VITA57 Madrid

Some of the VITA57 working group members arrive in Madrid.

FPL 2006 Madrid

I learned a lot and had a great time with my colleagues at FPL 2006 in Madrid.

Keith, Leslie, and Bernie in the Metro

The Colors of Madrid

Got into Madrid a few hours ago. Walked around to get used to the 30 degree C temperature in my hotel room. We will see what this adventure has in store.

From Plaza Espana

Willis Reed

Saw the Allman Brothers at Meadowbrook last night. They did not play "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" as Susan wished. A fun time though. Odd that they have been doing this for thirty some years. When the Golden Mushroom used to cover `Reed, we called it "Willis Reed". Below, left to right, LeeJ, Shep, Tommy, and Greg.

Golden Mushroom at Onteora (1973)

Rockabilly Conflict

We saw Chris Isaak at Meadowbrook last night. Every time I hear “Wicked Game” I imagine how much more kick-ass it would be if Shane was playing guitar? Anyhow Chris and band were great; he had several very shiny outfits. Where was Yola? Back in `78, “Rockabilly Conflict” was the working title of a Brian Briggs song that came out as "See you on the other Side" after Nichole added the "Good-bye Frankie" bits. I had my head inside a Roland drum machine we ended up calling “Louie”.

Vibes 2006

Just back from Vibes 2006. This was my fourth. I did Bridgeport with Melanie back in 2000, then hit the last three in a row. Got in on Thursday and was fortunate to hook up with David, Patty, and crew. Friday got off to a kind start with Scarecrow Collection. Lot's of sun. The cool of the evening brought Assembly of Dust, Martin Sexton, and Deep Banana Blackout. I dug the Zep' covers. Lot's of laughing involved. Late night; but got up in time for a 9AM yoga class. The weather came on Saturday so by the time Keller was on, we were all wet. A fun time had by all.

Into 28 off

It's not common in slalom water skiing to pickup 24 buoys overnight; but that is precisely what happened yesterday. My back was hurting, I was whining, and I went out on Wednesday night just to run 32 MPH passes to try to feel better. Then last night I run 32, -15, and perhaps the cleanest, easiest -22 I have ever run. On my sixth pass, and with a stiff tailwind no less! I'm very happy. Saving the -28 work for next time around. Dave did OK too, running a smooth 4 at -38 into the Dube's headwind. 29 days on the water and just getting into -28. Uggh!

Six Day Stretch

After spending three work weeks on the road, I was particularly motivated to spend some quality time on the water. Six days straight at Dube's is a fine summer stretch. The first half featured a scorching New England heat wave. The last two days featured my back pain. Dave reminded me to lean. And Brian pointed out I ski better without a grimace.

Dave at -35 at the Dubes Pond Classic 14

DAC Attack

I had expected DAC in SF to be this brilliant mixture of work and play. Well the play bit never materialized. It's Thursday evening and I'm spent with nothing fabulous to do tonight. Fortunately, I was able to stay at the W and have a nice space to work from. But the hopefull wishes of doing something great every night were not to be. I'm like a kid in a candy store saying "this candy sucks". Something is wrong. I need to revert to my default "expect nothing and be pleasently surprised" behavior. Whaa, whaaa, whaa!

I did however meet Jerimiah and Eden at the bar and lead concierge Megan provided direction on how Susan and I can get a "Groovy Corner" next time we are out.

July Jet Set

More densely scheduled travel this July than I can rememeber in some time. Three west coast trips in as many weeks. Just back from Park City where the braintrust of FPGA mezzanine IO gathered.

Summer `06 is Here

Busy, busy, busy. A cascade of little dramas, tension and release, that make up life’s rich pageant. One little drama has been ye olde Ski Nautique. Now ten years old with about 450 hours, a few weeks ago my watersking experienced “22 interuptus” as a worn impeller forced a ten day hiatus just as I begun hitting -22. A few years back I would be through -22 and onto -28 in June. This year it is July. So anyhow, the new impeller goes in, probably providing more water pressure and volume to the cooling system than in several years and guess what? The heater core springs a leak! The driver gets some 150 degree water on their leg when they throttle up. So the boat is, of course, drivable, but another thing to fix or have fixed. Anyone who skis in New England knows that having heat for the driver (come September) is a really good thing.

Another sign of summer is the concert and festival season. With Bonnaroo in the rear view mirror and Vibes ahead, what is one to do? Well Phil / GRAB at Tweezer Center will do. I’ve never been a huge Phil phan, but this one sure helped the cause. Both sets were great. Joan Osborne has really found her mark and brings so much to the show. And to hear Trey voice each and every note of “St. Stephen” with his own Trey-ness is so cool.

Lots of travel for work this July: Three west-coast jaunts in as many weeks. I’m outbound on the first as I write this. But now I’m back.

We had a terrific weekend up at Stinson Mountain Lake. No evidence, er photos, to speak of. And off I go back to the left coast again tomorrow. Plan to catch Umphrey’s tonight!

SML Retrospective

It has been seven years now that Lori has hosted her Smith Mountain Lake shindig. I seem to show up on the even years. Click through the photos below for 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 respectively.

SML 2006

I just finished spending a few days frolicking with old (and new) friends at Smith Mountain Lake. Lori’s shindig started as a reunion deal; but it has evolved (devolved?) into something more than that. This year was interesting in that there were a cadre of people who I barely knew thirty years ago when we were classmates at Onteora. Sitting here in the Roanoke airport, nearly empty on this July 4th evening, I wish I was still there feasting on Sam’s “extra-healthy” ribs and drinking my gin and tonic. Harold, Sarah, Mark, Melissa, Maureen, Laura, Chris, Mich, Sam and Lori; I love you guys. Now ask Liana and Margaret to please make my G&T at once! And where the heck was Nick (Neeek) when you needed him to make us all look good.

Impeller Failure

I think the impeller has failed in my 1997 Ski Nautique, even though it was changed two years ago. (PCM 5.8L GT-40 engine, 450 hours) I ran the shower for the first time this season and I suspect some of the rusty water in the system went back toward the pump damaging or jamming the impeller. Or maybe the failure is just a coincidence. Regardless, no fresh water is drawn in through the clear and unobstructed Sherwood line strainer. So I’m guessing impeller failure. It's a bummer because I just started poking into -22; as is the case most every July!

FPGA Friends

Met up with Tim, Sara, Dave, Grace (w/Christopher in tow) and Mike for Pizza. Talked enough about work that Xilinx paid for my two slices and a beer. Sweet!

Bonnaroo 2006

Where do I begin? I guess I could just list the music I heard in chronological order.

Thursday got underway with the brothers Wood; and then we went on to hear Toubab Krewe. Tobab was sweet. Reminded me of the 60’s Indian rock music from “Ghost World”. Definitely want to get their CD. Got back to camp by 2 AM; in bed by 3AM, which was like eastern 4 AM. Kind of like a practice night for Friday.

Friday was wall-to-wall. Karl in “acoustic mode” (or at least without a drummer) got us started. I wish he was more electric; or at least brought a drum machine; but it was good nonetheless. By the time Ben Folds got on stage, it felt like a tactical nuclear device was exploding in slow motion. That’s a rough analogy to it being wicked-hot. Ben is going to hurt his back if he keeps playing like that! Steel Pulse got it going on the main stage. I liked the two background singers. Then off to hear G Love and Special Sauce, which kind of sucked. And speaking of sucking; I like Primus, Phish, and the Police. So why does 1+1+1=2 with Oysterhead? The `roo flyer says “in the tradition of famed wacko Frank Zappa”. Oysterhead can only wish there is some validity to that comparison. Lame. The hour between Oysterhead and Tom Petty gave us time to have drinks at camp. The cool of the evening brought out the Heartbreakers and Ms.Nicks. What a repertoire! A quick run back to camp and then off to camp U-Bisco. My original plan was to watch the Umphree’s set then maybe a little of the biscuits. But the utterly sick three song full-band segue left me in seizure state for the better part of four hours. By 5 AM we were back at camp; by 6 AM we had gotten to bed.


Saturday Morning Soundcheck: Please help me out with this one! At about 7 or 8 AM Saturday morning someone played a track through the main stage (“What Stage”) PA. Anyone who was near the stage (e.g. VIP campers) and wasn’t under anesthesia would have heard it. It was a minute of two of this cool grove, mostly a solid bass and drum track, with a haunting synth pad, and some vocal thing I can’t quite recall. I think it was played twice. Does anyone know whose music it is? It sounded great waking me up from my Umphrey’s-Bisco recovery nap. Thanks in advance!

Saturday got underway with the Neville Brothers. A little too soft for my liking. Elvis is the king; and like Tom Petty, had a solid repertoire to dip into. I caught a taste of Gomez, but went back to the main stage for Beck. The puppets were great. The music was great. Pure pop for now people. The cool of the evening brought out Radiohead. I watched from atop a bus parked nearby. New friends cooking dinner and making drinks. Nice. I think at this point I was a little fatigued; as I confused Coldplay with Radiohead. Quick power nappy before the midnight hour. Dr. John is cool. Of course he played the Bonnaroo song. But I didn’t hear him play my favorite: “Shoo Fly”. A quick scan by the Superjam and then I must repose to arms of Morpheus.

Sunday comes and we decide to hit the road for home. Probably missing (another) epic moe. set; but the highway calls.

The Road to Bonnaroo

The new trailer hitch, and a sweet stop off near Woodstock made the ride to `Roo easy this year. Stopped in VA somewhere south of Roanoke; then an easy drive today down to the Manchster KOA.


So now we are here a little early to try to plan the best way in on Thursday morning. Check in at the Holiday Inn is 10 AM; but hopefully we can do the wristband dance earlier than that.

Spray Burn

Day nine was yesterday. Seven one-set days in a row. Getting old is a drag. First I'm out of shape. Then there is the back pain. Then there is the cold water; um no more of that, the week ended with water around 80 degrees F. Then there is the spray burn. That part is fun! It comes, it hurts, and when it goes you know you have one less thing to whine about. Then you have to ski. Ugggh! As Brian and Dave say "Wakeboard Style"

The WinHEC Vibe

I haven't been to WinHEC in a decade or so. Very interesting seeing how the Windows lansdscape has changed. And stayed the same.

Day two at Dube's

After almost two weeks and over a foot of rain the gang is out on the pond. Brrr. Chilly but fun for a brisk single set.