Memories of East Berlin

I sit where, 24 years ago, I crossed into East Berlin with my parents. Memories flood back - not going near the wall for fear of being shot, the DDR soldiers with sharp green uniforms watching our bus holding machine guns when going through Checkpoint Charlie, my dad in his USAF uniform scaring me a little as we cross into the Soviet bloc, strange feelings of unease as we walk through the city in our stylish clothes amongst the drabness of the Easterners.

Now here I sit looking at Checkpoint Charlie from a cafe called "Snack Point Charlie". The checkpoint is rebuilt now and you can get your photo with a cute US Army guy and DDR soldier girl, flag in hand, for 2 €. Souvenir shops abound with replicant DDR hats and flags, signs you can bring home announcing "you are leaving the American sector" and even a Checkpoint Charlie candy bar. Such is commercialism. Welcome to the West!

But amidst all this are my memories. I can't help but be moved as I walk past remnants of the wall, and the cobblestone line in the street tracing where it once stood. There used to be a death wall here! People DIED here trying to escape to freedom. The epitome of suppression adjacent to such opportunity for expression, a wall separating the two and armed soldiers enforcing it.

Among all the postcards and mugs at this cafe are young Americans born since the wall fell. To them it is a history lesson and a souvenir. I had a beer at Checkpoint Charlie they will tell their friends back in Chattanooga and Phoenix. For only 5€ I could even keep the glass! See!

To me, it is memories of those feelings I once had. I am always touched by stories of oppression, and this one hits me personally. I saw it. I experienced it. 24 years ago. And I remember.

It is my life... And I am moved.
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Gas Mask for sale

Welcome to Berlin!
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Going to T5 at Heathrow

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White Sangria at S Congress Cafe, Austin

Last day is great! Very relaxed.

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Poolin' in Austin

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My beer in Austin

.. And only $2 at the Thirsty Nickel !
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Saturday morning market in Zurich

Right outside of the hotel before my flight... Classical music, cheese, flowers, meats and sausages, and more flowers!
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Decided to go to the city center, stroll around the old streets and tour the cathedrals. Great end to the trip, home tomorrow!

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Market Day in Zurich Part 2

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Market Day in Zurich

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Zurich Day 2

In front of Oerlikon bahnhof.
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View from my room in Zurich

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Zurich Day 1 commentary

Arrived a few hours ago. Slept about 4 hours on the flight. Weather perfect 75 and sunny. At a cafe having lunch and an Eichof beer. Not at the Park Hyatt - rate is nearly $1,000 a night - so at the Swissotel at a more reasonable $250 a night for a room as big as my closet. North end of town, not near tourist area. Likely may just stay up here today; it is Sunday so all the stores are closed. Not much to do downtown if that is the case. I ran 4k and exercised already so that is good... I have a work function later and have to do some work tonight before I go to bed, so taking it easy.
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Zurich Day 1

Gorgeous weather about 75 light breeze!

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Party in Anaheim

Here is where my vendors party is!
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My view from the bar in Cancun

Long day of work and at least the view is a great reward!

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Cancun Day 1

Must be 90 degrees and humid as all hell. Water gorgeous but barely saw it as I worked all day... Depart on Weds.

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Wow! Ran this in exactly 20:00! I finished 30 out of 1,592 people, or top 2%. Within my age/gender group, I finished 2nd of 60, or top 3.3% Check out the results:
http://www.theracershub.com/results_view.php?id=526&result_type=db

I supposedly won something, we shall see....

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Sierra and Sage at Millenium Park

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Race #2

Just before the 3.5 mile J.P Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. Finished at 22.13 minutes!
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Bark in the Park 2009

Roxi as usual on her own!

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Race to Wrigley 5k

I'm not big into running; actually, I don't like it very much, but I'm athletic so I decided to set a goal to place maybe in the top 500 for a race in Chicago.

I well achieved my goal. I placed 133rd out of 3,123 or 9 out of 109 in my gender/age group. That's top 5% overall and top 9% by group. My pace was 6:58. I'm a bit stunned that I did so well. This motivates me to do the Run for the Zoo in June.

Results: http://theracershub.com/results_view.php?id=497&result_type=db

Seven years ago I did a run in East Lansing, MI - Bob's 5k for the Listening Ear Center with my friend Michelle. With no training, I placed 5th of 10 in my group, 48th of 304, or a pace of 6:36. So 7 years later with training, I'm able to only lose a bit of my pace - but in such a huge event place much better.

Results from 2002: http://www.kicksports.com/results/02/mi/Jun23_Bobs5K_set1.shtml

I am THRILLED!

Go State!

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Final Four Detroit

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My ticket to the Final Four - Detroit

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Magic Kingdom

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Key West to Orlando in 8 hours?!

We hope so! Lunch at Scully's in Boynton Beach. Had to eat a famous "Scullyburger!"

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At Schooners Key West - Day 3

This place is Awesome!!!

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Key West - Day 3

Lounging at the pool...

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Key West - Day 2

Hyatt just caught these fish - African Pompano and Mutton Snapper - and wheeled it past the pool to show us before it is served as catch of the day tonight.

Pool guy is Dan, from MSU with a hotel degree by the way!
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In Key West - Day 1

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Breakfast in South Beach, Miami

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Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

What a great holiday! I haven't thought about work at all, amazing. I am so relaxed!

So far we have done:

Kayaking & snorkeling with sea turtles and tropical fish
Ziplining in the Maui mountains
Been to the Maui aquarium
Went to the La Perouse lava flow
Attended a luau
Saw countless whales breaching all over Maui
Watched surfers do their thing in the North Shore
Bought the perfect Tiki statue
Had a Mai Tai every night
Spent several hours at the USS Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor
Ate at Mama's Fish House - a South Seas Tiki wonder with the best fish ever
Met with wonderful friends and tooled around O'ahu in a convertible
Sampled pineappels at the Dole plantation

Who knows what is in store today... last full day at Waikiki!

- Rhett and Andy

Honolulu Day 1

View from room 3561. Mind blowing!
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Maui - Day 5

View from where I sit... Off to Waikiki later today.

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Maui - Day Four

Ziplining in Kapalua
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Maui Day 2

Lava fields at La Perouse. Miles and miles of it. Wow!
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Maui Day One

Gorgeous!
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Pureto Penasco, Mexico

Beautiful!
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Space Age Lodge, Gila Bend, Arizona

Dinner in a 60s lodge with the Starship Enterprise in the background. Love it!

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Atlanta

In Atlanta for another conference... Great meetings at Georgia Tech. Would definitely come back to this conference next year!

Note the Yellow Jacket statues all over the Global Learning campus.

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Orlando

View from my room @ Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
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I love the bus in Chicago

Woman in leopard pants reading a book called " Some girls are anorexic, some take drugs and alcohol, I chose sex. Loose Girl.". See photo for proof.

Isn't culture great, in all its varieties?
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Las Vegas

Had a conference at Caesar's for a few days and dragged Andrew along. Conference was ok... amazing to see Las Vegas with tons of cranes but no workers, a true sign of the economic decline.

Since I worked most of the time we didn't really have time for a show. We probably gambled and lost around $200 in the slots... weather was hot as usual.

Farmers Market in San Francisco

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San Francisco Day 1

View from my room
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Rain in Montreal

Just arrived and decided to go for a walk, then it proceeded to rain. Looks like a trip to a city with no opportunity to experience the culture!

Some photos from my quick walk attached...
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My 40th in Murphys!

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