Kingfisher Cove

Red Letter Day!

I was surprisingly calm this morning arriving at work, knowing I was going to be creating some major waves (at least for some people). I knew that the HR director had returned to the office yesterday from visiting one of the branch offices in another state, but she wasn’t around when I decided to seek her out first thing. Then it was time to take the company Seahawks Super Bowl picture:

[click the picture to embiggen!] Yep, we had an outlier—a Raiders fan. (Seriously??!!) And yep, those are my fingers poking up as rabbit ears behind her head. Heh. Chucklehead has been gone all week, so I can’t point him out to you. (sad trombone).

After the picture was taken, I noticed that the HR director was in, so I stepped into her office and announced my resignation. She was very sweet, and appreciative that I was giving 2 weeks’ notice, and while wistful, she was also happy for me. I mentioned that I hadn’t told Chucklehead yet (didn’t refer to him that way to her, of course, although I had to pause a beat before dredging up his real name). She asked that I call his cell phone to try to reach him so that on this day he would be notified (for the 2 weeks’ notice). I left a voice mail message for him to call me, and a short time later he did. “Hey, Toooooooooooooonya! How ya doin’? You goin’ to the cabin for the weekend?” (Uhm, sure. The cabin.) Then I said, “I just wanted you to know that I’ve given my two weeks’ notice, and my last day will be February 13th.”

Crickets.

Then, “TWO WEEKS? That’s it?? I gotta have more than TWO WEEKS! I thought for sure you would give me more than that!” His voice was ragged and I could tell he was really pissed. I replied, “Two weeks is typical.” More crickets. Then he said, “Are you all right?” (What?) I said, “Oh, yes! I am fine!” Then I may have sort of chuckled. (Probably shouldn’t have).

I don’t even remember how the conversation ended, but I mostly sensed pissed panic on his part, especially when I mentioned the names of the engineering project managers that needed to be notified because of all of the proposals that are coming due after I’m gone. That he will be responsible for. That he has no clue about what to do. And it will come to light to everyone what an incompetent buffoon he is.

I just remember hanging up that phone and letting out a HUGE breath and smiling and feeling damned good. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

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So get this: I stopped for gas on my way home, and after I’d filled up and was about to climb back in my car, I discovered IT WAS LOCKED. Somehow (!) I must have hit the lock button as I was getting OUT of the car and there I was peering inside at my purse, my cell phone, my keys in the ignition. As is my habit, I did have the passenger window down a little ways but not enough to stick my arm through to push the unlock button down by the arm rest. So I grabbed the window washing squeegee from the gas station bin and fished it in handle-down (getting myself sopping wet from the sponge) to try to reach the button, BUT IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH. So frustrating. I really wanted to solve this problem, and I was so close! (But no cigar). So I went inside the associated mini-mart and explained to the guy behind the counter what my issue was. He had a coat hangar and it was giving him grief because it kept bending when he’d try to push the button with it; just not enough strength to the metal! I peered across the street toward the QFC and Starbucks where I knew that John could/would be at any moment to get his mocha, but it was WAY too foggy to make out even a bright yellow sporty car in the parking lot. And I couldn’t call him! (I’m sure I could have in the mini-mart if it came to that). But finally, the guy got the unlock button pushed with the coat hangar through that slightly open window!! I was so relieved and so thankful! I can’t even believe that happened! Do you know that I don’t think I have EVER locked myself out of a car before? (Guess I won’t be leaving my keys in the ignition anymore…)

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The soupy fog continued the whole way down here to Harstine tonight. There were times it was incredibly dicey; the thickest fog I’ve seen in many years. Sure glad the numerous deer we typically encounter on the island kept in the woods and not along the side of the road like they usually do. John was very careful after he crossed the bridge. It’s times like that when I realize how important it is to have clearly painted lines on the roads!

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Gonna make nachos for the Super Bowl game Sunday! I wish the game didn’t start so late (3:30, which means it’ll be pretty late for us getting home that night). Gotta eat something; might as well be nachos! Heh!

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NERVOUS ABOUT THAT GAME!!!!!

{{{TOMORROW!!!}}}

Tomorrow I give my 2 weeks’ notice! And I currently have FOUR (count ‘em, FOUR!!) proposals on my plate that I will not be completing.

Oh well!!!

In Which I Was Scared Out Of My Gourd (and other stuff)

Rather interesting to type with a kitty on my lap. With an adorable squeaky motor.

(And there she goes). Zoom, out the pet door.

I was ripped awake at 3:30 this morning out of a deep deep sleep by the billion-decibel cacophony of jet engines/freight trains/roaring apocalypse blasting in my ear. It scared the living SHIT out of me, and my muddled brain just could not process what in the HELL I was hearing! It was low-pitched, like a buzzer on steroids, and so incredibly LOUD!, and it went on and on and on! I flew downstairs to get my bearings with my hands smashed over my ears and fear-tears springing in my eyes, because I didn’t know what it was!!! My first thought was (smoke alarm?), but I wouldn’t have expected it to sound like that! So bone chilling, so soul-sucking! And then it occurred to me that I had actually never heard it go off before, only the chirping sound from a dying battery. This house here in Des Moines is like a tall above-ground well, all open-concept, so at first I couldn’t tell if what I was hearing originated from the garage (nope, too loud—it would have been muffled down there) or just where. (Muddled brain, remember). It would stop, and the wee-hour darkness/silence felt almost as creepy as that godawful sound, and then it would start back up again! Sometimes for a few seconds, other times for much longer! I finally determined that it had to be the smoke alarm; this 1985 house only has one (I think) and it is upstairs in the “loft” bedroom area that is open to the rest of the living space, and that is where it was loudest. But there was no smoke! Nothing! Why the hell would it be doing that??!!! It never had before, even that one time  a year ago or so when I DID smell smoke and it turned out that a garbage can in the garage full of John’s sawdust was smoldering. Wylie freaked and bee-lined it outside, but the dogs were surprisingly blasé (elderly hearing?) In fact, since I was downstairs, all they cared about even at that hour was A TREAT!!

It finally stopped and I decided to go back to bed, although my nerves were jangling all over the place. I kept expecting it to go off again, so I was on edge beyond belief, and I didn’t get back to sleep until probably around 5:00 a.m. Then my alarm went off at 5:30, and oh man. I sure could have used a couple of more hours of sleep…

These last 36 hours have completely sucked.

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Speaking of nerves, I’m kind of a mess! A good part of the reason is the upcoming Super Bowl on Sunday. I remember what a wreck I was about LAST YEAR’S SUPER BOWL (I cannot even believe we’re in it again!), but also what we experienced just two weeks ago with that NFC Championship game and how everyone was doubled over with such painful (and then joyful) angst! I would sure love for this game to be the blowout that last year’s was (even though I could NOT rest on my laurels then until it was a 99.9% sure thing!) It would hurt so bad to lose this after how far we have come and how much heart this wonderful, epic team has. So. There’s that.

But the other thing is that the day after tomorrow, I give my notice at work. And I’m suddenly nervous about it! I mentioned before that Chucklehead won’t be there, so I can’t give my notice to him. And it appears that the HR director will be out, as well, so I need to figure out WHO I will give my notice to!! And then suddenly the proposal deadlines are piling on, and I won’t be there to see them through. WHICH IS TOTALLY FINE. And there is a lot of inward smiles about that. But there is also a bit of guilt? Am I insane?

Nah. Once I finally get it out there, I will be feeling such relief. It’s just all bottled up right now.

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Tomorrow I leave work a little early to get my hair trimmed up and colored. Man, does it ever need it! The gray is alarming! It’s everywhere! I WILL NOT BE GRAY, NO SIREEE!!! And I need some serious trimming, which is frustrating because I was hoping my curls would look decent with some length. But with such fine hair, it doesn’t look to be the case. Hoping to be happier about it all tomorrow night!

 

FUCK!!!!!! That horrible alarm just went off again! OH MY GOD I HATE THIS!!!!!!!!!

So Close!!

John had the county inspector out today for “final inspection” for the occupancy permit at the Harstine house. They always find something (having to justify their jobs, ya know), but it really did go very well! Just 6 minor “dings.” About a quarter-page worth. (Compared to the home he’d just come from that had FIVE FULL PAGES WORTH OF MAJOR DINGS). The inspector was very impressed with all of John’s work, and had tons of personal questions about tiling and woodworking, etc.—obvious appreciation for someone who “knows what he’s doing.” Although those 6 minor items need to be addressed before “final occupancy,” we do have temporary occupancy, so we can actually MOVE IN. Heh. We’ve pretty much already begun that, but it’s nice to know we can now do it wholeheartedly! (Which we’ll start hammering away at once I’m DONE with my job).

Ugh. Today sucked so much, with an ugly FAST deadline (I learned just yesterday that the deadline was TODAY!!!) I worked through lunch, flying 90,000 mph to get ‘r done, and it finally went out at 4:00. I left the office at 4:30, thinking, “It’ll be nice to get home a little bit early after this soul-sucking day.” HA. I pulled into the driveway at 6:35. Yep, it took me over TWO F*CKING HOURS to drive home. Oh God, Seattle traffic. I can’t wait to not have to deal with this crap anymore. It is godawful beyond belief.

Sitting (and sitting, and sitting, and sitting) on the Viaduct, I did capture a couple of pictures of the Big Wheel all lit up in Seahawks colors through the rain drops:

Butterflies are starting to flutter in my belly as the Super Bowl draws closer. **GULP** With the Patriots’ “Deflategate” scandal and one of their players trash-talking about breaking Richard Sherman’s arm and Earl Thomas’ shoulder, I’m sure hoping that the team (US) who are GOOD UPSTANDING FOLKS win this damned thing! Yeah, Marshawn Lynch has an issue with talking to the press, but I adore him for that. Anyone who can stand up to the “man” and rebel against idiocy is someone I’d carry in my back pocket. And then there is nobody more lovable than QB Russell Wilson. All the talk when the Seahawks drafted him about “being too short” and “Oh, what a mistake!” and “What the hell are the Seahawks thinking?” — they have certainly been proven wrong! Plus, he’s just a great guy. (And a cutie patootie!)

Been re-watching the NFC championship highlights. AGAIN. I can’t get enough of them!!!!

Feeling Better (but still haven’t pooped since Thursday)

Snort. Bet that got your attention.

Back to Day Jail today, but full of anticipation about this coming Friday when I give my two weeks’ notice! I have taken pleasure in knowing this is coming and keeping mum about it. There have been several situations with various people when I could have at least hinted at it, but I just haven’t.  And there are a couple of rather “delicious” situations coming up:

1. Chucklehead is in Pittsburgh all week (HAHAHA, enduring an epic blizzard, HAHAHA) so he won’t be here on Friday to give my notice to. All along I figured (figgered) that the proper way to handle this would be to tell him first, since he is “theoretically” my boss (even though I have sub-zero respect for him and honestly don’t even view him in that regard). I need to think about who I will initially tell. HR? The guy I respect (a lot) whom I work with often on Boeing proposals? Hmm.
2. The horrible misogynist engineer that I’ve worked with on several Sea-Tac Airport and University of Washington proposals (remember him? When I asked pointed questions at a proposal kick-off meeting and he told me to “Shhhhhhhh!”? And I gave him the killer laser-eyed glare that my son remembers really well? Yeah, him). Anyway, he reminded me today that a couple of huge proposals are coming out soon for the Airport and also for UW, so I checked on them and for sure the Airport RFP will be released this coming Thursday. Proposal will be due February 26th. HA! I can give it two weeks, and then someone else (?) will have to take it over.

It’ll be interesting to see how differently people treat me once I give my notice. I suspect I’ll be somewhat shunned. Whatever. I don’t care! They have had ample opportunity to hire a qualified marketing coordinator whom I could train to take over for me. But the CEO is cheap (to ensure beefier bonuses for himself) and also clueless about A/E marketing. Won’t be my problem anymore.

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Nate tagged me on Facebook from his ship’s FB post; he was awarded “Sailor of the Quarter” (which kind of made me chuckle since he wasn’t around for two weeks of that quarter—he was up here!) But Mama is very proud!

Here he is (far right) shootin’ shade at somebody. Like Mother, like Son. (Neither of us suffer fools…)

I asked him (via FB chat) what he’d done to be given the award and he said, “Nothing crazy. The Chief put my name in and I had to answer a few questions in front of a board and I wore a sharp-ass uniform.” Heh. The Chief had to have some reason to put his name in, right? Not sure what, though.

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Kind of on pins and needles because today was the day that DirectTV was to install the satellite dish at Harstine so we can have TV! (And watch the Super Bowl this Sunday!!!) My fingers are crossed that the installation went OK. (John will let me know later tonight when he calls). It takes 4-5 hours to install it! A little more complex than just hooking up to cable (the island doesn’t have cable). Sure hoping it went well. (I may update!)

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Currently a funny little kitty (Wylie, AKA Lil’ Shit) is galloping back and forth across the hardwood floor in a mood. Non-stealth mode (compared to three incidences last week when she brought in three, yes three, rats). Pounding those boards. I’ll take that over rats any day, thank you.

Update: THE SATTELITE DISH WORKS GREAT!! WOOHOO!!!

Punk

I woke up Thursday morning to a side ache on my right side. Usually when I have aches or pains, it’s on my left side—residual nerve pain from when I had shingles a couple of years ago. This was unusual and also very uncomfortable. And then soon after I got to work, I found myself running down the corridor to the bathroom time and time again. (You know, in a dire way…) I was in the midst of finalizing a deadline, but once I’d done what I could, I left for home. I wasn’t feverish, but I was nauseated. “Da runs” continued (complete with those awful doubled-over cramps), and the side ache became more of a side scream…

Yeah, I probably should have tried to get in to see my doctor on Friday, but it’s ingrained in my brain to not run to the doctor for every little ol’ thing. It was how I was raised, as my mom didn’t take my brother and I to the doctor unless there was blood gushing or it was time for a school physical. I can probably count on one hand or less the number of times I went to the doctor as a kid. Certainly never for a cold or flu or such pedestrian ailments. So I tend to go as a last resort. Plus, my doctor is rarely available for less than 3-4 days from calling anyway, and then John was due home around 11:00 and we had an appointment in Tacoma with our financial guy that we couldn’t miss. So I didn’t go to the doctor.

It was a miserable day with the appointment and other stops on the way to Harstine. By that time, I would have “welcomed” a trip to the bathroom, if you get my drift. Everything in that regard had completely reversed itself. 

I took an unsatisfactory nap when we finally arrived, and then a couple of hours after I woke up, I took ANOTHER nap after medicating myself pretty thoroughly. I had quite a bit of Hydrocodone left over from when I had my eye surgery and I started popping one every three hours or so. (On top of Tums, ibuprofen, even anti-gas OTC medication). Even after my naps, I still managed to sleep well last night.

And I woke up this morning feeling…better. For a little while. And then the side pain settled back in and I was starting to feel frantic. John and I both wondered if it might be a kidney stone or infection, and so we headed to Urgent Care in Olympia (tried Shelton first, but it was packed full of people).

Long story short, kidneys are fine (they did a urinalysis and it was all good). But the doc (actually a PA, and I wasn’t all that jazzed with him) didn’t know what else it could be. He worried a little that it might be appendicitis, but with no fever, that didn’t add up either. He recommended going to the ER so they could do more tests, maybe an ultrasound…but we didn’t. John and I decided to “wait and see.” I did take another nap after we returned to the house, and even though I am still uncomfortable, the pain isn’t as acute as it was yesterday (or this morning). I sure have no energy, though. Ugh.

Now John has a headache, so we are quite a pair.

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I’m unable to embed this (it’s from the official NFL site and they don’t allow that—plus I suspect they’ll remove it eventually). But it’s the BEST THING EVER. I love listening to the players all mic’d up on the field. This is a work of art.

MIC’D UP SEAHAWKS VS. PACKERS HIGHLIGHTS

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Fog on the water this evening:

So…

Moving on for the moment from football. (Well, sorta).

Great news! John has arranged to have DirectTV satellite installed and connected at Harstine this coming MONDAY!! We have GOT to be able to watch the Super Bowl down there! Yeah, I know that my Facebook friends are all “forbidding” me from watching, but I will not be denied! Heh heh. (If things go south during that game for any length of time, I will likely “hide” until they turn it around again, though). (Because, we know that DOES make a difference!)

I’m so excited! We’re getting the bare minimum package, which will be completely fine. We don’t need premium channels; just the basics. If there is a “premium” movie we want to watch, we’ll stream it via Netflix or whatever. And I’m amazed at how much cheaper this will be compared to asshat Comcast. God what a scam that company is! Hate them! Can’t wait to be 100% rid of them. It will also be really nice to be connected to the local news. I’m a news hound, and I really miss that down there. There are things I’m perfectly happy to watch on my laptop (Downton Abbey—rather illicitly and prior to the U.S. showing—and my beloved Parenthood, that is in its final episodes, *SOB*). But I wanna watch the Super Bowl on our Big Screen!

It is SO HARD to be at work, knowing my days are numbered. I continue to keep mum about it, mostly because they do not deserve any more than 2 weeks’ notice. They have been AWARE that I would be leaving relatively soon, and yet the dipshit CEO continues to refuse funding for a second marketing coordinator. And I’ll just bet you that when they DO finally replace me, it will be with a $15/hour person who has absolutely no clue. And I could give a shit. Whatever. Go back to the utter crap you were doing before I worked there, and good luck with that.

Work is also hard because I am up to my eyeballs with killer deadlines right now. In fact, my NEXT deadline is the day that I give my notice. I worry a little about what might happen if I’m assigned a proposal prior to giving notice that will be due after my leave-date, but I guess that’s really not something I should worry about. (Unless, like I mentioned before, if it’s with the particular guy/department that I respect). We’ll just cross that bridge if it happens.

Chucklehead HIT me again yesterday, and it hurt. Oh, you know, it’s “all in fun,” right? Just like Del in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles—the most annoying idiot on the planet. (At least Del had some redeeming qualities; Chucklehead does not).

One More, You Guys. OK, Two. Squeeee!!!

What a wonderful montage complete with Steve Raible’s calls. First the heartbreaking, frustrating low-lights that seemed would never end.

AND THEN.

BELIEVE. from 808 twelve on Vimeo.

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Can’t stop those tears! (So many of us were right there with you, Russell Wilson!)

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OK, I lied. Here is ONE MORE!!! This is yet another great one taken from a fan in the stands at the winning TD. I just LOVE watching everyone ERUPT with such incredible joy (and utter amazement!)

NFC Championship Wilson to Kearse Game Winning TD from Steven Carroll on Vimeo.

The City is Hung Over

Just about everyone I talked to today had raspy voices (if they had a voice at all). Lots of screaming yesterday, whether AT the game (or a sports bar) or at home watching it on TV (or listening to it on the radio, which was US since we still couldn’t get the frickin’ game to stream on the TV). Screaming for 3/4 of the game to try to get those Seahawks on a forward path—they played so shitty! Russell Wilson had FOUR interceptions! The savings grace was that the defense prevented the Packers from getting touchdowns (field goals instead) on those first-half turnovers, something that ended up being a huge factor. But THEN! The screaming in the final 4 minutes of the game and then OVERTIME blew out a number of larynxes all across the region!

I have to admit here that after that 4th interception, I hid. I had to turn off Steve Raible and go read my book, while John headed to the bedroom for a nap. I couldn’t help but check in with my Facebook friends here and there, and I realized almost immediately that the Seahawks were turning things around. I didn’t want to jinx it! And my FB friends insisted that I remain in hiding to keep that mojo going! So I did! (With “peeks” here and there). Suffice it to say they don’t want me watching/listening to the Super Bowl! Lol.

I’m hoping this works; it’s audio from Steve Raible’s call of the Seahawks’ winning touchdown in OT. I LOVE me some Steve Raible! He is truly the voice of the Seahawks!

And then there is this! I love this sort of thing, when someone in the stands happens to take video of such an awesome moment and you can feel the craziness of the jubilant, amazeballs crowd!

Too bad they didn’t take the video in landscape orientation, but oh well. It’s still so much fun to watch!

I’m still in disbelief that we’re going back to the Super Bowl for the 2nd year in a row! Yep, our team has the chops for it, after struggling at the start of the season. But I honestly didn’t think it was in the cards the way we played yesterday’s game up until those final moments. It was an improbable, even IMPOSSIBLE comeback. Honestly unbelievable.

Another incredibly fun video of fans in real time as we started WINNING this thing!

And then finally, THIS. It’s not the greatest quality (but not too bad!) considering that I took this video with my iPhone of my computer monitor of an N*F*L site, where I suspect they will soon PULL the video, like they idiotically did last year. I want it for posterity! It’s short, sweet, and I love how it shows the crowd going apeshit.

SUPER BOWL BOUND! (It sure didn’t come easy!)

No cardiologist would require a stress test after THIS game!

28-22 in OT, after the Seahawks SUCKED throughout, until it counted.

I’m still in shock!!!