I spent two weeks in Europe just over a week ago returning from France on Friday, October 2.   I was hesitant to say too much about the things that I did in France until I was out of the country.

France was mostly business,  but my French colleague Michel Condemine and his wife Claire,  wanted to make sure that they took care of me and kept me entertained during my week long visit. I was actually on the French Riviera in a city called Montpelier.   I had the opportunity to see the Taurin festival which is essentially all about real bullfights,  and bulls being paraded through the town through barricaded streets and also running on the beach.   It was quite interesting to watch the children trying to chase the bulls as they were herded from one side of the beach to the other.  

It was a little complicated to go to the bull fight at the arena,  as I didn't know what to expect.  Essentially they do Spanish-style bullfighting,  with the end result the bull is killed through a very slow process.  Not something you'd ever see outside of France or Spain,  and not something I think I'm ready to see again.  I did take pictures and some video clips,  and for the brave that want to see them e-mail me and I'll forward them your way.

Of course I had to sample a lot of French cuisine that I had no idea what I was eating.   And I was also treated to an excursion with many things to see on an extensive mountain bike ride on a soft sand beach on the French Riviera.

This week I was in Houston for what appears to be the last of the dying breed of trade shows in the industry (ISA).  It was a great opportunity for networking and seeing a lot of the personal friends that I've made over the years in our industry.

This week I'll be in Miami for my board of directors meeting,  then I get a week of staying in Cleveland,  followed by the week of October 26 I'll be in New Orleans,  for the OPC North American Developer workshop

I better make sure that I get back on Friday, October 30 just in time for my 52nd birthday on October 31, followed by my 12th year wedding anniversary on November 1.

Okay so there some rambling thoughts for you guys to digest about what I've been up to over the last month.