The two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Years were chock full of some much needed R&R to mark my end of 2014. I read several books, played Destiny on my PS4 until the wee hours, and generally tried to really wear in my pajama pants (which were worn for solid, solid stretches at a time).
The highlights:
 |
| With my MBA team, Team Tres! |
GRADUATION!
To be clear, I've never run a marathon but I liken that process to getting your MBA while working full time. I cannot speak highly enough about the caliber of my classmates, teachers, courses, and staff at Kenan-Flagler's Executive MBA program, but not even they can dust off the long-term fatigue that quickly sets in.
It was the longest/shortest grind I've ever done. Two years is actually a short amount of time, but when you're in it.....
Caroline was my rock throughout all of it. Having dinner ready around 9:45 / 10 pm cannot be fun for anyone, but she pulled me through it. To colleagues at work, friends, and family, thank you for your collective support and understanding as I wasn't always there physically and/or mentally.
Closing Motorola & IBM Deals
I was very privileged to lead my team on two projects that had a huge impact on Lenovo: integrating Motorola Mobility and IBM x86 server group into the company.
Announced in January of last year, I was snowed in at home when I received a call that we were about to announce the x86 deal, and then had the same exact scenario one week later for Moto.
Quickly, and successfully making these two groups part of one company was "the" priority during 2014, and we felt that heat. Coupled with never really knowing when the deals would close (we had to wait for regulatory approvals - read: "waiting on the government," well heck, in this case two governments), made for one long summer.
Thankfully, both deals closed in October (oddly enough the same month I graduated), and months of planning was / still is being executed smoothly!
October
Coupled with the deals closing and graduation in October, several more fun and life-changing events happened then.
Atlanta
Caroline's friend from UNC-W, Ryan, got married early on in the month! Caroline's best friend, and maid of honor Kendall, flew in for the occasion and well...mayhem ensued.
 |
| Caroline, Katie, and Kendall at one of her 'secret' bars. Please don't ask. |
Portland
Two of my very best friends, Keely and Jesse, live in Portland with their new bundle of joy - Tegan! Before any of the above plans were blips on the radar screen, we wanted to voyage out there to visit them and meet their little baby girl. Care and I fell in love with the city, and of course Tegan!
 |
| The view off of the Rademacher's deck |
Singapore
Work sent me out to Singapore to help coordinate an event we were having there, which was a very cool experience. People ask me what the place is like, and I commonly reply "It's like someone built a new Chicago in the middle of the jungle." And it is.
 |
| The view from on my running trail from the hotel |
Everything is shiny new, there are many very diverse, distinct cultures, and it's built on a stern practice of respect and understanding. More than anything, I was impressed with the collective thought and will that went into making that city/country what it is.
Hammy's Wedding
Closing out the month was Hammy's wedding, which I was immensely happy to be best man for! The match Emily and Mike make could not be any cuter. He's a cop. She's a fire fighter. He went to NC State. She went to Chapel Hill. The list goes on... :)
Mike and his family have been my family in Raleigh as mine have lived in Tennessee for many years. And the second I met Emily, I knew she was it for my best friend. Add in all of my closest friends coming in town for the celebration, and it was just simply a wonderful occasion.
 |
| Josh, me, Hammy, and Ric at the Pit for Rehearsal Dinner |
Puppy Pants
Caroline and I adopted Carter in late August, and we could not imagine our lives without him. He's crazy, and has been causing an immense amount of damage to Caroline's furniture lately, but we love him so.
He's brought so much to our lives, it's hard to picture a time when he wasn't there already!
Onwards to 2015
Long post, but hey, it was a busy year! I'm really looking forward to the new year, the chance to reconnect with old friends, spending more time at home with Caroline and Carter, working in the yard, and working on myself (gym, running, reading, climbing, learning a new language, etc.).
Cheers!
