Mitchapalooza - Good Times with Good Friends
In just two days, I am heading back to San Francisco after more than three months living abroad. I return home having spent time in both in the dangerous, terror-stricken London, and the sunny-skied Riyadh. The occasion of this triumphant return? Mitchapalooza 2007.
The weekend involves relaxing, wine tasting, having fun in the sun, and eating great food up at the Russian River in Northern California. My friends and I take over my extended family’s cabin for two nights and take full advantage of Sonoma County and the ability to truly “escape” the city. Last year even included some great canoing and rope swinging into the river - hopefully a dry summer won’t mean water levels are so low that these are outside the realm of possibility.
Mitchapalooza 2006 was one of those great weekends when you can say for certain that you’ve had one of the best times of your life because you’ve spent the time with some of your best friends. Receiving a link to the t-shirt from ‘06 today made me remember just how great it was. A friend surprised me with the gift of 15 of these shirts for my friends and I to wear all weekend long.
Here’s to looking forward to Mitchapalooza 2007. Goofy Mitch-grin and all.
My Dream Machine: The Canon 40D
Canon announced yesterday the release of their new digital SLR, the 40D, which is the successor to the dated 20D and 30D models. It’s about time, since Nikon has had a far stronger model in the D80 for quite some time now. The 40D represents significant improvements in terms of LCD size, image density (megapixels), and quality.
Looks like I’ll be blowing a big chunk of change on a new camera - better start saving now! Given that my last vacation to Scotland generated over $200 worth of film development expenses, however, it will end up paying itself off in a couple years.
From Digital Photography Review:
Canon today introduces its latest digital SLR for advanced amateurs and semi-professionals: the EOS 40D. With a 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor, 6.5 frames per second burst performance, a newly developed AF system and 3.0” LCD with Live View mode, the EOS 40D makes significant advances in both performance and versatility.
Many thanks to Indranil on sending me this great news!
Day One in Saudi Arabia
My first full day in Riyadh was quite an eye opener. Having arrived last night after dark, it was the first chance I had to see the city. Our office, located on an upper floor of the architecturally fascinating and beautiful Al-Faisaliah Tower, has a sweeping view over the city below, which reflects the bright sun from its white and tan color. The desert is just visible around the edge of the city.
After months of working with colleagues connected only via conference call, it is refreshing to have a team of coworkers here to call my team. Since we will live, work, eat, and travel together over the next three months, there will be plenty of opportunity for me to get tired of them, but right now, I couldn’t be happier with the guys who are here.
Ironically, the first time in my consulting career in which I have had to wear a suit to work every day is in a climate where it rarely drops below 105 degrees F during the day. Even tonight, while I sit and write this, it is nearly 95 degrees. Of course, life here exists in the form of short jaunt from one air conditioned building to another, so it almost doesn’t matter.
And heck, after three months enduring London’s wettest summer on record, seeing a forecast that looks like this simply makes you smile:
For Your Reading List: Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes
I had a fabulous lunch today with my former coworker and friend, Andre Medeiros. Our conversation turned to investing and he recommended a book, Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes — And How to Correct Them by Gary Belsky and Thomas Gilarch. Both he and his wife Christine vouch for the book’s readability, so I think I might just pick up a copy next time I find myself in a bookstore.
Editorial Review from Amazon.com:
Why do so many otherwise rational individuals make irrational decisions when it comes to money? Financial journalist Gary Belsky and Cornell University psychology professor Thomas Gilovich contend the answers can be found–and the deficiencies remedied–with help from a relatively new science called behavioral economics. Still largely unknown outside academic circles, the field can be traced to research on the impact of rewards and punishments on human judgment and decision- making that first were undertaken at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University some 30 years ago. In Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes , Belsky and Gilovich update this pioneering work and show readers how to understand exactly why they invest, spend, and save as they do. More importantly, using examples that everyone can identify with and language that anyone can understand, the authors offer dozens of workable suggestions that can help readers manage their money better. “We believe that by identifying the psychological causes behind many types of financial decisions,” they write, “you can effectively change your behavior in ways that will ultimately put more money in your pocket and help you keep more of what you already have.”
Most Popular Halloween Costumer, 2007? Sub-prime Lender
Jordan White, a Georgetown buddy with unrealized genius, just wished me a safe time in the Middle East. “Have fun and stay safe. And for God’s sake stay away from sub-prime lenders :)”
Which made me think: can I dress up as a subprime lender for Halloween this year? What on earth would I wear?
And more importantly, do they celebrate Halloween in Saudi Arabia?
For other ridiculous finance related Halloween costumes, check this out.
Count Down to Riyadh
It’s Friday and on Monday morning, I am off to Riyadh for a three month assignment with work. It will be my first time in the region, but I am excited for what I am sure will prove to be a truly memorable experience.
I will be living on a compound with my fellow Monitor consultants, traveling frequently to different parts of the country, and enjoying the opportunity to see different cities in the region on the weekends (Thur and Fri… crazy).
Look here for updates on what it’s like living there.
Dans Le Noir: Eating Blind
I had dinner yesterday with five friends at Dans Le Noir here in London. What a phenomenal dinner concept. Diners are led into a pitch black room and experience dining in total, utter darkness while being served by blind waiters and waitresses.
The French cuisine was good, but probably only worth about half the cost of dinner, which came out to a pricey £40 per head. The experience, however, was so unique that I was happy to pay the premium.
See a review of the restaurant at London Eating.
- Welcome to The Intrepid Mr. Fox
Welcome to the personal weblog of Mitchell W. Fox, a management strategy consultant in Sydney, Australia.The Intrepid Mr. Fox is about my personal life and adventures. It focuses on three main topics: The Good Life (things I enjoy in my leisure time), Travel, and my thoughts and ideas about the world around us.