A Sack of Seattle

Andy in college, a photo from 1986

Time with my daughter

I had the pleasure of taking Friday off and spending Thursday night and Friday with my daughter.   We had a great time. We went to the Great Wolf Lodge outside of Olympia, WA.  It's a destination resort -- part of a chain of indoor water parks.  We had a fabulous time.  I try to go away with my kids at least once per year if not more -- just the two of us.  If you're in the Seattle area and want a family resort -- Great Wolf Lodge is somewhere between Disney World and Chuck E Cheese -- I know it sounds a bit much...and it probably is....but we had fun anyway!

The 2008 US Open

I'm currently in NY city with me dad. As a 70th birthday gift, I'm treating hom to a weekend at the US Open. I'm currently watching Na Li beat Ekaterina Makarova in a female singles match on court 13. This both of our first times attending the Open and I have to say we're having a great time!

Survive medical school and earn a tequila shot

My wife, Alexa, started medical training in 1992 as a post-bac at Harvard extension school. After finishing an undergraduate degree in Psychology, she needed to go back and take the pre-requisites for medical school.
Hear ye, hear ye - she finishes her residency this month. Last night, we through her a surprise party and I took a tequila shot or two. It's been a hard, grueling and long ride. I'm proud of my wife ....and I.  My wife seems to have found her passion and niche in life : as a psychoanalyst.  I'm super grateful for that.  I'm even more grateful that this whole 16 year medical training thing has (is) coming to an end!  Tequila shots for all those finishing medical school and medical training; they help wash down the memory of the process :-)

Return from Disney World

I'm back. I actually arrived home in Seattle this weekend. It took me a couple days to decompress from what turned out to be a great, albeit tiring week. Disney World is a weirdly special place on a lot of different levels.

1. First, as a family vacation for my dad's 70th -- I think the trip exceeded his expectations and mine. There were no major family fights. The hotel was nice -- and the grandkids ages 1 to 8 loved the parks.
2. Second, as an incarnation of an entrepreneurs vision -- it's amazing. In my mind, it's as impressive as cirque du soleil.  The breadth, scope, and execution are truly impressive.
3. Third, as a business operation the place is amazing. Everything from the transportation, the trash receptacles, the technology, the marketing, to the customer service. The business lessons abound.

My dad's 70th birthday

I am going to be in Florida for the next week helping my family celebrate my father's 70th birthday. I've got  a good gift for him. It's always been his dream to take the grandkids to Disney World -- and this week, it's all going down. I won't be posting next week. I look forward to seeing you all back on my blog in the middle of April.

My cousin stuart died

My cousin Stuart died last week. Stuart Graber was Anna and Sids son and lived most of his life in coop city, New York.  Stuart was my dad's first cousin. Anna was my dad mother's sister.
The most poignant part of Stuart's life and death is that he largely died alone -- more alone than most.  I thought I'd do a little acknowledgment (and it is little)  to him on my blog. Goodbye Stuart. I'll always remember how you tackled me outside my grandmothers apartment without ever moving. I was 8 at the time. Rest in peace.

Grandparents as migrant workers

A friend used this phrase to describe how is father in law was coming to town and was going to spend the week at the house gardening and landscaping.  I liked the phrase (apolitic as it may be) and thought I'd share it with you.