Category: Uncategorised

Uncategorised

Aptly Apply

I woke up shortly after Summer left this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. I laid around for a while just trying, but I was wide awake. My ceiling fan was making a lot of noise, which probably didn’t help. I eventually got around and saw the weather called for some rain, so I went outside to clean up from our fire the night before. Then I came inside and tinkered with my résumé on Indeed before checking out a few more jobs.

Summer had her neurological follow-up video call in the afternoon, so I took a shower before I had to meet her for that. She wanted to do it at Superfast, so I left a little early to get a buck worth of overcooked McDonald’s fries and a free spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A. It was all very unsatisfying and left me feeling more full than I expected.

The video call went well, but we didn’t really learn anything new. They said there didn’t appear to be anything particularly concerning, but suggested some therapy and other mental health activities. Summer was ready to leave work after that, so I took her to Rose Drug for some drugs and then Feltner’s for her race packets for this weekend. Then we went to my house and hung out until Eaddie was done at school.

Summer promised Eaddie a carb-loaded dinner, so I met the two of them at La Villa for dinner. I just ordered a salad to be a bit lighter, and though it stuffed me, I was glad the salad was as big as it was for the price. I’m not sure it was particularly healthy, but it was less heavy than pasta. The girls really enjoyed their food, but I was the only one to make a happy plate.

It was quiet when we got back to the house. Autumn immediately disappeared into her room once we got home. Kayla called for an update on Gary, but I hadn’t talked to him for the day yet. She told me it had been a rough week with the school after a cafeteria worker died from internal bleeding after an accident at the school, a senior veteran fell off of the stage, and then Gary fell into the orchestra pit. It really sounded like everything was going to hell. Summer didn’t waste any time getting ready for bed. Eaddie played the flute for a bit, so I went and hung out with her for a few minutes before winding down with Summer. It felt way later than it was, so I hoped I wouldn’t have trouble falling asleep.

We’ve gotta get something started.

Uncategorised

Restless Exhaustion

Autumn woke me up with a start this morning and asked me to take Eaddie to school because they slept in and were running late. I would have declined if I had known she just wanted to leave five minutes earlier so she could still make the McDonald’s drive-through before going to school. We ended up arriving right after her, and I was angry. I was sleeping so heavily when she got me up, and I didn’t feel like I could go back to sleep once I got home.

I laid around for a bit until I started to feel really hungry, and I got out to pick up a McGriddle myself. I noticed Kevin’s truck outside AT&T on the way, so I drove around and ate my breakfast in the parking lot and then went in to find him. He was busy for a bit, so I talked with the other Kevin for a bit, which gave me a chance to catch up a bit with both of them. Hope eventually found her way out and saw me too. When I told Kevin I was looking for work, he turned me on to a friend of his that was looking for someone, but the job wouldn’t pay quite as much as what I was making. He figured some income was better than no income though.

After a little while they were still dead, so Kevin wanted to drive the Model 3 again. We drove out toward Pottsville, and then up Old Cove Road to return the back way. By the time we got back, they were pretty busy and I decided to head on home.

I fired off another message, this time to Mark’s winning counsel. Hopefully I hear back from literally anyone, but it seems like nobody’s hurting for work enough to talk to me so far. I feel confident enough in my own case, but would still prefer someone with a little more skin in the game.

When lunch time rolled around, I went back out and picked up a burger and some cheese sticks from Sonic for two bucks. I was annoyed when I made it home and realized there was no marinara, but I made it work. The burger was too saucy anyway, so I guess that made up for it.

It had been cool all morning, so I decided I really wanted Summer to come over and sit quietly by a fire with me for a while. The stress of not working or having any real schedule was still getting to me, and I just wanted some quiet time to relax with her. I started a fire and then took a shower, but then I had to get Eaddie from school since Autumn was running around getting her nails done for prom.

Summer had arrived home from work just as we got home, so I got her charging and then we went right out to the fire. Eaddie left on her bicycle and we never saw her again. Summer brought some smoked sausages to cook, and even Bác Vân decided she’d eat one. Autumn came over to eat before eventually leaving to pick up Eaddie and take her home. Summer and I wound down by the fire, and got everything put away after it got dark. We saw a couple little toads hopping around, but the bugs started to come out as well. Once we got inside, it was pretty quick to sleep for her. I was still exhausted as well, so I didn’t dawdle.

Just apply more.

Uncategorised

Two Broke Dudes

I woke up before Summer this morning and couldn’t really get back to sleep, so I just laid in bed until everyone left, and then got around to some leftovers for breakfast. Then I made sure I had all the information I needed and headed home to try and find some alternative firms that might be interested in what I have to say. I stopped by Superfast on the way home just to see Summer, and return her wallet that I found in the Murano. Then I dug right into telling my story in another, slightly different way. I only got one person on the phone, and then just decided to submit online forms for the rest of them. I still felt it was pretty disheartening not to get an answer right away, but it felt better than getting hounded for money.

Gary eventually got back in touch with me, and said that I could come by the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock to see him. He seemed to be in relatively good spirits, but I still didn’t even know what actually happened. I made plans to go see him, but Summer reminded me that the band had a fundraiser at Freddy’s after school.

I met the girls for dinner, but Summer wasn’t in the mood to socialize after having her character attacked by a customer at work. I hung out adjacent to the girls while she went home for the evening, until I finally made the call to leave for Little Rock. I talked to Melinda about possibly going with me if she finished preparing for her grandfather’s funeral, so I dawdled a bit on the way out of town. I went home to clean up, then went to the car wash to get the big chunks off of my windshield. Then I went by Summer’s to get my Steam Deck on the way out. Melinda decided not to go at the last second, but then called me to get an update on all of my drama while I was driving.

We talked from about Pottsville all the way to the hospital, which helped pass the time. I kind of hoped she might have a little more helpful insight, but I think we were already on the same page. I let her go, and continued to drive around the parking lot, just guessing where I needed to enter the building. Fortunately I guessed correctly, and found my way up to see Gary.

He was on the phone when I walked into his room, which actually made me feel a bit better. He was fully alert, but with metal rods holding his leg together. He broke his left elbow, and his right knee, tibia, and fibula. Overall I was impressed with his apparent outlook. He was trying to take it easy on the pain meds, even as the nurse offered more. I tried to help him get readjusted a little bit, but I don’t think there was much we could do. Hopefully the swelling around the knee will let up soon so he can get somewhere a little more comfortable.

I didn’t stay too long. We caught up a bit, and then I wanted to let him try and get some sleep between his hourly checkups. Zach chatted at me briefly on my drive home, so maybe he can go back down with me later in the week. I stopped for another car wash just as I got home, and then headed up to Summer’s for the evening. Everyone was asleep, so I finished up and went to bed myself.

That’s not even a real bone.

Uncategorised

Stick-on Shade

Summer went to the gym this morning and then came home to shower before going to work. I had gotten around a little bit, and once Summer left, I tried to get someone from the EEOC on the phone. The wait time ended up being longer than I could stay on the phone though, because I had to get home and cleaned up before taking Summer’s car to River Valley Tinting and Glass to get the windows tinted.

I waited in the near-silent lobby for over an hour while they did the job. I had high expectations after trying two other places in town with the Murano and then the Model 3. I was told this place had a plotter to cut the vinyl, which would make the corners perfect. When it was all done, the left window looked to be stuck on a little lower than the right side, but they both looked good. There were a couple bubbles on the driver side as well, but not as much on the passenger side.

Once I got back home, I put together a slightly more concise timeline to try and explain to another firm, but my first pick was a girl that claimed to be a “switchboard” that could only take my information, but couldn’t tell me whether I would get a call back or not. The second place I tried also said they never worked with employees, and would only work in defense of the employer in my type of case. For better or worse, the first place I called was still ready to get started if I would only pay them nearly two months’ salary.

Just as I was becoming the most frustrated, Dad rang my doorbell and I went outside to see him. Apparently Mom, Lelan, and Julie were all coming over to try and sort their outfits for Randall’s wedding. It seemed to be quite an ordeal for the girls to find something suitable to wear. It was all a bit too stressful for me to consider.

Summer picked me up when she got back to town so we could go to the high school for a PSAT meeting for Eaddie. Michael was outside the Crimson Room when we got there, and told us it would mostly be the same information we already had. We decided to leave, assuming Eaddie was already at home. Summer dropped me back off at home so I could continue to visit with family.

As soon as she got home, Summer called to say that Eaddie wasn’t there, and that she had left her phone in her room. Evidently she was still at the high school in her study group, which I thought was being led by the same people hosting the meeting we didn’t attend. By the time I made it back to the high school, Eaddie had already started walking toward my house, and was spitting mad that we left without her.

I took her back to my house to cool down while I visited some more. After a little while, I took her on home and shared some of my leftover pasta with her. Autumn was excited to share some “tea” with me, that turned out being a critical accident that happened at the school. Evidently Gary had taken a hard fall at the arts center and broke several bones. I was upset that she considered this “tea” that she selfishly wanted to share with me herself, instead of letting me know that my friend was badly injured.

Everyone made it to bed, and Michael ended up calling me late so I could catch him up on all of my drama. He was surprised, and shared the same sentiment I had gotten pretty much everywhere else. All that’s left is to start a GoFundMe for lawyer’s fees.

Seriously, why is it so hard to find someone to provide some counsel with vigor?

Uncategorised

Taxing Company

I picked at some more leftovers for breakfast this morning until Summer left for the gym. Autumn came out of her cave to gripe about having to do her taxes, and blamed us for not doing them sooner, but couldn’t find any record of her taxes from last year. In the end, she did them all herself anyway, and didn’t bother to have me check over them, so I don’t know why she even bothered bitching about it.

I eventually headed home to do my own taxes. I got up a couple times in the middle of it, and cleaned up the laundry room a bit to see if I had forgotten any paperwork in there. In the end, I just assumed my checking bank didn’t send a 1099-INT because they paid me less than $10 in interest last year. All in all, I was pretty happy with owing about $300 in federal taxes and getting back around $80 from the state. I don’t know how I could cut it any closer without overcorrecting by a larger margin.

Autumn had gone to the coffee shop and the mall to do “homework” for a while, and Eaddie went to rehearse her National History Day project at a classmate’s house. She finished up just as I did, so I picked her up and then picked up Summer to go to my parents’ house for some lemongrass pork chops.

Dad was finishing up on the grill just as we got there, and Mom said she invited Bác Vân and Julie over as well, so the three of us made our bowls and ate quickly to try and make room. It didn’t take long at all for the dining room to fill up, but the girls finished their food quickly and went to the living room. I joined them as soon as I finished, but even with her new boyfriend in tow, Julie’s loud conversation quickly triggered some anxiety in Summer and we decided to leave.

The girls wanted Dairy Queen, so we stopped there on the way home. Summer had some trouble with her app, but clearing the cache fixed that and we got our order in just after the drive-through filled up. We still got in and out relatively quickly though, and made it home with our extra-melty ice cream. Our Dairy Queen is the worst about selling ice cream soup.

Autumn made some ramen when we got home, and then all three of the girls went to bed pretty soon after that. I had a couple bites of ice cream that walked me right up to the edge of lactose intolerance, but made it to bed without any trouble.

How incredibly annoying.

Uncategorised

Pizza Pizza

I got out of bed with Summer this morning and made an egg and cheese KFC biscuit for breakfast. Autumn was out for most of the day doing JROTC things. Summer wanted to clean house, so I left fairly early to clean up a bit at mine.

I started some laundry and picked up a bit in the kitchen. It looked nice outside, but we were under threat of a pretty short but severe storm, so I didn’t get outside at all. I tinkered for a while between cleaning and showering, and eventually I got hungry enough for dinner. Summer took a while to get started cleaning and didn’t want to get out to figure something out for dinner, so I picked up a pretzel crust pizza from Little Caesar’s on the way back up.

Just after I got there, the storm rolled in and it started to hail little pea-sized pieces of ice. Eaddie and I ate a couple while Summer fretted over them hitting her brand new car. After we ate, I put on Splash, which Summer and I hadn’t seen since we were kids. After that, I put on Logan and Summer only made it about halfway through before quitting for bed.

You probably get this a lot, but does Caesar actually own this place?

Uncategorised

Elec Man

I took Eaddie to school this morning and made it home to have a bowl of cereal before the electrician showed up. John and two of his henchmen showed up and got right to work, running some conduit up the side of the house and into the attic. I was a little worried about how it might all turn out, but overall I was quite pleased. I did have to climb into the attic once to pass along some tape, but outside of that, we didn’t spot any termite damage, and the Wall Connector powered right up. Dad showed up near the end to check things out, and once the guys were done, he wanted to take me to the airport to see the plane that he and Julie just bought.

I let him drive the Model 3, and we made it about halfway there before he realized he had forgotten the trash bag he needed to clean out the plane. We finally made it to the airport though, and drove past a really fancy jet to get to the hanger.

We stopped in to talk to the guy in the hanger next door, and he came around to chat with us some more while we cleaned just a little bit of trash out of the plane. I got Julie to come out, but she wasn’t in any condition to socialize. As she ran us off, she introduced us to her new boyfriend, Kevin, who would be joining us for Mom’s birthday dinner.

I got back home and put the garage back together, possibly better than it was before. By then I was pretty hungry, so I ran to Taco John’s for a snack and went by Superfast to visit with Summer. She was busy though, and put me to work filling her washer fluid drums. After that I went home and showered so we could go to Pasta Grill for dinner.

Summer had to work right up to dinner time, so I met her at Superfast and she drove us to the restaurant. Julie and Kevin were already there, and of course Mom and Dad were several minutes late. It was a fair time visiting, and most of the food was okay. I ordered the Grill Pasta, which was incredibly heavy. I was disappointed in the portion size, and then it was so saucy that it felt like eating forks of butter. I ended up taking well over half of it home.

When the girls got home from hanging out with their friends, Autumn came into the bedroom to tell us all of Eaddie’s drama, which had me rolling my eyes. Summer called Eaddie into the room so she could tell us herself, and we talked for a little bit. Then after Eaddie cooled off in her room for a while and I watched some TV with Summer, Eaddie came out to the kitchen table and chatted with me for quite a while longer. She felt good about how she responded to her classmates, and laughed at how accurately I described her friendships.

Now if only I could be as successful.

Uncategorised

Yard Work Makes Me Thorny

Eaddie surprised me this morning by needing a ride to school. Unsurprisingly, Autumn didn’t communicate that change with me before bed last night. I dropped her off and then went home to immediately start on some yard work. I figured with all the job hunting and other research I’ve been doing, I needed a little sunshine break.

I started a small fire without too much trouble, but it just never got roaring unless I had the leaf blower on it. It burned well enough to clean up a bunch of old, decomposing branches and sticks though. I put my heavy-duty rake to work and combed a bunch of branches out of the mowable area, so hopefully this can be the last year of cleaning up the wilderness. I was just outside by myself the entire day, and it felt good.

When I finally came inside to shower, the electrician called and wanted to start my project tomorrow morning. I took a break, showered, stayed on break, and finally went out to shuffle things around in the garage. One night of parking outside without charging won’t hurt, and if all goes according to plan, it won’t take more than a few hours to charge all the way up from now on.

Summer got Eaddie after robotics, and picked up some chicken for dinner. I headed up to their place as soon as I finished, and we quickly ate before I had to take Eaddie to another Tech band concert. Apparently she is meeting friends there, but I never see any of them around. I went home for the hour or so, and then picked her up afterward.

Everyone was more or less down for the count when we got back home. I shuffled the cars around so Summer could charge, and then hurried to bed after a long day of mild labor.

Seriously, I’m burning absolutely anything that hurts when you touch it.

Uncategorised

The Trouble with Shower Arguments

I slept pretty hard this morning, but fortunately I didn’t sleep as late as I thought I did. I got around and picked at a few leftovers, mostly to clean up some old, rotting fruit that Summer bought. I put Fat Lizzy outside, halfway in the sun, and he actually got a bit active. I think it ate one of the crane flies I put in the cage, and appeared to have pooped on top of the moss, so that made me feel better.

Eventually I packed up and headed out, stopping by to see Dad as he was working out in the yard. He stopped to try and hunt some worms for the lizard, but didn’t find any, so I headed on home to release it. After that, I spent a bit of time just trying to organize myself some more. After cleaning up some more food for lunch, I took a shower, and my afternoon just buzzed by.

Eaddie wanted to come over after school and ride her bike, and I had to get ready for Autumn’s basketball banquet. Summer brought her over and parked the Model Y in the garage to charge for a couple days, and then we went to the high school.

We were super early, which made me feel even more like a fraud. Once people started coming in, I kept finding people I knew. I spotted Cecil, who I don’t think I’d actually spoken to since high school. Then I saw Leslie there for her son. Jeremy actually came up and shook my hand, which wasn’t too awkward after they decided to fire me last week. Ben and his wife came in and sat next to us in the very back, but I could never figure out who they were there to support. It was neat to chat with him again, since we hadn’t kept up after Asurion.

Dinner was pretty good, and we wrapped things up about an hour earlier than we expected, so we headed back to my house where I waited for Eaddie to return on her bike while the girls went home. Eaddie asked if we could pick her up with the bike rack, but I declined.

Several hours later, Eaddie still hadn’t shown up. Evidently she was dragged around town by Maristella’s mother, and they just never brought her and the bike back to me. Eaddie finally called again and asked me to pick her up, so I had to figure out how to remove the hitch cover from the Model Y. That was a pain in the ass until I remembered that I had some trim removal tools. That helped a bit, but it was still more difficult than it should have been.

As I got ready to leave the house, I remembered that the actual straps to hold the bike to the rack were all in the Murano, which Summer drove home. I grabbed some Velcro, and just hoped it wouldn’t tear anything up. I loaded Eaddie’s bike up before she even came outside, and then she sat in the car while I tried to fasten everything in place. We made it home to disassemble everything again, and then we took the Model 3 up to her house.

Everyone was locked up and in bed, so Summer had to groggily come out to let us in. I was still feeling pretty aggravated over the whole evening, so it was just a bit of catching up online and then off to bed for me.

The other guy’s never as smart as you.

Uncategorised

WH and San

I woke up pretty wide-eyed today, so I didn’t bother trying to go back to sleep. I made another phone call to try and schedule a consultation, and was surprised to schedule a call within just a couple hours. I headed home to prepare, and aside from the cost structure, it seemed like pretty good news. My main concern was that after telling my side of the story, the rest of the call really sounded like a sales pitch. I spent most of the rest of the day trying to research alternatives just in case. I called another firm, and they also asked about another government acronym. After hearing about it twice, I figured I should do some research, and scheduled an appointment in August – the first available.

I didn’t get out of the house until Eaddie called and asked for a ride later in the evening. I brought her home, and discovered a lizard stuck to a glue trap in my garage. I thought it was dead, but Dad convinced me to check again, and luckily I was able to use some vegetable oil to free it. It wasn’t too happy, and kept opening its mouth at me, but I got it into a little critter keeper to try and nurse it back to health just in case anything got broken.

We made it up to Summer’s house, where Autumn had done us the huge favor of making some Hamburger Helper. Obviously it was devoid of anything even resembling plant matter, so I used one of her dirty pots to fry up some fresh broccoli and cauliflower to add to mine. That helped, but it was still such a heavy meal.

After we ate, I took Eaddie to Tech for another band concert. Then I picked her up again after it was over. We never saw Autumn again all night. I nearly forgot about my new little critter, so I caught a couple crane flies and threw them into the container, hoping he could find them. I’ll have to try for something a little squishier tomorrow.

Contingency Plan C