Busy = Me

So it’s been a very busy couple of days.  Yes, so busy I had no time to goof off while at work.  Felt kind of strange working a whole day with no play time. 

I actually wound up staying at work late Thursday and Friday night.  Thursday was because someone figured out a way around our content filter.  I found a solution to fix it and had to stay late to test it.  I put a lot of time and effort into this, only to find out it caused one other person problems so I had to undo my changes.  I spent Friday morning on the phone trying to sort out another way to fix this.  I found a couple solutions.  One costs money and the other would block sites for everyone.  I was told it’s much easier to fire someone than to have me invest my time.  Okay, whatever.

Friday afternoon I was told that one of the guys in the office needs dual screens desperately.  I’ve got dual screens and it helps out a ton!  I also won’t be in the office for a full week, so I waited until after hours and gave him my monitors and graphics card.  I also set myself up with new monitors.  Right now I only have one working because I need a graphics card.  So when I return to the office a new graphics card will be waiting for me.  Put that bad boy in and I should be all set.  It cost me some time but in the end it will help save me time. 

The work is actually starting to pile up.  I’ve got data entry work for assets that I am tracking.  I will have a new machine to build and a printer to hook up.  Plus whatever else comes up between now and then.  So I guess you would say I am in demand.

Funny thing is I got a call from a head hunter who told me about a management position available with a Law Firm, it is something new and I would have to hire and train people.  The only thing it didn’t say is what happened after they were hired and trained.  I asked about that and about money.  I won’t have answers until Monday.  I talked it over with my partner and we both think that I have a good thing going right now and I shouldn’t leave.  If after I have been with this place for a year and they don’t offer me a decent raise well then I could consider leaving.  However, if this new job comes back with a sizeable salary increase I may entertain being submitted just to see how it washes out.  I asked God to let me know when the timing was right and everything happens for a reason.

Speaking of which I have this overwhelming sense that something is going to go horribly wrong on this trip.  I get these feelings most every time I am setup to travel.  Once I get to where I am going everything seems to just fall into place and those feelings leave me.  However, there has been some prophesying going on and I just can’t help but think I am headed to the end of the road.  Yes, I am a worry wart and this is probably nothing.  As long as things are okay here at home and I am okay that is all I can ask for.  I’d like to ask to not go because well traveling is fine once your doing it but the hassle of getting ready, packing and shuffling off to the airport just plain sucks.  I think I might cry this time when we have to part ways, only time will tell.

I got my new credit card in the mail, looks awesome.  It’s got a tiger on the front of it charging at you in the snow.  Speaking of snow the weather in MN – WI will be much colder than it is here.  This will be my first winter travel and I have no idea what to do with my coat when going through the security screening.  It’s a leather jacket.  It’s was a gift from my partner and when I am wearing it, feels like he is hugging me.  So it’s very special.  I am afraid wearing it on board the plane I will sweat too much.  I am also concerned if it snows while I am at the hotel, how the hell do I get my rental car clean?  I’m told the weather in that area is highly unpredictable in the winter.  It can be forecast for a clear sunny day and when you get there they could be in the middle of a blizzard.  That’s just my luck!  However, it won’t scare me I will still get out in it because well I am used to driving in ice, snow and rain – just another day here at home in the winter.

This was the first time that the Travel Agent we use spelled my last name wrong.  First they made the plane reservations but I had no rental car.  I got the car and then noticed my name was misspelled.  Correct me if I am wrong but if your ID doesn’t match your boarding pass, you are pretty well screwed.  I got them to fix it.  I called the rental car company to reserve a GPS and learned they didn’t fix my last name there.  So I will find out tomorrow when I go to print my boarding pass if my name was fixed or not.  If not then I guess I will call the airline myself to see if they can help me w/o having to go back through the corporate channels and involved the silly travel agent.  They don’t have a profile on me, it would be so much easier if they would just set that up now so I would be in the system.  I mean I will be doing this again next month.  Plus they always ask me for how my name shows on my license, but never include my middle initial.  They also need my date of birth and social security number.  Save time for everyone and setup a freaking profile, morons!

So that brings us to Saturday.  Today we got up and got my partners glasses.  Grabbed some fresh basked goods from the bakery shop and headed to Olive Garden where we both stuffed our gullets.  Came home, took a couple hour nap.  Messed around a bit and then it was time to get the mail and head to get a bite to eat for supper.  I really didn’t want that much and I am still stuffed.  We came home and I have started laundry.  My partner is all worried that I will leave him with out any clean clothes to wear.  Then he tells me in the next breath that he won’t be going anywhere.  Okay, so why do you need clean clothes? 

Strange thing today the high here was 80 degrees.  I am wearing short sleeves and we had to turn on the ac when we got home because the house was 81.  Monday I will be headed to a place where it’s 36 degrees.  Talk about a shock to the system.  Plus weather change like that screws with my body and I usually wind up ill.  No worries, I am packing my steroids so in case there is any problem I will be prepared.  That’s the thing with me packing I try to take the kitchen sink and cram it into this little bag that is designed to hold my laptop and a couple days worth of clothes.  I wear jeans when I travel (not sure if that is pc with the company but I figure I don’t want to mess up my good clothes) and I get two days wear out of them, unless something goes wrong.  I usually pack a pair of dress pants just in case but I have never had to use them.

I got time to find the distance between the airport and the hotel.  Then the hotel and the two places I am going.  I’ve got about a good 2 hours drive from the airport to the hotel.  Then about 20 minutes from there until I get to the first place I am going.  It will probably be around 2pm before I get there, at least that is by my guess and taking time to stop and get lunch.  The best part about traveling is the company pays for the food so I try to eat really good.  I also pour my heart and soul into the job and this installation crap is hard work, especially in old buildings.

I still have to work on getting the house clean and the trash ready.  Then tomorrow I will do the actual packing and that is probably when I will get that feeling, what am I forgetting?  CRS (can’t remember shit) happens to me when I am stressed, if things get really bad I have a hard time holding on to thoughts as well.  I’m ready to get this over with.

The place where I am staying has an indoor pool.  After my last experience at a Holiday Inn with the pool, I think I might be better off avoiding it.  I am going to look up the weather now and that will help me decide what to pack.  Probably going to take a mix of long and short sleeve shirts.   One thing I am doing different is I am burning a CD or two with some of my favorite tunes, so in case my iPhone won’t interface with my rental car, hopefully it will have a CD player.  Watch my luck and it will be AM/FM radio only.  That would suck, jinx!  I am set for a Toyota Corolla or like car.  I will ask for a Ford or Chevy – if they want to give me a Caddy or a Beemer I won’t turn those down either.  Please just no VW.

Oh yeah, I’ve got to shave my chest before I go.  Last Friday is when I did it last and I am happy to report that I have been able to go all week long with no problems.  It’s starting to itch like crazy, to the point where it’s either shave or scratch like crazy.  Scratching will make it worse so shaving it is.

I have no idea when I will blog next, let alone be able to blog.  But make no mistake about it, as soon as the opportunity presents it’s self, providing I make it (and I probably will), I will tell you all about my wild travel adventures.  I just hope there are no bad stories to post.  

As of now, the kids and my guy are doing okay.  A little puking going on but that is normal with cats.  They seem to get sick from all of that darn obsessive grooming.  You all take care and I will talk with you peeps later!