Very Nice Day

The sun is shining bright today, were just about to 70 and I’ve got the windows open.  I love to feel the breeze when it blows. 

Rudy woke me up at 6a because he was hungry.  I got up and fed him, then returned to bed.  Watched some TV and tried like crazy to fall back to sleep.  I eventually made it but it was short lived. 

Around 8a I got up and had my breakfast and medicine.  Rudy got a 2nd breakfast out of me just because I didn’t want to deal with his begging.  He’s figured out how to irritate me and use his good looks to his advantage.  In other words he knows I’m a sucker, but that only applies to any cat that I have ever owned. 

I am glad that I rescheduled my meeting with the landscaper that was set for today.  I could have made it work based on how I felt but since I had no idea I pushed it out.  Besides that I wouldn’t want to give whatever I have to someone else. 

I felt better when I woke up but didn’t want to push it.  I honestly thought about getting showered and heading out for Mexican food just because I’m craving it like crazy.  Knowing my luck is not the greatest I figured that if I did that I’d surely be punished so I am staying put until tomorrow, then I will shower and venture out.  The shower sounds just as good as the Mexican food. 

I had to venture out to bring in the trash barrel which I did around 11a.  Had a package on the porch that I retrieved, just medicine nothing special. 

Got a nice surprise yesterday in that I got a bonus on my check.  1/2 of it went to taxes and the other 1/2 was deposited in the bank.  That helped me to reach a financial goal that I had for myself.  It felt good and I am proud of myself.  Time to keep on growing my savings and perhaps set another savings goal. 

Watched a documentary on YouTube about a Serial Killer in London who used hookup apps to target 5 twinks.  One of them got away.  He would inject them with GHB under the guise that it was lube, he kept it up until they eventually overdosed.  He’d dress them, put GHB bottles on them and then relocate their bodies so they could be found.  He called 999 on the first victim which he staged outside of his flat.  One victim he included a suicide note.  The whole thing was interesting and the police dropped the ball.  The victims families are the ones who pushed for justice and did their research.  Their deaths were discounted by the police because they were gay, which is totally wrong.  Sounds like there has been some reform and policing in London is better today.  This was in South London in case that matters. 

On a different note I had Chicken Tortilla soup for supper last night.  Almost burnt myself getting it out of the microwave.  Thought it would be spicy but it wasn’t.  Tonight it’s either Chili or Broccoli Cheese. Just about out of crackers, time to restock. 

Hope you have a good weekend.  I know it’s going to go by way too fast and I will be back at work and dealing with the messes that are waiting for me.  I did take work mail off my phone last night so I could stop peeking.  I had a strong desire to jump in and help but I resisted. 

Can’t believe that were going into March already.  Take care.  

Still sick

Woke up at 4a dripping wet with a fever.  I took some Tylenol and grabbed my phone.  Made an appointment at the local Doc In The Box by my house for this afternoon.  Just got home from that ordeal.  Turns out whatever I have is viral and it’s just a matter of managing symptoms.  They asked if I wanted to be tested for Flu or COVID and I said unless its going to change something I would rather not.

I’ve been ordered to do pretty much what I have been doing stay put and get plenty of rest.  Oddly it did feel pretty good to get out, something about the sunshine and feeling the breeze did wonders.  I’ve been told to return to work on Monday.  If I am still having a fever in 5 days then I need to be seen again.  Suffering through the symptoms is the worse but I’ve been down this road before. 

The best news out of all of this is that I have 1 week of sick time left so I’m cashing that in.  Provided I go back on Monday (which I anticipate doing) I will have to use my vacation to cover any illness/sickness that I have from now until the end of the year.  I’ve got plenty of vacation time so I am not at all worried. 

What’s going to suck is playing catchup, I can see my work mail from my phone and that’s how I’ve been communicating with my boss/teammate.  Let’s just say I won’t be bored on Monday and it will suck double because I will also be on-call.  I’ve thought about doing some work while I am off but quickly talked myself out of that.  I’ve done it before and it can help but then more stuff comes in and I wind up actually going back early plus using my time.  Since I am off the clock I’m staying that way.

I hate being sick, I loose track of the days of the week and my sleep schedule is all messed up.  I realize my body needs rest but it does get old laying in bed. 

Last night I finished up Southland it is a TV show that was apparently on broadcast TV a few years back.  It was pretty good and had a hot hunk that is totally straight but I still had a crush on him.  What can I say, every guy I fall for is either straight or turns out to not follow through.

The cats are really loving me staying home and not getting in front of a computer.  As I type this out they are napping and soaking up the afternoon sun.  It’s in the upper 50’s out today and tomorrow it’s supposed to be in the 70’s.  I had a meeting with a Landscaper but called and pushed it to next Friday since I am sick.  I don’t want to infect anyone else. 

I will need to hit up the cat food store on Saturday and the grocery store on Sunday.  Those are the only required stops that I have to make.  I hope I am up to it. 

Hope your doing well.  Thanks for stopping by to check on me. 

Sick again

Woke up on Monday and my neck was sore, I didn’t feel the best.  Opted to stay home.  I made the right call because things only got worse from there.  I started getting hot flashes and it felt like I was on fire.  Tuesday wasn’t any better but by the afternoon I felt better.  Prior to this starting my eyes were bothering me and I just thought it was allergies. 

The sore neck thing is a tell from my body that I’m sick.  I also get this internal feeling kind of like a warmness but it’s a strange feeling, that has been with me since I was a kid.

I woke up this morning still not feeling better, I took today as well.  Went to the doctor by a video visit, I should have just gone to the local urgent care.  The provider I met with had a horrible connection and really didn’t want to cover me with a note but I think we got it worked out.  If I am still not feeling better tomorrow I will seek in person care.  This sucks and I just want to go back to my normal life. 

Work is piling up and it’s going to take me a bit to play catchup.  However, I am enjoying the break from technology and not hearing the phone buzz every six seconds.  I would like to get back to it and may just push myself tomorrow.  It feels odd saying I am having hot flashes but my skin will turn beat red.  Oddly I don’t have a fever.  I am still taking Ibuprofen and Tylenol as it seems to help with the hot flashes. 

I am told that it sounds viral and that can last for 5 to 7 days.  I’d really love it if it left and never came back, kind of like every other illness I have had. 

Just wanted to let you all know I am still among the living and working on getting better.  The cats are a great comfort but they also both want to play and I honestly don’t have that in me right now.  Rudy got up on the table and brought me something, he kind of snitched on himself.  He’s quite the character but it beats being totally alone and sick. 

LAZY SUNDAY

Welcome!

Rudy woke me up faithfully on time as usual. He tried for 5a but that’s way too early regardless of the day of the week. I’m sure if there is a day that I give in to a 5a wakeup call he would never forget it. He got me up closer to 7a and I rolled out of bed reluctantly. Today was one of those days where I wished I could have just stayed put.

I got going and headed out into the cold for breakfast. Went back to the usual place and had a dish that my brother turned me onto years ago. Country Fried Steak and Eggs. It was good, but I did miss feeding my sweet tooth. Paid the bill and hit up the grocery store.

I watched a YouTube video on Friday all about frozen food and it turned me on to a couple new brands like Amy’s and Kevin’s. They are higher priced meals for frozen dinners but better ingredients and are supposed to leave you satisfied. I found a few dishes that looked appealing to me and I’m giving them a try, hopefully I enjoy them.

Next stop was the gas station, and I hated this one the most. The card reader always seems to have problems with reading one of my cards and this morning was no exception, but it would have been nice to have it work to get out of the cold wind. Saw a couple of large birds that I hadn’t seen before, they were feeding on some left-behind bread. They looked beautiful.

Made it home to unpack and while I would enjoy a nice Mexican dinner, it’s so cold and windy out that I think I am staying home. I kind of hate that because I won’t leave here all week (unless I manage to change my mind) but I’d rather be with the cats in a warm home than out in the elements.

Finished up with Schitts Creek. Couldn’t help but think of my wedding day watching David & Patrick getting married. What a great show that was. It’s one of those shows that I want more of, but it ended well on a happy note.

I still have some house cleaning chores to take care of. Listening to the scanner to see what mayhem is going on in my area. Just having fun being lazy and doing what I want. I did trim both cats claws last night. Neither of them was pleased about it but Mora put up the biggest fight. You’d think after 3 years they would both trust me more, I mean if I was going to harm them, I would have done it long ago. I get not being a fan of nail trims, I didn’t like them when I was younger, but I have gotten used to them, still not a fan though. Funny thing about a cat, they manage to sharpen their claws up rather quickly after a nail trim. Rudy making his biscuits and poking me with his sharp claws, I am allergic and break out. It looks like I have chicken pox or something without a shirt on. Plus, it itches and it’s no fun. However, I still love Rudy’s biscuits, it’s his begging skill to tell me he wants food.

Here’s hoping that this week is a good one. I’m getting to the house cleaning chores after this and then it will be back to find something to watch on TV. Hope it’s a great Sunday for you.

Hunting

Welcome in!

Made the call to meet with a Bush Wacker as I like to refer to them or better known to most people as a Landscaper. I called a completely different company, decided to look on BBB for a referral. The meeting is set for Friday morning. I am expecting a huge price for the little work I want done but I suppose time will tell. I hope the guy is reasonable so I can just give him the job, pay the bill and move on. I really don’t like getting estimates I am more about getting the work done but it’s all a question of patience and money. If I had more patience, I’d probably have more money. Then again, I’m no doctor. LOL

Last night I saw the best thing ever, 2 Raccoons so apparently, they can get out and I suppose they are teaching hunting to the children. I still haven’t seen any of the children yet, but two adults had a nice conference on the deck for a bit. I’m glad I held off pulling the cut-out. Sounds like nature is taking its course. I suspect it won’t be terribly long before they will leave but I have seen some stick around, time will tell. I just don’t want any trouble, if they just occupy a space and don’t do any damage, I’m fine with it. If they get destructive then I will have them removed, I hate to do that because I know it’s a death sentence.

I was able to finish The Night Agent last night. The story went on much longer than I anticipated, it was 10p before I was done. Rudy was nagging at me from 8p until 9:30p that it was time for bed and he wanted to play. He just doesn’t take no for an answer.

I had a nice sleep and woke up at 7a. I wasn’t as eager to get going as I thought I would be. I had breakfast and came back to my room. I started watching Home Fries which had Catherine O’Hara in it. It was a dumb movie. I put it on pause when there was less than a ½ hour left and I went back to bed. So much for seeing my friends. I was lazy and I enjoyed it; I got around 1p. Showered, started laundry and then headed off for BBQ.

It was a nice drive, even if I did make a mistake when I was almost there and instead of turning to the road to the place I got back on the freeway. Had to do a circle to get back to where I was and that took me 5 minutes. Finally, I pulled up and this time the place was packed. That’s how I remember it at the one closer to home. The place always had a crowd. I got the Pulled Pork, and they used a little too much garlic salt, but it was good. I asked for a soda to go and instead of giving me diet the guy gave me regular. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have the right thing and only took sips when I had to.

The trip sucked my fuel tank damn near empty, I’ve got less than 100 miles until empty. I’ll fill it up tomorrow. I didn’t think it would go quite that low, but I didn’t start with a full tank. On the way home I got two alerts from my cameras. First someone was at the front door and then a short time later there was motion on the deck. Turns out the front door was a politician asking for a vote and on the deck, there was a loose dog.

I hit up the post office on the way back. Got my car insurance bill and it’s $48 cheaper than it was 6 months ago and that’s despite having my windshield replaced. Which I don’t think is horrible. I expected an increase. I got it paid when I got home, along with renewing my anti-virus subscription. It was an expensive day, but I enjoyed myself and I think that’s all that matters.

Waiting for the dryer to kick off and then I will be headed up. Thinking Mexican food tomorrow, it sounds so good. I just think about all the salt in the meat and how thirsty I will be afterwards for hours. However, I flush it all out with plenty of water. I never used to enjoy water but now I can’t get enough of it.

One more day of rest and then it’s back to working life. At least the boss won’t be on-call and maybe I can get some rest. Probably not the case but I can at least hold out hope.

Take care and be well.

The Night Agent–Season 3

Hey welcome in. 

I have been waiting for a long time for Season 3 of The Night Agent to be released on Netflix.  Thankfully it’s here and I started watching.  It’s highly compelling and really captures my attention to the point where I am totally engrossed in it and I forget about everything else.  I like that kind of entertainment, it provides an escape from reality.  I didn’t want to stop watching but I knew that once I took my sleeping meds that it wouldn’t be but an hour and I would be out.  Well I managed to get a little extra time but eventually the medicine won.  I am anxious to get back into it and finish it hopefully today.  I know that I will wish for more once it’s done like every series that I watch.  This for sure made my evening. 

Before starting the Night Agent I noticed Mora was watching something in the Kitchen.  I went to check it out and it was another Stink Bug.  I grabbed it and drowned it in the kitchen sink.  No odor.  She is so hyper aware of her surroundings that I don’t know if anything could get past her.  She’s a great watch cat.  I know if that bug would have given her the opportunity to pounce she would have.  According to my former exterminator no house is 100% sealed and the Stink Bugs take advantage of that worming their way in.  Some Silica Gel dusted around in the attic helps but hey who actually has time or patience to do that?  Not me and I no longer have an exterminator, my problem left and I had no reason to keep them around.  They wanted in the house every other month that became a hassle.  I tried to skip one time when one guy said I could his management said nope.  So I told them come on out it’s your last visit.  If I didn’t let them in they would treat the exterior of the house but there was no change in price, so I was screwing myself by not opening the door. 

On the work front I did a very good job of letting things pile up yesterday.  I took what I deemed my fair share but I made sure there was plenty left over.  The backlog cleared out and now were just in waiting mode for the next backlog to start.  My boss claimed that he was on a 3 hour call.  He really isn’t poised to take an on-call role because he can’t devote enough time to it and he depends on everyone else to pull his weight.  Whereas when I or the mistake maker are on call we take it all regardless of what comes up.  That’s why I say when the boss is on-call were all on-call because were the ones that do the majority of the work.  Our former collogue that retired last Friday’s job hasn’t been posted yet.  They are hammering out details and it should be posted soon.  I watch every day with anticipation.  I hope who ever fills that position pulls their weight and knows what they are doing, it will certainly help to make my life easier.  However, there will be a learning curve and we are months away from that point.  So for now it’s stress and frustration city as we wait. 

Last night I went to use the restroom before I turned in for the night and I heard the same noise that I heard the night prior where it sounded like something was rattling pipes.  I broke out my spotlight and headed downstairs, naked.  The cats were in toe but I stopped them at the door.  I knew it was the baby raccoons under the deck making the noise.  I checked everything just to make sure somehow they didn’t rip off part of the house and climb inside.  Thankfully they had not.  Everything appears intact and fine.  I’m wondering if they are stuck and can’t find a way out.  I’ve got a cutout on my deck that is how the adults got in to mate it’s a tiny hole but they squeezed through.  I can pull the cutout and it will create a larger opening it would allow them to leave but it would also allow any predators to enter.  The google machine just told me that Raccoons & Skunks coexist but they fight over food and shelter.  The last thing I want is a smelly war breaking out.  I’ve got mixed feelings.  I also know that Raccoons can do a considerable amount of damage to a house or structure and I don’t want that.  I see what I presume to be Papa racoon coming and going each night multiple times, he chats with the family and then leaves.  He seems to be nervous or concerned to me but I don’t know much about wildlife.  If I do open the cutout I run the risk of the momma or even the kids attacking me, I also don’t want that.  If I decide to move forward I’m pretty sure doing it during the daytime would be the best and easiest way to avoid any conflict.  The come nigh time they could either stay hunkered down or leave.  I kind of want to let it be and let nature sort it out but I don’t want any damage.  This isn’t the first Racoon family that my deck has provided a home for and the others all got out and left on their own with no involvement from me.  I haven’t seen any of the babies but in the past I’ve watched them they are so cute to watch.  They look like they could be great pets but not with Rudy & Mora around.  I worked with a guy who had a Racoon as a pet growing up.  He said the funniest thing was to feed them sugar cubes.  They wash everything before they eat it and the sugar cubes would dissolve and the Racoon would have the most confused and puzzled look on it’s face, like where in the world did that go?

It’s colder here and I heard that were in for a dusting of snow overnight.  Nothing to worry about and it should melt off quickly but we are back into normal Winter temperatures for the weekend.  We will see a warm up next week. 

Looking forward to grabbing a shower tomorrow morning and seeing where the day takes me.  I want out of this house and on the road.  Been virtually car shopping just to see what’s out there.  If I make a move this year and get a new vehicle it will be closer to my birthday which is in the Fall.  I keep going back and forth as I have for a while.  I want something new but really don’t want to part ways with this vehicle.  I have no reason to own 2 vehicles.  Speaking of which it’s time to pay for car insurance again, the bill is waiting for me at the post office.  That for sure will go up if I get something new. 

Here’s hoping it’s an awesome Friday for all of us and just as equally awesome of a weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Nice Day

Morning, As I felt the temperature rising in the house yesterday afternoon I opted to open a couple windows.  That woke both cats up and they loved it as I knew they would.  I loved the fact there was a breeze and artificially it felt like it would help cool things down.  I wanted to open the sliding glass door but I saw that a stink bug made it’s way onto the screen.  I was hoping it would work it’s way out and fly away. 

Had the last of the Chili for supper last night.  I was careful and didn’t burn myself.  Closed up work a little bit early but not much before the normal COB (Close Of Business).  Since I’ve been working at home I work longer hours, which is to the company’s advantage.  I mean I’m just sitting here it’s not like I have anything going on.  I should pack up and close up shop around 4p but I wait until 5 or 5:30p before I call it a day.  If I am on-call it’s more like 6:30p just in case something comes in. 

Around dusk I closed up the windows.  The cats didn’t like that but hey it was time.  The sun was gone and so I knew it would cool off, however the house retains heat so it would be hours before it would be felt in here. 

Watching TV and relaxing, both cats asleep.  Mora heard something and she perked up and jumped up on the back of the couch and started looking up.  I knew exactly what to look for.  It was that stink bug.  She heard it long before I knew it was here.  She is a great watch cat.  It flew down on a lamp shade but she didn’t see where it landed.  She knew it wasn’t on the ceiling anymore.  I grabbed it and took it to the toilet where I flushed it.  No stink in here.  Mora stayed on high alert for another 15 minutes and then she settled down. 

I went back to watching TV and then before too long it was time to prep for today and grab a shower.  Off to bed and I slept great until 5a.  Had to use the bathroom and then I know I heard something rattling the pipes at least that is what it sounded like.  I couldn’t go back to bed so watched a little TV and closer to 6a I was ready to go back to bed.  That would be a problem because I have to be up at 7a.  I knew I would feel horrible and not want to, but I forced myself against my better judgement.  Today would be the perfect day to just stay in bed.

I had what I call an energy pill which is nothing more than a Belvita soft oatmeal biscuit with my regular Cinnamon Oatmeal.  That will give me energy for hours, hence why I call it an energy pill.  Mora wasn’t feeling the best this morning from what I gather.  She sat on the couch and didn’t come to breakfast.  Rudy scarfed breakfast and came back for seconds when he saw Mora wasn’t moving in. 

Both cats followed me to my room where I was getting dressed.  Mora was certainly up for attention and she got her belly rub.  Then she followed me out when I normally grab my water and then head downstairs.  I saw she was sitting in the living room so I took the wet food to her.  I know that she nibbled.  She doesn’t like for me to watch her eat and if she catches me she stops.  Not sure what that is all about, I mean we all eat.  Rudy came in and that was the end of that.  I moved the wet food back to the kitchen.  I know she had something even if it was a nibble or two.  The dry food was empty this morning so maybe she filled up on that and was full. 

I’ve knocked out a few things for this morning at work.  I’ve got one new thing that just came in to deal with.  I think it’s going to be a long day, at least as of now there are no meetings on the agenda and the only thing on my calendar is lunch.  I will keep an eye out and help when I feel like it.  However, it’s kind of fun to let things build up just to see if anyone else will jump in.  I’m usually the hero and people know that I will help so I think everyone expects me to take the work.  I’ve spoiled them and that’s my fault.  I thought it would not only make a positive impression but perhaps help me climb the ladder.  Nope, it’s just got me more work and a new expectation.  So I am trying to undo my kind deed. 

We have the same warmer weather today but there are supposed to be storms and possibly some severe weather.  I hope it’s nothing more than a little rain.  I’m not ready for a tornado or hail storm just yet, I mean it’s still Winter. 

Have a great day!

Man Candy - For you

Only Wednesday

Morning – Had an average, typical evening.  YouTube hiccupped and for some reason I had problems getting into my account to watch videos.  About that time I got an email from Netflix letting me know that a comedy special I flagged for a reminder was on.  I watched that, it was Sommore’s latest special Chandelier Fly.  I got a few laughs out of it.  When it was done I was able to get back into my YouTube account.  Strange how that all worked out but I’m glad it did. 

Played with the cats before bed.  Both of them were interested.  Rudy was waiting for me in my bathroom which is a bit odd but hey I went with it.  They both had a good time, maybe for not as long as they wanted to but I think it was enough to put a smile on their face and remind them that I care about them. 

Strange dreams last night.  Woke up at 5a and never really got back to sleep.  Rudy was no where near my bed and I was kind of happy to be able to enjoy it all alone.  That only lasted for about an hour and around 6a he joined me.  He knew I was awake but I got him to settle down and lay flat on me.  It’s one of the best feelings and I’m glad he does it. 

Saw an alert on my phone that I had motion on the deck, I wake up to those alerts every morning.  I figured it was the Raccoon.  Nope this time it was a Skunk and it looked pretty young.  All while with just a small black stripe down it’s back.  Glad it walked away.  I’ve got a feeling I’m going to smell more Skunk spray.  Never seen a Skunk on camera.  It’s eye opening to what goes on all the time once you put up a camera.  You catch people, pets and wild animals all the time.  I was so against it for the longest time but now I’m glad I have them.  Wish I had more and they were wired as opposed to battery operated, charging and changing batteries does get old. 

Work is moving along.  I’m holding strong on not taking work that is typically handled by the person who is on-call, unless it’s something dire.  I want my boss to pull his weight.  The mistake maker is kissing his ass and taking a lot of the things that come up.  He also gets assigned some things and while I am a little disappointed that I’m not leaned on a bit more I am also glad at the same time.  I do plenty.  Last night I saw something that needed urgent attention and I knew by the time my boss got around to looking at his phone it would be hours later, so I jumped in and took care of it.  Hours later I got a thank you email from him.  I still have my moments of wanting to quit – tired of my boss and his BS.  I realize it could be so much worse.  Every job has BS and there is stuff that is just beyond my control.  Kind of like life.  I’ve got 2 meetings today one in a few hours and then another one just after lunch.  Here’s hoping it’s an uneventful day. 

Found out in browsing yesterday that we lost our Wendy’s they abruptly closed, took the sign down and everything.  It sucks but I am not totally shocked, quality there had been going down hill for a while.  I’d order Chili and not get crackers or the hot sauce packet.  There are other Wendy’s around just have to travel a bit further if I get a craving.  Glad I found that chili at the store because that’s something I crave the most.  Don’t get the Wendy’s canned chili in the grocery store, it’s horrible and tastes nothing like Wendy’s chili.  TRUST ME, I learned that one the hard way. 

We have warmer weather today, supposed to be in the 70’s today and the same tomorrow but the rapid warm up will bring storms and the threat of severe weather.  I’m sure it will be the first of some scary weather as we inch closer to Spring.  I know it’s going to be hot in here and I will probably want to turn on the AC but I won’t it’s far too early for that.  At least the cats will be comfy. 

Have a great day!

Hot Chili

Good morning – Monday was kind of like a vacation day since the boss was away all day.  However, there was some work that I accomplished.  I got tasked with something that had me working a bit longer but it was easy, just a matter of waiting for go time to roll around. 

I was so excited yesterday to have Chili for lunch.  I had Sour Cream, Cheese, Crackers and was all set.  The only thing I didn’t count on is when I pulled it out of the microwave after heating it up, was that I would spill it all over my hand and the stove.  It wasn’t all lost but my hand was screaming.  It was a dumb move I made picking up a hot plastic container with my bare hand.  I had done it so many times before and nothing happened.  Well I learned my lesson the hard way. 

Ran my hand under some cool water, couldn’t get it cold enough in the kitchen.  So I went to my bathroom and it was ice cold there.  That felt really nice.  I thought I might have done some slight damage but nothing major.  Dried off my hand and went to eat lunch. 

The chili was every bit as good as I expected it to be, I just had a little less and a mess to clean up afterwards.  Cleanup was pretty much a breeze because it was limited to the stove stop and a pot holder.  Had to stick the pot holder in the wash. 

Meanwhile I held onto an ice pack while I watched TV on the couch and stared at my work laptop.  My hand was in pain.  I knew eventually I had to let go of the ice pack and as my hand returned to normal temperature the pain came back.  It bothered me for a few hours but thankfully there was no visible damage done.  I’ve got full feeling in my hand and after a few hours things went back to normal as the pain died down.  I think of how lucky I was as this could have been much worse.

Supper was a Cheese, Bacon, Potato side dish that is more like a casserole from Stouffers.  I ate half of it last night, pretty good.  The other half will be dinner tonight or so I think. 

Nice weather yesterday, people were out walking their dogs, pushing their kids in strollers, kids were out on bikes and scooters it was like a Spring awakening.  I haven’t seen that much activity on the street since late Fall when the temperatures were still Summer like. 

The house was a bit on the warm side, it didn’t help that I had to make multiple trips up and down the steps not only for the laundry but my desktop needed to be restarted. 

All in all not a bad Monday.  Here’s hoping that the rest of the week is as simple as yesterday was but without any burns or trauma.  Boss is back today and of course there are meetings to go to.  Ugh!  Right now all is calm and quiet, I know it won’t stay that way so I’m just enjoying it while I can. 

Hope that Monday was good for you and that today is even better.  Thanks for stopping by!

It was BBQ

Morning – Well I made it to the local BBQ place.  It was good and as usual in and out quickly.  It felt more like a late Spring day out and I didn’t need a jacket we were at 65 degrees.  Felt nice but a bit foreign to go outside without a coat. 

I made my first stop the cat food store and now I have food for two weeks or perhaps a little longer, kind of depends if I give into begging. 

Spent the evening in my bedroom watching a couple YouTube videos and mostly 48 hours episodes.  I switched over to Crime In Progress and watched last weeks episode where a mailman was gunned down.  That was interesting, I kept saying who in their right mind would shoot, much less kill a mailman.  It’s a Federal Crime.  Well it was his ex.  What solved the case?  Technology – camera footage, along with cell phone ping records.  You literally can’t make a move today without being tracked, even if you leave your cell phone at home.  There are ALPR (Automated License Plate Readers) and cameras everywhere.  Part of me hates it but part of me also loves it because if you’ve done nothing wrong it will work in your favor or at least lets say it’s supposed to. 

Went out to the garage later in the evening only to discover that something to into it with a skunk and I could smell that very distinct odor.  I smelled something in my room but wasn’t quite clear on what it was.  Thankfully it appears to be gone now that it’s morning.  This happens once or twice a year.  I’m kind of over it but as long as it’s not me or the cats that are sprayed I suppose that is the important thing. 

Got a message from the boss, I thought he was out for the morning but turns out he has taken the entire damn day off.  He is supposed to take over on-call at 5p but we shall see.  Thus far it’s quiet but then again it’s still very early.  I’ve managed to churn out the work that I needed to and now unless something comes crashing in, I am pretty well done for the day.  It’s a watch & see kind of thing.  Just me and the mistake maker that are watching.  I know he won’t make any leaps but I will be extra slow in taking things just to give him an opportunity. 

Slept okay, woke up once at 5a.  My bladder was full and I was shivering.  I had kicked off the covers and Rudy was hogging them.  I had to wrestle them back from him but I got warm and went back to sleep, despite the full bladder. 

Got my invoice for the snow removal that was done last month.  Damn this guy wasn’t much cheaper than the kids I hired last year but he did a far better job.  I gladly paid him to get it out of the way.  I’ve been waiting to put that behind me. 

Now my next task is calling someone to trim some bushes and clean up the yard a bit.  I dread this kind of thing but like everything else I breathe easier when it’s behind me.  Then before too long it will be grass cutting season again.  Ah the circle of life!

Here’s hoping it’s a great week for all of us.  Take care & be well.

Happy Sunday

I woke up this morning, and it took me a few minutes to realize what day it was. I slept pretty good last night. Rudy still tried to get me up at 6a, but I didn’t budge until 6:30a when I realized it was impossible to get back to sleep. Then I just gave him attention and watched him make biscuits and take in the love I was giving him. He’s one lucky cat and I wish I was him, at least I’d have someone to love me.

I made it out to breakfast and got the same thing I had last weekend which was pretty good. Hit up the post office next. Next stop Target, I forgot until late last night that I needed to go there. I had to use self-checkout, which I despise but it was the only way out without abandoning my items. Next stop was the grocery store, where I remembered to get Sour Cream and picked up more of that delicious chili. Then home to unload, open mail, undress and relax. Eventually returning to bed for a nap.

Got up and set out my medicine for the week. I had a brownie from December that I froze, still fresh as the day I bought them. I heard a noise sounding like a lawnmower starting. It’s February there for sure is no grass to cut here. My neighbors kid started up their riding mower and was cruising around their yard, not exactly sure what he was doing, I did think it was rather odd. Moved on to house cleaning and when that was done, I rested on the couch. Rudy curled up next to me and got his belly rubbed. He gave me a love bite and then passed out like he had been working all day long.

I watched a little TV and kept going back and forth in my mind about where supper is coming from. I wanted Pizza, thought about Cracker Barrel, Mexican sounds good but so does BBQ. I’d love to drive back to that same place again I went to weeks ago it gives the vehicle a good work out but I’m not in the mood. I think I’ve settled on a local BBQ place for supper but nothing certain until I get behind the wheel and start driving. Variety is the spice of life but I’m one of those people who gets paralyzed by too many choices.

Got my ballot in the mail and I plan to mail it back when I go out for supper. I am not looking forward to starting another work week but it’s a necessary evil I suppose. Looking forward to continuing to relax and enjoy my leisure time this evening. Oh, I’ve got to hit up the cat food store, almost forgot about that. They have enough food, they would be okay, but it would be bare bones by the end of the week.

Hope you’re having a good day. Take care and be well.

Friday the 13th

My day started off a bit rocky. Apparently, I missed an on-call phone call that was alerting me to a problem. I had to jump on that issue first thing. The issue came up earlier in the evening and thankfully I did the right thing so the further concern that was echoed, causing the alert later in the evening that I missed, turned out to work in my favor. Still, I made the mistake of missing the phone call and somehow, I got praise and looked like a shining star evening though that wasn’t my aim. I mostly wanted to take any heat off the Help Desk Tech that sent the call up; he did his job. He just didn’t continue to follow through with multiple calls, which is what we did back in the day when I was in his job. This whole debacle took an hour and a half out of my day, which is not how I like to start the day.

I got caught up and was able to work on stuff that I had scheduled for Friday that needed to be done. I got some curve balls thrown my way with last minute work that came in just before Rudy’s lunch time. I had to stay downstairs, and I heard his sister jump down, I knew that when I eventually went upstairs, he would be all pissed off at me, and I wasn’t wrong. However, it’s amazing how easily we can make up as soon as his food is in front of him.

I went up closer to noon and worked the rest of the day from upstairs. I had a video call to say goodbye to my colleague that was early in the afternoon. It was a nice little chat, I didn’t say a whole lot. The closer it got to saying goodbye the tears started to fall from my eyes. I had to turn my video off multiple times but by the end I was ugly crying and my boss ended the meeting quickly. I just hate goodbyes. However, I am happy that he can retire. It was also nice to see everyone even if it was virtually. Were all spread across the US and video isn’t mandated for our meetings. I’ve met my boss in person but never met any of the rest of my team in person.

It was a quiet but busy afternoon that dragged on. I had some changes that I needed to make after hours and waiting for CA to hit 5p seems to take forever but eventually the time rolled around and I got to get my work done and log off for the day, which I was happy to do.

I got the dishes going at 8p and headed to my bedroom where I watched the latest episode of The Pitt. Got up an hour later to get ready for bed and Rudy was chomping at the bit to play like he normally does. This time he really meant it and boy he got himself a nice workout before bed. That made me happy, I worry about him when he doesn’t engage in playtime. Mora is always up to swat and bite at something.

My plans for Saturday (today) were all set, I was going to get up early, have breakfast at home, grab a shower and then head out to my friends shop to catch up with them hopefully before the rain moved in. However, I woke up multiple times during the night and couldn’t’ get back to sleep. I knew that I would likely scrap my plans for the day and I was right. I wound up getting up to feed the cats at 7a, Rudy let me sleep in a bit. Then I came back to bed and tried to sleep but it was futile. I needed to be up for a bit before I could go back to sleep. I watched some 48 hours and that was engaging content. I got up and had breakfast after that. Then I came back to bed to watch more and tried to nap a bit. It took a while, but it all worked out.

Thinking that today was Valentine’s Day and knowing that restaurants would likely be crowded, even though it’s raining along with the fact that I don’t like to get out in the rain, I have opted to stay in for the day. I am climbing the walls here, but I think I made the right call.

Focusing on laundry, having a Chicken Pot Pie for supper and just relaxing with the cats. Kind of having a day of leisure which I do enjoy a bit too much. Being lazy is one of my favorite things to do, despite the fact nothing gets done but it sure does feel good to me.

Tomorrow, I will get breakfast out and hit up the grocery store. Wait for the cat food store to open and go there to get more food for the furry beasts, grab the mail and then figure out where I want to go for supper. Monday will be knocking way too soon, and I wish that I was the one who retired. Bonus though the boss is supposed to be out for the morning, however he’s on call so that will just make more work for me.

Hope you’re having a great day, and life is going well for you.

Jinx

Morning!

I jinxed myself yesterday by saying in a meeting that things were calm and the normal stuff that we deal with had slowed down.  Well just before lunch a wave of work poured in and it started off easy but quickly mounted.  I looked at the clock when I was done and it was 3p.  Glad that I went by Rudy’s clock yesterday and ate at 11a. 

After that the rest of the day was pretty much a breeze.  We have a meeting tomorrow to say goodbye to a colleague that is retiring.  We were all told we need to have video on for that meeting.  I tested my camera on my laptop and had to fight a little bit with my antivirus software but I got it working.  Funny thing if I join Zoom from the laptop directly I can have a virtual background.  If I go through the work system I can’t.  I thought it was rather odd.  I hope that I can keep my composure during the meeting.  I’m not a huge fan of goodbyes.  I would have thought that we as a team would have gotten him a card or something but nope.  Glad I sent him a card on my own accord, it’s the right thing to do.  Our boss is so random when it comes to cards.  He used to send them out like they were Kleenex and now nothing, not even a Christmas card. 

Flipping through YouTube videos yesterday once things settled back down, I saw that James Van der Beek passed away.  Sad he was so young and fought quite the battle with colo rectal cancer.  Sounds quite unpleasant.  He was hot especially when he was younger but I never had a crush on him per se.  48 such a young age.  Hope he’s resting in peace. 

Had a muscle knot last night in my back that was bothering me.  I opted to break out the cupping set and made sure infrared was turned off.  It helped but Rudy became interested in this device that was on my back.  He sniffed and pawed at it then just watched it work it’s magic.  Eventually he got sleepy and drifted off while sitting next to me.  Of course I didn’t want to move but when my time was up I wanted that thing off my back so I had to wake him.

Slept okay for the most part just didn’t feel highly rested when I woke up and my body got me up at 5a but I tossed for an hour and eventually got up at 6a just to use the bathroom.  Rudy hated to see me climb back in bed because he was ready for breakfast.  However, I made him wait a little bit before I got going. 

Normally getting up early usually works to my advantage because there is some crisis at work that I didn’t know about and I need to take care of it or it unfolds just after I log on.  Thus far it’s peaceful and it’s been over an hour, hopefully that can be the theme for the day. 

I am all caught up and just twiddling my thumbs so I will probably go up and get logged in to be near the cats.  Maybe even try to take a nap.  Only real thing on the agenda today is to get the trash out. 

Hope all is warm and well in your neck of the woods.   

 

 

Man Candy - 10 out of 10

Cha-Ching

Morning!

Woke up to a nice surprise from the IRS.  My refund was deposited this morning.  I totally didn’t expect it that fast.  Now I’m only waiting on a state refund.  Since I had to mail that return I have to allow 10 weeks for them to get it and then who knows how long before processing.  However, I am hopeful that by this time next month I will have that money.  I’m certainly not banking on it though. 

Forgot about the pizza last night and totally focused on store bought Lasagna.  It was so good but very rich, I was only able to eat half of it.  Today I’ve got pizza for lunch and Lasagna for supper.  Not bad!  Just wish I had some Cheese Garlic Bread to go with it. 

Had Potato Soup with Cheese & Crackers yesterday for lunch.  I wasn’t really full but as soon as I was done work started hopping.  When things calmed down about an hour later I fetched some yogurt and sat on the couch.  Rudy was sleeping next to me and as soon as I sat down he woke up hearing me tear into the package.  He got a good sniff but no yogurt for him.  I just gently pushed him away and he folded like a cheap chair and went right back to sleep.  I was amazed that he gave up so easily and quickly too. 

We had a nice warm up yesterday and the snow is gone.  You still see a patch here or there but I can see my front yard again.  I’ve got to call a landscaper to come trim bushes and pickup stick from last year.  The guy I called last year, clearly isn’t coming.  He said he would and he’s known for being super late but I’m not giving him too much more time.  Looking at the calendar Spring will be here next month.  I’m not ready for it just because it means more sneezing, closer to grass cutting time. 

My colleague that is retiring on Friday called me yesterday to let me know that he got my card.  I mentioned it in an email I sent to him.  I’m guessing he has a mail slot or some place to check.  Whereas in my office if I get something they have always brought it to my desk, even before I had an actual office.  I just wanted to make sure that he got the card.  I honestly wish I was retiring too, the older I get and the longer I work the more I am ready to be done with it.  I realize that work and the cats are what’s keeping me going but honestly I think I would be okay with money flowing in and not actually having to deal with the BS of work.  Ah well I can dream.  Not looking forward to Friday when we get to say our goodbyes but it’s all part of the job.

Still watching Schitts Creek and the occasional You Tube video to throw in some variety.  Also still working a bit in the morning at my desk and then heading up and spending the bulk of the day upstairs hunched over my laptop and with the cats.  They seem to enjoy it and I like to see the sunshine.  It’s also nice to see them both sunbathe and nap by the window as they soak it all in.  We both seem to have our own set of routines.

One meeting on the books for today and who knows what else will roll in.  I’d like calm and drama free for the rest of the week.  Again I can dream, but that’s a bit closer to reality. 

Hope all is well in your world!

Not bad

Morning!

Yesterday morning did get a little hectic but I was able to head up at Rudy’s lunch time, which is 11a.  I got him fed and then my phone started with emails.  I had to get logged in upstairs and take care of a few things before I was able to enjoy my lunch. 

I had a Cup of Chili that I got from the store made by Panera.  I had my doubts but wow it was good.  It’s close to or better than Wendy’s which is saying something in my book.  I added Cheese and had Crackers.  Only thing I forgot was Sour Cream.  It was a tad on the spicy side but so very good.  I will be getting more of it. 

Settled in upstairs, the cats did their running after lunch and then settled down to enjoy the sunshine and take naps.  Meanwhile I watched TV and kept an eye on things at work. 

It wasn’t terribly busy but I did have some work to take care of.  Saw that a manager from out of town was visiting my office.  I’m a little scared that if he sticks around for a couple days that might out my little secret.  While I could have gone in today to potentially avoid that I opted to just keep it business as usual.  I can cover myself for a couple days or even this week with an excuse that will be plausible if it should come up.

Today is meeting day.  We have an onslaught of them in a few hours and I hope that the boss will just lump them all together and we can get them out of the way.  Then break for lunch and have one more meeting and be done with it for the day.  The less I have to hear his voice the better for me. 

Snow is melting here and Rain is in the forecast for Saturday.  Figures since I just washed my vehicle before putting it away on Sunday.  Rain always follows snow eventually to wash it all away.  Speaking of which I still am waiting for that bill from the guy who cleaned my driveway.  I’m giving him a bit more then I’m just going to send him a check for what I think it’s worth and if that’s not enough he can ask for more.  I just hate having this hanging over my head.  Maybe it’s free or he had no intentions of sending me a bill which would be nice but I am not making any assumptions.  However, you’d think he’d be a bit more aggressive about collecting, I know I would if someone owed me. 

Still watching Schitts Creek, TV right now is highly boring and there isn’t much on.  It’s like Winter break or something for TV.  Once the weather turns nice everything will be back on but people will want to be outside and not watching TV. 

Supper for me was left over pizza and I should be finishing it up tonight.  Then I will be left with frozen food and soup.  I won’t starve that’s for sure.  I took out some Brownies that I froze back in December.  Man they were fresh and good.  I’ve got plenty left and glad to know that they are keeping but I don’t want to leave all of them frozen for too long. 

That’s all I have at the moment, take care and thanks for stopping by!

Charlie

I made it for pizza and the place was very empty.  There were a ton of carry out orders.  Got the vehicle washed while I was out and then home with my left over pizza. 

By the time I got settled the Super Bowl had started by a half hour.  I got to see Charlie Puth sing the National Anthem.  I think he did a good job.  That was all I cared about Football related. 

I sat and watched Schitts Creek and looked at social media on my phone.  Mora snuggled up with me and got some attention.  Eventually they both asked for treats and I gave in.  I had left over Carrot Cake and then we came back to watch more Schitts Creek. 

I got woozy and really wanted a shower.  I told myself even if you don’t feel like it, do it anyway.  Well that feeling came and I said hell it can wait until tomorrow.  I was just tired and wanted to climb in bed. 

I really didn’t want to play with the cats before bed but Rudy begged with all of the salesman skills he had and I caved in.  Both cats enjoyed themselves.  Then we settled in for the night. 

Had more strange dreams but overall got a decent nights sleep.  Rudy kept watch over me all night long.  Mora kept watch outside my door, one of her many usual spots. 

Breakfast is done.  I got caught up at work.  The mistake maker called in sick.  I don’t feel the best but I am making it.  I’ve kind of held myself together with duct tape and bubble gum.  I know there is something percolating inside of me and I hope that it just goes away.  Downtime sounds nice but today I am not to the point where I want to call it. 

Peeking ahead the week doesn’t look that bad if I go by my calendar alone.  However, it’s the stuff that isn’t on my calendar that I have to prepare for.  Thus far it’s been calm, I hope that theme continues.  Maybe people are hung over or depressed from the Super bowl.  I just hope for a good week with no BS but I am sure that there will be some. 

Take care and I hope it’s a great day and week for you!

Reflection

Thinking about yesterday’s repairs I have done a little bit of research. Sounds like I am lucky that I didn’t have an accident or experience catastrophic failure of the steering system. I had a sign but didn’t know it. My car would pull to the left. If it pulls to one side that’s a sign from what I have read. I also learned that tie rods need lubrication. I’m certain by taking my car for service to my friends for service their mechanic didn’t lubricate anything. I’m thinking of switching car maintenance to the tire shop, they do all automotive work just their big seller is tires. Things would be more expensive but I’m thinking I might have more peace of mind, not to mention that I think my automobile would be better cared for.

I am on the fence and can’t decide when I want to get rid of this automobile. It has been good to me, and we have had some good times and some bad times. Lots of memories and I can tell you that there have been exactly five people that I have had as passengers thus far. Next year the car will be 10 years old. I’ve not held on to an automobile like this. Why is it so special you might ask? Well, something drew me to purchase it when I got rid of my lemon car. I knew I was taking a huge risk. I really couldn’t afford it, and I knew that but still bought it anyway. I said I’d make it work and I have, things just fell together and I did have to make some sacrifices. Most of the digits to unlock the door with the keypad (in case you don’t have your fob handy) make up the last 4 digits of my late spouses’ social security number. That was a sign to me, like this was meant to be.

Despite that the majority of what I call convenience tech (like remote start through an app, checking oil life remotely, and GPS tracking) no longer work because it came with a 3G modem, oddly make it more appealing to me. I liked all those features but honestly my life isn’t drastically different without them. It was nice when I drove to work every day to pull up an app on my phone and heat up or cool down the vehicle before I arrived. If I thought, I forgot to lock the door I could send a remote lock (or unlock if I needed to) signal. I like flying under the radar and not having to worry about a potential hacker taking over my car. I’m convinced back in the day when the modem was working that it was hacked. One day, I went out to go to work and couldn’t start it. I tried and tried but nothing. I had a tow truck on the way and had planned to haul it to the dealer but as luck would have it five minutes after I called for the tow truck, I tried to start it, and it worked. I took my chances and made it to work and when it was time to leave it started right up.

It’s really got everything that I have ever wanted or needed in a vehicle except for a heated steering wheel, that’s the only thing I would add.

I know that unlike any other vehicle I have ever had before the day I trade it, I will miss it greatly probably more than any other vehicle that I have owned. I also know that whatever I buy will have big tech in it and I will be tracked and possibly hacked. I’ve said every year since the Pandemic that this is the year I’m getting rid of it. I promised myself last year that this year would be the year. However, my fear is that whatever I buy will be junk and have lots of issues as well as recalls. Eventually I will just take the gamble and go for it. Just as it stands today, I don’t know when that day will come. I also like the fact the engine is well broken in, and I know how to get the best gas mileage out of it. It’s all about making sure the tires are inflated to the proper pressure and then turning on the cruise control when on the freeway, driving the speed limit. That’s the secret. People pass me like I’m standing still but I just think of the savings. I don’t always drive that way, and I do have a led foot. I love speed and this vehicle has a turbo so there is plenty of get up and go. I’ve done 120mph in it, that was back when I thought my mom was still alive and I was trying to make it to the hospital. Only to find out when I walked in the door that my efforts were in vain and she was gone. If I knew that up front, I would have taken my time and driven fast but not at super dangerous speeds. That was piss poor communication on my brothers now wife.

On a different note, I did call it a night early last night. My nose was bothering me, and I wound up taking a Benadryl along with a sleeping pill. I happily found that Schitts Creek is on HBO, which means no commercials. I love that show and I’m sure the only reason it’s there now because of the passing of Catherine O’Hara. She was a great actress. I started watching it and before I knew it after about 5 episodes I was out.

I woke up for a brief period during the early morning but quickly went back to sleep. I had strange dreams, but I felt like I had slept when it was time to get out of bed. I of course didn’t want to get up, and Rudy tried his early morning wake up call early and I told him he was too early. He just took a seat on my chest and laid down. We were both back to sleeping quickly. I think only one of us was happy about that and that I was the happy one. Once it was normal time, I got up and got moving.

I went to an old place where I used to eat breakfast regularly. It was time for a change of pace plus I had something specific I was craving. I got it and enjoyed it very much! Made it through the grocery store, stopped to fill up the gas tank and then back home to warm up and relax. I watched more Schitts Creek and took a nice nap with both cats in my bed. A nice Winter’s Day!

I’ve got a serious case of not wanting to do anything just because I have the strange feeling that this is going to be an overwhelming week and I will be super busy. It’s my chance to enjoy the calm before the storm. I got my chores done. Finishing up on some laundry and as soon as that dryer is done, I plan to change clothes and head for pizza. It is hours before the game, so I know I’m taking a big chance but it’s what I want. Then back home and I am done for the day; I plan to relax and of course watch more of Schitts Creek.

Hoping to have a nice relaxing evening, take a warm shower and fade into what I hope is a blissful and long deep sleep, only to be woken up by my furry alarm clock that is Rudy.

Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well in your world. Take care!

Expensive & Long Day

Woke up around my normal time, Rudy was pleased to see me as always and gave me his usual morning greeting. We made it to the kitchen where I got breakfast ready for him and his sister. Then I worked on getting my breakfast. I took a shower after that and then I got dressed. I had maybe 15 minutes to spare before it was time to leave. I spent that time giving attention to both cats.

Left and arrived at the haircut place on time. As usual despite having a set appointment I was taken late. I absolutely hate that if I show up 5 minutes late, they cancel the appointment (I only have done that one time). If they are late nothing is done.

Right after my haircut I knew I’d be super early, but I decided to hit up the tire shop. I thought the sooner I get there, the sooner I will get to be on my way. Boy, was I wrong about that! They took my vehicle 15 minutes after my set appointment; I wasn’t happy about that. After an hour I started to wonder what they were doing. A guy came out to tell me that they couldn’t do the alignment because a tie rod was broken. They could fix it and then could do the alignment. They told me they could do it today so I said might as well. I was kind of glad that I stopped in. I didn’t have any problems or notice any issues prior to stopping in. I spent 4 hours total there and the price went up $400. My appointment was set for 9a. I left a little after 1p.

The waiting room was freezing cold. The upper half of my body was nice and warm thanks to the sweater I wore. The lower half of my body was super cold. I got to see a hot guy that I really liked but I didn’t make any moves. About an hour before I left a guy that appeared to me to obviously be gay walked in. I wasn’t attracted to him but almost chatted with him. Sitting in silence for 4 hours with nothing to drink and really nothing to do was horribly boring. I didn’t plan on being held hostage for quite that long.

Once I got out of there, I headed for the post office. The theme for today’s mail was data breaches. I got to sign up for more credit monitoring – yippie, just what I wanted to do. After that I headed home for a bit.

The ride is smooth and much quieter than I had been used to. The steering seems a little loose to me, but I suppose I will adjust with time.

I made a trip to the office, had a package to put away. I was glad that I went over. However, I wished I would have taken a different way home. Out of nowhere I hit a decent-sized pothole. I was pissed, $200 for a 4-wheel alignment down the tubes. The vehicle took it and didn’t feel like anything was wrong, but it just made me angry. I’m sure things aren’t out of line.

I hit up Red Lobster on the way home, they had a decent wait time. Saw a hot busboy who if he would have made his way by me a second time, I planned on giving him a compliment on how good looking he was. Unfortunately, he never made his way by me. Service was poor but only because they were busy and I’m sure my waitress had a million tables. I had to wait longer than I wanted for a drink refill. The food was out quick given the circumstances. It wasn’t piping hot, but it was enjoyable. I was never so happy to be on my way home.

I am exhausted, been up since 6a. No nap and just on. I’m working on getting my bedding through the laundry. Once that is completed, I am tempted to call it a day. However, if I do that I would surely be up in a few hours with a bad case of insomnia. I will stay up as long as I can until hopefully it’s closer to normal bedtime. I have a feeling I will fall asleep rather quickly. I felt a bit better after I had supper but still, I am exhausted.

Tomorrow I just have my usual morning errands to run and then figure out what I want to eat for supper and where to get it. I’m already looking forward to a nap!

So not ready for next week. It’s my turn back on-call and extra laser focused. I thought about that when I was lounging on Thursday. This is the last week for my older colleague, he will retire on Friday the 13^th, of all days. The boss will be on-call when my week is done, which means everyone is on-call, because he can’t possibly do his job and pick up on-call through the day. He’s fine after hours just during the day he needs a hand. I am not planning on jumping and hogging the work, I very much plan to share the load and try to be relaxed. Going the extra mile and helping like I usually do is a path to burnout and the more I take, the more the fuck up I will be stuck with will let me take. I honestly don’t look forward to the boss being on call ever. I hope that we find a replacement sooner rather than later but I’m preparing myself for it to be 6 very long months. The boss thinks it will only be 3 months or less. I’ve been down this road before, and I know the wheels move very slowly and no one is in any hurry; that’s kind of why I figure I might not get in a hurry to take work.

For now, it’s just one day at a time and enjoying the rest of the weekend. Hope you are having a good weekend. If you’re a Football Fan and interested in The Super Bowl, I hope that your team wins.

Take care and stay warm!

Friday

Hello,

Hope your happy and doing well on this Fantastic Friday!  If your a football fan it’s Super Bowl weekend so you have the big game to look forward to on Sunday.  As for me, I’m not a football fan but I am recording the Super Bowl for one reason.  Charlie Puth is singing the National Anthem and I want to hear that. 

PRO TIP – If you grocery shop on Sunday and don’t need chips or any type of snack food, you can breeze through the store while the game is on.  The place will be next to empty.  Found this out years ago. 

Yesterday was a relaxing day for me.  I didn’t have much going on at work and just elected to stay up stairs all day long.  Logged in took care of a couple things and then headed back to bed.  Where in typical fashion as soon as I managed to fall asleep the phone kept waking me up.  I was pissed but eventually got up and sat next to the computer, that calmed down the rapid fire emails, all of which were spam to me.  With nothing to do the day lingered and seemed like it would never end but eventually it did. 

The cats enjoyed me sticking with them but I think they were wondering if I would ever disappear.  I did in fact for a brief moment disappear when I took the trash bin out to the curb.  Then right back inside. 

Had a frozen Mexican Dinner last night for supper.  It was on the spicy side for my pallet.  I cooled off with some carrot cake and an anti-acid pill. 

This morning things were a bit busier for me, I had some actual work to knock out and I got started super early.  So early the cats didn’t bother to get up after they had breakfast.  That’s highly unusual but I didn’t poke either one of them, just told them I would be up when I could. 

Got one meeting today in a little bit and then hopefully that should free me up for the rest of the day.  I have a few things on my calendar but it’s all stuff for me to take care of on my own, which is how I like it. 

Tomorrow is expensive rubber day or the day I get new tires.  I will also get my haircut.  I thought about venturing back to the BBQ place I went to 3 weeks ago but I’m on the fence about that.  It is a long way to drive for BBQ.  I’m more thinking about making a trip to the office.  I know that there is another package that should be landing on my desk soon.  Not sure if I want to stop at the Mexican place I usually hit up or visit some place else.  I’m sure I will sort it out though and won’t go hungry. 

I am enjoying the faster speed from my internet connection.  Files download in no time at all.  Funny thing is the cable company is advertising the same plan I have for new customers and it’s $5 cheaper.  They have to get that $5 back from me because for a year or more they gave me a $5 discount because I was enrolled in Auto Pay.  I think it’s nuts.  Just give your loyal customers the best price and they are apt to stay with you.  That’s how I’d run the business.  I think the same is true of the phone companies. 

Speaking of Phone Companies I marked on my calendar on my birthday to change my cell rate plan to the Senior Discount plan that AT&T is offering.  Well it was a good deal at $35.  However, now it’s $60 which is more than I am paying them now.  Looks like I won’t be making any changes that is unless the price happens to decrease closer to my birthday or even after my birthday.  AT&T has remarkable spam filtering that’s the only reason why I keep my account alive.  Otherwise, I’d switch because I hate them too.  I was watching an episode of All In The Family and Archie Bunker referred to AT&T as American Thieves & Thugs, I chuckled at that mostly because it’s true!

Well time to go check on the cats and relax for a little bit before my meeting.  Hope you have a swell day and a fantastic weekend.  Be safe and stay warm!

Man Candy - Enjoy :)