Seattle

Today is the first day of my vacation time in Seattle, with J, having completed the 21st Century Leadership program. I could say (and will say) that today is the first day of the rest of my life. Today I feel like I am having a functional, productive, above the line team experience with J.

J does what she does, which is doing the research - finding out what attractions are around, finding out what the possibilities are, and essentially outlining the agenda. I really appreciate this because I like knowing I have a structure in place and like knowing where I am in the context of my structure.

I know that once we have our agenda, I will do what I do, which is defender of the agenda, or executor of the agenda. It is being the Chief of Staff, being the guy who takes care of the details and makes sure the agenda is followed and executed.

Today is a day for taking care of business - taking care of laundry, checking emails, getting in touch with our people back home. I really want to have my laundry cleaned because I only brought enough essentials for one week away from home and am now on my second week. I have been recycling for a couple of days, so this is bordering on emergency.

I noticed that the people of Seattle are so friendly, so service oriented, so humble and willing to engage.

After dropping off my laundry we took a bus to Pike Place Market. We had lunch at the Sound View Cafe. After lunch we wandered around the market and met a man named Michael Yaeger. Michael is the self-titled honorary mayor of Pike Place Market. He delighted in showing me a video he produced about the market and in talking with us. Inside his shop I found a book - with his name on it. I was impressed. Clearly this is a multi-talented man.