Pain in the Back

I've been on site here at Innovapost for just over 6 weeks. The overall atmosphere here is great. The people are friendly. My teammates are a great bunch of people. We are all being relocated to being a little closer together. Until this week, we were literally spread out across the building. So having everyone in the same area should prove to a good thing. Everything is going well here, except for my chair. I've tried 3 or 4 different chairs. All of them are not doing any good for my back. I actually bought some Robax Platinum today to cope with the pain. I sent an email to my manager asking is there was anything that could be done early this morning. I haven't heard a thing. Most of the chairs here don't seem to be for me. There is a model chairs in the building here that might come close to addressing the problem. Everywhere else that I worked I had a high-back chair. Here they seem to be sold on the low-back chair. When I first started here I noticed that my lower back was getting sore. In the process of protecting my lower back, I've neglected my upper back. Not a comfortable place to be in.
I know that the solution is simple. I just need a little bit of time addressed to this from my manager. If he comes back and tells me that there is nothing that can be done. I'll bring in my own chair. I have to protect my back. I just need to exhaust my options before I get to that. I also need to know that I'm allowed to do that. I know some places cause a bit of a fuss over something as trivial as that.

Not always as planned

Weekends don't always go as planned. As I had mentioned in a previous post, I was going to be spending time with my niece. Turns out Michelle got food poisoning on Friday night. Well we think it was food poisoning. Being unsure of that on Saturday, we opted on not having the baby in the house. Michelle had a really rough night, throwing up throughout the night. I'm glad we have a spare bed.
I took David to a b-day party for one of his school friends on Saturday over lunch time. The Sam and I went out to run a few errands. That gave Michelle a bit of time to rest. When I got back, I was informed that they were taking my niece to Cosmic Adventure and wanted to know if I wanted to take my kids. So I loaded Sam into the car, picked David up from his party and trotted of to Cosmic Adventure. What could be easier than taking the kids to an indoor playground. The kids had a blast. I played with my niece, everybody was happy.
We got home in time for supper. I think all in all it was a great day for everyone. The kids had fun, I had fun and Michelle had the entire day to rest.

Time with my niece

I got a call from my wife earlier informing me that we were having a special guest tomorrow. Her sister and husband are doing their Valentine's on Saturday and we are looking after their daughter. She is so precious, she's a year and a half, she is full of joy. I love having children around. She is one of my last babies. So whenever she come over, she is mine. I play with her and entertain her. So I am really looking forward to that. My kids love to play with her too and they love to play with me while I play with her. So we are going to have a few hours of fun the 4 of us. I'm sure Michelle will have fun too, but the kids are for me ;-)

The seat is good

I had a look at the seat yesterday. It seems like it is in good condition. Half an hour after I said that I would take it, they called me to let me know that it was ready. I was all the way across the city at this point. So this afternoon, right after work, I'm picking up my new used seat. I guess I have something to do this weekend.
Looking forward to a driver's seat that doesn't rock back and forth.

New Seat.

I've been trying to find a replacement driver's seat for my 2000 Jeep Cherokee. It's broken and it rocks back and forth. Everynow and then I hear a new crunch which results in making to rocking motion a little more pronounced. It's a common thing for the Jeep Cherokee, so I am told.
When I had the Jeep in the shop in the fall, the shop manager told me that he couldn't locate one. I tried calling a dealer and he said that they couldn't get something like that.
I've been looking online for quite some time for aftermarket seats that might work and got nowhere. Yesterday, I came across Dave's Truck and Auto Parts. It's a scrapyard in Carp. They have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee with a smashed up front ent. Had I known this in the fall I could have saved a few dollars on my tailight. Nonetheless, it is good to know that someone has parts for my Jeep, as long as I don't need anything from the front-end.
So I am going to have a look at this seat. Hopefully, this one will not be broken. If it can last another 7 years then that will be great.
Here is hoping.

Larry the Cable Guy

Michelle and I went to see Larry the Cable Guy last night. We had an awesome time. Larry is part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. We got introduced to them a few years ago by L-A & Jay. In my opinion it is one of the best stand up comedy package out there.
I gave Michelle the options: Josh Groban, Rod Stewart, Barenaked Ladies and Larry the Cable Guy. Her choice was clear, not even a debate. Larry was the show that she prefered to see.
The people sitting around us were all laughing like we were. But none laughed as much as the people behind us. That made the experience all the better. Usually when you go to concerts or games, the people being behind you being too loud can be a distraction or a nuissance. But in the case of stand up comedy, it provides an atmosphere that is condusive to laughter for yourself.
Larry is on tonight again, if you get a chance, go. It's good for a few laughs.

Get'er done!!

Waiting, waiting, waiting

I'm pretty much done extracting Business Rules here at work. For the next little while I am to stay here to support the Business Analyst in case they have questions. They are supposed to be done by Friday, we were suppose to be done ahead of them, so everything is cool. Now I just sit and wait for emails, nudges when they have questions. So far today there as been 2. But I see the number being pretty much nothing for the rest of the week.
I am suppose to be transfered over the development manager. I am just waiting now. Days are long.

Weekend at the Cottage

There is nothing like taking a break from winter to enjoy winter. I spent the weekend at the cottage with my brother, father-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law. To tell you the truth, we didn't do much while we were there. We did a little bit of walking outside, enjoying the winter scenery. Much of our time was spent indoors watching movies and having a few drinks. It's a tradition that started years ago.
My father-in-law loves to show off is culinary skills, using nothing but the wood oven all weekend. We had the best breakfast, that any restaurant could offer, every morning. A delicious roast beef marinaded in a peppercorn/ranch and red wine gravy. We always eat well when we are at the cottage.
I've always found it to be a great time to bound with the guys in the family. Of course, with my little brother there, there is always a bit of wrestling that takes place. Ahh, now that's male bonding at it's best.

Lately, I've been finding it more difficult to get away like that. I find that I end up missing my kids and my wife. No matter how much fun I have with the boys, my family is my center. It is difficult to be away from them. It is all the more rewarding when I come back. I get to see the smiles on their faces and the joy at seeing me again and as a father and husband, there is no greater reward.

My desire is that I can one day bring my children to weekend winter getaways to the cottage. Hopefully, Gerry (Michelle's uncle) will keep the cottage and continue to offer it to us even as time goes by. Gerry is extremely charitable with his cottage and for that I am extremely greatful.