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Daily things 5️⃣ Five Things Tuesday

1) In the office today, and it feels like a Monday.

2) It's hot all week here, as usual. Texas from mid-May to mid-September is hot.

3) Had a nice long weekend. Caught up on sleep, ran errands, visited friends and family, and got some culture.

4) Not sure about the rest of our staff, but I'm worried that we're going to be short-staffed again soon.

5) Had an interview a while back, but no callback. I guess it didn't go well from their perspective.
 
1. Is it Monday or Tuesday?
2. Today I spent 20 minutes inside the office of a coworker who smokes. The second hand smoke was so bad I still have a headache.
3. I have been dehydrated for the past 12 months.
4. I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue.
5. There are a lot of songs about drugs.
 
1) Chicken is simmering in the crock-pot with Taco Seasoning. (It is Tuesday after all).
2) People at the pool were talking about the ridiculousness of the Depp/ Heard trial. One person commended that no matter the outcome it will be a massive PR win for Depp. It makes me feel like I missed something.
3) It sounds like Top Gun 2 was not just hype. If it is as good as everyone says it is, I might need to see it in a theater.
4) Hotel for part 1 of the vacation is booked. Looking to do an Air B&B for part 2 in Downtown Philly.
5) Wife found me working on landscape design concepts for the backyard. She asked when I expect it to be completed and I explained that it will likely take 40 years for everything to be fully grown.
 
1. I woke up @ 3:30 am for no reason. Fell back asleep (sorta) around 5:15 & awoke again @ 6:00. Ugh.
2. Council tonight & I hope to stay awake. There's a lot, but nothing controversial.
3. Mrs. P brought some new kind of non-carb pasta & we tried it last night. Both of us said it was not edible.
4. Trying to plan a trip in the fall, but I can't concentrate on anything past July with so much going on.
5. The tomato plants are growing!
 
Planit said:
3. Mrs. P brought some new kind of non-carb pasta & we tried it last night. Both of us said it was not edible.
Click to expand...
Try palmini. It's not carb free but it's low. Just cook it in a skillet with some sauce until it gets to the texture you like your pasta. It's really pretty good.
 
Planit said:
5. The tomato plants are growing!
Click to expand...
The Goldbergs Comedy GIF by ABC Network
 
1) I really don't want to work this afternoon, but I have a meeting soon.

2) My prediction ^^ about being short-staffed is coming true.

3) We've had some difficulties getting our mail picked up/delivered in the mailbox the last couple of weeks. Coincidentally, we have new neighbors that park out front very close to/right in front of the shared mailbox pole.

4) I wish I could live the pampered life of my dog.

5) Still feels like a Monday.
 
1) Its Taco night... I am trying to think of the appropriate beverage to with those tacos. Any suggestions?
2) Stopped off at our new local coffee shop this morning for cold-brew coffee. It was really good. It is about the same price as Starbucks, but it is super local so I make a point to stop in at least once a week.
3) I am trying to propagate some non-fruiting citrus shrubs to create a hedge row at some point for my yard. I put them in containers a couple of weeks ago. I figured I would give them 8 weeks before I check them.
4) I need a new windshield for my truck. It has a decent crack in it.
5) Wife leaves her job at 3:00 PM on Thursday. She has either been on call or at work since Friday Morning at 6:30 am, and will continue to be until she leaves. And admin is not sure why everyone is bailing on them.
 
1. Hooray - today is Biscuit Day in downtown!
2. Next week, the calendar has been declared full.
3. Not good news on the doggo front.
4. Interesting dynamic with the new bossman & I appreciate the attitude,
5. Didn't use my shovel this weekend, but I checked & it's still in the tool shed.
 
1) WFH is now 3 days a week, with flexible 2 days in the office.

2) Dad day plans made for Saturday, but getting both dads at one event!

3) Strange dreams last night. Also read a sci fy book earlier in the day. Coincidence?

4) I want a nap. Or a second/third cup of coffee.:coffee::coffee:

5) Is it Friday yet??
 
1. Less than 48 hours till the plane leaves for the Dominican Republic
2. I need more than 48 hours to get a bunch of stuff done here and at home before departure. :grimace:
3. 12 days in a row off from work might be the most I've been away from the job . . . . ever.
4. Met friends from out of town for dinner last night. It may have been the best meal I've ever had. Definitely in the top 5.
5. Paying someone to stay at the house with the dog. I just couldn't see being gone that long AND her having to stay in a strange place.

*Bonus Tuesday: I am wearing my red, white and blue bow tie in observance of Flag Day. :unitedstates:
 
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News from Back Home (my wife got back from visiting her folks yesterday):
  • Uncle Herb likely has just a few weeks to live (he's 84).
  • The swallowing issue Uncle Herb has is likely genetic so all family members need to be tested (including Mrs. Doohickie).
  • Dad continues to decline but has moments of clarity through the dementia.
  • Brother is being a sneaky bastard and trying to manipulate Mom & Dad to enrich his finances.
  • Brother also passive-aggressively had to be the center of attention while my wife was visiting, spoiling her (limited) time with her parents.
 
1. It's hot and muggy today. Currently 88 but calling for a high of 93
2. Most of the garden plants are loving this weather. Not the lettuce, though. It's likely to bolt in the heat
3. Going on vacay next week
4. We're getting nextMonday off in honor of Juneteenth. This is the first time we've gotten the day off
5. Crazy amounts of work to get done before going on vacation
 
1. Step 1 of root canal done.
2. Apparently there are multiple steps. :'(
3. We leave for vacation on Thursday.
4. Itty Bitty wants to go back to Paris just for a specific restaurant and their waffles.
5. I got nothin.
 
1) Last night's meeting was beyond bad. It was 4 hours of 2, sometimes 3 council members going line by line through everyone's proposed budgets and often times belittling staff and one bluntly saying that we don't deserve raises, bonuses, or cost of living adjustments.
2) Expected to be record high temps, plus record high heat index levels. There is also a chance for scattered thunderstorms today too.
3) If I had the time and money, I would see about getting a fiberglass body/bed of a 47-51 Chevy pickup and put it on an electric vehicle chassis.
4) I have a meeting, but once it is done, I am going to RJ the rest of the afternoon. ** See #1 above.
5) Today is national bourbon day. See #4 and #1 above.
 
1. I saw an empty Pizza Hut building for sale. It had nicer windows than most, and I wondered how well it could convert to a house. Except that it's along a busy road.

2. I had some time after work yesterday and couldn't find a place to eat dinner. I remember when the mall had Lum's and York Steakhouse. Those didn't offer the best food, but I liked being able to ha e something other than fast food.

3. My former regulatory self clashed with my dark side self today. Dark side won.

4. Some restaurants in the trail towns aren't open during the week. As a former board member of the trail, I was angry. People come from all over the world to ride the trail and should enjoy a variety of places to eat. As a cyclist, I was plain hangry about it.

5. I'm pretty tired today.
 
1. One of our councilmembers died while I was on vacation last week. I'll miss him. He was truly a good man.
2. That was probably the most relaxing vacation I've ever had.
3. Got lucky with flights and only had one flight delayed on the way home for an hour and a half.
4. Talked to a few people who arrived at their vacation destinations 2 days late because of cancelled flights.
5. I'll never understand people who lose PTO because they don't take enough of it.
 
1) I am going on vacation next week and I am so looking forward to it. Technically, it starts at 5:00 PM on Thursday, but I have a bunch of stuff I need to take care of on Friday.
2) This past weekend, I had a conversation with one of the officers for the community I work in. He we mentioning about a particular national chain buffalo wing place that he will not go to anymore because the officers for the City that location is in were informed they are not welcome into the establishment because their presence makes others feel uncomfortable. They were informed that they can come in as long as they are not in uniform and unarmed. Further solidifies my reasons to not eat there ever again.
3) Really good workout this morning at the gym. It is amazing how few people are there at 4:30 am.
4) Middle Son got an award from his school for "Finding His Voice". He has grown so much over the past year.
5) I am going to eat Tacos today.
 
1. Supervisor messaged me and asked if I would like to work one day a week from home? Love to (80 miles less a day and two hours not on the road).
2. Monday is my normal day off - observed July 4th means I get Tuesday off. Same in a few weeks with a state holiday.
3. Just bought tickets for myself and boys to see Sabaton (Swedish power metal band) in a few months.
4. Saw the USAF Thunderbirds over the weekend. Probably the 10th time...never gets old.
5. ^coolest job on the planet.
 
MD Planner said:
Really? I don't find that amazing at all. It's 4:30 am. What would be amazing is if there WERE a lot of people there at that time.
Click to expand...

It was me, and like 3 other people in Planet Fitness. I would not anticipate a packed house, but it was bizarre feeling. It was awesome however being that there was zero wait and we just about had our pick of machines and benches.
 
1. I learned I'm not 35 anymore this weekend from a jetski experience
2. We think mom is turning the corner on moving up here, there's been positive movement
3. Sunday was a much needed day of rest (see #1)
4. So far, after just a couple days, July looks to be very busy
5. New Manager is changing Council meetings from twice a month to once a month & an hour earlier - we embrace that!
 
1. Spent a nice day on the beach for the 4th.
2. Except for being chased out of the water because of a shark sighting. That was a first for me.
3. There was a flyover with 2 F-16s that buzzed the whole coast of South Carolina. Probably a big waste of money but it is cool.
4. Neighborhood fireworks generally were over by 10 so I didn't get too torqued about it.
5. The dog was not a happy camper but by midnight she had calmed down.
 
1. Of the 6 traffic lights I pass through on the way to work, 5 were red this morning when I got to them
2. "Brandi, you're a fine girl, what a good wife you would be" is my earworm this morning after listening to it on the way to work & sitting at red lights
3. Heading to a regional trails meeting this morning
4. Very cool thunder & lightening last night with large raindrops, nice to watch from the front porch
5. I made spaghetti with meat sauce last night for dinner - still love that meal.
 
1. They've had the street in front of our house torn up the past week.
2. It has been a mixed blessing
3. much less traffic on what is usually a fairly busy road
4, backing out is frequently easier as there is less traffic
5. having road converted to one-way traffic is annoying to say the least
 
1) Record breaking temps all this week.

2) I have to be out and about 3 afternoons this week.

3) No way to break this to my supervisor - no, it's not too cold in the office.

4) My grass and landscaping need more water. We're under water restrictions, so they're just going to have to stay wilted.

5) Hubby's in a good mood - he golfed a good game over the weekend.
 
1) With this heat, it is making me think more about how we can live greener, plant more trees around our lot, and do a better job living a more simple life.
2) For the next several weeks, our Tuesday evenings are messed up. Until we can get back to a normal schedule, Taco Tuesday is moving to Fiesta Friday.
3) I am not a fan of hand sanitizers that have added perfumes
4) the first day of school for my younger kids is the last Friday of the month. I don’t understand why they are having them start on a Friday.
5) I have never watched an episode of the Kardashians and I am ok with that.
 
1. first of 3 meetings today is done
2. my brother picked up mom yesterday afternoon - she's been with us for a month
3. mosquito spraying hasn't seem to help eliminate/reduce the numbers of those blood suckers
4. was offered tickets to the soccer match this weekend but sadly had to turn them down due to prior commitments
5. woke up this morning @ 4:45 for some apparent reason & could not fall back to sleep - ugh
 
1. Gotta bust my next door neighbor. Oh well
2. We haven't grilled or smoked this year as often as we did last year
3. We've begun preliminary/early discussions about downsizing after Junior moves out
4. The garden has been very rewarding this year
5. I saw a tv show that had a scene with a family spending time at a cider mill. Caused me to think of fall for the first time this year.
 
1) Still hot.

2) I have a headache.

3) I am not as productive as I used to be. I also don't work unpaid time, like I used to.

4) What's the deal with committee members being upset that we are returning to in-person meetings?

5) I hope to keep the electric bill down by not using the oven, clothes dryer, and electronics as much as earlier this year.
 
1) Something popped in my lower back this morning while at the gym. Not the debilitating pain level, but without question an annoyance.
2) There is some turmoil with the weather today. It has rained 3 times since I have been at work. In between the sun comes out that the humidity rivals that of a rain forest.
3) Today is meet the teacher. The school is also a polling location. Parking should be fascinating.
4) Wife and I had a conversation with our oldest about entrepreneurship and philanthropy and how successful people do both. He pointed out that Trump made a lot of money, but did neither well. #Parentwin
5) I have a Tul notebook and I print my own pages that are similar to that of a Franklin-Covey planner.
 
1. I had an Arby's sandwich and fries for lunch.
2. Arby's doesn't make very good fries, in my opinion.
3. I went to to the coffee shop by my house, hoping to buy a brownie. I bought a spinach and feta fritatta instead.
4. The fritatta was either second lunch or dessert, but it was good.
5. The brownies had crushed oreos in them so I passed. I dont think you have to add anything to a good brownie, except maybe walnuts.
 
1. Went to the QT to get a fountain drink and learned two things today:
2. QT sells wine. Wine at a truck stop!
3. Snoop Dogg has a wine brand; 19 Crimes. Who knew?
4. The Old Bay Goldfish crackers are money!
5. Reviewing RFP responses to update our development ordinance. That's some light reading right there.
 
1. Missed a full week of groceries due to Covid quarantine. Scraped the proverbial bottom of the barrel on a few things.
2. Post quarantine grocery trip was painful to the wallet by a factor of about 1.5x.
3. A lot of the people I do business with should have figured out if I hadn't replied, they should probably call the office to speak with my staff.
4. Getting caught up - at least no father behind than I was when I took ill - is a chore in itself.
5. Now I need to decide whether to get the second booster, and if so, when. Or wait for an Omicron specific booster closer to fall?

BONUS
6. I get the reluctance of elite athletes to vaccinate. I just happen to think they need to get over it, and get the shot. Just my $0.02.
 
  • Nice weather today
  • Thinking about August collection purchase(s)
  • Operable office windows are nice
  • ASEs are hitting ~72% buying premiums over Silver market spot right now
  • Tomorrow is Wednesday
 
1. Any time I see a "Beach Road" that isn't near an ocean or lake, I want to drive down the road to find the Beach.
2. I did biologist field work this morning.
3. I prefer construction work.
4. I'm eating lunch at a diner that isn't worth a second visit.
5. I'll be sad when summer ends, but I sure can use a long winter's nap.
 
1. Sweatshirt and shorts are my preferred ensemble.
2. We haven't been to the community pool this year. And it is nice.
3. I think swimming might be my last hope for exercise. Everything else hurts.
4. Veggie burgers for dinner!
5. I was in the car for 3 hrs today for work. Ugh. My hip!
 
1. Summer has been fun, but just in the past week or so my thoughts have begun to turn towards fall activities
2. I went all in on planting bush beans on July 31st. So far 95% have emerged. I'm hoping they will be ready for harvest by first frost date in early-mid October
3. Picked up a case of Founders Oktoberfest
4. I am grateful we have working heating and cooling systems in our house.
5. The news has been consuming me a bit more of late than I find I care for
 
1. CM sent me an invite for a meeting tonight, I asked him if I needed to bring anything & he said just come if you want. Not sure how to take that.
2. Was asked what the Planning Department could do to help prevent people running a stop sign in a neighborhood. I answered to call the police, which evidently wasn't the right answer as they want some magic traffic calming installations to make people stop.
3. It's very nice & unseasonably cool today.
4. The Girl dropped a class because the professor came in total disarray, couldn't work technology, dropped a stack of papers & said there would be pop quizzes throughout the semester. She said she couldn't shake that image and picked up another class.
5. What to do when a state trooper tailgates you when going 5 mph over the limit?
 
1) Mostly over the COVID/symptoms, except for the runny nose and related cough.

2) Allergies are a PITA by themselves - when they hitch on while fighting COVID it's downright diabolical.

3) We are losing another employee. I'm not surprised that she's leaving, but I really hope she's not just jumping ship to get away from her new supervisor.

4) I want a nap.

5) My cousin is coming to town this weekend.
 
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