Did you really think this through?

This just happened and I am giggling about it, so I decided to write it down to remember in the future! Not sure if it will make sense if anyone else other than myself reads it, so my apologies for that!

Context:

Small company here, keep that in mind.

President’s name (eg): Mrs. Blah blah

Project Manager name: MR. Blah blah

And “Blah blah” is an uncommon name, the kind you have to spell out each time you give it away.

Project manager sends out perfectly polite e-mail to subcontractor telling him to comply to schedule and having supplies available. Subcontractor calls immediately asking to talk to the President in order for her to remove the Project Manager from the project since he is being pushy and rude.

Yeah dude, that is going to happen! She may even say that to him while in bed. Something like “hey honey, forgot to mention you are off the project you are running because some little girl disguised as a grown man is upset at you”. This guy works in construction. If he gets all flushed and upset with the e-mail Mr. Blah blah sent him, he is royally screwed working in this field. I’m a girl, pretty easily offended with nonsense stuff and I can’t find the fault in that e-mail! Part of me wants to call him and ask WTF?

This is going to be a weird Wednesday… 

Bowling and stuff

The title has almost no correlation with the post. But no other ideas came to mind while the floor plan of a bowling alley is staring right at me!

That being said, I should be actively preparing a scope of work based in those drawings. I’ve done 2 locations, only one to go. But this is the most confusing one, the least documented (oh the lack of pictures, why didn’t I take them instead of leaving that task to others…) and the one I feel will bring less return. I still have to do it today. But it can wait a couple more minutes!

Tomorrow is my hubbies birthday. It is a big one too. And he refuses to celebrate or even get any gifts. And that annoys me to no end for some odd reason! I wanted him to be more excited about his b-day. But then I realize it is HIS birthday and it is none of my business how he chooses to (not) celebrate it. Still it annoys me, but the little rational me tells me I should keep my feelings to myself about this and let him have his day the way he wants it! So grown-up, right? We’ll see how I fare tomorrow…

I feel like procrastinating my bowling alleys work a bit more, but duty calls and I want to leave work in a couple of hours so… be back soon! 

The benefits of thinking before speaking

From what I can gather, Spring was in Minnesota, but Summer invited her to go on vacation and she left. I believe Autumn and Winter are filling her for her. Only that can explain the grey skies, the rain and the cold that insists on sticking around. All the lights at the office are turned on, and still the gloominess from outside seems to fill both me and my co-worker with this intense wish of going home and curl up on the couch (each of us to their own home, with their own couch).

So when my boss came out and asked if I wanted to go with him tomorrow I instantly said “yes”. Anywhere would be less gloomy and more appealing than sitting at the office all day. Then it occurred to me to ask “where?”. Site meeting with a potential client, I have to meet him at 8 am. Not only will I be at a similarly gloomy location, with my boss and other people than know loads more about construction than myself, but I will also be there sleep deprived and grumpy. I should just go home right about now and take a 16h nap…

Next time I will know to think a bit before saying something. Maybe suddenly remember an appointment I never made or a headache that is yet to come!

Come back Spring, please bring Summer with you! I am in desperate need of some vitamin D! 

Tax season

'Tis the season to be jolly... 

Or not! I put on my [imaginary] CPA hat yesterday and tackled the joyful task of preparing the forms. 1040 and state. I don't really mind doing that. I do, however, mind greatly when i see the values we are supposed to pay. Forget about refund, we always pay. You would think we pay nothing throughout the year, right? But every month, dutifully, a large sum of mine (and his) paycheck goes off to the government. And when tax season comes, we are always invited to write a check and send over. How dare we have no mortgage on the house?   

I know this is me just bitching, but it just pains me to be so taxed. It feels like every time I turn around I have to pay something to the government. You want to file your taxes? Pay up! You want to work? Pay up! You want to get this form that we should provide you? Pay up! You want to step outside? Pay up! 

What exactly is this money being used for? And why can't I get ANY benefits out of it? It would be nice if someone could explain the phenomena to me.... 

Friday morning meeting - 1

I should be working now. Really working hard. Should of… Could of.. Would of… Instead I am typing this text using an outlook box to disguise my lack of work and playing Trivia Crack on the phone. Failing miserably at it. I used to be smart, not really sure what happened.

Since today is Friday, we got to have our Friday morning meeting, which is just code for eating and donuts and talking. As usual Miss dumb-ass here decided to ask a work question as a conversation started. In my defense, I was trying to steer the conversation away from the chatter that usually happens and that I didn’t feel like enduring. So I shouldn’t be complaining about having the boss say that we have to be more “ass-hole like” sometimes. After I replied that would be a problem to me, he said he didn’t care and that I only had to deal with it. Awesome, really what I wanted. I strongly dislike confrontation, arguments or any form of heated conversation. I like to do things the diplomatic way. Of course that does not always work when dealing with contractors. I have found many good people out there, but I have also had the displeasure of running into some royal dicks. And not the good kind of dick…

So I will just go on with my playing and the pretending to work. Today won’t be the day I am a bitch! Let us save that for some other day when I am naturally inclined to that.

Happy Weekend!

(Online) diary of a fat girl - 3

It has been two weeks since I started taking better care of my diet. That means I am not skipping meals, I'm trying to drink more water and... eating less sugar/sweets. In addition to that, my hubbies cooking (he cooks the meals during the week) are filled with veggies and healthy stuff. 

That being said, I can actually see differences! These are the most relevant: 

• What they say about drinking more water and having better skin? Lies, all lies! My skin has the texture of a parchment these days. There is not enough moisturizer in the Clinique department at Macy's!
  
• I can actually keep a sleeping schedule! It goes something like this:
  [7:30 am - 9:30 pm] "I am sooooo sleepy! I need a nap, please let me take a nap!"
  [9:31 pm - 10 pm] "Ok, time to get ready for bed." "Oh, it feels nice and confy"
  [10:05 pm - 12:30 am] "Time to sleep! Close your eyes and sleep now"
  [12:35am - 7:29 am] = 5 minutes (time of day when 7 h = 5 min)
  
• My BM's are on a good and regular schedule - Actual benefit!
  
• I think about eating chocolate 18/7 and I am grumpy and bitchy most the time... 

The joys of a wannabe diet... 

Bored?

It dawned on me yesterday! While I was driving home, trying to figure out was it has been so hard for me to be at work and actually focus: I am bored with what I do! I should of figured it out earlier, it makes perfect sense. I like to learn new things at work. To do stuff that challenge me. And I do like to feel I am improving at what I do. And at my current job, there is only so much I can improve on my own. It wouldn’t hurt if I got compliments on my work a little more often, or if I felt I was being recognized. But apparently the gig is to assume all will be done correctly and only say something if something comes out wrong. And blame me, even if it is not my fault or responsibility. Routine kills me. Repetition drowns my spirit.

On my free time I like to play games. I even get bored with those, within a couple of weeks. Shouldn’t surprise me I got bored and tired of the (same) work after a couple of years. But games I can give up on, stop playing or put on pause. And apparently if you do that with work… you don’t get paid! And I have this fondness for the paycheck at the end of the month….

Btw, yesterday I was calculating our taxes for this year… I better get back to work and make the money I need to write the IRS a big fat check… Refund season for me always means me giving more money to the IRS… I am pretty sure I am not pleased with this arrangement! 

Thursday blues

It has been days since I was myself. There is someone else living in my skin. I can see it being there, doing things in my place. I can feel it's hunger and sleep. But all the things that make me me are hidden and dormant. I wake up in the morning, wait for the alarm clock to ring and then fight the urge to just curl under the covers and pretend the world doesn't exist. 

My days are a constant fight between my sour mood and the need to be nice and pleasant. The me that isn't me plays the part of the real me fooling the people around (not like someone is paying close attention) and killing off the real me a bit each day. 

It is a matter of time until the me that i recognize disappears. 

'Till then... It was nice knowing the real me! 

Spring

Spring arrived last Monday! Cardinals and Great Tits (THE BIRD) have been chirping around for days. And today they get snowed on! Not fair for the poor fellas! Them or me... Ready for Spring, for green grass, for trees blooming and flowers showing their pretty colors. 
But instead we get a mild snow storm. I guess it could be worst: it could of been a major snow storm instead. But it is still enough to make me want to cuddle with a blanket and a good book at home.

Oh warm weather, how I miss you... 

Sad day for the world

Explosions in Brussels.

The so-called Islamic State Group said it was behind the attacks. 

It is just plain sad that there are still people willing to kill others (and themselves) in the name of...? ... a cause? ... a calling? Why? What is so important that justifies the death of innocent people. Parents, children, loved ones. People that were just living their lives. Maybe leaving for vacation. Maybe saying a goodbye to their loved ones, not thinking it would be their final one. Someone taking the subway to get to work, to school... 

Today is a sad day for the world. Belgium cries for their losses and the world should cry with them. In solidarity. In shame. 

(Online) diary of a fat girl 2

I found out last weekend that there is a book with the same name as this string of posts!

Talk about not being original... :( My apologies to Ms. Moira Mugweni). Just in case, I will change the title a wee bit. 

I did read the book over the weekend. And I liked it! Teenager kind of book, but apparently i didn't outgrow my 18y fat self (despite being almost twice as old as that...). And the girl actually lost some weight. And found her self confidence! I wish I could find mine too... 

Went to the doctor last week for some issues I have been having. I am pretty sure the diagnosis was done way before the doctor started talking to me. As soon as I saw her walk in the office, all skin and bones, I figured the weight would be an issue. She didn't tell me right away. First she called some blood work and ultra-sound. Then she called me a few days later and told me I was overweight. NO SHIT Sherlock! She also told me that could explain the issues I have been having. Sure it does. Not sure if it explains the "disappearing" (the ultrasound didn't show anything out of place) of the growths in my liver that were diagnosed years ago.  Of course all the stomach issues are weight related... 

I am not naive enough to think that being overweight is the healthiest choice for me, but I am pretty sure that my complaints are not weight related. 

Now to wait a while for the next episode and then take myself to the ER.  

Monday bitching

It is Monday. That alone makes me grumpier than usual (Garfield has nothing on me). 

The weekend was way to small to accommodate all my need to do nothing and relax. Plus I had to squeeze in visits to the hubby's family (twice!). That being said, my mood today when the alarm clock went off wasn't the best. 

But i did manage to get up, get ready, come to work  AND arrive on time! 

After a few hours in, my boss asks me how I could miss something in a project we've been working on. I did in fact miss it. But so did he. The person who knows these things inside out and that qualified bids and writes contracts. Why exactly I am the one to blame just baffles me... And when he figured he should be blaming himself, did he apologize? Hell no! God forbid these people know the power of an apology... 

It didn't help my mood. And now I am debating if I should go earlier or if I should stay a few more hours just to get paid for them. Not a very nice thing to do, I know... but I do things much faster than my co-worker and get no credit or extra for it.

And if I went home earlier I am pretty sure it would only be to sit on the couch and watch the hubby playing with his phone. Boring, boring, boring! 

And that is it! Ranting done! 

Working on a Thursday...

In a nut shell, this was my day today:
9:00 - 14:30
Calling a few subs, updating the list, making sure all was on track, having lunch, counting seconds, doing nothing...
14:31 - 15:30
Planning work, doing some more calls. Stating "I am sooooo going to leave at 16h today!"
15:31 Boss walks in and gives me a number of things to get done
17:10 "Shit...."

Bid day

Today is pre-bid day. That means we should have all the bids for all the trades nicely lined up to present to our Project Manager tomorrow. As always, we don't! Not for lack of trying i might add. I don't understand those contractors that say they are going to bid, sounds as if we don't need to call anyone else and then leave us out to dry... I wonder if it is that hard to pick up the phone and say "not bidding". Doesn't really take that long and could make a world of difference to us! Of to do dummie calls and trying to find who is already bidding in the great state of OH...

Diary of a fat girl 1

As I sit on the couch, cat laying at my feet, the tv presents me The Biggest Loser. I could easily be watching Netflix, but there is something that compeles me to watch the strenght of the competitors. The way they commit to a diet and to weight loss...

I should be able to do that. Both for appearance as health. I wonder how cool it would be to look in the mirror and not flinch at the relection. To go to the doctor and not get a dirty judgemental look... To be able to fit on a size 8... To make my hubbie proud of me and proud to be seen with me by his side. Not that he ever made me feel inadequate, but i feel it enough for the both of us. 

Guess i'll stop writing now and go back to my book world, where no one really cares how I look, not even myself...

The joy of being amused with small things

I am not a hard to amuse person. I try to see the silver lining in everything. Maybe it's the Portuguese in me (everything can ALWAYS be worst in the eyes of a real Portuguese), maybe it is just self preservation.

Regardless, today's conversation between my coworker and the Project Manager was really funny...
PM: "geez, those guys should know better, they are supposed to be  looking into these details"
Coworker: (joking) "you have to get 2 superintendents, 1 to look over those things and another one to babysit him"
PM: (serious) "Yup, that is where you guys come in, I want you to start doing that".
Coworker:

And that was it! Still makes me giggle each time i think of the face he made! 

And it is Monday once again...

I don't want to be cliche, but Mondays really are hard... Waking up early to get ready for work... And then actually being at work after two days of being confy at home.... But on the plus side, a week from today I will be enjoying one week of vacation! :) Happy Happy!! And to top it all, I'll be sending that week with my dearest friend that is coming to visit! So excited for that! She is the second person that will come to visit me in MN, and I know how much she deslikes/fears traveling, so I value what she is doing even more!!
Can't wait!!!
Happy week!

Friday

The day of the week when i get out of bed thinking I'm only 16h away from being able to get a full nights rest!
It is also office meeting day, and that only means coffee and donuts! As said before, this isn't a bad job to have :)
Of course that doesn't apply to days like yesterday... I am a really patient person, but yesterday a guy managed to infuriate me in a manner that i decided to end the call instead of start the name calling or high pitched argument. That is where the conversation was headed. The guy did tile work in one of our construction sites. The job wasn't completed by him to meet the expectations (client, ours, plans...) and he still resists doing the repairs. The client complains that a brand new structure has tile falling off the wall, sends me pics to prove it, and the guy has the nerve to tell me that it is not is fault they banged the tile with the mop! Say what now? They can't mop the floor or the base tile will fall off? Not an expert in flooring, but I'm pretty confident it should endure that, at least for a couple of months, not fall off after the first week! If by any chance someone reads this and finds the error of my ways, let me know...

But today is Friday, a lovely day of the week. The coffee is brewing. Only 7 more hours for the weekend to start.

Happy Friday everyone!

Day 2 of posting: the explanation

Not that someone other than me will read these lines, but i decided to go ahead and explain the purpose and history of this space.

Started a few years ago, more than i care to remember, when I felt the need to have a space where to randomly talk about "stuff" (for lack of a better word). Time, life and circumstances made me stop writing here on a regular basis. Yesterday was the day i resumed the activity. Not sure if it will be a permanent or constant thing, but i will give it a go!

And about myself... Portuguese girl that moved to the US in the pursuit of love. I am sorry if it sounds lame, but it is exactly what happened! The lid for my pot (translation of a Portuguese saying, and I am sticking by it!) lived in MN and that is where I needed to be to be with him. That meant leaving all my other loved ones in Portugal. It wasn't (still isn't) an easy task. The longing for my country, family, friends,..., taunts me everyday, but I know that is temporary and that i will move back someday.

But MN has been good to me and I love it also. Can't say the winter snows trill me or that i look forward to them, but it's part of the charm of this state. And it is undeniable that it is a beautiful place to live in. I also got a nice job that challenges me and teaches me new things. I might bitch about it sometimes (I'm a girl, bitching about stuff if part of the package), but I really enjoy it.

On a final note, if someone else reads this: welcome to my diary! I invite you to be part of my world, to share my happy and sad days (when they are translated into words). Talk to you soon!

Very very bored at work...

Yes, I am in fact writing in English.. While at work... The two events correlate since the keyboard at work doesn't accept my beloved Portuguese special characters. Also, to be fair to the title: if I am at work, the least I could do was to type in the correct language!

Today is one of those days when I could easily be home doing nothing, but instead am sitting at work pretending to work. Bid due date today, we have everything set and ready to go, but need the PM to add 1+1 and give his stamp of approval.... That should happen in the next half hour or so. I wonder if it would help if he was in?

And as of now, I will have to pretend to be busy while doing nothing since both bosses arrived. This is very hard to accomplish since there is only so much i can pretend to do! I guess I could take the dog for a walk, but he is closer to my coworker... and now he took the dog for a walk! Little 4 paws traitor...

Fine, I will go stare at mechanical plans and pretend I know what the issues are...