Canoing on the Battenkill

We went canoing for a couple of hours down the Battenkill river. The tour company hauled us up to the starting point, unloaded the canoes, and sent us on our way. The trip was not without its challenges, the first being that the river was running a bit low. We bottomed out before we got away from the dock. Mom took the front and I took the back, so I not only could paddle but also use my paddle as a rudder to turn as needed. Mom was a trooper, but didn't have a whole lot of fun. Did I mention that it RAINED. We got soaked. And she never quite figured out that for the main, it really didn't matter much which side of the canoe she paddled on, I still could steer with my paddle. Still it was fun being together.

After warming up and drying off at the hotel, dinner tonight was a "clam bake", which included steak, chicken and lobster. Very good.

Mexican Food, New England Style

So, we're staying in a resort in Vermont for the weekend, and tonight we were on our own for dinner. We ate at the only "Mexican" restaurant in town - nachos, chile relleno, and a taco. The food was good looking, and good to eat, unless you like your mexican food with some flavor. It was so bland that MJ would not have had any problems with it being too hot, and would have likely had to spice it up a bit.

On the way to Vermont, we stopped and ate at a combination antique store / lunch counter (that served mostly vegetarian food - the only meat was the tuna in the tuna sandwich - BLT's were made with soy bacon. We shared a tuna sandwich and bowl of chili (no meat in the chili - beans and corn). The chili was considerably spicier than dinner and it was mild.

My Password - so safe, I don't even know it.

So, I'm out of town for the week, but I left the itinerary on my desk at home. No problem - just log in to the company email from the airport on the free wireless connection and download a copy. Good theory, except for those airports where there isn't internet access. Plan B: Call home and have a family member login and check my email. That would work well, except it turns out that I don't know my own password. I had gotten tired of thinking up new passwords, with corporate password change policies, so I currently use a pattern rather than a password. Place hands in well known position on keyboard, and drum out a pattern. The stupid thing is that I can touch type, but I can't name the keys on a keyboard in order, so I don't know my own password. With the failed attempts and guesses, it's a miracle I didn't end up having my account locked out. In the end, I got to town, went to the courtesy phone for car rentals and started calling rental companies with the question "Do I have a car reserved?"

Clarifications

Yes, I "lived" in Alaska; granted it was only a month and a long time ago, but long enough that I figured out that I don't ever want to live in a trailer again.

And as to only 4 jobs - technically, I've had the job as computer programmer with 8 or so different employers, on both left and right coasts and points in between. The oddest change in employer occurred while I was installing a package for my present employer. I got a call from my then current employer advising me that they had just gone out of business, but that I would have a job with a successor company that was picking up the pieces, so keep on doing what I was doing.

Another one

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Same house, same job, more kids at home, pre-grandkids; likely something with Scouts...

2. Five things on my "To Do List" today:

1. Work, 2. Bank Deposit, 3. Visit, 4. Buy TP & milk, 5. Sleep

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Ruffles, ice cream, nuts

4. What would I do if suddenly I was a billionaire?

Pay off bills, buy a library.

5. Three bad habits: not enough sleep, not enough excercise, not eating right.

6. Five places I've lived:

Colorado, Utah, California, Sweden, Alaska

7. Five jobs I've had:

1. Paperboy, 2. Dishwasher, 3. Computer Operator, 4. Computer Programmer, no #5 yet

8. Five things that MOST people don't know about me:

Your asking that of someone who hasn't had 5 jobs?

Tag 5 People: The first miracle: I've responded to this; don't hold your breath for the tag

Bererk, it's your fault

Ok, so I can take apart a computer, and put it back together. And now I have done the unthinkable and started a blog. Next thing you know, I'll be even responding to some quiz or another.