Drunken Nana, cranky Bubba and a "big" surprise

Put all that together and you've got yourself on heck of a weekend! Let's start with Friday - ah Friday, slept in a bit, ran some errands, got home, got chatting with a friend, and then pulled up the parental units - early! We visited enjoyed then went running errands, I spent money, we returned home and waited and waited for Bubba's arrival home "Early". Ah-ha. so in our wait - we opened a bottle of wine enjoyed some munchies and laughed and giggled and enjoyed. Then we decided to meet Bubba at the restaurant - old people have to eat - and frankly I was happy not to eat at 9:00 Pm.

Saturday was up out - Bubba had a massage, then the window guy came tried to sell his product when all we wanted was a estimate as to costs, then found out they don't do doors which is what we wanted. Bubba was not a happy camper. Poor salesman gave his estimate knew this was a waste of his time and gas and we all moved on with our day... I and Nana went to the Girls' meeting, Bubba and Pap went to play at the tool store. Its our lives.

Now as we invited my neighbors to go out to dinner - and she's on a diet we moved from dinner out to dinner next door and games. I thought it was a nice evening - Bubba was unhappy - but survived... as did Mom and Dad.

Sunday - they packed up and went home - whoosh it was whirled wind - which I guess is better than whirled peas - anything with peas in my book is bottom of the list - so there you go. First on the way home from breakfast and leaving the folks to head North, we stopped to get gas, I was driving it's my truck. Is there another man on the planet who would have sat there while his wife pumped her gas? Made an offer maybe? Mine did-- Sat his royal ass there and didn't even fake a moved to undo his seat belt.... thank honey way to tend to your wife... next dinner I serve you might be in your lap.

We get home and Bubba then went off to do this thing car wash, hair cut - whatever - go. I stayed home putzed with laundry and computer and then curled into my shell and buried my nose in a book. And in fine in-law -- that side of the family tradition - pop went the zen. Mother-in-law J calls can't get hold of Bubba - because he probably ignored her call first time 'round hoping I could deal with it... any who - she called, chats up I tell her to try him again he's not working and then like an idiot ask how she is...

And those who know and love me already have a 75% thought as to what is coming... my niece is prego with number 3.... yes the 23 year old is on her third. Her first is in the first grade and heavily medicated to keep him there, the second will be year old in a few weeks and her third will grace us in May. There are no words. Now I know - like I know my name most days, that this is a very personal stick stuck in a personal place and I deal with. I have mostly made my piece with all this ... but dagnabbit! She has no job, she isn't married, didn't finish high school and has a support system that most in home nannies would kill for - and whammo! Another one.

I really think the idiot award goes to Mum-in-law when she actual told me "I knew they wanted another one" REALLY? Can they support and deal with the two they have? Are they off the public dole? Are they married - yeah yeah - but still. And again stick, craw, personal and crabby. If they toss her another baby shower I will not hold my tongue - and I sure as heck ain't going - here are your diapers and receiving blankets in blue - now get out of my face.

How do you celebrate this? Really. This is not an accident - this is planned stupidity! So I stewed, called Nana as she was almost home, laughed about Bubba's reaction and went on with my day - still with popped Zen.

Bubba called home a bit later - and darn him anyway was first caring, asked had I spoken to his mother, asked if I was all right - moron... after the gas station he cared. Butthead. We talked a bit then he blurts, "My mother is an idiot and niece is a moron. What the hell were they thinking?" Baffled amazement coated in annoyed ticked off. And they wonder why we don't want to go home... outside of no place for us to sleep and really no place for my children with four legs. So kiss my grits. And that leaves me and Bubba in that dog house because - well you are bringing children into the world you can't tend to... AND expect others to do it for you. REALLY?

And I'm the bad guy because I tell younger niece with a future that it's not grandma's job to support idiot niece and her fun slide of reproductive system - where the F is off switch?

Ok, enough personal stick craw annoyed and baffled mad. I'm back to searching for job which is basically all I did all freaking day long - why am I driving into work for this? I dunno either, but I'm going home to wallow in rain soaked unhappiness and then go to my Ladies' group meeting. At least there someone likes me... I hope.

Well that was a fun meeting.

Welcome to the funeral dirge of your working life as you know it right now...

This is what we know:
Funding ends next week
You are now on the redeployment list
There is a corporate mandate to hire inside first (yeah right)

This is what we don't know:
What deferment means in contracts... (it's means we're done)
When notices will go out
What the heck to do with all you people.

Any questions?

and I wonder why my head hurts...

All day I have crafted the applications of I can make bacon, fry it, eat, coat it in chocolate, and sell it to a health conscience vegan. Really - I can just ask me. I mean how the heck to you respond to the comment "must know MS Office Applications". I do? What else do they want and how freaking hard is it to get this job is a mandatory qualification is know how to work the word processor and spreadsheet that everyone in IT can manage. Really cupcake?

So I craft words and wisdom and hope and pray that some poor fool takes pity on me. I really msart and I wurk real hard too...ask me... yeesh.

On the total up side - the guy I love from upper management QA was here today and took us to lunch - to a really great place, the Peking duck was freaking FAB! the other dishes were super fab too - except the fact I wore a green bean down my shirt, luckily I had a back up in the car so that obstacle was overcome ...

The rest of the afternoon was a blur of faces and questions, got hooked up by the great lunch guy and ran with it. I'm so tired I can't stand myself. More later..

Blind Wednesday

I'm calling it that thanks to a visit to the eye doctor... yeah. So let's start with the work life... of which there is none. Oh we've heard nothing from our management - the company got the customer letter basically saying - ah listen all that software we thought we wanted - we don't want it any more so we're going to take our toys and go home m'Kay?

Now apparently the Huntsville team was not included in this bit of information as they were still sending information and oh so worried about getting the reviews done in a timely manner - bla bla bla - meanwhile the VA team is looking at our email, each other and wondering what the heck to do with all this. Oh sure we were told to "proceed" as usual... but we were planning to deliver software this week that no one wants. Why am I making the effort working things hard to ensure Bubba and I have our health care! Basically we ignored it all, replied when we had to and kept right on tending to number 1.

Wednesday has been pretty much the same with the exception of worked from home! Always good. Had an eye appointment, was having fuzzy contacts for a week headaches for longer - but I think that was teeth grinding and job stress - but did find out my contacts prescription has changed - big time. SO-- new eyeballs, will be here Monday starter pair tomorrow - as I have dilated eyeballs right now. And then to see Mr. Dentist in a couple of weeks and call in and warn I need a new night guard... well maybe not since the job front is opening up and I won't have to deal with DSIW again.

She did manage to call me and tell me she'd be late with the S-Doc edits... no poo pumpkin really? Paper your house with darn thing for all I care - you loved it so... and there are those sour grapes again.

So this week's life lesson boys and girls? Be careful for what you wish for - God has got a wicked sense of humor. "Please god don't make me deal with these people anymore..." WHAMMOOO - funding gone - job done. You're welcome. Best to say thank you and move on with your day.

Speaking of moving on... I'm getting the puppy paw of ITS DINNER TIME ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO ME?" From darling Shelby. So signing off, feeding pups will do same when husband makes it home and tomorrow will be an early day.

Its been a while hasn't it...

Let's recap all you've missed as I've been too pent up to post - and Mama is right as she has a want to be... I need to release all this pent-ed up "stuff".

Now last week was full of stupid is as stupid does, and just trying not to have that dreaded conference with HR about "your anger issues". Aunt Ing had taken to writing emails in MS Word then deleting that text and moving on to a more work place appropriate tone and wording. It mostly worked and as I haven't heard from HR - I'm assuming things are all right - or they have a file on me. Either way they aren't bothering me and life isn't so bad.

Wednesday - ah Wednesday the weather was nice, I was working from home and the only pimple on this bright and shiny face of a day was my meeting with DSIW and Tech Lead, bosses and my counterpart. Now I take inventory as to who is on line so I can ensure that everyone has a say and can ask questions, so when DSIW is not on the call I state that and figure - well we can move on. THEN Tech Lead states that she was in the room with him... now I was a bit put out by that - wouldn't you be? You specifically ask who was on the phone and you say nothing - when pinged about not being present THEN you speak up? What the heck are you trying to hide? She then asks what was the purpose of the meeting - which tells me that a) she had not read the text that came along with the meeting invitation requesting feedback BEFORE the meeting, nor b) had she read the subsequent documentation I provided as a basis for this little get together, nor c) had bothered to ask Tech Lead why she was there. Great way to start don't you think?

So I quickly debrief everyone stating that based upon X,Y and Z that occurred and D, E, and F that Tech Lead had brought up in the staff meeting we were holding this meeting to discuss Rain (As an example). Now DSIW starts by discussing the moon, clouds, sun movements and the formation of Rainbows in the sky with special notation to the stars that appear in the deep south about the time Software releases are due. Now ask yourself what in the name of deep fried pickles does any of that clap trap have to do with Rain? Add to the fact she blathered on so quickly most of us caught about 1/10th of the drivel she did spout. Now, my counterpart cut her off about mid-way through her dissertation on the formation of pixie dust and it's changing properties to the Rain tracker processes we had... at this point I was letting her just blather on - it was easier to prove my point of her uselessness than to attempt to make her shut the hell up.

My partner in crime, stopped her, asking basically what does this have to do with the tracking of rain as first discussed? We are not interested in higher theory of cloud formation when all we need to do is track Rain. And on she went as if no one has spoken pulling in Unicorn farts and god knows what else - when I stopped her and asked "What do you want?" she was dumbfounded. So again I stated we need to track rain, mist, and snow showers - does everyone agree? We did, then of course DSIW spouts that we needed to track what impact those have on buildings, cars, and windows. Now in the 2.5 years I've been doing this - it hasn't been an issue but to keep her happy to look like I was cooperating - I said sure - this is your (dumbass) idea write it up and sent it to me and I will incorporate it into the how to instructions; she promised it would be to me in an hour. 2.5 hours later DSIW had managed to list 6 types of things she thought we needed to address put it in an email and sent it to me... no how no why just here.

thank you DSIW. I have managed not to do anything with that yet... it's on my to do list.

Thursday and Friday were taken up with the S-Doc update. I have come to hate the S-Doc because I was very careful in making sure that DSIW and crew couldn't find fault. They will anyway...

Bubba has been reasonably quiet this week - he is working his usual schedule and hasn't said much about the leftovers, but I have cooked some meals - did plan a few ahead of time - yeah I know. There was a OCD dissection of my pot roast in the crock pot and the fact there was more meat than potatoes and carrots. Just - eat - it.

Now the weekend it was a pretty good weekend... Friday night mellow and quiet. Saturday was busy, out for lunch with the Bubba then he went off to get a massage, it makes him happy we say nothing - enjoy pumpkin.

I was home all was mellow, then off to the Girl's group spaghetti dinner, worked until I had to rush home and enjoy munchies and drinks with the neighbors. She really put on a show and it was all wonderful and the stress headache I had enjoyed all week - except Wednesday night after MY massage - was magically gone - washed away in Trader Joe's wine and good food. Then we got the invite to come to brunch, she had so many people cancel on her - we got to come back - for mimosas, bloody Mary's and brunch. Very nice and took most of the day as we sat around and chatted and enjoyed the company.

Then Sunday post brunch and mimosas we cleaned up the back yard, raked some leaves and then went to the inside jobs. Bubba bathed the puppies, and I washed our clothes then began washing the pups blankets. Of course Bubba had to express an opinion about the number of blankets the dogs had and on and on... whatever. Fine - one blanket each. They don't share dear - and you're never home to referee... anyway...

So got that mostly done, Bubba announced he wanted to go to Costco for oil - he had a coupon and there was such glee in his eye - I told him to go and enjoy the last thing on god's green earth I wanted to do was go to Costco on Sunday night. I was fighting with the Quicken Ladies group account and the fact I couldn't find the file and had to redo almost a year's worth of entries and it didn't balance out. I did some math, figured that was close enough and moved on with my day. Tonight I have to remember to cut checks...

Although I must say Captain Obvious did come for a brief visit - when I asked Bubba for a little CPA help with the checks and balances... he said to me "you should have backed up the file" yes dear I should have and being the geek in the house and NOT having a backup was idiotic. But when your wife asks for a bit of assistance and that is all you offer - guess what you are going to get the next time something barfs on the computer? A whole lot of nothing!!

So after a reasonably good weekend, I plod my way into work - it's a Federal Holiday traffic is light and the living is easy. I get in to find an all hands meeting, then it's 30 minutes later then it's cancelled, regular staff meeting. Which then turns into - oh by the way our customer got a letter from their customer - and we'll be getting one soon - all that work and stress and worry you've been doing - don't bother. They are going to cut this program to the bone so it looks like a super model's lunch. (i.e. not much). So we all sit around the conference room table looking at each other like... well huh. It's like you've been captive for so long when they release the chains you sit there looking at your legs like they are something new you never saw before. So there was some chatting and some discussion and --- then we all went back to our desks pulled out our phones hit the email and started working the I-need-a-new-job circuit and screw work.

Oh yeah and we took a 90 minute lunch - with ice cream, sometimes gals just need ice cream with hot fudge and peanut butter sauce. (what? it makes you feel better)

and now I'm leaving early for a girl's group meeting and figuring screw DSIW and her crew. And if the mood strikes I just might update my documents - or not. I've got applications to fill out and people to annoy.

And that boys and girls catches you up with Aunt Ing's world. Tomorrow should be equal parts fun and boring - all meetings are being cancelled left, right and center and there is a prediction for 2-5 inches of snow giving me an excuse to stay the heck home.

Stay tuned I will probably post more often now that I will have some time - and if they cancel my deliver this week - I'm taking Friday OFF - or work from home half day to save my vacation time for other fun things. Just because I can.

Later....

somthing to think about..

I am going to start to record my conversations with my husband. Why you may ask - well first I don't think blog postings with a propensity toward comedy would be permitted in a court of law and second when my husband starts to complain about something in which I said X and he said Y and now X has come to pass... and he's mad and somehow this is MY fault I will cue up tape/ digital recording - and PROVE to his pampered backside that I said X and he said Y and he's a yutz.

Now you maybe asking yourself - why (and not why you read the above statement) why would I want to prove my point. Let's give a concrete answer Sunday - Bubba is working on our taxes - (yes, I know, will the excitement in our house never end?) ANY way... he begins that joyful task while I got out get my nails done, and go grocery shopping. Now before I left I was downloading a big thing to get the fancy printer from Bubba's previous job working on our new computer - Windows 7 version Windows XP. Not a big deal - just time consuming download.

SEVERAL HOURS later - I get home, tend to issues then am permitted time on the computer to complete the process. Now helpful Harry is going to stand behind me while I do this. Think vulture waiting for something to drop dead.... well when something didn't work - who swoops in with "well what is the problem?" Now as we saw the same error message at the same time, I haven't clicked a thing, and in spite of Dr. Sheldon Cooper's best efforts there isn't a human/ computer direct interface .. I state "I don't know dear let me look"

and so began... "I didn't want this computer - you need to make this work - why didn't we order ..... at this point I would be whipping out my voice recorder device, and playing for him the statement of "I don't care what we order the budget is ...(insert cheap price here).

So I tell him to go watch television and I will get it fixed. Once the vulture is gone it took me 20 minutes to read the help instructions, log on to a site, read several answers, try again and get the printer working. I pity the IT people in Bubba's world - it can't be a happy place for them - it isn't in mine.

The fact remains I wanted to spend a few more dollars get a better operating system and not home - half baked version along with the professional version of Office as well - but again Colonel Tightwad (promotion from Captain Obvious) grumped and groaned and away we go with cheap crap. You'd think he'd learn. But no this is my fault and I simply make it go - and will download what I need from work and tell him to kiss my grits. Again is it any wonder I don't drink more than I do?

In other news...
Monday's staff meeting was less exciting than I thought it was going to be. Oh we're getting blow back from Idiot woman and tech lead in the deep south but it's reached a slow simmer at this point. We should see a bubble over tomorrow and possibly later in the week when more 'checklists' come down the pike - yes idiot woman and "staff" you will be accountable for doing your jobs within the confines of said process and doing it right. Ain't that something?

I for one - am working on finding a new job - still but with more vigor. Although I was told the notes at the bottom of the resume aren't helpful... I mean really what's wrong with "please dear god hire me and get me off this project - I am days away from Stockholm syndrome" I mean really!

I will check back when I can - or maybe I'll just learn how to type drunk. won't that be fun?!?

I am still stunned

Yesterday boys and girls you would not believe what happened - frankly I am still wondering what genie popped out last night and what whammy is coming demanding payment ... but for now today I will bask.

See post of a few days ago and idiot woman in the deep south office. She was tasked to find missing reviews (28), the review documents are important before we ship software to our customer. She had 3 days to fix the problem. Come day three we start asking questions, you know in our rude and impatient manner - "could you please debase yourself to contact us unclean heathens to inform us of status of said lost reviews? Pretty please?"

We got "we don't have to do all these" oh and we found 3 more reviews.

We send documentation that said - "um yeppers - you gotta review that stuff too..."

Found two more - reviews

Hours go by - we are now into the 6PM hour EST - which is 5 pm deep south time... I get an email from idiot woman... "here is our list - we've got 3 to finish - we'll do that Monday."

(Insert Aunt Ing's head exploding and 4 cracked molars here)

Our heroin takes a lap, before she attempts to call the boss now back in GA - she calls and gets-- VOICE MAIL! Now as the blood was still roaring through my body I can just imagine what the true words on that voice mail were... something along the lines of... "Ah - Hi this is Aunt Ing - and I just got this email (FROM THE DORK IN THE SOUTH) and she said she's going to finish reviews Monday. I'm not putting the OK on this release - (YOU DEAL WITH THE FALL OUT)
I could really use some guidance and assistance here.

As you probably guessed the CAP words were merely shouted inside my head.

I also have forwarded her all emails including the one where I respond that dear idiot woman its our policy to review stuff before we send it to the customer - go figure we'd want someone to look at your work before we toss it over the fence. Now yes - there was use of exclamation points, and details of all messages summed up and and plead to find a warm freaking body and get things done.

I then got a message from deep south idiot woman - we're going to start calling her DSIW for short. That my message was rude and I should review the statements she sent. (insert fire and smoke coming out of Aunt Ing ears.) _ and another lap. Then an email to the boss waving the digital white flag and I was going home.

Now insert the email I want to frame and hang on my wall...

Boss lady creates a work of loving words sent across the digital divide.... the angels sang, the pious wept and Aunt Ing did cartwheels down the empty lonely hallways of the office. It was a email, but what an email it was - and the people she copied on said email created such a smile of delight and joy - Aunt Ing's heart was about to burst.

She addressed the message to DSIW and the southern Napoleon she copies other team members AND her boss, the southern boss and several other BIG bosses. MAJOR you don't suck in these big boys - but she did!!! Then she goes on, stating she will not allow the software to leave and SHE will tell the customer WHY it is late and exactly WHO is responsible for said lateness in spite of ALL THE PAID OVERTIME said group has been sucking up like its quarter beer night. And she won't OK the release until she gets MY ok that things are done correctly.

To paraphrase the Test Manager Friday night - the gal has balls. Brass ones in my book.

And certainly bigger ones that the previous boss had.

Panic ensues in the deep south as neither of the direct email addressees are in the office. The beleaguered software lead in a panic manages to find 2 missing reviews and doctor up the third. The boss asks ME if it's ok! Pumpkin I will so live with that one! So we clear those out - and 3 hours later the software goes out.

I cannot begin to tell you what a BIG win this is in my world. Every other day week after week I have had to justify my place my job and the reason why I say the form is blue, look at the form it is blue. Yes the old S-Doc said its yellow - but we don't use yellow any more.... over and over and over again. Last night was so super fab! BIG BIG WIN.

Monday's staff meeting should be very entertaining as DSIW doesn't attend and The southern Napoleon does - and he doesn't have a leg to stand on... but he'll find a way to blame me. But he can't take that email away from me - and he can't recall it from the big boys...

I am basking....


Saturday has been a good day - Bubba up early wand GONE all day to the gun show with my office mate's hubby and son. I attended a luncheon for my Maryland Mom and it was very nice and how those should go - Mimosa before my coat was off - decent lunch, great brownies good coffee, presents, short speeches and a bit of social and home. I ran a few errands afterwards, got on the computer dealt with some paperwork and now I'm going to futz with it in front of the TV and enjoy my evening.

Life boys and girls - is sometimes a good deal

Where does he come up with stuff?

While doing the dishes last night I discovered that a slipper and my sock are wet - this is never good news. I quick yank and grab and find - wait this is a localized watering... what is leaking? It obviously isn't the hose thing again. OMG it's the garbage disposal.

Bubba is now under the sink, he finds a crack on the OUTSIDE of the garbage disposal. He pulls his head out from underneath the sink, and says, (wait for it...) "What did you hit this thing with?"

An exact quote.

What - did I - hit - the OUTSIDE of the GARBAGE DISPOSAL - located UNDER the sink. With all sorts of cleaning crap under there - what did I hit it with? Really dorkus? I always take out my husband-based-idiot stress with a baseball bat on a defenseless garbage disposal because you know that is something I use too regularly.

Where does he come up with this stuff? Really??? If I'm going to bash something to replace it - you'd sleep with one eye open butthead. Or the washing machine it's kinda of a tie. ;-)

The rest of Thursday evening was uneventful. And the doctor told Bubba Friday morning that the swelling would go down in a few days....


Short one today.
:-)

Enough!

Software release this week - and oh what joy what bliss - there is a 60 man team in the deep south and apparently they don't speak to one another. You can't just call the person for whom the action is responsible you must go through a 3rd party who will relay your message sometime before you're all dead. AND like the game you played called Telephone - the message is never delivered correctly. And in one case the deep south team then creates more work for themselves because they apparently can't figure out how to place a phone call or email to the far away land of Northern Virginia.

Sigh.

Ok so apparently we're done with the testing and now it's paperwork lots and lots of paperwork. I have no motivation for this. We have to have stuff circling like Kansas during the filming of the Wizard of Oz.

My mo-jo is toast. I have no desire or barely a want to deal with this. I think I can trace it back to yesterday when the woman who claims she does software but I swear her entire job is to make my head explode. An example shall we? Very high level... R-Doc is the customers, it is a reference, some thing you might look at to clarify a point, but it is not your be all end all.

S-Doc is your be all end all its how WE do things. S-doc is getting updated it needs it.
For some unknown reason S-Doc and R-Doc has become the Bible bathed in glowing light to this woman - no one has given the S-Doc and certainly not the R-Doc two hoots notice in the 3 years I've been on this job! And every time I ask for something - I get "where is that in the S-Doc and where is it in the R-Doc and the R-doc says this and the S-doc says that and we're not going to do what you want us to do just because you said so and the docs are different and you're a doodie head.

Ok maybe I made that last part up - but if feels like it.

SO - yesterday my new boss for reasons only she knows lit another fire under these people by telling them our San Diego guy was going to ask questions about one thing. He's been doing this monthly without incident or concern or ANY FREAKING mention of S-Doc or R-Doc. Suddenly there is panic in the streets emails are flying fast and furious across the world to everyone. In my own stupid diluted way I tried to be helpful - and right there with the path to hell.... I digress.

I thought I has answered the question more than once. So finally I get pissed, send a terse 2 line email that says, we are ruled by S-Doc with the old date until the new one is accepted. Period end of discussion. That is the line I put in the email. I got slapped back by Ms. New Boss for being uncalled for. Really Tootsie pop? Have you had every decision or statement you've made tossed back at you. Do you have to defend you job on a regular basis have it countermanded and under minded then when the puppy presents hit the air circulation device they ask why YOU didn't get out the umbrellas?

So my new stance with regards to idiot woman in deep south - and in some respects the new boss - when a question is answered, it will be responded to in a timely manner, with the information needed and oh so very politely. For example, what is the best way to get to McLean from the office? My answer will be "By Car, ma'am". There by rendering all statements as unnecessary - as my answers. Kiss my grits.

I'm going home, I've got 600 pounds of stuff to do there... and another 700 pounds here. The bosses left before 4 why should I bother?

signing off frustrated and crabby. Later.

Whew!

Sorry I haven't posted - its been a busy weekend - and Bubba has been doing taxes and there was Sunday - and apparently there was a big football game last night - I wasn't terribly interested.

So - let's start with Friday... up early and drop off the family truckster - it got new exhaust parts and no longer sounds like its about to rattle apart or blow up. So that is all good. However, I was trapped at home all day - now granted I was working, from home, so it was all good. Until I wanted to get my weekend running done and had to wait. Again no biggie.

So hubby home, out to dinner, and it was all good.

Saturday morning --- OMG up at 6:30 AM because we had a Lodge meeting at 8:30 in the blessed AM - and we had to pick up my truck AND he wanted a bagel. To add to the fun of the morning - I was trying to get ready - can he be bothered to let the dogs out and crate them? No he's too busy grumping at me because I'm not moving fast enough. Sorry dear it's winter the hair gets dried. Then as I let the dogs out, put on shoes and coat - crate the pups and stand there - he's looking at me like "what?" - also sans coat and shoes. Now one would think that with all that hooting and hollerin' you'd be ready when the subject of said hoot and holler is waiting on your happy backside.

Of course he announces he's got a sinus headache - which will only help to make him that much more happy... so pick up the truck, head to bagel place - call "where are you?" stopped off to get meds - we then had time to get coffee and go to our meeting - because "I'm not eating in front of people" whatever.

Get to meeting - big turnout -yack yack yack - Bubba gets cranky at length then stands outside and talks for another hour more - in the cold and the rain. Fun. We finally decided to head to a sit down breakfast - and the coffee was warm and wonderful. The best thing was we had 2 cars so Bubba went off his way and I went off mine. Shopping list with coupons for the party on Sunday (munchies) then home to put it all together! I spent most of Saturday in the kitchen making dips, lemon pound cake, beer bread and getting other munchies together, clean up the living room, dining room and making sure the kitchen looked like something someone would want to eat out of... by the time I got that all done - we ordered pizza in. Bubba came home and did our taxes. He sat in the office and didn't bother me. THAT was the best part of the day.

Sunday... up moving, Bubba was doing his thing I was upstairs finishing up my stuff, and stupidly asked as Bubba was headed out the door to his hockey game to take the pizza box and the dog food bag that had trash in it... he got seriously cranky. To pick up something he was standing next to... and dump it off some place he had to walk by anyway...

Now in the interest of fairness he did call an hour later and tell me he was sorry for grumping at me but he was running behind because the friend that gave him the primo seats (with food buffet) and he wasn't expecting to have to go get the tickets... poor baby. Still not happy with that one. BUT on the total upside he was gone, out of hair and done with the helpful suggestions of "aren't you going to clean this up?" and "the kitchen is a mess - are you going to deal with this?", ... you know Captain Obvious lives in and flies about my house. And yet I have managed not to beat him to death with a rolling pin or cast iron pan.

Sunday was great munchies party went well, laughter, eating, and all sorts of good stuff. Then some friends stayed, and we talked enjoyed, Bubba finally got home, everyone left - and we watched football. I think. of course AS soon as the game was over Bubba flips over to some program he likes to watch - I read my book, went to bed and died.

Oh sure there is still discussion on Yinzer Radio via Internet - but at this point I watched a team without the hunger and they watched the other team run past them for 21 points that were unnecessary and stupid - and apparently I'm still not happy about it. Perhaps this year Ben R can keep his nose clean and maybe they will make the play offs again next season - instead of the usual really sucky post Superbowl seasons we've had.

That is all...

UPDATE - left work to get home for girl's meeting - a truck driver apparently didn't know or couldn't match the numbers on his truck versus the numbers displayed on the overpass and obviously couldn't figure that 14 is larger than 12 and got his truck stuck. It then made the police man close my road home - a mere 2 miles from the beltway I had to turn, turn, plug in smart phone and program that to get my fanny home... 2 HOURS LATER.

The pups weren't happy, as Mommy was home, and gone within 15 minutes (hey they got fed) and I was only 4 minutes late to my meeting. I then came home and finished the kitchen, and remembered to get things organized for cleaning lady - i.e. make sure Bubba's unmentionables are safely tucked away from view. Tuesday will start to early...

Things are quiet... mostly

Yesterday work wise was quiet - I got things done - I was in the office. Catholic guilt had to go in no weather excuse. The boss is busy with the financial folks and their audit so that is a good thing. Today has pretty much been the same thing work wise.

Things started well into my evening. First things were groovy - I had a massage and it was very nice. I was mellow-jello, and life was feeling groovy. Then of course Bubba called and pop went then Zen. For some unknown reason Bubba was in a mood... I don't know why nor do I care he has a problem separating ticked off at work and ticked off at family members. He said earlier in the day he'd be leaving about 6:30 PM I counted about 7:15. I had dinner ready at 8:00 PM, he arrives home at 8:45 Pm - AND he was ticked I had already eaten dinner. Seriously.

I mean think about this Bubba Pumpkin - I have enough 4AM revisits of dinner, eating as late as we do - but waiting until quarter to freaking 9 PM at night even is just asking for trouble. You can't bother to get home at a decent hour (insert lengthy cranky discussion of CPA working hours-- bla bla bla) then I'm going to eat dinner so I don't have to go searching for Tums at previous stated 4 AM. Kiss - my- grits.

I called the parental units and we chatted about nothing of major importance, then I asked the question - going to Kevin's for the niece's birthday party? Dad was very quiet - he stated he was unsure if an invitation was issued. Rut-row.... so after a few minutes of dissecting calls, issues the last time son and said parental units have spoken... I figured I just lobster'ed my brother - (i.e. dumped him in the hot water) - but after a nebby phone call this morning - nope. He's cucumber cool. Ah well. ;-) The immaculate son again bounces out of the jagger bush, unscratched. (insert bad word here - you know something about my brother's parental martial status)

Tonight I'm going to a meeting in DC, which means I had to goad (i.e. nag and nag) at Bubba to discover the joys of getting home before bedtime to tend to our furry children. (Feed the dogs and let them out to pee!) He got cranky - and for those you playing the Bubba mood home game you win! It's not that hard there are two options - cranky or happy. And we all know if there is an action that requires Bubba to do something he considers "my job" he gets ---- cranky! And for those of you still confused on the rules - they are so easy - Bubba's job is his job (i.e. paycheck) and what he wants to do when he wants to do it. Everything else is "my job"

If winning the mega millions was that freaking easy we'd all be a millionaires by now.

OK enough for today... I'm back to working on the busy work then back home to Mr. Happy and then the truck goes into the shop as the exhaust system has taken on the volume of a teenage low rider with extra bass pumping out the windows. Bonus tomorrow - we're working from home. That is something to look forward to....

Stay warm.

I'm a lazy cuss...

There was 3 inches square of ice on the roads today.. and I stayed home. I know I know. I just didn't want to deal with it and people today. Tomorrow I am going to have to go in.. clanging all the way. The ice we were going to get tomorrow is probably going to be rain... no excuse to work in my sweatshirt and slippers. Ah well.

Today has been quiet. Meetings were uneventful - a good thing. Putzed with my report and submitted tonight.

Sat in a telecon and listened to a boss drone on how me and my office mate need to tread lightly and not upset the southern code jockeys even when they try to turn us into the customer for not doing our job to our customer - but we will rise above and try and not to hurt any one's feelings. Of course it doesn't matter than everything we do must be justified, documented, again and again, have multiple discussions over the same issue over and over and over again - and maybe once more just because I still don't have the answer I want. Really.

And I wonder why I don't want to go to work.

Ran a few errands except the one I really needed to do - get Violet her puppy chow. She's got enough for the week but then we are out! So tomorrow I will tend to that issue - and for those of you who would ask why the darling Bubba can't do it... his first question will be "can't it wait until Saturday?" No, then it becomes a huge hassle. So I do it - and it's done and frankly it's a whole lot less stressful.

OK, so I'm starving so I'm off to deal with dinner and move on with my evening. Stay warm and stay safe... I'm going to crank up the oven - and stand close. :-)