Hat Progress

I'm sure you will all be pleased to know that my replacement stamps arrived today, and I'm back to getting my Christmas cards out.  The first batch went out yesterday.  The second will go out tomorrow.  

And again, if you want one, message me your address and I'll be happy to add you to my list.  

Other than that, not much has been going on besides work.  Supposedly, the plant is going to make people come in and work those days between Christmas and New Year's Day -- which we have always gotten off for maintenance work.  Everybody is furious about that.  

Now, keep in mind, I haven't heard anything from anyone official yet, but that's the rumor I'm hearing.  I hadn't heard anything at all about it until yesterday, when Demi-god said they were asking for volunteers.  Then today, he said they didn't get enough volunteers so they're going to make it mandatory, but that begs the question:  how do they expect to get volunteers if they won't even tell us what's going on?  Nobody asked me to volunteer, and as far as I know, none of the other brazers have been asked either.  

Even Group Leader Shark said she doesn't know why they haven't just told us, but then that's ADP for you.  They treat us like dogs and expect us to jump every time they whistle, then they can't understand why nobody wants to work for them. 

Heh, a few weeks ago, they brought in a group of new hires, and according to Cuz, not a single one of them came back the next day.  Not one.   You'd think they'd eventually figure out that they need to make it a less horrible place to work, not to double down on how badly they treat their employees, but apparently they're unable to make that connection.   

OK, moving right along, I've finally made enough progress on the newest hat to make a photo worth taking. 

I'm really enjoying knitting these little hats, and I've already got the yarn picked out for the next one.  I'll show it to you when I'm a bit closer to casting that one on. 

In the meantime, today's advent figure is the flower. 

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.  Isaiah 35:1-2

I'm off to address more Christmas cards. 

Laters. 

Rivalry Week

Dear Texas A & M fans, 

We have Matthew McConaughey on our sidelines.

You have....

him.

 


Go sit down, little brother, before you get hurt.  The big boys are playing.

Hook 'em.

I swan, rivalry week has got to be the best -- and worst-- week in college football, and this year, it was, as the young people would say, it was lit.  From eight overtimes, to massive brawls, to renewed rivalries...the only thing missing was Bedlam.  

For you football muggles, Bedlam was the rivalry game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  Even though I'm not a fan of either team, the game was always entertaining.  This year, they had OK ST playing Colorado -- or being obliterated by them rather, and OK playing LSU -- which they're trying to make into a rivalry, but it just isn't.  

Me, I don't see why they can't keep Bedlam going.  There are lots of non conference rivalries out there.  Georgia vs Georgia State, Florida vs Florida State, South Carolina vs Clemson just to name a few.  

Anyway, it's also the worst week because you know football season is over.  Only conference championships and bowl games to go, and this year the 12 team playoff -- which will be decided by a committee.  How is that any better than the old BCS system which the playoff replaced?  I stand by my opinion that they should just do away with a national championship and go back to the days when bowl games meant something.  

On a similar note, the local high school will be playing for the state championship next Saturday.  I don't think I'm going to subscribe to that streaming service again.  I'll just listen on the radio.  I'm sure the local station will be broadcasting it. 

In other news, I had to go back to work this morning, and man when that alarm went off at 3:30 I wanted to cry.  Alas, somebody has to pay the bills around here, so off to work I went.  Where I discovered that one of the Vitally Important Machines in tubing was down -- and stayed down pretty much all day, which meant we couldn't get the Vitally Important Parts we needed to make our header assemblies. 

But did they let us go home early?  Of course not!  Don't be ridiculous!  

Not only did they not let us go early, they made us stay until 3:00.  I'd thought I might run into the store afterwards, but nope.  The deer will have to wait until another day to get corn.  

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  As if having a Vitally Important Machine down all day wasn't trouble enough, it seems every single order I got had something wrong with it.  At one point, after I'd had to go to tubing yet again, Group Leader Shark saw me grumbling to myself, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I just had to order a header because someone can't count to sixteen."  I snapped. Then I said, "I don't mean to be like this.  I'm just frustrated!   When every order I get has something wrong with it, it's so frustrating!"

She said, "I know." 

And I didn't say out loud, but you're the group leader!  Fix it!  Make them do right!  But I sure thought it. 

On completely unrelated note, the first batch of Christmas cards went out this morning.   Alas, my replacement book of stamps, which was supposed to arrive today, did not.  Apparently they're stuck in Jackson.  On a more positive note, according to the tracking number, my battery laden gift for my nephew has safely made it to Fairbanks.  Looks like I won't be going to prison after all. 

And finally, today's Advent figure is the palm tree. 

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, planted in the house of the they will flourish in the courts of our God. -- Psalm 92: 12-13

Advent

Happy first day of Advent!  And as is my new tradition, I opened the first door on my Advent Calendar.

The verse inside is:  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Isaiah 9:2

We didn't get these kinds of advent calendars when I was a kid.  Oh, they weren't forbidden or anything.  Our parents just didn't get them for us, so this is all new to me.  I'm glad I started this last year when I decided to buy calendars for Cody and Brennan -- and threw an extra one into the cart for myself.  

I guess because I didn't do them as a child, I also didn't do chocolate Advent calendars when Cody was little, either.  I wasn't opposed to them; I just didn't think about it.   However, we did do an Advent poster for most of his childhood.  I hadn't done it in years, but just last year I decided I wanted to revive the old tradition.  This morning, I added the first figure -- the little town of Bethlehem. 

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."  Matthew 2:6

And as always, I have an appropriate song to share. 

That's about all I have for today, but if you made it this far, I have this little tidbit to share with you.  My Duolingo streak hit a pretty significant number this morning. 

 If you get it, we're definitely friends.  

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll put on a Christmas music playlist and start working on my Christmas cards.  

If you want one, message me your address, and I'll be happy to add you to my list.