Mid-Week Something-or-Other

 My buddy flew back into town yesterday. I was glad, as it finished my stint as his person to take care of making sure there was extra change at the pub. It wasn't a hard thing, just that I was getting tired of having to make sure I did every day by a certain time. Really, it only took five minutes to do, but still. I gave him back the money I still had left over and the "change" money last night.

I'm sitting in limbo with work this morning. Seems the work flow has reached a choke-point, as I log in first thing this morning, we are waiting for management to authorize the next portion of the workload. As early as it is (6am here) who knows how long it could take to get sorted out. Free work pay? We will see...

Youngest is on his last two days of school - both days being half days where he is out at noon. That also means no "early hour" band, so everyone gets to sleep in at least 45 minutes extra - except me, who is up going to work. We did go an d get copies of his birth certificate on Monday, so he is all ready to take the permit test hopefully very soon.

I was a bit surprised I had not heard from my brother by now this week. I know with all his family drama going on he usually loves to tell everyone what is happening. There were some updates to details supposedly happening Monday, but I have yet to hear from him. I think RM mentioned some little information, but not sure of the better details. Such an excitement (feel the sarcasm?)

Welp, I been flipping back and forth windows here, and haven't heard much from work yet. Guess I should go and pay more attention.

PeacE

Another Year Wrapped Up

Today marks the final day of school for the oldest son. The two younger ones had their last day yesterday. That means summer vacation has started, and I am so not looking forward to it. Hopefully, I'll be working and won't have to worry about taking the boys one at a time in order for them to get alone time with me, or at home, or on the computer. I don't know.

The oldest son has won a computer from the school. Seems over the course of the year, they collected wrappers, etc from brand name chips, candies, and a whole lot of other food items, and turned them in for points. He finished up with over 5000 points, making the highest amount of points by over 1000 from the next competitor. Today, I will be meeting up at the school when they are released to pick it up. We even have a spot for it at home, and this will help with motivation to get the spot cleared for it. That, and so I can get the desk RM has been holding for me for ages.

Also while at the school I will be taking care of something else. Seems yesterday in the mail I received a notice from the school about fees outstanding. Three of them were miscellaneous late fees for library books, but the fourth was $120 for band. WHAT?!? I asked the Wife and Son about them yesterday evening, with the late fees the Son said he paid about 2 weeks ago, and the band was these damn fundraiser cards they had sold. I don't know if I explained about them in an earlier post, but they are $20 each, and for cookie dough orders. Needless to say, three times over the past two months he has tried to return them to the band director, each time the director will not take them. Last attempt was two weeks ago, and the director said he would call me, and he never did. So now they are trying to charge us for them. I think someone is not going to be happy today when I talk to whomever at the school. It is illegal to enter into a financial contract with a minor, and I never signed anything for this fundraiser. Neither did the Son.

Well, not that my heart rate is up, as I am a bit pissed and getting worked up about that whole damn situation....

PeacE

Waiting For the Other Shoe to Drop

The last week and a half have been pretty good for my family. I feel that I (rather than We) have been finally able to get some things done that needed to be done. I got my eyeglasses. The Daughter got her car serviced (more here in a bit). School is ending out the year, and we have 2 boys having Promotion events. Sounds like the perfect American family thing, right? How bad is it going to be when reality catches back up?

Got the Daughter's car into the shop yesterday. I believe I previously mentioned, it had the check engine light on, and a mechanic friend a few months back got the code that it was catalytic converter related. The garage verified that issue. Good news that they let me know, is since it is a GM manufacture (Pontiac) the catalytic is covered under a 80,000/8 year warranty. She only has about 76K on it, so it is covered. They recommended that I call a GM dealer to have it taken there for the converter. Meanwhile, there were other items that needed to be addressed. Those included new plugs, PCV valve (a tune up basically), new serpentine belt, a power steering system flush (they said the fluid was black), and a couple smaller items that I just told them to do, because they could. Oh, and I told them to do an oil change, too. She got her car back last night and says it runs much better, and that the issues she had had seemed to be cleared up. She is going to have to contact a dealer in Tucson though to work in a time to get it in for the converter though. On a Wednesday, right before a 3-day holiday weekend, no way in Hell is a dealer here in town going to have time to order, receive, and replace the catalytic before she leaves on Monday (the holiday). She needs to learn to do that anyways.

With the oldest son's issues the past 3 weeks regarding homework, and the purposely lying to us to avoid it as much as possible, the Wife and I have not fully decided what to do. He was able to complete the missing assignments (final one was done the day they were due), so it appears he will not have any F's on his report card. He has a "celebration event" at the school tonight we are allowing him to attend, but he will not be able to attend his cousin's party on Friday. I am sure he will be upset about that.

I am captaining a team over the summer for a pool league. Pool as in billiards, not swimming. It has been about 8 years or more since I last played on a league, and am a bit rusty I am sure. I have dug out the case that has my stick, and gathered the miscellaneous deitrus that goes with, and have it all ready for tonight. It is a 5-man team, and I am having issues with one player that I can't seem to get in contact with as of today. Luckily, one of my friends on the team knows this guy and aid he would touch base with him today. Seems like I am sucking already at being a captain.

It's almost noon. I suppose I should try to get some other things done, rather than sit here to entertain you.

PeacE