Fresh Donuts for a Fresh Start

Dear Friends,

Like a comfortable pair of old jeans, “Dear Members and Constituents” has been my opening line for over a decade. An old habit if ever there was one, I could write these familiar words before the first sip of coffee lit-up my brain cells and by the time caffeine kicked-in, inspiration had already struck like a lightning bolt. Still, with no donut club to run or predictable place to get them (the downside of leaving Level 3), this linguistic crutch won’t do anymore. Much like Duck Donuts, made fresh as you wait (I had the privilege of trying them for the first time on a business trip to DC this week), this fresh start demands a fresh new opening line. “Friends” feels right. Over the years, your support and feedback have encouraged me to continue writing. They have also made me feel the bonds of friendship with many of you (I hope you feel the same way too). During this new stage, I hope this blog will serve not only as a creative outlet for yours truly, but also as a means to stay connected (albeit without the allure of fresh donuts waiting at my desk).

Happy Friday!

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Remote Donuts

Friends, I knew working from home was going to be weird, so I had mentally prepared for some of the inevitable challenges. I decided to keep as many personal routines as possible intact . I’ve been getting-up at the same time (even though it is tempting to sleep-in due to the shorter “commute”) and have kept-up with personal grooming (showering, dressing for work, having breakfast, etc.). I got a nice desk and dedicated ergonomic space and brew a pot of coffee every morning. As for the isolation, I suppose it can’t be helped. Sure, video meetings are nice, but they can’t take the place of hallway conversations. On whole I’d say my first week working from home has been a guarded success. Still, there were a few unexpected twists. Fresh air. On Wednesday afternoon I realized I had not set foot outside my house since Sunday –and quickly remedied the situation. Invisible chair. The edge of my camera view catches a corner of the room with some “invisible” clutter. As it …

Donuts, here for your safety!

Friends, This week I discovered our Denver North office has a Bitcoin Teller Machine (BTM). What?!? A convenient way to cash-out on all your Bitcoin millions before the hype wears-off. Except, this teller only TAKES your hard-earned dollars and converts them to Bitcoin. It does not DISPENSE hard currency. What’s the use case for that? Never mind, duh! It’s the general scenario that will ensure Bitcoin never goes to zero (despite recent trends). Crime! Say you are a crime boss (or petty criminal) who wishes not to have your transactions traced. An anonymized crypto-currency is the perfect vehicle to contract for that hit job, buy and sell stolen goods or funnel your monies far from prying eyes. But what if your cash business still accepts, well, cash? What do you do with all that clunky paper? Depositing it at your bank so you can buy your crypto online defeats the whole scheme. Enter the BTM. First you rent some office space at Spaces (which, by the way, makes for a great front). The…

Family and Friends

Friends,
I’m trying to maximize the time I spend with friends and family while in Ecuador. My dad had nine siblings, my wife’s dad 15. As you might imagine, my cousins and their families are fairly numerous (despite the fact five of my dad’s brothers didn’t marry or have children). Then there’s my wife’s family and my childhood friends. Needless to say, there is never enough time to see everyone, despite a valiant effort. Of course, I’m also working from “home”. Corny as it may sound, working half a world away, I realize I miss my Windstream “family” and I look forward to seeing you soon. In the meantime, there are donuts, here today courtesy of John Huddleston. So, enjoy some comfort food with regards from my Cuenca family (pictured) to you!

Friday Donuts

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