July, 2004 Archive

Summer Outing

Friday, July 30th, 2004

Last Thursday was our company’s summer outing.
If you have ever worked for a large soulless organization I would expect a knowing and cynical grin to spread across your lips after reading that first sentence. If, instead, you thought “oh, a work outing! That sounds interesting” then you’ve obviously never worked for a large soulless organization.
The [...]

You go, Google!

Friday, July 30th, 2004

Just in case you haven’t been reading the financial page (or wondering how the hell everyone seems to get rich except you), Google’s IPO is coming up. If all goes as planned, they will raise over 3 BILLION dollars bring the company’s market value to around 36 BILLION.
Perspective: this means Google will be worth [...]

40th Philharmonic in Central Park

Monday, July 19th, 2004

We went to the 40th annual performance of the New York Philharmonic in Central Park on Monday the 19th. In 1965 the Parks Department and the New York Symphony decided to put on a free concert. They expected a “modest” turnout. Over 70,000 people showed up. There’ve been playing free summer concerts ever since. (Five [...]

Happy BIRTHday, Lia!

Saturday, July 17th, 2004

Welcome to the world, Julia Fredericka Douglas (aka “Lia”)!
Arrived at 2:09 am
Weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces
Measuring 20 inches

Stork

Friday, July 16th, 2004

Full text of an email received today from my friend Scott:
“going to the hospital - water broke at 2pm EST. will kep you updated.”

TGIF

Friday, July 16th, 2004

I am exhausted.
This is has been a rough week. I had to be in Stamford, CT on Monday at 9am after getting into NYC at midnight on Sunday (and into bed around two). Monday night I got home by about 8pm (after walking through a rain storm–New York was not my friend). That was my [...]

Vacations are Short

Monday, July 12th, 2004

I’m always surprised to discover I’m on my last day of vacation. Whether it’s a long weekend or a two-week trip it seems to rush to an end before you know what’s happening. Thus, I find myself at 10am on a Sunday in SFO waiting for a plane. Boo.
On Tuesday afternoon Katy’s sister, Agnieszka, took [...]

Happy (Belated) Fourth of July!

Monday, July 5th, 2004

(about 10am)
I’m sitting on the couch in the Witkowski’s living room. I just finished watching the Tour de France coverage. It’s sunny and about 80 degrees outside. Andrzej is outside reading the paper in the hammock. Ewa and Katy are in the kitchen speaking Polish and making tea.
My travel post from July 2nd turned [...]

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Friday, July 2nd, 2004

schlep or schlepp also shlep – (v.tr.) To carry clumsily or with difficulty; lug: schlepped a shopping bag around town; (v.intr.) To move slowly or laboriously: schlepped around with the twins in a stroller.; (n.) An arduous journey. A clumsy or stupid person.

Today is a day of travel.

6:30am – Alarm
6:45am – Get out of [...]

Ad Man

Thursday, July 1st, 2004

I’m going to take part in a focus group tonight. I’ve been a participant in a focus group before. (Four in fact: for Wired Magazine, Harry Potter merchandise, digital cameras, and Oxfam America.) If you ever get a chance to be in a focus group, do it. It’s fun. They give you food and pay [...]