Red Swingline

See the new page dedicated to the process…

Yet another case of CODOA in our family – no worries…

Ok. So I’m a little delinquent. I’ll try harder – I promise. Work has been very busy, and we finally broke ground on the expansion. Pretty cool stuff. I’ll get some of the press released pics and post them soon.

Family is doing well. The Boy is driving us mad, but he’s 4, so we consider that par for the course. The Girl is walking, running, learning words, and generally being a cutie. The Wife is more or less happy. All in all, we can’t complain.

Got a few things in the works, some of which will make it onto the blog very soon. You’ll see…

Hello my fellow Fatherlandians.  Yes, I too can trace my lineage back to Deutschland.  I just spent a week in two of your cities (Stuttgart and Bautzen), and have the following thoughts:

1) You have got to add more Air Conditioning.  Everywhere I went, public places were not conditioned.  Airport business lounges, Hotels (and my room at the Holiday Inn!), were too warm.  Everyone over there was quick to point out that global warming has made a drastic impact on the weather, and while it’s hard to believe that your ultra-recent weather patterns are a direct result of Global changes, I will allow for the possibility that natural patterns may be amplified at this time.  Still, no excuse for stinky, sweatyness just from sitting at a bar.

2) Love your Diesels.  Just plain loved the BMW 320D Wagon.  Man, that blew my mind.  Didn’t like the Volvo S80D, but hey, it’s not yours, right?

3) Capri pants are NOT for men.  Period.  No exceptions.  So Stop It.

4) Smoking is bad for you.  It says so right on your packs of cigs in REAL BIG LETTERS.  And yet, there is no such thing as non-smoking, save for parts of airports.  Seriously, you smoke way to much.

5) Respect the line.  If someone got there before you, they get to go before you.  No smooshing your way in.

6) Like your beers, by the way.  Wine was pretty good too.

7) I didn’t like being nickeled-and-dimed for everything.  Here in the US, when you pay more then $100 a night, you get wireless internet included, as well as all sorts of TV options.  In all but the most Urban hotels, parking is included as well.  And when we say breakfast is included, we don’t mean it’s available for an additional charge.

The most frustrating thing for me was the language.  My mastery of english, and my fluency in spanish, offered me nothing in Germany.  I felt so incredibly helpless, dependent on others and their ability to speak my language.  It was uncomfortable, but of course, I don’t blame you.

Overall, I did have a good time, if not for the odd inconveniences.  Oh, and did I mention the beer?

Sincerely,

RedSwingline

Today two things happened that are monumentous.

1) North Carolina House is no longer ours. I repeat, our full year of two homes is officially over. More on how it feels, lessons learned, and so one in another post.

2) I enrolled in grad school today. Ok, so it’s not really grad school, it’s an Online MBA program offered by Walden University. I decided to go for the concentration in Leadership over Project Management. My boss and I talked it over, and we figured that between all the BP Project Management courses I will be taking, and the very good chance of me getting my Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationi, there was no need to specialize any further. So. I’m due to start September 4th, and receive my Nationally Accredited MBA (my requirement) by July 2009. Feel free to join me…pointy hair will be fun!

The house MAY be under contract as of this morning.  Just in time for me to still have to make June payments on it, but such is life.  This month also marks the one year anniversary of two mortgages.  You can see why we are eager to put it all behind…

Again, I’ve been deliquent.  My appologies.

Anyayw, it looks like I’ll be going to the fatherland in a few weeks.  I don’t know ANY functional german.  Any suggestions?

Plus side: BMW’s are one of the standard Intermediate Automatics at Hertz over there.  Oh, and I’ve requested a diesel…

Yes.  Envy me.

Cnet news.com
Feel free to add others…

I am employed by BP Solar in Frederick Maryland. Very interesting stuff going on there. My official title is Facilities Project Engineer. I am responsible for everything but installing production equipment in a looming mega-project.  I am very excited about the work and the company in general.

Spent Saturday in DC with Cousin from Cali – she was interviewing for an internship as a LOBBYIST.  **SHIVER**.  Anywho, we decided to stay Friday and Saturday night in town, what with the kids and all.  Got a very good rate (for DC) at the Embassy Suites Convention Center - 5 blocks from the Mall due north of Natural History.  Great location, and includes full (as in make you omelettes and such) breakfast.  And of course, The Boy loved the pool.

We are most pleased with stumbling upon our new Thai Restaurant – HAAD Thai.  Simply the best Thai we have had on the East coast, all of 200 ft from our hotel!

A good time was had by all

Rejoicing!

Only took Comcast 4 weeks…