Friday Update

It finally got hot and humid. My days are basically me cleaning up and playing with the kittens in the morning, cranking at work, and then coming home and cranking on the loft. I've patched, sanded, patched again, sanded again, primed, caulked, painted, caulked again and finally Tuesday night put down a second coat. I'm waiting for good daylight to see if it's even enough or I need to go buy more paint and put a third coat on. Here's a picture of the floor after primer coat. 

It was grueling. I enjoy the work but am just sweating in places I never sweat and my muscles are achy from all the angles I convert. Reading more, I think I should wait several weeks before moving everything back - to let the paint set/cure. Frustrating yet at the same time nice since I was on the fence about if I should paint trim/walls/ceiling while everything is tucked away. Decision made - I'll be starting on the trim next and working my way up. Just have to pick a shade of white. Easier said then done. 

Here's a picture of the little guys. This is what I come home to - them sleeping on my desk together. Everyone is adjusting well and I'm so proud of Winston. He's not the friendliest guy (he only has eyes for me) but he's been wonderful - eating with them, bathing them and starting to play a little. He liked all the kitten toys I brought home. 

The little guys are adorable and even though they look almost identical they have distinct personalities. It seems like Webster and Winston are a bit more buddy buddy. I think they bonded over their love of food. And Wallace is a lover and is the first to seek me out for snuggles. They are so cute and so tiny compared to Winston. Super happy family 

Morning Travel

I'm heading to NYC this morning for work. I'm excited because at lunch I'm going to run to sofa.com's showroom and order a sofa, hopefully. I almost ordered it sight unseen since their only US store is in NYC (they are a British company). But then this trip popped up so two birds one stone. Fingers crossed it goes well since Nick is coming over Saturday to move my current sofa. He's moving to a new place and is furnishing the apartment "economically". So I will be left with very limited seating for awhile and can't delay any longer in making a decision about which sofa to get. I've narrowed it down to two English style options. 

This morning I was running a little late. I blame it on the cats, but it's really on me.  Just as I was leaving the house I realized the memory stick that I loaded all my work files on, so I could work on the train, I left in the computer at work. Ugh!  And I won't have time to swing by and pick it up this morning. Onto plan B. 

And then my bus, suddenly shuts down mid turn. Luckily it was just as we were pulling into the subway station so it didn't really effect me. And I'm lucky I caught that bus and not a later one since it is now stalled out, blocking the entrance and there was already a line forming of traffic stuck behind it by the time we deboarded. 

Fingers crossed this isn't a sign of how my day will be - broken down busses, forgotten files...  Lesson learned: I should give myself a buffer of more then a minute when catching the Acela train. I really hope I make it in time. 

UPDATE: I made it!  I was even early enough I had time to run into the office and grab my memory stick. It's helpful I'm only a few blocks from the train station. And now I don't have an excuse to do work and stare out the window at the lovely CT shoreline. 

World Cup

World Cup is interesting since it really marks time.  Last World Cup in 2010, I was working at a company based in Europe and most of the people I worked with were in Glasgow and Dublin so needless to say there was a “football” pool.  I did really really well at first - I had picked a wunder team of players, accidentally and it felt nice to represent being the only American and female participating in a group of 30 or so.  But then it all went south quickly.  I didn’t realize you could trade your team members and then when I did, I didn’t understand the nuances of the rules and I quickly got stuck in a corner and tanked.

 

This year, there was another work pool, but this time it was just picking the winning teams.  I decided to pass since I had just barely made money on the American football pool last fall.  And it wasn’t cheap.  Then I find out that the world cup pool was only $5 and I was missing the comradely competitiveness.  It’s a much smaller group than either falls football pool or the last world cup pool.  But last week, I talked my way in even though a bunch of games had been played.  I’m not officially competing, (no money), but still get to joke around and anxiously see how the teams do.  I forgot how fun it can be.  Granted I know nothing about football and couldn’t even name a player, but I like traveling and know enough about the big players.  And the great thing is that if I do really well, I get extra bragging rights from coming in from behind.  And if I come in last, I have the best excuse - it’s almost a given considering I came in late.  So no pressure.

 

This week I came in to work and I thought I did pretty well.  And then I heard I did really well from some of the other guys participating.  I was at 9 points, only 4 points away from the bottom person.  Considering I didn’t get to choose 17 of the first games, not too shabby. I was not in the know about Netherlands and had picked Spain to win the first round.  But don’t think I was alone on that front.  Again, I didn’t know all the rules, like you can pick “draw” instead of which team to win.  But don’t think it will hurt me too much.

 

At first I didn't remember the 2006 World Cup much thinking I was in transition - moving between states and starting a new career.  But the I remembered a one night in Madrid, we were walking through a neighborhood after dinner and all the cafe/bars were spilling out with spectators watching a game on the TV. The energy was great and it was fun people watching while we stopped and had a beer on a warm summer night. 

The 2002 games I remember really well because I was just starting Grad School (my program started in the summer) and I was subletting an apartment on main campus before I moved into my house.  My roommates were several guys from France in engineering/computer science programs.  They were really nice and I kept wanting to correct how they said my name.  With their accents it sounded like Susan but then I realized my name is popular in France and they were just saying it the French way.  Anyways, they were really into the matches and since it was in Korea/Japan, they were watching them late at night due to the time difference.  I just remember them always trying to scramble to get the laptop connected to the TV so that they didn’t all have to crowd around the small computer screen to watch.  For some reason there was always some cabling problem. 

 Interesting I can remember where I was for the World Cups but I can't for the Olympics.  Well, here’s to my picks.  I have Argentina winning against Germany and Brazil coming in third place.

Welcome to Wallace and Webster

I went to Cameron's preschool graduation on Friday. It's amazing how big his friends have gotten. I hadn't seen them for awhile and they're no longer toddlers to say the least.

 Afterwards we went out to celebrate with dinner and a movie. At a drive in. It was amazing how many families there were and how early people got there for a good spot to see How to Train Your Dragon 2. 

Cam and Maggie and I snuggled up in preparation. And I even got to play a few rounds of rummy (no around the world though).

But I'm skipping a big part of the weekend - Wallace and Webster. At the graduation, one of the teachers' mom had brought three remaining rescue kittens to be adopted. There had been five that they rescued under their crawl space. Two already found homes and the black and white one was going to go home with Andy, Cameron's great uncle. Which just left the two little black guys. 

Talk about timing. Earlier in the week I was thinking Winston was getting bored with just me at home. And so I had started entertaining the idea of adopting another set of cats to keep him company. On Wednesday I was researching cats vs kittens. Which were better to get for this situation. And on Thursday I had even started looking online at the local shelter. But quickly became overwhelmed. There were so many kitties needing a home I felt guilty not taking them all. I didn't know how to pick just two. Plus the application process was extensive. Forms and interviews and home visits. 

So it just seemed like it was meant to be. These two little guys picked me. They're all black and super cuddly with each other. I have no idea how old they are or even if they are boys. 

Of course I was anxious about Winston getting along with them. At first he was curious what was behind the guest room door and then once he saw them he was like, "what the hell did you just bring home?" And was all hissy. Researching, they say to take the introduction slowly and don't force it. Of course, the wrench in the mix is that Nick is staying with me in a week, this Saturday, and will be taking over the guest room which kicks the little guys out of the only room with a door. 

So this weekend I spent time acclimating everyone. Had to put the loft project on hold. I'm so close to being done too. All four of us hung out together and slowly Winston went from hissing at the sight of them to tolerating them and hanging out next to me while they played to even sleeping nearby while they played. 

But the big turning point was last night when Webster had fallen asleep by my feet and Winston was laying nearby. Winston gets up and cautiously sniffs the guy. I'm consciously trying to relax and not tense up at the imminent  threat of attack. And then suddenly Winston goes from sniffing to licking mode. Grooming Webster's  head. I was so proud of my big boy. 

Now we are in the stage where Winston desperately wants to join in the fun but the little guys are a little apprehensive of him and they are the one's hissing. He was hissing and batting at them only a day before after all. 

This morning I was trying to get all three to play together. They all love the feather stick but Winston was still in the peripheral. He's still my number one guy so given time it should all work out. 

Wallace was named first because he was the brave one, always first to venture into unknown territory. We tried out a few names before landing on Webster. He's the hungrier one - practically stole my toast from my mouth this morning. And was named Babe originally, since he was a little pig when first rescued. He's a bit smaller than his brother but I have a feeling this might change. They are really hard to tell apart. Especially when they are running around. Wallace has a little peppering of white at his neck. 

They are so tiny. I can carry both of them in one hand - if they aren't wiggling too much. And they will have the shortest little cat naps, literally a few minutes before a noise catches their attention and they are off again. Thank goodness they have each other because Winston and I will be hard pressed to keep up with them. 

All in all a happy ending, well beginning I guess. Here goes for the next several stages. 

Know Thyself

This maxim is so true.  And in the great words of Lao Tzu, “He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”  The last several weeks have been a slow enlightenment on my part, especially on the professional front.  And yet I fell into my old ruts.  The classic “right order”.  I’ve been wanting to post on a bunch of topics recently, but haven’t had a chance to pull the pictures from my camera for my Phoenix trip last month.  Great time visiting with family and celebrating my cousin Rachel’s graduation three weeks ago.  And I took a lot of photos - some would say an “obnoxious” amount!  And considering half of my reading audience was on that trip, I really wanted to get the post up.  But it’s holding things up!  I promise I will post, but not today, in the meantime, I’m moving on.

1) House Project

On the home front, I jumped the hurdle and moved on for my loft project.  I consciously didn’t book much for the last two weekends and started chipping away on the project.  I had moved “most” of my stuff out of the way, and ripped out “most” of the carpet last year.  I realize that one reason for the break from the project is that I had started it when Walter was still around and would keep me company and working up there without him only made his loss more front and center.  But time slowly works it magic and I realized I was able to work again on that project.  Except I got stuck on the last bits of moving and ripping.  There is a strange order of installation such that the carpet was put in first and then the loft railing.  Simple enough, remove the railing, pull out the carpet underneath and then put the railing back - no problem.  Well I was wrong on that front.  I finally just gave up having it perfect last weekend and cut the carpet around the post and slowly cleaned up the edges so you can’t really tell there is still carpet there.  I think in the end most people won’t notice the difference.

Once I got over those road blocks, I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  This weekend was sweaty work of patching, sanding and prepping the surface before painting.  I came to the conclusion that I do need another round of patching and sanding to get it the way I want it - otherwise I will be kicking myself later I didn’t do the little extra work now versus the lot of extra work later.  But it’s invigorating to not be stuck anymore.  I’m hopeful I can get off work early enough this week to crank out the second round of patching and sanding so that I have enough drying time to start applying a few coats of paint this weekend.

The heat and humidity are creeping in so the pressure is on to get this done now.  Plus everything is wedged into a back space and I can’t get to a lot of stuff anymore.  My final moving of stuff including a lot of stuffing stuff out of the way.  So, for example, if I need my passport, it will be a chore to get.  Although I do know where it is.  I have the drive and motivation to get this project done!

 

2) Work Mindset

I’ve also been doing a lot of wrestling with the work situation and have had an enlightenment moment last month which has changed everything for me.  So much so that I’ve been thinking of starting a parallel blog to write about all the realizations and thoughts so that I don’t make this blog too work centric.  I’ve lost what the seed was for the turning point, but it finally clicked.  And man, “mind over matter” makes a world of difference, whether it’s work, sports, or relationships.  I was getting burnt out and overwhelmed with work before but now I have a renewed energy.  Instead of letting things bog me down I’m the one in control.  It basically boils down to me moving from one rung up to the next.  I had the same type of “growing” pains as I moved into project management and then up into department management and now, the hardest transition, is to the leadership role.  Several things helped propel me.  One was a Time Management class I signed up through my local community courses my town puts on.  I spent a Saturday afternoon developing a good tool set.  Actually, I already had the tools and was using it downward -  for clients and teaching my staff how to use the tools but I wasn’t using them upward - using them to manage senior management.  And last week I went to a luncheon and heard Betsy  Myers speak.  Perfect timing and it really hit a note with me.  I’m excited too because we all walked away with her book, Take the Lead.  So things have gone 180 for me at work.  I’m probably more busy than ever, but I’m invigorated and seeing the light.

 

3) Movie Premiere

June 20^th is on my calendar - is it on yours?  That’s when Jersey Boys is coming to the theaters.  I meant to post this several months ago.  I was in the dentist office, thumbing through a magazine and there was John Lloyd Young.  We went to high school together.  He was my date (as friends) to the Sophomore Hop and to the Senior Reception (Junior Prom was the big event at my school).  I was going to dig out an old pre-dance picture the parents took, to post and then realized I didn’t want that thing floating around the internet.  Just imagine me with a perm - very cringe worthy.  Anyways, I thought I had posted about seeing him as Frankie in the Jersey Boys production on Broadway but looks like I only posted about my first pass at trying to get to see the show but all the student tickets sold out quickly (that you had to wait in line for).  I ended up going to NYC a second weekend and in the end probably had the best seat in the house - it was marvelous and a shame I didn’t write down the experience - ugh.  I do have this post about when he won the Emmy for his role back in 2006.  He moved out to LA a year later and has had bit parts here and there but nothing big.  And then all of a sudden, there he is in the random magazine I picked up at my dentist office.  He’s the lead in the new movie directed by Clint Eastwood.  How cool is that!  I can’t wait to go see him on the big screen. 

 

There’s more but that’s all the time I have for today.

Something is making the news today

On my way to a business lunch over at Fan Pier (great day for lunch on the water today btw), I passed by this:

A wall of news trucks and all their cameras set up outside the federal courthouse. This is a block away. Right outside the doors was this:

With microphones and cameras on the ready. I had to pass right in front of them. After lunch on my way back to the office, the numbers had doubled. I was really tempted to stop in front of the microphones and take a picture of all the cameras, as if I was the person they were waiting to come out. But I was on a conference call so really couldn't switch to camera mode. But it would have been a great shot!

I think they are waiting for the update/verdict of the college friends of the Boston bomber who helped him dispose of evidence. 

2048

Have you heard of this game?  I didn't until last week. I was on my way home from work Thursday on a packed subway and was sitting next to a lady playing this game on her phone. I was intrigued because of the numbers and finally decided to interrupt her and ask her what the game was. She took out her headphones and answered that it was 2048, a free download and terribly addictive. 

I had no idea!  It's my new favorite game but be forewarned its hard to put down ala flappy bird (which luckily I've only ever played on others phones). 

It's like sudoku in that its a logic game involving numbers but no math. Except for 2048 there is minimal addition. You combine like tiles (ie combine two 4s and it creates an 8). And you just build up the tiles until you get to 2048 before running out of space. Or so I thought!

At first I was really proud of my score of 9,000 after playing a few rounds. And then I developed a technique that switched from random combining to something more systematic that catapulted me to a whole new level. And before I knew it I combined two 1024 tiles and made the infamous 2048 tile. I won! With a score of almost 20,000. 

Except, instead of the game telling me I won it just congratulated me on getting the 2048 tile and asked if I wanted to keep playing. Keep playing?! It wasn't the end, it was only the beginning. It was deceptive advertising. You can't call a game "level 10" and then have it have 15 levels. 

Well, last night, after a late night working, I was on my way home and started playing a game. I wanted to blog about the game but my screenshots of getting to 2048 were on my iPad at home. I figured I'd play a "quick" game on my phone that I could use to take a picture and show my mad skills. As I was sitting, waiting for my bus, which was over a half hour wait - ugh - thank goodness I had the game to distract me from the frustration of being delayed and getting home even later then I wanted to - it happened.

I got to 2048 and kept playing and I was on a mad role. I made it to 4096! I was giddy with delight, sitting there on the bench waiting. I kept playing, and the bus came and we all packed on and I ended up having to stand and I kept playing, but my zen playing had been broken and I soon found the board full and the game over with my new all time high score of 51,152!

Isn't that wicked good?  I'm really impressed but then I checked the leader board to see if my games were being recorded and found a community board and that all the top players have a score of 150,000,000. It's like I'm back at my initial 9,000 level. Still, I'm tickled pink I got to the 4096 tile. Not too shabby.