Born January 22, 1920; Passed December 13, 2009.  On Wednesday, we spent celebrating the life of Helen Pattee.  Greg’s grandmother that raised him while his parents worked.  Helen was an amazing lady who taught in a one room school house in Iowa.  Could you imagine our teachers today, teaching and cooking breakfast and lunch for all their students.  I loved hearing the stories of how there was always plenty of food at Grandma’s house, fresh from the garden.  That explains why Pamela (Greg’s mom) always cooks way too much food.  Grandma Helen was so sweet and called me Greg’s little angel.  Jim, Greg’s cousin Gina’s husband lead a very nice service and rounds of sharing.  He also read Greg’s letter to Helen before she passed away.  Pam picked a great Poem, I would like to share:

 

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on the snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am gentle autumn rain.

 

When you wake in the morning hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die!

So we caved, our 3 year no car family has come to an end.  Yesterday, we purchased a car the new 2010 Lexus 450h.  So the good thing we will be a 1 car family and my goal is to ride my bike to work or take the Microsoft Commuter.  We got a Hybrid to do the best to the environment as possible being a car family.  It is also 4 wheel drive so we can head to the mountain and go snowboarding and cross country skiing.  It is super cool the cruise control can sense the car in front of you and keep the distance between the two cars, so no more slamming on the brake when the dork in front of you slows down.  Also, as a Microsoft Tech Geek it has many super cool tech geek features…. LOVE IT!  Below is a good review I found on the 450h from 4 wheeler magazine:

 

We just returned from a day in northern California testdriving the new Lexus RX 450h, and as you might expect, it’s a rolling encyclopedia of new-car tech. We’ll do our best to explain it all in thumbnails, but suffice to say, it’s a capable and civilized alternative to your run-of-the-mill crossover rigs.

The heart of the RX is the time-proven Toyota 2GR 3.5L V-6 (a variant of which Lotus will be using next year on its GT4 Supersport race cars), which has been refined for this application with the addition of an EGR system for improved emissions and cooling, and an exhaust heat recovery system to aid in quicker heat-up times (i.e., cold-start conditions). The motor also runs an Atkinson-style combustion cycle (the power stroke is longer than the compression stroke), which helps to achieve greater fuel economy and thermal efficiencies at the expense of horsepower. How to remedy? In the RX’s case, two ways.

First, the gas engine works in concert with Lexus Hybrid Drive, a battery-actuated hybrid system similar to Toyota’s (Prius) Hybrid Synergy Drive. The Lexus system can be run for brief periods at high speeds as well as at idle (and during braking) to provide an extra power boost as needed, such as on steep inclines or for passing. In the new RX application, the battery can provide an extra 50 horses to the V-6’s 245, resulting in 295 peak hp at 6,200 rpm. Second, the engine is mated to an electronic CVT transmission. We’re not too keen on these "pointless" gearboxes, but we do know that they have fewer internals to break, are less expensive than a conventional slushbox, and can keep an engine revving in its "sweet spot" longer than fixed-gear transmissions. Add everything up and you arrive at an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway, 28 city, from a V-6 powertrain that is amply powerful, frugal, and super-clean (SULEV-rated) in operation.

The heart of the RX’s all-wheel-drive system is "Active Torque Control," which utilizes a pair of electric motors–one to power the front wheels, the other the rears, each housed in a gear-driven transaxle–to provide front-to-rear torque bias. The RX operates under normal conditions as a conventional front-drive. When wheel slippage is detected, the system activates an electromagnetic clutch-drive coupling device bolted to the rear differential to transfer power, front to rear, at splits of up to 55/45. (A third electric motor under the hood acts as a starter to power the batteries, and can recharge the other motors as needed.) An onboard power inverter boosts battery voltage to 600-plus, and converts the juice from DC to AC to drive the electric motors. Have we lost you yet?

The RX’s suspension is independent at both ends–the rear double-wishbone configuration a new feature for 2010–with two-mode onboard shock tuning for sport/touring functions, and standard wheels are 18-inch alloys, with 19s optional. Ground clearance, at under 7 inches, is less than optimal, and our tester’s 55-series Michelins, while sure-footed on pavement, don’t lend much sidewall for dirt duties. Thankfully, the Lexus’ interior is what you’d expect from this marque, with its trademark wooden steering wheel and leather everywhere. Shucks, this thing’s nicer inside than my house! (It’s probably worth more than my house is by now, too, but that’s another story.)

Picture of Greg and I, the salesman Dave and our new girl…

This was my last trip in CEE as the CEE Area  IT Pro Lead.  It was a very fruitful discussion around Mid Year Review and H2 Planning.  We had great discussion and sharing of best practices across the region.  The amount of work and creative marketing that these teams can do with such little resources is amazing!  I also had the opportunity to have a great discussion with Gabi.  He is our BG Lead in Romania and he is finishing up his MBA and we had a very interesting discussion on the subject of Influence, Power and Authority.  I had an opportunity to have my last discussion  with my IT Pro Leads in Slovakia and in Czech Republic.  Radim allowed me to volunteer him to present IT Pro execution from Czech Republic.  I will miss Radim and Peter it has been a great experience with them both. 

 

On the last day we had an opportunity to take a walking tour of Bratislava, Slovakia.  This is one of my favorite cities, such rich culture, stories and absolutely cute village!  Did you know that Bratislava was the capital of the Hungarian-Austrian Empire.  Let me give you some facts on Bratislava from their tourist website.  Known as Pressburg to German-speakers or Pozsony to Hungarian-speakers, Bratislava got its present name only 90 years ago.  But the city has a long and proud history that dates back to pre-Roman times.  The hillsides on the edge of the city have been home to vineyards for centuries, and close to Bratislava are wine towns where you can taste the best – and it is startlingly good! – that Slovakia has to offer.  In the city itself there is plenty to see and do.  Bratislava’s long history – as home to Celts, Romans, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, and of course Slovaks – means there is an impressive range of architecture, languages and cuisine.  The handsome homes of the Austro-Hungarian noble families who built palaces here dot the city, and many of them are now open to the public as museums and galleries.  The castle, with its long and chequered history (it has been destroyed more than once), is now undergoing a major restoration.  There are great views over the mediaeval old town and the Danube valley from its fortifications.  Bratislava was once one of the most important centres of Jewish learning in Europe.  A unique memorial to its most renowned rabbi, the Chatam Sofer, and the city’s Museum of Jewish Culture celebrate this heritage.  Communism too left its mark: across the river, the unmistakable ranks of concrete housing blocks – paneláky in Slovak – line the horizon, with the unique UFO-style New Bridge in the foreground.  The Danube River itself is, of course, one of the city’s main assets.  There are several cafes along its banks, within walking distance of the centre.  The ‘UFO’ itself contains an eponymous bar high above the river.  The pedestrian decks of the New and Old Bridges are good places to watch the river traffic, including huge Danube barges, glide past.  Alternatively, you can take to the water yourself: daily hydrofoil services link the city with nearby Vienna.  A succession of four- and five-star hotels have opened in the city over the past few years and quality accommodation is now readily available.  There are also more cheap options than ever before, with several backpacker hostels in the centre of town.  Big pop acts often play concerts in Bratislava, while the Slovak Philharmonic and the opera and ballet of the Slovak National Theatre regularly put on world-class performances.  Numerous restaurants offering international cuisine – from Slovak to French to Argentinian to Japanese – and excellent local beer and wine fill the city centre, alongside lively bars, lounges and clubs.  If, having enjoying the food and drink, you feel like walking – or biking – there are almost unlimited opportunities in the forested hills to the north of the city, or along the Danube to the south, where inline skating is also very popular on the scores of kilometres of traffic-free paths.

 

Some pictures of my last trip.  I love you guys- please stay in touch and do amazing things in Microsoft Central Eastern Europe!  See you in Redmond or MGX!