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

Break Time is Over!

 Well, break time is over for the Youngest. He returns to school today, and all the extra band practices, games, competitions. It was a bit weird last week, when he had a home game they had to play... on the Fall Break. I don't recall them ever having to do that before....

No news on the work front for me. I know part of the HR/Recruiting staff were on vacation last week, so hopefully with them back in this week, some projects will be setting up to bring people in on. Though I do admit, in some ways it has been nice being off the last few weeks, I am ready to concentrate on something and make a few dollars.

Didn't do much this past weekend. Stuman, my brother, celebrated his 48th birthday. His wife was out of town celebrating her birthday (earlier in the week) so brother invited several friend s to his place on Saturday. I did end up going, feeling obligated somewhat. Only a few friends showed up, and I was there most of the afternoon and into the evening. A lot of rain (for AZ) came Saturday, and really soaked the ground, so Sunday, the Youngest pushed over the dead tree in our front yard. It wasn't huge - about 6-8 inches thick in the trunk. But it was dead, and bulk trash is coming up here in a couple weeks. Need to finish getting it chopped down to size for pick-up.

No plans this week, unless a project comes along. I need to get up to Walgreens, hopefully today, to pick up a prescription they notified me about. I think it is more glucose test strips, but am not sure. This mornings readings were back int he better/regular range than some of the ones from last week. Gonna change that up now as I drink some Sweet Tea from Church's Chicken. Boy, is that sweet!

PeacE

Sitting Idle

 Tuesday, the Project I was working on ended. From my perspective, it should have gone through Thursday at least, but I think they broughtt opn many more people I was not expecting. So since then, I have been sitting idlely by, waiting for them to re-assign me to another project. I had mentioned before about a 'List" I had signed up for, that also notifies about these type of projects. I have had about three contacts for jobs in the Phoenix area, but unfortunately, have aall been for JDs, which I am not one.

The Youngest has started school, and our crazy parenting taxi serviuce has begun. With the early hour practices throughout the year (Zero Hour) we again have to get him there prior to the time the bus would. Most days the Wife will take him, as it is near the time she needs to be heading to work. I will take him on Wednesdays, which has a little later start, but still earlier than the bus drop-off. At least mine is only through Marching Season, which would end by mid-November, even if they went to Super State in competition.

Welp, with nothing going on for me, Iguess I ain';t got much more to write about today.

PeacE

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

Where NOT to Talk Politics and Religion

 Yesterday afternoon I took a trip over to my favorite pub. I was looking forward to getting some reading done on the current book I have loaded on my tablet, but that was not to be. As I finished my cigarette on the patio before entering, I received a text from one of my good friends that he was at the pub. So I walk in, and there he is! I hadn't seen this friend in a couple weeks or so, so we chatted, and another good friend called, found out we both were there, and came up. I admit, I am the cause of not being able to get any reading done. I have a rule that when I am with either of these two friends I turn the book off no matter what, so we can actually talk. So obviously, I brought my tablet there for nothing.

What prolific topics did we discuss? There were several. What actor/actress did we think had the best ability? What movies are slated to be coming out. Caught up a little of what is going on in our lives. All this talk was going on as the football game started, and got boring. That's when a political ad played during a commercial break. Oh yeah, the crap hit the fan then, as we were having a good time. My two friends seem to love to play each others devil's advocate. One is a self-employed business owner with a successful business, the other an attorney/insurance agent/financial consultant. I pretty much just sat there thinking 'Oh geez, Lord, let this end without bloodshed'. A short 20 minutes later (seemingly much, much longer) they toned it down and we agreed that they could just cancel each other's vote out, and only my vote would count. Those crazy guys!

The Daughter and Doodad made it into town last night whilst I was out. I did get to see them as I headed to bed once I got home. They left with the Wife this morning to go do who knows what... shopping, at the old house, visiting... Not sure what plans for this evening are in regards to dinner - if we are eating out, or picking up, or cooking at home. The Youngest has started back to school on a hybrid program this week. So he attends Tuesday and Friday, at home via online the other days. Today is his first day to the physical school - wonder how he did finding his classrooms....

PeacE

Again With the Early Hours

 The past couple nights has been back to not sleeping well. In bed around 10:30-11:00 and awake at 3. Find something to do until 6'ish, and try to lay back down. Sometimes I can "nap" at that point. Most mornings I can't.

I will admit that this night I had some pretty weird dreams. I know I was thinking about past jobs yesterday evening, and it probably brought on some of the weirdness. In the dream I was working, but it was a combination of the several jobs I have had over the past 30+ years. Didn't dream much about what *my* position was, but had many co-workers I have known (some liked, some not) in there. Some of them have passed now, which was a bit weird, too.

Still waiting to hear on the current job. Supposedly they are still finalizing contract details. It's been going on for three weeks now. hope they get it done soon.

The Youngest and online schooling is going fine so far. Some of the other schools in the Valley have opted for hybrid classes - where the student population is split and some attend certain days, the other half the other, and online when not physically at the school. Son's school said they would re-visit this idea around October, once there is better numbers regarding Covid outbreaks, etc. He may physically be in classes before the end of the year, but no band events for sure. I don't think their football team has a season this year either, even though I have heard some schools are doing shorter seasons.

PeacE

Pbbbbbt.. It's Tuesday

 There are many things on my mind this morning. they have been tumbling through my head the last couple days, and the few hours I have been up already today. Nothing I want to share though - has to do with personal finances, etc. Things that need to get taken care of, but don't have the resources to get it all done at once. Still waiting to hear about "the job", so that isn't helping much either.

Went to a wedding this weekend. I friend I have known for about 29 years. We went to high school together. It wasn't her first wedding, but either way. It was a nice small event, that practiced social distancing, and prevention of spreading (masks were worn). Thank goodness it was indoors, since AZ is breaking records for consecutive days over 110 degrees. We didn't stay for the whole event, but did get through most of the celebration, and left when it was down to dancing prior to the send-off.

I went out for a bit with a best friend (that went to the wedding with us) Saturday night. This friend is not only an attorney, but my insurance guy as well. I just found out AZ supposedly increased the requirement for coverage when it comes to car insurance and mine is below that mark. Today we are supposed to meet up to see how much that will increase our payments. yeah... more financial worries.

The Youngest Son started online school yesterday. There was only a "half day" and things to work pretty well. Today is the first "full day" and he says he has all the needed links for classrooms etc. online. At this time, the schools say that this will be the normal thing until at least mid-October, where things will be re-evaluated in regards to students returning to physically going to school.

On a similar note, AZ passed guidelines for different places of business to once again re-open to the public, and requirements that must be met. They are doing it by county standards of positive rates, etc. Which means the 4 most populated counties (mine) are not able to open gyms, and many other public forums at this time. At the rate of the statistics, it doesn't look to be anytime soon. There's at least my excuse to not go to the gym....har de har har.

Need to make sure the Youngest is up and moving for classes.

PeacE

Will Today be the Day?

I think today is the first day in quite awhile I set my alarm to be up early. Most days I get up when the Wife does, but today I wanted to be up and ready a bit earlier. I am hoping to hear back about the "Job" I have been waiting on for the past several months. I figured since the recruiter's email was based out of Texas, I would get up so I would be ready to go at 9am TX time (about 7am my time).  And that is just to hopefully get the email saying that they will be training and assigning my this week, not to necessarily start work today. Yes, I am anxious to get started... even if it is working from home.

The weekend came and went. My brother got pinned for Captain in the US Army Reserves. I didn't make the ceremony due to the drive involved. But I'm happy for him.I know he is working on "retirement" from there.

This is the last week before school starts for my youngest Son. They start next Monday going "virtual". When we did a walk-through registration, he was assigned a Chromebook laptop, for connection for his classes. The past two weeks he had used his tablet mostly for Band Camp, even though there will be no competitions this year. The emphasis was on breathing exercises, and a second session daily for individual groups and working on the music. Teaching classes virtually has to be a daunting task for any teacher, but how much harder is it for say, a band director? Or a teacher that teaches a class more "hands-on, like wood shop - do they actually teach those types of classes anymore? Probably not.....

The Daughter sent some pics and short videos of my Doodad this weekend. Her first time with a "slip n' slide" was one of them and pretty cute. I wish they lived closer and had the ability to visit more, but am happy at least they are where they are - compared to where they lived last. I know I sound like RM in that. I guess it is true that as you go through life, you start realizing the things your parents said/did. Depressing in some ways....

Welp, I am off to finally go check my emails and see if that one I am waiting for arrived. If not, then it will be some Warcraft, with periodic checks of email throughout the day.

PeacE

Chaos Rules!

The last couple of weeks have been a bit chaotic. Adjusting to being at work again. The back is holding up well, though we are in the slower period of the year for the business. I have not had to lift many heavy objects, which is even better, as it gives me more time. One of the guys in my dept. took vacation last week, so I had to put in a few extra hours .... like 10, so that 50 hour week was a bit long. Overtime is over time, and though our pay periods aren't matched to a Sun-Sat week, it will average out that I get a couple hours overtime for two pay periods. Beats the 36 hour weeks I was having. By winter, I should be back up to about 42 hours/week. Yes, we get that busy.

We bought the oldest Son a car this weekend. It was off of Stuman and his wife. We went to a DMV office this morning to get the title changed to his name, but couldn't. Seems even though the registration is good until December, they said it needed a new emissions done prior to changing title. Which means we will probably have to pay registration fees on top of everything else now as well. Either way, we ran it through emissions where it passed. Now to get back to get the title changed, but due to other things going on, may not do it until Wednesday. then setting up the insurance....

The middle Son is at band camp this week. Tomorrow is his school registration (hence why it may be Wed to do the title thing). Two weeks until school starts for the two younger Sons. The oldest Son is to be getting ready for community college, but I have not seen him do anything yet.

Guess I should get out of here. It is almost time to head to work.

PeacE

Feel Like Hiding Out

The past few days have been pretty weird. The next few aren't looking much different. Work has been kicking my ass quite a bit of late. With the high humidity (for AZ) that has been around for the monsoon season, and the fact our parts warehouse is not air conditioned, has lead to me having two hour sweat sessions, which just really wipe me out. By the time I get home in the evenings, I just want to sit somewhere with the A/C on full, and mellow out until I fall asleep. Most nights, that doesn't take long. I am just feeling so worn out.

Next week I get the spend a couple days getting the two older boys registered for school. The Oldest Son has his on Tuesday morning, and due to also having band camp that week, they get to go first thing in the morning. Makes it nice for me, as I usually do not end up missing any work time. How ever, the Middle Son, I had to take Wednesday off of work. He is in Jr. High, but why would they do their registration from 4pm-7pm? The Wife said she would not be able to get off early that day, so I ended up using one of my last two days of vacation. I have one day left, and knowing me, I probably will just lose it. I have a month to use it, but have to plan the days off so far ahead of time so someone can do my job, it is going to be hard to take it. Use it or lose it ... but not much choice at this time. Come the end of August I get two weeks vacation, and here this past year, I had a hard time using just 1 week....

School registrations.... Oh, and I need to get the Oldest in to get his senior portraits done. Never realized that they charge for a sitting fee, then also for the proofs, then also for the actual photos. Freaking expensive. I'm sure we will get literature later in the year for the class ring as well. I am sure they are more expensive than when I went to school.

Well, I suppose I should get the morning started and get ready for work.

PeacE

It's A Catch-Up Morning

This morning I am spending time catching up on some television shows I like to watch. We don't have cable, or satellite, at our house - never could see paying for it when we don't watch much on cable networks. The Wife has a few shows in the past she has enjoyed, and they are all on regular TV networks, and I am not much for many of the shows in the past. Lately though, there have been some decent ones, and I admit I have a small list now. I prefer to watch them the day after they air, as I can usually find them on the network website, and view them with few, or sometimes no, commercials. Already this morning I have caught up on "LONGMIRE", about Absaroka County, WY, sheriff Walt Longmire, based on a series of books by Craig Johnson. I had read the series after watching the first season through Netflix. Next up is "THE NEWSROOM" which airs on HBO. Following that will be "RAY DONOVAN" which is Showtime I believe.

There are few other shows coming out this fall that have caught my eye. "AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D." is one. It is a take-off of THE AVENGERS movie out this past summer. A couple others with new seasons are "VIKINGS" and "GRIMM". And the longer running "SONS OF ANARCHY". Guess I will have to start setting schedules to watch them all come this fall. Hopefully it will be around a work schedule, as the new job is hopefully starting in the next couple weeks. I will be following up with the manager there this afternoon, or maybe tomorrow, depending on if he has the time to talk a bit.

The boys have settled back into a school schedule pretty easily this year. This is the second week back, and things are falling into a regular morning again. The oldest has his first football game coming up next Friday. The Daughter is getting ready to start her last 6-week internship within the next 2-3 weeks as well. She is looking to graduate the end of October.

With the boys back in school, I need to get back into a regular thing of going to the gym. I have done well, considering most of the summer I did not go. I managed to lose about 18 pounds since January, and look to try for another 15 before the end of the year. Losing 30 pounds for the year doesn't sound like much, but it is good for me. Plus, maybe I can win Reverend Mother's challenge of 10% weight loss (I was over 300 lbs. when she made it, so I figure 30 is about 10%. Would love to drop a few extra, but we will see. The hard part is always keeping it off.

Guess I should get off here and get my shows watched. Need to do some correspondence, too.

PeacE