Weekly Wrap-up 2005_40

The weather has been mostly nice: fair, clear, and neither too warm nor too cold.

Rich called an impromptu ad hoc pizza meeting of the Bay Area Ruby group ("if no one shows, at least we can eat pizza"). One person RSVP'd (not required); eight showed up. Not bad!

We eat at Red Lobster once or twice a year. This week we went with a friend on his birthday. I took advantage of the opportunity to order shrimp and eat garlic-cheese bisquits.

The Mall has re-opened. We drove by on Friday night after dinner - and kept right on driving - Wow. Lights! Cars! More cars! I think we'll wait a week or two.

I had a short-term urgent project for the Job that I found out about on Friday. I did most of the work on Saturday. It was a project to put up a web site, not a big deal to do. The client was very happy with the results. I like making the clients happy.

I reinstalled my old PowerMac G3 with a fresh copy of mac OS X, then packed it up and we shipped it to my folks. Now they too can use Mac OS X.

This week I read Optimistic Organizations: How to Get, Grow, and Keep Positive Power in Your Company, by Jean A. Hollands. This one is non-fiction (gasp). Ms. Hollands is a management coach and corporate team builder for companies in Silicon Valley,

The book is slightly dated (publ. 1992) but interesting overall, although it can seem contradictory in spots. For example, optimistic people believe they will get the job, the contract, the win (whatever the win may be) and they continue to work toward that goal. But optimistic people don't let detours get them down, go with the flow, keep on keepin' on (subtext - when they don't get what they want). It all seems a bit Pollyanna-ish. Change for the better! Coach your manager to understand you! Train your team players (but drop them if they don't play your game). Still, it's worth a read even if it's not something to take to heart as a new worldview.

In between and around the rest, I've had almost enough naps and plenty of snuggles with the cats. There have been good meals and interesting conversations with Spouse and friends.

Onward and Upward.

Weekly Wrap-up 2005_40 ( in category Gemisch/Gallimaufry ) - posted at Mon, 10 Oct, 20:56 Pacific | «e»