I'm wide awake...again.

Well, I got 3 1/2 hours of sleep.  Let's try for 6 - 8 next time eh?   Making a reservation in town at the local hotel not a bad idea currently.  The kittehs officially have gone coo coo.  Hopping up/down on the bed all night.   The moon must be doing something to have this affect on our household.  Hubster has slept through it all. It did seem as though his snoring was a louder than norm too.  Maybe not, I'm sleep deprived. This has made me a tad sensitive to those sleeping through all the ruckus.  What will really burn my buns, when he arises asking; Why you up so early? You feel ok? All sweet, and sincere like.  Ugh. lol

What finally got me out of bed was Bentley hacking up a fur ball.  My side of the bed, on the floor.  Seriously? Bentley.  When it rains it pours.
Now that I've moved out to the living room, the kittens are all settled down sleeping. I want to be ornery, poke them constantly to keep them awake see how they like it.

At least the coffee is good this am.

Granite...who need's it?

Dorel Golf Resort

I'm so anxious.  The only way to solve my anxiety is the beach.  Well, maybe a resort spa.  I have ideas of living the million dollar lifestyle.  It's the funding for my ideas that are troublesome.

Winning Publisher Clearing House 5k a week would solve the lack of funds.  Hiring an assistant would be a top priority.  Their responsibility make the necessary arrangements for us to visit golf resorts in Fl. This would occupy the men. Follow up with arrangements for me to visit the near by beaches at these resorts.  Aww, now that's living.  At least for a few months.  I haven't thought of any long term goals.  

I suppose I would build the dream house.  Nothing overly large, not my idea of dream.  New would be a dream.  Furniture, bedding, accessories.  Everything. I would have no problem tossing 99% of our stuff.  Knick-knacks, family photos would be about all I would keep.  Maybe the few antiques, not that they have a monetary value. They're family hand-me-downs, so I must keep them for the sake of fond memories. My dream home is traditional style with the wrap around porch.  A splash of rustic/county accessory would work as my theme.

 I like the beach, but not the beachy decor, blah!  I have never been a fan of starfish, dolphin, sea shells or coral cluttering the area with teal green/peach as the  primary colors.   Makes me seasick just thinking about it.

I'm not a fan of log cabins either. I know, I can't believe I admitted out loud.  Sorry, log cabin lover people.   I would travel & stay in log cabin, but to live with all that wood on a  daily basis? Nope, not for me.  Also, log cabins attract decapitated large game animals as the main decorating accessory.  I don't like looking at dead animals, not attractive.

I couldn't live on a boat either. Too confining. Plus, you are a small gnat in a boat relative to the size of an ocean, that includes ships.  Naw, tis lady is a lover of ye land ... arrr...

A modern home is so cold, sterile.  Architects, Doctors like sterile environments.   The decorating people of TV always make a big production, about the clean lines. They also like stainless steel appliances.  I hate stainless steel.  Sure it looks good in a magazine, but to live with it.  Ugh, the fingerprints would drive me batty.  They love the extra large glass door enclosure for the shower too.  Try cleaning that booger after you've had a shower!  Can you imagine the water marks.  Speaking of  decorating shows why do they brag about granite counter tops?

My anxiety is beginning to build....yep, I need a beach day.

How's the weather?...series final.

I reread the message.  Hopeful it would trigger something maybe recall who was sending the email .

****Hello, I saw your car in the parking lot, so I know you're here today.  Are you going to talk to me today, or are you mad at me?**** 82374FTL

Oh, I was racking my brain.  Using the email a handful of times.  I only replied to one person .  Pierre Paul 79232PPL .  He was my assigned Operator.  Any program issues, tech problem either hardware or software I typed my messages to him.

I now had 2 emails, that needed a response.  My dilemma was the approach. Should I ask a long series of Who? What? Where? Should I request formal information via email? Am I allowed to use the email with someone other than 79232PPL?

Maybe I will call Pierre Paul to ask the best response?  No, Pierre Paul doesn't seem the type to care about strange email memos. I could ask one of the Secretaries outside my door?  Again, I nixed the idea. I really can not pester them.  They will state a personal message should be ignored in a professional environment.

That's it! Be professional.  I decided my approach would be curt, direct.  Placing my fingers on the keyboard I began to type my message.

***Who is this?*** 63827CCJ

*** Finally you decide to respond.  I guess you're not mad at me.*** 82374FTL

I am getting mad at you, thinking to myself.  You didn't answer my question.

Now my dilemma was growing.  I should have done what the Secretaries would have recommend.  I've been in my office for only a few minutes.   I haven't removed the vinyl cover from my typewriter yet. I was reviewing the current contract revision. Minding my own business.  
I can see this needs to be address in a serious manner.  I adjust my chair, remove the vinyl cover.  Click on the computer monitor, word-processor.  Lighting a cigarette briefly inhale gathering my courage I began to type my next response.

*** Who is sending this message? Please identify. *** 63827CCJ
*** Who am I? ok?  I'm Frank.  You identify.*** 82374FTL
*** Frank in building two?***63827CCJ
*** Building two? No, we work in building 15.***82374FTL
*** No, I work in Building 4. ***63827CCJ
*** Ok, enough with the jokes Carla.  I will contact you later. ***82374FTL
*** My name isn't Carla. ***63827CCJ

The keyboard printer went silent.

Finally,  I was now able to start my work day again.   A few minutes pass, the shaky printer sprang to life once more.

*** Who is 63827CCJ? What is your location? ***82374FTL
*** My name is Cindi.  I'm in Building 4. ***63827CCJ
*** Hello Cindi, my name is Frank.  I work in Building 15. ***82374FTL
*** Hello Frank.  I'm in Business Park One. I'm unfamiliar with Building 15.  Is that in Business Park Two? *** 63827CCJ

My very first chat via the World Wide Web. My Hello Watson moment.

Frank explained his mistake.  My email 63827CCJ handle was similar to Carla's 63287CCJ email handle.   The eight and two in reverse.  So our whole conversation started because of a typing error.  How ironic?

Frank was a contracted employee same as myself.  He was a Operator located in the Virginia area.  Me, Denver Colo.   We worked for the same corporation allowing us to communicate via email.  Carla was Franks girlfriend.  I'm sure he got an earful when he called her, probably why he contacted me again so quickly.  Always a paper trail.

Periodically when I arrived to work in the morning I would have a message waiting for a reply.  Frank sending his greetings. Never anything flirtatious.  A simple:

*** Hello, How's the weather? ***82374FTL

Thrilling times indeed.

*** "Wishing" all the best *** 63827CCJ

part 2.. baffling...

The computer room Operators are the beating heart of the business system.  Imagine a group of 20 -30 people maintaining the computer room itself, and handling the "Office" network so dependent on its speed of function.   Talk about grace under pressure.  You made "friends" with your tech operations guru.

The rickety keyboard printer, was used as  high tech telephone.  The brilliant Computer Programmer and Operators would use the email system daily.  These guru's hated to communicate via land line.  Since their positions required the literal hands on the massive expensive pieces of equipment.   Adapting to the multiple conversations via email was second nature to them.  Why go to the trouble of picking up a telephone to call someone about an error, or system update.  It was up to us "corporate" office folk to learn the new ways of business.  

Pierre Paul was my assigned guru.  If the computer was delayed from the nightly backup.  I would arrive in the morning to an email identifying a problem or notation. A simple sterile message, directing your attention to that days hassles in the work environment.

Opening my office door, I noticed a email had been sent.  Each night before going home I would properly prepare the rickety keyboard printer.  I made sure a sufficient amount of paper in supply.  I would double check the perforations, align the holes on the printers load bar.

I wonder what Pierre Paul had to tell me today.

**** Nightly backup delayed.  Hour of operation available 9 am. ****79232PPL

Thank you Pierre Paul,  I say silently.  I wonder if he could be make a more cheerful message though? Operators seldom have the luxury to engage in a deep formal conversation.  Just once it would be nice to see.

***Good morning  everyone.  I hope you slept well.  The system had a bit of a struggle last night during back up.  This will leave us with a delay until 9 am.  So, please enjoy your coffee.  You have time to make those copies you've put on the back burner.  If the time changes we will inform immediately. ***79232PPL

Once or twice I called Pierre to ask him a tech question, but he's main function as far as I was concerned was a paperboy.  He said, if I wanted my supply faster to call him instead of email.  He received too many email messages, my paper request could get loss in the masses.

The current email baffled me.  It was more elaborate than any previous message I had ever received.  It was possible to have a human-like conversation.  It started with a Hello. That was a nice greeting.  How's the weather on the 3rd floor today?

Hum?...Who would be sending this email about the weather?  The Operators in Building One know very well what our weather is like today.  If this is a joke, I wonder if I will get into trouble typing an email about weather?  Who's handle sent this message?  I don't recognize those initials.  About this time the old keyboard printer came to life again.  Spitting out another message.

****Hello, I saw you car in the parking lot, so I know you're here today.  Are you going to talk to me today, or are you mad at me?**** 82374FTL

Saw my car? Who is FTL? I know a Phillip Lancer, but his 1st initial begins with a P.  There's a guy named Frank, he works in Building Two as a tester.   I don't know Frank's last name.   I rarely interact with either of them.  What about this 3rd floor? and Who am I mad at?

The dark ages.....a 3 part series.

I have been on the 'blog sphere' for 9 1/2 to 10 years.  At least the 'internet' world as many know today.  AOL journals was the best time.  Our kids were peeking their noses into the MySpace world about the same time. But, let us begin a few years prior to the formal age of the WWW. 

 Newlywed, I successfully landed a new job as a Data Entry operator.   The company I worked for provided tech support to the defense department.  I was assigned to the procurement department entering contracts, revisions and such.  I was so important. I had my own office. It housed a desk, file cabinet, typewriter, word processor, and a computer which was linked to a main frame 4 buildings away in the very large business park.  Fancy digs for a young corporate girl. Yes, the dark ages of IT, this is why Jobs (Apple) vs Gates (Windows) fight was worth fighting.  It took 4-5 separate machines doing individual functions.  When Gates won the fight this was my demise as a young corporate girl.

Attached to the large word processor was a stand alone keyboard printer.  It's primary function was to print anything I typed on the word processor. Secondary, it would provide email.  This was the dark ages of IT.  Email was used so rarely.  For the Government rarer still.  They wanted everything in triplicate form.  Typed neatly on the nice IBM typewriter, always needing a paper trail.  I loathed carbon copies!  I am a lousy typist. Too many typing errors.  They would allow, oops here and there on edits, but when whatever paper, memo, letter made it to the final final stage, having all your edits in order, it was now ready for the Triplicate carbon copy final final stage.  

No errors allowed, because if an error was typed on a final final.  Ugh, you would still have to enter, staple, attach all copies into the paper trail book.  Mark a X in red permanent ink on all copies, noting this final final had an error.  The Secretaries would remind us lonely bottom Data Entry feeders. You made a ERROR on a final FINAL.   I was Data entry for a reason, the "professional" gal i.e. Secretaries were Gods on any electronic keyboard. Respectfully so, gosh I remember in amazement how their fingers would zip along the keyboards. Some would appear to type faster than the other, racing along, never hesitating or removing the eye from the form they were typing.  Nothing could disrupt them, however you could disturb them with your lingering or loitering.  They had not the time for dilly dally.  Curt, professional, steadfast.  State your business, move directly on. They would treat their bosses in the same manner.  

As I was saying, rarely would you receive an email, so when the printer sputtered to life, it would shake back/forth on the wimpy legs, make a ruckus as it sucked in the paper feeding from a large case located on the floor nestled underneath.   I nearly jumped out of my skin, each time because it seemed I would get an email sitting in a silent office concentrating on a contract revision.  

 One such occasion I received an email that said.  Hello, how's the weather on the 3rd floor today?  I looked around my lonely office, noting it's location was on the ground level of a 2 story building.   Hum,......

Sunday Sayings.....

Gasparilla Is

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.  Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm so ambitious laying awake in bed at 1 a.m.  I have many thoughts of reorganizing the closets.  If I buy tubs, or boxes I could....  I should set up a system one tub for give-away, one throw away, one for keeping then I should.....  Maybe if we......  I will need the boys to help.....  The boys can, well they, they .....nope they are not going to be willing to help.....   

I can not even begin to remember how many times this has come into my mind.  According to Eleanor each day I'm to have new thoughts, well honey let me tell ya something.  Until I organize my closets there won't be any new thoughts.  Why wait for Spring to clean, I live in the land of eternal summer.  geesh!

So today, I will go out into the world, purchasing tubs.  Cute boxes, while I'm out the boys are going to remove all items in my closet.  When I get back, we organize.  Sound determined, I say to myself.  Be bold, be firm.  Think of Eleanor.  You need a new thought.   I know as soon as I mention my bold, firm idea to the guys.  They will look at me with a face that says...Seriously? Really?  Not again, ugh!

They will remind me of their aches, pains.  Soreness from the previous days golf game.  I will not falter.  Steadfast, I will prevail. Chanting Eleanor in my head.  Oh, they will put up a good fight.  Honey, remember your RA.  I don't want you stuck in bed for 3 days.  Let's just wait, we just got done with Christmas, packing away all that stuff....  Just relax, we can do it another day....  I know we need to get this done, we will.  But first, we need to relax, have fun on the weekend, watch football, you can crochet....Speaking of football maybe we can make some new snacks...

I saw this new crochet stitch I wanted to try, we do need to.....(this is Eleanor, dear reminding you...)   You're right, stay on track....I will... I will... Ok, new plan, I will go out into world purchase the tubs, and cute boxes.  If I buy the tubs first, THEN I can put my plan into action.  Yes, I should have the proper organization inventory first, yep, NEXT weekend we can organize the closets.....  Wait, next weekend they're playing golf at.....

Amish puzzle ball

Yesterday, while the guys were out on the course.  I made this fun baby toy.  I've never crocheted a ball before, it is super easy.  I thought the next time I make a baby set with the blanket, booties.  I will add this soft toy too.

 

The recent chilly temperatures have kept me indoors.  Thus the need to reorganize, making me coo coo crazy.  We are now on a warming trend.  Will probably be able to turn the heater off.  Open up this stuffy house....  Hopeful I can reorganize the closets, but then again...Ugh Where's the fun in that.....

'Wishing' you the best day.....

What to order????

It becomes so bothersome to a plan meal, after meal,  after meal.  You know what I'm talking about.  This is something long ago I should have become bad at.  Cooking, baking all of it.  These women whom we call lazy, stupid, dump blonde have the whole enchiladas filled out.  They are so smart.  Why cook or plan a bazillion meals in your lifetime?? You simply ruin a meal here or there, become the worse cook you possibly can, Wa-lah so intelligent, brilliant.  

Our yearly calendar provides us with a little help.  We begin with Black eyed peas, proceed by Valentine meals, St Patrick's, skipping to July 4th, on thru October fest, Thanksgiving, finishing the year with Christmas.  A handful of ideas really.  There are 365 days. Who makes 365 meals??  A girls needs a break. Of course we get our "restaurant" special occasions meals. Some break?  I would celebrate my birthday everyday, but who has the money for that????

On occasion I have made monthly meal plans.  This helps with grocery shopping, using your coupons too.    Maybe this will help some of you as well, you can click on the link:  Menu planner grocery list provided by free printable grocery list.com.  Which I want thank whom ever made this pdf, and web page.  You can find other grocery lists to print if you don't like the planner list I provided.

On Facebook I follow Mommy's kitchen.  This blogger came up with a list of ideas or menu.  Jan meal plan I haven't tried any of the recipes, but it sure gave me some ideas to plan a few meals during the month, really that's all I'm looking for is ideas.  I sure do become unglued on Hubby when I ask him what he would like for dinner, and he reply's with "I don't know hun, whatever you make will taste great"....This is how he suckered me in the beginning of our 30"+ years together.  It may take me a while, but boy when I figure something out....lol  

'Wishing' you happy meal planning......

Chilly?? Not really....

T-boi six months

T-boi got to try his new beard/beanie I made for him. (Cutie)  My niece & her hubby took their youth group to Gatlinberg TN for the New Year celebrations.  Our niece was grateful for T-boi's hat as the temps were pretty cold, he stayed post toasty in his winter outfit.  I had no idea what color to pick, so I find it funny I chose something that matched his winter suit.  My sis and her hubby went along to help watch T-boi, I should have made a beard/beanie for my brother -in-law, his FL blood is so thin, he was chilled to the bone.

We got the house put back together, packed up all the Christmas decor.  I ran to the grocery store while hubby worked on the outdoor lights.  When I arrived home, half the lights were dangling from the eave, ladder was empty, nobody on the roof, my heart sank, because I had that mom feeling something is wrong, I knew when I went inside I would find someone with a broke leg, or bleeding.  I paused a moment listening to hear if a ambulance coming towards our home.  Just as I was about to enter the house, hubby came out with eldest following close behind.   I had correct instincts hubby was stung by a wasp, ran inside to get tweezers and his inhaler.   He had a little bump on his leg where the wasp got him, but his breathing was fine.  He had a bad reaction when he was a kid, so I was ready to run him to the hospital since we did not have a epi pin handy.  His inhaler seem to do the trick, whew. grateful it wasn't as bad as when he was little.

Our weather has been unusually warm.  High 70's even some days into the 80's.  Muggy too, I don't like that....I'm running the A/C during the day, shut it off and some nights have had to run the heater. ugh.  Today is more the typical winter day.  Cloudy, cool breeze it's nice to finally just open the windows to get some fresh air.  

Still dealing with my RA rash.  The Dr office was closed for New Year holiday week.  I did reach them today, the nurse was able to call the pharmacy and order a steroid pack for me.  I'm so happy.  I look as if I've gotten the measles with some many swollen red spots.  I have had plenty of pain meds to keep me somewhat sane through this whole ordeal.  I'm afraid I might have scaring, which will effect my ego, will now replace my summer gear to cover up wraps.   Which will require a shopping spree for new wardrobe, so it might not be a bad thing yet...lol

On a sad note, the lovely man that gave us his wife's sewing machine before they moved, has passed away.  We only knew him brief amount of time.  He was a stickler with regards to his yard.  It showed too, so pretty.  We found out he was 94.  Took care of his wife too, she has Alzheimer.  His son battled with him, for years to  move to an assisted care facility.  I wonder if that what made his life end so quickly.   He was so happy managing his yard, but 94 is a bit old to manager an ailing spouse, and home too.  Rest in peace Harold.