Homecoming 2007

Here is my baby girl, Leah, with Mike and Jenn, all ready for the Homecoming of 2007. They looked great! I have more pictures, but have to get them developed -- these are some quick digital ones I took so you wouldn't have to wait ;-) I know these are small - click on them for a full-size view.

52stories Updates

I've started a writing only blog where I'm keeping all the stuff I write, or links, so I probably won't list them here anymore unless something cool happens ;-)

The other site is john.ribar.org.

Medical Stuff

It turns out I have a couple of issues that the doc is going to work with me on. One is pre-diabetes, which mostly means I need to eat right and exercise and lose a bunch of weight, or I might become really diabetic. The other problem is shown below...

Cardiomegally

Definition: Cardiomegally is when the heart enlarges in size. This is measured by chest xray and also by echocardiogram. Cardiomegally has a number of causes and it is usually
insidious, meaning that it occurs over a long period of time. (My doctor says it often occurs when people are on high blood pressure medication over a long period of time, like me...)

Therapy: Therapy is aimed at stopping the progression of the cardiomegally and in treating the ensueing heart failure.

It is imperative to stay away from stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines because these drugs will make the problem progress much quicker. (Like this will be a problem for me ;-)

If Problems: Problems will be associated with the symptoms of heart failure, such as the lungs filling up with fluid and shortness of breath. When this occurs, one must seek medical attention to determine the best therapy.

52stories 1.10

This one is really short. The picture shows a serene mountain lake. I had been battling pneumonia all week, after doing the 3-day Novel Contest the previous weekend. This is what I came up with. I think it will make a good story to expand at NaNoWriMo...

Another Pic from Youth Trip

This picture should be added to the discussion of our trip to Ohio. I already have the really nice face shot of Lesa, but I think this one shows how relaxed we were...

New Roses

This is Lizzies new rose. It is an heirloom white rose, growing up the side of our chimney. It hasn't done real well this year due to the lack of water, but seemed to give us a nice last minute bloom before the end.

Tree gurus?

Anyone know what kind of tree this is? Hickory maybe?

Mike S. thinks it is a Gum tree, perhaps a Sweet Gum tree. He says the hanging things are named after part of a monkey ;-)

Excellence is a Choice

Intelligent and insightful comment goes here :-)

52stories 1.08

Ok, this is the one you've been waiting for ;-)

This week, our picture was a little store on an old street, with crates of fresh veggies and fruits all stacked in front of the store.

One of the other writers had mentioned trying to write a single story, and incorporating the weekly pictures. Taking that to heart, I wrote a story that tied my last several together.

The story, How Many Stories?, is available here.

52stories 1.07

This week's writing assignment was a picture of an airline ticket to Paris. My resulting story, Mightier than the Sword, is here.

Leadership "Qualities"

Someone once asked me if I'd seen my boss angry before. There are two times that I remember him in a mood, that speak more of his leadership qualities than his anger. After all, everyone gets angry. But not everyone knows how to, or should, lead.

1. A few months after I started here, he called all the senior developers in a room. We had a lot of work to do, and several projects were behind. He took the opportunity to inspire us by berating each person, giving them personal attention as to their problems, and what they were doing wrong. Then he left the room, to allow us to come up with a solution "to make him happy."

2. After my wife found out she had cancer, and then had the nasty blood clot, I had to spend some time at home watching the kids, and at the hospital. The boss called me to the office of his legal beagle, and said that maybe I should consider backing out of my contract, and staying home to watch my wife. What an offer! Take away my job and my benefits, to save him the cost of a contract. Please note that all the time I took was as sick time or vacation - I did not miss any days of work "for free."

I recently read "Atlas Shrugged", which talks a lot about working for people who you cannot believe in. Working in a way that is degrading to yourself, because of what you are allowing to happen, all in the name of a job. A friend of mine just went to a leadership seminar, and it spoke of the same thing, calling it a "shadow mission" - a mission that is mostly along the lines to your goal, but just far enough away to keep you from getting there.

I guess you'll have to wait to see how I write my way out of this one.

52Stories 1.06

My latest little story is a fairy tale about the tooth fairy. The picture we were given was of a pocket watch, which in the story turns out to be ... oops. Maybe you just need to read MayBelle here.

A Cool Tree

Is this a cool tree, or what?! I sent this from my phone, while I was looking for a place to write the other day. I love the patterns and colors.

Writing Books

Here is a list of the writing books I've read, separated by whether or not they were of help to a beginning author. I'll try to write some mini-reviews for some of these, that have been the most helpful, over the next few weeks.

Good Writing Books

• Zen in the Art of Writing - Ray Bradbury
• On Writing - Stephen King
• Sometimes the Magic Works - Terry Brooks
• By Cunning and Craft - Selgin
• Stein on Writing - Sol Stein
• No Plot? No Problem! - Chris Baty - NaNoWriMo Guide
• How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy - Orson Scott Card
• From Where You Dream
• Tom Bird's Writing Method book
• Creative Writing self-hypnosis audio from ...
• 
  ... to be continued ...

Not-As-Good Writing Books

• Fondling Your Muse - Warner. Comedy - maybe. Good for writing - no!

A Different Salad

This is from a restaurant in Industry, CA. They only have one selection for salads -- you get a bowl of this recipe, and a bowl of green salad with blue cheese. I liked them best together, but they are good side by side as well.

1/2 head red cabbage, finely shredded
1/2 cup veg oil
1/2 c plus 2 Tbl red wine vinegar
3 Tbl sugar
2 tsp salt
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp onion powder

Mix and let rest together in the fridge for best flavor blend.

Graham Crackers and Peanut Butter

Noah, Nico and I played with graham crackers and peanut butter today, trying to build something impressive.

Nico built a tent, then surrounded it with a box, which he promptly ate. This was Noah's place, complete with tv, chair, and fireplace! Mine was more of a sculpture/art work, and didn't need a place here ;-)

Our Little Back Yard

Our backyard is small, pretty, and simple to care for! By the way, it really IS small - the tree line is the end of our yard- the white barn on the right is the neighbor's!

Lesa thinks this looks like a picture from a magazine, which gives a lot of hope when we look at the real thing. Not much space for kid stuff, but at least they make friends quickly!

Script Frenzy winner!

I forgot to mention what happened with Script Frenzy (in June). Well, I was a winner! I wrote a 20,000+ word play in a month. I haven't gone back to edit it yet, or figured out what to do with it ;-) but I completed it!

It is a story about murder and intrique in the fairy tale universe. Well, not really murder, but James T. Wolf is accused of killed Red Riding Hood, the sister of Goldilocks, who secretly wants wolf for herself, but works with Peter Pigg (the oldest of the three) to try to frame James, who has actually left to elope with Red. Attorneys Hogg (fourth pig) and Abe Lincoln try their case in front of Judge Jack Horner, and a variety of characters testify in this twisted case.

This link might work, if you want to read it. If not, go to pc.celtx.com and search for ljrpicasso. Don't worry that the word count is under 20,000 - their counting algorithm is different. Two other counters, including the official ScriptFrenzy count, had it at the correct length.

Blackened Catfish Nuggets

We went to the grocery store yesterday, and the seafood department was handing out samples of their cajun catfish. It was delicious! But it was also $5.99 per pound, on sale! I looked around in their case, looking for something I could use as a substitute, and saw the catfish nuggets were only $2.69 a pound. This was much more palatable. I bought a couple pounds and went home to figure out what to do with them.

I found a recipe on the web that had been passed down for generations. Worth a try, I figured. I modified it a little, as is my normal way, and OH MY GOODNESS! I've never done catfish at home before, and this was truly amazing. I certainly won't take all the claim for this one, but I was happy to be the one manning the skillet. You might want to try this one - delicious spicy flavor, but not too spicy. Not fishy at all, which is good for my tastes. And the catfish has a less-flaky feel than most fish - Nico kept thinking it was chicken.

So here is the recipe we ended up with. Let me know if you try it.

4 servings

1 lb catfish nuggets, or boneless fillets
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp parsley flakes
1/4 or 1/2 tsp cayenne (this is the heat - adjust accordingly ;-)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
butter or oil (for cooking)

1. Note: you must use butter or oil, or bacon grease. Margarine will not work. I used a mixture of bacon grease, butter, and olive oil, which gives a great flavor and the ability to work at high temperatures.
2. A large cast iron skillet works best. There may be a lot of smoke, so be sure to turn on your fan or open a window.
3. Mix all dry ingredients together in a gallon-size ziploc bag.
4. Put the nuggets into the bag, and shake to coat well.
5. Put the butter and/or oil in the skillet and heat until hot.
6. Put the nuggets in the skillet. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side.
7. Change the butter or oil if it gets too black.

We doubled this recipe and fed six of us with leftovers. We made a nice tartar sauce and some cole slaw (recipe on the side of the bag), both which helped cut the heat for the kids.

The original recipe is from James Naron, found on recipezaar.com. I cut back the salt and cayenne, and added the panko for a nice crispy texture on the nuggets. The original recipe was also for catfish fillets - the nuggets was our idea, and probably works about the same.

52Stories 1.05

This week, our picture was of a little red building on a dock. I came up with two ideas, and they said I could post both.

John - "I don't want to be overzealous, or expect this often, but I was struck
by two very different story ideas with the 1.05 picture. Can we do multiple
submissions? If not, I'll have to just guess which I like better, and save the
other one for my grandkids ;-)"

Tom (response) - "John - Yes, you can
submit as many stories as you'd like for each photo. Drew and I thought that one
per week was asking too much, but if you can write more than that, well. . .that
would be terrific! Thanks."

Drew (response) - "As for having more than
one story idea for a photo: All I can say is, "Lucky!" When The Muse whispers
sweet nothings in your ear, take full advantage of the opportunity. Sometimes,
she's damned hard to find."

So, giving the muse her due, I wrote two.

The first is about two guys in a travelling summer house who end up in the wrong place - A Small Miscalculation.

The second is about a surprise gift, a new Retirement Home.

Weekend Trip

 
Lesa and I drove some of our young women to the Kirtland, OH area this weekend to visit several of the LDS church historical sites. We had a really good time, as you can tell by this picture ;-)

Leah and Logan went as well. We got to visit the Kirtland temple, the LDS visitor center, the Morley farm, and the Johnson farm. We left from our house at 3:30 Friday morning, and got back around 6:30 on Saturday.

More later.

Zucchini Bread

Servings: Two loaves
Preparation Time: 1.5 hours

Ingredients
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. oil
3 eggs
3 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. grated zucchini
3 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Cooking Instructions:
Beat sugar, oil and eggs. Add zucchini and vanilla. Blend dry ingredients with first mixture. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 for one hour.

Source: Backpacker Magazine #17

Notes
This is the best one! This is the one we grew up with -- I found the recipe in Backpacker magazine, and Mom made it from then on!

52 stories - 1.04

I've started writing stories for 52stories.net - a website that posts a picture each week to get your writing started; you write a story by Friday at 5 and submit it for comments.

Last week's picture was a black and white image of a pool. Read my story, Black & White, and the comments here.

What is the problem with software support?

This was written in response to my boss' request for ideas to help fix support at our organization. Maybe harsher than I wanted, but pretty straightforward.

---

What is the problem with support? It is very simple. With the very rare exceptions, People Don't Care. It's not their job. There is no incentive. No one wants the responsibility, the extra burden with no reward. But add a small incentive if you want - if people still don't care, it won't make a difference.

We write software as a one-off for each site. Pretend that we have an off-the-shelf package if you want, but then explain why there is one person who "knows" each site. We might use common tools, but even they are modified regularly. How can you even move to a full-time, independent support staff unless it is manned by the people that did the work, unless you finally get to a more stable, re-useable package? And how can this happen when Ken, Barry, John, Gen, Carl, etc., all want to do things there own way?

Idea 1. Add a person that is in charge of each product. Make every project go to this person as a consultant to force reuse of code and concepts.

Idea 2. Have the tech writer put together matching documentation for each project, so that people can find things when their needed, and so sections that are common from site to site can actually be re-used.

Idea 3. Have a training person that teaches the same use and concepts for each site. Have them work with the client over the first few weeks to build a decision tree of common diagnostics, FAQs, and so forth. These will also help the operators determine when they can fix things themselves, or really need to make a call for real support.

Idea 4. Build a tool that stores the functions of our system as database records. For each record, have a general description, a sales description, a more detailed write-up with full step-by-step instructions for common uses, and finally a diagnostic paper that helps look for problems. Allow a designer/installer to select the functions that are in use at a specific site, and have the tool generate context sensitive help, an on-line manual, and a ready-to-customize Word document for the functions that are included. This provides all the basics, and then gives a good starting point for the final documentation, as well as enforcing common descriptions, etc.

Idea 5. Fix the morale. Knowing the company is doing good, or even great, is not much of a boost when you know it will never mean anything to you. For instance, our company typically gives raises in May, whether or not reviews have been done. This year, there was no mention. Was I one who didn't receive anything, or was it another thing swept under the carpet with the merger. Unless I am the only one who didn't receive anything, people are probably wondering. What answer to this will raise morale when the company is doing very well, and we're having trouble retaining good people in our department?

Need more?

Grandma Smart's Turkey Sandwich Sauce

Servings:1 pint
Preparation Time:0.25 hours

Ingredients
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 c. sugar
1 heaping Tbl. flour
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 c. cider vinegar
1/2 c. water

Cooking Instructions
Beat the eggs. Add sugar.In seperate bowl, mix flour and mustard. Mix well. Add vinegar and water. Mix well.Add to eggs and sugar. Add salt and pepper to taste.Bring to a boil, and then simmer until it thickens (which doesn't seem to take too long). Add 1 well-rounded Tbl of butter when it cools.Refrigerate until you are ready to make the sandwiches. We always had them with turkey slices, lettuce, salt, and lots of sauce!

Source: Grandma Arvilla Smart

Notes I make a double batch, and it about fits a quart Mason jar. This way I can keep it sealed. This has a flavor similar to a Pennsylvania Dutch sweet and sour salad dressing, and we're going to try it on salads next. But the real memory is all those years, when Grandma would make us a bag full of turkey sandwiches, for our trip back home, slathered with this delicious sauce. Enjoy!

Grandma Smart's French Dressing

Servings: 1 quart
Preparation Time: 0.25 hours
Ingredients
1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp paprika
4-5 pieces garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic salt
small diced onion
1-2 Tbl worchestershire sauce
1/2 c sugar
3/4 c vinegar
1 c salad oil

Cooking Instructions
Beat with a beater so the oil won't separate.

Source:Gramma Smart (who got it from Bud Wenker)

Penny Rich

Here's a pet peeve...

In the cafeteria in our office sits a refrigerator, with a freezer on top. The freezer is equiped with the necessary connections for an ice maker. The refrigerator sits next to the sink.

The obvious choice would be to connect the ice maker, and give everyone the ability to get ice on a regular basis. Our management had a better idea.

They bought 8 small ice cube trays. This in itself took some training, because they need to be stacked in alternating directions, or they nest together and all the water is pressed out. But after a few weeks, most of the employees had figured it out.

Now, when I go for ice, I am met by 8 empty ice trays, stacked nicely. Obviously, I should use my time, billed out at $150 an hour, to stop and fill these trays, and then come back again in a few hours, hoping that they are frozen but not yet drained by the untrained hordes.

Ten minutes to refill and place the trays in the freezer. Twice a week, fifty weeks a year.

Certainly, this is cheaper than the $40 needed to hook up an ice maker. And definately a morale booster, as I rethink the value that must be placed on my time...

I should be writing.

Where Did He Go?

Long ago and far, far away... I forgot to update my blog. Too much happens, too much to write about, and writing takes that back seat. Somehow, that doesn't seem right.

Okay, the girls got back from girl's camp, well refreshed. Then we went to Wisconsin and had a great time. I took the bus from Minneapolis to Indianapolis, and Lesa and Leah drove to meet me there at Matt's. Matt and April had a new baby boy on Tuesday (Max!), Lesa and crew arrived late Wednesday, and I got there Thursday afternoon. Left Friday morning for Montello, after getting to meet the new baby!

Had fun in Montello. Got to see all the buffalo's, got to see the Madison 4th of July celebration (Rhythm and Booms), and even figured out a quicker way out of the park. Bought a bunch of cheeses, had a couple cookouts at Jerry and Joan's, and visited lots with Grandma, Aunt Carolyn, and Uncle Jerry's crew.

On the 5th, we went to Indiana Dunes, and met Matt and his kids. Spent a couple hours in the sun and sand on a postcard perfect day. Then drove to Indy for a pizza buffet and a good night's sleep. Friday we drove home.

It happens far too quickly. And feels too good there to want to come back to the reality that waits here at home. But I think everyone had a good time.

About the bus trip... I will post my notes soon ;-) It was a very interesting night. The reputation that buses have is still well deserved, but it really wasn't all that bad.

Good News and Bad News

It's interesting that so much good news and bad news come together. Maybe it's the silver lining philosophy at work. Previously, I talked about my flat tire, and finding a brand new, full-size tire in the truck.

But in the last few days, I called my dad and step-dad (for Father's Day), and got good and bad from them as well.

Dad has been diagnosed with diabetes (bad news), but as part of it has lost over 50 pounds (good). He says he was 281 when Katrina hit, and is now under 225.

Ted's kidneys have stopped working, so he now goes to dialysis three times a week (bad), but he too had lost over 50 pounds (good).

And Lesa, while the cancer is certainly considered bad, has been able to spend a lot of time re-evaluating her life and priorities, and feels a lot better because of where she's ended up.

Now, if I could find the silver lining with my job situation, I'd be a happy camper. I'm reading Atlas Shrugged (by Ayn Rand; I'll post a review later), and it seems very similar to my situation - people who refuse to think for themselves, and instead try to live off the brains of others... I'm sure I'll talk a lot more about this later.

Flat Tires and Rain Storms

Yesterday was an interesting day. The girls are off at girls camp, so I woke up without someone next to me... not a big thing, I suppose, but it just seems strange.

On the way to work, there was a bunch of work on the highway, so I got off and took a side road around it. As I was descending a fairly steep hill, the car started making a very low, very loud noise. Great, I thought. I pulled off to the side of the road, and discovered I was riding on the rim of the left front wheel. Because of the hill, I could not change the tire there, so I had to drive a little further, into a neighborhood where the road was more horizontal.

The good news was that the spare was a full size tire, and brand new! I had been fighting a slow leak in that front tire for a long time, trying not to have to buy a new tire yet, and here I had a brand new tire in the trunk the whole time! Anyway, since I haven't changed the tire in the 160,000 miles that I've had the car, a dutifully read the instructions, changed the tire, and headed to work. Kinda dirty, but not too upset with my discovery.

Then I got a call from Lesa at camp. I didn't get to talk to her on Tuesday, because there was no service in the woods, but she found a good spot on Wednesday morning and called me. There was a big storm the night before, and luckily the camp had a lodge with 50 beds available, and they let the girls sleep there for the night. The camp faired well, so all in all they were having a good time.

Can't wait til they get home.

Then last night, Logan's friend Sam called about his birthday party, planned for today. Since Logan is watching the kids during the day, he didn't really have a way over for a 1 o'clock party. Sam said "bring them all", so I took all four boys to their house to spend the night, and I had the place to myself.

That was even more strange than waking up alone. I got some ice cream, made a nice shake, and started watching episodes of Firefly. I woke up in my chair around 3:30, and spent the last two hours of sleep in my bed.

Can't wait til they get home ;-)

2nd Anniversary

We celebrated our second anniversary this weekend in Lancaster County. Can't believe it's been that long. Of course, it sometimes seems like it's been forever ;-) in a good way, of course!

We spent an hour in a pet store (Lesa wanted to pet the dogs and rabbits and so forth), went to an Amish family's house for dinner, and went to a campground "resort" to look for a good place to camp and swim and stuff sometime this summer.

Next week, Lesa and Leah and Lauren go to girl's camp. The following week I go to Minneapolis for a couple days, and then we leave on our annual Wisconsin trek. But I'll say more about that later.

ScriptFrenzy

I'm writing a play in ScriptFrenzy (www.scriptfrenzy.org). This is the first year they've put this contest on, and I thought it would be a good challenge for me. You have to write a 20,000 word play (about 100 pages) during the month of June.

I'm writing a play that is set in a court room, with the characters mostly from Mother Goose and similar stories. I hope to have it reviewed, and maybe even accepted, for the play houses in York.

As of today (the 11th), I've done about 12,350 words, about 60% done...