Had a very good day at the think of it in Madrid. There are about 2000 people there. I was nervous about my talk (as always) but it went fine. I got to meet a ton of really nice people. Man I just love Spaniards. They are so funny and fun !

Around 4 o’clock I caught a ride with Alisa back to the Ibm site and then walked home through this beautiful city

Around 4 o’clock I got a ride with Alyssa back to the IBM site and then walked home to this beautiful city

I didn’t plan my evening very well… I got some extra sleep because I don’t to get in a couple of hours last night… When I woke up I had a beer with my friend Elisa who came by… That was fun…

Then I got wrapped up into work meetings from home. Totally not fun. By the time I was finished it was too late to do anything… So I walked around looking for a quick restaurant couldn’t find any so I found a grocery store. I bought a whole bunch of junk food including a can of anchovies that were in a theft proof container. That was strange. So I had cheese and anchovies and bread in my room… Not bad at all

I hope to wake up early and run around the city a little bit to get some more sightseeing in before my plane tomorrow

Ok . Going to get some sleep… more tomorrow

Nite all, nite Sam

-me

Today is Veterans Day… Makes me really think of my dad Hugh and my father-in-law Gabe. Both served in the Armed Forces. I love these pictures of them

Are used to love hearing my dad stories of his time in the Navy. I think those were some of the most defining times of his life. I still have some of his navy uniforms… It’s fun to look at them wonder what life was like on those little shits

My father-in-law Gabe served in the army… I love this picture to

My brother-in-law Jože just sent this great picture of Grampa gabe as a little kid

My brother-in-law Steve was also a career guy in the army… And he still works there as a civilian… He’s a great storyteller to

I want to send out my thanks to everybody who served

Quick update from here… I’m in Madrid. I’ve still only got part of my voice back… But have a big talk for about 2000 people tomorrow. Wish me luck with that!

I really love the city it’s been nearly 50years since I was here.

It’s so beautiful and fun. The people are great. I got such a warm reception from all the IBM people here. My thanks to all the folks Elisa, Carmen, Carmen, Marta, Marta, (Lots of Carmens and Martas here) Monica, Fernando. For keeping me out of trouble today

I think event is tomorrow and I think it’s going to be really fun… As always I’m nervous about my talk… But hopefully I’ll have a chance to look around later and talk to people… That’s my favorite thing

It’s fun to watch them set up

OK… I got to get some sleep. More tomorrow.

Night all, night Sam

-me

I had a really good stay in Iceland… Woke up this morning around 10 AM believe it or not. It doesn’t get light until about 930 and somehow that let me sleep. What for longest run in the park… Found a really cool sculpture garden.

Tried to drink as much tea with honey today as I could because I laryngitis is still with me. Going to make it pretty hard to give a talk on Tuesday If my voice doesn’t hear. Give my voice doesn’t get better

That was about it for my day. Took a while to get back to the airport

See you again soon I hope Iceland… Thanks for being a nice place to visit

Just landed in Madrid now and I’m waiting for my bags… It’s about 1 AM so hope to get some sleep soon

Nite all, nite Sam

-me

Just turn 1 AM and I am just sitting down to blog. Had a really wonderful quiet day here in Iceland. Woke up at 9:30 in the morning… Which is as late as I can ever remember sleeping as an adult…

Went for a longish run down to the sea then over to downtown

Around 12:30 my friend Anton and his Wife and two boys came by to pick me up. We drove out to the West It was so much fun seeing the scenery and hanging out with them.

We stop to get something to eat and one of the very few small towns that we found.

next stop was Anton small cabin that they just bought . it’s a hundred euro place that they’re going to fix up to be a summer house . it’s in such a cool place … kind of scrubby trees and views of distant mountains . we got there to find out that their trampoline had flown in the air and hit their shed . we spent some time picking it up and take it apart and put it in for the winter

Next stop was At the cabin of another friend of Anton’s… Are used to work at Ibm and now works at Origo where Anton works. He and his wife were wonderful hosts. They’ve been at that house for a long time and it was incredibly cozy. It was full of all sorts of old radios, interesting books and musical instruments.We got to sample their homemade beer, watch them put in reindeer tongues and reindeer hearts and pigeon breasts into their smoker. The smoker used wood chips and shit manure to smoke the food… Think about that.!

They had made a fire pit out of a stainless steel washer drum just like we had

We then went inside and ate dried fish with butter… I’ve always heard about it but it was really fun to eat. It was addicting

Next up was dinner and a dip in the hot springs. first a mandatory shower (with instructions !)

We then dropped and his wife and younger son back at the cabin and Anton and his older son drove me the hour and a half back to Reykjavik.

It was a really great day. I’m so appreciative of them spending all that time to show me around.

OK time for me to go to sleep. More tomorrow.

Night all, night Sam

– me