I was at Tar'get last night, getting my "school supplies" for the new job. A couple of notebooks, notepads, and some pens. I came across this "book" called: "300 writing prompts" First prompt: What's your favorite way to spend a lazy day? Totally random page opening: if you had an opportunity to write as a career, what would you write? (Yes, I kid you not - totally random page). Another … [Read more...]
Razor shopping
August 8, 2016 By
Over the 40 plus years I've been shaving, I have alternated between replaceable cartridge blade razors and electric/rechargeable razors. The majority of time has been using the replaceable cartridge kind. I've probably bought at least 3, and perhaps as many as 4 or 5 electric razors in those forty years. Allways, after a period of time, migrating back to the replaceable cartridges for some … [Read more...]
Child Theme – things to do
August 8, 2016 By
Change the gray background to white, so that the blog entry seems to embedded into the background, instead of floating on top of it. This was mostly done, after the posting of this entry. There are some thin borders, which might have to do with the "breadcrumb" area, as well as the "content" area. Ok, got rid of the majority of the borders, but there still is one on the right of content. … [Read more...]
Child Theme modified – removed blue buttons header right
August 8, 2016 By
I mentioned to Rose that I was thinking about changing my child theme, to change the look and feel to something less boxy, more flowing. I showed her two StudioPress child themes called "beautiful", and "lifestyle". She liked them both. I then showed her the current website, to re-familiarize her with how it currently looks. She has never liked the 3 types of navigation: Top menu bar, the … [Read more...]
Give away: free older iPad
August 5, 2016 By
I have a used 3rd generation iPad that hasn't seen use for a couple of years. I've decided to give it away (free). This is not an iPad Air, so, it's a bit heavier than the newer versions. In order to make this fair, I've chosen a number in the range of 1 to 10,000. If you would like to be a part of this lotto, send me a PM with your guess. The person closest to my chosen number will get the iPad. … [Read more...]
Afternoon with a former colleague
August 5, 2016 By
Had a great day yesterday! A former USPS colleague and I met for lunch and a movie. She and I worked together for about a year or two, before she retired. We've always talked about getting together for lunch or whatever, but "never got around to it". She enjoys some of the same things as I do: theatre, movies, etc. Well, we finally got together yesterday, and we just had the best time. We met at … [Read more...]
Hotel rates & upcoming trip to Appleton, WI
August 5, 2016 By
I must be the cheapest new (contract) employee around. My recruiter shared with me the name of a hotel in Appleton, WI, that Thrivent recommends. Without using any corporate discount rate code (since I don't know it), the room rate is $200+ a night. I don't think so. Once I get the corporate code (you would think it would "thriveent"), maybe the rate would go down to a more respectable $100 or … [Read more...]
Blogging milestones as of 8/3/2016
August 3, 2016 By
NEW BLOGGING MILESTONES! I wrote the post below a few weeks ago. But, it seems I need to update it with the following: 4.3. Another new subscriber! 4.5. A friend has now commented (twice) on my blog posts! Thank you, Edward Anderson! There's going to have to be a time when I will need to stop posting these milestones, but they're pretty important in the beginning, you know, especially when … [Read more...]
Finally employed again!
August 2, 2016 By
So here is the (new job) scoop: My recruiter at the contract agency called around noon today, saying I got the (contract-to-hire) job at Thrivent Financial. Yea! Of course there was a sticking point, which we then worked out without further issue. She then called back (a couple of hours later) letting me know the start date is 8/15. When I was first contacted about this position), the job was … [Read more...]
Parmesan Cheese
August 2, 2016 By
Went to the grocery store last night. Picked up a few pasta items (ravioli, lasagna, and tortellini), and some pasta sauce. Knew I needed some Parmesan cheese. Got some salad. Got a loaf of Italian (French?) bread. Got feta and blue cheese crumbs (for the salads) Forgot the Parmesan cheese. Argh. I.cannot.live.without.my.parmesan.cheese. (i didn't forget my Hersey chocolate bars though!) … [Read more...]
World Music
August 2, 2016 By
Well, I can tell this is going to be a very good day. I just shared a post of Asian (Chinese Lute) music and now here is a wonderful music video of toe-tapping Hispanic music. I have to admit, I liked this a bit better, because the video aspect captured my visual interest (in addition to the music itself). I love World Music! Thanks goes to Carlos Arturo Castellanos for … [Read more...]
Asian Music
August 2, 2016 By
Initially I was going to pass by this and not listen to it. But, I then remembered I love the group called "Twelve Girls Band" (having a few of their CDs), and so decided to give this a listen. Wow - she is amazing. Give it a listen if you have a couple of free mins. Thanks goes to Norm Witt for sharing. The World's Premiere Chinese Lute Virtuoso Plucks Out A Fiercely Impressive Tune … [Read more...]
Misc thoughts about the past weekend
August 1, 2016 By
Just not in the right mood to write today for some reason. But, let's try and see what I can come up with: Had a truly nice evening on Friday with Lailah (and her GranMaRose), first opening my b-day presents (play-doh "ice cream cone" making toy, and a nice photo collage frame that will hold 5-6 pics of Lailah, as well as a gift card to IHOP). For some reason, I think both the play-doh toy and … [Read more...]
BigB’s birthday presents from Lailah
August 1, 2016 By
BEST. PRESENTS. EVER. Here I am, having just unwrapped both of my b-day presents from Lailah. The first was a set of new play-doh colors (sparkled, of course). The second was a play-doh toy that makes play-doh ice cream cones. Both presents were very well received by the big guy, since he had scoped them out at the toy store one day with Lailah in tow. Lailah obviously cared enough to "insist" … [Read more...]
Good photographer turns into average photographer
July 30, 2016 By
UGH. I used to be such a "good" photographer when I was much younger and/or when I had better eyesight. I rely too much on the camera to focus for me these days and/or to set the exposure for me. … [Read more...]
BigB’s B-day dinner with Lailah
July 29, 2016 By
Had an awesome b-day dinner with Lailah (and her GMR) at the Mediterranean Cruise in Burnsville tonight. Some of you may know this place - there is live belly dancing. The belly dancer came over after a few dances and asked Lailah if she wanted to dance on the "stage" with her. To her credit, she got up and danced (three other girls a few yrs older than her, also were invited, so it was a pretty … [Read more...]
Flag burning…
July 29, 2016 By
I was born in 1959. Making me 9 years old in 1968, during the time of the riots happening across the country, the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the beginning of the Vietnam war protests (which means I was 12-13 in 1971-72). Being nine yours old, a kid of that age is still quite innocent, and not at all knowledgable or caring about anything happening outside his … [Read more...]
Homeless people or others asking for handouts, downtown
July 28, 2016 By
Setting: Rick and I met for lunch after the interview, eating at Andreas pizza in the skyway - a fav eatery close by to where I worked at Wells Fargo during 2011/2012. We then got out of the skyway and walked outside for a bit, enjoying the fresh air - more so me, than Rick (not sure if he really likes fresh air or not - lol) We then went to downtown B&N, and actually also went to downtown … [Read more...]
Getting ready for the Thrivent interview
July 28, 2016 By
Why is it that I find myself ready thirty minutes before I actually have to leave? Been getting myself ready now for oh, going on forty or so years - I should know how long it takes to "get ready". Then, I usually arrive thirty minutes early, having to sit in the car, twiddling my thumbs. Super cautious, I guess. High noon at the OK (Thrivent) Corral. (yes, I'll be wearing my suit coat.) … [Read more...]
