2014 - Day 318/47 - Friday...

Well, I have successfully gotten the first fire of the season going in the wood stove, and that is nice.  From the looks of this cloudy and grey sky, you could squint adequately and convince yourself that you were in some (select the deity of your choice) forsaken place like Ohio or Michigan (no slam there Diane, last I saw you were snorkeling).  It reminds me of when I was a kid and I would go pheasant hunting with my dad when we lived in Michigan.  Cold, grey, damp...and after that came the really bad parts.  Yes, sometimes I get tired of the heat here on the edge of nowhere, but I really do not have that many good memories of freezing temperatures and snow.  The worst memory I have of that kind of climate is 1976, Rochester, New York.  Ask me about it sometime!

A good day today, all in all.  Got lots of work done in the office, got lots of good things accomplished at the board, and pretty soon it will be time for bed.  Except it is Friday night, and that means there is a real lack of choice on the tube.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, COLD, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 317/48 - Thursday...

You are welcome to your own opinion, but this is mine:  Nothing (and I mean that), NOTHING in close proximity to a urinal in a public men's room should be emblazoned with the logo Nut-Locker.  It is just not rational to me, and if you have a differing opinion, please feel free to comment, but please also provide the rationale.

Having arrived in Houston yesterday with no overnight kit and no hotel rom, I think I survived pretty well.  Before leaving the office yesterday, I was able to scrounge up a tooth brush and a disposable razor, so I thought I was pretty well set.  It was only after I completed my shower and was drying my hair that I remembered that I also was not endowed with a brush or a comb.  SO...I adopted the look of one of the three stooges for the day...or maybe a combination of them all (except for the one with no hair, with apologies to David and a plethora of other friends).  And I made it through the day pretty much unscathed and arrived home on the edge of nowhere (because that is further than the middle of nowhere) all safe and sound.

Tomorrow will indeed be another day.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, NUT-LOCKER (OFGS), Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 316/49 - Wednesday...

The beginning of this day was really hectic, the middle of the day was calm and peaceful, and there were a couple surprises towards the end of the day!

Beginning:  According to our super-duper thermometer, we did not get below 37 degrees overnight.  On my drive to work, there were no readings below 35 degrees.  It is supposed to be colder tonight, but I am not expecting a hard freeze.  I packed for an overnight trip to Houston (I have to take a class tomorrow), and forgot a few important items.  To begin with, we could not get the garage door to go down last night, so I released it and closed it manually.  Today, I got it up but could not get it to go down again, so that was a challenge.  Further into town I realized that I did not remember to pack my overnight kit, but I could endure without it.  I found a tooth brush and a razor in the office, so I am all set.  I was scheduled to do a KVUE Midday Interview, and that went well; this is a photo of me and Andrew, the KVUE Producer that I have had the honor of working with all year, a really rewarding experience.  That was the beginning.

Middle:  Not much to report, nothing really worth noting.

End:  I made I to Houston at about 6:30 only to arrive at the Hotel to find out I made reservations for tomorrow, not today.  I am not kidding. Oh, and there was no room at that Inn, and they were unaware of any available rooms in the area, since they had been trying to find accommodations for others (they were over-booked).I eventually found a room, and I expect that I will look back at this some day and laugh.  But probably not tomorrow.  Or any time soon.

My class starts tomorrow at 9 a.m., and I expect to leave about 7:45, just in case.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GOOD, BAD, UGLY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 315/50 - Tuesday...

The "other" Lutherans (there are/is a plethora of Lutherans here abouts) had a chili dinner tonight.  Last week another set of the "other" Lutherans had their annual Wurstfest, so I guess this is something of a November Food-A-Rama.  This is (as far as I know) the first year of the chili dinner event, but it was pretty good, and it just so happened that this is the coldest evening of the fall/winter season, so the timing was perfect.  The folks that were serving did not look too happy about the abrupt change of climate, but they picked the date, I just showed up as directed by the signs.

First day back to the office after being out for almost a week, and it was pretty darned busy AND productive.  I like productive, that is always better than just being busy.  I made good progress on several fronts, including teaching a quick "Know Your Code" class at the Austin Board.

Try to stay warm!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHILI/CHILLY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 314/51 - Monday...

I'm back!  After terrorizing folks in another state, I am back at the edge of nowhere (that is further than the middle of nowhere) and happily ensconced at my desk.  It was a toss-up as to whether I wanted to get this photo, but there was no reason not to.  It is always a challenge when I am told there is nothing I can poke, prod or push that will cause any problems, and I always delight at the pilots face when I say "What about this one?".  I was cautioned today about one particular pair of throttles or thrusters that I should avoid at all costs.  FINALLY I know what to go for the next time!

Aside from the information I received at the Annual NAR Conference, and the networking with colleagues and the observations of the NAR Directors (again) in action, I also had the opportunity to visit a few places I lived while I was living in New Orleans, and last night (for the first time in almost three decades) I walked the Quarter with my friends Barb and Steve.  We visited the Hotel I used to work at (How are you today Sir?  Not as good as you!), did even more laughing and cutting up, and I had a really good Seafood Platter at Café Pontabla on St. Peter Street, home of the WORST.  KEY LIME.  PIE.  EVER!  Did you know pedi-cabs charge by the block, per person.  That was an awakening!  I should have been keeping up.

But, overall, it was fun, educational, motivating and totally worth it.  But I am glad to be home!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HOME, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 312/53 - Sunday...

And, this is the penultimate day of the 2014 NAR Annual Conference.  A series of meetings today (including two different breakfast meetings), concluding with the Caucuses, and tomorrow will be the Board of Directors meeting, and then off to the airport for the trip home

Crazy.  We meet with boards, committees, task forces, PAGs, and each other, and at the end of the days, we are exhausted and spent.  Perhaps that is why it is so easy to smile.  Smile and laugh.  Laugh and tell secrets.  Connect.  Connect and understand.  Understand and go forward.  Share. 

Deeds, Actions, Changes, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2014 - Day 311/54 - Saturday...

So, I really need to concentrate, I only have eleven minutes to get this done.

Today could have gone either way; I had a really great day, but there were other things that made me really reflect and think about how lucky I am.  I have professed to this journal many times that I consider myself to be the luckiest man in the world, and that is a true fact.

My friend Steve was very kind to me today, and took me to view a couple of my old haunts here in New Orleans.  Some were not affected at all by the Hurricane (Katrina) and some wee destroyed and are still not inhabitable.  It was NOT the hurricane that devastated this city, it was the breach of the levy system AFTER the hurricane that flooded many parts of the city, and still there is no concrete answer as to why that happened.  SO...this is a photo of the apartment I lived in before I bought a home in Now Orleans East...the home has been re-built since my last visit about four years ago, but this apartment (which was a very nice place) is just now beginning renovation.  After the flooding, the property stood vacant for years, then it was a home for vagrants (really?) and maybe even homeless folks, but ultimately for some reason it was set afire...maybe someone was trying to stay warm.  But I have really fond memories of this place, and this is what it looks lie as on this afternoon.  My friend Steve took me on a tour of my old residences in the Crescent City, and it made me really realize how lucky I am.  I did not live here when the hurricane hit, and I was happily ensconced in Austin with the love of my life when this devastation occurred, but this is the reality.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, REALITY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!