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.
Friday, August 31, 2007
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 360ยบ 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 360ยบ 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.
----------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------
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.
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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.
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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.
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