25 Years Later….

25 years ago, I got up, flipped the TV on, heard on the news about the first tower being hit, and saw the second tower get hit. I still had to go to work, so I caught the bus, made my connection, and on the way to Seattle (rip Westlake Center Mrs. Fields) both towers collapsed, though I didn’t know it as I had very little internet on my phone at the time. I get there, and find out both towers collapsed, and there were two other hijackings. Started to open the store, and then they announced that the mall was closing for the day. Get back on the bus home, and stopped at the South Hill Mall, and finally saw a video of the Towers collapsing. Went home and spent the rest of the day watching the news.

America changed a lot that day. It brought us the Department of Homeland Security, the TSA, and it seems like a lot more intrusive policing. But even on that very night, there was the WWF, who decided that the show had to go on….

Yes, we remember those we lost that day. We remember the loss of America’s innocence. We take the Moment of Silence. But the show goes on. We show the terrorists they did not win by carrying on with the day. I got home from work this morning, and i will go back to work tonight. We must never forget, but the show must go on….

Some Thoughts On An Extra Day Off….

Saw the Seahawks game last night. They won. But Sam Darnold lasted one drive. But Drew Lock stepped up. And the defense. Long story short, the Patriots still suck.

So, today is payday. Checked my account, and the paycheck has already arrived. Went to my email inbox, where all my current statement/bills live, and took care of everything coming due in the next 2 weeks. And that was the end of payday. But they’re all taken care of…

A Couple Of Semi-Vacations….

OK, so last Sunday night, I had to call out of work. Mainly for mental health. Was already doing the jobs of 2  people (my job and the another person who had the night off), and there was another call-out and they tried sticking me with that work. That kind of stress when you’re not in management (and you’ve told them repeatedly that) is no good. So I called out, and it gave me 3-day weekend number 1. Yes, there was an attendance point involved, but c’est la vie…

Came back to work Wednesday night. And I worked the 5 day work week, no issues this time. Got home Monday morning for 3 day weekend #2. What had happened is when the Seahawks released their schedule, I went through and put in a PTO request for any prime-time game in September and October. And they were all approved. Which means I got Wednesday night off.

And in a couple of weeks, I also requested another Sunday night off just so I can watch Sunday Night Football. And they approved it.

So 3 different 3 day weekends in a month. I could get used to it, but I know it’s not going to last.

And lo! (and some other things)….

We lost Dolly Parton yesterday. Google it if you want the details. I’m not really into counrty music, but she deserves to be lauded for her philanthropy. There are times when you just have to be nice…. She will be remembered.

Had a birthday last week. Went out with my sister and did my Target run and Applebee’s. Bother gave me 3 various and sundry Seattle sports team jerseys. And of course there were all the wishes on my Facebook wall.

Got myself a new external hard drive mount a couple of weeks ago. The previous one I was using started having issues trying to turn it off. And on occasion, I do use an external back-up…..

Here we go again….

Yet another weekend. Pulled out my laptop. The one that I hadn’t turned on since November 2025. It still booted Windows 10, But after having not even been powered on for 9+ months, it was slower than molasses because everything had to update, all at once. And I’ve been wanting to toy around with Linux again. So I nuked it for OpenSuSE Tumbleweed. Who knows how long it’ll last before I decide to go back to Windows 10?. But then again, I can mess with Linux, and still leave my main tower intact…..

So I did jury duty last week…..

A few week ago, I got a blue postcard in the mail. It has instructions to go to a website and answer some questions. I am a US Citizen. I live in Pierce County, WA. I am not convicted of a felony. So I was eligible. They made it formal a week and a half later with the proper jury summons. I was due in the courthouse at 7:30 am, when I’m normally off work at 7:00. Boss told me to call out for jury duty the night before, and I would be paid for it (per company policy)….

So, the day comes and I show up. There were 3 trials scheduled: 2 district court and 1 superior court. I was selected for the pool for the superior court trial. Then we went to the court room for voir dire. I actually made it to the jury box, but ultimately I wasn’t selected for the jury. I’m not commenting on the case as I wasn’t on the jury, and I didn’t hear the evidence…. Anway, I was sent home for the day after that. I was ‘on call’ for the rest of the week. But I wasn’t needed.

Now this is where it went south: I printed out an attendance report on the day when I  had to report, and I gave to my (new) boss (pervious boss had retired between me receiving my summons and me reporting to court).During last week, I noticed that the jury duty pay hadn’t showed up when I thought it should, so I reminded my boss again. And then finally, I put a request in for 8 hours of my vacation time to cover the shift I missed. And then Sunday night I checked my attendance and my absence was unexcused. And I was about to be fired for it. Another conversation with a different manager cleared things up.

Now suppose I got fired over this. The company’s own policy for jury duty said my absence would be paid and excused. And I did everything on my end by the book. Maybe I should’ve let them fire me. Something the courts take a very dim view of. Like managers get arrested over. Especially when the company’s written policies explicitly say otherwise. I’ll be wondering which manager would’ve been arrested over this forever….

'Murica! F*ck Yeah!

 Happy Fourth People. America as now 250. I really can't celebrate it this year, owing to work. Namely I have to. So happy Saturday night everyone.....

Here’s To Procrastination!

Day off today. Normally, it’s laundry day as well. But there is an issue. They’re painting my apartment building. It’s been going on for over a month (starting with a full exterior pressure wash). And this morning, they’re staining the walkway right in front of my front door, so I cant get out to the laundry room…

I think I can go another week without laundry, and stay out of the painters’ way. Here to procrastination…