Excedrin Headache # one billion and 3

Ever work on the computer on something that just makes you want to start typing with your forehead...just because it feels so good when you stop Well, try working on your town's annual report? Believe it or not this task has been good for me. To make this a better looking and more interesting document I need to get to know the beast. I'm doing it as it's been done in the past, I've never done a document like this, there has to be a way to give it a twist that will make it a more appealing to it's readers while still maintaining it's purpose. So, I'll do it the way it's been done but I'll then know it inside and out and make improvements next year.

Now I will admit to not working that diligently. Sunny day, Carol went to her sister Lois' to finish upholstering a couch, Ian left for an over night at a Scout Camp for training to do some leadership training. So I was out several times to throw the ball for the dogs, opened up the screens in the camper to give it a good airing out. At lunch time I turned on the tv and keep up on the NFL draft. While working this morning I had Live365.com on the computer set to the "Highland Radio" to catch their weekly top 10 and was rewarded to two favorites, "What's up yours", a rowdy pub song about kilts, and "The Pirate Song" about why women don't make good pirates. Who ever heard of a pirates going to the bathroom in twos?

Had I mentioned that Carol and I subscribe to Netflix, we just do the 1 movie at a time level ($9.95/mo), usually watch on Saturday nights. Tonight its the "Constant Gardener". Suppose to be pretty good, a drama/murder/mystery type movie I think. Last week we watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That was alright, over 2 hours. If you've seen it but haven't read the book, get the book, you could make 3 movies from it. Best one since the introduction of the series.

My sister Judi has checked in (and been the 1st to comment on this blog). Thanks for stopping in and commenting, you might start a trend. The picture is from about four years ago.

A week point in my life

Okay, I'm still not where I want to be with what I need to have done but hey, it's Friday night...time to blog.

The town newsletter for May is published and delivered - still left to do, town's annual report, church's May newsletter, updates for engineering group website I maintain. Tomorrow I crunch the annual report hard and the rest follows.

Last Saturday picked up the camper from storage, it's great having it back in the yard. Memorial Day weekend here we come!

Finally got the "short" haircut, new picture for the blog eventually.

Tonight Scoutmaster Tom and us attended the Eagle Banquet to honor the local council's class of 2005 Eagle Scouts. 157 Eagle ranks were earned in the various districts of the council including Ian's. The guest speaker was Major General John W. Libby, he was terrific. The meal was good, pork, mashed potatoes, etc. Some nice people joined us at the table we were at. The new Eagle Scout with them was interesting to talk with as he was in his first year at the state university and shared many of his experiences there.

Shoutout to Davey for checking in on the blog. He's been in our office for the longest time I think, he was there when dirt was invented. He's also one of the earliest internet chat users from back when you had to use special software to participate. None of this namby-pamby stuff like instant messenger.

E'owyn says it bedtime, so I'd better git. Here's the boss now.

Away but not forgetting

Thanks for stopping by. Haven't much spare time since the last blog. I expect to get back at it this weekend. Check back then for whatever I can come up with.

Home again

Ian and I returned home today from our Easter visit up north. The trip didn't seem as long as most times as we had good conversation along the way, I napped some and we listen to the last six innings of the Redsox game won with a "walk off" homerun by the Sox. Quite thrilling, the radio announcers do a great job. We had some form of rain most of the way home, ate at McDonalds in Orono. Once we finished getting settled in and Carol came home from work Ian left to visit Taylor then Carol and I had supper, took care of odds and ends, we'll settle down and watch the Apprentice. Nice to be home.

Lots to do this week. Besides regular work at the office there are website updates, two newsletter projects and I need to get the town's annual report close to finished. I'll try to sneak something in the blog in the middle of it all.

Happy Easter 2006

Well, here I am on Easter afternoon in Stockholm, Maine at my Mother-in-Law Margaret's house. Things have just settled down for the day. We arrived last night at 7:30pm to the news that the sewer was backed up. For the remainder of the evening/night all necessary body function was out in the woods or in a hospital camode thing with a plastic bag. I got me some fresh air. Lois and Elaine have already been here since Thursday night. The sewer problem happen shortly before we arrived and of course after the hardware store had closed for the holiday weekend where we could have rented a plumbers snake to try and clear the line. So this morning, Lois, Elaine and Margaret got up early to go to sunrise service then returned to get some breakfast items they had baked for the Easter breakfast at the church, I tagged along, a man's got to eat you know, not to mention the use of a functioning restroom. Ian slept in. Breakfast was good, chatted with some of the folks there. A little while after returning to the house Ian and I went up to Carol's Aunt Carolyn's house to take a shower and had a nice visit there.

Near lunch time we headed to the Nursing home to have Easter Dinner with my father-in-law Alton, Elaine brought a birthday cake as it's Lois' birthday today. Afterwards Lois and Elaine headed back south, Margaret, Ian and I headed to Stockholm but stopped first at the Brigade Lodge to pick up two canoes that belong to Alton and Greg. We made two trips with a stop at the camp in between to see how things are looking there after winter. Still some snow under the trees and most of the lake has a slushy/ice covering. The yard is a mess of leaves and sticks. Plenty to do there later this spring.

After finishing moving the canoes Ian and I are ready to hang out at the house. I started a half pot of coffee then took Margaret to Carolyn's for afternoon coffee and I came back to my fresh pot, grabbed a snack and here I am working on today's blog. Oh, the sewer line may have cleared up on it's own, seems we can flush with out a problem though Margaret may still need to have it checked out.

May you have a Happy Easter.
And a special Happy Easter to my wonderful wife Carol who's home, and Mom and my brothers and sister's families, I love you all.

Hours in the dark

It was one of those nights, I had gone to bed a bit early, very tired and was asleep before 9:30pm. About 12:30am, E'owyn, the dog that sleeps in our room got up and went downstairs and I awoke to her toenails clicking on the stairs (I'm rather sensitive to certain sounds). I got up and followed her down and sure enough she wanted out, not her usual habit. So she took care of business and came right back in and up to bed as did I. Then, I layed there, awake and restless, tossed and turned, tired but not sleepy, rolling this way and that. Over the course of the next four hours I heard three jets pass overhead. Heard the other dog, Patches, who's bed is in the hall making a soft wimpering sound from his dreams. Eventually, maybe 10 minutes before the 4:45am alarm I fall into a deep sleep. TANJ! (from Ringworld -there ain't no justice). I'm pretty much a zombie from that point on. I actually copped a nap at my computer at work afterwhich I feel pretty good. Running out of gas now though. have to get some sleep tonight, Ian and I are driving up north for Easter and returning Monday. I hope to check in while there.

Your not alone at a meeting (Duh!)

By the title what I'm getting at is when you attend a meeting of one of a community's organizations you find that many of the attendees may be on their second, third or fourth such meeting of the week. Especially in a small town. In most cases I don't think we all have meetings to attend every week but for everyone involved in more than one organization there are those times when the meetings can and do line up throughout one week, such was the case for me this week. Last night was my third meeting this week, with the publicity committee of our local library. They invited me as the town's Communications Coordinator as I produce our monthly town newspaper and update the town website. They had questions about how the choices are made for laying out the content of the newspaper including the material they provide and we discussed the future of the newspaper amongst other things. Real nice people and a very engaging conversation. I learned a lot about what they are doing to promote the library. For a facility that is only open 3 days a week with limited staff they maximize what they have and are a credit to the community.

There I was, just walking down Commercial Street...

Nothing like a stroll around Portland after lunch, been bringing the camera along with me lately, here's today's catch.

Well tonight was the second of 3 straight nights of meetings, Monday was Troop committee, tonight was the weekly Troop meeting, tomorrow I've been invited to the Village Library's publicity meeting (self explanatory I think). I have to stop meeting like this...might bump into myself.

The school next door...

.... to our state that is. Ian has made his choice. Housing deposit goes in the mail tomorrow. Wow, my son is going to college. He had a great day at the open house he attended yesterday. Even was recognized by a guy from the county he had met years ago. Well, there's a lot to do yet, the next great adventure in family life. I'm sure I'll mention the subject a few more times, though a little may not be enough.

November Spring Day

Haven't had much inspiration the last few days to put together a blog. Had some things on my mind that I'd as soon keep to myself and with the weather as it is my brain feels "slow of foot". Bad enough to see snow on the ground for two mornings in a row this week. I know that it's suppose to warmup this coming week but today seems like a late November day...Blah!

On the up side, Ian is on his way back from the UNH open house held by the college he's thinking of attending. Carol and I are looking forward to hearing about his day, exciting stuff. He won't be home long before heading to Camp Hinds to spend the night with the Troop's Senior Patrol and the 1st year Scouts. Something the Troop started last year to help make a connection between the two age extremes in the Troop which previously use to be a chasm but after a weekend like this one the new guys get comfortable being around the "seasoned" Scouts and the Senior Scouts get to know the new faces.

Carol and I went out to grab a quick supper last night. A place that's been in Windham for about a year or more, Maine Bean, kind of a coffee house/bakery/eatery place. New post and beam construction with high ceilings, ground level and an upper seating. Great sandwiches and Panninis, beer and wine as well. Rather unique place for the atmosphere and consumption choices. Check it out if you are ever in the area. Has WiFi.

Dealing with Deal or No Deal

For a long time now there hasn't been much I care for on network TV (this season I make an exception for the Apprentice) but awhile back I picked up on "Deal or No Deal". It started out on CNBC before the Winter Olympics, short run on prime time. Then it was brought to NBC after the Olymipics. Now the problem, too much game show on prime time gets BORING! Interesting game, love Howie Mandel as host but after I watch 6 0r 7 episodes what's fresh about it. I think they should have run it for a week, then put it away for a couple of months, repeat mixture. Am I alone here? Create a little anticipation, maybe - just a little is enough. Deal or No Deal... you're FIRED!

Blogged to the world

Time to introduce some family to the the blogging public. My Mom and sisters Doreen and Kathy. Sent my mother the URL to read my blog, she passed it onto the sisters so now I'm making them famous! Fame is fleeting, enjoy it while it lasts. Nice camera Doreen, come out from behind it.

Pretty mild day in the life. Work started out slow this morning then shifted into hectic mode for the afternoon. For supper Carol cooked up some pork steaks, tasty and tender. I get the leftovers for work tomorrow, worth going in for. Haven't worked on the Town's annual report today, did webpage updates instead. I'll keep busy until the Appentice comes on then check out who gets fired this week.

We'll be keeping Uncle Joe's family in our prayers, he passed away this weekend.

On the Good news side - Nephew Jimmy, Kathy's son, is coming home on leave for 2 weeks from Iraq.

Reflecting on yesterday and today.

Well the visit to UNH was quite interesting. The warm weather played an important part in that. We went for a tour of the campus, our guide was Amelia, a communications major and it showed, she was a terrific guide, bright, cheery and very well informed. Though the campus was tinged in winter browns the sunlit, warm day made up for it. Life as a student there sounds pretty good and we ate at one of the 3 main dining facilities which had a lot of great food available. Ian hasn't said for sure if he's going there but it seems to be his choice. I'm a sucker for this stuff, I was telling Carol there should be places for working people like this campus.

Today Carol and her sister Lois went to a Historical Society in York to look up stuff on their Father's side of the family, then to a fabric store to choose some new material to upholster one of Lois' couches. I worked on Operation: Behind the Eight Ball (BEB), formatting the Town's annual report. I have a lot to get done on a part-time basis to have it done in time to be printed a couple of weeks before the town meeting.

Just got home a short time ago from the Italian Dinner that the Boy Scout Troop put on. lasagna, ziti, salad, garlic bread. The Scouts did a good job. They prepared most of the food and Scout families provided the desserts (burp).

With Ian away until tomorrow Carol and I have rented the Zorro movie for tonight's entertainment and we'll check in on the Final Four games of the NCAA Men's Championship.