Long Road Trip

On November 3rd I started a long business trip that combined with Susie's attendance at the National Conference on Family Relations would have us apart for 12 days. Too long.
On Tuesday the 3rd I flew from Salt Lake City to Orlando Florida then drove to Vero Beach for our annual data review meeting with the Biological R&D team. The data review was scheduled for Thursday and Friday but our team had a termite control strategy meeting on Wednesday morning.
This was originally scheduled to be a team meeting but I was the only member of our team in attendance as Clay Scherer has left to start his work in Basel Switzerland and Nicki Gallagher had surgery and wasn't able to attend.

My colleagues, Steve Cosky, David Cox, and Mark Coffelt. Steve and I joined ICI in 1986!

The meetings were productive and it is always enjoyable to spend some time with my colleagues from the R&D side of the business.
Friday evening I flew from Orlando to Indianapolis in order to help set out a rodent control trial in West Lafayette on Saturday morning. Syngenta is looking at a new, soft bait, for rodent control and because it is so new I needed to make sure the product was applied correctly.
Saturday morning I met our researcher Grzesiek Buckzowski in West Lafayette and we drove north west into the country side to two farms where we were setting out the trial.

Mouse hole chewed into foam insulation in equipment barn

The buildings had been pre-baited to determine the level of mouse infestation. We then loaded the bait stations with the new product and put the stations out.

Weighing Talon soft bait into bait stations

One of the trial sites was in the top of an older grain elevator. We had to climb about 20 feet up a shaft in the elevator. I had to stuff the loaded stations into my jacket so we could climb the ladder. I've never done that at work before.

We climbed up this shaft to put out bait stations. I love rodent work!

We were done around noon so we stopped for lunch then I was off to Maren's for the weekend. The grandkids were subdued in their greeting but they seemed happy to see me. Their family room still resembles a call center with all the kids on their own computers or taking a little break to play on the floor.

Saturday evening we went to eat at the new Cheddars restaurant in Lafayette but there was a 45 minute wait so we went to our old standby, Tapanyaki grill.

Tess, Cole, and Spencer enjoying dinner at the grill

The food was OK but all my grandchildren think it is the best place in town to eat. Friday evening after I arrived at Maren's I started listening to the BYU vs. San Jose State football game. I slept through most of the first quarter but then I woke up and was wide awake so I listened to the rest of the game that didn't end until about 3 am. So Saturday evening I decided to watch the BYU basketball game against Alaska. It was not a great game but at least I could watch it on BYUtv.

Sunday I attended church with the Madsen's. The Madsen children were pretty well behaved. They must be growing up. After church we returned home to eat popcorn and watch episode 1 of the Star Wars series preparing for episode 7 that opens in December.

Cole and Maren making the pop corn

Unfortunately Maren was sick while I visited and Josh was not feeling well on Monday so we didn't do much that was exciting. I stayed home with Josh and Tess while Maren went to the doctor.
Tuesday I was back at the airport to fly home to SLC. My flight arrived in Salt lake at 1:50 pm. Susie was also at the airport but her flight left at 1:45 so we just missed each other. Susie was on her way to Vancouver. I got home about 5 pm and unpacked and prepared to take my mom to the Vienna Boys Choir concert.
Wednesday morning I was packed and on my way to Portland for a trade show. I had a brain lock moment when I went to catch the train to the airport. The schedule said the train left the Provo station at 1:50 pm but somehow my brain interpreted that as meaning 10 minutes after 2 instead of 10 minutes before 2. Luckily it takes less time to drive than to take the train so I drove to the airport.
Portland was cold and wet. The trade show was very good and I got to spend some quality time visiting with Dr. Roger Gold who recently retired. I was back home Thursday evening at about 9 pm. That was a long business trip.