Quick Hits from Woodstock

I've been super busy on a project at work for the past 6 weeks and the end has finally arrived. This week I hope to see the fruits of my (and my team's) labor at the office.

Here are some 'quick hits'...

1. Someone turned the heat off this sprint... woke up yesterday it was in the mid 30's, this morning it is 36 and it is supposed to be in the 30's the next two nights as well. At least it didn't freeze and kill the plants like last year.
2. Spring, despite the cold, is just beautiful here in North Georgia. The azalea's are blooming, the tulips are coming up, trees are just turning green, pollen is blowing down the roads like snow, cars turn yellow and the birds around here are active and noisy.
   
3. I got a rare treat last week. My entire leadership team at work, 90 plus people, got to fly to Armonk, NY for a meeting. This was the roll-out of our new structure and the project that I've been working on so long. After 2 years on the job in this division it was very nice to see my team face to face. Relationships can be so much better if you just see your peer in person at least once. Working from home is great but I sometimes wished I lived close to an office with all of my team so we could collaborate more.
   
4. The hummingbirds found our new feeder within hours. So far I've only seen one female ruby throated but hope more show up soon.
5. Teresa and I went bowling last weekend with some friends. I have not bowled in years so of course my first game was great, a 167, but as I got tired and 'confident' my score in the second game dropped 45 points... need to just throw the ball and not think.
6. 14 months ago we bought our little Mazda Protege5 wagon with about 75,000 miles on it. Today it is approaching 99,000 miles. That is a lot of miles, especially with gasoline prices moving into the stratosphere, but it has been a great little car. We should break 100k soon!
7. Teresa and I are getting ready to go back to Ecuador this summer. I've agreed to be the trip leader and Teresa is going to help with the vacation Bible school efforts. It will be a great trip, can't wait to go back.
8. We broke down and signed a contract the get the house painted. This house is tall, tall, tall. On the front side it doesn't look so back but on the back and side the house is 3 1/2 stories tall. The painter estimates 4-5 days worth of work. We are also getting the porch and deck stained as well. The house should look great once completed as we are getting rid of the icky tan color scheme and going with a more gray main color with black/green shutters and door color.

Have a good spring everyone, enjoy the beauty of God's creation.