Welcome To the Cedar Grove

 After a super busy day at work, all I wanted to do was come home and just chill, but that wasn't on the cards not at all. In the morning I had washed the vacuum cleaner filters and such so that I could vacuum the carpet - the cleaner hasn't been sucking all that well, and so I suspected the filters. After work then, I had to come home, reassemble the vacuum and vacuum the carpets. It worked! but it also meant that by the time that was done it was time to go and get the dog that's boarding with us for the weekend, stay with the cats for a hour, bring the dog back home, order pizza to be delivered at Mom's house so that we could then go and pick out her fish. Running, running, running.

So... it should be noted that no one was feeling particularly well so we were all a little bit pissy, though we did our best not to take that out on each other it invariably happens, and even though we understand, we're also argh! Then we get to Mom's and had to harass the pizza delivery company to actually /get/ our pizza... and they forgot the garlic dipping sauce... they always forget something if they're late.

We got the fish - which is beautiful btw, a delightful minty whitish green betta fish - and had to wait for the heater to warm the water... which took FOREVER, and meant we didn't get back home until almost 10:30pm... then we had the rattie playtime and Discovery to watch (always good, and this was no exception), but it meant bed was well after midnight, and of course the dogs won't care in the morning. They'll just want to be up and fed at 7am.

Sounds like I'm moaning a lot more than I actually am, it's just... a little bit frustrating. Especially this weekend, when I wanted to be well rested because of the clock change on Sunday.

 Wednesday was an OMG kind of day. Running from the moment of getting up in the morning until the moment of going to bed at night... I feel like I didn't get anything done, and yet at the same time know that I got a lot done, but not without the expense of feeling rushed the whole day.

When I actually sat down - properly sat down - it was in time to really watch an episode of The Orville. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. This leaves me feeling as undecided as before about the entire thing. 

I'm not really feeling the whole 'Vietnam' thread of This is Us. It's not that it's bad, just... it's a part of the show that maybe could have been handled in a better way maybe? I just wonder how it's going to advance the whole story.

 Monday was a pretty ordinary day. Busy at work, rushing around to get things done between work and going out to work again (2nd Job), and then rushing home to get things done before bed. Mondays are one of two 'rush' days it seems.

Had a call from the computer store. They have repaired the computer! Hurray! it's still a three figure cost, or as I asked the person that called, "What's the damage, Sir." I thought that was a fairly British way to ask the question, so I was kind of impressed when he realized what I was asking and didn't stand there and tell me that my hard drive had failed, but they were able to clone it and fix any errors. I thought only after I'd asked the question that he might have done that.

Got home super late, and worried my guy, but instead of offering reassurances and all, I dashed off into the kitchen and started dinner instead. Not the right thing to have done, apparently, and I shall know for the next time, but... I think the Apple caramel cheese dip desert I made might have won over the situation in the end.

After dinner it was pretty much straight to bed

 Yesterday was a day that almost fooled you into thinking Spring had sprung. A beautiful sunny day with just the right amount of warmth to lift spirits, and allow us to feel the spirit of hope. After so many days of gloomy rain, where even those of us that like the rain were more than ready to see an end to it, it was a welcome relief. Still the evidence of the rains were there, on the trails that we walked where we got thoroughly soaked through so that our shoes squelched when we walked.

The people at Alamance Battleground were so very friendly and allowed us to bring the dogs inside the house to see the things that they had there. We were more than ready to wait until next weekend when we knew we'd be there without them, or to take turns to go inside, but the people were very accommodating. The house was tiny, and when you consider a husband, wife and 12 children lived there...! Privacy? What's that?

Home for a dinner of Apple "sausage" patties... home made. Very tasty, and as Mir suggested they'd be nice for a breakfast food instead, the few left over, we saved for breakfast. After that it was movie night, with popcorn, also made at home in the popper that Mir's Mother got for us one Christmas. It's been a very good gift.

The Greatest Showman is a really good movie full of annoyingly catchy songs that are sure to get stuck in your head. I really enjoyed it, and as Mir noted, not without irony that I shared, "Now they're all gone." (The Circuses).

 I always have trouble with Thursdays. I've voiced this a couple of times, was promised one time that adjustments would be made so that I wouldn't feel as if I were being overwhelmed and feeling 'picked at' or 'picked on' - Nothing changed. Maybe I'm oversensitive, but I still feel like I'm not being heard.

At least there is Discovery to mitigate that painful hour.

Prior to all this there was a lovely long (2.5 miles) walk with the dogs... boy am I out of condition LOL. I need to walk and exercise more.

 What is it with some people that they seem to think they can get away with being controlling and denying that's the way they're being?! It has really gotten the best of my temper today.

And what is it with some parents that they seem to think it's okay to send their sick child into a 'daycare/care' situation? Honest to god, isn't that some kind of abuse? Okay, sensitive to the extreme about the last point because... well... children.

If one more person thinks they can talk to me like I am shit on their shoe, no matter /who/ they are to me, I am going to lose it big time!

 Although I wasn't too keen on the idea to begin with (because of what happened on Saturday I was very behind on things that I had wanted to do on this weekend and it would take time away from being able to do them), I greatly enjoyed the walk in the sun after all the rain. It also brought the birds out to the bird feeder, that was cute. Thankful that the old computer works, albeit more slowly than the new one. I was also (finally) able to post part five of Thoughts On A Happy Ending.

 No one is ever ready to lose a child, and that goes for teachers too. Work was hard today, on top of my own sadness - working one on one with the student for two and a half, going on three, years forms a bond like family - everyone else that had taught him, and knew him were in various states of shock, mourning, sorrow, and looking toward me to share their feelings with. It was a weight, but it isn't a burden. It was a honor to have shared the journey with the young man, and the ending of that journey is also a part of the journey.  Other people will take the legacy forward now. But that doesn't mean my own sadness and grief is any less.  I grieve for his loss, but also for the pain his family must be feeling right now, because I feel close to them too.