Random pics

Every now and then I feel like I just have to take random pics that I've taken and throw them out there. Here they are...

Nolan, with his concussion. He didn't do much at all. 

These two on dress CRAZY day. They did dress crazy! Max thought he was super crazy because one of his shirt sleeves was cut off. Did you notice?

Quite the stance from my 6 going on 16-year-old!

Our basement! We kind of love it. This was the last day Nolan was home for his concussion and was just starting to feel better. He made smoothies for everyone, and put out snacks for when they arrived home from school.

The theater seating. We kind of love this, too. It was funny because the day it arrived, Dave and I kept moving it all around in the basement, probably 20 different arrangements. We got it how we wanted it, and Nolan kept saying, "You should just try this..." and we kept telling him it wouldn't fit. While he went upstairs to get a tape measure, we decided to try it, and sure enough, it fit. So, we left it like that, and when Nolan came downstairs with the tape measure, he kept trying to measure, never even noticing we already changed it!

Abby and her girlfriends. A perfect basement for friends over!

Ummmm, don't know.

Random guy at work. This is Tim, our Director of Architecture and Interior Design. I told him I loved the t-shirt under the suit. It was our annual day of doing stewardship in my business group. 

Thought this was funny and sent it to Abby. Luckily, she thought it was funny too!!

Gotta love a good fire. Apparently, we had one! Not sure why I took this picture?

My favorite drink... Mike's Hard Strawberry Smoothies!

Ava and her bestie Chloe at the movie theater. I took them to see The Little Mermaid.

Clearly lots of friends with them!

WENDY! And Abby. We had fun after a football game at a Mexican restaurant. Too much fun, if there is such a thing. Wendy and I were both feeling fine. And my friend Jenny came over that night and Dave was supposed to cook. Instead, Wendy helped me shop for an make Souffer's Lasagne. She's an amazing friend that way. Really though, she IS an amazing friend. She came over to watch the other kids while Nolan had to go to the hospital for his concussion, and is always asking how she can help. All of this despite her own challenges with her mom and and in-laws.

Hi Max!!

that's all. Nothing major, just some random pics. 

Final India thoughts

I am in the car on my way home from India. Let me just stop right there for a moment. In.the.car. Isn't technology amazing? And for those that are wondering... NO. I am NOT driving. I have a driver.

Anyway, I thought I'd wrap up my India trip. If you had told me a year ago that I would be flying to India by myself, navigating to the hotels, to the office, my schedule in general, meeting with the girl in India who reports to me, meeting with groups of people at our technical center, all by myself, I would have told you you were CRAZY. But, I did it. I did all of those things. Plus I flew home by myself, through an airport in Mumbai (or Bombay, depending on who you ask), all by myself. And didn't get lost. Woo hoo!!

I was in the office at the ITC on Wednesday, which was the day before a holiday. The women were all dressed in their beautiful Saris and other fancy clothing.

 Me with all of the new joinees to the ITC. I met with them all by myself to hear how their experiences have been so far.

 They celebrated Dussehra while I was there. They bless all of the tools that help them do their work. This group largely supports our engines group, so there was an engine and some other tools like wrenches that were blessed. Once they bless the tools, they don't use them for the remainder of the day. I volunteered to have my computer blessed in the morning so I didn't have to use it the rest of the day!

 Me and Kadambini. She is the HR person in India on my team, and my India lifeline. She is wonderful! And I'm in in Kohler ITC shirt. They all lookes so beautiful, and I, well, did not!

 Groups of people from the ITC (India Technical Center)...

 And since Thursday was a holiday... I relaxed! I read a book (an entire book!), sat by the pool, got a massage, went to the mall, took a nap. It was a great day!

 The mall...

 For Dusshera, they used sand to make this elaborate art. I came across this one on my walk back from the mall. That's all sand.

 This wass all sand as well, in one of the hotels.

 And finally, scenery from the Mumbai (or Bombay) airport.

A successful 15 hour flight, and subsequent 2 hour flight, and I'm home! Can't wait!!

First World problem...

Coming into this trip to India, I thought I loved the Leela most of all. It's the beautiful hotel in Delhi with beautiful lobby, amazing service, delicious food, and amazing bathtub. But I spent two days there and it was nice. Great even. The room smelled a bit musty, but truly a good experience. And now I checked into the Westin in Pune. I gave them my name when I walked in, had three people introduce themselves, one walk me to my room, tell me that she knew that the last time I was here, I commented that they didn't provide enough towels, so she made sure there were towels in my room. She then sent up chocolates and had the spa call me because I have the day off on Thursday. And then there's the Westin Heavenly Bed, and an amazing bathtub as well. So far, I think the Westin is winning.

In other India news... the food is still spicy (but good!), and I still get car sick. And I still appreciate utensils. Unfortunately this guy at the airport doesn't.

Other sites at the airport... this cracks me up every time. Really? Yes, I'm a 14 year old boy apparently.

Also, I took a picture of the sinks at the office. They all smell like moth balls because the same thing is in them as in a urinal, I think. And while they have Kohler everything, I think it's from 1976.

It's also entering into Holiday season in India. This week Thurdsay is the beginning with Vijayadishami, and then Diwali, or Festival of Lights, is at the end of October. Here are some Diwali decorations... it's kind of akin to Christmas. But you know, not Christian. These cute elephants were in the lobby of the Leela...

 And the airport...

In other random pictures... Ava (in her India clothes) lost a top tooth. Just in time for Halloween!

You can't tell at all from these pics, but the Newark airport has some new really cool restaurants and bars throughout the middle of the terminals.

I thought this was funny, so saved it to my pictures.  

 I want to make this for Thanksgiving.

 I love the hands at the Delhi airport.

 This is part of why I love the Leela. An Indian welcome when I arrive.

 Max's gourd, which looked like a dead goose. So Dave helped him make arrows.

 I ate at Chili's. I wasn't going to, but they said it was "Indianized." I wasn't sure what that meant so I tried it. Now I need to go to a Chili's when I get home to restore my thoughts of real Chili's.

A selfie from my hotel window. 

And that's it! Work tomorrow, off on Thursday (can you say massage), meeting on Friday and HOME by 8:30 AM on Saturday!!