Archive for October 16-22, 2000Musings of My Mind
Sunday, October 22, 2000
(Update at 5:45pm)While I've got your attention . . .
I don't know how long DSL will be up today so, I want to put a post up now and maybe I'll be able to update it later if we're still in a "Go" situation. Brian has an appointment to meet with the PacBell people on Thursday to figure out where the connection problem is: at the modem or at the box. In the meantime, we'll be suffering with a bit of down-time intermittently it seems. Bear with us as you recall: all good things come to those who wait.
Today's Plans
Well, I've got less than an hour of tape to read to Grammy today so I can get another tape to her. I'll do that while Brian runs to Costco-- yes, there's only a case and a half of Coke in the house and you don't know: there could be a run on it and he'll never get any ever again. He's got to get it while he can!
After that he's going to bring me to my new office so that I can unpack-- he won't stay the whole time that I'm there but I will probably need him to rearrange furniture. As of Thursday, before our stuff was moved over, they had it laid out wrong so I'm figuring that its still wrong and, before I unpack and weigh everything down, it makes more sense to have him move the furniture. I forgot to label the pedestal that my monitor sits on so I may have to figure outsomething else there, too, but I'll worry about that later.
So, yes, you can figure that, unless there's a problem with DSL, I'll be back to let you know how it went at unpacking and getting the tape to Grammy. Hopefuly, I can catch her before she leaves for mass and dinner tonight-- I have yet to see her since before her birthday in August!!
More to come . . .
Two Minute Warning!!
I have a window-- don't know how long it will last but I have a window where DSL is sending mail so maybe it'll publish this, too.
If you're waiting on an email from me in response to your email, please be patient: I haven't got DSL so I sent it to my Yahoo! account where I'll be able to log onto it in the morning tomorrow from work . . . eventually.
Oh, yes, I went to work and yes, I unpacked. Brian had to come and re-arrange everything-- they asked for a picture of the layout that I wanted and everything I asked for was placed in the exact opposite space of where I asked it to be placed. I've got all of my electronic stuff set up to the right of my monitor but I've got one plug to the left of my monitor. Great set-up, eh? Oh, wait, it gets worse-- I mean better!! I don't have an ethernet connection-- I cannot get onto the net at all from my cube. And for this, we had someone in the office yesterday to make sure that the computer systems were all set up right. Aren't you glad we had that person there? Me, too!! NOT!!!!
Anyway, I finished the wreath for my office and the one for the door here at home. I also was able to visit for a little while with Grammy when I dropped off the tape-- it was good to see her.
Gotta try to publish quick!
Have a great evening!!
Saturday, October 21, 2000Make no attempt to adjust your sets . . .
If you can see this, that's more than I can say. I'm not even sure that this is publishing correctly or not cuz I can't see it. Why not? Cuz our DSL is down and has been all day. I don't know if you can see this or not now that I think of it. OH, well, hopefully it won't be down all night so I'm going to go ahead and put up a post and see what happens.
Activities of the Day
Well, let's see: I made my annual trek to WalMart. I had to, at some point during the season, get a new string of lights for the Christmas tree and, even though we're not putting it up for a few weeks yet, I wanted to be able to get while the getting was good. Early bird gets the worm and all that, don'tcha know. So, anyway, I went and picked up our lights and a couple of other doo-dads for holiday gifts-- we're giving a certain nephew a large gift that would be tooooo awkward to wrap and too big for the average gift bag that we have so I picked up a larger one today for his gift.
It was an absolute zoo in the store which is why I don't bother with going anymore often than I have to, i.e., once a year. I didn't find anything else to buy either-- I need some bicycle gloves and a reflective vest (more on that in a moment) but, try as I might, I couldn't find anything else to buy. Oh, well, at least I did my share for the day.
And now for those "Future Plans"
I'm slowly putting together a plan to be able to ride my bicycle to work and back once my back gets in shape to be able to handle it. From our apartment, by a certain route, to my office is exactly 7 miles; the only hitch being that there are three major hills which I'm not used to doing but I'm sure I could do with practice and a couple of days of doing them would be all the practice that I need. Even though it is getting into our rainy season, I should end up being able to ride to and from work at least three times a week and, hey, 42 miles is good. I'm going to shoot for all five days but I have to figure that rain is going to interfere. If the forecast says that it isn't going to rain and I ride my bike anyway, well, at least we don't live too far for Brian to come pick me up.
In order to do this, however, in addition to the lights I've got on the front and back of the bike, I need a reflective vest that will fit over my back pack. I will have a locker at work where my toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, etc., are kept but my every day clothes and possible work home will need to travel in my back pack. The new office building I'm moving to, as well as the old office building I moved from, have showering facilities so that I can shower when I get to work and change my clothes there as well when I get ready to leave at night.
Well, that's the plan-- hopefully, all will go well and I can start riding my bike to work in a week or so.
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I put about an hour on tape this afternoon but, it is a two hour tape so I've got a little ways to go before I can run this tape over to Grammy's tomorrow morning. I guess you'll know what I'll be doing tonight, eh?
Friday, October 20, 2000Unique Day
Some time back, Bob Thompson queried me (long story but "query" only covers part of it!) as to why I wasn't working from home more often. I mentioned that we don't do it because we need the interaction, which is true, we do.
Today, I worked from home, except for the time that I went to a co-worker's house to take a conference call with her. How'd it go? Well, I got a lot of work done actually but, I also missed not being around my co-workers and getting their interaction and thoughts on the deals that we're working. I'd do it again but I wouldn't want to do it for a living.
After the regular work was finished for the day, I went out and ran an errand for my boss. Several months back, I negotiated the agreement for the Halloween party that my company is hosting at an internet party on October 31st. I told my boss about it and reminded her last month that she would need a costume. Unfortunately, time has run short and she forgot so, as of yesterday, she had no costume. Note that that was "as of yesterday"; as of today, she has a costume. She's going to be "Morticia" complete with wig-- it's really pretty neat. I went out to the costume store and picked it up for her; hope it fits since there are no returns or exchanges.
When Brian got home (before me from my errand running), he had started the laundry; he moved everything over to the dryers and then I went down to hang and fold the clothes. Between the time that he took off to work on the book and did laundry in the early afternoons and my back being out, I don't think I've done the laundry (in any form) for more than two months! Yes, I remembered how but it was also fun cuz I ran into a couple of neighbors that I haven't seen for awhile.
It was good to catch up with Anna (and her two boys-- husband, Jin, was at work); she had an auto accident a few weeks back and I hadn't had an opportunity to talk with her to see how she was doing. Then, Sangeeta our neighbor next door came up with her parents who are visiting yet from India; her husband, Prasad, was still at work. She only lives next door but I hadn't seen her for weeks either so it was good to see her and catch up with her, too.
I'm hoping to finish another tape for Grammy tomorrow as well as work on some Christmas ornaments and wreaths. Should be fun, eh? I'm looking forward to it-- its nice to be able to sit up at the table and work on stuff without my back killing me!! :>)
I guess that's all for tonight . . . take care and have a nice evening . . .
Thursday, October 19, 2000Tired!!
Well, let's see-- my office is packed up and I helped the woman who shouldn't've been at the office pack and another of my co-workers pack. Why did I help the woman who shouldn't've been there? Because she needed it, of course! Suzie just had a gallbladder surgery and, no she shouldn't be there but she was feeling pretty good and there were things, like her office packing, to do so she came in anyway. She and I also have a conference call tomorrow morning that we're taking at her house (she only lives 3 or 4 blocks from our apartment)-- this from a woman who shouldn't be working!! Oy!!
After our staff meeting, a bunch of us piled into our cars and went over to the new building-- its the first time that we were actually seeing our new digs installed. Looks great, too! I'm really excited to move into the space-- my office is huge (by comparison to the other cubes I've had at this company) and I'm very happy with it!! One of the other women and I were comparing notes: this is the fourth time in 13 months that she's moved but, I have her beat! This is the fourth time in 10 months that I've moved!! It makes me tired all over again just thinking of it!!
On Sunday, I'll go in and unpack the majority of my stuff simply because it would be easier than waiting until the madness of the work day starts on Monday.
Tomorrow . . .
I'll be working out of the apartment, with the exception of the time that I'm at Susan's for the conference call. Our AVPs have been informed that we'll be on cell phones and pagers so it should be a mad house trying to stay organized tomorrow.
Other News?
The only thing that I can think of that's "newsy" is that the webcrawlers haven't been by my site this week! I'm really surprised at that one actually-- they have a habit of sending something (a bot of some sort) out at least once a week but they haven't been by this week yet. I can't decide if my feelings should be hurt or not yet. I'll think on it and let you know . . .
I've got a contract to work on again . . . Have a good evening!
Wednesday, October 18, 2000Another YOWZA Day!
Man, these kinda days are getting all too frequent!! Yesterday, after work, I went to my periodontist and had a post-operative check-up. Everything is SUPERIOR, thanks! I had all 3s and 2s for the ratings which is a vast improvement and means that I have finally learned to take care of my teeth!! Too much info? Sorry! Anyway, suffice it to say, I am happy about that!
After that, I went to my Weight Watchers meeting-- I've changed nights cuz its earlier on Tuesday night than it was on Monday night. I like the group better, too. Anyway, then after that, I picked up dinner and went home. After catching up our respective days over dinner, Brian went to work and I went to work, too-- I had brought home a few files to review and draft some language for the agreements, etc. That's why my post was so short last night!
Tonight, its no better! I went to the chiropractor after work and then, to the grocery store to pick up a few things needed to finish out the week. When I finally got home, I started to make up the pizzas that I bought-- for Brian I made a pepperoni, onion, green pepper Boboli crust (which turned out to be a beautiful pie!) and I made three pita breads with Pizza Quick sauce, artichoke hearts, olives (black and green), green pepper and nine slices of pepperoni split between them. All three were a total of 12 points!! Problem: I could only eat two so obviously, I was well within my points limit for the day!! Cool!!
Then I did the dishes-- empty the dishwasher, wash the dishes and load the dishwasher (long story about why we wash the dishes before we wash the dishes). NOW, I'm finally getting to my post, its almost 9:00 and I've got a contract to finish re-drafting tonight yet!!! ARGH!!!!! At work, it is non-stop agreements with complicated deals-- its fun and interesting but man, I do long for the quick software license agreement!! The cool thing about the deals getting complicated is that there's a lot to learn about putting the deal and the agreement together. Its more fun and definitely keeps the day interesting!!
The thing I'm looking forward to is December!! Remember last year how busy I was? This year its like December in October-- I can't wait for December this year!! We're going to be SOOOOO busy!!!! ;>) ;>) I am a sick puppy, aren't I? I love being busy though-- its so much more fun than being bored!!! I've done the "bored" thing and am grateful every day that I don't have to "work" like that anymore!!
Gotta run-- that agreement is calling my name!
Have a good evening!
Tuesday, October 17, 2000Happy Anniversary, Loma Prieta!!
Its odd: You have a major earthquake of major proportions and, in the eleventh year, it doesn't matter anymore? A lot of people died during that quake but, in the San Francisco Chronicle, only a three-inch article covers the 11th Anniversary of The Earthquake. The USGS has only got a 10 year page-- I'm really quite surprised . . . and disappointed. People died during that earthquake-- a lot of people died during that earthquake. A lot of people that didn't have to die if we weren't so concerned with building up the area as fast as we could died.
That's sad . . . I think it is important that we mark their passing and the fact that the Bay Bridge (shown broken on the USGS page) is still not fixed or replaced and is still threatening to people, should we have another quake of any strength.
The cities of San Francisco and Oakland and the State of California are too busy arguing about who will pay for it and what it will look like than worrying about the people who will die the next time it collapses. Those people who will die because the "Deciding Bodies of Government" have dragged their feet really don't care what it looks like-- they would've just preferred it to be able to handle the next big earthquake without killing them.
Yowza!!
Work is phenominally busy!! I almost can't believe it isn't end of quarter!! We're technically down two and a half people right now so that doesn't help any either but . . . I've brought work home with me tonight and, as short as this is, I'll have to cut it off for now.
In addition to having work to do, I've got a couple of emails to write! While that doesn't sound like it would take that long, it feels like it does which is sometimes even harder to deal with these days! I commented to Brian on the way home tonight (I called him on the cell phone) that it seemed to me to be later than 6:00. He reminded me that its because the sun is lower in the sky than it was a month ago-- in two weeks, there won't be any sun at 6pm!
Man, where did my year go? I want my year back!!!
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More later if time permits . . . have a nice evening!
Monday, October 16, 2000
Update at 8:00pmA Response!!
Finally!! Someone has responded to my question last week:
Subject: Belgian Kitchen Sayings
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 15:52:33 +0100
From: Felix Mendes <Felix.Mendes@min-edu.pt>
To: marcia@dutchgirl.netDear Ms Bilbrey,
Excuse me for interrupting this way, you must have already had this answer a thousand times over, but I have been reading your "musings" and saw your question about "translating Belgian kitchen sayings into Dutch".
As it happens, they were most probably in Dutch in the first place, as Belgium has three official languages (they are VERY particular on that subject, mind you).
So, you have the Flemish Community - speakes Dutch (the Flemish variety); the Wallon Community - speaks French (those two comprise more than 90% of the Belgian population); and the German-speaking Community. The first two have their separate governments based in Brussels, and the third has its government based mainly in Eupen. Of course, they also have a Federal
Government, but the governments of the communities handle most of the affairs.I hope to have shed a little light on the subject.
Sincerely,
Felix Mendes (from Portugal)
To which I replied:
Dear Mr. Mendes,
Thank you so much for your correspondence!! Actually, no one had responded to the question and I felt a little like I may have put people off if the comment was read to be a challenge rather than a true inquiry. I do appreciate your responding to the question at hand: Why are the Dutch translating Belgian kitchen sayings into Dutch?
Until you mentioned the percentages of Flemmish/French/German, I did not recall that there was a German population in Belgium. Of course, I now recall that and believe that your response is most accurate! Thank you so very much for your assistance in clearing that up!!
Since you didn't mark your email "Confidential", I would like to post it to my website in order to enlighten others who may be wondering the answer to the same question. Also, thanks for coming by my website-- I enjoy having people from around the world reading my site and writing to me! Learning something from a new correspondent is just another advantage to having a website!
Thanks again for responding to the question!!
Best regards,
MarciaWell now, there's the answer we all needed!! Truly, I remembered the references once I'd read them in his email-- see the advantages of having a website read by people around the world? I have such nice people that read my website-- thanks to you all for coming by!!
Other than that . . .
My sister in Brazil has their computer up and operating-- I received a real email from her as well as an update to their website from her husband. Work is busy-- no, it isn't the end of another quarter but I've come to realize that it doesn't matter. We're just always going to be busy!!
Anyway, long night ahead-- my back's tightened up a bit and I've got an icepack calling my name as a result. (It could've been worse: Brian had an entire table of cakes screaming to come home with him from Costco the other day. Thankfully, only one of them found their way into the cart!!)
Have a good evening and again, thanks for coming by!!
I forgot to mention: I actually baked a treat for the office today! I made an apple crisp recipe that I found. It went over well!!
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