Today would have been Ted's & my 37th anniversary.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Joys of Commuting, Part Deux
Ack. Last night the wind blew and it kept precipitating -- only it apparently changed to sleet somewhere along the way. The dog's food & water bowls were topped off with what looked like shaved ice. At least the windshield was clear, tho there was a small amount of frost / ice on the east side of the car.
We left home circa 6:30 -- just a tad later than usual and the sky was brightening. I walked into my office at just 8am. I was very glad that Dog followed me into my parking lot and walked me from the car to the front door as the lot was covered in ice.
The cops had blocked off access on westbound Coors up the hill towards Rio Rancho just before it meets with NM 528. We were (more or less) OK since we were going east and down the hill.
Just so you know, I only got into third gear a few times, and that was on fairly level stretches of street. One guy here at work complained about the folks who were going 5mph. My speed did not top 25mph, I don't think.
We left home circa 6:30 -- just a tad later than usual and the sky was brightening. I walked into my office at just 8am. I was very glad that Dog followed me into my parking lot and walked me from the car to the front door as the lot was covered in ice.
The cops had blocked off access on westbound Coors up the hill towards Rio Rancho just before it meets with NM 528. We were (more or less) OK since we were going east and down the hill.
Just so you know, I only got into third gear a few times, and that was on fairly level stretches of street. One guy here at work complained about the folks who were going 5mph. My speed did not top 25mph, I don't think.
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Joys of Commuting
Until Dog's hours were changed, we used to make the morning commute starting around 6am in our caravan mode. Now we tend to leave the house closer to 6:30.
This morning it was raining. Yuck. These days it's still dark at that time and rain just makes it that much harder to see. Not to mention the crazy people who seem to think that there is no difference between dry and wet pavement. When we got to the turn onto Alameda before getting to the Rio Grande bridge, the traffice was backed up all the way to that turn. At the time I put it down to the weather. But come to find out, there had been a water main break over the weekend that closed down one of the river crossings thereby making the others heavier. *bleah*
Well, OK, that right turn is one of those merging types even though there is a light. As I got to the head of the queue, this one driver left a space for me to get in line. I took advantage of that, but that left Dog waiting in the wings, so to speak. And he never really managed to catch up to me. *sigh* He told me when he called that that maneuver of mine hurt his feelings. Both of us like that we do most of our commute together even if we are not in the same vehicle. And I cut him off, as it were.
Oh, and he called me coz he was home before 10am. It seems that since it's near the end of the month there is no metal available for him to make anything. Also, there weren't any special orders for him to do. *sigh* It would still be best for us if he could make close to that 30 hours a week. Not to mention the fact that he would probably go stir crazy at home all the time. Planned time off from work is one thing, making the effort to go to work and not being able to do anything is another.
Later on in the day, he called again. It seems that they have not yet been able to fix that water main break. Last I heard they were trying to locate some dry sand and none was to be had. So I am taking the long circle route home -- north up I-25 to Bernallio and back down NM 528 to home. It is quite a bit longer, but at least the speen limit is higher and I will probably been able to keep moving.
This morning it was raining. Yuck. These days it's still dark at that time and rain just makes it that much harder to see. Not to mention the crazy people who seem to think that there is no difference between dry and wet pavement. When we got to the turn onto Alameda before getting to the Rio Grande bridge, the traffice was backed up all the way to that turn. At the time I put it down to the weather. But come to find out, there had been a water main break over the weekend that closed down one of the river crossings thereby making the others heavier. *bleah*
Well, OK, that right turn is one of those merging types even though there is a light. As I got to the head of the queue, this one driver left a space for me to get in line. I took advantage of that, but that left Dog waiting in the wings, so to speak. And he never really managed to catch up to me. *sigh* He told me when he called that that maneuver of mine hurt his feelings. Both of us like that we do most of our commute together even if we are not in the same vehicle. And I cut him off, as it were.
Oh, and he called me coz he was home before 10am. It seems that since it's near the end of the month there is no metal available for him to make anything. Also, there weren't any special orders for him to do. *sigh* It would still be best for us if he could make close to that 30 hours a week. Not to mention the fact that he would probably go stir crazy at home all the time. Planned time off from work is one thing, making the effort to go to work and not being able to do anything is another.
Later on in the day, he called again. It seems that they have not yet been able to fix that water main break. Last I heard they were trying to locate some dry sand and none was to be had. So I am taking the long circle route home -- north up I-25 to Bernallio and back down NM 528 to home. It is quite a bit longer, but at least the speen limit is higher and I will probably been able to keep moving.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Power of Three
#1
First of all, Dog's parents decided they needed new gutter, especially to keep the water from dripping on their patio. So, of course, Dog said he would get it and all they would have to pay for would be the materials and the labor hanging it (Dog would fab it for free, ie on his own time). For the hanging, Dog asked Randy where he worked who said he could do it for $300. The job was ready to do this past weekend. But it seems that Randy mis-measured the length of gutter needed. So Dog had to make an additional "stick" Sunday morning. Prior to operating the machines, he removed his wedding band and put it in his jeans pocket. The bad news is that Monday morning when he went to put it back on, it was not in that pocket. He searched all through hi "cave" retreat -- no luck. He spent the day in a fret, wondering if I would throw him out. When he got off work, he went over to his Mom's house and scanned the yard. Please note, that this yard is "landscaped" with small stones. So, of course, he did not see it. When he called me that afternoon, he told me with a lot of trepidation in his voice. I, of course, forgave him. And told him we could get replacements (a pair, so we would still match). Tuesday afternoon, when he got home from work, he was looking down at the keys in his hand while standing before the door to his "cave" when he noticed the ring on the tile floor! He immediately rushed to the phone to call and tell me. He told me that he thought it waited to be found until after he told me and got my forgiveness.
#2
We have a TV, but to date the only thing we have used it for is to watch DVD's (movies & episodic TV). Monday afternoon, before I got home from work, he watched something. Then, as we sat on the couch to eat our supper, he turned on the TV and tried to start the DVD player. It simply would not play. It would recognize that a disc was in, but then it would turn itself off. Dog tried and tried, so many times, I lost count. Each time the result was the same. Tuesday he came up with a solution, of sorts. Instead of spending a lotta bucks on DVD's, why not get cable and maybe learn something as well as be entertained? I think we still need to see about getting the player fixed or getting a new one. But, we'll see.
#3
This one happened where I work. When I started here, I was given a userid (&password) for the main application we use that was based on my name before I married Dog. After I got married, I was told that IS did not see any reason to change that account just because of the name change. Not a big deal. I continued to use that ID with nary a problem (except for other system issues that did not have anything to do with my ID) -- until Tuesday morning. I tried for 20 minutes or so to sign in. I kept getting an error message to the effect that the system sis not recognize the userid/password combo. Then commenced a series of emails between myself and the IT manager in St Louis, MO. I said I am having problems logging on. He asked for the userid & password. And then it was he could not log in with it either so he passed it on to the software vendor. Then he comes back and tells me that since he could not find a record of a Karen Pauls, he re-used that account for someone else. And was requesting a new account from the vendor. That was around 9am. Around 2pm, I emailed him inquiring about the progress, and he wrote back saying he was still waiting for info from the vendor and probably would not have anything til the next morning. In the meantime, I had been using what I thought was a free temporary sign-in. Come to find out -- one of the other buyers here had laid claim to it. Oy. So my boss had me sit at a temp's desk and use her computer and sign-on to finish my work. Since there was no word from the IT manager in my email box when I came in on Wednesday, I wrote and asked him how it was coming. He responded that they were currently working on setting up all the required permissions which required them to access all 11 databases. Fortunately, there was a staff meeting this morning. So, by the time he emailed me that I could start using the new userid and password, I did not miss that much time because the meeting was still going on.
First of all, Dog's parents decided they needed new gutter, especially to keep the water from dripping on their patio. So, of course, Dog said he would get it and all they would have to pay for would be the materials and the labor hanging it (Dog would fab it for free, ie on his own time). For the hanging, Dog asked Randy where he worked who said he could do it for $300. The job was ready to do this past weekend. But it seems that Randy mis-measured the length of gutter needed. So Dog had to make an additional "stick" Sunday morning. Prior to operating the machines, he removed his wedding band and put it in his jeans pocket. The bad news is that Monday morning when he went to put it back on, it was not in that pocket. He searched all through hi "cave" retreat -- no luck. He spent the day in a fret, wondering if I would throw him out. When he got off work, he went over to his Mom's house and scanned the yard. Please note, that this yard is "landscaped" with small stones. So, of course, he did not see it. When he called me that afternoon, he told me with a lot of trepidation in his voice. I, of course, forgave him. And told him we could get replacements (a pair, so we would still match). Tuesday afternoon, when he got home from work, he was looking down at the keys in his hand while standing before the door to his "cave" when he noticed the ring on the tile floor! He immediately rushed to the phone to call and tell me. He told me that he thought it waited to be found until after he told me and got my forgiveness.
#2
We have a TV, but to date the only thing we have used it for is to watch DVD's (movies & episodic TV). Monday afternoon, before I got home from work, he watched something. Then, as we sat on the couch to eat our supper, he turned on the TV and tried to start the DVD player. It simply would not play. It would recognize that a disc was in, but then it would turn itself off. Dog tried and tried, so many times, I lost count. Each time the result was the same. Tuesday he came up with a solution, of sorts. Instead of spending a lotta bucks on DVD's, why not get cable and maybe learn something as well as be entertained? I think we still need to see about getting the player fixed or getting a new one. But, we'll see.
#3
This one happened where I work. When I started here, I was given a userid (&password) for the main application we use that was based on my name before I married Dog. After I got married, I was told that IS did not see any reason to change that account just because of the name change. Not a big deal. I continued to use that ID with nary a problem (except for other system issues that did not have anything to do with my ID) -- until Tuesday morning. I tried for 20 minutes or so to sign in. I kept getting an error message to the effect that the system sis not recognize the userid/password combo. Then commenced a series of emails between myself and the IT manager in St Louis, MO. I said I am having problems logging on. He asked for the userid & password. And then it was he could not log in with it either so he passed it on to the software vendor. Then he comes back and tells me that since he could not find a record of a Karen Pauls, he re-used that account for someone else. And was requesting a new account from the vendor. That was around 9am. Around 2pm, I emailed him inquiring about the progress, and he wrote back saying he was still waiting for info from the vendor and probably would not have anything til the next morning. In the meantime, I had been using what I thought was a free temporary sign-in. Come to find out -- one of the other buyers here had laid claim to it. Oy. So my boss had me sit at a temp's desk and use her computer and sign-on to finish my work. Since there was no word from the IT manager in my email box when I came in on Wednesday, I wrote and asked him how it was coming. He responded that they were currently working on setting up all the required permissions which required them to access all 11 databases. Fortunately, there was a staff meeting this morning. So, by the time he emailed me that I could start using the new userid and password, I did not miss that much time because the meeting was still going on.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A desert winter's night
It's been below freezing over the past some nights. But last night it was down around 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Our dogs have free run of the yard within the stone wall. They can find shelter from rain near the house (in the front between the front door and the garage and the covered patio in the back). But last night was going to be too cold. So we prepped the house as best we could: Covering the couch with sheets, picking up all the CD's & DVD's, trying to make sure that breakables were out of harm's way, pushing back the coffee table to give them room in front of the couch, clearing off the couch of all the stuff that tends to stay on it, throwing away trash, putting the cats' food & water on the counter, and moving the catbox to the garage. We also left the kitchen window open slightly -- the cats' usual way in & out. Then after we ate supper, we let in the dogs. We closed out bedroom door and Lucy the youngest cat slept with us most of the night. Dog set the alarm for midnight -- so he could get up and let the dogs out for a bit. I even got up with him.
Now that was a sight. I had picked up all the trash lying about and put it in the kitchen trash can. But I neglected to put that can out of the reach of the dogs. Oops -- bad mistake. I first saw shards of the aluminum foil I had wadded up strew in an area behind the couch. I dreaded looking in the kitchen (I saved that til morning). When I went to sit on the couch I saw what looked like a plastic glass on the floor. I picked it up and found it to be the Parmesan cheese shaker with the shaker lid chewed off and all the cheese gone. I told Dog guess we'll be buying some more Parmesan.
When we let the dogs back in and went back to bed, Dog reset the alarm for 4:30. When I finally got to the kitchen in the morning, I found it not as bad as it could have been. The bread wrapper that had had like 4 slices of bread left was on the floor and the bread gone and some other things was strewn about. But at least they had not knocked the can over and emptied it. I was thankful for small favors.
Now that was a sight. I had picked up all the trash lying about and put it in the kitchen trash can. But I neglected to put that can out of the reach of the dogs. Oops -- bad mistake. I first saw shards of the aluminum foil I had wadded up strew in an area behind the couch. I dreaded looking in the kitchen (I saved that til morning). When I went to sit on the couch I saw what looked like a plastic glass on the floor. I picked it up and found it to be the Parmesan cheese shaker with the shaker lid chewed off and all the cheese gone. I told Dog guess we'll be buying some more Parmesan.
When we let the dogs back in and went back to bed, Dog reset the alarm for 4:30. When I finally got to the kitchen in the morning, I found it not as bad as it could have been. The bread wrapper that had had like 4 slices of bread left was on the floor and the bread gone and some other things was strewn about. But at least they had not knocked the can over and emptied it. I was thankful for small favors.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Partnership
I wrote last time about how my marriage is a partnership and how Dog & I work together to solve problems. I have a couple of small to large examples from yesterday.
When I got home, Dog had done prep work for supper -- burgers made & marinated in the covered frying pan surrounded by sliced mushrooms and curly fries laid out on a foil covered baking sheet in the oven. Then while he started actually cooking (after the oven had a few minutes t0 pre-heat), I made sure the dogs had fresh water and filled their supper bowls w/dog chow.
While that was nice, there was another thing that I appreciated more. I did not think I would have digestive trouble since we did not go immediately to bed after eating like we usually do. But around 11:30 I woke up with a sharp pain in my belly -- it was a big bubble of gas trying to escape. Sometimes I can burp it away, but apparently this time it did not work so well and my back started hurting. So I got up to take some Alka-Seltzer and to try to get comfortable on the couch. But my back was hurting so bad, not only could I not get comfortable sitting, but also I beagan thinking about when I broke it.
I was panting with the pain and whimpering. I came back to bed to try to get comfortable there. No luck. So I asked Dog to get some water and ibuprofen. I took 6 of them and after a short while the pain dulled. But I still could not stay in one position for much longer than a couple of minutes (if that) before the pain intruded. I asked Dog if we had a locatable heating pad. No luck. So then I thought that maybe his warm hands rubbing my back would help. And, by golly, if that did not take it away. *sigh* It took it away, but I still had some trouble falling asleep lying down. So I went to recline on the couch -- again. This time I managed to doze a bit. And when Dog got up for a drink of water, I felt I could give lying down another try.
Now I am at work. My tummy was still a little burpy this morning so I decided to forgo the cereal and milk for a McSkillet Burrito and a Diet Coke. So far, I am still pain free. :o)
When I got home, Dog had done prep work for supper -- burgers made & marinated in the covered frying pan surrounded by sliced mushrooms and curly fries laid out on a foil covered baking sheet in the oven. Then while he started actually cooking (after the oven had a few minutes t0 pre-heat), I made sure the dogs had fresh water and filled their supper bowls w/dog chow.
While that was nice, there was another thing that I appreciated more. I did not think I would have digestive trouble since we did not go immediately to bed after eating like we usually do. But around 11:30 I woke up with a sharp pain in my belly -- it was a big bubble of gas trying to escape. Sometimes I can burp it away, but apparently this time it did not work so well and my back started hurting. So I got up to take some Alka-Seltzer and to try to get comfortable on the couch. But my back was hurting so bad, not only could I not get comfortable sitting, but also I beagan thinking about when I broke it.
I was panting with the pain and whimpering. I came back to bed to try to get comfortable there. No luck. So I asked Dog to get some water and ibuprofen. I took 6 of them and after a short while the pain dulled. But I still could not stay in one position for much longer than a couple of minutes (if that) before the pain intruded. I asked Dog if we had a locatable heating pad. No luck. So then I thought that maybe his warm hands rubbing my back would help. And, by golly, if that did not take it away. *sigh* It took it away, but I still had some trouble falling asleep lying down. So I went to recline on the couch -- again. This time I managed to doze a bit. And when Dog got up for a drink of water, I felt I could give lying down another try.
Now I am at work. My tummy was still a little burpy this morning so I decided to forgo the cereal and milk for a McSkillet Burrito and a Diet Coke. So far, I am still pain free. :o)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Bad News, Good News
Well, High Desert Roofing, Dog's employer, is going through a winter lull that apparently necessitated some lay-offs and other cut backs this time. One of the cut backs was that Dog was reduced to a 30-hr work week.
There are a couple of good things following from this. He said that he had been doing a LOT of make work (fabricating things they really did not need) in order to fill the 40 hours. I mean, just how many canales or vents does one need? Especially when they sit and sit and sit... Another thing is that he has been able to work on chores that are usually left to the weekend (ie dishes and laundry). And yesterday he had supper in the oven when I got home.
I am glad that I am here to help support him in this -- emotionally and financially. Yet another way our marriage is a partnership.
There are a couple of good things following from this. He said that he had been doing a LOT of make work (fabricating things they really did not need) in order to fill the 40 hours. I mean, just how many canales or vents does one need? Especially when they sit and sit and sit... Another thing is that he has been able to work on chores that are usually left to the weekend (ie dishes and laundry). And yesterday he had supper in the oven when I got home.
I am glad that I am here to help support him in this -- emotionally and financially. Yet another way our marriage is a partnership.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)