ANA Y3 D217

I am back to work today. Literally probably the only person in the company who is. I know my boss is out, finance is out. Most senior managers are out. But here I am "working". I did just respond to an email and have teams open. So yep, I am working.

Enjoyed my last day off. Did laundry. Cleaned the floors. Played video games.

I am play Horizon: FW. I am about 10 hours in already. The other day at 5.6 hours I finally got the intro credits and title screen. C was amazed and looked up how long the "average" time was to get there. One hour. Hey, I get my money's worth dammit. Apparently if you do just the main questline it's a 28-30 hour game. I am 1/3 of that and have barely left the first city. I am not even 'in the west' yet. Just on the outskirts. Full game for completionists is around 80 hours. We will see where I come in.

Made mahi for dinner. Tonight is NYE. Big deal. It's on a damn Tuesday. We are making pizzas and eating cheese. That's our big plans. C works until 5:30, I am going to sit in email until 4. I hate midweek holidays. Just throws everything off. Two more years and NYE will be a Thursday so you get a true 3 day weekend. That will be better.

ANA Y3 D216

It rained all day yesterday. C is still sick. But she has to work today. At least she is going in still sick so no one will think she has been faking it.

We were supposed to go to the movies yesterday but she was worried about coughing and not making it through the movie. We got a refund and stayed home. Made her sleep most of the day instead. We spent a quiet rainy day inside.

I am still off today. Back to work tomorrow. Woo.

ANA Y3 D215

I am awake. It's 4:40am. Whee.

C is still not better. She was feeling worse yesterday. Tried to get her to sleep but she was fighting it. I drugged her up on more NyQuil and got her to pass out. Her nose is blocked, her throat is sore. Her head is killing her. I am hoping it's better today. We shall see.

I worked on a puzzle yesterday. Did more cleaning. We had leftovers. It was a good quiet day.

ANA Y3 D214

I forgot to put my phone by my side of the bed last night. When I woke up just now I had absolutely no idea what time it was. The drapes were closed so no clue there. I get up and it's still pitch black outside, again, no help. Well, it was 6:40am. Okay. I will accept that.

I only got half of the house cleaned yesterday. C is sick. Like throwing up, fever, cough sick. She slept quite a bit yesterday but that meant I was on dog duty and trying to help her when she was awake. She just woke up and immediately took more NyQuil. Sadly we ran out yesterday and I had to go get more, but we are now stocked up on day and night versions and cough drops. If you recall, last New Years I ended up with Covid. The year before she was sick. Apparently we are alternating. I get 2025 it would seem. Okay. But regardless, I did manage to get 1/2 the house clean which made me feel better.

I also went to the cheese store and got our cheeses for NYE. I got a plethora of cheese. I also got a nice bottle of orange wine. I got Red Leiceister, Cotswold, Tumbleweed Cheddar, Delice, Midnight Moon, Lambchopper, Drunken Goat, and Grand Noir Blue. We will have super cheese!

We had Chinese food for dinner as C was hoping the spice would clear her up.

<Ron Howard voice> It did not.

But now I have leftovers and that works for me. Got more meds in her, played games, went to bed. I don't have anything planned for today thankfully. Going to play more games and enjoy my last few days off.

ANA Y3 D213

The most important thing I want to discuss this morning is this new monitor. HOLY MOLEY. 32". 4k. 165hz. HDR mode. So bright, so big, so curved, so sexy. I am at 125% zoom right now, but I might seriously go back down to 100% because everything feels huge. I know it's not that much bigger than my old one, but it makes a difference. Last night I started playing Horizon Forbidden West and it is just drop dead beautiful. No tearing, no issues. Full high quality settings. Almost better looking than the tv in the living room. This was a good purchase.

In order to setup the new monitor I had to clear and clean my entire desk. That was also very satisfying. Everything is organized and clean. I got a new desk mat from a friend for Xmas and it makes a difference too. 

I was productive in other ways yesterday. I got all the Xmas stuff put away. Setup the new google tv in the front room, unboxed all of C's weights, hung my new clothes, and just started the groundwork for today's cleaning. By the time C got home I was in no mood to cook and we ended up going to Culver's for dinner. I was not the only one in the mood to cook apparently. It was busy but not crazy. 

We stayed up until midnight playing games and having a good time. Today is house cleaning day. After I do morning stuff I am going for it. Also going to the cheese store today to get cheese for NYE. Yay cheese!

ANA Y3 D212

We had a great day yesterday. Extremely long, some anxiety, but overall it was a damn fine Xmas. I was up at 3:54am and started cooking. Had everything packed and ready to go by about 6:15. Then it was presents time! We tried to be very practical with gifts this year. Nothing that is just going to sit on the shelf and take up space. The only real indulgence was the ice cream maker. But we will use it for sure. I have some fresh strawberries coming in next week's grocery order and I think that might be one of our first batches. After getting presents opened, we got ready to go to C's sister's house. The dog was the biggest stress factor on that. It was a 90 minute drive and the first 30 were rough. She finally settled down and we made it one piece. This was her first time around other dogs freely and this many people at once. We had a couple of moments but otherwise fine. I did "win" the white elephant. Through some strategic picking I ended up with a really cool Lego set. Best gift out of all 9. We did have some dinner issues. Too many cooks, too small an oven, etc. We got there at 1 and didn't eat until 6:15. We loaded up the car around 7:30 and headed home. The ride home was much better as she was exhausted from her hard day. We got home and we ALL collapsed in bed at 9:30pm.

Today is my slow day. Going to put away new clothes. Set up my new monitor. Read the manual for the ice cream maker. Tomorrow I am cleaning so today I will take it easy. 

I hope you and yours had a great day yesterday. Much love.

ANA Y3 D211

I AM AWAKE!! IT IS XMAS!! AAAAA!

Time to cook. Open presents. Go see people! AAA!

Much excite!

I spent the day in the kitchen yesterday as expected. Finally starting to feel like I have time off. Only took 4 daays. Sheesh.

ANA Y3 D210

I did not feel good yesterday. Was throwing up and just had no energy. Pushing myself too hard lately. I ended up sleeping for 3 hours in the middle of the day. Felt better. Made a bland dinner of tilapia, rice, and broccoli.

Only 18 hours until Xmas!! WOOOO!

ANA Y3 D209

Long day yesterday. Got more cookies baked. Planned on food to bring wednesday. Made lamb for dinner. Watched a movie.

ANA Y3 D208

I had the absolute worst dream of my life last night. I woke up at 12:58am sobbing. It was like a play by play of every bad decision I've ever made. It was horrible. I still can't shake it.

The universe decided to play one last trick on me. I spent yesterday with roto rooter here. Yep. Two clogs this time. $515. Lovely. I did manage to knock a couple of things off my to do list at least. Hopefully more to come today.

ANA Y3 D207

I have claws again! Meow!

Well I am free for a while. I am going to enjoy this time off even if it kills me. Only 36 people showed up to my presentation yesterday. Got my nails done. Did a gift exhange with our friend.

Today starts my list of to dos. First stop, groceries.

ANA Y3 D206

My meeting yesterday morning was fine. Normally I have been getting 100 or so people per each of the sessions. Yesterday I had 60. We will see how many we get today. Who schedules something for this time of year? This is my final day. At 3pm today I am done. I will set my out of office and not think about this shit until the 31st.

The rest of the day dragged like crazy. I know today is going to be even worse. Made pasta for dinner. Crashed out around 9:30pm.

Getting my nails done tonight and hanging out with a friend. It's snowing. Thoughts are all over the place.

ANA Y3 D205

I have a presentation at 8am. Apparently I am no longer allowed to bring up my puppy. WTF? Who is offended by puppies? Another fucking mark against me doing any work for this group in 2025. DO NOT BE HUMAN BEEP BOOP. 

Sigh. I finished my shit yesterday. Made quesadilla for dinner. Just done with all of it.

ANA Y3 D204

"Wake up, I'm horny."

1am. For the second time in my life, my partner has woken me up in the middle of the night wanting me. Think about that for a second. We've had plenty of intimacy this year. Not like that first year, but to be fair, I was trying to prove something that first year. But there's something primal and urgent about being wanted. Wanted to the point where they are asleep, wake up, and desire YOU. It adds another layer of closeness and passion. Makes me feel good. Makes me feel cared about and desired. That's important to the ego for sure. Needless to say, we had some early morning fun even with the dog on the bed and trying not to wake her.

Got another demo done yesterday. Two more to go and I am done. I should be able to get one more done this morning and start the framework on the last one. We went to the store after dinner (tacos) to pick up another gift for our friend we're seeing Friday night. C wanted to get him something directly from her. We got home, played games with our online friends, went to bed.

Three more days and I am done.

ANA Y3 D203

186 hours until Xmas. Four days until I am done for the year and can sleep past 6am for a while. I can make it.

Nothing exciting yesterday. Had a meeting. Worked on stuff. Made ribs for dinner. Nothing else going on. Trying to be quiet and lay low this week. Tight week until Friday so no money spending. No leaving the house except as emergency. Save gas. Save money. Make it to Xmas.

ANA Y3 D202

We watched another movie last night. Coppola's Megalopolis. If I had to describe it in one word, indulgence. I am not sure what I watched to be honest. Was it Shakespeare? Was it a science fiction movie? Was it a homage to Caligula? I feel like it's one of those movies that in 10 years we will get the six hour director's cut which will explain all the plotholes and it will go down as a cult masterpiece. It was an experience that's for sure. It was hard to follow, but the acting was good, the visuals were good, but it was definitely a love child production. 

Went to the grocery store, did laundry, made swordfish for dinner. It was a busy day. Played games, watched movie, enjoyed each other's company. Now to get through this week and I am done for the year. Just a few days and obligations to go.

ANA Y3 D201

The snow has turned to rain and it's sludge out there. Slippery, icy sludge. The gross side of snow.

We had a long talk yesterday about Xmas. Last year we went to her sister's and it was nice. We did a gift exchange, we had food. This year, we're dreading it. No gift exchange is being done becuase the one sister who plans it was busy getting engaged and traveling Europe. On top of that, we're not looking forward to 8 hours in the car with the dog (round trip), her racist Cheeto voting grandfather, the fallout from when they stopped by here and I yelled. A million reasons. I told C I would support whatever decision she makes, but I am also leaning towards staying home with the dog. Quiet Xmas by ourselves. We shall see how that plays out.

Otherwise, we had a good day gaming, cleaning, and being together. It was a really relaxing day.

ANA Y3 D200

Another day of teaching and my week is done. Only one more week to go and it should be pretty manageable. Two presentations, Thurs and Fri, a couple of meetings, otherwise curriculum work. I can make it. Then it will finally be Xmas week. 

We watched another movie last night. Started early enough that C stayed awake. Watched Heretic. VERY good. Strongly recommend. We went to bed early to try and get some sleep. No obligations today for either of us.

ANA Y3 D199

Majority of the day was teaching until 5:30pm. Not much else going on around me. Made leftovers for dinner, watched a movie (Krampus, meh). Went to bed at 11. Another day of teaching today and then the week is done. Only one more week and I am off off off.

ANA Y3 D198

We had a "squall" last night. That's what the weather people called it. Around 9:30 30mph winds mixed with light snow. C took the dog out and I couldn't see them when they are about 10 feet from the door. Just gone. The two of them had fun in it. Weirdos.

I got more accomplished yesterday. Managed to complete a risk matrix visualization. Made chinese food for dinner. Played some games. A little over a week and I am done for the year. I teach the next two days which will help get the time flying. Then the weekend.

ANA Y3 D197

No issues yesterday. Just another day. Worked. Made chicken parm for dinner. Watched some tv. Went to bed. Same thing on the agenda for today.

ANA Y3 D196

I had a good day and a lousy evening. I had a test session with a client which I was dreading. It was either going to take 5 minutes or five hours. Luckily it went smoothly and we were done in 30. Nice. After a friend came over for a social visit which was really needed. I made good progress on my new demos for 2025. All in all, the day was good. But then I got tired and had to still deal with dog. She is banging her cone against the cat door right now. It's that fucking cone. She doesn't realize she's making noise and bumping into everything. She keeps whacking it into the back of my bad leg. I can't wait for it to come off. I am hoping by week's end. Hoping. I need to take her out now and then go to the store. Welcome to my life.

ANA Y3 D195

It was a long day yesterday. Was home alone with the dog all day and that damn cone around her neck. I can't take 10 more days of this. She has zero spatial awareness right now. She's not supposed to run or jump. Yeah right. I have a dog, not a potato.

Made chili for dinner. Have so many leftovers it's not even funny. Going to be eating chili for a week. Not a bad thing mind you. Just a lot of chili. I may pawn some off to friends. If I can convince them to come here.

10 more days and I am done for the year. 240 hours. I can do this.

ANA Y3 D194

Had some time out of the house yesterday and it helped. I had two hours alone getting my hair done. Not a grocery store, not errands, just me time. I didn't want to go back home. Not going to lie. But I did. I made steaks for dinner, we watched a documentary on Billy Mitchell. We played games together. All in all it was one of the better days recently.

ANA Y3 D193

We now have a goddamn cone dog. $800 for her surgery. Hoping insurance pays quickly. Already exhausted.

ANA Y3 D192

C wanted cheesesteaks for her birthday so cheesesteaks were had. She had a good day and that's all that matters. I am dealing with some stomach issues and cramps which is not fun. Today I take dog to vet for surgery. Also not fun.

ANA Y3 D191

It's C's birthday!! WOO! She has to work sadly but we're going out for cheesesteaks for dinner, and I have some nice presents for her. Try to make it as good a day as I can.

I had a better day yesterday. I intentionally left the house, twice! Once in the morning to go to the store and then again after C got home to pick up one of her birthday presents. It made all the difference in my mental state. We had some nice sausage rolls for dinner and then we both fell asleep on the couch like a couple of old people. It was actually quite nice.

ANA Y3 D190

Nothing exciting. C was off. Worked on stuff. Made salmon for dinner. Same shit, different day.

ANA Y3 D189

It was a Monday. Nothing exciting. Just a regular workday. Put together year end tasks. I am honestly just counting down the hours these next three weeks. I do have some teaching next week which will help. Otherwise, it's curriculum update time. C ended up closing yesterday which sucked. She did a favor for a coworker so I ate a sandwich and soup for dinner. It was fine. I got laundry done. Did some cleaning. Watched the second chapter of Watchmen. They did an incredible job with it. Makes me want to rewatch the 2019 show now. Was always sad they didn't do more with that. She's off today which makes it nice. I can share some of the dog burden with her today. Tomorrow is her birthday. I did go out and get a card yesterday. Trying to be better and only buy one card instead of 10. Felt weird but I did it.

ANA Y3 D188

I tried to have a good day yesterday, I really did. But the dog makes everything tough. We had to take her to REI of all places so we could get her a new harness and booties. Yes, booties for our dog. It's because of the salt they use around here. If we want to walk her on city streets we have to make sure it isn't getting stuck in her paws. The harness was so she could use her new trolley system we got installed. Point is that somehow we ended up with a dog that gets car sick. Every dog I have ever known loves the car. Not this one. She pukes after 20 minutes. Good times.

We did drop her off and went back out just the two of us and that was good. We went and looked at carpet remnants for the basement and found some flooring ideas for the laundry room. I need to finish painting it and then I can lay down floor. I want it done before the first of the year. This is my goal.

Made leg of lamb for dinner. Played games with C and two of our friends which was fun. She closes tonight as a favor to one of her coworkers which is like yuck. Only 19 days until I am off and 23 days until Christmas.

ANA Y3 D187

This not leaving the house is getting old. We haven't been anywhere since the kid was here in October. I go to the store, I run errands. That's the extent of my life. Getting tired of it. C works hard and needs a break when she gets home, but I am taking care of this baby 24 hours a day it feels like. I need some me time and I need it soon, Made little chickens for dinner. Tried to watch a movie. Failed at that. Have a headache already this morning.