After 15 years of reliable operation, my Honda snowblower refused to start this weekend as I was trying to move it from its summer home in our shed to its winter residence in our garage. I became very frustrated trying to work on it in the freezing cold and sought Jeanine’s assistance to muscle it into my shop so I would not get frost bite from the maintenance work. This morning at 5am, I set about removing and thoroughly cleaning the carburetor. Earlier, I had ruled out problems with the ignition system. An hour later, it was reassembled and I had it roaring like a lion. Carbon monoxide emissions dictated that I turn it off rather immediately. After work, I filled it up with fresh gas and drove it into the garage where it now stands ready to do battle with our first snow storm.
Normally, I am not one to advocate for lengthy meetings. Today, I attended a half day meeting including roughly 10% of the company (~50 mostly managers representing all of the various departments). I found this one to be quite interesting and productive. We reviewed our 2019 performance with a look forward to 2020 and talked about new approaches to building a great team and leadership principles we would like to embrace. I did a presentation on Consensus Ranking, a tool I created to help with salary management, which was received very well. A team dinner including many of the attendees followed at the Puritan & Company which proved to be a very enjoyable dining experience and time for team bonding.
While returning from my soccer match this morning, I passed an entire field of abandoned pumpkins (hundreds and hundreds). It was sad to see so much potential food having gone to waste, grown simply for their decorative use on Halloween.
Today we played Peabody in the semi-finals of our division championship and came away with a definitive 8-0 win. I scored the opening goal on a header from inside the 6 yard box. I have not done much scoring this season so it was nice to chalk one up. I played one of my better games of the season despite the 24F temperature at kickoff. Temp with windchill was reportedly 18F. Next week my team travels to New Hampshire for the finals.
I drove past this house yesterday on a new commute route that took me close to Tufts University. The porch was covered in blue bottles topped with blue egg shaped objects. The porch roof features all manner of horse or rhinoceros topped with action figures, dinosaurs, or other horses. I am guessing it is a frat house.
When the temperature drops substantially, so does the air pressure in your tires. This morning I topped off my tires before heading to the office. Several months ago I purchased a nifty DeWalt product that is perfect for the task. You just dial in the desired pressure, connect to the tire and hit the start button. It is small, lightweight and cordless which makes it all the more convenient.
I use my drone almost exclusively for aerial photography. Occasionally, it gets pressed into service for more mundane tasks such as checking the gutters for leaves. A quick flight and sequence of photographs shows me exactly where the leaves are and saves a great deal of unnecessary and dangerous ladder work. Another such use is checking our slate roof for broken or missing tiles.
When I arrived at my desk this morning I found a number of presents waiting for me. Pictured above is the back of a framed canvas photograph of the Form3 printer which is one of three big programs I have been involved with since I started working full-time at Formlabs one year ago. The company makes a big deal of employment anniversaries (call Formiversaries) with increasingly desirable gifts for each year of service. I also received a pair of logo socks and a Cliff Bar (to remind me that my first year stock options are now vested). Of all these things, it is the signatures that I will cherish the most.
Meet the Form 3B (Biocompatible) a version of the Formlabs From 3 designed specifically for the dental industry. Announced today along with the formation of a new Dental Business Unit within the company, this printer supports a variety of biocompatible resins used for printing surgical guides, dentures, orthodontic appliances and crown and bridge models.
Today I announced to my Formlabs colleagues that I have accepted a position with Digital Alloys as their Chief Technical Officer. The metal 3D printing company is an early stage startup with very promising technology. The video below gives an excellent overview of the product, market and company. Located in Burlington, my commute will be cut by two-thirds, addressing my only real issue with Formlabs. As followers of this blog will know, Jeanine and I have been doing much to prepare our home for sale with the intention of moving closer to Boston. The significantly shorter commute to my new job will allow us to stay in Concord, the center of our social and community circles, until we are ready to retire. I will finish the month with Formlabs and start at Digital Alloys on December 2.
Occasionally Jeanine asks me to help out with photography for Open Table. Today’s assignment was for their upcoming annual fundraising campaign. I don’t know if any of the images I captured are going to work but “boy meets kale” and “boy meets chicken” are two of my favorites. In addition to the photos for Open Table, I shot several portraits for the family that was kind enough to model for us. They are Crimean refugees and have made use of Open Table to help get back on their feet.
Earlier in the day the regulation portion of my fall soccer season came to an end. We defeated Lexington summarily by a score of 8-0 bringing Concord United’s undefeated streak to 40 games. I managed 3 assists and to avoid injury despite playing far more minutes than normal. Next week we face Peabody in the post season semi-finals and will do so without one of our top defenders who was red carded during today’s match and one of our top wing midfielders who re-injured his calf muscle during practice earlier this week. Hopefully our opponent is also succumbing to the late season loss of numbers that is quite common in our over-56 age group.
This squirrel thought it would enjoy a banana which was set out to attract local tocanets to a restaurant where I enjoyed lunch while traveling in Costa Rica. The tocanet dealt with the interloper in a very effective, if undignified manner.
I photographed both of these birds in captivity which is less satisfying than doing so in the wild. None the less they are quite beautiful and I thought I would share them.
I encountered this tarantula while walking in the Juan Castro Blanco National Park the week before last. It was slightly larger than my outstretched hand. I would have liked to photograph this fellow at a lower angle but I remembered that they are quite quick and have serious fangs. Their bite is said to be similar to that of a wasp. I thought best not to conduct any experiments.
I had an occasion to speak with a colleague last week about our mutual appreciation for the Indianapolis 500. I recalled getting my hands on a press pass one year (2003 to be precise) and the opportunity to photograph the Eddie Cheever Red Bull racing team when they won the pit stop competition that year. Since I did not start my blog until 2005, I thought I would add this entry for future reference.
Back to the present, my soccer team won our match today against a team of Russians by a margin of 5-0. I had one nice shot from distance that I lofted over the goalie who was way too far off his line but it sailed an inch or two over the crossbar. I also managed a nice defensive play that deprived their wing midfielder of a very dangerous shot on our goal.
The Japanese Maple we planted when we first moved to Concord some 16 years ago has grown to be a spectacular addition to our backyard. It is also the last tree to turn color and shed its leaves each year. When I think back on all the improvements we have made to our home, few are as satisfying and important as the trees we have planted. You can renovate a house or find a new one in short order but only time can provide you with the splendor of a magnificent tree.
This brings to mind an old Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
For years, students from the Fenn School have volunteered at Open Table. Today, Jeanine spoke at an assembly about the value of this work and thanking the school and students for their participation. Some parts of her job are not very satisfying and can put a strain on her but speaking to young people about the realities of food insecurity and the importance of the Open Table mission makes up for all of that.
I had a few minutes this morning before it started raining again to photograph the house with our landscaping foliage at peak color (perhaps a day or two past). If the weekend weather is accommodating, I may head south on Saturday to capture the last of this year’s color in what has been a most spectacular year.
The rising success of the US National Amputee Soccer program would not be possible without the dedication of the all volunteer staff of the American Amputee Soccer Association (AASA). Pictured above from left to right are the Head Coach, Massage Therapist, Assistant Coach, and Athletic Trainer. Without their contributions to the team, it would not have been possible to secure the victories we did in Costa Rica last week.
Today my team held a half day offsite program retrospective for the Form 3. The idea is to identify what went well and what could have gone better so as to learn how to improve on future programs. As is the culture at Formlabs, we spent 99% of our time focused on our mistakes. Also in keeping with our culture we spent the second half of the afternoon enjoying ourselves in each other’s company.
I took a red-eye from San Jose to Boston today and was back in the office by noon. As is usually the case when I take a “vacation,” I returned entirely spent but spiritually recharged. I experienced the natural beauty of Costa Rican volcanoes, waterfalls, and wildlife. I had the pleasure of watching Nicolai playing the game he loves so much while wearing the colors of his country. Perhaps most gratifying, however, was witnessing the inspirational impact that our amputee athletes had on all who watched them compete. Able bodied observers walked away with a new appreciation for the determination and adaptability of differently-abled people. Those facing their own physical challenges were lifted in the knowledge of what is possible.
With one win and one loss, today’s match between the US and Costa Rican National teams was for all the marbles. Actually, it was for the President’s Cup trophy. Despite last night’s ordeal, the team voted to go ahead with the competition and on some level used their collective anger to push themselves to new limits. The US scored first; the Costa Ricans answered almost instantly. The US scored again and with just minutes left in the game the equalizer came, forcing another penalty kick shoot out. Thanks once again to our excellent keeper we were up 3-1 on PKs. Once again, Nico was summoned for the deciding kick which he put away definitively for the 4-1 win and his twentieth international goal. If you want to know what pure joy looks like, have a peek at the celebration below.
I will return to Boston totally exhausted and thoroughly happy for my solo time in nature and my community time with Nico and his teammates. A full set of soccer photos can be found here.
The field we played on yesterday was right next to the Church Vazquez de Coronado which I photographed early this morning before the team boarded a bus for seaside Puntas Arenas. There the US faced Costa Rica for the second time with a much less satisfactory outcome. The team gave up two early goals and a third in the second half falling to a 3-0 defeat. The two hour ride in a barely large enough bus had done little to help with the stiff muscles everyone was experiencing. Nicolai played well and put shots on both the left and right posts but could not find the back of the net.
After the match both teams enjoyed dinner at a restaurant just off the beach. A number of us paused our meal to enjoy a beautiful sunset and to dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean. The two hour return to San Jose after losing was not made easier by constant rain. Adding insult to injury, we arrived at the Olympic compound only to discover that the room Nico was staying in had been burglarized. Three of our players lost all their electronics and other valuables and one lost his passport. Amazingly, Nico’s belongings were undisturbed. Apparently the thief had to make a hasty exit. Cue memories of my last visit to Costa Rica when all my camera gear was stolen. Hours were spent investigating and providing the police with necessary details. A decision on withdrawing from the tournament to help our stranded player with obtaining a replacement passport was postponed until the morning.
Having enjoyed a few days of vacation it is now time to get down to business. In my capacity as the Vice President of the American Amputee Soccer Associations and more importantly, the team photographer, I am in Costa Rica to support the US National Amputee Soccer team as they face Costa Rica in a series of three international friendly matches. The team is being hosted at the Costa Rican Olympic Training Center, an oasis in an otherwise densely populated suburb of San Jose. Nicolai is captain of the US team and was featured in a flattering article published earlier this week in the local paper. I used Google to translate the article into English.
The team’s first match was this afternoon in a light rain. At the end of regulation time the score was tied 0-0. By prior agreement, a winner would be determined in a penalty kick shoot out. Thanks to some outstanding goal tending, the US went up two goals to zero. A third goal would secure victory and Nico delivered a low shot to the right corner for the win and celebration with his teammates. It must be said that officiating was fairly one-sided making the victory that much sweeter.
Many people consider the Resplendent Quetzal to be the most beautiful bird in the world. I would not disagree. It is also very hard to photograph. They feed primarily on wild avocados so the key to finding one is to locate and stake out an avocado tree with ripe fruit. Ninety percent of the time the Quetzal is in and among the branches and leaves making a clean shot nearly impossible. Posted here are my best images from today and yesterday. A total of ten hours at one tree. Some might think this is a crazy use of vacation time. It may be easier to relate if you think of this as a form of hunting, something deeply embedded in our primitive programming. I enjoy the challenge, the resulting “trophy” and spending quiet time in a beautiful natural setting which for me is very restorative.
This morning I got an early start for San Gerardo de Dota, high in the mountains about two hours south of San Jose. Access to the valley is by a two way 1 1/8 lane road in desperate need of repair. One side of the entire road is a shear cliff drop off. I traversed this road not once, but twice as I had difficulty locating the tiny rustic cabin I had rented for the night. Cell service was right at the margin and my map app was getting royally screwed up. I am glad I persisted. The wildlife shots I posted earlier this week were taken in a nature park where the subjects are essentially captive (albeit in very natural settings). The birds I photographed today are all wild. I spent 5 hours hoping to get a shot of the very elusive Resplendent Quetzal. I had several sightings and a few half decent shots but not the killer image I have been hoping for. That said, I was able to capture several other very beautiful species.
Even though October is the peak of the rainy season in Costa Rica, I have been lucky so far. Yesterday I simply drove to places that were not raining. Today, the morning was perfectly clear affording me a pristine view of the Volcan Poas and Catarata del Toro before the heavens opened. On my last trip here, I took some really great pictures of both these locations only to have them stolen along with my camera gear (see account here). It is said that every cloud has a silver lining. Such was the case today. The weather at Poas was perfect and I was the first to the observation point (arrived at the gate at 6am for a 7am open) giving me wonderful morning light and perfect camera position. At the del Toro waterfalls, vegetation that had partially obscured my original photos has been cut back. Oh yeh; I also have a much newer camera and shot these both as panoramas with more than 200 MPixels of resolution (the ones I post here are significantly downsized, even the larger versions). I could not have been more pleased with the photos I got today. Some of my best were taken with my drone but I forgot the adapter I need to download the images to my computer so these won’t post until next week.
Having visited Costa Rica twice before, I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to go and had prepared a tightly scripted itinerary. Let’s just say that the plan didn’t survive the morning. Picking up my rental car proved to be an exercise in aggravation and delay, my first destination (the Volcan Poas) now requires advanced reservations booked online, and the nature park I had hoped to visit was closed for maintenance. Despite these hurdles which cost me hundreds of fruitless driven miles and nearly half the day, I made the best of the situation and came away with some very nice images.
I am off to Costa Rica for the next week. Nico is playing for the US National Amputee Soccer Team in an international friendly tournament in San Jose later in the week. I will meet up with the squad when they arrive. Until then, I hope to do some photography, weather permitting. October is smack in the middle of the rainy season and it remains to be seen how successful I will be dodging the weather.
This morning I enjoyed a perfect fall day on the soccer pitch. My team managed a 2-1 win in the closing minutes against a Wayland squad that was more physical than talented. After the match I grabbed a quick shower and left to pick up Jeanine at the Amtrack station. We drove into the Seaport district for lunch before she dropped me off at Logan for my flight. It was exciting to hear all about Jeanine’s adventures in NYC and I was grateful for the few hours of overlap we had.
This website is dedicated to sharing, with family and friends, the day-to-day adventures of the Calabria family.
