Happy Birthday Rachel!

Rachel,

Hope you are having a good time on your trip and will have a Happy Birthday today--we'll see you tomorrow.  Love, Mom and Dad

Nana's BBQ Sauce

1/4 C Ketchup

3 T Vinegar

1/4 C Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 C Brown Sugar

1/2 C Water

4 T Butter (We use 2)

2 t Lemon Juice

1 t Salt

1/2 t Red Pepper

2 t Dry Mustard

2 t Paprika

2 t Liquid Smoke

4 Frog Eyes

Mix and Heat (in a sauce pan)

*** I added a new ingredient for a special flavor.

Susie helped me plant my herb garden today. We found the pot at Walmart.

Back home

Well, I made it back to Raleigh, and it's nice to be home. Here are some final pics from the trip. On Wednesday night after the sessions were done, me, Rob and 2 guys from a company called Huntsman went to the beach. We walked to the Apple Store, because me and Rob both wanted to get an iPad 2. Unfortunately they were out. Then we walked out on the beach just so we could say we did, and then walked to eat at this place called Joe's Stone Crabs. I'd never had a stone crab before, so I got the grilled mahi mahi. Rob let me try some crab, it was good, but I'm glad I didn't order it. After we got back, I saw the Goodyear blimp circling the basketball stadium and was inspired to go to the game. Tickets were still available and pretty cheap for the upper level, and the view wasn't too bad. Miami lost, so that was kinda a bummer. We were done today around 12:30 and our flight wasn't until 4:30 so it was a pretty long boring day at the airport. The session that I spoke at two years ago, I spoke at again this year, but provided more information. The guy running the session said I should run it next year, and Rob asked me if I wanted to, so I might be going back next year. I definitely felt like I made more meaningful connections this year apart from being Rob's shadow, so I hope I get the chance next year as well. I think it's going to be in Anaheim.

Miami Update

Got a few pictures from Miami to add. We've been having a pretty good time here. I've met a few of the younger guys here, so I've got people to talk to and mix up the events. One of the guys works in Florence, SC and knows a lot about Cheraw. Tonight we had our "secret outing," and it was on a mini cruise ship. We circled around the bay and the ocean for a few hours, and we had dinner and dessert on the boat. There was some very familiar furniture on the deck as you can see in my picture. I guess they have a Big Lots somewhere around here. Tomorrow there are no events after 5, so me and Rob are gonna head to the beach, and try a recommended seafood restaurant. I doubt I'll go to the basketball game, but we shall see.

Well I'm here in Miami. The conference seems to be going well so far. There are a lot of the same people here that were in Daytona, and most of them at least recognize me. Unfortunately, I still feel a little out of the "club." Most of these people have known each other for 10+ years, and it's hard to break into one of those conversations. The food has been great as usual... For breakfast we had some egg dish and different fruits, for 10 am snack we had some pastries, for lunch we had pork tenderloin with rice and green beans and cheesecake for dessert, for 2 pm snack we had brownies, and for dinner we had ribs, baked chicken, roasted potatoes and a few other options. I'm not sure if i'll be able to make it to the beach, because I think you have to take a taxi. It would be nice to get out and see some sights... being in the hotel all day doesn't give you the sense that you are even traveling. We are in walking distance from the basketball arena and the Heat are playing wednesday night. Tickets are as low as 10 bucks, and there is nothing on the schedule for Wed. night so I might try and go.