Ian Abel

Friday at 15:52

POETS, a likely course of action.

Rather somber choir rehearsal as our choir director, after 25+ years at the position, announced she is retiring in June, this being the last full rehearsal we will have with her.

We sing for Earth Sunday at two services, and the schola will perform for a Pentecost service in a couple of weeks, then that'll be "it"!

Somewhat expected as she's now 76, BUT, none of us wanted to accept the inevitable.

Will it change the music direction with a new leader, will the choir members (many of whom are there as much for her leadership as to be choir members), will any change in the style/type of music we perform affect the congregation, again many of whom are there for the style of music presented, both by the choir and the regular Sunday musicians, of whom she is a key member?

Lots to ponder, and in discussions with several members, post rehearsal, wondering what the autumn return for our season will bring. Could lose some long term members.

No other news to "consider". Whitney will be joining us this afternoon as Jemma is already on a trip "London again", and Brendan heads out this evening.

Mrs generally improving though after yesterday's PT/chiro had some late night pain that kept here awake for a couple of hours. Somewhat better this AM.

Weather-wise we're now being taunted with some ice-pellet showers, just when it was SUPPOSED to be getting more spring-like.

1c overcast, windy and ice-pellet showers first thing, 6c for the high.

Hopefully the forecast improvement to sunnier days and warmer temperatures starting Sunday will be correct as the roofer has scheduled the re-roofing of our rental property for Monday <sigh>

Carry on with the weekend...

Thursday at 19:51

14 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

I've got one already. I call it the wife 😂.

Dave

You DIDN'T POST THAT, DID YOU!!! 🤣🤣

Fortunately, the Mrs doesn't see my ER thread/contributions, otherwise she'd be tracking you down sir! 😮

Thursday at 16:47

20 hours ago, Debs. said:

Hello Early Peeps!👋

It's been a while, nearly a yonk; so just dropping in to confess to doing a bit of r**lw*y muddling.....so blame BazO for leading me a'stray!🫣...."My name's Deb and I'm {still} an E.R"🤓

On the workbench is a Grumpy Gronk and a Suzie Sulzer.....both being given voice with new tech!🙉

Henceforth "Ratty" and "Grumpy"🥰

Best wishes,

Debs.

Great to see you back @Debs.

10 hours ago, Barry O said:

Teams is an awful package.. Microsoft have now 5aken it out of Office. Big problem is its old and creaky. Using it for interviews means it's hard to pick up on body language. I have used it for this purpose but I prefer face to face interviews.

Couldn't agree more, it's our "corporate" choice, prior company used Zoom, far superior IMHO.

Then again, given it's a Microsnot product it comes with a guarantee that it's rubbish 🤣🤣

Noonish here, and BIN day...

Nothing to post from yesterday. Today the Mrs is much improved over the previous couple of days, so much so, she took herself to PT and chiropractic appointments.

Today, Zoom earlier that was enjoyable and entertaining, later pre-choir happy hour and then rehearsal. We sing this Sunday for an Earth Sunday service.

Weather, 6c and sunny at BIN time, expecting a high of 12c or so.

That's all folks..

Wednesday at 18:14

Arrghhh... returning after a long delay!

Vacation in Phoenix cut short as the Mrs ended up with severe sciatica and back pain, reducing her to wheelchair mobility!

Spent a lot of time at various A&E and Dr/Chiropractor/physical therapy offices with me as the designated (REQUIRED) driver.

Finally on a path to recovery, but disappointed she/we missed out on our Grand Canyon adventure.

Work also demanding, some I've been hanging on by a thread, tired and needing frequent breaks.

Anyway, back now, under control as best we ever can be.

Weather variable here chucked it down yesterday, clearing today, 7c first thing, partly cloudy, headed for 11c for the high.

Onward.

April 4

BIN day...

BINs sorted and serviced.

Yesterday busy with work (CRAZY!!) and some vacation organizing.

Minor PANIC late evening when Jemma called and let us know she won't be home today as the flight got cancelled. She'll now not return until Friday evening!

Means we need to have Whitney overnight as Brendan is leaving on a trip, AND, need to get a car service for the trip to the airport. All sorted, but NOT the kind of thing you want to have happen.

Apparently, the inbound flight from JFK that would have arrived this morning in LHR was cancelled, meaning she and her crew have no aircraft for their flight. Rescheduled and they're flying the Friday service back to JFK. Minor flustercuck.

Today, HOPEFULLY, all report changes sorted and I can take the afternoon to pack/prep for vacation. Later, happy hour and choir rehearsal.

Posting after today will be variable, based on activities in Phoenix.

We are doing a two-day trip to the Grand Canyon, INCLUDING the Grand Canyon Railway - YAY!!! 50-50 on being a steam or diesel motive power though <sigh>

Weather here 1c at BIN time and sunny, 8c the expected high - laughingly tomorrows high here is expected to be 10c and in Phoenix 22c.

Onward.

April 3

14 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

"Always" used to snow the first week of April in Chicago. That was usually the last one of the season.

Indeed, also true here in a "normal" year. We expect 2-4 inches in April, but my disappointment was mainly due to the very mild winter and the fact we'd already lost all the snow over and enjoyed a week of decent - for Minnesota - temps 🤪

HUMP day - and I've already got the 'ump. The latest changes to reports require something just short of magic to accomplish! Where's that bridge to jump off...

Outside of work today and tomorrow will see the Mrs and myself organizing and starting to gather the carp we decide on for our trip to Phoenix.

The regular attempts to pack minimally, resulting in ALWAYS overpacking, such a joy!

1c first thing, 8c the high today.

Carry on...

April 2

Chewsday.

Nothing notable yesterday, except ears lowered to provide a "presentable" persona for our upcoming 7-day vacation to Phoenix and the Grand Canyon starting Friday.

Today, apparently the weather/climate decided it forgot yesterday was April Fools so gave us this prank first thing today;

Colour me NOT IMPRESSED!!!

Nothing else beyond frantic work expected to happen today.

1c getting the newspaper in the snow, headed for 4c later.

Onward.

April 1

On 29/03/2024 at 20:52, Ozexpatriate said:

Ian does your employer offer "diversity days"? These are a employee-designated holiday they can take at any time, (separate from vacation time) in lieu of Federal Holidays that most employers consider work days - like MLK, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, etc.

I understand these are quite common now. You could choose Good Friday and Easter Monday as "diversity days".

Personally I thoroughly support the idea that people should use their own personal time off for religious holidays. Otherwise its a bun fight over Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Eid Al Fitr, etc etc.

I actually get "unlimited PTO", provided the project manager (currently ME 😀) and client approve/agree.

Not really bothered about getting it off per se, just recognizing that many other countries do have one or the other, or both as public holidays.

My first year here in the US I arrived in early March, looking forward - was uninformed then - to a 4-day weekend shortly after my arrival. Imagine my surprise/disappointment to discover I was not getting ANY time off on the company 🤪

Morning all, from the NON-HOLIDAY Easter Monday.

Weekend was busy enough, especially since the Sunday services both ran long resulting in the choir putting in about 4.5 hours of mostly standing on the risers. <yawn>

Had a brief respite after that, a leisurely meal and then Trevor and Meagan arrived for dessert and a game or two of Mexican Train.

Busily working again today, much report changing to be done!

Was also just informed by our property manager that we've a tenant moving in to our rental on May 1st. Yay!!

Weather moderates, snow almost entirely gone now, just a few patches on the ground where it had been piled up by the plows.

1c and partly cloudy first thing, 7c the expected high. Warming trend expected all week.

Tally ho.

March 29

Moaning!!

As reported previous years, Easter here is devoid of anything approaching a public holiday, so, working today and Monday as if it never happens.

Yesterday a VERY LONG service to sing at followed by a much longer rehearsal than expected.

Started the service warm-up at 6PM, service 7-8:30PM, finished rehearsal at 9:40PM - ARRGGHHHH

Today, major additions/changes to reports greeted me first thing for work. No POETS likely today.

Later Jemma will drop off Whitney as she heads out for a 4-day trip, two turns to London.

Only weekend plans, other than getting some sleep are the Easter Sunday services the choir sing at.

We'll be on our own for Easter, not a problem, we're getting a nice take-out of traditional glazed ham and all the sides just for the two of us.

Weather finally continues to head towards Spring, -4c first thing, partly sunny, high of 6c expected. No below zero overnights in the week ahead, yay!

Carry on.

March 28

Arrrgghhh....

Back again after three days of some undefined cold/flu/cough/lurgy keeping me in a sorry state.

Actual onset was shortly after the Palm Sunday choir singing. Not helped by the snow that started Sunday and refused to completely be done until early AM yesterday.

More snow (though still below the norm for March) that we've had all season so far. Just when we thought it was time for Spring... buqqer...

Nothing else to report for days given the above condition.

BIN day, and all sorted.

Today back working and will be singing at the Holy Thursday service this evening. Apparently, we are also doing a short rehearsal afterwards in preparation for Easter.

With 8+ inches of snow on the ground we're probably going to have a white Easter

-13c at BIN time, sunny but will only slowly dissipate the snow. -1c the expected high.

Onward.

March 21

2 hours ago, pH said:

Is the seaweed specially imported to Minnesota for them to twirl?

It's shipped in through the great lakes :)

March 21

BIN day.

BINs already processed, just leaves it for me to retrieve them and set them in their resting place.

Yesterday slow and the Mrs still/continuing to exhibit signs of a cold/flu. She'll test for the "C" bug today. Has a cough also now and not feeling a very happy camper ☹️

Today, SUPPOSEDLY, we're going to see some snow. There are light flurries on and off at the moment but the forecast is for 2+ inches today. I'm hoping it holds off until late evening so that it's not too miserable heading to/from choir practice. Said practice will likely be long as we have to cover Palm Sunday (expecting 6-8 inches of snow Sunday!!! That'll be annoying!), holy Thursday next week and of course that is followed by Easter Sunday services all of which we sing at.

For now, I'm showing no signs of whatever the Mrs has, let's hope it stays that way, though if she tests +ve for the lurgy I'll then be confined myself.

-4c and overcast at BIN time, 1c the expected high and the snow not expected to start until around 9PM if the seaweed twirlers are to be believed.

Onward.

March 20

HUMP day...

Little to report for the past couple of days. Slow and uneventful both with work and post work activities.

Mrs seems to have a pinched nerve that is giving her some lower back pain, scheduling a physiotherapist hopefully soon.

Weather returning to winter rapidly here, threats of a couple of inches of snow overnight tomorrow and possibly plowable amounts Saturday night and all-day Sunday!

Just what we'd need for Palm Sunday since we've two services we're supposed to sing at! 😵

-6c and sunny first thing, -1c the expected high with clear skies forecast all day.

Onward.

March 18

Monday, good morning all.

Very nice weekend overall;

Friday evening great happy-hour with Jemma and Brendan, nice pop-up beer event at local wine&cheese shop.

Saturday, much to-do activity around the house.

Sunday, Mrs off to a birthday party followed by us at a concert, one of our fund-raiser events. Six local female singers put on a '60s womens' songs special.

Back working today, slow but "proceeding"

Weather dropping down again here, -6c first thing with partly cloudy skies, only going to manage 2c later. Forecast of some light snow by the end of the week!

Carry on.

March 15

In a late afternoon update, we're invited to join Brendan and Jemma at 5pm for a pint at a local wine/cheese locale where there's a beer popup event happening...

Let's go 😀

March 15

POETS

Most excellent evening with friends at the Queen tribute concert last evening. Otherwise, nothing to report from yesterday.

Today, not a lot planned, looking forward to a relaxing weekend - like THAT will happen 😀 will avoid all the offerings of "everything GREEN" taking over for Paddys day.

We are attending one of our fund-raising concerts Sunday, and as always I'll be there to "help" folks with ticket issues. The typically aging crowd need help ALWAYS, as they can seldom find their receipt that was emailed to them, insist they can't print them out and can never find the email on their phone <sigh>

Very nice out this AM 4c and sunny with a high of 11 forecast.

Enjoy the start of the weekend.

March 14

BIN and Pi day.

Have to make do with 3 BINs, Essentially rounded down for Pi collection.

Two of the three already collected, we just await the Midday collection of the recycle.

Yesterday, by all accounts (those with an appreciation for our performances), the schola managed a very creditable effort at the Reconciliation service.

More importantly we (the schola) had an excellent evening, post service, at a local watering hole, good food and beverages in abundance.

Today, slow work looks like and later we're off with friends to hear a Queen tribute band. Heard them before, last year, and they're so good we wanted a second serving!

6c and BIN time, overcast but no expectation of precipitation, 11c the high later today.

Tally ho.

March 13

HUMP day.

Yesterday the first meeting to discuss using my skillset for another client in need. Preliminary only, and getting the right folks together seems far less critical than was initially inferred. Will wait and see where this goes.

Mrs hard a dental appointment for a filling, Rather far back so a very sore and not happy Mrs most of the rest of the day.

Today, off to sing at a reconciliation service this evening, so we'll take advantage of the "basement soup supper" at the church for dinner ahead of time.

The schola and significant others are headed out to a local watering hole post service for some refreshments 😀

7c and partly cloudy first think, 16c expected high.

Onward.

March 12

Chewsday.

Nothing to report from yesterday really. Work quiet, Whitney picked up by Brendan, that covers it!

Today Mrs has dental appointment, I've a Zoom with an associate who needs me to look at something at another client, my skill set.

Work done by client employee that needs urgent updating, and client employee since retired... um, it's called planning ahead I think!!

That covers it save the weather;

8c and partly cloudy getting the newspaper in, 17c the forecast high with no precipitation forecast for days, starting to move into mild drought territory since we had no snow cover to rely on for the spring thaw.

Carry on.

March 11

Monday... <yawn> still sorting out the "time-change" ramifications.

I really don't care either way regarding the changing of the clocks. I just wish a firm decision was/is made and everyone could then just shut up about it and move on with life. The biggest challenge having the time change is running around the house re-setting all the clocks twice a year, and I don't really see that as much of a problem. I can take whatever is decided (a twice-yearly debate here, as I'm sure it is many places) and be done with it.

Weekend was busy;

Saturday friends over to see the house as they'd not seen it before (in 4 years!!) then out to brunch, then over to see their new house.

A recent purchase, a "steal" as it needed some work, and he's a retired contractor. They admit now it was in need of WAY MORE than they at first expected but only had literally an hour to decide on the purchase to avoid being second in the race. Their "vision" for the place is amazing, and a lot of work started/done, but they are having trouble finding various workers (plumbing/electrical etc) as all the folks are way busy, AND they are finding the price of materials sky-rocketing, when they can even source them.

Sunday, I had to head over to Trevor and Meagans, a request for dad-help as their kitchen lights were on the fritz, two lights not working and one of the others very dim. The house is generally very nice, BUT, was a flip and some of the items used aren't exactly top-of-the-line. The four flush-mount LED ceiling lights, on inspection, were a brand that can be got online for $24 a six-pack, a definite indication of corner-cutting/cheap-and-cheerful. Obtained 4 new ones that also have adjustable color temperature cost of $84 a 4-pack, definite improvement!

Took a lot of the afternoon to install those, then home for a brief rest and then Zoom meeting/dinner with our friends in Arizona.

Today, just work, and Brendan will be over this afternoon to pick up Whitney. He gets in before Jemma, so he'll do the pick-up and we'll not see Jemma today.

Weather over the weekend was nice and sunny though still cool.

Today, 3c and sunny first thing, 17c the expected high.

Onward.

March 8

3 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

Only if I could do it from here by phone or fax or something.

That'd be no problem here (USA) as most elected politicians seem to be phoning it in anyway!!!

POETS

Yesterday was a much too long choir rehearsal, we seem to be gluttons for punishment, meted out by our dear lady choir leader. We managed to rehearse multiple times all the songs for the schola performance, IN SPITE of the fact we have sung exactly the same line-up for 20 years at least, and there's only ONE new member in the schola who hasn't gone through them numerous times <yawn>

Today should be quiet, I'm taking a POETS, however, that's partly as we have to apparently to get the house "sorted out" since we're having friends over tomorrow who've not seen the new place yet. Envision much cleaning and hiding stuff that otherwise is just "around" I guess!

Other than that event, and a Zoom with friends Sunday evening, nothing is actually planned, so far.

On the dangers of children in traffic/railways:

Traffic is less of a problem here than the railway lines. Pretty much ALL of the overland lines are unprotected by fences.

Whether they carry the occasional, i.e. twice a day short line train, that runs at a moderate pace not 60ft from my back door, to the longer freights barreling across country, there are no protections in place to discourage anyone from walking across or along the tracks. Not many incidents overall, but the ease of access does make it more likely.

-1c first thing and sunny, heading for a high of 6c. The weekend sees it ramping up to a high of 11c by Sunday and 16c Monday.

Still no sign of the "winter" which has definitely been written off by now by most people. More and more cases of idiots falling through thin ice on lakes being reported!

Tally ho.

March 7

BIN day

BINs sorted, serviced as usual, all done.

Today work is slow.

Later pre-rehearsal happy hour then a LONG choir rehearsal as we have the regular rehearsal followed by an additional rehearsal for the schola who perform next Wednesday evening Reconciliation service. Could be a long night...

3c at BIN time, cloudy and expected to stay that way all day with a high of 8-9c

Onward.

March 5

Chewsday

Noticed faceache was broken earlier today, though it was my end, so dutifully tried to reset the password. Back working now but I'm unsure if the password reset took or not!! Fluster cuck abounds with these platforms...

Nothing of note for yesterday, work and little else on the agenda. Much the same expected today, although it's "Super Tuesday" meaning the presidential primary, identifying who may run as president later this year. Non-binding, in the sense that "anyone" could be a write-in candidate and win the election even if not put forward as a choice from said primary.

Generally a poor turnout for primaries here overall, but we'll go even if others are too disinterested and will accept any outcome...

Jemma will be here later today, probably early/mid evening, to pick up Whitney. She has a late flight back from Rome.

-1c and partly cloudy first thing, 7c the forecast high.

Later.

March 4

Mornin'

Very nice weekend, pleasant walk around the neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Saturday Mrs busy making the birthday cheesecake and me helping "tidy up" for the arrival of friends to the birthday party.

Enjoyable evening with friends/family, great Indian take-out and the Mrs delightful cheesecake.

Sunday, given the weather is becoming "late spring/early summer" we decided to start clearing the porch area to be once again useable rather than an additional storage area for "stuff".

Sunday also managed to break another high-for-the-day record, 21c-23c across most of the Twin Cities, pretty much declaring there was/is no winter.

Today back working, slow but consistent already. Whitney has been dropped off as Brendan is headed out on a trip and Jemma isn't home until tomorrow evening.

2c and mostly cloudy retrieving the newspaper, headed for a high of only 7c, talk about a large swing in temperatures given yesterday's high!!

Carry on.

March 1

POETS... that's happening for sure!

Yesterday an enjoyable happy hour and then choir rehearsal, although missing a few friends who've chosen this week to seek sunnier climes.

Today, will take it easy, Mrs baking a cheese cake for my upcoming cycle around the sun tomorrow - she has a great New York-style cheesecake that she makes for me every birthday, very VERY yummy 😀

Tomorrow - the trip-trip-round-the-sun happy hour/party. Will be missing Jemma as she's on a trip, but a nice small gathering expected - Indian take-away on the menu.

Nothing else particular planned for the weekend, but I'm sure we can find something that needs doing.

Today, 3c first thing and sunny, heading for a high of 13c today, 16c tomorrow and 21c Sunday, Sunday MAY break another record.

Carry on, enjoy the weekend all.

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