Madrid

So I'm in Spain for a week to do a small Advanced Design session. Officially the project I'm on will not start the Spain project for at least another two years, but it's so complicated - we thought we'd better get started early.

Whole bunch of people over here now - too many to mention. The most important thing of the week will be whether or not I can adapt to the eating dinner at 10:00PM thing.

First Stop Kinsale

So the travel plans are Indy to Chicago, Chicago to London, London to Cork, drop off luggage, eat, sleep, then fly Cork to London, London to Madrid.

Sounds worse than it really is. And it's a lot better than having to carry two huge suitcases (remember they are really overweight) throughout Europe for 8 days.

The only problem was that every single flight I took was cancelled, late, or delayed. Considering my experience in India and with Jamie, I thank the traveling Gods that nothing was missed beyond repair.

Jamie stuck in Chicago

So I skipped a couple of posts - one about Jamie Dunn (future co-worker in Kinsale) visiting the US for two weeks was one of them. But we now pick up the story in Chicago, where he was suppose to fly back to London around 9:00 Friday morning. Turns out when I got to Chicago O'Hare later that day, he was still there. We both ended up on the same flight back, which finally left around 11:00PM - sorry 23:00.

Wow, he was bumming, but what can you really expect from THE MOST BARBARIC FORM OF TRAVEL NO TO THE CIVILIZED WORLD !!!

Breakfast Time on hold

I'll probably get in trouble for posting a bad picture of my mother, but she'll hopefully forget by the time I get back.

So with the upcoming move to Ireland, no more Sunday breakfasts for awhile at Mom and Dad's house :( Although I will miss arguing with father when he's listened to too much Rush Limbaugh during the week, I think Obie is going to miss Sunday breakfasts the most - no more treats from Grandma.

Trying to get underweight

There's absolutely no way that I'm going to be underweight at the airport.

Not only have the airports lowered the maximum weight that you can take onboard (I think it's 5.2 pounds now), but that one black roller (you know, the one that everyone has) is enormous. I barely make weight if I only put clothes, and this time around it has some serious weight - oh well.

And I know the picture doesn't look that bad, but to put it in perspective . . . that one black bag measures about 3 and a half feet in length.

Lots of Beer at Weber's

After much rescheduling, we finally had a date with the Weber's et al (Chris and Jill Hagan, Gaby (yep, she was in town), Silvia and Glenn Rowell, and the Weber clan) before heading off to Ireland. Always looking for challenges, Weber came up with a menu that each item had beer in it. I really need to get the whole menu, but it was quite amazing - even the chocolate cake had some beer in it. And nope, it wasn't what you would think - it all tasted surprisingly good.

Patrick's Place

As I panic to get ready for the move to Ireland, I am reminded of the 2' by 3' piece of real estate on top of Patrick's dresser that I do not mess with. (I know, 6 square feet is a lot in a 2000 sqft house).

For those of you who have never met me, I inherited the DNA sequencing for control freak from my mother, paternal grandmother, and Hillary Clinton - which has caused a bizarre multiplicative effect that prevents me from even allowing a piece of mail to stay on the dining room table after the sun sets (God help us if the sun has indeed already set that day - the stupid envelope should have known better).

So you can imagine the spiritual growth I have reached, when I don't mess with 'Patrick's Place'. No doubt there are bills buried in that heap that will never see the light of day, but I'm OK with that - as long as Patrick is happy - and said pile does not fall on the floor and infect the top of my dresser.

So what to take to Ireland

So what to take to Ireland?

Unlike the longer term 18 month assignment, Lilly is pretty smart and realizes that we don't need to take as much stuff for a 6 month thing - that whole sharing of key learning - I hate that. Anyway . . . for this little trip we get 2 "E" containers instead of 2 "LDN" containers. For those of us who are not freight forwarders that would mean two big suitcases instead of two 1 meter cubes - big difference, Lassie.

So short of some clothes (I will have to cover the winter, spring, and summer seasons), the only thing we really needed to take was SCUBA equipment and kitchen stuff. Granted the apartment is fully-furnished, but you know they're not going to have Staub or Mona.

Tell me I'm wrong. P.S. You really need to make sure your speakers are on, when you click on 'Mona' - I really couldn't have planned that any better.

A brunch for Violet

Ain't she cute?

Even as someone who shuns children for their negative effect on my disposable income, I can see that this girl is cute.

To bring you up to speed, my friend (originally previous owner of our current house - how weird is that?), Kathleen Schuetz (sorry, if I missed the spelling - but it just doesn't look right) adopted a baby girl from China.

If there is a more profound story of patience and sense of purpose, it has been lost to history. You can check out the last 10% of the ordeal here at Violet's Thread.

To celebrate we threw a little shindig for Violet and Mom Saturday - it wasn't a dinner thing, instead a brunch. But it was still a blast. Besides, brunches are so much easier than the full on dinner thing - it can all be baked.

And of course, it was good to see Mary, Jody, Steph, and Laura before we left (Hello???!!! Leslie, DeAnn - where's the love?) - you missed the Spinach Strata with a Mimosa chaser.

Laurence has a slight injury

Just wanted everyone to know that it's just not me who crashes and burns on the ski slopes.

While Laurence was on vacation (yes, I know, when are the french not on vacation) - she did a little tumble down the mountain. Details are still sketchy, but Patrick and I thought it was worth a delivery by the florist (thanks Mama Liane - you know if I called my local florist, they would have asked where France was).

As of this writing Laurence is back at work, where she is no doubt planning her next vacation.