number of weeks our financial system will be down: 4-6
number of weeks our computer network will be partially down: 4-6

Infrastructure! Gotta have it.
Of course, in a *real* industry, they would presumably spend money on keeping a second
backup financial system running while the main one is down, and on renting new
office space with intact computer networks while our building is being upgraded.
In the absence of resources for doing that, we will just do the best we can to work around it.

number of Nintendo DS machines in the house: 4
number of Nintendo Game Boy Advance machines in the house: 1
number of PlayStation 2 machines in the house: 1

I can justify all this technology. Now that I and my husband and my two boys each have a Nintendo DS,
we can all do PictoChat and exchange games. I use my GBA during airline travel and will now have
my Nintendo DS as well to practice Brain Age. The PlayStation has the eyeToy kinetic workout program
which is good and helps keep me in shape. Although I must admit, I skipped the whole last week of working
out, but then again I was away for four days on business travel.

This week is a swirl of medical and work issues.
Thursday: dentist for root planing (ugh).
Friday: eye doctor for new prescription (yuk on exams but fun on new frames).

Every day at work is frantic replanning and rewickering of budget and workforce numbers.
Am now going on v. important trip next week.

Unconventional Leadership Books


"The Bad Popes" by E. R. Chamberlin.
As a lapsed Catholic, I do not feel guilty about learning about the history
of the Church even if it is less than flattering.
This is a fascinating and wittily-written history with many lessons
on what not to do as a leader.

"The March of Folly" by Barbara Tuchman.
There are so many good insights here that apply to our times now.


"Sorting Things Out" by Geoff Bowker and S. Leigh Star
This is about how organizations categorize things
(eg how WHO classifies diseases). It's a great reminder of the
political and social forces at work that define how we conceptualize
the world and how that shapes our processes and decisions.
I always think about these insights when dealing with categories
like "performance metrics" or "transition workforce".

data from yesterday:
number of diet cokes: 3
number of protein bars: 2
number of technical planning meetings: 2
number of technical/budget meetings: 1


Good day yesterday. Useful and interesting meetings.

From last night:
number of hours shopping with sons: 2
number of games of MASTERMIND played with sons: 4

Today is Saturday:
number of cups of coffee: 2
number of fruit washed: 10 apples, 3 peaches, 3 large tomatoes,
large quantities of cherry tomatoes and grapes