Lunch at Lillstugan

Today my manager at IBM invited the whole team to lunch at Lillstugan.


I must have ridden the bus hundreds of times by this place on the way to and from the office, but until today I had never dined there.


The buffet table was full of a wide variety of dishes, including some Swedish midsummer favorites.




I even made sure I was in one of the photos. Hi Mom!

Dinner with Brf. Söglimten board

On Friday evening, the board of my home-owner's association met for its biannual dinner. We dined at Bockholmen restaurant. The food, drink and company were excellent.


The view is quite lovely. From there it's possible to see Lidingöbron and the island of Lidingö.

This morning, I let the cats out for a while. They really enjoy being outside. Here Alex is thinking “It's about time!”

Sasha is always on the lookout for danger.

In Alex's mind, he's the king.

It's harder to tell what Sasha is thinking. Not very much, I guess.

I got a photo of Alex rolling over on his back and yawning, but unfotunately it was blurry. Here's a shot of him right after he rolled halfway back over.

Article on CorporateBlogging.info

For those of you who did not already know, I maintain an internal IBM web log in addition to this one. My internal IBM blog is called “M Theory” and it's visible only on the IBM corporate network. I post items to my internal IBM blog that are of specific interest to my immediate colleagues, or of more general interest to larger communities of IBMers. I find it rewarding to communicate with other IBMers in this way. It also gives me daily practice in writing clearly and in composing legible HTML.

Blogging in the corporate environment is emerging as a new means of collaboration among coworkers. It has also begun to attract the interest of business consultants offering advice on communications within organizations.

I recently participated in an interview with one such business consultant, Fredrik Wackå. Mr. Wackå discussed the topic of internal blogging at IBM with me and my colleage Philippe Borremans in IBM Public Relations. Yesterday, Fredrik published the results of that interview in an article on his web site, CorporateBlogging.info.

The article offers an interesting glimpse into the phenomenon of blogging within IBM. It includes a screenshot of Blog Central, a web page that serves as a common starting point from which IBMers can find internal web logs with recent activity.

Finishers Wolfram and Michael

I finished the marathon about the same time as a fellow from Germany named Wolfram. Here were are showing of our medals. Everyone who finished the race in under 6 hours received one.

Last week, I worked a couple of days in IBM's Wallingatan office. It's just a few meters from Adolf Fredrik's Church, depicted here.

Alex and Sasha rest after a couple hours' frolicking out in the warm Summer day.

Last night I went for a little bike ride to Ulriksdals Slott and back. I took the way around by Bockholmen and Stocksundstorp, under the tunnelbana bridge and through the woods. There are so many tree roots on the trail over there that it's almost impossible to bike. There are also fallen trees in the path. Someone should build a proper trail along the water so that bikers and others who have trouble getting around can still enjoy the area. I took this photo of the palace from a small dock below Ulriksdals Wärdshus.

Here's another nice view of the sunset.

And finally, a view of the sunset reflected in the surface of Edsviken.

Photos from the Stockholm Marathon.

I have rearranged the photos from the race in chronological order.


First, a photo of me before the marathon. The people on the road in the background are runners lining up at the start line, about 10 meters down the roadway to the right.


Here's a shot of the start. I actually crossed the start line when the clock showed 6:22, so most of the fast runners had already gotten a good head start. The race was timed with an RFID chip attached to each runner's left shoe though, so each runner got an individual time. I'm in this picture somewhere on the left.






Naturally, the only shot taken in sunshine is one in which I'm walking to catch my breath!


Here's a shot of me crossing the finish line. At this point in the race, I was sprinting, just eager to get it over with!

Apple switching to Intel

Apple has announced that it will switch to Intel chips starting in 2006. I'm ambivalent about this. I've always been a fan of the PowerPC, and the move to Intel chips seems like a step backward. But IBM hasn't been able to deliver the improvements that Apple needs, so maybe the move was necessary.

In the near term, Apple is encouraging developers to ship applications as universal binaries, programs that can run on either platform. But the writing is on the wall: eventually, Apple intends to leave the PowerPC behind. So much for Power Everywhere.

Happy birthday, mom!

Dear mom,

Happy birthday! Ethan seemed to like the gift I made for him, so I thought I'd continue the tradition.


I hope you had the best of birthdays. I was thinking about you when I ran the marathon yesterday, and I owe you a lot. You have always been a role model for me, showing me that with determination and hard work, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. You're the best mom a boy could ask for.

Love,
Michael

Stockholm Marathon 2005 - 4:50:57

Well, I did it! I completed the Stockholm Marathon in a time of 4:50:57. I wasn't sure I could really do it until I passed the finish line.



The first lap was relatively easy. Lotta and Lisa were stationed at the Studenterna tent near Rålambshövsparken, right after Västerbron. They cheered me on and took some photos. I kept going and didn't notice any pain in my legs until around km 20, but then I started feeling the soreness my joints, particularly my knees and hips. Near the end of the first lap, I saw Daniel & Jenny and Åsa & Kevin. They cheered me on and gave me a much needed boost of confidence going into the second lap. The loop through Djurgården in the second lap seemed much longer than the loop through Gärdet in the first lap, probably because it is longer. Whatever the reason, the Djurgården part of the race seemed to go on for too long, and this was a bit depressing. It was really hard to keep going, but somehow I managed.

As I started to run down Strandvägen in the second lap, I got a sharp pain in my left knee. The pain just suddenly came out of nowhere mid-stride. I limped for a few steps and noticed that the pain got eaiser to bear with each additional step. So I stopped limping and put equal weight back on the left leg. After each successive step, the pain subsided a little bit more. After just 50 or 100 meters, the sharp pain was gone.

The pain — duller, but still annoying — came back occasionally. I fought through it though. Every time the pain reappeared, I sped up instead of slowing down. Just as in my 28 km run a few weeks ago, this trick worked. Each time I sped up, the pain diminished. It seems counter-intuitive, but it worked.

Sometimes duing longer runs, I have gotten a popping feeling in my right foot with each step; one positive surprise about this race was that I never felt the popping sensation.

I did my best not to slow down to walk except at the official refreshment stops. Every 5 km or so, there were tables set up with sport drink drink, water, and wet sponges. One has to slow down to pick up the refreshments, so one might as well wait and save one's rest times for those drink stations. I kept to this plan pretty well. I also stopped to pose for photos for Daniel and Åsa at the 40 km mark.

The last two kilometers actually went quite quickly. I never saw the 41 km marker, and the next thing I knew, Stockholms Stadion was at the end of the road up ahead, so I just fought on.

When I entered the statium for the final 200 meter stretch, I was so elated to have the goal in sight that I began to sprint. I ran faster and faster, passing everyone in sight. I got an amazing boost of adrenaline, and all the pain disappered instantly and completely. I don't think I've ever felt anything quite like it. It was amazing. I went even faster. I couldn't even feel the ground beneath my feet, and I felt like I was running on clouds. For a few precious moments, it seemed to take no additional energy to go faster. I felt like I could run as fast as I wanted to. It was really a remarkable experience. I crossed the finish line going full speed, with a silly grin on my face, and with my arms held high in the air.

I picked up my medal and staggered to a railing, where I stopped and caught my breath. The pain returned, but after a bit of stretching, most of the muscle cramping was over, and all that remained was my poor sore joints. I picked up my t-shirt and post-race snacks and drinks. After a few minutes of rest and a change of clothes, I met Daniel & Jenny for a beer at restaurant near Östermalmstorg.

Then, I headed home, had a shower, and fixed pizza for dinner. I'm going to sleep well tonight.

I hope to have some photos soon. The race's official photographer, photomotion.se, will also have photos from the race online on Tuesday.

Update: Daniel has a couple of photos of me from the marathon on his weblog.

Yesterday evening went to Stockholms Stadion to pick up my number and chip for the marathon today. I then went to the pasta party to load up on carbohydrates. The weather wasn't so nice.

Unfortunately, it's even worse today. On the news this morning they said that this may be the worst weather the Stockholm Marathon has had since it started 27 years ago. Oh well. I'll wear long sleves and make the best of it.

Pre-race jitters

Tomorrow I'll run my first marathon, and I'm a bit nervous. I'm a bit worried that I won't have the stamina to complete the race without walking a large part of it. But I'm also having a bit of pre-race hypochondria. My left knee began to hurt a few minutes ago, and that's never happened before. I kept walking and the pain eventually went away.

I've done everything I can to prepare; now I just have to get plenty of rest and eat plenty of carbohydrates before the race. Wish me luck.

Oasis restaurant burns down

Yesterday morning, Austin's famous Oasis restaurant burned to the ground. The Oasis has been an Austin institution for as long as I can remember.


I grew up in Austin, and probably went to the Oasis for the first time with my parents when I was in my early teens. At that time, the prices were too high and the service wasn't that good; but some years later, the restaurant really turned around. The prices remained high, but the service really improved. In recent years, the restaurant has expanded to be able to serve almost 2000 guests on more than 40 different decks overlooking Lake Travis.


The Oasis was known for its views of the lake. It became a tradition there to ring a bell when the sun had set. Of course, Texas has wonderful sunsets.


It's too bad that the Oasis is gone. I guess it was it was insured, so the owner will probably rebuild. The original Oasis was a labyrinth of connected decks and stairways precariously cantilevered out over the steep hillside. It was sometimes hard to find one's table without help from one of the staff. Any replacement building will surely lack some of the charm of the original; but it will no doubt also have a layout that's easier to navigate.

Mac OS X Hints purchased by Macworld

Since November 2000, Rob Griffiths' Mac OS X Hints has been one of the most consistently reliable sources of information about the Mac OS X operating system. In particular, Mac OS X has focused on the Mac OS X command line — in particular, myriad ways to tweak the operating system beyond can be accomplished using the GUI alone. I have found these hints to be a great way to learn about how Mac OS X works behind the scenes.

Today we learn that Rob has sold Mac OS X Hints to the publisher of Macworld magazine, and has joined Macworld as a senior editor.

I'd like to wish Rob well in the new role. Here's to 5 more years of great hints.

A June evening in Södermalm

Tonight I took the subway to Slussen to visit Lotta. She lives in nice neighborhood with lots of very old buildings.

On the way back home, I took a walk in S�dermalm and admired this lovely city.

Saturday night I went to the year's first Djungelsalsa event — so called because it's out in the "jungle" of �rsta. It was cold and rainy but I had a good time anyway.

Inger and I enjoyed some BBQ with some of her world-famous black sauce. As you can tell, it was tasty.

Last long run before the Stockholm Marathon

Today I ran what was probably the longest distance I've ever run. I ran twice around Brunsviken and then made a lap around Ulriksdals Slott. I estimate that the total distance was 26-28 km. I only stopped to walk a few times, and just for a minute or two each time. It took 2:45 to complete the run, and I'm absolutely exhaused. Today's run gave me more confidence that I'll be able to finish the marathon, in part because of two surprising sensations that I experienced for the first time during the run today:

1. Several times during the run, starting some time during the second lap around Brunnsviken, I began to feel like I was on autopilot. I didn't have to think anymore; I just ran. It was a surprising sensation, but it was welcome because it made the running just flow, as if running were the natural state for my body to be in. I've read about people getting in the zone when doing extended physical or mental exertion, especially if this involves repeating a task that has been done many times before. The task suddenly takes much less mental effort. It just happens. The sensation lasted only for perhaps ten to fifteen minutes at at time, and it went away if I became distracted by uneven terrain or a grumbling stomach; but it often came back a few minutes later.
2. Around km 15, my hips and knees began to complain in earnest. It became hard to ignore the pain that increasingly accompanied every step. I allowed myself the luxury of a minute's walk, but each time I did this I set a deadline: After one minute, I'll start running again; or When I get to that lamp post up ahead, I'll get moving again. By setting a definite limit on the rest time, I think I managed to keep my body warmed up and in running mode. Walking for longer than a couple of minutes might have led my body to begin the to switch to let's go home and have a beer mode. My system seemed to work, and I kept myself to the bargain each time. This meant that I resumed running even though my joints were still hurting with each step. It was hard, but I kept going. Some time well after km 20, a surprising thing happened: the pain began to subside. It happend rather suddenly, and the running became much easier at that point. My hips and knees were almost numb. No, this isn't quite right. They weren't exactly numb, but the pain was dull, and significantly diminished in magnitude. Thanks to this I was able to keep my speed up during the last few kilometers as I ran out to Ulriksdals Slott and looped around Bergshamra Centrum before heading home.

I think I've come to the threshold between typical everyday exercise running, and real endurance running. The two surprising sensations today were really welcome, and I hope they will bless me with their presence on 4 June. The last 10-15 km of the marathon is definitely going to be the most difficult.

In the coming week, I plan to run twice or three times, and for no longer than 10 km each time. The week before the marathon, I will only jog a few km at a time, and probably only in the first half of the week. Diet and rest will be as important to success as training.

Bike around Djursholm

I biked around Djursholm last Sunday. It was a perfect day for biking -- sunny but not too warm.


There are many, many nice houses in this part of the city. I biked by the residence of the Swiss ambassador quite by chance.


I also made a few laps in the woods around Cedergrenska Tornet. There are often wedding parties here on the weekends.


Across the water from the tower is Bockholmen. The building on the left side of the island is Bockholmen restaurant, where we dined when Ethan was here last Summer.


Along the way I passed one of the few sand beaches in the area. I'm pretty sure that the sand is shipped in and placed there deliberately. It's still too cool for swimming and sunbathing.

Kungsholmen Runt -- 1:54:33

Today I ran the Kungsholmen Runt half marathon. I finished in a time of 1:54:35, my personal best time for this distance. It's about two minutes faster than my time on Sankt Eriksloppet from last year. I have just a few more weeks before the Stockholm Marathon. I'm feeling more confident about it but I know it's going to be really hard. I'm planning to do another long run next weekend, and also to do some interval training during the next two weeks. Then, it's time to take it easy, get a lot of rest, and eat right in the days leading up to the marathon. This will be my first marathon, so I'm not really sure what to expect. To be honest, the distance is a bit intimidating!

I ran the second half of the race with another runner named Anna. I'd like to thank her for running with me. It was much easier to stay motivated running with another person!


After the race today, I sat on the grass of Rålambshovsparken a few meters from Lake Mälaren and enjoyed the lovely Stockholm sunshine. This city is really amazing when the weather is nice. I had a picnic with Lisa, Lotta, and some of Lotta's friends from Puls.se.


Tonight I'm going to Åsa & Kevin's place for this year's repeat of Åsa's 25th birthday party. It'll be a nice way to wind down after the race.

The Flintholm train station, halfway between Cophenhagen and the office in Ballerup where I've been working this week.

Tivoli Gardens

So this is what all the fuss is about. Tivoli Gardens in the center of Copenhagen took its name from the Italian word for the Latin Tibur, an ancient vacation destination of senators in the hills overlooking Rome. I'm not sure how Tivoli Systems got its name. I heard a rumor once that tivoli was the name of one of the early test systems on which the software that later became the Tivoli Management Environment was first developed.

Here's the view out my room at the Scandic Copenhagen City hotel. It's overlooking what used to be a moat surrounting the city wall. That's a big moat. Imagine that you're on the city wall -- okay, the wall back then was not twelve stories high, but stay with me -- The area across the lake is where the invaders would have come from. Of course Denmark has done its share of invading too.

I arrived in Copenhagen around lunchtime today. My colleague Søren picked me up at the airport. We spent most of the rest of the day preparing the classroom for the course I'm here to teach. This evening around 2100 hours, I checked in to the Scandic Copenhagen City hotel. Internet access is inclded in the price of the room. This room is much more modest than the spacious room I had in Singapore. It's probably about one third the size, and has a twin, rather than king, bed. After a day of walking around Singapore, a 13 hour flight, and another full day of work, I think I'll have no trouble sleeping. More to come tomorrow. Over and out.

This morning, I switched planes in London. My connecting flight bound for Copenhagen taxied by this famous aircraft. Do you recognize it?

I guess it's sitting there until they find a way to transport it to a museum. It's a shame that this lovely plane is being retired, and that there's no equivalent replacement.