In DC for a day for a quick meeting with my largest (and best) customer. Flew in on a plane that is only a few years younger than I.

After I landed in BWI, got the really nice Nissan Pathfinder and headed down 295 to my hotel. Unfortunately Google Maps is quite sure that you can break traffic laws and after a very nice tour of the non-touristy parts of DC, I finally found my hotel (about three blocks from Arlington National Cemetery).

Company put me up in the Hotel Palomar....fancy place, valets everywhere. Good thing I had some cash for tips and such. Decent view of the Potomac, and the room is incredible. Then again, I'd be happy staying at a cheaper place where I could get my car without a headache and drive around.

If I had more time, I'd take a walk around for a bit, but I'm beat and I think I'll just grab a snack and enjoy a quiet evening in front of the TV. More later!

Posted by Brian at 7:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gotta love it when some genius gets a new plane and thinks it's time to show off to the neighbors.

Working as I normally do when I hear a twin turboprop come screaming over the house. OK, no big deal. May have been a low approach, but it can happen and move on.

Five minutes later, here he comes again. This time I go out and find him and his King Air clipping over the trees at about 300 feet. He doesn't have it wide open, but he's clearly doing over 150kts. My neighbor (who is a pilot) walks out as well and we comment on the genius when he does another turn further down the road at a 30+ degree bank, still at 300 feet.

Now, if you have a plane and want to do something stupid, by all means have fun. Just don't do it over a populated area. If he would have lost an engine, he would have had only a second or two to adjust and pull out. I called the airfield, and was given the official reason that "he is practicing his approaches". I've never seen anyone approach at 300 feet to an airport that is almost three miles away...must be something new.

Or it's just another idiot with his new toy joyriding....

Posted by Brian at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night I took the boys to a all-nighter at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.

The Zoo is nice, especially for Fort Wayne. Spent the night on the concrete floor in the Australian Adventure exhibit with Tyler and Nathan. Woke up at 6:30 to go see pygmy goats eat. fun fun fun...

Boys had a blast, I'm wiped from all of the "fun". The stuff we do for our kids!

Posted by Brian at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes, I too woke up to the house shaking. Ended up on the couch downstairs since a certain five year old was hogging up all the space in bed. Thought it was a really bad windstorm but it didn't stop after a few seconds. Put my hand on the ground and, OMG, it's an earthquake.

Guessed it was a 3ish one close by from the shaking and lack of panic in the streets. Got the e-mail about it thirty minutes later from the USGS. Krystal woke up, but everyone else slept through it.

Posted by Brian at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes, I got an iPhone yesterday.

Why the hell did I wait so long (besides the fear of parting with $500)? Well, I knew a 8GB phone was not going to be enough for the music I wanted to carry. And our contract did not end until today with VZ, so we went out yesterday and grabbed a new phone for the wife and the 16GB for me.

Yes, I know of the 3G upgrade that is "imminently due", but 3G isn't going to help me in bumble**** Indiana. I'm thinking of jailbreaking it so I can use some of the 3rd party apps out there, but I'll probably hold off for now and just wait for 2.0 (unless someone can show me some apps that definitely make it worthwhile to do now...)

Posted by Brian at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We were in LA.

And then two days later, we were in Sydney.

And now we're planning our next excursion....ideas anyone?

Posted by Brian at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)