For Aqua

[Mik]

We don't have as many of the old barnburners as we used to but it's still a pretty high level of discussion.

[brenda]

@Mik
All excellent news for your family, Mik! Glad to hear all of it. Thank you!

Good news here, too. My work has been busy and productive. Getting some projects completed that will continue to serve our SE Minnesoooooota region, the rest of southern Minnesoooota, and one that will serve all of Minnesooooota, and possibly get picked up by other states. I'm not retired yet, and I am pushing to get these things done before I retire in a few years.

My job is unusual, the only one like it in our state, and not a typical job in other states either. It's not a money-maker of a career, so I don't know if it will be of interest to others, but we only need one good candidate. My board members will be the decision makers, and they are not eager to tackle the task. Maybe that's a good thing in some ways, but not for the long term.

Kiddo finished the PhD this year! There's a job offer in the works from Nvidia .... They have been very interested in kiddo for the last several years, and they are making it very clear they want to hire. Very exciting stuff! Kiddo will be making as much or more than hubby and I combined. I love this!!!!

[brenda]

@Mik

I don't miss the barnburners. I like the pleasant ones. Not patient enough any more to deal with the barnburners.

[Mik]

Same here. I don't argue issues very much.

[brenda]

@Mik
I enjoy pizzing off a legislator now and then ... I guess that takes care of my need for conflict. LOLOL

[LuFins Dad]

You know what? You’nz can all buddy/buddy up with Brenda, but I’m not!

Where have you been, young lady?! You disappear for months (years?) with no word or even notice that you’re taking a bleak or leaving, and then you just roll back in here with a quick meme? You have some ‘splaining to do…

[Mik]

I imagine it would! Actually, your job sounds really interesting to me. The older I get the more interested I get in how government and business moves. You're leaving behind something of great value to a lot of people.

Phd already! And NVIDIA? Wow. Your luxurious retirement is assured!!!

[brenda]

@LuFins-Dad
Been busy. Got lots done. Hard to find time to post. Still is.

How have you been?

[LuFins Dad]

Nope…Don’t even try… Harumph!

[brenda]

@Mik
My work has only grown over the last 25 years in this role. I serve over 100 cities now, and I have a good board, but no other staff. This is an organization I built over time. I love all my cities, and they know it.

This past year I started working with even more cities in the rest of southern Minnesoooooota. Now I get asked to speak at meetings/conferences for other organizations and state agencies. It's getting crazy.

It's no wonder I have no patience for the legislators that want to play partisan games. If they want to be nasty, they need to be ready to receive it right back. I don't even care if they are a committee chair. Sometimes I just want to tell them to grow up, and I would sound a bit like Aqua in the telling.

I just got done with a very difficult legislative session, but I got results even better than I expected. It was awesome and awful. LOLOL

[brenda]

@LuFins-Dad

It's okay. I still love you.

[LuFins Dad]

I’m only mad because I care…

[LuFins Dad]

So Luke is a senior at CNU, he is planning on taking a gap year after graduation to get in patient hours and pay off some of his student loan before going to Case Western. He hasn’t made up his mind though.

Finley turns 5 today…

[89th]

Brenda!

I still live in Minnesota. All the kids are now out of high school.

Kidding, they are 6-3-1 right now. Going to attempt a short trip to Disney in November, then the beach. Will actually be there during Election Day. I already voted via mail so now I care even less about the news! lol

No hummingbirds this year. Maybe saw one? Probably won’t put up the feeders again next year

[Doctor Phibes]

Hi Brenda! Good to hear from you, and that's fantastic news regarding your kiddo and Nvidia. What an exciting time to go and work there.

Both my kids are currently in college, so all I can here is the noise that would be made by dollar bills as they evaporate down the toilet, if such a thing were possible.

[brenda]

@LuFins-Dad This is such wonderful news to hear! Luke will do well with either plan. He is someone who will land on his feet, no matter if there's a tiny wobble before he stands up tall and solid. You must be very proud, and you should be, as should your bride.

I love it that Finley gives you the opportunity to enjoy it all again. This keeps us young!

Maybe I told you this long ago ..

A male cousin had two kids, then was all done, until years later when baby #3 arrived. Cousin and his wife decided to have a fourth child as a sibling for #3.
Their oldest child asked them, "Why couldn't you just get a dog for him?"

So another baby?? Another dog??

[LuFins Dad]

Another dog, I think..

[brenda]

@89th
LOL, you had me wide-eyed at the high school thing!

Enjoy your trip to Disney this fall. It will be more of a reality experience than the election.

Yes, we had fewer hummers this year, too. Don't give up! There will be more, and your feeders can help build up their flocks again. I have some migrating hummers coming through yet.

While the weather is still good, my front porch is my office, and the hummers are my officemates. Had one visit late this morning. All it takes is two for an aerial show. It's wonderful!

[brenda]

@Doctor-Phibes

Kiddo had three internships with Nvidia during grad school, and I have been hoping it would become an offer for full employment. Holy cow, their employee benefits and salary are outstanding. Hubby and I are so glad this is coming together. I think kiddo will be very happy with this choice.

Two in college at the same time! I hope this means they each get more financial aid from the schools. That would be the silver lining of going through this all at once. It must seem so different to have both off to college. I suggest some bourbon to help you cope. I may need to have some, too, to help you cope. LOL

[LuFins Dad]

Nvidia? That’s a fad…