I am in love with whitewater rafting now.

One trip, and I am hooked.

Went to southern Kentucky and took a raft trip on the Cumberland River this weekend.

It POURED down rain on Friday, and a decent amount of Saturday. Which at the time I was upset about, because it made driving down a PITA, and limited hiking on Saturday, and made the moonbow at Cumberland Falls almost invisible Saturday night. (I -think- I saw it. I wouldn't swear to it. The full moon was out, but slightly cloud-shrouded, and it really takes a fully clear night to see it. I have seen it once before, but the friend I was with had not, and I would have loved to have seen it again. Ah well, another trip.).

But I should know that what happens is always for the best. Because the lovely 'beginner' level class 3 rapids... were now up to class 4's. And one of them was a 5! (Unfortunately, they didn't let us go through that one, much to the chagrin of our very-experienced guide who wanted to take us. I was ready to go!)

I fell out of the boat once involuntarily, when an eddy tilted the side and surprised me. Not a big deal... they had us in seriously strong PFDs (personal floatation devices) and helmets. You go in, you bob up, you swim to the boat, they pull you in. (I'm still getting used to this concept that I am a strong swimmer. I've been swimming a lot this summer and something has just 'clicked,' and now people comment on how good my form looks. Completely unimaginable to me.) (And I clarify 'involuntarily' because I went in a few times just to swim, when they said it was ok.)

GREAT fun. Why do I live in Indiana where there is little water, few natural recreational opportunities, and no mountains? I'm starting to wonder about this...

Someday, I will post something that's not a comment on a news article...

...But for now:

Judge OKs clergy abuse payout

As usual, it's a line within the article that is blowing my mind:

"The deal settles all 508 cases that remained against the archdiocese, which also paid $60 million in December to settle 45 cases that weren't covered by sexual abuse insurance." [italics mine]

There is such a thing as sexual abuse insurance now???

Is that, like, something you can take out on your kids if you're a Catholic parishioner? Or if you live too close to Michael Jackson?

Well, -this- is getting people stirred up...

"New law eases up on teen sex" - http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070709/LOCAL/707090408

I'm reading the Star forums about this article, and am amazed at the number of people who think this 'sanctions' teen sex. Do people really so blindly follow their government that they believe that a law 'sanctions' activities? Maybe -that's- what's wrong with our country in general.

Personally, I'm glad of this. The issue is not whether teens should have consentual sex. The issue is that, if they do, it shouldn't make one of them registered as a sex offender for the rest of his/her life.

To me, complaining about this law is, once again, wanting the government to make up for lack of parenting. Frankly, I don't trust the government to guide a snail, much less my kids!!!

Ok, which is more bizarre about this story...

Just read this news story: "11-Year-Old Girl Charged With DUI After 8-Mile Police Chase". Note the last line in the story.

Which is more mind-boggling, that an 11-year-old girl got DUI? Or that there is a legal limit for minors? Does that mean it's not actually illegal to drink if you're 11, as long as your BAC isn't over 0.2???

Make love, not war!

Apparently, someone in the Air Force tried to take that catchphrase a little TOO literally: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,281217,00.html

Wait... what???

From Fox News: California Woman Fakes Abduction to Get Out of Date

As if it isn't mind-boggling enough that she dragged 60 police officers away from real work to hunt her not-really-abducted butt DOWN... the last line of the article is what got me:

White, who spent two nights in jail after her arrest Monday night, said she feels bad about lying to the police. Her engagement is still on, and she plans to get married in April.

Um. Married to the guy who she met in the chat room, who she got 'abducted' to avoid? Or married to someone else? In which case, via national news, he now knows she was a) going to go out on him, and b) thought that lying like a psychotic madwoman was the appropriate way to deal with this. And yet he's still marrying this chick?????

How very appropriate...

...Except I am NOT a gossip, thanks.

No, really.

Which Muse Are You?

You scored as Thalia, You are Thalia, the muse of comedy. You are constantly finding the humor in every situation. However, you are a gossip, and you love to revel in other people's torrid affairs. Thalia 81% Euterpe 75% Terpischore 63% Clio 56% Calliope 44% Melpomene 38% Erato 38% Urania 19% Polyhymnia 19% Which of the Greek Muses are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Blimey, Mate, that's one bonzer rabbit!

Okay. I would never have imagined that you can have a PET KANGAROO in Indiana without a permit. But apparently you can.

I'm sorry it died. But the part of this article that is making me ROTFLMAO is this line, about the escaped kangaroo:

Neighbor Jim Greider saw the kangaroo hopping toward his son's graduation party Friday night and thought it was a huge rabbit.

I, of course, find myself speculating that the neighbor might have had a few "Fosters: Australian for beer" before that incident!!!

Today, the Claddagh was slooooowwww at lunch...

…And its staff cannot count, as they originally tried to put 19 people at a table set for 14 (that could actually hold MAYBE 12, if they were very well acquainted)

It’s also far less fun when you can’t have Guinness. Or Irish Coffee.

But hey, when I get to have lunch paid for by work, to celebrate a co-worker leaving, whom I only worked with for two or three days... I guess I shouldn't complain.

My morning song

I bought a John Denver cassette for 50 cents at Half Price this weekend. (Ok, ok, so I'm a nerd; you all knew that already, yes?) But it had a song I'd never heard on it, that I listened to on the way in to work this morning:

"Summer"
by John Denver

Silently the morning mist is lying on the water,
captive moonlight waiting for the dawn.
Softly like a baby's breath, a breeze begins to whisper.
The sun is coming; quick, you must be gone.

Smiling like a superstar the morning comes in singing,
the promise of another sunny day.
And all the flowers open up to gather in the sunshine,
I do believe that summer's here to stay.

And do you care what's happening around you,
do your senses know the changes when they come?
Can you see yourself reflecting in the seasons,
can you understand the need to carry on?

Riding on the tapestry of all there is to see,
so many ways and oh, so many things.
Rejoicing in the differences, there's no one just like me.
Yet as different as we are, we're still the same.

And oh, I love the life within me,
I feel a part of everything I see.
And oh, I love the life around me,
a part of everything is here in me.
A part of everything is here in me,
a part of everything is here in me.

Just impossible to not have a good day when it starts with something that appropriate and profound...

OMG, my 'horoscope' in ENGRISH

Here's the link to it. English is obviously not this site's first language. Or second, or third...

Updated avatar pic, courtesy of portrait illustration maker. I don't think THIS looks like me either, but it sure looks closer than my OLD one!

Yay, I are a technacle writr now!

Employed again, at least for the next few months, as a tech writer for a small software firm downtown. Pretty cool, really; for all the user documentation and such that I've done, this is my first formal "tech writer" gig. And since I'm truly an independent contractor for this one, I guess I can claim it as my first Achievement Engineering gig. So if anyone's near the circle, let me know; we can do lunch sometime!

Bored, restless, but still alive

I know, I know, long time no post.

Well, I'm no longer at Clarian. I'm on a short-term instructional design contract at Schwab that's great, as I'm doing a project all by myself start to finish... but it's only short-term. Wish I was doing this as my own company (a la http://ae.achievegrowth.org)... anyone know a company who has training they need developed, but they haven't had time or resources to do it themselves?

Tonight, I'm bored and restless. Don't want to work on my business, don't want to do anything constructive. Want a group of friends to go hang out with tonight, and I don't know anyone who's available. Figures; I'm busy 95% of the time, so it shouldn't surprise me that no one is around when I'm not!

So what's up with everyone out there? Or is anyone still out there, given how rarely I post nowadays???

PS I have SO got to change the avatar I have posted on this account. I haven't had hair that short for over a year!!!

I'm baaack!

Happy 2007!

I'll still post personal things here (that is, if I ever have a personal life again to POST about)... but in the meantime, for wisdom, inspiration, and whatever else pops into my head that seems good to share, PLEASE VISIT my new blog, Inward Musings. (Looky. I figured out how to install Wordpress!)

Speaking of that... we changed the name of the business from Achievement Engineering to Inward Quest. I did a community fair this summer and spent WAY too much time explaining, no, we're NOT an engineering firm! Therefore, time for re-branding.

And we've got FREE workshops coming up! Please stop by and see us there!

Yes, I'm alive

Sorry I haven't posted for a while... connect at home has been cranky.

First updates, then memes...
1) Changed jobs! I'm no longer at Lilly; I'm a instructional designer under contract for Clarian. That is, of course, a fancy way of saying I write training manuals. :) I really enjoy this! Enjoy the significantly increased paycheck, too! :)

2) Still working on the business, albeit slowly. Ditto with the band.

3) Still having lots of first dates and no second dates, enjoying lots of time with my business partner and best friend even though we're not dating each other, and spending (very!) occasional time with the old flame.

4) Am able to do #3 because the kids are with their dad this month, and will be gone a decent chunk of next month too.

5) Just got back from a minibreak to Mackinaw Island MI. Can I move now, please?

And, today's meme: Four Things - and anyone who reads this, feel free to comment with your responses (or post 'em on your own blog)

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1) Pharmacy technician
2) Public speaker/salesperson (same job)
3) Computer support analyst
4) Instructional designer (current job) (along with entrepreneur)

B) Four movies I would watch over and over
1) The Lion In Winter
2) Brigadoon
3) Xanadu
4) O Brother Where Art Thou
(Just to name a few lesser known movies - there are many others I could list. For example, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Somewhere In Time, Princess Bride, Holy Grail, and Blues Brothers should be on my list too...)

C) Four places I have lived
1) Defiance, OH
2) Bloomington, IN
3) Brazil, IN
4) Vincennes, IN (though only for about 6 months, and those the first 6 months of my life, so I'm not sure that counts)

D) Four of my favorite TV shows
1) M*A*S*H
2) Babylon 5
3) Carnivale
4) West Wing

E) Four places I have been on Vacation to
1) Mackinac Island/Traverse City MI
2) Orlando/Daytona Beach/St Petersburg, FL
3) N'Awlins
4) Mexico City, Mexico

F) Websites I visit daily
1) Yahoo mail
2) Google mail
3) achievegrowth.org
4) match.com :)

G) Four of my favorite foods
1) Crab Legs!!!
2) Medium rare prime rib
3) Dark Chocolate
4) Fetuccini Alfredo
(I assume by "foods" one is supposed to post things with caloric content... oh, wait, this is a family show... :) :) :))

H) Four places I would rather be right now
1) Mackinaw Island/Traverse City MI
2) Ireland/Scotland
3) Brown County (or anyplace with trees, hills, water, waves, stars, and few people)
4) Springfield, MO (or anyplace where my best friend is)

I) Four people I think will respond
Not a clue! Have no idea if anyone reads this anymore, as rarely as I've posted lately...

News!

More details later, as I only have a second to post, but I'm leaving Lilly and braving the world of being a consultant. Fabulous position as an instructional designer at Clarian, doing what I loved doing in the last SAP release, for significantly more money. So for being willing to take the risks involved in contract work, I get a really decent income and to do the job I love doing. Sounds like a fair tradeoff to me. Apparently, I need to give thanks to someone!

Catching up on posting

I should get back to updating more regularly soon. I have big news of yet another change in my life, but am waiting to post that until I have everything formal and definite, which should be in the next day or so - watch this space! But I'm almost done with GBIP, the kids are almost done with school and getting ready to go cross-country to their dad's place for a while, I worked through some major depression over the last few weeks and am feeling much renewed. and other than that not much is going on.

And I think I saw little guys in red suits with pointy tails and horns ice skating today: I actually think the Bush immigration policy is an intelligent compromise between the "deport all the aliens and lock the place down" conservatives and the "give away the farm without worrying who's paying taxes to fund it" liberals. Wonder who actually wrote the policy, as I can't believe it actually came from him? (Me? Cynical? Not at all! :)) And while the idea of troops on our border makes me nervous, 1) if they're primarily building the infrastructure, that's a more comfortable idea, and 2) are they also there so that if something like a bird flu pandemic actually does happen, movement can be more easily controlled? Hrm...

The many faces of me

Not bad for an $11.99 camera and me playing with the 10-second autotimer, huh?

<--"Just me"








<--Wistful












<-- Amused












<--Impish 

It never rains...

Was at the ER Sunday night until about 1:30 AM - da boy fell off a swing (tire swing, being pushed v. high by another kid. He says he slipped, but I've seen how high off those he tries to jump, so I could see it being either scenario) and almost broke his foot. Did end up just a bad sprain. But I think half the medical community has been fed and housed by my household's contributions to the profession this year. :)

Also, have no sign-ups for this seminar. Guess it must be bad timing again. Ah well, we keep trying.

Do have a lead on an SAP implementation job at Purdue - it'd be a heck of a commute, but the recruiter is... well, let's just say I'm skeptical as always, but if they came through with it, it would be a sufficient pay raise to more than adequately compensate for the commute time... Also have a lead on another business analyst position with a company implementing a different ERP system - I think it's Microsoft's system, eew, but then again, could it really be worse than SAP? :)

And feel v. guilty about applying at a company that just let a friend go. (NOT for the same job! I'm nowhere near THAT heartless!) Unfortunately, it was for writing marketing copy for IT stuff, and they want someone who knows both... and that's just about perfect for my skill set.

No, I'm not thrilled about the idea of leaving Lilly, but the internal job market is just about as slim as the external job market, so I'm leaving all my options open. I do have three internal postings pending as well... but also have four internal postings that I've been turned down for without even an interview, so I don't want to count on that.

I so wish someone would wave a magic wand and say, "I'll pay you the same salary you get now to run your seminars..." But income at that level is a couple years down the road at the earliest, I suspect. I'd risk me, but not the kids...