TechReady 6 Day -III Family time before the trip
Yes, it is that time of year again. Time for the annual trip to the home land, to be refreshed, retrained, focus on the new technologies and great products out and coming out. And time to meet with our peers, swap stories of customer success and customer lessons learned.
Man, you really swallowed that religion big time - Michael Kelker, who worked with me for two years before coming to Microsoft, at lunch in 1998 after my first Microsoft internal convention
Tech Ready 6 starts formally on Monday, so this is Day -III on Friday. Jim, would that make Sunday Day 0 and Saturday Day -1? Yes, but since I am using the Roman numeral system, the Romans did not have a concept of the zero. Zero was invented by a number of societies, including China, India and the Mayans. Who did it first is a disputed concept, but we know that the Romans did not have a placeholder or concept of zero. Yet they still managed to invent the arch. Which is half of a zero. Makes you wonder.
Anyway, this is a family and getting ready day for me. I got home on Friday from Milwaukee, went for a physical needed for a drill weekend this month, got a shot in the arm, and went home to start doing laundry and packing. We all know traveling can be fun, it can be hectic, but most importantly, we have to remember who and what we leave behind.
In this case the who is my family. and they got a lot of attention in a short period of time. Friday was the first day of lent, and in accordance with our long standing family tradition Fridays mean everyone gets a movie, and we all sit on the living room floor together, play games and watch movies.
Tonight’s dinner was from Bruno’s in Audubon. I have never heard of Bruno’s before and was referred here by our neighbors down the street. I was at their house to help them with some computer problems. NTLDR not found computer problems. On a 6 year old PC. With all of the important stuff backed up on CD. So after they tried reinstalling twice with installs that failed partially, I suggested they look at a new drive or PC. They had already called Best Buy and were told $100 just to bring it in and start on it. I suggested the flyer they already had open for a $399 new PC. With 1GB RAM, 250Gb hard drive and a 17″ LCD monitor. Or the even better $599 with 2GB RAM, a 500Gb HD and a new printer.
Bruno’s was their recommendation. They suggested the Pizza margherita and the mussels appetizer. A short drive around the corner led us to a block street on both sides and a ton of cars, and people waiting in a long line. From the menu, Bruno’s is brand new, just opening a few blocks from my house 10 years ago. How we don’t know these things is why every time we eat at a place we have eaten at before we walk in AND out saying we have to go to new places. They are all over, we just have to find them.
Bruno’s Pizza & Restaurant 509 Hopkins Rd , Haddonfield, NJ Phone - (856) 428-9505
The mussel’s - huge serving in a choice of red or white - we took in white sauce. The two little kids devoured the order. Eilis has always loved mussels. Today we found out Granuaile does also. And this is why we don’t let the kids order from the children’s menu. Better they get an appetizer or something from the adult menu and learn new tastes and try new food then just eat the same breaded and fried chicken or burger.
I took Anna to StarBucks for her venti non fat late with seven pumps of sugar free vanilla syrup. And treated. Oh yeah, the way to my woman’s heart is through her StarBucks.
Not to forget Brighid, I we took Eilis to Tae Kwon Do, and had a chat with the instructor about Brighid’s busy schedule. We are not belt crazy. But with her going for a USMC ROTC scholarship, she has to make sure she focuses her time on her PT, extracurricular activities and of course her education and grades. From a competitive dance who has coached others and led teams to nationals, to her scout and community activities, she has been busy. We just need to make sure we work on her activities so she can be as competitive for the scholarship and for her future career. Having a game plan is important.
And her acceptance of that is a great feedback to her mom and I on her maturity. So in talking to her and Eilis’ instructor, I asked when she could take her next test. Let’s set a goal to either test up, or reduce her time here and spend it at the gym on pure PT efforts. He thinks she is doing great, knows enough now to take the next test. She just needs the practical time on the mat doing it, and improve her skills. He told her to start coming to the next level of classes. After Eilis was done, we brought Brighid back and left her for two classes tonight.
Busy night, lots got done. I wish I had more time home with the family. Of course when going back to work after a week with them, I still wish for more time with them.
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