I For One Am Glad December At Work...Is Over

 A few weeks back, I posted a picture of a screenshot I took from work. To almost everyone on the planet, all they see is a bunch of numbers. 

To me, those numbers are depressing, especially if you're associated with the 176 and 144 numbers.

As was I.

Except for a couple of two-year projects, I've been doing the same job for over a decade. For the most part, the job has stayed the same. When you do something for 20,000 hours (a year of full-time work is just over 2000 hours, multiply that by over ten years...), you get to know the job. I pride myself on completing my work every week. My work week is complete when both those numbers, 176 and 144...

Are zero.

Another interesting thing about the numbers is the first one, the higher one, represents work that needs to be done in the given week. The second number is the work that's late. These numbers greeted me when I returned from a week off.

When faced with a lot of work, I can react in one of two ways. I can get mad, or I can roll with it. Getting mad was my first choice. The problem I had is that there was no one at which to get mad. Our department had 1/7 of our team quit in December, our team is training their replacements, and of course, in December people need time off for family and other obligations. Add to the mix a flood of work thanks to ObamaCare and you have a perfect storm...too much work and not enough people to do it.

It took a couple of weeks, but when I logged off for the last time in 2023, both my numbers rang up a big fat 0. I should say that while I was out for a week last month, others on my team chipped in and worked on my cases, even though their numbers resembled mine. Since I came back I tried working on co-worker's assignments. I was able to help out a little bit. I'm glad December is over...work wise.

I have no idea what numbers I'll find when I fire up the computer tomorrow morning. I doubt they'll look anything like they did a few weeks ago. Plus, there's always the blessing that I have a job, a job I feel comfortable doing, a job that I feel is important.

Here's to 2024...may the numbers always be low!

Give Thanks...For The Bitter And The Sweet

 Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion states that, "For ever action there is an equal and opposite reaction." In the Book of Mormon, a scripture says basically the same thing, "For it must needs be, that there is opposition in all things..."

The world of science and the world of religion agree (something I believe happens more than people realize...). It's easy to understand Newton's Law...you see an object being acted upon--jumping up in the air, for example--takes energy to jump and gravity pulls you down. Opposition in a spiritual sense...well, that's a little more complicated. Think of the "Shoulder Angel and Devil" as an example. We can look around and see the evil in the world...sometimes it's harder to see the good, but--and I do believe this wholeheartedly--the good is there, stronger than the evil.

It's science.

This past week I learned that a dear friends's family lost their matriarch. She passed after an eight-year struggle with cancer. I only learned of her deteriorating condition the day before. My friend let us all know that his wife might not see 2024. She passed the next day. That night he posted a photo of a tribute given to his sweet wife and family by his neighbors. The passing breaks your heart...the tribute shows how wonderful people can be to each other.

Directly under my friend's post another friend posted a picture of a newborn, a child born only hours before. One of the most impactful events that can happen to human beings is the birth of a child. They sent the social media post to proclaim their joy to us all.

I believe the only connection between these two families is me. I've not seen my friend who suffered the loss in years, but social media can keep us connected. The same can be said for the family with the new edition. Interestingly enough, both the expression of grief and of joy were listed one under another on my social media feed.

Opposition in all things.

One family will start the new year missing their mother/spouse/friend...the other will start a hopefully life-long journey as their family increases. Pain for one family, elation for the other.

The wonderful and tragic thing about life is both families will experience the same thing while they travel throughout this life. My friend and his wife experienced the miracle of childbirth. They know what's coming for the other family. And, since we all die, the family with the new baby has experienced loss, either a close family member or someone more distant, we've all attended a funeral.

The rest of the Book of Mormon scripture reads, "If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad." Whether or not you believe in this book of scripture, the philosophy behind the words are time-tested facts. Without pain, you cannot know joy, without work you cannot appreciate rest, without contention you cannot understand peace.

To every action there's an equal and opposite action.

I mourn for my friend's family. Having never experienced a loss so personal, I cannot understand their pain. I'm also happy for my other friends. At any given time, we're subject to the joys and hardships of life, some severe, some mild, but always evolving. I'm thankful for these experiences, the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet. The trick is to enjoy the good times and remember the bad times only exist because the good times happened first.

Golfing On New Years Eve...Eve

 Golf.

Some say it's an addiction, others a religion, and still others call it witchcraft.

I think they're all right.

And to prove my point, I give you exhibit A...the pictures included in this post. It's New Years Eve Eve, the day before the last day of the calendar year and our local golf course had participants working on their game.

Need more proof? We live in a cold-winter state. Normally, we would have some measurable snow on the ground--not always, but sometimes--which would make golfing here a bit difficult. Because we live in a place where people don't usually golf during the winter, we are subject to numerous advertisements from locations with warmer climes enticing golfers to drive a few hours south to enjoy year-around golfing in Arizona and Nevada (the fact they have legalized gambling I'm sure helps draw some people...). Earlier this month we drove through Southern Nevada and saw the greens fairways and palm trees surrounding the courses.

Call it Mecca for golfers...

Not THE Mecca, but you get my drift.

I am, in no way, a golfer, even though I have golfed and I liked it when I did. Back in college our university had a 7-hole course on campus. Don't look for it now, because the U of U's campus has eaten up all that open green spaces and filled it with buildings. Too bad...it was a fun, beautiful course. I was never all that good, especially on the drives, but the short game...that's where I did well.

I've yet to join the religion of golf. One day I might be converted, but only if I have a lot of time on my hands, and I mean a lot. I'd have to be retired, and golf would have to be more appealing than writing or photography or other hobbies (some would say other religions, and they'd be right...). 

I don't know how many people took advantage of today's warmer weather and lack of snow on our local course. If they don't mind golfing on the Sabbath, they can enjoy the course tomorrow, too. Plus, we're about as north in our state as you can go. I'm sure all those other courses south of us and hackers on them today as well.

Here's to the golfers! May their drives be straight and the putts precise.

It Was The Threat Of Supply Chain Issues That Compelled Us To Act...

 I admit, we fell victim to shameless TV advertising. It's not something we're proud of, but, well...there it is. And, the ads make this particular product, the Angel View rearview mirror attachment sound almost too good to be true.

Almost.

The TV ad was one of those cheesy ones where actors exaggerate in the most over-the-top way possible the sheer hell life is without the Angel View rearview mirror attachment. Watching the ad it's hard to see how humanity progressed to the point where we have without Angel View. Somehow we did and thankfully, this amazing product is available to the masses.

But, there's a catch...

There's always a catch.

The catch is that due to potential supply change issues, this amazing item may not be available in the future. I have no idea if that statement is true or not. I'm guessing it's not. Yes, there may be a slower delivery process than possible, but if you have something people want, companies will move heaven and earth to get that product to you. Money is an incredible motivator.

We bought two, one for our van, and another for the car our newest driver will be using. We thought the extra-wide field of view would help him with the blind spots. We put it in our minivan and took it for a drive today.

Product review in two words...

It's weird.

The product does what it says it'll do--it shows a wide view of what's behind you and what's on each side, of the car so there's that. Yes, you see the blind spots, but it's so wide that you see yourself and anyone sitting in the passenger seat. Also, it's bigger than what we're used to so it feels like it's taking up much more of the windshield.

One negative (that I believe will get better...) is the non-reality view you get when you look at the Angel View rearview mirror attachment. Since the mirror is curved, I felt like I was looking at a computer or phone screen. The reason I believe things will improve is because our minds have an amazing ability to adapt. After a while, we'll look behind and it'll look normal, not weird at all.

It was the threat of supply chain issues that compelled us to act.

Looks the the threat worked.

Two Years Later...It Still Doesn't Feel Real

 Two years...the video posted by my niece is over ten minutes long, but it only took a few seconds to realize the time since my baby sister passed on this day two years ago has been both an eternity and, at the same time, passed in the blink of an eye.

Death warps time.

Sometimes, it doesn't feel real.

Life is unfair, at times. That is the way of it. Losing a sister only a few years into her fifties isn't fair. Just as her children were having children of her own, just after marrying her life's love, she's taken from those who love her most and who she loved the most. In the past three years there's been a lot of unfairness spread liberally across the globe, and our family was not spared the pain.

We miss our sister/mother/grandmother/spouse/friend. There's a hole that cannot be filled--simply impossible--because they only way to fill the hole of grief is for the person to be returned, and that's not possible, at least, in this life.

Two years...the video posted by my niece is over ten minutes long. Ten minutes is hardly enough to conjure all the memories you and a sibling have shared for decades. I'm glad they gathered the photos and posted them for all left behind. I'm glad Tara called me brother. I'm glad the memories are painful, because that means she was so loved.

Yup...I'd Probably Never Make It Out Of An Escape Room Alive

 My sister got me an awesome gift for Christmas this year. It's marketed as an "Escape Room In A Box."

If that's true...I'm in trouble.

Basically, the Camelot Box has several mini-puzzles you must figure out to get the prize. I figured out the first one--yay. Feeling confident, I moved on to the next. The first puzzle is to figure out how to remove the top of the box. Then, there's a drawing that's a major hint for the next puzzle underneath. I started strong, but after a while (and sore fingers from moving the wooden pieces around...), I put down the box. 

After a short break, I picked it up again and gave it another try. Still no luck. I eventually grabbed the paperwork that came with the box and pulled up the website. There was one little problem...

The instructions weren't there. Don't know if it's a website problem or not. Never fear--I knew I could find the answers. I mean, that's why YouTube was invented. A few clicks later, I was watching a video.

Still, I tried not to go "all in" and watch the whole thing. I'd start the video, get an idea of what to do next, then turn it off and try it on my own. I did okay for a while, but I found myself returning to the video.

Five of the six sides of the box had puzzles. The other side had a key to help. The key was too challenging for me so I skipped it.

Eventually, I conquered the task and gained the prize.

The whole experience got me thinking about escape rooms. I can definitely see the draw and I know many love doing them. I just don't think I'd be good at them. My mind doesn't think that way, and if the box is any indication, looks like my mind doesn't work for other things, either.

Keeping It Simple...

Things were a little different for us this year.

We kept things simple.

Maybe it's a sign of the times, at least, the sign of our family's times. We're not empty nesters, but we do have adult children. That makes a difference. They are making their own money and they can buy presents for each other...many times better presents than they get from their parents.

That's something I can get behind.

Earlier this month we took our three youngest (and a spouse...) to Southern California for a week. We told them that the trip was part of their Christmas from us. They were fine with that. Works for us, too. So, when we came back, we looked at the budget and picked up only a few things. 

Another wrinkle to our usual tradition is because we have married children, things now have to be scheduled. Turns out, this year it was easier for us to meet and celebrate our Christmas today, Boxing Day. Yes, I worked today and so did my oldest, but tonight we gathered, had an amazing meal, then opened a ton of presents. Like I said, it's fun to have kids who make their own money.

Because we got started later than usual this year, we also did less this year as far as outdoor decorations. We hauled up a festive streetlamp, a illuminated deer, and a little Christmas tree. Add a small nativity sign lighted by a bright light and that was it for outside. It's simple.

I love it.

In fact, that may be all we do going forward. I didn't put up any lights around the door or window or on the roof line. Fine by me. Anything that keeps me off a ladder is a good thing, especially as I get older.

It's been a simplified Christmas. It's been a wonderful Christmas. When you think about it, it's not really whether something is big or small, extravagant or plain, all that really matters is the people with whom you associate. And I'm surrounded by the best.

Merry Christmas, everyone.