Life Lately
So, it's been over a month since I last posted. I didn't think it had been that long.
Sorry for the radio silence guys, I just haven't had the energy lately. Hopefully I should have a little more time and energy in the near future as I won't be working until the pool reopens in October. Speaking of which, on to my first topic...
Monday (Labor Day)
Last Monday I worked a 15 hour shift as we prepared to close the pool for our biannual repair/cleaning. It was a very long and busy day, and included both a 911 call and a rescue. (Fortunately, neither one was serious.) There were a number of tasks we had to perform once the pool was closed to the public, including: floating the bulkheads and placing them on props, draining the pool and spa, taking out all the lane lines, flags, and other pool equipment, reorganizing the equipment closets, etc.
Part of the reason for our thoroughness is that the entire building will be off-limits for the first few weeks as they rip out the old lobby and build the new administrative offices (so no water, electricity, etc.), and that will generate a lot of dust that we want to try and keep off the equipment. During that time they'll also be acid washing the pool and installing a new spa filter. So, minor stuff for the pool, major changes for the building. The aquatic facility and new lobby are supposed to reopen on October 7th, so I'm essentially on vacation until the last week of September/first week of October when we'll need to go back in and get everything set up.
Finance-wise it's a little tricky; but trust me, I intend to use my vacation time to it's full advantage!
Tues.-Thurs.
Ran errands that I've been putting off for forever, paid bills, returned Library books, got an estimate for the coat I wanted to have made for my cousin's steampunk wedding (too much), and worked on a job application for a position I am very excited about but have no idea regarding whether they will want me.
Friday
Took a professional development course through my employer entitled "Stepping Out With Your Strengths" which was very interesting. The course emphasizes a positive psychology approach to managing your "strengths" (i.e. talents) in the workplace and utilizes Gallup's "StrengthsFinder 2.0" assessment to help identify your top five strengths. Mine were, unsurprisingly, all in the "Thinking" category: 1) Intellection, 2) Input, 3) Context, 4) Learner, and 5) Analytical. What was actually very useful and insightful about the course was being able to discuss how these traits present in others with the same "strength" and how they combine and enhance your other abilities. It was definitely worthwhile.
Had a wonderful time catching up with bnewhall over dinner, which entailed some delicious homemade bread & butter pickles and Bourbon Slush. We then play-tested a game he was designing entitled Kaze, which is a role-playing game that rewards cooperative gameplay and non-violent solutions in a framework of five "Acts". We only got through the first two Acts but so far it has been very exciting and I am eager to finish our adventure (i.e. two British tweens running around the bazaars of Damascus in the 1930's [Very much in the vein of turn-of-the-century adventure novels]).
Saturday
Drove out to the middle of nowhere to participate in the NRA's Women on Target program where learned to shoot a variety of firearms including, but not limited to: AR-15, .50 caliber flintlock and black-powder rifle and pistol, lever-action and bolt-action .22 rifles, a selection of suppressed pistols and others with laser sights, a .45 of some stripe, a Beretta that shot .22LR (which I really liked), and Springfield X-something-or-other compact pistol (which I also really liked). It was my first time ever shooting a rifle, despite the fact that I own one, so it was good to learn how and become more comfortable handling everything. (I also did really well on my targets and had excellent clusters (2 inches at 50m). They said I was a natural!) Anyway, I had a great time and it was a lot of fun.
Enjoyed watching RIDDICK in theaters with my father and brother, who was able to drive up from college for a short visit. Short Review: Though containing many of the same general themes, RIDDICK is very different from the earlier movies of the Trilogy Pitch Black (Sci-fi Action/Thriller) and Chronicles (Dark Action/Adventure). For one, while the plot bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Pitch Black, the story is more mature. The main plot of Pitch Black was, in essence, a quest for the power cells; and while that "quest" also plays a minor role in RIDDICK, the main focus of the movie actually leans more towards - not character development precisely - but certainly depth of character. We see Riddick at his most human, his most vulnerable, and get to observe the thought process and preparation that goes into making him the brooding anti-hero we know and love. While there is still action and bada**-ness aplenty, the pace of this movie is slower and should get you thinking.
Sunday
Had a great time at Six Flags with my folks and brother riding the roller coasters, and my brother and I decided to cross an item off our bucket list by going off the Skycoaster. It was a lot of fun (adrenaline!), even if he neglected to inform me that he was pulling the cord. :P Bought the perquisite(?) Dippin Dots and Fudge before going home to spend the evening with my father watching the 49ers win 34-28 against Green Bay in a very closely matched game.
Tuesday
Had a wonderful visit with Seminary. ♥
Upcoming Events:
Thursday - Class on Managing People Effectively, then catching up with knittingdemon in the afternoon.
Friday - Driving up to visit Red and have lunch at an English Tea House.
Saturday - Farmer's Market!
Sorry for the radio silence guys, I just haven't had the energy lately. Hopefully I should have a little more time and energy in the near future as I won't be working until the pool reopens in October. Speaking of which, on to my first topic...
Monday (Labor Day)
Last Monday I worked a 15 hour shift as we prepared to close the pool for our biannual repair/cleaning. It was a very long and busy day, and included both a 911 call and a rescue. (Fortunately, neither one was serious.) There were a number of tasks we had to perform once the pool was closed to the public, including: floating the bulkheads and placing them on props, draining the pool and spa, taking out all the lane lines, flags, and other pool equipment, reorganizing the equipment closets, etc.
Part of the reason for our thoroughness is that the entire building will be off-limits for the first few weeks as they rip out the old lobby and build the new administrative offices (so no water, electricity, etc.), and that will generate a lot of dust that we want to try and keep off the equipment. During that time they'll also be acid washing the pool and installing a new spa filter. So, minor stuff for the pool, major changes for the building. The aquatic facility and new lobby are supposed to reopen on October 7th, so I'm essentially on vacation until the last week of September/first week of October when we'll need to go back in and get everything set up.
Finance-wise it's a little tricky; but trust me, I intend to use my vacation time to it's full advantage!
Tues.-Thurs.
Ran errands that I've been putting off for forever, paid bills, returned Library books, got an estimate for the coat I wanted to have made for my cousin's steampunk wedding (too much), and worked on a job application for a position I am very excited about but have no idea regarding whether they will want me.
Friday
Took a professional development course through my employer entitled "Stepping Out With Your Strengths" which was very interesting. The course emphasizes a positive psychology approach to managing your "strengths" (i.e. talents) in the workplace and utilizes Gallup's "StrengthsFinder 2.0" assessment to help identify your top five strengths. Mine were, unsurprisingly, all in the "Thinking" category: 1) Intellection, 2) Input, 3) Context, 4) Learner, and 5) Analytical. What was actually very useful and insightful about the course was being able to discuss how these traits present in others with the same "strength" and how they combine and enhance your other abilities. It was definitely worthwhile.
Had a wonderful time catching up with bnewhall over dinner, which entailed some delicious homemade bread & butter pickles and Bourbon Slush. We then play-tested a game he was designing entitled Kaze, which is a role-playing game that rewards cooperative gameplay and non-violent solutions in a framework of five "Acts". We only got through the first two Acts but so far it has been very exciting and I am eager to finish our adventure (i.e. two British tweens running around the bazaars of Damascus in the 1930's [Very much in the vein of turn-of-the-century adventure novels]).
Saturday
Drove out to the middle of nowhere to participate in the NRA's Women on Target program where learned to shoot a variety of firearms including, but not limited to: AR-15, .50 caliber flintlock and black-powder rifle and pistol, lever-action and bolt-action .22 rifles, a selection of suppressed pistols and others with laser sights, a .45 of some stripe, a Beretta that shot .22LR (which I really liked), and Springfield X-something-or-other compact pistol (which I also really liked). It was my first time ever shooting a rifle, despite the fact that I own one, so it was good to learn how and become more comfortable handling everything. (I also did really well on my targets and had excellent clusters (2 inches at 50m). They said I was a natural!) Anyway, I had a great time and it was a lot of fun.
Enjoyed watching RIDDICK in theaters with my father and brother, who was able to drive up from college for a short visit. Short Review: Though containing many of the same general themes, RIDDICK is very different from the earlier movies of the Trilogy Pitch Black (Sci-fi Action/Thriller) and Chronicles (Dark Action/Adventure). For one, while the plot bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Pitch Black, the story is more mature. The main plot of Pitch Black was, in essence, a quest for the power cells; and while that "quest" also plays a minor role in RIDDICK, the main focus of the movie actually leans more towards - not character development precisely - but certainly depth of character. We see Riddick at his most human, his most vulnerable, and get to observe the thought process and preparation that goes into making him the brooding anti-hero we know and love. While there is still action and bada**-ness aplenty, the pace of this movie is slower and should get you thinking.
Sunday
Had a great time at Six Flags with my folks and brother riding the roller coasters, and my brother and I decided to cross an item off our bucket list by going off the Skycoaster. It was a lot of fun (adrenaline!), even if he neglected to inform me that he was pulling the cord. :P Bought the perquisite(?) Dippin Dots and Fudge before going home to spend the evening with my father watching the 49ers win 34-28 against Green Bay in a very closely matched game.
Tuesday
Had a wonderful visit with Seminary. ♥
Upcoming Events:
Thursday - Class on Managing People Effectively, then catching up with knittingdemon in the afternoon.
Friday - Driving up to visit Red and have lunch at an English Tea House.
Saturday - Farmer's Market!