10-18-15 (Getting Smashed)

Wow.  It’s been a month since I last blogged.  I started my job on Thursday, 10/1.  The first 2 days were at a Marriot Courtyard.  They served us breakfast and lunch.  It was a day and a half of learning all about the company, who we are and what we do.  Several managers, including the site leader came in and taught/spoke about different principles that define our company.  The other half day we went over to our site for badges and to get trained on our company websites and such. 

The week after we were at my worksite and in a training room.  We’ll be in training for 7 weeks.

This weekend we’re in Augusta.  Last weekend we went to SCarowinds. 

So about that trip to SCarowinds…  It was Friday, 10/9, and we were in a fender bender.  Any type of accident sucks but this one was a no-one-was-hurt type.  Long story short.  There was a lot of traffic on the interstate.  We were going at about 30 in a 55.  The turn lane we needed to exit the interstate appeared.  We got into it and accelerated.  The Mustang in front of us, accelerated too and changed lanes into us.  In the photo below we represent the white car.  The cop got our side of it and there’s (separately) and said he couldn’t determine who was at fault so no one was getting cited.  I don’t know how he couldn’t have sided with us.  How does the other car get damage on the right rear quarter and us on the left front fender and it’s not their fault?????

So now, the insurance company gave us a choice of paying our $500 deductible but increasing rates or paying for the $2k repair bill ourselves.  WTF.

We really haven’t decided on what to do yet.  Stay tuned. 

Also this weekend, we went up to see the leaves.  We went to Mount Mitchell, Little Switzerland, and road along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Break taking as usual.  Pictures don’t do it justice but here they are.

In other news, I think I’ve figured out I have bad luck with electronics even though I love them.  Recently, we needed a new microwave at the RV, TV at the RV.  Laptops.  Router (the new one has issues and I’m awaiting a replacement from Linksys).  A cell phone battery kept shorting out my phone.  That was fun to figure out.  Not.  My digital picture frame plug was overheating and tripping off.  Another hard one to figure out.  Our 5 year old LCD big living room TV is intermittently getting lines in the picture.  Ugh. There’s more and as I remember them, I’ll insert them into the list.

9-13-15 (Incestuous Oreos)

This post is more pictures than text.  That means it will be more interesting than reading about our lives.  Fun stuff!  Go on, take a peek.

We’ve decided to sell the RV in Augusta.  There’s several reasons.  None of which are substantial on their own.  1) It’s expensive.  We pay for gas to/from, RV insurance, site rental and an RV loan payment.  With the money we save each month, we can do some awesome vacations.  2) It’s tedious.  Almost 3 hours each way.  3) We’ve been doing this since 7/2012.  We’d like to do something different.  4) Jim and I will both have some Saturday work requirements which limit the weekend trips.

So there you have it.  I’ve set up a link at the top of the blog “2009 Gulf Stream Mako 33FSBI” with pictures of the RV.  I use it to give perspective buyers a glimpse at the RV interior.   We’re selling it with the golf cart, housewares, lawnmower, etc.  If we don’t sell it within the campground then we’ll consign it at the same place that sold our 97 Fleetwood for us. 

Now it’s time for fun photos I’ve accumulated on my phone.

Above: Meanwhile at the Walmart.  I asked this woman about the reptile on her shoulder and what made this even better is that she replied, “Yeah, he likes to get out from time to time.”  Uh huh.

Above/below: A few weeks ago we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway and stumbled on a couple at a scenic overlook sitting at a picnic bench with their 2 pigmy goats.

Above: This one was chewing Jim’s shirt.

Above/below: Nice going K-Mart.

Above: Don’t you love the way the doctor’s office used the same color paper, cut out a square and covered the word “and”?  It must have been terribly difficult to print a new sign. 

Above: Look!  It’s Josie and The Pussy Cats! (Mom and daughter are wearing ears).

Above: Isn’t cookies and crème ground up Oreos?  Is this like cannibalism?  My friend Michelle said it was incest.  Amy said Cookie-ception.  Others just stated “yum” or the like.

There’s still more fun photos on the way… keep reading…

In the past couple of months we’ve replaced 2 other things in the RV.  The TV in the living room died.  I researched online and found where we could solder in new diodes onto the circuit board for really cheap.  Naturally Jim took it apart and we assessed the situation and then went and bought a new TV.  It just looked too complicated.  The new TV screen in the same size but the TV itself is a little smaller.  I guess less casing?

A week or too later, the microwave went on the fritz.  It’s been an issue for  months and months that it turns on itself so we bought a switch. 

It was a great, cheap, solution.  We’d simply reach into the cabinet next to the microwave and flip the switch on or off as appropriate.  Internet research (I love the internet for solutions) cited a common problem whereas the keypad shorts out.  In my case, it would depress the 1 key on it’s own which = quick 1 minute instant start.  The first time this happened it freaked me out.  I was watching TV and the microwave entered 1 minute and started.  Can you imagine?  So anyway, a few weeks ago we couldn’t get the keypad to work unless we “punched” it.  Oy.  So we replaced that as well.

I think I’m realizing I don’t have the best of luck with appliances and electronics.  The digital picture frame in our kitchen would power off on it’s own.  When I unplugged it, the plug itself was VERY hot.  Luckily, I found a replacement cord on Amazon.  I thought for sure I’d have to buy a new frame.

I also bought both Jim and I new laptops.  Jim’s laptop was slow so I redid it and it worked great except I couldn’t get the “tap to click” to turn off.  It was shaded out.  I researched over and over and couldn’t find a solution.  New driver.  New software.  Nothing would fix it.  My laptop was slow as crap even after I completely wiped it out.  They were both several years old so it was just time. 

OK, so I order a lot of stuff from Amazon.  Unfortunately, some are from China.  Fortunately, the packaging is always quite amusing.  Here’s 2 I scanned for your reading enjoyment of Engrish.  The first up is a backup power failure auto night light/flashlight.  Don’t worry, I’ll blow up the writing. 

Next up is a rubber non-slip mat cell phone holder for the dash of the car.  I’ll break it up for you:

9-12-15 (Catching Up, Part 1 of ?)

It’s been a long time.  I have a lot to catch up on.  First off there’s been some career changes.   

8/14/15 – Jim’s last day at .

9/8/15 – Jim’s first day at .

9/11/15 – My last day at .

10/1/15 – My first day at .

I used logos rather than spelling it out to make it more difficult to find our names associated with the companies.  You know… privacy and all I guess.

When Jim gave his notice, they dismissed him because he was going to work for a competitor.  They paid out his 2 weeks notice.  He took an extra week off before starting his new job.  We decided to take a trip to Florida.  I took time off for work but wasn’t able to get all the days off I requested.  I did get a half day on a Friday, the following week off as well and then would have a short week upon returning after Labor Day which was Jim’s start date.  Plans were made.  He was going to drive to Beaufort, visit his Aunt Patty and then drive to Lauderdale and spend the night to include a visit to an old friend.  Since I couldn’t get all the time off, I would fly out from Concord airport on that half day and Jim was to pick me up in Lauderdale.  Plans were set.

I was placed into a Complex Income training class at work.  Basically, my employer wouldn’t bridge the losses in my incentive compensation while I was in training.  This stirred the realization that I was already underpaid and so I was ready for a change. 

Jim asked an ex co-worker about positions for me, she gave my résumé to a recruiter and the recruiter called me quickly.  

After completing the complex income training at work, I went to an interview.  The next day I was told by the recruiter that the managers/interviewers wanted me.  She wasn’t able to extend an actual offer until the appropriate paperwork was signed. In the meantime, I passed the assessments for my current employer’s training class and awaited the official offer.

Our Florida plans were now in full swing.  I arrived in Lauderdale (9/28) and as we drove across Alligator Alley, the recruiter called and made the official offer.  I accepted.

On Monday, I gave my notice to my boss and started the 2 week countdown.  Week #1, PTO.  Week #2 back to work after Labor day for a 4 day work week.  Saaaaa-weet.  Honestly, I was hoping to be dismissed for the remainder of my notice but that didn’t happen.  I worked the remainder of the week helping my teammates with their pipelines.  It wasn’t so bad.  I had something to look forward to. 

So, here I sit blogging, it’s 9/12/15 and I don’t start my next job until 10/1/15.  Sure, I didn’t have to give my notice so soon but heck, a 2.5 week vacay (Jim will be at work) is kinda nice.

Oh so the Florida visit was very nice.  We stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton.  It was a large room with a living room and kitchenette.  There was a free hot breakfast each morning and even some evening dinners.  It was right outside my Mom’s development and so close to our other family.

The weather wasn’t the best.  Hurricane Erica which was later downgraded to Tropical Storm Erica plagued the skies with clouds and raininess.  Raininess isn’t a word but I’m using it anyway.  So the Land of Sunshine, wasn’t.

Honestly?  It was OK.  Jim and I don’t care for the sun or beach or heat so the weather to us was fine. 

Overall, we had a great time visiting with friends and family.  It was nice to drive around the area and see what has changed.

On the way back to Charlotte, we stopped off in Saint Augustine for the night.  We stayed at the Howard Johnson in town.  The room was $95 a night.  The carpet was so gross.  It looked so dirty that I put a wet wash cloth on it, stepped all over it and the once white wash cloth was now black.  Disgusting.  We never walked barefoot in that room.  I was going to take photos but to be honest, I wasn’t even going to mention the stay here.  Jim and I were too embarrassed with ourselves over the situation.  There were some other issues with the room, but nothing as bad as the carpet.  Jim did complain to corporate.  He was rewarded with 15% off the bill.  A manger replied:

Thank You for following up with me.  I will be shutting down that room and making sure all the needs of the room are met.  I am sorry again and I did discount your rate an additional 15% and put the refund on the card on file.  Again I am truly sorry and I would love for you to come back again and allow us to show you the service you deserve.  Thanks again!

Blech.

Changes…

I’ll be off the next couple of weeks so I might blog.  Be warned.

7-6-15 to 7-12-15 (Fun Days)

We went to see Dixie Longate (as in dicks elongate) in uptown Charlotte on Wednesday.  We’ve seen her before on a cruise many years ago.  She was a hoot.  We recommended her show to my work wife, Jessica and her husband Cole.  They were game to see her, so off the 4 of us went.  There were so many hysterical zingers in this show, I had tears. 

She’s a he who is in drag and actually sells Tupperware.  That’s right.  During her show, she’ll demonstrate the product, give humorous alternate uses and provide you with it’s item number.  Theater goers are provided with a program, order sheet and Tupperware catalog.  She can be raunchy, which for me, makes it all the more fun.

 Above: Jessica, Dixie, Garret

**************************

Rant about nothing of importance:

I’m not sure what prompted me to think of this but I wonder about our modern technology and how we seem to be going backwards in media at times.  What I’m talking about is CD’s and DVD’s.  Their fragile.  They scratch.  They get dirty.  Remember the 3 1/2 floppies?  They had a protective sleeve.  A built-in case I suppose. 

Why hasn’t this all switched to something more 3 1/2 inch floppyish or media cards? 

So now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, now what?

**************************

Last week in the RV =

Above: Pretty elaborate breakfast for an RV huh?  It was yummy.

**************************

We have a cruise booked for Hawaii in 2017.  We just booked one for January 2016.  It will be our 8th cruise.  Hawaii will be our 9th.  Anyway, we booked it with some friends.  I’ll publish their names once I make sure they’re OK with that.  It will be the 4 of us thus far.  This will be their first cruise and our first time on Carnival. 

It will also be our first time to Belize and Mahogany Bay.  The cabin we selected is very unique.  It has 2 windows in it. 

Research on-line shows this cabin area gets a vibration and is noisy when the ship maneuvers into a port.  What the heck.  We’ll give it a try.

Boring entry…  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.