The morning has dawned cool and clear. The rains of the past few mornings have gone (for the day). I have a few colleagues from the states coming over to stay for the week at the villa. So, this morning I got up and made a big pot of chicken noodle soup and did a little straightening-up.
I really should get out and mow the grass in the back garden. I have not been able to get back there yet this week because of the rain. Perhaps if the weather stays cold as it has been, the grass will figure-out it is fall and go dormant. As it is, the lawn is looking a bit long and shaggy and should really be cut.
Later today I have a project I need to work on, organizing my music files on my computer. I have been using one jukebox program to organize my MP3 files for quite a while. But now that I have an iPod, I am going to be using iTunes to sync to. The problem is that not all the settings that are recorded in my old program transfer.
Later this afternoon, I will also get a bike ride in. But to get any of these things done, I should really quit screwing around with this and get to work.
Wherever you are, I hope you have a great day!
Don Bergquist – 30 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
30 September 2007
29 September 2007
Another Wet Morning
Okay, today I can stay under the duvet all day if I want. It's cold and wet again. I almost did stay in bed longer. When I rolled-over this morning and saw that it was pissing down rain, I simply rolled back and caught a few more winks.
I've now been up watching the rain for about an hour and enjoying the cool, morning air. I've got the garden door open and am watching the rain in the back garden. Saga has come up to the door and sniffed the air a bit and then went and lay down in the middle of the rug by the door. I am sure that eventually she will get up and go out when she needs to.
The afternoon is supposed to clear-up eventually. When it does, I'll go out for a ride. For right now, I'm content to just sit here, sip my coffee, and listen to the rain falling. It is a peaceful way to spend a morning.
Wherever you are, I hope that your morning is a peaceful one!
Don Bergquist – 29 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
I've now been up watching the rain for about an hour and enjoying the cool, morning air. I've got the garden door open and am watching the rain in the back garden. Saga has come up to the door and sniffed the air a bit and then went and lay down in the middle of the rug by the door. I am sure that eventually she will get up and go out when she needs to.
The afternoon is supposed to clear-up eventually. When it does, I'll go out for a ride. For right now, I'm content to just sit here, sip my coffee, and listen to the rain falling. It is a peaceful way to spend a morning.
Wherever you are, I hope that your morning is a peaceful one!
Don Bergquist – 29 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
28 September 2007
It's Raining Again
It's cold and wet again this morning. The weather reports say that it will be raining on-and-off all day.
Except for going to work this morning and then to the pub this afternoon for a going away do, there is nothing that I have planned. If I didn't have to go to work this morning, I'd get back into my pajamas and head back upstairs. I am not looking forward to riding into the office in this!
Saga really didn’t want to go outside this morning. When I opened the door and said "Out!" she just looked at me as if to say "Are you nuts? I'm not going out there!"
So I shoved her out the door and closed the door, watching to make sure she got the message. She eventually went and did her thing and came in for breakfast. She's now glowering at me as I write this. (Either that or she thinks that she's getting some of my yogurt.)
Well, I guess at this point I am acting like Saga myself. I think I had better quit stalling and head off to the office.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you'll have a wonderful day!
Don Bergquist – 28 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
Except for going to work this morning and then to the pub this afternoon for a going away do, there is nothing that I have planned. If I didn't have to go to work this morning, I'd get back into my pajamas and head back upstairs. I am not looking forward to riding into the office in this!
Saga really didn’t want to go outside this morning. When I opened the door and said "Out!" she just looked at me as if to say "Are you nuts? I'm not going out there!"
So I shoved her out the door and closed the door, watching to make sure she got the message. She eventually went and did her thing and came in for breakfast. She's now glowering at me as I write this. (Either that or she thinks that she's getting some of my yogurt.)
Well, I guess at this point I am acting like Saga myself. I think I had better quit stalling and head off to the office.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you'll have a wonderful day!
Don Bergquist – 28 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
It's Raining Again Lyrics
by Supertramp
Oh, it's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
and you know it's hard to pretend.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
Oh no, it's raining again
Oh, will my heart never mend.
You're old enough some people say
To read the signs and walk away.
It's only time that heals the pain
And makes the sun come out again.
It's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
La, la, la...
C'mon you little fighter
No need to get uptighter
C'mon you little fighter
And get back up again.
It's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
Oh!Oh!
La, la, la...
C'mon you little fighter
No need to get uptighter
C'mon you little fighter
And get back up again
Oh, get back up again
Oh, fill your heart again...
(It's raining, it's pouring)
(The old man is snoring)
(He went to bed and bumped his head)
(And he couldn't get up in the morning)
by Supertramp
Oh, it's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
and you know it's hard to pretend.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
Oh no, it's raining again
Oh, will my heart never mend.
You're old enough some people say
To read the signs and walk away.
It's only time that heals the pain
And makes the sun come out again.
It's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
La, la, la...
C'mon you little fighter
No need to get uptighter
C'mon you little fighter
And get back up again.
It's raining again
Oh no, my love's at an end.
Oh no, it's raining again
Too bad I'm losing a friend.
Oh!Oh!
La, la, la...
C'mon you little fighter
No need to get uptighter
C'mon you little fighter
And get back up again
Oh, get back up again
Oh, fill your heart again...
(It's raining, it's pouring)
(The old man is snoring)
(He went to bed and bumped his head)
(And he couldn't get up in the morning)
27 September 2007
No, Cold!
The weather forecasts were right… it has been cold and clear!
There were short bursts of showers yesterday but nothing major. Today it is once again cold and clear! I wish I had put the heat on yesterday. I will be putting it on today. It was really hard to get out of under the duvet this morning.
When I finally did get out and dash across to the windows to shut them, it was chilly! I popped over to the window and dove back under the covers. Ten minutes later I was finally able to drag myself out of the bed and get into the shower. The weather forecasts this morning said that the northern breezes today are binging still colder temperatures. I may even have to wear a light jacket on my bike ride in today.
Saga is funny. When I let her out the past two days, she has tentatively sniffed at the air before going out. I think she is afraid that the outside is wet as well as cold. It isn't, though. It's just cold.
Wherever you are today, I hope you'll have a great day!
Don Bergquist - 27 September 2007 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
There were short bursts of showers yesterday but nothing major. Today it is once again cold and clear! I wish I had put the heat on yesterday. I will be putting it on today. It was really hard to get out of under the duvet this morning.
When I finally did get out and dash across to the windows to shut them, it was chilly! I popped over to the window and dove back under the covers. Ten minutes later I was finally able to drag myself out of the bed and get into the shower. The weather forecasts this morning said that the northern breezes today are binging still colder temperatures. I may even have to wear a light jacket on my bike ride in today.
Saga is funny. When I let her out the past two days, she has tentatively sniffed at the air before going out. I think she is afraid that the outside is wet as well as cold. It isn't, though. It's just cold.
Wherever you are today, I hope you'll have a great day!
Don Bergquist - 27 September 2007 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
26 September 2007
Bright and Cool
Now that the front has gone through, the weather forecast has warned that it is time to turn on the heater. The morning is dawning bright and cool. I know it will be bright because the skies are absolutely clear. When I went out with Saga this morning the stars were shining brightly and the breezes were cold. The light was just showing in the east as I came back in.
It's going to be a busy day. I have a lot to do at the office and, as it is Wednesday, I have a short day at the office so I had best get going.
Wherever you are today, I hope you have a great day!
Don Bergquist - 26 September 2007 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
It's going to be a busy day. I have a lot to do at the office and, as it is Wednesday, I have a short day at the office so I had best get going.
Wherever you are today, I hope you have a great day!
Don Bergquist - 26 September 2007 - Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
25 September 2007
Junk Store
I've sussed it out!
It has taken me nearly two years, but I have finally put my finger on it! Every time I go into this one newsagent in the village I get this uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu. I know that I could never have been in the shop before November of 2004 but that unsettling air of familiarity was there every time I walked in.
This morning, as I was passing through the village, I popped in for some thing or other that I needed, expecting the déjà vu to hit and instead my mind presented me with the source of the déjà vu instead. It is uncanny, but the shop has the air of Mr. Wally Block's store on the main street in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota.
Granted, Block's Mercantile was much larger than the shop in the village. (Heck, it may have been larger than all the shops in the village combined!) I have to properly use the past tense because Block's has long-since gone the way of the dodo. How nice to know that it has popped-up again somewhere (in spirit at least) and still exists.
Now that I had a reference for the déjà vu, I could see it clearly! There was is a carton of dusty boxes of Christmas Cards on the top shelf. I have no idea how long they have been there… it is anyone's guess but they are at least two years old, they've been there since I first entered the store. There are cheap plastic toys hanging on the rack at the back of the store. The kind of thing that every child wants (and has to have) for at least the first ten minutes they own them (or until they break – which, given their cheap manufacture may or may come first). There are boxes of cookies which (I have been told) they no longer make, the factory having burned to the ground about five years ago.
All that is missing are the sacks of Halloween candy from last year and the illegal fireworks. (Though fireworks are legal here and the candy would be back in season now, so I guess this makes sense.) Ah! The memories! I spent some good times (and a goodly portion of my allowance) Block's - exploring and acquiring cheap toys and out-of-date candy. Damn! Now I have a hankering for stale peanut butter toffee.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you'll have a great day!
Don Bergquist – 25 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
It has taken me nearly two years, but I have finally put my finger on it! Every time I go into this one newsagent in the village I get this uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu. I know that I could never have been in the shop before November of 2004 but that unsettling air of familiarity was there every time I walked in.
This morning, as I was passing through the village, I popped in for some thing or other that I needed, expecting the déjà vu to hit and instead my mind presented me with the source of the déjà vu instead. It is uncanny, but the shop has the air of Mr. Wally Block's store on the main street in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota.
Granted, Block's Mercantile was much larger than the shop in the village. (Heck, it may have been larger than all the shops in the village combined!) I have to properly use the past tense because Block's has long-since gone the way of the dodo. How nice to know that it has popped-up again somewhere (in spirit at least) and still exists.
Now that I had a reference for the déjà vu, I could see it clearly! There was is a carton of dusty boxes of Christmas Cards on the top shelf. I have no idea how long they have been there… it is anyone's guess but they are at least two years old, they've been there since I first entered the store. There are cheap plastic toys hanging on the rack at the back of the store. The kind of thing that every child wants (and has to have) for at least the first ten minutes they own them (or until they break – which, given their cheap manufacture may or may come first). There are boxes of cookies which (I have been told) they no longer make, the factory having burned to the ground about five years ago.
All that is missing are the sacks of Halloween candy from last year and the illegal fireworks. (Though fireworks are legal here and the candy would be back in season now, so I guess this makes sense.) Ah! The memories! I spent some good times (and a goodly portion of my allowance) Block's - exploring and acquiring cheap toys and out-of-date candy. Damn! Now I have a hankering for stale peanut butter toffee.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you'll have a great day!
Don Bergquist – 25 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
24 September 2007
The Rains
Yes, the autumn brings the rains. Autumn also brings the winds. It is supposed to be windy and rainy all day today. Well, okay, it may not technically be autumn yet, but you'd be hard-pressed to tell from looking outside.
This morning as I awoke, I could hear the sound of the rain blowing against the window and could feel the wet, cold breeze blowing through the room. It is certainly a fall day here in Thames Ditton. That's good though, I have lots to do at the office and really do not need the distraction of wanting to be out and playing on a nice day while I am trying to get things done.
So, I suppose I should finish my breakfast, get Saga Roo to go out and get myself to the office. It's Monday again. (…which means Saturday is only five days away! – What was it mom used to say about "wishing your life away?")
Wherever you are, I hope you have a lovely day – even for a Monday!
Don Bergquist – 25 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
This morning as I awoke, I could hear the sound of the rain blowing against the window and could feel the wet, cold breeze blowing through the room. It is certainly a fall day here in Thames Ditton. That's good though, I have lots to do at the office and really do not need the distraction of wanting to be out and playing on a nice day while I am trying to get things done.
So, I suppose I should finish my breakfast, get Saga Roo to go out and get myself to the office. It's Monday again. (…which means Saturday is only five days away! – What was it mom used to say about "wishing your life away?")
Wherever you are, I hope you have a lovely day – even for a Monday!
Don Bergquist – 25 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
23 September 2007
Autumn
Well, the year has turned full circle again! The day/night terminator has gone nearly vertical again across the map on my world clock program; the autumn is truly on its way! The days are starting later and the nights are getting longer. It will soon be autumn again in the United Kingdom.
I think of the year beginning and ending at this time of the year of late because it is this time of the year in which I first saw the United Kingdom. My first view of the UK was on a cold, clear day in November 2004, a day much like today. A day which was cold and clear and beautiful; a day on which it was far too nice out to be sitting at this damn computer!
I think I will get out the bicycle and go for a nice long ride! I have nothing planned for the day and except for the wind, the day is perfect for being out and about.
Wherever you are today, I hope you’re having a day that is perfect for whatever you have planned! (…if you, in fact have anything planned!)
Don Bergquist – 23 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
I think of the year beginning and ending at this time of the year of late because it is this time of the year in which I first saw the United Kingdom. My first view of the UK was on a cold, clear day in November 2004, a day much like today. A day which was cold and clear and beautiful; a day on which it was far too nice out to be sitting at this damn computer!
I think I will get out the bicycle and go for a nice long ride! I have nothing planned for the day and except for the wind, the day is perfect for being out and about.
Wherever you are today, I hope you’re having a day that is perfect for whatever you have planned! (…if you, in fact have anything planned!)
Don Bergquist – 23 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
22 September 2007
Saturday
There is just something about a Saturday morning that makes one feel like a kid again! Perhaps it is the freedom to do whatever strikes your fancy, perhaps it is the knowledge that you have no agenda that you didn’t make yourself, perhaps it is the inane cartoons on the television that draw you in and hold you captive for the morning.
Whatever it is, there is something magical about a Saturday morning. Especially one as lovely as today is. I have the doors to the garden open and am listening to the television in the background as I am downloading the podcasts I will listen to today on my bike ride. (Yes, what Saturday morning would be complete without hearing my mom's voice in my head: "It's a lovely day out! Go out and play!)
I'm even blowing off doing the garden today because, there's always a weekday evening for that.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you're having a lovely Saturday morning!
Don Bergquist – 22 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
Whatever it is, there is something magical about a Saturday morning. Especially one as lovely as today is. I have the doors to the garden open and am listening to the television in the background as I am downloading the podcasts I will listen to today on my bike ride. (Yes, what Saturday morning would be complete without hearing my mom's voice in my head: "It's a lovely day out! Go out and play!)
I'm even blowing off doing the garden today because, there's always a weekday evening for that.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you're having a lovely Saturday morning!
Don Bergquist – 22 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
21 September 2007
Parity
In his book The Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need By Dave Barry, Dave Barry makes the astute observation that "…no matter where you go, no matter when you go there, there is one thing for certain; the dollar is getting weaker."
Granted, these words of wisdom were penned (or typed or worked into a word processor or whatever) well before we had the current addled-minded administration in the US. After hearing of the near collapse of the economy, and watching the dollar fall to all-time lows against the pound sterling and the euro, it should not surprise me (but it does) to hear that the Canadian Dollar was at parity with the US Dollar.
Other than having the opportunity to spend Canadian Dollars as if they were US Dollars at the touristy shops in Buffalo and Niagara (and other border towns in touristy areas) I have never before seen the US Dollar and the Canadian Dollar at parity. Heaven help us all! I hope the next administration are not so fiscally irresponsible as to be able to turn record budget surpluses into record deficits!
I guess I can no longer consider Canada to be North America's largest garage sale. See what a little fiscal ineptitude can do for an economy?
Wherever you are today, I hope you're having a good, fiscally responsible day!
Don Bergquist – 21 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
Granted, these words of wisdom were penned (or typed or worked into a word processor or whatever) well before we had the current addled-minded administration in the US. After hearing of the near collapse of the economy, and watching the dollar fall to all-time lows against the pound sterling and the euro, it should not surprise me (but it does) to hear that the Canadian Dollar was at parity with the US Dollar.Other than having the opportunity to spend Canadian Dollars as if they were US Dollars at the touristy shops in Buffalo and Niagara (and other border towns in touristy areas) I have never before seen the US Dollar and the Canadian Dollar at parity. Heaven help us all! I hope the next administration are not so fiscally irresponsible as to be able to turn record budget surpluses into record deficits!
I guess I can no longer consider Canada to be North America's largest garage sale. See what a little fiscal ineptitude can do for an economy?
Wherever you are today, I hope you're having a good, fiscally responsible day!
Don Bergquist – 21 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
20 September 2007
Footprints
I remember reading somewhere that a surprisingly large number of Americans never live more than fifty miles from the spot where they were born and seldom travel more than one hundred miles from that same spot. When you consider that a footprint like that can keep a person within one of the fifty states, and that the US is only one of the countries in the world…
Wow! This may be an inaccurate statistic to start with, but I have read (on the US State Department Website) that only about 20% of Americans have a passport, and of those, only half of them have ever used it to travel abroad. (Why anyone would get a passport and then not use it to travel is beyond me, but there it is!)
I'm thinking about travel because some friends of mine and I are going to South Africa on holiday in a few weeks and we’ve been making plans of late. It is all very exciting and I am really looking forward to it! But while thinking of it, the "Americans don't travel" idea keeps coming to mind. I decided to look at what my world footprint is.
So, I went out to Google Maps® and drew this polygon.
What it represents is that I have been to 49 of the 50 US States (Sorry, I have no clients in Alaska and haven’t had the opportunity to visit it yet!), I've also been to all the provinces in Canada except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The northernmost point I have visited is Copenhagen, Denmark, and the southernmost is Randburg, South Africa. (Randburg is also the easternmost point I've been to.)
On our "Safari" this will change as the southernmost point I'll hit is Cape Town, and we'll be going to Durban which will then be the easternmost point I've visited. It's a mite further down the road than fifty miles. For comparison, any capital "A" on the world map (right) is around 400 miles tall. (A fifty-mile circle is about the size of the dot on an "i."
I will have to get further into Europe (and possibly as far as Asia) while I have the chance. Hmmm…
Wherever you are today, I hope you'll take an opportunity to broaden your horizons.
Don Bergquist – 20 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
Wow! This may be an inaccurate statistic to start with, but I have read (on the US State Department Website) that only about 20% of Americans have a passport, and of those, only half of them have ever used it to travel abroad. (Why anyone would get a passport and then not use it to travel is beyond me, but there it is!)
I'm thinking about travel because some friends of mine and I are going to South Africa on holiday in a few weeks and we’ve been making plans of late. It is all very exciting and I am really looking forward to it! But while thinking of it, the "Americans don't travel" idea keeps coming to mind. I decided to look at what my world footprint is.
So, I went out to Google Maps® and drew this polygon.
What it represents is that I have been to 49 of the 50 US States (Sorry, I have no clients in Alaska and haven’t had the opportunity to visit it yet!), I've also been to all the provinces in Canada except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The northernmost point I have visited is Copenhagen, Denmark, and the southernmost is Randburg, South Africa. (Randburg is also the easternmost point I've been to.)
On our "Safari" this will change as the southernmost point I'll hit is Cape Town, and we'll be going to Durban which will then be the easternmost point I've visited. It's a mite further down the road than fifty miles. For comparison, any capital "A" on the world map (right) is around 400 miles tall. (A fifty-mile circle is about the size of the dot on an "i."
I will have to get further into Europe (and possibly as far as Asia) while I have the chance. Hmmm…
Wherever you are today, I hope you'll take an opportunity to broaden your horizons.
Don Bergquist – 20 September 2007 – Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK
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