Debating Good or Bad Starts

 Welcome to 4am on January 3rd o the new year of 2024. I've been up a couple hours, and I see no going back to sleep in the next few hours. Maybe a late morning nap, but who knows with the calls I need to make today.

Has this year started off as 'good' or 'bad' I am not quite sure if I can make that determination yet. Day One was good, I thought. had a nice lunch with RM, PT, my Sister and the BIL. Went to the pub after that, and got some reading time completed (finished book 1 of the year). Day Two goes into the bad column. I woke when the Wife got up, and just felt BLEH. Not sick, just ... empty? Fuzzy? Disconnected? I ended up back in bed, and slept until about 11am. Felt a little hungry so had some leftover cole slaw from the day before. That didn't sit right and came back up. A couple hours I ate a rib from the day before and felt okay. Afternoon nap. In bed by 8pm (was falling asleep sitting at the computer). Totally explains being up at 2am today.

Today is Day Three, and I need to call the City regarding the notice they sent. I need more time than the ten days from date of the letter (12/22). I have gotten all the documentation needed, and the information given to the donation agency, just awaiting their call to confirm and schedule pick-up. They didn't call yesterday, and with the holidays just finishing taking place, I don't know how long it will be ( a day? a few days?) before they get caught up and call. But I don't want fined from the City whilst waiting. 

Nothing heard from the Company, but I also did not send my weekly email about being available. I may wait a couple more weeks, since the colonoscopy will be then.

Hmmm, just remembered I need to call the Doctor's at some point here soon to set up an appointment for March (if I can). I don't understand how a doctor's office cannot set an appointment 4 months out, just because of the new year. That's what happened here. Something about the new software system they were implementing wouldn't allow them to set an appt after December 31st. Weird.

Welp, I managed to kill about 15 minutes writing here. Going to be a long day I think....

PeacE

It Truly Was ...

 ... a no-football Sunday this week. I had went on up to the pub about an hour before the scheduled game time, not knowing for sure if the other guys were going to be there or not. One showed up just minutes before the game, and we settled down to watch it. Note, I had been watching the 'pre-game' stuff, as I had my book with me. What in the tarnation was this fiasco I saw on the television? Flag football? Huh?!? Seriously, if you did not watch the Pro-Bowl, you weren't watching it anyways. Four different "games of flag football, and a handful of other 'events' to show off which division was better (AFC/NFC). It was like watching celebrities play professional sports. There was no competition per se. I understand that these guys make millions of dollars, and don't want to jeopardize their futures by a possible injury, but ...but ...sigh. I was embarrassed to be seen actually watching that drivel.

Welcome to the Tuesday version of my week. Yeah. It's not much different than yesterday, except I actually wrote something here today. The leg is pretty much back to normal. I'm still working on my mental issues. I feel like right now I have this huge list of things I need to get accomplished, not necessarily today, but the sooner the better. Except, I don't want to 'adult' and do them. One is a new ceiling fan for our bedroom. The light fixture of it quit working, but the fan is fine. Granted it is the 'major' light in the room, we can bet by with end table lamps for now. Mainly because aside from having to go to the store and purchase a new fan, it will probably end up being just me to install it. Not a big deal, unless you picture my fat ass standing on my bed to reach the ceiling and get it done. Maybe I should wait until one of the older boys can help me with it - ya know, so I can make them do the physical work of it all.

Another thing on my list is trying to find an RV or fifth wheel that is able to be rented for the ND Country Fest I am going to this year. A couple friends and I are going, and we determined it would be cheaper to get an RV rental to be dropped off/picked up at the Fest. We got the VIP site for a good cost. Now to find an RV. So far most places I checked have none available for that time frame. I need to spend more time getting this done now, before it becomes too close to July to even think about it. I know I am not the only one of the group going that could do this, but probably by far easiest for me to do it.

It's been another early morning. In bed around 10 last night, and up around 3 this morning. I spent some time watching the idiotic videos on FB, and then went through some of my book sites. Not much else to take care of this morning, so I guess I got the time to look for that RV.

PeacE

The Mental Fog Rolls On ....

 Welcome to the first hour of Thursday morning in the Mountain Standard Time zone. I'm awake (still) and decided laying in bed listening to the Wife sleep was not doing me any good. So here I am in front of the computer trying to figure out what 1) to do to help make me sleepy, 2) is wrong with me. Now, now ... don't go jumping in there on the #2 with things that you could definitely say about me that would fit your way of thinking.

The leg is doing better. The tightness of skin, fever, and pain at the softest of touches has slowly been going away. It is not as 'red' as it looked a few nights ago, though, both legs have some slight discoloration that the Wife has commented is probably due to the bad circulation I have in them. The area still feels tender pain when slightly prodded, and that area has spread out a little, but not much. Overall, I would say it is fixing itself with me just not bearing weight (as much as possible) on it.

My mental state is still 'foggy'. I don't know how to describe it, even if I were to see a psychologist. I know it is not my meds as the diabetes/blood pressure/cholesterol pills have been the same dosage for several months now. I have actually been drinking less alcohol than what was 'normal' for me, so I don't think that is it. I have been doing some self-analyzing of what life experiences that I have been through in the last month or so, and the only thing I can think of is some form of mental stress. Maybe combined with some physical stress as well. I have been pushing myself to change some life habits (trying to eat healthier, smaller portions; drinking alcohol less, and more water; adjusting my diet to have less sugars; et cetera). 

That also includes things that I do outside of work. I got into Warcraft a little more, and since the boys and I are in the same guild in-game, I joined the Raid team, that performs twice a week in the evenings. That helps keep me home, and not at the bar. Though, I admit, I stress a little as I am not as "gung-ho" like so many of the team are, and my character is not as geared up, nor producing the damage levels that they are. It's a work in progress. I've been trying to catch up on more of the unwatched TV series (about nine of them currently) and other movies through the streaming services I have, just to stay home more. There is still a limit as to how much media I can watch though, even interspersing it with gaming, or reading.

Yesterday I emailed into work again, and explained that I had some health related issues I needed to address, as they were affecting my ability to perform my job duties as needed. I requested that they just remove me from this project and I would contact Recruiting when I was ready/able to return after a short break (hopefully). The Manager messaged back that if needed they could adjust my working hours to something that would fit my needs, but I said no. I did not share more as to why, but I just can't seem to stay focused when working. My mind wanders off to the twenty-million other things running through it, and I can't concentrate on the information I am going through. I think I will break for a week for now, and see if this helps get my head back on straight.

I realized later this past evening, that I felt less stressed just a little. The Wife and I had talked about my mental well-being Tuesday night, and agreed to some of the steps I mentioned above. Work issue for sure, and she knows I have been working on the other things.

The Oldest Son finally heard from the insurance company about his vehicle. It took them nearly a month to get a valuation on the damages when it was stolen. They said that there were issues in physically locating the car within the Phoenix Police that caused the delay. Sounds to me like the police didn't properly record where it had been towed to, just the same as they never contacted my Son that it had been recovered at all. Anyways, according to the list they sent the Son, some minor front bumper damage, obviously the steering column and key mechanism, a back door window broken, 4-wheel alignment needed, and interior cleaning (guessing the glass, plus the window being broken for the past  month plus). Overall, with labor, they quoted damages at just over $1,000. Yeah. The deductible is $1,000. Go figure. We messaged a bit about it, then he asked what I think he should do. Get it fixed. You need wheels, and it has been a month plus since you have had any. Use it to save up some more money, then use it as a trade-in. One of his fears is the "party" that stole it from his apartment complex, if they live there, and see it back, would they steal it again knowing how easy it was the last time? Though, I told him that works with any vehicle, his or not. Though, his being a 2017, why didn't have the chipped key, so it wouldn't start if they didn't have the key? Answers I just don't have...

Well, with no work tomorrow, I need to figure out what I am going to do. Oldest and Middle Sons have had a few bits of mail, plus some packages arrive here they have not picked up, so I may call and run that over to them. Maybe can do a brunch with them - I don't know. At some point here in the next week the front needs mowed again. There's always my books to read, Warcraft to play, and internet surfing that won't get done if I don't do it, too.

Happy Thursday. I'm off to do some gaming for a bit, and hope it helps me sleep.

PeacE

Well, That Happened ....

 The past couple of days have been spent with me trying to get things done. Actually, more things than normal. Monday we had a rain front come through. Not a bad thing for the desert, and it is always good to get precipitation. However, it included some wind gusts, 40-60 mph ones, that sometimes take it out on the scenery. That being said, there was a small micro-burst that happened about a block from my house. Out on the busy street, it dropped at least two power-line poles. Which killed the power for about 2,600 people in the area. The Wife made the call to the power company, and they expected power to be restored by 5:30pm (it went out at 1:45pm). We sat around until about 4 then I hade the Wife drop me off at the pub.

While there, the Wife sent me a pic from the backyard. I guess that micro-burst had also knocked down at least 2 panels of the wood fence in the yard. On the other side, the neighbors tree has partially broken off and was hanging over the fence. Crap! We had just last year replaced 9 panels of the back fence from a storm that had blown it over. Now more. And now it was nearing 6pm, power was not on still. My Sis called and said she heard power was going to be out until 4am. I got busy and booked a hotel room for us for the night. I also made plans for the Youngest and I for school/work since we both need wifi. I already have to make up a little over 2 hours of work with the power outage.

The middle Son came by about 6am to the house, verified power and internet were back up. We checked out and headed home. I saw RM was talking about making some chili, and teasingly texted her asking when was dinner. She was nice enough, and I am sure she loved doing it, but brought by some chili at lunchtime, which very quickly disappeared. The chili took me back a few years, as RM makes it different than I do.

I did put in an extra half hour yesterday at work, and today will try to do that amount, and more. Somedays it is hard to do more than the 8 hours. It truly is a lot of reading, and though I love to do that, the content is sometimes not fun. Our current project was supposed to end this week, but has now been extended to about mid-February.

So at some point this week, I need to order some fence panels, posts and pick up some miscellaneous supplies to fix the fence. Finish making up the missed hours at work. Get another car donated and towed away. On top of the normal life things. I'm tired just thinking about it.

PeacE

Post Easter Happenings

Monday is here once again, and I am siting here attempting to rub the sleep out of my eyes. thinking about what-all needs to get done this week. The list keeps getting longer, and I keep looking to how much of it I can put off, or delegate to someone else. Not a lot of it is leaving the list though....

Last week, The Youngest Son had his cast removed from his arm. Turns out the radius didn't set just right. There is a 19.5 degree bend at the break vertically. So, this Thursday he is going into outpatient to have pins put in, hopefully. I say hopefully, as the break is close to wrist area where the bone flares out a bit, but the ortho thinks he can do pins versus a plate. He will be getting a cast at a 7-10 day follow-up that will be on another four weeks. 

Saturday, RM cooked up a turkey, which was way more food than she and PT would need, so The Wife went over at her call and picked up some foods. Thanks RM! We had no idea what we were in the mood for dinner that night, and the meal fit perfectly. I broke into the potato salad she sent for me this morning already. Just a small bowl for breakfast. As usual, it is good! I know RM was sad with the social distancing and stay at home going on. I guess she mentioned about them spending the holiday at home alone, and the Sis invited them over for dinner on Sunday. I am guessing they went. Glad I wasn't invited.

Sunday we just mellowed around the house. I started thinking about the dreaded list I am "working" on this morning (actually using this time to delay it all).

That brings us back to now. Things to do this week: 1) Thursday appointment for the Son and his pins; 2) need to get the front lawn mowed here, and at the other house; 3) get in touch with the company handling my 401K and ESOP monies and get the stuff transferred into a new account; 4) watch the Netflix disc that came in the mail two weeks ago so I can get the next one; 5)I'm sure there is more to ad, just not completely awake and putting effort into it.

That all being said, I think I am off to Amazon to see if I can find a Papaw gift for my Doodad. Her birthday is coming up within the week.

PeacE

I'm Still Alive

I lived through going into public yesterday. Got those cigarettes and batteries... also some snack foods and soda. Came home and played Warcraft most of the afternoon. Then went to a friend's to imbibe in some adult beverages whiles conversing on the driveway, while sitting 6-feet from each other. Ended up talking to one of the guys I used to work with, and hearing about how things have been falling apart since I left there. Then home where I ended up doing some facetime on the phone with my Doodad. Was a good evening!

Big plans for Tuesday? Sigh. I need to go to the bank. The Wife wants me to do something about the Middle Son's instrument rental. Something about changing it in for a new one using the equity from the rental (we have rented it for 5 years so far). I think I may wait and talk to her about that tonight to get the right details.The music shop is like 6 blocks from where I used to work, so I don't want to drive clear across the Valley for something I don't know the details, and if additional funds are needed or not. That may be a trip for tomorrow,

Still need to go to the bank. Just a quick deposit. But it the whole 'getting dressed to go outside' and driving, and doing what needs to be done.... when all I wanna do is sit around in my shorts and pretty much do nothing. This quarantine is making me a bum.

PeacE