Maybe it’s actually a truck, but for sure it’s my nearly new shiny black Ford Edge Sport.  If the black exterior and interior aren’t distinctive enough, the polished aluminum 22″ rims sure are (I actually had a guy at an intersection roll down his window and say “nice rims”).  All that aside, the thing that sold me on the Edge was the top of the line Microsoft based Sync Navigation system.  I’ve been using it now for several months and it is extremely intuitive and tightly integrated into the audio system and the rest of the car.  For instance, when I run low on gas, not only does the low fuel light come on, but the navigation system starts showing the nearest gas stations, including recent prices.  It’s a fantastic car; I’m satisfied.

Tonight, they came up with a rather timely one, as Grey Vanderhoven, apparently a Princeton alum, and his socially conscience wife, talk about his upcoming reunion in a month (timing is close enough).  He wants to miss it, but she says you only miss a reunion if your fat, single, or unemployed.  None of the above are good reasons to miss reunions.

He also complains that it’s hard to find a room because there is only one hotel in Princeton - well done L&O: CI! Indeed the Nassau Inn is the only hotel in the town of Princeton.  There are, however, many hotels nearby and, for major reunions, you can get housing on campus or at nearby schools. Grey didn’t arrange ahead of time, so he should be glad his wife got a suite (that’s got to be around $1000 per night at reunions time!).

I’m guessing for some reason, though, Grey won’t make it.  Back to watching to find out why.

There is still a lot left to do.  I’m co-chairing two Reunions committees this year, Technology and P-Rade, and I need to get the final preparations done so things run smoothly.  I’ve been blessed with a great co-chair for each committee who have done more than their fair share of heavy lifting as we’re prepared - thanks Michael and Kenna!  It’s also time to get my own cowbell. I’ve been borrowing one from the band, but its been getting harder to get my hands on it.

Never the less, I’m ready! My beer jacket is clean and my ‘99 socks are good to go.  This may be the year for the tigershirt to come out again. We’ll see.

This birthday, though, I felt different.  (It’s not because kens_age = 2^5.)  We had a safety meeting at work, and I saw a chart that had our environmental statistics since 1990.  The story was good - we’re going down year after year - but there were so many bars!  I notice things like how many bars are on a chart: too many makes the chart look crowded, and this one did.  All those bars, and I remember the year 1990, well, vaguely.

Could it be that I’ve now made the transition from young adult to middle age?

While in DC, I stayed with my buddy Jim Gallagher, and I had a chance to catch up with a bunch of good friends who I haven’t seen in quite a while. I also got to meet some great new folks in the cast and crew of the show.

Coming soon: Post Ike pictures and commentary.

Check the comments - thats where the info is. Also, please feel free to add your own comments or ask questions.  I’m taking requests.

I went with Valisa, Cedric, and Austin to visit my family from my mother’s side in Birmingham, AL. That was great timing - they were having a party for my cousin DJ who just turned two years old.  I saw my uncle Jesse as he was leaving Church.  I saw my aunt Annie Pearl at her house with her husband William.  And everyone else gathered at my aunt Sissess’s house.  There, I caught up with my uncle Booster, who shared quite a bit of history of his life.  I also saw aunt Baye and cousin Scottie, who helped raise me in NJ, uncle Lil’ Papa, cousin Billy, always a riot, and cousin Derrick, his wife Victoria, and their young son DJ.  We had a great time talking and laughing.  It was tough to leave, but I’m looking forward to visiting again.

I also visited my aunt Carolyn and my grandmother on my father’s side.  I also saw my uncle Jimmy and my cousin Bobby.  Bobby’s in 8th grade and continues to grow in beauty.  It was great talking with my aunt about family and many other things.

God has blessed me with a wonderful family!

See more pictures of my awesome family!

Thanks to everyone for their outpouring of support throughout my 15 days.   I’ve had a chance to reignite friendships with folks who I hadn’t heard from in years.  I have folks at work selling my autograph (going price is $10).  Best of all, I’ve got parents and kids thinking about math and science.

Yeah, I know the ads were actually on for 16 days, but the 15 minute analogy just works better with 15 days.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 was the grand opening of Hi, Society! Design Studio. Hi, Society! Design Studio offers personalized note cards and calling cards in a variety of designs and colors. Not only is Hi, Society! Design Studio’s stand-out because of its cutting-edge stationery, but it’s also owned by my wife Kendall.

Visit Hi, Society! Design Studio now and pick up one of my favorite cards, the Adagio Calling Cards.

As a bonus, you can get a discount until September 30th. Use code FFAM08 at checkout for 10% off.

I only saw the commercial once, but I think Kenneth Lee appeared and spoke on screen. He’s a late-20s, African-American guy who looks very friendly and just nerdy enough that people will believe he’s an engineer (but not nerdy enough to scare people or be an editor). A good choice for a spokesperson.

See, not too nerdy.

Sixty Second Ad

This ad played during the opening ceremonies on August 8th. It included Kim Bates, a Senior Geoscientist, and Cheryl Gomez, an Engineer.

Thirty Second Ad

This ad is playing throughout the 2008 Olympics.

Fifteen Second Ad

This ad is playing on the 2008 Olympics website at nbcolympics.com.

This marks the second time I’ve helped ExxonMobil tell its story. I was previously featured in a voice-over for an ad on ExxonMobil’s National Math and Science Initiative.

Ken has just updated his bio. Now you can learn all about his exploits in Houston and his wedding and marriage to his beautiful wife Kendall.

Pictures, Pictures, Old and New

Ken finally put his vast store of pictures online. See if you can find yourself.

He’s a Doctor

Ken graduated from the University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2003 with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Well, not so “new” anymore. The interested reader can read his dissertation.