Hamburg, Germany

Some pics from downtown Hamburg Germany... The latest trip to Europe had me on 6 planes in 5 days and in each city for less than 24 hours = not that awesome but a lot of stamps on the passport


November wrapped up a travel filled year for me...some work and some personal but all equaling into living out of a suitcase for weeks at a time. Typically it can be expected that I will be on the road roughly once a month for my job. However this year it wasn't spread out so nicely, instead I would have batches of trips so I would be gone 3 out of 5 weeks in a row then no travel for 2 months then again another batch of trips. It has provided me some perspective, frequent flier miles and my family a little more stress.

• The perspective is that every place is basically the same so now I can not so intrigued by the prospect of visiting foreign places.
  
• FF miles - so close to making platinum status I may just book a round trip to Europe to get those last few miles
• Family stress - Donut is particularly clingy to me these days and can't quite stand to have me out of her line of sight
  

Turkeys, Pelosi and a baby....

After taking some family pics up at Inspiration Point, we headed over to Julius Kahn park to let Donut run around before heading home for her to nap and for the bird to start cooking in the oven. While at the park we noticed a pretty extensive security detail and were trying to figure out who might be in attendance and it was none other than Nancy Pelosi with her grandchildren at the park. While obviously staring at her....the guys decided to make good use of the playground...

And Donut thought it was hilarious to see her dad and uncle Sam being so silly

Once we got home we got to work on the bird and setting the table...then Donut changed into her European Thanksgiving outfit to out cute everyone at the table.

Happy Friendsgiving

Happy Friendsgiving! I forgot to take pictures of the food but did get some pics of the silly-ness that ensued once dinner was eaten and the kids discovered the glitter on the tables.

Harvest time...

The garden is really starting to fill in nicely. The salad greens are 100% backyard fresh and we are just starting to get enough beans ripening at the same time to almost make a dinner serving.

Below are some pole green beans and snow peas

Spinach up top and assorted lettuce and arugula down below

Assorted swiss chard and radishes above and snow pea bush vines below...

the monster cherry tomato plant - lot of leaves and lots of fruit...but nothing turning red yet - arg

The more places I go...

The more I realize that every place is the same...

Now I don't mean that to be insulting, but in effect it is true. Every city in every country has some buildings some houses and people just going to work every day and going home to their families. Doesn't mean that I don't ever want to travel again -- just an observation -- and home is nice place too.

Mile high blogging

I used to think that I neve wanted the internet to make it into planes...because this was my last place of solace from the connected world. A place to do other things like read or just tune out - but more and more there is wifi on planes and well, I kind of like it. I am using it to catch up on my personal internet time....