Ketner Lake

I let Paige engineer most of the squares. She told me where to start, whether to draw one or two squares. She told me how to number them. Then I embellished with a "Start" at the beginning and some stars at the finish line. When I ran out of chalk, I considered the game board done. Though to be fair, I really wanted to add some illustrations as well (i.e. clouds, rain, sun, rainbows, etc.).

After the hopscotch enthusiasm wore off, we went to the community pool for a couple of hours. Paige is a little swimming daredevil and makes Marna scared. I just make sure I'm there in case she gets herself in trouble. Oh, and I'm a bit of a water daredevil myself, so Marna keeps us in check. We planned ahead for our visit to the pool and had lunch while we were there too. Yeah for Uncrustables Peanut Butter Sandwiches!

Let's start with getting to where the customer is located. I live thirty (30) minutes from Denver International Airport. I leave my house two hours before departure. That gives me time to get to the airport, check-in, get through security, and to my gate. Since I do live in Denver, CO my average flight time is around 2.5 hours to three (3) hours. Then comes bag claim, getting transportation, and getting to the customer. In a major city like New York, NY or San Francisco, CA that's about another hour.

Did you catch it? No? That was 5.5 hours on the short side. Of course, then I have to get back too, so that's another 5.5 hours (or more depending on the Gulf Stream). So of a forty (40) hour work week, I've already spent eleven (11) hours getting to and from work. What's funny is that while it may sound like a lot, it's actually not much more than than people in my neighborhood spend getting to downtown and back for work - mine's just in larger increments.

More soon ... Gotta put Paige to bed.

During our one day weekend, Serge Jespers and I went to Petrin Hill. On top of Petrin Hill is an observatory. From the top of the observatory you can saw all of Prague, and on a clear day (which Sunday was not) all the way a to mountain 150 kilometers away. Later that afternoon, the AIR Tour crew had a guided tour of the Staropramen brewery. It just so happens that the brewery was also the venue location the next day.

When I was stationed with the 10th Mountain Division, I was part of a battalion of Spanish and Czech linguists. My roommate for a good portion of that assignment was in fact a Czech linguist. I look back fondly on my time in the military, and really wanted to enjoy Prague if only in memory of my fellow soldiers. Despite it's history and beauty however, I found that I just couldn't ever really get into the city.

Throughout history, Warsaw has been caught in the middle of countless power struggles. The most recent war to devastate the area was World War II, when much of the city was more or less leveled. After the war however, the Russian government set out to rebuild as much of the city as they could, as accurately as they could. For me, this really led to a city with a feeling of two identities. Some areas were storybook perfect, while others, well, were not.

We stayed at the Radisson SAS, which is very much was you'd consider a typical business travelers hotel. If you left the hotel and went left, you'd find yourself in a wonderfully maintained park. Keep walking and you'd find yourself walking back in time, as the cars and streets of the city melt away and are replaced by cobblestone streets and architecture that dates back to the 1600's. This is called Warsaw Old Town, and we had dinner here one night.

En route we passed the residence where Pope John Paul II spent much of his youth. We also passed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and got a laugh when Andre Charland, the only Canadian on the crew, realized there was no representation from Canada at the site. We also got to pay for the privilege of a public restroom, which is called "waste control" or simply "WC", and is pretty common in Europe.

Aside from the fun and beauty of Old Town, there's the also the other overtone.

In the United States, the term "ghetto" has a distinct meaning, generally pertaining to a run down area of a city. In Europe, especially in Warsaw, the term ghetto means something entirely different. The Warsaw Ghetto is where several hundred thousands of Warsaw's Jewish population (almost 40% of the entire city) were herded, and eventually massacred by the Nazi's during World War II.

It's clear that Warsaw in general is a growing city with a booming economy. We had about 250 attendees at the AIR Tour venue, which speaks volumes about Warsaw as a center for technology. With legendary figures like Pope John Paul II, it is also very clear that Warsaw has a proud people with a diverse history. Every now and again however, that part of it's history that isn't so proud would show up. In the end, I found that I really enjoyed Warsaw, but left feeling conflicted about my experiences (as this writing probably shows).

With the late night the night before, and a long hot day behind us, you'd think that we all just went to bed. Some of the team actually went out to explore Berlin nightlife. As I hear it, many of them didn't get back into the hotel until 4:30 AM the next day. The more mellow of us made our way to a nearby American-inspired diner. It may seem like a horrible decision to get American food while in Germany, but sometimes you're just too tired for more adventure, and just want a good meal you can count on.

Everybody always wants to show you all their great food and culture, which is great, but nobody ever wants you taste their salads.

Our train on Thursday didn't leave until noon, so we had a little time in the morning to explore on our own. There was only one sight I really wanted to take in, the Berlin Wall. So much of Europe's history happened before I was alive. The end of the Berlin Wall however, is an event I remember quite clearly. Luckily on our way to dinner the night before (ah ha, see the diner isn't all bad after all), we ran across a section of the old Berlin Wall, so I knew right where to go the next day.

It's hard to describe the wall. As one might expect, much of it was destroyed after the occupation was over. This means that there's only a few sections still around today, many of which are scattered throughout the city. When you do encounter a section, it seems dramatically out of place, but at the same time, amazingly small. You think to yourself about how such a small piece of concrete caused so much trouble.

The sight with perhaps more impact is the line that represents where the wall once stood. Throughout the city, the demarkation between what used to be East Berlin and West Berlin, is clearly called out. In most cases it's a simple brick strip in the ground. It seems to cut strangely through parks, and even buildings, all of which have sprung up in the years since 1989. Nonetheless, you can get a really good picture in your mind for what it must have been like to live in Berlin at that time.

Our hotel for instance was on the communist side of the city. You walk two blocks away, and there's the line. You step over it, and you realize that a few decades ago, and you'd have already been shot dead. You walk another two blocks, through what used to be the no-man's-land, which is about 100 yards, and you encounter another line that represents the free side of Berlin. You cross the line, and realize that you're now a free man. Yet all around you the city continues to hustle and bustle just like any other city.

Speaking of any other city, next up is Warsaw, Poland.

After our delay in Copenhagen, we boarded our next train from Copenhagen to Hamburg, Germany. There we were all sitting there, coding away, arguing the finer points of Adobe software, or just sleeping, when the train suddenly stopped. A quick look outside revealed that we were enclosed in some type of vessel. The conductor ushered everybody off and up a few flights of stairs. When you finally emerge you realize that you, and the train, are on a massive ferry.

A little research of the GPS data we collected on the 45 minute ferry ride, reveals that we were crossing the Baltic Sea between Lolland, Denmark and Fehmarn, Germany.

The ferry itself had several levels inside for parking. At the bottom were the heaviest vehicles such as the train and eighteen wheel trucks. Up a level were lighter vehicles such as your traditional four door car. Up another level from that was a polished indoor area complete with duty free store and a cafeteria. Up a level from that, and you were outside, where the cold Baltic Sea brought a heavy chill to the air. You were rewarded however with a fantastic view of both Denmark and Germany.

Once the ferry reaches Germany, we were ushered back onto the train, and shortly after were on tracks across the German countryside. We had a long enough layover in Hamburg, Germany for a little dinner. One more train and three more hours put us in Berlin, Germany at about midnight. The total time of the train trip was almost eighteen (18) hours. Luckily for us computer geeks, we had spacious seat and power outlets. There was no Internet connectivity (yes, many trains in Europe have wireless Internet), but I purchased some additional media before the trip, which kept me entertained.

You're never really sure what to expect on your first time to a new city, not to mention a city in a new country. Luckily, the last AIR Tour Europe leg left me somewhat better equipped to handle the jet-lag, currency and difference in food likes. I did some research before departing as well and found a few different places I wanted to visit to take pictures. I didn't know it, but there was also an event that took place that weekend.

I was staying at The Grand Hotel, which is in a perfect location for touring Stockholm.

My first stop was Gamla Stan. Many areas of Stockholm are made up of small islands. Many of the islands are close enough to one another to be accessible via a short bridge. Gamla Stan is one of those islands, but it is also the original location of Stockholm. Gamla Stan is the location of the Royal Palace, which is a massive 600+ bedroom building, that is still used by the royal family. The rest of Gamla Stan is packed with various buildings and small alleys. The narrowest of these alleys measures 32 inches across and can barely fit two people passing through at any given time.

Many of the team started arriving Saturday, which also happened to be the day of the Stockholm Marathon. If you think a marathon event normally brings a city to a halt, imagine a small European city such as Stockholm. It was during this event that I decided to avoid taxis and explore Djurgarden. Djurgarden is yet another small island, accessible by bridge, that was originally designated as a playground for the royal family. These days it's still very much a playground, filled with parks and activities, but open to the people of the city.

Also located on Djurgarden is the Skansen living museum. Skansen was my Sunday activity. The area has a rich history, but for the most part, serves a primary purpose for conserving Sweden's history. The vast space includes several different and complete houses from the 1600's to the 1800's. Many of them are open for you to explore, beautifully maintained, and staffed by individuals wearing period clothing. You get to learn all about life in Sweden as it was 400 years ago up to just 100 years ago.

Skansen includes not just farm houses, but a church (Protestant), post office, and even a complete manor (reserved for the wealthy, who had to staff two members of the country's army). There is also a main street that includes era shops from printing, to pub, to groceries, to glass making, and more. There's even a small "nordic area zoo" in Skansen complete with wild boar, bison, horses, and so on. While Skansen is already hands-on enough to keep most kids happy, there's also a children's area.

I can't say enough about Skansen. I learned so much. I walked around the are for four hours, and still hadn't seen everything. Sadly my brain was already on overload, and I need to get back to prepare for the tour. If you get a chance to visit Skansen, even as an American, I think you'll find it a wonderfully educational experience. My one tip would be that rather than walk there that you take a taxi, or better yet, one of the water taxis which operate regularly and make quick work of the short trip.

What did Paige do this past year? Well, I'm glad you asked... (may not be in order)

Paige got to take part in Dorian and Michelle's wedding. Got really good at swimming (at least for her age). Saw her daddy go away on the AIR Tour in the United States, and got to play on his bus. Enjoyed summer activities (usually involving water) with friends. Made a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She also spent part of a day at Sea World, and the better part of another day at the Orlando Children's Museum during the same trip.

Paige started preschool this year, and one of her friends from the neighborhood is a classmate. She was finally able to ride a tricycle on her own all the way around the block. She also took a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a week, where she played in the ocean and on the beach. She spent most of that same trip swimming around the perfect Paige-pool, and even got to go swimming with dolphins. The same Mexico trip introduced her more formally to Spanish (and Latin men), while also getting to trek around the jungle with her daddy on an ATV.

The annual trip to the pumpkin patch, was as always, a success as Grandma Patty helped Paige navigate the large orange vegetables. Snow finally made sense, and the reason we get dressed up nice and warm, which meant hours on end out in the cold, while mom and dad shoveled the driveway. The other annual trip to Breckenridge, CO gave Paige a chance to paint her own pottery and take a sleigh ride at night.

Paige (and Marna) got involved in Awana this year, and became a regular and expected part of her weekly pattern. The time around Christmas was spent in Omaha, NE, where we had our own little family Christmas (including a tree) in our hotel room, another Christmas with Grandma Patty, and yet another Christmas with Aunt Jackie. While in Omaha, we went to a zoo light display. When we got back home, Paige had another Christmas with Grandma Linda, as well as Grandma Janelle and Grandpa Rich.

Paige made her way to New York, NY to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway. That wasn't all of course, as she got really good at the subway, took in all the lights in Times Square, got a carriage ride around Central Park, and took in many other common New York destinations. As it that wasn't enough, Paige also took a trip to Palm Beach, FL where she got even more ocean, beach and pool goodness. She also got an up close and personal introduction to giraffe's while in Florida. Another up close and personal introduction included alligators while on a swamp tour, during a visit to see her Aunt Christy graduate from college.

Uh ... Does this thing have an off switch?

I had been on a swamp tour somewhere outside of New Orleans, LA while there for Adobe's annual developer conference, MAX, as few years ago. It was a bunch of the guys from the sales engineering team, a cooler-load of beer, and a flat bottom airboat. The driver (pilot?) was about as back woods as you'll find complete with heavy accent and a long knife strapped to one of his calves. Needless to say, most of the memories from this "tour" are of laughter and group antics.

The tour at Alligator Bayou was significantly different.

When you arrive at Alligator Bayou, you're immediately greeted by two big dogs that suffer from entirely too much attention. The greeting area is clearly setup to handle meetings and large groups. As you walk through the greeting area, you encounter a large pontoon. This boat is capable of handling a large number of passengers, has a restroom onboard, some beverages, and is covered. The sides of the boat are fenced in and even have plexiglass covers so no little ones go missing.

The tour doesn't start on the boat however, but rather gives you an introduction to the most well-known inhabitant of the swap, the alligator. I won't spoil the details of the trip for you, but suffice to say, that this introduction to the reptiles is what makes this tour so incredibly different from the one I went on. The experience is highly educational in nature, designed not to be a drunken party in the swamp, but rather a memorable experience that aims to leave you with a more knowledgeable view of the ecosystem around you.

The tour itself a fun-filled and very humorous show thanks in large part to the cast of characters that produce it. Everybody gets involved, and you're sure to have many new experiences along the way.

The boat part of the tour sets off into the swamp itself. You'll learn all about the surrounding ecosystem, meet some of the inhabitants and get an up close and personal review of species you may have never even heard about. Before returning the boat stops and docks. Everybody gets off, and is allowed to explore the swamp for themselves. For me, this was more about simply taking in the foliage and sounds of the swamp in relatively safety. My mom and Paige however had a different experience.

After a while everybody gets back on board and you make your way back to the greeting center. We actually got a special treat by being introduced to some special guests the reserve was hosting - a couple baby bobcats and their mother. We were in the cage and about as up close and personal as it gets. The bobcat used to be a regular in the swamp region but has been generally hunted out. Part of the mission of the Alligator Bayou is to reintroduce these cats and help return balance to the ecosystem.

I couldn't have more positive things to say about this organization. It was a fantastic tour, highly educational, often times thrilling, with up close and personal introductions to the inhabitants of the swap with a good dash of humor thrown in for good measure. I think pretty much everybody in our party, and on board the boat walked away with a treasured memory. If you get the chance to visit the Alligator Bayou, I highly recommend it.