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Daily things 5️⃣ Three Things Thursday

1. Made Bailey's brownie pies for the office potluck today.
2. Headache is still here, nice blank spots in my vision.
3. Everyone is out of town and I am writing a letter to an agency letting them know they have additional required hearings before a board that hasn't met since the early 90s...
SInce the 90's? Are all the members still in contact to reconvene?
 
SInce the 90's? Are all the members still in contact to reconvene?
Celebrate Old Man GIF by The Leith Agency
 
1. Aw man, I think the clock is moving slow.
2. Two weeks of working from a dining room table is catching up with me (my back specifically).
3. SUGAR!!!
 
1. I just finished Christmas shopping for my wife. Now I just hope Amazon can get it here on time.
2. RJing for the rest of the year.
3. 2:30 local time... I guess I should take a shower.
 
1. Car at the dealership for some recall work. Apparently it's had some recalls on it since 2014, but we never found out about any of them until I brought the Hyundai in for the anti-theft recall. Not sure how that's possible since the DMV has our correct address, but, regardless, it's being done now. Most likely scenario is that we got the envelopes, assumed they were junk and/or sales pitches, and tossed them.

2. Leftover Christmas turkey for lunch today. Yum!

3. This is one of the two weeks when I don't see my wife much since she will be working a lot of OT (BM week being the other). Time to get caught up on reading!! I got the Mometrix AICP Exam prep from Santa this year. The big guy always seems to know what I want.

Jim
 
I had lunch with a friend/colleague. I got wind of a position that could take me to retirement.

I watched my grandson Tuesday and Wednesday. Today is a day of rest.

I'm going to a sound bath healing later. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it.
 
I'm having an allergic reaction

Fortunately, there's a pharmacy literally across the street

Benadryl sure can make you dopey
 
I was born dopey - no Benadryl needed

I was late to work because I had to stop at the pharmacy for my wife before I made my drive.

I am having cold pizza for lunch at my desk because I'm way behind. Probably because I'm having fun posting on Cyburbia this week.
 
1. My wife is attempting to make Polish cheesecake, my grandmother's recipe as passed through my aunt and cousin.
2. If this works, my wife will rewrite the recipe so a coherent person from outside my family can understand it.
3. I'm still in my robe.
 
1. Wondering how I managed to get this far into the day without realizing it was Thursday.

2. Going to a game night at a friend's house tonight . . . I tend to be very competitive.

3. Christmas tree comes down Saturday. Our birds will love to have their corner back; I don't think they are crazy about being in our room at Christmastime. This year, Rio gets the window.
 
As you please! Honestly it's been fun to do this research and work with the other departments but I'm worried because this agency has some pull and hasn't been happy with our process overall (and has let leadership know).
Currently we have a variance request to our development code's height limit for a public telecom agency. I am assigned the case - super straightforward matter, should be easy. I remember there is an airport nearby and have flashbacks to navigating big city codes/FAA circulars in a previous job, so I go digging. It turns out that when the airport was built (early 90s) there was a multiple-municipality board created to oversee the FAA-model-zoning-based height limits that the municipalities adopted together to control the surrounding area. Everything taller than 50 feet requires at minimum a permit from this multiple-authority board, in some cases multiple hearings for variances and permits between up to 3 boards. This is referred to opaquely in one section of the city code, but is not included in the city code anywhere (City archives reveal a letter from a lawyer that says including the rules in the city code may inhibit the multiple-authority group's ability to enforce the rules). The board met a total of 2 or 3 times, apparently.
Now, the agency is not happy about this initial variance to the city's code. It's been tough for my boss to get them to submit it at all and several appeals to higher authorities have already been made. We get confirmation from our higher-ups/legal that they do need to go through the multiple-authority board for approval, but it will take a couple months to reinstate the board since none of the member municipalities are aware of it and no other projects since the 90s have triggered the process.
Great! Leadership is stressed by this, so we'll just have dev services write them a letter and explain. Dev services is actually me, the only one in the office for the next couple weeks. So I have a letter requesting an additional variance and permit application and outlining a process adding a couple months minimum to the agency's project schedule, knowing I am the only one manning the telephone. :grimace:
Update: lawyers on several sides have analysed the code pertaining to telecom towers and concluded that it is a mess. By mess, the lawyers mean that the terms are ambiguous and contradictory with the terms in the multiple-municipality board. Recommended solution is a single review by the newly-recreated joint board and exemption from the city variance process(es).
 
1) For a short week, it's been a long week.

2) Still have a little cough from being sick all last week.

3) Am behind on a project that has been a PITA. Too bad it's the client's fault we're behind - they don't like looking in a mirror!
 
1. I completely forgot to play Wordle yesterday, ending my streak at a modest 24.

2. My opening word is always "SHART."

3. Our master bathroom, which has under renovation since April, should be done by the end of the weekend. The contractors are working on it today. Lots of parts delays and labor problems. The tub and sink have been usable for a while, but it's hard to have a nice soak with construction stuff all over. I try to soak when I can though. (We have another bathroom in the front of the house that is fully functional but is a shower rather than the shower/bath combo we love.)

Jim
 
1. It's miserably raining here at the edge of the Great Basin today, and I have to do a zoning inspection of a miserable building site.

2. Leftover chicken enchiladas for lunch and a sweet, sweet, truck-nap ought to improve my post-noon mood.

3. I've never soaked. I follow my 7th grade gym coach's advise about showers: "Wash your hair, scrub your ba**s, and get the hell outta there."
 
1) Tried a new-to-me small coffee :coffee:shop this morning. It's hidden on the second floor of a building two blocks up. Now that I know it's there, I'll have to go again!

2) Still grey outside. Might clear up a bit later today, but it's been a long grey week here.

3) Chicken for dinner! We had potatoes last night, so either pasta or rice for a side. Salad or green beans for a veggie.
 
1. Wife and I decided it's time to cut back on expenses a bit so we've been looking at things to pair down. How the hell are two middle-aged people with no kids, cars made during the Bush W. administration, and good driving records paying $290 for auto insurance? The rate has doubled in ten years. Shopping around for other insurance.

2. We expect the master bathroom to be done this week--once that's done and the work table is out of the garage, we'll be moving all the crap from our storage unit into the garage and closing that unit. Personally, I'd rather just donate the crap to a thrift store (except, of course, for the family photos and geneology), but that's not my call.

3. Looks like a storm is moving in this weekend. Right now, lots of rain, supposed to turn to snow overnight.


Jim
 
1) Tried a new-to-me small coffee :coffee:shop this morning. It's hidden on the second floor of a building two blocks up. Now that I know it's there, I'll have to go again!

2) Still grey outside. Might clear up a bit later today, but it's been a long grey week here.

3) Chicken for dinner! We had potatoes last night, so either pasta or rice for a side. Salad or green beans for a veggie.
Love #1!! Hopefully it remains a hidden secret, but not so hidden it doesn't get business.

Jim
 
1. Had King Cake today!
2. I like my life here but it is a lot more stressful than I thought it would be.
3. 7 days until vacation!
 
1) New person started today. My little cube farm is getting filled up!

2) Long day today - City Council meeting way north of here tonight, and then long drive home.

3) WFH tomorrow!!
 
1. King cake isn't really a thing here
2. I haven't had any meetings this week until today. Making up for it by having two this afternoon
3. I think if I had to pick a day that was the pinnacle of my life it would be June 28, 1975. Or sometime around then.
 
1. When I was an underwriter years ago, an insurance broker named Frank who worked in and around NOLA used to send me and my kids a King Cake every year.
2. I like meetings. I'm good in a meeting.
3. I'm going to keep pretending the pinnacle of my life is in front of me somewhere.
 
3. I'm going to keep pretending the pinnacle of my life is in front of me somewhere.
Are you sure it wasn't some day during summer vacation when you were 11 years old and didn't have a care in the world apart from wondering what time the neighborhood swimming pool would open?
 
3. I'm going to keep pretending the pinnacle of my life is in front of me somewhere.
Spot on old chap!

I refuse to believe the best is behind me. I always cringe when I hear someone tell a recent high school grad; "enjoy it, this will be the best time of your life". Jeezus I hope not!
 
Are you sure it wasn't some day during summer vacation when you were 11 years old and didn't have a care in the world apart from wondering what time the neighborhood swimming pool would open?
Those were some good days, weren't they? It might have passed while I had my eyes closed cruising down my hill on the Schwinn my dad had lovingly made look like one of those new "dirt bikes" the rich kids had. King of the World.
 
It's noisy in the office so I'm listening to Chuck Berry though headphones.

I used to think being.an archeologist would be a fun career until I worked with archeologists.

The sun is shining and the wind is cold.
 
Those were some good days, weren't they? It might have passed while I had my eyes closed cruising down my hill on the Schwinn my dad had lovingly made look like one of those new "dirt bikes" the rich kids had. King of the World.
Ah...the change the handlebars on the Stingray to the BMX style, remove the fenders, and add knobby tires routine. Wish I still had my Stingray.
 
1. Got a letter from our water district, saying they found "higher than normal levels" of some chemical in the water, but still within legal levels, and they are running tests. Nothing to be alarmed about, but the neighbors are concerned.

2. Got a new debit card number this week since the old card was old and the chip had worn out. One side benefit of that is that we get to go through every service/subscription we have and decide if it's worth keeping. We are paying for a lot of things we don't use: a problem that should go away after this month.

3. They are remodeling part of the 6th floor (where half of our department is--I am on 2). Among the victims of the remodel is a small secret cubicle I used to use to get away from people at lunchtime. I'll have to find a new secret hiding spot.
 
1. I am eating salted in shell peanuts at my desk at the moment
2. It's funny how often my thoughts are drawn to childhood these days considering how close in years I am to retirement.
3. We made a batch of chocolate mint brownies last Saturday and they are still not entirely eaten.
 
1) Brownies, especially mint chocolate brownies, would not last long in my house.

2) I have to make an uncomfortable call later today.

3) Superbowl this weekend. I need to get the ingredients for my Super Bowl Dip (aka Hot Pizza Dip).
 
1. First camping trip of the year this Friday - going glamping for an easy start with the family.
2. Filed taxes yesterday.
3. I saw a crazy moth yesterday, I think it was a Tussar Moth.
 
1. enjoying my new computer - 27 inch AIO
2. donated old monitor & keyboard
3. gutted old computer box for hard drive memory
 
1. What weird weather we've been experiencing all winter long
2. I'm glad I've got seeds in the starter trays. It's a good feeling
3. It's important to have something to look forward to
 
1. I'm sick as a dawg but have no sick days.
2. First appt. with the midwife today.
3. Found the crunchwrap supreme I thought didn't make it into my bag last night and had it for breakfast.
 
1) Stress level has been a bit higher than normal lately, and the passing of my grandfather yesterday just added to that. On the other hand, he really lived his life wide open until the past two years where he started selling off all his toys and hobbies.
2) I really have great staff in my department.
3) I have been researching, ordering plan sets, finding wood suppliers, and following blogs on a particular woodworking project. I decided that after a potential (likely) relocation this year, I will start working on a longer woodworking project to build a classic 19-foot barrel-back like this:
1708011272336.png
 
1. Found out yesterday I am for sure off to Minneapolis in April. I look forward to meeting y'all there!

2. Switched to a new auto insurance company as of midnight last night. I was wondering what would theoretically had happened if, say, a tree fell on it overnight: which company would have covered that? It's moot anyway.

3. Nothing like stepping on your bathroom scale to see your weight and seeing a spider appear instead. Probably due to the scale having been in the garage for the last few months during the bathroom remodel. (But per our scale at the gym in City Hall basement, I'm down five pounds so far this year.)

Jim
 
1. Very sorry for your loss Mskis
2. This budget software is going to drive me insane.
3. I think I worry about our budget and money more than a lot of my employees do.
 
1) Stress level has been a bit higher than normal lately, and the passing of my grandfather yesterday just added to that. On the other hand, he really lived his life wide open until the past two years where he started selling off all his toys and hobbies.
2) I really have great staff in my department.
3) I have been researching, ordering plan sets, finding wood suppliers, and following blogs on a particular woodworking project. I decided that after a potential (likely) relocation this year, I will start working on a longer woodworking project to build a classic 19-foot barrel-back like this:
View attachment 61860
I am sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing.
 
1. Why do grown ass men go around talking about how they could have been recruited by the college baseball team had it not been for ____, and that they were "this close" to making it to the pros?

2. Why do so many people go around thinking that they got one over everyone else, acting like they are the smartest one in the room?

3. The fact that Jamie Dimon, the head of Chase, still goes around prognosticating about bad news for the future must mean that he has an audience of attentive listeners. Or it might mean that he is just an evil sonovabitch bent on creating wholesale fear and anxiety about the future. I need to find an economics podcast about him that is filled with a continuous stream laughter pointed in his general direction. "Aw shucks, I guess having a 0.01% APR on a Chase savings account must mean I'm actually one of the lucky ones."
 
1. Why do grown ass men go around talking about how they could have been recruited by the college baseball team had it not been for ____, and that they were "this close" to making it to the pros?
Because they are unsatisfied with the way their life turned out so they need to try to use the past to feel some type of superiority or validation.
 
Because they are unsatisfied with the way their life turned out so they need to try to use the past to feel some type of superiority or validation.
And while we're on this general topic, Dave Ramsey needs to STFU. He never uses credit cards, pays for real estate in cash. Riiiight Dave. Sounds to me like you're just trying to make sure fewer people even try to get into the real estate market so sharks like you can continue to prey.
 
And while we're on this general topic, Dave Ramsey needs to STFU. He never uses credit cards, pays for real estate in cash. Riiiight Dave. Sounds to me like you're just trying to make sure fewer people even try to get into the real estate market so sharks like you can continue to prey.
Alright... not sure how that is related to my response or the OP, but yea, sure.
 
1. Retirement gift book - Illustrated National Parks by Anderson Design Group
2. Retirement gift book - Subpar Parks book - fun commentary
3. Retirement gift book - Land by Simon Winchester - has anybody read it ?
 
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