Grumpy Hump Day

 The Company is trying to kill me with anxiety attacks. Monday they sent an email stating a project was FINALLY ready to start up this week. They were expecting Tuesday or Wednesday to be the start date, and those selected for the project would be notified. Within five minutes of receiving that email, I responded that I was available for the project and ready to start immediately. Tuesday I get an email stating that "with this being a holiday week, project plans have been changing minute by minute; however, there will be no projects this week". WTF? This is like the third time they have sent out notice of a new project, then the next day, say no, no new project. I'm at like week nine of not working now. Yet they left me with hope, as "there should be several projects ready to start next week". We will see.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and it will be a nice one. All my children are getting together at the Daughter's in Tucson for the meal. I was hoping Oldest Son would be able to make it, and he has confirmed he will be there. Oldest and the Wife were going over the list of items Daughter said would be needed for the dishes and whatnot, plus we were to bring any dessert we wanted. SIL is making his chocolate pumpkin pie. Oldest Son is bringing an apple pie, and he specifically requested I make my Cherry Delight. I rarely make it - maybe once a year, if that. Not that it is difficult, I just usually don't make it.

So I got "our list" from the Wife of what we needed to get/bring. I wanted to get out and do the shopping for supplies on Monday, but didn't get around to it. So yesterday I waited until the Youngest got home from school and asked if he wanted to go with. Surprisingly he said yes, and we were off. Took us three grocery stores to get everything needed for the dessert. The list of things we filled at the first store. Hard to believe that graham cracker pie crusts were in such high demand this holiday! Either way it was nice to hang out one on one with Youngest, and all supplies are ready for our trip tomorrow.

I guess after tomorrow all thoughts turn to Christmas. I know I am waiting a couple (few) more packages to arrive. I know there are a couple more gifts that need to be bought yet, but I have no idea what to get that person(s). Then there are the plans and times to be places for Christmas day. I am sure within my immediate family we will be talking about that tomorrow.

Well, I guess I have rambled enough. Been sitting here for fifteen minutes ruminating on a mish-mash of stuff in my head, and none of it worth writing about.

PeacE

Dust in the Wind

 I sort of feel that way today. The Wife and I talked last night, and we came to the agreement I really have no choice but to pay the extra money to get the birth certificate. Even with the time frames given, it could still be quicker than having to wait for SSA offices to re-open and get in there to do that replacement. This morning I was still feeling weird about having to do that, and did some more research. I found if I mail in an application with fees, there is only a 45 day waiting period. The way I read the statement, that is NOT "on top of" the 25 days regular procedure time. And it's at a lower rate. So I think I will go that route. Still looking at 2 months... but could still be faster.

Tomorrow starts the 3-day Labor Day Weekend. For us it is not much to celebrate, except for my birthday falling on the weekend this year. Saturday night. our family with all kids (plus) will be going to dinner. Not necessarily for my birthday, just so we can all get together. As usual we pick up the tab. I am thinking Country Boys, so it will be a bit cheaper than say Garcia's.... save a few bucks at least.

Sunday evening I will be up at the pub and have let several friends know I will be there. Some I haven't seen in awhile. I did try to do something nice, and invited the Sis, Stuman and RM. RM said they might show for a soda, but I would not be surprised if they did not come, or if they did, did not stay long.

Monday will be just a regular weekend day for us. No get together plans. I had planned to work part of the day... but hey, you heard about that already. I am sure part of Sunday and Monday will be spent visiting the Daughter and family. The Wife and Daughter will take the Doodad and go shopping at some point I am sure. The SIL and my boys will probably all get together Saturday night after dinner and play these board games they like. Not like Sorry or Monopoly... this are more complicated. I tried a couple times, and I just have a hard time with playing them. Gives them all bonding time though.

Welp, I guess that is all I have for now. I may or may not write this weekend, so have a good time if you are not back until Tuesday.

PeacE

Sneaking Out

This weekend, my Grand daughter, Doodad, celebrated her 3rd birthday. As a responsible adult, and loving Papaw, I snuck the family out of town and down to Tucson to spend the day with the birthday girl. Yesterday was a good day with family, even though it was a group of more than 5 of us. The oldest Son even came down as well, so I had my family all together. It was good to "catch up" on all the things going on in my kids lives, and the celebration for Doodad was fun. I even got in a picture voluntarily with my two older Sons just to show off their beards....

The boys are 21 on the left, 17 on the right. That's my old, fat self in the middle. The 21 said he just trimmed his down for work, since he just got promoted into management, and the 17 said he has only been letting his grow since Spring Break (about a month ago). I've had mine growing for over a year.

Needless to say, the return trip home was uneventful, and any trap the Containment Police tried to set up did not work. Everything pretty much returns to normal today.

The only important thing i need to do today is set up the youngest's follow-up appointment so he can get the arm casted. I was surprised the hospital, nor the provider, called on Friday to check up on him.

PeacE

Another Weekend Shot Down

I am tired. Not sleepy-tired, just worn-out tired.

Saturday, the oldest Son had State Championships for Marching Band. They were to go first at 9am, so his call time was like 7am at the school. Thankfully, the venue was on the west side this time, and we were able to rush grabbing some breakfast from McD's and get there in time for their performance. Then it was sitting on concrete bleachers for three hours until the awards. After the shat, we had to rush home to drop the two younger boys off, then head to the wedding reception for my brother was having that afternoon. I really saw no reason to go, as they were legally married in May, then did the whole "wedding show" last weekend in Sedona, and now a reception this week. But the Wife said I needed to go because it was family. The Wife had a headache come on from the loud music there, and spent most of the time out in the foyer area. I sat there most of the time, talking with a few others I knew, and family. Thankfully, I did not have to work at the pub that night, and we just stayed home afterwards.

Sunday morning I had to run out and dump much of the accumulated trash in my work truck. I was to meet someone, as he wanted to take the metal stuff for scrap, but I guess I was early, though I thought I was late, and missed him. I did fill up a whole dumpster with trash though. Then it was home to change into my Redskins gear and head to the pub for the game. Was hoping to meet up with a couple friends there, but they weren't able to make it. I felt a little lost without my buddy Don there. So, the Redskins played a horrible game, and instead of staying (and drinking) to watch the Lions-Cardinals game, I stopped by the store on the way home, picked up some needed things, and went home.

Our internet connection at home has been a problem. Been with Qwest/Centurylink for several years now, and at different times, the internet connectivity will go out sporadically, for hours at a time. It had been worse seemingly over the past week, so I called the tech line. After two hours on the phone, there was nothing they could seem to figure out, so told me that the modem must be bad, and I would need to replace it, as the one I purchased through them years ago, the warranty had expired (go figure). I got the specifications of what I would need to be sure I bought the right kind, and headed to Best Buy, but only because the tech said they have the type I need. I asked for sales help, as I wanted to be sure I got the right kind, and it turns out there is only one brand there they carry, that was this VDSL type I needed. Guess what, it was branded Centurylink. But I did find out that they seem to be the only ones that use a VDSL type, versus the ADSL type, and the only difference between the two, is something to do with the wiring configurations in how data is transferred. So, $100 later, I had a newer modem. We went to Denny's for dinner, then home so I could hook up the new modem.

Guess what? Didn't fix the problem. As of this morning, even while typing this post, the modem has lost connection several times. It seems to be holding steady at present, so I should probably close this post and save it before it goes again.

PeacE

The Problem With Family Gatherings ....

Most people that I know, get along with their extended families pretty well. By extended, I mean, more than just the immediate family. If you're married with kids, I refer to your parents, siblings and their families, maybe even go so far as uncles,aunts, and cousins, too. But for a few holidays of the year, getting the family together is expected. Well, I say most, though I could be statistically wrong, I don't know. Either way, I am referencing my family for the most part, because, as a compliment to them, we're pretty normal I think.

So the family all gets together at one family's house, in our case it was Sis', and proceed to have little kids running and screaming throughout, the teenagers avoiding the adults, and the adults sitting around watching TV. Yeah, matches what happened yesterday pretty much. For us, it was a normal gathering. Don't get me wrong, there was maybe a bit of 'catching up' between some people. I think most of us know what is going on with the others enough that there usually isn't much else to catch up on. Maybe just little snippets they want to share.

But what I hate about family gatherings of this sort, is the food. Granted, I don't put much say-so into what is being fixed, or how, and I don't eagerly offer to fix and bring as much as possible. Shrug. I'm a guy that doesn't care to be cooking all that. Sis and Rev. Mom do a good job of it all, organizing and deciding who is bringing what. I offered to bring something this time around, but I guess it wasn't needed. It was said that maybe Memorial Day I can bring the dessert - or part of it anyways. I haven't committed to it yet. The food was great: deviled eggs, salad, ham, yams, green bean casserole, strawberries, chips, and for dessert, key lime and vanilla pudding pies. I forgot to mention, the Olive Garden dressing for the salad - I love that stuff.

I ate too much.

I know, you're supposed to pack it in, so no one has to fight over what leftovers to take home, et cetera, et cetera. I am not putting all the blame on just Sunday though. Saturday like I said the Wife and I had Souper Salad. But I packed away quite a bit of salad yesterday, and quite a few slices of ham. The remaining salad, some ham, and the deviled eggs were sent home with us, and I finished off the rest of the salad last night for supper.

Weighed myself at the gym this morning. Gained four pounds since last Tuesday. Sigh. This week, we have a "bye" for pool league, so I get an extra week on the bet between my buddy and I, but still means extra working out at the gym, and being careful of what I eat just a bit more.

... and that is the problem with family gatherings.

PeacE