9-22-08 Week in Reveiw

On to this week.

This week was filled with lots of meetings as well. I got to spend a day in Waterloo and a day over at Harvester in East Moline. The most exciting news of the week is that on Monday the concrete crew showed up (3 weeks late). I was rather impressed with the 'lean' principle they applied...standardized work, one piece flow, asset utilization, just in time production.

Monday - tore everything out...probably took less than an hour, a second crew came an framed things up

Tuesday - another crew came and poured the front walk and drive. They didn't have a cement truck but rather a truck that held the various components of concrete and mixed them on demand and only as much as was needed

Wednesday - Someone came and poured the spa pad

Thursday - The aggregate on the spa pad was 'exposed', all the framing was torn out, and then a last crew came and back filled dirt and seeded.

So I guess I'm left with a bit of a mess and lots of landscaping to put back in place. I made good progress Thursday and Saturday.

Thursday I headed down to the River Music Experience for a class on microphones. I learned a bit...other's learned more (like that metal thing that holds a microphone is called a 'microphone stand'). One interesting piece of trivia...do you know how the microphone got it's name? I'll tell you later.

Finally, on Saturday morning we got a visit from the cops. He let me know that the neighborhood had been vandalized including the tailgate of my truck. The good news is that I was able to clean things up with no permanent damage. The bad news is that there are a few kids in our neighborhood who should be living with the fear of God in their lives! There are about 12 household who 'wouldn't mind meeting' them.

9-15 Week in Review

Seems like I missed a week...

Any how that week was filled with all day meetings for a new project I'm working on at work. Some how weeks like that suck a week from your life and you just somehow need to make it back up. My blog is a week off, I'm a week behind in email at work and it would seem that I've been totally uprooted from my normal social schedule as well.

On another note, one of Jodi's aunts passed away that week as well. At the funeral I realized how temporary every one's life is. I came up with a new saying 'You're born, you live, you die. Let's live.' (from the Book of Brian) Seems like I'd be suggesting we 'live for the moment' but not really. I think too many people 'live for the moment'. That tends to result in illness, time in prison, and illegitimate children. Likewise, some people never really get to living. It's as if they are dead before they get put into the ground. They are empty spiritually, emotionally drained, and typically physically and mentally unfit. I'm proposing a balanced approach. Have fun, live life to the fullest, but always keep the long term in mind.

I guess it seems to be working OK for me to this point but my data set is not yet complete.

Traveling with iPhone

Last week was the first time I've flew with my iPhone...


The bad:

1. The battery could last longer...I used the heck out of this thing!

The good:
1. Everything else...email on the go, web access, GPS, 3G, small size, one device, visual voicemail, applications like games, MP3s etc. etc.

I'm not quite sure I could ever not have this thing now!

One fatality...my universal fit in ear monitors (IEMs) that I use for backup to my custom fit ones, exercise, travel, etc. broke during my first trip. On the second trip I decided to use my ultra precious and outrageously expensive custom fit IEMs. They were AWESOME!! No plane noise and since they are dual driver, better sound. I now have a tough decision to make...go back to some 'cheap' replacements ($110) or go with an additional set of custom molded IEMs ($800-$1000). It's a tough one.

9-8-08 Week in Review

Ok...this was actually a fairly interesting and busy week. On Sunday I dropped Jodi off at the airport and took the opportunity to visit Heritage Church over in Moline. I had the opportunity because our Church decided to have a extra ol' fashioned service (I guess to attract 'new' members or something) and I'm not much interested in that. I was happy to see the Church had upgraded their already area leading service with real drums, a new stage layout, and a harder edged sound (I guess to attract 'new' members). That afternoon I went out for a run and then the guys from Park Lane came over and we jammed on some songs. I have lots of work to do there yet but things are coming along.

At some point in the week I confirmed that I indeed have additional responsibilities for a special project at work (can't say what it is). Wed I headed down to Atlanta. Things went smoothly and direct flights are always nice. I strolled around a bit that afternoon and visited the CNN center. I didn't take a tour but ran out of time the next day so I should have. That evening we attended the award ceremony and I got shake hands and meet up with some of the leaders at JD. Always lots to learn when around the leaders. Afterwards my team met up for drinks, celebration, and conversation. A good time was had by all! It occurred to me that basically I took a trip, got all dressed up, and basically just had to show my face...kinda weird since you usually are expected to give some sort of presentation or accomplish something when in that situation. I guess I wouldn't mind a job where my presence alone was enough to get the job done!

Thursday we headed out for a tour of the Coca Cola World. What a sales pitch....too bad I don't drink caffeine! I did appreciate their look at the times although I'm not quite sure Coke makes the world go round.

I got back Thursday evening and headed right back out on Friday to meet Jodi in Philly. Can't say that I was all that impressed. Got there with lots of rain, had to wait to get a car and the traffic is terrible. Friday night we avoided the rain by visiting the mall. Saturday we headed out to Drums Etc. in Lancaster and then over to Hershey. Again, not a huge fan of Hershey (although I do like the KitKat) but did appreciate their view of history. Mr. Hershey was a great leader to emulate with his dedication, vision, risk taking, ethics, and philanthropy. We hoped to watch the downtown light show but it was cancelled due to 'technical difficulties' (aka low tourism) so we did a bit of shopping.

Sunday we headed into the city. Saw lots of the sights which I enjoyed seeing how our country was formed. Amazing how a relatively small group of individuals (59) could come up with such a long lasting and visionary plan. I wonder how the 3 month long meeting would have gone had it been held virtually, with email, airplanes, computers, or indoor plumbing! I can't imagine anyone would have worked so diligently unless they really did feel like the survival of the country was at stake. Sunday evening we met my second Cousin Janet....only hours after finding out that I had a second cousin. It was a comfortable meeting....not because we were family but just because they were generally good people.

Monday we visited QVC...I didn't have the heart to tell them the only time I watch their channel is when I'm flipping to another one! We visited a local state park as well and then headed home.

Quite a week! Glad to be home but still so busy. Still no work on the concrete.

9-1-08 Week in Review

This week started with Labor Day...that day we skip work so we can work at home instead of at work. I finished up prepping for the concrete work amongst other things. We were blessed with some much needed rain this week and the concrete never happend but at least we are ready. I washed and waxed Jodi's new car and got my truck washed up as well.

Nothing else terribly exciting. Apparently I'm much closer to getting a new job than I thought since my boss informed me that my replacement fell through...that was quite a shock to me...not that it fell through but that there was a replacement!