I definitely tried to cram too much into my day. I’ve gotten sloppy because of that.

We hung one of the new touch TVs at the junior high today. They’re heavy and difficult to move around, for seemingly no reason. I cleared out as much of my work as I could before my vacation starts, but I’ll have to hit the ground running as soon as I get back.

After work, I spent far too much time setting up my new home theater receiver and not nearly enough time packing. It’s difficult to pack a suitcase the night before when I still have to use things that I’m packing. Having a CPAP just makes things even worse.

I’m excited to get out of town though. Hopefully I can find some headspace. Hopefully it’s not overcast for the eclipse. Hopefully we don’t get stranded in a town with failing infrastructure due to the massive influx of people.

I’m just hopeful like that.

Today was the big day to have our auction winner pick up our old lab computers. I spent all morning cleaning up other work orders, then swung by Wendy’s for a quick lunch before meeting the guy. Ashley, the girl that always seems to take my order, remembered my name, and we laughed about how that’s the sign that you’re visiting a place too often.

After my quick bite, I went to Center Valley to start our journey of a thousand (200) computers. Being a rich school, it is our only elementary that actually has two computer labs. We cleared it out, then continued through six other campuses to load up. I ended up taking too long and didn’t have a chance to go by UPS to pick up my new home theater receiver.

After I finally finished, I went to my parents’ house for a cooling dip in the pool and some leftover soup for dinner. I didn’t stick around too long after that, exhausted from the afternoon’s work. I came straight home and played some Overwatch by myself until bedtime.

The eclipse is coming! We’re doomed!

I’m starting to remember how much I didn’t like the beginning of last year. The work orders just won’t quit, and I can barely stay caught up. I spent all morning waiting to hear from the freight delivery guy with my TV. He finally brought it around lunch time, and helped me drag it into the garage. I also had my receiver held at the UPS customer service counter so I could pick it up tomorrow.

After work, I came home and spent all night setting up the new TV. I cut a hole in the wall to run power, but I don’t have an HDMI cable long enough to run behind there yet. It wouldn’t be a problem if I actually ran it to keystones like I planned, but I lost some screws to hold my wall plate together. Seeing the TV display just a few bright pixels on a bright screen really is amazing, though. I’m excited to get some proper ambient lighting behind it.

The TV doesn’t actually look much bigger than my old one, but the bezel is tiny, the screen is super thin with a slight curve, and the contrast, colors, and blacks are stellar. MOOvie night is coming back soon. I can feel it.
 
Having an Asian mother has given me an appreciation for nagging criticism.

Today wasn’t too bad for the first day of school. I kept busy, but not annoyingly so. Nobody met up for lunch, so I skipped it altogether and had the remainder of an unfinished bottle of Soylent. After work, I came home and played some Overwatch by myself until the others got on to play Battlegrounds.

And in the morning, I’ll make you up some tea and toast…

After I finally got around this afternoon, Josh and I went to Conway so I could order and price match a new home theater receiver at Best Buy. I couldn’t order online and clean out my gift cards, and I needed to get out and do something this weekend anyway. We started by going to the theater to catch The Dark Tower. We both really liked it. I didn’t find it to be too cheesy, or overdone with ridiculous action. I enjoyed the story, though there weren’t any major revelations or twists in it.

After the movie, we went straight to Best Buy to order my receiver. I’m super excited to have another now, so I can use one in the bedroom with my other speakers. They’ve been quiet long enough! On the way home, we stopped by Chipotle for a big ol’ burrito. It’s a bit expensive. Well, a lot expensive. But Nom Nom’s is closed in Hot Springs, and it’s the closest thing I have to that.

I capped the night with some laundry, Rocket League, and Battlegrounds. PUBG. Man, I hate acronyms though.

I kill with my heart.

I wasted today sleeping late. I couldn’t get anyone to go to Magic Springs with me, so I didn’t go to the 3 Doors Down concert there tonight. I mostly sat and played Overwatch for most of the day.

I picked up Bác Vân and went to my parents’ house for dinner. Mom made bún thang. Then I came home and watched Contact.

The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.

We were supposed to deploy all of our lab computers today, but we didn’t complete the job for fear of getting rained out. At lunch, some of the guys suggested Old Bank, but left without me while I was washing my hands. When I got there by myself, I couldn’t find them anywhere, so I called Jason, who told me they had changed their minds and had gone to Quiznos. I almost left, but then I saw my sister and her friend Tori at the bar, so I ate with them. Julie picked up my tab, which was super nice of her.

After lunch, I was left to my own buildings again. I cleaned up most of my work orders, and I think next week will be manageable. I just hope I leave the place in good enough shape that I can be away on vacation without too much guilt. I ended up staying about three and a half hours late, but finally left and went to AT&T to give Hope some solar lenses to watch the eclipse.

Mayra invited me over to help put a table and some chairs together. The tools included in the kits were laughable, so I went home to get some better ones. I probably went a little overkill, but I didn’t want to get there only to realize I had forgotten something.

Tomorrow it’s Three Doors Down at Magic Springs. I don’t know if I’ll make it. I should probably force myself to go.

But people…

This morning, we met early at the high school for breakfast, door prizes, and our annual welcome-back assembly with our new superintendent. So far, things are starting out positive. Breakfast was awful, and I didn’t win anything, but it wasn’t a terrible day. I didn’t have any Soylent today, and I find myself missing it when I don’t have it. Overall I feel better on days when I’m drinking it in place of food, but I still crave real food too. I’m just not hungry. I eat because I want the food. I guess that’s always been the problem. So here I am. On the raggedy edge.

After work, I came home and played a couple rounds of Battlegrounds, then it was off to bed. Tomorrow, we start deploying elementary lab computers.

Don’t they know better?

I’m finally at the point in my job where I remember “what it was like last year.” The teachers were out all morning for a massive welcome-back meeting. Ours happens tomorrow, ridiculously early for me. At least there will be breakfast.

I came home after work and completed my collection of Soylent, then had a couple proper Tom Collinses(?) and played Overwatch until the guys got on to play Battlegrounds with me.

How was your day?