Month: September 2019

In the gutter

Posted on by backuphill

photo of roof while raining

Photo by Adrien Olichon on Pexels.com

Actually, the title is a lie because it has nothing to do with being in the gutter and everything to do with not being in the gutter.

Good service is hard to come by these days. That seems to be a common cry from and about all sorts of industries. People just don’t get the service they deserve or expect (I realize in a “me first” society what you deserve and what you expect may be two different things). First and foremost, you expect that people will be honest. Next, you expect that they will do their best to make sure your experience is great so that you recommend them. What you deserve is the best treatment possible with honesty and integrity, without you having to demand that minimum.

Anyway, there is an issue with one of the gutters on the house. It needs to be replaced because it has literally rotted from gunk sitting in it. This is partially due to my neglect and partially due to the fact that it was shoddily repaired about 5 years ago (again by me, who is/was and inexperienced gutter repairman). Because of the way I repaired it, it was difficult to clean and it didn’t drain correctly which allowed it to collect debris and then just cause the metal of the gutter to rust and break. Yeah, I didn’t do my duty on that one.

So, it has come time for a professional to get the job done right. I didn’t expect that I would get someone out the minute I called and I accounted for some delay in getting the repair done. I realize that they likely have other jobs they are doing. However, I didn’t expect that one company would tell me that it would be two weeks before they could come out to do an estimate and another company to tell me a price over the phone (it’s not a big job, just 26′ of straight gutter) and tell me he would fit it in between jobs.

So, I cancelled the estimate from the company with estimate delay and went with the company who said they would be out between jobs…only now it has been two weeks and still no one has come to fix the gutter. And guess what? It’s now the rainy season (I mean, come on, when is it not in WA?) and the rains are running down the roof, going straight through the broken gutter, and promptly flooding the yard.

Thanks gutter, dude. Thanks a lot.

 

Friday the 13th

Posted on by backuphill

light landscape sky sunset

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

WTH?

Almost noon and I am just getting to this thing. Bet you thought I wasn’t going to do it, right?

Friday. 13th. Full moon.

Stuff nightmares are made of. There must have been a solar flare last night or something because computer issues and software issues all morning long for clients. Either that or they have forgotten how their stuff works.

Either way it was crazy busy this morning. Hopefully we are in the eye of the storm right now and the backside will be better than the front.

Can I just go home already? I am ready to sit and drink.

 

Do you notice weird crap going on during days like this or do you think it is just a mental thing?

Pizza shenanigans

Posted on by backuphill

close up photo of person holding pizza

Photo by Muffin on Pexels.com

Did that title get your attention? I know it does me! I love pizza and so I get excited just thinking about it. Well, that is until I start thinking about the shenanigans going on at the local Little Caesars.

I am sure you are well aware (and if you aren’t then you really aren’t a pizza fan) that Little Caesars advertises a special deal they call the “Hot & Ready.” Essentially, you can get a basic large pepperoni pizza just about any time (because they always have them prepared, thus hot and ready) for $5.99. This is advertised EVERYWHERE!

Why am I explaining what a Hot & Ready is? If these people love pizza like they say they do, then they already know this information.

So, our local Little Caesars benefits from a national advertising campaign but doesn’t actually offer the advertised price. Why? Well, apparently there are two types of stores, corporate and franchise. One is owned by the company and the other just has the name and product licensed to them. As such, the franchise stores can decide on their own what to price the products at.

Imagine my chagrin the first time I walk into our local Little Caesars store and ask for a Hot & Ready and expecting to pay $5.99 and then get charged $6.99. Yeah, that’s right, pure shenanigans!! When questioned why the response was “We’re a franchise and we don’t have to sell pizza at the corporate and advertised price.”

Well, okay then, Ms. Snotty McSnotterson.

From then on, let’s just say the pizza didn’t taste quite as good…and I drive out of my way to find a corporate store.

 

Yes, I realize it is only a $1 but it is the principle of the whole thing that bugs me. Anyone else do something simply for the principle of it?

Reflect

Posted on by backuphill

us flag on gray surface

Photo by Matthis Volquardsen on Pexels.com

There will be not be a regularly schedule Piss and Moan session this morning. We are only going to reflect gratitude and respect today.

Respect for those who lost their lives on this terrible day 18 years ago. Those who were attacked and those who rushed to help them. Those who helped in the aftermath and now suffer the lasting effects on their health. No matter how you look at it, a terrible price was paid during the terrorist attack.

Gratitude for those who rushed towards the danger and didn’t return. Those who rushed to fight the enemy and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day of our lives. Those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us and those who have returned home wounded physically or emotionally. Thank you for doing what most of us can’t or won’t do.

America can never forget.

Don’t ever forget.

Don’t let those who hate this country destroy it from within. Don’t allow the freedoms that have made us targets, internationally and domestically, be eroded slowly and taken from us. Don’t take for granted the sacrifices of those who gave you those freedoms and protect those freedoms.

9.11   NEVER FORGET

 

I just knew it

Posted on by backuphill

person wearing blue jeans sitting on bench

Photo by Bas Masseus on Pexels.com

Ever had that moment of regret where you knew better but did it anyway?

Ever had that moment where your mind tells you, You’ve done this before and it didn’t work. Don’t do it again.

Why do we not listen to our inner voice? Why do we choose to ignore all the red flags and past experiences we have had only to find ourselves in a familiar place with familiar regrets?

My eyes are telling me that. They have been telling me that for at least a week, probably more. Maybe about a month. I should probably do something about it.

I was at Costco a while back and I was in need of contact solution. Many years back I had messed around with trying different brands, only to find that the Bausch & Lomb really WAS the best. So, I haven’t ever deviated from that brand since.

Well, dang it, my eyes observed a deal in the Kirkland brand solution (even though it has been tried in the past). Three bottles of solution for half the price the stuff I normally buy. Maybe it’s time to try it again. Hey, it’s made by a name brand company but just bottled under the Kirkland name. It can’t be as bad as I remember.

My inner voice needs a beating.

Seriously, someone needs to beat that guy up. He tells me not to do it and then turns right around and rationalizes doing it. Way to watch out for my me, inner voice.

My eyes are not as comfortable as they have been in the past and they can definitely tell the solution isn’t the same. My eyes are dried out and they always feel like they do when I am tired and as though I have worn my contacts for several days without taking them out.

Stupid inner voice. I gotta stop listening to that guy. No, I need to start listening to that guy. Wait, I can’t do both.

Inner voice, what should I do?

Lack of memory

Posted on by backuphill

road landscape nature forest

Photo by veeterzy on Pexels.com

Rain.

We have it here in the Pacific Northwest about nine months of the year. Yeah, it’s probably less than that, but it sure feels that way at times. Anyway, it’s something we have a lot of and we spent a good portion of our year getting it.

So why, when summer ends and the rain returns, do NW drivers have such a hard time remembering how to drive in the stuff? It’s not like it’s a mystery and it isn’t a new skill that has to be obtained. This should be “old hat” by now!

Seriously, people, get a grip on that steering wheel and slow down. It won’t hurt you unless you’re stupid…

Maybe what little optimism I have is being too generous.

I keep hoping.

I’ll stop.

Donut figure?

Posted on by backuphill

dessert donuts doughnuts food

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Donut figure?

I decided to take donuts to the office this morning because it’s been a couple long weeks due to the start up of school and every day has been stressful. We seemingly have had more help tickets come through out system in the last two weeks than we have had in a long time.

Anyway, as it turns out, there is already an organization wide meetings this morning (not just our staff meeting which the donuts were for) and there is typically refreshments served at that meeting. So, the donuts will likely go mostly uneaten.

Wasted food. Wasted money. Dare I say, wasted gesture?

Maybe not.

I guess I have a lot of eating to do this morning…which may actually lead to a donut figure of my own.

Under attack

Posted on by backuphill

man couple people woman

Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com

Do you feel that? Likely you don’t. Do you hear that? Probably not. Do you care much? I fear you don’t.

Somewhere out there, someone is attacking you and what you believe.

Let that sink in for a moment. You’re under attack and you don’t even know it. Well, you may know it but maybe you don’t even care enough to do anything about it.

In the climate we live in today it is reasonable to believe that the freedoms you have right now won’t be there in the near future. All because a small minority of people scream loud enough in protest to catch the attention of the media who are all too happy to highlight the division because it generates ratings and clicks.

There once was something in America referred to as the “silent majority.” They could be from either party, but they rarely discuss what they feel or believe publicly. The silent majority still exists, but if it stays silent too much longer it won’t matter that they are the majority. We can express our opinions via our vote, but is that enough? In most cases policy is being made without a vote, either in the public or private arena. Perhaps the vote isn’t enough any longer. Perhaps staying silent isn’t an option.

The ideological attacks will continue and as fringe groups become more militant in their efforts to garner attention, the non-physical attacks are likely to become more physical. It is only a matter of time before the silent majority is beaten into submission by small, loud minority groups.

 

 

Park not!

Posted on by backuphill

photo of brown labrador retriever sitting in front of driveway

Photo by Chris F on Pexels.com

Get your #@$%&#! car off my driveway!

Alright, bear with me here. I am trying really hard to not be an arse-hole, but when someone does something blatantly just because they can when they know they shouldn’t…well, that just burns the hell outta me. Do you think I am being unreasonable?

When I first moved into my current house, it had a gravel driveway. I didn’t like it (call me a sissy if you want) because when I washed the car I would drag the hose around and then it would be covered in small bits of gravel and dirt and not very pleasant to pick up because it was all grimy.

Anyway, I happened to fall into an opportunity to get it blacktopped. So, now it is a nice smooth and surface to park on and to wash the cars on. Now, it’s been nine years since the blacktop was done. It has been seal-coated twice in that time and it continues to show signs of wear over time. It’s starting to crumble on the edges. Its starting to crack where tree roots exist under the driveway. It is starting to sag in one spot where a heavy city truck decided to turn around in our driveway. And, there are some spots of the driveway from where vehicles have dripped fluids.

There’s where the rub comes in! I know EVERY single drip spot on the driveway and pay close attention to them. They are signs to me. They tell me if something on the vehicle needs attention. At a time in the past there was a car that parked in the driveway (because it was mine) that dripped an awful lot until it was replaced. Why did I park it in the driveway and let it leave spots on the driveway? Because it’s MY driveway!

So, now the issue. There are others who have parked on the driveway who also have vehicles that drip fluids. They know this. It isn’t a something they didn’t know about. It wasn’t new to them. I have asked them not to park in the driveway because I don’t want extra spots on the driveway that need to be cleaned the next time maintenance needs to be done. Plus, it causes me stress not knowing if it came from one of our vehicles or not and then I have to figure it out. So, there are several other places to park that are close to the house that is in gravel or grass where they can drip away and it isn’t inconvenient at all.

But NOOOOOO, they still park in the driveway like they live here! It just burns me up. The disrespect is irritating. Are they doing it on purpose? I don’t know. Did they honestly forget? I don’t know and I don’t care.

Just don’t do it! It’s mine and I don’t wanna share with your POS car! Go away and take your car with you! Don’t come back until you figure out where to properly park!

 

Am I being unreasonable? Unfair? Possessive? Or, is what I have requested reasonable?

Stiff and sore

Posted on by backuphill

grayscale photo of man

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

All that work on the house and in the yard yesterday has me moving much slower today. Age isn’t just a number, so don’t listen.

I suppose if I did this stuff on a regular basis, I would be less sore. But, climbing up and down a ladder repeatedly to put up gutter guards and using the shears to cut down bushes aren’t something that happens regularly, so that little piece of advice goes in one ear and out the other.

OK, OK, being more physically active would be better, I know.

But today, just let me wallow in my tired, stiff and sore irritation. It’s just best for everyone.