Getting ready for a 2 week backpacking trip to Philmont (http://www.scouting.org/philmont/) in Cimarron, NM this fall. Went to REI with my son. Woof – can you say “4 digit$”?!. Got some really cool gear (superlight, breathable Marmot raingear, 3lbs, 20 degree sleeping bag, nice Osprey 4500ci backpack). Trip’s gonna be a lot of fun, but a bear – two weeks in the backcountry. Next up: new hiking boots…

Got out to San Francisco for some work stuff – ended up staying right near the Moscone Center. Haven’t been there in 15 years probably – interesting to see how things have changed. Cleaner and more built up, but still largely the same. Was on the 36th floor of One Market Street (need to figure out if I can make Google earth replicate the view!) – unbelievable view of the bridge and bay – why didn’t I bring my camera?? Had dinner with old friend and colleague D-, he mentioned an interesting web dev framework (jenga?) – you can throw together a pretty interesting website in a few weeks. Also he is having an interesting re-entry into the California work culture – much less argumentative and more concensus driven than the east coast. I wonder how warped I am by ten years of Boston culture 8)