Checkpoint "Baker"

I spent about an hour after closing time with invoices and similar items. Have decided to take on a high-schooler to help out with some computer stuff around the store, and around my translation work, if it works out.

Most of my time this evening has been spent with Perl, writing something that will generate store statements. I just need to verify some items tomorrow at the store, and then we can print statements.

My freelancer has not responded to my post-assignment communication. I fear this bodes badly.

In other news, Drew and I spent a couple of hours cutting back the brush from the house. The side of the house with the most and the closest brush is also avenue of least threat (in my opinion), unless someone or something actually starts a fire between the road and the house. The other three sides are from 15 to 30 yards away from dry stuff.

In still other news, I have been informed by the ATA that both of my proposed presentations for the Atlanta conference have been accepted, along with my participation in something that has to do with... I forget... something off-beat and fun, unless I miss my guess. I have this recollection it has to do with translation of poetry, or ??? There is still some time to do research, but the conference will be here before you know it...

It would appear there is a possibility of having Gorbachev's interpreter do a seminar at the conference. He is apparently a very versatile interpreter and has just published a book (maybe it's a dictionary,... it's late!)

And it is late. Time - way past time - to go to sleep. Here's my updated to-do:

• Invoice this work (Done! When I have some free time, I really need to investigate what eats up the time, here. It seems most clients want me to do their paperwork, as well as my own.)
  
• Find the car title, which Galina says is among files upstairs, and register the car (This looks like a dead letter. Even if we found the title, we'd also have to get auto insurance prior to registering the vehicle. Drew seems agreeable, though I think I'm going to have to lay out for a set of tires, too.)
  
• Get the store statements out (I estimate I'm about 80% of the way through this, for this month..)
  
• Pack for the trip (Above all things, this includes finding my badge and headset... yes, I found them!)
  
• While on the road, give some thought as to what I might write for the next edition of the SlavFile.

29 hours to go...

Cheers...

Checkpoint "Charlie"

A satellite photo from a couple of days ago shows the major fires in Colorado:

The fire of interest to folks around here is the Missionary Ridge fire. Without putting too fine a point on it, Pagosa is located somewhere around the "M" of "Missionary" on the map. We are told the fire is 40 miles away.

Here's what it looks like from the verandah:

It's interesting to see how people act and react under the circumstances. Yesterday, Galina told of several people who'd created a "run" on packing-sized boxes. Today, one of our customers - a prolix man to begin with - just went on and on (with great gusto) relating all the danger we were (allegedly) in.

While on the one hand, the direction of the smoke on the satellite photo clearly shows prevailing southwesterly winds, another gent - a local ham who helps coordinate ham participation in search-and-rescue activities, and who is generally very sober in this regard - has begun to take names of volunteers to staff an amateur radio network to supplement the "official" networks should push come to shove.

Me, I'm going to be on the road in a while. headed for Texas. I had planned to get out early, but to do that, I'd have to short myself in the sleep department, and I'm neither willing to do that, nor have I done all that I plan to do before retiring for the night. So I don't know...

My assignments next week run the gamut from crew training, to simulations (lots of simulations), to real-time air-to-ground support.

I am packed. I will be taking Drew's car. I am about 95% complete with the invoices (to be done before I go to bed).

Cheers...