John Deere can sure scoop up a lot of dirt.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Executive Style
I had an unusual day today that I thought I should share. At work, I'm starting a new project with John Deere's commercial and consumer equipment (C&CE) division (they're the one's that make the lawnmowers, golf and turf equipment, small utility tractors, and gators). C&CE is based in Raleigh, NC so we usually conduct our meetings with them via teleconference or videoconference. It just so happened that one of the John Deere corporate jets was flying to Raleigh today to pick up some executives and had a few open seats.
So, this morning, I caught a 6 am flight out of Moline on a corporate jet, went to North Carolina, had a 5 hour meeting with our C&CE partners, and was home again by 4:15! Pretty much just a normal days work - only in another part of the country.
Traveling on an executive jet is definitely different than traveling commercially. First, we only had to be at the airport 5 minutes before takeoff, just long enough to climb aboard - no tickets, no i.d. required, no security - just hop on and sit down. The plane was significantly more luxurious than any I had ever ridden on. There were 8 seats on the plane and all were first class style - very very comfortable, wide, fully adjustable - it would even lay down into a bed if you wanted.
One of the more interesting things was the height and speeds at which we flew. The corporate jet airspace is higher altitude than commercial jets fly. Our cruising altitude was about 49,000 feet. At that height, there isn't much atmosphere - I could look out the window above us at mid-afternoon and it was almost black! We weren't high enough to see stars, but it was still quite an interesting view.
Upon arrival in Raleigh, we walked into the private (and very luxurious) airport terminal, were pointed immediately to our car (which literally had the trunk open and engine running) and were on our way. The return trip was just as quick and easy.
Just when I was starting to feel "executivish" I got put right back in my place. Right before takeoff on the return flight, the pilot went to the rear of the plane where the executives were sitting and offered them food and beverages and was generally concerned about their comfort. On his way back up the aisle he leaned over to me (and the other three lower-class folks) and said, "If any of you want some
water or peanuts or something - wait 'til we take off, then you can fetch it out of that drawer." Not quite the same level of service!
This part was kind of funny, so I'm going to throw it in here. Before takeoff, they play the prerecorded safety instructions like they do in commercial jets. One part of it said this, "If any of you are on the belted toilet, please belt yourself down, open the door, and put your feet in the retractable stirrups outside the lavatory door." It didn't just say, "Finish up and return to your seat". Maybe I heard it wrong, but this is what I thought I heard. The announcement made for an interesting mental picture.
All-in-all, it was a fun workday for me. I got to visit a new state (by the way, I really liked North Carolina - for the little bit I saw at least), tour one of our facilities, and ride in the corporate jet. The meeting was kind of long and boring, but the rest made up for it. If any of you ever get filthy rich, I highly recommend getting a private jet - it was really a nice way to travel!
So, this morning, I caught a 6 am flight out of Moline on a corporate jet, went to North Carolina, had a 5 hour meeting with our C&CE partners, and was home again by 4:15! Pretty much just a normal days work - only in another part of the country.
Traveling on an executive jet is definitely different than traveling commercially. First, we only had to be at the airport 5 minutes before takeoff, just long enough to climb aboard - no tickets, no i.d. required, no security - just hop on and sit down. The plane was significantly more luxurious than any I had ever ridden on. There were 8 seats on the plane and all were first class style - very very comfortable, wide, fully adjustable - it would even lay down into a bed if you wanted.
One of the more interesting things was the height and speeds at which we flew. The corporate jet airspace is higher altitude than commercial jets fly. Our cruising altitude was about 49,000 feet. At that height, there isn't much atmosphere - I could look out the window above us at mid-afternoon and it was almost black! We weren't high enough to see stars, but it was still quite an interesting view.
Upon arrival in Raleigh, we walked into the private (and very luxurious) airport terminal, were pointed immediately to our car (which literally had the trunk open and engine running) and were on our way. The return trip was just as quick and easy.
Just when I was starting to feel "executivish" I got put right back in my place. Right before takeoff on the return flight, the pilot went to the rear of the plane where the executives were sitting and offered them food and beverages and was generally concerned about their comfort. On his way back up the aisle he leaned over to me (and the other three lower-class folks) and said, "If any of you want some
water or peanuts or something - wait 'til we take off, then you can fetch it out of that drawer." Not quite the same level of service!
This part was kind of funny, so I'm going to throw it in here. Before takeoff, they play the prerecorded safety instructions like they do in commercial jets. One part of it said this, "If any of you are on the belted toilet, please belt yourself down, open the door, and put your feet in the retractable stirrups outside the lavatory door." It didn't just say, "Finish up and return to your seat". Maybe I heard it wrong, but this is what I thought I heard. The announcement made for an interesting mental picture.
All-in-all, it was a fun workday for me. I got to visit a new state (by the way, I really liked North Carolina - for the little bit I saw at least), tour one of our facilities, and ride in the corporate jet. The meeting was kind of long and boring, but the rest made up for it. If any of you ever get filthy rich, I highly recommend getting a private jet - it was really a nice way to travel!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Happy Birthday Lizzy!
Lizzy, the Birthday Girl
Well, our little Elizabeth is growing up. She turned 3 on March 4th, Saturday. For both our girls it seems right about the time they turn 3 something magical happens. They just grow up so much, and are more in control of their emotions, and are just generally very pleasant to be around. Lizzy has already shown us that she wants to be more grown up. She has been so much fun to talk to lately, especially when she gets mom and dad all to herself (which isn't often enough). She has been doing things more independently, like going to the bathroom and getting on her own shoes and clothes, without much persuasion. She also likes to sit in Anna's booster seat, instead of her own carseat, when Anna is not with us.
Lizzy is the fun one in the family. She is always making us laugh. Some is her age, where she says silly things, but a lot is her engergetic personality. She has a lot of enthusiasm and joy in life. She loves to run around and jump and dance and even wrestle. She is not afraid to tell you exactly what she thinks, even if it may be different from what her siblings would like her to say. She has just recently started to enjoy playing board games with Adam. Even if she doesn't understand it all, she still loves to sit there and move her pieces or hold her cards.
Lizzy has a very unique place in our family and makes us smile just about everyday. Happy Birthday to our growing up girl.
Lizzy is the fun one in the family. She is always making us laugh. Some is her age, where she says silly things, but a lot is her engergetic personality. She has a lot of enthusiasm and joy in life. She loves to run around and jump and dance and even wrestle. She is not afraid to tell you exactly what she thinks, even if it may be different from what her siblings would like her to say. She has just recently started to enjoy playing board games with Adam. Even if she doesn't understand it all, she still loves to sit there and move her pieces or hold her cards.
Lizzy has a very unique place in our family and makes us smile just about everyday. Happy Birthday to our growing up girl.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Happy Birthday Adam!
This past week we celebrated Adam's 7th birthday. It's sometimes hard to believe he's been around that long already. We sure enjoy having that young man in our family. His birthday was Wednesday, Feb 22nd (George Washington's Birthday as he reminds everyone). On Wednesday we had a small family celebration with cake and ice cream and gift unwrapping.
On Saturday, he invited 5 friends from school for a party. The theme of the party was "A to Z Mystery". For those of you not up on the latest in child chapter books, the A to Z Mysteries are a set of 26 books (one for each letter of the alphabet) featuring some child detectives solving various mysteries.
At the party, Adam received a letter from Dink Duncan (the star of the A to Z Mysteries) describing a recent crime that Adam and his friends had to help solve. Somehow, the famous Mo Ying statue had been stolen from a nearby museum and ended up hidden in our house! Luckily, the kids at the party got fortune cookies with messages that directed them to hidden clues and ultimately to the hidden Mo Ying statue which they valiently recovered. Little Bubba Joe (Ben) turned out to be the criminal. He had hidden the statue in the fireplace.
Okay, so that was the grand plan. In the end, the mystery solving degraded into just a bunch of wild maniacs running loose in the house tracking down every wild notion they could imagine. The kids ultimately did solve the mystery, but it took some significant directing those of us in the know. Also at the party, there was a piñata and lots of other fun games.
All-in-all, I think Adam had a fun birthday. He completed his collection of A to Z Mysteries (he now owns all 26 and has read nearly all of them) and got numerous games and other great gifts. The whole family had fun celebrating with him. On to Lizzy's birthday (next Saturday), then we'll have made it through our busy birthday season.
On Saturday, he invited 5 friends from school for a party. The theme of the party was "A to Z Mystery". For those of you not up on the latest in child chapter books, the A to Z Mysteries are a set of 26 books (one for each letter of the alphabet) featuring some child detectives solving various mysteries.
At the party, Adam received a letter from Dink Duncan (the star of the A to Z Mysteries) describing a recent crime that Adam and his friends had to help solve. Somehow, the famous Mo Ying statue had been stolen from a nearby museum and ended up hidden in our house! Luckily, the kids at the party got fortune cookies with messages that directed them to hidden clues and ultimately to the hidden Mo Ying statue which they valiently recovered. Little Bubba Joe (Ben) turned out to be the criminal. He had hidden the statue in the fireplace.
Okay, so that was the grand plan. In the end, the mystery solving degraded into just a bunch of wild maniacs running loose in the house tracking down every wild notion they could imagine. The kids ultimately did solve the mystery, but it took some significant directing those of us in the know. Also at the party, there was a piñata and lots of other fun games.
All-in-all, I think Adam had a fun birthday. He completed his collection of A to Z Mysteries (he now owns all 26 and has read nearly all of them) and got numerous games and other great gifts. The whole family had fun celebrating with him. On to Lizzy's birthday (next Saturday), then we'll have made it through our busy birthday season.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
The benefits of motherhood
Greg heard this very interesting story on NPR yesterday morning. It was about fetal cells and the benefits to mothers. They have found that when ever a baby is conceived (even if the baby doesn't make it all the way to birth, because of miscarriage or whatever), cells from that growing baby get in the mother's bloodstream. They used to think that mothers' bodies would immediately fight off and kill these foreign cells, but they are now finding that they live for decades in the mother, and rather than being harmful to the mother, they think they are very beneficial and help any diseased parts of the body grow new healthy cells. It was a great story. I thought you all might want to check it out, so here is the link (click the "Listen" button to hear the radio story):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5195551
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5195551
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Sick, sick, sick!!
I am writing this post not so everyone will feel sorry for me (and the kids), but just so you can know what has been going on in our life the last little while. I haven't been involved with the blog, or anything else for the last little while because since the 19th of last month (I remember the day because it is my mom's birthday). Lizzy came down with a fever and a tummy ache that day, and Ben followed the next day with a fever ( I think his was from teething--four molars all at once). After three or four very long days, by the end of the weekend things were looking up.
Monday and Tuesday Lizzy was a little out of sorts, but seemed to being doing better. Ben, however broke out in a rash all over his chest, back and face (maybe due to immunizations he had received two weeks previous). The next day, Wednesday was Anna's birthday. Lizzy threw up and it quickly became apparent she had the stomach flu still, again, whatever!! Poor Anna. We had to cancel her birthday party with friends and schedule for another day. Then the next day after school Adam came home complaining that his tummy ached. The next morning Adam woke up sick with the stomach flu, and crying because he was going to miss his pajama day at school, where they got to wear their pajamas and watch March of the Penguins as a reward that their class had been working on all year. Poor kid.
All this time Lizzy continues to be sick. I am beginning to wonder if she has some kind of serious, life-threatening illness by this point. Ben did get over his rash, though, and broke three of the four molars through, so was feeling a little better. Then Saturday, Anna comes down with a terrible cold. Coughing, watery eyes, sore throat, the whole bit. All the kids weren't feeling well and we kept them ALL home from church on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday provided us with bit of a respite, despite Anna still having mild cold symptoms. We were able to successfully have Anna's party Tuesday. Good thing because the next day Lizzy was feeling rotten again. This time she had caught Anna's lovely cold. Then this past Thursday Anna went to the doctor and had three shots in preparation for kindergarten, while Ben clung desparately to me, as he had now caught the cold bug. Lizzy and Ben still have their colds and they have been grouchy, grouchy, grouchy.
We did choose to bring them to church today though, but didn't send Liz to the nursery. They stayed with Greg while I taught my primary class, but about all they did was cry. One person commented to Greg as he was walking down the hall with both of them screaming, "At least they can cry in harmony!!". Yeah, thanks for noticing. Despite all of this, I am happy to report that I am still living, and have yet to be sick, knock on wood. We also did enjoy a very pleasant afternoon and evening together as a family. Even Ben did alright as long as I was holding him (I wouldn't suggest letting your 16 month old eat spaghetti on your lap unless you are prepared to change clothes afterward).
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, we put the kids in bed tonight, and Lizzy called me in because her arm was bothering her. When I checked it, it had hives all over it!! Moral of the story, when you have four kids 6 and under, chances are there is going to be someone sick a whole lot at your house, so just get used to it! It does get better as they get older, right?
Monday and Tuesday Lizzy was a little out of sorts, but seemed to being doing better. Ben, however broke out in a rash all over his chest, back and face (maybe due to immunizations he had received two weeks previous). The next day, Wednesday was Anna's birthday. Lizzy threw up and it quickly became apparent she had the stomach flu still, again, whatever!! Poor Anna. We had to cancel her birthday party with friends and schedule for another day. Then the next day after school Adam came home complaining that his tummy ached. The next morning Adam woke up sick with the stomach flu, and crying because he was going to miss his pajama day at school, where they got to wear their pajamas and watch March of the Penguins as a reward that their class had been working on all year. Poor kid.
All this time Lizzy continues to be sick. I am beginning to wonder if she has some kind of serious, life-threatening illness by this point. Ben did get over his rash, though, and broke three of the four molars through, so was feeling a little better. Then Saturday, Anna comes down with a terrible cold. Coughing, watery eyes, sore throat, the whole bit. All the kids weren't feeling well and we kept them ALL home from church on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday provided us with bit of a respite, despite Anna still having mild cold symptoms. We were able to successfully have Anna's party Tuesday. Good thing because the next day Lizzy was feeling rotten again. This time she had caught Anna's lovely cold. Then this past Thursday Anna went to the doctor and had three shots in preparation for kindergarten, while Ben clung desparately to me, as he had now caught the cold bug. Lizzy and Ben still have their colds and they have been grouchy, grouchy, grouchy.
We did choose to bring them to church today though, but didn't send Liz to the nursery. They stayed with Greg while I taught my primary class, but about all they did was cry. One person commented to Greg as he was walking down the hall with both of them screaming, "At least they can cry in harmony!!". Yeah, thanks for noticing. Despite all of this, I am happy to report that I am still living, and have yet to be sick, knock on wood. We also did enjoy a very pleasant afternoon and evening together as a family. Even Ben did alright as long as I was holding him (I wouldn't suggest letting your 16 month old eat spaghetti on your lap unless you are prepared to change clothes afterward).
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, we put the kids in bed tonight, and Lizzy called me in because her arm was bothering her. When I checked it, it had hives all over it!! Moral of the story, when you have four kids 6 and under, chances are there is going to be someone sick a whole lot at your house, so just get used to it! It does get better as they get older, right?
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