First, I have the wonderful opportunity to work with a bunch of brilliant people every day.

Second, I get to travel from time to time to our off-site facilities.

This week, I’ve been able to combine the two and have been on the road with three other guys from work.

With few exceptions (to be exact; severn, including the Dunkin Donuts safari), it’s been great. We’ve gotten a bunch of work done and had a good time.

When talking to one of my coworkers, we agreed that the road trip is a pivotal event. You either leave and come back better friends or leave and decide that you never want to go on a company road trip again.

In my case, I would go anytime with these guys.

Thank you gentlemen. It has been my pleasure.

First of all, I’d like to say, “Mom. You ROCK!”

Secondly, I want to talk about the odd behavior that was had by me at Disneyland.

Having done automation and control a bit in a previous job, going to Disneyland is part entertainment, part fantasy and part occupational curiosity. On California Screaming [0], we spent the 10 minutes before and after riding looking at the control systems for launching the cars (a magnetic drive system). We rode Pirates of the Carribean looking back often to find the location of as many cameras, doors and control system components as possible.

I even went so far as to wonder what their maintenance records looked like to find out how they “prove” that the rides they’re making are safe.

The trip was great. I can’t wait to go again. I wish that I could go on a tour of the operation of the park.

I love to find out how things work.

[0] This is a GREAT ride. It’s not overly scary and is a long, enjoyable coaster.

This was copied from the vim website, so all copyrights{lefts} are theirs and theirs alone.