ALOHA!

Dear Colleagues,

I'm sure John Keats didn't have Hawaii and Mai Tai's in mind when he penned,

"Oh, for a beaker full of the warm South!
...with beaded bubbles winking at the brim."

More than likely, however, he was just as weary of dreary English winters as my wife, Suzi, was of Sierra snow and ice when she declared less lyrically this February, "I'm sick of winter. Let's go to Hawaii."

And, since the warm Mediterranean of Keats' musing was too distant for a single week's respite, I did my research and chose to sojourn at The Turtle Bay Resort, an hour from Honolulu on Oahu's northern shore - just a few miles from the famous "Pipeline Beach" of monstrous winter waves and championship surfing fame.

Turtle Bay Resort is for those who REALLY want to relax. It's all by itself in the midst of beautiful rural Hawaii. If you're a disco freak or world-class shopper you're probably better off elsewhere, except for the Friday evening luau.

The tennis complex and the Arnold Palmer Championship Golf Course were my prime attractions. The Resort also features a riding stable, and miles of beautiful beach for horseback riding, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, running or walking - and, of course, an exotic pool, swimming lagoon, and two ocean front cabana bars replete with salt breezes and flowing Mai Tai's.

One day we drove around the entire island with a luncheon stop at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach. While in her early 20's, Suzi lived six months in Honolulu and worked at the International Market behind the Royal Hawaiian. That was before Waikiki became a monumental paean to concrete cubism rather than the romantic, palm lined, tropical beach of yore.

We spent another extremely interesting day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, a 15-minute drive from the Resort. It is encouraging to see the diligent efforts to preserve the diverse cultures of Pacific Polynesia. In the evening, the Cultural Center has a wonderful luau and entertainment program.

Otherwise, I tried my best to stay preoccupied, so I wouldn't be upset by the absence of client calls. And since my laptop was at home in the closet - and I forgot the password for my e-Quantum web mail account - I spent anxious hours worrying about vital messages. Even so, I did my best to fill my time constructively.

At 8:00 AM each morning I hit with the tennis pro for an hour. Our Director of Tennis, Corley, was a really nice young pro about 23 or 24 years old, originally from Missouri, who graduated from college in Georgia with a degree in psychiatry. He had the depressingly tough task of living in the hotel and directing the resort tennis program for an international tennis management corporation with about 40 resort locations world-wide, from which Corley could choose to spend a couple years each as Tennis Director. He asked me what I thought about his going to Barbados in 2011. I told him it sounded fine, as long as he needed a graying ball boy.

With all respect to the dignity of our noble profession, let's face it - we totally blew it. Forget the Moore Business Forms bar room stories!

Then, at 10:00 AM I would tee off on the Arnold Palmer Championship Course. Every year the LPGA and Champions Tours hold tournaments on this course at Turtle Bay. It is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, my golf game, which bears striking resemblance to an excavation seminar, made my feel as if I were desecrating an altar - one with beautiful ocean and island views - a far cry from the dead, brown winter fairways back in Reno.

Afterwards, displaying a highly developed sensitivity for self-preservation, I would spend the remainder of the day and evening doing whatever Suzi wished to do. Fortunately, she liked to spend the late afternoons watching the sunset while sipping Mai Tai's with the waves crashing nearby on the beach - with absolutely no discussion of software enhancements.

But, my mind was never far from business. Here are some pictures with my accompanying e-Quantum comments.

This is our new e-Quantum Pacific office. Anyone prepaying 15 years of support fees can stay for two weeks free.

Prepping for hard questions at the May 5-7 International Client Conference at the Peppermill in Reno.

Explaining the intricacies of Q-Design to a less than pacific user

Hawaii Business Forms staff departing early so they aren't late for our May Conference

Candidates for our new Systems Development Council

The winning candidate for our new Credit Manager position

Practicing the drum roll for e-Quantum's summer release

An e-Quantum client eagerly awaiting requested enhancements

Our new altar to sacrifice programmers who don't finish their conference assignments on time

I hope you found the pictures enjoyable.

Aloha, until we meet at the May 5-7 International Client Conference in Reno.

Sincerely,

Ross Barker

P.S. Did I mention it snowed this morning in Reno? This winter has GOT to be costing Al Gore a fortune in global warming royalties.

800-328-7804 | e-quantum.com


		ALOHA! Dear Colleagues, I'm sure John Keats didn't have Hawaii and Mai Tai's in mind when he penned, "Oh, for a beaker full of the warm South! ...with beaded bubbles winking at the brim." More than likely, however, he was just as weary of dreary English winters as my wife, Suzi, was of Sierra snow and ice when she declared less lyrically this February, "I'm sick of winter. Let's go to Hawaii." And, since the warm Mediterranean of Keats' musing was too distant for a single week's respite, I did my research and chose to sojourn at The Turtle Bay Resort, an hour from Honolulu on Oahu's northern shore - just a few miles from the famous "Pipeline Beach" of monstrous winter waves and championship surfing fame. Turtle Bay Resort is for those who REALLY want to relax. It's all by itself in the midst of beautiful rural Hawaii. If you're a disco freak or world-class shopper you're probably better off elsewhere, except for the Friday evening luau. The tennis complex and the Arnold Palmer Championship Golf Course were my prime attractions. The Resort also features a riding stable, and miles of beautiful beach for horseback riding, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, running or walking - and, of course, an exotic pool, swimming lagoon, and two ocean front cabana bars replete with salt breezes and flowing Mai Tai's. One day we drove around the entire island with a luncheon stop at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach. While in her early 20's, Suzi lived six months in Honolulu and worked at the International Market behind the Royal Hawaiian. That was before Waikiki became a monumental paean to concrete cubism rather than the romantic, palm lined, tropical beach of yore. We spent another extremely interesting day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, a 15-minute drive from the Resort. It is encouraging to see the diligent efforts to preserve the diverse cultures of Pacific Polynesia. In the evening, the Cultural Center has a wonderful luau and entertainment program. Otherwise, I tried my best to stay preoccupied, so I wouldn't be upset by the absence of client calls. And since my laptop was at home in the closet - and I forgot the password for my e-Quantum web mail account - I spent anxious hours worrying about vital messages. Even so, I did my best to fill my time constructively. At 8:00 AM each morning I hit with the tennis pro for an hour. Our Director of Tennis, Corley, was a really nice young pro about 23 or 24 years old, originally from Missouri, who graduated from college in Georgia with a degree in psychiatry. He had the depressingly tough task of living in the hotel and directing the resort tennis program for an international tennis management corporation with about 40 resort locations world-wide, from which Corley could choose to spend a couple years each as Tennis Director. He asked me what I thought about his going to Barbados in 2011. I told him it sounded fine, as long as he needed a graying ball boy. With all respect to the dignity of our noble profession, let's face it - we totally blew it. Forget the Moore Business Forms bar room stories! Then, at 10:00 AM I would tee off on the Arnold Palmer Championship Course. Every year the LPGA and Champions Tours hold tournaments on this course at Turtle Bay. It is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, my golf game, which bears striking resemblance to an excavation seminar, made my feel as if I were desecrating an altar - one with beautiful ocean and island views - a far cry from the dead, brown winter fairways back in Reno. Afterwards, displaying a highly developed sensitivity for self-preservation, I would spend the remainder of the day and evening doing whatever Suzi wished to do. Fortunately, she liked to spend the late afternoons watching the sunset while sipping Mai Tai's with the waves crashing nearby on the beach - with absolutely no discussion of software enhancements. But, my mind was never far from business. Here are some pictures with my accompanying e-Quantum comments. This is our new e-Quantum Pacific office. Anyone prepaying 15 years of support fees can stay for two weeks free. Prepping for hard questions at the May 5-7 International Client Conference at the Peppermill in Reno. Explaining the intricacies of Q-Design to a less than pacific user Hawaii Business Forms staff departing early so they aren't late for our May Conference Candidates for our new Systems Development Council The winning candidate for our new Credit Manager position Practicing the drum roll for e-Quantum's summer release An e-Quantum client eagerly awaiting requested enhancements Our new altar to sacrifice programmers who don't finish their conference assignments on time I hope you found the pictures enjoyable. Aloha, until we meet at the May 5-7 International Client Conference in Reno. Sincerely, Ross Barker P.S. Did I mention it snowed this morning in Reno? This winter has GOT to be costing Al Gore a fortune in global warming royalties. 800-328-7804 \| e-quantum.com