Oktoberfest RWC

Apparently my last post was a bit depressing and alarming for those that have been here for awhile. Let me be clear, I am still carefree and still like to participate in my fair share of shenanigans. So while I won’t be to the levels I was in my 20s or even 30s (which is probably a good thing), I still know how to have fun. 

For example, Redwood City hosts an Oktoberfest every year and I have made it a point to host a finance happy hour at the event each year. After a year of building up my professional reputation, this year I felt I could cut loose a little more... I danced the chicken dance in front of my team and came in second place (out of 12) for the beer stein holding competition. 

But even more telling, I enjoyed a very hard and long laugh when my Assistant Controller Angie snuck the following two pictures into my 40 plus person All Hands meeting that I hosted the morning after the party. The chicken hat was purchased courtesy of Angie and my SOX director Nancy.

Fuck Off 44, Hello 45

My lovely friend Erin was kind enough last birthday to share a scientific study that concluded people don’t age sequentially but rather in bursts, one of which occurs when you are 44 (the second at 60). 

And I am here to vouch for the study. I have aged a lot these past 365 days: emotionally, physically, mentally, visibly. If you have been reading the blog for the past year I am sure you have also noted a slight shift in tone from wild and carefree to scattered, anxious and low energy. 

So I am happy to report that I am officially done with 44 and am ready to move on to the second phase of this decade. And I started it off right with a nice family dinner at home for my birthday and two amazing presents from Martin and the kids. I don’t put much stock in presents because I know I can be difficult to shop for and typically buy everything myself, but he truly nailed them this year. 

He got me a mug for tea that I had checked out at a shop in St Ives. I didn't think too much of it since I didn’t think Martin 1) had noticed or 2) bought it there or made a note to buy it later, so extra props to Martin on this one. 

And even better,  he bought me toasty pie makers for camping! Which is awesome on its own but even better given our most recent camping trip and the kerfuffle we had over packing a salad bowl. 

The back story: when we went camping the last weekend before school started, I made my normal list of things to pack including a tablecloth, hand broom and salad bowl and while packing I mentioned out loud that we needed to pack these items so I wouldn’t forget. For even more background, this camping trip was to be a repeat of last year's trip Martin took with just the kids and one where they had a great time. In contrast to my current year packing list, the previous camping trip required just the tent and sleeping bags and they figured the rest out as they went.  In Martin’s own words, last year was a bit chaotic but still fun; they made it work. My request for the salad bowl made him question the whole camping trip or at least one that included me. It was apparently becoming too much “work”. And yet when we got there, the mom from the other family who joined us mentioned that she forgot to pack their salad bowl but wished they had (thankfully we could share), Martin was the first to use the hand broom, and the tablecloth made our campsite the one to be at. 

So when I opened up the toasty pie makers, Martin commented that they were along the lines of the salad bowl (utterly not necessary) but he was on board and supportive. And that, my friends, is marriage… at least in this household.

The US Open & New York

It all started with the desire to go to the US Open. And from there it grew into an urge to relive our mid-twenties when Erin still lived in Manhattan and I would take the red-eye for a weekend of shopping and shenanigans. And then we sprinkled on a bit of work to justify the midweek trip. 

We accomplished all three with a few reflections:

I loved the whole US Open experience.  We got there early to wander the grounds before the matches and enjoyed a few (too many) Honey Deuces, we made friends with those around us (including my seat mate, a 12 year old girl who wants to eventually play at the Open and who also gave me a big hug when Erin and I left early (see previous note about the too many drinks) and it was inspiring to watch these incredible women play the best tennis (I am becoming a huge fan of women’s sports, especially after the Valkyries game with the kids just the weekend prior). 

It was really good to see my NY colleagues in person and I realized how much I have grown my relationships at the company over the past two years 

And while we did have a day of shopping and beverages on Friday it was definitely not the same as when we were twenty. And that is okay. The shopping was a bit more high end, the drinking was a lot more low key and we ended the night back at the hotel, in bed, watching a marathon of Bones on TBS with the subtitles on. And it was perfect. 

So while I still love New York, I would have been just as happy catching up with Erin in her new home in Dallas. The allure of energy, good restaurants, vibrant bars and shopping isn’t what it used to be. A good night sleep and a proper catch up, that is where I am at these days.