Thank You Leap Year

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey kids,

If you’re paid twice a month, February can be tough.

Because of the short month, paychecks on the second half of the month can be short in terms of paid days. Many times it means a payperiod of 9 days in lieu of the normal 10 or 11 days.

But every four years, an extra day is added and those of us who are Financial Planning challenged, find our relief.

And thinking of leap years, am I the only one that finds it odd that leap year, the Summer Olympics, and the US Presidential election all fall on the same year?

Post #346

In and Out

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Hey kids!

I enjoy a good burger from time to time. Probably a little more than I should.

I realize that not all burgers are created equal and therefore should not be judged as equal either.

Tonight we stopped at In and Out.

On quality it ranks over McDonald’s standard fare but well below restaurant level.

It’s fun food. The servers, although cheesy, make you smile from the start.  The menu is simple and all contained on the two small lighted panels above the cashier. The red and white color scheme makes the dining room bright and appear cleaner than it most likely is.

A glance around produces many smiling customers. It’sobvious that the happy atmosphere radiating from the kitchen is contagious.

In and Out will never win a Best Burger award without an inordinate number of qualifiers, but it’s fun and the food satisfies the hunger.

 

Post #345

 

Sometimes

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , , 1 Comment

Hey Kids,

Sometimes we do something because it’s really important to us.

Sometimes we do it every day.Reset

Sometimes, life happens and for various reasons we stop doing that thing that was important to us.

Sometimes, the fact that we stopped is the reason we stay stopped, and for no other reason.

Sometimes that’s a dumb reason.

Sometimes, you simply have to start again.

 

Post 344

The New Member of the Family

mikemjensen Useless Observations Tags: , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

She finally came home.IMG_7694

We adopted a cat. Her name was Marigold and now it’s Pipkin.

She checked out the house and then began to purr and play. I think she likes her new house and her new family.

IMG_20160206_023540It’s been a few years since I’ve had a cat. When my little buddy cat of near 15 years died, I didn’t think I wanted another. I may’ve been wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post 343

The Sun Doesn’t Lie

mikemjensen Useless Observations Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

It’s cold out there; currently around 10°F and yet the sun shone brightly today.melting

The climatic mixed message is because storm systems in the West are drawing cold air from the north and cooling us down and at the same time clearing the skies of clouds. It appeared to be a mid-winter day.

Walking outside today, however, I could feel the sun’s warmth on my face. It wasn’t enough to turn the tide of the cold air nor could I convince anyone that it made any difference at all, but I felt it.

That feeling means that winter has lost its grip and that the sun has come near enough to announce its presence, even if only faintly. Once the air is no longer drawn in, and if the sun is left to its own, it will start to heat the ground and melt the snow.

I’m not sure what the groundhog had to say the other day, but I know that winter is on a short leash. Spring and then summer are on their way.

 

Post 342

Swimming With Sharks

mikemjensen Useless Observations Tags: , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

It can be reassuring but it’s also unnerving.

The all-night department store is the only thing open in this residential community. There is nothing else going on. There’s the few gas stations and a McDonald’s, but this is the big ticket.

If someone was fool enough to try and robbed this store, there is always a cop nearby, if not just outside the door. I haven’t heard of anyone trying but it would be ill-advised. Not only are the cops nearby, they are bored stiff. A call as big as a hold-up would be just the thing I think they would enjoy.swimmingwithsharks

At lunch time, however, I venture out in my car. Like predator fish, it isn’t too long before one of the cars on patrol has you spotted and scoped out. If I sit in my car and write like I am right now, several pass by and swirl around to see what I may be up to. It’s like they smell prey and are swimming by just in case.

Tonight alone, I have been followed once, witnessed another car get pulled over, had two pass-by’s, and watch another truck followed into the parking lot. It really is like swimming with the sharks.

If something goes wrong, it’s nice to know that there’s help almost immediately but I know it’s only a matter of time before I forget to set my turn indicator because I’m watching my rearview mirror.

 

Post 340

Unlikely Good Ideas

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Hey Kids,

Never disregard a good idea, no matter the source.

At the day job, a certain process continued to lag behind and hinder our department’s operations. It was simply a question of labor hours and our lack of labor to spend the hours needed.

I asked the crew for ideas they might have; they expressed none.

At the other job, we had a similar issue. The solution was not a popular one yet effective. I drew from that example despite my current opinion of the mess of management that otherwise exists.

I called my crew together and announced that for the last part of the day, we would all work together and focus on the one aspect that held us up. Grumblings sounded and a few opted for silent yet facially expressive protests. In the end, all showed up, all worked as directed, and the process got the boost it needed.

Doofus of the day 797 2

Unlikely Source of Good Ideas

For me it proves that a good idea is a good idea. The source of the good idea, regardless of the surprise, the singularity, or one’s dislike for it, doesn’t matter. Take it and use it.

 

 

 

Post 339

Come Monday

mikemjensen Motorcycles, Useless Observations Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

Looks like the motorcycle commuting will end at 3 days.

Rain moved in and it’ll be changing to snow tonight. The storms will pass but the cold and snow left behind may not allow riding conditions come Monday.bus stop

I’ll ride in any temp (at least the ones around here), but when there’s ice on the road, the bike has to remain parked.

It’s was so time saving to have the motorcycle this past week. No waiting for buses, no stopping every block, and no set timetable. I felt like a real person again.

Come Monday, I’ll be back to a bus drone.

It’s OK. The earth will keep spinning around the sun and get to leaning back towards the sun (for us northern people anyways) and the snow will all die. The heat and sane riding season will return.

I’m finding as I get older, I enjoy the cold less and less.

 

Post 338

Not on the Agenda

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Hey Kids,

I fell asleep during a meeting today.bean

I am so embarrassed. Now there was only two other people there, but still.

On one hand, these two people both know why I fell asleep, but then again, that also makes it worse.

I hate that I’m hitting a wall like I am. To have others know I’m hitting a wall is humiliating.

I need to push through this. Luckily with tonight as a night off, I have a day to catch up.

On the flip side, I got paid today!

 

Post 337