This morning as I walked down the lane in the mist, I chased off a deer and two young 'uns -- they'd lost their spots, but were still small. One large white tail and two small white tails flashed off into the corn, which just this week has nearly blocked the view of the road.
Last weekend, running down past the bridge, I saw a scarlet tanager. So pretty.
And the next day, a mother groundhog followed closely by a youngster came up the driveway and out past the garage. I don't care for groundhogs, but these two softened my heart -- at least while one is young.
Gina, deprived of the mice and snakes the old house offered, killed a baby rabbit and laid it just below the porch directly in front of the door -- on what would be the main walk if I had a walk.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A Good Day
I taught the 2-hour "Standards of Professionalism" to staff for the first time today, after two sessions with leadership (and a beta session with my own team, and a prototype module with EasyEnroll a few months back). It went really well -- I was sharp and funny and never lost my voice, kept it moving and kept in their faces, even though it was after lunch they participated pretty well -- and at the end they applauded me!
Immediately afterward I met with Jennifer about something, and when I mentioned what I had just been doing, she told me how good I was at training, that she often says to herself, "What did we ever do before Susan came?", and said Michelle Lockhart had told her how good I was.
I need to remember days like today when I have less good days. I had just been feeling that my module was amateurish and my presentation cheesy, so it was really nice to get that type of feedback. Jennifer, of course, wants me to develop and eventually deliver a new topic, cultural diversity. We had a good discussion, but that's not very high on my priority list. Getting everyone trained in Standards, then rolling out Benefits 101 to the supervisors and beginning to present it in a regular fashion to new hires, along with HIPAA and Standards, is primary. Dealing with GOSS is only pertinent for a small percentage of the company.
Immediately afterward I met with Jennifer about something, and when I mentioned what I had just been doing, she told me how good I was at training, that she often says to herself, "What did we ever do before Susan came?", and said Michelle Lockhart had told her how good I was.
I need to remember days like today when I have less good days. I had just been feeling that my module was amateurish and my presentation cheesy, so it was really nice to get that type of feedback. Jennifer, of course, wants me to develop and eventually deliver a new topic, cultural diversity. We had a good discussion, but that's not very high on my priority list. Getting everyone trained in Standards, then rolling out Benefits 101 to the supervisors and beginning to present it in a regular fashion to new hires, along with HIPAA and Standards, is primary. Dealing with GOSS is only pertinent for a small percentage of the company.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Nature Notes
Just picked a handful of large, juicy red strawberries, the first of the year. I have been working indoors and the weeds have nearly taken over the garden, which actually looked pretty good last year. On the plus side, I finished the bookcases two weeks ago. I tried staining the mantlepiece, but it was just too much dark wood, plus the (lovely) grain detracted from the beauty of Aaron's design. So I've just finished painting it Medici Ivory. I think this will work. Tried Roman Column yesterday, but way too white. I'd almost give another 1/64th shot of pink and yellow to the Medici -- but I do want it to read White, not Ivory.
I am all ready to measure for curtains, having spotted fabrics I love last autumn. But I have mail-order tomato plants and roses, and a few herbs from Hy-Vee, waiting (some for weeks) to be put out.
About 10 days ago, I finally identified 3 major things that really were getting me down -- laundry, curtains, and paper. So I called a repairman who said I would probably be better off just getting new appliances, so I bit the bullet and went to Slager's. I got their lowest-level GE washer, and would have done the same with the dryer, but most people get the second-level washer and the basic dryer model -- leaving the company with too many basic washers and too few basic dryers. So I got the second-level dryer for the price of the basic, plus got a large discount on delivery, and they hauled the old ones! I did 5 loads of laundry Tuesday night (the day they were delivered), and at least one load per day since. I have too many clothes, but now I think I can begin to let some go.
The curtains are next, and I had planned to go shopping today, but I really need to get these plants out. Okay, any excuse not to have to drive on a weekend....
I watched Gina chase a deer this morning. They faced off yesterday, with neutral results. Today I thought Gina was trying to befriend it -- she loves to rub up against other people -- and the deer seemed more interested than offended, compared to yesterday. But a second deer came up, and Gina charged it. I think she won that one. I would love to see her befrind one, though!
Anyway, yesterday I finally took the plastic off the sofa, put floor guards under the piano legs, and moved them both to where I think I want them. Not a lot of choices, in such a small room.
There's not much wind, so I should go spray weeds.
I am all ready to measure for curtains, having spotted fabrics I love last autumn. But I have mail-order tomato plants and roses, and a few herbs from Hy-Vee, waiting (some for weeks) to be put out.
About 10 days ago, I finally identified 3 major things that really were getting me down -- laundry, curtains, and paper. So I called a repairman who said I would probably be better off just getting new appliances, so I bit the bullet and went to Slager's. I got their lowest-level GE washer, and would have done the same with the dryer, but most people get the second-level washer and the basic dryer model -- leaving the company with too many basic washers and too few basic dryers. So I got the second-level dryer for the price of the basic, plus got a large discount on delivery, and they hauled the old ones! I did 5 loads of laundry Tuesday night (the day they were delivered), and at least one load per day since. I have too many clothes, but now I think I can begin to let some go.
The curtains are next, and I had planned to go shopping today, but I really need to get these plants out. Okay, any excuse not to have to drive on a weekend....
I watched Gina chase a deer this morning. They faced off yesterday, with neutral results. Today I thought Gina was trying to befriend it -- she loves to rub up against other people -- and the deer seemed more interested than offended, compared to yesterday. But a second deer came up, and Gina charged it. I think she won that one. I would love to see her befrind one, though!
Anyway, yesterday I finally took the plastic off the sofa, put floor guards under the piano legs, and moved them both to where I think I want them. Not a lot of choices, in such a small room.
There's not much wind, so I should go spray weeds.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Light in the sky when I awoke! Wonderful to see. A long, bright horizon. The actual sunrise took a while, but boy is that nice. And a fattish sliver of moon in the dark SSE sky.
The sun comes up over the Sutliff bridge these days.
I walked 2/ran 1 the weekend of the 7th & 8th, as it was so warm -- 40s. Then I ran 1 after work Tues and Thurs the next week. Just had a 3-day weekend (Presidents Day), and walked 2/ran 1 each of those days, even though it was much colder -- 20s. This week, due to work and weather, no running after work, and the coming weekend is going to be even colder. I hope I will have the discipline to go to the gym. Next week looks to be warmer, but also precipitous. But hopefully it will become a daily thing again soon. I am SO unbelieveably out of shape and overweight.
The sun comes up over the Sutliff bridge these days.
I walked 2/ran 1 the weekend of the 7th & 8th, as it was so warm -- 40s. Then I ran 1 after work Tues and Thurs the next week. Just had a 3-day weekend (Presidents Day), and walked 2/ran 1 each of those days, even though it was much colder -- 20s. This week, due to work and weather, no running after work, and the coming weekend is going to be even colder. I hope I will have the discipline to go to the gym. Next week looks to be warmer, but also precipitous. But hopefully it will become a daily thing again soon. I am SO unbelieveably out of shape and overweight.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunrise at Arrowwood
This morning, through my wonderful kitchen window, I watched the sun peek over the eastern hills a few minutes after 7 am. The sky was clear, the temps in the single digits, and the air and ground were frosty with remnants of Friday night's 4-inch snowfall. I had on GMA, as today is a company holiday (Presidents Day). The sun just showed a gleam as the opening music was ending, and visibly leapt up as Diane Sawyer began the first story. It rises so quickly!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Harvest, home
Ate a strawberry today! They are predicting a hard freeze if the clouds clear, or frost if they stick around. So I picked ripening tomatoes, ripe cherry tomatoes, and volunteer lettuce -- I knew it was a good idea to let them go to seed. And there was one lovely, almost fully ripe strawberry. Yum.
Meanwhile, the house proceeds apace. Yesterday the vents went in for AIR CONDITIONING. Also the siding was delivered, to be installed Monday. Insulation Tues or Wed, fireplace by the end of the week, I believe, and drywall soon -- maybe next week? I showed Eric the color I was thinking of for the front door, and he suggested that I upgrade from steel to wood-grain fiberglass, which won't show dents so readily, at an extra $100. I said okay.
I took a vacation day; Lori Winder came out and inspected the place, then we went to Sutliff for lunch. She is really nice. She got to meet Eric in person, as he had come out to clean. She liked him, and said later that I looked really happy. She also mentioned, in this context, that she is often asked for recommendations. I can't praise him enough, and do so even when talking to people who can't send him much work!
Eric is very proud/pleased, both for me and for himself, I think. He said today, admiringly, that the siding would last for 30 years, the roof that long, the geo of course -- everything is no-maintenance. He sat on the ledge before the fireplace and said that he was going to borrow my idea (for the ledge) for his own future house. He really is fun. I can't wait to meet his wife and kids, and his parents -- I hope they will all come to the open house, if not sooner. Since I can't really imagine yet when the open house will be, if I am to paint and furnish.
The electricians worked Monday through Wednesday. I haven't been keeping up on this as I had intended, because I am exhausted. It is very difficult to sleep on that ancient saggy mattress, in a room with the wrong solar orientation (which I need to get used to), and with the alarm clock in another room down the hall. But there are no outlets in this room, and using the outlet in the hall would expose the alarm clock cord to rainfall. Only about 6 more weeks...
Meanwhile, the house proceeds apace. Yesterday the vents went in for AIR CONDITIONING. Also the siding was delivered, to be installed Monday. Insulation Tues or Wed, fireplace by the end of the week, I believe, and drywall soon -- maybe next week? I showed Eric the color I was thinking of for the front door, and he suggested that I upgrade from steel to wood-grain fiberglass, which won't show dents so readily, at an extra $100. I said okay.
I took a vacation day; Lori Winder came out and inspected the place, then we went to Sutliff for lunch. She is really nice. She got to meet Eric in person, as he had come out to clean. She liked him, and said later that I looked really happy. She also mentioned, in this context, that she is often asked for recommendations. I can't praise him enough, and do so even when talking to people who can't send him much work!
Eric is very proud/pleased, both for me and for himself, I think. He said today, admiringly, that the siding would last for 30 years, the roof that long, the geo of course -- everything is no-maintenance. He sat on the ledge before the fireplace and said that he was going to borrow my idea (for the ledge) for his own future house. He really is fun. I can't wait to meet his wife and kids, and his parents -- I hope they will all come to the open house, if not sooner. Since I can't really imagine yet when the open house will be, if I am to paint and furnish.
The electricians worked Monday through Wednesday. I haven't been keeping up on this as I had intended, because I am exhausted. It is very difficult to sleep on that ancient saggy mattress, in a room with the wrong solar orientation (which I need to get used to), and with the alarm clock in another room down the hall. But there are no outlets in this room, and using the outlet in the hall would expose the alarm clock cord to rainfall. Only about 6 more weeks...
Monday, August 25, 2008
More House
Conversation with Linda at Ellison Insurance, last Thursday:
Since you're not actively involved in farming, we'll cancel the farm policy and just give you a homeowner's policy; we can add an endorsement for the rented farmland.
We'll start with builder's risk coverage, for materials theft, etc., and $128K [the loan amount] to start. As the house is completed, we'll increase the coverage to the final amount. The policy will be $300K liability, for $306.87/year with $1000 deductible. [That's SO much less than I've been paying heretofore!]
Let us know as soon as possible when the coverage should start.
Since you're not actively involved in farming, we'll cancel the farm policy and just give you a homeowner's policy; we can add an endorsement for the rented farmland.
We'll start with builder's risk coverage, for materials theft, etc., and $128K [the loan amount] to start. As the house is completed, we'll increase the coverage to the final amount. The policy will be $300K liability, for $306.87/year with $1000 deductible. [That's SO much less than I've been paying heretofore!]
Let us know as soon as possible when the coverage should start.
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