Last Weekend Before Texas

We are making final preparations for our trip to Texas on Tuesday.  I feel like we have really organized the house - today Mark S and I moved the couch from the office upstairs down to the basement and we also put together the baby stroller (it's a stroller that fits a baby carrier).  Tomorrow morning, Mark is coming over again and we're going to try to figure out how to install the baby carrier base in the car.  R also was busy running around today - she took Jenny to play with cousins Jessica and Adam so that she could have total focus on running last errands.

To blow off steam tonight, we had our first date night in a while.  It was really nice.  We did dinner and a movie in Georgetown.  Now we are back at the house relaxing before bed.  Tomorrow, Jenny has Hebrew School in the morning and then we are going to Jane and Greg's later to help them decorate their Christmas tree.  One of Rachel's favorite activities and I know Jenny will like it as well.

Today, R and I were talking about the question she got -- which is harder, an international or a domestic adoption.  We both agreed they are both hard for different reasons but both can be wonderful.    In this case, I'm a lot less stressed about the travel element -- it's just so much harder to gear up for a flight to China.  That China trip was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives -- so intense and wonderful meeting Jenny for the first time and being all together as a family.  I remember comparing the China adoption trip to a marathon.  You can't treat it like a sprint -- have to have stamina both physically and mentally.  I don't know of Texas will be like that.  I'm feeling pretty strong on both levels but am also feeling humble.  Just hoping for the best.

More later.

Last week before travel to Texas

We have our airline tickets to Texas -- departing early next week on 11/20 but that could change if the baby comes early.  R is still in scorched earth organization mode -- working with her organizer sidekick to re-organize the house to create more space.  At first I was skeptical but now I'm a convert -- the two of them have transformed the garage and lower level pantry and they are working their way upstairs.  They should hit the upstairs in the next few weeks, including our closets which are a disaster.  The house re-org effort has created an abundance of items -- clothing, household items, etc. -- that we have donated to a local charity that is affiliated with the organizer.  I would definitely not characterize our mood as "relaxed" but we're also fairly methodical and organized.  R described us a "freaks" but that's not true every moment. :)

One thing that didn't necessarily contribute to getting ready for our trip but was a great diversion:  I got an e-mail yesterday from a friend from California who I literally have not seen since we were 10 years old.  We were childhood friends and then lost touch after he moved to LA to become a professional keyboard player.  To make a long story short, Loren is now playing keyboard for The Who's East Coast tour and he asked if I wanted to attend the show and meet him afterwards.  As busy as I am both at work and preparing for TX, it seemed like a really interesting opportunity so, with R's blessing, I said yes.  I was joined by Marc S, a good friend from DC who is an avid concert-goer.  We had an amazing time.  The seats that Loren left at Will Call were literally in the front row center of the Verizon Center, so we were 10 feet away from Pete Townsend and Roger Daltry.  The show was great and the best part was seeing Loren up there playing keyboards and smiling ear to ear.  It had been his lifelong dream to play in a huge band like the Who.  He was great and we were giving each other thumbs up during the show (that's how close were were to the band).  Afterwards, Loren met us and took us backstage where we got to hang out with some members of the band, including Roger Daltry.  It was great catching up with Loren and we promised to do a better job of staying in touch.  I took a few photos that I'll try to post later.  That's it for now.  Trying to finish the week strong in terms of work and packing.  Then we're off to TX early next week! As Tom Petty said: the waiting is the hardest part.

Back in DC

Finally made it home after the long trek from KL to Hong Kong to SF to Dulles.  The flight wasn't so bad -- a bit bumpy from HK to SF but once I got to SF and had some coffee, I felt better.  The SF to Dulles flight was great.  I sat next to a really interesting guy who is originally from Spain but is a senior executive for an Italian chocolate company and lives in Luxembourg.  He has worked all over the word and was on his way back from meetings in Beijing.  Among other things, it turned out that he is from a very prominent Spanish family and he's technically a count, for what that's worth.  He gave me his card and told me to look him up if I'm even in Luxembourg.  He said he wants to meet R and Jenny next time he's in DC.  That would be fun.  Ok - signing off now.  I did want to post one photo from the KL trip.  It's of the Twin Towers building where we had dinner at the Petroleum Club at the end of the first night of the KL workshop. Pretty impressive.  We walked across the skybridge between the two towers and our dinner was on one of the top floors.

Getting ready to leave Hong Kong

After an amazing trip to Kuala Lumpur, I'm finally heading home.  I'm just getting ready to depart Hong Kong where I stayed last night.  I fly to SF and then Dulles tonight.  More later on the trip but for now, just wanted to check in and say how good it is to see the world from outside the US.  I watched the US Presidential election results on CNN in KL.  Sitting in the United Club lounge, it's easy to see how global the world is.  I will comment more on KL and on the trip in general.  Looking forward to seeing my girls tonight.  I'm also enjoying listening to dark Bruce (Springsteen, that is) on the iPhone ("One Step Up" from Tunnel of Love - one of my favorite Bruce songs ever.  Also "Walk Like a Man."  Ok - signing out now so I can go find my gate.

Photos of Jenny after the storm

Just in the final hour of my layover in Hong Kong before flying to Kuala Lumpur.  I was browsing some photos that I took of Jenny the day after Hurricane Sandy when we were at the Four Seasons waiting for Rachel to finish her massage.  She was wearing these great silver boots and we had a great time.  Here are two photos.

In Hong Kong

After a flight from Dulles to SF and then SF to Hong Kong, I'm now sitting in the Cathay Pacific lounge waiting for my flight to depart for Kuala Lumpur.  I have 5 hours to kill so I might wander around the airport.  The time difference with DC is 12 hours so I just called R and Jenny and they were at Jenny's 8 am soccer game (it's just after 8 pm here).  They were doing well but I hate being so far away from them.  Being in HK reminds me a little of our trip to China 5 years ago.  That was an amazing trip and it seems like so long ago.  I'm just guessing but I bet I'm the only guy in this business class lounge listening to Nelly on the I-tunes ("It's Getting Hot in Here...").  Just to stay awake, I've switched from the Taylor Swift that I was listening to in the Dulles airport to Nelly, Eminem, and the great stuff that Rachel recently purchased (like "Push It" by Salt N Peppa).   Even though I have no need for more food after the flight to HK, I might check out the noodle bar that they have here in the Cathay lounge (how can you say no to that?).

One other random factoid:  Pandora Radio is not active in Hong Kong.

Ok - will sign off and wander around a bit.  Will try to check in after I get to KL.

In Dulles Airport on the way to Kuala Lumpur

I am waiting to board my flight to SF to Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a six-day work trip.  After so much work travel in the last month, this is the last work trip before our trip to Texas for the adoption hopefully later this month.  So far, the day has been easy and smooth - got to the airport way too early but that's the way I like it.  Of course, since I was so early, everything went smoothly and now I'm just in waiting mode.  Two funny things I saw this morning.  First, on the "mobile lounge" that takes you from the main terminal to the international departure terminal, a man got on the mobile lounge wearing dark glasses and I assumed he was blind (his glasses were totally dark and it was so early that it was still dark outside).  I was thinking how courageous he was for being able to make it across the crowded mobile lounge vehicle despite his disability.  He slowly made his way to the front of the vehicle and opened the driver's door and got in -- it turned out he was the driver!  I guess he wasn't blind after all and he just likes wearing dark glasses!  Second, saw a guy wearing a United Airlines flight attendant uniform and he looked exactly like the guy in the movie "Bridesmades" in that scene where  the female lead tries to sneak into First Class and keeps referring to him as "Stove" instead of "Steve."

I'm listening to Pandora radio and am embarrassed to admit I'm listening to the Taylor Swift station.  I know the music probably has few redeeming virtues but it's the kind of mindless brain candy that my brain can handle this early in the morning.  Once I wake up, I can switch to one of my other stations.

Ok - signing out now.  Will check in again later.