Culture | Piss and Moan

And then there was none

Posted on January 14, 2019 by backuphill

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There is one persistent problem with the house. We just don’t have enough storage.

The house has some closets and, of course, cupboards in the kitchen but otherwise there is just not enough space in the house. Which means, by default, the garage (which is supposed to house the cars) has become the dumping ground for all those things that don’t fit in the house.

As such, I have done my best to maximize the space. There are shelves on all the walls, floor to ceiling. There are shelves in the middle of the garage, floor to ceiling. There are shelves attached to ceiling and things hanging from the ceiling. I have been creative in finding places to fit things into things, just to make sure space is used. Yet…

It is still not enough. I guess we just have too much stuff. Do we really need it all? I keep asking why we need 30 serving platters of different sizes, shapes, and colors. I mean, obviously if we didn’t have those I could fit more tools into the garage…and that really is the most important. I mean, really.

Anyway, I built some more pantry-esque shelves over the weekend to free up some of the bigger shelves from canned goods and that will work for a while but after that there just isn’t going to any more space in the garage.

And then there was none.

Do you deal with a similar issue or do you actually get to use your garage for it’s intended purpose?

A little off the top

Posted on January 10, 2019 by backuphill

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I am not dying (well, not in the immediate sense of “not”) so you can probably decipher where this post is going…

Here in Washington we now have the pleasure of spending the next year paying into the “WA Family & Medical Leave” super fund. Mind you, we are just paying into it and no one can use the “benefit” for a whole year until the fund is built by every working stiff in the state. It is required by law. There is no way around it. Another new tax to take money out of my pocket so it can be given to someone else.

It is a new state “benefit” that I likely will never see or use. So I am not sure how it is a “benefit” to me. If it doesn’t benefit all, then is it really a benefit? If it COSTS me something, then it isn’t a benefit is it?

So, starting this month there will be a little more off the top of the pay check to pay into this fund. I am really not excited about it. Once again, the government is taking from me so that it can “protect” me. I don’t think I like this kind of protection.

I am not sure I can sleep on it

Posted on January 9, 2019 by backuphill

selective focus photography of long coated white and black dog lying on white cushion

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How is it that we fall into a pattern that is both comforting and annoying at the same time? Yes, I know, we all have habits that are both good for us and bad for us. The battle against the bad for us is often overwhelmed by the battle of what’s bad for us. Why do we like thing that are bad for us? Wait, that is a topic for another day…

Anyway, I have been sleeping with this one thing that is bad for me. Rather, I may not be sleeping enough because it is sleeping with me. The bad habit to which I refer is sleeping with the dog on the bed. It is both comforting and annoying at the same time!

I once had cats that slept on the bed. It was nice and all, but I found I had adjusted the way I sleep for them in fear that I would wake or disturb them. As it turned out, after I kicked them off the bed, I slept better when the weren’t on the bed. So, I kicked them off permanently and they no longer even think about sleeping there.

But now there is little dog that has wormed it’s way into my heart and it now sleeps on the bed. I say little because it isn’t big. It’s a Shih Tzu, so it needs help to get onto the bed and back off the bed. But, for a little dog it sure takes up space! It likes to sleep right up against you and it kicks and squirms and wiggles and licks and scratches and snuggles…there is a little comfort in knowing it is there. One, for a small dog it produces a huge amount of heat! So it can keep me warm at times. I have also discovered that it doesn’t ever go to the bathroom on the bed. When it stays in the living room and sleeps on the couch at night, there have been times where it will go to the bathroom in the house. If it is on the bed, there are no accidents and in most cases do I rarely have to get up to let it out at night. It’s weird that way.

Anyway, it is getting to the point where I don’t really want it on the bed any longer because I have noticed the old habits with the cats have come back. I am more worried about disturbing it than how it has affected my sleep habits and pattern. So, can I sleep with it any longer or do I need to continue to sleep on it and not rock the boat?

What do you think? Do you have similar issues at your house? Do you sleep with pets and how does your slumber suffer because of it?

Music and explicit lyrics

Posted on January 8, 2019 by backuphill

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What is the deal with music and explicit lyrics these days? It seems as though, as a listener, it is becoming harder and harder to avoid. If you look at the top 50 on iTunes and on Amazon (“Best of What’s New to Prime”), at least 30% of the music has the [Explicit] tag with the title. So what gives?

Why does an artist feel the need to express themselves this way? Yes, I know about the whole Freedom of Speech thing, but that isn’t really the issue. The issue is the fact that the explicit lyrics aren’t necessary. It doesn’t improve the song. It doesn’t make the message of the song more meaningful. Music sold without the inclusion of such language in the past and music did well without it.

Perhaps it is just a genre thing? Maybe. I looked at the “50 Great Modern Country Songs” on Amazon music and there was only ONE with explicit language in it. Interesting.

All I know is that it is irritating to me. It perhaps should be irritating to you as well.

Dress code angst

Posted on January 7, 2019 by backuphill

models posing an and woman standing next to each other looking upward

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Working in an office isn’t so bad, some of the time. However, there are still some things that just don’t make sense and are rather irritating.

One such illogical irritation is the dress code.

I work in software support and thus I spend about 90% of my time working with clients behind the scenes, meaning I am unseen. I answer calls, test software, create training materials, and suggest areas for improvement so that teacher’s lives can be made just a little bit easier instead of having to struggle with software. Anyway, most of my interaction is not directly in the physical presence of the client.

However, I am forced to dress as though I work with clients directly. I have to participate in “business dress,” even though I am unseen and work in a cube all day. Casual dress is only allowed on Fridays. This doesn’t make sense to me.

Anyone else have do deal with this situation? Does it irritate you like it does me?

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When is it enough?

Posted on January 2, 2019 by backuphill

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Question of the day: When is it enough?

Let’s put some context into the question…

When is it enough charity? Gifting? Generosity? Especially, when it comes to adults who should, by now, be able to fend for themselves and stop making choices in life that keep them from being able to do it? Thus, requiring additional help (on a seemingly regular basis).

Does the answer of “enough” matter if they are a stranger? An acquaintance? A good friend? Family…children, grandchildren, parents, siblings? Sure, I understand every circumstance is different and have their own complexities, but there has to be a line, right?

Where does the line get drawn and how do you draw it? Do you just continually allow it to happen?

Happy New Year, blah blah blah

Posted on January 1, 2019 by backuphill

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The new year has begun and for some reason everyone is back to being cheerful again.

I don’t get it.

Did they get a reset button somewhere that magically made their lives better over night? Did they get a reset that changed the daily reality? Or, did they see into the future and have no problems? Me thinks not.

So why all the cheer? What makes today different than any other day?

Happy New Year, blah blah blah.

Wait, the end?

Posted on December 31, 2018 by backuphill

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I see lots of people paying their last respects to 2018.

There’s no reason to do that. Yeah, it is over, but it’s kind of a waste of time I think. You see, life goes on. There is no reason to look back but there is a good reason to look forward.

There is no reason to look back and recount the failures and there is no reason to recount the success. It was just another year. The only thing to do with 2018 is be thankful.

I know this doesn’t sound like the usual Piss and Moan way, but I am thankful. For another year. For more time. That was 2018 wasn’t horrible. I am thankful. Today.

You should be too. The last day of the year is not a dead end. It leads to the first day of a new year. That is all.

Can I just stay in bed?

Posted on December 28, 2018 by backuphill

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It’s cold out.

It’s dark out.

It’s raining….still.

It’s Friday.

It’s the last day of a short week and the day before a four day weekend.

Can I just stay in bed and call it a day? OK, I’ll get up and go pee have some coffee just so I can say I got up today BUT really, can I just stay in bed and call it a day?

I’ll phone it in.

I’ll telecommute (as long as I can stay in bed).

How about we just pack it up and quit.

I’ll start again next year. (LOL, like that joke isn’t as old as the ages).

Today, well, today is just dumb.

No one should have to work today.

I hereby grant all of you a day off. Congrats! NO go home and do no work.

Hail (to) the garbageman

Posted on December 12, 2018 by backuphill

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If you are a home owner, you have probably done this at least once. My guess is probably more than once. What is it, you ask?

It looks a little like this…

You’re laying in bad dead asleep. Blissfully not a care in the world when you are awakened by a familiar noise. You listen for a second and then realize that familiar noise is the garbage truck up the street. IT. IS. GARBAGE.DAY. and you forgot to put out the can(s)!

So, you bolt from bed, desperately trying to clothe yourself (or maybe not, if you’re that kind of person) and put on some sort of foot covering as you awkwardly and progressively work your way through the house to the cans that need to be taken to the street.

Now, if you are quick, hopefully you made it to the street before the truck comes rambling up to scoop up your cans as you stand there in the driveway or next to the road, disheveled like you just randomly dressed in clothes you found in the dumpster behind the thrift store. But if you are not…well, my friend, you are just SOL.

Maybe, just maybe, you get lucky and make eye contact with the garbage collection officer and he acknowledges you and comes back to empty your can. That is a glorious day and the victory feels like you should just stop there for the day and not risk further misfortune.

But if you are not that lucky, you get the walk of shame with a full can and another week of stinky garbage. You might as well crawl in the can and wait. There is no coming back from this defeat.

So, don’t be that guy. Get the garbage out and hail to the garbageman.