Visitors

Helen and her girlfriend Mary arrived from NZ on Friday for a brief visit. I had spent the week in Dallas/Plano Texas so Sharene picked them up from the airport a few hours before I landed. It was a really fun weekend.
Friday night we took them to our fav local sushi restaurant. Saturday morning the 3 of us went running along the coast before we all headed into the city to Golden Gate Bridge, Mexican food, the Mission, Casto and a little drive by of Moultrie street.
Sunday was more outdoor adventuring, heading down to Santa Cruz to the redwood forest for a hike. The trees are impressive and it's a pretty walk. The kids had stayed at Sharene's mom's so we swung by there to make introduction and pick them up. Madi and Brax were very sweet and funny, providing evening entertainment. It was great to see Helen; realizing we have known each other for 15years!
I am writing on the plane heading to New Jersey. Exciting week as Sharene flys in Thursday night. We are spending the weekend on NYC, adventuring. Staying on Times Square we have a couple of fun thinks on the list, mostly sightseeing. Hotel location has us in the hub of things so easy to be spontaneous. I am hoping we will be able to bring the kids over at some point too as their cousins live in Rhode Island. Sharene isn't convinced about NYC in the winter...but I think a trip at Xmas time in the snow would be magical. Meanwhile I am hoping to get to see some of the fall colors as where I work is very "green" but promises to turn golden at some point.



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Cruising

One if the team rolled off the project so we caught a train to NYC and did a dinner cruise, very cool.



















Twin Towers tribute











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Giants run

Last weekend Brax and I did the Giants Run; 5km along the embarcadero then finishing in the stadium. For the kiwis (well and me!), the Giants are the SF baseball team...won the World Series. Brax got it in his mind he wanted a medal so Sharene and I found this run. Got a bobble head of one of the players (ummm yeah he's famous...) and really had fun. Won't post pics right now because that seems to be hard from my mobile and I want to post this tonight (Sharene says I have got slack on the blog!).
I am back in New Jersey. It's always hard after a week at home but I keep rolling with it. I am sticking to my training plan for the half marathon too - miracle.
Last weekend Michelle had a fleeting overnight visit. So nice to see her and the kids love her. I really am lucky to have such a good friend so close.
Tomorrow night I am doing a River cruise thing in NYC to farewell one of the team...funny, when I first came to the USA I thought I would live in NYC; instead I landed on the other coast, but here I am.
Sharene and I have all the logistics for her trip planned, apart from visiting the Met. we haven't planned anything in particular - much like our Chicago trip, rolling with it. Staying in Times Square so close enough to walk places and get the subway.
I am sure I have forgotten some updates but that's the news of the day.


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Weekend

Came home to a fun weekend including an art fair in the redwoods.

 Paths had wood chips and the "galleries" were between the trees. Sipped a glass of wine as we wandered around. Beautiful location and we found this......

Walked the beach and came across a field of sunflowers.

 

 

 

Training for a half marathon in wine country in October. Keeping it honest and actually going to the hotel gym when I am in New Jersey.

Off to Texas (near Dallas) for work in a weeks time as well. We've made some team changes so I am stepping up to more responsibilities.Sharene coming to stay for a weekend on the East Coast (flex travel, instead of me flying back home and out again she gets to fly to me). We are planning a weekend in New York - gotta love that part of the job for sure.

Hrump

Been having challenges publishing photos...annoying. So behind in a couple of posts. Past weekend went into the city for a friend of Sharene's birthday.






Kiwi found a chair his size.


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New Jersey

Finally got to hang out beyond the Airport, hotel and work.



Cake Boss


Inside and Kylette's brother Dom


Gift for Madi's birthday


Big city 1


Big city 2.
Awesome restaurant, Molos...view tick, food mixed.









Can't wait for Sharene to come and visit for the weekend so we can go into NYC!

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Glass blowing & stuff

Went to a cool glass blowing event...free handmade glass and beer and wine while you watch a display. And the night we went guess the name of the band?









I also made Sharene's cousin a ball of cranes.



Madi's 12th birthday this weekend.



Getting into the swing of New Jersey. Fly out Monday afternoon, fly back Thursday night - 3 weeks travel, one week home. Work EST hours when I am on PST time; early starts early finish. Too early to know how that will go! Project is interesting, learning a lot .


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Week 2 done

This week I worked from home; nice! Working Eastern time is a challenge but mostly people are kind enough to schedule meeting 9am eastern aka 6am my time.
I've already learnt a lot of new things so excited to see it seems like a good choice so far.
Life is getting even busier as Sharene kicks off her two internships. This will have her start to gather more hours so she can get her MfT license....giving her a lot more choices for work.
Summer has been fun with the kids. Last weekend they all went off to Sacramento to a concert, I stayed home and looked after the dogs.



I've also been learning some new origami folds...I like these boxes.



I am back to NJ Monday night and will get some pictures...it's very pretty (well at least where I am). I am also going to plan a team outing into NYC for dinner, it's a 30min drive so very manageable.



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Home

We are back from LA - it was quite the adventure.  After our Disney/Universal Studios trip we drove down to San Diego; lovely town near the border of Mexico. Stayed in this really great luxury resort that also let us have Kiwi (at a cost of course).
Day 2 Brax and I went to Legoland.

We spent a bunch of time in the water park as well - no pics from that but I did enjoy the wave pool.

LA, San Diego & New Jersey part 1

On the road to San Diego
after a few days in LA.
We drove down the coast from SF; views awesome, saw 2 whales, zebra (yep in a field for real) and fed ostriches! Kiwi was intrigued.



LA we stayed with Michelle on the UCLA campus and introduced Kiwi to Michelle's dog Bug.....they are the same age. They played hard, Bug is very lively compared to Kiwi's mellow; it was great for Kiwi to have a play buddy.







More to come....

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LA, San Diego & New Jersey Part 2

Writing this in chunks to make it easier to publish.
Day 2 LA we went to Disneyland. All madness of course and 9 hours saw us all a little tired but happy with the rides. Not the most exciting ride but this is the oldest ride at Disney so I, of course, had everyone do it too.



Did some clever 3D rides too, all up a lot of fun.
Given timing we went to Universal Studios day 2. Fun in a different way. Despicable me ride was very fun and we got a free fast pass to do it again as we got delayed on the first ride so they comped us another one.



Sharene has most of the pics on her laptop so just giving you all a flavor.
San Diego update will be part three !
On the work front I took the New Jersey role. Big commute but works out 4 days onsite with the client, Fridays and every 4th week remote. Also I can flex fly which means once a month Sharene flys out to me rather than me fly home - will work great because ACN would pay for me to fly home so they just pay for me.
Oh bonus pic, ran a half marathon the weekend before we left, cool medal.



Although I hurt my foot the week before - it did me fine in the day but kinda mean bruise (bad leg too!).



Kiwi says hi...sleeping on the drive.


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Final walk

Sorry for all the short posts but I got a fail message when I posted more pics so I'm breaking it all up. Not the best app but I like being able to post from my phone.
Now it's being an arse again.
Anyway - we traversed some interests stairways. Good thing about the walk was all the sights are accessible by car so you don't have to walk 3 miles.
Tomorrow I talk to my big boss about some possible projects. Could be local or could travel again....not sure how it will fall. If I travel there are options for Sharene to come visit for weekends and I can credit the air ticket I would use to come home to her (cool perk). Harder on the family not to be here but air points and hotel points to accrue - making future holidays more affordable.
All that said I also need to weigh off the professional opportunities and the never ending "what next".
June was my 4 year anniversary at Accenture; longest I've ever stayed with one employer - including being self employed.

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More walking

Woohoo, that's two posts with pics that actually worked.
As part of the walk we also saw the Pink House - note the reflection on the house next door.












The neighbors on the other side went a little more gothic.







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Mosaic stairs and more

The last post was a test, I've been trying to list pictures for the last 4 days! Last week Sharene and I did a self guided walk in San Fran. Along the way we discovered mosaic stairs.






Sharene also spotted this.


More to follow.

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Mosaic stairs

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Kansas City is done

July is all about holidays - Staycation one week, 10 days LA, San Diego!












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