Raincharm’s Weblog

No, not a performance review. These will be short, it’s late – past my bedtime.

We just got back from seeing Boys in the Boat. I will start by saying that I love the book. I have bought several copies. When I tell somebody about the book and they haven’t read it, I give them my copy, and then buy another copy.

The movie was very good. I know how it goes, and I was still on the edge of my seat. My only complaint was the lack of the details of the backstory. But that would have made for a 12-hour movie. I found the first part of the book enthralling, and it is implied throughout the movie, but still.

Now, I really had the backstory fresh in mind because before the movie started, we had an introduction by Judy Rantz Willman, the daughter of Joe Rantz, the oarsman who the book is built around. The movie night out was put on by our financial advisor, so somebody has a connection.

The other review, and this will be short, is a recommendation for the Bear Town trilogy by Henrik Backman. Perhaps more in another post.

This was the start of our snowstorm this afternoon. There was a bit more, but not enough to really cover the railing. I am guessing that instead of snow, we will just be dealing with frigid temperatures. I do have to drive tomorrow, so am relatively happy with the current weather situation. Of course, this could all change overnight.

Carl just opened the door, and I could see a skiff of snow covering my car.

While I was gazing out the window, watching flakes float down, I noticed a single blossom on our apparently confused camelia.

With highs not expected to reach 32 degrees for the next few days, I am curious how this will fare.

Yesterday’s NCAA Championship game was won by Michigan. Or the Ms vs the Ws, per a certain 4 year old. The fact that M and W are essentially the same if inverted was fun for all. Carl’s meatloaf is a case in point.

The meatloaf was not for yesterday’s game. Instead, friend Kevin brought some really tasty chili to share. It was good to share the game with friends both near and far.

I was asked how I could have any allegiance to UM. It stems from growing up in Ann Arbor, going to high school kiddie corner to the Big House, and actually attending more UM games than UW games over my lifetime.

I do root for UW as well.

I was rather hoping work this week would be a real jump start on the new year. But it was a slower start. This really was expected, because I am helping to train a new employee. This will continue for the next few months or more, there’s a lot to learn.

My goal this year is to finish a project that will allow others to do a lot of what I do now, at work. I must find the time to focus on that project, while still keeping up with my normal work and ODAA. Other duties as assigned. I am planning to work on one of those tomorrow so I can check it off my to do list.

Another ODAA that is taking some time, but should be done by the end of the week is updating everybody’s badge at work. Picture taking and printing has begun and I need to impress on everyone that it needs to get done next week, one way or another. And I just realized I have an off-site meeting next Friday, so now the deadline is Thursday. Really just thought of that detail.

We did manage to get a walk in today. The temperature dropped several degrees, but we managed to get home before the hail arrived.

The other recent pictures on my phone are all fellow employees, and I don’t think any of you would be interested.

And I also started to work on a jigsaw puzzle. It is not easy so far. Perhaps I will find a rhythm eventually.

And if anyone wants to take credit for gifting us the mug in the photo (and a partner mug), we can thank you properly. They arrived with no identifying information.

So, that’s my first week of the year. Exciting?

Monday night should be exciting. I am one of those with split allegiances. I grew up in Ann Arbor rooting for Michigan, although I went to school at MSU. But I have lived in Seattle for almost 40 years, longer than I lived in A2. But I have been to more UM games in person than at UW. I guess I win regardless of the outcome.

It’s that time of year again.

Carl’s great found filthy lucre contest.

We walk, Carl finds money and stashes it in a container. At the end of the year, the coins and bills are counted. We send a picture around to the folks in the neighborhood and invite them to guess the total. Closest to the amount wins the filthy lucre.

We have several guesses received so far, and may get one or two more before the midnight deadline. There are 2 guesses this year that are very close to the correct total. Only $1.03 and $1.06 off. Tomorrow the winner will get the spoils.

Today has been a sunny respite from the rain and fog of the past week. We did take a walk today, but I was a bit tired, so we didn’t push it. The tiredness was primarily due to yesterday’s year end blood donation. The donation went well, much faster than my normal drip rate.

We spent some time slowly un-decorating. The ornaments, Santa’s, snowmen, pictures, and other bits and pieces have been taken down and stowed. The lights remain as does the tree. We have compost pick up Tuesday, so the tree’s days are numbered.

For those that have stuck around, the found money total for 2023 is $86.40.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I always appreciate it when it takes more than one hand to count the new books we have to read in the coming year. And some puzzles as well.

It was a relatively quiet day, except for the continuing patter of raindrops, all day long. I don’t know if it ever stopped.

That was OK as we were content. I am hoping to get out tomorrow for a walk and errand or two. And if all goes as planned, we’ll start to get our holiday cards out in the mail.

We are pretty much decorated. We could do more, but I am not sure I have the inclination.

I am not a huge fan of mall Santas, which made stumbling across Santa in the Zoo magical. He was in a tent near the petting zoo, sitting on a folding chair, with an attendant and bag of small animals to hand out. The attendant had a Polaroid camera. No charge. If you zoom the picture and look to the right, that’s where the early photos are. In the first encounter, Ashlan is on my back, and Rey is just talking to Santa, not on his lap. Eventually Santa moved into the new Zoo Store, and it got glitzed up. Anytime the kids aren’t wearing jackets we were inside.

There is always the question of what to do with the picture ornaments. On the tree or elsewhere. Originally, they were on the tree. But our trees are usually not too large, and at this time we have about 125. They would not come close to fitting the tree. Hence the picture wall.

The original ornament wall was in front of the window. We installed it there multiple years. But it blocks the window, and working from home, I like to be able to see out. Last year we put some on the tree, just chose a few. This year, back to the wall idea, but in a different location.

On to the week before Christmas.

I now have a crown, so I must be a queen. Right?

We had a regular cleaning yesterday, and everything was good. Except a decades old large filing in a back tooth was failing. A crown was recommended, so here we are.

This is actually part of my program to limit holiday food overload by having others put restrictions on what I should eat. Carl was sweet and picked up some chicken soup for dinner. My other strategy has to be away from the office on days when other departments have their holiday breakfasts. So far I have missed the leftovers from Operations and Finance, and the kringle on St. Nicholas day. Tomorrow is the office catered holiday lunch. I am not sure what is on the menu, but I will be kind to my new tooth.

The Christmas tree is still at lights only. Potential for ornaments tonight, but I need to work on a Christmas sweater for tomorrow’s luncheon.

2 days forward, 1 day back.

And that’s not really what folks mean when they talk about Christmas Lists.

Since that picture, we think we solved the problem. At some point today we noticed the list. The tree had been up for more than 36 hours before it decided to lean. Maybe it was trying to watch the Premier League soccer game on the telly. We realigned the trunk, and I tightened the bolts more to the tree trunk. All was good for about an hour, at which point the list returned. Because mere tightening had not worked, we decided to do the opposite, loosen everything and start over. As I loosened the last bolt the tree dropped about an inch. Apparently we had not seated it on the base. So far the tree is still vertical, and lacking ornaments.

Since we missed the Green Lake Luminaria last night, we walked that direction today. Really just to complete a few shopping errands. First stop, Starbucks. Love them or hate them, they make a really good Christmas Blend. We got our first bag of the season today.

Next up was the neighborhood hipster grocery store, PCC. For steak. Not a normal food for us, but a 2 for 1 coupon lured us in.

On the short walk between our destinations, we were behind an older gentleman wearing headphones. He dropped his hat, which we picked up. I am not sure what he was listening to, but I had to basically get in front of him with his hat in my hand to get him to stop. He was appreciative and set off again, with us still following. And he dropped his hat, again. I think it was falling out of a pocket. We picked it up again, and caught up to him again, returning the hat. We did not follow him through the store, but I hope the hat made it home again. For a moment, we thought he was trying to get rid of a hat, but it was a nice Patagonia hat.

What an exciting life we lead. And for that we are very grateful.

The tree is drinking water. That is good, it means it still has a memory of being alive.

As a kid, once the lights were up, we were allowed to put tinsel on the tree. We put it on one strand at a time, and it was the silver, smooth kind. I never liked the kinky ones – probably because I was used to what I was used to.

Some people would put fake snow on their trees. I never liked that much, not realistic, so why bother.

No tinsel on our trees, or snow. Tomorrow I will work on adding ornaments, and trying to figure out how and where to put up the picture ornaments.

If they don’t end up on the tree, which they apparently did last year.

In other news today, we braved the atmospheric river to buy one more present and then visited the post office. The shopping was on foot and we got plenty wet. We drove, with dry socks and different shoes, to the post office. There was traffic everywhere! We were patient and got there and back without incident. The post office line wasn’t out of control either. But we decided the rest of the day would be at home, or at least not in the car.

Others obviously don’t hold that same opinion, and the Indian restaurant at the end of the block must be busy tonight. We’re about 6 houses away, and cars are parked past our house on our side of the street. This might not sound bad, but it’s a No Parking side of the narrow street.

The city could make lots of money here if they patrolled many Fridays and Saturdays. Getting out of driveways with cars on both sides means lots of back and forthing.

Hoping for less wetness tomorrow. Tonight is the Green Lake Pathway of Lights, where they put luminaires along the 2.6 mile path around the lake. We have been to several in the rain, but decided not to get drenched twice in one day.