Has it really been 10 days since my last post? Wow. Its been busy around here. To begin with, spring is trying to sneak its way in. Its less than 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) tonight, but during the day its been up around forty and little by little we're getting rid of the snow pack. There is still upwards of two feet of icy remnant left in many spots, but in sunny places in the center of the yard there's ground showing through. We had a white Easter. We had a white Christmas. We had a white everything else in between. It's looking like we'll have a white April fools day too. I'm just hoping we can celebrate proletariat freedom on May Day without snow.

Speaking of snow, I had a great time up in Ottawa helping out some people doing interesting things with Domino that needed it to go a bit faster. I'd never been to Ottawa, and it was hard to see much under a massive blanket of snow that makes our paltry few feet look like a dusting, but it looked like a beautiful city and very livable. I also found virtually everyone I met there to be friendly, intelligent, and helpful. It seemed like an entire city full of people who actually think rather than just react. I'd made a mistake in going without prearranging a work visa, but even their customs and immigration people were great to deal with and quickly got me straightened out. Under NAFTA, I get some kind of professional exemption that makes the process little more than a bit of taxes and paperwork

Flying out of Ottawa just as they were getting another huge snowstorm was interesting. The airport was packed with people hoping to get out before things got really bad. Another flight came in but the return flight out on that plane was cancelled. They'd been hit by lightening in the snow storm on the way in and had lost radar and radio. The first time we walked out into the snow to board our De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop they turned us back just before we boarded. We did get out an hour later, but I have to tell you the whole thing felt a bit too Buddy Holly for my own taste. I'd never flown in a Dash 8, and I was surprised by how smooth the flight was -- even though I literally had the very worst seat on the plane for the ride to Boston.

I've been busy since getting back, too. Ari & Coryn have both had soccer games with their new teams. Ari's have been out doors on turf fields that had to be cleared of snow before the games. Coryn's was indoors but she'll be out on the turf this weekend.

Finally, I'm pleased to say that Second Signal welcomed another new department on board this month, and we'll be seeing at least one -- possibly two -- additional new ones in the next week or so.

I guess what I'm saying here is -- all is right with the world. At least for now.