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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.

Bust it out

Posted on April 2, 2020 by backuphill

man sitting in black leather chair near window

Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com

To say that we are living in strange times these days is really an understatement, and not even necessary at this point since lots of people have already said it. But, I said it again. LOL

I have been working from home almost three weeks straight now. I have a scheduled vacation coming up next week.

It has been planned since the beginning of the year and it involved traveling on a jet plane to the land of upside-down (California) to see family. With much thought and general angst, that trip has now been postponed to a later date (TBD). But, that didn’t cancel my vacation. It will not just be a lock-down staycation…yeah, that’ll be fun…

BUT, before I go, I just got assigned a special assignment (like literally 10 minutes ago) that I have to complete in two days. Normally such a project takes two weeks.

So, I’ll be self-isolating myself to my garage home office to make it happen.

Isolated while being isolated.

That doesn’t have a nice ring to it.

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…

Precious

Posted on March 30, 2020 by backuphill

This “stay at home” order is killing me. Well, actually it may end up killing others in the house…

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY SNACKS!

Little people. Adults. Adults in charge of little people. I don’t care. These are mine and I don’t want you touching them or eating them or moving them or anything else.

I know what you are thinking. “He still has snacks left?”

That’s a fair question.

I had a personal stash that I didn’t tell anyone about. But someone caught me hunkered down in a corner eating a tasty morsel and the curiosity began…

Thus, my own little pot-o-gold for times of telecommuting in the garage has been sniffed out. Honestly, the stash was getting a little thin after two weeks of telecommuting and I am not sure how I could sneak more into the house…leaving the house is suspicious, for obvious reasons, and if I return and skulk back into the garage carrying grocery bags it is going to be even more suspicious.

This whole event has caused me to view the eating habits of a few people in the house and can say that I don’t like it. The munching, the crunching, the gobbling, the face stuffing, the pie-hole gorging are starting to irritate me. Do I really need to feed all these people? Who can I vote off the island? Who can I sacrifice and live without?

Anyone else feel like Gollum from “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” when it comes to their snacks?

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”?

Cooped up & melting down

Posted on March 25, 2020 by backuphill

close up photo of man holding melting ice cream cone

Photo by Vincent Rivaud on Pexels.com

Being cooped up is tough.

Being cooped up with lots of people in a small space is possibly enough for some to consider “bodily harm” to others. As the crazy sets in, Jack Nicholson in “The Shining” comes to mind, you are gonna need an outlet to keep Ozzy Osborn’s “Crazy Train” from coming to get you.

So, I’m here for you!

Remember, this is a space to Piss and Moan about all the things (from large to small) that just drive you crazy, seems unfair, generally confuses the hell outta ya, or makes you wanna “redrum” someone…you get the idea.

Wanna vent? Wanna have a safe space for on online virtual meltdown? Contact me about submitting a guest post. I KNOW I am not the only one that could use this space. I’ve got blogger friends and I see what you post! LOL You all have a little sump’n sump’n to get off your chests. This space is for you!

Try not to have a meltdown today…but if you must, let me know!

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?

Who did this?

Posted on March 20, 2020 by backuphill

WHO DID THIS?!?!?

…leaving a square destroyed like this is just not acceptable. It’s unusable at this point!

I may hyperventilate at the wastefulness. This impacts resources. Seriously. This stuff doesn’t grow on trees…and neither does the money needed to buy this it…

Wait.

Wipe that…from the memory banks…

Maybe both do grow on trees.

OK, “toilet paper math dad,” what do you do with this? How does this calculate into your figuring? And does the average person actually need (or use) 20 squares? But I digress.

All right, what do you do with these wasted squares? Do you put them inside the next wipe, do you tear it off and drop it in the toilet so you have a nice neat edge for the next wipe, or do you tear it off and re-purpose it? Any other ideas you can think of?

Sick note

Posted on March 9, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by bongkarn thanyakij on Pexels.com

I’m in WA state and there’s this thing going on. You’ve probably heard about it. So far, I’ve just heard about it too.

But, last night I developed a cough that came from nowhere. And a wheeze at the bottom of my lungs.

I checked in with the doc. At the moment they think it is related to the bronchitis I had two weeks ago. But, with the ongoing situation in WA, work doesn’t want me physically present. So…I have been “quarantined” to telecommute from home.

Can’t complain about that! No morning or afternoon traffic. No early mornings. No late dinners.

Win-win.

Except for the cough…and wheezing…

Expenses and new adulthood

Posted on March 6, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com

Here’s a TOUGH question for you?

At what point do you have your adult children fend for themselves?

Specifically, a child has graduated from high school almost a year ago and is now 19. Oh, and I’ll add that the child is not currently living in your home. Said child has college expenses covered already (tuition and housing), but has no job.

What do you think?

What do you continue to support/provide and what do you not? What would you consider “extra” versus necessary?

There are some difficult discussions coming up and I am curious how you see this topic. I realize this is a bit of an open ended question and can be taken in a lot of different directions, so I am open to any and all responses.