Election 2016 and Other Stuff and Things

Actually, I don't have much to say about the election.  I'm not a fan of Hillary or Trump.  I was kind of thinking about voting for Gary Johnson so I didn't have to pick the lesser of two evils.  However, I read an article last night that changed my mind.  It was talking about how this election is really about who gets to appoint the next Supreme Court justices who serve for life.  So I made a different decision when I voted today.

Apparently the county I live in is overall Republican, but the township I live in is overall Democrat because all the county elected offices only had one choice and they were all republicans.  The township offices were the opposite.  There was only one choice for each office, and they were all democrats.

Today I saw on facebook an acquaintance did a hashtag called liberalchristian.  What does that mean I wonder?  Is it necessary to make sure you say that you're liberal so you're not confused with all your conservative brothers and sisters?  Why is it necessary to be distinct from your conservative brothers and sister?  I don't think Jesus was into politics all that much......

Now on to other things.  How was your Halloween?  I kind of ignored it and sorted through my Iceland pictures.

Oh, and daylight savings as well......this has been a terrific past 10 days, huh?  I'm enjoying the morning sunlight.  The evening darkness not as much.  I spent my "extra" hour on Sunday morning vacuuming water with my shop vac because a valve in one of my pipes started to leak overnight.  It was the valve going to the humidifier on the furnace.  It seems almost too coincidental that this happens less than a week after the furnace guy was here.  Maybe in the process of turning the valve he weakened the pipe a bit?  One will never know.  The plumber said only DIY guys and furnace service type guys use those kinds of clamp-on valves.  So he replaced it with a real valve kind of like a toilet has.  You gotta love a job done right.

Also, these things have happened:

You know it's healthy because it's organic.

Here's a sarcastic video to go with that.

In the process of finding that video, I also found this one on being gluten intolerant.  Now don't get all offended.  Yes, I know gluten intolerance is a real thing, especially for people with Crohn's disease.  And yes, there are some gluten breads and things that I really like.  But if you read this blog, hopefully you can handle that video.

These two guys have been hanging around the neighborhood all summer.  I saw them on Sunday morning on the way to the meets.  They finally lost their spots in the last month or so.

A closer up look.

After four hours of yard work on Saturday, I rewarded myself with a beautiful evening kayak on the river.  It was lovely, despite my expression in this picture.

 I raked leaves for 2 or 3 hours on Saturday, and by the end of the day Sunday it looked like I hadn't done anything.  Today the leaves have really started to pile up again.  Oh well.  Such is life.

2016 AC and Furnace Status

Well, I was really negligent this summer.  I didn't even tell you when I turned my AC on - possibly because it was embarrassingly early in the year.  In early June!  What a wimp!

I made up for it this fall by setting a personal record and not turning on my heat until October 31st.  I probably could have made it past that, but the furnace guy came on Monday, and the warm air felt pretty good, so I let the furnace stay on.  Plus today I would have had to turn the furnace on anyway because of visitors coming for BS.  It's not polite to make people endure a 60 degree house just because you like to play mind games with yourself.

The furnace guy heavily hinted that I need a new furnace several times when he was here, but he didn't have any good reasons other than "it's old".  He said everything was still in good condition and working fine, so I find no reason to get a new furnace at this time.

I recently returned from a lovely vacation, so I hope to post about that in the next few days.

Recent Randomness

See the picture below.  I got the dishes for free from work as a prize.  It's a set of ceramic dishes (without covers).  What does one cook in this kind of thing?  I suppose I could do personal sized egg bakes in the two smaller ones.  Maybe baked oatmeal in the medium sized one.  Any other ideas from you wise cookers out there?  What would I cook in the large one?  I would estimate the largest one is about the size of a 9 x 13 pan but not quite as square as a 9 x 13 pan.

I saw this guy in an aquarium at the doctor's office yesterday.  I think it's some kind of snail.  It was interesting to watch how it moved around, used its foot to cling to the glass, and ate the algae on the glass.

This week I've been hearing owls who-whoing outside.  I can even hear them when I have the windows closed.  This is a new occurrence - very cool to hear them.

I saw this on facebook yesterday and it cracked me up.

In the same vein, this video about how the earth is flat cracks me up.  I like how he pinpoints one of my biggest pet peeves about facebook.  And some of the news media in general.

That's all for now.  Life is a bit slower now that summer is over, so maybe I'll get a few more posts done in the near future.

A Good Weekend

It was a lovely weekend, and I didn't even have to travel anywhere.  I worked sort of late on Friday, and just as I was wrapping up I received a text from JC asking if she could stay the night on Saturday night.  But of course!

Saturday morning and afternoon were the mundane weekend things.  Yoga, Cooking food, Staples, Target, Grocery store, Mowing lawn, etc.  As I was finishing the mowing, JC arrived.  We loaded up the kayaks and headed for the river.  It was a lovely, leisurely paddle that ended right at sunset.

Sunday was the morning meets and lunch, and then JC headed out.  I couldn't waste such a lovely day by staying in the house, so I loaded the kayak again and went down to the river for a 4 hour paddle.  Yes, four hours!  It was great, but I think I'll be sore in the morning.  I paddled 10 miles total.  5 upstream and 5 downstream.  Funny how that works.  Also, about half of the paddle was through the trees with lots of downed trees and tricky navigation.  A couple times I had to paddle so much I was breathing hard.  I went farther up the river than I had ever gone before be a large margin.

And.....I also saw and got some good shots of wildlife.  On Saturday we did see a muskrat, but I didn't get a picture.  But that does remind me of a song.....

You may notice the pictures are heavy on blue heron.  Because they're just so cool.

The first time we saw the blue heron on Saturday.

Swallowing a juicy morsel.

JC on the water (not walking, but paddling)

Awesome sunset.

Did you know ducks like to eat the green scum along the edge of the river?  True story!  They were so energetic in eating it that I could here them munching and slurping.

In a tight spot with my kayak.  My kayak was high centered on a log, which is why I had time to get my camera out and take a picture. 

The blue heron on Sunday.

Butt shot!  Hahahaha!

Not sure what the deal was here.  He did this without flying.  He did this right after 3 or 4 geese flew overhead.  So I'm not sure if this was his "king of the water" pose or if he was trying to intimidate me.  Maybe both.  I was probably 50 feet away though, so not sure it was at me.

After he finished fluffing his feathers, he almost disappeared there among the cattails.

Look at all those birds on the wire!  They fly in big flocks and like to roost in the cattails.  They all sing together kind of in the same manner that frogs do.  Not sure what kind of bird they are.

Of Interest

Someone told me about this news article about a blind female engineer who works for Apple.  I found it interesting.

http://mashable.com/2016/07/10/apple-innovation-blind-engineer/#mmPXOMbNZOqQ

Last week we had a lot of rain.  In one of the parking lots at work while it was raining cats and dogs on morning, facilities sent out an e-mail at work warning of floods.  This was the icon they used.  My boss tried to get into his car to get his wallet during that time, and he said the water was almost up to his knees!

I can also tell there has been a lot of rain when my yard looks like this.

Complement

In relation to a couple previous posts, here are a few supplemental pictures.

I was going to freak you all out and say these were my new glasses:

 Or maybe these were:

But I forgot I had those pictures earlier, so I ruined my own fun.

Also, it is peach season here.  Can you say "delicious"?

All for now......

Peachy Experiment

In the vein of "food experiments at work (think muffins)", here's a good story.  There's a guy at work who is one of those brilliant yet often impractical people.  Lately he's been gone a lot.  First he had training for a week.  Then I think he went to Poland and Italy for two weeks.  Then maybe he was back for a day or two, and then he took vacation for a week or so.  At some point during all of that apparently he was in the office long enough that he brought a peach into the office one day, likely intending to eat it as a snack.

Then he forgot about the peach.  This wouldn't be difficult to believe if you saw his desk.  He pretty much doesn't sit there.  He uses it to store stuff.  Maybe a week or 10 days ago when I walked past his desk I noticed this peach and that it was starting to get moldy - in the beginning stages of moldy.  I kind of kept my eye on it to see what would happen to it.  Unfortunately I didn't have the presence of mind to take a picture then.  But last week it definitely was extra fuzzy with white and bluish green fuzz.

This week the guy was back from vacation and he hadn't even noticed the peach after more than a day, so I pointed it out to him.  I took a picture before he threw it in the garbage.  This is what happens when you let a peach sit out on your desk too long.  In case you've never done it yourself.

That's real peachy.

On a completely different note, someone e-mailed me a link to this article about leadership.  You can read it for yourself and see what you think.  The part that caught my eye was the paragraph below, mostly because Uncle Bex sometimes teases me about being this way.  At least one of the leadership characteristics comes naturally.  :-)  OK, maybe one or two of the other ones do too.  Like honesty.

"Continuous learning. Show me a know-it-all and I’ll show you someone who doesn’t have a clue about being human. Curiosity and an insatiable desire to always do better is the mark of a great leader. They are rarely satisfied with the status quo, and welcome new knowledge and fresh (even if challenging) input. It’s all about investing in yourself."

Glasses Update

Two or three weeks ago I received my new glasses.  Here are the old ones:

Here are the new ones:

The ladies at the glasses place said they have a little bit more of an "open" look.  They have a very similar shape to the old ones except on the one outer corner.  And they're a different color of course.  I suppose an engineer would call that an incremental update and/or a digit change.  I've adjusted the nose pads a little bit too so you see less of my eyebrows through the lenses.  I think they'll work for the next couple years.

Modularity

Do you know what company had a genius idea related to modularity?  Gillette.  That's right, the company that makes shaving razors.  I was in that aisle at Target the other day and was struck again with how well they created that business model.  First of all, you can buy several different handles.  A "manly" one or a "womanly" one or a travel size one depending on your need.  But all the handles have the same interface to the disposable blade heads, and you can easily snap them on and off to change them.  That way you can be environmentally friendly by throwing less of the shaver away.  And, customers can try different types of shaving heads.  3 blades!  5 blades!  Sensitive skin!  With aloe and vitamin E!  The possibilities are endless.  And I'm sure they charge more for the blade heads that are "new" styles while using minimal raw materials.  Genius, I tell you.  Maybe other razor companies have a similar model, I haven't really done much research.  I don't even know if Gillette was the first.  But still, it's a good illustration of modularity.

Oh, and while I was at Target (and TJ Maxx), I bought another matching bedside table and matching lamp so everything matches and stuff now.  See below.

High Class.  Right there.

Ignore the state of the closet still.

The summer is crazy, so that's all I have for now.

Big News

Today in our sleepy little town there was a shooting.  A prison inmate was in the courthouse and apparently took a gun away from a deputy, and when the deputy tried to get it back, the guy opened fire and killed two bailiffs.  The shooter also died - it's suspected he was trying to escape and not that this was related to the other recent shootings going on in the country.

Because the courthouse is relatively close to the beach and apparently some thought it would be crass to play beach volleyball, beach volleyball was cancelled for the evening.   So I worked late and then went for an enjoyable kayak paddle this evening instead.

But I was wondering.....is it considered lack of respect to go on with your life when you don't know the people who were killed?  I mean yeah, I feel sad in a vague way like I feel sorry for the starving children in Africa.  But what else do I do?  Maybe stop and reflect on life and say a prayer or something.  I don't know - maybe it's my borderline Asperberger's showing up or something.

The news reports also had one government representative's statements about how we need to make sure the proper procedures are in place to keep everybody safe in the courthouse.  And how we need to do better to prevent these tragedies.  How much more security and procedures do you need?  It wasn't like the guy brought his own gun in - it seems like he took a law enforcement person's gun.  The metal detectors can't stop that.  It seems like you call it what it is - a tragedy - and move on.  And maybe you train deputies on procedures to use to make sure an inmate doesn't take your gun.

I thought I had something else as well,but it escapes me at the moment.  This amused me on facebook this evening:

Have a good week!

The Science of Stuff and Things

As I was sorting through some of my work e-mail, I found a link to this video on the science of happiness.  It's a video that's less than 10 minutes, is fairly entertaining, and has a few interesting statistics.  So if that's your kind of thing, I suggest you watch it.

As I was looking through my old bookmarks, I found this article on the 5 biggest worker shortages.  The article is from 2012 so it's a bit outdated, but I think engineers are probably still on the list.

We're trying to hire several people at work, and it's slow going to find good talent.  I'm not the official hiring manager, but I've been on the interview panel.  Sometimes interview candidates say some really surprising things.  And sometimes the calibration between all the interviewers afterward can turn on a dime.  People can be somewhat positive about a candidate, and then if one interviewer is kind of down on the interviewee about one thing, it can turn the whole conversation in a different direction.  It's a very interesting study in human nature and the power of persuasion and group think.

I'm feeling too lazy to actually post real stuff like my trip to China and how my 4th of July went.  I'm like Goose Goofs Off.  Not today.  I'll do it tomorrow.

Personality Test

Hi all - I know I've been a bit silent lately, but I was in China for two weeks of work.  I wasn't able to post for several reasons - the first being that I was busy and tired by bed time.  The second being that google and facebook are blocked by the government unless you have a VPN connection.  There will be more details on China in future post(s).

I haven't had time to compile everything, so in the meantime here is an interesting Japanese personality test.  I don't want to put any preconceived notions in your head, so I'll give a few more details in the comments.  But take the test before you look at the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTKqvpHfwgQ

Hopefully your 4th of July plans are taking shape and looking good.  I know mine are!

Domestication

My mom probably thought it would never happen, but I think I've become at least 15% domesticated.  Here is an example.  This is what my guest bedroom used to look like for several years:

Functional. You've gotta love the desk lamp I got for a high school graduation present.

This is actually an upgrade from what it was originally.  Until about five years ago there wasn't a nice sunset painting, and I added the rugs maybe two years ago.  I call my decoration scheme "spartan".

In the past month, I have purchased an end table, a lamp, and had a couple more paintings framed and hung so it now looks like this:

Ahhhh.....kind of relaxing, huh?

OK, OK.  I admit it.  The awesome desk lamp is still in the room.  TJ Maxx only had one end table that size and when I checked again on Sunday the smaller table that matched it was gone.

Tropical meets college dorm spartan.

It's almost inviting I think.  As long as you don't look at the other wall.

I've thought about putting up a curtain or maybe some bi-fold doors on the closet, but I just can't decide and kind of like the "open" look.  If you have any super great ideas on what to do about the closet, let me know.  Well, any great ideas other than moving the tools to the basement or the garage.  ;-)

It is a guest room, so feel free to come and visit and utilize it!

Normal Weekend

This past weekend was exciting mostly because I stayed home and did "regular" stuff like going to yoga class, replacing my rusted out mailbox, and transplanting some plants that accidentally got left underneath the deck and were growing through the deck boards.

Pre-transplant.

On Sunday I went to a couple graduation lunches for two robotics kids.  The evening involved my first paddle of the season.  Woo-hoo!

That is all.  Except for these pictures I took while kayaking.

The first paddle requires an obligatory selfie.

Large goose family.  Probably Catholic.

Look, a tree branch crossing the river.....with the help of a muskrat!  There were several muskrat sightings in fact.

Speaking of muskrats, that reminds me of a song....

Momma duck with two babies.

Have a lovely week!

Preparing Dagmar

The long memorial day weekend was memorable.  I flew to the western part of ND and drove to the eastern side of MT to hang out with Ananias at preps for a few days.  It was quite enjoyable.  I did a little bit of work, and we had some fun goofing around during our "free" time.  Some of these bullets may be a lot of inside jokes, but that's what happens when you go to see your sister.

1. Here at Dagmar........we're serious about our oral hygiene.
2. Preps is a great lesson in succession planning
3. Ananias was fully equiped with a yoga mat and a travel foam roller.  It's almost like we have the same problems.  Cousin Gary says you don't just lick it off the rocks.
4. When someone else is hogging the foam roller, using your metal thermos is an acceptable alternative.
5. Because I care.....that's why I'm making you feel terrible about yourself.
6. Suicidal pheasants - there were lots of these on the road!  I was super excited to see them, but I suppose if I lived there it would be like seeing a raccoon or opossum dead on the roadside here.
7. The competition was quite fierce during ping pong
8. I almost got to play stickball, but it was cancelled due to wind.  Maybe next time.
9. Ten o'clock bathroom yoga.  True story.
10. Uncle Menser says:  "Chee, I wear any size shoe doh"
11. Smoothies.

Ananias reminded me about this post and how clever I was back then.  Big sister from Big Sky country wear big glasses.  For some reason that really struck my funny bone when I heard it again.  I feel like this blog has lost some of its wittiness when I go back and read some of my older material.

Speaking of older material, my cousin posted on facebook some pictures of my grandpa's grave and gave a nice tribute to him.  She went there to place flowers for Memorial Day.  It reminded me of my first REAL blog post ever.  I thought I had said some nice things about him, but when I went back and looked it turns out I didn't.  But if I had written something, it would be to say that he was an amazing guy.  He was always very cheerful and upbeat even though life wasn't always rosy for him and included burying 2 wives, 2 children who didn't make it to adulthood, and seeing one of his adult children die before he did.

Some other more serious and memorable things:

1. Morning bible studies - they just do something to soften the heart.
2. Seeing some "old" friends (BDubs, Mo, CandJ Vig).
3. Getting to know Button, ML, AL, and the rest of the crew better.
4. Hearing stories from others of how they came to know God and how their faith is being strengthened in their lives now.
5. Being reminded again that we all have struggles whether we're young or old.  They aren't the same struggles, but we all still need mercy and love and encouragement in fighting our battles.

And finally!  We get to the pictures.  Like usual, I forgot to take many people pictures - and forgot to take one with Flat MelBMarvis.  She did make a brief appearance, but not when we were outside in the beautiful scenery.

Because they care there at Dagmar.

Stickball got rained and winded out, but this rainbow didn't.

Eastern MT has some beautiful scenery, especially in the spring when everything is green.

Somebody has good taste.

This wasn't the most beautiful scenery we saw, but it's what I managed to snap a picture of.  I never had my camera at the right time to get a good picture of a suicidal pheasant.

Ananias pumping some iron.  Here at Dagmar we're serious about staying in shape.

If only I had remember to get Flat MelBMarvis in the picture, it would have been perfect!

If you think this is where you claim your ski year, you would be partially right.  This is actually where you claim ALL luggage at the Williston airport.

"THE" gate.  It has two doors - one for United and one for Delta.  But the trail leads to the same place on the tarmack I think.  You get to use the stairs instead of a jetway.  I think this is the smallest airport I've flown into including all the ones I've been to in third world countries.

Thankfully some other people donated some people pictures:

Button - a new friend!

Straining the mixer motor by mixing natural peanut butter.

BDubs!  Hanging out with Sheldon.  He's not insane.  His mother had him tested.