Affiliate Assessment

Another day, another affiliate assessment.

Here's Bobby and Michelle working through issues in Mexico on their warehouse. I know - looks thrilling, doesn't it.

At least we got out of the small room - cramming 10 people into an non-air conditioned room in Mexico is not advisable. If for no other reason Gaby starts up (ha).

Lucia and Mamacita

I'm a little vaclempt.

Off to dinner with Mamacita and Gaby with the added bonus of Lucia also being in town. Lucia has been in Mexico a couple of weeks working for Bayer, but she's quitting (because Bayer is stupid) and moving to Geneva.

Gaby and Mamacita are both doing great - they will actually see us in Brazil, since Gaby has training down there at the same time.

And the restaurant was amazing - true Mexican food is something to behold - and they have ingredients (like mole and real peppers) that are absolutely amazing.

Gaby

After getting up really early in the morning on Sunday and catching a plane to Mexico City, I've safely arrived. Mexico City is a whole lot easier to deal with when you get to look forward to seeing Gaby again. Granted the woman is in Indy about every other month, but it's still nice to see her and Mamacita.

Also in the pic is none other than Michelle Grabczak - she's down in Mexico City for affiliate assessment too.

Chicago Cubs

While passing through Chicago, Mike lucked out with some tickets to the Chicago Cubs game on Saturday - great seats. The game was pretty good against the Astros, but I think the whole neighbor location of the stadium has got to be the high point of going to a game like this (instead of some impersonal stadium out in the middle of suburbia).

Stop in Chicago to see Mike and Kristi

Couldn't see myself flying straight to Mexico City from Ireland (It's one of those - you can't get there from here) - so I decided to stop in Chicago for the weekend and visit Mike and Kristi - aren't they cute.

Off to Latin America

OK, off to Affiliate Assessments in Mexico and Brazil.

Since we have 6 sites that need a new warehouse system, we need to start planning for Mexico and Brazil - which are currently slated to be next on the list.

So that means I get to do a 17,000 mile circle around Western Civilization. Itinerary is Cork to London, London to Chicago (stay the weekend to visit Mike and Kristi), Chicago to Mexico City, Mexico City to Sao Paulo (via Miami), Sao Paulo to London, London to Cork.

Let's just say Lily travel services freaked out, since the original cost came up to about $15,000 - yikes. I think they eventually got it down to $6K in business class - not too shabby.

So what's this pic? The London to Chicago flight on British Airways. They have this funky lie flat beds, but they alternate with one seat facing forward and the next one facing backwards. Cool if you're travelling alone, but I'm not sure I'm a fan if there are two of you.

All in all a good flight - decent food (especially for the English), 1 movie (thank you Steve Jobs), and somewhat pleasant flight attendants.

Democracy in action

Patrick ? Have you mailed your absentee ballot in yet ?

For the first (and probably last) time in our lives, the electorate of Indiana may actually have a say in the Presidential race. We might actually make the evening news - what a shock.

I can just see it now - Hillary and Barack tie and they can't call Indiana until two absentee ballots from Kinsale, Ireland are counted. We could put Kinsale on the map.

A Room with a View

Ah another morning in Kinsale . . .

Not to rub it in, but it's in my nature . . . this is a picture taken from our dining room. Absolutely amazing - so much so that I'm looking for beachfront property in Indianapolis when we get back.

From Seeds to Plants

Well you can't have a 50 foot patio go to waste, and the easiest and cheapest way I could think of to make it like home is tons of plants.

Of course, to fill said 50 foot patio with plants requires quite a few plants - so I had to go with the seed route (Mother Nature is the ultimate in thriftiness).

So after getting 18 2'X2' square pots, a crapload of dirt, and a tons of seeds - I'm off to the races. As Hilary Cox taught me years ago, the secret to growing seeds is pretty easy if you just follow a couple of simple steps.

We'll see how these puppies do - but they're doing pretty well so far.

Passport Back

Oh thank God !!!

Heading off to Mexico and Brazil in a couple of days, and I finally got my passport back. Turns out getting a Brazilian visa is a major pain in the butt - but it doesn't help that I've run out of pages on my passport.

Usually, I'm not concerned about living in a foreign country with no valid piece of identification (I don't drive drunk) - but this time no passport meant no bank account.

Every day that per diem was adding up, and I couldn't get my hands on it. Hopefully now I can spend some actual euros.