(no subject)

Back in Atlanta -- got in late last night.

Miami was a blast, but tiring. The weather was warmer than Atlanta, which was nice, and everything was still green. The wind was high, though (which is common in the fall/winter months on the beach). There was a steady 40MPH wind all four days.

Went golfing at the Doral monday morning, which is inland, so a little less windy. The Doral is one of the top 10 courses in the US, and it was the prettiest course I'd ever seen. Didn't do that well, but then again, I'm not that great a golfer :)

I would hate to see the price tag for the conference. There was food and open bars everywhere. The party monday night made for very quiet and subdued meetings Tuesday morning -- everyone was drinking coffee with trembling hands. I probably had a drink too many myself, though hey, they had a martini bar stocked with Stoli.

After nearly a decade as an engineer, I've been an engineering manager for about a year now. If ever I had the lingering suspicion that I'd crossed over to the dark side, this conference was the proof -- one long sales job from the beginning of the week until we left. It gets a little draining using the same sales speech, with the same examples and anecdotes, and the same pauses in the same place for effect. I like the job, and there was some very interesting technology at the conference, but I was more than ready to come home again.

My top 5

To jump on the latest fad sweeping the LJ community, here are 5 things about me that aren't generally known:

1) Places I've lived (since birth): Monterey California (born), Berlin Germany, Omaha Nebraska, Stamford Connecticut, Coral Springs Florida, Jacksonville Florida, Miami Florida, Orange Park Florida, Rockville Maryland, Troy New York, Orlando Florida, Boca Raton Florida, Atlanta Georgia (this list doesn't count moves within the same metro area -- eg. I've lived in 4 different suburbs of Atlanta)

2) I have 5 scars (they're not huge, just visible if you know where they are). I'm not overly accident-prone, but when they do happen, they leave a mark. In reverse age (newest scars to oldest):
a) left chest over lower ribs -- falling out of a tree I was climbing (I was 12 years old)
b) right middle thigh -- melting a rubber band over a candle, the molten rubber landed on my thigh (10 y.o. -- don't play with fire, kids).
c) right forearm near elbow -- climbing an aluminum ladder to my treehouse, I slipped and caught my elbow on the aluminum corner of the ladder. Probably needed stiches, but didn't get them. (8 y.o.)
d) right forehead -- fell off my bike. 5 stitches on this one. (6 y.o.)
e) two circular spots on left forehead -- when we were living in Berlin (see above) my parents took a vacation to Austria. In the hotel room, as my parents packed in the other room, I dismantled the reading lamp above the bed. I got zapped with 220V DC European current. (1 y.o. -- this is where you say 'So that explains it...')

3) Body hair: I have a goatee, but that's because that's all I could probably grow -- I'm 33 years old, but couldn't grow a full beard if I had to. I have no sideburns, either. I have no hair of any significance on my chest. But, I have all the hair on my head, and I have the hairiest legs in my immediate family.

4) When I was a horny eigth-grader, I shoplifted a Playboy from a bookstore. A week or so later, I felt so guilty about it, I secretly left exact payment (including sales tax) on the manager's desk in the bookstore.

5) The most secret of secrets: Everyone has one favorite musician or group they secretly enjoy, but don't want to tell anyone else. I like Industrial, Gothic, Punk, Alternative, and Swing, but my secret (until now) pleasure is George Michael (I love the video for 'Father Figure').

A haiku

Sitting in traffic, thinking of the crisp, cool martini waiting for me when I got home, I composed this trifle of a haiku:

Martini olive
Plump and firm, but not woody
Tangy taste of green

Then I got home and read Plural's Journal.. So, I dedicate this to you, Plural. I hope you find a jar opener.