TRS News

Never A Cop Around When You Need One

2010-03-02T13:45:00.004-06:00

There's never a cop around when you need one; but there was last night.

About a year ago I had an opportunity to ride-along with my brother Patrick during one of his graveyard shifts as a police officer at the University of California, Santa Barbara. It was a slow, wintry night in late December and we were lucky to find a car on the road, let alone pull one over. About six months ago he changed police agencies and last night I had an opportunity to ride-along again. It was still a wintry night, but his duties as a Santa Barbara Deputy Sheriff proved a bit more eventful than life at the UC.

Read the rest of Never A Cop Around When You Need One

Things K Does #9

2010-02-17T09:00:00.001-06:00

In a recent closet episode (have I mentioned that K likes to pick out daddy's clothes for him now?), Kaitlyn stumbled upon a rare occasion when Daddy's pocket actually contained some valuable loot. You'll see she's mastered the concept of possession, but also pay attention to how her story changes in the presence of mommy.

Click here to watch Kaitlyn The Pickpocket

Dear Haters, How About A Drinking Game?

2010-02-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

I've held off on the updates lately because I desperately did not want to give the haters the fodder they so love. But alas, I cannot hold back any longer. Without further ado, here's the status of life in the Genovese household with two under two.

Click here to read Dear Haters, How About A Drinking Game?

Crazy? You Bet I Am!

2010-01-15T21:26:00.002-06:00

I started work on March 5, 2004 with the excitement of the unknown and the thrill of a real paycheck. After a few weeks of experiencing big corporate aerospace life, I looked around and swore that I wouldn't stay longer than five years. People laughed at me. On March 5, 2009, I received a certificate from my employer. It reads, "in appreciation of 5 years of valued service". Crap.

Find Out Why I'm Crazy

Alyssa Anne Genovese Has Arrived

2009-12-30T21:36:00.003-06:00

Born December 27th, 2009 at 12:42PM, 7 pounds, 19 inches.

From Alyssa

Who's Talkin' 'Bout My Generation

2009-12-20T14:41:00.004-06:00

A few months ago I wrote about an industry conference I attended in Anaheim, California. One of the presentations was given by Dr. Marlene Law Graham, a senior manager at The Boeing Company in Long Beach, California. Dr. Graham's presentation, �Leveraging the Power of Cross-Generational Teams�, focused on four commonly accepted workplace generations, how their respective views toward �work� differ, and how to effectively deal with those differences to resolve conflict. Allow me to grossly oversimplify Dr. Graham�s presentation.

Click here to read Who's Talkin' 'Bout My Generation

Baby G #2 Delivery Date Pool

2009-11-28T13:06:00.003-06:00

Want in on the action? There are still plenty of dates available. Click the calendar below to go to the Delivery Date Pool page where you can use your Pay Pal account and make your prediction.

Do You Yahoo?

2009-11-24T07:40:00.000-06:00

How about Bing? Or maybe you Google? Find out which one Kaitlyn prefers in Yahoo, Bing, or Google?

>From Kaitlyn 19 Months

Do You Yahoo?

2009-11-18T21:43:00.002-06:00

How about Bing? Or maybe you Google? Find out which one Kaitlyn prefers in Yahoo, Bing, or Google?

From Kaitlyn 19 Months

Kaitlyn Has Posted A New Video

2009-10-07T05:50:00.004-05:00

Check out "Communication Is Key", one of The Things K Does.

Customer Service: My Bank of America Story

2009-09-11T21:26:00.004-05:00

I recently had some interaction with Bank Of America that got my blood pressure up. Due to an admitted error on my part, two transactions hit my checking account over the weekend causing my balance to dip below zero by approximately $15. This resulted in $70 in overdraft fees.

As you might imagine, I have a few thoughts about that, especially how the bank reacted when I contacted them about the issue. What started out as a rant actually segued nicely into some thoughts I've been putting together recently about customer service. For example, it really bothers me when companies reward new customers with incentives that they don't offer to their existing customers. It seems to me this is not driving the type of behavior a company interested in business retention should want.

Expect a few more pieces on the topic in coming weeks. In the meantime, read about me, Bank Of America, and why we're not friends right now (but we are talking again).

Read the rest...

Olympia

2009-08-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Pop Quiz Road Scholars fans: In what year did the United States flag officially display 42 stars?

Find out when you read about my tour of the Washington State Capitol (hint perhaps?) in Olympia.

And no excursion in the Pacific Northwest is complete without the f-word, so Luca and I left the capitol grounds and proceeded to a sketchy little neighborhood just barely on this side of the tracks.

Find out more when you read the rest of the story:

Olympia

Always Good To Be Home

2009-08-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

I've been back home in Texas now for over a week.

It's always good to be home.

Having said that, let me share with you what I've come home to, and why it's taken so long to tell you about my trip to Olympia, which I did finally take. If you'd rather just read about that, wait until the next update and just skip this one.

Understand that you'll miss a near-death experience story if you do.

Read the rest...

For All You Gamblers

2009-08-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Friday, August 14th, we'll be going for the ultrasound that will tell us if Baby G #2 is a boy or a girl. Personally, I'm pulling for a boy this time. With a female wife, a female daughter, and a female dog, I'd like to balance out the hormones a little.

If you want in on the action, visit the Speed Bump Chronicles Web Site and vote on the right hand side. It just takes a moment, and the winners get bragging rights (unless it's a girl).

Touring Seattle: Chittenden Locks and Pike Place Market

2009-08-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I didn't quite make it to Olympia to visit the capital last weekend. Due to a...let's call it a timing issue...the trip was postponed. It's on the docket for today instead.

Despite the setback, last weekend was hardly a loss and, in true TRS fashion, a plan B was quickly concocted. After a long lunch with fellow Road Scholar Luca and his girlfriend Tabi, we drove to Ballard, a suburban Seattle neighborhood north of downtown and home of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens. It was the quintessential TRS excursion.

Speaking of long lunches, Luca and I took one yesterday, venturing to Pike Place Market where we took in the world's first Starbucks, gobs of runaway consumerism, and the biggest concentration of weirdos I've ever seen in a city block. Yes, that includes both Austin and San Francisco combined.

Read All About It

Luca Furnare

2009-08-08T00:11:00.006-05:00

a.k.a. Luca Man Child
a.k.a. The LMC
a.k.a. El Jefe
a.k.a. Supervisor LMC

Luca and I met in college where we worked together at the bookstore in the computer department. If Apple really wanted to get serious about making a "Mac Versus PC" commercial, they would have contacted us. For some reason at our daily "Tea Time" at Cal Poly, our friend Travis gave Luca the monikor "Luca Man Child", and from then on he became "The LMC". Luca was the first employee of SLO Delivery, a fictional offshoot of SG Enterprises specializing in fraternity initiation deliveries for Alpha Rho Chi. His valiant efforts earned him the title "El Jefe" (and he calls me "El Presidente" since I am the President of SLO Delivery's parent company).

When the LMC turned 21, he and I took a road trip to Vegas. In 2004, just before I started working for Boeing, we decided another "road trip" was in order and we both met in Seattle (via plane). At the time, he was finishing his graduate degree in Idaho, but he would soon be making Seattle his permanent home and begin working as an Agricultural Inspector for Customs and Border Protection in the Emerald City. After his promotion to Supervisor in 2009, he became "Supervisor LMC". Throughout the years, whenever my business travels take me to the Pacific Northwest, I take great comfort and joy in knowing The LMC awaits me. A good time always follows.

Week Two In Everett: A Heat Wave and Designing Inside Your Airplane

2009-08-03T21:53:00.003-05:00

I know from past experience the Pacific Northwest is a gorgeous place when the sun is shining, but that same experience has shown me those days are few and far between. It's only rained one day since I've been here, and that was brief at best. There have been some days that started out overcast and dreary, but every one has ended with the sun shining and barely a cloud in the sky.

Since I have been basking in the glory of the recent weather, I've been highly amused at how the locals have responded to it. So is it really hot in here or are they just pansies?

Read The Rest...

Everett Weekend #1

2009-07-29T22:45:00.003-05:00

After my somewhat eventful morning I departed for a fun-filled Oregonian weekend. The drive mapped out to about 300 miles and Vicki was estimating five hours. Puget Sound is notorious in my experience for perpetual traffic, so I left the factory about 12:30 PM hoping to keep the drive in the five to six hour range and be in Eugene in time for dinner.

7:30 PM I arrived.

SEVEN THIRTY!!

Have I got a few things to say about that.

Read Breweries, Wineries, Sailing, Oh My!

Everett: Why I'm Here

2009-07-22T00:50:00.001-05:00

It's Raining...In The Kitchen

I didn't mistweet, it really was raining in my kitchen this morning. Why is it every time I leave on a business trip all hell breaks loose? Read the Things K Does: #5 if you want it to rain in your kitchen (or if you want to find out how to make sure it won't).

As promised previously, an explanation of Everett: Why I'm Here

With partners and suppliers all over the world, technology plays a huge role in allowing us to communicate requirements and status. There is no true substitute however for hands on experience. So for the next four weeks, I am here in Everett to meet our teammates stationed here, get first hand experience with the various systems I will be using in San Antonio, and hopefully to actually see and touch the airplane.

Click Here To Read The Rest

On The Road Again

2009-07-19T22:43:00.000-05:00

In the spring of 1999 I got the travel bug, an unawakened passion for visiting new places and experiencing life "on the road". Before that first trip with Medinet, I had never even flown on an airplane. Now, ten year later, I have frequent flyer accounts with nearly every domestic airline in the United States. As I sit here preparing to share the itinerary for my latest adventure, I realize that in ten years, almost without fail, I have been "on the road" every summer. That's something I never expected or even realized until now. In case you missed it, here's a quick recap:

Click Here To Read The Rest

How Good Are You At Deciphering Subtle Messages?

2009-06-30T14:18:00.001-05:00

If you haven't figured it out yet, you probably need to read the latest SBC update (or get your eyes checked).

Click here to read "Wait...what?"

This Week at TRS

2009-06-28T12:21:00.004-05:00

The fascination of "open" in Things Kaitlyn Does #3
Kaitlyn Introduces The Happy Dance in Things Kaitlyn Does #4

Happy Father's Day from Miss K

2009-06-21T09:08:00.004-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables� eCards today!

Some things to keep you entertained:

Jib-Jab Now Has Greeting Cards (Happy Father's Day Grandpa Rhoades!)
Time For Chores and The Things Kaitlyn Does: #2
I've been busy posting a bunch of old email updates to the TRS blog. Remember the smoke alarm, the car alarm, and the hand nod? You'll find them in the Texas updates and the New Mexico updates.

Atlantis Lands (and takes off) In San Antonio!

2009-06-02T21:54:00.004-05:00

In case you missed my tweets today, I had a great opportunity to catch Space Shuttle Atlantis take off from Lackland Air Force Base.

Here's the money shot:

There's also some links on the blog.

It's Hard To Keep Up, I Know

2009-06-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

So, if like me, you're wondering...

Where the hell did the first six months of the year go?

Here's a snapshot of what's been keeping me busy...and amused.

I don't care who you are, this is funny right here:

A Canadian Radio Station and their tribute to President Obama

This one involves an attractive, tech-savvy woman blow drying her hair on the Internet.

I Give Her My Advice

And the first in a series of...

The Things Kaitlyn Does