Jordan and Katie (Lailah's mom & dad) drive over to the house this morning to pick something up for her. Jordan comes into the house, leaving the two girls (mom & daughter) in their running car, keeping themselves warm. It's just too cold for them to go through the effort of unbuckling her, walking to the front door, just to walk out again with the thing they were picking up. Made perfect … [Read more...]
Chapter One.
September 21, 2016 By
"Red Avalanche, Grey Envoy", a book of fiction by B. Scott Williams. Part one - "The Fjord" Chapter one - Southbound. The tall, overweight man stands with a dozen others, on the street corner, waiting for the next Southbound bus to arrive and take everyone to their suburban homes. He's tired after a day at the office, typing away at his keyboard: Type. Type. Type. Click, drag, drop, … [Read more...]
Kelsey’s mom has passed away
August 20, 2016 By
My best friend's mom passed way on Wednesday. She was 97. Please keep Kelsey and his family in your thoughts. Thank you. … [Read more...]
Neighbor’s passing
August 20, 2016 By
Before I turned on my "find your device" app (see previous post), I was out in my truck searching for my phone. My next door neighbor pulls into her driveway, opens her car window, and calls my name. This is pretty rare for her. Although we lived next door for the past ten years, we usually just wave, and just say "hi". I get out of my truck and walk over to her. She starts telling me about how … [Read more...]
Lost my cell phone, or so I thought
August 20, 2016 By
So. I left the house to do some errands this morning about an hour or so ago. Right when I was turning off my street, I remembered I had forgotten my phone. No worries I said, I don't need it. Did my errands, and came home, put away the groceries, dry cleaning, etc. Then remembered to go check the phone in case I had missed any calls/texts. Of course, couldn't find it where I usually put it upon … [Read more...]
IT departments – different standards, different policy/procedures
August 19, 2016 By
It's interesting: "large" (Fortune 500) companies with IT depts, each of them have their own way of doing things, their own policies and procedures, etc. Unisys was a bit "loosey-goosey" with the app I worked on, allowing the developers to move new code into production (I.e., having privileged / admin access). While, both Wells Fargo and USPS, definitely did NOT and do NOT allow this to be done … [Read more...]
Home from Appleton, WI – Thrivent first week
August 19, 2016 By
Well folks, I'm home. It was a "longish" week, traveling to Appleton, WI for the new job ("on-boarding", "orientation", and meeting most of my colleagues). In a way, it was good that I got to do this - meeting my Appleton colleagues gave both myself and them a chance to put a face to a name, etc. Left Appleton this afternoon around 3:30, getting home at 8:30 pm (after stopping for a 5guys burger … [Read more...]
Alex Baldwin…
August 18, 2016 By
What the heck: flipping channels in the hotel room, coming across "The Match Game", with Alec Baldwin as the host, even including the iconic Gene Rayburn (stylish) microphone (long and skinny). Always loved him in Hunt for Red October. Even more than Harrison Ford. I know he was in "hit" TV series 30rock (never watched it), but, now, a game show host?? … [Read more...]
First day at Thrivent
August 15, 2016 By
Day one over. Mostly on-boarding stuff, getting access to all things Thrivent. Reading some docs. Met two members of my team who are based here (both are almost straight out of college and are really nice fellows). The third member is based in MPLS and is on vac this week (but I've already met him during the interviewing process). The HQ here is a really nice, relaxing, gorgeous (huge) campus, … [Read more...]
Scope of Thrivent’s Headquarters.
August 15, 2016 By
Haha. 30 to 45 mins early. I didn't scope out the "office" location (via goggle satellite maps), until this morning. The HQ is in the middle of a rural area, having a huge open field campus. The building itself is quite large, more spread out than tall. Attached are the satellite views. A bit nervous. … [Read more...]
The drive from MPLS to Appleton, WI
August 14, 2016 By
Eating at the "first" place off the "freeway", a few miles from the hotel. Fortunately it's a pub/grill (not fast food), and going to be eating some yummy "buffalo" tacos soon. Five hour drive, could have done it in 4-1/2, but made a wrong turn somewhere near Stevens Point, making me go South, instead of continuing Eastbound. Unfortunately, when you do this (here in WI), the exits are ten miles … [Read more...]
New job causes me to wonder about Lailah’s toys…
August 12, 2016 By
A lot of you have seen my various videos of Lailah, mostly in the breakfast nook, but sometimes in the living room. During those LR videos, I've tried not to show the area where all of her toys are kept. It's under a 3' by 6' table where on top, I've kept the beginnings of my model railroad "layout". (The model railroad has its own story and that's not the purpose of this essay (other than to … [Read more...]
Eating, and Chocolate
August 11, 2016 By
Talking about eating... As mentioned in a previous post, Rick and I were having lunch yesterday, and I remarked that lately, I have an urge for chocolate immediately after having a meal "to cleanse my palette", resulting with my snarking down a chocolate bar, ("immediately") after dinner, etc. Astonishingly, he told me he also has the urge/feeling/desire, and does the same. Anyone else do this? … [Read more...]
Past years election results – electoral votes
August 11, 2016 By
1932, landslide Roosevelt 462, other guy 59 1936, landslide Roosevelt 523, other guy 8 1940, landslide Roosevelt 449, other guy 82 1944, landslide Roosevelt 432, other guy 99 1948, Truman 303, other guys 189, 38 1952, landslide Eisenhower 442, other guy, 89 1956, landslide Eisenhower 457, other guy 73 1960, Kennedy 303, other guys 219, 15 1964, landslide Johnson … [Read more...]
Hashtags??
August 11, 2016 By
I've been following a "anti-body-shaming activist" on my FB feed. They recently posted a status update, having 29 hashtags. I'm not a Twitter person, and I believe I do understand the purpose of hashtags, but isn't it overkill to give a post that many? Do you think they are all her hashtags, or a combination of her tags and others? Do you then go out to all of those hashtags to review the … [Read more...]
Eyesight – part 2
August 11, 2016 By
Eye care corneal sub-specialist appointment for corneal examination scheduled two months from now. Talking about a doctor having a busy schedule! They say for me to block out two hours for the exam. Was really hoping to get in much sooner than that. … [Read more...]
Books and ethical quandary
August 11, 2016 By
A couple of weeks ago, BFF Rick and I were talking about the books we've been reading. I'm not sure if he reads at many as I do, but I respect his opinion on books. He indicated he had really enjoyed "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly. I have just a little bit of animosity toward this fellow (read:idiot). I refuse to watch his show or even listen to him (or Rush L.) But, I did get myself a … [Read more...]
Lunch with Rick and Chocolates
August 11, 2016 By
Had lunch with BFF Rick yesterday. We ate, at his suggestion, at a new place called "Shake Shack", supposedly known for their awesome burgers. Huh. Wasn't impressed. Later on, we walked around MOA, getting in our ten mile hike, like usual (jk), and of course, we walked past Lindt Chocolatiers. They were having a sale (of course), a bag of 35 truffles - $16. Thirty five is plenty for me. On the … [Read more...]
The eyesight…
August 9, 2016 By
Let's start at the beginning. The eyes have been failing me for quite some time now. I've always had nearsighted vision ever since fifth grade. Always needed a new (increased) prescription every few years. After getting my last prescription, I noticed it didn't help very much, and, during my last year at USPS, I noticed my eyesight was worsening, both while staring at the PC screen on my job, or … [Read more...]
Townhouse association and driveways?
August 9, 2016 By
All morning long, off in the distance (behind the two story townhouses that face my front yard. (I.e, the next street over), there's been this stupid on-going noise - it's one of those small construction things with a shovel / scoop on the front, and a guy in a cage driving it (what are those called?). Anyway, every time it backs up, the safety beeper starts beeping. No big deal - we just need to … [Read more...]
