Sunday, April 2, 2000
(Update at 8:33)

Lost Hour?

I thought it was amusing that Jim Crider suggested that we would lose an hour of sleep-- actually, we lost an hour of walking-around time.  On weekends, unless we're going fishing, we don't set our alarm. Since the clocks didn't get changed until after we woke up, we lost an hour once I started walking around adjusting all of the clocks.  That's when we lost our hour.  There are two clocks I can't change because of my nails-- one that my brother gave me a long time ago and the one on the VCR.  I have a husband, I don't need to know how to adjust the VCR.

Jan Swijsen was complaining of not having enough time in the day to do everything he needs to get done.  If he gets to keep the hour we lost, that may help his time loss problems . . . hmm . . . something to think about, eh?

Finnish or Finlandian?

The couple that lives across the courtyard from us, Marco and Christina, are from Finland.  Marco was sent here to "learn retail" from the folks at Wal-Mart and Christina, having many years of experience in retail as well, works at J.C. Penney.  Back when Brian built our redwood table, they were the recipients of the table that it replaced and over the course of the past months, we've had some nice chats with them, as well: talking about the differences of cultures and the holidays, computers, etc.  Yesterday afternoon, Christina brought me an invitation for the two of us to go to the Associates' Sale at J.C. Penney-- huge deals!!!  It is by invitation only and, in addition to the sales that are on the signs already, we'll get an additional 40% off throughout the store sooooooo, yes, I'm looking forward to this already-- I've checked our charge card balance and we've got plenty of room to shop tonight!

Agenda

For the remainder of the day, up to our shopping trip tonight, Brian will write (now that you know what his project is) and I'll kill time waiting to shop by cross-stitching or something.  There's always plenty to do.  I'm going to make a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and bagels for Brian that'll keep him happy until tonight when we can go to TGIFridays for dinner before our shopping trip.  I haven't seen any of the recent weekend "How To" programs simply because I've been running around too much but maybe I can change that a bit today.

Whatever you do, stay safe and have fun at it-- especially if you're in NorCal cuz it looks gorgeous out there!!

8:33--give or take . . .

Well, we've just returned from our shopping spree!  We managed to find a set of kitchen towels (4 in basic black and 2 in cow print) and a kitchen mit to come home with us but, before we found them (or was it that they found us?), a set of sheets screamed our names, too.  I got a pair of peddle-pushers and shorts and a couple of tops to go with them and Brian got a pair of Rockports.  (We got a cheaper, immitation pair for him a year and a half ago that have worn really well.  The pair we tried to use as a replacement earlier last fall, didn't seem to fit his feet as well and have caused him pain which explains why we would need to get him a new pair tonight.)  You don't think that 40% is that much off until you see the price difference on the receipt tape!!

Before we went shopping, we stopped for dinner at TGIFridays-- I have a thing about grilled chicken caesar salads and, thankfully, they have a really good one there.  Brian had his "usual" blackened chicken with an alfredo sauce of some sort.  Wonderful!

Now that we're back home, Brian is back at it for a bit and I'm going to see what I can do on my cross-stitch.

Have a wonderful evening . . .

Relaxation

Although the first thing I did when I got up this morning was finish the second draft of the essay I'm writing, the rest of my day has been spent relaxing.  I've had my nails filled and my feet cured of what ailed them, with the exception of the broken toe!  When I got home from that appointment this afternoon, Brian and I made a run to Costco to pick up urgently needed supplies: Milky Way bars and Coke.  Ah, now he can settle back down and do some of that work.

Due to Lack of Interest

I'm tempted to cancel the rest of my day-- I've done the important bit so what's left?  Brian, my first reviewer, did his slashings on the second draft while I was goneto my appointment.  That means that I need to finish up the final draft to send out to my final reviewer, Barbara Thompson.  Barbara has graciously agreed to review the essay even with her hectic schedule!! So, I'll work on that and maybe have some time in between cat-napping, to work on my cross-stitch.

By the way . . .

As the note above in red says, the email has been weirdly sporadic-- emails that I sent on Wednesday to myself are just now showing up so if you're trying to send an email, please use the Yahoo account shown above.  Until PBI decides they're going to figure out the email problems, or my brilliant husband gets the mail server up and operating for all of us here, it may be a bit difficult to communicate for awhile.

9:30-ish

Well, I've had to do an upgrade on my Netscape browser tonight-- our on-line banking website wouldn't let me in because of the "old" encryption.  Other than that, the neighbors are having a party and being very noisy about it (I can't wait to get a house!).  I'm watching "Forces of Nature" as I cross-stitch . . . there's a reason that I am cross-stitching and watching this movie at the same time-- not great.

Oh, well . . . I hope you have a good one.

End-O-Quarter

9:00am: Well, its starting very slowly . . . I hate this cuz I know its gonna get bad-- very, very bad-- very soon.  ARGH!!  I got here about a half hour earlier and my boss got here about an hour earlier than she normally does so I'm not the only one who is thinking this is gonna be very, very bad!!

12:15pm:  I went into the lunchroom with my co-workers today and, after ten minutes, I immediately received three pages-- one was for one of my co-workers (who was generous enough to give out my pager number) and the other two were for the same deal for one of my customers.  I had a ten minute break, thanks!  Oh, yeah, I just love end of quarter!  ;>)

5:08pm:  All of my deals were finished by about 2:30pm or so today but, I didn't want my manager to be the last one in the department and get swamped at 5:00pm so I stayed.  At about 4, an agreement came in that has too many open issues to resolve so it wouldn't have been finished today anyway.  Its one that I was given on Wednesday but the customer sat on it for two days.  Hopefully it'll be finished next week sometime.

My Sister's Website

I made a few updates to their website yesterday, including a new email address for them-- now that they have a REAL computer, they can have a REAL internet service provider!!  They're hoping that the ISP will be one that they can "take" with them when they go back to Brazil.  Then again, my brilliant husband is trying to figure out a way to have one of his machines be the email server for all of us.  (Yes, he is brilliant like that . . .)

This Weekend?

Well, a friend of mine told me about Daffodil Hill which sounds like a cool little drive, if I can talk Brian into it.  As great as the weather has been lately, if the name reflects the scenery, it should be gorgeous!  But that would be AFTER my nail/pedicure appointment tomorrow.  I don't know how I'll get a proper foot massage with my toe being the beautiful shade of purple-y pink that it is but I'll suffer through it somehow, I'm sure.

Month-Ending Stats

More pages were read this month than last but, technically I had fewer websites although I had as many or more countries visiting than last time.  There is some debate in our house about how to read the stats but I think that the number of pages read is the most accurate.  "Hits" includes logos (mine and those belonging to others) that are on my pages plus pictures while "pages read" is exactly that-- no extras.  I'm still proud and pleased to have all of you visiting and appreciate your comments and emails.  Thanks and keep it up!!

Perhaps more later . . .

But I must make dinner and work on the essay I'm writing . . . etc. . . . have a good evening all.

Busy Day

Nothing substantial . . . just constant . . . as a result, a lot of times lately, I've started to write my post at work and, leaving it in draft form, sent it home to add into my Musings.  Today, however, that wasn't the case-- No pre-started posting or time for it.  Only one more day . . . then I can close the closet door and not worry about the shoes falling anymore!

Tidbits

Well, I know a certain Canadian who is eating better than he thought tonight (and for about a week to come!) . . . and a Happy Birthday to you, too, Tom!

My niece, Natali, is a cutie-- she's in college and is thinking she needs to relocate to California and more specifically, Los Angeles.  She says it reminds her of her "hometown" but cleaner!!  This from a child born in Sao Paulo!!  I've been to Sao Paulo so it is no wonder she thinks LA is cleaner!!

The fun thing about California and Silicon Valley in particular is that you can wear leggings and a denim shirt and flip-flops to work without anyone looking at you too oddly.  The oddest looks I received were the ones who were able to spot the purple toe on my right foot quickly!!  (Oh, yes, it is definitely broken!)

I know that this is a short post but, I've had too busy of a day to think of anything else to write about and, because it was a busy day, I didn't have time to do anything but work-- those silly people just really expect work out of me just because they pay me a check every few weeks-- the nerve!!

Perhaps, I'll find a way to post more later on . . .

It wasn't busy . . .

 . . . it was just steady.  The contracts that we were expecting are not coming in but other ones are and they are just sort of forming a steady stream at this point, no major waterfalls just yet but, I'm still expecting that other shoe any minute now.  Two of the biggest deals I had for the quarter came in today, signed by the customer so that is good news.  Three new "small" agreements (in dollar amounts) were assigned to me today and they are all pretty straight forward so it shouldn't be a problem.  The week appears to be progressing nicely, at any rate.

Michigan is Talking

While I haven't gotten any email from them lately, Sue and Bill have been busy trying to learn all about their new computer.  I warned them not to get the "Dummies" books to learn about it but suggested a few other titles that will hopefully help them.  Their son, Aaron, is a bit of computer geek and has been trying to help them learn a few things as they've been working on learning some of the other programs that came with the computer.  All in all, things are going fairly well though and they are still having fun and are very excited.

Brian's At It . . . AGAIN!!

You know Brian . . . always has to try out the new stuff!!  So, he found a program that'll let him download the digital camera pictures in Linux-- he's a happy camper, needless to say.  Then, he decided to start playing around and found a way to take his picture using the program and the digital camera . . . so he did.  That's the picture you see on the right above . . . him at his computer.  Guess what?  Okay, now, after you click on the thumbnail to open the picture, look carefully "under" Brian's beard in the picture-- that's me in the background!!  (What a production!!)  Now you can see how we spend the vast majority of our evenings and the perspectives that we have of each other as we're writing or working at our computers!  Cool, huh?

Other than that . . .

Its the usual Wednesday night agenda although I'm still trying to finish the essay that I've been working on . . . hopefully, it'll be done tonight or the next night, for sure.  And then, its dinner to make and "How To" night again have a good one and maybe I'll check in later on with y'all . . .

7:45pm - Is anyone keeping score?

I've done it again!  Oh, yes, Brian was telling me that I need to stop exaggerating about stuff . . . "Its like", says he, "When you say 'I've stubbed my toes thousands of times' and you really haven't . . . "  Well, he barely had the last syllable completely rolled off of his tongue when, you guessed it, I stubbed my toe!  This time, its my right foot, little toe and it is a lovely shade of purple-- I am soooo talented, aren't I?

ARGH!!

Half a Pair

Well, here I am at work, waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I know it has to be around here somewhere but I'll be hanged if I know where it is!  Oh, that's right-- its only Tuesday!  If it were Thursday, or better yet-- Friday-- I would really be having fun, eh?  Oh, man, this is one of those things that I know is going to come on strong when it hits . . . I can hope that I'm wrong but I'm probably not.  The work has been steady but the agreements that have been promised for over a week haven't appeared yet . . . rumors have it that one will be in tomorrow.  Hopefully, there aren't a lot of changes that we can't live with on the agreements-- that'll make it go faster.  In the interim, its just incredibly unnerving.

WW Update

I forgot to mention that I lost another half-pound last night at Weight Watchers.  The theory that they are spouting at me is that it didn't come on overnight so I can't expect it to come off overnight.  Well, y'know, it would just be nice if it came off faster than it is!!  Geesh, at this rate, I won't be at my goal for what seems like an eternity!!  No, I won't give up . . . it just would be nice if it came off a little faster!

Another Re-Write for Me . . .

 . . . on the essay and then its off to my reviewers for proofing.  I've got to finish tying everything together . . . that should be an interesting twist.

Computer-Land is Quiet

What do you suppose that means?  Have they broken it already?  We've not been hearing anything from my sister in Michigan with the new computer-- they could be traveling or learning parts other than what is on the internet, i.e., Quicken (and how to make it work from Brazil with their bank, if that's possible?), Print Artist (which is a program that they use for their slide presentations), anything that is on a "normal" software package.

On the Agenda

Brian got home from work before me tonight so the laundry was started before I got home.  Yes, we will still be doing our own laundry-- that just makes sense.  (I'm not sure when Albert will be coming over for the orientation or when he will start but it will be nice to have a housekeeper again.)  Once I finish the laundry, I should work on my essay and, then, I'll probably work on the cross-stitch again.  I'm not sure that I'm going to use Front Page yet so for the time being, I've put off doing anymore re-design work in it.  I decided I wanted to have a huge salad tonight so Brian'll end up making burritos for himself later on-- its one of his favorites and I'm not that crazy about it-- which is a long story.  So, maybe, as the night progresses, I'll be back.  Later . . .

Brand New Day

As I start this post, Sting's "Brand New Day" is running through my mind for some reason.  Oh, well, it is Monday, the first day of a new week and I'm looking at finding a housekeeper.  As I've said many times before, I don't do the cleaning-- never have and Brian's a bit too busy these days so something's gotta give.  (I am too old to learn new tricks and will never think it a "fun" job to do.)

I had found a couple of ads online and through Yahoo and the Yellow Pages and, then, when I get home, Brian hands me the business card of an old associate of his from about five years or so back.  Albert will be coming by later this week to give us an estimate and run through a list of things we typically want him to do and voila, we have a housekeeper!  I really was dreading having to find someone, having forgotten all about Albert even though Brian has mentioned him a number of times to me.  The funny part was that even though Brian was going to call Albert tonight, Albert called him instead-- Albert hasn't called here in well over a year so it is totally weird that he would call tonight.  Anyway . . . I'm looking forward to having my husband be able to relax a bit on weekends, when possible.

Old Friends

A woman friend of mine who lived here in the complex and moved out a few months back called tonight-- she'd lost our number and I didn't know any number but that of her daughter's, where she moved.  Somehow, we've managed to magically connect tonight and get caught up on things . . . both of us, I've just realized, had old friends call tonight.  Very weird night!

First Day of End-o-Quarter Week

Well, I will have the agreement that needs to be finished by Friday on Wednesday (if I'm lucky)-- isn't that nice?  I get a whole two days to work on this document!!  ARGH!!!!  A major corporation today submitted their third attempt at "Oh, this is the document we want you to sign-- really . . . we're pretty sure anyway . . . I think . . . "  THREE documents from THREE different people and all for ONE transaction!!  Talk about ticked!!  I was supposed to have a conference call at 10 with them and they submitted the new document at 9:15 with an "By the way, if you can't make the call at 10, its not a problem for us, we can reschedule!"  Oh, you can???  Gee, thanks sooooo terribly much!!!  So I reschedule to 12 o'clock noon, my time putting me in the middle of not making a business lunch I should've attended, and they don't call me until 12:30!!  Now granted, I couldn't have done the business lunch anyway but, if they were going to be so rude about it, I might've waited to reschedule the call until 2pm MY time-- making them work late!!  ARGH!!!

Its going to be that kinda week isn't it?  Oh, man!!

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