Odds and Ends

I ordered a package on Friday.  The shipping information went to UPS today.  Undoubtedly it'll get picked up tomorrow and I can track away.  I hope the recipient will get as much joy out of it as I will tracking it.

I'm heading to Cincinnati tomorrow.  I'm not terribly excited about it.  We have a meeting with a customer Tuesday morning, but didn't get sufficient notice to make flight reservations.  So instead of $700+ airfares, it's 7 hours each way.  Mind you, I'm not afraid of driving.  I'll have plenty of it coming up.  Just don't necessarily like being at the mercy of someone else's driving and company for 7 hours a day for two days straight.  I prefer to pick my own companions.  That said, Computer, Head Phones, and DVD will be mandatory.

I watched Charlie Wilson's War today.  I actually saw it with Kari when it came out, but I was interested in seeing it again.  I really enjoy Aaron Sorkin's writing.

I like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

Driving Myself Nuts

I don't think I ever want to sell a house again.  This sucks.  I spent 3/4 of my round of golf staring at the phone begging it to ring with an offer.  I think I'll feel a wonderful sense of relief when this process is over.  No, I guarantee it.  

The people back for a second look yesterday still have it among their top picks, and now want to get a feel for the neighborhood at different times of day.  Clearly, they're not the impulse shoppers that I was.  

Anyhow, the golf yesterday was almost comical.  5 over after 5 holes with 4 three putts.  Then played the next four holes even, including a two putt birdie on a par 5 for 41.  Then, a small wait and a lot of staring at the phone as the tenth tee was jammed up.  

I proceed to double 10, triple 11, double 12, and then maybe double 13 and bogey 14, I think.  Either way, something like 10 over after 14.  Hit the par 5 15th in two and make eagle.  Bogey 16, Par 17 and 18 for 45.  Smooth 86.

I was playing with my buddy Robert in a twosome, and there were two ahead of us, including one gentleman he knew, so at 7 when it got really slow we joined up with them, the other being a first time golfer.

Now, I don't mind at all playing with people of any skill level, but watching a shitty golfer try to teach a total beginner how to play....the unintentional comedy scale heads through the roof.  For starters, the four minute lesson on the flop shot (giving a 4-yr-old a ten speed instead of a tricycle) was great, considering the beginner was at the front of the green, and had 3/4 of the green back to the pin that he could use to roll the ball up.  Or the pitch shot that he kept preaching how hard you have to swing through the rough to be able to hit the ball.  

I also liked the tee ball where he corrected the stance on his buddy's driver, and squared his buddy up (even though he aims 40 yd right of his target himslef and comes way over the ball to bring it back left), but leaves the ball sitting 3/4 of the way back in his buddy's stance, even though you typically set up with the driver just inside your front foot.

Anyway, I just kept telling myself to try not to be infected by anything he was saying.  When we hit the 11th hole, and it was still slow, they backed off and went back to play 10 again and decided to hang back since the first timer was supposed to be getting a lesson.  

Bobby turns to me and says, "Don't say anything."  So I paused, tried not to for a minute, but I just can't let it go....."Lesson one, get a new instructor." 

Pretty lazy night after that.  Ate some crab legs and watch the Belmont at Full Moon Oyster Bar after that.  Kind of a disappointing and boring race after all the hype.

Then just picked up a movie and fell asleep pretty early.

Probably just hanging around the house today.  I probably need to think about starting to pack up the stuff that I don't really use daily.

Be well.

Nice Little Saturday....

Nope, haven't made it to Home Depot yet, but, for 10 am on a Saturday it's already been a productive morning for me.   Woke up, weeded and watered the front plant bed, trimmed the hedges, and then mowed the yard, front and back. Fortunately, I did get this done, as 1/2 way through I received a call for a noon showing.  I think the house is looking pretty good. 

 Hoping to get my realtor to swap this photo...

...for the one currently on my listing.  The hedges have grown in more, and it's a bright blue sky.  Just seems more appealing to me.

Anyhow, just a few last minute tidies, a shower, and then I'm going to hit the links.  Playing the Reynolds Course at Tanglewood Park.  It's a decent track.

Good luck House.

Be well, all.

Sparring With a VP

So I had some fun today with one of my favorite VPs, who's also a corporate board member as he likes to remind people.

Especially amusing to me since I've personally let about 125 employees go as we transition our production from North Carolina to the Dominican Republic.  Yes, my personal belief is that we're at best basically trading dollars, labor for freight.  But ultimately the overhead cut in the US is what's deemed to be the long term benefit.

Round 1:

E-mail asking the question......

VP:  The costs to make in the Dominican has to be less than Mocksville so price should not be an issue is that correct? (no, I didn't edit for punctuation, though a comma or period thrown every now and again might have been nice)

Me:  I don't see us shutting down the DR in favor of Mocksville.

Eh.  I was kind of hoping he'd understand the motive behind the corporate decision to move, but I guess that's asking a lot, you know, for a board member and all.

Round 2:

Same VP via e-mail, addressed to a VP in Chicago, copied to me and two of my customer service staff in Mocksville:

Bill (another VP from Chicago): 

Please give instructions to Mocksville to move [such and such] inventory to Mexico, as it does us no good to hold it in Mocksville.

At this point, it appears to me he's either calling out the VP in front of us if he feels like the VP's not keeping up with his inventory, or he's calling us out in front of the VP insinuating that we don't know what we're doing.  Either way, I don't appreciate his method of communicating the message.

Me:  We received instructions last week.  We just received the goods.  When the next truck leaves, they leave.  Likely Monday or Tuesday.

In the future, if you want someone to instruct us to do something, don't copy us.

Talking around someone is what a fifth grader does.

VP:  Jeffrey, I don't have the foiest idea what you're talking about. 

I'm assuming the "gg" is missing there.  Slippery key, obviously.

Me:  I'm not surprised in the least.

VP:  I am as dumb as your personality sucks.

Me:  As smart as you tell us you are, that must be a high compliment.

I relayed this story to a Exec VP over a beer later in the evening.  He had a hard time not laughing at the whole exchange.  So I remarked, "Well, clearly, I was never cut out to be a VP or a board member."

In case you're wondering, T-minus 15 working days until I head west.....

Be well, all.

The Difficulty in What to Say

The internet, and blogs and message boards more specifically, have always come under a lot of scrutiny for people's ability to post anonymously, or even if their identity isn't hidden, they're still more apt to say things behind the safety of their computer than they would face to face.

This phenomenon has somewhat been plaguing me lately, as I think I'm pretty straight forward as it is in person, and don't think I'd say much differently online than I would "live" so to speak.  At the same token, though open to the public to read, this is still a journal of my personal thoughts, and often I just want to vent them.

All of this boils down to.....I spend over 1/2 my waking day to/from and at work.  It has often consumed many more hours of my waking thought.  I have so many things I want to say, even though I've said most of them already and I'm not shy about it, but I also don't know if it's the right thing to do on this blog.

I don't need to call out anyone by name.  I just want to vent some things that bother me.  If I haven't already said them, I probably plan to over the next few weeks.  I'm certainly not looking to burn any bridges, but it's out of genuine concern for direction and the people that I've worked so closely with for the past 10 years, and the last five especially.

Anyway.  I'm conflicted.  Just thought I'd at least share that.

Oh, and I've seen a bunch of really cool fishing photos and video trailers online in the past few days.  I'm getting pretty pumped.  I'd almost be giddy if someone would just put an offer in on my house.

I mean, the open house got excellent traffic, and I know there was an appointment today, and I know they showed since I left they lights on and they put them all out (I must have paid the electric bill since the modem is working).....but they didn't take a flyer....and didn't leave a card....so does that mean they just totally weren't interested.....or did they already have the flyer because they were here for the Open House and this was their second time through? (deep breath pause from the run-on sentence)

But I'm not worried.  The right buyer will be here soon.  And I'm excited for what the summer will hold.  And I'm excited to move closer to Kari after that.

I'm still conflicted, though.  The work thoughts always come back.  Maybe soon.

Silver Strike Queen...

...shall be Kari's new nickname. She's improved immensely in the last few times we've play at the local "Redneck Bar" pool hall, and she whooped me pretty good (yes, I suck) three straight games last night. I rallied in the fourth, but I think she just tired out. (Silver Strike is video bowling similar to Golden Tee machines, for those that don't know)

And thus ended a fun night out for what I believe to be the final of Ann's handful of going away parties. (Ann, Steve and Jaime head out next Sunday and close their new house on Monday. Good luck!) Last night was most of the New Town Bistro regulars, along with a number of Ann's coworkers from New Town and Big Shotz Tavern.

Back to work for me this morning. Investigating whether or not I'll be travelling to Cincinnati next week for a meeting. Kari's having lunch with Jaime and Ann at Jamie's school today, and then I'll take Kari to the airport tonight to head back to Jacksonville.

Was a nice extended weekend.

Be well all.

Golf and Lake House

Played a little golf on Saturday.  Struck the ball fairly decently, but the lack of practice and play is more than evident in my short game.  Shot 85 at Silo Run Golf Course, in Boonville, NC.  A few goofy holes, but for the most part, a very pretty and nicely maintained course.

The course was about 45 minutes from my house, and it was a very pleasant drive out.  It's a bit out in the "country", with some really beautiful corn and tobacco fields along the way.  Even passed a winery or two.

I stopped home to grab some clothes and tidy up a bit before my Sunday Open House, and then headed to Raleigh to pick up Kari.  From there, we headed back past my house to some friends Lake House where we spent the night with some cocktails around the bonfire, and then hung around and relaxed by the lake for the day.

**side note on the drive: From the time I'd left to pick Kari up until we'd reached the lake house, I'd put 270 miles on my car.  That'd put me roughly 1/9th of the way to Idaho, even with stopping through Chicago.  It's getting closer and closer.

The Open House sounded like it garnered a nice turnout.  Roughly 30 people in the two hours it was open.  I guess the true success will be if any prospective buyers decide to come back for a second trip.

I took today off today to hang out with Kari.  We're going to another Bon Voyage party for our friend Ann tonight.