Weekly update...

Sorry there hasn't been a lot of news on here. Going to focus on doing a weekly update and hopefully that will get me more focused on this.

What's new this week - house:
We closed on the house and took possession on Sat. May 19th. That amounted to me going to get the keys.... and buying a power washer to start washing the deck and putting in the garage. :-)

What's new this week - work:
In case you hadn't heard, Microsoft made the biggest purchase in their history this week. We bought aQuantive, a Seattle-based company that is a leader in the online ad industry. It was a HUGE win for the area I'm working in particularly. We're all VERY excited about it... and see this as a BIG step forward. It also really cements a significant change in strategy at Microsoft... we're really more focused on the services and advertising monetization than ever before. It is really cool to be riding this wave... it is gonna be a blast!

I graduated from NERD this week. I know, most of you thought I already WAS a NERD but in fact... I had to be trained apparently :-) Actually... NERD is New Employee Rapid Development. It was a great expereience and I got to meet a good group of new team members from all over the Online Services Group organization. Great experience.

What's coming up?
I'll be in St. Louis for Labor Day weekend. We have lots to get ready for the movers although Colleen continues to work very hard at home to do a lot of the stuff... all the while managing the kid's schedule. The weekend is packed with events as well... all of which we're looking forward to. I'll be back in Seattle Monday Night.... and then I don't come home until it is pretty much time to move (our "departure date is June 11).

I have some things to do to the house up here before we move... so I'll be focusing on that as well. I believe there MIGHT be a little time for some Golf Therapy too :-)

Work heats up this week as I've got clients now and I also have been picked for a process/project team. They are going to make me start to earn my keep a bit.

Hope all continue to be well... whereever you're reading this from.
Cheers!
.b

wow... time flies...

Grettings from Seattle! I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. What a slacker!

I'm on the job here working at Microsoft AdCenter which is the advertising arm of MSN & Live.com (the new microsoft search engine and online platform). I've been on the team two weeks now and things are going very well. It is a time of a lot of opportunity, change and a bit of trepidation, but one thing I can tell you is that I can already see that I've got to have my "A" game here. I work with some REALLY SMART people on this team... I know it sounds corny but... I'm honored to be picked for it. The view from the office amazing too... just an unbelievable company and opportunity.

On the move front... I'm in the middle of a 2 week stretch where I'm living in a corporate apartment in Redmond... while Colleen and the kids hold down the fort at 224 Kenora Ct. We close on the sale of that house this week... and are in the closing process of our house up here this week and next. So... lots of tasks to get knocked out... utilities to shut down and turn on, etc. My car is late getting here as well... I've still got a rental... I'm supposed to get it tomorrow... we'll see.

We had a great going away party hosted by our friends the DeYoung's last weekend. It was for both of the softball teams I played on through Church. It was really special what they did for us... they will always be great friends.

Today I went to church up here at St. Margarets in Bellevue. It was a very good experience... different than Emmanuel in that the building is about 5 years old... but the people were very friendly... and were everywhere in their wonderful facility. The Priest In Charge is the father of one of our parishioners in Webster Groves... and was also very good friends with another of our friend's late father. He was great to listen to... and was very friendly on introduction, etc. Good experience. It is a little far from our new house... but... who knows.

It is late so I'll close. Hope all are well... and making plans to come see us soon.

cheers,
.bb

the moving schedule...

Well... just found out today that it is going to take anywhere from 6-15 days to get our stuff to Everett, WA. Our movers will be doing their survey this week and then they can tell us more specifically when they will pack and move us. But... it probably means that we're going to get "packed" sooner than we thought we would. Hmmm... I wonder what we'll be keeping around and what we'll be shipping ourselves at the last minute? Stay tuned!!!!

The current schedule...

I've put up a version of the current schedule that you can get by clicking on the link to the right. Keep tabs on what we have planned in our final few weeks in Webster Groves/STL by visiting here.

Cheers!
.bb

Starting on the 23rd...

Well... I've confirmed that I'll start at Microsoft on Apr. 23rd. so... that means I'll be leaving STL sometime on April 22nd. Getting schedule finalized and will post that soon for all to see...

cheers!
.b

We have a house!

Well... we went on our house hunting trip last week and we found a house! We've put a contract on it... and it should be going through shortly.

I figured everyone would want a few pictures of it so... here ya go!

This is the front of the house:

Here's a look at the kitchen:

And here's a look at the view out the back... yes we found another house with another big deck... go figure:
I'll post many more soon... but until then you can also view the MLS listing here.

Right now the schedule has me leaving for Seattle on 4/22. I'll be back and forth a few times... then Colleen and the Kids come up on 6/11.

Back to work... lots to do before I go.
More to post soon.
.bb

Trip to Seattle

Things are moving along fast and furious now. The four of us will be headed to Seattle next Tuesday (March 27, 2006) for our house hunting trip.

We're also busily working on our current house to sell it. There's landscaping to be done and some minor bathroom plumbing that we're taking care of this week. Also... lots of powerwashing so that we can have the deck looking great for our prospective buyers.

We're going to have our friend Maureen Cashel list the house for us. But, it might be the easiest sell she's ever had because Colleen's Cousin Tim is interested in the house. He's on vacation right now but will be back by the end of the week and he's got first dibs on it if he wants it. He saw it in its "unimproved" state last week and liked it a lot.

welp... nuff of a break. back to work.