posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
We are coming down the home stretch on this data migration; the real dump is coming from our old provider on Wednesday.
I wish I had another month to clean more data, but, alas, I do not. I'm going to run a couple more searches through my lists of possible inactive folks, just to make sure that no one who has been around for the last year or so is included in those lists, then I will deactivate the whole lot.
I'll probably have some mistakes, but we have so many old records that we really don't want to move that I'm willing to take the risk.
I missed the July 15 memory verse...headed out for Girls Camp that day and just couldn't get it in. Not sure I'll make the Aug 1 list, either...as I said, this is the home stretch. We'll see.
But apparently no one has any 15 minute stress-buster suggestions, so I'll throw out what I've been doing.
If I'm at work... Get up and walk away. Get a cup of coffee, chat with a co-worker.
If I'm not at work... Get up and walk away. Sit on the porch swing a bit. Play a game with the kids. Work through a couple of chapters of my Bible Survey. Sort laundry (well, yeah, it is kinda stress relieving to see the piles shrink)
The less wise ideas: eat a bowl of ice cream. Eat a hershey bar. Raid the refrigerator.
Um, yeah.
Getting there...
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Deep Breaths
posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Y'know, I've never been part of a data base migration before.
The thing that makes it so crazifying is that the current work doesn't stop while we get the new platform ready (and HOW do I match those multiple-selection drop down lists to a solution that only offers a scant handful of custom drop down lists...that can only have one choice?); add to that some personnel transitions that mean we are having to train folks on the old system just weeks before we move to the new system (oh, wait, I don't have to create a new log in...I can just reassign the old one...so nice to know 3 weeks before we leave...) and some whose data just landed on my desk because there's no one else to put it in right now (Um, yeah, maybe I really did say I'd take care of that while you looked for a new data entry person...what was I thinking?) and a switch in branding that seems to be resulting in a slew of duplicate records...that we don't want to pay to move...and put it all right in the middle of three out-of-town trips. It is summer, after all.
I never really thought I was susceptible to stress, but I am feeling it. And I am not liking it.
But really, this is pretty minor stress. Folks living in other countries who don't know where their next meal is coming from, or if the secret police...or the radical insurgents...will come and haul everyone off to prison or worse; people sitting in hospital waiting rooms with no assurance that the news about that sweet one who was so...normal...just a couple of hours ago is going to be hopeful or devastating, whose whole world has been turned upside down for who know how long, whose dreams and plans have just evaporated.. THEY are the ones who are stressed. Whether or not I get every record matched up perfectly really isn't stress.
But I have to keep reminding myself that I can only do what I can do and not worry about what I can't. If it's not perfect, we'll fix it. This time next year, it'll be done and we'll be on the upswing.
But, I'm curious...if anyone is willing to share, what is your favorite 15 minute stress reliever? 'Cause I've only got 15 minutes... ;-)
Y'know, I've never been part of a data base migration before.
The thing that makes it so crazifying is that the current work doesn't stop while we get the new platform ready (and HOW do I match those multiple-selection drop down lists to a solution that only offers a scant handful of custom drop down lists...that can only have one choice?); add to that some personnel transitions that mean we are having to train folks on the old system just weeks before we move to the new system (oh, wait, I don't have to create a new log in...I can just reassign the old one...so nice to know 3 weeks before we leave...) and some whose data just landed on my desk because there's no one else to put it in right now (Um, yeah, maybe I really did say I'd take care of that while you looked for a new data entry person...what was I thinking?) and a switch in branding that seems to be resulting in a slew of duplicate records...that we don't want to pay to move...and put it all right in the middle of three out-of-town trips. It is summer, after all.
I never really thought I was susceptible to stress, but I am feeling it. And I am not liking it.
But really, this is pretty minor stress. Folks living in other countries who don't know where their next meal is coming from, or if the secret police...or the radical insurgents...will come and haul everyone off to prison or worse; people sitting in hospital waiting rooms with no assurance that the news about that sweet one who was so...normal...just a couple of hours ago is going to be hopeful or devastating, whose whole world has been turned upside down for who know how long, whose dreams and plans have just evaporated.. THEY are the ones who are stressed. Whether or not I get every record matched up perfectly really isn't stress.
But I have to keep reminding myself that I can only do what I can do and not worry about what I can't. If it's not perfect, we'll fix it. This time next year, it'll be done and we'll be on the upswing.
But, I'm curious...if anyone is willing to share, what is your favorite 15 minute stress reliever? 'Cause I've only got 15 minutes... ;-)
Monday, July 1, 2013
Verse 13 - Numbers 6:24 - 26 (and a little rabbit chasing...)
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
One of the things I'm discovering on this 26 verse journey is that sometimes there is an obvious and direct line to the verse I choose; sometimes that path is considerably convoluted and vague.
Today's verse came after a series of subtle nudges and prods, which I'm not even going to try to recount.
And it is a very familiar passage; our pastor pronounces this over our congregation almost every week. So it's not going to be a stretch to really memorize it...mostly just matching the reference with the passage.
Here's the passage:
The LORD bless and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace - Numbers 6:24-26, NIV 84
As I said, it's very familiar, but I wanted to make sure I have it learned. But...the next verse really caught my eye:
So they [the priests] will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
I was riveted by the concept that the priests put the Lord's name on the people with this blessing...and that it was the Lord's name that was the blessing/carried the blessing.
NOTE: That was pretty much where I planned to stop. But somehow I wandered down a rabbit trail...you can follow it with me if you like...
Standard translation practice is that the all-caps LORD (Strong's 3068) is used to translate the Hebrew unpronounced Name of God, which is often rendered as Jehovah or Yahweh in English and means self existent or eternal one.
A quick skim of Zhodiates, paying attention to the little numbers, shows that the first time word 3068 appears in the text is Genesis 2:4 - This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens -- ( I'm switching over to KJV, because this is from Zhodiates...)
LORD is used as the active subject of a sentence several times in the following chapters, but we see that Abram ...built an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Gen. 12:8)
For Abram to have called upon the name of the LORD, that name had to have been revealed to him at some point prior to the altar. Perhaps when he was first called to leave his father's house in 12:1 - Now the LORD had said unto Abram....?
We first see God's declaration identifying Himself as the LORD in Gen 15:7 - I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees... which exactly identifies the One who sent Moses in Exodus 3: 15 - ...say to the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me to you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
This is the name that the priests were to place on the people; and they carried both His name and His blessing; His name was in the blessing.
One of the things I'm discovering on this 26 verse journey is that sometimes there is an obvious and direct line to the verse I choose; sometimes that path is considerably convoluted and vague.
Today's verse came after a series of subtle nudges and prods, which I'm not even going to try to recount.
And it is a very familiar passage; our pastor pronounces this over our congregation almost every week. So it's not going to be a stretch to really memorize it...mostly just matching the reference with the passage.
Here's the passage:
The LORD bless and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace - Numbers 6:24-26, NIV 84
As I said, it's very familiar, but I wanted to make sure I have it learned. But...the next verse really caught my eye:
So they [the priests] will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
I was riveted by the concept that the priests put the Lord's name on the people with this blessing...and that it was the Lord's name that was the blessing/carried the blessing.
NOTE: That was pretty much where I planned to stop. But somehow I wandered down a rabbit trail...you can follow it with me if you like...
Standard translation practice is that the all-caps LORD (Strong's 3068) is used to translate the Hebrew unpronounced Name of God, which is often rendered as Jehovah or Yahweh in English and means self existent or eternal one.
A quick skim of Zhodiates, paying attention to the little numbers, shows that the first time word 3068 appears in the text is Genesis 2:4 - This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens -- ( I'm switching over to KJV, because this is from Zhodiates...)
LORD is used as the active subject of a sentence several times in the following chapters, but we see that Abram ...built an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Gen. 12:8)
For Abram to have called upon the name of the LORD, that name had to have been revealed to him at some point prior to the altar. Perhaps when he was first called to leave his father's house in 12:1 - Now the LORD had said unto Abram....?
We first see God's declaration identifying Himself as the LORD in Gen 15:7 - I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees... which exactly identifies the One who sent Moses in Exodus 3: 15 - ...say to the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me to you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
This is the name that the priests were to place on the people; and they carried both His name and His blessing; His name was in the blessing.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
To silly to sleep
So it's 12:30 AM and I just finished playing a game of Apples to Apples with three of my high school girls club girls, who are having a sleepover chez nous to ostensibly work on their club requirements so they can get their awards at the end of the summer. I think they have actually done just a little bit of work but mostly they're just doing girl stuff.
Anyway, the computer got left on when I left it to join them and when I returned I clicked on the wrong button and the bloglovin' feed came up. I kinda automatically clicked through to one of the first posts and found myself challenged to list some things I learned in June.
And because I'm silly-sleepy I'm writing an answer instead of clicking the correct button and shutting things down so that I, if not the girls, will get a little sleep tonight.
So my first thought upon seeing the question was, 'Gee, I'm just in head-down-and-work mode. I haven't had time to learn anything!'
Then I thought of a couple things.
Firstly, migrating a data base is hard work. There's a lot to learn. So I really AM learning a lot of stuff. Brain stretching and paradigm shifting. If learning new things keeps you young, then at the rate I'm going on this stuff I should start going backwards soon. But that's not really I'm-growing-as-a-person kind of learning, and I think that's really what the challenge was about.
I've also learned that I am not very good at communicating technical things. Somehow I manage to convolute it all up. I could call it job security, I suppose, because the standard response is, 'Wow, you are the person for that job! I can't believe you really CARE about all those details!'
Which means that I really am not explaining the lack of grace that is part and parcel of a data base. In stage costuming, if a detail isn't seen from 10 feet away, it's not there. Details don't matter. But this is a data base and the data base only knows what it is precisely told. It's not me that needs the details...it's the computer. And the computer doesn't explain, doesn't excuse, doesn't care.
So put that in the 'need to learn' option.
But I've also learned I'm really not in this alone. I have been encouraged by more than one of our pastors to MAKE SURE I take some time off to get away this summer. Pastor Mom -- she and her husband are, among other things, the Senior Adult pastors -- stopped by my office yesterday as I was rubbing my computer weary eyes, hugged me with the kind of hug that you give to someone who NEEDS a hug, and spent a couple of minutes encouraging me in my efforts.
Which was really sweet and touched me deeply, but beyond what she did I realized that Someone is using the folks around me to keep me from getting discouraged and cynical about how much there is to do, even when I'm on the edge of being overwhelmed. It helps to know that there are folks who notice that I really am trying to do my best here...because they're noticing because He notices.
I'm doing a pitiful wee-hours explanation of something that I couldn't really articulate even in the broad daylight, but suddenly I realized that God has got my back on this.
And that's a pretty big growing-as-a-person kind of thing.
Anyway, the computer got left on when I left it to join them and when I returned I clicked on the wrong button and the bloglovin' feed came up. I kinda automatically clicked through to one of the first posts and found myself challenged to list some things I learned in June.
And because I'm silly-sleepy I'm writing an answer instead of clicking the correct button and shutting things down so that I, if not the girls, will get a little sleep tonight.
So my first thought upon seeing the question was, 'Gee, I'm just in head-down-and-work mode. I haven't had time to learn anything!'
Then I thought of a couple things.
Firstly, migrating a data base is hard work. There's a lot to learn. So I really AM learning a lot of stuff. Brain stretching and paradigm shifting. If learning new things keeps you young, then at the rate I'm going on this stuff I should start going backwards soon. But that's not really I'm-growing-as-a-person kind of learning, and I think that's really what the challenge was about.
I've also learned that I am not very good at communicating technical things. Somehow I manage to convolute it all up. I could call it job security, I suppose, because the standard response is, 'Wow, you are the person for that job! I can't believe you really CARE about all those details!'
Which means that I really am not explaining the lack of grace that is part and parcel of a data base. In stage costuming, if a detail isn't seen from 10 feet away, it's not there. Details don't matter. But this is a data base and the data base only knows what it is precisely told. It's not me that needs the details...it's the computer. And the computer doesn't explain, doesn't excuse, doesn't care.
So put that in the 'need to learn' option.
But I've also learned I'm really not in this alone. I have been encouraged by more than one of our pastors to MAKE SURE I take some time off to get away this summer. Pastor Mom -- she and her husband are, among other things, the Senior Adult pastors -- stopped by my office yesterday as I was rubbing my computer weary eyes, hugged me with the kind of hug that you give to someone who NEEDS a hug, and spent a couple of minutes encouraging me in my efforts.
Which was really sweet and touched me deeply, but beyond what she did I realized that Someone is using the folks around me to keep me from getting discouraged and cynical about how much there is to do, even when I'm on the edge of being overwhelmed. It helps to know that there are folks who notice that I really am trying to do my best here...because they're noticing because He notices.
I'm doing a pitiful wee-hours explanation of something that I couldn't really articulate even in the broad daylight, but suddenly I realized that God has got my back on this.
And that's a pretty big growing-as-a-person kind of thing.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
A little i dotting and t crossing....
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
I finally figured out why so many have posted that they are "claiming my blog on Bloglovin' "...it's so they can see the stats of who is using that reader to follow them.
I don't have to post that for folks to follow me; but I DO have to post that little promotional link for me to 'claim' my blog and see if anyone comes by here via their service.
To be honest, I'm not sure I really like using that site myself; the little synopsis it offers of each post is not necessarily enough for me to decide if I want to read it or not, so it's been way to easy to get in 'skim' mode and miss something I like. And the 'frame' interferes w/commenting (you can click the X in the 'frame' to get rid of it, I've learned).
Plus, they have 'sponsored posts'...as near as I can tell, that's advertising...stuck in the feed now and then. Until I figured out what was going on, I'd sit and stare at the link trying to figure out who I 'followed' that would post such a thing. Now it doesn't throw me, just annoys me.
But it is a reasonable alternative to the down-to-mere-hours-of-life-left Google Reader, so it's here to make it easy for folks to link up if they like.
And fulfilling my obligation to post the link on my blog. ;-)
I finally figured out why so many have posted that they are "claiming my blog on Bloglovin' "...it's so they can see the stats of who is using that reader to follow them.
I don't have to post that for folks to follow me; but I DO have to post that little promotional link for me to 'claim' my blog and see if anyone comes by here via their service.
To be honest, I'm not sure I really like using that site myself; the little synopsis it offers of each post is not necessarily enough for me to decide if I want to read it or not, so it's been way to easy to get in 'skim' mode and miss something I like. And the 'frame' interferes w/commenting (you can click the X in the 'frame' to get rid of it, I've learned).
Plus, they have 'sponsored posts'...as near as I can tell, that's advertising...stuck in the feed now and then. Until I figured out what was going on, I'd sit and stare at the link trying to figure out who I 'followed' that would post such a thing. Now it doesn't throw me, just annoys me.
But it is a reasonable alternative to the down-to-mere-hours-of-life-left Google Reader, so it's here to make it easy for folks to link up if they like.
And fulfilling my obligation to post the link on my blog. ;-)
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Morning Chuckle
Posted By Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Sometimes a really creepy dream has almost a funny meaning...
Last night I dreamed I was in an old...barn, house or basement, not sure which. It was dark, dusty and cluttered up and I had a flashlight that I was using to hunt for something.
At one point, I thought I heard scampering of rodents, then I was sure I didn't, then I thought I did again...anyway, I swung the flashlight around a couple of times and froze when they lit up a pair of teeny glowing red eyes looking at me.
Wherever-I-was, there were rats.
However, before I could really react, I found that there were a couple of people there, too,...confused, lost, hungry and exhausted. I had to get the folks out of there before we could deal with the rats.
I woke up feeling rather creepy...then suddenly I realized what the dream was about and had to laugh.
We are migrating our data base at church from one software company to another and I am the one primarily responsible for it. I've been frantically cleaning out old useless records...but every once in a while I will hit a valid record amongst the list of messed up ones, so I can't just delete all of the old records.
Yes, the old barn was the data base...the rats are the old, useless records and the confused folks are the good records with the errors.
So plain. :-)
Sometimes a really creepy dream has almost a funny meaning...
Last night I dreamed I was in an old...barn, house or basement, not sure which. It was dark, dusty and cluttered up and I had a flashlight that I was using to hunt for something.
At one point, I thought I heard scampering of rodents, then I was sure I didn't, then I thought I did again...anyway, I swung the flashlight around a couple of times and froze when they lit up a pair of teeny glowing red eyes looking at me.
Wherever-I-was, there were rats.
However, before I could really react, I found that there were a couple of people there, too,...confused, lost, hungry and exhausted. I had to get the folks out of there before we could deal with the rats.
I woke up feeling rather creepy...then suddenly I realized what the dream was about and had to laugh.
We are migrating our data base at church from one software company to another and I am the one primarily responsible for it. I've been frantically cleaning out old useless records...but every once in a while I will hit a valid record amongst the list of messed up ones, so I can't just delete all of the old records.
Yes, the old barn was the data base...the rats are the old, useless records and the confused folks are the good records with the errors.
So plain. :-)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Looking for the Fueling Wing...
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
I've sat down to the computer to write a post about 4 times in the last two days and did nothing but stare at a blank screen before closing it out.
I am poured out at the moment and can't seem to find any opportunity to refill.
See, we are migrating our data base at work and I am frantically trying to wrap my brain around the new system before it goes live. I told more than one person today that I feel like I'm getting an Associate's Degree in 4 weeks.
So. Much. To. Learn.
So consequently anything that flittered around my brain as being a possible blog post sounded either worn out or whiny.
Neither of which makes for good content.
Yet, it is the simple truth that sometimes life is running full open and there's nothing you can do but try to keep up. It happens to everyone at some point...usually again and again, in different ways.
I'm reminded of the refueling planes we often see doing training flights at the old, semi-decommissioned Grissom Air Base when we are driving through north central Indiana on our trips to see family.
What a concept...a plane on a mission in enemy territory gets refueled as it is flying. It doesn't stop and land...it keeps heading towards the mission objective.
I'll tell ya what, that'll preach.
I don't need to be looking for a place to land and rest, but I need to look up to see the refreshing coming as I keep headed toward the goal...
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides - 1 Pet. 4:11
I've sat down to the computer to write a post about 4 times in the last two days and did nothing but stare at a blank screen before closing it out.
I am poured out at the moment and can't seem to find any opportunity to refill.
See, we are migrating our data base at work and I am frantically trying to wrap my brain around the new system before it goes live. I told more than one person today that I feel like I'm getting an Associate's Degree in 4 weeks.
So. Much. To. Learn.
So consequently anything that flittered around my brain as being a possible blog post sounded either worn out or whiny.
Neither of which makes for good content.
Yet, it is the simple truth that sometimes life is running full open and there's nothing you can do but try to keep up. It happens to everyone at some point...usually again and again, in different ways.
I'm reminded of the refueling planes we often see doing training flights at the old, semi-decommissioned Grissom Air Base when we are driving through north central Indiana on our trips to see family.
What a concept...a plane on a mission in enemy territory gets refueled as it is flying. It doesn't stop and land...it keeps heading towards the mission objective.
I'll tell ya what, that'll preach.
I don't need to be looking for a place to land and rest, but I need to look up to see the refreshing coming as I keep headed toward the goal...
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides - 1 Pet. 4:11
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