Birthday Report

Yesterday was loaded with baggage all its own so I didn't get a chance to write about how I spent my 41st birthday last Wednesday.

cuyahogarvr made us a *huge* lasagna for dinner as only he could. And it was every bit as yummy as it was, well, heavy. We'll be eating leftover lasagna for days to come. He also created a tasty (and flourless) chocolate torte for dessert; it's very rich and must be consumed in small quantities. :-)

kent4str and cuyahogarvr even got me a few presents! Whee! One was a Zio-Tek padded laptop bag. It has no handles or shoulder straps: it's just a padded envelope into which a laptop may be protected while it is packed in a larger bag like my backpack. There was also a small collapsible laptop table with extendable legs; I'll be able to use this to raise the laptop a foot or so from the desk surface while calling square dances or such. We saw a similar platform/desk surface at caller school last year and thought it pretty neat.

The big surprise was this:

OMG! It's a beautiful but compact telescope... I can't wait for a clear night to test-drive it. For the truly lazy, it is capable of aiming itself at pre-programmed celestial targets. It'll be a hoot at the trailer this coming summer, esp. if the newly built amateur observatory behind our trailer lives up to its billing. cuyahogarvr spent far too much money on this, but bless his heart anyway!

Birthday Report

Yesterday was loaded with baggage all its own so I didn't get a chance to write about how I spent my 41st birthday last Wednesday.

cuyahogarvr made us a *huge* lasagna for dinner as only he could. And it was every bit as yummy as it was, well, heavy. We'll be eating leftover lasagna for days to come. He also created a tasty (and flourless) chocolate torte for dessert; it's very rich and must be consumed in small quantities. :-)

kent4str and cuyahogarvr even got me a few presents! Whee! One was a Zio-Tek padded laptop bag. It has no handles or shoulder straps: it's just a padded envelope into which a laptop may be protected while it is packed in a larger bag like my backpack. There was also a small collapsible laptop table with extendable legs; I'll be able to use this to raise the laptop a foot or so from the desk surface while calling square dances or such. We saw a similar platform/desk surface at caller school last year and thought it pretty neat.

The big surprise was this:

OMG! It's a beautiful but compact telescope... I can't wait for a clear night to test-drive it. For the truly lazy, it is capable of aiming itself at pre-programmed celestial targets. It'll be a hoot at the trailer this coming summer, esp. if the newly built amateur observatory behind our trailer lives up to its billing. cuyahogarvr spent far too much money on this, but bless his heart anyway!

Unfinished Projects

I'm sitting in my cube at work, waiting for feedback and information which isn't likely to come today or even early next week. Alas, all of my work-related projects are on hold pending the information required.

I passed a lot of 2009 IAGSDC convention materials to our treasurer last night for processing; at least she can go ahead with her bank reconciliations and such. One of the items I passed along was a personal donation to the 2009 convention; this morning, I applied for 2:1 matching funds from my employer. Alas, while applying, I've discovered that 2/3 of all of my matching funds requests for 2007 were declined because the recipient charity hadn't responded to queries confirming my initial donation. For the love of god, all they had to do was fax back a confirmation form letter and they'd get free money! I've done it myself as secretary of the 2009 convention so I know the process at both ends.

Nearly all of the required documentation has been collected for doing our 2007 income taxes. All I need are the 1099 forms from the Baltimore and DC square dance clubs. At least I have my own estimates from QuickBook records so I can perform some early calculations. There's no rush I suppose, but I'd prefer to have my return burning a hole in my pocket rather than the government's.

We have several good leads for a replacement facility for our Harper's Ferry Hoedown in November now that Hilltop House has announced its closure for renovations. On Sunday, kent4str, cuyahogarvr and I hope to check out a candidate facility recommended by Hilltop House. More news later.

kent4str and I will be co-teaching a Mainstream class with Dayle Hodge for the Chesapeake Squares this Friday, Saturday & Sunday; we have a Plus class starting Monday with the DC Lambda Squares. Next weekend is our advanced & challenge fly-in. Thank god the weekend after is a holiday weekend in the US as I'll need the catch-up sleep. On the good side, apparentparadox and markens will be staying chez nous following ACDC.

In other words, life chugs on as usual. I'm thinking of taking an early lunch.

Unfinished Projects

I'm sitting in my cube at work, waiting for feedback and information which isn't likely to come today or even early next week. Alas, all of my work-related projects are on hold pending the information required.

I passed a lot of 2009 IAGSDC convention materials to our treasurer last night for processing; at least she can go ahead with her bank reconciliations and such. One of the items I passed along was a personal donation to the 2009 convention; this morning, I applied for 2:1 matching funds from my employer. Alas, while applying, I've discovered that 2/3 of all of my matching funds requests for 2007 were declined because the recipient charity hadn't responded to queries confirming my initial donation. For the love of god, all they had to do was fax back a confirmation form letter and they'd get free money! I've done it myself as secretary of the 2009 convention so I know the process at both ends.

Nearly all of the required documentation has been collected for doing our 2007 income taxes. All I need are the 1099 forms from the Baltimore and DC square dance clubs. At least I have my own estimates from QuickBook records so I can perform some early calculations. There's no rush I suppose, but I'd prefer to have my return burning a hole in my pocket rather than the government's.

We have several good leads for a replacement facility for our Harper's Ferry Hoedown in November now that Hilltop House has announced its closure for renovations. On Sunday, kent4str, cuyahogarvr and I hope to check out a candidate facility recommended by Hilltop House. More news later.

kent4str and I will be co-teaching a Mainstream class with Dayle Hodge for the Chesapeake Squares this Friday, Saturday & Sunday; we have a Plus class starting Monday with the DC Lambda Squares. Next weekend is our advanced & challenge fly-in. Thank god the weekend after is a holiday weekend in the US as I'll need the catch-up sleep. On the good side, apparentparadox and markens will be staying chez nous following ACDC.

In other words, life chugs on as usual. I'm thinking of taking an early lunch.

Mainstream Class, Session #1

As I write this, we have two squares on the floor, Dayle Hodge on the microphone and me on my laptop thanks to an unsecured wireless signal from a router named "linksys" here in Baltimore.

I kinda wish I was attending the Roseland Resort reunion events in downtown DC but I'm trying to be a responsible adults so here I am. Ah, well... I'll see the guys tomorrow evening.

Mainstream Class, Session #1

As I write this, we have two squares on the floor, Dayle Hodge on the microphone and me on my laptop thanks to an unsecured wireless signal from a router named "linksys" here in Baltimore.

I kinda wish I was attending the Roseland Resort reunion events in downtown DC but I'm trying to be a responsible adults so here I am. Ah, well... I'll see the guys tomorrow evening.