Back to Normal. Again

Today, Monday, pre Halloween, will be a reasonably normal day. I can only hope. Usual get the day started things: up at 630 ish, dogs out, feed cats, dogs in, feed dogs (someday no pets and sleep late), make coffee for two, make breakfast for Em, and make her lunch. Normal. Now I sit here at the kitchen table finished with said breakfast and drinking coffee. Normal work day. After doing this for thirty years you don’t question your need for retirement. Or vacation (Maine, camping, Belize, all this year). Still waiting for the retirement gravy train to arrive in my station.

So is today normal? No. My friend Cissie arrives from Tacoma today for a visit. Her daughter is Trisha of catch a feral cat fame. Trisha lives in the apartment above the garage with a dog and six cats. Anyway, Cissie will be coming to see her and see us too. We are friends of long standing. I am picking her up from the Sacramento airport at noon. She will be here for a week.

Also, big news, drumroll please!! According to the USPS, my package from Poland will be delivered today!!! I know, sounds kinda weak. But, let me describe the journey. And, remember, it’s a 6 to 10 day trip. And I also learned something else, you can ship via USPS from Poland. Did not know that? So, I ordered car parts from a Polish company about 60 days ago. I have ordered from them before, great products, nice workmanship and very personal service. Probably a small company, but run well. Anyhow, first attempt at getting my order: shipped and they sent email confirmation giving me a tracking number and all info to receive goods. Also, a link to click when I receive the package. Two weeks later, no package. I email because the tracking number says not shipped. They say, via email, wait awhile. And the kicker, the tracking number is special, you can not track it you have to go to a post office for them to track. Oh boy. I waited two more weeks, went to PO and they tracked it. It’s in Poland. It had been returned for insufficient address. So it turns out my fucking mailman can’t find me. Moron. Well, contacted them again, they had it. We confirmed address and usual and they shipped again. And, it turns out, held the package for 15 days? Why, I never asked. Still like the company, very transparent operations. So back to Bill. After ten days, I receive an email from them asking to confirm delivery. Right. I go to PO again. They tracked it. It delivers today. Only two months. I have not seen it yet, so can’t be sure, but sounds good. When I was a kid I got overseas mail from my Dad. You could check the postmark and two months for delivery was normal. With zero tracking. In those days you just forgot about it and it was a huge surprise when it got there. And the only way to let sender know was a letter. You know, pen and paper, stamp and envelope. But, old school was worry free at least. So, today, I look forward to the mail.

Hey, Trisha the roomie dropped in to get her laundry. She states out loud she will be moving home to Tacoma soon. She thinks soon. I am not so sure, because her folks have to buy a house first. Sounds like the market up there is tight. I hope for the best. Then I can use the apartment for AirBnb. Make better money.

Renee, of big boat fame, just called. She had misplaced one of her cell phones, she has two. It’s a system. So I went out to the truck and she rang her phone. She found it!! In her house. I guess she did not try calling it until she called me. I misplace mine often. Glad I don’t have two or have a system. My dwarf sister has two. Ya, she has a system too.

I believe I have nothing else of any excitement level going today. Maybe hit the bank. Wow.

I got it figured. I did the usual shower, shave, etc. now I am going to the bank. Need to cash Michaels check for Emily. Then, I need a blood test which my Dr requested a month ago. The vampires are in Davis. So, by the time I get all that done it will be time to head to the airport and pick up Cissie. She is due in at twelve and I may even be on time. That would be novel. I need to bring her back to Dixon and drop her off. Then I go to work for the afternoon. Sound good? I have no appointments set so I may get work done and my Polish package should be there! Been forever and I want it.

So Quest Diagnostics does not allow photography inside the blood lab. I guess they are afraid it will end up as evidence in the malpractice lawsuit later. So here are a couple:

My first thought looking at that chair, is death by electrocution. The electric chair. Though blood draws are not fun and do qualify as punishment, they are not capital. I wish I could of shot pictures the procedure but they have their jerk off rules. Oh well. Airport next.

I had to wait at the airport by arrivals for some time. Cop was eyeing me. It’s the sit and get cited zone. You sposed to drop off and pick up only. No waiting. Well, Cissie finally managed to get her luggage and show up. No towing or citation. We had a nice drive back to Dixon, she was chatty as usual. Even though she will be across the driveway, we are not getting together till tomorrow for Taco Tuesday. I am also going to break out my barrel aged cocktail (Manhattan). That will be interesting. It’s been in for 7 days so far. I am looking forward to it.

Dropped off Cissie at home. Had some lunch and back into the car. Got to work by two. I checked the mail. I had some but NO Polish mail. Wtf? I was pissed. So hinker d down and went to work. Mailman showed up an hour later with more mail. I think he is Cliff Clavin from Cheers. Idiot. My package was there. After two months. Contents look awesome, armrest and headrests in accenting red leather. Just what every car needs. Am I right?

More work followed. I have also been on hold with my credit card company for an hour. They suck. Open Sky Credit Card sucks. I actually have to talk to someone. God please help me. I would like to go home, it’s six pm, but I have invested so much time in this call. Pray for me.

I don’t feel like working anymore but my desk keeps yelling at me to do something constructive.

Hallelujah!! They answered. Turns out my credit card company is way screwed up. Hey just changed customer service companies, and call centers. Big software upgrade. So what does his mean to me? Well, they erased all my data from my login. Like bank date for payments, auto pay info, recurring pay info and other things. I charged $1000 last month. And the CC company says no payment due. No kidding. I asked the agent and he said “it shows no payment due”. I said look at the charges. There has to be a minimum, he said no payment due. Ok fine. No payment due. I reset my data to pay next month. These people are morons.

I went home after that. Quick drive without incident. Got home and Em’s best friend had parked blocking the driveway. She is better than that. I think. Anyway, she moved her car

I went in and we heated up leftover soup and some rotisserie chicken for dinner. The soup is so good. It man o man does it give me gas.

After dinner I went out to the garage and put the new headrests on. But, armrest did not fit. And by not fit I mean 6”short of fit. Now I have to send it back to Poland. Yikes. I just think this order is cursed. I am going to bed.