“Remoted” – Workday 54 / Day 72 (Wednesday)

The temps were on the warmer side again today (high of 89? not sure), but windows were open, it was breezy, and  it was comfortable inside the house. Once it hits about 5:30 or 6:00, the house starts to feel stuffy and it’s time for the ceiling fans go on. Upstairs is another story. It’s usually stuffy up there all summer and thank goodness for the ceiling fans. I’m replaying last year’s game of “how long can I go before turning on the air conditioning?” Last summer was a triumph of successful temperature control using strategic window openings and ceiling fan use, and the electric bill was about half the cost of the previous year when the A/C went on and stayed on.

Overall the day was pretty good. Work was busy. Multiple balls in the air, hopping busy most of the day. Around 3:30, while trying to finish some things that needed resolution by the end of the day, my end of the street was suddenly serenaded by the exploding sounds of rap music booming from the party house across the street. Clearly, the neighbors of the year were kicking off today’s chapter of the pool party without end. After work, I went out to the deck to sit in the sun and read, my new evening pleasure, but the music was so loud I had to go inside after about four pages.

As usual, the party cars were double-parked in the street. Yesterday’s party started in the late afternoon and ran loud and steady until 11 p.m. when the music was finally turned down. The long and rowdy goodbyes in the street commenced around 11:45.

Healthy stress eating.

It might be time to rally all the other neighbors who actually work during the day, (try to) sleep at night, and miss the peace and quiet we used to enjoy on the once-tranquil street. Maybe we could hold a breakfast party around 6 a.m. It will need to be loud with music that is suitably annoying to the targeted residence. What is is the opposite of swear-laden rap? Or an untrained musician pot and pan concert ? Suggestions of specific music selections and loans of instruments (the louder the better) and amplification equipment are welcome.

In violation of my one, usually simple to follow diet rule of no food after 7 p.m., some stress eating took place at 8:00. At least it was on the healthier side of stress eating. Even though there are Doritos and potato chips in the house, the snack of choice was the remainder of the mango salsa made yesterday. Surprised the heck out of me. The recent tendency has been salty snacks or peanut butter crackers, mostly because there hasn’t been any chocolate in the house for several weeks.