Just the same, my mind & body seemed particularly unwilling to return to the grind, this morning.
And OH what a joy the morning has been! The biggest issue is one I mentioned in a previous post: people who wanted into the building over the weekend, while the digital keypads which control entry are having a spat with the new motherboard controller, and aren't talking to each other. One of those people was the owner - my boss.
So I spent the morning fabricating, issuing and delivering new cards to those who need them. Part of that time was spent in consultation with the installers of the new system: while the software is reasonably intuitive, it didn't always cooperate, and wasn't recognizing some of the cards.
To convince the new program to recognize our existing cards, I had to tell the software to expect to read a new card. Then I race down the hall (woo-hoo! gangway ... outa the way ... excuse me ... gangway!) to the nearest reader and wave said card in front of said reader. Then I race (more woo-hooing, etc) back to my desk to acknowledge the acknowledgement, all within 30 seconds.
There were 25 new cards to program. Lather, rinse, repeat. After delivering the cards, several of the tenants wanted more cards. Continue repeating.
So a few of the tenants were treated to the sight of this
Oh, well. At least I provided some entertainment for the tenants, most of whom would also rather have taken another day off and stayed outside.
Then I delivered the cards to the tenants. This involves multiple trips around and around the building, up and down two different stairwells at opposite corners of this rather large building. Yes, we have elevators, but they're hydraulic ... and ... they're ...
... wait ...
... wait ...
... slow.
Okay, so I need the exercise. On to other things!
In the May 24 edition of the Alaska Journal of Commerce, there is an article about how this part of the state could have natural gas shortages by 2013. I don't know what they're worried about. After all, this is Alaska! Who needs heat? Or lights?
Yes, we have oodles of natural gas, oil, etc. It's just that the gas deposits which are conveniently close are getting old, and have rather fewer years of productive life remaining. Due to the economy, the various oil companies are increasingly reluctant to dig new wells.
There are hundreds of billions of cubic feet of natural gas on the North Slope, but getting it 650 miles to Anchorage would be an expensive proposition ... and probably not cost-effective.
So we wait to find out if we'll have heat and power in four years.
* * * * *
YOUR-TAX-DOLLARS-AT-WORK DEPT: On a related topic, it seems there is a 50-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Healy, Alaska, which is in mothballs.
It was built in 1997, and half the cost was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Homer (Alaska) Electric Association was intending to fire it back up, but plans have changed. They're going with a combination of small-scale hydro and wind-power projects, instead.
So the $300 million power plant remains in mothballs. I'm so glad we used our tax dollars for that. (/sarcasm)
* * * * *
It's mostly sunny & 67 today, but AccuHunch predicts it will cloud up. That could be a good thing; we're in the process of replacing the windows in all bedrooms. They're all on the east side of the house, and catch the morning light. This time of year, that's saying something. There's nothing like waking up to daylight at 3 a.m. And 3:40. And 4:15. And 4:28. And ...
We'll have the surrounds painted soon, and then we can get the blinds back up, too.
That's enough for now - have a great remainder of the day, folks. Thanks for stopping by.
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