ABC family car game

Driving alone, I can't play the ABC car game.  But I do enjoy watching and trying to figure out personalized plates.  My father's is BACK40 (a farming term for the 40 acres out back; a field, also our last name.) As I've been walking through parking lots, I have been taking pictures of plates.  None of the cars were in motion during the taking of these photos!  (Picture taking while driving is as bad as texting and driving - just saying.)

Here are some of the plates that I've seen over the last two weeks.  I think I've figured most of them out but it would be interesting to talk to the owners and see if what I am seeing is what they intended to say.  My father's plate stumps alot of people.  My first car the plate was EVY 628.  I called her "Evie".  So even before there were personized plates, I had my own kind of personalized plate.  Check out the pictures and see if you agree with me.

Ahead of you! Nani-nani poo poo!

Top Notch - personalized plates are a perfect place to express an attitude!

Kennel-up!  My kind of people that love their dogs!

Soccer bum - says it all

Full of Love....788 hugs,  oh...that isn't a personalized plate?

Modern day Pirates!  Watch out matey!

,,,not the bears. It is a company in Opol, Minnesota.

a Head All; Hey Doll: the last name Hedahl? I don't get this one.

Ignore It!? But it is right in front of my nose! 

What day is it?

Wednesday? No, Thursday. 

Is it the 27^th? 28^th? No it is the 29^th! 

Oh wow! Where has this week and for that matter this month gone? 

Okay, so I know where mine has gone.  I am at the end of week 3 of a 4 week very intensive training program.  We got a week off for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  I used that time to study and take my Finance certification (I passed! YEAH!) and to take my boyfriend to a doctor’s appointment for his heart.  The last half of the week we visited with family for the holidays and ate WAY TOO MUCH FOOD! I am glad to say that so far I have not gained any weight due to the holidays.  (I’m not losing any either.)

The Christmas party for my work is going to be held in Omaha, Nebraska this year with a business meeting the next morning.  I am so excited.  It will be the first time that I meet most of my co-workers.  We are scattered across the US.  I’ve only met the few that were in the home office when I flew to Kansas City, Kansas for my interview.  I was planning transportation.  I live about a six to six and a half hour drive from Omaha.  If I were to fly, I would have a few options

One airline has a direct flight about $915 dollars for an hour and a half flight.  NOT

For about $775 I can fly from Minneapolis to Chicago; run across the airport like a wild woman hoping to make my connecting flight, and then fly from Chicago back to Omaha.  By the time that I figure my drive to the airport, pre-arrive time to go through security, flying the wrong direction and back again, and lay-over time it would be over 8 hours to get from my place to the Christmas party.

Weather isn’t a factor (for the decision process).  If the winter weather is too bad to drive, it is too bad to fly.  I think my new company would have paid the nearly $1000 to fly to the party; I would rather drive and save the company the money.  Maybe then in the future, I will get a bigger bonus.

My BOM didn’t explode

We are studying bills of materials; BOMs.  My instructor is a very international man and the students being diversified makes for some intriguing stories.  Today we got a VERY important warning.  Please to not discuss this topic while in the airport! 

One Friday, I got a phone call from a student as he was getting ready to fly home to Canada over the weekend.  “I’m having a problem.  I can’t get my BOM to explode.” 

Now what he should have said was "I can’t get my bill of material to expand properly."

What the airport worker heard was, “I can’t get my bomb to explode.”  To top it off the student was of Somalia descent.  There was most likely a bit of profiling.  But I really can’t blame the airport security.  They had no idea the student was on the phone talking to his instructor about an inventory bill of material.  It took three days and a letter from the company sponsoring the training to get him released.  He missed not only his weekend at home but also a full day of training. 

After sharing the story, he warned us again.  “Don’t talk about BOMs at the airport. They just don’t understand.” 

When we know what we are talking about, we often say things that are in context and innocent to us.  Others around us that have a different viewpoint can easily misinterpret our innocent words. 

Dale is a very specific person and I create words all the time.  I frequently hear myself saying, “I interpreted your words that way” when he says a word out of place.  On the flip side, when I make up a word, I hear back, “I think you are lying to me.”  Perspective is such a unique point of view.

The 'tude

WOW it was a hot time in class today. I have a new instructor. There are eleven students in the class. The class is very diversified; American, Canadian, Chilean, Indian (from the country of India); nine men and two women.  That much testosterone in the room and it was going to eventually explode. 

Should it be surprising that there are many, very confident, smart people in the room?  The instructor is a primary designer of the educational material that is used in the class.  He works as a partner but also is one of the key instructors.  He has a definite teaching style.  He likes to lecture through the information and take questions only during designated times.

Our former instructors were the “interrupt and ask questions” style so the class is having a bit of a time adjusting.  It didn’t take long for one dominant male in the front of the class to push the buttons of the dominant teacher.  If they were women, I’d say there was a cat fight.  But I guess it was more like a couple of male dogs pissing on their territory. 

Yes, the rest of the class managed to learn a few things between outbreaks.  The instructor is good at what he does.  Ironically, the other man, although very smart was highly distractive with the way he asked questions and diverted the other instructors away from the focus of the lesson. 

I was a bit worried as the instructor began teaching today as I recognized he and I both shared a lot of similar characteristics.  Maybe because I was conscious of the fact it made it easier for me to deal with.  The instructor and I are getting along very well.  In fact there have been a few times that I’ve gotten the “knowing” look.  He’s asked a few questions and specifically told me not to answer.  From previous answers, he knew that I knew the answers.  Like I needed a confidence boost. ;^)

Holidays - Great Expectations

I love the Holidays.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s the extra time to spend with family.  Yet, have you ever noticed that so many people are extra moody during this time of year?  I find it with myself too. 

We build up expectations for parties, time spent with relatives, presents given and received.  More often than not the actual outcome is short of our expectations.  The exception is the good food or should I say GREAT food that causes us to gain five pounds just looking at it. 

My challenge is managing the expectations so that I can enjoy the season and not become depressed because of falling short of my expectations.  For instance, the expectation when you find the perfect gift for someone.  You just KNOW that they are going to LOVE it.  (The expectation.)  Tempering the expectation would mean saying to myself, “I know that with the chaos of the day I probably won’t see the excitement that I would if the gift were given at any other time.”

When my mother was alive, I always received actual gifts from my parents.  In fact, my mother and I would go shopping together and I would help buy the gifts that my siblings and I received.  I always had to “act surprised.”  Being the only single child with no children of my own, there were always “Christmas Eve” gifts that my mother bought for me.  (Yeah, I was usually with her when she bought those too.)  It was never an “even” situation.  Much more was spent on siblings’ families than on the single daughter.  But that is life, isn’t it?  My expectation has changed from expecting to receive a gift to expecting to receive a check.  In a demented sort of way, nothing has changed……I’m still choosing out the gift myself.  I try to always get a photo of what I buy and send a copy to dad with a note like, “Thank-you. This is what you bought me for Christmas.”

The most difficult challenge of all because of the commercialism is remembering that “JESUS is the reason for the season.”  The other way of saying it is “Don’t forget the Christ in Christmas!”  When we keep that focus the rest of the expectations are put into perspective. 

Puppies? Puppies? Puppies!

We are once again on puppy watch!  Duchess came into heat about two weeks ago.  Sid came back last Saturday.  It took until Wednesday before they started the mating process.  Duchess is about a month ahead of schedule. Keeping a female puppy for future breeding has probably adjusted her cycle. 

If I figured right, the puppies will be due about January 23rd. Now comes the exciting time of beginning watching closely to see if the breeding was successful.  She doesn't significantly show until three to four weeks before delivery.

We have eight interested parties in the full size Doberman puppies.  Her last two litters were twelve puppies each.  I suppose it is going to be time to start the game. 

What day will she whelp (deliver)?
How many puppies?
How many males / females?
What colors? (She has always had black/rust and red/rust. But fawn and blue are also possible.) 



Sid flirting & Duchess playing hard to get

Litter 2 Puppy My Jenny - 9 months old

Snuggling with Dobies - Everyone needs to touch the human

Happy Thanksgiving!

This morning started as a beautiful day in the 50's.  We went to my Aunt's for a traditional thanksgiving meal. The Turkey, stuffing, ham, candied yam, custard corn, creamed green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, deviled eggs, lefse, pickles, olives, roll-ups.


Happy Thanksgiving!

The "we" included, Dale, myself and the three Dobermans; Duchess, Sid, and My Jenny.  We took the van so the "kids" could lay down and rest or stand and watch the cars going by. The van has been modified with a safety guard to keep the dogs in the back. As people passed us, many would gawk at the dogs in the back.  It is fun to watch the expressions on people's faces when they are caught gawking.  :^)



Dobermans riding in the back of the van

 



We forgot to plan ahead and ask people to save some scraps for the dogs. Yeah, we are "those kind of people" and feed the dogs table scraps. Dale noticed some prime dog food in the trash and pulled it out to put in the dog dish. He caught me taking a candid photo and posed for a second photo.

 

Filling the "dogie dish"

Dale and I took turns taking the dogs out and letting them run in the backyard.  Dale came in from letting out the dogs and announced that it was raining/sleeting out.  We knew a cold front was due to come through the area.  We left quickly.  The snow started part way home and continued the rest of the way.  In the matter of 3 hours the weather had gone from mild to blustery winter.  Despite the weather we had a fabulous Thanksgiving Day surrounded by family.

 

How quickly the weather changes



Old Man Winter comes with a Vengeance



Thanksgiving Eve

There are times when the waters in life are running clear and suddenly become very mucky.  We can make choices for ourselves but as always in life others around us are impacted by our choices and their choices impact us. 

November 5^th I started a new job.  It took a lot of discussion between my boyfriend and I because there was going to be 4 weeks out of 5 weeks for training from November 5^th to December 5^th.  It was easily workable finding friends to help with the dogs, neighbors and my renter to watch the house.  Everything was ready, set, go.

A few days before I left for the first training, my boyfriend started having chest pains.  Being the stubborn headed man that he is going to the doctor was out of the question.  It took over two weeks and being ganged up upon by many friends before he finally went into his doctor.  He decided to call the day before Veteran’s Day. This would not have been a problem except that his doctor is at the VA.  His day Tuesday was filled up with other emergencies (I hope you are thinking was I was, “WHAT?!?”)  When he got into the doctor’s office, they did an EKG and it was fine.

They “rushed” him down to the Minneapolis VA.  In VA terms that means we spent today there as he took a stress test, had a follow up EKG and met with the doctors.  I mentioned needing to take him to his appointments today and my boss said, “Take a few hours off, that is fine.”  So I fell at ease, week three of my new job taking personal time off.

The shoe dropped, they think there is a minor blockage and they want to do an angiogram – next Tuesday. A) My company is paying over $5,000 class fees and expenses to send me through the training program.  B) I love him and I want to be there for him.  I have been struggling all day long.  At this point, I have arranged a “babysitter” for the dogs. (Not an easy task when one is in heat.)  A friend of ours and my Father can both drive Dale to the appointment; but I still struggle.

As I pray about it the same thing keeps going through my mind, “There is nothing you can do there.  Trust in God.”  How can I show Dale that I love him and put all my Faith in God?  As the doctor scheduled the appointment I mentioned that we may need to find someone to drive him.  So walking out of the VA he yelled, “She says she loves me but she won’t come back from Fargo to bring me to my appointment!”  I grew up with a Grandma who was an expert at guilting. So he got pinched.

I Passed!

The day started with a prayer and a peaceful view of the sunrise. I turned North shortly after this view. Driving with the sun towards my back the driving was easier.

I took the first of two certification tests today for my new job.  There were 75 questions and I needed a minimum of 700 points to pass.  It didn't tell me how many points were possible.  I got a great score and most definitely passed. I often get 100%.  This test was very tricky, there were 3 questions that I second guessed myself on and I think I got at least 2 wrong.  

Change is always difficult but we can make it easier by embracing it.  This week I am studying online and with documents that I downloaded onto the Kindle.  I am getting too old to study this much.  (tee hee)

Welcome Home

There is no greater love than that of a doberman (in my opinion).  The girls greeted me last night with an attack of puppy/dogie kisses. Now that is a good attack. There was a brief growl and bark as a stranger walked by. They were saying, "my people and we've been missing her!"

Today, we picked up Sid.  Duchess is in heat and she should be ready for breeding in the next day or two.  She is a whole month early. That will mean the litter will be born in January.  We have 8 interested parties.  It will be interesting to see how many will follow through. Dogs are a commitment and Dobermans like to be attached to their owners with a bungee cord.  I refer to them as bungee butt dogs.  :^)



Sid Saying "Hello"

The blessing of a warm day

The temperature in the high 40's to low 50's made it easy to take the dogs to the park.  Oh they loved chasing each other around.  They ran into the lake for a drink.  The wind was blowing away from shore so the crystal clear water showed every weed, shell, and tiny water bug swimming robustly in the cool water.

As the sun shone down and glistened in the water lighting the dogs from every side.  I tried to capture it on my cell phone wishing that I had my real camera with me.  The lake is severely low.  The dock that stays in the water year round is resting on the bottom. 

Thanksgiving is a few short days away, yet it is so warm.  I don't like cold weather and excessive snow but it is natural and expected at this time of year.  Anything else just doesn't feel right.  I am being torn as I feel guilty for enjoying the warmer than average weather. 



Duchess Drinking in Clear Lake

Pier on the Bottom of the Lake

My Jenny Running in the Lake

My Jenny Walking in the Lake

Clear Lake

A Serious Blog & Turkey Bowling

I have been told that the most popular blogs are between 300-800 words.  I am sorry, mine are between 30-400 words.  Does that count?  Most of the time, I have been posting the blog from my cell phone.  I did not have internet until a few weeks ago but now I have the internet. The problem will be finding time after work to actually get signed in and writing a note.  To top that off, I am trying to finish my next Novella “The Man I Was” by next spring.  Now that I have internet at home, I am going to attempt to provide a better blog.  Please feel free to give me feedback. I’d love to know which blogs you like and which ones are total duds. (131)

This blog is not really all that serious.  I am going to put together several paragraphs.  Some of them maybe totally unrelated.  At the end of each paragraph, I will show you the running word count of the blog to that point. Note I did not say the total number of words for that paragraph.  (187)

A new beginning workout or what they lovingly refer to as exercise.  YUK.  But, I am trying to do it anyways.  I am not sure why I need to because I rarely sit still.  I’m sure that I’m driving the other students in class crazy with my almost constant movement.  I am trying to step it up just a bit.  So three times this week, I’ve done a 15 minute intensive workout on the treadmill with a 5 minute cool down.  Then I’ve gone to the pool for a 20-30 minute aerobic workout followed by 10 minutes in the whirlpool.  Tonight I realized, there is a sauna too.  So I sat a few minutes in the sauna but the guy in there before me put too much water on the stones and it was very hot and steamy.  I have a treadmill and Wii at home.  Somehow I need to be dedicated enough to keep it up there. (346)

Good eats!  I’m in training at Microsoft Fargo Headquarters this week.  They have a cafeteria with at least a half dozen stations with various choices healthy and not so healthy choices.  Running down the center is a salad bar that exceeds any other salad bar I’ve ever seen.  Today I chose a bison burger with sweet potato tots.  I am hoping that is reasonably healthy.  One thing I have found unique is that there are free drinks (non-alcoholic) available all day long including milk, juices, coffee, pop and as always water.  (438)



Turkey Bowling



More Turkey Bowling

 

I promised you Turkey bowling.  In the cafeteria today we heard “whomp! thump, thump, thump, thump, tst, tst, tst, tst.” It was a frozen turkey in an empty sand bag.  The coordinator had taped together (with duct tape) 3 sheets of plywood.  A plastic covering was over the plywood.  Bales of hay were set up around the edges to keep the Turkey from flying all over the cafeteria.  The “bowlers” would grab the top of the bag and swing their arm in the same way someone would holding a bowling ball.  Except this was anything but round and the delivery to the ten pins had the potential of being totally out of control.  Then again, that is the fun of it.  (563)

I have never personally Turkey bowled.  But it looked so fun!  I’ve seen it advertised usually before Thanksgiving.  An unusual sport but I could tell by watching the employees around the bowling lane that it was a good stress reliever.  And the competition was unbelievable.  Part of the competition was choosing a team name.  “The Champions” were the team bowling while I was watching.  They were the defending champs.  They won in 2010 which was the last time this event was held.  I heard one of the guys brag as he walked away, “I hope they will let me hold both years trophy’s when they take my picture.”  They were ahead and only a few more teams to bowl.  One guy nearby was even wearing a kilt.  Now, I’m not sure if that had anything to do with the competition. I was already going to be late for class and didn’t think it was wise to stand around just to find out. (726)

I don’t know about you; but, I think an 800 word blog is just a little bit wordy.  I’ll stick to something a little closer to 300 words especially for and my A.D.D.  Is it obvious that I can’t stay on one topic for that many words in a row?  Except for when I am writing my Novella. ;^) Maybe that is why I only write for a few hours at a time. (799)



May I have a bigger room please?

JUST KIDDING!  But that was what I said to the desk clerk after I saw my room for the first time. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen.  I could not believe that they had put me in such a LARGE room!  This is a hotel that specializes in people individual and families that are doing extended stays.  There is one family with two young boys that have been here all week.  I wonder if the kids are home schooled? 

I asked the clerk why they put me in such a large room and I was told that it was a free upgrade because at this time of year, they don't fill enough of the large rooms.  So when they run out of smaller rooms they just put you in a larger suite. 

Below is the bedroom that I am NOT using.  Two beds they look to me like queen size beds.



You can see into the bedroom that I am using.  It is a King sized bed.  Both bedrooms have full bathroom facilities.  The couch in the living room also pulls out into a bed.  So a family of 8? No problem as long as the boy/girl split works out to sleep two kids in a bed.  There is enough extra room in the living room to bring in another hide-a-bed but I am not sure if they would do that.  There are three TV's, one in each bedroom and one in the living room.  A full service kitchen-ette has a refrigerator, two hotplates, a microwave, a sink, and a dishwasher and yes the dishes. 



Both bathrooms are set up daily with shampoo/conditioner sets.  Until today that is.....

I think they got tired of me taking the bottles and putting them in my suitcase.  ???  I know enough "working poor" that are falling between the cracks.  They make too much money to get county support but are barely making enough to make ends meet.  So I plan on giving them the shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotions that aren't used during my stay at the hotel this week. 

Winter Wonderland

Sorry but it is real.  Winter is once again coming. It was not more evident than when I drove into the parking lot watching the snowflakes come down and the business to the side was lit up in beautiful blue lights.  The Christmas displays are quickly going up in the stores. Thanksgiving is just a week away and then we will turn around and Christmas will be here then gone and the New Year will be upon us.  I watch the news stories and my heart cries out.  There are too many homeless people in the area to fit in the homeless shelters. It is past the time of year for it to be safe to sleep outside.  But remember we are better off.



Winter Wonderland


Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with winter.  It can be the most beautiful time of year with the contrast between light and dark. At the same time, *s*n*o*w* is a 4 letter word! It makes the roads slippery and icey with a lot of accidents.  The same day I took this picture my sister was rear-ended.  Just over $4,000 damage to her vehicle.  She is stiff and sore - so yes that is the hate part of winter along with the COLD weather hm mm another 4 letter word.  Back to my love/hate relationship.  There is nothing better than being at home with no place to go and watching the snow fall.  We don't seem to have the good old fashioned blizzards like we did when I was young.  Two years ago we had a good amount of snow but no real snow-bound days.  I'm not sure that people could take that anymore.  You know what I mean, you would have to stop running and sit still for a couple of days.  Eat popcorn, drink cocoa and fix puzzles. I think it might be time for a memory moment.  Before bedtime I think I'll make popcorn and cocoa. 



Rear view



Side View

Voter Registration

I had a very irritating conversation the other day.  We were talking about voter registration via a photo ID.  I really, honestly want to know how many people that currently do not have a Photo ID of some kind are voting?

I have seen many homeless people and they have photo Id's.  Duh, you need it to get county support in my state.  You need it to cash a check.  As for making it more difficult for military to vote, are you kidding????? They vote by absentee ballots now and you need a photo ID in order to vote using a voter ID.  People in nursing homes and assisted living centers.  I heard someone say that they can't get out to get a photo ID.  Really, then how do they vote?  By absentee ballot?  There again we are back to the fact that you need a photo ID use the absentee ballot.  I know this because I voted absentee this year both photo ID and notarized (which personally was much more difficult to find.)

Is the cost of processing the ID the problem?  Again, I think there is an overestimation about how many people are living without photo Id's.  I recently renewed my license and $23.50 was all it cost.  If it becomes mandatory, then those in the financially constrained section of society maybe should get assistance paying for an ID if they want to vote.  Upon going into a nursing home, they could get "life-time Id's"???? Just a few ideas.

The most irritating part of the conversation was the ease at which the people sitting around me stated that they felt EVERYONE should have a scannable chip implanted on their hand.  I hit the woman next to me lightly in the forehead and shared that if the person was an amputee they could implant it on their forehead marked by a tatoo.  I lightly mentioned that Christians would not agree to that because it would be seen as a direct fulfillment to prophecy.

(Revelation 13:16-17) He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 

Then they made a statement that blew me away, "It could be one option.  You could have a chip or a photo ID."  One option, a subtle change that people could adjust to so naturally that when it became mandatory it would been as "Why are you going against the NORMAL?"  Society is changing more each day to the sinful society similar to Sodom and Gomorrah.  But the changes are so subtle that sin is seen more and more as "normal".  Hm mm. Just because everyone is doing it doesn't mean it is right.  Did parents stop teaching this basic lesson?  "If everyone else jumped off the bridge would you too?"  I am sure my writing today is politically incorrect.  But since when did political correctness represent the man Jesus?  Infact, he went against norm most of the time. Think about it....



Are you ready to have a mark on your hand?

History of great civilizations

I received an e-mail that caught my interest.  It shows the steps that "great civilizations" go through from creation to demise.  On average these eight steps took 200 years.

From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence to bondage.

Bondage...slavery, in a non-free situation.
Spiritual Faith ... a time of relying on God to help them through.
Great Courage ... a time breaking out of bondage.
Liberty ... freedom is achieved!
Abundance ... excess! 
Complacency ... accepting / self-satisfaction. Unaware of danger.
Apathy ... (low skill and low desire) when you just don't give a darn.
Dependence ... People needing government or other agency to survive. (Welfare, unemployment, social-security disability...although all have their place in time, they are services that create dependency.)

I don't believe that there is a clear cut beginning and ending to the different phases.  For instance, in my lifetime I have seen people living with a feeling of abundance which after a few short years leads them to complacency.  As people keep spending to achieve the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed, they don't notice that they are outspending their income more each day. When a job is lost and so many friends are unemployed, apathy grows. We become weaker and more desperate.  We accept government help until we become so dependant that before we realize it we are enslaved. Look around yourself with truth and honesty....America could very well be in it's sunset days.

Subtle Sunset

A bit of controversy

My Father and I wrote a book together.  It is a picture book and for now we have used Shutterfly to publish it.  It is from the eyes of a tree and how from the time he was a sapling, he had a dream of growing up big, strong and straight so that he can become a beautiful house or some fine furniture.  But good meaning humans get in the way and jeopardize his dream.  They stop logging in his forest until one day a special logger got permission and came into the woods to cut down the best trees for his projects. 

About a month after I received the finished books in the mail, a small wooded area just North of town was logged.  The logger was careful and meticulous to go in and take the trees that were straight and tall.  Some of the wood was set aside to be cut into firewood and the rest was stacked into long straight piles of consistent sized logs ready for shipment.  Looking at the woods from several angles, once the debris is cleaned up, people driving by won't even be able to tell that the area was logged. 

There are younger trees in the area that will now have the space needed to grow up.  The landowner will have the freedom to come in and replant a diversification of sapling to fill back in the area.  The natural cycle of life will continue to flow.  Humans and their needs are part of that cycle of life.  We need to be careful to clarify the difference between needs and wants.  If our wants put too much demand on the natural order of life, then we need to set-aside our wants and scale back to our needs. 

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2Iatm7Fo1aPgA



Logging Site



Logging Site

I am debating if I should edit the book to add one of these pictures.  If I did things write, you should be able to see the book using this link.  You may need a shutterfly sign in.  Let me know if you can't see it and I will e-mail a link. Should I edit the book?

A puttsy day

I started laundry last night when I got home and finished it this morning.  I hadn't balanced my checkbook for a couple of weeks.  I've checked it online but that only shows what has cleared.  The change in jobs has a 3 week span between paychecks.  My bills pay on the 10th and the 25th.  Luckily my last paycheck landed after the 25th (barely) and my next paycheck is due on the 23rd.  It is going to be close!

The nice thing is that I'm paid for mileage and reimbursed for meals and lodging which will be paid a couple days before the payroll.  Change always has challenges.  I am a heavy believer in change management.  If you look ahead, plan ahead it makes accepting the changes easier.  After updating my checkbook today and looking ahead two weeks, everything should fall into place.

As I was puttsing along today, I caught up on some of the TV that I missed last week.  I don't have enough sit down hours to catch up but I guess that is a good thing.  ;^)

Good morning World!

The first week of new beginnings is done.  When I graduated from High School, I chose a special side panel for my graduation ring.  It was a sunrise with the words "A New Beginning". Having been bullied and tortured during many of those pre-graduation years, it was really a new beginning.

It is only fitting that I commemorate this change between jobs with a beautiful sunrise.  Once again the bullies are gone.  It is sad when adults think it is okay to bully in the workplace.

4 feet 12 inches?

Wait a minute!  That is five feet. Why didn't they just say five feet. I was swimming (no glasses) and the sign on the side of the pool kept catching my eye.  I thought it was a really goofy sign.  That was until I swam close to the edge and I realized that it said 4'  1.2 M (meters) the M without my glasses from across the pool looked like " and it made me giggle.

Sweet Suite

The week has been so busy that I haven't written much.  I have had class every day from 8AM to 6PM.  Today we went until 8PM!  The instructor ended up in the ER Monday night. I felt so bad for her.  She went home after about 2 hours on Monday and was gone on Wednesday.  As students Tuesday we did online "e-learning".  On Wednesday we had an instructor connect by phone and e-meeting. 

It has been a strange week.  We are still a little bit behind. And my brain????? Yeah, it is hurting.  I am studying an ERP (enterprise resource planning) software.  I have been workin.g ith various ERP software programs for about twenty years now.  This time I am learning it to the details of the Nth degree!

When I got here I was a bit shocked! This suite is sweet!  I think it is almost bigger than my first apartment.  But that apartment didn't have maid service. The week is almost over.  It is time to go home tomorrow.

Driving with my Kindle

I found out that my kindle has a text to speech feature.  I knew that I would be able to read books in the airport and while flying but with the text to speech absolutely any of the books are automatically "books on tape" so to speak. 

It speaks phonetically and is funny sometimes.  It keeps pronouncing Evelyn as Evalin. Sometimes the words are difficult to understand. 

Going home for a few weeks

Sid's paw is getting better and the female doberman at his home is in heat.  He is going to go home for a few weeks.  I guess we will see how his meds are working. 

He hasn't done damaging licking on his paw in nearly a month.  We are hoping that he is well enough to stay well as he goes home for a few weeks.  If he doesn't start licking his paw again, he will only be back at breeding time.  We will miss this big lug.

Cheers! ...to new beginnings

I am now up to date with technology. I took my picture of my office from my smart phone. In the picture is my personal lap, my work laptop and the kindle fire. They are all connected to wifi.  My secure wifi can be seen by everyone as "FBI van". LOL!

So if you are thinking about breaking in and making a lot of money by stealing my stuff just remember that we have 3 doberman's.