Ramblin' Man

[Aberzombie]

Going back to my PE license situation. So now I'm officially up to five states. I'm hoping to hear back from Florida sometime soon. Maybe even this week.

[Aberzombie]

Then there's Wyoming. That one is being held up by my supervisor and another manager here in the office. They each offered to be one of the references for the license, but I'm not sure if they filled out the form yet. My supervisor hadn't as of last week. The other guy I'm not sure about, and now I'm kicking myself in the butt for not checking with him last week, because he's out on vacation all this week.

[Aberzombie]

Ooph.

I reached out to the Florida licensing office for a status update on my PE application. Just heard back from them a few minutes ago. They seemed a bit....perturbed...that I had the temerity to ask for a status update on my license. Apparently, they have a lot of applications to work through.

So now I guess mine will go to the bottom of the list since I had the audacity to ask a question. Damned bureaucrats.

[Aberzombie]

Still, they were very polite in telling me to F#@$ off. Their grammar was atrocious though. I'd have been embarrassed to send out official emails that looked like that.

[Aberzombie]

Happy Tuesday?!?

[Aberzombie]

I very much doubt it. Too many bad omens.

[Aberzombie]

I've been having some minor (but not unexpected) stomach issues. I slept poorly last night, and think my allergies are acting up from the weather. All that combines to have me feeling like blah.

There's also a bit of stress from work/the boy's upcoming trip/life in general. None of that helps.

And the drive in had several issues. Some poor timing got me caught at several lights I should have made. And I rolled over some debris on the interstate. Pretty sure that was a piece of bumper or tire that never got cleaned up. Right as I was changing lanes, which is why I didn't see it until too late. So far, it doesn't appear to have been damaged.

[Aberzombie]

I was looking through my Arizona PE license paperwork the other day, and it's a good thing I did. Turns out when I get my stamp I've got to stamp and sign a Seal Affidavit, have it notarized, then send it back to the Arizona office.

[Aberzombie]

Luckily, we've got at least two people here in our office that can notarize things.

[Aberzombie]

The quality manager finally got access to the service we currently have a subscription to for access to industry standards. He sent it on to our group, and I got to create an account and check it out yesterday.

I recommended we not renew the subscription. Either that or pay to get access to more. As it is now, it's not worth a damn. All we seem to have full access to are the basic ASME standards. For the rest (MSS, API, NFPA, BPVC, AGA, etc) we have either no or very limited access.

[Aberzombie]

Anyway, time to finish up here and move on to feeling blah the rest of the day.

[Aberzombie]

I just saw in the news that the great horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas has suddenly retired due to health concerns. And he might be in hopsice care. Very sad.

[Aberzombie]

Ugh. Much last minute stuff to be done for the boy's upcoming high adventure trip. Including the signing of the requisite legal waiver. Luckily, I'm in the office and was able to print it out, then scan and send back the signed copy.

[Aberzombie]

And one of the adult leaders is stopping by the house this morning to pick up the boy's passport. Luckily, the wife and kidlets are home to give it to her.

[Aberzombie]

I told the boy to not sit on his butt on the computer or his phone all day. He needs to start staging all his equipment and clothing in the guest room.

[Aberzombie]

Ugh. Not really much going on in the office today, so I've been reviewing old industry standards. Which, for various stupid reasons, we don't have the most up to date copies.

[Aberzombie]

Anyway, you can imagine that's as exciting as it sounds.

[Aberzombie]

I checked on delivery of my Arizona PE stamp, and it should arrive at my home sometime Friday. Which means it'll be at least Monday before I can get it notarized, and next Tuesday before I get it in the mail.

Unless I can convince the office to FedEx it for me, in which case I can probably get it notarized Monday morning, then shipped before the workday is done.

[Aberzombie]

Stoopid Arizona rules.

[Aberzombie]

I won't even be able to check on the status of Wyoming until next week, when the other manager is back in town.

[Aberzombie]

I saw some crazy bit of news about people being poked with needles at some French music festival. Makes me glad I'm (a) not in France, (b) not a young lady, and (c) not the kind of person who goes to music festivals anymore.

[Aberzombie]

It could very well be time for a snack. Unfortunately, I did not bring an extra snack. So, if I want something, it might just have to be junk food.

[Aberzombie]

Am I the only one who throws away potato chips that are tinged with green around the edge?

[Aberzombie]

One of my coworkers did not come to the office this morning. However, I know he's working (from home, I suppose) from his status on Teams. I assume he's got some reason, but I'm wondering if it's because he's not feeling well.

If that's the case, it might reinforce my theory as to my own feeling of "blah" being something more. Maybe a little bug? Only I was too stubborn to actually stay home.

[Aberzombie]

As a follow up, I took a walk out to the parking garage to check my truck. The tire I was worried about still looks okay, and I didn't see any other damage from the debris I hit this morning. So that's a bit of relief.

[Aberzombie]

Is it 4 O'clock yet?

[Aberzombie]

Well, I'm sure it is somewhere.....

[Aberzombie]

I've been a fan of Brian Lumley's writing since a friend turned me on to his Necroscope novel many years ago. This despite many Lovecraft fans not being overly fond of his writing.

Anyway, in the Necroscope series, Harry Keogh is often described as smoking an occasional cigarette. I don't do that. However, I do have the occasional soda.

Which is something I just decided to do.

[Aberzombie]

And for me, if I do decide on that "occasional" soda, I will always go for Dr. Pepper. If it's available, that is.

Otherwise, it'd be Coca Cola or Sprite.

[Aberzombie]

If I were offered Pepsi, I'd probably take it as a personal insult. That stuff is nasty.

[Aberzombie]

Happy Wednesday!

[Aberzombie]

It's certainly starting off better than yesterday.

I got a good night's sleep. Felt better this morning. Had a really good drive to the office (with only minor acts of silliness). And I'm all by myself so far.

[Aberzombie]

Of course, this could just be The Universe setting me up for something unpleasant. It has been known to do that, on occasion.

[Aberzombie]

Or maybe there really is a "healing power of red beans and rice"?

[Aberzombie]

I joke about stuff like that sometimes. The healing power of....

...bacon.
...Popeye's Fried Chicken.
...red beans and rice.

However, there might just be a slight kernel of truth when I say things like that. I don't, of course, mean these things can actually cure me of anything. More like they represent joys in life that flood me with positivity (chemical or otherwise). Thus, making me feel better.

[Aberzombie]

Kind of like in Harry Potter, where you have to eat chocolate after an encounter with Dementors.

[Aberzombie]

Speaking of...I wonder if the Dementors in the new series will be made to look like a certain hated demographic. Wouldn't surprise me. This is Hollywood we're talking about.

[Aberzombie]

Anyway, with Thomas out (wherever), I've got the office pretty much all to myself for at least another half hour. Several of my coworkers think I'm weird for getting here this early, when I don't technically start until 7 am.

I like it though. It helps minimize the morning traffic I experience. And I get a little me time to have coffee, a bit of toast, and do this.

[Aberzombie]

Plus, I've been an early riser since 5th Grade.

[Aberzombie]

Anyway, I've been playing D2 on the PS5 again. Probably mentioned it the other day. I was playing it a bit yesterday, and before I knew it the time was close to 8 pm. Too late to pick a movie to watch, and with Squid Game Season 3 starting Friday I didn't want to start another series. So I just kept playing D2. Beat Act I with my Paladin. Then started a Sorceress for a bit. Then went back to my Barbarian. He was already well in to Act II.

[Aberzombie]

I don't think my wife believes in the healing power of red beans and rice.

[Aberzombie]

That's okay, though. I have enough belief for both of us.

[Aberzombie]

Speaking of belief!

I could hardly believe it when my coworker popped up with some actual billable project work for me. Granted, it's only 4 hours worth, and the actual work will take me less than an hour, but it's the thought that counts.

Even better, then another email popped up from a project I had thought already done. They needed me to give a final review and approval for the hydrotest results.

Huzzah for work!

[Aberzombie]

I've been hearing good things about the new Ironshart series from Disney Marvel. And by "good things" I mean I see folks calling it Marvel's Acolyte. In other words, utter dog crap.

I can't really say I'm surprised. Though I'm sure the show will have its clapping seal supporters. Some of them might even be around these parts.

[Aberzombie]

I think my boss might have left for today. I saw him walking in the direction of the elevators with his backpack over one shoulder. Weird.

That makes for all three top managers out of the office today. And two of those are out all week.

[Aberzombie]

Nope. The boss eventually came back. Turns out he was only going to the gym.

[Aberzombie]

Then he asked me to be a reference for him with his NCEES record. Since he did the same for me, I couldn't say no.

[Aberzombie]

And my coworker from earlier, who gave me some billable work today, was telling me he started playing Hogwarts Legacy. So, naturally, I'm getting the itch to play it again. Might start a character tonight. Maybe a Ravenclaw this time....