I’m Back, Baby!

I am back, baby! I have internets again!

Yep, the long awaited modem finally arrived today, and after a few moments of Luddite style frustration, I am connected to the world wide web.  First thing I did:  get my Roku plugged in to the new network and catch up on some of the shows I've been missing out on.  

I still will need to upgrade my Hulu to live TV, but I'll take care of that later.  Then I'll drop Peacock and Discovery +, because I get all that with Hulu.  Late next month, I'll have to download and re-subscribe to Frendly, so I can watch Great American Family Christmas movies, but I think Hallmark is on Hulu now.  I don't know, but Frendly will have them if Hulu doesn't.  

But mainly, I can watch college football.  Funny thing, I saw an article online about how ESPN is losing viewership at a tremendous rate, and it's because they're so far behind the times.  They need to have a separate subscription service so that you don't have to have some sort of other TV service just to watch them.  That's so 20th Century.  

Something else I'd forgotten was how fast internet is, compared to my phone network.  Part of that is because I don't get 5G at my house.  When I'm in town, it's a lot faster.  I mean, I was able to watch shows on my phone with no problem, but that photo up above uploaded in just a blink, as compared to a bliiiiiiiink.  Plus, I'll be able to use my actual camera once again, instead of having to take all my photos on my phone.  Not that my phone took bad photos, but still....

In other news, I got two new candles from my friend Kristine's shop.  

I'd thought about giving them as Christmas gifts, and I may yet, but I don't know.  Both of these remind me so much of my dad, because it was his tradition to always go out and watch the Harvest Moon rise, and because he'd always dreamed of being a sailor.  He's the reason I joined the Navy in the fist place. 

Speaking of Navy,  they're playing right now, so I'd better get off of here...oh, wait!  I don't have to!  I have internet now.  I can watch Hulu and blog at the same time!  

But I am going to go so I can pay attention to the game...

Laters. 

I Remembered!

 So, yesterday when I said I had something else to tell you that I couldn't remember, but would as soon as I published the post?  I was right. 

I was going to tell you about a new app I found called Zoom Earth.  It's kind of like Google Earth, but it's only satellite images.  Weather satellites, I mean.  Of the entire Earth, up to the Arctic Circle and down to the Antarctic Circle, that is.  

I've been totally geeking out over this, which should be no surprise to anyone who actually knows me. 

I also remembered another thing I was going to tell you, and that is that they had another layoff out at the plant.  They got 11 people off of day shift, and some from second shift, but I don't know how many.  Still not a single supervisor or front office person, though.  At this rate, soon they'll have more supervisors than employees.  

On the other hand, if those supervisors are under contract, they might not be able to just lay them off like that, or they'd risk getting sued for breach of contract.  

While we're on the subject, it was brought to my attention that some people might have family obligations, and that's why they are mad about having to switch shifts.  I do realize that, and we'd talked about it at work yesterday, but it just didn't seem to fit the flow of the blog post, so I left it out. 

I totally understand where they'd be coming from, because I remember having to scramble to find childcare when Cody was little, and how hard it was to find affordable, yet reliable babysitters.  It literally makes me sick to my stomach to think of some of the people I let watch him, but at the time, I had no choice. 

One time, when Cody was 2, the production manager we had at the time decided he was going to combine the shifts for Fall slowdown, and he'd let us know when it was supposed to start when he decided it was supposed to start.  Suddenly, I had to find day shift childcare, which was no easy feat.  I found a local day care, explained to the owner the situation, and fortunately, she was very accommodating.  I told her they probably wouldn't tell us until the day before, so I might not be able to give her any notice.  I might just show up one morning and say, "Here we are."  

That's pretty much exactly what happened.  He told us the Friday before, "Start coming in on day shift Monday."  Aaaand, ten days later, he decided it wasn't working and sent us all back to second shift.  Sigh...

I told the day care owner what had happened, apologized profusely, but she understood.  She could have made me pay out the contract, but again, she was very accommodating.  Alas, however, I was left scrambling to find child care again.  

So, yeah, I totally get how that could cause problems for people with small kids.  

And finally, I've been meaning to take photos of this mural someone painted downtown.  I think I may have posted them a while back, but for those of you who may be new to the blog, here they are again. 

I think it's pretty cool. 

It’s Official

Whelp, it's officially official.  This will be the last week we have a second shift. Except for a few people in sheet metal, that is.  They'll still have people in sheet metal, and I think maybe fin press, working on second shift for now. 

The test stations they'd been waiting on so they can convert another line to running air handler parts finally arrived yesterday.  They'll be getting them set up and installed this week, and the last remaining line on second shift will start on day shift Monday morning. 

I've heard some of the employees are mad about that, I guess because on day shift they'll actually have to do work and follow rules. Take, for example, the purge gas.  We have to use it on day shift or risk getting written up, yet the moment second shift walks in to work, the first thing they do is toss the hose over the thing.  Here is the proof of that.  I took this photo yesterday morning.   

Then there are all the shenanigans that go on during second shift...we got to talking about some of the things that had happened -- like all the times they caught people drinking, or smoking pot, or having sex back in the warehouse, and we can't forget the time some folks brought in some Fry Daddies and were cooking and selling fish plates, right there on the shop floor.  They won't be able to do any of that now.  

Nope, now they'll be expected to pull their weight and won't be able to blame us for their own failures any more.  

The good news is there was a tour in the plant today, hopefully of potential new customers.  Some of them came into the sub brazing department, right behind my stand.  The lady that works to my right took off as soon as they got there.  When they left, and she came back, I said, "I saw you abandon me and leave me hanging out to dry like that!"  When the next group came around, I leaned over and told her I was going to handcuff her to her stand so she could run off and leave me twisting in the wind like she had before.  

I guess you had to be there. 

Now for some bad news, my modem was supposed to be here tomorrow, but now they're saying it is delayed and won't get here until Thursday.  At this rate, I could have just waited until Friday morning and picked it up myself.  I'm just hoping it gets here before Saturday, so I can watch the ball games. 

In knitting news, I've gotten past the gusset decreases on my sock and am chugging away on the foot. 

I had to give my hands a bit of a break, though, so I cast on, yes, another hat.  

I'm starting to get the urge to get my second sock yarn blanket out and work on it.  Did you know I was working on two of them?  I am.  I finished the squares on the first one some time ago.  I blogged about it, once I'd knit the last square. I still haven't woven in the rest of the ends, or put any sort of border on it, though.  Anyway, I have a second one that I started to use up all the sock yarn I'd bought for the first one, which is quite a lot.  I mean, between what I bought, and what friends have sent me.  

I'm not as uptight about the second blanket, and will make multiple squares from the same yarn, plus it's a little bigger, too.  Now that it's getting almost chilly at night -- as in the middle 60s --, I'm kind of wanting to start working on it again.  I'll have to be careful that the cat doesn't snag it with her claws, because she's a kneader.  

There was something else I wanted to tell you, and I've been rambling nonsensically all this time trying to remember what it was, but I can't, so I guess it wasn't that important.  I guess I'll spare you any more of my nonsense and leave it for now. 

And as soon as I publish this, I'll remember.  Isn't that the way of it? 

To The Next Generation

September 11, 2001

We will never forget. 

Those of us who lived through that day will never ever forget.

Whether you were in the midst of the the horror

or at home staring at the TV in shock and disbelief

we will never forget.

But we have reached the point where never forgetting is no longer enough.  Those children who became adults in 2021 --  just two short years ago --

those who became adults just two short years ago weren't even born when these events happened.   Even those who turn 25 this year were too young to remember this day -- the day 2996 of their countrymen died.

Never forgetting is no longer enough.  We must tell it to the next generation.

So that they, too, will never forget. 

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.  -- Joel 1 : 3

Downtown Jubilee

This is something I look forward to every year, our Downtown Jubilee on the square, and this year was no different.  What was different about this year is that I actually got there early enough to sign up for a swamp tour.  Usually, I'm too late and all the tours fill up, but this year, I made it a point to get there bright and early, and got a spot.  

For those of you who don't know the story, this swamp is right downtown, just off the town square.  Several years ago, the city was going to have it clear cut and sell the lumber, but a group of citizens got together and raised enough money to buy the trees, so to speak, and saved the swamp.   I've said for years  one day I'd go down there and walk the trails, but I never managed to pry myself out of the chair and leave the house, so I was glad to get to go today. 

At first, I thought it was just going to be myself and one other lady, but at the last minute, a whole bunch of high school kids climbed onto the wagon.    Turns out they were a group of JROTC students, and I ws surprised at how much they were getting into the tour, and nature and all. 

One of the tour guides pointed out a cypress sapling and was telling them how they have to be on dry land to germinate, but that one would probably drown when the water rose again.  The kids were very upset over that, so they named the little tree Nature Reese's and the guide dug it up and transplanted it to a bit of higher ground.  Maybe it'll live.  

On the way back to the square, the guide was quizzing them on what they'd learned, and they remembered quite a lot, so I was impressed.  

While all this was going on, I was talking to the other tour guide, telling her I'd grown up in the swamps of Southeast Texas, and this was a bit like coming home.  

She was trying really hard to get me involved in the Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp group.  I don't know about that, but I definitely need to go back more often.  They are building another new walking trail that will open next month, so I might try to go to that when they have the grand opening. 

Plus, there is a Pokestop there, so I can get my friend a different postcard every once in a while. 

After the tour, I spent a few moments browsing the vendor booths, and bought a few things which I can't show you because they'll be Christmas presents.  I can show you this one, which I had thought to give as a Christmas gift, but decided to keep it for myself. 

I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have the car show this year, but they had plenty of vendor booths. 

And lots of bouncy houses and games for the kids. 

And massively overpriced food.  I debated on getting a funnel cake, but in the end, I didn't.  I told one of my friends who I ran in to out there, "I'll pay a little extra for these handmade crafts and things, but I'm not paying $7 for a glass of tea."  

Afterwards, I watched the cornhole tournament for a bit, 

then came on home and watched football for the rest of the day.  I didn't get to see any of my teams, but there was still plenty to watch.  Oh, and due to the conference realignments and new contracts and whatever, the Big 10 gets Gary this year. *Chuckles evilly*

If you know, you know....

Almost Back!

I'm back online!  Almost...

As it happens ABC and ESPN are so far behind the times that I can't watch football games on those networks without having a TV service provider.  All the other networks let you watch with their own subscription.  NBC has Peacock.  CBS has Paramount +.  And FOX just lets you watch.  

Not ABC or ESPN.  I even have the Disney + and ESPN+ subscriptions bundled with my Hulu, and even though Disney owns ABC/ESPN, I can't watch with those subscriptions.  It has to be an actual TV service provider like DirecTV or whatever.    

Bummer.  Thus, I concluded I'd have to turn my Hulu Live back on.  To do that, I'd need home internet.  But why don't I just get DirecTV or whatever?  Mainly because, for one thing they don't carry the local affiliates where I live.  I know some people in town have told me they can get local channels, but I'm out in the county, and every time I check, nope.  Besides, I had Cable when I first moved into this house, and it is actually cheaper to subscribe to Hulu Live.  And they have almost everything I need.  I usually pick up Frendly TV around the holidays so I can watch my cheesy Christmas movies. 

So anyway, last night, I was poking around on Sparklight's website and found an internet plan that is much cheaper than what I'd been paying, so I signed up for it.  I checked the box to lease the modem, and thought I completed the order.  This morning, after I'd done all my in-town running, I went back to the site to see when my modem would ship, and it said my order was invalid, even though my bank account had already been charged.  

I called the customer service number, and the guy I talked to got me a deal that was even better than the one I'd signed up for.  I'll be getting my internet for almost half of what I was paying before. Of course, I won't have the highest speeds, but I don't game so I don't need any more than what I need to stream videos.  I won't have unlimited data, either, but I don't really think I'll need that much.  I told the guy I'd keep an eye on my data usage, and upgrade if I start to go over, but I don't think I will.  I mean, even using my phone's data, I've never even gotten close to what this plan allows.  

Then he asked me if I would be able to pick up the router at my local office.  "Sure, that's not a problem," I responded.  Turns out, it would indeed be a problem. 

I got into my car and drove down all the way to the other side of town, only to find out my local office closes at 1:00, and isn't open on weekends, either.  Since I don't get off work until 2:00, I wouldn't be able to pick up the modem until next Friday.  Bummer.  I came home quite frustrated, then I called back, explained what the problem was, and if they could ship the router to me.  He said, "I can switch that to ship for you," and it literally took him like, half a minute to do it.  It's going to ship on Monday, and I'll get it Wednesday. 

I just wish I'd called first thing this morning.  Then I could have picked it up when I was running errands and would have internet for tomorrow's games.  As it happens, I'm going to miss them all, since the ones I want to watch are on ESPN -- which is still living in the '90s.   But I'll be able to watch next week! 

Ugh, but I'll have to drag that big, heavy entertainment center away from the wall...again....

I'll still be able to watch the Cowboys, because they play on NBC this week.  The first half at least, since my supervisor has decided that we need to start coming in at 4:00 AM again, and I'll actually be going to bed at halftime.  

I'm excited about getting my internet back, but part of me kind of feels like a failure.  I mean, it wasn't actually that hard living without it, and I'd never intended to leave it shut off permanently anyway.  It was a bit inconvenient at times, but still doable.  I wasn't missing anything as far as watching TV goes, because I'd figured out how to watch everything I wanted to...then football season started.  

Yes, I could have chosen not to watch it this year, but I didn't really want to.  I want to watch football, pro and college, and I want to watch my teams, not just whatever happens to be on a channel I happen to get on my phone.  Whatever the reason, I'm back online, and will just have to find other ways to cut corners.  I mean, who needs to eat anyway?  

But seriously, now that I've decided to put off replacing my fences a little longer, I'm not nearly as stressed about my finances as I was before.  In a pinch, I can just use the fence money I've been saving.  I hope it won't come to that, but even so...

In knitting news, I'm making progress on the sock.  A little bit, that is.

I guess I'm just getting old, because knitting on smaller yarn -- which I used to love -- is making my hands and arms so sore.  Maybe if I stuck with it, I'd toughen up, but right now, I'm having to take it in small bits of time.  

In work news, nobody knows what's going on out there.  Seriously.  Nobody knows anything.  They'd said -- rumor said, rather-- they were going to combine the shifts when we got back from Labor Day, but they didn't.  A couple of people who work in the assembly area said it's because they hadn't finished re-doing the assembly line so they could run whatever it is they're going to run down it.  It's taking longer than they'd thought it would.  I asked my supervisor if they were still going to combine the shifts, and he said he didn't even know.  

I'm ready for them to get 'er done, already, because if the shifts are combined, at least I won't have to come in to this mess every morning. 

When I complain, I'm told, "But he doesn't even work on your station."  Exactly!  He doesn't work on my station, so there's no reason in the world for him to be piling up jigs and garbage on my table!  I swan, it's like having a child in the plant.  

By the way, you know you've lost the trust of your employees when HR comes around taking new employee ID photos, and as soon as they've gone, people start asking, "Now what was that really all about?"  

OK, moving right along...

I finished reading A Door In The Wall.  It's a kid's book, probably for ages 8-12, but it was still good.  I'm sure I've read it before, but don't really remember anything but the cover art.  Still, it's worth the read, and will only take a couple of hours.  I'm not sure what I'm going to read next.  Maybe I'll finish Shakespeare's Richard III.  

Speaking of Richard III, I finished watching The Tudors this morning.  It got kind of weird toward the end.  Heh, the actor who played Henry VIII...I think he was trying to make Henry sound old, but he really made him sound like The Godfather.  Now I guess I'll go back to watching The X-Files and Heartland. 

And finally, a little bit of humor to brighten your day. 

Please?????? 

Rerun Time

I'm sure you will all be pleased to know I wore my new socks to work today, and wonder of wonders they did not fall down and wad up in the toes of my boots.   

I'm about halfway through the heel flap, and should get to the gusset decreases soon.  Oh, joy, my least favorite part.  But what I wanted to share with you today is something I found when I was looking for what yarn that is.  All I found is that it's Cascade 220, but other than that, it's mystery yarn.  

What I found that I wanted to share with you is this old story from 2019.  I found it amusing, and thought you might like to re-read it, too.  It's from back when the blog was still entertaining.  

Just popping my head in to let you all know I'm still alive.  For now...

The plant has been working us so hard these last few weeks.  It's unreal.  It's not just the hard work and long hours.  It's the stress of how they're treating us.  I've never seen this place so badly unorganized as it is right now.  We can't get our parts from tubing, so we can't get ahead.  Then, we've got the assembly lines waiting on us, only we don't have anything for them, because tubing doesn't have anything for us.  And instead of solving the problem, they just want to stand over us and rush us.

It's nerve wracking, and very, very stressful.  I come home and I don't feel like doing anything but going to bed.

I don't feel like blogging.
I don't feel like knitting.
I don't even feel like playing my piano.  I'm having to make myself practice.

Then, of course, there is the stress of dealing with my stalker.  He just makes me sick. He literally makes my skin crawl.  Him staring...always staring at me.  He'll even deliberately position himself so that he's in my line of sight.  One day last week, I was getting a drink out of my cooler on the shelf under my table.  When I stood up, there he was, right at the end of the line of brazing stands, just staring...Something is seriously wrong with him.

It was kind of funny today, though.  I was thinking about the upcoming Fiber Fun In The 'Sip festival in September, daydreaming about how much fun it's going to be hanging out with Amy, Christi, and Leann again...

Somewhere in the middle of my daydream, my white headed shanty men showed up -- including the one who may or may not eventually become my imaginary boyfriend, if I can ever bring myself to make an imaginary commitment to him.   They were going to be part of the entertainment.  Once they'd finished singing, we ended up talking, and I took him out....to...ummm..

TheVicksburgNationalMilitaryPark

Yeah.  Most people take their imaginary dates to a romantic candlelit dinner, or a long moonlit walk on the beach, or maybe they snuggle under a blanket in front of a fire at a ski lodge.  Or something.  Not me.

I take mine to a freaking Civil War Battlefield.  A Civil War Battlefield!!

Sigh...I'm definitely not normal.  Or whatever.

Normal is over-rated, anyway.

Anyway, I was really getting into it.  My imaginary tour of the Vicksburg National Military Park, that is.  We were reading the signs and things, and those things where you can scan the QR code with your phone and a video opens with a Ranger telling you why that spot is significant.  I was telling him about some of the statues, and who those men were -- as much as I knew.  I'm not really big on Civil War history.  Now if it were Texas history, that'd be a completely different story.  But still...

We went to the Illinois memorial -- the one where all the ghosts are.  There I ran into a fellow veteran.  I'd worn my DD-214 Alumni shirt, which he recognized instantly.  He said, "Thank you for your service." and I replied, "And you for yours, Brother."  We shook hands and said, "Never forget," then parted ways.  My imaginary friend asked who that was, and I said, "No idea."

"But you called him Brother."

"He's a fellow veteran.  That makes him my brother."

I ran my fingers along the names on the plaques.  The names of those long ago men who'd served in the Illinois regiment, and told my imaginary friend who may or may not become my imaginary boyfriend that these men had donned the uniform and swore the oath, same as I did, and that makes them my brothers forever. Whether I knew them or not doesn't matter in the slightest.


In the midst of my daydream, I put some adapter tubes into my brazing jig, flipped down my glasses, and lit my torch.  That's when I discovered I hadn't put a header onto the parts.  I said, "I don't know what I thought I was going to braze."  And looked up to see Stalker, just staring.  Laughing. 

He. Makes. Me. Sick.

I thought, "If you only knew!  Here I am, I'd rather be with an IMAGINARY boyfriend, than with you in real life, you pathetic loser!"  Seriously, if he's the best I can do, I'd rather do without.

Imaginary husbands are better anyway.  They never leave their dirty socks on the floor.  They never complain about what's for supper, and they never hog the remote.

So there.

Labor Day

I'd intended to get up and labor all day, what with it being Labor Day and all, but that didn't happen.  

First up on the agenda was to shampoo my bedroom carpet.  Alas, I didn't get very far when my carpet shampooer broke down.  I'm thinking the motor burned up.  If that's so, it would be cheaper to just buy a new one than to try to get it fixed.  I'm seriously bummed, though, as the thing is only a year old.  

Note to self:  Don't buy any more Hoover products.  

So, I put that away and just knocked the moss off of my back porch.  Then I moved a few things from the spare room out into the shed and sat down to knit and watch TV the rest of the day. 

I've been watching The Tudors on Prime.  Fair warning, it is not at all family friendly -- but then, neither were the Tudor times, if you know what I mean.  I'd seen it before, but it was a long time ago.  

As far as the knitting goes, I finished the socks I was working on. 

Pattern is 2 x 2 rib, and the yarn is Forbidden Fiber and the colorway is Fab Forty -- which is no longer available. She's got some beautiful colors, and also carries cross stitch supplies, so do go check her shop out.  

Once those were done and blocking, I got out the old Suzie Slip Stitch pattern and started working on them again. 

I don't even remember what the yarn is.  I lost the ball band years ago.  I do remember that I bought it when I went to Columbus to visit my friend Christi way back in like -- 2010.  That's all I know. 

And finally, this is why the cat can't sleep in the bedroom with me.  I told her not to touch my phone charger, and immediately, she does this: 

The little brat. 

Before I Forget Again

 Before I forget again, I finished reading Heir Of Uncertain Magic, which is the second book in the Whimbrel House series. It was good, but the story did seem to drag a bit more than the first book.

Next up, The Door In The Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli.  I’d read it once when I was a kid, and saw it on kindle daily deals a couple of days ago. One thing about having a memory like mine is, I can’t remember anything about the book— the plot, or the characters, or anything really, other than I liked it.

This morning, I walked out to get my mail, and got there just as the mail carrier made her rounds.  It was kind of funny, because she called to me, "I like your new mailbox!"  Yeah, I like it, too.  It's much better than that  raggedy old thing the county put up after it knocked my old one down.  Even better, I got an escrow refund check in today's mail.  It's not much, but it's almost enough to buy the compost tumbler thing I've been wanting. 

Not this exact one, but this is the general idea of what I want.  I'm still not completely sold on it, though.  See, I'd been using the old dog kennel in the back corner of my yard for composting, but when I get my fences replaced, I'm going to have all that ripped out.  I'll need something else to compost my yard and kitchen waste.  

I need a new mattress pad for my bed, as well.  I pulled all my bedding off to wash it, and noticed my mattress pad is getting pretty bedraggled.  I'm not sure when I bought it, but it is pretty old.  Maybe I'll use my escrow refund to get a really nice new mattress pad instead.  

Don't envy me my exciting life. 

Oh, but today was the first week of college football!  I was able to find the Texas game on my phone, so I watched that one.  I'm still not impressed by Quinn Ewers.  I wasn't last year, and in my opinion, he hasn't gotten any better.  He's probably the most overrated quarterback in college football.  

I just wish they'd tell us what is really going on at work, so I'll know whether I can get my internet turned back on or not.  I can only watch one game at a time on my phone, and that just won't do.  I may just put off getting my fences replaced for another couple of years and get it turned back on anyway.  

While I was watching football, I finished another hat. 

I bought a shipping box at the store yesterday, and I need to get the labels printed out so I can get these sent off soon.  I may look into that label printing tomorrow.  

So, I finished the hat and decided instead of casting on another one, I'd find one of my WIPs and finish it off.  I dug through all my project bags and lo and behold, I found this sock.  

Huh, I'd thought I finished that one.  Turns out I hadn't even worked on it since January, and it's the second one of a pair I cast on in February 2022.  

February

2022

I have no explanation for that. 

I also found a sock I'd cast on quite a while ago, using a pattern my dear heart-sister Suzie had made up.  That one, I can't quite bring myself to work on.  But I will.  

Suzie would want me to. 

Fall!

 Happy first day of fall!

Meteorological fall, that is. 

Ooooh, it was such a nice day, too. It was 67° when I got up this morning and I was able to open my French doors and some of the windows and let fresh air into the house.

It didn’t last long, but it was nice to be able to just sit and listen to the quiet while drinking coffee from my new mug. 

Then I went to Walmart. What was I thinking? Lordy it was a madhouse in there, but I found some Pumpkins Delights ice cream, so it was worth it. 

I also bought a 25’ tape measure, because the one I had was only 12’, and I wanted to see just exactly how long 14’ 3” is. 

That was one big alligator, I'm telling you.  Oh?  You hadn't heard of that?  The new state record alligator that was taken by hunters last week.  Yeah.  I'd been trying to imagine it, but needed a more visual representation, so I had to buy a new tape measure.  

On the way to Walmart, I drove down by the lake and just drove around a while.  I drove across the dam, down to the main beach, and down to the old Confederate fort.  I walked up to the fort, startled some deer, and spun a few Pokestops, but didn't take any pictures.  It was a nice outing, and something I hadn't done in far too long.  

I spent the rest of the day putting out my Fall decorations, which didn't take that long.  I'd dragged the box in from the shed last night after I finished mowing, 

as a sort of reward to myself for getting that chore done.  Now the house is all ready for Fall. 

I just wish the temperatures would figure it out. 

Stoked!

 It finally happened!  

Last night, I was washing dishes and I just happened to glance out my kitchen window.  There were a couple of deer behind the fence, and as I was watching, one of them walked over and drank out of the trough!  

And yes, I got ridiculously excited over that. 

The good news is, my mosquito bits came in today, so I can treat the water in the aforementioned trough.  

It specifically says it's safe for animal troughs and plants, so I can use it in the bucket I collect water for Marty Mac in as well.  

Later that evening, I stepped outside to see the SuperBlueMoon before I went to bed.  I saw it peeking between the trees, but didn't stay up late enough for it to clear the tree line.  It was a work night after all.  But it was still up when I got up for work this morning, so I was able to get a good look at it then.  

Then I had to come back inside because it was ....cold... out there.  OK, it was only 65°, but compared to 107°, that is cold.  

I got ready, then went on in to work and made it through the last day for the week.  What with Monday being a holiday, I've got a four day weekend to look forward to.  I think later today, once it cools off a bit, I'm going to get the mowing taken care of and get that out of the way.  

Oh, and I broke my weedeater.  Not really, but it's broken.  One of the gas lines from the tank to the engine has broken.  It shouldn't been too hard to replace it, but I'm thinking about getting rid of it and getting an electric one.  Mainly because the gas powered one is just so heavy.  I don't know.  I'll think about it and decide before next spring. 

The bad news is, the cat has taken to chewing on the corners of my piano books.  

Which means I have to put them back in the box I've been keeping them in after every practice.  When the books aren't there, she chews on the music rack.  I don't know what's gotten in to her.  It's not like she doesn't have plenty of toys. Plus, she got a whole pack of new toys in the surprise parcel yesterday, and she's thoroughly enjoyed playing with them. 

I guess I'd better get out and start on that yard.  It's been three weeks since I've mowed, so the grass is ---well, it's going to be tough, let's just say.  But I'll have it out of the way for the rest of my long weekend, so there's my motivation.

Laters. 

Surprise!

One more day!  One day more until I'm off for four days.  I'm already working on my to-do list for the weekend, so I can get busy ignoring it.  I'll tell you one thing, I'm planning on going somewhere and recording another vlog for you -- if I can pry my hiney out of the chair, that is.  

Let me tell you something, this weather has been so nice here lately.  I stepped outside this morning and it was only 67.  I got confused and frightened there for a moment, thinking I'd gone through a wormhole to somewhere up north, but no....It really was just that cool.  Frankly, I can't wait until it's like that all the time. 

In other news, Idalia made landfall early this morning.  I overheard a conversation about it between two of my coworkers that went something like this:

Coworker #1:  That hurricane came ashore about 8:00.

Coworker #2:  But it's only 7:30!

Coworker #1:  Florida is an hour ahead of us!

Coworker #2:  But wouldn't that make it 6:00?  

 OK, moving right along....

Some months ago, I jokingly posted on Facebook that I was going to start a YouTube channel where I opened surprise parcels, and that if anyone wanted to send me a surprise parcel, I'd film myself opening it.  I did get one a few weeks after that, but it turned out to be yarn I'd ordered and had forgotten about.  

Today, when I got home from work, there was a box waiting in my carport.  I thought it was the new work jeans I'd ordered, which confused me because they're not supposed to arrive until tomorrow.  However, when I saw the return address, and who it was from, I squealed like a girl.

Someone had taken me seriously and sent me a surprise parcel!  True to my word, I filmed myself opening it. Here for your viewing pleasure, is that video: 

If anyone else wants to send me a surprise parcel, we can do this all again.  

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go browse knitting patterns.  I've got a huge cake of yarn to use up!  Heck, I may even make something for myself. 

For a change.   

Rain!

Sweet, blessed rain for nearly four hours yesterday.  The slow, drizzly kind of rain that soaks in, too.  Look!  We even got enough to leave a puddle in my driveway!

I think we got some more today, because there were puddles in the parking lot after work that hadn't been there this morning.  Of course, the downside to that is I'm going to have to mow again, but that's a small price to pay for rain, isn't it?  

Even so, it was a good day to watch TV and knit.  Yesterday, I mean.  Today I was at work. 

I finished a headband, 

then cast on another one, but decided I didn't really want to knit another headband, so I set it aside and cast on a hat instead. 

I like the headbands because they're quick and easy, but knitting hats is really where my heart is.  In fact, I need to go ahead and box some of the ones I've already finished up and send them off to that Seaman's Church Ministry thing, so they'll have them in plenty of time to make up the ditty bags for Christmas.   I just need to find a box.  

By the way, I had to order a new pair of work jeans and that broke my heart!  They've gotten so expensive these days -- just like everything else.  I was going to order two pair, but at that price ($40 each), I'm going to have to spread that purchase out a bit more.  

I just wish they would tell us what's going on out at work.  I keep hearing they're finally going to combine the shifts, and just run one for the foreseeable future.  If they do that, it might help prevent these long shutdowns we keep having, so that'll help quite a lot.  The downside is, I might get moved to the assembly line.  Group Leader Shark came through the department and asked who all could line braze.  Now, the thing is, all of them can except maybe two people, but most of them lied and said they couldn't so they wouldn't get moved. 

 I think they should move them anyway.  I mean, I didn't know how to line braze when they first started making me do it.  I tried to tell them I wasn't trained, and they just said, "Oh, yes you are!"  Seriously?  Do you really think I'm so stupid I don't even know what jobs I've been trained to do?  

Of course they think that.  We're just a bunch of uneducated, inbred, toothless hicks, aren't we?  The thing is, I've never been treated like an idiot by a smart person.  It's always the stupid ones treating me like I'm stupid.  That goes for work, internet, and pretty much anywhere else, for that matter.  

But enough about that...

I don't really mind line brazing.  It's a lot less stressful than sub brazing, but I wouldn't want to do it full time, mainly because the component areas get much more overtime than the assembly areas.  However, since nobody is getting any overtime right now (except sheet metal), I don't suppose it very much matters.  And there is the added bonus that the assembly areas are air conditioned, whereas the component areas aren't.  

And finally, one of the sub-brazers has COVID again.  We were all wondering where she was this morning, and we found out a few hours later when the first aid lady came out and asked where her work area was, mispronouncing her name in the process.  Then she had the cleaning crew come over and disinfect the area.  

"Does she?"  We asked.

"She does," the first aid lady said. 

It makes me wonder, though.  I fell absolutely terrible last week.  I never ran fever or anything, I just felt awful.  I chalked it up to exhaustion from the trip to Missouri combined with heat stress from the plant, but now I'm wondering if that's all it was.  

Eh, it probably was.  Heat exhaustion, I mean.  

I'm sure that's what it was.  

Have I mentioned that I'm so ready for Fall?  

Monday

 It's supposed to break on Monday, they say.  This heat.  It's supposed to break on Monday. 

There are a lot of us who can't wait.  This is what was on my back patio yesterday when I got home. 

They took pity on us at at work and let us leave early, and for once, I didn't argue with them.  After surviving the week we'd just had, I decided to reward myself with a little treat.  

Then, because I didn't want it to be lonely, I got my pumpkin soap dispenser and put it out in the kitchen, even though it's only got plain soap in it. 

What good are Fall decorations without Fall smells, so I picked this up as well. 

I was a bit bummed that I couldn't find just the refills in this scent, because I've got tons of the warmers.  I started not to even get it, but I really liked the scent, so I splurged just a bit. 

As for today, it only got to 102°, but that was still enough to make me stay inside and huddle in the air conditioning.  

It wasn't enough to make me not drink coffee, though. 

I don't think it'll ever be that hot. It was pumpkin spice coffee, so there is that.   

I know, I know, it's not Fall yet.  Not until next Friday, but still...since I was on a roll, so to speak, I went ahead and hung one of my wreaths on the front door. 

That's it for now.  I'll get the rest of the Fall stuff out next weekend over Labor Day.   There was a rumor going around the plant that we were going to be off all next week, but that turned out not to be true.  There is another rumor that we'll get next Friday off, but I have vacation for that day anyway, so I'd have gotten it off anyway.  In fact, I've worked my last Friday for the year, since I normally save all my vacation to get these long Fall weekends.  

I'd gotten into that habit during the last recession, when we worked 4 days a week for the latter half of the year.  I kind of got spoiled to having three day weekends, so now I do it on purpose. 

While I was huddling in the air conditioning all day, I finished another hat.

This one is knit with Knit Picks Brava in the Freesia color way. 

And I watched Notre Dame vs. Navy.  I had to turn my Peacock back on to get the game, which was a bit of a bummer.  I'm going to have to figure out how to watch CBS Sportsnetwork to get the rest of the games.  I'm trying to figure out if I can get it with a Paramount + subscription, but I can't find that info anywhere.  I may try the free week, just to see.  

If anyone has Paramount +, let me know, OK?