Informal Continuation

The grief group that I participated in has officially ended.  On our last official evening two weeks ago, we agreed to have informal meetings every Tuesday just to keep the feeling of being with those of similar mind on a regular basis. 


I have hosted two of these during prior breaks and I immeasurably enjoy the host role.  As we decided on future meetings, I drew last night as my night.  Of our group of 11, seven were able to make it and that is pretty much a quorum these days. 


The event is a potluck so people agreed to bring various components of a well rounded meal. We had two salads, couscous, wine, appetizers, bbq chicken and three kinds of pie for dessert.  I prepared the chicken and cooked it on the grill. I also stretched my culinary skills and made a killer of a marinade for the chicken.  I totally overcooked the chicken because I didn't use my digital thermometer until it was already over 180F so I figured I had chicken shoe leather. But the overnight marinade had made the chicken so moist, it was juicy and tender and a real pleasure to serve and eat!    


Anyway, it was good to see the group and I believe a fun time was had by all!  


Ciao

Another one of those weeks!

As I wrote last week, Sunday evening caused a ramp up of energy and emotion to prepare for the special Sunday evening event. 

What I had not realized because I was focused on preparing for my role and presentation was that there was a series of "must do" events set for the balance of the week.  And, a two-day all-day offsite to start our annual planning cycle.  Just a lot of work!   

Saturday was ACT's "Tales of the City".  A fantastic bit of theater and musical.  If you have a chance, please, please go see it.  Click here to visit ACT.  I wrote about my daughter's visit in early May, I mentioned we had attended a reading by Armistead Maupin of his new book. He is the author of "Tales" and he was a joy to hear.  Well, I attend a Saturday series that includes an optional luncheon for donors to the theater.  I decided to attend the luncheon on Saturday and Armistead was the featured speaker.  He is just a kick, full of life and absolutely funny! 

The Tuesday grief group program has terminated per the normal practice of Pathways. So, my group has decided that we should continue to meet unofficially and informally.  We have three Tuesdays planned for this month and the first will be held at my place.  I spent a good portion of today cleaning the deck in case the weather cooperates and we can eat outside.  Tomorrow the Maids clean the inside of the house so things should be absolutely perfect for my guests. 

Shawna keeps rolling along! No drama this week although she has started her old behavior of barking and dancing when its dinner time.  She stopped doing that some time ago.  To see her doing her old "high energy" pre-meal ceremony is heartwarming.  (Think of the comic strip "Peanuts" and the dance that Snoopy does as Charlie Brown brings the feeding bowl.) Both dogs have been good and I have only had to clean up one wet spot when we had a touch of rain earlier in the week.  

I am still having my massage on Friday evenings. If you need a massage, please call or contact Ingrid at Massage Rescue (click here). She is a miracle worker!  If you do visit the website, you also will see I have a second career! 

This coming week is more normal at work, if we only knew what "more normal" was!

Ciao! 

It Is Done!

One of the many events held internally by my employer is a tutorial about our various businesses on the eve of the regular board meetings.  For this board meeting, the group I work for was to provide the tutorials and tours.  

I was tapped to give one of the three 20 minute tutorials. Well, describing our very complex high tech business in 20 minutes is no simple task. I spent the better part of last week trying to figure out the essence of what I needed to say. And, I had a prior speaker that was going to discuss certain topics so I could build on his materials. And, I was followed by a tour of our Development facilities so I could have our tour guide cover other key points. In addition, the head of our overall unit is presenting on Tuesday morning and the board wants those materials on the weekend before the meeting. And we had to be aligned with his content.

This meant last week was hell week. Early starts, late days and by Saturday I was exhausted. Hey, Tuesday morning after Memorial day was an 8AM must attend meeting. Sure put a stop on Monday night activities so I could get up on time for the meeting.  I work with a bunch of workaholics, the last email transmission of material for the session today was at 1:10AM today (Sunday). We were to start at 5:30PM-ish so we assembled at 4PM to make sure everything was ready for the event. 

The bottom line is that it went well--very well.  Some of the speakers don't know how to manage time but the board was ok with it. I held to my time budget and lead the tours as planned. The kudo's at the end of the session were greatly appreciated!  

I got home at about 10PM, fed the dogs and am writing this blog to relax a bit before I head for bed.  Next meeting is at 9AM and that extra hour feels pretty good right now. 

Unfortunately, what I needed to get done this past week has not been done because this has been so all consuming.  The dishwasher from Monday night is still not unloaded.  I couldn't believe it when I went looking for a particular dish and it wasn't in the cabinet and I found it in the dishwasher (clean) from four days prior!  I am scraping for clean clothes because I haven't had time to do the laundry, I don't want to listen to the machines while I try to fall asleep either. However, by starting with the color of undershirts (only black left) and selecting the right dress shirt (allowing blue socks with a black undershirt), I can go for Mon and Tues and that gives me time to solve the problem. I got some of my grocery shopping and errands done but I am about to run out of a very special dog treat and I will be in big trouble if I don't have that! I didn't get to farmers' market today so I missed my fish. Darn it!  

And to top it all off, we've had record rainfall in Silicon Valley in the past 48 hours.  We are supposed to be in full summer which around here means no rain until November or December (sprinkles allowed in October).  But this year its just not working out that way!  

That's all for now! 

Ciao

p

Rainy Saturday

It has been pouring all morning. Well, at least since I woke up. I could not sleep last night and was awake until 3 or so. That meant a late wake up for me. The dogs were fed about 11 and I have taken my time starting my day. But I need to begin my Saturday errands soon. While finishing my latte, I found my over active, hyper, bundle of energy dogs at my feet.




And white dog (aka Wiggles) snores!

Pat

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