Saturday, September 27, 2014
A tour of Richmond, with Jay in Virginia
Friday, September 26, 2014
Dinner Conversation
I was in Richmond for a meeting today and met Jay Murphy for dinner. Three hours of sharing our life stories over great local barbecue. Much fun was had. Some bloggers are real people.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Working in Circles
I have been waiting since the first week in August for information on a proposed project, that the person I was waiting to have call me back, was getting from someone else who does not talk to me, despite the fact that we work for the same company. When I finally talked to my guy, his answer, was that he had the information I have been waiting for since August, but it was wrong, so he hadn't told me he had it. I explained that if had told me it had come in and it was messed up, I would be angry at the person who messed it up, instead of him for keeping me waiting. I'd still be waiting, and frustrated, but I would be angry at someone else - the person who won't talk to me despite the fact that we work for the same company. They won't talk to me because we don't contract with them and they report to a different management line. But we do work for the same company. Some days I think I work in the middle of a Monty Python skit.
Months ago I had a meeting with another person and detailed the timeline of when I needed various products for a major project I am working on. She showed me her standard production timeline and I said no, this is a different audience and I need the products sooner to meet the needs of this group. I have gotten everything on her time line, about two months later then I needed it all along the project timeline. She listened and nodded her head and then did it her way. I told her boss this afternoon that I would not work with her again, he said I didn't have a choice, I pointed out that I do, I can contract with someone else to do that part of the project next year - someone who will listen to when I need things. Did I break the circle there? Time will tell.
I really just wish we could all listen and treat one another as we would wish to me treated. But then that is circular. I feel like a dog chasing it's tail - the dog is likely having more fun.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Better then the Raccoon
The a colleague stopped by my office this morning to comment on a sticker taped to my office window "Work is the new retirement." She is retired military, gone back to work. We discussed how work is a central part of our identity. Her husband is trying to adjust to life after 30+ years in the military. It is difficult not having the structure of work after a lifetime of doing so. I can't imagine not working. She also admired the two paintings in my office - she knows how to get on my good side.
Oh, the raccoon, he was decomposing in the middle of the road to the metro this morning, we are all probably having a better day then the raccoon.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Random Ramblings
Charleston was great fun. The hotel was plush and comfy. We took a horse drawn carriage tour with a very entertaining local guide. Charleston has become very up-scale over the last 30 years. The guide said, houses from this point to the bay start at one-million-dollars and go up. Someone asked where the money comes from and he drolly responded, we just assume that all Yankees are millionaires. Gucci and Louis Vuitton both had stores on the block the hotel was on. A nice place to visit, but I couldn't afford to spend a lot of time there. Boeing has an assembly plant at the airport in Charleston, I got to watch one of the Boeing super 747 freighters take off. I like big planes.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
VP
Okay, I knew Hillary was invited when I agreed to attend this conference, but I didn't know that Joe Biden was the lunch speaker until I checked in yesterday. I cleared security, my picture didn't show up on the get this person out of the room list. Security was tight. He spoke for almost half an hour, ignoring the teleprompter, and consulting his notes only at the end. How fun. I have met Jill Biden a couple of years ago at a Veterans program in Delaware that my office had funded in part. Neat real people.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Selfie
The special speaker this evening was Hillary Clinton. She was founder of a legal aid program early in her Arkansas days. Security was tight, I had to stand for over an hour and it was worth it.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Space on planes
So there have been several fights over knee room or seat recline on airliners recently. The manufacturers can build bigger planes, but they cost more to operate and the airlines don't fly them. Great example here ready to take off. Wonderful piece of engineering, either that or everyone on board passed gas at once.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Exceptions
A few of my favorite things
I like airports. they are the best for people watching, people coming and going to points across the globe.
Air travel is still magic. I can flap my arms all I want and I can't fly without a plane. There is the majesty of the machine and the quickness. Journeys that took my grandmother a week 100 years ago. I can do today in 6 hours.
I can't believe how cheap air travel is. I can't put gas in my car for what this trip cost by air. Yes airfare has gone up and it is harder to find a bargain, but there are bargains to be had if you plan ahead.
I like traveling. I wouldn't do it every day. Interesting hypothetical question. If air travel was free, how much more would you really travel?
Monday, September 08, 2014
Random Rant
My X posted on Facebook about waking up Sunday morning with a roach in her ear (yes, I was married to a women once, it didn't work for either of us.) I resisted the urge to post a comment about her housekeeping having not improved. I was being especially good.
Several posts in a row without pictures, I know, I know, I need to take pictures with my Cell to post easily to blogger and I just haven't been doing so.
Sunday, September 07, 2014
Chickens
Friday, September 05, 2014
Check another one off the bucket list
Monday, September 01, 2014
Weekend Report
I have been quiet this weekend. Some weird bug. I came home early on Friday and have slept and slept and not eaten much. Interesting digestive adventures that I won't go into. I am back eating a little and I think I will survive.
Good week at the office. I found a student intern. I had lost her. I had interviewed her in March, by video from home on a snow day and agreed she would spend the fall semester with us. When I got back to the office I lost her resume. In May when I tried to confirmed fall interns I couldn't find her. And her classmate backed out. She emailed me, so I guess she found me. We pushed the paperwork through. She starts Tuesday.
I am making progress on planning a teaching trip to Hawaii next winter. Two tickets to paradise and someone is going to pay me to do this. And it is work I love doing.
The little conference I have been working on for the past few months, SOLD OUT the venue on Friday, six weeks before the program date. I was worried that we would not sell enough seats to break even - blew that out of the water.