Yoo 652 - Work Talk and This Week in Pictures: Jan 17 - 23

This week.

Is not one that I will be choosing to relive.

Ever.

It's been my own real-life Groundhog Day since last Thursday. Except that I didn't get to die a really cool death every night and wake up completely unaffected the next morning. Or only eat pizza and hamburgers and potato chips without the greasy-food hangover. That's more along the lines of how I would have exploited that movie's situation.

But I'm about to get moderately nerdy on you and talk about work. And while we're on the topic of disclaimers, there is a snake picture below, but I PROMISE I will give you plenty of warning.

So, there's been a production issue with one of the IT applications I own. This pains me because it is a really cool application that provides what I think is some of the raddest data and it's basically my work husband. I'm married to this thing. And I love it.

Side note, my Ecuadorian coworker taught me the word chévere today. Which I actually remembered from my trip to Ecuador last year. But you might say this application is muy chévere. And I'm going to ask him on Monday if I used that correctly...

Back to the point!

This application is critical in delivering data used for plans and stuff. Obviously I have to be vague. But there were deadlines and also there were unexplained discrepancies that were believed to be the result of a coding error or errors that I needed to find and fix.

Now the Groundhog Day part of it was that every morning I would get up dark and early and excitedly start working on the issue. I was excited because every morning I believed, nay, was CERTAIN, that I had found and fixed the problem the evening before, leaving batch processes to run overnight for validation the next day. And by "evening before" we're talking midnight to two in the morning.

Are you lost yet? Don't get lost!

Well, every morning I would start these validation processes with my favorite business person, only to realize that there was more to the problem because not everything had been fixed. So I'd spend all day searching for another possible cause and eventually finding another possible cause and testing the fix and implementing the fix and running everything again to validate the next morning.

Seriously. The same situation EVERY day. By Tuesday it felt like it should have been Friday. Not that it would have mattered because I had to keep working until it was fixed, but still. The days just bled together and sleep was sacrificed and I hit a few low points. A feeeeeeeew.

Even as I type, I am putting off one last thing that needs to get done before I can officially call a wrap on this adventure but I think my sails are going to wait and hope there's wind tomorrow.

Whew!

It's a good thing I love this application and like to solve problems.

Despite all that craziness, I stuck with my picture-a-day. Here's the excitement!

January 17

Nothing too special about this picture. I spent most of the day at work. It was actually blissful. No one was there and I got to put my headphones on and play with code without any distractions. Remembered that I needed to take a picture on our way to the temple that afternoon...

January 18

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF THE WEEK AND PROBABLY OF THE MONTH. Meet Joyce. I know her from church and visit her because she is awesome and makes me happy and loves dogs. We sit with our dogs on our laps and she tells me her life stories, interspersed with comments on how beautiful and handsome Roscoe is.

I mean, heart-stealer.

Meanwhile Greg gets to watch the Spurs game seated in her rocking chair. We all love Joyce-time.

Here's the picture just after the picture:

Roscoe thought Greg was getting food.

January 19

Sunset. Still at work. Week off to a bad start. But I did challenge a coworker to a query-writing competition and mine was several seconds faster.

You're probably not all that thrilled about that. Never mind.

January 20

Clearly I was hitting a breaking point. It was only Wednesday. Or was that Tuesday? That was Tuesday.

No snake picture yet. 

January 21

This is all I could come up with for Wednesday. Don't try to understand it. Just know that at that point, again, I was certain I had found the problem but then discovered the next morning that it hadn't fixed everything.

Still no snake picture but it is the one after this next one so prep yourself.

January 22

Took a break from work and had the sudden urge to resurrect Calvin from the dead. It was pathetic and Roscoe was quivering in the corner, but I am pleased to report I can at least still rock my 6th-grade solo.

Also, I did 15 unassisted pull-ups today. Not all at the same time so don't think I'm THAT amazing.

 *** SNAKE PICTURE APPROACHING ***

January 23

I took pups out to the dog run and peeked over the fence to see the progress on the apartment complex that's being built and THIS is what greeted me below.

Too close for comfort and I wasn't a fan! I didn't even like having the picture of that thing on my phone in my pocket. But it was the most memorable part of the day...and it wasn't work-related. So.

I'm really hoping next week does not trump this week. Or last week.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 377 - A Non-Wedding Calvin Type Post

Hold onto your knickers and tie down your bonnets...this is not a wedding post!! I noticed a trend in all of my recent blog labels and had this sinking feeling that I was turning into one of those annoying "my wedding, my wedding, my wedding, BRIDE" type girls. Boring. We need some spontaneity here.

A note from the Calvin section perhaps?

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee. <-- that's the note

I've had this goal to pick up the Calvinhorn and start practicing BEFORE fall band rehearsals and Messiah practices start up again.

This girl's keeping me honest.

The Gregniece chose the horn (or did the horn choose her?) as her band instrument next year! They picked it up today and it was a "heck yes lets play some duets!" moment. Our duets consisted of long tone E with an occasional dip down to D. And a quick lesson in how to hold the horn and take care of it. Her horn hasn't officially been named yet, but Calvin's excited to have a new friend.

We'll be rockin' fripperies in no time, too. I'm sure of it.

That will be a keeper photo. Even with the just-home-from-the-gym-sweaty-tired Kyoo look. Should you want to copy it:

20 minute 10k pace run
3 sets of
10 burpees with DB military press up top and pushup to row down below
40 squats, no weight
12 pullups (of course i was using the assist...)
20 ab ball pushups
10 turkish getups
10 corkscrew to push press
20 side lunges

Wasn't my favorite workout but it kept me moving for a while. And I'll leave you with this.

Truth.

Excited for the movie? Yes. I'm also super really excited for the soundtrack release on July 17th! The movie release is competing with my wedding on the 20th though...

...but this isn't a wedding post!

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 321 - A Calvin Birthday

A long time ago, in a Nebraska home far, far away...

Dunnnn duhdundun! 

 via

(if you didn't know, that's calvin. and also me. on a byui webpage. claim to fame?? i know because of the mole on my right hand. and because i sat on the end.)

I'm not sure why I declared April 12th as the Calvinhorn's birthday, but I'm pretty sure it corresponds with the day I eagerly made my way home (thru the woods and across a highway and then over a couple fences and around a park...all shortcuts, i assure you) and saw him sitting in the living room.

My very own French horn had finally arrived!

I bought him on recommendation from my horn teacher. Actually, my horn teacher picked him out of a catalog and the Grandpa Leo supplied the funds.

Oh it was excitement playing a shiny brand spankin' new horn! So exciting I wrote a poem.

*ahem*

 The French horn sounds like a cow giving birth.

I wonder why it was brought upon this earth.

Some people say it sounds so mellow.

I think it sounds like wobbly Jello.

And there you have it. From the mind of a sixth grader.

I really have loved playing the horn (despite the tone of that poem...) though it wasn't my first choice. The saxophone won that round. But, the curse of "alphabetical order" struck that day and, well, as a 'W' I wasn't poised well for the draft. By the time I rolled into the band room, it was down to the horn and some other instrument. I went with the horn solely based on the fact that it was in better shape and I was a vain little fifth grader. Though I don't think any kid would honestly choose to play a rusty old whatever it was.

I'm pretty sure Calvin got his name when I was in college based on my favorite comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes. He had to be a boy seeing as how much time I spent lip-locked with him everyday. Please ignore how creepy that sounds, considering Calvin is a six-year-old. The Elizabethfriend named her horn Hobbes. They were best buds.

And that's that. Calvin and I are still pals. Pulled him out today in honor of his birthday even! I don't play as often as I did in college but I'm determined to never lose my "embouchure". Forget about Calvin in the corner of some old closet. Playing the horn has given me some great opportunities and continues to bless my life and, I'd like to think, others lives as well. (when i'm not sounding like a cow giving birth...)

On that note, here's this:

My new horn inspiration. Isn't he cute?? I was waiting for my flight home in the DC airport several weeks ago when I heard it, the distinct sound of a horn.

My first thought was "Really? What high schooler is trying to get some practice time in??". Kind of annoyed. But then I realized they were playing all sorts of patriotic songs and fun oldies and I creeped around a souvenir stand for a closer look.

There he was. All set up and humbly adding his piece to the bustle of terminal B. I loved him. And I don't know if I'll have the guts to just sit and play in a busy airport when I'm his age, but I sure hope I'm at least still playing.

Happy Birthday Calvin!

**Side note, just found an article about that French horn player here.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 227 - The restaurant game and the holiday party

Saturday excitement! Again.

I was really hoping that this would be the year I officially mended my friendship with Messiah, but that has unofficially been postponed to next year.

Not that this year was terribly terrible, but the Calvinhorn was still a little grudgeful and there might have been a few errant notes that may haunt the Handel grave for the next 365 days. Sorry George Frideric! I hope the performances of the amazing soloists and other orchestra people will help you rest in peace till then...

I think I have some reconciling to do with the Calvinhorn...2012 resolution, perhaps?





In between the two Saturday Messiah performances, my strapping young Greg of a man (seriously, he looked good) took me out. Because I had a couple hours to kill and it was either clean the living room or eat. And as appealing as cleaning the living room was, eating's kind of always a trump card. So we hopped in the Caspermobile (hop hop) and began our typical "pick a restaurant" game.

The "pick a restaurant" game.

Involves a lot of aimless driving. It usually begins with the Gregman exclaiming "Hooters!" (first restaurant we see when driving down the road. isn't that nice?). And continues with more exclamations as we're driven about with the wind, each shot down by an increasingly hangry Kyoo.

"Fuddruckers!"

"Too fatty."

"That Japanese restaurant!"

"Too pricey."

"Maggianos!"

"I don't feel like eating a whole chicken."

"McDonalds!"

"Your mom."


The Gregman does some shooting down of his own, let's be fair here, but it's probably mostly my fault. I think it comes from growing up in a town with one restaurant. I never learned how to choose! There was Jake's Diner (or hamburgers at the "legion"...but only on football game nights). So 99.9% of the time we didn't eat out.

Whether or not that's the case, the game's a bit painful and usually climaxes with a really frustrated Gregdriver (though he's quite the champ at controlling his temper) and a really hangry Kyoo (not as champy with the temper control thing). It's kind of an essential climax though because it's usually when we reach this boiling point that we just pull into the closest restaurant.

This time it was Cheddar's.





As haphazard as the restaurant game may seem, it works. We play it a few times a month and almost always end up somewhere new that we're both satisfied with. Or at Jimmy Johns. That's kind of become the default.

After Cheddars and one last Messiah performance there was this thing called the USAA Holiday Party to attend. So it was back in the Caspermobile to be whisked away by my dashing chauffeur.  (I'm going to get a call when he reads that...).

A stealthy wardrobe change and a few angry words aimed at a malfunctioning mobile website later and...the fun has arrived!  (that line just came to me from Tarzan).





So, this USAA Holiday Party? Um, it's kind of a big deal. They rent out the Alamodome all professional-like and then transform it into some exotic destination. This year's choice?

Viva Las Vegas!

In years past, I'd joined the party in a timely manner and secured a table and all that jazz. But this year, arriving all fashionably late and such, there was "bleacher-room-only". So we loaded up our plates and ate second dinner on our laps.  (with all the other cool people, of course).





Fun fun in heels and a dress!  If my wardrobe change earlier in the car wasn't stealthy, that sure was.

The "headlining" performers this year were Huey Lewis and the News. Question mark? I'll be honest, I'd heard "Power of Love" but that was about it. Still a good show. I wanted to join the thriving "mosh pit" up at the stage but the Gregpooper was all "I'm tired" and therefore we remained in the deepest bowels of the Alamodome bleachers and people watched all night.





Cause really, we couldn't watch much else from back there.

So people-watch we did!  All sorts of dresses and odd couples and even some costumes to excitedly point out!  But then these jugglers came by a-dazz-a-lin' and that stole our attention right up.  We stared at them all spellbound for a while, and now that I think of it, I'm really surprised the Gregteller didn't dive into his "I taught myself how to juggle in like 30 minutes" story.  Because that's usually the one that comes up whenever the subject of juggling is in any way approached.  I love it.

After a bit more Huey and his News people, and also several "Ohmuhgoodness can we just leave yet?" looks from the peanut gallery, I agreed to call it a night.  And do you know how my Gregpleader thanked me??  Only by refusing to take my picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus!  Ugh.  Second failed attempt.  His excuse was that I was wearing a red dress and it would do all sorts of blending with their attire, rendering me just a floating head in the picture.  (In case you can't translate, that's really just Gregspeak for "I don't want to stop").

I gave him my little "I'm so mad" scowl but got over it after we raced up the stairs and out to the car.  (I won).  (In heels).  And then I sang all of my Christmas favorites to the Gregdriver on the way home to keep him awake.

He loved that, like always.

Also, does anyone else feel weird sitting on a bus without a seatbelt? I don't think I've ever worn a seatbelt on a bus, and maybe I'm getting all old and worry-crazy, but it just doesn't feel right...

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 224 - My lips hurt real bad.

Now, now, let's not go there.

It's because of this guy:


Calvin. The French Horn.

He's a pretty good kisser, too. If you've got your technique down. But he can sure play hard to get when he's been neglected for a while. Don't you just hate that game? If that's really his case then it's about time for him to give because this relationship is down to crunch time! We have 4 concerts this weekend (3 of them Handel's Messiah), and I need something to show for our long hours of lip lock these past few weeks!

Speaking of Handel's Messiah, I think this is a good time to point out how far I've come in my appreciation for that work of music, since my first traumatic experience with it almost 5 years ago.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Brother Nielsen (my college horn teacher) handed me the music a few hours before the performance. Said they needed another horn and that the experience would be good for me. I trusted him like a little child, with eagerness and a willingness to please. Skimming thru the music, it looked easy enough. Mostly because I didn't read the top of the page where it stated the key. And notice how each movement was in a different key (that's only slightly exaggerated).

So I showed up at the dress rehearsal a bit nervous but mostly excited. The setup was amazing....I'd never seen so many microphones! And the choir. Huge! I felt pretty cool to be a part of it all. Until the music started. And I realized that what Ben-Jammin (my first horn dude) was playing sounded very different than what I was playing. Yet his sounds seemed to mesh with that of the orchestra and choir sounds better than mine did. That's about when I noticed the key. Maybe because of the corner-of-the-eye death glare Ben-Jammin shot me? Panic! My sight-reading skills are less than stellar. My transpose while sight-reading skills? They might turn any deceased music teacher into an irate, flesh-eating zombie. And maybe some live ones too. (a clue? that's bad).

I think I played all of 5 notes during that entire dry-run. Maybe 2 of them confidently? As soon as the conductor put down his baton on that rehearsal, I rushed home to do some damage control. And by damage control, I mean write all the fingerings in for as many notes as I could decipher during the 1 hour break. Which was maybe half of them.

Excellent.

It just got better, believe it or not, because when I showed up for the performance, they had relocated a microphone just below my bell. Oh bad. I just about cried. Until I realized there was an "off" switch on the microphone. That problem was easily solved. But there was still the whole "play notes" part. So, I put my best concert face on, quietly played the notes I knew, and tried to look pretty and focused on the ones I didn't know. And, also, ignored a few pained looks from the conductor.

"Easy buddy! There's a 150 piece choir and 80 piece orchestra. I'm not even on mic!"

I felt like the worst horn player ever. I was so glad when it was all over. And I swore NEVER AGAIN.

Fast forward 5 years thru a few performances of Messiah (with music in the proper key) later, and voila! We're friends now. I'm almost a fan. There is a powerful spirit to be felt with that music. And I'll admit it, some of the vocal solos are fun to attempt. With my bestest and grandest opera voice, of course.

Yes, the Gregman eats that UP. (read not). (he used to be a choir boy). (and it would make him writhe). (worth it).

So I can honestly say I'm excited to be part of the performances this weekend. And actually play this time, too.

If Calvin decides to be forgiving by then, that is.

Have a great day :-)