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RTDNTOTO 🐻 Random Thoughts Deserving No Thread Of Their Own 20 (2025)

jumbach said:
When I lived in Alaska as a kid, I never saw it, because it was either too bright (late sunsets) or too cloudy.

(Short version is I went to Alaska for a while to be with my grandparents when I was 12 while my parents figured things out. It all turned out well though.)
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Quote in your comment attributed to WSU MUP Student, not me. Don't want to steal WMS's thunder.
 
jumbach said:
We get Thanksgiving and Black Friday off as state holidays.

We also get Christmas off, and the Mayor has given us Christmas Eve off as well. I am taking 12-26 as PTO to enjoy a nice five-day weekend. I do plan to work on January 2, but it will be crickets around here.
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We get the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve off as paid holidays. When I first started here, Christmas and Christmas Eve were only paid holidays they fell on a workday, but every year it one or both of them fell on a Saturday or Sunday, the County Executive would propose to the board of commissioners to give us the federally observed day off for Christmas and then the day before or after for Christmas Eve and every year the BOC would approve it for us with pay. From what I gather, that had been going on without fail since the '80s. Six or seven years ago the county finally passed a resolution that guarantees us two paid holidays for Christmas Eve and Christmas day regardless of what day they actually fall on. They would always do the same thing with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as well so now those are enshrined as holidays for us too.

Looking at the calendar, I see that January 2 is a Friday. I WFH on Fridays but if I were in the office that day I'd probably be the only one there. It will definitely be crickets. Our office always stays really quiet through the entire first full week of January. We do a lot of work with a lot of large industrial developers and commercial brokers and folks in the automotive industry and a lot of them seem to take that first full week of the year off so it gives us a nice quiet way to ease in to the new year.

Back before we had kids and when my wife was working in corporate finance, she always had to go in to the office in the mornings on Black Friday and I always had that day off. At the time, we live in an apartment complex right behind the one of the parking garages for the largest or second largest mall in the state. I am not a Black Friday shopper but since she was at her office those mornings I would walk over to the mall right after they opened for the day and get a coffee and walk around for an hour or two to do some people watching. Besides my short stint in retail those were the only times I ever went to the mall on a Black Friday.

This year I'm taking off from December 22nd through the 31st, as well as every Monday and Tuesday and every Friday in December and a random Thursday and a random Wednesday... plus the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. After next week, I have 8 days of work left in 2025 - plus, I'll be out of town at a conference on November 20th and 21st! This is always my favorite time of the year!
 
mendelman said:
Maister? How's the 'home' treating you?
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Getting Old Baby Boomer GIF by MOODMAN
 
WSU MUP Student said:
We get the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve off as paid holidays. When I first started here, Christmas and Christmas Eve were only paid holidays they fell on a workday, but every year it one or both of them fell on a Saturday or Sunday, the County Executive would propose to the board of commissioners to give us the federally observed day off for Christmas and then the day before or after for Christmas Eve and every year the BOC would approve it for us with pay. From what I gather, that had been going on without fail since the '80s. Six or seven years ago the county finally passed a resolution that guarantees us two paid holidays for Christmas Eve and Christmas day regardless of what day they actually fall on. They would always do the same thing with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as well so now those are enshrined as holidays for us too.

Looking at the calendar, I see that January 2 is a Friday. I WFH on Fridays but if I were in the office that day I'd probably be the only one there. It will definitely be crickets. Our office always stays really quiet through the entire first full week of January. We do a lot of work with a lot of large industrial developers and commercial brokers and folks in the automotive industry and a lot of them seem to take that first full week of the year off so it gives us a nice quiet way to ease in to the new year.

Back before we had kids and when my wife was working in corporate finance, she always had to go in to the office in the mornings on Black Friday and I always had that day off. At the time, we live in an apartment complex right behind the one of the parking garages for the largest or second largest mall in the state. I am not a Black Friday shopper but since she was at her office those mornings I would walk over to the mall right after they opened for the day and get a coffee and walk around for an hour or two to do some people watching. Besides my short stint in retail those were the only times I ever went to the mall on a Black Friday.

This year I'm taking off from December 22nd through the 31st, as well as every Monday and Tuesday and every Friday in December and a random Thursday and a random Wednesday... plus the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. After next week, I have 8 days of work left in 2025 - plus, I'll be out of town at a conference on November 20th and 21st! This is always my favorite time of the year!
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I am a strong believer in "Winter Mondays." Since we have that long stretch of time between President's Day and Memorial Day without a holiday, I like to take a random Monday off in March and April, so that I have a three-day weekend to look forward to every month. I discontinued this when I was working 4/10's with Tuesdays off, but since I am your standard M-F 8-5 at the new jurisdiction, I will be resurrecting this policy in 2026.

Things tend to be in very low gear between about December 20 and January 5 or so at any office, especially in government, based on my experience.
 
Someone cooking popcorn in the break room reminded me of a coworker from long ago.
This woman would overcook popcorn, releasing the acrid smell of burnt popcorn through the office. When asked she proudly informed the team "I like my popcorn cooked that way. This woman would also let out silent farts in meetings, or at her desk if you came up for a question or to work through an issue. I didnt like her.

Im also pissy today... going as far as pausing with a deep breath when two staff members brought an issue to me then saying: "I need a minute before I go off on you two..."

Happy Wednesday, I guess.
 
zman said:
Someone cooking popcorn in the break room reminded me of a coworker from long ago.
This woman would overcook popcorn, releasing the acrid smell of burnt popcorn through the office. When asked she proudly informed the team "I like my popcorn cooked that way. This woman would also let out silent farts in meetings, or at her desk if you came up for a question or to work through an issue. I didnt like her.

Im also pissy today... going as far as pausing with a deep breath when two staff members brought an issue to me then saying: "I need a minute before I go off on you two..."

Happy Wednesday, I guess.
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Dear baby Jesus...give me the strength...
 
zman said:
Someone cooking popcorn in the break room reminded me of a coworker from long ago.
This woman would overcook popcorn, releasing the acrid smell of burnt popcorn through the office. When asked she proudly informed the team "I like my popcorn cooked that way. <snip>
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Back years ago, I was playing indoor soccer at a place near downtown Louisville (the one in KY, not CO). The folks at the snack shop burnt a whole huge roaster of popcorn during our match. IT WAS RANCID! :sick:
 
zman said:
Someone cooking popcorn in the break room reminded me of a coworker from long ago.
This woman would overcook popcorn, releasing the acrid smell of burnt popcorn through the office. When asked she proudly informed the team "I like my popcorn cooked that way. This woman would also let out silent farts in meetings, or at her desk if you came up for a question or to work through an issue. I didnt like her.

Im also pissy today... going as far as pausing with a deep breath when two staff members brought an issue to me then saying: "I need a minute before I go off on you two..."

Happy Wednesday, I guess.
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I've been known to go into the bathroom and let a nice big one rip if I need to . . . I feel better afterward.

We have a "no popcorn or fish" policy, but, most people go home for lunch anyway so it's moot. We have two breakrooms and neither is used much. (I eat in one since it would take me 40 minutes to get home on a good day. About once a week I go to the sandwich place down the street.)
 
My wife's cousin got murdered in a road rage incident over the weekend, in front of his family. Wifey is heading down to California for a few days.

Won't share the details because they are graphic, but someone is now dead over a simple misunderstanding that neither person can let go. Makes me appreciate my "drive on and ignore it" policy I have on the road.

www.ktvu.com

'Never going to get him back': Father of 9 killed after fight stemming from Castro Valley road rage crash

The victim who died after a fight stemming from an alleged road rage crash in Castro Valley over the weekend was identified as a father of nine.
www.ktvu.com www.ktvu.com
 
jumbach said:
I wish I had a commuter bus to ride to work on. :-(
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I could take the bus but it would turn my 15 minute commute into about 2 hours.

Our county offers a program that provides veterans free bus rides and they even have free pre-scheduled point-to-point rides. The guy who set the program up and administers it sits in the office right next to mine. Every time he complains that the program isn't getting utilized enough I tell him I should start using it for days I'm at the office to help juice the numbers!
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I could take the bus but it would turn my 15 minute commute into about 2 hours.

Our county offers a program that provides veterans free bus rides and they even have free pre-scheduled point-to-point rides. The guy who set the program up and administers it sits in the office right next to mine. Every time he complains that the program isn't getting utilized enough I tell him I should start using it for days I'm at the office to help juice the numbers!
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When I rode the bus to Carson City, my commute time was 60 minutes each way (as opposed to 45 driving), but I felt like I was gaining time since I had time to read or write while commuting.
 
Maister said:
I've never seen a Burns documentary I didn't like, and this one sounds like it won't be an exception. Looking forward to it.
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I grumble about all of them, but for history aimed at large audiences, they are eminently watchable. Which is a very good thing since we decided to no longer teach history or civics anymore.
 
Gedunker said:
I grumble about all of them, but for history aimed at large audiences, they are eminently watchable. Which is a very good thing since we decided to no longer teach history or civics anymore.
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So what have some of your grumbles been focused upon?
 
I went to the license center in time for opening. 20 people were already lined up at the door. I went up at the last minute. A woman greeted me and took me first! That's a win.
 
Gedunker said:
I grumble about all of them, but for history aimed at large audiences, they are eminently watchable. Which is a very good thing since we decided to no longer teach history or civics anymore.
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When did we decide that? Asking as an honors US and world history student in high school who has written several popular history books . . .
 
JNA said:
Ken Burns' 'American Revolution' will make you think differently about U.S. history
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Maister said:
I've never seen a Burns documentary I didn't like, and this one sounds like it won't be an exception. Looking forward to it.
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Gedunker said:
I grumble about all of them, but for history aimed at large audiences, they are eminently watchable. Which is a very good thing since we decided to no longer teach history or civics anymore.
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My boys are in AP History classes (US and World). My middle son has been in the congressional debate club for 2 years and scholastic bowl for 2 as well with my youngest joining scholastic bowl club this year. And my middle son will be participating in the Harvard Model Congress convention in Boston in Feb 2026.

But I concede we purposely moved to a higher socio-economic school district and specific HS and my wife and I are well educated individuals from well educated professional families/parents.
Maister said:
So what have some of your grumbles been focused upon?
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I plan to watch it soon after premiering, but I'm worried about the 'rah-rah-woo-woo Founding Fathers be the Excellent' tone without getting into the reality of the socio-economic life of everyone in the colonies at the time.

I liked the Country Music and American Bison docs though, so....
 
jumbach said:
When I rode the bus to Carson City, my commute time was 60 minutes each way (as opposed to 45 driving), but I felt like I was gaining time since I had time to read or write while commuting.
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If the bus commute only added 15 or 20 minutes, I'd definitely do that. I enjoy not driving places.

FWIW, we passed a county-wide transportation milage a few years ago and that has made a tremendous difference in service delivery here and improvements in the service network (previously, the milage was voted on at a community level so we had a lot of holes where communities kept voting to stay out of the transit system) but there is still a lot of work to be done.

There are some large improvements planned (more frequency, improved light timing, dedicated bus lanes) along the biggest stretch of the main route to my office... but by the time that is all implemented my office will actually have moved to a new facility that will be considerably closer to my house and easier to get to. My plan is to bike or run to work most days once that happens.
 
Gedunker said:
I grumble about all of them, but for history aimed at large audiences, they are eminently watchable. Which is a very good thing since we decided to no longer teach history or civics anymore.
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In high school I took an elective history class called Civil War and Reconstruction. It was taught by a history teacher who was also the athletic director for the school. we were in block classes that met 2-3 times a week. He would lecture one class then next he would put on Ken Burn's Civil War doc after a brief introduction so he could go out and prep the baseball fields or mow the football field.

The class was fairly decent. The teacher would occasionally preface whatever episode with comments about where he disagreed with Shelby Foote or "Lost Cause" ideology. Growing up in an area with multiple battlefields around, I knew a good bit, but learned we never talk enough about reconstruction.

My favorite Ken Burns was Jazz.
 
I honestly don't recall ever having an actual history class in high school. It was 30ish years ago but I think we had to have some sort of "social studies" course each year and I'm pretty sure I took geography, micro and macro economics, sociology, psychology (or maybe that was an intro to psychology class my freshman year of college?), and the a government/civics class which was required for all students). We usually had modules on various historic topics in each of those social studies courses.

I did take an actual history class in college that focused on U.S. history from Reconstruction to WWII.
 
I enjoy most Ken Burns stuff. I even made it through the 86 hour PBS series Ken Burns' Bicycles. A documentary so unwieldy and meandering Burns himself has disavowed it!




Burns baby Burns!
 
Maister said:
So what have some of your grumbles been focused upon?
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These are grumbles, not accusations that he completely misunderstood/misrepresented some historic event. He, to his credit, tackles huge topics, but I sense that they just can't be given proper context in a few 2-hour episodes. For example, I'm guessing probably one in ten (20? 50?) Americans could name any Civil War regiment, but I feel pretty sure half of those that could would reply "20th Maine" - because of Burns' Civil War. That's great for Joshua Chamberlain and the volunteers, but it ignores a sh!tload of other courageous Americans that also deserve note, say Alonzo Cushing, maybe.

From the press availability I've seen for the American Revolution, I'm hopeful that voices that are never heard finally get some recognition, starting with Native Americans. In this, I think Burns won't disappoint.

Finally, on the lack of historic education anymore, yesterday we had a request to assign an address for a recent replat. The address 5440 *** Road was proposed. I asked about a half dozen people if that number rang any historic bells. Crickets. (Don't Google it - anybody know what that number represents historically?)

So, again, just grumbles, picking nits, etc. And, yes, I will absolutely be watching come Sunday (and simultaneously reading Rick Atkinson's three volume history of the Revolution).
 
Whenever I have an e-mail from someone out of town, that has an address, I like to Google Maps-stalk them to see what the neighborhood around their office looks like, wonder where they go for lunch, and such. Is that a little creepy?

I did that today for an address from a supplier in Brooklyn, but it's more fun if it's some random city in some random spot in the country.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
If the bus commute only added 15 or 20 minutes, I'd definitely do that. I enjoy not driving places.

FWIW, we passed a county-wide transportation milage a few years ago and that has made a tremendous difference in service delivery here and improvements in the service network (previously, the milage was voted on at a community level so we had a lot of holes where communities kept voting to stay out of the transit system) but there is still a lot of work to be done.

There are some large improvements planned (more frequency, improved light timing, dedicated bus lanes) along the biggest stretch of the main route to my office... but by the time that is all implemented my office will actually have moved to a new facility that will be considerably closer to my house and easier to get to. My plan is to bike or run to work most days once that happens.
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My jurisidiction is starting to think about implementing a transit system of some sort, with a study next year. Since I am on record as wanting to pursue my PTP, and I can't do that without experience, if that project happens, it will be mine. Boss already said so. Mwah hah ha.

My position is unique in that I am technically a Planning Technician, but I do a lot of things that the Assistant Planner or Associate Planner would normally do.

Jim
 
jumbach said:
Whenever I have an e-mail from someone out of town, that has an address, I like to Google Maps-stalk them to see what the neighborhood around their office looks like, wonder where they go for lunch, and such. Is that a little creepy?

I did that today for an address from a supplier in Brooklyn, but it's more fun if it's some random city in some random spot in the country.
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I buy and sell a lot of wristwatches online. I pull up addresses in Google Maps all the time and then "drive" around their areas in Streetview. It's fun to look at random neighborhoods or cities I otherwise never would.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I don't know if I'm flattered that one of the old guys at the club invited me to a Marine Corps Birthday lunch today with a few other USMC vets from the local senior men's club, or if I'm offended that one of the old guys at the club invited me to a Marine Corps Birthday lunch with a few other USMC vets from the local senior men's club.
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My oldest and her boyfriend who was in for six years went to Philly for the 250th birthday celebration. They had a great time. He took a photo with one of the guys from the unit he deployed with at the Tun Tavern historic marker sign.
 
jumbach said:
My wife's cousin got murdered in a road rage incident over the weekend, in front of his family. Wifey is heading down to California for a few days.

Won't share the details because they are graphic, but someone is now dead over a simple misunderstanding that neither person can let go. Makes me appreciate my "drive on and ignore it" policy I have on the road.

www.ktvu.com

'Never going to get him back': Father of 9 killed after fight stemming from Castro Valley road rage crash

The victim who died after a fight stemming from an alleged road rage crash in Castro Valley over the weekend was identified as a father of nine.
www.ktvu.com www.ktvu.com
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I’m so sorry. One of my planning school friends lost her father in a road rage incident in Virginia. He was attacked from behind in a store parking lot as he entered the store, the guy followed him instead of just driving along. He was older and on blood thinners, went back home but had a brain bleed. Called 911 but passed out and they had to break down the door. He died 10 days later never having regained consciousness. The punishment was shockingly low, just 90 days in jail. Ironically, the attacker was a longtime director of religious education at a Catholic parish. My friend was 8 months pregnant at the time, her son is named after her dad.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I buy and sell a lot of wristwatches online. I pull up addresses in Google Maps all the time and then "drive" around their areas in Streetview. It's fun to look at random neighborhoods or cities I otherwise never would.
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Seems to be a trait of planners! :)

Gedunker said:
File under "Texas Planning Commissioner behaving (very) badly" Man threatens UofL coach/QB
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What if the people he can't be around want to speak at a meeting?

Our housekeeper knew we were getting a new coffee table, and asked if she can have our old one in exchange for cleaning our house for free tomorrow.

How about: you clean our house, we still pay you the normal rate and your normal tip, and you take the table?

She didn't like that offer . . . she thinks that's way too generous of us. What do you think?
 
Would you read this book
“The State of Water: Understanding California’s Most Precious Resource,” by Obi Kaufmann

because it was identified by park officials as restricted under President Donald Trump’s executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
www.sfgate.com

Trump admin to ban book from Yosemite National Park, says author

The Trump administration's censorship directive has reportedly targeted Obi Kaufmann.
www.sfgate.com www.sfgate.com
 
Gedunker said:
Americans could name any Civil War regiment, but I feel pretty sure half of those that could would reply "20th Maine" - because of Burns' Civil War. That's great for Joshua Chamberlain and the volunteers, but it ignores a sh!tload of other courageous Americans that also deserve note, say Alonzo Cushing, maybe.
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Whenever I hear the 20th Maine and Chamberlain, I always think of the song Dixieland by Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band from their collaboration album The Mountain. Great album, but this song in particular is very catchy if you like bluegrass. Earle admits basically cribbing this character from Killer Angels.

 
jumbach said:
Maybe we should charge her about $25 for the coffee table, then add it back to her normal tip so it’s a wash? That way technically she’s buying it.
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Maybe lean in to her suggestion - let her clean and then you "pay" her by giving her the coffee table?
 
JNA said:
Would you read this book
“The State of Water: Understanding California’s Most Precious Resource,” by Obi Kaufmann

because it was identified by park officials as restricted under President Donald Trump’s executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
www.sfgate.com

Trump admin to ban book from Yosemite National Park, says author

The Trump administration's censorship directive has reportedly targeted Obi Kaufmann.
www.sfgate.com www.sfgate.com
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Well now I want to read it.
 
I have still not yet managed to magically transform into a Wild Jaguar in Brazil, as of this moment.

If I am ever successful at animorphing, you would know because I will no longer have internet access or thumbs.
 
SlaveToTheGrind said:
I used to see "Speed Checked by Aircraft" or similar along highways. Can't recall the last time I saw such a sign.
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I have seen that on I-90 in the deserts of eastern Washington.

Weird story, I was driving into work a couple years ago in a City Hall not long forgotten and settled into one of our Management Team meetings next to a police commander. I remarked that I was almost late because the WA State Patrol has "speed traps" set up on the highway into work. My commander friend quickly corrected me in a very nerdy way that I was wrong. Those were _________ (I forget the term) and formal speed traps were aircraft checking speeds from above... Okay Nerd....
 
Sometimes my wife jokes that my list of Saturday errands looks more like a bus schedule.

I am alarmingly good at sticking to the time frames though.
 

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