AlexPGP's Corner

I was pretty focused on my work last night, and so didn't really have the time (or inclination) to muse about what's been going on generally.

Moneybookers finally came through with the transfer to our checking account a mere 5 business days (7 calendar days) after my request, so I'll keep this in mind for the future. In this regard, they seem to be about as responsive as PayPal. Speaking of banks, I sent a fax to my bank in Pontarlier, but although eFax shows that it was delivered, I have not received a confirming email from them about it, nor have I heard back from the bank. I'll give it until Monday morning; if I haven't heard back by then, I'll call again.

I got some walking exercise in yesterday, from our real estate agent's office to the Borders bookstore near I-45, while Galina discussed various details about some imminent issues. We have a contract from one of our tenants, who had rented with an option to buy, and if everything goes well, we'll be free of the property in a few weeks and there'll be one less worry on my plate.

Apropos of Borders, I caught sight of an interesting book there the other day while browing, all about the use of self-watering containers for patio gardening. I got the gist of the method while skimming the book, so when Galina took me along to get some more landscaping soil yesterday (we've engaged two young ladies to landscape our current property), I bought two tomato plants ($5.99 + tax, each), both to try out the method, but also to scratch a very old itch, because I really miss summer gardening.

Getting back to exercise, the distance I walked was, according to Google Earth, just about 1.7 miles, and I got to Borders at just about the time that Galina did, so there was no time to browse. Later, after Galina went up to Natalie's to pick up a box of mail forwarded by Andrew, I walked to the Kroger and back for some stuff that, upon returning home, I had lost most of my appetite for.

Based on the way my weight has been behaving, I'm starting to believe that there are certain "quantum" levels that one's body will assume, and that it takes some bit of prodding, as it were, to move out of any given level. For quite a while, for example, I was hovering around 232 lb. and would quickly recover from occasionaly excursions of a few pounds. However, after about a week of too much food - my fault, no excuses - during last month's interpretation assignment, my weight shot up to 240 and is pretty much staying there, so it seems I'm back to square one.

In a way, it's good that Galina is planning to go to Pagosa (she was going to go today, but now it's looking like she'll leave tomorrow), because I find it a lot easier to not think much about food if there's nobody around to remind me "I'm hungry" from time to time.

I've been playing chess over my BlackBerry for a while, and it's not been very satisfying, as the opposition has been pretty weak. However, I've finally hooked into a position in the Alapin French that I should probably pay some attention to, when the opportunity affords itself this weekend. The Alapin is a distant cousin of the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, which is to say: an aggressive opening for White that is easy for Black to go astray in, and I means for Black to go astray!

If I was under the impression that yesterday was a rest day, I was, um, misinformed. By the time I hit the sack, I had translated nearly 2700 target words during the day, which is a fair piece of work. Currently, the "state of the plate" is two documents, one of which arrived a few days ago, comprising 11,000 words, due Monday, and a second document that arrived this morning, 2,200 words, which has a Tuesday COB deadline. My best client, who was responsible for the 2700 words yesterday, will soon send along a few hundred more words, due for Monday.

The basic approach is straightforward: plan to do 4,000 words per day today and over the weekend, which should not be unduly difficult, except for maybe today, as it's very nearly 11 am and I haven't laid word one down on phosphor yet.

Time to go remedy that.

Cheers...

The remaining 2,000 or so source words went down quickly this morning, and the work was out the wire by about 10:30 am. Invoices for both this job and the one finished yesterday went out soon after. Call it a half day of work.

I napped in the afternoon, while Galina went up to Natalie's to drop off a load of laundry, waking up just before she returned home.

I asked MoneyBookers to transfer money 5 days ago, but nothing has happened yet. My life won't turn on the amount transferred, but it would still be nice to know what method of "bank transfer" is used when withdrawing money. Right now, I'm suspecting they've sent a check, based on how long it's taking. At any rate, I've hit the MoneyBookers site and nudged them with an inquiry. Someday, knowing the ropes at MoneyBookers might turn out to be helpful.

Galina and I walked around the block yesterday, and today, I took the bike out for a spin, riding to the bank to deposit a small payment and then back. The traffic on Highway 518 was pretty heavy, making it a good idea to cross on foot, something I didn't do the first time I crossed (which, but for the grace of Providence, would have been the last time I crossed any street had traffic been slightly different). In any event, outside activities are going to become less and less attractive in the near term as the weather heats up.

Cheers...