Goodbye: Jim Weber

An absolutely amazing individual, and a true gift to have been able to work and know him better.

First, a tremendously good sport. Not everyone can give up their daily work uniform for the past 30 years, just for team spirit. Actually, we all know it was because of Mama Cita, but that's another story.

Second, I've never seen anyone inhale an area culturally, in this case Alsace, like Jim. Not only did he find food and spirits in towns that probably aren't even on a map outside of Alsace, but he really enjoyed the french, he understood them better than any of us, and truly appreciated them. He liked the Germans too.

Third, an idiot savant when it came to learning french. Despite no background in it, he would amaze with vocabulary words three months after we had been there - I think one time he knew the french words for "silk damask draperies" - bizarre.

Fourth, an amazing ability to take a topic, like particle physics or Middle Eastern geopolitics, and reduce the main points down to index finger, middle finger, thumb. I figure if the Lilly thing doesn't work out, he could go be a strategic policy analyst for the State Department or Pentagon.

Before I forget . . . thanks for the leftovers (50 half opened bottles of alcohol) - Patrick Emanuel and Daniel Prieto are salivating. I'm thinking team building event for all of semi-finished manufacturing, but I'm afraid it would affect the World's Insulin supply.

And finally, Jim said several times that we were the finest group of AE's the GBIP project has ever had, but he forgot to mention that the main reason was because we had the finest leader (yes, I know merit reviews are done for the year - you little twits).

Goodbye: Theresa Weber

Sorry, when I think of Theresa, I think of her purse. I know that's not so profound to the uninitiated, but you have to understand that her purse must have been a portal to another universe that was directly connected to three Super Wal-Marts. I've never seen so much crap come out of that thing, and I just waited for the day you pulled out a turkey leg or diesel generator. I mean I thought I was doing pretty well with having nail clippers in my man bag - and I'm an Eagle Scout.

Anyway, Theresa got the ordering in french thing down and could drink tequila like a sailor. And oh yes, she had to put up with Jim - but that's obviously an old skill. By the way, haven't started on the leftover Anejo, it's too emotional for me right now. And with the upcoming Tequila party for Lucia's wedding, I think I should pace myself.

(And the composite might need a bit of explanation to the uninitiated - the cotton ball at the end is Fry. Didn't want to leave him out.)

This is what happens to your brain on drugs

Not really sure when we took this picture, but it was probably when we were trying to keep up with Daniel. I, of course, went home, since it was a school night (and it was after 10PM.) But several tried to run with the bulls. See "Why I can't be friends with the Spanish"

I do remember the next day at work, that I saw Gaby walk in the front door. And even though she was 50 meters away, I could feel her hangover. That's pretty bad, since I'm not a very empathic person.