Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Week Past 08/28-09/03
Work Front
Early morning of Mon,08/28 finally got done with pre-inventory work. No choice actually because inventory starts that night. We did a final walk through at grocery side to ensure proper labels and numbers. We still ended up with quite a lists. Wed, 08/30 was my first day to work back on my regular shift since I had Tue, 08/29 off. I learned we did not do good on our inventory and they are still working on the difference...trying to find items unaccounted for.
First Blog Anniversary
First Blog Anniversary
Thu, 08/31 marked the first year of this blog. A Johnny-come-lately. I've been hearing about the blog thing for some time but didn't give it much thought. Until one evening on my way home listening to the car radio the commentator was discussing about blogging and that roused my curiosity. So when I got home I did a search on blog or blogger and voila, I've been doing it for a year. Looking back, it has evolved from whatever topic I can think of to a more or less "organized" journal for reasons cited on this entry . It's a diary where you can have pictures to make some events more memorable. I've also picked up some friends (check out the links) or is the proper term "virtual friends"? since you have not met them personally but exchange messages on the blog. Hopefully I could keep this up for another year...and another...and another...
Truly Prolific
Fri, 09/01 while I was mowing the lawn (again) I noticed a brown patch in an otherwise sea of green grass. I thought to myself " oh man a dead spot...again...what could it be?...why?...did somebody let their big dog pee on the grass that it was so acidic the grass just dried up?...whaaat?"...nuff said. Anyways when I checked the patch I saw that the grasses were detached and was just lying on top of the soil. Looking closer I removed part of the dried grass and I did a double take when I saw a gray furry thing moved. A rodent digging a hole? I took the rake from the garage and started removing more of the dead grass. Lo and behold new born rabbits...little bugs bunnies...what do you think looking at the picture? Are they?...I don't know how they survived the rain Sat night and early Sun, 09/3 but when I checked their still there turning when you touch them. They might be thinking I'm their mom coming back to feed them.
Housing Project (Week 17) 
Sat, 09/02 I went to the construction site for the weekly visit. There are more visible accomplishments compared to last week's. Their still doing those "white bands" to "accent" the facade. They've poured concrete to the walkway from the garage leading to the front entrnace (top pic keft and right). Top pic center shows the living room, part of the kitchen and dinette leading to the porch with wood flooring already installed. Bottom right pic is the entrance hall also showing installed wood flooring, door jambs and steps on the staircase . Left bottom pic is the master's bath showing the tiles that the contractors installed Sun, 08/27 for shower and tub. Pic bottom right shows contractors beginning to install hardiplank sidings at the back of the house. It's starting to show what its supposed to look like in the final design.
Noted
1. Party. 
Fri I went to W's staff get together to welcome Lucy and Bong, who drove all the way from Arkansas, to assist W in a client presentation. It was also a "surprise" birthday celebration for Jack, one of the pioneer Pointwest associate in MN. Photo at left shows from L-R: Jack, Bong and Lucy having a serious discussion about Jack's true age :) "I don't believe you" says Bong. Jackie retorts passionately, "It's true". While Lucy just said. "Whatever, I'll drink to that. Water please."
Fri I went to W's staff get together to welcome Lucy and Bong, who drove all the way from Arkansas, to assist W in a client presentation. It was also a "surprise" birthday celebration for Jack, one of the pioneer 2. Brunch. Sat, after checking out the house construction I met up with W, Lucy and Bong at Mystic Lake at 10:20 am for a brunch. I had to leave them at 11:20 am as I was scheduled to work at 12:00 pm that day. An hour may seem long for a lunch but for me it was a rush because I normally dawdle at brunch to enjoy the food (as in to gormandize). Lucy and Bong were also scheduled to drive back to Arkansas that afternoon. I learned later from W that they stayed until about 2:00 pm just talking. The waiter got tired bringing them water.
3. Gas Price. 
We're on a roll. Gas price went down again from $2.66 last week to $2.53 this week. Thirteen cents is thirteen cents. If you average 20 gallons a week that's a savings of $2.60, good for a slice of pizza and a pop, or a burger, or a sub, or a shirt in clearance sale, or another gallon of gasoline for another 30 miles depending on your vehicle's consumption. Whatever, let's hope it stays down considering that it's a long weekend being Labor Day on Monday gas prices usually goes up.
We're on a roll. Gas price went down again from $2.66 last week to $2.53 this week. Thirteen cents is thirteen cents. If you average 20 gallons a week that's a savings of $2.60, good for a slice of pizza and a pop, or a burger, or a sub, or a shirt in clearance sale, or another gallon of gasoline for another 30 miles depending on your vehicle's consumption. Whatever, let's hope it stays down considering that it's a long weekend being Labor Day on Monday gas prices usually goes up.4. Airport to Church. Sun, 09/03 I dropped off W at the airport at 8:15 am for her 10:00 am flight to AK.Then I proceeded to St Peter's Church at Bloomington. My co-worker told me yesterday the mass is at 9:00 am. Turned out it was 8:00 and the next mass is at 9:30. Had no choice but to attend late since I have to work at 10:00 am. What's interesting is I caught the end part of a "farewell" speech by the priest. It turned out the priest was none other than Fr. Gene our former parish priest at St Michael's in Farmington. He was also the one who blessed our then new home that we just put up for sale. I knew he was assigned somewhere in Bloomington but I was not aware the church was just 12 blocks away from where I work. Coincidence? Of all Sundays and my first to attend mass in this church was the day he was announcing his retirement. And since I was late I sat at the "Crying Room" hence I was able to talk to him as he passed by after his talk. Now I know where to get hold of him to have our new house blessed.
