Waiting

So I'm at the airport with about another hour to kill. I've had to walk from one end to the other. I'm so early for my connecting flight that it's not even posted on the board. Thankfully my iPhone has an app for that and I got the #s from it. Just sitting around waiting isn't much fun at all. When I was leaving home a bunch of kids were headed to Cancun. There was a blue eyed blond hair boy that I wish was coming on my trip. His teeth were as white as snow. Not to mention he had a banging body! :)

Last night packing took way too long it was like I never packed for a trip before. The cats hated it and kept getting in my way. #1 son would have jumped in my luggage. It was bad enough that momma sat on my pants. Like it was her new nest.

Getting up at 4 was also not fun. I did get Big Boy his medicine and got the trash out early. Two less things my guy will have to do. He wants to mop the kitchen floor that should be interesting to see. I'm already ready to go back home. Right now lunch sounds good but I already planned where I was going. So come on airplane, I needs to get going.

Be well and stay safe. I will talk with you peeps later!

Prepare for take off

I am super tired.  Got up at 8 am this morning, went to breakfast and all I want to do is sleep.  However, nothing will get done if I lay down, so I am keeping myself moving.  Granted I am not going as fast as I want to, but I am still awake, which is a plus.

I had to beg for my travel arrangements and finally got them late in the day on Friday.  I have to get up at 4am Monday morning to make my flight.  It’s a connecting flight.  Normally there is a small lay over but I’ve got 2 hours.  Monday is pretty much shot.  By the time I arrive, get my car, check in at the hotel, eat lunch and drive to the facility it will be well after noon.  However, I will do my best.  I mean that is all anyone can ask.

I got the rental car reservation modified so that it includes GPS.  Normally they have plenty of these units but I don’t want to take a chance, I mean I can’t afford to get lost.  Even though I am sure I will get into at least one fight with the damn thing.

My flight home on Friday gets in very late.  I am not thrilled about that and think that was done on purpose.  They are supposed to be looking for an earlier flight but we shall see.  I honestly think it’s lip service and I am stuck with it.  So be it.  I looked on line myself and I can get plenty of earlier flights but I can’t book anything myself or I would get in trouble.

I already know it’s going to be one hell of a week.  Plenty of chaos and maybe even some fun mixed in.  Over all I will be tired and very exhausted.  I am not excited about leaving like I normally am.  I really wish I could put this off a week but might as well get it over with.  I will be glad when this trip is done.  Sad part is I will have to book a return trip, well that is provided I get to keep my job.  I so don’t trust these people.

On the home front my partner and I went to see my mom and brother yesterday.  It was nice but a trip that lasted way too long.  Not much is new.  I did get to see the new refrigerator and it looks nice.  A special compartment in the freezer for Frozen Pizza.  What will they think of next?  That was totally awesome!

I got a heck of a surprise in the mail yesterday.  My renters insurance came.  They raised my rates by $48 because I filed Bankruptcy.  I started shopping and found a little more coverage and saved about $2 per year.  Not sure if I want to make the switch, but probably will.  I got curious and started shopping auto insurance rates.  Damn it’s like I am 18 again .. they want $600 + for 6 months of coverage.  While I haven’t received my auto policy renewal, I wanted to help prime myself for what might be ahead.  If my premium jumps that much I will not be happy.  I would have to look into carrying less coverage, which is something that I don’t want to do.  Right now as it is my rates are around $260 for 6 months and that is not bad at all.  I can afford a slight rate increase but nothing significant.  I’ve already reached out to the company I am with and voiced my opinion.  It’s legalized discrimination.  I fail to see the relationship between my credit and the amount of money I pay for any type of insurance.  It’s just crazy.  However, there isn’t much that I can do about it. 

If you ever file and have an auto loan, the bank your vehicle is financed with will stop reporting your payment history.  It’s just part of the process.  I have managed to get my bank to go back an put in past payment history as well as agree to file future payment history, since I signed a reaffirmation agreement.  The agreement says that I am legally responsible for the debt and that I agree to repay them under our original agreement.  Not all places will give in to the demand to report payment history.  However, I’d like to get on the fast track to getting my credit score up, so that the price of insurance comes down.  My score was in the 700’s before I filed and now it’s 590.  With the car payment information I hope that will increase things to closer to 620.  Every point helps.

I found out that Lawn Boy is getting married next month.  That’s great news.  I hear with the drought we have experienced, he is hurting for money.  Hey, times are tough all over.  He didn’t think anything of hitting me up for $90 worth of service last year that I didn’t authorize so I really don’t feel bad for him.  It will all work out in the end.  However, he hasn’t been here since the early part of the month.  From the looks of things I’d say he is done here for the year but never say never.

Well I still have to clean the house, finish laundry, pack, get food for the kids and my partner, as well as fill up his truck with gas.  So I should get myself in gear but I really have no motivation.  All I want to do is sleep.  Wish me luck because I will need it.  I don’t know that I will have any time to blog, but if I do, I will.  Otherwise there will be an update next weekend.

Take care, be well, stay cool & hydrated.  I will talk with you peeps later!

Working it out

So it looks like I will be gone for 1 week, which is kind of a relief.  The boss doesn’t want me out of the office that long.  Probably because he is waiting for me to work on his personal computer.  Anyway, this trip is going to be a bit of a cluster and a semi-waste of time.

I was asked to “manage my time” .  Funny thing is I remember that in school and I always did exceptionally well with time management.  I may not remember everything but I know how to manage my time.  :)  So I can start out at the first place that I know will take a week.  If I don’t see progress after two days, then go to the other place that is 5 hours away and knock out the 2 days worth of work there.  Then drive 5 hours back so I can catch a flight on Friday.  Yeah, like I said a cluster!  I don’t like it but I will do it his way because he is paying the bill.  I was told that I can always go back.

The thing I don’t get is that the 1st place I want to go, is the place that he wants this up and running like yesterday.  Now all of a sudden it can wait.  WTF!  Make up my mind.  I really hate it when your given a direction and then mid way it changes.

My travel arrangements are pending but I am hopeful that I will have something tomorrow.  Being gone a week, I know that everything at home should (crosses fingers) be okay.  The place will be a pig sty when I get back, but I can deal with that.  Just as long as everyone is alive, well and happy to see me. 

I got my new keyboard all hooked up.  I like having no wires but I really wish I could have duplicated my setup at home.  That would require the purchase of two desktop sets (keyboard & mouse).  I like the mouse I have but the keyboard well, it’s okay but there is one better.  I’m still happy because I got what I wanted. 

I am looking forward to airplane rides, free food and hopefully it will be good, not to mention sleeping in a hotel.  I have already checked and if it works out like I think, I should be able to stay exactly where I want.  The only thing that would make the trip better is if I got the Impala back for a rental car.  We shall see.  For sure I will need the GPS, I just hope we don’t fight!

I’ve pretty well given up on work today.  It’s the last 1/2 hour and everyone that matters is gone so no one knows that I am screwing off and I like that!

Think about all of the extra time I put in the last time I travelled, working until the wee hours of the morning.  Then I ask for time off to see the doctor and I have to use my vacation but I am a salaried employee.  Funny I am treated like an hourly employee.  There is no remuneration or compensation for going the extra mile, it’s appreciated but that is it.  It won’t get you anywhere here.

Funny story, I ordered two desktops from Dell.  They weren’t supposed to show up until tomorrow.  However, when I got back from lunch I had 2 monitors and 1 desktop.  I called and turns out FedEx delivered the other desktop to my old employer.  Yeah, were like 3 blocks apart.  I sure hope everyone in IT got a good look at the package, so now they know where I work.  I guess it’s time to notify security!  FedEx is going to fix it but it will take 24 hours to get the misdelivered package and then redeliver it to me.  I guess the driver was used to seeing my name associated with my former employer, because I did all of the ordering there.  Look like he will actually have to read the address now. :)

Wow, 15 minutes until freedom.  I should tidy up my office and prepare to go el homo.  Tonight’s meal is Italian Sausage, home made Potato Chips and the last slice of Lemon Pie.  My mouth is watering already, just thinking about the pie.  Food is one of the many things I look forward to and can’t seem to get enough of.  Speaking of which, I am supposed to go to lunch with an old friend from my last job.  I thought about phoning him and asking him to bring along my computer.  I hope that works out, it will be good to see him again and catch up.  Hopefully, none of the ears from here will follow me.  I would like to be able to speak freely w/o any worries.

So that’s my story for now.  I am going to run so I can prepare to start my evening.  Stay cool, be well and I will talk with you peeps later!

A little storm

A little storm blew in today.  I got tied up by a stupid printer and spent most of my day on the phone with tech support at HP.  I like HP but I still say those letters stand for HUGE PROBLEM!  Damn modern technology!

So my work is backing up, no more goofing off.  I tried to get my travel arrangements today and was told try again tomorrow.  Okay, so I am not the only one busy.  We had a couple people walk out from one place.  Every other place is hiring and needing accounts created or PC’s ordered.  It’s just k r a z y.  Plus I’m going to travel, yeah hate to see my in box after that trip.  It should suck.

I’ve been unwinding tonight with some music.  Check out this video, I like the song but the video is entertaining, especially if you’re a gay man.  Just watch it from start to finish and you’ll get it!

Take care and be well.  I will talk with you peeps later.

2nd day of relaxation?

Well the boss is in today.  Thankful that I am out of the line of sight.  He passed by though and looked perplexed as to why I was sitting in an office.  Just please don’t ask me to move.  I just got comfy!

So yesterday one of the girls said that when she prints her printer smells like it’s burning.  I said let me look at it when you have time.  It was close to 5 when she had time, so I looked at it.  She needed a new drum.  I found it for $81 but she went around me and got permission to order a new printer.  Really!  Yes, they are going to throw away a perfectly good printer because it needs an $81 part.  No wonder this place is headed for Bankruptcy!  They spend money hand over fist on all of the wrong crap.  As long as my paycheck continues, I honestly don’t care.  I am just appalled at the amount of waste here.  I thought my last employer was bad but they would never do something like that.  To get a new printer your printer had to be dead or next to death and beyond repair.

The only good thing that came out of it is that my new keyboard was finally ordered, so I am expecting it before the end of this week.  I sure hope it arrives soon because I really don’t like the one I am typing on now.

I’ve got another one for you.  But this one kind of makes a little better sense.  One of the computers out in the country was in the shop.  It has tons and tons of viruses.  The only way around it is to reload Windows.  They told them that they would have to rebuild it, like you rebuild an engine.  It would cost well over $200.  So they are throwing it away and I ordered a new machine.  I can understand this one a little better because most of the equipment around here is very old.  Were talking back to the days of Windows 98 and Windows ME.  Thankfully the oldest OS on computers that I can find is Windows XP.  However, we do have a server running Windows NT, big surprise it’s not being backed up.  That is on my list of things to fix, when I am traveling.

Last night we went out for Mexican food and I ate way more than I should have.  I still had room for one more Burrito but decided to call it quits.  That was one good meal and I am ready to do it all over again now.  The food tastes so good, like nothing else and it’s super cheap.

Tonight we were going to have Tacos but the chef changed the menu to Cat Fish Nuggets.  They should be good, but I have no idea what we are going to have with them.

Last night Big Boy woke me up with his breathing.  He was coughing and gasping for breath.  To look at him this morning you couldn’t tell anything was wrong.  I listened to his lungs and they sound okay.  I have him his medicine and a belly rub.  He was happy as ever.  He really worries me.  I don’t like to think about the end, but I know that he is approaching it faster than I want him to.  Now I have no idea how much time we have with him it might be 6 months another year or it could be hours.  It’s just anyone’s guess.  I just don’t understand why this has to happen to such a sweet boy who didn’t do anything to deserve this.  Makes no sense at all.  I try not to think about it but it is really tough to shake.  I love him so much!

Well I’ve had a couple interruptions but they were minor, easy things to take care of.  I like that.  I’d like to have another relaxing evening and maybe even more time to watch TV.  Part of that depends upon how my day goes here and what chores I have to do at home.  Dishes will be on the list because we are having something fried and the chef always dirties more dishes.

At least today I am not hung over.  I got to bed on time and got plenty of rest, despite having to get up in the middle of the night and being woken up by Big Boy.  I almost forgot to blow out my new candle before bed, but thankfully my brain was still functioning enough to know to take care of that.

Well on to another task that will make me look busy, when I am really loafing! I’m enjoying it now because my time is coming and it’s going to be hell.  Sort of like the calm before the storm.

I hope your doing well, staying cool and out of trouble!  Take care and enjoy those around you, life is so precious.  I will talk with you peeps later!

Bored, Tired & Ready 2 go home

Through modern technology I am able to blog from work.  Yep, I am sitting at my desk on the clock with not a thing to do.  The boss is away, at least today – hopefully for the rest of the week.  Only time will tell.

So I walked in this morning and the door was locked.  That has never happened to me.  First time I had to use my key to unlock the door.  I was surprised to see people in the office when I arrived.  Normally when folks arrive they unlock the door so when I schlep in I can just turn the handle and walk right in.  We have so many new people that they probably don’t realize the door should be unlocked.  No worries I got in, so that is all that really matters.

I really am soaking up today being a down day.  I hate not having anything to do but that will all change soon enough and I will be busier than I want to be.  Lots of equipment on order, waiting for it to arrive.

I placed a couple orders this morning to put the finishing touches on what I will need to take care of WIFI next week.  Yeah, the arrangements are still pending but I am hoping to leave on Sunday or Monday.  As soon as I know something for sure, I will blog about it.

One of the new people told me they came in over the weekend and sat in my office.  They just love the view so much.  I wanted to say jealous much?  I didn’t though.  Normally things like that would set me on fire, I hate it when people are in my space when I am not around, especially if they move stuff in my space.  However, it didn’t bother me at all.  Most people here close their office doors as night and those that lock, are locked.  Not me, my door is wide open.  Everything that needs to be locked up, is. That way there is no worries of anything growing legs.

I talked with my brother last night, he is sick.  I don’t get it why so many folks this summer have been sick.  Summer is usually a ticket to freedom for me when it comes to being sick.  Fall, Winter and Spring are my bad seasons.  Summer, nope not a problem.  That is not to say my allergies have not gone nuts because they have, but I am managing.

Anyway, I told him that I would be gone for some where between 1 and 3 weeks.  Man he was really surprised.  I told him that is why I need his help with Big Boy & medicine.  I’m pretty sure if I am gone for 3 weeks and the big guy doesn’t get his medicine that it won’t be a pretty site.  Skipping 1 or even 2 days is the most that I would want to go, it’s the most that we have gone.  Well that is until the first time I traveled.  My partner did his best but there were more than 2 missed days.

So much to think about and plan for when you figure in travel.  A lot of the stuff I do like dishes, trash, cleaning are things that my partner can’t do because he has issues with mobility and balance.

Speaking of him, I checked in at lunch time and he is super sleepy today.  Doesn’t feel like doing much.  Sounds like we are going to go out for Mexican food.  I am always in the mood for that.  Maybe I can have some what of a relaxing evening or so I hope.  I still have to get the trash out, pack my lunch and finish laundry. 

I was hung over this morning, like crazy.  I took my sleeping pills late and was up later than I wanted to be.  I still managed to some how wake up from a nightmare 1 minute before the alarm clock went off.  Go figure!  It wasn’t until after lunch that I really woke up.

Funny all of these people passing by my office, seeing me type away.  They think I am working.  Got them fooled.  I just wish that I would get my new keyboard, I am so ready for change.

Speaking of which my job is still posted on-line.  I’ve done my fair share of looking but there really isn’t much out there.  All the more reason why I hope I can keep what I have and make it work, until something better comes along.  I want to avoid unemployment at all costs.  I simply can’t afford not to have a job.

Having a credit card again has helped me out.  My partner and my brother as well as myself all feel that I will over extend myself.  So far I have used it the way a credit card should be used.  Charge it up and when the bill comes pay it off in full.  Problem is that not having cash now and having available credit is all too tempting.  I do a pretty good job of managing but it would help a lot more if I got closer to my old salary.  Then I would worry a lot less.

That is all I can think of at the moment.  We are back in the oven this week, it’s SUPER HOT.  How hot?  Well I walked out of the house this morning in a white shirt.  With all of the heat it turned International Orange.  Ah, well it’s a good joke.  It’s really my new orange shirt.  My partner still laughs at me for buying and wearing it.  I guess because it’s so LOUD and I am not normally like that.  Take care, be well and I will talk with you peeps later!

Time to start another week

I am fairly well settled in my office.  I need some decorations and then I will be all set.  A nice neutral fragrance like coconut or vanilla would be nice as well.  One lady when you walk in her office it smells like oatmeal… more specifically Maple & Brown Sugar.  I love that flavor but can’t eat it because I am allergic to Maple and my nose would run all day!

This week I will be asking for my travel arrangements to be made.  I’m thinking that they will have me gone for 2 to 3 weeks.  I am looking forward to flying again, believe it or not.  However, the thought of being gone for so long kind of scares me.  I’m worried about my guy and my cat.  Outside of that all is well.

I finally remembered to look on-line and check to see if the place that I want to stay at has a laundry and it’s not listed.  I’m sure I will be able to find something, I mean every town or major city has a Laundromat.  However, I think I will have a problem getting them to accept American Express. 

This will be my first wireless network deployment, ever.  Lots of firsts with this job and I have a feeling that this won’t be the last first.  So I am a little nervous.  I mean if this project fails my job will as well.  Nothing like a little pressure.  I really wish that I could have done this differently, aka the right way with proper help.  However, I am sure that I will learn a lot from this.  I just hope I survive it all.

I don’t believe that I will be leaving until Sunday or Monday the 30th at the earliest, so I hope.  I’d really like to be here for this week and be given time to get things in order, pack and say my good byes to the children. 

I made the mistake last night of looking through the Yankee Candle Catalog that came in the mail some 3 weeks ago.  I had to have Scent No. 5 and Apple Pumpkin.  So I went to the mall to get them today.  No 5 is wonderful.  Apple Pumpkin well it smelled better in the catalog but it’s a nice change of pace.  I have such an addictive personality.  Thankfully I’m only addicted to good things like food, sex, electronics, candles, pens.  No drugs or alcohol for me. 

I did take some time for myself this weekend to do the things that I have been putting off and it felt good to cross them off the list.  I started a wish list for things that I’d like to purchase.  It only has 2 things on it right now and they can both wait for a while. 

I went crazy and bought a bunch of short sleeve shirts.  The best one is by Fila … it’s Orange and White.  No one and I mean no one will miss me in this shirt.  I look like a construction worker.  Hey that sounds like a costume idea for Halloween.  Maybe I can be a village person.  :)

My time has run out and my brain is scrambled like eggs at the moment.  So before I babble too much I will call it quits for now.  Take care and be well.  I will talk with you peeps later!

In Memoriam

I was browsing the net on my phone this morning, heard about the massacre in Colorado.  I checked the local news and sure enough it was true.  Very sad, a bunch of innocent people who didn’t do anything to anyone, they just wanted to have a good time and see the premier of Batman.  Little did they know that a crazy person with a gun would change their lives forever.

May God have mercy on everyone who is impacted by this.  Especially the victims and their families.

I am at a loss for words as to why this sort of thing happens.  Why people decide to hurt innocent people, who did nothing.  We have got to stop all forms of violence, it creates way more problems than it will ever solve.  Be it a fist fight, road rage, or a massacre. 

It is my understanding that the premier of the movie in France was cancelled due to this.  Now people will be a little apprehensive when they go to the movies.  Some people will stop going all together. 

The bottom line is very sad but true.  You have to ALWAYS be on guard, watch for suspicious activity and go with your gut.  Even if your wrong, far better to be wrong than injured or dead.

In past posts I have talked about understanding the desire behind suicide.  I’ve felt like that before.  I have never had the desire to hurt a group of innocent people, especially children.  I don’t recommend suicide as an option to anyone but if you want to hurt yourself and your hell bent on it, then go ahead.  For God Sakes don’t hurt innocent people.

The world is a crazy place these days.  It seems like your never safe and always in harms way, even when your sleeping.  I wish the world would take a chill pill, get a massage and sleep it off.

My condolences to the victims and families affected by this horribly unfortunate and totally avoidable tragedy.  May God be with you all.

Thursday already

So I got the word today that the coast was all clear to move in to my new office.  Damn, that was a project in it’s self.  I suddenly realized that I have more stuff than I thought.  Still only 2 personal items.  Everything else belongs to the company.

The person who had my office before me was a bit of a slob.  I found hair and dust everywhere.  It’s not as clean as I would like but I made the best of it.  In the words of Sheldon Cooper “PURELL…PURELL…PURELL”. 

I am pretty well settled.  I need a couple things and got permission to order them though the proper channels.  Some stuff I was able to get on my own but other things have to go through a particular vendor and I have to depend on another person.

The best part is my new office came with a vibrator.  Yeah but it’s not exactly what you think.  It’s a pillow and you put it towards the small of your back and then flip the on switch.  Good vibrations await.  I stuck it in a drawer.  I don’t need a pillow or a vibrator at work, but then again there just might be a day when I wish I had either or both!

My days are hectic at best.  The clock struck 5 and I wasn’t even aware of it.  Days just go by in minutes.  Especially time away from the boss, that goes the fastest. 

I am fairly certain all of the products for my installation have arrived, I’m giving it a couple more days before I pull the trigger.  Looks like the week of the 30th I will be on the road again.  I will be explaining my situation and how I’d like to come home, even if it’s only for the weekend but I think I will be gone for 2 weeks.  Ideally I would like to do the big install, come home for a week or two and then leave again.  Looking at it from a cost point of view it makes sense to keep me there for 2 weeks.  Time will tell what happens.  I think that 2 weeks probably will be pushing it, to be safe 3 weeks would be best and I could always come home early if I got done. 

My biggest concerns about leaving are Big Boy and Jumper getting their medicine.  Big Boy needs it to live.  Jumper needs it so he won’t puke.  They are brothers and it shows.  I was telling Jumper the other night that Big Boy is going down hill and I wasn’t sure how much longer he would be around.  It was just us two in my room.  He snuggled with me for a little bit and then he demanded to be let out.  I found him the next morning by his brothers side, just spending time and hanging out.  I told him enjoy the time you have together and take care of him as best as you can.  Okay I’m getting a lump in my throat.

So I’ve asked my brother if he wouldn’t mind stopping by to help give the kids their medicine.  Damn, you would have though I was asking him for a million dollars.  He doesn’t mind stopping by once and a while but not every night that is too much of an imposition on him.  Never mind the fact that he works on the other side of town where I live.  It’s not asking a whole lot and wouldn’t take more than 5 minutes once he got here.  They are both easy to pill, as long as you tilt their heads up, otherwise they will spit the stuff out.

Crap, it’s getting late.  I have more to say but will finish later.  I’ve got to relax and get ready for FRIDAY.  Lots to do tomorrow.  My doctors office called my partner and asked me to phone them.  I suspect my results are back from the stool cultures.  Hopefully, all is well but I am on edge.  Plus I don’t know how they got my partners phone number mixed up with mine.  I will get that fixed tomorrow.

Take care, stay cool and be well.  I will talk with you peeps later!  A special hi to Will if your reading this. 

Moving

Wow time has gotten away from me tonight.  Nothing new, just another busy day in life.

On the work front I was told today that I am moving.  Yep into an office.  1st time ever that I have had an office.  It’s cluttered right now so they need to clean it but within a couple days I am hopeful to move in.  That will get me out of the line of sight and I will feel more comfortable, plus I can talk on the phone and not worry about the background noise or ears trying to listen in.

A co-worker that I have been talking with off and on wasn’t around tonight when I left.  I thought it was rather odd because she always stays very late.  I decided to give her a call and found out that she is no longer with us.  Holy crap.  While I was talking to her, I went in and looked at the server, her access has already been turned off and no one bothered to go through me.  See it’s little things like that, which irk me beyond belief.  It’s like I only get to do part of my job.  That honestly is the part of my job that I don’t like but it comes with the territory.

So I am talking with her and got an e-mail, another person is no longer with us.  Damn, they are just dropping like flies.  This place is very I say VERY unstable.  I guess that is how they get away with talking about growth in their ads.  The company is growing but only because they can’t keep help so they have to always hire.  Strange!

On a personal note my AC in my car went out last night.  Thankfully my new car warranty picked up the cost.  It was a bad O ring.  So a new O ring and some Freon and I am back in business.  It’s still not super cold like my partners truck but it’s at least blowing some cold air.  Compact cars don’t seem to have real good ac.  All the more reason to move to a mid size, but everything in time.

Well kids, I want to relax so I have to run.  Everything else is pretty much status quo.  I can’t believe tomorrow is Wednesday.  It’s the day we get to talk about my performance.  That should be fun, that is if the conversation ever happens.  We will talk tends to translate to we might or might not talk.

Have a good evening, stay cool and be well.  I will talk with you peeps later!