Chicago

Spent the last three days in St Charles.






It's a pretty place but I didn't really enjoy the course. It was focused on change management for senior managers. It was good to meet colleagues but not particularly engaging content wise.
Last weekend Madi and Brax's half sister came to stay with her boyfriend. He is a Captain in the Airforce so we had some interesting conversations. We also did a 6 mile walk in the Redwoods.



Took Kiwi to the beach for the first time too. He's getting big...



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Went to the ball game!

Kansas City Royals vs White Sox.



Got Brax a cups made by Brax Ltd.





Gold Baseball for Brax too.


Macy Madi and Brax's half sister is
Visiting with her boyfriend.



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Traveling times

I am still doing the commute to Kansas City. Spending 8hrs in a plane each week has become the new normal. I see interesting things from the plane sometimes:







I meet interesting characters (when did I become the person people randomly chat too!). One selling software to law enforcement...in Kansas to talk about people trafficking and how their software could be used to see patterns of behavior at truck stops...the guy who works for Weber that manufactures the big blades that chop all that vacuum packed meat and other stuff!
Some weeks are tougher than others as hotels get old quick, even if the breakfast staff know who I am now.
The work is interesting and different and I am growing a lot just through the experience.
Next week we are off to the baseball game with the client team. It's the mid-west and all very far from Silicon Valley. I can't life is dull.









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Puppy update

Learning to sit....looking for a treat.



Slowly becoming pals....


Heads get very heavy


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Airport Times

Sitting at SFO, again, waiting to fly to KC. It's all become pretty routine. Lucky me I keep getting shuttled through the TSA Pre-approved line so don't have to take off shoes etc. It's random but keeps happening so I am happy about that. I could just pay $100 to get pre-approved for a couple of years but haven't stepped up to that yet.
Summer break is coming for schools etc so soon I will become one of those irritated business travelers irked by folks who seldom fly and, inevitably ground the line to a standstill as they are told for the 5th time to remove their belts etc. Oh well, can't always be a saint!.....so will just try to step up my patience.
We are planning a bunch of adventures for the 2/3 months the kids have off school. They will be off camping with their dad at some point but we are planning a road trip to LA and San Diego. See Michelle and just hang out in SD....Brax will want to go to Lego land for sure, which we all know I will love!
I've been trying to attach more Easter pics but blogger hasn't let me so will add two here and some to the best post as well.
Happy flying!
Claudette Sharene's mom.


Hanging at the beach.


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Traveling times

These days I am spending there or four nights a week in Kansas City. Given it's in Missouri that's quite a commute in a small plane. Takes around 4 hrs with a timezone change.
The client work is interesting and I have now bought one of my old team on so there are two of us.
It's odd to be away from the family but there isn't really a good role for me here on the West Coast so better to be staffed. I see a lot of this:





The building we work in looks cool from my hotel at sunset.


And the sunrise from my hotel is nice too!


But I haven't seen a lot is Kansas City. We work downtown which is the entertainment area. Lots of restaurants etc. next week Kylette and I are going to do a field trip to the Accenture office in South Kansas City and try the famous KC BBQ.
Kylette found $5 happy hour Bloody Mary's as well!



Kiwi is getting bigger.


He's styling gap here. It got cold so Sharene busted out some of Braxton's baby clothes.

We had a really great Easter with Sharene's family coming to our house for a big meal then off to the beach to hang out.



Madison made a cake! Those yellow things are peeps....funny marshmallow things that taste...weird.


Madi and Kiwi.


Enjoying the beach.


More photos next.

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Moving beyond myself

It's been a tremendously difficult few weeks. Mostly because I've been really challenged to live what I say "things don't matter, people do". The Collection is gone, photos, the few things I had from dad, Pop, Nana's stuff....precious little things no one even knew I had. Gone to an arsonist who doesn't know me nor my life.

So it is....there is also much to celebrate. Sharene and I have built the sweetest home. I love having Madison and Braxton in my life.
Kiwi...the first puppy I have brought into my life since Misha.

Stepping up.


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