Commentary | Piss and Moan

Day 2

Posted on April 7, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com

Vacation, Day 2:

Plans are rather sparse today.

The weather doesn’t appear, at least at the moment, that it will cooperate like it did yesterday for more outdoor activity in the yard.

So, what to do, what to do today?

Well, at least for part of the day I am going to put on my mask and venture out to get some propane and weed killer. I don’t think we have any other needs in the supply area at this point so it should be a fairly quick trip outside the confines of these four walls.

After that, who knows? Perhaps I’ll set up some scaffolding and begin painting on the ceiling…or get out a toothbrush and clean the grout between the tiles in the kitchen floor…or maybe I’ll even read a book…

With no plans on this vacation it is hard to decide what to do with so much time.

Time. We always say we need more of it so we can get things done. Now I have it, but can’t get things done because we are supposed to limit our travel to “essentials” needs, which means the stores I need to go to for supplies to get things done are “open” but mostly off limits. Plus, we don’t know how long this whole lockdown thing is going to last so is it really wise to spend money on big projects I want to get done when that money might be needed for something else more important in the near future? Yeah, it’s a question that is sorta like “Why did the chicken cross the road?” There is no right or wrong answer, just an unending philosophical, circular thought.

This is going to be the worst vacation ever.

Vacation, Day 1 Update:

So, the chores and nice weather won out. this was the progress made in the front flower bed. Not much to look at because over the years many of the plants that were there to fill the space have now died due to insects and cold. So, lots of empty ground. But, at least there are no weeds in there now. At some point it will get replanted…but should it happen before landscape improvement or after?

Day 1

Posted on April 6, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Vacation, Day 1:

It’s sunny outside. Finally.

After weeks of rain off and on, and short periods of dry but not dry enough to do yard work it is finally sunny today. the high is supposed to get to 60 (of course, that is only a prediction).

It’s sunny outside. BUT, I have done activities outside the last two days despite it not being sunny and warm. It was dry however and so I took care of things like gutters, the lawn, splitting kindling for firepit/campfires, and little chores here and there.

Now that it is sunny, I don’t have any motivation to do any other yard work. I know I should, but I don’t. The flower beds need cleaned up, weeded, and bushes trimmed. All things I know I should do, but don’t really want to. Well, I want to but I don’t want to, know what I mean?

Maybe my attitude will change as the day goes along. Perhaps this afternoon it will be better.

Day 1 of vacation is nothing to write about, yet I am. Nothing exciting will take place today. There is nothing on the agenda that is exciting. There is nothing exciting to even put on the agenda. Lockdown has killed even things though could have been possible plans.

This is going to be the worst vacation ever. LOL

Dug out

Posted on April 3, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

For those of you paying attention, here is an update from yesterday’s assigned task from work…

It is nearly complete! I have about four or so hours of work left on it and then it will be ready to submit for review and approval (those are relatively quick because I am good at what I do!). Not to brag or anything.

So, after I complete this project, I need to get dug out from all the email and other little projects I was working on. It’s still gonna be a long day. Unlike many people in the U.S. right now, my co-workers and I have plenty to do. I am thankful for that.

Now, if I could just find the motivation to get dug out from all those projects and things I mentally make note of, “Oh, yeah, that needs to be done,” around the house and yard.

Maybe life is just one big project. Like, you just wander around for X number of years identifying things that need to be done and then do them. Well, I guess that is the case after the age of 18. Prior to 18, you don’t have to identify the projects – they are all given to you! LOL

Happy FRI-YAY, ya’ll! Try something different today. Sit in a different chair than yesterday. Shake things up while you’re in “house arrest.” Drink coffee out of a different mug. Put your pants on starting with the opposite leg than normal. Go crazy.

In house

Posted on April 1, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Ian Panelo on Pexels.com

One can only watch so many TV shows, movies, and play so many video games. I didn’t think it was possibly, but there is a limit.

I wouldn’t call it cabin fever, per se, but I am ready to at least be outside in my yard. But Mother Nature is being uncooperative in the PNW. She is teasing us with breaks of sun, followed by downpours of rain that give you the impression you are in the shower. Everything wet, everything drenched, everything starts the drying process…again.

It’s got me mumbling under my breath. More than usual, anyways.

Just about the time I think, “Ah, a break in the weather. Perhaps it will be dry enough to get out of the house and do some yard work,” another cloud bank comes rolling through to douse those ideas. And the process starts all over again.

It’s not that this is surprising. That happens all the time this time of year. That’s the PNW for you. BUT, this time is different because we are literally confined to our homes and there isn’t much to do anywhere else. So, yard work. Not that I am excited about doing yard work, but it is something different (and the grass is still growing and the weeds are still trying to take over the yard).

Mind you, I am not desperate enough to go out and do it in the rain or between rain showers. Not yet at least. But, there may be a day in the near future…

No, I’m sorry

Posted on March 31, 2020 by backuphill

alarm clock and analog camera on wooden desk

Photo by bongkarn thanyakij on Pexels.com

19 days.

For that.

I waited 19 days to hear from HR about a question I asked to get in response, “No, I’m sorry.”

GEE, thanks. Good thing I didn’t ask an important question.

I asked if they knew the “program code” for a supplement to the healthcare program provided by the state. Not a tough question. Not one that I expected would take 19 days to answer.

When I submitted the question I anticipated an answer in a day or two. I figured it would be something they knew since it was provided by the state and encouraged by the state to participate. They should know this, right? I though so too.

After a couple of days of hearing nothing, I was wondering what was going on. Mind you, after seven days I no longer needed the answer I was looking for. I gave up trying to get signed up. After seven days I figured someone might be trying to track down the information since they should probably know this to pass along to others who might need it.

After two weeks of hearing nothing I just assumed the HR department had decided to ignore my question so I forgot all about the fact that I even asked it.

On day 19 I get a “No, I’m sorry.”

There’s no ‘Sorry it took so long to get back to you’ or ‘I tried finding the information and had no luck.” No ‘You’ll have to work with the program provider to get that info’ or ‘Here’s a number you can try.’

So, I can only conclude that little to no effort was put into my question and therefore the response AND getting any info, let alone a response, from the HR department in a timely manner is out of the question. I can also assume that when this email was seen 15-18 days ago it was too much trouble to respond with the “No, I’m sorry” then.

NO, I’m sorry I asked…

Small minority

Posted on March 27, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

Why should a small minority dictate to the majority what is appropriate and acceptable, or what is not?

Case in point: schools are closed in WA and they are trying to figure out how to go forward as this corona virus thing continues. It was communicated out from OSPI (our state superintendent’s office) that districts couldn’t continue to educate their students if they couldn’t guarantee “equity” for all students it serves. Or, at least, they couldn’t require students to attend because of equity (lack of internet, ELL, SpEd, etc.).

OK, on the surface, that makes sense and it looks great on the PR side of things. However, it doesn’t make sense when you start looking at the numbers. That closer look ends up making the policy a complete “F” in my book.

The closer look:

So, we’re not going to educate 90% of the students because 10% can’t participate because of various challenges?

What if it was 50/50? Is that still too low to continue offering education to those who can participate? You can play with the numbers however you like, but at just about any point you can’t justify depriving a larger group of people from something because of a smaller group. It just doesn’t make any sense.

Do you scuttle the sailboat because there is no wind?

Do you throw out the baby with the bathwater?

Do you cut off your hand because you got a splinter in your little finger?

Do you cut off your foot because you broke a toe?

Do you demolish an entire building because a couple rooms in it aren’t or can’t be occupied?

Catch my drift?

Why do we let small groups of people dictate what happens with the larger groups? Seems a bit backwards, doesn’t it?

Remember the saying, “Greatest good for the greatest number“? Why doesn’t that apply these days? Or any day? How did we get so far away from an idea that mostly works?Sure, I know we have to make sure the “minority” group doesn’t get abused by those who are more powerful or has the most resources, but there is still something true about this thought:

What is the greater good when it comes to educating our students?

On repeat

Posted on March 26, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Mitchell Luo on Pexels.com

The days are starting to run together. What day is it again? Oh, yeah, Thursday…is it March still?…the 26th…OK, got it. They days are starting to all look the same. The routine has become monotonous and stale.

Is it much different than previously? Well, a little. Typically I would be getting up, heading to work, doing work while interacting with co-workers, heading home after work, having some hang out time, then going to bed.

Now? Well, now it is get up, wander to the garage home office, work all day while seeing nearly no one (some virtual meetings), wander back up the steps from the garage into the house for some hang out time, and then bed.

Notice the difference? People. Socialization. The out of doors (even if only from car to building/building to car). The key component here is I miss people…even though people, in general, piss me off and I dislike them. I know, I am “mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma.” I can’t explain it. Maybe it is only certain people I miss. OK, YES, for sure it is that. There are certain people I miss – way more than most!

Anyway, what are you doing to keep the days feeling like they are on repeat? How are you keeping track of the days? What has been your favorite thing to do since being confined to “life in a bubble”?

Serial “like”r

Posted on March 24, 2020 by backuphill

close up photo of man wearing black suit jacket doing thumbs up gesture

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

Are you a serial LIKEr?

You’re probably asking, “What does that even mean?”

Urban Dictionary

It’s not a perfect definition though. I think it should be adjusted to mean “people on social media platforms who ‘like’ posts or blogs to generate interest in their own accounts, never actually reading or interacting with the ‘liked’ post or account.”

Does that make more sense?

You have probably noticed it too. People who “like” your blog often but have never left a comment of any sort in the past, nor do they intend to in the future. I am not saying I haven’t been known to leave a like or two without comment, but I try to interact with every blog at some point. It might not be on a regular basis, but leaving a comment now and then (one that actually demonstrates that you read the blog) goes a long way for building loyal readers and followers.

If you just “like” with the hopes that someone visits your blog, well, your “like” is disingenuous and you didn’t really “like” it at all.

Leave a comment. Spark a conversation between you and the blogger, or other readers of the blog. Create some interaction. Then those “likes” at other times might be appropriate and actually considered genuine.

Otherwise you’re just a fake “like”r. Don’t be a fake.

Apathy

Posted on March 23, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Александр Македонский on Pexels.com

I don’t know about you, but I have felt a general sense of apathy set in as a result of all this “isolation.”

I am not all that isolated since there are people around (neighbors in their yards, and other family members in the house, co-workers via Teams and Zoom). BUT, the general assumption is that we shouldn’t be going out and about to run our normal errands unless it is necessary.

So, the normal routine of life is interrupted. I find myself sitting around (more than normal) with a general sense of apathy towards doing anything productive.

We had decent weather this last week/end and all I wanted to do was sit. I didn’t want to go out and do yard work. I didn’t want to go out and wash the car (I did). I don’t want to cook dinner (but I do). I don’t want to be productive at work (but I am). I don’t want to…*insert something here*.

To be clear, I am still grooming myself and still going about the daily routine of eating and showering and getting dressed, because my day doesn’t feel like it starts until I have had a shower. LOL I mean come on, I am not a lazy-ass slob (nor a teen)! But, after that, all bets are off.

Are you feeling apathetic at all too?

If you are feeling it, how are you combating it? Are you combating it or are you just giving in too?

No reminder needed

Posted on March 19, 2020 by backuphill

Anyone else tired of being reminded to wash their hands? ME TOO!

I was watching “The Ranch” on Netflix and this came on. It seemed rather appropriate considering the news and the inundation of the message to wash your hands.

How many of you have seen the paper of “songs you can sing” while washing your hands go up at work? Annoying. Really. How many of you have actually witnessed someone singing while washing? Even MORE annoying!

The way I see it, you are either a hand washer or you aren’t. There isn’t any amount of pleading that will change it. It might change habits in the short term (if at all) but I highly doubt it.

A little humor will get you a long way in a crisis.

Sorry for the language, but it was unavoidable.

**All rights belong to Netflix and no profit is being gained from this blog…but I wish there was.**