A Week Back in the Triangle
Last week was spent back in the Triangle visiting family and friends after finishing up work at Apple on Monday. I had wanted to take a walk around the building and say goodbye and thanks to everyone, but had back to back meetings and ended up rushing out the door to get to the airport.
It was good to be back home though — how could I not with Mom’s delicious food. Being home also gave me a chance to catch up with friends. Mike came over a few times and we watched the NC State vs ECU game (GREAT game, we won in overtime!). I visited Greg and Kelly at their home and we walked over to the Village Brewery (the have a nice house in a wonderful location!)
I also took a day to swing by NC State. One of mentors, Dr. Bilbro, invited me to speak to his class so I did and went by the lab for the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program and got to see what Pavak, Hersh, and their group was up to. The program exploded this year and there isn’t enough space for everyone in the old lab. Jordan (Price) and I headed up to main campus where we walked up to Mitch’s Tavern to meet Jordan (O’Mara) for lunch. We chatted about politics, as we like to do a lot. Ben was with the crew team and their Million Meter Row in the brickyard so I got to see him before heading back to Centennial to talk with Dr. Miller about what’s NC State have for the future – some neat stuff planned!
I took one night to venture downtown with Mike and Sachi to see the new convention center and we stopped by the Flying Saucer while down there. Dad and I went over to Circuit City to scope out a new HDTV to replace the projection we’ve had for the past 8 years…I think this Thanksgiving is the time!
I was also glued to CNBC while home, watching in earnest at the meltdown of the US financial system. Lovely.
It felt too soon, but soon it was Sunday and I had to head back to the left coast. One more bit of business – after a brunch Mom dropped me off at the UNC School of Public Health to meet up with the WaterPLUS crew. Boy it was great to see Win, Joel, Kari, Will, and Naman again. We attended to tough issues like stock allocation (”no Kari, I think you need more…really, we all think you need more…no, we’re not going to take ‘no’ for an answer…you’re getting more” and Win piping up “take some away from me!”) and the plan for the upcoming year. Alas, my time was soon up and off I went to the airport.
The trip home? Yeah…let’s just say I ended up spending 4 hours in a hotel outside Dulles airport and got to San Francisco 12 hours later than expected. It involves jet fuel gushing where it shouldn’t. How exotic!