When the gym is closed...

On the up side... I didn't have to wait until 9 when the gym was open.  On the down side, I can't really call today's walk a workout.  No sticker.  No count. BUT good pix!  Only when I pulled out the camera for the first shot did I realize that the batter was LOW...  at that point, I could have gone back and gotten the backup batter but I didn't.  I used the low battery as an editor.  I picked my shots carefully.  And here's my walk in pix...



This is the building across the street. Starbucks is preserving the buildings on either ends of the block and replacing the ones in the middle. This quilt on the side of the left standing building has fascinated me so today I captured it.



From both sides.



Seriously, I'm fascinated and soon it will be covered up forever or at least for a long long long more time.



The facade across the street is my condo building. Those units you see there are across the hall from mine



Generally, because they face west and get the killer afternoon sun, I am never envious. But, I do think they are in an excellent seat to watch the new unfold over the next couple of years and I'm a little jealous of that.

On the other end of the block is a triangle building - not the only one in the neighborhood (there are at least four I can think off without trying) but the only one on this block.



It will serve as a very cool entry to the new building.



But this sign on the side will be sacrificed. Along with the bar on the street floor.



Also going will be the two apartments - one on each floor. I've never been inside them but I've always been very curious.



And then I went on down the road. This parking garage had its lights on but nobody was home... Those are lifts so that each parking space is really two.



This turtle is on a wall outside a ski/skatboard shop. I've always loved him.



And... finally... for no particular reason this tableau caught my eye and, as it turned out, my last shot.

When the gym is closed...

On the up side... I didn't have to wait until 9 when the gym was open.  On the down side, I can't really call today's walk a workout.  No sticker.  No count. BUT good pix!  Only when I pulled out the camera for the first shot did I realize that the batter was LOW...  at that point, I could have gone back and gotten the backup batter but I didn't.  I used the low battery as an editor.  I picked my shots carefully.  And here's my walk in pix...



This is the building across the street. Starbucks is preserving the buildings on either ends of the block and replacing the ones in the middle. This quilt on the side of the left standing building has fascinated me so today I captured it.



From both sides.



Seriously, I'm fascinated and soon it will be covered up forever or at least for a long long long more time.



The facade across the street is my condo building. Those units you see there are across the hall from mine



Generally, because they face west and get the killer afternoon sun, I am never envious. But, I do think they are in an excellent seat to watch the new unfold over the next couple of years and I'm a little jealous of that.

On the other end of the block is a triangle building - not the only one in the neighborhood (there are at least four I can think off without trying) but the only one on this block.



It will serve as a very cool entry to the new building.



But this sign on the side will be sacrificed. Along with the bar on the street floor.



Also going will be the two apartments - one on each floor. I've never been inside them but I've always been very curious.



And then I went on down the road. This parking garage had its lights on but nobody was home... Those are lifts so that each parking space is really two.



This turtle is on a wall outside a ski/skatboard shop. I've always loved him.



And... finally... for no particular reason this tableau caught my eye and, as it turned out, my last shot.

And another IBM thing...

One of the dress code comments brought to mind another IBM oddity.  The Clean Desk Policy.  Corporate security was paramount at IBM.  Always.  Not just computer security.  All security.  Every piece of paper carried a classification.  And all but the very lowest classification carried strict rules of handling.  And the lowest classification applied only really to toilet paper and unused letterhead. 

I can't remember all of the classifications but it went from something like For Employees Only to Read and Eat.

When not in the hand of an appropriate human, those papers must be locked away.   You could go pee and leave confidential stuff on your desk but you shouldn't do it too often. 

And, at night, all offices were swept.  Anything with any kind of a classification that was left out, unsecured was confiscated and you were issued a Security Violation.  To get your stuff back, you AND your manager had to physically go to the security management offices.  As I remember it now and explain it, it's shockingly scary and wildly humorous. 

But at the time it was normal and reasonable that those who could not keep a Clean Desk were not IBM material anyway.  In my 15 years, I got one security violation.  I was horrified and humiliated and embarrassed and furious because it was not my fault.  My boss - the head of the entire plant of 5,000 people - was responsible.  He left his speech (that I wrote) on my desk after I had left for the day.  It was clearly marked Confidential.  And I was in clear violation. 

He said that it was my fault for leaving early and he fixed it with the head of security and joked about it for days but still my beautiful spotless record was soiled. 

It's amazing to look back at those days with the years and experience I have now.  In those days, IBM hired you just out of college with the clear intent of taking care of you for life.  The rules were very strict and the culture very ridged and the rewards very nice.  I often wonder what it must be like to work there today with the world so different and the opportunities so great in so many other places. 

I'm sure they still have The Clean Desk Policy but I wonder if they have nightly security sweeps.

And another IBM thing...

One of the dress code comments brought to mind another IBM oddity.  The Clean Desk Policy.  Corporate security was paramount at IBM.  Always.  Not just computer security.  All security.  Every piece of paper carried a classification.  And all but the very lowest classification carried strict rules of handling.  And the lowest classification applied only really to toilet paper and unused letterhead. 

I can't remember all of the classifications but it went from something like For Employees Only to Read and Eat.

When not in the hand of an appropriate human, those papers must be locked away.   You could go pee and leave confidential stuff on your desk but you shouldn't do it too often. 

And, at night, all offices were swept.  Anything with any kind of a classification that was left out, unsecured was confiscated and you were issued a Security Violation.  To get your stuff back, you AND your manager had to physically go to the security management offices.  As I remember it now and explain it, it's shockingly scary and wildly humorous. 

But at the time it was normal and reasonable that those who could not keep a Clean Desk were not IBM material anyway.  In my 15 years, I got one security violation.  I was horrified and humiliated and embarrassed and furious because it was not my fault.  My boss - the head of the entire plant of 5,000 people - was responsible.  He left his speech (that I wrote) on my desk after I had left for the day.  It was clearly marked Confidential.  And I was in clear violation. 

He said that it was my fault for leaving early and he fixed it with the head of security and joked about it for days but still my beautiful spotless record was soiled. 

It's amazing to look back at those days with the years and experience I have now.  In those days, IBM hired you just out of college with the clear intent of taking care of you for life.  The rules were very strict and the culture very ridged and the rewards very nice.  I often wonder what it must be like to work there today with the world so different and the opportunities so great in so many other places. 

I'm sure they still have The Clean Desk Policy but I wonder if they have nightly security sweeps.

Everything done and I'm ready for the week

I actually did get everything on my list done and more.  I just put the clean clothes away and cleaned up the kitchen.  I'm feeling very pulled together and complete.  I'm ready to get back to work tomorrow. 

A short week will be nice.  And Friday mostly eaten up because I need to go into my boss's office and get Office 2007 for my laptop.  I could download it but I'm having lunch with the bookkeeper and some co-workers so as long as I'm going to be there anyway, I'll go in early and get it all done but it means that Friday is not going to have many work hours. 

Ok by me.  I'm ready for some slowdown. 

Dinner's cooking.  Weeds 2nd season is in the DVD drive.  I saved it and I'm glad I did.  I love that show to bits.  I wish the seasons were 22 episodes instead of 12.

Everything done and I'm ready for the week

I actually did get everything on my list done and more.  I just put the clean clothes away and cleaned up the kitchen.  I'm feeling very pulled together and complete.  I'm ready to get back to work tomorrow. 

A short week will be nice.  And Friday mostly eaten up because I need to go into my boss's office and get Office 2007 for my laptop.  I could download it but I'm having lunch with the bookkeeper and some co-workers so as long as I'm going to be there anyway, I'll go in early and get it all done but it means that Friday is not going to have many work hours. 

Ok by me.  I'm ready for some slowdown. 

Dinner's cooking.  Weeds 2nd season is in the DVD drive.  I saved it and I'm glad I did.  I love that show to bits.  I wish the seasons were 22 episodes instead of 12.