HappyUP!!! Day 232....it's Sunday

HappyUP!!! - a quick recovery from food poisoning
Why it happened - not sure
Why it made me happy - at 4 this morning, there was no way I would be playing golf at 9. Though I was a little concerned about being out on the course "without a net," I was relieved that the illness "passed" rather quickly (...and abruptly).

HappyUP!!! - some good golf
Why it happened - I have been playing more....and I kept the driver in the fairway
Why it made me happy - I tooled around a challenging course in 78 today. That is my best score in years. I even gave a few shots away.

HappyUP!!! - Mumbo Gumbo
Why it happened - they play in the park every September to close the Music in the Park series
Why it makes me happy - the piano/accordion player is an old friend. He was also the guy that showed me how to play guitar. I always think of him fondly for that. MG plays a cajun type jazz fusion. It's unique and even got me out there moving my groove thing.....sometimes I forget I have a groove thing.

JollyJottings

Food poisoning was minor
Played some good golf
Golfing with my buddy
Meeting a new friend on the golf course
Solheim Cup
Top down driving
Gorgeous Day
Weigh in
Dinner
Mumbo Gumbo

HappyUP!!! Day 231....Saturday

HappyUP!!! - top down drive to San Francisco
Why it happened - I took a dinner invite into the city
Why it made me happy - today is why I have a convertible. 65 MPH....2 hrs....78-80 degrees...and then getting the smells off the bay at the end. Ahhhh.....

HappyUP!!! - a call from a friend
Why it happened - another friend is having some challenges
Why it made me happy - I love talking to this guy. We don't get to do it that often. I got the added bonus of getting to see him and his wife. They were out here on the coast helping another friend. While I wish the circumstances around the call were a little more uplifting, it was still good to hear from him....and get the reminder that he is one good man (and his wife is pretty great too).

HappyUP!!! - breakfast with my adopted family
Why it happened - it often does on Saturday
Why it made me happy - I hadn't ate with the clan in about three weeks. Today was particularly lively.

JollyJottings

Golf tomorrow
One Root Festival
Sleeping
Call from a friend...and an invitation
A top down drive to SF
Whole Foods
Seeing some friends I rarely see

HappyUP!!! Day 230

HappyUP!!! - wonderful breakfast
Why it happened - I had a recruiting appointment
Why it made me happy - I enjoyed letting someone know that there is a place for them where their careers can flourish....especially when they are already there.

HappyUP!!! - dinner
Why it happened - we had a get together after work...which led to dinner
Why it made me happy - I ate with a couple who is dear to me. My contact with them isn't as day to day as it once was with the gentleman of the couple but they are still important to me...as are so many others that I have been blessed with as friends.

HappyUP!!! - recovery from a boo boo
Why it happened - I was scheduled to present on a conference call
Why it made me happy - because of my focus on the breakfast, I thought the call I was supposed to be on started at 10. It was 9:30. I knew that I wasn't first up so as I joined the call at 10:05, I thought I would be fine. Nope....I was already late for the stage. Yet, I was prepared and delivered .

HappyUP!!! Day 229

HappyUP!!! - an evening with Kevin Johnson
Why it happened - he spoke to our group
Why it makes me happy - Kevin spearheaded a movement to take the struggling high school, Sac High, and make it into a charter school. In the space of four years, the kids that were accepted to go to a four year college went from 20% to 80%. In the process, he has helped make the local community to the high school a better place to live. He went to school there, his parents went to school there, and so did his grandparents. Through St Hope, it was neat to see and hear how much an NBA star has given back.

HappyUP!!! - getting through what could have been a tough meeting
Why it happened - it was my monthly meeting with my direct reports
Why it makes me happy - I recently inherited 3 managers. My world may be overcrowded...it may be the right size for the future. It's my job to get them to give it their all so the latter ends up being the case. We made some progress today.

HappyUP!!! - excellent appetizers
Why it happened - I was at the event Kevin Johnson was at
Why it makes me happy - tasty and well prepared hours de oeuvres are always a treat. Wait...are they appetizers if they ended up being dinner?

HappyUP!!! Day 228

HappyUP!!! - great night's sleep
Why it happened - I'm not sure
Why it made me happy - it was difficult for me to get out of bed! I know, many go, "hey, that's my everyday existence." It's not for me....not because I sleep poorly. I could just tell that I was sleeping really well last night. I was having more dreams (which, of course, I can't remember at the moment).

HappyUP!!! - an invite to have breakfast with the governor of California
Why it happened - I am part of an initiative that he backs
Why it made me happy - I had to say, "no, I have something scheduled that is more important." It's the truth. I would be at that breakfast but I really have a more pressing engagement.

HappyUP!!! - traffic court
Why it happened - I was accused of driving at an unsafe speed
Why it made me happy - I was found guilty of 50 in a 35 (that should be a 40...no question). It doesn't mean that I was. So, because it is the first ticket I have received in years, I will be signing up for traffic school. The HappyUP!!! was that I had as fair a day in court that you could have. I probably could have represented myself a little better...but it would have required lying. No can do. Personally, I think that Lidar guns give a policeman the option to lie to. I'll be doing my research on that...another HappyUP!!!....something to research. Though I didn't get the outcome I wanted, it was a HappyUP!!! because of the system our country has.

HappyUP!!! Day 227

HappyUP!!! - an In-N-Out Burger with a chocolate shake
Why it happened - I worked late and was starving
Why it made me happy - I hadn't had a fast burger in a long time. Yes, it was not a good ending to a fairly light eating day but I really did enjoy that burger. Just can't make it a habit.

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it's Tuesday
Why it made me happy - our oldest member is 90 years old. He was doing a Table Topics and just cracked us up.

HappyUP!!! - return call and appointment with a BIG recruit
Why it happened - I made the call
Why it made me happy - she wants to meet with me. It doesn't bring her on board yet but it is a step closer. This would be a huge hire!

JollyJottings

Toastmasters
Set up recruiting meeting
Got 4 reviews done
Triumphing over what looked like disaster
Another commitment from a recruit to get together

HappyUP!!! Day 226

HappyUP!!! - Warren Buffett Interview
Why it happened - I flipped on the tube
Why it made me happy - here is the 2nd richest guy in the world.....and he has lived in the same old house for 48 years. He drives modest cars. No entourage. This will be a seperate blog entry. His message was pretty easy....keep it simple

HappyUP!!! - fixed financials
Why it happened - I asked for them to be fixed
Why it made me happy - I asked on Friday and they got fixed today....that does not happen very often

HappyUP!!! - got my car into the shop
Why it happened - it was scheduled but my ride bailed
Why it made me happy - I was able to call on my brother to come and pick me up. Now, I don't need to think about it in the morning.

HappyUP!!! - set up some golf on Sunday
Why it happened - I called a guy about something else...and laid a guilt trip on him
Why it made me happy - he called me out. "You want to play golf? This Sunday. 9 a.m. Whitney Oaks". I have a great tee time just waiting for me and 6 days to look forward to it....I better get to the range!

JollyJottings

Monday meeting
Warren Buffett interview
Brother picked me up
Conference call
Fixed financials
People got paid

HappyUP!!! Day 225

HappyUP!!! - concert for dad
Why it happened - the Randies were in town
Why it made me happy - the girls went into my ailing father's room and did an acoustic performance of an old REO Speedwagon tune. I stayed in the living room because I would have been a distraction for him. He would have felt like he had to act a certain way to maintain his demeanor. I understand that he was waving his hands like a conductor. He really enjoyed the show. At this point in his life, anything that makes him happy makes me happy.

HappyUP!!! - dinner and the rotisserie
Why it happened - sis in law was making the big dinner for the brood
Why it made me happy - when you have a Sunday dinner for about 12 people who are all family-like connected, it can't be anything but a good time. Well, I guess it can if your family has a penchant for that. No issues on this occasion.

HappyUP!!! - easy truck repair
Why it happened - I needed a new battery
Why it made me happy - I know....it was just a battery. However, when I get under the hood, something else usually breaks. It was more of a pain to take it somewhere, wait, and get it done than just to head down to the Kragen and get it done. While I even made one bonehead move, no serious damage caused and I am rolling again!

JollyJottings

Rotissirie
Work info
Show tomorrow night
Concert for Dad
Football up and running
Weather...sleeping upstairs
Info for home improvement
Easy truck repair
Time with Joel and the Randies

HappyUP!!! Day 224

HappyUP!!! - I met the Randies
Why it happened - they are staying at my brother ans sis-in-laws house
Why it makes me happy -they seem, at first blush, like as nice enough of a group of young people as you are going to find. I was going to throw in "for band types" but no classification was needed. The Randies now feature my sis-in-laws son on drums (not pictured on the last album cover). It also made me happy to be around musicians out chasing the dream and doing what they want to do....keeping those peculiar hours...staying in weird places. It's an adventure and, from what I can tell, they are kicking some tail. The Randies






HappyUP!!! - trail riding on the mountain bike
Why it happened - I got an invitation
Why it makes me happy - what a hoot! It was actually a touch scary...especially putting my head into a tree. I knew there was a reason I wore that helmet. "Hey, you want to go for a trail ride. What? No...no...it's not technical at all." It was like riding my bike when I was a kid....except I don't recall thinking about eating it and how long the healing time would be when I was a lad.







HappyUP!!! - seeing Folsom Lake/Pond
Why it happened - I went on that trail ride
Why it makes me happy - it was an interesting site. Granted, it's not pretty. It's how it gets this time of year. This is where we get our drinking water from. During the winter, all that beach will cover over with water....well, at least that is the plan. I hadn't been out to the lake this year so it was good to see what was there.

On Writing

(A special post for my friends over at SundayScribblings )

What is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of writing? Pain. OK, that's not it. The first thing that comes to mind is that I really could be a writer. The second thing that comes to mind is pain.

My blog and my journal are mostly thoughts that I put down on paper or on-line. When I think of writing, I think of the craft of writing. You must create a flow that engages the reader and do it in a flat medium. The closest that I come to writing is when I am crafting a speech. Even there, I am working in vocal inflection, gestures, and facial changes that embellish the communication. The thought of working those things into written form of any length makes me think of the old "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration," and, to be honest, it is not something that I have ever been able to sit down and do.

Yet, in the back of my mind, I feel like it really is something that I should do. If the should becomes a must, the sweating will begin.

52 Answers

You can probably - figure out the questions from my answers. In the event that you can't, go here to my friend McNair's page. I'll give you the first few questions so you can get in the groove

1. Both of my brothers were older so I was named after they were. (Were you named after anyone?)
2. I cried last weekend visiting my terminally ill father (When was the last time you cried?)
3. I am fine with my handwriting...if I need something better, I do calligraphy (Do you like your handwriting?)
4. If a hot dog is a lunch meat....hot diggity dog me up! (What is your favorite lunch meat?)
5. I'd be a purple crayon (What color crayon would you be?)
6. Darn right I would be friends with me...I think I am...though we do get in tiffs on occasion. We are good right now. Thanks for asking. (Would you be friends with you?)
7. My sarcasm has been dialed back...sarcasm is a veiled way to say something you would never say to someone. (Do you use sarcasm alot?)
8. Yes, I have my tonsils...and, now that I told you, don't try to come steal them when I am sleeping (Do you still have your tonsils?)
9. I would bungee jump...but I don't feel compelled to. (Would you bungee jump?)
10. Captain Crunch with Crunchberries...why haven't I had it in decades? Ahoy, mates!
11. No, I do not untie my shoes when I take them off. I untie them BEFORE I take them off or I leave them untied AFTER I take them off. Untying them while taking them off sounds like a magic trick to me.
12. Physically, I am not that strong.
13. Coffee Blast from Double Rainbow...Trader Joes has my favorite ice cream
14. The first thing I notice about people is if they are HOT! Oh...wait...men are people too, aren't they?
15. Red or Pink? Fuscia
16. Least favorite thing - being indecisive in my personal life....well, I think that's it but I am not sure. I'll get back to you. (What is your least favorite thing about yourself?)
17. I miss my late mother the most
18. I want no one to send this back to me....I wouldn't torture my friends.
19. Camouflage shorts are adorning my legs and some black Birkenstocks have captured my feet.
20. I just ate some tortellini that my sis-in-law made......DEEEELICIOUS.
21. I am listening to the feint sound of my air conditioner in the background
22. I have no kids...no lambs...no piglets...or any other barnyard animals. (Do you have kids?)
23. Basil in my garden is a favorite smell. Fresh coffee is another.
24. I spoke with my friend Adrienne on the phone. I am going to hook him up with a deal.
25. I love McNair....despite him REQUIRING me to fill this out.
26. Hot shower is best for me...I prefer not to lay in my filth only to get up and have to towel soap off of me.
27. My hair color is a light brown. As long as I have hair, I will love whatever color it is.
28. I have Hazel eyes....that turn green...ooooh..spooky.
29. I wear no contact...I had Lasik surgery 8 years ago. What a miracle!
30. My favorite food is pizza. Ice cream. Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream melting over it would take the cake though...wait...it would take the cobbler, I think. If it takes the cobbler, who makes the shoes? I digress
31. I am not a big enough movie person to have a favorite ending.
32. Last movie I watched? I am not a big enough movie person to remember.
33. I am wearing a maroon T-shirt from Territory Ahead
34. Winter over summer....but I prefer Fall...then Spring.
35. Kisses over hugs...and I mean that EXACTLY how I said it
36. My favorite sport to watch is GOLF...the major events.
37. Most likely to respond? I am not sending this anywhere
38. Least likely? See #37
39. I just finished "Happier" by Tal Ben-Shahar and am reading "The Three Signs of a Miserable Job" by Patrick Lencioni and "How to Have Kick Ass Ideas" by Chris Barez-Brown
40. What is on my mouse pad? Are you saying I have a small house? I use a laptop so I don't have a mouse pad but, if I did, I suppose the thing that would be on my mouse pad would be my mouse. Duh!
41. I didn't watch TV last night....I am sorry. I went to some friends house to give them some advice and help they needed. I'll try not to do that again. I should have been home watching TV so I could answer this question better. I think I just failed this test, didn't I?
42. My favorite sound is running water...but not those fountains that sound like a man taking a whiz! I don't suppose I would care for one that sounded like a female taking a whiz either but I have not encountered such a fountain. If you come across one of those, send it to me so I can validate my suspicion of aversion.
43. I'll take the Beatles over the Stones....but can I listen to The Who instead?
44. Which is farther from Sacramento? Florida, North Carolina, Jamaica, Cancun, or Maui. Dang it...where is my wall map and my ruler?
45. My special talent is being a smart ass....which is better than the alternative talent that I see many gravitate towards. I also can make spit hang out of my mouth down past my knee and suck the entire string back into my mouth. I shall not demonstrate this talent in public anymore because I have found the public lacks the social skills to appreciate my virtuosity in this area.
46. I was born in Roseville, California
47. I am not going to get any answers back! Would you please see #37...again. Didn't I tell you that already? How many times must I tell you? Off to your room!
48. My middle name is Andrew. It would have been my first name but my older brothers rebelled. There was no way they were going to be embarrassed by having to drag around Andy Pandy. Wow...I just realized I was named in order to pander to my brother's egos. It seems like I should have figured that out sooner. Hey, I guess that is why I go 48 deep in a questionairre.
49. I am not changing my name until the government says that I have to! When I do become famous, however, I am sure my agent will make me drop Nutter. Scott Andrew it will be....but I suppose I will need to add an "s" so it become Scott Andrews. Then, everyone will say, "are you related to Julie Andrews?" while they burst into a round of "doe, a deer, a female deer...." Yikes! I think I will leave the name alone despite the "have another Nutter Butter peanut butter sandwich cookie" that I still have to endure.
50. Shawshank Redemption is my favorite movie.
51. My favorite drink is lemonade. Back in my drinking day, "Tangueray...chilled...straight up...the vermouth is only allowed to look. No swimming."
52. Besides staring at that guys goiter, what do you do while waiting in a doctor's waiting room?

HappyUP!!! Day 223

OK, you home gamers - who think this HappyUP!!! is a bunch of nonsense. Today, you get your time in court. I had a steady drip of crap come to me...all day long.

...and I mean - all day long. By the end of the day, I decided to list out some CrappyDown!!!s.

...and I did - and then I was done with it. Nope, HappyUP!!! doesn't make you immune to the "stuff" because today would be a fine example. But, now that I am done with those, it's time to...you guessed it....

HappyUP!!! - an invitation
Why it happened - someone called me
Why it makes me happy - I get to do something new tomorrow

HappyUP!!! - being named in a friend's blog
Why it happened - who knows?
Why it makes me happy - it's always nice to know someone is thinking about you. Plus, though it took me forever to get through his 52 questions, it was an interesting self learning

HappyUP!!! - call from my boss at the end of the day
Why it happened - I think he saw I had tried to call him
Why it makes me happy - I got to voice a couple of my concerns and get some perspective.

HappyUP!!! Day 222

HappyUP!!! - my mechanic
Why it happened - I made the call
Why it makes me happy - they can take my car in Monday night. I have to go to a specialty place so it's not a "just drive it over there" kind of deal. I also know they will take care of the issue. Plus...it's probably not going to be as expensive as I thought.

HappyUP!!! - delicious tortellini
Why it happened - I stopped by my bro's to see my dad
Why it makes me happy - my sis-in-law and her son's girlfriend were there cooking together. The son's girlfriend seemed very nice....and the two of them turned out a delicious pasta! Wait...did I say it was delicious? It was delicious.

HappyUP!!! - appointment with a recruit
Why it happened - I made the call
Why it makes me happy - my job is to be picking up new people. This guy may be a good one! We'll see tomorrow.

HappyUP!!! Day 221

HappyUP!!! - my car got me through another day
Why it happened - I have developed a problem with the ignition....no, not under the hood...the place where you actually put the key in and take it out
Why it makes me happy - I didn't get stranded! I very easily could have. The problem first surfaced a couple of days ago. I now know I am pushing my luck. I'll be driving the truck until a remedy is found.

HappyUP!!! - business opportunity
Why it happened - it was referred to me
Why it makes me happy - while I don't know if we will move on it, I now know of something going on in the country that few do. It's always good to know what is going on.

HappyUP!!! - after hours appointment
Why it happened - I offered a favor
Why it makes me happy - there was no money in it for me. These weren't clients. They were people I knew that just needed some advice. I took the evening and just gave them the cogent steps they need to take to work out of a bit of a sticky situation.

HappyUP!!! Day 220

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - come on...it's Tuesday
Why it made me happy - we were short on members first day back from a 3 day holiday but long on enthusiasm and quality. I found out that we got 5 officers trained in recent trainings (4 were required). We had a lively meeting. I picked up a sunshine award.

HappyUP!!! - stuffed bell peppers
Why it happened - I made them yesterday
Why it made me happy - I had never made them before. I had no recipe. I just went off a hunch. I took the innards from some zucchini and sauteed them with garlic, basil, onions, black olives, and a some 5 minute brown rice. I baked them yesterday for about 13 minutes at 350. I pulled them out of the oven, removed the innards, mixed in some cheese and the leftover half of a steak, and stuck them in the fridge. I nuked one for lunch and one for dinner. WOW!!! INCREDIBLE! I do have to come clean. I bought the bell peppers. My ones from the garden just weren't big enough for proper stuffing. I'll be having this dish again....FOR SURE.

HappyUP!!! - solutions
Why it happened - I have been digesting a situation
Why it made me happy - I am taking my time before I move to solution on a persnickety little opportunity/issue that came up last week. Everyone would like answers. Sometimes a little time is exactly what you need to let the problem ferment. I smell a new answer starting to brew.

HappyUP!!! Day 219

HappyUP!!! - a lazy morning
Why it happened - it was Labor Day
Why it made me happy - I splurged on the diet and had a mocha. I just enjoyed the morning. I like the third day of a three day weekend. Some people fill them with activity. I look at it as a day to just enjoy as a day...to do whatever you want even if it isn't important

HappyUP!!! - a delicious steak and salad
Why it happened - I had time....and I hadn't had a real dinner for a bit
Why it made me happy - I picked up some Worchester Sauce. Pour it over a steak with a little garlic salt and fork/knife it in and you got what I got.....an absolutely delicious piece of beef

HappyUP!!! - new growth
Why it happened - I planted a pepper in a weird spot. Plus, I did some weeding
Why it made me happy - I got in late (planted late) with one pepper plant. I planted it in a spot that gets morning shade. Today, I saw the first evidence of peppers. YES! It was a test area this year. Next year, it will be fully developed for planting. Now, over on the melon front, I needed to do some weeding. The vine was getting choked. As I looked under the foliage, I found at least 4 cantaloupes developing. This would equate to the entire plants production for the year. I hadn't even seen these gems. Who knows? Maybe it is going to bust out here in the fall. There is a lot of vine there. Now, if that darn watermelon vine would get the same idea....

QuoteUP!!! 5...Thoreau on hurry

"Life is too short to be in too much
of a hurry" -Thoreau

Where do you want me to go with this? - or do I really even need to?

Is it advancing age - that makes me gravitate to this gem? I know there are a lot of speed freaks out there.

At the same time - I have always held to the fable about the tortoise and the hair. "Measure twice, cut once," also comes to mind.

Where would you take this?

HappyUP!!! Day 218

A lot to choose from today....hmmm...could knowing that I don't have to put in a full day tomorrow leaed to that. We have fun and getting things done all in the mix

HappyUP!!! - golf with my brother
Why it happened - he invited me
Why it made me happy - the score wasn't there but a lot of very properly struck shots were. It means I am on the right track. I also played with some good players...one guy shot 69! In a weird stroke of fate, I also one some money in a big pot we had going with a few other groups out there.....66 bucks worth!

HappyUP!!! - 23 miles of bike riding
Why it happened - I needed to do it
Why it made me happy - the old man still has some legs in him. Average about 17 mph. While far from my younger days, it is kind of a start. I am also digging the totally spent feeling in my legs this evening. It is a good exhaustion when you know you haven't injured yourself but your legs are pretty much thrashed.

HappyUP!!! - the weigh in
Why it happened - it's Sunday!
Why it made me happy - 2 pounds off since last week! I am now the lowest I have been in a year when the weight started going up. This is a good intersection to cross. 165 by Thanksgiving is very doable. What? Did you say, "go for 160?" Hmmmm....let's get to the 165 first and do a reassessment.


Jolly Jottings

Golf with brother
Perfect wedge shot
Perfect 9 iron off the hard pan
7-iron closest to the pin
3 birdies
Playing with good players
Starting to pick up a new tune on the guitar
23 mile bike ride
The good exhausted feeling after the bike ride
Sunday weigh in

HappyUP!!! Day 217

HappyUP!!! - falling back asleep
Why it happened - I NEEDED sleep
Why it made me happy - it made me peppy today! I caught a little insomnia around 1 a.m. I got up, did some stuff, and went back to work at 4. I woke up at 8:30 so I ended up getting the usual amount of sleep in. The other thing I am happy about is that it happened on a Friday night so I didn't have to worry about work and getting up early.

HappyUP!!! - trip to the bike store with my friend
Why it happened - he called me up and got me
Why it made me happy - this is my best friend's little brother. It's great that we can call each other up. I heard someone say that a man is lucky to have one good, really good, friend as he gets older. This is another guy that will be on my list.

HappyUP!!! - guitar course showed up
Why it happened - I ordered it
Why it made me happy - it gives me Labor Day weekend to mess around with it!

The End

(A special post for my friends at SundayScribblings )

"The End"

Once it's over, it's over. You look forward. There are factors that lead to endings. Sometimes we forget what they are and were over time. But there was usually a good reason to make the turns that we did. It may escape us but it is something to honor. We may retain some fond memories. We may be scared of looking forward but this is the direction that we will live. We have to spend our time there. We are better for the experience we gained so there is no need or room for regret. Everything really does happen for a reason. If we are lucky, very lucky, we are left with an honorable friendship.

People ask me, "Nutster, do you have any regrets?"

I say that there are some things that I wish may have turned out differently. The events that have happened have led me to be the person that I have become. I am the one that I must love today. I do. Who can have regrets for endings that lead to that?

The End