Unexpected Day Off
Nov. 11th, 2009 06:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
muck_a_luckThank you, to all the veterans out there, who made a commitment to this country and lived up to it.
This is not a Federal holiday I usually get off.
Technically, I'm supposed to get all the Federal holidays, per my employment agreement - signed low, these seven or so years ago.
But in reality, I ask Boss, is the office open or closed for this or that Federal holiday, and he tells me to find out with the other lawyers are doing, and of course, neither Cellmate's Boss nor Jerry ever let their staff have any days off. So Boss says we'll be open, too.
Except once The Barbarian was born, I usually just told him the office had to be closed for the holidays her day care was closed, because there was no way I could bring her to the office on those days.
But Veteran's Day is, for some reason, a Federal holiday that her day care is open. AND Fairfax County honors Veteran's Day by having the kids in school, but doing things to actually remember veterans, rather than spend the day goofing off playing video games. So normally, I just work on Veteran's Day.
BUT... The new building management has really been enforcing the clause of our lease that says that NO HVAC WILL BE PROVIDED on Federal holidays. Unless, of course, we want to pay $800 for it.
So before every HVAC blackout day, they send an e-mail reminding us to pay our $800 or suffocate. (If you don't work in a modern office building, let me assure you, when the HVAC goes down, the immediate problem is NOT cold, but heat and lack of air circulation.) On Monday, not even considering what date the holiday would be or anything like that, I forwarded the warning e-mail to Boss and said, Are we open or closed? Fully expecting the usual song and dance and that we would be open.
Instead, he said... CLOSED!
Of course, after saying that on Monday morning, by yesterday afternoon I had to remind him that I would not be in today, but hey, that's the way it goes.
SO! Not only a day off, but a day off when both kids have child care and Husband was planning to be at work.
A true, me day. Unheard of. Unbelievable. Amazing.
So, my plans for the day.
Gondorian Muffins, already baking
When they come out, nap til 7am
Kids up at 7am and out the door
Back by 8am to get the call from Sears about the grill maintenance (which needs a whole other post, I was so excited Cellmate was scared)
Prod AG33 til he practices his flute and either catches the bus or gets a delivery to school
Back home - rest of the day will revolve around whatever time Sears guy shows but will include the following
Trance Dance - 30 to 40 mins
Solar Flow 1 - 1:40
Shower
Nap (maybe)
Go to Costco
Prepare dinner: Yorkshire Pudding, "Outback" Steaks (the secret ingredient is lots and lots of salt!), Salad
Edit 39 pages of hydropunk
Finish the remaining writing on hydropunk and off for beta if at all possible
The key will be when the Sears guy shows, but still, the 39 pages of editing can pad into any weird cracks in the day. I want to put the Trance Dance and yoga together, but that's not critical and I'll split them out as needed. Supposedly Sears guy will call and let me know when he's really coming, but his "window" is 8am to 5pm, so... And the Costco trip will be kind of a stupid waste of time, because there will be 40 minutes travel time in there, which is 40 minutes I could be doing something constructive, but eh, whatever.
I grill every day. And at least 4 days a week, and sometimes more, I grill twice a day. Today will be a two grill day.
We got this grill from Sears when The Barbarian was one, after killing a cheapy grill in a year. I bought the three-year maintenance plan for $45, but this grill has hardly given us any trouble. The electric lighting function died early, but I don't care, I prefer to use grill matches anyway. However, it has had holes burned in it, and AS I HAVE NEVER CLEANED IT EVER, I'd like them to give it a big once over before my maintenance plan runs out. But it is not vital, and there's never a good day for it, as it is not nearly important enough to take time off work for. But yesterday, I got a brain wave to just call them and see if someone could come today and voila, they were able to schedule me. Sadly, it is going to be raining all day, and of course, the guy needs to do the maintenance outside. Maybe he can bring it into the alcove that protects the front door. I am also considering bringing the thing into the kitchen, then just mopping up when he's done. Hopefully he will bring a drop cloth.
Anyway, thrilled to get this item on my checklist checked off.
Now, to check the muffins and grab my little morning nap. Stupid cat woke us up at 4am. Stupid cat.
This is not a Federal holiday I usually get off.
Technically, I'm supposed to get all the Federal holidays, per my employment agreement - signed low, these seven or so years ago.
But in reality, I ask Boss, is the office open or closed for this or that Federal holiday, and he tells me to find out with the other lawyers are doing, and of course, neither Cellmate's Boss nor Jerry ever let their staff have any days off. So Boss says we'll be open, too.
Except once The Barbarian was born, I usually just told him the office had to be closed for the holidays her day care was closed, because there was no way I could bring her to the office on those days.
But Veteran's Day is, for some reason, a Federal holiday that her day care is open. AND Fairfax County honors Veteran's Day by having the kids in school, but doing things to actually remember veterans, rather than spend the day goofing off playing video games. So normally, I just work on Veteran's Day.
BUT... The new building management has really been enforcing the clause of our lease that says that NO HVAC WILL BE PROVIDED on Federal holidays. Unless, of course, we want to pay $800 for it.
So before every HVAC blackout day, they send an e-mail reminding us to pay our $800 or suffocate. (If you don't work in a modern office building, let me assure you, when the HVAC goes down, the immediate problem is NOT cold, but heat and lack of air circulation.) On Monday, not even considering what date the holiday would be or anything like that, I forwarded the warning e-mail to Boss and said, Are we open or closed? Fully expecting the usual song and dance and that we would be open.
Instead, he said... CLOSED!
Of course, after saying that on Monday morning, by yesterday afternoon I had to remind him that I would not be in today, but hey, that's the way it goes.
SO! Not only a day off, but a day off when both kids have child care and Husband was planning to be at work.
A true, me day. Unheard of. Unbelievable. Amazing.
So, my plans for the day.
Gondorian Muffins, already baking
When they come out, nap til 7am
Kids up at 7am and out the door
Back by 8am to get the call from Sears about the grill maintenance (which needs a whole other post, I was so excited Cellmate was scared)
Prod AG33 til he practices his flute and either catches the bus or gets a delivery to school
Back home - rest of the day will revolve around whatever time Sears guy shows but will include the following
Trance Dance - 30 to 40 mins
Solar Flow 1 - 1:40
Shower
Nap (maybe)
Go to Costco
Prepare dinner: Yorkshire Pudding, "Outback" Steaks (the secret ingredient is lots and lots of salt!), Salad
Edit 39 pages of hydropunk
Finish the remaining writing on hydropunk and off for beta if at all possible
The key will be when the Sears guy shows, but still, the 39 pages of editing can pad into any weird cracks in the day. I want to put the Trance Dance and yoga together, but that's not critical and I'll split them out as needed. Supposedly Sears guy will call and let me know when he's really coming, but his "window" is 8am to 5pm, so... And the Costco trip will be kind of a stupid waste of time, because there will be 40 minutes travel time in there, which is 40 minutes I could be doing something constructive, but eh, whatever.
I grill every day. And at least 4 days a week, and sometimes more, I grill twice a day. Today will be a two grill day.
We got this grill from Sears when The Barbarian was one, after killing a cheapy grill in a year. I bought the three-year maintenance plan for $45, but this grill has hardly given us any trouble. The electric lighting function died early, but I don't care, I prefer to use grill matches anyway. However, it has had holes burned in it, and AS I HAVE NEVER CLEANED IT EVER, I'd like them to give it a big once over before my maintenance plan runs out. But it is not vital, and there's never a good day for it, as it is not nearly important enough to take time off work for. But yesterday, I got a brain wave to just call them and see if someone could come today and voila, they were able to schedule me. Sadly, it is going to be raining all day, and of course, the guy needs to do the maintenance outside. Maybe he can bring it into the alcove that protects the front door. I am also considering bringing the thing into the kitchen, then just mopping up when he's done. Hopefully he will bring a drop cloth.
Anyway, thrilled to get this item on my checklist checked off.
Now, to check the muffins and grab my little morning nap. Stupid cat woke us up at 4am. Stupid cat.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 02:18 pm (UTC)my day started with the cat pooping strategically to remind me that she needs canned pumpkin in her food to keep her regular
*headdesk*
no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 02:21 pm (UTC)And if you log in to AIM, I'm around. Just lurking. Will actually be sitting at the computer a lot today, as 39 pages is a lot of editing.