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October 26, 2019

The Burning of Columbia, South Carolina - 1865

The Burning of Columbia

This is the text of William Gilmore Simms's late-1865 pamphlet, The Sack and Destruction of the City of Columbia, S.C. This pamphlet is a revised version of his serialized newspaper account, Capture, Sack and Destruction of the City of Columbia, which appeared in the Columbia Phoenix in March and April of that year.

Readers are also encouraged to consider Chapter XXVII from Captain David Power Coyngham's account of his time with Sherman, Sherman's March Through the South, which provides a first-hand account of the "Sack and Destruction" of Columbia from the Union perspective. As such, it provides an intriguing companion piece to Simms's narrative.

The Sack and Destruction of the City of Columbia, S.C.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 26, 2019 at 5:38 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 20, 2019

Day 5: Birminghan/Leeds, AL to Columbia, SC

Day 5: Birminghan/Leeds, AL to Columbia, SC

Starting Odometer: 32,867
Ending Odometer: 33,219
Miles traveled today: 352 miles.
Departed Leeds, AL at 9:30 a.m. CDT.
Arrived in Columbia, SC at 5:30 p.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. CDT).

Miles Traveled this Trip:
Day 1: 458 miles (Wednesday)
Day 2: 473 miles (Thursday)
Day 3: 334 miles (Friday)
Day 4: 284 miles (Saturday)
Day 5: 352 miles (Sunday)
----------------------
Total Miles this Trip: 1,901 miles

Starting Odometer: 31,317
Ending Odometer: 33,219
----------------------
Total Miles this Trip: 1,902 miles


Here's what my ride looked like for today.

Here's my actual fuel stops.

Left hotel in Leeds, Alabama at 9:30 a.m.
Starting Odometer: 32,867.
1) Refueled in east Atlanta, GA at 11:16 a.m. CDT. Odometer 33,016. 149 miles.
2) Refueled in Augusta, GA at 1:05 p.m. CDT (2:05 p.m. EDT). Odometer: 33,147. 145 miles.
3) Augusta, GA to Columbia, SC. Odometer: 33,219. 76 miles.
Ending odometer: 33,219.

Today's Total milege: 351 miles.

Note: I changed time zones again (from CDT to MDT) when I crossed the border into Georgia.

I had gone 205 miles by 12:00 noon today, however, I had also crossed the border into Georgia, which make me leap forward an hour, so 12:00 noon CDT was technically 1:00 p.m. EDT. But still, it's generally a goal of mine to get up and ride 100 miles before noon. Today, because I left the hotel at 9:30 a.m., I was able to run up 205 miles before noon.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 20, 2019 at 4:08 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 19, 2019

Day 5: Birminghan/Leeds, AL to Columbia, SC

Day 5: Birminghan/Leeds, AL to Columbia, SC

Here's what my ride looks like for tomorrow.

Here's my planned fuel stops.

1) Birminghan/Leeds, AL to Atlanta, GA. 130 miles.
2) Atlanta, GA to Augusta, GA. 145 miles.
3) Augusta, GA to Columbia, SC. 76 miles.
Total milege: 351 miles.

Note: I change time zones again tomorrow (from CDT to MDT) when I cross the border into Georgia.

Forecast for tomorrow: Sunday Oct 20, 2019.
Forecast looks good. Some clouds. Some sun. But no rain forecasted that should impact my ride tomorrow. Warms up enough to start riding at about 9:00 a.m. / 10:00 a.m. CDT. Sun sets in Columbia, S.C. at 6:44 p.m. EDT.

So, if all goes as planned, I should be riding into Columbia, SC around 6:00 p.m. MDT tomorrow (Sunday 10/20/2019).

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 19, 2019 at 9:00 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

PeopleSoft HCM 9.2 Public Sector Notes


Process a Direct Retro Distribution

Review Actuals Distribution Page

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 19, 2019 at 6:54 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Day 4: Madison, MS to Birminghan/Leeds, AL

Day 4: Madison, MS to Birmingham/Leeds, AL

Starting Odometer: 32,583
Ending Odometer: 32,867
Miles traveled today: 284 miles.
Departed Madison, MS at 10:15 a.m. CDT.
Arrived in Leeds, AL at 5:00 p.m. CDT.

Miles Traveled this Trip:
Day 1: 458 miles
Day 2: 473 miles
Day 3: 334 miles
Day 4: 284 miles
----------------------
Total Miles this Trip: 1,549

So, I ended up in Leeds, Alabama, on the east side of Birmingham, essentially. I didn't really want to spend the night in downtown Birmingham, so I skirted to the south and east of Birmingham and ended up in Leeds, Alabama basically.

I wasn't able to ride 300 miles today, primarily due to Tropical Storm Nestor. It was sort of half-rainy/drizzly in the morning (leaving Madison/Jackson), and then again in the evening, as I was skirting south of Birmingham, AL. So, I chose to stop, hoping for better riding weather tomorrow. Tomorrow, I only have about 336 miles to travel, and the weather looks better for my ride tomorrow through Atlanta, Augusta, and Columbia. Basically, it looks like the storm moves out/dissapates tonight, leaving me any easy (dry) ride into Columbia, S.C. tomorrow.

I think I'll go ahead and gas up tonight so I start with a full tank in the morning, anyway.

Refueled at 6:20 p.m.:
1.992 gal for $4.50
Odometer: 32,867

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 19, 2019 at 4:53 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 18, 2019

Day 4: Madison, MS to Birmingham/Leeds, AL

Tomorrow, Tropical Storm Nestor is supposed to make landfall in the southeastern United States. Perfect. Just as I was poised to complete my cross-country journey on the AT, the entire southeast is going to get slammed by a tropical storm. Perfect.

In any event, I've tried to look at the weather forecasts to determine how far I can ride tomorrow without getting slammed by Tropical Storm Nestor.

Right now, my best guess is that I can ride from Madison, MS to Meridian, MS to Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL. This ride looks to be approximately 258 miles.

Meridian: No rain forecasted for Sat 10/19/19.
Tuscaloosa: Rain forecasted from 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. (Sat 10/19/19).
Birmingham: No rain forecasted for Sat 10/19/19.
Atlanta: Rain forecasted from 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (Sat 10/19/19).

So, it would seem that the plan is to leave tomorrow (Sat 10/19/19) at about 10:00 a.m. Temperature in Madison should be up to 63F by then. Then, I ride to Meridian, MS, Tuscaloosa, AL, and Birmingham, AL.

1) Madison, MS to Meridian, MS. Approximately 112 miles. 1 hour 42 minutes.
2) Meridian, MS to Tuscaloosa, AL. Approximately 95 miles. 1 hour 28 minutes.
3) Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL. Approximately 57 miles. 57 minutes.

Leave Madison: 10:00 a.m.
Arrive Meridian, MS: 12:00 noon
Refuel and eat lunch in Meridian. Give the storm some time to head east. 12:00-1:00pm.
Arrive Tuscaloosa, AL: 3:00 p.m.
Arrive Birmingham, AL: 4:00 p.m.

I will plan to refuel tomorrow in Madison, Meridian, and Tuscaloosa.
I will plan on spending tomorrow night in Birmingham because, if I continue on to Atlanta, I'll get caught up in Tropical storm Nestor.

The plan is to hunker down in Birmingham, and wait for the storm to pass on Saturday afternoon/evening. Then, on Sunday, I will get up and ride the final 360 miles into Columbia, SC.

Continue reading "Day 4: Madison, MS to Birmingham/Leeds, AL"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 18, 2019 at 9:31 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Day 3: Tyler/Lindale, TX to Madison, MS

Starting Odometer: 32,249.
Ending Odometer: 32,583.
Miles today: 334.

Miles Traveled this Trip:
Day 1: 458 miles
Day 2: 473 miles
Day 3: 334 miles
----------------------
Total Miles this Trip: 1,265


Left the hotel in Lindale at 10:00 a.m.

Today's planned fuel stops:

1) Tyler/Lindale, TX to Ruston, Louisiana. 167 miles..
2) Ruston, La to Madison, MS. 163 miles..
Total milege: 330 miles.

Today, I didn't really hit my planned fuel stops because I was running triple digits pretty much all day long, and my gas mileage was somewhat lower because of this, so I stopped at slightly different locations than I had intially planned.

My first fuel stop was supposed to be Ruston, LA, but instead, I stopped at Arcadia, LA.
1) Tyler/Lindale, TX to Arcadia, LA. 32,404 - 32,249 = 155 miles.
2) Arcadia, LA to Edwards, MS. 32,546 - 32,404 = 142 miles.
3) Edwards, MS to Madison, MS. 32,583 - 32,546 = 37 miles.

Distance today: 32,583 - 32,249 = 334 miles.

So, it looks like I rode a total 334 miles today.

For the trip, it looks like 32,583 - 31,317 = 1,266 miles.
Day 1: 458 miles
Day 2: 473 miles
Day 3: 334 miles
Total: 1,265 miles


This is what my drive looked like today.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 18, 2019 at 2:38 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 17, 2019

Day 3: Tyler/Lindale, TX to Madison, MS


Here's what my ride looks like for tomorrow.

Here's my planned fuel stops.

1) Tyler/Lindale, TX to Ruston, Louisiana. 167 miles.
2) Ruston, La to Madison, MS. 163 miles.
Total milege: 330 miles.

Forecast for tomorrow: Friday Oct 18, 2019.
Forecast looks clear. Sunny. Warms up enough to start riding at about 10:00 a.m. CDT.

So, if all goes as planned, I should be riding into Madison, MS around 5:00 p.m. CDT, or possibly by sunset tomorrow (Friday 10/18/2019).

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 17, 2019 at 7:39 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Day 2: Amarillo,TX to Tyler/Lindale, TX

Day 2: Amarillo, TX to Tyler/Lindale, TX

Starting Odometer: 31,776
Ending Odometer: 32,249
Miles Traveled Today: 473
Departed Amarillo, TX at 11:00 a.m. CDT.
Arrived in Tyler/Lindale, TX at 6:30 p.m. CDT.


Miles Traveled this Trip:
Day 1: 458 miles
Day 2: 473 miles
----------------------
Total Miles this Trip: 931


So, I decided to plan my day out for today. It's not a long day, really. I think yesterday I rode 458 miles. Today, it looks like I'll ride 368 miles, roughly.

My planned fuel stops for today (I filled up last night):
1) Amarillo to Quanah. 146 miles. (Requires 4 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).
2) Quanah to Decatur. 154 miles. (Requires 4.2 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).
3) Decatur to Dallas. 68 miles. (Requires 2 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).

Weather forecast for looks good all along the route. Clear, sunny. Warm enough to ride at about 11:00 a.m., I think.

So, I take off from Amarillo, Texas at about 11:00 a.m. I would leave earlier, but it's seriously like 50F and, even with my long johns on, I'm not overly excited about riding when it's that cold.

I ride from Amarillo to Quanah. It's really hard to descibe the country out here. Just flat as a table. Nothing growing. No rivers. No water. Nothing but endless windfarms and every 15 minutes I'm passing an 18 wheeler hauling more blades down the highway to assemble into yet another useless windmill.

I come through lots of small towns. Towns that are abandoned by people that move to Dallas or Denver or wherever. Very sad to see all of the failed towns.

Between the abandoned towns, the speed limit is usually 75 mph, so I'm running between 90 mph and 100 mph all day long.

You'd think that, if you sat on your bike and rode 90 mph for an hour, you'd travel 90 miles. But alas, it seems this is not the case. Even though I open the throttle and run triple digits all day long, it hardly seems like I'm making progress in my journey across America. Who thought this was a good idea anyway? Who's idea was this journey.

Continue reading "Day 2: Amarillo,TX to Tyler/Lindale, TX"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 17, 2019 at 6:25 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 16, 2019

Day 2: Amarillo,TX to Dallas,TX

So, I decided to plan my day out for tomorrow. It's not a long day, really. I think today I rode 458 miles. Tomorrow, it looks like I'll ride 368 miles, roughly.

My fuel stops for tomorrow (I already filled up in Amarillo tonight):
1) Amarillo to Quanah. 146 miles. (Requires 4 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).
2) Quanah to Decatur. 154 miles. (Requires 4.2 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).
3) Decatur to Dallas. 68 miles. (Requires 2 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).

Weather forecast for tomorrow looks good all along the route. Clear, sunny. Warm enough to ride at about 11:00 a.m., I think.

Route from Amarillo to Dallas.


This is where I used to work: 5400 Legacy Drive.

This is where I used to live: 5300 Keller Springs Road Dallas, TX.

Before that, I was at 18809 Lina Street.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 16, 2019 at 10:36 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Day 1: Denver, CO to Amarillo, TX

In the morning, I get up. I have to drive one of my vehicles to South Carolina. I've gone back and forth between the Tahoe, the BMW X3, and the Jeep Wranger TJ. But, in the end, the only vehicle I have that's licensed, plated, and insured, that I I trust to make it across North America is the 2017 1000cc Honda Africa Twin.

So, in the morning, I start packing up some things. Some clothes. Tools. Cameras. It's funny to think that last time I went on a big adventure, I rode the AT to Colombia, South America. But this time, I'm riding to Columbia, South Carolina.

The shortest route would be to head east on I-70, but I decide to go south, down through Dallas, as the route will be warmer. Less chance of freezing to death on the bike.

Leaving the neighborhood, I run into Neb Bailey at 10:56 a.m. MDT. He's kind enough to snap some shots before I roll off into the wild.

I-25 is basically under construction from Denver to the border with New Mexico.

Now up Raton Pass. I remember doing this pass before, but I couldn't guess when that was. A long time ago.

At Raton, I leave I-25 and head east on U.S. Highway 87. For some reason, there's a Des Moines, New Mexico. I'm following U.S. Highway 87 when I cross into Texas. A big sign announces that we've crossed from the Mountain Time Zone into the Central Time Zone.

I follow U.S. Highway 87 to U.S. Highway 385 to Tascosa, where I take the fork and follow 1061 into Amarillo. This is sort of where my plan ends. I roll into Amarillo around sunset, and I start looking around for a place to crash. I find a Motel 6 that's pretty cheap, and decide to crash for the night.

Sun sets at 7:00 p.m. here, and I'd say that's about what time I got to the hotel.
I asked the lady at the hotel. She said I checked in at 6:45 p.m. CDT. So, that means I checked in at 5:45 p.m. MDT. That means that I rode from 11:00 a.m. MDT to 5:45 p.m. MDT. So, I rode pretty for 6 hours and 45 minutes, stopping only for gas.

Miles Driven Today:

Starting Odometer Reading: 31,317
Ending Odometer Reading: 31,775
Distance traveled today: 458 miles
Trip Meter A: 454.5

So, I rode roughly 450 miles today.
Here's roughly what my ride looked like.

Fuel calculations from today's ride:
Refueled in:

1) Pueblo, CO. 3.295 gallons at 12:39 p.m. MDT
Mileage: 31,438 - 31,317 = 121 miles
121 miles / 3.295 gallons = 36.7 mpg

2) Raton, NM. 2.91 gallons at 2:17 p.m. MDT
Mileage: 31,555 - 31,438 = 117 miles
117 miles / 2.91 gallons = 40.2 mpg

3) Dalhart, TX. 3.18 gallons at 4:26 p.m. MDT / 5:26 p.m. CDT
Mileage: 31,684 - 31,555 = 129 miles
129 miles / 3.18 gallons = 40.6 mpg

4) Amarillo, TX. 2.503 gallons at 10:09 p.m. MDT /11:09 p.m. CDT
Mileage: 31,776 - 31,684 = 92 miles
92 miles / 2.503 gallons = 36.7 mpg

The 2017 Africa Twin reportedly has a 5 gallon gas tank, so in theory, I could go further between fill-ups, but I didn't plan my fuel stops in advance, so I wasn't feeling like pushing it. In theory, if I'm getting 40 mpg, I should be able to go 200 miles between fill-ups. But, I'm also not carrying any spare gas on the bike at this point, mainly because I forgot to strap a gas can onto the bike, I think.

So, I'll go ahead and try to plan out my fuel stops for tomorrow:
1) Amarillo to Quanah. 146 miles. (Requires 4 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).
2) Quanah to Decatur. 154 miles. (Requires 4.2 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).
3) Decatur to Dallas. 68 miles. (Requires 2 gallons of gas at 36 mpg).

36 mpg * 4 gallons = 144 miles.
36 mpg * 5 gallons = 180 miles.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 16, 2019 at 8:42 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 15, 2019

PeopleSoft HCM 9.2 Manage Commitment Accounting

HCM 9.2 Manage Commitment Accounting

http://www.peeniewallie.com/documents/hcm92hhct-b0313.pdf

https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E40044_01/psft/acrobat/hcm92hhct-b0313.pdf

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 15, 2019 at 10:17 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 14, 2019

And then there were two

In April, I broke through the ice on Evergreen Lake, attempting to fix an issue with the barrel drop. Somehow I survived.

"Did you see the signs that said 'Danger: Thin Ice"?

Yes, but when the signs are there are winter, you realize that it has nothing to do with the thickness of the ice and in the winter, it's easily 2' thick.

In the Spring, the elk had their calves on an island in Lake Evergreen. They left them in the day, but swam back to feed them every evening.

In June, we went to the Evergreen Rodeo.

Then, the bald eagle came to the lake and sat in the dead trees on the ridge above the lake. I would go to the lake every day to try to get photos of the wildlife: elk, eagles, hawks, osprey, great blue herons, muskrats.

In August, we went to the Duck Drop and we slept with the windows open. And then in September, the Aspens began to change we went and closed the windows. The elk went into rut and started bugling.

And I didn't see the bald eagle for the whole time the elk were in rut. And at the end of the rut, I'd ride through the subdivisions near the high school, looking for the fading herds of elk.

And then one evening, I saw the eagle come back to the lake. He stood in the shallows off one of the islands and flew, at sunset, up Upper Bear Creek. That's where he always flies at sunset. I assume he has a nest up there, but I've never seen it.

And then on October 10th, the first snow fell. And about the same time, Prince Tubby came in with a bad laceration under his right eye. And I put Neosporin on it, and waited for the other cats to come home. But only Pokey came home. PJ never came back. He disappeared on or around 10/10/2019. I can't say for certain when I last saw him. But I've been through every room in the house. Every closet. I've walked through the back yard, but I don't see any sign of him.

PJ was Wallie's son, and Prince Tubby's brother. There were two other kittens in the litter, but Jen gave them away to her classmates at Conifer High School. Wallie disappeared some time ago. And now PJ is gone, I fear.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 14, 2019 at 9:39 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 8, 2019

Time Capsule

I got Jen's Jeep running today, and cleaned out the console, and found 2 32 gig CF memory cards. One of them had lots of photos from 08/4/2013 and 09/2013. This was from a Renaissance Fair festival 8/4/2013, Mt Evans 8/31/2013, and from the flood in Evergreen 9/13/2013, I think.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 8, 2019 at 6:11 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 1, 2019

And so it begins...

Today is October 1st, 2019. Exactly 2 years ago, to the day, I made it back to Morrison, Colorado on my KTM that I had kept out in California for the project there. Today, I interviewed for a project out in Columbia, SC. Now, I learn that I'm supposed to start my new project on October 21. So, I've got 3 weeks to get out there on my bike. My thought is that I'll take the AT out there, but I'm not certain that's what I'll do. I could take the KTM. I'm not sure which bike to take, really.

Really odd that it comes exactly 2 years to the day after I got back from California. That's hard to explain, really. Like, a rip in the time-space continuum. I'm not an overtly religious person, but this is really hard to come to grips with. It's hard to wrap my head around what happened today.

But the story keeps getting stranger and stranger.

So now, I'm thinking I need to roll out to South Carolina on one of the motorcycles, and I'm trying to decide which one to take (I have 4). And then, I remember Steve's been after me to come ride with him on the western slope, so I say maybe I'll come out there and ride Douglas pass with him. And then he replies that I should go US 285/US 50 to get to Fruita, and slowly, it dawns on me, that that's the exact same route I took when I came back from California exactly 2 years ago.

I can't really explain this. It's surreal. Beyond belief.

Now, I sort of feel obligated to ride out there.Not for any real reason. Not that anything matters. It's just that...I don't really feel like I'm in control anymore.

There's something going on here that I can't really explain, because I don't understand it myself.

http://www.peeniewallie.com/2017/10/day-3-i-made-it.html

Check with Colorado Secretary of State on status of corporation.
Send corporation data to Jon.
Verify funds in pers/corp accounts.
Feed cats.

Update on Tuesday Oct 8, 2019:

Now, I'm trying to decide what vehicle(s) to take out to South Carolina. I get the Tahoe and the Jeep running, and somehow, I discover that we bought the Jeep exactly 6 years ago to the day. Today is Tuesday October 8, 2019. We bought the Jeep on October 8, 2013. Too fucking weird. So, I guess I'm taking the Jeep.


Posted by Rob Kiser on October 1, 2019 at 10:23 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

PeopleSoft Commitment Accounting

PeopleSoft HR Manage Commitment Accounting

Running the Actuals Distribution Process

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 1, 2019 at 7:55 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink