Cruise Days 1-2

Cruises are interesting. This boat is so big that every time we walk around we find some other form of entertainment. People are everywhere. Finding the right pockets of time to chill and enjoy the weather, ocean, a frozen drink without a crowd takes talent, but it can be done.

Day 1 was filled with the boarding process, a 60 minute hot rock, scalp and foot massage (awesome), a fine dinner and some sleep.

Day 2 has been pretty laid back as well. Ended up playing some soccer with a bunch of guys for about 45 minutes or so. Only one ball went overboard. 2 assists. Couple good defensive stops but got nutmegged once. Only managed to cause pain to one ankle. Successful game overall.

The day is winding down now. We're relaxing on the top deck prior to dinner. Crowds are gone. It's me, my wife, my frozen Mai Tai and Miles on my headphones as I read my book and what I think is Cuba passes in the distance. So far its been a pretty fun trip.

5.1.7.

To follow up on my previous post, the flight I am about to board is indeed flight #1577. Not quite 517, but close enough to officially freak me out.

Fun With Numbers

Number of my hotel room this week: 517
Number of the office that I have in Fairfax: 517
Number of my house: 517

I feel like I am on Lost.

Missing Paris

If you find yourself missing Paris, check out this 26 Gigapixel photo of the city. This is damn cool. via Kottke

Jägermeister or Elk's Blood

"Jägermeister is a German 70-proof digestif made with herbs and spices. It is the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister AG, headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, south of Braunschweig, Germany. Contrary to an urban legend, Jägermeister does not contain elk blood."
- Wikipedia

Watching a middle aged business man try to order a shot of Jägermeister tonight while I was eating my dinner at the hotel was pretty funny...the waiter was in the international exchange program that the local Marriott employs here in Fairfax and looked like he was from somewhere in South America. It took him a few tries to get the message across. On a side note, I think that stuff tastes horrible, regardless of whether or not it has elk's blood in it.

"Jägermeister’s ingredients include 56 herbs, fruits, roots, and spices including citrus peel, liquorice, anise, poppy seeds, saffron, ginger, juniper berries and ginseng. These ingredients are ground, then steeped in water and alcohol for 2-3 days. Afterwards, this mixture is filtered and stored in oak barrels for about a year. When a year has passed, the liqueur is filtered again, then mixed with sugar, caramel, alcohol, and water."
- more Wikipedia goodness

Andy Clockwise - Remember Love

Another somewhat melancholy song that I think is pretty cool by Andy Clockwise. Nothing wrong with a little melancholy.

Credit to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends where I found this tune.

NYT Article on Apple vs Google

George Frey/Getty Images

I thought this article in the NYT over the weekend was pretty interesting. It gives you some good background and insight into the battle between Google and Apple when it comes to mobile computing. If I had to pick a team to side with I would probably pick Google...even though I am pretty tempted to pick up an iPad. I haven't had a chance to go research the claim, but it sounds like Google has actually been in the process of making a tablet very similar to the iPad, just running Android. Click here to check out the article.

Real Food

Is it strange that I get excited about the opening of a new food court in the Houston airport? It's called the Real Food Company and is in Terminal C. It's better than the Wendy's that used to be there.

Closed for Business...

I'm flying up to the DC area this week for a few days and then down to Miami to meet up with my wife to hop on a 5 day cruise to Cozumel. We've never been on a cruise before so we are pretty curious about the experience. Most of the time is on the boat - only one day in Mexico. Not sure which "excursion" we are doing when we get there. I hate flying for work on Sundays but this is one week that I will make an exception for given the reward of 5 days of R&R.

Regardless, today's flight is taking me from Lake Charles, LA to Baltimore, MD. It will be a late night as I get in around midnight. I mentioned to someone at our soccer game that I was flying out of Lake Charles and they said, "There's an airport there?" There sure is. It seems even smaller than Lafayette's and the security line is closed down in between flights. I've never seen that before.

Tunng - Hustle

According to Wikipedia, Tunng is an experimental folk band from the UK. I'd say the experiment is a success.

Here's a live version of their song Spoons. Makes me want to dust off the guitar in my office...

Nathaniel Rateliff - Early Spring Till

Came across this Nathaniel Rateliff song called Early Spring Till tonight. The lyrics resonate for me tonight.

Are you tired
Do you feel wrung out
Have you fallen from where glory sprouts
Are you cut off in fields
And pressed down
Like an early spring till
That don't come around
I think Ive been there
...
Are you tired and broken
Once so stout
Are you full of the feeling
Don't doubt it when its gone
I could cut up this reel and leave now
I could fill up with air
And scream so loud
I think I'm going to.

Dream Big

Interesting little story on the plan hatched over 10 years ago to try and position the US to be able to win the 2010 World Cup. I'm just hoping we break bracket. Then anything can happen. About 90 days until Carlee and I are in South Africa watching the kick-off vs. England. Can't wait.

Valentine's Day Photos

I've been remiss not to post some photos from our Valentine's day last month. We decided to do something a little different this year and signed up for a Pack and Paddle canoe trip on Lake Martin followed by a dinner with live cajun music. All around, the evening was amazing, beautiful scenery, intimate dinner with great food, and great tunes from a local band. Here's a few photos.

The group of paddlers - yes, that dog went with us. No way Jozy would have made it.


Our friends Mark and Karen joined us for the evening.


Carlee and myself getting ready for the canoe trip. Warning flare in hand in case we got lost.

The ladies.


A member of the band.

The gang at dinner.

Despite all bets to the contrary, I did not drop our camera into the lake. So it was a successful evening all around.

The Courage to Continue

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

- Winston Churchill