June 18, 2007
Lake Weatherby Regatta
I'm taking Leo up to Missouri this Friday to participate and photograph my Dad's annual Yacht Club Regatta. (There are no actual yachts in this "yacht club" -- just sailboats.) I took Leo up a few years back, and we all went in '05. This will be a chance for me to film some real events using the new Canon, and hopefully get some highlights for the Sat. night party.
Posted by Steven at 10:47 PM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2006
Austin: A Day and A Night
Coming down to Austin on Tues. morning, and staying overnight till Wed.
Posted by Steven at 11:36 PM | Comments (0)
July 05, 2006
Ithaca, New York
We're going to Ithaca today, to do some shopping and visit Treman State Park and see the gorges.
Posted by Steven at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2006
Drive to New York, Day Two
We're almost all the way to Barbara's house north of Binghamton. As I type this, we're approaching Corning, NY on I-86/Rt. 17. Funny thing is, I've wanted to visit Corning for years, but never had the time to drove almost two hours out from Binghamton. That is, until today.
The drive has been relatively benign, as these things go. Usually tempers are frayed by the end of the day, as has been the case in the two previous drives to NY (1998: CR-V, 2002: Windstar). This time it's been much more civil, with most of the personal frustration being caused by Leo's inability to not chatter about everything and instead just take in the scenery (or his gaming magazine).
Anne and I have shared the driving pretty evenly, with our usual styles coming out. I try to drive to the cruise, and will only accelerate to skip ahead of an obstruction. She tends to get right up their backside. I don't really care one way or another since not driving is such a relief.
Last night we tried to get a room in Elizabethtown, KY, but found ourselves priced and booked out. Even with my Marriot Platnium card, I could only get a room for $100. So we called up to Louisville and booked a room at a former Holiday Inn, which had recently been converted into a Quality Inn. There was a good reason, of course.
The hotel was near the airport, in a very urban area. The hotel was fairly rundown compared to the places I tend to stay at (Wingates, Fairviews, &c.), and the room was pretty dated. At least the promised WiFi was there and worked -- both Alanna and I got on without incident).
My big fear with the place was its proximity to a liquor store. I parked near it, and was worried that someone might break into it, just to grab the radar detector. Fortunately, nothing happened to the Jetta with the RocketBox on it.
We spent most of today just driving across 500+ miles of Ohio, from Cincinnati to the northeastern tip, near Erie, PA. The 250 mile run across I-86/Rt. 17 has been the shorter leg, but since it has come at the end of the day, it seems longer. Oh, that and the fact that 20 miles in the Seneca Nation were one lane and someone decided to go 45 MPH the whole way (that added 15 minutes to our arrival time).
We heard from Barbara where I-88 collapsed, and of course, its north of where we would enter the highway coming across Rt. 206 from Whitney Point. So we'll have to slough up Rt. 7 to Unadilla, along with everyone else coming up from Binghamton, before getting on the real interstate to Schenectady on our way to the Capital District tomorrow.
It's on these long drives that we, as a family, experience something that we rarely have to endure in our home (non-McMansion that it is) -- being stuck together for a whole day in a box. Can't say I recommend it.
Posted by Steven at 05:29 PM | Comments (1)
June 30, 2006
Louisville, Kentucky
Drove 800+ miles today, and are staying overnight in Louisville, Kentucky at a mildly scary Quality Inn. At least it has WiFi -- both Alanna and I can connect simultaneously.
Drive was largely uneventful -- just long, long long.
Posted by Steven at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2006
New York Times Gives Glowing Review to Le Rêve
Stop reading this blog and instead read this review of the San Antonio French restaurant I took Anne to on our 10th wedding anniversary. Out of the blue I picked this place to take her, back in 2000, when they had just opened (or so it seems, according to the review). Man, do I have great taste. No? Ok, how about unbelieveable luck.
First I find Anne. Then I find Le Rêve.
Posted by Steven at 12:28 AM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2006
Austin, oh by the way
Also coming down to Austin on Sat. afternoon with Alanna in tow. Plan to stay with the Werth's near the Arboretum, and work in Cedar Park on Monday, going home Monday night.
Go about your business folks.
Posted by Steven at 10:47 PM | Comments (0)
New York Visit
We're going to be in New York in two weeks (after a dull-as-dishwater drive through Jesusland), based out of the Binghamton area where Anne's mom lives.
Sunday the 2nd is my birthday, and we're going to be in Schenectady at the Kraus' for a 4th of July BBQ that afternoon. The next day we'll head down to Phoencia to see Dershstock, and that evening we'll return to Whitney Point.
Later in the week I'm thinking about driving out to Westchester to crash over night with an old friend, and the next morning Leo and I will go down to the City (Metro North) to visit the big Nintendo and Apple stores. I'll take him up the Empire State Building, while we're there (might as well enjoy it while it's still around -- you never know nowadays). We'd do a day trip on Friday as we have to be back in Whitney Point by Saturday morning.
We're driving up in Anne's Jetta Wagon with the RocketBox on the top, which will allow me to bring the telescope (and eyepieces!), and not crowd out the cabin.
We'll take the I-30/I-40/I-65/I-71 route through Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, and then head across the southern tier of NY on I-86 for a change. If that turns out to be a bad route, we'll take the more traditional southern route back (or maybe the southern Penn. one). Lots of driving either way. Joy.
Posted by Steven at 08:00 PM | Comments (1)
March 25, 2006
Day Trip to Austin
Heading down to Cedar Park for a one day-trip on Wednesday. I may be able to hook up for dinner if we can do it in North Austin, Jollyville, or Cedar Park. I want to hit the road for McKinney by 8 pm if possible.
Posted by Steven at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2005
If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Austin
I am coming down to Austin on Tuesday for a one-day visit. I should be available for dinner, if anyone is interested.
Posted by Steven at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2005
Austin By Day
I'm driving down late Tues. night on the 2nd. of Nov., and returning in the late afternoon on Wed. the next day. I have to be at Maskina for a developer meeting, and probably won't have time to visit with anyone or even do lunch -- it's a bad week for me to travel as band and school are taking up every evening that week (Anne will have to find a sitter for Leo on the 3rd. -- any volunteers?).
Update
I'm going to get up really early Wed. morning and drive straight down for the day instead. I hate doing it this way, but it confines the "damage" to one day.
Posted by Steven at 01:48 PM | Comments (0)
August 05, 2005
Austin For Nine Days
I'll be in Austin from the 13th to the 21st, likely at the Holiday Inn Express near Lakeline Mall.
Posted by Steven at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2005
Austin and more Austin
This weekend Anne is taking Alanna to Band Camp in Austin (UT Austin, to be precise). I may or may not join them on this drive (probably Sun. for a one-day trip), depending upon work conflicts.
Then on Tues. I am driving down to Cedar Park for two nights, returning Thurs. after dinner. I may try staying at the Holiday Inn Express at Lakeline, as the Fairfield is out of the question now.
Sat. the whole family returns to Austin for an overnighter to see Alanna's Band Camp Concert and take her home. This happens to co-incide with my 43rd birthday on Sat., so expect some overlap there.
So Anne and I get to drive to Austin twice each next week, in two different cars at that. Joy.
Posted by Steven at 03:05 PM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2005
Golf on the Mend
This morning I was able to get my car into the Boardwalk VW dealership in Richardson (7am arrival was harsh on my morning mellow). They found that a switch that is associated with the parking brake was also causing the glow plug indicator to light up, and also disable the cruise control. The reason given was "they are all on the same circuit". I think this is dumbese for "the virtual breaker for these subsystems is shared in the engine computer, and it flashes the glow plug indicator when there's a problem."
I had to go get my owner's manual to get them to look up my extended warranty plan, but that took a $115 repair down to $50 (deductable). Combined with a 20% off for the 65K oil change, I managed to get out of there for just under $100. I consider that a victory of sorts.
Things went pretty smoothly until I left and was several miles north on US 75, watching the backup from the High Five stretching to Plano, when the dealership called to tell me they still had my valet key, and that they wouldn't mail it to me (yeah, I was that unhappy about turning around and driving through the rush hour -- again -- that I considered it). I crawled back down Central, got my key, and they lost their "all fives" score (again) for service.
Somethings are just too easy to get wrong. Boardwalk finds a way.
Posted by Steven at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)
June 19, 2005
The Drive Home From Hell
We decided to come home down I-35 from Kansas City, instead of the backroads route down US 69/75.
Doh!
I-35 is a tollway across Kansas (a fact I already knew), and that limits one's choices for roadside food. We exited in Wichita right in the middle of an industrial park (just as the batteries in my GPS died), only to have to get back on the tollway. We finally found an Applebees and had a late lunch in Wichita.
The drive was relatively uneventful until we hit a huge backup at the Texas border. Construction ran for eight miles north, causing a long backup that added almost an hour to the drive home. We were stopped dead for fifteen minutes over the course of just three miles, until I could get off onto US 77 and take it almost all the way to the Red River.
We ended up spending almost ten hours driving home down I-35. Nevermore!
Posted by Steven at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2005
Kansas City Bound
We'll be up in Kansas City (well, Weatherby Lake, MO at my father's yacht club regatta) this weekend, driving up tomorrow and returning Sunday. All three cell phones are working, and I'm taking my iBook so we should be around, sproatically, on the Net. I'll post photos as I can.
Posted by Steven at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2005
Home For a While
Not going to be back in Austin for a couple of weeks, I think. Certainly not next week, during SXSW.
Posted by Steven at 03:22 PM | Comments (0)
February 28, 2005
Austin Till Thursday
I'm in Austin from Monday afternoon until Thursday afternoon. Our CTO visits on Tuesday, so I'll be his transport until he flies back to Dallas at 8pm. I am looking forward to Cynthia's NNth birthday on Wed., too! (I have no idea what the number is ... and I don't wanna know!)
Posted by Steven at 03:26 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2005
Austin All Week
I'm driving down to Austin on Monday, returning to Dallas on Thursday night.
Posted by Steven at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2005
Home Again ... For Now
I should be back in Dallas for the "foreseeable future", which just means I don't know when I'll be sent back to Austin.
That is all. Back to your lives, Citizens.
Posted by Steven at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2005
Home Again
I'm back in McKinney for the foreseable future.
It's not at all clear to me if I'll be doing M-F in Austin anymore with Maskina ... the whole premise (tech-transfer with the gone-but-held-over-on-contract developer) has gone in the toilet as I've been conscripted to write UML for the new parent company. Between that and the schitzophrenic back-and-forth over travel/no-travel (expense) leaves me tired of the whole gig. I'll have to make do with AIM for the bulk of my "tech transfer".
Of course, they'll probably change their minds again tomorrow and I'll be back in Austin before I know it ... but for now, I don't expect to be for some time.
Posted by Steven at 11:03 AM | Comments (1)
January 16, 2005
Austin Bound for Now
I will be in Austin starting Monday evening until Thursday afternoon, when I plan to drive back to McKinney. I'll work at home on Friday and return to Austin Friday afternoon with a gaggle of girls (Alanna and friends going to Ushicon) for the weekend. I'll stay in Austin until sometime later in the week, probably no later than Thursday.
Posted by Steven at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2005
No Austin for You!
I'm stuck in Irving all week, so don't go looking for me in Austin until (maybe) next week. The good news is that if you're looking to get your PC examined, or have a personal sales pitch for a Mac (Kim, are you reading this?), then this is the week to do it.
Posted by Steven at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2005
Austin Update
I'm in Austin starting tomorrow (5th) through Friday (7th). I'll be staying at the Wingate hotel on I-35 near US 79, instead of at the Arboretum (not my first choice).
I should be back in Austin all week (next week), unless Maskina changes their minds about travel (again).
The week after that, I am planning on going home Thursday night, and coming back down on Friday afternoon with Alanna so that we can attend Ushicon. Since I'll be in Austin over the weekend, I'll be in town through the next Friday (28th).
Posted by Steven at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)