2024 Project 365 – Week Twenty-eight

I have worked so many hours this past week, including yesterday and today. The difference is that instead of freaking out about what went wrong with the last payroll, we’re cleaning up glitches & getting things back in order. LET’S CROSS ALL OF OUR FINGERS AND TOES THAT THIS WEEK’S PAYROLL IS DRAMA FREE. 

Sunday, July 14th        
No photo. I did go to church, but that’s all I remember. Ha!

Monday, July 15th    

The only photo is me showing myself where the makeup stain is on my dress so I remember to Shout It Out when I wash it (it’s the same color as that peachy one in the dress - hard to find, but that’s no reason to not try to get it out).

Tuesday, July 16th   

Dr. M had a colonoscopy in the morning, and found this random flower growing in the yard this afternoon. The colonoscopy went well  - we’ll see what that biopsy reports say, but we’re feeling optimistic.

Wednesday, July 17th   

Dr. M says: Wild muscadine grapes, a staple food for many a Carolina cotton mill village. The juice was canned and used to make jam or jelly, a sweet treat served with fresh biscuits. (And the Bug says that they make a lovely photo against his Pop’s shed.)

Thursday, July 18th    

Feeling just a little bit overwhelmed by it all.

Friday, July 19th     

Dr. M got me random flowers! Isn’t he swell?

Saturday, July 20th     

For some reason Dr. M felt compelled to order this book. I wonder why? Ha!

People keep saying that they’re ready to live through some precedented times. ME TOOOO!!! I don’t even know what to think about Biden stepping back from the nomination - all I know is that I will vote for the Democratic nominee no matter what. Used to be you might think, well, the other party has different ideas than I do about how to best run the country, but if they win they won’t mess up TOO much. Not anymore - if any part of Project 2025 gets to be implemented then what does that mean for the future of democracy? Not to mention the future of marginalized people, women, the elderly, the people in the armed forces… Oof. It’s a lot. What do YOU think?

PS - I haven’t even glanced at blogs for days now. Eventually I’ll get caught up!

2024 Project 365 – Week Twenty-seven

Well, this past week was pretty stressful. The payroll functioned as it should for the most part. There were some issues, and we all spent a lot of time talking to employees answering questions. It might be wishful thinking, but I think this next week will be a lot better. We shall see!

Sunday, July 7th        
I got this lovely book today. I’ve been ordering random children’s books as I run across them for my great-nephews. I have quite a stack. Some of them are kind of…weird. Imagine that!

Monday, July 8th    

I had the worst acid reflux attack I’ve ever experienced Sunday night and even though I went to work I looked so bad I got sent back home. I decided to make myself some chicken noodle soup. I only had a few ingredients - chicken broth, spaghetti noodles, & canned chicken - but it was pretty tasty. I did run into an issue - did you know that spaghetti noodles don’t stay on spoons very well? Ha! I chopped them up a little bit with a meat chopper. 

Dr. M found a butterfly!

Tuesday, July 9th   

No photo.

Wednesday, July 10th   

No photo.

Thursday, July 11th    

Dr. M says Beauty and the Beast!

Friday, July 12th     
Went to visit Dad and Sue after work & looked through some of my uncle John’s photo albums. He was a handsome devil!

Saturday, July 13th     

I saw the meme on the left on Friday & it gave me a great idea for breakfast! Surprisingly delicious!

Because my week was stressful I never have recovered from my “attack.” I went to our work clinic and got a med to help calm things down, but it hasn’t really helped very much. I thought I was better yesterday, but then Trump was shot & that just ramped things up again. I have always carried any stress in my gut and I am NOT handling it very well. I just have to hope that when things calm down I will calm down. How do you react to stress in your life?

2024 Project 365 – Week Twenty-six

If you came here to hear how the new system is doing you’re going to have to wait another week. We’re having our first payroll run next week, and there are a lot of moving pieces that have to function correctly so that everyone is paid and there aren’t any glaring issues. It might work or it might be a disaster. I don’t think I even know at this point. Woo?

Sunday, June 30th       

I honestly have no idea what I did Sunday morning. I know I didn’t go to church. Did I do some work? In any case, in the afternoon, my dad and I went to my Uncle David’s 85th birthday party. It was a lovely time. My uncle Bill showed up and it was great seeing my dad, David, and Bill hanging out together again. Bill and David are the remaining siblings from my mom’s family. Mom’s been gone 19 years and we lost her other brother Bob a few years ago. 

Monday, July 1st   

This is a photo documenting that I finally went to get my oil changed. Go me! 

Tuesday, July 2nd   
I was feeling just a little maniacal at work. The cupcake helped. 

Meanwhile, Dr. M visited the Old Gray Cat Berry Farm. 

Wednesday, July 3rd  

Some early fireworks!

Thursday, July 4th    

I worked from home for quite a while and was just thinking about knocking it off for the day when Dad & Sue showed up! It was so great to visit with them for a while. One of the things we talked about was that Dad’s older brother John passed away that morning - the first of his siblings to die. I don’t have a photo of our visit, but here is one from the last time all the siblings (and spouses) were together. John (seated) and his wife Irene are on the left, Dad & Sue are on the right, and the four sisters (Emily, Marilyn, Vivian, and Lila) are between them. 

Friday, July 5th     

After work I visited my Aunt Brenda who was in the hospital. This week was another reminder of how fragile the generation above me is.  

Saturday, July 6th     

Heard while I was cleaning the bathroom (I was talking to myself): As soon as I finish here I’m going to take a little lunch break & do the floors. For half an hour. Or longer! I’m not the boss of me!

Dr. M says, “Summertime supper: bibs optional but recommended.” I put a fried egg on my mater sammich. Yum!

I’m feeling a little ill about how things will go next week. I’m only a part of the team, but somehow it feels like it will be all my fault if things go sideways. It’s a bit of a moral failing. Do you ever take responsibility for things that aren’t really your fault? 

2024 Project 365 – Week Twenty-five

Work work work… We’re so close to being on the other side of our big work project. Although I know there will be cleanup, and follow up, and throwing our hands up, at least we’ll be working in one (brand spanking new) system instead of two. I might take the weekends off again!

Sunday, June 23rd      

Sunday bloomers! Including an emo rudbeckia. Ha!

I finally finished that cardigan I was working on. I’m trying to decide what to do with it. It’s a smidge small for me and it’s NOT my colors. Give it away? Sell it? Do YOU want it? It’s a large.  

Monday, June 24th  

I just love this photo Dr. M got of this dude. It wouldn’t stay still long enough to get in focus, but it’s still a great picture.

Here I am doing my happy dance after I solve a sticky problem at work. 

Tuesday, June 25th   
The tallest mum in the world (and friends)!

Wednesday, June 26th  

I spent a frantic few minutes looking for my glasses. It was a great start to the day!

Thursday, June 27th    

Wore a topknot to work and just decided to roll with it even though I’m not sure a woman my age should wear a topknot. Or do I get to ignore rules like that now?

Friday, June 28th     

Ate tuna for breakfast & posted these photos on the socials wondering if the tuna was the sin my necklace was referring to. 

Meanwhile, Dr. M found a peacock!

Saturday, June 29th     

Dr. M ran his dad out of the house (turned the air conditioner down so he could get some work done), but Pop found a happy place to land with one of his best friends.

I’m not going to talk about politics. It’s too depressing. Also, I had the weirdest dream last night & I think it’s telling me to take a step back. I dreamed that Stephanie Ruhle was interviewing George Conway who had suddenly become right handed after being left handed his whole life. Stephanie was talking about how it must be hard to learn how to do things differently - especially since she had a hard time doing her hair anyway. I told her I thought she looked great considering she was wearing Sherrod Brown’s hair today. 

What. In. The. World. This is the Bug, signing off from politics for the time being.

2024 Project 365 – Week Twenty-five

Still with the flower situation.
Sunday, June 16^th                   
That feeling when your audiobook gets to the sex scene right as you pull up to church. Oops!
 

Sunday lovelies.
 

Monday, June 17^th     
No photo.
 
Tuesday, June 18^th
Pollinators all over the dang place!
 

The annual squish. I didn’t do a good job of covering up my bra with my shirt – as is mandated in the "women going to the doctor" rule book.
 

Wednesday, June 19^th        
Blueberries from Mike’s dad’s bush! It’s been nice having them this week.
 

Thursday, June 20^th
We watched the game at Rickwood Fields. It was one of the fields that the Negro League played in and was an all-round lovely event, including music by Jon Batiste. But it was also a painful reminder of our racist past (and frankly, present). Go here to read an excellent article that talks about what Reggie Jackson said (or go here to watch it) – Dr. M said that we’d gotten taken to church when he was finished!

Friday, June 21^st               
When I left for work I noticed that our mailbox had been whacked in two – possibly by a car backing into it. It was pretty old & was probably brittle. By the time I got home Dr. M had handled the situation. I like the new mailbox a lot!
 

Saturday, June 22^nd                                   
I decided to give you a more full view of the wildflower bed. It’s pretty unruly, and the yard is DRY right now, but it brings us joy! 

I brought my laptop home & worked for a while this morning in between doing chores. Dr. M has helped me set up a nice temporary office on the dining room table – nice big monitor to hook to my laptop (so I can have two monitors – a game changer!), extra keyboard, extra mouse. Now I just need to convince my boss that I should work from home sometimes (I mean during the week – not all this extra work). Anyway, we’re going live with the new system on Monday, and the first payroll will be processed the next Monday and we’re just all excited & terrified. Woot? What’s up with you? Anything fun?

2024 Project 365 – Week Twenty-four

This is basically just a flower account now, with some breaks for my inanity. Enjoy!
Sunday, June 9^nd                   
Dr. M & I went on a ramble in the mountains! We drove through some clouds which made for lovely atmospheric photos. Enjoy!
 

Monday, June 10^th     
The NC State Wolfpack made it to the next round of the college world series!
 

Tuesday, June 11^th
Pretty!
 

Wednesday, June 12^th        
Pretty Part II!
 

Thursday, June 13^th
Your weekly hydrangea (the anniversary of Dr. M’s mom’s death – miss you Frances!).

Friday, June 14^th               
It’s kind of hard to put your makeup on for work when you’re listening to a tearjerker audiobook.
 

Saturday, June 15^th                                  
More college baseball – lots of ACC teams this year. 

Today I took dad & Sue out to lunch for Father’s Day, but yesterday I brought my laptop home & did some more work. I imagine that’s just going to be how it is for the next few weeks, but at least now we’re only weeks away from the launch of the new system. It’s happening come hell or high water! And then I can enjoy the summer.