Thursday Random Ramble - First Week in April

Sometimes I write about what I have done, sometimes I write about what I am going to do, often about what ever flits into my head when I sit down to write.  

If all goes to plan, we are in the city with the tall skyline this week.  Yesterday we should have been in Brooklyn, my grandmother lived there as a child about 110 years ago, and I have never been there.  I will write about lunch with Mitchel next week.  Thursday we have tickets to visit the Edge, an open observation deck near the top of a very-very tall new building.  I am sure there will be photos and a story or two there.  We will do a lot of walking, a little shopping, probably a museum or two.  I had about three work connections who wanted to meet to talk shop, and I declined all of them.  I didn't want to morph a short vacation, into an extended work session.  I really need to plan a working trip to NYC.  

We may have made some progress on the plans for the kitchen replacement.  We spent 2 1/2 hours picking out finishes and fussing over details, in a small space details matter.  Assuming the ball does not get dropped again, it will take 3-5 months to get things ready to go.  Assuming that we hear back, this is major progress on something we have wanted to do since the first day I walked into the kitchen.  

I don't watch the Oscars, and it took me a couple of days to get around to figuring out that one spoiled rich guy, insulted another spoiled rich guys' wife, and was bitch slapped on world wide television for it.  Violence is not the answer, but why can't we make jokes without picking on someone for something they have no control over? I wish his wife well, I imagine the last thing she wanted was to be the middle of a controversy debated on the world stage.   

Work continues to be intense.  But somehow feels less overwhelming.  Annual budgeting season is starting, I think we are in good shape, but I am struggling to get numbers on parts of our portfolio.  I have come to the conclusion that no one has been monitoring cash flow on a part of our budget.  Maybe the best thing to do, is start with a blank sheet and create a plan.  Budgets were never my headache before.  I am presenting four trainings in two weeks in late April, most of the prep for those was due last week.  I was asked to write a short article due in three weeks.  I hesitated, but it was an issue I have written a hundred times in my head and never put on paper.  I finished the first draft while watching TV that evening.  I did an edit, all I need to do is add the footnotes and it is ready to send to the editors.  (If you know the topic, write the article first, then do the research and add the footnotes.) I rode the DC Metro (subway) for the first time since last October.  The system is limping by with about 60% of the rolling stock out of service because the wheels were falling off. The wait time for my connection can be 20 minutes, a pain.  As the city picks up with people returning to offices, I should ride more often.  

Okay, this is the third attempt at this paragraph.  I came to a realization recently of why I don't read most novels.  I won't ramble on, but finally realizing why I don't enjoy them, made it easier for me to be comfortable that I am not missing out on anything that would add value to my life.  If it does not bring you joy, or add value to your day, why waste the time.