Photo wall

Patent

I just submitted my first patent application to our Intellectual Property & Legal department. Here goes nothing!

Now, back to party prep.

Curling

In addition to playing at the Dakota Curling Club in Boo-urnsville I'm also playing at the Owatonna Curling Club in Owatonna (duh). At OCC I'm taking a break from skipping to learn how to play second. It's been interesting to say the least. I expected great and consistent ice but one sheet is anything but. So far we lost every game we played on that sheet. Suck. We're currently 4-3 on the season and hope to keep our momentum going.

In related news, it's the Dr. McGillicuddy Bonspiel at OCC this weekend. Sixteen teams with a three game guarantee. I'm playing lead in this tournament and I think we have a very strong team. Wish us luck!

Snow

In which things happen

Late last week my manager scheduled a fifteen minute long one-on-one meeting for today. Usually one-on-one meetings are thirty minutes. I thought to myself "uh-oh, no good can come from this," because at my individual development plan meeting we had two weeks ago there was talk of me changing departments and leaving my current position (with which I have a love/hate relationship).

Anyway, at the prescribed time I headed down to his office and closed the door. We talked for a few minutes about his continuing laptop problems (his laptop blue-screens and shutsdown at inopportune times during the day; he, our IT guy, and I have troubleshot this for the past eight months) before he said, "Let's get down to business."

"I have some news to share with you which I'm sure you've figured out by now."

Pause which lasted a lifetime.



"You've been promoted to Band 7."

I almost said, "No way!"

He went on about more responsibilities, what a unique experiences and exposure I've had as Band 6 and will continue to have as Band 7, etc, etc. I recall little else about those first few minutes as I was in shock.

"...I started this process back in July and with the reorg changes it finally got approved last week. The band change has been back dated so you'll receive back pay..." at which point I went into a little shock because it came with a raise, too.

Then we talked about my current projects and I headed back to my desk.

But it gets better: My living room rug finally ship yesterday, my curling shoes arrived, and there's a curling tournament this weekend. Can it get any better?

What a span

Almost two months since my last post. Where does the time go?

• Housework
• Work
• Trips to the Cities
• Trips to other places
• Planning other trips

Some highlights of note (in no order):

• I survived a business trip to Venezuela. I wasn't kidnapped or swindled... just incredibly hung over.
• I'm two hours closer to getting my Level I Curling Instructor certification.
• My team won the curling club's Hot Shots event. We received some awesome curling books (not joking, they rock! the title isn't half bad either.)
  
• I stretched my photog skills at the Rochester Triathlon.
• I decided on furniture for the upstairs living room. I need to double-check the size before ordering.
• Many gatherings were attended.
• I built a counter-flow wort chiller. Pretty awesome for next time I make beer (whenever that is).
  
• I'm leaving for the yearly BWCA trip next week. The next ten days are filled with planning and packing details. I should become Project Management Professional-certified.
  

So there we were...

...finishing up some housework when my dad says, "Look over there!" I look out the kitchen window and what do I see?






Yup, a deer lost in the city. I grabbed the camera and carefully stepped out on the deck.

It managed to cross a major highway and at least one busy street to get here.

Good for you. Now don't die crossing Elton Hills Drive.

Moved in

It's now day 7 of home ownership.

Rooms touched up: Bedrooms & bathroom & kitchen wainscoting
Rooms repainted: Kitchen (we couldn't find the original color)
Other painted: Inside of kitchen cabinets.
Rooms left to touch up/repaint: Living room, office, kitchen, basement.

Funny story about the kitchen: My mom and aunt volunteered to paint and do touch-ups. Unfortunately they couldn't find the original paint for the kitchen and didn't like the alternatives (my aunt was bold enough to try each of the remaining colors on the kitchen walls).

We got back from the apartment with a load of stuff and my mom says, "We're going to Home Depot to get more paint. We couldn't find the original color and don't like the ones here."

My response, "Go for it."

I now have a Mocha colored kitchen. Unfortunately the paint changed colors mid-paint-session and needs a second coat to cover up Behr's mistakes.

I still have a lot of totes to unpack but that number shrinks every day.

Left to unpack: Kitchen, master bedroom, books.

On a positive note I did get a new toy... a weed-whacker (or edger for the rest of you). It's a fun toy :)