Being on the road can be a grind. While I definitely don't want to complain, because oftentimes I really like being away from the office. You're much closer to the real business world. Plus, it allows me to catch up on some work or to be more proactive.
When I'm at home, I'd much rather spend time with my wife.
On the road however, the time away from the office tends to be in the hotel. No big deal, but there are plenty of nights eating along.
Tonight, a coworker invited me over for dinner. This was even more special because it was a Saturday, and he invited me over to his house. It was a great evening with his family and an even better change of pace.
It was human. It was relaxing. And we definitely didn't talk business.
I really take it as an honor to get invited into to their 'private sphere' - especially on a weekend, and I very much appreciate their hospitality. It also creates a stronger personal relationship that can, of course, help the business relationship.
I'm not too sure how often this sort of thing happens, but it is definitely a great happening - something that I will strive to reciprocate with other colleagues in the future.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Too Cool for School
With the T-Shirt problem a bit reduced due to the quilt (see previous post), I went through the old boxes to see what stuff I could throw out.
Here I am below with my Grandfather's Ray Ban's. I couldn't throw these away...they will eventually come back into style!!!
Me posing with one of the foam 'paws' from High School (our mascot was a bulldog).
No trip to Texas can be complete without a trip to the Big Texan (http://www.bigtexan.com/) - home of the free 72 ounce steak*. Below, Eva is posing with one of the larger cows in Texas **.
* if eaten within one hour, including salad, baked potato, and coffee.
** as you know, everything is bigger in Texas.
Here I am below with my Grandfather's Ray Ban's. I couldn't throw these away...they will eventually come back into style!!!
Me posing with one of the foam 'paws' from High School (our mascot was a bulldog).
No trip to Texas can be complete without a trip to the Big Texan (http://www.bigtexan.com/) - home of the free 72 ounce steak*. Below, Eva is posing with one of the larger cows in Texas **.
* if eaten within one hour, including salad, baked potato, and coffee.
** as you know, everything is bigger in Texas.
Christmas Eve Dinner
Everyone has specific memories of home and growing up. For me, one of the fondest memories is that of my mom's Christmas Eve dinner.
On my mom's side, it is tradition to have a larger group of friends and family over for Christmas Eve dinner. In the early days when my folks were just married, the family would rotate hosting the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter feasts. My folks can go on for hours talking about the casks of wine and Aunt Kate and Uncle Johnnie.
Living in Texas, we were pretty far removed from family, so my parents adjusted, and they began to invite friends over for dinner.
My mom would cook, literally, for a week beforehand. More if you consider the baking. The spread is always amazing, and there is always enough food to feed an army. My dad would always make sure that the wine and Manhattan glasses were full.
After dinner and desert, when all the dishes were cleaned and the guests were gone, my mom and I would always sit together and watch 'A Christmas Carol' together to end the evening.
My folks have been complaining since I left for Germany about the number of T-Shirts that I have stored in their garage. So, to help rid them of the T-Shirts that I just couldn't throw away, my mom had a quilt made of shirts - one side is black and gold with my CU shirts, and the other side is red and black (my High School colors) with my high school pics.
...very cool...
On my mom's side, it is tradition to have a larger group of friends and family over for Christmas Eve dinner. In the early days when my folks were just married, the family would rotate hosting the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter feasts. My folks can go on for hours talking about the casks of wine and Aunt Kate and Uncle Johnnie.
Living in Texas, we were pretty far removed from family, so my parents adjusted, and they began to invite friends over for dinner.
My mom would cook, literally, for a week beforehand. More if you consider the baking. The spread is always amazing, and there is always enough food to feed an army. My dad would always make sure that the wine and Manhattan glasses were full.
After dinner and desert, when all the dishes were cleaned and the guests were gone, my mom and I would always sit together and watch 'A Christmas Carol' together to end the evening.
My folks have been complaining since I left for Germany about the number of T-Shirts that I have stored in their garage. So, to help rid them of the T-Shirts that I just couldn't throw away, my mom had a quilt made of shirts - one side is black and gold with my CU shirts, and the other side is red and black (my High School colors) with my high school pics.
...very cool...
Stranger in a Strange Land - Christmas 2005
Eva and I took the trip to Texas for the Christmas holiday. Similar to Berlin (Bears), Amarillo also has its favorite animal all over the city - in the form of artistic renderings of - a horse.
Welcome to Texas.
My mom taking, exhausted from all of the excitement, napping with Maggie.
Welcome to Texas.
My mom taking, exhausted from all of the excitement, napping with Maggie.
DC in December (2005)
Thankfully, I got to take a sidetrip to DC to visit Kelly and Heilman. It was good to see Kelly, Lindsey, and Heilman again. From work, I roadtripped to Kelly's place. They did a great job renovating the place - the colors, hardwoods, and furniture all fit very 'cool' together - in a sort of early 'americana' meets 1920 sort of way.
Thankfully, Kelly is still, well, Kelly. Here we are taking tequilla shots.
This picture is not Photoshopped. This really is a picture of a tractor in front of the White House.
The national Christmas Tree. Definitely a bit larger than ours at home.
Some folks playing roller hockey in front of the White House. My guess is that they are either cops, FBI agents, or Secret Service folks.
Thankfully, Kelly is still, well, Kelly. Here we are taking tequilla shots.
This picture is not Photoshopped. This really is a picture of a tractor in front of the White House.
The national Christmas Tree. Definitely a bit larger than ours at home.
Some folks playing roller hockey in front of the White House. My guess is that they are either cops, FBI agents, or Secret Service folks.
Räuchermänchen and Visitors - Christmas Season 2005
Christmastime is especially unique in Germany. Things seem to move at a different pace - with a lot less rushing as in the States. The christmas markets - with their small huts selling ornaments, sausage, and mulled red wine - create a special atmosphere that I love.
Below are a few of the traditional German 'Räuchermänchen' (smoking men). You put a small incense block in their bellies, light it, and the smoke leaves the men through a hole in their mouths. It is simple, but very cool.
Mirja and Thomas also visited us, and we went to the world famous Nürnberg Christmas markets. If you ever get a chance to visit us during the Christmas season, this is one of the 'must do's'.
A black and white of one of the huts selling sweets - everything from gingerbread cookies to fruitcake to sweet almonds.
Unlike previous years, we actually brought our car to buy our christmas tree (instead of carrying it for miles). Thomas helped me put it up, and we decorated it together.
It is a bit unusual for Germans to put up a tree so early in December...but, as an American, I can get away with it, and our neighbors already think I'm wierd anyway.
Below are a few of the traditional German 'Räuchermänchen' (smoking men). You put a small incense block in their bellies, light it, and the smoke leaves the men through a hole in their mouths. It is simple, but very cool.
Mirja and Thomas also visited us, and we went to the world famous Nürnberg Christmas markets. If you ever get a chance to visit us during the Christmas season, this is one of the 'must do's'.
A black and white of one of the huts selling sweets - everything from gingerbread cookies to fruitcake to sweet almonds.
Unlike previous years, we actually brought our car to buy our christmas tree (instead of carrying it for miles). Thomas helped me put it up, and we decorated it together.
It is a bit unusual for Germans to put up a tree so early in December...but, as an American, I can get away with it, and our neighbors already think I'm wierd anyway.
Advent Wreaths
Tanja and Rene invited us to their place to have dinner and make advent wreaths. It is customary in Germany to have advent wreaths as a table centerpiece or on a table (instead of hanging).
Since Eva and I are not particularly artistic (especially as compared with Tanja), I was a bit apprehensive about the activity...but it was definitely good to spend some time with Tanja and Rene.
Tanja and Rene with the wreath. We also found out this evening that they were expecting their first child!!!
The baby boom was about to begin...
The usual suspects below, excited that the wreath still ended up round!
Since Eva and I are not particularly artistic (especially as compared with Tanja), I was a bit apprehensive about the activity...but it was definitely good to spend some time with Tanja and Rene.
Tanja and Rene with the wreath. We also found out this evening that they were expecting their first child!!!
The baby boom was about to begin...
The usual suspects below, excited that the wreath still ended up round!
Halloween 2005
Katja invited us to her place for a Halloween party. This being my first German Halloween party, I really didn't know what to expect.
Below, a hand, made out of hot dogs with peeled almonds as fingernails, in the pasta salad.
Robin, Eva, and I decided to have a theme costume. This probably won't come off right in English (I'll try), but we were a 'Flotter Drier'. Literally translated, it is a 'fast three' - which is why we dressed up like runners (fast) and had a picture of a BMW 3 Series. The irony comes into the other meaning of a 'Flotter Drier' - threesome.
Funny, huh? Maybe you just had to be there.
Katja, Robin, and Steffan.
Below, a hand, made out of hot dogs with peeled almonds as fingernails, in the pasta salad.
Robin, Eva, and I decided to have a theme costume. This probably won't come off right in English (I'll try), but we were a 'Flotter Drier'. Literally translated, it is a 'fast three' - which is why we dressed up like runners (fast) and had a picture of a BMW 3 Series. The irony comes into the other meaning of a 'Flotter Drier' - threesome.
Funny, huh? Maybe you just had to be there.
Katja, Robin, and Steffan.
Apple Trees, Beer, and Visitors - October 2005
Shortly after planting our apple tree (the small stick to my left), we followed another German tradition: after planting the apple tree, you have to drink a beer...at least that was what my father in law told me.
...maybe it was just an excuse to have a beer...
A few hours after the planting, the family also came down from Hattingen and Essen to visit us. It was sort of a second housewarming party.
A family picture outside of Erlangen after Sunday brunch.
Below is a picture of the protected park that is just to our south, as viewed by our neighbors on the 3rd floor, in the morning dew.
...maybe it was just an excuse to have a beer...
A few hours after the planting, the family also came down from Hattingen and Essen to visit us. It was sort of a second housewarming party.
A family picture outside of Erlangen after Sunday brunch.
Below is a picture of the protected park that is just to our south, as viewed by our neighbors on the 3rd floor, in the morning dew.
Planing Trees - October 2005
As German tradition goes, before you have children, you have to first fall in love, get married, build a house, and then finally plant an apple tree.
We had the first three taken care of...we now thought that it was finally time to get some trees planted. The grass was more or less under control, and it was time to add some greenery.
So, we headed to one of the nurseries that I had seen a hundred times while riding the back country. As with most places in the sticks, the people at the nursery were very helpful and kind.
Our one limitation was the car. Even with a convertible, we could buy only so much. We didn't want to buy much at first; we wanted to test the waters and slowly plant more as spring arrived. We weren't planning, however, planning on buying the Kugeleiche (I have no idea what it would be called in English, but translated it is a 'Ball Oak' tree.
Here is Eva and I with our new favorite tree - our Kugeleiche.
Unfortunately, while lowering the convertible, there was some stuff on the back ledge of the car, and I broke the rear window. Thankfully, there is 'stupid husband' insurance that we have that helped reduce the cost a bit.
Needless to say, a broken window at the end of October is not very practical.
We had the first three taken care of...we now thought that it was finally time to get some trees planted. The grass was more or less under control, and it was time to add some greenery.
So, we headed to one of the nurseries that I had seen a hundred times while riding the back country. As with most places in the sticks, the people at the nursery were very helpful and kind.
Our one limitation was the car. Even with a convertible, we could buy only so much. We didn't want to buy much at first; we wanted to test the waters and slowly plant more as spring arrived. We weren't planning, however, planning on buying the Kugeleiche (I have no idea what it would be called in English, but translated it is a 'Ball Oak' tree.
Here is Eva and I with our new favorite tree - our Kugeleiche.
Unfortunately, while lowering the convertible, there was some stuff on the back ledge of the car, and I broke the rear window. Thankfully, there is 'stupid husband' insurance that we have that helped reduce the cost a bit.
Needless to say, a broken window at the end of October is not very practical.
Hunter Wedding Bliss
Don't Drees and I look ultra cool in our suits and shades?
The wedding was held outdoors before dusk, and, again, the weather and the surroundings couldn't have been more beautiful.
Here is Tina walking down the aisle with her father. I have to give Tina credit. I bet that she would be crying before she got to the alter. But, she toughed it out and made it all the way through the wedding without giving those tears of joy...
Here's where I get all sentimental. It is truly a great feeling to see a great friend like Hunter marry that woman that is a perfect match. Brian and Tina are a great couple and just 'fit' together.
As cliche as it may sound, I truly feel that I gained a friend in Tina. While she has been a part of the 'gang' for a long time...it is great that it is now official!!!
You can see additional pics of the wedding at http://www.jayweise.com/hunter.html.
The fun started on the way home. We got into a bit of a surprise snowstorm, and I missed my flight to Houston. Welcome to Colorado!
The wedding was held outdoors before dusk, and, again, the weather and the surroundings couldn't have been more beautiful.
Here is Tina walking down the aisle with her father. I have to give Tina credit. I bet that she would be crying before she got to the alter. But, she toughed it out and made it all the way through the wedding without giving those tears of joy...
Here's where I get all sentimental. It is truly a great feeling to see a great friend like Hunter marry that woman that is a perfect match. Brian and Tina are a great couple and just 'fit' together.
As cliche as it may sound, I truly feel that I gained a friend in Tina. While she has been a part of the 'gang' for a long time...it is great that it is now official!!!
You can see additional pics of the wedding at http://www.jayweise.com/hunter.html.
The fun started on the way home. We got into a bit of a surprise snowstorm, and I missed my flight to Houston. Welcome to Colorado!
Rocky Mountain High
OK...so the title is a bit cheesy. But, it fits. This is the view from our cabin in Aspen. This time of year is particularly beautiful on Colorado because the leaves all start changing colors. I could have sit on the porch all day just staring at these mountatins.
Joel and Hunter posing for some pre wedding pictures.
Here is the wedding party. If you switch this pic to B&W, it looks like it could have been taken 150 years ago...another one of my favorites.
More pics of the groomsmen. The weather and the surroundings made a great backdrop for the wedding.
Joel and Hunter posing for some pre wedding pictures.
Here is the wedding party. If you switch this pic to B&W, it looks like it could have been taken 150 years ago...another one of my favorites.
More pics of the groomsmen. The weather and the surroundings made a great backdrop for the wedding.
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