Moon over Lake Monona

Lake Monona
Originally uploaded by thechrisproject.

"Taken at the end of Few street."

Yes, but he could've been a Packer

Heard on the local NPR news this a.m.: in reporting President Gerald Ford's death, the first biographical bit mentioned was not the unprecedented manner in which he took office, nor that he pardoned Nixon. The first thing you learned from NPR this morning about Ford was that he was a star football player that turned down an opportunity to join the Green Bay Packers.

Northern Lights revisited

Earth, Wind, and Sky
Originally uploaded by WisDoc.

"Taken from the shores of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. I had been trying to photograph the Aurora Borealis a few nights ago, but it was very windy and the clouds rolled in and covered up the view. I was about to head home, but I stayed and snapped a few long exposure shots of the clouds quickly moving as well as the waves rolling towards the shore."

Misty Lake Monona

Misty Monona 2
Originally uploaded by thechrisproject.

What did you give for Xmas?

From Inhabitat:

"Christmas is a great day for traditions. Some families make a giant turkey, some roast chestnuts, while others tear open presents with grandma at the crack of dawn. This year, allow me to suggest a new tradition: Giving Back For Christmas. What better day to be thankful for the gifts you received, then give back to the world. There are so many ways to give- from volunteering at your local soup kitchen to hauling a trunkload of clothes and unused housewares to the Goodwill, to making a monetary donation to a worthy cause. Even the smallest actions can make a difference. So, in the words of my proactive father, 'Just do something.' Here are some suggested volunteer opportunites, charitable organizations, and ways to donate"

[Full article linked to title above.]

Why I love Madison, (reason #498)

"Now, with the shuttering of this McDonald's and the one on the Capitol Square, there's not much corporate quick food available on State Street. Wendy's, Hardees, Pizza Hut and Burger King have all left the area."

[Full article from the Wisconsin State Journal linked to title above.]

Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis
Originally uploaded by Ting-Li Lin.

Northern Lights in Madison, 12/14/06

Redbird at Cafe Carpe

We went to see Redbird (which features 3 of our favorite artists: Kris Delmhorst, Jeffrey Foucault, and Peter Mulvey) at the tiny Cafe Carpe in Ft. Atkinson, WI last weekend. I have been a fan of Peter Mulvey's since his album Deep Blue in 1997, and discovered Kris Delmhorst probably not too long after, as they were both among many fine singer-songwriters in the Boston music scene I was following. Susan and I discovered Jeffrey Foucault when he opened for Peter Mulvey a few years ago. Now Kris is married to Jeffrey. And Peter lives here in Wisconsin (having returned from Boston).

Go figure.

Anyway, the show found them relaxed in comfortable environs and amongst many friends. We sat this close, but you couldn't really be much farther away in this room. There was lots of holiday silliness; their goal was to play only songs they hadn't played before.

Kris covered the Cars' "You Might Think," and the singalong to the bridge ("you kept it goin'/ 'til the sun went down/ you kept it... goin'") was priceless. But my favorite was her cover of Wilco's "Jesus, etc.," which caused me to pull out Yankee Hotel Foxtrot for a listen the very next day.

Listen to a recent story about Kris on NPR's "All Things Considered" here... the vocals on the opening sample cause the breath to catch in my throat...

Activist girls

I told you about my appearance in the Wisconsin State Journal; one of Susan's comments was noted by The Capital Times:

One resident said the water killed her plants, while another angrily accused the Water Utility [sic] of not doing its job to provide safe drinking water for children. Still others voiced concerns about how contaminated water might affect people with already-weak immune systems, such as people with liver problems or those infected with HIV.

[Full article]

I'm in the newspaper. :-)

Susan and I attended a meeting with water utility and health officials discussing issues with the well that serves our area. My comments were well-received, and a Wisconsin State Journal reporter asked for my name afterward. He didn't quite get it right (I had written the mayor questioning the director up public health's approach, not called Schlenker directly), but it's close:

...residents at the meeting remain uneasy about what they perceived as the city's lack of response to health concerns. Deb Hanrahan, from the Marquette neighborhood, said she called Schlenker last summer and asked if the health department planned to track potential illnesses that might have been caused by exposure to manganese. She was told only that the department is keeping track of phone calls from people with concerns, she said.

"I was very disappointed," Hanrahan said. "There's a real lack of confidence here."

[Full article]

A happy Thanksgiving

Susan and I spent Thanksgiving with our friends Scottie and Jim and their daughters Casey and Sammy. They live in Wauwatosa (a Milwaukee suburb affectionately known as 'Tosa). Having Scottie and Jim nearby is one of the things that made us feel more comfortable about uprooting ourselves from DC and moving to Wisconsin!

After feasting on a fabulous meal of traditional T'day fare, we went for a very nice walk which included a hike through the woods which our dog Indy particularly enjoyed! Then back home for more food, good coffee, and relaxation... ahhhh.

If you have a Flickr account and I've added you as a friend or family, you can see more pictures here. If you don't have an account, you can create one and invite me to be a contact (I can help, just ask!).

Over dinner, I had so much emotion over everything I have to be thankful for that I couldn't put it into words. A wonderful partner to share (truly share) my life with. Good health, good friends, good job. A nice home in a great community. Susan's dad's successful liver transplant and the family and friends that pulled together to help Terry and Lora through the recovery period. Sister Kate newly starting grad school and continuing to be supermom to Colin. Brother Terry also in school, oh and teaching and coaching high school students and caring for his son Braden. My stepfather reconnecting with me after 15 years of estrangement.

Yeah, I'm lucky. Lucky... or something. But definitely grateful, every day.

Lakeshore Nature Preserve

The Path Less Taken
Originally uploaded by WisDoc.

near Picnic Point

A Tree Without Leaves

A Tree Without Leaves
Originally uploaded by Johnny Blood.

"A large oak tree has lost its leaves against a colorful autumn sky near Madison, Wisconsin."

An update on the new job

So, I've been kind of quiet as I've settled into my new job. The environment is great, a wonderful converted loft office space downtown featuring exposed brick and contemporary design concepts. I have a nice office, and other amenities (large kitchen with all major appliances and free coffee, tea, sodas water -- and if they don't have what you want, they'll order it).

I love the location; 2 miles from home, a few blocks from the capital. The immediate neighborhood includes the Electric Earth Cafe (one of my favorite coffee and sandwich spots), WORT public radio, the Echo Tap and Grill (an institution -- 41 years in the same location run by the same family), the offices of the Onion.

My co-workers are very friendly, which is good because there is a steep learning curve and I am having to learn in a very ad hoc manner (I have, after all, been brought in largely due to their lack of processes, so hopefully I will be among the last to suffer this!) The other managers are very open to new ideas and offering me the freedom to make changes.

The work is really interesting -- I am excited to learn more about networking and security, and there are so many ways I can help this company be more effective and efficient, the hardest thing is going to be focusing my efforts. I get up each morning excited about what I can accomplish that day, a feeling I haven't had in a very long time. The flipside of that is that the company needs a lot of help -- it is growing rapidly, and if we don't get a handle on it quickly the ramifications will be substantial. Customers are already wary of the changes they've seen as the company has grown, so I'll need to move quickly to make sure I get the staff, most only with the company for 6 months or less, trained and motivated.

So... lots to do, but a good fit for my skills and work I enjoy, as well as an opportunity to gain experience in areas I'm interested in. So far, so good...!

Who's nerdy now?

A couple of months ago, I told you about my new nerd bike , but according to the Wall Street Journal, I was merely ahead of the curve.

Arcade games and photo studios

Susan and I went to Michigan last weekend to join in the celebration of our nephews' October birthdays (Colin's 2nd and Braden's 1st!)! There were many great moments, but these pictures capture some of my favorites: Susan playing in an arcade with Colin; one of the photos of the birthday boys that resulted from an amazing amount of coaxing, pleading, tickling, and more from mom Kate, uncle Terry, and aunt Susan to get Colin to cooperate at the photo studio; and tuxedo'd, eyeliner-mustache-sporting Colin racing across the rec center gym at the Halloween celebration, sippy-cup in hand.

Pumpkins

IMG_4976
Originally uploaded by sfrikken.

2 of Susan's Halloween pumpkins. We had about 35 trick-or-treaters (many more than we ever had in Arlington), so it was fun!

Red Bike

Red Bike
Originally uploaded by FlickrFinn.

"A 'red bike' docked at a rack on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Red Bikes is a community service that allows you to 'check out' and use a bicycle at no charge, like a library book."

a gorgeous capture of the Lake Monona skyline

A Glowing Madison Morning
Originally uploaded by WisDoc.

"A Glowing Madison Morning

The skyline of Madison, Wisconsin taken just as the sun was coming up over Lake Monona."

Transitions

There has been so much change in my life this year. As you know, the move to Madison was a huge change... chosen, but still, leaving friends behind, and the city I had lived my entire life in, and a job I had dedicated myself to and grown in over 6 years (not to mention my earlier years at DOT in the 90's)...

Also recently, friends and family have diagnosed with cancer, and have demonstrated strength I cannot even imagine.

Our dog FleeWee, at 14 years old, has been going steadily downhill. We have tried a variety of medications to ease his pain and encourage his appetite, but he is still doing poorly. He will no longer eat even the treats that we sneak his pills into, so we will let him go on Monday. If you haven't already, please read our boy's story on Susan's blog.

---

As I've indicated here previously, the culture at my current workplace doesn't suit me (very conservative and regimented), nor, I have discovered, does the project management field. I was not so unhappy with the job that I was actively seeking anything, but I thought it would be worthwhile to see what might come to me, so I updated my resume and left it online. There were the usual clueless recruiters who, having happened upon sought-after acronyms in my resume tried to lure into short-term positions in New Jersey, or engage me in work I haven't done for 10 years.

But in the midst of those was an intriguing opportunity to join a small startup company downtown (2 miles away - a short ride down the bike path) which provides managed network security services. It would be risky, for certain, working for a startup. But the work! The work is exactly what I want to do. As the Director of Managed Services, I would be stepping into a position just created for this growing company. I would establish processes (using my knowledge of and interest in ITIL) for better customer service. I would supervise and mentor about 20 engineers, and design training and review systems to help retain them. I would evaluate their technology infrastructure, make recommendations, and implement them. And all in an environment that the founder/CTO calls "aggressively casual" -- I can wear jeans every day, and I won't even have to press them. (Being able to wear jeans to work is no small benefit with the winters here!)

I'm sure you can tell how excited I was about the opportunity. But I'm risk-averse when it comes to my career, so everything had to be perfect for me to take a chance on a startup. But after 3 interviews (founder and CFO, a team of other managers, and finally the CEO) over several weeks, they made me an offer. I negotiated a package that made me feel as comfortable as I could in such a circumstance (including a professional development budget so I can keep my skills current just in case), and I'm taking a flyer on this opportunity.

Thanks to those of you who served as references! I am especially grateful to Susan for being so supportive... with her new job as business manager at Gail Ambrosius chocolates, we will now both be working for new small businesses... yikes! I think Susan's is far more likely to succeed than mine (I expect my new company will. like most IT startups, either fail or be bought out by a larger company), but I am hoping to at least get in a couple of good years of exciting work while continuing to grow my skills and network in Madison.

---

So, yeah, lots going on, happy and sad. Thanks for listening, again, via this impersonal medium. I want to hear what's going on in your life too... comment on this blog, email me, give me a call, whatever works for you!

Madison mid-autumn moon

Madison mid-autumn moon
Originally uploaded by dcmarch.

Capitol Building

Capitol Building
Originally uploaded by ctchen.

State St. Leading Up To The Capitol

State St. Leading Up To The Capitol
Originally uploaded by Maitri.

Goooo Badgers

Originally uploaded by Tierney100.

UW's Camp Randall stadium holds 80,000 people, and sells out every week... that's more than most NFL teams! Quite the impressive sea of red, eh?

Wisconsin State Capitol

Wisconsin State Capitol
Originally uploaded by drhunter.

Betcha can't park this close to YOUR capitol. :-)

Fall in Wisconsin

Fall in Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by tenth48.

"These are just some berries on a tree, along the Yahara River canal, which link Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Since one is about 6 feet higher than the other, to go from one to the other, you must use the Yahara River and go through the Tenney Lock."

Red Gym

Red Gym
Originally uploaded by Mazda6.

"This building served as a guards barracks during the American Civil war. It faces Lake Mendota and currently serves as administrative office for UW-Madison... "

And so it begins...

... the high temperature in Madison today is expected to be 40 degrees. Yes, it's 20 degrees below normal for Oct. 12, but still... 40. And snow flurries! We'll be back into the (more normal) 60's next week, thankfully.

The good thing is that I am, apparently, hardier than many Madisonians. I have been smiling to myself as I see the layers and weight of clothing others have been reduced to in this cold spell. More evidence that I belong here.

on this gorgeous day,

about 70 degrees and a bit windy, I took the nerd bike out for a ride with Susan around the lake, my longest ride so far, about 15 miles or so. Took about 2 hours, and I was rewarded with my first visit to the new RP's Pasta restaurant. RP's is national now (you can probably find their fresh pasta at Whole Foods if you have one nearby), but it is based in Madison, and we are lucky enough to get it served at a no-frills cafe just outside the doors to the kitchen. We had the specials -- spinach-fennel gnocchi with clam sauce for me, vegetarian lasagna for Susan. Awesome!

Last night, we visited a few local businesses participating the the Gallery Walk, a regular event at which art is displayed by businesses which often also provide music, appetizers, and drinks.

Tonight, going to see Cyndi Lauper (yes, that one) at the Orpheum . Haven't been to this venue yet, but this will be the first of 2 trips this week -- seeing Ani DiFranco there on Thursday.

Tomorrow, we may go out for an "Open Art Studios" stroll, to check out the studios of local artists participating in that annual event.

Who needs to go to the gym with all this running around?!

NPR: E-Mail Takes a Holiday, at Least for One Day

Great story about a company that bans corporate email on Fridays.

NPR : E-Mail Takes a Holiday, at Least for One Day

(Click on the headline to the story using a RealAudio or WindowsMedia player.)

Chalk artist...

Chalk artist
Originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

"Drawing a face and drawing a crowd, on Library Mall today" - Ann Althouse

Why I need a new job

I can't even wear jeans on Fridays. Bummer! But here's the best part: by donating $3 to the United Way campaign I can get a "Denim Day" sticker that will allow me to wear them tomorrow. But you knew there'd be a catch! From a corporate email:

What is work-appropriate denim? All denim should be clean, gently-worn and pressed. You also can wear athletic footwear, such as tennis shoes. Please make sure your footwear is also clean.

Uh, no, I didn't buy a sticker, too much pressure. :-)

Reduce, reuse, THEN recycle

Grist's Umbra on the American addiction to disposable products and the like:

Most Americans... generate 4.5 pounds of garbage per person per day. To get a sense of just how obscene that is, consider this: in 2003, Americans tossed out 236 million tons of solid waste. The people in your current home of Thailand, by comparison, chucked a mere 14.4 million tons. Thailand has about one-quarter the population of the U.S. -- but only one-sixteenth the trash. Yikes.

[...]

Sadly, in this world of Nifty mops and Zippy sandwich containers and things that are made to break, it's hard to convince people to buy -- and therefore throw away -- less stuff. But according to the EPA, more than 6,000 communities have "pay as you throw" programs that charge residents for each unit of trash they toss. And some industries have made progress. Remember those silly big cardboard boxes that CDs used to come in? And it seems that two-liter plastic bottles are 25 percent lighter today than they were 30 years ago. Small steps, but we'll take them.

So what can you do? Write to companies whose products you admire but whose packaging gives you shivers. Buy in bulk. Buy products with little or no packaging. Make thoughtful shopping lists, based on need, to avoid snatching things up spontaneously at the store. Shun anything that's marketed as handy, disposable, or one-time use in favor of more permanent solutions. And above all, don't get caught up in the Stuff Race.

In this case, less is truly more.

I do wish that environmental costs were reflected in the price of Ziploc bags (surely, a reusable plastic container will do?) and cell phones (how many have you owned in the last 5 years?) and grocery bags (a $.05 charge would encourage people to take new bags only when they really need them).

Read the full article.

The Union Terrace, UW Campus

The Union Terrace
Originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

Somehow, going back to school holds more appeal here than it did in DC...

I want ...

one of these.

(If you like this kind of stuff too, consider subscribing to Inhabitat's way cool green design and architecture blog.)

Monona Terrace at night

Monona Terrace
Originally uploaded by Mazda6.

Monona Terrace is a conference center based on a Frank Lloyd Wright design. It's about 2 miles (around Lake Monona) from our house. (Over the weekend I posted a picture of me biking through the Terrace!)

State Street Autumn Afternoon

State Street Autumn Afternoon
Originally uploaded by WisDoc.

University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

Library Mall

Library Mall
Originally uploaded by Mark Sadowski.

NYT: Madison is "the new Berkeley"

From Sunday's New York Times Magazine article, "THE NEW LIST: FALL '06"

Madison, Wis., is the new Berkeley, Calif.
This picturesque university town on an isthmus between two lakes has a progressive vibe, great restaurants featuring local produce (check out Harvest) and the new Cesar Pelli-designed Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (www.mmoca.org).

Science Hall, UW-Madison

Science Hall, UW-Madison
Originally uploaded by Mingfong.

How much do I love fall weather?

A lot! Today was spectacular... sunny, cool, breezy. A perfect day for a ride on my nerdy new bike! My old one is a mountain bike, so I'm thrilled to have something lighter and more comfortable to ride around town.

Susan and I followed the Monona Trail by the lake, and past the place I am vying for a job at (the prospect of being able to ride 2 miles to work is verrry enticing).

Stopped at Willy Bikes (go, look, it's in an awesome old station house) to buy extra inner tubes, then lunch at the Electric Earth Cafe, then a fairly leisurely ride back, about 6 miles in all - piece of cake.

We are both having a hard time believing that we live here... still feels like we're on vacation! When're you going to come visit?

NPR: Park(ing): Car Space as a Park

This is awesome, I only wish I could see one! Click through to listen to the story.

Park(ing): Car Space as a Park
by Amy Standen

All Things Considered, September 21, 2006

Today is "Park(ing) Day" in San Francisco, where a contest is under way to see who can come up with the most innovative park in a parking spot. The event is put on by the art group Rebar, which last year created and installed a mobile parking-spot sized park (complete with tree, bench, and Astroturf. This year there will be a bunch of these scattered around town. Amy Standen tours the entries.

Lake Monona

bike path, madison wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Daniella Maria.

Madison from across the lake...

Madison panorama
Originally uploaded by nielsb.

It's official!

We live in a Great Neighborhood -- Madison Magazine says so!

Marquette -- East/Isthmus

When outsiders think of Madison, the Marquette neighborhood is most likely what they have in mind.

Banners along Williamson Street trumpet the Isthmus neighborhood as "A Place for All People."

Bumper stickers push peace symbols and less-than-flattering impressions of the current administration. Traditional two-stories and bungalows are painted every color of the rainbow.

It's the best place in the city to spot an original Volkswagen Bug.

The Marquette Neighborhood Association has a special section on its web page just for festivals. Attend any one of them and you'll witness how residents here revel in the fleeting good weather, music, food and fun. Each September, the Willy Street Fair offers the best people- (and dog-) watching in the city, hands down.

New condominium developments are providing more housing options in the neighborhood, but even though (at press time) the city requires fifteen percent of new units to be lower cost, residents who take pride in the neighborhood's diversity worry that a booming real estate market will drive them toward homogeneity.

Bordered by East Washington Avenue and Lake Monona on either side, Marquette also includes an old railroad corridor that is the site of Madison's proposed Central Park. The plan calls for seventeen acres of green space including a public market, a skateboard park and an open lawn and picnic area.

Signs of Marquette's past are visible around the neighborhood, like the brick-wall advertisements from days gone by painted on the side of some buildings along Williamson Street. Orton Park, a popular spot for children because of its playground and for brides and grooms because of its picturesque gazebo, used to be the site of one of the city's first cemeteries (the bodies have since been relocated). In the late 990s, the Madison Ghostseekers Society discovered what it called "ectoplasmic mist" when it conducted an investigation of the park.

Schools: Lapham Elem., Marquette Elem., Lowell Elem., O'Keefe Middle, East High

Amenities: Orton Park, Yahara Place Park, Willy Street Fair, La Fete de Marquette, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Atwood Community Center

Neighborhood website: www.marquette-neighborhood.org

What will your neighborhood look like in 50 years? "Central Park will become a vibrant jewel linking downtown to the Yahara River Parkway ... A light rail/streetcar will stop at Baldwin Street, connecting Madisonians to the year-round public market in the renovated Marquip building and to the thriving green, sustainable employment district in the rail corridor. My fear is that a 1,400-square-foot house ill cost a million dollars, limiting the housing opportunities for young families. Neighborhood schools close as a result. The Willy Street business district gentrifies to satisfy the new residents, and long standing businesses providing basic goods and services leave because they can't afford the rent or taxes."
Marsha Rummel, Marquette Neighborhood Assoc.
president

Busy weekend!

On Friday Susan and I hosted a fundraiser for Fair Wisconsin, the organization working to defeat a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage as well as civil unions and other potential domestic partner benefits. (Preparations for this party was the major thing keeping me from my blog, thanks for checking back!) Susan did a ton of work, getting hundreds of dollars worth of contributions from local business for our silent auction and making the house look fabulous! I took pride in the fact that many seemed to enjoy browsing our bookshelves, on which I had taken care to organize and interesting selection (and a fraction of what we have!).

About sixty people attended, we met lots of neighbors, collected several hundred dollars for the cause, educated people on the issue, and encouraged them to go to the polls. It was exhausting (it took days to do all the dishes!), but regardless of the outcome of the vote we'll know we've done our part.

Bright and early Saturday morning we did the AIDS walk (it's not too late to contribute!). Big thanks to my sponsors, I needed every bit of motivation to get out of bed -- and to finish the walk, I was pooped!

Finally, on Sunday we went to the Willy St. Fair. Willy St. (really Williamson St.) is the funky-groovy part of town just on the other side of the river from us, a couple blocks away. Lots of great shops and restaurants and loads of character! Of course, since it was Sunday, there was a tent with the Packers game on!

---

In other news, Susan got the job she wanted! She talked Gail Ambrosius into creating an office manager position for her -- I'm so proud! But boy oh boy, I gotta stay diligent about the gym! (Why, yes, you can buy Gail's chocolates online!) Here are the chocolates we had at the party... yummm...

Mad Cat

Mad Cat, originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

our neighborhood pet supplies store

Info Shop

Info Shop, originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

speaks for itself...

Broom St. Theatre

Theater in the alley, originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

Another spot to visit, a few blocks away, next to Mother Fools coffee house.

Weary Traveler Freehouse

window, originally uploaded by Ann Althouse.

A pub down the street from us... have heard good things, looking forward to checking it out!

Wienermobile

I saw the Wienermobile on my way to work today (Oscar Mayer is based in Madison), and it resulted in me finding this great job opportunity for Susan (or for any of the rest of you who are looking for the break that will bring you to this fine city).

Go see this movie!

Susan and I finally overcame the inertia created by our wonderful local community and a lack of familiarity with the Madison movie theaters, and went to see "Little Miss Sunshine" this weekend. It was all the talk of the Sundance movie festival, but some of the reviews had been less enthusiastic... and the plot concept didn't grab me, so I was skeptical. But wow, what a great cast, excellent dialog, hilarious and poignant in just the right measures... Susan and I were both laughing out loud, and I laughed so hard that I cried. By all means check it out!

Sponsor me in the AIDS walk?

Susan and I are going to be participating in the 7k (4.35 mi) Walk, Roll, and Stroll to benefit the AIDS Network, which provides AIDS services to 13 counties in south-central Wisconsin. Their vision statement:

AIDS Network is the AIDS Service Organization for South Central Wisconsin. AIDS Networkwill continue to strive to be independent, financially secure, respected and a leader in the communities we serve. As long as the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues,we will serve and advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS and deliver prevention messages to those most at risk in a culturally competent manner.

The route looks pretty cool, passing by Monona Bay and Lake Monona, then through the city.

Would you consider sponsoring me? I mean, I'm still working out and everything, but 4+ miles oughtta be worth some pocket change, no?
:-)

You can also help me by passing this on to others using the "email post" icon below this post. Or you can write your own message and refer people to
http://www.active.com/donate/walkrollandstroll/DebH .

Thank you!

so THAT's why they call it work