A Day of Rest
Sunday December 4, 2005
Last night I searched for a place to stay in Allen Parish. There seem to be about 3 significant small towns: Oakdale to the north, where a Federal Prison is located – the current home of Governor Edwards I am told, Kinder to the south where the state’s largest land based casino is located, and about midway between along US 165, Oberlin the Parish seat. My preference is to stay at a chain where I can be confident of the minimum quality to expect and where I can get a non-smoking room with Internet service. As might be expected, these types of places are located in Kinder near the casino and about 20 miles from Oberlin. Only one of these has a non-smoking room available from Wednesday through the Thursday before Christmas – same price as where I am staying in Lafayette. It is a handicapped room so I feel a bit guilty taking it, but I make the reservation before this last room is no longer available. Then I send off an e-mail to my employer to verify that this is OK.
Before going to sleep I turned off the alarm and looked forward to sleeping in. No such luck, I woke up at 6:00 am, seems my body has already gotten into that rhythm. Today, rather than a quick bowl of cereal, I take the time to make a waffle and have a leisurely breakfast.
It may be a day of rest but it is also the one day to take care of chores. I have already dropped off my laundry for wash/dry/fold service, stopped by the Bank of America ATM I identified on the web, went to WalMart, drove around Lafayette a bit to get a feel for the area (small university town, regional airport, nice downtown, several business strips, etc.), had a long phone conversation with my wife and read the local Sunday paper. Normally I would watch some football but none of the games I am interested in are on so I am working through a to-do list instead. But if I don’t get it all done, I don’t get it all done and that is OK – today.
A few miscellaneous thoughts now that I have time to organize my observations.
The Federal Government is not the only organization to mobilize. A property restoration company from the mid-west has leased the limited conference space in this hotel. They have an entire operation set up inside and seem to be working seven days a week not six.
I need to get some exercise. Weight rooms don’t seem to come standard around here and I am not a runner or a swimmer. It is not clear the new place will have one either. There is however a golf course. When I come back after Christmas I will bring my clubs and try to at least get some exercise on Sundays. I still hope there is a weight room – I need to loose a little.
The first few days, the weather was cool – sweater or light jacket weather. The last few have been pleasant – short sleeve weather. Tomorrow, the forecast is for much cooler weather and showers.
I am glad I have my computer and cell phone with me. Even though they have issued me a cell phone and laptop, there are strict rules on their use and while they do allow limited personal use it is restricted and they reserve the right to read your e-mail, etc. All understandable. Easier to just keep personal and work separate.
Madeleine’s play seems to be going well, she loved the flowers and started receiving the post cards I have been sending every day. Amanda’s biased opinion is that she is the best in the show. They could not get in to construct the set until the last minute so it did not get done as designed. The work I put into the set design didn’t end up being fully used. It will be interesting to see the video.
Madeleine also got into the spring junior theater production of Oliver. It was a very competitive audition and she is transitioning from the oldest year in the junior division to the youngest year in the senior division. She is in the chorus, is one of the pickpockets and is thrilled.
Most of the folks have rooms in places around Baton Rouge so it is a bit lonely being out here by myself. I think it will be better in a few weeks when we are staffed up in our parish office. Past experience indicates that a team like this will become a bit of a family. Also with little else to do the long hours will go by quickly.
Time to get back to my to-do list and rest – although truth be told I can’t wait to get back to it.
Last night I searched for a place to stay in Allen Parish. There seem to be about 3 significant small towns: Oakdale to the north, where a Federal Prison is located – the current home of Governor Edwards I am told, Kinder to the south where the state’s largest land based casino is located, and about midway between along US 165, Oberlin the Parish seat. My preference is to stay at a chain where I can be confident of the minimum quality to expect and where I can get a non-smoking room with Internet service. As might be expected, these types of places are located in Kinder near the casino and about 20 miles from Oberlin. Only one of these has a non-smoking room available from Wednesday through the Thursday before Christmas – same price as where I am staying in Lafayette. It is a handicapped room so I feel a bit guilty taking it, but I make the reservation before this last room is no longer available. Then I send off an e-mail to my employer to verify that this is OK.
Before going to sleep I turned off the alarm and looked forward to sleeping in. No such luck, I woke up at 6:00 am, seems my body has already gotten into that rhythm. Today, rather than a quick bowl of cereal, I take the time to make a waffle and have a leisurely breakfast.
It may be a day of rest but it is also the one day to take care of chores. I have already dropped off my laundry for wash/dry/fold service, stopped by the Bank of America ATM I identified on the web, went to WalMart, drove around Lafayette a bit to get a feel for the area (small university town, regional airport, nice downtown, several business strips, etc.), had a long phone conversation with my wife and read the local Sunday paper. Normally I would watch some football but none of the games I am interested in are on so I am working through a to-do list instead. But if I don’t get it all done, I don’t get it all done and that is OK – today.
A few miscellaneous thoughts now that I have time to organize my observations.
The Federal Government is not the only organization to mobilize. A property restoration company from the mid-west has leased the limited conference space in this hotel. They have an entire operation set up inside and seem to be working seven days a week not six.
I need to get some exercise. Weight rooms don’t seem to come standard around here and I am not a runner or a swimmer. It is not clear the new place will have one either. There is however a golf course. When I come back after Christmas I will bring my clubs and try to at least get some exercise on Sundays. I still hope there is a weight room – I need to loose a little.
The first few days, the weather was cool – sweater or light jacket weather. The last few have been pleasant – short sleeve weather. Tomorrow, the forecast is for much cooler weather and showers.
I am glad I have my computer and cell phone with me. Even though they have issued me a cell phone and laptop, there are strict rules on their use and while they do allow limited personal use it is restricted and they reserve the right to read your e-mail, etc. All understandable. Easier to just keep personal and work separate.
Madeleine’s play seems to be going well, she loved the flowers and started receiving the post cards I have been sending every day. Amanda’s biased opinion is that she is the best in the show. They could not get in to construct the set until the last minute so it did not get done as designed. The work I put into the set design didn’t end up being fully used. It will be interesting to see the video.
Madeleine also got into the spring junior theater production of Oliver. It was a very competitive audition and she is transitioning from the oldest year in the junior division to the youngest year in the senior division. She is in the chorus, is one of the pickpockets and is thrilled.
Most of the folks have rooms in places around Baton Rouge so it is a bit lonely being out here by myself. I think it will be better in a few weeks when we are staffed up in our parish office. Past experience indicates that a team like this will become a bit of a family. Also with little else to do the long hours will go by quickly.
Time to get back to my to-do list and rest – although truth be told I can’t wait to get back to it.
posted by J Corlss at 4:02 PM
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