June « 2009 « sounds familiar

3Jun/090

rainwalking

Driplets. Going on Wednesday here in Oregon (I write these the night before I post them, for those who either don't know or have never been here before). How you guys doin'?

Despite my best efforts to dodge it, I was sucked into a "working dinner" after our all-day meeting today. Dragged, kicking and screaming, to a nice seafood place down on the docks, set about fifty feet out into the flow of the Columbia river.

I walked the dock in the bright sunshine, had a couple beers did some priceless networking, and had some great local seafood. So, even though I really wanted to head home and hang with Sharaun and Keaton and Mom and Dad instead... I think it worked out OK, everything considered.

Today I took public transit to work. I've written before about how I enjoy riding the public transportation here in Oregon; they have such a well-run network of light-rail, buses, and trains, and the whole process is so easy and cheap. Makes a body feel all "green" just staying off the road, and affords one some time to listen to tunes and people-watch to boot.

This morning, my route included a short train ride and then a transfer to a bus before a brief walk to my final destination. As I left the bus, the skies were grey and, despite the sun and blue skies we've had ever since getting here, the clouds opened up for a few scant moments and dropped a light rain on me as I walked. For a moment I paused under a leafy tree to escape the drops, but soon realized it wasn't much shelter at all... and, after all, I had a schedule to keep.

So, here I was: Dressed to the nines with intent to impress, walking along the side of a busy highway onramp (no sidewalk, mind you, so I was in the shoulder), laptop slung over my shoulder and the rain making dark blotches on my new brown leather shoes even as it slicked my hair. In the cans, one of my favorite songs of all time shuffled up: Buffalo Springfield's Hung Upside Down. A Stills track from their 1967 sophomore effort, it just fit the early-morning rain-walk moment so well.

For me, the song conjures up precious memories of middle school, and those recalled emotions fit perfect with the odd sense of solitude-amongst-busyness that walking alone amidst heavy morning traffic can give a guy.

There then; near an entire entry about walking down the road in the rain. Just kinda happened. I like it when it just kinda happens. Goodnight.

Filed under: self, tunes No Comments

2Jun/090

working? working.

Conference room? Monday from the Pacific Northwest; greetings.

Even though I traveled all these miles to work here in Oregon, we left Saturday so we could spend the weekend with my family. And, since the work event I came here to participate in is two all-day sessions Tuesday and Wednesday, when it came to going into the office Monday morning... I opted instead to work from my folks' kitchen table. So, odd as it seems, I crossed state lines to telecommute. Not bad.

As a Springtime telecommuting perk, I took my afternoon meeting while laying in the green grass at the park downtown. Keaton was playing in the fountains and on the swings and I was reclined lookin' nerdy with my headset and cellphone talking about electrons and alpha particles and current densities and inductance. Sure, I looked like a tool, but it was actually a really nice experience. I was able to get some appreciation for just how cool the non-constraints of my job are.

I mean, I've always known I have a "flexible" job - being that the bulk of the work I do is less tied to one physical location and more tied to being "connected" via phone, e-mail and instant-messaging. So, really, were it not for the goodness I derive from being at the building - the job is relatively decoupled from my three-and-a-half gray fabric cubicle walls. Me, though, I tend to be a lot more productive when I'm actually at work... so I don't take advantage of telecommuting as much as some might. On days like today though, it was a pretty sweet bonus feature of my employ at the sawmill.

Tomorrow begins the first day of the all-day two-day meeting I traveled here for. Located at a hotel instead of at the Oregon sawmill, it'll be the familiar cast of characters gathered together to make decisions. I enjoy meetings like this a lot, when there's plenty of time for academic pursuits in attempt to figure out the best options and you have the chance to meet people in person you may have worked with for years upon years. Plus, I feel more important when people ask my opinion on things (and I actually have one). So... that's good too.

OK, I'm outta here.

Filed under: blood, grindstone No Comments

1Jun/091

the blog lay fallow

Can we grow again? Happy Monday from Portland, internet.

Boy did the blog lay fallow last week or what? As usual, I stutter-started several entries only to give up within the hour.

Y'know, it was a pretty mediocre week anyway: Work was busy and we did the same kind of things we always do. Saturday morning though, we took the short flight north to Oregon and are now enjoying the warm Springtime of the Pacific Northwest.

Today we played heathan and skipped church at the little congregation down the street that we visit when we're here, and instead got an early start on the day's planned activity: heading down to the river to a big carnival. We took the train down, Keaton always likes that, and arrived at really nice typical midway-and-rides setup.

Now, me, I have a lot of love for carnivals. For some reason, I really enjoy them. And it's not just the "stuff" I enjoy, it's the atmosphere. The smells: straw scattered on the ground, exhaust from ride motors, a myriad of fried foods. The sounds: a cacophony of barkers calling rubes to their games, the pssshhht! pssshhht! of the pneumatics, and the din of voices and music. It's all fun to me, and being there I remember how much I used to enjoy it all as a kid.

And now, watching Keaton enjoy it lets me experience it all again. Keaton wasn't quite tall enough to do the Ferris wheel with me, and I was a tad disappointed since I'd really wanted to do that together. But we did ride rides together, do the mirror-maze together, and eat bad-for-you foods together. All under a cloudless blue sky and hot bright sun. But, don't take my words for it, have a look for yourself: