Long Week

On Friday, I was in my office and my boss walked in. He looked at me and said: “Go home.” I looked at him and said “What?” He replied “You have been traveling all week, go home, get some rest.” I thought about it and realized that during the last 7 days, I had been in five cities (Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale and Washington D.C.), flew on three 6 a.m. flights, which requires a 3 a.m. wake-up call and taken a final exam, the last final exam of my MBA career. It had been a long week and I needed a nap.

Tonight, I find myself in Houston after a relaxing weekend back in Chicago. I am here for one night but I thought about all of this travel and decided at this point in my life I would have it no other way. Life is short, you might as well do and see as much as possible. My body will tell me when I need a break and I will take it but for now we will keep up the hectic schedule and enjoy life, this world and all it has to offer!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

I Know It's Only Rock 'n Roll But I Like It

I was in Cleveland the past couple of days for work and had a few free hours so I decided to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I am not a historian of music but I do like certain types of music and have an appreciation of some groups who brought rock and roll to the forefront many years ago.

Unfortunately, pictures weren't allowed but the exhibits were fascinating. The few I was impressed with was a history of rock and roll from Memphis, Detroit, London, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle and how rock evolved and left a mark on those cities. There was an exhibit on music videos, remember when MTV used to play them, and how that changed music's place in society and finally an hour long video that profiled each of the members in the rock and roll hall of fame since its inception in 1986.

So why is Cleveland of all places the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Apparently, Cleveland is taking claim as the birthplace of rock and roll. As is stated on the historical marker, Cleveland was the spot where DJ Alan Freed used the term "rock and roll" to describe the up-tempo black rhythm and blues records he played beginning in 1951, he named a new genre of popular music that appealed to audiences on both sides of 1950s American racial boundaries and dominated American culture for the rest of the 20th century.

I think it is a pretty loose connection to call Cleveland the birthplace of rock and roll but it is a beautiful museum and does a wonderful job of telling the story of the history of rock and roll.

Russia...Final Thoughts

Whenever you return from a trip people always ask "How was it?" I find that my first answer is "It is good to be home" and then I talk about my experience in Russia which was unlike any other I have ever had.

The idea came to me to visit our friend in Russia because it wasn't a place that I would ever go. Sometimes you need that little push to go out and explore.

On the plane ride home, I was sitting next to an Italian man who worked in Kentucky. He said that he enjoyed the United States but that some of the most exhilarating places he visited were in Europe. He began asking me if I had visited such places as Paris, Rome or Amsterdam and my answer to them all was no. The discussion got me excited to plan my next trip across the pond.

When I got home, I began to think of how lucky I was to be able to travel and to have these experiences. This was triggered by a family emergency.

My grandmother on my father's side had been sick for sometime and the family knew that she only had a matter of time left. The day before I left I was able to spend a couple of hours with her. When I arrived back in Chicago, I was told she had taken a turn for the worse. I went to the hospital and saw her for the last time. She passed the next day.

When I think of my grandmother the first thing that comes to mind is opportunity. My great-grandparents came to the United States from Japan looking for an opportunity for a better life. My grandmother returned to the United States from Japan after he father passed to send money home to her family so that her brothers and sisters could have an opportunity to succeed. After World War II, my grandparents relocated to Chicago in the hopes of providing their children with opportunities that they did not have. My grandmother helped to raise my sisters so that my dad could finish college and law school so he could seize the opportunities available to him. I wouldn't be here if my dad didn't meet my mom in law school.

Each generation hopes that their offspring can have it a little easier than they did. They hope that the next generation gets to experience more and be better off. In my case, they have succeeded.

On the right hand side, under the links category, you will find a link to all of my pics from Russia. Enjoy!