Rockville, MD (USA)

[we finally had time to get together with Pat, Aileen, Courtney and all the kids in Rockville today (we have been planning it for almost a year...) - we drove up to Pat's house around 1730 and spent some time with everyone (including Holly, Finn and Alanna) - Courtney's fiance and his two boys were with us, too - dinner was pizza, root beer floats and a special dessert (Russian?) - afterwards, everyone took turns playing on the Nintendo Wii - lots of laughter - it was great to spend time with everyone - we headed home around 2200 - hope we can do it again soon...]

Warrenton, VA (USA)

[had to work out west of the city today - did some errands locally (and got a ticket while trying to find a place to turn - damn...) - later, drove out (via the Fairfax County Parkway) to I-66 and then got off on US-29 for the drive to our customer-site (where some of the people on my team work) in Warrenton - first time there - met up with Ed and had lunch in town (El Tio) before getting a tour of the facility - took care of work calls on the way home]

Washington, DC (USA)

[went to the Nats-Pirates game after lunch today - walked from my office to the ball park (not too far, as long as you don't pick the wrong street to try to cross I-295/I-395... - made it to the game in the second inning and met up with all my co-workers (and some of our customers) - it was very sunny and hot (paid for this later with a BAD sunburn) - spent some time at the "Red Porch" and "Scoreboard" bars - shady and breezy... - left in the eighth inning (when it looked like the Nats would win easily) - walked back to my office via a shorter route (west/north) on the correct streets and finished up my work day (heard later the Nats blew the lead and then won with a Bryce Harper Walk-off Homer) - not disappointed I left, since the game was in the middle of the day and it was fun to see everyone]

Egg Harbor TWP, NJ (USA)

[got up around 0700 - loaded up the car - had breakfast before departing - drove home via US-40 again - made it across pretty easily and found my way onto DE-1 without much difficulty - work teleconferences for much of the return - no problems on US-301 or US-50 (but the traffic jam going the other way at the Bay Bridge was pretty big...) - made it to the house a little after lunch time - took care of additional work emails and phone calls - wrapped up around 1600 - bittersweet last trip to New Jersey...]

Egg Harbor TWP, NJ (USA)

[it was a little harder to get excited about departing for work this morning... - breakfast at the hotel - arrived on time and we got to work - finished all of our requirements (with Tony Baloney subs to help!) - got done at 1630 today and I left almost immediately to meet up with my friend Mike - we discussed company business until around 1745 - drove back to the hotel and took care of some work emails - met up with Sabrina around 1900 and we went to dinner at Jo Jo's Italian Restaurant - we finished up around 2100 and I got packed for my departure in the morning]

Atlantic City, NJ (USA)

[up early again - breakfast in hotel - departed earlier (0745) with Sabrina and Kristin - while getting setup, there was some conflict among the group members - the day then devolved into a frustrating series of arguments (I was not personally involved, thankfully) - despite this, we accomplished a great deal - had lunch at a nearby Thai Restaurant (good) - finished up a little earlier (1630) and then went to watch volleyball (Bill and Kait were playing) - it was pretty hot - rode back to the hotel with Joseph and had dinner (lasagna) in the lobby - I had seen a sign for a free shuttle to Margaritaville and decided to go (Sabrina came with me) - it was a big bus (probably could hold about 70 people) and it stopped at all the hotels along the Blackhorse Pike - when we arrived at the "Resort" (2000), we found several Jimmy Buffett homage sites: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" bar, "Landshark Cafe" and the signature bar - we called Bill and he eventually joined us - the drinks were all Buffett-song themed and it was nice to relax with his music - before we knew it, it was already past 2230 - we walked across the Boardwalk to the Landshark Cafe and Bill and Sabrina ordered some food (I got some pretzel sticks) - we didn't leave until almost 0100 - when we got back to the hotel, I was exhausted and fell right to sleep]

Atlantic City, NJ (USA)

[up early - breakfast at hotel - left for work at 0800, leading Kristin (some traffic delayed us) - got started on time - very busy all day - lunch at Chick-fil-A - finished rather late (1700) - immediately after we got done, the entire Panel got together for dinner at Chickie's and Pete's (sports bar) - I had a "Parm" Cheesesteak and "Crabby Fries" - it was fun to hang out with the group one more time... - after dinner (1900), Sabrina convinced Kristin to go with us to the Tropicana - picked up Bill on the way - after we got there, we walked along the Boardwalk for awhile (first time in good weather) - stopped at a few souvenir shops and picked up items for the kids - also got some ice cream - marveled at the entertainment opportunities, but also cringed at the many rules that prevented fun on the beach - back inside the Tropicana, Sabrina and Bill found good craps tables while Kristin and I watched - the entertainment lasted a little longer than our last trip (see JUN 2013) - we headed home around 2300 - went to bed almost immediately]

Egg Harbor TWP, NJ (USA)

[one last trip to New Jersey for work... - left around 0930 (after stop at the ATM) - rainy again - needed gas before crossing the Bay Bridge, but had difficulty finding a station (eventually found one in Bowie) - back on US-50, was startled to find a traffic jam at the toll plaza (???? - it looked like they shut down one direction temporarily) - once that was cleared up, I didn't get delayed again on US-301, US-40 or DE-1 (lots of work phone calls on the way) - lunch at Arby's in Middletown - lots of traffic on I-295 and as I crossed the Delaware River - a little slow on US-40, too (summer, I guess) - arrived in Egg Harbor around 1330L - got my parking pass and met Sabrina and Kristin at the conference room - late start, but we got our meetings done before 1700 - drove to the hotel (first time in the Residence Inn at Fire Road - closer...) - ate dinner at East Bay Crab - took care of work-related emails before going to bed]

Indian Head, MD (USA)

[took the day off from work today - weather was great (sunny, low 30s C, etc.) - drove across the Potomac and took MD-210 to the south - stopped at Fort Washington to see the old fortifications of Washington - great views of the City, Mount Vernon and Mason Neck - walked around a bit there before heading south again - found the little Navy Installation at Indian Head - bought some supplies there and explored the waterfront (fishing only, waterline very low) - left the base and continued south - used MD-225 (stumbled on another military annex) and stopped to visit the Thomas Stone home (he was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) - very nice place - walked a bit on the grounds - drove east to US-301 and then took MD-227 through the rolling hills and trees until I made it back to MD-210 - got across the Potomac without much trouble (HUGE wreck on the Wilson Bridge going the other way...) - did some grocery shopping and yard work, preparing for Nicky and kids' return]