By Paul Losch
About this blog: I was a "corporate brat" growing up and lived in different parts of the country, ending in Houston, Texas for high school. After attending college at UC Davis, and getting an MBA at Harvard, I embarked on a marketing career, mai...
(More)About this blog: I was a "corporate brat" growing up and lived in different parts of the country, ending in Houston, Texas for high school. After attending college at UC Davis, and getting an MBA at Harvard, I embarked on a marketing career, mainly in the Bay Area with different companies. My former wife went back to medical school after we had been married a few years, and we moved into married student housing at Stanford, had our two now adult children while she was a medical student, and moved into Palo Alto when she started her Residency. Been here ever since. As my kids were going through the Palo Alto schools, I was actively involved in their activities, most notably head umpire for Palo Alto Little League and 9 years as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, among other activities. My kids both are grown, my son teaches 5th grade locally, and my daughter, fluent in Mandarin, is working in China. I sold the business I owned and ran for 8 years in 2012, worked on the Obama campaign, and am consulting for non-profit organizations, which gives me a nice, flexible schedule. Lots of stamps in my passport, and for fun, I like live performances &emdash; theater and music - and of course the Giants!
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This has to be one of the most fun events we have annually in Palo Alto.
In my capacity as a Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commissioner, I put in my time with the satisfaction that I am helping City staff and City Council think through issues that affect the community.
And I get to be a judge at the Chili Cook Off!
I cannot think of a more enjoyable way to spend Independence Day.
In my capacity as a "judge" I get to try in a blind tasting various chilis that are provided at the contestants' booths to the public. It is a very solemn process.
All of us judges get to go around to the booths before we sample the chili fares, and are encouraged to be "bribed" by the booth folks. I suspect my female colleagues on the Parks Commission have a different take on the bribes they like compared to mine, and I say "Vive Le Difference!"
This is such a fun event for people of all ages, and eating chili is not required. Other cuisine also is available. There is music, stuff for kids, just a generally good time.
And you can go to watch the fireworks at Shoreline afterwards if you are so inclined.
Please come by the Chili Cook Off judges' booth and introduce yourself to me. Many people whom I know do so, and I welcome meeting some of you who weigh in on my Blogs.
