April 2013
Blog 146: Hour-By-Hour, From Bad to Worse
22, 04 13, 07:36 Filed in: Photography | Travel
Trip to Chicago
I spent most of the week in Chicago, working with a client in helping to launch a big engagement.
Day One: Hour by hour, worse and worse
Our launch team consisted of great people, and Day One went well. However, as the day progressed in length, my voice recessed in volume. By the end of our session, my vocabulary was reduced to teenager speak--a few grunts and groans separated by chunks of silence. That evening was even worse--ordering dinner at the hotel was an ordeal for me and my waitress, as my tools of communication were limited to fingerpointing and head nodding. I went to bed pondering how I was to facilitate Day Two, and even more disturbing, I had a presentation to give on Day Three to people from around the country. A consultant without a voice is like an artist without a brush--quite difficult to do the job!
Day Two: Thank goodness for technology and high-school typing
I felt that the only way I could give a speech on Day Three was to rest my voice during all of Day Two. Yet, I still had an important assignment to complete. Luckily, the stars aligned. My client has a great set-up in their conference rooms where you can directly hook your laptop into a large HD TV on the wall. You can switch quickly to different documents much faster than with a traditional projector.
In addition, back in 1970 I took a class in high school on typing, and was able to do quite well. This combination of technology and learned skills (plus patience and understanding on the part of the others on the team) allowed Day Two to be successful. As the rest of the group talked, I was able to type out suggestions and respond to questions relatively quickly. I was happy with the outcome, but exhausted as I headed back, took an early dinner, and went to bed hoping my voice would return for the next day.
Day Three: The Great Flood
I awoke, cautiously tried my voice, and determined that it had improved to 80% intelligible and only 20% garble--I could give my talk! Feeling good, I walked through the cold pelting rain into the rental car of my Swiss colleague. As we pulled up to the frontage road, we gazed upon the flooded areas and our only road of escape that was covered by a couple feet of water racing like the rapids on a raft float. Ahead was an abandoned car in the median and a quarter mile of rushing water between us and the main road. As we drove/floated through the running water, I was picturing us barefoot and shivering, holding our bags over our head, trying to keep our balance as we trudged from our abandoned car. Not to worry, we made it safe and sound with a good story to tell.* The speech went well, and after some flying delays due to the horrific weather I made it home that evening.
*I left after my presentation, however, the other members of my team and scores of others had to be rescued from the hotel by trucks later in the day as the flooding forced the closure of the Marriott.
Weekly Photos
Alas, this week I only produced one photo worth sharing. Here is an airplane window shot at sunset somewhere over Georgia.
However, just for fun, I pulled out some old pre-blog shots from different locations that you might find interesting. Let me know if you can guess where they were taken.
Old Trucks
Here are two not-published old truck pics.
See you next week.
P.S. Motoring Across America 2013 is getting closer!
I spent most of the week in Chicago, working with a client in helping to launch a big engagement.
Day One: Hour by hour, worse and worse
Our launch team consisted of great people, and Day One went well. However, as the day progressed in length, my voice recessed in volume. By the end of our session, my vocabulary was reduced to teenager speak--a few grunts and groans separated by chunks of silence. That evening was even worse--ordering dinner at the hotel was an ordeal for me and my waitress, as my tools of communication were limited to fingerpointing and head nodding. I went to bed pondering how I was to facilitate Day Two, and even more disturbing, I had a presentation to give on Day Three to people from around the country. A consultant without a voice is like an artist without a brush--quite difficult to do the job!
Day Two: Thank goodness for technology and high-school typing
I felt that the only way I could give a speech on Day Three was to rest my voice during all of Day Two. Yet, I still had an important assignment to complete. Luckily, the stars aligned. My client has a great set-up in their conference rooms where you can directly hook your laptop into a large HD TV on the wall. You can switch quickly to different documents much faster than with a traditional projector.
In addition, back in 1970 I took a class in high school on typing, and was able to do quite well. This combination of technology and learned skills (plus patience and understanding on the part of the others on the team) allowed Day Two to be successful. As the rest of the group talked, I was able to type out suggestions and respond to questions relatively quickly. I was happy with the outcome, but exhausted as I headed back, took an early dinner, and went to bed hoping my voice would return for the next day.
Day Three: The Great Flood
I awoke, cautiously tried my voice, and determined that it had improved to 80% intelligible and only 20% garble--I could give my talk! Feeling good, I walked through the cold pelting rain into the rental car of my Swiss colleague. As we pulled up to the frontage road, we gazed upon the flooded areas and our only road of escape that was covered by a couple feet of water racing like the rapids on a raft float. Ahead was an abandoned car in the median and a quarter mile of rushing water between us and the main road. As we drove/floated through the running water, I was picturing us barefoot and shivering, holding our bags over our head, trying to keep our balance as we trudged from our abandoned car. Not to worry, we made it safe and sound with a good story to tell.* The speech went well, and after some flying delays due to the horrific weather I made it home that evening.
*I left after my presentation, however, the other members of my team and scores of others had to be rescued from the hotel by trucks later in the day as the flooding forced the closure of the Marriott.
Weekly Photos
Alas, this week I only produced one photo worth sharing. Here is an airplane window shot at sunset somewhere over Georgia.
However, just for fun, I pulled out some old pre-blog shots from different locations that you might find interesting. Let me know if you can guess where they were taken.
Old Trucks
Here are two not-published old truck pics.
See you next week.
P.S. Motoring Across America 2013 is getting closer!
Blog 145: Mitzy in the Meadow
14, 04 13, 14:51 Filed in: Photography | Island Life
Quick Trip to DC
I had a super three-day session with a great client in DC. While there, a record was set for the highest temperature in 90 years (94 degrees) and the highest pollen count (at least I think it had to be a record)--there is a downside to cherry blossoms, you know.
Around the Island
It is getting quieter on the Island as the Snowbirds fly (or drive) back up North. Here are pics of a staring osprey, a beautiful weed, and Mitzy in the meadow.
Old Trucks
Here are two old trucks.
See you next week.
I had a super three-day session with a great client in DC. While there, a record was set for the highest temperature in 90 years (94 degrees) and the highest pollen count (at least I think it had to be a record)--there is a downside to cherry blossoms, you know.
Around the Island
It is getting quieter on the Island as the Snowbirds fly (or drive) back up North. Here are pics of a staring osprey, a beautiful weed, and Mitzy in the meadow.
Old Trucks
Here are two old trucks.
See you next week.
Blog 144: Easter Eggs and Watching Whales
07, 04 13, 20:22 Filed in: Photography
Easter Eggs
Easter Sunday started with a traditional egg hunt, and our four searchers (Austin, Natalie, Mitzy, and Jerry) emerged victorious, finding all 39 of the hidden eggs. Natalie put on her new kimono in honor of the holiday.
Watching Whales
A family trip to SeaWorld was a delight in the deep, with all sorts of aquatic action and marine mischief. My favorite is always the Shamu Show. The grandkids and their parents liked it all.
Old Trucks
Here are two old trucks.
See you next week.
Easter Sunday started with a traditional egg hunt, and our four searchers (Austin, Natalie, Mitzy, and Jerry) emerged victorious, finding all 39 of the hidden eggs. Natalie put on her new kimono in honor of the holiday.
Watching Whales
A family trip to SeaWorld was a delight in the deep, with all sorts of aquatic action and marine mischief. My favorite is always the Shamu Show. The grandkids and their parents liked it all.
Old Trucks
Here are two old trucks.
See you next week.
Blog 143: Shakedown Sortie and Doing Disney
01, 04 13, 07:59 Filed in: Photography | Travel
Shakedown Sortie
In anticipation of our upcoming Motoring Across America, we took the motorhome up to Apopka (NE of Orlando). Everything seems to be running great except for the small anticipated issues of a house that goes 70 miles an hour. Our campsite was comfortable and the campground had all the basics (cable TV, WiFi, pool, playground, and so on). A big plus is that it is five minutes away from relatives.
Doing Disney
Our son, Aaron, and our daughter-in-law, Kelly, brought almost six-year-old Austin and almost one-year-old Natalie to Disney to take in all the action at the Mouse. Grandma and Grandpa did a day at Magic Kingdom and a day at Epcot (with a day of recovery in between). I have never seen so many strollers and Big Ears in my life! Everyone had a wonderful time.
Old Trucks
Here are two old trucks.
See you next week.
In anticipation of our upcoming Motoring Across America, we took the motorhome up to Apopka (NE of Orlando). Everything seems to be running great except for the small anticipated issues of a house that goes 70 miles an hour. Our campsite was comfortable and the campground had all the basics (cable TV, WiFi, pool, playground, and so on). A big plus is that it is five minutes away from relatives.
Doing Disney
Our son, Aaron, and our daughter-in-law, Kelly, brought almost six-year-old Austin and almost one-year-old Natalie to Disney to take in all the action at the Mouse. Grandma and Grandpa did a day at Magic Kingdom and a day at Epcot (with a day of recovery in between). I have never seen so many strollers and Big Ears in my life! Everyone had a wonderful time.
Old Trucks
Here are two old trucks.
See you next week.