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
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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.
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