Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

 Reduction in Force. So far, I have not been reduced ... or resignated.  But, each day dawns with a renewed sense of dread.  The stress is palpable.  And that's just emanating from me. Just in case, I am going to enact a personal Austerity Plan.  No frivolous spending ... After I get back from vacation.  Assuming I still have a job to take a vacation from.  Nevertheless, let's consider March 13-30 my last (spending) hurrah.   There are still a few necessities (not really) that I need to buy - like more dirt (soil) for my new raised beds.  I already have the seeds.  At least I'll be able to grow some of my own food.  Like a real live Pioneer Woman. Unless the neems attack all my plants.  I do have Neem Oil, but it isn't always effective. Tomorrow, I am getting pierced. It's an act of rebellion.  Because I never got to go through that period when I was a teenager.  I was "the good kid."  I will probably post p...

 LOL.  I was goofing around on Blogger and noticed that I have to approve comments now.  So, um, sorry about that. I have done the approval thingy. And will start checking that more frequently.  In other news ...  Sunday, I am hosting Biscuit Camp for the SigNoth's older sister (who is in town because her oldest daughter just had un bebeh).  I have no other real plans, other than going to the farmers market, doing laundry, and making of the meal prep for next week.  Good times. For sure. 

 6:00AM. With the new normal, I should be on a bus to the metro station, where I board a train and then another train to arrive at my office bright and early and chipper as a newborn squirrel. Today is special, though.  It's Pottery Class Registration Day.  Which is surprisingly competitive.  The DMV has too many Type A Soccer Moms (and Dads). In order to register for class, I have to log on at 6:30AM and hope the Pottery Gods are kind to me in the registration queue.  We shall see ... so exciting. After I register, I will then board a bus and a train ... and another train to get to my office.  Depending on what time I arrive, I will either work late (ugh) or take some leave (also, ugh).  Being totally honest, I will more than likely take leave because I hate being at work late.   This would be a perfect day to telework.  If we were allowed to telework.  Too bad Danger Yam (as one of my mutuals calls He Who Must Not Be Named) thinks...

 Happy Presidents' Day! Since I last posted, so much has happened ... I think.   I was going to bake my parents heart-shaped biscuits, because -when we were wee lads- my mom used to bake my brother and I heart-shaped biscuits on Valentine's morning.  They were not as good as the biscuits I make now. However, after I grated the frozen butter in my food processor, I tipped it out into the flour and the handle on the food processor broke.  The bowl fell into the flour.  I dug out a few pieces of plastic and a spring, and I threw it all in the trash.  I called the manufacturer.  They are sending me a new bowl ... in 2-3 weeks.  UGH.  HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE BISCUITS NOW?!?!? The SigNoth caught a cold, so Valentine's Day was even more of a bust.  Not that I really buy into the whole pseudo-holiday thing anyway. Saturday, I did my taxes. Refund, yay!  And, I ordered some nice stationery.  I thought it would be fun to use my fa...

 Why is it I can't remember my Hebrew lessons from one day to the next, yet I put on some J-Pop from my favorite group (Spitz) from when I lived in Japan (1995-1998) and I can remember Every. Single. Word?  Of almost every song. GAH! I have a theory that my brain can only hold 2 languages at a time.  And, even though I haven't spoken Japanese is nearly 30 years, my brain is all like "Hello, Language That Is Not English.  You must be Japanese." Which would explain why every time I try to say something in Spanish to my (very lovely) house cleaners, if I don't know a word, I replace it with the Japanese equivalent.  Cue v. confused looks. ANYWAY, I intended to post more frequently that I have been.  You know what they say about good intentions, though. Adjusting to 5 days/week in the office has been trying.  Maybe it will get better.  I am not hopeful. I spent most of this weekend doing all the things I would normally be able to do during the week (w...

 Well, it's happened. Friday morning, we had an all-hands meeting and were told we would need to report to the office 5 days/week starting at the end of the month. Friday afternoon, we received an email that was all "Haha.  J/K!  You have to report to the office 5 days/week starting on Monday. LOL"* This Monday.  Also known as tomorrow. Putting aside the complete lack of respect for employees and the disorganization of the announcement, giving parents approximately 48 hours to figure out updated child care arrangements was rude.  Leadership can not spout off about how they admire the work being done, but then turn around and do the opposite of admiration. Luckily (not really), I know how Total A**holes operate.  I told my coworkers after the Inauguration that we should expect to come back this Monday.  How did I know this?  Our entire agency's telework agreements expire on an annual basis on January 31st.  And, we had received announcements t...