What an interesting day.

     Yesterday was fun.  Almost as much fun as the last snowfall.  Think that was on a Wednesday as well.  For starters brother in law stayed home.  Got diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection.  I went out and shoveled about 5:30.  

     We had a good 5 inches on the ground already.  Was pretty easy.  Did the whole thing because I knew more would be coming.  I was even nice enough to offer to go to the deli for them.  Brother in law declined, so I was off.  Already knew 1 co-worker wasn't coming in, the crazy one.

     On a whole the roads were terrible.  I stopped at another deli, where you can sit and eat.  Said I wasn't crazy enough to tackle these roads and eat.  Got a laugh from the young lady.  Out here, even though we've been having snow with more frequency.  People still panic.

    They still cannot drive real well.  Spin out, I've seen more 4x4 vehicles on the side of the road in the last few months.  Come on, drive sensibly.  It was dicey getting to work.  Think my main impetus for going in was because it wouldn't be fun staying home.  Sick?  Yeah I know, but I get no rest here.

     The building was empty as all Hell. Last time I want to say by lunch time we had 20-30 in the whole building.  This time it'd be hard pressed to find 20.

     The release they sent yesterday was a typical corporate release.  Boiled down to, weather looks terrible; work from home if you can; if you can't make arrangements with manager; building is open.  Generally if you stay home you must use a day of your time off.  By the building being open, it means the people that do not come in don't have to be paid.  Oh you get paid when the building closes.  

     As I made my rounds I enjoyed watching the heavy snow fall.  I'd brought supplies if I had to crash here.  Crazy?  Yes.  But it's a damned comfortable building.  And they have t.v.  It would be a night away from my house.  And it would not come to pass.

     Ran into one woman.  He manager texted her at 9, while she was on her way into work.  The text was that she could work from home.  Ran into another.  While her work could be done from home, she did the last storm.  Her manager frowned upon that.  To his credit, he did come in as well.

     It was a day.  Lunch was bought, actually this time for everyone in the building.  The previous time I think was a little by surprise.  Oh and they closed the building at 11, I stayed until 2.  Well we had flank steak for lunch.

     Since the snow was expected, the cafe came in quickly.  Made zitti and some sandwhiches, salad, and left the soda machine on.  Was decent, not flank steak awesome, but I wasn't complaining.  It is a very nice gesture.  Day went on without incident.  I left at 1:30

     Look driving is driving so forget about any descriptions.  Except that the 4x4 drivers that were stuck, hopefully you learned a lesson and no one got hurt.

     My road was barely plowed.  I glanced at the foot or more of snow, the boulders at the bottom of the driveway were the only proof of a plow truck.  It was beginning to do the freezing rain bit.  I had to dig in.  Texted family and manager, not in that order, that I'd arrived home.  
  
     As I walked up through all that snow to get the shovel, I was really glad I'd put in the effort of shoveling early that morning.  It would have been close to 2 feet of snow then.  Unfortunately I'd missed the part of the day where everyone was out doing driveways.  Being sociable and helping each other.  So my driveway had uncharacteristically been left untouched.

     I shoveled and decided to make my car home base.  I left it running, after arguing with myself.  Basically that someone take it.  There was no one freaking around.  Cept for someone down the block doing their own driveway.  As I worked the bottom a town plow came by twice.  

     It was actually nice.  As I got cold, get in car, smoke.  Finally got the car in.  Stop and smoke.  At some point brother in law came to the door.  I gave a friendly wave.  Later he'd come back to ask if I needed help.  Told him no I was having fun and he should get back inside out of the cold.

     Took me the better part of a cigar and about 1 and a half, but I got the job done.  I was in by 4:30.  And did I stop there?  Come on...you know the answer...who'd cook dinner.

     Plans were for the burgers, but they'd been bought Sunday and smelled horrilbe.  So made bacon and eggs.  And that is all that is fit to write as now it's shower time.  

-later

Discharged into Thursday.

     They'd let me out earlier than expected.  They wanted to pump me full of this shit, but let me out anyway.  Because of it I would now need to get my lungs, thyroid, and eyes checked, side effects huh.

     I don't remember Thursday, maybe it was then that they discharged me, foggy I fear.  Gave me prescriptions and such.  Oh joy oh rapture, sarcasm obviously.  Nothing like being pumped full of a poison for your own good huh.

     I must say that the hospital food wasn't great.  Edible, definitely  not the worst I'd ever had. And most assuredly not great.  I was glad to be out and resume my life.

     The room, I fugged up on that.  This room was cozy, in a weird way.  Comfortable.  Was near the window.   Roomate was an older guy, senior citizen.  Poor dude had been on the golf course, didn't think his diuretic was working so took a double dose.  It shut down his kidneys.  I hope he was okay.  His name escapes me now.

     Friday.  I went to work, explained it all, and it was a decent day.  I enjoy being able to do something to keep my mind off shit.  Had a nice dinner, no I cannot remember what it was.  About 10 I sat and watched 1 episode of Judge Judy.  Went into my room about 10:30, sat at my computer.

     I could feel something.  I stood up and questioned wtf.  It was quick.  This is another reason I didn't want to rehash, so much shit happened it blends together.

     KABOOM!  The damned device fired again.  I was officially scared.  Once again no one could drive me to the hospital.  So I went back to the E.R.

     From here we'll continue with the private room that was in the last post. 

Not my idea of a way to start back to work.

     We've got about 10 min. so let's do this.

     Monday broke drearily enough for my first day back at work.  Got up, since while on vacation I kept to my usual schedule this was no great chore.  Had some left over salad from Saturday night, I'd improve on it tho. 

     It is a favorite of mine, mixed dark greens, cranberries, goat cheese, diced pear of the non canned variety, and they left out the walnuts at my asking.  Well I'd made flank steak the previous Tuesday and chopped it into the salad.  I should mention no dressing. 

     Have to have blood checked periodically, I've a standing order at the place I use.  They open at 6, so if I'm out the door by 10 to I can get there.  Usually done in 10-15 min, not crowded normally.  I'm friendly with the staff, who chides me if I'm not there regularly.  Normally a good experience.  (okay was hoping to do this in 10, but I'm hungry, remembered I need lunch, so this will be finished Monday night and maybe posted or posted Tuesday.  Okay didn't work try Thursday.)

     Get there, am treating myself to an egg sandwhich for breakfast so I haven't eaten yet.  3 people ahead of me, not bad at all.  Then I see that it is someone new.  Play dramatic music here.  I'm not happy.  First person goes in, leaves 15 min later.  Second person goes in, leaves 15 min later.  3rd person goes in, yup another 15 min.  Meanwhile the lab is filling up.

     I'm watching the clock, long as I leave my house by 10 after 7 I can make work on time.  I am about 10 min in the opposite direction of work.  So I wait.  A woman comes in to help the technician.  Then the dreaded.  A woman came in went to the window, she'd made an appointment online.

     Normally my usual woman there would have the person wait for a few min, especially seeing there was someone who had just waited an hour to have blood drawn.  The woman is shown into a room.  15 min, I would be next.  It is now 7:10, I've not had breakfast, there is no sign of anyone coming to say next, I must get breakfast, oh and get to work on time.  I cross my name off the list.

     Drive 10 min to a deli I know, get my egg sandwhich.  It's now 7:20 and I'm going to be late.  Personally I just accept it.  I'm not risking life and limb and car to get to work.  Especially when I am generaly the first person in anyways.

     After a lot of driving I make it in about 8:15, when questioned by the annoying co-worker I claim to have been on the dock.  Love when people who are perpetually 10 min late and leave 5 min early question a really bad morning for me.
  
     The salad?  What would you do with a salad that had cheese and been wilting for a little over 2 hours in your car.  Tossed!  Had to buy lunch, which meant the money I was saving for the week was not bitten into.

     Anyway, that's how the week started.  Happy 4th!  I'm off to the city tomorrow.  later.

Hmmm.......

     I'm writing this on a Saturday night.  It's been a weekend and I'm wishing for Monday.  Let's start with Friday okay. 

     Broke open like most days, wasn't making the gym so I wasn't rushing.  Also food was taken care of.  I'd dropped off some menu's for a deli.  They used to do the cafeteria where I worked.  Nice people and am always willing to print for them.  Even when they were in house they never were in a rush and fairly generous to us.  When I drop stuff off I'm usually treated to free food.  I paid for breakfast.  Got a nice shrimp salad sand which for lunch with a Ghiradelli brownie.  Also snagged a min apple turnover for my manager, he likes them.

     My 70+ co-worker was out so I knew I'd be busy.  He hadn't been sounding good on Wednesday, and his wife called and had made him a doctor appointment.  Out Thursday and Friday.  My other co-worker, the lunatic.  Well she called and said she'd be half an hour late, she had some stuff to clear up.

     Left the turnover on my managers desk and got to work.  About 8:30 she came in with her tale.  The following may not make coherent sense, but this is what I deal with on a daily basis.

     Enter stage left my co-worker.  "I have to go to the bank today so I'm going to leave as soon as my mail run is done this afternoon.  Someone hacked into my bank account."  This before she took walked to her desk to put her jacket down, she continued, "I ordered something on Amazon a week back and it hasn't arrived yet.  A book by someone you don't know, Maureen McCormick, she was an actress."  "Yes I know her" I replied, "she played Marcia Brady." I should have shut up but gave a little dig, "I thought you said books were going away." She's been like that since she got a Kindle and declared books obsolete.

     Undeterred she continued, "No I still have my Kindle but sometimes I like to have a book.  I got it for a good deal, $14.99 plus shipping.  That's not the point it shouldn't take like 8 days for it to arrive.  I found out it's coming from Madrid."  "Anyway when I went to use my debit card it was declined, I shouldn't have used my debit card on Amazon.  I was like what the Hell. I used it for clothes shopping.  My credit card is good they call me to make sure every purchase I make is mine."  Yes these are the facts and just the facts as I retell.  "So I need to call Amazon and find out what's going on."

     With that she was out of the room and I relaxed.  A little later she returned and sat at her computer looking for the number.  I recommended she call on her break.  Being a solid worker and coming in late, she certainly wasn't going to miss her break.

     My manager came in.  Was going to be a nice slow day.  One of my other co-workers wasn't going to be in.  The tale was related to him.  Later in the day she reported that Amazon was going to give her a refund.  Furthermore that if she still gets the book she wasn't going to return it.  With a pretentious look she said "it got lost in the mail"  I chided slightly something about stealing. 

     Well it wasn't her fault, the people in Madrid hacked her account, she thinks.  No.  Now she's sure of it.  She's ordered before from Amazon a few times, maybe 1 time and no problems.  This time a problem and it's because of Madrid.  You simply can't make this logic up folks.

     Also she decided to email the crooks that she reported them to Amazon and say they stole her identity.  I'm unsure what the message they sent her back was.  I tried to tell her to let Amazon handle it and not contact the people directly.  Much less put in an email baseless accusations.

     By the end of the day she's decided that when it's all straightened out she's going to sue them.  My manager told her that she would need to contact Interpol.  No she said, that's the FBI's job.

     Oh and I left this out.  She banks at one of these 7 day a week banks.  Well she claims that when she was there making a fuss.  Someone else came said they hacked you too?  So now she thinks the whole bank may have been hacked so she's going to change banks too.

     Other than that bit of entertainment it was a nice day.  The night not so much.  Brother in law and sister are fighting.  But it's getting on and I've a piece of apple pie that wants attention.  Tomorrow.

Friday morning coffee

     It's Friday.  Doesn't seem to mean much at the moment, but then it is 4:20.  Least my coffee is good.  Work week is all but over, seems like we're getting the checks settled.  Was out at 4:30 last night. 
     Never did make that dish I mentioned.  Maybe this weekend.  Brother in law made burgers and tater tots last night.  Good job.  Sister has told me it's my night to cook.  We'll see about that. 
     Wednesday had been a bit of a nightmare with one of my coworkers.  She's one of those that has done it all.  Always has an opinion and always right.  Ended with a discussion of how the Outback was a steak house and she never heard of Peter Luger's.  Don't have the fire in the belly this morning to give you the full gist of it.
     Another person out yesterday, so I was paired with the aforementioned person to show them how to deliver  packages.  Actually worked out okay.
     I spent to much money on bullshit this week.  Tonight I'm taking steps to incorporate procedures to avoid it.  Gas is a necessity, no problem.  Cigars, actually they weren't the culprit.  Of all things it was food.  In fact I don't know what I'm doing for lunch today.  And some snacks....oh yes the snacks.
     Every so often I get a craving and indulge.  Well the snickers with peanut butter has left me a tad heavier than I wanted.  It's been a two week indulgence.  Happily tho, it slides off when I right the ship that is me.
     Rainy weekend or so I'm told.  Supposedly tomorrow the kitchen is to be cleaned by the 3 of us here.  We'll see huh?