Krazy Busy

It’s been a wild and busy day with a little confusion and stress built in.  It’s only 3 in the afternoon and I am done.  I took a break for about an hour talking with a colleague who reached out to me and now that I hung up I am ready to just push myself away from this machine. 

I got some really upsetting news this morning.  Seems that Mint Mobile has a no refunds cancellation policy that they are trying to enforce to deny me the years worth of service I paid for in advance.  I’m working with my credit card company but I’ve done so additional research and very surprised to see they have a BBB rating of F.  Lots of complaints and from what little bit I saw seems that if you engage the BBB they seem cave.  The no refunds policy is buried in the Terms & Conditions and you have to complete a form on-line within 7 days otherwise you forfeit your money but they don’t tell anyone about the form, I mean I found it after the fact today.  I looked at their FAQ and they clearly state their that if you cancel your service within 7 days they will refund all of your money (less any shipping charges, which didn’t apply in my case).  I was quick to fire back a response to the credit card company.  The credit I got is being reversed for now.  Not exactly sure how this will fair with the credit card company but I am not going to lie down and let them take my money.  I mean I am not in the habit of just giving money away and it’s sad that some people don’t or won’t fight the system.  I get no benefit from this as is and they get to pocket the money.  I’ve got nothing to show and they are a service based company but I get no service.  They also have the all too common Arbitration Clause so you can’t sue them you have to go through Arbitration.  This is all buried in the fine print that no one ever bothers to read because if you did, you probably wouldn’t do business with them in the first place and if you don’t agree to it they won’t do business with you.  Sort of a catch 22, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.  Needless to say I regret ever doing business with them.

Gator has been trying to eat me out of cat food and is picky as ever.  She is waiting for me now so I need to get up and see what all of her screaming is about.  I gave her Beef & Carrots for lunch knowing full well that she hates it but she ate some of it and then walked away.  Now she is really hungry.  I’m sure I will get yelled at some more when I see her. 

I should work for a bit longer but I am exhausted and didn’t get but maybe 10 minutes of a lunch break so I kind of figure it’s a wash for the day.  Back for one more day and then I am done for 5 full days, that will be nice!

Ciao for now.

Weekend Depression

Saturday I had the very best intentions of getting out and getting moving.  However, Gator wanted some attention and I just gave into my lingering depression and stayed at home the entire day.  Never opened a door or set foot outside all day long.  We had a decent time together but I didn’t get the pizza that I wanted.  Watched Family Matters off and on all day long.  It was nice to do nothing but at the same time it felt like such a waste of a day.  I didn’t even take any of my pills.  My allergies were on fire come Sunday and my back was super sore.  Which reminded me how much I need those damn pills. 

Sunday I woke up early, it was mildly difficult because Gator had me up during the night.  Got a shower, dressed and hit up Cracker Barrel.  Then to the Post Office and Grocery Store.  Then to the Vet and finally back home.  I got the bulk of what I wanted to accomplish on Saturday.  I did some laundry and vacuumed upstairs but never made it to vacuum downstairs.  Surfed the net a bit, got caught up on email and snail mail.  My mortgage payment is going up by $18 which in the grand scheme of things isn’t horrible.  I got my escrow refund which was nice.  There was an over all increase in insurance and taxes this year of $200 so average that in between now and next year this time it worked out to $18 more out of my pocket.

For the second weekend in a row I hit up Wendy’s and they had no chili.  I was really looking forward to that along with a burger.  Not only did they not have chili but they guy taking my order didn’t listen and I got mayo & onions on my burger which was not the greatest for me.  I won’t be going back unless it’s a weekday or the weather is a bit colder and people are eating chili like they eat burgers.  I just don’t get how you can operate a Wendy’s with no chili, it’s one of the staple items.  I almost drove to Steak N Shake for a bowl of their chili but it’s not the same and is super greasy.  I mean it tastes great but each restaurant makes their chili differently. 

Gave Gator the other 1/2 dose of her fluids from last week and she still managed to wake me up twice overnight and was crying to get me out of bed an hour early this morning.  She is becoming a bit more needy and I am not a huge fan.  I mean I will take care of her but it’s just frustrating.  I just vacuumed in my room yesterday and I need to do it again this morning, she made a huge mess overnight with the food.  That is the odd thing she kind of stuck close to me what seemed to be all night long, which is unusual.  Perhaps she isn’t feeling the best which I kind of sense and perhaps she senses I am not in the greatest of moods. 

Were in my birthday week and all I can think about is being alone and having no one to celebrate with.  I mean it might not turn out like that but that is the way it looks now.  Short week for me though, 3 days.  Were having a big meeting today that I thought was scheduled for tomorrow.  Since that is happening today I don’t think I am bothering to haul myself in to the office tomorrow.  The place will still be there next week and unless there is some urgent need for me to be there I plan on just hanging out here at home.  Tuesday is BS meeting day and I can accomplish just as much here as I can there, plus take care of clingy Gator if she still happens to be that way.  I could change my mind and go in but I really don’t see that happening. 

I plan to finally hit up the bank on Thursday when I venture out to the doctors office.  No real plans for Friday per se but I really don’t want to spend the bulk of the day here.  I have ideas of getting outdoor work done but the more I think about that the more I want to just push it off until the weather gets a little cooler, but there will be 5 whole days to myself so you never know what kind of trouble I will get myself into.  I need to hit up Sam’s Club time for more Soda.  I wanted to get a cake yesterday at the store but settled instead for muffins and Peanut Butter Cookies.  It’s no cake but they are each pretty good. 

I’ve been a busy guy this morning trying to get stuff done and out of the way because I know there soon will be so much work for me to do I won’t know which way to turn and I am not looking forward to that but it’s the nature of the beast that is work. 

It’s a Monday and there is this dumb ass meeting in an hour then the rest of my day is wide open, which means it could be boring or busy.  Only time will tell.  Hope that it’s a great week for all of us, even if at the end of the week I will be another year older.  Birthdays were pretty much a non-event and not something I looked forward to when I was younger but it didn’t depress me like it does now just because then I had people to be around and now I am all alone except for Gator but oddly she does provide some comfort.  I am worried about her as well.  The appetite seems to be up again and that’s why I am getting all of the wake up calls.  I really need for that to level out.  A good nights sleep is something we all need for many reasons. 

Cheers!

The Afternoon

What a long day this is.  I am basically sitting around twiddling my thumbs.  I’ve tried to nap but the BS email that goes back and forth all day long managed to start up each time I would drift off, after three tries I gave up. 

Gator has had a snack as well as lunch and I am sure she will want more.  Oddly enough the Spinach & Chicken I ordered for her was only available in full size cans and not the smaller cans that she likes.  I had given her a can overnight and noticed that she hardly touched it but all of the juice/gravy is gone.  Cats you can’t change anything with them as they are fickle.  I’m sure if it had been a smaller can she would have gulped it down, also another reason why I don’t like to buy a case of food because her palate changes. 

Just got off the phone with my boss, he eluded to changes within our team and the possibility that I could be promoted.  He didn’t specifically outright say it but I think that he is working to promote me and it sounds like it might be into a Management position but that is really something I don’t want to be part of.  I am perfectly happy where I am and doing fine.  If you want to give me more money I will take it but as for added responsibilities and headaches nah, not really up for that.  From the way he talked it sounds like there could be changes at the start of the year.  Promotions and title changes typically take place at the 1/2 year and start of year mark but there are always exceptions to that.  He said that he wants to refresh titles, roles and responsibilities.  It’s nice to know that he thinks so highly of me and that my caliber of work is noticed.  I strive for perfection, I don’t always achieve it every single time but for the majority I am on the mark.  Work can be quite the escape from reality / my personal life, but I really don’t like to immerse my self in it terribly much but it is a big part of my life, like it or not. 

I still have to go outside and grab the trash barrel.  Last night I managed to take out the trash without taking out all of the trash.  Each week I say I am going to get rid of some ice cream that is just awful but I keep hanging on to it.  This week was no different and the barrel was full thanks to Chewy with their large cardboard box.  Hopefully, my old brain will remember next week to throw it out.  I should be under a little bit less stress since I will have the day off from work. 

Just wanted to occupy some time.  The Gator is calling for me and I guess I should go see what she needs as well as take time to walk outside and grab the trash barrel.  I’ve got some tasks to take care of at work but they aren’t until the business day is done and honestly there are worse ways to spend a Friday so I am not complaining but I am not a huge fan of boredom but at the same time I am trying to enjoy the break I am getting. 

Once again, have a nice weekend!

Fri-yay!

Friday is one of the most looked forward to days of the week by most.  I’m no exception to that, always happy to see a Friday roll around and another weekend start. 

Greetings to one and all, I hope that your doing well.  Not a whole lot going on here.  I found several more horrible bruises last night as I was looking in the mirror, I didn’t know they were there but as soon as I found them I had the overwhelming desire to touch them and yes it hurt.  Although this little spill that I took was minor I think it will take my body a little while for the soreness and the bruising to go away.  Just part of getting older and recovery taking longer is all. 

There were thunderstorms predicted for last night so I turned up the white noise machine in the hopes that I would drown out any thunder.  I figured the weather radio would wake me but that didn’t happen and it doesn’t look like we even got any rain.  I was up a couple times during the night.  Gator was crying and even over the white noise machine with me being slightly awake I just knew I had to go check on her.  I found her by the vacuum and she was hungry.  From the sound of the cry once I heard it minus the white noise it sounded like she just got done using the bathroom.  She likes to announce when she is done, not sure if it hurts or if she is proud of herself but it’s been going on like that for years now.  I grabbed her a snack and I went back to grab one for me as well.  She finished with her snack but didn’t empty the plate.  I was done with mine so I scooped her up off the floor and carried her to my room.  She always gets worried when I pick her up as if were going to the vet.  We landed safely in my recliner.  I got her to relax and fall asleep for a little while.  I watched some TV and we were up for a couple hours.  She wanted down because she wanted more food and I was starting to get cold from the AC that had just kicked on.  I went back to bed but she kept insisting on food and I finally gave in.  Then she was quiet, as quiet as a cat is when they are eating and smacking.  I was able to drift off for a while.  I think but am not sure that she woke me up again.  Needless to say that I woke up about 10 minutes before the alarm was set to go off and I was very unhappy, all I wanted to do is go back to bed. 

Once I climbed out of bed I found Gator sleeping by the fountain.  I woke her up by clapping my hands after she didn’t respond to my good morning voice and that got her going.  She looked like hell but then again I probably look the same way when she wakes me up.  I got her some duck for breakfast and she was all too quick to gobble most but not all of it down.  Then she made her way to the couch and climbed back into bed as I was finishing up my breakfast.  I brought the left over duck to her and she ate some of it.  I got a kiss on my arm no less from her.  That was so sweet.  It was done on purpose which makes me truly appreciate it.  She is so thankful for me and has been letting me know this for a while now.  Sometimes its subtle and other times it’s done on purpose.  I appreciate it and it’s things like this that make it even tougher when it’s time to part ways.  She ate a little bit more food before I had to get dressed and come down to start my day.  Now she is sleeping and I am awake wishing I was back in bed. 

Today is a calm day thus far and I think that will be the tone of the day.  Not much to do which is fine by me, considering that all hell is about to break loose and I will be flooded with work I will take all of the calm and lulls that I can manage to muster. 

I was thinking of taking some extra medicine to ensure a good nights sleep but then I remembered that I need to get to the bank and I need to make it happen tomorrow.  Taking extra medicine often leaves me with what I am told is a hang over effect (I don’t drink and have never been drunk, so I don’t know what a true hang over feels like) and since I need to be productive I don’t plan on doing that as of this moment.  If some how I manage to miss the bank tomorrow I can always hit it on Thursday when I am off but I really want to cross this item off of my to do list.  I’ve got to get to the post office to get this weeks mail, there are a couple of items that there was no image for and that always makes me nervous.  It’s usually a magazine or something political but occasionally it’s a certified letter, which requires a signature and you have to do that during normal business hours but I tend to hit after normal hours passed and if something like that comes on a weekend it bothers me all the way to Monday morning.  I don’t think I have anything to worry about though but nevertheless I’d like to get there while they are open just in case.  Then there is the trip I need to make to the vet on Saturday to fetch Gator’s meds.   

The gutter items I ordered came yesterday (first by the way) and they look perfect for the job.  The trick is getting them installed but not being eaten alive by the mosquitos.  I’d like to get that done this week to see if it helps control/eliminate my house mouse problem.  Problem is it’s outside work and I am just not a fan of work much less outside work.  No wonder I work in an office environment. 

Outside of the bank and post office, the usual trip to the grocery store on Sunday I’ve got no real other plans.  Loafing and napping will for sure be on the schedule, not sure how much of that I will be able to do but it has a big priority for me.  Along with spending time with my furry girl. 

I hope that you have a great weekend and get to accomplish all that is on your to do list as well as get in some time for relaxing.  Another week will be calling us all soon enough, probably a little too soon. 

Deliveries in the rear

Wow it’s morning once again.  I’d rather be sleeping.  Gator had me up once during the night and my body had me up as well.  Needless to say I didn’t get that great of a nights sleep.  Gator asked for breakfast early this morning and I fed her but she didn’t like the Beef & Carrots that I had plated for her.  I had my doubts about that flavor. 

I woke up on my own 15 minutes before the alarm was due to sound.  I was not happy and really wanted to go back to sleep.  I got out of bed and found Gator passed out cold on the couch.  I took care of getting me something to eat and watched a bit of news.  When I went to rinse out my cereal bowl I saw her head up looking around wondering how the TV turned on.  I got her some food which was her breakfast and she gulped it down.  She needed some water so she went to the fountain and I got to go get dressed just in time for work.  Oh joy!

Today has 2 meetings, 1 in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  The morning one doesn’t need to happen at all but my boss likes to hear himself talk and loves to meet for any reason.  The afternoon meeting is a launch of a major project that I am on and we get to hear the expectations from the big ass dog as if that really needs to happen.  I think we all get the idea.  Problem is they want this major project done in a matter of a couple weeks and I’ve got a competing efforts so the next few weeks are going to be quite the challenge and I am sure something will have to give be it at work or in my personal life. 

Keeping that in mind I do plan to savor the little 5 day vacation that I have setup for myself next week that starts on Thursday.  Compliments of a holiday (Labor Day) I get 5 days off instead of 4.  Then it’s back to work, back to being on-call and playing catchup from what I will have missed on Thursday & Friday.  That is all of the time off that I have planned right now.  I will look at my PTO balance and see what else I need to or can plan before the year ends.  There is always much work for me at the end of the year and start of a new year but come November things should quiet down for a bit.  Right now it’s all about trying to get the max out of September and October both of which are going to be a bit hellish. 

In the deliveries in the rear department today, arriving we have my gutter fix from Amazon and Gator’s food and probiotic from Chewy.  My best guess says that her food will be here first in early afternoon and the gutter thing will be later in the afternoon. 

I need to wrangle the trash and push it out to the curb.  Always a not fun task.  Hopefully, the mosquitos will leave me alone.  I found yet another bit on the palm of my hand but that didn’t develop until later yesterday afternoon.  While it feels like a mosquito bite I am beginning to wonder if it’s not a spider or something else that bites.  At least it’s not a Gator bite. 

Here’s hoping that today and tomorrow fly by so that I can start what I hope is a much less eventful weekend than last.  I am still slightly sore but the worst of it is gone.  I do have some minor bruises but they will leave with a little time.  The scrape/scratch marks on my stomach are starting to itch so that is a good thing.  If I could just make what ever bit me stop itching I think I would be in decent shape. 

Here is hoping it’s a great day for all of us!

Hungry Gator

I’ve been summoned upstairs twice by Gator for food.  Apparently she is extra hungry today.  From what little I have seen of her, she appears to be doing better than she was this morning.  She looked like it was Monday and she had been on a bender for the weekend and had to go back to work.  She gets these crazy faces when she sleeps and then she wakes up and looks at you.  Sometimes I laugh but most times I just greet her.  She’s napping in my room now after wolfing down a snack we had about an hour ago.  I had Lemon Yogurt which was pretty good.

As you can see I posted some man candy.  I am a little extra horny today.  I had a porn scene all picked out last night but when I went to watch it, the program I used hadn’t sync’d up yet so the scene wasn’t available to me.  I could have walked my lazy self down to the computer and done a manual sync but I just didn’t feel like it.  Then Gator started with her nightly cry for food and it’s always ill timed.  I am either comfortable, getting into a porn scene or about to blow and then I hear meow.  I hate when she does that to me but I’ve learned to expect it.  In any case if I am not terribly tired and the Gator leaves me alone I should be able to have some fun tonight.  

Had to cut lunch a little short there was a mini crisis at work but my boss intervened just as I was about to and well turns out I could have stayed upstairs and enjoyed my lunch break.  It’s okay Gator had her food and water and was laying down to nap.  I had finished my sandwich and was just sitting on the couch watching Gator drift off.  That can be relaxing and usually winds up causing me to take a nap but not today.  My plan is to stay awake all day so that I sleep all night, then tomorrow will be a better day.  

I heard back from the place I sent my old iPhone to and they indicated they are sending me a check.  I hope it’s really in the mail and they aren’t just blowing smoke.  I was getting worried because they never did respond to any of my inquiries and I found several bad experiences on the BBB’s website.  I just want my money and don’t plan on using them again.  Funny thing the new phone I just paid $400 for is only worth $172 now that it’s used.  Still in perfect shape but it’s depreciated quicker than a new car driving off the lot.  Funny how that happens.  There should be a new iPhone next month and now is NOT the time to buy any Apple products unless it’s an absolute necessity.  I always used to time my purchases to the launch of a new model because the old model was discounted.  What I have is the iPhone SE Third Edition and it’s probably the last small size phone I will ever own, unless Apple happens to issue a Fourth Edition.  It will probably also be the last phone with a finger print reader and I will have to convert to Face ID, which I am not a fan of.  I’d rather have the home button, it’s how I was introduced to Apple products and switching away from that seems really foreign but I suppose when the time comes I will adapt.  Sort of like adapting to new technology in an automobile or a computer.  That’s the thing about technology it’s always changing like it or not. 

Looking forward to breaking free from the computer, watching some TV and figuring out what I am having for dinner.  Last night was Pepperoni Pizza Flavored Pasta Bowl.  It had the sauce and little bits of Pepperoni but it was no pizza but very close to it.  I was looking for Chili’s frozen dinners they had a few out before the pandemic, not sure if they are still making them but the new store I went to was the only place that carried them.  I didn’t see them on Sunday when I was there.  That would have added some flavor and spice to what is otherwise a usually boring meal.  I’ve thought of trying a meal service, where you order and pay on-line, they ship the stuff to you and you pop it in your microwave within the week.  If anyone has experience with them, I’d be interesting in hearing about it.  It looks to be healthier than what I get in the store and I am sure it probably tastes better as well.  I do miss a nightly home cooked meal and have for years.  Cracker Barrel for supper is pretty close and it’s comforting but I only do that on occasion.  I am more of a Cracker Barrel breakfast person.  I need to stop talking about food, my mouth is watering like a good looking guy just walked by. 

Just a little bit longer and the day will be done.  The question is will I be left alone from the office?  There is a 50 percent chance that I will be.  I’m not on-call but I also keep watching my phone and if I can help I always jump in.  It just feels like the right thing to do even though I would rather sit in silence.  I know that if I drop dead yesterday, they would keep going without me.  I’m told my efforts are appreciated and I do think they are but honestly I don’t think anyone puts in nearly as much effort as I do but I’m seeing that from my view point.  I could be wrong, but (not to be arrogant) I am usually right more than I am wrong. 

Have a nice evening!

Man Candy

Drinking from a fire hose

This morning felt like I was drinking from a fire hose.  So much to catchup on and try to accomplish.  It took me a few hours and I whittled at things one at a time until I finally got done.  Wow.  There is one meeting this afternoon with a vendor and that is all that is on my calendar for now.  I don’t know that it will stay that way but I sure hope it does. 

I got tagged by a mosquito in two spots on the same hand.  The first is on top just below my first knuckle in-between your first finger and thumb.  Then on the underside on my wrist, next to a cyst that I have.  Damn I am all kinds of itchy.  Blood thirsty fuckers, I hate them.  They can bite me and I never know it until the itching starts.  I kind of wish my body was a little bit more sensitive so I could kill them before they accomplished their bite. It’s been that way all of my life so I don’t suspect things will ever change. 

The probiotic that Gator takes is out of stock at Amazon.  Thankfully Chewy sells it so I got it there and placed another food order as well.  Almost $200 with tax.  I like their speed but I hate the fact that I have to buy a case of a flavor of food instead of a couple cans.  You never know with Gator when she is going to turn her nose up at something.  My two biggest fears is that I will have a bunch of food and she will die and the second fear is that I will have a bunch of food and she will turn her nose up at it all.  This is our 3rd order and it should hopefully be here by the end of the week.  That might spare me from a trip to the pet food store. 

I woke up last night around 2a and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I checked on Gator and she was sleeping so I tried to be as quiet as possible but as soon as I was ready to go back to bed, she woke up and it was a mess.  I got her some food but she wanted attention and I was trying to get back to sleep so I had to listen to her beg from my bed and eventually she gave up but it took forever.  I never really got to sleep solid just a little bit here and a little bit there.  I finally gave up at 6:30a and got out of bed.  I am tired but functioning. 

I found Gator by the fountain.  She had some breakfast.  I gave her a 1/2 dose of fluid in the hopes of helping her out and getting her to perk up.  We skipped the pred. last night and I never was able to give her fluids as I had planned.  I need to call the vet for more medicine.  Between her food and medicine she is gobbling up a small fortune but that is what animals do.  She has been quiet all morning long so I need to go check on her and see if she wants some lunch.

I got in a shower last night and am still a bit sore and bruised but functioning.  Now if I could just get all of the mice to move out I’d be a little bit happier.  I found two gutters that don’t fully connect to the drain hoses, I’ve always had a suspicion that they were using the gutter system to sneak in and out.  I have ordered extension hoses and they should be here in time for the weekend, if I feel like it I will go out and install them.  I am pretty determined to get rid of these little fuckers they have been free loading here long enough and I have no idea on what kind of damage they have done but I want them out before they start a fire or the house caves in.  My best guess tells me that rodent damage isn’t covered by insurance but I haven’t combed through my policy.  I’m not looking for a battle I just want them to leave and to be left alone with my girl so we can enjoy what time we have left in peace. 

I am really craving pizza because I haven’t had it in so long.  I am thinking of a weekend trip but not 100% sure about that just yet.  I may go to a different place that is closer that I don’t tend to hit up much.  They don’t have deep dish but they do a great hand tossed crust that is very good and I can’t get that anywhere but there.  Interesting the things we crave. 

Can’t believe at the end of next week I will be 51.  An entire year has gone by so fast but that tends to happen with age.  I don’t expect that anyone will bother to hit me up to grab a bite to eat, I may get a a happy birthday wish but honestly I don’t expect much.  Last year was the big one and I didn’t want to be alone for that.  This year I really don’t want to be alone on my birthday either just because.  Holidays and Birthdays are the absolute worst for me and it’s getting worse instead of better with time.  I was doing okay for a while but for some reason it’s highly sensitive for me.  At times I still can’t fathom the fact that I am all alone, but it is a reality.  Get seriously ill or hurt and it’s way worse.  Staying healthy and walking around life is bad but not as bad as when your down. 

Not much on the old TV.  I’ve been watching Family Matters.  I started with the last season and finished it.  Now I skipped to the middle and am watching from like season 5 on.  If I see a Christmas episode I will skip it for sure.  What a great show that was.  I was so much younger then but life was really good, problem is I didn’t fully realize it.  In case you’d like to watch Family Matters is on HBOMax.  Looking forward to the new Fall seasons starting soon. 

Up to check on my furry girl, grab some lunch and then back to the daily grind.  I will finish up my week here at home, only 2 days left after today.  I should hopefully get a better nights rest.  Looking forward to that.  Take care and be well.  

Sore

My little fall or slip event on Sunday really set me back.  I was horribly sore on Monday when I woke up.  I kind of expected something but didn’t expect that it would keep me off my feet.  I had breakfast and was getting ready to start my day and that is when the pain began.  I gave it some thought and opted to skip work for the day.  I didn’t take anything for it but climbed back into bed and magically I slept away 1/2 of the day.  I spent the other 1/2 trying to stay awake.  I kind of figured that I would take today off but wasn’t 100% sure.  Gator did her thing over night and kept me up so early this morning I sent a message saying I would be out for the day. 

The good news is that I missed a lot of BS meetings.  The bad news is I have a small mountain of shit stacked up for me to sift through and another meeting to attend tomorrow.  I said that I thought I’d be back on Wednesday so unless there is something unforeseen that happens, I plan to go back tomorrow.  By go back I mean work from home.  I did think about physically going in as that would give me greater power to concentrate but I’d like to stick close to my girl. 

We have both done our fair share of sleeping today.  I had plans to get moving later this afternoon and get to the post office and bank but that never happened.  The bank and post office will still be there on the weekend, it just means I have to get up a little early on Saturday to make it to the bank, not a big deal. 

I am still a little sore and have developed some minor bruises.  My back does hurt but I run my massager over it for as long as I can tolerate and then rest.  I’ve been on Ibuprofen and Tylenol but honestly this pain is minor compared to some other events in my life.  It actually hurt worse when I fell off the ladder in the front yard twice a couple years back. 

Gator seems a little happier because I am not playing with my phone and yesterday I didn’t bother to come to the basement at all.  I am kind of at odds with what I am going to have for supper, but I can tell you I won’t starve.  She is going through food at a rapid pace and back to sleeping by the fountain.  I have plans to give her fluids tonight, not sure how well that will work.  I have to get down on the floor and twist myself up like a pretzel to get to her.  It’s mildly difficult when I am not sore so it will be a bit of a challenge tonight. 

Looking some what forward to getting back to a routine and cleaning up the pile that is waiting for me at work.  It’s never fun to play catch up but I will be doing the same thing the week after next as I have a couple days off towards the end of next week.  2 weeks of working 3 day work weeks.  This week of course unplanned and next week planned but just going to the doctor and lounging.  Nothing major in the works. 

I am going to do some surfing and then back up to be with Gator and figure out what is for supper.  Hope your all doing well. 

Slip n Fall

What a truly busy and crazy day this has been!  I started early not quite as early as I wanted.  I had a nightmare close to the time I wanted to get up.  Thankfully Gator realized something was wrong and woke me up.  I found myself sideways on my mattress, not exactly sure how that happened and wow I was sore.  I got up and fed her, then went back to bed.  I wound up moving the alarm out twice but woke up before it ever went off.  Just need a little top off on my sleep. 

I was really surprised but I heard mice yesterday in my office.  I bought a couple of expensive ultrasonic sound blasters that are supposed to drive them away.  I should have gone with my gut that was waste of money.  However, I found that they don’t like cinnamon among other things.  I am burning two strongly scented cinnamon candles in the hopes that it will help drive them out.  I also stopped by the home improvement store and picked up some liquid that contains essential oils, kind of similar to what I bought in packets but this was in liquid form and designed to spray.  I was able to get up into some insulation where I know they are hanging out and give that a nice coat.  Plus I have gone over part of the upstairs and all of the basement.  I have yet to put this stuff on the perimeter of the house, but that is next.  I really don’t want to kill these damn things I just want them to move out and leave me alone.  With all of the shit I have been through in my life I kind of think that the universe owes me one but apparently I am wrong.  Next steps are to buy multi kill electric traps that hold 10 mice at a time and put one of those in the attic and then one in the basement to see if I can’t get rid of all of them.  If that fails then I will resort to either calling an exterminator or buying poison.  I’d rather not have a dead mouse in the wall but I am sure that there are probably some there now.  The little fuckers can start breeding at 2 months old and that is why they multiply so quickly.  I saw a You Tube video from a woman who soaked old t-shirts in Ammonia and placed them in her garage that got rid of a rat that she was battling.  It will work for mice as well but you can do some serious damage to yourself and to a cat or dog with too much of that, so I am opting to no go that route.  I don’t like to kill anything but if that is my last option then looks like that is what I will have to do.  I think that Gator might have seen one or two of them, she has had an odd look on her face a couple times and I have thought I saw something but when I look there is nothing.  Kind of like that day I was working down here in April and discovered the first one.  Thus far they have not bothered any of my food, which is good and I have no evidence they have bothered Gator’s food.  They are omnivores so they will eat anything, in fact chewing makes their teeth feel good and their teeth never stop growing.  I don’t want damage done to my house but I can only thing they have probably already gnawed on wires, wood and whatever else they could come in contact with.  They eat 10 to 15 times a day, no wonder they crap all the time. 

I made it to breakfast.  Came home for a bit then went back out which is when I hit the home improvement store.  Then Target and finally a new grocery store.  Wow, the new grocery store was nice but confusing.  I had no idea where anything was, I forgot water for Gator but I’ve got enough to tide us unless she really gets thirsty.  I didn’t find as much variety on frozen food as I had expected.  I picked up a couple new things.  I saw some Artisanal Blueberry Scones and got them, they looked really good.  When I ate one I was like I’ve got to stomach 3 more of these damn things and what a waste of $5.  I spent about as much as I would have at my normal grocery store.  This place had unique plastic bags in that they were made to be re-used and came with nice handles.  Not a cheap plastic bag like I have been used to.  When it came to check out everyone had to form a single line.  Then you wait and a computer screen tells you which checker to go to.  It’s supposed to speed things up but there was a hella long line and I really didn’t like that.  I saw some checkers busy and others who were wide open but the damn computer had no idea what was going on.  I did see that they carried Tombstone Pizza so when I am craving that again I know where to pick it up from, it’s the only store in town that does carry it.  Next week it’s back to the normal grocery store – construction or not. 

I got the root out of the window that was coming in the basement.  Then caulked around the window, in the process of caulking I managed to slip and fall.  I didn’t fall flat more like a slide down.  I’ve got some scrapes on my stomach and I know that either later tonight or tomorrow morning will probably be painful.  My knee was giving out on me and I went to try to stand back on the ladder and that is when all hell broke loose.  None of my possessions or my bones got broken so I suppose that is a good thing.  I think I found a new allergy that I have, ladders.  More often than not since I’ve gotten older I have managed to fall off of them.  I’m not a fan of heights to start with and it’s about time to clean the gutters again, not looking forward to that.  At any rate, I was more determined than ever to get back up and I finished the job.  I even caulked part of the living room window and managed to empty the small tube I ordered, which made me glad that I have a backup waiting upstairs.  I will finish the rest of the living room window another day and probably go after the window in my bedroom.  There are two more windows here in the basement, one is easy to get to and the other just isn’t happening. 

I am headed to Wendy’s for a burger and some chili.  I need to put my pills out and vacuum.  Then shave (I picked up some new shaving cream and am very interested to try it) and shower.  The night will set in and it will be back to sleep, weekend over.  Kind of felt more like a 30 minute lunch break than two full days.  At least I won’t be on-call and I am closer to some time off. 

Next week is going to be busy, a big project that I am part of kicks off tomorrow and its a crazy ass idea that I think is the wrong direction to move in, all were going to do is upset people.  Not my call though I have to follow my marching orders.  New people starting and another project I am part of has already kicked off.  Everything needs to be done by the middle to end of next month and that is going to be pushing it but I am only one person and can only do so much.  If it sounds like I am not excited that is because I am not, it’s just more work and it’s not like I am twiddling my thumbs as it is but there are some days that have been slower than others. 

Here’s to what I hope is a great week ahead.  Hope you had a great day.  Take care. 

Difficult Day

I hope that your doing well and enjoying your weekend.  My day didn’t go as planned.  Gator had me up a good portion of the night asking for food.  She was only nibbling and not really chowing down, hence why she remained hungry.  When I get little to no sleep I cease to function.  I had intentions of getting up early and getting my day started.  I was about to try to power through things and Gator in her own way asked for some daddy time.  I didn’t turn her down.  We both passed out hard.  She went first and I followed a short time later.  A couple hours went by and I guess I was snoring but she woke me up with an urgent and rather loud meow. 

I have formed the conclusion that Gator’s gut inflammation is probably flaring back up since she is mimicking the signs that she had before she was diagnosed.  As much as her kidneys love the reduction in medicine her gut doesn’t and thus she needs to go back to a daily dosing schedule.  I could try to stick it out but I honestly think that is what the end result would lead to plus many more wasted cans of food and sleepless nights where were both miserable.  

I lounged around until around 2:30p when unfortunately we had another cable internet outage.  I took that as a sign from above that it was time to get in gear. 

After a shower, I hit up the pet food store.  I saw a fine young man and had a chance to stand in line behind him and could have admired his sweet booty.  However, a troubled woman asked for my help before I got to the line to check out.  She needed prescription food and I’ve been down that road before.  I took her right to it and it took a bit but I found what she was looking for.  I let her know up front that I didn’t work there.  However, I made the silly mistake of walking in with a blue polo on and well that’s what the employees wear but they have the store logo on their shirts.  It’s just like walking into Target and wearing a Red Polo, try it someone will ask you for help on something despite the fact that you don’t have a Target name tag on.  Best Buy is good for the Blue Polo as well. 

Hit up the post office and then swung by a local Italian place for my one meal of the day.  I went all out with a 3 piece Cannelloni, Salad, Cheese Garlic Bread and washed it all down with Diet Coke.  It was really good.  I thought the salad was included with the meal but found out the hard way that it wasn’t.  I would have never ordered it had I known that up front.  In times past salad or soup always comes with the meal.  I either got screwed out of $5 because the rules changed or because my waitress didn’t know better.  Either way it’s gone.  The meal was good.

I finished up another season of The Real World.  This time it was Brooklyn.  I remember these seasons.  It seems like what is published now is a shortened version of the season.  I know there were pieces missing from the New Orleans season.  Not exactly sure why or that it’s not called out but whatever.  My Paramount + subscription will end next month and unless I can get it again for 99 cents or they air another reunion cast from The Real World that I am interested in, there really isn’t much of anything on that platform that appeals to me. 

My depression kind of crept upon me after I finished the Brooklyn season.  One of the guys got called back to Iraq that combined with the fact that everyone was saying goodbye it just bothered me.  I kind of feel like I am on a reality show and everyone but Gator and I have left.  I am just sitting around waiting for the day her taxi pulls up and she leaves.  You should have seen her face when I just lost it and broke down.  I think she understood me and why I was crying.  It bothers her when I cry much like it bothers me to see my brother cry.  I know she doesn’t want to leave me but it’s just part of the game of life, sad to say but we all have an expiration date, like it or not.  I’m not a fan of expiration dates for people.  For food it’s a different story.  Once Gator does check out, I will have this whole very large house to myself.  It’s impractical for me to occupy all of this space just for myself.  I’ve been thinking about getting a dumpster or two and starting to do what I should have done years ago and throw shit away.  Then if I wanted to leave it would make moving so much easier.  If I would leave this place there would be a mess for someone to clean up, there is no way I can possibly take every item of furniture and honestly only a couple things are worth my effort.  There is a couch here in the basement that took my late spouse and brother hours to work into the basement.  There was rope involved and the door and door frame had to come off.  There is no way in hell that couch is ever leaving the basement unless it’s cut in half.  It’s one of the lesser used piece of furniture but the cats all occupied it at one time.  Plus it’s a sleeper so there is a crummy mattress inside still wrapped in plastic.  I slept on it once and got one hell of a back ache.  I can honestly tell you that there are so many memories in this place that I really don’t want to let go of it but at the same time I am not sure it’s worth the fight to keep it. 

I thought more about the car situation and unless my mind changes (which is highly possible) I plan to keep what I have and not make the trip to the other dealers location.  I think that is the best move for me at this time.  If in the next few months things change well I can always make a purchase. 

I’ve got a rebate form to complete and get ready to mail tomorrow.  Then I will attack the dishes and we will move on to getting back to sleep.  I need to start early tomorrow since I have to do testing at work.  Getting to sleep tonight will be difficult but I will manage somehow.  I just hope that Gator permits me to sleep though the night. 

Talk with you all again soon. 

Fri-gay

  Happy Friday once again!  Another week is coming to a close and it’s time for the weekend.  In some ways the weekend feels like nothing short of a thirty minute lunch break but it is time away, unless your like me and stuck on-call.  However, I don’t anticipate that I will be bothered.  There is the early morning wake up call on Sunday but if my head is focused that will be just an early start to the day and an excuse to get moving so that I can get tasks accomplished and move closer to nap time. 

As I mentioned in a prior post I do have some running to do on Saturday, not exactly looking forward to all of it but I will try to make the most of it.  I’ve given no though to where I want to eat at.  Right now I am just trying to make it through today. 

Since were close to my birthday, I see that my reminder present came in the mail today.  Yeah I’m talking about my car insurance renewal.  There is something I didn’t plan on but it’s there.  I went to the app for my insurance company and saw the rate, it’s not bad.  Actually it’s slightly less than a car payment.  If/when I do get a new ride that nice price will be obnoxious again, that is kind of a deterrent in it’s self to keep what I have.  I really want new and have for a long time.  New car fever never really fades away for me, I can be driving something new and find something that I like more and want.  However, I know the practical side which is money based.  When the time is right be it this year, next year or the year after that I will get something new.  It’s really tempting now to move because of the high trade value but the flip side is auto insurance. 

I really dislike the gotcha expenses, things that you know will be due in a year and you plan for it but when it gets here it’s feels like you just paid for it.  Auto Insurance was on my radar but some how fell off.  I know as soon as I flip the calendar that will give me the reminder.  Thankfully, the bill will arrive regardless if I remember or not.  This is why I like paper for bills, you have to allow time for mailing and with an email you can get away with sending it in a shorter period of time.  Paperless is great for somethings but not so for others. 

Still waiting to hear from the company that I sold my old iPhone to.  I asked them for a status update yesterday and thus far nothing.  I don’t have a real good comfort feel about this and think that this is going to turn into the next ordeal.  That’s why I took photos and have paperwork as backup, just in case.  However, I think that this might just be one of those situations where I need to have more patients than normal.  I know that if I had used Gazelle they would have acknowledged receipt of the device and let me know that it was moving on to being inspected and then I’d get a follow up email when the check was mailed.  However, I didn’t use Gazelle because they had the low ball offer.  Low ball and a sure thing might have been better than High ball and no $$.  Only time will tell. 

I attended a webinar yesterday to learn about my Health Insurance coverage changes for 2023 yesterday.  That was quite interesting.  The only major change is who fills mail order prescriptions, everything else is staying the same.  Thinking further down (like years from now) I was careful to pay attention to the Medicare portion and how that works.  Right now most everything is covered 100% and there are low co-pays.  When you go on Medicare the game changes and you wind up shelling out a bit more money, which I think sucks because those are the people who can least afford it.  However, this is setup with the mindset that you will be drawing from a pension and have a nice retirement.  Since I am a surviving spouse there is no pension for me, he didn’t elect survivors benefits, which is fine.  However, looking at what I do have saved there is much work to be done between now and the time I retire, presuming I live that long.  I think I will be working up until lunch on the day of my funeral with the way things look now. 

Today I have another webinar to attend about what will be different with the new mail order pharmacy.  From what I gathered yesterday there are some formulary changes and a slightly lower co pay for certain types of drugs but overall its just getting new prescriptions to the mail order provider.  They also don’t have a local presence in my area so it may take a few days longer to get some medicine.  Hopefully, it’s a smooth transition (fingers crossed). 

In Gator news, she woke me up a few times last night.  She is napping right now by the fountain which is the first time that has happened all week long.  I think she might need some fluids but I am keeping an eye on her.  Her bathroom habits have normalized to every other day and she seems to enjoy the every other day pill schedule.  To me she seems more like her normal self and more comfortable.  I always have a watchful eye on her and pay very close attention to her.  I think she knows that.  I also think that she pays close attention to me but doesn’t think that I notice.  We had some together time early in the morning.  I didn’t plan on being up but her loud mouth woke me up and I had problems getting back to sleep.  Then when I did, I had a nightmare.  Woke up and thought today was Saturday but quickly realized as the trash trucks rolled through that today was in fact Friday. 

Here’s hoping that it’s a great day and a great weekend!  Take care. 

Back to School

This is Back to School week here for most area schools.  I saw my old High School on the news this morning.  Lots of busy and happy kids.  Kind of jealous of them because they still have their whole life ahead of them.  It’s scary now but in a matter of a few years it’s all over and your in the real world, working for the man. 

Last night I was getting dinner ready and watching a podcast.  Just a couple hours prior I got an email from the cable company telling me how because I am such a good customer they increased my internet speed and things are faster now, automagically.  I didn’t need to do anything.  Then as I was prepping my dinner, the whole internet stopped.  I had a service outage and it was that way for a few hours. 

Being on-call this was quite possibly the worst time that this could happen.  Granted outages are rare but they still occur.  Thinking on my feet I fired up my Visible line on my cell phone and got my cellular data going with them.  Then turned on my hotspot and connected my Roku and my laptop – presto I am back in business.  Podcast blaring and I am glancing at the computer screen to check for any issues.  It was 5p when this happened.  There was an issue in the area since around 3:30p but I had no idea because things were humming along.  The initial estimate said that things would be back by 6p and the second estimate said 8p.  Service came back at 7p.  This was the only time I used my phone as a hotspot for an extended period of time for both pleasure and work.  Having Visible with unlimited data on trial paid off for me. 

I had received an update to the Visible app earlier in the dat and noticed that it said their price was not $30 instead of the $40.  I figured that was a typo.  I didn’t think much about it at the time but having had to use the service in the evening I am thinking about signing up to have it as a backup.  Sure enough their prices did change.  You can get unlimited everything for $30 now, if you want to pay $15 more you can get 5G Ultra Wide Band and 50gb of Premium Data as well as some International Calling Perks.  That’s all in with taxes, fees, etc. You can elect to use auto pay or just remember to log back in and pay your bill the same time each month. 

Since I was in a trial period I have no idea how much actual data I consumed but I would be interested in that.  With my AT&T plan I have 4G of data and can use that anyway I so choose.  I could always add Visible at a later date, having them as a second carrier might be a bit of over kill but when an emergency strikes it’s nice just to be able to flip a switch or two and be back in business. 

I did a speed test this morning as I was composing this and I am supposed to be getting 300mpbs and I am getting 450mpbs.  It’s early in the morning and that number tends to be higher in off peak usage times.  If I check it later in the afternoon it would be closer to the 300mpbs that I am entitled to.  However, the cable company didn’t just make an improvement for no reason.  Monthly prices will be going up again.  That is the way it works.  No one person living by themselves will ever use all of that bandwidth.  I am glad that I have a special price for a year but man when that drops off the price of internet is going to seriously climb.  Were at $75 and that is just for the basic service I have.  It costs me $10 more because it’s the only service I have with them so that is a penalty of sorts for dropping my TV service, which I did years ago.  If they had a whole home DVR and some wireless boxes but I don’t think both of those things will ever happen.  They have had a whole home DVR for a while but it’s not released to the general public so I am to understand.  They want you to rent a DVR for each room that you need it in, none of the DVR’s talk to each other and if you record something in your bedroom and want to watch it in the living room you are out of luck unless you want to physically move the box.  With AT&T U-verse I have the flexibility I just described.  I am paying for it but it’s nice to have something that I actually use and enjoy.  AT&T thus far hasn’t had a service outage where everything was out.  Maybe one or two channels now and then but while Cable goes out all the time AT&T manages to keep service alive.  Not exactly sure how they do it but it’s part of the experience I am paying for. 

I watched a YouTube video about 5 things that depression causes you to do.  I learned something new.  It’s called Smiling Depression because you mask your feelings so others won’t pickup on the fact that your depressed.  I had never heard that term before but knowing what I do, I can see how that is fitting.  A good many of the people who make us laugh or that laugh outwardly are miserable inside.  Not something I would have thought of either but it’s something I have come to learn.  I like to use humor and who doesn’t want to make someone laugh or at the very least smile.  I’m not always miserable but a good portion of the time I am, it’s just something I’ve come to live with. I’ve got a good idea or reason to believe that if a few things changed in my life that would change everything for the better.  The biggest thing is making friends and getting a man – but the pandemic kind of put a damper on that.  I still am very tempted to step out and see what happens but I don’t want to get sick and I am honestly more afraid of getting hurt (emotionally).  I don’t think I can endure any more emotional pain but then again I never thought I’d make it to this point in my life and yet here I am.  In time I will put my toes in the water and eventually maybe my whole body. 

Gator had me up several times last night.  I did get her pill in her, so were good now until Friday.  I tried my best to ignore her but she made it next to impossible a couple times and I had to get up.  I woke up around 5a and found her passed out in her bed next to mine.  That always makes me smile seeing her in there.  She stole that bed from her mother, but that is another story.  When it was time to roll out of bed my internal alarm clock woke me and I was less than pleased when I looked at the clock.  Sleep is just like sex and money, I can’t get enough of it.  When I get some, I always want more.  There is such a thing as too much sleep but I usually don’t cross into that area unless I take a muscle relaxer or I am seriously ill. 

I’ve got plans for the weekend, not sure if everything will come together but it’s mostly chores/running.  Need to hit up the bank, the post office and cat food store.  Need to make a Target run, cat litter time.  Then there is the caulk job for the windows.  Sunday I have to wake up early to do testing at work and that will lead me to breakfast and the grocery store.  Then I will probably take a nap.  There is the trip to the car dealer but I am waffling back and forth still if I want to make the trip.  Part of me thinks I will find something and move forward and the other part of me thinks its a complete waste of time.  One thing that I wanted to know was at what mileage interval is the transmission fluid changed.  I just found the answer 150 thousand.  I’ve got a long way to go but 100 thousand miles is a tune up and that won’t be cheap, again I’ve got a long way to go.  I am only at 52 thousand miles and that is driving since September 11, 2017.  The pandemic gave me a huge break.  Might just be smarter to keep what I have and finish paying it off.  Stay with me for the ride and I will keep you informed of my decision.

As for today, my morning is pretty well free and wide open.  This afternoon is meeting city for a couple hours.  I have no idea what the day will bring but I am along for the ride good or bad.  Fingers crossed it’s all good. 

Sneaky Gator

Last night was a pill night.  I had to wake Gator up in order to get her to take her medicine.  I put it off as long as I could and then I had to wake her up.  It was easy and done.  She appeared to take the pill without an issue.  This morning I was feeding her and noticed the pill in her bed.  Not exactly sure how she did that but I think it’s an ability that all cats have.  I’ve been down this road many times.  No big deal, she will get the medicine tonight.  She did really well overnight, drinking and eating.  I got 1 wake up call I think, honestly don’t remember.  I know I was awake and then back asleep multiple times, had some odd dreams as well. 

No bothers from work last night.  I did have something come in after 5 but it was a quick win and I was done.  Of course you know the time that came in was the time I had to reboot to apply updates.  It’s like someone is watching somewhere and you think your in the clear and boom goes the dynamite.  The story of my life. 

I got my caulk yesterday so there is a weekend project waiting for me to seal a few windows.  I bought more than enough but that’s because I can’t always tell size well from a photo on a website.  Better safe than sorry.  Besides that it’s not like it was a million dollar purchase. 

Allergies were a bit too active for me yesterday.  The morning and the evening.  I did manage to pass out around 4p when I transitioned to upstairs, I put on a podcast where the guy that talks just makes me drowsy.  I was interested in what he had to say but my body was just exhausted.  I had tried to nap earlier in the day but it didn’t happen.  I figured I would have trouble sleeping, I stayed up a little later than normal but by 10:30p I was done and in bed. 

Here we are in the middle of the week once again.  Apple apparently has asked their staff to come back 3 days a week.  Kind of similar to what my employer has done with 2 specific days required in the office and the 3rd to be determined by your team/manager.  Apple is apparently on a 2 day in the office schedule now but all of that changes after Labor Day.  Oddly enough today my employer is hosting the first in person staff meeting that we have had in well over 2 years.  There is supposed to be a Zoom link but thus far it hasn’t been distributed.  I think the idea is to encourage you to go in person.  Even if I was in the office I wouldn’t go.  With COVID still high in the area it’s a bad move in my opinion.  If there is a Zoom link that is sent out I will join, otherwise it’s a no go for me.  I know I am not the only one.  I was really surprised last month when they sent out the invite but they have been telling us for months now that they are looking at getting back to more normal in person meetings.  Until the pandemic is really done or at least more under control you won’t find me at any in person office gathering of any kind.  The part that really irks me is that management tells us they are concerned about our safety and well being but their actions I feel display a different message.  With COVID still being high in the area whom ever thought it was a good idea to gather everyone in person wasn’t using their brain.  We have people out with COVID all the time but it’s treated much more like the common cold, there is a short isolation period but your back in the office before you know what really hit you.  Most cases are mild to very mild, which is good but still it’s COVID.  I can’t wait to see how they handle the first person who gets Monkey Pox.  At the end of the day management cares about one thing only, that’s earning the almighty dollar and to hell with everything else, if you die it matters not just so long as you earn them some money before you kick off.  I hate big business and politics, both suck and not in a good way!

Speaking of politics I happened to stumble on a way in my area to register for permanent vote by mail.  I went after that right away.  It beats having to remember an election is coming up and then to request a ballot.  Now I should get a ballot automagically when it gets closer to an election.  I had an aunt who was handicapped and she didn’t get out that much, she always voted by mail.  I kind of understand more of what her life was like since the pandemic hit.  She didn’t have a job and she did a lot of cooking and baking.  I understand that.  I mean you need something to occupy your mind.  She went grocery shopping once a month but it required someone to take her because she couldn’t drive.  The poor thing had a stroke later in life, was legally blind but she still had some faint vision.  Her kids wouldn’t tell her about the stroke.  They didn’t check on her all that much and a few days lapsed where no one heard from her.  She was found dead in her apartment.  This was years ago but I still reflect on it from time to time.  I’d love to know her secret for curing boredom and how you get the energy to do things.  She always looked forward to visitors and if you said you were coming but didn’t show that just ruined her entire day.  My mom was famous for getting her hopes up and then never showing up. 

Ah well enough of memory lane.  Nothing major brewing here.  Have some work stuff to tend to.  I should actually get a formal lunch break today and kind of look forward to that instead of having to cram food down and run back.  It’s been an okay week thus far.  Hopefully, today and the rest of the week are okay and productive. 

Be well and stay safe!

Rainy Tuesday

Time for more rain today.  It’s also way cooler here than it has been in weeks past.  I woke up a couple times overnight and had to pull the covers up, the AC was running and it was freezing.  Gator was not a happy camper either.  I did get up to feed her once.  She tried to make it more than once but I wouldn’t give in. 

Speaking of Gator, I found a new flavor of food that she just loves.  Sole & Vegetables.  I gave her a can this morning and she wolfed most of it down but saved some so that I could serve the rest to her from the comfort of her bed on the couch.  Man she practically ate the plate.  I’ve got a couple more cans of this stuff not sure how it will go over the second or third time but if it’s still a hit then I will for sure get more.  Cats are finicky in that what tastes good now won’t at a later time.  It was sure nice to see her so happy and chowing down though.  We skipped her pill last night and she appears to be doing okay thus far.  I am moving to an every other night schedule to see what happens.  If things don’t progress well we can always go back to the old schedule. 

I was pleased to learn last night that my Sudafed prescription finally shipped so that should be showing up here in a few days.  I was also pleased to learn that the post office finally got my old iPhone to the place I am selling it to.  It was only late by 3 days.  Now I am watching that site like a hawk because I want my money.  Thus far they haven’t acknowledged receipt of the phone so I am a bit concerned.  Hopefully, though this will all shake out. 

Watched a video last night on the model of new vehicle that I want.  I am now back to waffling if I want to move forward or stay put.  A few things that are standard on the model I have are optional on the new model.  It’s a way to make money, I get it.  However, it doesn’t exactly appeal to me.  I’ve got no idea what I am going to do and writing about it doesn’t help.  There is good and bad with each decision I just have to figure out what will work the best for me.  This is one of those situations where I want the best of both worlds, being a new vehicle and no or very little payments.  That’s not going to happen.  I do think if I can find what I want that will help make my decision for me but it’s finding it in person and not trusting a website. 

I made it outside yesterday afternoon, didn’t find the root of what ever is growing in my window.  I thought I had it but nope.  I did pull down some vines yesterday and saw what used to be a dwarf Japanese Maple Tree.  That thing has sprouted like no tomorrow and needs to be trimmed.  It was supposed to be done earlier this year when I had my tree work done but the guy missed it and honestly it wasn’t that big then.  Now it’s super size.  I’ve got limbs/sticks in the back and the front that need to be disposed of.  If you buy the bags and sign up for the year round service the trash company will haul it all away.  There is no option to just sign up for a couple months.  Where my brother lives, you put all of those type things on the curb and the city comes by for free and hauls them away.  That’s the way it should be and there is no limit.

More meetings today, fun stuff.  I also had an event that I had to deal with last night.  First one since we switched to a new monitoring service and of course just my luck.  I thought at first it was junk but quickly learned that it was a real event.  All taken care of in plenty of time with no harm done.  Plus it happened after hours but it was still early in the night so no impact to my sleep.  It did interrupt my Gator time but she worked with me.  Speaking of work, we hired another hot cute twink.  Wow he’s something to look at.  However, I don’t think he’s gay and of course were a million miles from each other, which is probably best. 

Saw all 3 of the Racoons last night, which is always nice.  Not exactly sure how they manage to get by but they appear to be doing well.  I am ready for a nap and meeting time is about a half hour away and it goes pretty much non stop for the bulk of the afternoon.  I am going to have to be creative with lunch today but I do need to eat so my sugar doesn’t drop.  Perhaps now is the time to do that and maybe then I will wake up a bit. 

Hope your having a great day!

Men on Monday

New Car Fever–raging

I was content with sticking with what I have but that feeling only last about an hour.  I really still want something new.  I did some looking for other models and there are a few things I like but I don’t want to settle.  I want what I want, I mean I’m paying for it and compromising won’t make me totally happy.  I built a new one with some extra options and it’s still affordable.  I don’t want to pre-order because then your at the mercy of the factory and who knows how long that will actually take.  I will take another look probably towards the end of the week, I may drive out to the other dealer location that is further next week.  I am approaching 53 thousand miles and driving a 2017 – that low mileage is thanks to the pandemic.  It’s only the second time I have been in a great position with a low mileage vehicle.  I mean if it’s not meant to be then I won’t find anything and I will just have to resign myself to being content.  While I’d like to wrap this over my birthday weekend I’ve got infinite time.  My present loan isn’t going anywhere and will just be less the longer I wait.  I would just like to make it a birthday present but it could be a Thanksgiving or Christmas present as well, even though the weather will be much colder then.  I do think unless there is a change of availability in both color and models that I will hang on to what I got.  After all it does what I want it to do, it’s just aging and I’d like to avoid any major issues.

Had a difficult time falling asleep last night because I slept in.  This morning I was wide awake at 6a with no alarm and no noise from Gator.  I put off getting up for a 1/2 hour but after that my bladder was sounding the alarm to either get up or prepare to have a mess to clean up. 

Gator seems to be doing okay, she was in bed when I got up and we met up at the fountain.  She hung out for a short bit while I was eating and then retreated back to the couch.  I fed her a little bit of breakfast while she was in bed.  I just came from tending to her mid-morning snack.  I bought some urinary tract health food in a couple of different flavors and she seems to like it.  I’ve got a little bit better feeling about her right now but that could change with no notice.  If she is going to check out I just don’t want it to be close or on my birthday nor near a holiday.  I mean regardless of the day there isn’t really a good time.  Right now I think altering the pred. is the right move as it seems to have a positive effect on her. 

I wound up going to Wendy’s last night for a burger and chili.  Man that was so good.  I had a Banana Fudge Drumstick for desert, a limited edition special I found when I was at the grocery store. 

When I logged in this morning everything was calm but within an hour it was a zoo.  I was busy sifting through emails and shifting from one task to another.  I finally got caught up and everything that needs to be done has been taken care of.  I like busy but not crazy busy like that.  Periods like that can crop up at anytime and are not limited to just being on-call but it happens more so at an on-call point and being short one person today didn’t exactly help me out.  However, it’s all good.

I’ve got a root that managed to poke through one of the windows here in the basement.  I plan to deal with that partially at lunch time.  I’ve got some window caulk on order and it will be here tomorrow so perm fix is just around the corner.  First time that has happened.  This place is 30 years old so all sorts of fun (or not so fun) little things crop up.  All part of the joy of home ownership.  Yes, I am being sarcastic. 

Wow the morning is almost done, a little less than an hour left.  It’s literally taken me most of the morning to compose this since I’ve been back and forth between personal and work screens.  Guess it’s time to publish this and be done.  Hope it’s a great Monday for you and a great week ahead for all of us!!

Sunday–travel

I had a very hard time getting going this morning.  Gator was urging me to get moving and I had no idea why.  Well when I got to the grocery store it all came together.  They are renovating the store and damn near everything is moved, it was next to impossible to try to find everything I would get in a normal trip.  The good news is that I spent less money.  The bad news is that I don’t have as much food.  Glad I went to the pet food store because the grocery store had nothing for Gator.  They also either stopped carrying or were out of the normal bargain small paper plates I buy to put her food on.  I had to spend more money for a brand name and got less in quantity. 

I did have breakfast at home though and I was up at 7a but just kept putting off getting going and wound up falling back to sleep. 

I topped off my tank and hit up the car dealer.  It was a long trip only because it’s a route that I don’t travel anymore and it’s a new dealer.  35 miles one way.  I got there and walked around a bit.  They didn’t have much in what I was looking for.  They are full up on used vehicles.  I was the only person on the luxury side of the lot, everyone else was looking at more normal vehicles.  I did the number crunching last night.  My present vehicle still has a decent value, it’s dropped a little bit since earlier in the summer when I was looking.  However, with nothing that really appealed to me I think my decision was made for me to keep what I have.  Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.  So I won’t have a warranty after September 11th but then again I haven’t needed to use the extended warranty and it was a complete waste of money, much like the tire & wheel protection, key fob protection and all of the addition crap that I fell for last time that I won’t fall for again.  Just thinking about that makes me really mad.  However, your in a buying mood and thinking of the unknown in the future wanting to protect yourself and it’s much like taking candy from a baby or shooting fish in a barrel.  The dealer capitalizes on the situation and takes advantage of you.  I got a good deal on the price of the car with my discount but they made up for it by selling me all of the add on crap. 

I could keep looking as I still have some time left on my side to unfreeze my credit and apply for a loan.  However, I just don’t think it’s in the cards right now to make a move.  That is the over all vibe I am getting.  I want to buy new but what I am looking for in color and model just doesn’t seem to be available.  The dealer I went to has one other location but it is much farther out and honestly I wasn’t interested in driving there.  Where I went the people and traffic are crazy – accidents are a frequent thing.  As for the other location of the dealer, it’s the same thing but far worse.  Both areas are over populated and have plenty of retail and restaurants.  I wanted to hit up a burger place that I hadn’t been to in years but my bladder was bothering me and I just opted to skip it and head for home. 

My little girl seems to be more of her normal self today.  Not hanging around the fountain but she has consumed some water.  She is eating but no movement in the litter box since yesterday other than urine.  She goes back on the pred. tonight and then I will see how she is tomorrow. 

I start a week of on-call tomorrow and that means I won’t be leaving all week long.  I should still go in for the one day but the reason why I don’t is that something will pop while I am on my way home, no one will do anything with it and then I will spend an hour or more working once I do get home.  That of course is if something pops.  If I am at home I can far reduce the time I spend.  I don’t look forward to being home all week but I know that Gator will enjoy it and hey if it brings some comfort to her then it’s worth it to me. 

Not much else to report.  I want to grab a bit to eat out for supper but am undecided on if I want to hit up Wendy’s or Denny’s.  I am in the mood for a burger and both do a great job.  Wendy’s is cheaper and less greasy plus I can get chili.  I think I just made my decision.  Then I have to tend to putting my pills out, I have been doing one week at a time instead of 3 weeks at a time and it’s a bit easier but it’s also a task I don’t look forward to.  Life is so full of those little things that we hate but are necessary evils. 

Here’s hoping that it’s a great week ahead for all of us!  Cheers!

Blah Saturday

It was a really nice day outside, too bad I spent most of it inside.  I didn’t really get going until around 3p.  Visited the pet food store for the first time in a while.  Their shelves are still just as bare as they were when I was going weekly.  I managed to pickup a few things, some of which are new just to see how Gator will like them.  One can I got was Chicken & Spinach.  Seeing that made me hungry for pizza and if the contents of the can were as tasty as the label looked I would have eaten it all myself.  Small 1/3 oz. can $1.49 which is pretty pricy even if it’s Purina. 

I grabbed up what little mail I had, since I made a run earlier in the week I didn’t expect much to be in the box.  I got a letter from my old insurance agent who is just dying to get my business back.  He left the company I am with and went to work someplace else.  I guess he thinks that one of the companies he writes for can get me a policy at or near the same price I am paying.  No one to date has been able to match coverage and beat the price I am paying.  I look at that stuff all the time.  I am loyal but if someone else can beat the price then I am happy to switch.  I put his letter straight into the shredder.  I got a card from a lady I used to work with, I was late in getting a holiday note to her since I got COVID.  I mailed it back in March and she is just not getting back to me.  Turns out she had some health issues as well but all is fine now.  She lost a cat that was 24 years old.  Damn that is super old for a cat, I’d like to know her secret for keeping a cat alive that long. 

Speaking of cats, Gator seems to be doing okay.  I skipped her prednisone last night and I am going to skip it tonight but she will go back on it on Sunday.  I am going to try a different dosing schedule to see if that helps improve her hydration.  Pred. by nature causes you to be thirsty and to pee a lot.  It could be contributing to her dehydration.  The vet told me that I could ween her off of it if I wanted but it would take a month and I would need to taper to every other day.  You can’t just stop taking it when you have been on it long term or you will get sick and go through withdrawals, which isn’t fun.  I’ve had that experience with a couple medications I just wanted to stop taking.  My goal here is to help improve or at least maintain Gator.  If getting off the drug helps great, if not well then perhaps a different dosing schedule.  She went on it for diarrhea which she doesn’t have today.  It also helped to shrink the inflammation in her gut, which helped her to absorb nutrients from the food she was eating and to not want food/gravy every 15 to 20 minutes. 

I grabbed some BBQ for supper.  It was horrible, worst meal I have had where I stopped at.  They are known for good food but tonight it just wasn’t there.  I went with my old standby which is Turkey.  It wasn’t chopped just sliced like it was being served for Thanksgiving and there was fat and rind just awful.  I should have got my new fav which is pork and brisket.  I didn’t honestly know what I wanted or where I wanted to go.  I thought of several places but wound up staying closer to home. 

I’m a little depressed and a little tired from the week.  Just wanted a day to veg and that is essentially what I’ve done.  I am doing laundry now.  Dishes later tonight and then vacuuming tomorrow.  I am supposed to go look at new vehicles tomorrow and make a decision if I want to keep what I have or trade it for a new model.  It’s a tough call to make but it will depend mostly on what I find that my vehicle is worth and what is on the lot.  I’m looking for a sign and my gut is telling me to take a gamble and keep what I have.  I’m close to paying it off, the miles are low and it’s been really good to me.  It would be great to get rid of a car payment each month that would free up a nice chunk of change that I could bank for repairs, a down payment and I could also help chip away at some of the mortgage.  My fear is that I will buy something new, some crisis will occur and I will be in a financial pinch.  Then again I went into the loan I have now not knowing how in the world I would manage to make the monthly payments, I knew I had the money but it was cutting corners to figure out a new normal.  Lower payments would be nice even if it’s a new commitment.  If I am going to buy I’d like to do it close or on my birthday, which means I’d have to unfreeze my credit and then apply for a loan.  I’ve never done a loan in advance of buying a car, I’ve always taken care of financing at the dealer but I’ve learned that is not smart as they take advantage of you and also get a commission on the loan.  By getting your own loan in advance you will get a better interest rate and that can mean a lower payment. 

Well I need to scram.  Gator is expecting me back upstairs, even though she is out cold I don’t want to disappoint her.  One whole day left!  Hope your having a great weekend. 

Roller-coaster Ride Continues

MEOW…Ms. Gator had me up during the night a couple times.  I wasn’t terribly happy about it but I took care of her.  She was at the water fountain one time and I had fed her.  I went back to my room for a bit and heard her meowing again.  She likes to do that for several different things, sometimes she does it when she is on the move.  I found her just about to enter the living room.  I picked her up and carried her to my room, she wasn’t terribly pleased with that and she tucked her head into my arm like she didn’t want to see what was coming.  I think she thought we were going to the vet.  I was naked and it was the middle of the night – no chance I’d go to the vet naked unless I lost my mind and she was in some kind of urgent distress.  We went to my room and I got her to settle in and go to sleep by my feet as I sat in a chair watching TV.  Man she looked so comfy and adorable.  Moments like that make me tired and want to retreat to bed.  I did the next best thing, grabbed a pillow from my bed and put it behind my head, then leaned back in the chair and turned off the TV.  I closed my eyes but my mind was racing, eventually she got hip to the fact that I would be better off in bed.  She went for a can of left over food that was on the floor and I went back to bed. 

I did fall back asleep but it was into a hellish nightmare where I was in some house with strange people that I didn’t know and visitors kept coming and one of the ladies was murdering them and trying to cover it up but was doing a sloppy job.  What the hell was that all about?  I’m glad it was a dream it looked more like a bad horror movie.

I woke at 6a to the sound of the trash trucks and then the yowling of Gator.  I gave up and just climbed out of bed.  She got some food and retired to the couch.  I got breakfast and then got into a fight with her water fountain.  I don’t know what she does to the thing but it was clogged up with some fur and I had just cleaned it.  I went through the cleaning process again and changed the filter & water.  When I went to plug it back in the motor didn’t want to start up.  It’s known for being difficult but this was down right stubborn.  It took me 45 minutes but I finally got it going again with a brisk normal flow.  I went back to the couch and gave Gator a little bit more of her left over food.  She was acting like she was going to fall asleep.  I headed for the basement and am watching on camera, she I believe is by the fountain which is off camera.  Probably passed out cold by the fountain, which is fine by me. 

She acts like she is dehydrated but her skin tint tells a bit of a different story in that there is some mild dehydration.  I think this is more constipation and just a general unwell feeling.  I’ve had that happen to me once or twice in my lifetime and it’s no fun at all.  For the most part she acts normal but I can just tell something isn’t quite right.  She went to the bathroom yesterday but I do think as they say there is more to come that is backlogged in her system and needs to work it’s way out.  I’d like her back to normal & stable so that I could resume my life, such as it is.  Just being able to exhale is a relief but I am not quite there yet. 

I talk to her all the time about checking out but I always tell her that I won’t give up on her and that she deserves a fighting chance just like everyone else had.  Part of me is ready to let go and essentially give up.  The other part of me isn’t quite there yet because outside of an increased appetite and being woken up in the middle of the night there isn’t any hard proof that she is suffering and/or won’t get better.  I feel like if I give up now it’s way too premature.  I don’t want to what if the situation and I don’t want any regrets.  So we take another day by day step and see what we see.  If things don’t level out then it’s time to go back to the vet but I do my very best to avoid that place.  Were low on fluids and medicine so I will be calling them soon anyway but I’d rather call for refills than an appointment.  Only because I know that eventually I will get bad news the news I am not ready for and never will be ready for.  Damn cats worm their way into your heart, tie it up with all sorts of string and then just tug away.  I love her so much and she knows it.  She has started kissing me after she eats, sometimes it appears on accident and other times it’s deliberate.  She is not a kisser/licker.  Her mom and brother were.  She would always take care of them and groom them but never did anything for me.  Her mom loved to try to wash my hair, that felt good for a small second and then it was hell.  Same thing is true when they treated my arms like they were spare ribs.  Ah, memories. 

In other news last night I got out to get the mail.  I had a bad feeling that bad news was waiting for me at the post office.  The only thing I found was an overflowing mailbox.  Campaign advertisements, Back to school mailers all of which went straight into the garbage.  I got an odd white envelope with no return address on it.  I figured it was either from the HOA or someone that wanted me to find Jesus.  Nope turns out it was from a realtor who wanted me to contact her if I was interested in selling my home, she promised to get me lots of buyers but at the bottom of the letter there was an odd disclaimer that if my house was listed for sale that this wasn’t a solicitation to buy my home.  Huh?  It was a solicitation no matter how you look at it.  Nice to know that people are still buying homes but right now mines not for sale. 

I got the money from the state that I found in my mom’s name.  Now I need to get my brother his share of that.  Since I don’t trust his wife I will need to make a trip to the bank to get a cashier’s check, I don’t want her to have access to my bank account number and if you write a check or use bill pay it all lists your account number.  I could Zelle him the money but he’s not enrolled and would probably think it’s fraud.  I could also pay him in cash but I never see him in person.  I also figured that he would start a dialog with me but he hasn’t bothered to reach back out.  I suspect that is largely due to his wife and how she doesn’t want him to have friends or communicate with family.  She wants all of his attention not to mention time and money.  What a winner he found!  I would rather be alone than have a person like that in my life.  Depression is much better than Suffocation.  I mean neither is idea but if I have to choose I’d pick Depression. 

I’m quite tired today, thankfully only one meeting on the books at lunch time.  I am hoping for a quite and calm day.  So that I can sneak in a nap and maybe get a head start on my weekend chores.  Sleep is more of what I want and I can’t do that fully during working hours because the electronic leash (aka my cell phone) always manages to start chirping when I lay down.  Kind of irritating but also odd. 

That’s all I have at the moment.  Hope that you have a great day and a nice weekend.  Stay cool and hydrated.