While I'm thinking of what I'm going to ask Teri to photo, I'll steal this and play:

I'm charging up my camera batteries, and my place is up for the view. Ask for it, I'll take the pic, anything in the house. Be as specific or as vague as you want. Be direct, be cryptic. Ask for one, ask for ten. Just be careful what you ask for, as you might damn well get it.

I'll give it a few days, then I'll post all pix.

Added from me, I reserve the right to clean before I shoot. :D

I've been working on my genealogy for a long time now and in the course of my research, I've spent many hours peering at census forms trying to tease every piece of information I could out of them. So it's there's a certain pleasing circularity to the fact that I've been sworn in as an Enumerator for the US Census Bureau for the 2010 Census.

The actual enumeration doesn't start until next year but I've been hired on now to work on address canvassing phase in preparation for the big count next year. While the work is part time and temporary, and there's no promise of future assignments, I'm hopeful that satisfactory work on this project will help me land more projects going forward. I'd love to be able to be able to work with them right until the end.

Training started today and I got to geek out over my (temporary) new toys. I'm thrilled to be able to fill in gaps in my classwork with knowledge gleaned for my many hours of scrutiny. And suddenly the mysterious of the forms are beginning to make a little more sense. At least I'll be able to figure out how blocks work!

There's a feeling of being part of history that I really enjoy. The knowledge that 72 years hence some genealogist will be patiently waiting for my work to be released and hoping that it contains the answers they're looking for makes me smile. And to that genealogist I hereby pledge to be as accurate and complete in my work as I possibly can, to spell the names as correctly as possible and if I should ever have to hand write something you'll one day read, I'll print it neatly and legibly.

Unfortunately the IceMen's season ended Saturday night in Battle Creek Michigan when they were swept in their best of three playoff series. But even though they lost both games it was not for lack of trying.

The played short handed both games, just 13 skaters. Four less than mature team members decided to violate team rules again on the Tuesday before playoffs (St. Patrick's day) and the team and management had finally had enough. But those 13 played with more heart and soul than any other time in the season. I really wish they'd had more time to be a team with that core group (and a few more legs!) I think it would have been a wonderful thing.

But now it's the long wait until November. Our little booster club did good things in the seven weeks we worked and donated a little over 800.00 to the players association. You know, you hear about the early days of baseball when players hitchhiked to towns and worked their way around the country just to play ball, but you don't really realize that the low minor leagues still function much the same way. These guys aren't playing for a bunch of money, just for the love of the game and a chance to move up. I was pleased to be able to help them out a little along the way. We should be able to do even better next year with a full season to work.

Speaking of next season, I'm going to start bugging you hockey fans out there now to see if you can squeeze a trip to Evansville into your busy agendas. :) We really do have a great time and I'd love to share it with you all. And excaliburca if you want to hear yelling at the refs, you should come sit in our seats. ;)

I blogged recently about my work drama. Well it all came to an end today. He shuffled on into my office and asked to speak with me a few minutes and took me into his office and closed the door. That's never good. The official line is that he's wanting to change the business and thinks that training may be done (I think he is right) and that he needs to move in a different direction. He also said "And our personalities clash" to which I said "yea, they do." He did tell me that he thought I had talent in areas, just not what he needed. I reiterated that he needed a sales person and that wasn't me. He acknowledged that I'd been trying and was driving myself crazy trying to make calls but that I just wasn't comfortable with it. I appreciated hearing all of that, and do believe he means it. I did offer to work for him on a contract basis if he needs anything, such as a class taught or some marketing materials done. He didn't seem to have considered that and said that it was a good idea. He'd rather use someone he knows than try to find someone new. I have been doing some writing for him so it's conceivable more projects will arise in the future. In the meantime they're paying me until Friday and calling my departure a layoff so I think I will be eligible to pick up my original unemployment claim again.

All in all I'm pretty calm. I stopped by the local Census bureau office on the way home and scheduled an enumerator test and a supervisor test. They're gearing up for 2010 so it can't hurt to see what's available. The people there were really nice, and sorry that I'd been laid off and I'd like to think impressed that I'd stopped straight from my last employer before I'd even gone home!

And in another weird quirk, I got an page from someone with the hockey booster club saying that the players had had a crisis and needed and infusion of cash quickly. It just so happens that we've got a sizeable donation to make. So now I'm trying to reach the team captain and arrange to meet him to hand off the cash, something I couldn't have done while working!

I know I'll land on my feet. I feel very much better than last year when I was laid off. I think I'll be able to keep my energy and not sink into the inertia again.

It was Hockey Night again last night (and tonight as well actually). This time we were in for a treat. When marco235 went to buy tickets, the ticket person (who knows we're there every week and involved with Boosters) asked if since it was going to be a small crowd, if we wouldn't like Owner's Box seats. Um, sure! The "box" is actually a group of chairs right against the glass. We were behind the net on one side, front row. The photo is shot from my seat. It was really cool. A few pucks banged right against the glass and a few checks, and we had good views of the goals scored on this end. It was a very different view of the game.

All in all though, I missed being in the stands. It's a lot more gentile down there, and I missed the rowdiness from the center section. There were also two women sitting behind us who would not stop yammering all night, and not about the game. They knew nothing about the game or about the team. Questions were "what's the team's name?" "What colors are they wearing?" "Oh, did they score?" And giggling and pretty much bragging that they didn't know anything about the game. And these weren't kids, these were grown women my age. I hate when women perpetuate that stereotype of dumb women who don't know sports. I've gone to sporting events where I didn't know the sport but I didn't laugh and giggle and brag about it. I followed along and asked questions about what I didn't understand. But really, if you can't be bothered to learn the teams name beforehand, why are you there?

Anyway, we're back at the top tonight, selling cowbells and painting faces. Can't wait!

Actually I tried to post this via text earlier in the day but it never showed up on my journal. We decided to go back out and dig out the street at the end of our driveway and try again. It took a couple of hours to get it clear (not all at once, with breaks and stuff) and then a wild ride down our street and then we were free. Got in to work a little after 10am. I think that was appreciated.

The roads around town and still a disaster. I do not know what the road crews were doing yesterday. The snow stopped falling mid morning and every damn thing was closed, why didn't they go out there and plow and scrape and salt? And I get that the tertiary roads will be crap, but the main roads are untreated. WTF?

Even with being able to get out we didn't take my car out. I don't have enough clearance to get through the ruts. So I'm killing time after work waiting for marco235 to arrive.

Well we made an attempt at going to work. But after half an hour of trying to get unstuck from right outside of our house, we managed to get free and just went back in the house. It's the underlying ice that's the problem. The snow has plenty of traction but once you get under that it's all ice. And of course, people were out yesterday in ATVs and such and rutted up the street.

I'm hoping there will be some thaw today that will make it passable later. Work sounded none to pleased when I said I wasn't making it in but not much I can do about it.

We have snow.. We have a lot. Well a lot for us anyway. It started Monday night with sleet and freezing rain. Iced all day yesterday and late last night it changed over to snow. We must have about six inches on top of two inches of ice. Everything is closed down today. Not sure what tomorrow will be like. I'm assuming we'll need to get into work but I'm not all together sure my car can manage it. The ruts in the street are pretty deep. I may have to get marco235 to take me to work in the van. He's home today too. it's nice to have a free day.

Your results:
You are An Expendable Character (Redshirt)

An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 70% Chekov 60% Beverly Crusher 60% Uhura 50% Jean-Luc Picard 50% Will Riker 45% Deanna Troi 45% Geordi LaForge 40% Worf 35% Spock 34% James T. Kirk (Captain) 30% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 30% Data 22% Mr. Sulu 20% Mr. Scott 15%

Since your accomplishments are seldom noticed, and you are rarely thought of, you are expendable. That doesn't mean your job isn't important but if you were in Star Trek you would be killed off in the first episode you appeared in.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Test

Photos from last night are up on my Flickr group feel free to browse: http://www.flickr.com/groups/956821@N25/pool/ I think there are some duplicates, I'll have to sort it all out later. I'm sore from all the bending and stooping and standing last night.

It turned out to be a busy weekend but a good one. I got a lot done including all my homework for class tomorrow. Go me.

Well it's official. I'm a sucker, errr president of the Evansville IceMen Maniacs Booster Club. And I didn't have to go through a long drawn out mudslinging election to get it. :) We had our first event tonight and had a blast. We sold cowbells (and thank you Greg for explaining "more cowbell" to me, people used that line all night) and painted faces. I was in charge of face painting. Lots and lots of little kids, I had so much fun. We did a great business and cleared over 100 dollars. Proceeds are going to the players association to help pay for things such as equipment, food, household goods etc. Since this is minor league play, they get paid per game and not very much at that. So we're going to help fill in the gaps. And we're revving up the crowd. Record crowd at Swonder, over 1200 people. We were packed to the rafters. :) Don't have any pictures from tonight, I was too busy painting, but there will be some up soon from someone else.

I had a real small town moment (but a good one). I was painting a child's face and Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" was playing over the p.a. (it was Military Appreciation Night) and I just got all warm and fuzzy.

Now, I just have to find a place on line to express ship some cowbells, we sold out!

As reported here, when Ike blew through last month, he took a significant section of our shingles with him. We decided to have the entire roof replaced instead of just patching again. Luckily for us the insurance company agreed we needed new! And after a lot of phone calls and some waiting for contractors, we now have a brand new roof. It looks very nice. They did a good job and fast too. They came out Monday morning. were mostly done by Monday evening and came out yesterday to finish up. They cleaned up the whole area and even put back my Halloween decorations (which I'd put out on Sunday not even thinking about it being in the roofers way).

As I twittered yesterday, I met Sen. Evan Bayh. Actually met, like got to shake his hand and introduce myself and say a couple of words to him.

The event was a job fair that he sponsored in town. He's hosting a series of them all over the state. I was there with one of my coworkers offering training services. We had a good time, talked to a lot of people, I think we'll definitely get some classes from it, even if not, we got a lot of exposure. I also met the person who handles Veteran's services for WorkOne (our unemployment people) who's put me in contact with the state agency that certifies training facilities. It could be that we can certify to be able to provide services to vets under the GI Bill. That would be most awesome.

About halfway through the fair, one of the WorkOne people came around and told us that Senator Bayh would be speaking and we were welcome to go into the side room to see him. My coworker said he'd man the table and I scooted off to the room where he'd be. The mayor was there and one of the city councilmen as well. Turns out the city councilman is also my bosses accountant. So when he shook my hand and I said who I was and where I was from he was like "oh yea! I do your books!"

The other cool thing I saw yesterday was a reporter from the Courier Press taking notes in shorthand. He was sitting beside me during the speeches. I didn't know anyone still knew how. This guy was young, I can't imagine where he learned it.

Every year it's same used tissue from allyson13. What did I ever do to you? :)

My LiveJournal Trick-or-Treat Haul
gibbie69 goes trick-or-treating, dressed up as a Trekkie.
allyson13 tricks you! You get a used tissue.
citygirl2 gives you 18 light yellow cherry-flavoured wafers.
excaliburca tricks you! You get a scratched CD.
glithander gives you 17 milky white tropical-flavoured gummy worms.
gregtrotter tricks you! You get a rotten egg.
kitchenqueen tricks you! You lose 23 pieces of candy!
laurald gives you 7 light blue peach-flavoured wafers.
lizliz tricks you! You lose 12 pieces of candy!
marco235 tricks you! You lose 1 pieces of candy!
mfiveonline tricks you! You lose 1 pieces of candy!
gibbie69 ends up with 5 pieces of candy, a used tissue, a scratched CD, and a rotten egg.
Go trick-or-treating! Username:
Another fun meme brought to you by rfreebern.

That's what I am right now. I went to go to work this morning, opened the door from the house into the garage, punched the garage button to raise the garage door and, nothing happened. I stood there and kept jabbing the button and nothing kept happening. Finally I tried the light switch to see if the garage light would turn on. Nope. I grabbed a flashlight and squeezed past the cars to make my way to the breaker box and found that one of them was tripped. I flipped it and the overhead light came back on. Success! Then I heard a strange noise that I couldn't quite pinpoint. As I was looking around trying to figure out where it came from, the breaker tripped again. Oops. So I decided I'd flip the switch then open the garage door from the controller in the van (which is right beside the box). I reset the breaker and didn't even get turned around to open the van door before it tripped again. So after rousting marco235 out of bed (he's off work today) we tried again, with him pushing the garage button just as soon as I flipped the breaker. No luck, the door only had time to get partway up. So here I sit, trapped.

We called Shekell who does all of our work like this and they'll be out as soon as they can, but it may not be until the afternoon. I can't find anything else on that circuit so I'm not at all certain what's gone wrong. I have a gut feeling that it's the AC but I'm not certain. The blower still comes on I wonder if the cooling unit is on a different circuit from it. The temp is cool enough out that it's not trying to come on, so I can't really tell. I don't think it's the garage door being problematic because it seemed to work fine as soon as it got power.

And yes, I could pull the escape cord on the garage door and open it manually, but we're trying to avoid that. Not only are neither of us real certain it would work, there's also the matter of getting it fixed again. Clearly if it's going to be more than a day that it's out of commission we'll have to try to get it open but for now I sit and wait.

It's a weird feeling though. I called out from work and was disappointed. I actually wanted to go in!

but I'm cheating a little. It's not a true shuffle, it's a Genius shuffle. I keyed on the Enya song at the top and got the playlist.

But first, the rules as stolen from glithander:

1. Turn on your iPod, Zune, or other MP3 player (or equivalent player), and set to shuffle or random play.

2. List the first ten songs/artists that play, and post to your blog.

3. Friends - post to your blog all the songs listed that you have, AND list the first ten songs on your playlist for that day.

May it Be – Enya
Huron Beltane Fire Dance – Loreena McKinnitt
Scarborough Fayre – Mediaeval Baebes
Stor Mo Chroi – Mary McLaughlin
Whirl-y Reel 2 – Afro Celt Sound System
The Jug of Punch – Altan
The Dark Haired Girl – Meav
Enchantment – David Arkenstone
Caribbean Blue – Enya
The Devil Went Down to Doolin – Gaelic Storm

I don't have any that Mike has.

Yesterday we had Ike blow through our area. No rain for us even though we could use it, but we had very high winds. We noticed that our lawn was littered with shingles. After things settled down marco235 went out in the yard to clean up a bit and to inspect the damage. He came in from the front yard and said he thought they must all be from somewhere else, because there weren't any missing from the front. Then he went out back. Oh my. Lots of missing shingles on the back. And one really large section. We've had shingles replaced a couple of times, and knew that we really should get a new roof fairly soon. The roof is 13 years old so it's due. A lot of people in the neighborhood redid theirs this summer.

So we've decided to have a new roof put on instead of having this spot repaired. The insurance company is going to send out an adjuster and see if and how much they'll pay. I've got calls into roofers to get estimates. Now I just hope the rain holds off until we get it done!