31 December 2011
New Year’s Eve
Well,
here it is the end of another year. It seems odd to me that we put such a focus
on the arbitrary passage of our globe past a randomly selected point in its
orbit. Why the importance on it?
30 December 2011
28 December 2011
26 December 2011
25 December 2011
Have A Holly Jolly Christmas!
Have a holly jolly Christmas
It's the best time of the year
Well I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
24 December 2011
White Christmas
What a week! We had over a foot of snow in town, nearly 10”
out at my house this week and the sub-zero temperatures (that’s Fahrenheit –
not Celsius) we have had all week means that I still have plenty on the ground
and it is going to be a White Christmas.
22 December 2011
21 December 2011
20 December 2011
19 December 2011
17 December 2011
Not A Moment Too Soon!
It took nearly two weeks’ of evenings, four trips to the
post office, and a whole lot of putting memories onto paper, but I have
finished getting my Christmas mailing out! It is down to Santa’s little helpers
at the US Postal Service to get my Christmas wishes to their intended
recipients.
16 December 2011
15 December 2011
13 December 2011
12 December 2011
10 December 2011
Feeling Festive
There is an axiom that they teach in Dale Carnegie
training: “Fake It ‘til You Make It” by which they mean that if you are feeling
bad or unenthusiastic about something, try acting like you’re happy about it
and work toward getting enthusiastic about it and it will help you out of your
funk or help you build your enthusiasm.
09 December 2011
08 December 2011
07 December 2011
05 December 2011
04 December 2011
03 December 2011
Weekend Projects
It was a short week, but a busy one. I had a lovely
vacation but the week was hectic. Why is it that when you leave the office it
takes about as long to get ready for and recover from your time off as the time
you actually get to take away from the office?
02 December 2011
01 December 2011
30 November 2011
29 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – A Late Return
This is how I feel this morning… like at any moment I might
drop off to sleep. Ironically, at the same time, I am still a bit wired from
the travel.
28 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – In Transit
If there is anyone who truly believes that the travel
industry has been set-up to cater to our comfort, I would love to meet them. Whenever
I travel, I remember a cartoon from that classic of childhood, MAD
MAGAZINE.
Travelogue South Carolina – Departure Day
The day started early. Well, not really early for me, but early for vacation!
27 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – Fun And Games
There is something instructive about watching a child play
a game. My cousins had some friends come over to spend the day and so we had
the opportunity to do something together.
26 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – Visiting Family
There must have been some kind of a game this weekend.
Every car I passed had either a cartoon representation of a paw print of some
sort on it or a tiger tail hanging out of it. The one stop I made (for gas and
a stretch) there were people in the gas station that had the paw print painted
on their faces. I suppose if I cared anything for sports I might know more
about it but…
Travelogue South Carolina – BEACH TIME!
What trip to the beach would be complete without a trip to
the beach! We all had a polar bear morning today and headed out for a swim.
25 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – Time To Walk
One of the things I love about this place is that there is
no schedule. Everybody is pretty free to do whatever – whenever. This morning,
I slipped off to have a walk along the beach. (I have to do something to work
off at least some of the calories from last night's meal!)
24 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – Time to Work
For those of us who live in a condo complex (or apartment
for that matter) a vacation might include doing work around the house. There is
not a lot of yard work for us. No pruning, clearing brush, no yard maintenance.
That is all done for us.
23 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – Lowlands Barbecue
There are always lots of wonderful things to do at the
beach. Good friends, food, and drink. One of my favorites has always been the
Carolina Lowlands Barbecue! The lovely pork marinated in a combination of
vinegar, pepper, and savory spices! Ohhhhh!
Travelogue South Carolina – Southern Snow
I left the cold of Colorado for a white thanksgiving in
South Carolina.
22 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina - Arrival
I am SO glad that I didn't decide to
drive on to the beach this evening – er, morning! It is just after midnight and
I am waiting for my bags. It is, at least, clear and cold here. There is some
delay with the bags. I've already had a chance to get the car, walk my carryon
bags down to it and leave them in the trunk, have a bit of a stretch.
Travelogue South Carolina – In Transit
The flight here was completely uneventful – that's always
a good thing!
Travelogue South Carolina – Departure
To quote the old song:
"All my bags are
packed
I'm ready to go…"
21 November 2011
Travelogue South Carolina – Preparations
19 November 2011
18 November 2011
17 November 2011
16 November 2011
15 November 2011
14 November 2011
12 November 2011
11 November 2011
08 November 2011
07 November 2011
06 November 2011
04 November 2011
03 November 2011
02 November 2011
The First Blizzard Of The Season
01 November 2011
Who Says Halloween Is Just For Kids!?
My friends once again threw an excellent party. As is their wont, they went completely overboard with their costumes, decorations, and party prep! But then, where a good time is involved, can one really go overboard? 've said it before, I will say it again: People from New Orleans throw the best parties. I have no idea how I got so lucky to have such cool friends!
31 October 2011
There Ain't No Justice!
Robert A. Heinlein, by way of his character Lazarus Long, introduced us to this infallible law of the universe. Lazarus often bemoaned that "there ain't no justice" as a sort-of extension of Murphy's Law. Where as the eponymous Mr. Murphy observed that "What Can Go Wrong Will." Lazarus Long observed that if something can be misconstrued or misunderstood, it will.
30 October 2011
29 October 2011
The Trouble With Technology
I guess that all the technology in the world doesn't help if you forget to use it!
27 October 2011
26 October 2011
25 October 2011
24 October 2011
Debate? What Debate?
de·bate [dih-beyt] noun, verb, -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
noun
1.a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
2.a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
3.deliberation; consideration.
4.Archaic. strife; contention.
verb (used without object)
5.to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly: When we left, the men were still debating.
6.to participate in a formal debate.
7.to deliberate; consider: I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
8.Obsolete. to fight; quarrel.
verb (used with object)
9.to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly: They debated the matter of free will.
10.to dispute or disagree about: The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
11.to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.): Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
12.to deliberate upon; consider: He debated his decision in the matter.
13.Archaic. to contend for or over.
Origin: 1250–1300; (v.) Middle English debaten < Old French debatre, equivalent to de- de- + batre to beat < Latin battere, earlier battuere; (noun) Middle English debat < Old French, derivative of debatre
Related forms
de·bat·er, noun
de·bat·ing·ly, adverb
in·ter·de·bate, verb, -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
non·de·bat·er, noun
non·de·bat·ing, adjective
23 October 2011
22 October 2011
21 October 2011
19 October 2011
18 October 2011
17 October 2011
15 October 2011
Another Celebration!
It's not much, but it's something! 0.6, less than a pound change in my weight since my last weigh-in, but it is in the right direction and it is after a visit to Minnesota. I believe this may be the first time that I have ever gone to Minnesota without Gaining Weight!
14 October 2011
13 October 2011
12 October 2011
11 October 2011
10 October 2011
Travelogue Minnesota – Homeward Bound
The experience in the security checkpoint this morning was priceless! My sister (as everyone in my family does) visited the locker plant at Miltona. (We've always called it that, though for years it has actually been called "Miltona Custom Meats.") It is tradition, you go to Minnesota, you come home with Hot Dogs, Brats, and Summer Sausage from Miltona. It is the best!
Travelogue: Minnesota – Celebration
Coffee and Donuts – Why can’t I stop thinking about coffee and donuts? I should be telling you about the big celebration of the farm's 140th anniversary. The celebration of our homestead was yesterday and it was a blast!
09 October 2011
08 October 2011
07 October 2011
06 October 2011
The Stuff Of Fiction (Science Fiction)
The computer revolution may have started with IBM and their glorified cash registers, but it was visionaries like Mr. Jobs who saw the true potential in the personal computer. Think back to the days before Apple. Think about how the world has changed.
05 October 2011
Travelogue: Minnesota – Packing Light
With kudos going to a friend of mine in Australia, packing light for this trip to Minnesota. For the first time that I can remember, I am not packing my PC and spare drives for the trip. Why? Well, while I was in Australia, my friend Gerard showed me a great app that he uses on his tablet. The app lets him use his tablet to control his PC at home and therefore he doesn’t need to bring the PC even for things that don’t run on his tablet!
03 October 2011
Okay, I Feel Cheated!
All in all it was a lovely weekend! The sun shone; the trails beckoned; the trees down here in the valley have started showing their fall colors. All-in-all you could not ask for more beautiful weather.
01 October 2011
30 September 2011
29 September 2011
28 September 2011
Summer Ends??
According to the calendar and the astronomers, the summer ended on Friday morning at about three in the morning local time. You certainly can't tell it from where I'm sitting, or from where I am walking for that matter!
27 September 2011
24 September 2011
23 September 2011
22 September 2011
21 September 2011
20 September 2011
19 September 2011
18 September 2011
16 September 2011
14 September 2011
12 September 2011
11 September 2011
Remembrance
I am certain that this is only one of millions of people
putting remembrances out today of that horrible morning ten years ago. But it
is, I suppose, my generation's December 07th or November 22nd.
Everybody of earlier generation could remember exactly where they were that
morning in December when they heard that Pearle Harbor had been bombed, or on
that morning in November when they learned of the assassination of President
Kennedy, the memories of that day that the towers fell is a day that time will
never dull.
10 September 2011
09 September 2011
07 September 2011
06 September 2011
05 September 2011
Life In Lakewood
I saw the sign but it really didn't register – it was like oh so many other signs you see at the side of the road. "Lemonade $1," "Lost Dog," "Garage Sale ==>," "Open House Sunday 10-2" and the like. They sprout by the side of the road like dandelions as each weekend approaches each vying for your attention for the short, weekend-long, growing season. It didn’t register to me at all that the hand-written sign was of a totally different ilk.
04 September 2011
02 September 2011
Travelogue: Australia – After-Thoughts
I have always wished I was more
organized than I am. It's not that things are helter-skelter in my life, my
home, or my work; it's just that occasionally I get these wonderful
inspirations and then either don't have the time or the inclination to act upon
them. Every once-in-a-while I will come across one of these notes and wonder
why I took it. That was not the case this morning at the office.
01 September 2011
31 August 2011
29 August 2011
28 August 2011
27 August 2011
23 August 2011
22 August 2011
What a lovely weekend!
I have no idea what these flowers are, I saw them on my
hike, growing wild along the path. I got out to hike both days, I got out early
enough to enjoy the park before it got crowded. And before it got too hot!
20 August 2011
And The Answer Is…
Plateau! Technically, a plateau is when your weight loss
stalls to a loss-or-gain of less than a half-pound a week for more than three
weeks running.
19 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Arrival
It was a struggle but it was worth the struggle. I was able
to stay up until ten and then, a sleeping pill and a nice soothing playlist on
the iPod and I slept like the dead last night!
18 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Lunchtime
Goodbye
Chicago ~ Hello Lakewood
==============================
How can it still be breakfast time? I've already crossed an
ocean and half a continent (well, a third…) and still it is not really time for
lunch yet. I do not care, since someone will serve me a salad, I am eating
lunch!
Travelogue: Australia – Homeward Bound
Goodbye
London ~ Hello Chicago
==============================
"I'm sittin' in
the railway station, got a ticket for my destination
On a tour of one-night-stands, my suitcase and guitar at hand
And every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band"
On a tour of one-night-stands, my suitcase and guitar at hand
And every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band"
From "Homeward Bound
By
Paul Simon
Okay,
it’s an airport, I've checked my baggage, I haven't played the guitar in years,
and I've been in one place way longer than one night. But you get the point…
17 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Toys
There is something to be said for technology. Although I
could never muster the patience to actually do any serious writing on the new
tablet I bought to take on this trip. The touch-keyboard does not have the tactile
feedback that I need to be able to touch-type.
16 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – That's How You Do It!
I really was jetlagged yesterday! Somehow I misread my clock
at the office and left an hour earlier than I thought I was. Granted, it was
still a full day's work, but somehow, I looked at my watch and thought
"Oh, good! It's five-thirty, time to leave." Only to discover that it
was five as I was leaving the train station at Kilburn Park. Oops!
15 August 2011
14 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Arrival
The flight was restive, but uneventful. It passed slowly, but it passed.
Travelogue: Australia – Five Minutes Of Beauty
Goodbye
Bangkok ~ Hello London
==============================
While it might be nice to sit next to a window, the five
minutes of beauty is not worth being trapped on the inside for the next nine hours.
I cannot sleep on planes so I am often getting up to stretch.
Travelogue: Australia – In-Flight Entertainment
Along with the standard in-flight entertainment one might
expect on an intercontinental/transoceanic flight; dinner, drinks, games,
movies, and music; this flight was special for the OTHER in-flight entertainment.
Namely, the dear ladies across the aisle.
13 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Transfer
Goodbye
Sydney ~ Hello Bangkok
==============================
Goodbye
Australia
I suppose that there are places in the states where this is
also true, but I cannot understand why I have to go through a second security
screening to board my connection in Sydney!
Travelogue: Australia – Departure
Goodbye
Canberra ~ Hello Sydney
==============================
I've been packed since early this morning, Canberra time,
and have been working hard to get onto London time in preparation for my flight
today. It seems to work; if I spend a couple days getting ready for the trip,
moderating my diurnal cycle to more closely match the time it is in my target
time zone, and then it seems to reduce the amount of time that I spend getting
over the Jet lag.
12 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Environmentalism II
Always one to give credit where credit is due, I must say
that the hotel I am staying at in Canberra (the Quality Hotel Dickson) does do
one thing right. They actually do follow their water-saving plan elements. If I
leave a towel hung-up they leave it there; drop it on the floor and it is
replaced by a fresh one.
11 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – In The News…
Thanks to the friends and family who wrote me this morning
asking about my status. Thankfully, I am still in Australia, but I am watching
with great interest the activities going on back in London.
Travelogue: Australia – Happy Medium
I have always had the urge to giggle when I hear the
phrase "strike a happy medium." It springs always creates the image
in my head of a fortune teller skipping down a lovely garden path, her crystal
ball bobbing along and winking merrily in the sun when all of the sudden her
fun is cut short by a muscular arm whipping out from behind a tree and clocking
her right on her perky little chin! In my mind, she then gets the entire
cartoon treatment… Her eyes cross as she wobbles slightly and then, stars and
planets orbiting her head, she keels over backward into the daffodil-strewn
clover.
10 August 2011
09 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – …But It's A Wet Cold…
In the American southwest there is a specific city (which
shall remain nameless - sorry, Phoenix, no mention for you in this week's blog) that is fond of reminding you that
although their average temperature is somewhere between the temperature of an
industrial blast furnace and the actual surface of the sun, at least
"…it's a dry heat!"
08 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Canberra
One thing that I did learn this weekend is the reason that
this city seems so spread-out; it was planned that way!
07 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Wildlife (?)
The rain was apparently the harbinger of a cold front. All day long the temperature has been dropping, and whilst it is still well above freezing, it is cold enough that I decided that I needed my leather jacket for more than protection from the rain. It was a bit brisk as I set out for the city center this evening.
Travelogue: Australia – Wildlife
One of my colleagues who is here more-or-less permanently;
on contract for the long-haul of the conversion, made the very kind and generous
offer to take me to the wildlife park for the day. It is off to the north of the
town near where the NASA Radio Communications center is. This, I was assured,
would be my chance to see some of the native wildlife in its natural
surroundings!
06 August 2011
05 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Be Careful What You Wish For!
Yesterday as I got into the car on the way to work, I told
my colleague that "today's the day" and that I was going to get a
view of a kangaroo. I really wish I had been a bit more specific. I did get a
view of a kangaroo but unfortunately, it was kind-of like saying that I saw a
deer on the interstate. Sadly, it was road kill.
Travelogue: Australia – Local Flavor
When I travel, I always hope to take in a little of the
local flavor. I have been here and week and I am not at all sure what the local
flavor might be here in Australia. I have yet to see something calling itself
an Australian restaurant.
04 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Offset
For those of you who have not traveled vast distances from
home, let me tell you; getting there and back is likely not to be the thing
that is likely to be the toughest thing that you have to deal with. For me, the
thing that is the hardest to keep straight in my mind is what time and day it
is.
03 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Still No Sightings
There has been very little time for sightseeing since I
came to Canberra. I have had a chance to walk around the general area of the
hotel but have been too busy during the days to have the energy to go too far
at night.
02 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – 'Roo Crossing
You see them all over the states, those deer crossing
signs; and yet, how often do you actually see deer at the crossing. (I wonder
if the deer actually know where they are supposed to be crossing the highway.)
01 August 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Jetlag
It is fairly well known to my readers, friends, and
relatives that I have very little problem recovering from jetlag; at least when traveling this direction – east – around the globe. At least usually that is
true. But I suppose that it doesn't matter which direction you have traveled
when you make two-thirds of the circuit.
So I did everything I could to get over it. I took a nap
when I got in and then stayed-up most of the day; I explored the neighborhood.
Yesterday I was up only a bit earlier than usual so I made myself a bit of
coffee and did a bit of reading and around sunrise I walked down to the war
memorial and back, about a 10k jaunt. Other than that, I took it easy.
This morning, I am happy to report, I was asleep until
practically the hour I would have slept to back home in the states. Which is
good, my client meetings start today. Well, here’s hoping!
Wherever you are today, I hope that your week starts off
well!
Don Bergquist – 01 August 2011 – Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
31 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Environmentalism Gone Awry
I am all for a green life and reducing one's carbon
footprint by recycling. But some people can take it a bit far.
30 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Arrival (!)
Goodbye Sydney~ Hello Canberra
==============================
My third impression of Australia is that it is EXPENSIVE
and that the people here are inattentive.
Travelogue: Australia – Coffee (!!)
"Yes please?" the oriental girl behind the
counter; at least that is what I assume she said. It was as near as I could
work it out. Her accent, a sort-of pigeon English accented with Australia words
made it hard to decipher. Of course it could also be that it was just going six
and that I hadn't had a cup of coffee in a while…
Travelogue: Australia – Arrival (Sort-Of)
Eventually Mother Nature will deal with what medicine
won't.
29 July 2011
Transparent
C'Mon, do you think we're complete
idiots, or do you think we just have the attention span of your average puppy?
"Oh, look! A squirrel!"
Travelogue: Australia – Layover
Goodbye Bangkok~ Hello Sydney
==============================
It wasn't on the itinerary, but apparently it is a known
feature of the flight to Australia. At two o'clock this afternoon we landed in
Bangkok, Thailand. It is a pleasant surprise that put me on the continent of
Asia for the first time in my life. Though. I am not sure that I should count
it as I am not going to get the opportunity to leave the airport; it is only a
two-hour layover as they refuel and clean the plane. In a couple hours we will
continue the journey to Australia.
28 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – A Pleasant Surprise
Goodbye London ~ Hello Bangkok
==============================
Why am I smiling? This is the moment I have dreaded!
27 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Environmentalism
If you've stayed at a hotel any
time in the past ten years, you've see them. Those stickers, placards, and door
tags that tell you how the hotel you’re staying is all hot and bothered to save
the environment and only you can do it!
26 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Contingency Plans
An old friend and mentor of mine used to tell me (at every
opportunity) that in order to be a good consultant, you always have to be
thinking ahead with the contingencies. "When they think you're gonna zig,
you gotta be ready to zag!" She would say, as an extension.
25 July 2011
24 July 2011
23 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Departure
Goodbye Lakewood ~ Hello
London
==============================
My car called to collect me a bit early this morning, but
that was alright… I was ready and waiting anyway. You see, I have been going to
bed/getting up progressively earlier for the past few nights so that I would be
closer to being on the right time period as my arrival into Australia draws
closer.
22 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Technical Problems II
Tee Minus One Day And
Counting.
============================
There is an old aphorism about the best laid plans…
21 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Technical Problems
Tee Minus Two Days And
Counting.
=============================
What a day! My time spent at the office today was almost a
complete waste of time.
20 July 2011
Travelogue: Australia – Travel Approved
Tee Minus Three Days And
Counting.
==============================
What a busy morning I have scheduled for today.
19 July 2011
15 July 2011
14 July 2011
12 July 2011
10 July 2011
08 July 2011
07 July 2011
06 July 2011
05 July 2011
Back To Reality
It was a lovely early summer weekend! Saga and I got to get out and walk in "her" park each morning, and there was plenty of lovely, hot, sunshine for her to lie out in on the deck. I spent my mornings hiking in the park, taking photos, and generally having a lovely, relaxing weekend, she spent her mornings snoozing and wondering when her daddy would feed her again. The park is lovely this time of year, all the wildflowers are in bloom, there is color everywhere. The gardens are just peaking and everything is so lovely. You could almost forget that come Monday (or Tuesday, in this case) it is back to the office.
04 July 2011
JAPDIP
When I was living in Tampa there was a weather forecaster on one of the channels that used to use the word "JAPDIP" frequently in his forecast. It was an acronym that he had coined standing for "Just Another Perfect Day In Paradise."
03 July 2011
Another Lovely Morning
Saga and I got out early for our walk in her park. Then, after giving her her breakfast, I headed out for my hike in the park. It was just after eight and the wildlife, while nothing like the elk of last week, was profuse. There were rabbits and squirrels, there were a couple foxes (but they were quicker than I was and the photos I got are crap. 02 July 2011
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