All done...

Today was my final day at my client of 30 months, and it was bittersweet. I brought donuts and coffee for the team, and we had some good reminiscences. I have to say that I really did transition well this time - there's NOTHING that was on my plate that didn't have a new owner, and there was nothing that I wasn't 100% sure was being handled well by the new owner.

Of course I went to say bye bye to my people at the coffee shop... and they were sad to see me go.... I also got a hug from one of the security guards... an older lady who I got a warm welcome from every morning. She thanked me for letting her know I was leaving because "she would have got worried when she didn't see me".

It was time to go, and I feel good about it, but it's always a strange thing to leave a home, and this place really was a home.

Bring on the new gig!!!!!

Easter SCIENCE

I had to share these pictures of Pamela's insane Easter Display. Yes, those are bunnies under glass, with a beaker of jelly beans, as well as some "experimental" easter grass under glass as well.

Bella said "CUTE!!!!" When I came home and saw this, I was doubled over with laughter for 15 minutes. And I've been laughing ever since. I am SO glad Pamela uses her powers for good - this much insane creativity in the wrong hands would lead to world domination.

Dream into Action

We're really trying to live closer to a "budget" and that means we're cooking a lot more, eating LEFTOVERS (yes, I have been "repurposing" previous meals), and generally trying to be better citizens of the culiniary world.  

So I've been experimenting in the kitchen a little.  You need to know that I have amazingly powerful kitchen DNA - my mother is one of the
best "scratch cooks" in the universe - she would be a great iron chef, able to take 8 random ingredients and make something not-too-fancy but amazingly tasty.

These superpowers have not yet manifested in me, unfortunately.  I do try and sometimes it is
good and sometimes it is tragically flawed.  But tonight, it worked.

I had a vision 3 days ago of a steak.  A skillet sauteed steak with a shallot-wine-butter reduction.  I got the steaks (basic skirt steaks here)... but Pamela made a goat cheese lasagne which made two dinners for me, so tonight was my steak night.  And it was WONDERFUL.  The meat was a little tough (flash sauteeing is not the most tender way to cook an already tough cut...), but the flavors were amazing.

And it paired very well the Cab i poured for the evening.  The only possible downside was Bella burning her mouth on the mashed potatoes and screaming for like a half hour... 

The new gig....

I've begun the ramp-up process on the NEW gig starting Monday... 5 hours of meetings so far. The only downside was that I NEED a PC to do this work. For the past 3 years, my gig has been writing and emailing and people management, for which a Mac is as good as anything. But this gig will require some PC only tools (Access, Visio, Project), and while I can run Visio and Project in a limited fashion on the Mac, it's not terribly fast... and Access would not work very well.

So I'm blogging this from a PC. Can you feel my joie de vivre somehow being sucked out of me by the very touching of the keys?

Back to the gig: There was no ramp up. I started in a meeting where there was a crisis, and decisions needed to be made, and heads were turning my direction for my advice. Strangely enough, I actually HAD advice, and was able to help plot a course of action. It's strange to sometimes have to remember that.... I'M GOOD AT THIS STUFF. That's why I'm doing well in this business.

In other news: Moog just released a new Synthesizer: It's called "Little Phatty". How ADORABLE.

Do you Believe?

Strange dreams last night.  All I can remember is that I was a lead player in a romantic comedy.  When I woke up, the last thing I remember was a montage of me and people doing some big "project", with "Do you believe in Love" by Huey Lewis and the News as the soundtrack.

I've never been so happy to hear my alarm clock go off.

Comments...

In case anyone has been stymied by this - I finally figured out how to allow you to comment on my posts...  so go ahead and try it.  Both of you!

Back to the Coffee Shop.... the shocking twist

Don't worry - I'll only be at this site for 4 more days, after which the Coffee Shop Updates will cease.

I went up to get my double today, and again one of the "girls who make the sandwiches" was helping me out, again appreciative of the simplicity of my order (and inadvertently giving me a QUAD in the process). I commented that I hadn't seen Ryan for while, and they gave me a look.... and said "he's gone.... and from what I heard, there was trouble".

The sweet guy with the chemo? I started thinking - man, maybe this is a health insurance thing, and those evil managers got tired of paying for his expenses and came up with a way to cut costs... I had all sorts of theories.

Well, later on, I was in the lobby and saw the "OTHER girl who makes the sandwiches", who stopped me to ask me where I've been (because I hadn't been down there in a while...). I mentioned that I was surprised not to see Ryan, and she spilled the beans. He disappeared. They were roommates.... and he just up and left one day. And he was addicted to painkillers. And he may have lifted from the till, and certainly walked off with a bunch of her stuff...

I told her how sad I was to hear about that, and that I had friends who had gone through this as well, and perhaps it's just as well that he's not in the house right now... I also told her that this was my last week at the site, and that I would sure miss that whole crew.

What a terrible end to the Coffee Shop saga... Thinking about it, these are people who I just talked to a little bit every day, and I wound up knowing a lot about their world... and it is just strange to think that this sort of drama can be lurking under just about any situation out there.

Three Unrelated Points

1) Some friends are out in San Jose at a conference - but alas they have to work the "Booth". It brought back horrible memories of when I've had to work booths in the past. The "uniform" which everybody shares (one year, I swear EVERY vendor decided that Khakis and a Jean Shirt was "different" It was impossible to tell anyone apart!), the people who come by just to chat, or just to take your free thing, and never to actually BUY. The pain of your feet on the concrete floor.

I am sending "visions of softness" to them. And mentally encouraging their barkeeps to add an extra shot at the end of the day. My brain powers have that sort of influence.

2) Cute Bella thing today: After Gymnastics Class, Pamela took Bella to the Flower Show downtown where they had a good time. Bella was getting pretty tired, and Pamela asked her during the ride home - "Are you sleepy?" NO. "Are you going to take a little nap?" "NO.......... Actually yes. I am going to take a little nap". And immediately closed her eyes and was out COLD.

I was reminded of a quote of Timmy P's I heard related once by his Roommate the legendary Greg Neuhaus - after a long night of studying, he closed his book and said to no one in particular "Sleep... my mind welcomes it" and dropped off.

3) I have lust in my heart for a keyboard: The Poly Evolver by Dave Smith Instruments. But it's MIGHTY expensive, and pretty limited - but it has beautiful knobs and lights and it sounds VERY big. And Dave Smith signs each one, and he's the inventor of the Prophet 5, which was a classic from 1977.

He was interviewed about being a hardware maker in the age of software synths (In truth, my entire setup is software running on a G5, and I love it). He said that in 10 years, all that software won't work (the manufacturers will have likely moved on - and that's probably true), but his keyboards will keep on working. And in 10 years, you'll have something to SELL if you need. And that's true - I've thrown away old software (Unity DS1 anyone?) that was unsupported.

I thought that was pretty persuasive... but then I realized - his keyboard costs $2600. Used they already go for $1900. So it loses $700 in value immediately. A software version of his Prophet 5 costs $300 new, and even if it just STOPS WORKING in 5 years, it costs less than HALF of the first year depreciation on an actual piece of hardware.

So then I decided that software is ok anyway. Even if I need to buy a new version every 3-4 years, I think it's not a losing proposition. It's more like LEASING sound. And that's my economics article for the day.

Sore....

Man alive, particle board is Hea-VAY.  We have come to terms with the fact that our books and videos are officially "out of CONTROL", and decided to get some Ikea Billy bookshelves.  You know, just temporary until we can get the Stickleys in (HA!).

Not sure what I was thinking when I went to Ikea alone on Sunday to "pick some up".  One flat pack was 80 lbs.  Two at 50 lbs.  But man that I am, I did wrestle it all into the car and get it home and get them all on the proper floors....  and MAN am I sore!!!!

I finally finished assembling them last night...  and they're looking pretty dang good.

Quick Coffee Shop update:  Pamela came to visit work yesterday and finally saw the legendary coffee shop.  Alas, the regulars weren't there!  The two "Girls who make the Sandwiches" were improbably working the front counter.  They told me "We're caterers, we dont' make coffee!"  But since my Double was easy to make, they indulged me.  

They also said "We're working a double here - there's an event we need to cater tonight, and it's hot food, not trays, so it'll be a lot of work.  Let's just say that if the manager doesn't come through with some beer for us tonight, we're not coming in tomorrow."

I have not yet confirmed whether this threat was taken seriously.

Mike and Ike

I was sitting in a meeting today, and watched a coworker eat TWO movie theater-sized boxes of Mike and Ikes (they're like long jellybeans).
  
One after another, without pause.  Over the course of an hour, those boxes were DEVOURED without mercy.

I'm gonna level with you:  It scared me.

Back to the Coffee Shop

Two stories worth repeating:  Yesterday I was dragging arou 2pm and needed a fix.  I went downstairs, and ordered my double...  Ryan made the shot, but before handing it to me, paused:  "I think I may have packed the coffee too tightly, and it may have overextracted - let me dilute it for you"

I insisted on the full strength monkeyfur brew...  and he refused to charge me for it.  Apparently if the coffee isn't up to his standards, it's going to get tossed, so might as well give it away.  I do love this joint.

Today, I went down for a post-lunch toot, and caught the following conversational snippet from Ryan (who you'll recall was in hospital last week, and also voted me best dressed): 

"After Chemo, I can't drink for a few days, and my friends usually call me up to go out knowing they've got a guaranteed designated driver".

There are at least three different layers of sadness implicit in that statement.  To be honest, I'm a bit bummed.

Still Rocking

I haven't had the guts to look under the bandage, but at least it doesn't hurt to type... too much.

Project Manager has a new Manifesto - it's not enough to be 80's wink-wink-nudge-nudge but we need to really be TRUE to it.  That means making records that may have fallen through a time tunnel from 1982 - without stutter edits or great digital samples (unless emulating a recorded instrument) or really lush reverbs...  there needs to be some rawness.

To that end, I gutted the first song, "I Consultant" and replaced EVERY SOUND, thinned it out, redid the effects, and made it sound like a room full of synths almost threatening to go out of tune.  One of the instruments is actually blatently out of tune.

The nice late-Depeche era drums are gone, and a quantized Linn and Simmons track is in it's place.

And the result is just great.  It's liberating to have a "direction" - to have a sound that you're really GOING for.  It's a fun project, and I can't wait to share some of the finished tracks.

But no previews you jackals.  NONE.  

Ow - my thumb still hurts, dang it.

OW OW OW.

I slammed my thumb into a door jamb, bent back my nail, and it's all the wrong color.

OW.

OW OW OW.

DANG IT.

Sort of hurts to type. 

OUCH.

After the love...

So... we got CREAMED by 8 inches of heavy snow last night, but the show must go on, so we disentombed the cars, shoveled the walks and off I went to work.... Where surprisingly EVERYONE else actually WAS - so meetings went on as planned, work life was as a normal day.

During a late morning break, I loaded up the ipod with my german interview podcasts and walked to the adjoining hospital (where they serve the NAKED brand of thickjuice, which is much superior to the ODWALLA brand which they sell at my cafe). On the way back, I passed a wall of windows and saw Dick, the CEO of the multimillion dollar healthcare chain standing there on the phone.

Apparently in a move toward "accessibility", they decided that the CEO should have a transparent office that anyone could walk up to and press some ham on the glass... Fascinating. Of course I had walked past the office a dozen times and never seen anyone in there, so perhaps it's not such an invasive plan after all.

Since I was snowed in, I decided to eat at the cafe that has served as the basis for too many of my posts. I'm here to report that while the Espresso was delicious, the sandwich was a confused mess. It was an "italian panini". But no salami? Just ham and capiccola, and the capiccola was spectacularly TOUGH, like HAM JERKY. Three leaves of spinach and two weary slices of roma tomato, no sauce, no vinagrette, no joie de vivre.

This evening after slip sliding home, I decided to check on my dad's house - he never asks me to shovel, but I like to check when he's out of town. I got there, and yes, it had been freshly snowblowed. But in the process of checking it out, I got my car well stuck in a snowdrift - DANG IT MINNEAPOLIS and your "snow emergency" plowing regs. Here in Edina, we were plowed out by 8am. The whole dang city.

Two pedestrians pushed me out, which was wonderful - and once back in the "tire grooves" that pass for Minneapolis' "plowed streets", I stopped the car, lept out and thanked the profusely. That's one of those things that I always feel strongly about - I don't like that feeling when you pushed someone out, and they just TAKE OFF with the little wave.... Ah well.

The West Wing rewarded us last night (but come on, if Donna and Josh don't just get FREAKY by the end, I'm giving up on humanity) Tonight we watch the Sopranos. awwww YEAH.

Project Manager

So my little project for world domination:  The supergroup is called "Project Manager" and we sing songs of life in corporate america.  The first track, "I, Consultant" is in the can (awaiting vocals, actually).  The song has a moby-esque feel.

The second track has come along nicely.  "Requirements" is the name, and it has a very Cabaret Voltaire like groove (Code-era).  It's now ready for guitar and vocals too - so Caesar and Paul better get CRACKING.

The other night, I sent a rough mix to Caesar, and the next morning got an email back "Oh look, what happened?  The track has guitar on it!"  My response was "Knock knock,  Who's there?  INTERNATIONAL MEGAHIT."

When I finished the mix last night, I somehow decided to up the Tempo 1bpm (106 to 107) completely forgetting that Caesar already had tracks laid...  and my little bump threw all his work off.  Nice guy that I am, I re-bounced it at his preferred tempo.  

Work life continues... I'm just wrapping stuff up at Client 1, and Client 2 continues at their low level of hum... Client 3 should start up next week!  

And regular readers will be relieved to know that Ryan is back at work in the Coffee Shop, as is the "girl who makes the sandwiches".  I didn't ask about monday, but I registered my pleasure at seeing them by buying a sandwich for lunch and being very vocal about how good it looked.  (Truth be told, it WAS delicious).

Coffee Shop Update - Emerging Crisis

I went down for my now-traditional late-morning double, and noticed the crew was a bit light, and there was an absence of breakfast sandwiches... so I asked if I missed the big rush or something....

"Well, you're a regular so i can tell you....  Ryan's in the hospital - you know, he was on medication, but I don't know what for.  The girl who makes the sandwiches didn't show up either, no call, no nothing, which is strange because she seemed to be doing pretty well.  Maybe it has to do with Ryan - I think they're friends.

"So now I have two managers in back and they're making sandwiches for lunch, and it's just me up here holding it all together, but I'm not doing too well either....

"My little kitten spent the night up in a pine tree - she bolted out the door after a squirrel last night, and went straight up the tree, and of course she can't get down.  I was out there calling her, but nope.  My dad's over there right now with a ladder, hopefully he'll get her down.

"I would have asked my boyfriend, but HE's in the clinker with a DWI - we had brunch yesterday and he just felt like keeping on going - I said "no thanks, I need to work a double tomorrow", and the next thing I know, it's the evening and he's in jail.  I think I gotta make a change in that department."

That all said, it was a good cup of espresso.

Best Dressed

I am beyond proud:  At the coffee shop (see post regarding the insanity of the coffee shop in the basement of client number one)...   anyway way the coffee shop, I am now known as "Espresso Guy".  They start my double as I walk up.

Now, i'll admit perhaps I'm going there too much (once, maybe twice a day), but it's pretty flattering to be known as a regular, even if i'll NEVER go there again after 3/31.

Anyway, today apropos of nothing, my coffee shop people notified me that they had decided that I am one of the THREE BEST DRESSED CUSTOMERS THEY HAVE.  

I'm thinking that might be a good epitath:  In 2006, he was one of the three best dressed customers at a corporate coffee shop.  Yeah, that's a legacy.

One of my co-workers said she'd go have a talk with them because god knows I DO NOT need the encouragement.

Melissa Rocks

After dinner, the simple verdict is:  Paul's new lady Melissa is a swell dish, and it was great to meet her.  SOLID.

My apologies to anyone else who actually reads this and doesn't get what this means.  ;->