review

I wish I would have posted my planning on the last scrapbooking page. I actually did a bunch of sketches and made couple of 2x2 inch to scale mock ups with thumbnail photos first in two different designs to decide which one to make. It might help one appreciate how much goes in. Maybe it's best not to admit how consuming the stuff really is.

This week's in review:

Our crew took our manager to lunch for her birthday, her choice: Korean Tofu Soup. So, we got a little fish, battered and deep fried whole (it was watching me eat it), a raw sea creature of some kind that looked like noodles, a raw egg to crack into our tofu soup, rice, and many little mini portions of different things - pickled cabbage, boiled what-I'm-guessing-were-turnip greens in some kind of sauce, and some burnt rice soaked in boiling water (which looks like dirty dish-water by the time you eat it.) This was not my first experience with real Korean food, so I knew I would largely like it. My main limitation is that I just don't like the taste of food from the sea (fish, crab, shrimp, whatever.) But, I am always willing to try it, and am growing to like it here and there. I tried everything at the lunch, liked most of it, and ate a majority of the soup - which was hot enough in both ways to be very filling. No wonder Asians are so skinny.

I was on the official list of "new rotation employees" that goes out every quarter to all the actuaries. Lower level actuaries transfer, or "rotate," every 18 months or so for professional development. I got a badge and a new computer (I keep my laptop, too) - with 4 processors and 1 terabyte of memory - and two special software programs with a one-year seat license price of $400,000 (that's my share of the total 1.2 Million price tag for our group.) Crazy. Six software support people flew in from Boston Thursday and Friday for two solid days of training/installation on the newer program (the older program people were here a few weeks ago.) They took us to a nice upscale lunch. I am doing better at work, I think. Getting the hang of things. A little behind schedule due to these meetings popping up.

Last night was date night, so we went to the movies: No Country For Old Men. This Cohen Brothers movie is about violence and crime and how old timers feel like the world is going crazy. It is not a dark comedy, like Fargo. I liked it, but, I like solicitous and pointless violence. It's not going to be for everyone.

I am studying. There are millions of similar formulas that I am trying to keep straight, and I am making a little progress.

I am also in the design stage on a Disneyland scrapbooking page from when Eva/Roger/family visited in April last year. It was the Funnest Place On Earth on that particular visit, so I wanted the page to be special and haven't had the inspiration until this weekend. Maybe if I make enough progress on my formulas, I will reward myself by having something scrappy to post by next week. Also, if I can figure out transportation, there is a scrapbooking expo next weekend.