This is the first part of the ride... more to come...

The iPhone is mounted using a RAM mounting system.  Shot through the windshield... will try and clean it off the next time :)

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I'm heading to Atlanta next week for meetings with Steve Burge of OSTraining.  I have created over 120 videos for OSTraining - and have taught live classes in Denver, Cincinnati, New York and Chicago.

I'm definitely taking the slight detour and heading through the "Dragon's Tail"... 318 curves in 11 miles.  Its one of the most fantastic 11 miles on a bike in the country... I really can't wait.

The trip will be 499 miles and should take about 10 hours.

I have a new mount for my iPhone4 - and I plan on taping the best parts of the Dragon's Tail if the weather cooperates...

Whooooooo hooooooo!

(Video from 2009 after the break)

It's been a while since I posted something - I apologize.

You see, life is just SO BUSY! - yeah right.  While I'm busy - I still have 24 hours in a day.  Prioritize!!

And that's what this blog entry is about.  There are some things that I know I must do... and reading is one of them.  One of my favorite Prof. Hendricks' quotes is "If you stop reading, you stop learning.  If you stop learning, you stop leading.  Leaders are readers."  How true that is!

So, a week ago I committed to a bit of a reading binge.

My daughter, Rebekah turns 21 tomorrow.  To say that I'm proud of her would be an understatement.  She is a fantastic young woman. 

I have watched her these past few years endure some difficult adversity... and emerge with a sense of who she is and why God has placed her on this earth.  While she isn't doing what she eventually hopes to be doing... she is perservering through this trial with grace and tenacity.  She is a leader.  She has a passion for protecting the underdog.  She wants the world to be a just place, and continues to work towards that in her corner of life.  She strives to make good decisions.  She is a Christian that wants to see consistency and godliness in those who would call themselves Christians.

Rebekah - Happy Birthday!  I love you!  Remember - God is good -  the world isn't always fair - but He is always just. 

God bless you on your birthday... and for all your years to come.

"As the Bell Tolls"

The sunset last night was magnificent.  What more can I say?

"Up, Up and Away!"

This picture was taken in Telford, PA while I was visiting a client this past weekend.  Its not a great shot - as I've mentioned before, the iPhone zoom is not something I use very often.  But - its a cool balloon shot.

"Above the Clouds"

I flew out to meet with a new client over the weekend.  Friday was a day of "un-met expectations" - not that anything was "bad"... just strange. 

My first flight was cancelled due to mechanical error.  My second flight sat on the tarmac for 45 minutes.  Thanks to a "significant" tail wind - we still made it to Atlanta in time.  I arrived at the gate with no boarding pass and they seemed a little confused for a while.  I was the last to board but found myself in first class - thank you Delta.  I arrived in Philadelphia, picked up my car (the only reservation of the day that "worked" - thank you Hertz).  I called my hotel to let them know I would be checking in late - and they had no record of my reservation - but they had lots of space.  I arrived at the same time as 20 or so water polo players who were in-town to play a rival school... Having travelled with high school kids for years - I requested a room "at the opposite end and above" the team.  She was happy to oblige - thank you Comfort Inn (who have significantly upgraded their rooms it seems...).

I ended up eating at the restaurant across from the hotel - and decided to treat myself after such an interesting day.  The steak and Cajun shrimp combo looked good... until it arrived... cold... and I don't mean "not hot"... it was cold.  So I asked them to heat it - which they did - in the microwave - lettuce, tomato and all...

Finally back to the hotel... my last "un-met expectation" - I slept like a baby - which almost never happens the first night in a hotel room...

And the moral of the story - "Un-met expectations are God's way of reminding us that life is bigger than you, it does no good to get angry, so just smile and enjoy the day" - which is what I did.  I smiled at the Delta agent who helped me in Indianapolis (and upgraded me to first class - now I'm wondering if it was because I was smiling... hmmm)... I smiled at the bewildered gate agent in Atlanta... I smiled at the receptionist at the Comfort Inn who was happy to help me figure it out... I even smiled at the waitress who brought me a hot dinner - even with the now limp and thoroughly gross lettuce and tomato...

Finally - today's picture.

I love flying.  For me, one of the most fantastic things is being above the clouds... a completely strange and foreign world to people just over a century ago...

"Fall Contrast"

I'm sure someone out there is tired of the fall pictures from my backyard... lol - sorry - I just see new things everywhere!

"Fall Colors - Deuxième partie"

(that's Part Two for my English only speakers... not that I speak French very well... I looked it up at Google Translate...).

With the storms this week - most of the trees around us have long lost their colors... but this maple stands tall.