Most of the day spent quietly. Out to lunch with Lisa, with much indecision as to where we would go. Finally settled on Ted's and got burgers. Way too much, and once home we begin laundry and take a nap. Up at 3:00, and lounge for a while. Shower and out to GCNE with Chris at 5:45.
It was quiet on the list this week, so we weren't sure who would show up (a last minute e-mail from DavidK means we'll be at least 3). We are 4 - Victor arrives as well - and we work for the first part of the circle on going through available repertoire with the 4 of us. About 30 minutes worth, not counting a few of the other pieces that are available to the full team. The rest of the time is devoted to Victor's new as-yet-unnamed piece. Before departing, brief discussion of the MIT group and Victor's thoughts for our next set of work.
Home, grab food and bed.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Saturday - Thanksgiving
A day at my cousin's house for an early Thanksgiving with my Grandparents. They head back to Florida on Tuesday, so we have a family gathering before they leave.
A fun day, though it was pretty hot. Especially when you are standing in the sun, in front of two pots of oil, cooking turkeys and vegetables. Hot, but tasty.
The kids were good today, and I spent a bit of time showing the two girls some basic OST chords. They were pretty quick to pick it up, but dropped the chords a bit later just to strum away. A question from Kat as to whether I knew how to play "Life is a Highway" (they have the Rascal Flatts version from the Cars soundtrack, rather than the Tom Cochrane original). I didn't know it, but I asked for the iPod and was able to figure out the basic form. Kat needs a guitar sized for her (11 year-old hands are pretty small), and once she has that, it would be much easier for her to play. Her current guitar is a really terrible hand-me-down acoustic that really can't be tuned (and when it is tuned, it doesn't stay there). Turning over ways to rectify that.
Some quiet time with the family (naturally, some bad jokes from my uncle). My cousin has done an outstanding job on the house. He's basically redone the entire house himself (with a few assists from contractors), and it looks great. He bought the house after his grandfather died, and it has been fun to watch it change, and to see my uncle's pride in how the renovations have come out.
Home, and to bed early.
A fun day, though it was pretty hot. Especially when you are standing in the sun, in front of two pots of oil, cooking turkeys and vegetables. Hot, but tasty.
The kids were good today, and I spent a bit of time showing the two girls some basic OST chords. They were pretty quick to pick it up, but dropped the chords a bit later just to strum away. A question from Kat as to whether I knew how to play "Life is a Highway" (they have the Rascal Flatts version from the Cars soundtrack, rather than the Tom Cochrane original). I didn't know it, but I asked for the iPod and was able to figure out the basic form. Kat needs a guitar sized for her (11 year-old hands are pretty small), and once she has that, it would be much easier for her to play. Her current guitar is a really terrible hand-me-down acoustic that really can't be tuned (and when it is tuned, it doesn't stay there). Turning over ways to rectify that.
Some quiet time with the family (naturally, some bad jokes from my uncle). My cousin has done an outstanding job on the house. He's basically redone the entire house himself (with a few assists from contractors), and it looks great. He bought the house after his grandfather died, and it has been fun to watch it change, and to see my uncle's pride in how the renovations have come out.
Home, and to bed early.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Friday - United Way Day of Caring
A day away from the office at the United Way Day of Caring.
We have been fortunate in the past few years that the volunteer opportunities for the DoC have taken place, not only in our town, but also very close to where we live. This year, we were at the Oak Grove Nature Center, near where we live. This was a good opportunity for Lisa, since they have trails and gardens which are a part of the facility. These are used as teaching aids for children, and as a part of the summer camp that runs each year.
This year, we had a bit of a challenge. Lisa (as the coordinator) had met with the overall coordinator for the Lutz Museum, but he did not have complete information for the tasks we were to complete for the day. When we arrived, we actually met with the site facilitator, who had a different list of things to do. This wasn't really a problem, except that we usually staff based on what needs to be done. We have a number of very talented individuals on the team, and if you want something, built, torn down, painted, repaired, or tilled, this is the team for you. Unfortunately, our big task was counting, stacking and distributing newsletters for the museum. It's not that it wasn't a necessary task, just that it wasn't the best use of the available resources. Additionally, we were to paint the porch of the facility, but they only had regular latex exterior paint. For the high traffic floor of the porch, this was not a good choice. When I explained the problem with that paint to Nikki (the facility director), she mentioned the fact that they had to paint the porch three times that summer. I explained the need for a true floor paint, and what happens to latex when it gets damp (it softens) and when lots of dirty feet walk on it (you end up with dirt impregnated latex paint).
Afterwards, we head over to another site (actually one of the guy's houses) where the "after party" was being held. They had been building a 40 station fountain for the Hartford Marathon this year.
Home after Dave's - Lisa to doggie class and me to work with Chris. We spent our 90 minutes working on the first section of the Bach Two-Part Invention #6. Very good work, and we approached playability of this first section. I think this and #13 will form a good part of our work when it's the two of us, with some repertoire work.
We have been fortunate in the past few years that the volunteer opportunities for the DoC have taken place, not only in our town, but also very close to where we live. This year, we were at the Oak Grove Nature Center, near where we live. This was a good opportunity for Lisa, since they have trails and gardens which are a part of the facility. These are used as teaching aids for children, and as a part of the summer camp that runs each year.
This year, we had a bit of a challenge. Lisa (as the coordinator) had met with the overall coordinator for the Lutz Museum, but he did not have complete information for the tasks we were to complete for the day. When we arrived, we actually met with the site facilitator, who had a different list of things to do. This wasn't really a problem, except that we usually staff based on what needs to be done. We have a number of very talented individuals on the team, and if you want something, built, torn down, painted, repaired, or tilled, this is the team for you. Unfortunately, our big task was counting, stacking and distributing newsletters for the museum. It's not that it wasn't a necessary task, just that it wasn't the best use of the available resources. Additionally, we were to paint the porch of the facility, but they only had regular latex exterior paint. For the high traffic floor of the porch, this was not a good choice. When I explained the problem with that paint to Nikki (the facility director), she mentioned the fact that they had to paint the porch three times that summer. I explained the need for a true floor paint, and what happens to latex when it gets damp (it softens) and when lots of dirty feet walk on it (you end up with dirt impregnated latex paint).
Afterwards, we head over to another site (actually one of the guy's houses) where the "after party" was being held. They had been building a 40 station fountain for the Hartford Marathon this year.
Home after Dave's - Lisa to doggie class and me to work with Chris. We spent our 90 minutes working on the first section of the Bach Two-Part Invention #6. Very good work, and we approached playability of this first section. I think this and #13 will form a good part of our work when it's the two of us, with some repertoire work.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Wednesday - Catching up
Rise at 6:15, morning routine and to work by 8:00. A few meetings today, but they are important, in that we are nearing the end of several projects, and there is significant work remaining to be done.
For one project, we are over time and budget, but these are related to unforeseen technical and security issues. We've managed to work through them, and this week is the new target end date for the work itself, as well as an outside consultant. I had the direct experience in the meeting this morning similar to that point in the kitchen where it seems as if nothing is going to work and we're going to be late, and then it all comes together in one magnificent flash.
For the second project, we began with this being URGENT MUST BE IMPLEMENTED BY 8/31 !!!1!!1!one, but in the kickoff meeting things became a bit more flexible. Another group, whose resources are required, were never informed, and so didn't have available resources. What was to be a production system, became a test system to prepare for another implementation in October. Makes me glad to be on my way out. A discussion with the team leader about resources and other general stuff for the team. I tell him I'm struggling with caring in the slightest bit about how these project turn out. He understands, and says he's be having the same problem, and probably not doing as well as I am. This is comforting; I have days where I feel as if I'm failing to do anything of quality. It is good to have some outside views that I ay actually be doing some good.
Home to a napping wife and dog, so I head out to the deck to grill up the marinated chicken and read a bit of The Starchild Trilogy. The book is by Fredrick Pohl and Jack Williamson, two icons of the golden age of science fiction. I hadn't read much of their writing (I leaned towards Heinlein, Azimov, Cherryh, Del Rey). These books are definitely of the 60s (references to Atomic Drills and computer memory drums), but if you were to edit those reference to a more modern term, the books could have been written today. Still, it's fun to read these classic stories, if for nothing other than the context of the times they were written. And if you've ever seen a movie where there are "criminals" wearing an explosive neck collar to encourage them to follow the rules, this is probably where it came from.
Dinner (the grilled chicken with the last of the corn on the cob), watching some Eating Asphalt, a bit more reading, then to bed.
For one project, we are over time and budget, but these are related to unforeseen technical and security issues. We've managed to work through them, and this week is the new target end date for the work itself, as well as an outside consultant. I had the direct experience in the meeting this morning similar to that point in the kitchen where it seems as if nothing is going to work and we're going to be late, and then it all comes together in one magnificent flash.
For the second project, we began with this being URGENT MUST BE IMPLEMENTED BY 8/31 !!!1!!1!one, but in the kickoff meeting things became a bit more flexible. Another group, whose resources are required, were never informed, and so didn't have available resources. What was to be a production system, became a test system to prepare for another implementation in October. Makes me glad to be on my way out. A discussion with the team leader about resources and other general stuff for the team. I tell him I'm struggling with caring in the slightest bit about how these project turn out. He understands, and says he's be having the same problem, and probably not doing as well as I am. This is comforting; I have days where I feel as if I'm failing to do anything of quality. It is good to have some outside views that I ay actually be doing some good.
Home to a napping wife and dog, so I head out to the deck to grill up the marinated chicken and read a bit of The Starchild Trilogy. The book is by Fredrick Pohl and Jack Williamson, two icons of the golden age of science fiction. I hadn't read much of their writing (I leaned towards Heinlein, Azimov, Cherryh, Del Rey). These books are definitely of the 60s (references to Atomic Drills and computer memory drums), but if you were to edit those reference to a more modern term, the books could have been written today. Still, it's fun to read these classic stories, if for nothing other than the context of the times they were written. And if you've ever seen a movie where there are "criminals" wearing an explosive neck collar to encourage them to follow the rules, this is probably where it came from.
Dinner (the grilled chicken with the last of the corn on the cob), watching some Eating Asphalt, a bit more reading, then to bed.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Tuesday - A Day Off
A day off.
Rise at 8:00 to log in and make sure my out of office message was set. Breakfast, then out to run a few errands. First, we took the dog to the vet, as his allergies have kicked in and he's rubbed and scratched away at his muzzle and above his eye. Some new herbal medication to try, and a quick visit with our veterinary friends. Exchanged a backpack for the dog that was too big. The small fits him well, and we try it out on a trail where we'll be working on Friday as part of the United Way Day of caring. He seems not to be bothered by the pack, so we'll begin loading it up for the next time we take him out on the trail.
Home to a nap for Lisa, and some play for me. Enter a freeroll tournament and place 441 out of 8000, enough to net me $0.10. Hey, it's a beginning.
A light dinner, then to bed. Really no interest in going to work tomorrow.
Rise at 8:00 to log in and make sure my out of office message was set. Breakfast, then out to run a few errands. First, we took the dog to the vet, as his allergies have kicked in and he's rubbed and scratched away at his muzzle and above his eye. Some new herbal medication to try, and a quick visit with our veterinary friends. Exchanged a backpack for the dog that was too big. The small fits him well, and we try it out on a trail where we'll be working on Friday as part of the United Way Day of caring. He seems not to be bothered by the pack, so we'll begin loading it up for the next time we take him out on the trail.
Home to a nap for Lisa, and some play for me. Enter a freeroll tournament and place 441 out of 8000, enough to net me $0.10. Hey, it's a beginning.
A light dinner, then to bed. Really no interest in going to work tomorrow.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Monday - Labor Day
Rise at 8:30 and follow the morning routines.
We look over some things and decide that we need to clean the carpets. When one of the cats was sick, he peed on the landing going upstairs. Over a week or so, there was a literal pissing match, so that part of the stairs smells pretty bad. I head out to compare & contrast a rental steam cleaner with getting a dedicated upright cleaner. I opt for the latter, assuming that we will be cleaning the carpets more than eight times in our lives. Bring this home and we begin the all-day task of rug cleaning. It is marginally effective on the fouled landing (the smell cut down somewhat, but not enough), but pulls a tremendous amount of dirt out of the other stairs and the regular carpets. The landing in the entryway yields a mud pile, and I'm sure there is still more that could come out, but that's for another time.
Some light reading of the knife skills book in between carpets, as well as just before bed. I also trimmed out two split chicken breasts for grilling and boiled the bones with some frozen chicken for broth. We ended up having tuna for dinner, but at least this was done and is now ready for us to grill at a moments notice.
We look over some things and decide that we need to clean the carpets. When one of the cats was sick, he peed on the landing going upstairs. Over a week or so, there was a literal pissing match, so that part of the stairs smells pretty bad. I head out to compare & contrast a rental steam cleaner with getting a dedicated upright cleaner. I opt for the latter, assuming that we will be cleaning the carpets more than eight times in our lives. Bring this home and we begin the all-day task of rug cleaning. It is marginally effective on the fouled landing (the smell cut down somewhat, but not enough), but pulls a tremendous amount of dirt out of the other stairs and the regular carpets. The landing in the entryway yields a mud pile, and I'm sure there is still more that could come out, but that's for another time.
Some light reading of the knife skills book in between carpets, as well as just before bed. I also trimmed out two split chicken breasts for grilling and boiled the bones with some frozen chicken for broth. We ended up having tuna for dinner, but at least this was done and is now ready for us to grill at a moments notice.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Friday - In escape mode
Rise at 6:00, morning routines and in to work. The main things to be in for are two update meetings for projects. Other than that, my day is pretty open. When not in the two meetings, I work outside on the picnic tables again.
From my sunny vantage point, I watch the traffic ebb and flow, eventually settling on simply slow-going. With that in mind, I leave early for home so that I can pick up the cat and get him to the vets for a 4:40 appointment. Traffic is slightly better than I expect, so I make it home with ample time. At the vets, Josh pulls the stitches out of Simon's belly and thoroughly checks the surgery results. He's not 100% pleased (there is some swelling of the fatty tissues that hasn't gone away completely), but he thinks the cat is doing well. I've really noticed that he's much more vocal and mobile in the past week. So, another 2 weeks of confinement to the laundry room and more convalescence before the boy can roam the house freely. This will give the stomach muscles more time to knit.
On the way out, I pick up Theo's ashes. The tin is so small.
Home, and an idle evening to begin our long weekend.
From my sunny vantage point, I watch the traffic ebb and flow, eventually settling on simply slow-going. With that in mind, I leave early for home so that I can pick up the cat and get him to the vets for a 4:40 appointment. Traffic is slightly better than I expect, so I make it home with ample time. At the vets, Josh pulls the stitches out of Simon's belly and thoroughly checks the surgery results. He's not 100% pleased (there is some swelling of the fatty tissues that hasn't gone away completely), but he thinks the cat is doing well. I've really noticed that he's much more vocal and mobile in the past week. So, another 2 weeks of confinement to the laundry room and more convalescence before the boy can roam the house freely. This will give the stomach muscles more time to knit.
On the way out, I pick up Theo's ashes. The tin is so small.
Home, and an idle evening to begin our long weekend.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday - Generally Disconnected
Rise at 6:30, after alarms at 6:00 and 6:30. Dog being a brat this morning, have to rescue some paper that he liberated from the garbage. Kitty visitation in the bathroom for the first time in a while - Odin hasn't come in while I'm in there for over a month. She's a funny little thing.
In to work shortly after 8:00, and I realize I've lost touch with the limb rotation. A brief review and back into the left foot. I'll need to revisit this in the next week or so and synchronize with the rest of the Boston team.
Many meetings in the morning, and not feeling connected to the work at all. Some concerns about projects that I am not going to be here to see the end result. I'm fighting to stay focused on being here. Not an easy task, but then what is? Instructive to look at "being here" when in a challenging situation vs. a :non-challenging" one. My sense is that there is no difference.
Grillin' Thursday lunch up at the other building, and some light conversation with a couple of colleagues, as well as some of the folks in the business I hadn't seen in a while. More time outside in the sun, both at lunch and in the afternoon. A late afternoon ice-cream social sponsored by the department, and soon to head home.
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Home, Lisa off to the dog trainers. I play a bit (do well in a free three table sit-n-go), then grab the dog and head out to the trainers as well. We suit him up with a harness and attach him to a cart. He begins this looking pretty miserable, but eventually, his sled-dog heritage kicks in and he's pulling pretty well. Some practice on turning and he should be able to do this pretty well.
Home, Subway for dinner watching Aeon Flux (movie version), then to bed.
In to work shortly after 8:00, and I realize I've lost touch with the limb rotation. A brief review and back into the left foot. I'll need to revisit this in the next week or so and synchronize with the rest of the Boston team.
Many meetings in the morning, and not feeling connected to the work at all. Some concerns about projects that I am not going to be here to see the end result. I'm fighting to stay focused on being here. Not an easy task, but then what is? Instructive to look at "being here" when in a challenging situation vs. a :non-challenging" one. My sense is that there is no difference.
Grillin' Thursday lunch up at the other building, and some light conversation with a couple of colleagues, as well as some of the folks in the business I hadn't seen in a while. More time outside in the sun, both at lunch and in the afternoon. A late afternoon ice-cream social sponsored by the department, and soon to head home.
------------------------------
Home, Lisa off to the dog trainers. I play a bit (do well in a free three table sit-n-go), then grab the dog and head out to the trainers as well. We suit him up with a harness and attach him to a cart. He begins this looking pretty miserable, but eventually, his sled-dog heritage kicks in and he's pulling pretty well. Some practice on turning and he should be able to do this pretty well.
Home, Subway for dinner watching Aeon Flux (movie version), then to bed.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Wednesday - Meeting, intersection, uniting
A full day - mostly of meetings. Progress updates, status reports, change management, new project kickoffs. Counting the days until this is complete.
Some research in the afternoon regarding the inner lines of the enneagram. I found some things in the Blake "Intelligent Enneagram", but nothing as clear as how Curt presented it. I am able to infer some things from Blake's examples, by it now becomes an exercise for the student to make the connections. The final chapters int he book ("remembering" and the epilogue) provide some guidance.
After work, home and some cleaning prior to making dinner. Saw the 7-1 relation in the kitchen - actually this relationship is pretty obvious most of the time to me, but today I saw it in a different way, and heard a name for the relationship in my head: "Restoration". Laundry, litter boxes and dishes for me, and cleaning the stairs of cat pee for Lisa.
Dinner of grilled pork with Asian spice rub and fresh corn on the cob, out on the deck. Still a bit humid, but not uncomfortable, and relatively bug free.
Back inside, some light gaming and then to bed.
Some research in the afternoon regarding the inner lines of the enneagram. I found some things in the Blake "Intelligent Enneagram", but nothing as clear as how Curt presented it. I am able to infer some things from Blake's examples, by it now becomes an exercise for the student to make the connections. The final chapters int he book ("remembering" and the epilogue) provide some guidance.
After work, home and some cleaning prior to making dinner. Saw the 7-1 relation in the kitchen - actually this relationship is pretty obvious most of the time to me, but today I saw it in a different way, and heard a name for the relationship in my head: "Restoration". Laundry, litter boxes and dishes for me, and cleaning the stairs of cat pee for Lisa.
Dinner of grilled pork with Asian spice rub and fresh corn on the cob, out on the deck. Still a bit humid, but not uncomfortable, and relatively bug free.
Back inside, some light gaming and then to bed.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Tuesday - Searching for direction
Rise at 6:40 and struggle through morning routines. Somewhat refreshed after a shower, so I can begin the day clearly. Pick tomatoes to bring to work and head off after a kiss. In for a 9:00 meeting for an urgent project that doesn't quite seem as urgent. We are still ready, and will move forward. Some last minute updates to the team operating plan for review today, then off to lunch. Only a few of us today, so a bit quiet, but talking about things that on the surface seem to be very wrong (the phrase "that offends me" came up often), but the reality is that this is simply our perception and experience reacting to something. A key question: can we manage this and really respond to the things that actually affect us? Does a food service person with a tongue ring actually affect anything, or are you just being offended to get a reaction?
An e-mail sent to the HR person regarding my separation information. He's not in until next week, so I'll have to wait until then. My paperwork needs to be in by the 11th or so, and I'll need some things answered before then. A conversation with a manager who is moving to a divested portion of the company as of Saturday. He's getting pulled around and is generally getting screwed by this whole thing. Additionally, he has been ahead of the game in dealing with the transition for his employees, but is now being told he's being uncooperative. It's sad, really, how the large corporate organism can treat people and get away with it.
After lunch, more light office work, and some searching on the web for further information on the enneagram and the inner lines. Royalston was the second time Curt has gone through the inner relationships with the "labels" - visualization, actualization, etc. - and I still don't remember them all. An e-mail is in order. I notice that most enneagram related sites are of the Personality System sort, not much really on process. There's also more out there regarding the enneagram and Myers-Briggs and the Church, and the particular "risks" of using the symbol with its occultic origins. Fascinating reading, really.
After all this, I take the laptop outside to the picnic tables. No sense in wasting a beautiful day! Backposting notes, memories and menus from Royalston up through 8/14, then time to go home.
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Home and a decision made to go to Margarita's - someone needs one. Eat a bit lighter than usual, but do indulge in a mixed tequila drink. Home and some play on the computer, then to bed.
An e-mail sent to the HR person regarding my separation information. He's not in until next week, so I'll have to wait until then. My paperwork needs to be in by the 11th or so, and I'll need some things answered before then. A conversation with a manager who is moving to a divested portion of the company as of Saturday. He's getting pulled around and is generally getting screwed by this whole thing. Additionally, he has been ahead of the game in dealing with the transition for his employees, but is now being told he's being uncooperative. It's sad, really, how the large corporate organism can treat people and get away with it.
After lunch, more light office work, and some searching on the web for further information on the enneagram and the inner lines. Royalston was the second time Curt has gone through the inner relationships with the "labels" - visualization, actualization, etc. - and I still don't remember them all. An e-mail is in order. I notice that most enneagram related sites are of the Personality System sort, not much really on process. There's also more out there regarding the enneagram and Myers-Briggs and the Church, and the particular "risks" of using the symbol with its occultic origins. Fascinating reading, really.
After all this, I take the laptop outside to the picnic tables. No sense in wasting a beautiful day! Backposting notes, memories and menus from Royalston up through 8/14, then time to go home.
-------------------------------
Home and a decision made to go to Margarita's - someone needs one. Eat a bit lighter than usual, but do indulge in a mixed tequila drink. Home and some play on the computer, then to bed.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday - grind, grind, grind
Rise at 6:30 and go through the usual morning routine. In to work by 8:15 and immediately thrust into project issues from last week. Spend the morning chasing down people and processes in order to clear a security hurdle for a project implementation. We have a system that has been in place for 6 years that no longer meets certain security requirements. Naturally, we find out about this just before going to production, so now we must scramble to get a temporary allowance for the system. An interesting lesson in maintaining focus when things are not going to plan. Found my feet on the floor and stayed there.
Lunch up in the cafeteria with the few of us remaining. They will be moving the lunch room to another building at the end of the month, so we're enjoying the current location while we can. Some light conversation that naturally drifts into some self-pity about the situation. Two of us are in a good place at the moment: we know what our end date is, and so have a clear place to work from. A couple people know they will be getting an end date, but aren't sure when. This leaves them with a sense of unease. Another made a decision earlier this year to move to New Jersey, but is now having doubts; there is also some question of what would happen if he were to change his mind and decide not to move.
Two meetings in the afternoon, one with the customer whose now-security-challenged system we are implementing. A productive and positive meeting - it is amazing when a client wants to work with you to find solutions.
Stop at the Corn Crib on the way home for some fresh corn, then to the grocery store for grillables for dinner. Back home to the wife and play a little before lighting the grill. Tasty dinner on the deck (marinated steak, fresh corn and fresh tomatoes). Back in for some on-line poker. Did pretty well in a freeroll (221 of 10,000); I probably could have gone further, but it was 12:30 AM and I have to be in at a reasonable time for a kickoff meeting in the morning, so I dumped my stack. I probably could have sat out, but there were only 27 seats for the freeroll being given out, and I hate sitters.
Lunch up in the cafeteria with the few of us remaining. They will be moving the lunch room to another building at the end of the month, so we're enjoying the current location while we can. Some light conversation that naturally drifts into some self-pity about the situation. Two of us are in a good place at the moment: we know what our end date is, and so have a clear place to work from. A couple people know they will be getting an end date, but aren't sure when. This leaves them with a sense of unease. Another made a decision earlier this year to move to New Jersey, but is now having doubts; there is also some question of what would happen if he were to change his mind and decide not to move.
Two meetings in the afternoon, one with the customer whose now-security-challenged system we are implementing. A productive and positive meeting - it is amazing when a client wants to work with you to find solutions.
Stop at the Corn Crib on the way home for some fresh corn, then to the grocery store for grillables for dinner. Back home to the wife and play a little before lighting the grill. Tasty dinner on the deck (marinated steak, fresh corn and fresh tomatoes). Back in for some on-line poker. Did pretty well in a freeroll (221 of 10,000); I probably could have gone further, but it was 12:30 AM and I have to be in at a reasonable time for a kickoff meeting in the morning, so I dumped my stack. I probably could have sat out, but there were only 27 seats for the freeroll being given out, and I hate sitters.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday, Mud and Reintegration
Lisa rises at 5:15 to prepare for her day with Ian at the Brooklyn fair, I rise at 6:30 to prepare for the Mud Volleyball Tournament at Zoar's pond. I have to bring extra first-aid items for the two worn blisters on my left foot, as well as bandage my foot before I leave to minimize the amount of mud that ends up in there.
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A fun day for me. We played OK, but basically went flat after lunch. Not a problem, since we weren't really interested in playing too much past the first round. Clean up, then home and strip down to get the majority of the mud out of clothes and shoes before they go into the laundry. Lisa arrives home and we share our day (they went to the fair, but weren't able to bring the donkeys, as the trailer wasn't setup for livestock). Lisa had bad sausage & peppers at the fair (unpossible!), but otherwise had a good time.
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A fun day for me. We played OK, but basically went flat after lunch. Not a problem, since we weren't really interested in playing too much past the first round. Clean up, then home and strip down to get the majority of the mud out of clothes and shoes before they go into the laundry. Lisa arrives home and we share our day (they went to the fair, but weren't able to bring the donkeys, as the trailer wasn't setup for livestock). Lisa had bad sausage & peppers at the fair (unpossible!), but otherwise had a good time.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Thursday, winding down
Normal morning routine, ad in to work by 8:00. Really, a day with little major effort or event. A brief hurry-up moment for some financial information, but other than that, simply maintaining. And continuing to ask why I'm here.
Team meeting this morning, discussing the usual functional things, we moved into some discussion of the future, and how things might look without me. At the moment, all options are on the table, though there are some I feel are more likely than others. Of course, things here can change on a dime, so one never knows. Even my manager is not sure if it's just me that has been eliminated, or my position entirely. The strength of my management chain shows clearly in these moments.
Lunch today at DiBella's, roast beef. The first red meat I've had in two weeks.
Leave at about 4:30 and chill back in the room. I'm much more tired than I have a right to be. Cross-word for a while then head out to dinner (sushi & soup). Back to the room and to a task I had considered for the Royalston course, but opted not to do: shaving. Took off the bead and shaved completely. My wife will appreciate this tomorow when I get home.
Mindless TV and then bed.
Team meeting this morning, discussing the usual functional things, we moved into some discussion of the future, and how things might look without me. At the moment, all options are on the table, though there are some I feel are more likely than others. Of course, things here can change on a dime, so one never knows. Even my manager is not sure if it's just me that has been eliminated, or my position entirely. The strength of my management chain shows clearly in these moments.
Lunch today at DiBella's, roast beef. The first red meat I've had in two weeks.
Leave at about 4:30 and chill back in the room. I'm much more tired than I have a right to be. Cross-word for a while then head out to dinner (sushi & soup). Back to the room and to a task I had considered for the Royalston course, but opted not to do: shaving. Took off the bead and shaved completely. My wife will appreciate this tomorow when I get home.
Mindless TV and then bed.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday, a gruelling session
Rise a bit late, for no apparent reason, shower & sit. Down to the hotel restaurant for the continental breakfast then into work. The morning is spent reviewing documentation and materials in preparation for the ISO audit. I feel reasonably comfortable going in to this, but even so, there is some trepidation.
Lunch from DiBella's again. An amazing number of people who work in this building, not more than a quarter mile away, ask me "Is that place any good? I've never been." It's funny sometimes how set in their way people can be. I have a sense that is especially so here in Pittsburgh, but perhaps that's a bias.
The afternoon is spent in change control, and then in the audit. Nothing outrageous in the audit, no outlandish or unexpected questions, but still a heightened sense of the importance of my answers. A fear of "getting it wrong", of being "that guy who screwed us up". So, a very long 90 minutes, followed by another 30 minute review of the day. Overall, we're doing well, and the management is happy.
More than once today, I find myself asking why I'm still doing this? I've been let go, I have no more allegiance to this company, and they have none to me. I find two answers: one is professionalism and the sense that this is the right thing to do. The other is I can't quite let go. Perhaps one more is that I don't want to disappoint anyone.
Completed my work as the kitchen coordinator by sending out a check this morning for the value of items returned at the end of the course. Budget-wise, I feel I did very well. I still have doubts about quality & quantity provided during the week, and I'm going to sit with that for a while. I may have a bit more perspective & space as I go back and post the menus. We'll see.
Back to the room and some cross-work puzzling. Out to the mall to get the battery replaced on the watch that stopped at 11:01:45 PM after the final meeting of the course with Robert. Out to dinner, salmon tonight with a queso appetizer and margaritas. Back to the room, a chat with Lisa, and to bed.
Lunch from DiBella's again. An amazing number of people who work in this building, not more than a quarter mile away, ask me "Is that place any good? I've never been." It's funny sometimes how set in their way people can be. I have a sense that is especially so here in Pittsburgh, but perhaps that's a bias.
The afternoon is spent in change control, and then in the audit. Nothing outrageous in the audit, no outlandish or unexpected questions, but still a heightened sense of the importance of my answers. A fear of "getting it wrong", of being "that guy who screwed us up". So, a very long 90 minutes, followed by another 30 minute review of the day. Overall, we're doing well, and the management is happy.
More than once today, I find myself asking why I'm still doing this? I've been let go, I have no more allegiance to this company, and they have none to me. I find two answers: one is professionalism and the sense that this is the right thing to do. The other is I can't quite let go. Perhaps one more is that I don't want to disappoint anyone.
Completed my work as the kitchen coordinator by sending out a check this morning for the value of items returned at the end of the course. Budget-wise, I feel I did very well. I still have doubts about quality & quantity provided during the week, and I'm going to sit with that for a while. I may have a bit more perspective & space as I go back and post the menus. We'll see.
Back to the room and some cross-work puzzling. Out to the mall to get the battery replaced on the watch that stopped at 11:01:45 PM after the final meeting of the course with Robert. Out to dinner, salmon tonight with a queso appetizer and margaritas. Back to the room, a chat with Lisa, and to bed.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Tuesday Gloom of Pittsburgh
Rise at 6:30, shower and sit. Slept reasonably well last night, so the breath-right strips seem to help. More of a struggle rising this morning. Something about being here that makes me want to stay in bed all day.
In to work by 8:00 and sit with the other team lead to discuss tomorrow's audit. No real surprises, but a few items I need to attend to. One other morning meeting to address additional storage for one of our systems, then a quick lunch from DiBella's (excellent subs, tuna on an everything roll, chips and a pickle). Early afternoon meeting with my manager. He's struggling with a number of things, including my impending departure, and I think he's really feeling the pressure. He's been good with me so far, but I wonder how he is with the rest of the team, and how things will go in another month when the reality of things crash in. We review my mid-year (rather pointless) and my 360° feedback (useful for my going forward). Also discuss other things in the pipeline, and decide to put of a planned whole-group meeting until December. This is the dichotomy of the situation: he needs me to continue working as if I were still employed, but doesn't seem comfortable with me doing work that is "future" oriented.
Some necessary proposal work in the afternoon, followed by some clean-up for the audit tomorrow. Being away for a week put me behind on this, but things are what they are.
Ran some errands to get small items that I needed. Took an inordinate amount of time to find a shoehorn. I remember growing up having literally dozens of them around the house. I finally found one - it looks lie a jockey whip, so I got to walk around a mall carrying what looked like an S&M implement while doing my other shopping. Pretty amusing actually.
Dinner at the Lonestar again, salad and artichoke dip. Back to the room, a quick chat with Lisa, then to bed.
In to work by 8:00 and sit with the other team lead to discuss tomorrow's audit. No real surprises, but a few items I need to attend to. One other morning meeting to address additional storage for one of our systems, then a quick lunch from DiBella's (excellent subs, tuna on an everything roll, chips and a pickle). Early afternoon meeting with my manager. He's struggling with a number of things, including my impending departure, and I think he's really feeling the pressure. He's been good with me so far, but I wonder how he is with the rest of the team, and how things will go in another month when the reality of things crash in. We review my mid-year (rather pointless) and my 360° feedback (useful for my going forward). Also discuss other things in the pipeline, and decide to put of a planned whole-group meeting until December. This is the dichotomy of the situation: he needs me to continue working as if I were still employed, but doesn't seem comfortable with me doing work that is "future" oriented.
Some necessary proposal work in the afternoon, followed by some clean-up for the audit tomorrow. Being away for a week put me behind on this, but things are what they are.
Ran some errands to get small items that I needed. Took an inordinate amount of time to find a shoehorn. I remember growing up having literally dozens of them around the house. I finally found one - it looks lie a jockey whip, so I got to walk around a mall carrying what looked like an S&M implement while doing my other shopping. Pretty amusing actually.
Dinner at the Lonestar again, salad and artichoke dip. Back to the room, a quick chat with Lisa, then to bed.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Home and gone again
Alarm at 6:00, grudgingly rise at 6:30, shower and sit. Talk for a bit with Lisa before she heads out to work. Dress and pack for travel. Log in and begin the tedious task of mail management after being away for 11 days. Talk a bit with Kerry about the course and what I missed while I was gone. Out the door at 9:30 to the airport.
The flight was reasonably good, though it got bumpy on the way in to Pittsburgh. There were two women next to me on the flight, both a little afraid of flying. They chattered away their nervousness for the first half of the flight, and went dead silent when things got bumpy. I managed my nervousness/airsickness without too much problem for once. I believe part of this was because I could tap into that quality of stillness available from the course. Read the first few chapters of "Enneagram Studies" again. More processing from the course. One thing that struck me from the first few chapters was how many times Mr. Bennett uses the word "start".
In to work and the usual quest to find some place to sit. As the day wore on, my new shoes took their toll on my left foot - blisters worn through very quickly on the heel and knuckle of the big toe, so some temporary bandaging to manage the pain. Review the past week with the team, and connect with a few other people. There is still a good amount of goodwill available to me from the people here due to my situation.
Get the results of my 360º review. Nothing unexpected - mostly positive, with my manager being the least so. Clear development opportunities, and in the places I expect. I saw some of these things clearly in the kitchen this week.
To the hotel in the pouring rain, up to the room to quickly change out of these shoes. Redress the sore spots and put on my new leather Chuck's. Heaven! Out to dinner (salad & cheese fries with one too many margaritas), some reading and then early to bed.
The flight was reasonably good, though it got bumpy on the way in to Pittsburgh. There were two women next to me on the flight, both a little afraid of flying. They chattered away their nervousness for the first half of the flight, and went dead silent when things got bumpy. I managed my nervousness/airsickness without too much problem for once. I believe part of this was because I could tap into that quality of stillness available from the course. Read the first few chapters of "Enneagram Studies" again. More processing from the course. One thing that struck me from the first few chapters was how many times Mr. Bennett uses the word "start".
In to work and the usual quest to find some place to sit. As the day wore on, my new shoes took their toll on my left foot - blisters worn through very quickly on the heel and knuckle of the big toe, so some temporary bandaging to manage the pain. Review the past week with the team, and connect with a few other people. There is still a good amount of goodwill available to me from the people here due to my situation.
Get the results of my 360º review. Nothing unexpected - mostly positive, with my manager being the least so. Clear development opportunities, and in the places I expect. I saw some of these things clearly in the kitchen this week.
To the hotel in the pouring rain, up to the room to quickly change out of these shoes. Redress the sore spots and put on my new leather Chuck's. Heaven! Out to dinner (salad & cheese fries with one too many margaritas), some reading and then early to bed.
This Page Left Intentionally Blank
At the moment, I have no postings for August 10th through August 19th (the Special Circulation Course in Royalston, MA). I didn't take many notes, and all I really have are my menus. I may post them, with some distant memories of the work done during the week.
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I arrived home after the course at about 3:45 - after a few head-bobs I had to stop at the scenic overview near Holyoke and take a power nap. Once home, began unpacking and doing laundry so that I could be prepared to fly out to Pittsburgh tomorrow. Sat with the remaining cat (Simon) who is recovering from his surgery. Lisa arrives home, and we sit for a bit and decide what's going on for tonight & dinner. She heads out with Zeke for dog training class (agility class tonight), and I head out to get dress shoes and return items from the course that we did not need (3 stops for food, one for shoes). Successful food returns mean that more money can go back to the course. Successful shoe shopping included a new pair of black leather Chuck Taylors too sweet to pass up.
Home and clearing out home e-mails, as well as doing garbage and recycling. Lisa comes home and we do Subway for dinner, then retreat to bed. Begin watching a Let Li movie, but I turn it off before getting too sucked in. We both need the sleep.
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I arrived home after the course at about 3:45 - after a few head-bobs I had to stop at the scenic overview near Holyoke and take a power nap. Once home, began unpacking and doing laundry so that I could be prepared to fly out to Pittsburgh tomorrow. Sat with the remaining cat (Simon) who is recovering from his surgery. Lisa arrives home, and we sit for a bit and decide what's going on for tonight & dinner. She heads out with Zeke for dog training class (agility class tonight), and I head out to get dress shoes and return items from the course that we did not need (3 stops for food, one for shoes). Successful food returns mean that more money can go back to the course. Successful shoe shopping included a new pair of black leather Chuck Taylors too sweet to pass up.
Home and clearing out home e-mails, as well as doing garbage and recycling. Lisa comes home and we do Subway for dinner, then retreat to bed. Begin watching a Let Li movie, but I turn it off before getting too sucked in. We both need the sleep.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Tuesday, Camp Royalston - Day 5
Tuesday - Breakfast (P;N)
Granola (with and without nuts)
Hard Boiled Eggs
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Tuesday - Lunch (AL;D;AE)
Hummus
Olive, Cheese & Cucumber plate
Pita
Tuesday - Tea (C;D)
Orange Cake
Tuesday - Dinner (AL;P;N;C;AE)
Roasted Vegetables
Fried Tofu, Onions & Mushrooms
GF Peach and Chocolate Bake
An improvement in the flow of the day (lunch was especially good), but dinner was late again. An admonishment in the staff meeting regarding meals being on time (and I sense this is especially important at this phase of the course - 15 minutes threw the course off by over an hour), and more help offered and accepted. Breakfast is covered by additional heroes (Collin and Chris), and Hell is in the Kitchen.
More work in the circle. I opt not to be on the guitar, though based on the work done, I underestimated myself. Underestimate, overestimate, I just can't seem to find a middle ground. Today, also a lesson in humility and maintaining oneself on the course. Some leakage in the kitchen and now seeing that directly impact the course. Some other energy flowing that is difficult to manage, and I am amazed at the staff's ability to contain some of the things that have been flying around.
Granola (with and without nuts)
Hard Boiled Eggs
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Tuesday - Lunch (AL;D;AE)
Hummus
Olive, Cheese & Cucumber plate
Pita
Tuesday - Tea (C;D)
Orange Cake
Tuesday - Dinner (AL;P;N;C;AE)
Roasted Vegetables
Fried Tofu, Onions & Mushrooms
GF Peach and Chocolate Bake
An improvement in the flow of the day (lunch was especially good), but dinner was late again. An admonishment in the staff meeting regarding meals being on time (and I sense this is especially important at this phase of the course - 15 minutes threw the course off by over an hour), and more help offered and accepted. Breakfast is covered by additional heroes (Collin and Chris), and Hell is in the Kitchen.
More work in the circle. I opt not to be on the guitar, though based on the work done, I underestimated myself. Underestimate, overestimate, I just can't seem to find a middle ground. Today, also a lesson in humility and maintaining oneself on the course. Some leakage in the kitchen and now seeing that directly impact the course. Some other energy flowing that is difficult to manage, and I am amazed at the staff's ability to contain some of the things that have been flying around.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Monday, Camp Royalston - Day 4
Monday - Breakfast (AE;C)
Granola (with and without nuts)
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Monday - Lunch (AL;P;D)
Tomato Soup
Bread, Cheese & Olives
Monday - Tea (N;AE)
Gluten Free Cookies
Bernardini Family Cookies
Monday - Dinner (AL;D;N;C)
Cabbage, Carrots & Onions w/Sesame
Rice
Almonds (sort of)
Kuchen
Many comments on the tomato soup for lunch. The clincher for me was the fresh tarragon from the garden. Curt drops another hint about help after lunch, and the "hero" in me wants to wait. Dinner was a challenge, with the cooking (a stir-fry) running right to the bell. The first meal served on time, but it was a struggle. "Thrakky Birthday" offered to Dennis T. and (I'm blurred a but I believe this is correct), the final hint - essentially "the kitchen needs help" - laid out. A comment from Robert about sustainability; 110% vs. 150%. Later in the week I make the distinction between 110% (heroism) and 150% (egoism), especially when it relates to one person driving and not taking all things into consideration. Help offered, and thus the scullery, dining room setup, and tea are now volunteer positions and no longer the province of the kitchen. Relief at this, and some chagrin that I have allowed my ego to wear out the team, and possibly impact the course.
Staff meeting, and more comments on the kitchen and its place at the heart of the course, and in turn, how this is reflected in the course.
Big circle meeting, and my first opportunity to put on a guitar and play.
Granola (with and without nuts)
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Monday - Lunch (AL;P;D)
Tomato Soup
Bread, Cheese & Olives
Monday - Tea (N;AE)
Gluten Free Cookies
Bernardini Family Cookies
Monday - Dinner (AL;D;N;C)
Cabbage, Carrots & Onions w/Sesame
Rice
Almonds (sort of)
Kuchen
Many comments on the tomato soup for lunch. The clincher for me was the fresh tarragon from the garden. Curt drops another hint about help after lunch, and the "hero" in me wants to wait. Dinner was a challenge, with the cooking (a stir-fry) running right to the bell. The first meal served on time, but it was a struggle. "Thrakky Birthday" offered to Dennis T. and (I'm blurred a but I believe this is correct), the final hint - essentially "the kitchen needs help" - laid out. A comment from Robert about sustainability; 110% vs. 150%. Later in the week I make the distinction between 110% (heroism) and 150% (egoism), especially when it relates to one person driving and not taking all things into consideration. Help offered, and thus the scullery, dining room setup, and tea are now volunteer positions and no longer the province of the kitchen. Relief at this, and some chagrin that I have allowed my ego to wear out the team, and possibly impact the course.
Staff meeting, and more comments on the kitchen and its place at the heart of the course, and in turn, how this is reflected in the course.
Big circle meeting, and my first opportunity to put on a guitar and play.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Sunday, Camp Royalston - Day 3
Sunday - Breakfast (D;N)
Granola (with and without nuts)
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Sunday - Lunch (AL;P;AE)
Cold Beet Soup
Bread
Sunday - Tea (AL;AE)
Lemon Bars
Sunday - Dinner (AL;D;N;C)
Roasted Fingerling & Red Potatoes
Salad
Plain Cake with Strawberry
At this point, something had taken hold of me and was clearly pulling me off the course. I still had no idea what it was (but on Wednesday, I would).
Comments from lunch were very good - Tony G. made one in particular that really struck me, regarding the beet soup at lunch. He noted (and I paraphrase) that the soup really tasted of the air we were breathing and the place we were inhabiting; one could tell that the meal came from this garden. I had been striving to make as much use as possible of the garden and what was available. Too much so at dinner - the salad was awful. The cake saved things, though.
Guests at lunch: Marc B., Billy J. and his wife. Billy arrived a bit into lunch, and as a result, there wasn't much soup left for him or his wife. Portion control was a real challenge all week, and I felt it acutely. Also some questions and comments at lunch, regarding the distinguishing characteristics of an intelligent person, a creative person and transmission. A hint offered in the discussion of the intelligent person. I don't remember whether this was offered, but it certainly should have been: an intellilgent person knows when to ask for help.
Granola (with and without nuts)
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Sunday - Lunch (AL;P;AE)
Cold Beet Soup
Bread
Sunday - Tea (AL;AE)
Lemon Bars
Sunday - Dinner (AL;D;N;C)
Roasted Fingerling & Red Potatoes
Salad
Plain Cake with Strawberry
At this point, something had taken hold of me and was clearly pulling me off the course. I still had no idea what it was (but on Wednesday, I would).
Comments from lunch were very good - Tony G. made one in particular that really struck me, regarding the beet soup at lunch. He noted (and I paraphrase) that the soup really tasted of the air we were breathing and the place we were inhabiting; one could tell that the meal came from this garden. I had been striving to make as much use as possible of the garden and what was available. Too much so at dinner - the salad was awful. The cake saved things, though.
Guests at lunch: Marc B., Billy J. and his wife. Billy arrived a bit into lunch, and as a result, there wasn't much soup left for him or his wife. Portion control was a real challenge all week, and I felt it acutely. Also some questions and comments at lunch, regarding the distinguishing characteristics of an intelligent person, a creative person and transmission. A hint offered in the discussion of the intelligent person. I don't remember whether this was offered, but it certainly should have been: an intellilgent person knows when to ask for help.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Saturday, Camp Royalston - Day 2
After Friday, I have no notes on the days that follow, so the information here is strictly my menu notes, combined with recollections based on what the menu stirred up in me, plus a little cribbing from people who were better able to document the course.
Saturday - Breakfast
Granola (with and without nuts)
Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, etc.
Fruit
Saturday - Lunch
Fresh Vegetable Stew with Rice
Bread
Saturday - Dinner
Sushi
Clear soup with mushrooms, kale and chive
Green Tea Ice Cream, Ginger Ice Cream (soy)
A few things leap out at me about the dinner:
- I was seriously over-reaching with this menu
- Only half of the intended rolls were made
- One batch of rice burned, so we had only half the rice available, though we did make a second batch that didn't get used until later in the week
- The ice cream never really had a chance to freeze, so it was more of a slushy soup. It wouldn't even qualify as squerd.
- Not on time, not on time, not on time. Looking back from a distance, I can see that I was operating as if I were cooking for a smaller course (like an intro - 20 or so). This was closer to 40, and I was over-estimating my abilities, as well as the team. That's not a knock on the kitchen team - just that I was pushing it and not compensating well.
- I also recall saying to myself at one point "I really need to be somewhere else right now".
Friday, August 10, 2007
Camp Royalston, Day 1
Happy Birthday Mom!
7:00 Rise
7:30 Sitting
8:00 Work on the main house to make it moderately presentable for the arriving staff (at the moment, Robert, Curt, Tony and Luciano will be staying in this building). We move some items around and do a basic cleaning of the rooms. The space is slowly revealing itself. Some consternation about the state of the infirmary as a place for habitation, and the volume of laundry in need of washing that as been left lying about. The potties arrive, and are set into place. Dev prepares to leave for Boston to do a radio show with Lindsey, and I begin work in earnest on the kitchen. Much mouse poop to clear out, many surfaces to clean. To Hannaford's at 12:30 to pick up the first set of perishables. While in the store, a message from MB about arrival time. I manage to complete shopping and arrive just as MB is preparing to leave for her next run. 2 of 5 of the KT arrive in the first load. I continue cleaning, lay out some tea items for folks and begin to prepare dinner.
Dinner:
Curried Vegetables over Brown Rice (Moosewood 131, triple recipe, subst. mushrooms for pumpkin)
Apple Brown Betty (Moosewood 113, substitute oats for wheat flour crumb)
We are 10 for dinner at the beginning, MB arriving with another 7 for a total of 18. We make do with the amount we have. Silence visits at dinner.
Post-dinner cleanup; the scullery is a completely different place. The complete KT has arrived, so a 9:30 meeting, 10:30 to prepare granola. 12:00 to bed.
7:00 Rise
7:30 Sitting
8:00 Work on the main house to make it moderately presentable for the arriving staff (at the moment, Robert, Curt, Tony and Luciano will be staying in this building). We move some items around and do a basic cleaning of the rooms. The space is slowly revealing itself. Some consternation about the state of the infirmary as a place for habitation, and the volume of laundry in need of washing that as been left lying about. The potties arrive, and are set into place. Dev prepares to leave for Boston to do a radio show with Lindsey, and I begin work in earnest on the kitchen. Much mouse poop to clear out, many surfaces to clean. To Hannaford's at 12:30 to pick up the first set of perishables. While in the store, a message from MB about arrival time. I manage to complete shopping and arrive just as MB is preparing to leave for her next run. 2 of 5 of the KT arrive in the first load. I continue cleaning, lay out some tea items for folks and begin to prepare dinner.
Dinner:
Curried Vegetables over Brown Rice (Moosewood 131, triple recipe, subst. mushrooms for pumpkin)
Apple Brown Betty (Moosewood 113, substitute oats for wheat flour crumb)
We are 10 for dinner at the beginning, MB arriving with another 7 for a total of 18. We make do with the amount we have. Silence visits at dinner.
Post-dinner cleanup; the scullery is a completely different place. The complete KT has arrived, so a 9:30 meeting, 10:30 to prepare granola. 12:00 to bed.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Thursday, What's that light coming at me? Camp Royalston - Day 0
Rise a bit earlier this morning, as sleep was not really there. No dreams that I remember, but I woke with some anxiety. Yay!
In to work and talking with a colleague about my rather chipper attitude, despite the work circumstances. We agree, during our conversation, that we've actually had it pretty good at Bayer, and other than being let go, there's not too much to complain about. They (Bayer) are actually handling this much better than the last company I was at.
More menu review. I have a sense of meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as dinner next Thursday through breakfast on Saturday. The rest is a blank slate awaiting the rest of the team. Dinners seem to be pretty straightforward for me to get a view of, but lunches are a big gap. The weather is supposed to be warm, but cooler than they have been in the past week (high 70's to low 80's, rather than mid-90's). I'm still thinking lunches will be "cool", but the particulars still elude me.
Out at lunch to get a few more items for the course (mostly personal). While out, I think of a few more things to get, but only remember two of three by the time I get back to the office. Back into work for one last meeting, print out a few more recipes, and pack it in. From here, home, packing, more shopping, then out to a hair appointment and then to Camp Caravan. There is dial-up access at the camp, so I might be able to post during the week, but it is likely that I'll back-post when I return.
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Once I leave work, out for one more shopping run, then home to complete packing. I'm feeling a bit discombobulated and stressed, but am managing this through a series of lists to ensure that I have accounted for everything I need. In the worst case, I can be home in two hours to amend any missing items, but I feel pretty confident that I have everything covered.
I leave the house to get cash and am officially on the road by 9:15 PM, and arrive at Camp Royalston at 11:00. Meet Dev and review the facilities, filling him in on the work done last weekend and weighing options for items tomorrow (including likely locations for "Scottie's Potties"). Reassess the kitchen - despair and hope colliding in me. More facilities review, and we head off to bed at 1:30 AM.
In to work and talking with a colleague about my rather chipper attitude, despite the work circumstances. We agree, during our conversation, that we've actually had it pretty good at Bayer, and other than being let go, there's not too much to complain about. They (Bayer) are actually handling this much better than the last company I was at.
More menu review. I have a sense of meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as dinner next Thursday through breakfast on Saturday. The rest is a blank slate awaiting the rest of the team. Dinners seem to be pretty straightforward for me to get a view of, but lunches are a big gap. The weather is supposed to be warm, but cooler than they have been in the past week (high 70's to low 80's, rather than mid-90's). I'm still thinking lunches will be "cool", but the particulars still elude me.
Out at lunch to get a few more items for the course (mostly personal). While out, I think of a few more things to get, but only remember two of three by the time I get back to the office. Back into work for one last meeting, print out a few more recipes, and pack it in. From here, home, packing, more shopping, then out to a hair appointment and then to Camp Caravan. There is dial-up access at the camp, so I might be able to post during the week, but it is likely that I'll back-post when I return.
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Once I leave work, out for one more shopping run, then home to complete packing. I'm feeling a bit discombobulated and stressed, but am managing this through a series of lists to ensure that I have accounted for everything I need. In the worst case, I can be home in two hours to amend any missing items, but I feel pretty confident that I have everything covered.
I leave the house to get cash and am officially on the road by 9:15 PM, and arrive at Camp Royalston at 11:00. Meet Dev and review the facilities, filling him in on the work done last weekend and weighing options for items tomorrow (including likely locations for "Scottie's Potties"). Reassess the kitchen - despair and hope colliding in me. More facilities review, and we head off to bed at 1:30 AM.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Wednesday, and the train approaches
Rise slowly this morning. I'm not sure what is making me so groggy in the morning. I need to look deeper into this. One kitchen related course dream with an important point that stayed with me when I woke. Added this to the list of items for purchase.
Out to work with a small delay on the way in - the rain has enticed a tractor-trailer through a guard-rail and over an embankment on the north-bound side of the highway. 10:00 and the traffic is still backed up. Some e-mails for the course, and good wishes from PatrickS. More logistics and details become clear, and I feel that I can move forward again.
--------------------------------
Took some time at lunch and began the pre-course stock. Mostly paper items, working to visualize what the kitchen and the course needs, beyond what I have on my list. Quite a bit of volume, especially picking up paper and cleaning goods for the house. Sam's actually had less than I expected (no tea or decaf coffee?), so I'll have to do more shopping at the regular store.
Back home and unload the car. Think for a bit about getting up to the course, and give Dev a call to see if I can drop off most of the bulky stuff - if I don't, I won't be able to fit my guitar and clothes in the car (or me for that matter). Sit for a bit with Lisa, then head out to Whole Foods. More bulk stuff, and score a 50 pound bag of oats. That ought to just last the week (40 people for 10 days = lots of granola).
Dinner, then pack the car and head up to Dev's. We unload and discuss course details for a bit. I'm beginning to feel the pull of the course, but I think Dev is getting pulled a bit harder. Head back home and due to a lapse in attention, head north rather than south. After an extra 20 minutes stuck in traffic due to construction, I head home and to bed.
Out to work with a small delay on the way in - the rain has enticed a tractor-trailer through a guard-rail and over an embankment on the north-bound side of the highway. 10:00 and the traffic is still backed up. Some e-mails for the course, and good wishes from PatrickS. More logistics and details become clear, and I feel that I can move forward again.
--------------------------------
Took some time at lunch and began the pre-course stock. Mostly paper items, working to visualize what the kitchen and the course needs, beyond what I have on my list. Quite a bit of volume, especially picking up paper and cleaning goods for the house. Sam's actually had less than I expected (no tea or decaf coffee?), so I'll have to do more shopping at the regular store.
Back home and unload the car. Think for a bit about getting up to the course, and give Dev a call to see if I can drop off most of the bulky stuff - if I don't, I won't be able to fit my guitar and clothes in the car (or me for that matter). Sit for a bit with Lisa, then head out to Whole Foods. More bulk stuff, and score a 50 pound bag of oats. That ought to just last the week (40 people for 10 days = lots of granola).
Dinner, then pack the car and head up to Dev's. We unload and discuss course details for a bit. I'm beginning to feel the pull of the course, but I think Dev is getting pulled a bit harder. Head back home and due to a lapse in attention, head north rather than south. After an extra 20 minutes stuck in traffic due to construction, I head home and to bed.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
7 August (Tuesday)
Rise with some difficulty, and attend to the cat. Theo is backed up again, and we need to make a decision about him. This is happening too often, and we can tell he is not a happy cat. Too many opportunities for something to go septic, and that would be a horrible thing.
In to work and going through a number of necessary items. Meet with the team to draft some estimates for projects - one needs more detail and I spend part of the morning getting that information together. Seeking other information for other projects and keeping things on an even keel. The main work now is not to go chasing things without a clear sense of what is needed.
Review some e-mails for the course; I'm suddenly getting the rushing feeling as the course nears. Some flux in attendees and who will be available on Friday has me concerned, as well as money matters. All will work itself out, and I can trust that, but it still makes me feel unsteady.
-------------------------------------
Work through the rest of the day, including a meeting with the boss. It feels like too much is going on, so I take a few moments and reconnect with my limbs. Rotation only seems to have gotten me so far this week, so I am pausing periodically to reconnect with the whole body. This helps.
Home and sitting in bed with Lisa watching a report on BlizzCon. Then, out to grab dinner, catch some mindless stuff on TV. Lisa heads up to bed, and I do dishes and scrub the sink while watching a WSOP event on ESPN. Upstairs to the end of Chevalier d'On then to sleep.
In to work and going through a number of necessary items. Meet with the team to draft some estimates for projects - one needs more detail and I spend part of the morning getting that information together. Seeking other information for other projects and keeping things on an even keel. The main work now is not to go chasing things without a clear sense of what is needed.
Review some e-mails for the course; I'm suddenly getting the rushing feeling as the course nears. Some flux in attendees and who will be available on Friday has me concerned, as well as money matters. All will work itself out, and I can trust that, but it still makes me feel unsteady.
-------------------------------------
Work through the rest of the day, including a meeting with the boss. It feels like too much is going on, so I take a few moments and reconnect with my limbs. Rotation only seems to have gotten me so far this week, so I am pausing periodically to reconnect with the whole body. This helps.
Home and sitting in bed with Lisa watching a report on BlizzCon. Then, out to grab dinner, catch some mindless stuff on TV. Lisa heads up to bed, and I do dishes and scrub the sink while watching a WSOP event on ESPN. Upstairs to the end of Chevalier d'On then to sleep.
Monday, August 6, 2007
6 August 2007 (Monday!)
A busy weekend, but some good things accomplished all told.
Saturday: We rise at about 7:30, and I sit, shower and get dressed. The plan for today is to head to Natureworks to see Lisa's friend/mentor Nancy and talk about a plant mystery, then head out to the CT Winefest to enjoy the fruits of the state. Just before we leave, GP comes by with the jointer (I hadn't heard from him all week so I wasn't sure if he was going to drop it off). I now am the proud owner of a Delta 37-195 jointer. Hooray for more woodworking fun.
The winefest was fun, though there were a few things I had an issue with: there were only 11 of the 23 wineries represented, food was a bit scarce, and the entry fee only got you 5 tastings and stamps in the passport (we were under the impression that we could get stamps from everyone there). Other than that, we had fun and got to try some pretty good wines, as well as fresh oysters at $10 a dozen.
Home in the afternoon, and take a nap. We wake at about 6:00 and get a call from John and Marie about dinner. Out to Adam's Mill for a nice, if leisurely (a.k.a. slow) dinner, followed by mini-golf up the road. Mini-golf was a bit disappointing - the course was actually pretty interesting, but I think they built it and then never did anything to keep it up. Ah well, it just makes us pine to go to Monster Golf in Danielson.
Sunday: Rise at 4:45, quick shower, dress, take care of the animals, and out the door at 5:15. ChrisP and I head up to Springfield to pick up Dev, but he is sick, and so cannot join us for the workday at Camp Caravan. We make it to the camp at just after 7:30, so we sit out in the dining hall. We have breakfast with the work crew (yogurt, oatmeal, granola, fresh raspberries, tea and coffee), discuss the major work for the day, as well as inner work to take on as we go. The items for the day:
- Clear out and clean up the first floor of the dormitory, to prepare it for use.
- Move all tools and materials from the second to the third floor of the dormitory, to allow more work/sleeping space
- Get bunks in and set up (ten in the dormitory, six each in the three habitable cabins)
- Move extraneous furniture out of the cabins
- Move the trestle tables from the auditorium to the dining hall
- Mow
I also get further tours and clarity on the facility, the gardens and the kitchen. Unfortunately, without Dev, I missed a couple items, but they should be manageable in the first two days in the camp. Good solid work. The facility is a little rough (OK, that's an understatement - the phrase "there's a lot of potential" was created for this place), but as I shared with the Work group, I had the sense that there is already a stillness and quality of energy here that usually takes a few days to become available in other places we've worked.
Home, and tackle a few chores (though I miss one that will become a JotD for tomorrow), and then out for Thai. Crispy whole fish for me, crispy beef for Kerry and duck for Lisa. Home and I pretty well zonk out.
--------------------------
Some odd dreams that are just on the edge of my memory - none related to the course. Up at 6:30, morning routines and out to work. I have only a couple meetings today, so I hope to get some of the long-standing tasks off my list.
My first meeting was a doozie. A customer who is a former IT person was getting a little too far into the details. Finally, I'd had enough and told him that he had requested a service, and that the "how" was quite frankly of no concern to him. I'm not sure he took it all that well, but both the service delivery manager and I discussed it afterwards, and we agreed that it needed to be said. I have to admit though, I did lose myself a bit in that moment - it felt like a deeper "me" speaking, if that makes any sense. I'm reserving judgment as to whether that was a "good" or "bad" me, and simply accepting that it is.
Home a bit before Lisa and tackle a few things before she gets home. We grab dinner and then head out to pick up 300. Watch that for the evening and then to bed.
Saturday: We rise at about 7:30, and I sit, shower and get dressed. The plan for today is to head to Natureworks to see Lisa's friend/mentor Nancy and talk about a plant mystery, then head out to the CT Winefest to enjoy the fruits of the state. Just before we leave, GP comes by with the jointer (I hadn't heard from him all week so I wasn't sure if he was going to drop it off). I now am the proud owner of a Delta 37-195 jointer. Hooray for more woodworking fun.
The winefest was fun, though there were a few things I had an issue with: there were only 11 of the 23 wineries represented, food was a bit scarce, and the entry fee only got you 5 tastings and stamps in the passport (we were under the impression that we could get stamps from everyone there). Other than that, we had fun and got to try some pretty good wines, as well as fresh oysters at $10 a dozen.
Home in the afternoon, and take a nap. We wake at about 6:00 and get a call from John and Marie about dinner. Out to Adam's Mill for a nice, if leisurely (a.k.a. slow) dinner, followed by mini-golf up the road. Mini-golf was a bit disappointing - the course was actually pretty interesting, but I think they built it and then never did anything to keep it up. Ah well, it just makes us pine to go to Monster Golf in Danielson.
Sunday: Rise at 4:45, quick shower, dress, take care of the animals, and out the door at 5:15. ChrisP and I head up to Springfield to pick up Dev, but he is sick, and so cannot join us for the workday at Camp Caravan. We make it to the camp at just after 7:30, so we sit out in the dining hall. We have breakfast with the work crew (yogurt, oatmeal, granola, fresh raspberries, tea and coffee), discuss the major work for the day, as well as inner work to take on as we go. The items for the day:
- Clear out and clean up the first floor of the dormitory, to prepare it for use.
- Move all tools and materials from the second to the third floor of the dormitory, to allow more work/sleeping space
- Get bunks in and set up (ten in the dormitory, six each in the three habitable cabins)
- Move extraneous furniture out of the cabins
- Move the trestle tables from the auditorium to the dining hall
- Mow
I also get further tours and clarity on the facility, the gardens and the kitchen. Unfortunately, without Dev, I missed a couple items, but they should be manageable in the first two days in the camp. Good solid work. The facility is a little rough (OK, that's an understatement - the phrase "there's a lot of potential" was created for this place), but as I shared with the Work group, I had the sense that there is already a stillness and quality of energy here that usually takes a few days to become available in other places we've worked.
Home, and tackle a few chores (though I miss one that will become a JotD for tomorrow), and then out for Thai. Crispy whole fish for me, crispy beef for Kerry and duck for Lisa. Home and I pretty well zonk out.
--------------------------
Some odd dreams that are just on the edge of my memory - none related to the course. Up at 6:30, morning routines and out to work. I have only a couple meetings today, so I hope to get some of the long-standing tasks off my list.
My first meeting was a doozie. A customer who is a former IT person was getting a little too far into the details. Finally, I'd had enough and told him that he had requested a service, and that the "how" was quite frankly of no concern to him. I'm not sure he took it all that well, but both the service delivery manager and I discussed it afterwards, and we agreed that it needed to be said. I have to admit though, I did lose myself a bit in that moment - it felt like a deeper "me" speaking, if that makes any sense. I'm reserving judgment as to whether that was a "good" or "bad" me, and simply accepting that it is.
Home a bit before Lisa and tackle a few things before she gets home. We grab dinner and then head out to pick up 300. Watch that for the evening and then to bed.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
2 August 2007 (Thursday)
Ugh. A struggle to rise this morning. I'm finding that over the past few weeks (and especially since I got my notice) that I have more inertia to overcome to rise at a reasonable time and go to work. I suppose this is understandable to a degree, but even so, this lethargy continues through the workday and into the evening. I should be able to get one or two things done beyond the JotD, but even that is a struggle which verges on the mechanical.
So, lethargy last night meant that we watched Apocalypto. Not a bad movie, and the last half of it was essentially a very long chase scene, on foot in the jungle. Two things at the end of the movie that pushed the limits of suspension of disbelief: Jaguar Paw's wife giving birth in a cistern rapidly filling with water during a torrential downpour, and the main bad guy being killed by a tapir trap (shown at the beginning of the movie). The birth was simply ludicrous. The death of the antagonist was a little odd, given Mel Gibson's propensity for gruesome violence. A large tapir might come up you your waist, so the tapir trap should have caught our antagonist in the legs, not the chest. Interesting that an opportunity for our hero to spare the bad guy, or be capitulated to and asked to "help him move on" was not taken. Otherwise, well filmed, with much humor in the beginning. Mel does like filming the male body, and he likes his pain, but what is remarkable is that he seems to be able to find the humanity and self-justification throughout the film, and on all sides of the story.
-----------------------------
Wall-to-wall meetings today, and no energy to do them justice.
Out to grab lunch, and I caught the Judgement Beast chattering away at Subway. There was an older gentleman in front of me, and it was clear that he had never been to a Subway before. At one point, he asked what kind of bread they had, and he was directed to the sign on the counter with the list of breads, to which he said "what? those little things?" (the pictures are not actual size). I actually heard the voice in my head ask incredulously "haven't you ever been to a Subway before?" Amazing how quickly I can fall into the pattern of assuming everyone knows everything I know, and understands it the same way.
------------------------------
Home to watering and laundry. Got sucked into Brain Candy, more laundry and watering (I soaked myself trying to adjust the sweep waterer, which wasn't a bad thing, given that it's still over 90° out), then went and grabbed sushi for dinner. I gave Momo-Taro's another try. They didn't quite have what I was looking for, and the things I asked for weren't quite right (I got smoked salmon instead of fresh and regular tuna instead of white tuna). I'm not sure if it was because I was misunderstood, or that they don't really have the full sushi offering. The sushi chef/owner is supposed to be very good, but so far I haven't seen it.
Home, eat, watch some brainless stuff (including the end of Talladega Nights) and then to bed.
So, lethargy last night meant that we watched Apocalypto. Not a bad movie, and the last half of it was essentially a very long chase scene, on foot in the jungle. Two things at the end of the movie that pushed the limits of suspension of disbelief: Jaguar Paw's wife giving birth in a cistern rapidly filling with water during a torrential downpour, and the main bad guy being killed by a tapir trap (shown at the beginning of the movie). The birth was simply ludicrous. The death of the antagonist was a little odd, given Mel Gibson's propensity for gruesome violence. A large tapir might come up you your waist, so the tapir trap should have caught our antagonist in the legs, not the chest. Interesting that an opportunity for our hero to spare the bad guy, or be capitulated to and asked to "help him move on" was not taken. Otherwise, well filmed, with much humor in the beginning. Mel does like filming the male body, and he likes his pain, but what is remarkable is that he seems to be able to find the humanity and self-justification throughout the film, and on all sides of the story.
-----------------------------
Wall-to-wall meetings today, and no energy to do them justice.
Out to grab lunch, and I caught the Judgement Beast chattering away at Subway. There was an older gentleman in front of me, and it was clear that he had never been to a Subway before. At one point, he asked what kind of bread they had, and he was directed to the sign on the counter with the list of breads, to which he said "what? those little things?" (the pictures are not actual size). I actually heard the voice in my head ask incredulously "haven't you ever been to a Subway before?" Amazing how quickly I can fall into the pattern of assuming everyone knows everything I know, and understands it the same way.
------------------------------
Home to watering and laundry. Got sucked into Brain Candy, more laundry and watering (I soaked myself trying to adjust the sweep waterer, which wasn't a bad thing, given that it's still over 90° out), then went and grabbed sushi for dinner. I gave Momo-Taro's another try. They didn't quite have what I was looking for, and the things I asked for weren't quite right (I got smoked salmon instead of fresh and regular tuna instead of white tuna). I'm not sure if it was because I was misunderstood, or that they don't really have the full sushi offering. The sushi chef/owner is supposed to be very good, but so far I haven't seen it.
Home, eat, watch some brainless stuff (including the end of Talladega Nights) and then to bed.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
31 July 2007 (Tuesday) Walking on the Moon
Wake with the alarms, and rise shortly after. Morning routine and in to work. Turning over menu ideas in my head on the way down to work this morning, also looking over the list of things I want to bring with me for the kitchen. Also, holding a sense of how the first three days will go. I'll have a bit better sense of this on Sunday after the work day at the camp.
Work this morning on financial details for the team. We're at that point in the year where we need to report on internal financials, costs and any additional income. This is interesting in its own way, as it's like a puzzle for me to figure out, but not as interesting at the moment as planning out meals.
------------------------------
More financial details completed and sent out to the boss. Head out from work early to go to dinner before the Police concert. We meet MarcB, his wife Tzu and MarkB at an East Hartford Korean restaurant near the concert venue. Good food, and some reminiscing about Guitar Craft courses, the emotions that clear the surface, crying jags and all manner of amazement at what happens on a course, with even more amazement at how this is guided and contained in the moment. Some sharing of changes due to the Lunlunta course last year. I see a bit deeper into MarcB's past year.
Out to the concert - overall very good. The music was great, and it's a gift to watch Stewart Copeland percuss. They were tight, but there seemed to be something missing from the show. It could have been the waves of absence from the trio behind me, but I also think that Sting's years of jazziness have softened the edges of what had been some very angry music. It's not a bad thing - the three have obviously matured out of the destructive energy they had when they broke up in '86, however the set lacked some of the vitality it could have had. The middle of the show dragged a bit, and "The Bed's To Big" seemed to kill the energy they had going. Some things I would have liked to have heard, but all in all, a good show.
Set list:
Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Don’t Stand So Close to Me
Voices Inside My Head/When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around
Driven to Tears
Walking on the Moon
Truth Hits Everybody
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
The Bed’s Too Big Without You
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking in Your Footsteps
Can’t Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc
Roxanne
Encore
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next to You
---------------------
The show ended a little after 11:00 and we were home before 11:30. Nice to have a big concert in your back yard...
Work this morning on financial details for the team. We're at that point in the year where we need to report on internal financials, costs and any additional income. This is interesting in its own way, as it's like a puzzle for me to figure out, but not as interesting at the moment as planning out meals.
------------------------------
More financial details completed and sent out to the boss. Head out from work early to go to dinner before the Police concert. We meet MarcB, his wife Tzu and MarkB at an East Hartford Korean restaurant near the concert venue. Good food, and some reminiscing about Guitar Craft courses, the emotions that clear the surface, crying jags and all manner of amazement at what happens on a course, with even more amazement at how this is guided and contained in the moment. Some sharing of changes due to the Lunlunta course last year. I see a bit deeper into MarcB's past year.
Out to the concert - overall very good. The music was great, and it's a gift to watch Stewart Copeland percuss. They were tight, but there seemed to be something missing from the show. It could have been the waves of absence from the trio behind me, but I also think that Sting's years of jazziness have softened the edges of what had been some very angry music. It's not a bad thing - the three have obviously matured out of the destructive energy they had when they broke up in '86, however the set lacked some of the vitality it could have had. The middle of the show dragged a bit, and "The Bed's To Big" seemed to kill the energy they had going. Some things I would have liked to have heard, but all in all, a good show.
Set list:
Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Don’t Stand So Close to Me
Voices Inside My Head/When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around
Driven to Tears
Walking on the Moon
Truth Hits Everybody
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
The Bed’s Too Big Without You
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking in Your Footsteps
Can’t Stand Losing You/Regatta De Blanc
Roxanne
Encore
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next to You
---------------------
The show ended a little after 11:00 and we were home before 11:30. Nice to have a big concert in your back yard...
Monday, July 30, 2007
30 July 2007 (Monday)
A busy weekend.
Saturday: After rising and sitting, Lisa and I tear into various house cleaning activities. We spend most of the morning cleaning the bedroom, top to bottom. Much dust, dog & cat hair removed, and various items put away (clothes, books, etc.).
Lisa naps while I play on-line, then I head out to New Haven for Lisa G's wedding. The plan was to have it on the schooner Quinnipiac, but as I had to drive through the wrath of God to get there (torrential downpours - bad enough that people were pulling off to the side of the road; it was like a whiteout, but with rain), we couldn't go out on the boat. In the end, we all made do in the parking lot of the wharf, and had fun anyway.
Sunday: some light work in the morning after breakfast (at the Main Street Café - I had Huevos Rancheros and they didn't sit well). Cleaned a few more things, as well as the cat litter. Out at about 4:30 to Belmont for a S.H.O.E tournament that DavidK and Jess were hosting at their Temple. It was fun, though I went out fairly early. Pushed a little too hard in the first round of Omaha, and I was behind the rest of the way. Jess ended up winning the whole thing.
Home at about 12:15, and to bed shortly after.
Today: up at 6:30 and run out the garbage. Morning routine, and in to work by 8:15. Quiet today, and my meetings are not until later in the afternoon, so I spend the morning with some menu planning and responding to e-mails. The trick for the course will be how to balance normal nutrition with some of the special needs (gluten allergies, cholesterol issues, veganism), and balance the resources so everyone isn't working every meal.
--------------------------------
Home ahead of Lisa, so I take care of the dog and set to today's JotD. This one was clear as a bell this morning: cleaning out the garbage can. Something had gotten out of a bag and into the bottom of the can, so now all manner of stink and larval insects live there. Out comes the power washer and out goes the mess. Associatively, the recycle bin gets cleaned as well.
Lisa arrives home (she was taking a colleague home from work - their car was in the shop). We think about dinner, but are absorbed by The Guardian, followed by Karas: The Prophesy and then popcorn with Appleseed. We opt out of Akira and go to bed.
Saturday: After rising and sitting, Lisa and I tear into various house cleaning activities. We spend most of the morning cleaning the bedroom, top to bottom. Much dust, dog & cat hair removed, and various items put away (clothes, books, etc.).
Lisa naps while I play on-line, then I head out to New Haven for Lisa G's wedding. The plan was to have it on the schooner Quinnipiac, but as I had to drive through the wrath of God to get there (torrential downpours - bad enough that people were pulling off to the side of the road; it was like a whiteout, but with rain), we couldn't go out on the boat. In the end, we all made do in the parking lot of the wharf, and had fun anyway.
Sunday: some light work in the morning after breakfast (at the Main Street Café - I had Huevos Rancheros and they didn't sit well). Cleaned a few more things, as well as the cat litter. Out at about 4:30 to Belmont for a S.H.O.E tournament that DavidK and Jess were hosting at their Temple. It was fun, though I went out fairly early. Pushed a little too hard in the first round of Omaha, and I was behind the rest of the way. Jess ended up winning the whole thing.
Home at about 12:15, and to bed shortly after.
Today: up at 6:30 and run out the garbage. Morning routine, and in to work by 8:15. Quiet today, and my meetings are not until later in the afternoon, so I spend the morning with some menu planning and responding to e-mails. The trick for the course will be how to balance normal nutrition with some of the special needs (gluten allergies, cholesterol issues, veganism), and balance the resources so everyone isn't working every meal.
--------------------------------
Home ahead of Lisa, so I take care of the dog and set to today's JotD. This one was clear as a bell this morning: cleaning out the garbage can. Something had gotten out of a bag and into the bottom of the can, so now all manner of stink and larval insects live there. Out comes the power washer and out goes the mess. Associatively, the recycle bin gets cleaned as well.
Lisa arrives home (she was taking a colleague home from work - their car was in the shop). We think about dinner, but are absorbed by The Guardian, followed by Karas: The Prophesy and then popcorn with Appleseed. We opt out of Akira and go to bed.
Friday, July 27, 2007
27 July 2007 (Friday!)
Slow rise, but eventually, my system kicks in to gear and I head into work.
A busy morning with meetings, and all manner of documenting project status. it feels as if progress is being made, but that's simply in the perception.
Lunch out with the remaining team on the site to wish a colleague well on his way to working for the state. A fun lunch, with a suggestion for a new pole dancing team: Chimi and Changa the Molé brothers. Out to Lowes for a gift certificate for the wedding tomorrow - I'll head to Ikea for the other half on the way home tonight.
Back to work and updating people and web sites with further project information. More scanning of web sites for menu ideas, and corresponding with the kitchen team on the details of the course. Now, just biding my time until I go home.
A busy morning with meetings, and all manner of documenting project status. it feels as if progress is being made, but that's simply in the perception.
Lunch out with the remaining team on the site to wish a colleague well on his way to working for the state. A fun lunch, with a suggestion for a new pole dancing team: Chimi and Changa the Molé brothers. Out to Lowes for a gift certificate for the wedding tomorrow - I'll head to Ikea for the other half on the way home tonight.
Back to work and updating people and web sites with further project information. More scanning of web sites for menu ideas, and corresponding with the kitchen team on the details of the course. Now, just biding my time until I go home.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
25 July 2007 (Wednesday)
A bit of a struggle to rise this morning, some irritation with the dog for kicking me and whining all morning. One the ride in, I heard an interesting term on NPR, regarding Iran's youth that don't necessarily buy into the rhetoric of the current regime: lipstick jihadists.
In to work by 8:30 with intention. Some of the fog cleared this morning and I had a clear sense of some items that need to be completed this week. Good progress on another tracking spreadsheet for project surveys. I hope to have many of these tools ready for the team before I leave.
A merry lunch watching the ping pong finals in the cafeteria, that somehow drifted down the path to the murders in Cheshire. I'm not sure how we got there, but that pretty much ended lunch.
-------------------------------
A few more items tackled in the afternoon, and a late meeting to address issues with a project nearing its completion. The resource I have from the eHosting team is really good, though he needs some guidance with communication. Other than that, things are going well.
Out after work to a local watering hole/pool hall for a going away drink for one of our team. He has gotten a job with the State of Connecticut, just ahead of his notification of termination (we would have been in the same notification group as I am).
Home and to bed.
In to work by 8:30 with intention. Some of the fog cleared this morning and I had a clear sense of some items that need to be completed this week. Good progress on another tracking spreadsheet for project surveys. I hope to have many of these tools ready for the team before I leave.
A merry lunch watching the ping pong finals in the cafeteria, that somehow drifted down the path to the murders in Cheshire. I'm not sure how we got there, but that pretty much ended lunch.
-------------------------------
A few more items tackled in the afternoon, and a late meeting to address issues with a project nearing its completion. The resource I have from the eHosting team is really good, though he needs some guidance with communication. Other than that, things are going well.
Out after work to a local watering hole/pool hall for a going away drink for one of our team. He has gotten a job with the State of Connecticut, just ahead of his notification of termination (we would have been in the same notification group as I am).
Home and to bed.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
24 July 2007 (Tuesday) General Malaise
In to work a bit later than normal - I stayed up a bit late after reading the Potter.
Today went by largely unobserved, which brings up two questions:
Why?, and
If this is so, then did it really happen?
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A struggle all day with focus. I managed to back-post some from the past week, and had some lengthy discussions with colleagues on my plans (or lack thereof) for after Bayer. I did manage to drag myself down to the beach for volleyball. I was about an hour early, so I pulled my guitar out and practiced until about 5:45. Some solid and relaxed work on Flying Home, Bicycling to Afghanistan, Calliope and Third Relation. One of my team-mate's 1 year-old granddaughter turned up at my feet, and she bopped a little to the basslines of Calliope and Third Relation.
Home to pick up new shower curtains and grab dinner. Over dinner, watched really bad movies (Cobra anyone?) for a while, a quick on-line game and to bed (pretty late).
Today went by largely unobserved, which brings up two questions:
Why?, and
If this is so, then did it really happen?
--------------------------------
A struggle all day with focus. I managed to back-post some from the past week, and had some lengthy discussions with colleagues on my plans (or lack thereof) for after Bayer. I did manage to drag myself down to the beach for volleyball. I was about an hour early, so I pulled my guitar out and practiced until about 5:45. Some solid and relaxed work on Flying Home, Bicycling to Afghanistan, Calliope and Third Relation. One of my team-mate's 1 year-old granddaughter turned up at my feet, and she bopped a little to the basslines of Calliope and Third Relation.
Home to pick up new shower curtains and grab dinner. Over dinner, watched really bad movies (Cobra anyone?) for a while, a quick on-line game and to bed (pretty late).
Monday, July 23, 2007
23 July 2007 (Monday)
Away from the journal for a bit. I'll back-fill for some of the past week from my notes.
Up at 6:30 this morning. This is another morning where the previous alarm (5:15) went off, I shut it off, but I don't remember doing it. I know I was tired when I went to bed, but I didn't realize how tired. I also don't remember Lisa coming to bed.
In to work for the first of any meetings. My boss is late calling me, but we manage to cover what we need to in 30 minutes. I get the sense, now that my final day has been set, he is treading a bit more carefully. This is a bit selfish on his part, and I can't blame him. He needs to get things done, and my termination is not his choice.
More meetings (customer, new projects) and finally a meeting with the local HR dude to get the official paperwork for my end of service. No real surprises, and it's actually good to speak with him for a while. As far as HR people go, he's pretty good (the classic "joke" is that Human Resources is neither). He's always been willing to share "off the record" and I have always appreciated his candor. In addition to my own situation, was also talk about the general health of our business, and my frank disappointment in our management. This isn't due solely to my termination, but a larger issue that I see with the staff. Enough has happened with our colleagues in the last two years that management has effectively used up all of its goodwill with the employees and is now deep in debt. Even those people who generally and blindly tow the line are having doubts.
Meet another colleague int he hall and talk about my purchasing some power tools from him. I also learn that he's found another position outside the company and will be leaving soon. The next wave has begun.
Now, a few last items, and I'll head home. Hopefully, The Deathly Hallows will be read and ready for me when I get there.
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Home at a reasonable time to a quiet house. Lisa completes the Potter, and now I'm off. I ask her what she's having for dinner, and she asks what are we having for dinner? in reply. I suggest that it is only her having dinner - I'm reading.
A small side conversation about her day at work and the behavior of her boss at work. In a recurring theme for the day, we discuss HR as a corporate tool.
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Potter is complete. Good stuff all the way through. I'll probably read through it again later in the week to pick up the things I might have missed. Downstairs to attend to the broken-assed cat, then to the dog's nails and finally to bed.
Up at 6:30 this morning. This is another morning where the previous alarm (5:15) went off, I shut it off, but I don't remember doing it. I know I was tired when I went to bed, but I didn't realize how tired. I also don't remember Lisa coming to bed.
In to work for the first of any meetings. My boss is late calling me, but we manage to cover what we need to in 30 minutes. I get the sense, now that my final day has been set, he is treading a bit more carefully. This is a bit selfish on his part, and I can't blame him. He needs to get things done, and my termination is not his choice.
More meetings (customer, new projects) and finally a meeting with the local HR dude to get the official paperwork for my end of service. No real surprises, and it's actually good to speak with him for a while. As far as HR people go, he's pretty good (the classic "joke" is that Human Resources is neither). He's always been willing to share "off the record" and I have always appreciated his candor. In addition to my own situation, was also talk about the general health of our business, and my frank disappointment in our management. This isn't due solely to my termination, but a larger issue that I see with the staff. Enough has happened with our colleagues in the last two years that management has effectively used up all of its goodwill with the employees and is now deep in debt. Even those people who generally and blindly tow the line are having doubts.
Meet another colleague int he hall and talk about my purchasing some power tools from him. I also learn that he's found another position outside the company and will be leaving soon. The next wave has begun.
Now, a few last items, and I'll head home. Hopefully, The Deathly Hallows will be read and ready for me when I get there.
----------------------------
Home at a reasonable time to a quiet house. Lisa completes the Potter, and now I'm off. I ask her what she's having for dinner, and she asks what are we having for dinner? in reply. I suggest that it is only her having dinner - I'm reading.
A small side conversation about her day at work and the behavior of her boss at work. In a recurring theme for the day, we discuss HR as a corporate tool.
----------------------------
Potter is complete. Good stuff all the way through. I'll probably read through it again later in the week to pick up the things I might have missed. Downstairs to attend to the broken-assed cat, then to the dog's nails and finally to bed.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
22 July 2007 (Sunday) All-day circle meeting
Rise and brief morning exercises, then shower and out to the store to get lunch items for today. Back to the house, pack the cooler and most of the car. On-line search for the Hughes produces a different, but close address. Scanning the map of the area and consulting my sense-memory of driving there last, I can recreate where I need to go. A very interesting process to watch.
Chris is delayed getting to my house, but we are able to leave by 9:30. Arrive at the Hughes' shortly after 11:00, but still before most of the team. All but Dev arrive and are set up at about 11:30 (Dev is delayed), so we begin.
- C Major up & down in four octaves takes us about 35 minutes.
- From here, we work on the base pattern for the day: C Major, (1) up three octaves, (2) down two octaves, (3) up three octaves, (4) down three octaves, (5) up two octaves, 6 down three octaves; change to 5th position at (3) and return to open position at (5). We work on this for about an hour before Dev arrives, adding in the Bb and F# in alternating octaves (so the 16 octave pattern for the work is C Ionian, C Mixolydian, C Ionian, C Lydian, C Ionian, C Mixolydian, etc.) Once he is incorporated into the circle, we continue this work for nearly another 90 minutes, when we break for lunch. Though we do not complete the pattern, there is some high quality work and listening going on.
- Lunch, and some nice time out in the back yard. Also bring up the possibility of the work day at Royalston on August 5th. Not many are likely to be available, but that's fine.
- After lunch, more work in the large circle, and then a break into two smaller groups - the Invention 1 circulators in the house, the other four of us in the back yard continuing to work on the four octave challenge. After about 45 minutes, we are able to complete this, then we make three attempts at the basic four octave scale but are unable to complete this. In to the house and on the floor to listen to two versions of the Invention 1 circulation, one slower one faster.
- After a break, back to more work on the basic pattern, the regular four octave circulation (if you made a mistake, you would drop out and the circulation would restart), and an attempt at quickly circulating three octaves, as well as another pass at Invention 1.
Victor suggested that we not meet for the next two weeks, though he is available for lessons, and suggested some personal work, and staying in contact with Invention 1, Passage, Askesis and Third Relation.
I had a sense of real confidence in the group with the first three octaves. I also had a sense of the average amount of attention available to the group - this would be about 35 to 45 seconds. If we could push this to a minute, some things would really open up. I also noticed that I would easily fall into an automatic mode in certain instances, and had to work to remain in contact with the exercise, and not let my muscle memory do all the work. I was tired, but not in the usual way, so I had a sense that something got created today, and some of that energy was still available.
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Home, out to grab dinner (Subway was closed, so I settled for McDonald's - I should have just made popcorn). Some on-line poker, and then to bed.
Chris is delayed getting to my house, but we are able to leave by 9:30. Arrive at the Hughes' shortly after 11:00, but still before most of the team. All but Dev arrive and are set up at about 11:30 (Dev is delayed), so we begin.
- C Major up & down in four octaves takes us about 35 minutes.
- From here, we work on the base pattern for the day: C Major, (1) up three octaves, (2) down two octaves, (3) up three octaves, (4) down three octaves, (5) up two octaves, 6 down three octaves; change to 5th position at (3) and return to open position at (5). We work on this for about an hour before Dev arrives, adding in the Bb and F# in alternating octaves (so the 16 octave pattern for the work is C Ionian, C Mixolydian, C Ionian, C Lydian, C Ionian, C Mixolydian, etc.) Once he is incorporated into the circle, we continue this work for nearly another 90 minutes, when we break for lunch. Though we do not complete the pattern, there is some high quality work and listening going on.
- Lunch, and some nice time out in the back yard. Also bring up the possibility of the work day at Royalston on August 5th. Not many are likely to be available, but that's fine.
- After lunch, more work in the large circle, and then a break into two smaller groups - the Invention 1 circulators in the house, the other four of us in the back yard continuing to work on the four octave challenge. After about 45 minutes, we are able to complete this, then we make three attempts at the basic four octave scale but are unable to complete this. In to the house and on the floor to listen to two versions of the Invention 1 circulation, one slower one faster.
- After a break, back to more work on the basic pattern, the regular four octave circulation (if you made a mistake, you would drop out and the circulation would restart), and an attempt at quickly circulating three octaves, as well as another pass at Invention 1.
Victor suggested that we not meet for the next two weeks, though he is available for lessons, and suggested some personal work, and staying in contact with Invention 1, Passage, Askesis and Third Relation.
I had a sense of real confidence in the group with the first three octaves. I also had a sense of the average amount of attention available to the group - this would be about 35 to 45 seconds. If we could push this to a minute, some things would really open up. I also noticed that I would easily fall into an automatic mode in certain instances, and had to work to remain in contact with the exercise, and not let my muscle memory do all the work. I was tired, but not in the usual way, so I had a sense that something got created today, and some of that energy was still available.
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Home, out to grab dinner (Subway was closed, so I settled for McDonald's - I should have just made popcorn). Some on-line poker, and then to bed.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
15 July 2007 (Sunday) Anime Conventions, and Flying to Pittsburgh
Rise at about 7:30 and take stock of the morning. Lisa and I still wish to go to Connecticon today, but Kerry got in late so we were waiting to see if she still wanted to go. In the end, we go with the two of us and spend the better part of the morning wandering the dealer room, filled with little Ashes, Vash the Stampedes, Edward Elrics, denizens of the Leaf and Sand Villages and the occasional Imperial T.I.E fighter pilot. Some pretty cool stuff, including a person doing laser engraving and custom accessories for cosplayers and more independent comic artists than I had expected. We'll definitely return next year, and probably bring our youngest nephew.
Home and idle away the afternoon on the deck. Pack and head to the airport around 5:00. Once at the airport, a slight delay due to thunderstorms in Pittsburgh (these delayed the 3:30 flight out of Hartford until 7:00, so it's just as well I decided to take the late flight today).
In to Pittsburgh without much fuss, to dinner and then to the hotel room. Unpack, make the space mine, read a bit and then to bed.
Home and idle away the afternoon on the deck. Pack and head to the airport around 5:00. Once at the airport, a slight delay due to thunderstorms in Pittsburgh (these delayed the 3:30 flight out of Hartford until 7:00, so it's just as well I decided to take the late flight today).
In to Pittsburgh without much fuss, to dinner and then to the hotel room. Unpack, make the space mine, read a bit and then to bed.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
14 July 2007 (Mom's on the Cape)
Kim and I arrived at Mom's about 9:30 last night, after grabbing a quick dinner. Todd tortured Kim on the way up by calling to tell her that he and the kids had gone to see The Order of the Phoenix (not true, they went to see Ratatouille) and that they were having lobster (true - they were at the Lobster Pound in Brewster). It was a good ride up with my sister, getting caught up on all manner of things.
Rise at about 7:30. Mom was already up (naturally), and we chatted a bit. Kim and the girls head out to the pool and Todd and I help Mom get the dining room set up for everyone. I head out to the garden center for a new sweep waterer and a pot Lisa wanted from the last visit, and porcupine grass for Kim. By the time I get back, my grandparents arrive and the rest of the family slowly filters in. As usual, we cook enough food for about twice our number (there are 14 of us). The whole day is actually pretty quiet - there was much conversation and laughter, as there usually is, but it was of a different, more subdued quality.
Once everybody clears out, I help clean up. Head out at about 5:30. I think Mom was hoping I'd stay, but I really wanted to get home to spend a bit of Sunday with Lisa before I go to Pittsburgh.
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Interesting that the Firefox spell checker wants to replace Ratatouille with Bouillabaisse.
Rise at about 7:30. Mom was already up (naturally), and we chatted a bit. Kim and the girls head out to the pool and Todd and I help Mom get the dining room set up for everyone. I head out to the garden center for a new sweep waterer and a pot Lisa wanted from the last visit, and porcupine grass for Kim. By the time I get back, my grandparents arrive and the rest of the family slowly filters in. As usual, we cook enough food for about twice our number (there are 14 of us). The whole day is actually pretty quiet - there was much conversation and laughter, as there usually is, but it was of a different, more subdued quality.
Once everybody clears out, I help clean up. Head out at about 5:30. I think Mom was hoping I'd stay, but I really wanted to get home to spend a bit of Sunday with Lisa before I go to Pittsburgh.
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Interesting that the Firefox spell checker wants to replace Ratatouille with Bouillabaisse.
Friday, July 13, 2007
13 July 2007 (Friday) Ooooh, scary!
Friday the 13th arrives. An interesting fact that in the Greek and Spanish traditions, the unlucky day is Tuesday the 13th.
Rise with some difficulty, as we were up late last night. Morning practices, shower, dress and pack for the Cape. Traveling light this weekend - the only real bulk in my bag are the pillows. Also grab some beverages left over from our 4th of July party.
In to work a bit later than I would like, but no big deal. Commiserating a bit with some of the other folks in the office, though there is the news that at least one group will be staying on campus through 2009. There is some hope for the IT people that they may not have to leave for a while. For me, I doubt it changes anything.
Rise with some difficulty, as we were up late last night. Morning practices, shower, dress and pack for the Cape. Traveling light this weekend - the only real bulk in my bag are the pillows. Also grab some beverages left over from our 4th of July party.
In to work a bit later than I would like, but no big deal. Commiserating a bit with some of the other folks in the office, though there is the news that at least one group will be staying on campus through 2009. There is some hope for the IT people that they may not have to leave for a while. For me, I doubt it changes anything.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
11 July 2007 (Wednesday)
Well then, a full week away from the journal. Back-posting in progress for the weekend.
Rise at 6:25 this morning - pretty good considering the days off this week. Morning practices and out the door, get gas for the car and in to work by 8. My morning is clear, so I spend it going through e-mails and making calls out on projects.
Lunch today is a picnic for the department - the weather isn't great, but it's still good to get outside and mingle with the remaining crew.
Meetings through the afternoon, and heading home (hopefully) at 4.
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Home, and thoroughly unmotivated - so an evening watching A Prairie Home Companion and Superman Returns.
Rise at 6:25 this morning - pretty good considering the days off this week. Morning practices and out the door, get gas for the car and in to work by 8. My morning is clear, so I spend it going through e-mails and making calls out on projects.
Lunch today is a picnic for the department - the weather isn't great, but it's still good to get outside and mingle with the remaining crew.
Meetings through the afternoon, and heading home (hopefully) at 4.
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Home, and thoroughly unmotivated - so an evening watching A Prairie Home Companion and Superman Returns.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
10 July 2007 (Tuesday) Creeping towards 40
A day not at the day-job, but still at work.
Rise at 7:00, morning practices, then outside to water the gardens. Spend about 20 minutes getting things set up, then in to shower. Once showered and dressed, I move the sprinklers around to different parts of the garden and head to DMV.
At DMV, I head to the testing department. It is crowded here with all of the teens in to do their driving tests. All in all, it takes about an hour for me to go in, fill out the paperwork, wait, take the motorcycle test, wait, talk to the person verifying the paperwork and the test, wait, bring my paperwork to the photo guy, wait, take my picture, wait, get my new license.
Back home and move the sprinklers again and head out to grab some breakfast. Out to the Cosmic Omelette for a breakfast burger. Chat with one of the regulars about concerts (he's going to Roger Waters tonight), Harry Potter and the golden age of Science Fiction (Robert Heinlein, in particular). Back home and enter into a silent debate about going to Foxwoods to play some live poker. Opt for a quick on-line game, then change and start working on the shed.
Spend the afternoon building a new 8' shelf in the shed, including cutouts for the framing, a round-over on the edge of the shelf, and shelf supports with angle cuts. Also build folding arms to hold the various spikes and tomato poles. I made these with a bridle joint with certain edges rounded to allow the parts to rotate around a central pin. Unfortunately, I made the joints too loose and had to add an extra pin to stop the rotation. The curves were pretty sloppy as well - I could really use a bandsaw for these types of things. Finally, I put a fake outlet on the wall so I could store the extension cord splitters, rather than putting them in a pot.
Found myself being grumpy again later in the afternoon. I think I know why this is, but it is still difficult to articulate in a way that isn't hurtful.
Lisa naps while I play a few more rounds of poker on-line. After this, out to the movies, then home and to bed. Transformers kick ass.
Rise at 7:00, morning practices, then outside to water the gardens. Spend about 20 minutes getting things set up, then in to shower. Once showered and dressed, I move the sprinklers around to different parts of the garden and head to DMV.
At DMV, I head to the testing department. It is crowded here with all of the teens in to do their driving tests. All in all, it takes about an hour for me to go in, fill out the paperwork, wait, take the motorcycle test, wait, talk to the person verifying the paperwork and the test, wait, bring my paperwork to the photo guy, wait, take my picture, wait, get my new license.
Back home and move the sprinklers again and head out to grab some breakfast. Out to the Cosmic Omelette for a breakfast burger. Chat with one of the regulars about concerts (he's going to Roger Waters tonight), Harry Potter and the golden age of Science Fiction (Robert Heinlein, in particular). Back home and enter into a silent debate about going to Foxwoods to play some live poker. Opt for a quick on-line game, then change and start working on the shed.
Spend the afternoon building a new 8' shelf in the shed, including cutouts for the framing, a round-over on the edge of the shelf, and shelf supports with angle cuts. Also build folding arms to hold the various spikes and tomato poles. I made these with a bridle joint with certain edges rounded to allow the parts to rotate around a central pin. Unfortunately, I made the joints too loose and had to add an extra pin to stop the rotation. The curves were pretty sloppy as well - I could really use a bandsaw for these types of things. Finally, I put a fake outlet on the wall so I could store the extension cord splitters, rather than putting them in a pot.
Found myself being grumpy again later in the afternoon. I think I know why this is, but it is still difficult to articulate in a way that isn't hurtful.
Lisa naps while I play a few more rounds of poker on-line. After this, out to the movies, then home and to bed. Transformers kick ass.
Monday, July 9, 2007
9 July 2007 (Monday) Workin' Them Angels
Rise at 6 with the pets, and then duck back and snooze a bit longer. Rise and putter with Lisa around the gardens, then we opt for an early nap, as we're both tired and we know tonight will be a late night.
Rise and putter some more. Head out for dinner at Abbott''s and then to the Mohegan Sun for Rush (!).
I have to say, I've seen most of their shows in the past 20 years, and the past three tours are as good as they get (the Vapor Trails tour was probably the best). The set list:
Set 1:
01. Limelight
02. Digital Man
03. Entre Nous
04. Mission
05. Freewill
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Larger Bowl
08. Secret Touch
09. Circumstances
10. Between The Wheels
11. Dreamline
Intermission
Set 2:
12. Far Cry
13. Workin' Them Angels
14. Armor And Sword
15. Spindrift
16. The Way The Wind Blows
17. Subdivisions
18. Natural Science
19. Witch Hunt
20. Malignant Narcissism
21. Drum Solo
22. Hope
23. Distant Early Warning
24. The Spirit Of Radio
25. Tom Sawyer
Encore:
26. One Little Victory
27. A Passage to Bangkok
28. YYZ
3 hours & 15 minutes of my wife and I dancing and singing at the top of our lungs.
Rise and putter some more. Head out for dinner at Abbott''s and then to the Mohegan Sun for Rush (!).
I have to say, I've seen most of their shows in the past 20 years, and the past three tours are as good as they get (the Vapor Trails tour was probably the best). The set list:
Set 1:
01. Limelight
02. Digital Man
03. Entre Nous
04. Mission
05. Freewill
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Larger Bowl
08. Secret Touch
09. Circumstances
10. Between The Wheels
11. Dreamline
Intermission
Set 2:
12. Far Cry
13. Workin' Them Angels
14. Armor And Sword
15. Spindrift
16. The Way The Wind Blows
17. Subdivisions
18. Natural Science
19. Witch Hunt
20. Malignant Narcissism
21. Drum Solo
22. Hope
23. Distant Early Warning
24. The Spirit Of Radio
25. Tom Sawyer
Encore:
26. One Little Victory
27. A Passage to Bangkok
28. YYZ
3 hours & 15 minutes of my wife and I dancing and singing at the top of our lungs.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
4 July 2007 (Wednesday)
Rise at 8:00, and go through the normal morning routines. Out to the yard to help with a few last minute items, then to the store for some forgotten food items, with a final stop at the ice house. Back home, some last minute cleaning and food prep, and then a short break before beginning basic cooking.
The afternoon is spent pleasantly with a number of friends and family, eating well, and enjoying the rain under the awning on the deck.
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How can so many people still find this President is still doing good for our nation, or the world?
The afternoon is spent pleasantly with a number of friends and family, eating well, and enjoying the rain under the awning on the deck.
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How can so many people still find this President is still doing good for our nation, or the world?
Monday, July 2, 2007
2 July 2007 (Monday)
So, a staggered week begins (due to the 4th being in the middle of the week). Rise a bit late, as I was up a bit later than I had expected. One quick check of work e-mail finds another meeting reschedule for my first meeting, so I'll be in to work a little closer to the meeting that I might otherwise like. Short meeting in the end, as Thomas has another meeting that has been rescheduled. More meetings on global financials and the convoluted ways we deal with the global business. Reason is slowly creeping in to the organization, but not at a pace that can save me any time soon.
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Out for lunch, and back to the office feeling a little groggy. Two afternoon meetings, one of which is a project kickoff meeting. I was pretty shaky, and my technical resource was just coming back from a funeral, so the meeting wasn't as sharp as I might have liked, but we got through it. I need to find some meeting resources and make sure that I get the most out of these initial hours of a project. The rest of the day spent dealing with some audit results and recalculating financial information.
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Back home and really dragging. Lisa and I head out to do the bulk shopping for the 4th. Some beef, chicken and salmon for the grill. We were both so distracted that we forgot all of the non-perishable items we had planned on getting. This just means I need to jump into the fire tomorrow. Once home again, we do a little yard clean-up, move the new holly's up to where they will be planted (and out of the sun), do some watering and watch the poppers open. Finally, we pull all of the folding chairs out, hose them down and hit them with Nature's Miracle to see if we can drive out the mildewy smell from the shed. Some light computing and then to bed.
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Out for lunch, and back to the office feeling a little groggy. Two afternoon meetings, one of which is a project kickoff meeting. I was pretty shaky, and my technical resource was just coming back from a funeral, so the meeting wasn't as sharp as I might have liked, but we got through it. I need to find some meeting resources and make sure that I get the most out of these initial hours of a project. The rest of the day spent dealing with some audit results and recalculating financial information.
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Back home and really dragging. Lisa and I head out to do the bulk shopping for the 4th. Some beef, chicken and salmon for the grill. We were both so distracted that we forgot all of the non-perishable items we had planned on getting. This just means I need to jump into the fire tomorrow. Once home again, we do a little yard clean-up, move the new holly's up to where they will be planted (and out of the sun), do some watering and watch the poppers open. Finally, we pull all of the folding chairs out, hose them down and hit them with Nature's Miracle to see if we can drive out the mildewy smell from the shed. Some light computing and then to bed.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
7/1/2007 (Sunday) - The Weekend
This weekend was spent at the Basic Motorcycle Riders Safety Course. Now, I was a little intimidated from the class - essentially, there is a lot of material covering what could go wrong when you are on a motorcycle, that you are essentially invisible to most motorists, and very vulnerable. Saturday morning was our first time on the bikes, all 250cc or smaller machines. We worked through the basics - parts, operations, safety, learning the slip zone on the clutch, basic movement and maneuvering and so on. It was a bit warm, but my new helmet is surprisingly well ventilated, and I was warm, but never overly so. After lunch, it was back into the classroom to complete the work from Thursday. The program is well designed, with the classroom material presented in three ways: the written page, verbally from the instructor and visually from a video. I found this interesting, as it covers the common ways people learn in these situations. A quick written "evaluation" and we are done by 3:30 PM.
Home a bit earlier than expected Saturday, though I am thoroughly exhausted from the riding portion of the class. The rain comes in heavy late in the evening and things finally cool off completely.
Sunday began a bit earlier, as we didn't quite get through all of the exercises on the bikes Saturday. The whole day is spent fine tuning and developing our skills. We had two people leave the class today. The first had witnessed a serious bike accident the night before on the way home from class and while she had seemed to have shaken that off before she arrived, after about 20 minutes on the bike she couldn't continue. Quite understandable. The second rolled his ankle under the bike during an exercise, and while it wasn't serious, he felt that he was done - this was a shame really, as he was the shakiest at the outset, and had really developed well, becoming more confident as he went.
At the end of the day, we go through our riding skills evaluations, and all pass. By the end of the day we were all having fun, and even with the stress of being "tested", we all were having a blast. Afterwards, I went with a couple of the other riders for a celebratory beer at a local. The class population was very interesting: about half of us were older and had no riding experience, and the other half were mostly young dudes with some experience, a little showy in some cases but generally good. One of the women in the "older" group (we were all late 30's to early 40's) was really funny (and a bit of a horndog). It was fun watching the mild discomfort of a couple of the dudes when she was hitting on them. A good time overall.
Home, and find that the circle meeting is canceled for tonight, so some quiet time at home. Scrounge a bit for dinner and end up going shopping for some basics.
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It's sad as I look back on this week - I've spent very little time with the guitar.
Home a bit earlier than expected Saturday, though I am thoroughly exhausted from the riding portion of the class. The rain comes in heavy late in the evening and things finally cool off completely.
Sunday began a bit earlier, as we didn't quite get through all of the exercises on the bikes Saturday. The whole day is spent fine tuning and developing our skills. We had two people leave the class today. The first had witnessed a serious bike accident the night before on the way home from class and while she had seemed to have shaken that off before she arrived, after about 20 minutes on the bike she couldn't continue. Quite understandable. The second rolled his ankle under the bike during an exercise, and while it wasn't serious, he felt that he was done - this was a shame really, as he was the shakiest at the outset, and had really developed well, becoming more confident as he went.
At the end of the day, we go through our riding skills evaluations, and all pass. By the end of the day we were all having fun, and even with the stress of being "tested", we all were having a blast. Afterwards, I went with a couple of the other riders for a celebratory beer at a local. The class population was very interesting: about half of us were older and had no riding experience, and the other half were mostly young dudes with some experience, a little showy in some cases but generally good. One of the women in the "older" group (we were all late 30's to early 40's) was really funny (and a bit of a horndog). It was fun watching the mild discomfort of a couple of the dudes when she was hitting on them. A good time overall.
Home, and find that the circle meeting is canceled for tonight, so some quiet time at home. Scrounge a bit for dinner and end up going shopping for some basics.
---------------------------------------
It's sad as I look back on this week - I've spent very little time with the guitar.
Friday, June 29, 2007
29 June 2007 (Friday)
Meetings today, but nothing of real interest. I found myself "elsewhere" a number of times during the day, and at least once was wishing that they would just get it over with and let me go. I could use the break.
A genial lunch at Stowe's, enjoying the weather and the sea air. Temperatures and humidity dropped again, so it was much cooler on the shore.
Home and not really feeling like doing anything - the atmosphere around work is really taking it out of me. I must find some way to deal with this. Soon.
A genial lunch at Stowe's, enjoying the weather and the sea air. Temperatures and humidity dropped again, so it was much cooler on the shore.
Home and not really feeling like doing anything - the atmosphere around work is really taking it out of me. I must find some way to deal with this. Soon.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
28 June 2007 (Thursday)
Rise later than normal, but normal morning routines. Spend the morning working on more financial numbers and getting a statement of work approved. Caught myself getting irritated at my manager, but took a step back and saw that I was being unreasonable - I had expected that he would have the time to have read through an e-mail thread. Resent the relevant information, and off we go. Other than that, a fairly mild day, and somewhat of a struggle to stay engaged. I'm feeling the pull away from here, and a part of me is hoping to be let go. I'm just not feeling as if I'm contributing anything valuable for the long-term.
A quick run out at lunch to purchase necessary gear for my basic rider's course. Relatively painless, with very knowledgeable and pleasant sales people.
-------------------------------------
BRC in the evening - a total of three hours covering written material, videos and motorcycle descriptions and functions. All very interesting, and quite frankly, a little intimidating. I've never ridden, so I'm intimidated by the physical coordination required. I thought about this a little on the way home and observed how I drove my car. The coordination involved here is different, but still challenging if you were new at it. So, I think I can handle this.
Home to dinner and the new Rush DVD Snakes and Arrows. Damn.
---------------------------------
Excellence is achieved by the mastery of fundamentals. - Vince Lombardi
A quick run out at lunch to purchase necessary gear for my basic rider's course. Relatively painless, with very knowledgeable and pleasant sales people.
-------------------------------------
BRC in the evening - a total of three hours covering written material, videos and motorcycle descriptions and functions. All very interesting, and quite frankly, a little intimidating. I've never ridden, so I'm intimidated by the physical coordination required. I thought about this a little on the way home and observed how I drove my car. The coordination involved here is different, but still challenging if you were new at it. So, I think I can handle this.
Home to dinner and the new Rush DVD Snakes and Arrows. Damn.
---------------------------------
Excellence is achieved by the mastery of fundamentals. - Vince Lombardi
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
27 June 2007 (Wednesday)
Rise at the normal hour and follow the morning routines. In to work at a normal hour, traffic allowing me to arrive sooner than usual. I think the 4th of July has arrived sooner for some people, and the normal early traffic is moderated now that school is out.
Only a couple meetings today, so I spend the morning on financial matters. Some things seem a bit off, but everything balances in the end. We are getting better at knowing how much things cost, and therefore how much we make. Basic and fundamental accounting things that have taken us five or six years to attain. I also get my team meetings scheduled for the next quarter - I have been moderating scheduling meetings, since my days here are numbered.
Some quick work on my collection of C Major Exercises in PowerTab. I'll be dumping them into MIDI form so I can burn them to an audio CD that I can listen to in the car. Two hours a day of vocal practice might give me a boost into the C Major circulation course. Also looking at available MIDIs of Bach pieces and importing them into PowerTab, with an eye toward arrangement. Some interesting things here, and the more I work on the C Major exercises away from the guitar, the easier it is becoming to visualize arrangements and fingerings for these pieces.
Heading into one customer meeting, I had some trepidation due to issues we've had with one peripheral system this month. Nothing mentioned at the meeting, which was a bit of a surprise. I managed to work myself up more than was necessary. Typical.
Home to a very warm and humid house, the air conditioners going at speed. I'm glad I took the time Monday night to get them in before the most serious heat hit. Takeout for dinner, a very tasty mahi-mahi for me, chicken and shrimp Alfredo for Lisa. Some plant shuffling on the deck.
--------------------------------
A little burst from me this evening about the plants. I was asked how the positioning of the new pots were; I answered honestly that I thought hey were too spread out, and needed to be closer together, to give more of an impression that they are part of a whole rather than four separate items. This was met with a description of what was wrong with the suggestion, in a manner that suggested that the mind was made up and the request for a suggestion was more of a courtesy. At least that was my impression - that I was being asked for input that would not be taken into account. This is something that really irks me; either take my suggestions into account (looking at the other areas where you yourself have already done the things I am suggesting), or just do what you want and let me know how it works out.
During recapitulation, I ask myself what this really means and what is it that I do that I'm seeing in others. I'm not sure yet, more observation is required.
Only a couple meetings today, so I spend the morning on financial matters. Some things seem a bit off, but everything balances in the end. We are getting better at knowing how much things cost, and therefore how much we make. Basic and fundamental accounting things that have taken us five or six years to attain. I also get my team meetings scheduled for the next quarter - I have been moderating scheduling meetings, since my days here are numbered.
Some quick work on my collection of C Major Exercises in PowerTab. I'll be dumping them into MIDI form so I can burn them to an audio CD that I can listen to in the car. Two hours a day of vocal practice might give me a boost into the C Major circulation course. Also looking at available MIDIs of Bach pieces and importing them into PowerTab, with an eye toward arrangement. Some interesting things here, and the more I work on the C Major exercises away from the guitar, the easier it is becoming to visualize arrangements and fingerings for these pieces.
Heading into one customer meeting, I had some trepidation due to issues we've had with one peripheral system this month. Nothing mentioned at the meeting, which was a bit of a surprise. I managed to work myself up more than was necessary. Typical.
Home to a very warm and humid house, the air conditioners going at speed. I'm glad I took the time Monday night to get them in before the most serious heat hit. Takeout for dinner, a very tasty mahi-mahi for me, chicken and shrimp Alfredo for Lisa. Some plant shuffling on the deck.
--------------------------------
A little burst from me this evening about the plants. I was asked how the positioning of the new pots were; I answered honestly that I thought hey were too spread out, and needed to be closer together, to give more of an impression that they are part of a whole rather than four separate items. This was met with a description of what was wrong with the suggestion, in a manner that suggested that the mind was made up and the request for a suggestion was more of a courtesy. At least that was my impression - that I was being asked for input that would not be taken into account. This is something that really irks me; either take my suggestions into account (looking at the other areas where you yourself have already done the things I am suggesting), or just do what you want and let me know how it works out.
During recapitulation, I ask myself what this really means and what is it that I do that I'm seeing in others. I'm not sure yet, more observation is required.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
19 June 2007 (Tuesday)
Rise at the usual time & complete the morning routines. I notice, while brushing my teeth, that they are in fact routines, and often there is little conscious thought or action happening. Time to look more closely at this.
In to work to a day that is blissfully free of meetings. I tackle some tasks that have been languishing for some time and complete them. One is completed just prior to an e-mail requesting that it be completed. Some impromptu talk with a colleague about the technical aspects of her project, and then off to address a related statement of work.
Lunch (chicken sandwich and fries) with a smaller group than normal today, but some lively discussion around movies and music. I notice one of the landscapers is wearing a shirt that says "Frankie Say Relax". Nobody was wearing a "Choose Life" shirt, so the Katharine Hamnett 80's flashback was incomplete. A missed cell phone call leaves a message asking me to apply for a second newly posted position with the director I interviewed with on Monday. Hope returns.
Send out my commitment to tithing. When I first read this in RF's diary a bell went off, immediately followed by a clamoring of voices wondering at practicality. I reread this again and saw something that clarified the commitment and there it was. So, I commit. Already, a jar is collecting.
Home and change so that I can begin dinner preparations. Some preparation takes longer than expected, so the chicken goes on to the rotisserie late. Things work out, as Lisa is touring the house and gardens with our guests and I prepare a grilled pepper, tomato and mozzarella appetizer. A good meal with good conversation.
Clean up after dinner and set the kitchen back in order, then collapse into bed.
In to work to a day that is blissfully free of meetings. I tackle some tasks that have been languishing for some time and complete them. One is completed just prior to an e-mail requesting that it be completed. Some impromptu talk with a colleague about the technical aspects of her project, and then off to address a related statement of work.
Lunch (chicken sandwich and fries) with a smaller group than normal today, but some lively discussion around movies and music. I notice one of the landscapers is wearing a shirt that says "Frankie Say Relax". Nobody was wearing a "Choose Life" shirt, so the Katharine Hamnett 80's flashback was incomplete. A missed cell phone call leaves a message asking me to apply for a second newly posted position with the director I interviewed with on Monday. Hope returns.
Send out my commitment to tithing. When I first read this in RF's diary a bell went off, immediately followed by a clamoring of voices wondering at practicality. I reread this again and saw something that clarified the commitment and there it was. So, I commit. Already, a jar is collecting.
Home and change so that I can begin dinner preparations. Some preparation takes longer than expected, so the chicken goes on to the rotisserie late. Things work out, as Lisa is touring the house and gardens with our guests and I prepare a grilled pepper, tomato and mozzarella appetizer. A good meal with good conversation.
Clean up after dinner and set the kitchen back in order, then collapse into bed.
Monday, June 18, 2007
18 June 2007 (Monday)
Rise earlier than normal today - I have meetings beginning at 8:00 AM, and I need to be in earlier to prepare. Though it is early, it is already in the 70's and a little humid. I suppose summer begins here.
Feel a little off in the morning - I think I may have gotten a bit dehydrated yesterday, and I'm feeling the effects today. Into the kitchen to refill my water glass several times this morning.
Meetings go well, though I've somehow aquired four new projects outside of my area. I thought this whole "being let go" thing meant less work, not more. Oh well, at least it's project management, and gives me something I can build on. I'll also be looking at different technologies and business activities, so I'll be able to expand my experience that way.
Lunch turns into an excursion to a beach-side eatery (Chick's) and sitting out in the sun, withthe wind coming off Long Island Sound. Marvellous and relaxing. The weather is perfect for this, and we chat about various work and non-work things. A call from the wife asking about actors and actresses in movies. Yes, it's Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing, and the monk (David Wenham) played Faramir in LotR, and was the only survivor in 300.
Afternoon interview with three directors for the senior project manager position. Good, but gruelling. I felt it went reasonably well, but I'm probably not qualified for thelevel of position they were interviewing for. I've been on the technical side for so long, and my position (well, until today) didn't really allow me to focus much on project management, and when I did, it wasn't on a very large scale. An e-mail from their company's HR system confirms that I am not one of the final candidates.
------------------------------
Driving home, I'm still feeling off, and a little dozy. Open the windows and let the wind feed me a little. Home, change and out to shop for tomorrow's dinner. By the time I get to the store, I am very hungry. End up getting a quick sugary snack, which helps in the short term, but I end up paying for later. Back home again, preparing brining for the chicken I will rotisserie, and then a dinner of leftover pork with calamata olives and corn. I note that I was still dozy, even after the sugary snack, but the protien really helped pick me up.
Call with Mom to confirm the weekend plans. Three days on the Cape! Hooray!
A bit of Blade, then to bed.
------------------------------
A noticing for the day: I continue to convince myself that things are harder than they actually are. The initial push into beginning something finds resistance. Once I've pushed through that, I'm good.
Feel a little off in the morning - I think I may have gotten a bit dehydrated yesterday, and I'm feeling the effects today. Into the kitchen to refill my water glass several times this morning.
Meetings go well, though I've somehow aquired four new projects outside of my area. I thought this whole "being let go" thing meant less work, not more. Oh well, at least it's project management, and gives me something I can build on. I'll also be looking at different technologies and business activities, so I'll be able to expand my experience that way.
Lunch turns into an excursion to a beach-side eatery (Chick's) and sitting out in the sun, withthe wind coming off Long Island Sound. Marvellous and relaxing. The weather is perfect for this, and we chat about various work and non-work things. A call from the wife asking about actors and actresses in movies. Yes, it's Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing, and the monk (David Wenham) played Faramir in LotR, and was the only survivor in 300.
Afternoon interview with three directors for the senior project manager position. Good, but gruelling. I felt it went reasonably well, but I'm probably not qualified for thelevel of position they were interviewing for. I've been on the technical side for so long, and my position (well, until today) didn't really allow me to focus much on project management, and when I did, it wasn't on a very large scale. An e-mail from their company's HR system confirms that I am not one of the final candidates.
------------------------------
Driving home, I'm still feeling off, and a little dozy. Open the windows and let the wind feed me a little. Home, change and out to shop for tomorrow's dinner. By the time I get to the store, I am very hungry. End up getting a quick sugary snack, which helps in the short term, but I end up paying for later. Back home again, preparing brining for the chicken I will rotisserie, and then a dinner of leftover pork with calamata olives and corn. I note that I was still dozy, even after the sugary snack, but the protien really helped pick me up.
Call with Mom to confirm the weekend plans. Three days on the Cape! Hooray!
A bit of Blade, then to bed.
------------------------------
A noticing for the day: I continue to convince myself that things are harder than they actually are. The initial push into beginning something finds resistance. Once I've pushed through that, I'm good.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
17 June 2007 (Sunday)
Rise at 8:00 and discuss the day with the wife. I make a run out to the Flea while she goes to the garden center. Flea markets fascinate me for two reasons: people and stuff. People watching moves to a different level at the FM, personalities, families, side conversations about all manner of things while haggling over items. The father shouting at his kids NOT TO TOUCH when, for an 8 year-old at the flea it's an impossibility. And the stuff! What seems to be the popular item that turns up at many of the vendors? Musical instruments and old golf clubs this week. Next week it will be different.
I did find some nice chisels for $6, and looked at, but passed on, a drill press for $25. It was a good manufacturer, but a little rough looking, and needed some work. I kept going past it, while the junk collector in me kept saying "but it's only $25!".
Home to some garden work, which doesn't last long once the sun and the heat really kick in. Spray seal the interior of a metal container so it can be used as a planter, and rearrange items on the deck. Out shopping for dinner while Lisa naps.
Opt not to rotisserie as Lisa is very hungry when she wakes, so grill instead. Dinner of pork loin in a pomegranite & chipotle marinade, with grilled red potatoes and vidalia onions, with corn.
Some fiddling on the computer, then upstairs for the Robot Chicken - Star Wars special, then sleep.
I did find some nice chisels for $6, and looked at, but passed on, a drill press for $25. It was a good manufacturer, but a little rough looking, and needed some work. I kept going past it, while the junk collector in me kept saying "but it's only $25!".
Home to some garden work, which doesn't last long once the sun and the heat really kick in. Spray seal the interior of a metal container so it can be used as a planter, and rearrange items on the deck. Out shopping for dinner while Lisa naps.
Opt not to rotisserie as Lisa is very hungry when she wakes, so grill instead. Dinner of pork loin in a pomegranite & chipotle marinade, with grilled red potatoes and vidalia onions, with corn.
Some fiddling on the computer, then upstairs for the Robot Chicken - Star Wars special, then sleep.
Friday, June 15, 2007
15 June 2007 (Friday)
Rise at the normal time but am delayed getting out of the house by some necessary cat duties. Still in to work at a reasonable hour, and able to prep for my 9:00 AM team meeting. This meeting is still a bit of a struggle, since I'm a remote manager. There is one team member, a good person, but I'm not clear on his capacity for independent action and for maintaining focus on a task. I've been after him for months to begin work to better monitor our systems, but there has always been "something" else that comes up which distracts him from the task. I just haven't found the way to get him there yet. Today I attempted a new tack: taking a small piece of the whole and making that a deliverable for next week. Perhaps by breaking this down into smaller pieces for him at the beginning, I get help him build up the required momentum to complete the task.
Some quick errands at lunch, then reluctantly back to the office to a meeting for the new panic project. It is beautiful out today, after several cool and overcast days. Basics laid out in preparation for the request, options proffered. The client sends an e-mail near the end of our meeting with an additional option which is quite good. I'm not above taking suggestions from the customer.
Afternoon interview, which ends up being a "preliminary" interview because one of the other interviewing directors is not available. A good phone call, and the person I talked to (who would be the hiring director, two levels above me) seemed to think I was suited for the position. Interestingly, he said that I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, even though I had only said a few words beyond "right", "I see" and "I agree" as he talked to me. We schedule a second call for Monday afternoon.
Home to install the rotisserie on the new grill and pack the fountain with Styrofoam to cut down on the hollow sound (which works well). Practice for about ninety minutes with ChrisP working on variations on C Major. Some good work, ending with some work on circulating the C Major Prelude from Book I of the WTC, with attention to the musicality.
Dinner with the wife, then final disassembly of the old workhorse of a grill, cleanup and into the house. Diary and then bed.
In reflecting on the past week, I notice I've been very distracted, and then I notice that I've maintained little contact with my body this week.
And an interesting side thought after reading David's journal: my first encounter with AT was through dressage. My wife and I rode for a few years when we first started dating, and we had several AT sessions with a gentleman out of Cambridge, MA that also worked with musicians. If you think watching the change in a person with hands-on AT work is amazing, you ought to see what a skilled teacher can do with a horse. Often, when I walk, I remember specific sessions of AT work from that time period, and it changes me.
Some quick errands at lunch, then reluctantly back to the office to a meeting for the new panic project. It is beautiful out today, after several cool and overcast days. Basics laid out in preparation for the request, options proffered. The client sends an e-mail near the end of our meeting with an additional option which is quite good. I'm not above taking suggestions from the customer.
Afternoon interview, which ends up being a "preliminary" interview because one of the other interviewing directors is not available. A good phone call, and the person I talked to (who would be the hiring director, two levels above me) seemed to think I was suited for the position. Interestingly, he said that I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, even though I had only said a few words beyond "right", "I see" and "I agree" as he talked to me. We schedule a second call for Monday afternoon.
Home to install the rotisserie on the new grill and pack the fountain with Styrofoam to cut down on the hollow sound (which works well). Practice for about ninety minutes with ChrisP working on variations on C Major. Some good work, ending with some work on circulating the C Major Prelude from Book I of the WTC, with attention to the musicality.
Dinner with the wife, then final disassembly of the old workhorse of a grill, cleanup and into the house. Diary and then bed.
In reflecting on the past week, I notice I've been very distracted, and then I notice that I've maintained little contact with my body this week.
And an interesting side thought after reading David's journal: my first encounter with AT was through dressage. My wife and I rode for a few years when we first started dating, and we had several AT sessions with a gentleman out of Cambridge, MA that also worked with musicians. If you think watching the change in a person with hands-on AT work is amazing, you ought to see what a skilled teacher can do with a horse. Often, when I walk, I remember specific sessions of AT work from that time period, and it changes me.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
14 June 2007 (Thursday)
Rest in peace Mr. Wizard (Don Herbert).
I never got to watch the original, but I did see the later stuff on Nickelodeon. I also knew a lot of people, many of them teachers, who were inspired by his work and in turn, inspired me. He was also born the same day I was.
----------------------------------------
Slightly more connected today, and a good thing, as a new, urgent, and likely impossible task has been set before my team. We are paying the tab for someone else's lack of planning. Being an IT person, this seems to be the norm and the expectation. The sad thing is that it does not have to be.
At some point, IT became a commodity, not just for the basic services, but for everything. From low-end repetetive activities, to the high-end analysis and custom application design, the business expectation is that this work can turn on a dime and cost as much. To make matters worse, the expectations are typically part of a reality that do not coincide with this world or any other I've experienced. A friend of mine once put it this way:
Imagine a scenario where you want someone to build a deck for you (no, not this deck):
[Picture of a deck of programming cards, from the dark ages of mainframe computing]
I mean the other kind of deck. The one made of wood that you have to paint.
So you want to build a deck. So you hire a contractor, and tell him “I want you to make me a deck. I want it made out of wood, and I want it to be nice. You can decide what color to paint it.” And that’s all you tell the contractor, and he goes off to work. A week later, he finishes the job, and you look at it, and decide “you know, I really don’t like this deck. The color is wrong, and it needs more benches. And I expect my changes done in 2 days at no additional cost to me”. And the contractor says, “Ok, but you never told me what color you wanted in the first place. What color do you want?” and you respond “Oh, I don’t know. I need to see it completely painted before I can decide which color is right”.
Sounds insane, right? This is the insanity of software development. I’m in this cycle right now, currently in it’s 4th iteration. And this customer, who is actually a pretty good customer, can’t seem to nail down exactly what they want, and it’s costing us a lot of time and money. They just want changes, and once the changes are complete and put into production, they’ll decide if they like it or not. And they think this is fine, and natural, and normal. This, of course, is not the first time this has happened in my career, this is just the most frustrating.I’m just glad I don’t have to build decks for these folks.
And, they don't want to pay you more than your original quote, even with all of the changes.
----------------------------------
Home and out to pick up a fountain for the deck. They were out of stock on what we wanted, so we got the floor model for 10% off. Poking at the local mallish place, too many little cool things at Williams Sonoma, all too expensive. Questionable dinner at Johnny Rockets (American Fries!), but a really good malted milkshake.
Home to set up the fountain. The splashing water inside sounds a bit hollow, so I'll dampen it with Styrofoam tomorrow. A little comupting, and then bed.
I never got to watch the original, but I did see the later stuff on Nickelodeon. I also knew a lot of people, many of them teachers, who were inspired by his work and in turn, inspired me. He was also born the same day I was.
----------------------------------------
Slightly more connected today, and a good thing, as a new, urgent, and likely impossible task has been set before my team. We are paying the tab for someone else's lack of planning. Being an IT person, this seems to be the norm and the expectation. The sad thing is that it does not have to be.
At some point, IT became a commodity, not just for the basic services, but for everything. From low-end repetetive activities, to the high-end analysis and custom application design, the business expectation is that this work can turn on a dime and cost as much. To make matters worse, the expectations are typically part of a reality that do not coincide with this world or any other I've experienced. A friend of mine once put it this way:
Imagine a scenario where you want someone to build a deck for you (no, not this deck):
[Picture of a deck of programming cards, from the dark ages of mainframe computing]
I mean the other kind of deck. The one made of wood that you have to paint.
So you want to build a deck. So you hire a contractor, and tell him “I want you to make me a deck. I want it made out of wood, and I want it to be nice. You can decide what color to paint it.” And that’s all you tell the contractor, and he goes off to work. A week later, he finishes the job, and you look at it, and decide “you know, I really don’t like this deck. The color is wrong, and it needs more benches. And I expect my changes done in 2 days at no additional cost to me”. And the contractor says, “Ok, but you never told me what color you wanted in the first place. What color do you want?” and you respond “Oh, I don’t know. I need to see it completely painted before I can decide which color is right”.
Sounds insane, right? This is the insanity of software development. I’m in this cycle right now, currently in it’s 4th iteration. And this customer, who is actually a pretty good customer, can’t seem to nail down exactly what they want, and it’s costing us a lot of time and money. They just want changes, and once the changes are complete and put into production, they’ll decide if they like it or not. And they think this is fine, and natural, and normal. This, of course, is not the first time this has happened in my career, this is just the most frustrating.I’m just glad I don’t have to build decks for these folks.
And, they don't want to pay you more than your original quote, even with all of the changes.
----------------------------------
Home and out to pick up a fountain for the deck. They were out of stock on what we wanted, so we got the floor model for 10% off. Poking at the local mallish place, too many little cool things at Williams Sonoma, all too expensive. Questionable dinner at Johnny Rockets (American Fries!), but a really good malted milkshake.
Home to set up the fountain. The splashing water inside sounds a bit hollow, so I'll dampen it with Styrofoam tomorrow. A little comupting, and then bed.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
13 June 2007 (Wednesday)
A rather scattered day, which seemed to correspond to the scattered sitting this morning. For most of the day, those of us on campus sat in anticipation of the announcement of who has purchased the site (Yale has been the primary name thrown around by the newspapers). In the end, Yale University is the buyer, and as would be expected, nothing changes for the immediate future.
What was most interesting to me, was how this whole announcement event (which occurred at 3:00 PM) pulled my attention away from anything else.
A call at the end of the day sets up a Friday interview at another company. Hope.
Home to a dozy wife, out to refill the fridge and prepare dinner. Made croutons, then grilled some pork and made salads. A little light reading and then to bed.
-----------------------------------
Reviewing my list of possible menu items for August I see that I like cucumbers.
What was most interesting to me, was how this whole announcement event (which occurred at 3:00 PM) pulled my attention away from anything else.
A call at the end of the day sets up a Friday interview at another company. Hope.
Home to a dozy wife, out to refill the fridge and prepare dinner. Made croutons, then grilled some pork and made salads. A little light reading and then to bed.
-----------------------------------
Reviewing my list of possible menu items for August I see that I like cucumbers.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
12 June 2007 (Tuesday)
Rumors, gossip, innuendo and hearsay greet my arrival at work this morning. There have been significant sprucing-up efforts happening on campus over the past two weeks (painting lines, badge readers, patching curbs, mulching, etc.) Today, many new hydrangeas and rose-of-sharons have appeared on site, and the landscape service is replacing some of the dying trees lining the main road in the campus. Today, an article in the local newspaper hinting at the purchase of the site by Yale University for use as a research extension. I wouldn't mind working for Yale...
The day carries on, and I attend a new meeting (to cover for the injured and vacationing). E-mails from Corporate Communications warn us that we shouldn't be talking to the news reporters parked outside the gates on the site. Comical.
Home from work to a new grill which needs to be assembled. Our current grill, now nearly fifteen years old has finally given up the ghost (the bottom dropped out, and there's really nothing I can fix). Considering how much we use the grill (year-round, really) this is always a good investment for us. And, I'm paying the same amount today for the new grill (with super-cool new features) as I did for the slightly smaller older grill. The new beast is well packed and mostly assembled when it arrives, and what remains to be assembled appears to have been designed by someone who actually has put one of these together. We had the grill unpacked, assembled and cooking dinner in about an hour.
The day carries on, and I attend a new meeting (to cover for the injured and vacationing). E-mails from Corporate Communications warn us that we shouldn't be talking to the news reporters parked outside the gates on the site. Comical.
Home from work to a new grill which needs to be assembled. Our current grill, now nearly fifteen years old has finally given up the ghost (the bottom dropped out, and there's really nothing I can fix). Considering how much we use the grill (year-round, really) this is always a good investment for us. And, I'm paying the same amount today for the new grill (with super-cool new features) as I did for the slightly smaller older grill. The new beast is well packed and mostly assembled when it arrives, and what remains to be assembled appears to have been designed by someone who actually has put one of these together. We had the grill unpacked, assembled and cooking dinner in about an hour.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
10 June 2007 (Sunday)
A return to the journal.
So, why am I here again?
Why do you wish to write and post your Journal?I will be the kitchen coordinator for the Special Circulation project in Royalston, MA this August. I wish to use this as an opportunity to observe and notice this process as it unfolds. I'd also like this to be a part of the public journals in order to increase the opportunities as I approach this role for the first time.
Date of beginning and completion
Begin: Sunday, June 10th, 2007
Complete: Saturday, September 1st, 2007
What is your Aim?
My Aim is to use the Journal as a tool to more directly experience the process of being the kitchen coordinator for a Guitar Craft course.
So, there you go.
-------------------------------
Leisurely rise today, after yesterday's long day (we volunteered at the CT Special Olympics at the Long Jump venue). Out to breakfast with our nephew at the Cosmic Omelette - our dining timing holds up for the weekend, and we get a seat before a large group arrives. Home to the deck and reading the Sunday paper, then some idle time as Lisa and Ian nap.
Leave for Boston at the usual time with ChrisP, and discuss some computer issues he's having as we drive. Arrive a bit early and meet Martin and do a bit of warm-up while waiting for Victor. The GCNE meets (I volunteered for minutes which I'll post on that site) and Chris and I head home.
Some interesting thoughts came to mind on the drive up that I had to jot down before we went in to the meeting. Most of these have to do with the nature of people and how we really want to belive things. It seems to me that if the presentation of a concept is at least internally consistent, and the basis contains an element of truth, we fill in the gaps and assume it's true. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; there are times we need to trust that an author/presenter does in fact know what they are saying or doing is true. Problems seem to arise when we completely stop questioning the information that we are given.
The power that this behavior grants some people is truly frightening.
So, why am I here again?
Why do you wish to write and post your Journal?I will be the kitchen coordinator for the Special Circulation project in Royalston, MA this August. I wish to use this as an opportunity to observe and notice this process as it unfolds. I'd also like this to be a part of the public journals in order to increase the opportunities as I approach this role for the first time.
Date of beginning and completion
Begin: Sunday, June 10th, 2007
Complete: Saturday, September 1st, 2007
What is your Aim?
My Aim is to use the Journal as a tool to more directly experience the process of being the kitchen coordinator for a Guitar Craft course.
So, there you go.
-------------------------------
Leisurely rise today, after yesterday's long day (we volunteered at the CT Special Olympics at the Long Jump venue). Out to breakfast with our nephew at the Cosmic Omelette - our dining timing holds up for the weekend, and we get a seat before a large group arrives. Home to the deck and reading the Sunday paper, then some idle time as Lisa and Ian nap.
Leave for Boston at the usual time with ChrisP, and discuss some computer issues he's having as we drive. Arrive a bit early and meet Martin and do a bit of warm-up while waiting for Victor. The GCNE meets (I volunteered for minutes which I'll post on that site) and Chris and I head home.
Some interesting thoughts came to mind on the drive up that I had to jot down before we went in to the meeting. Most of these have to do with the nature of people and how we really want to belive things. It seems to me that if the presentation of a concept is at least internally consistent, and the basis contains an element of truth, we fill in the gaps and assume it's true. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; there are times we need to trust that an author/presenter does in fact know what they are saying or doing is true. Problems seem to arise when we completely stop questioning the information that we are given.
The power that this behavior grants some people is truly frightening.
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