Day 203

My travels have now taken me to beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. We have a senior manager meetings out here this week starting on Tuesday. Luckily for me, my in laws live out here, so we decided to make a week of it. Leah told her job before taking it that we were coming out here for a week, so she was fine. I made a couple of extra appointments for Friday to get clearance. The joke of it all is that a company considers me "senior management." I still find it funny. They have hooked it up with 5 star accommodations. We are staying at the Phoenician. We work in the mornings until lunch, then we have activities. We playing Golf tomorrow at Troon North, riding 4 wheelers in the mountains another afternoon and have great dinners planned as well. I'm sure I will be ready for detox after these three days. This is a big drinking group so I'm sure I will have some stories to tell when its all over. We all have our own presentations to give during the meanings. My power point skills we be on full display. Overall though, it should be a good working experience. I am very much looking forward to it.

Flying out here with Casey is always an adventure. She was drugged so she slept most of the way, but as we were walking to the gate (all the way at the end for a change) I told Leah once the baby is born, Casey travelling with us is officially over. Its hard enough bringing her with us. Add in a baby and I would probably freak. Meanwhile, Casey and my in laws new puppy Bailey are getting along ok. Bailey wants to play with Casey all the time and Casey just doesn't want to be bothered. I'm hoping things will improve as we are leaving Casey here until our next visit. They are really cute together though. As usual, Casey can't figure out the time difference and proceeded to wake me up at 4:30 this morning. Looking forward to my late afternoon nap.

Saturday was the KU opener against Northern Arizona. I was very much looking forward to watching the game and had it all set to go at the KU alumni bar out here, The Upper Deck. Well my in laws and Leah begrudgingly agreed to go with me, have dinner, and watch the game. The place was 30 minutes away towards downtown. Of course we get there right at 6 and the place is closed due to a private party. I was given bunk information by my Western Jayhawk brethren. By the time we drove to another place that didn't have the game on, it was already halftime. I could tell this was not something the other three wanted to do in the first place and I probably should have given up after the first place. It ended up being a blessing in disguise. Yes, we did blow NAU out 91-57 behind 22 points from Brandon Rush, but this gave us the opportunity to eat at Scott's new restaurant Olive and Ivy. When we got there, the place was completely packed. Scott was able to finagle a table for us at 7:45. We hung out in the bar area for a while checking out the scenery. First off, the place is very swanky. It is right up the alley of my guy the Buatch. A ton of good looking late 20's to early 40's people, a ton of hot chicks and silicon. The decor is very cool. Has an open kitchen and a huge outdoor area as well. It is definitely a spot to be seen. Then there is Scott. Scott is the younger brother I never had and I have known him now for 12 years. I was at his bar mitzvah. If you have seen the show Hell's Kitchen, he was in the Gordon Ramsey role that night; checking out the appetizers and salads and making sure they were properly prepared. He is a big deal there and it was so nice to see. I was very proud of him. For the first time, I looked at him in a different way. He was a hard-working, conscientious chef, not my little bro Scott. The food was great. Scott sent over some teasers - Fallafal balls with Tzizki sauce, garlic shrimp, and Saganacki. They were all great. Their dinner menu is very eclectic, from braised sort rib to scallops. Leah and I both had flatbreads - mine was a caramelized mushrooms and sausage, Leah's was a Pesto and Tomato. My in laws spilt a piece of Halibut. All of the food was great. I'm not just saying this because Scott works there, but it is a great spot that I highly recommend to anyone who is out here.

I spent yesterday watching football and hanging out with my friend Jules and Andrew and their daughter Winter. A solid time was had by all. Since our boy is coming soon, I am trying to talk to as many new parents as I can and get as much advice as I can. I took a couple of things away from yesterday. First and foremost, its all about being as patient as possible. When we put Winter down for her nap, she began to wail. Rafal said to me you have to just block it out, it will last 10 minutes, and then she goes right to sleep. Sure enough, it did. Winter was pretty good, no major meltdowns, but I could just tell that were relaxed. I know its easier said than done, but I've got to do my best to be patient as a parent. The other thing we have to get is the video monitor. Instead of the audio only deal, they now make these handheld video monitors that you put in the crib so you can see your kid without having to get up if you don't need to. Being the lazy man that I am, this is an absolute must.

Meanwhile, The Browns somehow won in Atlanta yesterday 17-13. Typical that I have literally seen every down this season and we pretty much have played like crap, yet yesterday when I wasn't watching, the Browns put on their best performance of the season. Its a big weekend in Ohio football. Not only is it Steeler week, but on Saturday is perhaps the biggest regular season college football game in the past 30 years, as the Michigan Wolverines travel to Columbus to meet their bitter rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The winner goes to the National Championship game, the loser more than likely won't. The hype this week will be over the top. I feel like this game has been talked about for 2 months and now it is finally here. I will hold my prediction until Thursday's blog.

Song of the Day: "Drop" by the Pharcyde