Busy work day in Dallas

I don't think I really had a chance to take a break today.

I didn't sleep worth a damn last night -- kept waking up every hour or so, but still managed to stay in bed until 7:30. Got up and did a lightening round of getting showered, shaved, dressed and to the client's office. Worked on getting final updates squared for my status meeting at 9:30.

Status meeting was long, fruitful, but wore me out a bit, just due to everything I've got going on at 'crunch time' on the project. After that, I headed out to our Dallas office for an internal 'round table / town hall' meeting. That went through lunch and after; then I jumped on a series of con calls: one regarding IBM's compliance / internal controls workbench solution, second on an Arkansas meet/greet tour I'm doing end of April... nailing down our topic, audience, invitations, etc.

After that, I worked with our PR / Marketing guru on the new company website -- then I was done for the day!

Hooked up with SK and Layne for some wings this evening, bought some Batman (Detective) comics, and am back at the hotel. Now it's a little web surfing, email and Fox News, then off to bed. I think I'll stay up to watch Kings of Leon on the Tonight Show, though... We'll see how long I last.

Same busy day tomorrow, but at least I get to end it at home in Houston.

Porter's In!

Oh, almost forgot!! When we got home this afternoon, something very special was in the mail... Porter's acceptance letter from St. Vincent de Paul School!! He's officially part of the 2005-2006 Pre-K class. I am so proud of him and so excited!

Mid-Break Reset

Back in Houston after the first half of our family Spring Break vacation. Friday afternoon we took off for Austin and hooked up with Myra for an earlyish dinner down on S. Congress at Guerro's -- a great little Austin mexican food place. I knew it would be a good 'Friday' joint for us, since I remembered a few Lents back we had shrimp fajitas there. Not a dissappointment at all!

When we pulled up to the place, there were people everywhere all up and down the block listening to the Allen Oldies Band blasting out some old-school rock, full horns and everything. There was a suburban all art-car'd out that had dancing girls in short-short mini-skirts and the singer on top, getting down. Katie parked while the boys, Myra and I hung out dancing.

Saturday we got up and had some breakfast before heading to downtown and the Austin Children's Museum -- as fate would have it, they had a huge dinosaur exhibit! The boys loved it!! After that, we went back to the S. Congress area and ate at a little ice-house type place called Freddies. The boys and I pitched washers while we waited for our burgers. After that, we went back to Myra and Kenneth's to pick up the dog and go over to the creek for a little outside time. That night we went to Waterloo Records for an in-store performance in honor of SXSW, which Porter loved, but Jackson thought was too loud (need to bring earplugs next time...)

Sunday was more of the same -- lots of fun; visited Zilker park and just enjoyed being in Austin.

Monday we packed up and went to San Antonio -- visited the Alamo, did Ripley's Believe it or Not, lunched at Mi Tierra in the Market Square area, rode a riverboat, and ate at Dick's for dinner. While at Market Square, the boys discovered a little park that had an interactive water fountain -- and they interacted! Soaking wet, we stripped them nekkid to get back in the car to head to the hotel.

Today we got up and went searching for another cool park -- found it a little out of downtown, near the Zoo. They had a really nice train that went around the park. Super cool for the boys and pretty neat for Mom and Dad, too. We visited the Witte museum just down the road -- they had a cast of a dino footprint, and some real log-cabins -- had a few burgers for lunch, then hit the road for home.

Great time all around -- now it's just a couple of days work for me, then off to the Beach!!

Keep Austin Weird

It's official -- I'm on vacation! Whoooooo!!!

Jackson's at school, but as soon as he's done, we're headed to Austin. Katie did all the major packing last night, which meant that all we had to do today is put everything in the car, get cash / sundries, I had to pack, and get the house squared away for us being gone for a few days.

I'm ready to just hit the road, listen to some iPod, get to Austin and hang out tonight with Myra, and play around town for the next couple of days.

Tonight we should be good to go with just getting there and going out to dinner -- not sure where we'll go, but looking for something true to Austin...

Excellent Dinner

Katie made this really great dinner tonight -- chicken sauteed, mixed with orzo pasta in a tomato sauce, with onions and garlic --- very yummy!! And much needed after a few days on the road. I'm glad to be home.

Jackson and Porter were treated to an afternoon at the rodeo by Katie today, and they seemed to really have had a good time. I wish I could have gone with them.

Porter greeted me at the door this evening when I got home stark nekkid -- perfect 'welcome home' from him. Just what I would have expected -- it was about 7, and he had gotten comfortable. Who could blame him? Jackson seems to be feeling better when I see him, but Katie says he's complaining a bit about it being tough to breath, and that he hacked up some blood, so she's getting him to the doctor tomorrow. I want so bad for him to get well -- he's such a great boy, I hate it when he's sick.

One more day of work, then off for a while for Spring Break. I've got a conference that I'm speaking at next week (Thurs), so I'll interrupt vacation for that; also found out tonight that a new prospect that we're proposing some CoBIT work for is very interested and wants to have us come to Austin one day next week for a meeting. It will have to be Wed, that's the only day that I would be able to sacrifice from the family. We'll see --

I'm ready for a little break, though -- and Austin/San Antonio/Beach sound like just the ticket for me.

Change in the air

Wow, lots of changes in the past week -- changes at work, with new main contact at the client. Changes in travel -- 3 round trips in one week last week (Tulsa, Dallas, Tulsa again). Change in routine of work -- from running / maintaining my project, to lots of pre-sales, drafting proposals, and giving presentations.

Change in cars -- traded the BMW for a Mini!

So lots of change -- but change is good. It's an opportunity to re-dedicate to things that work, try new things, and head in new directions. That's what I've always liked about my job - the chance to try new things and work with new challenges.

Over the weekend we spent a lot of time together as a family hanging around the house, eating out at some favorite places, and enjoying the great weather. I also took Katie and the boys on joy-rides around the neighborhood in the new car. The boys love it!! Katie thinks it's small, but seems otherwise OK with it - heck, it's my car, so she doesn't really care... She's always generally supportive of things that make me happy...

And we had a chance to plan out how we're going to spend spring break -- head to Austin for a few days; then to San Antonio for a few, then home for a few, then to the beach. Then it's Easter Sunday.

So, good stuff keeping me busy. Lots of work this week, but also time Thurs/Fri in Houston.

On a side note, heard today that my Dad had surgery to treat esophagitis. I had heard from Myra that he needed it and was planning on going in sometime in April. I had considered calling him to get the details and trying to head that way to help him out, if he wanted it, or needed it. Anyway, no need for that now. I called him this evening and he didn't sound too great -- long day for him, and still some discomfort. Hope it works, though, and that he has some sense of relief. He's my Dad, what can I say...

Snapshot of the day

Morning started out normal: boys got up around 6:30. Katie was already up working out and I was still in bed, not quite asleep, but not awake. Katie got Jackson off to school and I hung out with Porter, him watching a little Disney channel, me at the computer starting the day.

After Katie got back from dropping off Jackson and making a quick trip to Target, I headed out for some errands: mailbox to look for a check from some web work I did a few weeks back; drop my blue blazer off to have a button fixed; haircut. I ran back by the house to check email -- slow morning, nothing in the inbox.

Headed out on the long trip to the office -- needed to meet with Doug on my short-term goals for my 'career path planning' and talk about revenue targets for 2005 that I'll be responsible for, and measured against. Did my expense reports while there, and had a few calls with the guys in Dallas.

Headed back to my side of town early afternoon and grabbed a Filet O'Fish at McDonald's for lunch -- no meat Friday. When I got home, Porter was sitting in the big yellow chair and wanted to know what I brought him from McD's... I told him it was my lunch, and he was not real happy about that...

Katie picked Jackson up from school at 3 and after he and Porter played around the house for a while, she took them to the Village -- Half Price Books. I gave each of them $5 to buy anything they want. Katie looks tired and/or strung out. I told her we could skip the party at the museum tonight, but she said NO WAY! I'm glad...

Tonight we'll head to the party around 6 to see the opening of the Kermit Oliver exhibit, then hopefully out to the Black Lab for dinner.

Tulsa and back

Quick trip up and back to Tulsa from Dallas today. Had a chance to meet with some folks about an RFP we're working on. Nice to talk with them to understand what is driving their effort, and cut through the paper to find out what is really important in their project. Travis met me there, and we spent a couple of hours over lunch meeting with the prospects.

After that we boogied to the airport for a mid-afternoon flight back that ended up being a late afternoon flight back. No worries.

Dinner tonight at Johnnie Carino's for a little chicken marsala. Tomorrow is back at the project and then home in the afternoon. Have to pick up my car from the dealer where it's been for some routine service. Should be a busy day tomorrow.