Other Than Work

I spent the day writing. Work was slow, as usual, but I had to work four and a half hours. I ended up being there for five, not sure how that happened with so little to do! Between jobs that came in (and they barely did), I worked on a story I've been writing for a while but have also put aside for a while. It was pretty nice to get back to that, actually.

Now, I'll crawl into bed for a nice, pre-party nap!

Not Broke

Phoenix thought she broke something in her hand. One clinic said so. The specialist said not so. We're happy with not so.

She broke her foot once, and left it untreated for four years. At one point, they put her in a cast, and she was so annoyed by it that she removed it with trauma shears and the help of a friend. I told her, if it was in fact broken, I would not be an accomplice to her cast-removing crime. Thankfully, a small, removable brace is all she needs. I must admire her determination, though.

There was a sale on yarn at the craft store yesterday. I know, I don't need any more yarn. But, it was on sale!! And yarn is expensive. I did restrain myself somewhat. I'm close to finishing one project that I've been working on for a while, and I've got a garden gnome and a half waiting for me to open my shop some time next year. I need a few more crochet pieces and a couple malas and I'll be ready to go. It's exciting.

Not a Day Off

It was August, I think, when I asked to be off the days after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I was denied the first two because someone else in my group was already off those days, and I was needed here to cover that work. The stupid thing about this is that I spent both of those days bored beyond bored. As a matter of fact, I was so bored this past Friday that Adolf sent me home an hour early because there was no work for me to do. I probably could have gotten out of here sooner, but I admit to putting off asking for more work simply because I got annoyed at having to do so. Well, next year when I ask for the days after holidays off, I will remind them of this year. Unless they give me some other task to do on a regular basis, it would not be worth it to have me here when I have so little to do.

This week is shaping up to be exactly like that, really. Although, WAM is out tomorrow, and I will have that work to do. I just need to get through this already very slow day.

At least I'm off on Friday. And, going to see Jeff Dunham at the Patriot Center. It's gonna be fun!

Lots of Game

Phoenix, her mom, and I had a quick breakfast at a coffee place then drove around town a bit showing off some of the trail heads and neighborhoods in the area. After that, the two of them headed out to visit nearby relatives, and I sat around playing my game.

I started a new character, really for the purpose of getting some holiday prizes when the winter festival ends on Thursday, and I really enjoy playing this class. Sometimes a little bit of gaming nothing is a fine way to spend a day.

When Phoenix gets back and we send her mom on her way home, we're going to hit Trader Joe's for some much-needed groceries.

Visitor

We have so few visitors, but Phoenix's mom came to see us today. I spent most of the morning cleaning, did an hour on the elliptical while Phoenix went to the gym, and then we went out to dinner when she arrived. After dinner, it was chatting, then Spaceballs, and now we have reached bed time.

Good night!

Occupation

Even with one person in my group out of the office, I'm not inundated with work today. I'm not even moderately engaged, actually. I'm working slower than I know I can, because more work just isn't there.

One of my coworkers, who has been curious as to why we pulled someone from another group (they brought LDS over a few weeks ago, though they say it's temporary) instead of giving that work to me, asked Adolf and Boss² why that was. He kindly reported that they have some plan for me. We guessed it's just not ready to happen yet. That's a comfort, I guess. I hope it means they understand why I'm producing so little work: that it's not because I'm not working, but that the work just isn't here for me to do. I know many people would enjoy that, but I have a somewhat unique work ethic. I'd much rather be busy than to sit around and get paid for doing nothing (it makes for faster days too, when you're busy).

And, while I was typing this and working, I finished all the work that had so far been given to me. 1100 can't come soon enough. That's when I don't have to be ready to take calls (which haven't happened yet) and can pass the time with my iPod. That will help. A bit. I have a small army of origami spiders on my desk from the slowness the past couple weeks. I've even had to throw a few away because the paper tore. I guess this year's daily origami calendar has less-quality paper than the previous two years. It was a different brand. Phoenix got me the 2009 calendar, and that is the original brand that I had been getting. So, for the record, Workman Publishing's Page-A-Day calendar does not have very good paper (though, it did have some nifty models). And, unless they've changed something in the year that I didn't have one of theirs, Accord Publishing's Fold-a-Day calendar has much better quality paper. It actually holds up to the complex spider model. I'm running out of star paper too (again).

Happy Christmas Day

I stopped celebrating Christmas some years ago. Still, Phoenix and I opened gifts to Christmas tunes and drank egg nog while we made pancakes for breakfast. There's no reason why we can't take advantage of a day off, right?

After breakfast, Phoenix took a nap and I played on the computer some. Then we prepared dinner: yummy chicken injected with wine, mashed potatoes, and peas.

Holiday gatherings with my family usually involve someone, either directly or indirectly, commenting on my singleness. I couldn't escape that today either. Phoenix kindly believes there is someone for everyone. That may be true, but if I don't find my someone soon, it will be too late. One of our friends tried to encourage me by saying that she didn't meet her husband until she was thirty-five. That's all well and good, but she already had two kids from a previous marriage before that, and neither of them wanted more. If "the one" shows up when I can't have children anymore, what the hell is the point?

It doesn't matter. I don't expect someone to knock on my door and I know perfectly well that I'm never in a situation where meeting someone is possible. I just need to keep saving so I can get a little spinster's house and fill it with lots of cats. I can be like that crazy lady in The Happening who lived in the middle of nowhere with no connection to the outside world. That sounds nice.

After not escaping the "Fyrecreek is alone" conversation, we ate an exceptionally tasty dinner and spent the evening with Sense and Sensibility while soaking our feet with our faces covered in an electric blue facial mask. Now, it's time for sleeping!

Yet Another Boring Day

I did my work, asked for more, sat around, asked for more, and sat around. Today was one of the longest four and a half hour days I've had.

But, I'm home now. Phoenix doesn't get home for a little while, so I still have time to finish getting things together.

And, maybe take a nap. We still have a little bit of shopping to do for tomorrow's dinner. Hopefully, we can find what we need.

Trying Not to Feel Guilty

I know there is no reason for it, but I'm feeling guilty anyway.

A couple coworkers have given me gifts. That's so very nice of them, and they will look great under our little tree until Thursday. I'm feeling guilty because I have nothing to give them. Funds are tight, and I can't craft fast enough (or en masse) for them. I couldn't even afford a box of candy canes to make into reindeer this year. It was the shift in pay weeks that did this.

But, I know I shouldn't be guilty. For a true gift, people give because they want to, and they give within their means. I would be happy to give things to some of my coworkers. I think gifts make people happy, and I know giving makes me happy. I just don't have the means.

However, I do know the power of being gracious, and each one of them will get a thank you letter from me. That gets neglected more than it should. E-mail, text, and in-person thank you’s don't count, you know.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

As much as I loved my pretty rosy template, it's high time I do something more with my near-rusty HTML skills. Tell me what you think.

This is only the beginning.