End of Summer

I can’t believe how fast the summer has flown by.  I had a little hiatus from riding my bike this last week since my back tire wasn’t holding the air.  I started taking the bus again while the bike was out of commission. Good timing since I was in the middle of reading the Hunger Games trilogy finally.  Talk about a book that is hard to put down.  I blew through all three in under two weeks - just reading during my commute.  But I did realize I really get something from the bike riding.  Not only a little exercise, but also some thinking time apparently.  I just picked up my bike from the repair shop yesterday where I also had them do a tune-up and what a difference.  It definitely helps having better tires but everything just runs so smoothly.  I guess you don’t notice the decline when it’s gradual.   The ride in this morning was so easy and carefree.  I knew I was working a bit harder earlier, before the tune-up.  Being passed by a jogger might have been one give away.  I was that slow, but figured I was getting a work-out - more resistance and everything.  Now I’m making a mental note to bring the bike up in for a tune-up at the start of each summer.

I’m also trying to figure out if I can ride my bike further into the fall/winter season.  I usually stop riding when I find I’m commuting home in the dark.  There’s something different about riding your bike in a fresh summer evening with tons of people out walking their dogs, hanging out by the pond and playing in the fields beside the bike path and general merriment, versus the evening when it’s really dark on the bike path - the trees block the moon and there are no bike path lights.  I did figure out the other night, a new way to bike home parallel to the bike path on a side street/parking lot, which limited the bike path riding to just a small stretch.  And I did pick up a new bike light which hopefully will last a little longer than the last lamp.  I’m almost wondering if I can ride my bike year round.  I may be too eager since in the winters the bike path can be out of commission most days and biking on the busy streets are not my cup of tea.  For now, I’ll just enjoy my nice bike rides in the remaining summer evenings.  And figure out the rest as I go along.  It’s nice having the bike back and better than ever.

On other fronts, I’ve got tons of travel in the works.  Work has calmed down - so not too much travel although I will have some coming up this fall.  I also have my wonderful deal I bought last year coming up this fall - Copenhagen for only $350 round trip.  Crazy right!  I was one of the lucky few that got in on the promotional deal.  And then just got another promotional deal for Amsterdam pop up this summer so booked that for this spring.  Not quite as good but still under $600 which is hard to find.  And I just was notified of a new deal that popped up for Oslo that is under $600 and fits in with my plans to explore the Nordic/Scandinavian countries.  But am having to be good and not book anything.  Partly for expense and partly for time. Having two vacations within a 6 month period taxes the vacation days and budget.  Also in the mix is a potential trip with mom and Nick that I didn’t realize was wanting to be end of spring next year too.  It’s hard when you want to travel and can’t find any good flight deals and then other times when you all of a sudden stumble upon a bunch but can’t take advantage of them.  

On the home front, I’m slowly making progress of updating the place, one project at a time.  I reupholstered my living room chairs with new blue velvet seats.  Fairly simple to do compared to other upholstery projects I have on the list.  I got all the chairs done in a weekend.  The one thing of note for future self is to make sure to put the velvet facing the same way for each chair.  The original chairs had velvet material that was put on in two different directions and it didn’t seem to matter.  But with the blue velvet, sitting next to each other, you can tell the different shades.  Minor detail since most of the time they are not next to each other and are under the table hidden away.  I also had Dad and Barbro, during their visit this weekend, help me move the giant mirror that was in my bedroom.  I think this is a New England thing since I’ve seen a bunch of places have this - a big 4’ x6’ piece of mirror (or bigger) hung up on a wall.  The aim is to make the room look bigger and brighter.  In my place, when you looked into my bedroom, it seemed bigger because of where the mirror was.  Only it really doesn’t fit in with the design I’ve been working out and I am getting close to finalizing paint color and want to clear the walls for painting.  So I moved it to my living room, along the wall that I would like to knock down eventually.  It gives me a preview of what the room will look like bigger.  It really changes the room, but in a good way which is nice.

The big annoyance right now is that I’m in the process of going through everything I own and figuring out if I should keep it or finally let it go which means a lot of stuff is getting pulled out and taking up more space under foot.  I’m aiming to finally have a garage sale in a few weeks, which means pushing forward with making piles of stuff to sell.  And I’m running out of storage space - the basement is pretty full and my enclosed back porch, so now it’s bleeding into the other rooms.  It doesn’t seem like that much stuff, but it does take up room.  It will be nice to down size and I imagine it will take several cycles of going through and weeding out.  It’s amazing how little clothing I have now.  The process really made me take stock of what really works for me style wise and what looks good. And what I really wear.  It’s making getting dressed and put together so much easier when there aren’t a million options and combinations.  So much so that I’m not inclined to go clothes shopping much anymore.  That’s a first for me in 30+ years. 

 And of course, I’m leaving out all the fun get togethers and visits of the summer but will save that for another post, if I get to it.

Refinanced!

Success!  I just closed today on refinancing my mortgage.  I was thinking about locking in a lower interest rate back at Christmas and am kicking myself I didn’t start the paperwork in February when the rates were really good.  But still better late than never.  I still locked in a nice low rate, even though my place isn’t that old.  It took a bit longer than I thought it would - considering it was just refinancing.  I figured the paperwork would be easier.  Not really - still tons.  But apparently it’s about to get worse in the next month with new regulation on mortgages.  Glad I missed that headache.

I’m really excited, because I paid off a bit of my mortgage and with the new lower rate, I’m paying the same amount per month as I was before and just went from having 28 years left on my mortgage to 15.  It’s nice to know I’ll have my place paid off before I hit retirement age.  Granted I don’t move, of course.  It was interesting as I’ve been soliciting more financial advice from folks in high up “paying-off-the-mortgage-early-was-one-of-the-best-things-I-did” came up a lot.

 

Also nice to hear was the appraisal.  The guy who came out shared that my town is really solid - it was one of the few that maintained house value during the real estate hit a few years back.  And the market is doing really well.  It was nice to see that the value went up pretty nicely.  A very different feel than what I had back with my place in Michigan - where I bought high and sold low. 

I had to pick up a bank check yesterday in preparation.  I thought I’d be one of the first into the bank when it opened at 9 am, but a bunch of people were ahead of me.  And they all had something in common.  They were older (i.e. retired/senior).  It was the thing to do I guess.  One woman just came in to ask about her balance on her account.  But the other three people were getting money and all asked for big bills - $100 bills.  Very strange since I was just talking with Nick last month about how $100 bills apparently are used more internationally than nationally.  Which seems right since I hardly ever come across a $100 or see someone use one.  And US currency is used for transactions where paper money is needed, especially in developing countries.  So strange to suddenly see a bunch of people asking for the big bills.  I started envisioning some underworld organization thing that the senior folks were working in.  Not money laundering but something like that.

Needless to say, I was happy to pass the check on today.  I don’t like having that much money on me that could possible go missing.  My checking account feels awfully barren right now.  I keep reminding myself it will be in good shape soon.

Reunion

Just heading home after an impromptu mini reunion of old colleagues from my first job in Boston. Doug was in town visiting from San Diego so we all met up in JFK park by the Harvard Kennedy School. It was great seeing everyone and even crazier when three people turned up pregnant - Andrea and Marie due next month and Colleen due in three months. And Holly with her two month twins. 

A great evening to catch up - nice mild weather while the kids ran around playing.  Doug has two and Colleen, Andrea and Marie each have a boy already. 

As I'm heading home after an after work get together I can't help but compare it to eight years ago when we were all working together and would stay out much later over drinks. In a way it's nice to head home while its still light - I was thinking of ducking out early if went too long since I do like an early night. But was finding everyone else was on the same schedule too. 

Marie and I left together and resolved to get together in September. A little after the new one arrives. We both commented how nice it was to fall back into old ways with each other. Not always the case with old friends. 

All in all a nice and pleasant night and a pleasant reminder of how far I've come since my earlier days. And what a great group I worked with when first starting out in Boston and this career. 

Work Dynamics

I’m wrapping up putting my accomplishments list together.  And through it I’ve been doing some reflecting of where I was when I started and where I am now on many fronts.  I just had a meeting with a staff member who pulled me aside for a quick talk.  Basically they were bringing up some concerns about internal department items.  It was very rewarding to play this role now.  Really being a department head that addresses concerns of staff especially with issues happening in the department.  I’ve always done this at some level, but this was something that most often doesn’t get brought up period because it’s a touchy subject.  I felt good that they felt comfortable 1) sharing the information with me, and 2) that they trusted me with the information.  I know I’ve come across situations where I didn’t always feel comfortable sharing the info with bosses and when I did, I got burned because of how they dealt with the information.  Lessons learned there.

The other nice accomplishment was the feedback I got at a meeting yesterday.  It was for a project interview.  We’re trying to get on a team that is pursuing a project and everyone needed to agree with which engineer to use.  We were the favorite with some folks at the table but new to others.  Myself, two managing principles and a senior engineer presented.  It was myself and one of the managing principles that were the bulk of the discussion.  It was a really nice dynamic back and forth between the two of us and with the folks at the table.  Afterwards, the other managing partner pulled me aside and was clearly very impressed with me.  Always nice to hear and see.  And of course, it didn’t hurt that my department received unsolicited  compliments.  The architect was very vocal about how they have always appreciated our modeling - the quality is solid and we do it early to inform design, something they have a hard time getting from other engineers.  Needless to say, I took that and did some self-promotion inside the company today.  First sharing the information with the department - always good to hear such nice stuff, and then forwarding the info to top folks.  I’m slowly learning that you need to toot your own horn.  I know you need to do it, but it’s hard to learn the skill - yet critical.

 

The managing principal that pulled me aside after, had taken some pictures of us as we were waiting in the lobby prior to the presentation.  And on a smart phone too -impressive quality.  I didn’t realize, so here’s a true candid of myself.  And two of my colleagues - clearly they noticed photos were being taken.



And a nice shot of a building in Boston, taken from the Uber ride on our way to the meeting.



 

Neighborhood

This morning I was heading off to work, grabbed the extra large library books, letters to mail and all my work stuff. As I was heading down my street ran into my downstairs neighbors and they pointed - I had forgot my helmet!  Even after muttering helmet with my arms full heading for the door a moment earlier. Still forgot. Went back and say a pair of eyes in the window as I head up the sidewalk. It's so hard seeing the black cats in the window. The only way is to look for the eyes. So if they are napping - forget about it. 

Back on the road I'm riding to the back of the library to the book drop and run into my yellow house neighbor Phil. He was on his morning walk with Molly. We stop and chat because he wants to tell me about my black cat and how they were chomping at the bit when there were baby cardinals and Robbins just out the window. Quite entertaining. Mental note - I should check the screens and make sure they are solid, just in case. 

Phil shares stories about the baby birds' first flights and mention his wife took videos and they're on Facebook. He then shares her name and says to check them out. 

Riding my bike down the bike path I have to say its nice running into neighbors - even though I'm even though I'm running late. 

And in the subway I'm checking out the posts. 2015 is missing but looking back get to see some great art - she's a mixed medium artist. The best shot is a picture of her workshop which is basically just their house - packed with stuff. And it's gorgeous. And comforting as my place is exploding as I go through everything I own making keep and sell piles. It's chaos!  

Summer Time

Summer is flying by!  We just hit hot and humid last weekend.  I was thinking Sunday afternoon, I'm literally in a sweatshop.  And I mean literally in the true sense of the word literally.  I was working on weeding out stuff in preparation for a garage sale, which means stopping periodically and taking a break to do "projects".  I finally pulled out my sewing machine (inherited from my grandmother) and worked on some sewing projects.  I made a few pillow covers and that was it.  But I was sitting in my living room full sun, with the fan going, as it's in the 90s and humid and feeling really warm, if not sweaty, working away on the sewing machine.  I was pretty proud I figured out how to load the bobbin up after it ran out of thread, without an instruction manual.  And I was kicking myself that I wasn't running errands in my air conditioned car in air conditioned stores, which I had purposely left for Sunday afternoon.  But the urge to sew grabbed me and I went with it and now a ton of cool "new" pillows and less fabric I need to find a place to store.

Lots going on.  I was up in VT for one last visit of the house I have been visiting for over 10 years.  Dad and Barbro are moving to NH later this month and so Nick and I went up to help with packing and weeding out stuff.  Nick found his baseball cards finally!  Went through all the books in the house (well almost, it was alot) and helped with identifying keepers vs garage sale as they work on slowly downsizing.  It seems like their new place is about the same amount of storage, although it is a townhouse so different feel.  Enjoyed one last fourth of July celebration with grilled goodies.  One last sleep in the guest room on the fold out couch.  One last visit to the co-op to pick up honey - even though I already had a quart, didn't know when I would have the opportunity again and honey doesn't really go bad, well not quickly.  And one last general visit as a local versus a future visitor. 

 

Nick and I swung by their new place in NH on the way up since it wasn't too far off the path.  It looks really nice and the town looks cute, but it's really different.  It's a really small town.  Like really small.  Smaller than I'm used to so I'm curious what the visits are going to be like.  Lots of outdoor stuff - hiking and canoeing and other fun stuff.

I popped down to Atlanta again for a project interview.  We were the long shots since we were the Yanks from up north.  Fingers crossed we get the project.  We prepped before the interview, in the student center.  It was empty for awhile and then we were inundated with hundreds of summer students of all ages mostly 4th grade and up.  We suddenly felt very out of place with our suits next to the kids in their matching t-shirts for whatever summer program they were in.

I've been missing the CSA from a few years back, but it was just too much food for me.  I'm happy to say I found a good substitute.  There's a local farm in Lexington, Wilson Farm which is pretty amazing.  I've been a few times over the years, but if you think Whole Foods is expensive, wait until to you visit this place.  Tons of specialty cheeses and other gourmet goodies.  But their local produce is pretty good prices so as long as you stay true, the price tag isn't too bad.  I've been swinging by periodically and even have a calendar of what veggies/fruits are in season which month that they grow.  I still end up with too much food for me.  Right now I have lettuce, spinach, arugula and baby kale, not to mention the beet greens that I should put in a salad and that's just the green leaf stuff.  I did get peas still in the pod a few times.  I don't know, but there is just something so pleasant about shelling peas.  I think because it's such a common prop in movies for a nice family moment.  I don't really remember shelling peas in my childhood but somehow have pleasant childhood memories.  Good old Hollywood.

I even picked up a sample of Farrow & Ball paint - you can see it in the bottom of the picture.  It's a British paint that has some amazing color options that have a life of their own in different light.  It's pricey though so I've yet to figure out where to put the sample pot of paint - which rooms to paint a part of the wall.  I think I can put two swatches of paint up so am thinking the bedroom and the back room.


And finally, I'm happy to report that I booked another Europe trip.  I was thinking that it was such a good thing that I finally took time to have a proper vacation.  I so enjoyed my trip earlier this year to Iceland and Paris.  And I've been planning my upcoming trip to Denmark in the fall.  I started realizing I need to book something for next year.  But was still torn because trips can be so expensive, especially the airfare part.  And then my colleague with the good deals comes through for me and forwards a deal for Amsterdam.  I took a little longer than I should have to book it, so instead of going at the beginning of tulip season, I'm going a few weeks earlier.  That's the problem when you don't book right away - the good flights get snatched up.  Still, pretty good deal - round trip for just a little over $500.  It was a promotional deal so you have to jump on those thing when they present themselves.  So I'm pretty set at having a good vacation about every 6 months.  I can breathe a sigh of relief I'm keeping on schedule.  The more I travel the more places I want to visit, just in the country I was just visiting. I still want to do more northern light trips.  I'm determined to see them in my lifetime!

Work Lunch

I’ve been reading a lot more business books/articles lately.  I never realized how useful the Harvar Business Review is.  I thought it had nothing to do with what I do and it’s quite the opposite.  Even reading about corporate companies like Jetblue, there are so many take aways that can be used on a smaller scale.  I was going to get a subscription, but $100/year is just too much.  Plus I can get it from my library which works well, since I don’t end up having more magazines in the house.

As I’m reading business articles, it’s nice to discuss them with people, but I don’t find a lot of people to discuss them with.  Most of my friends are in different types of roles and even at work, there are very few folks in my position and even fewer that want to discuss this type of stuff.  I have been having some interesting conversations with a past employee, he used to work in the electrical engineering department and now is going to business school.  I’ve been picking his brain to see what he’s been learning.  He actually shared a reader from one of the leadership courses that I’ve been reading.  Need to return it to him next week, but have been writing down a bunch of good notes.

I also figured I’d ask the top guy at work for lunch to pick his brain.  His father started the firm and he joined when it was just about 10 people and they were just really breaking even.  We’re now a 400+ firm and he seems to be doing quite well.  Emphasis on the quite.  Although he doesn’t hold an official leadership position, he’s very influential with the running of the firm and works closely with the president.  I was hesitant at first to ask him to lunch because I know there is always more that he wants me to be doing, but I’ve been learning that you shouldn’t let that get in the way of things.  We just had lunch yesterday and I learned a lot about his history - he started out in the rocket industry (space rockets), switched to nuclear before landing in the building industry.  And hearing his thoughts on how to run a business was quite interesting.  I had a list of ideas/questions that I wanted to bounce off him, but left it on my desk accidently.  Luckily I remembered some of the topics, one being succession planning.  Turns out he also thinks its crucial for the success of a company.  We chatted away and enjoyed a summer afternoon on the patio.  I tried to treat, but he insisted I expense it which was nice.

Well, fast forward to this morning and I get a call from him to come up to his office, he wanted to run an idea by me.  Very cryptic and it could go in any direction.  He basically asked me to write up a list of my accomplishments since being at the firm.  He acknowledged that I’ve not achieved some of the things he’s wanted, but have achieved a lot of other very important items.  Still very cryptic, needless to say I had a little hop in my step leaving the office.

Now I’m faced to put pen to paper and list out my accomplishments from the years I’ve been here.  Not an easy task for me.  It’s hard thinking of all you’ve accomplished in the past.  I’m always looking at what more can be done in the future.