At the last camping trip is was noticed that I needed a new pair of Crocs. I have had this pair for well over three years now and they are wearing a bit thin. OK, very thin as the rocks now hurt my feet when I walked.
So I went to the Crocs website and browsed around. I ordered a pair of Wisconsin Badger Caymans and a pair of Cleo's.
They came in the mail yesterday. I eagerly opened the box and tried them one. They did not fit. The Badger ones were too big and the Cleo's were too small. CRAP!!! I had ordered them the size that I normally wear, 8's. The Badger ones came in a size 8-9. I figured that would be ok. Nope, way too big. It looks like I have clown shoes on. The Cleo's same thing. Size 8. My toes hang over the top.
So, I now have to send them back and get different sizes. I was hoping that I would have them in time for camping next weekend. I may have to head over to the sporting good store and pick up a pair. Oh well.....
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Beliot College Mindset List
This is the 11th year that Beloit College has assembled these observations that help to identify the experiences that have shaped the lives–and formed the mindset—of students starting their post-secondary education this fall.
The Mindset List is not a chronological listing of things that happened in 1990, the year they were born. It is instead an effort to identify the worldview of 18 year-olds in the fall of 2008. Of course, our students come from many backgrounds and different traditions and these generalizations may not apply to all. The list identifies the experiences and event horizons of students and is not meant to reflect on their preparatory education.
It is also not deliberately designed to make readers feel really old! (yeah right!!)
Students entering college for the first time this fall were generally born in 1990.
For these students, Sammy Davis Jr., Jim Henson, Ryan White, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddy Krueger have always been dead.
The Mindset List is not a chronological listing of things that happened in 1990, the year they were born. It is instead an effort to identify the worldview of 18 year-olds in the fall of 2008. Of course, our students come from many backgrounds and different traditions and these generalizations may not apply to all. The list identifies the experiences and event horizons of students and is not meant to reflect on their preparatory education.
It is also not deliberately designed to make readers feel really old! (yeah right!!)
Students entering college for the first time this fall were generally born in 1990.
For these students, Sammy Davis Jr., Jim Henson, Ryan White, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddy Krueger have always been dead.
- Harry Potter could be a classmate, playing on their Quidditch team.
- Since they were in diapers, karaoke machines have been annoying people at parties.
- They have always been looking for Carmen San Diego.
- GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available.
- Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles.
- Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle.
- Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.
- Their parents may have dropped them in shock when they heard George Bush announce “tax revenue increases.”
- Electronic filing of tax returns has always been an option.
- Girls in head scarves have always been part of the school fashion scene.
- All have had a relative--or known about a friend's relative--who died comfortably at home with Hospice.
- As a precursor to “whatever,” they have recognized that some people “just don’t get it.”
- Universal Studios has always offered an alternative to Mickey in Orlando.
- Grandma has always had wheels on her walker.
- Martha Stewart Living has always been setting the style.
- Haagen-Dazs ice cream has always come in quarts.
- Club Med resorts have always been places to take the whole family.
- WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling.
- Films have never been X rated, only NC-17.
- The Warsaw Pact is as hazy for them as the League of Nations was for their parents.
- Students have always been "Rocking the Vote.”
- Clarence Thomas has always sat on the Supreme Court.
- We have always known that “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”
- There have always been gay rabbis.
- Wayne Newton has never had a mustache.
- College grads have always been able to Teach for America.
- IBM has never made typewriters.
- Roseanne Barr has never been invited to sing the National Anthem again.
- McDonald’s and Burger King have always used vegetable oil for cooking french fries.
- They have never been able to color a tree using a raw umber Crayola.
- There has always been Pearl Jam.
- The Tonight Show has always been hosted by Jay Leno and started at 11:35 EST.
- Pee-Wee has never been in his playhouse during the day.
- They never tasted Benefit Cereal with psyllium.
- They may have been given a Nintendo Game Boy to play with, in the crib.
- Authorities have always been building a wall across the Mexican border.
- Lenin’s name has never been on a major city in Russia.
- Employers have always been able to do credit checks on employees.
- Balsamic vinegar has always been available in the U.S.
- Macaulay Culkin has always been Home Alone.
- Their parents may have watched The American Gladiators on TV the day they were born.
- Personal privacy has always been threatened.
- Caller ID has always been available on phones.
- Living wills have always been asked for at hospital check-ins.
- The Green Bay Packers (almost) always had the same starting quarterback.
- They never heard an attendant ask “Want me to check under the hood?”
- Iced tea has always come in cans and bottles.
- Soft drink refills have always been free.
- They have never known life without Seinfeld references from a show about “nothing.”
- Windows 3.0 operating system made IBM PCs user-friendly the year they were born.
- Muscovites have always been able to buy Big Macs.
- The Royal New Zealand Navy has never been permitted a daily ration of rum.
- The Hubble Space Telescope has always been eavesdropping on the heavens.
- 98.6 F or otherwise has always been confirmed in the ear.
- Michael Millken has always been a philanthropist promoting prostate cancer research.
- Off-shore oil drilling in the United States has always been prohibited.
- Radio stations have never been required to present both sides of public issues.
- There have always been charter schools.
- Students always had Goosebumps.
Friday, August 22, 2008
I Smell Bacon
It has been a few weeks since my last post. Lack of motivation and just no time.
I spent most of this week in another workshop. Once again it was interesting and I learned alot. I am hoping that I can go to at least one, if not both of the remaining ones coming up in the next few weeks. The new tool that we are moving to over the next year will be really cool. I can't wait to get into it more. (yeah, that is my inner geek talking)
I just came back in from taking the boys out to whiz. The air smelled wonderful. I live about mile from Patrick Cudahy. They make meat, more specifically, pork products. They must be smoking the meat as it smells like breakfast outside. The warm smell of ham.... mmmmm... too bad I went to a fish fry only a few hours ago and am not hungry.
Went to the dentist to have a crown put on. The dentist got all the prep work done and now I have a temporary one on. It feels weird. My gums are a bit swollen and my jaw still aches a bit. I go back in a couple of weeks to have the permanent one put in.
Found out last week that my dad has cancer. This sucks. It is in his mouth. He had, what he thought were just some canker sores that weren't healing. He went to the doctor and they did a biopsy and found the cancer. He went for some tests earlier this week and we should know more about what is happening and his options sometime next week. My dad is surprisingly taking this well. Now if my sister would get her head out of her ass.....
I spent most of this week in another workshop. Once again it was interesting and I learned alot. I am hoping that I can go to at least one, if not both of the remaining ones coming up in the next few weeks. The new tool that we are moving to over the next year will be really cool. I can't wait to get into it more. (yeah, that is my inner geek talking)
I just came back in from taking the boys out to whiz. The air smelled wonderful. I live about mile from Patrick Cudahy. They make meat, more specifically, pork products. They must be smoking the meat as it smells like breakfast outside. The warm smell of ham.... mmmmm... too bad I went to a fish fry only a few hours ago and am not hungry.
Went to the dentist to have a crown put on. The dentist got all the prep work done and now I have a temporary one on. It feels weird. My gums are a bit swollen and my jaw still aches a bit. I go back in a couple of weeks to have the permanent one put in.
Found out last week that my dad has cancer. This sucks. It is in his mouth. He had, what he thought were just some canker sores that weren't healing. He went to the doctor and they did a biopsy and found the cancer. He went for some tests earlier this week and we should know more about what is happening and his options sometime next week. My dad is surprisingly taking this well. Now if my sister would get her head out of her ass.....
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
MN Day 3
Since Blogger is unavailable right now, I have to type this up in Word and then copy it later.
Back at the hotel and having a cocktail (vodka/tonic#1).
Sitting in the atrium along with a variety of people. I find it very interesting the group of priests. There have to be about 15-20 of them soaking up the free cocktails. If you were having a priest convention don’t you think they would get to wear street clothes. Not their collars and smocky things. They are too far away for me to hear what they are talking about but they are quite jovial.
Another large group is also bank people. This hotel is a preferred place for the bank to stay when traveling here. It is about 10 minutes away from our business center and 20 from the operations center. Not sure who they are as most of them have southern accents. My guess is retail or student banking as there are major pods of people in Cincy in those divisions. No clue as to who any of them are.
Lots of business people as well. Since the airport is literally across the street it is easy access for them. Most of them look like me. Sitting alone with a drink and some pretzels with their laptops working away. Me I’m not working as my VPN is not compatible with the wireless service here or something crazy like that. Whatever it is, I don’t care. I’m not doing any kind of work. There are a couple people who are in my workshop who spent all day in that and are going right back to the room to work another 5-6 hours. Not me. I refuse to do that. First of all it will force the rest of my team to live without me for a week. Heaven forbid they have to think on their own for a change. We had some issues later this afternoon that I got on call pages for. Why, not a clue as I wasn't supposed to be on call this week.
(vodka/tonic#2-4)
Went for drink two at the bar and met a guy from my office here. I had seen him earlier in the day at our ops center and said hi. Didn't realize that he was staying here. He taught me the trick that you can get two drinks at a time so I did. Then you don't have to go back so often. We sat and chatted for about an hour. It is nice to get people away from the work setting and talk to them. I learned that he likes to hunt and makes his own venison sausage. I shared with him that my dad make alot of sausage as well. Will have to remember to bring him some to taste.
My battery died on the laptop. I went back up and ordered dinner. Not bad.
I turned on the TV. There was some stupid show with people dancing with their dogs. DUMB!!!!! I love my dogs and will, at times, pick them up and carry them around but never do I dance with them.
I'm now watching Super Nanny. WTF?!?! These parents are crazy. This is the reason we do not have kids. I can't even comment on this any more, it is that bad.
On another TV note. The Olympics are starting on Friday. I love this!! I am totally addicted to watching everything I can. For the winter games I had 2 DVRs going so I could record more stuff. It took me awhile to watch but it is so much fun to watch these people compete.
Well, heading back home tomorrow evening after the workshop wraps up. Not nuts about having to drive back but, I figure I should make it to the Dells before dark if I can get out right away. We are then leaving for camping on Friday morning. Can't wait. The weather looks good and the company is without question, fantastic.
Peace Out!!
Back at the hotel and having a cocktail (vodka/tonic#1).
Sitting in the atrium along with a variety of people. I find it very interesting the group of priests. There have to be about 15-20 of them soaking up the free cocktails. If you were having a priest convention don’t you think they would get to wear street clothes. Not their collars and smocky things. They are too far away for me to hear what they are talking about but they are quite jovial.
Another large group is also bank people. This hotel is a preferred place for the bank to stay when traveling here. It is about 10 minutes away from our business center and 20 from the operations center. Not sure who they are as most of them have southern accents. My guess is retail or student banking as there are major pods of people in Cincy in those divisions. No clue as to who any of them are.
Lots of business people as well. Since the airport is literally across the street it is easy access for them. Most of them look like me. Sitting alone with a drink and some pretzels with their laptops working away. Me I’m not working as my VPN is not compatible with the wireless service here or something crazy like that. Whatever it is, I don’t care. I’m not doing any kind of work. There are a couple people who are in my workshop who spent all day in that and are going right back to the room to work another 5-6 hours. Not me. I refuse to do that. First of all it will force the rest of my team to live without me for a week. Heaven forbid they have to think on their own for a change. We had some issues later this afternoon that I got on call pages for. Why, not a clue as I wasn't supposed to be on call this week.
(vodka/tonic#2-4)
Went for drink two at the bar and met a guy from my office here. I had seen him earlier in the day at our ops center and said hi. Didn't realize that he was staying here. He taught me the trick that you can get two drinks at a time so I did. Then you don't have to go back so often. We sat and chatted for about an hour. It is nice to get people away from the work setting and talk to them. I learned that he likes to hunt and makes his own venison sausage. I shared with him that my dad make alot of sausage as well. Will have to remember to bring him some to taste.
My battery died on the laptop. I went back up and ordered dinner. Not bad.
I turned on the TV. There was some stupid show with people dancing with their dogs. DUMB!!!!! I love my dogs and will, at times, pick them up and carry them around but never do I dance with them.
I'm now watching Super Nanny. WTF?!?! These parents are crazy. This is the reason we do not have kids. I can't even comment on this any more, it is that bad.
On another TV note. The Olympics are starting on Friday. I love this!! I am totally addicted to watching everything I can. For the winter games I had 2 DVRs going so I could record more stuff. It took me awhile to watch but it is so much fun to watch these people compete.
Well, heading back home tomorrow evening after the workshop wraps up. Not nuts about having to drive back but, I figure I should make it to the Dells before dark if I can get out right away. We are then leaving for camping on Friday morning. Can't wait. The weather looks good and the company is without question, fantastic.
Peace Out!!
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
MN Day 2
So another day dawns warm and sunny in St. Paul.
Our workshop today was very productive. We are setting the policies and process for how the entire organization will be using a new tool. This will impact about 8000 users. It gives me a good feeling to know that my boss and his boss think enough of me and my work that they feel I should be included in these decisions. There will be 4 more of these week long sessions over the next month or so. I hope to be included in those as well.
Went to dinner at a place call Salut Bar Americain. My boss's boss called it the Applebee's for the rich. It was pricey. Dinners were about 30 bucks a piece. Atmosphere was very fun. We sat outside on the patio. Tonight's group was just fur women. I really only knew one of them prior to being here. It was nice to sit, relax and get to know them better. We don't do that enough.
It looks like the Brett Favre saga may be almost over. I am so tired of it. I was surprised to see what a big deal this is in MN as well. I really almost don't care what happens anymore.
Well, time to head to bed. Another busy day on tap for tomorrow.
Have a good day.
Peace Out!!
Our workshop today was very productive. We are setting the policies and process for how the entire organization will be using a new tool. This will impact about 8000 users. It gives me a good feeling to know that my boss and his boss think enough of me and my work that they feel I should be included in these decisions. There will be 4 more of these week long sessions over the next month or so. I hope to be included in those as well.
Went to dinner at a place call Salut Bar Americain. My boss's boss called it the Applebee's for the rich. It was pricey. Dinners were about 30 bucks a piece. Atmosphere was very fun. We sat outside on the patio. Tonight's group was just fur women. I really only knew one of them prior to being here. It was nice to sit, relax and get to know them better. We don't do that enough.
It looks like the Brett Favre saga may be almost over. I am so tired of it. I was surprised to see what a big deal this is in MN as well. I really almost don't care what happens anymore.
Well, time to head to bed. Another busy day on tap for tomorrow.
Have a good day.
Peace Out!!
Monday, August 04, 2008
Anyone Still There??
It has been a few weeks since I have posted. Lack of time being the biggest reason. There has been alot going on lately.
I figured that since I am sitting in a hotel in St. Paul, now is a good as time as any to post. Being that it is free cocktails, even better. Unfortunately the beer is Bud, but the vodka tonics are going down well.
Work calls me to MN for the week. I drove up this morning. Not a bad drive, just long. It was a little over 5 hours. Traffic was good. Car even better. I went to pick up the rental yesterday at the airport. I got my choice of car. PT Cruiser or Mustang. Sweet!! I took the Mustang. Black, fairly tricked out for a rental. It was weird driving a car. I normally drive an SUV, so sitting low to the ground feels weird. It was very easy to speed in that car, thank goodness for cruise that was set about 80.
Where did I last leave off from here??
Trivia playoffs. Finished 6th out of 28 or 29 teams. The half time question killed us. It was to put the state capitals in alphabetical order. We missed the 2nd one so they were all screwed up. A couple of sports questions and down we went. I was still happy how we did. Our group sure knows a bunch of useless (sorta) shit.
(vodka tonic #2)
Sister is still in jail. Hopefully she will be for awhile. I knew she was desperate when she called me to post her bail. I hung up on the collect call. My parents are working on getting custody of the kids. I try to help when I can. Which I wish was more often. Those kids really need a stable environment.
Camping at Lake Yellowstone. Always a blast. It was good to see that E could come with us and get away and relax. It was also nice cuz there are no mosquitoes. This is due to the 4000+ bats in the park. I was sad that we never made it to the area where they come out in the evenings. Went to the casino on Friday. Played in a poker tourney. It payed out the top 4. I finished 5th. I feel like I played really well. I wish I had the chance to play more often.
(vodka tonic #3)
Hubby and I are doing better. He has moved in with me. Altho', when he snores alot I wish he would go back home. It is taking some getting used to living with someone again. I have been alone for the past 6 months. I know that after almost 17 years, 6 months is nothing but, I like not having to worry about anyone else besides me and the dogs. It will just take some time. I do like him being there tho.
Brewers have been doing fairly well. They win 9 on the road and then lose four to the Cubs at home. I have made a few games this year. It sucks that you can't just decide to go on a Sunday morning, head to the stadium and expect to get good tickets and in some cases any tickets. That is the4 price that you pay when the team is doing well.
Coming up...
More camping. I head home Thursday after work and head out Friday for more camping. I love going to this park. Now that there is electricity, even better. I have to remember to go and get my fishing license on Friday morning. Now if we had a boat.........
Well, time for me to go get another drink (last call for free drinks) and head to the sports bar and grab dinner. Liquid meals are not good when I have to have a clear head for some of the training that I am doing this week.
(vodka tonic #4)
I promise to try and post more often. I do read everyone's blogs, occasionally post a comment or two jut too lazy to publish.
Peace Out!!
I figured that since I am sitting in a hotel in St. Paul, now is a good as time as any to post. Being that it is free cocktails, even better. Unfortunately the beer is Bud, but the vodka tonics are going down well.
Work calls me to MN for the week. I drove up this morning. Not a bad drive, just long. It was a little over 5 hours. Traffic was good. Car even better. I went to pick up the rental yesterday at the airport. I got my choice of car. PT Cruiser or Mustang. Sweet!! I took the Mustang. Black, fairly tricked out for a rental. It was weird driving a car. I normally drive an SUV, so sitting low to the ground feels weird. It was very easy to speed in that car, thank goodness for cruise that was set about 80.
Where did I last leave off from here??
Trivia playoffs. Finished 6th out of 28 or 29 teams. The half time question killed us. It was to put the state capitals in alphabetical order. We missed the 2nd one so they were all screwed up. A couple of sports questions and down we went. I was still happy how we did. Our group sure knows a bunch of useless (sorta) shit.
(vodka tonic #2)
Sister is still in jail. Hopefully she will be for awhile. I knew she was desperate when she called me to post her bail. I hung up on the collect call. My parents are working on getting custody of the kids. I try to help when I can. Which I wish was more often. Those kids really need a stable environment.
Camping at Lake Yellowstone. Always a blast. It was good to see that E could come with us and get away and relax. It was also nice cuz there are no mosquitoes. This is due to the 4000+ bats in the park. I was sad that we never made it to the area where they come out in the evenings. Went to the casino on Friday. Played in a poker tourney. It payed out the top 4. I finished 5th. I feel like I played really well. I wish I had the chance to play more often.
(vodka tonic #3)
Hubby and I are doing better. He has moved in with me. Altho', when he snores alot I wish he would go back home. It is taking some getting used to living with someone again. I have been alone for the past 6 months. I know that after almost 17 years, 6 months is nothing but, I like not having to worry about anyone else besides me and the dogs. It will just take some time. I do like him being there tho.
Brewers have been doing fairly well. They win 9 on the road and then lose four to the Cubs at home. I have made a few games this year. It sucks that you can't just decide to go on a Sunday morning, head to the stadium and expect to get good tickets and in some cases any tickets. That is the4 price that you pay when the team is doing well.
Coming up...
More camping. I head home Thursday after work and head out Friday for more camping. I love going to this park. Now that there is electricity, even better. I have to remember to go and get my fishing license on Friday morning. Now if we had a boat.........
Well, time for me to go get another drink (last call for free drinks) and head to the sports bar and grab dinner. Liquid meals are not good when I have to have a clear head for some of the training that I am doing this week.
(vodka tonic #4)
I promise to try and post more often. I do read everyone's blogs, occasionally post a comment or two jut too lazy to publish.
Peace Out!!
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