Be Safe

Today I attended a mandatory safety and security briefing for work. I definitely learned a lot. We may have to buy a new car before going overseas, and if we do, my training today convinced me to install one of these security upgrades.

No Waiting

For those of you who fear I have converted to the Dark Side (read: turned into a liberal) I wanted to let you know that I borrowed "No Apology" by Mitt Romney at the library tonight. I was sure when the book came out last month that I would have to buy it or wait months on the request list at the library. Strangely enough, there was no wait for this book here in Northern Virginia...

For those of you who read David's book reviews:

The Good: Don't know, haven't read it yet.

The Bad: Same

The Ugly: Same

Mormon Mentions: I am guessing there are a few...

Commute

Well, I thought I would try this blogging thing again.

One of the challenges of living in the inner ring of a large suburban area is the daily commute. We are down to one car now, so I typically have been taking a work-provided shuttle most days to work. On the rare day that I drive in, I am often accosted with something along the lines of this (somewhat exaggerated).

However, for the past 3 weeks I have been riding my bike into work. The beautiful and amazing thing about the D.C. suburbs is the bike trails. Instead of fighting my way through something as enjoyable as the above communal commute, I bike to work on park-lined trails that look like this.

It is a 6.5 mile ride to work on a bike trail that follows the old railroad tracks. It goes under all of the busy main roads and runs along side a small creek the whole way. It takes me 5 minutes to ride from my apartment to the trail, 15 minutes on the trail, and then 5 minutes through neighborhoods until I ride up to work.

The great thing is that it is a nice, gradual downhill ride into work. Of course the opposite is true on the way home, and for some reason the wind is always blowing against me in the afternoon. It is a great way to start the day and a good work out in the afternoon.

Can't Do Video

Micah's blog is awesome. I admit it, between the two of us, she is the better blogger (I am saying this facetiously as it is quite obvious to everyone already).

However, her blog must bow down to mine when it comes to video. Wordpress doesn't host videos on their basic blog service. So, because Micah's blog can't do it, here is a cute, cute, cute video of Eliza that Micah is using for her post tonight.

Last and First

Yesterday was my last day at Hormel Foods after 10.5 years and 500,000+ miles (actual, not bonus miles...). Hormel Foods has literally flown me around the world and I have made all kinds of great friends during my time there. I'll miss seeing them.

Leaving the building was strange. I don't know what I was expecting, perhaps some kind of symphony playing as I exited. Mr. Holland's Opus probably raised too many expectations. Instead, it was very quiet as I left at 5:00 PM, after most of my department had already emptied. It was actually just as a friend said to me as I walked past his office; you walk down the hall, say good night to a few people you kind of know who probably don't even know you are leaving, and then you walk out the door. And then it is done. Kinda weird.

Today was my first day of unemployment in 13 years. I slept in, ate a nice and slow breakfast, and generally had a quiet and slow day. Kinda nice.

Moving On

Well, all three of my readers out there know this already, but just so I can say I wrote about this, my last day of my 10+ year career at Hormel Foods is December 18. I am joining the US State Department in January. And now to keep with my tradition of hardly blogging at all for the past month, I refer you to my wife's blog for all the juicy details...

Farewell to Hot Wheels

On Saturday I sold my Diablo Red Flaming PT Cruiser. It feels like a light has gone out in my life. My hometown may not miss me when I am gone, but from comments I have gotten already, they will miss my car. The kids were truly a bit bummed. The first day I drove it in the garage, Gideon shouted out "Dad, you bought a hot wheels." I don't think they were too bummed though. As soon as I walked in after the sale, Benjamin came up to me asking what is his cut of the money.

I am driving my parents Buick Park Avenue now to keep it running until they get home. It is a much nicer ride. But nobody waves at me any more...