We’re having a fire drill soon. Maybe today. It’s a perfect day for it, gray and drizzly. Drills are supposed to be secret, but it’s kind of obvious when one’s coming, at least if you’re paying attention.
So I’ve been informed that I should post a link to the lovely picture of Ali’s car for y’all to marvel at. Here it be:
Can’t talk long. Week before finals. End-of-semester papers (all worth as much credit as, or more than, the exams themselves) kicking my ass.
Good morning everyone.
The pictures of Swampy and Blue were very nice. I’m glad you had a nice visit.
**Mr. Taters ** and I will be going shopping tonight for my son’s 15th birthday presents. My son’s birthday is tomorrow.
I was going to go to work today, but stayed home. I’ve got plenty of leave and I was just so tired I couldn’t see straight. I’m still way too tired and it’s 11:00 am here. I may lie down and take another nap.
You know, I was going to say more, but I just can’t think straight. I think I will toddle off for a nap now.
MaternalStripedyFeline, that sounds like such a wonderful idea - and would last about 30 seconds in here with the fuzzbutts. The floor in here is linoleum over concrete - it does help keep it cool in summer but I have just resigned myself to cold feet during the winter.
Herbs, {{{hugs}}} right back atcha!
SwampusBearus, I know you’ll make it over here someday. I’m just getting older and greyer while I wait. I was going to add “…and fatter” but I have actually lost 10 lbs since I started working. I imagine cutting down drastically on the number of sodas I drink has made at least a small difference. I get a large hazlenut iced coffee from MickeyD’s on the way to work and generally drink water after that is gone. Sometimes I’ll have a soda after work, but usually water. And I’m not sitting around here snacking all day, either.
I have been seeing an ad when I sign on to games that is just all sorts of wrong. It’s a split screen; one side shows a happy mommie driving in her SUV with her happy kiddies in the back seat. The other side shows a tiled floor with a litter box with one clump in it. Then the mommie reaches out of her SUV window into the room with the tiled floor with the ltter scooper she just happens to carry around in her car and scoops out that one clump.
Huh?
Hugs to all - have a great day!
I am soooooo tired. One hour and twenty minutes until my nap. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I still feel sort of deathly, so I’ve asked Mum to take me to my appointment. I am tired of this cold.
On the bright side, I just re-read Prince Caspian, because of the new trailer. I love Reepicheep.
'Twas a cold day here, and I kept hoping maybe they’d give us a delayed opening, but no such luck. Ah well. I actually had a pretty productive day, despite the software that kept making my work disappear. I was saving every 3 or 4 keystrokes before it was done. And I answered 3 questions very comprehensively, including some parts that are outside my specific area of expertise. I passed them on to my liaison officer to review before he sends them to the customer.
I also talked with my boss a bit and got what I think is good news. The assignment that took me to Miami came my way because the analyst who usually handles that project is deployed till the end of the year. I assumed when she came back that she’d take her work back, but it looks like she’s going to be reassigned, so I get to keep on doing what I’m doing. So yay!! I’ll be the official subject matter expert, I guess. Go me! 
I’ve been very productive since coming home, too. The dishwasher is washing dishes, and the clothes washer is washing jeans. In a few minutes, I’ll have to feed the menagerie, and I pulled some ground beef out to thaw - I need to make a big batch of sketty sauce.
**FCD ** just finished his 3rd late day in a row. He got approval for a project that is high profile and short-fused. Which means he’ll be working at home all weekend. Poor baby. Maybe I’ll have me some clay time after all?
Nice pic of you huggers! So, Shadow, did folks compliment you on being so kind as to be seen in public with an old geezer? He didn’t nod off during the main course or anything, did he? <she asks from a very safe distance…>
And other than being *hongry * myself, I got nothing else. Glad it’s almost Firday - I’m ready for a weekend.
Could someone come her and smack our IT folks around a bit? LiLi, do you still have some spare ninjas that we can sic on them? Grrrrrrrrr.
You should work in D.C., Mooom. You would have at least gotten a liberal leave day. Not that it did Papa Tigs any good; I just hope I see him before bedtime, since the only time he could get on his boss’s calendar today for a meeting is nearly two hours after he’s supposed to go home for the day. 
Prince Caspian and a new trailer? Does this mean they’re making the movie of it (she says from the depths of her ignorance)? O frabjous day! I’ve always loved all the Narnia books; but I’m not sure I dare see Voyage of the Dawn Treader in a public theater since the book still makes me weep every. single. time. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. :dubious: But Prince Caspian will be coming out? Calloo callay!
SCL, try a small area rug, like a kitchen rug. Or even a bathmat, which being rubber-backed might not slide around quite as much. I’ve actually got two, one atop the other, under my feet in addition to the foam – actually, come to think of it, there’s quite a few layers now. Carpet, plastic chair pad, two small rugs (one rag, one shag), and now two layers of foam atop it. The foam is just luvverly under my feet. Heck, you could even cut a couple thicknesses of the foam and just take 'em with you when you exit the cat suite. Or hide them in a closet or something. But it’s squishy and warm, a delightful combination. And has the added advantage of being seriously cheap. We’re not talking the $200 memory foam variety here, more like the $8 egg crate.
Well, phooey! I just saw a story on the news – thanks to work being done on the Bay Bridge, they’re going to be canceling the annual Bridge Walk for the next few years. I was really looking forward to finally being physically able to do it! I mean, what could be cooler than walking across the Chesapeake Bay? So I guess I’ll have to wait. Phooey.
I’d better get my behind back in gear. I’ve now got not only congressional [del]drivel[/del] work arriving to be done this evening, but also a press conference to transcribe as an immediate turnaround thing, i.e. finish it and only then eat dinner. I mean, it’s $$, and I like $$, but I also like sleep. And I’ve still got this other job to get done for the other client before the day is out.
I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have goofed off yesterday.
So, this is how close my family is: I get an email, bcc’d, from my uncle, stating that “everything is all right.” Hmmm, what is he referring to? The charred remnants of my grandparents’ garage was immediately eye-catching, though. It seems they lost their garage, the pool house, and the tool shed, as well as assorted vehicles, but the house is structurally sound, with no water damage. I have no idea whether that means the house is salvageable in any way. (Everyone is ok, including the animals.)
They’re staying with my mom. My grandmother (these are my dad’s parents), does not like my mother. Never has. I can **not ** imagine them living together for any length of time, even overnight. And then I had a really horrid thought. My mother does not own her house, she has a life tenancy of some sort, but I don’t think it was ever made legal. She has no mortgage and pays no rent. What if my grandparents kick her out?
I’m glad to hear it’s not as commercialized as it is here, SO. I tend to hibernate as much as possible from Thanksgiving till January because it drives me nuts to have people trying to send me all kinds of useless junk.
Ali - congrats on the graduation. Sorry about the car, though. Say hi to meli and tell her to stop by soon…
rigs: When she last stopped by, Drae said she had a new job and was really busy. Has anyone else heard from her?
Really nice pix, swampy and Shadow! Sounds like a fun time. Although swampy needs to learn to communicate more clearly as I’m still not sure what the evening actually involved.
Chicken sounds yummy, Pie. I’ll have to make it soon.
Hi kai!
Sorry you don’t feel well, LiLi. Hope it clears up soon.
::smacks taxi’s IT people::
What an odd situation, Shadow. Hope your mom continues to have a home.
GT
It’s been snowing here. We are expected to get 2-4 inches overnight. Hopefully it will be done soon. I took a couple pictures from the doorway of the house this afternoon. I was too lazy to venture out there too much, since it was cold, windy, and according to the radio a windchill of -26. Which I don’t know if I believe or not…it doesn’t seem that cold out there…but who knows.
Anyway lame pictures from my house.
Well, my nap was a bust. I got three phone calls and 4 text messages.
Now I’m grappling with awake-ness, but not quite there yet.
Li-Li, I hope you feel better soon.
Aargh! I am so mad at the idiot young woman I deal with at the one reporting firm, I could spit! She merrily goes on home, leaving a huge mess in the reporter’s and my lap(s). Basically, the press thing went more than twice as long, and they were having trouble with their audio system so the poor reporter had to (!!) walk around with a tape recorder and point it at people! And then Young Dingbat expects ME to stay up all night trying to do that stupid thing? I don’t think so!! I assured the reporter he could (a) call Young Dingbat and give her the bad news about the job, and (b) let her know that she gets to find some poor schmuck in the office to do it tomorrow. So the reporter asks me, “But does she have someone available to do it?” I managed to not snarl, “I don’t know and I don’t care,” and instead pointed out that that’s HER problem for not planning better today. Like not trotting off home on time and then expecting other people to sit up all night cleaning up her messes for her!
Young Dingbat backed the wrong person into a corner tonight. I don’t say no often, but when I do, it’s a fairly resounding, HELL no. Which I’m sure she’s heard loud and clear! She’s a nice young woman, but she is SO disorganized – and I am simply not willing to be the victim of her disorganization this evening!
Anyway, I’ve still got the congressional [del]drivel[/del] work, so I’d better get back to it. I’d like to get some sleep tonight.
hellos, sorrys, too bads, and doesn’t that sucks to all.
Am home from ever late shift–ended up staying until 7pm. (got off at 5). Also, was cancelled for tomorrow, but one of the staff RNs wants it off, so am now working her shift–the 0530 am one. But it’s money… Later, dudes!
:waves:
swampbearington and Shadow - Them’s great pics! And you both look like other people I know.
So, we’re starting the push towards competition. We found out today that to “pass” words and music (to show the section leaders and the director that we really know the songs), instead of singing into a recorder and handing over a cassette or emailing a sound file, we will be singing with a quartet - live! So Director asked for volunteers. I raised my hand. Partly to show the newbies how easy it was to “pass” this way and partly to get it over with. I surprised myself. I did great. I messed up a word here and there, but that’s easily fixed.
I am reminded of an exchange of dialog in the movie Camp
boy: “Why would I [reveal my innermost pain] in front of a perfect stranger?”
director: “So you can do it in front of a few hundred”
If the individual chorus members can sing in a quartet, then it makes singing in a chorus that much easier.
I didn’t acutally nod off durin’ dinner with Shadow, but I did get kinda yawny toward the end. She was nice about it. I was sufferin’ from PCS (Post Consultant Syndrome). Seriously. I dunno what it is about it, but whenever I finish up one of those things I feel soooooo tired.
I’s home!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! I need to go to bed but my body is on PST so it’s not quite nine o’clock in my haid even though the clock says it’s 11:49 P.M. right now. I had a two and a half hour wait in Etlanner for the flight to Albeeeny. Ain’t but four of ‘em a day. Oh and on the news this week, there was a story about how the major airlines are goin’ to cut flights by five percent next year. That should be a thrill. :rolleyes:
Shadow that is odd. Even with what we talked about about family stuff that’s odd. Here’s hopin’ stuff works out there.
BioTigs sorry I didn’t make it clearer about what Shadow (I’m going for the world record on the number of times Shadow’s name is mentioned in one post. ) and I did during dinner. We talked and laughed and hugged a lot.
Ok, maybe I’ll surf around a bit and get sleepified. Later Y’all!
Oh… I don’t think I mentioned this yet. Shadow and I talked and laughed and hugged a lot.
Gosh, Swampy, are you sure you guys hugged and talked and laughed a lot? Because it seems to me you probably sat there in sullen silence and made sure you didn’t touch each other. <Ew, Doper cooties!>
In case anyone ever wonders why I always call it congressional [del]drivel[/del] work, this is a perfect example. Names have been changed to protect the guilty.
It took me 20 years of doing this type of work to be able to type that crap on a regular basis without puking. And it’s still touch and go at times. It’s fortunate that I have a very strong stomach. :rolleyes:
Back to it. Oh, how I wish it were bedtime! Sometimes the money just ain’t worth it; right now I’m beginning to think truer words were never spoken.
sigh
TVMan just sent me an email about the late TVPup and also the night that his fiancee passed away. He’d never mentioned much before other than the date and that it was a massive heart attack due to her weakened condition while on dialysis.
Today is going to be busy with trying to get ready for tomorrow’s Open House. And, BTW, when I said that I was making 30lbs of Orange Chicken, it was more like 30 to 40 servings. Oops. Which is more like 15 pounds.
Ok, I need to get up off of the couch now.