120degrees.com

The Verbatim Digital Vinyl CD-R. Too cool - I love it! Combining a retro look with the rugged quality and high-performance of today’s CD-R technology.

Looks like Steve has done some work to redmonk.net, redesigning to focus on work. Very nice!

Tired. Lately I’ve been tired…both physically and emotionally. Work has really been getting the best of me. Many changes going on (not always for the better) and a recent reaffirmation that I want to start looking for work elsewhere.

This past week brought some interesting events to our workplace. Our new (company) president was back in town last week after spending time at one of our other office locations. One morning, after requesting that some certain projects be completed, and the projects were not up to the president’s standards, the president proceeded to punch a hole in the drywall in the office. Later that day, the president also destroyed several custom laminated boards (which are used to chart data), that I had created a short time ago. These boards were also created at the president’s request. Kinda makes you wonder? (the post was kept intentionally vague so I can keep my job.)

Got my oil changed today without a hitch. I went down early to the dealership to get the new dipstick. Also, finally managed to free the lodged, broken old dipstick without any major problems.

Ah yes…the unlucky ticket. This sunday was the inevitable company "Holiday Picnic" at the park. We have recently done away with any type of Christmas or Holiday party, in favor of a Holiday Picnic. This allows employees to bring along their children and decreases the chance of employees getting drunk and passing out under the table before the roast beef is served.

The party was ok and the presents were quite nice. Did I forget to mention the presents? Well, why would anyone show up for a work party, if there wasn’t the opportunity to win a DVD player or TV? Exactly. The tickets were issued as you arrived and gifts were raffled off throughout the day - to ensure everyone stayed until the end. What did I win you ask….nothing. I knew the outcome of this early in the day, as the ticket number before me won a 20" Flat-Screen TV. While the ticket right after mine won a Sony PlayStation 2 System. Some luck, eh?

Busy day today - many things to knock off the "To-Do List".

2 main priorities:

1. haircut
2. oil change

The day started out quite well. Nice day, beautiful weather. The haircut looks great, even after going to a new girl recently. I wish I could say the oil change went as smoothly.

I dropped by the local Jiffy Lube as I’ve done so many times before. I pulled the car into the bay and waited in the customer lobby for the guys to finish their work. After waiting about 10 minutes, the manager comes into the lobby and asks me, "can we see you in the bay for a minute?". I’m thinking, great…..what broke, caught on fire, was dented, cracked or is leaking now? As I went over to my car, the mechanic showed me that the dipstick handle had broken off from the actual metal dipstick part about 1" into the tube. Great. They told me that they have seen this happen before. Being that the dipstick is metal and the handle is made of plastic, it breaks right at the point where they meet.

The guy explained that they didn’t change the oil yet, and wouldn’t without being able to read how much was in the oil pan. He told me I could probably make it to the dealership and pick up a new one and they would give me the oil change for free. So, being 3:10 on a Saturday afternoon, I drove to the nearby dealership to find that the parts department had closed at 3:00pm.

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Nothing much to report. Work has shifted up a gear or two as has the traffic to and from work. The (20 mile) drive to and from work has increased to just over an hour - on a good day. With the cooler weather brings the “winter visitors” (a.k.a. Snowbirds™). By the time I get home in the evening, I am too tired to do anything. The other night, while I was fixing dinner, I had the TV on. I looked across the room and remembered thinking, “since when has this been on Tuesday?“. Probably never, considering it was still Monday…ugh.

A day late, but some cute Halloween costumes for your Dachshund. [via: blueshoediaries]