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Bryant linked to this as well, but I thought it was interesting enough to mention. Lots of techies give really lousy progress reports, and are basically hell on their managers for no good reason. This is particularly bad for sysadmin types, systems programmers, and other people who love math too much. This is a pretty good article (if short) and has some good info, including: Time management and getting organized Balancing easy and hard work to get more consistent output Good strategy for dealing with managers who need constant status Good tips on making lack of information Someone Else’s Problem ...

Breakfast and Keno again at the Pyramid Cafe. After breakfast we hopped a cab to try and find our property. There was a building there but we could not get close with the cab, and there was a HGV office next to it but the doors were locked. So we stayed in the cab and went to NY NY. Cabbie was friendly and interested in the time share and I tipped him a few bucks, I think it was $30 total. ...

Awakened at 930 by housekeeping, forgot to put the sign out. Oh well, showers for everyone and down to breakfast. Buffet crowded, so it’s the Pyramid Cafe (3rd time :) Played 5 on keno over breakfast. Then played some pgp again, this time M played too, good for her! I think we dropped $20 on that, though M kept some of that. Spent $27 on Imax tix for haunted castle, which was OK but not great. ...

Checked out of HGV and stashed our bags. Got tickets for BOO from concierge. Went for buffet, while waiting, ran back to HGV to get more tickets from sales spiff desk: 99 for both Star Trek and Second City taken from gaming fund. Run back to buffet. Haggle with cashier over which coupon I can use or not use. Coupons are OK for something I want anyway but the ones for the Flamingo were over the top, and I hatehatehate sitting there discussing whether we woulld save $4 one way or $6 the other. Omelete guy took forever to make my food, other than that breakfast was OK. ...

Up at 920, I got the feeling that sleeping any longer would make me snore. Not sure when M got up but I think she ate and watched TV and went back to bed. Made some coffee in the room. This room is incredibly nice, it has a bedroom, bathroom with 2 sinks, a shower and a jacuzzi, and a kitchen and living room area as well. Even a washer and dryer. But it doesn’t have room service :) I think if I had kids I would like this better, but as it is the extra appointments of the room are overkill and I’m reminded regularly that this is not a hotel. Breakfast was Capn Crunch, so another 10 in gift shop bucks making about 45. ...

Flew Southwest. Got a snack at the airport. On arriving at resort, got some food at the deli. After settling in I went to the Flamingo, withdrew 200, and played Pai Gow poker, broke even, down to 70 and back up to 100. Dropped 20 in quarters in Triple Play poker and slots. Back to room to fetch M for dinner. Worked out 30 min on a bike, which doesn’t measure miles but does measure watts. Kept 60 watts or so for 30 min, which will either power the lamp in the room for 30 min or the AC I am breathing for 3 min, but either way earns me dinner. ...

Made it home safe, late last night. Catching up on friends entries, 236 of them to be exact. I will also be posting my vacation notes shortly.

Fri 8/1: No Sat 8/2: Does moving the telescope and cleaning the porch count? Otherwise no. Sun 8/3: No Mon 8/4: Vacation, lots of walking. Also rode exercise bike at the hotel. Tue 8/5: Vacation, lots of walking. Wed 8/6: Vacation, lots of walking. Thu 8/7: Vacation, lots of walking. Fri 8/8: Vacation, lots of walking. Sat 8/9: No Sun 8/10: Hauled laundry up and down stairs Mon 8/11: Trick knee today, no activity Tue 8/12: ? Wed 8/13: Bike, 10 miles Thu 8/14: Bike, 11 miles, wt 261 Fri 8/15: No Sat 8/16: Bike, 10 miles Sun 8/17: Bike, 10 miles Mon 8/18: Bike, 7.7 miles (a.m.) Tue 8/19: Bike, 10 miles (a.m.) Wed 8/20: Bike, 10 miles Thu 8/21: Bike, 9 miles Fri 8/22: Trick knee! Nothing today. Sat 8/23: Swimming, 30 min Sun 8/24: Nothing, except hauling the scope up and down steps Mon 8/25: Swimming, 45 min Tue 8/26: Very light biking, also with arm movements, 25 min Wed 8/27: Thu 8/28: Fri 8/29: Sat 8/30: Biking, 10 miles Sun 8/31: Biking, 7 miles

No workout today, but I also did not eat out for dinner, so let’s call it even. After dinner of asparagus and leftovers, I made some more pickles. I made a double batch this time, one jar for me and one jar for some friends. Better not tell you who just yet… it’s a surprise. 11. Dill Pickles: Cucumbers, Onions and Bell Peppers Cucumbers, cut into slices Green Bell pepper, cut into thin strips Onions, cut into rings 10 cloves of fresh garlic 20 sprigs of fresh dill 2 cups cider vinegar 1 cup champagne vinegar 2 cups of water 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup kosher salt 2 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp onion flakes 3 tsp pickling spice ...

I’m feeling like I had a productive day today. Hours slept: 5.3 Minutes early to work: 15 Donuts brought: 24 Donuts consumed: 2 Meetings attended: 3 Meetings postponed: 1 Dentists visited: 1 Cucumbers pickled: 2 Bell peppers pickled: 1 Miles pedaled: 10.1 Calories burned: 500 Grams of ice cream: 140 Calories of ice cream consumed: 350