Monday Morning Pout

 Yeah, I'm pouting. I was truly hoping this project would reach its end, but alas, it has not. I logged in this morning, and there was more stuff that needed to be completed. This whole hired on for a 4-week, and now it has reached 13-weeks.... They sure don't budget things well is all I can think. But hey, my paycheck is a paycheck.

Not much went on this weekend. Saturday took my car up to the wash, then ran the Son's and Wife's car to the band car wash they were having that morning. Afternoon at the Post, though didn't stay late. Swung by my brother's for a short visit. Sunday just did things around the house. Was going to take Youngest out for more driving practice, but he got involved in one of his online games with friends, so we are going to try this afternoon when I finish up work for the day.

Youngest did his walk-through registration this last week. This next Monday school starts. No Zero Hour band practices (yay!) but he had to give up an elective as he had to schedule for band for 4th hour. Weird how they did it this year. I really am not liking the way this new band director has changed things around (compared to the other 11 years the kids attended band). Glad this is his last year.

Had the third storm/shower in the last week come through last night. I know the Wife woke me coming to bed, mentioned it was raining again. Around 1:15am I woke and heard thunder still. Good to get some rain, though earlier in the week the wind was gusting up to 60 mph and over on the East Valley, it was pretty damaging. Luckily nothing bad near us.

Guess I should stop stalling and get some work done.

PeacE

The Lazy Afternoon Post

 It is only just before 2pm, and I am already off work. Again they have ran short of material for us to work on, though the stated there is a possibility of more in 1-2 hours ... or Monday. Well, in 1-2 hours I am not signing back in to work for 30 minutes, So I am done for the day. Thus, boredom leaves me to catch up on other things I have neglected this week.

Did 2-3 reviews this week for the books. I see that I do have another one to read that will need to be written up as well. I might go back through the sites, and see if any new has popped up that I can request.

And then I'll play some Warcraft I suppose. The Youngest finishes up Band Camp today, and will need to be picked up around 5pm.  The Wife and I may go out to dinner tonight.

Yeah. I got nothing else.

PeacE

Need More Weekend Time

 Yesterday seemed busy, but it wasn't. The Wife and I went out for breakfast - Youngest didn't want to wake up to go with us. We went to place called Otto's Diner, that I knew it had been several years since I was last there. I don't know if I just don't remember, but I was very unimpressed with the food. I thought the portions were a bit small for the prices, and honestly, it really did not taste very good - especially my biscuit and gravy. You don't mess with my B&G!! I made a mental note to not go to this place again. Which is fine, as I like Ronnie's Cafe better.

Most of the midday was spent messing around on the computer, and I watched a movie. Near 5pm, the Wife and I left to head down to the VFW. It was the monthly steak dinner, and I had told her she needed to go. For $20 you get one heck of a meal. I ate all mine, and she about half. Well worth the $40. Then it was back home, and I played on the computer until about 10, then bed.

This morning I am up around 8, as I evidently set an alarm for today at that time. Oops. Changed that real quick. Google has made some changes to my settings, as last night I told it to sync among all my devices. My bookmarks have changed (old ones deleted long ago reappeared) and all my sites that have log-ins, require I log in again. And the tabs background color is now like a turquoise instead of white. Weird. Tentative plans to take Youngest out for more driving practice early afternoon. Dinner out with the Daughter and Family, plus maybe the other two sons as well, this evening. I really don't feel like attending to work again tomorrow....sigh.

PeacE

Friday ... Finally

 This week, sigh.

I think I have bitched about the job more this week than any other I have had. I'm just that frustrated at this point. What's worse, it's not the actual job, but the project I am on currently. I'm on Week 11 of what was supposed to be a 4-week project, and they STILL are no where close to being done. This project started last October! GRRRR! I can't share more about it, but just know I am not happy.

I am happy that the Daughter and family will be up this weekend. We tentatively set up dinner for Sunday evening, and I might be able to get the two older boys to be there as well. It would be nice to have all the kids together for a meal. 

Not much to say, as my mind i just set on staying on top of the project... and I am supposed to be working anyways.

PeacE

Mondays Get Better ...

 I last shared about how bad my Monday seemed. It felt like it was one bad thing after another, and they just just kept piling up like a someone in Atlanta driving in snow on the freeway. If you don't get that joke, keep reading - there will be worse.

Yesterday was a "short" day of work for me. After about 4 hours of work, the workload ended, and they gave the usual "check back in an hour' reply. Then it was two hours. Then it was no further work today, but check in the morning. So that means I only worked about 4 hours yesterday. Sigh.

I went out last night and helped a good friend celebrate his birthday. So this morning, I didn't do the 6am log-in to work. I slept until near 8am, then approached the office. Good thing I did so, as the first message was to wait until 8am (my time) to check for any work to do, and there was! Looks like enough for today, and a few hours tomorrow, but  some is better than none.

With all the free time I had yesterday, I did a run to the car parts store to pick up some coolant, oil and a funnel. all for the Youngest's car. Once I picked him up from band camp, we popped the hood on the car, and got to work. Added 4 quarts of oil. No obvious leak from the bottom. Started the car, then added a small portion of coolant to the overflow tank - which we couldn't tell yesterday, but now could, that it had fluid in it already.... so very little added. After running a couple minutes, I had Youngest watch the temp gauge, then turned on the AC. It was blowing cold! At this point, I'm trying to figure out what the heck is going on. Was the oil being out the cause of the AC turning itself off, then 30 minutes later causing the car to start overheating? I have no clue... All I know is we ran it for about 15-20 minutes in the drive, and it never went pass middle on the temp gauge, and the AC blew cool the whole time. I said we would find out for sure this weekend when we have a chance to get it out driving again.

My best thought is I might have saved $1500 in repair costs if this is working good now... (fingers crossed).

Nothing much else to share today. I guess I should do some work.

PeacE

It's Probably My Fault

 I have probably mentioned about taking the Youngest out for his first driving experience back on the 4th. If I had, then I mentioned how it ended, with the car nearly over-heating, and the 'collapse' of the AC system. Well, I still had not gotten out to see if I could track down the over-heating situation - it has just been too hot (17 days in the Valley of 110+ heat). But yesterday evening, after picking up the Youngest from band camp, I forced myself to do it. Of course, Youngest did most of the "work" as I was also teaching him how to check the fluids, and where to put them, etc. Checked the coolant - the overflow was bone dry (shouldn't be) so figured that could be a good reason. Checked the oil, and this I get mad about, it was also bone dry on the dipstick. So now I figured out why it over-heated... to a degree. I told Youngest I would try to get to the store today and get coolant and oil, then we would top them off. Then we check for obvious leaks (no marks under the car, so not sure). Then we test drive it again. Then I'll take it to the shop to fix the AC (and possibly what else is wrong). Sigh.

Then I went out for a bit. I got a couple hours reading in before one of my friends came to hang out. At one point in the evening, my cane actually broke. It is a heavy-duty one I bought about seven years ago, and has been through some tough use. I guess the adjuster peg sheared off finally, and when I went to put some weight on it, the cane just collapsed in on itself. I nearly took a tumble onto the (blisteringly hot) pavement, but with a couple quick shuffles, help upright. I do have a couple 'back-up' canes here at the house. One is a crappy one from the dollar store, the other is one I made many years ago from an old grape vine. It looks nice - de-barked, sanded down, and sprayed with a clear finish. Last night when I got home, I whittled down the end a bit, and attached a rubber grip. The handle is bigger than what I like, but it will work for now.

Which brings up my other gripe - about the two canes I ordered. They had been delivered nearly a month ago to the wrong address (one about 2 miles from home). I have written USPS (home the tracking site said delivered it) with no responses, and I presume one will never come. It was a business complex where it was delivered, so no idea what suite it would have gone to, considering it had a house number. All I can guess is the Chinese site it was ordered from couldn't read English and fucked up the address. Oh, and the website? It is no longer available. So I am done, and am going to request my bank work the account to get back the $48 dollars I spent. I have proof it was delivered incorrectly, and have no means to contact the seller. Another pain in my .....

Gees, did anything good happen on Monday? Sure. Middle Son stopped by and we got to visit a short bit. He has a birthday coming up soon (turns 21!) and we tentatively made some plans for a possible b-day breakfast meal. The Daughter and family are planning to be up this weekend - still trying to figure out plans for that. The Wife has finally agreed to go to the VFW for steak night, which happens to be this Saturday. Can't beat $20/person for a 20 oz ribeye, baked potato, green beans and a salad. 

Welp, spent too much time writing here today - need to get back to work.

PeacE

Because I Don't Want To Do It In The Morning ....

 Sunday night post, because I feel lazy already, and don't feel like doing it in the morning. Not much to share, or say. Work continues on, going into week ten (I believe) when I was hired on for a four week project. It is work, no worries there, but it isn't a steady 4-=hour work week. The hitches where they don't have additional work ready for us (if there is any) kills my hours more than working a new project, but it is what it is. Not sure exactly how much is there, since I worked a partial day Friday, but I knew there was enough to carry into Monday at least.

RM and PT went out of town this last week. One of my nephews had his wedding over in California. I guess they traveled via a rented RV and a single car. The drive out was a long one for them (about 14 hours) and I read RM's blog about some of the events over the weekend. As they travel home tonight (prolly arriving late) I hope they have no travel issues with vehicles.

Youngest starts the two week band camp tomorrow. It is to prep them all for the start of marching season. This new director they have, who started last year, has not been on my good side of things. I have not liked the many changes she made last year, and even more this year. After putting three other kids through the music program with different directors, these changes are, to me, just overly drastic. Certain practices take even more time away from being with family in the evenings, when it was never needed before. Thankfully this is his last year there (he's a senior), and all this will go away... just one school year.

So, this is where I sit as we start this week. Uncertain work times/days; adjustment to having to take extra time to accommodate Youngest and his band camp schedule; working on issues with one of the cars... seems like it never ends, right? Adulting sucks.

PeacE

Another Friday

 It has been a bit of a short week work-wide for me, with having Monday and Tuesday off. Today will be short as well. I notified work that I will be off most of today to attend a funeral. It has been awhile since the last one, but still, too many in recent years than I like.

Today is for Lee. I have known him since the mid-90's from the bar I was playing softball for at the time. Seemed he always had a smile and a joke for everyone, even if the jokes sometimes weren't clean. Lee was a mortician, and very good at his craft. One of the few times he would lose his smile was when he spoke about 9/11, as he had been called up to go to New York to assist with all the deceased and their remains. He was called to New Orleans for the Katrina hurricane, also. Lee was good at what he did. So good, in fact, he would win Best Costume every year for the Halloween party. His costumes had no limit, one year being an old crone with pus leaking for sores on the face... he was a master at make-up and FX. So today there is a graveside service, with a Celebration of Life being done on Halloween, Lee's favorite holiday.

I'll think I'll keep it short today...

PeacE

The Good and The Bad

 We decided to return home Monday evening from our three-day trip to Tucson. That would leave us Tuesday to 'rest up' and be ready to return to work on Wednesday. The Wife and I talked about the trip, and both said that it was a good one, though we didn't get out and do many things, we did have some quality time with the family. Even the Youngest had some fun playing with his niece, and board games with his BIL and Sister.

Not much happened yesterday. I was so tired from the trip (not sleeping well, and the drive the night before) that I slept until noon. The Wife didn't rouse from bed until 1, telling me she hadn't meant to sleep that late. I told her she must have needed it, and be glad she didn't have to work that day. I took the Youngest to the school (drum line practice) and went to hang out with some friends. I had checked in with work earlier in the day, and see they still are plodding along, so today I am back at it.

Daughter is coming up to the Valley tomorrow, and staying through Sunday. However, she is doing a scrapbooking convention thingy with her MIL, and they are staying on the south side of the Valley. We probably will not have a chance to visit with her again, but she said her family will be back up the following weekend.

Youngest starts his band camp this next week. Two weeks of 8-5 M-Thursday practices. The Oldest and Middle Sons are in the middle of moving this week. They had been sharing an apartment for the past couple years or so, and as their lease expires, have decided to go separate ways. They still are living within a half mile of each other. They have not asked for any help from the Wife or I, which is probably good, as we aren't able to help with heavy lifting. 

Welp, I guess I should get back to the work thing.

PeacE

Mid-Vacation : A Study of Being Bored Somewhat

 Sunday finds us yet in Tucson. No one has decided they want to do anything different, so we are back at the Daughter's place today. I did get another night at the hotel for tonight, and will play it by ear if we do another night or not. I don't expect to do much, as most things/events are outside. Even though color than the Valley, 106 degrees is too hot for me, and I just am not able to handle a lot of walking. But I am still enjoying the time here, seeing the Doodad, and having talks with the SIL and Daughter. We took them out to a mesquite grill place near them last night. It was a bit pricey, and th4e brisket was pretty dry, the cole slaw had no taste, and that was just my meal. The house salad as a side was huge though!

Both the Wife and I took Monday and Tuesday off (obviously). I do not know if I will still be on this project or not when I go toto check in on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Could be a good thing, as I am getting a bit tired of it. Would like to move on to something different, but work is work.

The Youngest and I did our eye exams. Both had mildly worsened. We both did the 2-for1 they had going on, and I added a third pair for me, with it being completely the bi-focal prescription so I can use those for working at the computer without straining my neck. Better than the cheap readers I am using. As we were sitting down and discussing the 'extras' to add to the glasses, their system went down. Instead of waiting we just left the order with them, and they were to call once the system was back up to get payment. They finally called after we were in Tucson yesterday. With the extras we added (transistions, anti-glare, polycarbonate lenses) the total was outrageously high, but it needed to be done. And we need two pair, as both of us have broken a pair since last there. Best to be prepared.

Welp, I am using the Daughter's computer to catch up on some reviews whilst the grand-daughter is playing with her uncle and Mamaw.

PeacE

A Pre-Vacation Post

 Friday is here, and I am still on this project. I thought it would finish up yesterday, as the workflow was dwindling, but a mere 30 minutes before I logged out for the day, they added more stuff to be worked through. That's good, in a way. I sort of had plans that I was hoping to do today, but with the workflow, I won't be able to do them.

Youngest and I have eye exams today, then picking out the frames for new glasses. It's been a couple years for us both, and I know my eyesight has gotten worse. I'm hoping they can make a set of readers for me, versus having to wear the bifocals for working at home. It hurts to crane my head to use the bi-focals while reading on the computer all day.

Tomorrow we will be heading out of town to Tucson, at least for Saturday, to spend the day with the Daughter and family. From there, I have no clue as to what we will do. The Wife had done some shopping last night, and picked up two bags of snacks "for the road". I swear she packs like we are doing a cross-country trip....

Welp, I guess I should actually work today.

PeacE

Time Flies ...

 Hard to believe it is Thursday already. But, it is. Must have been the holiday to make this week seem to pass by faster. 

Tuesday the Wife had to work, but I had it off. I ended up taking the Youngest out for some drive training. There is a park near us, and I had him driving around the parking lot practicing the left/right turns. About 15 mins into the practice, the a/c in the car started blowing hot. Great. My guess was the system needs to be charged, but still have to take it in to check for a leak. We put the windows down and persevered. About 40 minutes into this, I had him drive to the house using the side streets (literally, like 4 blocks up the road). We switched seats, and I was planning on going through the car wash (it was dirty from sitting there for weeks) and go to a larger empty lot I know of for more practice. A block from the house, the temperature gauge starting shooting up, and the car started 'ding-ing' at me. Did a quick turn around the block and parked it before the needle buried itself in HOT. So now I need to figure out why/how it did that. Was it low on coolant? Something else? Either way, it will end up in the shop sometime soon.

Other than that, nothing new this week. Still working as of today, though this part of the workload looks like it may finish today. I already let them know I would be out of town Monday-Tuesday, which they were fine with. Maybe the project will be done (my portion) when I get back... or better yet, later today.

RM is coming by at some point today to drop off some salsa and potato salad. She must have had some potatoes to get rid of, and she knows I like potato salad unlike my siblings. The salsa is just an extra - unless she had some tomatoes she had to get rid of as well. I dunno. Will have to work through these and the leftovers in the fridge the next couple days so it don't waste while we are out of town.

Speaking of that, still no plans per se. Saturday in Tucson, and no one has offered any other ideas for the days after. Sigh.

PeacE

Planning the Week

 This week is going to be somewhat difficult. I do have to work today, but have tomorrow off - the Wife does not have the day off. Also she has taken the next Monday and Tuesday off, so we could do something for a vacation...maybe. Now everything is confusing, and I have no idea what is going on.

The original thought for vacation, was head to Tucson, spend day one with the Daughter and family, then stay the night. Day Two was to visit Tombstone for the day, return to Tucson. Day three was up in the air, but looked like returning home. Then I got word of other things going on with the Daughter and family. Then I started second-guessing myself (Doodad would be bored in Tombstone, and so would the Youngest), so plans we're briefly talked about just the three of us going to San Diego for the weekend. Either way, now I have no idea what we will do, have not reserved any hotel rooms. Sigh.

The Youngest finally got his permit this weekend. I had made him do the online test last Thursday, and it was Saturday before I was able to get him up to do the picture, etc. He still has not been pushing at all about wanting to drive. Must be a generational thing....

I should get to work. Nothing else to do today.

PeacE