Thanksgiving is over. We've had a very social few days.

C2 flew into town and crashed for a few days at our place.

Then there was our straggler's Thanks giving, which went very well.

Clem & Bates came over for dinner last night. It's been too long since we caught up with them. They have been all over the place-- Morocco, Ireland.

This Wednesday, the husband will discover if he still has his job. His company is going through a big reorg. The details will be released Wednesday. Though a back channel,  he knows that he won't have a job under his current boss or boss's boss. 

I've been under the weather for the past few day. I picked up a cold somewhere between Bangalore and Dubai. I have quarantining myself to keep my friends and coworkers well.

We have already put up our Christmas tree & lights. We did it, in part to pick up the husband's spirits. His company is about to announce a large layoff. He does not yet know if he has a job. He does know hat he won't be reporting to his current boss. It has stressed him. We'll get through it.

At my work, its quiet with Thanksgiving coming up. Many people take the whole week off. The husband and I are hosting a stragglers Thanksgiving. Is that a Friendsgiving? Hmmm. Googling Friendsgiving shows me that a Friendsgiving is a potluck between friends the weekend before Thanksgiving. Which this is not. We are hosting friends, and acquaintances who have no local family. A straggler's Thanksgiving it is.

The husband is busy planning the meal. He has purchased a large honey baked ham, and is making desserts and deviled eggs. Our guests will bring the remainder.

I spent much of Saturday with AS. He is an old coworker, who also happened to be in Bangalore for other reasons. My company large presence in India. There are many reasons for the Americans to go to Bangalore without too much coordination.

We had breakfast together and then went shopping at a nearby mall. On our way out, the hotel security was concerned that we were walking. They wanted us to take a driver. We walked anyways. Both of us are used to the chaos that is Bangalore traffic. The mall was very Westernized, which is a little disappointing. There was some Indian men's clothing there. However, I am too tall for that. They don't carry my size.

I am substantially taller than most everyone on the streets. I get a lot of looks from that.


Currently I am on my way back home. My total travel time, door to door, will be about 32 hours. This gives me much time to reflect. To mull things over. To look for improvements.

One conclusion-- I don't spend enough time reflecting & improving. The day to day problem solving soak up all that time. In that respect, going to Bangalore was useful, just top pop me out of my routine. Thanks to the time difference, all things urgent had to be handled by my team. And they did a good job. I must continue to let them do so.

Another is that I don't connect with my network enough. Again, I'm hiding behind the day to day problems. Also, I have a tendency to isolate. Sometimes that's good, when I'm using downtime to recharge. But, sometimes I'm just goofing off, reading social media. I could use my time better. By reaching out to friends. By writing.

I also have a long track record of failed attempts at self-improvements. Recently I've become a bit better at forward planning. But, I still have a long way to go.

We shall see. 

If there is one design choice in India, that we should adopt in America, its providing s spray wand next to the toilet  It's super easy to keep the toilet clean. 

I am eating a lot of food that I just can't identify, even if the menu is in English.

I just trust that if the restaurant is clean, and crowded, then the food will be good.

Mostly I am not disappointed, though sometimes I have dishes that are way too spicy.

Bangalore is going well.

I had dinner with coworkers tonight. Food, drinks, dessert and tip at a high end restaurant cost us about $20.00 each.

Taxi was $5 for a 30 minute trip. Close to the hotel, traffic was so insane that I asked the driver to pull over and let me walk the last blocks. Of course he just stopped in the middle of the street, took my payment and let me out in the middle of traffic.

At my lunch with my old manager, he said a few things that struck a cord with me. I was talking about an coworker who left my team to work for his. I said "I miss her. I liked working with her."

My old manager snapped back "You don't have to miss her you know. You can talk to her anytime."

My old manager always had a tough-love attitude that I really respected.

Day two of Bangalore is starting. We are fleshing out a six month plan. That's always a lot of work, especially when I don't have a six month plan for my team.

> The entry speaks of a successful career.... !!!! and an employer who trust in your ablities

Yes. Yes it does.

I'm looking for a mentor. In pursuit of this, I had a lunch with an old manager who is now an executive. When I told him about my problems, he emphasized that I was having a successful career, and that I was overlooking the amount of timing and luck that it takes to get to the next level. My career problems are my problems... one percenter first world problems.

Bangalore is Bangalore. Part gorgeous. Part smoggy third world. The first day went well even with the jet lag and lack of sleep.

I am working in Bangalore next week. Its a 22 hour flight. I leave Saturday afternoon and arrive Monday at 4am. 

I enjoy the flight, even if it is long. I am flying business class... nice seat, lounge access, decent food amd drink

I'll use the time to catch up on reading and paperwork.

I won't enjoy the jet lag. Bangalore is 13.5 hours ahead of us. I'll be jet lagged the whole week there and the following week upon my return.

Jet setter problems.

"Get a shot " Tommy says. It's good advice.

I went to the Dr. last week for my annual checkup.

When he heard that I am traveling to India in November (for work) he updated my vaccines as well as giving me my flu shot.

He also gave me a prescription to prevent malaria. I don' think I'm going to take it though. I'll be in Bangalore in November. Bangalore is a very modern city. November is the dry season. Still, he insisted I take it.

A few days later he called me with my numbers. My cholesterol has gone through the roof! Now I am 10lbs heaver than the last time I had my cholesterol checked (2014) but, I'm exercising just as much as back then.

He is giving me six months to loose weight, change my diet and get my numbers back on track. After that we will discuss going on a statin.

Sigh.