Ian Abel

POETS, we'll see...

Good happy hour and rehearsal last evening, except for the news that one of my buddies was in hospital having emergency surgery for a small intestine issue! Don't communicate with him daily so was very unexpected, as I'd only heard from him Monday and all seemed fine. We, the choir, recorded him a get well chant that will hopefully lift his spirits. Mrs spoke to his wife this morning and sounds like he'll have a couple of weeks of recuperation before we manage our next dinner together.

Not much planned for the weekend, always hopefully that means I'll have free time for hobbies, seldom comes to fruition thought <sigh>.

At least the weekend weather looks promising, may get some time outside in spring-like weather.

0c first thing, sunny and a high of 6-9c expected all weekend with highs above zero.

Tally ho.

Chooseday!

Yesterday was quiet, both work and post-work.

I did manage a 45-minute tough ride on my NordicTrack bike - 11 miles and 3,500ft climb in Thailand, a little more than I planned on <ouch> 😵

Today much of the same, there's no particular "day" that I dislike, all pretty much of a sameness, especially the work days.

Notified yesterday that the new roof for the rental house is now scheduled for Feb. 7th!!!

Expecting 10c/50f PLUS days around then so the roof will be way ahead of schedule. The need some 5c-10c days for the asphalt shingles to set properly.

Consistent with the above roofing report, today was +1c first thing, mostly cloudy, high of 6c expected. This is way above norms for this time of year.

Onward.

1 hour ago, pH said:

Make sure you point out the possible problems here to Important People in the client organization, keep a record of that warning, and you can walk away humming “Not My Problem”.

The interesting juxtaposition is that the people I work for/report to, i.e. the Finance department, up to and including the director, all of whom I have an excellent relationship with, already KNOW the issues/problems.

The IT manager "feels" this is a position that can/should be an IT person that only needs part-time involvement. They've also "suggested" that the finance department may not doing things in a correct/accounting way and maybe should review their accounting methods!!!!

The Finance department have all along requested/recommended it be a full-time finance position reporting to and managed directly by them, as I currently am!

I know who will "ultimately" win, but it'll be fun watching.

The Finance director is a very nice. very bright/intelligent/knowledgeable woman who I get along with exceptionally well (for the past 8 YEARS - the person who asked for me to do what I'm doing), she is NOT someone who you want to cross or question their ability/knowledge of THEIR DEPARTMENT

I've seen her verbally destroy people who want to challenge her expertise with no knowledge, and the IT manager is IMHO treading a very tight rope...

Oh the joys of being a consultant, I can issue "told you so's" to all of the above and not give the proverbial "rats arse" at the end of the day 🤣🤣🤣

POETS other terms available...

Yesterday, first of many "educational meetings" to try and bring someone up-to-speed with all the work I do for the Long Island client.

This is an internal IT-type who hasn't got ANY experience with the Crystal report tool we use and limited experience with the ERP system underlying everything! At 1-hour a week I'm not sure how the IT manager expects this guy to get enough knowledge in less than 10-+ YEARS to be able to handle this stuff. He even opined that the preliminary tasks I'd suggested for him weren't able to be accomplished since he was too busy with other stuff!  Oh well... 😮

An enjoyable evening happy hour and choir rehearsal was the end of day relaxation.

This weekend shaping up to be busy;

Tonight, neighborhood happy hour

Tomorrow, some minor work to be handled at the rental property, a couple of bedroom closet light fixtures to be replaced, then over to some friends for dinner.

Sunday, SO FAR, nothing on the cards, I'm sure "things" will show up on the to-do list.

Weather, continues unseasonable with a -1c first thing, overcast and a high of 3-4c expected, ditto all weekend!

Enjoy the start of the weekend.

Chewsday.

Missing a few days but with nothing much to report it seemed appropriate!

Weekend was another quiet one again down to pretty cold weather. We did manage a nice dinner out Sunday evening with friends.

Was somewhat of a revelation that several of the restaurant "choices" are now closed on Sundays. Still, managed a favourite that would be a walk in better weather.

Work rumbles on, ramping up supposedly for the great audit season!

Mrs off this afternoon with Jemma on a Costco run, Whitney will have to put up with me while they're gone. Jemma will be having dinner with us apparently, once they're done with Costco.

Weather is on the up-tick, -4c first thing though overcast, high of 1c expected. Rest of the week supposed to even have lows only at 0c and rumors of 8c or HIGHER within 7-10 days!

Carry on.

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

Did I mention it was cold this morning?

South Walsham broad.

 

 

 

 

This is how you know it's "cold" on a body of water...

Northern Minnesota lake, luxury ice fishing...

POETS...

Another week bites the dust, yay!

Work posing some challenges as we attempt to provide what the auditors want THIS YEAR!

Yesterday a relaxing and fairly quick choir rehearsal, given we know ALL the music for the lenten season, it's hardly surprising. Some of us have visited the same scores for 20+ years 🤪

Not much planned for the weekend, we were going to get together with neighbors for a happy hour but one of the teens has tested positive for the lurgy, it's apparently ramping up in the local schools.

Brendan expected imminently to pick up Whitney, he's back from a wee training in Atlanta, conversion to the A330. Jemma currently in London, heading back tomorrow.

-18c first thing, overcast but no forecast precipitation. High -14c later - whoopeee!

Carry on.

BIN day. ALL the BINs out this week,  including the "garden waste" since the Christmas tree goes that way.

All the trucks have now been and I have the pleasant task of getting the BINs back to their resting place.

Birds are going through the feeders due to the cold so they are serviced almost daily right now, as is the bird bath, evaporates in this cold.

Today, ears being lowered later by the Mrs, the mop on the sides has gotten out-of-hand!

Later, pre-rehearsal happy hour, and then an expected long choir rehearsal as we start the march towards lent and Easter!!! 

Interesting side note for fans of EV vehicles, seems they nor their charging stations are built for severe cold.

Many reports of stranded Teslas and charging taking forever IF working at all around the sub-zero midwest!!..

-17c and overcast at BIN time, -14c the expected high and back down around -16c by the time we're done with rehearsal.

HUMP day

Yesterday another solid day inside, Whitney coaxed out to do her business but NOT HAPPY!

Today will be a repeat, no need to head out and definitely no reason to attempt avoiding frostbite just for the sheer excitement of it 😮

Work heating up (at least here's heat there!!) as we're into year-end and the ominous "auditors" rearing their ugly heads.

Always adds to the excitement of year-end/audit reporting. Other than that, staying warm is top priority.

Work at the rental property completed, a shower having been installed in the upper level bathroom, all that's left is touch-up paint following the install. 

Now we just wait for the rental market to pick up post-holidays.

Weather another COLD morning prying the newspaper from the frozen path, -17c and sunny, -13c the forecast high.

Onward.

40 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

In Chicago (where the lake is freezing right now) they joke about Minnesota having 9 months of winter and 3 months of rough sledding.

Us "natives" here usually identify the place as two seasons, winter and road construction!

Chewsday...

Remained comfortably inside all yesterday except for a brief but required foray to the shop to get some essential items.

Today will be a repeat of yesterday, except we may NOT need to go shopping for anything, here's hoping!

Whitney NOT impressed with the cold here, and is hesitant to venture outside to do her business, she's no fool 😀

Today another cold one, reminder, THIS IS COLD --> -19c recovering the newspaper, sunny but that matters little, high around -15c, realfeel -26c

Onward.

Monday, and MLK day (federal holiday) so a lot of places take the day off. Schools closed etc.

Weekend was quiet, spent mostly inside due to weather!

Finished a puzzle that was quite the challenge;

"City by the Sea" - Frank Lloyd Wright

It was -22c when I got in the car Sunday morning at 7:30am to head for the services we were singing at! Reached a dizzying -20c for the daytime high!

Today, Jemma dropped Whitney off at 8am as she's headed out for a 6-day, two round trips to London.

We'll be staying in due to SERIOUSLY COLD weather. @Tony_S -1c would be tropical 🤣

First thing/Whitney drop-off time, -20c with a wind chill of -28c, expected high soaring to -17c. It's sunny but at these temperatures who cares!

Carry on.

Hump day.

Yesterday another quiet day on all fronts, Mrs had an evening Zoom book club meeting, leaving me to my own devices.

Relaxed and read, I didn't nod off far as I remember  😀

Today "may" be interesting as later today I've an initial online meeting with someone from the client IT department who is supposedly slated to learn what I'm doing for them. The finance department aren't entirely excited about this as they have a distrust of the IT department in general as they never manage to handle any of their other IT related issues with any particular ability. We'll see how this plays out!

On my own again this evening as the Mrs "other" book club meets, in person, so she'll be off out most of the early evening.

Getting cold* here, -7c first thing, -3c the expected high, realfeel values somewhat lower. Varying reports as to whether we'll see any snow today, popular opinion is "unlikely", we'll see.

*For those in the "balmy" UK, this is when you really, REALLY, should start wearing heavier coats and gloves, exposed skin can get frostbite quickly.

Carry on.

Moaning...

Nothing to report from the past weekend beyond a "bah humbug".

Mrs spent the weekend poorly with whatever virus is going around, I was the handy helper.

Result, nothing to report bar sitting in, watching the weather, or lack of, and making sure the Mrs was warm and comfortable.

Some recovery yesterday for the Mrs, and me working. Jemma returned last evening and picked up Whitney. That's all there is to report!

We have some light snow cover barely in inch, expecting more possibly tomorrow and the weekend. -5c first thing -1c the high.

For those pondering "cold", we are forecast to get a more normal January by Saturday with a forecast low of -22c and a high of -12c!

Tally ho.

POETS, yeah, why not! Also, BIN day, all done and dusted.

Yesterday fairly quiet, Mrs still recovering/resting. Work slow and choir rehearsal went smooth as can be expected.

Today, Mrs feeling better, off to walk/lunch with friends. Later we have her great-nieces over for dinner.

Weekend unplanned at present, but one item will certainly be taking down the Christmas decorations and packing them away for another year.

Beyond that, hopefully some relaxing, eating, drinking, etc.

Weather, -4c first thing, overcast with a high of 1c expected. Supposedly a 100% chance of precip tomorrow, mix of rain/slush/snow looks like.

Hope the weekend starts well for all.

Should be BIN day, but of course, shifted to tomorrow due to Monday being a holiday. Throws everything off doesn't it!!

Quiet yesterday, slow work and the Mrs still resting from the lurgy.

RANT

I'm in a quandary...

got my "Merit Increase" yesterday and can't decide on a World Cruise or a new Ferrari, I mean, a TWO !@$!#@$!#@$ PERCENT raise is hard to dispose of!!  🤬

With the inflation around 3.1% here, AND EVEN THE GOVERNMENT deciding that a reasonable Social Security adjustment was 3.2%, I'm not sure a corporation with $4.2 BILLION dollars in revenue can manage much, I suppose...

END RANT

On with the day - pre-rehearsal happy hour later then the first of two rehearsals before we sing at our MLK Sunday services on Jan. 14th.

-5c and overcast first thing, -2c the expected high, no rain/snow in the forecast.

Carry on.

Happy New Year to all...

AWOL given I've spent 6 days with a virus, supposedly one of many doing the rounds, so since the afternoon of Christmas day I've not been much use to anyone until yesterday!

As a result there really isn't much to report - even the Urgent Care folks (Mrs insisted I go see if they had any "insights") having tested me for seemingly everything, except Black Plague and Yellow fever as they apparently are pretty obvious 😀, it's just a virus, go home, stay comfortable, take Tylenol and remain hydrated - BAH HUMBUG.

On the mend since yesterday, fortunate since that was our "family Christmas" celebration, and I even felt better still today and attended my 6-month dental appointment.

Weather turning towards Minnesota winter slowly, we got 2 inches of snow on Saturday and highs hovering between +1c and -1c. Partly sunny.

Onward to 2024, in all haste.

BIN day.

Late evening getting the BINs out.

Yesterday the "British Arrow Awards" didn't disappoint, my better than last year and very enjoyable.

We had dinner at the restaurant on the museum premises ahead of the show. Nice enough place but the menu was very sparse and food somewhat disappointing.

Won't be adding that to the list of places to frequent!

Today, work is nuts again, auditors need to be locked in small dark places and verbally abused! 

Later, pre-rehearsal happy hour, rehearsal, last "panic" before the Christmas day services. We're told there will be a short gathering/celebration post choir, but no other details offered.

-1c at BIN time, cloudy and 4c the expected high, Overnight lows next couple of days to remain above zero, and highs between 8-13c through Sunday!

Onward.

Time flies...

Way too busy both on the past weekend and also most of this week!

Much of Monday and Tuesday taken up with online and in-person interviews as part of a 30+ year program we've been involved in at the Univ. of Minnesota.

Conducted by the Center for Twin and Family Research, we were initially contacted due to having an adopted child and a "home-grown", both close in age to also consider them twins (a push but that's what/how the research team explained it!

This latest round of interviews was the longest and most involved so far. Took the best part of Monday and Tuesday

THEN - I started Tuesday at 6pm to prep for my camera-up-the-arse procedure Wednesday morning. The prep for these things is nothing short of diabolical <ugh>!!

Thursday was still slow going, drowsy and trying to work, followed by a choir rehearsal that I could have dozed off in.

Today - work, somewhat slow hopefully, the Mrs off on an outing with DIL and DILs young (2yrs) niece. They're off to some playtime location.

Weekend will be somewhat busy as we will prep tomorrow for our annual "Christmas Vacation" party tomorrow evening - Sunday a day to recover 😀

Weather here STILL way beyond normal, 3c first thing and overcast, 6c the expected high, repeat all weekend. Some chances of light rain off and on.

Hope you have a good start to your weekends.