random thoughts – Day 1,337 – (Tuesday) – presentations

Today was the day. Two colleagues and I were scheduled to present to a Branch Leadership meeting. We were presenting an overview of what the marketing team does, tips for making requests for marketing help, and social media. 

It sounded like a great idea when I first heard about it a while ago. Then I didn’t really think about it again except for in the vaguest terms. Last week it was pointed out that the meeting was “next Tuesday.” I thought it was going to be on Wednesday or Thursday, mostly because I just hadn't been paying attention, so that was a tiny surprise and I got a little nervous.

My manager said it would be like the last time we presented. Cool, cool. Except that wasn’t me, that was our colleague who left a few months ago. I have done very few presentations in the past 7.5 years, with “few” being maybe two presentations. Out of practice? Ha! I never did enough to feel like I was in practice.

Knowing the material wasn’t the issue because I had worked on a procedures document about the topic a couple years ago that I reviewed and updated over the summer. Oh, and I work with it regularly. Figuring out how to not ramble on about it forever was the challenge. Oh, and not sounding like an idiot.

This morning, before our designated time on the meeting agenda, I got nervous. I tried to practice and stumbled over my words which increased the nerves, so I started doing “things” to burn off some energy. That coat that had been draped on the back of a kitchen chair since Sunday? Hung! The six pens on the tiny desk? Now in the drawer! I took a lap around the kitchen table. Fifteen steps!

In the last few minutes before logging in to the meeting, panic hit. Suddenly, my sweater seemed too plain and I wondered if there was time to change. (There wasn’t and I didn’t.) Teeth were brushed. Hair was combed. Lip balm was applied. I logged in.

It went well. There were a couple great questions. And then it was over and time to get back to the to-do list and things that are more familiar.

Delivered for the
Festival of Wreaths.

After work, the finished touch was added to the wreath for the Festival of Wreaths. The gold, glittery ribbon was transformed into a bow and attached. Gold glitter is now all over the dining room table and floor. It was carefully slipped into a bag to go with me to be left at the gallery during our board meeting. 

When I started the car, the center of the panel where the low tire pressure image periodically appears to haunt me presented a different symbol. Tonight’s apparition was the glowing image of a big yellow gas pump and the gas gauge was in the red zone. I had always wondered what happened when the gas got really low in this vehicle. That’s when I remembered that when I arrived home from Mom’s on Sunday the gas level was suddenly low. Oops. 

When I pulled into the gas station around the corner from home, I spaced out, forgot which side of the car the gas tank is on, and went to the wrong side of the pumps. Seriously? I’ve had this car for two years now. Talk about being a doofus. At least the station was empty so it was easy to get to another pump on the correct side.

random thoughts – Day 1,336 – (Monday) – feeling bent

The week kicked off with an insanely long to-do list. Four items have been in limbo with two departments since August. At the end of every week, I move the entries to the following week’s list and get a little more aggravated about it. Every time I follow up with the business lines that still need to provide either approval or changes for the materials that they requested we create, the response is, “we have a meeting tomorrow to review it.” Ummm, okay. 

Open Enrollment for our benefits ends this Saturday and I haven’t figured that out yet. I’ve tried looking at it twice and both times given up in frustration. Basically, it seems that everything medical is changing and my disdain for the American for-profit health care system (medical /insurance mafia) has probably never been higher. It’s likely to be the thing that sends me to a premature grave, which would actually be okay at this point because at least then I wouldn’t need to worry about frigging health care coverage and premiums and deductibles and co-pays on top of co-pays and still never getting any answers as to why my hip is jacked up and my leg still hurts. The whole thing has me a bit bent out of shape.

Bent! WTF?

It was trash day, and the yard waste was picked up early. At lunchtime, I went and hauled the yard waste barrel in but the other barrels were still all full. I must have been focused on work, because I never heard the trash or recycle bin pickups happen, but around 3:30 I heard the neighbor rolling the very noisy bins up the long, shared driveway, outside my office windows, and into her side yard.

After logging off work for the day, I went outside in the evening darkness to roll the bin up the short, shared driveway on the other side of the house. That’s when I noticed that one of the pickets in the center of my front fence (where the neighbor puts her barrels), which used to be straight like all the others all the way up until this morning, was creased. Not a little – it’s crazy bent, like it was the subject of a violent attack. So much for “vinyl is final.” And what the heck is up with the trash truck operators and how did it even happen? So annoying. But now I'm not the only thing bent out of shape here. 

Tortellini lunch.

At least today’s lunch was good. Warm. Satisfying. Filling. It was left over from Sunday’s supper. 

I love my cast iron fry pan for making the initial batch of food, and dang, I love the microwave for the leftovers. In literally one minute today, lunch of mushroom tortellini topped with smoked salmon dip from Aldi mixed with sauteed onion and mushroom was heated and ready. It was topped with grated provolone (from the cheese ends hoard) and freshly ground black pepper. So yummy. 

random thoughts – Day 1,335 – (Sunday) – sunday excursion

Out where Mom lives, this time of year there is an event called the "Country Roads Christmas Holiday Tour." There is a list of local shops located in several neighboring towns in central Massachusetts and the idea is to visit the shops during a certain time frame, collect a stamp from each shop, and enter a drawing for gift certificates.

Smith's Cheese Shop, Winchendon.

This year there are 19 shops on the list located in seven towns, and four weeks to visit them under the tour. Mom and I spent a day visiting shops last year and we had fun. Some shops were new to us, some we’d been to before. Today, as we set out for our Sunday excursion, I tried to remember how many shops were on the list last year. As it usually works, I found the 2022 list recently in a pile of paperwork and after a year, tossed it into the recycling bin, and today I was wondering which shops were on the old list.

We made it to six shops in about three hours today, including a farm and garden center, antiques shop, bakery and gift shop, and a cheese shop. Something was bought by one or both of us at each location, so we did our part for small businesses. I got several small holiday décor items, Finnish coffee bread, and alpaca shoe insoles. 

A Thyme & A Place,
Hubbardston.

The cheese shop had a great selection of craft beers but after staring at the case for a while, I couldn’t decide on the too many unfamiliar options, gave up, and didn’t buy anything. Unfortunate, because there is currently no beer at The BungaLowell, a situation to which I have turned a blind eye for about a month. 

The alpaca farm was cool. When we entered the barn to get to the gift shop, a couple alpacas were standing nearby, close enough to get a great photo. There were a lot of people around and I wanted to get inside the gift shop, figuring I could get a photo on the way out, so I didn't take a picture. 

The shop had some beautiful knitted items – scarves, mittens, hats, and sweaters, plus stuffed animals in many sizes. In 2013 or 14, Mom, my sister and I went to the same alpaca farm and I bought what is still one of my favorite sweaters. I was fully prepared to buy another pullover, but the only sweaters in the shop today was an open front style with some sort of ruffle and brightly colored zip front cardigans in kid sizes. When we exited the gift shop, all the alpacas had already exited the barn and headed to the field. Photo lesson learned. Or not. This has been happening for years. 

The plan is to visit more of the shops in the next three or four weeks. We like a challenge. Hopefully, the time won’t slip away like it did last year, when we also intended to hit the route again, and forgot to send in our stamp sheets for the drawing. We got enough stamps today to enter the second prize drawing for a gift certificate to a single shop. With all 19 stamps, the drawing is for a gift certificate to each of the 19 shops. That would be a sweet prize.

random thoughts – Day 1,334 – (Saturday) – home work

Mom and StepDad came over this morning for the seasonal dismantling of the deck table and umbrella. I can handle getting the table from the shed to the deck myself, but I can’t get the umbrella into or out of the stand and up through the hole to clear the table, lacking both the reach and the strength. Maybe next year, the umbrella should be set in the corner and not through the hole in the table. A smaller table would also help. Me being taller with longer and stronger arms would also solve the problem. 

Coffee maker, take 2.

The house was vacuumed and dusted, because nothing inspires cleaning like a visit from Mom. Or anyone, really. The dishwasher was emptied of the dishes and coffee mugs washed Friday night. The second pot of coffee for the day was started. Coffee beans had been ground earlier, using the slightly inconvenient grinder that is seldom used because it’s kind of a pain in the derriere. The coffee maker, bought in January, seemed extra noisy as it began the second shift of brewing operations. I couldn’t tell for sure if something was wrong because I’m usually not standing nearby staring at it and waiting for the precious steaming liquid. 

After producing a mere half inch of coffee for the expected full pot, the noise continued, but the coffee had stopped flowing. The water in the reservoir wasn’t making it to the grounds and then the pot. We all stared at it. The lid was raised and we peered through the steam into it. The unit was emptied, refilled with water, and restarted. It had ceased working. 

Luckily, the replacement unit that was sent when the filter funnel broke was still in the box upstairs. Instead of sending the one replacement part, the company sent an entire boxed set, but I only pulled out the funnel and left the rest in the box. I certainly didn’t think I would need it so soon. An eleven-month life span for a coffee maker doesn’t seem very long. 

Tall and leafy.

As StepDad took the umbrella out of the table a completely intact peanut in a shell fell out of it.  That’s the second time there has been a peanut in a shell at the deck table. I set it on the deck rail and wondered if the critter that left it (likely a squirrel) would be back to retrieve it. I’m also wondering who is the neighborhood peanut pusher.

StepDad had a saw in the truck and the eight-foot tall whatever it is that grew alongside the deck was cut down. The plant has huge leaves and created a spot of privacy and some shade on the deck, which gets blasted with full sun all afternoon in the summer. Parts of the plant also grew sideways and encroached on the neighbor’s driveway.

We finally got some fresh coffee and were able to drink coffee and talk for a little while. Then they headed back to their home and I kicked back to relax, alternated with decorating a holiday wreath. As usual, my initial idea isn’t working out and is shifting sideways to something totally different. No worries. It will all work out.

random thoughts – Day 1,333 – (Friday) – super quiet

Deserted Bridge Street, Nov 10, 2023.

Friday morning traffic is often lighter than Wednesday, and today was even lighter than usual. The streets were practically deserted. Next to no vehicles. Hardly any people. It was nice with a hint of eerie. With Veterans Day on Saturday, it seemed many people were off today.

The ride downtown was so quick and easy that I had time to walk to the office “the long way” from the garage. This route turns away from the general direction of the bank for a block or so before turning to head towards the bank. In a rare sighting, there were no cars on Bridge Street, usually the site of a traffic nightmare. This wasn't the result of a road closure, just the the absence of traffic.

Feed the birds.

I hadn’t walked that way in months and there were so many things to see. There was a dumpster parked on the street that was full of metal from a building project. As I stopped for a photo between some buildings, movement caught my eye. Someone was opening a window. It seemed kind of chilly for that, but hey, it’s not my home or office, so not my business. 

When I rounded onto Merrimack Street, a truck loaded with holiday wreaths was parked and ready to hang the decorations on the light poles. Further up on the façade of a building was the open window. Pigeons were hovering and perching nearby and I figured out the occupant was feeding the birds. Awwww. The “Feed the Birds” song from Mary Poppins started flitting through my head. 

It all felt so quaint. I could imagine the watercolor paintings that could appear in a children’s book with scenes about the man in the window feeding the birds and the wreaths going up in preparation for the City of Lights Parade in two weeks. That’s when Mr. and Mrs.Claus will make their triumphant appearance on Merrimack Street. Good times ahead.

Getting holiday ready.

By 5:00, as I was heading home, things were closer to normal. There was activity. Pedestrians were walking downtown. The vehicular traffic level was still lighter than usual, but the drivers who were out were driving in the usual idiotic and familiar manner. 

At least I have the memory of the lovely and peaceful morning. And a few photos for proof because I don't think anyone would believe that Bridge Street had a morning moment without a traffic situation.

random thoughts – Day 1,332 – (Thursday) – cheese hat

Grilled cheese.

It might have been cold today, but I never set foot outside so I don’t know. There was a plan to leave the house after work to go to the gym, but it didn’t happen. I neglected to plan to convince myself I wanted to go, so it didn't happen. 

Instead, I made a grilled cheese sandwich with some bread excavated from the freezer and some of the many cheese slices from the personal cheese ends stash. I seem to have become a cheese ends hoarder on my trips to Market Basket. 

After joining the gym in July I did a pretty good job of going regularly. It started with the recumbent bike, but when the work wellness program steps challenge began, I shifted to the treadmill. Ever since vacation, however, the gym routine has crashed and burned. I seem to have fallen out of the gym habit. According to the check-in tracker on the app, I have been there only once since returning from vacation and not all yet this month. Oops. I just don’t care right now. I'll care a lot all over again when my jeans don't fit anymore. 

The indoor hat.

This time of year, when work ends and it’s dark and chilly I just want to hibernate. I sit on the couch wearing my fleece with the funnel neck pulled up and a blanket across my lap and a Yankee Candle burning on the side table. This week even saw the return of the stupid lightweight hat I started wearing at home during life’s big shutdown. Yes, the heat is on. No, I’m not raising the temperature setting on the thermostat. Theoretically, 68 degrees should be warm enough.

For tonight’s entertainment, and I don’t know how I stumbled upon it after I ran out of episodes of Upload, I’m watching Psychic Tia. While doing so, I was also shoving the last of a bag of corn chips into my face like it was some kind of Coney Island eating contest. Super classy.

random thoughts – Day 1,331 – (Wednesday) – cold dip

It was chilly (cold) going to the office this morning. Work was busy. It was cold leaving work.

Correction. *I* was cold going to and from the office. The actual temperature may not have actually been that cold. I just seem to be extra sensitive to cold lately. Among other things.

I have felt cold for weeks. The only time I don’t feel cold is when I curl up under the three blankets on the bed in knit pajama set and socks. I wake up at least once during the night feeling a smidge too warm, take off the socks, and return to sleep. But when I’m awake and allegedly functioning during the day, I’m cold. If this is the case, when the low temperatures are in the 30s, what is it going to be like when it’s truly cold and winter? I don’t want to know. The long johns haven’t been pulled out yet, so there is still a layer to be tapped.

I kind of miss the Nevada heat with the sun scorching my skin under the blue, cloudless sky. I may need to plan a hot weather vacation to have something to look forward to. Or just crank up the heat at the house to about 90. A week of that would probably cost as much as a vacation, but without the hassle of packing and traveling. Those are the most stressful parts of a vacation anyway.

While in Nevada, in addition to the wonderful sun that made my skin feel like it was frying, we got a pumpkin pie from Costco. It was huge. It was only $5.99. It was delicious. Today I saw a news story about Costco pumpkin pie and how they are a delicious, fantastic bargain. If you are a Coscto member, get yourself a pumpkin pie. And get one for me, too.

It's delicious!

The other amazing product we found at Costco was StoneMill Kitchens cranberry jalapeno dip. It's a refrigerated dip that can also be served warm. We had it on pita chips, but I can imagine it being amazing spread on a toasted bagel. Or a turkey sandwich. Damn, I want more of that dip. There were also chicken cranberry jalapeno meatballs, but we didn't try those on vacation. 

I was ready to join Costco for the pie and the dip and maybe even the meatballs until I saw the limited locations of availability for the dip. According to info I found online, it is only sold in only a few states on the other side of the country and nowhere near New England. Sad face.

It’s probably fine. Joining a club warehouse store for two seasonal products is likely fiscally irresponsible and the house would need an addition to hold the warehouse quantities of whatever I’d end up buying when I got swept up in the alleged bargain pricing. Or maybe I should move to a warm weather state with seasonal cranberry jalapeno dip.