Back in September we officially launched the first phase of the rating engine replacement at work. It was a long effort – 21 months from the first elaboration meetings I attended in Indianapolis. So what do we get after such an effort? Trip to Seattle for the team to plan out more work! Yay!

In any case, we got to take the train, which was an interesting experience. Didn't really care much for it – not because there was anything horribly wrong with it, but more because it didn't really offer any advantages over driving, and it took longer. I still think the coolest way is to fly up there: quick light rail trip to the airport, breeze through security via the Seattle Express lane, walk right on to the plane, take off & land 30 minutes later in Seattle, then take another quick light rail trip over to the office. Total time: 2-2.5 hours. And the cool part is you can take that back at the end of the workday and be back home in time for a (late) dinner! Also, since the expensive hotel stays are skipped, it can even be cheaper for the company to have its employees be cool jetsetters! And now I'm just talking crazy!

And now, the important part! Picture time!

Union Station, Portland, Oregon, United States. This is train station where the trip to Seattle started. It's downtown, so I just walked over there rather than taking the light rail...which may have been a mistake, since it's a much longer walk with duffle & laptop bags hanging off shoulders!

Looking out at downtown Seattle from the office.

Washington Mutual building? Or so I was told...from the 47th floor of Safeco Plaza, Seattle, Washington, United States.

Now playing: The Cranberries – Bury The Hatchet – 05 Just My Imagination