There are three-four things I used to look forward to in November. Two holidays where I had the day off of work, my dad's birthday and black Friday.
Under the government contract I work for, I don't get Veteran's Day as a Federal holiday? Who screwed up that one? Not me. The building was closed and I had to either work at home or mark off one of my vacation days to get paid. I chose the later.
Thanksgiving was so weird this year. It was the first year in which my son was the one working in the day and I was working at night. And because of that, our schedules weren't synced up and when I got up the next day after working until midnight, I was hungry for breakfast at 10AM. So I made ham and eggs. And then I started cooking the Thanksgiving meal soon after so it was done at around 2PM. Neither I nor my son was hungry at that time, so I packed it up to be placed in the refrigerator. We grazed on Thanksgiving foodstuffs for about 4 days until it was all gone.
I had to work on black Friday and I wasn't really in the shopping mood. If there is actually a shopping mood. Whatever that's supposed to feel like. But still, I know that it is gift giving season so I need to buy something for someone.
At work, we organized two potlucks...one at Halloween and another right before Thanksgiving. The first one I ate some Vietnamese food and it did a number on my guts so I was running to the restroom for nearly half of the shift. I don't know if it was because it was greasy food, or just ingredients that my guys just don't digest any more or the fact that it sat out for hours before we ate. Maybe it was a combination of the three, but anyways, I felt horrible after that, so when Thanksgiving time rolled around and them the team were asking was it O.K. with me to have a potluck again, I was like yeah, it's OK, but it's too much food for me right before Thanksgiving, so you guys go ahead and I'll just eat my dinner (whatever I brought that day. I've been eating fruit for dinner because that's what I can tolerate.... like banana or orange or peach. Apples anymore are too fibrous.)
I had a somewhat strange conversation with my manager on Thursday. You see, each day I'm getting feedback to relay to the team and I'm supposed to be tracking all of it on a spreadsheet so we agreed on Thursday, but then she told me with the volume of work going through the team the number of problems is expected. But it just makes me feel bad that we are having any at all and I told her it felt like, "What now?" and a stab in the heart when she does it. Because maybe I expect more of myself and the team. But anyway, she asked me if I had any questions, and I said we get all these emails asking for help finding stuff and I don't know where to go or even start to look so I feel like the "dots are not connecting". And then she tells me that the first shift supervisors she leans on hard which is kinda baffling to me because the manager has been there for over 10 years and the supervisor has been there for just 5. So what is really going on here and how is it that a clerk turned supervisor gets all these knowledge and not the manager? Blah Blah Blah work, right? Anyway, I'm supposed to have yet another scheduled training session with the first shift supervisor for a week this time to see if I can get the dots that I'm missing. But now I'm thinking that if I'm missing this training, that they didn't follow through with the last training plan, that maybe I should be putting the trainer on notice instead. Otherwise, my relationship with the first shift supervisor might deteriorate.
And now it's December. So I went on Facebook this weekend, the first weekend of December to find out that The Alley is closing. And it's not an unexpected closing, because the pattern of what was happening with the store, but it's sad. The two generation family that ran it once, is retiring, so it's going away. The last store is in Indio or Palms Springs. And it made me thought of the fact that when I went to their store when the closest one to me as in Rancho Cucamonga, I picked up a business card while I was making a purchase. And I had that business card in a pile of other business cards in one of the desk drawers where I have my computer stationed. So I pulled out the pile of cards and went through them because it was OK that I threw away the card to The Alley because that was a store that was going out of business. I actually threw a bunch of them away until I came to one from Peer Development.
I acquired that business card from a guy I dated briefly in 2005? His life was in flux after a divorce, I remember mine was in flux, but don't remember the event other than I thought it was around the same time when my dad died. I googled his name from time to time thinking he died because the excuse he gave me to get out of our relationship was that his lung cancer metastasized and he was selling his house and moving after a nasty divorce, blah blah blah his drama. But I remember years later he calls up at home and I said I thought you were dead, and he asks me about a 3-some out of the blue says his receptionist is a fat slob and doesn't look as good as me. What? Yeah, that's men in a nutshell right there. Women want substance and to be taken care of and to get a feeling of security and men want good looks and somewhere in the process time, aging and the lack of motivation and energy fucks that all up. And at that time I told him to lose my number and never call me again. So yeah, I find his business card and I googled his name and low and behold he didn't die (so was his cancer story all a lie?). It seems he may have burned his bridge in the commercial restaurant remodeling biz, as well as mine, and moved on to people's homes and did a crap ass job of that because there are these reports online that people want to sue him for the lack of quality in the jobs that were performed. I had to laugh because he never did any of the work himself. He had a group of Mexicans working for him for cash probably, I don't know for sure. They painted his home before it was sold and rented back to him. Years later, I remember seeing that someone was shot dead at the same address he used to live at. And I'm thinking that place had bad karma - juju. It just always felt cold and never homey. Maybe that was just the bad energy left over from his divorce in the house. So do I want to track this guy down? No, not in the least seeing all the stuff written about him after I gave him up for dead but isn't it interesting to see the wormhole you can go down just by one doing inquiry on the internet from finding an old business card.
You know the good thing about December, besides Christmas and New Years Day? December 21st or there abouts is the Winter Equinox. The day with the shortest daylight. It only gets brighter longer from there, baby. It's the upswing for spring and summer. And that day is almost exciting to me as Christmas. 19 dark days and counting.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
It's October already?
I haven't been blogging much because I've been busy with work and home. As it should be.
I was hired as a temp for this agency to work on their incoming mail which is a huge project they have each year and then transition into being a supervisor on the file room team once that project has ended.
So I was offered a job and 10/01 was my conversion date. YEAH! More on that later.
But in the middle of it all, in August, there were some fires in the mountains between OC and Lake Elsinore and was notified that my (what would have been my) mother-in-law was laid up in the hospital because she has these attacks where she can't breathe due to COPD. It's 2018, and I think that COPD is an umbrella term for a host of breathing problems these days, but after smoking cigarettes for umpteen years, she has what is traditionally known as emphysema.
So her youngest son reaches out to me. It sounds like he's dealing with the fire himself because it lives in one of the nearby canyons and his new job. So I get to the hospital and assess that she cannot go back home because it's so smoky, so I tell her she's coming to my house. And I sleep on the couch for 2 weeks. It was an adjustment having one extra person with an accouterment of medical equipment that had to be considered before we even talk about the regular stuff that we take on a trip.
So as much as she desired to do stuff while she was here, should really couldn't other than eat, sleep, cook and one shopping trip or doctor's appointment, which my son took her and to pick-up her new prescriptions. I took her to Sprouts and the farmer's market ( she didn't get out of the car).
And then it's August and it's hot. Well, not hot to me and Stephen because we are used to living in 80 degrees but put a fat elderly woman with an oxygen machine on 24 hours a day in a smaller unfamiliar space and she wants it cooler. So we adjust the fans, but it's not enough. so I find a used a/c unit in Orange and snag that puppy for a great price and pop it into the wall. And then I'm seeing it's missing the shroud and grille. So I have to find and buy those online. It'a taken me this long to get the a/c unit properly installed and insulated, but it's in and now I'm doing the trim on the outside. The area infront of the a/c unit on the floor is littered with tools and tubes of construction adhesive.
So with the a/c plus the fans and the oxygen and all of the cooking, my electric bill spikes to over $300. I'm in sticker shock. She kicks in $ for the bill. Thank you.
I was hired as a temp for this agency to work on their incoming mail which is a huge project they have each year and then transition into being a supervisor on the file room team once that project has ended.
So I was offered a job and 10/01 was my conversion date. YEAH! More on that later.
But in the middle of it all, in August, there were some fires in the mountains between OC and Lake Elsinore and was notified that my (what would have been my) mother-in-law was laid up in the hospital because she has these attacks where she can't breathe due to COPD. It's 2018, and I think that COPD is an umbrella term for a host of breathing problems these days, but after smoking cigarettes for umpteen years, she has what is traditionally known as emphysema.
So her youngest son reaches out to me. It sounds like he's dealing with the fire himself because it lives in one of the nearby canyons and his new job. So I get to the hospital and assess that she cannot go back home because it's so smoky, so I tell her she's coming to my house. And I sleep on the couch for 2 weeks. It was an adjustment having one extra person with an accouterment of medical equipment that had to be considered before we even talk about the regular stuff that we take on a trip.
So as much as she desired to do stuff while she was here, should really couldn't other than eat, sleep, cook and one shopping trip or doctor's appointment, which my son took her and to pick-up her new prescriptions. I took her to Sprouts and the farmer's market ( she didn't get out of the car).
And then it's August and it's hot. Well, not hot to me and Stephen because we are used to living in 80 degrees but put a fat elderly woman with an oxygen machine on 24 hours a day in a smaller unfamiliar space and she wants it cooler. So we adjust the fans, but it's not enough. so I find a used a/c unit in Orange and snag that puppy for a great price and pop it into the wall. And then I'm seeing it's missing the shroud and grille. So I have to find and buy those online. It'a taken me this long to get the a/c unit properly installed and insulated, but it's in and now I'm doing the trim on the outside. The area infront of the a/c unit on the floor is littered with tools and tubes of construction adhesive.
So with the a/c plus the fans and the oxygen and all of the cooking, my electric bill spikes to over $300. I'm in sticker shock. She kicks in $ for the bill. Thank you.
Bye bye Acadia, hello 2017 Mazda 3 5-door GT
Certified Used 2017 Mazda3 Grand Touring For Sale SOLD
Used 2017 Mazda3 Hatchback Grand Touring
- 26 mpgCity 35 mpgHwy
- 2.5L I-4 Cyl6-SPEED AUTOMATICFRONT-WHEEL DRIVE
- Exterior Color : Machine Gray Metallic Interior Color : BLACK
- Mileage : 40,241 Miles
- Stock # : 0S104757
- VIN : JM1BN1M32H1104757
Comments & Reviews
- Our Certified Pre-Owned 2017 Mazda3 Hatchback Grand Touring is incredible in Machine Gray Metallic! The 184hp 2.5 Liter 4 Cylinder and 6 Speed Automatic with sport mode provide a smooth ride, and the handling is precise thanks in part to Skyactiv-Vehicle Dynamics with G-Vectoring control. Each drive feels like a pleasure cruise, and you'll relish scoring near 36mpg on the highway!
The stunning good looks of our Mazda3 Grand Touring are further complemented by alloy wheels, a black metallic grille, and a sunroof. The impeccably designed cabin has a wealth of amenities and thoughtful touches to meet your needs including push button start, perforated leather trimmed sport seats, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a full color active driving display, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat. Check out our Mazda Connect infotainment system, a color touch screen display, multi-function commander control, and voice command! Staying in touch is a snap with Bluetooth hands free, as well as SMS text message auto delivery, impressive Bose audio with available satellite radio, and Pandora, Stitcher, and Aha internet radio integration.
Our Mazda 3 has earned superior safety ratings and keeps you secure with a head up display, rear view camera, smart city brake support, blind spot monitoring, anti-lock disc brakes, stability/traction control, and airbags. Get behind the wheel of our hatchback to experience performance, efficiency, style and value. Print this page and call us Now... We Know You Will Enjoy Your Test Drive Towards Ownership!
Tustin Mazda is a family-owned & operated dealership located in the heart of Orange County at the Tustin Auto Center. Our commitment to superior customer service shows: 5-Stars Dealer Rater, 4.5- Stars Yelp, and 4.8-Stars Google. We try to make the purchase process as hassle-free as possible and encourage you to call, click, or stop by Tustin Mazda today - our friendly, knowledgeable sales team is ready to help you.
Tustin Mazda is a family-owned & operated dealership located in the heart of Orange County at the Tustin Auto Center. Our commitment to superior customer service shows: 5-Stars Dealer Rater, 4.5- Stars Yelp, and 4.8-Stars Google. We try to make the purchase process as hassle-free as possible and encourage you to call, click, or stop by Tustin Mazda today - our friendly, knowledgeable sales team is ready to help you.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
The Kindness Rock Craze
Tustin Rocks!
I've been saying this for literally years and now, heh, I'm a part of a Facebook group that paints kindness rocks and leaves them about town for others to find (and sometimes hide again).
Tustin Rocks! on Facebook
I remember painting rocks when I was a kid, but never anything this elaborate.
So this is what I learned today about decorating rocks:
1) Gel Crayons work great on rocks but you cannot use Mod Podge to seal them. It just makes the rock look like a great big smear of all the gel colors you used.
2) You can start all over again and scrub a rock clean with soap, water and a nail brush.
3) If Mod Podge isn't your thing, you can also use clear Elmer's Glue to seal your rock art.
I've been saying this for literally years and now, heh, I'm a part of a Facebook group that paints kindness rocks and leaves them about town for others to find (and sometimes hide again).
Tustin Rocks! on Facebook
I remember painting rocks when I was a kid, but never anything this elaborate.
So this is what I learned today about decorating rocks:
1) Gel Crayons work great on rocks but you cannot use Mod Podge to seal them. It just makes the rock look like a great big smear of all the gel colors you used.
2) You can start all over again and scrub a rock clean with soap, water and a nail brush.
3) If Mod Podge isn't your thing, you can also use clear Elmer's Glue to seal your rock art.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Mother's Day again?
It's the Saturday before Mother's Day, a much maligned "holiday" made up by the greeting card producers of America so many years ago. Then the flower growers and candy makers hopped on the bandwagon and bing-bang-boom - Mother's Day as we know it today.
And Mother's Day stirs up so many emotions for people. Gratitude mostly. Mine are probably not those of most. And this is something that I've been aware of since about nine years old and has somewhat bothered me later in life. While in 4th grade when the other little girls in my class would go around the table declaring that they love their mother, but I could not.
And I feel for those kids who were neglected and ignored today. My adult realization is that I grew up in a household ran by a mother who was depressed. I was raised by a caretaker and not a mother. And it maybe because she was older than most at the time she started to have children, or even combined with the fact that she was the youngest of four herself.
But for whatever reason she behaved the way she did towards me and my brother, even the hatred towards my father that she divorced, we will never know because she took it to the grave.
What I do know for a fact that is I'm not my mother. I have done things in my life and accomplished things that she never did and most things I'm glad that I did. I had my son at age 21. I own my home. I own two cars.
Despite the fact that both of my parents were neglectful to a degree, I somehow ended up not being a huge detriment on society.
I learned that there are three types of people in this world:
1) those who follow the rules
2) those who acknowledge there are rules but think they don't apply to them
3) those who just do what they want with reckless abandon.
... guess which lane I swim in?
And Mother's Day stirs up so many emotions for people. Gratitude mostly. Mine are probably not those of most. And this is something that I've been aware of since about nine years old and has somewhat bothered me later in life. While in 4th grade when the other little girls in my class would go around the table declaring that they love their mother, but I could not.
And I feel for those kids who were neglected and ignored today. My adult realization is that I grew up in a household ran by a mother who was depressed. I was raised by a caretaker and not a mother. And it maybe because she was older than most at the time she started to have children, or even combined with the fact that she was the youngest of four herself.
But for whatever reason she behaved the way she did towards me and my brother, even the hatred towards my father that she divorced, we will never know because she took it to the grave.
What I do know for a fact that is I'm not my mother. I have done things in my life and accomplished things that she never did and most things I'm glad that I did. I had my son at age 21. I own my home. I own two cars.
Despite the fact that both of my parents were neglectful to a degree, I somehow ended up not being a huge detriment on society.
I learned that there are three types of people in this world:
1) those who follow the rules
2) those who acknowledge there are rules but think they don't apply to them
3) those who just do what they want with reckless abandon.
... guess which lane I swim in?
Sunday, April 29, 2018
I have a different opinion
https://www.zdnet.com/article/for-indian-it-the-h-1b-is-dying-long-live-the-h-1b/
The jobs not filled by H-1B Visa workers remain unfilled because the wages American workers demand are probably more than what are offered to a 1st year foreign workers.
The jobs not filled by H-1B Visa workers remain unfilled because the wages American workers demand are probably more than what are offered to a 1st year foreign workers.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
The Tax Man Cometh Soon!
I spent the whole day and into the night Saturday doing my taxes. I had to take extra time and analyze my toll road activity to get that deduction. I also had to find the way to print out last years auto registration fee. It looks like I might break even.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Job Progress Report 3/16
I'm two weeks into a contractor position and I'm loving it. I'm back in to file room operations and supervision. The big project drops in another two weeks. It's what I was hired for and they allowed me to start early during to ramp up.
Earlier this year, a colleague reminded me that one of my goals was to become the county recorder. Isn't it interesting that others sometimes hold you more accountable than maybe you do yourself.
Earlier this year, a colleague reminded me that one of my goals was to become the county recorder. Isn't it interesting that others sometimes hold you more accountable than maybe you do yourself.
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