Scalawag Mobile Blog

Sunrise over the mighty Mississippi

2012-01-19T04:30:00.000-08:00

Sent from my iPhone

Jambalaya and alligator sausage

2012-01-18T20:08:00.001-08:00

Sent from my iPhone

Party on the Superdome 50 yard line

2012-01-18T20:06:00.000-08:00

Sent from my iPhone

Home at last!

2012-01-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas tree shopping

2011-12-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

"Aunt-Artica" joined the family for Christmas tree shopping and decorating.

Harold's first limo ride

2011-12-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

After a 13.5 hour flight, the best way to travel home is in a stretch limo. Of course, if you checked 10 pieces of luggage, it is the *only* way to travel home.

Upgrade

2011-12-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

After helping pilot the flight, Harold relaxed in his international business class seat and read a copy of the International "Harold" Tribune.

Cockpit crew

2011-12-20T03:30:00.001-08:00

Captain Leila, co-pilot Harold, and Navigator Rick in the cockpit of the 747 on the way from Frankfurt to SF.

Leila preparing to fly back to SF

2011-12-20T03:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, she IS in the pilot's seat!!

Snow in Frankfurt

2011-12-20T02:27:00.000-08:00

First snow of the season hit Frankfurt today. Lots of delays. We will also enjoy the thrill of walking down the stairs onto the tarmac to get on a bus to the terminal. Leila can't wait to walk in the snow!

Ready for the taxi.....

2011-12-19T22:22:00.000-08:00

... to the airport with just a few pieces of light luggage!

Paris Christmas carnival

2011-12-19T05:07:00.001-08:00

The last night in Paris Rick, Leila, and "Uni" try the "Pirates" ride at the Jour de Fetes in the Grand Palais.

Moving day

2011-12-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

Here's the stack for the air shipment. Next step, pack for our flight.

End of Fall Semester

2011-12-16T22:38:00.001-08:00

Leila finished her fall semester today and is celebrating the beginning of the holiday break with her friend Anne Lise.

Eureka, Chimay!

2011-12-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

The internet says that one cannot see the brewery or production facilities, but today I was lucky. I promised not to post any pictures of my private tour on the net, but can show them to my friends when I see you next.

And yes, Leila, it is true that the best beer in the world is brewed by Belgian monks!

Pilgrimage

2011-12-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

On my way to Germany, I took a detour through Belgium. Take a close look at the sign and see if you recognize the name of my favorite beer.

Crisp fall morning

2011-11-22T01:16:00.001-08:00

The Metro died today, so I had to walk to work. It was a beautiful crisp fall morning in Paris.

Bunsy arrives in Paris

2011-11-13T01:28:00.000-08:00

and we went straight to the Patisserie!

Leila visiting the Christmas windows at the Grand Magasins

2011-11-12T04:31:00.000-08:00

Madrid's Arch

2011-11-08T11:49:00.001-08:00

I am visiting Madrid and here is their version of the Arch de Triomphe. I have seen similar arches in most European capital cities.

Leila's Paris reunion

2011-11-05T01:11:00.001-07:00

Leila's friends do not want her to leave the "welcome back" dinner party.

Back in Paris

2011-11-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Fall break is over and now we are back at school and work.

Trollop looking "Yarrr" at South Beach

2011-11-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Leila's bake sale, part two

2011-10-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

After some success at the downhill park, Leila decided to try the dog park because there are lots more people there that probably have money.

Leila's bake sale

2011-10-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

One customer so far, but the entrepreneur remains optimistic.

San Francisco Sunrise

2011-10-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

The original entre-cote

2011-10-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Enjoying dinner with Patrick Carroll from SF at Paris' "Le Relais de Venise", the original creators of the Parisian entre-cote steaks.

Back in Milan

2011-10-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

The cathedral at city center is undergoing some construction, but is still as beautiful as ever.

Lunching with the Fords along the Champs Elysee

2011-10-08T05:37:00.001-07:00

Notre Dame

2011-09-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Friday evening out in Paris

Whole paycheck

2011-09-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to SF where one grocery bag from Whole Foods costs $135!

Back in California!

2011-09-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

Lake Como

2011-09-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Seeing the sights in our micro-car, the Fiat 500.

Maastricht

2011-09-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

In the low country.

Dusseldorf

2011-09-15T06:12:00.001-07:00

I flew here, to drive through Belgium, to the Netherlands, to meet a customer from Saudi. Now that's international!

Seafood in Paris

2011-09-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

Oh la la!

First day of school

2011-09-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

Leila has now entered the fourth grade. On the first day she brought all the notebooks and paper, which actually filled up our rolling shopping bag. Between the shopping bag and Leila's backpack, I'll bet that the books and supplies weighed more than she did!

CDG Sunset

2011-09-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Back in Paris; waiting in long taxi line; entertained by setting sun.

Somewhere in Greece

2011-09-01T07:36:00.001-07:00

I cannot pronounce the name of the city, but the weather is perfect and the terrain looks like southern California.

Athens

2011-08-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

I am back in Athens on a business trip, with great nautical inspiration right outside my hotel room.

Venice!

2011-08-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

After navigating several delta areas and the Venice Lagoon from the south, we have finally entered the historic city of Venice.

Coffee break in Italy

2011-08-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Note that there is not any coffee on the table yet, but there are 3 iPads and one PC! We found an internet oasis in the land of good food, good wine, and no connectivity.

Pork around the world

2011-08-13T03:47:00.000-07:00

The best pork sandwiches are in Monte San Savino. They hold the world record for the longest "porchetta" at 45 meters!

Eating our way through Italy

2011-08-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

French Alps

2011-08-05T09:19:00.001-07:00

Half way to Italy. Met a local girl named "Heidi".

Grama and Grandpa en route to Italy

2011-08-05T06:38:00.001-07:00

In week 5 of their European tour, today we left Paris and are heading south towards the Alps.

Times Square

2011-07-20T16:21:00.001-07:00

Is still hoping!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

New York City?

2011-07-19T17:35:00.001-07:00

Since when does doing large deals for EMEA include trips to NYC? Oh well, I am not going to complain about a chance to visit the Big Apple!
Best regards,

Rick O'Rourke
SAP EMEA
+33 (0)6 09 82 86 26

Brasserie finale

2011-07-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Enjoying our last dinner in a typical Parisian restaurant.

Outline of Sarge

2011-07-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

In front of outline of Tour Eiffel

Sarge de Triomphe

2011-07-14T05:09:00.001-07:00

March de Triomphe!

2011-07-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

At the Julliet 14 parade

Sarge in Paris!

2011-07-13T23:29:00.000-07:00

Sarge has safely arrived to celebrate his birthday and b. Bastille Day!

Dinner with Eubankorato's

2011-07-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the micro brews at Frog 16.

New apartment tour - bedroom

2011-07-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the bedrooms. It is a bit hard to see without a wide angle lens, but it does have its own bathroom.

New apartment tour - kitchen

2011-07-09T07:51:00.001-07:00

The kitchen is recently refinished with the modern gear, including an "American Refrigerator", which is a rare item here.

New apartment tour - dining room

2011-07-09T07:49:00.002-07:00

New apartment tour - living room again

2011-07-09T07:49:00.001-07:00

And here is the other side of the living room.

New apartment tour - living room

2011-07-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here is one side of the living room.

New apartment tour - entry

2011-07-09T07:47:00.001-07:00

Many people have been asking for shots of the new apartment, so here you go. This is the entrance hall, complete with unopened packing boxes at the end of the hall!

Eubanks - Comporato visit

2011-07-09T07:26:00.001-07:00

John and Andrea, along with Lisette and Kristina, stopped by Paris for a few days at the end of their European vacation. Their flight out was canceled, so I'll get to see them for one more day.

Bibi goes home

2011-07-05T01:04:00.001-07:00

Bibi at CDG ready to fly to California.

Moving Day, part 2

2011-07-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

We have definitely improved our living circumstances! The new landlords brought a bottle of champagne to welcome us.

Moving Day, part 1

2011-07-01T02:32:00.001-07:00

Leaving the old apartment. Note how much of the wall fell down behind the armoire. And yes, those black spots are mold.

Dessert arrived

2011-07-01T02:30:00.000-07:00

Ooh la la, we must extend the strike!

On strike in Paris

2011-07-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

Our close friend Susan, an American who moved to France years ago, is on strike from her job with a large French organization. In solidarity with her Socialist colleagues, we all went out for a traditional French lunch including Chateaubriande and Bordeaux, for only $150 per person. Vive la France!

Last day of school

2011-06-27T23:22:00.001-07:00

Today is Leila's last day of the third grade (CE2 in France). It seems we just posted a similar photo of her first day of school. My how time flies!

Leila loves convertibles!

2011-06-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Cruising in a '67 Mustang

2011-06-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

A friend invited us for an official French lunch on Sunday. We started around 1 and finished about 6, including getting to go for a ride in his mint condition 1967 Mustang!

The best way to finish a Girl Scouts USA campout

2011-06-19T03:33:00.000-07:00

Go to the USA's most famous fast food joint!

Leila's first Brownie overnight campout

2011-06-18T02:56:00.000-07:00

St Sulpice antique market

2011-06-12T05:16:00.001-07:00

Big Ben

2011-06-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Big Ben is still keeping time in London!

Back in Warsaw

2011-06-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

A trip to meet a customer for 1 hour in Warsaw turned into an overnight trip. At least the business looks good!

Brittany tides

2011-06-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

Same view, 6 hours later.

Carnac weekend

2011-06-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the view from the house of our friends the Daguzans. It is in Brittany where the tidal range is 18 feet. The bay you see here has boats sitting in the mud now, but by sunset they will all be floating.

Athens beach front

2011-06-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

My latest meeting is at this gorgeous resort on the sea in Athens. Unfortunately, like most business travel, all my time was spent in meeting rooms and I did not get to see the beach or swim in the ocean. Oh well, at least I got to see a couple mega yachts cruising along the Greek coast!

Notre Dame

2011-05-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

A perfect late spring day with Aunt Lorraine in Paris.

French Open

2011-05-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

We are at Roland Garros, but our tickets only allow us to watch the courts where noone is playing!

Warsaw's "eighth sister"

2011-05-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

At the end of WWII, the retreating Germans bombed all the buildings in Warsaw, so everything here is new (by European standards). The older-style building shown here was built by the Russians as a gift to the Polish people, and is modeled after the "seven sisters" in Moscow. It was assembled using materials from destroyed monuments across Poland at the end of the war.

Warsaw luxury

2011-05-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

My hotel room in Warsaw is both huge and has a nespresso machine! Sometimes you get lucky.

Dinner at Les Hautes Roches

2011-05-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Loire Valley birthday weekend

2011-05-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Rick and Melane headed south of Paris to the Loire Valley to celebrate Mel's birthday. The weekend is starting off very well!

DMV update

2011-05-19T02:38:00.001-07:00

We just met a couple from Canada who said this is their sixth visit to this office. It is only our second visit, so maybe we'll get to do this several more times!

French DMV

2011-05-19T02:17:00.000-07:00

At the DMV in Paris trying to convert our US licenses into French ones. So far we have gone to the window three times, and are not really sure how many times they will call us back and ask us to wait again. I like to think of this as an adventure, except that I never thought I could die of boredom during an adventure!

Day tripper

2011-05-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Today I went to London for a meeting. The Eurostar train is fast and I can work the whole way across. It is a shame that the US is so far behind in deploying a fast rail network.

Leila's new glasses!

2011-05-17T12:17:00.001-07:00

London west end theater

2011-05-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to finish work in time to take in a show. I figure "Les Miserables" will be important cultural background for living in Paris.

London St Pancras station

2011-05-04T11:41:00.001-07:00

This where the Eurostar train lands. They are already preparing for the Olympics.

Eurostar to London

2011-05-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

Today I am taking a day trip to London. Here is the Eurostar train which will take me from Paris to London in 2h 15m. The trip includes a 20 minute ride through the "Chunnel", a tunnel that goes under the English Channel.

Parc Monceau

2011-05-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Enjoying lunch on a beautiful spring day in Paris.

Abu Dhabi

2011-04-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Yas hotel skylight lounge with Cuz Kemp

Dubai harbor

2011-04-28T04:30:00.001-07:00

Here is the view from the SAP office in Dubai. It's about 100 degrees outside, and the people in the boats have the right idea!

Welcome to Riyadh

2011-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of those trips where you spend all afternoon and evening in taxis, airports, and immigration lines and get to the hotel too late to actually see any sights. So to show I am actually in Saudi Arabia, here is a picture of the store across the street from my hotel room, where you can see the arabic signs. I think it sells washing machines. Oh, the glamor of international travel!

Vacation over

2011-04-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

I have stopped in Dubai on the way back from Africa.

Braai in South Africa

2011-04-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

The last night of our South Africa tour is spent at the home of Martli and Phil enjoying an authentic South African BBQ. Phil is manning the "Jet Master", which we are figuring out how to import to the US.

Cape of Good Hope

2011-04-17T05:31:00.000-07:00

We have made it to the bottom of Africa. You can't see it in the photo, but the wind is blowing 50 knots. I understand why the first sailors wanted to call this "The Cape of Storms".

Africa tour phase two: Cape Town

2011-04-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

Here is Melane's report on her first day in Cape Town with Leila while Rick was still working in Joburg:

Just returned from an all day guided tour of the Cape area. We went out on a boat to see cape seals, went to a penguin colony, took a funicular to the top of Cape Point where we saw the lighthouse, had lunch at a beautiful view restaurant where baboons tried to steal our food, saw ostriches and snakes on the road, and went to the Botanical Gardens. We're tired, but it was a great intro to the area.

Ostrich steaks

2011-04-12T10:47:00.001-07:00

A regular African staple. And Melané says, "can I please trade for Rick's lasagne?".

Arrived in Africa

2011-04-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Leila and I have safely arrived at the bottom of the world. Due to a massive screw up by Lufthansa, Melané had to stay an extra day in Frankfurt and will join us tomorrow. I see that my camera is still set in Northern-Hemisphere-mode, and will update the setting so the next pictures come out right side up.

Scalawag Mobile Blog

Sunrise over the mighty Mississippi

Jambalaya and alligator sausage

Party on the Superdome 50 yard line

Home at last!

Christmas tree shopping

Harold's first limo ride

Upgrade

Cockpit crew

Leila preparing to fly back to SF

Snow in Frankfurt

Ready for the taxi.....

Paris Christmas carnival

Moving day

End of Fall Semester

Eureka, Chimay!

Pilgrimage

Crisp fall morning

Bunsy arrives in Paris

Leila visiting the Christmas windows at the Grand Magasins

Madrid's Arch

Leila's Paris reunion

Back in Paris

Trollop looking "Yarrr" at South Beach

Leila's bake sale, part two

Leila's bake sale

San Francisco Sunrise

The original entre-cote

Back in Milan

Lunching with the Fords along the Champs Elysee

Notre Dame

Whole paycheck

Back in California!

Lake Como

Maastricht

Dusseldorf

Seafood in Paris

First day of school

CDG Sunset

Somewhere in Greece

Athens

Venice!

Coffee break in Italy

Pork around the world

Eating our way through Italy

French Alps

Grama and Grandpa en route to Italy

Times Square

New York City?

Brasserie finale

Outline of Sarge

Sarge de Triomphe

March de Triomphe!

Sarge in Paris!

Dinner with Eubankorato's

New apartment tour - bedroom

New apartment tour - kitchen

New apartment tour - dining room

New apartment tour - living room again

New apartment tour - living room

New apartment tour - entry

Eubanks - Comporato visit

Bibi goes home

Moving Day, part 2

Moving Day, part 1

Dessert arrived

On strike in Paris

Last day of school

Leila *loves* convertibles!

Cruising in a '67 Mustang

The best way to finish a Girl Scouts USA campout

Leila's first Brownie overnight campout

St Sulpice antique market

Big Ben

Back in Warsaw

Brittany tides

Carnac weekend

Athens beach front

Notre Dame

French Open

Leila loves convertibles!