Tombstone, AZ

I had to travel to Ft. Huachuca, AZ for business. I found out that Tombstone (of OK Corral fame) was almost on the way. So I went. I really didn't have a plan, but Lisa looked it up on line while I was driving there and said I had to go see the world's biggest Rose Bush. Well, here it is:











And, of course you can't go to Tombstone without getting a picture of a stage coach in front of the salon...

Worked most of the day to get the taxes ready. What fun!!

At managements request, started managing assignments for a group of the programmers. And they are now considering basically reconstituting me as a manager but with a different title. More stuff to think about over the weekend.

Took Alex to dinner at a nice Korean restaurant just a couple of blocks from his house. It seemed complicated to me with a bunch of little dishes you use to compose little packages inside a lettuce leaf to eat.

Got recruitment email from Craig Swanson of the old division. That's it, I want to go back somewhere where they actually want me. However, still waiting for thumbs up on keeping clearance at new job. Started letting folks know at current division that I may be announcing a leave next week. Had a discussion of being a "composer" at the old division - sounds like all the responsibility of my old team lead with none of the authority (I'd organize the folks, but they would not report to me).

Worked from home since I had an AC guy coming over and a different guy coming over to remove a giant pile of sticks from a winter storm while I was gone. Eric came over to borrow an ergonomic mouse and we went over all the work items from Germany.

Back at work. Checked in with OSD recruiter. Turns out, the customer is not returning her calls or emails. Apparently prior candidate decided not to take position right before he was to start. So she thinks they gave the position to another company. Oh, well...

Worked from home. Motivation lacking because of loss of my team. Hoping for call on a really good looking job at Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD).

Cleaned up basement from bringing home bed from the Yurt. If nothing else needed to get the beds out of the way for the maids.

Beds all over the place

Also finished (mostly) getting computer back on line from the crumped Windows while I was on vacation. Ran out to MicroCenter, a large local computer store, and spent some of my extra travel money on computer stuff - more memory, hard drive, and Norton Ghost so I could more easily restore the computer the next time Windows crumps. That's what they use in the field and Mark's suggestion finally got me off my duff on this one.

Shoved all the new stuff into my CoolTech computer and remarkably it all work the first go round.

Home Day 7 - Saturday, April 4

While I was in Germany, I sold the Yurt we had at Pine Tree. So today it was pick up a U-Haul, go there and get the stuff we wanted to keep (mainly an expensive mattress), complete the sale, and bring it home.

Afterwords, we take Alex out for this birthday to a local Japanese restaurant. Then I go see Alex's new place (it's nice) and spend the rest of the day helping Alex get his Internet connection running correctly. Eventually took Alex for a late dinner at IHOP after returning a wireless adapter at Best Buy.

Alex's House

Alex


Alex's Bedroom

Alex's Computer

Home Day 6 - Friday, April 3

Great, just back from Germany and my last act as FeedPipe manager is the first time I've ever done salary reviews as a manager - for folks I don't actually manage any more. Real morale booster. Team not to happy to be losing me, but that's life.

Home Day 5 - Thrudsday, April 2

Actively looking for new work at SAIC. Had an interview with my old division today. Nice to be able to return home.

Back to the office to find out my new salary and discuss what happened to my team. Seems upper management decreed the new organization chart - making it unlikely to go backwards. Bummed.

Got ready for doing the salary reviews of my 7 reports tomorrow morning.

Home Day 4 - Wednesday, April 1

My son Alex's birthday - but he's off with friends, we'll do something later.

Spent the day with 4 electricians fixing all kinds of wiring problems in house. (The short, change the circuit breaker panel, split the huge circuit into 3 circuits, add a new circuit to my computer.)

Electric panel being swapped

Home Day 3 - Tuesday, March 31

Back at work. Reported in and got another job posting from my supervisor to look at. Just peachy. Finally become resolved that my old team is no more. Bummed.

Came home early and mapped all my electric service to be ready for the electricians tomorrow. I knew most stuff was on a single circuit, but now I know which ones.

Home Day 2 - Monday, March 30

Spent much of the day getting electrical bids to fix the wiring. Called six electricians, spoke with three, hired one.

Home Day 1 - Sunday, March 29

Ah, great to be home!! But so much to catch up on.

First order of business - out computer had crumped while I was gone. Diagnosis - Windows was hosed. Oh, well, almost a year without a reload is pretty good. Just got the key parts of Windows loaded when - wham - the power goes out.

Power problem wasn't the neighborhood because some lights were on. It wasn't the circuit breaker - the were all on. Yikes, a short in our wiring. Bummer. And we know our fuse box needs to be replace and we have like the whole house on one fuse so after five years of ignoring the problem, time for some electric work! Meantime, I ran some extension cords to get operational.

Sob Story

When I left for Germany, I was the manager of the FeedPipes team with 7 reports. We had lost our main contract and were trying to find coverage (paying projects) for everyone until the expected replacement contract came in. I went to Germany to get off overhead until the contract came in.

While I was in Germany, our SAIC division was split in two. In February when the new organization chart was announced, I was dialed into the public meeting. The slide did not have my group at all!!! So I asked, "What happened to the FeedPipes Team?" Response was a basic "oh well". Great, I'm in Germany trying to help out and my team disappears.

While in Germany, I continued to manage the team and do status reports hoping I could reverse this when I got back and waiting for the bureaucracy to catch up to the new organization chart.

So I decide to log in and check my emails to see what's up this fine Sunday afternoon. One of the new emails today was from another manager - basically "your manager said you'd be perfect for this position I have". Great!! I guess I really don't have a job. Welcome back!!

Germany Day 81 - Saturday, March 28

Flew back home. A long boring and happily uneventful flight. Gerhard passed the time chatting with an International business student from Baltimore who was born in the Czech Republic.

Germany Day 80 - Friday, March 27

Had breakfest at place recommended by hotel the M&M. This was almost a joke on Ann since she could not find M&Ms (her favorite candy) in Paris to save her life. (Gerhard looked everyplace he could find for over an hour but no luck.) Breakfast was OK at best with the eggs being a little undercooked. I don't think french are famous for breakfast.

Left Justin & Martha after breakfast - they headed out for touring, we headed back to the hotel. We packed and headed for train station. We took ICE to Frankfurt. Got to Inter City Hotel and did watched German TV. Had a very nice dinner at hotel.

Germany Day 79 - Thursday, March 26

Had a nice breakfast at a local place today - but then discovered they when next door to a bakery to actually get whatever pastries they needed!

On the way to breakfast, we passed a small butcher with some fine chickens on display. Yum! I just love chicken's feet!

Ready to cook!

Took the subway to Versailles - only 2 transfers.

Justin, Martha and Ann at subway station

At Versailles we walked until we dropped and that was just the indoors! Finally we called it quits and found a nice place to eat just outside Versailles (only a short hike), then back to the subway.

Ann and Gerhard went back to the motel, but could not get subway card to let us exit correctly - so we wound up one stop short and took a taxi.

Justin and Martha keep going heading to see the crypts - which advertised being open until 5pm, but the last tour leaves at 4pm. Of course they get there at 4:05.

What is that in the distance?

Crazy Horse

For the evening entertainment, Martha wanted to see Dita von Teese (a famous Burlesque dancer) who was playing at the Crazy Horse. Justin and I certainly approved so the all four of us went. After the show we ate at a near by restaurant while it rained and then took cab home.

Germany Day 78 - Wednesday, March 25

Hoped on subway at Argentine station - 1/2 block from hotel - and headed for the Louvre. There is a mall between the Louvre subway and the museum entrance. We stopped there and had coffee and a croissant just before going in. (I like my croissants warm, but never got one that way in Paris. Someone should teach these French folk the right way to serve a croissant.)

Justin and Martha at Louvre

At the Louvre, we saw the Mona Lisa (from about 30 feet away in a crowd of about 200), winged victory, and bunch of other stuff. Not a bad place if it weren't so crowded.

Walked and walked and walked up and down stairs many time. Got real hungry, so finally wandered off to find a nice little cafe nearby but on the other side of the river. Nice place to eat, but cafe was extremely cramped.

Walked to Notre Dame which was huge and high with some beutiful stained glass windows with magnificant red hues.

Ann in front of Notre Dame

Took subway to the Eiffel tower. Took about 40 minutes to get in and up. Had to fight through gypsies (beggars) and peddlers to get to queue to buy tickets. We picked a cold very windy day to go - the tower even swayed noticeably at the top. Oh joy!!

It's interesting walking the streets here. Honestly, I've never seen so many french restaurants all in one place in my life.

Random Structure

Justin and Martha at Eiffel Tower

After all the walking and standing, we just took a taxi back to the hotel. Then we rested a while and ate dinner at nice small restaurant across street from hotel. Martha stayed in and had room service. Good for her - Gerhard wound up with about a pound of raw Salmon as the "appetizer". (Someone should teach these French folk how to cook.)

Germany Day 77 - Tuesday, March 24

Except for three weeks, Gerhard spent the entire time at the Central Hotel. Time to say goodbye to Manny, Andrea, and all the staff at the Central that made my stay in Germany much nicer.

Central Hotel's Friendly Staff

For lunch, I made Ann walk a ways down the street and try a Döner Kebab. Of course, she loved it!

Döner Kebab

After lunch, Andy took us to drop off the car (after getting gas) and then dropped us off at the train station. Off to Paris on the ICE train. Fastest speed I saw on the display was 314kph. Mannheim to Paris in just three hours!! Biggest sign of entering France was that the train cars suddenly had canvas coverings - like an old wagon train!

ICE Train

Got to Paris and considered taking the subway to our hotel. But with a bunch of bags, we decided a taxi was the better idea. Had a wild cab ride through the narrow Paris streets.

Our hotel - Hôtel Acacias Etoile - was near the Arc De Triumph.

Local Landmark in Paris

Justin and Martha arrived just in time for dinner so we found a local restaurant (L'Arc) to eat at.

Germany Day 76 - Monday, March 23

Gerhard got up and went to final day at work. Last meal at cantina next to the office.

While Gerhard was at work, Ann walked Fußgänger Platz and bought very nice purse. Ann took a quick look at gardens but decided it was too cold to walk outside for that long.

After work, Ann and Gerhard did laundry on base (Patrick Henry Village).

Doing Laundry on Base

Went to dinner at bar next to the palace and behind Spargle Lady. Spargle is white asparagus and the German's are just nuts about it. Its a short season for Spargle - which starts after we leave so no Spargle for us...

Ann had wonderful rump steak covered with onions.

Spargle Lady

Germany Day 75 - Sunday, March 22

Today started with a nice breakfast at the Central Hotel. Then we drove for an hour through the country side and visited the Burg Hornberg. On the way back we drove to the plane museum at Sinshiem, but didn't go in (there were a bunch of planes displayed outside). Then off to Baden-Baden where we had lunch at the Lowenbrau and wandered the Fußgänger Platz. On the way back home we stopped at a rest stop to get some M&Ms for Ann. The rest stops here charge for the bathroom, but you get a ticket that let's a credit you can use to buy stuff at the rest stop. So it all works out.

Dinner last night - a Welde beer

Love the milk from those Alpine cows!!

The Lowenbrau

Ann finally gets some ice cubes in a Coke...

What's a Fußgänger Platz without a fountain?

Random Church

Germany Day 74 - Saturday, March 21

Ann got here today: hurray! Plan was the plane gets in a bit after 6am, so I'm pick her up by 7am giving time to clear customs, etc. Of course, with such a plan, the plan got in about 40 minutes early, the bags came quick, and customs wasn't even manned. So she had to wait an hour for me to show up. :-(

Went back to the Central Hotel and had breakfast. Refreshed, we went to look at the Fußgänger Platz in Heidelberg. Then a quick drive up to the castle for a look from the care and a drive back down. The way up and down were extremely narrow road with sharp switch backs - a bit nerve racking a drive.

Then off to Mainz to see the Kaiserdom - really large cathedral started in only 1081. They had a nice big Fußgänger Platz with a big market. We found an excellent restaurant - Gerhard had bratwurst and sauerkraut and Ann had a goat cheese pizza on a paper thin crust. Ann liked her taste of the bratwurst and Gerhard LOVED the goat cheese pizza.

Flowers at the Fußgänger Platz in Mainz

Yes, Lisa, they have lotto in Germany

The Kaiserdom is what they call the cathedral in the guidebook. In Mainz, it was just "Dom". It was really, really tall inside. Very neat.

Kiaserdom

Gerhard in the worship area under main cathedral

Ann loved this cross

What is this thing?

After that, back to the hotel so we could take a nice nap. ;-)

Germany Day 73 - Friday, March 20

Forget the count down, Ann gets here tomorrow and that's all that counts!

Bob hosted nice dinner at a castle with Royace and Cle.

Pictures from Dinner

Germany Day 72 - Thrusday, March 19 - 5 days to go

Exciting day - did landry and ate at Burger King while waiting. Then off to get another couple of Helles beers.

German windows are really good. They open two different ways and have build in shades on the outside. The handle lets you close the window, open it sideways, or put a 3" crack in the top.

The Three Position Handle

Opens Sideways

Opens at the top


The shades will let in just a bit of sun until they get all the way down, then it's pitch black. Great when you want to sleep in (which would be every day in the Summer since the sun comes up so early).

Shades 1/2 way down

Shades all the way down

Germany Day 71 - Wednesday, March 18 - 6 days to go

Had two helles beers (a type, not a brand) at the spargle lady (a statue in front) bar by the Schwetzingen Schloss (palace).

Then wandered over to the train station to have a cigar and watched trains. There is a pedestrian underpass I stood over so I saw lots of Germans coming and going many on bike. And one homeless guy who took a leak about 10 feet from me.

After all the excitement, I went to a Mexican place that had pretty good food and had a couple of Margaritas (it's hard waiting for Ann to get here).

Germany Day 70 - Tuesday, March 17 - 7 days to go

Today I drove to Darmstadt to turn in the temporary badge I got there about 60 days ago and pick up my SAIC badge. With that in hand, it really feels like I'll be going home soon...

Germany Day 69 - Monday, March 16 - 8 days to go

Not much exciting happening today. Lunch at Fody's at airport - nice big burger with fries. Best I've had in Germany. Walked to train station and back.

Had to make arrangements to go to a wedding on Pensacola in April. I was amazed at how much the air fares have firmed - you'd think the airlines are tired of going bankrupt. And they seem to think that charging the passengers is the way to make a profit. Really!! What next, they'll start charging to check your bags? So after playing with various options for about 3 hours, I finally got flights for Ann, Alex, and I - returning to DC at 11 pm - past my beddy-bye time.
:-(

Germany Day 68 - Sunday, March 15 - Worms - 9 days to go

Heidelberg Castle

Well, after staying so long right next to Heidelberg, I decided it was time to see the famed Heidelberg (literally, castle with many steps) castle.

View from the parking garage

Here you can see the steps I had to go down to start the steps up.

The sign tells you there are 312 steps.

They are numbered just to be sure.

A downpayment flight of stairs...


This is the courtyard inside the castle.

This is the side building of the courtyard.

View from the castle. It's straight up.

This is the small wine casket. The big one is about 20 feet tall.

Small wine casket

What king of a museum do you put in a castle like this? Why an apothecary (pharmacy) museum, of course!

Apothecary (pharmacy) museum

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Worms

The cathedral was very dimly lit so my pictures did not come out. It did have beautiful stained glass windows.

I asked this guy for directions, but he didn't say much.

Worms Cathedral

Front door

Inside

Stained Glass Window

Model of the cathedral in its hey day

Typical German pet - they like dogs also.

What's a Fußgänger Platz without a fountain?

The German's standardized the sign outside the apothecarys to this. Details in the Heidelberg castle museum.

Apothecary Sign

Here's what a fire truck looks like

German's love ice cream. Here's the fire brigade getting some.


Entrance to the old bridge