waiting through the bad hurt

 "I was so confused. I didn't know what to do!"

Tuesday, I worked with one of the new-hires. I'll call her The Writer. It was her second day of training, and I liked her right away. She's an English instructor for her "real" job at the college. She asked me what she should be working on, so I asked if she had her training checklist from Boss, and I would get her going.

"I... don't know", she replied. "I worked with him last night, but he spent the whole time talking about his time in Mexico.  I was so confused..."

*Oh for chrissake*

"I'm so sorry. Yeah, he does that...", I sympathized. Oh, the poor woman.

Some readers might recall that, when I first took this job, I had a similar experience with Boss in regard to hockey. He droned on and on about hockey. 

I was so confused. I didn't know what to do!

I don't know why he does this. I honestly think it's possible that he has some sort of condition. He'll get rolling on some monologue and can't stop, and Boss's favorite subject is himself. I've since learned to anticipate it, see when it's about to happen, and cut him off at the knees, but it's not always easy or altogether avoidable.

It's understandably difficult for new hires because (1) it's so freaking weird and uncomfortable, but (2) it's the boss.

Thankfully, Boss was busy doing boss things on Tuesday, and we got some actual training and decent two-sided conversation in. 

"Oh, this is so much better!", The Writer exhaled.

I know some people don't like their bosses for a variety of reasons. Except for this issue, I mostly like mine - he's considerate and flexible with scheduling, very personable and approachable, treats us fairly, and he's good at running a test center.  Many test centers didn't survive the pandemic. 

In short, I like working FOR him. I don't like working WITH him.

I've worked there a little over one year, and four people have come on board and left within that time (if we count recently quitting what's her face, which I think we should in this case). I wouldn't be surprised if  Boss's ramblings were a key factor in the exodus. 

Of those of us who remain, I think Assistant Boss has learned to block it out, Party Girl - well, she drinks. A lot - and I've learned to stop it before it really gets going. I think Sangria uses a combo of stopping it and blocking it out. Now we've got two newly hired part-timers who also teach on campus. Fingers crossed for them both.

I wouldn't say I love this job, but here are some likes:

• I like helping college students with their educational goals
• I like helping professionals get their licenses and certifications
• I like my work schedule, it's probably one of the better paying part-time jobs I can easily tolerate
• I like my short commute
• I like my coworkers and the instructors and tutors I've gotten to know
• I like the steady paycheck and 401k, which I don't get as a contract tutor
• I like the tidy, attractive campus

Gonna focus on the positive.

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Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:
5. List 7 Reasons why you love your job.

we know you love a party

This was another good week as we head to the end of September already. Dogs outnumbered us as we "boarded" Chaco's dog, Ella, while Chaco traveled for work. He's acknowledging that he needs to find a place to board her when he travels, but she's particular about where she'll hang out and with whom.

In the meantime, we're glad to help out, and the dogs have a good time together, but three energetic dogs don't come without exertion. Plus, the cat is not a fan, but he gets in his "free range" time when the dogs are outside. We have a kennel for them in the backyard. Ella stands on the dog houses and sends subliminal messages to be let out to run around or back into the house.

Let me oooooooouuuuuuuuttttttttt

Things at work are looking up. Boss put the word out about our staffing shortage since whats-her-face quit without notice right after being hired. He got a good response from a few part-time instructors looking for more hours and hired two of them. I met one of them last week, and another will start tomorrow. We also got a new work study student on board. In hindsight, we all think we dodged a bullet when whats-her-face left. She looked good on paper and interviewed well enough, but seemed a bit "off", for lack of a better term. 

Coworker Party Girl is doing a "dry September". I honestly think she's a functioning alcoholic. Her husband, Mr. Party Girl, probably is too. Her doctor has told her to cut back (drastically), but you know it's bad when even her drinking buddies tell her she drinks too much. 

She and husband accomplished Dry January of this year, but she was miserable despite having one (pre-planned) drinking weekend. I'm not sure what prompted Dry September. She did confess that she and the Mr. agreed to do it together, but would allow drinks on Fridays to make it more bearable than January was. 

It must be tough being a slave to a substance.

*slurps coffee*

where'd she go?

Happy Autumnal Equinox. We're having a fitting day of grey, damp, and drizzly.

We're running a bit lean at work these days. Coworker Kat left a couple of weeks ago. She'd wanted to work from home, and got a job as a crisis hotline counselor. I think it's a good fit for her as she has some experience in that area, and it's more along her interests. Kat could be daunting on first impression - over 6 ft. tall and big boned. But she has a most calming "aura" - a nice feature at a testing center.

I worked on Tuesday, and our last tester of the day started crying when I told her her time was up. 

She hastily gathered her test papers and materials and I could hear the snot forming, and thought, "here we go". 

I mean, it was a biology test...

Eesh. We get the criers sometimes, and I always feel a bit awkward. 

I was working with Assistant Boss, and we discussed how we're never quite sure how to handle the criers. 

He and I had one a few weeks ago that was so bad, we passed the buck to one of the mental health counselors down the hall. 

Poor girl just put her head down on the desk and bawled. 

I mean, it was a calculus test...

Okay, enough of the Dad Joke Puns.

Kat had given ample notice, and Boss hired a replacement who'd begun training with us. Then *BAM*, Boss got an email on Monday, "...not a good fit...blah blah blah...". That's it, she's gone, us left in the lurch. No notice, nothing.

So it was a bit of a shock, coming from a mature "professional". I honestly didn't get a chance to know her very well - only worked a few hours with her. However, Boss put the job posting up again and also put the word out around campus. Looks like a couple of part-time instructors will pick up extra hours with us. 

Fingers crossed, problem solved.

male influence, TP theft, wild critters

As I sit here, I can hear the little neighbor girl of about 4 years old, I'd guess, playing and conversing with the man o' the house. These neighbors moved in maybe about a year ago? Year and a half? Could be two years, I'm not that observant.

Anyway, the little girl is cute, but wasn't very verbal. We'd hear her making animal-like noises. Other times we'd hear her having loud wailing-and-gnashing-of-teeth meltdowns. I figured she could be low on the autism spectrum or such.

For the last couple of months, it's been calm and quiet, and the girl does in fact speak and act like a typical kid of her age. The one difference I've noticed is that the first man o' the house is no longer around. He was a thin blonde guy - often seen taking smoke breaks outside. This current man is on the heavy side, brown hair, no noticeable smoke breaks.

I mentioned to Magnum yesterday that I think (the guy we assumed was "Dad") doesn't live there anymore.

"I saw him mowing the lawn last week", Magnum replied.

"A man was mowing the lawn last week, but he wasn't (the guy we assumed was "Dad")", I pointed out their major differences in their appearance. Sheesh, and I thought my powers of observation were bad.

Bottom line, I haven't seen thin-blonde-possible-Dad man in quite a while. And cute little girl seems calm and happy. I don't know what relation chubby-nonsmoking-lawnmower man has to the mom and daughter, but he seems to be a positive influence. 

Maybe I should try to get to know my neighbors a little better other than just the passing "hello". 

In other news of the week, 

• I continue with a bit of "death cleaning" and freed up some space in the garage by selling a couple of things. I was surprised to see that people sell $100k+ cars on facebook. I did not sell any cars, $100k+ or otherwise.
• Campus security at work busted a woman stealing toilet paper - dispensers and all - from various buildings. She's not an employee or student of the college, and they figured out her identity from her library card. She checked out items from the library before wrenching a toilet paper dispenser from the bathroom? 
• On the plus side, we have a lot of shiny new TP dispensers at work
• I'm hearing of bear sightings around town. I believe they're entering their time of fattening up for winter hibernation. I have, thankfully, not encountered any bears, but, oh deer, these two came out to greet me during a recent morning run.
  
  

Two deer cancel one bear, right?

escapism

When we were in Steamboat Springs, I realized I'd forgotten my Kindle. I've been meaning to read more, and I love how I can carry "shelves" of books on one small device. But there I was... bookless. 

I do have the Libby app, which I'd forgotten about 🙄. I don't like reading books on my phone, but it would've done in a pinch. And as I mentioned earlier, I chucked instagram from my phone - so nice to not have that time waster anymore!

While we were browsing Steamboat's downtown, we came across a local bookstore selling used and new.  Nothing really spoke to me, though, so I remained bookless. The things we take for granted.

So this week, I was glad to get back to my reading. I finished Stoner, which is actually not about a pothead. Honestly, if it was about a pothead, I might have found it more engrossing?

It's a story of a young farm boy who goes off to college to learn about farming, but ends up loving and making a career as an English Lit professor instead. Written in 1965, it spans his life from around 1900 to the 1950s.

It's touted as a "classic", but I don't think I'm the right reader for this one. I gave it three stars out of five⭐⭐⭐✖✖  mainly because I appreciated the introspection, and it felt wrong to be any harsher on a "classic".

But at the same time, geesh, the man was SO passive, and it's really a 2 or 2.5 for me. This cover illustration really gets the mood of the whole book. 

"Oh, there's a war? Welp, I'm just gonna go to classes. My wife's a basket case? I'll just hang out at my office.  ho hum...

I found the story, the narration, and certainly Stoner himself to be so very flat and passive. At about the halfway point, he seems to rise up a bit, but then quickly returns to his rather lifeless life. Again, I think I just wasn't the right reader for this book. I mean, so much seemed to be about him being an English professor. I get it... he's an English professor. 

While I didn't purchase anything from that little bookstore, I perused one from a prominent shelf display and thought it might be worthwhile. 

With Teeth is about a woman struggling with her son and his issues - whatever those might be - from his toddler days into the teen years. I downloaded a sample to my kindle, and I couldn't even get through that. I can't properly review a sample, but it was just really bad IMO.

From the few pages I was able to get through, it seems to be about a woman who neither wants to be a mother nor has any business being responsible for the upbringing of a child.  Then she whines about it. A lot.

Funny thing, I read some reviews - they ranged from awful to great - and many said similar things 

"She's an awful mother, not one likeable character - five stars!"

To each their own.

I also checked out a copy of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. I've been doing a lot of decluttering and organizing lately, so thought I'd see if this book had much to offer.

It's a cute book and probably insightful for those who live among lots of clutter, but didn't have much to offer otherwise. Basics: get your crap pared down and in order so someone doesn't have to do it for you later. Certainly a good message... thinking of my oldest brother having to go through my parents' house.

Lastly, in other fictional escapism, we've been watching Outsiders on Hulu. It's about an Appalachian Mountain clan in Kentucky having it out with a coal company that wants to kick them off and mine their mountain down to nuthin'. 

There's only two seasons, and we're about at the last episode. I think it's well cast and well written. I'll miss these hillbillies when it's over.

call o' nature

We went away for a few days of relaxation on the beach... but not really.

We went away for a few days of play in the mountains. I'm not really one for sitting on a lounge chair on a cruise ship or beach while sipping an umbrella drink and taking a pic of my sandaled feet. So this'll do.

We visited lovely Steamboat Springs, CO - yet another touristy resort town up yonder. A ski town fer shur, but plenty to do year-round, so the whole fam headed there for a little end-of-summer getaway.

None of us had been there before except for Magnum who'd gone there to ski once or twice in the pre-me days.

We stayed in an Airbnb or Vrbo (Magnum booked it...) condo with plenty of room for all of us and nice views off the pond.

Our condo also allowed us to bring Chaco's dog, Ella. Our dogs stayed behind at the kennel, so don't tell them about Ella.

On our first full day, we rented bicycles and rode the length of the trail that runs through town, top to bottom and then some. Along the way, we stopped at the enjoyable Yampa River Botanic Park. It sits right along the bike path and was nicely laid out and maintained. 

My trip recorder skills are so bad, I didn't get one photo, but oh well. We have the internet.

On the bike ride, I noticed quite a few rather run down, mobile home type residences on the outskirts of town surrounding the posh big expensive homes of Steamboat. Thing with these resort towns - somebody needs to do the cookin' and cleanin' for the ritzy residents.

We walked around the small downtown area, Chaco in search of a hoodie. He preferred one that did not say "Steamboat Springs" anywhere on it. Not a chance.

With biking checked off our list, we headed out the next day for some hiking. We found a nearby trail that would take us to Fish Creek Falls, a moderate hike that took us from about 7400 ft to 9000 ft to the upper falls - around 4.5 miles out and back.

The aspens had not yet begun to change. It should be really pretty in a couple of weeks when we're not there.

We rounded things out with a good deal of eating and lounging and people watching and gaming. The trip provided me a much needed nature fix, yet left me thirsty for more. Greedy, I know.

rocky mountain not too high

In addition to attending Tour de Fat over the long weekend, I also managed to get stoned.

Ugh, the previous owners of our house went hog wild with gravel landscaping, of which I am not a fan. I'm okay with the borders along the back yard, but the front has this area next to the driveway all graveled out, presumably a place to park a vehicle?

I got this image from google maps streetview from 2012

Now it's 2022. We've long since gotten rid of the junipers along the right side of the driveway and replaced the grey poupon exterior paint. That graveled area next to the driveway? Picture that, but overrun by weeds and whatever would decide to grow. Recall that our house was a rental for several years before we bought it. What renter is going to maintain a gravel driveway?

standing atop my plunder

It's a pain to keep gravel weed-free without using weed killers - can't hoe or rake efficiently. It's been an exercise in ultra-inefficiency.

Magnum made a couple of gravel sieves of half-inch screen, and I had it out with those obnoxious stones. Extracted, shoveled, sieved, and made an ugly mountain of gravel up near the fence, exposing the soil and whatever tatters remained of the ancient landscaping fabric underneath.

Of course now, the area is but a rectangle of dirt. Plan is to put mulch and pavers. We'll park the boat... except we have no boat nor plans to get one. Small detail.

Tour de Fat

Yesterday was Tour de Fat here in Fort Collins. Party for a cause.

I'd only ever heard of Tour de Fat since it was cancelled in 2020 ad 2021 because of, well, y'know. This year, it was back, and what a hoot. 

Fort Collins is home to over 20 craft breweries, including New Belgium Brewing Co, which is the fourth largest craft brewer in the U.S. It's also a very bike-friendly city, as I've mentioned before with the huge turnouts for bike-to-work, etc.

Any event having to do with bicycles or craft beer will be well attended here, and Tour de Fat is all about bicycles AND beer.

It starts with a parade...

   SOURCE

Magnum and I had to check it out despite not having funky costumes or funky bicycles. I guess our usual riding gear would be sufficient. 

The venue was PACKED, to put it mildly. Everyone there to have a good time, it is a philanthropic event after all. There were food trucks and plenty of beer, but fun activities for kids too. And the costumes - so many costumes! Better than comic con.

There was a fun bike pit with various "weird" bicycles - challenging geometry, off-center hubs, assorted two-seaters - to try to ride

Parking was a bit of a challenge 😁, as it should be.

We somehow managed to stumble upon Wolfgang. We figured he'd be there, but the odds of finding him among the  masses were slim.

Alas, just as we were heading back to the bike racks for the humble task of finding ours, there he was with a friend, the odds in our favor.

Before we left, we made a pit stop at one of the ample port-a-potty stations. While there we witnessed the arrival of this guy.

As seen in the parade video above, Darth rode in on this large black tricycle adorned with quite the sound system.  

He had some party music playing at first - Tone Loc's Wild Thing - but quickly switched over to The Imperial March, A.K.A. Darth Vadar's theme.

What an entrance! And it was still just the parking lot. Stud! (speaking of John Williams, I know nothing about Darth Vadar guy...)

Then he switched back to party tunes and had random people - maybe a little drunk already - bustin' a move or two.

With that, Magnum and I headed out and took the long way home. The entire ride home and beyond, I had The Imperial March playing in my head. 

That's an earworm for ya.

one small step

It was passed my bedtime. I recall being in my pajamas, but my brother and I were either kept up or awakened from our slumbers. Either way, it was dark outside and we were "made" to watch TV - highly unusual.

Dutifully, I watched the screen with rapt attention. The image was quite grainy in black and white. The black and white was typical, though, because we only had a black and white TV. What I watched were astronauts landing and walking around on the moon.

Honestly, though, I was not sure why I was kept up for such viewing. I was 4 years old and had seen astronauts before. Maybe not on TV, maybe not walking around on the moon, but yeah. Astronauts were certainly a thing. And that's what they did, right? They walked around on the moon.

I'd seen astronauts on the magazine covers my parents subscribed to. I glimpsed astronauts on the TV news. We drank Tang because that's what astronauts drank. 

We ate those (awful yuck pooey) Space Sticks because they were cool astronaut food.

And there I was, sitting on the floor, passed my bedtime, looking up at TV footage of astronauts on the moon. Okay, cool, I guess? I have a vague recollection that even Grandma was there with us. Was something momentous happening? None of the adults were speaking as they seemed a bit speechless, so I was left to ponder. 

And that was that: sitting on the floor in the dark watching grainy images of astronauts, the whole family minus my oldest brother, who was away at college, gathered 'round. It was a bit later that I would learn it was history in the making. 

So I was "there" before realizing how historic. But I drank the Tang and gagged on the Space Sticks.

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Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:

1. Share one of the first news stories you remember caring about.