Skip to main content

Thursday Random Ramble - First Week in April

By

Sometimes I write about what I have done, sometimes I write about what I am going to do, often about what ever flits into my head when I sit down to write.  

If all goes to plan, we are in the city with the tall skyline this week.  Yesterday we should have been in Brooklyn, my grandmother lived there as a child about 110 years ago, and I have never been there.  I will write about lunch with Mitchel next week.  Thursday we have tickets to visit the Edge, an open observation deck near the top of a very-very tall new building.  I am sure there will be photos and a story or two there.  We will do a lot of walking, a little shopping, probably a museum or two.  I had about three work connections who wanted to meet to talk shop, and I declined all of them.  I didn't want to morph a short vacation, into an extended work session.  I really need to plan a working trip to NYC.  

We may have made some progress on the plans for the kitchen replacement.  We spent 2 1/2 hours picking out finishes and fussing over details, in a small space details matter.  Assuming the ball does not get dropped again, it will take 3-5 months to get things ready to go.  Assuming that we hear back, this is major progress on something we have wanted to do since the first day I walked into the kitchen.  

I don't watch the Oscars, and it took me a couple of days to get around to figuring out that one spoiled rich guy, insulted another spoiled rich guys' wife, and was bitch slapped on world wide television for it.  Violence is not the answer, but why can't we make jokes without picking on someone for something they have no control over? I wish his wife well, I imagine the last thing she wanted was to be the middle of a controversy debated on the world stage.   

Work continues to be intense.  But somehow feels less overwhelming.  Annual budgeting season is starting, I think we are in good shape, but I am struggling to get numbers on parts of our portfolio.  I have come to the conclusion that no one has been monitoring cash flow on a part of our budget.  Maybe the best thing to do, is start with a blank sheet and create a plan.  Budgets were never my headache before.  I am presenting four trainings in two weeks in late April, most of the prep for those was due last week.  I was asked to write a short article due in three weeks.  I hesitated, but it was an issue I have written a hundred times in my head and never put on paper.  I finished the first draft while watching TV that evening.  I did an edit, all I need to do is add the footnotes and it is ready to send to the editors.  (If you know the topic, write the article first, then do the research and add the footnotes.) I rode the DC Metro (subway) for the first time since last October.  The system is limping by with about 60% of the rolling stock out of service because the wheels were falling off. The wait time for my connection can be 20 minutes, a pain.  As the city picks up with people returning to offices, I should ride more often.  

Okay, this is the third attempt at this paragraph.  I came to a realization recently of why I don't read most novels.  I won't ramble on, but finally realizing why I don't enjoy them, made it easier for me to be comfortable that I am not missing out on anything that would add value to my life.  If it does not bring you joy, or add value to your day, why waste the time. 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Way We Wednesday - Self-Timer Selfies

By
My oldest brother had a low draft lottery number, so he enlisted in the Navy the year he finished high school.  After basic training, he was assigned to the Aircraft Carrier Enterprise (now decommissioned and the last I knew it was being dismantled.) Someplace in southeast Asia he bought a Canon Ftb, a nice 35MM SLR. There was also a tripod, the gray zippered case above their arms is the case for the tripod. Looking at this it was taken with the camera on the tripod, and either a cable release or the self timer,  I suspect the self timer as Dale is almost blurred from having tripped the timer and rushed back to be in the picture.  This would have been taken in one of the crew living areas on the ship.  I think Dale only took a couple of rolls of film on the camera, this roll of slides ended up with dad's meaning it was probably in the camera when Dale came home on leave, and somehow Dad ended up keeping the camera.  Dad gave it to me a few years b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Saturday Morning Post: In lieu of flowers

By
  I read this in an obituary recently:  In lieu of flowers or cards,  Jim would want you to write a card or letter to someone that is special to you. Dear Travel Penguin Blog Readers, I never met Jim, kinda wish I had.  He lived near where I was born and raised, I often check obits there, people around my age are often people I crossed paths with when I was growing up.  Those 20-30 years older are often the parents of people I grew up with. Sadly sometimes the younger ones are the children of my classmates.   You are special to me.  I know a handful of you. I wake up everyday looking forward to interacting in the comments. The statistics tell me there are many more that read, than I have never seen a comment from.  I write for everyone of you.  My sincere hope is that a photo I have posted, or a phrase I have crafted, makes your day a little better.    I hope through these photos and words I am able to express that life will be...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Sunday Five - Books

By
  J.P Morgan had a spectacular private library, which raised questions for me, all of the inspriration I need for this weeks Sunday five. 1: Are there books you have multiple copies or editions of?  2: Have you ever stood in line to buy a first edition on the day it was released?  3: Do you buy books just to own them, or only to read them?  4: Have you read 90% or more of the books you own?  5: Do you have an active library card?  My Answers: 1: Are there books you have multiple copies or editions of? No longer, I did at one time, but we have downsized.  2: Have you ever stood in line to buy a first edition on the day it was released? Yes, Harry Potter books.  3: Do you buy books just to own them, or only to read them? Almost always to read.  4: Have you read 90% or more of the books you own? Yes. Probably more than 95%.  5: Do you have an active library card? No, I should do something about that. Please share your answers in the comment...
Post a Comment
Read more