So this has been another one of those “Really? I mean Really..?” days on a number of levels, more time at the doctors and an irritation over someone else deadbeat decisions. But first the now usual first-of-the-month view, it’s very green out there now and now I just need the weather to come together and everything will be awesome.
Todays “Really..?” question is: how much of a deadbeat do you have to be to get a collection call from a non-profit? More to the point to be such a dead beat that you give someone elses number to that non-profit…
So this week I got a collection call from the YMCA of Snohomish County for a little over $100. They have referred the account to a collection agency and my name was nowhere associated with the account, but somehow my cell number was.
The account rep I spoke to sent me a copy of the letter they were sent (dated Jan-3) and it had a very interesting “interpretation” of what was going on, the account rep also let me know how my number because associated with the account and has been removed. Just pay your damn bills.
To close, here is a picture of the greenbelt when I was working on the house yesterday. This really is turning into a spectacular summer, and to cap to all there is a weekend of great music coming up.
And it’s looking rather green now. It’s been the wettest April ever recorded in Seattle and that’s been good for the greenery. The grass is growing, the weeds have largely been pulled up and the “green belt” is starting to live up to it’s name. It’s beautiful out there. 
This weekend I got a very interesting offer to do something new, outside of aero. I’ve been thinking about this for a while and that it may be time to leave the safety net of my current job and go do something different. I’ve been there for a long time and as I’m making breaks in other parts of my life, I think it’s time for a change professionally, to use the skills I have and stretch myself professionally at something totally new.
Over the next two or three months it’s time to transition to a new job, get a little more creative and create the framework for something new and different. There has been a lot of thought and advice and I think the move is the right thing. I’m very excited.
An interesting and rather long day, with a lot of running around after work. Lawyers, courthouse and then the vet.
But it’s not been a total waste, there has been a little education in there too. For a start I had no idea cats got hernias until this afternoon, but apparently they do.
Other discoveries today: the police take harassment very seriously and that HR departments don’t have much of a sense of humour about a lot of things (this little thing will run for a while, some lawyers are on vacation this week, but I will talk about it at some point). It’s been an interesting and rather emotional few days.
A couple of days in the sun has reminded that the summer is on the way. And maybe more important what a great summer it’s going to be.
I’ve said it before, work has been tough and we are in the midst of some significant changes in responsibility between partners and ourselves. It’s causing significant work and there are a couple of processes that can only be describe as fluid. Lets just say every day offers a great learning experience.
I’ve talked a couple of times about reducing stress, at this time there is a certain amount of powering through and that is tempered by some looking forward to it all calming down.
As I said, this is going to be a spectacular summer. A few fun trips and spending time with my family and friends. It’s full of possibility, full of plans and everything is coming together, I love that.
I was in Lowes last night picking up a couple of things and saw these… This really is going to be a great summer.
I am a big fan of the longer evenings, it was 6 or so before I got out of work tonight after a long, but productive day. Best part (actually, second best behind the fun evening) was that it was still light out when I made it home. It may have still been raining today, but we are edging closer to the summer.
I finished my last packet of Marmite flavored cashews, my sis-in-law gave me some for Christmas (to go with the Marmite chocolate,not as good as the cashews) and I got another two packets when I was back a couple of weeks ago. An now they are all gone, they really were awesome. Thanks for the first packet my dear.
Been a busy couple of days getting presentations together and going through a just brutal class at work.
Last night was wonderful, laid back, a couple of drinks and I finally got to see the reconstructed version of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis over a great dinner that I did not have to cook (better and better). Really wonderful movie, restored, with the missing footage that was discovered in Argentina a few years ago added, and of course with the original orchestral score. Incredible to think it’s 84 years old.
Today I was standing in the kitchen doing a little cleaning and found myself staring out the window and smiling. Even though it’s winter and rather bare out there, it just makes me grin.I just wanted to share that view. Thanks for indulging me.
The sun is out, it’s nice morning and its time to be productive outside. Got a bunch of clearing up done and it looks better, there is a lot of trash in the greenbelt and I spent 20 minutes fighting with the blackberry thorns to pick up some beer cans and wine bottles. It looks far better except for the dead tree thrown off the deck.
I then get down to jet washing my entire deck and the back of the house. It took a couple of hours, but looks so much better. I discovered a little more damage, it’s been added to the list. Here is a before/after picture of the deck railing. I’m feeling very productive and industrious, time to do some work in the front before heading out this evening.
I really love my house.
Last night was Social Distortion at the Showbox SoDo. It’s been a good couple of weeks for live music, and there is more over the next week or two.
Driving into Seattle and the heavens opened, at one point I could just about make out the car in front through the rain, it really was that bad. On the bright side, at six last night there was still a lot of light in the sky. 
We met downtown and went to dinner in the Cellars on First. It was OK, but no better than that. There is far better in the rather competitive Seattle restaurant market. Good wine list though.
I’ve been listening to the new Social D album a little over the last week and it does not feel like a band are going through the motions, and for a band that’s been around for 25 years that’s a decent complement. It’s worth the listen, I’m not super familiar with their stuff, but I will be downloading some more.
Good gig, and the music is a little harder onstage than recorded. Showbox SoDo is a nice sized venue and they played a solid set and looked very polished on stage. Went to the palace kitchen for a late night happy hour. Fun night.
