A new beginning

As my project responsibilities in the UK wind to a close I reflect on the experience. This has been a time of significant growth for me and the family. I return to BT Americas having had the exposure to how BT operates at high levels. I have an understanding of what it takes to deliver large projects and how much effort goes into good customer experience.

The UK experience opened our eyes culturally. Jennifer made friends from The Netherlands, Canada, South Africa and Australia- oh and the UK of course. Hannah got a solid educational footing at Hampstead Hill School. Her maths and reading skills make Jennifer and I so proud. Abigail comes home with a great experience and maintains her posh English accent.

I return to the US today with a good sense of accomplishment. I too have formed close bonds with colleagues in the UK and will miss seeing them daily.

For me, my love affair with London comes to an end. I have been coming here frequently for 10 years. I have lost count of the number of trips. As Howie said,' Dude you can fly the plane. '. There is constant electricity about this place. Having left New York in '95 and always considering myself a true New Yorker through and through, London has satisfied my yearning for big city life. It is the gateway to Europe. We saw more of Europe than the UK but that gives us proper reason to come back.

I write this blog in London Taxi. On my way to Paddington where I'll take the Heathrow Express one last time (for now) to Heathrow. I pass by the familiar sights one last time and get tearful of what I'll miss. This experience will have a lasting impact on me and the family.

Say it ain't so Eliot

Eliot Spitzer is one of kind in the democratic party. Now holds barred, rough 'em up kind of politics. He's brash, tough talking and kicking ass all over the place. This is very very atypical for a Dem. Unfortunately he'll likely need to step down after this scandal involving prostitutes. I definitely thought his career aspirations would lead him to the White House. He took 'em all on including Wall St. Which is often considered so well financed (obviously) that they are above the law. I am sorry to see him go.

We (as democrats) just don't get it

Democrats need to take heed of the organization that exists in the Republican party if we are to have any chance of winning in November. Here it is March and the Republicans have a single candidate that they can rally behind. All the while we democrats watch the two democratic candidates waste time and huge sums of money pulverizing each other. Why do we continue to do this? Weeks will turn to months, the dialogue will become acrimonious between the two candidates and we'll only providing fodder for the republicans when we have to face them later on.

Now I know we have a tough decision to make but come on... Let's just do it already. Republicans love this part of every election because this is when our own party in fighting wastes precious time and money.

Oh, and don't think that John McCain is resting on his laurels. He is in fighting mode.

My prediction- you have heard it here first- an exclusive... McCain will select long time friend and colleague Joe Lieberman to be his numero dos. And how about that choice? Well it combines north with south, east with west. Two guys hawkish on defense and Iraq. Ouch. That is a hard ticket to beat.

Well I'll sit back and wait while hill and bama trade blows with each other however any campaign dollar spent from now until a single candidate emerges will be a lost opportunity. It is almost not as important which one wins the nomination as long as we do it soon.

And why have they each ruled each other out as running mates? How dynamic a ticket is that? They should just flip a coin and figure out the order otherwise the greatest chance we have to change things will just slip between our fingers...

Phase 3 almost complete

On monday we were notified that our goods have cleared customs at the port of Baltimore. That is a key step in finishing up phase 3. The items will be delivered on wednesday and thursday of this week.

I am currently in the UK on the last of my trips for a while. I return home on Friday. It is a good feeling to see all of this planning come to fruition. It waill be a nice feeling to be able to sit on our couch and relax.

The kids have settled into a good routine, and Jen has accepted her job offer from Georgetown Hospital.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

It is hard not to recognize the speed within which various Country-run Sovereign Wealth Funds have run the rescue of the our nations largest banks and brokerage houses at fire sale prices. I recently read the 31 December Quarterly Report from Baron Funds and Ron Baron has done a wonderful job articulating what I think we are all sensing right now. I am paraphrasing here but he states that last year, Dubai, a member state of the United Arab Emirates was denied the opportunity to acquire a relatively small port operator due to national security concerns. Today the sovereign wealth funds of these nations are acquiring massive stakes in our largest banks with no political opposition at all. Ron cites the irony and underscores how critical our current economic state of affairs are. Going deeper into this, I'd like to ask - what has changed in the last year? Is it that we trust them more to rescue our banks than control our ports. Is it that people are less afraid of financial terrorism than they are of someone smuggling a dirty bomb into the country. I don’t know really but the attitude has certainly changed and I am curious to know your thoughts on why. From my perspective it is equally as dangerous to have a foreign nation (terrorist supporting or not) taking stakes in our financial institutions where they can exert influence on our homeland economy. Am I the only one concerned about this?

Taking Measure

As I sit in my home office, the kids are neatly tucked into bed I finally have a brief moment of quiet to take measure of what has occurred in the last two weeks. There has to be some reason why I am both tired but feeling more settled than ever. First of all, two weeks, is that it? Fells more like a month. While we are still awaiting our sea shipment that would close down phase 3 of the move (for those of you keeping score at home) there is a lot that has transpired. Jen has gotten the kids sorted in school. She has interviewed for a job and is evaluating an offer. We have mostly emptied the boxes of stuff from storage although I think there are just some boxes we will not ever unpack. Wow. It is all starting to feel quite good.
Walking around the Reston office is like going to 10 year high school reunion. It is hard to believe the time has flown (in this case, 2 years) and the people remember you (luckily) however everyone's lives have changed. Everyone wants to hear the London story which I am pleased to tell but more interesting to me is how the people have grown and changed since I left. There have been babies born and some still to be delivered. There are many new faces in the office and others have left. The office still has the comforts of home- seeing Sri, Lillian and Harpreet is the best feeling- my old team, still hanging together (mostly- Harpreet has made the leap to consulting) and still keeping it real- working very hard on projects and delivering.
The big difference in the UK is the size and scope of everything. The projects are in the tens of millions of £, here they are in the tens of thousands of £. One of the biggest challenges to coming back to the USA is the recalibration of the mind- identifying the relative size of things here on a satellite planet as opposed to life on the sun.
I miss the buzz of BT Centre. Walking the halls and feeling the sense of pace and urgency within which it all happens there. In Reston, it is a more measured cadence of activity. Today I had a cup of coffee and conversation that was pleasant and not rushed. BT Centre certainly has that centre of the universe feel to it. I remember meeting Ben in the coffee shop (yes, Ben buys his own coffee and sandwich) and wishing him luck before Davos. More frequently seeing Hanif walking the halls. Its different now. No longer can I run across from St. Paul's Cathedral to have lunch at Yo! Sushi with Jeff.
There is still excitement in Reston. They have just gone live on GFP and the next project is on the horizon. There is an upbeat feel to the office and it is a good feeling. I am currently working on transition of my old role as Project Director to a new manager. About 1 April I start my new role.
I always look back fondly on my UK experience. However the body and mind now feel the urge to move on.