1) Isaac is working on his potty training and is getting pretty darn good at it, but it does lead to a lot of "I never thought I'd be hearing myself say this" moments... Just last night we were at dinner at Perkins (pancakes for dinner? YUM) and Isaac and I ran off the the bathroom.
We marched back up to the table, and Isaac in full voice yelled "MOM!!!! GUESS WHAT??? I WENT POOP IN THE POTTY!!!" The whole restaurant was thus informed of his achievement. We were very happy for him.
2) Isaac has taken to performing "dramatic re-enactments" of his boo-boos. We'll be sitting in another room and hear a big "whooomphhh" of him falling off of something, a pause, then a cry starts, and he runs in. "What happened?" we ask? He takes us by the hand to the scene of the crime, and proceeds to set everything up as it was, and go through the motions slowly, falling to the ground, then laying down, eyes closed. He springs back up and asks if we want to see it again.
What's funny is that our friends Anne and Tony told us about their son Evan doing a very similar thing a few years ago (when he was nearly 4), so this is a total boy development thing, I think. Bella never did this.
3) We were all out last night on the neighbor's lawn (at the house we lived in 7 years ago) - they were projecting "UP" onto a screen, and the kids were on blankets while the grownups were on lawn chairs. And the mosquitoes were insane. Bella, Isaac and I fled the scene 15 min into the movie (meeting Russell for the first time) - Bella was shrieking about the mosquitoes, sobbing uncontrollably. Isaac claimed not to have noticed anything. I threw them both into the shower and off to bed, and this morning Bella looks like she has chicken pox, but so does Isaac - he was totally being bitten up too, but couldn't be bothered to notice or complain. Amazing.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
And we're back...
Another summer trip up north is done, we're back, and I'm headed back out east Monday AM. A few notes:
1) Zinsser spent the week at the Pampered Pooch Playground, where he was cared for well: And we know it because they offer webcams, so a few times a day we'd log in and see him running around with other dogs, having a great time. He seems to have made friends with a sheltie. Not sure if that breed is a good influence, however... ;-> Anyway, the dog is back and has been a limp noodle ever since - we've heard this - they play so much that getting back with the family they tend to sleep for a few days. Bella is happy because Zinnie is zonked out next to her in bed.
2) Do you know about SillyBands? These are shaped rubber bands that the kids are going nuts for. We first learned of them by getting some off brand generic versions from our aunt earlier this summer, but the "official" sillybands are what the kids crave. There was a lot of SillyBand collecting and trading going on at the resort this year... and much of it was responsible, but some people who shall be unnamed pulled the "this is a rare one - it'll cost you 3 bands to get it in trade" gambit, which us parents shut down good and fast. Even Isaac got into it, with a pack of Marvel Superhero bands. Of course, they're OUTLINES of the superheroes, so Isaac keeps forgetting which is which. I've printed a handy guide with pictures of the real heroes the outlines represent, to help Pamela in my geeky absence.
2a) Isaac took Superheroes as a new "conversational gambit" - "say dad, do you like Superheroes? Who is your favorite? Mine is SPIDERMAN. Do you like IRON MAN? Me too! He's my favorite, along with Spiderman of course!". Take 2: "Dad, you know who I like? IRON MAN. Do you like IRON MAN? He's my second favorite. You know who my favorite is? SPIDER MAN." Take 3... Take 4.... by take 5, I was laughing so hard I couldn't even participate.
But later that day, I heard him using the "Superhero Conversation Starters" with two other boys... and he sounded like a real pro.
3) In a way, the trip was sort of bittersweet, because it cast into relief just how divergent Bella's interests have become from Jenny's - they played a good amount, but Jenny also spent time with older kids leaving Bella behind a bit. We had some extra cuddles to give her, but she was definitely feeling a bit sad.... In better news, we learned that Bella loves to fish - the patience and attention to detail was right up her alley. One thing everyone could agree on was that Swimming Is Awesome. Bella and Isaac swam for at least 3 hours every day, and more if they could swing it. It was wonderful.
4) I actually stayed away from work for the week, more or less. I was largely successful, but I got waylaid by an email mid-week, in which a co-worker at my company (not Cleveland) decided to take me to task on one of my decisions, in a rather condescending way... I lost a night's sleep, then fired back a double barrel email, which I have yet to hear back on. It was really not anything that needed to intrude on my vacation, and it really ticked me off... So somehow I'll need to follow this up this week... Good times...
5) Time for bed - the Cab is coming at 5:30. My Jag is still in the shop - the extended warranty is definitely paying for itself - they have found a few things that need to be addressed, and the parts need to be flown in....so they're at 9 days with my car and counting. They did give me a NEW Jaguar XF to drive for the first couple of days, but then we went up north, and now I'm headed back to Cleveland... so I'm not really inconvenienced. And hey, if they fix the electrical fault that was causing the car alarm to go off randomly, more's the better.
1) Zinsser spent the week at the Pampered Pooch Playground, where he was cared for well: And we know it because they offer webcams, so a few times a day we'd log in and see him running around with other dogs, having a great time. He seems to have made friends with a sheltie. Not sure if that breed is a good influence, however... ;-> Anyway, the dog is back and has been a limp noodle ever since - we've heard this - they play so much that getting back with the family they tend to sleep for a few days. Bella is happy because Zinnie is zonked out next to her in bed.
2) Do you know about SillyBands? These are shaped rubber bands that the kids are going nuts for. We first learned of them by getting some off brand generic versions from our aunt earlier this summer, but the "official" sillybands are what the kids crave. There was a lot of SillyBand collecting and trading going on at the resort this year... and much of it was responsible, but some people who shall be unnamed pulled the "this is a rare one - it'll cost you 3 bands to get it in trade" gambit, which us parents shut down good and fast. Even Isaac got into it, with a pack of Marvel Superhero bands. Of course, they're OUTLINES of the superheroes, so Isaac keeps forgetting which is which. I've printed a handy guide with pictures of the real heroes the outlines represent, to help Pamela in my geeky absence.
2a) Isaac took Superheroes as a new "conversational gambit" - "say dad, do you like Superheroes? Who is your favorite? Mine is SPIDERMAN. Do you like IRON MAN? Me too! He's my favorite, along with Spiderman of course!
But later that day, I heard him using the "Superhero Conversation Starters" with two other boys... and he sounded like a real pro.
3) In a way, the trip was sort of bittersweet, because it cast into relief just how divergent Bella's interests have become from Jenny's - they played a good amount, but Jenny also spent time with older kids leaving Bella behind a bit. We had some extra cuddles to give her, but she was definitely feeling a bit sad.... In better news, we learned that Bella loves to fish - the patience and attention to detail was right up her alley. One thing everyone could agree on was that Swimming Is Awesome. Bella and Isaac swam for at least 3 hours every day, and more if they could swing it. It was wonderful.
4) I actually stayed away from work for the week, more or less. I was largely successful, but I got waylaid by an email mid-week, in which a co-worker at my company (not Cleveland) decided to take me to task on one of my decisions, in a rather condescending way... I lost a night's sleep, then fired back a double barrel email, which I have yet to hear back on. It was really not anything that needed to intrude on my vacation, and it really ticked me off... So somehow I'll need to follow this up this week... Good times...
5) Time for bed - the Cab is coming at 5:30. My Jag is still in the shop - the extended warranty is definitely paying for itself - they have found a few things that need to be addressed, and the parts need to be flown in....so they're at 9 days with my car and counting. They did give me a NEW Jaguar XF to drive for the first couple of days, but then we went up north, and now I'm headed back to Cleveland... so I'm not really inconvenienced. And hey, if they fix the electrical fault that was causing the car alarm to go off randomly, more's the better.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
New Orleans Stories
I was in New Orleans to help with an assessment: A little side project to help diagram how information is moving through a small hospital system. They got a new CIO a month ago and he's bringing in his old friends (us) to find out how they can improve things. I have a small part to play, but I'm happy to be helping.
Getting there was a trial: It was my intent to sneak away from Cleveland and participate by phone in the key meetings, but travel delays occurred (as noted in my previous updates). Wednesday the flight out left a little late, and I wound up barely making it to the site on time at 1pm. And instead of having my 6 meetings spread through two days as planned, they were compressed, so I was busy right through, and basically missed every Cleveland meeting. Not so great.
But then it hits me - HEY - maybe I want them to be a little annoyed with me? Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
ANYWAY. The meetings went well, and then I was invited to a dinner out with the CIO and a key Vendor. This vendor has been handling most of their operations (the whole shop is "outsourced", though they all live and work there). So I'm invited just to sit in and listen...
We're in New Orleans, by the way. Home of wonderful food. So we had to go to the CIO's favorite restaurant: Chevy's Fresh Mex. Fajitas and Margaritas. Something was off with the tortilla maker too, because the tortillas were about 1 lb each and shaped like wedges.
We all sit down and the CIO lays into the Vendor with a shopping list of screw-ups. This is not a friendly dinner. The assault goes for 30 minutes, while I mutely nosh on chips and salsa and sip my "top shelf" margarita. The vendor is backed up the wall, but then starts laying out how much the hospital actually needs THEM - heck, 60 people in their IT department actually work for THEM - they could pull out any time, right? Thus countered, the CIO backs off and it becomes a slightly friendlier dance, but a dance nonetheless.
The vendor is a small, birdlike man, with horn rimmed glasses and a needless goatee, with a texas accent and you can see the hair on his neck raise up with defensiveness. So it was all the more exciting when the CIO sent a signal to the server, and shortly thereafter a crew from the kitchen comes in clapping, places a sombrero on the Vendor's head, and sings Happy Birthday. I thought this guy was going to literally explode.
With absolutely nothing to contribute to this freak show, I amused myself by coming up with stories for the people at the tables around us... there's the guy stood up for his date! There's the girl bringing her hipster boyfriend to meet the parents... but wait, there was a natural high five with the dad there? This isn't a first meeting... maybe a planning of the wedding? My reverie interrupted by the CIO abruptly asking me "So what's you take on all this, Jim?" I fumbled a muttered "I'm really not in a position to say", which satisfied both the vendor and the CIO... Though we did briefly touch on my findings from meetings for the day, so it wasn't a total waste.
The lead consultant on this gig is a guy named "Guy", who has a lot of history in healthcare - he's been a CIO several times, but likes the life of the outsider, swooping in and fixing a broken organization. Guy has a colorful history and two vast wine cellars, and a thick, nasally New Yawk accent... he's got a story for everything, and a lot of fun to talk to.
Imagine my surprise when at lunch he revealed to me that he had "Invented the double cheeseburger". Turns out, it was 1971, and he was working in a cafeteria while also taking classes. He was burning the candle at both ends, and time was at a premium. So one day, he's starving but doesn't have time to eat two cheeseburgers. So has a flash of inspiration and puts TWO patties on that bun with cheese. It becomes his standard re-fuel, and soon enough, the kids are asking for them too - they have to put it on the menu, and he came up with it!
Honestly, when a guy tells you this sort of story, it kind of puts all of his OTHER stories into a bit of doubt. Was he really CIO? Did he really re-organize that department? Does he really have a secondary wine cellar in a climate controlled warehouse in Queens (actually someone else has confirmed this) It is mysterious, but it's part of why I love working with people. The stories.
Getting there was a trial: It was my intent to sneak away from Cleveland and participate by phone in the key meetings, but travel delays occurred (as noted in my previous updates). Wednesday the flight out left a little late, and I wound up barely making it to the site on time at 1pm. And instead of having my 6 meetings spread through two days as planned, they were compressed, so I was busy right through, and basically missed every Cleveland meeting. Not so great.
But then it hits me - HEY - maybe I want them to be a little annoyed with me? Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
ANYWAY. The meetings went well, and then I was invited to a dinner out with the CIO and a key Vendor. This vendor has been handling most of their operations (the whole shop is "outsourced", though they all live and work there). So I'm invited just to sit in and listen...
We're in New Orleans, by the way. Home of wonderful food. So we had to go to the CIO's favorite restaurant: Chevy's Fresh Mex. Fajitas and Margaritas. Something was off with the tortilla maker too, because the tortillas were about 1 lb each and shaped like wedges.
We all sit down and the CIO lays into the Vendor with a shopping list of screw-ups. This is not a friendly dinner. The assault goes for 30 minutes, while I mutely nosh on chips and salsa and sip my "top shelf" margarita. The vendor is backed up the wall, but then starts laying out how much the hospital actually needs THEM - heck, 60 people in their IT department actually work for THEM - they could pull out any time, right? Thus countered, the CIO backs off and it becomes a slightly friendlier dance, but a dance nonetheless.
The vendor is a small, birdlike man, with horn rimmed glasses and a needless goatee, with a texas accent and you can see the hair on his neck raise up with defensiveness. So it was all the more exciting when the CIO sent a signal to the server, and shortly thereafter a crew from the kitchen comes in clapping, places a sombrero on the Vendor's head, and sings Happy Birthday. I thought this guy was going to literally explode.
With absolutely nothing to contribute to this freak show, I amused myself by coming up with stories for the people at the tables around us... there's the guy stood up for his date! There's the girl bringing her hipster boyfriend to meet the parents... but wait, there was a natural high five with the dad there? This isn't a first meeting... maybe a planning of the wedding? My reverie interrupted by the CIO abruptly asking me "So what's you take on all this, Jim?" I fumbled a muttered "I'm really not in a position to say", which satisfied both the vendor and the CIO... Though we did briefly touch on my findings from meetings for the day, so it wasn't a total waste.
The lead consultant on this gig is a guy named "Guy", who has a lot of history in healthcare - he's been a CIO several times, but likes the life of the outsider, swooping in and fixing a broken organization. Guy has a colorful history and two vast wine cellars, and a thick, nasally New Yawk accent... he's got a story for everything, and a lot of fun to talk to.
Imagine my surprise when at lunch he revealed to me that he had "Invented the double cheeseburger". Turns out, it was 1971, and he was working in a cafeteria while also taking classes. He was burning the candle at both ends, and time was at a premium. So one day, he's starving but doesn't have time to eat two cheeseburgers. So has a flash of inspiration and puts TWO patties on that bun with cheese. It becomes his standard re-fuel, and soon enough, the kids are asking for them too - they have to put it on the menu, and he came up with it!
Honestly, when a guy tells you this sort of story, it kind of puts all of his OTHER stories into a bit of doubt. Was he really CIO? Did he really re-organize that department? Does he really have a secondary wine cellar in a climate controlled warehouse in Queens (actually someone else has confirmed this) It is mysterious, but it's part of why I love working with people. The stories.
Update from the Lake
Sorry for the paucity of updates recently... There actually have been some amusing things recently. This week, we're up at the Lake - Ruttger's near Brainerd. We're living the cabin and lodge and lake life, and it's been wonderful. We're here with Bella's friend Jenny, and Max and Gus from down the block. The five kids have been a unit, running like mad around the grounds.
And we were lucky enough to get a doublewide cabin (two bedrooms, and a huge common room with two sofas), so we've been the "landing spot" for activities... Last night, the adults were enjoying coffee inside (yes, we brought the machine), and the kids were running around like maniacs for a couple of hours. It was classic summer stuff.
It's nice that all the kids are now old enough to be a self sufficient unit, really. Isaac gets frustrated sometimes, but the older kids are good about slowing down and helping him along.
Today was just beautiful - warm, not humid, not too windy. We sat on the beach at the lake for almost 4 hours, while the kids got ready for a sand castle contest... plus a lot of swimming. It was heavenly. I got a water bike and ferried kids out to the water trampoline and back, which was much more fun that swimming out there pulling dinghies, as I did the day before.
On the way up to the lodge on Sunday, we made our once-annual trip to WalMart (we will only go there up in Brainerd), and the kids got their "trip toys" - a different meaning nowadays from the clubbing days... not that we know anything first hand about that. Anyway, the toys this time: Zhu Zhu pets. Absolutely hilarious, these things. Unfortunately we let one loose in the room and forgot about it as it zipped around for a day, and his battery is already toast. Also, I did put back my near impulse buy of a fedora. Glad I did.
The buffets up here are legendary, and Bella and Isaac have been eating well: Bella has managed to save room for Cheesecake, of course. On her first bite, her eyes rolled heavenward and she muttered "that's what I'm talking about".
It is tricky with this much activity to keep the kids in top form: Simply put, they need naps. Today, Bella and Pamela got a 2 hour snooze to prep them for Bingo tonight. Isaac passed on his nap, so he's already asleep. Last night, both kids napped, so we were up for S'mores and silly songs at the campfire until 10:30.
It was a clear night for the fire, and the moon was strategically positioned over the lake with a beautiful reflection. Isaac stared for a moment and asked "Can I jump to the moon, Daddy?". I said "You can try!".
He jumped a few times, then turned back to me, held out his hand, and asked "Can you help me?"
Shortly after that, he cuddled in as we looked at the stars, and he said "I want to stay here forever". See, now THAT's what I call a vacation.
And we were lucky enough to get a doublewide cabin (two bedrooms, and a huge common room with two sofas), so we've been the "landing spot" for activities... Last night, the adults were enjoying coffee inside (yes, we brought the machine), and the kids were running around like maniacs for a couple of hours. It was classic summer stuff.
It's nice that all the kids are now old enough to be a self sufficient unit, really. Isaac gets frustrated sometimes, but the older kids are good about slowing down and helping him along.
Today was just beautiful - warm, not humid, not too windy. We sat on the beach at the lake for almost 4 hours, while the kids got ready for a sand castle contest... plus a lot of swimming. It was heavenly. I got a water bike and ferried kids out to the water trampoline and back, which was much more fun that swimming out there pulling dinghies, as I did the day before.
On the way up to the lodge on Sunday, we made our once-annual trip to WalMart (we will only go there up in Brainerd), and the kids got their "trip toys" - a different meaning nowadays from the clubbing days... not that we know anything first hand about that. Anyway, the toys this time: Zhu Zhu pets. Absolutely hilarious, these things. Unfortunately we let one loose in the room and forgot about it as it zipped around for a day, and his battery is already toast. Also, I did put back my near impulse buy of a fedora. Glad I did.
The buffets up here are legendary, and Bella and Isaac have been eating well: Bella has managed to save room for Cheesecake, of course. On her first bite, her eyes rolled heavenward and she muttered "that's what I'm talking about".
It is tricky with this much activity to keep the kids in top form: Simply put, they need naps. Today, Bella and Pamela got a 2 hour snooze to prep them for Bingo tonight. Isaac passed on his nap, so he's already asleep. Last night, both kids napped, so we were up for S'mores and silly songs at the campfire until 10:30.
It was a clear night for the fire, and the moon was strategically positioned over the lake with a beautiful reflection. Isaac stared for a moment and asked "Can I jump to the moon, Daddy?". I said "You can try!".
He jumped a few times, then turned back to me, held out his hand, and asked "Can you help me?"
Shortly after that, he cuddled in as we looked at the stars, and he said "I want to stay here forever". See, now THAT's what I call a vacation.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Difficulties in the flying.
I escaped Cleveland this afternoon on my way down to New Orleans to do some fun Business Intelligence assessment work for a client down there. Nowhere near the French Quarter, by the way. But Memphis was my connection, and Memphis is where I am staying tonight. Something about a mechanical problem with the airplane.
Hopefully nothing like THIS (via the Onion)
Anyway, being mister Platinum Traveler, I got put in the same hotel as the flight crew, and booked into the first flight out tomorrow (yes, first class too). The only compromise was that they really really didn't want to pull my luggage, so instead I ran over to Target to get some necessities. Like a Tony Soprano shirt and fresh socks and undies. Things will be just fine.
That is, if I can find a CAR: Apparently there are no rental cars in New Orleans for love nor money. Not one. So I'll be cabbing it, I guess, which is also fine. Nothing's going to bug me.
In the meantime, I did miss out on a dinner with "The Bosses" back in Cleveland. This would have been a very surreal night, so I'm glad to be missing it. And I got a start on two of three industry white papers I've been meaning to write. Paper number 3 will be a little harder because I know nothing about it... yet.... But that's why I volunteered to do it - to learn.
Hopefully nothing like THIS (via the Onion)
Anyway, being mister Platinum Traveler, I got put in the same hotel as the flight crew, and booked into the first flight out tomorrow (yes, first class too). The only compromise was that they really really didn't want to pull my luggage, so instead I ran over to Target to get some necessities. Like a Tony Soprano shirt and fresh socks and undies. Things will be just fine.
That is, if I can find a CAR: Apparently there are no rental cars in New Orleans for love nor money. Not one. So I'll be cabbing it, I guess, which is also fine. Nothing's going to bug me.
In the meantime, I did miss out on a dinner with "The Bosses" back in Cleveland. This would have been a very surreal night, so I'm glad to be missing it. And I got a start on two of three industry white papers I've been meaning to write. Paper number 3 will be a little harder because I know nothing about it... yet.... But that's why I volunteered to do it - to learn.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Slayer'ed
Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
7 Seasons, 144 Episodes. All done now. All have been put into my eyeballs and brain and stored for future reference.
I suppose I should say SPOILER ALERT - I'll be talking about the show in general. Sorry.
Thoughts:
1) I wish I had actually watched this show back when it was on. It's great to be able to barrel through the DVDs, but I think I would have had a great time watching it realtime. And of course, it's impossible NOW to talk about this great show that started 13 years ago and stopped airing in 2003. Might as well start raving about "The Drew Carey Show".
2) The series ends with the "Hellmouth" under Sunnydale collapsing, ending the flow of evil, and leaving a huge crater where the town was. Everybody's happy until someone says "There's a Hellmouth in Cleveland, you know". Oh I know. I KNOW. And Cleveland hotel rooms is where I watched almost all 144 episodes, come to think of it. Plus airplanes.
3) 7 years was enough - everybody was looking a little tired by the end. Except James Marsters. Dude kept getting better and better. I'm happy with the story having been told. Actually, there were 4 places things could have stopped:
End of Season 1: The Master is dead, much rejoicing.
You could stop there, but the character development in seasons 2 and 3 were just great. Lots of good writing ahead, and classic episodes aplenty. Plus, Spike!
End of Season 3: The Mayor is foiled, the high school is burned down. Yay.
A lot of people end there: High school is over, the adventure needs to move somewhere else. But Season 4 has some great bits, including "Hush" and "Restless". Plus Season 5 is great.
End of Season 5: Buffy sacrifices to save the world.
You could totally end there: Season 6 is a surprisingly bleak examination of "moving on" from one phase of life to another - lots of depression, working things out, addiction... this is not the same fun show it had been in Season 3. But it's actually really good. But I can't blame anyone for not wanting to "go there" and consider Season 5 the end.
End of Season 7: The Hellmouth is closed!
Well, you do end there.
Anyway, I'm very glad to have watched this show from front to back. There are a dozen episodes that I'd watch again, and even more scenes that stick in memory. I'm a huge Alyson Hannigan fan now - she's just wonderful... and I also further love Seth Green. And I'll now watch James Marsters in anything (Caprica!!!) - count me among the fans of Spike.
Allright, here endeth my updates regarding Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I will still recommend them as a fun bit of video. Sure there were bad episodes, but the characters were great, and I sleep better knowing there are teenage girls with wooden spikes out stopping any vampires from biting me.
7 Seasons, 144 Episodes. All done now. All have been put into my eyeballs and brain and stored for future reference.
I suppose I should say SPOILER ALERT - I'll be talking about the show in general. Sorry.
Thoughts:
1) I wish I had actually watched this show back when it was on. It's great to be able to barrel through the DVDs, but I think I would have had a great time watching it realtime. And of course, it's impossible NOW to talk about this great show that started 13 years ago and stopped airing in 2003. Might as well start raving about "The Drew Carey Show".
2) The series ends with the "Hellmouth" under Sunnydale collapsing, ending the flow of evil, and leaving a huge crater where the town was. Everybody's happy until someone says "There's a Hellmouth in Cleveland, you know". Oh I know. I KNOW. And Cleveland hotel rooms is where I watched almost all 144 episodes, come to think of it. Plus airplanes.
3) 7 years was enough - everybody was looking a little tired by the end. Except James Marsters. Dude kept getting better and better. I'm happy with the story having been told. Actually, there were 4 places things could have stopped:
End of Season 1: The Master is dead, much rejoicing.
You could stop there, but the character development in seasons 2 and 3 were just great. Lots of good writing ahead, and classic episodes aplenty. Plus, Spike!
End of Season 3: The Mayor is foiled, the high school is burned down. Yay.
A lot of people end there: High school is over, the adventure needs to move somewhere else. But Season 4 has some great bits, including "Hush" and "Restless". Plus Season 5 is great.
End of Season 5: Buffy sacrifices to save the world.
You could totally end there: Season 6 is a surprisingly bleak examination of "moving on" from one phase of life to another - lots of depression, working things out, addiction... this is not the same fun show it had been in Season 3. But it's actually really good. But I can't blame anyone for not wanting to "go there" and consider Season 5 the end.
End of Season 7: The Hellmouth is closed!
Well, you do end there.
Anyway, I'm very glad to have watched this show from front to back. There are a dozen episodes that I'd watch again, and even more scenes that stick in memory. I'm a huge Alyson Hannigan fan now - she's just wonderful... and I also further love Seth Green. And I'll now watch James Marsters in anything (Caprica!!!) - count me among the fans of Spike.
Allright, here endeth my updates regarding Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I will still recommend them as a fun bit of video. Sure there were bad episodes, but the characters were great, and I sleep better knowing there are teenage girls with wooden spikes out stopping any vampires from biting me.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Some Cleveland Moments
1) While waiting for my flight on Thursday, I hit the airport pub, and was joined by one of my consultants. Richard and I have always traded a few French phrases in passing, since I saw on his resume that he had studied in France. So he walks up, sits down, and starts speaking French. I replied likewise, and we spent the next hour having a few p'tit coups and speaking French. We didn't slip into English but once, and we took a brief detour to German. It was pure geeky joy for me, and easily a highlight of the week.
2) Our new offices are in a suburban office park, but our building is fortunate to be surrounded by some large-ish trees: I think the building dates from the 1980s, which would have given these trees at least 20-25 years to grow up. Anyway, my window overlooks a grassy area with a lot of trees, and in the past couple of weeks I've seen a large brown bird swooping past - sort of eagle-ish. Last week I felt a presence behind me at the desk, and looked out my window to find a grand brown bird with an ugly pink head using my windowsill as a perch. My brown bomber is a turkey vulture, and for the afternoon, he was my pet.
3) You may remember a post from 3 weeks ago in which I talked about sorting through 40 resumes... well it became over 50 resumes, and I've interviewed almost half of them, and so far I have only found 5 people of the 11 I need. Some people were gone to other jobs before I ever got to them, some were incredibly unqualified for the positions offered, and of the ones I am bringing in, I have to wait for 3-4 weeks for them to exit their current clients. It is painful.
But not as painful as the aftermath of the other thing I noted in the July 13 post about me trying to stand up and boldly ask about actually getting people to commit in a meeting to a requirement. Yes, I got the commitment. And in the intervening weeks, I have had that commitment changed, retracted, enhanced, replaced, mangled, and ignored. There was no requirement, actually.
Just another week of treading water I suppose.
4) But at least I'm back at Marriott Marriott (or "Capital M Marriott"). Comfy comfy. Makes it all better.
Can I just mention - less than two weeks to vacation?
2) Our new offices are in a suburban office park, but our building is fortunate to be surrounded by some large-ish trees: I think the building dates from the 1980s, which would have given these trees at least 20-25 years to grow up. Anyway, my window overlooks a grassy area with a lot of trees, and in the past couple of weeks I've seen a large brown bird swooping past - sort of eagle-ish. Last week I felt a presence behind me at the desk, and looked out my window to find a grand brown bird with an ugly pink head using my windowsill as a perch. My brown bomber is a turkey vulture, and for the afternoon, he was my pet.
3) You may remember a post from 3 weeks ago in which I talked about sorting through 40 resumes... well it became over 50 resumes, and I've interviewed almost half of them, and so far I have only found 5 people of the 11 I need. Some people were gone to other jobs before I ever got to them, some were incredibly unqualified for the positions offered, and of the ones I am bringing in, I have to wait for 3-4 weeks for them to exit their current clients. It is painful.
But not as painful as the aftermath of the other thing I noted in the July 13 post about me trying to stand up and boldly ask about actually getting people to commit in a meeting to a requirement. Yes, I got the commitment. And in the intervening weeks, I have had that commitment changed, retracted, enhanced, replaced, mangled, and ignored. There was no requirement, actually.
Just another week of treading water I suppose.
4) But at least I'm back at Marriott Marriott (or "Capital M Marriott"). Comfy comfy. Makes it all better.
Can I just mention - less than two weeks to vacation?
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