Another great evening of FFF at my place. How did 1 get so many gifts?
2 gave me her cold and I am miserable. Lots of couch time today.
Hawks at the Alamo Bowl today. Take Texas and give the points.
Under the presumption that I will feel better tomorrow, I'll take a shot then at the 2007 goals.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Friday AM
Another disjointed day away from the blog. Sorry.
Good times with everyone at Biaggi's last night. It was a long evening as the first wave came at 5:30, and the second wave came in around 8. By the time I got home at 9:30, I was like totally ready for bed.
We have our sisters' gift exchange today. Lots of wrapping yet to do. BBQ at my place if the weather cooperates.
I seem to have picked up at least a part of 2's cold. I woke this AM with the sore throat/lung congestion that she has had the last few days. I hope my experience with it is brief.
Busy day today with it being the final business day of the year.
More later.
Be careful out there.
Good times with everyone at Biaggi's last night. It was a long evening as the first wave came at 5:30, and the second wave came in around 8. By the time I got home at 9:30, I was like totally ready for bed.
We have our sisters' gift exchange today. Lots of wrapping yet to do. BBQ at my place if the weather cooperates.
I seem to have picked up at least a part of 2's cold. I woke this AM with the sore throat/lung congestion that she has had the last few days. I hope my experience with it is brief.
Busy day today with it being the final business day of the year.
More later.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Wednesday
I guess I'm giving up on catching up with the day I lost on Christmas.
This is a week that has always been a little odd for me. The time between Christmas and New Years is important for some of my business clients, but for others, it's very low key. As I do less tax work, there is less stress from yearend decisions that must be made to get a transaction into one year or the other. For my partners, this week is usually very hectic.
1 is coming to town tomorrow for a family weekend. 3 is bringing her beau in from C-town so it will be party hearty in the Quad Cities.
Another nice day here. I want to get a Shel run in this evening. Lots of rumors out there about various family members doing halfs this Spring. I will not be one of them.
Turns out I was spotted at the movie on the 24th by a friend/client. His comments about the movie were mostly that it was long and complicated. I agreed. But in the overall scheme of things, we have been to worse movies on Christmas Eve.
My Ironman watch took a turn for the worse over the weekend. The gal at the counter at Wal-Mart tried to put in a new battery, but either it wasn't the battery, or she killed it, because the new battery did not solve the problem. I hear that Santa has a new one for me in his bag. In the meantime, I broke out the old Seiko that has been sitting in my desk for 15 years, and wollaah, it works. The band is a little tight, but the auto-winder-thingamabob inside was able to restart the thing once I put it on my wrist. This is a watch that I bought in Korea in 1973 or 74.
We are at the point that we need to be looking at 2007 goals. I'm not sure that I did real well with my 2006 list, but I'll drag it out here in the next few days to consider the results. I'll expect some commentary from my readership.
So I may try to get back at this later.
Be careful out there.
This is a week that has always been a little odd for me. The time between Christmas and New Years is important for some of my business clients, but for others, it's very low key. As I do less tax work, there is less stress from yearend decisions that must be made to get a transaction into one year or the other. For my partners, this week is usually very hectic.
1 is coming to town tomorrow for a family weekend. 3 is bringing her beau in from C-town so it will be party hearty in the Quad Cities.
Another nice day here. I want to get a Shel run in this evening. Lots of rumors out there about various family members doing halfs this Spring. I will not be one of them.
Turns out I was spotted at the movie on the 24th by a friend/client. His comments about the movie were mostly that it was long and complicated. I agreed. But in the overall scheme of things, we have been to worse movies on Christmas Eve.
My Ironman watch took a turn for the worse over the weekend. The gal at the counter at Wal-Mart tried to put in a new battery, but either it wasn't the battery, or she killed it, because the new battery did not solve the problem. I hear that Santa has a new one for me in his bag. In the meantime, I broke out the old Seiko that has been sitting in my desk for 15 years, and wollaah, it works. The band is a little tight, but the auto-winder-thingamabob inside was able to restart the thing once I put it on my wrist. This is a watch that I bought in Korea in 1973 or 74.
We are at the point that we need to be looking at 2007 goals. I'm not sure that I did real well with my 2006 list, but I'll drag it out here in the next few days to consider the results. I'll expect some commentary from my readership.
So I may try to get back at this later.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Tuesday AM
This is the Monday entry that was not made.
Great times on the 24th and 25th. Very low key. Missed 1.
The Matt Damon movie was OK. Long. A new element to the evening of the 24th was a glass of wine at Biaggi's between Chucky Cheese and the movie. I didn't even think they would be open. And they were busy.
Low key Christmas Day. SB's early. I got in a Shel run before our meal. Movies, internet stuff, and crosswords.
More details later.
Be careful out there.
Great times on the 24th and 25th. Very low key. Missed 1.
The Matt Damon movie was OK. Long. A new element to the evening of the 24th was a glass of wine at Biaggi's between Chucky Cheese and the movie. I didn't even think they would be open. And they were busy.
Low key Christmas Day. SB's early. I got in a Shel run before our meal. Movies, internet stuff, and crosswords.
More details later.
Be careful out there.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Sunday
Happy Birthday to 4!!
I just stopped by to check the blog. I'm in the middle of doing my Christmas shopping.
The term, "blog", made it into the Friday crossword. The clue was, "Modern medium."
My current proficiency has moved up to what I would call, "Slow Friday." I don't think I'll ever get to any noteworthy Saturday level. And I'll only keep the Friday designation if I keep hard at it. Which raises the whole question of good use of one's time.
The outdoor Christmas lights just didn't make it this year.
We miss you, 1. Hope you have a good day.
OK. I'm back on the shopping trail.
Be careful out there.
I just stopped by to check the blog. I'm in the middle of doing my Christmas shopping.
The term, "blog", made it into the Friday crossword. The clue was, "Modern medium."
My current proficiency has moved up to what I would call, "Slow Friday." I don't think I'll ever get to any noteworthy Saturday level. And I'll only keep the Friday designation if I keep hard at it. Which raises the whole question of good use of one's time.
The outdoor Christmas lights just didn't make it this year.
We miss you, 1. Hope you have a good day.
OK. I'm back on the shopping trail.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Saturday
Is there a reverse relationship between interest in the blog and the number of consecutive days that the sisters are together?
Iowa found another opponent worthy of a beating. Go Hawks.
2 and I got out there for a Shel run today. Hard going. FFF at my place in a little while.
Happy Tax Birthday to 4.
My 1st Day of Christmas memory is putting cookies and milk out for Santa Claus when I was a kid. And laying in bed listening for the bells on his sleigh.
In other startling news, I actually bought two gifts this AM. A full 30 hours before my normal shopping begins.
Be careful out ther.
Iowa found another opponent worthy of a beating. Go Hawks.
2 and I got out there for a Shel run today. Hard going. FFF at my place in a little while.
Happy Tax Birthday to 4.
My 1st Day of Christmas memory is putting cookies and milk out for Santa Claus when I was a kid. And laying in bed listening for the bells on his sleigh.
In other startling news, I actually bought two gifts this AM. A full 30 hours before my normal shopping begins.
Be careful out ther.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Friday
Recovery mode here. 750 miles yesterday.
My 2nd Day of Christmas memory is any midnight Mass. Hard to get the Catholic out of the boy.
I'm off for a glass of Tuscan red.
Be careful out there.
My 2nd Day of Christmas memory is any midnight Mass. Hard to get the Catholic out of the boy.
I'm off for a glass of Tuscan red.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Thursday
So this will be an atypical morning posting in recognition of our later-today road trip to Minnesota.
The Hawks finally found a team that they could beat. Georgia State. Wow. Alford had Haluska still in past the midway point of the second half with Iowa up by 44.
My 3rd Day of Christmas memory would be, with no specific year or generation in mind, the Kid's Table for the Christmas dinner. I remember it always being pretty full when we celebrated with Aunt Martha's family many years ago.
Sorry for the delay here. A little conflict with that road trip.
Be careful out there.
The Hawks finally found a team that they could beat. Georgia State. Wow. Alford had Haluska still in past the midway point of the second half with Iowa up by 44.
My 3rd Day of Christmas memory would be, with no specific year or generation in mind, the Kid's Table for the Christmas dinner. I remember it always being pretty full when we celebrated with Aunt Martha's family many years ago.
Sorry for the delay here. A little conflict with that road trip.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Wednesday
Yucky day in the neighborhood. It has rained here most of the afternoon. Glad that it is not snow.
We had a press conference here this AM to announce our sponsorship of the Quad Cities Criterium next Memorial Day. Decent turnout. We'll see how the story is reported. 3 helped set up the SB's decanters and the treats. You did good. Thanks. 2 took time off from work to attend as well.
2 and I will be travelling to Minnesota tomorrow to attend services for Matt's Mom. It will be a quick trip as we both need to be at work here on Friday. Sad times for all of us.
I'm told that the 14 Days of Christmas memory list was too long to sustain. I did see where Anna and The King made it's second appearance yesterday. Actually, I think I had a miscount originally because if today is the 4th Day, our list runs out on Saturday, which is a day early. Maybe next year we can do something like our top 10 Christmas Dreams. Fantasy sells.
So for my 4th Day of Christmas Memory, I select the old Nativity scenes from my kid days. I even made a couple of the "stables" myself from scratch. They were not keepers. Painted plaster figurines of Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, the Wise Men (always off to the side as they were getting there after the birth), the shepherds, sheep and other animals. Swaths of cotton on top of and around the "stable" for winter effects.
Traffic has been amazing. It must be getting close to Christmas. I'm going to have to get to my shopping soon.
I'm off to the Augie game.
Be careful out there.
We had a press conference here this AM to announce our sponsorship of the Quad Cities Criterium next Memorial Day. Decent turnout. We'll see how the story is reported. 3 helped set up the SB's decanters and the treats. You did good. Thanks. 2 took time off from work to attend as well.
2 and I will be travelling to Minnesota tomorrow to attend services for Matt's Mom. It will be a quick trip as we both need to be at work here on Friday. Sad times for all of us.
I'm told that the 14 Days of Christmas memory list was too long to sustain. I did see where Anna and The King made it's second appearance yesterday. Actually, I think I had a miscount originally because if today is the 4th Day, our list runs out on Saturday, which is a day early. Maybe next year we can do something like our top 10 Christmas Dreams. Fantasy sells.
So for my 4th Day of Christmas Memory, I select the old Nativity scenes from my kid days. I even made a couple of the "stables" myself from scratch. They were not keepers. Painted plaster figurines of Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, the Wise Men (always off to the side as they were getting there after the birth), the shepherds, sheep and other animals. Swaths of cotton on top of and around the "stable" for winter effects.
Traffic has been amazing. It must be getting close to Christmas. I'm going to have to get to my shopping soon.
I'm off to the Augie game.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Tuesday
No blog today. Way too many irons in the fire.
My 5th Day of Christmas memory is cinnamon tea sticks, making the regular tea-bag tea something special. Almost like Starbuck's!
Be careful out there.
My 5th Day of Christmas memory is cinnamon tea sticks, making the regular tea-bag tea something special. Almost like Starbuck's!
Be careful out there.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Monday
This may or may not work tonight. I think the internet is up, but email here at the office is down, so what does that do to the blog? I think it will be OK, but the gremlins are at work in my space.
We did end up doing a little FFF last night at my place. I cooked a whole chicken on my outside grill using the metal cone/platter device that 2 had given me for Father's Day. The result was good (but not great BBQ) and it was a little extra work to clean. I had put some lemon-pepper sauce (purchased, not home-made) in the interior base of the cone for flavoring, but I think the sause that I brushed on the outside actually added more taste to the meat. It was a five pound chicken and it took a little over an hour to cook. On the positive side, you don't have to worry about turning the pieces as I have to do when cooking chicken halves.
By the way, Aunt Martha was the one who introduced me to the original lemon-pepper sauce for the bar-b-que. I really can't remember whether it was when I visited there during college breaks, or after getting out of the AF when I lived there for a couple of months before starting grad school in IC. She would make it from scratch. Given all the over-the-counter stuff now on the shelves at the grocery store, we should have spoolled up the processing plant back then and maybe the success of the apple sauce in Baby Boom could have been us!
3 handled the salad. Two bags from Hy-Vee, dressing included. In my sauce pans. Scalloped potatos. We were just missing 1 and a little Triv to make it a perfect evening.
3 is helping me out at the office this week. I have a couple of special projects that will help us tidy up some files before year end. I'm letting her work off her cell phone indebtedness.
I was glad to see the NBA come out with some pretty harsh penalties for the mess in MSG on Saturday night. I suppose the players union will come out and appeal the suspensions as too severe. The players may have great athletic talent, but taken as a group, I could absolutely get along just fine without the league. And I love basketball.
Looks like the climbers on Mt. Hood lost out to Mother Nature. The National Geographic Channel was running a show over the weekend about groups climbing Mt. Everest. Scarey stuff. You get that high up, and things can go bad quickly and people die. The commentator said that something like 80% of the deaths occur on the way down the hill. I suppose that so much energy is expended to get to the top that small crises on the way down just get out of control. It looked like they was a human traffic jam on the mountain at the time of the filming of the segments that I watched. More people tuned in to the sport/adventure because of the Information Age. If you have the money, you can probably find a guide to take you there.
My 6th Day of Christmas memory brings up another element of my grade school age youth. If you look at my annual school picture from each year (disregarding the butch haircut and the buck teeth), I always had on that year's sweater from Christmas. Some things never change: I still like getting sweaters for Christmas...:)
Hope Matt and 1 get through these tough next few days. We're thinking of you.
Be careful out there.
We did end up doing a little FFF last night at my place. I cooked a whole chicken on my outside grill using the metal cone/platter device that 2 had given me for Father's Day. The result was good (but not great BBQ) and it was a little extra work to clean. I had put some lemon-pepper sauce (purchased, not home-made) in the interior base of the cone for flavoring, but I think the sause that I brushed on the outside actually added more taste to the meat. It was a five pound chicken and it took a little over an hour to cook. On the positive side, you don't have to worry about turning the pieces as I have to do when cooking chicken halves.
By the way, Aunt Martha was the one who introduced me to the original lemon-pepper sauce for the bar-b-que. I really can't remember whether it was when I visited there during college breaks, or after getting out of the AF when I lived there for a couple of months before starting grad school in IC. She would make it from scratch. Given all the over-the-counter stuff now on the shelves at the grocery store, we should have spoolled up the processing plant back then and maybe the success of the apple sauce in Baby Boom could have been us!
3 handled the salad. Two bags from Hy-Vee, dressing included. In my sauce pans. Scalloped potatos. We were just missing 1 and a little Triv to make it a perfect evening.
3 is helping me out at the office this week. I have a couple of special projects that will help us tidy up some files before year end. I'm letting her work off her cell phone indebtedness.
I was glad to see the NBA come out with some pretty harsh penalties for the mess in MSG on Saturday night. I suppose the players union will come out and appeal the suspensions as too severe. The players may have great athletic talent, but taken as a group, I could absolutely get along just fine without the league. And I love basketball.
Looks like the climbers on Mt. Hood lost out to Mother Nature. The National Geographic Channel was running a show over the weekend about groups climbing Mt. Everest. Scarey stuff. You get that high up, and things can go bad quickly and people die. The commentator said that something like 80% of the deaths occur on the way down the hill. I suppose that so much energy is expended to get to the top that small crises on the way down just get out of control. It looked like they was a human traffic jam on the mountain at the time of the filming of the segments that I watched. More people tuned in to the sport/adventure because of the Information Age. If you have the money, you can probably find a guide to take you there.
My 6th Day of Christmas memory brings up another element of my grade school age youth. If you look at my annual school picture from each year (disregarding the butch haircut and the buck teeth), I always had on that year's sweater from Christmas. Some things never change: I still like getting sweaters for Christmas...:)
Hope Matt and 1 get through these tough next few days. We're thinking of you.
Be careful out there.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Sunday
A little excitement at MSG last night with the Knicks and the Nuggets. It's another world.
And a bit of a rough day/evening for Iowa's two major state university's men's b-ball teams in Des Moines yesterday. The Clones have some excuses as they adjust to a new coach and system. The Hawks are just bad. And beaten by the coach who was run out of IC so they could get Alford. People in Palo Alto may want to look into that history.
2 and I did get our run in yesterday and may try to do another one today. It's hard to ignore these 50+ degree days in December for outside activities.
Coffee at the new SB's this AM. The good news is that one of the baristas there today had worked over at the Duck Creek store and had always done a good job taking care of me. She was able to get my extra-hot Americano exactly to my liking. Interestingly, a gal who has been a longtime customer at the Duck Creek store drove up just as I was leaving and we exchanged greetings. There may be a little migration from Duck Creek to the new place as people adjust for location and, maybe, busy-ness. Plus, the new one has a drive through.
Lots of golfers out yesterday. With the Why Pay Less Tour taking off for Cabo in less than three weeks, I should get into some stretching exercises or my production in Mexico will produce nothing but aches and pains.
The extortion for my passport mentioned here last month at least paid off, albeit not without a small bit of irony. I have it in hand. It was delivered to my home address in an Express Mail envelope that looked suspiciously like a special offer for some AARP Insurance or Veteran's Benefits or the like. It sat unopened on my counter in the recycling pile with other papers for a day or two before I opened it, out of curiosity, as I was literally headed for the recycling tub in my garage. Lucky for me. If I had had to get an emergency-issued passport now, the cost would have likely doubled from the inflated price that I paid in November.
My special history with birds continues. I have a cardinal pair that must nest around our office building. The brightly colored male spends a fair amount of time, even now, pecking at my window as it fights off a suspected intruder (his shadow). I have another pair at my house, but that male must not have the same level of belicosity. I'll try to get them on film for later publication. They are very striking (no pun intended).
My 7th Day of Christmas memory goes to just a couple of years back when my photographer friend came to Chucky Cheese and did a roll of great picures for us. Not only did it give us several suitable-for-framing prints, the event led me to my current fool-proof camera. When I was talking to him later that week after looking at all of the nearly perfect pictures, I asked him how he was able to do it. And I got the response that has been my not-so-secret weapon ever since, "Auto-focus!"
Get out and enjoy the day. Maybe a little FFF at my place this evening.
Be careful out there.
And a bit of a rough day/evening for Iowa's two major state university's men's b-ball teams in Des Moines yesterday. The Clones have some excuses as they adjust to a new coach and system. The Hawks are just bad. And beaten by the coach who was run out of IC so they could get Alford. People in Palo Alto may want to look into that history.
2 and I did get our run in yesterday and may try to do another one today. It's hard to ignore these 50+ degree days in December for outside activities.
Coffee at the new SB's this AM. The good news is that one of the baristas there today had worked over at the Duck Creek store and had always done a good job taking care of me. She was able to get my extra-hot Americano exactly to my liking. Interestingly, a gal who has been a longtime customer at the Duck Creek store drove up just as I was leaving and we exchanged greetings. There may be a little migration from Duck Creek to the new place as people adjust for location and, maybe, busy-ness. Plus, the new one has a drive through.
Lots of golfers out yesterday. With the Why Pay Less Tour taking off for Cabo in less than three weeks, I should get into some stretching exercises or my production in Mexico will produce nothing but aches and pains.
The extortion for my passport mentioned here last month at least paid off, albeit not without a small bit of irony. I have it in hand. It was delivered to my home address in an Express Mail envelope that looked suspiciously like a special offer for some AARP Insurance or Veteran's Benefits or the like. It sat unopened on my counter in the recycling pile with other papers for a day or two before I opened it, out of curiosity, as I was literally headed for the recycling tub in my garage. Lucky for me. If I had had to get an emergency-issued passport now, the cost would have likely doubled from the inflated price that I paid in November.
My special history with birds continues. I have a cardinal pair that must nest around our office building. The brightly colored male spends a fair amount of time, even now, pecking at my window as it fights off a suspected intruder (his shadow). I have another pair at my house, but that male must not have the same level of belicosity. I'll try to get them on film for later publication. They are very striking (no pun intended).
My 7th Day of Christmas memory goes to just a couple of years back when my photographer friend came to Chucky Cheese and did a roll of great picures for us. Not only did it give us several suitable-for-framing prints, the event led me to my current fool-proof camera. When I was talking to him later that week after looking at all of the nearly perfect pictures, I asked him how he was able to do it. And I got the response that has been my not-so-secret weapon ever since, "Auto-focus!"
Get out and enjoy the day. Maybe a little FFF at my place this evening.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Saturday
Pretty good entries. Memories are good things.
No big plans here today. Hope to get 2 to come with me on a run. Mild weather continues. 3 and4 are supposed to get in for their Christmas break.
Continuing the theme of religion and exercise from last week, there was an article in this AM's paper about a book entitled, "Hail Mary and Rhythmic Breathing", a merger of the rosary and yoga. I feel a combination of admiration and wonderment about the concept. Admiration that the guy can put a book together on some pretty diverse thoughts. Wonderment that, properly packaged and marketed, almost anything can sell.
Speaking of selling, another story in today's paper has model Cindy Crawford promoting her furniture designs in a company (that I've never heard of) called Rooms To Go. And the story claims that the line has had annual sales of over $100 million since it was launched in 2005. I don't get it.
Another little vignette on what has become my progression to old age. For complex reasons, I took a pass on SB's this morning and hit the somewhat new Mickey D's at Duck Creek in Bettendorf. I got a small coffee and the kid charges me 48 cents. I think nothing of it. I sit down and am reading the paper when a friend joins me and we proceed to chat a little, comparing the crowd and costs there to the SB's across the parking lot. My friend comments about the coffee costing only 98 cents compared to the $1.75 at SB's. When it comes out that I paid 48 cents, we both realized that the kid at the counter had automatically given me the senior price! I must officially be an old guy now.
My 8th Day of Christmas memory goes way back to my childhood. I was a big Lone Ranger/Roy Rogers fan and I always got a new twin-six shooter cap gun/belt setup. From Santa. Very cool. I must have been hooked on some outer space show at one point and I remember one year getting a battery operated ray gun that flashed and made a whirlling noise. It drove Martha nuts. And I remember going out into the forests and fields of the farm when I was probably 10 or 12 years old looking for a decent Christmas tree for the house. And I'm sure that I drug one in a year or two. But it's not like we had a lot of evergreen trees on the farm.
I'm off to do various domestic things. While trying to avoid the holiday traffic. Have a great day.
Be careful out there.
No big plans here today. Hope to get 2 to come with me on a run. Mild weather continues. 3 and4 are supposed to get in for their Christmas break.
Continuing the theme of religion and exercise from last week, there was an article in this AM's paper about a book entitled, "Hail Mary and Rhythmic Breathing", a merger of the rosary and yoga. I feel a combination of admiration and wonderment about the concept. Admiration that the guy can put a book together on some pretty diverse thoughts. Wonderment that, properly packaged and marketed, almost anything can sell.
Speaking of selling, another story in today's paper has model Cindy Crawford promoting her furniture designs in a company (that I've never heard of) called Rooms To Go. And the story claims that the line has had annual sales of over $100 million since it was launched in 2005. I don't get it.
Another little vignette on what has become my progression to old age. For complex reasons, I took a pass on SB's this morning and hit the somewhat new Mickey D's at Duck Creek in Bettendorf. I got a small coffee and the kid charges me 48 cents. I think nothing of it. I sit down and am reading the paper when a friend joins me and we proceed to chat a little, comparing the crowd and costs there to the SB's across the parking lot. My friend comments about the coffee costing only 98 cents compared to the $1.75 at SB's. When it comes out that I paid 48 cents, we both realized that the kid at the counter had automatically given me the senior price! I must officially be an old guy now.
My 8th Day of Christmas memory goes way back to my childhood. I was a big Lone Ranger/Roy Rogers fan and I always got a new twin-six shooter cap gun/belt setup. From Santa. Very cool. I must have been hooked on some outer space show at one point and I remember one year getting a battery operated ray gun that flashed and made a whirlling noise. It drove Martha nuts. And I remember going out into the forests and fields of the farm when I was probably 10 or 12 years old looking for a decent Christmas tree for the house. And I'm sure that I drug one in a year or two. But it's not like we had a lot of evergreen trees on the farm.
I'm off to do various domestic things. While trying to avoid the holiday traffic. Have a great day.
Be careful out there.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Friday
No blog today.
My 9th Day of Christmas memory is putting together various kids' gifts where there was "some assembly required". Didn't the little yellow bike come at Christmas? Was that the vehicle of record on Mary's crash at Mercy Park?
Be careful out there.
My 9th Day of Christmas memory is putting together various kids' gifts where there was "some assembly required". Didn't the little yellow bike come at Christmas? Was that the vehicle of record on Mary's crash at Mercy Park?
Be careful out there.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday
Pretty quiet out there today.
Another great day weather-wise here. Sunny and 50+.
We have our office party tonight, and I have a meeting beforehand, so this will be brief. There is no chance of me getting back here for a longer entry. Our parties are never that great, but the meals can be ok.
For the 10th Day of Christmas memory, I'm picking Mary's gift to me of the model Ford Galaxie 500.
Gotta go. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Another great day weather-wise here. Sunny and 50+.
We have our office party tonight, and I have a meeting beforehand, so this will be brief. There is no chance of me getting back here for a longer entry. Our parties are never that great, but the meals can be ok.
For the 10th Day of Christmas memory, I'm picking Mary's gift to me of the model Ford Galaxie 500.
Gotta go. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Wednesday PM
Well, let's see if I can't get back to a regular schedule.
Blogger does shut down occasionally for maintenance. It was just an odd deal yesterday. I had started the entry, stepped away for a while, came back and finished, and then tried to publish. With no success. When 4 is home for the holidays, I'm going to have her help me upgrade to the newest version of Blogger since they query me on that everytime I open the site. I'm betting that sometime soon, they will just trash your stuff if you don't get with the new program.
2 and I did a three mile run at 4:00 this afternoon. It was nice out and with the snow gone, the Shel route was available. It was cool enough that I wore gloves the entire time, but I had the baseball cap as opposed to the stocking cap. Pretty nice for December 13th.
1 and Matt have decided on the reception location, a country club that looks very nice. Their investigation of possible sites was a learning experience for them. In an area like the Twin Cities, there are probably hundreds of possible places from which to choose. Getting through the process to find a place that has the right mix of atmosphere, location and costs is no easy task. If there was no budget to worry about, things would probably be less complicated. But the bride in this case chose her parents poorly, and they're both accountants to boot. The menu and wine selections have yet to be finalized.
1 also reports of another victory for her ninth grade girls. That make it 4-1 for the season. Not bad for a rookie coach.
I had a conversation with a Bettendorf girls parent today following last night's PV girls win in the girl-boy double header at Bettendorf. (The PV boys lost.) I volunteered that I had little admiration for the Bettendorf girls' coach, and I found it interesting that he was not so quick to criticize her. Apparently, there's quite a bit of that (criticism) going around about her, and he sees some overly-involved parents perhaps trapsing past that invisible line of good conduct. I never liked the way she talked down to the players. But he thinks she has matured some since her early days at PV. Whatever. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with those kinds of things anymore.
My 11th Day of Christmas memory is wheeling a cart-full of kids through the aisles and eventually looking at the angel figurines at K&K after Sunday church. Maybe, not exactly Christmas, but close enough for this discussion.
The Faculty Senate at Iowa gave a nearly unanimous no-confidence vote to the Board of Regents. This all stems from the unsuccessful search for a new U of I president that was mentioned here recently. Plus, the chairman of the Regents has made it pretty clear that he just really doesn't care what the faculty thinks. The Faculty Senate has no power or authority. The Regents' chairman has a rather distinguished record in the media business, both in Iowa and in New York. Among his other interests is majority ownership (I think) of the Iowa Cubs. I've always thought of him as a little too impressed with himself, but I have a highly respected client/friend who thinks the guy is top drawer. Again, whatever. For what's good for the U, I'd take his judgement over the Faculty Senate.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Blogger does shut down occasionally for maintenance. It was just an odd deal yesterday. I had started the entry, stepped away for a while, came back and finished, and then tried to publish. With no success. When 4 is home for the holidays, I'm going to have her help me upgrade to the newest version of Blogger since they query me on that everytime I open the site. I'm betting that sometime soon, they will just trash your stuff if you don't get with the new program.
2 and I did a three mile run at 4:00 this afternoon. It was nice out and with the snow gone, the Shel route was available. It was cool enough that I wore gloves the entire time, but I had the baseball cap as opposed to the stocking cap. Pretty nice for December 13th.
1 and Matt have decided on the reception location, a country club that looks very nice. Their investigation of possible sites was a learning experience for them. In an area like the Twin Cities, there are probably hundreds of possible places from which to choose. Getting through the process to find a place that has the right mix of atmosphere, location and costs is no easy task. If there was no budget to worry about, things would probably be less complicated. But the bride in this case chose her parents poorly, and they're both accountants to boot. The menu and wine selections have yet to be finalized.
1 also reports of another victory for her ninth grade girls. That make it 4-1 for the season. Not bad for a rookie coach.
I had a conversation with a Bettendorf girls parent today following last night's PV girls win in the girl-boy double header at Bettendorf. (The PV boys lost.) I volunteered that I had little admiration for the Bettendorf girls' coach, and I found it interesting that he was not so quick to criticize her. Apparently, there's quite a bit of that (criticism) going around about her, and he sees some overly-involved parents perhaps trapsing past that invisible line of good conduct. I never liked the way she talked down to the players. But he thinks she has matured some since her early days at PV. Whatever. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with those kinds of things anymore.
My 11th Day of Christmas memory is wheeling a cart-full of kids through the aisles and eventually looking at the angel figurines at K&K after Sunday church. Maybe, not exactly Christmas, but close enough for this discussion.
The Faculty Senate at Iowa gave a nearly unanimous no-confidence vote to the Board of Regents. This all stems from the unsuccessful search for a new U of I president that was mentioned here recently. Plus, the chairman of the Regents has made it pretty clear that he just really doesn't care what the faculty thinks. The Faculty Senate has no power or authority. The Regents' chairman has a rather distinguished record in the media business, both in Iowa and in New York. Among his other interests is majority ownership (I think) of the Iowa Cubs. I've always thought of him as a little too impressed with himself, but I have a highly respected client/friend who thinks the guy is top drawer. Again, whatever. For what's good for the U, I'd take his judgement over the Faculty Senate.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday/Wednesday
I tried to post this Tuesday night, but Blogger was down and I had to get home. Sorry again.
We are in the middle of a small heat wave. I think that they are talking 50's for a few days. All that snow that we received a week ago is gone except for the remnants of the piles at the edges of streets and parking lots. Tough weather for the ski places.
My submission for the 12th Day of Christmas memory is 3's resurrection of the children's Christmas play at OLOTR. Isn't she wonderful?
Information from Lake Tahoe is that snow there is pretty meager too. They can make snow at elevation, but only a few of the runs are covered by the snow-making machines. Hope they have a turn for the winter weather in the next couple of weeks so that 3 has plenty of options on her visit. Somewhat ironically, 2 and 4 and I had to climb over snow on Mt. Rose when we were there in July. Mother Nature has her own schedule.
Anybody watching what the free agent signings in baseball are going for? Guys whom I have never heard of are getting multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts. Kenny Lofton got a $6 mil deal for a year, and he's 40 years old. It all means that the teams are making all kinds of money and they can afford the contracts. The Cubs have spents hundreds of millions, and I'll take the under for win-not win their division next year.
More later.
Be careful out there.
We are in the middle of a small heat wave. I think that they are talking 50's for a few days. All that snow that we received a week ago is gone except for the remnants of the piles at the edges of streets and parking lots. Tough weather for the ski places.
My submission for the 12th Day of Christmas memory is 3's resurrection of the children's Christmas play at OLOTR. Isn't she wonderful?
Information from Lake Tahoe is that snow there is pretty meager too. They can make snow at elevation, but only a few of the runs are covered by the snow-making machines. Hope they have a turn for the winter weather in the next couple of weeks so that 3 has plenty of options on her visit. Somewhat ironically, 2 and 4 and I had to climb over snow on Mt. Rose when we were there in July. Mother Nature has her own schedule.
Anybody watching what the free agent signings in baseball are going for? Guys whom I have never heard of are getting multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts. Kenny Lofton got a $6 mil deal for a year, and he's 40 years old. It all means that the teams are making all kinds of money and they can afford the contracts. The Cubs have spents hundreds of millions, and I'll take the under for win-not win their division next year.
More later.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday/Tuesday
I have no clue where today went.
Pretty good additions to 4000 Days' "14 Days of Christmas" list. For the record, the daily additions are not necessarily in order of importance. For anyone.
I wish I would have put this on the blog a day earlier. Jimmy Johnson, the 48 car/NASCAR champ, made the news wires over the weekend by breaking his wrist at a celebrity golf outing. The original statement released by his camp had him falling from a cart that he was riding in when the driver made an unexpected turn. My first reaction was, "I wonder how much alcohol was involved?" It came out yesterday that he was riding on top of the cart.
I left this open last night when I ran out for what was supposed to be a brief cocktail with Roy before a function that he needed to attend at 6:30. Needless to say, it wasn't brief and I never made it back. Sorry.
For my entry of the 13th Day of Christmas memory, I submit the sledding hill at Duck Creek, with no snow, and our running commentary as we drove by about the performances of the make-believe kids going down the hill.
So I'll do better today.
Be careful out there.
Pretty good additions to 4000 Days' "14 Days of Christmas" list. For the record, the daily additions are not necessarily in order of importance. For anyone.
I wish I would have put this on the blog a day earlier. Jimmy Johnson, the 48 car/NASCAR champ, made the news wires over the weekend by breaking his wrist at a celebrity golf outing. The original statement released by his camp had him falling from a cart that he was riding in when the driver made an unexpected turn. My first reaction was, "I wonder how much alcohol was involved?" It came out yesterday that he was riding on top of the cart.
I left this open last night when I ran out for what was supposed to be a brief cocktail with Roy before a function that he needed to attend at 6:30. Needless to say, it wasn't brief and I never made it back. Sorry.
For my entry of the 13th Day of Christmas memory, I submit the sledding hill at Duck Creek, with no snow, and our running commentary as we drove by about the performances of the make-believe kids going down the hill.
So I'll do better today.
Be careful out there.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Sunday
Beautiful day here. Maybe 40+. I brought Margret out to burn off some of the carbon on her valves. I still haven't had the one backseat window fixed so its a little breezey in there.
My pal Roy had a small accident on his way to coffee this morning. He was looking around his dashboard, had his eyes off the road, and ended up banging into a curb, flattening one tire, bending a designer rim, and bubbling up another tire. He was able to limp into the SB's parking lot. After coffee, we took a shot at changing the tire, but the repair kit was missing a fitting to loosen the lug nuts, so he ended up calling Mercedes roadside assistance. He let them tow it to the shop and he just fired up another of his cars. Life is a beach.
I watched the made-for-TV production yesterday of the the recent Ironman Triathlon from Hawaii. This is pretty close to the most insane athletic competition out there: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a little 26.2 mile marathon to finish. Most of the two hour show was comprised of the human interest flash-backs of various competitors. And there are always lots of stories. The remarkable thing is that the men's winner completes the entire course in a little over 8 hours, the women's winner in a little over 9 hours. Then there are the rest of the competitors whose goal is to complete the thing before the midnight deadline. For those coming in close to midnight, they have been out punishing their bodies for 16-17 hours.
The whole concept of this event reflects an element in human nature that seems to exist in everyone to varying degrees. Not everyone is driven to extremes in their various fields of endeavor, but many cannot resist a challenge. Physical challenges inspire more participants, because there are no intrinsic intellectual or economic limitations: a person need not be rich nor highly educated to run, bike or swim. Technology has widely disseminated the information about these more extreme activities. And more and more people see themselves as participants, not observers.
My philosophy on this is that a bit of moderation is OK. I mean, its not like you're getting paid to do this stuff. Well, the winners might be. But the midnight finishers are just nuts.
The college girls have finals this week. I'm sure that they spent the weekend pounding the books. Knock 'em dead, ladies.
Here's an interesting factoid for 2007. Tax deductible contributions of cash will not be allowed by the IRS without a receipt. Heretofore, there was no specific rule, and people commonly took a deduction for "estimated" amounts that they would put in various cash collections at church, school or The Salvation Army. My guess is that entities who rely on these cash contributions will have to come up with a verification system, or their collections will measurably drop off. For my clients, I'm telling them to make all their contributions by check.
I am considering checking out my four strands of outdoor tree lights for possible hanging later this week. As I recall, there were some defective portions on the strings when I pulled them down last year. Houses on both sides of me have been lit up for weeks. I definitely was not participating before December 1st. With just two weeks to go, it may be about time. I'm getting soft in my old age.
Here's an idea. Let's all participate in our own version of "The 14 Days of Christmas", a special version for 4000 Days. To make it easy, let's just add a favorite Christmas memory each day. For the 14th Day, I submit 4's birth. Her birthday became, and still is, my favorite day of each year for our family. Remeber, these are Christmas memories. It's not that 1, 2, and 3's birthdays are not special, but rarely are we all together as we have been for each of 4's birthdays. And Chucky Cheese is hard to forget.
I need to get Margret home. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
My pal Roy had a small accident on his way to coffee this morning. He was looking around his dashboard, had his eyes off the road, and ended up banging into a curb, flattening one tire, bending a designer rim, and bubbling up another tire. He was able to limp into the SB's parking lot. After coffee, we took a shot at changing the tire, but the repair kit was missing a fitting to loosen the lug nuts, so he ended up calling Mercedes roadside assistance. He let them tow it to the shop and he just fired up another of his cars. Life is a beach.
I watched the made-for-TV production yesterday of the the recent Ironman Triathlon from Hawaii. This is pretty close to the most insane athletic competition out there: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a little 26.2 mile marathon to finish. Most of the two hour show was comprised of the human interest flash-backs of various competitors. And there are always lots of stories. The remarkable thing is that the men's winner completes the entire course in a little over 8 hours, the women's winner in a little over 9 hours. Then there are the rest of the competitors whose goal is to complete the thing before the midnight deadline. For those coming in close to midnight, they have been out punishing their bodies for 16-17 hours.
The whole concept of this event reflects an element in human nature that seems to exist in everyone to varying degrees. Not everyone is driven to extremes in their various fields of endeavor, but many cannot resist a challenge. Physical challenges inspire more participants, because there are no intrinsic intellectual or economic limitations: a person need not be rich nor highly educated to run, bike or swim. Technology has widely disseminated the information about these more extreme activities. And more and more people see themselves as participants, not observers.
My philosophy on this is that a bit of moderation is OK. I mean, its not like you're getting paid to do this stuff. Well, the winners might be. But the midnight finishers are just nuts.
The college girls have finals this week. I'm sure that they spent the weekend pounding the books. Knock 'em dead, ladies.
Here's an interesting factoid for 2007. Tax deductible contributions of cash will not be allowed by the IRS without a receipt. Heretofore, there was no specific rule, and people commonly took a deduction for "estimated" amounts that they would put in various cash collections at church, school or The Salvation Army. My guess is that entities who rely on these cash contributions will have to come up with a verification system, or their collections will measurably drop off. For my clients, I'm telling them to make all their contributions by check.
I am considering checking out my four strands of outdoor tree lights for possible hanging later this week. As I recall, there were some defective portions on the strings when I pulled them down last year. Houses on both sides of me have been lit up for weeks. I definitely was not participating before December 1st. With just two weeks to go, it may be about time. I'm getting soft in my old age.
Here's an idea. Let's all participate in our own version of "The 14 Days of Christmas", a special version for 4000 Days. To make it easy, let's just add a favorite Christmas memory each day. For the 14th Day, I submit 4's birth. Her birthday became, and still is, my favorite day of each year for our family. Remeber, these are Christmas memories. It's not that 1, 2, and 3's birthdays are not special, but rarely are we all together as we have been for each of 4's birthdays. And Chucky Cheese is hard to forget.
I need to get Margret home. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Saturday
Just a few lines today.
My check-up was a non-event. I've been going to the same doctor for many years and we spend most of the time comparing our lives over the previous year. Everything was ok.
2 and I did 3.5+ this afternoon. Kind of hard for each of us. My excuse was Tuscan related.
My trip to KC was washed out when my pal Pete came up with a flu bug. He's been battling it all week and it just wasn't a good choice to go out on the road for the weekend. Plus, I didn't want to get his germs.
2 had a good time at the Iowa game last night. The parking pass was the key. The Clones didn't give the Hawks much of a game. And the Hawks aren't that good.
4 was at the game too. Her friends had got to the arena early and got the front row student seats. They were featured on the DM Register's on-line photo gallery for the game. 4 was just out of range.
I'm off to the Augie game. I'll check in tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
My check-up was a non-event. I've been going to the same doctor for many years and we spend most of the time comparing our lives over the previous year. Everything was ok.
2 and I did 3.5+ this afternoon. Kind of hard for each of us. My excuse was Tuscan related.
My trip to KC was washed out when my pal Pete came up with a flu bug. He's been battling it all week and it just wasn't a good choice to go out on the road for the weekend. Plus, I didn't want to get his germs.
2 had a good time at the Iowa game last night. The parking pass was the key. The Clones didn't give the Hawks much of a game. And the Hawks aren't that good.
4 was at the game too. Her friends had got to the arena early and got the front row student seats. They were featured on the DM Register's on-line photo gallery for the game. 4 was just out of range.
I'm off to the Augie game. I'll check in tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Friday
No blog today.
2 is headed over to IC for the game tonight. Roy's tickets plus a VIP parking pass.
I stopped over at the clinic this AM early and had my blood pulled for analysis for my physical exam tomorrow. You have to fast before you have the blood taken, so I just went before coffee. I hate getting shots and that needle for blood is the same thing.
Anybody notice that ND bballers beat two ranked teams this week? In a rather candid interview earlier this year, the ND coach basically said that they weren't going to get the top recruits, but they were going to get good players who would likely be there for four years and who could emerge as the NBA roll players like Paxson, Quinn and Garrity. It would be nice if they could be competitive in the Big East. My guess is that having Weis elevate the football program has had some carryover benefits to the hard court.
I'm thinking about taking the four courses required by Iowa high schools to become coaching certified. Several years ago, in an effort to get their hands around the volunteer coaching ranks, they came up with these minimially useful classes that an individual had to attend to be able to serve a school in any coaching capacity. Now, my pal Roy has volunteered to be the assistant golf coach at PV in 2007 , and he has to take the courses if he really wants to act in that capacity. The likelihood of him attending the classes on his own is Z-E-R-OOOOO!. So I think I'll do it with him so that he'll "git'r dun". Trust me. I will not be coaching anything, anywhere, anytime.
I see where some real estate family out East paid in excess of a billion dollars for one NYC skyscraper. I didn't look at the comps, but they'd better keep that thing 100% leased to pay for the cost of their capital. A billion here and billion there and pretty soon we'll be talking about real money.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
2 is headed over to IC for the game tonight. Roy's tickets plus a VIP parking pass.
I stopped over at the clinic this AM early and had my blood pulled for analysis for my physical exam tomorrow. You have to fast before you have the blood taken, so I just went before coffee. I hate getting shots and that needle for blood is the same thing.
Anybody notice that ND bballers beat two ranked teams this week? In a rather candid interview earlier this year, the ND coach basically said that they weren't going to get the top recruits, but they were going to get good players who would likely be there for four years and who could emerge as the NBA roll players like Paxson, Quinn and Garrity. It would be nice if they could be competitive in the Big East. My guess is that having Weis elevate the football program has had some carryover benefits to the hard court.
I'm thinking about taking the four courses required by Iowa high schools to become coaching certified. Several years ago, in an effort to get their hands around the volunteer coaching ranks, they came up with these minimially useful classes that an individual had to attend to be able to serve a school in any coaching capacity. Now, my pal Roy has volunteered to be the assistant golf coach at PV in 2007 , and he has to take the courses if he really wants to act in that capacity. The likelihood of him attending the classes on his own is Z-E-R-OOOOO!. So I think I'll do it with him so that he'll "git'r dun". Trust me. I will not be coaching anything, anywhere, anytime.
I see where some real estate family out East paid in excess of a billion dollars for one NYC skyscraper. I didn't look at the comps, but they'd better keep that thing 100% leased to pay for the cost of their capital. A billion here and billion there and pretty soon we'll be talking about real money.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Thursday
So a little bit of a deep freeze in the Midwest. It is December.
I had my chest x-ray today. The whole business of radiology has changed with digital imagery. They take the picture the same way, but it gets immediately downloaded and can then be shipped anywhere. I asked the tech who took mine about how the procedure was so different today than perhaps when she was originally trained. She said that she was kind of in the transition generation as they had taught some of the digital stuff while she was in school.
In the seminar that I attended yesterday, one of the presenters was talking about how their firm had got swamped with extended tax returns and had to engage some temps, who happened to be in India. Just like x-rays can be read anywhere once they're online, there is an increasing outsourcing of tax business to India. Because it is there. And it is usually pretty reliable and cheap. As long as they don't have to talk to the client.
My bias against the sub-continent began at Iowa. I hated the TA's in statistics, computer science, and a couple of other MBA classes. I could never understand them. It's kind of like going to the drive-through at Fast Food USA and trying to communicate through a large, double echoing tunnel intercom system.
The problem with the flood on extended tax returns is a little interesting. Prior to 2006, an individual return could be atomatically extended four months to August 15th. A second extension for another two months was available, but you had to apply for that second extension with another form before August 15th. So there was always a portion of the April extended reurns that actually got done by the August 15th extented due date. The remainder of the double-extended returns had to be filed by October 15th.
In 2006, the rules were changed and all extended returns received an automatic six month extension to October 15th. Which meant that there was no artificial deadline at August 15th. So procratinators that we are, October 15th became a deluge of delayed work with no respite. Some might argue that information returns were unusually late this year. But the real reason for the problem is that professionals absolutely live by deadlines. If there isn't one, let's get a tee time!
The Bulls killed the Sixers last night. 10 days after they got run out of the gym in Philly. I don't get the NBA. One night, a team beats another by 20. The next night, they play at the other team's place, and the score is reversed. And maybe the star player for the first team even sits the following night. And his replacement, who went to Mississippi Northern State for two years, and whom I have never heard of, goes for 32. It's gotta be drugs.
Hope you all have a pleasant evening.
Be careful out there.
I had my chest x-ray today. The whole business of radiology has changed with digital imagery. They take the picture the same way, but it gets immediately downloaded and can then be shipped anywhere. I asked the tech who took mine about how the procedure was so different today than perhaps when she was originally trained. She said that she was kind of in the transition generation as they had taught some of the digital stuff while she was in school.
In the seminar that I attended yesterday, one of the presenters was talking about how their firm had got swamped with extended tax returns and had to engage some temps, who happened to be in India. Just like x-rays can be read anywhere once they're online, there is an increasing outsourcing of tax business to India. Because it is there. And it is usually pretty reliable and cheap. As long as they don't have to talk to the client.
My bias against the sub-continent began at Iowa. I hated the TA's in statistics, computer science, and a couple of other MBA classes. I could never understand them. It's kind of like going to the drive-through at Fast Food USA and trying to communicate through a large, double echoing tunnel intercom system.
The problem with the flood on extended tax returns is a little interesting. Prior to 2006, an individual return could be atomatically extended four months to August 15th. A second extension for another two months was available, but you had to apply for that second extension with another form before August 15th. So there was always a portion of the April extended reurns that actually got done by the August 15th extented due date. The remainder of the double-extended returns had to be filed by October 15th.
In 2006, the rules were changed and all extended returns received an automatic six month extension to October 15th. Which meant that there was no artificial deadline at August 15th. So procratinators that we are, October 15th became a deluge of delayed work with no respite. Some might argue that information returns were unusually late this year. But the real reason for the problem is that professionals absolutely live by deadlines. If there isn't one, let's get a tee time!
The Bulls killed the Sixers last night. 10 days after they got run out of the gym in Philly. I don't get the NBA. One night, a team beats another by 20. The next night, they play at the other team's place, and the score is reversed. And maybe the star player for the first team even sits the following night. And his replacement, who went to Mississippi Northern State for two years, and whom I have never heard of, goes for 32. It's gotta be drugs.
Hope you all have a pleasant evening.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Wednesday
Kind of a lost day here. I had yet another CPE seminar today. This one a satellite gig at the Iowa Area Education facility in Bettendorf (the old Bettendorf HS on 21st Street). I did a few crosswords. This was my last such program for the year.
I also managed to go home for the lunch hour and did the Shel three mile route in a little over 34 minutes. It was cool-to-cold with the Westerly breeze, but it felt good getting it done. I wish it was easier for me to run.
The Hawks managed to give it away last night. I had actually turned to other programing at half because I didn't think UNI had enough to make a game of it. Then I flipped over later on and UNI is ahead in the last minute. Wow! The Hawks are in trouble. Bring back Coppin State.
Lake Tahoe housing made USA Today yesterday as part of a story about the softening of the housing market throughout the country. The gist of the article, I think, was that houses may be staying on the market longer, but that prices at Incline were not going down. They also featured a picture of the place at Zephyr Cove that is currently listed for sale at $100 mil.
I must be way too far over the hill. I couldn't get myself to watch the Victoria's Secret fashion show last night.
Tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day. No. I'm not that old. One article in one of the papers today mentioned that the memorial in Hawaii is sinking and that they aren't sure what to do to save it. They say that the memorial has been visited much more than anyone projected, and may have simply been under-engineered for the traffic.
I'm sure that for people now in their 70's, the Pearl Harbor attack would make that short list of events that everyone would remember where they were and what they were doing at that time. For me, that kind of list includes President Kennedy's assasination, Neil Armstrong's landing on the moon, and 9-11.
My pal Roy had a major economic event impact him this week. The publicly-traded company that his father founded was sold and the family's remaining interests will soon be converted to good 'ole cashola. He gets hit on by every fund raiser already. It will get worse. I gave him my best planning advice, "Just say no".
The initial bills for the January Why Pay Less golf trip to Cabo hit my recently received credit card invoice. At the tranportation and lodging rates reflected on the bill, the name of the trip has no chance of changing.
With my workout already done, I think I'll head out for a glass of vino. With it basically having been a lost day productivity-wise, I might as well stay the course this evening.
Be careful out there.
I also managed to go home for the lunch hour and did the Shel three mile route in a little over 34 minutes. It was cool-to-cold with the Westerly breeze, but it felt good getting it done. I wish it was easier for me to run.
The Hawks managed to give it away last night. I had actually turned to other programing at half because I didn't think UNI had enough to make a game of it. Then I flipped over later on and UNI is ahead in the last minute. Wow! The Hawks are in trouble. Bring back Coppin State.
Lake Tahoe housing made USA Today yesterday as part of a story about the softening of the housing market throughout the country. The gist of the article, I think, was that houses may be staying on the market longer, but that prices at Incline were not going down. They also featured a picture of the place at Zephyr Cove that is currently listed for sale at $100 mil.
I must be way too far over the hill. I couldn't get myself to watch the Victoria's Secret fashion show last night.
Tomorrow is Pearl Harbor Day. No. I'm not that old. One article in one of the papers today mentioned that the memorial in Hawaii is sinking and that they aren't sure what to do to save it. They say that the memorial has been visited much more than anyone projected, and may have simply been under-engineered for the traffic.
I'm sure that for people now in their 70's, the Pearl Harbor attack would make that short list of events that everyone would remember where they were and what they were doing at that time. For me, that kind of list includes President Kennedy's assasination, Neil Armstrong's landing on the moon, and 9-11.
My pal Roy had a major economic event impact him this week. The publicly-traded company that his father founded was sold and the family's remaining interests will soon be converted to good 'ole cashola. He gets hit on by every fund raiser already. It will get worse. I gave him my best planning advice, "Just say no".
The initial bills for the January Why Pay Less golf trip to Cabo hit my recently received credit card invoice. At the tranportation and lodging rates reflected on the bill, the name of the trip has no chance of changing.
With my workout already done, I think I'll head out for a glass of vino. With it basically having been a lost day productivity-wise, I might as well stay the course this evening.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tuesday
Short tonight.
I did make it to the Augie game last night. A blowout. The game was not that well attended, but parking was the worst of anytime I have been there. Obviously, there was something going on in the theater or elsewhere on campus because it was a mess. And a little chilly.
For the old farmers out there, USA Today had a story yesterday about Cow Power, an energy program in Vermont that is based on the methane gas generated by dairy cow manure processing systems. There were odor-free by-products used for fertilizer and animal bedding in addition to the gas. Given my close personal history with dairy cow manure, I was a little intrigued by the creative use of the stuff I used to shovel on a daily basis. On the other hand, my coffee crew had little interest in the story.
There was also a feature on the op-ed page by a minister whose spin on his craft was the merger of religion and fitness. I think that may be a bit of a reach, but he did point out that there is a huge percentage of the clergy that is overweight or obese. And he made some good observations about the relationship of good mental health with good physical health, and then took that a step further about good spiritual health. He was a marathoner too. Mostly, I think that he has done with his ministry what I have done with Criterium: put his profession and his avocation together.
Aren't the lucky ones those who don't see their jobs as work?
I'm headed home. Iowa - Northern Iowa in IC tonight. I'm inclined to take the Panthers. I had tentatively planned to be in IC for the Iowa - Iowa State game on Friday night. But that is not going to happen. But I may go to KC for the Chiefs' game on Sunday. It all depends on my pal Pete.
More tomorrow. Stay warm.
Be careful out there.
I did make it to the Augie game last night. A blowout. The game was not that well attended, but parking was the worst of anytime I have been there. Obviously, there was something going on in the theater or elsewhere on campus because it was a mess. And a little chilly.
For the old farmers out there, USA Today had a story yesterday about Cow Power, an energy program in Vermont that is based on the methane gas generated by dairy cow manure processing systems. There were odor-free by-products used for fertilizer and animal bedding in addition to the gas. Given my close personal history with dairy cow manure, I was a little intrigued by the creative use of the stuff I used to shovel on a daily basis. On the other hand, my coffee crew had little interest in the story.
There was also a feature on the op-ed page by a minister whose spin on his craft was the merger of religion and fitness. I think that may be a bit of a reach, but he did point out that there is a huge percentage of the clergy that is overweight or obese. And he made some good observations about the relationship of good mental health with good physical health, and then took that a step further about good spiritual health. He was a marathoner too. Mostly, I think that he has done with his ministry what I have done with Criterium: put his profession and his avocation together.
Aren't the lucky ones those who don't see their jobs as work?
I'm headed home. Iowa - Northern Iowa in IC tonight. I'm inclined to take the Panthers. I had tentatively planned to be in IC for the Iowa - Iowa State game on Friday night. But that is not going to happen. But I may go to KC for the Chiefs' game on Sunday. It all depends on my pal Pete.
More tomorrow. Stay warm.
Be careful out there.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Monday PM
Well, another Monday with all the trimmings. Lots of phone calls. I need to be more productive.
Had lunch with my friend Bill down at the 11th Street Precinct in the Village of East Davenport. Those tenderloins and fries are hard to beat. Greasy, but good. One of the owners of the bar is the Mother of the guy who runs the bike shop in Bettendorf. Kind of another example of the smallness of the world.
My pal Roy went through the norovirus thing yesterday and today. Same symtoms and experience that I had that week before Thanksgiving. I've been taking serious grief for not shaking hands with people these last couple of weeks. I wonder what this episode may add to the behavior of our group? I might start carrying those clorox wipes with me!
I think that there was a story on the news wires today of another norovirus incident on a cruise ship with several hundred people getting sick. It's a nasty little bug.
For the business news readers out there, CNBC fired up a new on-line site today that might bear monitoring. www.cnbc.com. I normally use cbsmarketwatch.com and my broker site for news. But I like most of the CNBC reporters, so I'm going to give the new site a chance.
Interesting that the very successful Rutgers football coach quickly took his name from consideration for the U of Miami job. And he was an assistant at Miami before he went to Rutgers. And it had to be a lot of money on the table. What does that say about the situation at UM? My guess is that they will turn to a "name" who may currently be out of job. I'm not so sure that President Donna Shilala down there will last. Or the AD. I know that they fired Coker, but that may not go high enough. Look at at Colorado.
Also interesting that Bowlsby (formerly of IC) has also pulled the trigger on the football coach at Stanford. If the AD job changes, coaches with losing records need to spruce up the old resume. See also, Iowa State and McCarney (and Morgan and Douglas).
So I'm off to the erg machine and maybe the Augie game. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Had lunch with my friend Bill down at the 11th Street Precinct in the Village of East Davenport. Those tenderloins and fries are hard to beat. Greasy, but good. One of the owners of the bar is the Mother of the guy who runs the bike shop in Bettendorf. Kind of another example of the smallness of the world.
My pal Roy went through the norovirus thing yesterday and today. Same symtoms and experience that I had that week before Thanksgiving. I've been taking serious grief for not shaking hands with people these last couple of weeks. I wonder what this episode may add to the behavior of our group? I might start carrying those clorox wipes with me!
I think that there was a story on the news wires today of another norovirus incident on a cruise ship with several hundred people getting sick. It's a nasty little bug.
For the business news readers out there, CNBC fired up a new on-line site today that might bear monitoring. www.cnbc.com. I normally use cbsmarketwatch.com and my broker site for news. But I like most of the CNBC reporters, so I'm going to give the new site a chance.
Interesting that the very successful Rutgers football coach quickly took his name from consideration for the U of Miami job. And he was an assistant at Miami before he went to Rutgers. And it had to be a lot of money on the table. What does that say about the situation at UM? My guess is that they will turn to a "name" who may currently be out of job. I'm not so sure that President Donna Shilala down there will last. Or the AD. I know that they fired Coker, but that may not go high enough. Look at at Colorado.
Also interesting that Bowlsby (formerly of IC) has also pulled the trigger on the football coach at Stanford. If the AD job changes, coaches with losing records need to spruce up the old resume. See also, Iowa State and McCarney (and Morgan and Douglas).
So I'm off to the erg machine and maybe the Augie game. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Monday AM
This could be considered a Sunday PM entry. I thought about coming by last night, but decided that it was just too cold to make the trip. It is Winter here in Iowa these days.
The Irish got the Sugar Bowl and LSU. Nothing like playing a really good team on what will amount to be their home field. Take LSU and give the points. Whatever they may be.
The Hawks drew Texas for their Alamo Bowl opponent. This makes the game a lot more appealing to Iowa's fans, I think. Who wants to go to a lower-tier bowl game and watch the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian? I had heard last week that early sales of game tickets to Iowa fans had been a little slow. The announcement of the opposing team being Texas should create some enthusiasm. And it is San Antonio, a great destination.
4 made a trip to Bettendorf yesterday to make a final interview with me for her SB's coffee group feature. Mostly, I think she wanted to get away from IC for a little while.
I have my annual physical this week. In addition to the general poking and prodding, I need to have blood work done and I need to get a chest x-ray. I also got a notice that it has been five years since my last colonoscopy. Now that's what I call exciting news.
The traffic on the main streets in town has picked up to holiday levels. Pulling out of our office park onto Kimberly on Saturday afternoon was an adventure. I don't even go up to 53rd Street.
1 has made progress on the wedding. She will need to keep us updated.
So I have a lot going on here this week. I need to get going. More later.
Be careful out there.
The Irish got the Sugar Bowl and LSU. Nothing like playing a really good team on what will amount to be their home field. Take LSU and give the points. Whatever they may be.
The Hawks drew Texas for their Alamo Bowl opponent. This makes the game a lot more appealing to Iowa's fans, I think. Who wants to go to a lower-tier bowl game and watch the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian? I had heard last week that early sales of game tickets to Iowa fans had been a little slow. The announcement of the opposing team being Texas should create some enthusiasm. And it is San Antonio, a great destination.
4 made a trip to Bettendorf yesterday to make a final interview with me for her SB's coffee group feature. Mostly, I think she wanted to get away from IC for a little while.
I have my annual physical this week. In addition to the general poking and prodding, I need to have blood work done and I need to get a chest x-ray. I also got a notice that it has been five years since my last colonoscopy. Now that's what I call exciting news.
The traffic on the main streets in town has picked up to holiday levels. Pulling out of our office park onto Kimberly on Saturday afternoon was an adventure. I don't even go up to 53rd Street.
1 has made progress on the wedding. She will need to keep us updated.
So I have a lot going on here this week. I need to get going. More later.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Saturday
A bright, sunny wintery day here today. Cool, so not much of the snow will melt this weekend.
The good news is that my snowblower came to life last night! I had gone home after work figuring that I would be moving the snow the old fashioned way, but I elected to give the blower a few more pulls before I picked up the shovel. And, wal-lah! On about the tenth pull it fired up. So I was able to do my drive-way and the neighbor lady's across the street without injuring my back.
The snow blower is one of those two-cycle engines where you mix oil in the gasoline. Of course, I have no idea what the mixture should be, so I do the finger-in-the-wind test and add the oil to the gas container til it "feels" right. Looks like I guessed ok for this winter. I will have to buy a new gas container for the lawn mower come Spring since it uses pure gas.
I went to a Christmas party last night at some friend's who live on Schoolhouse Road. A couple houses down from Dr. J. (Not that Dr. J. for you basketball fans out there!) The house was very Christmasy, with, by my count, six Christmas trees in the basement. They had it catered and serviced by Biaggi's. Very nice. And I knew a lot of the people so I was able to float through several conversation groups. I did get tired standing so I was outta there by ten or so.
Because of the party, I was unable to watch the exciting Hawkeye game. And now they get Coppin State tonight in the championship game. Who said Alford couldn't excel in Non-Conference Scheduling 101?
Here's some food for thought. Name another sporting activity where the regular season ends, and you then wait 6-8 weeks for psuedo play-off games. Which is what exists with the college football bowl season. The criticism of the BCS and the bowl selection process seems to ignore the timing aspects of the games themselves. You play a game each week for three months, and then you take a month and a half or so off before you play the "big" game. The real issue with this scheduling is that the bowl game committees are focussed on January 1st as the best clebratory time to capitalize on the economics for their communities. While the coaches and college President's may be crying foul about their concern for the "student-athletes", everybody is simply following the money.
A play-off system could work. See what happens in every other NCAA sport in D-1, and every NCAA sport in all other divisions.
Interstate 80 in central Illinois was a real problem during the snow storm Thursday night. I guess people had abandoned their cars and everything. It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature. Sounds like it was a mess at O'Hare too. You just never know about winter travel in the Midwest.
I tried out the new SB's today. I doubt if it will become a regular hangout. I asked for my extra hot Americano, specifically telling them to steam the water. I then sat down in a chair out of eye sight of the barista, and way too quickly, she delivers my drink as an "extra hot Americano". There was no steaming of the water. She surely just poured from the hot water spigot labelled "hot". They must think I'm a rube.
That's actually the second time that that has happened to me at a local SB's outlet. The Moline store tried the same thing one morning last month. I think that corporate policy is to not serve overly hot stuff in order to avoid a McDonald's coffee-like law suit. The Incline Village staff were similarly reluctant to meet my request last Summer, but the Woodbury store delivered the goods willingly, calling it a "cup of fire!" Fortunately, the Bettendorf SB's staff has catered to my preferences.
I'm headed to my indoor workout this afternoon. 2 may be on her own from here on out, or at least until they get the sidewalks cleared.
Be careful out there.
The good news is that my snowblower came to life last night! I had gone home after work figuring that I would be moving the snow the old fashioned way, but I elected to give the blower a few more pulls before I picked up the shovel. And, wal-lah! On about the tenth pull it fired up. So I was able to do my drive-way and the neighbor lady's across the street without injuring my back.
The snow blower is one of those two-cycle engines where you mix oil in the gasoline. Of course, I have no idea what the mixture should be, so I do the finger-in-the-wind test and add the oil to the gas container til it "feels" right. Looks like I guessed ok for this winter. I will have to buy a new gas container for the lawn mower come Spring since it uses pure gas.
I went to a Christmas party last night at some friend's who live on Schoolhouse Road. A couple houses down from Dr. J. (Not that Dr. J. for you basketball fans out there!) The house was very Christmasy, with, by my count, six Christmas trees in the basement. They had it catered and serviced by Biaggi's. Very nice. And I knew a lot of the people so I was able to float through several conversation groups. I did get tired standing so I was outta there by ten or so.
Because of the party, I was unable to watch the exciting Hawkeye game. And now they get Coppin State tonight in the championship game. Who said Alford couldn't excel in Non-Conference Scheduling 101?
Here's some food for thought. Name another sporting activity where the regular season ends, and you then wait 6-8 weeks for psuedo play-off games. Which is what exists with the college football bowl season. The criticism of the BCS and the bowl selection process seems to ignore the timing aspects of the games themselves. You play a game each week for three months, and then you take a month and a half or so off before you play the "big" game. The real issue with this scheduling is that the bowl game committees are focussed on January 1st as the best clebratory time to capitalize on the economics for their communities. While the coaches and college President's may be crying foul about their concern for the "student-athletes", everybody is simply following the money.
A play-off system could work. See what happens in every other NCAA sport in D-1, and every NCAA sport in all other divisions.
Interstate 80 in central Illinois was a real problem during the snow storm Thursday night. I guess people had abandoned their cars and everything. It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature. Sounds like it was a mess at O'Hare too. You just never know about winter travel in the Midwest.
I tried out the new SB's today. I doubt if it will become a regular hangout. I asked for my extra hot Americano, specifically telling them to steam the water. I then sat down in a chair out of eye sight of the barista, and way too quickly, she delivers my drink as an "extra hot Americano". There was no steaming of the water. She surely just poured from the hot water spigot labelled "hot". They must think I'm a rube.
That's actually the second time that that has happened to me at a local SB's outlet. The Moline store tried the same thing one morning last month. I think that corporate policy is to not serve overly hot stuff in order to avoid a McDonald's coffee-like law suit. The Incline Village staff were similarly reluctant to meet my request last Summer, but the Woodbury store delivered the goods willingly, calling it a "cup of fire!" Fortunately, the Bettendorf SB's staff has catered to my preferences.
I'm headed to my indoor workout this afternoon. 2 may be on her own from here on out, or at least until they get the sidewalks cleared.
Be careful out there.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Friday
No blog today. At least not much of one.
The Green Bay Marathon opened for registration today and Matt was one of the first in line. I hope he has a better day weather-wise than I had there. The sideways rain was a bit of a downer.
We got about 6-8 inches of snow last night. My snow blower would not start this AM of course, so I will need to do some shoveling later on tonight or tomorrow. The temps are projected to fall as well. Hello December. Hello Winter.
The path of the storm was such that my pal Roy did not have any snow at his place in Muscatine, just a 30 minute ride south and west of here.
So I'll be in the office in the AM and I'll catch up with everyone then. Although I am beginning to feel a little Camus-ish: I keep blogging and I'm not sure if anyone is out there.
Be careful out there.
The Green Bay Marathon opened for registration today and Matt was one of the first in line. I hope he has a better day weather-wise than I had there. The sideways rain was a bit of a downer.
We got about 6-8 inches of snow last night. My snow blower would not start this AM of course, so I will need to do some shoveling later on tonight or tomorrow. The temps are projected to fall as well. Hello December. Hello Winter.
The path of the storm was such that my pal Roy did not have any snow at his place in Muscatine, just a 30 minute ride south and west of here.
So I'll be in the office in the AM and I'll catch up with everyone then. Although I am beginning to feel a little Camus-ish: I keep blogging and I'm not sure if anyone is out there.
Be careful out there.
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