Thunder of Wade – Page 76

irritated

On April 5, 2011

I spent much of my Monday in a bad mood. Must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed – I was cranky all day. And pretty much every email or phone call I got just ticked me off more. I couldn’t even enjoy my swim – I got dizzy at the end and had to stop and rest. I got home, spent most of the evening cranky and went to bed cranky.

So, I get into work with a resolve to have a better attitude and I check my voice-mail. I had one message – from 5:30 the evening before – asking for help with a project that needed to be done that night.

Really.

Now, I’m pretty much used to the “last minute” on projects – it’s kinda the way things go. But this one really took the cake. I called them this morning and they had worked around the system and gotten whatever Incredibly! Important! Thing! done that they needed to get done.

So, I actually had people contributing to my bad mood when I wasn’t even here. A sort of time delay annoyance.

(insert head shaking here)

laps and news

By admin

On April 2, 2011

In Uncategorized

Yesterday, I hit the pool after work since I wanted to go farther than my lunch hour would have alloted me. So, I did 60 laps and felt pretty good. Today, I hit the pool again and did 45. I would have gone farther, but I got really worn out. Still, not bad for two days.

Got some bad news from Illinois this week. My aunt – who has been fighting brain tumor – had a relapse. She had been doing better but had a seizure and was back in the hospital for surgery. They removed 90% of the tumor and some scar tissue and are still waiting to see how she’s doing. She’s a fighter and we’re all pulling for her.

cold and feeling down

By admin

On March 31, 2011

In Uncategorized

My room-mate got some bad news this week – he lost his job. It was a sales job and a stop-gap measure at best – but still rough for him to hear. Apparently, he wasn’t meeting the sales goals – though none of the previous 5 people in that job could meet the goals either.

He’s going to get paid though the end of this week and he’s already got some leads on a new job, but things are still pretty tense around the apartment for now.

Work has been kinda stressful for me these past couple of weeks. I’m holding my own, but the projects keep rolling in. Which is good, but it wears me out.

And, because I live in Ohio, I’m required by law to complain about the snow. “I’m tired of the snow” So, there you go.

catching up

By admin

On March 27, 2011

In Uncategorized

I just finished up my antibiotics today – I’m hoping that the trend of getting better stays the course. Still a bit of a cough this morning, but I’m feeling pretty good.

I fought through the cough this past week to get my laps in at the pool – and did 45 yesterday. The last ten involved coughing underwater, but I avoided drowning – which is always a good goal. So, 90 laps for the week and back on track.

Earlier this week I helped run a series of usability tests on part of our website for work. It went pretty well and I think we got some good information, but it took a lot out of me.

I also did my taxes. Which I despise. I don’t know that anyone really enjoys doing their taxes, but I’ve taken it to a new level of despising. I’m getting some money back on federal and from the state – and I didn’t owe the city anything. So, it’s over and done for the year – just wish it wasn’t always so complicated.

In other not-terribly-awesome news… I’ve decided to boycott chik-fil-a. I found out that – despite the tasty food and disturbingly polite and friendly service – they are kinda evil. Or rather, their corporate office funds other folks that are evil. I guess it’s a bit like BP – though in their case they are pretending to admit they are wrong and then still being amazingly evil and greedy. I can respect that. Chik-fil-a thinks they are doing the right thing and that is a bit more disturbing. I’m considering writing an email to their corporate office, but seems a little futile.

Went and saw Red Riding Hood last night. Pretty good, nice twist at the end – though it did drag on a bit.

I’ve been playing Overlord for a while now on the PS3. I’ve played this before and didn’t make a lot of progress, but this time around I’ve got some new tactics and it’s a lot more fun.

And finally, I’m thinking about doing a little work today. I’ve got a survey to build that looked like a bit of fun – or I may work some more on my new desk for home.

humor in emails

By admin

On March 25, 2011

In Uncategorized

Two emails that I’ve recently sent:

“As Supreme Overlord ™ of the SYMPA List management system, my powers are vast and amazing. Unfortunately, while I can see what lists you are a member of, I don’t have a way to view a list of lists that you own.

Guess I’m going to have to get rid of that “I’m omnipotent! Ask me literally anything!” name-badge.“

and in response to “How can we end world corruption?”

“Wait… End world corruption? I’ve been trying to increase it all these years.”

Just doing my part to keep my co-workers guessing.

coughing and crazy

By admin

On March 12, 2011

In Uncategorized

A week ago Thursday, I started getting a cough. By Friday, I was a mess. Took the day off and spent most of the coughing, then coughing so hard I would throw up, then throwing up so hard I would get dizzy. The weekend sucked. Took Monday off. Finally back to work on Tuesday, still sick.

I kept fighting it and finally gave up yesterday and went to the doctor. The diagnosis is bronchitis and doctor go met a prescription. I’m getting tired of the constant cough and having to sleep sitting up. I’ve even been too tired to play video games most of the time.

My room-mate has pretty much the same thing – though he has been mixing his over-the-counter meds with some disturbing results. The lines between “reality” and “crazy talk” blurred enough that he tried to convince me that the reason we were both sick with the same thing at the same time was that we were “taken” by space aliens. He explained that he had “awakened” at night and seen stars on the ceiling and then they started to move – he felt like he was someplace else.

And then he got ticked when I didn’t believe him. Really. I tried to argue with him that his explanation was the “least likely” of possibilities instead of the “most likely”, but then I just gave up. There’s only so much I can handle when I’m that sick and I’d already broken my number #1 rule – “Don’t f*@# with crazy people”.

The next day he called me at work to complain about the people in his room and how a little girl plugged in her electric cat and let it run across the bed and then how someone peed on him. That evening, when I woke up from a nap and came downstairs, he got confused between day and night.

I finally got him convinced that he really needs to stop mixing the meds and he’s doing much better now. Still as sick as I am, but way less crazy.

donating blood and a loss

By admin

On March 8, 2011

In Uncategorized

I went to donate blood yesterday after work. I didn’t have an appointment, but it didn’t really slow anything down. Went through the usual process right up until they did the needle stick. The nurse was alerted to a problem and hurried over to the snack table. A high-school aged guy had his head down on the table and was about to pass out. A couple of the nurses got damp cloths and carefully tipped him back over in his chair so his feet were elevated. It looked a little weird, but seemed to do the job. They kept him like that for a few minutes, then moved him onto one of the beds. He had turned a strange shade of green and stayed that way all through my donation – which went smoothly and uneventfully. (though the actual needle stick was a little rough – I’m guessing she was distracted) I’m guessing he didn’t eat before his donation – I learned my lesson on that a while ago.

When I was done, I went to stop at the snack table, but there was no room. So, mildly cranky at being denied my juice and cookie, I headed on home – no worse for wear.

That evening I got a call from my former room-mate’s mom. She told me that my FRM’s former girlfriend’s mom had passed away. Seems like a tenuous connection to me, but as much of a jerk as my FRM could be – he did manage to surround himself with good people. So, I get along well with his mom, his former girlfriend, and her mom. The service is to today and I can’t get out of work, but I got an address and put a card in the mail. Doesn’t seem like enough, but maybe it will help.

Busy day ahead of me – lots of work to do. Better get to it.

helping with moving day

By admin

On March 7, 2011

In Uncategorized

My sister and her family were moving to a new house over the weekend and I offered to help. My brother-in-law had rounded up a big crew and we managed to make short work of the furniture. Some of the heaviest pieces were a file cabinet, a dresser, and a freezer. I got on those and helped with taking them up or down stairs as needed.

And I paid for it. My back was bothering me this morning while I was still at my parents so I hit the hot-tub for a bit before I got moving for the day. It helped, though I tend to get a headache if I’m in there too long.

Still, I’m glad I was able to help – they have a great new house and I hope they have many happy years there.

The drive home was okay and I was hoping to do a little yoga this evening to stretch – but I couldn’t find the DVD. Maybe the swim tomorrow will help.

That’s it for now, time to wrap up the evening and get some rest. Got a big and busy day tomorrow.

spongeBieber

By admin

On March 3, 2011

In Uncategorized

One of co-workers and I have been sharing a SpongeBob SquarePants figure for a few months now. It actually belonged to one of his kids, but he brought it into work for some reason and we’ve taken to hiding it in each other offices. I get in earlier than he does and he stays later than I do – so, we’ve each got a window of opportunity. Sometimes behind a computer monitor or in the fake plants on my desk, the unspoken rule is that some part of SBSP must be visible. Not long ago, I decided to up the game. I tied elastic strings to SBSP’s legs and hung him upside down from the ceiling in my co-workers office behind the door – as though the plastic figure had bungie jumped off the door. It was a few days before my co-worker noticed the strings hanging down from the ceiling and laughed out loud when he realized what I had done.

It took me a while to find SBSP when he was next hidden in my office and I decided to have a bit of fun. I did a little search on the internet and found a cartoon version of Justin Bieber. I resized this and printed it out – then used a little tape and string to make a mask for SBSP. I brought the now disguised figure and put it on my co-workers desk – right out in the open.

I’m looking forward to my co-workers reaction – and I’m already staring to plan for the next round. 🙂

Update –

I stopped by his office this morning and asked if he’d found SBSP yet. He said he hadn’t looked for him and my eyes went to the spongeBieber on his desk. He followed my eyes, realized what I’d done, and burst out laughing.

Even better than I’d hoped – the disguise worked!

tires and tired

By admin

On February 26, 2011

In Uncategorized

A while ago, I had an incident with the snowy roads and the sharp turn into my driveway. I ended up missing the drive and sliding into the ditch. With a bit of luck, I managed to straddle the edges of the ditch and contrived to get myself down the hill to a smoother spot and got my car out and back onto the road. Ironically, that was the day where I had earlier complained about bad drivers in the wintertime in Ohio on Facebook.

I was pleased with myself that I had gotten out without a tow-truck – but there were consequences. I had somehow messed up the alignment and now had to pull the wheel to the right in order to go straight ahead.

I drove like that for a while, but realized that the terrible Ohio potholes weren’t going to knock things back in place. Also, I needed two new front tires as they were going bald.

So, the day before the latest huge snowstorm, I headed up to National Tire and Brake. I told the guy that I needed two new tires and to have my alignment… re-aligned. He asked what kind of tires and I told him that I didn’t need anything fancy – just round, made of rubber, less bald than my current ones. Taking it in stride, he asked if I wanted those in black or yellow. I smiled and said black would match my car. He gave me an estimate that seemed reasonable and said it would be about an hour. I walked over to Best Buy and got the new Adele CD – then over to Burger King for a snack.

Back at NTB, I sat in the waiting room while they finished up the alignment. The guy at the desk called me over in a bit and explained what they did and other services they could offer. I politely declined and paid the very reasonable bill.

I actually had a little trouble driving home on the highway – it seemed that I’d gotten used to the mis-alignment and it took me a bit to get used to the new steering – and the new tires.

My car is riding fine now and I’m pleased with the results. It’s got 113,000 miles on it, but I’m glad I can hang onto it a bit longer.