Big day

Tomorrow is a big day for me at work.  After months of working on a big project tomorrow marks the first phase to be implemented.  I won’t bore you with the details but I am already getting a feeling of anxiety.  Like most careers the more I have progressed the more the scope of my work has increased.  Hoping as I write tomorrow I have a feeling of relief that phase one is over.  That is all fir today.  Wish me luck!!

Until tomorrow….

Dave

Until 

MLK repost from 2015

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I appreciate great orators and Dr King was one of the best. I once heard that his I Have A Dream speech was largely unscripted. Can you imagine the having the ability to rally tens of thousands of people and deliver a speech that will be remembered forever without writing it down? I can't. Here is one of my favorite passages:

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I suggest taking time today and watch a replay of the speech and appreciate Dr King's gift.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Team 144

A week has now passed since the University of Michigan won the college football national championship.  I lived this team.  Since Michigan was highly ranked all year I was able to watch just about every play this year.  After disappointing losses the past two seasons this year’s team sole purpose was to win the”natty”.  Many of the top players that could have left for the pros after left season came back for one more shot.  The team battled through much adversity this year including their head coach serving two different three game suspensions.  They easily won their games this year with the closest game being in the Rose Bowl against Alabama.  

You could tell the players enjoyed each other and they played like a team.  The 2023 team had stars but no superstars.  It was a team effort with everyone doing their part.  Highlights included huge wins against Penn State and Ohio State in Big Ten play and post season wins against Alabama and Washington.  

There was allegations of sign stealing that could have put a stigma on the season had they not won a their games.  Fortunately they were clearly the best team in the country. Both the offense an defensive were exceptional all season.  Tough is the word I think of when I think of this team.

Aside from winning the championship the highlight of the season was the opportunity to travel to Ann Arbor and see the Indiana game in person.  It had been 20 years since I had been to the big house and it was a thrill.

Team 144 refers to this being the 144th year of Michigan football. This team will go down as the best of them all and help restore Michigan to a top program in the country.  

With success comes change.  Starting quarterback JJ McCarthy announced today he is foregoing his senior year to turn pro.  Head coach Jim Harbaugh will also probably leave for a pro opportunity.  I wish them well and send them off with a big thank you!  This team was incredible and a thrill to watch.

Go Blue!

Until tomorrow….

Dave

Big Year

I need 2024 to be a big year.  I turned 50 in the Fall of 2023 and I decided I need to make the most of every day in the new year.  2023 was rough professionally and consumed most of my time.  I am often in the office early in the morning and late into the evenings.  These hours help me see that I work more than most at my firm and I want to change that in 2024.  My job is demanding but my focus will be on being a better delegator and manager this year.  I will hit my 25 year service anniversary later this month which hard to believe.  That’s it for talking shop.  Since I was last active on this blog I have added a few more things to my bucket list.  I have taken up camping which I really enjoy while still trying to improve my skills.  I don’t sleep well while camping and need to fix that this year.  Back to my bucket list.  I have discovered through you tube that I have an interest in wilderness canoe camping.  The best place to do this in the US is at the boundary waters in northern Minnesota.  Someday I hope to do a multi-day trip in the Fall.  Doubt it will be in 2024 but I will work towards acquiring the skills needed and the physical health required to do a trip like this.  I’ve also decided I want to do a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail.  The time commitment needed to do this hike makes it tough to do while fully employed so I may start with some section hikes.  Fortunately there are trail access points in relatively close proximity to where I live in North Carolina.  I hope to update the blog often this year as I experience new things and undertake new adventures.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

COVID-19

These are unprecedented times.  However for me it’s pretty much business as usual.  Sleep, wake, work and repeat.  Instead of an hour commute I have a one minute walk up the stairs to my corner of the bonus room.  Aside from a few adhoc requests work is still work.  Fortunate we are all healthy and able to work from home.  When do leave the neighborhood things get strange....more to come.  Until tomorrow....

Parc Soleil

I thought I would take the opportunity to review the Parc Soleil resort in Orlando.  We spent a week here over Thanksgiving and had a great time.  As I have written before, Orlando is one of my favorite places and somewhere we have visited many times.  This was not a Disney vacation though we did spend two days at the parks.  In addition to celebrating Thanksgiving with my extended family it was also my parent's 50th wedding anniversary.  We arrived the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and stayed in a two bedroom, two bath suite.  We were on the 10th floor overlooking the pool.  I liked this view though other members of my family had a view of the adjoining lake which also provided a view of Disney and the nightly fireworks.  I think we would have been happy with either view.  The room was very nice and comfortable.  It offered plenty of room for the three of us.  Everyone in our group was happy with the accommodations.  Though the weather wasn't perfect we did spend several days at the pool.  My parents rented a private cabana which served as a nice please to keep our stuff, eat lunch, and hang out.  The pool area had a slide and several hot tubes.  The entertainment team offered daily games for adults and kids and one day there was live music.  There was also an activity center geared to kids where they could go play video games and other fun things.  Overall there was a lot to do at the resort and our time there flew by.  I also wanted to mention the food.  Most days were started at the Marketplace where they served Starbucks coffee and offered many quick breakfast options.  Lunch was usually by the pool delivered by the great wait staff.  We did have several dinners, including Thanksgiving, in the Soleil Cafe.  This was a casual eatery but the food was consistently good.  Parc Soleil is part of the Hilton Grand Vacations system.  It was very convenient to Disney and other Orlando attractions.  I would highly recommend the resort if you find yourself in Orlando and want an alternative to the large chain resorts.  I look forward to going back within the next year.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Coming Soon...

I am hoping to do some new and exciting things with the blog soon.  I  would like to get on a regular publishing schedule again with some content that may expand my audience.  Please stay tuned.

Dave