Strathlachlan

Adventure #12 - December 2010

What a year. Time for one last adventure

Adventure #12 — Temporary Exile

Where did the year go? 85,275 miles on planes, trains, and automobiles. Lots of late nights, early mornings, and Sunday afternoon naps. Many words written and read. And sometimes too many spoken. Lots of things checked off the bucket list. Some new things added too. Too many meetings, emails, and slides. Too few pauses to take it all in. Probably too many tweets and texts. Many months clean and sober from workaholism. One year older. One year wiser. Some good laughs, a few tears, and plenty of memories. That's what 31,556,926 seconds look like in fast forward.

Where did the decade go? Ups, downs, and sideways. Learned a lot of things. Had to re-learn a few things too. Gain and loss. Ebb and flow. And the boomerang of life. New and comfortable. Moving on and and moving up. What a fool I used to be. That's what 5,259,312 minutes look like in the rear view mirror.

I spent the last days of 2010 in self-imposed exile on an island not far from home. Enough distance to get away. Enough change of scenery to open my eyes. Watched the sunset on the last day of the year and awoke early to see the first sunrise of the new decade. Figured some things out. Let some other things just go out with the tide. Charted a course to the future with the wind at my back.

This was a great year. This has turned into a great decade. I wonder what adventures await me next...

Adventure #11 - November 2010

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder. 2010 is coming to a close.

Adventure #11 — Thanks and Giving

A few days with my family. A few days of sleeping in. A few days of rough-housing with the nephews. A few days of being thankful.

 

Adventure #10 - October 2010

One last overseas trip this year. Camera bag packed and map in hand.

Adventure #10 — Ensconced in Scotland

A few days of work in London left some time for a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. I have been to Scotland a few times over the years and it was time for a return visit.

An early morning train ride from London's King's Cross to Edinburgh gave me a chance to catch up on some sleep. I woke up just before arriving in the Scottish capital. Just in time to catch some great views of the coastline and waves crashing in from the North Sea.

Things got off to a very good start as the Caledonian Hotel on Princes Street upgraded me to a suite with an amazing view of the castle. The rooms were bigger than several places that I've lived in my life. Good travel karma is helpful when you're in the middle of three weeks on the road traveling 11,842 miles on planes.

I was able to get in some leg stretching time and refueled before heading out for some night time photos. And a stop for a glass of The Macallan helped to warm me up.

Three days of walking, resting, shooting photos, walking, climbing, more photos, and relaxing. This included taking the 287 narrow steps to the top of the Scott Monument on Princes Street. The 143 steps to the top of Nelson's Monument on Calton Hill was a bit easier, but the views were even better.

Then it was time to grab the last train back to London and head home the following morning. I managed to take in a lot of sights, get a few amazing photos, and unload some rocks. I can't wait to return and I'm thinking of exploring the Highlands next time.

Adventure #9 - September 2010

Summer is coming to a close. The adventures continue to open new doors.

Adventure #9 — The City that Never Sleeps

The January adventure was a wintertime trip to New York City. And while I've been back a few times since then it was only for quick trips. This time I managed to blend in work and play into three days in one of my favorite places.

A Sunday morning flight to NYC was met with clear skies and sunbeams. Did I mention there wasn't a hint of humidity in the air? The tell tale signs of autumnal change were ever-present in the city that never sleeps.

First stop was Central Park for some photos and just sitting amongst the scenery. My best memories of NYC take place in those 843 acres or on their fringes. It's a magical place. And for the first time in a long time I had the chance to just be there. No where to go. No where to be. Just me and the squirrels, turtles, birds, and humanity.

Learning to unplug has always been a challenge for me. I'm a recovering workaholic who's managed to stay clean and sober for many many moons now. As it turns out your creativity and ability to make a breakthrough on something goes down the tubes when you over-do-it. This adventure was a great chance to see what happens when you have the balance just right.

That night it was off to dinner at Il Bagatto in the East Village. The super talented Lucky Jenny had picked the place and it was a very good choice. It's a very nondescript place that looks out onto the street and the food is amazing.

We were joking about how rarely either of us run into celebs — which meant some people we'd heard of showed up right on cue. Our table near the front door turned out to be a good perch for people watching in the small trattoria. She recognized Jeffrey Steingarten, food critic for Vogue, walking out and talking to the owner. Then about five minutes later John Mayer came in and sat down next to us. (see Adventure #2 for a previous sighting)

After a walk in the cooling night it was time for a wrap-up beverage. The ongoing conversation went through a spiral of twists and turns. At one point I noted that NYC still feels more foreign to me than London or Paris. I couldn't quite explain why. But trips like this make it less of stranger to me. Well past midnight and the city is still wide awake.

The next morning came early and it was time to earn my keep. Some plotting and planning about clients, projects, and social media with a co-worker-bee over breakfast at Utopia on Amsterdam Avenue.

Several of us were in town for the Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit. It also happened to be UN Week in the city which meant a lot of traffic, security, and plenty of great people in town. The day was packed with meeting people in the social media world and people doing really amazing things. I was also glad that I didn't have to prep for a presentation and could get some good listening time in. Although Dr. Lisa Masterson from the TV show The Doctors did interview me for show footage. (Funny story to tell about that at some point.)

Spending time escaping the echo chamber and talking to people on the outside of what you're doing is always very helpful. It's pretty clear that the social good movement and nonprofit sector are taking different routes to the same destination. Both should take a moment to pay attention to what the other is doing. They might all learn something.

Then it was a quick race back to the hotel, change out of pinstripes, grab camera, get to subway, and go to where the other guys in pinstripes play. I was going to catch one of the last games of the season at (new) Yankee Stadium. I was trying to meet up with two old friends but timing conspired against me this time. I did manage to catch the game from great seats with Dean Landsman. I've known him for close to 10 years now, but we've never actually met in person. It's an Interweb thing. The game and conversation were both entertaining. Thoughts on the new stadium, net neutrality, how Steinbrenner bought the team with only $800k of his own money, Apple vs. Google, Jeter vs. A-Rod, the future of radio, the future of sports, and a few homeruns. Remembered to get something for my nephews too.

Game over. Yankees wins. Back on the subway to Manhattan. Got off at the Columbus Circle stop. Another place full of good memories. I decided to walk up Central Park West to the hotel. 20 city blocks didn't seem too far for some reason. It was well past midnight. The city and I were both still wide awake.

Another new day and new adventures. Breakfast with the social media and marketing co-conspirators from my day job at Utopia again. Not surprisingly, they remembered us from the other day. The city keeps becoming less of a stranger.

More meetings and talking and meetings with new people and talking. Some serious. Some not. Wheels in my head churning. Reminded that work that is inspiring is also contagious. The same is true of life.

I just had one more stop to make before heading to LaGuardia. A momentary pause on 5th Avenue to pick up something for someone. It's the little things that still count.

And then I grabbed a cab and headed to the airport. Window rolled down. Sun rays and wind on my face. A few moments of sleep while the city kept riding out the day's events. We are not strangers anymore.

Adventure #8 - August 2010

July heads into August. Which means Charleston is a very very hot and humid place to be. Time for an escape.

Adventure #8 — Mountains, Music, and Miles High

The downside of an early morning flight to Denver on a Sunday can pay-off big time with a first class upgrade and plenty of daylight for adventuring.

That's how the August adventure began as I set out West once again on an adventure. I jumped into the rental car and headed out towards Clear Creek County, Colorado to Mount Evans. That's where the highest paved road in the world takes you up near the top of 14,264 foot mountain. The sights along the way take your breath away — with an assist from the thinning air.

Then it was back to Denver to catch the last hours of the Mile High Music Festival. I managed to time the trip to catch a few of the bands. I was able to see Train play some of their set, then some tunes by Weezer, and most of My Morning Jacket. Then I went into patience mode and stood in a spot a few rows back from the main stage to see Dave Matthews Band close out the show. Three hours of standing followed by three hours of great music by Dave and the crew. Well. Worth. It.

Monday morning came early. I was attempting to stay on East Coast time, but that didn't really work out as planned. It was off to Golden, Colorado and a tour of the Coors Brewery. Who says you can't have beer for breakfast? This is the largest single brewery facility in the world and you get three free beverages at the end of the tour. It was fun, but the Guinness tour in Dublin is still the best.

After a nap and some quality email time it was off for the drive to Morrison and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. I had 12th row tickets to see Rush for the first time at Red Rocks. It was the first of two nights at the amazing venue that's cut out of the surrounding rocks. I've seen videos and heard recorded shows from here, but there's no substitute for the real thing.

Geddy, Neil, and Alex didn't disappoint with a simply amazing show. By far the best Rush concert that I've seen over the years. I managed to get some great photos to remind me of the night. I have a feeling that I'll be returning there for more shows in the future.

Another early morning awaited me. Back to reality and back on a plane to visit a client on the East Coast.

Adventure #7 - July 2010

Six months down. Six months to go. Here we go with the next adventure.

Adventure #7 — Outside the Comfort Zone

I travel about 60,000 to 70,000 miles a year on planes. I average about 25 presentations and speaking gigs a year too. Some days I feel like Ryan Bingham from Up in the Air.

After a lot of years of doing this I have gotten used to a certain pattern. I pack just enough for the trip. I never check a bag, unless it's overseas. I bring the essentials like a network cable, headphones, iPod charger, moleskine and pens, gum, power adapter, cufflinks, printed itinerary, and something to read.

I also don't tempt the presentation gods. I don't show anything that requires an Internet connection. I bring my own MacBook to projector connector. I take my own wireless mouse/clicker-thing. And perhaps most importantly: I use 90% tried-and-true material and 10% new stuff.

The July adventure involved throwing just about all these rules out the window. I traveled to Park City, Utah and got out of my comfort zone. Along the way I tried some new thinking, got high above things, and relaxed a bit.

I had a last minute invite to speak at the Giving Institute's Summer Symposium. (Read this work blog post if you want more details.) I had put together a presentation about a week before the event that used the 90%/10% rule that I've stuck to for a long time.

And then I threw it all out and decided to reverse things: I was going to present 90% brand new material and 10% old stuff. I also left my normal travel bag at home and only brought a camera bag with my MacBook Pro tucked in the back.

You might think this is all rather silly. But for a creature of habit it's a big change to do anything other than sticking to what has always worked. My almost-all-new presentation got a lot of very positive remarks. It's a group that I've never spoken to in the past, but they're all pretty influential in the nonprofit sector. Had it bombed, then I might be telling a different story.

Then I just winged the extra time that I had in Park City. I would normally plan something out beforehand, but I purposely waited until I got to the Stein Eriksen Lodge before finding things to do. I brought my camera and knew that I wanted to shoot a lot of pictures, see the sights, and have some fun.

The highlight was taking a chair lift up above 8,200 feet to take some photos and chill out for a bit. I found out that they have hot air balloon rides on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Saturday wouldn't work because I was presenting, but Sunday had a tiny window of opportunity.

Unfortunately, the Sunday morning hot air balloon schedule didn't leave me enough time to get back to the airport. I guess that's the one gotcha when you aren't planning ahead. But I have a feeling that I'll be returning one of these days - and I'll be sure to leave some extra time.

Adventure #6 - June 2010

June is the start of Summer and that means getting outside, soaking up the sun, and getting in as many concerts as possible.

Adventure #6 — Rush on Opening Night

I am a Rush fan. And that's an understatement. I own every one of their albums. I have a couple of autographed items. I have read all of Neil Peart's books. I have seen them live in concert more than ten times. And my Geddy, Alex, and Neil bobblehead dolls are hiding in my living room.

But more than anything else I get a lot of joy out of their music. And I appreciate that they're musicians that take a lot of pride in practicing their craft. Each of them are arguably the best ever at their instruments.

My tastes in music have changed a lot over the years, but I always find myself coming back to listen to Rush.  When one of their song comes on the radio or on the iPod's shuffle, then I'm filled with thoughts of when I first heard that song or saw it played in concert.

Now, being a Rush fan has never been the most popular thing. When people learn that I'm a big fan of the band it always gets an interesting reaction. They are not for everyone. And they are certainly don't fit the typical rock star stereotypes. That has changed in the past few years. Movies like I Love You, Man and an appearance on The Cobert Report have Rush back in the limelight.

A new documentary about the band called Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage just won an award at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's out on DVD and VH1 has been playing it. I may have seen it a few times already.

Rush have been rocking together as long as I've been alive. And when they announced a Summer tour then I knew that I wanted to see them on opening night. So off I went to Albuquerque, New Mexico to see them open the tour. 

The Time Machine Tour was going to be a mix of old songs and a few new ones too. Rush announced that they were going to play the entire Moving Pictures album. They saved a few other surprises for the show and here's the set list:

Set 1

The Spirit of Radio
Time Stand Still
Presto
Stick It Out
Workin' Them Angels
Leave That Thing Alone!
Faithless
BU2B
Freewill
Marathon
Subdivisions

Intermission

Set 2
Tom Sawyer
Red Barchetta
YYZ
Limelight
The Camera Eye
Witch Hunt
Vital Signs
Caravan
Drum Solo
Closer to the Heart
2112 Overture/Temples of Syrinx
Far Cry

Encore
La Villa Strangiato
Working Man

As usual, the boys didn't disappoint. And they played my favorite song for the first time ever in concert. That was pretty spectacular. Good thing I plan on seeing them a few more times this Summer.

Adventure #5 - May 2010

The May adventure has been many many years in the making. And before it was over I would visit four countries and a little principality called Monaco.

Adventure #5 — Monaco and Places In Between

I have been a Formula One fan for many years now and the crown jewel of the season is the Monaco Grand Prix. I decided last year that I wanted to attend the race, and I managed to persuade my good friend Zan to go too. We've known each other for over twelve years and have seen our fair share of adventures in the past.

To get to Monaco — first you need to get to France. Thanks to a little volcano in Iceland the flight from Atlanta to Paris got a late start, but before too long we arrived in the City of Lights. I had been to Paris before and it is one of my favorite cities in the world. The weather wasn't exactly ideal upon arrival, but we needed to stretch our legs and get some photo shooting in on the first night.

I finally invested in some real camera equipment before the trip. I have taken photos for a couple of years now but they were usually on simple digital cameras. I guess it's a good idea to practice on less than stellar equipment to make you appreciate the real deal. Zan gave me some good advice on the right lenses to get for the Canon 5D Mark II and I set about putting lots of years of "practice" to good use.

While the days were spent exploring and relaxing the nights had a mix of photo shoots and celebrating. I got very used to great cafes during the day and drinking champagne every night. By the third day I was drinking coffee and considering taking up smoking. The culture is contagious and intoxicating all at the same time. Along the way there was a growing list of inside jokes, phrases, and observations from Paris.

A few days and nights in Paris were the perfect way to start the trip. The weather got better and I got used to the new camera and lenses in no time. I managed to take a minor break to present virtually at the 2010 IFC Online International eConference, but then it was back to vacation. My Français was good enough get around, but I probably should have taken some remedial tutoring.

After three days in Paris it was time to pack up and grab the TGV to Nice. Major props to the concierge at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe for working some magic on first class tickets. The ride to Nice via high speed train is a little over 5 and a half hours. This was the first down time of the trip and I was able to do some reading and photo editing. It's a great way to see the countryside and coast too.

We arrived in Nice late into the night and got into the hotel. The Cannes Film Festival was happening at the same time as the Monaco Grand Prix and Nice is located between the two places. This meant for an interesting array of sights and sounds over the next few days. Ahem...

Friday morning came early and it was off to Monaco on the train. It's about 20 minutes from Nice and the views along the way are amazing. Pulling into the underground Gare de Monaco is where you get the first sense that this is no ordinary place. About 30 seconds after leaving the station I spotted my favorite car, a silver Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the first of many sightings in the principality. Within a few steps you catch the first glimpse of the harbor — at it's love at first sight.

For the next few hours we explored parts of La Condamine and Monte Carlo. Monaco is a visual collage of colors, shapes, and light unlike anything I've ever seen. Words really don't do it justice but a few photos might help:

At Monaco, the normal Friday practice sessions happen on Thursday, so there is an opportunity to walk all around the circuit and get into the pit garage area — as long as you have a ticket to the race. I haven't been that close to the F1 stars and cars since Lewis Hamilton won the 2007 United States Grand Prix. But Monaco is very different than any F1 race I've been to before, and a walk through the Port Hercule turned up a few pleasant surprises. We were at the right place at the right time to see Sir Jackie Stewart arrive and board one of the mega yachts in the harbor.

Then it was time to relax on the water for a bit. I managed to arrange some quality time on the Pure Bliss, a 43 meter (142 feet) luxury yacht, that was moored in the harbor for the race. Thanks to F1 journalist Joe Saward for hosting us and some fans for the afternoon. The boat just happened to be one spot over from where 2009 F1 World Champion, and current McLaren driver, Jenson Button was staying. The BBC Formula One crew was setting up on the top deck of our yacht for some interviews the next day. They were pretty cool about us hanging out for a while. Some good photos were taken from up there too.

But you can only spend so much time on a big yacht. There are still other places to go and things to do. So with that it was off for the short drive up the mountains to Èze to catch the last good light of the day. The twisty roads of the three Corniche practically cry out for a fast car with the top down.

Èze-le-Village is small hilltop place that overlooks the Côte d'Azur and people have been taking in the views of the Mediterranean there since about 2000 BC. It's also a good place to sit back and relax with some champagne after a long day adventuring. There are some stunning view of Cap Ferrat and the cliffs that are about 1.400 feet above sea level.

Back in Nice there was a chance to relax a bit. There was also a lot of planning and serious discussion about opening a business of some sort in the south of France. I am convinced that an over-the-top American themed restaurant, complete with peanut shells on the floor and cowboy hats handed out at the door would be a gold mind. (I'm currently seeking investors and talented staff.)

Saturday it was back to Monaco for qualifying and quality time in the sun. Zan took a side trip to Antibes where the world's 18th largest yacht, the 110 meter Dilbar, was docked in the harbor. I got some great pictures of the F1 cars in pit lane and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso walking back to the garage after crashing out in the morning practice session. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber took pole position and I eventually took the train back to Nice.

Sunday was race day and the crowds were huge.  The side streets of the principality were full of people, sights, and sounds. Our seats were in the K stands near the Piscine chicane and had great views of the cars through Tabac and the harbor portions of the circuit. Monaco is the most demanding circuit on the F1 calendar and after 4 safety car periods for crashes it was Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber who took the win.

To avoid standing in lines of people we decided to hang out in a cafe on Rue Grimaldi for a few beverages. That turned into several beverages and many hours later. This included an interesting chat with two Scot's from Glasgow. Then as the F1 circus packed up we took one of the last trains from Monaco to Nice that night. A very good end to a very great few days.

(Note: Planning for a trip to the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix has already started. Get your spot reserved early.)

Monday was a long travel day. It started with taking the train from Nice to Paris. I was then going to London for work and Zan was staying in Paris for another day. We arrived late into Gare de Lyon and I had 25 minutes to get across the city to Gare du Nord and catch the last train to London. Let's just say that I made it just in time and this topped any other close calls I've ever had in an airport.

This is where the fun-fun part of the adventure ended and the work-fun portion began. I had a day of client meetings in London before taking the train to Amsterdam for more work. The volcanic ash cloud was causing problems with airports again so trains were the safest route.

I did manage to get spend some time in Brussels along the way. I highly recommend the beer and chocolate. I got into Amsterdam late in the day and was ready for client meetings on Wednesday. This was my second trip to the Netherlands and I really like the place and the people. I got to spend some time at Greenpeace in Amsterdam and it one of the coolest client digs I've ever seen.

Thursday was a long day of presentations and meeting clients at the 2010 Civil Society Congres. At the opening of the conference they had a video of my photo being shown to people in the market in Amsterdam. They asked people if they knew who I was and I guess the responses were funny because crowd had a good laugh. I don't speak very much Dutch, but I was told at least one person said I was handsome — but no one knew who I was. I'll take that.

After a long day of talking for close to 4 hours it was time to relax a bit. A small group of us from work had dinner in Naarden, which is a very old city with a star-shaped fort and moat around it. I went with the salmon and white asparagus, which is in season this time of year in Holland. I received a bottle of champagne as a speaker gift, and since it couldn't fly home with me, it had to be opened and consumed along the Groenburgwal Canal in Amsterdam. Friday was more client meetings in Almere and then a train back to Paris.

The ride from Amsterdam to Paris was a short one and I managed to get caught up on most of my email. The trip was winding down and I had one last night in Paris to enjoy the remaining hours of the trip. It would be a long flight home the next day. When in doubt — always remember to make the most of things.

About ten years ago I bought my first real watch. At the time, no pun intended, it summed up where I was and where I was going in life. (Or at least I thought so.) For a while now I've had my eye on a new watch, but for sentimental reasons I never went through with buying it. But things change and I was ready to move on in a lot of ways. So my adventure in Europe ended with a new timepiece to count out the next ten years or so of my life.

Adventure #4 - April 2010

The month of April started off with a pleasant surprise — I was named to the Charleston Forty under 40 and then my new book, Internet Management for Nonprofits, came out. Lots of "happyface" things leading up to my birthday.

Adventure #4 — The Birthday

I turned the big 3-5 in April and it's part of the reason why I wanted to do an adventure a month this year. For the past few years I've been in Boston on my birthday speaking at a conference. This year I was in Atlanta for the NTEN Nonprofit Technology Conference. I just finished my first year on the NTEN board and I was also speaking at the conference.

Luckily, several of my good friends and partners in crime were in the ATL for my birthday too.  Little did I know that my work-wife / Interwebs co-conspirator / great friend Molly had lined up some "funsies" for the evening. I had a feeling when the limousine pulled up in front of the Omni that the evening was going to be good.

Everyone piled in and we headed off for dinner. The laughing and smiles were in full swing by the time we pulled up to Kyma. It's a very good Greek restaurant in Atlanta and we started things off with some champagne. Then came lots of different kinds of food and it was time to eat, drink, and be merry.

After dinner it was back to the limo and off to several drinking establishments. Then two words came into birthday lore forevermore: Booty Pop. This devine concoction combines Absolut Mandarin, Red Bull, and a shot of Grand Marnier dropped in. There were a few of these consumed before we strolled on to another establishment or three. Everywhere we went had a jukebox that made it easy to control the birthday soundrack.

Back in the limo and we had another stop that only one of us knew about — The Clermont Lounge. That's where I met some interesting people and listened to my new favorite band  — Bigfoot. I just had to have one of their t-shirts and that became yet another birthday present for me. (It was quite a hit the next evening when a bunch of us went out again.)

Bigfoot wrapped up their set and the next band wasn't that great. So we headed off once again. We tried to check out a few dance clubs but there wasn't a whole lot happening that night. The limo eventually made its way back to the hotel. Then it was some quality time at the Taco Mac attached to CNN Center. This is where the remaining party goers stayed until the first hours of the following day.

Special times with special people. I'm pretty lucky to have both.

And now it's on to May and the first European adventure of the year.

Adventure #3 - March 2010

It's now three months down and nine to go in 2010. March is the calm before a couple of interesting months ahead for me.

Adventure #3 — Uncle Steve Time

The March adventure wasn't some crazy trip to a big city or a last minute random encounters with interesting people. Instead it was a week with my family in town so that meant plenty of fun, adventures, and time with my two nephews.

They are now 5 and 8, which I think are two of the best ages for kids. Lots of energy, curiosity, and a willingness to jump into the cold waters of the ocean. And plenty discussion about important topics of the day like school, little league, pirates, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and the implications of the new healthcare legislation.

A house full of people and playing host to some adventures in Charleston was great. The weather was spectacular most of the week and I think everyone had a good time. The house, the cat, the man cave, the drum set, and everything else managed to survive this adventure.

Now it's on to April where things should be very very fun. New book coming out, the big birthday, and much more.