This past Saturday held a first in my life – 1st time ever on a pair of skis!
My brother and sister-in-law – Chason and Aubrey – took me up to the Cabin Creek trail in Snoqualmie and we spent many a calorie trudging through some amazing scenery.
I’m paying for my exertion as I write this, because it really is a total body workout!
The skis are much thinner than downhill ones, and the trail is built with grooves in the snow to make it a little easier, but it’s still hard!
Aubrey giving me a helping hand…
Don’t get cocky or distracted though. I was admiring the scenery a bit too much and managed to perform an involuntary impression of the abdominal snowman!
Me and Chase
What’s amazing is A&C turned up at the house with some chocolate waffles and coffee at about 8.30am, we were on the trail by 10 and back in downtown Seattle by 1pm.
I had no idea the mountains and all this funtivity was so close.
Hoping to get up there next week.
Might be the last time before it all turns to slush…
Yesterday was Julia’s 1st birthday, so we made the trip to Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ in Ballard to celebrate and listen to the fabulous bluegrass band Dysfunction Junction play, as my sister-in-law has booked them for her wedding this summer.
Found these in our cafe today as I was hunting for some breakfast.
Microsoft in Seattle gets up early, so it’s often a mad rush to get out of the door to get on a call with London or New York. People often eat breakfast at their desk.
Notice that the eggs even come with their own salt and pepper packet which I thought was “cute”!
Plenty more notes on American idiosyncrasies like this on the way. I’ve loved reading Lorna Harris and her CalifLorna ex-pat blog over the years.
Hope to bring a similar shade of observation and humo(u)r on these pages, but with the weather being like it is right now, they might be a little greyer than Orange County for the next few weeks!
My contact form gets a number of workouts every week from people pitching me stuff to write about.
They’re mostly untargeted and often quite dry, but this one caught my eye!
It was sent on the 4th of April so I’m assuming I’m no fool in writing about it.
Apparently 223 homeowners have contacted them as well as 12 businesses, 7 restaurants and 1 church.
Read more here if you want your mortgage paid by Adzookie.
I expect the Queen could recoup the cost of the Royal Wedding in just a few weeks if she signed up.
Whose house would you suggest and why?
Just finished polishing off all our blog posts and videos from this fabulous event.
For more coverage, check out:
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer Remind Imagine 2011 – It’s All About the Story
Jaron Lanier – Frontiers of Augmented Reality and Human Potential – Imagine 2011
Imagine 2011: Jessica Greenwood on Brand Magic
Imagine 2011: Emerging Markets and the Next Billion Consumers – Advertisers Get Ready!
Delivering on the Digital Promise – Qi Lu at Imagine 2011
Imagine 2011: Jeffrey Cole on Screen Time and Digital Future
Mobile Social Next Big Teen Trend – Mimi Ito at Imagine 2011
Imagine 2011: Think Big! Digital Design: Its Delights and Discontents
Imagine 2011: Ivan Pollard Calculates Media + Technology = Meaningful Experiences
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer: Connecting Consumer Experiences, Imagine 2011
Arrived in Seattle on Saturday and met by Ashley’s family laying on the red, white and blue outfits along with a CD player blasting out Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” at the baggage carousel.
Really appreciated the gesture, especially for all of them to have made the trek out to the airport!
Then, straight into work and the Imagine 2011 conference……..more of that in another post!
It’s always nice to get upgraded by British Airways, but even better when it’s to first class!
I’ve just eaten in the Concord Lounge in New York’s JFK Airport, having been asked to take my flight an hour later, in return for a 1st class seat.
The service is polite and efficient.
The decor is all natural browns and you can dine before your flight at booth-like tables, selecting food from a three course menu which has three choices for each course.
I had an excellent crab cake followed by a well cooked chicken jalfrezi curry with pineapple pilau rice and all the gubbins.
Desert, again from a choice of three, was a pumpkin flan with a nice dollop cream on top that didn’t last long on my plate!
That’s it really. Nothing negative to report. Just good service and very good food.
Exactly what you’d expect from British Airways at first class prices……even if you aren’t paying them!
I’m in New York right now and met up with Bing colleague Stefan Weitz to discuss in this video the latest and greatest with the search (decision) engine that, with integration with Yahoo!, means we now have 30% market share in the US.
He has some great things to say about the social signal integration Bing is doing, plus some stuff around mobile and local.
Other coverage from SES NYC:
Is the Search Alliance Paying Off for Search Marketers?
Video: Small Business PPC 101 Tips at SES NYC 2011
SES NY: Re-Thinking Success in Social Media
Video: Bing Webmaster Community & SMB SEO with Duane Forrester at SES NYC
SES Kicking off Strong! Search: Where to Next?
Yahoo! and Microsoft Search Alliance State of the Union
Please share…..more soon!
There are some very fancy and lush restaurants in New York. I’m normally here for conferences and what not, so have ended up in a few over the years.
But I’m not so precious that I won’t eat in what might look like a dive to some.
I’m in NYC now for SES New York, and last night found Sapporo at 152 West 49th Street, just down from the Hilton Hotel where I’m staying.
For $20, including tip, I sat at the bar and watched the chefs do their thing while I munched on pork kare age, noodles and veg, while happily quaffing a bottle of Sapporo beer.
From the slurping to my right and behind me, this place was popular with local Japanese too which is always a good sign.
Every time I read about restaurants in New York, locals always say stay clear of Times Square because it’s too touristy.
Well in Sapporo last night, it looked like I was the only tourist in sight enjoying a quick, delicious meal that didn’t shatter my expense account!
Hurrah for cheap eats which turn out to be great experiences too!
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