January 12, 1989
Dear Everyone:
I got the confirmation on our tickets for Ashland. We got in just under the wire! They had only single seats left for many of the performances. Next year, I’ll get the order out earlier. Like the week after we leave this year.
I finally wrote the report on the Ventura Project. I kept trying to get a look at someone else’s report, just to get an idea about the format; but it looks like no one has ever actually written such a report before. Technically, they were supposed to; but it seems to be a practice that most ignore. However, it looks to me like “Alma” is going to start requiring final reports on a regular basis. So here I go, breaking new ground.
Speaking of breaking things, I did some updating on the “Beaumont” Records Center. Actually, the “records center” is a room over the wash-house. And the “boxes” are really drawers in cabinets and open spaces on shelves. This makes it very easy to destroy half of a “box” or change a “box” number when you shift files from one drawer to another.
Easy for them, but try explaining it to a computer. Most of the changes went OK, but there were these two boxes that just WOULDN’T GO IN. I couldn’t figure out why they kept rejecting until I finally noticed that the Review Date was 3 years ago. The computer knows it’s not supposed to accept boxes that should have been pulled and destroyed ages ago. So, to fool it, I put the boxes in with an Operating Need Hold, which it will accept. Then I went back in and took the Hold off.
The official term for this maneuver is “Sneaking Them in the Back Way”.
My New Year’s resolution this year is to spend at least one lunch break per week in the Company Learning Center which is in the building next door. They have all kinds of self-paced classes that you can take, although many of them require more than a one-hour lunch break to cover. They also have a lending library of books and audiocassettes AND quite a few video tapes. These last cannot be checked out, but you CAN call them up and tell them which tape you want to view and when. Reservations are not required, but it’s a good idea since lunchtime is their busiest time.
You show up and they set you up in a booth with a video monitor and a (VERY) remote control. The VCR is in another room. You use headphones so no one disturbs anyone else, and you can eat your lunch while you improve your mind.
Last Tuesday I watched a MacNeil report on the English language and how it’s becoming not British English, not American English but Global English. English is no longer a Neo-Colonial language; it has become a “neutral” language. Countries like India and many African countries have adopted English as their language of business so that no one native language is imposed upon the others. And, since English is becoming the language of business more and more, some European companies have made it their “official company language”.
The report also touched on “California English” with its surfers, valley girls and computers invading the language. My favorite was a guy being referred to as “He has a Read Only Memory”, meaning he’s not open to new ideas.
There are also a LOT of National Geographic specials available, probably because The Company underwrites the program, something we inherited from That Other Company. More reports on videos later.
My knee is much better. I can bend it. I can walk without limping. I can climb up stairs. I can even (after a fashion) come down stairs. The doctor said that it would take time to heal (not very specific). The REAL expert on chewed-up knees, “Richard”, rolled up one pat leg, consulted with a few scars, and declared “3 weeks” to form a complete scab. He was correct to the very day. Exactly 3 weeks after the fall, I no longer needed to keep it bandaged. It’s coming along beautifully. Last night I even rode my exercise bike.
Only 5 miles, but it doesn’t do to rush things too much.
“Jeannie” is visiting the folks in Portland which means that I am cat sitting. Monroe is very timid and knows the shortest route to Under-the-Bed from anywhere in my apartment should anyone make a loud noise.
Except at 3:45 in the morning when she suddenly turns into Commando-Cat. She tears around, attacks the down comforter on my bed and demands that I get up and feed her breakfast.
She also loves to get into things. Open a cupboard or closet door and she’s inside it right away. Open a drawer in the bathroom to get the toothpaste, turn to put the toothpaste away – and there’s a big, fluffy tail sticking out of the drawer.
Ever notice how cats will cry and cry and cry until you give them some cat food and then they look at it and walk away? Through trial and error, I have found that the optimum time in the microwave for refrigerator-cold canned food is 10 seconds.
She better let me sleep past 3:45 Saturday morning or I’m going to wring her fuzzy little neck.
Love, as always,
Pete
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