Parent Week

The Parents are here! The Parents are here!

Indeed, Avid Reader, my parents made the trek to Seattle -- Tucker in tow! -- to spend a few days in Seattle for my birthday and for some good old fashioned parent-kid time!

We enjoyed a Seattle sports double-header while they were here (in addition to a DoubleHeader pre-func, of course!): Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers and Seattle SoundersFC vs. Boca Juniors!

An afternoon game, we started our day at Safeco Field -- more late than anticipated as the parents ended up in Bothell after taking the wrong-way #41 bus. And yes, if you're asking, I gave -- and wrote down -- explicit instructions on how to navigate the King County Metro system. Also, they'd done it before! Anyhoo... after they finally made it downtown, we enjoyed Club Level seats provided by a friend and watched the M's come from behind for a win! Not that often do we see that in Safeco Field these days!

The parents must have been the lucky charm as later that night, we also enjoyed a Sounders triumph in their friendly against the Juniors by a score of 3-0! My friend Mike Sealy from the UK also joined, so we had a seasoned soccer fan and my futball virgin parents in our foursome. It wasn't the warmest of nights, but it was a hoot altogether and I think my parents gained an appreciation for a sport that just wasn't really a significant part of our world growing up!

In addition to the sports double-header, I also got to show them the city from atop the Smith Tower where I once worked and which was once the fourth tallest building in the world! Needless to say, it was an awesome week having them here and getting to show them my world. I always appreciate that the most!

Mom, Dad, it was awesome to have you here! Tucker, you too! Come back soon! (OK, not *that* soon, but soon!). :o)

Birthday Weekend

I had a great birthday weekend, Avid Reader. Thanks for asking! You might be wondering what a guy would do for his 37th big one... so let me tell you!

The weekend started off Man-Style with a Friday night pre-func at SportsCard, a local dive sports bar that serves cold pitchers and hosts some of the most colorful crowd on the planet. Beverages in system, Captain in coat, we hit the late showing of 'Iron Man 2' in IMAX and did our own IronMan impressions after. Awesome.

On the big day itself -- May 22 -- I started my birthday off right by getting to meet Brooklyn Nicole Baker... and wore the same sweatshirt (Go Huskies!) I did when I met her older brother Carson over two years ago! It's always a treat to get to see Lindsey, and then I got to spend the afternoon with her hubby MattBaker as we hit the Sounders match with our friends & colleagues Christian Dehart and Nate Tribble! As with all Sounders matches, we pre-func'd at Seattle's DoubleHeader Tavern in Pioneer Square. While the Sounders couldn't pull out a win for my birthday, Matt & Nate and Christian & I celebrated anyway with more time at the DoubleHeader before life beckoned us back to the world of responsibility (i.e. they all have kiddos!).

You might wonder how a birthday could get any better, but it did! After the match and some quality time with Copper, I met John & Amy Weaver and the Paulsons at my new favorite pizza joint: Turnpike Pizza at Green Lake. Hello Meatball Parmesan deliciousness! The Weavers got me a sweatshirt to compliment what will be an awesome summer tan as well as... um... a handerchief to assist with any robberies I might attempt this next year. :)

I will say this as I continue on this journey that is life... I'm not as well kept-up as I used to be, but the skin I'm in keeps getting stronger and I keep getting more comfortable in it. Best? My story keeps getting more colorful the more milestones I pass.

Avid Reader, I sure am thankful for the road on which I get to travel!

Copper is ONE!

On 5-May, we celebrated Copper's 1st birthday with a party in honor of one of her most endearing qualities -- her gas. "Stinko de Mayo" was a huge hit and I couldn't be more thankful for the Copper Fans who made her milestone such an awesome one! In fact, I couldn't be more thankful for my "village"... who has made me able to have such a wonderful companion in light of my work/travel schedule. Thank you, Friends!

Happy Birthday, Copper!

USD EUR GBP -- What'll it Be?

Greetings, Avid Reader! I have officially returned from a Quick Week abroad for work. I was just discusssing the week with a colleague and we decided that trying to track time overseas is pointless as the time moves both so quickly and oh so slowly in concert. Don't ask me how; I've simply decided to hit the "I Believe" button on it.

Point being, I no sooner landed in Paris then was on a train to London then on a flight home. Depart Seattle Sunday. Arrive Paris Monday. Arrive London Thursday. Arrive Seattle Saturday. It's a never-ending game of 'What Will this Hotel Room be Like?'. Needless to say, it was a fast week and a great week in two of the greatest cities on the planet, Paris & London. So as not to give a play-by-play, some highlights:

+ Being asked by MSFT colleagues to mentor (Debbi) and to presentation train (Jesse). Always honoring.
+ Bread! Bread! Bread! How I love me a french boulangerie.
+ The little differences. Like "C" & "F" instead of Hot (chaud) & Cold (froid).
+ Dinner in the Louvre Courtyard. Cafe Marly was awesome.
+ The biggest beer EVER at Le Castel with work colleagues from around the world.
+ But nothing beats an English Pub after hours. Save beers with a dear friend in said drinking hole. Thank you, Plumber's Arms & Brian Hennigan!