Treat Yourself Tuesday

Today was my travel day.  I realized over 1/2 way into the trip that I forgot to bring a USB Cable.  Thankfully Dell included a USB Extension cable that got me out of my jam.  We have new monitors and with that comes new sound bars. The old ones had a special plug on the bottom of the monitor.  The new ones require USB but they only give you a short cord.  I had been setting the USB extension cords aside and just hooking up a USB cable to the monitor.  There are USB ports on the side which, so it’s pretty slick.  In this case I used the extension cord and didn’t have to mess with the monitor, way to get me out of a jam. 

The office it’s self that I went to is very small.  A total of 2 people work there and a 3rd person starts tomorrow.  I was very surprised that no one asked me if I wanted to go to lunch.  I thought that was rude and inconsiderate.  That’s okay, I treated myself.

The work was done and I was left all alone by lunch time.  The whole place shuts down between 12:30 and 1:30 in the afternoon.  The door locks and that’s just how they do business.  I’d love to work out of this office, it’s far removed from the politics of the office I am in or the politics of our headquarters.   However, to drive 2 hours 1 way to work would be a bit excessive.  Nice for the once and a while trip but I just couldn’t do that every day, let alone the wear and tear on my car. 

So I treated myself for lunch.  I was 30 miles away from the pie place.  I just went there.  Had a Ruben with Coleslaw and a piece of Peanut Pie.  It was topped with Peanuts, a layer of Peanut Butter, a smaller layer of Chocolate and a Graham Cracker Crust.  Very good!  It wasn’t my Celebration Pie, which is no longer sold but it was good.  I hope they bring back Celebration Pie.  It was the first Pie that was part Cake that I have ever had.  Just so awesome. 

My work day ended at 3p when I finally got home.  I was very tired.  All I wanted was a nap.  Then I got a phone call from AT&T they of course told me that they couldn’t help me with my voice mail problem.  They offered one type of service with Uverse and that was it.  So my choices are keep what I have or go back to a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) Line.  I’m keeping what I have.  I presently have an account with You Mail which is an awesome voice mail service.  It reads caller id and greets your caller by name.  So for example.  Hi Sally, Jeremy isn’t available right now, please leave a message.  I get transcripts on my phone and it even alerts me to missed calls.  They have built in spam protection so if you get a robo call they block it.  Pretty cool.  I’ve got a business account and it’s $10 a month, but I got a coupon so it’s $9.00 a month.  If I keep it I can pay for a year of service instead of doing the month to month thing and then it’s even cheaper.  The only thing they don’t do that the phone company does is light up the red light on the phone when I have a message.  It’s either you check your cell phone for messages or login from a PC or call to check in.  I am big on only one voice mailbox so that is why I pay for the business account, it allows me to forward my home phone and my cell phone so no matter who calls all of the messages are in 1 mailbox.  The best part is they give you 30 days to try it, if you cancel they refund your money no questions asked.  You can do other things like setup specific greetings for specific callers (based on their phone number) so you could tell Aunt Fred to go to the store and get some bread before she comes over and if Uncle Joanne calls you can tell her that your unavailable.  She will have no idea that Aunt Fred is coming over.  Kind of slick.  They offer a free account which will support 1 phone number, so if you wanted to try it you can.  It’s a scaled back account and isn’t feature rich.  You can keep a free account for life (or as long as they stay in business).  I believe they serve the US & Canada only at this time.  Visit them at youmail.com if your so inclined.  This is not a sponsored post and I don’t get anything from them, just passing on what I feel is a good service.  Now I am debating do I pay them or go back to Uverse.  I mean I’m paying for both when you think about it. 

Last night on the way home I hit a bump and I think I have knocked one of my tires out of balance.  I had some issues today but perhaps it’s just the way the new tires are.  I am going to drive it for a couple more days and if I still think there is a problem then I will stop in to ye old tire shop and ask them to check my rubbers for problems.  I almost did that today but successfully talked myself out of doing it.  Hopefully, I won’t be sorry.  I figure if there is a problem it will need to be addressed this week. 

Wowzers my phone was blowing up today with email from work.  That is nothing new and you really notice it when your away from work.  Speaking of which I found a HUGE problem with my PTO.  I took two days but the system doesn’t know how to divide so it was charging me for 4 days.  I talked with HR and got that fixed, I had them fix my time off for the concert next month as well.  Now I have a nice healthy PTO balance like I thought I should have.  I found out that I haven’t been the first person to be bitten by that.  Maybe someday they will fix that bug.  Until then I will be extra careful.

I saw something that resonated with me today on Facebook.

People wait

all week for friday,

all year for summer,

all life for happiness

That is so very true.  I am probably at the most unhappiest point of my life.  I realize that it’s my job to make sure that I am happy.  The difficult part is figuring out how to make myself happy.  I keep putting things off and waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I’ve been doing that for 2 years now.  I have to stop it, move on and live my life.  Saying it is one thing, putting it into action is another.  I am going to message the guy that I think is gay and a friend of mine to see if he wants to grab a bit to eat and catch up.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I don’t have to be forthright with my motive and if something doesn’t feel right we can just be friends.  It’s been years since we have seen each other.  I am interested to see where this goes.  Hopefully he has come to terms with whatever his sexuality is and hopefully he is still hot.  Time will tell.

Back to the old bump and grind tomorrow.  Then hopefully a partial day on Thursday and we can slide on in to the holiday weekend.  Talk with you all later.  Take care and be well.  Be happy too!

 

2 Hell in a hand basket

By the title you can tell what kind of day I am having.  It’s not good!  First, someone got ransom ware on their PC.  They were told to never power the machine back up and not to ever put it on the network.  Someone tried to do me a favor and image a new machine but they didn’t test the PC and the image didn’t complete correctly.  So I have had to reimage it twice now.  I am hopeful that the 2nd time for me is the charm.

I am traveling tomorrow.  It’s 2 hours up and 2 hours back.  An easy days work.  The hard part is trying to figure out if I need any kind of security clearance to get items out of the building.  No one knows, but we take stuff out all the time.  They referred the matter to our HR department.  They are 5 hours away and work in a different environment.  So how are they supposed to know?  I’ve got lots of stuff to put in my car so all I can say is look out I’m coming through.

There was a surprise presentation this morning but I took care of that with no problems.  Found out that a co-worker was in a car accident on the way to work this morning.  She’s okay but had to be checked out.  I don’t have any other details and probably won’t get them until Wednesday.

This week should be a quick one.  With a day of travel and the holiday it’s like I am only working 3 days, just like last week.  I just hope when next Monday rolls around things are a little bit calmer.  My 2 co-workers that are in IT will both be out on vacation next week.  That means that I can leave early if I so chose and no one will be the wiser. 

I should have known coming back from a couple days off would be a struggle because Marvin crapped in my room last night.  The he made me get out of bed and let him out.  It was in my path of walking but some how I managed to avoid it like the plague.  Easy clean up.  I left the house early and arrived with some decent time to spare.  It’s been down hill ever since. 

The left side of my nose is trying to form a pimple and it’s sore.  I can’t believe I am in my 40’s and still have to deal with acne.  It never ends.  Thankfully my battle was not nearly as bad as my brothers.  I would do all sorts of crazy things with my acne.  One time I popped one with a pair of pliers, it hurt like hell but that’s it no fuss.  He could pop one and 7 more would show up.  He had it really bad.  Everyone said I would have scarring and I don’t have any.  His face is a different story, he has all of the acne scars.  However, he had the higher metabolism so he has always been thin.  I’d like to trade now and get his metabolism, I will keep my present completion. 

Well time to go back to the fun and hopefully get this laptop done so that I can go home on time tonight.  Tomorrow will be a short day.  4 hours on the road and it will probably take me an hour or two tops while I am there.  I have no plans to come in to the office afterward, it will just be the perk of having to travel.  Plus they will pay for my mileage, which will be very nice.  I get a meal allowance as well but I don’t know if I will use that.  Mileage is much more important to me.  Got to help pay for those expensive rubbers I just bought. 

Have a good day, talk with you all again soon.

Last day of R&R

Gator woke me up way too early, but I needed to get started with my day.  If it were up to me I would have spent much more time in bed.  Fortunately between her meows, cries and the pressure from my bladder…. she won. 

I got the tail gate to open on the truck this morning.  However, when I needed it most, at the grocery store it wouldn’t open.  I guess it had gotten too hot outside.  Where is fall when you need it? 

Made it through Breakfast at Steak N Shake.  I have this regular waitress that takes care of me.  She knows my eating habits pretty well.  She is always there with a Diet Soda for me.  She asked about Chili this morning.  I said yeah to a bowl.  Ordered a Royale Double minus mayo w/fries.  She had been doing so well for so long.  Every time I ordered my ticket would ring up with an even amount.  This went on for months.  Then one day she remarked about it and ever since then no matter what I order I can’t get it to come up even.  This morning I gave her trouble and she told me that I needed to order something else.  So I got a Nutella Shake.  Still no luck.  The shake was good though, despite the fact that I didn’t need it. 

Yesterday in combing through my Facebook feed I see that one of the hot guys I used to admire at the local ice cream stand got married.  He looked really happy, which is nice.  Color me green with envy. 

I’ve spent the majority of the day here in the house with the kids.  In fact they want more of my time so after blogging it will be upstairs for the rest of the evening. 

Ruth really worked me over at supper time.  I had to eat with one hand and pet & scratch her with the other.  She doesn’t stay in one spot for too long, just in case your plotting something.  It’s like she knows.  I wasn’t plotting anything but trying to eat my Pizza.  She loves to bother me when I am at the table, regardless of what meal it is.  Breakfast is usually the preferred meal.  I cater to her because that is as close of a relationship that I have with her.  It’s her cuddle time, but she doesn’t cuddle.  I do manage to get her motor running, which makes me feel good because I am doing my job very well. 

Big Boy had an accident overnight and it wasn’t on the pads.  Messy clean up for me.  He got a paper towel bath, which he lapped up.  I don’t see how he can possibly get so dirty but like all kids he manages.  He just craves the attention and of course I give in.  Maybe not right away but I do give in. 

Got a call from my friend that has been looking for a job.  Sounds like he fell into one.  He has a meet & greet on Tuesday with the new place.  Then he starts officially next week.  I hope he doesn’t fuck it up.  Pay is really sweet, $40 per hour.  I don’t think he will get benefits but he is going to ask.  That can’t hurt. 6 months right to hire.  So as long as he can put up with the demands of the job for 6 months they will make him perm.  I hope that it all works out to his advantage.  I am a little jealous because some of what he will be doing, I have prior experience doing.  However, over 1/2 of his job is networking and that I have very little experience in.  Would be nice if I did.  As comfortable as I am with my job I am getting anxious for a change. 

Speaking of my job and change.  I will be on the road this week, but only for 1 day.  I need to visit an office that is about 3 hours away.  It’s up and back same day.  Shouldn’t take me very long when I get up there.  I need to setup a new person.  Take a physical inventory with a bar code gun.  Then if there is time grab lunch.  Then back home.  Probably will be Tuesday.  Wednesday the new person starts.  Thursday we should get to go home early and Friday is a holiday.  So if all goes well tomorrow will probably be my most difficult day.  Because I am getting back from 2 days off.  I had 151 emails to comb through.  It was rather easy.  There were some that required action, but I’m not working for free so that shit can wait until tomorrow.  I think there could be some major issues from what I read but again it’s a job for tomorrow.

I did my research and if my calculations are correct, minus the 2 days that I am taking next month for the concert.  I will still have 9 days left before I am totally out of time.  Not bad.  For years 1 to 5 we get 19 days, plus 2 floating holidays.  Not bad at all.  Now that is vacation and sick time lumped together.  Run out of time and need to take time, that is when you will have problems.  9 days has to last until Dec 31.  Then on Jan we start over again.  Feels like life is already passing me by. 

Okay so speaking of passing me by.  My evening will be doing that.  I am watching the last ever episode of Nurse Jackie.  Not looking forward to the show ending.  However, I understand all good things must come to an end.  I will drowned my sorrows in ice cream, the sugar high will cause me to get sleepy and thus bedtime will begin.  To help it along a double dose of sleeping pills and presto … Good Night!  Talk with you peeps later.

Winter – White & Bright

Friday …. even thought it was just yesterday it feels like it was 2 days ago.  I woke up in the middle of the night and watched the first episode of House of Cards, Season 3.  Went back to bed afterwards and slept in a little bit.  When I did climb out of bed, I took care of the children, got dressed and headed out to breakfast.  Then on to the car dealer.  Where I had a coupon for my oil change to be $39.95.  The funny thing is that it never, ever works out to that, because they add in labor it’s usually a $65 job.  However, I had my reward cards so I didn’t care the cost.  I also qualified to get a $10 rebate by mail, it’s like I am collecting rebate cards.  In any case they told me that the other thing that would be recommended is to change the brake fluid.  I didn’t know but learned that brake fluid breaks down and moisture is the enemy.  My fluid was 5 years old.  They told me that they would replace it with a dot 5 formula instead of the dot 4, because it’s got better moisture wicking.  I allowed them to do it.  I am supposed to notice improved response with the pedal, but it all breaks the same to me.  I just looked it up before writing this and dot 5 fluid is not recommended for anti-lock break systems.  I’ve got anti-lock breaks on my car.  This was the dealer I went to  not a shade tree mechanic or a quick lube place.  They said that they had been doing this for a while and it really works.  As long as the breaks work when I want them to and this doesn’t cause any problems I am fine with it.  From the dealer I went to get a hair cut.  I went to a new place ‘just for men’ and I got some super expensive package that gave me a scalp massage, hair cut, shampoo, condoner, neck shave, and neck and shoulder massage.  I never got the neck massage but the shoulder massage was okay, done by a machine not a person. I may switch to this place a regular haircut and shampoo is the same price as the other place, add on a couple dollars more and I can get my neck shaved – that is awesome.  They also do regular shaves as well, which is highly unfound in today’s society because the barber is essentially dead.  However, this place is a barber shopish type place but only women work there.  My late partner always said a women can’t cut a man’s hair, you need a barber.  He went to a barber for many years as did I  but the times changed and I changed with them.  They do an okay job the difference is they charge more now than they did back then.  I remember haircuts for $8 and now they are $21, seriously.  It’s robbery but that is the price I pay because I want my hair to look good, well I mean I need everything even and I know I can do most of it okay but the back , that is next to impossible to do on my own.  Anyway, then it was time to go back home.  I had to start in on more House of Cards.  I managed to squeeze in a nap and then it was time to venture off to therapy.  I took the truck for the 1st time ever to therapy.  It was a nice drive and good to get that bucket of bolts out of the driveway and on the road.  I went to Cracker Barrel after therapy, had a nice meatloaf dinner and peach cobbler for dessert.  Then it was time to get cat food.  I was early and the chances of running into you know who were high.  Sure enough he was in the store and once he saw me he had to go hide.  We didn’t speak to each other.  However, if and when I get the opportunity I plan on letting him know that I understand it’s easier to say I will call you then no, but that he gave me false hope and in the end it would have just been better to tell me the truth.  Even if he did call me now, I have him in a lie and don’t believe that I could trust him.  I made my food purchase and left.  Back home, back to the TV.  Soon it was time to feed the little beggars again.  There faces always light up when I come in with bags, they know when it’s food for them.  They also want it right away and things don’t usually happen that way.  Then I passed the evening with more TV, a little computer time and paying the car insurance.  I checked out about my usual time and retired to my bedroom and started falling asleep during the show.  It’s time to put it on pause and I called it a night.

Saturday… More winter is in the forecast so I got a start on things.  I went to breakfast at Bob Evans and had this Blueberry Brioche French Toast, it was more than delicious.  they only gave me two slices but I could have easily eaten 4 plus the omelet that I ordered.  Then it was on to do more running.  Stopped off at the post office to pick up the junk mail that was waiting for me.  Then it was on to Target to get cat treats and litter.  As well as a couple of items for me, which were mostly dental related.  Then I got gas for the truck.  It was 1/2 full and since there was weather on the way I don’t want to incur a frozen fuel line, if I needed to use the truck I wouldn’t be able to.  Small price to pay for peace of mind.  Then I went on to Sam’s Club.  I was supposed to go to another store to pick up sweat pants and tennis shoes but I gave that up.  It’s just too damn cold.  The two things I went to Sam’s for Chocolate Covered Blueberries and Hand Soap Refill I wasn’t able to find.  I did manage to pick up impulse buys.  The best one of them being Irish Stew.  It was $13 but the best money I spent on food that was simply heat & eat.  You could taste the wine and it was rather a rich gravy.  I started to feel full so I stopped.  There is plenty of meat and potatoes left as well as onions but no so much on carrots.  This was really a great meal for a cold winter day.  Then I came home, switched vehicles and gassed up the car.  Then came home, and put away all of the things I bought.  I’ve been here since around 11am and haven’t left.  It’s been House of Cards for most of the day.  I am ready for the last episode of Season 3 tonight.  Then I will move on to my DVR and catching up on all of the other shows that I recorded from earlier in the week.  I got a nap in today as well.  I am presently washing my bed clothes and will start regular laundry tomorrow.  I plan on taking a nice shower before bed and then watching TV.  It started snowing around 2p just as my iPhone said it would.  It hasn’t let up since and I have a feeling that I might be clearing off the truck to get to the store tomorrow morning.  Time will tell.

Kind of a hum drum weekend thus far.  Things didn’t work out like I wanted them to but I have managed to accomplish a lot and pamper myself with the haircut and food.  So it’s time well spent.  I did manage to check on my work e-mail and I got at least 100 messages of which most was BS.  I did find that there will be local travel in my future, not looking forward to it but it’s far better than being on-call and it will be a day out of the office and away from the phones so what’s not to like, plus a free meal and mileage so it’s like money on top of free money that kind of makes up for the slight inconvenience. 

All of the bills are paid and there is money left over.  I was really stressing about the car insurance but it didn’t break the bank.  My partial tax refund is in so that helped but I haven’t touched it.  The plan is to save it not to spend it.  If all goes well then there will be more on the way soon. 

I’ve got a Kenmore ceiling fan in my bedroom.  I picked it out and paid for it many moons ago after we moved in.  Together me and my late partner installed it.  One of the selling points was the remote control that came with it.  Nice to be able to turn on the lights or the fan with just a touch of a button.  Over the years the remote has become worn and the lights now are really difficult to turn on, so much so that I have revered to the manual method.  I looked on-line and Sears no longer makes the fan or parts for it.  I found a discussion group where someone had similar problems and a universal replacement remote was recommended.  There is/was no word on if it worked.  So I thought I would take my chances at a local hardware store first.  Turns out they don’t sell replacement remotes.  They have kits to convert your fan into a remote controlled fan, which I don’t want.  So I looked and sure enough the same remote Sears is selling for $51 I got from Amazon for $37, plus free shipping.  It should be here on Monday, unless the weather screws that up.  I really hope this works and is the answer to my problems.  If not then I will have to go with a plan B and order a remote controlled socket to hook up to the lamp next to my bed.  It was nice to push a button and then walk into my room.  Now I have to walk in not knowing if I am going to step in anything or on a cat.  I make enough noise so they know I am coming and the only one usually in my room is Marv and he is in the chair or on the bed.  He loves my room and spends the bulk of his day there. 

I heard from my cat sitter friend just checking in to see if I am alive.  He did it by text.  I noticed a pattern in that I would always call him and he would never call me.  Since most of my life's problems have been solved I no longer have the need to get him on the phone.  We haven’t spoken since we went to dinner on the 2nd of January.  I HATE communicating by text or in written form with friends, it’s much easier to pick up the damn phone.  However, in this case I am stubborn and don’t plan on giving in. 

I have managed to get my old ‘sex blog’ deleted.  Given the changes in Blogger/Google’s policy that will take effect next month.  From what I have read on-line most people are saying this is a witch hunt and goes against our right to free speech.  They are unfairly targeting the gay community.  Because apparently gay people are the only ones who have the need to post porn to the web.  I know that isn’t true but we do tend to obsess over men just a tad.  Blogger is a free service and there are other platforms that one could use if they wish to engage in posting nude photos to the web.  I’ve been stung once by the Blogger Scorpion and don’t plan on a 2nd.  The 1st was really a huge hit  - I lost my blog and all of my many followers from around the world.  I had no way to get in touch with them, it was as if I just disappeared.  There was no advanced warning or threat, they simply pulled the plug on me and it wasn’t unique to me, it happened to so many other people.  I said all of that to say this.  This is a free service if you don’t agree with the terms and conditions of the service then it’s time to move on.  I like free and the wonderful easy format that they have provided to use.  So for me it’s a no brainer to comply.  I will admit that it was hot and I got off on posting nude photos of other guys/porn stars to the web and talking about them and the few hot comments I got back.  However, in the end it was a fantasy world and that world is gone.  I am thankful to have this format to post my boring daily life, thoughts and feelings to.  It’s therapeutic and I am pretty well certain even though I only have 1 regular commenter that others are reading this, just not leaving comments.  While I wish I had more people leaving comments, I can’t force anyone to do anything – so I accept the situation for what it is.

Speaking of accepting I found an app called CP (compatibility partners) it’s ran by eHarmony and it’s specifically for gay people.  I was excited and downloaded it.  Completed the profile and then hit the pay wall.  Like most other service they want your money before you can do much.  I am able to see matches most of which are more than 200 plus miles away.  I can’t view photos of other guys because I haven’t paid for that privilege.  While I think they have a great matching system I don’t feel the need to pay to find my next partner.  I’ve done that in the past and it’s gotten me no where.  If it’s going to happen then it will and I don’t need to throw money at that problem.  Just invest time and save the money part for when I go on an actual date.  I know this will be a long process.  I told my therapist that I didn’t think that it was in the cards for me to have a partner based upon all of the negative experiences I have had with on-line dating.  She said that usually when clients say that out of the blue someone comes into their life and presto the search is over.  I told her that I hope it happens for me, but that I don’t have that kind of luck. 

Okay, enough yammering  I will stick a fork in this post and call it done.  Hard to believe tomorrow is March 1.  Sounds like it will be coming in like a Lion.  Also next weekend is time change weekend so we will be losing an hour of sleep.  Boo Hiss, but it also means that I will be driving mostly in the day light and no longer have a need to daily use my headlights, which is a good thing. 

Stay warm, be well and I will talk with you all again soon.  God Bless!

P.T.F.O.

FRIDAY….

So I made it home.  I ran into accidents, rain and that resulted in delays.  Plus my bladder kicked in and I eventually stopped to use the restroom and eat at Cracker Barrel.

On my way out of town I made a call and scheduled a massage for Saturday.  I figured I owe myself a little treat and my back would enjoy it. 

It was every bit of 8pm when I pulled in the driveway.  The children were chomping at this bit this time to see me.  Which was nice. 

I fed them and started to unpack and I was all over the house like a chicken running around with it’s head cut off.  I was a crazy person.  Finally I got everything taken care of and then stopped to watch some TV.

Before I knew it I was more than ready for bed.  I set my alarm and laid down in bed.  I was surrounded by cats, so not too comfy in a twin bed.  However, I enjoyed having them around.

SATURDAY….

Sound asleep and 2am Jumper starts crying loudly like something is majorly wrong.  He was upset that his mother was cuddling with me.  That’s his job.  He wouldn’t shut up until I got out of bed.  Not exactly the wake up call I wanted.  However, I got him in bed and we snuggled up.  He was so very happy.  His motor was on overdrive and he just cherished that time we had together.  I fell back asleep.

8:30 am was here in a flash and I got out of bed.  Fed the children.  Got dressed and headed out.  I went out for breakfast then got my haircut, I mean it’s super short and I think it looks really good.  Just wish my hair were a tad darker so you could see more of the ravishing red.  After my haircut it was massage time.  I was so ready. 

So I am on the table and the massage has started.  At which time the therapist tells me this is a 90 minute massage and it costs x dollars.  If you want deep tissue that is $10 more.  I won’t charge you extra for cupping.  I said OK.  That translated to her that I consented and I wanted deep tissue, which I did not.  However, I’ve had deep tissue massages before and what she gave me was a regular massage.  I figured she was pissed off because last time I didn’t tip her.  Frankly she wasn’t that good, more like average.  She also didn’t listen to me.  I said upper back only and she rubbed everything else and then finally spent a little time on my upper back.  I said avoid the lower back and she pounded on it. 

As you can imagine I was relaxed but not happy about the charges, which I didn’t find out about until the massage was done.  A little too late to dispute anything but I did try, despite having to franticly use the restroom.  I lost and rather than belabor the point I just left because to me a bathroom was a sure sign of relief. 

I came home, used the restroom and then stripped (ooh la la) and jumped into the shower.  If you look about 6 months ago when I had my last massage whatever this person used I was allergic to and broke out in a rash on my arms.  I vowed that would never happen again.  The shower was nice but I missed the extra water pressure you get when your in a hotel.  I then put on some boxers and laid down in bed, where before I knew it I PTFO.  It was the most relaxing sleep I have had in a very long time.  I woke up with what I am sure was low blood sugar, I was hot and needed to get moving.  It was 2:30pm and the day was getting away from me. 

I got dressed and headed to Steak & Shake where I saw 2 cute guys sitting at a table close to me and they were just having a good time.  They were either Seniors in High School or Freshmen in College – either way you look at it they were twinks.  Yum!  After I had my meal I ventured to the cat food store and then hit up the post office.  Then back home to unpack the food. 

As you can well imagine with the herd of animals I have the carpet was in need of some therapy.  After all it had been more than 2 weeks before it saw any sign of love.  Thankfully the whole time I was gone no diarrhea to clean up.  I vacuumed and then brought out the carpet cleaner.  The place looks much better, if I do say so myself. 

I started in on bills, putting things away and trying to restore order around here.  I also started on laundry which as you know is one of my least favorite things. 

All in all it was a productive and relaxing day.

SUNDAY….

I was up early again.  Stopped at Steak N Shake for Breakfast and then moved on to the grocery store.  Holy jumping beans they managed to remodel and rearrange the entire grocery store in the 2 weeks that I was gone.  The store has been rearranged 2 times in less than 3 months.  Of course I couldn’t find a damn thing.  Things I needed I had no idea where to look and once I move past it, there is no turning around unless it’s absolutely necessary.  When I got home I realized what I didn’t get.  Not happy but not horribly upset. 

Continued with laundry and of course this being the day after I cleaned the carpet Big Boy had Diarrhea.  So major mess to clean up.  Plus I had to clean him up.  He enjoys that way too much. 

Waited around for my cat sitter friend to call.  I wanted to return his laptop and we agreed to catch a bite to eat.  Finally he called and we got together.  That took up a few hours.  I had a very large salad and well didn’t think I would want supper but I did manage to eat a little bit. 

Stopped at the pharmacy to pick up my medicine and one of the hot pharmacy guys checked me out.  I mean he rang up my order, I checked him out!

Back home again for the day.  Did dishes, finished up laundry.  Scooped the litter boxes.  Spent time with the children.  Then suddenly I saw time flashing by it’s a rush to beat the clock. 

I still need to soak my feet.  They are killing me!  I bought some ice spray.  I figured it would go on super cold but it’s only mild cold and it does help block pain but you feel strange tingling instead of pain.  I really wish my foot pain would disappear. 

I also need to shave, take my meds and try to brush Big Boy and then medicate the 3 that are on meds.  Then it will be relaxation time and hopefully I sleep rather well tonight.  I am looking forward to tomorrow but also a little apprehensive.

I found myself upgrading from Grindr to Grindr Xtra the app was $1.  Then I learned that you have to have a subscription.  They give you 10 days and then expect you to pick a plan.  I don’t want to pay for looking and hitting on guys.  Something inside of me just took the bull by the horns before you know it I had a screen name, photo and complete profile.  I have already hit on 2 guys.  After I hit send on the 2nd one I was like what the hell am I doing?  I feel good about it but not exactly sure what it will lead to.  It would be nice to get a date and/or make a friend.  I don’t need to “hook up”.  A huge turn off for me is the status Right Now.  Meaning that they want to have sex.  That just spells slut to me and while that can be hot, it’s not a quality that I am looking for.  Who knows what they picked up and/or are carrying.  Dating & having sex is a scary world.  If anything happens or comes of my the contact I have made so far I will most certainly post about it. 

I was talking to myself on the way home from the lunch meet up and said well you got a good job now you need a good man and then hopefully life will fall into place and I can finally once again be happy. 

I did some research on my bankruptcy and it’s been 2 years since it was discharged.  That means I can apply for a loan in my name.  I got a mailer from a finance person it was addressed to my late partner.  However, I sent the guy and e-mail and outlined the situation.  I’m not sure if he can help me but asking for help doesn’t exactly have negative side effects.  The worst he can say is sorry I can’t help you.  However, I really don’t think that will be the case.  I’ve managed to stay current on all of my bills, including the mortgage despite 2 months of unemployment.  I survived!  Plus my credit has been reestablished and my score is now in the 700’s which is the GOOD category.  So hopefully that will all work to my advantage.  It is kind of premature to jump into a mortgage but I feel really good about my job, despite the fact I am going on my 3rd week.  If I can get a lower payment and avoid closing costs then I should be able to put money aside for a rainy day and/or get some things that I really want. 

That’s all I know for now.  The guy that I am working with said to plan on going out to lunch for the 3 days while he is in town.  I’m not terribly excited about it but it would be nice to know what’s around.  I mean this is a new part of town that I am working in.  It’s a part that I avoid because of traffic and parking as well as the fact everyone there thinks they are above you. 

So off to soak my feet and shave.  Maybe I should shave my feet and soak my face.  I honestly don’t think it would make a huge difference either way.  Have a good night and I will talk with you peeps again soon.

Thanks again for your readership and for sticking by my side.  Now if I could just get a few positive commenters I think all will be right with the universe!

Made it again

Here I sit in another hotel that charges for wifi.  What’s up with that?  They have bottled water in the room but if you break the seal it’s $6.00.  They only provide 2 small glasses, no paper or plastic cups.  The room is small but they have an actual honest to goodness shower.  I am looking forward to jumping in just a bit.  I still have to unpack. I covered the credit card issue upon check in and have sent work an e-mail so that they contact this place tomorrow and arrange for billing to go to them instead of me. 

The post office sent me a surprise e-mail.  Turns out my box rent is due by the end of the month.  $400 for a year.  If I had my druthers I would move to a smaller box.  However, I have a small fortune invested in pre-printed envelopes and then you have the hassle of telling everyone it’s just a mess.  So I am sticking with it.  They do offer you the flexibility to pay for 3, 6, or 12 months at a time.  Car insurance will be due again soon so I will probably take the 6 month option.

I said goodbye to the children again.  That was not fun but remarkably it was easier.  It’s like as soon as I got out the suitcase they knew what was coming.  One of the girls crowed like fog horn leghorn this morning so I really didn’t get much sleep.  I was so tired that I actually laid down and took a nap after a couple hours of stirring around the house. 

The cute guy from last week contacted me this morning.  It was unexpected but really good to hear from him.  We talked for a bit by text.  I will probably check in with him later or towards the end of the week. 

This week is crunch time, I have to absorb as much knowledge as I possibly can.  We had an outage of email being delivered to mobile devices.  I will admit it scared the crap out of me.  I thought maybe they had changed their mind about me.  The guy on call had a busy day but it was calmer than yesterday.  I hope that when my turn comes up I don’t get slammed.

I headed out for a bite to eat once I got here and every place is packed.  There is a concert in town.  You can barley hear yourself think.  I at least mapped out my coordinates to walk tomorrow.  Getting to work and getting back to the hotel will be a sinch.  I just hope that everything comes together this week and who knows maybe I will make a couple of new friends.  The guy in charge of Networking is really uber hot, so I will at least have eye candy besides the pron I bought. 

Well time to unpack, unwind and shower to prepare for tomorrow.  Which will be here quicker than I want it to be.  I will update this as time permits. 

Oh before I go against my therapists’ wishes I am still pursing getting ahold of my late partners medical records.  I’ve taken the maximum steps over the weekend, short of hiring an attorney.  I think & hope that I am on the right road to bringing that to a close.  I told them that I think they are hiding something to protect their own asses and that they are just trying to avoid me bringing litigation against them. Although that is not the intent behind getting the records. 

Night one and all.  Talk with you peeps again soon.

Made it ok

Okay so I arrived.  I have spent over an hour trying to connect.  There is a network cable in the room, I thought wow free internet.  Nope, it’s pay.  Hotel WIFI is pay as well.  Both same price.  I saw a Google Fiber Free WIFI that worked for a short period of time.  I really wish I had tethering on my phone then this would all be so much easier.  However, AT&T doesn’t give anything for free.  Verizon on the other hand, sure it’s wide open.  I miss them for that reason alone. 

TV here sucks.  The adult movies are all hetero, not that I would risk my job for pron.  They have new releases like Zack Effron in Neighbors but they want $17 to watch, it’s cheaper to go to the movies.

I tried streaming pron from home it works but there is a delay, not so good for getting off.  Luckily I brought pron on a USB stick.  However, this laptop that I am borrowing from a friend is all locked down, so when I get back home over the weekend I will be able to use a tool that will open up the administrator account, so that I can clear my tracks.  He will never have any idea.  I really don’t want him to think less of me or that the only reason I asked is because of pron, because it’s not.  I need to check e-mail at home, use on-line banking and of course blog.

One of my many favorite pron stars lives where I am at. I know he’s on Grinder and I really thought a lot about him on the way up.  It’s a fantasy that would be nice to fulfill but I’m not paying and well pron star, that is kind of opening yourself up to lots of risk.  Still it would be nice to be able to meet him in person, even if nothing sexual happens. 

There is an infamous gay bar, it’s a chain called Hamburger Mary’s.  They are supposed to have good food and I just looked it up, it’s 0.5 miles away from my hotel.  That would be something I paid for on my own dime, that is unless I wind up spilling the beans about my sexuality.  This is a fresh start so I am keeping plenty of secrets.

Time has really gotten away from me.  I need to get a shower and working the controls here will be a challenge, it’s all way too modern.  Brush my teeth, take my sleeping pills and jump in bed not before turning off all of the lights. 

I did 80 to 90 mph the entire way here once I got away from the city.  I saw plenty of places to stop.  There is like 2 adult book stores, which I am skipping.  There is the winery we used to visit, I will stop there and pickup some grape juice, it’s smooth and good.  I will be able to enjoy that.  I brought a bottle of water with me, drank it and had to pee most of the way.  I held it until I arrived and then found the bathroom – checked in and got settled.  Had a steak for supper which was just okay.  Online reviews said it was the bomb but it was just okay by me.  I’ve had better.  There isn’t much of a menu at the hotel restaurant.  I did hear they have a breakfast buffet so I will check that out tomorrow.  I also have the option of ordering breakfast to my room, fill out the little card, hang it on the door before 2am and presto everything arrives when you asked.

My room is over looking the swimming pool, mostly kids and women by the pool.  I don’t believe I will be checking it out but the week is still young.

Leaving the kids was the hardest part of the whole thing.  I almost cried.  I just hate them not knowing or realizing what is going on.  I told them but I don’t think they really understand.  I told them I would be back on Friday night.  I sure hope they are all okay.  I trimmed Shy Girls claws this morning and that was a huge mess.  However, I broke out the food and we became fast friends again.  She loves me just doesn’t like to be picked up or held down and no matter what don’t touch the paws unless you have protection on because she will lash out. 

So I think that if my late partner could see me now, he would be quite proud of how I managed things.  I really wish well you know that he was here. 

Okay, time to call it a night.  Talk with you peeps after my first day on the job.  I pray it’s everything that I want it to be and more. 

Strange

Last night I got an e-mail from my boss asking me to submit to him a list of projects I was working on, what they entailed and how long it would be before each one was done. 

I suppose I could go to him and ask why he wanted this information but I don’t feel that would be a good move.  There are only three reasons I can think of 1.  They want to replace me.  2.  They are thinking of getting me a helper.  3.  They are just nosy and want to know what I am doing with my time.   I suppose eventually it will play out.

Yesterday I was just dumped on with the travel thing.  I am more than over loaded right now.  It may cause some unseasoned people to freak out.  Normally it would cause me to freak out.  However, I just do one thing at a time.  I take the TAZ method … one foot in front of the other, eventually I will get to where I am going.  If you saw him walk, you would understand more, but he walks very slow unless there is a reason to do otherwise. 

I got a good surprise in the mail, something you might never ever see.  It was the Electric Bill and it said please pay $000.00.  Yep, one month free electric & gas.  We (I) are on budget billing so they adjust apparently on an annual basis.  Next month the bill will go down to $196, which is nice.  If they don’t want money I am not sending in any. 

The court documents arrived at the process server yesterday.  The documents should be served tomorrow or no later than Friday.  I signed up for 2 day service so I suspect it will be tomorrow.  However, matters not to me just so long as they get it.  Then we shall see what move they make next.  My best guess tells me we will go to trial.

Big Boy appears to be over his bought with DIahrea, at least last night he was.  Now TAZ has it.  It’s just like having kids one gets sick, they get better but passed it off to another.  Hopefully this doesn’t progress all through the house.  I found the medicine on-line through Amazon last night.  It’s not cheap but it’s less expensive than going to the vet.  I’ve got a few pills left and they have to be broken up, so it should last for a while.  TAZ gets a dose tonight, wish me luck, he doesn’t do so well with pills. 

BBQ Pork was okay, not the best and certainly not Jack Daniels.  I’ve got some left over but not sure if or when I will eat it.  Tonight I think is a Pot Pie night.  Simple but takes 10 minutes.  Then it’s boiling hot and you have to wait a couple minutes to eat.  My favorite part is breaking the crust and hearing the sizzle.  I let the juice soften up the crust.  Then it’s time to get my yum on.  Might not be the best meal in the world, might not even be healthy but it’s what for dinner. 

I still haven’t heard from dreamboat on the gay dating site.  However, they match you with a different person each day, if you both say yes then you know about it and can make date arrangements or whatever.  Today was an okay guy who is a couple years older than me.  I said yes just to see what happens.  Plus I’ve got my eye on another guy.  Not sure if I will hear from anyone or this whole little experiment will work but at least I can say I tried. 

Get to go to a meeting in a while to talk about what I will be doing on the road, who is going, etc.  I doubt that I will have specific dates this week.  I called my friends the cat sitters and July is a real pain in the ass for them.  If we can do August or even September that will be fine.  They are not excited but I told them no need to worry about medicine, just food and litter.  That’s all.  I figure if they could go for a week without medicine before they can do it again.  The other chief worry is what if Big Boy croaks while I am gone.  Well that is just the chance I will have to take.  I won’t want to get that news while I am on the road but I will want to know.  I’d ask them to keep him on ice for 24 hours to allow me to make arrangements to get home and have a wake with the other kids.  Then I am not sure if I would bury him or cremate him.  It’s something I have to think about but hopefully not something that I will have to act on anytime soon.  No matter when it happens I won’t be prepared, because you can just never prepare for death be it a person or a pet. 

I have to tidy up a bit before it’s time to go back to the daily grind.  Today is such a non-productive day that I am just ready to call it and go home, but I can’t do that.  I don’t exactly feel the best.  Not sure if my body is rebelling from the stress of the past 3 months or if it’s just allergies.  Each morning I wake up I say today is the day I am going back to bed.  I’m being good about it and coming in but I really just want to crash and not think about anything.  Relaxing is so hard for me to do.  Usually it requires some medication and a nice bed.  However, since I am the sole supporter at home I have to stay lucid for the children’s sake.  Ah well only a few more days and the weekend will be here.  Last week at this time I was saying only one more day.  Too bad that isn’t the case now. Another holiday would be nice. 

We have to work until September (Labor Day) until we get our next holiday.  That is like 2 months away.  Then it will be Thanksgiving and finally Christmas.  Then time to start all over again.  Big holidays like Thanksgiving & Christmas are going to probably be really hard.  However, one day and one step at a time. 

Off to tend to business now.  Talk with you peeps later.

Travel Time

So I found out a few short hours ago that I will be traveling across the country again.  I have to go back to each place and do security assessments from an IT perspective.  Everything has to be done by mid September so it looks like I will be on the road quite a bit.  I don’t have any details yet but they should be forthcoming soon.  I have to tell my cat sitting friends, I know they will be so thrilled.  I just hope it’s like 1 week at a time and not 2 or 3 weeks in a row.  Otherwise I will have to leave money behind for cat food and litter.  That would be asking a lot.

I heard back from the attorney regarding the wrongful death case.  He has to send the records to an expert and it will take about 2 weeks to get an opinion back.  I can only hope there is  a case.

I had a few other people view my profile on the dating site, they are all no where near me.  I don’t get it, why look at someone’s profile that is more than 100 miles from you.  The chances of you crossing paths are slim to none.  Unless they are looking for a hookup and I’m not playing that game, too much risk and not enough reward.  If you know what I mean.

Children were chomping at the bit about getting fed this morning.  Shy Girl was very affectionate, I guess everyone knew I didn’t really want to come to work.  If it wasn’t for the meeting that told me I had to travel, I wouldn’t have shown up at all.  I could have used another day just to lay in bed and think about nothing. 

The cute guy here at work has yet to respond to my friend request.  Either he thinks I am creepy, he is not interested or he just doesn’t get on social media all that much.  In any case, that is perfectly okay. 

It’s a busy day and that is a good thing.  Means that quitting time will come that much sooner.  Hopefully I don’t get the 2 or 3 pm lag where it seems like the earth is standing still.

Traffic wasn’t too bad this morning, I think a lot of people have started to schedule vacation and so it will be sporadic until August when kids go back to school and life evens out a little more for the average family.

BBQ Pork for supper, got to get the trash set out and who knows what fresh hell awaits me in the mail.  Then time to relax a little bit and prepare for doing it all over again tomorrow.  Gosh this working for a living really sucks but I am so thankful to have a job.  Living without one when it’s your only means for support really sucks!

Well speaking of work, I should get back to it.  Talk with you peeps later. 

Hit the road

I’m back just for a few hours and my boss told me that it was time to travel again.  Really?  This isn’t exactly the best time.  He wants me on the road as quickly as possible.  He is under the impression that this will be a 2 day trip and I can be back home soon.  Right, if only that were true.  I will have to plan on a week and hopefully I am done quick and can get home early. 

I knew the time would come to travel but I didn’t expect that it would be so soon.  Damn, I guess I picked the wrong week to come back. 

Work is going a million miles a minute.  I am buried in 2 weeks of crap to get done.  Then I get the trip and wow.  Let’s just say I am more than a little frazzled.  Come on 5pm.

Hopefully this will be the last trip for a while.  Right now I am all about staying close to the kids.  They are going to be so confused.  I am stressing a bit but I know it will all work out.

Talk with you peeps again soon.

Whirlwind

It’s been bonkers here at the office.  So much so that lunch time came and I was still working.  Plenty of boxes in my office with computer equipment in them.  I just got it all cleaned out before I left.  Now it’s messy again. 
A printer blew up while I was gone so they replaced it.  Two people moved desks and managed to move their own computer equipment, kind of nice.  I had to swap their phones but that was a 15 minute job.  Hooked up some Dual Screen monitors today and worked on configuring a Desktop.  Plus playing catch up and fielding calls & e-mails.
I’ve been working on this boring project for hours my neck hurts and I decided to take a break, well actually to end my day early, just no one knows that, so don’t go telling on me.  ::)
Something strange is going on here with 2 people moving, everyone seems to be acting a little different and I’ve got a feeling there is something brewing.  I just don’t know what.  I keep to myself and stay in my office, that way I stay out of trouble.
Oh the big mess with that ladies files, yeah it’s still being worked on.  Apparently the server that has the data on it, keeps crashing when you try to do a large file restore.  So they are having to do it in chunks.  It’s been on going since Friday.  Maybe by this Friday they will be done.  In any case I didn’t get in trouble, at least not yet.  I’m not expecting to now. 
Boss man seems very busy, I was told he is dealing with a lot of stuff right now.  I’m okay with that.  Let me be and I am fine.
On more of a personal note.  I saw a great movie this weekend on NetFlix called Bear City.  It’s about a young guy who likes Bears and I don’t mean the animal.  Kind of interesting.  This was  a Netflix recommendation.  If your in to watching Gay Movies, give this one a look.
I am also very happy that Shameless is back on on Showtime.  I saw the 2nd episode of the season last night.  It’s really good.  My main reason for watching is Ian – he is young, cute and gay.  The actor that plays the part is really getting buff.  I’d take me some Ian any day!
While I was out shopping this weekend, I picked up Vaseline Lotion for Men for Extra Dry Skin.  This stuff was cheap and does a great job.  My hands don’t feel greasy after I use it and it’s marketed to use on your body and face.  If you have dry skin guys, check this out.
It was hard to come back today but I made it almost through the entire day.  Now if my partner could just remember that we are having Pork Roast tonight and not Chili life would be good.  He’s talked about Chili for supper tonight since yesterday when I suggested a Pork Roast.  I keep reminding him about the Roast and he says yeah I forgot.  Turns out he tried to make chili but we don’t have the ingredients.  He called me in a panic and I told him make the roast.  I’m starting to worry more about him.
I think that I’ve told you before when I was younger and in therapy, my therapist a gay man himself told me not to fall in love with an older man.  He didn’t say why.  Funny how things turned out.  Like that was my warning sign.  I’ve been through hell and back.  Now I’m watching him fall apart slowly – physically and mentally.  He doesn’t take as good of care of himself as he should. 
Right now he’s got breathing problems.  He is going back to the doctor on Wednesday.  I think they might hospitalize him again.  If so, that will be a bitch.  I hope they just up his meds.  He walks a little bit and is out of breath like he just ran a marathon.  Kind of sad.  I think it’s his CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) giving him trouble.  Last time over the summer he forgot to take his medicine for a couple days.  He tells me now that he is taking his medicine. 
Tonight I’ve got to take care of the trash, pack my lunch, play a little bit on the computer and the rest of the time will be in front of the TV waiting for time to go to bed.  At least I won’t be working myself to death like I was last week.  My body is still trying to recover.  I only hope it does so quickly.  I shouldn’t have any problems sleeping tonight!
Hope all is well in your world.  I will talk with you peeps later.

Made it back

So I made it back safe I don’t know about the sound part!  Some of this story is disjointed, sorry if it confuses you.

My travel woes for this trip.  1st the plane I was supposed to board had a flat tire, so that screwed up my connecting flight.  I had to make other arrangements.  I got in and they ran out of Impalas so I had to take a Jeep but they charged me for an upgrade.  I thought the drive to the hotel would be 30 minutes.  It was more like 1 hour and 30 minutes.  I drove in the dark and rain.  I had Taco Bell for supper and didn’t get to the hotel until 10pm.  My room at the 1st place was average.  I lucked out and got a Jacuzzi.  I used it but wish now that I hadn’t.  I had to drain the tub because of the stuff in the water.  When I was sitting in it I kept thinking how unclean it is and cut my time short.  I had problems regulating the climate so I slept with the heat off, which was a bad move.  I got sick because it was cold in the room.  I was able to shake it off for a couple days but by Friday I was really felling it.  It rained everyday but Friday.  I took a shower on Monday, I had problems with the water and getting it to turn off, instead of off I turned it all the way to hot, I managed to knock the shower head off in trying to get away from the scalding water. Finally got it turned off.  I worked through lunch and didn’t have anything to eat until Supper which was very late.  Monday night I was woke up to what sounded like a fire alarm, turns out it was the person upstairs taking a shower and the pipes rattled just like a bell, which I thought might have been there fire alarm.  The first place had more work for me than I had time.  I had to cut my losses and get out of Dodge.  I worked late every night, drove in day light & rain.  Left in darkness and rain.  Went to Shoney’s but the food was horrible – nothing like I remembered.  Had plenty of Taco Bell the first part of the week.  My iPhone charger went out on me so the only way I could charge my phone was in the Jeep.  The 1st hotel served the same damn thing for breakfast every morning.  Biscuits and Gravy along with Scrambled Eggs, which were pellets, not real eggs. 

By mid week I figured out the automatic start button for the Jeep, loved that.  The thing had Satellite Radio so I didn’t have to listen over and over to the mixed CD I burned.  Its cargo space also came in handy when I went to the 2nd facility.  On the way to the 2nd place I got a call from home that Big Boy seemed to be taking a bad turn.  That shook me up, I had to get off the road get something to eat, call back home and talk it out.  Turns out he was fine, it was just a misunderstanding.  Still it was one of my greatest fears when I travel.  Got back on the road and arrived at the 2nd place.  Left when it was dark and raining.  Had problems finding the hotel, but got there.  Checked in and went straight to Cracker Barrel.

I found it rather odd that Cracker Barrel was in close proximity to a strip club and an adult toy shop.  Still I know good food and they had it going on.  So much that I ate there for the remainder of the week. 

Back to my check in at the 2nd place.  They lady told me they would put me in room 330 but they put me in room 320.  The next morning the cleaning person tried to get in but couldn’t because I had her locked out.  Thank God because I just got out of bed and didn’t have any clothes on.  That would have been slightly awkward.  So, I hightailed it to the shower and tried to get out as fast as I could because I knew she would get back.  While I was getting dressed (after my shower) my cell phone rang and it was the hotel.  They went to my room and apparently no one was there so they wanted to know if I was staying there.  I told them yes, I was in my room.  I went about my business and while I am eating breakfast I got another call they wanted to know what room I was staying in.  Jeez, someone is unorganized.  They wrote down 330 but gave me keys to room 330.  The room was nice and very spacious.  You could tell it was a fresh remodel.  When I got back on Thursday night I had an envelope laying on the table, they wanted me to tip the housekeeper.  Really?  Yeah.  For the price the room cost I didn’t think that was appropriate, they were getting a really good amount of money for each night.  I was kind of offended that they would even ask for a tip.  I got myself packed up and ready to go for Friday morning, time to get home.

Made it to the airport in plenty of time.  It was a very small airport and this time I had to walk out to the plane and climb up the steps just like you see in the movies.  Except this was a propeller driven plane and it held like 9 people.  The safety talk was different on this plane, they talked about a fire extinguisher.  I really had my doubts that we were going to make it.  But we did.  No free beverage on this plane.  When we landed I was feeling pretty nauseated.  I stopped at a Pub and had a burger and a Panna Cotta along with a Diet Coke.  That took some of the edge off but I still felt bad.  Got on the 2nd plane and I put my jacket in the seat next to me, I was asked to seat belt it in when we were in the process of taking off.  I said I would just hold it and was told nah, you can put it back.  I thought that was odd.  Got my free beverage on this plane, water.  That was good.  Landed to hear a voice mail someone had spyware on their computer.  I told them I was at the airport and would have to fix it on Monday. 

I left out that I got a panic call on Thursday from the bosses assistant that her files were gone from My Documents.  She was having some problems so she rebooted and once she did, they were gone.  Really?  I think she deleted them on accident, never heard of My Docs being wiped out from a reboot.  Anyway I went to the server and found that they appeared to be backed up.  So I started a restore.  She wanted to get our IT Vendor involved, so I did that.  Really nothing for them do to until the restore completed. I logged on Thursday night and it was still going, very slow.  It was a lot of data.  I didn’t think of it until a couple hours ago.  I went to follow up and got no response, which is odd.  I also didn’t get the usual good job email from my boss, which is really odd.  So I checked the server and the restore was frozen at 7%.  However, it looked like all of her data was back.  So I killed the restore job, applied a Windows Update and rebooted the server.  I reached out to our IT Vendor because they didn’t keep me in the loop, asking for an update and letting them know what I had done.  So we shall see come Monday.

The no response from the lady and not getting the good job e-mail from my boss have me thinking that they are some how going to turn this around to be all my fault and either yell at me or kick me out the door.  Ok, so I was on the road and did as much as I possibly could.  I should have followed up on Friday but it honestly never crossed my mind since I engaged the vendor they had the ball.  I’m a little stressed over it.

I also got a call that there was a little shake up in the office and they have screwed a couple people over.  Of course I got bothered all week long and have plenty more than I can handle scheduled for Monday.  I will work it out somehow. 

Came home to a disaster.  The house smelled like a Tuna Can, litter boxes hadn’t been cleaned and cat crap all over the floor.  So I had to work overtime to get this place back into shape when all I really wanted to do was collapse.  The best part was when I went to get in bed I found out the cats threw up all over it.  Nice!  Plus my partners computer had issues so I had to fix it.  He really needs a new machine but there is this problem called money.

I got my tooth drilled today at the dentist, my teeth are very sensitive now. That always happens after dental work but it’s been so long since I had anything done I forgot about it.  We had a nice supper and a cute waiter.  We also took a short nap together.  I still have plenty of stuff to get done around here but really just want to relax.  It’s coming up on 10pm and I am still adjusting from Eastern to Central time.  I think it’s time to veg a little.

Way too stressful of a week but I accomplished both installations and got super lucky with both of them.  They were done in hours instead of days.  I’m getting smarter as time goes on so I really have this down to a science.  Plus this time I shipped back all of the unused equipment so it will be less to order for the next install.  The number of places that have WIFI is getting less, which means there is less of a reason to have me travel. I kind of like the sound of that.  Traveling is nice in that it gets me out of the office.  However, each time when I return I really just want to go back on the road and kind of live my life at a distance.  Don’t get me wrong I miss home but it’s nice to get a break.

Okay, off to try to veg but not w/o taking care of some laundry.  Sorry for the long update and delay but as you can see I was super busy and very tired.  I will keep you posted on how things go Monday, it may be that I am worked up over nothing.

Alive & Ready to go home

This trip started off bad.  The plane I was supposed to board, had of all things a flat tire.  That screwed up my connection flight, so I had to make other arrangements.  Finally got to my destination only to find they ran out of Impala’s so I am stuck in a Jeep.  It took me 5 minutes to figure out how to get the key out of the ignition.  Push in then turn and remove the key.  The trip from the airport to my hotel was much longer than I anticipated.  I didn’t get in until 10pm and Taco Bell was my supper.

I ate and went to bed.  Woke up in the middle of the night with heart burn but went back to sleep. 

Woke up this morning only to find that my iPhone didn’t charge overnight, the cable is bad.  Then I knocked off the shower head, thankfully after my shower was done. 

Drove to the facility this morning.  Got lucky and the wifi in this place is done.  Now I am disinfecting computers – everything seems to have viruses.  I didn’t get lunch and was supposed to leave at 4.  Stayed until 5:30.  Drove for an hour to get back to hotel in the pouring rain.  Ate at Shoney’s, which was horrible.  Now in hotel.  Called home all is well. 

I am on Central Time but it’s Eastern Time here.  So while it feels like 7:30 it’s really 8:30.  TV sucks.  Going to get wet and then get in bed for the night. 

Taking my time in the morning since my main reason for being here is done.  Will no doubt have a long day tomorrow.  Hopefully I can find some good food. 

Talk with you peeps later!  I sure hope the rain stops.

Winter Storm

So Mother Nature isn’t going to let me travel with ease to the airport tomorrow morning.  We have a Winter Storm moving in.  Right now it’s just rain and it’s been going for hours.  Tonight the temperatures' drop to a low of 19 degrees. So all of that rain will be ice.  Then we are supposed to get some sleet and snow on top of it.  About 2 inches of total accumulation is expected.  Sure wish I wasn’t leaving until Monday now.  :(

Friday I worked a 1/2 day in the office.  Got all of my loose ends tied up and cleaned up the old e-mail IN BOX so that I wouldn’t come back to a nightmare.  I will try to manage e-mail as best as I can when I’m on the road.  It’s not a high priority for me and some things just have to wait until you get back. 

When I left work on Friday I headed to get my car washed.  I had a code that was going to expire, so I went to use it and the machine told me it had already been used.  Well how do I refute that?  I mean I had the receipt but I can’t prove I didn’t use it.  So there was $9 down the drain.  So I paid another $9 to get my car washed.  Everything started out fine and then in the middle of the wash, the robot decided to stop working, the door went up and it told me to leave while it was just pouring water.  It quit just before it applied the wax and Rain X.  I was tired and didn’t feel like arguing, so I just went home.  I wanted to sleep.  That happened for about 10 minutes and then it was time to go out for supper.

I started to head for the pie place, but then I thought about all of the work I had to do and changed course.  We went to a local place, it was just okay.  I liked my desert better than my meal.  Back home.

I at least started on laundry.  I had some computer problems of my own.  I noticed for a while that videos don’t play back right regardless if they are from YouTube or something stored on my machine.  So I thought video card driver.  I updated it and the videos play great now.  But my machine freezes up when I am away from it.  I fixed that by removing the drivers, rebooting and then installing the update.  That worked for a solid week.  Friday when I went to remote in from work, I couldn’t connect.  When I came home I found my machine frozen again.  It’s been fine ever since the reboot but I don’t want to take a chance since I am going on the road, so I have a scheduled task that will reboot the machine every day at 4 am.  That should hopefully keep things cleared up or so I hope.

After I was done with that, I went out for a haircut, the line was HUGE.  About an hour later, I got home and had to remote in to look at a machine.  It’s a case of PC Envy.  I got one person a new machine, so their neighbor now wants a new machine and every time her machine hiccups she calls me.  I got a voice mail on Friday afternoon that said since I can’t reach you, I am going home that is if I can turn off my computer.  Really?  If you remove the power source the machine won’t keep running.  If it does then I would get the hell out of Dodge and fast!  Needless to say I didn’t find a damn thing wrong with it.  It’s only 3 years old, running XP but it’s still good.  The BIOS hadn’t been updated and I found a Chipset Driver as well, so I updated them.  Scanned for Viruses and Spyware nothing found.  The hard drive was a little fragmented, so I defragged it.  The machine performed fine for me.  Hopefully, I don’t hear anything further from this person, at least hopefully not next week.  I don’t have time for crazy, silly or bullshit.  I’m on a tight deadline to complete a project. 

After all that I was just tired and wanted to go to bed.  I did a little self pleasuring and yup it was time for bed.  Slept in until 8 this morning.  Fed the kids and we got a move on.  We hit the baker shop, Waffle House and then had to swing by the office.  I realized I forgot 2 things.  Then back home and we made it here by 11am.  Then it was time for a nap that lasted until 1.  Then on to the grocery store, where my partner conveniently forgot his wallet.  So I was stuck paying for grocery's that I hadn’t planned on paying for.  Back home in the rain.  Put the grocery’s away.  Then back to laundry and that damn machine.  We just went to supper and here I am again, laundry time.  Then I have to clean the house, put out my medicine and get the trash out and pack.  After that I am going to rest.

I have my boarding passes all printed.  I decided to turn on 2 sided printing, because normally you get your boarding pass, the weather, airport tips and Sudoku puzzles.  Yeah, bad move.  It printed both boarding passes (it’s a connecting flight) on the same sheet of paper, then after that is when I got all of the crap.  Other airlines let you print your pass multiple times, not this one.  It was a one shot deal. I wouldn’t worry except that normally when you check in at the gate, they rip the pass in half.  So to cover myself, I made a photo copy so I should be safe. 

I’ve got to burn a couple music CD’s for the road, you know my 3 hour drive on Wednesday.  Yeah that aught to be a good time.  Plus this time I am taking my own USB drive with porn on it.  That way if my computer at home decides to freeze up, at least I won’t be out of luck! 

The weather at my destination will be rain all week long until I leave on Friday then the sun comes out.  At least it will be in the 50’s, which shouldn’t be too bad.  Beats the weather they are going to have to deal with here.  I just hope there aren’t any weather issues getting me there or getting me back home.  Not looking forward to next Saturday that much, I have to visit the dentist to get drilled and not in a good way.  I do know once I get back I will be able to breath easier.  Right now I am nervous wreck.  1 2 3 4 Pressure!

If I am not too worn out, tomorrow night I will put up a post at least letting you know I made it.  After tomorrow night I am not sure what my evenings will be like, it depends a lot on how well things go.  Considering I’ve done this multiple times and have different tricks, I am hoping we get done in one day.  We did at the last place, but I had a team of 2 guys doing the hard part.  Not sure what kind of guys I will be working with but hopefully they will be good.  They don’t have to look good, just know how to do their part of the job and I should be fine. 

The best part of the day was at the grocery store where I saw Taylor Lautner Shirtless.  Here’s a photo…

Well time for me to get a move on or nothing will get done at all.  Talk with you peeps later. 

Middle of the week

Little shy girl is back to normal.  She was next to me last night at supper time.  I was eating left over pizza so she got nothing.  However, she begged like no tomorrow.

I was so dead tired last night.  I wanted to go straight to bed but knew that I wouldn’t sleep through the night so I stayed awake until 10ish and then called it a night.  The 2 boys and I headed for dreamland.  I didn’t sleep the entire night but what sleep I got feels good.  Wish I could get more right about now. 

Work has been a crazy day so far.  Phone calls and e-mails flying.  Thankfully it’s calmed down now.  I hope I can meet my goal of getting 2 machines out today, as I promised.  I have another 2 to deliver to a local facility but I’m saving that for either Thursday or Friday.  Shooting for Thursday afternoon right now, but no one knows that.  I figure my travel arrangements won’t come through until Friday.

Supper tonight will be semi-homemade soup.  We bought a mix from the store, my guy cut up left overs from a roast and threw it in.  So it’s supposed to be like a Vegetable Beef.  Looked good last night but I was all set for pizza.  Right now what I really want is Lasagna.  That sounds so good to me. 

Travel arrangements are made.  I will be flying all over the East Coast on Sunday.  I originally was scheduled for Monday but had them change it because the first place I am going has several computers with problems.  Might as well gain as much time as I can.  The strange part is the travel agent changed the flight but forgot to change the car reservation to Sunday.  Thankfully Hertz allows you to make changes on line, regardless of who booked the reservation.  I upgraded to an Impala it was $8 more and added in GPS.  Might as well be comfy, considering on Wednesday I will have a 3 hour drive on my hands. 

The best part is that I only have to work a 1/2 day on Friday since I am leaving on Sunday.  I also get back pretty early in the afternoon the following Friday.  So it will be like plenty of extra weekend time.  That is nice.  Now if the trip were just over I would be so much happier. 

I’ve got to burn some Music CD’s so I will have something to listen to when I’m driving.  There is no shortage of driving.  I don’t know why I get so worked up before I travel but I just do.  I know that everything will fall in place, as it always does.  God be with me!

I’m sitting here at home patching servers at work with Windows Updates.  My iPhone seems to have more updates than Windows.  Everyday it’s one application or another. 

Soon it will be time for my nightly wind down routine.  I’m still hungry but really don’t need to eat anymore.  I am also very tired.  I did live up to my goal for today and got both of those machines out.  My office is starting to look more normal.

Tomorrow I will be headed to a local place to install two machines.  I called to let one of the people know I was coming.  I found out that she was terminated.  Really?  Yup.  I got her access shutdown but damn no one communicates.  I bet the first time someone does something malicious that costs them money they will start communication.  Come to think of it, that’s already happened.  I guess they will never learn!

So that’s my two cents for today.  Talk with you peeps later.

The Dust Buster

Here we are Tuesday.  I woke up in the middle of the night and one of the girls wanted to sleep with me.  I shouldn’t have let her in but I did.  I spent the next 3 hours with 2 cat in a twin bed.  How much sleep do you think I got?  Right, I’m tired this morning.

I noticed that our shy girl was missing this morning.  I kept calling her but she never answered.  I found her in the basement.  She looks like she is sick, so I told her she could stay home from school today.  I hope that she decides to start eating.  Having so many of the little furry creatures, it always appears to be something with one of them.

Big Boy made a mess on the carpet last night.  So I was late in getting to bed.  I don’t see a reason to clean the carpet anymore.  I get it all clean and the other residents mess it up.  I’m the neat one.  Although last night I did make my guy Carmel Corn and made a mess in the microwave.  The difference is I got it cleaned up right away.

Checked in @ home @ lunch time and our shy little girl hasn’t surfaced.  I suspect she is still in the basement.  Perhaps when I get home tonight I will have some better news on her. 

I’ll bet your just dying to know what is for supper.  Tonight left overs.  Pizza for me.  Ribs for my guy.  Should be quick and hopefully delicious.  We have to work on clearing the fridge out, way too much stuff gets thrown away.

I decided about my travel arrangements to just let the cards fall where they may.  I asked for the arrangements to be made and said I would be going next week.  Now I will have to wait and see what they come up with before I can book hotels.  Hopefully they don’t wait until Friday to spring everything on me.  I hate last minute notification.

I am sitting here at my desk, all horned up.  Funny thing is when I get home I will be so tired that all I will want to do is collapse.  You never think your priorities will change but age has a way of changing everything!

I’m working on the dust buster machine from yesterday.  It sounded horrible, got that fixed with some air and thermal grease.  The fan was working overtime.  The machine is old but still viable to use.  So I am working on cleaning it up.  It was infected with Mal and Spyware as well as a virus.  I’ve got my final scan going on now and I’m also running Windows Update.  It’s running Windows XP, which really takes me back.  Lots of business environments still have XP and Vista.  However, the primary OS is Windows 7. 

Speaking of computers, I heard over the weekend that the DOD (Department of Defense) has placed an order with Microsoft to upgrade to Windows 8.  Yeah, really.  I wonder what they are thinking.  I used it for about 15 minutes and was ready to scream.  You can get it back to feel like Windows 7 by purchasing an add on, but why even bother.  It’s just not an OS to be used for business.  Hmm, so maybe I should suggest to the boss that we upgrade everything to Windows 8 and then I would always be in demand.  Not going to happen. 

Thus far a very calm day, boss man not here so everyone is relaxed.  I got a call this morning about going to a local facility but thankfully I was able to save the trip and talk them through it over the phone.  They had a computer with internet problems.  Turns out someone unplugged the network switch.  As soon as they plugged it back in, all is working again.  The lady I was talking to said thanks but then again you didn’t really do anything.  I just shrugged that one off.  However, I was thinking bitch you couldn’t figure it out so yes I did do something.  It’s working now that you talked to me!  I mean she wasn’t smart enough to figure it out.  People should think more before they speak.

Well back to the dust buster.  Sitting here watching it churn is painful and I’ve got another machine that needs to go out today.  I’m thinking that they both will ship out tomorrow.  I guess that is better than not shipping at all.  One more day won’t kill them. 

Hope all is well in your world.  Talk with you peeps later.

Sunday

The dreaded Sunday, day before you have to go back to work.  It’s difficult if you have been on vacation or in my case out sick for 2 days.  I enjoy time away from work, but I just don’t seem to get enough of it to satisfy me.  I think tomorrow will suck, but I won’t know for sure until it gets here.  I’m preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. 

Laundry here is all backed up.  My partners bladder has been working overtime and just when I think I’m done, nope I have something else to wash.  He is very frustrated because we can’t even go out for a simple meal with him having an accident.  I’m sick of it and I know he is too.  However, he says what can I do the doctor doesn’t want to do anything about it.  I told him be more forceful or if push comes to shove let me talk to them.  He is afraid that he will be told to get a new doctor.  I have a tendency to speak my mind and I throw the f bomb for some extra good measure.  Yeah, that will get your doctor to tell you to move on real quick.  However, if they aren’t working for you maybe they need a kick in the ass – I’m the person who will give it to them. 

Today we slept in until 11 then got going.  Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  Home by 1 and then to the grocery store and out for pizza at 4 and back by 7.  That’s the entire day. 

I did find something really cool.  I downloaded the Roku App from the Apple App Store and now I can control my Roku box through my iPhone.  The trick is both your Apple I device and your Roku box need to be connected to the same wireless network.  Then it just works.  How cool is that!  The better part is it’s free.  I don’t believe in paying for apps, at least not with my money.  Besides that there are all sorts of free apps that do lots of things.  You might have to put up with an ad, but big deal.

Last night hearing nothing from Otter Box, I decided to email my photos again.  I resized one of them because they demand 3 photos.  That did the trick.  I got an e-mail from them this morning that a replacement will be on the way to me within 7 business days.  Okay.  So the first time this happened I gave them my work address, which is a physical address, they sent the item by the Post Office.  This time I gave them a Post Office Box and they are sending the item by FedEx.  I don’t get it.  Unless they are using FedEx Smart Post – that would work.  It’s a service where the package starts out with FedEx, they deliver it to your local Post Office and then the Post Office takes it from there.  I won’t have a tracking number until it ships.  That is when I will be able to tell if there will be a problem or not. 

Talking with my partner about my trip.  He is suggesting that I fly out on Sunday.  I really don’t want to but it would give me an extra day, since the 1st day is always wasted on travel.  I would be able to spring into action come Monday morning  He also suggests not returning home until Saturday.  Yeah, that one I’m not going to do.  I will ask about the Sunday travel part but it’s totally up to the company.  The more I think of it I may actually be able to pull this job off if they give me that extra day.

Well it’s time to cycle laundry.  Brush my teeth and get ready for bed.  Wind down time.  I sure hope I sleep extra good tonight because I think I will need everything my body has to offer tomorrow.  Good night and I will talk with you peeps later.