tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137621602024-03-18T21:15:08.064-07:00impatient beeRRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-85054877918947280662015-01-13T18:53:00.002-08:002015-01-13T18:53:34.232-08:00It's okay if you don't like coffee, really. Just don't volunteer to make the coffee.I opened my draft posts file recently and saw the above title. No text, just the title. I wrote the title three years ago, but I'm guessing I know who the post referred to. I have a co-worker (a few co-workers, actually) who insists on using a measly three scoops -- three scoops! -- for an entire pot of coffee. That is coffee-flavored water, not coffee. How do people stand drinking it?<br />
<br />
Doesn't matter. I bought my own mini coffee pot for the office so I don't have to drink the excuse-for-coffee they make at work. I try not to let it bother me, but I have to admit that sometimes it still does. I think what bothers me about it is that they won't admit they like really weak coffee. They think I like really strong coffee. And I do like strong coffee, but I also like regular, non-extra-potent coffee. I like coffee. They like flavored water. Why are they too embarrassed to admit it?<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-8064191404620900942015-01-13T18:49:00.001-08:002015-01-13T18:49:15.552-08:00Other People's IncidentsI thought I'd had a rough end of the year (on a #FirstWorldProblems level). The day after Thanksgiving, I came down with a stomach bug and was sick for a few days. A week or two later, I caught a cold that lingered and lingered and lingered on past Christmas. Then in mid-December, I injured one of my toes pretty badly and spent the next week limping. *And* then my car had to go into the shop for some minor repairs.<br />
<br />
I felt a wee bit sorry for myself.<br />
<br />
But then I realized what had been happening to other people I knew. <a href="http://impatientchicken.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Impatientchicken</a> caught the same post-Thanksgiving stomach bug, then got strep throat right before Christmas...followed by my cold. And she's got a heavy workload at the office right now, so no time off for taking it easy. Another friend injured his foot, but he injured it badly enough to need to see an orthopedic doctor. And his car just got a flat tire.<br />
<br />
So I suppose things could be worse, but I'm still going to complain about having to work on Martin Luther King, Jr Day and President's Day when most of our organization has the day off. After all, I don't have anything more interesting to talk about.<br />
<br />
How about you?<br />
<br />
In other news...I've killed another rosemary plant. That's the second one since early December. I don't know what I'm doing wrong! Any ideas? It gets brown on one side--well, I guess, it's dead on that side. Then the brownness/death spreads to the other side until it's all dead. Helpful suggestions would be appreciated.<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-646760957941054072014-07-29T19:46:00.002-07:002014-07-29T19:58:12.732-07:00Incident Report, 7-25-2014 AND Fat Tuesday<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. The check engine light is on in my car. <i>Again</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. Left my snacks at home. For a person with multiple food allergies, this is a problem. There is nothing sold within a 2 mile radius of my office that I can eat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. Was late for work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. Felt ill all day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. My cat has fleas, and now I'm afraid I might have them, too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today is Tuesday. To be more precise, it is Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday is a new ImpatientBee-specific holiday</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've created to help keep myself happier during weekly department head meetings I must attend. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Each week, I can count on at least two (and usually all five) of the following things happening:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1) At least one of my co-workers will make a joke criticizing my political beliefs,which will lead to a discussion among 3 or 4 of those present about how terrible those beliefs are. I have not told my co-workers that I hold the beliefs they're mocking, because doing so would only lead them to make fun of me, too, right to my face...and then expect me to laugh and be good-humored about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2) </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At least one</span> of my co-workers will make a joke criticizing a politician I support, which will lead to a discussion among 3 or 4 of those present about how terrible that politician is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3) </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At least one</span> of my co-workers will call me a communist because I'm an environmentalist or tell me I'm obstructing business development in our community because I did my job and enforced the rules we have in place about land development.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4) Several of my co-workers will spend at least 10 minutes talking about a topic not remotely related to our meeting or our jobs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5) At least one of my co-workers will make a non-political joke that falls somewhere between between obnoxious and outright offensive on the scale of jokes that are meant to be funny but aren't. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And each week, the staff meeting that should take 20-30 minutes stretches into an hour and a half, minimum. Often, I will chime in to say something about getting back to the agenda, or rebutting one of the comments made, and now I've earned a reputation for having a quick temper and, probably, for having absolutely no sense of humor. This kind of image does not help one's professional reputation, so I've come up with a system to help me get through these meetings without saying a word unless directly spoken to. That system is Fat Tuesday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If I can make it through the entire meeting without losing my temper, if I can keep my trap shut when those annoying comments are flying around the room, then after the meeting, I get a treat. Today was the first Fat Tuesday, so to help me kick it off, I took part of a candy bar into the meeting, broken into little pieces. After the first obnoxious comment was aired, I focused my attention on the candy bar. <i>Eyes on the prize</i>. After the second one, I had a little bite of chocolate. And then, after another comment, another little bite. Suddenly, the comments didn't seem so obnoxious after all! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think this is going to work, y'all. At least until I run out of treats.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-29905454943507750592013-09-23T19:37:00.000-07:002013-09-23T19:37:09.286-07:00What's Been Going on in My Life Lately<i>1. Salaries and Responsibilities</i>. At work, we have done a bit of reorganizing, and the person who used to be my supervisor now has another person between him and the Person at the Top, so he has (in theory) moved down a notch on the org chart, although most of his responsibilities have remained the same, he has the same title, and he has the same salary. I now report directly to the Person at the Top, so I have (in theory) moved up a notch on the org chart, and I now have a nifty new title and (thanks to a move down the hall) a bigger office. What I do not have, however, is a larger salary. I make about 50% less than my former supervisor but, on a typical week, work about 50% more. Well, maybe not 50% more lately. He seems to be working harder these days. But in the past couple of years, the feeling of unfairness that he works a lot less but makes a lot more money has grown and grown in me, and recently I broke down and talked to the Person at the Top about it. He seemed to understand my position and thought it was a bit unfair himself, but due to the budget situation (which is not dire but leaves absolutely no room for anything that isn't necessary), there wasn't room to give me a raise. What came out of the meeting was that we would start having twice monthly project review meetings, which should make parts of my job easier (since I can get input from different departments in a meeting they have to attend instead of harassing them on a regular basis until they finally agree to tell me what I need to know for a particular project to go forward). He also arranged it so that I would chair the committee, which gives me a certain amount of additional authority, but also means more work. And then today, the Person at the Top told me that starting in October, I would start supervising someone who now reports to my former supervisor. So I will have additional responsibilities that will help me grow as a professional (which I appreciate) but will also take up more of my time, for which I will still receive no raise. <i>Dang it.</i><br />
<br />
2. <i>Serving on Non-Profit Boards</i>. I'm on the board of our local historical society. We're a small organization and just recently got started, so on the one hand, being on the board doesn't take up much time. But on the other hand, because we just recently got started, there's so much that needs to be done, set up, decided upon. Board terms are up in October, and I was so happy, thinking, 'Hurray, I don't have to have an officer position anymore! I can help out in a less responsibility-laden way, and it will be fun.' And then at our board meeting last week, since no one had expressed interest in being chair next time, they nominated me. <i>Daaaaaang iiiiiit.</i><br />
<br />
3. <i>The Benefit of a Bad Memory.</i> At work today, I received<i> </i>an email from JLR with links to pants I liked that were on sale. Score! I made a mental note to see if the pants were still available when I got home from work, and then, realizing a mental note for me is next to useless, I forwarded JLR's email to my personal email account, hoping the message would serve as a reminder to check on the pants this evening. This evening, when I checked my email, I saw a message from myself with the subject heading 'Fwd: Pants," and I thought, 'Well, that sounds interesting; I wonder what it's about!' And so you see, having a bad memory can make the little things in life seem so much more exciting.<br />
<br />
4. <i>Email Calendars</i>. Three years ago, I worked on a project that involved coordinating meetings with several grad students who did not have job-based email calendars or similar set-ups that would allow us to send meeting requests to each other. So we all set it up through the school email system, since they attended the same grad school I had attended, and I still had an active school email account. To help us determine when to meet, the student managing the project set up notes in the calendar of when I had regularly scheduled meetings. So we would get notices saying, 'so-and-so NOT available on September 23,' etc. It was quite handy at the time, but unfortunately, after the project was over, the notices kept coming. I've made several attempts to turn off the notification system, but I cannot figure it out. So every month or so, I get another message telling me I am NOT available because I have a regularly scheduled meeting that I already know to factor into my schedule planning because it is a regularly scheduled meeting, and I have had the same dadgum meetings twice a month for four years, so I know not to schedule anything else for that time. <br />
<br />
That is all for now.<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-75505070747171508752013-07-09T19:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T19:00:05.384-07:00Incident Report, 7-5-2013I work for a city, and from time to time, I am charged with researching and writing tidbits of the city's history, since I am the person on staff known to have worked for a historical organization in the past, to maintain an interest in history, to have the research abilities to ensure that whatever I write is actually true, and to have the writing skills to put together something vaguely understandable. Also, I am fairly low down on the org chart.<br />
<br />
So last Friday, I went to the big neighboring city downtown to visit the county archives to do some research on the history of the city. I don't have any history assignments at the moment, but I wanted to see what was available in case something crops up in the future. On my way to the archives, I mixed up which exit to take (despite having driven this same way to get to downtown many, many, many times before) and found myself on a different freeway instead of on the surface street I was expecting to see. I'd left in plenty of time to drive there, even with a mix-up like this, but I was worried about the Parking Situation. Plenty of spaces in the garage = on time! Limit spaces available = lots of circling = late. And late will not make a good impression on the archivist. As I exited the Wrong Freeway and circled back to go in the other direction, I may, dear readers, I may have said a bad word. You weren't there, so you can't prove it, but I can't tell you it didn't happen.<br />
<br />
I needn't have worried though. It was the Friday after a holiday, and the usual crowd in the garage had decided to stay home. Lots of parking spaces! (Or, as an economic development expert I know would say, there were "plenty of parks." If you catch me referring to parking spaces as "parks," remind me that I asked you to tell me not to use that word except to refer to places of outdoor recreation and respite.)<br />
<br />
Now, I had called a few weeks before to let the archivist know I would be popping in for a visit and had even emailed her a list of the items I wanted to see. But when I arrived, she had no record of my appointment. In fact, she didn't seem to have any recollection of me or my phone call to her. It was Awkward. But fortunately, she was nice and immediately started digging around for the first item on my list. And as it turns out, she couldn't find it. <br />
<br />
"That's the first time this has happened," she said. I said, "Oh, really?" but thought to myself, 'Of course,' since it is common for me to be a source of something going wrong with someone else. "That's okay, I said. Could I see these maps instead?" and handed her a list. No, my friends, I could not see the other maps instead. Though listed on this archive's finding aids on this archive's website, the maps were held in another building by another county agency. But not to worry, she'd call over there and let them know I was coming. I heard her call the agency, but I don't know who she spoke to, because when I arrived at that agency, the person who was supposed to help me was not expecting me and had no idea who I was or why I was there. Fortunately, he was nice, and immediately starting digging around for the first map on my list. But he couldn't find it. Then he searched for the second item on my list and couldn't find it, either. As it turns out, the finding aid posted online hadn't been updated in years, or maybe it's that the map files themselves haven't been checked to see if the maps or there, but for whatever reason, there was no telling how long it was going to take him to find the maps. Considering how things were going that morning, I thought it best not to wait for the situation to improve. The situation would *not* improve, of this I was certain. I gave him my card, told him to call me if he ever found the maps, and left.<br />
<br />
As I drove to the office, I couldn't find my coffee cup and became convinced I had driven away from downtown with the cup on top of my car. When I arrived at the office, though, I found it safely nestled inside a shopping bag. So that was one thing that went right.<br />
<br />
And that was my day. Mishaps in archives followed by coffee cup dismay followed by stomach ache. How was your day-after-July 4th?<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-91137576622603227772013-06-17T19:29:00.000-07:002013-06-17T19:29:58.120-07:00And then there was MarchRemember when I had the flu in...when was it, January? February? Well, in March, I came down with something that felt like the flu, again. After a few days of feeling sick, and feeling worse every day, I went to my primary care doctor. The sign on the door said, "Let the staff know if you have flu-like symptoms: cough, fever, aching, sore throat." Check, check, check, check.<br />
<br />
Although I felt silly doing it, I told the front desk about my symptoms, and she gave me a look like she couldn't believe I was wasting her time and then handed me a mask. And when I saw the doctor and told him my symptoms, he seemed to think it was just a cold and not worth worrying about. I said, "Okay, well, just to be on the safe side, since I felt just the same way when I had the flu, are there any signs I should look out for in case it turns into the flu?" He seemed as though he was trying not to laugh at me, this stupid overly-worried patient, and assured me it wasn't the flu.<br />
<br />
The next day, I felt even worse. JLR talked me into going to a clinic. The doc there thought it might be the flu after all and gave me a flu test. The result was negative, but since I had been sick for several days, it might show a negative result even if I had the flu. She told me to stay home from work until my fever went away. It certainly was nice to have a member of the medical profession seem concerned about my well-being and not blow me off.<br />
<br />
Two days later, I felt even worse and was coughing up a storm. JLR talked me into going to yet another clinic, and this time, I got the right diagnosis. As it turns out, I had walking pneumonia. Only took a week to figure it out.<br />
<br />
And that's about the most exciting thing that's happened to me since the last time I posted anything.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-13145130042463155242013-02-17T08:41:00.001-08:002013-02-17T08:41:36.692-08:00Great Backyard Bird Count<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lv1eqOJfhVJ0uB7dCmBI_huPIeFmjvJ6Gzi6l-gTINxMyn1pz18q9t4iKsfkcaWW0m0gbsX5DHeEYHt23F5fmMVu2CzWmL3d8yH4eAQSxG0ocx7GSXeTtj0S3o1o07XWIUv_wg/s1600/Tufted_Titmouse+Laura+Perlick,+FWS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lv1eqOJfhVJ0uB7dCmBI_huPIeFmjvJ6Gzi6l-gTINxMyn1pz18q9t4iKsfkcaWW0m0gbsX5DHeEYHt23F5fmMVu2CzWmL3d8yH4eAQSxG0ocx7GSXeTtj0S3o1o07XWIUv_wg/s320/Tufted_Titmouse+Laura+Perlick,+FWS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Isn't this little bird cute?!? </i></b> Tufted Titmouse, photo by Laura Perlick of the US Fish & Wildlife Service</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Howdy! It's time for the annual <a href="http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html" target="_blank">Great Backyard Bird Count</a>! Actually, it's been time for the GBBC since Friday, but I'm a bit behind in posting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
What is the GBBC, you ask?<br />
<br />
Good question. Here's the answer from the GBBC website.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that
engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a
real-time snapshot of where the birds are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Beginning in 2013, GBBC checklists will be accepted from
anywhere in the world!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Everyone is welcome--from beginning bird watchers to experts. It
takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long
as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it
helps the birds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Participants tally the number of individual birds of each species
they see during their count period. They enter these numbers on the
GBBC website.</span><br />
<br />
This event can be enjoyable even for folks who aren't good at birding. Trust me; I'm <i>terrible</i> at bird-watching, or rather, at bird-identifying. But last year I did the GBBC with my mom at a big park, and we spent half of it sitting on a bench chatting (read: scaring away birds). It gave us a chance to spend time together with just the two of us, something we don't often have a chance to do, and it gave us a sense of accomplishment, too. We contributed to science!<br />
<br />
So even if you're not much of a birder, but you're vaguely interested in finding out what birds live in your neighborhood, give the GBBC a try. You don't even have to leave your house to do it!<br />
<br />
And if you're in the United States or Canada, and you don't know how to start figuring out what birds you're seeing, <a href="http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/checklist" target="_blank">GBBC provides a checklist of birds</a> commonly found in your area.<br />
<br />
So get and there and go birding! (or stay inside and bird from your window)<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-54134015529727567182013-02-09T19:34:00.002-08:002013-02-09T19:34:54.460-08:00It Wasn't a Sinus InfectionDo you remember recently when JLR <a href="http://impatientchicken.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-siiiiiiiick.html" target="_blank">said she was sick</a>, and we thought it was a cold? It wasn't a cold after all, as it turns out. As it turns out, it was the flu. Neither of us expected to catch the flu, since we both had flu shots this year, and yet it was the flu for both of us. I don't why she had to get it, but as for me, well, I guess that will teach me not to eat directly out of the peanut butter jar, especially if someone else (in this case, a flu-carrying JLR) is also eating directly out of the peanut butter jar. Oh, wait. Did that again today. <i>Dang it.</i> When will I learn? I hope she hasn't been hanging out with sick people again.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, we should have known it was the flu. I have never in my life felt that bad in a "caught a cold" sort of way. In a vomitty way, yes. But not in the "feels sort of like a cold only not as wonderful and relaxing as a cold, comparatively speaking" way. Everyone I know who's ever had the flu has talked about how exhausted and generally awful they felt, and I believed them, but I never knew how they felt. Now I do. So when my co-worker last week thought she might have caught the flu but was only out of work for one day, I felt fairly confident in telling her that she did <i>not</i> have the flu. Maybe she had a rare, 24-hour version of it, but it seems unlikely. Come to think of it, though, she is rather fit and eats well. Maybe healthy people only get the flu for 24 hours. Yet another reason for me to eat right and work out, instead of sitting around all day, eating a cupcake, half a candy bar, a bit of ice cream, and a large amount of peanut butter, which is how I spent today. Hey, I got my car's oil changed, and I really don't like messing with an oil change. Plus, I tried to drop off my old headboard and footboard at Goodwill, and they wouldn't take it, and I have been trying to get rid of this thing for quite some time so I don't have to be wasteful and throw it out, and no one will take it. (Sorry about that long sentence. Whiny = long-winded.) Also, Wally was sick several times today and won't eat his food, which is cause for concern in an old cat. Making sure I feel poorly tomorrow was my reward for things not going well today. I'm sure tomorrow I won't regret my choices today. Yeah.<br />
<br />
But on the plus side, I did find some cheap (read: old) <a href="http://www.dallmayr.de/kaffee/sortiment-nach-zubereitung/fuer-filtermaschinen/prodomo/" target="_blank">German-brand coffee beans</a> at the store. <br />
Maybe they won't be as good as the beans I buy at the local hipster coffee shop (where I don't fit in because I don't have tattoos or a handlebar mustache, and I most definitely do not wear old-timey-looking hipster youth suspenders, but where I go despite feeling uncomfortable every moment I'm there because the coffee is oh-so-tasty), but they will taste like saving money. And that's just about my favorite flavor.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtD6KUkNJ0IHriyNszbkcR2E9fE-Upa-4KUfiEKJIl91g48Fgm6_AgvEt_ru8zLykME9evNCGbHkNskZrE_tIdZ_CxVzL3zjzoPJyikeZYTBMkHDh7nxKlZ_Kh3iof6hNu0pd1Q/s1600/coffee+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtD6KUkNJ0IHriyNszbkcR2E9fE-Upa-4KUfiEKJIl91g48Fgm6_AgvEt_ru8zLykME9evNCGbHkNskZrE_tIdZ_CxVzL3zjzoPJyikeZYTBMkHDh7nxKlZ_Kh3iof6hNu0pd1Q/s320/coffee+thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The cheap stuff won't taste as good as the fancy stuff, but it won't make feel old and inferior, either.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's hoping all is well with the rest of you and that you are doing better sticking to your budget and your diet than I am.RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-12960851649929504962013-01-23T18:39:00.000-08:002013-01-23T18:39:00.495-08:00SketchUp: my new nemesis<br /> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Ba2or3qC4xola5CUKwtSbo1y3qGJdoGISZzhj5nNvX4U5DflawFW008GTWtqrVudXcdBVKflgTDwZfmzcecpbb-emYGghbPdPmoubxrMSNVnTxS3Ma2LGdt_hRWh7BSMb65yw/s1600/practice+sketchup+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Ba2or3qC4xola5CUKwtSbo1y3qGJdoGISZzhj5nNvX4U5DflawFW008GTWtqrVudXcdBVKflgTDwZfmzcecpbb-emYGghbPdPmoubxrMSNVnTxS3Ma2LGdt_hRWh7BSMb65yw/s320/practice+sketchup+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<i>Meet my many dormer windows.</i></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm trying to learn Google Sketchup, since I think it will help me with my work. I figured that with lots of practice, then given in about 6 months, I should be able to do basic illustrations for proposed projects at work. I signed up for an online SketchUp class and was feeling pretty optimistic about my abilities to learn and master this new tool (with lots of practice, of course), almost all the way through the first lesson. Then, at about 80% through the lesson, the instructor demonstrated how to create a component--in this case, a dormer window--and add it to a house we had already created earlier in the lesson. We created a window, made it a component, and then (basically) pasted the window onto the other side of the house. Well, of course, since it was created on the other side, when we paste it, it faces the wrong way, and we needed to rotate the windows so they faced out instead of in. My windows wouldn't rotate properly, to start with. It took me about an hour to figure out how to rotate objects. To be clear, I can see what I'm <i>supposed</i> to be doing, but I can't seem to do it, and I know it's operator error, which is very frustrating. I finally got the window facing the right way, but when I add it to the roof, it just sinks right into the building. I've tried changing the axes, I've tried creating a new version of the component that will glue to any surface, I've read several different help pages and watched a video from a different instructor, and still no luck. And even if you don't know anything about Sketchup and don't know what all these terms mean, let me break it down for you: there's a task in a drawing/modeling program that is supposed to be very simple, and everyone else on the planet seems to be able to do it, and I can't figure it out, and I feel like an idiot. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdOcertUzY" target="_blank">But I will triumph</a>. It might just take me a liiiiiitttle bit longer than I'd planned. Maybe about 8 years.<br />
<br />
Anyone have any ideas how to make my windows work?<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-57993957201215140832013-01-21T19:03:00.001-08:002013-01-21T19:03:55.718-08:00Anipang-motivated Gift-Giving<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:DoNotShowRevisions/>
<w:DoNotPrintRevisions/>
<w:DoNotShowMarkup/>
<w:DoNotShowComments/>
<w:DoNotShowInsertionsAndDeletions/>
<w:DoNotShowPropertyChanges/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>KO</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:justify;
text-justify:inter-ideograph;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some years ago, when I lived near <a href="http://blinkyblinkyblink.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deals</a>, I expressed an
interest in taking up running (again).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Deals seemed excited about the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not sure if it was because she would have someone to run with or
because I was finally going to stop talking about exercising and really do
something, but in either case, she wanted to eliminate any obstacles in my path
to physical fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I put off
buying running shoes because of the expense, she threatened, er, offered, to
buy me a pair shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deals seemed rather
serious about buying them, so I went out and bought some, <i>toute de suite</i>, just
to keep her from buying them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to be deterred
from spending her hard-earned money on someone who didn’t deserve it, she
bought me an Ipod shuffle instead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That shuffle has had a lot of use over the years, and although very little of it has involved playing music while I work
out, thanks to Deals, it was at least an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so kind of Deals to help me
out in my efforts to get in shape, and I was really touched by her
thoughtfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I told you that story as an introduction to another one
about friends being kind and giving me things, this time involving not
exercise, but games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>M.J. recently sent
a link to <a href="http://impatientchicken.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JLR</a> and me for a mobile phone version of a game called <a href="http://anipang-for-kakao.en.softonic.com/android" target="_blank">Anipang</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have heard of Anipang; if you haven’t,
you probably soon will, because it is one of those things that spreads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JLR had already heard of Anipang before M.J.
sent us the link to download it, and what she had heard is that this
game—like many mobile phone games, apparently—is rather addictive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as it turns out, what she had heard was
correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JLR now plays it
frequently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0FYlnnLBIgJw27SnYlH-2Rok4ebeZ2Ij-GDfYAJ9l3VeDegDG0PTF1WexQ57Yi8roUTYoUpejzPiG-Bt87vRPvmwDat2G4l1_TpsGWNsoD6vuxRHleZYu72Qsb0tBcKTrSuHtA/s1600/anipang-for-kakao-07-300x535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0FYlnnLBIgJw27SnYlH-2Rok4ebeZ2Ij-GDfYAJ9l3VeDegDG0PTF1WexQ57Yi8roUTYoUpejzPiG-Bt87vRPvmwDat2G4l1_TpsGWNsoD6vuxRHleZYu72Qsb0tBcKTrSuHtA/s320/anipang-for-kakao-07-300x535.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the kind of thing that leads stories about government workers being unproductive.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it also turns out, my
mobile phone won’t play Anipang, the phone being too old to handle the latest
gaming opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I mentioned
this to M.J., she immediately said she would send me her old cell phone, since
it might be able to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I said that was so sweet of her, but why not take some time to think
about it before sending away her backup cell phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, she said, she has a working cell phone,
and that’s all she needs, and as soon as she downloads all the pictures, she
would mail it to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, this is not like when I worked swing shift in the job I had right after college, and I drove home from work at 10 or 11 at night, so my mom gave me
her old cell phone for safety reasons, so I wouldn’t be phone-less if my car broke down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, M.J. is sending me her old cell phone so
I can play a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s not even
like I’m comfortable playing Anipang, since the permissions you have to give
them basically let them track everything you do on your cell phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I should have told her “no, but thank you”
on her offer, but I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because, you
see, I have played Anipang, and I would like to play more, and I don't want to be dependent on JLR letting me use up some of her pangs or hearts or whatever it is (I don't even understand it, and I can't stop playing it!). Come to think of it, I understand now why M.J. wants me to have that phone. Once a person is addicted to something, she wants everyone else to be addicted to it, too, right? So that you all suffer together?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">And on that note, here's a song for you:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjYKQi3VP-c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Yes, that video is what you think it is. </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-63889100853031587642013-01-14T18:54:00.000-08:002013-01-14T18:54:07.488-08:00Personality Profiles at WorkToday, our HR department sent out a link to Myers Briggs tests we were supposed to take today so we can discuss the results in our department head meeting tomorrow. It's been years since I first took a Myers Briggs test, and I used to think it was a nifty way of figuring out people and how to communicate with each other. Recently, though, I've read about how unreliable and unproven they are, and how they shouldn't really be used in hiring or career-placement decisions. The Powers That Be at my office are not likely to use personality profiles as a basis for employee advancement and retention, so I'm not really worried about their finding out I'm an introvert trying to make do in an extrovert's job. They probably know all about my being an introvert already, just like They already know about my keen ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time ("This one is not destined for a lengthy career in public service," They must say to each other). What I'm worried about is that They might figure out just how much, really, I am unsuited for my job. Even if Myers Briggs is generally inaccurate (and I have no way of knowing if it is), the results from my taking their test did hone in on a few key characteristics.<br />
<br />
(1) I'm not deadline-oriented. <br />
(2) I'm not detail-oriented. I hate worrying about details, and I often miss little things with major importance.<br />
(3) I'm an introvert (as mentioned above).<br />
(4) I like to spend my time coming up with new ways of doing things, or ways to improve existing processes, and then leave the implementaiton of those new ideas to someone else. [Question: who *wouldn't* prefer to come up with the ideas and leave implementation to someone else? Isn't coming up with ideas the fun part of any project?]<br />
(5) I don't like conflict.<br />
<br />
Here are a few characteristics about my job:<br />
(1) Deadlines are very, very important. By law, I have to put notices in newspapers, send out letters, post agendas, and post signs on a regular basis, all by very strict deadlines, or we can't move forward with a project when we're supposed to do so. We have had to cancel public hearings because I've missed these deadlines.<br />
(2) Details are very, very important. Accidentally leave out one important detail in the aforementioned notices, letters, agendas, etc., and we can't move forward with a project when we're supposed to do so. <br />
(3) Introverts lose energy by spending a lot of time around a lot of people, and I work in the public sector. People drop by unexpectedly, my phone rings and I'm supposed to answer it, and other things that drain my energy because they involve dealing with people are part of my job on a day-to-day basis.<br />
(4) My boss hires consultants to do the creative part of my job and leaves me to do the implementation, with all the details and deadlines included.<br />
(5) Conflict? I work for local government. My work involves telling people what they can and cannot do with their property. My work involves reviewing cases for natural gas permits. My work involves telling people why part their property is being taken for right-of-way for a new road that someone else decided we needed, but I happened to be the person they could find, so I'm the one who gets an earfull. Conflict is a regular part of work in local government. No matter what decision we make, someone is going to be unhappy, and some of these people are at the come-down-to-the-office-and-yell-at-someone level of unhappiness.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I've restructured my life to fit my job--everything, every little task goes into a To Do list program, everything gets broken down into mini-tasks with due dates, everything gets a calendar reminder and a checklist. Everything goes by the rules. So when I took the Myers Briggs test, it spat back at me the personality description that does fit my job, except for the introvert part. Now that I think about it, maybe I don't have to worry about the discussion after all. I may be completely unsuited for my job, but no one needs to know...unless I open my big mouth and say the wrong thing at the wrong time. But They're used to that.<br />
RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-42703261334146936572013-01-05T15:22:00.003-08:002013-01-05T15:22:33.607-08:00Absolutely Nothing to ReportThis is one of those days when I wish I used my blog like an old-fashioned journal, where one simply wrote entries like, "Sunny today, warmer. Went to grocery store with <a href="http://impatientchicken.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JLR</a>. New soup recipe for lunch, not bad." And so on.<br />
<br />
You see, I have absolutely nothing interesting to report. Not even any incidents. I must not be as clumsy or as socially awkward as I used to be...on second thought, it must just be that I don't remember the clumsiness or awkwardness. Surely I would notice if I had become more graceful? Anyhow, I don't have any incidents to report, unless having a horribly dirty car counts. I tried to get a gas station car wash the other day, but the pay-with-credit-card option was broken, and I didn't want to go into the store to pay for it, as lately it has been quite cold and, okay, the real reason is because I'm lazy. I don't have the heart to take my car to a fancy car wash because the old thing looks so terrible these days. The paint is fading, and the head liner is starting to tear and sag, but the car still runs so well, I don't have the heart to buy a new one. Plus, I like not having a car note. Makes me feel more organized and thrifty and financially responsible (I am none of those things).<br />
<br />
So my car is horribly, horribly dirty.<br />
<br />
In other news, my nose is peeling, which is as unattractive as it sounds. But on the plus side, peeling, irritated noses are a normal sight for winter, so I don't think people will stare and point.<br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for me for now.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-80746605001652757552012-12-02T08:44:00.002-08:002012-12-02T08:44:25.790-08:00Remember when I said I'd have free time soon?Haaaa, that was funny. See, the thing is, there's this certification exam for folks in my profession, and I had registered to take it in November and then promptly forgot all about it. Well, that's not exactly true. What I forgot was that I needed to submit a request to postpone the exam date until May. At the end of October, just three days after the deadline to postpone, I remembered that I had forgotten to postpone it and that I therefore would have to take the exam in a few weeks. In 24 days, to be exact. ("Don't panic! Don't panic!")<br />
<br />
I'd heard that you're supposed to study for 80 to 100 hours before taking the exam. It's only offered twice a year, and it costs $500, so blowing off studying, failing the exam, and then re-taking it in a month or so was not an option. Those three days of vacation I'd planned to take at the end of October, when I was going to sit around the house and read books all day? Not vacation. Studying. But at least I was reading, right? Right?<br />
<br />
Yuck.<br />
<br />
But the good news is, I passed the exam. After spending every weekend doing nothing but studying while <a href="http://impatientchicken.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JLR</a> did all the chores and ran all the errands, and with a lot of prayer from friends, I passed. Hurray!!!<br />
<br />
So *now* I'm hoping to have free time soon. <br />
<br />
In other news, having passed a certification exam does not mean that people take my opinion more seriously, in my professional life or personal life. It seems to be as meaningless to the people around me as it was before. But on the plus side, JLR and I had lunch with our friend JK yesterday, and JK made us some toffee for Christmas.<br />
Last night's plans:<br />
(1) Watch The Man from Nowhere/아저씨 -- check!<br />
(2) Eat lots of toffee -- check!<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving was good. Stayed at home with JLR, ate cereal and pizza, watched a marathon of a tv show we liked, and walked for a few miles in the beautiful fall weather. No stressful family. Very low key, very nice. <br />
<br />
I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving holiday!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-84429872963471912772012-10-25T20:13:00.001-07:002012-10-25T20:13:18.103-07:00I think I may have some free time soon.There's something stuck in my keyboard. It was obstructing my use of the "f" key. I used one of those air cans on the keyboard tonight, but at some point the pressure from the can shot out the little straw thingy that makes the whole thing work, and now there's no way to use the air can. Can't find the straw thingy. The whatever-it-was under the "f" key is now firmly wedged beneath the "g" key. Bother.<br />
<br />
In other news, my life has gone on much the same as usual, except that this week I've thrown caution to the wind and eaten more than I should (actually, scratch that, that part is not an exception to the usual), and the pants are getting a wee bit snug. But, oh, my, the peanut butter sure has tasted good, especially when paired with chocolate ice cream (I love peanut butter week!). It's a good thing the only ice cream JLR and I can both eat comes in a small container. It's also a good thing we're on a rotation diet and can't eat peanut butter very often.<br />
<br />
Why are there so many "g"s in the English language?<br />
<br />
Anyhow, free time coming soon! I have a few days off from work next week, and it's affecting my work this week. I keep thinking every day is the day before vacation. Unfortunately, I have oh-so-much work due before I leave. Oh, well! Working all weekend it is, then...but working all weekend with snacks, coffee, and fall weather. So it could be worse.<br />
<br />
Also, can I just protest the cool weather scheduled to be here over the next few days, when I could be wearing skirts and cute tights to work? But it's the weekend, so that's not happening. I do not wear skirts on the weekend if I can help it.<br />
<br />
And that's all I can think of to say. Good night, everyone!<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-31293365200859244112012-09-19T08:56:00.001-07:002012-09-19T08:56:22.773-07:00Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!Now go out and talk like a pirate t' everyone ye meet!<br />
<br />
Just don't engage in any real piracy, okay?<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-51329431605339608072012-08-31T17:06:00.000-07:002012-08-31T17:06:11.377-07:00To Seoul and Back AgainHello! I'm finally posting something about my friend's wedding in Seoul. It was a bit of the uncanny valley, I must say, but not too bad. To get an idea of what Korean weddings are like, at least for me and several ex-pats who have blogged about them, I'm linking to <a href="http://kimchiicecream.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/korean-wedding-hallcastle-culture-jason-when-are-you-and-julianne-getting-married-you-should-get-married/" target="_blank">a blog post</a> from someone who's been to several weddings in Korea. <br />
<br />
Our friend's wedding was not entirely like the ones described in Jason's post: no smoke machines, no laser lights, none of the stage show-like features I've seen described on other blogs. But it was odd there being a catwalk-type "aisle" to walk down as a bridesmaid (I say "catwalk-type" because it wasn't raised as high as a catwalk, but it was definitely a shiny, raised surface). It was odd there being an MC in addition to someone who officiated. It was odd that they cut a cake in the middle of the ceremony, and this cake was not served, not during the ceremony or at the reception. It was odd that there was no rehearsal so the bride and groom (and the foreign bridesmaids) would know what to do during the ceremony. And it was odd that people wandered in and out of the back of the hall and talked freely--and not quietly--while the ceremony was going on. It was just odd. I was a little bit taken aback. But I was so happy for my friend, and she looked beautiful, like a fairytale princess. <br />
<br />
Despite there being some aspects of Seoul I didn't understand, I enjoyed the trip very much. <br />
<br />
<h4>
Here are the things I didn't understand.</h4>
(1) I don't understand why it was so hard to find drip coffee. <br />
(2) I don't understand why the Starbucks we visited in Myeongdong serves neither drip coffee nor green tea. <br />
(3) I don't understand why it was so difficult for me to find a place that sells cute stationery and office supplies, given that the cutest pens, paper, pencils, etc., that I've ever seen come from Korea and Japan. And I know they're available because M.J. has brought them to me from her trips back home over the summers. So where were they keeping the office supplies while I was there?!? Where? <br />
(4) I don't understand why we couldn't find a camera battery for sale anywhere we went...except at the airport as we were on the way to board our plane home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>And the trip to Seoul reinforced something I don't understand about where I live.</b></h4>
After spending seven days without having to drive, and it being every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be, I don't understand why we don't have better public transportation in my region, even if we can't build something as wonderful as Seoul's bus and subway system. Surely we can do better than what we have. We can do better, but there are enough ignorant, selfish, or foolish people out here (some of whom are a combination of all three of these traits) to block our moving forward with better transit.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Here are some of the things I especially enjoyed, in no particular order.</h4>
<ul>
<li>spending time with M.J.</li>
<li>easy access to various kinds of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ddeok" target="_blank">rice cakes</a> (not like the kinds we typically eat here)</li>
<li>the easy-to-use subway system (as you may have inferred from the above comments on transit)</li>
<li>being able to walk around so much</li>
<li>walking on wide sidewalks when next to newer, wide, busy streets and on the shared streets in the historic areas we visited</li>
<li>shopping at locally-owned stores</li>
<li>having a hotel room with a kitchen, complete with full-size fridge and freezer, stove, microwave, and rice cooker</li>
<li>not being at work (of course)</li>
<li>lots of coffee shops (even if I couldn't get drip coffee easily)</li>
<li>seeing in person the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheonggyecheon" target="_blank">Cheonggyecheon</a> project I had read about and admired </li>
</ul>
I did <i>not</i> enjoy having easy access to <a href="http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/ddukbokkie" target="_blank">ddeokbokki</a>, <a href="http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/japchae" target="_blank">japchae</a>, and my other favorite Korean dishes yet not being able to eat them due allergies...but I did enjoy seeing all the food stalls and <a href="http://kdramalife.tumblr.com/post/21344666288/are-you-drunk" target="_blank">drinking spots</a>, just like in my favorite K-dramas (see also <a href="http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/drink/pojangmacha-guide-039741" target="_blank">this article</a>)!<br />
<br />
<br />
And now, because I'm sure you were waiting for this, here are some pictures from the trip.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.betweenpages.co.kr/" target="_blank">Between Pages</a>, a coffee shop:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH8JnI555h72UOxZcHKwP_CS6-yR37skEePUDBLb531XDMbDsS8OTuOZYrKn1cqb1EXvdnq24Q7UZ3qo4rsvezfefajgCvRNbQvqiBL6ep93THmYVV7qZ8OID3n0Q0juzYZjafw/s1600/bookstore+copy+shop+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH8JnI555h72UOxZcHKwP_CS6-yR37skEePUDBLb531XDMbDsS8OTuOZYrKn1cqb1EXvdnq24Q7UZ3qo4rsvezfefajgCvRNbQvqiBL6ep93THmYVV7qZ8OID3n0Q0juzYZjafw/s320/bookstore+copy+shop+thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Another coffee shop:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP297buJ7k0_nfTBefEWPngXbzZiV_ZtLEGSAB0Rj6tAjpLRmC4NkYhNOFsodTTHDEBhIDHF5VrI9aX6rjjHR-cr_1efKyBA7jBjbpYUXKKkFXwezZvuj3eS70tjmTaEfEHfenDQ/s1600/coffee+shop+interior+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP297buJ7k0_nfTBefEWPngXbzZiV_ZtLEGSAB0Rj6tAjpLRmC4NkYhNOFsodTTHDEBhIDHF5VrI9aX6rjjHR-cr_1efKyBA7jBjbpYUXKKkFXwezZvuj3eS70tjmTaEfEHfenDQ/s320/coffee+shop+interior+thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Picture of a coffee shop from the coffee shop I was visiting:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxOVfwNLEH9UAiyBz-2js5AhcXkk7Y1ZCG-TU7BXlzlR0yE9RqqxkA0VA0CohpuWyldd7m-YAM7pZCSJNMTCIi5Xb95x5Tx2Etxjzm5e0VU2tf3y9_fMq_7tCF22syWWlaeUjqA/s1600/view+of+coffee+shop+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxOVfwNLEH9UAiyBz-2js5AhcXkk7Y1ZCG-TU7BXlzlR0yE9RqqxkA0VA0CohpuWyldd7m-YAM7pZCSJNMTCIi5Xb95x5Tx2Etxjzm5e0VU2tf3y9_fMq_7tCF22syWWlaeUjqA/s320/view+of+coffee+shop+thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A coffee shop and bakery we passed but did not visit (couldn't bear getting closer to the fantastic-smelling off-limits bakery products that lured us into the building housing the shop): <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8btvHIWBwWqeWO5kVZibS-sdO8pQfwTo8aD2UV-HM6VZ2aEVXtpI3uhc2GllPYfIdNjP-GC9C33mRFG28APr6OosS7Rw3JRuzHFO1m5XrTI8WRBObSZDXqMLyWbI8B1UxaJomA/s1600/BRCD+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8btvHIWBwWqeWO5kVZibS-sdO8pQfwTo8aD2UV-HM6VZ2aEVXtpI3uhc2GllPYfIdNjP-GC9C33mRFG28APr6OosS7Rw3JRuzHFO1m5XrTI8WRBObSZDXqMLyWbI8B1UxaJomA/s320/BRCD+thumb.jpg" title="Bread is Ready, Coffee is Done" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Bread is Ready, Coffee is Done.</i> Doesn't it have the best name? They sell something called an "All Day Set." I don't know what that is, but it sounds like something I would want from a coffee shop and bakery.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You expected something other than pictures of coffee shops? All right, fine. Here.<br />
<br />
<br />
A street scene.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZjwAiXbGSi23sQYVltKjGocxWr3Vmmo6ajtGrQv3k6s49Jbrbd2tIdp_aIPNtWUAdz-5smyKKjUimVJlXCMzI4Re6VsIbRQKiLuWxI27RjKOIEVtU3a89ArkmHqBBblQIaLG5g/s1600/street+scene+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZjwAiXbGSi23sQYVltKjGocxWr3Vmmo6ajtGrQv3k6s49Jbrbd2tIdp_aIPNtWUAdz-5smyKKjUimVJlXCMzI4Re6VsIbRQKiLuWxI27RjKOIEVtU3a89ArkmHqBBblQIaLG5g/s320/street+scene+thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here is in from Google Streetview.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEI8ZeyV-KCkT_wyfBbW2T6yN5putGPcnaAZTerbV8zNWA_QRiiiJpbwjP1z3pPp4I6qQqk5JZoCQX1iUHC2hUKE9GMpJjP_DRDJbaagmKe_RHaBKAbAGAoeTurxt0u1iUmfloA/s1600/Street+near+Bukchon+Hanok+Village+%28site+of+Lee+Hwaik+Gallery%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEI8ZeyV-KCkT_wyfBbW2T6yN5putGPcnaAZTerbV8zNWA_QRiiiJpbwjP1z3pPp4I6qQqk5JZoCQX1iUHC2hUKE9GMpJjP_DRDJbaagmKe_RHaBKAbAGAoeTurxt0u1iUmfloA/s640/Street+near+Bukchon+Hanok+Village+%28site+of+Lee+Hwaik+Gallery%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A wonderful chocolate shop with a super nice saleswoman and a tasty, tasty, tasty chocolate drink that we shouldn't have had (which was followed by Benadryl).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.seouleats.com/2010/02/a-chocolate-adventure-where-to-buy-chocolate-in-seoul/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qug-LnVl5V__N8eN-uP-HirjtDWbco894PNAAWvfGnHx4FBMAqAOKKvhqBK3Omnr6hvvlnA6y6iGXzl8uSw3vH-whDabE18hjdnUJMaJgwrJBSXTJ6n_3_bmF1oMxhKJe4sgVA/s320/chocolate+shop+thumb.jpg" title="picture of Chateau Chocolate Castle Museum" width="320" /> Chateau Chocolate Castle Museum</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Interior of a restaurant where we heard Rhinestone Cowboy playing in the background, giving me an amusing taste of home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9jrQT6ct1VBpvRCgPWU58pFrJ_cSTjK6MoXBjvFRFQNHYNVATLGHmxzqmaM1pG4uAWrvNsWs1uDyFaAheypAC_velzjTCl_UuKm3wfz7TrCZSSseGLfpXwJDKqI5bMKtMr9u_A/s1600/rhinestone+cowboy+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9jrQT6ct1VBpvRCgPWU58pFrJ_cSTjK6MoXBjvFRFQNHYNVATLGHmxzqmaM1pG4uAWrvNsWs1uDyFaAheypAC_velzjTCl_UuKm3wfz7TrCZSSseGLfpXwJDKqI5bMKtMr9u_A/s320/rhinestone+cowboy+thumb.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A lovely, lovely wide sidewalk next to a busy street.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U-krKIFY8t3GpwXS5b6m0DrlcEfAbYeo-6xKgSPZTdx51mClCMTsjJk8w4nmfYuR-4PHahXP7cOTN4yf1qzLXnyBWNarTpRXmEmiNWeuvADSrWfTH3ohMgFUI-Ml0S1dZaFCBg/s1600/wide+sidewalk+thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U-krKIFY8t3GpwXS5b6m0DrlcEfAbYeo-6xKgSPZTdx51mClCMTsjJk8w4nmfYuR-4PHahXP7cOTN4yf1qzLXnyBWNarTpRXmEmiNWeuvADSrWfTH3ohMgFUI-Ml0S1dZaFCBg/s320/wide+sidewalk+thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And finally, a street scene from the Insadong neighborhood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9KpHtOi_YhrsG2lprld8l0zsWuAv5XNQf2Fxsz3Z1Czzcs1Jb3hsbaeNcEQKo2M_nEH2uOoW3mgJIXksZ03ov1iuSazZkWe0TzboQ8TWIVoFGMWEdmOBwN7pZ-WkYFVMapgJIg/s1600/Insadong+street+scence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9KpHtOi_YhrsG2lprld8l0zsWuAv5XNQf2Fxsz3Z1Czzcs1Jb3hsbaeNcEQKo2M_nEH2uOoW3mgJIXksZ03ov1iuSazZkWe0TzboQ8TWIVoFGMWEdmOBwN7pZ-WkYFVMapgJIg/s320/Insadong+street+scence.jpg" title="Insadong-gil" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our camera battery died soon after we arrived (don't ask why we didn't get a replacement; it's a boring, somewhat bitter story), so we had to be satisfied with pictures from our cell phones--and so will you, I'm sorry to say. <br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-45191709578501458212012-08-10T19:49:00.000-07:002012-08-10T19:49:03.820-07:00Surprise! Your deadline isn't when you thought it was.Yesterday, I had a phone call from an agency from which we received a grant last year. Our contact there wanted to let us know we had only three weeks to finish spending the funding provided in our grant. Ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Funny. I thought our deadline was the end of December. I am now going to cram four months of programming and publications/educational material into three weeks. No problem. I can do this, right?<br />
<br />
In other news, my plants are still alive. Well, most of them are. The fennel has looked better.<br />
<br />
How are your plants doing this summer?<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-18864313920373498382012-08-02T18:34:00.002-07:002012-08-02T18:34:41.347-07:00Sorry, I can't talk right now.I'm watching the Olympics.<br />
<br />
Yes, I already know who won the events that interest me; I heard it on the news earlier. But now that it's the evening, I'm busy watching what I've already heard about. <br />
<br />
In other news, my supervisor got poison ivy two or three days ago, and this morning his car broke down on the way in to work. So he's having a bad week. My week has been sublime in comparison, and I have no incidents to report...except this. Why does our finance director insist on talking to me in staff meetings as though I'm the head of our department? She kept saying things related to the budget, either information she still needed our department to submit for next year's budget or how much money we have in our tree reforestation fund, and I wanted to tell her (but didn't have the nerve), "The head of the department is sitting two seats down from me. Why don't you turn your conversation in his direction?" <br />
<br />
Have a happy Friday, y'all! <br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-48177692274840200572012-07-31T19:51:00.004-07:002012-07-31T19:51:59.593-07:00The Olympics and Women's SportsIt's Olympics time, as you already know. I would like to take this moment to complain--as I do every four years--about the women's gymnastics floor routines. Why are women required to prance around the floor like wanna-be ballerinas, and men are not? Why can't women simply get out there and do (amazing) tumbling passes? <br />
<br />
Also, I really, really hope <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/sports/olympics/chinese-swimmer-wins-again-as-doping-questions-persist.html" target="_blank">Ye Shiwen</a> has not been doping. It would mean great things for women's sports if she pulled off those awesome swims without medical/chemical assistance.<br />
<br />
And finally, kudos and congratulations to all the Olympic athletes, who inspire me and remind me that I could find at least a little time to exercise regularly.RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-66573666475585037082012-07-25T19:51:00.003-07:002012-07-25T19:51:48.001-07:00What's New with MeHas this ever happened to you? You're at a dinner event or banquet, and as the wait staff serve the entrees, they serve everyone at your table except you, serve the entire rest of the room, and then come back to serve you at the end. No? Oh. <br />
<br />
It's happened to me, and more than once.<br />
<br />
Over time, JLR and I have begun to feel we're suffering from a mild case of invisibility. We don't have a full blown case so that no one can see us, but we have it just bad enough that people don't see us unless we speak to them or in some other way draw attention to ourselves. <br />
<br />
People cut in line in front of us regularly, and they'll walk right in front of us as we go down a grocery store aisle, and then they'll stop and stand there, perusing the merchandise. Eventually, our "excuse me" will cause them to turn around and, surprised, notice that we're standing there. Combine our near invisibility with the fact that we look like a lot of other people (so much so that we've begun to think we might be trapped in an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_to_the_Infinite_Power" target="_blank">Anna to the Infinite Power</a> situation), and I'm left wondering--why has no one recruited us to be spies? Sure, we'd be terrible spies, but the Spy Recruiting People don't know that, do they? Aren't they trained to notice people who aren't noticeable? Drop us into any location involving white people, and we are completely unremarkable.<br />
<br />
But all that's just something I was thinking about earlier. What I really wanted to tell you is that Psy's new song <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0" target="_blank">Gangnam Style</a> </i>is stuck in my head. May it also be stuck in yours.<br />
<br />
P.S., it's hot outside. And I got an "all clear" from the dermatologist after my full body mole checkup, and I had peanut butter and banana after dinner, so it was a good day.<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-36489715079716523342012-07-05T13:36:00.000-07:002012-07-05T13:36:05.440-07:00Lunch with People I Like<a href="http://impatientchicken.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JLR</a> and I were both off from work yesterday, off course, since we have government jobs, and yesterday was an official government holiday. And we took today off as well. I've been debating whether or not to take tomorrow off, too. I have a lot of work to get done, but I have a lot going on at home, too (see earlier post about house water issues).<br />
<br />
Yesterday, JLR and I drove out to have lunch with <a href="http://www.blinkyblinkyblink.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deals</a> and her husband, her baby boy (now six months old! Happy Half Birthday, Little Dude!), and her brother. We haven't seen Deals in a long time, so even though we had to eat lunch at the grocery store (thanks, food allergies), it was great. We got caught up on what's been going on with Deals, the drama at her office, and people she and JLR both know but that JLR hasn't seen since law school. And there was snuggling with a little baby who is powerless to flee from my clutches, which was nice. Small children = boring unless they're saying something to embarrass their parents or using grown-up sounding phrases, which sound funny coming from little ones. (Example from my past: Me: L, what is your favorite kind of cheese? L: (with a pensive expression on her face) Um...I would have to say...Muenster.) But babies of a snuggly size and prone to making little gurgly noises = fantastic. Thanks for sharing the snuggles, Deals.<br />
<br />
Today, we had lunch with our brother and our sort-of sister-in-law. "Sort of" because she and my brother aren't married, but they've been dating for years, so it feels like she's my sister-in-law. Her icky boss is out of town this week, and JLR and I have the day off from work, so it seemed like a good time for a daytime get-together. We thought it was going to be just the ladies, but then this morning our brother texted us, "Lunch at noon, right?" Um...sure, man. Come on along. Now we can't talk about you. Ha ha ha, I kid. Actually, I joke about him butting in, but really we were happy to see him. We don't see him often, since all three of us have busy work schedules, and because JLR and I don't like to leave the house more than we absolutely have to.<br />
<br />
So despite the household issues, the past two days have been good! And the landlords called the water removal people, and we are now having giant, very noisy fans running in our house, which will be running for 3 or 4 days. But that's okay. We'll feed Wally upstairs so he doesn't have to come down to deal with it, and we'll just finish watching season one of <span class="st">뱀파이어 검사</span> (<a href="http://www.hulu.com/vampire-prosecutor" target="_blank">Vampire Prosecutor</a>; silly name, good show, despite the fact that it involves vampires) on the laptop upstairs. No problem.<br />
<br />
I don't think I'm going to work tomorrow.<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-61643158522428029722012-06-29T18:12:00.005-07:002012-06-29T18:17:04.363-07:00Incident Report, Home EditionLast weekend, our townhouse flooded, sort of. I say "sort of" because we weren't home at the time and don't know how much water actually came into our home. It couldn't have been much of a flood, because the floor is only damaged about half-way through our dining room. A water line at our next door neighbor's home burst, and it flowed downhill and flooded the home on the other side. On our side, we don't think it flooded except a little bit in the laundry room in the bathroom, but it certainly did mess up the floors all along the wall we share with the neighbor.<br />
<br />
And how long do you think it took our landlords to call someone to come over to assess the damage? Go on, guess. <br />
<br />
That was a trick question. They haven't done it yet! They haven't done anything to assess the water damage yet. Oh, sure, they've been over to the house and looked at the floors and generally agreed that the floors were ruined where the water had been. But they haven't, say, pulled up one of the boards and peeked to see if mildew had begun to form. They haven't sent over a professional of any sort--you name it, flooring professional, plumbing professional, water removal specialist, general handyman--no one who would know about repairing these kinds of situations. We have only our landlords' assessment to guide our actions, and by "assessment," of course, I refer to their staring at the floors and lamenting how much it cost them to install.<br />
<br />
On the plus side, the lack of action on the part of our landlords, coupled with the growing hint of a mildew-y aroma, has indeed guided our actions in that it has motivated us to start going through our belongings as if we were making an assessment of our own, the kind you do when you're moving and look at everything in your house and say, "I'm not sure this is worth the effort of packing and moving it." The amount of stuff we've thrown out or put in a to-give-away pile makes it look as though we really are moving. Which is good, because given the situation, we probably will need to move soon. I'm not going to live in a mildew-infested home (again).<br />
<br />
And in other news, our hot water heater went out on Wednesday night. The landlords called the plumber, and it was repaired this morning. Glad they were so on top of that particular water-related issue.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-25733069728713377262012-06-15T21:22:00.002-07:002012-06-15T21:22:41.042-07:00Incident Report, Seoul Version1. M.J. spilled coffee on her white pants. Of course she did. Whenever she wears those pants and we're going to get coffee (and we are always going to get coffee), she spills coffee on herself. <br />
2. I bought a bag of brown rice while in Korea (hotel had a full kitchen, baby!) but didn't finish eating it while I was there. Declared it on my customs form, thus was flagged by customs agent and had to go to the inspections room. Customs guy at inspections room, noting that the rice was commercially packaged, released me and the rice immediately, but still. I was flagged by a customs agent, y'all.<br />
3. Ate an allergy-unsafe meal on the flight back, and then my stomach made me throw it up in the bathroom a little while later. Yuck. Trust me, it wasn't me that made the toilet a little on the icky side.<br />
4. May have offended MJ's mom when I couldn't remember the polite Korean phrasing for turning down an offer to visit someone's home due to lack of time.<br />
<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-56382500077660754072012-04-26T18:12:00.000-07:002012-04-26T18:12:27.145-07:00Incident Report, 4-26-2012(1) While walking into work today, spilled coffee down the front of my pants...the pants I washed last night.<br />(2) Yesterday, splashed turmeric-laden sauce on my shirt during lunch.<br />(3) Got a virus on my computer while looking for pictures of birds for a newsletter article.<br />(4) Because the IT person had to completely re-do (I don't know the technical term) my computer (see (3), above), our mapping software's connection to the server (where my files are stored) needs to be restablished, and I don't know how to do it. Result: this conversation in the afternoon:<br /><br />Mayor: RR, I need to see a floodmap.<br />Me: A floodmap of the city? Or would you like a map for a specific property?<br />Mayor: (please to have the option of a property-specific map) For a specific property would be great.<br />Me: (with a confident tone in my voice) No problem! Give me just a few minutes.<br />
<br />Me, several minutes later: Um...I can't get to my files. Would you take instead a copy of our zoning map with a close-up of the property?<br /><br />Awkward.RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13762160.post-48343825558323717412012-04-24T17:35:00.002-07:002012-04-24T17:35:45.982-07:00<br />
Next month, I'm going to Florida for a conference. Some people would be excited about a trip to a purportedly lovely coastal location, paid for by someone else, and during which one gets to learn more about and discuss a topic dear to one's heart. But I am not one of them. If the conference were to be held here in town, I would be thrilled, but a conference involving travel makes me feel tired a month before I get there.<br /><br />Why am I dreading going so much? I'm glad you asked.<br /><br />You probably already know from previous blog posts that I have many food allergies. When I'm traveling, I don't know the restaurants or the grocery stores, so I don't know where I'll be able to eat. I have to bring enough food with me to sustain me for the entire time I'm away, because I rarely know for sure in advance if I will have access to a safe local food source. Trying to travel light is not an option. And because I can't pack much food likely to spoil, I always end up eating a lot of peanut butter, rice cakes, and larabars. And as much as I love those things--and I really do love them--after a few days, I'm desperate for some vegetables.<br /><br />For this conference, I'll be gone 5 1/2 days. Five and a half days! That's a lot of peanut butter.<br /><br />If restaurants were generally more inclined to know what's in their food, and if they had a goal of making good, quality food over profits, this would be easier. If food manufacturers didn't fill their products with garbage that we shouldn't be eating, this would be easier. But because we want cheap food and we don't care how we get, I have to pack like I'm going on the Oregon Trail every time I travel.<br />
<br />
***Stepping down from soap box***<br />
<br />
In more pleasant news, I'm almost over my cold, and my sweet potato plant is growing so well. It's looking quite pretty. And the plant I've had in my office for two weeks now isn't dead yet. It isn't even looking as though death is in its near future. I'm not sure how long this will last, but so far, so good.<br /><br />Also, I don't fully understand the new blogger dashboard/tools/settings. Have
I reached the age where technology passes me by because I can't be
bother to keep up with the new things? Eh, who cares?<br /><br />And finally, I think I went to work with a small stain on my shirt today. I'm hoping no one noticed.<br />
<br />RRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745641984351295noreply@blogger.com0