A long strange trips...
Apr 25, 2010 21:01 Filed in: Life
Tonight marks the end of a memorable 40 days.
Starting with Grandma Michaud’s death and funeral
(see previous post), to then spending several days in
Marin County, CA as part of the
Inner Journey
Seminar.
It was a great space and was wonderful at getting
more in touch with myself (emotionally,
physically, & spiritually) at the same time
others were doing the same. Then the family
gathered over Easter - Dad has been spending
several weekends up in NE helping Grandpa out.
Then had an all-day conference in KC, then a week
back at Stanford, CA, and then back at work. This
past week we had our annual
RAIN
conference here in Omaha, followed by my
Grandmother’s 80th birthday party that was a bit of a
family reunion. Of course I’m leaving out lots of
details, amazing food and other events, but that
helps explain why I haven’t been home much and
exhausted.
I’ve added many new pics - mostly me with other great people that I haven’t seen in too long. Seems so many of “my generation” are having kids, and it’s harder to catch up in person... I can’t wait to have that problem.
No one is standing still, nor
would I expect them to, and it’s fun to catch up
with those that have touched me years ago and
still see their impact on me.
Was quite the contrast being with so many family members last month for Grandma’s funeral to this weekend with to celebrate my other’s birthday. Grandma Belknap (maternal) hasn’t recovered from Grandma Michaud’s death... but she continues to live so fully! My maternal/paternal sides have many clear contrasts (primarily in behavior), but both value family and have much love to offer/express, albeit in different ways. I suspect that my parents both having four younger brothers provide a lot of the similarities... I feel very fortunate!
I’m also exhausted and still have laundry to finish. OK, how about some random comments?
#1) I drove home late last night from Lincoln. I spent ~30 mins driving ~70 mph on the interstate and counted 161 tractor trailers (semis) driving the other way. Good thing they’re expanding to 3 lanes, but I was surprised to see so many! Aunt Karla thought it was a good sign of the economy picking up. I suspect it’s a combination of many things and is likely not a bad indicator compared to so many others out there. Economist magazine, I’m ready to be cited anytime.
#2) I got an iPad. While I’m not an Apple fanatic, I’m likely in the fan-boy category. I try to keep on top of most things tech since the 80s, and I’ve been very happy with my switch to Macs 4 years ago when they went to Intel CPUs (though I still work with a few XP machines so I don’t get rusty). So why get an iPad, which is just an oversized iPod touch and I already have an iPhone? Well, I’m all about creating spaces. I have two spaces in my house for entertainment - the living room and home theater. That’s where I watch movies, tv, sports, and play games, etc. The problem is that I watch TV very rarely. I’ve reduced movie watching to my weekly movie nights, and my xbox playing is limited to ~1-2 hours a week. Yes, between work, travel and organized events, I’m left with ~6.5 hours sleep. I’ve noticed that I spend a lot of time reading blogs, checking out Facebook, and even watching Netflix on my computer. This is clearly a breach of protocol in having my office computers be for work only... enter the iPad. This is for play and can take my computer play away from my office and bring it back to the entertainment spaces as well as travel. It won’t replace my notebook computers as I need their power to run my full suite of statistical and publishing/presenting software. Anyhew, it’s an amazing (unsure about magical) machine. They’ll have a better one next year, but I’m very happy with the first version now!
#3) What happened to spring? I mentioned the brutal, but full of snow (yay!) winter we had. Now my flowers are blooming, trees/plants/weeds everywhere have sprung up and I have no need for jacket since April started. I shouldn’t complain, especially since today was nice and cool at 55F, but it’s great to have the full range of weather again. Just hope it’s not a sign of having a hot summer especially since the last few have been so mild. Still, love the changes no matter how much they remind me of time flying by!
#4) Anyone know of a good Tai Chi Gong teacher/class in the Omaha area? Anyone use the UNO swimmingpool? Two things I’m hoping to be experienced with myself during May. After passing out after a run in CA last month, I’ve learned that my sense of reality can be different from what my body’s is and I’m hoping to take care of it physically, as well as keep up the good nutrition.
#5) I started Fallout 3 on xbox this weekend. I’m hoping to get more than an hour a week for it (yes, I know I’m ~ 2 years behind, nothing new!). So far I love the beginning, nothing like learning to walk again as a 1-year old! Also, very impressed with Dungeon Lords board game. Very challenging & entertaining!
Links to come later this week!
I’ve added many new pics - mostly me with other great people that I haven’t seen in too long. Seems so many of “my generation” are having kids, and it’s harder to catch up in person... I can’t wait to have that problem.
No one is standing still, nor
would I expect them to, and it’s fun to catch up
with those that have touched me years ago and
still see their impact on me.
Was quite the contrast being with so many family members last month for Grandma’s funeral to this weekend with to celebrate my other’s birthday. Grandma Belknap (maternal) hasn’t recovered from Grandma Michaud’s death... but she continues to live so fully! My maternal/paternal sides have many clear contrasts (primarily in behavior), but both value family and have much love to offer/express, albeit in different ways. I suspect that my parents both having four younger brothers provide a lot of the similarities... I feel very fortunate!
I’m also exhausted and still have laundry to finish. OK, how about some random comments?
#1) I drove home late last night from Lincoln. I spent ~30 mins driving ~70 mph on the interstate and counted 161 tractor trailers (semis) driving the other way. Good thing they’re expanding to 3 lanes, but I was surprised to see so many! Aunt Karla thought it was a good sign of the economy picking up. I suspect it’s a combination of many things and is likely not a bad indicator compared to so many others out there. Economist magazine, I’m ready to be cited anytime.
#2) I got an iPad. While I’m not an Apple fanatic, I’m likely in the fan-boy category. I try to keep on top of most things tech since the 80s, and I’ve been very happy with my switch to Macs 4 years ago when they went to Intel CPUs (though I still work with a few XP machines so I don’t get rusty). So why get an iPad, which is just an oversized iPod touch and I already have an iPhone? Well, I’m all about creating spaces. I have two spaces in my house for entertainment - the living room and home theater. That’s where I watch movies, tv, sports, and play games, etc. The problem is that I watch TV very rarely. I’ve reduced movie watching to my weekly movie nights, and my xbox playing is limited to ~1-2 hours a week. Yes, between work, travel and organized events, I’m left with ~6.5 hours sleep. I’ve noticed that I spend a lot of time reading blogs, checking out Facebook, and even watching Netflix on my computer. This is clearly a breach of protocol in having my office computers be for work only... enter the iPad. This is for play and can take my computer play away from my office and bring it back to the entertainment spaces as well as travel. It won’t replace my notebook computers as I need their power to run my full suite of statistical and publishing/presenting software. Anyhew, it’s an amazing (unsure about magical) machine. They’ll have a better one next year, but I’m very happy with the first version now!
#3) What happened to spring? I mentioned the brutal, but full of snow (yay!) winter we had. Now my flowers are blooming, trees/plants/weeds everywhere have sprung up and I have no need for jacket since April started. I shouldn’t complain, especially since today was nice and cool at 55F, but it’s great to have the full range of weather again. Just hope it’s not a sign of having a hot summer especially since the last few have been so mild. Still, love the changes no matter how much they remind me of time flying by!
#4) Anyone know of a good Tai Chi Gong teacher/class in the Omaha area? Anyone use the UNO swimmingpool? Two things I’m hoping to be experienced with myself during May. After passing out after a run in CA last month, I’ve learned that my sense of reality can be different from what my body’s is and I’m hoping to take care of it physically, as well as keep up the good nutrition.
#5) I started Fallout 3 on xbox this weekend. I’m hoping to get more than an hour a week for it (yes, I know I’m ~ 2 years behind, nothing new!). So far I love the beginning, nothing like learning to walk again as a 1-year old! Also, very impressed with Dungeon Lords board game. Very challenging & entertaining!
Links to come later this week!
|