The Wind and I

If you live in Boulder, as do I, you know what I mean when I say it has been windy here.  It seems February has been the windiest month in history.  Whether that is true does not bother me, because to me it is true.  (Don't bother me with the facts, my mind is made up.)

Not including the two days of Chinook winds, when wind gusts exceeded 75 or even 80 mph, every day seems windy.  Today it is cold, in the 30's, and windy.  The wind chill varies from cold, to colder, to coldest, to OMG, they’re  freezing off, depending on the wind speed.

Now I am not one to complain, but....

I don't like the wind.

what about the wind
blowing, blowing, blowing
so rattles the nerves?

K-cups Revisited (Again)

When I was given a Keurig coffee maker I was very happy to accept it. In my first blog post about it I raved: it is convenient, fast, not messy, makes good coffee in about 90 seconds, and allows quick access to a variety of flavors and blends. The Keurig system uses K-cups, prepackaged portions of ground coffee or other mixes.

Then I started cost calculations and determined the using K-cups is an expensive proposition, with cost per cup ranging from $0.60 to as much as $1.00. That seemed too high, so I found other sources for K-cups, lowering the cost a bit.

Then I discovered K-cups do not recycle, and each time I used one I permanently use a bit of the earth's resources. Not that I alone make much difference, except in my own head. But the recycling thing bothered me, so more research started.

I found a stainless steel re-usable filter, with filter holder and cap. I bought one. Then, because I use three different blends of coffee, I bought two more (filters only.) I'm not sure I needed the last two filters, but....

After many attempts I found a grind that works well, even with my worn out burr grinder that seems to mash more than grind. I determined an amount of ground coffee that is neither too strong (my first attempts) or too weak. Now I grind beans sufficient to make 10 to 20 cups of coffee, and keep the ground coffee in three resealable, labeled containers that I keep on the counter.

So now I have it.

Except that it take about two and a half minutes to make a cup of coffee (one minute to fill the filter with ground coffee, tamp it down, wash hands, and load the machine.) Usually another 30 seconds is required to wipe the coffee grounds off the counter, “re-organize” it, and rinse the previous filter.

In essence, the convenience of the Keuring is gone. The variety of coffee blends on hand is greatly reduced. There is some mess to clean up. And almost three minutes is required for a single cup of coffee.

The only advantage I see to the Keuring system is the ability to get a fresh cup of coffee in a fairly short period of time, and the coffee making ritual is restored. Oh, and now the cost per cup is well under $0.20.

Having said all the above, I believe I may return in time to the old fashioned way of making coffee in drip brewer and drink slightly stale coffee most of the time.  (Is that vague enough?)

Am I missing something here?

Join Me in Dissing Google

I am not one to get riled up very often.

But this morning, while reading the Wall Street Journal, I came across the article at this link:
 
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225380456599176.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

The article says that Google has been, secretly I assume, inserting code into the Safari web browser that allows Google to bypass the privacy settings you have set on your browser and track your browsing habits.  Apparently the Safari browser in iPhones and iPads is the primary target of Google's mischief.

I value my privacy.  Not that anyone would want to track the browsing habits of a person my age and lifestyle -  I belong to a very small market segment - but I still value my privacy.  Google has invaded that, probably not  for the first time.

Fighting back, I switched my primary search engine to Bing, and will in time close my gmail account, and quit using Google calendar as the way to synchronize between my iPhone and iPad.

Now I know Google will not feel the impact of my change.  If a groundswell of public opinion turns against Google though, perhaps they will feel the impact.

Rise up Americans!

A New Leaf

For the last few years I have been hanging out, lazy, not working hard, drinking too much coffee...

Something changed in me over the last two weeks though, and I am energized to do more, stretch myself, get busy. Not the stretch of 20 to 30 years ago, but a kinder, gentler stretch appropriate for my age. Tearing around the country on airplanes no longer excites me!

Why, all of a sudden, am I doing this? I know, and will let you wonder.

Missing the satisfaction felt in the past, perhaps, is a driver. A little more money and feeling good about myself, are also drivers.

In addition to advising and mentoring owners of small businesses, I will seek engagements in business research and analysis. Frankly, I am an excellent business analyst. I enjoy the work and feel good about my ability. I'm not quitting as a small business advisor and mentor. In fact, in the next month to six weeks I will present a workshop for business owners. (Get your tickets now!)

Life offers more than hanging out and being lazy. I will grab some!

Comments and suggestions are invited.

My Diabetic Dog

Have you ever lived with a diabetic dog?

Neither had I until about six months ago, at which time my dog Combo was diagnosed with diabetes. She had been moping around a little, not keeping up on hikes, looking bad (according to neighbors) and just plain “off” a little. I also noticed the water bowls needed filling much more frequently than in the past, a diabetes symptom but something I had assumed was because of the hot weather.

After the neighbor's comment, and thinking about the water she drank, I took Combo to the vet. A test revealed sky-high glucose readings in her blood, and so I started living with and treating a diabetic dog.

Essentially that means giving her insulin shots every 12 h ours, jabbing her before breakfast to draw blood, testing it in a meter, and feeding her expensive prescription food.

Between the cost of syringes, insulin, test strips and food, the bill runs about $80 to $100 a month. That is after the original expense of some $600 for the veterinarian, including various blood and urine testing, weekly blood tests while we adjusted her insulin dose, exams and whatever. The glucose test meter was kindly given to me by a neighbor whose diabetic dog had died from the disease. Otherwise another $150 or so would have been needed.

Cost aside, Combo, approaching her eighth birthday, now is more or less her normal self – and that in itself justifies the cost.  She is a great friend, and would be sorely missed if she was not with me.  And, after all, when I bought her at the animal shelter in Arizona, I agreed to take care of her (for better, for worse, etc.)

Now, she squeaks only about once every two weeks when I inject insulin, and no longer hides behind the bed when I get the glucose meter from the drawer.

I have arranged my schedule to be home for her shots every twelve hours.  That is the hardest part of the program!

But Combo is good, and we are happy.

The Haircut in the Mirror

This morning I showered, dried, and looked in the mirror at my new haircut.

What a disaster.

This haircut will not heal in three days.  It will take at least two weeks.

Where did I go wrong?  Starting, I expect.

As said in sports, "Wait 'til next time."

The Haircut

This evening, after being in need of a haircut for several weeks, I did it myself.

For me, it is easy; get out the electric clippers; go over the whole head with the #6 standoff, then the sides and back with #5, then the very edges with #4; use the very short standoff to almost shave the top of my head; and then cut the sideburns level, and around the ears, with scissors.

The whole job takes about 12 minutes.  

The haircut looks all right, and those parts of it that don't look so good will look fine after three days.

The humbling, disappointing part of the procedure is cleaning up.  There is so little hair to sweep. 

Where has it gone?

Schroedinger's Cat

This is a very funny bumper sticker for physicists, quantum mathematicians, rocket scientists, and other indeterminate people.  Albert Einstein probably would not like it.

if I post it

and none one sees it

is it really there?

The Consulting World

Years ago I earned a nice income from consulting.  I left that world, though, in 2003 when offered the job as CFO of a small electronic components company.  It did not take long for me to realize, again, that going to the office, at more or less the same time every day, did little to stimulate or satisfy my psyche.

It took a good bit longer for me to decide to leave the company, which I did three years later.  Then I moved to Denver, and then Boulder, assuming my consulting practice could be re-started without much problem. 

Bad assumption!

First, although I had good contacts in Phoenix, I had practically none in Boulder and Denver.  Second, I seemed to have grown considerable older, and only slightly smarter.  Third, 90% of the executives to whom I was introduced were about 25 years younger than me.  And then, I finally realized, finding consulting engagements at age 65+ is even more difficult than finding a good job at that age.

I did find low priced, somewhat uninteresting work.  Nothing else came my way.

After simplifying my lifestyle, reducing expenses, keeping the old car, etc. I was able to live on the work I could get, plus a boost from Social Security.  Not being very busy, I felt semi-retired.

Most people thought I had either fully retired or otherwise disappeared.

Now I am moving out of semi-retirement.  No, not to full retirement, but back into the fray as a consultant.  We old farts have the advantage of great business wisdom, and I will promote it.

The focus: Business Intelligence.   No, unlike Military Intelligence, an oxymoron, Business Intelligence is information, systematically collected and analyzed, and provided to clients of all sorts for all sorts of purposes. Is that vague enough?

If after six months I am still not busy and continue to work for low fees, I promise to fully retire, burn my shingle, and go live with family or friends.

Any suggestions, other than "Don't do it." are welcome.  Referrals are even better.

Your good wishes will boost my morale.

More on Aging or Ageing in UK

aging or ageing (UK)
sometimes graceful, sometimes not
so?

as age creeps up

so does waistline

no matter how fought

new glasses seeing well

well, better anyway

no more 20/15

taste and smell senses gone

food blah dogs have no odor

maybe I need a shower?

if only I could
run fast like before, but

the legs go first

what little hair remains

is gray

no, silver

years in the desert sun

face creased like Grand Canyon

me, "weathered" not old

years ago hiking

up and down the hills

now, down only

dance the night away

whew

tiring

naps restore my mind

so please don't mind

my afternoon silences

hearing well

but

sometimes not listening

Later Model Wheels

Over the last three months I have agonized over spending money on my old car versus trading it in for a later, different model.

The latter won. Last week I traded my trusty but lately unreliable, 10 year old, fast and fun car, when running, for a three year newer vehicle.

The not so new one, a 2005 Subaru Forester, like the old car, is fun to drive too, in a different way. I doubt it will go 105 mph like my old one, but it will go in the snow, unlike my old one. The old car had leather seats and many fancy options, but took two or three tries to get into my garage. The Forester, the plain version, has cloth seats and goes into the garage the first try.

In all, the trade-off makes sense. People my age should not drive 105mph. I will miss that excitement, and may live a little longer for missing it. I also may live a little longer by having all wheel drive. Living in Colorado it makes sense to have a car that goes in the snow. I remember the 360 degree turn I spun through on packed, slick snow in the old car. Now that was exciting. However, I would rather not do that again, and perhaps the Forester will keep me from it.

Also remembered is the terrible drive over Berthoud Pass in a storm, making it safely through a white-knuckle trip in the old two wheel drive, rear wheel drive vehicle without a positive drive axle. I saw no cars for an hour as I crept through the pass. Fortunately I learned snow driving at a young age, otherwise I may still be in the wrecked car at the bottom of some embankment of the Berthoud Pass road. Should I get into that winter driving situation again, in the Forester, I will fear no evil. Frankly, I would rather not get into the situation.

I will not miss filling the old car's gas tank, every 10 days, for $50 or more. I will enjoy filling the Forester on about the same schedule, but for $35. 

The dogs like the new vehicle. The rear space is adequate, and lower to the ground, making for easier injumping (is that a word?). From time to time Cue, my 78 pound Chocolate Lab, refuses the jump, like a horse in a jumping show, and I lift her into the car. Maybe I won't need to do that so often. And the lift IS shorter. She is not lighter though.

So, if all goes well, the Forester will last at least 10 years.

I will too.

If a tree falls in the forest

if tree falls in the

forest but no one hears it

did it make noise?

if I post it

and none one reads it

is it really there?

Glasses, What Glasses?

Three months ago I bought two new pairs of eyeglasses.  Of the two, one is my favorite.

Last evening, as I started out with the dogs for their evening duty run, I realized my favorites were on my face.  Not willing to risk losing them in the dark as I bend to do my pickup duty after the dogs have done their other duty, I took them off, leaned back through the door and put them on the chair just inside the door, making a serious mental note not to sit on them when dogs and I returned.

You know the rest.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Top of mind, never.  

Yes, I sat on them.  Mangled them.

my glasses rested
upon the chair
I sat on them
to my despair

So, in front of a mirror, with needle-nose pliers, the repairs took 20 minutes.

Now, if I tilt my head a little off center, the glasses look straight.

The Giant's Fall

No, this is not about football and the New York Giants.

This is about the fall of the great Eastman Kodak Company.  The company, founded in 1880, that was for so long the king of film photography; the company that introduced the Kodak Brownie camera in 1900; the company that developed the first digital camera and could have marketed it in 1993, but did not; and the company that lost its way when the paradigm changed from film to digital photography, today filed for bankruptcy.

I could philosophize about changing paradigms, and how companies deeply entrenched in the old paradigm, usually are not the leaders in the new paradigm.  But I will not.

Kodak drew me into photography.  The Kodak Brownie was my first camera (not in 1900, but in the late 1940's.)  The Brownie introduced me to amateur photography.  I can remember using my Brownie, shooting through the window, early in my photography life, taking a photo of snow piled high on tree branches.  That was in January, 1949.  I remember the picture, and the month and year, because the camera was a gift, and with it I took every possible picture!  If I dig deeply enough in old boxes I may even find the picture.

In college, with a more sophisticated Kodak camera, I met the late Joel Levinson.  Our shared interest in photography may have been the initial bond as Joel and I became close friends for life.  (Joel became an truly fine photographer, leaving me far behind.  He had an artistic eye, great camera skill, and a deft processing technique.)

Since then I have owned many other cameras, processed my own black and white film, and produced a few good pictures.  Kodak drew me in. 

My thanks to them.  I am saddened to see them bankrupt.

New Pay Scale for Congress

Public approval of Congress' performance is very low, still, at 16%, according to a new Washington Post-AP News poll.

I didn't realize it was that high.

Because of their very low rating, I suggest we pay our Senators and Representatives differently.

This should work: continue to give them their already bloated salaries, with these non-performance based reductions to salary:

• each salary reduced 1% for each unfilled judgeship or federal attorney position.
• each salary reduced 2% for each appointment needing Congressional approval not voted up or down within 30 days.
• 5% reduction for any Congressman/Congresswoman inserting an earmark into a bill.
• 5% reduction for any Congresswoman/Congressman for amendments to legislation that have nothing to do with the original bill.
• 2% reduction for any Congressman/Congresswoman for each negative re-election campaign comment, advertisement or media commercial
• 5% reduction for a Congresswoman/Congressman for each unfilled campaign promise
• 1% reduction for the number of staff members over 30.
• if the deduction exceeds 30%, disallow to the specific Congress member all payments for entertainment and travel.
• If the total deduction exceeds 70%, the Congress member will not be allowed to seek re-election.

I believe you see the direction of the new salary program.  If correctly written our Senators and Representatives will earn little or no pay, and perhaps will owe us money at the end of their term.  Very few will qualify to return to Congress, giving us a chance to elect a new bunch of losers.

Of course they could become "Congressional," and do something.

Old Age and Fishing

Old Age

being elderly

has many benefits

remind me please

my children believe

I fought in the war

Civil War that is

how did grocery bags

become

so heavy

the hills are alive

but much

steeper now

I have a mind

like a steel

whatchamacallit

absent mindedness

fills my day

hunting for my glasses

I thought I would die

young but fooled

myself I think

I know almost

everything,

as if in my teens

Hold that thought

oops

gone for the day

not losing things

but sometimes

don't know where they are

aging gracefully a myth

definitely

not for sissies

Fishing

spotting large trout

makes exciting fishing

but it swam away

caught a big one

no one saw it,

much bigger now

one windy day

I caught two fish

eleven trees

fly cast with care

drifting drifting splash

caught that one

fish and company

stink

after three days

falling in the stream

not so bad

just cold

Flyfishing and golf

similar activities

sometimes frustrating

mountain streams

breathtaking beauty

nature at its best

hiking a stream

catching a few fish

refreshes the soul

my son and I

fish together

bonding tightly

daughter, granddaughter

fish too

a joy to teach

The Case of the Disappearing Handerchiefs

Some old people, including me, continue to use handkerchiefs.  Most people do not, but I always have, and probably always will.

The mystery of the disappearing handkerchiefs started when I noticed that I was low on handkerchiefs.  That happens from time to time because sometimes I use one for a rag, or one rips, or gets lost.  The latter is a minor mystery but not the topic of this post.

Noticing I needed more, I bought three.  A few weeks later the puzzle returned when I found I was very low again.

So, I bought six more, and counting them, found 11 total.  Within three weeks I discovered only five still circulated.  What is going on...?

A few days later, Cue, my chocolate lab, happened to throw up, on the patio fortunately for her.  Throwing up in the house is a serious no no, bad dog.  Examining this mess, from a distance, I detected a blue stripe in it.  Continuing the examination, from a distance, with a stick, I found the remains of one handkerchief, complete with blue stripe.  Continuing the examination from closer in, I detected another handkerchief, this one a complete white one.

Yuk.

Mystery solved!  Cue likes handkerchiefs and she pulls them from the laundry basket, and eats them.  What a dog!

Now I put dirty handkerchiefs in a stuff sack hanging high in my closet.  If I am careful not to leave one somewhere lower, I have no further problem.

But Cue, apparently still hungry, now pulls paper from the recycle bin and eats it.  Combo, my other dog, has started doing the same. 

What will be next?

The Spice of Life

Remember the beautiful days we had last Sunday, and yesterday. Clear, sunny, so very pleasant.

Today we are reminded we live in Colorado, at 5430 feet of elevation, and it is winter. Temperature now 22, still a little snow falling, with wind and cold forecast for later and tomorrow. As I said in an earlier post, it's part of the Spice of Life.

Which brings me to my real subject.

Having been in the business world since 1958 (no, not 1908 as my children seem to believe.) In that time I have learned that there are three basic business person types: those that love to start a project/business and grow it; those that like to take over the business as it matures and “run” it ; and those that enjoy the process of winding down, finishing, closing up a project/business.

We need all three types.

For me, I am a “starter.” My brother, slightly older than me, is a “runner.” I have worked with others who are “finishers,” who excel at dismantling or closing up projects/businesses.

In my case, as a starter, I love learning about, planning and organizing a project or business.

Then I love to turn it over to others who are “doers.” They get the project done, or the business going. As a “doer” I am dismal.

Sometimes it is hard being a starter. For example, within my 31-year-old consulting firm, SixPillars Research Group, we have been merger and acquisition intermediaries (7 years); business researchers (on and off for 20 years); strategic planning experts (on and off for 30 years); business valuation experts (7 years) leading consultants in the medical imaging business (4 years); and business mentors and small business advisers (5 years). Obviously, some activities overlapped others. In addition, off and on for about ten years I was a speaker at meetings and conventions, and for four years wrote a column in a statewide business newspaper.

In other words, I know a little about a whole lot of subjects. Master of none?

Unfortunately, that is not a good way to earn money. Perhaps that is why I have very little of the aforementioned. Had I stayed in any one of the many fields, I would now be a recognized expert, probably busy, and with a fair income. Perhaps even retired.

For me, the spice of life, the constant change, is a lifestyle. I am happy with it. I accept the consequence, always looking for more.

What kind of person are you? Are you happy with it?

If not, consider spicing up you life with change.

Happy Trails.

Colorado throws magnificent days at us from time to time, and today (Sunday) was one of them.

Saturday an inch or so of snow fell, Saturday night was cold and clear, today the thermometer hovers near 32 degrees, the sun shines intensely, and the wind is calm. 

Perfect!

The dogs and I took a walk – about three miles in open space where the they allowed off-leash, only a little ice shows itself; the snow soft; and the mud frozen. 

Perfect!

Combo

Cue

Combo, a seriously mixed mutt (or as she prefers, “One of a kind,”) and Cue, a chocolate lab my daughter resCUEd and gave to me, seem to love these walks. They stay near me, usually, because I carry a bit of their dog foods for rewards when they occasionally obey a command. They do not obey instructions all the time, especially if something especially obnoxious becomes available to roll in, or if the scent  of anything possibly edible wafts through the air. (Even more obnoxious is the gunk that Combo rolls in and Cue eats.  Yuk!)

My dogs are my pals.  Of course I have people pals too.  Not like the dogs though.  I grew up with dogs - they are part of my life. 

Almost perfect!

My iPhone captured several pictures along the way. One is a panorama of the Flatirons, our local mountains. You won't need descriptions of the other shots, and yes, those black things in the lower photo really are cows.

The Flatirons

The road

Happy trails.

An Amazing Result

I had an interesting accident on December 24^th.  Naturally, most people don't think of accidents as interesting. I didn't either, when it happened.

Now I do.

Specifically, I fell on my butt after slipping on ice. Even more specifically, the left cheek. Then I stood up, and did it again. Apparently I am sometimes a slow learner.

The falls did not hurt (well, my dignity hurt a little.) I was quick to look around to make sure no one saw them, and then, reassured of that, went on my way.

Now comes the interesting part.

I have had problems with my left hip and leg. After five cortisone shots in the back and hip, one MRI, several x-rays, and five doctors, the pain was diagnosed, finally correctly, as being referred pain from an arthritic sacroiliac joint. A last shot of cortisone calmed it down, and I slowly improved for over a year. But not all the pain disappeared, and my odd gait persisted.

On December 25, though, I realized that all the pain was gone from my left hip and thigh. On the 26^th I took a hard, fast walk for about an hour, striding out for the first time in several years, and nothing hurt. Today I went for the fourth hard walk, with no pain.

So, the accident of the 24^th has been moved from the “fall on ice” category to the “miraculous hip joint re-alignment procedure” category.

Whatever happened on either the first or second left cheek event, or perhaps cumulatively from each, straightened me out. The odd gait I mentioned is gone. I take long steps again.

Absolutely amazing.

It's the best news for me in years, and even better, there is no medical cost. (No one saw me, so no dignity cost either.)

Medicare will love this.

Simplifying

It is a long story.

Some of the stitching in one of my new slippers started unraveling.  So I decided to restitch it.  Seems simple, doesn't it?

Well....  I looked in my "stuff" drawer for needle and thread.  The drawer was such a mess, I could not find what I needed.

Because I am moving out of this rented condo late in the summer I decided, some time ago, to start simplifying life, weeding out the unused and possibly even unwanted possessions.  So, the "stuff" drawer seemed like a good place to start.

About an hour later I had found 17 lip balm sticks, cans or jars.  Three watches and one half of a watch band (just in case I needed it.)  Five lens cleaning cloths, ten spools of thread, two sewing kits, seven Chums/Croakies eyeglass holders, about ten shoe and boot laces, a lanyard, easily a hundred safety pins of assorted sizes and two dozen assorted buttons.  See below for some of the cache.

The odd thing about all this is that I don't wear a watch, have not sewn anything for at least three years, can't possibly use more than one or two lip thingies, and certainly don't need all three watches and half a watch band.  I will not even comment about the safety pins and buttons.

After removing most of the above, the "stuff" drawer looks great.  Except for one spool of thread, two lip balms thingies, two watches (why?), one sewing kit and various other things, it is practically empty.

Next will be my sock drawer.  What treasures could possibly await me?  I know my ten-year-old GPS is there, and my two-way radio (unused since I moved to Colorado six plus years ago, is there.  Also the small transistor radio I bought in Arizona in case of a long-term power failure (as in nuclear attack.) Are all radios now transistor radios?  Socks too.

Does anyone want a lip balm thingie?  Or a watch?  Spools of thread?  Half a watch band?

Oh, by the way, I finally did stitch up my slipper.  It looks odd, of course, but is staying stitched.

K-cups Versus Recycling

K-cups are wonderful.

They make good coffee. Quickly, without a mess. They are easy to store.

Unfortunately...

They don't recycle.

The cup is a non-recyclable plastic. The coffee inside doesn't recycle. The aluminum foil lid does, but that is all.

Once again we gain convenience while draining the resources of the world.

However...

Let's insist on having K-cups we can compost. Of course, the coffee inside the K-cup is already compostable. If the cup itself, and the lid, were made of compostable material, we could throw the whole thing into a compost pile and make something useful of it.

I am sending a letter to coffee companies and to K-cup manufacturers and fillers.

Americans, unite, rise up, insist on compostable K-cups!

PS: My spell-checker does not include compostable or compostible. Suggestions?