Man Candy

Ugh–again

Morning – I think the short course of steroids did give me a jump start but I think that is wearing off.  I woke up this morning after having a good nights sleep and felt lousy.  My neck is killing me which in the last few years is a sign that I am sick.  I feel horrible.  Really don’t feel like doing any work today. 

However, I trudged down here and got logged in.  Things started off calm.  It allowed me to return upstairs and take a brief in and out nap over the course of an hour.  I woke up, fell back asleep and woke up again. 

Came down to a meeting and just hearing my bosses voice I wanted to tell him to fuck off.  He’s being his normal self but honestly I’m just not in the mood to deal with it today.  Played his little game and went through the first meeting.  We have another one coming up in a few minutes. 

I’m debating if I want to stick around for the rest of the day or just call it and unplug & rest with the hope that I will feel better tomorrow.  There’s nothing major going on at the moment or over the course of the next few days that is on my calendar.  Nothing that is that my co-worker couldn’t cover.  While I really don’t want to take anymore time off, if my body continues to tell me to rest I’m certainly going to listen to it. 

The part that sucks is since I have been back for a full day it’s a reset on the timer.  We have to use 5 days of our time before short term disability kicks in.  Had I known that I would feel like this I would have just stayed out longer.  Honestly STD (Short Term Disability) is a nightmare with the paperwork and emails, keeping up with them makes it feel very much like your working.  Imagine having do to all that while your feel like death.  I don’t know how it works if your in the hospital but I suspect that they would just withhold payment while you were hospitalized until you could complete the paperwork. 

Insurance companies and paperwork they go together like love & marriage.  You can’t have one without the other.  :)

Had my soup and sandwich last night for supper.  It was pretty good.  Right now I’m looking forward to Chicken Noodle for lunch, despite not really wanting to eat I think adding some food might change things, hopefully for the better.  Well off to my meeting. 

Take care!

Back at it

As you can probably gather by the title I am back to work.  Still feeling a bit crummy and my cough is still with me.  My hope is that as the days go on this week that each day I will continue to see improvement.  I have made great progress from where I was but I still have that internal burning/nagging feeling that is telling me I am sick. 

Yesterday I laid around for the morning.  By the afternoon I forced myself to get up, get a shower and go out.  Stopped at the gas station to fill the tank.  Then on to my usual Mexican Restaurant where I filled my stomach.  It was early like 2:30p.  I was fine I only had a cookie around 7p when I was watching TV.  I got back home around 3:30p and started on work stuff.  That kept me busy until 6:30p and I made great strides. 

Found out what surprises were left for me and managed to tackle the rest of them this morning.  Plus a few fresh email requests.  I let my team know I was back but had to leave for the dentist.  They don’t know this but I plan to stop at the post office afterwards.  When I went to grab mail over the weekend I had a note in my box that they had something for me but couldn’t put it in my box.  I’m not expecting anything and think they either made a mistake or it’s something I probably really don’t want.  I hate the unknown’s so I want to get that sorted. 

Then I will be home until Saturday unless there is some reason to leave.  It’s no fun getting out in the colder weather.  We have a little warm up coming but were only going from like 10 to 30 so nothing significant.  I mean it’s January and it’s supposed to be cold here. 

I just want to get totally back to my old self and feel “normal”.  Thinking about soup and perhaps a sandwich for supper, that will be different.  It’s cat lunch time so I need to head up to tend to them and change clothes so I am ready to go to the dentist when the time comes. 

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.  Thanks for stopping by!

Accomplishments for today

Well I did all of my usual morning errands.  Hit up the cat food store in the afternoon and then left town for that BBQ place that is an hour and a half away.  I enjoyed the drive but it would have been better on a warmer day.  The food was good but the restaurant didn’t have the best atmosphere.  It’s a sports bar type place but the location that closed years ago that was more local to me was more refined and upscale looking.  What I went to today was like a hole in the wall.  I had the Brisket with some mashed potatoes and broccoli.  It came with a slice of Garlic Bread.  Washed it all down with a couple diet sodas.  Saw a twink and he was playing with his girlfriend but unbeknownst to him he put on quite the show for me.  He had a sweet ass. 

Once I got home it was a little after 5p and the sun had just set.  The gas tank is almost empty so I will need to fill it up tomorrow. Probably going out for Mexican food if I feel like it, if not then at least to the gas station.  It’s supposed to be even colder here tomorrow with a cold front moving in tonight.  The furnace is running a lot more, I turned it up one degree before I left this afternoon to keep it comfy for the cats. 

I logged on to work and trimmed my inbox from 364 emails to 64.  Nothing like time away to point out the amount of useless emails that you accumulate each week.  There are tons of things I am copied on that don’t matter to me, that I could care less about and just delete or file away.  Man shit really went sideways while I was out this past week.  My co-worker picked and chose what he would do and what he wouldn’t touch.  That makes it difficult for me because I have to check every little thing and it’s time consuming.  There is plenty more to do tomorrow and I do plan to get more into the thick of things then.  Hopefully, that will make Tuesday a bit easier on me. 

Monday is a holiday in the US – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Thankfully we are closed, so it works to my advantage in playing catchup.  Lots of people though will know that I was working tonight because the emails are flying. 

My calendar for Tuesday is a complete wreck and quite full.  Our boring meetings we have are back on the calendar for the year.  I hate that.  However, I guess it’s all part of getting back to normal.  Despite the fact that myself and a colleague really hate them, they could be emails instead of meetings. 

I’m headed up after I wrangle the cats and grab another load of laundry.  I had my release last night and it felt so good that I want another one tonight. 

As for how I am doing.  Well for some reason both of my sides hurt and I am now starting to cough more.  I haven’t had any serious coughing fits to the point where I would expect my sides to hurt.  As long as I am not getting worse.  I honestly don’t want to take any more time from work for this.  However, if I am to the point where I am fatigued I certainly won’t hesitate. 

A point of clarification when I talked about Steroids.  I was prescribed a short term dose of corticosteroids (a description of what they are used for appears below).  More specifically Prednisone.  I didn’t want anyone to think I on Anabolic Steroids.  I’m not looking to get ripped, I’m looking to feel better.  Typically they increase appetite for me and give me hot flashes.  Thus far since I was only on a 3 days course I have felt none of the usual side effects.  They do make you urinate more and if you don’t keep up your fluid intake you can dehydrate. 

Corticosteroids are a class of medications that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. They are synthetic drugs similar to cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Commonly used corticosteroids include prednisone, cortisone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone.

I am quite proud of my accomplishments today.  Still need to run the vacuum and take the trash out.  However, the cats water fountain is cleaned, I put that off from last week.  Their litter boxes have been serviced as well. 

Here’s hoping for a good nights rest and that I feel even better tomorrow.  My antibiotics will take me thru Friday.  It will take a couple days for my system to flush the effects of the steroid out so I am truly back to normal.  I did get a headache tonight on the way home but I knew I needed my evening meds and that fixed it.  Hate headaches, don’t know how anyone puts up with them especially migraines.  I don’t get them usually unless I am sick.  I want to stay away from where all of the sick people are, places like doctors offices, hospitals and urgent care.  It’s just an opportunity to pick up something I don’t have.  I know that you can get germs anywhere I just think I am more apt to get them in the places sick people congregate at. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope your doing well!

Way better

Today has been a much better day for me, though it didn’t start out that way.  Rudy I think could wake up a Rooster, he is an early riser.  I told him last night I didn’t need an early wake up call but he does what he wants with that information.  Don’t tell me he doesn’t understand me, I know differently.  He decided that I needed to be up at 6am, despite it being a Saturday and nothing really on the agenda for the day. 

Well, I got up begrudgingly and fed him and his sister.  Used the bathroom and then climbed back into bed.  I knew that watching a little TV would help me get back to sleep so that’s what I did.  It worked and I got maybe an hour or two more.  Then my body said it was time to be awake. 

I continued to lounge in my bedroom and watch TV.  Passed out lunch for the cats and grabbed a soda and a cookie.  Then back to TV watching.  I finished The Upshaws on Netflix.  I’ve watched the series from the start, it’s a pretty good show and the comedy is awesome!

Decided that I wanted to make a trek to a BBQ place that is no longer local.  It would take me about an hour and a half to drive there.  I haven’t shaved in over a week.  So I charged up the trimmer and while I was waiting for that to complete I watched TV.  It was noon. 

About 1p I got up and checked the trimmer was done.  I turned off the TV and grabbed the trimmer.  Headed to the bathroom and started to get the fur off my face.  I always flirt with keeping either a goatee or a mustache but I’m a clean shaven guy so I chopped it all off.  Then broke out the razor and made sure I was smooth.  Time for a shower after all of that work. 

I felt more alive after the shower but I knew that this was the steroids talking and working their magic.  I am coughing more now but it’s not excessive like it normally is where the cough becomes my new best friend and hopefully we don’t get to that point. I hope that I am truly on the mend because this has sucked.  I enjoyed the time away from my job but I didn’t like the symptoms and it hasn’t boded well for my depression. 

It’s super cold out and my phone said that it felt like 2 degrees Fahrenheit.  I had on a sweater pullover, jeans and my hat & coat.  I decided that BBQ was for sure what I wanted but making that long trek just wasn’t in the cards today.  Instead I went to a local BBQ place.  Saw a hot guy who was there with his wife.  He had a baby face and a nice slim build.  He looked a little familiar like he could have been a former co-worker but the more I looked at him the more I realized that probably wasn’t the case.  I had a decent meal, then it was back into the cold.  It was snowing when I drove in, just flurries and I had a little bit of that on the drive home.  Stopped to grab the mail and then back home. 

Time to get working on laundry.  I had to wash the sheets and bedding just because I’ve lived in bed most of the week.  I wanted to get this started before I left but Rudy was all passed out and looked quite comfy so I didn’t bother him.  As soon as I put my coat on he sprang to life and came to see what I was up to. 

Laundry has long been done and the bed is made.  Just need to put the pillow cases on and I’m all set.  Been watching porn and adding to my collection.  I haven’t really been in the mood being sick but now I’ve got myself all horned up so I am looking forward to some much needed self pleasure – that sweet release. 

I checked on the trap I set and the hole I filled the other night and it’s undisturbed.  My plan is when it’s warmer to pull all that junk out and put in some chicken wire and then steel wool and finally fill it in again with foam sealer.  That should be a permanent fix.  The other option is to just put a cap over it on the inside.  I’d much rather just smash it closed from the outside but that would require way too much work and honestly the effort isn’t worth it.  I know that mice and rodent in general are kept at bay by chicken wire and steel wool.  I’ve checked all of the mouse traps that are still set inside and they are all empty.  It’s been 3 years since I’ve been mouse free and I honestly don’t want to go down that rabbit hole again. 

What I think happened is there is a raccoon that made a home under the deck.  It chewed on the foam to try to get to some place warmer but nothing else has crawled in and the Raccoon is way too fat to fit through a dryer vent.  If it had babies they would certainly be small enough to but this place is a home for me and the cats there isn’t room for any other critters. 

My original plan included diving into work email but I’ve decided against that for now.  Possibly tomorrow and Monday I will work on that.  Today is just about rest and doing some playing on the computer. 

I’ve got a huge jump on my taxes.  I’m to the point where I am ready to file but I most likely won’t until next month.  I’m getting a small refund and have to pay 1 state which I am not eager to do. 

Tomorrow’s agenda is to grab some breakfast, hit up Target and the grocery store.  Possibly top off the gas tank and then come home.  Rest up as usual.  Clean the house and then in the afternoon if I am feeling well enough I will make the long trek for BBQ, otherwise I will go someplace else.  I need to hit up the cat food store too.  Once I am home for the day I plan to then dive into work email.  I don’t want to but it’s not like it’s going anywhere and it’s not like I am never going back although I wish that was the case.  However, I need the money so as the saying goes – I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go. 

Hope that you had a great day and are staying warm & well.  It’s suppose to be a little bit warmer here tomorrow but not by a whole lot.  Flurries are in the forecast.  Thanks for stopping by.

Negative

Today I woke up and it felt like I regressed back a couple days.  I felt horrible and just want it to stop.  The cats convinced me to eat breakfast.  I did feel a bit better.  Back to bed and watching Home Improvement. 

After a nap I decided to get an appointment at Urgent Care.  I knew they would test me for COVID as well as Flu & RSV.  My appointment was at 2p.  It super cold out and that didn’t help me feel any better. 

However, I walked in got checked in and had to wait a couple minutes before they called me back.  I got swabbed for the COVID, Flu & RSV.  It burned and was unpleasant. Then a nurse practioner came in and I got to tell my story to a third person.  She was pretty quick and wanted to conclude the visit but I pressed for the possibility of adding steroids to my treatment provided that the test didn’t come back positive.  She wasn’t keen about it but said that she would talk with the physician the supervises her. 

I was out of there in 20 minutes.  I was shivering by the time I left and decided that soup would be a good thing.  I knew where I wanted to go but the more I thought about the drive I opted to just head over to The Olive Garden. 

Had 3 bowls of Pasta Faggioli, breadsticks and a soda.  All of $10 plus tip.  Not a bad deal.  No eye candy to look at but enjoyed myself and the soup warmed me up.  While I was eating I got a call from Urgent Care they said the test came back negative for all and that they would be sending in a prescription for 3 days of steroids to try to jump start my body in to feeling better and to get some relief from the sinus pressure and pain. 

I paid the bill at Olive Garden and headed to the pharmacy.  No surprise the medicine wasn’t ready when I pulled up to the drive thru.  They told me to come back in 15 minutes.  I didn’t want to drive home just to leave and go back to the pharmacy.  I drove around for a bit and as luck would have it as I was checking out a new subdivision and got an alert that my medicine was ready.  I headed back to the pharmacy and got it. 

Finally home, I was gone for an hour and a half.  I wanted to just crawl back in bed but the cats convinced to stay up.  I changed shirts and passed out supper for them.  Started up Tool Time on Netflix. 

Took my medicine and got my water bottle.  It’s been several hours and I do feel better right now but who knows what I will feel like in the morning.  Mornings have been the worst but by the afternoon I feel decent.

Checked out work email on my phone and wow more work came in today.  My inbox is a complete disaster.  I thought about possibly working this afternoon but have opted not to.  I’ve got 3 days ahead for the weekend and perhaps I will take some time to try to play catchup, it will only be to my benefit to do so.  I don’t relish the thought of going back but know that I can only be gone for so long. 

The good news is that if I feel horrible come Tuesday, I would go on short term disability and still get paid in full.  However, it would require more medical care, lots of paperwork and giving my employer permission to get my medical records.  Honestly I don’t want to go down that route it’s not fun at all.  However, despite not testing positive for COVID it feels like I have it.  It’s not normal for me to be able to dismiss everything and not care about anything.  Especially work.  I know it doesn’t take long before things stack up and it becomes a complete nightmare to try to catchup, which is where I am at now. 

I did give Mora a bunch of attention only because she demanded it.  I also got to brush her.  Furry woman.  I know that she has to feel better and hopefully she will stop leaving fur balls for me to clean up. 

Here’s hoping that I feel as good now when I wake up tomorrow.  I’d like to go out to breakfast and maybe stop by my friends shop.  I need to pick up mail and grab a bite to eat for supper. 

It’s only 7p and I am yawning like I am about ready to drop.  Guess I should stick a fork in this post.  Hope your warm, well and that you have a great weekend!

Some progress

Woke up this morning and quickly remembered that mornings are the worst.  My head, neck and back were all killing me.  Plus all of the sinus soup in my head draining out, not pleasant at all. 

Fed Rudy and Mora was after me, she wanted me to eat.  Normally I am the one after her asking her to eat.  Well, I gave in and had some oatmeal, a banana and some milk.  Then took my morning pills and returned to my room to watch TV for a bit.  Eventually I wound up back in bed.  Rudy and Mora both guarding me as I slept, so did they. 

No movies today, it’s been a day of YouTube videos and Home Improvement. 

Skipped lunch just had a soda and some black olives.  Rudy begged me for more food despite the fact I just put his lunch down.  He’s figured out that he can be picky and I will give in.  I hate that because it’s a bad habit and it causes me to cycle through their food quicker. 

Remembered that it was Thursday so I had to take the trash out.  Rudy was after me to get a shower.  He climbed up on top of my chair and started to wash my scalp.  Just like Momma used to do.  I stopped him long before he got started.  I knew that I smelled but oddly it was a low key turn on and now I get why some guys like to sniff arm pits.  I’m not into that but I don’t have a problem watching it. 

I got that shower and man it felt good.  I started to itch in places that I didn’t know I had.  I couldn’t scrub hard enough or long enough.  It had only been 5 days and if Rudy hadn’t come along I would have easily fallen into a trap to go another day. 

After the shower I got dressed and man that was a task.  I was a bit winded afterwards.  I had a dizzy spell for a moment in the shower but I didn’t fall.  I rested and watched more TV.  After a half hour I got going. 

Got the trash ready to go out and then I left to head to the Olive Garden.  I wasn’t about messing with food at home.  Was greeted by a hot guy when I entered and man he had a nice butt, his face was cute too.  I didn’t make any moves, just ate my meal and went back home. 

Working on Laundry.  The room felt oddly colder.  That’s when I looked up and saw that something chewed through that dryer vent that I had foam sealed shut.  It was a door for rodents to enter, which is how I got my mouse problem in the first place.  Glad that I caught it, hopefully early.  I cleared out the old foam and then used a hammer to close up the vent.  Stuffed it with some paper and a plastic bag.  Then went over it with foam sealer again.  For good measure I put down a glue board trap so if anything is inside and tries to escape its feet will get stuck and it will die.  I’ve checked and don’t see any of the mouse traps tripped so hopefully I dodged a bullet.  I did what I thought was best.  I realize that whatever it is will probably chew through the foam sealer again so I did my google research.  I need to get some chicken wire or other mesh metal to stuff the hole with.  I’d crush the vent from the outside but it’s buried beneath my deck.  If the damn city inspector would have let us keep the dryer vent where it was none of this would be an issue today.  It’s not an insurmountable problem but it sure has caused me quite the aggravation and money. 

I’m watching mail at work on my phone and man they are really racking up.  I so do not look forward to Tuesday.  I’m thinking about taking some time to try to get ahead because provided I do return on Tuesday as I expect to, I will be on-call and it will be hellish trying to manage that plus playing catchup.  I’ve done it before and said never again but here I am. 

Headed upstairs to bed, I’m sure I won’t sleep for a bit but I like to keep my regular routine up so it won’t be so difficult when things do get back to normal. 

I feel some progress but I still have the bouts where I don’t care about anything and can sit and watch TV for hours.  My phone powered off and me disconnected from the world.  I’m starting to wonder if I didn’t pick up a case of COVID.  Part of me wants to know and part of me doesn’t want to know. 

Who knows what tomorrow holds but I do hope that I make more progress and feel much more like my normal self from the moment I wake up. 

Stay warm and be well.  Hope all is going good in your neck of the woods!

Sick

This is the first day since Sunday that I have been out of my room, except for feeding the cats, getting food for me or using the bathroom. 

Nothing mattered to me and I felt horrible.  Took me back to when I had COVID.  My head and shoulders hurt.  I don’t get headaches as a rule so when one crops up something is seriously wrong. 

Haven’t been to work and since today was my 3rd day out I knew I would need a doctors note.  That’s the only thing that got me out of bed.  I did a video visit and got some antibiotics.  Since my teeth are bothering me along with many other issues, the person I saw thinks it’s a sinus infection.  I was told to rest and stay put for the rest of the week.  By Friday or at the latest Saturday I should be back on my feet.  If I am not I should seek care again. 

Relayed the bad news to my boss.  Found out that the old guy that I work with has given his notice and he will be retiring in a month.  That means on-call will be a mess and I am sure I will get to help train a new person when we eventually find a replacement.  On average that takes somewhere between 3 and 6 months from the time the job is posted.  Looking at my inbox it’s been hell all week long and I know when I go back on Tuesday (Monday is a holiday for us) I will busy and probably screaming.  Therefore, no matter how I feel tomorrow or Friday I will be taking those days off.  Here’s hoping that I do feel better. 

I’ve been busy watching lots of movies.  Found a new hunk to obsess over.  Tom Blythe is his name.  He’s in People We Meet on Vacation and Plainclothes.  He reminds me of Mike Manning.  He’s just hot. 

I did make it out of the house to grab my medicine and took a spin through the drive thru at Wendy’s.  Got a cheeseburger and large Chili.  Burger was lunch and Chili was supper.  Not a bad deal for $12. 

I am in need of a shower.  I smell so bad the cats are trying to bathe me.  If my progress continues I am planning on trying to tackle a shower tomorrow.  I wanted to go downstairs today but instead am on the couch with the cats.  Were about to start the wind down routine and get ready for bed.  I am tired but really don’t miss my bed.  I’ve spent so much time in it that I would like to be anywhere else but eventually I know that I will need to sleep – that is how I will see the biggest improvement.  Sleep for me is like Chicken Noodle Soup. 

Tuned in to see some news to find out what is going on in the world.  Looks like I haven’t missed a whole lot.  Got on social media for the first time in a few days and can pretty much say the same.  It felt good to do some normal things. 

I’m watching Home Improvement on Netflix.  This is the first time in a very long time that I am getting my money’s worth out of my Netflix subscription. 

Despite the bad luck, I hope that this is not am omen of how this year is going to pan out for me.  Thanks for stopping by, I hope that your well.

Drained

Hey there just wanted you all to know that I’m still among the living. 

Thursday I made it to the doctors office.  As usual he was running behind.  I didn’t know it until after the fact but he now uses AI to transcribe and summarize the visit.  The report I read said that I gave a verbal okay for that but no one ever told me about it.  I’m guessing it was buried in the fine print of new forms I had to sign since it’s start of a new year.  For some reason he said come back in six month instead of three months.  I didn’t correct him.  I made a follow up appointment in six months.  I talked about the knots in my back and he’s got a referral to a doctor that is a cross between a Physical Therapist and a Massage Therapist.  All I have to do is say I want it.  I’m highly considering it.  It’s covered by insurance since it’s a medical doctor but since it’s a specialist I would have a co-pay.

Blood work is back.  Cholesterol is up but my A1C is down.  I just got the final results this morning.  Surprised that it took so long, I was starting to worry. 

Had Red Lobster for supper – it was good! Took the day to stay away from the computer. 

Friday I got my haircut, made it to Sam’s Club, the other grocery store and the cat food store.  I went out for pizza.  Have plenty left in the fridge to snack on.  Won a free desert in a giveaway.  Not a bad deal.  Placed an order for 2 cupping devices on Amazon.

Saturday woke up early thanks to Rudy and his wonderful internal clock that always runs fast.  I fed him and his sister.  Checked my phone and saw my cupping device was delivered.  Stepped out in the early morning freezing cold to grab it off the porch.  Opened the box and put them to use. 

My back looks like I was attacked by a bunch of donuts.  I’ve got some serious purple bruises and they weren’t sore at first.  Now that were into the evening the soreness is starting to hit.  I spent part of the afternoon on the heating pad to try to help.  I’ve got two more spots I need to have cupped.  I kind of want to do it tonight but am afraid that I am going to be seriously sore come tomorrow morning. 

Made it out of the house and over to the Mexican place by the office.  Had an okay meal.  Stopped in at the office to deal with a package on my desk and get it secured.  It was work stuff.  Then hightailed it home. 

Now that I am home I feel very run down and really only want to sit in front of the TV and lounge.  Since I have the time and freedom to do so I am going to.  I wonder if my ultimate fear is coming true.  Go to the doctor and get the flu.  Think about it a bunch of sick people in a waiting room and their germs are just floating in the air around me.  I really hope that I don’t have the flu or am getting sick, it’s not what I want.  On the upside I have 2 weeks of sick time.  Last year they gave us this benefit but I didn’t know about it until way late in the month of December and it’s a use or lose time.  Thankfully with the new year they front two weeks (80 hours) of time.  While it wouldn’t look good to call in sick on Monday if I am truly sick and don’t feel good, I will do exactly that. 

Right now I am going to publish this, grab my bedding from the dryer and herd the cats upstairs.  Make the bed and then find something to watch on TV.  I anticipate I will go to bed early but don’t want to go too early or I will wake up in the middle of the night. 

As long as I can make it out of the house for breakfast, groceries and to fill the gas tank, it will be a win for me.  Those are really the only things I want to accomplish tomorrow.  Here’s hoping a good nights sleep is all I need to feel better. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday for me

Good morning I’m glad that my work week is done after today.  Thus far the past two days have been enough for me.  I saw a video about retirement at age 55 and after the past two days I’m ready.  Sadly it’s not an option for me but I really wish it was. 

There was some drama yesterday afternoon with one of vendors and it caused me to have to jump on a conference call because the boss loves to hear himself talk.  Turns out by the time we all got connected the issue resolved its self.  So he got enough momentum to sound the big alarms to everyone and then once he did that everything went back to normal.  That’s about the luck I have. 

I feel trapped both in work and in life in general and honestly want out.  I have no plans to make that happen but just a general disgusted feeling as well as being tired and worn out.  A few days off will rejuvenate me but as soon as next Monday rolls around all of that said rejuvenation will be gone, that’s just how it works. 

It was much warmer yesterday here we were in the upper 60’s and it would have been awesome to open the windows and I wish I would have.  However, I didn’t want to deal with all of the excitement that it brings to the cats.  Were supposed to have another nice day today and if that does materialize I for sure plan to open the windows and deal with the furry monsters.  This odor is horrible, about the time I think it’s gone my nose picks it back up.  Kind of makes me wonder if I am going insane. 

Last night I was super bored and decided to check out a new show on A&E called Crime In Progress.  Wow the first episode a New Mexico State Trooper was executed, it was a cowardly act.  This all took place back in 2024.  They caught the guy who did it and he got life in prison.  The show kept me on the edge of my seat and made me glad that I’m not a cop.  It was a routine call and the Trooper had no idea that things were going sideways, it happened quickly.  I watched the show via the A&E app and had to put up with commercials despite the fact that I pay for A&E as part of my TV package, which I didn’t like but it didn’t stop me from watching.  If you like true crime or law enforcement shows, this one is for you. 

Had store bought Spaghetti & Meatballs last night.  I layered it with an Italian blend of shredded cheese and it was good.  More than I needed but I enjoyed it.  Had some cookies and milk a bit later for desert. 

That was my day.  My allergies from this odor are kicking in so I am going to head up and get some extra meds on board and see what else the day has instore.  Thus far only 1 meeting much later in the day with a vendor.  Our regular BS meetings thus far haven’t popped up this week but I suspect they will be back next week.  So not looking forward to truly getting back to normal, but I know that in the end it’s good for me despite the stress it brings. 

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.  Thanks for stopping by!

Open Windows = Joy

Yesterday when I was finally able to break away from the computer and head up for lunch.  I fed the cats and finished up my cold pizza.  Then I opened the windows and wow both cats sprang to life.  They were in lazy sleep mode, which is normal after eating.  They had to visit each window and stare out of it or try to before they decided to start chasing each other throughout the house.  I knew this would make their day but wasn’t quite prepared for their overjoyed response. 

Rudy found his way into trouble by jumping up in my bedroom window and then jumping down when I walked in the room.  He was now behind the TV and crying because he couldn’t figure out how to get out.  Daddy to the rescue.  Then I blocked the door from opening without using some force via a door prop.  That kept him and his sister at bay. 

I got the exhaust fan out to circulate the air and I’m sure the few neighbors that saw my windows opened probably think I am nuts.  Matters not to me.  It felt good and the smell was gone, that is until I turned the fan off and closed the windows.  I also had the fan on from the furnace and despite not needing it I changed the furnace filter. 

As I mentioned in my post yesterday it is warmer than normal here and it’s normal when it warms up for the house to smell for a bit, that is ever since the rodent problem I had.  Once we go back into the deep freeze this should all hopefully go away.  Right now it’s just living with it.  I have to my extra allergy meds otherwise I sneeze like crazy.  This is one of those burdens that I could sure do without.  I lived with this long enough that while it’s not pleasant I’ve grown a custom to know how to deal with it. 

Work was really frustrating yesterday and today is full of apologies from my colleague.  I’m honestly sick of his apologies they are meaningless to me.  He will make the same mistake over and over and over.  Makes me wonder how he makes it in life.  He’s cute and has a great body but that’s about all he has going for him.  Beauty fades, dumb is forever as Judge Judy would say. 

Had a Chicken Pot Pie for supper.  Got that Shave & Shower, man it felt great especially on my sore shoulder.  Prior to that I broke out the tens unit and cranked it up.  I had some involuntary muscle contractions but much like the warm shower it did help.  Thinking of buying a cupping device.  I am suspect because lots of devices I purchased in the past promised results but they didn’t provide them and now I have a collection of junk that I don’t use.  I don’t want more junk, I’ve got enough. 

Here’s hoping that today is a better day and that I can open the windows again to not only see joy on the cats faces but to help get more fresh air in here.  Rain is in the forecast from Wednesday on. 

Today is my Thursday but it really doesn’t feel like it.  Thanks for stopping by.   

Best plans

Well Red Lobster didn’t happen because I decided to clean and reboot my computer before I walked away.  That tied me up for the rest of the evening.  I wound up making one of the Tombstone Pizza’s that I have.  It was okay but certainly not what I wanted for supper and not the way I wanted to spend my evening. 

My right shoulder is bothering me from all of the typing and being tense & aggravated as I worked through the problems.  My back misses a regular massage and while I am trying to cope I might just have to break down and find a new massage therapist despite not wanting to. 

My mistake making colleague called in sick today, which I fully expected.  What I didn’t expect is for him to leave me with a heaping pile of mistakes to fix all of which were urgent.  I got through that mess and sent him a sharply worded email that basically says do your fucking job I’m tired of cleaning up after you.  I didn’t use those words but I was professional about it. 

The boss appears to be out and my other colleague had an appointment this morning and should be back shortly.  I’ve been the sole point of contact for our team and while I am not on-call it’s felt like it. 

I’ve got some strange odor in the house that started yesterday afternoon it’s growing a little stronger.  Not sure what is going on but the good news is that the temperatures will be warmer today so I plan to open some windows and get some fresh air in here.  Kind of smells like something died maybe it’s one of the raccoons under the deck, all I know is that I need the odor to leave quickly it’s disturbing. 

So much for a better 2026, were off to a rocky start.  However, I reminded myself I only have 2 days left to work this week that helps a little bit.  Looking forward to what I hope is a more relaxing afternoon and a nice shave & shower this evening.  Until then I need to grin and bare it. 

Hope all is well in your world!

1st Post for 2026

I hope that 2026 is off to a good start for everyone!

New Years Day – I went out for Mexican food in the afternoon but was home for the bulk of the day with the cats.  Playing on the computer and watching TV, just relaxing in general.  I did stop to grab the mail. 

Friday – It was back to work for one day and wow it was a banger.  It started off with a lull and then the bottom fell out and I was super busy for a while.  The day in general went by pretty fast as Friday’s do.  I was glad when it was over. 

Saturday – I got my laundry done in the evening.  I spent the morning loafing and enjoying a day with nothing planned.  I did go out to the same place I was at last Saturday.  Got a bowl of chili and a Garlic Burger.  That was the plan but then I heard the magical words “Bread Pudding” and well I had to have that.  It was actually Pecan Bread Pudding and served cold.  It would have been better warmed up with a lite drizzle of caramel on top.  Watched a lot of porn when I got home.  It’s one of my escapes from reality. 

Sunday – Rudy woke me up way too early and I went back to bed.  I got up late by Rudy’s standards.  Passed out his breakfast.  Then got ready to go get mine.  Super cold outside and not a lot of people at the breakfast place but I am okay with that.  Grocery store was kind of the same way.  Topped off my gas tank and came home.  Sat on the heating pad for my shoulders and upper back.  Took a nap with the cats.  Put out my medicine.  Then launched into cleaning mode.  I finally got to my bedroom closet which I have put off for months.  I felt really good after I was done with it.  Threw away a few pairs of old shoes and a ton of inserts.  It was all junk that was just collecting dust.  Cleaned the house and here I am in front of the computer. 

It’s been a bit of a blur trying to figure out what day of the week it is with the holidays mixed in but it was really nice to have time away from work. 

I will be done with my first on-call shift of the year come tomorrow morning and nothing feels better than having a break from that for a couple weeks.  I’ve got 3 whole days to work this week and not really looking forward to any of them. 

Thursday I’ll be seeing the doctor again just a regular visit to have labs checked and to air any general complaints.  Friday I’ve got a haircut booked in the morning.  Thinking of hitting up Sam’s Club again for a couple things.  I know I will be eating out. 

I’ve got the rest of today on my hands.  I plan to go visit Red Lobster.  Have a bowl of Clam Chowder and the Flounder Dinner.  It sounds good I only hope that service is better.  I’ve got two in the area by me in opposite directions.  I always go to the one that I went to with my spouse but if service sucks then I will switch next time to the other one. 

Cats are both fine.  We have had some play time.  They have been brushed and nails trimmed.  They just love to be by me and Rudy is in my lap as I’m typing this.  He is trying to sleep it’s the only time he wags his tail when his eyes are closed.  Sometimes he does it with force and other times it’s gentle like it’s a reflex.  I do wonder what they think sometimes. 

Take care, stay warm & well.  Talk with you all again soon!