I've been down in Santiago, Chile for about 10 days working on the implementation of a major airline to our system. Everything went well; even better than expected. I'm assigned to the overnight shift of "channel support", which means that anything our hundreds of employees in the field can't answer, they call, e-mail, or IM me for help.
Also assigned to the same shift are two very boisterous men - one Latin, one Indian. They are always talking, always joking, and have the very bad habit of not letting anyone finish a sentence. My irritation and lack of patience has reared its ugly head more than once this week. I've tried asking nicely, I've tried sarcasm, and I've tried yelling at them to please shut up, to no avail. They talk over each other, not to mention anyone else in the room.
I have come to realize something about myself through this. There is a reason why I choose to work from home as much as I do. It's not just these two gentlemen that behave this way - it seems to be rampant in much of the company these days. Nobody has a simple conversation - it's all one-upmanship to see who can talk the loudest, or the fastest, or who can manipulate the most electronic devices at one time while still pretending to listen to what you're saying to them.
I've heard all sorts of theories on why this is - overstimulation from TV, computers, iPhones, iPads, iPods, video games, and just a fast-paced life. But my theory is different - people do it just because everyone else does it. It's not that they aren't nice people - they are. And their table manners are impeccable. But I cannot deal with a room full of people all vying for attention, all absolutely certain that it should be only their voice that should be heard.
In the meantime, I'll be oh so happy to get back to my little Summer Palace known as a camper, where the only sounds I hear are the birds chirping in the morning.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Little Things
Someone's post on Facebook today brought back an unexpected memory that made me smile. We lived 2 blocks from the school (yes, the one and only school in town; elementary and high school) and sometimes the marching band would come out to practice, marching right by our house. It always felt like it was a surprise present just for us, and we'd drop everything to go listen and watch as the teenagers in uniforms marched by with drums, saxophones, clarinets, and tubas. Thinking about that reminded me of other memories, like hearing the fire siren blow and jumping in the car to go chase the fire trucks.
Taking Miss Pepper, the dog, to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone. And Butterscotch Dilly Bars!
Bowling night for Mom, when Dad would make us popcorn in the electric skillet, but pretend all night he wasn't going to this week. Bowling night for Dad, when Mom would wax the hardwood floors and we'd take turns running and sliding in the hallway with just our socks on (it was also bath night). That tradition ended when I got a huge sliver and had to have a tetanus shot and stitches.
Laying out on the cool grass late at night watching a meteor shower because Dewey Berquist said we should (Dewey was the weatherman on TV, and we donated our grandfather's telescope to him so we felt like we were his friends).
Making the first snowman of the year and getting our picture in the paper for it.
And riding on top of the firetruck with the sirens blasting on Halloween. If we were real lucky we'd get to sit inside and actually blow the siren ourselves.
The smell of burning leaves in the air. The last day of school. The feel of a fish tugging on our line.
Today I watched two hummingbirds chase each other, up and down, in circles, and side to side. It almost seemed like they were dancing for me. It felt like the school's marching band was coming down our street, playing just for us.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Batteries Recharged!
WE Fest is one of the nation's largest music and camping festivals, and it happens about a mile from my Summer Palace the first week of August every year. The site, still called Soo Pass Ranch, used to be a horseback riding "dude" ranch, and my brother and I rode horses there as kids.
Some of the most famous musicians in the world have performed there - Ray Charles, Kid Rock to name a couple. This year some of the headliners were Toby Keith, Alabama, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Sawyer Brown, and John Anderson.
I had never been to WE Fest and wasn't sure I wanted to - I like country music all right, but I'm not a huge fan. And there are always stories of younger adults getting really drunk and doing stupid stuff. But my neighbor talked me into volunteering for the Humane Society and serving beer at the festival. Two six-hour shifts and I would get a 3-day music pass. When the Human Society called me, they asked if I could work three shifts since they were so desperate for volunteers. For that, I got a camping pass (not needed) and $10 in food tickets every day in addition to the music pass.
From the first moment (Thursday night) of getting on a shuttle bus, it was as if I was dropped into an alternate universe where everyone was happy and everyone loved everyone else. We were greeted in the aisle of the bus with "happy WE Fest", and one kid told me I was beautiful.
We got to work at the Leinie Lodge, which specializes in Leinenkugel, a Wisconsin beer. The jobs were servers or pourers. I was asked to be a server, which meant I took people's tickets, and gave them the beer of their choice, all the while trying to get as many tips as possible for the Humane Society. Sweet muscle-bound tattooed boys would come in my line and tell me they loved me, that I was beautiful, and would kiss my hands before leaving. And we in the booth were having the best time ever, making up claps and chants for when we got a tip.
The next day I worked the day shift and then joined my brother and sister-in-law to see Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin) and Toby Keith. Soon after I sat down, an announcement was made that a bad storm was heading in, with rain and winds up to 50 mph. We ran for shelter, and I ended up under the "porch" of the Leinie Lodge with an umbrella. The porch didn't have a solid roof, so it wasn't that great of a shelter. A 21-year old boy squeezed in next to me, told me he wanted to be a paramedic, and was worried about his girlfriend in the Hilltop campground. He asked if I knew where that was. I did, but told him it was way too far away to get to on foot in the storm. He hung out for a little while longer, then took off running into the night.
The rain lessened, I was reunited with my brother and sister-in-law, and we wandered up to the Saloon for awhile, since it actually had a roof on it. On the way back down I bought a delicious lamb Gyro and a sweatshirt since it was now cold AND rainy. Even though it was miserable outside, everyone still was happy!
Steve Martin finally came on and did an abbreviated show (his banjo playing is amazing), and then Toby Keith took the stage, a week after having gall bladder surgery. After "Red Solo Cup", we started the mile walk home around 1:30 in the morning. There's nothing like a late-night walk in squishy shoes to make you wish for a hot bath!
The final day of the festival I worked during the day again, and walking around the grounds was just as much fun as before. We'd start conversations with perfect strangers, and end up getting big hugs or high fives.
Today is Sunday - everyone has packed up and are heading home; some to homes several states away. I am stiff, sore, have multiple blisters, and still feel like I just came home from a 3-week vacation. I met so many fun people, all of whom were out to have as much fun as possible in the 3 days they were there. Why did it take me 30 years to go?
Some of the most famous musicians in the world have performed there - Ray Charles, Kid Rock to name a couple. This year some of the headliners were Toby Keith, Alabama, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Sawyer Brown, and John Anderson.
I had never been to WE Fest and wasn't sure I wanted to - I like country music all right, but I'm not a huge fan. And there are always stories of younger adults getting really drunk and doing stupid stuff. But my neighbor talked me into volunteering for the Humane Society and serving beer at the festival. Two six-hour shifts and I would get a 3-day music pass. When the Human Society called me, they asked if I could work three shifts since they were so desperate for volunteers. For that, I got a camping pass (not needed) and $10 in food tickets every day in addition to the music pass.
From the first moment (Thursday night) of getting on a shuttle bus, it was as if I was dropped into an alternate universe where everyone was happy and everyone loved everyone else. We were greeted in the aisle of the bus with "happy WE Fest", and one kid told me I was beautiful.
We got to work at the Leinie Lodge, which specializes in Leinenkugel, a Wisconsin beer. The jobs were servers or pourers. I was asked to be a server, which meant I took people's tickets, and gave them the beer of their choice, all the while trying to get as many tips as possible for the Humane Society. Sweet muscle-bound tattooed boys would come in my line and tell me they loved me, that I was beautiful, and would kiss my hands before leaving. And we in the booth were having the best time ever, making up claps and chants for when we got a tip.
The next day I worked the day shift and then joined my brother and sister-in-law to see Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin) and Toby Keith. Soon after I sat down, an announcement was made that a bad storm was heading in, with rain and winds up to 50 mph. We ran for shelter, and I ended up under the "porch" of the Leinie Lodge with an umbrella. The porch didn't have a solid roof, so it wasn't that great of a shelter. A 21-year old boy squeezed in next to me, told me he wanted to be a paramedic, and was worried about his girlfriend in the Hilltop campground. He asked if I knew where that was. I did, but told him it was way too far away to get to on foot in the storm. He hung out for a little while longer, then took off running into the night.
The rain lessened, I was reunited with my brother and sister-in-law, and we wandered up to the Saloon for awhile, since it actually had a roof on it. On the way back down I bought a delicious lamb Gyro and a sweatshirt since it was now cold AND rainy. Even though it was miserable outside, everyone still was happy!
Steve Martin finally came on and did an abbreviated show (his banjo playing is amazing), and then Toby Keith took the stage, a week after having gall bladder surgery. After "Red Solo Cup", we started the mile walk home around 1:30 in the morning. There's nothing like a late-night walk in squishy shoes to make you wish for a hot bath!
The final day of the festival I worked during the day again, and walking around the grounds was just as much fun as before. We'd start conversations with perfect strangers, and end up getting big hugs or high fives.
Today is Sunday - everyone has packed up and are heading home; some to homes several states away. I am stiff, sore, have multiple blisters, and still feel like I just came home from a 3-week vacation. I met so many fun people, all of whom were out to have as much fun as possible in the 3 days they were there. Why did it take me 30 years to go?
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Perspective - It's a Grand Thing
I grew up in a tiny town, where my Dad owned a hardware store and Mom cooked and cleaned and also worked at the store once we started going to school. Summers were spent running around the neighborhood until it got too dark to see, and sometimes we even would lay on the grass late at night to look at the stars. When we got older, we started going to The Lake. No matter which late folks around town went to, it was still called "the lake", sometimes "the lakes", as in "are you going to the lake this weekend?".
Swimming off the dock, fishing with our Dad, digging our bare feet into the muck at the bottom of the lake...all part of the experience. Catching minnows with a net, collecting turtles, and yes, dealing with mosquitoes after dark were part of my childhood.
My neighbors here in Minnesota had their son, daughter-in-law and two grandkids visit from Texas this week. When the kids were encouraged to take their shoes off to run through the grass, they declined, saying that they were afraid of fire ants (we don't have fire ants here, just the regular old picnic ants). They didn't want to go into the lake for fear that they'd run into a fish. Their parents wouldn't go in either - too mucky and "dirty" for them (the lake is very clean).
My neighbors told me these things with a sad, disappointed look on their face. You see, they grew up like I did here in North Dakota/Minnesota. But their jobs took them to the big city, and later to Texas before their son got to experience what we did. And now they might as well be from a different planet, wondering how on earth we all survived growing up the way we did.
My 4 year old grand niece is getting the lake experience - she loves the water; even dives off the high part of the pontoon into the lake already. Her shoes are rarely on (except for a couple of months when her Mom couldn't convince her to remove her snow boots), and she stays up late by the campfire, shooting off sparklers and roasting marshmallows. She's a lucky girl indeed.
Swimming off the dock, fishing with our Dad, digging our bare feet into the muck at the bottom of the lake...all part of the experience. Catching minnows with a net, collecting turtles, and yes, dealing with mosquitoes after dark were part of my childhood.
My neighbors here in Minnesota had their son, daughter-in-law and two grandkids visit from Texas this week. When the kids were encouraged to take their shoes off to run through the grass, they declined, saying that they were afraid of fire ants (we don't have fire ants here, just the regular old picnic ants). They didn't want to go into the lake for fear that they'd run into a fish. Their parents wouldn't go in either - too mucky and "dirty" for them (the lake is very clean).
My neighbors told me these things with a sad, disappointed look on their face. You see, they grew up like I did here in North Dakota/Minnesota. But their jobs took them to the big city, and later to Texas before their son got to experience what we did. And now they might as well be from a different planet, wondering how on earth we all survived growing up the way we did.
My 4 year old grand niece is getting the lake experience - she loves the water; even dives off the high part of the pontoon into the lake already. Her shoes are rarely on (except for a couple of months when her Mom couldn't convince her to remove her snow boots), and she stays up late by the campfire, shooting off sparklers and roasting marshmallows. She's a lucky girl indeed.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Working For a...Living?
Although I love my Summer Palace enough to have bought a share of the Association, there were things that irritated the bejeezus out of me. The Annual Meeting was a free-for-all, with lots of folks airing their frustrations. The common theme, it seemed to me, was a lack of communication, so I stepped up and volunteered to be in charge of a monthly newsletter for the Village. At least 200 hours of work later, my first issue was published. I never wrote a newsletter before, so I had to figure out a template to use, articles to write, and how to lay it out at the printers. All in all, it was a work I'm proud of, and hopefully it'll go a long way to fixing that pesky communication problem we seem to have. I'm already working on the August issue!
I also volunteered to be a member of the 2012 Sounding Board, which is the predecessor to a more formal board of directors. Right now, private owners are improving, marketing, and selling the place, but once we sell 75% of the lots, the Association takes over (and we're scared to death about that). Our first Sounding Board meeting finally took place the last Saturday in June, and boy did we have a lot to talk about! Since we're the predecessor to a board of directors, we decided to start acting like one, electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, and following Robert's Rules. Since I was the only one taking notes I got elected secretary, not that I minded. Since communication is such a strong theme for me, I like putting some order around what we're doing.
So in addition to working full-time at my real job, I'm feeling lately like I have a part-time, unpaid job too! But I have a lot (to me) of money invested here, so I want to make sure I do what I can to make it succeed.
I harvested my first tomato (Cherokee Purple) yesterday, which is really early for this heirloom. I didn't think that plant was even going to survive, much less produce tomatoes, but it's starting to go crazy. I've been eating the sugar snap peas right off the bush - they're so fresh and sweet. And the wild raspberries are in fruit behind my camper. The cucumbers are growing well, I've got three hot pepper plants with fruit that'll be ready soon, and tons of white onions coming along nicely! The rhubarb and asparagus are in their first year, so no harvesting them until next year. I didn't make it the Farmer's Market last Saturday, so I'm excited to see what they have for me this week!
I also volunteered to be a member of the 2012 Sounding Board, which is the predecessor to a more formal board of directors. Right now, private owners are improving, marketing, and selling the place, but once we sell 75% of the lots, the Association takes over (and we're scared to death about that). Our first Sounding Board meeting finally took place the last Saturday in June, and boy did we have a lot to talk about! Since we're the predecessor to a board of directors, we decided to start acting like one, electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, and following Robert's Rules. Since I was the only one taking notes I got elected secretary, not that I minded. Since communication is such a strong theme for me, I like putting some order around what we're doing.
So in addition to working full-time at my real job, I'm feeling lately like I have a part-time, unpaid job too! But I have a lot (to me) of money invested here, so I want to make sure I do what I can to make it succeed.
I harvested my first tomato (Cherokee Purple) yesterday, which is really early for this heirloom. I didn't think that plant was even going to survive, much less produce tomatoes, but it's starting to go crazy. I've been eating the sugar snap peas right off the bush - they're so fresh and sweet. And the wild raspberries are in fruit behind my camper. The cucumbers are growing well, I've got three hot pepper plants with fruit that'll be ready soon, and tons of white onions coming along nicely! The rhubarb and asparagus are in their first year, so no harvesting them until next year. I didn't make it the Farmer's Market last Saturday, so I'm excited to see what they have for me this week!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Summer Palace Week One
After my long journey back to where I belong, I settled in and started up the Summer Palace. I had a full tank of propane, so I could feed myself and stay warm. What else do I need? Oh yeah - water! There was still a chance of freezing temps overnight, so the water wasn't going to be turned on until there was no chance of the pipes bursting.
So for 5 days I hauled water from our Community Center for coffee but mainly to flush the toilet. Luckily we have good shower facilities there too. I learned to appreciate water that comes straight from the taps without having to haul it in 5-gallon buckets.
But the water was eventually turned on, and I flushed all the pink antifreeze out of the lines. That full tank of propane only lasted 2 weeks - it was cold overnight!
A lady turkey had her home base nearby it seems, since I saw her quite frequently wandering in my backyard.
And the pair of fox from last year started a family!
And this week I saw a bobcat running through the property two doors down. I've gotten a lot of grief from folks who don't believe it was a bobcat, but I know what I saw, and they're not uncommon here. And late last night I may have seen it again bounding through the property. Where are those nigh-vision glasses when I need them?
Friends of mine that have a cabin on Pelican Lake (site of my Summer Palace a few years ago) had a cinnamon colored black bear strolling through their front yard. And the next day 2 cubs were seen. That freaks out a lot of people, but there's a research organization up in Ely, MN that has been studying black bears for years, and have been able to prove many myths are untrue. For example, bears don't sleep through the winter. They wake up quite often, leave their den, and will sometimes eat snow for the water. When their cubs are born (during hibernation), they are good mothers, and just like humans, don't sleep much for the first few months!
Check out www.bear.org - this winter I actually watched Jewel, one of the bears in the study, give birth to 2 cubs. The cameras with audio in her den kept me coming back time and time again just to check on her and the kids.
I think I missed my calling. If I could somehow combine my passion for nature with my passion for cooking, I'd be a happy camper! In a way, that's exactly what I've done already.
So for 5 days I hauled water from our Community Center for coffee but mainly to flush the toilet. Luckily we have good shower facilities there too. I learned to appreciate water that comes straight from the taps without having to haul it in 5-gallon buckets.
But the water was eventually turned on, and I flushed all the pink antifreeze out of the lines. That full tank of propane only lasted 2 weeks - it was cold overnight!
A lady turkey had her home base nearby it seems, since I saw her quite frequently wandering in my backyard.
And the pair of fox from last year started a family!
Friends of mine that have a cabin on Pelican Lake (site of my Summer Palace a few years ago) had a cinnamon colored black bear strolling through their front yard. And the next day 2 cubs were seen. That freaks out a lot of people, but there's a research organization up in Ely, MN that has been studying black bears for years, and have been able to prove many myths are untrue. For example, bears don't sleep through the winter. They wake up quite often, leave their den, and will sometimes eat snow for the water. When their cubs are born (during hibernation), they are good mothers, and just like humans, don't sleep much for the first few months!
Check out www.bear.org - this winter I actually watched Jewel, one of the bears in the study, give birth to 2 cubs. The cameras with audio in her den kept me coming back time and time again just to check on her and the kids.
I think I missed my calling. If I could somehow combine my passion for nature with my passion for cooking, I'd be a happy camper! In a way, that's exactly what I've done already.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Back Home Where I Belong
I was chomping at the bit to get going. After all, the temperatures had reached 70 already in Detroit Lakes (okay, so it was one day and it probably snowed the same night). I got back from my latest 2-week jaunt to Australia, spent the weekend packing, worked a couple of days, then I could stand it no longer. Even though the campground isn't open officially until May 1, I knew they wouldn't kick me out if I showed up a week early.
I may have mentioned that jet lag coming home from Australia kicks my butt. Generally for 2 weeks after I get home I suffer from disturbed sleep, diarrhea, and even depression. So I know that driving for two days straight wasn't the smartest thing to do. The first day wasn't bad - I drove 12 hours, checked into a hotel, and even stayed awake to watch TV a couple of hours!
Day 2 was a little harder. Even though it would be a shorter day, I found myself all fidgety and cranky, and worst of all, sleepy. Driving through South Dakota, I really kept wishing I was in Minnesota already. So knowing that I couldn't shorten the drive anyway, I decided to at least "get to Minnesota". I exited on Highway 90 and turned east. Before you knew it, I was in Minnesota! And I had never visited Southwestern Minnesota before, so I felt like a tourist.
I may have mentioned that jet lag coming home from Australia kicks my butt. Generally for 2 weeks after I get home I suffer from disturbed sleep, diarrhea, and even depression. So I know that driving for two days straight wasn't the smartest thing to do. The first day wasn't bad - I drove 12 hours, checked into a hotel, and even stayed awake to watch TV a couple of hours!
Day 2 was a little harder. Even though it would be a shorter day, I found myself all fidgety and cranky, and worst of all, sleepy. Driving through South Dakota, I really kept wishing I was in Minnesota already. So knowing that I couldn't shorten the drive anyway, I decided to at least "get to Minnesota". I exited on Highway 90 and turned east. Before you knew it, I was in Minnesota! And I had never visited Southwestern Minnesota before, so I felt like a tourist.
"So it came to be (1993) that a cluster of more than 70 wind turbines was erected about Hendricks and Lake Benton in Lincoln County, MN, as the U.S. government, the State of Minnesota and several energy conglomerates began a serious effort to create electricity from wind. Soon a second cluster of turbines - more than 140 - was erected near the same site.
A dozen years later there is uncertainty attending the precise number of wind turbines across and along Buffalo Ridge. There are thousands of them. Southwest Minnesota’s landscape has been transformed, just as the search for energy has been transformed. Minnesota’s southwest corner, in particular, has become an American center for the production of electricity.
The sleek, nearly silent wind turbines are all about 250 feet high. Each turbine weighs nearly 100 tons. Most have three blades with a rotor diameter of more than 150 feet. They are awesome structures.
Each turbine may generate the annual electrical needs of up to 250 homes. The wind-driven turbines supplant the burning of hundreds of thousands of tons of coal which would be required to fill the needs of the power now harvested from Minnesota breezes.
Some farmers in the southwest region, who have watched turbines being erected on their lands, call their farms “wind farms.” They now reap harvests from winds which once only rustled their corn crops."
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