Thankfulness 2018: Week 26

I was getting close to caught up on my thankfulness weeks, but then I fell off the bandwagon.  :-/  Time to get back on since AntEvar even got as far as wondering if I had moved to a different form of social media.  Nope.....just not spending as much non-work time at my computer.  I've been using my supper time as contemplation time instead.

Week 26....that was the last week of June.  It was a week of work followed by a weekend with kayaking guests.  I was going to say it was a regular week of work, but it wasn't all that regular since I had to pack my cubicle to move to a different cubicle again.  Despite that, it looks like there was lots for which to be thankful.

Some of the thankfulness highlights:

• The adventure and excitement of CSA vegetables
• Sunshine
• Strenuous yoga
• Having songs in my head
• Help of a friend from work who has a pickup truck
• A free afternoon to run errands
• Having a great day
• Kayaking with friends
• Watching the sunset with KarmX
• A delicious hamburger

My buddy Gavin - he comes to play in the sand and water while his parents play volleyball with me.

Let the adventure begin.  Lots of things I had never cooked before:  fennel (like it), garlic scapes (decent if you like garlic), bok choy, swiss chard, and collard greens.  Uffda!  Good thing Uncle Bex helped me cook and eat a few of those things.  Also, if the only way to cook a vegetable so it's edible is to fry it in bacon grease, I have doubts about that being a real, quality vegetable.

Cornhole tournament at work.  Also the guy who has a truck and helped me take some stuff to recycling.

Lake MI in summer - almost always a good view.

Kayaking on the river on Saturday.

Inspiration for the Week

I was at 'vention this past weekend in the corny state.  There were lots of good messages.  And a good reminder in the form of this poem.  Basic research on the internet says either Robert J Burdette wrote this in the late 1800's or early 1900's.  Or else Lauretta P. Burns wrote it in the 1970's.  I'm consulting with the Library of Congress to try to find out for sure.  Most of the websites I found that gave credit didn't seem super reliable.  I'll update this post if I find out for sure.  Some websites title this poem "Broken Dreams".  Others call it "Let Go And Let God".

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.

But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
“How could you be so slow”
“My child,” He said, “What could I do?
You never did let go.”

Have a good week - what is left of it.  These kinds of weeks can sometimes feel like they take forever even though they're shorter than normal.  Even though today felt like Monday, sometimes the rest of the days in the week can crawl by.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 25

The third week in June was week 25.  It was the week after I returned from Dagmar.  From my log, it seems like it was a quiet and good week in Lake Wobegon.  Some thankfulness highlights:

• A cool breeze off the big lake
• Air conditioning (must have  been hot that week)
• A better perspective and feeling more positive
• Fresh vegetables and adventures in cooking them
• Feeling like making jokes
• Having a house not prone to flooding during heavy rain
• A reminder about life being short
• Progress seen on yard work
• Delicious grilled food
• Going for a bike ride

And a few pictures from the "ordinary days" of the week to help illustrate things:

The vegetable adventure - my CSA (Community Support Agriculture) half share.  Getting my hippie on with fresh, organic vegetables every week.  After this summer I might be crunchy enough to move to Oregon.

Freshly weeded flower beds bring a nice feeling of satisfaction.

I took a bike ride around town and stopped at the little city bandstand to listen to the city band play their Sunday evening concert.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 24

Week 24 was the second week in June.  I made a last minute purchase of an airline ticket and went to Dagmar for 'vention for a couple days.  I didn't get to be there for the whole time, but it was very nice just the same to see family and friends.  Some of the things I was thankful for that week were:

• Laughing at work
• A hymn in my head in the morning
• A friend giving a different perspective
• A good morning greeting
• Virtual Friday
• People who make me laugh heartily
• Feeling welcomed and loved and trusted
• God speaking in 'vention right away
• Prairie beauty
• Fun hanging out with women my age
• Dad (it was Father's Day)
• Hearing a western meadowlark singing

Early in the week I spent several hours getting the front third of my flower beds looking pretty good.

It was special to see my dad on Father's Day, which I don't think I had done for a very long time.

It's your usual Sunday morning.  Just browning 70 pounds of hamburger for lunch.

One of my favorite views.

This picture doesn't do the sunset we saw justice.  It was awesomely beautiful for maybe 5 minutes, and then the bright colors faded.  It was a good reminder to stop and appreciate nature's beauty when we see it.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 23

On to the first week of June already!  It was a normal work week during which I was thankful for:

• Firsts of the summer (beach volleyball, riding my bike)
• Eggs (easy cooking)
• Cool nights, sunny days with clear blue sky
• Encouraging verses  (I Kings 19, James 5:7-11)
• Inviting someone over spur of the moment
• Spending hours outside on yard work
• An e-mail from a friend
• An inspiring chapter in a leadership book
• Dark chocolate

Me, J-Kac (a.k.a The Jesson), JP, and Jarrett.  There are three other women on the beach volleyball team (these guys' wives), but they weren't volunteering to be in the picture.  And.....I don't always wear long sleeves to beach volleyball, but when I do, I wear all black.

This is a smoothie done right.  It was bright green, but it tasted like peanut butter and chocolate.  Spinach is a good base since it doesn't have a strong taste.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 22

Week 22 was Memorial Day and the days following it.  Another 4-day work week, but for some reason it seemed like the days moved extra slowly.  Some things to be thankful for despite that were:

• Helping Mom and Dad
• Fresh groceries
• No flight delays
• Playing hymns on the piano
• A good meeting after the meeting
• Cheerful people
• Reminder to count my blessings
• Something interesting outside my comfort zone
• Someone who makes jokes
• A good talk with a good friend

Plus a couple memorable pictures of some weekend travel fun.

Kayaking season is in full swing.

Meet Father Dan, griller of the famous "Danburger".

Playing "hand and foot" with Mother Mary.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 21

The last week of May included part of the Memorial Day weekend.  I bought a last-minute ticket that week to fly back home to see Mom and Dad.  Some things I was thankful for:

• God knows our hearts
• Keeping my cool at work one day
• Stopping to appreciate the beauty of the mist
• The beauty of green spring grass
• Strength for the day from God
• A walk to the pier during lunch in sunshine and 80 degree weather
• Reading a psalm before work
• Browsing at REI (one of the few places I like to shop)
• Having fun installing vinyl
• Seeing my nephew and niece

Enjoyable mist/fog

Cutting vinyl with Dad.  Later we installed it in the house they're re-doing.

One of the first nice days this spring to do a pier walk at lunch time.

I'll post more about Memorial Day in a different post.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 20

Week 20 was the middle of May.  I think it was a regular work week.  Looking at the thankfulness log, I see lots of good things that I was thankful for.  However, I seem to remember it was a week of highs and lows.  Some good things happened, but there was also a fair bit of rain and some struggles with not feeling motivated.  But here's some of the good things that happened that week.

• My legs and back not hurting for the first time in weeks
• Someone making me smile
• Salvation
• Yoga stretches that targeted just the right spots
• Hearing messages I needed at Bible study
• Finishing something that had been looming over my head
• Being able to easily schedule an eye appointment
• Seeing someone express similar emotions to ones I'm feeling
• Having will power to eat more vegetables
• Processing a mountain of receipts
• Finding motivation to exercise

Oh, and I signed up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for the first time.  A new adventure in vegetables.  I feel like a genuine hippie since it's even advertised to be organic.

AC: On

I turned on the AC today.  I endured the heat and humidity last night, but I decided I couldn't hack it tonight, especially since it rained this evening and made it super humid tonight.  I though this might have been one of my weaker efforts, but looking back on the log, it seems it's in the "average" range.  Definitely not my strongest showing, but not bad.

It has been in the 90's here the last two days.  Usually those kind of temperatures are reserved for July or August, but I guess not this year.  It's supposed to cool off tomorrow, but not quite in time to sleep comfortably tonight with only the windows open.

Have a good week!

Thankfulness 2018: Week 19

The thankfulness log summary from mid-May:

• Staying on track with eating healthy
• Ramen noodles
• Feeling like I accomplished something at work
• Feeling like I have space to breathe and think at work this week
• Finishing a good resume draft
• Yoga targeted almost exactly to my ailment
• Fun playing board games
• Mom (it was Mother's Day)

I didn't see Mom on Mother's Day, so here's a link to a previous year when I did see her on Mother's Day.

Spring was still in its full glory.  Lots of stuff blooming.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 18

I'm making progress on catching up.  The first week of May wasn't that long ago.  Here are the thankfulness highlights from that week.

• Nature's beauty
• Doing yard work in short sleeves
• A long hike in beautiful weather
• 80 degree weather
• Bright green color of spring
• Seeing the moon setting at the same time the sun was rising
• A day at work full of uninterrupted concentration
• Good advice on expressing emotions
• Lunch with my mentor
• An example of a good testimony
• Getting a clear message at GM
• Accepting an offer of help from an O'Reilly Auto Parts employee

A blooming magnolia - part of the beauty of spring.

A real snail mail letter is exciting, especially when it comes from your niece.

An encouraging quote seen on the fb.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 17

Week 17 was the end of April.  Looking at the thankfulness log, it was a good week.  If I remember correctly, Monday was a bit rough, but I see a theme in the data related to making progress.

• Making progress on a work problem - it was one that had been plaguing me for more than a month, and we finally got to the bottom of things and found the root cause.
• A challenge to focus on outside of work - this was related to a health challenge group that I joined on facebook.  It was a challenge in a good way, not a bad way.  It prompted me to try new things.
• Being outside doing yard work.
• Kayaking adventure
• Feeling like making jokes
• Comforting verses (James 5:11, I Peter 1:5-7,9)
• "Behold, we count them happy which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
• "Who are kept by the power of god through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"
• "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

Spring sunset

Part of the health initiative - eat more vegetables!

Ready for a kayak adventure!  And quite an adventure it was.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 16

Week 16 - the middle and heading toward the end of April.  The robotics season was pretty much over, so I had more free time in the evening to catch up on things and enjoy relaxing a little bit more.  Here are some things I was thankful for that week:

• Laughing
• Inspiration to eat more vegetables
• Learning more about Bible translation
• Staying on an exercise schedule
• A friend to help give perspective
• A cute picture on Snapchat of my sister and my niece
• A day without commitments
• Ribs cooked in the crock pot

This image cracked me up.  This is the coat rack at work.  Do you think engineers are conservative people?  At least the ones who wear coats in April are.....

Gary returned and was looking to make his home under my front deck.  Nuh-uh buddy.  No way.

Still eating vegetables for lunch - with some protein.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 15

Week 15....the middle of April.  It was starting to feel like spring a little bit, and the week ended feeling more like winter again.  Oh, and there was state robotics.  Some things I was thankful for:

• Hearing birds chirp in the falling snow
• Feeling sassy one evening
• Feeling a sense of accomplishment
• Being part of a health challenge group
• Earplugs
• A three hour afternoon nap - it felt glorious.  It was the first time I had taken a real nap in more than three months.
• Hearing the prayers of others at meeting
• Feeling spoken to at GM

The health challenge group inspired sticking to a healthier lunch more often.

The robotics team's "pit" at the state competition.

There were 4 fields playing simultaneously at the state competition.  We were on the Dow field - it had a lot of chemistry (pun intended).  The field cheer was, "Who brings the wow?"  "Dow, Dow, Dow!!"

Thankfulness 2018: Week 14

The first week of April I went to the corny state for work that week.  The weekend was robotics.  It was a good change of pace from the grind back at the office to go to the manufacturing plant.  Some things to be thankful for:

• A business trip that incorporated having supper with Uncle Bex
• Eating well while being on expense report
• Complex problem solving
• Delicious breakfast with Mark, Marilyn, and Jessica
• Getting 8 hours of sleep
• Taking a nap
• Feeling like a part of a team
• Feeling desperate for God to speak

The height of fashion in manufacturing - steel toes that you strap on.

Things that make you go hmmmm......the first evening there was just one plastic Olive Garden bag sitting in the stairwell.  On the third night there were two.  Is someone hiding evidence of poor eating habits from a spouse?  Can they not stand the smell of garlic even though they just ate it?  And why not throw it away in the lobby instead of stashing it in the stairwell?  Or call housekeeping and ask them to come and get the trash?  Quite queer.

Ten Year Anniversary

As of Tuesday this week, Herman and I have been in a relationship for ten years.  That's a lot of commitment and working on keeping things maintained.  It includes a couple drives to ND, countless trips to the corny state and the cheesy state, and a few trips to da U.P., eh.

It's reaching the point where I probably need to start thinking about getting a new car, but it's tough to get motivated to do that when Herman still runs so well.  He had some brake issues earlier this year that almost precipitated some changes, but now he's back to humming along.

If they still made the Mazda6 5-door, I'd buy another one of those, but they don't make them.  And I don't think I can go back to a trunk that doesn't have a hatchback type door.  So that most likely means I'll either be buying a nerdy/crunchy hatchback or else a small crossover vehicle.

Some things on the potential list include a Mazda3 hatchback, the Mazda CX5, a Subaru Crosstrek....and probably some others.  Anybody out there have some additional suggestions?  No fancy imports like BMW, Audi, Porsche, or Lexus because I don't want to drive forever to get to a dealer.

Have a good Memorial Day weekend!

Thankfulness 2018: Week 13

Week 13......still back in March.  And the first day of April.  Monday of that week I was feeling very discouraged about life.  I opened my phone and had this snapchat from my brother.  It was just the message I needed at that time.  He probably won't ever truly understand how much his goofy and cheesy snapchats can brighten my day.

Some other highlights from the week were:

• Encouragement and care from friends
• Texts and snapchats from family
• A beautiful sunset
• Having time to think while on a long drive
• Brakes repaired on my car
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Special hymns found for the week
• Reading Deuteronomy 20 at lunch one day

A successful day of robotics

Getting some pork loin ground and into the freezer.  There was a good sale at the store that I couldn't resist.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 12

Looking at the log from mid-March, it appears that I spent the week focusing on getting stuff done at work and appreciating small blessings.  I may have still been in a bit of a fog from returning from New Zealand and trying to catch up.  A couple highlights from the thankfulness log were:

• A quiet afternoon of focused work
• Impromptu lunch with a friend
• A good morning greeting
• Eating breakfast with early morning sunshine
• Intense exercise
• Finishing my taxes
• Canned chicken and Ramen noodles
• Chocolate
• Finishing something and a feeling of accomplishment

This was the only picture I took that week.  I saw this in the grocery store and it amused me because sometimes we call Aunt Kiwi by the name Kumquat instead.

2018 - New Cubicle

It had been eighteen months since I moved to a new cubicle, so I suppose I was due for a move.  A person shouldn't collect too much junk.  After yet another reorganization at the end of January this year, my manager changed again, and I was asked to move my stuff across the hall closer to more of the other hardware engineers.  Of course everybody gives me a hard time about having too much stuff.  I don't know why they do that.

The old place all cleaned out.

I wasn't all that sad to leave the old place.  It was a long, hard, eighteen months there.  I learned some good lessons, but they were tough ones.  I traveled to China five times and can recognize Chinese when I hear it (although I can't understand the words - I can only recognize the cadence and tones).  I tried some exotic food including chicken feet.  My airline membership status on United was upgraded - yay for economy plus free upgrades!  You can get a lot of stuff done with drawing pictures and using Google translate.  I learned again the value of in-person interaction and the power of being the first to reach out and bridge a communication gap.  I learned about the the power of trust and teamwork and how detrimental it can be to lack trust and teamwork.  You can get a lot of stuff done really quick if you don't have high standards for long-lasting quality or safety.  I'm sure there are many other lessons I can't think of right at the moment, but that will do for now.

I gained a good friend from the hard times in the old place, but I'm happy to move on to a different chapter.  I've been in the new place now for almost two months.  The work hasn't changed a huge amount, but I am almost done transferring some of my duties over to someone else.  So far the new place is pretty good.  I get the morning sun on my face instead of getting to see the sun heading toward a sunset.  I like the people that sit next to me.  It feels less isolated.  So far it still involves 7:30 AM calls to India almost daily, but that's do-able compared to 6:30 AM calls and 9 PM and 10 PM calls.

Moved into the new cubicle.  There is a lot less space to post any person pictures, so I had to bring some home.

Thankfulness 2018: Week 11

Let's see.....week 11....the middle of March.  The week after I returned from vacation.  If I remember correctly, I was in the doldrums a little bit after returning from vacation because I was back to old clothes and porridge so to speak.  However, when I look at my thankfulness log, there are still lots of things for which to be thankful. And a lot of them involved people:

• Eating lunch with my mentor
• Talking to other women engineers
• The fun of a design review (I know, nerdy!)
• The symbolism of moving to a new desk at work (more on that in a different post)
• Edifying conversation
• A walk with a nature buff
• Laughing

Some nice, early spring scenery.

It's difficult to tell if this is a beaver or a muskrat.  That reminds me of a song.....but I digress.  Maybe it's a beaver since the tail is on top of the water.  This was part of the fun of the walk - learning all about beavers and how they make their lodges/dens/whatever you call them.

Sand hill cranes.