After a couple of not totally crappy weeks at work, things are back to normal again. This weeks biggest issue is the ongoing contract negotiations between the union and the company. As a manager, even one light years removed from negotiations, I'm not allowed to comment on how those negotiations are going, either publically or privately. Luckily, I don't need to comment with the Tri-City Herald around.
So, yes things were emotional this week, and it wasn't just the Union folks getting emotional. As one of the commenters on the Herald pointed out, whatever deal the union gets is usually passed along to us exempt staff types. By the end of the week, it was all I could do to make it through One Day More.
11.30.2012
Hey Rube!
This week in one of her workshops, my daughter learned about Rube Goldberg machines. She then spent the evening in her bedroom with empty toilet paper rolls, duct tape, jenga blocks, books and stuffed animals trying to build one. At bed time she was quite depressed, because she hadn't gotten her design to work yet.
My wife had a long talk with her about perseverence, because she was willing to give up. 20 minutes after lights out, you could still here an occasional tear from her as she tried to get over it, so daddy had to fo talk to her. I told her about how the folks on Mythbusters had designed a Rube Goldberg machine once, and even with a design department full of craftsmen, it was very much a case of trial and error.
I'm not sure she believed me, but I committed to show her the episode when I got home from work last night.
Turns out I didn't need to worry about it. When I made it home, my wife showed me a video she had helped my daughter make. This was attempt #5, with the goal being to have the leggo 4 wheeler attack the ceolophysis.
We still got to watch Mythbusters, also.
My wife had a long talk with her about perseverence, because she was willing to give up. 20 minutes after lights out, you could still here an occasional tear from her as she tried to get over it, so daddy had to fo talk to her. I told her about how the folks on Mythbusters had designed a Rube Goldberg machine once, and even with a design department full of craftsmen, it was very much a case of trial and error.
I'm not sure she believed me, but I committed to show her the episode when I got home from work last night.
Turns out I didn't need to worry about it. When I made it home, my wife showed me a video she had helped my daughter make. This was attempt #5, with the goal being to have the leggo 4 wheeler attack the ceolophysis.
We still got to watch Mythbusters, also.
11.28.2012
A fool and his money
I will admit, I am a regular participant in the Red Neck Retirement plan. I buy tickets for the state lotto, Mega-Millions, and Power Ball just about every week(no need to talk about scratch tickets...I've got my girls convinced that the scratch ticket machine is a deposit box for their College Savings).
So yes, I have bought tickets for the HALF A BILLION DOLLAR Power Ball drawing...but really, no more than I buy for a normal drawing...I mean, it only takes one ticket to win. I won't even feel bad splitting the prize with 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 other winners. That's still something on the order of 10 million dollars.
I've even gone as far as picking out the house I will buy this weekend after winning...I'm a modest guy. 2500 SF on 80 acres sounds about right to keep me happy.
So yes, I have bought tickets for the HALF A BILLION DOLLAR Power Ball drawing...but really, no more than I buy for a normal drawing...I mean, it only takes one ticket to win. I won't even feel bad splitting the prize with 10, 20, 30, 40, or even 50 other winners. That's still something on the order of 10 million dollars.
I've even gone as far as picking out the house I will buy this weekend after winning...I'm a modest guy. 2500 SF on 80 acres sounds about right to keep me happy.
What's in a name?
While at the grocery store today, I was kind of drifting up and down the aisles, and when in the shampoo area., I spotted this product on the top shelf:
Ummm. Wow. Placenta shampoo. I had to do a little bit of research on the computer when I got home, just in case there is some other definition of 'placenta' out there, but no...it means just what you would think it would mean.
The only thing that makes this slightly less horrifying than it might otherwise be is that it is made with 'placenta enzymes' rather than the real thing.
Makes me feel less bad about the possible ingredients of Head and Shoulders.
11.27.2012
Gift List
With Black Friday(and Cyber Monday)having come and gone, my wife has been on me to provide her with my Christmas list, which I usually do on her so I can provide a link or two. It's not the most romantic thing to do, but it ensures that when we go 'functional' with Christmas gifts, that we really get what we are intending to get. Finally, providing each other with lists helps to minimize the chances of heart ache from 'returning' gifts.
Starting out totally functional, I wouldn't mind a 48" Hi-Lift Extreme Jack. Commander Zero has sold me on the virtues of these before. While he decided to go with the 60" because the 60" can do everything the 48" can, but the opposite is not true, I think space/weight limitations will make the 48" option much more user friendly.
For when the zombies come(and our bug out bags) I keep drooling over the Ontario Knife Companies SPAX 16. From all reviews and reports, it's an extremely solid piece of equipment, with a hatchet blade, and a solid spike on the back, good for puncturing steel sheeting, or aluminum, or zombie heads. One video I saw had some guys using the spike on the back to break up cinderblocks. In addition to that, the specially shaped holes in the blade can be used to open/close valves on fire hydrants and urban gas lines. This COULD be handy, but it's also requires some caution, because Ontario makes the very similar SP-16, which has the hatchet and spike, but not the special valve operating openings.
The SPAX-16 is not cheap...mostly around $110 on Amazon, but I have seen it on ebay for closer to $70. If that is out of the question, there is always a more basic tomahawk...something like the SOG Fasthawk or Tactical Tomahawk, or the United Cutlery M48 would with the bill and are widely available on amazon. Why a tomahawk? Well, they are useful tools...and sometimes the fact that they look cool should be enough, right?
Another step down(or up) the reality scale would be this SOGfari set, which has a folding shovel, hand axe, machette and knife. That's probably a more useful setup than a tomahawk...even if it's not as cool looking.
In the kitchen, space is limited, but luckily, we don't really need anything big. I wouldn't mind getting a meat grinder attachment for our kitchen aid mixer, and my wife would like to get the vegetable strainer/grinder, to help make jam preperation easier. Of course, that could go on her list...
When in doubt, I have always told my wife, and will continue to do so, that any type of decent quality flashlight or knife is an appropriate gift. This year in particular, I COULD find a use for a nice rechargable spot light. It doesn't need to be that fancy, but a few settings would be useful.
I can't really think of any music or entertainment stuff I need. There are no books I'm waiting for, although this might be a good excuse to get started on the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, or something by Neil Gaiman(like Good Omens or American Gods.)
Oh...there is also that peace on Earth, Goodwill to Man thing.
Starting out totally functional, I wouldn't mind a 48" Hi-Lift Extreme Jack. Commander Zero has sold me on the virtues of these before. While he decided to go with the 60" because the 60" can do everything the 48" can, but the opposite is not true, I think space/weight limitations will make the 48" option much more user friendly.
For when the zombies come(and our bug out bags) I keep drooling over the Ontario Knife Companies SPAX 16. From all reviews and reports, it's an extremely solid piece of equipment, with a hatchet blade, and a solid spike on the back, good for puncturing steel sheeting, or aluminum, or zombie heads. One video I saw had some guys using the spike on the back to break up cinderblocks. In addition to that, the specially shaped holes in the blade can be used to open/close valves on fire hydrants and urban gas lines. This COULD be handy, but it's also requires some caution, because Ontario makes the very similar SP-16, which has the hatchet and spike, but not the special valve operating openings.
The SPAX-16 is not cheap...mostly around $110 on Amazon, but I have seen it on ebay for closer to $70. If that is out of the question, there is always a more basic tomahawk...something like the SOG Fasthawk or Tactical Tomahawk, or the United Cutlery M48 would with the bill and are widely available on amazon. Why a tomahawk? Well, they are useful tools...and sometimes the fact that they look cool should be enough, right?
Another step down(or up) the reality scale would be this SOGfari set, which has a folding shovel, hand axe, machette and knife. That's probably a more useful setup than a tomahawk...even if it's not as cool looking.
In the kitchen, space is limited, but luckily, we don't really need anything big. I wouldn't mind getting a meat grinder attachment for our kitchen aid mixer, and my wife would like to get the vegetable strainer/grinder, to help make jam preperation easier. Of course, that could go on her list...
When in doubt, I have always told my wife, and will continue to do so, that any type of decent quality flashlight or knife is an appropriate gift. This year in particular, I COULD find a use for a nice rechargable spot light. It doesn't need to be that fancy, but a few settings would be useful.
I can't really think of any music or entertainment stuff I need. There are no books I'm waiting for, although this might be a good excuse to get started on the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, or something by Neil Gaiman(like Good Omens or American Gods.)
Oh...there is also that peace on Earth, Goodwill to Man thing.
11.26.2012
Christmas came early!
As you may see later this week when I post my Christmas list for my wife, things are going to be fairly 'functional' for us this year. When you are going functional, it doesn't make sense to put that functional item away and ignore it until the 25th.
Case is point would be the new chest freezer we went and bought yesterday at Home Depot.
It's not huge...in fact, at 7 cubic feet, it was the 2nd smallest chest freezer Home Depot had. That said it meets our current needs, being big enough that I can go get my deer meet out of my bosses freezer, and still fit a few turkeys and hams in there while they are priced 'Holiday Cheap'.
The price was right too. With Black Friday pricing and a Home Depot gift card that had been floating around the house for who knows how long, it was going to be available for under $150 out the door. By far, it was the best square footage/dollar value they had in stock, and like my wife and I decided, if we wanted a new one anytime in the next 6 months(and we did!) then this was the time to get it.
Case is point would be the new chest freezer we went and bought yesterday at Home Depot.
It's not huge...in fact, at 7 cubic feet, it was the 2nd smallest chest freezer Home Depot had. That said it meets our current needs, being big enough that I can go get my deer meet out of my bosses freezer, and still fit a few turkeys and hams in there while they are priced 'Holiday Cheap'.
The price was right too. With Black Friday pricing and a Home Depot gift card that had been floating around the house for who knows how long, it was going to be available for under $150 out the door. By far, it was the best square footage/dollar value they had in stock, and like my wife and I decided, if we wanted a new one anytime in the next 6 months(and we did!) then this was the time to get it.
11.25.2012
You mean it might just be hype?!?!?!
Having spent most of the Thanksgiving weekend on the more technologically advanced west side of the state, we have returned to the Tri-Cities to find that we are now living inside the recently expanded Verizon 4G LTE coverage area.
Meh.
I can't tell a huge difference.
The fact is, because I am terrified of data overages, I don't do a huge amount of internet activity when I'm 'out and about'. It's nice to have the ability, but speed is not of maximum importance to me. In reality, about the only reason I need 'immediate' internet coverage for is proving the age of actors/actresses to my wife when we play the 'how old is that person' game.
Winner gets a kiss, so sometimes it's important to figure out who the winner is quickly.
Meh.
I can't tell a huge difference.
The fact is, because I am terrified of data overages, I don't do a huge amount of internet activity when I'm 'out and about'. It's nice to have the ability, but speed is not of maximum importance to me. In reality, about the only reason I need 'immediate' internet coverage for is proving the age of actors/actresses to my wife when we play the 'how old is that person' game.
Winner gets a kiss, so sometimes it's important to figure out who the winner is quickly.
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