Let's Raid and Plunder!

 Another mid-week has arrived. I am still waiting to hear of any open projects to come along from the Company. It has been several weeks since my last one, and I do not see any hope in the near future, but maybe I will be surprised. I know I am starting to get that 'stir crazy' feeling of being at home and unproductive (employment-wise).

With it being Wednesday, that means it is Raid Night. In Warcraft, the Guild that my Sons (all three) and I are in (called Soldiers of Death) have Raid around 4:30pm my time. I don't always go, as sometimes I tend to go to the pub instead. But the Sons are all on the regular raid team. They'll go at it for about three hours tonight. Sometimes I go along for the first few bosses, but the progression they are working on (goes towards an achievement) is complicated, and I am no where near the level of gear and able to inflict the damage I need to, to play at that level. They "carry" me through the bosses so I have a chance for some gear (and get closer to their level).

The Oldest Son and I spoke (well, texted) the other day. He had mentioned in a conversation awhile back about he and I going out. I followed up on it, and he would like to do it tomorrow. I'm not sure where we might end up, but it will be nice to have some one on one time. He has been quite busy with work, and is still putting in quite a bit of over-time hours, even having moved to a night position. Middle Son came over Monday, to do his laundry, which is fine. We hung out for a bit and talked. He offered to take me out to breakfast, but I wasn't hungry, so we didn't go. He, also, is kept busy with his night-time position at work. Youngest Son is probably just enjoying no school for now. He will have two weeks of Band Camp coming up here shortly.

The Wife has been quite busy with work. Lately she will have to put in 2-3 hours after her normal hours just to stay kept up with paperwork. Seems at her facility, she is the only PT (there whould be at least 2) so she has to do all the evaluations, treatments plans, etc. She does have 2 PTAs that can help administer the treatments, but not prescribe them. Evidently, the Facility has been trying to hire a second PT for many, many months but has not been successful. I think it was last week the Wife mentioned they finally hired someone, but it waas going to be 30 days until they start - if they don't back out of it. So, waiting game on that. Then last night she tells me, they have up to around 20-something patients with Covid, and 5-10 employees as well. I don't know when it gets bad enough to start the Covid wing again, but it must be getting close. They are getting tested twice a week for Covid. At least it is at work, and free.

I guess that is all I have today. Sorry no humor or political views (thank goodness). On a good note, my glucose count today was 120 (one of the best ones yet) and BP was 157/89 (about fair for me at this time).

PeacE

Early Beginnings

 It's Saturday and I am awake before 6 am. Not by choice. The Middle Son came by after work, and decided to 'steal' the Youngest for a hike up a trail. I knew sleep was not going to visit me again (until later maybe, for a nap).

So I am up and bored this morning. I've gone through most of my book sites to see if anything new out there I want to get. Next I'll probably go through my blog reads. Then other social media, though that won't take long. I am already tired of hearing the complaints about the SCOTUS decision. Though, a have read a couple good opinion pieces that put it in better light as well. I'm not going to share my opinion, for that I am sure you are happy (maybe).

No major plans for the day (read:weekend).Being summer in Arizona, trying to keep hydrated is a chore. We go through a LOT of water flavor packets. I noticed my more likable ones are getting low, so a trip to the local $.99 cent store is probably in order. Might even treat myself and bring home a 2-liter of Mtn Dew, though I probably don't need the sugar (according to my glucose meter). Not sure if I mentioned that thd Doc and I agreed to a three-month long span between appointments to let the body adjust to the prescriptions. Looking at my daily recordings, I'm still just a bit high of where he wants me for both BP and glucose readings. Though the in-office A1C test they did put me below 7 (the lab results had me at 10.9 threee months prior).

Oldest Son called me late afternoon yesterday. I was surprised to hear from him, and thought how nice it was that he was caalling to chat. Turns out he needed to check out front for a package. He and his brother have their packages shipped to the house here, rather than their apartment. This was a package that had shipping delays and so he had no idea when it was coming, until he got the text saying it was delivered. It was here. I texted him back so he knew. Might send it hoime with the brother this morning. In fact I just texted him to make sure that was okay.

I guess I should move on to whatever I am going to do next....

PeacE

Another Week Completed

 Well, here it is Friday again, and I still have nothing to write about. I pretty much did nothinhg most of the week. Went out a couple times - read a couple books - drank a couple beers. Yee. Haw. I did set up the "required" car appointment for my vehicle at the dealership - for July 5th. It was the earliest one I could get.

Sitting here ten minutes with no thoughts to share, so I'm out of here. To do what I have no clue...

PeacE

Wish completed

 Unlike my relationship with my siblings, my children all love to get together and be around one another. Maybe it is because they are younger, and haven't had the experiences of Life that I/we have had. I don't know, but it sure makes things easier - like getting everyone together for something. Yesterday being Father's Day, I knew we were not getting together as a family, but my one wish was that at least each of the kids would call/visit me for at some point. By 11:45pm, that happened. The last of them did call me that late, which was fine, I was awake in bed playing a game on the tablet. So I went to bed happy.

In my video chat with the Daughter and SIL, we found it it may be awhile before they are able to come visit. He has a couple trips to Canada for work-related stuff, aside from the more "local" trips he has to make. So July will be very busy for him. That is a bit of a downer, but maybe we can go down a Saturday and visit. Middle Son had texted me around mid-afternoon and hoped I would have a good day. Youngest said HFD when he finally rolled out of his bedroom late afternoon. And the Oldest Son did call late that night. He wants to get together some night int he next couple weeks with me. No presents or cards, which is fine, but at least got to speak/text with each yesterday.

My Dr appointment went fine last Friday. My counts for BP and Glucose were still a "little" high than where he would like me, but after some discussion, it was decided I would stay where I am at for three months. My medication dosages were changing every 30 days, that I felt that my body wasn't being able to have enough time to work with any specific one. He thought a moment and agreed. So for now we wait and see how my counts go. I am still recording them each morning. While setting the next appointment in three months, I found out the doctor I have been seeing is leaving this group. Huh? He didn't mention it. So I am being assigned to a different doctor. They made a big deal of asking if it was okay that this new doc was a female. I told them I didn't care.

Nothing big on the agenda today. Run up to DMV and get the specialty plate assigned back to my vehicle and get it on. Then may head up tot he VFW this afternoon for a couple beers and a few chapters in my book. I've read 131/150 books this year for my goal. This morning I changed the goal to 200.

PeacE

Father's Day

 I woke this morning (the first time) around 10am and shot off a text to PT saying Happy Father's Day. Then I went back to sleep for an hour and a half. It felt good to sleep in so late! Yesterday we had gone to the waterpark here (Six Flags Hurricane Harbor) and spent a good part of the day there. We invited the Youngest's girlfriend, which was a pleasure to finally meet. The Wife and I agree, it was expensive, but it was nice to get out to some pools and just laze about with no worries for a day. Of course, even with sunscreen, we are all a bit red today. Followed up the park with a quick dinner at Dennys. A good day.

Today I have no plans. Having slept most of the morning away, and nothing really interesting going on, I just may play Warcraft, or watch a movie. I have a Netflix dvd here 'Uncharted' to watch yet. Daughter texted and we did a video chat a bit ago. Got to see my Doodad! Then I made themistake of handing the tablet over to the Wife, andjust now checked and they were still gabbing away. I reminded the Wife she ahd aasked what I wanted for lunch, and she needed to go pick it up yet. Subway. I better go check on her again.... Good. Wife is getting appropriately dressed to go get lunch.

Haven't heard from the Company about work since the week before. I wouldn't think in this particular industry there would be slower periods, but maybe there is. 

Finally got the new plate for the newer vehicle. Tomorrow I will go down to the DMV and have them swap it out for my specialty plate, which I will finally be able to put on this vehicle.

RM and my Sister have been back in Indianapolis the past few days, helping family clean out the apartment where my Aunt lived. I don't know if I had mentioned this Aunt had passed away recently. From what I have read from RM, things have been crazy. I'm not going to go into details, but needless to say, I think RM is just emotionally and physically spent over happenings. I think plans have them returning to AZ mid-week.

My Brother is headed north to Prescott on Tuesday. He is going into a rehab center the VA is ssending him to for the next 45-90 days. His drinking has been troublesome for him, and though he has gone through other types of treatment centers, they never took. Of course, as I told him Friday when we met up at the VFW, that they rehab won't take unless you want it to take. He says he knows that, and this time will be different. I do love my brother, but I just don't care for how he gets when he gets loaded. I suppose people say the same about me, but oh well.

Tried a new drink last night. My buddy's bar had one of the promotional things for a new Jack Daniels 'Bonded' whiskey that was aged longer, and also 100 proof. It was in a glass about the size of a communion cup. When the gal came by to offer me the free sample I mentioned I had come up there just for that. As we were talking, I mentioned how many years I had been drinking JD products, and she asked for a picture with her, which I agreed to. She said the pic was going to be sent to Jack Daniels - probably to show people enjoying the promotional event, but still. Then she brought back over a double-shot of this new whiskey just for me. They had a limited supply for the sampling, but I got a double!! And it was good! After that, I knew I needed to get home, so did head out.

It's been about 10 minutes since I checked on the Wife, and she ain't came said bye yet. I guess I better motivate her better.

PeacE

WTF? SMH (/facepalm)

 Since Wednesday, this post title is pretty much explaining how I have felt about a situation going on. Let's just say, there were some unexpected surprises about things, mysteries that showed up and never got solved. And an Aunt passed away earlier today. I'm still in a sort of stasis about the whole thing, and I don't think it will correct itself, as some  of the whys, hows, and again, why, will never be known. I am trying to be nice, and not sound callous (though I tend to be apathetic about things sometimes) but I was not "close" to this Aunt, nor her children (my Cousins). In my memories I have not recollected any fond memory of her. I think the bottom line is she was tired of living in pain (had RA) and is now passed away.

Thursday I finally heard from the Company. But it took a couple hours for me to get a reply to the email, so by then the project they were getting workers for 'filled up' and left me hanging. Hopefully this next week another will be starting (or a current one opening up more positions). But either way kind of works for me, as I have the diabetic eye screening on Monday, and a regulardoctor appointment on Friday. I am sure there will be a prescription medication dosage increase as my numbers are not quite where he said he wants them - but they are close. Hopefully if he has to up the diabetic one, the insurance will approve the coverage since he has proof the numbers are not up to where he would like them.

Two in the morning and I just finished talking for a bit with the Youngest. I let him stay up a little later as he was teaming up with Guildies to do some Warcraft raids or dungeons or something. Then as he said he was ready for bed, I kind of went over the schedule of stuff I knew we had going on this week, so if I was not home, he would have an idea as to why.

So talking to one of the ladies I knwo from the VFW, she has been having some problems with her iPad. Basically, it would not let her access the tablet, as the code had changed from a 4-digit one to a 6-digit. I did some reading and found out why, and some ways that may work to fix it. We tried the easy ones over this past week, and none worked. So Friday I met up with her at the VFW and picked up the tablet, adn was going to do a factory restore on it. The only thing she would be losing is the books she had downladed, from Amazon, but can be re-downladed once she has access again. So I started that today, thinking it would be an hour or so then be done - nope. Download estimate was 4 hours. Then 5 hours, after the Wife got up and got on her computer. I knew when the Son would be up, between the three of us being online, the d/l would slow even more, so I paused it. As I try to sleep again here soon, I will leave it running (right now est is 3 hours).

Might go see the Top Gun movie tomorrow (later today). Haven't decided for sure. Youngest and Wife want to see it as well, so I guess I should take them. Guess I am gonna mosey on out. Should go try to lay down again, but not quite feeling any tiredness yet, so will prolly delay that another hour.

PeacE

Middle of the Week and Nothing

 Seems like the days pass quickly by when you ain't got nothing to do. Still waiting to hear on work - might ned to send another email and remind them I am still here waiting. Starting to get a little warm outside now. I think it hit like 107 yesterday, and it is still early June.

I have been doing more reading, since I am not working. I set a goal this year of  books, but probably need to raise that, as I am at  already, and not quite at half through the year. The hard part it seems this year is finding a good read. I do try out several authors in the catagories I enjoy reading (fantasy, urban fantasy, etc) and sometimes, they just don't pan out. Or worse, after four or five books into this series, it's like burn-out. I don't know if it is me, or just the wriiting style will just disappear. Kind of like, they were writing content in the beginning, now they just want to put another book out and make money. Sigh. I dunno. Just my thought.

Monday night I had a weird feeling come over me. It felt pretty omnious, so I did a text check-iun with the Wife, the four kids, even RM and my brother. All said back they were fine, and shortly after the last text came back, the feeling went away. No idea what it was about. I know RM has had premonition dreams, or wake suddenly in the night not knowing why. I figured it coulda been that, so texted everyone. Haven't heard anything from friends or other family, so who knows.

Was up early today, around 4:20 ('ear, man) and knew sleep would not be back so have been up awhile. Got done a couple reviews I needed to get done, and looked up some more books to request ARCs for reading. I may not write a professional review piece, but at least I get quite a few new books.

Welp, I guess I am off to browse through my blog reads, then maybe a movie on Netflix or something. 

PeacE

Sunday - Let's Make It a Fun Day!

 Thursday evening, the Wife came home (as usual - I don't know why she does this) and brought in the mail. One of the items was a UPS ticket, that they had been there, but did not leave the package, as it needed to be signed off that it was received. What? I never heard any knocking - which is not unusual since the 'office' is in the back of the house. But, the dog didn't go nutzo barking her head off? I would have heard that! But nope. Anyways, the Oldest Son had already texted and said we should expect his packages to arrive that day, so I knew about them. I also had been out, so the Youngest Son is probably the one that didn't hear any noise. Either way, since the OS and I share similar names, I signed the back of the UPS ticket, and thought leaving it outside they would leave the package the next day - from the way I read the ticket. I also had looked up the tracking number to be sure it was being delivered, etc.

Well, I admit in my less than perfect sobriety, I must have mis-read something. I got up early to get trash/recycle out to the street on Friday, then back to bed for a bit. When I woke, I realized I could not find the ticket anywhere. I knew I signed it, and thought I had set it on my desk to put out the next morning. Can't find it - looked everywhere, even outside. Now I'm worried. The OS had purchased an expensive game console (PS5) and if I could not prove it was to be delivered...would I mess things up? I went back to my computer and thank goodness for Google saving my search history, as it contained the tracking number. I wrote it down and looked it up again, to discover that the packages (2) needed to be picked up from a UPS Store near us, and not being re-delivered. So Friday afternoon I went up there, with the printout showing the tracking number and package numbers, got them, and brought them home.

I know, long tale so far, but OS came by Saturday morning (early, but I was awake anyways) and picked up the packages. He also asked us out to breakfast Sunday morning at one of our favorite places. Well, that came about this morning, and we had a great breakfast, even if the Middle Son didn't make it. OS had offered to pay, but we changed it into his 'birthday meal' which we had not had last month, and back at our place was able to give him the few gifts we had gotten for him.

Wife and MS have gone to church this morning. I told the Wife to not expect me. I think I shall be heading down to the VFW for a bit. I was supposed to call one of the ladies from there yesterday, but forgot. She is wanting som help with her iPad, though I am not sure how much help I can be as I don't own one, and over the phone? But I'll call her from there, in case she wants to come up and have me look at it.

Otherwise no plans today. Might even be an early afternoon, tehn home for some computer gaming before bed.

PeacE

Is It Back Again?

 Hello three forty in the morning. I have waited all night to meet you. Literally. Went to bed around midnight (later than my norm) and by 1 was back up, not feeling any signs of sleep approaching. I have done nothing but watch inane videos for the last 2 3/4 hours, hoping that I would get bored and sleepy, then return to bed. But, no. I think my old nemesis, Insomnia, has returned to visit. I will be trying to rest my head within the next hour, to try to get at least 3-4 hours of sleep, but no idea if I will be successful.

No major plans this weekend. Which means if I feel the need for a nap tomorrow (rather, later today) I shouldn't have anything pressing to worry about being on time about. Of course, if I nap, then I might not sleep well come evening. Pros and Cons.

Nothing else to write about today. Feeling a little more tired now, so going to try to get some sleep.

PeacE

Sigh .... My Mother ....

 My Mother (commonly refered to here as Reverend Mother, or RM) writes a blog. I think it is listed in the sidelist on the right under 'Reverend Mother's Musings'. She has been going awhile now, and is able to daily (for the most part) share not only a bit of the bible, but stories that relate to the lesson. Sometimes those stories include not only her personal issues/tales, but sometimes some of mine and my siblings. Sometimes she just shares things going on with her....anyways, you should give it a look-see sometime.

Today she shares about 'hiding things' not necesarily from God, but sometimes from people as well. RM references about wanting a cookie, and feeling the urge to hide it from PT (Preacher Tom) because she didn't want him to know about her having a cookie. She made me think of a snack I recently picked up. So the Youngst and I mad made it out to this Discount Grocery we like. The items there are constantly changing, and one never knows what one may find. I had gotten snack stuff for me (granola bars, etc) when we had been out last time, so wasn't really looking for snacks, but came across these bags of Chex mix.

I'm sure everyone knows what Chex mix is: that cereal where they add in pretzels and some other crunchy things and it is a hit at parties, or even by oneself at home. Well, this one is cookies and creme flavored. The description on the package reads "Crispy corn chex pieces in a cookies and cream coating with a delightful powdery smooth finish", and of course has pictures on the front looking like Chex pieces coated in sugar, sitting infront of a broken in half Oreo-type cookie. For $0.75, I thought, eh, I'll try it. Worse case is I don't like it, and maybe the Wife or Kid will. I opened the package yesterday. It. Is. So. Good. I ate about a handful, maybe a bit more, yesterday, then hid it in my desk drawer so the Wife wouldn't see it. Why? Because I don't want to share. It may not be exactly what lesson RM was trying to impart today, but it caught my attention.

So, as I snack on a little bit more of this Chex mix already this morning, I need to find out where to get more. As it has been nearly a week since our last jaunt to the Discount Grocery, I am sure they are gone from there now. I might have to order from Amazon, or direct from the manufacturer. Wait! What if these were a limited time thing? Oh geeze....

That's the worse of my problems this morning. Figure at some point today I am clipping down the hair on top again, and touching up the beard. Starting to look a little shaggy.

PeacE

Nothing to See Here....

 Pretty boring week so far. Still waiting to hear from the Company, if there is a project I can be assigned to. Otherwise, I feeli like I am doing nothing but twiddling the thumbs at home.

A buddy ofmine that owns one of the pubs I make appearances at, called me yesterday. Seems he had a couple workers call out, and needed some help. So I went up last night, and collected the cover charge for the band that was playing.After a couple hours of doing that, we snuck off and went to another close by place and he bought me a couple beers for helping him out. Was actually nice to get away and have some sit down time with this friend - he is usually just so busy!

The Middle Son came by this morning. OF course, he needed something (to do his laundry). We've always told the boys to come by for that when needed rather than spend the extra quarters on the apartment's machines. I am sure a load runs nearly $2.00 or more now... Either way, he started a load, then says he wanted to take the Youngest out o breakfast and talk. I was like, I'm right here and able to go to.... but I wasn't invited. Sigh. Oh well.

I guess today I will be going through some newer content in my World of Warcraft game. They spent most of yesterday doing a new patch/upgrade, and I didn't get a chance to check it out last night. Some new features, and a few small tweaks with new storyline content. I know, nothing of interest for you, unless you play.

In the meantime, I'm still alive.

PeacE