Happy Halloween, Although We Will NOT Give Out Candy Tonight

American Horror Story: Coven is on the telly as I type this. And we just got back from the Survivor party where the losing tribe made a dumb choice in who they voted off.

I had someone else check the bitstrips website today, and they could not access it either. I may have to move onto a different platform. I could go back to Visio, where I started, but then I lose the face and character details we have all gotten used to. I just surfed with wide world interweb and did find a viable alternative right now. I'll keep y'all updated. For today, though, we are once again reaching into the past for some timeless humor.

I liked the way this small patch of bright colors glowed against the dark green of the evergreens.

"I saw this in the window and just had to have it". I'm talking about the photo below. We were driving along and I made Dad pull over so I could capture this view.

Here is a shot of the colors backlit by the sun.

And here are some colors with the sun behind me.

My current supervisor was out sick yesterday, but she is back this morning and already talking work stuff. I do like her, but I wish I had a little more space in the mornings. I usually want to finish this post first thing, and then work through some email stuff.

No, I have not heard anything about the job for which I interviewed yet. My supervisor heard they were hoping to have the new team start on Monday, but I don't see how that is possible. Even if we heard and accepted today, won't we need some kind of transition plan? For now, I will plan to finish up this special project and go back to my regular job either tomorrow or Monday. I'll let you know.

OK, my time is up. It's just like when you run out of money and the Magic Fingers turns off in your hotel room. All good things must come to an end. See you tomorrow.

Whew. It's All Up to the Hiring Manager and God Now

But not necessarily in that order. The interview yesterday was performed by my potential manager and one of her team members. There ended up only being five questions, and one of them I could not answer. REALLY? Yes, they asked me about a project where the two sides could not agree, and I had just used my only example of that on the previous question. I tried to think of another, but nothing came to mind.

So, what do I think my chances are? Well, I think they are good since I already knew both of them, but they played it very poker-faced. I know they have had a large number of applicants. I would bring IT knowledge into their space, but I don't know the college side of things. They plan to complete interviews this week and make their decision early next week. Still, I have my one-on-one with my current boss at 11am, so I will tell him that I interviewed. It is only fair.

Once again, I cannot get into my comic creating tool. And once again, I did not send them an email asking what the heck is going on. So, let's head back into the dead files and see what comes up. I see it is a CoV from 3/27/09. Where were you that day?

Did you know it is almost Halloween? I just found out myself. so, we went to Howl-O-Ween at the Zoo on Saturday and carved pumpkins on Sunday. SS wanted to just start carving with no plan, so I went and found a Mickey Mouse pattern for one, and Bella decided on Jack Skellington for the other. First, grandkids at the zoo in their costumes.

Here is Jack as the Inedible Hunk.

And the girls as Supergirl and a cheerleader.

And now, here is Bella's design (drawn freehand) of Jack Skellington.

And our end results. I think we all did well. Yes, power tools were involved in carving out Mickey.

At Chorale practice last night, the other replacement director ran long, so I only had time to work through three of my four songs. As usual, though, I had fun and the 80-singer group sounded really good.

Hey, before I let you go, Fai posted his Price is Right video on youtube. You can see our group several times, an dyes, we really were that excited to be there and see our buddy get up on stage.

I notice that daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. Our time does not change, but it plays havoc with what time cable shows air and we often have to rearrange when we record programs. Don't you feel sorry for us?

The old clock on the wall says that it is time to start the workday. Thanks for hanging.

We're Not The Goldbergs

No way this is only Tuesday. I think that, because we were busy all weekend, I did not have the same downtime that I normally do, so this could feel like a long week.

That's an odd title for today's post, right? Any idea what it means? I didn't think so. There is a new TV program called The Goldbergs. I am watching it as I write this. It is based on true stories from this guy's family (I am guessing his name is Goldberg). Anyway, it has some funny stuff in it. I wouldn't say it is great, but it is enjoyable. We also watched an episode of Shark Tank. I like that program and always decide whether or not an offer will be extended.

Check out this fact that I read the other day.

Coca-Cola is the best selling soft drink in nearly every county on Earth, except in Scotland and the Middle East. In Scotland, locally-produced Irn-Bru is the drink of choice while Pepsi is the favorite choice in the Middle East. Have you ever tasted the stuff? I have and it is...different. They also have unique commercials on the telly. Watch this one. 

Ready for a new CoV? Yeah, me too, but the creation website is STILL DOWN! What is going on? I tried it form two different computers and it is not accessible from either. So, we will trip back down memory lane to 3/26/09.

I took a group of photos of the Silver Jack Reservoir to make a panorama and I just assembled them last night.

And here is a shot of Katie's Meadow, where they filmed one of the ending scenes from The John Wayne move True Grit.

And we saw this bright spot in the road as we headed back towards civilization.

Who has a job interview today at 4pm? This dude. So, I do have on a shirt and tie, but I did not wear a suit. I am certain I want the job, but not as certain which job God wants me in. Pray for guidance.

I Don't Want to be a Truck Driver

Guess what came to my personal email this weekend? Yup, someone had applied to be a truck driver in Louisiana using my mail address? One of the forms included some of their resume and a few years ago, they worked at Flava Snoballs. No way I would make up something like that. I deleted the forms and will let the other guy figure out that he used the wrong address.

What shall we look at today? How about a little journey to Silver Jack reservoir? Here's all the stuff around it. From the last photo, I am thinking we are looking across the reservoir just to the right of Courthouse Mountain, don't you?

I had forgotten that we came here a few years ago and saw a professional photographer taking photos of the area to sell as stock photos. Take a look at a couple of our shots from this year.

Here is the road into the area.

Here is the walking trail to the overlook.

And finally, the fall leaves around the water.

I have a job interview tomorrow afternoon at 4pm. Y'all can just pray that I will be in the job where God knows I can be most effective, both professionally and spiritually.

Have you stepped back and looked at today's post from the 50,000 ft level? Can you believe it took two hours to write it? Well, more specifically, two hours elapsed from my last words until this paragraph. Yeah, I've already had three meetings with my supervisor and one other dude.

OK, let's get Monday started for real now. To me, it doesn't really get going until after I post my new blog entry.

And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain

This special project to which I was assigned is coming to an end. Several of the PMs from other orgs were brought in to help with the phase just ending. Future phases will be led by the business PMs, so the rest of us go back to our regular jobs. Boo. This has been really interesting and exciting. I wonder if it is anything like the emotions Ex-NZ Niece faced in coming back to her US-based job?

Sure, I have a 401(k) at work, but I also have an IRA from previous 401(k)'s at other companies. Do you? Are you funding your 401(k) even though it is years before you retire? Read this to make sure you don't want to save those funds in a Roth IRA. I think it is too late for me. Save yourself! Salesman Son, start preparing now so you are better set for retirement than I am.

Let's mess with the natural order of things. Today, we will look at photos before I show today's (actually from four years ago) Clarity of Vision.

As we drove down the backroads of CO 10, I am constantly on the lookout for interesting shots. I liked this one, and as often happens, I have seen the exact same shot before and taken it in years past.

It was a nice, sunny day when we were doing our drive that day. That sounds like a starting sentence in a bad novel, doesn't it? Anyway, I sometimes like to include the sun in a corner of the photo.

Speaking of taking the same shot in different trips, we have also eaten at this spot for our picnic lunch before. Stealey Mountain Trailhead, in case you are ever in the area and looking for a nice spot.

I don't know where I would use this Photoshop technique, but it looks like it could create a cool effect.

As I mentioned above, we are again seeing a CoV from the past. Bitstrips is still not working. And they are not responding to my emails. We are up to my original comic #3.

Check out some examples of "honest" slogans this dude has come up with. Pretty clever.

He got this one right. That is exactly what we do with any of those books delivered to our house.

It's true, they do have a lot of surcharges.

OK, it is time to get Friday started so i can get Friday over with. Y'all have a great weekend and come back on Monday ready to start it all over again.

Take a Walk for Your Health...I Know We Did

Today is the first day after two days of layoffs. What will the mod be? Who is left in the different departments? The CIO held a conference call last night, and he did tell us the cuts are over for now. IT lost 150 out of 1000. He did not really tell us about the changing business environment and why that drove a need to change our orgs. Well, we'll see. PTL, I made it through this year's cuts (unlike last year. Remember?).

Still no answer from bitstrips, where I build my CoV comics. However, it looks like it may not be just my problem since I get a "servers being rebuilt" message when I open the tool. I guess that's good and bad, but I hope I don't lose access to my portfolio of humor. So, as I did yesterday, let's bring back a comic of times gone by. Here is CoV #2.

Let's take a walk. This path looks interesting. Is it too scary for you? Well, MBH took off down this road.

Maybe she ended up at this old homestead? I thought it look picturesque with the colors behind it and the mountains behind that.

But wait. Here is another road we can take before we leave our photo block behind. All three of today's shots were taken on the CO 12 to CO 10 loop near Ridgway, CO.

Well, supervisor and I are talking about the impact of the layoffs on our project, so I had best talk to her. I'll stop back by tomorrow. Will you?

Looking For Something I Don't Have

I am still not able to get into bitstrips to create a comic, and I am looking for them to respond to my email about it. I will send another reminder in the morning. For now, though, let's take a walk down memory lane and look at CoV #1 from March of 2009.

And I know you have been looking for some photos after forgetting them for a couple of days. Here is a shot from CO 10.

Still looking at the blog? We then diverted over to CO 12, and I caught a shot of the rest of the family walking along through the colors.

Looking for one more photo? We've got it...right here. As we pursued CO 12 along toward Owl Creek Pass, we noticed how the path sort of drew us towards the colors and the mountains.

I am writing this at home on Tuesday night. Nothing is on TV right now, although we did watch Sleepy Hollow earlier. I like that show. Have you tried it?

OK, since I have a moment, I am going to call some of you out. CPA Cuz, it has been a while since you gave me an update. Whazzup in La right now? Ex-NZ Niece, I have not heard hide nor hair from you since you came back to the USofA. No photos. No blog entry. Nothin'.

Well, I've said alls I can say, and I can't says no more (to paraphrase Popeye). Hopefully, we can get the COV train moving again soon. Now if I could just have some ideas for new comics, it would be ideal. Let's visit again Thursday. OK, stop looking. We're finished for today.

Not Much to Share, But I'll Share It Anyway

Stinkin' dirty dogs at bitstrips have not fixed my account yet. So, I cannot create any new Clarity of Vision comics. I will admit that I struggle a bit more coming up with ideas (although the granddaughters do give me material), but if I do not write a new comic, I want it to be my choice, not a technical issue.

Did I mention that our trip to Ouray was missing a major piece? Due to the snow, we did not make it to Yankee Boy Basin. Now, every day was full and I don't know when we would have gone, but I still miss it. Our family has traditionally built a small dam on Sneffels Creek that runs through it, and we could usually see some evidence of the previous year's effort each time we returned. Hopefully, we will get up there on our next visit.

Did I mention there are rumors of a layoff this week (and possibly today)? Hopefully, I will be luckier this October than last. If not, you will know in tomorrow morning's blog. I do notice that there is a PM job at ASU posted again, so I would try there again if I am suddenly in the market. Keep those prayers going.

We have the GRANDS this Friday night. Since we did not go to Mickey D's last weekend, I would not be surprised if we do so this visit. There is a new one with a new playground that we saw a week or two ago, so maybe I can remember where that was.

I am back after a 1.5 hour absence for some work stuff. So, I received an assignment and need to leave you. I only wrote this Tuesday morning, so I did not load any photos last night. Sorry. Hopefully, I will take a little time tonight after Chorale practice. See ya.

It's a Disaster of Epic Proportions

No, there is noting wrong with anyone in the family. The cars are working. The garage door is fixed. The problem is that my bitstrips account is messed up. It is the tool I use to create my Clarity of Vision comics. And it is not letting me save them. I wrote to their support team, so we will see what they say.

I am writing this on Monday morning. We had a Chorale concert last night, so that used up part of my evening. And then, the bitstrips account problem further confounded my normal routine. So, I am watching the news as I type. Now, we did watch a pre-recorded episode of CSI last night, but we are still behind on which ones TD has watched.

Let's mentally travel to Colorado right now. Doesn't this look like an interesting ruin to investigate? Just think, this was really someone's home at one point.

And so was this one, also in the township of Ironton.

Maybe this old coot is one of the pioneers. Times were harder back then, so maybe he is only 30? Maybe?

Some of live in places where it is cooler today, but we are again headed for the 90s. So, let's make our final CO memory for today be of Cascade Falls. As usual, I took a number of shots with different shutter speeds, and also as usual, I like one where the speed is slow enough for the water to look blurred.

OK, we have reached Launch Day #2 at work. Today, some new IT tools go live which change the way our enrollment counselors work with their new students. I hope it works well. So, I need to head out. Hopefully, we will be back to normal and CoV will be back tomorrow.

Calm Before the Storm?

Well, IT has to deliver some new software to the business on Monday (it should go live on Sunday night). If they don't make it, heads will roll. OK, it is true that I am paid as IT, but right now, I am working for the business. Still, I hope they/we deliver some quality product so our value is obvious (and by that,I mean MY value is obvious).

Part of delivering quality is understanding what they needs and meeting that need. That may require drilling down to the requirements and not what they are saying. Of course, speaking using words that only mean something to your peers may not communicate to your clients.













Take a look at this shot. That is ice down at the bottom of this waterfall. Isn't it a cool photo?

Well, I didn't take it. I am not so good with heights. Dad took the shot, and then Kathie captured me trying to look down without feeling too queasy.

And while we were still on the overlook, we saw these attractive couples.

Hey, didn't we just see this same couple somewhere else? Don't they look young?

Y'all have a great weekend. I know we will. We are hitting the zoo with JV+KLIK and then keeping the GRANDS overnight. I would not be surprised if a meal at Golden Arches happened at some point.

BTW, I was watching American Horror Story: Coven as I wrote the blog post. This was the second episode and it looks like an interesting series. Are you watching it? Did you watch the previous seasons? We also started watching SNL from this past Saturday, but did not finish it yet. I think Bruce Willis is doing a pretty good job.

Survivor Night was a Surprise

[Thursday Thoughts] Nice blindside on Survivor last night. Did you see it? I won't talk about it in case you recorded it.

It's a Blacklist night. No, it is not on broadcast TV right now, but we did record it on the DVR. We needed to watch it in case the folks talked about it during Survivor Night. It was a good episode.

It is also a Don't Forget to Make a Clarity of Vision night. So, I did.













It is also a Remember to Upload a Few Photos from Colorado night. So, I did that, too.

First, let's look out a window of one of the houses at Ironton.

And look at a stream that runs right beside the town. Yeah, there were some colors.

Last, let's look at this old-timey family (or should I just say old family) that just happened to be there as I was taking this photo.

We just got back from taking TD's car back to the shop four hours after we picked it up. There is still a leak (water? coolant? I can't tell). I am not inclined to go back to this shop. They did not return my calls. they never told me what was happening. And now, it is not really fixed.

[Thursday Thought #2] Well, my supervisor is already talking about today's tasks, so I need to go. I will visit again tomorrow, so come back then.

Looney Tunes

The title is what many of you think of me most of the time, right? I cannot deny it. Sometimes, even I think that. However, I actually came up with the title based on something later in today's post. Can you find it?

I am writing this on Tuesday night after Chorale practice. The TV is off right now, so it is quiet in the den. The girls (MBH and TD) and the boys (dog and cat) have all gone to bed. Oh, I did watch an episode of Elementary.

No, yesterday's Clarity of Vision was not taken from an incident in our home. It was based on a joke I read on the interweb. And neither is today's CoV. Believe me, I have learned what gifts are appropriate after this many blissful years together. Well, I am really close to learning that. It does take a while for some lessons to sink in.

Ready for some vacation slides? Remember when you had to watch friend's slides from their trips? I guess we do that via Facebook nowadays, huh?

Can you spot the waterfall in the background? That is Cascade Falls, and it was flowing fairly nicely this year.

And check out the color behind Main Street in downtown Ouray.

Shh. Be vewwy quiet. MBH is hunting a haunted house in the ghost town of Ironton.

I have meetings at 11am and 12pm today. When will I eat lunch? I don't know either, but I need to eat fairly regularly on this vegan diet. Speaking of diet, the director's wife at Chorale told me that her good cholesterol goes up when she eats 4-5 pieces of dark chocolate a day. Now THAT is a good diet.

Hmm. Rumors of a layoff at my company. Keep praying, my friends. I have ugly memories of LAST October. Speaking of which, since my current supervisor is already talking to me, I should look interested and be a good worker. Have a great Wednesday.