Day 150 – The Unexpected Working Day

It’s not exactly the unexpected working day, but more work than expected :)  I am trying to get my dad’s laundry done, mine done, a meal plan for this week, and a plan for people coming to check on the folks.  Luckily I am not packing until Tuesday since I am leaving that night to go to Fairburn, Georgia.

Yesterday my bother and dad got the exit opener installed for our gate at the house.  We have a sliding gate and it has been such a pain since we put it in.  Not all of it is the opener’s fault.  It sat for a long time before we installed it and then it got struck by lightning.  I know – HUGE LIFE PROBLEMS :) ha ha ha.

I still have a couple small, maybe not small – minor, changes to be made to my room / bathroom before I am done.  I want to tighten my pictures that are hanging over my bed, less space on the vertical lines.  Then I got, what I think will work, as a towel holder.  Would like to put that up today, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to so I will add a pic.

The dogs were let in this morning wet and full of sand so my bed is just FULL of sand.  I have slept in it twice and will have to deal with that today too.  Oh yeah, that’s another thing on the list, sweep the house and mop the common area.

The movie theatre by the house has opened and Carlos was planning on coming out tomorrow and maybe going out there.  I am not sure what we are having for food, something on the grill probably – shrimp and hot dogs – ha ha ha, what a combo.

We are gonna have beanie weenies for dinner so now I have to go to the grocery store to get them.  I hope they aren’t sold out for the holiday – that’s not possible, right?!  I have seen where they were out of buns, but not hot dogs :)  I will keep everyone posted on the developments of this very important story!  Oh man, I just realized baked beans are big cookoout items too – OH NO!

Important Update: We decided to have sandwiches instead of beanie weenies. That is all.

I just got done with all of my dad’s laundry and now I am working on mine. I also just played with the puppies – they were exhausted because it is so hot outside. Goodness, they wouldn’t stop if I didn’t make them.

I think I am getting a little bit sick. I feel like my throat is going to be very sore tomorrow. I hope it goes quickly. I woke up last night about 3am and had to take some Aleve I had such a bad headache. I think it was from having a stuffed up nose and also coughing a little bit. In fact I just took some as a preemptive strike :)

By the way, basically finished the puzzle today – I need two words that I just cannot figure out.  Have to ask dad for help tomorrow.  He gave me some hints, but I did pretty good :)

Alright, I am going to clean the body, finish up my clothes, and go to bed – I don’t feel great :(  Oh well!

Dime is so tense...
Dime is so tense…

Day 149 – The Day of Glamor

Today was hair day :)  I stopped and grabbed some food for dinner and already had a compliment on the color.  I ALWAYS get compliments the day or day after I get it done.  I love it :)

So, yesterday I had something happen that really upset me.  A good friend of mine, a person I have relied on for their kindness and really lean on hurt my feelings.  It was a text where they were a bit short with me.  I really try hard not to put attitude on people’s written words, emails and texts, but that one really got to me.  I think it is because they are always so nice to me.  They did apologize and that made me feel a bit better, but still it hurt.  The reason why I am explaining this situation is because it is very important to be careful about how you word written things.

Anyway, enough of that :)  So my dad has always done crossword puzzles and he had some that were a bit easier so I was doing those in the morning when I was eating breakfast and now he has found me one from the paper that he things I should be able to do.  I am not good with them, especially like he is and it was funny because he basically did this whole puzzle in his head and decided it was for me :)  Funny stuff!!

I had to return my ring today because it had lost two diamonds already – I have had it a week…

I need to do a ton before I go out of town again.  I need to make sure that there is a plan for dinners for the folks and make sure someone can come on out and check on them.  Although I think that mom is feeling better than she has.  She may feel pretty much back to normal by Monday – who knows :)  Oh yeah, mom came home last night.  I can’t remember if I mentioned that in the blog yesterday.

OK, I am going to wrap this up because I am getting tired and want to grab me some ice cream :)

The hair - I would have taken a real selfie, but my eyebrows are basically orange :)
The hair – I would have taken a real selfie, but my eyebrows are basically orange :)

Day 148 – The Day I Saw Friends

This morning is the last day on the road for a little bit and we are ending it with the first group of people I worked with on my project!  It is so nice to see them all, except 1 is not here, but I will see him at another training I believe.

They are trying to get done quickly so that we can all get home, this is day 6 for us so we are all a little bit tired!  I am sitting in an office right now just trying to stay out of the way from all this craziness :)

Gonna have to get some pictures today to add, but I have 1 from yesterday evening.

So, made it to the airport a whole 6 hours early :)  Not a huge deal this isn’t the first time that has happened.  The other guys have like a 16:00 flight or close to it anyway so they have a little less wait – but not much.  We ate at PF Changs, which was my first time eating there.  It was pretty good.  I got some dumplings and some Lo Mein.  The dumplings were amazing!!

I am letting my phone charge and sitting on the floor rather than use the ones in the seats.  So I am using one outlet and a guy came up to use the other one and I scared the crap out of him by shouting that it was MY OUTLET!!!  He was a good sport and laughed :)

I am so very tired.  I think that I figured out a little secret about when I start to field strange, I need some food.  Have not figured out if it is like a sugar thing or just food in general.  I fear it is sugar, but hope I am just plain hungry.

The guys just left to go get some ice cream, I think they went down to a Ben and Jerry’s.  Now I may be headed down there later, but not right now :)  Still a bit full from lunch / dinner.

Fountain in downtown LaGrange, GA
Fountain in downtown LaGrange, GA
This IS Railroading!!
This IS Railroading!!

Day 147 – The Day of the Longest Drive

No not golf, real driving in a car!!!  We started the day at the REDI, that’s where I am right now.  We will leave here around lunch and head to Social Circle, a little over an hour away.  Once we are done there it’s a much longer drive to LaGrange.  Whew!   I will check back in later.

OK, I am all settled into my room in LaGrange thinking about how I am going to get some food in my belly :)  We had two pretty good sessions today.  I felt that I helped a couple people in each and that is good when you can fix a couple specific issues, I think :)

Long drives today.  Man, it took so long, but we made it and that is good.  I will be happy to be home next week for sure.

Mom Update: Talked to the nurse, didn’t get to talk to her, but she said she had a bit of a fever today and that overall it was a better day.  She is very weak at the moment and sleeping a good bit.  She was supposed to come home, but I don’t think so with that fever.  Paul and Carlos, at least, are going to see her and play with the puppies :)

I am going to have a really long day tomorrow, not getting home until like 21:00.  But a lot of it will be just sitting around which is unfortunate.  Oh well, get something done :)

There is not much near this hotel, I am not even sure where a Pizza Hut is because I could do some pizza I think.  Maybe.  Actually maybe not.  I want Subway – too bad no car.  Gonna have to try to get one of the guys to just take me, or let me borrow their car.

I took some pictures today, not  very many, but what can you do!  I think I am gonna go ahead and close this, if something interesting happens I will just add it to tomorrow :)

Inside a switch.
Inside a switch.
Contacts inside a switch.
Contacts inside a switch.
Rule 706!!!
Rule 706!!!  If you didn’t know, now you know!!

Day 146 – The Day That Ended at the REDI

This morning we had a bit of a drive to Calhoun, Georgia. Out meeting was in a historic depot that has been repurposed into a county meeting hall. It was nice and there was lots of space for sure. The good / bad thing about being at old depots is that for the most part trains still run very close to them so it was, only at times, noisy :)

I stayed behind with the IT guys because we couldn’t get one guy working smoothly so by the time we did finish it was lunch time. We ate with them at a local Mexican place and it was pretty good. After that started the long drive back to Atlanta to the REDI Center. We needed to stop there to chat with a couple people and do some things.

We left there and dropped another co-worker off to get a rental car and then they took me to – wait for it – PANDA EXPRESS!!!!!! I was so happy, but to be honest, the food was not as good as the one at home, but still good :)

Update: I lost my connection to the website last night so I am unsure what else I had to say :)  Oh, I think I had an update on mom there, here we go :)

Mom Update: Mom was not released from the hospital yesterday and that is OK because she wasn’t feeling well still, I should say she was OK with it.

Alright, here are some pictures, enjoy :)

The meeting spot.
The meeting spot.
The meeting spot.
The meeting spot.
The REDI
The REDI.
A display in the REDI.
A display in the REDI.

Day 145 – The Day That I Knew Where to Go!!

This morning we had some Waffle House!!! True Alabama style :) I am sitting at the first location waiting for the folks to get here so we can start. I think there was some confusion about when we needed the material – I should say when the people I am with need their stuff, I am just here to help with the program.

We have a bit of a drive this afternoon and I will catch back up then :)

Alright, made it to the next place, and I have actually been here before!!  I know all these folks :)  We are in Birmingham, Alabama.  We leave here and are staying the night in Atlanta and then have a bit of a drive tomorrow.  I think we will eat good tonight so I am looking forward to that!

We had lunch with a couple of the folks from that office and made the much longer than expected trip to Atlanta.  My co-worker was going to a gym class right away so I decided to just grab some food from the hotel.  Big mistake :(  But really it was more my fault.  I got a roast beef sandwich and forgot to say no horseradish so it was disgusting!!  The fries were good :)

Now I am going to get to bed!

Hotel checkin - interesting decor.
Hotel checkin – interesting decor.
Lobby of the hotel.
Lobby of the hotel.
View down Commerce St.
View down Commerce St.
Where we had dinner - Wintzells Oyster House.
Where we had dinner – Wintzells Oyster House.
Inside of Wintzells Oyster House.
Inside of Wintzells Oyster House.
Just closer detail
Just closer detail
Closer detail.
Closer detail.
This was a dry goods warehouse, but now a law firm.  Downtown Montgomery
This was a dry goods warehouse, but now a law firm. Downtown Montgomery

Day 144 – The Day We Parked on I-65

This morning our work location was very close to where we stayed so that was nice, but there was like nothing to grab some food that early. I had a banana and a Mt. Dew – healthy I know :)

The IT group did their thing great and I was making us stay trying to help a couple of the guys. But we got out of there and drove for a bit before we got food. I think Denise was about to agree to eat at a gas station she was so hungry.

After we got back on the road there was some construction she was warned about from the guys and she was asking if we should go around or risk it. I said go around, but “Bobby Taylor” said to give it a try… About an hour later we were finally out of the parking lot of construction. He said, you win some and you lose some :)

We are staying at this amazing hotel here in Montgomery. I have a great room on the 9th floor. We are going to take a little walk to grab some dinner here in a bit. Everyone was saying there are tons of good places, plus they have been here before. Alright, more to come later :)

Just got back from dinner, went to an oyster bar, YUCK! But I had fried shrimp and a brownie :) We just walked down the street a little bit so that was nice. Lots of little things right around the hotel. Will post pictures from that tomorrow, too tired to do it tonight :) Bye!!

IMG_3107
Railroad bridge in Mobile, AL.
IMG_3109
The nice room.
IMG_3108
The view from the nice room.

Day 143 – The Day I Went to Mobile

I am getting my laundry all done for my trip this evening. I am watching my puppies be so sweet, they are going to make me miss them more!

My mom is not feeling well again. I am going to blame it on these meal replacement drinks she has been trying to drink because they were already expired and the company wouldn’t take them back. I told her not to do it and others did too, but she said, it tastes fine. Ummmmmmmmmm. I do hope she feels better very soon. I don’t like leaving like this, but there will be a couple people around while I am gone and if I need to come home, I will.

I am going to leave here around 16:00, Carlos is coming to take me and Paul is going to pick me up so I don’t have to leave my car at the airport. That reminds me I need to put up my sunshade before I leave.

So, I am writing this on Monday because yesterday evening got a little something. When I left yesterday mom was not feeling great, but she didn’t say anything like cancel your trip. I thought she was a little bit better than she was apparently. When I get to Atlanta I call my sister and she is very concerned about her and wants to take her to the ER. I tell her to call Paul and see if he can come over and stay the night with her because I thought he would be able to take off work on Monday if needed.

When I got to Mobile I called Paul and he said that she did go to the hospital and got admitted thinking that she had pneumonia. I didn’t get to the hotel until like 23:00 so it was pretty late. Luckily this trip we are staying pretty close to airports that I can likely get home in a hurry if I need to. I don’t like being away like this.

I think he is gonna miss me :)
I think he is gonna miss me :)
JAX, like a second home :)
JAX, like a second home :)
Mobile Airport - pretty cool.
Mobile Airport – pretty cool.

Day 142 – The Sparkling Day

I wanted to say that in the last week or so I have been having a hard time sleeping again and also having some dreams that are very disturbing for me which makes me not sleep or wake up in a distressed state. I have also been feeling more and more anxiety when I am in crowds. If I am in a room with co-working giving a class or demo it is no problem, it just seems to be when I have no connection to people. It is very stressful for me, but I am trying very hard to not let it get me down low.

Alright, good things now. Like a couple weeks ago I had to return the new ring I had gotten because there were two diamonds that had fallen out and it was very rough and actually giving me a callous on on my pinky finger. I had ordered a new one and went to pick it up and then I happened to see another one I wanted more. So I got it and it is beautiful!!! I will put a picture below. The reason for this ring is a congratulations to myself for being in the railroad industry for 20 years. I am not married and never had been and I love these style rings so who the heck cares if I have a ring on that finger or not!!  By the way, my hand looks so bad in the picture, I am not sure if it is dry or just old :)

Carlos and Paul both came over today but mom and I were gone most of the afternoon. I did promise them Yummy Chicken and Dumplings so we had to go to the store to get some of the ingredients. Then we managed to forgot the “dumplings” but luckily we had some here :)

I had a good picture of the Penny and Dime dog yesterday but forgot to post it so I am going to put it below too :) They seem so sweet, but they are CRAZY :)

I changed my bed sheets in case my cousin wanted to stay the night here or my mom wanted to sleep in my room and have a bit more room with the dogs :)

I am leaving out again tomorrow night and won’t get back this time until Friday evening. This will be a hard one, but then we have a holiday so that will make it easier. I am thinking about driving to Atlanta next week for my trip, but now that I think about it that won’t work because I really need to get my car serviced. See just gotta talk it out to yourself some times :)

Alright, I am going to get my body cleaned up and get under the sheets!! I will talk to y’all tomorrow, but may not get it posted until the next day because I am going to be getting in late.

Penny and Dime do love each other :)
Penny and Dime do love each other :)
Cheshire Cat sitting on the TV
Cheshire Cat sitting on the TV
Happy 20 Years!!
Happy 20 Years!!

Day 141 – The Day The Dogs Thought it Was Easter?

I have been playing tennis with these dogs for so long and now all of the sudden they are no longer bringing me the balls back… Dime is actually hiding them like little easter eggs. I am not sure what the deal is, maybe this is their way of saying I am done or what. So now I have 0 tennis balls in the bin. I will go get them tomorrow before I leave.

I had a very little production day today. Dad and I had to go see the life insurance guy and I just didn’t have enough of the info I should have for him to review my stuff, but we did get dad’s looked at and found what we needed for that. I will have to go back in a couple weeks to get the rest done. I am looking forward to it.

I did get most of the house swept, needed to do my room and tomorrow I will mop. I want to change my bed set, but I am only going to be here one more day so it isn’t worth it because the dogs are just going to own the bed while I am gone. Maybe I will do it tomorrow anyway since I think my mom might sleep in here while I am gone to keep the puppies company :)

I am going to wrap this up a little early, I am not feeling great right now and really wanna just lay down. Goodnight and see you tomorrow!!!

WORN OUT!!!!
WORN OUT!!!!