Simple Pleasures...

I have tried many times to make a good from scratch chicken soup. Tonight, I finally nailed it.

Steve MN wrote:

Watching glass blowing at a distillery tasting room.

where?

Isanti spirits.  I need to check with the owner on how often they're doing that.

The NHL playoffs start tomorrow

I have tried many times to make a good from scratch chicken soup. Tonight, I finally nailed it.

Yep… it’s always fun to prefect a dish that you have been playing with.

158 days till Gopher Hockey!!!

Gopher band playing the Rouser at the Mondale Memorial Service.

Been with the same company since 1998, and pretty much the same job title, but my roles have changed several times.  And in this time I've had 10 direct supervisors... now 11 starting in June... LoL!!!

Who needs Taco Tuesday when you can have Taco Thursday at work!!!

Update from corporate that the results of the "work from home/return to office survey" show that the majority of employees prefer to work from home, so they're shutting down another of the floors in the building we're in to save expenses.  Which means they're not going to try to force us to start coming back in again any time soon.

I work in health care and patient care so I have to go into work everyday.  Though I'm 50/50 with companies having staff work from home... my wife included.  I see the benefits and pros/cons on both sides.

Update from corporate that the results of the “work from home/return to office survey” show that the majority of employees prefer to work from home, so they’re shutting down another of the floors in the building we’re in to save expenses. Which means they’re not going to try to force us to start coming back in again any time soon.

That has become the norm here, too.  One person on my team of roughly 15 has any intention of working in the office and that's probably just a couple days a week.

Heck, I've had one person on my team relocate (from LA to TN) since 'work your way' was implemented and several others in our larger organization have also relocated.  Would not be surprised if more take advantage.  Such a great program.   Mrs. GE and I plan to build a home n the next few where YE's cabin is currently located and while it's not a long drive into work from there having this flexibility has certainly moved up our timeline.

That has become the norm here, too. One person on my team of roughly 15 has any intention of working in the office and that’s probably just a couple days a week.

Heck, I’ve had one person on my team relocate (from the LA area to TN) since ‘work your way’ was implemented and several others in our larger organization have also relocated. Would not be surprised if more take advantage. Such a great program. Mrs. GE and I plan to build a home n the next few where YE’s cabin is currently located and while it’s not a long drive into work from there having this flexibility has certainly moved up our timeline.

I am hoping to eventually visit the home office and have you buy be lunch!!!

Greyeagle wrote:

That has become the norm here, too. One person on my team of roughly 15 has any intention of working in the office and that’s probably just a couple days a week. Heck, I’ve had one person on my team relocate (from LA to TN) since ‘work your way’ was implemented and several others in our larger organization have also relocated. Would not be surprised if more take advantage. Such a great program. Mrs. GE and I plan to build a home n the next few where YE’s cabin is currently located and while it’s not a long drive into work from there having this flexibility has certainly moved up our timeline.

I am hoping to eventually visit the home office and have you buy be lunch!!!

That would be very kind of me! 

Maybe at a Wendy's in St. Paul or the east metro and they might be able to spell your name correctly... Gorag.

Update from corporate that the results of the “work from home/return to office survey” show that the majority of employees prefer to work from home, so they’re shutting down another of the floors in the building we’re in to save expenses. Which means they’re not going to try to force us to start coming back in again any time soon.

As someone who cannot work from home, I hope everyone out there that can work from home now truly appreciates how lucky they are!!!

Steve MN wrote:

Update from corporate that the results of the “work from home/return to office survey” show that the majority of employees prefer to work from home, so they’re shutting down another of the floors in the building we’re in to save expenses. Which means they’re not going to try to force us to start coming back in again any time soon.

As someone who cannot work from home, I hope everyone out there that can work from home now truly appreciates how lucky they are!!!

Oh, I definitely do.

That would be very kind of me!

Update from corporate that the results of the “work from home/return to office survey” show that the majority of employees prefer to work from home, so they’re shutting down another of the floors in the building we’re in to save expenses. Which means they’re not going to try to force us to start coming back in again any time soon.

I started working from home full time about three months ago. It is so much nicer to have an easier, less stressful morning. I used to have a 30 minute commute so I am saving an hour a day... no fighting traffic, far less morning stress, less wear and tear on my car, less gas used, etc.

Unless I am in dire straits, I don't think I will ever again work for a company that requires any more than a couple of days a week in the office (if that). I didn't always realize how much I had to do to just get to work every day until I didn't have to do it any more.

Any management that wants employees back in the office full time (in jobs where it truly isn't necessary) is ridiculous in my book.

I may qualify for that $750 "frontline worker" bonus that was just passed. I wouldn't mind that.

I am glad I have the flexibility of working from home as often as I want, but I prefer working in the office. If I had a crappy commute and didn't have a solid office environment I'd probably feel differently.

I went back to work a year ago this week. Starting a "hybrid" schedule where we needed to be there 3 days a week. Absolutely no reason to work in the office after we got a great system down working at home. My position was eliminated a week later. That division of the company folded a few months ago. So it all worked out very well for me. Was only out of work for 45 days. But going back in to the office cost them quite a few people beyond getting rid of me and they never recovered.

But besides that one hybrid week, I have been working from home for 2 years. Took a bit to get used to, but I do not want to go back to an office environment. As a contingent worker for 3M through another company. We have not even been asked to come back and even if we do it would be under their "work your way" rules. Basically you can do what you want. Work in the office or at home.

I may qualify for that $750 “frontline worker” bonus that was just passed. I wouldn’t mind that.

I definitely qualify, though I won’t believe it until I see it in my account.

The Rube wrote:

I may qualify for that $750 “frontline worker” bonus that was just passed. I wouldn’t mind that.

I definitely qualify, though I won’t believe it until I see it in my account.

Ditto.

I started working from home before the pandemic started, after my company closed the last MN based site.  One of the good things that came of the pandemic is the dramatic increase in the quality of video conferencing software.

A week ago my company hosted a relatively large on-site meeting from one of our manufacturing site.  Maybe 20-30 people in a conference room with another 20 or so people (like me) attending online from various locations around the world.  The absolute worst part of the meeting was the microphone/speaker system in the conference room.  Those of us online could not hear the majority of the people speaking in the conference room.  Had we just all meet via our video conferencing system, it would have been so much better.

I do miss my coworkers, having in person meetings and happy hours, but for a very busy mid-40s father of 2 teenagers, it does not make up for the benefits of working from home.

Now if I were in my 20s and single and enjoying the social scene I once loved, it would be completely different.

Of course employees will mostly choose to stay home when possible. But I've found the in person meetings to be WAY more productive now that they're an option again. Forcing someone to go in three days a week? No. Going in when you want to, maybe a day or two a week, with meetings? Yes

I started coming in to the office pretty much full time again this year. The main reason is that nearly no one else has. There's almost no one around, and I don't have the distractions of home. Helps a lot that it is a five minute drive as well. Once the office starts getting crowded, if it ever does, I'll likely work from home more often again.

Every now and then I get floated to work in IGH near Gretens.  It's crazy seeing the traffic in and out of that place all week long.  The parking lot is always full, even mid morning on a Tuesday.

Every now and then I get floated to work in IGH near Gretens. It’s crazy seeing the traffic in and out of that place all week long. The parking lot is always full, even mid morning on a Tuesday.

Super nice family!

My wife has worked for Bachman's for almost 40 years has been in their corporate finance office for at least the last 30 and for her/us vacations in April (when they have normal weather!), May, & early June just don't happen.  Just has she has for before most every Mother's (and Valentine's) day since she's worked in the office she will be working on the delivery floor today and tomorrow prepping shipments & most of the Bachman family will be doing the same thing.  I suspect the same thing will be happening at Gerten's.

Always heard good things about the Gertens family. Everything is earned and not given.  It's not a free ride if you want to be apart of the Gertens empire.

Longshots!

Longshots!

You can’t make this stuff up. Minnesota can’t even win a horse race.

Loserville, USA lol!!!

@ 80/1 Rich Strike wasn't even one of the 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby yesterday. A horse scratched and he got in.

These are the races that drive me nuts and I laugh at, at Canterbury. A horse opens up at 30/1 and by time they get to the gate the horse is at 20/1 cause the young crowd love to bet on the long shots to get rich quick… lol!!!

@ 80/1 Rich Strike wasn’t even one of the 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby yesterday. A horse scratched and he got in. These are the races that drive me nuts and I laugh at, at Canterbury. A horse opens up at 30/1 and by time they get to the gate the horse is at 20/1 cause the young crowd love to bet on the long shots to get rich quick… lol!!!

You can all SUCK IT because I just made $400!  Well $375.  I have friends in KY and every year we all place bets on the Derby.  I put $5 on the MN horse Zandon and every year I put $5 on the long shot.  HA!  I know I know big spender, but it’s all in fun and not taken seriously.  I’m not the only one who consistently plays the long shot.  We’re all dancing and giving crap to our other friends now.  What it really means is I’ll owe a round of drinks this summer at our film conference.  And no one ever orders rail?

I like win-place bets. $10 on your horse to win and $10 on your horse to place. You'll win both bets your horse wins and if your horse places you win the place ticket. Same with a win-show bet or even a win-place-show bet.

I don’t know if anyone saw the overhead Derby footage and Rich Strike coming from practically the back of the group.  It was honestly unbelievable the speed that suddenly kicked in and the jockeys masterful direction of the horse.  That horse shifted into fourth gear.

I was also laughing at what a little shit the horse was after the race, biting the Churchill horse leading it to the winners circle.  It was being very difficult and aggressive.  Then at one point it’s groomer showed up and it settled down.  The groomer was petting his neck and you could read his lips saying “good…good”.

I don’t know if anyone saw the overhead Derby footage and Rich Strike coming from practically the back of the group. It was honestly unbelievable the speed that suddenly kicked in and the jockeys masterful direction of the horse. That horse shifted into fourth gear. I was also laughing at what a little shit the horse was after the race, biting the Churchill horse leading it to the winners circle. It was being very difficult and aggressive. Then at one point it’s groomer showed up and it settled down. The groomer was petting his neck and you could read his lips saying “good…good”.

Big Derby/Triple Crown Race fan here. Those other two horses were so worried about each other, they didn't notice Rich Strike making a move. As far as the post-race, I mentioned on Twitter that Rich Strike was acting like a frat boy who just took 5 shots of Jager and was looking to bed with a woman.

That was an amazing race. I was at Pub 819 with some friends, and the whole bar was into it, cheering and such.

Place and show were definitely caught off guard!

https://twitter.com/MyBookie/status/1523129969269956609?s=20&t=YTAwNaC6_6C2zNjYeI5Zig

152 till Gopher Hockey and wisconSIN says “hold my beer”.

@ 80/1 Rich Strike wasn’t even one of the 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby yesterday. A horse scratched and he got in. These are the races that drive me nuts and I laugh at, at Canterbury. A horse opens up at 30/1 and by time they get to the gate the horse is at 20/1 cause the young crowd love to bet on the long shots to get rich quick… lol!!!

Canterbury races are usually only 6 horses and one of the top two favorites win every race.  Favorites go off at even money or 1-3 so people start throwing money at the other 4 horses to find value.

I hate betting at Canterbury.

Place and show were definitely caught off guard!

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The speed of Rich Strike relative to all of the other horses at the end of the race is almost unbelievable.

gator wrote:

@ 80/1 Rich Strike wasn’t even one of the 20 horses in the Kentucky Derby yesterday. A horse scratched and he got in. These are the races that drive me nuts and I laugh at, at Canterbury. A horse opens up at 30/1 and by time they get to the gate the horse is at 20/1 cause the young crowd love to bet on the long shots to get rich quick… lol!!!

Canterbury races are usually only 6 horses and one of the top two favorites win every race. Favorites go off at even money or 1-3 so people start throwing money at the other 4 horses to find value. I hate betting at Canterbury.

I like going to Canterbury, but don’t put a ton of money on the races for this exact reason. It feels like a lot of favorites win and that’s not very profitable. It has gotten better in recent years with the influx of money from Mystic Lake. It’s still a low level of horse racing with not a ton of competition.

My friends and I used to go to Canterbury once in a while. We wouldn't bet with the track. We'd bet amongst ourselves, and we would bet on the horse that would finish last place, not win. Honestly, that is just as tough.

Staying at a hotel in Rochester and our room has two TVs. Can see both games while lying in bed.  ? ??

We got upgraded from a 32" tv to a 50" in our living room.  I was fine with the 32" until we got the 50"... WOW!!! My wife said we should've got the 55". There was still have room... LoL!!!

Living vicariously through your kids haha.

The eldest is in Michigan with the UM Gopher Motorsports team.  He has helped with building a car set to be raced vs. teams from dozens of colleges from the US (and at least one from Mexico) at the Michigan International Speedway.  He designed the chain-guard and is the backup driver as a Fr.  Today they present their design etc. to the judges, and then over the next few days will compete with acceleration, skidpad, autocross and endurance.

For a kid that loved his first Hot Wheel since before he could walk I am not surprised by any of this.

We got upgraded from a 32″ tv to a 50″ in our living room. I was fine with the 32″ until we got the 50″… WOW!!! My wife said we should’ve got the 55″. There was still have room… LoL!!!

we have a 65 inch in our remodeled basement.  As soon as it went up my wife lamented that a 75” might have looked better there.

once my 61” DLP finally dies (bought it in 2005) I’m using those words to put an 80” in the family room.  It’s a big space so I’m going big

gator wrote:

We got upgraded from a 32″ tv to a 50″ in our living room. I was fine with the 32″ until we got the 50″… WOW!!! My wife said we should’ve got the 55″. There was still have room… LoL!!!

we have a 65 inch in our remodeled basement. As soon as it went up my wife lamented that a 75” might have looked better there. once my 61” DLP finally dies (bought it in 2005) I’m using those words to put an 80” in the family room. It’s a big space so I’m going big

I have a 50", and I'd like to go bigger, but frankly, in a 1BR apt...a 50" is big enough, although according to the "formula" I could go as high as 57"-60"

I've had a pretty basic 1080P 60“ Sharp for about 10 years now and never seriously looked to replace. 4K content has just never fully taken off.

I’ve had a pretty basic 1080P 60“ Sharp for about 10 years now and never seriously looked to replace. 4K content has just never fully taken off.

From what I know, 4K isn't worth it, yet. It might happen, it might not, become widespread (I think it will, just not worth the investment yet).

I also put a piece of tape on the floor for the kids to sit behind.  32" screen was bad enough watching them stand 6" inches from... lol!!!