Waiting for next year

You're spared my ruminations on 2010 (apart from those already posted) and resolutions for 2011. After all, if I make resolutions public, I'll have to keep them!

Happy New Year, everyone!

What was all the fuss about?

Fun Day

This morning brought heavy rain, so we went to "Plan B" rather than journey to Pasadena to see the Rose Parade Floats being assembled. Steve did not join us -- it was a workday at Hiperwall. Dog Sandy (not wearing raingear) declined to be photographed with Karen before her morning walk in the rain.

We joined a handful of other people at the 11AM showing of The King's Speech - a powerful film that took me back to all that I remembered hearing about King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) during WWII, and gave me much material to reflect on the emotional closure of an aesthetic experience. Highly recommended by me and others.

Then lunch at Costco, shopping for a few essentials, and a quick visit "to base" to stow the groceries

and time for Jack to print tomorrow's boarding passes.

We ended afternoon at the Irvine Museum, where we immersed

ourselves in All Things Bright& Beautiful -- a special exhibition of California art of the Impressionist Period (1890-1930). Interesting and beautiful, but few emotional moments for me.

And when we returned home, the house was still sparking clean!

Evacuation

to Crystal Cove while the first house showing happened. The house looked really nice - all our efforts made quite a difference. Of course, no offer yet.

Stranded in Southern California

We were supposed to return to Connecticut today, but are delayed until Thursday due to the blizzard in the Northeast. As you can see, I'm struggling with the situation.

Tools in use today

High tech

Low tech

December 25th Rituals

Before ...... and after

Then Christmas

dinner with Steve's family at his brother Chris's home

It was an excellent day

'Twas the night before Christmas ..

And all through two houses .....

We were busy as bees preparing for Karen and Steve's move from Irvine to Laguna Beach.

Off again!

With our new (Christmas gifts to each other) super-light suitcases that wheel in two planes. Take-on baggage only!

Staying the night in New Rochelle, then crack of dawn flight from JFK to SNA.

Next post from the left coast.

Pictures, pictures everywhere ...

and none for today's post!

It seems as if I am confronted with "pictures" at every turn -- person and people of the year (Time), 289 pictures for 365 days (Business Week), graphic novels on bookshelves, special issues of the New Yorker just for cartoons of the year, and scads of e-photos jamming up my hard drive. So why is it so hard to take photo that reflects today? Maybe because it was just an every-day day: domestic activities, scholarly activities, connection activities. The ordinary is no longer worth remembering.

Should I go even more graphic and give up blogging for updating my Facebook page, or return to Twitter? After all, I abandoned Dilly Witherspoon in Second Life a couple of years ago; I wonder if she is still watching the skating ring? Just like trees falling in the forest.

'Nuff ruminating.

Back to Machu Picchu

Jack and I were in New Haven today and decided to visit the Yale Peabody Museum to see the artifacts from Machu Picchu brought to the US in 1912 by Hiram Bingham after he "discovered" the areological site. We knew that Peru had been arguing for their return for many years, and agreement has just been reached -- the prize pieces are "going home" to Cusco.

When we were at Machu Picchu we saw only stonework - no clay pots or metalwork. The word was that these were all at Yale. So we were excited to see them to complete our understanding of everyday life of the Inca.

The exhibit was just one small room with 8 display cases. Plus an informational video about

the site explaining who lived where.

What a disappointment!

'Twas the Sunday before Christmas and ...

This Christmas spirit thing seems to be good for other work as well! Today I accomplished several "around the edges" tasks for the three research projects I'm nurturing, plus received a final proofing task for a book chapter due to be published early next year. The editor is decent enough to give us a couple of weeks to complete the task. I must do it before conference papers to review start hitting my in box.

This afternoon Jack and I "discovered" the Mystic Seaport Annual Community Carol Sing. I say discovered because it's been happening every year since some time in the 1960s, but this is the first time we realized it existed. The 400-500 people who were there obviously knew about it too -- and several of them have been coming for more than 20 years. It was great, made so by an excellent director, the Seaport Choir and Brass Quartet. I think we sang every known Christmas carol and song - for about an hour and a half. Much more lively and fun than carols in church, though Jack pointed out church would be warmer!

Second chance

We decorated a second Christmas tree today - with David and his family. It's our Christmas ritual with them. So, for those of you complaining about the lack of a tree photo, here you are!

One week

since we came north. It feels as if we've never been away -- so this must be home base. Good to know! And I've settled into a routine of some intellectual work first thing -- that's the way it used to be "way back," and a good way for me to feel as if I'm making "progress," if such a thing existed in a postmodern world.

And I made some cookies. Too bad you can only see them and not smell or taste them!

I was there

And now I've finished Christmas shopping ... at least for a few days!

A moment of truth

Just when I was settling in to the holiday spirit big time, I remembered that I do have some academic commitments-January 10 for a NORDES conference abstract based on interview data that requires completing and analyzing; January 27 for a 1000 word abstract (with references) for CADMC on a topic yet to be decided; and a date of January 11 to work with coauthor on the full paper for CM-7, even though we haven't yet heard if the abstract was accepted. And I still haven't finished working on a database problem that was supposed to be completed in September (not my fault that it has taken so long).

Tomorrow I will return to seasonal activities. And remember to take my camera.

In a different spirit

I was so busy Christmas shopping that I forgot to take a photo today - even of me at the mall (a very rare occurrence!) I can't take a photo of my successful shopping because people might see what I'm giving them. And Christmas tree photos are past - that picture belongs to Sunday.

I didn't even feel guilty that I didn't put fingers to keyboard today - or when I received e-reminders to submit for Academy of Management by January 11 (it's such a "zoo" that last time I went, in 2009, I vowed never to go again) or to the Eastern Academy by tomorrow (we're saving our work for Cambridge, UK), and I've long ago submitted to EGOS (due by 16th). No wonder I have time this year to be in the holiday spirit!

Strange happenings

I didn't not post yesterday because it was Sunday -- but because we had a power outage. Now you'll never see the picture of the day, our Christmas tree. I am so proud of myself for being in a good mood all the time we were decorating it! I was even quite nostalgic when I saw various ornaments representing family history. What is happening to me?

Today's picture shows the aftermath of the storm -- our "waterfront property." The wetlands are living up to their name!

Now and to be

The view from my LP office is familiar -- the sky is not so blue, and the neighborhood still hasn't insisted on burying power lines. Not that I looked at it much today. I spent most of the day gathering Christmas spirit - i.e., shopping, decorating, and the likes. The EAM project has been abandoned in favor of Cambridge, UK, in September. A much better idea -- especially since it is so far away at present that I don't have to do any writing - and as everyone should know by now, any excuse not to write is my mantra!

Lords Point @ 3:30PM: 27.2F = -2.7C

THIS was why we came back!

And to see our children and grandchildren for the holidays.

Heading north

The electrician finished today and we've done as much as we can do on the kitchen for at least three weeks, so we're heading north for holiday activities.

I'll miss the view from my office here, especially the blue sky!

The taxi comes at 5:15 tomorrow morning! ... and yes, I did resolve my reading dilemma; I skim-read and finished the book before a (late for me) bedtime.

Dilemmas of reading

I'm desperately trying to finish a library book before I return it tomorrow because we head north first thing on Friday morning. I'm only about half way through, so I need to decide on a strategy: read all night, finish it, and then be exhausted, or read the first line of each paragraph and hope to follow the story through to the end, or read as much as I can and borrow it from Stonington Library to finish, or jump to the last few chapters, read them and know how the story goes. Or, I could discard it completely and spend my time reading Managing as Designing, which I've owned since July 2009 and am only just know finding out how good (parts) of it is (are).

And to forestall a comment, the book is The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. I picked it off the shelf of new books by the circulation desk because it looked like a "light read" for the beach. Actually, I'm not enjoying it all that much ....

Empty

The beach, that is, without even a seagull there at 10:30 this morning. You can draw your own conclusions about the temperature! It was good weather to polish my article review (I WILL send it tomorrow), read and make notes on a book , "Managing as Designing", that I've had on my shelves for ages, and deal with some lingering SHU emails. Was it a productive day? Depends on your perspective, just like the outside temperature.

Brr!

I mustn't complain - it's warmer here than almost anywhere else in the east. No pleasure in walking on the beach, and forget sitting by the pool to read (academic books, of course!) Instead, we retreated to the "hot house" of the Selby Gardens and enjoyed the display of many different orchids in full bloom.

Excitement is in the mind/heart of the user

The only "excitement" (sic) of the day was to finally put my fingers to the keyboard on a paper review for a journal. I'd "given back" a favor to the editor by agreeing to do it, sight unseen, and soon found out why she was overjoyed when I agreed. No wonder three or four others had refused once they saw the abstract! I find it really hard when I just don't like a manuscript to provide some constructive (positive) critique. I've written 2/3 page for the author - that should be enough. I just need to read it once more to make sure that my emotions have not got the ether of me before I upload it.

I had a brilliant idea - to go to Home Depot (again!) and buy a carton of the pattern of (fake) wood flooring we are thinking of installing, lay it out on our floor, and return if we do not like it. So much for a good idea - Home Depot actually stocked only three patterns in this range, and our choice was not one of them! I'll have to come up with another idea! Or do what almost everyone else seemed to be

doing today - buying Christmas trees.

I'm back!

Lynda's "nagging" (role reversal?) because she glimpsed the Galapagos pics "in process" has persuaded me to return to this medium -- and post the Galapagos pictures below. But, watch out, this will be an area for scholarly reflection rather than details of daily actives .... I wonder for how long?

So, having made many more kitchen-decisions -- including how to deal with a 1/4 inch lack of clearance between a drawer and the oven handle, flying "the diagonal" to eat turkey with Mary, Mark, Alexis and Ethan in Gig Harbor, WA, redoing my graphic novel "concrete" (formerly known as an abstract) based on critique by my Ringling College instructor, Michael White, I am now hunkered down with a pile of reading for four research projects that appear to be happening concurrently. I assume that at some point they will all "come together" and allow me to profess on a particular topic, but for now they seem like discrete and quite different topics - design and ... professional identity, leadership, art/organization, an ironic perspective ... With all that heady stuff I'm sure you can hardly wait for the next post!

I did go in search of some novels to break up the boredom

of reading scholarly work. Plenty of books that need reading there, too!

Galapagos postings

I cannot reconstruct my perspective on the daily activities of our Galapagos expedition, and I cannot reopen my blog until I have included this activity.

So ... here are Jack's Picasa albums. They are a more comprehensive record of our activities than I would have provided -- but maybe they will satisfy my inner angst and let me return to the blogosphere.

Day 0. Our little ship and the Galapagos Islands.

Day 1. North Seymour.

Day 2. Bartolome and Santiago.

Day 3. Santa Cruz Island

Day 4. Isabela and Fernandina Islands

Day 5. Southern Isabela Island

Day 6. Floreana Island.

Day 7. Española Island.

Jack hasn't posted his Peruvian pictures yet, so you'll have to wait for these.

Hiatus

Jill (Re)Designed is going dark for a few days. My body is exhausted and my mind frazzled - and besides I have some serious work to do on my graphic novel. So, no need to keep checking for updates for a while.

See you agin on December 1 -- maybe.

Finally -collapse!

Yesterday evening I finally collapsed (I'd been wondering when it would happen). All the traveling and packing and finishing my graphic novel "concrete" (aka abstract) caught up with me and I sank into bed at about 8:30 PM. I wondered if I would ever get up again!

But I did, at about 8 AM. And today I

have had a new outlook on life. I've made decisions for the kitchen nonchalantly (well, it was only the lights!), put my supplies together for class tomorrow, and Skyped with Diana about our (to be written in the next two weeks) EAM paper. Long may the feeling of euphoria last!

Let me see if I have photo to capture the moment ... here's one: Jumping into the South Pacific from the ship when in the Galapagos ....

The next moment there was a look of horror on my face when I realized how cold it was!

Deconstruction

It's interesting to watch the Home Depot organization in action -- yes, "they" -- or their approved contractors -- are doing our kitchen. In the store we worked with Mark (design, cabinets, etc.) and Brian (appliances). Vince is the job manager -- he's in the office sending out different crews each day. On Monday two men delivered cabinets; on Tuesday Robert tore out the old cabinets, unpacked the new ones and said he'd be back on Monday to install them; today Dan and Andre tore out walls and ceiling. Who will come tomorrow? We'll call Vince at 8AM and ask!

(Re)newed beginnings

The new kitchen came today!

The work crew comes tomorrow

I returned to my graphic novel with many new ideas for frames and panels - but I've forgotten all I knew about photoshop, so I'll have to go back to the beginning. A lesson learned about leaving complex projects in mid-stream.

Nov 14: What ...

can I possibly say for today?


Tomorrow I shall return to my designerful life.

Nov 13: @ 4:47 PM (and 74 F)

Here's the reason we rushed down -- the kitchen waiting for Monday's "attack" by the remodeling crew.

Actual: 1,373.2 miles for a driving time of 22 hours 23 minutes. (Quite close to forecast considering that we detoured to stay in Tinton Falls, NJ, the first night and drove 5 mph over the speed limit for most of the way.)

Nov 13: Anticipating arrival

Yesterday we traveled 621 miles in 9 hours 51 minutes (driving time, not elapsed time.) Now we are 558 miles, for an estimated 9 hours and 16 minutes of driving, away from our destination. Can we make it? Will we make it? A photo will give the answer!

The strangest sight on the highway was a huge RV rig (Mercedes towing cab, no less) followed by a smart car. Here's a picture of how they arranged themselves at a rest stop - the car is across the front of the cab. The license plates were from Ontario -- I can't imagine driving a smart car all that way, but then, I've never driven a smart car!

Nov 12: Doubles in Florence

Our hotel room, that is in no way up to the standard of our recent rooms in Peru and Ecuador ;) has TWO IDENTICAL PICTURES on the walls!

Journey statisticss tomorrow morning when we set out again!

Nov 12: Metropoles

As of this morning we still have 1,176.8 miles for about 19.6 hours of driving, despite traveling for 3 hours 55 minutes and covering 200 miles yesterday as we battled the greater New York commuter traffic and detoured to stay with "our friends of the most years" overnight. It was good to see them and catch up with family news since the Idaho wedding.

Nov 11 @ 2PM: Setting out

From Lord's Point, Stonington, CT. en route to Siesta Key, Sarasota, FL. Estimated journey is 1,327.9 miles for a driving time of about 22 hours 48 minutes.

I'll spare you a photo of the fully loaded (by an engineer) car. But if anything happens to us (hand over heart, "heaven forbid", as Italians would say) all you faithful blog followers are responsible for clearing the "mess" of left-overs from Fairfield in the basement and all (previously) empty spaces in the house.

Where will the next post come from?

10-11-10 Betwixt and between

If chaos is the "perfect state," then I am so there! Despite much effort to bring order to the apparent randomness of "Fairfield stuff" deposited in various locations around the house, at the end of the day about the only thing I can say with certainty is that I am now caught up with laundry!

We enacted closure by eating the brussels sprouts - the yield was sparse, nothing like Mary's crop -- and

drinking the wine that has been sitting in the Fairfield fridge for many, many months.

Tomorrow we pack 'n go. No time to work on Galapagos postings; they must wait till we're settled in our next location.

Tuesday - Sign offs

One week after returning to the US from South America -

* Our Fairfield condo is empty and clean. The relator has inspected. We need not return.

* I have made my last site visit to the Welch College to consult on Digital Measures.

I feel free! On to new adventures!

Nov 8. @ Lord's Point

Outside: surprise!

Inside: Things are piling up. waiting for the next sort 'n pitch