I need office space!

SoDo, Seattle, Mercer Island...hell, I'll even go to Bellevue!

We're 2 guys... looking for 4 walls and a door. 150 sq ft.

If you have any extra space let me know! :-)

Birthday boy, hung over

polka dancing
Originally uploaded by Andy Kleitsch.

This will be one long rambling post. so get ready for it. no apologies or excuses. this is simply kleitsch - hung over.

Last night Dave Upthegrove and I celebrated our 36th b-day. We were born on the same day, grew up about 10 doors apart, and have been hung over on May 4th, many times. On our 21st b-day Dave flew to Boston (to visit me while i was in school), and we enjoyed bloody mary's at CHEERS for breakfast... (back when CHEERS was cool... remember that... wow, we're old.)

Last night, under the glow of the space noodle (karstens pet name) a much weirder tale unfolded...

The neighborhood book club (all women) invited me to join them for a trip to the Seattle Center House where we saw the play Rhoda.

While in the space needle parking lot, a guy standing next to us (trying to pay) started talking with Pam. It didn't take long for Pam to discover that it was HIS birthday too, and he was also turning 36! His name was Paul. Pam took a few photos of my long lost brother (she was now calling Paul my brother). Jana went back to our car and returned with a birthday cup cake for Paul.

As Paul walked back to his car he turned around and yelled "Hey, you guys want a Jell-o shot?!?!" Paul's wife held out a tray of jell-o shots and a can of whipping cream...

My first reaction... "ohhh no, that's ok!" I yell and wave to Paul.
Then i looked at Jana, and something in her eyes told me "you know you want the jell-o shot, it's your birthday, we're in a parking lot, this is frickin random, i'm surprised you said no"
Then I quickly said "Well, ok, just one!"
I jogged across the parking lot.
Pauls wife "i'm sorry, you can't have just one"
Me "Oh good, cause i love jell-o shots"
Pauls wife gave a quick squirt of whipped cream on top (nice touch by the way).
Paul "take this jell-o shot to the girl that gave me the cup cake"
Jana appreciated it.

20 minutes till the play starts... the book club hit the bar for a quick drink.

We passed these dedicated polka dancers. had to take a photo.

Enter the play... Jana did a quick scan of the audience... 3 men in the house, about 100 women. Hello?!?! Guys... forget the bar scene, THIS is the place to meet women...

After the play we met Dave and Bryce and headed to the McLeod Residence. Buster joined us for a few drinks. Tequila. Ginger Whisky.

On the way home, grabbed a sixer and some chips.

Spent a few hours in the boathouse... David crashed on the futon.

the most disturbing news... I look old.
Half way thru the night i stopped asking people "how old do you think i am?" cause the answers were horrifying. 45. 42. consistently low 40's. I've always looked old... this was great when I was 16, trying to buy beer. Or when I was 22, starting my first company. But now... to be 36... and everyone thinks I'm 41!! Hummmm. Not sure I like that.

announcing... Billing Revolution

I unveiled my latest start-up at the Dow Jones Wireless Innovations conference last week... Billing Revolution. I've always been a buck-the system / fight-the-power kinda guy. So starting a company with the name "Revolution" in it just felt right... and that's what I really love about Billing Revolution - It's bucking the system, big time. It's a disruptive technology. And for some weird reason, my job satisfaction is sky high when bucking the system! It makes me warm and fuzzy on the inside. Like I'm "fighting the good fight".



I'll tell you more about Billing Revolution in future blog posts.


About the conference:
I thought the conference was really well orchestrated. The company presentations were 20 min in length. Each company pitched twice. It was very easy to jump from room-to-room and catch many presentations in a short amount of time. Billing Revolution was the only billing-related company to pitch. There were many co's pitching mobile social networks with youtube-ish mobile video. Also many Mobile Ad co's, and a few Location Based platforms/services.

a few hours in A'dam

I landed in a'dam after midnight and caught a train to richards place in the city. I managed to squeeze in almost all of my favorite amsterdam activities in the span of 10 hours:

- Talked about start-ups till 4am.
- p/u favorite cookies at Albert Heijn
- p/u black licorice
- went to coffee shop
- had raw herring snack with onions and pickels
- rode my bike along a canal

Now I'm on the train to the airport... Good bye Amsterdam, it was great to see you again.

The wrong train

Its a good thing I finally asked someone "is this the stop for the airport?" it wasn't.

A'dam last weekend

This last weekend I was back in the hood - Amsterdam red light district, that is. That's where I keep my bike - and I was amazed it was still there! The front tire was flat, so the junkies left it alone.

I stayed with Richard and Frita - they are the best. Food, wine and dutch conversation (I learned a few new words, but I think I spit on them while sounding the "g" - it's a throat clearer). Its great to have friends in A'dam, it adds a personal side to this wonderful city. I love it.

first 48 hours in barcelona

Crackberryblogging:

Highlights from the last two daze.
- 22 hours spent standing in conference hall
- 7 hours of sleep (total)
- frickin hours of walking around the city (beautiful)
- 4 shots of tequila
- 10 cups of coffee
- 8 mixed drinks