20060429

Things for web camera video. Surely there are better ways to spend time.

N. in MO and returning tomorrow. Everyone else hanging out here this rainy day. Having a go at the 'inbox' and inside projects.

20060427

Catch up post.

Work world continues in somewhat uncharted orbit. Lots of good people around. A good number of internal hirings could be likely but always an interesting process, with many looking. I'm thankful for the caliber of people I work with, a hard time shows what they are made of.

Exploring IP law, have acquired some study materials and targeting another 'piece of paper,' this if time permits and somewhat dependent on opportunities. But seems like a reasonable idea - a good idea, even. These days there are numerous web resources to read, including for example a blog called IPBIZ.

Writing some poetry, a daily activity either on slog2live or Magnapoets. There are some really good writers on the latter site.

N. seems to be doing well at college, taking on difficult courses, studying and preparing and getting through the exams. She's also finding some time to waitress and pick up some pretty decent tips.

C.A. back into swim club scene, readjusting to the intensity. Keeps very busy but at the same time usually well balanced, keeping time for friends and resting.

R. very grown up, spends time with friends and a whiz at electronic communication :) Very sweet and encouraging, I appreciate this more during a time of some uncertainty.

P. spends quite a bit of time with his buddies - has piano recital next week, also has developed playstation skills without going too far overboard.:)

I need to spend more time with each of them.

C. L. exercising lots and in great shape, continues to help out friends, especially the ones from Sudan/Uganda. Quite a heart for them.

Still like the camera, and playing violin - played along with B.'s co-workers at a banquet the other night, lots of fun. Great to have this kind of activity.

20060422

a juggler like I have never seen (about 4 1/2 minutes to watch, but worth it)

happy birthday Gwen!

20060421

A day of thinking, reading, writing.

N. working, C.A. still away, R. with friend, P. at school 'fun night' with C.L., me here, tired. Reading about patent laws. The cats and dog are very relaxed.

20060420

Good day today. An interview. More next week. We'll see.

C.A. off to a couple of days of fixing up a summer youth camp. N. working last night. R. wearing a facial mud mask that matches her turquoise t-shirt. P. writing a book for his 6th grade 'school buddy' - title is "The Fire Lord", he had me read it.

Posting pictures over on slog2live and sometimes on Magnapoets.

C.L. out at an exercise class...she loves it.

20060418

Tuesday! Interesting times at work thinking about alternatives - very difficult to know where things will end up. I guess in a larger sense that's always true.

A litle phone contact with N. today. C.A. had a follow-up meeting with the Tijuana crew (just got back from picking her up from that), she has a busy life right now. R. seems to have things a bit more relaxed at the moment. P. spent a good bit of time playing outside, some kind of improvised baseball-type game with sticks and rocks, I think...C.L. bought me a few clothes today, will be needing those the next few days...I went for a brisk walk this evening, lots of lightening (more now and a bit of rain). Nice day overall.

20060415

Up early to take C.A. and 4 friends swimming at the Y, then off to band rehearsal with Noisy Withdrawal (gig coming up so extra rehearsals), and then over to Columbia Grounds to catch end of Beam Reach performance outside in the sun - joined in on last two songs (violin). Nice morning/early afternoon. N. home this weekend, nice to see her. Haircut for me, some blog time, bit of taxi duty for C.A. (babysitting) and R. (buying something to wear tomorrow). Bit of reading while waiting for R. C.L. out this evening for a friend's 50th b.d. party (surprise). That's about it.

Did see a mother squirrel carrying a young one across the yard, much as cats do, it paused to look me over for a moment, then went up the maple tree and hopped across to a pine tree with a good-sized squirrel nest in it. Reminded me of the baby squirrel we raised long ago.

20060414

Missed posting here yesterday - taking today off to recharge a bit and handle a few tasks that need doing (and yes, one of them starts with 't' and has an 'x' in it). Keeping the camera close at hand...here is C.A. doing a little practice with fairly safe conditions:


I did some poetry writing over at slog2live, published it to Magnapoets - that's a pretty good website for new poetry every day written by a group of people who love to do that and are good at it - some of them write for a living, and others write when we can.

What a fantastic day outside.

20060412

What a beautiful day, so I took the afternoon off to enjoy it a little. And frankly it's important to take the occasional break. Passover tonight so our drummer won't be at rehearsal. Details to finish on taxes!!! Life seems pretty good for all of us here today.

There is a poem for Des' birthday over on slog2live.

20060410

A somewhat heavy day as things go on with obvious uncertainty.

P. to piano this evening, doing well. Dinner all together (except N. of course). Nice walk this evening. Everybody in reasonably ok health, which is really quite good.

Ice-out April 9, 2006

20060409

Nothing on the van. Zippo. Nada.

Tensions flaring today. It was bound to happen eventually. Fairly low key, all the same.

Reading, writing, more reading. Maybe it's time to do some arithmetic.

Music this morning seemed to go well. Talked with a few friends who understand the corporate world pretty well, this career stage pretty well also. Difficult to say how all will turn out.

Bit like knowing there's an exam coming up and not having a clear idea what to study. Been there before though.

20060408

No calls on the van. OK, since I don't like selling a vehicle anyway. Not OK, and has me wondering if the price is set too high - was sure I had it low. See what tomorrow brings.

Day of resting, reading, writing. Had a blazing bonfire to consume lots of yard debris, P. & R. had smores, and now P. is making a 'huge cloud of smake' as he's putting it out.

Cy. did lots of yardwork today. Ca. did some swimming & planning for swimming training. Presumably N. had a good day on campus.

Back to a little more reading and then off to bed. Sure do like learning about poetry these days. Need this sometimes.

20060407

Day 4, as we say these days.

Called a couple of professors including my grad school advisor - nice chats and I learned a couple of things. In the afternoon took a trip to get a copy of my grad school transcript.

Got the van off to the place where we've bought and sold a few cars, I think it will likely go some time this weekend - we'll see.

Maybe some time for violin this weekend. Palm sunday, some music as usual.

Cy. spent some time with N. today - Ca. and R. off with friends tonight, P. outside playing somewhere.

Work situation plenty stressful but that is what happens sometimes.

20060406

OK, this is sort of draining. I really want to be doing something productive, which at the moment seems to consist primarily of sorting out productive things for a group of people to do. Interesting challenge.

Good test of faith. It's real or it isn't.

Things mostly ok on home front, though the uncertainty does have an impact there too.

20060405

Hello. Sort of a quiet evening post as I munch on a few tortilla chips, reflect on the day at work (major transitions ahead), and anticipate the pizza that is being prepared. Later, band practice, and even later, sleep. That's about it. Getting warmer out.

Dealing With It

The train of news
pulls into town
this time letting
everyone down

cries of "what will it be,
and what will become?
our plans are all ruined!"
our ease is undone

"give us this day
our daily bread!"
are more than words
just idly said

my daughter cried
like someone had died
her grief is real
and too new to heal

but evening comes,
and morning too;
putting 'deal with it'
on my list of to-do

20060404

Interesting day at the office - one of those infamous '9:00' meetings for all to attend. The message this time was that the division is up for sale, estimated to happen some time during the next 6-12 months. Lots of questions about what this might mean, but pretty clear that about 1500 jobs are likely affected, including mine. As you might imagine, lots of interest in what it means for each of those jobs, so not a lot got done today.

The market is happy about this, since the division is rather different from the rest of the company, and the move is viewed as a good one for the new CEO. Many of us are not surprised, but it's still hard news.

Not much else to report on today. N. found some info about phone plans, so we might be able to switch to something more economical overall (I still don't have a cell phone!). First day back at school for the others after their spring break. Beautifully sunny day. Still trying to write a poem or two most days. May spend some time with the new digital camera this evening...

P.S. just ran out to the car to put the new insurance certificate in it and saw a small white pickup parked just down the street with a ladder hanging out the back and a bumper sticker that reads "Why worry? - God's in control." Nice to see.

20060403

A fine day outside, went for a walk across the work campus to ask a question and then back. Could have called or e-mailed, but better to take a walk! Driving the 'new' car today, very nice. Several things got cancelled/rescheduled at work so I actually had time to get some things done.

P. had piano this evening, doing fine with it, time for another recital. I had yet another swim lesson (1 more to go) and made it the length of the pool a couple of times without spluttering too much, that was good.

Had a look at CA.'s pictures from Tijuana - the site at the dump is unbelievable - people live there.


all for now.

20060402

Ca. home safely, long trip since they had a 6 AM flight which translated (including the change to daylight savings time) to getting up at 1:30, so essentially no sleep last night or on the trip. She spent some time yesterday visiting a pretty huge garbage dump site near Tijuana, lots of kids there looking for food. So today when P. was complaining about his sandwich, he was advised to 'suck it up and eat what you get.' Good to have Ca. back. Chilly & rainy day, woodstove going.

This morning a Teen Challenge choir came to our church, we played several tunes and did one with them that was very upbeat and it reminded me of the way people celebrate at rock concerts - a lot of fun, then we spent a bit of time socializing, which for me meant finding a couple of other introverts who weren't comfortable in the crowd and we'd laugh about it. It was a good morning.

Went to the 'Owner to Owner' car place to price vans like ours - there wasn't anything that matched well, but I think I know what kind of price to start with, so this week will be getting the 1994 Nautica Villager with 200,000+ miles ready to sell for around $2500, it should go reasonably soon...

Continuing to have a go at writing, especially poetry-type writing. I really enjoy it when one seems to come together.

Got the digital camera out of the box and started learning about it, able to point and click but lots to learn before getting decent images.

20060401

"Hey, hey, we're the Monkees!"

Just thought I'd through that in there - those guys are in their 60's now.

N. home briefly from the dorm, worked on a paper and talked about plans for next year, then off to work. Moi, I played fiddle for a while over on Lagoon Avenue in Mpls (well, not on the street but at somebody's apartment - three of us, one is a pilot in the National Guard). P. & Cy. went to see a movie (Ice Age II?), R. off to her friend's house and Ca. somewhere in her last full day in Tijuana (back tomorrow). That's about it! I think we'll try to sell the van, much as I dislike that process. Could always donate it, I suppose...