There’s a hill on Sepulveda north of Venice Blvd. I was coming home from work one afternoon when I saw a Rolls-Royce (Silver Shadow?) erupting in a giant cloud of steam going up it. (I can’t remember if I was driving a Porsche 924, or a Chevy Sprint.)
Have done nothing useful outside of fixing myself some grilled ham-n-cheesers for dinner, I have the Thorsday Night Tackleball game on in another window and will probably go to bed when it ends. Have added to my shopping list for tomorrow, should be a fairly sizeable one, will try to fit it in between school starting and the work rush, and we’ll see what the rest of the day brings.
And let’s see what the night news brings…
flyboy, good luck on the job hunt, sounds like other folks there at work know your value if the head honchos don’t.
red, hope you warm up soon, and car is easy to fix.
swampy, I don’t watch the needle insertion, but I will watch the blood being drawn.
VanGo, that would be a scary thing to find (no lug nuts). Glad you were smart enough to stop in time. And getting kids interested in science is important, even if right now it is mostly breaking things…
lily, glad you survived I-5 and the meeting. And happy the dear wife is recovering; don’t think I’ve ever broken my nose, and appendages crossed that your bleeding is not a sign of cancer.
And it’s 10pm and less than 3 minutes left in the tackleball, so off to bed shorty. See y’all sometime tomorrow.
Up from naptime. Having a Mai Tai, smoked Paprika chicken, and bacon Parmesan spinach. Spot was so excited about a fresh bag of dry, flavorless bits he overate and hornked.
“Johnny is a great employee who brings profit to the company, so we had no choice but sack him.”
Nothing like random cysts, bruises, and pains.
That’s good.
As are we.
My best to everyone who’s not feeling well, has overtightened lug nuts or crummy bosses, has been in the hoosegow, etc.
Yeah, La Jefa (and El Jefe before her) don’t really understand the intricacies of data. They’ll find out. The company has changed since I started, becoming more ‘corporate’ (which is what I hated about BMCRA).
‘But we don’t understand what he does, so let’s get rid of him and apply his salary to the bottom line.’
I spoke with a cow-orker today, as I mentioned. I told her how much money my efforts bring in. I said, it’ not a lot, but it’s something.’ She said, ‘It’s a lot.’ Alas. If TPTB realise they’re losing money, it will be too late. Revenue reports come out quarterly, and by the time they see the numbers they will have gotten rid of my computer. I truly believe in this 126-year-old company; but I have to look out for Numero Uno.
Did I mention that I’m the first one to be laid off since I’ve been there, and that my cow-orker said she thinks I’m only the first?
Whatever. I’ll try not to post about it unless someone says something worth mentioning. It’s pretty shattering, though.
I blame those on the cat.
Yes, it is.
Welcome home, Oopsie!
Yes, they were. And no, he’s not. He doesn’t even dig.
But to be fair, that’s largely down to how much I restrict his movements when we’re outside. He’s so untrustworthy, he’s rarely off his lead unless we’re down in the pasture, where he can run without getting into too much trouble and I can keep a watchful eye.
There’s a squirrel who made its home under a concrete pad just in front of the house. It’s a very healthy, arrogant creature who loved to torment Ollie through the windows. (I’ve since filled in the squirrel den with gravel, so it relocated.) I am positive that if I’d let Ollie loose when he spotted that squirrel, there would have been blood spilled. I just wasn’t sure which critter’s blood it would be. Whenever Ollie and I stepped outside during a taunting, the squirrel would immediately dive for cover under its concrete bunker. I had visions of Ollie going right in after him – and not being able to figure out how to get back out again if the squirrel went bananas on him.
I hate when that happens! I hope you’ve warmed up at last.
lily, I’m so glad your lovely wife is recovering well, and you have my fervent hopes for the bleeding to be the result of the least worrisome cause. I wish you weren’t going through this.
Re the stupid drivers, I hear you. Why do we have so many boneheads driving white/gray cars in the fog with no lights? Hope you don’t have to endure another journey like that anytime soon.
Indeed, why not? I’ve seen this happen so many times. An organization doesn’t appreciate a wonderful employee until they’ve stupidly disposed of them, and by the time they figure it out, it’s too late.
Good call. 
Sounds like a good day to me! I hope you enjoyed every minute.
shoe speaks truth. It’s the most awful feeling, isn’t it? But you’re going to land on your feet and prevail over this adversity, I am sure of it.
Quiet day here. Once I get medication successfully squirted into Ollie’s ears, the rest of any day is a cakewalk. Only 2 more days of that!
The bagels are good and dinner was chicken thighs with sliced potatoes baked in olive oil, lemon and oregano.
Time for bed.
Sorry this is happening, Johnny.
Years ago, was out walking my two dogs, a dachsie and a basenjii, and we came across a hole that some critter had dug.
The basenjii began sniffing at it in an abstract sort of way: “Hmm, now what’s this?”
The dachsie shoulder-checked the basenjii out of the way, with a “Mine!” noise, and began digging, digging, digging with those big front paws. Took a bit to pull him away from it.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 10c/49f with a predicted high of 11c/51f and a chance of rain. Weather app says “We all deal with rain in our own fucking ways. My way is fucking cussing.” Mine too today.
Do you still get burly butcher bacon? Is there still near-nekkid frying of said burly butcher bacon?
‘im indoors doesn’t say much about what gets shoved on his plate. I know he likes chilli the way I make it and there are a couple of things I don’t cook very often but when I do he comments that he likes it and it’s a rare thing to make. If he said so, he’d probably get some things more often than now, but he doesn’t.
If it gets you out of paying excessive charges to your apartment complex, it’s worth a bit of your time. Sadie is a beautiful emotional support cat!
I’m glad Mr Taters got you some medication early so that you can deal with the symptoms before they really take hold. Hope you feel better soon, there’s no need to rush about doing things, you should be resting.
Hopefully you can also send everyone home with leftovers too
The last three or four years when we’ve been up there, it’s been dry and sunny. Usually wet and horrible on the drive up and back, but while we’re there is been glorious. We’ll be in Largs and Troon so both coastal towns which might have some bearing on the weather conditions.
I live in hope, more than expectation! When they originally advertised for a short-term secondment, they had to extend the ad because nobody applied. Now they’re advertising an even shorter secondment and one of the mucky-mucks has already said it would be nice if someone from within our School applied for it. Don’t think they’ve learned yet, out of the three of us who could apply for it, none of us did because none of us want it. Frankly, the post is far too meeting-heavy for my liking and I know that would mean too much talking and not enough doing.
And I do live in the Wet Midlands (living up to the name today, thanks to Storm Claudia) so it’s not that unusual for me. As I said upthread, the last few times we’ve been up to Troon in November, it’s been beautifully sunny and warm enough to go out in just a t-shirt.
Much appreciated!
So she should! She won’t be able to replace you easily, and I am sure your colleagues will miss you very much. Best of luck finding a new thing that suits you better!
So true! I’m glad your lovely wife is recovering well, and that someone had the good sense to report the accident so someone else could do something sensible. Fingers crossed for you too.
Yesterday was not a good day in our office. We had confirmation that our temporary team manager isn’t coming back to us, our former team manager is also not returning (at least until March 2026) and TPTB are endeavouring to find someone else to fill the gap. They’ve asked for expressions of interest but have limited it to only our College (there are 5 Colleges in the University) and have hinted they’d like someone from our School to apply. Errr…we didn’t apply first time round, what makes them think we’ll do it now?
I also went to a drop-in session arranged by my Union for disaffected staff. They are very aware that support staff are demoralised, overworked, stressed and anxious about a lot of things. They had set up a series of drop-in sessions both in-person and online so that people could talk about what the problems are in their areas, and what could be done to help them. I was the only person who went to the session, so I had over an hour talking to a lovely lady from a different College. I think I managed to air all my grievances and she’s got a much better idea of why we’re all at the point of leaving.
Went home, fed the cats, had dinner, collected ‘im indoors from the station, and went back home to drink tea and watch an episode of Slow Horses. I was in bed by 10pm which was good, up before the alarm this morning so I had a bit of extra time to fuss Muffin.
Public transport is a total mess today, Storm Claudia arrived overnight and has been causing all sorts of chaos. My bus was late because the driver had to keep stopping and wiping the inside of the windscreen because it was too misted up to see properly. Missed my usual train to Big City Station and only just got there in time for another one because it was running late. Nothing from Big City to campus was running on the cross-city route, then the previously cancelled Hereford train was reinstated but only ran half of the usual route.
Getting home tonight will be an adventure…
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 43 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 75 and sunny. We shall be bears who brunch at Pearly’s. The rest of the day will be spent in the usual RDOS inactivities. I feel good so far. The left arm is less achy and I am not feelin’ after effects of the covid stab like I usually do. I think the preemptive sleep with Ty greatly assisted.
Lily glad lovely wife is recoverin’ from the broken nose. Also here’s hopin’ your woes are due to tamoxifen.
FlyBoy again I hope TPTB that made this decision develop painful permanent paper cuts and an obsession to soak their hands in salt and lemon juice.
BooFae we do still buy burly butcher bacon cause it’s the best. However, there is no nude or semi-nude fryin’ of it. One has learnt one’s lesson about that. Glad you got the chance to vent about the irk situation. Maybe TPTB will listen. Or maybe I just made a funny.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy a little sump’n so I can take meds. Then I shall purtify and don attire acceptable for bein’ amongst the great unwashed. Fortunately food from Pearly’s is worth the effort.
Happy Firday Y’all!
I know Daughter will take some turkey and ribs, and I’m going to try to plan the sides so there aren’t any leftovers. It’s looking like it’ll just be your usual family dinner, except with a lot more meat, most of which will end up back in the freezer.
Expect the worst, hope for the best, maybe you won’t be too disappointed! 
I was sleeping soooooo well when FCD got up around 5:30 and I wasn’t able to sleep again. I did get 6 good hours, tho, so there’s that. The day has started at 33 Ferrets - Huzzah for living indoors and all that!
As you all know, it’s Laundry Day 
so I got that going for me. I’ll try to get more iris in the ground when it warms later on. I was thinking I needed something from Food Lion but I surely can’t recall what. We have 2 meds to pick up at CVS. So it’ll be a random chore day.
I got a text from the dermatologist that they had an opening on Moanday and I managed to get it - YAY! So I don’t have to wait till December to get my annual once-over. The appointment is late - 3:45 - but I can deal. It’s not like I have a life other than RDOS, yanno?
So once I finish my morning reads, the fun shall begin. Happy Firday!!
Hot flashes are a side effect of one of the meds I take.
Friday night. It’s been a busy week. It’s getting colder, We’ll drop below 0°C tonight as we have a number of times so far.
SenGirl’s class hiked a small inactive volcano tonight. The summit is 733 meters, which is about 2,400 ft. It starts at a hundred meters or so, so they had a good hike in the cold. It’s a night hike, starting in the late afternoon and into the dark. Sometimes I don’t understand the purpose of these things. I suppose they build character.
SenBoy’s referee patch came. Now he can referee games.
Tired, so off to bed.
Good Firday morning! My bladder allowed me to sleep through the night for the first time this week (if 6:15am is considered through the night). Pills have been taken and in about 45 minutes I’ll leave to do the Firday shopping, which should put me on the road just as classes start so hopefully all the parents driving kids in will be out of the way. Once shopping is done the day (39F now, heading to 74F and no rain) freedom (read: sloth) will be the order of the day.
Hate to tell you, at 73, but it ain’t getting better…
{{flyboy}}. They’ll learn, but too late I reckon. Best wishes on your job quest.
Thank you and enjoyed most of them. Might have been a couple minutes there when I alighted from the exercise bike and my tailbone let me know sitting on a hard seat for 25 minutes is not their favorite form of entertainment…but otherwise good.
Thanks for all the dachshund stories, I had one when I twas a youth, she wasn’t much of a digger but fiercely protective and could bark well above her weight class, which
concerned more than one workman during her time…
boo fae, apparently the powers-that-be figure people will be more tempted by thier offering less? Nice to know idiots are in charge across the pond too. Hope your talkling it out will help both the powers-that-be and your morale a bit. Good luck on your travels home, hadn’t heard of Storm Claudia here in the colonies, but goggled it and it sounds fairly bad, so stay safe (and mostly dry).
FCM, happy laundry day!
Sensei, that’s a fairly good hike, I try to set my treadmill at 8 degrees incline for around 40 minutes and don’t think I climb that for, so yeah, she got a very good workout. And yay! on SenBoy joining my club (of refereeing soccer–indoors at least). Hope the kids (and mostly the parents) behave…
And that’s all for the morning report. Need to break fast with the morning apple and then prepare for the shopping trip. Have a good Firday all.
Speaking of little dogs, FCD keeps sending me videos of a chihuahua barking like mad at a pittie who’s just lying around trying to snooze. Then the big dog gets fed up with the little one and gets up and either drops it in a trash can or flings it into the pool. But in one video, the little dog brings a big stuffed spider and puts it in front of the pittie, then barks. The big dog wakes up and freaks out, climbs on the sofa, then sprints away.
I’m pretty sure it’s not AI…
Meanwhile, I’m showered, dressed, and the first load is in the washer. And so it begins.
OK, I laughed out loud at that one. 
fcm, your video story reminded me. lager has a spider halloween costume. it does cause leaping in people. there are many videos of dogs and cats in spider outfits that have me falling over laughing.
johnny la, i am more baffled by tptb’s decision everytime you post. something in the company’s thinking and decision is very, very dodgy.
Mornin’ all.
It’s 53°F, and wet outside. Once again, rain is expected to fall throughout the day in varying levels of intensity, with a daytime high of 55°F.
Lily, I’m glad your lovely wife is recovering, and I hope it’s the tamoxifen, and not cancer for you. You were not far from my neck of the woods yesterday, and that bit of I-5 from Tacoma to Olympia southbound is a real bear in the afternoon. Add rain, and it’s even worse. I have my lights set to auto, so they automatically turn on in poor driving conditions or at night, of course. My Jeep is a deep red, though.
Red, I hope you’re doing better today.
Swampy, I’m glad you are feeling better.
Johnny, sending you hugs. I can understand feeling bitter; I would too. We all have a vision for how we’re going to leave a place of employment, and when it doesn’t go as planned, it’s just not a good feeling. However, you’re moving right along, so that’s good to see.
boo fae, it doesn’t seem like things are going to get better anytime soon at work, and I’m sorry. Are you thinking of moving on?
I still feel icky. The gut has settled, but the cold remains firmly ensconced in my head. My nose and the space between my nose and lips feel raw from the constant blowing and stopping of post-nasal drip. The last cold mainly remained in my chest, and honestly, I’d rather have that than the continual drip… drip…dripping and stuffy head.
Ah well. I’ll live, I guess.
I haven’t even thought about what I’ll be having for Thanksgiving food. I’m sure it’ll be turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and some vegetable sides. It’ll only be three of us anyway, so I need to find the smallest turkey possible. I don’t really care for turkey, but my husband likes it, and it’s a once-a-year thing. I plan to send a good part of the meal home with my son.
I think that’s it for now. Please take care of yourselves.