three directions at one
There's a tool called a stirrup hoe, which I only learned of in the last few years. Our raised bed garden was overtaken by weeds (the prior owners hadn't grown anything) and while I'd tried using the string trimmer, it was for naught. So, I tried solarization with plastic sheeting. The UV tore it up and plenty still grew, some poking out of the holes like a middle finger. Mulch, it seemed, was the smart money. But what to do about all them weeds in the first place?
Enter, the stirrup hoe. Basically a strip of metal on the end of a stick, bent into a rounded triangle shape with sharpened edges. Pushing it back and forth along the topsoil slices the plant stems near the top of the root and allows for fairly easy, fairly effective weed clearing - particularly when planning to cover the top surface with something like mulch. It's not an everyday tool, in fact I've not used it since that project. But occasion has come again with the dry, sun-soaked patch in the back yard being overtaken by strange weeds. It's easy enough to cut them down with the mower, but it doesn't cut low enough. Sounds like a job for the stirrup hoe.
I was back to work this week, though only for 2 days. Returning was actually pretty nice. I'd spent a bit of time cleaning up my office, upgrading the storage in my bookshelf, rearranging, and removing some cruft. Amazing how much we accumulate over time. So, it was a nice place to just be and to get things done. There's both a little and a lot going on right now, with some leadership transitions happening, new operating principles, slower growth, and changes to product strategy. At the same time, being on the "core" of infrastructure, our focus hasn't changed significantly. Overall, I see these as positive developments. Departing leadership makes room for new opportunities, and a cohesive set of companywide competencies sets the bar for everyone to understand the expectations. It's been a long time coming, but the org has been trying to grow up and is finally realizing how to do it.
Things around home have been some blend of good and challenging. I am not always a thoughtful person. It takes work. And when living with someone who is thoughtful to the max well, that's definitely friction-making. To have someone by your side with whom you can discuss anything, even when it's terrifying, it's something that calls for gratitude. This is all vague, I know, but that's on purpose. I'm still sifting through my own thoughts on what I want from this life, for myself and for other people. You're allowed to want things for other people, but you can't hitch anything to the outcome since it's not yours to control.
That might be it for now, certainly the three loudest thoughts in my head. What went on yesterday, earlier this week, and what must be dealt with today.