Y13 D15

 Even the most benign and well intentioned actions have unfortunate consequences. In the last week we have had our yard sprayed with multiple chemicals. First the exterminator on Friday sprayed like a mad man because B wanted everything dead from her proposed sitting area. Then I had the gardener spray for weeds. He used a gallon of chemicals on the yard. You see where this is going right? Yesterday I had to bury a baby groundhog. It was not pleasant. Hopefully we won't have more deaths in our yard but I have a feeling it won't be the last. I do feel bad, but it's the price you pay for those other things. C'est la vie. 

Worked on docs the majority of the day. Watched episode 1 of Loki. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Let's see where it goes. Played some video games. Made pineapple chicken wings for dinner. Went to bed.

More of the same today. B has to go to a wake this morning. Have fun with that. Grandfather of a friend. Unfortunately I have to work and can't accompany her to this. Not that I would want to, but I would as support if I could. Is it the weekend yet? Can I pay bills yet? Am I closer to my vacation?

Y13 D14

When I was a kid I never understood the opening of a certain show. But now as an adult I so get it:

"Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives."

Sums it up, doesn't it?

We did a nice last night. B's grandmother is home alone because grandpa is up dealing with cabin issues. We made dinner at home, put it in nice to go containers, and brought it over to have dinner together. You're welcome nice lady. It wasn't horrible to be fair. It was nice to get out and have some conversation. She is the only person who seems to get the whole B and I taking separate vacations thing. After visiting we went to target for some household items. Almost felt normal shopping. Almost. 

Spent the day working on docs, same today. Then I start recording. Then B gets 20-30 hours of work. Get some funds in her account. As for me it gives me clear tasks and keeps me off the radar.  That's all that counts.

Y13 D13

Had a decent night's sleep. I will take that when I can. Woke up at 4 from a weird dream. Don't remember it now of course. But it wasn't bad, just weird. 

Got documents updated yesterday. That's the job for the whole week this week. I have two more which should be today and tomorrow. Come Thursday I need to figure out what's next. I will worry about that then.

Ate the rest of my pizza from Chicago for dinner. B went to the dollar store and thrift store while I was working just to get out of the house. Came home with a bag full of summer clothes for herself. She did really well. Like 5 pairs of shorts, 10 shirts, and 2 pairs of jeans for $75. Not too shabby. 

At like 6:30 my gardener showed up. He brought a huge crew with him and they went to town on our yard. I have been after him to trim, weed, and spray and do general clean up versus his regular mow and blow. Things look so much better. He got rid of just a lot of overgrowth. I am very happy with that. Took him about an hour or so which compared to their normal visits, is quite long. BUT look, this is why I have a gardener. If with a crew of 5 it takes him an hour, how long would it take just me? I would be dying by the time I finished. Plus I don't have some of the heavy duty equipment he has. I wouldn't be able to do half as good a job. Especially not in an hour.

Watched some tv, played some video games, went to bed. Back into the groove of every day life. Whee.

Y13 D12

Had a good day yesterday. Long and tiring drive home, but the day was good. We accomplished our goal of going to Madame Zuzu's Tea Shoppe. Spent way too much money but it's the kind of place I won't be going back to soon so screw it. Also they had the best donut I have ever had. Lunch at the asian market was awesome but crowded. The end result though of seeing the kid was the best part. I did learn some good juicy gossip about X1. So her other daughter, who is 23, decided to return to college and enrolled in one near the kid. Partly to be near her sister and partly to get away from her mother. Guess who decided she is moving to the same town? Yep. X1 is moving to a college town. Leaving her husband and son behind some 500 miles away. Why? Because. Seriously. Just because. Selfish and narcissistic much? Neither the daughter or the kid are looking forward to it. Supposedly she is moving the week I am visiting so if you hear any explosions or reports of a murder, well, you know why.

We got home a little after 7, unpacked, and the guy came to pick up the fish tank around 8. One less thing I have to worry about at least.

I have a doc week ahead of me. Sigh. But it is what it is. Just a couple more and I can have some real time off to myself. Can't come soon enough.

Y13 D11

I slept like shit. I forgot how horrible fucking hotel air conditioning units and soft pillows are. Plus B and her damn can't fall asleep until 4 in the fucking morning. Sorry, I am just cranky AF right now. Let's focus on the positive, shall we? I saw the kid!! WOO!!!!

Took us 5 hours to get here because it's construction season in the goddamn midwest. We legit did have someone try to kill us. Most of the trip is 2 lane highway and at one point I went to get around someone and out of nowhere this person doing well over 100 mph is suddenly on my ass. Not figuratively either. If I had so much as tapped my brakes, he'd be dead. I flipped him off after I got over which in turn he decided to cut me off and brake check me at 80 mph. Twice. Dick. Welcome to the fun times of the midwest. As we got closer to Chicago, that's where traffic just quintupled. My anxiety was through the roof. Add to that the temperature was 95 degrees here. Just a bad travel experience overall. We got to the hotel, checked in, took a nap, then picked up the kid.

We had Gino's together, went to an Asian market, hung out, and just had a nice visit. That part of the day was wonderful. Today we're going to Billy Corgan's tea shoppe, then making the 5+ hour drive home. 

Y13 D10

It's time!!

In just a few hours we will be hitting the road and getting out of Dodge. Much excite!

Got docs done, bug people came, had food delivered for dinner. Not much else going on. Just getting shit done and prepped for us to leave. I need to go get gas and snacks this morning but otherwise, all ready to go baby.

The kid messaged me last night. They safely made it to Chicago and got settled in. I just remembered there will be time travel involved today. We need to leave a little later. B can sleep in a little longer. But I will want to go home a little earlier. No biggie. Gives me more time to get shit ready.

Y13 D9

I GET TO SEE THE KID TOMORROW! WOOO! That's like all that matters. Make it through the next 24 hours, drive for four, but see the kid. Worth it.

Worked on docs. More work on docs today. Tis my life.

Fish sticks and tater tots were had. Have to prep for the bug people. Packed for tomorrow already. Moved fish tanks around. Put the 90 in the garage because it was supposed to go yesterday but the guy flaked. Pretty pissed about that. Was hoping to have that cash for this weekend. Maybe someone else will come today. Doubt it, but it would be nice. 

Not much else going on. Rained. Can't rain today. Need bug people to come.

Y13 D8

5:30am and I am already running at 10,000 mph. Too much going on. B is taking the axie to Lansing to have a necropsy done. She needs to know what killed him to make sure it isn't infecting the other tanks. On top of that we have the pest people coming tomorrow to do their annual bug spray. Which means we have to empty out all the cabinets. On top of that, we have to get ready to leave for Chicago on Saturday. The next 60 hours are going to be non-stop crazy with me trying to work in between all of that. Good times.

Yesterday I finished a really cool dashboard that we will be using in an upcoming webinar. However I don't know what's going on internally right now but I am not getting responses to emails. Neither is my coworker so I know it's not just me. But it's stressing us both out. Whee.

Am halfway through season 2 of Ragnarok. Why is it no matter what show it is about Norse mythology, Loki always ends up being the most interesting character. Just saying. Inside No 9 season 6 is now available. I like that show. 

That's about it. Still eating fucking leftovers.  

Y13 D7

I don't know if this is a midwest thing or a blue-collar thing or a little of both, but some people here seem surprised I am getting a hotel room when I visit the kid next month. "Why aren't you staying with them?" Because they have a right to their privacy as do I? I have no interest in disrupting their lives. Especially since on at least one of the days they both have to work. Plus this way I can get food and stuff without bugging them. I'm the older adult so it's not their place to put me up. This is the way I feel about it. So yeah.

Did pretty much nothing yesterday but hurry up and wait. I need someone to fix something and even though they are east coast, they are having problems so I sit and wait. Sigh. I fear more of the same today. We shall see.

Eating through leftovers. Almost done with them. Three more days and I see the kid. Plus I get to go to Chicago. Woo all around.

Y13 D6

 June 1st 2021. Why does that sound like the opening of a sci-fi novel? Or the date that flashes on the screen as we fly over a dirty city in the rain?

We took care of pulling out a ton of tank stuff yesterday. B is going to take pics and post it online. 

Just a few more days until we're in Chicago and for the first time in 18 months I get to see the kid. Just need to get through this week. 

Or in other words, the story of my life? "Just got to get through X". Same ol' song and dance. Always looking towards something. Good? Bad? I don't know. It just is.