Archive for 'life' Category

2011.06.20

Quick Travel Update

Just a quick note… I’ve got a lot to write about Toronto since last entry, but right now Rosa and I are up in Niagra-on-the-Lake and settling into some time on our own. I’ll write when I can!

2011.06.17

Second Day Toronto

So I meant to post this yesterday but didn’t have time. I wrote quite a bit, and walked even further. Having spent more time in Toronto I’ve seen some of the initial observations proven wrong. For example, police don’t hang out at all construction sites, just the ones downtown (that I’ve seen). Also, the layout of Toronto is reminding me of Barcelona, and I wonder if anyone else has seen this, too. Anyways, yesterday’s writing is below the jump!
Read the rest of this entry…

2011.06.16

To Late for Updates

It’s too late in the day for me to post about the massive walk I did today; look for it on the morrow!

2011.06.16

Follow Up Notes from Yesterday

Following yesterday’s post about my first walking day through Toronto… There are a few points I missed, forgot or misunderstood. Incidentally, for those interested, I have limited internet access and cell phone usage (roaming international fees apply) so I’m only publicly available at limited times…

People in Toronto are extremely friendly. It’s almost a stereotype that Canadians are friendlier than Americans, and my experience here bears that out. For example, yesterday morning our Second Cup server, Rosita, gave us a free muffin. Maybe because she and Rosa had the same name. Last night before bed Rosa and I had something to drink in the Library Bar downstairs in the hotel and our server gave us a box of biscotti after Rosa said she loved them. People are also just friendlier, saying hello and bothering to give you the time of day. It’s nice. I kind of wonder if it’s because this area is also part of the North American MidWest as my memories of being in Ohio and Michigan are similar (though possibly not as accurate since it’s been a long, long time since I spent time there).

I think what bothered me about the University area yesterday was simply the lack of people. It is summer so most of the students would be away on break. I’m going to assume that’s what it was.

Rosa and I had dinner at the Elephant and Castle and sat outside at 9PM and it was still warm and daylight. It’s something we don’t get to experience much in San Francisco and of all things this is one that helps it feel like we’re in another place entirely.

There were a ton of people on the street asking me to sign petitions. In San Francisco I avoid them by putting on a Scottish/Irish accent and telling them I can’t vote or am simply not from the area. I did the same yesterday and realized when I finally saw Rosa at 6:30PM that I’d spoken more “Scottish” than “American” all day long. Kind of scary since the longer I hold an accent the harder it is for me to drop it. I don’t think Rosa minds, though. Also of note was the number of people handing out samples of various product. Clearly Toronto is considered a prime market for testing new products. As they say in New York City: if I can make it here I’ll make it anywhere… I find it an interesting sign and indicator of success in a local economy.

Finally, I realized I was a few streets off of the main “drag” strip of the gay district, so there’s probably actually an area still much more like the Castro than I suspected. I’m not sure if we’ll be heading back up that way, though, so I’m not too worried about missing it.

I’m about to leave for the St. Lawrence and Distillery Districts after some quick errands. I’ll write more later today or tomorrow!

2011.06.15

Toronto Trip

Rosa and I are in Toronto. While she attends the ISSCR I am tooling around the city making new discoveries. Here are my notes after arriving last night.

We just got to the hotel (the Fairmont). The airport was clean, efficient and orderly, and the customs people were all friendly. The drive in was smooth, much different than American taxi drivers where sometimes you fear for your life. The roads were extremely well maintained which helped the ride in. I was impressed that we weren’t bombarded by billboards and neon. The city seems clean, too.

What’s not to like about Canada so far?

Today I woke up with Rosa and walked her to the conference after getting some coffee in the PATH at Second Cup. Then I started walking. I like to spend my first day in a new city on long walks to get a feel for different areas and scale. Read the rest of this entry…

2011.05.29

UEFA Champs 2011: Barcelona

Congratulations to football club Barcelona for beating Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League yesterday. Not only did you win 3-1 and simply owned the game, you also had the decency to let Eric Abidal hoist the cup in honor of his beating a liver cancer.

Barça!

2011.05.24

My Sister’s Wedding

Speaking of weddings, my sister got married on Saturday. Rosa and I flew the red eye out (never again!) and got to see tons of family. It was especially nice to spend time with my niece, Karma, and my brother’s family, Lisa, Jake, Tim, Sam and Megan. Too bad Chris couldn’t be there, but hopefully I’ll see him in October. Pictures and Rosa’s speech after the jump.

Congratulations to Heather and Joe! I hope you’re having fun in Jamaica!
Read the rest of this entry…

2011.05.23

Happy First Anniversary!

A little shout out to my wife…

Happy Anniversary, Love! It doesn’t seem it, but one year ago we were married. T’estimo, Amor meu. Sempre.

2011.05.05

Cdr. Christopher Nerad, DDG 94

We will look forward, not backward…Congratulations to my brother, Commander Christopher Nerad USN, for his first ship command of the USS Nitze (DDG 94) a few days ago. I couldn’t make it to Rio de Janeiro for the change of command ceremony, but our thoughts were with you. This is what he said during the ceremony.

We will look forward, not backward, and crush adversity. To win, we must ensure that our gear works. To win, we must ensure we can operate our gear, often in austere environments. To win, we must execute in an honest, forthright and forehanded manner.

Congratulations, Chris. I’m very proud of you. We all are proud of you.

2011.05.02

bin Laden is Dead

On Friday Rosa and I were with friends and somehow we got talking about America’s military involvement in the Middle East. It’s a topic that gets me a little heated and I reminded everyone of our first target in Afghanistan and the primary reason we went there in the first place: to find and bring to justice Osama bin Laden. It’s a topic that most people I talk to seem to have forgotten but that I never have. He was par exemplar of hostis humani generis.

Then last night, just before going to bed, Rosa and I checked the news and saw that, at long last, this scourge to humanity had been killed. His compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan had been raided by members of SEAL Team Six and his body identified by genetic comparison to his sister’s brain. Shortly after he was buried at sea.

My first thoughts are: About f*cking time. Almost TEN years after what is now called 9/11, this terrorist was finally tracked down and, as the pundits are saying, brought to justice. I am loathe to call it justice at this point, but I am… glad…? to see it finally done.