Two for '22

WOW that month went quickly!  Here we are at the 31st day of 2022.  And 1/31/22 is also Hot Chocolate Day!  I actually did not have any hot chocolate today.  Sarah offered me some when she made it, but I was not in the mood.  But it did inspire my Two-For '22 today, Hot Chocolate and Whipped Cream.  I mean, what IS hot chocolate without whipped cream?  Naked I tell you and it looked really good (the hot chocolate with whipped cream, nobody here was naked, get your minds out of the gutter :-) ).  And it capped off a cold winter day.  HAPPY HOT CHOCOLATE DAY!  May all your mugs be properly topped!

  It snowed a lot on Saturday so, on the 30th day of 2022 I was very careful when I ventured outside.  I mean I finally ventured outside for the first time since Thursday (man, my step count has been bad) to, on 1/30/2022, run errands, pick up the mail from Church, and go to swim at the gym.  But I was wary of my Two For 2022 for today, Snow and Ice.  I am a curmudgeon (I mean it's only been 30 days and two of my themes have been my dislike of winter weather) but, to a guy who has a hard time not tripping on dry land, ice and snow are worrisome.  Here's to warmer days ahead!

  The 29th day of 2022 is National Puzzle Day!  Puzzles make me smile.  From my daily competitions on Words with Friends, to the joy I have watching my mom's progress on her jigsaw puzzles, to the daily obsession that is Wordle.  So, on 1/29/2022 my Two For 2022 is Puzzles and Fun.  Sometimes you just have to think of the simple things.... puzzles and fun!

I was panicked on the 28th day of 2022.  I worked all day on a project and it is way past due.  I thought, on 1/28/2022, that I had lost the entire file when it just shut down in the middle of working.  I mean I saw the file, and I just could NOT seem to open it.  Enter my friend Brian, always calm under pressure.  I sent him the file and he found the thing that was preventing me from seeing the data.  I swear I did not hide that workbook, but I am glad my life-saving phone a friend was there in my time of need.  Now, I need to get to bed to be able to finish it up in the morning, with a clear head!  My Two-For '22 for tonight is panic and a life saver.  I provided the panic, Brian was the life saver and all is now well - GOODNIGHT!

  When I think about my life, one thing of which I am most proud is the way that Alexa and Anna have grown up to be such fine people.  On the 27th day of 2022, I was reminded of some of the many reasons, that are not actually me, that this is the case.  1/27/2022 is the Golden Twenty Seventh Birthday of my amazing niece, Ashley Walters.  Ashley is just an amazing person and has, at all times, proved to be an amazing role model for Anna and Alexa.  It was so awesome to celebrate the birthday of Ashley (and her Dad, Chris, and Winne as well!) tonight.  Thanks to Jackie for an amazing meal and thanks to the family for a fun time.  And a special thanks to my inspiration of my Two For '22 tonight.  Role Model and Niece.  That is what Ashley is (and a whole, whole lot more).  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHLEY - may 2022 bring you all that you dream of, and more!  As her voice mail message used to say (maybe it still does!), "if you dream it, you can...

  January 26th is always a special day and the 26th day of 2022 was no different.  Because 1/26/2022 is my mom's birthday.  Any successes I have, any good characteristics, are all because of the way my mom, with my dad, brought me up.  And I am thankful for technology that allowed for me to sing to her twice today, once alone and once with Sarah and the girls.  Because I always want my mother to know how much I love and appreciate her.  Does not matter when in my life it has been, it has always been my Two for 2022 for today - my Mom and Me.  Yeah, I am a momma's boy, and I would not have it any other way!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY (again), MOM!

  The 25th day found me in the Irvine Gymnasium for a milestone event.  On 1/25/2022, Senior Mekhi Bassett surpassed 1,000 points in his HS Basketball career.  It was so nice to see how happy the fans, his family, and his teammates were to join him in celebrating this event.  My Two-For 2022 is basketball and milestones.  Another name will be hanging on the wall of the gym (once they are re-hung after repainting).  Wonder who will be next???

1/24/2022 is National Peanut Butter Day.  But, on the 24th day of 2022, I am gonna turn that into my daily reflection.  Because what is PB without Jelly?  Yes, my Two For 2022 are PB and Jelly.  The classic.  It's been a long day at work, so that's all I have tonight.  Now I want a PB&J Sandwich!

The 23rd day of 2022 capped off one of the best (if not THE best) composite set of football games I have ever seen.  First three games all ended on game winning field goals by the visiting (lower seed) teams.  And the game that capped off 1/23/2022 was a game for the ages.  An instant classic.  We all knew that the Chiefs/Bills (#2 vs #3) would be a good game but we just did not know how good!!  Game ultimately was decided by a coin flip because neither QB would be denied!  My Two For 22 for tonight is football and playoffs.  We're talking about PLAYOFFS???  WOW!

Whelp - I was working late and watching SNL and, so, I did not make a post on time for the 22nd day of 2022.  Which is sad because 22-1-22 (DD-M-YY) is palindromic, but I did not think of that on 1/22/22.  SO, I left you, yesterday, with a Two-Fer of Peace and Quiet.  It happens once in a while :-)  Hope you enjoyed it - because I am BACK!

  The 21st day of 2022 is International Sweatpants Day.  During remote work, every day from Fall through Spring is Sweatpants Day (and Late Spring-Summer-Early Fall is Shorts Day!)  On 1/21/2022, I woke up late (UGH I overslept and almost missed a meeting - good think my commute is just stumbling down the stairs) and had cold pizza (YUM!) for breakfast.  Then I worked all day online, on WiFi, in my sweatpants (in Zoom, nobody sees below your belly button!)  So when I found this mug pic of WiFi, Pizza, Sweatpants I was like, yup, that's my day.  My Two for 2022 for today is sweatpants and remote work.  I know they are comfortable, but don't tell anyone I am actually looking forward to wearing slacks, a shirt, and a tie again soon and to get back onto campus.  Soon, soon.  Until then, I'll be here, remote working in my sweatpants....

  I was a little nervous on 1/20/2022 when we got called to be told that the basketball game would be starting 15 mins early.  Now, that might not sound like a big deal, but I have a bunch of announcements and lineups I have to read at each game and the Girls' team has been playing varsity first so I have to get there early enough to prepare.  Now, I arrived at the gym and hustled to the scorer's table, ready to get prepared in a frenzy and.... guess what?  On the 20th day of 2022, Collingswood played Lindenwold and the Lindenwold coach had a roster of players for me (I write them all in number order so I can announce them scoring and entering/leaving the game) and he even had the lineups with positions and year in school AND he had a list of his name and his assistants.  His preparation, for a game in which my prep time was curtailed, greatly contributed to my success in being ready at Game Time.  And I thanked him.  Twice.  So my Two For 2022 ar...

  I noticed, on the 19th day of 2022, a posting in The Almanac  that listed the Penn Staff and Faculty that have joined the 25-year Club this year.  Oh, how I miss the 25-Year Club dinners in Houston Hall, I get to see so many of my retired and fellow "Penn Lifer" colleagues.   And I have so many more now to see when we finally get back to campus and are able to gather and eat together.  Welcome to the Club Jeff Barta, William Gipson, Joanne Murray-Gilmore, and Julie Spaeth.  These are just the new members for which I have a FB Friend link.  There are many others I look forward to seeing.  My Two for 2022 for 1/19/2022 is Penn and Longevity.   Who knew when I arrived on campus in Fall of 1986 that I would make a life and a career at Penn?  I am so glad I did and I look forward to many more years on campus and many more meals with the 25-Year Club!

  The 18th day of 2022 is Winnie the Pooh Day.  I always find that amusing because it is ALSO the birthday of my Mother in Law, Winnie Walters.  What a coincidence.  It is ALSO the birthday of Sydney van Rood who I got to sing to on Marco Polo and who I hope had a wonderful day!  BUT, on 1/18/2022, My Two For '22 are Pooh and Winnie.  I love Pooh's simplicity, kindness, and optimism.  And I love my Mother in Law who does so much for our family (not sure we would have made it through parenthood without her support).  SO, Happy Winnie the Pooh Day and Happy Birthday Winnie! 

  1/17/2022, being the first Monday after Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday was the Federal Holiday honoring MLK.  So, on the 17th day of 2022, I reflected a lot on Martin's Dream.  Yes, my Two For '22 today are Martin and his Dream.  Some days, I feel like we are getting farther from his dream with each passing day.  Society feels more separated than ever sometimes, politically, racially, economically, socially.  But, amidst all of the strife and acrimony that was directed at Martin Luther King, Jr, he never lost his hope or his dream.  SO, I am going to channel him and also not lose hope.  And I want to live my life to fulfil his dream so we truly can all live in community together with equal opportunities for all.

What a great weekend this has been.  Primarily because, at the center, has been the celebration of the wedding of my nephew, TJ, to his bride, Casey.  And one of my favorite memories of yesterday was the Mother-Son Dance.  I have to admit whenever I attend a wedding, I tear up at the Mother-Son Dance because I remember how meaningful my dance was with my mom, 22.5 years ago!  Well I also love to see what songs are selected for these dances.  And TJ's dance with Cheri (Sarah's sister) was Tim Mc Graw's Humble and Kind.  On the 16th day of 2022, I have been reflecting on how PERFECT a song that was for TJ's Dance.  TJ is one of the most humble and kind individuals ever to walk on this planet, and I respect him so much for those qualities.  Qualities that were spoken about numerous times in toasts last night and that are in view for us all to see any time we are with TJ or hear about his endeavors and actions.  So, my Two for '22 on 1/16/2022 ar...

  What a wonderful day the 15th day of 2022 has been. We spent 1/15/2022 at the wedding of TJ Holdredge (our nephew) and his new bride, Casey Burke. What a beautiful ceremony, what a fun reception, what an inspiring couple. My Two For ‘22 are TJ and Casey!! Love, prayers, and hugs for the new couple!!!

My GOODNESS it was cold outside this evening.  And, on 1/14/2022, I am thinking about the family wedding tomorrow where it will be one of the coldest days in the last three years!  But, any time I stepped outside of the house on the 14th day of 2022, I eventually got to return to my house where it is toasty and warm.  My Two for '22 is Cold Outside/Warm Inside.  Reflect tonight on how lucky most of us are to have a warm house in these cold days.  And pray for those who don't and for those who are running shelters to try to ensure, while they may not have a place of "their own," they have a place to get warm meal and get out of the cold.  But I also like this quote to remind me that how we act and interact and treat others shows our heart.  And a warm heart in these cold times is what we all need to aspire to.

  Something happened at Penn today that has not happened for almost 18 years (1/22/2004, I think).  Penn named a new President on the 13th day of 2022.  So my Two for '22 for 1/13/22 is Penn and Its Presidency.  Liz Magill will be the 5th (and maybe last) Penn President for whom I work.  She seems to be a student-centered, brilliant, policy researcher who happens to also be an excellent fundraiser.  Well, that seems to be exactly what Penn needs at this time so WELCOME TO PENN, Liz Magill.  I am looking forward to her future on campus and excited for the years to come. https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/elizabeth-magill-nominated-president-university-of-pennsylvania

So after being grumpy yesterday, I was determined to be cheerful on the 12th day of 2022.  And I was relatively successful on 1/12/2022.  Had some very good meetings, had some tough ones in which I stayed positive!  And, at the basketball game this evening, had to deal with an angry coach from the opposing team, who was lied to by his managers and so he was quite upset with me.  I stayed calm and told him that what he heard was not true (and others at the table backed me up).  He later apologized.  I stayed patient, I stayed calm, I kept my composure.  My Two For '22 are Patience and Composure.  I am SURE in the next few months, there will be other people angry or frustrated at or directing it to me.  I need to channel what I did today and stay patient, stay calm, keep my composure (and the hardest part, keep my voice at a reasonable level) and work towards solutions, not arguments.  I am not sure my goal is nirvana, but I hope to get cl...

The 11th day of 2022 was a tough day at work!  Maybe it was a lot of meetings with tough subjects and tough choices (sometimes picking the best worst option).  Maybe it was news of a person leaving the project with whom I have really enjoyed working.  Or maybe it's the fact that, on 1/11/2022, I was once again working from home.  When meetings have tough topics it's made, for me, tougher when everyone has their camera off and all we're looking at is initials or headshots.  When someone leaves the project and, although I met her in person maybe one time, I am still sad at her departure.  I like people, I NEED people.  And, yes, it is really convenient to roll out of bed, take a quick shower and work with no commute.  But I find I end up working more, so it's not like that commute time becomes my time.  My Two for '22 is Remote Work and my Mood.  We're going to be remote for a while longer (at LEAST until Monday, 1/24) so I need to suck it...

It goes without saying that I did not celebrate National Clean Off Your Desk Day on the 10th day of 2021.  No, for starters, I was way too busy on 1/10/2022 to have time to.  But, frankly, I am not sure I can.  MANY times I have started off with a clean desk or I have gone through a process to get to a clean desk and, many times, I have ended back amidst the clutter.  My Two for '22 is My Desk and Clutter.  But it's an ORGANIZED Clutter.  I know where most everything is.  I just have so much going on, it's hard to stay neat.  Someday, things will calm down....probably right around retirement!

  My friend Brian texted me yesterday.  It turned out that his family had an open day on Sunday and, other than work for Anna and Alexa (and I can always find work to do!), we had an open day too.  So, on the 9th day of 2022, they drove from North Jersey down to our place and we..... just hung out!  It was so nice to just sit around on 1/9/2022 and talk.  We got updates on each others' lives, we cracked jokes, we remembered past trips to Disney, we talked about the future for our kids, and we watched a little NFL football (what a week in the NFL!!!)  So my Two for '22 is Good Friends and Good Times.  Actually, Good Friends = Good Times.  And who doesn't like good times???

  The 8th day of 2022 was the first "normal" Saturday (i.e. not New Year's Day) of the year.  So, after sleeping in for a bit (it was so nice to get 9+ hours of sleep!), I headed out on 1/8/2022.  Dry Cleaner, Pretzel Place, nothing for the Bank nor the Post Office today but they were there if I needed them.  It's just nice to be back in a relaxed routine.  Did not do much work today (so I likely will have to tomorrow), but I did get all my errands done!

  I remember, with anticipation, waking up at 5AM and turning on KYW News Radio, 1060!  Listening for the news that all Public and Parochial Schools would be closed due to snow.  I remember hoping and praying with Jeff Porten (we may have done a snow dance) that enough snow would Fall to close Penn (who, at the time NEVER closed) and postpone our Calc Exam in College.  And, miracles of all miracles, it DID.  I still think I underperformed even with the extra time to study but.... oh well.  So why, on the 7th Day of 2022, did I wake up a little perturbed at the snow.  Yes, on 1/7/2021 I was annoyed by the overnight snow (it was only 3-4").  So I guess my Two for 2022 is Snow Days and Grumpy Ol' Me (yes ME, not men).  I know I am getting old when the idea of snow and a snow day does not bring me joy.  Maybe it's because most snow days are just remote work days (especially now during Covid and it has seemed to morph to that when Covid force...

The 6th day of 2021 is Three Kings Day!  Epiphany!  Yesterday was the 12th Day of Christmas (had I been wearing ties this year, today would have been the last of Christmas theme) and now we are at 1/6/2022.  And my Two For '22 for today is The Three Kings and Flexibility.  Life (even before Covid) is about making adjustments and changing your plans due to your experiences.  And that is what The Three Kings did.  They returned home, by another road, and, by doing so, they kept Herod from finding the Baby Jesus.  Thank God (pun intended) they did!  And I get to read the Scripture this Sunday in Church.  My favorite verse.  May we all be as flexible as the Three Kings and maybe we'll help make the world a better place too!

  Our dinner plans kept changing on the 5th day of 2022.  But what finally made us decide (we got take out from one of our favorite Chinese Food places) is that Sarah, on 1/5/2022, wanted SOUP!  Yes, today was soup weather so my Two For '22 tonight is Chilly Days and Soup!  Something about Won Ton Soup that always hits the spot and I got a lot of our other favorites as well.  Enough for leftovers.  But Sarah got her soup, we were all full and warm, and the family was together, laughing, and enjoying each others' company.  Great way to end the workday.

  On the 4th day of 2022, my "Two For '22" Reflection is about my daily routine and trivia!  I realized, on 1/4/2022 (National Trivia Day, by the way) that trivia is a major part of my routine.  I, on 99/100 days (yes, sadly I miss sometimes and ruin my streak), do the Question of the Day on my Amazon Echo.  It congratulated me tonight on 15 days in a row (that's over two weeks of brain developing activity "-) !! )  And then there is Jeopardy.  We usually watch it after the ABC National News and we have been doing it moreso now that we are cheering on Amy Schneider.  Wouldn't it be amazing if Amy broke Ken's streak while Ken was hosting!  And then I also play Jeopardy, myself. on the Amazon Echo.  They replaced Alex's voice on the app, right before the end of the 2021 year, BUT, occasionally he chimes in and I love hearing his voice.  I DO miss Alex, but I am happy for Amy and enjoy Ken's appreciation of her achievements.  And I lov...

  When I went to the gym to swim today, the parking lot seemed a LOT more crowded that usual for that time of the evening.  And there were more people in the pool that usual (but I did get my own lane).  I figured this would be the case on the 3rd day of 2022.  1/3/2022, thus, makes me think of my Two For: New Years and (NO) Resolutions.  Yes, that's right.  I am a fan of having no resolutions.  If someone presses me I say "1) survive to 2023 (i.e. the next year and, yes, lately, that seems harder to keep) and 2) give up naked hang-gliding (on a streak of 52 years clean).  But seriously, I like what Alan Hunter said on the 80s on 8 this weekend.  We do not need resolutions, we need good lifestyle choices.  And I will continue to try to be as kind and helpful and empathetic and respectful of others as I can.  But these aren't resolutions (made to be broken).  These are the way I, personally, want to be.  Hope you all are st...

  Well Day #2 of 2022 is a Sunday.  And, one thing that has not changed much as time has passed, pandemic or not, is that, on Sunday, I do the laundry.  So my Two for 2022 for 1/2/2022 is Sunday and Laundry.  There's something calming of the process of doing laundry.  Everything starts in chaos, is sorted into sheets, towels, whites, lights, and darks, and then, eventually it comes out warm and dry and gets folder into order (thanks, Sarah!)  As we look at a snow event tomorrow (after it was 61 degrees today), as we look at a week or two (or more?) of remote school/work for Alexa, Anna, and me (and maybe Sarah??), as we look at the chaos that is the world these days: climate, Covid, politics, social media.....  I can't wait for it all to be separated into the proper loads, and comes out warm and dry to be orderly sorted.  We could all use a little orderly sorting in our lives.  Hang in there, everyone!

  Well, we've come to a New Year - welcome 2022, we hope you're a vast improvement over the past two years (but I am not holding my breath!)  New Year = New Theme and, this year, I am going to have a theme of TWO for 2022.  Yes, in honor of the impending TwosDay (2/22/22), I am going to have a Two Based Theme for 2022.  And, for Day #1 of 2022, I am going to focus on New Year's Day and Food Traditions.  I mean, maybe I am too tied up in the happiness caused by food, but I was so happy to awake to the smell of the traditional New Year's Egg Casserole.  And then, for dinner, Sarah made the traditional pork and potatoes (and I added JUST enough sauerkraut to hopefully bring good luck.)  But I also see, on my friends' FB pages, Hoppin' John, my sister made oliebollen to celebrate the Dutch roots in her household, and I saw traditional New Year's foods from other cultures: Korean, Southern, etc.  It made me happy to see people starting off the yea...