Ah, Summer!!

But, first, those two very cute, athletic, helpful(?), and smart girls who live in Allen. Lucky for us we're planning a swing through Texas this summer to see everyone. Hope to see Jordan's Rodeo as she finishes her horse camp and Olivia's recital as she completes the dance camp. Kayla will be with us for a week (The 9 yr old "Koerner" thing) before we fly her back to Hou.

 

 We thought we were going to miss our tulips once again due to the France trip, but got home just in time (late spring - hard winter). This is the 1st week in May.

 Ditto.

 About the 15th of May. As we sit out in the backyard, we have a hard time remembering what the house looked like before the remodel in '05.

 Melissa's office corner. Starting Wednesday (6/1), we're going to have those two doors removed (can't see 'em in the pic) and replaced with windows identical to these. Plus, vertical blinds, new carpet, remove wallpaper and paint. Will be, essentially, a new office for her. In that she spends 24/7 there, por que no??

I was just kidding about summer. We still have winter here on Memorial Day. Several inches in the mountains and Snowbird is staying open 'till July 4th. This is the wettest spring in recorded history and the floods are starting all over Utah. This is my favorite time - when the tulips are still out and the early perennials are starting to show. All that work (and MK's designs) pays off!

OUR FRANCE TRIP

We had a wonderful 10 days in France on a MBA "Global Business" trip. I will skip the pics of Paris since most of you have either been there or have seen numerous pics of Paris (Truth be known, I forgot to take any in Paris).This 1st shot is from a 2.5 hr boat trip off Marseille as we sailed toward Cassis. This is one of the many inlets one can sail into or vacation in (see hotels/small houses in the background). The water is clear and greenish-blue, as you can see. Where's my snorkel when I need it?    

Know her?

 This distant island on the left was where The Count of Monte Cristo was partially filmed. It looks like a small Alcatraz and is an abandoned prison.

 Ah, our last day in Aix-en-Provence, a beautiful little city in the South of France. Melissa and the other prof had each small team find and buy specific foods at the market and tell us about the food. Then, we dug in sitting on our hotel's grounds!! No, the woman in front is not saying grace (or praying to Mecca) - she's just cutting her selections of cheeses. Notice the ruins behind us - dates back to the Romans.

 Here's the fish market portion of the larger market. There were three markets going all within a few blocks of one another in central Aix. Every town/city has their own market and market days.

 'Nother view.

 Cezanne (born in Aix) painted many of his paintings in Aix and his home is a national treasure. This is his park in the center of Aix. Interestingly, we had a special treat while in Aix. When I was with EIMCO here in SLC, we had a French subsidiary that made underground drills. It was based in Lyon and Secoma's US President was Bernard Saltiel. He and his wife, Xenia, own a B & B not far from Aix and they met us for dinner. Bernard was raised in Aix and knew everythng about the city. Google La Royante to see their B & B.

 Before Aix, we spent a couple of days in Lyon, the 2nd largest city in France. The original of this statue was melted down to make cannons during the French Revolution, The same sculptor then re-did it after the Revolution was over only to "forget" the stirrups. He was so humiliated, he committed suicide.

 This is a Roman theater, still used for summer productions. Massive structure. 44 BC!! Stood the test of time, wouldn't you say?

There are two hills in Lyon which define the city. This is the Praying Hill due to a large church sitting atop the hill overlooking the city (behind me). There are two rivers in Lyon and the downtown area is built around these rivers. Makes for some beautiful walking. The 2nd hill, off to the left, was the "Working Hill." So called because the working class lived there and walked downhill to town to work in the mills, mostly textiles.

 On our walking tour, we came across a closed street, labelled the Champs-Elysees of Lyon. Fountain in the foreground and walking street to the left. Most French towns have these small merry-go-rounds in central places.

 One of the two rivers - could just as easy be a shot of the Seine in Paris, n'est-ce pas?

Well, that was our "fun trip" after we left Gay Paree. The business visits (8) were outstanding, thanks to Melissa, the other prof, and our tour guide who is our MBA director and is from Lyon. To wit:

• Met with the Western European CEO of GE Medical Services and his wife. They had just moved to Paris from Salt Lake. Gave us the ex-pat perspective and differences in the French business culture, as well as what it's like for the spouse with two kids.
• Alstom, the world's leader in designing and manufacturing bullet trains. We rode several  we went down and back up France and they are damn fast!! Very impressive business and they went all out for us.
• Gore, the namesake of our business school. Their European headquarters are in Paris and we got to hear a recently retired French exec who started Gore's European operations. Gore was able to implement their unusual management structure into the French system, even tho it's not a "fit" at all. For those of you interested in management, leadership, culture, and performance, it was very interesting.
• Lyon Transit System. Transit is BIG in European cities and they get the best and brightest from the best schools. The president of the system gave us 2 hours and we got some excellent insights into the politics of business in France. We were set up for this visit by the transit execs from Utah's UTA.
• Bugey Nuclear Power Plant. Nuke energy supplies 96% of the electricity to France. Quite an operation we toured. No, we didn't come back glowing (at least not from the plant!).
• L'Occitane, a manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of scents, body wash, shampoo, etc. Google them for the outlet near you.
• Beaujolais Dupeuble, a family owned winery has been in the family since 1512. Talk about aged wine!! One of the owners gave us a two hr tour of the vineyards and the processes. The best part was the sampling, replete with bread, cheese, and sausage. Those French know how to give tours. And, yes, we bought some wine. I even picked up a bottle yesterday at our liquor store.
• Chateau Virant, growers of olives and grapes. They make some of the best olive oil in the buisiness. Good wines too. Again, a family business and one of the owners toured us around and put a spread out for us similar to the prior winery.  

Spring Has Arrived!

Well, here we are on April 3rd! A wet, heavy snow pushing our branches down, similar to the November, 2010 pics in an earlier blog.

Luckily, I got 2 yds of the forest bark spread Saturday before the snow came. The tulip foliage is about 6" but you can't see due to snow. With the moisture and fertilizer, once we get some warm weather, this yard and garden will take off. However, once again we're going to miss the high point of the tulips - France calls! Tough duty, but someone  --

With 130% of normal year snowpack, there's some concerns we're going to have a runoff year similar to the floods of '83. That year, we had a river running thru downtown SLC (water had to go somewhere and State Street is close to the old riverbeds from the 1800s).

November Snow and Our Adopted Part Time Cat, Oscar

Our first

 Our first snow of the year was a small one, but a harbinger of things to come.

 And, on November 26th and 29th, it did come. This is our view from the bedroom - nice huh? I don't see any need to shovel the deck - the snow's  too pretty to remove, anyway, don't you agree?

From our front steps. No, Kevin, this isn't equal to the snow you brought with you those two times, but not bad (without a pipeline to you know who). Some background: Many years ago, Kevin and friends came to Utah twice to ski. The 1st time they arrived 1/15, we'd had almost no snow in Dec and 1/2 Jan, then all hell broke loose. We got more snow in the last two weeks of Jan than in any full January, EVER. Now, if that's not divine intervention, I don't know what is!! To top this, next time they came, we got the largest one day snowfall ever recorded. Snowed so much both times, K and friends couldn't even get up the canyons to enjoy the bounty. Serves 'em right!!

 Oops, notice the frozen hummingbird feeder - forgot to bring it in. Also, see the evergreen that I've knocked snow off of? It was laying on the ground after the 11/26 snow. I got a neighbor to help me chain it up to the fence. Hope it survives - it's part of our privacy line of trees. MK and Steven planted these rocket junipers along the fence when they first moved in about 20 yrs ago.

 Ah, here's one reason MK spends as much time in her office as she does. Summer or winter, a great view. Cute little "snow caps" on the bird feeders, yes?

 Our sometimes guest: Oscar. Monk and Devon travel a bunch and we get to adopt  him for several days at a time. I keep him downstairs with me and let him roam the full basement. He's a good companion while I play pool or work at my desk. We'd like him upstairs, but then there's Janie and Melon.
He's saying: Whatcha' takin' a picture of me for, huh??? He sleeps in his carrier. Our cats hate theirs 'cause it means a trip to the vet. Oscar seems to love his tho. We've applied several times for a permanent adoption, but no success yet. We'll keep trying - O is the sweetest cat!!

Travels With Bob

The 1st trip started out with a quick visit to L, C, and R's house. The bouncy thing is a wonder (for both Riley and Lindy). All kinds of entertaining things hanging around. Anything to give you a breather, eh Lindy? Squash? Carrots? Who cares, just bring it on! I, says R, can make a mess of/with anything you choose, Mom. Good eater, tho.

As one would expect, Mimi (Grandma Melissa) sent a care package for her favorite granddaughter. Books and toys abound. R likes 'em!!

Mommy and R as I came in the door. Notice the shyness (Riley, not Lindy)? Didn't take Riley long to warm up to my considerable charms, big voice and all.

Like I said! I'll bet I took 50 pics of this child - more than I ever remember taking before, of anything. Since MK couldn't come along on this trip, it was either take lots of R pics or DON'T COME HOME!! OK, I just dutifully clicked away.

After 2 fun-filled hours with the Kincaid family, minus Chris (work called), I drove a short way to Jan's and Jack's in Bastrop. They have almost completed the house and yard (yea, right. As long as J and J are breathing, they'll be doing projects). Notice the boot? There are several more Texas artifacts not shown. Proud to be a Texan, are you? So are David and I even tho we're 1200 miles removed.

OK, here's the "essence of Jack." Took several months to build in between square dancing all over TX and CO. Lots of storage (Jan), lots of workshop space - with real tools (Jack), lots of loft sleeping space (Eric's crew), and all 'round good job, Jack. Eric helped some, as I understand it.

Left Bastrop early Thursday for the Valley - HW 77 all the way from La Grange to Sebastian (find that on your map). Had lunch with my EEHS Hispanic buddies (the reason I went to the reunion) and then over to the Casa de Palmas Hotel in McAllen. No cartel sightings tho. Was I ever disappointed!

Abour 150 attended, mostly Hispanics. After all, it's the Lower Rio Grande Valley. There was a ~ 2 hr Memorial honoring Vets who died as well as all the deceased who are known to the Committee. This pic is of Domingo Sanchez, my EEHS teammate and was the most wonderful guy in the world. Died in a car accident when he was 20, and was the starting fullback at Sam Houston State. Tragic!!

Hotel patio where a lot of visiting happened. The Committee made tons of food so we all sat around and ate tamales, tacos, sweets, etc. Even had a sip of wine or two - can you believe it? Billie Cellum (seated left, Class of '46, John Tayloe (seated right, Class of '60), and James (Bubba) Richardson standing, Class of '66. Lives around the corner from Jan outside of Bastrop.

Mary Etta Rumfield (not a good pic) from Del Rio, Leonard Wilson - Houston (ultra right winger who gives me no end of ----. Was a neighbor in Elsa), and Gregg Carter - still in the Valley and has a nice home in Ruidosa, NM.

And, one of the rerasons I went. Juan Capello and new wife, Cynthia. Juan was an outstanding football player and student (our Saluditorian). Went to Texas A & I on a scholarship, was on a National Championship team, and then on to med school. He's a renowned ortho surgeon in the Dallas - Ft. Worth area.
Saturday night, we honored his brother, Robert, who has won 966 basketball games, the most in the country by a Hispanic coach, and not far off the current national record.

I went on the SA to see and stay with Bruce Gregg, a SWT basketball teammate and my best and most long lasting friend. No pics, tho.

Next trip was a consulting trip - eat your heart out, Bob K, Kevin, Chris K, and Narith. This is the clubhouse at Entrata, a Troon managed resort property in St. George, UT. The windows at ground level were where I facilitated and presented at an off-site for one of my SLC clients. Tough duty, eh?

Did I say Utah? Didn't I mean Hawaii? A 200 yd carry for a mid iron, or for you bigger hitters, a short iron if the ball isn't in the unplayable lava rocks. Good hole for 375 yds from the blues.
Ah, a simplier hole. Just bend it twice and you're home. No problem for you, Narith - you hit it crooked anyway!

We (I) opted to hike instead of attempting golf (after a 5 yr layoff). The red rock structures are much the same as the world renowned red rock around Moab.

Petroglyphs everywhere. This whole area is less than 10 minutes from my host's house.

Watch that 1st step, it's a b----! In the backgroung, you can see the golf course and Snow Canyon is to my left about a mile. Quite a place.

I stayed with Don and Kay Simon - I bought OCM, my prior consulting firm, from Don in '90. We've been pretty god friends since then. He also teaches skiing at Park City - at 65 yet! Has a good life!

Look closely in this "narrows" and you'll see Don. We had to backtrack to get out. Please, no flash floods whilst we're in there.

The fini - Don and Kay's house. They have a golf cart and just hop in it and run to the Entrada course, spa, courts, or restaurant. Looks like Santa Fe or Taos, verdad?

Well, Folks, so go my travels recently. Unfortunately, I leave for beautiful Dayton, OH Sunday and on to the scintillating community of Radford,VA after that. Then, I play in the Utah Open Pool Tourney. Just hope to not embarrass myself.