Celebrity Encounters

So, my New Year's resolution to post to the blog more is not taking root. Damn. But as always, there is a great excuse - this time it's Celebrity Encounters!

Last weekend, Andrea and I went on our annual ski trip to Deer Valley. At least, it's an annual trip when we're not on legitimate business of hers in the South Australian wine region.

We were having a perfectly civilized lunch at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, when whom should we hear talking to the guests at the next table, but - you guessed it - Stein Eriksen! Andrea's dad, Carol, was bold enough to ask Mr. Eriksen for a photo, and he replied stoically, "With the ladies?"

Needless to say, we obliged. If you're like some of my friends who are not into skiing, you may not want to read more about Stein in his wikipedia entry, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stein_Eriksen.

When we asked Mr. Eriksen if he was having a good day, he replied, "Anyone who complains about the conditions today needs to take up a different sport." With the great weather we had, who could disagree?

Only five short days later - another great event occurred! Thanks to Sharon, we had a group together for the Jonny Lang concert at the historic Paramount Theater right here in good old ATX (http://www.austintheatre.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Home). Ken Stein and Maica Jordan totally hooked us up for a backstage visit with Jonny after the show! OMG!!!

I asked him what his favorite song is, and he replied "Red Light." I totally agree. We love you Jonny!

How much more exciting can 2009 get?

Why Someone Else Should Pay for our Australia Travels

Today's post is, in fact a business case.

Specifically, we have determined that there is a substantial amout of legitimate business for us here in Australia. OK, not for me, because I don't work these days. I'm simply the chaperone/butler/court jester in this whole thing. However, Andrea is legitimately employed with a multinational paper company. Here's how she describes her work:

"Let's see. I make paper packaging goods and have to ensure that our quality standards are upheld worldwide (read: we call it corrugated, you say cardboard). "

Great. Here is a big stack of corrugated boxes from the Irongate Vineyards. Careful competitive inspection was needed as Andrea's business is looking to take over the wine packaging market in Virginia.

I came up with the idea that they should also go into the wine barrel business. Paper, wood, it's all from trees.

Several days later, we drove through the town of Oakbank in South Australia, when lo and behold, we happened upon one of the paper plant's major customers, Stihl. We decided to stop in for quality control. It was surprising to see the sheer number of Stihl products carried in this little town. Further inpsection yielded pay dirt! A box from Andrea's very own plant.

And she even got to meet the store manager and territory manager! We successfully determined that Andrea's packaging product holds up extremely well when shipped from Virginia to Australia! There was no damage to the product at all.

The next day, another Stihl retail outlet was spotted in the town of Angaston, where we were staying! It was clean and properly stocked. Unfortunately, the competitive packaging shown below did not fare as well as the one from Andrea's plant. The store manager was very dissatisfied with the quality of the packaging. Andrea plans to contact the customer upon her return to the USA to seek award for this specific packaging structure.

Beware the lady with the chainsaw!