congrats @LeadByGrace and ...

thanks Kelly ... for the little shout-out to shirlnutkin* in your first post - And So It Begins, on your blog Transformation - where you share your experiences with facing and overcoming life's curve balls on Parenting, Friendship, Fitness, and Faith.

transformation ... kelly's blog (twitter) is her kick-off to kicking-ass (in that awesome way), as she usually does!

mind you, kelly is a single mom of three kids; she balances and maneuvers parenting, working (full-time), continuous learning, and volunteering ... and doing all with and by grace.

when a mutual friend (who had worked with kelly for about a decade) learned that kelly started a blog, he commented -

"Pretty gutsy of Kelly. She is amazingly productive and driven, and making it public is impressive."

- and rightfully so.

when kelly and i met ... kelly had already begun her transformation. i met her in 2004, after she had a gastric bypass. at the time, she had one child.  if i recall correctly, one of my energy project developers was selling a power plant to her company. we were both on the environmental-related side of the transaction. more notably, though, we both learned early-on about our mutual perspectives, philosophies, and values in life. we have continued to keep in touch throughout the years and pick-up very quickly from where we left off.

about kelly as she shares her journey ... in kelly's second post - Look Back to Move Forward - she shares her life's events as she continues her transformation, beginning in 2003.

the short version -  starting out at a weight of 360 pounds, kelly made a mindful decision to have a gastric bypass in late 2003. since then, she has been fluctuating around 190 pounds. her goal is 165 pounds. and while she doesn't mention it in her second post, i know she works full-time, participates and volunteers for many activities, is faith-based, and understands the value of community.

in kelly's words - excerpts from her second post ...

"I stood up from a meeting and the chair came with me... voluptuous thighs, the chair was suspended 6 inches off the ground ... room was full of co-workers ... At 360 pounds ... I was no longer willing to tolerate being overweight."

"I had tried every fad diet out there ... the social stigma ... obesity is a form of socially accepted discrimination ... successful weight loss is further complicated by potential physical restrictions or related comorbidity health issues."

"Food was my coping mechanism; it had been my entire life. In 2003 ... made the decision to have a gastric bypass ... implementing the life-style change ... manage life’s curve-balls so food is used for its intended purpose in lieu of coping... make the conscious decision to use a healthy tool instead."

"My goal in November of 2003 was to weigh 200 pounds and maintain that weight within 5% ... loss of 160 pounds ... buy a scale from the store as it only measured up to 300 pounds ... reached my goal, ten years and two children later I have maintained my weight within the 5%."

"The lowest weight I have achieved in the past 10 years was 175 pounds ... felt more in control and successful (i.e. work, personal goals, etc.) ... I have hovered more in the 190 pound range ... goal ... achieve and maintain my (doctor approved) goal of 165 pounds."

- and finally, her closing statement of her second post -

"Time for a lasting change 

and that is exactly what I am going to do"

*admittedly, it's Kelly's little mention 

that re-ignited shirlnutkin-ness 

from its hibernation.

magz silver lining tips ...

SL Tip #2: on the project management book

(repost 02/13/2006)

Try to read the Project Management book
sooner rather than later;
it will take longer than 50 minutes.

- Silver Lining

the book says it's a 50-min. commitment. this is suppose to mean 50 minutes on EARTH ... it's not. it's probably more like jupiter (or is it the other direction, and it's like mercury?) anyway, as noted on the internship syllabus-lite, you will get a workbook on project management. SL's tip is good. keep it in mind.

side note: here is the book over here


.

magz silver lining tips ...

missin' magz ... also known as silver lining, margaret (or magz) was nicknamed silver lining (or SL) while she had a summer internship with us back in 2006. magz ALWAYS had a great silver lining approach with a few good, healthy moments of snark.

[pic L-R: amabelle, margaret,
moi, todd at influx, san diego]

tips for other interns ... SL had a few tips for other interns, and in fact, her tips simply remain no-nonsense in the workplace - well, depending on the workplace culture.

(repost from 02/12/2006)

SL Tip #1: on the socratic approach

My tip? Just answer the question.
(I mean that in a good way!!)

- SL (aka Silver Lining)

SL's tip is a good one for our socratic approach for our interns. it's really that simple. remember, we can't read minds.

(repost from 01/28/2006)

There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.
- Socrates

TEACHING BY ASKING QUESTIONS ... One of the different characteristics of our internship program is our approach - a Socratic approach. We didn't purposely set out to do this; it evolved out of our realizing we enjoyed the internship program when we were in "teacher" mode. It's one thing to tell interns to do a task and give them details about getting to the right answer. It's another experience to encourage interns to approach a task by understanding the goal, developing and executing a plan to complete a task, and asking questions about their accomplishing the goal. Critical thinking is important in the work-force. And frankly, because of my curious nature, this whole Socratic thing is a bit unavoidable.

WHAT IS IT ? ... google and see what ya get? Just a few here - Wikipedia's description includes a description of method and application. Interestingly, the last item in W's blurb is "Socratic Method in Psychotherapy ... It can be used to clarify meaning, feeling, and consequences, as well as to gradually unfold insight, or explore alternative actions." (Later on that, maybe.) I like the "difference between dialogue and debate" on StudyGuide. And I'm certain that those with whom we have had as interns have heard several questions we have asked from the Socratic Questioning Cheat Sheet. Those who have interned - we did NOT have this cheat sheet, really. But you've likely heard many of these questions.

A GOOD PRIMER FOR FUTURE INTERNS ... From my web search, the socratic questioning highlighted on this site is a good primer for anyone interested in our internship. The types of questions you would hear from us ...

• conceptual clarification
  
• probing assumptions
• probing rationale, reasons, and evidence
• questioning viewpoints and perspectives
• probe implications and consequences
• questions about the question

For some interns, it may take a while to become comfortable in such a work setting, particularly if you expect an internship experience where you are just "resume building". It's an investment on our part to take on interns - and we hope that interns will also see our approach as in investment in their professional development.

hope you are doing well, magz!

f|back (june '06): interns in the '90s

interns ... i thought about my internship program because of my recent post for the love project. at cubeopolis, i have recently had an opportunity to (re)repackage my r|cat internship program (formally structured in 2004 but in place less formally since 1995) to modify it a bit for an internship effort. stated differently - i look forward to working with a friend to implement an off-shoot of my internship program this year in cubeopolis.

(2006 intern, amabelle,
as part of reality: intern, aka r|intern)

program features ... i REALLY loved the internship program i had developed and truly believe in the value of its elements - outlined 10-12 weeks activities and deliverables, stated qualifications, areas of responsibility to choose from and focus, mid-program (aka mid-term) and final presentations, evaluation of presentation (a little like a mini-toastmasters), goals and objectives, draft of resume content (BEFORE completion of internship program) when outlining project(s), and peer/mutual evaluation as an informal performance review. i am also glad that there are others who see the value of the program.

random memorable moments ... with every intern, there is ALWAYS a memorable moment. i am glad that in 2006 i captured those for interns from the '90s decade. (note to self: pull together the 2000-2006 batch of interns!)

(repost from 06/03/2006) i've been asked how many interns we've had. labing-lima. quinze. quindici. fifteen. quince.
a few things before i list those whom i can remember...

• volunteer - some have volunteered time
  
• honorarium - still a volunteer, but some have received a form of gratitude, which is not necessarily compensation commensurate with services (e.g., laptop carrier, wireless card, meals, reference materials, etc.)
  
• independent contractor - some have served as independent contractors, often if they have some level of work experience

the following are first name only, some characteristics i recall, and a random memorable event (RME).

1. jason (dan's son) [1995, 2001] ... (flagship of interns!) interned with us twice; first volunteered for experience and then as an independent contractor. first time was during summer while finishing up environmental engineering degree. second time was after a couple years of work. very hard worker. creative. good self-starter. RME: 1st time - blue blazer (symbol of adulthood, tho' a little "wham-looking" type of blazer) when we had a meeting with my 1st client (City of Chula Vista). 2nd time - deb's party in aliso viejo.
   


2. cris [1996, 2000] ... interned with us twice; first volunteered for experience and then as an independent contractor. had a geology degree. met him when he was as hired as a summer student worker at my last "corporate america" job (with the electric/gas utility). he was coming out of high school and was very self-motivated ... by the tide. he'd do at least an 8-hour work day - and flex time around the tide. to surf. yeah. to surf. RME: 1st time - benigan's & "his" driver's license. 2nd time - dinner & drinks at old town mex.
   


3. susan [1996, 2000] ... interned with us twice; first volunteered for experience and then as an independent contractor. totally bright. self-motivated. entertainingly sweet. was seeking a degree in environmental-related field. quite organized and RME: 1st time - working on an air quality permit (1st one) and totally kicking butt! (it was awesome.) 2nd time - speed-calling for a project that resulted in meeting a very aggressive deadline.
   


4. maria [1997] ... volunteered. recommended by a work colleague who was teaching an air quality extension course at UCSD. brief stint. helped on emission calculations, permitting and regulatory review. extremely fast-learner. attended a client meeting with me. spoke (and still does) italian (1st language), german, french and english. had tendency to say numbers in german. RME: 11:00 PM (yeah - night!) phone call to discuss a table of emissions and regulatory interpretation.
   
   
5. agnes [1997] ... volunteered. her background in geography (GIS interest). developed maps as part of my presentation material to my first distributed generation (DG) related client that was in the process of commercializing a new gas turbine. client very happy! RME: at dinner, having a philosophical conversation about life.


6. ryan [1998] ... honorarium. SDSU internship program. part of international business class. our 1st time (only time) with this program. (had other prospects in subsequent years but no fits from the candidates that applied) stipend (tax-deductible) to the school. knew MS Access. made a database for fledgling san diego greenmap effort. RME: an odd habit - though not disturbing and remaining unnamed - that hopefully has not carried into his professional life.


7. christina 1 [1998] ... volunteered. communications major. girlfriend of the son of a friend of mine. (follow that?) helped with a newsletter that i wrote for a local association. RME: attending an association meeting while men twice her age gawked. (to give you an idea - she had a stint as a newscaster in florida).
   


8. greg [1999] ... honorarium. my friend's co-worker asked my friend if she knew of summer job opportunities for her friend's son. that's how greg came to us. environmental engineer student. worked a brief stint - air emissions calculations + regulatory interpretation. bright. self-motivated. attended client meeting. RME: attending a client meeting and being reminded i was short, because he was tall (as was everyone in the room).


9. laurel [1999] ... independent contractor. environmental science major. had a previous summer job with a corporate environmental department. did mega-work with us. jammed through many-many activities. high energy. committed. attended client meeting often. RME: one of hundreds of gals who attended/participated in a local radio event-stint ... where some guy was looking for a date ... gals were lined up to impress him and get the date. she did this before work - cute leather jacket, fitting top, home-baked cookies, a little 'gift', and a sweet opening line. (we heard her on the radio) she didn't get the date, but we had some extra cookies!
   

o.k. - interns of this decade (2000) in another post.

f|break: mid-week nooner for #love2011

the love project ... this week's theme is know yourself! my extra credit fun over here. and this morning, yvette, the project creator, shared a few personality tests to know yourself. this immediately reminded me of some fun i had when i hosted interns back in the san diego days.

(repost from 01/21/2006)

Gone to the Dogs has a great personality test (see the "Game" link to the left of the website) ... so the result of my personality test is below. You can press the 'play' button. Let the little film run its course for the czesky terrier's ORIGINS and PERSONALITY.

(updated 2011: oops! error for doggie video, bummer ... HOWEVER)

NOW THEN, just go on and take the test yourself at the game link!

PERSONALITY TESTS! Somewhere along one's career (or even outside of the workplace), we learn our personality - from a test - administered by an indifferent or paid 'professional' or both. Be prepared, as you may be asked to take a test. Beat 'em to the punch! Here are a few to start -

alphabet soup ... Myers-Briggs (based on Jung) - a person learns his/hers "four letters" - I/E, N/S, F/T, J/P ... generally defined as - introvert/extrovert, intuitive/sensing, feeling/thinking, judgement/perception. if you search on the web, there are many variants (like keirsey) of M-B.

rainbow ... Colors that can also provide insight to one's personality - blue, gold, green, orange. (by the way, i PURPOSELY made sure i put blue & gold next to each other - GO BEARS!).

dogs ... by the (Canine (A)lgorithmic (T)ransfer (S)ystem ... A well-kept secret (though not among some of our more recent interns and the loads of people to whom we have forwarded this test) ... dog breeds! Gone to the Dogs has a great personality test (see the "Game" link), which we use after week 1 of our 10-12 week internship program.

The downside of this on-line test is you don't get to see scroll through the different 'dog personalities'; take the test, and you'll see. The upside (which totally makes up for the downside) is that you gotta get others to take the test.

If you are wondering about how I have tested - ENFP ... Blue/Green (with the higher scores) and then Gold/Orange (with the lower scores) ... Czesky Terrier.

it's 2011 ...
time to take that test again
(now that my cubeopolis life is WAY different than 2006)!


the miniature schnauzer!

f|back (sept '06): Y ... because (with urban trees)

just a meme from way back when in this 2006 flashback from june and september, including the september comment (from way back when) ...

(repost from 06/04/2006)

trees on one side of the streeturban tree on the other side of the street

... and (repost from 09/06/2006)

... it's been a relatively long time (end of may) since spinning girl issued "Y" ... and i'm stepping up to the plate. i've been in the dugout a bit ... then mulling things around on deck ... but now it's time ...

[one of the SD urban trees ]

... to start writing again, and to start sharing,
[as spinning girl has done so]

so it goes something like this ...

"Comment on this entry and I will give you a letter. Write ten words beginning with that letter in your journal, including an explanation of what the word means to you and why, and then pass out letters to those who want to play along."

[for those of you who STILL refuse to post and INSIST on calling me or e-Mailing me ... fine ... feel free to continue to do so - but know that it's o.k. to get with the program]

[PREVIEW: yttrium, youth/young, yesterday, yes & you, yolk, year, yip yap, gen Y... and then something to share that begins with the letter "c"... so i didn't quite get to '10 words' with "Y" ... so that's why i'm sharing some 'C' that came to mind]

• Y, a.k.a. yttrium ... on the periodic table. the periodic table was my friend and my enemy in college. and majoring in chemical engineering is DIFFERENT from majoring in chemistry. here's the deal - i don't know all the chemicals listed on the periodic table. i know the ones that are related to what i do now - air quality (e.g., H, C, O, N, S). y'see, chemical engineering is different from chemistry, because the folks with chemistry degrees have MANY, MANY other elements they deal with. but don't get me wrong ... it's not like i know my chemical engineering stuff. but i do know PV=nRT, and that has gotten me far enough. and from chemistry, i did like the grignard reaction! (by the way, i thought of "Y", the chromosome, for whom i adore my gay friends, as well as my straight friends, but then i'd just end up writing about dating, and i've already been there, done that. ha!)
  


• youth, young - and its other "relative" words ... to me - youth/young is **not** about plastic surgery, one's age, or immaturity. growing, learning, and discovering are words i associate with youth/young. in fact, i also believe that when one is old or older, there continues to be the opportunity to grow, learn, and discover. (but my letter is "Y", so i'm sticking with the directions). thank you for telling me i look young for my age, but also know that i'm o.k. even if i look "as old" or "older", as i cherish being told so by my 6 yr old niece and my 8 yr old nephew that my gray hair looks cool for an old tia.
  


• yesterday ... is as important to me as today and tomorrow. many-many-many yesterdays ago, i learned to play piano; i believe that has contributed to my interest in music. many-many yesterdays ago i lived in sacramento and my fond memory from back then ... life planning on a chili's restaurant napkin while eating seasoned french fries with a good friend; i continue this, as it has become part of who i am, oddly enough. (now, i'm not as picky about the restaurant, and i don't need to be eating french fries when doing so.) many yesterdays ago my dad died. as very emotional and sad as that was, remembering that yesterday gives me strength. just yesterday i had dinner with a good friend. i hope to have more wonderful yesterdays!
  


• yes & you ... i am moving to the bay area. please be supportive. got things in motion. and now, most realistically, i will get movers scheduled for the 1st week of october to pick my sh** up and pack some sh** up. if you are reading this and rolling your eyes because it's not the september time frame, please don't make this about you. you may detect some attitude here, but that is not my intent; it's me --- being direct, honest, and informative. it's to let you know that it's difficult to leave you if you are in SD, and to let you know (if you live in the BA) that i'm excited to be moving to the BA. yes i would like some help and advice regarding my move, and you are an important part of that, but please ... remember it's also about me. and if you want to do the whole "tough love" thing about the move, i'll appreciate the attention, but i'd prefer the cheerleader approach, if ya don't mind. yes, i'll answer my e-mail and phone if you cheer! you, i love dearly for the support!
  


• yolk (and this is not about eggs) or yoke ... i own a sewing machine, really (i think it's packed away, right now). and i learned how to sew many-many-x3 yesterdays ago. first item - a smock. second item - an apron. third item - overalls. and fourth item - plaid hoody ... all circa mid-'70s. and afterwards - "real" stuff - painter pants, blazers (for my mom), shorts, camp shirt (a bit of a failure, but i tried), and of course, my sr. prom dress (from a Vogue pattern ... where the fabric color totally had to match my shoes). sew lately? not so much. i still have the machine - so maybe i will do so. could it be that i watch my fav reality tv show, project runway (and its reruns) because of this little hobby?
  


• year ... another year is what i'll be turning - when i'm moved in to the BA. i'll be a prime number (which holds special meaning for me, and i don't know why). i was born in the year of the rabbit, with the water sign. checking out other water rabbits --- i am in good company (... oh you, mr. depp!)
  


• yip yap... is pretty much why i have the cell phone plan with the mostest minutes ever ... and i manage to exceed the mostest minutes ever like this tall, this wide, and this deep! yip yap yip yap yip yap. it's also why i don't mind when people say "yeah, we expected that" after I say "i have an opinion" - "i have a question" - "i ..." yip yap yip yap yip yap. and if i'm not yip yapping, i'm probably tip tapping on my keyboard. and if i'm not tip tapping, i'm likely just doing something. do i sit still and quiet? sure. like i mentioned, i have to watch my show! don't call me during the show - i won't yip yap with you. commercials - catch me during commercials.


• Gen Y ... or as i have recently learned, aka the Millennials. My interns - Gen Y. Me? - uh... not so sure. i need to get/stay with the program. Wiki tells me this. Pink Magazine tells me this. Because i still intend to have r|intern when i'm moved up in the BA, i also am aware that it's in my best interest for r|intern to attract them gen Yers. (thanks j, for the tip back then!) In the end ... X, Y, e-i-e-i-o ... let's all just get along, eh? oh! i should say that i have learned quite a bit from r|interns ...sothanks much! (now, go find me some enviroslaves, eh? j/k.)

o.k. - and now for my departure into "C" - which is simply because i am going to B&J to get some "chocolate therapy" (!!!).

• criminal ... o.k. - he was a criminal. yes, i - uh - "dated" (sort of but sort of not) - someone who was once (or maybe twice) in prison. (i found this out AFTER our 2nd date.)
  
• calipatria ... "prison," you say? "yes," i say, "prison." calipatria prison, to be exact.
• center for land use interpretation ... "huh? what does this have to do with criminal and calipatria?" HELLO!!! ---"C" (we've moved on from "Y").
  

here is the deal - when the center described calipatria, which houses criminals, here is what was written. and if you are too lazy to go to that link, let me help you out - it says ...

"Visitor Info: Like most prisons, it can be visited through proper channels, by either arranging a press tour, having relatives to visit there, or by commiting a crime. Public roads surround the facility, which is said to have a high-voltage electric perimeter fence. On Blair Road, northeast of downtown Calipatria."

this - i found worth taking up my time several weeks ago when i googled calipatria.

• chocolate therapy ... ciao!

[and if you wanna read another 'me' thing,
i was tagged a while back.]

Spinning Girl said...

Brava my dear! You did a fine job, and never mind the wait! I had the toughest letter of all (I)so ergo handed out difficult letters, myself. I like the "skip to" new letter concept...hmmm, thinking of how to do a meme like that. Whatever letter you skip to, the "tagged" have to start with, then skip to another letter? Hmmm, maybe I will try that ...

Skipping to B&J sounds about
right, at this moment ...

Long live the chemists (myself included)! And yes, I know every element. I'm a big geek that way!

music and paintings touch my soul ...

the love project ... the week 2 assignment (your love goals) of the love project has started, and i am playing catch-up. (i wrote a little about it over here, also.) for now, i feel like i am auditing the love project - just sitting in, taking notes, ready for when i jump in AND catch-up. (and i will jump in!) meanwhile, i want to share a connect-the-dots moment that happened on the last day of 2010. i wrote an email to my friend kelly.
side note ... when intense thought is needed, i listen to a special mix of music that seems to power me through (most of the time) any mental block or moments of procrastination. and it is a hard-pressed moment to steer me clear of whatever task i am doing while i am listening to that special mix. that hard-pressed moment came on december 31.

back story ... back in november, i shared (over here) about a friend, who is a wonderful artist (over here), who's husband and best friend died. and back in december, i shared about my new friend (over here), who also is the creator of the love project.

my little catharsis ... into the new year, i was sitting at my fave coffee house (paddy's coffee), doing some cubeopolis work, listening to my when i think music mix (which includes the late jeff buckley), and then ... bawling my eyes out. i found myself writing an email to an artist friend in san diego and a comment to a new-found-via-reverb10 friend in colorado. i realized my bawling was all for the connectedness with and love of those we meet in life - short-lived, fleeting, web buddies, life partners, family members, pets, ... - you name it.

my note to my artist friend, or shall i just say to my friend? ... here is the email i wrote to my artist friend throughout the december 31 morning after and during the initial (yes, there was more than one moment) bawling. i have edited it a bit here and there (mainly because i'm a dork and used ball rather than bawl - haha - go figure.) but have retained the feel and sentiment. kelly is actually an artist that i met while i was living in san diego. she's one of my "artist" friends who has touched my soul. (i wrote about another friend, adolfo, over here.)

hallelujah with love ... and after that email and the bawling of my eyes, i visited yvette's blog to catch-up and came across her december 30 post about hallelujah lyracist and her friend craig. bawling moment again. it was a cathartic morning - a good morning, that december 31st.

i continue to think and be reminded of you ...

... in a good way, kelly. and i'm bawling my eyes out - perhaps with you - albeit miles away.

you are a strong, feeling, forthright, and beautiful person. and it's all i can do from patting myself on the back the day i decided to call/email you after seeing your beautiful paintings at urban grind ... and it's all i can do from hugging you the day you agreed to meet for dinner at parkhouse eatery, and you shared an awesome triptych (... white trash? on black - cigs, and i forget the rest). it's all i can do from wanting to hug you now!

so i want to say ... i am humbled to be part of your life - even in a little corner of your life on facebook - for which you share with so many others your raw emotions.

i can't believe i'm sharing what i'm going to share with you, and so i hope you know it comes from a place i didn't know yet existed - and i am thankful. i know that if i was in san diego, i would have called you to just say "hey" and see how you are doing - good, bad, numb, loved, ... just to know you are being you. i wish i could hug you right now (and find some goddamn tissue!!!).

i'm tearing up while listening to a song. i hear another song and i tear up even more. (i'm lying - i'm not tearing up ... i am fucking bawling my eyes out.)

REWIND ...
i'm sitting in my friend's coffee shop (up here in union city) this morn - just catching up on facebook, blogging (writing and reading), and contemplating end of the year shit. and all i want to do is type this note (and call you). so i type the note - and continue to bawl.

i wake up every morning with the beauty of the painting from you that hangs in my bedroom. and as you may imagine, that painting has taken on so much more meaning for me, and rightfully so. i love it more than ever. this morning was no different ...

so here i am keyboarding and surfing ... listening to my itunes mix that i've titled "when i think ..." - a jeff buckley song comes on, last goodbye - and i just start to bawl.

i have NO IDEA why i am bawling and then ...

... you rush into my mind - amelie paintings, the coffee shop/urban grind, parkhouse eatery, artwalk, starbucks, (i'm still bawling), tidbits of conversations we've had flash in my head (your love for your brother, jeff buckley, dave's lighting and fashion, coping moments, happy pills, artwalk, stupid politics, ...) - - - i walk out of the coffee shop to compose myself and find a napkin or something other than my sleeves - - - and more tidbits of faux-conversations i imagine we are having through posts on your facebook, email reminders from you of fabulous things you are doing, (i'm STILL bawling) and just those little reaching out moments.

i call a friend, thinking i'll stop crying. i do. i walk back into the coffee shop. i continue to type this note. i start to tear up again.

i did not know dave very much at all, but i know you two very much love each other. i remember reading the unfolding updates of dave's health, the evolution of the memorial, the outpouring of love, and the absolutely immense community you have created among so many.

and perhaps, like many others, i know you only in that way that many have fallen in love with your paintings and the heart and soul that is clearly part of your paintings - and so like the many others, i feel so connected to you. i realize you don't have to take time out of your day when i have come to visit san diego, yet you have. (i am long past due.)

and then, my music mix continues ... lamb's song comes on my mix as i'm typing this - gorecki ... if you know the song, then you have likely figured out how this song reminds me of you and your love, dave.

(now i am bawling my eyes out again)

PRESENT TIME ...
napkins abound. soy latte spent. and hoping this note did not bum you out but allows you a little moment today to know that i love that your love of dave has touched my soul - and i love that you have touched my soul.

from the the girl bawling her eyes out at paddy's coffee shop ... and proud of it, dammit -
shirlnutkin

puffy heart to those i love

*connecting the dots shirlnutkin style ...
favorite coffee house in union city, music mix, jeff buckley,
last goodbye, kelly, lamb's gorecki, hallelujah, love project

f|back (jan '06): celebrating after yesterday's garage sale

flashback from 2006 (aka old blog posts) ... i am realizing a garage sale or donating my stuff is in my future, as i am going through my current year 2010 julie morgenstern-ing SHEDn and kit cole-ing CYCCYLn. thanks to old blog posts, i am reminded that on saturday, jan 14, 2006 (back in san diego), a few things happened - i wrote my first blog post (re)declaring i would be relocating from san diego to the bay area, i had a garage sale and went to dinner (at the was-open-back-then parallel 33) with my neighbors matt and marlena, i chatted and hugged garry (my landlord), and i pet scud (the dog - who later lost his battle with cancer). below are posts from those memories ...

(repost from 01/15/06)

GARAGE SALE FUN … Yesterday (Saturday), our little compound had a garage sale - which was preceded by the garage clean out on Friday. Matt, Garry, Scud (an awesome bassador) and I sifted through "lots o' stuff". (That's Garry with Scud.)

The garage has served as a fine haven and a functional office annex for files, office supplies, reference books, and office equipment. Moreover, the garage has served to perpetuate my packrat nature (with my 1,000+ sq. ft home office also contributing to my tchotchke paradise). With three other neighbors sharing access and storage to the garage, the challenge was met to organize and winnow the contents. (In the early spring, I will be contributing more "stuff" at the neighborhood's garage sale day. Meanwhile, the purging process has begun.)

AN APPETITE TO SPARE ... Saturday's garage sale was well worth the effort. Afterwards, Matt, Marlena (Matt's wife), and I used some of the proceeds for a great dinner at the nearby Parallel 33. By the way, when in San Diego, Parallel 33 is a “must” dining experience. The food is so tasty, and the service is wonderful. Just adjacent to Parallel 33 is a slightly nondescript blue building, which houses Blue Lotus - essentially the sister restaurant/lounge to Parallel 33 - same menu, different atmosphere. Totally check it out!


(repost from 01/30/06)

Just a little place on the web

to say "bye" to Scud ...

he's the bassador (basset hound / lab mix) that lived downstairs with Matt & Marlena, and every once in a while, he hung out in my office. Bye Scud ... !

lovin' the memories!

back in the day - my 1st blog post circa jan 2006

just as i am cleaning out my closet,
i am cleaning out my blog stuff.

girlnutkin is breaking free ...

... and gatherin' up fun memories,
while creating new ones.

TODAY - girlnutkin circa jan 2010 ... i started THIS BLOG (on jan 14) as an effort to consolidate previous and select blogs' posts - yes, blogS. i have several blogs for my life phases/events of prepping to move from SD to BA, having moved to the BA, a chronicle of an intern that worked with me, stories i wrote (or at least started to write), and business related thoughts. granted, these blogs are basically archive/memory-lane stuff.

BACK IN THE DAY - nearly 5 years ago ... the first time i plopped down to blog was in jan 2006 - ReLo-ing from SD to BA. check it out OVER HERE. (thanks joanne!)

f|back (jan '06): caught wifi squatting in SD

(repost 01/26/06)

My picture was taken a few times by a gal writing an article on wi-fi equipped coffee shops.

I am at my favorite coffee house - Influx ... sitting in a little corner of the coffee shop - laptop on, blackberry adjacent, project work sprawled, and (most importantly) coffee within arms length.

a corner with a view ...

..."slighlty" angled pic of the Influx entrance from Broadway.

(BTW, their sandwiches, salads and pastries are GREAT!)

Anyway, don't know if she'll use any of the pictures she took this morning.

If she does, then I have my R|CAT baseball cap to thank for succesfully dealing with my "pseudo-bad hair day".

As far as after the ReLo, in addition to the wi-fi capability of whatever hotel I will stay at when in San Diego, Influx will be my on & off SD office. It's so convenient at 20th & Broadway --- easy access to key places - Downtown, Hwys 5 / 94 / 163, and the airport.

RESOURCE FOR WI-FI LOCATIONS ... Regarding wi-fi (aka HotSpot) locations, I usually rely on a web-based resource that cnet has from jiwire. But because jiwire has had Paddy's place listed for quite some time, I've bonded with jiwire. Point is - as part of my ReLo and just for general work out-and-about town or when on travel, I make a point to find out where (free) wi-fi squatting is offered. And if great coffee is served - that's even better!

giants buddy in SD for ballgame

since i've been in the BA, i've been to at&t (formerly sbc and pacific bell parks - and i tend to call it pacbell park ... it's first name)


(repost from july 1 '06)

june 30 out-of-office auto-responder:

Subject: R|CAT: 06/30 - Out of Office in Afternoon

The Giants are playing the Padres this evening!

STANDINGS TO DATE: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standings/index.jsp

We are starting early! I will be out of the office after noon-time today (06/30) ... for the self-imposed (deserved) break.

please feel free to leave
e-mail or voice mail; I will
answer when back in.

... and so i did ... when mike confirmed tix for the giants/padres game at petco! t & r (padre fans) also along for the fun. a few before & during pix. excuses for ... not-so-good-food ... beer ... sangria ... and the requisite hot dog.

[our seats in toyota terrace sec. 215]

we lost that night.
(yeah, that's right ... lost)

dessert in the BA?

food. it's something i have quite posted about on this blog. so for the kick-start ... what was on my mind 4 years ago? (from a previous blog)

(repost from feb 7, '06 - with some teeny updates)

It's like I can't stop talking about food on this ReLo blog ... and I have come to realize - I'm not quite sure how often I actually cook a meal at home. (So maybe I don't have to worry too much about whether I have an electric or gas stove in my BA kitchen digs.)

Regardless ... DESSERT!!! SD has an absolutely fabulous and amazing place called Extraordinary Desserts. OK, so I'll miss this place, also. (If you have checked out the web site, make sure to look at the dessert page, because you'll get to see a couple different desserts.)

This is Rennie (Hi Rennie!) ... with a dessert (chocolate involved, of course!) ... that i am pretty sure he shared ... but i can't be 100% sure ... because i may have been scarfing and hogging my own dessert at the time.

So - dessert, anyone, in the BA? and what bridge(s) am I going to have to cross!?

weekend ritual ... peet's

(pic from peets.com)
my peet's trek is all about a spendy cup of coffee and some me time.

(repost from march 16, 2006, when i was still in SD)
Peet's in SD? ... simple math
i heart Peet's, and i have a calculator.

GIVEN:
A = number of Peet's coffeehouses in SD County
B = number of Peet's coffeehouses within 50 miles of future BA digs
C = 7.04E-04 Peet's per square miles of SD county

WHERE:
B = 62
C = A divided by (statistic for SD county)

SOLVE FOR: A*

*EXTRA CREDIT ESSAY QUESTION:
Why is B much greater than A?

. Correct answer for A = cup o' coffee or tea.
. Response to essay = upgrade to speciality coffee or rare tea
. Clever response to essay = pastry included

comments included ...

• pjb ... 0.0007040 * 4261 = 2.9997. Is the 3/10000 of a Peet just over the county line?
  
  
• sacto floyd ... Well, since we are talking about shirlsd, she would have assumed we'd use ASTM protocols for rounding. Thus, A would round to 3.00 (three sig figs), and Peet's would be in no danger of trespassing into the next county.
  
  As for the larger question of why there are far fewer Peets in SD than in BA, I would guess that there are at least three reasons: (1) there are many more Peetniks in the BA, (2) the BA traffic jams require more Peets stores to keep the commuters awake, and (3) most importantly, cup holders have not yet caught on as a popular accessory for surfboards in SD. But give it time.
  
  Peet's me. One just opened near me in Elk Grove. But we have traffic jams that are not as bad as in the BA, and there is no surfing to speak of in Sacto, so I would guess that we have somewhere between 3 and 62 Peets.
  
  Do I get extra-extra points for that?
  
  
• pjb ... To quote one of my favorite movies, "There is a fine line between clever and stupid." So I will try to stick with smart ass answers and avoid embarassing myself.
  
  I am not aware of any Peet's here in the DC area and have never stepped foot in one. Are they just in California? Is a "peetnik" more BA, SD or Sacramento type person? What makes Peet's Peet's? Is there a kind of tight subculture that worhsips at the house of Peet's? Is shirlsd the high priestess of Peet's?
  
  
• anon in NV ... We now have 1, yes 1 Peets in Reno - at, of all places, the airport. Of course after trying one there, before catching a 7am flight - it just didn't seem as strong as the lattes at the Peets around the corner from EPA in SF.
  
  For the DC guy, in the areas that are not steeped with the great Peet's coffee fragrance, the poor souls can find Peet's coffee and beans at the ING (BRIGHT ORANGE) centers where they are trying to get us to save our cash in a European bank which also has insurance operations. Which is good, since we, in general, don't save cash in the US; we just spend it.
  
  
• diva ... BOSTON has a Peet's! VISIT US!

nearly 15 years spent in SD ...

... and i am missing it today - a cool, drizzly-ish winter BA day. visit soon before the end of this 1st calendar quarter. (yes, i still think in calendar quarters at times.)

to blog or not to blog, back in the beginning ...

... someone asked when and why i did i start to blog. my answer is below if from my 1st post on 01/14/06 when i was living down in san diego (SD) getting ready to move back up to the bay area (BA).

(repost from 01/14/2006)

Hello!

With the encouragement of Joanne, I decided to create this blog. I met Joanne (while on one of my trips to the Bay Area) at Paddy's. Thanks much to Paddy, who owns and operates Paddy's namesake coffee shop (with wi-fi!) in Union City; he introduced us ... because of a common interest we share - an interest in writing on a particularly "fun" subject. (Maybe more on that later.)

FIRST TIME BLOGGER and BUSINESS OWNER ... This is my first blog mainly for those interested in my relocation planning and activities from San Diego to the Bay Area. (And I'm sure it will contribute to my tendency to procrastinate and provide an outlet for writing.)

I'm originally from the Bay Area - Northern California (lived there since the mid-70s). After college, I moved around California because of job opportunities. In 1991, I moved to San Diego to take a job with the utility. Since 1994, I have primarily been consulting on my own (except for a 16-month duration with a small energy consulting firm) for energy/power plant related projects on air quality and environmental issues. I'm moving back up to the East Bay in Spring 2006. I will continue to run my consulting practice when I move up north and enjoy being closer to family.

RELOCATION planning is NOT a piece of cake, but it's fun! ... I've known since the summer of 2005 that I would be moving back to the Bay Area. (There have been doubts from some friends & family, though.) So I have been planning, visualizing, goal setting, purging and doing more planning. Now I am entering the 'implementation' stage (sort of). There are the logistics to moving my home and my business, and there are the psychological and emotional aspects of planning and implementing the move. And also sprinkled in here and there are moments of ANGST.

ANGST is good ... I figure having this blog will allow me to pass along tips & tidbits, express my cathartic moments, and keep friends and family up to date on my whereabouts and on-goings.

Enjoy!

(END of repost from 2006)

that said ... in this new girlnutkin incarnation, i'll reminisce (aka repost) occasionally about my relocation efforts back in 2006. a few highlights - - - BA tenant eviction, chowing down in SD, appreciating SD, packing process, dorky past-times, ... and more stuff.