning. We first heard about the “Colton Zone” and about how he
liked to hang back in second place the better to mount a winning pass with no
opportunity for his opponent to respond. Yes, seemed like we were witnessing a
little more than just kindly grandparent support. In 2012 we just had to see
for ourselves and to watch #26, as his kart was numbered, race around the track
in the Las Vegas Rio car park and that proved to be a turning point for Margo
and me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNUzBUx7lQibGS3cYfsPpj8RmMcrOhO0p53xno7gtjLR9oI4Uru0QgvD2mYLB76sFXrzWm0BAbeggstNcxojekLiPRdfOpeRqkYpE2XUMraUWC6ybiJ9pUaZmmBmyXHQMVQMtwFqrn1A7t89VKJGAabI8VQqYkbUD2Bt-mcuqoFEBf_8V9X72sDL28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="393" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNUzBUx7lQibGS3cYfsPpj8RmMcrOhO0p53xno7gtjLR9oI4Uru0QgvD2mYLB76sFXrzWm0BAbeggstNcxojekLiPRdfOpeRqkYpE2XUMraUWC6ybiJ9pUaZmmBmyXHQMVQMtwFqrn1A7t89VKJGAabI8VQqYkbUD2Bt-mcuqoFEBf_8V9X72sDL28=w265-h290" width="265" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">It was about this time that we first heard about
Colton’s dad Bryan Herta and of how Jan’s daughter, Colton’s mom, Janette and
son-in-law Bryan were pretty much royalty in Indy Car racing circles. We heard
for the first time about “The Pass” at Laguna Seca when Alex Zanardi took to
the dirt for a last breath overtake, passing Bryan as both descended the Corkscrew
to win the race. But then again, Margo and I aren’t too quick to dismiss the
heritage that came from Jan Kenny, Colton’s maternal grandmother and our dear
friend as, in her own right she racked up many hours on track herself. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">But genetics and heritage aside, it can only take you
so far. You simply have to put in the time, drive the tracks and absorb as much
as you can as you work your way up to the senior levels of motor racing.
Watching Colton win in karts, then in 2015 and 2016 hearing of how he headed
over to Europe for two years racing in different junior events with the Carlin
team – and yes, he was on track with F1 driver Lando Norris (whom he beat more
than once) – still didn’t give us any indication that much more was to come. He
was good, very good indeed, but how good would he become in the years ahead?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6Dv853oWdW-dktP-4NbMpACKcIXSj7PlncyZOyMaH_vdaLnZ6sZa4sdMtPPeWm-mU0KVAGu4BXI8DnKXew4BBxWza4-u4qIGgNALL13QrhwVms09fd6efmzFB894S9xhWqz4YLrKvt-y5j3amPFhuumo-e_Wi1DCFeA0FpgnfWoto_AVss7ZEmky6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="291" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6Dv853oWdW-dktP-4NbMpACKcIXSj7PlncyZOyMaH_vdaLnZ6sZa4sdMtPPeWm-mU0KVAGu4BXI8DnKXew4BBxWza4-u4qIGgNALL13QrhwVms09fd6efmzFB894S9xhWqz4YLrKvt-y5j3amPFhuumo-e_Wi1DCFeA0FpgnfWoto_AVss7ZEmky6=w361-h287" width="361" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I were present for Colton’s first outing in
the senior series at the end of 2018. Given an opportunity to race in the final
event of the series, this time thanks to Harding Racing, it was an inauspicious
beginning. Problems through that afternoon left him at the backend of the field
– definitely not a foretaste of what was to follow. And yet, as he made it
plain to us and to anyone else who asked, this was to be his career. This was
what he had worked towards all his life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">And then along came 2022 and a whirlwind erupted around
him. Coming off three seasons where he had finished no worse than seventh
(2019) and as high as third (2020), expectations were that in 2022, Colton
would mount a serious challenge for a series’ win. But as the year unfolded all
we can say is that results were mixed. From a year of living dangerously where
he won the Indy Grand Prix in the rain while racing on slicks and delivering
the best slide save of all time to where it became risky business with more
than the occasional off-track race ending excursion, including during practice
for the Indy 500 main event.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLSTPriIqnBmy8gsgvlFHfAUGA5mfTuNWRdJA06ORqnmiTGZ41jJjI9wjLQfBbVquqrnxl-gwbnGg5DvcQVz1aXN8wFnZcKlx4yIy4BaCOwmxxEAoWGVONatvA4FdTsQk8TgtVDmLJLlPF6EEWvSa4oTePx9nPAFqG-Hyh1LqSm8VwZYDBUMu5k10L" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="369" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLSTPriIqnBmy8gsgvlFHfAUGA5mfTuNWRdJA06ORqnmiTGZ41jJjI9wjLQfBbVquqrnxl-gwbnGg5DvcQVz1aXN8wFnZcKlx4yIy4BaCOwmxxEAoWGVONatvA4FdTsQk8TgtVDmLJLlPF6EEWvSa4oTePx9nPAFqG-Hyh1LqSm8VwZYDBUMu5k10L=w313-h332" width="313" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Looking at his record – one win, two poles, one fastest
lap race time, and collecting a couple of podiums - altogether it wasn’t a
shabby year by any means you care to choose. But not by Colton’s standards!
Margo and I had the opportunity to spend time with the Andretti team where a
team manager said about another Andretti driver, “yes, he’s good and will
improve but he just isn’t on the same plain as Colton; he is driving at another
level altogether.” We had already heard Mario Andretti tell a journalist that
when it came to Colton’s performance on track, ”you can’t teach quick!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Was Colton simply trying too hard? Did the team let him
down? Did the strategy not always go his way? The answers here were yes to all
of the above. Combinations of poorly timed yellow flags caught him out multiple
times a number of which followed Colton pitting #26 while in the lead.
Miscalculations on corner entry were sometime challenging as well and then the
pit stops – according to some journalists who suggested there was room for
improvement.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRKl4sG6NuA2f5w-2ZxNqBMQk5PlfZh-UAYKKEp8HldqUgDInVbnLPlH2ydCs6f5ruFRH-4DJfwaupJR9RSpyWhmMpXsBS8HvpSmz8OYb4qeRyPOc9-nUPFTkJjOZ35mFejCF0l04B7lbbk7GugxpeXyMV73dmJGcuc7sPhxJvU2yBIKgPJ7bsRHtI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="299" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRKl4sG6NuA2f5w-2ZxNqBMQk5PlfZh-UAYKKEp8HldqUgDInVbnLPlH2ydCs6f5ruFRH-4DJfwaupJR9RSpyWhmMpXsBS8HvpSmz8OYb4qeRyPOc9-nUPFTkJjOZ35mFejCF0l04B7lbbk7GugxpeXyMV73dmJGcuc7sPhxJvU2yBIKgPJ7bsRHtI=w273-h345" width="273" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">Perhaps the best change came in 2021 with the elevation of Colton’s
father, Bryan, to being his strategist and when we saw Bryan in Long Beach,
there was one particular three-ring binder we weren’t privy to view! Maybe
better still, it’s the on-track support of his entire family that shows up
whenever it’s time to race. And then there are the growing legions of Herta
fans that are now making a lot of noise whenever Colton passes by!</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">It may not have been Colton’s day when we spent a
weekend with him in Long Beach. In qualifying he did break the track record
only to eclipse that record with a new record one lap later. Yes, he was
driving at an entirely different level to even the most celebrated of drivers trying
to outpace him. But the mishap that followed was soon rectified when he stormed
to that win in the Indy Grand Prix only a few weeks later. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUBxORz8B9NW3M0nA2B6Y_sB5Hyoxu7I4cl5_JiVBp7Cl8_A0g8BxWQXp7_AVcEXetoJdf7fg1amH-QmAaU8T9wkbi0yb0FC01hsrR7dCAoqQRypY2Wa4OOhvTVIAGBJFGr69qpW4WaENaNPMaVwRsmISofzwSVQEFz74XB6EoHXyDg1jaBk_8xFhe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="260" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUBxORz8B9NW3M0nA2B6Y_sB5Hyoxu7I4cl5_JiVBp7Cl8_A0g8BxWQXp7_AVcEXetoJdf7fg1amH-QmAaU8T9wkbi0yb0FC01hsrR7dCAoqQRypY2Wa4OOhvTVIAGBJFGr69qpW4WaENaNPMaVwRsmISofzwSVQEFz74XB6EoHXyDg1jaBk_8xFhe=w270-h295" width="270" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">There was much that was happening in the background as
the season neared midpoint. Colton said that it was of little concern but I am
not totally convinced of that. As of the end of 2021, news began to circulate that
Andretti was looking to enter Formula One (F1). Anyone who asked Mario about such
a possibility was left in no doubt that any such move would thrust Colton into
the most competitive racing series in the world. This only continued throughout
2022 where many thought a deal would be done by the time F1 hit Miami or
perhaps Austin, but again, defeat appears to have been pulled from the jaws of
victory. Was F1 scared of Andretti? Was it even more concerned about Colton? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">All the while, Colton judiciously deflected journalists
away from the topic simply saying that yes, there’s stuff going on but he has
races yet to win. During the summer, Colton was whisked off to Portugal by the
McLaren F1 team for a test weekend. Driving an older F1 car, Colton impressed so
much so that it truly did look like a <i>fait
accompli. </i>Stories began to appear that if Colton had been present for
qualification at this track, he would have placed in the top 10 perhaps even
the 6 (or higher). No one has officially confirmed anything but racing
journalists were left in no doubt, Colton would be competitive in F1 right out
the gate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSSZ4mzbqgoy1ZkDAapWtltyylxq6LoBBOHv6vtFLu526wvANjOnikHgbQNIUa873wo0B2b10Nk29LqGSkIfoxsXEYvf-ZNi-N5uD2lVuhX5_qiruQJd5iZB1jTQnQma2L0g0iwfIEHAbY03NabncrIeI24cC0s0cTzdQH0SvKrb18nnxcYkxzjosS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="401" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSSZ4mzbqgoy1ZkDAapWtltyylxq6LoBBOHv6vtFLu526wvANjOnikHgbQNIUa873wo0B2b10Nk29LqGSkIfoxsXEYvf-ZNi-N5uD2lVuhX5_qiruQJd5iZB1jTQnQma2L0g0iwfIEHAbY03NabncrIeI24cC0s0cTzdQH0SvKrb18nnxcYkxzjosS=w264-h352" width="264" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Late breaking news? It looks like team Andretti is
about to make another approach to F1, this time with the full support of the
Cadillac division of GM. If you haven’t been impressed with the racing pedigree
of Cadillac then you have been missing major sports car events of the past
couple of years. But even so, nothing is guaranteed in racing. In the meantime
and just as the 2022 came to an end, Andretti locked-in Colton on a monster
deal for the next four years that establishes him as the highest paid Indy
driver. Wow, dangerous and risky may not be the right words after all. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Will anything come of this most recent joint Andretti
and GM / Cadillac approach to FIA and F1? Will Colton earn enough Super License
points in 2023 to race in F1 in what is shaping up to be a 2025 possibility
(maybe even 2024). Colton only needs to finish third or better – and he already
succeeded in finishing third in the series back in 2020 – so it is highly
possible. However as this continues to unfold I am firmly of the opinion that
all Colton really wants to do in 2023 is to race. And to win! As for F1 then it
is best left to the brains trust at Andretti where Michael and Mario have
become highly motivated to make this happen at some point.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2l3x_WrKUFkc3xIpE6MyDLz-NvMlP6vsaLsYcDGsxM9y55Db02QdyS_6z_VvcoTY19mqk1Fsv1qUsLMFMKx0YxIl2mUVAn-t9CxVpGsyRt24fPhYnRmcVBDAj_bgkQK1XWHN5jwokyMPWV9kfhMGgsFkhzCtqpjIbzeWfCVm05Zl_oyzvp1pSAAp2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="331" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2l3x_WrKUFkc3xIpE6MyDLz-NvMlP6vsaLsYcDGsxM9y55Db02QdyS_6z_VvcoTY19mqk1Fsv1qUsLMFMKx0YxIl2mUVAn-t9CxVpGsyRt24fPhYnRmcVBDAj_bgkQK1XWHN5jwokyMPWV9kfhMGgsFkhzCtqpjIbzeWfCVm05Zl_oyzvp1pSAAp2=w279-h303" width="279" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"">How best to sum up the year 2022? How about
entertaining or even dare we say, exciting? That Colton finished as high as
tenth in the year’s Indy series speaks volumes of his focus and his desire.
Margo and I have known Colton now for more than a decade and through all the
time, we have watched a boy grow into a young man and sponsors’ dream
ambassador. Can you do any better than that given the whirlwind that surrounded
him? I doubt it and even as we now wait to see what unfolds in 2023, Margo and I
recognize that yes, the “Herta Zone” lives on albeit now truly the Colton Zone and the Little Assassin as once
described by racing journalist legend, Robin Miller, thrives and with that, the
family can ask for little more.</span><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif""> </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">The Colton (Herta) Zone continues but as Colton predicted all those year ago, he is no longer little. Onwards to a great year in 2023 and yes, perhaps one more Rolex
at the end of the month! At some point, F1 will beckon and it will be real (who wouldn't want the chance to drive in F1), but
hopefully, we will get to see Colton win the Indy 500 and score an overall
series win. He has the talent, the team and plenty of opportunities. 2023 may
be the year we come to see in Colton, <i>a man
with a plan</i>! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgM6MPu_IDK15QfzY7cXYCnJ42sLXAoWJwDs1-L7lh2jafJ8NQRLmbcUXGM6HvwCMPsZfS3sXmzwpS6g62AfAKfMC7S2PAoxBD_Adn0EkTpFhemkI32YvmnJB4VT8eELOqu6sV0vP1aRIAT30czFUfefFlX1MFXq4zqF3t8TWI9ktP_Fn69u9rTgWu7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="358" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgM6MPu_IDK15QfzY7cXYCnJ42sLXAoWJwDs1-L7lh2jafJ8NQRLmbcUXGM6HvwCMPsZfS3sXmzwpS6g62AfAKfMC7S2PAoxBD_Adn0EkTpFhemkI32YvmnJB4VT8eELOqu6sV0vP1aRIAT30czFUfefFlX1MFXq4zqF3t8TWI9ktP_Fn69u9rTgWu7=w318-h341" width="318" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="text-align: center;">[Photos
are the property of various sources<br /></span><span>and are acknowledged as such;<br /></span><span>other photos are strictly from my own library.]</span></span></div><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-80921538634109249862022-12-29T08:18:00.003-08:002023-01-26T10:41:43.890-08:00We are in-between; living the dream! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjFiyzX8o2sOls5sZzZoHIwJACf1wV0p4PrxxD1NSD6bUhFlkuqHjh6ZWIgUxmVOShf0T8vSFWdBZY0js_bnANivAKnKh-Yh75BLqOU2dRtaN2e-uwOOXvXF0F-5A636EsZnDi7JCiqXMIjjIN8TnB6TtV-nzKvcDPbQdvaB7UurkAMUGVie1KYT_w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="434" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjFiyzX8o2sOls5sZzZoHIwJACf1wV0p4PrxxD1NSD6bUhFlkuqHjh6ZWIgUxmVOShf0T8vSFWdBZY0js_bnANivAKnKh-Yh75BLqOU2dRtaN2e-uwOOXvXF0F-5A636EsZnDi7JCiqXMIjjIN8TnB6TtV-nzKvcDPbQdvaB7UurkAMUGVie1KYT_w" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">How often have you heard this expression, in-between?
Usually it is said when we are deep into a task and don’t want to be
interrupted. Or possibly too ducking a task we promised to do. When it comes to
this time of year there is a tinge of guilt mixed in with the need to relax but
even so, it is hard to ignore that so much of what keeps us engaged hits the
pause button. Is that necessarily bad?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">As those of us who continue to work as consultants or
who enjoy a gig lifestyle, this time of year brings with it opportunities to
simply lay back and recharge. For us there are no weeks off for vacation or
time set aside to enjoy a sabbatical, but rather, days snatched here and there
where we can leave well alone the instruments of interaction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Put to one side are the laptops, tablets, smart phones
and even pens and pads. Time to kick back and enjoy that coffee or ice cream!
Perhaps we’d head to the beach or the ski slopes. Maybe a short cruise to
wherever. Yes, we are in between; Christmas and the New Year give us those
couple of extra days to be with family having no demands on our time. The New
Year will be upon us soon enough so that extra cocktail won’t go astray.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Never mind that the folks at LinkedIn think that all of
us – consultants in the gig economy included – just don’t do holidays all that
well:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSqVZLdad7QTB1ZZQ0BFodLjaopMCsyz7vkdWNgI-T4GnQuL1yFaEDlgXEGUXu2CtSIBYzOw6pTMhlD_HF4ON8sw0hKLBN5s4goc71sNEOBAJ7Eb7vKWNqzr8S6aSKCh54xGZIfhk0_Gey2sREhQIMDyopDJLG1ENUZxr33I8xvO4U9BjQ5wpIJX3j" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="314" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSqVZLdad7QTB1ZZQ0BFodLjaopMCsyz7vkdWNgI-T4GnQuL1yFaEDlgXEGUXu2CtSIBYzOw6pTMhlD_HF4ON8sw0hKLBN5s4goc71sNEOBAJ7Eb7vKWNqzr8S6aSKCh54xGZIfhk0_Gey2sREhQIMDyopDJLG1ENUZxr33I8xvO4U9BjQ5wpIJX3j=w222-h259" width="222" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I have spent time looking back at all that we
managed to squeeze into this past year. That sense of guilt returning as we
acknowledge how many BizCations we were able to fit into our schedule. Then
again, as storytellers, stories don’t write themselves and there is as much a
need for input as there is finding appropriate “hooks” to kick off yet another story
worth your time to scan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Shortly we will be posting of our latest sojourn so I
will leave specifics for that post in the New Year. However, while we both
looked back on 2022 we realize we have travelled to Alaska and then later to
Maine. In so doing we can say we have now spent time in every U.S. state. We
also managed to slot in trips to Las Vegas, Mississauga (Ontario), London (UK),
leaf-peeping from Montreal (Quebec) to Ft Lauderdale (Florida) and Long Beach (California)
for the Indy Car races to Maui for well, a Thanksgiving in the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">We also managed to find the time to replace every car
in the garage while we planted a number of trees in our backyard. The train
that conveys passengers between concourses at Denver’s airport may not be truly
a measure of rail transportation but when you add in busses, flights, cruises
and multiple cross-country road trips, we squeezed in every type of
transportation mode in just those twelve months.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">But here is where it gets interesting. As we come out
of the global pandemic, Margo reminds me of how much we took for granted before
we were once again unleashed to chase the lifestyle we have now committed ourselves
to pursuing. There are times where we simply sigh and wonder, did we bite off a
tad too much? Do we really need to take this journey right now? But then with
each sunrise, we are back at it; furiously typing that next story. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbYtWEcVJrvbaFHcbO8fWqUpcBHPtSRJL427vSjUuHSyESY46E529ncOe1XwYbpk0hganbVd_EUEmVoId9mjrzh9z4k5x3s2Xi61Py0obulcWPb9n896ut8HURWUOHj1J0v2F0AH1NJcAHZnPZBx22ptqr1HFiTMukQyX3mVPejCSFr5l5G5bLouZp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="482" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbYtWEcVJrvbaFHcbO8fWqUpcBHPtSRJL427vSjUuHSyESY46E529ncOe1XwYbpk0hganbVd_EUEmVoId9mjrzh9z4k5x3s2Xi61Py0obulcWPb9n896ut8HURWUOHj1J0v2F0AH1NJcAHZnPZBx22ptqr1HFiTMukQyX3mVPejCSFr5l5G5bLouZp=w316-h422" width="316" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">The bottom line is that time waits for no one; as
Meatloaf once sang, “You were only killing time and it'll kill you right back.”
I was reminded of this line from the song as it was titled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out of the Frying Pan (and Into the Fire)</i>
and a sentiment shared by Margo and me. There were times, when transportation
was not optimal even as venues were not as they were advertised. When it comes
to international travel, so much time wasted just waiting in hotel lobbies for
a room to become available. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">“If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't
chase you back.” A line from a song by Cody Johnson titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'Til You Can't</i>. Together with the admonition to not kill time, it
just seems to fit. To some, we have an enviable balance of work and life that
gives us freedom to set up shop anywhere on the planet. Is the fulfillment of
our dreams? Has this become our ideal longer term lifestyle choice?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Living the dream! A phrase we have heard so many times
as a response to the simple question, how’s it goin’? Among the community we
interact with, it has not only been the response from those engaged in sales
but also, those more readily identified as managers. For decades now, those in
IT have enjoyed a lifestyle unimaginable by the previous generation. The deal
was everything and the travel and entertainment oftentimes simply over the top.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">For Margo and I, this was part of the life that fueled
our ambitions. However, today, living the dream, seeing dreams become reality
and enjoying the time together, waiting notwithstanding, has helped greatly in
easing us both into a lifestyle that can only be described as a work/life
idyllic arrangement. But what does this mean and can it be sustained? Is our
future just a continuation of all that we pursue today? As a businesswoman told
CNBC this week, when it comes to success, if not owned is simply rented:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx-IUUS7ZTzHuKqF3OYwXFyyl-8fSuliSxyQIWtLzfBIp5Lu5rV6-dHEdT5o-p8WtMfXz3ABriqMY82k4tepCAM5CofWlGOAOWKv_R-r_ebH3hGtgl3KqLlLpqJEX2ZIm-VeaG_NtCeKBQuRXDHBaoNaSsyMqTSeNblyJTLQSmQatIXJoglaUmUHE/s1283/SUccess.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1283" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx-IUUS7ZTzHuKqF3OYwXFyyl-8fSuliSxyQIWtLzfBIp5Lu5rV6-dHEdT5o-p8WtMfXz3ABriqMY82k4tepCAM5CofWlGOAOWKv_R-r_ebH3hGtgl3KqLlLpqJEX2ZIm-VeaG_NtCeKBQuRXDHBaoNaSsyMqTSeNblyJTLQSmQatIXJoglaUmUHE/s320/SUccess.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Then again, are we just standing still and enjoying our
in-between time? Perhaps more tantalizing is the question, if we are in-between
then what brackets this in-between state? We were so wrapped up in our
corporate roles that leaving them meant a transition. One that was not
comfortable to begin with. If that is one end of the bracketing, are we
prepared to simply go quietly into the night? Oh wait, the rent is due!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">What we are learning and what we find interesting is
the way we both have broken down our lives to date into a series of chapters.
We often discuss the boundaries where chapters ended and began afresh. Simple.
Changed jobs. Changed residences and locations. Changed relationships. All
good. Schooling, first jobs, first marriages, first children, first overseas
move. What they all have in common is the tidy ending of one chapter followed
by a fresh-page beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I are both US immigrants. Both have moved
around within the borders of America. What we see now is that our in-between
time is drawing to an end and that fresh-page beckons. Not in the coming year
or even the next. But it’s out there. We have a sense that there is still yet
one more chapter. Perhaps two! There is so much we have seen that has
influenced our take on life just as there are so many folks that have touched
our lives in a positive manner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Many times it was recorded that once sailing to a new
land, the first thing that happened with those immigrants was the burning of
their boats. Symbolic as that was, it symbolized the truth that there would be
no turning back. Chase your dreams? Use time wisely? No question, as we check
the calendar to see that it’s neither Christmas nor the New Year, there is no
escaping that in this instance, the in-between period has a well-defined
ending.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stories do not write themselves and yet, once begun,
they do end. 2022 is ending and will shortly be just a memory. With each
passing sunset there is the realization that work continues. One more sentence,
maybe, or perhaps the ending of another chapter. But for now, I am already
thinking about the storyline for the next post – the first of 2023 and it will
be heavy on travel and a little lighter on dreaming. For those with
opportunity, enjoy the downtime and the time to recharge. Being in-between?
It’s not so bad after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc3Tij7OfJ6G8nZaJJGY-bdrfdIKH2zjyjo2oyexyXH8VtpnkoD57yuyerVbB2Oxj7CULXnZUWYsf9N6cVjYHdMP0y8g8Y51LVkAjYnPuj1bLyBu56_-coQQe3V92aIq84vUarzT9mMTqg7TTUZ8Q-KdYSC7bAgaPEJrMpvrZHAU64U98h7d3HxRNE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="574" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc3Tij7OfJ6G8nZaJJGY-bdrfdIKH2zjyjo2oyexyXH8VtpnkoD57yuyerVbB2Oxj7CULXnZUWYsf9N6cVjYHdMP0y8g8Y51LVkAjYnPuj1bLyBu56_-coQQe3V92aIq84vUarzT9mMTqg7TTUZ8Q-KdYSC7bAgaPEJrMpvrZHAU64U98h7d3HxRNE=w384-h288" width="384" /></a></div><br /><br /></span><p></p><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-67195787205686786492022-12-12T08:06:00.003-08:002023-01-26T10:40:45.802-08:00Making the case for spontaneity – our blue Hawaii!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCGkcMaEYVDIDxxal7uP6nsfye_lHnwDeRi7wIn0qflrcvMyJWkSTTUhHJQi12lnyBbYdJC_cbFHbKbCDinM13sKFvPJj18N1bdY9xuj_tXzALHDpnlccu58ki9MFoXvyKXSyPP29Nymfq_5Db2ACKkb34SSE7OpIjFq-MXoxSfwmD3EVFo9c3c9pI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="435" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCGkcMaEYVDIDxxal7uP6nsfye_lHnwDeRi7wIn0qflrcvMyJWkSTTUhHJQi12lnyBbYdJC_cbFHbKbCDinM13sKFvPJj18N1bdY9xuj_tXzALHDpnlccu58ki9MFoXvyKXSyPP29Nymfq_5Db2ACKkb34SSE7OpIjFq-MXoxSfwmD3EVFo9c3c9pI=w412-h309" width="412" /></a></div><br /><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana;">There is a strong case to be made that Margo, my wife,
partner, editor, co-conspirator and I continue to deliver surprises as we write
about our mix of business and vacation. We have both concluded that we can
neither prosper nor remain in touch with our faculties if we don’t take
advantage of opportunities to enjoy a little downtime.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">As we look to reset our expectations for 2023 we have
taken time to look back at what drove us throughout 2022 and the single word
that routinely surfaces is spontaneity. Yes, more than once all it took was a
brief conversation and we turned our plans upside down. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5isIvzs6uiOv5pzOxRW17w5U5lJhkZInu73BlCVExZ4uKxzw4QmHq2uwTQLzsqxdw61oT2yLmzwwcnXzBv4HymtswPRZDjksa_Bx7cF6Svu8L-A2da2BtqiQDCwnqtMzK6FKwxi7MRVeCpV5R3oBqC4NsdvMciGnw9-hXq4YCxYIGn8_Wz8Jjekvd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="357" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5isIvzs6uiOv5pzOxRW17w5U5lJhkZInu73BlCVExZ4uKxzw4QmHq2uwTQLzsqxdw61oT2yLmzwwcnXzBv4HymtswPRZDjksa_Bx7cF6Svu8L-A2da2BtqiQDCwnqtMzK6FKwxi7MRVeCpV5R3oBqC4NsdvMciGnw9-hXq4YCxYIGn8_Wz8Jjekvd=w305-h328" width="305" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Given how we had already begun filling in the calendar
for 2023 we realized we had money in the “Bank of United” Airlines that, given
the Thanksgiving Holiday looming large, we may as well spend it on tickets to
Hawaii. Flying nonstop from Denver to Maui seemed even more reasonable. Being
able to afford first class travel once again, priceless. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Well first class to Maui, then Polaris class back to
Denver. What more can we say? A return to relaxed, unhurried travel? Obviously,
given the onset of winter, then why not? And we keep racking up those frequent
flyer miles! Who wouldn’t want to spend a week in Maui at the Hyatt Regency on
Kaanapali Beach!<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTQyKqy06L-GabmfFgXZK-GH6EArGQ2JMMk3LL-OlMqOsgGfS4oGA0YYJf6xC-xBBvNZY93_ohev7DBmUkUjwIxHOfiqGzBTNP9hYm0JfpMwfx_EZ0ngRD4aFHoeEnRhSDTLT-M-27JZapK-lzdFU37mRxDErju6f6LVYSr12D4Kqz2xD1j0nKIkrZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="365" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTQyKqy06L-GabmfFgXZK-GH6EArGQ2JMMk3LL-OlMqOsgGfS4oGA0YYJf6xC-xBBvNZY93_ohev7DBmUkUjwIxHOfiqGzBTNP9hYm0JfpMwfx_EZ0ngRD4aFHoeEnRhSDTLT-M-27JZapK-lzdFU37mRxDErju6f6LVYSr12D4Kqz2xD1j0nKIkrZ=w287-h332" width="287" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Swaying palms! Tiki torches! And the sound of waves cascading
one on top of the other as they ebb and flow across the sand! Yes, a far cry
from the first snowfall in Windsor, Colorado. But don’t confuse spontaneity
with being impulsive or perhaps worse still, opportunistic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">For as long as Margo and I can remember, we have made
decisions that matter with just a word or two. Thanksgiving is just a one
example where we took a flight somewhere, oftentimes anyway. We followed a
pattern early on in our marriage where we would fly to Singapore for dinner on
multiple occasions. Chili and Pepper Crabs served on the south east coast of
Singapore, anyone? Out Wednesday, recoup Friday, dine Saturday and fly back
Sunday? Count us in!<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-JZy6-Y3TKL8KzDicjxbYYnTQjhc89bjcPHk9z9-N5BZsrctSI9oqopMiL0SVDlfq3XbytPjBPXKdlubg3bVAYVuzw-JmLY-10Z17wMua7jhRHKLkuEtBhvndyY8J5lYEdNVijDGwE_tvEyKx-QHaTrXPgL-ficQc2QwbjQp4qxfOogfOT5_kPxy5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="397" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-JZy6-Y3TKL8KzDicjxbYYnTQjhc89bjcPHk9z9-N5BZsrctSI9oqopMiL0SVDlfq3XbytPjBPXKdlubg3bVAYVuzw-JmLY-10Z17wMua7jhRHKLkuEtBhvndyY8J5lYEdNVijDGwE_tvEyKx-QHaTrXPgL-ficQc2QwbjQp4qxfOogfOT5_kPxy5=w293-h317" width="293" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">However, being spontaneous also meant making judgement
calls on the spur of the moment. Forget about packing, for us it often came
down to how best to fit in our work schedule with the demands of relaxation.
Apart from meeting the needs of our clients, posts we needed to make to our
business and social blogs were written only awaiting a last minute observation.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Looking out from our hotel room balcony, we recalled
red umbrellas along the Rhine at Koblenz, views across tropical gardens in
Queensland and yes, Singapore. With our view it could have been anywhere that
is tropical and yet, it was distinctly Hawaiian. It wasn’t the vegetation or
the surf lapping along the sands so much as it was the relaxed demeanor of
everyone we met. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmTyFC0VX4NqD8c7mpA_f5iUX0pd-bYbrnFcJQXaHP2DNSAfW4Myo-txKAp7h8IIZylWUkpON_aFUilcknC71Ax1xyziCO17g4_aboHiG98W_JxdoEJ8RenU7ueRQf-DGZ0eLXc5vUhePO_jX48iAmi_SQVZlTs05yE8aenBMD07reJZEyunHlYm2N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="251" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmTyFC0VX4NqD8c7mpA_f5iUX0pd-bYbrnFcJQXaHP2DNSAfW4Myo-txKAp7h8IIZylWUkpON_aFUilcknC71Ax1xyziCO17g4_aboHiG98W_JxdoEJ8RenU7ueRQf-DGZ0eLXc5vUhePO_jX48iAmi_SQVZlTs05yE8aenBMD07reJZEyunHlYm2N=w374-h280" width="374" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4SqkfKmHUUFKEAvhTbJIJlQkZ-OdY7eDEWi16quKEPZ6AK6PTd9YuHm4iC3d8OW5QVSzDfB-n-7PXfI8pf5l7ey7kKzW5uovYHWVhlmeJYXaZbucWZr2sJmPqGnuz_VVBsymXlHm4PHwPevVxCvPRtZsFkvqT_2H80f24QBCQFfmywDbNTd5qBWJ-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="249" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4SqkfKmHUUFKEAvhTbJIJlQkZ-OdY7eDEWi16quKEPZ6AK6PTd9YuHm4iC3d8OW5QVSzDfB-n-7PXfI8pf5l7ey7kKzW5uovYHWVhlmeJYXaZbucWZr2sJmPqGnuz_VVBsymXlHm4PHwPevVxCvPRtZsFkvqT_2H80f24QBCQFfmywDbNTd5qBWJ-=w375-h109" width="375" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">When it came time to settle on flights and lodgings, we
reached out to our good friends, Brian and Jan Kenny. Turns out that they too
would be on Maui at this time of year. Finding a couple of days that overlapped
was all it took for us to confirm our travel plans. The upside was they knew
Kaanapali a lot better than we did and shared with us some of their favorite
dining spots. As for finding a cocktail such as the above made it very easy for
us to thank the Kennys. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">When it comes to the Hyatt Regency, don’t expect to be
treated with fine dining. Indeed, whether it is the post-pandemic blues or not,
the dining options were extremely limited. As for quiet spots to simply seat back
and enjoy an evening cocktail we had to wend our way next door to the Hyatt
Residence and find a spot bar-side at their Tiki Bar. I should also mention
that I found a copy of short stories about Hawaii by Jack London? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw6UgN8SUqhMvp8GuGFCIzLvVIc4Sl_uZgfMIODCDWa6bWQkHcC-u4b3erGil02W9LcLAuOd7WbI7HVFDLeprlG4WhnqRMkAXUsHlcYDzWN7ve1hRLdsqwqegl0DrWBqtrrKdwYSggRFnqu1XIxvjE3pOVm_L_5KP-im5AzWTt07JfaBEJosXf2V9f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="429" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw6UgN8SUqhMvp8GuGFCIzLvVIc4Sl_uZgfMIODCDWa6bWQkHcC-u4b3erGil02W9LcLAuOd7WbI7HVFDLeprlG4WhnqRMkAXUsHlcYDzWN7ve1hRLdsqwqegl0DrWBqtrrKdwYSggRFnqu1XIxvjE3pOVm_L_5KP-im5AzWTt07JfaBEJosXf2V9f=w289-h379" width="289" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">The sight of swaying palm trees at this time of year,
there was a lot more going on than simply swaying in the breezes. But with each
dawn, these tropical winds subsided. Substantially. A good indication too as to
our mood for the day; cool morning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>air?
Coffee? Almond Croissant? Of course!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Just the smell of coffee and the taste of almonds with
dawn breaking, further reinforced our memories of past downtimes. Perhaps the
biggest contribution to our spontaneity comes with our increased awareness that
time isn’t standing still. With the global pandemic continuing to remind us
that the normality we were experiencing was going to continue for many years to
come. Perhaps indefinitely and beyond. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Finding time for each other - without a
long a list of action items arising from our business endeavors - has become an
occasion to celebrate. Perhaps, more: A time to simply watch the sun rise and
to be thankful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIYZPlhqpdwoT1w2Z1DFArLY5i_lUeVF2aeVeyNvrQybwR9i2xXq4dhxee7nubSN9OWEThiLvW9Q6bP6-Be0etLxxNHKl4b8bkufk9i_B368iolboFT6bFd_IxuDjz4NOUja6jcuRBL6Y2WPwNmhwNo0BGRhRykkMIn0SDMI-Zi3YnYXvqrnG5ZKvO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="453" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIYZPlhqpdwoT1w2Z1DFArLY5i_lUeVF2aeVeyNvrQybwR9i2xXq4dhxee7nubSN9OWEThiLvW9Q6bP6-Be0etLxxNHKl4b8bkufk9i_B368iolboFT6bFd_IxuDjz4NOUja6jcuRBL6Y2WPwNmhwNo0BGRhRykkMIn0SDMI-Zi3YnYXvqrnG5ZKvO=w287-h328" width="287" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Evenings presented an entirely different vista. The
Hyatt did a good job of ensuring the beauty of the resort could continue to be
appreciated. The distant lights of the township of Lahaina helped frame the
picture. Perhaps spontaneity can be its own reward. Until you make that final
entry on your desktop and watch the confirmation emails arrive there is always
an element of uncertainty. But it doesn’t last long.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">It was a simple conversation across the front lawn with
our GM dealer, Steve that resulted in us buying a new Corvette without giving
the decision a second thought. A simple text to Margo and another to Steve and
negotiations ended. At the unveiling of a new Range Rover, Margo caught sight
of a Jaguar F Type V8 Convertible. Our salesman Mark had to literally run to
her and as they walked a deal was concluded.
Maybe it is the little things that keep us whole and no, the Jaguar
isn’t entirely just for Margo nor is the Corvette to be entirely mine, less you
were left to wonder. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9UEq4keCT1XTyYFFYmp0MaTq-Yeuf-92gPBwtx2UzDPpN9S2D_Zh-LrOHumFl5DJ9Bsjqyk_Ifmng_8hMFagYRA2sV8fRlTwcuA5unsLPhyRwMzB9nBUH1PJ2p5aHoCBy86av9QOJSICx4xgkN5vroBZqvRGKX2lDBj23tFagE6rm_P5xy5HHMt9I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="408" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9UEq4keCT1XTyYFFYmp0MaTq-Yeuf-92gPBwtx2UzDPpN9S2D_Zh-LrOHumFl5DJ9Bsjqyk_Ifmng_8hMFagYRA2sV8fRlTwcuA5unsLPhyRwMzB9nBUH1PJ2p5aHoCBy86av9QOJSICx4xgkN5vroBZqvRGKX2lDBj23tFagE6rm_P5xy5HHMt9I=w276-h302" width="276" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">The calendar is definitely filling in for 2023 and even
deep into 2024. Margo and I have committed to participating in numerous technology
conferences even as we remain supportive of the clients we have. There has been
much that has been addressed in the media of late about retirement and it is
something Margo and I have been asked about more than once. But what does it
mean in the 2020s?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 115%;">Being spontaneous, even opportunistic with perhaps a
little impulsiveness thrown in for good measure, it remains a safe bet that we
will continue to do what we like doing. There are those who may suggest that
doing something you love isn’t work, but then again, that supposes there is
just that one thing you like doing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The picture below sums up how we discuss options. The
route may wind but we have a clear view of the destination. As for the
differences that may arise over spending time ashore or on a ship, the view
along the hotel rooms is not dissimilar to what you see when you look along the
line of verandah cabins on any cruise ship. Whether temporarily dockside or
permanently on land, ultimately it matters little. <br />
<br />
Blue Hawaii? It delivered the experience we sought and while the vista may
indeed have been blue, there is nothing blue about our voyage of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirYLQwqQgMyh8Saxzu0diyjb8jrcAa4ugoU8QcBmStiraYaHGorA-xddcvN48GIfayTwCvcPr5w8Su8Pt9bV0yfF_CjzsvvVAHz8hMEvDBCKPoYBPai6ZR6-b80DvGDVpxxHLmAoOM3v40T0KQQ4gNJo0VMRCJh4xV8gwEi4VGZWwMZOIrVPi2dWbK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="466" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirYLQwqQgMyh8Saxzu0diyjb8jrcAa4ugoU8QcBmStiraYaHGorA-xddcvN48GIfayTwCvcPr5w8Su8Pt9bV0yfF_CjzsvvVAHz8hMEvDBCKPoYBPai6ZR6-b80DvGDVpxxHLmAoOM3v40T0KQQ4gNJo0VMRCJh4xV8gwEi4VGZWwMZOIrVPi2dWbK=w264-h314" width="264" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-12306937377479869932022-11-23T11:29:00.002-08:002022-11-23T11:29:08.583-08:00Fall colors? Look no further than your own backyard!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAwW8ONIvjo8cSUGvOgwpSxRtwxxxOfcHEtZfhywX9ier2g_pyHU_lghbGUV7wAz_dscLY8CAfsATo5Eo1A01wCdEPVVlSWL_jsF7ZGl6TAjyuotQQQmWYikwRQJ5DX8LnwM7DZppgnXdE0w8rTP7SSKl-4KQhznQu5sW6cdqo9_t3X5lurE-UvYuq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="253" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAwW8ONIvjo8cSUGvOgwpSxRtwxxxOfcHEtZfhywX9ier2g_pyHU_lghbGUV7wAz_dscLY8CAfsATo5Eo1A01wCdEPVVlSWL_jsF7ZGl6TAjyuotQQQmWYikwRQJ5DX8LnwM7DZppgnXdE0w8rTP7SSKl-4KQhznQu5sW6cdqo9_t3X5lurE-UvYuq=w370-h280" width="370" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Last month we mixed business with leisure in yet
another of our “bleisure” outings. Sometimes called “bizcations”, but either
way it has become our regular practice as we squeeze in downtime in between
meetings.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">No surprises here, but as we
continue to build our client base, as sole proprietors, there is no official
downtime for the team at Pyalla Technologies, LLC. Then again, the flexibility
this affords us with all the plans we make, we wouldn’t have it any other way.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You may recall in last month’s post that the focus of
our downtime was the fall colors of north eastern America. Starting in Canada
and then tracking down the coast all the way to Florida was considered the best
way to see the deep reds of maples contrasted with greens and golds of adjacent
forests. However, it was hard to become excited by the vista as a wet summer
delayed the onset of fall. Only patches of red were on display and for the most
part, they were anything but spectacular. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1W5a50Wkn-1W0ZfUoQhqky4uxaeeIbBIZE7gWcBEKpXe5yOxssoqokqRhf0qs-LjQjFcrP_kDOVaUHPMz-cwu1OYw7SyA5kNZ__7BLKhAcYxxihiXQJtfvpBAQ1Ci6XXPQQaIf33P4a-34SpyNLSa6nz2zmdJf_Y8pKeuGb5ir-dGz6hq-n6zh2Ng" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="202" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1W5a50Wkn-1W0ZfUoQhqky4uxaeeIbBIZE7gWcBEKpXe5yOxssoqokqRhf0qs-LjQjFcrP_kDOVaUHPMz-cwu1OYw7SyA5kNZ__7BLKhAcYxxihiXQJtfvpBAQ1Ci6XXPQQaIf33P4a-34SpyNLSa6nz2zmdJf_Y8pKeuGb5ir-dGz6hq-n6zh2Ng=w238-h301" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On our return to Colorado it was a different story.
Long known for the colorful display of Aspens as they blanket the mountains in
gold, it was the new neighborhoods surrounding us where the reds burst through.
Landscapers have gone to great pains to ensure a mixed variety of foliage is
nurtured and now, we have a spectacular array of maples of all types that lend
an entirely new color to the traditional fall palate we know so well. Neighbors
who have become recent Coloradans are surprised to find that there are numerous
varieties native to the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With temperatures dropping daily and the first snowfall
reminding us that winter is not far away, we still make the trek to our local
golf course café for breakfast. More often than not, we drive but even so it
allows us to take in the full scope of fall. Or perhaps, better said the fall
scope in full! No matter, after sailing down the east coast of America, we are
bearing witness of more color combinations than we were fortunate to view just
a month earlier. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This may be our front yard but its clear red has become
our favorite color. The car that Margo fell in love with essentially, falling head
over heels, just happens to be red with a slightly different shade of red for
the ragtop. As the fall colors begin to fade it stands out and becomes just
another element in the predominantly red landscape– after trading our beloved
red Corvette a couple of years ago we thought we were done with red cars, but
that turned out not to be the case. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, there simply isn’t anything quite as enjoyable
as carving up a canyon road in a convertible that emanates a distinctive V8
rumble. Did we mention that in this
configuration our beloved Jaguar all-wheel-drive and all is only a couple of
horsepower down on our former mighty Dodge Viper? Amazing how tech continues to
advance to provide creature comfort in a vehicle with extraordinary
capabilities. Against a backdrop of fall colors it was tempting to forget that
others would take in our Jaguar as we passed by and consider it as just one
more shade or red to be enjoyed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLrpmFkp736TYESH7ZyUOtNB4gzRWgn6WWQOaGL-sB3Mp7HvEcCBN1ckVcWE0OFUfozJs8CdCeuGNERrITGRDwGhabg9FZgIZ2zMvi7Bq0mAD2q4z6-r6BEtHAiBG4H2huxybAEFGFNsGVyccCfVfHAHJXzeCVSPSAjxEHQ-fF4e21tqnW9HgaWsgr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="355" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLrpmFkp736TYESH7ZyUOtNB4gzRWgn6WWQOaGL-sB3Mp7HvEcCBN1ckVcWE0OFUfozJs8CdCeuGNERrITGRDwGhabg9FZgIZ2zMvi7Bq0mAD2q4z6-r6BEtHAiBG4H2huxybAEFGFNsGVyccCfVfHAHJXzeCVSPSAjxEHQ-fF4e21tqnW9HgaWsgr=w300-h385" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are still traditions to be honored even at this
time of year when you can still tour with the top down. One of those traditions just happens to be the photo opportunity
that we exploit whenever we drive Colorado’s Peak-to-Peak highway. A small
roadside Catholic church – once visited by Pope John Paul II when he last
visited Denver – always provides a great backdrop for any car we happen to be
driving tempting us, as it so often does, to pull over for a snapshot. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fall is not just a reminder to us of traditions to be
maintained but rather, a timely intrusion into daily routines. There is
Halloween to be celebrated followed by Thanksgiving. In no time at all we are
planning our Christmas celebrations. Suddenly it isn’t just about the red so
much as it is about the green as well and with the foliage always providing a
green backdrop, this temporary splash of red is welcomed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzSxGBhuuval29whNsp7K7WUkIG2zryGCDEhZBMSFdJYt2vmbf2bq0emZDLvkPJfwWiXb7GmYCTUu3jTcGIP_qBilJxUUZHWQe9Gt5CuYjukZqGLODNciOY8SwcGU3A8iLGvYG9beVdXeoLU6D5i7GD8XP4j-Jk8hbBMeIRVOJOEkdbL3MOOqdw6a0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="289" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzSxGBhuuval29whNsp7K7WUkIG2zryGCDEhZBMSFdJYt2vmbf2bq0emZDLvkPJfwWiXb7GmYCTUu3jTcGIP_qBilJxUUZHWQe9Gt5CuYjukZqGLODNciOY8SwcGU3A8iLGvYG9beVdXeoLU6D5i7GD8XP4j-Jk8hbBMeIRVOJOEkdbL3MOOqdw6a0=w245-h329" width="245" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From a splash of red across the vista to a splash of
red in a glass! Nothing could be more inviting than to spend an early evening
with a sip of wine. The days have shortened rapidly to where they are ending in
total darkness. It’s not surprising to see this happen as we are well north of
the equator. While not as far north as our travels to Alaska and Quebec have
taken us this past summer into early fall, nevertheless for a young lad from
Sydney, it still takes a while to adjust.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is a line in a popular song celebrating birthdays
that we like. It goes something like “</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Just one more candle and a trip around the sun.” We don’t
necessarily have to wait for birthdays to be reminded of this perennial journey
but then again, having lit sparkles at Christmas follows a similar line. A
reminder of that constant voyage around the sun! With age may come wisdom but also
increased frailties. While Margo and I have nothing too serious to be concerned
about, every now and then we are reminded of where our true strengths lie and coordination
may no longer be one of those strengths we have relied upon for so long. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKPQoMSNlsrsh5FHRIaGRtcy43Jr99Q7a3NN72oh2Yr4LWWaEk2lf6K3bYfXHlVlCWcjeDb549tjWYcJM2DvNRnRI0-jlIL-3lpWSZ_MefuKnRrn6Jdth4dEPfHRwY8HQlfNjV7099h4QOtyILm6-XPLRZSgR0AwV56jsrgFvgbKGXnh28eZvJSTF/s2016/IMG_2097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKPQoMSNlsrsh5FHRIaGRtcy43Jr99Q7a3NN72oh2Yr4LWWaEk2lf6K3bYfXHlVlCWcjeDb549tjWYcJM2DvNRnRI0-jlIL-3lpWSZ_MefuKnRrn6Jdth4dEPfHRwY8HQlfNjV7099h4QOtyILm6-XPLRZSgR0AwV56jsrgFvgbKGXnh28eZvJSTF/s320/IMG_2097.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And then there was a splash across the floor. You would think that unboxing a wine shipment from one
of our favorite vineyards would be something that gives us both a lot of
pleasure. However, the latest shipment left us dismayed. Yes, our wine cellar
isn’t as big as the one in our former home in Niwot, but it still provides us
with ample storage for a reasonable stock of good wines. Unfortunately, the
builders never designed it for bottles of red wine – they need just a little
more space to properly accommodate that supply of good red wine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Disaster struck unexpectedly as bottles already put down
in a partially filled cubicle suddenly let go as I added that one last bottle
to the top of the cubicle. All told a number of bottles from Justin Vineyard met their demise on the
floor below. Two were broken beyond redemption but amazingly enough, one
bounced and remained intact. It was a Merlot and given that our good friends
and neighbors happened to like Merlot, it seemed appropriate to hand-deliver
that salvaged bottle and gift as an omen of good things yet to come. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2evvkOeRONAI32Nv7eQlUy9ZAHMuc_LyfTgW3_2tUHDTL9EGcWEqXPPJ1rLXxa375OX5FlvKd85qfJPNFcih3nNAjkG7mHu1s89ZWlDgmm43sMOtd2dCm9nGPKZNGbcU6busFgbg1C6F8i_oDFdbz2nfT20-ivAtDoEWWJklgPK5l6UiqmcT-F1N6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="417" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2evvkOeRONAI32Nv7eQlUy9ZAHMuc_LyfTgW3_2tUHDTL9EGcWEqXPPJ1rLXxa375OX5FlvKd85qfJPNFcih3nNAjkG7mHu1s89ZWlDgmm43sMOtd2dCm9nGPKZNGbcU6busFgbg1C6F8i_oDFdbz2nfT20-ivAtDoEWWJklgPK5l6UiqmcT-F1N6=w246-h328" width="246" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Look no further than you backyard? Well, how about
across the street as yet one more new home takes shape. Unfortunately, fall is
now giving way to winter. The reds are now a memento of past lazy days spent on
our deck. Snow has fallen but fortunately, not to the point of being snowed in
like the folks back in Buffalo, New York. I just read of how, in Biblical
references, colors are used to convey messages. For instance, red is one of the
most powerful colors as it addresses everything from life, blood, sin,
flesh, to earthiness. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life, it would seem, continues to challenge us all and
if red is of such importance, then taking in the colors of fall is just a
reminder that the trip around the sun represents little more than pulling pages
from the calendar. When you are very young you look forward to counting up as
you will the world to pass and for you to become older. Later in life it seems
as though you are not enjoying the count down quite as much. And with that,
let’s light that calendar, put the shortening days behind us and celebrate the
arrival of perhaps the best of holidays any year has to offer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPorwfJfwBZMilh5QvuLA7RzQC5nO8v4uJMJecx7p4FyIq2q31mtpz_0I_gNIVgTSIkmNgjFT3JQHkMGpsV-c0kyFiskHc1r69aWYu-7i97U38TYQqTb1-idOoOJuhrPgWOBgd2M0dJVfklXNQIxYdi0WEF7Hr_fVbYhD2JcuWOuwtS6ifKhsKedXu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="352" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPorwfJfwBZMilh5QvuLA7RzQC5nO8v4uJMJecx7p4FyIq2q31mtpz_0I_gNIVgTSIkmNgjFT3JQHkMGpsV-c0kyFiskHc1r69aWYu-7i97U38TYQqTb1-idOoOJuhrPgWOBgd2M0dJVfklXNQIxYdi0WEF7Hr_fVbYhD2JcuWOuwtS6ifKhsKedXu=w390-h293" width="390" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<!--[endif]--></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br /></span></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-2553203160366431732022-10-25T12:36:00.003-07:002022-10-25T12:36:46.850-07:00All at sea! BizCation time … <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSszw7gThm2NjhkkytxhiMIAjSD_BXzb7HypZClM9FTJBUkci2g-uHxnXMgV8NGVpapKiAyhVBXwGtm4Dqp-pr1EQDdu1TDlNAGB5nl5QULg2gbxFx7v4xx3VvL0PiGCKmzafYYddl13QkWspYVf2RMSmuXPv7W6fZUwYcD54Bj6_V_qaLv4ZAUAgC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="260" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSszw7gThm2NjhkkytxhiMIAjSD_BXzb7HypZClM9FTJBUkci2g-uHxnXMgV8NGVpapKiAyhVBXwGtm4Dqp-pr1EQDdu1TDlNAGB5nl5QULg2gbxFx7v4xx3VvL0PiGCKmzafYYddl13QkWspYVf2RMSmuXPv7W6fZUwYcD54Bj6_V_qaLv4ZAUAgC=w446-h335" width="446" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There has been so much written about the fallout from
the global pandemic becoming a time to rethink work – life balance. A time to
think whether the drudgery of the daily routine was really worth it! One hour
commutes? Unhealthy meals and rushed coffee breaks. Meetings, Bl**dy Meetings!
Once the taste of working from the confines of our homes was how we saw our
working future took hold, perhaps there was a different path to go down; one
that catered more to real productivity gains.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For Margo and me, 2009 was the turning point. Together
we made the decision that I was not going to return to corporate life. Instead
I was going to do something for myself. Having participated in four startups
only to see the time spent working with the corporations that acquired each
startup proving less than challenging perhaps even boring, why not launch our
own start up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, wherever I could set up shop was where I was going
to work and as we head into our fourteenth year, Margo and I have practiced our
trade in lots of different environments and loved every moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsNwf7yet-EQjoWDQYrVDpehZcvMuCVldYMNfKJOokatJL7rhzYOeqPo6iOXlJq_GKZ57m5_xHk8bhA_SSD1S7h5i6AnN1hintHrJSwJEQc9FM2vFVTFtmNpZj-jJVfcTDLmVnbOnCM4Eu5A5iKRTLER3z8EWVYc1JfWZAVIAWG6BDwelLkljY-LQJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="404" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsNwf7yet-EQjoWDQYrVDpehZcvMuCVldYMNfKJOokatJL7rhzYOeqPo6iOXlJq_GKZ57m5_xHk8bhA_SSD1S7h5i6AnN1hintHrJSwJEQc9FM2vFVTFtmNpZj-jJVfcTDLmVnbOnCM4Eu5A5iKRTLER3z8EWVYc1JfWZAVIAWG6BDwelLkljY-LQJ=w272-h363" width="272" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If as yet you haven’t recognized where we set up office
this month then perhaps the view above provides a clue. We were shipboard yet
again and this time we were under the watchful eye of the captain whose bridge
was directly above us. Several voyages previously we had made the decision to
always secure a veranda cabin and one with plenty of space to set up a working
desk. We have done one voyage where we occupied an internal cabin – less light,
more sleep, or so the theory went – but it wasn’t for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the times of the global pandemic this decision
proved important as one of us did catch COVID and was quarantined in a matching
veranda cabin but at least we could walk outside the cabin for a change in
scenery. Nothing like that happened this time, but a tip for the uninitiated.
Modern cruise ships have bow thrusters oftentimes multiple bow thrusters. Make
sure you don’t get a cabin that is forward and directly above these very noisy
apparatus especially when docking is taking place before 6:00am<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But our working life continued throughout the trip and
was again further evidence that having a small marketing consulting company
meant we could work from anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwF1Wd3k_jdxk2x1NCNX8vqqN5iRFLPSJmK7OX5mU57HfK1ws8YaSpwOHLT4oGmVNjmJpuHrrvVbrN1x2kIDsMgWXlgRJxBrxDr3e06qJ199jwJX2actAVDqD25TAlPd0jU_cvrkPPkRYGy48_qL-UL9nQBadQ0vtLWhI2GrYCQ89h2uBjTO_cA2iG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="242" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwF1Wd3k_jdxk2x1NCNX8vqqN5iRFLPSJmK7OX5mU57HfK1ws8YaSpwOHLT4oGmVNjmJpuHrrvVbrN1x2kIDsMgWXlgRJxBrxDr3e06qJ199jwJX2actAVDqD25TAlPd0jU_cvrkPPkRYGy48_qL-UL9nQBadQ0vtLWhI2GrYCQ89h2uBjTO_cA2iG=w270-h359" width="270" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It had only been a couple of weeks earlier that Margo
and I had made the round trip from Windsor, Colorado, to Mississauga, Ontario.
Having made the decision to take a traditional leaf-peeping cruise through
Eastern Canada and New England, it meant that the trips took place almost back to
back. We didn’t drive back to Canada where this time our destination was
Montreal, but we did take the weekend to explore Montreal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By chance and with limited local knowledge we stumbled
across a delightful restaurant for the lunch before departure. The Fiorella
serving up classical southern Italian fare clearly was a place we would return
to next time we visit Montreal. Not pretentious in any way but just cozy with
great food. As for the filet we both ordered, couldn’t be better. Boarding any
vessel is always fraught with concerns over where our next meal would come from
so we always like to try something before the time comes to leave land and this
just represented a continuation of that practice. Montreal is a bustling
European city that we visited once before and it has its moments but it was
just the beginning of our cruise so we can’t say we left reluctantly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vancouver and Toronto hold more charm for us both, but
then again, to sail the Gulf of St Lawrence had always been on my bucket list. Having
a day to recover from air travel is a must in these times of orchestrated
airline pandemonium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAkoQ7qnKbuC4J15MjJeXbyrSQP8Ltw8y9tRZ8HRGTSJ_B5tuNUF6ziIfURVHcfhZj2mQ7itj6RCyEKBdVuiO-zD1PTPB28T0YEvFH-jlGLU_lrvxvX4nr2xiVEW2cia7LCXma8qA2PlVRI3ex_klNYDFMvAxfVBGvuEISQ4T-6kOE7GaMMUx3HKkT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="293" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAkoQ7qnKbuC4J15MjJeXbyrSQP8Ltw8y9tRZ8HRGTSJ_B5tuNUF6ziIfURVHcfhZj2mQ7itj6RCyEKBdVuiO-zD1PTPB28T0YEvFH-jlGLU_lrvxvX4nr2xiVEW2cia7LCXma8qA2PlVRI3ex_klNYDFMvAxfVBGvuEISQ4T-6kOE7GaMMUx3HKkT=w381-h288" width="381" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As night descended we weighed anchor for an evening
sail from the port of New Montreal to the port of Old Montreal just a couple of
miles downstream. Seemed everyone wanted to board passengers dockside at this
time of year as it is perhaps amongst the busiest of all times in the port. The
massive grain silos in the background have been unused for decades and we have
walked up to them previously. The good news here is that they will not be
demolished but repurposed to house a future mall and arts place with offices
and residential properties and we have to assume a hotel. Its location calls
for that and it probably will work out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As we pulled away from shore, work did begin for us.
You may have read previously about how we talk of BizCations and that some
escapes were simply Bleisure trips, but this is now a fact of life for us. As
anyone owning and operating a small business knows only too well, there are no
vacation times. No shutting the business for the summer. Or the winter. Or even
birthdays. For more than a decade we have elected to work while we explore new
places and so it’s not entirely a period where we can enjoy downtime for any
period of time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But as with our opening remarks, while we aren’t truly
part of the gig economy, we don’t miss turning up for meetings or scrambling to
find time for a slow-paced luncheon break. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT3oS5uDMLED-ZJdvKxlsjuACcL_GpfZIRgsV6gtk6xKMxLVQ94YnqjdiG0AixZ--h6re6oNwCdKyjkv9T8bgAlqr1OrKXCYRCLhoa1a1Cp888IWm_JIJqAliUl7bkTqIP4G2ngqlPZjlp17SrAwjhiQZ-NAxy5-e0eXLNCg_znH5YTdTN1ip_q_GM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="244" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT3oS5uDMLED-ZJdvKxlsjuACcL_GpfZIRgsV6gtk6xKMxLVQ94YnqjdiG0AixZ--h6re6oNwCdKyjkv9T8bgAlqr1OrKXCYRCLhoa1a1Cp888IWm_JIJqAliUl7bkTqIP4G2ngqlPZjlp17SrAwjhiQZ-NAxy5-e0eXLNCg_znH5YTdTN1ip_q_GM=w246-h328" width="246" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the truly magnificent sights in Montreal has to
be the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal of old Montreal. We spent some time
looking at the structure which was perhaps equal to only two or three other
cathedrals we have previously visited. Lyon comes to mind as does London’s St
Paul. And, of course, Rome! Having a brief time to pause and to catch our
breath was actually heaven sent, so as to speak, and we certainly didn’t
begrudge taking the brief shore excursion just to see this magnificent
structure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reference to shore excursions is a moot point for
Margo and me. We usually don’t participate in shore excursions. Apart from the
time that staying onboard gives us for higher performing internet access, for
the past decade the vessel itself has become our destination. Having worked in
IT for as long as we both have, we have visited most places so we graciously
let others fill the seats on the ever present coaches lined up to take you
goodness knows where. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is not to say you shouldn’t take a tour of any
port that you pull into but rather, take advantage of an empty ship. And if you
chose the right cruise line, the meals onboard oftentimes exceed that which you
can find ashore.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl0epxrNXtzyc6GNPr4MysTCwFY8yqhX5tXzFngEnu_1YD1xKS4UoKdIdEua6O5K-hpvFUw8yGFN0Wpyz4Gtqz5DHs6r9AUtbzAtnoL0oId0N7GDghypz2m67Gu767m3nb-XPfvbiLAYIpBRnfbyk55gBnUi3v0XcPLgqzTX87T_-ANIRebj8RFEcF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="460" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl0epxrNXtzyc6GNPr4MysTCwFY8yqhX5tXzFngEnu_1YD1xKS4UoKdIdEua6O5K-hpvFUw8yGFN0Wpyz4Gtqz5DHs6r9AUtbzAtnoL0oId0N7GDghypz2m67Gu767m3nb-XPfvbiLAYIpBRnfbyk55gBnUi3v0XcPLgqzTX87T_-ANIRebj8RFEcF=w386-h290" width="386" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The one exception to this general rule of ours was
Quebec City. Perhaps we could argue that it was the main reason why we found ourselves
on this cruise. It was a city that I had never visited and was curious as to
why so many travelers are captivated by the people, the architecture and the
views over the St Lawrence. Nothing was more indicative as to why this city
always rated highly on tourist surveys than the magnificent Fairmont Le Chateau
Frontenac, depicted above. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Making an entrance and chatting briefly to the
concierge, we penciled in some return time that hopefully will happen next
year. Margo is already fantasizing about pulling up the driveway in our Jaguar
F Type ragtop. It may happen. Then again, being a Fairmont establishment, we
may have to tap our small bank of points having spent time in other Fairmont
establishments. Whereas the weather up until that point had been less than
enticing, walking around the ramparts of this former citadel was under a bright
blue sky that was only one of the few times we saw the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Think Hurricane Fiona and yes, we could feel it having
an impact on us even this far north of the Caribbean. Unfortunately it also
meant a change to our itinerary as we were not be able to visit Prince Edward
Island.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii2EGr6up5GTrq1K--wXpYdjdnh7pOSvKbEk72icRd8i6ey02E6a-GZbwkovyR3TNWfsdc20MXlHS36Nf1MEl3gBz4spu__WZ1pcnG3oO8KMfpW3O9xr35EtB6FW9L53IPV179TywraQypkfgMTo2qVaCLflS3WTv2BEhmIgoCj4qLEgOyhAK9DDoa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="468" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii2EGr6up5GTrq1K--wXpYdjdnh7pOSvKbEk72icRd8i6ey02E6a-GZbwkovyR3TNWfsdc20MXlHS36Nf1MEl3gBz4spu__WZ1pcnG3oO8KMfpW3O9xr35EtB6FW9L53IPV179TywraQypkfgMTo2qVaCLflS3WTv2BEhmIgoCj4qLEgOyhAK9DDoa=w405-h305" width="405" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other hand, Margo was able to put on some moves
in front of a couple of floral butterfly exhibits outside the hotel. Our time
in Quebec City was the real start of our working week so we dutifully pulled
out our laptops on our return to the ship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I had blog posts to publish and a number of commitments
to our clients to complete. We would be also pulling together a number of story
lines for our bimonthly digital publication, NonStop Insider. All the time, we
were in conversation with a new prospective client with proposals passing back
and forth between us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Butterflies and blue skies!
Wasn’t there a song written along similar lines? And bent over a keyboard as
the voyage continued! Then again, if this was in some way the sacrifice we made
to see new sites so be it!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYO1IB8MeFMO5FKSlPrD2YN8EHz8rqos7pZ9kUilAMyHtDrgQU_Xs50jj9A7dUqg7HCz6MUcUT_t4Ul4--7sg3gRUQRisfENvHjZ3IOTL_81iMju4OH-uXZDAKTnHou1mso7e4PSztc5f84xFfmI1_aBjQT43Moxqt7Da4ZiivgLtCOBewkjcpqZUr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="313" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYO1IB8MeFMO5FKSlPrD2YN8EHz8rqos7pZ9kUilAMyHtDrgQU_Xs50jj9A7dUqg7HCz6MUcUT_t4Ul4--7sg3gRUQRisfENvHjZ3IOTL_81iMju4OH-uXZDAKTnHou1mso7e4PSztc5f84xFfmI1_aBjQT43Moxqt7Da4ZiivgLtCOBewkjcpqZUr=w398-h299" width="398" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Given how this was billed as a leaf peeping cruise,
looking out from the cliff top we caught sight of our ship as we saw our first
evidence that fall had started. The summer had been a wet summer so the colors
were slow to appear but already, the reds and gold that make this area of the
world famous were appearing. Changes though weren’t limited to just the foliage
or to the itinerary. For Margo and me, the real changes were happening on
board.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwBOSSgtIJ0hcmu9xJgUcOvMoekMhtCbPq4_c_xC1B65WGPtB5gnVICbmzEqyEg2GJkV5fmDVWf4X6FdapQiq2MsSH8qO_NvXM3bGuAKtwC3vJf1gDc-1yGqZ9oVE06BoyC8SzQQUo0pkRCxSA9Ysv1WOr7hwwSN3EwHvZ8CYAKHtSsi_QI0MCxOOI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="410" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwBOSSgtIJ0hcmu9xJgUcOvMoekMhtCbPq4_c_xC1B65WGPtB5gnVICbmzEqyEg2GJkV5fmDVWf4X6FdapQiq2MsSH8qO_NvXM3bGuAKtwC3vJf1gDc-1yGqZ9oVE06BoyC8SzQQUo0pkRCxSA9Ysv1WOr7hwwSN3EwHvZ8CYAKHtSsi_QI0MCxOOI=w302-h403" width="302" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We had booked passage between Montreal and Ft
Lauderdale, Florida, on the Viking Star. We had previously sailed on a Viking River
cruise and this was the first experience for us on Viking Ocean cruises. Our
initial reaction was that the ship had been built by Ikea. Not in a bad way
mind you, but the extensive use of Scandinavian color schemes that were mostly
many shades of blue against creamy wood surrounds. The muted color scheme proved
relaxing. In time, we changed our minds. This just wasn’t a pleasant break of
routine; this was something very special.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cruise lines compete in many different ways. The Viking
Star catered to only 900 guests. But familiarity with the staff developed
quickly where they knew our tastes in food and beverage and there wasn’t a time
when we were left wanting more. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzkL2BCu99FSM81zjeh37_KIiRcW8i3VipEJcFntM2MNaf8xIsOaQRikDJOUhvC84NgzP6WJl_YUe9SxWVNVJ__jv_XhAMSHV0ODEjg1dbcigat97fEOVvwrlcOFlJx0a2zqQLV2w5rCUYiJAVhMZyxZ1zQTTxTKS-oWhnH7bmK4EKDi4ZCFmpf0sh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="313" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzkL2BCu99FSM81zjeh37_KIiRcW8i3VipEJcFntM2MNaf8xIsOaQRikDJOUhvC84NgzP6WJl_YUe9SxWVNVJ__jv_XhAMSHV0ODEjg1dbcigat97fEOVvwrlcOFlJx0a2zqQLV2w5rCUYiJAVhMZyxZ1zQTTxTKS-oWhnH7bmK4EKDi4ZCFmpf0sh=w405-h304" width="405" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From the shore of Saguenay, Quebec, the ship looked
larger than it did aboard. Then again, nothing by comparison to one of the
Princess cruise ships we have often sailed on. However, we couldn’t ignore a
reference to Saguenay as it is towards the end of the southernmost fjord in the
northern hemisphere and it was alive with sea life. Seals and whales and yes,
birdlife everywhere you turned. It was a time for the northern right whales and
that meant our cruising speed back out the fjord was restricted. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, a casual cruise along
a deep fjord. Much like we have seen in New Zealand and hopefully, at some
point, we will see in Norway. But for now, it was just a time enjoy the
sunshine before it was stolen away.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVV8aTqDspBGFmvbjsSMOJBcf4KB9yL98RecIaI8M82hwMGMFaSaMgqq4a26fcChtHPxmlmVApSTwuNTogb59n9CBFRvNu8Qq25pkydOOFO4e2Zd3aT3fo800ZMTMawiEx60OyEbkr4IdMNv9n58GDTtNlcMceWTqHIuD5za0SOyIjgx549CC4yBe6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="300" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVV8aTqDspBGFmvbjsSMOJBcf4KB9yL98RecIaI8M82hwMGMFaSaMgqq4a26fcChtHPxmlmVApSTwuNTogb59n9CBFRvNu8Qq25pkydOOFO4e2Zd3aT3fo800ZMTMawiEx60OyEbkr4IdMNv9n58GDTtNlcMceWTqHIuD5za0SOyIjgx549CC4yBe6=w335-h326" width="335" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What followed were a couple of sea days and I just have
to say that we barely contained ourselves. When we arrived in Saint John, New
Brunswick, we encountered the dockside waterfront container village made up
from twenty and forty foot containers. In a small way, it reminded me of why I
have spent time in Canada. It was following a period where I worked for the
commercial container business of P&O, a now defunct company called Overseas
Containers Limited (OCL). While working for the Australian operation, I made
the poor decision to accept a job at the head office in London. A poor
decision? While in transit they changed the salary model – I was no longer to
be paid my Australian salary but a London salary that left me with only a third
of my income versus what I had left behind in Australia. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I couldn’t survive so I left for Alberta, Canada, to
work for their Caterpillar distributor choosing to live in Edmonton, Alberta.
Not only did that change lead to a more reasonable salary for an IT
professional but it opened the door to the rest of my career. So it is that
this year alone, Margo and I have visited both ends of Canada from Prince
Rupert in British Colombia to Saint Brunswick Nova Scotia. Decisions we make in
hindsight may look to be unwise and yet, they marked not only my penchant for
travelling but an opportunity to move rapidly up the management ranks when I
did return to Australia. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjgvuUM_tLROZotnU-o5s2hh-JTyag2NCeH5oTjwkLeYw9kgWGuPgwazTk8oZsBgg5GJdes_zokw61LiwIJDw-Dtw0eVuPi3Ax5xw0QizgeIlD6PtaKNqBxR8DQoUcgvauoLfVIgWaPjuokFVYiwCb6JHbiLG0Z7Yw0rxjoeie8iqMNXTs_9_0EpqK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="289" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjgvuUM_tLROZotnU-o5s2hh-JTyag2NCeH5oTjwkLeYw9kgWGuPgwazTk8oZsBgg5GJdes_zokw61LiwIJDw-Dtw0eVuPi3Ax5xw0QizgeIlD6PtaKNqBxR8DQoUcgvauoLfVIgWaPjuokFVYiwCb6JHbiLG0Z7Yw0rxjoeie8iqMNXTs_9_0EpqK=w332-h442" width="332" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the more significant highlights for me was to
see the US 12 meter Americas Cup yacht, Weatherly. Probably an insignificant
historical foot note today but it was this sloop that Australia’s first
challenger for the Americas Cup, Gretel, faced in 1962. The mere fact that
Gretel, a complete novice when it came to Americas Cup match racing, won a race
was outstanding. It proved to be the only time that the US defender lost a race
in 111 years of competition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Turn the page to 1977 and there I was in Newport Rhode
Island. Stretching out the installation of software at a Boston bank I was able
to spend weekends down at the port. I never did see any of the races but I was
able to absorb the atmosphere. And yes, I came away with the tee shirt. It is
now a matter of record that the birth of my daughter Lisa came about a short
time after Australia finally won the cup away from the New York Yacht Club.
Televising all the races to the maternity ward seemed like a good idea at the
time!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwAuB5LTuQpGhQ4UbiXK_b-jFEFnf-WmgLVYa08GEE4DztmXR23kbh4epTBmce75nq9M9pY2wE-BiwYmK3hNCgJl9tnNocymX6XNr_idzeEpydvzNlVXEakOXSRm2TYUeOCYzQgCUBKSwJENopswoh1dHp_H9BCGRb5WUXUW9rmFH1x2c8jPP2YMeQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="257" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwAuB5LTuQpGhQ4UbiXK_b-jFEFnf-WmgLVYa08GEE4DztmXR23kbh4epTBmce75nq9M9pY2wE-BiwYmK3hNCgJl9tnNocymX6XNr_idzeEpydvzNlVXEakOXSRm2TYUeOCYzQgCUBKSwJENopswoh1dHp_H9BCGRb5WUXUW9rmFH1x2c8jPP2YMeQ=w337-h380" width="337" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sea holds a special place in our hearts. Margo and
I are drawn to the solitude that comes with sailing on its waters. Moody or
peaceful, wild or calm, it’s a place that continues to draw us to the shore.
Would we sail again on Viking Ocean? Was the food as good as advertised? The
simply answer is yes on both counts. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Living in Colorado and far
from the coast isn’t an ideal situation but with the lifestyle afforded us
today in an economy where the change indeed the challenge affords us an office
wherever we happen to be, we both suspect that this activity will be enjoyed
for many more years to come.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBv0EjpjEjVKsm6MYI4niSFm2aOrJRW9UDGwRmbo6w5cOwTwpjIfsEiHuIlr3L2U09lJIE421NQkbthbqk7KSE3E5QOXRCgVGVrh7yP-MMM5Ixr6RVxH_e-5pcJGT9G_9hKQugmPUbPQkk_SQahq4kfbFKpk9-gJlJ62U-SuFOYLHSLmilhn4rpDLN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="305" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBv0EjpjEjVKsm6MYI4niSFm2aOrJRW9UDGwRmbo6w5cOwTwpjIfsEiHuIlr3L2U09lJIE421NQkbthbqk7KSE3E5QOXRCgVGVrh7yP-MMM5Ixr6RVxH_e-5pcJGT9G_9hKQugmPUbPQkk_SQahq4kfbFKpk9-gJlJ62U-SuFOYLHSLmilhn4rpDLN=w408-h306" width="408" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><br /><br /><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-75621674100804416152022-09-21T09:04:00.002-07:002022-09-21T09:04:25.032-07:00An anniversary that has come around all too quickly <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNNGcEX-XW-M93VDK5ttQoW4S6OxpkNv9vXoTQrY-aGP6ihs43mEWxLACgxazEWxvbwA1z01WneAwL2xMAuHLEXIgunqwOkFQXhU5633rBTxxJk4FRPudcIWUEaqG5UlSoqI3BnKdOj8QObkhu3MunN4WIeJiPa8JQmi2UN-GXgWccyjOXfiqHS7Jo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="321" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNNGcEX-XW-M93VDK5ttQoW4S6OxpkNv9vXoTQrY-aGP6ihs43mEWxLACgxazEWxvbwA1z01WneAwL2xMAuHLEXIgunqwOkFQXhU5633rBTxxJk4FRPudcIWUEaqG5UlSoqI3BnKdOj8QObkhu3MunN4WIeJiPa8JQmi2UN-GXgWccyjOXfiqHS7Jo=w330-h333" width="330" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I still have to pinch myself that my working life is
far from over. The time that I descend to my office and sit in front of a blank
screen contemplating what I need to write next is always a source of concern.
However, whatever the topic I still find ways to write something sufficiently fresh,
enough that my clients welcome the story telling that comes with each finished
article or blog post. In so doing, I have been able to attract an eclectic
group of clients that then gives me the opportunity to push boundaries just a
little.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For now, however, what is occupying my thoughts has to
do with coming to terms that I have based Margo and mine business mostly on
storytelling and have been doing so for quite some time. Yes, I also help my
clients create a strategy (and tactics) as needed, when asked we create data
sheets and even modernize websites, but at the heart of our business is storytelling
as we come up with creative ways to promote our clients business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxS7h5ZKAROl3I-oShiXsLr96VrdR2YlqISumfW3UkpeaBQcvEK3ooj-dp38Bmxhl39qxa_IAJWz3lGSPJubfpTHA_DriQiqDSv4Asoqj9BE6clcWo8f9oErKQgw1qKEI3ZwQIOXCReUZB-nfXR-h6gu8JM_5nUD2dmpDKBc4SVj_UMLUrHBYu8uD0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="279" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxS7h5ZKAROl3I-oShiXsLr96VrdR2YlqISumfW3UkpeaBQcvEK3ooj-dp38Bmxhl39qxa_IAJWz3lGSPJubfpTHA_DriQiqDSv4Asoqj9BE6clcWo8f9oErKQgw1qKEI3ZwQIOXCReUZB-nfXR-h6gu8JM_5nUD2dmpDKBc4SVj_UMLUrHBYu8uD0=w340-h353" width="340" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As September comes to an end and fall approaches, we
will begin our thirteenth year that is, if counting on my fingers has given me
the right answer. It was back in October of 2009 that we launched Pyalla
Technologies, LLC on the understanding that this would provide me with
additional networking opportunities while I looked for my next corporate gig.
But then something happened along the way where I lost interest in returning to
corporate life and began to appreciate that old saying, “do what you love,
you'll never work a day in your life.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Little did I know that when just a few years earlier, in
August of 2007, as I started my first blog, Real Time View, which began as an
experiment among my colleagues, proved to be the link between my love affair
with storytelling and the ability to transition to a new career path. However,
perhaps it had something to do with genetics. Perhaps being a third generation
columnist and magazine (albeit digital these days) supporter it was inevitable.
As for the photo above if you haven’t already worked it out it is a typesetting
machine that allowed operators to create lines of type. In lead, no less!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRrwjvq18ZTwtBkSPEsDrd4Y3KGAxHf_dA2TKPY6x-MlBV1iXHQlxbqB-fb2FS0glevktgWwXDz7mNERfpS3AJDojoH_WHhZenTMypSkz9Be069Zb-2YOgH02fVBNSKifEQnGXRZcUHC173dVjbJzj-SL_DAJMDyyxg5ptr96qIKfCEflxjMPP9O5b" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="258" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRrwjvq18ZTwtBkSPEsDrd4Y3KGAxHf_dA2TKPY6x-MlBV1iXHQlxbqB-fb2FS0glevktgWwXDz7mNERfpS3AJDojoH_WHhZenTMypSkz9Be069Zb-2YOgH02fVBNSKifEQnGXRZcUHC173dVjbJzj-SL_DAJMDyyxg5ptr96qIKfCEflxjMPP9O5b=w274-h365" width="274" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I came across this Linotype machine in the small
mountain town of Edward, Colorado. It was during a weekend jaunt that took us
to Vail before a side excursion took us to Palisades, Colorado. We have looked
forward to this short break as it gave us the opportunity to drive our new
Corvette. Yes, the other side of being a storyteller is that in the field of
technology there are so few of us that we have encountered little downside from
leaving corporate life. And yet, it probably is all about the toys. We joined
our good friends and neighbors, Don and Anne Marie Fowler, for this time away
from the keyboard and they opened our eyes to a side of Vail we simply hadn’t
encountered before. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our hotel was typical mix of Germany’s Bavaria and
Austria’s Tyrol that with the cobblestone passages projected an image that was
miles removed from anything American. As for the restaurants the Fowlers took
us too, they were truly gems. This has been one of the real discoveries
unearthed with being able to work together. Margo and I can schedule time away
from those blessed keyboards essentially whenever important business milestones
have been reached. As the purveyors of a bimonthly digital publication, NonStop
Insider, where it isn’t so much gossip we pass on but rather the spreaders of
positive outcomes for the HPE NonStop system (nee Tandem Computers) there is a
three week period when we are extremely busy. Then again, the community this
digital publication serves has proven to be a great source of material that is
never stale. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqkRCbCDfWZfXM-8ZIDRQX-uvU3uw9UBLMFV92rSXEeW3tY84R5CTC9AsXZtPh6tebj-m8f7u2WxPlVZYyLmA166z4_Zv4QDq51L_WgQNCNkmzdTETjg7KxDhWJbJz4-jla1Uw7UUSwF7hAE_Q-bVOcMME3iSPLdBdkZbybBnxv5oxKeznPbgXBwB5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="291" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqkRCbCDfWZfXM-8ZIDRQX-uvU3uw9UBLMFV92rSXEeW3tY84R5CTC9AsXZtPh6tebj-m8f7u2WxPlVZYyLmA166z4_Zv4QDq51L_WgQNCNkmzdTETjg7KxDhWJbJz4-jla1Uw7UUSwF7hAE_Q-bVOcMME3iSPLdBdkZbybBnxv5oxKeznPbgXBwB5=w307-h351" width="307" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If it has been some time since you last visited Vail
then it is hard to miss the signs that this is a different place altogether
from any place else in the Colorado Rockies. A quiet Saturday stroll around the
many hotels and residences highlights just how well the occupants have taken
the imagery of southern Germany and Austria to heart. To think that there isn’t
any snow on the ground and yet, it pulls a crowd no matter the season. On the
other hand, Margo and I have come to the conclusion that we do need to return
in winter just to take it all in – imagine the scenery above with just a hint
of falling snow that dusts the buildings with icing sugar! Amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was only a couple of years
back and well before the planet was in the grip of a global pandemic that we
spent a week in Munich. One of my all-time favorite townships there rarely is
an excuse offered not to return. Even though it was March which can be a mix of
weather from snow to sunshine – in our case there was a little more snow
falling that sunshine – it reminded Margo and me of the ties we both had to
Europe. I spent a number of years commuting to Munich when I worked for Nixdorf
Computers in the 1980s and the sight of pork knuckles on a rotisserie together
with singing coming from a nearby beer hall was always enough to pull me from
my hotel room no matter what the conditions outside were like. And this is the
feeling I got from walking the streets of Vail. Of an evening where the
similarities were particularly strong and new stories can be written. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjfPAPMYFA3ImI2flK0D-OV8AD0qtvv1k-FCxG0LPwDEl79ealw5Ftrt9Q70qZZ1wk-0b36xSWgOmh8VOQqPoE89BC_0vzEGyiuMOF85pUnIJeNIsqTt-vG49rL6uAJ_CU9KLWtotDNRyiGWyp-drPGdoZtOz7Z5mzJdfkl_ONwWpx_-ii803htVbW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="298" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjfPAPMYFA3ImI2flK0D-OV8AD0qtvv1k-FCxG0LPwDEl79ealw5Ftrt9Q70qZZ1wk-0b36xSWgOmh8VOQqPoE89BC_0vzEGyiuMOF85pUnIJeNIsqTt-vG49rL6uAJ_CU9KLWtotDNRyiGWyp-drPGdoZtOz7Z5mzJdfkl_ONwWpx_-ii803htVbW=w329-h356" width="329" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, our trip to Vail and Palisades wasn’t the only
journey we undertook of late. There has been a complete transformation of our
garage that was totally unexpected even as it has delighted us. It was as if many
different decisions we normally spend time discussing suddenly coalesced and it
all happened over a period of weeks and not years. Then again, for Margo and me
and the lifestyle we are currently enjoying thanks to Pyalla Technologies, the
unexpected has become normal of late. Presented with a business opportunity to
present at a conference in Toronto, then of course we would drive. Why not? The
return trip is only 3,333.3 miles! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Consider it too a celebratory drive. Surely, with the
end of a dozen years working, we could take a weekend either side to return to
highways we travelled often before the abnormal times set in. We already knew
life was changing. No more RAT tests 48 hours before we leave on a trip. No
more masks at venues we attended. No more self-distancing. It was a time to
return to restaurants we enjoy and whether it was Mastros, the 801 Chophouse or
simply Flemings, we had the opportunity to enjoy it all yet again. If Vail was
so enjoyable and the Palisade restaurant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peche</i>
an unexpected delight, putting together seven evenings was a return to normalcy
we had often wondered whether we would ever experience again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSzcSzLvKBFVsfndR1y-87vlPzpWoKk-KAYsxSD18PJdipT0u-Jo28-Bk0MSwcpas5U8PKE0FzH8I9comtPS3UYCRJB9u0IKzvCxMYd-OVh67mVVUZmvGnKs8Iz1hPbuXmMelVw1JiMT2Yb5t-cBOCzcwUnvkawUUfCfCO2KSCj5zWZctfLmcEBleC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="320" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSzcSzLvKBFVsfndR1y-87vlPzpWoKk-KAYsxSD18PJdipT0u-Jo28-Bk0MSwcpas5U8PKE0FzH8I9comtPS3UYCRJB9u0IKzvCxMYd-OVh67mVVUZmvGnKs8Iz1hPbuXmMelVw1JiMT2Yb5t-cBOCzcwUnvkawUUfCfCO2KSCj5zWZctfLmcEBleC=w354-h316" width="354" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As for the choice of vehicles then we were faced with a
choice between three untested long-distance drivers but it took no time at all
to close on our new SUV. To say it’s a beast we ever owned would be an
understatement but when you have an SUV sporting 550hp with torque of 520 then
well yes, why not? For those who may remember last year when our beloved Range
Rover was completely totaled in a wreck on our nearby Interstate highway, it
took a full year before its replacement arrived. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Throw into this mix the fact
that our insurance company not only paid out the lease but sent us a sizable
check that reflected the uptick in value of used cars during the mess we are experiencing
with so many supply chain disruptions. But we will take such windfalls any time, thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOF3d52FVbTc2HoItm6y1oZPbk6quma--W408jcrPft-ATC7T5preHvEyZN4xyBTmX9j29MFWLSet5WO6PpuGa23jMJIeVhP1bdz4XAD-t8OAwAnVJW_DYqAlIg5qBW8bcbA7k6v5psLRGem19AIk18-2hDzKkM50nc5CrS8PtpG7rYnlZYwYM4Ker" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="341" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOF3d52FVbTc2HoItm6y1oZPbk6quma--W408jcrPft-ATC7T5preHvEyZN4xyBTmX9j29MFWLSet5WO6PpuGa23jMJIeVhP1bdz4XAD-t8OAwAnVJW_DYqAlIg5qBW8bcbA7k6v5psLRGem19AIk18-2hDzKkM50nc5CrS8PtpG7rYnlZYwYM4Ker=w417-h214" width="417" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Jaguar F Pace SVR is not just a beast but
completely track worthy if such a thing can be envisioned. Having experienced
driving a Jeep SRT 392 on track I have to admit, the temptation to take his
vehicle on track is considerable. But it won’t happen, so no holding your
breath for us to write a report on the track worthiness of this 5,000 lb.
beast: Economical? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the speeds me maintained over the course of the week,
returning 23 mpg on US gallons was remarkable as was the ability these days to
maintain 80mph+ cruising speeds on almost all of the Interstate highways.
Furthermore, we had loaded the SVR with all the ancillary equipment you need
for an event where you need to set up tables and provide meaningful trash and
trinkets to all attendees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But there was one more option we could have chosen and
it was the surprise package. Having received an invitation from Range Rover dealer
to the unveiling of the latest iteration of the Range Rover Sport, how could we
not turn up for Champaign and canapes? There would be a keyboard player
alongside the entertainment the dealership managers were always up for
providing. But then, it all went a kilter just a matter of minutes after walking
onto the showroom floor. It wasn’t the Range Rover that had going gaga but
something new over on the Jaguar side of the dealership.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLuITCaqqEu6bUTp2zQ_-IiSAGoeO6Dq0Apj-SmisUVcdMunW1APOeLQwY4LXGPngLILwwtQxqO_w8GocVhhnroqIReGJh9cJV1hHbhM2BHi4iiSyTTx5gzuBWqaA6KsDv0xTcPEHHRAPGBq6NJfIu_xJudfa5ET66mpLECH6Bl8Wi2zxVD7KJNaE1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="310" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLuITCaqqEu6bUTp2zQ_-IiSAGoeO6Dq0Apj-SmisUVcdMunW1APOeLQwY4LXGPngLILwwtQxqO_w8GocVhhnroqIReGJh9cJV1hHbhM2BHi4iiSyTTx5gzuBWqaA6KsDv0xTcPEHHRAPGBq6NJfIu_xJudfa5ET66mpLECH6Bl8Wi2zxVD7KJNaE1=w404-h304" width="404" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My family heritage is such that on my father’s side,
there were uncles who really liked cars. It was my dad’s youngest brother David
who turned up at our house with a new car every time, be they Renaults or
Volkswagens (mostly Karmann Ghia) while dad’s other brother Ern loved English
cars mostly Rover and Morris. Dad on the other hand was strictly GM with a
number of Holdens finding their way into the garage. Not to put too finer point
on the heritage angle all three were newspapermen. Again, it’s sometimes
difficult to shake off what is clearly genetic. As for me, I gave up a long
time ago. Sure wish my dad had been a storyteller!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The car in question was a
Jaguar F Type R that sported a 575hp 520 lbs of torque supercharged 5 liter V8.
The very same engine as is in the F Pace SVR, although it is slightly detuned
for the F Pace being an SUV after all. Only a few months earlier we had elected
to buy out of lease our then current F Type R Dynamic but given the choice
between keeping a V6 and opting for the rip-snorting V8 well, it was a no
brainer. Throw in the greatly improved trade-in amount and we made the decision
to buy on the spot. And did we mention the new F Type is a convertible and that
it is very red?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWVwUzAn-4Wyqm9Ce5HoRMfAGmEZ1pRt8yDpVIPZ3L_UTcjd2T7eNy5_qvoFNvQ3GXBOyA5_b5_fIoVNPCQHdB0DZ2Aafu3SQ9UUQ6ys_xIHHDa34FPVm4pMy0AQqdhy5-DJSkfaK0eAbOi0Fd3Tbg1HzrXF7KU8-skH1cTZ-oLlbQ0RmCGwksOAJy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="380" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWVwUzAn-4Wyqm9Ce5HoRMfAGmEZ1pRt8yDpVIPZ3L_UTcjd2T7eNy5_qvoFNvQ3GXBOyA5_b5_fIoVNPCQHdB0DZ2Aafu3SQ9UUQ6ys_xIHHDa34FPVm4pMy0AQqdhy5-DJSkfaK0eAbOi0Fd3Tbg1HzrXF7KU8-skH1cTZ-oLlbQ0RmCGwksOAJy=w394-h234" width="394" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The garage has changed in unexpected ways. The return
to travelling is upon us in earnest. The opportunity to dine where we liked and
the opportunity to spend time with friends and colleagues (without
restrictions) were circumstances that we so missed. To do it all over the
course of a month well, to quote that punch line, proved <i>priceless</i>. But on this last month of our twelfth year of business
and recognizing that there is only so much heritage you can ignore, work has
never looked better. There is always that sneaky feeling that I will be working
for another decade or so but then again, from all who know me well there is
that kind of unspoken thought that well, “he’s not working is he?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so it might very well be; retirement never factors
in to what you love to do and as long as I have readership and as long as I can
continue to be creative, there will always be that motivation to return
downstairs to my office, face that blank screen and type something entirely
different. Storytelling is a never ending story of itself; storylines emerge
from shared experiences and we plan on experiencing even more over the course
of the next two years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For those who know that Margo
and I spent time in Canada this past week there can be only one last photo. It
wraps up this post with just enough content that says it all. Yes, we dined at
Tim Hortons and the donuts were perfect. And yes, my own heritage includes two years living in Canada a long time ago. Given the occasion was the approach of
our working anniversary what better way to celebrate the start of yet one more
working year! Champagne may always be readily at hand but good, sickly-sweet, donuts?
Not so much!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh116gzzI3OEiSiiFDuw4R6C3XVipa2D3hbqvPYnWkHgOpX2AWw6fi0yCPEOElFpB7mGodnFTXWC2I1Hk4H7tC-Mf2LE0R-fD1QLY3Uqqvalsbq6hxPcWBHUfVHkdXqG1bAzJnIdJ3MgLB3bxgU1c-XVNyBIB-oeRA7Fys78q7XbHNdvTsTpuwdKj_r" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="321" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh116gzzI3OEiSiiFDuw4R6C3XVipa2D3hbqvPYnWkHgOpX2AWw6fi0yCPEOElFpB7mGodnFTXWC2I1Hk4H7tC-Mf2LE0R-fD1QLY3Uqqvalsbq6hxPcWBHUfVHkdXqG1bAzJnIdJ3MgLB3bxgU1c-XVNyBIB-oeRA7Fys78q7XbHNdvTsTpuwdKj_r=w361-h348" width="361" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-8572146647619952762022-08-21T14:14:00.008-07:002022-08-21T14:16:43.437-07:00Dreamin’ ‘bout the West Coast<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_idg0nfAeDCmTn3dTKPHPqGwn52myLyTl-rghPKnJ05Op911K4xcZTb_cbb1kmtXc9ftguF_oIdKT2WFbrpBWjIP8ORf9SJ0TM4sgbsQ2LAAeXYK9FNiDjOBRACu4n-53I3MK3Li69IHWSt3nFgBTUP-K4wwwq5zv3xuxlX7x4ynr6k6pM-bJJKtf/s1256/IMG_1668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1256" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_idg0nfAeDCmTn3dTKPHPqGwn52myLyTl-rghPKnJ05Op911K4xcZTb_cbb1kmtXc9ftguF_oIdKT2WFbrpBWjIP8ORf9SJ0TM4sgbsQ2LAAeXYK9FNiDjOBRACu4n-53I3MK3Li69IHWSt3nFgBTUP-K4wwwq5zv3xuxlX7x4ynr6k6pM-bJJKtf/w409-h313/IMG_1668.jpg" width="409" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I've
been dreamin' 'bout the West Coast (I've been dreamin')<br />
Found some faces that I don't know (I've been dreamin' about it)<br />
I'm seein' signs for California<br />
Trade the shade for somethin' warmer<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Business necessitated a trip to Northern California. We
would be visiting areas surrounding San Francisco and it would be in two parts.
Following one weekend where we would be on the peninsula proper a week or so
later, we would be in the city. What to do? Two trips? Or were there other
options to consider? In the days preceding our trip the words of this popular
song keep playing in my mind. It was stark reminder that it has been two plus
years since we last stepped foot in San Francisco, but then we had been
dreaming of this trip for some time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All that time ago it was to spend time with our dear
friends, Dieter and Chris Monch. You can check out the post that followed that
short BizCation with this hyperlink, </span><a href="https://buckle-up-travel.blogspot.com/2020/01/going-coastal-i-hear-call-of-sea-yet.html"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Going
coastal – I hear the call of the sea, yet again!</span></a><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Going coastal seemed an appropriate title for the post as on that occasion, we
hugged the coastline as we ventured down the Pacific Coast Highway more simply
known as California Highway One. However, this time there would be no car.
Filling in the time would see us once again being entertained by the Princess. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDhuIpBycH6gsK0lkfEmfgP5G2kXHaKgQi_IqUMJ-1M_mFX6WEK8ApS4HxTolHMa8QqLKOKps8IlAqGqfSBy0rlsDXxtXlXCSZGY33lxK-5DupFt3fYPhpIHQeTC8z51yFFu-E7cfpUZVs5NlDuD6C95iAuyGD3Js6-SHlZV2ZUwv2m3YMdQLU70n-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="290" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDhuIpBycH6gsK0lkfEmfgP5G2kXHaKgQi_IqUMJ-1M_mFX6WEK8ApS4HxTolHMa8QqLKOKps8IlAqGqfSBy0rlsDXxtXlXCSZGY33lxK-5DupFt3fYPhpIHQeTC8z51yFFu-E7cfpUZVs5NlDuD6C95iAuyGD3Js6-SHlZV2ZUwv2m3YMdQLU70n-=w329-h342" width="329" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On completion of
our business activities, we headed to the wharves. Sighting of our Princess of
the week, the Ruby Princess, also brought back memories. We couldn’t be
dreaming, could we? Wasn’t this the controversial vessel that was hit hard by
COVID and spent an extended period drifting off the southern coast of New South
Wales, Australia, given authorities wouldn’t let it dock? It had only just gone
through a refit when that happened and our first observation upon boarding was
that indeed needed more time in a dry dock. <o:p></o:p></span></p><i><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The motivation for
selecting this particular Princess was not something we pursued with any sort
of formality. It was more a case of taking what we could. The downside of
facing a week in San Francisco is that it has become an unsafe city to spend
any amount of time there even as it struggles to deal with an “un-housed”
presence that is out of control. Setting aside politics on this occasion, it
seemed to us to be a far less expensive proposition to spend time with a
Princess than paying the current hotel rates for a stay that would see us
spending most of the time in a hotel lobby bar. And of course we made a similar
choice when we skipped New York city for another cruise to nowhere in
particular rather than paying for time in a city that leaves us cold. You can
read about that in the post </span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://buckle-up-travel.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-b-zs-of-fall.html"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
A, B, Zs of Fall!</span></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3BGAw_HV8sWq_JVW2hnvgTUaj7kf3drCgGcJjSJocjTeNialb-GYiwMYrxUTG79rWoTlIZ-JT_ex0ptE7RZe0wNTPStn0Iu8cAxVA69AIN_UhApfPBxKjmA5geK1EZXdiQVQVIJ_0hfgeck5oymtV4vteEycrFcv4_4Hk4Ju6C4VVokRQPTNP-yGe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="326" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3BGAw_HV8sWq_JVW2hnvgTUaj7kf3drCgGcJjSJocjTeNialb-GYiwMYrxUTG79rWoTlIZ-JT_ex0ptE7RZe0wNTPStn0Iu8cAxVA69AIN_UhApfPBxKjmA5geK1EZXdiQVQVIJ_0hfgeck5oymtV4vteEycrFcv4_4Hk4Ju6C4VVokRQPTNP-yGe=w438-h382" width="438" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Princess may indeed have benefitted from a complete
paint refresh but then again, everyone was happily housed and the lobby bar was
sparsely populated. On the other hand, when we arrived in the port of Haines, a
little south of Skagway, we counted three Princess cruise ships docked in the
harbor. Not only did we see the Majestic Princess but the arrival of the
Discovery Princess launched in 2022 with a displacement of 145,000 tones making
it the biggest Princess of all time. By comparison, the Ruby Princess displaced
less than 115,000 tons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I have sailed on a lot of Princess cruise
ships and the current crop offers an element of consistency that leads us to
feel right at home. Once on board, we head to Vines in the Piazza. Not for a
drink well, most of the time, but rather it affording just a single table with
two chairs alongside a porthole that fills the immediate space, roof to table
top, affording us a constantly changing vista as the ocean slides by. Simply
and for the most part quiet, it is where we grab our morning cappuccinos and
pick up on where we left off with books we were reading. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyqXHb-BXBIG3qXOO16mf3UboZBAbeA9KHxVwA7bFkOD-XJw5s4pC6K3rhZIRatfSJmdtofg0m3agbM-cMEX28tAKYQjQJfFE_S63rvfi7hQrbqPF9NMJDGkSqhIqysiMzuIJ6QOZ0XytA_FFe3S7GBWP4fSXOmQkgV-uvoeUrxVjXO4B2-cOQYunv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="336" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyqXHb-BXBIG3qXOO16mf3UboZBAbeA9KHxVwA7bFkOD-XJw5s4pC6K3rhZIRatfSJmdtofg0m3agbM-cMEX28tAKYQjQJfFE_S63rvfi7hQrbqPF9NMJDGkSqhIqysiMzuIJ6QOZ0XytA_FFe3S7GBWP4fSXOmQkgV-uvoeUrxVjXO4B2-cOQYunv=w334-h352" width="334" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I've
been starin' up at the greyest skies<br />
Tryin' to find myself some luck, but it's runnin' dry<br />
It's like the weather makes the worst of my cloudy mind<br />
I could really use a dose of some paradise<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After passing under the GoldenGate Bridge that,
unfortunately for photographers, was clothed in the usual summer fog and barely
visible, we headed up the coast and past the lighthouse at Point Reyes. Cloudy,
with rain misting down on us both! It was Mark Twain who stated that “the
coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco” and the region didn’t
fail to deliver. A dose of Paradise? Sure would be nice to experience but then
again, we consider any Princess to be gift from heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Together we have been sailing for the entirety of our
married life. From the late 1990s until now we have sailed on a dozen vessels.
As for myself, I first stepped on a P&O vessel, then the forerunner to
Princess, as far back as 1973 when it was the Himalaya that was doing the
cruise circuit out of Sydney. The Oronsay then followed the Himalaya as the
cruising destination and with both ships built in the 1960s displacing less
than 30,000 tons and, with cruising in its infancy, leaving a lot to be desired
by today’s standards. But as an employee of the container shipping arm of
P&O, I was able to cruise each year for AUD$50 so you will never hear me
complaining. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjspE3JxzHomkmrR5iWpDDgE8LwQRJwrAYUUqCqIzcml4Wj4XgAfMd4kv1HjqeudWZ0vmWN-YxuJ8jsyR6pYBshORZk2GJsmwr1Ue_xdUi15Tsq34uwvOhREjG5ak2xudw_iNDLwGV_QOvszRzzrWZKtrlEyutTqoY988_U4_pEKTWYCgJ5HRDd9DLN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="289" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjspE3JxzHomkmrR5iWpDDgE8LwQRJwrAYUUqCqIzcml4Wj4XgAfMd4kv1HjqeudWZ0vmWN-YxuJ8jsyR6pYBshORZk2GJsmwr1Ue_xdUi15Tsq34uwvOhREjG5ak2xudw_iNDLwGV_QOvszRzzrWZKtrlEyutTqoY988_U4_pEKTWYCgJ5HRDd9DLN=w430-h437" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paradise?
For many years now we have elected not to partake in shore excursions. And this
trip wasn’t any different. Unless you call our last minute cancellation of the
only shore excursion we booked – a boat trip to an oyster farm where samples
were to be provided. For us, a quick look from our balcony cabin was all we
indulged in and with weather being unfavorable on most days, it was back down
to the Piazza for another coffee and a pastry treat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjStsOxJ1mv9eRUE_h6wDmqp-WZM2_19Y42bFvMRINJxJTgCJ6Pj82leThrCChqwv65LvHbasBQaS9q7qf1K2K1qvSMwAHJ13_nyLK2vM91akcycxTuYio2BGIQJlEbgb0wa0b-pj0cWbhamcr7YTPz9CKkvw9fISXVbBkWvytAmQtIrwUJR2fiscHn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="344" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjStsOxJ1mv9eRUE_h6wDmqp-WZM2_19Y42bFvMRINJxJTgCJ6Pj82leThrCChqwv65LvHbasBQaS9q7qf1K2K1qvSMwAHJ13_nyLK2vM91akcycxTuYio2BGIQJlEbgb0wa0b-pj0cWbhamcr7YTPz9CKkvw9fISXVbBkWvytAmQtIrwUJR2fiscHn=w414-h312" width="414" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There were some occasions when the clouds lifted and the
light became better when it was clearly an opportunity to take in the colors on
display at some of the ports. Our first stop had been Ketchikan followed by
Haines and then it was a full day in Juneau. Similar in many ways where a
dependence on the presence of the cruise industry was evident everywhere you
turned. Sailing into Ketchikan, we passed by a pod of Orcas and that was a
local greeting we hadn’t expected, but then again, as the songwriter penned,
under the greyest skies<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>(we found
ourselves) some luck. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHW3DvfKSORbv9ZwmH2i4VaAiM7T1q_JpxkLavNOIVdHA5f2oCksfarZprDqCJwIc-kboP0HW-HqNhA83VgKEP8Db2nh3OpnX1gfNYj6hhai7LjTNZsaPWQ6I2RlL_WwFIR2ePxCeyNaQzXUUEgsc8VnK46gvdqW82cpO5UEEOPTrpQyHrgZ6hzoAf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="481" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHW3DvfKSORbv9ZwmH2i4VaAiM7T1q_JpxkLavNOIVdHA5f2oCksfarZprDqCJwIc-kboP0HW-HqNhA83VgKEP8Db2nh3OpnX1gfNYj6hhai7LjTNZsaPWQ6I2RlL_WwFIR2ePxCeyNaQzXUUEgsc8VnK46gvdqW82cpO5UEEOPTrpQyHrgZ6hzoAf=w398-h405" width="398" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After leaving Juneau we sailed up Endicott Arm. This is
a fjord like body of water well to the east of the more popular Glacier Bay.
And yet, as morning light shone down through the surrounding peaks of the
coastal mountain range, we glimpsed Dawes Glacier. This is a tidewater glacier
when frequent calving can be seen and while we didn’t witness such an occurrence
firsthand, the evidence of carving was all around us as we sailed back through
a myriad display of small icebergs. Abundant birdlife everywhere with the
occasional sighting of much larger fish disturbing the stillness of the waters
over which these birds patrolled, back and forth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjry_Bp51rhzGeJyb96Pid639Fv2ZvqJu376Q10vzqMOtUVF3_2Q0k4VcQpVqg9jRMJbttSPt_OCUJw3ksuSHAboJLggiIFmj1sC-XB1anLvGLSK2w6-Gc7L_shvZXRAqiZp-6UzPhZD6guuPPJcrAuZ4hqTOSnrdcIgLbbyRfJxB1XijeTR4hRe6Z8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="324" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjry_Bp51rhzGeJyb96Pid639Fv2ZvqJu376Q10vzqMOtUVF3_2Q0k4VcQpVqg9jRMJbttSPt_OCUJw3ksuSHAboJLggiIFmj1sC-XB1anLvGLSK2w6-Gc7L_shvZXRAqiZp-6UzPhZD6guuPPJcrAuZ4hqTOSnrdcIgLbbyRfJxB1XijeTR4hRe6Z8=w404-h368" width="404" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ain't
nothin' that you want'll cost you more than time<br />
If you're tryna find yourself, better get in line<br />
I'm countin' up my money and spendin' to get it right<br />
Got the future in my pocket, I'm spendin' it all tonight<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The waters ran deep in these parts and as such were
quite still. As we continued to sail back to the main channel of the Inside
Passage I couldn’t help but stare at the patterns that our Princess’s wake
created. They were symmetrical and would run as far back as the waters allowed
being broken up solely by the currents that continued once our vessel had
passed. It made me think about the need to be out on the sea and the
restlessness I have always experienced following long periods ashore. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Put it down to my Sydney heritage or perhaps to the
tales from my father and grandfather who both set sail on ships that today
would have horrified us leaving us to wonder just how seaworthy they were. And
yet, they carried my grandfather to Sydney from England and took my father on
island hopping with Burns Philp tramp steamers. Then again, for them spending
the money to sail was what helped them both to get it right. For Grandfather it
carried him to his new home whereas for my father it probably influenced his
decision to join the Air Force when hostilities erupted with WW2.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLieed7ogmUPcCl7rPL56Owq8WOHKloEXPKC9Vkp8J_Des5tQlY3WVylFj19gWVz8om1R7x0tePWwUosvjlUQQe7wU-T_OALmSPQw9kueJzX5KLmGWLRlZQQQRbhxmIZCo0pqfRchrppWx2J_qjiU8YNrOlHCBg2S6gXthc0kBfs_0ZBat16VwyLL9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="401" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLieed7ogmUPcCl7rPL56Owq8WOHKloEXPKC9Vkp8J_Des5tQlY3WVylFj19gWVz8om1R7x0tePWwUosvjlUQQe7wU-T_OALmSPQw9kueJzX5KLmGWLRlZQQQRbhxmIZCo0pqfRchrppWx2J_qjiU8YNrOlHCBg2S6gXthc0kBfs_0ZBat16VwyLL9=w344-h413" width="344" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><span face="Verdana, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps my favorite photo from this latest BizCation
excursion; balconies fading all the way to the horizon! Could have been taken
anywhere on this trip but in reality it was the last day when the clouds
cleared and we were bathed in warm sunshine. Reflected as the wake was on each
cabins window it was a reminder too that every passage across any ocean
witnesses our passing but will never retain any memory or artifact of our time
on the water. It abates and is gone; a decline that can only be thought of as
being a reminder to us that our time on this earth is not long-lasting. But
before I wax lyrical or become maudlin with what sea journeys trigger, it is
now onto the next voyage, yet another opportunity to capitalize on a BizCation
that has been in the works for almost a year.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Safe to say in parts small to large, we are all
adventurous dreamers. And on that note and foreshadowing a lot more still to
come, all I can say is cheers! A toast to all adventurers and to those who
maybe dreamin' 'bout the West Coast, and beyond!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH_0bvXV6fJGEAfQJ-CTrONBS6KMSkQa1-Su7vMZDbfogmmK3e1W2DznwBbBvLG0CKJBkqr6OoYkIixH1V-sJUH1g2TwG1PaA2107gQRAfxnIyHXidGBm4-1rfkAh7iU3NZnD0OKqy4Zpkyo2_SGHFsJgH7gY1YkdDqRBsQ8DHlcE0drkeV0eBdDUR" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="324" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH_0bvXV6fJGEAfQJ-CTrONBS6KMSkQa1-Su7vMZDbfogmmK3e1W2DznwBbBvLG0CKJBkqr6OoYkIixH1V-sJUH1g2TwG1PaA2107gQRAfxnIyHXidGBm4-1rfkAh7iU3NZnD0OKqy4Zpkyo2_SGHFsJgH7gY1YkdDqRBsQ8DHlcE0drkeV0eBdDUR=w409-h446" width="409" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p><p></p><br /></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-86511157448747459522022-08-09T14:09:00.001-07:002022-08-09T14:09:39.402-07:00It’s been a summer of housekeeping, habits and hobbies.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcJBXzvrGosanaAZxea2wKtg8kTwrxj-dOQyWNbTlBUjc9BsD7UEZbYrj8G_pcfhX_OZ8pjl-9JJ59XCd6WAqXkoQv-51PCJLHg_9_UztS_jnwdo9wKBl5fdX_xiwrCQduOXW6DDoLgyhDFLSuqhoeYRKe4MZ9PagHKdboLxmvwLcoglQJAOiME6Nq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="177" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcJBXzvrGosanaAZxea2wKtg8kTwrxj-dOQyWNbTlBUjc9BsD7UEZbYrj8G_pcfhX_OZ8pjl-9JJ59XCd6WAqXkoQv-51PCJLHg_9_UztS_jnwdo9wKBl5fdX_xiwrCQduOXW6DDoLgyhDFLSuqhoeYRKe4MZ9PagHKdboLxmvwLcoglQJAOiME6Nq=w304-h394" width="304" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The late blooming of roses lining the perimeter fence reminds
us both that summertime is well and truly upon us. Spring may have seen an
explosion of color but around our home here in Windsor, Colorado, there is
always something throwing off a splash of color. We continue to be surprised at
just how well those little plants, bushes and trees have done in the few years
we have lived here, but then again, it has been a summer to remember. Good
spring rainfall has seen light afternoons rain showers continue deep into
summer.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Light afternoon rain showers? Well, there has been a
lot of atmospheric activity and would be more accurate to say that the evening
thunderstorms, typical at this time of year for the Rockies' front ranges, have
produced a little more rain than normal such that barely a day has passed
without a clap of thunder or two waking us from our early evening downtime. The
end result though has been a level of greenery unseen for many years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLuR5rxz3B__OctAMOG49oQVqXBJByqgZo5Kqqd8c3uRHDIPiOSO3d_yqDOuhMSXUApV8VrQXFYvCEKm-RbwUmimgqlp0XtkrDem66CNgzeoY5aruslOlD0UbyEOiM90gD368bR4tvv29tbyI5hmcHOwYWhB0Fal4WXPpCCId69c4YwwvY5N9QSWD-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="170" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLuR5rxz3B__OctAMOG49oQVqXBJByqgZo5Kqqd8c3uRHDIPiOSO3d_yqDOuhMSXUApV8VrQXFYvCEKm-RbwUmimgqlp0XtkrDem66CNgzeoY5aruslOlD0UbyEOiM90gD368bR4tvv29tbyI5hmcHOwYWhB0Fal4WXPpCCId69c4YwwvY5N9QSWD-=w379-h285" width="379" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those readers who may not have of late been keeping
up with the posts to social media channels we completed what we consider our
last construction project for our home. It took our contractor more than a year
to assemble the necessary decorative stones for the wall we wanted to build
around the concrete pad we had poured when our house was under construction.
The drop-off to the lawn was just a tad too steep for Margo and me to be
comfortable and we were more than a little worried that one of our friends
might simply step off the pad not realizing the thirty plus inch drop. But
build it we did. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for that stone it was a match for the stonework we
chose as a feature element of our home. It was always part of the plan as we
like to say, but with travel commitments and a constantly changing list of
priorities building this wall somehow fell to the bottom of the list. No
matter; we made it and the finished look to our home’s lower level that it
provided proved as decorative and functional as we had hoped. There is a degree
of privacy coupled with a level of intimacy that now encourages us to simply
take time out of an evening to just sit and relax. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX6_gpMRydkNLS0PZrvwbFREw0pB0OeAvEi2wUUqrndeWVUDUrjp81qyxqzChf4h2tFyGKIlu8mKKNd53RN-VjWg3iZKpHVu519fhMV-J_jZv1XOV9MihhpUMHBDhaEz_XOxtlorEb-W07Z-dMkoS3hvm92IR8_EjpMexcm7Srt_b4xS3VPP9yI0Eb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="171" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX6_gpMRydkNLS0PZrvwbFREw0pB0OeAvEi2wUUqrndeWVUDUrjp81qyxqzChf4h2tFyGKIlu8mKKNd53RN-VjWg3iZKpHVu519fhMV-J_jZv1XOV9MihhpUMHBDhaEz_XOxtlorEb-W07Z-dMkoS3hvm92IR8_EjpMexcm7Srt_b4xS3VPP9yI0Eb=w262-h340" width="262" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The outdoor pad now with the wall in place represents
an extension of the retreat we dreamed of constructing (at some point) as the
house was being built. It’s a retreat in that under the main floor deck, this
outdoor pad would see the addition of a bar, a high-top table and a fire pit
where we could toast s’mores. The ideal place for an early evening cocktail as
it becomes a place to enjoy lengthy conversations. The addition of lamps and
candles only added to the overall ambiance of the setting. While not large by
any measure it’s big enough for a dozen or so guests to feel at ease without
any possibility of over-crowding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Margo and I continue to
work and we continue to drive. The connection between the two is something we
don’t try to hide – we enjoy the time it takes for us to reach a trade
conference or exhibition. Our consulting business continues to evolve even as
our client list changes. These days we are focused on all things data; from the
creation of data to the movement of data to where it is the target of analytics
processes including input for basic artificial intelligence (AI) modelling.
Writing about such a theme has us constantly returning to the books and even
quizzing subject matter experts to ensure the stories we come up with make
sense. Having an escape as each story is finalized is critical to our mental
state and on that score, finishing the house the way we have done is proving to
be a big help.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPLa2He6_VNhanWL-L0_yhFFLFBEfRwy9zL1A2bfttDSMStM_7eKckTOmL9Iw26CBapm_Xf8pEmYEHcRHouAx5kqxRW7wQbbU1_NCqve30BXgfkrFhC0wndmILEalVytLc6OLfbWUyudryU0M-VwhFQnGSQfxL2Gn8T_R8Jcam3ztuFObNajzPG1qB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="184" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPLa2He6_VNhanWL-L0_yhFFLFBEfRwy9zL1A2bfttDSMStM_7eKckTOmL9Iw26CBapm_Xf8pEmYEHcRHouAx5kqxRW7wQbbU1_NCqve30BXgfkrFhC0wndmILEalVytLc6OLfbWUyudryU0M-VwhFQnGSQfxL2Gn8T_R8Jcam3ztuFObNajzPG1qB=w270-h358" width="270" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Come evening and with the afternoon light fading, there
is even more opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. With all the lights turned on
it has become our go-to evening oasis. Our previous home in Niwot, Colorado
definitely had places we could retreat to but they were much larger and open to
a much greater vista. So much so that ultimately, these areas took over and we
never truly enjoyed the level of friendliness, indeed intimacy, that our home
now provides. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What this space looks out onto is the seventeenth green
of the Highland Meadows golf course. And yes, at this time of year, groups of
golfers come up the fairway until well after eight. Margo and I often wonder
what they be thinking about us as we simply sit back and enjoy their struggles
but there have been some surprise observations. A neighbor on the other side of
the fairway stopped us on a morning walk only a short time ago to ask us if we
were building a swimming pool. Now there’s a thought! Unfortunately, Margo has
yet to join me on the same page when the addition of a swimming pool is raised.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik070kqaz9ljHGnrDhdHR297VXG65v2MHalrxFRRG9Nfq8WKp5cyaDhx8ElUDYMW2t6KYxziYSloZSsKqzvEWAjY2YRRAqNnHhJMqQoSMTMpCeq84yi2HSJZ0DIzyd07dk4C-sK_UogZBnjb4X9qC0PH_XKhWUaJPpwOZhaSe8BGjOxQ9d3PU8BNPj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="184" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik070kqaz9ljHGnrDhdHR297VXG65v2MHalrxFRRG9Nfq8WKp5cyaDhx8ElUDYMW2t6KYxziYSloZSsKqzvEWAjY2YRRAqNnHhJMqQoSMTMpCeq84yi2HSJZ0DIzyd07dk4C-sK_UogZBnjb4X9qC0PH_XKhWUaJPpwOZhaSe8BGjOxQ9d3PU8BNPj=w276-h318" width="276" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I might add at this point that as the contractors
finished the project the task of setting up the furniture fell to Margo and me.
Fortunately, we have a pressure washer that we put to good use cleaning the
area. But as for the furniture, when did such simple items become that heavy?
And when do so many small bugs find these items a good place to call home.
Washing, scrubbing, drying, polishing – I need to find myself another hobby! I
can almost hear a gasp coming from Margo as she reads this post as around our
home that is the one H-word I am not allowed to utter any more. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In between moving furniture around there is always time
for friends and to that end friendships have developed with some of our
neighbors. When living in Niwot where the homes were all on acreages, the
opportunities to lean over the fence for a chat were few and far between. Not
so in Windsor where the distances have shrunk and where neighbors openly wave
to each other on our morning walks. Not surprisingly to read perhaps is that
when neighbors Don and Anne Marie wanted to know if we would join them for a
night of Bordeaux wine tasting, we were more than happy to share a table with
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6duh7nvRsYUUuWSrjZcm5LHzH3Qra45I0OblXR24lV1HyFPZSSN8ZzXNS9GM-leVhU1VAHGlD7Fojq76VnIO-yhijUuGWr_cVZcW-bVgDryYxUjaQcJ5L8Bk4wboyb7pdUQ8IiyKQeM8hQ-ORT2MvReZVVAVx6iVYwarZZafeKyRfdfbT1h_lC9zW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="223" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6duh7nvRsYUUuWSrjZcm5LHzH3Qra45I0OblXR24lV1HyFPZSSN8ZzXNS9GM-leVhU1VAHGlD7Fojq76VnIO-yhijUuGWr_cVZcW-bVgDryYxUjaQcJ5L8Bk4wboyb7pdUQ8IiyKQeM8hQ-ORT2MvReZVVAVx6iVYwarZZafeKyRfdfbT1h_lC9zW=w307-h325" width="307" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Writing about the project just completed on our outdoor
area shouldn’t convey any sense that we have moved on from what has been
happening within our home. True, finishing the lower level had jumped up the
priority list and yet, an item here or a piece of architectural clutter and our
main living space has come together rather nicely. We replaced the sofa with
one that had a lower back and we added occasional tables. And there you have
it; the optics changed to where it now looks like a far bigger area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In case I haven’t pointed it out in previous posts,
Margo loves flowers. There is always a mix of fresh flowers together with
artificial as well as the dried arrangement or two. I have only been an
occasional admirer of flowers but with how Margo has finished the settings, I
have to say that I would be very disappointed to find that they had all somehow
been removed. While the H-word might be banned from my vocabulary, for Margo
it’s more a way of life with flowers having made a serious contribution to just
how the two of us became a couple. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NnS4GViC410xInl0g0QRIbBXPxogTaGrljyUGE0swr73iP2HaB6WXxoIWiXboQnYKFOaLAyabMprWJkK0ajqDTbNjNfzTQx8O2zvx8VjygI993c7kNm8PYkr1MSdSpoPapisK9LkhcZQcR4ro-95i2qKIy5Iwu4OxctZJUFoschl-Dlp6KaYT-_j" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="524" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NnS4GViC410xInl0g0QRIbBXPxogTaGrljyUGE0swr73iP2HaB6WXxoIWiXboQnYKFOaLAyabMprWJkK0ajqDTbNjNfzTQx8O2zvx8VjygI993c7kNm8PYkr1MSdSpoPapisK9LkhcZQcR4ro-95i2qKIy5Iwu4OxctZJUFoschl-Dlp6KaYT-_j=w263-h351" width="263" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the coming of summer and the litany of greenery
that has sprung up everywhere you turn, even as we have been working hard these
past couple of months there is time for a quick trip up into the mountains as a
luncheon break. Our mental health not only benefits from stepping out into a
newly finished backyard but from carving canyons in our Jaguar F Type. It is
the perfect car for a laid back drive up familiar roads as it demands little from
the driver. Just point and around the corners it goes. Not every drive is to an
event as our proximity to mountain scenery continues to draw us away from our
home. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Estes Park may be a major tourist attraction but for us
it’s less than an hour’s drive to the heart of this mountain township. We
choose to make the trip midweek as during the weekend the town is overrun with
tourists and the roads become clogged. For nearly thirty years we have been
taking this trip and it never gets old. It has become our habit to stop by
Claire’s for brunch and I have lost count of just how many times we have sat at
one of their outside tables. The habits we have developed on the other hand are
one H-word we are both OK with as we anticipate many more trips to the
mountains yet to be taken. And then, there is the most beautiful season of all
still to come; the fall. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But until then, I will sit back on the deck at
Claire’s; soak up the atmosphere and enjoy my sandwich. Till next time; cheers!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1ySWkb_KLYXpzXA88Vyri_9bHY8DUhlf4QydHrCu-88nUen4hE9v3S3QzMkxj1cBrhdstg7dd34l1bv9BfR3zLaIlvAUX4xtoPuSXw-aQ3yXUzHXqXldNYkYM2h9Se-tR032-fRZOpcRPjaGfkKtSQ_DPaOVnKU-Mmdh3h3vsBxJTEMm1oJBNvv8z" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="461" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1ySWkb_KLYXpzXA88Vyri_9bHY8DUhlf4QydHrCu-88nUen4hE9v3S3QzMkxj1cBrhdstg7dd34l1bv9BfR3zLaIlvAUX4xtoPuSXw-aQ3yXUzHXqXldNYkYM2h9Se-tR032-fRZOpcRPjaGfkKtSQ_DPaOVnKU-Mmdh3h3vsBxJTEMm1oJBNvv8z=w253-h384" width="253" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-12378018618925572502022-07-18T09:04:00.003-07:002022-07-18T09:04:26.718-07:00Detours, roadblocks and greetings from the West.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaN_AM4lczv6VZX4BrW6tQewiszVWOQz9tNSneXT2NpsmULNODPa5-ukNtnT66T6sK2Fuchvmxrf1QlmaN1FaQiAJm9nIzaO6e0m7UCRcwGN8JmVCj2DCmTZu7zKlCh4Lr9ReokuD0XYHDJEtmYBMSMu62ashZshRyEZEo8BihPTQ-6nNBpIvT15Yx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="424" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaN_AM4lczv6VZX4BrW6tQewiszVWOQz9tNSneXT2NpsmULNODPa5-ukNtnT66T6sK2Fuchvmxrf1QlmaN1FaQiAJm9nIzaO6e0m7UCRcwGN8JmVCj2DCmTZu7zKlCh4Lr9ReokuD0XYHDJEtmYBMSMu62ashZshRyEZEo8BihPTQ-6nNBpIvT15Yx=w412-h309" width="412" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The view from our hotel balcony was spectacular. We had
just arrived at the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan, part of the Marriott chain of
hotels, and were pleased to be given a suite on the fifty-first floor. It had a
balcony with outdoor seating no less. As I said to Margo, we could live like
this! Perhaps not; then again, maybe the Vegas strip might be a good
alternative to winters in Colorado. This proved to be one of the highlights of
our excursion to Las Vegas as it came down to business; all-business with few
opportunities to step back and unwind.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The occasion was the annual HPE conference, the big tent-marketing
event that HPE branded as HPE Discover 2022. Margo and I were representing a
client and with that came the responsibility of holding down a speaker’s spot
on the agenda. Reminiscent of the many street-corner evangelists or
up-and-coming politicians you run across in big cities these days, I was to
give my presentation within a small theaterette that faced not just a busy
corridor but a patting pen set up to house a couple of canine friends. Talk
about competition but it was all in good fun and when it came my turn to
present, there were more than enough interested parties to make the occasion
worthwhile. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFmY68i23L9xnOherm5xqmWYiKfHvddzmhEshXksDCMuGKI_oJz7zl52j2-moEJLLVAGZmrVCcfV49MFSYKgO5eEOjMTgRirYQ7IvR1IlLsjfyQzzNUt2_kIGZX8JsH84_fOnC0CjzIG6cS3Xhz4YaqUuO6_CIdN9yfWo7TX1JIicnEAvj6f2f1CzQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="334" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFmY68i23L9xnOherm5xqmWYiKfHvddzmhEshXksDCMuGKI_oJz7zl52j2-moEJLLVAGZmrVCcfV49MFSYKgO5eEOjMTgRirYQ7IvR1IlLsjfyQzzNUt2_kIGZX8JsH84_fOnC0CjzIG6cS3Xhz4YaqUuO6_CIdN9yfWo7TX1JIicnEAvj6f2f1CzQ=w362-h374" width="362" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In our last post we wrote of how our decision over
which car to drive to Vegas led us to choose the new Corvette. This eighth
generation Vette deserved a good run on America’s interstate highways. Taking
the Jaguar F Type was always going to be an option but with a new car it came
down to being a simple decision. What better way to arrive in Vegas than in
America’s sports car and with this model, a new generation of Corvette that has
certainly defined just how good a sports car should be, Vette to Vegas seemed
appropriate.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Corvette C8 is a mid-engine car and it proved to be an
entirely new experience for us both. You could argue that our former BMW i8
vehicles offered a similar experience as they too were partially mid-engine.
However, when it came to the i8, they were nowhere near as serious a sports car
as the Vette. There were times when we just let the Vette have its way and on
each occasion the Vette handled such opportunities with a aplomb never giving
rise to any concerns whatsoever.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiW7iO2nRhoQUj5ajvdRaWfwKmyVonFls7OxpaHdeVXlzvrBebm4RNIgResR9k09_PxgmJ9_69w4dyDH9iKnI6zFmn0_-boNeATHRhoRIY5xczpngDY0Jvj5sK86jYuqo1P6ctnw1qwdhrYdfp27SfJfULJa4Dl3-XvdAhpLoLGbbm4YjM9uI7zRAW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="316" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiW7iO2nRhoQUj5ajvdRaWfwKmyVonFls7OxpaHdeVXlzvrBebm4RNIgResR9k09_PxgmJ9_69w4dyDH9iKnI6zFmn0_-boNeATHRhoRIY5xczpngDY0Jvj5sK86jYuqo1P6ctnw1qwdhrYdfp27SfJfULJa4Dl3-XvdAhpLoLGbbm4YjM9uI7zRAW=w406-h305" width="406" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At first glance, the Vette looks like it would be
somewhat cramped with little in the way of baggage compartments. However,
initial appearances can be misleading. Two large duffle bags disappeared into
the trunk as did a couple of heavier hoodies for when we overnighted in the
mountains. I can comprehend completely that some new Vette owners can drop into
this trunk a couple of golf bags.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only real consideration given to what we dropped
into the trunk was its proximity to the engine and heat is never a good thing
if you have any items that might melt. The C8 Vette now has a forward trunk, or
frunk, as GM calls it. For our computer bags and overnight kit, there was more
than enough room to drop in a couple more soft bags, still with room to spare. Trunk,
frunk, whatever; such versatility proved to be an unexpected surprise for both
of us. </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4pVAijVhdsSCYsbvgd1C2aeyf8wYNIR50llBSog1k8ncKx1q_F9KjkUFWC2LDU05lzJJJVB6y1CsLuZg5XW6zpBOq9NchJINS8PL0WYSQEWlpZwx2JvFC-4ORcYbBEecNmxaVUYMWz7nFxyOQ_YzzGDRtiRdEfhsqMwZxu6i_VdjNn92iNMIvfbv1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="267" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4pVAijVhdsSCYsbvgd1C2aeyf8wYNIR50llBSog1k8ncKx1q_F9KjkUFWC2LDU05lzJJJVB6y1CsLuZg5XW6zpBOq9NchJINS8PL0WYSQEWlpZwx2JvFC-4ORcYbBEecNmxaVUYMWz7nFxyOQ_YzzGDRtiRdEfhsqMwZxu6i_VdjNn92iNMIvfbv1=w361-h375" width="361" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It wasn’t all highway travelling. The number of times
we have traversed the combination of interstates 70 and 15 isn’t worth
recounting as for nearly a decade, Margo and I commuted between Colorado and
California. These trips weren’t always work related but for the most part, it
was more a case of getting there than taking time to smell the roses. Or, with
this stretch of the interstate, the many national parks that dot the landscape.
This time and having given ourselves an extra day for the journey, the plan was
to cut through Capital Reef.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Not a good idea,” came the waitress at the café where
we ate breakfast burritos. “Flash flooding stranded several motorists a few
days ago and even heavier rainfall with more flash flooding was about to happen
in oh, 30 minutes or so!” This was in the small town of Hanksville where Utah
highway 24 turns sharply west and heads up the Utah plateau on its way to Bryce
and Zion national parks. So given these warnings and the potential to become
stranded, we abandoned this detour forfeiting a few miles of forward progress
in the name of safety. </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLYwK2ttdw9DIyGjc9GHieJ83jMEYnjQVPvA2MnqoIwOrIapHbzGawqpwNCThoXzUBZS0fEYXq9vG80toat_2cgEM9O3xxfy0IXi_MEtFur_LzngxFHbaoT4mWGfP80pGK00LGfI5wjbhlLjRHrmPppHw7iFksjrhl9K2m7PjlsvBPAQScGsL3JEai" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="282" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLYwK2ttdw9DIyGjc9GHieJ83jMEYnjQVPvA2MnqoIwOrIapHbzGawqpwNCThoXzUBZS0fEYXq9vG80toat_2cgEM9O3xxfy0IXi_MEtFur_LzngxFHbaoT4mWGfP80pGK00LGfI5wjbhlLjRHrmPppHw7iFksjrhl9K2m7PjlsvBPAQScGsL3JEai=w430-h324" width="430" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As is common practice among auto manufacturers these
days, GM gives you many options to choose from when it comes to configuring
your dashboard. The snapshot of our chosen layout can be seen above. Before
there are any concerns arising over the indicated speed, Utah and Nevada post
80 mph limits on their major highways. That is, whenever the “track went green”
as for much of the stretch through Utah there were roadblocks causing stoppages
with considerable highway maintenance under way. However, in this case, this
isn’t the main story. Take a good look at what is tucked away on the lower
right hand side of the display.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For all those concerned about driving a big 6.2 liter
V8 across the west, averaging a good 75.6 mph we were averaging 28.3 mpg where
the gallons were the smaller US gallons. This is a better return than even the
Jaguars deliver with the new F Pace SVR, a brute when it comes to fuel
efficiency. So, imagine that. We chose the right car after all given how the
price of gas has risen to heights not seen before. While initially we had given
some thought to continuing on to California after the conference, with the gas
prices there climbing even higher, we think we dodged a bullet on that
score. </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLneYC-i_BkcuQP5D-s8l7Xh304gNzbQNSEA5BwZzV0-4ieoYhkdHJ_25PWHuHcrf1GanvjiI_2TCOwdaCw_AbKsUC-6PCJr1ULI2eRa997jkwdMTsM-OHKN45ivqmCZroxct2il7ErePettptciioiK-nA0WreDF9VHp_u-ZOld8bbSAMpbQJOQEH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="337" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLneYC-i_BkcuQP5D-s8l7Xh304gNzbQNSEA5BwZzV0-4ieoYhkdHJ_25PWHuHcrf1GanvjiI_2TCOwdaCw_AbKsUC-6PCJr1ULI2eRa997jkwdMTsM-OHKN45ivqmCZroxct2il7ErePettptciioiK-nA0WreDF9VHp_u-ZOld8bbSAMpbQJOQEH=w342-h321" width="342" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you know your restaurants then from what you can see
behind Margo you will know we visited Mastro’s Ocean Club in Las Vegas. This is
a regular dining spot for us and we had the good fortune of visiting this venue
on two occasions. Once on business and then again, once just to relax. It isn’t
common knowledge these days but Vegas has gone through major transitions of
late. Long known for its discounted hotels, gambling tables and a lot more,
Vegas today is all about entertainment and fine dining. There appears to be
more three Michelin starred chefs in Vegas than nearby LA!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To think that just before our leaving for Vegas,
Formula One chose Vegas for a race in 2023 and that would include a sizable run
down the strip. Yes, get off the footpaths as Ferraris, McLarens, Red Bulls and
the like accelerate hard down one of the most famous thoroughfares in the world?
Will it match Monaco? Not likely! Then again, give it time and it might.
Formula One management appears to think so as they put down a quarter billion
dollars to buy a block of undeveloped land at one end of the proposed circuit
on which to develop luxury boxes, media centers and yes, dedicated pit areas.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt7JJC9Mf6Ff1AR0tj8OsMDPaWI8nD-vilyWvyBlB_XudPFxRyWICSjqf_P6P4BRrpLfHuguY-XBiIPuCR7haOFrEAkHr-4B3nRQx-itmIWPe1FjErnKwwqwLac_ejEY_kFo_rCCeeI_Haqo088duDEN2NFiXNPAk-z9uglwbqnIgVwFXI8vpf5fSp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="559" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt7JJC9Mf6Ff1AR0tj8OsMDPaWI8nD-vilyWvyBlB_XudPFxRyWICSjqf_P6P4BRrpLfHuguY-XBiIPuCR7haOFrEAkHr-4B3nRQx-itmIWPe1FjErnKwwqwLac_ejEY_kFo_rCCeeI_Haqo088duDEN2NFiXNPAk-z9uglwbqnIgVwFXI8vpf5fSp=w432-h243" width="432" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Crazy! But in reality just one more accomplishment for
Vegas as it now looks to add a baseball franchise to the city. Again, Las Vegas
turned to luckless Oakland, California and having already secured the presence
of the Raiders team the city appears to be closing in on Oakland’s baseball team. Vegas already has basketball
and ice hockey franchises in town – yes, a very good ice hockey team – so
adding F1 seems an obvious addition to the growing entertainment and sporting
portfolio. Will Indy follow suit, I wonder? Not going to count that out just
yet.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then again, crazy or not it seems that the
transformation of Las Vegas from a seedy gambling town to a full-on Disneyland
for adults is now under way. If only someone could come up with a fully
air-conditioned dome covering the entire strip that transformation would be
complete. And let’s not forget, this is the scene for Elon Musk’s underground
tunnel linking key venues that began trial operations only a short time ago. Then
again, what dominated much of the conversation wasn’t the dome, the underground
road or even F1 but rather the water situation. We had managed our way out of
detours but a decline in water may prove to be the biggest roadblock of all,
limiting Vegas and its plans for the future.</span> </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTFylOS_FVxDC9fUWE4tkHAdcfXm-GedOfEAYp63LPasy77jKxEYN666dlIRtJYJjtyDLXLh7UhiVnQZlZdgfXHZGHa5WilbO2rK89Tk1kjsRDOwSX6-ahRJUhT_ti69sRNlLl0gF7tpQzfG-c814UDjysU8zYVJj--UvXW_kErURAaJYV44w5pTQT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="253" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTFylOS_FVxDC9fUWE4tkHAdcfXm-GedOfEAYp63LPasy77jKxEYN666dlIRtJYJjtyDLXLh7UhiVnQZlZdgfXHZGHa5WilbO2rK89Tk1kjsRDOwSX6-ahRJUhT_ti69sRNlLl0gF7tpQzfG-c814UDjysU8zYVJj--UvXW_kErURAaJYV44w5pTQT=w329-h339" width="329" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While we spent a lot of time catching up
with business friends and associates, the Cosmopolitan featured a variety of
artwork some of which we cannot display in a forum such as this. However, what
we can include is Margo becoming friendly with a dog she just could never pass
without giving it a hug. Or two! And perhaps that is another aspect of Vegas
that has changed. The city’s interest in art has grown considerably since we
first visited Vegas back in 2004.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And yes, back then we rode into town in
a fifth generation Corvette convertible. The addition of many more hotels
including numerous venues that now include residences along with arenas and
support from major entertainers has given us a much safer town. Yes, with the
declining water level at Lake Mead the occasional barrel is being discovered
containing human remains but the sense that this town is in the hands of
unsavory characters appears to be well and truly buried as deeply as that
barrel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMYJJys8SH0D9vNem8B3fuqXvt1-ahmPUrEY8wR8Ibin5-hnNBDSe17OC5FrNLQSVqoKBstVHF1vUaVn32tRBkpaa4udz7LMTx6jUX-ICGhQaHRyMIzSjkhJNcX72NY6I4kEPiE8zC_tOX5Ut2QRF5s31CooFtEtHTXumpgXoRd9p78TVGfm1zbEY8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="287" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMYJJys8SH0D9vNem8B3fuqXvt1-ahmPUrEY8wR8Ibin5-hnNBDSe17OC5FrNLQSVqoKBstVHF1vUaVn32tRBkpaa4udz7LMTx6jUX-ICGhQaHRyMIzSjkhJNcX72NY6I4kEPiE8zC_tOX5Ut2QRF5s31CooFtEtHTXumpgXoRd9p78TVGfm1zbEY8=w389-h293" width="389" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We can’t ignore that ultimately Vegas is
all about money and with as much money as there is flowing through this town,
there is bound to be unintended consequences for some. And yet, as we spent a
week traversing the strip from one venue to another, stopping in at one eatery
or another, ducking roadblocks and making detours, enjoying time with friends,
there is still a sense that the Wild West exists even today. Maybe not steeped
in the past but nevertheless, witnessing a duel wouldn’t seem entirely out of
place.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And with that, we can report that the
trip home went to plan, as we skipped the interstate and headed up US Highway
89 as the July 4 weekend traffic began making its presence felt. Ending with
one last photo from our time at Mastro’s seems more than appropriate even as it
is a reminder to us that as of now, the benefits from time spent in Vegas
outweigh any negative opinions you may have of the town. Will we be return same
time next year? You can count on it and as for which vehicle we will take then
you will just have to wait to find out! Cheers!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggqpVRzhde22m2DWr3nKXQ-kp1G85gwbrrzS489OB1zqV3dvPzNQiODoIa9ifP6jvcmWwVRIw33OVt9-6_2BeEY1bfHchoQibj8wszcxjizUjgxmwiku3ZVVxcFbwRA0Xq3b_-m_b0i9flAO7dhxy_jUxXvw19pKBT5YrLpNzCHd3ufvKAmvjeSPCY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="288" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggqpVRzhde22m2DWr3nKXQ-kp1G85gwbrrzS489OB1zqV3dvPzNQiODoIa9ifP6jvcmWwVRIw33OVt9-6_2BeEY1bfHchoQibj8wszcxjizUjgxmwiku3ZVVxcFbwRA0Xq3b_-m_b0i9flAO7dhxy_jUxXvw19pKBT5YrLpNzCHd3ufvKAmvjeSPCY=w375-h499" width="375" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, "sans-serif";"></p></span>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138624071288497496.post-90385209352883515052022-06-24T10:17:00.003-07:002022-07-14T07:40:19.206-07:00Leaving for Vegas!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjagGJ8-M4hOLJE1wWMq4tM79wCtKPyIlBSTmgi_RzbavlvbQYNTXkMZTRpoWoLR8CYOyJ3E5zHgwMVj0nXh8GDBvbT82mH5EhLwqJ0o05wVw0ojUThplcJ2OiPVJwKlBEasw68n1-2eCHw3DFJY6MhPjTEAWlEaLjfgxTxBm8GbpLQ91mdky3t8oqG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="382" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjagGJ8-M4hOLJE1wWMq4tM79wCtKPyIlBSTmgi_RzbavlvbQYNTXkMZTRpoWoLR8CYOyJ3E5zHgwMVj0nXh8GDBvbT82mH5EhLwqJ0o05wVw0ojUThplcJ2OiPVJwKlBEasw68n1-2eCHw3DFJY6MhPjTEAWlEaLjfgxTxBm8GbpLQ91mdky3t8oqG=w343-h368" width="343" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a lot to consider. Should we keep the BMW i8
Roadster for one more road trip? Given how it would be a transit across several
state lines before we make it to Las Vegas and with the price of gas having
passed through US$5.00 for a US Gallon, electing to take the hybrid sports car
seemed quite logical. Then again, the car was coming off lease and the
potential for mishaps to occur along the way was enough deterrent from taking
it for this trip. With heavy hearts we turned the roadster in, a couple of
weeks early, and in taking that option off the table, we still had a decision
to make. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Faced with choices all of which would work, we arrived
at the obvious conclusion. Let’s drive the Corvette. The F Pace came a close
second and for a short while was the leading candidate, but when we looked at
how large a volume of baggage space existed in the Corvette, it won the day.
Now it’s all about the route and behind the wheel of a Corvette it will not include
a lot of interstate driving. There are numerous national parks between Colorado
and Nevada and we plan on taking advantage of as many as we can. Capital Reef?
Of course! Bryce Canyon and Zions? Possibly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7dGZXj3vwp6mqetT2Fz9iY3ndKITxhMmsayeQBVMgYH-gPRAa1Oe8-nkHj6EuLzrIY-VCySEAQz5sNVoC1HbQq8LKEyWJBPenzXo1jd0R4-Jd-y-e94Pr3teNfwVDJToAUdJ6rhLu6iaOiAoa1XxDfU7tPeAG4B-DxI6ZlnolpVajhkI2NFSx7-ah" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="348" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7dGZXj3vwp6mqetT2Fz9iY3ndKITxhMmsayeQBVMgYH-gPRAa1Oe8-nkHj6EuLzrIY-VCySEAQz5sNVoC1HbQq8LKEyWJBPenzXo1jd0R4-Jd-y-e94Pr3teNfwVDJToAUdJ6rhLu6iaOiAoa1XxDfU7tPeAG4B-DxI6ZlnolpVajhkI2NFSx7-ah=w369-h326" width="369" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was only a few weeks ago when Las Vegas was not the
center of our attention. While Las Vegas is happening, given it is HPE’s annual
big-tent marketing event, HPE Discover 2022, a couple of weeks ago the focus
was all on London. Surprise, surprise! The schedule called for us arriving the
weekend before the local HPE NonStop event and that meant dropping in on London
in the middle of the Queen’s Jubilee. Sheer chaos! But we made it through the
throngs of well-wishers and past the road blocks to finally end up in a fine
old restored hotel in The City. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the rest of the week, we walked. From The City we
walked to Harrods on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge. All six plus miles, mind
you. And it was all in the name of eating in Harrods dining hall. I must admit
that I was taken by the way they served Dover Sole and it was the opportunity
to enjoy this fine fish that drew us back again and again. We had to eat while
in London and eating fish and chips together with a fine Sauvignon Blanc seemed
appropriate for the times. Did I mention it was cooked in butter before being
fileted and served with the most enormous chips I have ever come across. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivjsxdiXtYeecal0Be18yAZe_avvYJYLyTz7DEOWfesb9n0KwIlt4BYrkjFBmSG9VTt-yAsE6WMOYjgyajvGBZiYdWNWBdRyQu_sjAeMSarhNoSIjfdlZkllP-_64YcVtJscSDtFxpF_3oAy6CJTcfQMUakW4uT-Ux3Szj0OcUY07PgaF_fR_I7_DP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="358" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivjsxdiXtYeecal0Be18yAZe_avvYJYLyTz7DEOWfesb9n0KwIlt4BYrkjFBmSG9VTt-yAsE6WMOYjgyajvGBZiYdWNWBdRyQu_sjAeMSarhNoSIjfdlZkllP-_64YcVtJscSDtFxpF_3oAy6CJTcfQMUakW4uT-Ux3Szj0OcUY07PgaF_fR_I7_DP=w349-h353" width="349" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spring has transitioned to summer and with the
transition, the heat is well and truly upon us. We are once again walking
before the first meal of the day and in many ways this is a reflection on how
well Margo’s leg has healed following the serious breakage that happened prior
to Christmas, 2020. Yes, it has taken almost two years to get back to walking
but following the trip to Long Beach and then with the week in London, needing
to walk has definitely helped with her recuperation. Her energy to walk has
been restored and it’s become an enjoyable part of our daily routine once
again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With summer, the neighborhood has taken on the greenest
hue that we have seen in quite some time. Lawns are pristine and flower beds
overflowing with color. The trees we planted over the past four years have all
taken root and are now roof high. Simply having a screen of multicolored flora
provides both shade and screening and for that we are most grateful. Already we
are contemplating adding one more mature tree to further enhance our privacy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNkZdfAgC6s-g9U9Jtg1Q7Rlj0mgUxC-rI7KoOXFBGjCJqNvrB_7888OnpJQkpizdSOXWE1ZZSoxRDx6570rAWvRH0i-MWS0xsYW_cBlaG2Vi_HryfCeKGaYKXQIIqyc5yFFCpzAqdbVl_BHWCa-rtJNI_J6zk1vz9SdJfRb4mJzsaV_yvLFStwlU5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="341" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNkZdfAgC6s-g9U9Jtg1Q7Rlj0mgUxC-rI7KoOXFBGjCJqNvrB_7888OnpJQkpizdSOXWE1ZZSoxRDx6570rAWvRH0i-MWS0xsYW_cBlaG2Vi_HryfCeKGaYKXQIIqyc5yFFCpzAqdbVl_BHWCa-rtJNI_J6zk1vz9SdJfRb4mJzsaV_yvLFStwlU5=w412-h309" width="412" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The picture included above serves two purposes. It
highlights the greenery even as it showcases our last construction project. We
have added a perimeter wall surrounding the initial concrete pour that was laid
down at the time the house was built. We were able to color match the “cultured
stone” and obtain the same color grout. Being a craftsman style home we even
convinced the construction team to terminate the wall at each end on a slight
angle that is typical of construction found with craftsman homes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In this regard, the trip to Las Vegas has come at the
wrong time. When we return we face a sizable clean up as we move outside the
furniture that you would normally see on our patio at this time of year.
Concrete dust has a way to work itself into every nook and cranny, but the good
news is that from any viewing angle, our home looks complete and this new
feature quickly has become indistinguishable from the rest of the house. It
truly looks like it has always been there. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYMb4-JKcdDWnQaBadC-kkwcuR0KO39s7tte4Ct8KhIX7UZVpurr8_FdswcGCDISpJHaeEN_F_AwWqGgK5SUaoD8BW8YmsEck_bc0fjGakYmj4R8247ZmwW3V6liObO1QuCWa5UhwVVIutzgAQuBbEYktwbp7NsiayYCqkgr1AIQGBG78idKHqILAd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="347" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYMb4-JKcdDWnQaBadC-kkwcuR0KO39s7tte4Ct8KhIX7UZVpurr8_FdswcGCDISpJHaeEN_F_AwWqGgK5SUaoD8BW8YmsEck_bc0fjGakYmj4R8247ZmwW3V6liObO1QuCWa5UhwVVIutzgAQuBbEYktwbp7NsiayYCqkgr1AIQGBG78idKHqILAd=w407-h306" width="407" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the arrival of summer come short trips to favorite
haunts. It’s only fair to add that with the garage fully populated with
vehicles we had planned on having then it’s just too tempting to leave them
garaged for too long. The rivers are flowing fast and the school holidays are
in full swing so that can mean only one thing. Tubing down the rivers flowing
out of every canyon along the Rockies front ranges. The authorities had been
issuing cautions to check with the locals before entering the creeks as we have
been experiencing rapid snow melt and that’s not always a good thing to have
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This past week we returned to Golden, Colorado.
Creekside there is a wonderful restaurant called Sassafras that “is a
Southern styled ‘from Scratch’ local eatery offering the best Breakfast and
lunch using locally sourced organic ingredients.” Did we mention they offer the
best beignets around and continue to be the drawcard for return visits. Driving
down to Golden along the Foothills Parkway is only part of the story as Golden
just happens to be the starting point for the Peak to Peak Highway which we
traversed once again. As for the car of choice? Surprised to read that yes,
even as this was hinted at in the last post we finally settled on giving the
Corvette its first road trip experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRjbvO-cPBeR-_eLUwtJVRGJJx-vCY26BrM5uxCL_PBmH851aEKN6Y2TlB3AYbw55A2YH8wLgwCwgDJFSbAP2tNS0OYXHPc8dHdHe8y6A45xlCW4C0TCEUWOUeVMJ3HGMY7mPSHUDHuBQTKJ5IUBGA_c41AkbNa3AGklhfz-bG9wkVvoTiaXtlBkMk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="360" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRjbvO-cPBeR-_eLUwtJVRGJJx-vCY26BrM5uxCL_PBmH851aEKN6Y2TlB3AYbw55A2YH8wLgwCwgDJFSbAP2tNS0OYXHPc8dHdHe8y6A45xlCW4C0TCEUWOUeVMJ3HGMY7mPSHUDHuBQTKJ5IUBGA_c41AkbNa3AGklhfz-bG9wkVvoTiaXtlBkMk=w323-h344" width="323" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! Who would
have dreamed it possible that with the start of June we received our last
snowfall? That’s all part of the unpredictable weather of Colorado, but the
upside is that it has many more days of sunshine than just about any other
place in the continental states of America. A far cry from what we can expect
to get when we arrive in Las Vegas and already we are making plans that will
see us relying heavily on Uber for local transportation despite how much we now
love to walk.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been a number of weeks since we last mentioned
our good friends Brian and Jan Kenny and their wonder-grandkid, Colton Herta. There
is no question that he is gifted beyond his years and that it is fair to say
that he continues to impress all who now gather around him. And the relationship
between Colton and his strategist and dad, Bryan Herta, has given us come fun
insights into how they respond to each other on track in high pressure
situations whenever the broadcasts include an open mike between the two of
them. The more experience he gains the quicker he gets and to watch him tackle
the Indy circuits – ovals, street circuits and road courses has Margo and me
becoming true Indy Racing fans. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWs4_EbTEeLit0XV-ozGMKLvY_E5IkT7DIM0ZgwaL3GjQPUuo4OeQvaQgXvSrgrqarrvBIzZPqVZNbsh9OIKQNghLkhFv5jJT1FsSS1WEg8poS3BLNyDwSr4CTbQmP7aUBQYXjl4qoOb6RkD3eY0ma9er4Q7syQCD1CzT0RnqKV2bzH3oNdpWf4pNx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="592" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWs4_EbTEeLit0XV-ozGMKLvY_E5IkT7DIM0ZgwaL3GjQPUuo4OeQvaQgXvSrgrqarrvBIzZPqVZNbsh9OIKQNghLkhFv5jJT1FsSS1WEg8poS3BLNyDwSr4CTbQmP7aUBQYXjl4qoOb6RkD3eY0ma9er4Q7syQCD1CzT0RnqKV2bzH3oNdpWf4pNx=w332-h329" width="332" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And yet, after the excitement of Long Beach, it has
proved to be shaky times for young Colton. You may recall that Colton broke the
track record in qualifying for the Acura Grand Prix only to crash out a handful
of laps before the finish of the race. From leading the race pit stop rotations
left him in third place but challenging hard for the lead, he clipped a wall
and was done for the day. The things didn’t get much better next time out.
Didn’t crash at the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama but missteps in qualifying left him
starting in tenth place, which is where he finished.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fast forward to the month in Indianapolis where in
absolutely atrocious conditions and once again being caught out in qualifying
for the GMR Grand Prix of Indy that left him starting from fourteenth, he
scrapped and scrambled his way to his first win of the season. Walking a fine
line with slicks on his Indy car as it continued to rain, he demonstrated
something magical with his race craft to keep it on the track but it paid off.
What a happy family on the podium! Just one more first place trophy to add to
his rapidly growing trophy case. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVsO78-Gx6r0cGYGJq5EP85lhUOgIlRXfMDkdpFk4DJFU6aikpy73JBZZHn7flaCpPfKV43pR9VuOzlEOAjhMHKTaCtH71-seu_hz9LmAijGR9vvoCeQ0E5c63L9jnO_Iy7ZRMrWblwItdxHtGFDHJqzx-dggrt6BqnTMmZEep2nJYdoAVWmICCNPP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="356" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVsO78-Gx6r0cGYGJq5EP85lhUOgIlRXfMDkdpFk4DJFU6aikpy73JBZZHn7flaCpPfKV43pR9VuOzlEOAjhMHKTaCtH71-seu_hz9LmAijGR9vvoCeQ0E5c63L9jnO_Iy7ZRMrWblwItdxHtGFDHJqzx-dggrt6BqnTMmZEep2nJYdoAVWmICCNPP=w395-h296" width="395" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When it came time for the big one, the Indy 500
everything was going smoothly right up to the time when it came to final
practice. Again, qualifying issues with the first time for a new qualifying
program that left him to the back of midfield in twenty-fifth place, during
final practice he clipped the barriers of turn two. The impact flipped him high
into the air after which he rolled upside-down ending up in mid track. It took
the quiet words of his team strategist and Colton’s father, Bryan Herta, to
talk him through his next steps, but the crash and medical teams were on the
spot almost immediately.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a totally wrecked Indy oval race car, Colton was
forced to take out his Grand Prix winning car which simply wasn’t set up for
ovals. After a slow start it only got worse for Colton where he finished at the
back of the field in thirtieth position and out of the series top 10 for the
first time. This wreck also meant he had little time to get his car up and
running for the next race in Detroit as the engine needed considerable work and
while he managed to finish eighth (after starting seventh), the unintended
consequence coming out of Indy meant he started his last race at Road America
with a six spot grid penalty. But amazingly and showing flashes of what we know
he can do and achieving the most passes for position in the race, finished in
fifth place and exactly where he should have started.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfPqdzhffoosXFw0OGpGb4WGaPsibbys7Jt97-KE2tyA1XYKLOS88v1TVKbIsV5hNBC4VrbAnJZIoieONuzGUaLiGY5QAHbwRntRYs1qg8RLbynTDA_e6Ntz2CTV9--l_-dhdCUkyDXhBHO8o3iUvymFFJcWiLDt_TwkJHpHZQKBYAstCPceb8Vj95" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="342" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfPqdzhffoosXFw0OGpGb4WGaPsibbys7Jt97-KE2tyA1XYKLOS88v1TVKbIsV5hNBC4VrbAnJZIoieONuzGUaLiGY5QAHbwRntRYs1qg8RLbynTDA_e6Ntz2CTV9--l_-dhdCUkyDXhBHO8o3iUvymFFJcWiLDt_TwkJHpHZQKBYAstCPceb8Vj95=w323-h357" width="323" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our outing to Golden gave rise to this photo of Margo
with a bear behind. Yes, you read it here first. When it comes to being chased
by hungry bears I cannot clear my mind of thoughts of how Colton must have felt
these past couple of weeks with so many hungry bears behind him only too
anxious to devour him at times when he was behind the wheel of a lesser
performing car. But then again, as they say, that’s racing. You have to drive
the car you brought. With three of the top four drivers in this year’s Indy
series not finishing the last time out, the top of the table has collapsed
rather noticeably and with nine races to go and a little over 450 points on
offer, being 90 points behind on 196, he is only 28 points out of fifth place. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s still a couple of
weeks away and for now, our thoughts are on Las Vegas and the upcoming HPE
event. I will be giving a short presentation that should ensure that I stay
focused. Then again, driving to and from the event in our almost new Corvette
should be distraction enough for as long as we can afford gas, that is. Yes,
it’s truly Vegas, Baby, Vegas! Wrapping up this latest post it only seems
appropriate to end it with one last farewell and it happened as Margo waved
goodbye for the very last time to our gorgeous BMW i8 Roadster. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsP4S7gkPPP1HmbVNjxYLLjLs7A4AgfybQ9oINI6TJP2feqfhO-kG1edQN-R7A9p_5JCjSIsuPpWS3JDfGVh9MD1pn9559Mln1A0lvpsWVE04QUjXO5V0OGcs7T-MBA2EooKa8WuwzJco41lLlNQde_wMR99JumnfwbZouV5Y4btAbbk8cjqKvw3eG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="336" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsP4S7gkPPP1HmbVNjxYLLjLs7A4AgfybQ9oINI6TJP2feqfhO-kG1edQN-R7A9p_5JCjSIsuPpWS3JDfGVh9MD1pn9559Mln1A0lvpsWVE04QUjXO5V0OGcs7T-MBA2EooKa8WuwzJco41lLlNQde_wMR99JumnfwbZouV5Y4btAbbk8cjqKvw3eG=w347-h372" width="347" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p></div></div><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12413114058841397763noreply@blogger.com0