My birthday weekend is wrapping up. Its been a good one, too. Friday was a fun evening spent with the family, though Kelly and I were too wiped to watch a movie or do much else after the kids went to bed. Thus it was pretty quiet.

Saturday morning was one spent dozing a bit in bed, though sleeping late has come to mean 7:30 now that we’re parents. A breakfast of blueberry pancakes and bacon soon followed, cooked up by Chef Kelly and her Noisy Chef assistant, Hallie.

After a good meal, we plotted the day’s activities. Rain was on the way, so my first choice of a family hike was out of the question. Instead, we packed up the kids and headed for the N.C. Museum of Natural Science. We spent the whole morning there chasing after gleeful kids, not minding the rain outside.

After getting home for lunch, the kids took their naps and so did the adults. I wound up sleeping 90 minutes, far beyond my usual nap, though I felt quite refreshed afterward. We were running out of time to get ready for our evening concert, so I spent the next hour finding a suit that still fits.

My parents (and Scott, who would be joining us) arrived soon after we got the kids up from their naps. After giving my parents the “plan of the day,” we said goodnight to the kids and headed out the door. We ate and got drinks at the Rockford before dashing to Memorial Auditorium for the symphony.

The symphony featured Edgar Meyer, a celebrated bassist. In my rush to get tickets, it didn’t even register who he was until five minutes into his performance. Meyer is the talented bassist who plays with Yo Yo Ma and Mark O’Connor on two CDs I love, Appalachia Waltz and Appalachian Journey. To see him playing five rows in front of us was just incredible. I walked around the entire evening with a stupid grin on my face!

After a good night’s sleep, we woke again around 7 and were once again faced with a rainy day. It was breakfast and then a trip to the N.C. Art Museum, where we marched around outside before warming up in the children’s play area of the museum.

After lunch, I met Jeff over at my parents’ house to help move furniture. Then it was back home for the kids’ naptimes, after which I hit the road for some volunteer work in Durham for the Rhine. Then it was playtime with the kids, dinner, bath time for the kids, and finally bedtime for the kids. Whew!

Now I need to finish packing for my trip to Seattle tomorrow. Fortunately, I’ve got a good biography on Benjamin Franklin to read on the long plane flights there and back.

See y’all on the flipside.

Today is my birthday (along with my twin bro Allen). I’ve got a birthday breakfast being cooked up by my wife and daughter. I’ve got a son marching around making sure I don’t get too far away from my birthday cards. I’ve got a gorgeous, springlike morning in which to go hiking with my family.

I’ve got a plastic sled gift from Hallie, amusing in light of the gorgeous, springlike morning. I’ve got a weekend to look forward to at the America’s Sail in July.

Later this evening, I’ve got a symphony to attend with my lovely wife. We’ll be sitting so close that we’ll be bringing our flute and piano along, just in case.

Life is good.

The new office backs up to Lake Johnson Park. I can look out my window and see the wooded side of the lake. It’s so peaceful.

I lived at the neighboring Wildwoods of Lake Johnson apartments for three years and loved it. I still miss sitting on that screen porch, watching the woods and sky as thunderstorms moved through on summer evenings. That park will always be a special place to me. Its nice to see it every day again.

As I walked into the building after a lunch run yesterday, I heard a loud screeching above me. A hawk of some variety was perched above the third floor, looking regally over his domain. Though my lunch was getting cold, I couldn’t help but stop and admire that bird.

I’m going to like coming to the office.

As far as work goes, Friday was the day my employer moved from our old offices to brand new offices. We’re fortunate not to be a big company (or at least our office), so the move was very smooth by most standards. The new digs are a big step up from the old ones.

Monday and Tuesday were busy with executive visits. Its led to some late days and little time for other things. I’ve been thinking I need a clone of myself to help with the load. No sooner did I broach the subject than it was approved! Tomorrow I interview a potential candidate to help with the fun stuff. I have to say that I’m impressed with the speed in which it all came together.

Tomorrow has more move-related work. Monday I fly to Seattle, returning Wednesday night. I conduct more interviews the rest of next week. The following week I fly to LA for two days of business (plus two days of travel). The following week I spend training technical staff, taking time out to get my wisdom teeth pulled. The week after I fly back to Southern California for a trade show. Then I stay here until the second week of March when I’m on the road again for four days.

Got all that?

I’m in Joisey for the next two days. Daytime blogging will be sporadic. Well, more sporadic than usual that is.

I’m looking forward to the last two Highlights of 2005 posts. Check back later today!

On a trip to the backyard to watch a passing train, Hallie and I were overflown by a bird of prey. The silhoette flying over us was enough to send a chill down my spine – and I’m not even a rodent. It was flying too fast for me to get a good look at it, though.

Not long after, Kelly yelled for me to look out the back window. The bird was back, perched on a branch in our woods. I believe it was an owl, possibly the same one I heard hooting a few weeks ago as darkness was falling.

Chalk up yet another critter sighting here at MT.Net.

We’re back from our trip up to Virginia for Christmas with Kelly’s parents. I drove up with Kelly last week for her grandmother’s funeral, flew back to Raleigh to work a few more days, then flew back to be with Kelly’s family for Christmas.

Along the way I caught some kind of cold, which made it a sniffling, sneezing, achy Christmas for me. During a round of singing Christmas carols, I strained my voice, too, which led to a painfully sore throat the day after Chistmas. The kids got sick as well, which you never like to see, and are still working their way back to health.

I’m feeling better now but not completely over it. But at least the worst appears to be over.

In spite of the health issues, Christmas was fun. Hope y’all enjoyed your $RELIGIOUS_CEREMONY too.

I had a crazy, vivid dream last night. I dreamed I was at the airport and had somehow attracted the attention of two federal air marshals.

Crazy, huh! Guess I’m gonna have to cut back on the Wild Turkey before bed.

With Kelly and the kids up in Virginia, I had no bedtime story duties and so decided to enjoy a malt beverage with my dinner. An inspection of the fridge revealed no Saranac Pale Ale or Pete’s Wicked Ale inside, so I reached for the sole remaining beer bottle: the Rogue Imperial IPA. All I can say is “wow!”

I poured myself half a pint of the Rogue and sipped it as I ate. The flavor was intense: hoppy and flavorful. I could tell this was no ordinary beer. A look at the bottle confirmed it was no ordinary beer: 9.5% alcohol by volume. Good thing I stopped at a half pint! (Also, its a good thing it comes in a resealable bottle. Nice thinking, guys).

So this is what this year’s Pop The Cap initiative has wrought. I’ll drink to that!