Ian Abel

Chewsday... Weekend away at the cabin, relaxing and enjoyable, little to post about Yesterday work, Jemma had a one-day out and back to Ft. Myers, FL , (COVID central in the US! ). Nothing else. We've had some rain, including 2 inches Sunday, measured at MSP airport, so probably close to the same for us, still drought conditions posted for farming areas. Today, ANOTHER neighbor getting a new roof - at this rate we'll HAVE to get ours done just to not seem out of place 20 first thing overcast and humid. expecting 30+ for the high, and 50% chance of more rain. Carry on.

POETS - let's make it happen Uneventful yesterday, that's that covered Today, work, POE, evening get together with our travelling-companion friends. Saturday and overnight into Sunday at the cabin with Trevor & Meagan and three dogs! 18 first thing following some thunderstorm (but not much rain accompanying them) overnight. High 30 expected, thunderstorms 85-90% chance all the weekend. Hope the weekend goes well/as planned for everyone.

BIN day... the least of our worries related to noise!** Yesterday was uneventful though I DID need to provide taxi service for the Mrs to an appointment, and visit the post office to send in my passport renewal. Evening saw us at a delightful dinner to meet our friend Emily and her one+ year old Leo. Lovely lad, and being raised in Madrid by an Italian father actually knows how to kick a ball! Great to catch up with her with every hope we may be able to visit them maybe next year. Jemma and the Mrs visited (pre baby) a couple of years back. Jemma leaves today on a 4-day trip, nothing else significant scheduled for the Abels. ** Noise - the BIN trucks as usual, and they don't technically have a "not before" time. - The lady next door is having her house re-sided so there's a crew there of about 8 guys and 4-5 large pickups in attendance - and today the guy across the street is having a new roof put on! Several more trucks and a crew of about 5 best I can tell. Local ordinances are none of that type of work before 0730, but given they all maximize their time on projects it became quite the cacophony by 0732!! 19 and light rain first thing, though the rain stopped fairly quickly. High of 29 expected with 50% chance of more rain later apparently. Enjoy the day, stay safe.

Condolences @tigerburnie from us here. HUMP day. Yesterday - dang it! Mandatory video/audio "training" in all things corporate, harassment, policies, procedures, blah, blah <sigh> <yawn> another 4 hours I'll never get back repeating sh!t that's been done within the past year. Also, it appears we have to re-take the harassment policy/test every YEAR! Later, went over to Jemmas new place to do some checking of progress, basically finished, and took Whitney to get her first peak, she approved Today - work, punctuated with taxi service (earlier, hence the delay posting) for the Mrs., a specialist appointment for her knee issue. All good, BUT, in line with everything stupidly "healthcare" here, even though the Dr., felt it isn't kneeded, they are going to request/schedule a CT scan, otherwise the full evaluation won't show as complete on her records - what total ! No wonder healthcare/health insurance is so s0dding costly here, another wasted procedure. Later we are headed to visit a close friend (Jemma and Trevors age - whom they schooled with) who is over here visiting her mum, from Spain, where she lives now, with her 1 year old. First time we AND her mum have met the baby because of COVID. 16 and still smoky here first thing, reaching 30 later. Tally ho..

Chewsday... what can be said Sunday pretty much all day taken up with the Mrs grand-nieces to a show put on by a local outfit called "Circus Juventus". Sponsored in part by Cirque du Soleil and are a youth (actually up to 21 are allowed) group. Excellent 3 hour performance, with a 25 minute intermission to reset the equipment! Yesterday, work and I've now been informed we have to (thanks to the "new" company) ONCE AGAIN take all those mandatory "make you a better person" videos <sigh> Jemma returned from her three day trip. Today some "real work and some sleeping-while-videos-run time. Later we'll probably venture over to the place Jemma and Brendan will be renting to determine various sizes of items such as hoses and other utility carp will be needed, may even venture into a big-box store to secure the same! Weather improving some, temporarily, 15 first thing hazy sun (smoke from Canada still affecting us) with a high of 30 forecast. Carry on.

Sadly, especially over here in the US now, that is actually a specific reason to NOT feel you can reference the subject, especially if it's healthcare, COVID or vaccine related. You need to be a social media naysayer for much of the stupid moronic population here to take any notice and having credentials indicates you aren't to be trusted Lovely Saturday morning - happy to celebrate the Mrs and my 39th trip around the sun in wedded bliss. Likely a day together and fairly simple as the air quality still sucks here, but is starting to improve. We were going to have a neighborhood happy hour, but the conditions suggested we postpone it! <sigh> The news yesterday informed the collecting "us" that passport renewal is not around 18 weeks as folks start gearing up to travel again. Given mine (US, UK one already needs renewing and I delayed that due to the COVID) expires in January 2022, so now is the time to start THAT process if we want to even think about heading to Blighty again any time soon - i.e. towards the end of the year! Jemma left just now on a three day trip, other than that, we're busy relaxing and enjoying our company and Bob and Whitney will help celebrate I'm sure 14 first thing, hazy, expecting 30 and improving visibility and air quality later. Enjoy the day/weekend.

So sorry to hear that. Celebrate the life lived, our thoughts are with you.

Not as bad as what you're seeing, but yesterday and today here we're getting a LOT of smoke from the Ontario wild fires, just north east of Minnesota. Air quality warnings in effect yesterday and today for all of Minnesota. Moaning all - little to report save the above. Staying inside as much as possible as it's miserable out there. In "more" excitement (liberal use of the word!!) I get to re-enroll in the health care benefits today, deadline is Monday. Having enrolled when we joined the company (the one that bought us ) it turns out, they had a plan to switch their coverage year to the calendar year this coming January. Since their coverage year at present ends August 30th., EVERYONE has to NOW enroll for a SHORT coverage period between now and the end of the year, and we have to enroll YET AGAIN in December for the coming year as they switch coverage periods. Ahhh, the joys of PAY THROUGH THE ARSE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE Jemma returns from more packing their apartment in Grand Forks today, that's about it. 17 and bo11ocks outside, hazy/smoky/carp, due to manage 28 later ZERO% chance of any precipitation which might actually help clear the smoke Hope the weekend starts well for all.

BIN day, parade has come and gone Yesterday was beastly hot, otherwise nothing exciting! All work no play. Today, Mrs working (unusual, but requested is she could). Me, working, staying cool though the weather is better today. We have a group grope (Zoom meeting) for the "new" team as I type, apparently we needed to have a celebration/yawn-fest to register the first month apparently! 22 less humid, somewhat overcast, and a high of 30 expected. Stay well and safe.

HUMP Day... Missed posting yesterday, nothing much to report from Monday or yesterday <sigh> Today much of the same, the only thing of "interest" is the nasty weather we're experiencing. Started off at 22 black as the ace-of-spades with thunder and lightening but not much rain, currently 26 and 87% humidity Expected to reach 101F (37C) with a real-feel of 103F (39C) mid-afternoon... Buqqered if I'm going out for anything - unless there's some demand! Mrs had to go out to a Dr. appointment, won't be a happy camper on her return I'm sure! Carry on... (some of those were funny, but not ALL!)

Check online, a few years back a 2004 car I had was "similar". The fobs available new online on MOST cars are available can be reprogrammed and the instructions were included with a new but after-market fob. Saved me a lot, though I KNOW the very latest cars - including our 2019 vehicle aren't as simple/easy. I had to pay $220 (dealer wanted $350) to get an extra fob, with no real options to do-it-yourself. Over here, at least, there are lock companies that will come out and create a new fob for less than the dealers charge.

Monday, the week starts here after another weekend spent doing "something" though beats me how two entire days can fly by and seemingly little gets done! Saturday various tasks followed by another family dinner with Trevor, Meagan and her brother, his wife and Meagans' mother. Sunday hot out, spent some time setting up a spray area in the garage for the Mrs to spray a couple of wooden tables she wants to us around the porch/patio/garden. Jemma returned from her trip, we checked the latest developments at their rental place, not quite finished yet. Overnight around 3-4AM pretty severe thunderstorms passed through, fair amount of rain, but probably not much effect on the overall conditions here. Today Jemma drives to Grand Forks for a few days to do more packing, Mrs off to her book club. I WAS going to meet up with our friend while his Mrs accompanied her to the book club, BUT, they have just informed us they were exposed to COVID (no details yet!!), so are off to get tested and will avoid contact for the appropriate amount of time Fortunately we're all vaccinated, at least. Work then a solo relax while the Mrs is at book club 20 first thing, overcast, sticky and a high of 33 expected, maybe more thunderstorm activity later. Tally ho. EDIT/NOTE: SIX years ago today I was headed off to the Long Island client to do "4 days training..."

Can't account for anyone else @PhilJ W but I know my day went totally pear-shared, that's why I'm only just reporting in now! Jemma is/was on standby today and got called out for a three day trip AND Bob started the day with a severe limp and loud complaining about it, warranting a talk to the vet while there with Whitney, SEE BELOW; Since Jemma had to head out, I needed to take Whitney for her 10:20 Vet appointment to check on the dental work she had two weeks ago... BUT... that meant I needed the car, so I had to take the Mrs to her hair cut appointment FIRST, then come back, get Whitney and manage the appt. with 5 minutes to spare. Discussed with the Vet the problem Bob was having, and they managed to get an appointment for him at 11:10 - this was at 10:35 after Whitney had been seen! Rushed off to pick up the Mrs from her hair do, shot back to home, dropped off Whitney, we grabbed a VERY COMPLAINING Bob, and we made the 11:10 appointment. At that point the Mrs reminded me she was having lunch with friends downtown at 12:15 - ARRGGGHH!H!!! Got Bob sorted, a strain or ligament issue, pain shot and some pain meds and he should take it easy - um, he's 14, he ALREADY takes it "easy" Headed back home with a more relaxed Bob but more agitated Mrs. she gets sorted and I take her and drop her off (no parking down town easily!) at the restaurant they are meeting at for lunch. PHEW!! - now resting with Bob and Whitney, the Mrs MAY get a lift home from one of the ladies, if not, I'll be off again at some point to pick her up. Decided today is a day off All this in 34C heat with 50% humidity (started out at a mere 22). Supposed to have highs around 33-35 for the next 5-6 days I'm planning a quiet, stay cool weekend, hope everyone manages what they're hoping for!

Happy anniversary to @Andrew P and the Mrs. BIN day. All serviced with the associated racket of BIN trucks wandering the neighborhood. Nothing of note yesterday after the "how to request PTO meeting". Just work and a little relaxing post work. Still hazy and overcast from the wildfires here, already 21 and humid first thing, expecting 31 for the high! Enjoy the day.

HUMP day. Nothing of note yesterday, just working. Today - mandatory "How to request PTO" was attended. I now know WHY it was/is mandatory. Peoplesoft (never been on the sharp end of this carp before) has to be the most USER HOSTILE software I've ever seen! The reasons we needed "help" are; 1) Peoplesoft is not INTEGRATED. So the part of the system we have been given access to for HR/Payroll/Pay checks etc., is NOT linked to the Financial System that has the timesheet/PTO/Project timeline stuff in it. Two TOTALLY SEPARATE systems with separate logins. Who thought up that stupidity?? 2) Once on it's non-intuitive, including, you having to ADD your employee ID when requesting PTO so "it knows who you are". Hang on, I just blqqdy logged in, has it got THAT short term a memory!! 3) It's recommended you add your NAME and the request type i.e. Vacation/Company Holiday/Bereavement etc., in the "description" field, otherwise your manager, who receives an email notification of the request, has NO IDEA who it's from or what the request is, without actually logging in his/herself to Peoplesoft to see! Good GRIEF!! Done with that flustercuck for now. 18 and hazy with high overcast from the Canadian and western US wildfires first thing. Not expected to clear and a high of only 29. Later in the week expected to get hotter. Tally ho.

Chewsday! Yesterday Good news: Late lunch with Jemma and Brendan on the patio, varieties of cheeses and crackers etc. Enjoyable evening with friends watching the "McCartney 3,2,1" documentary series, and sharing dinner and wine <hic> Stupid news/ongoing idiocy: The laptop from/for the new "corporate behemoth", is supposed to be set up with Admin access so I can install any necessary items. Only problem is they didn't furnish me with the admin credentials Email to day asking about it was replied to with "What are you trying to install. We have the laptops locked down so malicious software can’t be accidentally installed"! Well DUH, it's not like I'm going to try and install every virus I can find now, is it!! Right now all I want to do is access the rest of y local network to transfer some files for client(s). No reply, so far, after I responded with that info. This slow-motion game is starting to really get on my t!ts!!!! Nothing else but work planned today. 19 sunny and humidity rising here, expecting 32 for the high. Carry on.

Moanday. Friday was a continued back-and-forth with the IT (Incompetent Tw@ts??) department as they struggled to get my new laptop to accept a password - I despair! Weekend came and went and no Idea how most of the time was spent. We did have a delightful happy hour/Indian take-out at Trevor and Meagans. Yesterday some weeding and little else productive Today - woo hoo - the new corporate laptop showed up, to shouts of "who cares" So I now use this one for the corporate email etc., and the one I've used for YEARS for all my work with clients - what a pain, definitely NO CHANCE I'm installing all the tools I need/use on this new laptop, not got the energy for that waste of time! 18 and sunny first thing, zero% chance of precipitation today, high in the 31-32 range. Onward.

Good grief! Update on the "laptop password" situation, after another couple of hours without hearing... IT guy - "so, let's try your email password..." Provide password. IT guy - " nope, still not working, let me get back to you..." Me

Moaning, and POETS will be taken <sigh> Yesterday moderately uneventful, decent weather and walkies with Whitney, Jemma and the Mrs, after some busy report creating! Today - new behemoth company that purchased our happy clan onboarding issues, all in the YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME category First up - Payday... but wait, we spent a TON of time going through this, including adding the correct entries for the 401K (retirement plan) - NO 401K contributions deducted from pay C0ck up on the deductions front, "they're working on it". Next - Requesting PTO (Personal Time Off, aka holiday/vacation)! Apparently it's SO COMPLICATED to do in their "system" that we all have to attend a MANDATORY 30 minute course/lecture/snooze to learn how to do it, sometime next week. Q? What if I want time off before the lecture?!?! What's wrong with an email "I'm taking next Tuesday off." Finally and MOST DISTURBING - IT (yeah the "turn it off and back on again crowd") are setting up a new laptop that I'm required to have. IT emailed me asking me to call them and provide a password to use on said laptop. I called and asked what criteria are required, e.g letter/numbers/caps etc. Guy said he had NO IDEA what was needed! Strike 1 He tried what I suggested and said "no, that doesn't work". Strike 2 He then tried something HE MADE UP, "uh, that didn't work either..." Strike 3 - you're OUT "I'll have to call someone and get back to you" says he. That was 4 hours ago and narry a word! OK, THEY are setting it up, THEY own it, HE had it in front of him, HE/THEY can't set a password on it!!!!! Ask me again if I have ANY confidence in them actually finding the bog when they need to take a p!ss??? 15 and partly sunny first thing, expected to manage 29 and 1% chance of precipitation OK, thank goodness it's the weekend and I don't have to deal with ITidiots for a couple of days - hope your weekend starts well.

Cor, 1913, must've been a VERY slow dial-up connection I've been around since September 2013 and enjoyed all of it. Amazing to think it continues to help all that venture in, all are always welcome. Of course, being on the other side of the pond I didn't manage to get on that historic page, ah well! BIN day, correctly this week. They've all BIN and gone, with the associated noise and excitement from the neighborhood dogs. Yesterday the Mrs and Jemma returned from Grand Forks, mission accomplished. At least, much packing done in anticipation of the move. Also yesterday, the new "big corporation" I'm now part of deemed it necessary that I actually have one of their Laptops, rather than use my own - something I've done for only the past 12 years <yawn> So, let's see, having decided that, they wanted to know my address AND the best contact phone number! What the F@!$#!@$#K?!?!? I've already had to wade through several web sites/pages to enter my personal information for HR. Payroll, benefits, company profile, and emergency contact. So APPARENTLY the IT department are incapable of determining where I live still god help me if I need any REAL support/help Long Island client getting busier... ahh well. Yesterday afternoon and overnight significant rain, today started off at 13, sunny no chance of more rain, high expected to reach 28. Tally ho.

Yikes, the days got away from me, but ... I'm BAAACCKKK Busy past few days but for the life of me I'm not sure with what exactly! Work is a flurry, so that accounts for a lot of time. The fun side of life has been uneventful, windshield replacement went as expected Monday, Mrs and Jemma off for a few days to Grand Forks to start packing up her apartment in preparation for moving back here, they return later today. More smart home devices added, to whit one robot vacuum. Perfect in a primarily single level house with wood floors and area rugs. Mrs insisted on naming "her" Sue (inside joke for her as the cleaner at the place she works is named Sue) and it's way better to have a regular vacuuming that WE don't have to do, to collect the cat and dog hair more regularly than we ever managed to do it "Alexa, get Sue", and off she goes Weather has been varied some hot some cold, little rain. Expecting severe thunderstorms today though. Currently 17 and overcast 95% of rain (later!!) and a high reaching 25 maybe... Tally ho.

POETS... moaning all! Yesterday only real highlights were Whitney having her dental work and a full recovery. She hardly seemed phased when Jemma picked her up. Always brings a smile to everyone as she's so energetic all the time. Jemma then got her latest "trip details", being on reserve as low-person on the roster means she gets actual flight schedules rather short notice. Off today for a three-day, left o-crack-sparrow from here around 5AM, for a 6:50 departure to Seattle then on to Anchorage...blah, blah.. Today for me/us little happening. quite day overall. First thing, replacement fridge delivered and installed at rental house. Took all of 30 minutes, removing old one, bringing in new one, setting door to correct side, RESULT! Everyone happy, me $800 lighter! Later, I'm going to a neighbors house who recently passed away. Their family sold the Steinway grand she had but for some unaccountable reason the purchasers didn't want to original piano bench that went with it! Been offered for free to me, together with whatever music - apparently hoards of it, all classical - I may wish to have. Much of it is potentially collectible as the lady who passed away didn't play the piano, her mother did, she inherited piano with the house when her mother passed! Lovely day here, 15 first thing, partly cloudy, 50% chance of rain, high 25. Hope the weekend starts well for all

Interesting, same popped up for me on farcebook! Must be my railway interests there...

BIN day, well is it or isn't it?!?!?! BAH! Given Monday was a public holiday, since July 4th/Interdependence Day was on the weekend, logic dictated that, as with ALL OTHER HOLIDAYS, BIN day would be pushed to Friday! Not to be. Imagine MY and all the rest of the neighborhood surprise as BIN trucks started parading through the area o-crack-sparrow. Everyone rushing around in pajamas and other scanties to get their BINs out... Jemma was up pre-BIN to take Whitney to the Vet for some dental work. We pick her up around 3. Call to notify of arrival "window" for refrigerator replacement at rental house tomorrow received, also early, both the call, and the "window" tomorrow 7:30-11:30. So those items are done and dusted best they can for now. Working away at the various new items requested from afar, busier than I've been for a while for them! Continued "reasonable" weather, 11 first thing rushing around with BINs, overcast, slight chance of rain and a high expected to be 23-25. Onward...

Indeed, I meant it was throw up from a passing vehicle, some debris on the roads around here as much of the freeways we use to get to the lake are under construction and there is carp all over the place...