Bright Side - Day Three

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
DAY THREE. I try to write to the Smart Man's Grandma every week. She's 93, and doesn't get out much. There's not much we can do to help long distance (she lives in the Midwest), but I figure the least I can do is make sure she gets some Snail Mail every week to brighten her day.

I also send her post cards when I travel on business or pleasure. I'm not sure how exciting postcards are from Kansas City, Rochester or Detroit are, but I always make the effort.

Over the holiday, evidently Grandma was going on and on to the relatives about all the neat postcards and note cards she gets from me, and how lucky I am to travel so extensively.

Even though the majority of my business travel is a big pain in my ass, I'll take brightening the day of the Smart Man's Grandma as a good day's work.

Bright Side, Day Two

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
DAY TWO: In spite of having to work on Saturday, the Smart Man and I still managed to find time to go to our favorite jewelry store to pick out my Christmas gift, followed by a tasty lunch at the Olive Garden. Hmm...mozzarella fonduta.

It matches the earrings he got me last year. Shiny!

Bright Side, Day One

Monday, November 28, 2011
I'm leaving this morning for points east, in yet another attempt to close The Deal that Apparently Never Ends™. This is, of course, after working nights and weekends for the last two weeks in pursuit of the same goal.

I've decided to look on the bright side, though. I've been getting crankier and crankier on a professional level, and the time has come to clean out my mind and vacuum away all the crap that gives me hypertension. So I'm going to address some BRIGHT SIDE issues while I'm traveling in the hope that they will help to manage the seething tension that has become my professional life.

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DAY ONE: I didn't have to work on Thanksgiving Day. Instead, I spent the day with members of my family whom I love and enjoy, eating tasty food and visiting.

Free Shit Friday Winner...

Sunday, November 27, 2011
...of the Strawberry Jam is Vince, with a random number of 13, and Megan with a random number of 11.

I've not made it to the Post Office in a while, and with my continuing travels hither and yon trying to close The Deal that Apparently Never Ends™ it's unlikely that I'll do so anytime soon. Plus there's the whole "Christmas Rush" issue, and the fact that mailing shit to Megan means that I actually have to STAND IN LINE and deal with the GOOFY POSTAL CLERKS. In other words, It'll probably be after the first of the year before the jam makes its way to points North. Because, seriously, the Post Office at Christmas = AIYEE!

2011 Flower Pr0n - San Diego!

Saturday, November 26, 2011


Free Shit Friday - Strawberry Jam

Friday, November 25, 2011


Today's Free Shit Friday giveaway is two jars of strawberry jam. For some reason this is the second favorite flavor I make among my jam-fans, after the Awesome Apple Butter of Awesomeness. I'm not sure why, but there it is.

Da rules.

A Week of Gratitude

Thursday, November 24, 2011
Today is Thanksgiving here in the United States. Traditionally, today is a day to reflect on one's life and identify those things for which we're thankful.

Last year, instead of working through this concept on Thanksgiving, I blogged A Month of Gratitude in December along with a few other of my online friends. It was such a rewarding experience that I've decided to do a smaller version every year, in order to ensure I don't let my first world problems overwhelm the fact that I have an awesome life, full of awesome people.

So I'll be blogging a Week of Gratitude the first full week in December, from December 4th through December 10th. Even if I've written about specific topics before, I believe that identifying and acknowledging those things and people that make my life rewarding, fulfilling, worth living, is never a bad thing.

If anyone wants to join me, please let me know and I'll provide a link list at the bottom of each entry for those who want to participate.

Happy Thanksgiving, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.

Colorado Adventures - The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa

Monday, November 21, 2011
It's a triangle, even from the outside.

Saturday's Colorado Adventure was an overnight stay at the Historic Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.

The Brown Palace is one of the Colorado hotels with a place on the National Registry of Historic Hotels, and it's been a staple in Denver's downtown landscape since 1892.

The Atrium Ceiling
Once we checked in, we walked around the property for a bit before heading to the spa for our couples massage. The hotel itself is triangular, and built around an atrium with a stained glass ceiling which was installed and has been maintained by the same glass company since 1892. The property is impeccably maintained, and the staff were all courteous, well-informed about their property, and extremely accomodating.

When can I move in?




Our room was on the sixth floor, and our weekend package included a rose petal turn down service, complete with chocolate and romantic music.

We decided to "dress for dinner," and made reservations at the Palace Arms, the Brown Palace's premier restaurant. In lieu of an appetizer, we decided to try two of their seasonal soups - the chestnut bisque for me, and a fall mushroom consomme for the Smart Man. They were both delicious, and for the first time ever, I was glad that the appetizer menu did not include crab cakes, thus forcing me to try something new. For our entrees, I chose the Japanese Sea Bass with Pearl Onion, Cauliflower, Pine Nuts, Crab, Blood Orange, and Picholine Olive. The Smart Man chose a Bison Fillet Rossini with Truffle, Foie Gras, Brioche, and Swiss Chard. ZOMGWTFBBQ. Those were the best entrees we've ever had. Seriously - here are two materialists, having a religious experience with our meals - just superb. For dessert we shared their take on a banana split which included dried cherries, chocolate noodles, banana rum ice cream, candied pineapples and caramel. This was one of the best meals we'd ever had, and Chef Thanawat Bates came out to chat with us as well, asking our opinion on some of his ingredient choices.

The Palace Arms, home of the best meal I've had in years.

Breakfast was the buffet at Ellyngton's, which was also tasty, but unfortunately couldn't stand against our experience of the previous evening.

This particular adventure was a bit pricier than our previous choices, but after the week we had we really needed a luxurious break, and the Brown Palace certainly provided that.

We'll be taking December off, as Christmas always ends up costing us more than we anticipate. We'll be resuming our adventures in January, with a stay at a Winter Park gasthaus and a visit to a dog sledding establishment.

Random Thoughts

Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Deal that Apparently Never Ends™ still isn't closed in spite of some really long days last week and weekend work over the last two days. Hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday. Hope springs eternal in the hearts of sales people.
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How sad is the current state of airline travel that when I finally have a good travel experience (i.e., planes leave and arrive on time, I don't have to check my tiny bag), I'm ready to dance through the airport, singing hosannas? Pretty sad. But thank you, Delta, nevertheless.
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Boogie the Giant Schnauzer sprained his ankle a week ago, and is still gimping around pretty badly. He's a bit better today, thank goodness, but it's going to be a while before he's up to snuff again. Poor Boogie - it sucks getting older, especially when you're smelly and need a bath, but can't have one because you sprained your ankle trotting across a field.
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As a personal observation, let me point out that just because somebody thinks they want something REALLY, REALLY BADLY, and they act like a pushy bitch because of that perception, does not mean they're going to get whatever it is that has their panties in a twist. Sometimes, reality is a pushy bitch in her own right, and she's going to pwn them. That's just how reality rolls.
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I finally got to the top of the waiting list at our awesome, awesome local library for Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin, read by Roy Dotrice. I'm now trying to decide if I should listen to it before or after the next season of the HBO series based on the series. Probably after, as it's not like I don't have 800 things in queue ahead of it.
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Legos are cool. Really cool. I hope the kids over at Toys for Tots feel that way, too.

If You Need Me, I'll be in the Corner, Committing Jigai

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I've just been called to points East to try and close the Deal That Apparently Never Ends. Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men will probably be dark for a while, as I have a lot of things to do in very little time.

I will return anon, friends.

I Want to Hold Your Hand

Monday, November 14, 2011
I don't have much time today, so I'm embedding my favorite rendition of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" evah.  This is Chris Colfer from Glee. His character Kurt is singing for his dad, a widower, who's in a coma after a coronary event.

PACE Yourself

Sunday, November 13, 2011
Friday evening my Hot Mom and I went to see the Vienna Boys Choir here in Parker. The young men were extremely talented, and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. The only recommendation I would make is to say that next time, they should skip the ABBA, Sting and Queen numbers and stick with Vivaldi and Haydn.

The venue for this event is the newly constructed Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center. This facility was funded by a bond initiative a number of years ago, and we've been watching the progress of construction. We voted for it, as we wanted our community to have access to a variety of events and activities. It's located only two blocks from the Big Yellow House, which is also pretty darn convenient.

PACE is very much like most community auditorium and events centers - it has an indoor theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre, event rooms, an art gallery*, a dance studio, classrooms, outdoor patios, a media lab, and catering and teaching culinary kitchen. They're offering a variety of performances in their inaugural season, including opera, symphony, brass, chorale, and a variety of shows geared toward children. They offer classes for adults and children, including culinary, culture and arts, science workshops and dance.

For some reason the opening of this facility in my community - so close to my home - makes me really very happy. I'm delighted that the community in which I live has made a commitment to the arts in the form of the Center, and that something other than sports is being supported and encouraged among the resident kids. And the fact that they offer science workshops as well as the arts? BONUS.

The Smart Man and I will be attending two more shows this season (Celtic Nights and Rocky Mountain Brassworks), and I've discovered that Parker also administers a scholarship fund for low income families so that everyone might participate in recreational activities. Provided I can ear mark my donation for activities offered at PACE, I think I've found a new charitable cause.

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*The inaugural featured artist in the Gallery is one Tadashi Hayakawa, a Japanese American whose work is really quite beautiful...and out of my price range. But in a strange turn of events, he was also the Maitre'd at Junz, one of our favorite restaurants here in Parker. He's since retired from that day job and now works on his art full time. Good for him.

2011 Flower Pr0n - San Diego!

Saturday, November 12, 2011


My Band of Brothers

Friday, November 11, 2011
WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
    But one ten thousand of those men in England
    That do no work to-day!
 
KING. What's he that wishes so?
    My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
    If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
    To do our country loss; and if to live,
    The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
    God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
    By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
    Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
    It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
    Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
    But if it be a sin to covet honour,
    I am the most offending soul alive.
    No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
    God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
    As one man more methinks would share from me
    For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
    Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
    That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
    Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
    And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
    We would not die in that man's company
    That fears his fellowship to die with us.
    This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
    He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
    Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
    And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
    He that shall live this day, and see old age,
    Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
    And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
    Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
    And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
    Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
    But he'll remember, with advantages,
    What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
    Familiar in his mouth as household words-
    Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
    Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
    Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
    This story shall the good man teach his son;
    And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
    From this day to the ending of the world,
    But we in it shall be remembered-
    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition;
    And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
    Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Happy Veteran's Day to my Band of Brothers and Sisters.

Miscellania, Part 2

Thursday, November 10, 2011
I'm still a bit weepy and sad over the unexpected death of our friend Wendy. It's always shocking when a peer succumbs to our shared mortality, and my heart aches for her family.
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I'm starting to like the Girl Scouts more and more and more. First, they decided to allow a transgendered youngster into their organization, and now they have a whole slew of new Merit Badges that reflect the requirements of living in a modern world. Contrast this with the bigoted asshattery that is the BSA, and I will definitely say that Girl Rule, Boys Drool in this specific case.
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Everyone's talking about the firing of Penn State's Joe Paterno as a result of the child rape scandal. I don't have much to add to what's already being said, other than to say each and every person who was aware of this, and did only what the law required, is a FUCKING COWARD. This is some shameful, shameful shit, and I don't know how any of these motherfuckers can live with themselves. Who witnesses the rape of a young child and says, "Gee, the right thing to do here is to walk away!" I want to punch each and every one of them right in the throat. With an extra punch in the 'nads for that heinous knuckle dragger Jerry Sandusky.
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Sometimes I end up being exposed to people in my professional life that make me feel like I've been transported into the break room of a used car dealership. Buy now! Pay later! What could possibly go wrong!
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I like pie.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Monday, November 7, 2011
As many of you know, I'm a member of a blog circle called "The UCF." We're a merry band of conspirators, a community of friends and fellow travelers. I've met many of them, and I consider all of these men and women my friends. We share our tragedies and triumphs, respond with help and support when required, and our unofficial motto is "UCF Powers - Activate!" - a tribute to our diverse skill set and abilities. As a group, there's nothing we can't do.


And now we have a tragedy of our own. Over the weekend, one of our members passed away unexpectedly.

Wendy, I will miss your wit, your kindness, your generosity of spirit. I'm a better person for having known you. Our community - and the world - will be a poorer place without you in it. I lift my glass to you, and envision you in Valhalla, taking charge and putting the place in order with your indomitable spirit. Fair Winds and Following Seas, dear friend, and thank you for the pleasure of being a part of your life.

My deepest sympathies to her surviving family.

Miscellania

Today I was once again made aware of just how lucky my family is when it comes to access to quality health care and other employment related benefits. My total monthly out of pocket expense for health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, and long term disability insurance for me, the Smart Man and my Hot Daughter is $468.74. I know for a fact that other telecommunications companies in my region charge associates who make half what I do more than twice as much out of pocket for similar coverage. That's some shameful shit right there, when a skilled technician is paying more for family health care than their mortgage. But for-profit health care is GOOD FOR AMERICA. Just ask the Republicans. And the Democrats. And everyone else who's in the pockets of big business.
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To commemorate her birthday, Marie Curie is being honored today on Google's home page, which is cool. But I'm afraid I'm doomed to forever link this XKCD comic in my mind whenever I think of her. Which, come to think of it, is not necessarily a bad thing.
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You know how your kids will occasionally do something that suggests to you that not only did you not totally screw them up, but they may in fact change the world? Yeah.
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I recently bought additional workout clothes since my old yoga pants were getting a little thin for wear at our local Fieldhouse. I have decided that I really don't like the form fitting shirts that are commonly worn for yoga, although I love the pants. I much prefer looser fitting sleeveless tops that give me some air flow. Live and learn, and it's back to Kohl's to replace the one I bought last week.
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That huge deal I was working on last week in New Jersey? It's still not closed, and although we're getting closer, I'm still on the lookout for the stink bomb. I was able to use my fabulous raspberry bag, though. I've decided I really like it, especially once I started using the shoulder strap rather than the handles to carry it. The only negative: My laptop is a bit too large for me to be able to use all the space efficiently, and is also kind of heavy for a bag that doesn't distribute the weight evenly across my back. I'm long overdue for a laptop refresh, so I've requested a smaller device this time. As to when I'll actually get a new laptop, that's another matter. But the raspberry bag is a winner, especially the zippered side pocket, which is just perfect for my Kindle, iPod and other items I actually use in-flight. But until I get the smaller laptop, I'll probably stick with my backpack for business travel unless I'm attending an executive event.

Free Shit Friday Winner...

Sunday, November 6, 2011
...of Gideon's Sword is Juan Federico, because he's the only one who wanted it. Enjoy, Juan!

2011 Flower Pr0n - San Diego Citrus!

Saturday, November 5, 2011


Free Shit Friday, plus my Shit List

Friday, November 4, 2011
Today's Free Shit Friday offering is a 1st Edition (library) of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's book Gideon's Sword.

Introducing Gideon Crew: trickster, prodigy, master thief.

At twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father, a world-class mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down. At twenty-four, summoned to his dying mother's bedside, Gideon learned the truth: his father was framed and deliberately slaughtered. With her last breath, she begged her son to avenge him.

Now, with a new purpose in his life, Gideon crafts a one-time mission of vengeance, aimed at the perpetrator of his father's destruction. His plan is meticulous, spectacular, and successful.

But from the shadows, someone is watching. A very powerful someone, who is impressed by Gideon's special skills. Someone who has need of just such a renegade. For Gideon, this operation may be only the beginning . . .
I do loves me some Preston & Childs. This book is a satisfying read, and I'm looking forward to getting to know Gideon better.

Da rules.

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In other news, I'm in a craptacularly foul humor today. Here are the people currently on my shit list:
  1. U.S. Airways. Pretty much always, every time I fly with them. I swear U.S. Airways is run by a Cargo Cult rather than by an honest-to-goodness corporation with people in charge who actually have experience in, you know, aviation. Why my company likes us to use them is beyond me. Oh, yeah - cheap fairs...that never arrive on time, never have enough room for carry-on luggage and come with extra helpings of rude associates! That's right. Hmph.
  2. The dude who comes on an airplane and then insists on using his smart phone, even after the doors are closed, even after he's told repeatedly and personally by the flight attendant to turn it off, ALL THE WAY OFF, all the while denying to the flight attendant that it's actually on. To quote the awesome George Takei, "You sir, are a douchebag." Not to mention a liar, liar, pants on fire. Yes, yes, I know the RF signal from handheld devices is negligible, and that the possibility of interference with avionics is miniscule. But you know what? It's the flight attendants' job to make sure everyone complies with FAA regulations, and you're making her job harder. Also? You're not that important, and you're not a unique snowflake to whom the rules don't apply. No. No, you're not.
  3. People who have access to my professional calendar and yet still insist on scheduling meetings where my attendance is critical during time frames where I'm already committed to something else. Why this is so effing annoying is left as an exercise for the class.
  4. People who insist on bringing their big ass roller bags on airplanes as "carry on" luggage. If your bag will not fit in the overhead compartment wheels out, it's too big to "carry on." Quit being a selfish SOB and check the damn thing so that those of us who actually know how to pack without checking luggage may do so. Jerk.
  5. Disorganized asshats whose lack of organizational skills throw me under the bus of disorganization. Don't look at me like that. You know who you are, and you know it's true.
  6. My shoulder is pissing me off. It's been hurting for weeks, and nothing I do makes it feel any better. I suspect that age and abuse is catching up with me, and I will eventually have to go to an ortho guy to see what the hell is going on in there.
Have a nice weekend, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.

"I suggest you not underestimate the staggering drawing power of the Garden State, and show up two hours in advance."

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
I'll be departing this morning for the Garden State, but not to try to end all existence in order to relieve myself of the burden of living in Wisconsin. That's just not how I roll. Plus I don't live in Wisconsin. Although I wouldn't have minded meeting George Carlin.

Instead I'll be attending a session that will (hopefully) result in the closure of a deal I've been working on for over a year, and that represents a fairly significant chunk of my fiscal year 2012 quota. I'm reasonably satisfied with my design, and I have a fairly high degree of confidence. But you never know when the random chance of the universe will throw a stink bomb right in the middle of your plan, so I'm cautious.

On the plus side, I'll be able to use my awesome new raspberry bag for the first time. I'm just as excited about this as I am about closing the deal, which probably says something negative about my dedication to the sales process. I'm not sure how much I care, though, because really - how AWESOME is this bag?