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?

We had a cookout for lunch today. I kind of wish I could take over grilling responsibilities when we do that. I spent all day clearing out work orders, but the teachers were unavailable all morning. I ended up staying about four hours late just getting things done.

After work, I played (and won!) Battlegrounds with Johnny, Clint, and Josh.

Kicked back with my old friend Tom Collins…

We had a quick meeting this morning before splitting off to our own buildings. I spent most of the morning wasting time on someone else’s work order, not realizing that I wasn’t receiving new work orders as they were coming in. After lunch, I went to the junior high and tried to catch up a bit there. I started to stress a little bit over how much work we’re trying to cram into a week, but eventually left to go to my parents’ house for a taco salad.

After dinner, I came home and played a couple rounds of Battlegrounds with Johnny. Josh was there for our first round together, and we did pretty well up to the last point where we had to climb a mountain that put us at a distinct disadvantage.

Tomorrow we’re grilling burgers at work. I enjoy our potlucks there. It’s fun to get everyone in a room.

Happy anniversary, me.

I finally got around to buying a new TV today. I really wanted to get a nice 3D TV in case the industry around them dries up. With nobody making any new ones this year, I wanted to have something I could use for the media I already have. After I ordered the TV, I saw a deal on an upgraded home theater receiver. By the time I got home and did my research on the receiver, it had sold out. I guess that’s just as well, though.

I went to my parents’ house for more Bún bò Huế. As I was leaving, my dad mentioned a big wedding for my sister. I guess the ol’ biological clock is ticket, because this seems like an obvious rush to me. She’s been acting like a teenager with a relationship, triangular business models, and buying into fads. I really thought she was going to be the responsible one, but now I’m not so sure.

When I got home, I played a couple rounds of Battlegrounds with Clint, Josh, and Johnny. It’s the last week of summer before school starts, and we still haven’t replaced my teacher computers. We haven’t even finished replacing the WAPs. Giddyup.

It says, “goodbye!”

I forgot to post last night. It’s just as well, because I didn’t really do anything all day.

I played a little Overwatch and watched a mystery thriller called Exam.

Between those things, I sketched out a plan for my rack server and went to my parents’ house for dinner. Mom made Bún bò Huế. Afterward I went for a swim since I hadn’t even showered all day.

I never heard from anyone else.

Maybe they’re all dead.

We finally finished the regularly scheduled handouts of the high school’s 1:1 laptops. I didn’t manage to get to anything else today, but it was alright to relax in one place. I tried the Nectar flavor of Soylent for breakfast, which absolutely tasted like lemon Pledge. I never really got past the chemical taste, but the Coffiest and Cacao are way better. We had Stoby’s again for lunch. The fish and chips was okay, but wasn’t anything special. They didn’t give me any tartar sauce, but Dale gave me his that he wasn’t using.

We got to leave work about an hour early, but I ended up staying half an hour past that to help clean up. When I got home, I played a couple rounds of Overwatch before cleaning house so Allen could come watch a movie with me. We watched Arrival, which I watched just a few nights ago. I think I may have liked it even better the second time just because I knew the dialog and could spare my attention in the other cinematic details in the film. It’s definitely one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. I still got chills at so many points in the movie.

After that, Allen left and I played a couple rounds of Battlegrounds with Jack, Johnny, and Clint. On our last game, I had actually done relatively well, but the team wiped when my computer blue-screened. I’d like a new one, but can’t prioritize it right now.

Let’s make something of this weekend.

I went to the high school first thing this morning to hand out laptops, but almost immediately got called to the junior high to help with their A/V equipment for a CPR presentation. It’s super aggravating working on things that other people just monkey around in without understanding how certain equipment works.

Back at the high school, we had Stoby’s for lunch, and the Tuscany Chicken Pasta travelled really well for a group take-out order. Erika came by to volunteer with locker rentals, I guess as a part of the PTO or something. We talked for a bit until near the end when a group of us went to move several pallets of laptop boxes from the back hallway to the dumpster outside. It wasn’t super hot outside, but the sun was just so overbearing, and it was so humid outside that I was just drenched with sweat by the time we were done.

I took the ride back to the office to air out, and then went to my parents’ house for dinner after work. I took a quick dip in the pool, and then we had spring rolls. When I finally got home, I played a couple rounds of Overwatch before bed.

Holy crap, you guys are mean!

Ben had me go to the junior high to log their phones back in this morning after a reset. There, I happened upon a curious poster about high school. By the time I was done, they said they didn’t need the extra help at the high school to hand out laptops, so I met up there at lunch and stayed for the afternoon. It was really pretty mellow, but I imagine the new kids coming in will be the worst part.

After work, Bác Vân called and offered some rice and shrimp she made, so I went and ate over there before coming back home. The cats were out of food, so I made a late night run to Walmart that really got to my nerves. I haven’t been quite right since then. Sometimes I want to go to see the world. Tonight I want to go to escape it.

Mini vacation soon. Maybe that’ll reset me.

It’s life. Nobody makes it out alive.