<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Billy_Goat">Billy the Goat</a>, fittingly (<em>let’s see: the Badgers lost <strong>twice</strong> in a row with leads in the fourth quarter and the Cubs and White Sox got bounced from the playoffs (go Red Sox!)</em>), traveled today on the big boat.</p>

<p>I was pretty excited today when my daughter presented both ZoZo and Amélie for a trip on the big boat. I’m pretty fond of the letter Z and zebras, less so the animal and more so the football official, my dad having officiated football throughout most of my childhood and the memories I have thereof. I knew just where I was going.</p>

<p>My daughter took no chances on forgetting this morning, booking down the hallway before I even opened the door to the garage. So while <a href="/2008/09/24/animals-boats-ideas/">Gus & Balsmic</a>, <a href="/2008/09/25/one-more-animal/">Bernard</a>, <a href="/2008/09/26/baby-ralphs-turn/">Baby Ralph</a>, <a href="/2008/09/29/espresso-mountains-skyline-monkey/">Curious George</a> and <a href="/2008/09/30/bikes-pigs-pierre/">Pierre</a> stayed at home I was joined by Miriam, my wife’s…

<p>Of all my daughter’s animals, I’m most fond of Pierre. He’s quiet, cute and small enough to fit in my backpack, important because I opted to ride my road bike today on what might be one of the last warm, dry days of the year. Because I had limited space, this was the first time I interfered with my daughter’s wishes, choosing not to take Gus – maybe tomorrow buddy.</p>

<p>No animals were harmed in the making of this Art – but it was close.</p>

<p>Today Baby Ralph traveled on the big boat to be photographed from our office’s rooftop deck.</p>

<p>“Daddy, daddy, wait!” Away runs my daughter to arrive seconds later with yet another animal, Bernard.</p>

<p>My daughter greeted me twice last week as I was readying to leave on my bike with an “idea”. “Daddy, wait” she said as she ran back into the house, appearing moments later with one of her animals. She wanted them to experience the joy of the morning commute on the “big boat” – into the Ortliebs each went.</p>

<p>I was really looking forward to this conference based on my experience last year, with the likes of Jeff Dean and Marissa Mayer presenting. When I saw the original agenda for Saturday I was excited to see they expanded the number of talks at the expense of having to make a decision about which presentation to attend, a task at which I often feel I failed.</p>

<p>I went to the <a href="http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2007/02/seattle-conference-on-scalability.html">conference last year</a> and have been anxiously awaiting the speakers and session list for this year. It’s <a href="http://services.google.com/events/seattle_scalability2008">out</a> and my RSVP has been confirmed.</p>