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.

Settling In

I am pleased to report that Hannah was successful with the reading teacher on Monday. Her excellent work enabled her to go into 1st grade as opposed to Kindergarten where she would have been aligned otherwise. Jen and I are so proud of her. One major selling point is that the school façade looks remarkably similar to the one used in High School Musical.
Abigail started her pre-K classes today as well. In typical Abigail fashion she darted away from Jen, eager to play with her new friends.
I am back in the office today and it is wonderful to see the smiling, familiar faces I have known for years.
Jen awaits the call back on her interview. Fingers crossed.

Move Phase 2

Move Phase 2 is now safely on the archives. It has been an extremely challenging week however and there are signs of exhaustion on the faces of all. This week started with me flying from London on Saturday the 16th to Washington DC. I was really drained after a week of packing in London and took the chance to rest on the entire fight across. Jennifer and the girls arrived on Sunday from West Palm Beach. It was quite a reunion and I was very glad to see them. One I got them at the airport I took them to see the new house and then to get checked into the hotel. There was no rest for the weary as we really needed to go out and buy a bed for us. The London bed was not going to arrive for weeks so it was crucial that we had one so that we could sleep in our new home.
Monday was also an equally exciting day and we made the family trek to Carmax to try to find a car for Jen. We were successful. We also had done some furniture shopping on Monday with the hopes of getting the President's sale discount as well as having it delivered early this week. The rest of the week was equally as charged. On Tuesday, our warehouse storage arrived, our bed was delivered and the cable was installed.
On Wednesday, the air shipment from London arrived which was crucial to making things more liveable. The air shipment continued our clothes and entertainment for the kids. Wednesday was also Jen's interview day at Georgetown hospital. She is very keen on this opportunity. It seemed to go well and we hear back next week.
Thursday was back to work for me and trying to get caught up after being out for three days was quite hard. I had back to back calls set up through the day in addition to preparations for meetings early next week. Great news on Thursday was that there was nominated within BT a person that would backfill my role so that I can begin transitioning into my new responsibilities in the USA.
Friday, was typical mayhem at the office. Too much to do and not enough time to do it. Shabbat could not come fast enough for me.
We now move into Phase 3 of the move which is a bit longer and has different challenges. While Move 2 was hard and funny at the same time, Move phase three requires much more strategic decision making. In Move 2 you sit in your house and determine how to have a bowl of cereal with a plastic fork and a paper cup. You unpack your bedroom and realize the furniture that you have to put things in is half way across the Atlantic Ocean. Phase 3 tackles things like the schools the kids will go to and what our daily routine will be like.
In the coming weeks Abby and Hannah will start school, Jen will start work, I will return to the UK for meetings and at some point. Move Phase 3 will finish when the sea shipment arrives. This is scheduled to be the first week of March.
Sorry the posts have been few and far between lately, this move is now the priority.

Move Phase 1

What can only be described as Phase 1 of the move is now complete. Jennifer and the kids flew out early on Monday morning. It was so hard to say good bye to them as they stumbled into the taxi a bit bleary eyed at 5:30 am. I was on the edge the entire day thinking in my mind the challenges that Jen had to encounter with two very tired kids and me not there to coax or cajole them from taxi to check in to security to plane. Of course I could not rest easily until I knew they were safely on terra firma.
My diversion for the day was the interaction with the movers that arrived promptly at 8:30 am. In one day they had about 85% of the flat wrapped. Today they finished the remainder. Being here alone is the hardest part. Staying at a hotel on the corner means that each day I wake up in my old neighborhood. One that I lived for two years where I watched the kids grow and learn about live in London. My body is still here but my spirit is gone. How I long to be with them at nammies house right now enjoying monster ball soup (as Abby calls it).
Tomorrow the sea container arrives at 9 am. It will be loaded in a few hours and then I am off to the office for an afternoon of meetings. I try to focus on the matter at hand but I am mostly focused on when I can be with Jen and the girls again.
Phase 2 of the move starts tuesday when our warehouse items arrive and are unpacked. During this time we have a number of high priority items to buy including a bed, tv, oh and a car.
The final phase of the move occurs when the sea shipment arrives in 4-6 weeks. By then we'll be safely in our new routines.
I am anxious to see Hannah's new school and settle into our new routine. The best part of each day is when Abby wakes up and knocks on our door to say "Its the morning time".