Technology & Guns

I’ve been thinking about a couple things that were news worthy items this week and wanted to share my two cents, not that it will change anything.

First – The kid who used ChatGPT to commit suicide. I heard on a tech podcast that this kid wasn’t the first person who consulted a computer regarding suicide and in fact this was the 3^rd case. Technology like anything can be weaponized and destructive or deadly. I get that some people don’t have anyone to talk to. Look at me I am pretty much all alone. I also get that folks might think that others won’t understand what they are dealing with. Suicide is a drastic thing and as I learned in therapy when I was much younger, it’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

We are all dealing with something. It might be work, school, sexuality, the death of a family member or friend, a sick pet or a pet that has passed, a traffic accident or ticket, some other legal issue and the list goes on. No matter what you are dealing with you are not alone there are help lines in every single country that you can call and talk with a human being. You can find resources for your country at https://www.suicidestop.com/call_a_hotline.html

I speak from experience from having wanted to commit suicide a couple times in my adult life and also in my teenage years. The worst times in my life were the death of my spouse and then when I lost Gator my long-time cat that had been with me for 18 years. Once she passed away that ignited former feelings of being all alone and it was kind of like my spouse died all over again. I honestly didn’t think that things would ever get better or see a clear path. All I wanted to do was die because it just didn’t seem to me that life mattered that much or that anyone would truly miss me if I was gone. I didn’t bottle things up; I took someone up on their offer that they would listen to me and I sought them out and opened right up telling my life story to them. It was hours of time we spent. I did a lot of crying. I also went to the pet store and looked at cats but that just made me cry. I managed to go a month without a cat and then I started looking that’s how I wound up with Rudy and Mora. They are my lifesavers, seriously. They are so attached to me and since I am their 3^rd owner I told them that this was their home and they are here to stay. I mean that is unless I drop dead or get killed in a car accident or some other hazard.

I’ve had some low points and at times even with these two cats’ life can be overwhelming and I have had some thoughts of calling life quits. Deep down I don’t want to die, I just want my circumstances to change so the pain would stop. I know how I felt back when Gator passed and then nothing mattered. That was the closest that I came to actually going through with it. I had a lot of people scared even my own doctor. With some of the things I told him he should have had me locked up for my own well being but he trusted me when I told him that I wouldn’t do anything. How many people say that and then the next thing you know they are gone?

I’ve said all of that to say this. Reach out for help to solve your problems, talking honestly deep down feels really good especially when you’re talking to the right person that you can trust.

A former friend of mine told me think about what if you try something and you wind up hurting yourself and you live and don’t die but are handicapped or permanently injured. Also think about whom ever would find your body, that’s something that they will never be able to unsee. Regardless if it’s a seasoned professional like a police officer or fire fighter. They are human. It’s much worse if that person is a family member or friend.

I do think that ChatGPT and other AI chat bots should have restrictions placed on them so they don’t discuss mental health issues and/or assist with how to form a plan to end your life. I think that should have been obvious from the day AI started but obviously it was overlooked.

Second - The shooting at the Catholic School in Minnesota. I looked using AI for what country school shootings occur in. I was surprised to find that the US is not the only place but sadly we are the leading country where this happens. It’s to the point where it’s at epidemic levels.

I know that the 2^nd amendment gives the rights to bear arms and you have the right to defend yourself if you are being attacked or in imminent danger. It’s odd that each time this happens all we do is send thoughts and prayers. Well, those don’t do a whole lot to solve this problem that is continuing to occur. One child shot is one too many and this is something that never should have occurred.

I do think there should be stronger gun laws, I do think that all firearm owners should be responsible and lock/secure their weapons from children or those that might have mental health issues. I think that perhaps raising the cost of ammo would also be another action that could be taken. Look the world is filled with a bunch of intelligent people and brilliant minds, surely if we had some dialog and discussions on this a plan could be formulated that would solve this issue once and for all.

However, it’s not until the problem affects you or someone you know that people really focus much attention on this issue. These are innocent children who are trying to get an education and they are not out to harm anyone. I think it’s wrong to steal a child’s innocence regardless of how it’s done. Because once they are robbed of that it’s something they will never ever get back and it will stick with them through out their lives.

I grew up Catholic and started off in Catholic grade school. We had to go to mass every day we were at school. We said the pledge of allegiance to start the day. It was all very much a routine but times were way different and we had no school shootings then. We also had no technology then. However, we did have firearms but they were reserved mostly for hunters and those that wanted self-protection. Sure, we had criminals who had them to rob and steal. I also went to public grade school from 5^th grade forward and then on to public high school.

Kids can be cruel there is no doubt about it. I can think of a few kids that I grew up with that I wished I had never met. We were all free though in that we went to school each day and there was no worry or concern that someone would come in guns blazing. Being a kid today is radically different from when I grew up and honestly if I was a kid today, I would be scared out of my mind. I can’t imagine having to walk through a metal detector and using a swipe card to gain access to school. I can’t imagine hearing gun shots while I was trying to learn and then having to take cover. What if I was just walking to or from a class and was in the wrong place at the wrong time? My childhood wasn’t perfect but no way would I trade my school experience for what exists today.

I think that this problem is going to continue and it’s going to get much, much, much worse before it ever gets better. It won’t be until someone important like a politician’s kid gets injured or killed before things change in the US. There is never a time where I’d love to be proven wrong than now and from today forward never ever hear about another school shooting for as long as I live.

I can’t imagine being a parent to get the call that their child was injured or killed while at school. I feel sad for the kids as well as the parents.

Please someone find a way to solve this problem and the sooner the better before another life is lost.

Done with Friday

Good evening,

Wow, Friday is finally done. It’s been a crazy hair on fire busy kind of day! I started off calm, cool and collective. That got interrupted with a bunch of what should have been common sense issues. Stupidity makes my blood boil. Then things just went from 0 to 120 in a matter of seconds.

Good thing I was working early or I wouldn’t have been able to make as much progress with the project I was working on. Yeah, I said was because it’s finally done.

The cluster project just got off to a start and the 2^nd wave hit today with the mistake maker and my boss taking over. It’s going to be a lot of work so hopefully it all comes together, I know I will get an update when I return.

I’ve got a jackass user who is leaving. He demanded some data that folks usually take with them when they leave. I got to be the one who broke the news to HR and his manager that he was leaving. I got his data to him in a speedy fashion which he demanded. Then after I sent it to him, he said he made changes so I had to re-export it all over and send it off again. I wasn’t happy about it but the work got done. I always work with people to find a mutually agreeable time to turn their access off and this guy just to be an ass said let’s make it midnight Sunday. I was fine with that. Not sure that I will be up at that hour but his account is set to expire at the end of the day on Saturday so it really doesn’t matter if I am awake or not. I will process it if I am awake at that time and if not well, I will get to it Sunday morning after I return from breakfast and the grocery store. I don’t know why he couldn’t have given me a normal time frame like other people do.

Speaking of work, we have Microsoft 365 at work and I really love the ability to have emails and other documents read to you by the computer. It lets you know how what you are saying or is being said sounds. It reads it in a much more human and realistic voice than the 2021 version of the Microsoft Suite that I have at home. I know Microsoft wants my money and wants me to subscribe to their software but I am resisting for as long as possible. Sell me the software and don’t make me subscribe to it. However, the subscription model is already set and working for Microsoft and so many other companies that are in the software business.

I had a lousy night’s sleep with some crazy ass dreams. I remember when I woke up one of the times I thought to myself maybe I should go back to therapy. It’s strange what the subconscious causes you to dream about. I wish that I could control my dreams so that they were only enjoyable and pleasant instead of the rollercoaster from hell that I seem to be on.

The cats are doing a great job of keeping me company and Rudy last night demanded that I play with him before I went to retire to my room for the night. He starts off all excited and was really into it but his interest was fleeting and I moved on to playing with his sister. She never wants to stop and always goes at things 90 mph. She loves to chew on anything that she can fit into her mouth. It’s almost as if she is teething. Rudy gets that way sometimes too.

On a different note, I am a little concerned about Rudy that he has something neurological going on. For months now he will stare into space at different periods of time. This morning, he wanted a drink of water and just looked at the fountain. I had to grab his attention and tell him to get a drink. Then he walked over and drank up. He’s full of energy and for the most part acting normal. It’s just this staring into space thing is a bit concerning to me. I know that eventually both of them will be meeting the vet but I am trying like hell to stay away from that place because once you walk in the door it’s as if you’re on a treadmill and they siphon all of your money into their hands. I’m giving some consideration to making an appointment for Rudy this coming week. I want to talk with my friends first to get their take and see if perhaps I am overreacting. Mora might stare into space once and a while but it’s not noticeable to me like it is with her brother.

I worked on my back last night with the massager that I have and really dug in to try to bust up that knot. It really hurt and I went at it full force. That knots still with me and feels like it got bigger today with all of the keyboarding I did. Here’s hoping that I will get some away time from the computer. I know that I will be in front of it next week despite being on vacation but I don’t plan on doing anything work related. It will be all personal and a lot of goofing off.

Well I’m going to get this published. Hope your Friday was a good one and that all is well. Have a great weekend and if your in the US enjoy the extended holiday weekend.

Take care, be kind to each other and I will talk with you again soon.

The tip is gone

Good afternoon,

Today has been quite busier than a normal Thursday. The morning was calm but I was busy working on a project. I got interrupted a few times but for the most part was able to concentrate my efforts. I planned to pick up and hopefully finish that project today after lunch. Well, that's when things got really crazy busy out of the blue. I wasn't able to devote any additional time to the project and my part has to be done tomorrow or at the latest before Monday. I really don't plan to work the weekend so I am going to try to finish up tomorrow. I had a usual touch point conversation with my boss; we both complained to each other about our day. It was the usual waste of time.

The cluster project is still on going and I really thought that this week at some point the second wave for me/my team would be ready but thus far that's not the case. I can only hope that it holds off for one more day because I've got a lot on my plate to get done and limited time.

Last night I had Stouffer's Lasagna, which isn't bad for microwave food, all things considered. Watched a podcast and more YouTube.

Rudy was itching to play before bed and I picked up one of the old cat teasers (back from Momma's family) we had been playing with it since it's all feathers. That's when I discovered one of them (most likely Mora) chewed off the rubber tip at the end. I'm certain that it was small enough that which ever one of these cats did it that they swallowed it. I figured that would be impending doom and I worried but played with Rudy.

Slept crappy woke up at 3a and had to watch TV in order to fall back asleep. The cats kept me company.

Passed out breakfast and Rudy was all about it. Mora was very slow to get out of bed. I had to call her several times to eat. Just as I was about to get up, she came around the corner. I saw her eat and that's when that feeling of impending doom left me. Both cats are eating, drinking and going to the bathroom – so all is well.

I've got the trash out, even if I was later than I wanted to be. Fed the cats supper and now Mora is next to me waiting for treats but were hours from that time. I need to figure out what I am going to eat.

I'm just passing time and watching things at work, hoping that I am done for the day. My left shoulder is killing me, there is a knot in the back and I would love nothing more than to rip it out but that's not happening. No massage scheduled until the end of next week. Hopefully, I can work it out a little bit and get some relief.

Hope that you had a superb day! Talk with you all again soon.

Whirlwind

Hey – I managed to tame my inbox and get caught up.  It took me most of the morning to get things under control.  There is a lot going on.  The cluster project is still going on and it’s turning into a cluster they are way behind schedule and things aren’t going nearly as smooth as was the plan.  I think this will linger on into next week while I am gone. 

I had a lousy nights sleep which was mostly due to nerves.  Something about going back after being out a couple days causes me to not sleep well.  Now that I am back and have had no naps I suspect that I will sleep good tonight or so I hope. 

There is plenty of work to tide me the next two days.  I am still not done with today but in my mind the day is pretty well over with. 

Had lunch and both cats started fighting.  Rudy was chasing his sister.  I got them to calm down and I was able to enjoy a 1/2 sandwich and a donut while I watched a couple of You Tube videos. 

Lunch was over way quicker than I wanted.  It’s nice out with some cooler temps and the AC hasn’t yet kicked on but I know that it probably will since things heat up a bit in the afternoon. 

I feel fine for the most part, I think it was allergies that got me.  Inhaling all of that pollen while I was trimming the weeds combined with a temperature change.  I have a slight cough at times but otherwise all is well. 

Glad that things are back to normal or close to it.  I also hate that I just got caught up and will be out next week so I will have to do it all over again. 

Thought I’d take a moment to post this before I head up for the afternoon to be with the cats and keep an eye on things at work.  Hope all is well in your world.  Take care!

Did you miss me?

I just published a post that I drafted over the weekend.  Turns out that Monday morning when I woke up I felt horrible.  I wasn’t sure if it was allergies or if I was actually sick.  Plus my twitching/shaking was still present.  I elected to take the day off, not what I really wanted to do but it was in my best interest. 

I took a muscle relaxer along with my normal morning meds.  Had breakfast and fed the cats.  Then watched TV until the magic of the muscle relaxer did it’s job and knocked me out. 

The cats never left my side as I proceeded to sleep the day away.  I got up to pass out lunch for them.  I felt better but still highly groggy.  I wound up going back to sleep. 

I was up for supper, had the Chipped Beef I spoke about.  It was pretty good. 

To help ensure a good nights sleep I took some Benadryl and slept pretty good but not solid through the night.  I wound up taking today (Tuesday) off. 

Cats got fed first as usual, then I had some cereal and powered up my phone to let my team know I wouldn’t be in today.  Then I went back to sleep for a couple hours and woke up. 

I’ve managed to stay awake all day long and watched free movies on You Tube the afternoon went by and Rudy pushed for an early supper.  I gave in and I had my left over BBQ, which was pretty good. 

I can already tell you that my work mailbox looks like a bomb went off I have tons of mail to sift through.  There is also plenty of work to be done.  I do plan on returning tomorrow and knocking out the next 3 days before I go on vacation.  Hopefully, my body cooperates and I feel decent. 

Right now I think that this was just allergies that had me feeling bad but I am coughing a little bit.  Weather here has changed and it’s much cooler.  Temperature swings always affect me and I usually wind up getting sick.

I am only guessing by what I have seen but I am counting on not having time tomorrow to post much less do anything other than work.  Not looking forward to it but the sooner I go back the better off I will be. 

Hope your doing well. 

Weekend catchup

Greetings!

It’s been quite a weekend full of fun and money spent. All in all, I enjoyed myself and the break from work, shame it’s not a longer break but I’m so close to vacation that I can taste it.

Friday by dumb luck I found a couple of gay porn blogs that show photos from studios that I can save. I used to do this with Banana Guide before they went out of business. I use the photos as my wallpaper on my main computer and have it set to a slide show so I never know what photo is going to pop up next. It’s amazing how more often than not I will get two photos that have the same guy in them but from different scenes or studios. In addition to that I found a porn tube site that I was able to download a lot of both OF and Studio porn from for free. I’ve got more porn that I have time to watch it but hey some day there will probably be a porn drought and if/when that occurs, I will be prepared.

My friends confirmed the time were getting together on my birthday and we worked out the details about transportation. The place we are eating at is closer to me than them. They wanted to know if I wanted to drive to their place and then we could all arrive at once. They are older and riding with them your kind of taking a bigger risk. Their vehicle is seriously old and they are comfortable with a touch of AC so I’d be sweating to death. They also always run seriously behind by anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. I’m positive that I will arrive first and be waiting on them. Honestly it would make more sense if they drove to my place and then I drove. They don’t like riding with me; my driving scares them. My reflexes are better than theirs and I do drive a bit faster. At any rate I am so looking forward to getting together with them. I’ve wanted them to try this place for a while now and thought that this would be the perfect occasion. Here’s hoping that things go well when the day comes to meet up. This will not be an inexpensive meal but it will be worth every penny.

Saturday, I lounged around for a while. I had some breakfast and Rudy let me sleep in an extra hour. I took some extra medicine and man it worked like a charm for the most part. I was really surprised that Rudy permitted me to sleep in. He did his normal wake up call but I just told him 5 more minutes or not now. He waited patiently but once I woke up, he just wanted to snuggle. That’s unusual but I let him and we had a nice time for a few minutes. That is until my bladder called and I had to get up. At lunch time I gave up on watching TV and loafing. I moved to start gathering porn photos. After a couple hours of that I was bushed and needed a nap.

I went to bed and turned on a podcast and closed my eyes. Rudy was laying next to me and I was out like a light. 30 minutes later I woke up and that’s when I opted to get a shower and get moving.

I drove to the buffet. Something about this felt so very right. It was an enjoyable trip and I only took 2 wrong turns which GPS was quick to correct me. The place was packed, more so than I have ever seen it. The food on the buffet was delicious. I got a bunch of fried chicken all legs (my favorite), some BBQ pork, Mashed potatoes (they tasted funny) and some corn. I made a few trips and then just opted to call it quits. I had my eye on the board for dessert. Chocolate Cake was calling my name but I just paid my bill and got on my way. People were still pouring in as I left.

I got great gas mileage for driving an SUV, 30 MPG. Each time I get some exceptional mileage I document it by taking a photo so I have proof. Honestly the longer drives are better and they produce the best MPG’s. The drive got the car dirty.

I was supposed to visit the pet store to get a cat teaser but despite wanting to go both Saturday and Sunday, I never made it. Saturday, I said I’ll go tomorrow. Sunday well I was too worn out.

On the way home I grabbed the mail which had my car insurance bill and also my escrow reconciliation statement for my mortgage. Car insurance went down but the mortgage payment is going up. Paid bills when I got home and of course surfed for porn.

Turned in around normal time as I carried the laundry upstairs. Mora was glued to her chair in the basement and didn’t move. Rudy kept me company once I got upstairs and we put the laundry away together. Just as I was finished Mora showed up so I closed up the basement and then went on with my routine to brush my teeth and get the dishes started.

We watched TV and I got to bed at a decent hour.

Sunday, made it for breakfast and things are back to normal. Got my normal waitress. The college kid they have helping out also came back and I saw him this morning. He’s so cute I really want to make a move but am afraid of not only getting turned down but embarrassment to the point that I wouldn’t want to go back there, so I just keep eyeing him up and not saying anything.

Made a Target run and I was a little upset that I had to check myself out. I didn’t’ get anything much just some cat treats and soda. I walked the store though for the exercise. I also park far away for the same benefit.

Next stop the grocery store. Found some Churro Donuts and let me tell you they are good. Got a classic in store for a meal this week. Creamed Chipped Beef. I used to get this as a kid. Have it on toast, it is really good. Once again, I forgot to pick up a frozen pizza to keep on hand.

Next stop the home improvement store. Yeah, so those weeds I talked about last week, Roundup did nothing for them or anything else that I sprayed with it. I bought a battery-operated weed trimmer that was on sale. With tax it was $170. I kind of feel like deducting that from the next bill I get for grass mowing. However, I won’t. I fought a little bit to get it assembled. The cats were both quite interested in what new thing I brought home. Charged up the battery which didn’t take but an hour. It had some charge on it already.

Found that Rudy got sick while I was away so yet another mess to clean up. Today wasn’t exactly my day.

After trying to take a nap and failing I got up and went weed trimming. It’s a nice tool but I cussed the entire time. I only trimmed them because they were seriously tall and had been forgotten for several weeks. My fear was trouble with the city and having had that happen once already I just didn’t want to leave it to chance and hope that come Tuesday the lawn people would do their job correctly. Now the job is done, my allergies flared up. Worst of all I got the shakes, which is why I stopped maintaining my lawn myself. Holding the trimmer for some reason stresses out my upper back muscles and then it takes a full night of sleep before things calm down. I fought to drink a soda and eat a donut when I came back in. I looked like I was having a seizure but I didn’t spill or drop anything. Try eating out and having that happen it’s embarrassing and people stare as if I am putting on a show.

I rested for a little bit but then quickly got back to work with the carpet cleaner and getting Rudy’s mess cleaned up, that only made my shakes worse. After knocking that task out I cleaned the kitchen sink and then cleaned the cats water fountain. Finally did some light house cleaning and elected not to vacuum this week.

Made it to the basement to enter the money I spent and cuss some more about the weed trimmer I bought. Then went porn surfing. Mora came down and I had to give her plenty of attention. She jumps up in my lap, then I pick her up and flip her on her back. I rub her belly and she makes biscuits in the air and spreads her front claws really wide. I’d love to capture a picture of that but it would take another person to be here. She purrs the entire time and just soaks it all up. Then I flip her back on her feet and she either leaves or sticks around for ear rubs. Once you start messing with either of the cats’ ears it takes forever for them to leave, they just enjoy it so much and just don’t want you to ever stop. Mora would leave for a bit, let me be and then come back to check on me and get some more attention.

I was mostly passing time until it was time to head out for supper. Something came in from work and while I wasn’t on-call I knew that it needed immediate attention so I jumped on and took care of it since I knew my mistake making co-worker who is on-call wouldn’t. If I would have let it sit then it would have been a hot potato to deal with in the morning.

I went out for BBQ and got an order to go so that I could have the same thing again at home one night during the week. I will probably not let it sit and eat it tomorrow night but we shall see. Before returning home I hit up the car wash. Wow a nice twink was working the wash and he had a fine ass on him. Shame I didn’t think of it in time to snap a photo. I was listening to Dixon Dallas who sings about gay sex and I was already super horny.

Dried off the vehicle and put the to go order in the fridge and then finally was able to shed my clothes. Watched a little TV. Surfed social media. Then opted to take a break and put together this post. It’s still early but I am ready for bed.

Not looking forward to this week. The cluster project is still going on and this is the final touches week, it’s going to be busy. Plus being on-call I am wishing I would have taken this week off. However, I am comforting myself by reminding myself that after this week I will be on vacation for a week and can relax and enjoy the week. Time off on vacation goes by way faster than if you’re working. However, I still have plenty of time left to take and there will still be 4 months left to fit that in.

Here's hoping the week isn’t nearly as bad and as much of a nightmare and cluster that I think it’s going to be. I hope your week ahead is great also. Thanks for stopping by.

Thirsty Thursday

Good morning!  Life is moving along with the week.  Here we are at Friday eve already and feels like just yesterday it was Monday. 

Last night I was brushing my teeth and heard this noise, I had seen Rudy got on the Cat Treadmill and was scratching it, that was just a precursor to tell me that he was ready to play.  Well that noise I heard was Rudy actually using the treadmill.  I peeked around the corner and he was staring right at me, he knew it would get my attention.  Apparently he knows how it works.  Not sure if he’s a fan of it or just doesn’t want me to know that he knows how to use it.  It made me happy but by in large I still think that it was money wasted.  Both cats still play with the box it came in way more than they give the treadmill any actual attention.  So glad I didn’t spend hundreds of dollars on that contraption.  I got my usual wake up call from Rudy this morning and he gave me a love bite on the chin again but not before trying to wash my face.  ICK a cat bath, I don’t mind a lick to my arms or on my forehead but not a fan of a cat or dog licking my face.

The other night Mora tore up the cat teaser.  It was relatively brand new and with just a couple swipes she wrecked it with her claws pulling out several strands of the ribbon.  Rudy likes to hear the ribbon whipping through the air so he can try to jump and catch it, he’s pretty good.  Now I need to head back to the pet store for another one.  I did some Amazon looking but nothing there struck my fancy. 

The fuck up ferry visited me again at work.  My mistake making colleague make a change to one system for someone but didn’t bother to update all of the other systems, so I got called out for a mistake that he made.  I just sucked it up and fixed it.  I really want to gave a go at his nuts, just one swift kick and I think I’d feel better.  I can’t believe he’s that lazy or forgetful, I think that he doesn’t apply himself enough and that he also smokes way too much pot.  To the point that it has cooked way too many of his brain cells.  He came back after his leave and appeared to be on top of his game but that was short lived and now were back to normal so I anticipate that there will be more messes like this, joy just what I needed.  To say that he owes me a lot is quite an understatement but the best gift he could ever give to me (provided he wanted to) would be to get his act together.  I don’t expect that I will ever collect on what he owes me but I suppose stranger things have happened. 

It’s one of those mornings again where I have a lot of time on my hands.  Lunch time will bring a meeting and a little bit of work but then my day is essentially done unless something comes up.  The whole wait and see approach makes for a long day but I’d rather have that than be pulling my hair out.  This is my last week of relaxation before I go on-call next week, which I am not looking forward to.  I am trying to enjoy the downtime while it lasts. 

Finished off the pizza last night.  Wow that thing lasted way longer than I wanted it to but it was still good.  Tonight will be a Mexican Beef Burrito, store prepared.  Not sure if I want to chop it in half and make two meals out of it or just enjoy the whole thing in one sitting. 

Well I think it’s time to escape the computer while I can.  I know it’s only an invitation for chaos to start and my phone to blow up but that might not happen either.  Hope that your having a good day.

Midweek

Hey we made it to the half way point of the week.  It’s moving pretty fast for me.  This morning I heard an advertisement for a Christmas Concert in November and then next thing I know there was a story on the news about Snow removal.  Were only in August.  I thought Pumpkin Spice season started early.  I know that by in large the world things that Summer is done but it’s actually still alive for a little bit longer, fall doesn’t start until September 22nd which is a month away. 

Saying that I heard that our temperatures will be dropping into the 50’s overnight in the next day or so.  However, it’s still going to be warm out during the day and feel very much like summer time. 

Back to school seems to usher on Fall, Thanksgiving & Christmas and before you know it the year is done and were starting all over again.  I know that time doesn’t stand still for anyone but damn it could slow down a little bit. 

Things here are moving right along.  Two weeks and my birthday will be here along with some much needed vacation.  I crunched the numbers yesterday and if my calculations are correct I still have roughly 2 weeks of vacation to burn.  I want to see that materialize before I go burning time that I had planned on saving.  I like to keep 2 weeks in reserve just in case something happens and I need it. 

Last year I said that on my birthday next year (this year) I’d buy a new vehicle but mine is doing fine and only dropping in value.  I don’t honestly need a new vehicle but the temptation is sure there.  I think I am going to stay put with what I have, keep saving money and hope that all goes well to make it another year.  Truth be told I will probably drive this until the wheels fall off or something goes seriously wrong that there is no trade in value.  I just feel so connected to this vehicle & I bought it not having any idea of how or if I would be able to pay it off and I manage to pull that off.  I suppose if I start driving more that I would be more apt to give in and get something new but right now staying put seems like the best thing to do. 

Speaking of cars I watched a video last night on Waldo’s World (You Tube Channel) about Range Rovers.  Waldo is a hunky and attractive guy to me but he’s also got a lot of knowledge.  Videos have a way of making everything seem simple.  Anyway this video was about the cost of ownership.  I already knew if you owned a Range Rover or Land Rover you need a 2nd car on standby because they are not reliable but they seem comfy and fun to drive when they are actually functioning correctly.  I’d never buy one because I don’t have that kind of money but the video was fun.

Yesterday I went down the porn rabbit hole and found a free site that had a lot of interesting content.  Between work and surfing in my free time I spent way more time in front of the computer than I wanted to.  However, I had a fun night. 

Cats are doing well.  I’m eating pretty good.  Tried a Starkist Tuna Fish lunch kit.  It’s a box you pick up for $2.35 and it’s got everything you need to make your own tuna fish and crackers.  Kind of neat.  I threw it in the fridge even though it doesn’t require refrigeration until you open it, that made it taste better.  Rudy tried to fight me for the Tuna when I cracked it open.  His little nose smelled it and wanted some but I didn’t give in.  Maybe some day I will but I seriously doubt it.  Once you start that you will forever be chasing your tail, so to speak. 

Today is meeting day and the cluster project thus far is still moving right along.  I figure that towards the end of this week or the start of next is when things will become an issue but we shall see. 

Right now I’ve got a bunch of time on my hands and I plan to enjoy it while that time remains mine but if work beckons I shall answer.  Hope all is well in your world. 

That’s not Diet Soda

Sunday afternoon went on just fine.  I made it to the Mexican place, service sucked a little bit because they were slow to take my order.  When the waiter finally came over I told him everything I wanted.  He took his sweet time bringing me my Diet Soda which turned out to be regular soda.  This is the second time that has happened here.  The food was delicious as always and I did enjoy it.  They plated it a little differently which was a surprise and from the time the order gets to the kitchen to when it arrives at your table is super quick.  I didn’t drink much soda because regular soda actually makes me ill.  I can’t handle all of that sugar.  I know I could have said something but just opted not to, kind of eat and get back home. 

The trip home had a bunch of tire treads in the highway and a bunch of broken down vehicles.  They just kept coming the closer I got to home.  It was a super hot day out and I know that most people really don’t take care of their tires like they should.  I’m pretty anal about it and once a month check to make sure the pressure is set properly and I check it in the morning before doing any traveling.  That’s the best way to get an accurate measurement.  Not to say that I won’t ever blow a tire or have problems but I think that the odds are unlikely.  Tires are not cheap and having bought several over the years I learned the hard way about alignment, pressure, rotation and balancing.  It all plays a part into making sure you get the most out of your tires. 

I was back home way faster than I thought I would be.  I had passed out supper for the cats before I left because Rudy was doing his biscuit dance.  They enjoyed it.  We got to spend some time together before I gave in for treats.  I nursed on a bottle of cold water and that helped to flush the sugar out of my system. 

I woke up this morning feeling fine.  I’ve already taken a break and had a nap just because there isn’t anything going on for me at work.  I did get a call from my boss and had to check on something but otherwise I am totally free for the day.  I am keeping a watchful eye on email and if something crops up I will certainly jump in. 

It’s about lunch time and the fridge is full between what I picked up at the grocery store yesterday and the left over pizza from Saturday.  I will be eating pretty good this week.  This is the first week that I was able to find Chocolate Cake at the Grocery Store, they only had 2 pieces I am proud to say I bought them both.  I look so forward to getting some cake this week and sadly that’s not euphemism but I will enjoy it never the less. 

Time to gobble some lunch and waste away the afternoon.  Hope that your all having a good Monday. 

Pizza & Eye Candy Time

Happy weekend, hope all is well.  It’s super hot here and not a whole lot of fun to be outside unless it’s for short periods of time.  Yesterday I loafed for the morning.  I didn’t get that good of a nights sleep and kind of knew what my future would be, which is okay. 

I had fun napping a little bit but mostly awake and watching TV.  A great old movie came across my YouTube feed called The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.  It’s a western movie but had some slapstick comedy with Don Knots and Tim Conway.  I’m not one for western movies at all but this one just pulled me in.  I watched half of it before I had to get going and finished it when I retired for the evening.  It was very enjoyable and I got a couple laughs. 

I ventured out for cat food.  The pet food store now seems to have an issue with the wet food hairball formula that I feed the cats, it’s not in stock.  I had issues last time as well but at least they had a few cans in a couple different variety's.  This time nope nothing at all.  I was thankful they had Duck that’s one of their favorites and it’s for Sensitive Stomachs.  Gator liked it and it took me a little bit to get these two hip to it but now when it comes out they gobble it up quickly.  Long story short I got food just not what I had planned on, so the cats won’t go hungry. 

After that I returned to the car and as soon as I sat down I felt it, my blood sugar was tanking.  That hasn’t happened to me in a long time.  It’s quite uncommon with the medicine I am on now but not out of the realm of possibilities.  I had some gum in the car show I popped a piece of that in and headed for pizza.  It was a difficult ride but I made it. 

The place was packed and it was much later on Saturday so kind of expected.  I got to see some hot guys.  I wanted to get some food fast so I asked for a small side salad.  They brought me this giant bowl of greens that was lightly dipped in Ranch dressing.  I forgot the rule not to order salad here but got my reminder.  This was horrible and I didn’t eat much of it.  My waiter used to be what I call a food runner, they just deliver food.  I got to know his name and he took okay care of me, he got swamped.  He’s a bit young but damn I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.  He’s legal enough because he serves alcohol and you have to be of legal age to do that here.  I didn’t hit on him.  I saw the blond hunk of a guy that caught my eye last time but he just came out to get a drink.  I stared at him hard and I’m sure that got some peoples attention. 

I was about half way through my meal when 3 guys walked in.  A couple of them were okay but one for sure wasn’t my type.  Anyway, one of them got up after a few minutes and grabbed his phone.  He started wondering around I knew he was looking for the bathroom.  A friend of his got up and they both went to the bathroom.  I couldn’t help but think they were filming an Only Fans scene.  I’ve never been to the bathroom at this place, I kind of steer clear of public bathrooms unless it’s a necessity.  I really wanted to walk in though thinking that I would have seen a show.  They never came back out before I left, so they were up to something.  I don’t know about you but I don’t keep my phone in my hand when I am walking into the bathroom.  I know some people like to multi-task and use the restroom and surf or even talk on the phone.  I go in for one task only and if my phone goes off it has to wait until I am out of the bathroom.  There isn’t anything that is that important, I mean we all need some alone time.

I grabbed the mail on the way home.  Spent time catching up on finances, doing laundry, passing out attention, food & treats to the cats.  Surfing for porn and resolving a computer issue.  Got the dishes going and then I turned in for the night finishing that movie I spoke about before. 

This morning was back to normal or so I thought.  My usual waitress wasn’t there.  However, I changed up my order slightly and got Blueberry French Toast & Eggs.  It was really good.  Made it to the grocery store.  I was supposed to stop at Target but just wasn’t in the mood.  Hit up the gas station on the way home and then back home to unload. 

I was surprised to see Pumpkin Spice Krispy Kreme donuts out so early.  I couldn’t pass them up and brought 6 of them home with me.  I had two of them for lunch.  Wow, once that sugar rush wears off I am going to tank.  However, I was able to clean the house and put out my meds.  Working on more laundry and just playing on the computer. 

I don’t plan to stick around in front of this machine too long considering that I will spend more time in front of it next week.  I am planning on heading out for supper getting Mexican food.  Then I will be done for the day. 

It did sprinkle a little bit yesterday when I was out but I managed to avoid any real rain.  Thus I haven’t been back to the car wash.  Might stroll through there on the way home from supper.  The car looks so much better and brighter with regular car washes.  That became apparent to me yesterday. 

Here’s hoping for a great rest of the day and to enjoying some good food.  Talk with you all again soon. 

Friday already

Hi and welcome in.  Wow, it’s Friday again!  Not sure why but it really seems like this week flew by on fast-forward.  I’m glad that it’s Friday, there is not much going on and I’ve been coasting ever since I knocked out my morning tasks.

I watched a webinar about some benefits stuff and then packed up and headed upstairs.  Watched some YouTube and wound up taking a nap. 

Rudy was extra early this morning with his wake up call, 2 hours early and there was no way I was getting up.  He followed me with anticipation to the bathroom and I told him I was going back to bed.  He joined me and stayed on top of me to make sure I didn’t disappear.  Now that would be a neat trick if I could pull it off.  I never even knew the trash truck came this morning.  My sleep wasn’t the best but I didn’t feel hung over when I woke up. 

We had lunch and I watched some more TV.  Went out to fetch the trash can and then came back to check in at work.  Still all quiet and I’m fine with that.  Moved on to surfing for porn and browsing blogs.

Having left over Potato Casserole tonight.  It was pretty good last night I didn’t do the Doritos Taco add in that I had done.  I just stuck with some Hot Sauce and a little Sour Cream. 

Were back in a heat wave here and it’s going on for a few days.  I honestly have no plans for tomorrow other than getting cat food, mail and finding something to eat.  Not sure what exactly I want but I know I won’t go hungry. 

I am heading back up after I post this.  I will keep an eye on work from my laptop and watch some TV.  Not a bad way to spend a hot Friday afternoon if you ask me. 

Have a great weekend and take care!

Interrupted connection

Good afternoon, today hasn’t gone like I thought it would.  I was up and working away in the middle of a task when poof, there goes the internet.  I fought for 15 minutes to try to get my desktop and phone to pair up so I could get back on-line.  It was no use it wasn’t happening.  I had to run upstairs and grab my laptop.  I got back on-line and finished up my task.  Then when the dust settled I went backup stairs with my laptop and phone.  I hung out in my room keeping an eye on email and watching TV. 

Eventually a note came in from the cable company telling me there was an outage in my area.  Really, do tell.  I’m not exactly sure what is going on but my connection has been far less reliable than what I am used to.  Today’s issue was blamed on a power outage.  There are no automatic bill credits given for interrupted service.  I haven’t bothered to call but they are pushing my buttons and I am about to boil over.  I know it won’t do any good to call which is why it hasn’t happened.  However, if I do call I will be asking for a lower rate.

Service was back around lunch and I came back down and finished up what I had to for the day.  I am just watching the clock and looking for something to do.  I will be heading back up soon and watching TV but not before I get the trash out. 

This week seems to have moved by extra fast, it’s hard to believe today is Thursday.  It’s the last week before school starts up in the area so I am sure lots of people are dreading next week. 

I am dreading next week because that is when the clusterfuck project is slated to start.  I got through the prep work yesterday and now it’s just a matter of sitting back and waiting for things to come together. 

On a different note I was surprised that I got a text yesterday from my Thanksgiving friends.  They want to take me out for my birthday to any place of my choosing.  Well I picked a Steakhouse that I go to in the country.  It’s good food but it’s not cheap.  They operate on reservations but if you get there when the doors open you can sit at the bar and enjoy a meal, which is usually what I do.  I’ve never been to this place with anyone else and I know that they will like it.  It’s nice adding something else to my list of things to do that week.  I know that will be a meal that I will enjoy!  I’ve also never ordered off the menu and always had something that was on special.  I’m really looking forward to this. 

Rudy started my day with an early morning wake up call.  I need to figure out how to adjust his time setting because he’s an hour early.  I don’t mind early like 10 or 15 minutes before wake up time but a whole hour, no thanks.  Let me sleep. 

My cat food supply is really short and I am struggling to provide variety for them.  I can’t get to the cat food store to re-stock soon enough but don’t plan on it until Saturday.  Rudy figured out that if I put something out he can sniff it, tell me he doesn’t like it and ask for something else.  A little persistents and I will give in.  Then he loads up and his sister moves in and does the same.  Who’s Zoomin’ Who?  I know I am being played but it doesn’t start out with me feeling like that, it’s only after the second can goes down that I realize it.  He hasn’t done it but twice but I am sure he is keeping notes and will probably pull that stunt again.  I take such good care of them I wish that I was them and they were me at times. 

Time to go spend the rest of my Thursday afternoon upstairs and get the trash out.  Take care!

Lost Cat

Morning, I really hate seeing posts on local social media about lost cats and dogs.  Makes me want to go hunting for them to bring them all back home.  That probably wouldn’t be a highly successful task but for those that were found it sure would be quite the reward and thrill.  I saw a post a couple days ago about a lost cat not far from my place.  Makes me appreciate my two cats a bit more.  I am extra careful with them and thankfully they aren’t door dashers but you never know when curiosity will strike and they might try to go exploring. I watch outside and what activity the cameras would pick up but I’ve never located a lost pet yet.  I did get an alert after breakfast the other day that a deer was in the back yard.  I saw a couple butterflies later that day set off the same camera. 

Having cameras does make a difference and I am surprised by some of the things I have seen, like neighbors using my property as if it’s their own.  No real crimes though but they do come in handy to watch for packages and to keep tabs on the lawn crew that shows up so I make sure I am billed correctly. 

This morning got away from me I had to mop up a mess someone else created for me yesterday by giving me bad information.  I had an upset person that I was dealing with that was sending me some anger through email. I wanted to tell her that it wasn’t my fault she put her maxi-pad on sticky side up.  I got things cleaned up and she’s all calm and even managed to squeeze out a thank you.  Honestly it wasn’t as big of a deal as she made it out to be but it’s just part of the types of people I work with. 

We had storms yesterday roll in and that brought about some flooding in the surrounding area but none for my immediate area.  When I went up I saw the cats sitting in the dark and had to turn on some lights so that I could see while I worked.  At least the grass got cut before the rain moved in. 

Supper last night was Beef Mini Burritos from the grocery store.  It was more like a snack but they were sure good.  I remember when they used to fill me up but now I could eat a couple more and then I’d be full.  I love Mexican, Italian and some American foods.  However, there is nothing like a good home cooked meal.  Closest thing I can get to that would be at a Cracker Barrel if things were just right. 

I saw Josh Wolf’s new special on You Tube last night, I fast forwarded through all of the singing because I am more about the standup than the funny music.  It was okay but the fast forwarding made things go by fast.  When that was done I climbed in bed and saw a video on sleep.  I remember hearing the words pink noise and hearing a soothing voice.  I didn’t think much of it and just turned the TV off.  Man I was out like a light after that.  Might try watching that same video tonight before bed just to see if it has the same effect. 

Well it’s back to the fun at work.  Got my usual Wednesday meeting and I am working on the latest clusterfuck project that we are ramping up for. 

I hope it’s a great day for you.  Thanks for stopping by.  Talk with you all again soon. 

Hungry for Corn Flakes

  Good morning, I’ve got a craving for Corn Flakes.  I need some Vitamin D bad.  Yeah the photo started my craving.  Came across this gem yesterday when I was scrolling endlessly on Tumblr.  It was just so good that I didn’t want to save it for a Man Candy post.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Last night I struggled to find anything of meaning to watch.  I opted to go back to Flashpoint and watch the shows that I skipped just to refresh on the entire series.  When I found this show I skipped ahead to mid way on Season 4 and then followed into Season 5.  Now I’ve got something to watch. 

I also saw an episode of Somethings Burning a Bert Kreischer podcast.  Damn he made me hungry with his cooking.  That’s why I don’t like to watch cooking shows.  They are totally enjoyable and fun to watch but they always make me hungry. 

Speaking of food last nights dinner was a Stouffer’s bowl of Fried Chicken, Corn, Mashed potatoes and Gravy.  This would have been perfect if they would have skipped the gravy.  I’m particular about my gravy and while this wasn’t the worst it wasn’t the best.  I did finish it all and it wasn’t horrible for a frozen meal but not something I will eat again for a long time. 

Got my shave and shower in.  My face was really itching by the time I was shaving.  It was hard to avoid the urge to scratch.  My neck started itching as well so my timing was good.  I finished my shower with cool water on my face and neck.  That helps to calm everything down.  I didn’t put anything on my face like aftershave as I normally would.  My shave wasn’t as smooth as I like it but I got the job done. 

I’ve been seeing ads (no surprise) for razors and shaving products.  There are lots of ads for single blade razors claiming that the multi blades pull and tug causing irritation.  No safety razor will ever compare to a straight edge razor, that’s the closest and smoothest shave you will ever get.  If you haven’t had one, find a barber shop and treat yourself it’s worth every penny.  I’d love to shave with a straight razor but if I tried I would probably cut myself silly so I stick to safety razors, which I do wind up cutting myself once in a blue moon.

Rudy managed to play with his sister for a bit chasing each other around a cardboard box.  She gave up and came and sat in the bed close to me.  He just kept going, chasing his tail and himself around the box.  It was a good show and he managed to exhaust himself pretty good to the point he came and curled up next to me on my lap.  When they behave they are great cats to have around.  When they misbehave not so much.  However, I still love them and am glad that we live together. 

Monday morning was busy at work but towards lunch time things started to calm down.  Were gearing up for our next clusterfuck  project that will start next week.  My boss is being neurotic and nervous about it.  It’s a project that I think is a complete waste of money but it’s not my money that is being spent.  We had options and they chose to take the more complicated and complex route.  Bunch of morons.  This project is going to do nothing but bring more work and hell into my life.  It’s slated to run 9 days but I think that it’s going to be way more complicated than that and take longer but time will tell. 

The only thing on my radar for today is two meetings.  I am sure that I won’t get off that easy but it’s nice to have some hope.  My day started about an hour early thanks to Mr. Rudy’s wake up call.  I am hopeful that I can resist napping but it’s something I really enjoy kind of like food so I will probably wind up passing out at some point in the day. 

Hope it’s a great day for you and for me too.  Thanks for stopping by!

Change of plans

Morning… Were back @ Monday again, yuk!  Last night I had pizza for supper but it wasn’t from a restaurant it was from my freezer.  The weather changed and we had some wicked storms move into the area.  It started out with light rain that just got progressively worse.  There was wind mixed in and it was impossible for me to see outside and driving in that would have been a recipe for disaster.  I’m telling you it’s something about me washing my car that brings rain around.  It wasn’t in the forecast but just suddenly popped up.  It’s possible again today as well. 

Staying home saved me time and money but the food wasn’t nearly as good.  I am glad that I had the pizza on hand but now I am out so time to re-stock the freezer.  It wasn’t Tombstone some off brand that I grabbed.  Not bad but not up to my standards of pizza.  I still managed to devour over half of it.  I’ve got 3 slices left probably going to polish them off for lunch. 

Finished watching Flashpoint and so now I know how the show ended.  Wow it was such a good show but I get it there are only so many hostage/police scenarios that you can generate before things become old had.  Shame because I would have loved to see more of this show.  I can say that I have never seen a Canadian Police show until this one, that was also something unique about this show. 

I thought I had my next watch all lined up but turns out Schitts Creek on Amazon Prime is only available with commercials.  I pay for no commercials and if I wanted commercials I’d suffer through the episodes on Hulu.  Now I am in search of something new to watch, I’m sure in time it will come. 

Skipped my shave & shower last night just because I wasn’t in the mood.  I will get it done tonight.  Can’t stay with all of the whiskers on my face more than a week before the itchy stage kicks in and that is not something I want.  The good news is that my neck is calming down slowly but resisting putting anything on it seems to have been the right call. 

Got some playtime in with the cats last night, once again Rudy was all about it and that made me quite happy.  Watched some YouTube videos until I got drowsy and then it was lights out. 

Had some strange dreams and was awake for a little bit but not out of bed in the middle of the night.  That prevented the cats from joining me so I could maintain having my bed to myself.  Rudy was extra quick this morning to join me before I woke up.  I felt him climb up but as per usual I didn’t acknowledge him or move.  I let him climb into position and then lay down.  When I finally greeted him and rolled over he did his happy dance and just like yesterday morning he curled up close to me and we snuggled for a little bit before my bladder said you need to get up quickly. 

We started the morning about 15 minutes early but that’s better than 15 minutes late.  Not much on the schedule at work today.  It is a little busy but I’ve been able to keep up so far.  I hope to be able to break away soon and go watch some TV with the cats and relax, spending most of this Monday away from the computer but available if needed. 

That rain I spoke of earlier cooled things down drastically but they are heating back up, Summer is no where near done but I have heard the cicadas for weeks and that is the sign that Fall and Winter are on the way. 

I finally got a bill from the lawn guys and I was anticipating that they would want all of there money, which I have.  I’d love nothing more than to settle up but they bill slowly.  The bill I just got was for April and part of May.  Were in August.  I learned my lesson a long time ago don’t go trying to send extra money or pay up without a bill because that will cause more confusion.  I paid what they asked for, so were square for the moment but I know another bill will eventually be on the way. 

Here’s hoping Monday doesn’t suck too much.  Thanks for dropping by, take care and be well!

Weekend

Hey, I hope your enjoying the weekend!  It’s been so – so for me.  Friday I should have gone with my gut to cancel my massage.  I left with pain that I didn’t come in with and it’s persisting through the weekend.  It’s livable and I am sure that things will return to normal over the course of the next few days.  I don’t often listen to my gut enough aka that little voice inside.  I don’t go back for 3 weeks and that will be my birthday week.  I booked 90 minutes for that appointment and I have thoughts of cancelling.  In fact I have thoughts of just not going back ever.  I kind of feel like I am throwing my money away I don’t get a whole lot of relief.  The therapist is trying to re-create a Zen moment where I told her that was the best massage she ever gave me.  Unfortunately, it’s all guess work and she has yet to be able to even come close to recreating it.  Not to mention I smelled her BO and garlic breath the entire massage, not exactly what I’d call a pleasant experience.  The BO was new but garlic breath is normal and not the first time I’ve smelled it.  Chew some gum, grab a bit and for God sakes put on some stronger deodorant. 

Saturday I did manage to get up early, not as early as I wanted to but I got a shower and made it to breakfast.  The place was packed and I had to park on the side of the building, that was a first.  I got my normal waitress and told her that I am glad that come next Sunday things can go back to normal.  Had my Strawberry French Toast and Eggs, it was good and cheaper than it normally is. 

I grabbed the mail and then headed off for my haircut.  I was on-time as per usual but my barber was running late which is also as per usual.  I don’t know what it is about professional people but they can’t seem to keep track of time. 

It was already hot out and I didn’t want to stand around in the heat and chew the fat so I didn’t go see my friends and instead came home to a nice air-conditioned house and hung out with the cats.  We watched TV and lounged around for the bulk of the morning and some of the afternoon. 

Finally I wanted to get going and it took forever to get out of here.  I didn’t know it until I was about to head out but I had sat in a hairball and it was all over my jeans.  Gross.  Had to change and then I was able to leave. 

Made it to the Mexican restaurant by the office.  They had no ac inside or if it was working it was doing a poor job.  There were fans on though so it was okay but not the best.  I got some excellent fresh chips and salsa.  I’ve got a love for their salsa but my body hates it so it talks back.  It was really good though.  My meal arrived and I’ve honestly had better but it wasn’t a bad meal just not over the top.  Finished up there and headed into the office. 

Saw a guy who I’ve got a crush on, he was almost unrecognizable since he decided to grow a beard.  I’m not a fan of facial hair, I mean a few days is okay and then shave it off.  Clean shaven is my favorite look for me and for the guys I am typically into.  Anyway, got my work done and then headed home.

Worked on laundry, paying bills and then taming my email.  Finally I had some time left for porn surfing and making my rounds to a couple blogs. 

Back upstairs I promised both cats a brushing.  Rudy needed a nail trim and after I brushed him which he really enjoyed I went to trim his nails and found the trimmer was broken.  I had to do some repair work to get it functioning again but it’s back.  I had to trim Rudy’s claws with my nail clippers and he wasn’t a huge fan of that.  It will take him a little longer to get them filed so they are pointy and sharp again but the longer the better for me.  Brushed Mora.  Both cats were super fury.  I plan to go over them again tonight for good measure. 

I feel bad about not brushing them, my hearts in the right place but after working all day I really don’t want to mess with much of anything.  It’s a wonder I make myself dinner.  That’s a wrap on Saturday. 

This morning I woke up a little too early and Rudy kept me company.  When it was time to get up he curled up underneath my arm and started purring.  I can listen to any cat purr for hours on end.  It’s so soothing.  Anyway I had to break up the party and get going.  I passed out their breakfast.  Threw on some clothes and took my meds.  Then went to a fast food place for a rather cheap breakfast. 

Moved on to the grocery store where I was in and out in a flash.  Managed to drop $68.  Then went on to the car wash.  Saw an okay looking guy there.  Got the bug juice off my window.  Came home to dry the vehicle off and found a paint chip by the drivers tail light.  It was up high and kind of an odd place.  Not happy about that but it’s an easy fix or so I think.

Got the groceries put away and then went to lounge in front of the TV and managed to take a half hour nap.  Woke up and passed out lunch for the cats.  I had some junk food for lunch.  Got my meds all laid out for the week.  Then to the garage.  Broke out the masking tape and touch up paint.  I touched up the area and am letting it bake in the hot garage before I pull the tape off later this afternoon.  Hopefully, it looks good. 

Cleaned the house and came down to throw the laundry in the dryer.  I didn’t want to mess with it last night.  Now that it’s done it will be time to haul it back up and put it all away.  I’ve made my rounds on the internet, not much going on considering it’s the weekend. 

I plan to go out for pizza a bit later.  I was torn about which pizza place to hit up.  I’m going back to the place where the guys used to be, I don’t expect to see any hot guys but I do have plans to enjoy a great pizza as well as a nice drive.  Then the day will be done and Monday will be calling soon enough.  Only good thing about that is that I won’t be on-call.  However, the mistake maker is on vacation so there will be a little more work than usual for me or so I anticipate.  Hey I made it for months without him I can certainly handle 1 week.  Besides that he will have to do the same in 3 weeks when I go on vacation.  If my time off calculations are correct I still have roughly another week to burn before I get to the limit of what I can carry over to next year.  I’d like to take some time off around the holidays if that’s feasible. 

Stay cool and hydrated, that’s what I am doing.  Talk with you all again soon. 

 

Late to the party

Hey hope that all is well.  Sorry I am late to the party with my post.  This morning things were super chill and I rode the wave and watched TV & got in a nap.  It was nice to relax and get paid for it at the same time.  The ride was over after lunch and it got busy but I am riding a lull again and hope that it lasts for the rest of the day. 

My neck is still bothering me a little bit.  I thought about cancelling my massage but I am still going.  I am just going to ask that my neck not be touched.  I got my shower last night and did a double cleanse of my neck area.  I finished with cold water and man that felt really good.  It bothered me a bit after I got out but it faded away quickly.  One side looks really good and the other side it’s still red.  I think a haircut tomorrow probably isn’t the best thing but there will be no neck shaving with a razor blade. 

Supper last night was two frozen White Castle cheeseburgers.  I added some Sizzling Cheeseburger chips in from Doritos and it wasn’t a bad meal but it wasn’t the best.  I was more of a desert fan and had a hot Apple Fritter.  Thinking about that I’ll bet a hot Apple Fritter with some Vanilla Ice Cream would be pretty good.  Might try that later on tonight. 

It is so hot and humid outside you can for sure tell that were back in August.  The poor AC has been running and I am glad that I have it & it’s functioning as designed.  The cats still love to feel the cold air from the vents and just sit in front of them and stare, soaking it all in.

Speaking of the cats, it’s been a day and there hasn’t been a fight thus far.  Here’s hoping we make it the whole day.  We played pretty hard last night.  Rudy was jumping and really got into playtime like I haven’t seen from him in a while.  He also hasn’t bit me on the chin again, which I am thankful for. 

Hope that all is well in your world and that we all have a great weekend.  Take care and thanks as always for stopping by.  Feel free to drop a comment, I don’t bite unless you want me to!

Pain in the Neck

Hey there thanks for stopping by and welcome in. 

My neck is doing okay.  I managed to resist the urge to apply anything to it yesterday.  I find that when I put on or take off my shirt that seems to aggravate things.  I feel itching and burning, kind of like if I think about it the symptoms seem to come on.  Looking in the mirror one side is pretty well cleared up while the other side is still bright red.  I noticed some additional peeling last night before bed.  I took another Benadryl capsule and my regular sleeping meds.  I did wake up briefly overnight at 3a.  I thought I would have problems going back to sleep but managed to pass out before I knew what hit me.  Woke up to a cat fight that was mild, I yelled and managed to go back to sleep. 

Rudy was with me for my wake up call.  He’s started a new habit with me that I will get to in a moment.  Last night he was grooming himself and I went to pet him twice and managed to scare him half to death.  He jumped and his tail puffed up.  I apologized and calmed him down.  He came over to me and gave me a couple licks on the face and then he bit my chin.  I figured that was just payback for scaring him.  Well this morning with his wake up routine I got licks and another chin bite.  Not sure if this is going to be a regular thing now.  It’s funny but it hurts a little.  It’s a love bite and he isn’t breaking the skin.  I kind of hope that this isn’t going to be a new habit.  Biscuits are great and licks are okay as well, even though sometimes they too are painful.  

Speaking of last night I was on track to get a shower but instead opted to watch a movie and it pulled me in.  The suggestion came from social media and it was spot on.  The movie is called The Pickup and it’s on Amazon Prime.  Pete Davidson and Eddie Murphy are in it.  I don’t laugh easy and this movie had me laughing at least twice.  It’s action and comedy.  If you watch it stay until the credit roll. 

I had more Fried Chicken last night and it felt like the meat tasted worse.  I ate a little bit of it but threw the rest out.  Finished up the mashed potatoes, have some coleslaw (which is delicious) and a biscuit left, along with 2 more pieces of Chicken.  I am going to eat the Coleslaw and probably the biscuit but the rest of the meal is going in the trash can.  I hate to do it but just can’t stomach it again.  Next time I will stick to original recipe and wait around for drumsticks if they don’t have them.  Never really had issues with KFC. Hope that this was an isolated experience. 

I am for sure getting a shower tonight, I’ve got a massage tomorrow evening.  Depending on how I feel I might tell the therapist to stay away from my neck.  I really don’t want to irritate my skin any more than it has to be.  Giving things a chance to calm down and while the redness probably won’t go away so long as the itching, burning and skin peeling stops I will be good with that for now. 

Last night I was reminded of one of the biggest lies you can tell yourself.  The words I will be happy when or I will be happy if.  Truth is you won’t be happy, you will always want something else. There is a song by Lazyboy that calls this out but right now I don’t know the name of the song.

Hope it’s a great day for all of us.  Take care!

Neck Fire & Fighting Cats

Morning and what a morning it is!

There was a little bit of work last night but for the most part I was left alone and got to enjoy my evening.  Had the mini burritos from the grocery store and they were really good.  Surprisingly they didn’t fill me up like they had in the past.

I find it kind of odd but last year and again this year the grocery store has been selling Christmas cookies they make year round.  There is one particular cookie I go for it looks like it’s covered in glitter and it’s so good. They limit those to 3 per box and then toss in an assortment of other cookies, all of which are made with lots of butter.  I broke into the box I got last night and had some for desert. 

The rash on my neck was bothering me more so than it has in days past.  I put some of the new ointment on it but that didn’t stop the burning or itching.  It actually seemed to make things worse.  I found an old prescription ointment that my late spouse had and put that on.  Things calmed down a little bit but were quick to fire back up.  I wanted relief since it felt like my neck was on fire.  At this point I am just throwing things at it to see what will work.  I found some spray for my feet that I remember went on ice cold.  I used it and it wasn’t that cool and I smelled like menthol.  I broke out a paper towel and soaked it with some cool water, wiped everything off.  Then repeated the process but this time instead of using cool water I used rubbing alcohol.  Back to good old refrigerated Benadryl gel.  Ah, that brought relief.  For good measure I took 1 Benadryl capsule as well along with my regular sleeping medicine.  I anticipated waking up with the hangover feeling.  However, that was way better than the hell I was going through. 

I woke up at 3a and as much as I tried to go back to sleep it just didn’t happen.  I was up and watched TV.  That summoned the cats to my room and between watching them sleep and TV I finally began to feel drowsy after an hour and half.  I finally fell back to sleep, but that didn’t last nearly as long as it should.  Around 5:30a I was woken again this time to the sound of both cats fighting.  I let them duke it out as I laid in bed yelling at them, which really did nothing.  Eventually it stopped.  Rudy came in bed with me and he was on an adrenaline rush.  There is no doubt in my mind he started the fight.  I held on to him in bed.  He tried a few times to get away from me but that just made me tense up and tighten my grip.  I wanted him to cool off and calm down.  After 10 minutes I let him go and he reverted to playing with a toy and crowing loudly.  There was no getting back to sleep for me and I know I am probably going to crash at some point this morning. 

I climbed out of bed at normal time.  Rudy didn’t get to do his dance and he was not happy about that.  However, no point in trying to wake me up when I was already awake.  The morning routine went off without a hitch.  Then I looked in the mirror as I was taking my medicine.  My neck is back to peeling.  I wiped that off with water and a paper towel.  I feel a little burning but haven’t put anything on my skin.  I am going to try to hold out and not put anything on and see what happens.  If things go back to being worse I will likely seek medical care via a virtual visit.  This started out as Barber Rash and maybe it is just in a severe form but I really want it to go away it’s been with me for far longer than I want it to be. 

Yesterday I had some time on my hands in the afternoon so I queued up the Man Candy for today.  That post is scheduled to publish towards the afternoon just in case you came here thirsty. 

Things are calm and it’s still very early here.  I am feeling the effects of the lack of sleep so I am going to try to go sneak in a nap and hopefully I won’t be bothered for a bit but I won’t hold my breath on that, no sense in turning into a smurf for nothing. 

Have a great day!

Working Hot & Heavy

Morning everyone, hope all is well. 

Yesterday was a Monday like I haven’t experienced in a long while.  The morning had it’s busy points but they quickly died down and then there was a lull.  As I was eating lunch emails started to pick up and the work began pouring in like a faucet with no way to turn it off.  I had to take a breath and remind myself one thing at a time, that helped me regain focus and perspective.  Eventually I got the flow to stop and issues were resolved. 

I got upstairs and logged in later than I’d like but it wasn’t a huge surprise to me since I had been working away.  I was able to relax for like 5 minutes and then things started up again.  It was pretty steady for a bit and then I noticed we were nearing supper time.  I caught another lull. 

I got supper passed out for the cats and then heated up some of that awful chicken for myself.  It was a little dry and tasted worse, I was thinking man pizza would have been better. 

After I finished up with my meal and settled back on the couch work came flowing in again hot and heavy out of no where.  It’s 6p here and I didn’t stop until around 7:30p.  Man this merger/acquisition might just be the death of me.  I hope it’s just a matter of ironing out the kinks and then things will calm down,but right now I’m not holding my breath.  I’ve always maintained that strange things happen when I am on call, it’s like a full moon and Murphy collaborate to whip up some kind of fresh hell challenge for me, at least that’s what it feels like to me at times. 

I had very little me time and spend the bulk of the day working.  This makes up for those days when I had nothing to do and was watching TV just waiting for work.  I think it all evens out in the end but I’d much rather have more free time and get paid for it than work and pull my hair out. 

Got in some great play time with Rudy last night.  He was his normal old adventurous self.  Jumping high like he hasn’t done in a while.  I looped in his sister and managed to play with both of them at the same time.  Eventually she figured out that I could keep him occupied so she left us and went to polish off the treats that were out.  One thing is for sure they clean up the floor and not a treat is left insight any night.  There might be a night or two when I turn out the lights and notice a few left but come morning, they are all gone. 

Watched some YouTube before bed.  I climbed into bed drowsy and ready to go visit dream land.  Woke up at 5a from a strange dream.  Tried to defer getting up but my bladder said you better do it now, so I listened.  That of course aroused both cats and they jumped in bed with me.  Rudy was doing his morning dance and I knew he was hungry but no way was I passing out food.  I somehow managed to get back to sleep for a while but woke up around 6:30a and Rudy was still there just waiting and he did his little dance again. 

So the day has begun.  I got to mop up a few loose ends this morning and I am at the point where I am caught up, so at a lull.  Who knows how long it will last.  My guess is that the morning might be slow but by afternoon I will be busy again. 

I’m debating if I want to eat chicken again tonight or if I want to switch things up one night and do something different.  I picked up some mini beef burritos from the store, there are only 3 in the container but they fill me up, it doesn’t look like much food but they sure are good.  It was something different and I’m always on the lookout for variety to switch things up a bit. 

Here’s hoping it’s a great day for all of us.  Take care!