A 2nd chance

Friday I did something at work that I thought would be helping out my boss.  However, knowing him like I do I quickly realized after I did it that I probably cooked my own goose.  This ate at me all night Friday and today.  I talked until I was blue in the face to my partner and he didn’t really have any solutions.  So I talked out my options when I realized how to fix it.  I made a call to the right person and they know what happened and that there was no malicious intent on my part, so they said to blame them.  It won’t cause them any problems and it will keep ye old bastard off my back.  I feel so much better now!

We learn from our mistakes, so next time I will think before I act.  Lord knows I have NO desire to get back in the unemployment line. 

Oddly enough with the events that occurred on Friday, even after people knew about it at work.  Two people got into a shouting match over a freaking printer.  One of the girls yelled for me but thanks to the acoustics of the office, I never heard her.  I knew there was a lot of people talking but I had no idea there was a verbal assault in progress.  Good Lord, it’s a printer.  So not worth fighting over.  However, both of these people are stubborn so Monday should be interesting.  Especially when their boss gets wind of it.  I hope that no one looses their job over it. 

Speaking from experience, it’s a nice perk to have your own printer at work.  You don’t have to get up to walk a million miles to a network printer.  There is no fear of someone else taking what you printed.  The list just goes on and on.  However, it’s not the end of the world.  Millions of people have to share printers because of cost reasons and it makes sense.  If companies had to buy each employee a printer for their desk, think of the overhead in paper, toner and repairs that would generate.  Not exactly a money making proposition.  However, we do purchase printers and pass them out like candy.  There are only 4 people in the office out of 15 that don’t have their own printers.  This is so not my call, so I am just doing what I am asked to by Management and keeping my nose out of it.  I don’t need to get caught up in the drama, I have enough drama of my own to deal with. 

Presently I am buried in configuring new equipment and I’ve got my normal day to day requests that filter in.  Like I can’t print or I forgot my password or how do I, etc.  I do good keeping all of that straight and trying to keep myself out of trouble. 

I did however discover by accident that I have my own Thermostat.  I guess I don’t have to bring a heater to work after all.  I haven’t touched it, but I think it works.  We will find out when the next really cold day comes around.  Right now it’s set on 70 and I am okay with that.

At home, Ms. Momma has been sneezing her head off.  I’ve been giving her antihistamines to help out.  The sneezing seems to have passed.  Now her eye is watering.  Honestly, keeping everyone health and happy around here is a full time job.  I should probably advertise for an in house cheerleader/veterinarian and physician.  One person, 3 roles.  Sort of how it is in a lot of places.  Take where I work for example!

It’s starting to get late and I need to get moving.  Spent too much time here on the old PC.  Plus I have to go in to the office tomorrow, but it’s only for 5 minutes and then I am outta there.  Thank Goodness.  Lord knows I need my rest!

Talk with you peeps later!

Shooting…Commentary & Reaction

Yesterday evening I looked at social media and everyone was saying how horrible what happened in CT was and that they were going to hug their kids.  I have no objection.  But why did it take something horrible to happen before suddenly everyone woke up (if only for a moment) and decided to hug their kids?  Why don’t we all live each day like it’s our last?  If you have something to say…spit it out because you may not ever get a chance to say it again.  For God sakes, tell your kids and those you care deeply about that you love them and do it often.  I think that tragic events like this could possibly be avoided if the world was a much more loving place.  All of the people stepping on other people to get ahead or figuring out how to plot revenge, it’s all absurd!

The world we live in today is NOT the same world that it was when I was growing up.  There are far too many protests, wars and violence.  I also heard something else on YouTube that made total sense to me.  People have to get physical check ups, why don’t we get mental checkups?  I mean it could help prevent things like this from happening. 

Try as they might to put the pieces to the puzzle together, unless this guy left a note that details why this happened, we will never know.  But people will certainly try to guess.

I can understand wanting to kill your mother, not that I am fine with it but I mean we all have those moments with our parents.  However, if your going to actually do it why take out innocent children and adults that you don’t know, who had nothing to do with it?  Their only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  That shouldn’t be punishable by death.

School and Workplace shootings are becoming far too common place today.  Unfortunately this wasn’t the first one and it won’t be the last one.  I think that back when “going postal” and Columbine took place it just planted ideas in peoples heads that this was a great way to get attention and put your name in the media spotlight.  Yes you will get attention and your name will be in the media spotlight but there are better ways to go about it.  Plus chances are after your name is known you will have already been dead – most of the people who commit these types of crimes wind up either killing themselves or the police wind up taking them out. 

Events like this always bring up the heated debate topic of Gun Control.  Look regardless if you put regulations or laws in place, if someone wants a gun they will figure out a way to get it.  Sort of like a person going after drugs, they will get there next fix or die trying.  I’m NOT saying that there shouldn’t be better laws and/or protection in place.  What I AM saying is that where there is a will, there is a way.  Guns do not kill people.  People kill people.  The Gun just does what it was designed for…firing a bullet.  It takes a person to pull the trigger.  If we don’t talk seriously about Gun Control now, when do you think a better time would be? 

Think back to 9/11 it didn’t take long at all to have the Federal Government involved with screening passengers at Airports.  We learned our lesson the hard way, but we learned from it.  As a result it’s now safer to fly on a plane.  Why take some measure with Gun Control now?  It just seems like the right thing to do.  Screw the NRA – they are just a bunch of gun nuts.  Lets go hunting and kill some innocent animal.  The next thing you know little Johnny or Suzie gets a hold of your gun and they kill or injure a friend because you didn’t do your job as a gun owner and keep your weapon and ammunition secure and in separate places.

Everyone always thinks this won’t happen to me or it will never happen in my community.  Wake Up ….shit happens everywhere.  Why?  Because Crazy people are amongst us. 

There is way too much hate, anger and violence in this world.  If you get rid of that then I think things like this wouldn’t exist.  I mean look at the 60’s and 70’s you didn’t hear of anything like this then.  It started in the 90’s and I am afraid it won’t ever stop it will just be something that we all get used to over time, which is very sad. 

Personally, I don’t like kids.  Probably one of many reasons why I don’t have any.  Animals on the other hand, they have a soft spot in my heart.  However, unless your life is in direct and immediate jeopardy I see no reason or excuse for taking another life be that of a child, adult or animal. 

The media is having a field day with this event and there is way too much coverage.  That only draws attention and the people of that community need to be able to heal.  I say leave them alone, get the media out of there.  The story has been covered enough, let it be and move on.

Like most people I am deeply saddened by what happened on Friday.  I extend my condolences to those who where affected by this horrible event.  I pray that the violence in the world stops, very soon.

Don’t forget what I said about living each day like it’s your last.  Because you never know.  NO matter who you are, where you come from or what your skin color is.  Death is something that will eventually happen to all of us and there is no way around it, try as you might.  I don’t mean for you to live your life in fear but to pass out those hugs and I love you’s more often.  In the end you will be helping make the world a better place.  Your children learn from you and if you can instill this in them, when they are adults they will be instilling it in to their kids and it’s just a great way to pay it forward.

NPH…Funny!

Week almost done!

In the words of the late Bernie Mac… Sum ma bitch!  This has been quite the week.  We had internet problems at work on Wednesday afternoon and then again Thursday morning.  It took a bit of digging but the problem was traced back to our on-line backup.  The jobs are designed to take up as much bandwidth as possible, so they complete in a timely fashion.  What happened was the silly thing kicked off a 2nd job early in the morning.  I got to work this morning (Friday) and guess what it did it again. 

The only change I know of is I had to backup a personal machine to the network because it needed to be wiped and redone.  That person had a large amount of data.  I am in the process of taking it off of the network, putting it on my machine and then I’m going to transfer it to DVD for safekeeping. Hopefully, less data will mean less problems!

I’ve been a machine ordering fool this week.  2 Laptops.  One of them is here and the other one is on the way.  I also got in a desktop that I ordered.  Then someone brought me their personal laptop because it had Windows 8 on it.  I spent a couple hours with it but within the first 5 minutes I was ready to take a hammer to it.  Very frustrating to use, unless you have a touch screen.  The metro interface for the average person, I think sucks.  There is no START button.  From a business standpoint there is no way I would put a user on this OS.  Windows 7 is perfectly fine to use.

Speaking of software, I’ve got a vendor trying to pressure me into buying a new cloud based version of Symantec AV.  They are telling me that the old traditional on-site product that we use today will be discontinued.  Funny, we have other sites that use it and no one has told me this.  They said well we are trying to get ahead of the curve.  They really poured on the pressure.  So I did my home work.  The web says the product will be discontinued in late 2014.  I called another vendor who has a good relationship with Symantec and they said there are no immediate plans to get rid of the product.  So now I am trying to get them to quote me for the product we use today and they don’t want to do it.  I am already working with another vendor and will probably wind up moving our business for this service to them.  I am not the best at smelling BS but something sure didn’t feel right here.  I haven’t told a sole about it, I am just waiting right now to see how it plays out.  We don’t have a whole lot of time because our current license expires late this month, but the nice thing is Symantec will keep pushing updates regardless if we renew or not.  I am all about paying but I don’t want to have to fork over an arm and a leg.  In simpler terms it’s like taking your car in for a flat tire and mechanic telling you, sorry we can’t fix this you have to get a new car.  Really?  I think NOT!  I’m pretty ticked about this.  Why on earth would you jeopardize a business relationship in the hopes of making a buck?  Makes no sense to me.

I haven’t had a whole lot of time to myself this week.  Last night I was stuck here at the office to work on of all things, my bosses machine.  He was so loaded up with spyware and viruses it wasn’t funny.  I was hoping to do the work covertly but I got caught by his assistant.  I hope that she doesn’t say a thing to him, I fessed up right away and said his machine was jacked up and I’m just trying to do the right thing and get it cleaned up.  She told me that she understood.  Talk about a Freidan slip, she said oh no wonder his machine is messed up, he looks at stuff.  Then she quickly said uh, oh documents and doesn’t realize if they are safe to open or not.  Yeah right.  Your not going to BS me with that.  I know differently.  People like to explore, which is what helps to keep me employed.  I am not against it but I really wish they would do things like that on their home PC.  It sure would make my job easier. 

Speaking of work, there was some files in my office and the girls would have to come in periodically to file.  They finally got around to moving all that crap out and I got a whole filing cabinet in the process.  Great just what I need, more space for my stuff.  Funny the things you accumulate or have to hold on to to play the CYA game. 

On the home front, things are status quo.  Johnny No Thumbs (my partner)  as I call him now, is doing okay.  I read something this week about Alzheimer's and I see him starting to fall into that.  I think he is aging much faster than I want him to.  One of his friends was diagnosed with cancer and has less than 1 year to live.  Really sucks to see a person that you love grow old right before you eyes.  I kind of wish I would have listened to my therapist and not fell in love with an older man.  If I had the same guy but much younger, things would be so different. 

Last night we went out for Pizza & a sandwich.  I had the Pizza.  It was good and there are left overs so that is supper tonight.  He is going to have fish, I think. 

I signed up for a trial of Amazon Prime.  It’s pretty cool, free 2 day shipping on a lot of things.  You can also watch select videos for free from Amazon’s video library.  If you have a e Reader you can check out books for free from the lending library.  The catch, easy it’s $78 a year.  The trial lasts for a month, which is a decent amount of time.  I think I will actually get more use out of this membership than I do with my Sam’s club card.  I paid for the membership and we haven’t been once yet this year.  Plus Sam’s only takes Discover for credit.  You can use a MasterCard  Debit card, who these days has cash in the bank? 

One of the girls this morning wasn’t eating.  She kept looking at the sink.  It is the one that doesn’t like to be touched.  Yeah..  I gave her special food and everything but she didn’t want to eat.  She had what looked like a piece of string in her mouth.  It could have been a piece of fish for all I know.  Anyway, I caught her licking her chops which is a sign (I think) that she ate something.  She usually only does that after a meal.  When I was out of the shower, she disappeared so I told my guy to keep an eye on her.  A Cat on a hunger strike is something that I don’t need!  I still have to make an appointment for Big Boy.  It’s been 6 months and I think it might be time to tap again. 

Well work is backing up so I need to go.  I just remembered something that I promised two days ago and haven’t done it.  Juggling is not my forte.  Take care and I will talk with you peeps later.

I’m dreaming of Neil Patrick Harris

Last night all I wanted is to be able to relax and take it easy.  On the way home the BB started up.  I got a message to call someone they were having problems.  I called and thankfully it was one of those times, where everything was resolved.  Okay, so I dodged a bullet.

I got a little concerned when I got home because my guys vehicle was still in the same spot.  We talked about him going to the store.  So I instantly thought of the worst.  Then the garage door opened and I saw soda sitting on the cat litter, so I knew he made it out.  I went inside and it looked like a homicide crime scene.  Blood was every where.  So I called out and he was okay, he chopped off part of his thumb in the Mandolin because he just had to have homemade potato chips.  Kind of gives a new meaning to the word Finger Food.

So we had supper.  I put a rubber band on his thumb to stop the bleeding.  Then as soon as we were done, I took the rubber band off and it started up again.  I told him he would have to go to the hospital.  He balked at me but I told him it was only for his own good.  He didn’t want to go but after a little bit, reality set in. 

I told him we should go to the Doc in the box, it was designed for stuff like that and we would be in and out.  He wanted to go to the ER.  I figured there would be a serious wait and mind you I still wanted to relax.  So we went to the Doc in the box.  Turns out we were there most of the night.  From 6:15 until 9pm.  So much for quick.  They put on a dissolvable hemostat, which took care of the bleeding. 

Once we got home, I had to take care of the kids and get ready for bed.  It was 9:30 once I sat down.  Wow, what a day. 

I didn’t sleep good on Monday night, so I was kind of looking forward to Tuesday nights rest.  I had a nightmare that someone broke into our home and held us hostage.  I was at knifepoint.  Then as quick as it started it ended and then repeated it’s self except this time I had a gun and I shot the person.  Strange!  It took a little bit to recover from that, but I managed to get back to sleep. 

That’s when I had the best dream of all.  I was talking with NPH and then out of the blue we just started kissing.  I’m not a big kisser but it was enjoyable. Then I woke up and it was time to come face another day.  I’ve been thinking about NPH ever since. 

Tonight I have to get fat, I mean cat food.  Then it’s off to home, where I hope to enjoy left over sloppy joes and have a nice relaxing evening.  Ice on my foot and hopefully sweet dreams.  I am so ready for vacation.  What is supposed to be a week of rest and fun, is getting very busy.  Time will tell if it all gets done.  Right now my immediate focus is on tonight.  I am also looking forward to the weekend, more time for rest.  I guess I am getting lazy in my old age but I just want to throw up my hands and do nothing.  Ah, well back to the salt mine.

Hope you have your holiday shopping done.  I will talk with you peeps later!

Nervous

Yesterday my boss got a fake anti-virus on his machine.  Like most of them, it prevented him from doing anything.  I tried system restore but no luck there.  I had to login as myself, being an Administrator and then install Malwarebytes and do a quick scan. 

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, my boss is NOT a very patient fellow.  He is a get it and go type of person, everything is quick.  Part of me thinks that is because he lives on the East Coast.  People there are great but typically don’t have patients for anything.

So the quick scan did the trick and got me out of the jam.  I looked at his AV and it hadn’t been updated since August.  Not sure why but his machine just stopped communicating with the server, so his definitions were well out of date.

I waited until late in the evening and pushed AV to his machine.  It said that it was successful but I didn’t see his machine show up in the list of clients.  So I pushed it again, and he still didn’t show up.  My next trick was to remote into the machine, but if he was still working this would cause problems.  I rolled the dice and looked, sure enough the install worked and definitions were up to date.  I didn’t get any phone calls or emails and he said nothing today, so I presume I got lucky!

Today he calls me and tells me he can’t print.  Strange.  I tried reinstalling the drivers and I got everything but what he wanted to print.  He finally kicked me off of his machine, because he had work to do.  Then 15 minutes later he called me back and told me “it blew up”.  I walked in and he said I’m working, give me a minute.  Huh?  Confused, I know I was.  Then he showed me he couldn’t access any network files, it told him to contact his Admin.  The fix for this?  You guessed it, reboot.  When I told him that he had a small calf but we got through it.  That fixed things.

The man makes me nervous, always peering over my shoulder.  Maybe he is trying to learn something or just wants to see what I am up to.  Matters not to me, but it creeps me out and my brain doesn’t seem to want to work.  I told him that I need to scan his machine because I think there is something else going on.  Lord knows that if the quick scan found stuff that there is probably God knows what lurking.  Not to mention I am not really happy with the way his machine was built.  I didn’t do it, he got it well before I started.  Personally, I wouldn’t have it – I would have thrown it back and said get me a different one. 

Now I have to wait and see when free time will come and hope as well as pray nothing else goes wrong.  My fear is that he will grow angry with me and kick me out.  Despite the fact that I am helping his business more than anyone has ever before.  I still feel like it’s a thin sheet of ice, but only when I am dealing with him. 

 

Speaking of computers, yesterday I noticed that IE 10 was out for Windows 7.  So I downloaded the beta copy, had to reboot and then we were in business.  This is on my work machine.  There are a couple pages that I look at on a regular basis but have to now use compatibility mode.  I t seems a little faster and there are more controls for privacy sake, as well as it will auto update to get future versions as soon as it detects they are available.  Chrome & Firefox have been doing this for years, about time MS caught up with the pack.  I’m keeping it for a little bit.  I just hope that once it’s a Golden Master, things improve even more. 

 

I saw photos yesterday from the company trip.  Looks like a nice place.  Most of the women got all slutted up to go out on the town.  They were pulling in men fast.  Honestly, they all looked like $2 whores.  I know they were having a good time but you don’t have to look like a whore to accomplish that.  The one guy I liked managed to avoid photos all together, probably a good idea.  So the most skin I saw was that of women, ick. 

The rooms were posh.  A mini bar with sensors on each item.  If you lifted the item for more than 4 seconds you were charged for it.  Regardless if you used it or not.  Each room had a Apple Computer in it and the hotel encouraged you to use it.  Kind of a nice perk.  The rooms were $500 per night and I was worried about spending $170 per night.  They also consumed a large amount of alcohol.  This cost the company a small fortune, but I saved them money by not going.  Next year?  Who knows.  Personally, I would like a Christmas Bonus which I don’t believe they do.

The women started up a secret Santa thing.  It’s only $10 but I declined.  It would just be something else to add to my ever growing list of things to do.  I don’t want to bother. 

Speaking of Christmas, I got our holiday gift for our friends.  They have cats, lots of them just like we do.  They actually have to leave a faucet on because one of their cats wants uber fresh water.  Well, now they will have a fountain that will run all the time and won’t run up the water bill.  I got them a reserve reservoir to hold even more water and I’m throwing in a package of filters.  I sure hope they are happy with it.  The damn thing wasn’t cheap but I did pay less than when I bought ours for #1 son.  We still have it all these years later.  I discovered if you air dry and use a quick wash setting, you can throw it in the dishwasher.  Boy that saves me a ton because that thing gets dirty fast.  Plus you have to change the filter at least every 4 weeks or stuff starts growing and the kids will get sick.  I got our kids a larger reservoir so they can drink even more.  There you have it my holiday shopping is done!

What will I get for Christmas?  Just a meal and time with friends and my family.  I’d love money.  The joy of the season for me is just spending time at home with everyone.  Having my guy around for another year as well as Mr. Big Boy.  Plus the week off so we can get married.  I could ask for more but wouldn’t get it, so I am happy with what I have.  Plus at the moment I am not looking for a job, so that is a big improvement from last year!

Time to get back to real work, the afternoon is moving but not fast enough for me.  About an hour and a half more to go before the day is done.  Wow, too bad it’s not Friday already!  Take care and I will talk with you peeps later.

Missing life on the road

I don’t miss the travel but I do miss the fact that someone else was picking up the tab last week for all of my meals and I could eat anything I wanted.  I also miss the two hot guys that I saw.  Outside of that I am glad to be home!  Trying to get used to the whole W-E-S Routine again.  That’s Work – Eat – Sleep. 

Very busy day and I’m already sick of computers so I will keep this short. 

I saw this on-line.  Thought it would be really funny to print it out and put it on someone’s hotel door.  However, I didn’t and not because I wasn’t near a printer.

This is the 2nd hot guy I saw.  I think he was from MN.  We flew home together, as far as Chicago.  I heard him on his cell phone say it would be late before he got to Minneapolis.  I didn’t see a wedding ring but I would suspect like all of the hot and good looking guys – he’s straight or taken!  Too bad, I really – really liked his body.  I am sure I could have got to liking him as well but never had the courage to open my mouth.

This is the 1st hot guy, who I kept bumping into each morning.  He was really fine and tall.  I would have liked to get to know him better.  No idea where he is from.  I believe we flew in together from Chicago. 

Both of these photos were covertly snapped at Breakfast.  I have spent a lot of time thinking about both of these fellas, even after I arrived home.  I showed my partner and it didn’t do anything for him. 

Tonight’s mail brought me a letter from the Government.  Seems that hot black guy I used to work with decided to apply for a Government job.  They are doing a background check.  I provided a neutral reference because I found out after he was gone that he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.  I don’t want to outright give him a horrible reference, even though he probably deserves it.  I know what it’s like to struggle for a job and feel he at least deserves something neutral.

Well it’s off to feed the kids and try to find something to watch until I pass out.  Talk with you peeps later. 

It’s Sunday already!

Wow, where does the time go?  I can’t believe it’s Sunday night already.  I have gotten a bunch of stuff done but not everything that I wanted.  I also just managed to get scratched up by Jumper.  He needs his claws trimmed.

Very Happy to be back home.  Just wish that I had tomorrow off so that I could continue my relaxation marathon.  I love those afternoon naps.  Ah, well 2 weeks then I can take all of the naps I want for an entire week.

Not sure that I will be ready for Monday – but I have a million things to do at work.  Lots of people want my time.  So I am going to make a to do list and hopefully that will keep me on track and keep things from falling through the cracks.

I joined Hulu Plus – I get a week free trial and then it’s $7.99 per month.  They have tons more stuff than NetFlix.  I don’t like their interface as much as NetFlix but I must say I am thinking of killing off NetFlix.  I can afford to keep both of them at the moment, so I may do that but in the end one of them will have to go.  I have seen a couple of good movies.  One of which was eCupid and that stars Mike C. Manning one of the guys who was on The Real World and is uber hot! 

Speaking of uber hot, I got to thinking why is it that I see a guy and he is the most beautiful thing until the next one comes along?  It is horrible to be addicted to Men but it’s better than being addicted to drugs I suppose.

On that happy peppy note, I have to run.  Back to the movies and to trim someones claws before he does more damage to me.  Talk with you peeps later.

Sick but not ill

I got a request to terminate access for one of the people I just saw on my trip. They were fired. I am shook up over it and thinking what crappy timing. The folks I work for sure aren't shy about letting people go. It appears as if they have no heart but then again business doesn't have any emotions at all. However we are
all human, couldn't they have waited until after the new year? What makes it worse is yesterday was that persons birthday.

I got an email this morning from them thanking me for my efforts and the next thing I know they were walked out. Just glad I had no prior knowledge and didn't have to witness it.

I am at the airport. The GPS started working again. No problem with returning the rental car. One of the hot guys from the hotel is at the airport, wonder if he will be on my flight. Hmmm.

Just happy to get home. The sooner the better! Talk with you peeps later.

Glad to be headed home tomorrow

So I wanted to leave “work” early today but that didn’t happen.  My cell phone case broke, I scrambled but managed to find a replacement . 

When I picked up the rental car, there was a small crack in the window but I didn’t see it until I was away from the airport.  I phoned it in so there was a record of it.  The next day I had to use the defroster and the crack spread right before my eyes.  It’s VERY noticeable now.  I sure hope they don’t try to pin it on me, because I didn’t do it.

Tonight after supper the GPS stopped working.  So here I am stuck in the middle of a town that I am not familiar with.  Thank God for my iPhone it saved me and I was able to use SIRI to get turn by turn directions back to the hotel.  I’m packing up the GPS and will turn it in without saying a word.  I hate to do that but figure they would try to charge me for the GPS unit, when again I did nothing to it, the damn thing just quit.

Seems like things are going wrong left and right today.  Last night’s meal was at Olive Garden.  I ate way too much and stupidly ordered desert to make things worse.  In the middle of the night I had acid backup in my throat.  I didn’t get a lot of sleep because of the burning.

I took the maintenance guys out to lunch today, I used the corporate credit card to pay for the meal – they so deserved this.  It was the most I could do for them.  They did an awesome job and I know first hand people like to be rewarded for their efforts.

I just sent an e-mail to the boss telling him that the work was done and asked him about my vacation.  He said that I could take the week and thanked me for a job well done.  Awesome, so I’m getting Civil Unioned for sure!

This hotel has two hot guys in it and they keep coming to breakfast when I am there.  I’ve tried to alter my schedule to avoid them but it hasn’t worked.  One of them actually flew here on the same flight with me.  Perhaps I will see him tomorrow when I fly back.

I’m done with life on the road and ready to get back to my fuzzes in my poor house.  I hate living out of a suit case.  It will be boring to sit around in airports but I will manage.  It’s been a long week.

The project was actually done early Wednesday morning but the wiring work was all done on Tuesday.  I had extra equipment that I returned to help lower cost and hopefully I am done with WIFI at least for a while.  I am also hopeful that I don’t travel again until Spring!

Time to party…watching TV, taking a shower and talking with my guy.  That’s all for now.  Talk with you peeps later.

Made it

So here is my one post, that I made it and I am safe.  We started off on a bad note … 1st delay due to fog.  Then we get ready to leave and snap, another delay to fog.  I am sitting next to a COS (Customer Of Size) which is a polite way for saying fat person.  He took up part of my seat plus all of his.  I was asked if I wanted to move, but declined because I just got comfy  I wish I would have moved because I got uncomfortable really quick.  Oh, I also checked my bag and was told it would arrive at my destination.  I was really nervous about this!

Had McDonald’s @ the airport, horrible it was dry.  No refills on soda, what's up with that?  Then made it to my next gate, by now I am sweating to death.  I feel horrible because I am so HOT.

Got on the 2nd plane, sat by myself in a window seat.  It was a good flight overall.  Best tip ever don’t sit near the back of the plane because you can smell the restroom.

Landed, I could have picked up my car but was more interested in my bag.  So I waited anxiously at baggage claim and presto it showed up.  Then I got in a long line for my rental car.  Picked it up after about 45 minutes in line.  Got a Chevy Malibu, which is really nice.  Too bad I didn’t notice the huge crack in the bottom of the windshield until the sun was on it and I was miles away from the airport.  I called to let them know about it, hopefully it won’t b counted against me.  I almost got side swiped a lady appeared in an intersection and I never saw her, she came within 3 inches of my passenger door.  Scary!

Made it to the hotel, checked in.  A little disappointed in the room.  The vent in the bathroom hasn’t been dusted in about 5 years.  The sink isn’t bolted down, so when you turn on the water the whole fixture shakes.  The towel rack is located inside the shower.  Seriously who thought of that?  They weren’t too bright.  Overall, the room is very comfortable. 

Got to the facility and discovered that I need more POE switches, called my vendor and will have them tomorrow morning.  That is spending an extra $800 – not sure the boss will like it but I know he has deep pockets, so I figured why not.  I mean I need it to complete the job and if I have spares, I will return them for credit.  Today was a travel day, meaning that no work really got done.  We are starting at 8 am tomorrow morning.

Had supper at Outback Steakhouse and dropped $34 on just me with food only, no drinks.  Yeah buddy, I am going to eat good this trip!

My foot is killing me, one of the kids stepped on it the other day and she bruised a toe, plus my golf ball like feeling is back again.  Only because I walked so much today.  My ear hurts too, so I am headed to the shower to wash away the troubles from the day and hopefully have a nice relaxing evening.  I hope this whole project goes well and there are no issues.  I want to leave knowing that my job is done and everything is working like it should.

That’s it.  I will talk with you peeps later.

Sunday…packing

Got a little sleeping and relaxing done today.  I went into the office again.  I had a sneaking feeling that they would be bringing in a new person while I was gone.  Last month I was asked to setup a computer for an attorney they are hiring.  Well I got as far as I could with out knowing the name of the person.  I kind of felt while I was gone they would bring someone in and that machine wouldn’t be ready, then all hell would break loose.  So I went in and made a generic user.  Good thinking on my part, because tonight I got a phone call while we were at the grocery store, telling me that someone was coming in to use the machine.  I was asked if it was ready, I just smiled and thought good call and said yes.  So crisis averted!  Thank God!

Working on finishing up laundry and getting ready to pack.  I also still have to tame the trash but we are on schedule. 

I have printed my boarding passes for tomorrow.  Turns out I didn’t have any seats assigned on any of my 4 flights.  I was able to pick seats that I would like, close to the window.  On the flight home I had to book a pay seat, as a premium it’s close to the front of the plane in 1st class.  Nothing wrong with that, hopefully I will be able to get off the plane sooner and get on my way home.

I was able to watch a movie called [a]sexual on Netflix.  Kind of interesting.  A guy named David Jay formed a support group for others like him.  Man I wouldn’t kick him out of my bed.  I think if we had 10 minutes together I could turn him into sexual in a hurry. Ah, well….dreams.

So this is it my last post before I take off traveling tomorrow.  Tonight will be difficult knowing that I won’t be home tomorrow.  I hate parting ways, even if it is temporary.  I worry way too much and I am sure things will be fine.  I just hope the kids understand and that God will protect them, since they won’t be getting their meds.

Take care and I will talk with you peeps later.

The Babble Post

Ready for some babble?  Break out the Cookies & Milk because this will be a long post!

Friday… I went in to the office like a normal day.  It was anything but a normal day!  When I got there I discovered the computer that I dropped everything to rebuild wasn’t there.  WTF!  I sent an e-mail and was told …oh she forgot to bring it in.  Dizzy woman.  So I got a machine ready for a person who is in dire straights.  She will have it on Tuesday.  I had a voice mail and responded to that and then e-mail just started pouring in like a river.  I helped out a couple people.  The last person I called said that she didn’t have time and we would have to take care of it next week.  I told her that I was out of town and that didn’t seem to phase her she said oh, honey it can wait until next week.  I explained again I won’t have time and then she wanted to argue.  Okay, so we can take care of it next week.  I just told her what she wanted to hear so I could hang up!  I am not helping her next week, I will be far too consumed with this project and any other crisis that pop up.  Thinking I had covered all of the bases and double checking myself, I had everything taken care of so it’s time to leave.  It’s around 1:30pm.

I am about five miles from home when mister black berry decided to vibrate.  It’s the place I am going to next week.  The administrator has flipped her lid and sent out a message to me, my boss and tons of other people to scream the sky is falling, our hr person has no computer and she won’t be able to make payroll on Monday.  Holy crap, that is not exactly what I needed to hear.  I got the mail and took my sweet time getting home.  Once I got here I sprang into action and called the HR person.  We worked everything out and payroll will be taken care of on Monday.  So crisis averted once again!  I sent out a message to everyone letting them know everything was okay.  It was about 3pm now.  I decided to rest.  I got a 1/2 hours nap and then something woke me up.

My partner kept yelping about being hungry.  So we packed up and went to the shop to check on his vehicle.  They were working on it and I was told it would be ready but it would be closer to 6.  Okay, so we ate at that Italian place.  Turns out they are Greek, American and Italian all on one.  The appetizers and salad were amazing.  They suck at making Spaghetti.  It was a $50 meal that really wasn’t worth it.  However, I can scratch it off my bucket list.  Then we went back to the shop and they told me that they found another hose that was leaking so they went ahead and replaced it.  The bill was $50 higher.  Yeah, okay so I dropped a little bit over 1k on his vehicle.  Not exactly in my plans but it beats investing in a constant supply of Power Steering Fluid and wondering when or if the pump would fail.  The axle wasn’t replaced, I was mistaken it was the ball bearings that needed to be replaced.  The ride is quiet compared to what it used to be.  He needs a 4 wheel alignment really bad.  Plus an oil change.  Merry Christmas!!

Friday night and Saturday… I watched Dateline because there was an update on Ryan Fergusons case and how the judge dismissed his request for a new trial, despite overwhelming evidence that shows he is innocent.  Poor Ryan still in jail for something he didn’t do.  Hopefully, one day he will be free.  I took a technology break and just decided to spend the evening with the kids.  Damn computers make me sick after pounding on them all day long and staring into a screen.  Just needed to have some down time.  I slept in on Saturday and had some left over pie for breakfast.  Once the sugar wore off, I crashed and went back to bed.  Woke up around noon.  We travelled to a place to eat and I got loaded up with chili.  If you need me tomorrow I will be in the bathroom.  Anyway, it was a nice afternoon and good to get away. 

The topic we were discussing is my vacation request.  Friday I put in my request to my boss.  He was busy on e-mail so I figured I would get a quick reply, I could turn in the paperwork and it would be done.  Instead, he provided no response.  Which makes me wonder if once I get this next place up and running, if he has other plans for me.  Like putting me back on the street.  Probably not, but I don’t trust him and doubt that I ever will.  I just hope I am not being used to get WIFI going and then I am going to be dumped.  Not much I can do about it.  One of my friends said oh, he is probably waiting until you get back and tell him everything is working.  All I know is I won’t be there on the 27th, if I have to call in sick I will.  Since we get 2 of the 5 days off for the holiday, I am only asking for 3 days and with all of the hell he has put me through this year I certainly deserve it.  I don’t anticipate a Christmas bonus, since I turned down the company trip.  I think the trip was their form of a bonus for everyone.  Since I didn’t go then it’s my tough luck.  However, as much as I was pestered on Thursday & Friday there was no way I would have had time for fun.  Even when I am “on vacation” I will still have to have this damn phone strapped to my side.  Too bad they don’t allow electronics in the courthouse…I will be out of reach for at least 1 hour. 

All I know is like the last trip, I will be glad when this is all over with.  Next week at this time I probably will be worn out but much happier!

Back to Saturday, I went out for cat food and then came home.  Here I am working on guess what…Laundry of all things and blogging.  Wow, what an exciting life I lead!

My face is driving me crazy, it itches so bad.  I haven’t shaved since Sunday and I am having serious doubts that I will be able to make it to tomorrow.  I like shaving once a week, in fact the whole idea of not shaving at all and growing a beard is appealing BUT I can never ever get past the itching stage.  Right now is mild, compared to if I let it go.  Next week I would be looking for a drug store pretty quick!  Not a problem I want to take with me.  I have plans to veg out in front of the TV after I tidy up the house a bit and do some more laundry.  Plus I need something to eat and drink, my body is asking polite now.  I’m thinking water and ice cream or maybe root beer & ice cream.  Either way ice cream is in the picture. 

I did my research and the weather next week will be pretty much like it is here at home.  Starts out cold and then warms up to 50 or 60.  It’s like being in CA or FL this time of year.  Normally we are cold and it never gets above 40.  Strange weather. 

Plans for Sunday… I have to pack, print my boarding passes and prepare myself for going back on the road again.  I hate saying goodbye to home, my partner & the kids.  However, it’s only a week and they have survived before.  Plus it’s the last trip of the year.  Hopefully I don’t go back on the road until Spring at least, but time will tell.

Now on to something that has been eating away at me.  Over the past week I have watched several gay themed movies.  One of which was about a boy who’s parents tried to convert him to being straight.  Some people apparently still think that being gay is a mental defect.  When the truth of the matter is you have no choice in the matter.  It would be sort of like picking your parents.  From the teenage years and on ward, we start making decisions.  I have never heard of someone who wanted to be gay or wished they were gay. 

Gay people are just that, people.  The only thing different about us is the fact that we are attracted to the same sex.  As long as we are happy, I think the rest of the world should support us.  Times are changing but we still have a very long way to go.

Trying to de-homosexualize a gay person is like trying to get a Zebra to change his stripes.  It’s not going to happen!  Not because we don’t want it but because it is truly impossible.  Yes, I know there are people who claim they have been “cured” but they are just repressing their sexual desires.

I worked with a guy who was gay.  He was a minister, married and had two kids.  He has a rocking body and I was so attracted to him.  I could pick up that he was gay so I asked him about it.  He just told me that the bible says it’s wrong and he really enjoyed making sweet love to his wife.  Yes, he looked at guys and was still attracted to them but he decided that wasn’t for him.  Today he is still married but I honestly don’t think he is happy.  We don’t keep in touch and drifted far apart after I left that job.  There are other people just like him who choose to live as “straight” people when they are really gay.  If that makes them happy, then so be it.

What everyone fails to realize is that we are humans just like them.  No better, no worse.  Gay people come in all shapes and sizes.  We have the same general interests as you – some of us like sports, hunting, computers, cars, books, etc.  We are employed and unemployed.  Some of us have homes, others of us are homeless.  Being gay is not a disease, a mental defect, a lifestyle or even for that matter a choice.  It’s how we were born.

For most gay people, we struggle but eventually come to terms with our sexuality and who we are.  If we can come to terms with it, then why can’t the rest of the world?  Growing up gay isn’t easy.  You have taunting, teasing, and even in some cases get into fights when people figure it out or even suspect.  If your lucky enough to hide it, then you have to listen to fag jokes, which isn’t easy either. 

I could go on and on about this, but feel I have made my point.  Eventually equality for all will be as common place as the sun, but until it is we will just have to keep fighting the good fight. 

As for gay marriage, there are only a few states in the Union that allow for true marriage.  Most and my state included provide Civil Unions.  I don’t understand why we can’t call it marriage.  It angers me and makes me feel like a 2nd class citizen.  In most cases you are afforded all of the same legal rights as a traditional married couple but you are singled out by the government calling it a Civil Union.  Once we are “united” it will be recognized as long as we are in our state.  However, both of us travel to a neighboring state for medical care and over there it’s not recognized.  So you have to have Power of Attorney for Property & Healthcare as well as forming things like a Living Revocable Trust to protect your assets.  It’s just absolute madness at the extra steps we have to take to make sure that we are 100% covered from a legal standpoint.  These are steps that a traditional married couple need not take.  In summary it’s just not fair!

The one thing that I thought was nice, when we registered we are both afforded the opportunity to change our last name to make it the same as a married couple would.  Personally, I would like to change mine but then I think of all of the complications I would have to go through.  You have to tell your bank, get a new drivers license, a new social security card, tell your employer, inform all of your creditors and the list goes on and on.  So while it’s appealing neither one of us will be changing our names because we think in the long run it would cause far more problems than it would solve.  It’s also uncommon for men to change their last names.  I have worked with people who did change their last name or they adopted their husbands name so they had a hyphenated last name.  Like John Smith – Jones.  Yeah, that’s not classy to me and it begs some people to inquire why do you have two last names?  Not to mention you still have to go through all of the legal mumbo jumbo with the name changing process.

On a different note, I did have something else to babble about but since I am getting old my mind is going.  I just have way too much going on and I know it’s a stress thing, rather than an age thing.  However, lucky for you I thought of another subject.

What I like about travel.  I enjoy the fact that I have to make decisions for myself like where I am going to stay, what I am going to eat and the part I like about that is there is no one else to get approval from.  I enjoy the peace and quiet. I enjoy being able to see new places and experience things like flying and having a hotel room all to myself.  I also enjoy the fact there is no one watching my every move from a work standpoint.  I mean I know I am being watched but it’s just that obvious, so I can relax and be a bit more comfortable in my own skin.

What I don’t like about travel is the fact that I know the boys aren’t getting their medication.  The fact that it’s harder on my partner because he has to do things like dishes and take out the trash, as well as try to keep up with the children.  He fully appreciates what I do when he has to walk a mile or two in my shoes.  I don’t like the fact that I don’t get to see the kids.  I can see my partner via Face Time or Skype.  We can talk via phone or computer.  He understands that it’s only temporary.  The kids don’t.  After about a day they all start looking for me, where is he, where did he go and when or is he coming back.  I also don’t enjoy packing, going through security, having to check my bag and flying coach. 

So it’s a love/hate thing but I will get through it.  I was really uncomfortable with the idea at first but hey I needed a job.  Now that I have done it couple times, I discover that it’s kind of enjoyable.  I just wish I could come home at night!

So how were those Milk & Cookies?  I told you that you would need them!  Now it’s off to launder and clean.  Not sure how much time I will have but I will at least make time to let you know that I made it and am okay.  If you don’t see a post like that, then you should probably worry! Take care and I will talk with you peeps later.