A Basic Pre-Christmas Post

Yesterday was the Wife's & the MIL's birthday. MIL did not want to go, but took the Wife and Sons to Olive Garden for dinner. Done with birthday celebrations now until next year at least.

Friday my company did their annual inventory... the one that they have delayed three times over the past few months. Needless to say, I had to have a more active role in the process. In this case, it meant I was one of the ones doing the actual count. Saturday morning was not a good one for me. Ankles, back of legs and lower back were telling me it was more physical than I had done in quite awhile. Even this morning I am still sore. I'm starting to get to that age bracket where I don't "bounce back" the way I used to do.

Not looking forward to Christmas. It is truly going to be a small one. The kids are getting to be where the gifts they want a re quite a bit more costly. For others, I just don't have the time to try to figure out what to get them. Looks like a gift card Christmas as far as I am concerned. I hate the holiday anyways.

Was able to go to Tucson last weekend for a couple nights, just the Wife and I. Spent Friday with the Daughter and Doodad. Came home Saturday late morning as the middle Son had a District Honor Band Concert the wife wanted to attend.

Guess that's about I got to say right now.

PeacE

I've Been Razzed ...

Thanksgiving Day has come and gone... both of them. How, you wonder, that I say both of them? Well, because I had two of them. Thursday my family went to my MIL's and had Tday dinner. Then on Friday, we went to RM & PT's place for a second dinner. I feel like I have gained a good five pounds or more in the two meals... and haven't been "hungry" as of yet. Though, I did take the Wife and two younger boys out for a late brunch/early lunch today.

So... the razzed comment in the title... While at RM's last night, I teasingly mentioned she hadn't updated her blog since earlier in the month. Without hesitation she came back with something along the lines she had noticed I had posted recently... first time in months. She and I go back and forth about our sporadic posting. I get a kick out of it.... sometimes. That being said, I should try to write more...

Life for me is going decent nowadays. Still at the same job and haven't seen anything recent that is better in any way. This next Thursday the Wife and I are headed to Tucson for a couple nights. The Wife has a class she is on the waiting list for towards credit for her PT license. I'm going because I can. That, and my Doodad lives there. We are staying in a hotel just a few miles from their new home (they recently made their first purchase).

Christmas is nearing and like most years, I have done about zero shopping. I have picked up a couple things for Doodad, but nothing else. Not even for the Wife's bday coming up in a week or so. I guess it's good I got Amazon Prime, and it will put to good use I am sure in the next few weeks.

That's about all I got for now. Headed off to play some Warcraft.

PeacE

Pbbbbb

I ain't written here in awhile. Mostly because I have my nose buried in my tablet reading a book. Recently that has changed.

I have had to become more aware of things. Mostly those affecting my siblings, rather than my own immediate family.

Normally, I just shrug my shoulders and think 'it's their life, not mine'. But recent events make me wonder....

Not my place to share. So no "big rumor story here", but my heart strings tug. And I don't have a big heart.

I came here to vent, but I can't without sharing.

Send good thoughts.

PeacE

Only a Few, Small Changes....

That's about all I have going on in Life right now. Still waiting to hear about the job position I interviewed for a couple of weeks ago. Tuesday I think I will call and just do a follow-up to see if they are still considering me for the job, and show that I am still interested. I haven't put out any other applications in the time frame since then. I have skimmed some of the job-search sites, using different key words for looking at what is out there.

Last weekend I finally went out and got a personal phone. I had been using the company phone I was given 4+ years ago for all my "phone stuff", and knew I would need to get a personal one especially if looking for another job. Never realized how many phone contact I had until I started letting people know my new number. In fact, there were many that I did not bother to contact, as they were not close friends, or I had their number for some minor reason. I did a Facebook post so that many on there, if they wanted my number, they could request it from me by private message, if I decided they needed it. No one asked. Needless to say, my contact list is smaller now.

The two younger boys finished up their school years this past week, and are now on break. Wife's work is the same. My work is starting to hit our "slow" season.

The Daughter's family came up from Tucson for the weekend. My lil Doodad was over for a bit yesterday, and I guess will be over for a bit this afternoon. I never thought I would start saying things like "She is getting so big!" and other things you always hear grandparents say.... but I did. And she is! She even said "Papaw" for me last night. It might be considered bragging, but I guess her favorite book to "read" is the one I got her for her birthday. And she loves to play with the dinosaur plushie I got her. I don't know if my Daughter says this because it is true, or if she just wants to make me feel like the things I personally pick for her are wonderful things she loves. I of course, choose to believe it is the truth and they are her favorites. It makes me feel awesome.

Not much else to share today. It is Memorial Day weekend. Past years I used to go out to the cemetery and visit briefly with a couple of friends that were servicemen. I haven't the past three years, and probably will not make it out this year. But as long as they are thought of, and remembered, as well as the many others not only in my family, then it should be a good holiday. We have nothing special planned. Sis invited us over for Monday, but that won't happen. I suppose we will try to find something to do together as a family.

PeacE

Mother's Day 2018

Happy Mother's Day!

That is probably about the extent of my gifts this year. Last year, I had done Sherri's Berrie's, and though I heard all those I purchased for enjoyed them, it was rather pricey. Also, they screwed up the delivery schedule that was offered, accepted and paid for.

The couple years before that I just did flowers with delivery. But amidst much of stuff going on in Life this year, I haven't even had the time to do that. Not even shop for a card. I suppose text messages will have to work this year. Yeah ... I'm a bad Son.

Growing up, the Reverend Mother and I had a different kind of mother/son relationship.Much of my growing up I was either too young to remember things exactly, and then there were years I lived with my Dad (they were divorced). Lived with RM again about when I was 14, but in most ways, I never considered us "close". All the years between now and then, I am able to see how good of a mother she always was,or did her best to be.

I also look back at the The Wife. All four of my kids have a great relationship with her, probably because I'm the Dad, but still. I dropped the ball with that one too, and with the boys being the only ones at home, I didn't get anything for her from them.

Definitely a "holiday" I am good at fucking up... go figure.

PeacE

Change Is Coming

I had an interview this past week.

Yes, I finally took that big step, and decided I need to move on from the current job position and company. The last several months have been "eating at me" with feelings of being taken advantage of, among other things. I really do like the position, and the company, but sometimes enough is enough.

So, this interview just "fell into my lap". A friend of a friend that needs a guy that is able to perform this...hey, I know a guy, and he is looking... etc. The interview went really well. I am hoping to get a call back with an offer in the next week or so. I know they have gone through two people at least, just in the last month for this position, and through the friends, heard they were let go. Talk about adding some nervousness to the position.

Other than that, it feels really good to know I have stepped over that line. That line of indecision about actually starting to look for work.I actually feel like my confidence level has gone up, and I have a more positive outlook in general. No, I'm not bright and sunshiney anytime of anyday, but my attitude is better.

Aside from that, Life goes on. Boys are finishing up school within the next month. My Doodad has learned to say Papaw (which was an awesome little video the Daughter had sent me a couple weeks ago. I'm at 69/140 on my reading challenge this year, which is 49%... and 19 books ahead of schedule.

Yeah.... things are starting to look a bit better of late.

PeacE

Aw Heck! Twice in a Month!

Yeah, decided to try once again to post more. I think it is more of a 'release' to the amount of angst I have right now...anger... dissatisfaction... with how my current employer is treating me me. Over a 'year ago, I was 'raised' to a position higher than the "driver". Took over a year, and I finally got a review, with a $1.00/hour raise, which I could have gotten staying the driver. No position increase, though I do more now than then. Add to that, my Boss says he wants me to learn all the procedures that my co-worker knows, because she may retire in the next couple years, and he sees me "running the whole parts department" after that.... for a dollar an hour more. Fuck that Bullshit.

So, now looking for other work.

yee-haw.

PeacE

Words in the Dust

I am so out of habit of coming here anymore to write about... well, anything. Not so much that I am busy ... just ... well ... not here. Dust fits right (write) in there with how I am feeling today, too. The wind has been around AZ the past couple of days, stirring up dust, pollens, and who knows what else, that my allergies just love. I just love waking up being able to breathe, then within the hour, am clogged up, which then releases about two hours after that to a runny nose for a good part of the day. OTC pills don't seem to help anymore, and there is no way I am going to the doctor for an allergy shot...

Yesterday my Doodad turned one. Tomorrow the family is going down to Tucson to help celebrate her 1st birthday. Not sure what-all the Wife got her for presents, but Papaw ordered a couple things from Amazon that showed up today. One is a book I think she will like being read to her, and as she learns to read over the next few years. I also got what was supposed to be a a plush dinosaur. It came in a box like a hard cover book would arrive in, and once opened, contained said plush toy vacuum-sealed in plastic, in a sort of round shape about 10 inches across, and an inch thick. It took me a minute to realize what it was... and I'm thinking, that was not what I was expecting when I ordered it online... I am leery about opening the plastic, but it needs to get out to hopefully "resume" the shape it is supposed to have, though I fear it may not. That present may just stay at Papaw's house for when she comes to visit. At least I got her the book.

Work is well, work. Over the past few months, I have slowly started to become more unhappy about the job. Earlier this week I finally got the raise for the job position I should have had 10 months ago, and it is not anywhere close to being what it should be. In fact, if I had stayed the driver with a company gas card and vehicle, the increase would have been my yearly wage increase. So basically, even though I have been in a more critical position with additional training, I won't make more. Soooo, I am really not happy. I have not really actively started looking for a position with another company, but I have a couple friends that networked out a bit for me. Maybe I'll luck out and something will happen soon. In the mean time, I tread on.

Not much else I feel like sharing right now..

PeacE

What's New In My World?

Nothing.

That's pretty true. At this stage of Life things are so mundane and routine that nothing much happens. Work, sleep, eat (in some order) and repeat. Rarely does much happen to change any of it.

This past week almost had a huge hiccup in it. I think it was Wednesday, the Driver at work gave his two-week notice. This was the position I previously held, and was doing the extra work for not too long ago (the work that was wearing me down to nothing). In a matter of moments I started to stress...feelings of anxiety, thoughts of actually leaving my job. There was no way I would willingly go back to having to do 3/4 of that job, plus my own regular duties, like they had me do before. I would quit before that happened again.

About an hour later all that anxiety and stress was relieved as the Driver had actually recommended someone to the Boss to replace him. Boss had interviewed and hired the guy in that time frame. So now the Driver is training his replacement and I won't have to do anything that I was worried about doing. Though, I am still debating a bit on the new job issue. Would love to work closer to home,as the gas and maintenance on my car has increased with the driving I do. I know Reverend Mother understands that! She drives nearly as far as I do for work.

Going to be a slow weekend. I have nothing planned. Probably end up playing Warcraft and watching Netflix most of the time. But I did take the time to try to get back at writing here.... just need to find topics or something.

PeacE

Another Big Bowl

Today is another of those big bowl bowls... the SuperBowl. Not that I particularly care, as my team is not there to play in it. I have been invited to two "parties" and had to make a decision on which to attend.. .turns out I am going to Stuman's. It will be interesting as I guess some of his wife's family will be there, and they seem as kooky to me as she (his wife) is. I'm glad I am bringing one of my friends along to give me a reason to ditch if I need to, do to antics or situations.

What else has been going on in Life? Seems like not much. Work is work, and am still enjoying my job. A few short months ago they replaced the Driver (position I had a year ago) with a newer guy that is capable of doing the whole, so since then I have been able to get back to my regular duties, instead of trying to do a person and a half job.

With the time in the evenings, I joined into a couple of pool leagues. One finished up a couple weeks ago, the other is done as of this coming Thursday. Then I am going to start in a new on in a couple weeks. Only one. Doing two in a week just wore me out.

Still reading quite a bit. I exceeded my Goodreads.com goal of 125 books last year, by hitting over 145. This year I decided to shoot for 150, though I think for right now I am a bit behind the estimated limit to reach that goal.

Kids are doing fine. The Oldest (the Daughter) has moved to Tucson in the last few months, which makes things easier for them to get into town to visit on a more regular basis. My Doodad is getting so big! The Daughter tries to send me a picture each day or so so I can see her. Yes, Papaw likes that! The oldest Son has decided to not attend the community college this spring semester. Instead he will be attending one of the medical colleges near home to learn Sonography. Now we just need to figure out how to pay for it. In the meantime he has been seeking work as the classes don't start until later this summer. He has an interview this week with one place. Middle and Youngest boys are in school and are doing well with grades.

I have been sort of re-evaluating my life the past couple months, and have come to the decision to try to go back to school. After a few days of research into what I would really like to do, it doesn't look possible. In my thought, some sort of online classes would be best for me with my schedule, but the courses I need don't seem to be available in that format, and not locally. Maybe I just need to find some online school and see what courses they offer, then make a decision on which one sounds best to me. I don't know. Right now I am setting it on a back-burner (again).

PeacE

Doing It (Just for Mom)

If I shared, I'm sure the Wife would love that title. Truth be told, I'm eating left-over pizza and getting ready to head to bed. without sexual favors/innuendos/ or jokes.

I dropped my ".com" and I need to get that back, even though I don't post often. Who knows, it may encourage me to do more. That, and Mom's griping. She just wants more entertainment to read, I am sure.

Love ya Mom!

PeacE