Mental Decompression

 I have been exhaling HUGE sighs of relief since yesterday morning.  My binding arbitration issue for Washington D.C. has been heard.  I was literally peeing my pants the entire time speaking in front of this panel of old, white men staring at me from behind their bench while I stated my case.  It was intimidating as all H-E-double hockey sticks. 

The feedback I got from my colleagues after the hearing was that I did really well.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I prepared as best as I could and tried to anticipate what mud would be slung at me.  One bit of mud that was slung at me that I had NO idea was coming, simply because it's a total and complete lie, was that I was colluding with the City of San Rafael on public contract jobs.  In a weird way I was flattered that they thought I was capable of actually having that kind of influence.  LOL.

Whew.  It's over now.  All I have to do at this point is wait for the decision.  I gave it my best.  The rest is up to the universe.  

Another thing that happened was that I was invited to consider a job in labor relations for headquarters based on my presentation.  I guess my nerves and pee stains were not showing where they could see them.  The downer part would be that I would have to leave Sonoma County for Washington, D.C.  

That would mean selling the house.  That would mean SHOVELING SNOW IN WINTER.  That would mean moving across the country.  Scary.  On the plus side, they actually have water in D.C.  California will be running out very soon.   

Superbowl Half Time Show

I don't really care about who wins the game.  I watch for the commercials and the half time show.  

OK....this year.....we have an assortment of rap artists....performing on top of a map of Los Angeles....with their cars out front.  

I love watching the choreography.  I wonder why I was not invited to dance at the half time show?  Where's their "diversity and inclusion" of a white woman over the age of 50 in the hip hop world?  LOL

 

Chantel Smith's Barking Dogs

 

It's posts like these as to why I got kicked off NextDoor.  I can't help but to point out the obvious to the poster and pepper it with sarcasm.  Yes, my husband has an account that I have hacked but I don't dare respond or post as I don't want to get him kicked off as well.  Here's what my snarky response would have been.

Dear Chantel, 

Obviously this is not a new issue as you have received multiple complaints from various sources....yet your dogs continue to bark and annoy your neighbors.  What difference would sending a text make?  You have done nothing to solve the problem except to blame your neighbors.  How DARE they want peace and quiet!  It's not your neighbors' ongoing responsibility to train your dogs not to bark all day long, nor to be constantly alerting you that it is bothering them.  You admitted the dogs are outside during the day.  Where are you?  You know the barking is a problem and have not done anything about it, so no, you're not trying to be a good neighbor. 

I'm sure there is a reason your neighbors don't want to deal with you directly as based on comments from others on this post gently suggesting that perhaps YOU are part of the problem, you go into instant attack mode.  Quite frankly, you are a psycho bitch and there is no wonder why a lawyer is involved.  I think an air horn sounding loudly outside your bedroom window while you're trying to sleep is in order.  That should get your dogs barking as well to disrupt your peace and quiet while you're trying to rest. 

Black Crowes: Sure Hard to Handle

 This is one of my favorite "fun" songs.  You know, when you just want to jam out to upbeat music and get a little rowdy.  

And yes, I'm sure hard to handle ;)

Why ME?

 I've been handed a HUGE responsibility from the universe in regards to my job.  Long story short, I'm going to Washington D.C. for binding arbitration on a labor dispute that will impact millions of construction dollars going forward.  

If I had an ego I would be gloating about it as it is a very high profile dispute and all the industry is buzzing about it.  The truth is that I don't have an ego and I understand the complexities of the case; therefore, I'm terrified - and wishing that somebody else would be on the stand and presenting.  

How I got involved in it and why I am the point person is a complete fluke.  I did not seek this out.  It's too long of a story to even try to explain.  

In addition to all my other job duties which include but are not limited to:  health benefits, pension benefits, labor law, accounting, labor relations, OSHA/safety, apprenticeship, etc.,  I am now tasked at being an instant traffic construction engineer who is supposed to be well versed in fiber optic cable traffic systems and all the intricacies.  

Next time you enter an intersection with a traffic light, just know there is a LOT going on other than the light being red, yellow, or green.  So much is happening information/technology-wise behind the scenes and how it gets broken down it would make your head spin.  

My head is spinning.  

 

 

Red Bone - Come and Get Your Love

 This song will forever remind me of my cousin, Linda.  Yes, I'm dating myself as this was when the song first came out.  I remember her driving us to Morton Mud Hole in the Ford station wagon packed with the 10 of us kids after working the field and farm all day to bathe before going home.  

When this song came on she would yell out the lyrics and encourage us all to sing along with her animated hand and arm gestures (while driving) with all of us kids hanging out the back and side windows (no seat belts).  Cousin Linda was all of 17-18 years old and in charge of a gaggle of kids.  She was the Momma Cousin.

What I would not give to go back in time for just one day.  Rural North Dakota east of the Big Muddy had fun times on the prairie.  

COVID is RAMPANT

 I don't know about you all, but I'm getting texts daily from my friends stating that they have tested positive for that nasty COVID virus.  It's running through all their households.  On the plus side, my friends have been vaccinated and their symptoms are cold-like.  A couple of my friends have been set back a bit like having a  SUPER nasty cold.  So far nobody has landed in the hospital because of it.  

My daughter had a sore throat and the sniffles last week.  My son had a headache that lasted for a couple of days and was really tired.  Was it COVID?  Who knows as actually getting a test is like a Big Foot sighting.  No such thing.

Well, we here in our household myself, my husband, and my kids and their significant others have all been vaccinated and boosted.  We have been avoiding restaurants and any indoor gatherings.  We wear our masks and wipe down the grocery cart when shopping.  So far so good.  Who knows, maybe we have had it and were asymptomatic.  We have dodged the bullet thus far.  How long until we run out of luck? 

COVID is like this ticking time bomb.  Sooner or later we are all going to get it.  It's just a matter of when and the level of severity.  Even once infected, a person can get it again......like the cold and the flu.  Over and over....mutation after mutation. 

How do we adapt without burning out medical staff?  I feel sorry for the medical personnel who attend COVID patients.  

Here's my dilemma.  I really want to be in Minnesota right now despite -40* temperatures to be there with mom now that dad has died.  My 80 year old mother is not vaccinated.  My 61 year old sister, who is a lifetime smoker, has not been vaccinated.  Neither of my brothers have been vaccinated.  What if I accidentally bring COVID to them?