Catching Up
So I've been pretty busy over the last few days, between working at two schools and taking care of my two boys and doing multiple presentations and a training for Kyani, things have been moving pretty quickly. Which gives me little time to put thoughts to blog. Certainly not enough time to put coherent, well thought out thoughts to the blog, that's for sure.
But let's try to to catch up a little bit to share what's going on in my/our world.
Both the boys are now full engaged in and loving their preschool. Grady is old enough to have gone on to kindergarten, he's also bright enough to do it but he's not emotionally ready to make the leap. And, after many conversations with other parents, teachers and anyone else who cared to talk about it, we decided that it made more sense to hold him back a bit than to shove him into a full-on school setting. So he's now one of, if not the, oldest kids at the school. Which is fine by me and him.
Sully, who was exposed to the preschool last year, loves, loves, loves his school, his teacher and most of his classmates. He's a great group player, he engages in the circle time singing, he rides the trikes with gusto, he's just a very engaged little kid.
But he was also running a pretty good fever yesterday afternoon and into the evening so he's being kept on the sidelines today, much to his chagrin.
For my own part, I've been starting to settle into something resembling a schedule. I've got three days of work a week right now at two different schools. It has been a bit of a hassle to have to keep pulling on my old department for access, passwords and authority to do things but I understand where they are coming from as well as the fact that they are seriously (and woefully) understaffed now after the loss of more than half the department to the budget cuts.
By the way, our school district just found out last week that they are going to have to cut another $10 million from this year's budget. I do not have the faintest idea how this will be accomplished but I can all but guarantee that the fat cats at the top won't be suffering any pay cuts even though they get paid the most and do the least to actually educate the kids. My suggestion would be to cut any salary of someone making more than $150k by 10% and anyone making more than $75k by 5% across the board. How much would that save? How much solidarity would it show with those of us in the trenches? How likely would something like that be to happen? Not bloody. These are the same jackholes that voted themselves raises last October and then further voted to make those raises untouchable in the budget cut talks they knew were coming in the next year. Which is, of course, unconscionably scummy and lame of them.
Anyway, when I'm not working, my wife is so I'm on kid duty which is fine by me. The better her shop does, the better we all do. We're still looking to fill out the schedule there with an additional hair stylist and someone in the back room, either a manicurist, esthetician, massage therapist or waxer. Once we do this, the shop goes from being a net negative to a positive which would be just fine by me.
We are also putting in quite alot of time with our Kyani business. I drove up to Morgan Hill the other night for a training session. It was an Advanced Leadership session with some of the top people in the entire company and it ended up being immensely useful and empowering. I wrote up my notes from the session and posted them over on my Kyani blog. We also had a presentation on Tuesday afternoon before the training and then another one on Wednesday evening. We've got a couple of quieter days and then a big presentation on Saturday where we are hoping to sign up some distributors for our new star.
Aug 6, 2009But let's try to to catch up a little bit to share what's going on in my/our world.
Both the boys are now full engaged in and loving their preschool. Grady is old enough to have gone on to kindergarten, he's also bright enough to do it but he's not emotionally ready to make the leap. And, after many conversations with other parents, teachers and anyone else who cared to talk about it, we decided that it made more sense to hold him back a bit than to shove him into a full-on school setting. So he's now one of, if not the, oldest kids at the school. Which is fine by me and him.
Sully, who was exposed to the preschool last year, loves, loves, loves his school, his teacher and most of his classmates. He's a great group player, he engages in the circle time singing, he rides the trikes with gusto, he's just a very engaged little kid.
But he was also running a pretty good fever yesterday afternoon and into the evening so he's being kept on the sidelines today, much to his chagrin.
For my own part, I've been starting to settle into something resembling a schedule. I've got three days of work a week right now at two different schools. It has been a bit of a hassle to have to keep pulling on my old department for access, passwords and authority to do things but I understand where they are coming from as well as the fact that they are seriously (and woefully) understaffed now after the loss of more than half the department to the budget cuts.
By the way, our school district just found out last week that they are going to have to cut another $10 million from this year's budget. I do not have the faintest idea how this will be accomplished but I can all but guarantee that the fat cats at the top won't be suffering any pay cuts even though they get paid the most and do the least to actually educate the kids. My suggestion would be to cut any salary of someone making more than $150k by 10% and anyone making more than $75k by 5% across the board. How much would that save? How much solidarity would it show with those of us in the trenches? How likely would something like that be to happen? Not bloody. These are the same jackholes that voted themselves raises last October and then further voted to make those raises untouchable in the budget cut talks they knew were coming in the next year. Which is, of course, unconscionably scummy and lame of them.
Anyway, when I'm not working, my wife is so I'm on kid duty which is fine by me. The better her shop does, the better we all do. We're still looking to fill out the schedule there with an additional hair stylist and someone in the back room, either a manicurist, esthetician, massage therapist or waxer. Once we do this, the shop goes from being a net negative to a positive which would be just fine by me.
We are also putting in quite alot of time with our Kyani business. I drove up to Morgan Hill the other night for a training session. It was an Advanced Leadership session with some of the top people in the entire company and it ended up being immensely useful and empowering. I wrote up my notes from the session and posted them over on my Kyani blog. We also had a presentation on Tuesday afternoon before the training and then another one on Wednesday evening. We've got a couple of quieter days and then a big presentation on Saturday where we are hoping to sign up some distributors for our new star.
Things on My Mind
Just a little peek inside my busy little mind of the things that are going on in there.
State Park closures - I was speaking a lady over the weekend who mentioned that some of the pending State Park closures California is considering would include some of our rather magnificent beaches that are run by the state. I think this would be an absolutely horrible idea to try and shut down the beach. But then, I think its a ridiculous idea to allow our forested State Parks to turn into massive hobo camps if they close them to the public.
Seniority and Bumping - its great to be a part of a bureaucracy if you are sufficiently high up the totem pole to be doing the bumping. It sucks if you are fairly new and easy to bump. I checked with my school district's HR office the other day and found out that I'm 6th on the totem pole of site techs to be called back. I'm not holding my breath.
Fictionarium - I've been on a roll creating new words lately. From my recent post about the development of a Twitter lexicon to random new words, I think I'm running at about two or three new words a day right now. Which means my brain is working pretty well.
Cycling - I've been making more of an effort to get out on my bike lately. I've averaging about two rides a week right now and am trying to push that number up to three per week. I find my body is happier, my brain is happier and it just makes me a more balanced guy. The one or two downsides are that my bike is in bad need of a major (and expensive tuneup) and I need to get some good cycling shoes with stiffer soles. My feet are starting to get really sore during the long descents down the backside of Nisene Marks. But I'm still loving my rides more and more.
Kyani - Our business is starting to really get going which makes the likelihood of my having to go back to a full time job less and less which is just fine by me. You are welcome to check out my blog that I've started about my experiences with Kyani and network marketing.
More to come as I'm headed out the door with Nande and the boys to go for a walk at the dog park.
Jul 16, 2009State Park closures - I was speaking a lady over the weekend who mentioned that some of the pending State Park closures California is considering would include some of our rather magnificent beaches that are run by the state. I think this would be an absolutely horrible idea to try and shut down the beach. But then, I think its a ridiculous idea to allow our forested State Parks to turn into massive hobo camps if they close them to the public.
Seniority and Bumping - its great to be a part of a bureaucracy if you are sufficiently high up the totem pole to be doing the bumping. It sucks if you are fairly new and easy to bump. I checked with my school district's HR office the other day and found out that I'm 6th on the totem pole of site techs to be called back. I'm not holding my breath.
Fictionarium - I've been on a roll creating new words lately. From my recent post about the development of a Twitter lexicon to random new words, I think I'm running at about two or three new words a day right now. Which means my brain is working pretty well.
Cycling - I've been making more of an effort to get out on my bike lately. I've averaging about two rides a week right now and am trying to push that number up to three per week. I find my body is happier, my brain is happier and it just makes me a more balanced guy. The one or two downsides are that my bike is in bad need of a major (and expensive tuneup) and I need to get some good cycling shoes with stiffer soles. My feet are starting to get really sore during the long descents down the backside of Nisene Marks. But I'm still loving my rides more and more.
Kyani - Our business is starting to really get going which makes the likelihood of my having to go back to a full time job less and less which is just fine by me. You are welcome to check out my blog that I've started about my experiences with Kyani and network marketing.
More to come as I'm headed out the door with Nande and the boys to go for a walk at the dog park.
Scorecard
- I've processed somewhere on the order of 700 photos from this last weekend with a mere 1150 or so to go. It is slow work but the results are worth the effort. So far I've posted a little over 100 to my Backprint site for sale. I hope to get the second batch finished this morning and posted today.
- My black eye is now the technicolor yellow, purple and black eye. It doesn't hurt too much anymore except when I absent mindedly rub it.
- I got my first check from Kyani the other day. Not a big one but a step in the right direction for sure. The nice thing is that my wife got a matching check. As these totals go up, it'll get more and more awesome.
- Also on the Kyani front, I'm working out a trial run with a famous Bay Area columnist after a column he wrote. I'm looking forward to him becoming an advocate for the products after he uses them for the month.
- Several packages to get shipped and then we're supposed to be heading to the East Bay to do some war-walking. Not sure if it'll happen today as there's still plenty of other stuff to do around the house and calls to make but we are working on expanding our empire.
And now, back to the photo processing. I'm close to finishing up one entire wedding and then I get to start on the second. If I don't go cross-eyed first.
Jul 1, 2009- My black eye is now the technicolor yellow, purple and black eye. It doesn't hurt too much anymore except when I absent mindedly rub it.
- I got my first check from Kyani the other day. Not a big one but a step in the right direction for sure. The nice thing is that my wife got a matching check. As these totals go up, it'll get more and more awesome.
- Also on the Kyani front, I'm working out a trial run with a famous Bay Area columnist after a column he wrote. I'm looking forward to him becoming an advocate for the products after he uses them for the month.
- Several packages to get shipped and then we're supposed to be heading to the East Bay to do some war-walking. Not sure if it'll happen today as there's still plenty of other stuff to do around the house and calls to make but we are working on expanding our empire.
And now, back to the photo processing. I'm close to finishing up one entire wedding and then I get to start on the second. If I don't go cross-eyed first.
What's The Haps
After a day and a half of four kids (my two boys and their two cousins), two big dogs (my Nande and their Murphy) and my wife's brother staying with us, this morning is calm and mostly peaceful. Even with Murphy still staying with us, he's a great big, sweet and goofy black lab/New Foundland mix.
My cold sore is about 75% healed up now, which is good because it was a really bad one while it was settling in. Probably the worst I've had in five years. But, through a combination of yogurt, lysine, Abreva and Kyani Nitro FX, it has eased up considerably and should be completely gone in another day or two at the most.
And that's a good thing because I need to get back to working out and riding my bikes. I can feel some pent up energy that could really use a release.
We took several steps forward with our Kyani business this week. Say hello to our newest distributor, WindBlossom! We also spoke for the first time the other day as I helped walk her through the sign up process. With her joining our Kyani team, we will start to farm and own Canada because there is little to no presence there as of right now. And virgin territory is huge, huge, huge in this early land grab phase of the game.
If you are looking for an amazingly good Plan B that could easily turn into a Plan A then drop me an email, leave a comment or otherwise get in touch. Kyani is our future and our future looks fantastic! There is no obligation whatsoever to check it out and, if you happen to have sick people in your network of friends, you can make a substantial improvement in their lives.
I had to do a little creative organization in my office to get my computer to be Skype-ready so that WindBlossom and I could video conference but its worked out well, I'm ready and my office is even a little bit sleeker than before!
I've been putting in quite a fair amount of work on websites. I've purchased a new domain for my photography business, used iWeb to create the new site, set up an entirely new account with Backprint and done a pretty ridiculous amount of trouble shooting to make Intellectual Poison work properly again as I'd busted one of the pipes in the process. I'm also starting to lay the groundwork for our as yet unlaunched new bicycling website.
And I've also been tending to several auctions on Ebay to help clear out some valuable but unneeded stuff in the office. Nothing like converting goodies into cash even if I seem to be spending too much time at the Post Office lately.
One big event on the near horizon is Graydon's fifth birthday this Friday! It is hard to believe that he's turning five already but he is. I'm excited for him because I know he's going to absolutely love his main present, a limited edition Automoblox race car. Oh yeah! If you've got young kids, especially car crazy boys (or girls) then you should definitely look into these beautiful toys. We've already got a bunch of the mini cars but the big ones are even more awesome.
The other big events on my horizon are two weddings that I'm going to be photographing the weekend after next. I'm excited, busy with preparations and a little bit anxious about not screwing anything up too badly. Once the weddings are behind us, we'll all be able to breathe a little easier, maybe take a camping trip to Big Sur or somewhere else and start to really enjoy the summer awesomeness out here on the coast. But, until then, there's a ton of things to work on and get ready. My tasklist is just as long, if not longer, than it was when I was working as a computer tech for four schools.
And, lastly, I'm saving my pennies to buy myself a long, long, long wanted goodie, the ContourHD high def helmet cam. Just thinking about my video capabilities with this thing makes me giddy!
So, I may not be quite as crazy busy as WindBlossom but yeah, there's alot going on right now.
Jul 13, 2007My cold sore is about 75% healed up now, which is good because it was a really bad one while it was settling in. Probably the worst I've had in five years. But, through a combination of yogurt, lysine, Abreva and Kyani Nitro FX, it has eased up considerably and should be completely gone in another day or two at the most.
And that's a good thing because I need to get back to working out and riding my bikes. I can feel some pent up energy that could really use a release.
We took several steps forward with our Kyani business this week. Say hello to our newest distributor, WindBlossom! We also spoke for the first time the other day as I helped walk her through the sign up process. With her joining our Kyani team, we will start to farm and own Canada because there is little to no presence there as of right now. And virgin territory is huge, huge, huge in this early land grab phase of the game.
If you are looking for an amazingly good Plan B that could easily turn into a Plan A then drop me an email, leave a comment or otherwise get in touch. Kyani is our future and our future looks fantastic! There is no obligation whatsoever to check it out and, if you happen to have sick people in your network of friends, you can make a substantial improvement in their lives.
I had to do a little creative organization in my office to get my computer to be Skype-ready so that WindBlossom and I could video conference but its worked out well, I'm ready and my office is even a little bit sleeker than before!
I've been putting in quite a fair amount of work on websites. I've purchased a new domain for my photography business, used iWeb to create the new site, set up an entirely new account with Backprint and done a pretty ridiculous amount of trouble shooting to make Intellectual Poison work properly again as I'd busted one of the pipes in the process. I'm also starting to lay the groundwork for our as yet unlaunched new bicycling website.
And I've also been tending to several auctions on Ebay to help clear out some valuable but unneeded stuff in the office. Nothing like converting goodies into cash even if I seem to be spending too much time at the Post Office lately.
One big event on the near horizon is Graydon's fifth birthday this Friday! It is hard to believe that he's turning five already but he is. I'm excited for him because I know he's going to absolutely love his main present, a limited edition Automoblox race car. Oh yeah! If you've got young kids, especially car crazy boys (or girls) then you should definitely look into these beautiful toys. We've already got a bunch of the mini cars but the big ones are even more awesome.
The other big events on my horizon are two weddings that I'm going to be photographing the weekend after next. I'm excited, busy with preparations and a little bit anxious about not screwing anything up too badly. Once the weddings are behind us, we'll all be able to breathe a little easier, maybe take a camping trip to Big Sur or somewhere else and start to really enjoy the summer awesomeness out here on the coast. But, until then, there's a ton of things to work on and get ready. My tasklist is just as long, if not longer, than it was when I was working as a computer tech for four schools.
And, lastly, I'm saving my pennies to buy myself a long, long, long wanted goodie, the ContourHD high def helmet cam. Just thinking about my video capabilities with this thing makes me giddy!
So, I may not be quite as crazy busy as WindBlossom but yeah, there's alot going on right now.
Labels: blog, catchup, computers, kids, photography
Little Engines That Could and Can
We've been chugging along for several weeks now. It doesn't feel like there has really been any break for a long time. And we're all tired. But just a couple more days and then things should settle back down to whatever passes for normal.
We've been doing quite a lot of family stuff, lots of fun really. After coming back from Mexico, we've spent time with cousins and grandparents, more cousins and uncles, stepmoms and cousins again. BBQ's, county fairs, train rides, trips to the aquarium, walks out on jetties.
And, in couple of days, we'll celebrate Grady's birthday. It'll be great fun, I'm sure and I'm looking forward to playing around in the bounce house (a castle this year). But I'm also really looking forward to Monday morning when things start to return to a less random and more scheduable existence again.
I've also taken lots and lots of photographs with my new camera. Have built my professional site, even found a great printing company to handle the e-commerce side of the arrangement. A few more key steps (like getting business cards printed) and I really should be able to start working for real.
Next week should be a less complex week. And I fully expect to get at least one good long bike ride in, preferably with Nande. Hopefully, several good rides but I don't want to sound greedy.
May 17, 2007We've been doing quite a lot of family stuff, lots of fun really. After coming back from Mexico, we've spent time with cousins and grandparents, more cousins and uncles, stepmoms and cousins again. BBQ's, county fairs, train rides, trips to the aquarium, walks out on jetties.
And, in couple of days, we'll celebrate Grady's birthday. It'll be great fun, I'm sure and I'm looking forward to playing around in the bounce house (a castle this year). But I'm also really looking forward to Monday morning when things start to return to a less random and more scheduable existence again.
I've also taken lots and lots of photographs with my new camera. Have built my professional site, even found a great printing company to handle the e-commerce side of the arrangement. A few more key steps (like getting business cards printed) and I really should be able to start working for real.
Next week should be a less complex week. And I fully expect to get at least one good long bike ride in, preferably with Nande. Hopefully, several good rides but I don't want to sound greedy.
Labels: catchup
Slack on Blogging
I cannot tell a lie, nor would I directly contradict easily demonstrable reality. I have been a slack blogger. Kind of strange that I have less time to blog now, when I'm not working full-time, than when I am working full-time and that sort of tells me that maybe my time wasn't being spent especially wisely. Maybe it still isn't.
Either way, it isn't that there isn't plenty going on. Far from it, there is always alot going on in my house. With two little boys, a rambunctious hound and my wife and me, dull moments are as rare as quiet ones.
The funny thing is that I've had several really good posts begun in my mind. About this last weekend's birthday party and stroll through a bamboo forest. About Curt Schilling sticking his entire leg in his mouth by spouting off about Barry Bonds'. About the Red Sox bottom of the ninth comeback win against the O's the other night (hint, I was not pleased). About the fun we had in applying for four passports with expedited service to, hopefully, get them back in time to make a family trip to Mexico in June. About a couple of new ventures I've been exploring. A new invention on top of the other new invention that we've begun to make prototypes of. New words, new blog names, funny observations (well, potentially funny) and a couple of funny photos as well.
But nope, instead you get this lame excuse for a post discussing what I should have been posting. If only for an extra three or four hours in the day.
Which reminds me, I got to get to bed, tomorrow is barrelling down on us like a truck filled with 30,000 pounds of bananas and bad brakes.
Feb 20, 2007Either way, it isn't that there isn't plenty going on. Far from it, there is always alot going on in my house. With two little boys, a rambunctious hound and my wife and me, dull moments are as rare as quiet ones.
The funny thing is that I've had several really good posts begun in my mind. About this last weekend's birthday party and stroll through a bamboo forest. About Curt Schilling sticking his entire leg in his mouth by spouting off about Barry Bonds'. About the Red Sox bottom of the ninth comeback win against the O's the other night (hint, I was not pleased). About the fun we had in applying for four passports with expedited service to, hopefully, get them back in time to make a family trip to Mexico in June. About a couple of new ventures I've been exploring. A new invention on top of the other new invention that we've begun to make prototypes of. New words, new blog names, funny observations (well, potentially funny) and a couple of funny photos as well.
But nope, instead you get this lame excuse for a post discussing what I should have been posting. If only for an extra three or four hours in the day.
Which reminds me, I got to get to bed, tomorrow is barrelling down on us like a truck filled with 30,000 pounds of bananas and bad brakes.
A Big Week Ahead
I can't imagine anyone who doesn't love a three day weekend. But the short week ahead has at least 25% more to do because of the missed day. And there was already alot to do.
But, with some luck, it'll be a good week.
Though I'd be lying if I didn't say that I could very easily go back to bed for another fifteen hours of sleep.
In good exciting news, I found out that a couple of friends are expecting a new baby. Its very early in the pregnancy but we are really excited for them to have some babies. So yeah, that's pretty awesome.
And we did have a nice weekend. It was chilly but we got some sun and got alot of stuff around the house done too. Still plenty more to get done but we made a little dent in the pile.
We've also got to get our passport applications taken care of so there's no crunch come June when we're heading to Mexico for a week.
Happy Fat Tuesday and Happy Pancake Day!
Tags: work, catchup, pregnant, Mexico
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But, with some luck, it'll be a good week.
Though I'd be lying if I didn't say that I could very easily go back to bed for another fifteen hours of sleep.
In good exciting news, I found out that a couple of friends are expecting a new baby. Its very early in the pregnancy but we are really excited for them to have some babies. So yeah, that's pretty awesome.
And we did have a nice weekend. It was chilly but we got some sun and got alot of stuff around the house done too. Still plenty more to get done but we made a little dent in the pile.
We've also got to get our passport applications taken care of so there's no crunch come June when we're heading to Mexico for a week.
Happy Fat Tuesday and Happy Pancake Day!
Tags: work, catchup, pregnant, Mexico