Damian & Katerina = How To [vil-helm] #107

Hello our Vilhelmians! Get ready for a fun-filled update from the Vilhelm family, including Alyce's birthday celebrations, a trip to San Jose, and the dogs' new diet. Alyce's week was filled with birthday celebrations for her Dada, complete with cake, balloons, and gifts. She even helped the dogs pick out a nice perfume and stylish clothes for the occasion. Meanwhile, Damian traveled to San Jose, where he met with industry titans, including Bob, one of the visionary founders of a tech company. He learned about the importance of having a mission and shared his own experiences with adaptability and resilience. Back at home, the dogs, Boujee and Dapper, are on a new diet, with Kat carefully measuring their food portions. However, they did get to enjoy some birthday cake, courtesy of Alyce's Dada. They also received a new miniature sofa, which they're thoroughly enjoying. As we wrap up this week's update, we invite you to share your own stories of birthday celebrations, travel adventures, and furry friends. What's been the highlight of your week? Let us know in the comments below!

Tiny Tales from Alyce's Weekly Wonders

Hello, friends! It's Alyce, and oh my goodness, this week has been SO much fun! I have never been so excited! It’s been full of celebrations, and I can't wait to tell you all about them!

First, we had a BIG party for my Dada (that's my dad!). His birthday was on Thursday, and whoooooo says birthday, says CAKE and celebrations, right? There was cake (yay!), balloons (yay!!), and gifts (yay!!!). I helped the dogs pick out a nice perfume and some stylish clothes for Dada. I knew he’d love them!

But here’s the best part... Dada kept asking for a BIG Costco cake, but guess what?! Mom found a SMALL cake and it was just as yummy! I’m not sure how, but somehow, EVERYONE got cake! And guess what? Dada made a funny joke about being 29 again! I giggled so hard, and we all played along because that's what you do on a birthday, right?!

Then, mom made a sneaky move and kidnapped Dada for the evening (no kidding!). She told him about this SUPER secret adventure gift, but she didn’t tell him where they were going until they got there! (I'm still not sure where that place was, but mom looked really happy!)

Friday was a little quieter, but we STILL had some of that cake. I might’ve had a tiny piece... maybe two, or three... But Saturday, O-M-G, Saturday was BIG!!

Mom left me with dad for a little bit, saying she had to do a “marketplace run” (whatever that is), and then she came back with KIM!!! So cool! But wait, it gets even better... then Auntie Sheryl and Noelle came! And guess who else showed up? Uncle Everton, Ange, and Moe!!! Dad didn’t even know they were coming, and I think he was thinking he could stay in his pajamas all day (silly dada!). But SURPRISE!!! It was a huge party, and he was SO happy to see everyone!

At first, I wasn’t sure about all the people, but then when I saw them laughing and dancing... I WAS IN. I was everywhere—moving around, laughing, playing, and having SO MUCH FUN!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who came to celebrate Dada! It was so nice to see him surrounded by all the people who love him, and I’m so glad we could make him feel extra special!

I love you, Dada! Happy birthday, again! 🎂🎉

Hugs and giggles,
Alyce 💕

The Wine, and the Mission

This week’s journey catapulted me from the familiar bustle of Toronto Pearson to the sun-drenched tech landscapes of San Jose. Each airport concourse, each conversation, each skyline offered a lesson – a reminder of adaptability in the face of shifting perceptions, the humility gleaned from connecting with industry titans, and the ever-present compass of having a mission. Come with me as I unpack a week punctuated by unexpected moments and those quiet wins you only truly appreciate in hindsight.

4:00 AM Sunday – the alarm shrieked, ripping me from sleep. Not just "Sunday morning," but the deepest, darkest pre-dawn hours of Sunday. The unwelcome promise of a San Jose business trip hung heavy in the air. Starting the travel day at 4:00 AM on a Sunday? Sacrilege! It meant pirating virtually the entire weekend with Alyce, Kat, and the dogs. A silent domestic rebellion brewed… until the e-upgrade notification pinged. Lounge access plus, six hours of blissful reclining stretched ahead.

First stop after security, the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. A siren call to the weary traveler, even for a non-regular like myself. Spacious it is, but this Sunday morning, it was a human crush. The buffet, while boasting a decent spread, felt less like a treat and more like a feeding frenzy as the crowds swelled. My inherent Canadian politeness (or perhaps just a craving for personal space) kicked in. Coffee savored, a quick bite consumed – time to tactfully retreat and liberate a coveted armchair for someone else. By 6:30 am, the velvet rope went up: "Super Elite" members only. C’est la vie!

Gate-bound, I discovered a problem: my gate was not opened as of yet. It was still early, and the gate area was predictably quiet and… ungated. With time to fill before boarding, and no gate to even sit at, I sought refuge in lounge number two: my trusty Plaza Premium oasis. This is my Pearson go-to, precisely when the Maple Leaf resembles rush hour on the 401, or when you simply have time to spare before your gate even opens. Smaller, yes, but perfectly formed, with a surprisingly generous food selection and an air of civilized calm.

Settled into a comfortable chair, tranquility reigned... briefly. My neighbor’s phone buzzed, shattering the peace. It was her travel posse, extending an invitation from the hallowed Maple Leaf Lounge. Her reaction was… theatrical. Springing up, phone clutched to her ear, she declared with gusto, "Yes! I’m actually slumming it in the Plaza Lounge, and it’s pretty shitty!" Shitty? I almost choked on my biscotti. I’ve always found this lounge rather… quaint.

Suitcase hastily repacked, she made for the exit, then… another ring. Disaster! The Maple Leaf was at capacity. No entry. Could they join her? Suddenly, the "shitty" lounge was basking in a newfound glow of desirability. Oh, the fickle heart of the traveler! It’s a comedy in real-time, the ever-shifting sands of perceived luxury.

Scoring an e-upgrade on a six-hour flight was a nice perk. As we soared above the jagged peaks of the Rockies, any lingering Sunday-morning grumbles evaporated. The view… it stole my breath. Majestic, weathered forms, sculpted by millennia of wind and ice, rising like the spines of slumbering dragons. I pictured Alyce beside me, her gasp of wonder echoing my own. The world is overflowing with these pockets of magic; fatherhood has sharpened my focus on securing a future worthy of sharing them all.

This trip was particularly nostalgic, as I visited the company where I started my IT career. It had been years since I'd used their technology, and visiting their San Jose offices was quite something. The company has grown and merged, typical of the Bay Area.

But the true highlight, the moment that resonated deepest, was meeting Bob, one of the visionary founders. Despite helming a tech empire that stretched across continents, impacting billions, Bob remained utterly grounded. He greeted us with a warmth that instantly dissolved any corporate formality, welcoming us not to a boardroom, but to his hilltop home – a stunning sanctuary boasting a 360-degree embrace of the valley, a view as rich and complex as his own home-bottled red wine. Spending time with him, you wouldn't guess he was a titan of industry; his humility was as striking as his success. As we were leaving, a genuine warmth in his eyes, he insisted, “You simply must take a bottle.” I demurred, explaining my carry-on-only status. Bob waved it away, a gentle but firm insistence in his voice, “Nonsense, you’re not leaving without it.” It wasn't a demand, but a gracious gesture from a man who clearly valued sharing the fruits of his life’s work. Before I accepted the wine, I asked him what still drives him. He said, the mission! In life, you should always have a mission. Don’t worry about what other people think of you or how they treat you. Know your worth and complete your mission. Wine in hand and a new concept to bounce around in my head, What the heck is my mission? I headed off to dinner.

Dinner followed at Bella Saratoga, a haven of Italian warmth. The food? Superb. The wine? Flowing. The company? Invaluable. Californians truly understand the gospel of good wine.

Later, back at the hotel, while my boss and colleagues gravitated towards the dimly lit hotel bar, I watched the younger cohort, buzzing with energy, spill out into the San Jose night, seeking adventure. A pang of… recognition? Familiarity? Once, that was me. Now, I was firmly ensconced with the “old guard,” dissecting existential anxieties over nightcaps. Oh, the relentless march of time! Back in my room, a call to Kat, and then blissful oblivion, courtesy of Bob’s wine and the lingering warmth of good company. Sleep arrived swiftly, pulling the curtain down on a day rich in contrasts.

The next morning, waking up to the luxury of time before my 1 pm flight… bliss. Breakfast plans solidified, airport trajectory set to visit my first Amex Centrium Lounge. Then, a casual check-in revealed… an 8:30 am flight. My internal clock screamed, Impossible! Traffic impossibility, surely? 6:00 am flashed on my watch. The brain kicked into hyperdrive. Maps app – 35-minute drive, light traffic… Maybe.

Shower – lightning fast. Pack – compressed to warp speed. Uber – summoned. Breakfast? Sacrificed at the altar of speed. Get. To. That. Airport.

My Uber driver, Ethiopian and EV enthusiast, launched into a passionate Elon Musk monologue. He adored his electric chariot, no plans to defect. Politics then entered the chat – looming chaos, we agreed, with a shared nod of weary resignation. Then, a surprising invitation: "You must visit Africa someday, my friend."

The EV express lane devoured the miles. Security – Nexus lane (Kat, get your Nexus Card already!) – a breeze. Then… the security officer’s eyebrow arched. He extracted Bob’s wine from my bag. My face, I’m sure, was a study in mortification. Confiscated. My precious Cabernet, sacrificed to airport regulations. Walking away, a stray thought from Bob’s hilltop perch echoed: “My motivation comes from always having a mission.” For a man who had built empires, that drive was… humbling.

My own mission… what is it now? Am I truly just beginning? Perhaps the “cool kids” club is behind me, but the journey… that’s still vibrantly, fiercely mine.

A sprint to the gate. Bracing for a middle seat purgatory, I scanned my boarding pass… Premium seat and when I boarded I had the entire row to myself. Five-hour flight. Unadulterated. Win.

This week, the skies offered more than just mileage; they delivered lessons in resilience, in seizing fleeting opportunities, and in finding unexpected altitude gains when you least expect them. Hard work lays the runway, adaptability is the flight plan, and sometimes, just sometimes, taking that last-minute gamble unlocks a surprising tailwind. The people we encounter – from lounge strangers to hilltop visionaries – are the landmarks on our personal maps, their wisdom shaping the contours of our own trajectories. So, as we navigate our own weeks, may we all keep pushing through turbulence, keep charting new courses, and never stop learning from the journey itself. Thanks for flying with me this week. 🚀 What are your unexpected travel wins or in-flight epiphanies?

Woof Woof! 🐾

Mon dieu, this week has been un vrai feuilleton – a real drama! As you know, our dads left for San Francisco at the beginning of the week, leaving us with Kat. And let me tell you, she’s the best! She took excellent care of us, just like always, but oh là là, things got serious this time. You see, my friends, we are on a diet now. Oui, diet – the dreaded word! Kat took it very to heart that we need to lose some weight and now weighs our food, measuring it with the precision of a scientist. I feel like we’re getting fed by a calculator! She insists on giving us smaller portions, three times a day – because, apparently, a French bulldog doesn’t need an entire baguette for dinner. But do I love her for it? Of course!

Then came Thursday, and it was le grand moment – the dads’ birthday! And guess what?! Cake! Yes, you read that right! Birthday cake, the kind with frosting, sugar, and all the glory you can imagine. SO. MUCH. SHUM (as Alyce would say!). Now, I know I just mentioned we’re on a diet, but come on, it's a birthday! Even Kat knows we deserve a little exception. The dad might not stick to her strict rules when it comes to cake, and I thank him for that. Dapper, my partner-in-crime, agreed, and we both enjoyed a slice or two... or maybe more.

Now, let’s talk about Friday. Something magical happened – a package arrived. What is this mystery package? I thought, being the Principal Investigator of our household (that’s me, Boujee, obviously). After a thorough investigation – sniffing, circling, a little pawing – I determined it was a miniature sofa! For Alyce, to be exact. A miniature sofa? For a baby? Well, let me tell you, Alyce is not always sitting on it (and frankly, she’s too small to enjoy it properly), so Dapper and I had our turn. And let me tell you, c’est incroyable! It is the most comfortable little sofa I’ve ever encountered in my life. Cozy? Check. Soft? Check. Perfect for napping? Double-check. That is, until Alyce comes waddling over, determined to sit on top of us. Non! But no worries, we still manage to fit in a few naps here and there. When she's not around, of course. Merci Alyce, for the sofa, but we need to reclaim our space, s’il te plaît!

As for Saturday, the birthday celebrations continued. Everyone was around, laughing, eating, and having fun. But, mon dieu, Dapper wasn’t feeling it. C'est triste. He spent most of the day sitting by Kat’s feet, staring into the distance like he was contemplating the meaning of life. Or maybe he was just feeling a little left out of all the birthday attention. The poor guy was moody, and by moody, I mean distraught. He even spent some time in Alyce’s playpen, sulking like a true drama king. But fear not, dear friends, for once everyone left, Dapper came back to life! Vive Dapper! He’s currently snoring from the comfort of Alyce’s playpen. Who knew a playpen could be so cozy?!

So, dear readers, let this serve as a reminder: birthdays, cake, new sofas, and a touch of French bulldog drama – life is full of surprises! Even when you’re on a diet, there’s always room for a little exception... especially when cake is involved. And as for Dapper? Well, he's loved to the moon, back, and way beyond... even when he's sulking.

A bientôt,
Boujee & Dapper, the French Bulldog Dream Team 🐾