It’s My Imagination

A New Healthier Me

Since the first of this year, I’ve made it my personal goal to try to live healthier than I have been recently. I have really been watching what I eat, trying to eat healthier and wiser. I’ve also started exercising again, mainly on the treadmill. I do enjoy walking, but it’s too cold in the mornings here still and summers are too hot, so I’m happy to have my garage sale treadmill.

Several years ago I purchased myself a new bicycle. It has 21 speeds and rides pretty nice. I had been riding the bike trails, but that sort of went by the wayside over the last couple of years. Even so, I’m not sure why I felt the need for 21 speeds, I typically only use 2 or 3 of the 21 available. It’s not like I lived in the mountains, I was in Illinois for pete’s sake! Now we live in Texas where it’s even more flat.

I think that if I were to purchase a bike for myself today, I’d choose one like this one, designed with comfort in mind.It’s a beach cruiser with 7 speeds, more than enough for the riding I do. They also come in a single speed style, but if we choose to take our bikes on vacations, there may be more hills and I like having the option of shifting gears. Mens’ beach cruisers are also available should my husband want a new bike. Who knows, maybe this summer we can work on getting healthy together.

What style of bicycle to you enjoy?

Window Tinting

We now live in the south where the sun is super hot and we look for ways to make our homes energy efficient.  This morning, I noticed that the house behind us is having their windows professionally tinted.   I’ve had the same thought in the back of my mind and am wondering if I should call the same company to get a free estimate.

The primary windows I’d like to have tinted are in the family room.  There are 6 very tall windows that look out over the back patio and pool.  They are shaded in the late afternoon, but the mornings can be killer in there in the summer.  I don’t want to put window treatments on them because they are such a focal point in our house.  I think tinting them would provide protection from the sun as well as still allow us to see the view.

What do you think?  Have any of you ever had your home windows tinted?

Time and Business - A Review

I recently read a blog post where the author interviewed Curt Finch, Journeyx Inc., CEO and author of “All Your Money Won’t Another Minute Buy - Valuing Time as a Business Resource”.  Although some of the questions posed in the interview were somewhat long winded, the answers given by Finch were to the point and, for the most part, I agree.

The topic is primarily how time management can affect project management and how the two are intrinsically connected. While this may seem obvious, it is sometimes difficult to work the two together in a cohesive manner.  One particular quote that impressed me the most was by Finch when he said “if the early tasks are running longer than your initial estimates indicate they should, later phases will often run longer as well.” I couldn’t agree with that statement more and it is surprising to me how many project managers refuse to acknowledge this and don’t make adjustments to their project timelines or staffing needs accordingly.

The interview is a little choppy, but the book about project management that it refers to sounds like it could be a worthwhile read for any project manager. Overall, the interviewer does a good job and the post has some useful information.

Missouri Shootings

A Missouri man, frustrated with the Kirkwood city council, shot and killed a police officer outside the City Hall before entering the building, walking in to the City Council meeting and opening fire. He killed another police officer, 2 council members and the Public Works Director. He also shot Kirkwood’s mayor who is in intensive care in critical condition. The gunman, Charles Lee Thornton, was then shot and killed by police officers.

Apparently, the man had a long standing feud with city hall and had recently lost a Federal free speech law suit. According to a friend of gunman, Thornton felt he was being treated unfairly and was being singled out because he was black. He owned a paving and asphalt business and his commercial vehicles had been ticketed by the city for parking in residential neighborhoods. He also had been charged several times with disorderly conduct for loud behavior at previous council meeting.

In an interesting twist, Kirkwood, MO is the same town where Shawn Hornbeck was discovered in 2007 after being kidnapped by Michael Devlin in 2002.