Holiday Break

 The Youngest finished up the last of his finals yesterday, and is now officially on holiday break. He won't return to school until January 4th.

My work project ended up reaching completion yesterday. So a project that we were told was going to last three weeks, ended up only being about a week long (7 days in total over two weeks). So no nice paycheck, and no work through Christmas. They said that we would be noitified this next week for a new project, but I don't know what I will do. I may skip it just to have time to get whatever needs doen for the holiday, then get on the next project. I haven't decided.

RM made a gripe (observation? wish?) about Christmas and us kids. She 'wished' that we would tell her what we really want, as she feels that we will be disappoionted with what we actually get. I know we are not young children and make lists for Santa anymore. Plus being adults, we buy what we need/want versus waiting particularly for Christmas. I told RM the same I do every year. I want beef jerky. I like it. I enjoy it. There isn't much else I could think of 'wanting' for a gift. I have mentioned I like T-shirts with sarcastic sayings. I also like T-shirts that are blank - preferably grey- but like the Hanes tag-less ones you buy in packs of four. I go through shirts quite a bit - especially in the sweaty summer. But I know how RM feels. I have the same issue with my kids, who all are adults, except the Youngest.

I think this next week will be spent on wrapping the presents I had ordered online and that have come in. I believe all my orders are here now. After that, I amy check with the Wife and try to get some of her stuff wrapped - just so we are not up til 3am Christmas Eve.

One more day until the 4th Annual Santa Run - where no running is involved, but lots of beers are. Youngest is marching with the HS band in the Fiest Bowl Parade tomorrow morning. That's kinda cool. Three hours of marching - no, not so fun. But at least it will be 40's-50's tomorrow instead of lower, or worse, raining/snowing/sleeting.

Guess that's all I got today.

PeacE

A Christmas Wish That Won't Come True

 From the previous post, I struggled the last 30 minutes of the workday yesterday, before they finally said there was no more work for the day. Followed by a note that there would be more for today, but the project was ending this week, and we would be placed into another project next week. What happened to the 1-2 weeks this one was supposed to last? Sigh. Sometimes this Company can be irritating. I could quit, but do not know the likelyhood of finding similar type of work in a quick way.

So, I notice I am first one to sign in this morning, see there is no additional work, leave a message for the Lead. Immediately some work appears, and within 5 minutes, I am doen with it - and no other work has come along. Sit and twiddle. Sit and twiddle. Patience is not my virtue.

Guess I need to figure out what I am doing today (or not doing).

PeacE

Need Cheese With This Whine ....

 Yuck. I'm not a big fan of cheese by itself, unless it is like a grilleed cheese sandwich. But aside from that, I'm just in a whiny mood this afternoon. Work resumed at noon yesterday, which is a good thing. And I was busy until about 45 minutes ago. Now I am waiting for them to compile parts of the workload, so I can continue working. In the meantime, I twiddle my thumbs and wait. Only an hour until I can end the day, but sitting here doing nothing for that hour is just... a waste.

The 4th Annual Santa Run is this Saturday night. Since my buddy and started this event, it has grown a little each year. I think we had 15 guys the first year, and our token reindeer - my Oldest Son was our DD that year, as he wasn't old enough to imbibe with us. He has made every year after, and again this year I am looking forwardd to an evening of hanging out with him. This year he has a friend coming along as well. My brother is going (yee.haw.). Our numbers have swelled to 22 this year, with one more possible. Thanks goodness we have the party bus that sits 25.

I just checked in on workload again. Still nothing. Sigh. I guess I need to be the squeaky wheel and message the Lead that I need work to do.

PeacE

Another Pair of Eyes

 Saturday, the Wife and I slept in. Well, sorta. She got up and ran the Youngest to the school around 7:30 as the band was marching int he Glendale Hometown Christmas parade, then having a band party afterwards at the school. Then she came back to bed. We ended sleeping til after 11am. I woke hungry, so suggested one of our faves, Ronnie's Cafe, for a late brunch. But when we got there, we could find a parking space at all. So I decided Black Bear Diner, and headed that way, only to turn off enroute at The Place. It had been awhile since we had ate there, so it happened. Their menu seems to have gotten shorter since Covid-time, but the service was great! It seemed every few minutes a waitstaff (not just our own) came by asking if everything was okay and if we needed anything.

Back home afterwards, with a trip to Walgreens to pick up another of my prescriptions. This time around it was another 100 lancets. About three days ago, Walgreens acalled me about a free service they have, to save me time, by combining all my 'scripts' to be filled and ready on one day, so I don't have to make multiple trips. The lancets and test strips they said would go to a 90-day refill for the same date. I guess this last one was  just before that call, so I went and got it. I have about 250+ lancets and about the same in test strips right now, but I only test once a day. Glad they are going to 90-days (they both come 100 each time).

Anyways, whilst in Walgreens, the Wife roamed th aisles hoping a Christmas idea for someone would jump out at her. I picked up the script and the reading glasses caught my eye. My regular glasses are bifocal, yet while working at my computer, I have to use the reader part, which means my head is craned back a good part of the day while reading the screen. I thought maybe some "readers" would help. So I tried to gauge the distance and letter size whilst trying on different strengths. Found one I thin kis pretty close and went ahead and bought them. Trying them out last night, they seem to work much better than my regular glasses. Now I know the strength, I'll pick up a couple side pair at the dollar store and keep this pair for last minute.

It is Sunday morning, and I woke fairly early - 7:40'ish. Tossed and turned a good portion of the night, having weird dreams of a dragon trying to kill me. Too much playing Warcraft probably. But I will be back at that this afternoon as I try to get my character up to level for raids that It hink start this week. This morning I will be headed up to the pub to watch some football. Washington is on a bye week, but my buddy has his Lions playing so we will watch that. Have a hot pastrami from the kitchen there for a late lunch then back home.

I did get a text late in the day yesterday, from a number I did not know. They were saying they had lost two Santa's and needed a replacement quickly for today. Not know ing who it was I said I had plans today already (I did) and could not do it. Then aasked who it was. Seems my buddy had this person call them, to see if he knew anyone that could help and he sent them my number. I like doing Santa, but last minute for someone I don't know....eh.

Speaking of Santa, I went up to the VFW Friday night. I hadn't been up there in about a month. Of course, it was back in November I found out that they had replaced me as Santa for the kid's party, and had not even bothered to mention it to me. Yeah, I was a bit ticked off. But one of the other members was telling me the Santa they had wore fake beard (mine is real) and was tall and skinny. Definitely said this gut did not do a good job, and this guy telling me this, was one of the elves passing out gifts. He asked where I was that morning, and I told him they replaced me. He said a few choice words as well. Bureaucracy in the ranks of the VFW I guess. At least my membership is a lifetime and I don't pay dues, otherwise the cheaper than regular bar prices wouldn't matter.

Work was going good until Friday. We got done with some stuff faster than expected, and they are waiting client approval to go to the next step. Hopefully will be hearing by tomorrow morning.

Welp, I think I am going to get out of here and do some thingys on the Web before heading up for the football games.

PeacE

I was a bit Grouchy

 Last night, the Youngest had the school's 'Winter Concerts' for Band, Orchestra, and the two Jazz bands they have. He is in one of the Jazz abdns and the regular band. I did not want to go, but I did. I was grouchy. I was hangry. I was tired (mentally) from work that day. But I did go, and realized again why I dislike attending school concerts like these. The Jazz bands seem to like to have every musician play a solo on every song (slight exaggeration, but still), and the orchestra was so out of tune.... It's love and support for your child though. Plus RM made it, and iut was nice to see her.

This morning finds me up just before 6:30am ready to start the workday. I'm just taking a few minutes to write here as I log in to the many programs. I think the majority of this weekend will be filled with playing Warcraft, as I get my character ready for the Guild raids that will start soon. I'm pretty much done shopping for Christmas, just waiting on the Frys food stores to do the 4x fuel points for gift cards.

PeacE

Back to the Grindstone

 Last week I had finally gotten an answer to the email I had sent off to the Company. I had written about the numbe rof project starts I had been receiving, but was not credentialed/licensed to be able to participate in, and wondered had my name been added to the wrong recruitment list(S). The way I read the received reply, was that there was some kind of 'glitch in the system' and I was not the only employee having the issue.

What is important, is it seems to have been fixed, manually, and I start a new project today. Though, I se in my email this morning (again) another project start time/date that I am not qualified for. Today's project is expected to last a minimum of three weeks, but could last longer. I am totally okay with that. The longer, the better.

I am feeling much better now, thna I was last week. Whatever 'bug' that was bringing me down left Friday. I did end up going to the hockey game Saturday, and enjoyed the time. Though was upset about Purdue losing to Michigan, admittedly, I wasn't expecting them to win. Sunday morning came football, and of course, my Washington team ends their game in a tie. Monday was spent doing pretty much nothing, except signing up for this project.

Christmas shopping is still going on. I think it was Friday, the Wife, sitting behind me, messages me a picture of a mini-chainsaw. So I turn and ask her, is this a gift hint? Yes, she replies. So Saturday, while she was not around, I ordered her one. At least it wasn't tarps and a shovel. I still have a few presents that need to arrive (All say shipped now). I should go through and check the tracking for all this morning before work.

PeacE

This Ain't Fun

 I awoke this morning at 5am, to the sound of a bedroom door closing. That means Youngest Son as up - probably for a bathroom break. Then again, at taht hour, it could be Middle Son coming by after work, though I think he had taken this week off on vacation. Either way, I laid there in bed for about ten minutes before I realized that I Was not going back to sleep.

Sleep. I have done more of that this week than just about anything else. Thursday I was just miserable again. And this not being able to hold down food is getting annoying. The Wife cooked up a mixture of green beans, corn, rice and turkey last night - not quite a soup - and for once it stayed dwon, so with leftovers today, I may start getting lucky. I think it was a 'chop suey' throw-together from all the leftovers.

The other night, after talking to a friend, we were thinking about goin to the Grand Canyone University Hockey game against UNLV this Saturday night. I've met most of the team, and these college-boys are just super-nice people. Most are from North Dakota and surrounding states. But feeling the way I have been, it may not be a good idea. Once I have gotten far enough into today, to determine how I am feeling, will make a decision and call my buddy to confirm or cancel.

I was hoping to have a majority of the needed Christmas shopping done by now. Of course, that didn't happen. I am expecting several packages today, so will need to keep my eye out. I kno wI menitoned to the Wife a few days ago, things I had ordered in for whom, and for other ideas for those we still need to get for - but no answers from her. I guess we will wing it.

Welp, I think I will see about watching an episode of something on Netflix, then try to get some more sleep.

PeacE