Holidays

For a long time, the approach of a holiday hasn't bothered me. Once I hit adulthood and went to work full time, it just wasn't as much fun. School holidays tend to last longer than work holidays.
But now I find myself really anticipating holidays. Part is the break from the routine of work. A lot of it stems from knowing I'll see Melody and Alice tomorrow evening. I'm even looking forward to Christmas, but not because of the gifts. We're going for another cruise over the Christmas holidays and that's what has my attention then.

In the meantime I'm playing with my new work computer. It takes time to customize it the way I want it, especially while getting used to the touchpad and keyboard. It's SO much faster than the dinosaur. It was so frustrating to know I could get much more done but my equipment couldn't keep up with me. It's a good thing I'm working faster now. As of Nov 1 I'm handling a project that is really time-consuming. When I had to do it on the dinosaur I was afraid I wouldn't be able to meet all my deadlines. Now that isn't an issue.

And the Christmas shopping is coming along. I have only a half dozen or so things to pick up (and several things ordered that haven't yet arrived) and I'll be done. Well, except for candy. I like to wait until closer the holiday to get the candy in hopes it will be a little fresher than stuff that's been on the shelf since Halloween.

Ups and Downs

Every now and then something goes right.

For the last few months I've been using a dinosaur of a computer at work - a Toshiba Portege 7010 CT. It didn't even have a USB port.

Last month I got an email saying I was scheduled for a new laptop. I got it today. It's a Dell Latitude D610. It has 4 USB ports and a rewritable DVD drive. It took less than two minutes to boot it up. The old one took anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to boot.

AT&T has finally entered the 21st century.

Workplace musing

I've been unhappy with my job for some time and I thought it was because I was bored. I've been doing the same thing for 7 years and there's no challenge to it any more.

Now I'm thinking there may be another reason for my dissatisfaction. I think it may be due more to the lack of respect. As a contractor, I'm treated like something less than human by AT&T even though they rely quite heavily on contract workers. The agency that actually pays me has been stalling for five months on giving me a raise. Prior to this past June, the less-than-I-deserve pay scale was at lease partially balanced by the respect I got from my superiors. I'm good at what I do, and they knew it and they depended on me.

Todd resigned five years ago. Pervis retired about three years ago. Jim was laid off in June. The people who are left don't care diddly about me or what I do. They think my work is so simple that anyone could do it. When the day comes that I leave (and I am looking for another job) they are going to discover that they have no one left who knows how to do everything I do.

Seven years of exceeding expectations doesn't amount to squat here.

Veterans' Day

Today is Veterans' Day. At the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, hostilities between the Allies and Germany ended with an armistice. Seven months later the Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. I heard on the radio a little while ago that "they" estimate 50 veterans of WWI are still alive.

Atlanta is home to the largest Veterans' Day parade in the country. When I worked in Midtown, I could watch it. The reviewing stand sat in front of our building. There were few if any floats. Mostly veterans' groups and ROTC squads, military vehicles, bands, and dignitaries riding in Corvettes, but I enjoyed it. Part of the appeal was the good-sized crowd who turned out for it. It's nice to know that a lot of people still believe in our country and our military.

I always spend part of Veterans' Day remembering the members of my family who have served or are serving in the military. My dad, two of his brothers, Mom's brother and one of her cousins served in WWII. One of my cousins went to Viet Nam. A nephew is currently in the Air Force.

A lot of people don't like the National Anthem. They say it's too hard to sing. The melody is from an old drinking song. It seems to me that if drunks can sing it, sober people shouldn't have that much trouble with it. At any rate, I get choked up almost every time I sing it and I get upset when it's butchered at sporting events. I believe in this country and its founding principles. I think our constitution is a masterpiece of political writing. I worry about our future. It seems like our freedoms are being taken from us one by one. I wonder what will happen next. But there's no other country on earth where I'd rather live.

Thank you to everyone who has served in the military. And thank you to their families for the sacrifices you have made.

Here's my list

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? in the Arkansas Ozarks

2. What's your favorite article of clothing? jammies

3. The last CD you bought? Hooked on Classics greatest hits

4. What time do you wake up in the morning? between 5:45 and 6:00

5. What's your favorite kitchen appliance? the microwave

6. If you could play an instrument, what would it be? the organ

7. Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV? sports car

8. Do you believe in the after life? yes

9. Favorite Children's Book? "Put Me in the Zoo" by P.D. Eastman

10. What is your favorite season? summer

11. If you could have one super power, what would it be? strength

12. If you have a tattoo, what is it? I don't and won't

13. Can you juggle? no, but I can multi-task

14. The one person/people from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? Linda Matis

15. What's your favorite day? any day I don't go to work

16. What's in the trunk of your car? jug of antifreeze, quart of oil, paper towels, umbrella, jumper cables, work gloves, water jug

17. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? hamburger

21. Who is your favorite boy/girl? depends on who irritated me last

22. Favorite ice cream? cookies & cream

23. Buttered, Plain or Salted popcorn? heavily buttered and lightly salted

24. Favorite Color? blue

25. Favorite Sandwich? grilled cheese with mayo

26. On vacation, where would you go? the mountains or a cruise

27. Favorite brand of clothing? I'm not brand conscious

28. Where were you born? Fairmont, WV

29. Favorite sport to watch? baseball - but only if I'm at the game

30. Coke or Pepsi? caffeine-free diet Coke

Three Things

31.) 3 things you can do: read music, crochet, sew

32.) 3 of your best friends (non-spouse): Nea, Sammye, Melody

33.) 3 things you wish you could do: lose weight, win the lottery, maintain a flower garden

34.) 3 shows you watch all the time: CSI (the original), While You Were Out, that's about it

35.) 3 shows you watched when you were little: Sky King, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy

36.) 3 things you're addicted to: chocolate, cheesecake, driving

37.) 3 people you care about (non-spouse and haven’t been mentioned before): Connie and her family, Richard and his family, Collins family

38.) 3 things you can't live without: food, water, music

38-A.) 3 favorite movies: Camelot, Gone With the Wind, Riverdance

38-B.) 3 favorite books: James (in the Bible), anything by Dr. Suess, The Worldly Church by C. Leonard Allen, Richard T. Hughes and Michael R. Weed

39.) 3 things you wish you could change about yourself: my weight, my black plant-killing thumb, my cynicism

40.) 3 of your strong points: optimistic, intelligent, generous

41.) 3 favorite boys names: Michael, Jason, Chancellor Livingstone

42.) 3 favorite girls names: Melody, Jennifer, Linnea

43.) 3 favorite people of the opposite sex: John, Michael, not playing favorites beyond that

44.) 3 things everyone should listen to: God, gut, me

45.) 3 things no one should listen to: rap, pessimism, obscenities

46.) 3 things you say all the time: right, whatever, Libera me Domine de morte aeterna

47.) 3 words to describe your look: comfortable, competent, self-confident

48.) 3 words to describe your personality: optimistic, off-beat, supportive

49.) 3 things you want to do before you die: visit Scotland and England, complete 100 years as a Girl Scout, enjoy my grandchildren

50.) 3 things on your desk: family pictures, teapot, Chick-Fil-A cow

51.) 3 things you hate: cleaning, inconsiderate drivers, grocery shopping

52.) 3 things you love: God, family, friends

53.) 3 things that scare you: losing loved ones, pain, dinosaurs

(I don't know what happened to 18, 19 and 20.)

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It's official - Alice does NOT have cystic fibrosis!