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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
