I’ve been trying to unwind since returning to San Diego from the America’s Cup competition in Valencia. Further tours promoting the book are being scheduled for August, September, and October. The later ones will occur when temperatures are more reasonable. At the present time I’m working with Peter Economy on suggestions to the editors for the second printing of the book, incorporating many of the comments we’ve received and which really need to be made a part of the book. It will be a big job for us to modify the first printing, and include the comments in just the right places. It is nonetheless something I will enjoy doing. So, please, as you think further about the book, let us know of anything you feel strongly we’ve omitted.
In June I decided to purchase a powerboat, which I could use locally and for trips to Mexico, the Channel Islands, Santa Catalina, San Clemente, and ports of call along the west coast south of Los Angeles. The boat has arrived and it’s currently undergoing major maintenance to one of the engines and other crucial repairs before we put it into use. These are almost exclusively repairs under warranty. So, during the next month I will be spending time learning how to run the boat so that I can utilize it on the three Fridays of the month that I’m not sailing on The Blue Moon motorsailer, in which I own a small financial interest. This will be sort of a vacation for us again. In August, I will be traveling to Anaheim to DARPATech 2007 and signing books and speaking at San Diego State. At La Jolla Playhouse last Saturday night we saw a new musical — Carmen — which is now on the way to Broadway. I highly recommend it to those of you who are interested in the theater. Other than that, we’re open for business on the blog, and I look forward to visiting with you through that medium if not in person during my upcoming book tours.
– Bob
Sounds like you have been plenty busy. All the folks in Omaha say Hello, Mike Yanney, Walter Scott, Bob Bell.
Guess you know by now that there will be a new Commander of STRATCOM. Gen Cartwright is moving on to become the Vice Chairman and Air Force Gen Chilton will move from Air Force Space Command to replace Gen Cartwright. This will be the first Air Force General since Gen Habigar…at least 10 years…
The SAG continues their work, Dr Burnett is back helping Gen Welch out. I still support the IO and Global Strike panels.
Great to see you up and at them.
Al Buckles
I well remember going with you to Oceanside harbor to look at the Santana 37 that you bought 30 years ago. It sure doesn’t like that long ago, but certainly a lot has happened since then. Not the least of which we are both retired and are pursuing non-business activities almost as much as we used to work on business.
I was doing a mountain bike race in South Africa two years ago and was in Cape Town when the SAIC boat was there in the around the world race. I had an SAIC hat on which caught the attention of some of the crew that wondered who the heck I was.
We have been doing power boating on the Great Lakes on a friend’s 38′ Cruiser each summer for the past 6-8 years. It is sort of like the ocean because you can’t see the other side, but there are lots of places to stop overnight -unlike here in Southern California, where it is a long way between ports. I also ride my bike there when we aren’t moving the boat.
I’ll be looking for you on San Diego bay.. We are occasionally out in our 28 ft open bow Regal (white and green). If you need a dock hand sometime, let me know. Other than training when I have a specific race goal, I’m on my own schedule.
btw. For the next edition, my last name is spelled Burgart. And Bob Czawkowsi’s name is mis-spelled as well, but I sure don’t remember if what I have just typed is all the much closer than what you had.
Regards,
Cal
It is great to know that you are making time in your busy schedule for fun and games, Bob. This ancient mariner fully approves of your redication to nautical adventures.
I also applaud your endorsement of the La Jolla Playhouse version of “Carmen”. I was put off a bit by the poor review given it by the San Diego Union’s critic, but found the production to be very professionally done and thoroughly enjoyable.
Further to Al’s comments, General Cartwright’s act at STSRATCOM will be extraordinarrly tough to follow. At least after 10 years of Navy and Marine commanders, relieving him with an air force officer will allow General LeMay to stop turning in his grave.
Al: Thanks for your kind words. I have been doing quite a bit of traveling, mainly in connection with selling our new book about SAIC. We plan this fall when the weather gets cooler to do another round of visits, and it may be possible to stop again in Omaha and attend the SAG Plenary Session if I can fit it into the schedule. We are planning to travel to Cambridge to talk at the Sloan School at MIT, then to Carnegie Mellon to address the business school — all on how employee ownership helped build SAIC. There are meetings scheduled at the business school here at San Diego State within the next couple of weeks — again, to talk about SAIC and how employee ownership helped build it. And my old alma mater Michigan is a possible location where the business school seems to be interested in hearing from us. Stanford and UC Irvine have also expressed an interest in my discussing the same subject. This will be a tall order but it seems to help the sales of the book. What surprises me is that many employees and ex-employees of SAIC have not yet purchased the book. After all, in most places, it’s the company they helped create, and I would be interested in hearing their opinions if they would take the time to buy and critique it. Sorry to unload on you, but I’m sure you have the same warm feelings towards SAIC as I do. – Bob
Cal: Thanks for bringing me up to date, and you certainly have a very active schedule. I’m pleased that you are able to spend so much time on the Michigan lakes — that was fun for me to do when I was a kid. Michigan is a wonderful state to vacation in during the summer, but I suspect it’s still very unpleasant to be there in the winter when it’s cold and snowing. I’m sure we’ll run into one another here in La Jolla one of these days, and I look forward to that happening. We’ll fix the spelling of the names for the next printing. – Bob
Bob: thank you for staying in email contact with me, and I’m glad that you liked Carmen as well. I will try this fall to attend the Plenary Session of the SAG, if they’ll have me. It depends on whether I can work it in with another book signing event in Omaha. Another of my jobs it seems is to promote sales of my new book. And as you know, I enjoy sales, and I try to take advantage of every opportunity possible to promote book sales, even though I expected sales of the book to SAIC employees to be much greater. Let’s stay in contact and Ralph will set us up with a dinner with you and your significant other sometime this fall. – Bob