School Year Start-Up

 It is that time of year again, and school will resume Monday, August 8th, for the Youngest. Yes he is currently finishing up the second week of Band Camp, but we are talking regular school now. Today is the Junior class registration. I had been putting off filling out the updated health information sheet, so needed to get that done this morning. Last night the Wife reminded to put down that he is allergic to bee/wasp-type stings. He is? I mean, I know the Oldest Son had bad allergic reactions when he got stung, but the other two boys, I don't recall them having issues. Heck, I can't count the times I have been stung over my lifetime. Either way, that will go on the info sheet, as wellas his occasional migraines. When it came to an emergency person, incase parents/guardians could not be reached, I came up blank. He does have his two older brothers that leave fairly close in town, but both work nights shifts, so would be hard to waken if called during the day. I finally texted RM and asked if we could use her. Of course she replied 'Absolutely'. With me working from home, I am sure she will never be called, but better safe than sorry.

With our last name being one of the most generic in the United Sates, we are not to arrive to do the walk-through registration until 11am. Which means 3/4 of the Junior class would be ahead of us, and the line will be out the door. Granted it is overcast, and not to be over 100 today (but muggy as heck) I have no desire to stand/wait in a line. Looking through the basic list of sections they need to do (School ID photo, bus route info, etc) I don't think there will be any costs for him, as he already said he wasn't buying a yearbook. I may just give him $100 and say you go. I'll sit out in the car and read/play games on my tablet. Will see if he feels comfortable enough to do it all himself, I am sure he is.

Nothing new on the work front. My BP has been pretty good the last several weeks. My Glucose counts have been rather high the past few days. I know, I have been snacking on candy (Snickers brownie bars) and it is showing up. I only have a few left, so by the weekend, I am sure they will be gone. 

Last night was a weird one for me. I was in bed by about 9:45, and fell asleep pretty fast. Then I was awake at 3am, and just could not get back to sleep. I got up and putzed around on the computer for a bit, then laid down again about 5. By 6:30 I was back up again, knowing sleep would not be returning this morning. 

Welp, Got nothing else to say.

PeacE

I Prolly Should ...

 I prolly should ... get started on the Youngest's school registration paperwork. His 'scheduled time' to be there is Thursday at 11am, which means we are going to be there for a couple hours I am sure. His is the last group of the day, and by then, the lines will be so backed from the school not organising the process as well as it should have. How does that happen every year, even though the school has been open for well over 35 years? I shouldn't complain too much, I guess. For most years of having to do the registration process, we have lucked out as the kids were in Band Camp, which started at 8am, and all band students were able to go first through the registraion, regardless of last name/school year. This year, Camp is only in the evenings, so it is not an option.

I prolly should ... go pick up my prescriptions today. I got a notification last week and went up on Friday. They only had 1 of the 4 there. The pharmacist looked up and saw that I was due three more on Monday, and suggested I just come back then to pick up all four, then the system will show it as all four due to be refilled on/by the same date, versus days apart. I will probably put it off until I run the Youngst to Camp, then head down the road to the store.

I prolly should ... send off an email to the Company, inquiring as to my status. I have not heard anything, whether un-pausing the current project, or re-assigning me to another one. I am taking a look at this service my buddy had mentioned to me. I have not made a decision for sure if I want to use it. Of course, it could provide job opportunites in between the current Company's projects. Or just a whole new Company to work for, doing the same line of work. I will have to figure out a yes/no soon I presume. Edit: I just joined the mailing list. I can always opt out of contacting any job offers.

I prolly should ... do something positive and constructive today. More than likely I will end up finishing this post, then distract myself by watching videos on FB or YouTube before turning my attention to playing Warcraft for most of the afternoon. It's just so uncomfortable to be outside trying to do anything. Granted, today it is actually supposed to be BELOW 100, but it is monsoon season, and right now the humidity is around 43%. Yeah, doesn't sound like much unless you are used to our regular dry heat. It is like walking around with a wet blanket around you when trying to do anything outside - even just walking into a store. Heck, I step outside to have a smoke, and I am dripping sweat when I come back in - just standing out by the front door.

I prolly should ... just close this off and go distract myself for a few hours.

PeacE

Another Friday

 Sigh. Another week of dealing with the 'Company Bullshit'. Since the 'stop order' my team received on Monday, I have had a whole whopping three emails from the Company, stating that 1) they have no idea if this project will continue, 2) if already NOT slated to join another project, we are working to get you on one, and 3) a whole lot of silence - meaning it has now been going on 4 days since I heard anything, abot anything. Sigh.

I did talk with my besty, who is an attorney, and has sent me emails from similar companies that do data breach... I have kept previous job offers, just for a contact if I had time between projects to work at other companies. At one time, I had emailed those previous email contacts with my resume, trying to get something done in the "downtime" with my current company - with negative results. Either way, my besty let me know the other night the source he gets these emails from - and I think I am going to go there and sign up. Just getting an email does not mean I am getting a 'job' but it is a place to look at, in regards to getting a job.

Other than that has been a slow week. Youngest started band camp, which means I have to drive him to the school near 4pm and pick him up around 8pm each day. The Wife is not able to do either, as she has been working until 9 pm most days (off the clock). They did have a new PT start this week, and that should lessen the load of work/paperwork/computer-work that has been taking up so much of her time. In fact, last night she was home before 8pm (a first for many weeks). It can only get better from there, right?

Weekend has no plans for me. Actually it does. I need to get the mower out and hit the couple areas where grass actually grows in the front. And find the clippers to do around the Wife's "flowers" that I am not allowed to use a weed-eater around. Which means an hour plus of sweating. Thanks goodness I recently ordered some knee-pads that are supposed to be good. I may actually be able to get down on my knees and work, versus just trying to squat and do this stuff.

Well, looks like the sun is starting to come over the mountain....

PeacE

Morning Snafus

 It felt really good to wake up at a decent hour and get into the office to start working. It has been a number of weeks since I was able to say/feel that sentence, and it does make me feel pretty good. As I started logging into the Company's system, I tuned in on the local news radio for the Valley, to hear about the monsoon storm that came through I guess last night. Obvious, and as aexpected, there was not much to say about it in my neighborhood - limited rain, if any. But the winds were pretty massive - as the radio reported gusts up to 60 mph were recorded at multiple airfields across the Valley. One of the key state highways heading north from the east part of town, is mostly closed (several miles of road) due to major power lines being down. Heard even of some trailers (semi-type, not home) being blown over up to a distance of 60 feet.

Yeah, sounds worse when you group all the bad stuff together. There was no flooding. No extensive valley-wide damages - just small incidents.

So I'm plugging away at work, and about an hour and half into the work day, our Project Mgr alerts everyone that they need to stop wherever we are, and log off. Proceed to watch for further information from the Company via email. Great. It was added that the project was not over, but everyone just needed to halt at this time.

As I started on this project last Wednesday, this was also the announcement I saw, directed to the previous group that had been on this project. None of them came back to it. And it was dated Tuesday. Now I am wondering if I will get back to it or not...

Oh well, I got some other things I can do while waiting to hear back from them....

PeacE

Late Starts

 We overslept this morning. I say 'we' meaning the Wife and I. I awoke at 7:41am, realizing that I must have slept through the three alarms I had set to be up by 7am. That is also the time the Wife is usually getting up to head to work as well, yet she was still in bed beside me. The Middle Son show up outside our door, and said something about how he had already taken Youngest out for 'whatever' this morning (something they do every now and then - like go hiking or whatever). I asked why had he not tried waking me up earlier, and he says he tried like three times, lightly, but after no response he gave up. Yeah, it must have been that deep considering I slept through three alarms. So the Wife is going to be a little late tot work this morning. I did some quick calculating, and decided I could sleep in another hour, which I did. Thank goodness for the flexible schedule with the Company! I think I really needed the sleep due to the past few nights being bad. In fact, I feel like I could use yet a couple more hours.

Welp, I live such an exciting life, that I ain't got nothin' else ta say taday....

PeacE

Wiped Out

 Ugh. I have been having problems with my sleeping again. I go to bed at a decent hour, feeling tired, and ready to fall asleep. But once I lay down, I cannot relax enough to actually sleep. After an hour or so of this, I usually get up and head to the other room (wo Wife can get some rest). I spend a couple hours watching some shows I haven't gotten around to, then head to bed to try again. With starting a new project yesterday, I got through the workday but needed some sleep shortly afterwards. I took an hour nap, knowing that that would probably screw up sleeping that night. And it did. I finally made it back to bed and struggled for surely what felt like an hour, before drifting off.. probably around 3am. I had originally set the alarm for near 6am, to get a good start on work, but reset to near 7 due to not getting to bed as early as I hoped. This morning finds me dragging a bit, and already wanting a nap.

Youngest is sick with something. After two days of sore throat, headaches, and ear pain, he finally consented to going to an urgent care last night. Wife had explained that if he had ear infections, we want to catch it early as possible, I think that is why he relented. Either way, home test for Covid came back negative. At the facility, they did a quick Strep test (negative) but sent a culture to the lab as well, to verify that result. Otherwise, all they could determine was he ahd some bug/virus. Recommendation was rest and taking ibuprofen/Tylenol alternating each dose. (Throws hands in the air) Whatever!

Today's good news: I'm working again! Glucose and BP numbers were very good today.

PeacE

Patience Is A Virtue ...

 ... but I am not virtueous, nor patient. I have been irritated for the past few weeks, as no new prokects have come along for me to work on. I try to calm myself, by reminding myself that this seemed to happen last summer as well. Maybe it is the business... or the time of year ... or something - I don't know. Either way, as I was writing up a book review on a recent finished read, I got the email notification sound on my phone, and immediately opened it up in the computer. It was the Company seeing if I could start a project tomorrow. Of course I immediately replied, and within five mibutes got my confirmation of starting tomorrow. Yea! It is slated to be 1-2 weeks long, but something is something, and could carry into another (or higher) project.

The Wife informed me this morning that the Youngest isn't feeling well. She indicated his lymph nodes around the jawline seemed swollen a bit, and he complained of a headache and sore throat. She mentioned that maybe we should use one of the home test kits for Covid just to be sure. Then she saidor maybe take him to urgent care. I haven't yet seen him today ( it's about 1pm) and figured he is sleeping, which could be good. I suppose I should go wake him and see how he feels - maybe when I finish this post.

I'm supposed to go out with my best friend tonight, as he is meeting up with another friend. He calls this friend Jack the Jew, because evidently he comes from a Jewish family, is an attorney, and from what I have been told he looks and sounds just like Adam Sandberg. I have talked with Jack before on the phone, and admit, he does sound that way. And he is funny! So tonight should be fun.

Thought about going to Tucson this weekend. The SIL is supposed to be back from Canada, and my thought was taking Doodad to the Zoo or something for the day. Gives the other two time alone. But not sure now, with a project starting up (though we don't work weekends). I don't know.....

Guess I should go wake the boy and see how he is feeling...

PeacE

Due Diligence

 Earlier this week I received Arizona's Primary Election Guide. You know, that paper pamphlet they send out that gives a short description on who is running for what platform, etc. Then a couple days later, I received the mail-in ballot. I have just under a month to determine who I feel is best for these positions, and it is a lot of information to cover. I hate politics with a passion, but I always try to vote the best informed way I am able. Why? Because 1) it is a priviledge to be able to vote and 2) I believe that if you don't vote, you shouldn't be able to bitch and moan about those that get elected.

Enough about politics.

The Wife and I recently started watching 'The Blacklist' on Netflix. I had started watching this show when it first came out on television several years ago, but lost interest because I would miss episodes. I maybe made it rhough most of season one. Either way, I decided to pick it up and do periodic beinges of episodes. Not happening. I made the mistake of starting it while the Wife was home, sitting near me on her computer. After the first episode she started asking questions about what happened, and I knew that this was going to be another one I cannot watch without her. Normally not a problem. Unfortunately, though lately the Wife's work hours have gotten a bit later (a story for another time) and it is fairly later into the evening before we can sit down to watch an episode (and that is not counting th eother shows I have to watch with her).

That being said, it was near midnight beofre I got to bed last night - just so we could watch an episode or two. Then awake at 5:24am ... makes me a somewhat unhappy camper. I did have the alarm set for 8:30, but I knew there is no falling back asleep. Oh well, best to get up and get some of the regular, mundane things out of the way. This morning's BP and Glucose were good readings. Lately, the Glucose has been a little high, and I cannot figure out why. Guess I may have some reading to do at some near point.

PeacE

Check-Up Time!

 Not for me, but for my vehicle. About a month ago, the maintenence indicator had come on, meaning to get it ina nd looked at. Even being previously owned, the person had been good about the Toyota-care and check-ups. It's free, so why not? I had set an appointment back then, but do to something coming up, missed the appointment. I finally got around to resetting it. So I will be headed up there this afternoon to sit for an hour or so while they do whatever.

Sunday, after the movie, we had gone to Chili's for supper. I have the Chili's app, and had some rewards we used up. One of which was a gallopn of beverage (tea or lemonade). Our server said that they don't offer that as a areward, yet I showed him on my phone what it said. He just shrugged and said, okay, we throw it out every night anyways. So I got a gallon of tea, of which I am drinking the last of this morning. It has been nice to have tea available at home, since I don't make it. So many of the brand names at the store, I don't care for, so don't buy it.

Yesterday wenbt like a normal day. I did end up at the VFW for the afternoon. Then went by my regular pub for a bit. I ended up getting some pizza on my way home for the family. Such an exciting lifestyle.

PeacE

Well, Today is Pretty Much Over

 ... that was my thought once I actually woke up this morning. Seems the Wife and I actually slept in to noon. Surprisingly, the dog hadn't woken us with barking, or the Crack Kitty (Rusty) waking us with his very loud alley-cat warbles for food. Both a seemingly everday occurrence except for today. Even the Wife had commented that she woke around 10:30, realizing she was going to miss church, and went back to sleep.

Whilst laying in bed just waking up and having small conversation (might as well, we slept til noon) I got an earworm in my head. Luckily, it was one I knew, and I am passing it along so it will go away (I hope).

I remember the later '70's, that as a kid I loved to sing this song - at least the choruses. I had no idea what the song was about until I was much older. I can only imagine the smiles adults around me would get when this little kid is singing this song out loud in public, unaware of what the content is about. I blush in retrospect of it.

I did buy tickets to the actual movie theater yesterday for today. This afternoon Wife, Youngest and I will be driving over to the Metro and watching 'Maverick' finally. I had been saying it was one I would really like to see on the big screen for the flying scenes, and Wife agreed. I was actually surprised at the ticket cost. I was expecting close to $10 per person, but it was actually only $7. That's without popcorns and sodas yet.

Tomorrow is the 4th, and we have no family plans. The Wife has to work a regular day, though does get holiday pay for it. I might end up at the VFW in the afternoon. Not sure. I did go to the VFW yesterday, and won a $0.25 drink and got to chase for the queen in the draw. I got the Jack of Clubs, which got me $25, so I was happy. I have won the chance to chase the queen at least 3 times now in the last couple months. Wonder when that luck streak is going to end....

Welp, I gotta mosey along and get some other things done before the movie.

PeacE

F'ing App Notifications

 T'was surely a beautiful Saturday morning - or was until I was awakened at 5:30am by an app notification from my phone. Of course, this notification sound is the same that I use for text messages (and a few other apps) so I have to roll over and check it, just in case. One never knows if one of the older boys had car issues they need help with, or something of important is going on. I am not 'super tech savvy' so have not been able to set-up different notifications sounds for individual apps, or even go through and say what apps I want to be notified by sound by. I am sure it is something that can be done, I just haven't bothered to do so. I pay for it with things like this mornings "alarm".

So, awake, of course the body starts in on the needing to do the morning constitutionals. Now I am awake, so mosey into the 'office'. I do have a book review I need to write up and post. It wasn't a great book, but that's why they want reviews. Then I suppose I will go through some of my book sites and see what else is coming out that I may try to get in exchange for reviews.I should get a couple checks I have sitting here to the bank, but don't need to think about that for a few hours yet.

Thursday night I did meet up with the oldest Son. We ended back at one of the pubs I regular at, and met up with a couple of my other friends. We were having such a good time, talking about things goingon in our lives, it was 2am before we knew it. We went across the street, Son, my friend, and I, to Deenys and had an early breakfast. I trested the drinks, the Son treated the breakfast. Afterwards we ended up at my house, where I called a Lyft for him to get home. What a great night!

Did my counts this morning, and everything is good. Just took my pills, and am deciding what flavor of granola bar is for breakfast - no Dennys today....

PeacE