It’s Friday! I was off yesterday and today to burn the last vacation hours of TNP’s fiscal year. Mind you, I still have about 65 hours left, but I couldn’t carry more than 70 hours into fiscal year 21-22. A great PTO policy is so nice to have, but it’s difficult to take all of it off and still be seen as present. I’m in between projects, so it worked. In January I’ll be at TNP for 10 years — remember that TNP stands for The New Place, which isn’t new anymore — and I’ll accrue PTO even faster.
It was absolutely gorgeous today, so Mom and I went shopping. It was that kind of dilly-dally, spontaneous, in-and-out-of-stores afternoon shopping that we hadn’t been able to comfortably do since 2019. I even braved the retiree-and-mom crowd at Trader Joe’s. This was the sandwich board at the Starbucks we visited, and it’s so very true.
I am putting off my afternoon study session by answer the Friday 5 now instead of later. This week’s theme is Gripe Session, which goes against the spirit of the Starbucks sign. But needs must.
- What complaints do you have about this weekend?
I have to tear out the dead plants from the garden. The pepper plants are still going strong, but the others are past their prime and it’s time to go. It’s always sad, though. - What are your grievances with yourself?
Welcome to my blog, where I have been complaining about myself for 19 years! I described myself as tofu before – I take on the flavor/preferences of who I’m around. I’ve done that for so long that when I do ask outright for something or express a differing opinion, it causes a bit of a stir. I’m also lazy. I also don’t have a solid friend group, and although I can ascribe circumstances to it (commuted to college, didn’t have kids and the easy parent friend groups that came with), it’s probably my fault too. - What are your objections to rainbows, flowers, and puppies?
Rainbows: not the guarantee that they should be. If it is raining/misting and the sun is out, I should be able to turn my back to the sun and see a rainbow and sometimes it’s are not there.
Flowers: so much work for such a short payoff.
Puppies: such sharp little teeth! - What are your criticisms about your domicile?
I wish we had more overhead lighting because some of our rooms are downright dark. I know we can install it, but time, money, energy, etc. Downstairs is always chillier than upstairs, but that’s more physics than house. - What’s your beef with excessively negative people?
Everybody is negative sometimes (see questions 1-4) but people who are negative all of the time suck all of the air out of the room and don’t stop until they’ve dragged everyone down with them.
I don’t have any clear way to wrap this post up so here is a gorgeous picture of the sunlight shining through our tree this morning.
Need some more email in your life? If you’re a regular reader but forget to check in, you can subscribe to a once-a-week email with links to the week’s posts! Click here to sign up!
My new job comes with the mythical “unlimited vacation.” I never even managed to use my 4 weeks at the previous job. Of course, unlimited vacation means you don’t accrue days off, so they never have to pay out. Funny how that works…
Always enjoy reading your “Fives.” I was a parent and *still* managed not to find a parent friend-group, so I guess it’s a challenge even if it looks natural when it happens. 🙂
Thanks! It’s so hard! And everything makes it seem so easy too!
I’m feeling that solid friend group thing too, even though I guess I do have a couple of groups. Pandemic stuff’s got me feeling a bit detached from everyone and everything.
I have a solid friend group but they live in Seattle. I do ‘hang’ with them on Fridays for Movie night so there’s something.