I managed to fill an 8-hour workday by giving myself another project that will benefit me in the long run, gathering the names of all the engagement teams with which my partners and managing directors work so I can both add them to our EA group repository and actually start paying attention to the folks in question and what they do. Of course, that sort of thing is the furthest from most of my coworkers' minds now as we gear up for our winter break; only one more workday and we're off until the new year! It's the little things. Unless you're in Texas, in which case it's the big things:
Thank goodness I don't have to go into The City again until 2025! Doubly thankful that, at my age, my FOMO is fading fast; I quite like staying at home and watching other people be all touristy in midtown. Mostly I miss the way things used to be when attractions like the shops at Bryant Park or Columbus Circle were actually navigable. But I'm glad I went into the office, as two of my partners who were also in gave me some much-needed cash for the holidays. And I didn't get run over by any gridlocking vehicles as I crossed the streets, so that's a win as well. Now if only I had enough energy left to sort and put away the clean laundry...
Yesterday I'd remembered that I was supposed to have an ophthalmologist appointment this month, and I found it weird that they'd never called to remind me, and naturally this was the one appointment I'd forgotten to put on my calendar. Turns out the office had mixed up me and Robin (as he goes to the same eye doc), and the reminder came to him. As his appointment is next month, he thought nothing of it and filled out the paperwork. So today I straightened things out, got my appointment rescheduled for February, then the office called and said I was already seeing them next month. "No," I said again, "that's my husband. Please straighten this out." Meantime I was on the phone with the people who administer the hospital's website to make sure things worked on their end. It all took about half an hour out of my workday during my peak performance time (I'm definitely a morning-work person), but by the end of the day my appointment was properly scheduled and I'd filled out the forms even though I never got an email or text reminder. But it's okay as it's on my calendar now! It's all just as well since we've used up our FSA money for 2024. But the goings-on made me forget to call Mom, so I'll touch base with her Friday and plan to see her once the weather is no longer frigid, probably Boxing Day. Dang, I'm exhausted just typing all that!
Too many things on my mind to pay attention to local or even world happenings, but apparently there's another UFO scare going around and people in New Jersey are shooting down drones or something? Leave me out of it, I'm too busy navigating Manhattan streets. Got to the post office today to mail out holiday cards, where the worker at the window apologized that there were no foreign stamps left, and besides which there's been a postal strike in Canada for the past month (I told you I haven't been paying much attention). I told her I didn't care about foreign stamps, could she please just get them mailed whatever way works best, and while she was doing that I affixed the US stamps to those cards, then walked back to the office where I read how the Canadian postal strike had ended, so good timing, I guess! Also, even though walking through holiday crowds and gridlocked traffic at the intersections proved tricky at best, I lucked out in that the weather was downright pleasant for this time of year, so I'm glad that's all done and I get to work from home tomorrow. Only one more Manhattan day for the rest 2024!
During the last month or so I've managed to amass a lot of silly sites by not posting one daily, so as nothing of bloggy-note happened today let's take a look at my pile... ah, here's one: tushy trees!
I think I'm binging too many movies that only seem to come 'round at the holidays (but of course they play more often, it's just I feel more like watching them now). I rewatched the original Dr. Doolittle for the first time in forever, and now The Sound of Music is on but I'll probably turn away before the stormtroopers arrive. After all, I got a lot done today now that my body is obeying me again. In addition to getting back on the exercise bike, I roasted a whole mess of vegetables for dinner, got caught up on finances, and stuffed and addressed 75 holiday cards to friends, coworkers, and family, the last year we plan on doing so since the world of greeting cards is becoming increasingly antiquated, and I'm an Old often enough as it is. Say, did you ever notice that a melody snippet from one of the Dr. Doolittle songs sounds suspiciously like "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria"? It's true. Now, back to the Von Trapps.
Ugh, it's been hovering at or below freezing all day. And my day started off with a dreadful intestinal issue, possibly due to this morning's omelet. But I felt well enough after napping to bundle up and drive to the supermarket, where we got everything done despite an amazingly crowded parking lot and a lot of shoppers seemingly milling about uncertain about what to buy. I suspect it'll be even worse next weekend. I had to collapse again after we got home, but I seem to be coming out of my tummy distress at last, so tomorrow I take care of all the household things I didn't do today (mostly the holiday cards and finances)...
The big-or-little chill continues, with temps well below freezing when I woke up, so I spent about an hour to 90 minutes with the space heater on in the office. But many things were accomplished, including the organization of our holiday cards - the list is updated, the insert is written and signed off on, and it and the labels are all printed. Robin even changed a couple ink cartridges and refilled the paper tray while we were at it. This weekend I assemble it all, and as soon as the weather cooperates I'll figure out the stamp situation, probably in Manhattan. This time next year we move to our new HQ right across the street from Penn Station and the World's Biggest Post Office so that'll make things a lot easier! As it's 13 December I gave a shout-out to my "starter husband" and still-friend Steve, now out in Reno. I wonder if he'd like the 2025 Cats on Catnip calendar?
Work went well today, even got to do some charitable work assembling boxes of toiletries for homeless folks, and I didn't spend too much time in the cold, so it was a worthwhile enough day that I feel I can return to some semblance of silliness to celebrate the season. Here are some actually funny Christmas cards.
This morning we made the decision not to go to tonight's office holiday party at the Javits Center, a schlep at best in years past when we've gone to comic cons there in much better weather, and a nasty prospect this evening considering the weather out there. I also had a couple financial surprises to deal with, as a credit card company still hasn't received my payment check after a week (darn that December mail) and I found out my FSA card is now empty for the remainder of the year (actually a good thing, it's better to have no money at year-end than to be left with extra), but on the whole my head was too full of work stuff today to think about what was going on outside or what else I might be doing or about the state of anything really. More and more I'm ready for our winter break in a couple weeks!
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