Another Islay Favourite

Yes, the spelling of favourite was on purpose...

So, I have a challenger to my favourite Scotch...
As we all know, I believe that the best Scotch comes from the South-Western part of the Scotland. For a long time, I believed Laphroaig to be the hands down the BEST Scotch in the world... Laphroaig is a Scotch distilled on the Isle of Islay.

Well, I found a new Scotch that may replace Laphroaig...
The Scotch is... Lagavulin ...

The Scotch is SO smokey and peaty that I could lovingly eat it with a fork!

Ok, now my friend in unison: That crap is horrible! LOL

Happy St. Patrick Duffy Day

Happy St. Patrick Duffy Day to you all. No one on "Dallas" deserved a day more than him (except maybe Donna Reed).

So, I am in training this week. It has been interesting. I do have one of my friends from the SB office with me, so I am not completely bored. We have had quite a lot of fun laughing about people we work with, people in the class and anyone else we see. One of the people we saw today was a lady who was wearing a Harley Davidson shirt. Well, I assume that it is Harley Davidson because the shirt had two large letters H and D. The problem is, though, that it really looked like and H and an O. I am not sure that walking around with a big HO on your shirt is the proper message for the workplace.

In other news, I am, like my kids, playing Animal Crossing on DS. The game is kind of fun.

Oh well... Wish me luck...

Namaste

To Hartford

I am going to Hartford this week for a training program. My flight plan is home to Detroit to Hartford (my return swaps Atlanta for Detroit).

It occurred to me today that I should really account for all of the places I have been since I took this job. I had never really traveled anywhere growing up. We went to Altoona, PA often because my grandparents family was there. I went to Niagara Falls twice, Cape Hatteras, NC once, Reheboth Beach, DE once and a Western Caribbean cruise with my wife's family. That's it. Almost all of the travel was after I reached adulthood. So now, all of the places I have been these 14 months (if the location was an airport, I will indicate by (ap)): Salt Lake (ap), LA (ap), Phoenix (ap), Santa Barbara, Atlanta (ap), Dallas, Houston (ap), Chicago and Hartford. I guess that, once I listed them, that my list is not that big (especially compared to my wife's cousin - she is a world traveler. :D ). For me, the list has enormous for it means that I have spent A LOT of time away from my family. I hate that... I do have a job, though, and for that I am appreciative!

So, I am in Hartford for a BA certificate program that is provided by one of the CT universities (I can't remember which one). The program should be interesting. It will be one of the few training opportunities I have received in this job and one of the only resume building aspects of this position.

Pappadeaux and Pappasitos

So, I got in late to Dallas and I was starving. I arrived at a new hotel for me. I normally stay at Marriott's, but a buddy at work told me about a Hyatt right by the office. You know, you gotta like a room that has a 42" TV. The room is small, but it will work.

I am hoping that this is a good week. I have some training for my new project. Wish me luck!

I am a little nervous about the department with the closing of the Santa Barbara office. I will keep you informed.

Oh look... My food is here... Thank God I caught Heroes the moment I got into my room, but I am starving...

Adios

Last Night in Santa Barbara

Another Blackberry Post (well started on Blackberry ...

So, this is my last night in Santa Barbara. I have never traveled to a city that I loved being in until I first came here 14 months ago. Don't get me wrong, being home with my wife and kids on a lazy Sunday afternoon is the 7th layer of heaven. But, when you travel for work, being in a city you love can make the loneliness of travel more bearable.

So, what do I love and not love about this city...

Santa Barbara's beauty is second only to the faces of my three girls bathed in the glow of their bedside desk lamps. The city is a mellifluous cacophony of sounds, smells and sights. There are homeless people begging, credit-card hippies serenading passerbys with songs by Phish, U2 (no band sucks more than U2), Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, etc., people walking dogs, sponsored bike riders peddling down the street and skaters traversing through this maze. State Street (the main throughfare) is brimming with restaurants of all types. You can smell fresh Danish pastries, Italian pastas, Indian non, Greek pitas, etc... Plus, they have a Seinfeld deli!

All of this is captured on the canvas of the main street of what is a college town, a vacation spot and a celebrity magnet. The city is surrounded by the Santa Ynez mountains and the Pacific ocean. It is a city that is blessed with Mediterranean temperatures in the 60's and 70's all year round.

Ok... I wanted to capture the essesence of the city and I may be too tired to stay focused. Well, I guess it is all right, unless I decide to sell my story... LOL

Santa Barbara - The Day Before Last

So, this is my last trip out here. My company is closing out this office at the end of the month. It is sad... This office was one of the FEW perks of the company.

I love coming out here. It is beautiful. The mountains, the ocean, the shops, the restaurants, the office, the people - even the homeless... I have never been to a place like this....

But, my company decided that the cost was too much and they decided to close the office. They offered all of the employees a transfer to the Dallas office. Sadly, they seemed to have been unconcerned if any of the developers moved. They are all a great bunch of CA kids... Oh well...

With all of that said, I am happy that I have a job. I am on a new project and I really enjoy it. Wish me luck!

Trip to SB

So, I am flying to Santa Barbara for training on a current project within my company. I will be taking over the project from another analyst. Being on a project is paramount in this industry since "being on the shelf" too long can spell doom.

I looking forward to the travel legs of this trip with the same anticipation as a person looks forward to a root canal without novacaine. My boss booked the trip. The route there takes me to ATL, LAX and SBA. The LAX to SBA flight is the worst. I have a middle seat for an almost 5 hour flight. Then, there is the way home... I fly SBA to SLC and then SLC to LAX and then the red eye home. My first flight is @noon and I come home the next day @6am. I am SO not looking forward to this.

Now a break for my whining...

I often spend so much time worrying about how the girls are affected by me not being home that I often forget about the effect it has on my wife. She is one amazing person to put up with me. I really need to do a better job of showing her how important she is to me.