Well I hope Indy has a plan

Because for a long time, Peyton was your plan.

Goodbye Peyton, you were way too good for Indy.

Say yes to the dress, maybe

My niece soon to be the military marvel with her lime green car. It was cheap.

Today was beautiful weather, warm and sunny, delightful actually. Temps around 60 a slight breeze to blow the winter dust away.

Ms. Military and I went to lunch and jaunting about. She wanted seafood and yesterday on Kitchen Nightmares there was a rerun of Gordon Ramsey reworking an east side waterfront eatery, Jack's something. We have all been there. Well, we searched the Nautical Mile and could not find the place, found Mike's and we thought that looked pretty sketchy. All these places are on the water so you have to drive down and around an obstacle course of boats and cars. Nope, now I have to do an Internet search and find out if all Gordon's good works failed. We ended up at Jumps and it was fine.

After lunch I learned we need to look for an evening gown as Niece is going to a military ball in a week. WTF, a week for a formal gown. She got into a situation and things turned out that we need a gown now. Well, after trying on many gowns there was one winner. But it needed a bit of altering and was 400 dollars. For a one time dress for a person going to basic training, I don't know. And she is a size 2, anything in that size looks pretty good. I need to tell her I have the jewelry and wraps to make any dress look great.

I think tomorrow will be an at home day and another attempt at making it my own. And I have to prepare for the dreaded garbage day.

Jobs, to have or not to have

Big Daddy talked to his buddy at the Big Company that may involve Brazil. Seems the guy that wants to hire him is ranting and such at HR for dragging things out. That just makes those people happy. I believe most HR people just love to see people miserable, gives them something to do, have meetings about cranky, crabby people.

Loosie Goosie is losing her people. Quitting and not looking back. Guess no one is too happy with the move and the sale of the company but Loosie is saying everything is great and treating her people horribly. She makes her department eat lunch with her and pay the tab. WTF, I would have kicked her ass on the way out the door and told everything I was looking for my steamed buns.

Job interview yesterday was a no-go, I would have to relocate to the mid south and take a job with a short life expectancy. Every one in that position gets fired. No power, all the blame and everyone turns on you when things go to shit. Had that job once and it was nasty, I got another job and gave notice. I did hear from one of the guys I used to work with and he gave me some good tips. He recently got a new job and I am dying to know what happened.

Went to the dentist today for a check up and cleaning and everything is fine. Decided I should go to Farm's Market instead of Trader Joe's as I need tea and it must be decaf. Twinings Earl Grey and green tea was about it for choices, hope it is okay, China did have nice tea. Now I need to find a teapot. Don't remember if I had one or not. Off to search.

I was trapped at Trader Joe's

It was scary, there I was at the ticket machine trapped by a metal arm and cranky old people behind me. I put the ticket in and it started making funny noises and then it prompted me to put my ticket in. For a minute there I thought I was back in China, but I was driving so I snapped out of that pretty quick and pushed the "help" button. And we all sat there. After a bit this vehicle pulls up and the Mall Cop comes over to my window. After I explained the problem he pulled the ticket out with his electronic hand held machine and tried it again multiple times. Then he tells me I am third one today and he walks into to guard shack to punch a button. WTF, if I am third why keep trying and why not fix this piece of shit? And I forgot my salad dressing so I must return tomorrow for more of this fun.

I also went to the CVS pharmacy and I am convinced I can get the clerks job. No one can be that unhappy so I am sure she is dying of a terminal disease and will be gone soon. Would it kill ya to say hi back?

I had to revise my resume, still in Mandarin/English so that took some time. Dude is supposed to call me this afternoon. Should prolly send the resume to my old boss and let him know I can at least do contract/project assignments. All this means I need an interview outfit and then work clothes. At least I won't have to run around Michigan saying bigger, bigger. Everyone here is bigger, bigger.

It's back

I noticed a green recycle bin on the boulevard across the street. No one else seemed to want it so I went and fetched it. I am sure it is mine as I now have possession. Now I have to figure out how to use it. I think the newspapers I am not supposed to be getting can go into a paper bag. I probably should go on the city web site and look up the rules.

Not much to say today maybe more tomorrow.

Odds and Ends

Well, lets see whats new. I lost my recycling bin. I forgot to bring it up from the curb and the huge winds took it away. I was amazed when I looked out the window, I expected a lot of downed branches from the old trees. Nope clean and clear and no recycle bin. In my defense I have never brought it in before because I have never used it before. Punkin Head took it out and I guess my brain did not register the bringing it in part. Drat, if I can't find it, dreaming, then I have to go get another one from the city.

I have washed a million Trader Joe's shirts. Don't ask.

I received a LinkedIn request and a job inquiry. I asked him to call me Monday and we will see. It is the same commodity as my last job so maybe. I was not sure if I wanted to do that again. If it is a similar job I should contact my old boss too. That job was so whack, horrible hours to boredom, late night and early morning calls and getting screamed at once a day. Of course it was also hilarious. And it payed well. Don't think I could do it again for less money, it was really demanding and a huge responsibility.

One of Big Daddy's guys he is in touch with is still talking about Brazil and one is talking France. The others are all US positions so what to do. I could stay here in the money pit and work or continue following BD wherever he goes. I kinda think we should stick together but I need something to do. And cooking and cleaning is not working out for me. I need my cleaning lady back and a bunch of money to eat out all the time.

New wine tried, Cut The Fluff, a white wine. Nice soft easy wine to drink would go well with mild foods. Or just drinking. Remember they all under ten bucks. So far it is the only winner. Had a Darien Rioja, okay but nothing to write home about. Most of the wine in China was from New Zealand and I guess this some law about plastic corks or screw tops and I like dealing with those better. Decent wines and no weird cork issues.

I am reading Stet Damnit by Florence King, all her columns or whatever from the National Review for ten years or so. Interesting and fun as you are reading initial impressions of things in the past. She wrote about the times and culture and political happenings of the day. I am also starting Fordlandia by Greg Grandin, Henry Ford building a town in South American, the right way.

Speaking of the Right Way, there is a huge brouhaha over this women's contraception issue. In a nutshell it seems that the new law demands that women get free birth control from their insurance companies. I don't know if it means no co-pay or just no charge at the pharmacy. People are comparing it to ED meds for men and I don't know if that is co-pay either. I do know that my insurance requires generic drugs for co-pay. My Synthroid is now some unpronounceable name med and in China I had to cut the pill in half. Anyhoo, my question is if I have to take generic drugs, shouldn't everyone have to do the same? I think birth control should be covered and not ED meds but, not to clear your acne or for luxury of only having 4 periods a year.

Punkin Head saves the day

He sent me a new potato peeler. He researched it and read the reviews. I have an excellent son.

He came by today for a visit and we had lunch, take out from the Lunchbox Deli, he found me an assortment of wines to try from Trader Joe's and he took out the garbage for the truck tomorrow. I have 6 bags and the recycle box. I am winning. PH also showed me how to light the fireplace in the family room, you have to put the lighter in the butt crack like you are trying to light a fart. Hmm.

Big Daddy was sick yesterday including the the vomiting. He is never sick. That is scary for me, as a hypochondriac now I have to worry about someone else getting the Chinese plague. Late breaking news he thinks it may have been older stuffed olives. Who knows.

Job search is still swimming in the muck. One guy said a new memo from HR states the job has to be posted internally first. This kills me, don't you think you would about this person or he would know about you. BD's job is specialized and there are not that many in any company that can do that job. Another job is held up in HR for unknown reasons, and one job is waiting for someone to die.  And one came back from the past  with a new position.

I went on Ebay yesterday and checked a few things I used to watch for collectibles. I was shocked, the prices are quite a bit higher. Either I was on to some good things or there are a lot of people trying to make big bucks off of shit. With no one working I would think the prices would be down, same as the shopping channels prices higher than when I left. Who is buying all this stuff?

First wine tried, Cocobon, California 2010 Red Wine. It is okay. It has a strange aroma, just can't place it. The label says mocha and maybe, but just odd. Might be better if served with a heavy dessert as recommended. By the way all the wines are under 10 dollars.