I'm excited by recent comments on the blog, which warrant a candid response. I have been blogging for several years and understand its outreach potential, especially when it comes to interacting with one’s audience. For this reason, I hope that more readers take the chance to ask questions, leave feedback, or just say "hello." I’ll try to respond in a timely manner.

One reader recently asked:

A co-worker recently commented on how I'm always going out of town on the weekends, never staying at home without plans. I smiled and took what she said as a compliment. As nice as it sounds to lounge around at home (in downtown Sacramento), there's always a good excuse to leave town. In the last four weekends I've been to Seattle for my sister's wedding, Lake Tahoe to go camping, Mexico to build a house (and buy a nifty hammock), and Yosemite to hike Half Dome. I know that lots of my co-workers go out of town or otherwise fill their weekends with excitement. In fact, that's essentially the culture at Accenture. Of course, to say that if you don't travel every weekend you don't belong here wouldn't be true.

If my ability to get away isn't a testament to the fact that one can have a life outside Accenture, I don't know what is. I'll admit, though, it would be nice to hang up that new hammock one of these days.

My team recently completed its V2 system test initiative. Long hours and high tensions are no strangers to those times.

To celebrate, some friends/co-workers and I hiked to Dardanelles Lake near Lake Tahoe over the long Labor Day weekend. If work can sometimes feel laborious, this was the perfect way to get rejuvinated.