Lessons Learned From Trivia

Tonight, The Divas redeemed theirselves and we came in second at the weekly trivia night. Keep in mind there are only two on our team, and 4, 5, and even 6 players on the other teams. 

Tonight we learned a lot. We learned the Yellow Sea is marginally located by the Pacific Ocean. More importantly, we learned tonight not to second guess ourselves.

Hogzilla Update

A dear friend of ours stopped by on Friday, and he just happens to be a trapper.  He brought some traps and expertly set them out, in hopes to catch Hogzilla. 

There have been multiple daily sightings of Hogzilla in the past couple of weeks, but he is an elusive and tricky beast.  Hopefully our cantaloupe-baited traps will lure him.

As always, I'll keep you posted. 

Something You Don't Hear Every Day

This morning before we started on some late fall cleaning at The Compound, Dad was on his iPad when he asked me a question (and I quote):  "What does 'LMAO' mean?"  Priceless, just priceless. 

Happy Black Friday

I braved the crowds and actually did some Black Friday shopping this year.  I went out last night to Target and got a present for myself - a set of Beats headphones.  And I have to say it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  

This morning while The Old Man was cleaning the kitchen and family room floors, I got out of the way and went a few more stores, and once again, the crowds weren't as bad as I expected.  

But I'm sorry to say that Louisville made it to the national news with a story about a Black Friday fight at the Mall St. Matthews.  Just as the Kim Davis Kentucky stereotype news was dying down, we have this to deal with.

Happy Thanksgiving

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.  

Let's go old school, and find a piece of paper and a pen and take a few minutes right now as you and write down five things or people that you are thankful for.  If one of those five things is a person, take another minute or two and let them know you are thankful for them. 

Thanksgiving Eve

Today was another pisser of a day at work.  But I'm not going to focus on that right now.  Instead, I am going to focus on how I will not have to be back at work for four whole days.  In those four days, I am going to not even think about anything work-related.  

They (whoever "they" are) say that Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest drinking night of the year - even more so than New Year's Eve (or here in Louisville, Derby Eve).  In keeping with this theme, we're doing our part here at The Compound. The Old Man and I have already had two shots of good tequila, and I think a third is in our very near future.  My Sweet Mother is doing her part - she's having a glass of her favorite sweet blackberry wine. 

 

Daily Walking Update

It's been one week since I've been walking daily (not just the steps I take during the course of my day at work, but walking extra steps beyond).  I'm happy to report that I've lost two pounds just from all of the extra walking I've been doing. 

I know Thanksgiving is a couple of days away, and that means extra eating, but I'm still going to keep on walking extra every day.

So far, so good.

Trivia Team Update

After taking a week hiatus, the Divas were back in action tonight at the weekly trivia contest.  Personally, I needed another week off because tonight, I sucked bigtime.  I was distracted and things weren't in sync like they usually are, and thanks to me making a stupid last-second mistake, we came in last place.  

I hope to redeem myself and do better next week.

Jumping, I mean, Walking On The Band Wagon

Back in the spring, I had to jump into the Fit Bit craze.  I'd seen friends at church and work wear them, faithfully counting their daily steps, so I wanted to be a part of the craze, too.  I ordered my Fit Bit, and it only took me two days to realize that the steps that it records doesn't exactly represent the actual steps you take.  You wear the activity counter on your wrist, so not only does it count when you walk (it detects the motion of your arms that you move when you walk), every time you move your arm it counts as a step.  With people that work on a computer or use their hands a lot, that means they are really racking up the step count.  

Last week, I got out my digital pedometer, put in a new battery and set up my stride length, and I'm off and running.  This gives me a true walking distance count, along with the number of actual steps I've taken.  Old school is sometimes better than new school.

Tonight I decided I was going to measure the distance that my Sweet Mother has been walking almost every day for the past ten years - around the full perimeter of The Compound.  I made one round in the cold, and came in and as I was pulling the pedometer off of my pants waistband, I squeezed a bit too hard and set it back to zero.  I put my coat back on and made another round, only to have the same thing happen.  I blamed it on my sweat pants - they are too long, and I had rolled the waist band over a few times to shorten the legs on the pants, and I think that the extra thick waistband on my pants is what made the pedometer go to zero.  So tomorrow as soon as I get home from work, I'm going to make another trip around The Compound and find out the distance. 

Anyhoo, the moral of this story is that I am doing my daily walking again and I love it.  I'm glad that with my job, I am able to do a lot of walking during the work day - mainly, by walking out to the factory to talk face-to-face with supervisors instead of calling them on the phone.  That's my goal for this week.

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Come On, Powerball

I've worked over 10 hours of overtime this week, and I'm tired of it.  Tonight is Powerball night, and once again I am hoping that my numbers will be drawn and overtime, and actually any work time, will be a thing of the past. 

Flashback Friday

It's 7:00 on a Friday night, and I've only been home for an hour.  I got to my office at 5:30 this morning and I left my office at 5:00 tonight.  Yep, almost a twelve-hour day.  I am not in the mood to do anything except put on my pajamas and go to bed and get ready to work again tomorrow.  Yep, on a Saturday. 

When I was a kid and was playing office, it sure as hell wasn't anything like this.

Welcome, Finley

TWIT would like to welcome little Finley into the world.  He arrived this evening at about 5:30-ish weighing 6 lbs and 10 oz and measuring 19 and a half inches.  A tad bit on the small side but a healthy lad.  

Finley is coming into this old world at a very crazy time. But I know that he will be just fine with the love and care from his 'Rents, big sister and friends and family.  Little man, welcome to the world.

Get It Together, Puddin

Things at work have been beyond cray cray for the past six or so month; in fact, the craziness has been steadily escalating.  The stress and anxiety levels in my department are so high right now, that it's causing us to health problems.  I've had hives more times than I can count due to stress; one of my people had two days worth of tests on her upper and lower digestive system, only to find out her issues were stress related; another of my people spent two days in the hospital this past weekend with a return of some heart issues that caused him to be off from work for two months last year.  

Not only is this stress causing me and my department to have some health issues, it's causing some mental issues as well.  I'm more easily distracted and forgetful.  And when I am responsible for getting the daily meds set out for the 'Rents, that is one area where I can't be distracted or forgetful. Well, two times in the last two weeks I've given Dad his p.m. meds in the morning.  Luckily his meds are take-any-time-of-the-day meds, but it was a major deal to him and to me also.

I'm so looking forward to our Thanksgiving days off so I can regroup and hopefully get it all back together.  

Flashback Tuesday

This time a year ago, Louisville had almost 4 inches of snow on the ground.  Today, the high temperature was 70.  Nuff said.

Monday, Monday

This was clearly a Monday.  I've got one person out all week on vacation, so that means I get to do all of his scheduling while he's out, in addition on my regular work.  That means that the work day should about 12 hours long, instead of 8.  But I made it through Day One, and only stayed over about 15 minutes.  I'm hoping for the same tomorrow.  

Add to the work day,  trips to not one but two grocery stores after work (in the rain, even) and it was a long, stressful day.  But I'm home, supper is done, the dishes are washed and put away and I can crash now for a couple of hours before getting a nice, long bath and heading to bed.  
 

Hogzilla Update

As I mentioned last week, traps have been repositioned, but we are still unable to catch the elusive Hogzilla.  There was a record six Hogzilla sightings this afternoon and evening - all of them around our barn.  Never mind the perimeter of the barn is filled with 5 traps.  

On Tuesday, a friend who is an expert trapper will be visiting The Compound, and will get The Old Man's new traps set out for him, in hopes of catching the elusive Hogzilla.

As always, stay tuned, and I will keep you posted.

Flashback Friday

This evening, I think back to previous Friday the 13th's.  One in particular stands out in my mind. 

It was 1979, and Mom had picked me up from school and we were heading home in our very cool new 1979 VW Rabbit.  We were stopped at a stoplight, when a school bus plowed into the back of us.  Yep, a big school bus vs a little VW Rabbit.  Luckily, the car only needed a back bumper replace, which the city of Louisville quickly took care of.  Mom and I had some whiplash that lasted a couple of months.  But all in all, it could have been a lot worse. 

This flashback came to me earlier today on my way home, when the school bus in front of me ran the red light at the mega busy intersection of Greenbelt and Greenwood, and I had to floor the brakes to keep from going through the intersection.

Yep, it sure was Friday the 13th.

Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer

Last night, I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I got to play with baby tigers.  Yep, yours truly got to play with 7-week old Bengal tiger cubs.  And it was one of them most awesome things I think I have ever done. 

We got to play with the tiger cubs before the official photo opp.  I was very amazed -- their fur was wiry, and their paws were huge.  But they had a great personality and temperament, and they loved getting petted and scratched.  

I've been around some pretty wild individuals in my lifetime, but I think this one takes the cake. 

Happy Veterans Day

I know this day is almost over, but TWIT would like to wish a very happy Veterans Day to all of the Veterans out there.  Thank you for your service.  You rock.  

I would like to wish a special happy Veterans Day to my favorite veteran, my dad aka The Old Man.  And I would like to wish a special happy Veterans Day to some more of my favorite veterans -- Painter Steve and PW.  

Hogzilla Update

The elusive Hogzilla has been spotted on many occasions here at The Compound in the past week.  I don't need to tell you that everyone is pretty fed up with him.  Nicky Boy next door as well as Painter Steve both have traps set around The Compound, but to no avail.  Hogzilla seems to be always just out of reach of our shotgun. 

The troops have been rallied, and the Old Man has even ordered some traps, too.  After Wednesday night's predicted storms move through, the traps will be repositioned around the holes that Hogzilla has dug throughout The Compound in hopes of finally capturing him.

As always, I'll keep you posted.

Trivia Update

I'm happy to report that Team Divas came in second tonight at the local trivia contest.  The questions this week tore us up.   

If my math is correct, this is the third week in a row that we've came in second.  We're not all that upset over not coming in first place, since we get a gift card for second place.  But our time is coming and I'm predicting a first place finish in the next week or two for Team Divas.

Way To Go, Titans

TWIT would like to congratulate the Tennessee Titans for their big win today against the New Orlains Saints.  The team really Titan'd up and won 34 to 28 in overtime.  This is a pretty big deal, considering this is only the second game the Titans have won this season. 

An Awesome Saturday

The 'Rents and I headed out early this morning on an all-day road trip down through Breckenridge, Grayson, Hart, and Edmonson Counties.  We went to the Old Man's Cousin's homestead in Breckenridge County (where he owns about 1000 acres) and he took us down through Hart and Edmonson Counties to the cemetaries where our kinfolk are buried.  Today, I got to visit the gravesite of my great-great grandparents Tom and Dora.  Believe me when I tell you it was a moving experience. 

Overall, we were in seven Kentucky counties today.  And we had an awesome time.  We got to see a herd of deer crossing the road in front of us, a big flock of wild turkeys, numerous herds of goats, and one farm that had about two dozen donkeys of various sizes.  I don't need to tell you that I wanted to do a U-turn back to the donkey farm and hug each and every one of the donkeys. But I digress.

While at dad's cousin's farm, I got to crawl up into the cab of a mega thousand dollar Johne Deere tractor.  It has a/c, heat, a Boss stereo system, and GPS.  I'm pretty sure if I looked around more, I would have found a microwave or a fridge.  He told me I could come back later next year and he'd let me drive it to get the hay in.  I told him it had too many pedals for me to be able to maneuver. 

It was a great day to be able to visit the final resting places of my kinfolk, and a great day for my dad and his favorite cousin to be able to be together.  I can't wait till we can do this again. 

Hat's Off

TWIT would like to congratulate my home boy Elmer on winning the ZCO Chili Cook-Off today.  His chili was awesome.  He is always so kind to make a batch of chili every couple of months to bring in to share with the co-workers that eat lunch with him every day.  Fortunately, I am one of those.  The last batch of chili he brought for our lunch a month ago was maybe the best chili I've ever had in my life.  And his recipe proved true today, by him winning the contest.

Keep up the good work, Elmer.  We're looking forward to another batch in a few weeks.

Another [Not Really] Non-Word Overheard

Overheard on a text message from a friend, and I quote:

"She's still pretty sick.  You know she's had ammonia for two weeks now." 

I repeat - I don't make this stuff up. 

Mid-Week Updates

First of all, I am very happy to report that today was a bizillion times better than yesterday was.  

Second, the weather in the Ohio Valley is cray cray.  It's the beginning of November and today's high was 77 degrees.  That's ridiculous for November.  But not all that uncommon for the Ohio Valley.   I'll repeat what I said a couple of weeks ago:  I want cold. 

Give Me Strength

I came home from work this evening just one step away from opening up Word on the computer and writing my letter of resignation.  Yes, it was that bad of a day.  But I didn't write the letter.  I took some time to think and pray, and then I toughened up.  Starting tomorrow, ZCO is going to see a much tougher Puddin.

Public Service Announcement

Dear: Driver of the black new Dodge Challenger in the land beside me on my way to work this morning

It was very foggy, and you could barely see two car lengths in front of you this morning, but yet you, inconsiderate asshole, continued to look down at your cell phone and text during your drive down the dangerous Greenbelt Highway going 60 miles an hour.  I sped up as much as I could in my old Blazer just to get away from you because I didn't want to be anywhere near you in case you crashed in the heavy fog from being distracted by reading your texts.

I sure hope you made it to where you were going safe, because you weren't doing such a good job of it while you were on the Greenbelt. 

Yours truly,

Puddin

Welcome, November

TWIT would like to welcome November.  We hope that you bring cooler temperatures with you.  It's November 1 and it's 68 degrees right now.  It's not supposed to be that warm.  I want temps in the 40's.  Please hear my request.  

The forecast for next week is warm - expecting temps in the upper 70's for most of the week, until a cold front comes through on Friday, bringing low 60's temps for next weekend.  

Sorry, but that is unacceptable.  I want cold.  Nuff said.