Well, let's get the big news out of the way first, we have joined the grandparents' club!
Rob and Amanda have a happy healthy son born in late May. Nathan Robert is (of
course) an extremely gifted child as well as remarkably handsome. We are so pleased that
he is a healthy and generally good-natured child…..a joy to have around, a joy which Sue
experiences every Friday when he visits for the day.
The cats, contrary to Grandma's joy on Nathan Fridays, find the child to be VERY
SCARY. There are two theories: 1) They are convinced he will immediately learn to run
and be chasing them at any second, or 2) They have extrasensorarily perceived that the
child has the ability to morph himself into a full sized rotweiller and will do so at any
second. The cats go to ground when the baby arrives in the same manner they do when
Rob brings his actual dog over.
Last year we announced our plans to rip out the old kitchen and rebuild it from the inside
out. New oak floors and baseboards, new red birch cabinets, fresh new paint, and
beautiful granite counters. We put up with the old one for a long time before we could see
clear to do this project. We are most pleased with the end results.
Jim & Sue took a week and travelled to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia this fall and we
had a ball. Williamsburg has a very large living history museum….took us three full days
to come anywhere close to having it covered. We took another day to see Jamestown,
where English settlement of North America began and yet another to see Yorktown,
where the Revolution ended. We sandwiched in a half-day canoe trip on the York River
estuary, which was beautiful, and got to experience effects of tides while paddling. There
was still more we did; suffice it to say we had a full week.
At the first of the year Laura, who still camps out at our place, was hired into the full-
time position of Assistant Production Manager with the Noble Fool Theatricals (for
which she had worked several show-to-show gigs the prior year.) She seems to have
settled in well. Often she works more or less regular-people hours, but then there are
times we won't see her for days on end….just depends on the particulars of the shows
that pass through her theaters. If you want more details, you'll have to ask her and she
can tell you herself.
Rob and Amanda are of course busy with being new parents. Both are working, so
Nathan goes to day care 4 days a week and to Grandma's on Fridays as mentioned
before. I haven't seen much of any new woodworking projects from Rob as he's lately
been tied up with a major project that a friend commissioned and which Rob had kept
putting off while preparing a furnished nursery.
Sue loves the Grandma business. It's a lot of fun to watch her with Nathan. I'm sure glad
garage sale season is over for this year as she has to stop and minutely examine anything
that looks like a good find for a baby boy. She still works her same library job full time,
but has a schedule that allows for Nathan Fridays.
While Rob continues to hang in at Sara Lee, Sara Lee and I had a parting of ways in
February. They have struggled greatly over the last couple of years, in fact I just read
today that they're closing yet another major plant at the end of the year. I was given a
very fair severance package and then was lucky enough to land new work even before the
severance benefits had run out…just 9 weeks from finish to start. I now work for Bay
Valley Foods (not a household name company, I know), a company that is profitable and
growing instead of losing money and shrinking. I like the job (mostly) and the people
(mostly). I have enough work to do without feeling like there's no end in sight, I'm good
at what I do and I'm appreciated for it. Bay Valley makes a lot of store-brand foods:
every thing from coffee creamers to canned soups to pickles to salad dressings. When
Keebler was acquired by Kellogg's a few years back, the former Keebler exec's got
together and made a new company. A nice place to work. I can run into the President of
the company in the hall, and he'll greet me by name. Pretty neat for a publicly traded
company with $1.5 billion in sales.
This Christmas we pray for peace. We pray for those who remain unemployed or
underemployed. We pray for those suffering illness. We pray for all our family and
friends.
God bless
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
A blessedly quiet Thanksgiving
We had a really nice day.
As things worked out, Rob, Amanda, and Nathan arrived about 6:00 p.m. That left us with a well-planned menu and lots of time to get it all put together. Everything was done and ready to serve except for the gravy failure. We just did without the gravy.
Rob brought his new camera.....and Ebay acquisition. Like me , he has tired of the short comings of the point and shoot digital cameras and sought to get a good SLR camera. Unlike me, he got serious and went after one. He found a used unit through the WWW that cost only and arm and not both an arm and leg. He tells me that's his Christmas present...Amanda's is a TV that hangs over the fireplace mantel.
Laura has no big news; at least none she's shared with her dad. She has given up two boyfriends in the last several months, but was spending time with the one before them again (I think; at least that's what I think I've pieced together.) Poor kid wasn't feeling good today (Friday). Sounds like the 24 hour crud I had not long ago...let's hope it's the 24 hour crud.
Nathan is getting big. I over heard Sue working on his Mom about setting a christening date....she has gotten a gown for him, but it will soon be too small. I didn't hear whether there was consensus for the date.
No big news from me. I have no idea what Sue wants or needs for Christmas. Maybe I'll do some online shopping when I finish up this note and find some inspiration.
As things worked out, Rob, Amanda, and Nathan arrived about 6:00 p.m. That left us with a well-planned menu and lots of time to get it all put together. Everything was done and ready to serve except for the gravy failure. We just did without the gravy.
Rob brought his new camera.....and Ebay acquisition. Like me , he has tired of the short comings of the point and shoot digital cameras and sought to get a good SLR camera. Unlike me, he got serious and went after one. He found a used unit through the WWW that cost only and arm and not both an arm and leg. He tells me that's his Christmas present...Amanda's is a TV that hangs over the fireplace mantel.
Laura has no big news; at least none she's shared with her dad. She has given up two boyfriends in the last several months, but was spending time with the one before them again (I think; at least that's what I think I've pieced together.) Poor kid wasn't feeling good today (Friday). Sounds like the 24 hour crud I had not long ago...let's hope it's the 24 hour crud.
Nathan is getting big. I over heard Sue working on his Mom about setting a christening date....she has gotten a gown for him, but it will soon be too small. I didn't hear whether there was consensus for the date.
No big news from me. I have no idea what Sue wants or needs for Christmas. Maybe I'll do some online shopping when I finish up this note and find some inspiration.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Work stuff today
Things are moving forward mostly, but a few setbacks that are frankly staggering.
Found a flaw in the way the new forecasting software is handling one scenario. Our software provider is in denial about the issue. We think they are violating a basic premise of the business they sold us to support. It will be interesting to watch this play out.
On the other hand, as a whole we are making progress and improvement. So, over all I'm pleased with where we are....but the software problem we found will not go away by itself, it will only compound with time.
Also at work, we will be installing SAP to run the business....a really big deal. Both my boss and his will be assigned to the project full time. I will be tapped to be a "subject matter expert" supporting the implementation while seeing that my every day duties are performed as well. This is a project that will take two years to complete and which will literally reshape how the entire company does business.....like I said, a really big deal.
In the more mundane vane, I need to schedule to use up 4.5 days of vacation before the end of the year. I've agreed to cover the week between Christmas and New Years when nearly everybody else will be gone. I'll probably work a series of 4-day weeks.
Found a flaw in the way the new forecasting software is handling one scenario. Our software provider is in denial about the issue. We think they are violating a basic premise of the business they sold us to support. It will be interesting to watch this play out.
On the other hand, as a whole we are making progress and improvement. So, over all I'm pleased with where we are....but the software problem we found will not go away by itself, it will only compound with time.
Also at work, we will be installing SAP to run the business....a really big deal. Both my boss and his will be assigned to the project full time. I will be tapped to be a "subject matter expert" supporting the implementation while seeing that my every day duties are performed as well. This is a project that will take two years to complete and which will literally reshape how the entire company does business.....like I said, a really big deal.
In the more mundane vane, I need to schedule to use up 4.5 days of vacation before the end of the year. I've agreed to cover the week between Christmas and New Years when nearly everybody else will be gone. I'll probably work a series of 4-day weeks.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Internet Phone
Well how 'bout that?!
Early results show that this technology is actually for real.
I have tried out Magic Jack with an extra phone we had laying around. It sends, receives, voice mail works, caller ID shows incoming phone #'s, etc. etc.
There was a tinny quality to the sound, but when I hooked up a better phone that went away. Cheap phone = crummy sound. Better phone = sounds just fine. Called a few long distance friends, enjoyed the visits and everybody heard everything just fine. No skips, jerks, pauses, stutters, echoes. Nothin' The only stuff to complain about at all went away when I removed the cheap phone.
Magic Jack will support 911 calls from home....that's part of the painless initial setup. Opening the package was harder than performing the installation. There's some advertising during the install process that's mildly annoying, but easy to ignore and get on with life.
In order to work, one needs high speed Internet (we already had that) a reasonably powerful PC that wasn't already maxed out on other stuff (already had that too). Therefore, why pay AT&T for service at $40 a month? Beats me.
Magic Jack will not work when the power is out; so a second phone source is a good thing (cell phones....we already have those too)
So, early results all positive.
Early results show that this technology is actually for real.
I have tried out Magic Jack with an extra phone we had laying around. It sends, receives, voice mail works, caller ID shows incoming phone #'s, etc. etc.
There was a tinny quality to the sound, but when I hooked up a better phone that went away. Cheap phone = crummy sound. Better phone = sounds just fine. Called a few long distance friends, enjoyed the visits and everybody heard everything just fine. No skips, jerks, pauses, stutters, echoes. Nothin' The only stuff to complain about at all went away when I removed the cheap phone.
Magic Jack will support 911 calls from home....that's part of the painless initial setup. Opening the package was harder than performing the installation. There's some advertising during the install process that's mildly annoying, but easy to ignore and get on with life.
In order to work, one needs high speed Internet (we already had that) a reasonably powerful PC that wasn't already maxed out on other stuff (already had that too). Therefore, why pay AT&T for service at $40 a month? Beats me.
Magic Jack will not work when the power is out; so a second phone source is a good thing (cell phones....we already have those too)
So, early results all positive.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Trying out an Internet phone
At the risk of promoting a product...
Giving a trial to Magic Jack. Tired of paying AT&T nearly $50 a month. It wouldn't be so bad if they gave you an honest rate, but they quote a rate and then tack on a gillion mysterious fees and taxes. I think it's bull.
So, gambled $40 on Magic Jack after doing research. If it's not what it's cracked up to be, we're not out much. If it's good, we can pocket cash we've been giving away.
Installation on our end is done very painlessly. I'm supposed to get an email within an hour from Magic Jack with a confirmation to get stuff working.
.....supposed to give us unlimited local and U.S. long distance. I invested $40 for the first year (hardware and service). $20 next year.
Will keep you posted.
Giving a trial to Magic Jack. Tired of paying AT&T nearly $50 a month. It wouldn't be so bad if they gave you an honest rate, but they quote a rate and then tack on a gillion mysterious fees and taxes. I think it's bull.
So, gambled $40 on Magic Jack after doing research. If it's not what it's cracked up to be, we're not out much. If it's good, we can pocket cash we've been giving away.
Installation on our end is done very painlessly. I'm supposed to get an email within an hour from Magic Jack with a confirmation to get stuff working.
.....supposed to give us unlimited local and U.S. long distance. I invested $40 for the first year (hardware and service). $20 next year.
Will keep you posted.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
At the risk of boring the world
I have to get something off my chest. I need to thank one of my high school teachers; one I didn't properly appreciate all those years ago.
I have hated studying mathematics since I was in 4th grade. That was when they came out with 'new math' and something about new math and I never ever clicked.
We would get reading assignments in math classes, and no matter how hard I tried I could never make any sense out of the text explanation of the math concepts. Didn't matter, grade school, high school, college...math text books might as well have been written in any number of foreign languages, but not English.
I hated math.
I had a little fun with geometry, shapes were cool. Trig, on the other hand was absolute nonsense.
In college, I passed two pre-calculus classes, another in "intuitive" calculus, and other mathematically oriented courses in statistical analysis (oh, I hated that one) , and chemistry, physics, even ecology classes that required strong mathematical skills.
Most of the credit for my surviving those belongs to a high school teacher of mine, Orville Keith Miller. OK or Keith Miller was someone I knew through the church where I grew up before I had him for class. Keith was not the most adept at social skills (sorry Keith) and that was apparent even to a high school junior.
Yet, he turned my life around, partly because he was direct, honest, caring, and forthright, if not polished and tactful.
When a junior at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs Iowa in 1970, OK was my algebra teacher. I was bright enough to slide by and was doing just that. One Sunday during coffee hour after church, OK said to my mother (her words to me, I don't know what Keith actually said), "It's a crying shame that Jim isn't as smart as your other boys."
Now, if you wanted to get my Mom riled, the best way was to criticize one of her cubs. But, this momma bear was bright enough to know that going directly into combat with the criticizer was not going to get anywhere. Rather, she sat me down, and said, "Are you going to let him get away with that?"
It's just occurred to me that those two, the teacher and the parent, may have cooked up a plot to get me to actually put forth some effort and learn. (Mom was a pretty good applied psychologist in her day.) One way or the other, whether by accident or whether in collusion with Mom, Keith Miller made me learn math whether I liked it or not.
I never have learned to like mathematical studies. But guess what I make my living doing?...working with numbers.
My job involves analyzing data about inventories, projecting inventory consumption, predicting how historic demand patterns will translate into future demands. My responsibilities dealing with math extend into the millions and billions of dollars.
So Mr. Miller, OK, Keith, I want to publicly thank you for the solid grounding I received. I was much too hard on you in my own mind all those years ago. You contributed dramatically to the success of my career.
I've tried finding Mr. Miller on line. He's long since deservedly retired from my alma mater, ALHS. Anybody who can get this post to him....I'd be grateful.
JRE
I have hated studying mathematics since I was in 4th grade. That was when they came out with 'new math' and something about new math and I never ever clicked.
We would get reading assignments in math classes, and no matter how hard I tried I could never make any sense out of the text explanation of the math concepts. Didn't matter, grade school, high school, college...math text books might as well have been written in any number of foreign languages, but not English.
I hated math.
I had a little fun with geometry, shapes were cool. Trig, on the other hand was absolute nonsense.
In college, I passed two pre-calculus classes, another in "intuitive" calculus, and other mathematically oriented courses in statistical analysis (oh, I hated that one) , and chemistry, physics, even ecology classes that required strong mathematical skills.
Most of the credit for my surviving those belongs to a high school teacher of mine, Orville Keith Miller. OK or Keith Miller was someone I knew through the church where I grew up before I had him for class. Keith was not the most adept at social skills (sorry Keith) and that was apparent even to a high school junior.
Yet, he turned my life around, partly because he was direct, honest, caring, and forthright, if not polished and tactful.
When a junior at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs Iowa in 1970, OK was my algebra teacher. I was bright enough to slide by and was doing just that. One Sunday during coffee hour after church, OK said to my mother (her words to me, I don't know what Keith actually said), "It's a crying shame that Jim isn't as smart as your other boys."
Now, if you wanted to get my Mom riled, the best way was to criticize one of her cubs. But, this momma bear was bright enough to know that going directly into combat with the criticizer was not going to get anywhere. Rather, she sat me down, and said, "Are you going to let him get away with that?"
It's just occurred to me that those two, the teacher and the parent, may have cooked up a plot to get me to actually put forth some effort and learn. (Mom was a pretty good applied psychologist in her day.) One way or the other, whether by accident or whether in collusion with Mom, Keith Miller made me learn math whether I liked it or not.
I never have learned to like mathematical studies. But guess what I make my living doing?...working with numbers.
My job involves analyzing data about inventories, projecting inventory consumption, predicting how historic demand patterns will translate into future demands. My responsibilities dealing with math extend into the millions and billions of dollars.
So Mr. Miller, OK, Keith, I want to publicly thank you for the solid grounding I received. I was much too hard on you in my own mind all those years ago. You contributed dramatically to the success of my career.
I've tried finding Mr. Miller on line. He's long since deservedly retired from my alma mater, ALHS. Anybody who can get this post to him....I'd be grateful.
JRE
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Time for Christmas shopping
Guess what time it is?!
At least it's a Friday night this time.
Before starting this note, I took advantage of the quiet to begin Christmas shopping. Bought a few things online but not via Amazon so far. Some years I've accomplished all shopping via Amazon.
I bought Sue a new laptop for Halloween. Spent less than $400 and it's an awesome machine! It's up and working as our Den system now, but have to put a bunch of our software on it tomorrow. The old Den desktop system was getting too slow for every day use, but we've kept it around as a file server for the home network. The new machine has Windows 7; looks different from XP, but sure was a dream when I went to connect the new box to the network...easiest network install I've ever experienced.
Soggy, gray fall here. Among the wettest Octobers on record for Chicagoland. Also among the coolest. I sure hope this isn't a sign for winter/snow ahead.
At least it's a Friday night this time.
Before starting this note, I took advantage of the quiet to begin Christmas shopping. Bought a few things online but not via Amazon so far. Some years I've accomplished all shopping via Amazon.
I bought Sue a new laptop for Halloween. Spent less than $400 and it's an awesome machine! It's up and working as our Den system now, but have to put a bunch of our software on it tomorrow. The old Den desktop system was getting too slow for every day use, but we've kept it around as a file server for the home network. The new machine has Windows 7; looks different from XP, but sure was a dream when I went to connect the new box to the network...easiest network install I've ever experienced.
Soggy, gray fall here. Among the wettest Octobers on record for Chicagoland. Also among the coolest. I sure hope this isn't a sign for winter/snow ahead.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Stupid being up on a "school night". I usually do this insomnia thing on a Friday.
1) Having a good time at work. New software is working. Now trying to slowly but surely bend the culture to support better forecasting methods that the software supports.
2) Family is all good, even if details could be better. Rob is not in a 'perfect' job. He's been put on a second shift position. Laura is doing well professionally and is working toward a new boyfriend. Sue's co-workers include many too sick to work right now, and the same with me. Don't know if it's really H1N1 but just know there's stuff going around and it looks to be a long winter. Nobody among us Eilers on sick call for the moment.
3) Doing battle with my company proscribed long-term maintenance drug provider. They goofed and sent the wrong stuff rather than calling when they had a vague instruction in a prescription. So, they've billed for and have been paid for the wrong stuff and want to be billed and paid again when a more precise prescription is sent for the right stuff......we'll see who wins this. Want to bet? I can be pretty tenacious. Remember, I specialize in getting the right material to the right place at the right time.
4) Still warm and fuzzy from our vacation. Had a ball (if you couldn't tell) and have come home relaxed and worked the last week and a half with the benefit of the refreshment.
So, except for some relatively minor windmill tilting, stuff is good here.
If you haven't checked in for awhile, be sure to keep reading in the blog (Facebookers, that's http://jimeilers.blogspot.com/ ) There is a selected set of pictures from the vacation trip posted last week. Just a few of many, many now in our archives here.
JRE
1) Having a good time at work. New software is working. Now trying to slowly but surely bend the culture to support better forecasting methods that the software supports.
2) Family is all good, even if details could be better. Rob is not in a 'perfect' job. He's been put on a second shift position. Laura is doing well professionally and is working toward a new boyfriend. Sue's co-workers include many too sick to work right now, and the same with me. Don't know if it's really H1N1 but just know there's stuff going around and it looks to be a long winter. Nobody among us Eilers on sick call for the moment.
3) Doing battle with my company proscribed long-term maintenance drug provider. They goofed and sent the wrong stuff rather than calling when they had a vague instruction in a prescription. So, they've billed for and have been paid for the wrong stuff and want to be billed and paid again when a more precise prescription is sent for the right stuff......we'll see who wins this. Want to bet? I can be pretty tenacious. Remember, I specialize in getting the right material to the right place at the right time.
4) Still warm and fuzzy from our vacation. Had a ball (if you couldn't tell) and have come home relaxed and worked the last week and a half with the benefit of the refreshment.
So, except for some relatively minor windmill tilting, stuff is good here.
If you haven't checked in for awhile, be sure to keep reading in the blog (Facebookers, that's http://jimeilers.blogspot.com/ ) There is a selected set of pictures from the vacation trip posted last week. Just a few of many, many now in our archives here.
JRE
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Pictures from vacation
Lots and lots of pictures from Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown. Here's a sampling.
Many historic buildings, people, craftsmen, and some time for nature too.
The silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg
A couple of law breakers suffering their punishment
We were lucky enough to see General Washington at Williamsburg
A regiment was drilling while we were there as well
These buildings are at Jamestown, reproductions of buildings dating from the 17th century
This home dates from the time of the American Revolution when Williamsburg was the capitol of Virginia.
A kitchen from the late 18th century on an early plantation. In Virginia, kitchens were commonly a seperate building from living quarters.
A representation of a Powhatan village at Jamestown. I always thought Powhatan was Pocahontas' dad....he was. The title Powhatan was the big chief, but it was also the name of the people he ruled.
Ships moored at Jamestown' on the James River some 50 miles inland from Chesapeake Bay
The chamber were the House of Burgesses met in Williamsburg. It was here that Richard Henry Lee introduced the resolution for independency that was unanimously adopted.
Our trip was mostly about history, but you know us....we have to get our nature fix as well.
Look closely at the base of the grass plants. There are a gillion mussels there. We canoed in the York River estuary at low tide.
These fiddler crabs are about two inches long. They were everywhere at low tide.
The York River estuary inland from Chesapeake Bay.
Shoreline along the York River
Many historic buildings, people, craftsmen, and some time for nature too.
The silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg
A couple of law breakers suffering their punishment
We were lucky enough to see General Washington at Williamsburg
A regiment was drilling while we were there as well
These buildings are at Jamestown, reproductions of buildings dating from the 17th century
This home dates from the time of the American Revolution when Williamsburg was the capitol of Virginia.
A kitchen from the late 18th century on an early plantation. In Virginia, kitchens were commonly a seperate building from living quarters.
A representation of a Powhatan village at Jamestown. I always thought Powhatan was Pocahontas' dad....he was. The title Powhatan was the big chief, but it was also the name of the people he ruled.
Ships moored at Jamestown' on the James River some 50 miles inland from Chesapeake Bay
The chamber were the House of Burgesses met in Williamsburg. It was here that Richard Henry Lee introduced the resolution for independency that was unanimously adopted.
Our trip was mostly about history, but you know us....we have to get our nature fix as well.
Look closely at the base of the grass plants. There are a gillion mussels there. We canoed in the York River estuary at low tide.
These fiddler crabs are about two inches long. They were everywhere at low tide.
The York River estuary inland from Chesapeake Bay.
Shoreline along the York River
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Ahhh vacation #2
Here's a short installment. Here is Sue, the Captain of the Canoe on the York River estuary above it's entry into the Chesapeake.
We're having a ball.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Ahhhhh.......vacation
Ready to go play tourist. Feels great to relax and know that I don't have to report for duty for a whole, blessed week.
Sue is mostly packed. I have the camera/computer bag organized, but have yet to start putting my clothes together. Still winding down from work.
Everybody we know who has been to Williamsburg has told us they really enjoyed it. I promise pictures, but not so many as to be tiresome.
Sue is mostly packed. I have the camera/computer bag organized, but have yet to start putting my clothes together. Still winding down from work.
Everybody we know who has been to Williamsburg has told us they really enjoyed it. I promise pictures, but not so many as to be tiresome.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Seems to be a pattern here
So, it's 4 a.m. on a Friday night/Saturday morning and here I am again.
Kind of a fun evening last night. I got home from work to find Sue playing with Nathan ( no surprise there as Friday is sitting for the grandson day). Then not long after Laura's boyfriend Kip came around, then after that Amanda (Nathan's mom) came by, then Sue was feeding everybody, then eventually Laura came home from work too. Nothing in all that activity that's a bit remarkable, and that's just the way I like it. Family activity of the normal sort. Couldn't have scripted it better.
A week from now Sue and I will be getting up (well, maybe not quite this early) and leaving for the airport to fly to Virginia for vacation. Looking forward to the trip.
Things at work are changing. New roles for people. Not all sorted out yet, but fresh opportunities on the horizon.....not bad changes, just new roles and responsibilities.
The fox was back Wednesday evening. Sue and Laura haven't seen him in the flesh yet, so they're jealous. The cats spotted a critter sometime after dark and we thought it might have been the fox, but when we turned on the back yard lights we found it to be a skunk instead. Ah, quality critters here!
Kind of a fun evening last night. I got home from work to find Sue playing with Nathan ( no surprise there as Friday is sitting for the grandson day). Then not long after Laura's boyfriend Kip came around, then after that Amanda (Nathan's mom) came by, then Sue was feeding everybody, then eventually Laura came home from work too. Nothing in all that activity that's a bit remarkable, and that's just the way I like it. Family activity of the normal sort. Couldn't have scripted it better.
A week from now Sue and I will be getting up (well, maybe not quite this early) and leaving for the airport to fly to Virginia for vacation. Looking forward to the trip.
Things at work are changing. New roles for people. Not all sorted out yet, but fresh opportunities on the horizon.....not bad changes, just new roles and responsibilities.
The fox was back Wednesday evening. Sue and Laura haven't seen him in the flesh yet, so they're jealous. The cats spotted a critter sometime after dark and we thought it might have been the fox, but when we turned on the back yard lights we found it to be a skunk instead. Ah, quality critters here!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
I love being a biologist!
I love biology. I always have.
I haven't made my living practicing biology in years. When I did, it was in a manner completely outside the areas I thought I would practice ( I practiced Quality Assurance in food manufacturing, lots of chemistry and microbiology). I studied biology for the love of critters.
Even here is suburban Chicago, we get neat critters. This afternoon, I was vegging in my chair when a neat critter went waltzing past my patio door. This fox hung out in our back yard for hours today. Pretty cool.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Looking forward to vacation
Another middle-of-the-night, Friday night, post.
Fell asleep in my chair before midnight and woke up here a few minutes back. Need to decide whether to crawl up to bed, or just stay put when I finish this. Decisions, decisions.
Sue and I are taking a trip in a month. I bought plane tickets, reserved hotel and rental car. We're headed for Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and places in the vicinity. We'll fly into Richmond on Sat. Oct 10 and see some of the Confederate sights there that day before driving to our Williamsburg hotel where we will HQ for the rest of the week. We're planning a couple of days for Williamsburg itself and time at Jamestown which is very near. We'll take a day to canoe some body of water in the area (canoing is a vacation requirement for Sue) and play a couple of remaining days by ear. That part of the world has far more sights than we could ever do in six days. On the list but not formally planned are suppers including lots of seafood while we're so near the coast, and for that matter, some time on the coast itself as well. I will take lots of pictures to share.
Things at the office seem to be turning toward some kind of routine finally. We spent the whole week actually performing planning duties (that for which we get paid) rather that fixing the planning systems. That's a good indicator that all the pain we've been experiencing is beginning to pay off....about time.
Nathan, our grandson, continues to thrive. He's handsome and brilliant, of course.
Cheers
Fell asleep in my chair before midnight and woke up here a few minutes back. Need to decide whether to crawl up to bed, or just stay put when I finish this. Decisions, decisions.
Sue and I are taking a trip in a month. I bought plane tickets, reserved hotel and rental car. We're headed for Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and places in the vicinity. We'll fly into Richmond on Sat. Oct 10 and see some of the Confederate sights there that day before driving to our Williamsburg hotel where we will HQ for the rest of the week. We're planning a couple of days for Williamsburg itself and time at Jamestown which is very near. We'll take a day to canoe some body of water in the area (canoing is a vacation requirement for Sue) and play a couple of remaining days by ear. That part of the world has far more sights than we could ever do in six days. On the list but not formally planned are suppers including lots of seafood while we're so near the coast, and for that matter, some time on the coast itself as well. I will take lots of pictures to share.
Things at the office seem to be turning toward some kind of routine finally. We spent the whole week actually performing planning duties (that for which we get paid) rather that fixing the planning systems. That's a good indicator that all the pain we've been experiencing is beginning to pay off....about time.
Nathan, our grandson, continues to thrive. He's handsome and brilliant, of course.
Cheers
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Half a weekend
It was a long, long week. Stuff at work was an uphill battle every day. Finally, after a full day Saturday, I felt like we'd begun to pull ahead. Following that, we congregated at the boss' house for beers, pizza and fellowship. Sue got to meet folks for the first time. It was a nice evening.
There hasn't been a lot of time for activities other than work lately. Hopefully, that will change now that we've slain a few dragons. Sue, Laura, and I will be attending the wedding of a young woman from our church next weekend. I have started a stool from cherry, but will have to work evenings this week to be finished on time.
It seems like there should be a million things to say, but I'm tired and the wisdom just won't make it's way to the keyboard this evening....perhaps another evening.
J
There hasn't been a lot of time for activities other than work lately. Hopefully, that will change now that we've slain a few dragons. Sue, Laura, and I will be attending the wedding of a young woman from our church next weekend. I have started a stool from cherry, but will have to work evenings this week to be finished on time.
It seems like there should be a million things to say, but I'm tired and the wisdom just won't make it's way to the keyboard this evening....perhaps another evening.
J
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Happens every time
Forgive me if I talk about work stuff this time a bit more than I like. We all spend a huge amount of time on our work, and it shapes who we are.
A few months back I was hired by a new company to help them put in a new system and to make it run in their day-to-day business in a manner that would improve the overall performance of the company. I've done this kind of thing before, so it was no surprise to me that we reached a point where the general attitude was, "OMG! What have we done?!"
This is actually perfectly normal....happens every time a new system is installed. Even knowing it's normal, though, it's still a huge bunch of work to get past the OMG phase. I think we've turned the corner. After working screwy hours and weekends, I'm actually going to take a day off (if nothing breaks) this week. Still stuff to fix, but becoming confident that when I fix it, it will stay fixed and I won't have to go back and re-fix it. We can now quit worrying about "does it work" and begin the work of convincing everyone else that "it is working".
Life at home is all good and normal. Both kids are self-supporting but still keep us included in their lives. Rob has new professional challenges but will survive and perhaps even prosper. Laura's work is good, and she even has a boyfriend. Sue is happily adapting to the role of Grandmother. I pretend that being a Grandfather hasn't phased me, but it sure is fun to play with the little scutter when I do get the chance.
So, I should end yet another insomniac entry. I have things to accomplish tomorrow so I'll be able to take Friday off.
A few months back I was hired by a new company to help them put in a new system and to make it run in their day-to-day business in a manner that would improve the overall performance of the company. I've done this kind of thing before, so it was no surprise to me that we reached a point where the general attitude was, "OMG! What have we done?!"
This is actually perfectly normal....happens every time a new system is installed. Even knowing it's normal, though, it's still a huge bunch of work to get past the OMG phase. I think we've turned the corner. After working screwy hours and weekends, I'm actually going to take a day off (if nothing breaks) this week. Still stuff to fix, but becoming confident that when I fix it, it will stay fixed and I won't have to go back and re-fix it. We can now quit worrying about "does it work" and begin the work of convincing everyone else that "it is working".
Life at home is all good and normal. Both kids are self-supporting but still keep us included in their lives. Rob has new professional challenges but will survive and perhaps even prosper. Laura's work is good, and she even has a boyfriend. Sue is happily adapting to the role of Grandmother. I pretend that being a Grandfather hasn't phased me, but it sure is fun to play with the little scutter when I do get the chance.
So, I should end yet another insomniac entry. I have things to accomplish tomorrow so I'll be able to take Friday off.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Just me and the cats
It's a nocturnal moment. Nobody stirring except me and the cats, and they aren't moving too fast. Fell asleep in my chair after a very long day at the end of a hard week. Woke with the need to go to the bathroom and then not ready to go back to sleep.
Amanda has started back to work this week. Sue will be watching Nathan on Fridays, when she has her regular weekly day off. Yesterday was his first day here, but I didn't get to see him since I left for work before he arrived and didn't get home until he was gone again.
It's supposed to be like August here this weekend..hot and humid. There have been only 3 days that hit 90 so far this summer, so we really can't kick.
Work has been a bit draining lately. As happens with system implementations, we've reached that point where's there's no return and our reaction is, "OMG! What have we done?!!!" We had an all day meeting with the software vendor and our key staff this Thursday and hammered out solutions for show stoppers. We'll get through this and be better for it, but I'm surely getting too old for this stuff. At least the long day Friday will mean I don't need to spend most of the weekend working.
We will be having contractors back at the house soon. The carpenters will be back to install venting for the kitchen vent fan (they couldn't go through the roof when there was snow on it). Then we will call the floor guy back in to have him refinish the back half of the house.
Sue and I will be taking vacation in October. The current plan is to go see Colonial Williamsburg. Plans are in the very early stages; no specifics just yet. We've thought about driving since we haven't seen much of the eastern part of the U.S. But, since it's a 14-hour drive each way, we also think it might be kind of dumb to take 4 days of seven just getting to and from our destination.
Amanda has started back to work this week. Sue will be watching Nathan on Fridays, when she has her regular weekly day off. Yesterday was his first day here, but I didn't get to see him since I left for work before he arrived and didn't get home until he was gone again.
It's supposed to be like August here this weekend..hot and humid. There have been only 3 days that hit 90 so far this summer, so we really can't kick.
Work has been a bit draining lately. As happens with system implementations, we've reached that point where's there's no return and our reaction is, "OMG! What have we done?!!!" We had an all day meeting with the software vendor and our key staff this Thursday and hammered out solutions for show stoppers. We'll get through this and be better for it, but I'm surely getting too old for this stuff. At least the long day Friday will mean I don't need to spend most of the weekend working.
We will be having contractors back at the house soon. The carpenters will be back to install venting for the kitchen vent fan (they couldn't go through the roof when there was snow on it). Then we will call the floor guy back in to have him refinish the back half of the house.
Sue and I will be taking vacation in October. The current plan is to go see Colonial Williamsburg. Plans are in the very early stages; no specifics just yet. We've thought about driving since we haven't seen much of the eastern part of the U.S. But, since it's a 14-hour drive each way, we also think it might be kind of dumb to take 4 days of seven just getting to and from our destination.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
So, survived the work marathon
Still kinks (some pretty big kinks) to work out in the new systems at the office, but we lived through it. Many, many parts are going better than expected and that helps offset some of the worries that remain. All-in-all, I'm still most pleased to be associated with Bay Valley Foods.
Grandson Nathan was over this weekend after not having seen him for two weeks. Know what? Two weeks in the life of a 7-week-old represents big steps forward. Nathan remains remarkably handsome, however, and his genius seems to expand every time we see him.
I chatted with some old friends tonight. One is a former co-worker who keeps being paid but is currently uninspired. She knows that she needs to make some kind of move to take care of that, but things aren't quite bad enough to force the move in the current job market.
Another was a friend/mentor/job coach who lost a job and then was diagnosed with terminal cancer. First despair, then he's on top of the world because he quit worrying about work, went 'home' to be with family, and then has found experimental treatment that gives him all the hope in the world. His faith in God has bloomed and he's happier than he's been in years, if ever before.
My niece and nephew, Rebecca and Aaron are on RAGBRAI, the great bike ride across Iowa, this week. Both are enjoying the trip for its own merits, I'm sure, but also remembering their father who did this ride many, many times. Both are sending trip updates via the Internet using different methods. I'm enjoying my vicarious involvement thanks to their posts.
It's certainly been a mild summer here. Bills for the A/C are nonexistant so far, and still warm enough to be comfortable. There are some who wish it would be hotter, but I'm not kicking.
Grandson Nathan was over this weekend after not having seen him for two weeks. Know what? Two weeks in the life of a 7-week-old represents big steps forward. Nathan remains remarkably handsome, however, and his genius seems to expand every time we see him.
I chatted with some old friends tonight. One is a former co-worker who keeps being paid but is currently uninspired. She knows that she needs to make some kind of move to take care of that, but things aren't quite bad enough to force the move in the current job market.
Another was a friend/mentor/job coach who lost a job and then was diagnosed with terminal cancer. First despair, then he's on top of the world because he quit worrying about work, went 'home' to be with family, and then has found experimental treatment that gives him all the hope in the world. His faith in God has bloomed and he's happier than he's been in years, if ever before.
My niece and nephew, Rebecca and Aaron are on RAGBRAI, the great bike ride across Iowa, this week. Both are enjoying the trip for its own merits, I'm sure, but also remembering their father who did this ride many, many times. Both are sending trip updates via the Internet using different methods. I'm enjoying my vicarious involvement thanks to their posts.
It's certainly been a mild summer here. Bills for the A/C are nonexistant so far, and still warm enough to be comfortable. There are some who wish it would be hotter, but I'm not kicking.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I'm too old for this
That big project at work caused me to work all weekend and made me absolutely exhausted. Fortunately, we seem to have accomplished what we set out to do, so I've earned the wages they've been paying me. There are still kinks to work out -- but if this stuff was an automatic slam-dunk, then why would they have to pay me?
Grandson is good. Think he's showing signs of genius (at six weeks).
Grandson's parents are good. So is Aunt Laura.
We enjoyed guests, but they were gone too soon.
Woodwork has progressed but there's more to go.
Later this week, I will be having one of those crummy medical procedures us middle-aged types need to do periodically in order to prevent bigger troubles. Not fun, but 5 years ago the same procedure detected and removed pre-cancerous growths....so some discomfort is traded for longer healthy years.
After 11:00 and I'm about to fall asleep.....guess that's a sign I should sign off.
J
Grandson is good. Think he's showing signs of genius (at six weeks).
Grandson's parents are good. So is Aunt Laura.
We enjoyed guests, but they were gone too soon.
Woodwork has progressed but there's more to go.
Later this week, I will be having one of those crummy medical procedures us middle-aged types need to do periodically in order to prevent bigger troubles. Not fun, but 5 years ago the same procedure detected and removed pre-cancerous growths....so some discomfort is traded for longer healthy years.
After 11:00 and I'm about to fall asleep.....guess that's a sign I should sign off.
J
Friday, June 26, 2009
Busy, but good times coming
It should be a busy weekend. We will have guests next weekend, so house-cleaning is on the list of things to do.
Carpentry is on the list as well. When we re-did the kitchen we had the oak floors in the front of the house refinished as well. There are new baseboards to be installed to finish up that work. We have bought the lumber and pre-finished it. Now it's ready to be installed.
Grandparenthood hasn't been a tough adjustment so far. Sue has spent a small amount of time helping out, and perhaps Amanda's mom has been over, but I get the sense that new parents and child are beginning to adapt to each other pretty well. All were over here for a little while on Father's Day. Nathan slept most of the time, but Sue and Laura disturbed him for a short time of that.
Wednesday of this week was the day that we share with Rob...he turned 28 and we celebrated our 31st anniversary. A dinner out on Sunday evening for the whole mob is planned.
There was a get-together recently of folks from my past job. I'm so glad to be away. There's a lot of uncertainty and worry among those still there. The future is very much unknown. There's a lot of fear. It was a bittersweet evening. I enjoyed seeing old friends, but then felt bad that I couldn't just make everything all better for them. I also suffered a bit from survivors remorse. I have landed in a fun and satisfying position without suffering greatly in any substantive way. Things were uncertain for us too, but only for a very short time.
The new gig is going really well. We are making a lot of progress putting in the new system for forecasting. We conducted training for a bunch of folks this week, and while there was at least one dissenter, I expected many more. Overall, the response was really positive. I have huge amounts of things to learn about this business, but I am now a qualified super-user in the new system. Many nuances to learn, but I am growing more and more comfortable with the tool set.
This is powerful stuff and we'll be able to advance the business significantly.
That all said, I've begun to carve out my niche in the new job and I'm beginning to develop my own reputation and credibility. My boss, his boss, and our whole team are learning that they can count on me and that the decision to bring me aboard was a good one. These are solid hard-working folks who also respect that family and balance of life outside work are truly important. The VP of our division called me into a discussion that kept me around for an hour and a half longer than I desired on one Friday afternoon when we had some issues that needed resolving. She's also kicked me out of the office at 2:30 three Fridays that I can recall.
Carpentry is on the list as well. When we re-did the kitchen we had the oak floors in the front of the house refinished as well. There are new baseboards to be installed to finish up that work. We have bought the lumber and pre-finished it. Now it's ready to be installed.
Grandparenthood hasn't been a tough adjustment so far. Sue has spent a small amount of time helping out, and perhaps Amanda's mom has been over, but I get the sense that new parents and child are beginning to adapt to each other pretty well. All were over here for a little while on Father's Day. Nathan slept most of the time, but Sue and Laura disturbed him for a short time of that.
Wednesday of this week was the day that we share with Rob...he turned 28 and we celebrated our 31st anniversary. A dinner out on Sunday evening for the whole mob is planned.
There was a get-together recently of folks from my past job. I'm so glad to be away. There's a lot of uncertainty and worry among those still there. The future is very much unknown. There's a lot of fear. It was a bittersweet evening. I enjoyed seeing old friends, but then felt bad that I couldn't just make everything all better for them. I also suffered a bit from survivors remorse. I have landed in a fun and satisfying position without suffering greatly in any substantive way. Things were uncertain for us too, but only for a very short time.
The new gig is going really well. We are making a lot of progress putting in the new system for forecasting. We conducted training for a bunch of folks this week, and while there was at least one dissenter, I expected many more. Overall, the response was really positive. I have huge amounts of things to learn about this business, but I am now a qualified super-user in the new system. Many nuances to learn, but I am growing more and more comfortable with the tool set.
This is powerful stuff and we'll be able to advance the business significantly.
That all said, I've begun to carve out my niche in the new job and I'm beginning to develop my own reputation and credibility. My boss, his boss, and our whole team are learning that they can count on me and that the decision to bring me aboard was a good one. These are solid hard-working folks who also respect that family and balance of life outside work are truly important. The VP of our division called me into a discussion that kept me around for an hour and a half longer than I desired on one Friday afternoon when we had some issues that needed resolving. She's also kicked me out of the office at 2:30 three Fridays that I can recall.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Having another stupid insomniac experience
Here I am awake at midnight with a very full day behind me and another in front of me. All reason says I should be in bed sawing logs, but my head is still in being vertical mode.
New job is good. Lots of stuff to sink my teeth into, and these folks really have a need for the kind of skills I have. We are chest deep into bringing up new software to forecast the business. Supposed to be live in a couple weeks, but some humps to get over that may push that back a month. I'm frustrated that I still don't have intimate knowledge of the business, but then it's not realistic of me to expect in depth knowledge after just 5 weeks with the company.....nobody there is frustrated with my newness, so why should I be?
Rob and Amanda are turning into fine parents. It's very gratifying to see your son become an honest-to-goodness sensible, reasoning, caring adult after all the crud the kid went through during adolescence. Amanda and Nathan are still trying to work out a decent wake/sleep cycle, and I suspect Amanda is having some trouble adjusting to just having the dog and baby for company all day when she's been used to working with people who can carry on conversations. Still, the kids seem to be happy in their new roles as parents, even for all the adjustments that come with the package.
I've been remembering family stories a lot the last few days (with Edna's funeral tomorrow and all). When Mom was failing a couple years back, two of Edna's daughters brought her up to visit Mom at the same time we were there. Edna told me a story about my Dad that had been a secret for umpteen decades. Back in the days when I first started smoking (and actually admitted it to my folks) Dad would caution me about smoking in bed over and over again. I never knew why the obsession until Edna told me that she had come home from work one afternoon to find that Dad had laid down in his bed and lit a cigarette and proceeded to doze off. He burned a hole in the mattress which was smoldering when Edna arrived and she doused it with a glass of water, then patched up the mattress for him and neither let on to their parents who would have given Dad a real licking for nearly killing himself, burning down the house, etc., etc. Edna said she came home to find a new sweater lying on her bed one day soon after.
We're supposed to get some actual summer weather tomorrow.....about time. We've had the heat on so far in June, but not run the AC since last year. Weather here has be like early May for weeks and weeks. Cool and rain, rain, rain. It has only reached 80 degrees twice this year...today was the second time. It's been hotter in the Twin Cities than it's been here in Chicagoland.
Don't know the details yet, but we're expecting company here the 4th of July weekend. Meg, Jon and son Eli are coming along with Meg's cousin Rebecca. (Meg and Rebecca are daughters of two of my brothers). Looking forward to the visit. I tease them that they plotted a visit last summer that never came to pass, but this year there's a new 'cousin' named Nathan to come see.
New job is good. Lots of stuff to sink my teeth into, and these folks really have a need for the kind of skills I have. We are chest deep into bringing up new software to forecast the business. Supposed to be live in a couple weeks, but some humps to get over that may push that back a month. I'm frustrated that I still don't have intimate knowledge of the business, but then it's not realistic of me to expect in depth knowledge after just 5 weeks with the company.....nobody there is frustrated with my newness, so why should I be?
Rob and Amanda are turning into fine parents. It's very gratifying to see your son become an honest-to-goodness sensible, reasoning, caring adult after all the crud the kid went through during adolescence. Amanda and Nathan are still trying to work out a decent wake/sleep cycle, and I suspect Amanda is having some trouble adjusting to just having the dog and baby for company all day when she's been used to working with people who can carry on conversations. Still, the kids seem to be happy in their new roles as parents, even for all the adjustments that come with the package.
I've been remembering family stories a lot the last few days (with Edna's funeral tomorrow and all). When Mom was failing a couple years back, two of Edna's daughters brought her up to visit Mom at the same time we were there. Edna told me a story about my Dad that had been a secret for umpteen decades. Back in the days when I first started smoking (and actually admitted it to my folks) Dad would caution me about smoking in bed over and over again. I never knew why the obsession until Edna told me that she had come home from work one afternoon to find that Dad had laid down in his bed and lit a cigarette and proceeded to doze off. He burned a hole in the mattress which was smoldering when Edna arrived and she doused it with a glass of water, then patched up the mattress for him and neither let on to their parents who would have given Dad a real licking for nearly killing himself, burning down the house, etc., etc. Edna said she came home to find a new sweater lying on her bed one day soon after.
We're supposed to get some actual summer weather tomorrow.....about time. We've had the heat on so far in June, but not run the AC since last year. Weather here has be like early May for weeks and weeks. Cool and rain, rain, rain. It has only reached 80 degrees twice this year...today was the second time. It's been hotter in the Twin Cities than it's been here in Chicagoland.
Don't know the details yet, but we're expecting company here the 4th of July weekend. Meg, Jon and son Eli are coming along with Meg's cousin Rebecca. (Meg and Rebecca are daughters of two of my brothers). Looking forward to the visit. I tease them that they plotted a visit last summer that never came to pass, but this year there's a new 'cousin' named Nathan to come see.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Lost my aunt last week
My Dad's sister Edna died on June 12, 4 years to the day after my brother Bruce died four years earlier.
Edna was one of my favorite relatives. We frequently went to what Mom called "down home" where we nearly always stayed either at her brother's or her mother's place, but the visit almost always included a Sunday dinner at Aunt Edna's and Uncle Al's and the cousins Larry, Janet, Norma, Joyce and Scott (as the years passed the cousin group got smaller at dinners as they went off to school, married and moved away.) Still, I stay in close touch with Norma and Joyce to whom I am closest in age (sandwiched firmly in the middle).
Uncle Al has been gone for years now. Edna has gone to join him after what sounds like a very peaceful passing at just about a month short of her 89th birthday. She will be buried with Al, at Badger Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook, Iowa, just a few steps from my Dad and Mom.
Edna was one of my favorite relatives. We frequently went to what Mom called "down home" where we nearly always stayed either at her brother's or her mother's place, but the visit almost always included a Sunday dinner at Aunt Edna's and Uncle Al's and the cousins Larry, Janet, Norma, Joyce and Scott (as the years passed the cousin group got smaller at dinners as they went off to school, married and moved away.) Still, I stay in close touch with Norma and Joyce to whom I am closest in age (sandwiched firmly in the middle).
Uncle Al has been gone for years now. Edna has gone to join him after what sounds like a very peaceful passing at just about a month short of her 89th birthday. She will be buried with Al, at Badger Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook, Iowa, just a few steps from my Dad and Mom.
Friday, June 12, 2009
On being a grandparent
Too busy to notice the difference, really. We did spend a few hours with Nathan, Amanda and Rob last weekend, and Sue was over to help out yesterday.
So not much news from me, but here are a couple more pictures to share.
So not much news from me, but here are a couple more pictures to share.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tired, but not sleepy
There's something wrong about this.
I had a long, hard day at the office....brain fried before I left. Even after all that, it's 11:30 and I'm still not in bed.....don't get that.
No grandchild yet, but can't be long now. If no delivery until then, induced labor will begin Monday.
New father, Rob, is a basket case. He was fine until there was a false start last week. Now he's ready for this to all be over right now.
It will be soon, one way or the other (kid comes on his own, or they give him a jump start.)
Maybe I will actually go to bed. Trying to put lucid thoughts together is tough; perhaps a clue that I should sleep.
I had a long, hard day at the office....brain fried before I left. Even after all that, it's 11:30 and I'm still not in bed.....don't get that.
No grandchild yet, but can't be long now. If no delivery until then, induced labor will begin Monday.
New father, Rob, is a basket case. He was fine until there was a false start last week. Now he's ready for this to all be over right now.
It will be soon, one way or the other (kid comes on his own, or they give him a jump start.)
Maybe I will actually go to bed. Trying to put lucid thoughts together is tough; perhaps a clue that I should sleep.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
This work stuff gets in the way of blogging
Just because there's been a gap in posting here doesn't mean there have been no goings-on. The quiet has to do with lots of happenings distracting from the blogging.
Number one, I'm working....had a paycheck and everything. I keep pinching myself to see if I'm dreaming, but yes the job is real, yes I have insurance, investment plan, work to do, all that stuff. I like these people. They like me. I know stuff they need. All is good, but when I get home after work I don't seem to have the energy for extracurricular blogging.
Late spring has finally arrived and summer is almost here, so yard work is back. No special projects here, but maintenance still needs doing.
On the grandparent front, we thought we'd have news the other day....but no, false alarm. The little guy decided to be bashful and stay put awhile longer. Amanda isn't fully due for a bit over a week yet, but it won't be long. Will have pictures to post when the little scutter actually does get here.
A rather brief post, I know, but at least something to show we're still alive here.
Number one, I'm working....had a paycheck and everything. I keep pinching myself to see if I'm dreaming, but yes the job is real, yes I have insurance, investment plan, work to do, all that stuff. I like these people. They like me. I know stuff they need. All is good, but when I get home after work I don't seem to have the energy for extracurricular blogging.
Late spring has finally arrived and summer is almost here, so yard work is back. No special projects here, but maintenance still needs doing.
On the grandparent front, we thought we'd have news the other day....but no, false alarm. The little guy decided to be bashful and stay put awhile longer. Amanda isn't fully due for a bit over a week yet, but it won't be long. Will have pictures to post when the little scutter actually does get here.
A rather brief post, I know, but at least something to show we're still alive here.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Liesure certainly is over
Not that they're killing me, but let's put it this way, I have two days on the job and it's taken me a day and a half to get caught up on my email. Seems to me that's a sure sign of eventually not having to worry about keeping busy.
I like this place. They are doing a whole bunch of stuff right, there's more stuff to be done, they recognize that, and they seem to be doing the right things to address the needs.
I was issued a laptop computer before lunch on my first day, and it worked right the first time. My phone worked from the get go as well. Everyone has been very pleased that I'm around and genuinely helpful.
What I hate is being the newby. Everybody knows more than I do about the nitty gritty stuff. I'll get over that rather quickly, I'm sure, but I still hate the starting-over part of the 'no worries' about having enough to do.
Well, by this time tomorrow I'll have added a full 33% more experience so my observations and attitudes have high potential of doing some shifting. Stay tuned.
I like this place. They are doing a whole bunch of stuff right, there's more stuff to be done, they recognize that, and they seem to be doing the right things to address the needs.
I was issued a laptop computer before lunch on my first day, and it worked right the first time. My phone worked from the get go as well. Everyone has been very pleased that I'm around and genuinely helpful.
What I hate is being the newby. Everybody knows more than I do about the nitty gritty stuff. I'll get over that rather quickly, I'm sure, but I still hate the starting-over
Well, by this time tomorrow I'll have added a full 33% more experience so my observations and attitudes have high potential of doing some shifting. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Liesure life ends soon
Formal job offer arrived this morning via messenger before 10:00 a.m. All was in order. I emailed acceptance and placed formal, signed confirmation in the mail....also went to the lab and 'donated' a specimen for the required drug screening. About that same time my new boss called to confirm some details for networking stuff, email sign-in, etc. They must be planning on me, so this isn't some figment of my imagination.
I had lunch today with a former-work friend and will have another on Wednesday. Moving away from folks I know, trust, respect, and love will be the tough part.
I'm looking forward to the new gig. I really, really liked these folks while interviewing. This looks to be a culture into which I will fit very well. The work is stuff I can sink my teeth into and which I can help them get accomplished. There are more fun chores beyond the first set, so there's a future as well.
The company is Bay Valley Foods. They are a relatively new player, formed by executives of Keebler after that company merged with Kelloggs a few years ago. Bay Valley largely produces "private label" items --- that is they don't do their own brands, but make stuff for other folks, so I hadn't heard much about them and I suspect you haven't either. That doesn't mean that they are a 'light weight' -- 2008 sales were $1.5 billion. They have designs on acquiring more businesses and growing that to $3 billion in the immediate future. For you investor types, the parent company in Tree House Foods NYSE symbol TSE.
My duties will be to assume forecasting responsibilities for some portion of their business. I fully expect to also help with the implementation of new demand planning software that they are installing and to become involved in system updates that will be needed as they grow. These folks continue to grow in this crummy economy.
I'm excited to get started.....getting an old codger like me excited says a lot.
I had lunch today with a former-work friend and will have another on Wednesday. Moving away from folks I know, trust, respect, and love will be the tough part.
I'm looking forward to the new gig. I really, really liked these folks while interviewing. This looks to be a culture into which I will fit very well. The work is stuff I can sink my teeth into and which I can help them get accomplished. There are more fun chores beyond the first set, so there's a future as well.
The company is Bay Valley Foods. They are a relatively new player, formed by executives of Keebler after that company merged with Kelloggs a few years ago. Bay Valley largely produces "private label" items --- that is they don't do their own brands, but make stuff for other folks, so I hadn't heard much about them and I suspect you haven't either. That doesn't mean that they are a 'light weight' -- 2008 sales were $1.5 billion. They have designs on acquiring more businesses and growing that to $3 billion in the immediate future. For you investor types, the parent company in Tree House Foods NYSE symbol TSE.
My duties will be to assume forecasting responsibilities for some portion of their business. I fully expect to also help with the implementation of new demand planning software that they are installing and to become involved in system updates that will be needed as they grow. These folks continue to grow in this crummy economy.
I'm excited to get started.....getting an old codger like me excited says a lot.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Landed
Formalities to be settled, formal offer to be reviewed, drug screen, background check, yada yada.
Start the new gig on May 4 once those hurdles are passed.
Now I can goof off for a week (without feeling guilty about it.)
Start the new gig on May 4 once those hurdles are passed.
Now I can goof off for a week (without feeling guilty about it.)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
These are screwy times
Survivor's remorse again.
I am having a hassle with the prescription service through which I order my med's. They do an exemplary job when everything goes according to standard process. After being laid off, there have been paperwork snafus and that throws a monkey wrench in the prescription service and heaven forbid someone take some individual initiative.
So I'm feeling picked on because getting my pills is being a nuisance.
Then I hear from an old co-worker friend from pre-Sara Lee times. He got canned this week. His severance package is the remaining paycheck that hasn't yet been mailed. He gets no continuation of health insurance benefits.
My problem can be solved by having my doctor write a small prescription that I can fill locally while the red tape gets worked out. For that I will have suffered an inconvenience. My friend is worried about getting his wife healthcare. He's worried about making his mortgage payments. He's worried about finding work.
We have survived that kind of hardship at our house in the past, and my friend will as well. I just need to keep my perspective focused on what's important.
I retired from running the West Suburban Job Seekers a few years ago. I may need to come out of retirement.
I am having a hassle with the prescription service through which I order my med's. They do an exemplary job when everything goes according to standard process. After being laid off, there have been paperwork snafus and that throws a monkey wrench in the prescription service and heaven forbid someone take some individual initiative.
So I'm feeling picked on because getting my pills is being a nuisance.
Then I hear from an old co-worker friend from pre-Sara Lee times. He got canned this week. His severance package is the remaining paycheck that hasn't yet been mailed. He gets no continuation of health insurance benefits.
My problem can be solved by having my doctor write a small prescription that I can fill locally while the red tape gets worked out. For that I will have suffered an inconvenience. My friend is worried about getting his wife healthcare. He's worried about making his mortgage payments. He's worried about finding work.
We have survived that kind of hardship at our house in the past, and my friend will as well. I just need to keep my perspective focused on what's important.
I retired from running the West Suburban Job Seekers a few years ago. I may need to come out of retirement.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ramblings
Good evening.
Life goes on here, even though it may be pretty mundane by some measures. Sue and Laura went to Rob & Amanda's on Saturday and did some painting and delivering of goods for the decorating of the nursery. When here for dinner on Sunday, Amanda seemed to be pleased with the progress. Amanda is definitely beginning to look big enough to pop, but she still has 6 weeks or so to go. Other than the general discomfort, Mom seems to be doing well.
Rob has finished (or all but finished) building a mission style oak rocker for the nursery. He has begun on a changing table to match....it will be convertible into a bookcase once diaper duty is past.
Laura seems to be a fixture here, and while some folks would complain about adult children at home, we don't. She leads her own existence, feeds and funds her own car, comes and goes as she pleases, but pitches in to help with the upkeep of the house as well.
Spring threatens to come around, but we've not had a good streak of nice warm days yet. This morning was a miserable time with temperatures above freezing, but not by all that much and raining besides. I had to be outside in that to do some chores and did not enjoy myself in the least....but survived.
The between jobs thing continues. One hassle is that the company that administers COBRA (extension of health insurance) benefits has been having system problems. This means that while my insurance is paid for and active from the day I left work, the carriers don't know it and they are declining benefits. This is all temporary, but a nuisance. I have a couple doctor bills that will need to be resubmitted. The biggest problem is that I have prescriptions that need refilling and the drug company isn't in the loop yet. I'm not out of meds yet, but if not straightened up in the next few days I'll have a hassle to get meds. It looks like system troubles are on the mend, but the problem isn't gone until I officially have benefits reinstated. What a nuisance.
With that venting accomplished, it's time to step back and consider how trivial the hassles in our life are. I'm not working for the time, but we're financially sound. I will have insurance, it's not that I have none and can't get it. We are secure and warm and have a nice house and money in the bank...so quit your bitching, James.
I even have job prospects. Had a phone screen last week for a job that isn't going to pan out (their loss, not mine.) This afternoon I was invited back for a second round of talks with folks who have a job in a culture that I think will be a really good fit for me. I'm very pleased about this and excited by the prospect. Even in these screwy times, there is still business that needs to get done, and that means it's only a matter of time before I find the people who need my particular talents and temperment to help their venture. Perhaps that will be sooner rather than later.
Sue and I head for the Twin Cities this weekend to do some family catching up and to deliver some merchandise from our house to other peoples' houses. Hooray for the chance to get stuff out of our place!
Life goes on here, even though it may be pretty mundane by some measures. Sue and Laura went to Rob & Amanda's on Saturday and did some painting and delivering of goods for the decorating of the nursery. When here for dinner on Sunday, Amanda seemed to be pleased with the progress. Amanda is definitely beginning to look big enough to pop, but she still has 6 weeks or so to go. Other than the general discomfort, Mom seems to be doing well.
Rob has finished (or all but finished) building a mission style oak rocker for the nursery. He has begun on a changing table to match....it will be convertible into a bookcase once diaper duty is past.
Laura seems to be a fixture here, and while some folks would complain about adult children at home, we don't. She leads her own existence, feeds and funds her own car, comes and goes as she pleases, but pitches in to help with the upkeep of the house as well.
Spring threatens to come around, but we've not had a good streak of nice warm days yet. This morning was a miserable time with temperatures above freezing, but not by all that much and raining besides. I had to be outside in that to do some chores and did not enjoy myself in the least....but survived.
The between jobs thing continues. One hassle is that the company that administers COBRA (extension of health insurance) benefits has been having system problems. This means that while my insurance is paid for and active from the day I left work, the carriers don't know it and they are declining benefits. This is all temporary, but a nuisance. I have a couple doctor bills that will need to be resubmitted. The biggest problem is that I have prescriptions that need refilling and the drug company isn't in the loop yet. I'm not out of meds yet, but if not straightened up in the next few days I'll have a hassle to get meds. It looks like system troubles are on the mend, but the problem isn't gone until I officially have benefits reinstated. What a nuisance.
With that venting accomplished, it's time to step back and consider how trivial the hassles in our life are. I'm not working for the time, but we're financially sound. I will have insurance, it's not that I have none and can't get it. We are secure and warm and have a nice house and money in the bank...so quit your bitching, James.
I even have job prospects. Had a phone screen last week for a job that isn't going to pan out (their loss, not mine.) This afternoon I was invited back for a second round of talks with folks who have a job in a culture that I think will be a really good fit for me. I'm very pleased about this and excited by the prospect. Even in these screwy times, there is still business that needs to get done, and that means it's only a matter of time before I find the people who need my particular talents and temperment to help their venture. Perhaps that will be sooner rather than later.
Sue and I head for the Twin Cities this weekend to do some family catching up and to deliver some merchandise from our house to other peoples' houses. Hooray for the chance to get stuff out of our place!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Considering a new blog
I already have 2 blogs -- this one, and one that is intended to promote myself as an invaluable job candidate that anyone would be foolish not to have on staff. The new one I'm considering is to help folks who need self-promotion to get some pointers about how to do so. I've seen some dreadful examples so far.
Earlier this week, I learned how to start filtering and sorting through Twitter postings ("Tweets") for the kinds of content I wish to view while searching for my next job. I've seen lots of good examples. Unfortunately, I've seen some that are pretty poor as well.
I have set up a search for the term "Supply Chain" and I see anything that's posted anywhere on Twitter that contains that phrase. There's some junk, like the several posting from students complaining about hard supply chain projects between themselves. They're easy to ignore. There's good stuff too; references to online conferences, job prospects, etc. Then there was the one that stood out.
A young man had posted a note (which I'm sure was intended to be read only by his personal friends) in which he declared that he'd applied for a supply chain internship with McDonald's (fine so far) but then went on to state that he hoped it would yield free f***ing fries.
I expect he thought that was a hoot for his buddies. Unfortunately, Twitter is very very far from private, and since I could view his message, so could anyone else. In a perfect case where I chose to ignore the common sense of MYOB, I sent back a note expressing my hope that no one at Mickey D's had a Twitter search similar to mine and that perhaps he would be better served to be more tactful in public forums. He hasn't flamed me back, so perhaps he will take the words to heart.
OK, long story, sorry. Anyhow, there's a need for the word to get out about how to ( and not to) use the WWW better for job hunting. Perhaps this will be my next do-gooder mission.
Earlier this week, I learned how to start filtering and sorting through Twitter postings ("Tweets") for the kinds of content I wish to view while searching for my next job. I've seen lots of good examples. Unfortunately, I've seen some that are pretty poor as well.
I have set up a search for the term "Supply Chain" and I see anything that's posted anywhere on Twitter that contains that phrase. There's some junk, like the several posting from students complaining about hard supply chain projects between themselves. They're easy to ignore. There's good stuff too; references to online conferences, job prospects, etc. Then there was the one that stood out.
A young man had posted a note (which I'm sure was intended to be read only by his personal friends) in which he declared that he'd applied for a supply chain internship with McDonald's (fine so far) but then went on to state that he hoped it would yield free f***ing fries.
I expect he thought that was a hoot for his buddies. Unfortunately, Twitter is very very far from private, and since I could view his message, so could anyone else. In a perfect case where I chose to ignore the common sense of MYOB, I sent back a note expressing my hope that no one at Mickey D's had a Twitter search similar to mine and that perhaps he would be better served to be more tactful in public forums. He hasn't flamed me back, so perhaps he will take the words to heart.
OK, long story, sorry. Anyhow, there's a need for the word to get out about how to ( and not to) use the WWW better for job hunting. Perhaps this will be my next do-gooder mission.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Career update
So, the marketing myself plan has fallen within the Web2.0 realm....developing a Jim Eilers Brand, putting my brand out there on my personal web site, a professionally associated blog, using LinkedIn and Twitter and all that stuff. In these times, I figured I needed to really find a way to pull away from the pack, especially being in the over 50 set. By using the web I can get myself in front of more prospects. I also can provide meaningful data about myself and my talents through the web in advance of interviews when prospective employers use the web to check out their applicants.
There are solid signs today that the strategy is beginning to take hold. I was able to contact an old colleague through LinkedIn and do some homework on a company that has an advertised opening. Becasue I found this old friend on the web, I was able to see that she had passed through this company on her way to her current job. We had a chat about her experience there.
I got an email from a recruiter in Hew Hampshire who was working on filling a job out there....she had a standing Google search for someone with my kind of background and Google sent her my way. While we won't be leaving Chicagoland for New England, I know some folks who perhaps would consider it, so the recruiter and I traded notes and we'll see if I can't steer her toward a live prospect.
Finally, I got a call from an HR screener at a company where I had applied. The call went well, and I'll be going in for an interveiw next week. I'll be curious to learn how much my Web2.0 brand contributed to getting my foot in the door (I'd bet better than even money it helped.)
So, for today, things are looking up.
There are solid signs today that the strategy is beginning to take hold. I was able to contact an old colleague through LinkedIn and do some homework on a company that has an advertised opening. Becasue I found this old friend on the web, I was able to see that she had passed through this company on her way to her current job. We had a chat about her experience there.
I got an email from a recruiter in Hew Hampshire who was working on filling a job out there....she had a standing Google search for someone with my kind of background and Google sent her my way. While we won't be leaving Chicagoland for New England, I know some folks who perhaps would consider it, so the recruiter and I traded notes and we'll see if I can't steer her toward a live prospect.
Finally, I got a call from an HR screener at a company where I had applied. The call went well, and I'll be going in for an interveiw next week. I'll be curious to learn how much my Web2.0 brand contributed to getting my foot in the door (I'd bet better than even money it helped.)
So, for today, things are looking up.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Survivor's Remorse
So, I've finished my 3rd week of being paid to not work. I can do this for a bunch of weeks to come. I worked at finding alternate work last week, but I didn't exactly bust my tail doing so. So, I'm feeling funny about the whole deal...frustrated that I'm not working, guilty that I'm not starving (to say the least) while I'm not working. As the title of the post says, I think this is some kind of survivor's remorse.
Things I'm hearing from the old place don't make it sound like all is beer and skittles there. Far from it. And here I sit, fat and sassy, money in the bank, pay coming in, and all the news around about how tough times are. And I'm comfortable, no pressure, no hurry to get new work. Guilty, guilty, guilty.
So, tomorrow I'll work a little harder, work a little more. I've set up a new Internet presence for myself. The idea is that if someone comes looking for me, they'll find out a lot of stuff that shows what I can do professionally:
http://jreilers.org/
http://jreilers.org/Resume/resume1.htm
http://jameseilersresume.blogspot.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jameseilers
My next task is to apply www marketing to promoting these sites. The idea is to get attention in a way that separates me from the pack.
Wish me luck!
Things I'm hearing from the old place don't make it sound like all is beer and skittles there. Far from it. And here I sit, fat and sassy, money in the bank, pay coming in, and all the news around about how tough times are. And I'm comfortable, no pressure, no hurry to get new work. Guilty, guilty, guilty.
So, tomorrow I'll work a little harder, work a little more. I've set up a new Internet presence for myself. The idea is that if someone comes looking for me, they'll find out a lot of stuff that shows what I can do professionally:
http://jreilers.org/
http://jreilers.org/Resume/resume1.htm
http://jameseilersresume.blogspot.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jameseilers
My next task is to apply www marketing to promoting these sites. The idea is to get attention in a way that separates me from the pack.
Wish me luck!
Friday, March 20, 2009
The middle of the night, once again
Woke up with an upset tummy. When this happens I can sit up for awhile and my stomach will settle down, or I can lie there and try to tough it out and not sleep worth a hoot. I chose the former tonight. Stomach is feeling better already and I'll be good until morning when I go back to bed shortly.
Enough of those pleasantries.
Thanks to those of you who were helping diagnose a technical problem I was having with my professional blog-in-development. For some folks, everything looks great, but others couldn't display properly. I have an operating theory about what is happening and will attempt repairs tomorrow.
I got an interesting email from a management recruiter today, interesting but not encouraging. Rather than contacting me to see if I was interested in a job or knew someone who might be, she was looking to see if I knew of anyone who had jobs that needed filling. I responded that she and I were on parallel courses and would she please clue me in if she found anybody?
There do continue to be some positions posted, but I'm sure the competition for them is fierce. That's why I am spending the time getting together my 'marketing plan.' I need to present myself in such a way that is not only professional and convincing, but also which separates me from all the other professional and convincing candidates that are in the market. I applied for a likely sounding job today; now to keep hunting until these guys decide to call me back.
Tomorrow I think I'll finish the taxes. It looks like the feds may owe us some money, so better to get papers filed now rather than later. Once that's done Sue has a workshop project she desires for the kitchen....just a knife rack, so it won't take a lot of time, but something to do besides desk work for a day or so.
Spring is springing here, but not quite enough so yet to generate much yard work. It won't be long though. We're surely glad this winter is behind us....probably no record breaker, but certainly more winter than we've seen here in Chicagoland for years.
Enough of those pleasantries.
Thanks to those of you who were helping diagnose a technical problem I was having with my professional blog-in-development. For some folks, everything looks great, but others couldn't display properly. I have an operating theory about what is happening and will attempt repairs tomorrow.
I got an interesting email from a management recruiter today, interesting but not encouraging. Rather than contacting me to see if I was interested in a job or knew someone who might be, she was looking to see if I knew of anyone who had jobs that needed filling. I responded that she and I were on parallel courses and would she please clue me in if she found anybody?
There do continue to be some positions posted, but I'm sure the competition for them is fierce. That's why I am spending the time getting together my 'marketing plan.' I need to present myself in such a way that is not only professional and convincing, but also which separates me from all the other professional and convincing candidates that are in the market. I applied for a likely sounding job today; now to keep hunting until these guys decide to call me back.
Tomorrow I think I'll finish the taxes. It looks like the feds may owe us some money, so better to get papers filed now rather than later. Once that's done Sue has a workshop project she desires for the kitchen....just a knife rack, so it won't take a lot of time, but something to do besides desk work for a day or so.
Spring is springing here, but not quite enough so yet to generate much yard work. It won't be long though. We're surely glad this winter is behind us....probably no record breaker, but certainly more winter than we've seen here in Chicagoland for years.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
OK, two weeks are up!
I've goofed off and done honey-do's for the last couple of weeks as planned. Taxes are largely calculated and ready to double-check. Rough ideas for job search strategy are coming together.
Tomorrow I get serious.
I plan to take full advantage of WWW technology to help. I've seen folks using Linked-In for quite some time, but ('cause I didn't need it) I never explored and found out how powerful a tool this could be. I also will expand on use of Facebook and Blogging. I'll take what I've learned messing around with these things, research people and sites that use these aps for commercial and marketing purposes and adapt the concepts to building a 'promote Jim' presence. Then combine all this with searching the ads and old fashioned applying for jobs.
Rob and Amanda were over for dinner last night. The girls went shopping for fabric to make curtains and other stuff for the nursery while Rob and I did manly stuff like wat
ch the Last Samurai.
News from old Sara Lee indicates that I have lots of good company among those with former careers there. The Wednesday after I left, some 20 headquarters employees including several directors and VP's were released from duty. No slackers in the group. All high performers with tons of experience. Sad. In a year or so, when times have turned around, talent like was just disposed will be in high demand and very hard to come by.
And on an unrelated note, we had an interesting visitor to the back yard....see photo I've inserted of a juvenile Cooper's Hawk that was snacking on something in the spruce tree.
Tomorrow I get serious.
I plan to take full advantage of WWW technology to help. I've seen folks using Linked-In for quite some time, but ('cause I didn't need it) I never explored and found out how powerful a tool this could be. I also will expand on use of Facebook and Blogging. I'll take what I've learned messing around with these things, research people and sites that use these aps for commercial and marketing purposes and adapt the concepts to building a 'promote Jim' presence. Then combine all this with searching the ads and old fashioned applying for jobs.
Rob and Amanda were over for dinner last night. The girls went shopping for fabric to make curtains and other stuff for the nursery while Rob and I did manly stuff like wat
ch the Last Samurai.News from old Sara Lee indicates that I have lots of good company among those with former careers there. The Wednesday after I left, some 20 headquarters employees including several directors and VP's were released from duty. No slackers in the group. All high performers with tons of experience. Sad. In a year or so, when times have turned around, talent like was just disposed will be in high demand and very hard to come by.
And on an unrelated note, we had an interesting visitor to the back yard....see photo I've inserted of a juvenile Cooper's Hawk that was snacking on something in the spruce tree.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
It's me again
I've been busy resting. Resting is good. It rejuvenates the soul and body.
Did some actual work (home improvement) today, though. The window over the kitchen sink was looking pretty tough, and needed trimming. So, I went to the shop, found a likely piece of lumber and milled a new window sill. That doesn't sound like a big job, but was actually rather involved. It involved the following tools: router table, table saw, planer, jointer, band saw, hand plane, chisels, and then elbow grease. Me and Norm Abram....we're bud's!
My mind is gradually coming around to career advancement mode. Still not making a tremendous efforts into finding my next way to make a living, but the thoughts are beginning to percolate. Stay tuned for details....too soon to divulge strategy just yet.
I have been playing online Scrabble with my niece and getting seriously clobbered! Rebecca, I will remember you in my will.
Did some actual work (home improvement) today, though. The window over the kitchen sink was looking pretty tough, and needed trimming. So, I went to the shop, found a likely piece of lumber and milled a new window sill. That doesn't sound like a big job, but was actually rather involved. It involved the following tools: router table, table saw, planer, jointer, band saw, hand plane, chisels, and then elbow grease. Me and Norm Abram....we're bud's!
My mind is gradually coming around to career advancement mode. Still not making a tremendous efforts into finding my next way to make a living, but the thoughts are beginning to percolate. Stay tuned for details....too soon to divulge strategy just yet.
I have been playing online Scrabble with my niece and getting seriously clobbered! Rebecca, I will remember you in my will.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Transition, Day 2
I spent yesterday working a little on transition chores, and working a little on domestic chores. I filed for unemployment, which can now be done online and beats the dickens out of going to the office and waiting in lines for ages. The servers were painfully slow, but I was able to accomplish what I needed in the comfort of my home, with a cup of coffee, and while watching Bonanza to keep me occupied until the server advanced to the next screen.
I started getting the desk organized and set up the desktop PC to serve as my office during the day while still leaving it usable as "Sue's PC" for when she's home. I generally use my laptop from my recliner in the family room, but somehow don't find that to be conducive to a productive transition mindset. (Sue would argue that having Bonanza keeping me company in the background doesn't contribute much either. She's entitled to an opinion, I guess.)
Then I did some general cleaning, a little shopping, and I got supper ready for the girls when they got home. Today's plan is similar; I'll combine some home body stuff with some transition organization.
A little while back, I opined how Dad wouldn't understand today's job market. This morning I found a good web site which contained some wise words which I've quoted below. Specifics of the source and a link to the website are included at the end of this post.
*****
I started getting the desk organized and set up the desktop PC to serve as my office during the day while still leaving it usable as "Sue's PC" for when she's home. I generally use my laptop from my recliner in the family room, but somehow don't find that to be conducive to a productive transition mindset. (Sue would argue that having Bonanza keeping me company in the background doesn't contribute much either. She's entitled to an opinion, I guess.)
Then I did some general cleaning, a little shopping, and I got supper ready for the girls when they got home. Today's plan is similar; I'll combine some home body stuff with some transition organization.
A little while back, I opined how Dad wouldn't understand today's job market. This morning I found a good web site which contained some wise words which I've quoted below. Specifics of the source and a link to the website are included at the end of this post.
*****
Work smart
The sole source of success in a highly competitive World is performance. It is the key to both decent compensation and genuine employment security. We have to be at the top of our game, and we have to play for winners. It’s our individual responsibility (not our employer’s) to ensure that:
- Our skills and knowledge are at the state-of-the-art in our profession, craft or trade. No less important, we must deliver those skills and that knowledge on-the-job every day. In short, we have to work as “A” level performers.
and
- Our work must be done for an employer and in an industry that have a future. We can be superior performers and still find ourselves without a job, if what we produce is no longer competitive in the world’s marketplace. In short, we have to work for “A” level employers and industries.
Be loyal to yourself If success were enough to guarantee happiness at work, then working smart would be all that’s required of us. Happiness in our workday, however, is built with both on-the-job success and from-the-heart accomplishment. It requires that we be the best we can be in a role that engages and fulfills us. In other words, we must not only do good at work, but we must do what we believe is good work. And the only way to achieve that goal is to be loyal to ourselves. Self loyalty means that:
- We are loyal to our employer by delivering the highest possible level of performance on-the-job. This loyalty to an organization, however, is also a form of loyalty to ourselves because it’s up to us to put ourselves in a position where we can do our best work. We have to stop accepting the wrong jobs and/or the wrong employers and complaining about them, and start finding the right jobs and the right employers and doing work that fulfills us.
and
- We regularly seek new opportunities to expand and express our capabilities. This unceasing quest for self-improvement is the way we compete and win in the new World of work. Sometimes it will mean a move within the same organization, and other times, it will dictate that we move on to another employer. In every case, we make the decision, and the goal is the same: to protect the American Dream for us and our families by outperforming those who want to enjoy the Indian or Chinese or Sri Lankan Dream.
Source: http://www.weddles.com
Peter Weddle is an HR consultant, recruiter and business CEO turned author and commentatorSunday, March 1, 2009
In the middle of the night
Fell asleep in my recliner about 10:00 and woke up about 3:30. So, here I sit awake at 0-dark-20. This is not a pattern I hope to perpetuate.
Finished up some trimming in the kitchen today. Finicky work, but well done in the end.
Rob was over to use my workshop this afternoon. (tripped over each other a lot.) He's building a mission style rocking chair for the nursery. It will be gorgeous. He needed my bandsaw to cut out the rockers.
Tomorrow I will begin milling a new windowsill for over the sink. To do so, I'll need to begin with cleaning up the shop. It always gets to be a mess when there's a big project. Once it's cleaned up, I will put some new wheels under my planer...I picked up some heavier ones awhile back...the wimpy ones I first used are not much good for the weight of the unit.
Starting to line up projects in my head for next week. I have church books to do, our taxes, window sill and trim, base boards and so on. I also got a lot of nice notes from former co-workers that I need to acknowledge.
It's the first of March. Thank the Lord! Winter is almost over.
Finished up some trimming in the kitchen today. Finicky work, but well done in the end.
Rob was over to use my workshop this afternoon. (tripped over each other a lot.) He's building a mission style rocking chair for the nursery. It will be gorgeous. He needed my bandsaw to cut out the rockers.
Tomorrow I will begin milling a new windowsill for over the sink. To do so, I'll need to begin with cleaning up the shop. It always gets to be a mess when there's a big project. Once it's cleaned up, I will put some new wheels under my planer...I picked up some heavier ones awhile back...the wimpy ones I first used are not much good for the weight of the unit.
Starting to line up projects in my head for next week. I have church books to do, our taxes, window sill and trim, base boards and so on. I also got a lot of nice notes from former co-workers that I need to acknowledge.
It's the first of March. Thank the Lord! Winter is almost over.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Early Retirement
I officially ended my tenure at Sara Lee today. Looking forward to a couple weeks of goofing off/household chores before I get serious about finding the next paying gig.
My Dad would sure have trouble understanding today's employment world. After my Mom's funeral, my uncle (her brother) told me how she was considered to have landed quite a catch when she married Dad. In rural post-depression Iowa, Dad was unusual in that he had a regular paycheck. Most folks depended on the sale of farm goods or work for pay from one project or construction job and then wait for another to come along. Dad worked for the railroad. He went to work every day and got paid regular as clockwork. That was a privilege not all shared, and Dad recognized that himself. He was glad to have that job and performed in a series of positions for the same railroad for over 30 years. He was loyal to his company and he expected company loyalty to him in return.
Things have changed. Folks take on a job these days and more often than not they move on to another job after 2 - 4 years. Sometimes it's the employee who moves and sometimes it's the company that allows the employee the opportunity to grow elsewhere. I have never had an unfavorable employee evaluation in my career, but I have worked for 10 companies over a 33 year career. 6 times now, it was the company's idea that we part ways. It's almost as if employment with a company has taken on the form of contractor work ..."the project's done, it's time to leave."
I've gotten used to this, but Dad wouldn't understand.
My Dad would sure have trouble understanding today's employment world. After my Mom's funeral, my uncle (her brother) told me how she was considered to have landed quite a catch when she married Dad. In rural post-depression Iowa, Dad was unusual in that he had a regular paycheck. Most folks depended on the sale of farm goods or work for pay from one project or construction job and then wait for another to come along. Dad worked for the railroad. He went to work every day and got paid regular as clockwork. That was a privilege not all shared, and Dad recognized that himself. He was glad to have that job and performed in a series of positions for the same railroad for over 30 years. He was loyal to his company and he expected company loyalty to him in return.
Things have changed. Folks take on a job these days and more often than not they move on to another job after 2 - 4 years. Sometimes it's the employee who moves and sometimes it's the company that allows the employee the opportunity to grow elsewhere. I have never had an unfavorable employee evaluation in my career, but I have worked for 10 companies over a 33 year career. 6 times now, it was the company's idea that we part ways. It's almost as if employment with a company has taken on the form of contractor work ..."the project's done, it's time to leave."
I've gotten used to this, but Dad wouldn't understand.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Soon to be a man of leisure
.....that is unless God wants me to keep slaving away. I had another first-round interview yesterday, this time for a new position within Sara Lee. Seemed to go pretty well. No word back from the folks I talked with last week, but it's early yet.
We can't say the kitchen is entirely finished yet, but it's getting really close. Sue has gotten the cabinets stocked and organized. I installed part of the trim remaining to be completed. I still have to machine a new window sill and then trim out the window, and we need new baseboards for the areas with the new and refinished floors.
Shifting tasks at the office to others, and that transition seems to be going pretty well. I expect some quiet days the rest of the week if nothing blows up in the meantime.
We can't say the kitchen is entirely finished yet, but it's getting really close. Sue has gotten the cabinets stocked and organized. I installed part of the trim remaining to be completed. I still have to machine a new window sill and then trim out the window, and we need new baseboards for the areas with the new and refinished floors.
Shifting tasks at the office to others, and that transition seems to be going pretty well. I expect some quiet days the rest of the week if nothing blows up in the meantime.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Hah, I win!
Plumbing has submitted!
I had a phone interview today that seemed good. Now on to the next step.
In the last several weeks I've been hearing from old, old friends. Lots of fun. Amazing how little the essence of folks I knew at 18 years old has changed in the 35 years since.
I had a phone interview today that seemed good. Now on to the next step.
In the last several weeks I've been hearing from old, old friends. Lots of fun. Amazing how little the essence of folks I knew at 18 years old has changed in the 35 years since.
Good morning.
Nine business days remaining until I "retire" from Sara Lee. Yesterday, when I stepped outside myself and observed, it was interesting to see how my attitude toward work there has shifted. I'm trying to organize my files in a manner that will be useful to the woman who will follow up after I'm gone. In meetings, topics that would have been of great interest are more like academic discussions. What would have been critical a week ago is only of passing interest. I found myself offering advice rather than influencing a direction.
I'm trying to wrap my head around how I will proceed with the next phase of my career. I was having a conversation with a friend last night, and we concluded that I'll likely take a couple weeks off to clear up chores around the house that have been waiting for my attention. The change of pace, the working with my hands, will give my mind a chance to acclimate to the new situation. I tease about retiring, but that's not quite in the cards just yet.
Having been through this all before, I realize that life will go on and we will be just fine....we only need to determine what shape life will take next. I'm going to be rather picky about that, I think.
Back to the day-to-day stuff. The stupid drain in the kitchen has developed a clog. It in the wall, the existing piping. I think what's going on is that the crud on the sides of the drain pipe got nice and dry during the 5 or 6 weeks of not having water run over it all day every day. Some of it sloughed off and stuck to some that did not slough off. Between my trusty snake and 'better living though modern chemistry' I will triumph, but it's really aggravating to have a clogged drain in our gorgeous new kitchen. Must be part of God's message about staying humble and not getting too big for my britches.
Nine business days remaining until I "retire" from Sara Lee. Yesterday, when I stepped outside myself and observed, it was interesting to see how my attitude toward work there has shifted. I'm trying to organize my files in a manner that will be useful to the woman who will follow up after I'm gone. In meetings, topics that would have been of great interest are more like academic discussions. What would have been critical a week ago is only of passing interest. I found myself offering advice rather than influencing a direction.
I'm trying to wrap my head around how I will proceed with the next phase of my career. I was having a conversation with a friend last night, and we concluded that I'll likely take a couple weeks off to clear up chores around the house that have been waiting for my attention. The change of pace, the working with my hands, will give my mind a chance to acclimate to the new situation. I tease about retiring, but that's not quite in the cards just yet.
Having been through this all before, I realize that life will go on and we will be just fine....we only need to determine what shape life will take next. I'm going to be rather picky about that, I think.
Back to the day-to-day stuff. The stupid drain in the kitchen has developed a clog. It in the wall, the existing piping. I think what's going on is that the crud on the sides of the drain pipe got nice and dry during the 5 or 6 weeks of not having water run over it all day every day. Some of it sloughed off and stuck to some that did not slough off. Between my trusty snake and 'better living though modern chemistry' I will triumph, but it's really aggravating to have a clogged drain in our gorgeous new kitchen. Must be part of God's message about staying humble and not getting too big for my britches.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
It's a kitchen!
OK!
The kitchen is functional!
Many, Many details to finish. Still need to organize and populate the cabinets, but we're up and running.
I finished the plumbing today. Expected that getting the water supply in would be the hard part. Wrong! Getting water in place was less than an hour and had all the right parts from the first trip to the hardware store. The drain was a nightmare! 5 trips to the hardware store, six hours, and I still have a few parts to return --- so 6 trips in all....and after that I still have one more leak to tweak.
But, we can use the kitchen. We can use the dishwasher. The ice maker is working.
The cabinets and counters are gorgeous. Will have the latest photos posted on the web soon.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Hello there
Greetings and welcome to my brand new blog. I've started getting into the Facebook thing, and decided it was also time to learn what blogging was about.
I'm home today while the brand new granite countertops get installed in the newly remodelled kitchen. This seemed like a good way to use my time while the installers do their thing.
Aside from the entertainment value of starting a blog, I also have another purpose in mind. My job at Sara Lee will be ending at the end of the month, and I think that I may be able to take advantage of Blogging to market myself. So here goes nothing.
Jim
I'm home today while the brand new granite countertops get installed in the newly remodelled kitchen. This seemed like a good way to use my time while the installers do their thing.
Aside from the entertainment value of starting a blog, I also have another purpose in mind. My job at Sara Lee will be ending at the end of the month, and I think that I may be able to take advantage of Blogging to market myself. So here goes nothing.
Jim
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