Evening all. I managed to get the trash out to the curb, do my swimming and sauna and also picked up some stuff at Krogers, all before 9pm, so yea me. Temperature is below 70F now so the AC will be in the off position here shortly.
The two places I would take visitors to is the Space Museum or the Jack Daniels Distillery (about an hour away). Haven’t been to either on my own in many years.
nellie, I crossed under the English Channel twice on the Eurostar train (day trip to Paris), and that’s just fine with me. I.m trying to get 1,500 swimming yards in 3 times a week now, eventually I may work up to a mile (1,760 yards).
Sari, that must have been an…interesting…place to work. Don’t think I ever saw it that bad when I was working for the Feds.
Shoe, that’s one heck of a travel itinerary your Mom had. Have fun crossing things off the list.
OK, just looked at the clock and it’s closing in on 11pm, so off to bed. Take care all.
The call of nature after an unusually big dinner - and Monkey’s shenanigans - woke me earlier than my usual 4 hrs.
Snacking on the last bites of dinner (both a pot pie AND meat-stuffed pierogi) by candlelight now, and listening to the rain.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 12c/54f with a predicted high of 14c/57f, with isolated showers. Weather app says “Maybe there will be a fucking rainbow after the rain stops. Then you can fucking wish you lived somewhere else.” I don’t necessarily wish I lived somewhere else, just wish I lived in a house that’s not falling apart round our ears
Shoe hope you manage to get through your important jobs today, and the water company stop being daft.
nellie yay for PT and getting those exercises done!
metal mouse Eurostar is the best way to get across the Channel, swimming it wouldn’t be my first choice either - the water’s cold and it’s apparently full of small boats full of immigrants coming to invade the UK if you believe the scaremongering of the national scandalsheets.
Doggio Cherry has just discovered her miaow although it sounds rather rusty and needs some work. Blossom has a tiny squeak, but what I get most from her is a wide-eyed stare before she runs away! Shadow has his own language, which we understand to mean “feed me, now.”
Nothing exciting in my day, I am at irk on campus. I was up stupidly early, went out to catch a bus at 6.45am, saw flashing lights way off down the road. Then a police car came whizzing through the traffic lights and joined the other flashing lights in the distance. No idea what was going on, the bus arrived when it was supposed to and I was on my way. Arrived on campus to a nice empty office so I’ve had about 15 minutes of quiet before the first person turned up. Meeting a friend for lunch, and I’m making meatballs and sketties for dinner. I need an early night 'cos I’ll be up early and we’ll be out late tomorrow, hopefully my brain will allow me to sleep instead of deciphering the many mysteries of the universe.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 60 Amurrkin out anc clear with a predicted high of 86 and N.O.S. for the day. No big plans for the day. I know y’all are shocked to read this! I was gonna spend some time preparin’ for the Priest interview that was scheduled for Sattidy, but we received an email from him yestiddy that one of his current parishoners had died and the family wants to have the funeral on Sattidy at ten a.m., the scheduled time, so that has been delayed until the 21st. The soon to be Priest (the term is Ordinand, I believe) we sponsored through seminary as he is/was a member of the church, will be Ordained at the church on the 14th, which knocked that day out of contention. Speakin’ of said Ordination, I have yet to be roped into doin’ anything. Hopefully my luck will hold out. I’d rather just attend. OK, that was rambly. Sup shall be boxed lasagna (don’t judge!), sallit, and cheesey garlic bread, actually cheesey garlic baguette as we bought a baguette yestiddy.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Mornin’ all. Balconatin’ n’ caffinatin’ pre-dawn and have been for awhile. Along about sunrise I’ll bestir myself to the beach; already dressed to go.
When “waking up” and “martini” are in the same sentence one should question their life choices briefly, then go get the gin. Certain calls of nature cannot be denied if you get my drift.
IIRC your Mom is a real piece of work and not good for you. Yes she’s still Mom, but please take care of Shoe first.
Also check your PMs.
My late first wife worked for about 3 years for the same state agency as JtC, although in a different division in a different location. Her experience was nothing like the fetid cesspool Sari describes. In my non-flying career I worked closely with several state-level agencies in several states. And many many more county and large municipal agencies. All over the course of about a decade. I did not encounter anything like that in any of those places either.
I’m not denying her reality, just that IMO/IME that is the exception, not the rule. For sure druggies and slackers have a natural gravity that draws them together into a single section of a location. Which section duly becomes utterly useless.
It’s 53F, dark and cloudy outside. However, the clouds will give way to the sun later this afternoon and the expected high is around 71F.
FCM, I hope the meds work.
bumba, nice work! Losing weight is hard, especially as we become older.
I am dealing with a budget crisis. Late yesterday, I learned about our continuing resolution budget allotment, and it’s super tiny. Like, there is no way all the travel my SD and others want can happen. Also, some of that money is fenced for keeping the lights on, which is the only thing it can be used for. So, I had several conversations with the SD, my budget analyst, and a member of the higher HQ. We will ask for more money, but I’m not holding my breath. I think some hard decisions must be made, but maybe I’m wrong.
What is frustrating is that I had been telling SD and the rest of the leadership team for months that we would receive a tiny allotment this month. I could see the writing on the wall. I was spot on about the amount we received, too. I keep telling them not to plan for travel or conferences for at least the first two months of the fiscal year, but they never listen. What now happens is a lot for work for me when I should be using this time to take care of stuff I couldn’t deal with due to fiscal year-end closure activities, along with doing some policy and planning for the upcoming months. Sigh, it all pays the same.
My experience in the federal sector has been a mix of good and bad, but I dealt with a lot of misogyny, sexism, and unwanted advances throughout most of my career with DoD. The unwanted advances were mainly when I was in my 20s and 30s, but the sexism and misogyny never stopped. Fortunately, the agency I work for now doesn’t tolerate that in the least bit, and it’s a much better environment. I can’t say I’ve ever dealt with any rampant drug or alcohol abuse in any of my federal workspaces. Many years ago, I worked with a service member who had an alcohol addiction and reeked of booze all day. They put her into a treatment program.
Well, I need to get ready face the day. I’ve got a long list of to-dos to get through and I’m sure there is another crisis lurking in the wings, lol! I get through them, succeed at fixing whatever needs fixing, and move on. It would be nice to have an easy week or two, though.
I hope you’re ashamed of yourself - you should be punished…
Definitely. Almost with ice cream, too. Many many many years ago, I would go to BR and get a pint of peanut butter chocolate, find myself a spoon, and that was that. Now I just don’t buy ice cream at all.
Neither can I. But hers is the only critter birthday I know for certain, since the rest were random adoptees. July 26, 2012.
After doing all the < ick > prep? Is roomie not a candidate for Cologuard? That’s such a great alternative for those who can use it.
My mom has a cruise booked for her 90th birthday, and possibly others beyond. Her biggest problem is finding someone to travel with her - one of her most able-bodied friends refuses to leave the US - how sad is that??
There are a bunch of rinky-dink little places around here I could take visitors, and only a couple of bigger ones (Calvert Marine Museum and the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum), neither of which would fill more than a couple of hours - maybe 3 if one was inclined to read every single label at every exhibit. There are a couple of places in Leonardtown, and Point Lookout at the end of the peninsula, and the First Landing site in St. Clement’s. Oh, and St. Mary’s City. I supposed if one is fascinated by colonial Merrylande, one might be overwhelmed here!
The saga of the firewood:
I got a message from a guy that was promising - he claimed to have help and a trailer. He was going to contact me yesterday morning - he didn’t. He was going to come over yesterday evening - he didn’t. Meanwhile, I had the ad still up and I kept getting responses, including one from a guy in my very neighborhood. So I texted the other one and told him I was giving the wood to a neighbor. Said neighbor is coming today - we think he might be the same guy who took most of the wood from the other really big oak we had removed a few years back.
So if all goes well, the wood will be gone this weekend. On one hand, I hate that we can’t use it, but we really can’t. Even if I can get my butt in gear and use the treadmill downstairs regularly again, I won’t be lighting a fire. So the wood we have will do the job if we hang out downstairs.
And it’s Wiggle Giggle day! Plus I need to run to the Credit Union and Food Lion and the thrift store on the way to the library - tho I may leave Food Lion for another time - I don’t need groceries sitting in the car for an hour or more.
Morning all. Another bright sunshiny day here in N. Ali-bama, 73F heading for 82F, but a 40% chance of rain tonight and Firday, and Fall is due to arrive Saturday, with lows in the 40’s and a high of 62F. Need to do my gym stuff this morning so I can sloth around watching soccer this afternoon, and coaching the 12U boys this evening.
FCM, wanna bet the first guy shows up after the neighbor has loaded the wood and starts wailing and moaning? And I hope I can still be traveling on my 90th birthday.
Taters, some people look ahead (you) and others just assume that things will always be the same (apparently most everyone else in your organization). Stay strong.
Pilot, I concur, I heard of bad places to work much like Sari’s, just was lucky enough never to end up there.
swampy, good luck with the Preistin’ search.
boo fae, like you, I see a bunch of flashing lights or cop cars/emergency vehicles roaring past me and I’m always curious where they’re going and what happened…never enough to follow them, of course, but still curious…
OK, fast has been broken so need to get about the day. All y’all take care.
Yesterday was a hard day at the orifice – especially the last half hour, which turned into almost an hour. Fingers crossed today will be easier.
I was able to order a salvaged tank for the YZF-R1 from an eBay seller un the UK. It should arrive while we’re on vacation. I hope it ends up with USPS and they hold it with the rest of the mail while we’re on vacation. Otherwise, I’ll let my neighbour know to keep an eye out for it.
I unmold mine and just use a disc-shaped candle holder. The two I made the other day? I used a cat fud can, and a pudding cup (both thoroughly rinsed of course) and frankly, the pudding cup makes a superior mold.
Went to post office, retrieved mysterious Dept. Of Homeland Security envelope. Barely made it to my car before tearing it open.
I FINALLY HAVE GOOD NEWS, MUMPERS!!
I now hold, in my hot little hand - and you best believe I ain’t losin’ this fucker - a very official looking Certificate Of Citizenship.
With a truly horrid photo of myself, but, eh.
This means I can re-apply for a goddamn driver’s license. And then, Mitten State plates. And insurance, and all that other crap.
(Plus I’ll be eligible to apply for a med card again. That’ll be sweet.)
Wanna bet I find the missing goddamn original soon, now that I have the - expensive - replacement?
Still.
This day has somewhat redeemed itself.
Ah, who am I kidding. I cried happy tears the whole way home.
Now, get back in your car and go take your hard-won certificate to the county Recorders office and have it recorded. If you ever lose it again, you can print off a copy yourself or go to them and get a notarized copy for a few bucks.
So it was Smalls, Surepost, Smalls, Sort Aisle, Surepost, then running stuff. Next contract I’m holding out for a Segway. It’s nice being wanted and paid, though.
“It’s Five O’Clock somewhere”
Besides, I have such a screwed up schedule, cocktails come after nap time, not before.
It’s called “Let’s put all the slackers and druggies in one place, so they do the least damage, and we don’t have to deal with HR”. It happens in every organization. Of course, if I could create overgoods labels for overseas, I’d probably ship Shaggy to a Stan, and let them deal with it.
It would be ice if they didn’t stress all the same, at least for you.
Congrats on being 500% less deportable now!
I dated this foreign girl, who made banners for the local Communist party. It was a huge Red flag.
I spent an hour on the phone with Xfinity to switch my new phone over only to have the process fail. I now have to walk over to the Xfinity store to do this. Give me the simple life.
Then my sister-in-law called. She’s going to have eye surgery, and as is to be expected, she’s very nervous about it, but in her case, she’s so anxious that they’re going to knock her out. I’ve already told her that they give you something IV to relax you and that due to drops and goop they use, you can’t see what they’re doing, but she’s very jumpy about it and kept asking what happens if the surgeon sneezes or gets the hiccups or gets startled or…You can see why they’d want to knock her out.
No noticeable decrease in swelling. There is a big bulge in one place, but it’s been like that for awhile, and nobody seems to worry, so I won’t.
WOO-HOO, SHOE! Hooray for getting the official document! I’m vastly relieved and happy for you!
Do you think that the fact the consequence of not listening to you is more work for you, not them, is why they don’t listen? I’ve noticed that TPTB tend to be rather cavalier if the boil isn’t on their behinds.
Give me the simple life.
Hooray for getting the official document! I’m vastly relieved and happy for you!