Milestones

October has been a month of milestones for me.  

One, on Monday I'll be moving on to a different job.  I closed a chapter of my employment life moving on from my Senior Business Analyst position at Deluxe Corporation Friday.   
The process of this transition happened quite quickly.  Through prior conversations with a former co-worker at Best Buy who now worked at Ecolab who asked me if I was interested in joining her team, I communicated that while I wasn't actively looking to leave Deluxe, Ecolab would be one of two companies I would consider moving to if the opportunity was right.  Deluxe treated me pretty well over the past 18 months in terms of compensation and improved work/life balance from Best Buy.

However, over the past year, there has been "flash points" that created some causes for concern.  Those concerns were elevated over the past couple of months.  So about a month ago, I decided to go forward in discussions with Ecolab about an opportunity in the Business Intelligence (BI) team.  Although I was interviewing in joining Ecolab, which I was very open to considering, I was more interested in learning about how Ecolab was building up its BI team, which is fairly new.  Through these conversations I grew more interested in Ecolab, mainly due to its commitment to building its BI capability.  However, Ecolab said that the fit was not there at the time, which was fine with me, especially since learned quite a bit already.

About a week later I learned that Ecolab wanted to talk to me about a new opportunity in one of its internal start-up companies, Ecosure.  It wanted someone to come in and consolidate and apply an analytical reporting on Ecosure's business performance. After about two conversations with Ecosure management, they said they wanted to bring me on and provided conditions that were quite intriguing.  I said I needed some time to think about it.

So talked to my mother, who said go for it.  I also spent time reflecting on this decision and prayed about it.  At that time I recalled some Scripture that I shed much light to me the last time I contemplated this decision. 

"He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4

I decided that the time for change has come, I trust that Almighty will my direct my path accordingly.  I start at Ecolab on Monday.

Two, this past month I was able to pay off my mortgage of my residence.  That's correct, I paid off the mortgage of the condo where I live.  Fiscal prudence is something that I take very seriously.  One of my top goals is eliminate all debt.  The idea of living with no payments and have resources available to put to more productive uses, such as charity, is a goal of mine.    So over the past year I have made a gazelle-like effort to pay off my mortgage, which I have done.  However, I still one other mortgage to pay off, on an rental property that I purchased over the summer.  But now that I am free from payments of one debt I can earmark those old debt payments to the rental property, thus helping reduce the principle much quicker.  It's a long road, but I'm getting there.

So milestones have been reached.  But there are goals still ahead.

A Short Little Trip

If you didn't know already, I am a Minnesota Golden Gopher football season ticket holder. I enjoy watching football and especially the style of the game that Head Coach Jerry Kill preaches: tough, physical and disciplined football.   One thing that I have wanted to do since becoming a season ticket holder is attend Gopher road games to great stadiums in the Big Ten conference.  

So this season I decided I would change that and attend a road game.  I know some folks (you know who you are :) ) in Ann Arbor.  The Gophers were due to play Michigan at Michigan Stadium (aka the "Big House") on Saturday and I decided to go.  Now for your information, historical success of Gopher football at the Big House is a rare occurrence. But I was somewhat confident that the Gophers would play a competitive game.   Enough of that, on to the game...

Before the game I walked through the U of Michigan Golf Course to see some tailgating. Folks were lining the fairways.

Michigan Stadium is quite the site.  I just wanted to prove I made it to the stadium....

and the game.

The Big House seats well over 100K.  This game, which was far from a sellout, sold 102K tickets to the game.

The Gophers, surprising almost everyone in the stadium, crushed the Michigan Wolverines 30-14.  Not only did the Gophers win the game, they won the Little Brown Jug, a "trophy" presented to the winner of this game.  I was able to get on the side wall as the players paraded the "Jug" around the field.  I was able to touch the "Jug" as well as hi-five a few players.  I also lost my voice in the process.

The local press was certainly not sympathetic...

In summary, the game was great.  The company was fantastic.  The weekend was well worth it.

A Weekend Trip

This past weekend I went to Denver to visit my sister, Georgia, and attend a couple of Twins baseball games.  I went out from Minneapolis Friday morning. After a smooth flight, Georgia picked me up and dropped me off in Downtown Denver while she went to work. I decided since I had a couple hours, I might as well take in a free tour of the State Capitol.

I walked down the Civic Center Park in front of the Capitol

Park is well maintained, horticulture to boot

The State Capitol has a Gallery of Presidents, which has portraits of all the Presidents.

Rotunda, not bad

After I went through the Capitol, I decided to take a walk through the rest of Downtown. Like Minneapolis, Downtown Denver is centered around an outdoor commerce street called the 16th Street Mall. I decided to take a walk.

The 16th Street Mall has a shuttle system of buses that are all hybrids (Yes, all hybrids)

At the west end of the 16th Street Mall is the Tattered Covered Bookstore, a Denver treasure apparently.

I felt very much at home here, I confess

I went to the Twins game that evening, against the Colorado Rockies.

I like Target Field better.

The next day Georgia and I went up to Golden, CO and took 7.5 mile hike up trails in that area.  It was mixture of bluffs, grassy hills and an "Enchanted Forest."

It was tiring hike, but it so awesome!   I could keep coming and trying new trails each day if I wanted to and that's quite cool.

Alas, that was my weekend, which was made complete the next morning attending morning service at Straitgate Church (which is located in ahem, Minneapolis).

A Good Weekend

This past weekend I've spent in Milwaukee with a former co-worker and friend.  The weather was quite good for the weekend and so was the company.

I started my trip actually around midnight on Thursday, taking a packed Megabus through the night to Milwaukee.  I didn't sleep much on the bus.  The most memorable part of the trip is seeing a boy sitting next to me playing Super Mario Bros.  on his Gameboy-type device.  It certainly caught my attention and certainly made me feel quite aged.

But once I got to Milwaukee, my friend Steve picked me up and we went to breakfast.  We later decided to head down to Chicago and attend a Cubs game.  So we did:

Celebrating 100 years?  I did not know that.

  A view from my seat, which was not bad.  

I have to say even though Wigley appears to be a parking garage with seats in it, I did enjoy it.  I certainly enjoyed not having to hear piped in music during the game, that's for sure.

So we returned back to Milwaukee, had dinner and had a Sprecher Root Beer.

The next day Steve took me out to breakfast at Comet, a local shop:

I will say their Comet Benedict (glorified biscuits and gravy), was quite good.  We then went down to the Lakefront and took a quick tour.

Downtown was quite nice

That afternoon I went to Miller Park to watch the Brewer's game:

I have to say it was a newer ballpark, an ok experience.

It was nice longer weekend.  I think I should do it more often.

Another Step, Another Day

A notable event in my life will occur tomorrow afternoon.  I'll be closing on a 2-bedroom condo unit as an investment property.  I never thought I'd be a landlord, but I am convinced the Almighty has put this opportunity before me.

I wasn't really looking for a new property, but a colleague of mine brought up a 2-bedroom property that I was familiar with and I was intrigued enough to show my mother.  She said that she thought purchasing a 2 bedroom would be a great idea, especially since prices are projected to increase in my area with the development in Downtown St. Paul (Light Rail, Union Depot, Saints baseball stadium, Lunds grocery, etc.).  I said I would leave it to prayer and the Almighty.

Well, after I learned that my mom made a short notice trip to the Cities to visit friends, I asked if she wanted to look at condos and she said yes.  We saw a couple and there was one in particular that my mom said she liked so much that she would consider moving there eventually.  That was news to me because she's always said she'd never move down here.

So I gave a offer at a reasonable price and prayed that it'll be accepted if only it were in the Almighty's will.  A day later the offer was accepted and that's how we got here.

I'll guess I'll show you a view.

So tomorrow will be new event in my life.  My the Almighty direct me through it.

Head Slapper of the Month

In an era with political correctness hits new levels, I guess I should of expected this one out of the Minnesota Legislature:


ST. PAUL, Minn. — The term "Asian carp" has become endangered in Minnesota.

The state Senate on Monday approved a measure that would rename the fish "invasive carp." It's a response to concern by some people that the current term casts people from Asian cultures in a negative light.

Senators added the proposal to a larger bill that governs Minnesota natural-resource use. That legislation returns to the House, where it passed earlier this month without the name change.

Champlin Democrat John Hoffman said on the Senate floor that referring to the fish as "Asian" was hurtful to some people.

Officials have been trying to block the non-native fish's progress into Mississippi River and Great Lakes ecosystems. (Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

So naming a fish "Asian" is hurtful to some people? I guess I didn't get the memo. 3 Head Slaps.

Attention Getter?

If you sniff a rat...

It is what it is

Calvin Coolidge Quotes of the Past 2 Months

I missed providing a quote for March, so you get a two-fer this post.  The first quote is in regards to Coolidge's attitude towards civilization and profits that he provided in a NYC speech on 11/27/1920:

"Civilization and profits go hand and hand."

Now I nearly call that a Coolidge proverb.  I guess I just did.

The second quote is in regards to Coolidge's attitude towards criticizing others during the last weeks of his life in an interview he gave on 12/14/1932:

"I do not care to be criticizing those in power.  If they succeed, the criticism fails; if they fail, the people find it out as quickly as you can tell them."

Thinking about it, that is true much more often than not, don't you think?

Twins Preview 2014

Yes, it's here!  Twins Preview 2014

Enjoy the season folks!  If you want to catch a game, let me know.

Foray into Politics

I have to say when I saw this cartoon, I was both amused and saddened that is has come to this:

It's not been a good run for the West, I would say.

Day 3: The Conclusion

These last three days have gone quite quickly.  A recap:

Dunedin is a small quaint city on the Florida Gulf.  Some pictures at the game:

Today's lineup

A look at Twins batting practice from behind home plate

Here is the Buxton highlight.

The sun has set on my adventure.  Perhaps till next year?

Head Slapper of the Month

I have to say that as time goes on, the more and more I'm convinced that I'm becoming 'ancient' as someone suggested to me.  Another piece of evidence that supports that argument is the type of hairstyles that are being used by folks these days, even Chinese folk.

Trends like these make me speechless.     3.5 Head Slaps.

Day 2: Journeys

Today was a busy day.  Let me explain:

I started my day here for breakfast

Then I went to Pirate City in Bradenton, FL to catch some Twins vs. Pirates baseball. Here's Byron Buxton, the top baseball prospect, gets a drink.

Here's Buxton at bat.  Don't mind the mindless color commentary.

Who needs dugouts when you can stand and eavesdrop on coach-player conversations?

That was at the 'B' game.  The 'A' game was at McKechnie Field between the  Twins and the Pirates.  So I went over there to take a look.

Here's the starting lineups.

McKechnie Field: Left field view.

Vance Worley's pitching highlight (it was ugly after this at bat). 

A view of The Shoppes in Naples marina.

Where I had dinner with RJ: The Bonefish Grill

RJ and I had a great conversation catching up on things.  I'm quite gratified to hear about how the Almighty has blessed RJ's life and his witness through these past years.  I leave you with a message from RJ.

Until next time....