Catapult me a beer, would you?

We had an intense week at the co-op. One of my online co-op tech buddies (yes, there is small, deliciously geeky and organic tribe of us), the most excellent Shanester, came for a 3-day consult regarding our point-of-sale system ("Catapult"). We've had the system for 6 years and everyone here who got the original training has since departed. I could have gone to advanced training but thought it would be better to spend a little more money and bring the training here.

Shane was a great choice of trainers. He learned Catapult by being the IT guy at a co-op in North Carolina, and since then got hired by the vendor as a systems installer and integration specialist. So he not only knows our software, but intimately knows our business situation too. And he's funny and knows his beers. w00t!

Having the training here for everyone proved to be a wise choice. I think everyone is a lot more committed the POS system and understands it a lot better. We have well-defined plans for making the database work better and to have uniform policies for using it. I'm going to have more of a leadership role now, telling people how to use the system right rather than helping them use it any way it occurs to them. Maybe the best thing of all we got this week is a consensus that such policies and leadership are needed.

So much gained. But I have a to-do list two pages long and my brain is full. Full Full FULL.

Beer, please.

Another good reason to end the war.

Jamie's most-requested bedtime song this week is, "The bear jumped over the mountain." I'm still trying to decide what the bear sees when he's jumped instead of just "went".

Karl and I are reading Patrick F. McManus's book A Fine and Pleasant Misery. Karl is enjoying the short stories immensely, and I can tell he connects with the young boys (McManus and his friends) depicted therein. If you have read any McManus, you'll know many of his childhood outdoor experiences revolved around gear he got at his local Army-Navy Surplus store. Karl certainly gets a gleam in his eye as we read stories of sieve-like life rafts and bullet-riddled canteens obtained at Grogan's Surplus.

I've told Karl how surplus stores were an outgrowth of the end of WWII, and why you don't see them around much any more. A couple nights ago he asked me if the war in Iraq will end soon. He hopes the war ending will result in a new flood of military surplus, which will in turn spawn a new generation of Army-Navy Surplus stores for him to buy the stuff of adventure in.

Yet another good reason to bring the war to an end.

*tap* *tap* Is this thing working?

With no particular excuses I present recent goings-on at Maison d'un millier projets inachevés.

Jamie has moved up to the Green Room at her daycare. This means she's with all 3-5 year-olds. She's very excited and having a lot of fun. In the summer the kids who don't nap put on their swim suits and go out to play in the sprinklers. While inspecting the fit of her new swimsuit a few weeks ago, Jamie exclaimed, "It's just right for little me!"

Karl is doing a 2-week expedition day camp, learning about gardening and sustainable agriculture. It's an "expedition" because it's presented by our town's newest charter school, based on the Expeditionary Learning model. The camp includes working in the community garden, picking and bagging produce for the food bank, painting the new rainwater cistern at the local enviro-institute, and learning Morris dances relating to planting and harvest.

My wife the artist: the solar batteries seem fully charged, and she has returned to writing with gusto after a nearly 3-year hiatus.

My music: a Jellybeans subset sang a couple of gospel tunes for the annual Gospel Music Sunday at the MUWOAUU Church. There was quite a crowd, unusual for a summer service. It would not be unfair to conclude there are Christmas, Easter, and Gospel Music Sunday Unitarians around here. Maison de 1000... is not entirely innocent in this regard.

Jellybeans' first piece was "Roll Jordan," a Fairfield Four tune brought home from last year's Village Harmony camp. The other piece was "Zen Gospel Singing", a delightful little ditty by Mark Graham. I cannot imagine a more appropriate piece for a Gospel Music service at a UU church. It relates the story of a former Baptist turned Buddhist who left behind the theology but misses the heartfelt and beautiful music. He doesn't seek salvation, just "Om, om, sweet om."