Let's Ride - Fred Faulkner's Blog About the Road Called Life

I was in Seattle this last couple of days on a business trip and had a few hours to explore the wonderful city. There is obviously way more to see in Seattle than eight hours permits. I only got to truly see about half of what I wanted to explore–and that was just in the downtown area. Here are some observations from a Chicago visitor.

Did you hear that? Many might wonder what that statement is about, but if you are from Chicago it doesn't take long to figure out that strange noise when you walk around Seattle. By strange noise I refer to the lack of cars obscenely honking their horns at other drivers. The absence of it is deafening.

Pike Market Place This was a cool experience. Sensory overload in some places with the scents of fresh flowers mixed with fresh fish. My nose didn’t know what to do. The Market was a very busy on the afternoon I visited it. I resisted purchasing some fresh fish to be overnighted home because it could have gotten REALLY expensive. Salmon was often over $12 a pound, and when you see an entire fish without the head just sitting there…my pocketbook was happy it stayed in my pocket. But the fish came in that day so I guess it is the freshness that drives price.

I did purchase an apple...but that was only $.86. I was able to handle that.

First Starbucks Coffee Shop Seattle is home to Starburks and I had to go see where it all started. The original store is located down by Pike Place Market. It is a small shop, but in all honesty I wasn't all that impressed. I really expected it to have some of its origins in it. Not necessarily like a museum, but to have more than just the Starbucks menu because it was a tea and spices shop as well. Nope, nothing like that there. I did, however, purchase a coffee mug that is only sold at that location. It has the original logo and the current logo on it.

Bike to Work Day is Really Everyday The first morning I was in Seattle I was up early because my body was still on Central time. I had some time before I had my first meeting that day so I took a walk. I got a Starbucks coffee and took a stroll down to the Space Needle. On my walk I saw a ton of people riding their bikes to work. This was exponentially expanded when returning from my meeting at Microsoft and saw a ton of bike riders heading home from work on a designated bike path right off the highway!! It didn’t matter if they were going uphill or downhill, rain or shine (it was raining that afternoon), biking to work is a popular thing. Good for them!

The Mono-El I love the "L" in Chicago. We have a great transist system that gets us around the city. Seattle has a great monorail system for tourists and other locals, but apparently the engineers were not that smart when building one particular area. The Monorail was down because two trains crashed together while on a curve last November. Apparently it is the only part of the system where the tracks are just a little too close together for two trains to get by at the same time. Engineers thought with how the system was set up that there would never be an incident because two trains should never be on that same part of the track at the same time. Well it happened. So ended up walking down to the Space Needle that morning, but it was cool to see the tracks overhead like the modern day "L" that it is.

Seattle is also building a light rail system out to the airport from downtown that is expected to be complete in 2009. The tracks look very similar to the monorail's system, so I can only assume they will be using similar cars and tracks.

Great Sports Complex I went to see a Mariners game while there. My co-workers and I took a stroll down to the park from our hotel and found that Seattle has a very nice sports complex with Quest Field and Safeco Field right next to each other. Not only is it nice to see to larger stadiums have similar architecture queues, it was very family friendly and easily accessible. Safeco Park had to be, by far, the best baseball park I've been to. Don't get me wrong, I still love Wrigley for all its heritage and atmosphere, but when it comes to space, variety, and family oriented parks, Safeco is by far the best I've been to. Wide walk-ways. Great views of the city and water area. Beautiful design. It doesn’t get much better than that. And unlike Comisky (U.S. Cellular Field) you can roam around the entire park, and each level, without restriction (except for the club level). So instead of being restricted to the 300 level where our seats were we were able to walk around the 100 level without any problems.

To Do for Next Trip

Pictures: Check out some of the pictures I took from my trip.

Props to Keith Robinson for pointing me to Kell's Irish Bar while in town. Thanks Keith! Good call.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 08:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'll be in Seattle later this week for a meeting. I'll have some free time, but not a ton. Mostly on Saturday afternoon/evening. Anyone out there who reads want to get together for a beer? Drop me a line at faulknef [at] gmail.com.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 08:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was too tired when I got home to post this, but here is how my flight home from Washington DC transpired.

5:30 PM: I'm writing this from Washington Reagan Airport in DC with hopes that the airplane for my flight back to Chicago gets here soon. Since I arrived at around 4:45 I found that my 5:53 flight to Chicago was delayed to 6:40. At first, I didn't think that was all that bad, but now it is delayed until 7:15. I know I shouldn't complain because at least I still have a flight home and it hasn't been cancelled. I'm lucky in the fact that in all my travel as an adult I've never had to deal with a "horror story." You know, the ones where you miss your connecting flight by 10 minutes or the airport gives you a bunch of BS on the reason why your flight is delayed.

So here I sit in the airport (no wireless?!!) and a screaming kid just sat down next to me. Ugh.

Update: 6:30 PM: The plane at Gate 28 that just rolled in needs to move over one spot to Gate 30.

Update 2: 6:51 PM: Plane finally got here. Looks like we might leave close to on time depending if they can turn around the baggage and passengers quick enough.

Update 3:10:20 PM: Finally made it home. My bed is looking way too good right now.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 08:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had the pleasure of speaking at, and attending, BlawgThink! 2005. I give it a year because I'm pretty confident that this is not going to be the last one. This two day conference gave me a chance to not only flex my knowledge muscles about blogging, but to meet some people face to face who I have been reading for a while. (Note: I met a lot of people who I have not read before, but have been added to my aggregator for sure!)

I spoke on the topic of How'd you do that? Technical tips, tricks, and problem-solving techniques. I gave the basic run-down of what NOT to do when enhancing your blog with cool widgets and plug-ins. I've been through a couple of these littel snafus my self in the last six months (hence the basic blog design you see today) so I felt OK talking about the topic. Based on that presentation I'll be creating a nice little resource area soon that will highlight the "no-nos" of enhancing your blog as well as a link library to some cool things to do.

So the first day was all about prepared sessions. I filled in for the Why blog design matters session for Peter Flaschner who was ill and couldn't make it the first day. (Note #2: Peter is a great guy and I'm really glad I got to meet him the second day. Need blog design work done..check him out.) Accompanying me was Kevin O'Keefe and Dennis Kennedy. Overall I heard nothing but positive things.

The second day was an Open Space session that had the agenda set by the attendees. We created sessions about the topics we wanted to talk about regarding blogs. Some of the sessions ranged from "Finding Your Voice" to "How to Leverage Blogs and RSS to Create Value to Clients." Each topic was a come as you are and leave when you want attitude. Wierd to experience for those who are used to traditional conferences. But I think everyone "got it" by the end of the day.

So after two days of interacting with some of the best minds in legal blogging and meeting those excited on the topic here are some quick reactions:

* Awesome energy
* Great sessions
* Mind Manager Rules!
* Fabulous networking (wish I could have met more)
* Father + son with the same name attending same conference = topic of conversation
* Relaxing, yet energizing environment (Catalyst Ranch)
* Passionate people

Thanks to Matt Homann and Dennis for putting on a great conference.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm in Orlando (Disney World Resort) on a business trip and got some free time to visit some of the theme parks. Thusday night I visited Epcot as it is right down the boardwalk from where I am staying. I got an afternoon pass and went with some colleagues after we were done with a reception.

It has been a while since I have been to Disney World, let alone on one of their fandangled virtual reality rides. We first we went on Test Track, sponsored by GM, which was very cool, and long. I enjoyed hauling about 70 mph in an open topped car at night. What I didn't care for was the next ride. We went on Mission: Space, a brand new ride that replaced Body Wars at Epcot. You are part of a four person team that gets into a pod and has to navigate to Mars through space. I was the Navigator. We got into this pod, strapped in, and then got to play with a controller stick and flashy buttons you would see in a space shuttle. The entire ride was narrated by Gary Sinese, which was cool. Now when you visit the theme parks at Disney you really need to listen to the warning when they plaster them all over the waiting area. Such as "Motion Sick, Confined Spaces, exit now." I thought I might be over my motion sick problems (though I still take Dramamine on flights) so I went on the ride. WRONG....was I ever so wrong. It took a whole whopping 10 seconds for me to realize how big of a mistake this was. No I didn't get sick on the ride (thank the lord), but I was not the same after I got off. Oh, it hit me hard. It was a long, slow walk back to the hotel room as I dealt with "ugh...*cough cough*...ugh" back to my room.

Otherwise Disney has been a great experience for what I have been able to visit. Magic Kingdom was just how I remembered it. Space Mountain is still a cool ride as is the Indy Speedway cars. Last time I got on those I was in fifth grade about 15 years ago. Still had fun.

Back home tomorrow to good ole Chi-town...can't wait for that either.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I know Let's Ride has been dormant for the last few weeks (outside of yesterday's posts), but there has been a good reason. My department at work put on its annual legal technology conference this last weekend called ABA TECHSHOW, which has consumed my life for the last three weeks. This year's conference was what I would call a huge success. We had about 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services in our exhibition hall; we had over 50 educational sessions in 12 distinct tracks; and finally a kick-butt WiFi cloud from Intel to keep all the attendees connected. This year we had our highest attendance in the last ten, which was great for exhibitors. They received a lot of traffic and were very happy from the ones I spoke to.

Our keynote speaker was Eugene Lee, a vice president from Adobe Systems, Inc. He discussed some of his views on the use of technology in law firms and how Adobe was meeting some of those needs through Acrobat. While I was floating around during sessions I found that some of the Interest Group Roundtables were very well attended due to their topics such as RSS and News Aggregators and tips on how to convert your firm to a paperless office.

Continue reading "Where Has Fred and Let's Ride Been??" »

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 08:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've been back from Colorado for about a week now. It was a good time. I got a little sick off of the fine barley and hops of the Colorado brew Fat Tire. That multiplied with an altitude of 6000 feet made for an interesting next day to say the least. I had a wierd feeling when I woke up and out my balcony saw the antennas of N.O.R.A.D. on the mountain side in the distance. Makes you wonder...who picked that particular mountain to stick one of the most sophisticated communications systems in the world in? And why Colorado Springs?

Anyway, if you ever have the money and the time I highly suggest a couple days at The Broadmoor.

Great resort. Great food. Good times had by all. Now back to work.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm off to Colorado Springs tomorrow morning for five days of business at The Broadmoor for work. Lucky for me I'll also get to catch up with Dennis and Tom, which I don't do enough as it is.

The news of the day is that mother nature dropped five inches of snow on The Broadmoor and seven inches in Colorado Springs. I'm not ready for snow yet.

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 08:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Goodbye Chicago, Hello Sin City!

I'm taking a vacation, a hiatus, a short trip to the other side of the moon. Red or black. Hit or stay. Double Down or Surrender. Come on Snake Eyes!! I'm heading to Vegas and I won't be back until Monday.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas....but I'm with my wife and friends...so there will be none of that!

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 08:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm in the Big Easy this weekend for business and I have to say this is an interesting experience thus far. No other place I have been to has such open drinking laws. Our hotel is on the edge of the Quarter and right on Bourbon Street, so it makes it very easy to stumble back to the hotel after a night of drinking. EVERYTHING is on Bourbon Street. Bars, clubs, "ladies" clubs, live music, shops, you name it.

The first night I was here a bunch of us wound up walking around after dinner and it was amazing to see everyone with open beers/alcohol. Now this is what Chicago needs to have going on. Not just for a limited time like at the Taste of Chicago, but year-round up in the Wrigley area. Well, that would probably cause too much chaos I suppose. It is also the first weekend of JazzFest, so the laws might be a little loose right now. But the whole "bead ritual" still happens after Mardi Gras.

Tonight I plan on heading to dinner and making my way out on to Bourbon Street for some good live music and some fun.

I still have my places I need to go to before I leave town on Sunday. I need to get my collection glass from Hard Rock Cafe. I might get some stuff from House of Blues too (the original is down here). Maybe I'll do some shopping tonight before I party. Let the debauchery begin. ;-)

Posted by Frederick L. Faulkner IV at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)