My Book Nook

After 3 months this is the only corner of the house that
looks like it is decorated and lived in.

Please Press 1

I am going crazy. I have been away from home for a month now, and I have about 2 weeks left before I can go home. 

But first I have to go to the office and do a dumb commentary drive to prove that I remember how to drive since the last dumb commentary drive from last year.

Today’s Exploit:

The other day I was sitting, reading and being cranky because my tool wasn’t working properly and everyone was making a big fuss. We had finally gotten a survey and were starting to drill with fewer problems than had been plaguing me for a while. I was being relieved and pouting (fuming) because my manager had blamed me for the problems we’d been having. 

The dd’s had been talking, and irritating me because I was being irritable, and one decided to make a phone call. I don’t remember what he was supposed to be calling for, but was rather startled to hear (he had his speakerphone on) a seductive woman’s voice saying something along these lines:

Hello, welcome to blablabla chat line. If you are a woman and would like to talk to a sexy, naked man please press 1, if you are a man and would like to talk to a sexy, naked woman please press 2...

That is where he ended his call.

I am amazed he let it go on for so long, but the dd trainee was completely confused. 

Trainee: What was that?

DD: I called a wrong number.

Trainee: Oh, why were they asking that.

DD: It was a sex hotline.

Trainee: What?

DD: A sex hotline.

Trainee: ...

I find the recording and the following conversation quite humorous right now, but at the time I was just wishing that they would leave my shack. I have gotten quite used to working alone with my computers, and having anyone else in my unit makes me a little edgy. And working with them for the entire job (about a month) makes me a bit crazy, and endlessly cranky.

An Abundance of Sprinkles

Tired

Today’s Exploit:

I was going to have a nice story about pretending to be a Paleo person, but then I had to do work at 2:00am after a late night, and the next night I had to do work at 1:00am. And I got tired and lethargic. 

I was also going to make cupcakes for the rig crews, but I was tired and the oven doesn’t work. So now I have an abundance of sprinkles and butter, and no way to use them.

Also, I wish I had a better story to go with this post title, because I really like it and this post is pretty sad.

Maybe tomorrow I can write an “Abundance of Sprinkles” story that better suits.

Muffin Preparation

Pitting cherries is messy work.

Changing a Toilet Seat

I painted my first bedroom last week. It went from pink and black to blue. I think Klay will prefer the blue. 

In related news. I have pale blue spots in my hair, and my toes are dark blue. And edging corners between dark and light colors is hard. 

Today’s Exploit:

When I go to work I leave a list of things I would like H. to do while I’m gone. 

Usually it’s not long and it’s things we’ve talked about changing or updating or something I can’t/won’t do that needs done.

The list includes:

-Mow (Because it’s hot out there and I don’t like the sun)

-Put together the table on the porch (I had to take it apart to fit in Starla for the move, also I ended up doing this one)

-Have Klay pick a color for the bedroom

-Change the upstairs toilet seat

That last one? That was because all 3 toilet seats were plastic and a half inch too small for the toilet bowl. And I think that’s not fun at all.

I got the seats, because I’m picky and H. didn’t want to get the wrong one. I changed out the two downstairs ones because I see them a lot. And I use the one in the bedroom.

This particular item was on the list for 5 times, that’s 5 work cycles or 10 weeks, before it was finally completed. 

Sometimes it was the only thing on the list.

But it is finished now, and I can heave a sigh of relief. And I might have to throw a party to celebrate that it is no longer on my list.

This is my House

This is my house. I am shellfish and call it mine, but I do share it.
And I'm trying really hard not to be too bossy about changes we make.

A Water-Fight

This week’s recommended reading:

All Terry Pratchett books are amazing,
but I particularly like the ones about the witches. Book art found here.

Today’s Exploit:

After my big race we left pretty fast, before everyone was back and before awards. So I didn’t get the only award I’ll probably ever get from a race. But I had a water-fight with Eli and Cavan and that was better.

They have some foam water shooter things and a tub to fill them at. So I guarded the tub and they ganged up on me. 

We all raced around the lawn, which is amazing and even I can run around barefoot, and laughed like crazy and screamed when we were shot.  

They also really helped me fight off the post-run stiffness. And forget that my legs were jelly from  running up and down a mountain. (Which I haven’t had the chance to do since the last half-marathon race running up and down the same mountain.) 

We all ended up soaked, which was fine, because they were going boating and I had to take a shower. I had some serious dirt-tan from the dusty trail mixed with sunscreen.

I Won, With Help

This week’s recommended reading:

Reading it right now, Cover image found here.

Today’s Exploit:

I had my race this weekend.

At the start everyone is happy and excited.
And magically lined up in order of our race bib numbers (unintended).
And I stole these pictures from Catherine.

I did a half marathon in the mountains in Washington’s wine country. (Not that it makes much difference to me. I like the orchards, but my Mom would love it here.)

It took me years to finish because I was babying my legs to make sure I didn’t get cramps. Last time I ran here I got really bad cramps in my legs about half way through the race and had to hobble the second half of the race and hop across the finish line.

This time I walked up most of the hills and ran the level areas and declines. It was much nicer.

I had amazing views and many nice people and great volunteers at the aid stations and road crossings. 

And when I came to the end, I was getting some cramps and trying to keep my calves loose so they wouldn’t seize up.

Then Eli and Cavan ran up to meet me and told me I was being slow and to pick up the pace.

Eli ran with me for a second, but Cavan ran with me the last few turns into the finish. 

At the very end, with about 30 feet left he told me he was going to race me to the finish. And I tried, I really did, but my legs didn’t want to work for a sprint. 

At the end is more relief than excitement,
but having a finishing buddy helped.

I ended up getting 68/78 overall, and 1/3 in my age division. So that was pretty exciting.

It Wasn’t Lifeproof

I have a house! I get in trouble for calling it mine, but I do it anyway. 

Really it’s ours, but MINE is more fun. I sound like a Finding Nemo seagull.

Today’s Exploit:

I dropped my phone yesterday. I had just been thinking how amazing it was that I still had my original screen protector on it. And I had been taking it out of my case more because my charger won’t fit with it on. 

But yesterday, it was in the case, and I just got back from my run. 

I had my phone in my hand, I was walking. And then it bumped against my leg and then was on the ground. 

The lifeproof case isn’t so lifeproof here.

My screen is shattered, and the screen protector is what’s holding it all together. 

And naturally, being at work, I have no place nearby to go to get it fixed, replaced or find a kit to do it myself.