UMTravels

Well, it’s the end of the year. Time to file those final bills to the clients. So far, no defaults on bills by my clients this year. Between that, and managing to sell both a vacation home and a large RV in this economic climate — I feel truly blessed. On the last day of […]

Work during the day, then off to Swanda’s for a package and cocktails. Amazing how I can get home at 6:30, get the coals going, hook up the new Internet access from Clearwire (ask me more — sign up and I’ll get bucks), set the table, season the steaks, and answer the door for dinner […]

My brother (the live one) has requested a shot of his Christmas gift to me… And I definitely have a case of “Pinot Envy”. He was looking to get me the St. Paul Saints Larry Craig Bobble Foot, but couldn’t find one: But enough about politics… Today was work for Events and Adventures — the […]

I say weird, but the day started out pretty normal. Curt and Brandon stayed over last night — Brandon, of course, in the single, Curt with me on the foam bed — I’m not sure he liked it. Here is the shot from last night playing with the furs: Thanks to Jen and Lynne for […]

As we go into the new year in a few days, I’d like to welcome three new merchant partners to UMTravels. These are folks that a regularly buy stuff from, and recommend them to all of you. In return, they give me a small sliver of your purchases. So, if you’d like to support my […]

Left the house (well, both houses — parent’s and the in-laws) at eleven, with plenty of time for the hour and a half drive to Albuquerque — and good that I did as there was a nasty two car accident that blocked both lanes requiring that we use the median strip to get by. Plenty […]

You never know when a Christmas miracle will happen. The random addition of a neighbor (French) into the holiday table mix yields incredible results. Attendees: Mom Dad Jennifer (sis-in law) Kennan (bro-in-law) Nancy (Jennifer’s aunt) Karen (youngest niece) Emily (oldest niece) Sophie (the neighbor) Myself Unfamiliar with US customs, Sophie asks for our fondest memories […]

Home? Well, kind of. Born and raised in Kansas City but now Santa Fe is “home”? Once I was gone from the house, they (parents) moved back to New Mexico — at least they told me where they were moving. This morning was a run to Trader Joe’s for liquor. $200 worth for me and […]

Question from Curt: How was your travel day? My reponse: First flight mostly on time Two hour layover with sushi and nigori sake Second flight left/arrived half hour late. Scored an All Wheel Drive rental car complete with OnStar and Sirius – and a freaking 110 AC jack in the dash – Pontiac Vibe. Metallic […]

First to the “more”…. The yard stick says nine inches… but it’s more like fourteen since this is the result of several days of melting, snowing, etc. Yes, that is a yard stick in the snow. The one in the background is a 2x4x10 foot piece of lumber. I should have moved that for the […]

Got six more inches of snow last night. Not a good thing with Dan having a 7:30am flight. Luckily it was running an hour late AND I’d put a tarp over the front window of the Mommy Van so it was easy to get on the road with minimal scraping. Maybe I’d better put it […]

Yikes. Another six inches of snow. Lots of plans changed for today. It was going to be: Gift Grab at Larry’s place Solstice Party at Swanda’s place Potluck Dinner at Rich’s place followed by poker What really happened? Gift Grab at Larry’s place while Dan napped on the couch Blame it on the snow that […]

The holiday season continues to run us (the Royal me) ragged. Got to get a couple of projects off the burner for E&A today so that I can totally relax this evening. Dan, Helene, Swanda and I are travelling by limo to The Herb Farm for dinner. Tonight’s theme is: Holly and Ivy and the […]

Snow day, so no driving to the EastSide — and Skype is now installed on both machine. $29.50 for a year of unlimited outgoing calls to the US and Canada. But that isn’t the old took (that would be a new tool). The old tool? The leaf blower. New use? Rather than shovelling off the […]

Apparently, the Wall Street Journal now has a phrase for workers like me: nanobots “Not in the Office doing Business in their Own Time Staff.” It actually is an interesting article on management: http://sloanreview.mit.edu/business-insight/articles/2008/6/5065/away-from-the-deskalways/ It was nice to find a link to the article that wasn’t on the Wall Street Journal site, which tends to […]

With the frosty weather, the train is turning out to have been a very good decision. A couple of days ago I booked a Roomette on the Coast Starlight (and extra $48 on top of the $28 fare). What do you get for your $48? Private room Amenities kit (shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, but no […]

Full disclosure — they have offered me a free 2×4′ sign. On the upside — these folks are GREAT — they have produced all the banners for Events and Adventures, and at a truly great price. And a great turn-around time as well. Check them out at http://www.esigns.com Here is the banner’s that we did […]

It’s a snowy day in front of the computer today. I need to finalize travel plans for tomorrow for a quickie trip to Portland courtesy of Fluffernutter, book Puerto Valarta for January to spend a week with my priest and his hottie boyfriend, build a web-site for HypnoStevein Portland, write a recommendation for Mindi on […]

Got the last of the Festivus cards printed, trimmed and addressed — off to the post office those go on the way to MaryBeth’s for a house rearranging consult. She is having company over on New Year’s Day and wants to whip the place into shape (which will be a challenge with two teenage kids). […]

Well, Festivus is upon us — is it time for the annual airing of grievances? Confused. Here is the WikiPedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus, and should you need a pole, these folks have a nice selection: http://festivuspoles.com/pages/Festivuspoles.htm, or you could just go to Home Depot or your local metal supplier — for those not willing to click […]