Raincharm’s Weblog

OK – suffice it to say it has been a very strange day.

• Braces manuever took three technicians
• Furnace – new blower motor for $900 or new furnace for $3200-$5500 (depending on model, efficiency, etc, etc, etc)
• Kids kicking kids during a game on a playground and the other parent doesn’t think an adult who suggested they should stop the kicking should intervene, “They will work it out for themselves.” “Yes, perhaps because the less agressive kid will probably just stop playing this game, and miss out on the fun – because they were being kicked and the kicking kid would not stop by themselves.”
• Software is a tool. But if you are not the primary user of said software, don’t be surprised if they take away the tool because they (the primary user) doesn’t understand that you do use it, believes in fact that you do not use it, and doesn’t really care that you don’t have another readily identifiable means of getting the data you use from it. (Unless you rebuild the old spreadsheet you used before you had software that got the information for you much more automatically.) Don’t worry – you can just estimate the time you spend on tasks better than if you ask your folks to enter the actual time they spend. Because they won’t enter it properly, so the data you get really has no meaning. (Yes I am sure my WAG will be MUCH BETTER THAN data that is not 100% precise.)
•  Teachers get tired of having students that don’t type quickly.
• Earthquakes will happen. I work in an are on a fault, next to a big fault, and it will be my fault if we are not ready to react. But don’t worry, my WAG will let me know how much time I spend to not be ready.

OK – enough. I needed to write it down.

And one of the potential contractors is helping me get information about furnace alternatives.

(I probably shouldn’t post this, but I don’t think anybody that it would offend will read it.)

As in, “Do Not Disturb”.

As in, this was how my telephone at work was set today. So, if you tried to call me, it went right to message. I kind of enjoyed it. Actually, I forgot I had set it and marvelled that I was actually able to get a letter out. Of course, while getting the letter out I realized there were a whole raft of forms that needed to be updated (we raised some fees – and no we are not a bank, or an airline). In other words, the day flew by.

And when I got home I immediately got on the telephone. We are checking references for the three contractors we interviewed last week. They all sound like gods of remodelling. Good to hear though. The people are anxious to tell us how good they were. Next up will be the due diligence check of their licenses and BBB stuff. Hopefully we will come to a decision in the next few days.

And now – the furnace blower is making god-awful noises.
Hopefully just a fan belt or some inexpensive piece to be replaced. …

If you read my last blog you may understand why I had not posted for a week. I had also not kept up with most other family/friend blogs that I check out.

I was checking through a cousins blog and learned that I owned land in the Yukon. A square inch. My elder sister seemed to be aware of this, but I did not remember this fact. (Neither did my mother, so I don’t feel so too badly.) I googled the Dawson Creek Square Inch and found it has quite a little history. The land came via Quaker Oats Puffed Rice or Puffed Wheat cereal. I do remember eating those cereals as a youth. Apparently I didn’t pay my share of the taxes, and Canadian authorities reposessed the land. (Sorry Pooh.) An interesting read.

Pooh, if you want my piece of land, I will sell it to you for $30. (It’s a deal – read the article)

It seems like it has, but not for lack of things going on. Rather the amount of things going on that were brain sapping, leaving no strength to type at the end of the day.

Monday: There was a lot of work to do, mostly on the budget. Stayed until 10 PM. (I was not the only one still there.)

Tuesday: Started work at 7 AM. Meeting to go over the stuff that we worked on until 10 the night before. And Carl got his homework done.

Wednesday: Started work at home. Really – except that the work that I was doing was work on the house. Cleaned a bathroom, made a bed, drove Carl to class, and then picked him up later … This was all different because we spent the day interviewing contractors. We are planning an extensive remodel to the house, and need to choose a contractor that will work with our architect. The first interview was at 10:30 AM. The next at 1:00, and the third at 7:15 PM. Between the last two interviews I really did do some work work. And Carl went to work.

Thursday: Morning dawned early, and Carl took me to a seminar I had in Seattle, and then he was off to his work – morning duty to drop a kindergartener off for a change. His usual work time is after school. The day was a beautiful fall day, chilly but clear. The seminar was basically held in the middle of a park, and during lunch a co-worker and I walked around the grounds. This included a “Sound Garden” of pipes attached to a blade that kept it in line with the wind. The wind would blow across the pipes like blowing across a pop bottle. It sounded a bit like an orchestra warming up. In the evening we went to MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) for a Now and Then exhibit. These are old photographs with a current photograph of the same location provided for comparison. The Now photographer was there to talk about the project. We saw the event, but did not stay for the talk.

Friday:  Back to “normal” work for me. But Carl had a full day with one of his kids – school was out for teacher in-service. They went to the Museum of Flight, and generally horsed around. Apparently Carl completely wore the kid out. A good thing. And I got out of work right at closing time. That is something that almost never happens. As it happens – there are three high schools (on the same road) within 1-1/4 mile of our office. The closest school was having homecoming – and a parade. They close the road in front of our office, and if you are too late in leaving – you are going to be really late in leaving. I did not push the window. The other two high schools also had home-football games Friday night. Kind of a perfect storm for traffic. I was glad to head away and home.

Saturday: The big thing for us today was the Seattle Sounders game. But that was not until the evening. So we did some homework (mine was family arithmetic, Carl’s was, well homework). Then we drove down to the stadium district and parked the car. And walked home. We took a higher route than usual, staying away from the water, and generally east of the highway (once we got there). We traversed Capital Hill. While crossing one of the major roads, a car turned in front of us, instead of waiting for us, the pedestrians, to clear the crosswalk. I actually turned to see if there were any other cars coming, and Carl gave the driver a round of applause. (Really, he only clapped his hands.) Now there was a police car at the intersection waiting to turn left. But, as the light went to yellow – he turned right instead, and the lights came on. Shortly we heard the short siren bursts they use to tell you to pull over. I think our non-pedestrian friendly driver was getting a ticket. At least I hope they were. We stopped at a french bakery about a mile from home. Three croissants later, (ham and cheese, feta and spinach, and almond) we were on our way.

When it was time for the soccer game we caught a bus. The storefront at our bus stop has gone through several incarnations. This is the current form.

Do they allow medical marijuana dispensaries in your city?

The bus was packed, but it was a quick ride. It was a precursor to the packed stadium. They opened up almost all of the seats in the stadium. The reason for the higher than average interest was the last regular season game for this year. There will be at least one playoff game, but this was the last for-sure game, and the last regular season home game for Kasey Keller. For those that don’t know soccer, Kasey Keller has played internationally, on the US team, been on four World Cup teams, and chose to close out his career with the Seattle Sounders. He has been with them since they joined the MLS. While the San Jose Earthquakes scored first, and were pressing for most of the game, the Sounders prevailed 2-1. At one point Keller had to save 4 close-in shots in quick succession. He still has it.

So – that is our week in a nutshell.

Today was a home day.
We really did not go out, at least until there was a small grocery run necessary.

Dinner is cooking. Chicken in a butter chicken sauce, with olive bread on the side.
Then it dawned on us.

This is first time in four years that we are not celebrating with family, friends and a turkey.
It’s Thanksgiving! At least if you are north of the border.
Technically, it is tomorrow, but we always had the big dinner on Sunday.

Canadian Thanksgiving gives thanks for the harvest.
But for 30 years it has coincided with Columbus Day. Coincidence?

Other than cooking dinner we have been having a home day to catch up on a few chores, a bit of cleaning, and ….
I actually sat down and read the Sunday paper. And did one of the crosswords.
Carl got his homework done.
And we watched some football.
(The Baseball that was played, was not played on our TV. C’mon Cardinals, get it together. You are our one hope for World Series Tickets.)

So – Happy Thanksgiving, plentiful harvests and good food to all.

When I was a bit younger, OK a lot younger, TV stations did not broadcast all night long. Occasionally I would stay up late at night. Sometimes I would even fall asleep on the couch, in front of the TV.

Eventually, the witching hour would arrive and the signal entertaining us, or accompanying our snoring, would start the end of their day routine.

I seem to recall the National anthem, the flag, and maybe a song. Then – the test pattern would take over the small black and white screen.

Last night I was up working, with the TV as a chattering chum nearby. Leno ended, and Kimmel was on deck. An announcement – it barely registered. “We need to maintain our transmitter, and will be going off the air.”

And then they did.

Perhaps the cable, dish or direct folks still had service, but us over the air dinosaurs were out of luck.

It was time for bed anyway, but it did take me back.

Here we are in the middle of the baseball playoffs, and we are still talking about soccer.

The Seattle Sounders played the Chicago Fire for the US Open Cup Final tonight.
This is one of the three “seasons” they are playing in right now.

The Concacaf Cup – with teams from the Americas (north, south, centra)
The MLS Season – of course.
And the US Open Cup. A long storied cup. You can be ANY team from the US to join this tournament.

This is the third season in a row that the Sounders have won the US Open Cup.
They have only been in the MLS for three seasons. Not a bad record.

It was a rough, wide open, and sometimes frantic game.
In the end, the Sounders WON! 2-0.
Both goals were scored in the second half – right in front of our seats. Exciting.

A phone picture of the trophy presentation (with all three of the trophies they have won).

2011 Lamar Hunt Open Cup Celebration

One of the best parts of this weekend has been seeing the reunions. It has been more than 30 years for many, and they seemed genuinely excited and pleased to be with each other. The younger alumni were generous with playing time, and the current U of I players were licking their chops as they realized they were playing a team of 50+ year olds to start the game. The alumni did fairly well. The current players were fast, but their elders were wiser. Here are a good number of Carl’s contemporaries.

Illini soccer alumni

Carl, Bumi, Dave & Al. A force to be reckoned with - so I have heard.

It has been a long 2 days. And that has been a good thing. Lots of familiar names that now have faces. And many of Carl’s stories of youthful exploits have been corroborated.

Nellie and Harms

It is the end of the baseball season. At least for the Mariners. I am likely to watch this by myself. I can see the three amigos at the bullpen. I don’t know if they will want to leave their players. Too final.

At least we will be warm inside watching the playoffs.

Too much trying to make vinegar sweet?