Eagles Love Family

This is one of a couple immature eagles in the neighborhood that still hang out with Mom (or Dad); they were sitting on the satellite dish earlier and I see them around the plant on and off all day.

It's the weekend, and even though we all still work seven days a week out here it seems like the weekends are a bit more relaxed . . . no calls from vendors, the Seattle office is closed, it's a good time to get those longer projects done and reflect on the good in the world. I'd like to offer up a Friday Five, five things that have exceeded my expectations and made me smile, 'cause lets face it, some negativity can creep in over the week and its time to leave it all behind . . . . .

1. The Only Kayak, A Journey Into the Heart of Alaska by Kim Heacox I haven't read something that affected me this much in a long time. I haven't actually finished the book yet, I'll read a phrase or a paragraph that will stun me with its imagery, its Abbey-ish simple brilliance, and I'll quickly close the book before any more words escape - I don't want the book to end, so I ration it out - even though I have ANOTHER book by the same author (kudos to Goldfish for getting them both) to dive into after this is finished. I can't praise this book enough, part of me wants to keep it my own little secret . . . .

2. Icky Thump by the White Stripes. I knew on the edge of my consciousness this was a great album - both my sons loved it, it got good press, I kept bumping into here and there among the cobblestones of modern society, but the idea that maybe it wasn't as good as everyone thought is was began to creep in. Goldfish (again) settled the issue, Amazoned it to the island, and I have to say there isn't a single song on there that isn't an original work. The fact I was the last one in America to discover that doesn't bother me a bit - the mantra that the wanting is almost always better that the having is a cornerstone philosophy of my life - and the exception proves the rule . . .

3. Alyeska Trading (the company store). They have done a lot of work remodeling in there, moving the entrance around to the side and increasing the square footage drastically. Goldfish and I were in there last night after dinner at the Crab Pot and everything was immaculately faced and they have a bulk foods section with the best prices on the island thanks to a contract with Costco.

4. Our new purchasing software - those of you that work with me, don't roll your eyes. I've been eating and breathing this transition this past month and today spent a good part of the morning in conference with the vendor to see how the inventory module would play out. While we're not going to be able to go live with it for another month due to some functionality issues, overall I found more to like than dislike, and I think Paperless with be able to add in the features I need in a few weeks, time to get it working before I go on vacation.

5. No Country for Old Men - you know, I figured since it won all those awards, it just couldn't live up to the hype - pretty much the same reason I have never seen Titanic. Well the storyline might have been a bit convoluted at times but Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, and yes, it pains me to add, Woody Harelson, all acted their butts off and some of the scenes (the candy wrapper on the counter scene for instance) were so imbued with a sense of impending violence I found myself forgetting to breath . . .