My World of Wonders aka The Wednesday Ws August 21, 2024

Where have I been? Home, the grocery store, the farmers market, the gym, the condo Community Center, the airport, Cleveland, and back home again. 

What are the photos above?  The Arts group here at the condo is hosting a show, of work by residents, with a theme of Splash of Color. There are 19 artists in the show. I have three paintings in the show. 

What is new? I have have been asked to be the legal editor for a consumer publication for Harvard Medical School. 

What am I reading? An Agatha Christie novel.  It is time to go back to the library for a new reading stack. 

When is the next event?  I have a birthday coming up next week. 

Who have I heard from? Mitchel, John, Blobby, Karen, Jim, Susan and Anna, and lots of family. 

Who deserves a big Thank You! Neighbors who help out when we are away, and away again, and away again. 

What surprises me? The number of wonderful comments on my little blog.  

What made me go, huh! The Priest presiding at the funeral Mass, was wearing Crocks.  If you have seen the old British comedy Father Ted.  Three out of Five, Huhs! 

What is my Wish for the week? That we all find our purpose in life. 

Later edit: 

What reminded me of kindness? On the way back to the hotel from the funeral home late on Monday we stopped at McDonalds for a little comfort food.  There was an older person in the dining room, dressed in a hooded winter coat on a warm August evening, talking - really arguing with herself.  A wheelchair sat next to her, piled full of bags of belongings.  She gathered up her stuff, and leaning on the wheelchair as she pushed it ahead of her, started out the door.  The door was pushing back against her almost harder than she could push against it.  The young employee who was mopping the floor, set aside his work, and held the door for her, then went ahead of her and held open the outer vestibule door.  That was not his job, just a little human kindness. for a fellow human who appeared to be having a difficult night.  McDonalds should promote him to CEO of kindness.  

Travel Tuesday: Grant Park in Chicago

 

Monday Mood: Recognizing Our Bias

Some fragile snowflake prison guard in Colorado is suing saying he was injured by mandatory diversity training, that made him feeling bad about being white. The training made him aware that humans are inherently bias.  When we see another person, our brains start to  attach expectations or beliefs to that person based on their appearance.  If those expectations or beliefs are negative, we see those as being prejudicial of the person.  

We all do this.  We see person's gender, and attach to them expectations, values, and behaviours based on the gender appearance.  

Much of our bias, is helpful, streamlining social interaction. But negative associations based on appearance, hinder social interaction and lead to us treating good and helpful people, as though they are the enemy. 

Becoming aware of bias, allows us to counter our thoughts when interacting with others.  Awareness is an essential stage in learning and developing new habits. Change is sometimes painful.  Learning that we can be wrong, that others can be different than we expected, maybe even recognizing that we have treated others unfairly before we even knew them. 

As to the snowflakes lawsuit.  There is a rule in US federal courts, Rule 11, allowing the Judge to assess costs, including the cost of opposing counsel when the case is baseless or frivolous.  If I were the judge I would ask for detailed briefs on Rule 11 sanctions.  

Post Script:

Reading through this, I thought I should offer an example of positive bias.  If I see a neighbor walking with a walker or walking frame, my brain assumes that it would be helpful to hold the door open for the person, that the person might move a little slower. I have at times been that person, and yes it is helpful.  

 

The Sunday Five: Drinks

1: A martini, vodka, or gin? 

2: Shaken or stirred? 

3: Strained or on ice? 

4: Olives? 

5: Ever before 5 PM? 

My answers: 

1: A martini, vodka, or gin? Gin, unless there is another flavor involved then vodka - never water down good Gin. 

2: Shaken or stirred? Shaken.

3: Strained or on ice? Strained or as they describe it here, strait-up.

4: Olives? Yes, please.

5: Ever before 5 PM? I haven't, maybe I should try that. 

In Wales and in Ireland, bartenders had no idea how to make a martini. They kept wanting to water down good Gin with tonic - what a waste. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

The Saturday Morning Post: Do You Have The Time?

Over the years, I have read several books about time, I recently read one about clocks and timekeeping.  For most of us, measured time rules our lives.  We allow measured time to regulate what we do in each day. 

There is natural time, the earth rotates causing the sun to rise and set, night to darken and morning to lighten.  The earth's trip around the sun takes about 365 sunrises. Before man measured time into hours, months, and years, this was how the passage of time was marked.  The sun rose and set, darkness fell and dawn broke through.  The seasons passed with warmth, and cold, rain and dry. 

Then there is measured time.  A construct of the human mind. Breaking each cycle down into measured parts. Someone decided on 24 hours in a day, and 60 minutes in an hour, why not 10 hours in a day, and 100 minutes in an hour? The number of sunrises and sunsets in a trip around the sun, is set by nature. Why 360 degrees in the compass and not 365? 

We then allow measured time to regulate our behavior.  Setting sleep time, awakening time, work time, by an artificial standard, that for many has little to do with anything other than the clock.  We clock in, or have set work hours, that don't necessarily correlate the nature of the work that we are there to do. 

Farmers have a strong sense of the clock not being in sync with the cadence of life. Fields are worked during daylight hours, cows want milking based on cow biology, that is more tied to sunrise and sunset than to the hours on a clock they most likely don't bother to read. Modern dairy farms allow the cows to come in for milking when the cow wants to come in for milking, and only alerts the farmer if there is a significant change indicating that the cow might be feeling unwell. A farmers time of work and rest, changes with the seasons, not with the clock. 

Why don't we let life regulate our time, and not the clock. 

100 Ways to Slightly Improve Your Travel Experience: #19 Explore Public Transit Before You Leave Home

 Especially when traveling to large cities, public transit is often the best way to get around town.  In many cities, airports and train stations are connected to local public transit.  Search for the airport or station and look for the page on how to get to and from the station or airport.  

Even cities that have a limited transit network often have a train from the airport to downtown. Three surprises in the United States, Atlanta has a good train from the airport to downtown, St. Louis has a light rail connection from the airport to downtown, and Minneapolis St Paul has a light rail connection from the airport to downtown. I have used all three of these.  

I prefer trains or subway systems to buses.  Especially when I am toting luggage.  

If a rail connection is available, it will always be cheaper than a taxi, and often be faster.  

When searching before you go, you want to look at the network, where does it go to and from, the schedule, and the pricing.  Some cities offer tourist passes that include much of the system. The pass in San Francisco even includes the cable cars.  Increasingly tickets are available on a smart phone app, and can be purchased before you leave home.  Some of the apps include real time status on the trains and buses to help you know when the next ride is headed your way.  

The Thursday Ramble: Asking for a Favor

I am going to break my own rule about never talking about religion, sex, or politics. 

Religion, you are free to have your own, but please don't try to impose your religion on others.  If you want to see examples of what happens when you mix religion and politics, look at Iran, or Afghanistan. 

Sex, well I was never very good at, and others do a much better job of talking about sex than I ever could.  

If you haven't heard there is a Presidential Election coming up soon in the United States. All elections are important, this one seems especially important.  

Many would say this is one of the most important Presidential elections in many years here in the United States. Voter turnout is critically important in this election.   

There is a simple principle of human nature, Barack Obama's campaign captured this brilliantly, when we have a personal stake in the election, we are much more likely to follow through and vote on election day.  His campaign asked for small donations, less than $10, and received them from millions of voters who had never before made a campaign donation, then those important contributors showed up on election day and voted.  The big dollar donors get the press, on election day, they are just one vote, the same as the person who gave  $7, one vote. You and your small donation are just as important as some windbag wanna be billionaire (looking at you Elon.)

So the favor, make a small donation to your favorite Presidential Candidate today.* Click the button for other amount, $5, $10, $20 the amount is not as important as the personal commitment to be a part of the process of charting the future of our country. 

I have done this, please join me in making an affordable donation today, and in voting on election day.  

* Rules You Must be:

• I am a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident (i.e., green card holder).
• This contribution is made from my own funds, and funds are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.
• I am at least eighteen years old.
• I am not a federal contractor.
• I am making this contribution with my own personal credit card and not with a corporate or business credit card or a card issued to another person. 

My World of Wonders, aka The Wednesday Ws, August 14th 2024

Where have I been? The Cleveland Clinic, heart institute.

Why? Sweet Bear's oldest brother had surgery four weeks ago and it has not gone well.  He was semi conscious, on a ventilator, dialysis, liver insufficiency, infections, the whole 9 yards. 

What did I observe for the first time? Life supports being disconnected and someone die. It was very peaceful and surprisingly swift. 

Who have I spent time with? Paula, Ed, Tim, Diane, John, Todd, lots of family.  

What have I been eating?  Hampton Inn breakfasts, Italian, a great salad or two, more Italian, Nuts - we went to the factory outlet for the King Nut Company.  Peterson's King Nut packages many of the snacks served on airlines. The factory outlet is near the hotel we stayed in. 

What is next? The funeral will not be for a few days, we will be returning to Cleveland soon. 

What else? I have three paintings going into a community art exhibit opening this coming weekend.   

When is the next adventure?  September. 

Who deserves a big THANK YOU! The nurses.  They do amazing work under difficult conditions. I don't how they keep all of those pumps and monitors working. 

HoW am I doing?  Okay, kind of quiet and reflective. 

What am I thinking about? Writing the book, that I have said I would never do.  I have spent 30+ years reading everything I can find on health care decision making and end of life care. I have seen it done well, and not well. I did volunteer work for hospice for several years.  I don't know if I will commit the time to 250 pages of text, I should. Kind of like writing another blog over the course of a year or so. 

What else? I am looking forward to the last few weeks in the outdoor pool, it closes in early September. I may move onto the indoor pool. Time in the water seems to be therapeutic for me. 

What is my Wish for the week? That American politics continues to move forward in good ways (more on this tomorrow) and a few days at home. 

Travel Tuesday: Chicago August 2024

Lots of new large residential buildings in Chicago 

The Wriggly Building and Chicago Tribune Buildings are wonderful classics

Sunrise over the Lake, from the Hyatt on Wacker.

Raddison Blue 

The crowd is waiting to enter Lalapozza 

 

Monday Mood: Reflections on life

We have been visiting a dear family member in the hospital. Looking into the eyes of someone trapped in the no mans land between life and death.  

Illness and injury impact not just the person, but also their loved one's. Our absence leaves others to carry on. 

Debilitating changes can happen suddenly, or develop slowly over time. Modern medicine and surgery can prolong life, or delay death, but nothing can prevent death and "save a life." Our presence on this earth is limited in time. 

Trying to live today, as if you will live forever, is often a waste of today.  

Live today, as though it might be your last chance to live, to love, to enjoy.  Embrace your life . . . your day.  Savor each day with things that bring joy and happiness.  Treat others as you wish to be treated. 

Make choices that are best for you. Respect the choices that others make. They have their reasons. Their beliefs to base their choices on. 

So my mood, reminded of what really is important in life. 

Sunday Five: At The Beach

1: How close is the nearest place for you to swim? 

2: Will you go into the ocean? 

3: Have you seen a black sand beach? 

4: Have you been to a clothing optional or nude beach? 

5: Do you lay in the sun? 

My answers:

1: How close if the nearest place for you to swim? Across the drive behind the building, the condo has indoor and outdoor pools. 

2: Will you go into the ocean? Yes, but it has been a few years. 

3: Have you seen a black sand beach? Yes in Iceland and the Canary Islands. 

4: Have you been to a clothing optional or nude beach? Yes, the north end of Canaveral National Seashore in Florida.  

5: Do you lay in the sun? Not really my thing any longer. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

The Saturday Morning Post: A place to call home

There are a group of angry young people who are convinced that the reason they can't find an affordable home, is because we baby boomers insist on aging in homes that we love and enjoy.  To some extent baby boomers are responsible for the difficulty in affordable housing, but the objection is to the result, not the cause of a widespread shortage of housing for sale in the United States (and Great Britain.) 

Part of the cause, is a social reform movement before the baby boomers were born to eliminate substandard housing in cities.  Crowded urban housing was often unsafe and unsanitary, but rather than address the health and safety issues, the reformers pushed the idea that the only "proper" home was a free standing home, with a garden space around it.  The reformers posited that crowding led to drunkenness and immoral behaviour.  Somehow the reformers thought that living 30 feet from your neighbor would prevent adultery.  Higher density housing was seen a breeding ground for crime, and immoral behaviour. This belief mated well with racism, leading to housing codes that made housing unaffordable for many. 

There are three aspects of housing codes that drive up housing prices. 

First is limiting land available for development. Yes green space is pretty, but limiting land available for development, drives up the price of the land that is available. The economic law of supply applies here.  If we increase the supply, and demand remains constant, prices will drop to meet demand.  We need to allow higher density and mixed use development (the community above has been high density and mixed use for over 1,000 years - and I would move there in a heartbeat.) 

The next set of factors are minimum lot sizes and minimum home size. The larger the minimum lot size, the higher the cost. The larger the home, the higher the cost. These factors have been misused for decades to make housing unaffordable. 

The third factor is costs added onto land, bricks and mortar to build new housing.  These include utility connection costs, and in many communities "impact fees" charged for the issuance of a building permit to fund building community infrastructure such as roads, schools, parks, water and sewer facilities.  These can add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of each new home built.  

How to lower housing costs and promote home ownership: 

• Increase the land available for development 
• Allow higher density development and mixed use development
• Let the market determine home size 
• Tax all property to pay for needed community services such as schools, parks, streets, libraries, and utilities.  We all benefit from them.  We all benefit from growing healthy communities.  

Sorry to bore many of you, this was a rant that has been building for sometime and needed to get out. 

100 Ways to Slightly Improve Your Travel Experience: #18 Don't Even Think About Driving in a Major City

 

I learned this one the hard way in 1990.  I flew from Florida to London and rented a car to drive into the city.  How else would I get into the city?  I got lost, traffic was unbelievably bad and unbelievably confusing.  When I see Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, I have driven past those.  I finally paid a taxi driver to show me the way to the hotel, parked the car and didn't move it again until I went back to the airport a week later. 

I have driven in and out of Chicago, but I avoid it if I can.  I am very careful about driving into Washington DC, going when I know traffic will be manageable.  

A few years ago my one and only cousin went to France for the 24-hour race at LeMans. The trip started with four days in Paris.  I advised him to not rent a car until he was headed to LeMans, take a train out of the city and rent a car.  He ignored me.  24 hours and several parking tickets later, he took the car back to the airport and returned it to the rental company. Picking up another car on the way to LeMans.  He said that first 24 hours, he spent 6 hours searching for a parking space, then picked up parking tickets every place he parked. 

Traffic is a nightmare in major cities.  Parking is hard to find and expensive when you do find it in many cities.  Enjoy your travel experience, don't drive into headaches. 

Thursday Ramble: Blogging, Bloggers, Comments, Spammers and Trolls

I blog because I enjoy doing it. It is a chance to share some the photos I take, a place to vent about what is on my mind, and blogging obligates me to work on my writing.  I hope to continue doing this as long as I have something to show, or say and the ability to do so. 

I have met some wonderful people through blogging, several in person who have become dear friends, others only online that I enjoy trading messages with.  I hope to meet more bloggers in person.   

There are a few bloggers that I have given up on.  Some are too eager to share their political views (I have to be careful on this front, I have crossed the line a time or two,) some simply have a bad attitude about life and spend too much time complaining that others had it easier than they did, or obsessed with the unimportant things in life.  I delete their bookmarks and seldom if ever read their posts. 

I have grown intolerant of racism, sexism, classism, and a whole list of other "isms."  There are a few bloggers that from time to time post things that offend me. Not all of the time, but from time to time.  Most of the time I just read the post and move on.  Commenting telling them how wrong they are is troll behaviour. Sometimes those posts inspire me to write a post for my blog, offering a different point of view.  

I love comments. Occasionally I receive comments that are unkind.  The comment may be a misunderstood attempt at humor.  I think every comment deserves a reply. My reply to a rude comment is most often a generic thanks for commenting.  Once in a while I will respond explaining why I think the comment is offensive.  I try to limit this, as some commenters will take that as meaning I don't welcome or like them. When I talk with bloggers and go over my list of bloggers friends, I often hear "I don't think he likes me." This is triggered by a strong response to a comment that the blogger found offensive - and people taking the response personally. The response was most likely appropriate. 

Trolls are mean, evil, nasty people who find joy in making ugly comments to others.  I have been lucky in that I have had few of these over the years, and never one that hung around and kept coming back.  The best advice I have for dealing with trolls, is don't feed them.  They feed on responses in kind.  Deescalate, the louder they get, the quieter the response should be.  

Spammers I have no use for.  When they find me, they usually post comments on several posts.  I simply go into comments, report them as spam, and permanently delete them. I truly wish I could block them as some come back from time to time. If they want to advertise on my blog, they can contract with Google and buy ad space.  

I have to check the Spam filter in Blogger regularly.  The filter catches some of the real spam, but more often it catches comments from my blog friends, it even catches some of my responses to your comments on my blog.  If you post a real comment, and it does not appear, give me a day or two, I don't check everyday, I will release you from blogger prison as soon as I can.  You can use the message box to let me know that you have a comment missing.  

My World of Wonders aka The Wednesday Ws August 7, 2024

Where have I been? Chicago, to spend a couple of days with my fellow wizards, former co-worker, and friends. 

Who have I talked with?  Jim, Emily, Loraine, Erica, Amy, Holly, Jacob, Eric, Robert, Karen, I will never name them all, lots and lots of dear friends.  We went out to dinner with Justin, and old friend of the Sweet Bear. 

What have I seen? The area around the north end of Grant Park, the Chicago River, a nice walk up Michigan Avenue.  I didn't have a lot of free time, and the weather was warm and very humid.  

Which Hotel did we stay at?  The Hyatt Regency on Wacker in Chicago.  It has been updated since I was there last fall, and is looking good. 

When is the next adventure?  September, I need to get ready to attend the wedding of a dear friend on that trip. 

What am I working on?  The second edit of a report, and reading a book I need to review in the next week or so. It is a short book. 

How is everyone? My sister has had all restrictions lifted by her doctors, Jay's brother is still in cardiac intensive care. The two of us are doing well. 

What have I been eating?  Some great Italian food, Rosebud has a new location near Grant Park.  

My wish for the week? A return to sanity in politics. 

What surprised me in Chicago? How friendly and helpful locals were, asking if I would like them to take my selfie, and offering directions and advice on restaurants. 

Travel Tuesday: National Gallery of Art

I spent a couple of hours on a rainy day recently wandering around the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.  A great place to explore, and like most of the museums in DC, admission is free. 

 

Monday Moods: Surround Yourself

As I sit here writing this Chopin is playing in the background, on the walls around me, are framed photos, paintings, a certificate from the Zeppelin Ride, and a thank you from colleagues when I retired. When I started the job at the American Bar Association I mentioned to my boss one afternoon that I would start bringing in the diplomas and licenses to put up in my office.  He said, surround yourself with things that make you happy.  Whatever brings positive thoughts to you, is what you should surround yourself with. There were times when he was a very wise man. 

The diplomas and law licence went up on my bedroom wall, and the office wall was covered in framed photos of places I had been. When we moved to new office space a few years later, I created paintings to brighten my windowless office (a couple of which I kept when I retired, a couple where left behind.) 

I find that my mood is influenced by what I see, hear, feel, smell, taste.  If I control what comes into my senese, I can help to direct my mood. This effort includes a deliberate editing of news that I read or listen to, careful selection of the music that almost constantly plays in the background, what books I read, what television I watch (not much anymore.) I don't need negativity, or drauma, or political commentary masquerading as news (90% of what is on CNN, and 100% of what is on Fox it political commentary - not news.) So I don't let it in. 

Surround yourself with things that reflect the mood you want to live. This is not the total answer, but it can't hurt. 

The Sunday Five: Olymics

1: Have you been watching the Olympics? 

2: Where you live is there too little or too much coverage? 

3: What real or imagined activity could you win an Olympic medal at? 

4: What is your favorite sport to watch? 

5: Have you lived in or visited a city that has hosted the Olympics?

My Answers: 

1: Have you been watching the Olympics? Probably an hour a day. 

2: Where you live is there too little or too much coverage? There is plenty.

3: What real or imagined activity could you win an Olympic medal at? Sleeping

4: What is your favorite sport to watch? Cycling, or swimming.

5: Have you lived in or visited a city that has hosted the Olympics? Atlanta, London, Paris, Athens, 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

The Saturday Morning Post: Musical Instruments

I saw a video clip recently of a game show where the producers poll the audience asking silly questions, and then the contestants guess what the most popular answers were (in the USA this a game show called Family Feud.) The question was what musical instruments do they hand out in hell.  The number one answer was Bagpipes, the second most popular answer was Accordions. And the video clip ended there in laughter.  

I had a weird dream a few weeks ago where I was trying to decide if I should buy one accordion or two accordions.  The ultimate answer is I should buy none.  I have no desire to drive my Sweet Bear to commit murder, and our neighbors are rather nice.  Besides I have visual spatial issues and can't read music. I would spend months making noise with it, finding my own kind of music, while driving those around me out of their minds.  

My oldest brother took lessons on the accordion.  It was the 1960's and what he really wanted to learn to play was the guitar, so he could find a rock and roll band that needed a helping hand. But my parents didn't approve, and Uncle Dick had an accordian that my dear Aunt Edith was very glad to offer up on a long term loan - anything to get it out of the house. He practiced, and he was actually pretty good, well as good as you can be on lucifers instrument of choice. 

I played the Tuba in the middle school band for a couple of years.  I never did find an OOmPah band. 

100 Ways to Slightly Improve your travel Experience: #17 The Airport Matters

Many major cities are served by more than one airport, and the airport can really make a difference.  New York is served by JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, Chicago has O'Hare and Midway, London has four Heathrow,  Gatwick, Stansted, and London City. 

My home town of Washington DC is served by three major airports. Washington Dulles International (IAD) is nearly 30 miles west of the city, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is literally across the river from the City, and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is almost 40 miles northeast of the City.  Both Dulles and National are connected to the subway system, while National is a 10-minute ride from the City center, Dulles is closer to an hour ride from the City center.  Clearly if you have a choice, National is the airport you want to fly into if you are visiting Washington DC.  BWI has a bus, to a train, to DC. Well over an hour, and depending on the train as much as $40 each way.  BWI  is not connected to the subway system for Washington DC,  after all it is the airport for Baltimore.  

I have used all three.  Dulles is the primary airport for direct international flights (international flights from National are limited to Canada and the Bahamas.) I have flown from BWI when it was simply so much less expensive that it was worth driving out there and paying for parking.  

Many discount airlines fly to "alternate" airports in major cities.  This can mean ending up 30-40 miles from where you really want to be.  You need to factor in time and travel cost to get where you really want to be, to determine if the cheaper fare, actually saves you money when all is said and done. I have had people flying in to DC for meetings, who flew into Dulles to save $20 on airfare, only to spend $75 on a taxi into the city (and then get caught in city traffic and be late for the meeting.) 

Airports matter, look at time and ground transportation when deciding which airport to fly in and out of.     

Thursday Ramble: Fall Travel Plans

Half of the fun, and much of the fret, of traveling is in the planning. Some of the plans get rather elaborate with complex transportation and multiple hotels all strung together seamlessly, we hope. 

So what is coming up.  

We are headed to Chicago for a few days. I have a couple of days of committee meetings for a board I serve on. We have a couple of old friends in the city we can meet up with. This is a fairly simple trip, Subway to the airport, fly there, CTA Blue Line into the city, taxi to the hotel, only one hotel, CTA back to the airport, and if the flight is on time, the subway back home from the local airport.  

Later this fall we have a two week road trip.  Cleveland to visit Sweet Bears' family, then Michigan to visit my mother's home town (I have never seen it), across the state for a wedding,  Ft. Wayne Indiana to visit my family, then Dayton to visit the Air Force Museum and meet a blogger, then the trip home is over two days. Probably 1,500 miles of driving, 6 different hotels.  This was shortened the original concept was over 2,000 miles, and three weeks.  

Shortly after the road trip, we are taking the train to New York City, for a couple of days.  This is fairly simple, the subway, to the local train station, the train to NYC. Probably a taxi to the hotel, unless the weather is really nice, the hotel is only a 15 minute walk from the train station, one hotel, then do that in reverse to get home.  Stephen who got me started on blogging all of those years ago, is flying into NYC with his hubby, to celebrate a landmark birthday. We will see them while we are there (the last time we met was in London in March of 2020, just as the world as we knew it was coming to an end.) We will catch up with another friend while in NYC.  It is a short trip, we are really only there two days.  

Then unless something unexpected comes up, we are home, until early 2025, there is a conference in Phoenix around the first of February, that will likely go to.  Then next April we go back to sea.  Next August's board meeting is in Toronto - I like that city.