A World Without End

Months ago, I bought tickets for A Day Out with Thomas. Having gone last year, the event is (I’m guessing) the prime fundraiser for the Northwest Train Museum in downtown Snoqualmie. Liam loves Thomas the Train, goes crazy over trains - there was no doubt we were going. However, it’s not something that’s fun for everyone. It’s also expensive, so it’s just Liam and I this year.

Coincedently, it’s also the day of the Microsoft company picnic, which is held only a few miles away from Snoqualmie in the shadow of Mt. Si. It’s a massive, simply huge event that must cost millions to put on. Free food, drink, lots of activities, hundreds of workers…just nuts.

And so are the crowds..nuts that is. There are so many people there, all of them rushing towards the free food lines. However, there is a cost to the free food - lines, lots of lines. Long lines. The longest food lines were for the beef ribs, smothered with bbq sauce. The line was 10-15 minutes long in the hot afternoon sun.

People everywhere. I can’t stand crowds. Why can’t they offer some way to circumvent the long lines? Microsoft is a business, but they run the picnic like a charity..or a communist country. Offer a second line that costs $1, and it would probably get me the food more quickly. Ugh.

However, there was something very cool to behold. A bunch of trick motorcycle type guys were there doing a jump exhibition exhibition. I’ve seen the commercials with these tricks, they seem to usually take place in the Tacoma Dome and are paired, like a fine wine - or maybe a Bud - with Monster Trucks.

After a couple of hours there, we had to rush off to make sure we didn’t miss our appointment with Thomas. We had some ice cream, bought a Thomas toy, then hopped on the 3pm train ride. A 30 minute trip to nowhere, it slowly creeps out of downtown towards Snoqualmie Falls, which of course are down to a trickle in the summer without the rains or a spring melt. Liam loved the trip, even though we were on the wrong side of the train to see anything.

We ended the day with Liam napping in the back seat for the drive home, then a final stop for a slurpee. A great, but exhausting day.

Ice Cream!

The crowds…endless lines and crowds

These guys were awesome

The setting against Mt. Si is gorgeous

Thomas makes bank for the museum

Clown wandering around

More clown

Of course, the model trains were there, Thomas style

All Aboard!!

We got the wrong side of the train…oops

Gorgeous Snoqualmie Valley and River

Of course, Thomas is the lead engine

Daddy and Liam

I recently connected on Facebook with Lorraine Lokosh Smith, an old college era friend whom I have not seen in 10+ years. She had been checking out the blog periodically during the trip, and it was good to hear from her.

Then yesterday, Leslie is at St. Edward’s Park for a concert on the lawn with the kids, and Lorraine comes up to her and says (in her very extroverted manner…I bet it hasn’t changed in all those years), “I recognize you from Eric’s blog!” What a small world.

So, since Leslie is so recognized (at least by Lorraine), here’s some more pics folks can use to recognize her. LOL.

What a great figure!

Smiling in the Maldives

Hamming for the Camera

I love how soft this flash photo turned out

I have a HOT wife! But if anyone recognizes her from this photo, she got some ’splaining to do.

We enjoyed lots of champagne this trip (which explains the preceding photo)

After several weeks of unmonitored vacation eating, I’ve launched back into my diet plan. I’ve blogged about it ad nauseam - 1500 calories a day (more like 1700) with low fat, limited carbs, and lots of protein.

I’ve had my first training session with Mary today since my return. She was surprised that my strength doesn’t seem to have diminished in my 4 weeks since my last workout.

Moreover, I weighed in at 246 yesterday, and given the last weight I had recorded from before my trip, that’s just a 5 pound gain during the vacation - which was my goal.

I’m surprised I didn’t gain more, given all the food I ate, but then I thought more on it, and realized I had a lot working in my favor. First, I didn’t eat much junk food. I was in isolated areas, and there was no 7-11 around the corner to hit up for some candy and chips.  Second, any carbs I consumed were mostly fruit (sometimes strange and foreign, always refreshing and usually delicious). Mango, Papaya, Pineapple, Watermelon, Honeydew, and oranges were among the well known types. The more exotic ones included Rambutin, Jackfruit, Passion, Salak, Lychee and Dragonfruit.

Moreover, Leslie and I worked out about 12 times over the 25 days. We were very good at the beginning of the trip - the Four Seasons in Bali had great facilities, and we went everyday. However, frequency went down in the Maldives, where facilities weren’t as good.  But it was enough to keep me from blimping out as I feared.

My co-worker Christian Buckley has already lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks. He looks great! His face really shows it, but seeing him from afar, his whole frame has melted away the pounds. 

I’ve got to get into the program mentality anew; however, maybe it’s more healthy that I feel a bit more rebellious now. Before, I was on a high, and probably seemed like a cult member. However, I couldn’t argue with my results. This time, though, I need to bring more balance to my resumed program. I can’t eat 1500 calories my whole life, and I certainly don’t want to limit my diet to Greek Yogurt and shakes like I did for much of the first 9 weeks.

I’ll start blogging results starting next week. Leslie and I are renewing our wedding vows in two weeks, and I have a great linen suit I’m wearing. I want to make sure I look great in it. 

One day at a time.

Our trip by the numbers:

• 25 days away from home
• 11 commercial jet flights, 1 seaplane flight
• Touched down in 3 continents and 6 countries
• Travelled over 28,000 miles on 4 different airlines
• Showered four times in airline lounges
• Spent 52 hours on aircraft
• Slept for 17 of those hours
• Ate during 10 of those hours
• Watched 4 movies and 6 TV shows during the flights
• Gained 8 pounds
• Lost temper 2 times
• Traveled across 24 times zones
• Experienced a 9 & 12 hour jet lag
• Saved $100s making calls over the Internet
• Had 4 private plunge pools (I mean private, as in nekked swimming)
• Left 0 critical items behind in hotels rooms
• Worked out 12 of the 25 days
• Won $600 playing poker in Vegas and Sonoma in spite of seeing my aces cracked 3/4 times
• Joined the mile high club ZERO times (argghh…so much easier in theory).

Finally, thrilled beyond belief to see our 3 kids recognize our arrival, and come running up the yard to greet and hug us. 

This was a trip of a lifetime, but never again will we leave for 3 weeks. 7-10 days will be the max, anything else we bring the kids.

We are so ready to go home and see our kids whom we miss so much. I can’t wait to have Savannah walk show me all the work she’s done on her room, hear about all the friends that Lily has had over  (including all those playdates with Alayna!), and to hear Liam tell us all about his adventures. 

The spectre of real life awaits around the corner as well. Bills, work, bad investments, dishes, weight loss,etc. The anxiety is starting to creep up on me, leading to a few targeted, but short lasting panic attacks.

Last night, we had dinner at Auberge du Soleil, a wonderful French style restaurant located high on the sides of the valley overlooking the broad Napa valley. We had a great meal, with each course paired with wonderful wines. A night to remember. 

Auberge du Soleil Outdoor Dining Terrace

Mother and Son watching a wedding below

Eric sipping a Syrah

Leslie under the country French doors

Today, we forgot all that, were lucky to finally see the skies clear of the haze and smoke that had filtered the sunshine over the las several days, and spent the day hanging out by the pool. We played bocce balls, by our own rules (Leslie won).

Eric thinking he’s actually good at Bocce

Leslie knowing the truth

Adorable French Bulldogs Leslie befriended

We headed off in the early afternoon, and headed south to the Mumm’s winery. Lots of yummy sparkling wine.  In the bathroom is a great quote by Napolean on the wall, “In victory, you deserve champagne, and in defeat you need it.”  We joined the Mumm wine club, assuring that we’ll always have some good bubbly around the house throughout the year.

Yummy bubbles

Finally, we headed to an indian casino in Sonoma County where I played 3-6 limit poker, and Leslie blackjack. I was up $100, she was down..something.

Having spent four extremely jet lagged days in Vegas, we hoped we were rested and caught up enough to enjoy our last stop - Calistoga in Napa Valley. We arrived at SFO in the mid afternoon, schlepped our ton of luggage to the rental car center, and finally headed north. After a quick stop for a shot of the Golden Gate bridge, we headed out of the fog and into the warmer temperatures of Napa Valley.

We chose a concept resort called Solage, which upon arrival, somewhat shocked us. Landscaping is sparse, drought resistant, and design is extremely minimalist. Waking up at 11am this morning, we discovered that we still haven’t shaken off our jet lag. We enjoyed a nice spa treatment, then hung out at the pool before heading to a great restaurant for dinner.

Tomorrow we’ll use the provided bicycles, and ride to visit some local wineries for some tasting.

Solage Calistoga

The Pool

Poolboy applying suntan lotion to Leslie’s Back

Drought resistant landscaping

Bikes provided for cruising around

Excellent restaurant

Waiting for our table at Tra Vigna

We had fun. I played a lot of poker, and Leslie got her Blackjack on. We headed to Hugo’s for our last night and slummed it in down market downtown. Very scary. Lots of tank tos and jean shorts. I won back all the money we had lost on the trip at the poker table at the Golden Nugget, a good thing.

The Wynn’s reception hall - looks like Christmas

Shopping promenade at the Wynn

Waterfall facing the Strip at the Wynn

Our suite at the Wynn

Day 1D of the World Series of Poker main event at the Rio

These guys play 12 hours a day playing the main event

Returning from dinner with Leslie, my Father-in-Law Larry and his girlfriend Nancy

Wide awake from a 12 hour Maldives jetlag at 4am..bored and taking photos of myself in the mirrored ceiling

Sunset

I realize I didn’t really post any images of our final Maldives resort destination of the Bayan Tree Vabbinfaru. Here are some photos - click for high resolution versions.

View from the water - our villa is pretty much dead center

Path leading to villa

A straight sandy path cuts the island in two

Our Deluxe Beach Villa…Ceiling spirals like a conch shell

Villa bedroom opens to deck and beach

View of villa from beach

Looking out from the villa front door to our entry gate…there’s a little bell to let us know we had company

Leslie sunning out behind the villa

Dining al fresco

We don’t have many photos of the two of us together

After leaving the Maldives late at night, we took four flights totalling 22 hours in the air, and arrived in Las Vegas the same day. Crazy. We just slept the day away, our bodies completely confused at the time difference. It’s going to take a while to adjust, but hey, that’s why we came here. If we do happen to find ourselves wide awake in the middle of the night, at least we can find something to do here!