Well, the phones and computers are functional. The new desks have arrived and are in the process of being put together. In the meantime, we are using some tables for in-between desk space. The whole "3-4 peas in a pod" idea may be out the window and instead we will be in di-pods. We'll see.
I should have been bringing my camera to work all week because there's been some interesting sights all week...like the 3 toilets lined up outside. We have a new sink that looks more like a urinal trying to be a sink (it's toddler-size).
It makes life interesting.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Moving offices (again)
I am sitting in the midst of chaos at work. Southside is moving offices from the 2nd to the 3rd floor. When I left Southside some 20 months ago, this renovation project was in progress. The moving offices part was a long way off and I never dreamed that I would be around to experience it. I thought I was leaving that whole mess behind. Transitions are tough, especially when they include physical moves.
But no, I returned before the renovation was complete. I came just in time to set up at one desk for a few months--knowing that I would move to more permanent digs later. Later is now. As I was packing up my desk on Friday I kept muttering to myself, "I can't believe I came back before this was done."
The move is in full swing. The phones are disconnected and in process of being set up at our stations upstairs (our new desks have not yet arrived, so I guess the phones are...on the floor?). Computers will be moved tomorrow. Hopefully, the desks arrive this week.
Moving seems to have been a theme in my life these past 20 months. I am using the past tense in an optimistic stab at projecting an end to this theme in my life. I have changed residences twice. I have changed offices more times than that. I don't think I go anywhere without seeing some of my things in boxes.
All this moving has helped me let go of some things. Really, when you keep moving the same boxes over and over and the boxes don't get unpacked between moves you start wondering how much you really need the stuff. More space seems to mean you simply keep more stuff.
At work I am getting less and less space. It's sort of a "communal living" sort of office. I will be sharing a not-that-large work space with 8 other coworkers. I will be at a "pod" of 4 desks. I know it will not always be easy being so close to other people. People start getting funny about "real estate"...wanting the best desk, the best view, some little bit of privacy... It's nice, but sometimes you can have all that and still be miserable. From my perspective, it's not the office that makes the job. It's the people you work with. It's about how you touch other people's lives and they touch yours.
Hey, but from our 3rd floor office I'll have a treetop view of the Phillips neighborhood in south Mpls. That will be something! We're moving on up!
When the desks arrive, I plan to set up my new work space...with the hope that no other move is in sight. I'm unpacking and throwing the boxes away!
But no, I returned before the renovation was complete. I came just in time to set up at one desk for a few months--knowing that I would move to more permanent digs later. Later is now. As I was packing up my desk on Friday I kept muttering to myself, "I can't believe I came back before this was done."
The move is in full swing. The phones are disconnected and in process of being set up at our stations upstairs (our new desks have not yet arrived, so I guess the phones are...on the floor?). Computers will be moved tomorrow. Hopefully, the desks arrive this week.
Moving seems to have been a theme in my life these past 20 months. I am using the past tense in an optimistic stab at projecting an end to this theme in my life. I have changed residences twice. I have changed offices more times than that. I don't think I go anywhere without seeing some of my things in boxes.
All this moving has helped me let go of some things. Really, when you keep moving the same boxes over and over and the boxes don't get unpacked between moves you start wondering how much you really need the stuff. More space seems to mean you simply keep more stuff.
At work I am getting less and less space. It's sort of a "communal living" sort of office. I will be sharing a not-that-large work space with 8 other coworkers. I will be at a "pod" of 4 desks. I know it will not always be easy being so close to other people. People start getting funny about "real estate"...wanting the best desk, the best view, some little bit of privacy... It's nice, but sometimes you can have all that and still be miserable. From my perspective, it's not the office that makes the job. It's the people you work with. It's about how you touch other people's lives and they touch yours.
Hey, but from our 3rd floor office I'll have a treetop view of the Phillips neighborhood in south Mpls. That will be something! We're moving on up!
When the desks arrive, I plan to set up my new work space...with the hope that no other move is in sight. I'm unpacking and throwing the boxes away!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Blueberry Buckle
Blueberry Buckle
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
Mix sugar, butter, shortening and egg with spoon. Add milk and vanilla. Stir. Add remaining dry ingredients. Spread in ungreased 8 inch pan.
Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
Mix until crumbly:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkle over blueberries. Bake 45-50 minutes.
O.k. another blueberry recipe to enjoy this season. Who makes Blueberry Buckle? It's actually just another name for coffecake. This recipe I've been making for years ( I even modified it once and used rhubarb for the fruit). It's actually a recipe I got from one of those recipe packs you pick up in the Dairy Building (Empire Commons) at the State Fair (only 11 days till the Fair opens on 8/23! Yippee!)
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
Mix sugar, butter, shortening and egg with spoon. Add milk and vanilla. Stir. Add remaining dry ingredients. Spread in ungreased 8 inch pan.
Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
Mix until crumbly:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkle over blueberries. Bake 45-50 minutes.
O.k. another blueberry recipe to enjoy this season. Who makes Blueberry Buckle? It's actually just another name for coffecake. This recipe I've been making for years ( I even modified it once and used rhubarb for the fruit). It's actually a recipe I got from one of those recipe packs you pick up in the Dairy Building (Empire Commons) at the State Fair (only 11 days till the Fair opens on 8/23! Yippee!)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
A Quiet Passing
Joel & I with Jerry & Dee at our weddingJust a brief update...
Joel's father, Jerry, died yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, Joel & I was there, alongside Joel's mom, Dee. As hard as it was to say good-bye, it was comforting to know we could be there to hold his hand. Jerry passed away quietly, without pain, while we sat next to him.
I have learned a great deal about Joel's mom and dad these past few days as we've sat at the hospital passing time telling stories. Jerry and Dee were married 55 plus years. Together they raised Joel (and had one other son that died as an infant). Both Jerry and Dee worked; Jerry working most of his years with Glenwood-Englewood Water Company. In his later years, Jerry worked caning chairs--and teaching others how to do it ("caning" is the chair weaving you see on the backs and seats of some chairs...it is not easy to do). Jerry was still caning chairs this summer. Jerry and Dee also enjoyed travelling--not just in the United States, but overseas as well. They had a love for adventure. They also had a great love for one another.
Jerry was 85 years old. I think he lived a good life and that Jerry and Dee had a good marriage.
That is something to strive for.
(See post Lessons in Living below. Also check out my baseball blog to read a post that Joel wrote about his dad-- www.curlzandcurveballs.blogspot.com )
Joel's father, Jerry, died yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, Joel & I was there, alongside Joel's mom, Dee. As hard as it was to say good-bye, it was comforting to know we could be there to hold his hand. Jerry passed away quietly, without pain, while we sat next to him.
I have learned a great deal about Joel's mom and dad these past few days as we've sat at the hospital passing time telling stories. Jerry and Dee were married 55 plus years. Together they raised Joel (and had one other son that died as an infant). Both Jerry and Dee worked; Jerry working most of his years with Glenwood-Englewood Water Company. In his later years, Jerry worked caning chairs--and teaching others how to do it ("caning" is the chair weaving you see on the backs and seats of some chairs...it is not easy to do). Jerry was still caning chairs this summer. Jerry and Dee also enjoyed travelling--not just in the United States, but overseas as well. They had a love for adventure. They also had a great love for one another.
Jerry was 85 years old. I think he lived a good life and that Jerry and Dee had a good marriage.
That is something to strive for.
(See post Lessons in Living below. Also check out my baseball blog to read a post that Joel wrote about his dad-- www.curlzandcurveballs.blogspot.com )
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Recipe of the Week
Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes
This is a relatively new recipe that I found in the paper and decided to try. A couple of helpful hints: Prepare the batter the night before, if possible, to allow the cornmeal to soften a bit. Also these are best if made as small pancakes--they are somewhat delicate and don't flip easily.
1 cup flour
6 tsp baking powder
1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp salt
2 tbls sugar
1 cup boiling water (perhaps a bit more)
1/2 cup milk
8 tbls (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
fresh blueberries
In a large bowl, stir together cornmeal, salt and sugar. Add boiling water, stir and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in milk, butter, and eggs. Add flour mixture and stir until smooth. Add additional water/milk to obtain desired consistency. When making pancakes, pour batter on hot griddle and then sprinkle with blueberries. YUM!
This is a relatively new recipe that I found in the paper and decided to try. A couple of helpful hints: Prepare the batter the night before, if possible, to allow the cornmeal to soften a bit. Also these are best if made as small pancakes--they are somewhat delicate and don't flip easily.
1 cup flour
6 tsp baking powder
1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp salt
2 tbls sugar
1 cup boiling water (perhaps a bit more)
1/2 cup milk
8 tbls (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
fresh blueberries
In a large bowl, stir together cornmeal, salt and sugar. Add boiling water, stir and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in milk, butter, and eggs. Add flour mixture and stir until smooth. Add additional water/milk to obtain desired consistency. When making pancakes, pour batter on hot griddle and then sprinkle with blueberries. YUM!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Lessons in living
It's been a harsh week. Late Monday night my aunt Honey died. If you read my earlier post you know that she was not doing well; her body was tired and failing. Fortunately, there was time before her death to visit and let her know how much she was loved. My mom spent the past weekend with her, up till the time that she slipped into a coma on Monday.
Wednesday--well Wednesday delivered quite a jolt to everyone here in the metro area and certainly beyond, as the 35W bridge came tumbling down. In an instant lives were gone, without time for a goodbye from loved ones. It is still mindboggling.
Thursday, Joel's father, Jerry, was taken by ambulance to the hospital (HCMC--the same hospital many of the victims of the bridge collapse were taken). He was admitted and still is in the ICU. The health professionals are still sorting out what is going on with him--multiple infections, a possible bowel obstruction, and pnuemonia. In reality, his body is also growing tired. He is 85 years old.
So Friday morning, Joel and I headed to Clear Lake, MN for my aunt's funeral. When we returned to the cities, we headed to the hospital to visit his father.
I barely know my "in-laws", but in some respects, this difficult situation is allowing me to get to know Joel's parents a bit better. Friday night we returned to the hospital with Dee, Joel's mom. While we took a break for some dinner, Dee told me wonderful stories about the many family trips that they took when Joel was young. Every summer they took a 2-week vacation--visiting new states each year. Dee told me stories about Joel that only a mother can tell. I loved that. Following dinner, we went back upstairs to say goodnight to his dad.
Jerry and Dee have been married for some 55-plus years. I don't know if my words can capture the tenderness between Dee & Jerry as they said good-night. Dee is a small, seemingly frail woman (she is indeed quite feisty, as is his father, which will help them both right now). Dee is so tiny that she was unable to reach over and give her husband a kiss. They improvised...and blew kisses to one another. Before Dee left, she told Jerry in a most loving voice to "listen to the nurses and fight to get better."
I am hoping that Jerry does grow stronger and that I will have the opportunity to hear stories about Joel that only his father can tell.
So, given the events of the past week, Joel & I, newlyweds that we are, have had more than ample opportunity to talk about death & dying, our own funerals... Really, these have not been morbid conversations. Quite the opposite, it has been comforting to have someone that I love (and who loves me) to share thoughts with. First, we both vow to come back and kill the other if either of our funerals involve a sermon about how to save sinners. In fact, I don't want a sermon at all. I know that no funeral is exactly a party, but I want mine to be filled with music I love (we're both composing a list), memories shared of good, silly, and even dumb things I have done in my lifetime. Go ahead and shed a tear or two, but please share a laugh as well. (And for god's sake, if I have an open casket, don't lie and say I look good. I'm dead. I don't expect to look good. If there was ever an excuse for a bad hair day...)
Second, I just hope that when it's my time to go, I'm in a place where my hand can be held by the ones I love--Joel and my kids. Don't get me wrong, I don't want it to happen any time soon. I want many, many years to grow old alongside my husband. Someday I want to bounce grandchildren on my knee. I want to travel places I have not seen (Christ, I haven't even been to Canada yet).
But the tragedy and randomness of this week's bridge collapse is a reminder that we don't always have time to say goodbye. Sometimes death comes in the blink of an eye. I hate that. Years ago, I watched my dad die before me, swiftly and unexpectedly. There wasn't the time to say good-bye the right way.
I learned from his death, as I was reminded this past week, to live, as much as possible, in a way that makes leaving this earth a bit easier. Tell your loved ones "I love you" every chance you get. Don't get caught up in material possessions--they're not going with you in the end. Enjoy life events--birthdays, holidays, and just "ordinary days". Treat people with kindness as much as possible. Turn the other cheek when you can. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
It's not always easy to do. But I'm going to try a little harder this next week to do just those things.
Wednesday--well Wednesday delivered quite a jolt to everyone here in the metro area and certainly beyond, as the 35W bridge came tumbling down. In an instant lives were gone, without time for a goodbye from loved ones. It is still mindboggling.
Thursday, Joel's father, Jerry, was taken by ambulance to the hospital (HCMC--the same hospital many of the victims of the bridge collapse were taken). He was admitted and still is in the ICU. The health professionals are still sorting out what is going on with him--multiple infections, a possible bowel obstruction, and pnuemonia. In reality, his body is also growing tired. He is 85 years old.
So Friday morning, Joel and I headed to Clear Lake, MN for my aunt's funeral. When we returned to the cities, we headed to the hospital to visit his father.
I barely know my "in-laws", but in some respects, this difficult situation is allowing me to get to know Joel's parents a bit better. Friday night we returned to the hospital with Dee, Joel's mom. While we took a break for some dinner, Dee told me wonderful stories about the many family trips that they took when Joel was young. Every summer they took a 2-week vacation--visiting new states each year. Dee told me stories about Joel that only a mother can tell. I loved that. Following dinner, we went back upstairs to say goodnight to his dad.
Jerry and Dee have been married for some 55-plus years. I don't know if my words can capture the tenderness between Dee & Jerry as they said good-night. Dee is a small, seemingly frail woman (she is indeed quite feisty, as is his father, which will help them both right now). Dee is so tiny that she was unable to reach over and give her husband a kiss. They improvised...and blew kisses to one another. Before Dee left, she told Jerry in a most loving voice to "listen to the nurses and fight to get better."
I am hoping that Jerry does grow stronger and that I will have the opportunity to hear stories about Joel that only his father can tell.
So, given the events of the past week, Joel & I, newlyweds that we are, have had more than ample opportunity to talk about death & dying, our own funerals... Really, these have not been morbid conversations. Quite the opposite, it has been comforting to have someone that I love (and who loves me) to share thoughts with. First, we both vow to come back and kill the other if either of our funerals involve a sermon about how to save sinners. In fact, I don't want a sermon at all. I know that no funeral is exactly a party, but I want mine to be filled with music I love (we're both composing a list), memories shared of good, silly, and even dumb things I have done in my lifetime. Go ahead and shed a tear or two, but please share a laugh as well. (And for god's sake, if I have an open casket, don't lie and say I look good. I'm dead. I don't expect to look good. If there was ever an excuse for a bad hair day...)
Second, I just hope that when it's my time to go, I'm in a place where my hand can be held by the ones I love--Joel and my kids. Don't get me wrong, I don't want it to happen any time soon. I want many, many years to grow old alongside my husband. Someday I want to bounce grandchildren on my knee. I want to travel places I have not seen (Christ, I haven't even been to Canada yet).
But the tragedy and randomness of this week's bridge collapse is a reminder that we don't always have time to say goodbye. Sometimes death comes in the blink of an eye. I hate that. Years ago, I watched my dad die before me, swiftly and unexpectedly. There wasn't the time to say good-bye the right way.
I learned from his death, as I was reminded this past week, to live, as much as possible, in a way that makes leaving this earth a bit easier. Tell your loved ones "I love you" every chance you get. Don't get caught up in material possessions--they're not going with you in the end. Enjoy life events--birthdays, holidays, and just "ordinary days". Treat people with kindness as much as possible. Turn the other cheek when you can. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
It's not always easy to do. But I'm going to try a little harder this next week to do just those things.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
I have been watching the news coverage of the bridge collapse here in the Twin Cities. Yes, I am safe--we were not enroute to a Twins game. It's horrible...I think it will be days before we actually know how many lives have been lost.
Totally random, horrible event that makes no sense. Hug your loved ones tonight.
Totally random, horrible event that makes no sense. Hug your loved ones tonight.
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