probative http://proba.tive.org/nblog/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.31 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://proba.tive.org/nblog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif probative http://proba.tive.org/nblog/ <![CDATA['Luck To Both Of Us, Eh?]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=889 General http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=889 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:30:31 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=889 <![CDATA[Whether To Blame The Weather Is The Question]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=887
It was really hot and humid on the island on Friday. I didn't do much because I was in extreme pain from necessary abuse of my irritable arm and I knew I'd need a day to recover by doing very little with my hand/arm - the dominant ones, of course!

It's really difficult to keep from getting on this keyboard when I'm couped up, alone and rather isolated and most of the people I know are working (lucky folks), often in timezones removed from this and not available by phone - a way I can communicate without the typing - so I made myself go out and walk around my friend's farm for several hours on Friday. I understand now why animals will gnaw off an extremity that's causing pain. My walking around didn't get me away from my pain, but talking to Jane and her helper about things other than my problems was a distraction I needed. And being upright (as opposed to sitting or lying down) accumulates less pain and tension. Walking (or running - but I'd done that on Thursday, so Friday was definitely a 'no run' day as well) dissipates some of the tension in my body as well as getting me tired enough to rest later. At least normally it does.

I have a personal wish to use as little of the narcotics as possible to cope with pain. Being able to get through a whole morning without any is a small triumph and deems that a 'good' day in my current rating scheme for such.

Friday was a borderline 'good' day. I didn't take any OTC pain remedies (w/codeine because nothing else gets near this pain) until after 12 pm. But I was very restless and unable to sit or stand still even after that. Hadn't seen Jane for a while, so I called and she was on-island. Good to see the improvements that are finally taking place with her residence. It's been a long haul for her, getting the roof reshingled to keep out the rain. (99% done now!) Couldn't be of much assistance with moving of plants into a sheltered area, though. That didn't feel good, but remembering not to irritate my irritated body further sorta did. Pain has reached that level now. Took a while, huh?

Saturday was a run day with the newly formed Bowen Running Club. Ed, the founder of the club, was good enough to stay with me (slowest in the group this week ;-) to help me learn the 5k route. I keep getting lost out on the trails when I'm by myself. The other day I unintentionally wound up running around Killarney Lake. Not the best 'running' path for the most part, but exercise for body and mind at least.

As well as being my gorgeous daughter's birthday, Saturday was one of the busiest of the summer for events on Bowen. After an after run breakfast and chat at the Snug, I wandered around waiting for the Jeep to be unblocked by vehicles lined up for the ferry. Missed the window for one and ended up walking around for another hour.

Helped out the Friends of the Library by relieving them of a few books they were selling, meandered around investigating the wares on display at the Market and the Bowfeast participants' offerings, then off to the Building Centre for a couple of things and back home in the middle of the heat.

Resolved to rest and rehydrate with a tentative plan to return to the Cove for the outdoor screening of Horton Hears A Who which promised to be a lot of fun, but had a hard time accomplishing a non-headache state. Drank water, rested, stayed out of the sun, but still think I was close to experiencing Heat Stroke for the first time in my life. Even a shower, ice packs, wet towels didn't help much.

So, no movie for me. Didn't feel human until later in the evening when my non-air conditioned apartment started to cool off as well. Fairly early to bed but woke feeling all groggy and sluggish and in slow motion for several hours. Two (!) cups of coffee didn't make a dent in that. Thinking has been intermittent with a complete inability to recall what I was doing or thinking I would do after any kind of interruption. A cat mews outside, check on laundry and - hard reset of the gray matter.

Not back to 100% yet, but not feeling as warm all over as I did late last night, either. I'm going to try to keep it that way by staying out of the sun and/or in the water today.

The weather folks are predicting some rain and a cooling down of the air temps over the next few days. Hurray I say!


]]> General http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=887 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:33:46 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=887 <![CDATA[Hoye's Onto Something Here - Listen Up Folks]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=885 Mike's latest post on the subject of sedentary keyboard workers and ergonomics. Glad to see someone else turning into a 'posture nut'. Upon my return to work after a four month hiatus caused by spine problems (herniated two discs I did), I was more informed about proper posture and equipment that ensures a person can achieve that than ever before in my life as a software developer. Back then a lot of my coworkers and the industry in general were poorly informed as to the dangers of ignorance in this department and, something I was acutely reminded of by my extremely sensitive nerve roots then and now, the potential downside of bad ergonomic habits.

A few things I'd add to what Mike has 'expleted' upon, as a painfully experienced recipient of spine 'feedback' and a long-time keyboard operator include
  • Physiotherapists are the go-to folks about ergonomics. Before and after you're having problems.

  • Obtaining a fully adjustable chair, keyboard tray, etc is a good first step, but won't help unless you also learn how to set up your work area properly - to fit YOU, not every J D & H who happened to last occupy that space and do it until it becomes an automatic habit.

  • Warming up for the stress you'll be putting your body through by maintaining a virtually static position (more difficult than any other use you can put those muscles to by the way) is essential . Athletes do it. You are a keyboard athlete... think about it that way and you'll be safer.

  • Your body really is far too adaptive for its own good in this regard. It won't complain until you've abused it through improper (read: unhealthy) posture and over use. The feedback may not be noticeable or uncomfortable enough to stop you until many many incidents have occurred. Remember, these are nerve problems you're dealing with - whiplash doesn't feel bad until the next day, same sort of thing with these less acute incidents.

  • If any extremity (arm, finger, hand in this context) tingles or goes numb (even briefly) or just aches continually do not ignore it. Make an appointment with your doctor and get a referral to a neurologist. I've seen a number of them since my disc incident and always have had them get extremely concerned with symptoms such as these. You should be too.

  • There are some excellent resources on the web and in physiotherapy journals that you should search out. In my opinion the information there should be required reading for the modern workforce, even a mandatory part of the curriculum for all keyboard intensive occupational training. Maybe this kind of preventive education should start in high school now that more and more occupations are becoming 'paperless' and a keyboard is de rigeur more often than not.

Upon my return to work over a decade ago I was only able to safely work at a keyboard for an hour a day. Seriously. Having a very tight feedback loop at that time due to the upset nerve roots near the herniated discs and having learned, some might say the hard way, how the incorrect workstation setup and poor postural habits (harder to break the longer you practice them, of course) had been silently harming my spine, I was quick to point out poor habits in my coworkers - in a caring, motherly manner, of course. It made me wince then (still does) to observe some of them, much younger than I, setting themselves up for something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Since my first incident, upon starting a job with a new employer, my first concern is their ability to understand and supply appropriate ergonomic equipment. I've been surprised at the difference between employers in Canada (including the one at which I worked the longest and where I was employed when I experienced the disc problems) and (you guessed it boys and girls!) the United States. Employers in the States, at least the ones I've worked for, get it. Can't say the same for the ones I've worked for here, though.

Seems backward, doesn't it? The country with the tax-payer subsidized health care system isn't as clued in (or isn't forcing employers to be accountable and clue in) to the problems that ill-equipped office workers suffer and which cost the country in increased use of health care resources, lost productivity and (oh yeah) lost tax revenue when many of us afflicted with these problems cannot work anymore. But the bad old (in some people's opinion, not mine) USofA has employers who are actively involved in preventing and accommodating workers. No 'universal' health care there, so no downside for the government coffers if this issue is ignored. (Hmmm, is that an upside for Canada? Ignoring the cause and just treating the problems after the fact? I wouldn't exclude that as a possibility my own self...)

What motivates these employers south of our border then? Maybe just the potential for some big ass law suits and (possibly) a recognition of the companies' need for a productive workforce. Especially those knowledge workers who use computer-centric workstations close to 100% of the hours they work.]]> Technology http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=885 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:05:54 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=885 <![CDATA[More Month of August Days Unmarked]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=881
These are the people whose birthdays fall in this month and, were this a more 'normally balanced' year in the life would have received phone calls and/or cards on or near their days. Maybe I should just stock up on Belated Birthday cards from now on and cross of the Belated bit for those infrequent and very likely unplanned times they are likely to arrive on time? It's much easier to cross a word out than to add one - you know?)

Belated Birthday Wishes go out today to:
  • Kay Higgins, in Evington, Virginia.

  • Joe Strouse, in Charlottesville, Virginia

  • Linden Holmes, in Ottawa, Ontario (Happy 60th, Linden! Keep on keeping on, girl.)

  • Luna Halligan (my cat) - she's 1 year now, no longer a kitten.

Advance Belated Birthday Wishes are going out to those whose days are very likely to be missed due to circumstances you don't need to hear all about right now:
  • Martha Holmes, in Ottawa, Ontario

  • Stephanie Shaver, in Montreal, Quebec (I'm working on getting your blog accessible again. Honest I am, Sweetie!)

  • Ceyhan Lennon, in Nepean, Ontario

  • Heather Dawson, in Ottawa, Ontario

  • Larry Philp, in who knows where? (It's been like forever, but other High School buddies have reconnected on the web... never know.)

There. Maybe I'll catch up soon. September is almost here. More birthdays and some medical developments here at probative. Nothing but positive thoughts being entertained about the health aspect of probative's current round of 'interestingness'.





** Laugh if you will. The battery never dies and if it got down to it, I could burn the pages to keep warm. Your PDA do that for you?]]> Almost Forgotten But Not Quite http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=881 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:25:24 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=881 <![CDATA[August Nostalgia Attacks]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=878 that interesting over here!

This year the month began with a confluence of coincident present events mirroring some long past and bringing back echoes of feelings and memories in floods. Many of these are very properly described as august.

The long weekend (BC Day out here, not sure what it's called in the rest of Canada these days) at the start of the month saw me attending a for the volunteer fire department. I was in dire need of an 'attitude adjustment' to be certain. Twenty bucks for a dance versus five times that for a much shorter session with a therapist? Hmmm. Dance was a better deal I thought and I was more correct than I'd anticipated.

Set my expectations to 'realistic', since I didn't know any of the bands booked for the event and hadn't been to such a gathering on the island to date. Figured worst case scenario was that I got some exercise walking there, some fresh air and helped out the fire department on the off chance that the rest of the advertised attractions were not, well, attractive to me.

Got there and immediately knew this was going to be good. Underestimation of the night right there. First, there was the fact that my hand was stamped as I surrendered the ticket. Added to the excellent live music supplied by Bluewater and the venue being on a dock on the cove, I just couldn't feel anything but twelve years old again. Which would be more than forty years ago. Twelve years old and at the Pavilion in Tweed, Ontario where I danced away most of my summers as a teenager. Over the waters of Stoco Lake and to live bands as well.

Grabbed a beer (that's all they had for adult drinks) and walked over to chat with a gentleman I know and get acclimated. Many of the members of the band are well-known to most residents of the island and they were jamming together most excellently. Most folks were standing around the periphery leaving a large, empty area in the middle of the dock. I couldn't stand still and neither could another woman who had come from West Vancouver just to enjoy this dance. An intention to wait to dance with her until I'd finished my glass was thrown out when a song too danceable to waste started.

Two hours later we finally quit - when the warm-up band did. Pretty hungry and pretty happy as well. Eventually more folks crowded the open area of the dock, so we had lots of company, including eventually a couple of gentlemen. Much better than talk therapy and cheaper!

Next up was the fact that the long weekend was the same one (and almost the same dates for that matter) as an historic and unforgettable move by rental truck of myself and my small children. First of many, as my offspring will point out should you ask. On the August long-weekend twenty-seven years ago, we drove from Perry, Georgia to Toronto, Ontario. Well, I drove. Michael was 4 years old, Stephanie almost (but not quite) 2 years. Our dog, Sheba and cat, Cocoa, were towed behind the rented one-ton in my 1972 Hornet.

It was an adventurous several days to be sure with the truck needing more than one stop for non-trivial repairs, a detour to have a safety chain attached to the hitch for the car after we'd crossed at least three state lines and the constant rain that Mother Nature sent to follow us. Then there was the 'fun' at the border with the Canadian Customs folks at Niagara Falls. (If I told you all about it, this post would be a long novel instead of the short story it's turning into now, so, later you can hear about that - when I write a book or two. Some of my friends have heard this tale in great detail and tell me they much enjoyed it.)

But wait! If it's August 4th, then I missed Mike and Tyla's wedding anniversary. Sheesh. Nine years ago, on August 1st, an awesome celebration of their marriage took place in Ottawa, Ontario. The pictures are still linked to this blog as a matter of fact. Over there. To the right under the link labelled Weddings. (Sorry kids, really, it was a chaotic and stressful lead-in from July and it took me several days to notice that it was already over. I'll make it up to you when I get my life flying straight again. Honest. Next year's a milestone anyway.... maybe I'll be able to grand-babysit and you can have a second honeymoon? Sounds like a plan. Oh, and they didn't have any Belated Wedding Anniversary cards at the store, either. I'll have to make one I guess. Belated congratulations to you, though!)

And today, well today is a particular milestone in my personal history that I've rarely forgotten. Twenty-eight years ago today I became a single woman - again. It's a quiet, private celebration normally mentioned to family and friends, but in the context of the Nostalgia Attacks that are the subject of this post, pertinent I think. I was unsingle for six short years, just long enough apparently, to allow my incredible children to 'be'. Yes, the change in status came about in Georgia, not Canada, where the whole thing got started. (Another even longer tale there... you're still going to have to wait. Sorry.) August 13th didn't sound like a particularly lucky day until that year. Now it is my personal 'Freedom Day'. (Cheers!)

August will bring another round of nostalgia in just three more days. Anyone who's been paying attention will know that my second child and only begotten daughter was born in August and in Georgia. To be exact, it was twenty-nine years ago this August 16th.

Whoa. Time has been slipping away quickly. How did that happen? How did my beautiful babies get to be such wonderful adults when I feel not much different from the days that were chock full of diapers and teething pains, bedtime 'discussions' and the joy of watching two small people learn about themselves, each other and the world.

Working in a bar down in the South just before moving to Canada, as well while my youngest was learning to walk and talk. Yeah, it's been an 'interesting' ride so far, full of some rare moments I hope I never forget, the best of which star my children - naturally.

So, no more significant events in August, okay? Don't be getting married or having another baby or nothing then. Thanks. I'll try to keep that in mind, too.


]]> Special Days http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=878 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:55:31 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=878 <![CDATA[Half & Half]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=875
What about that old adage about everything being kept in moderation, huh? Doesn't that apply to patience? I think it should. At least right here in my world. Results may vary and all that in your worlds.

And then there's the other ancient one that speaks of there being a time for every purpose under heaven. It doesn't exclude impatient purposes as far as I know. So it's time for impatience. For a while anyway.

Improvements in my bleakness are being sought. Running helps but I haven't been for many weeks. Lots of good and not so good reasons for this, none of which are very interesting or entertaining. Basically planned and unplanned distractions have triumphed over the proverbial good intentions.

No sooner had I put my foot down, so to speak and told myself it was time to get back to regular, moderate exercise for the sake of my head, then a sign announcing the formation of a running group here on the island was found. Couldn't resist the happy coincidence, so I joined up.

This Saturday was my first run with the group and as expected - I was feeling a bit stiff and sore today. Not too bad, though and probably a bit of my own fault since I did too much the day before the run. Unintentionally, of course.

Spent some time today with Ed, the organizer of the club, helping him get a web presence set up. Good fun, for a geek in withdrawal. And a way to give back to this effort. Only fair, since I did have a great time meeting new folks on the island thanks to his instigating things. Not to mention that I was characteristically impatiently awaiting information about forthcoming plans and websites and whatnot. At least it was constructive complaining in the end.

Along with bothering my poor ill son with a laundry list of concerns and possibilities in my pursuit of a medical intervention to relieve the constant pain, I've managed as of the end of this week to reach the questionable milestone of having half of both my files and my living space more or less organized.

Half organized and half disorganized - that's me on many levels these days.]]> General http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=875 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:36:49 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=875 <![CDATA[Rain In Paradise]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=873
Fleetingly thought of making sure by staying up to monitor but I'll take their word for it instead.

There are worse places to be than paradise during a rainstorm. The place in the sign, for one.

]]> Fun/Odd http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=873 Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:30:52 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=873 <![CDATA[Quake + Rock = Pile O' Rubble? [Partie Deux]]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=871 first one on this subject. For the RSS Feeders. The real people who read this twisty turn-y peek inside my really interesting life probably (or not) realized the first post was modified. Such are the electronic conveniences messing with our 'channels'.

[Updated a week or so after] I've realized that links on the web are very undependable in places. The picture mentioned in the previous paragraph is a case in point. It was a good one, too. While it lasted. The earthquake data I linked to a couple of paragraphs before this one is a rolling set for a 30-day period previous to the day you click on it. So, here's the data that's pertinent to this post for the late-comer in you:

Date, Time, Long, Lat columns only

Wait! Before you click to read it all, here's an explanation of the layout in the larger image. The columns are Date, Time (UT), Latitude, Longitude, Depth, Magnitude, Felt?, Region. Okay, now you're more confused. UT is Coordinated Universal Time. There's an explanation regarding notations on the data in the Depth column (* are in the original data source) here.

Ready?
]]> Living In Vancouver http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=871 Fri, 8 Aug 2008 18:17:34 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=871 <![CDATA[You Go Girls!]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=863 Precarn Inc's site because the title caught my eye. The article was from the Star Phoenix newspaper in Saskatoon. The title is What's motivating female high achievers? Click on it to read more - if you are as intrigued as I was.

It's a short article, the most encouraging part summed up in this paragraph describing a recently detected change in university and college classes:
When university administrators and professors talk about the gender revolution taking place on campus these days, they aren't simply struck by the quantity of female students. It's the quality, reflected in high grades, disciplined study habits and ability to focus on getting the job done, that has them sitting up and paying attention.
Some of us are encouraged. We're their parents, after all.]]> Technology http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=863 Thu, 7 Aug 2008 06:25:00 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=863 <![CDATA[Inspect And ... ?]]> http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=861 float plane, bus, car or some combination of all three.

Media reporting on the natural, and not unanticipated, event (signs along the routes through mountainous regions warn of these) that closed the highway included many mentions of the undeniable fact that a repeat performance during the 2010 Winter Olympics will be a greater inconvenience to a larger number of people. No kidding.

Often accompanying this fact was a loosely-related reference to the monies already being spent by the government for ongoing improvements to the route meant to accommodate the unusually high level of road traffic during the Games.

The gist of the juxtaposition of these two reported facts seemed to be either that more should be done to improve reliable, safe use of the highway or that the geology of the area renders improvements, even those underway, as foolhardy and the monies should be directed elsewhere.

Response from the general public as available on media sites that allow such has been as diverse as these opposing judgments. Which is, I suppose the idea behind such reporting - to create controversy.

I don't think either inference is correct or incorrect. I do know that this province's natural beauty has been protected in part due to the rugged terrain that discourages large scale development aka 'civilization' of the wilderness. And I think such 'improvements' would necessarily detract from and, perhaps eventually, reduce the critical mass of untouched natural splendour that is the attraction in the first place, possibly to the point that it is no longer. This would be sad.

What makes this province so attractive also makes traveling around it an adventure - its rugged wildness. It's a place where publicly funded road maintenance is frequently insufficient to guarantee uninterrupted passage. Really. Road maintenance in northerly climes includes clearing the surface of impediments such as snow and ice. Near the Rocky Mountains, we have to add mud and rock slides to the list.

[ BTW: When Ottawa was inundated with snow this past winter, I don't recall a national news story suggesting the government was not funding snow removal prudently for the area. Why are rock slides any different? Got me. ]

CTV's recent news item on the reopening of the highway amused me with this parting line:
B.C.'s Premier Gordon Campbell said earlier this week that the entire route will be inspected in advance of the Games.
Given it is a pretty good bet that inspections of the route (from Vancouver to Whistler) were undertaken before the current improvements were started, and that the project is slated to take several years to complete, I am sensing that these inspections are similar to the security efforts undertaken after September 2001, namely to give a sense of control (and safety) to travelers and, in the case of the Sea to Sky route, the Olympic Committee that awarded British Columbia the right to host these games.

You see, I've seen this kind of thing before during my career in the telecom software game. I was (and still am) astounded to watch intelligent folks set project plans in place that ignore the underlying realities. I've been prompted at times to point this out when asked for my input. The exchange has gone this way:
Q: "The fact that you've planned a final round of testing leads me to wonder why there's no time scheduled to fix any problems found. If you really believe no problems will remain at this point - why bother testing at all?"

A: "Oh. Good point..."
[ Note: These were not inexperienced software development groups. Just so you don't think I was expecting way too much - again. ]

So, I am left with the same question of this set of last minute inspections of the highway: What is the plan for working around any vulnerabilities you might detect at that time?

Cancel the Games? Not likely.

Rerouting traffic during the winter? Right. Ask the folks who were rerouted during this summer's interrupted travel plans how they think that might go.

It should be interesting to watch.]]> Living In Vancouver http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=861 Wed, 6 Aug 2008 08:21:20 -0700 http://proba.tive.org/nblog/index.php?itemid=861