A seething mass of turgid drama.

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:52:45 GMT

I habe a code. I consciously convalesced over the weekend, and have been taking it easy the last couple days -- I worked from home yesterday so I didn't stress my body with a commute (as well as plague ratting on Muni). I planned to go in today, but decided last-minute to stay home another day. This was assisted by my alarm not going off.

comments

Spot the Turgid Drama

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:47:52 GMT

When I put on today's button-down shirt at home, it was unmarked.
When I got to the office, it had an apparent grease spot right in the front middle.
I have not eaten or drunk anything since putting on the shirt. How?!?

comments

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:12:01 GMT

I've been fighting a cold (and losing). Not major, but a dry cough and now some congestion. Last night I took cough syrup, and when I woke myself up with a bout of coughing, the wife persuaded me to take an additional half dose since it had clearly worn off. This meant that I was slow getting up - which I knew was likely to be the case, but was probably a good tradeoff for not sitting up in bed coughing for a few hours.

Anyway, I moved slowly enough that I actually missed the backup bus that gets me into the office slightly early instead of significantly early. (shrug) Then I discovered that the wife had borrowed my transit card and not put it back. One upside to missing that bus: I had plenty of time to walk the block back to the house and get the card.

In other news, a couple years ago I bought a single malt advent calendar. It was great fun and I even bought a bottle of one afterwards. I didn't repeat last year but I did this year, and apparently that was a mistake -- I am still enjoying the 1 oz bottles, but I have fallen a week behind with the cold and general malaise and I may not go back to it until January. This goes in the file of "do not repeat unless/until you are genuinely excited about it".

comments

Yowlfest

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:38:33 GMT

Miss Beatrice woke me up around 12:30 AM with a series of extended "help me" yowls. She didn't have a hairball; I think she just wanted attention. Of course I had to get up and check.

Eventually I got back to sleep, but didn't sleep well the rest of the morning. Dragging today.
ETA: the lounge coffee was decaf, which I found out after I made a cup. That's cruel.

comments

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:02:47 GMT

Our compliance firm sent us an early holiday present -- a 40-pack of Rice Krispie treats. Points for corporate present, but zero them out for appropriateness. There are two of us who regularly go to the office. Even if I wanted to eat them, this is way too many.

The other guy offered the box to me. I told him to take them to his church.

comments

Turgid Dumb-Assery

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:50:41 GMT

Got out of the house a minute or two late, but the early bus was a bit later, so I got into the office around my target time. Set up everything... and realized I left my phone sitting at home. If it's not in my bag, I try to leave it in the same place every time - next to my keys and wallet. This time I had been using it in the study and left it on my desk. Where I didn't see it before I left.

I have to go home because I can't log on to important websites to do my job without it. No point in coming back to the office after that, though.

comments

I finally got to use a classic

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:50:06 GMT

Cow-orker: "(Client) tends to out-wit himself."
Me: "He's half right."

comments

C is for Coffee, It Good Enough for Me

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 18:47:58 GMT

I enjoy drinking coffee. After a brief period as an undergrad of habitually overdosing and then going cold turkey over the summer to counteract, I conceded the psychological addiction but limit my intake to prevent a physical one - I don't like getting a caffeine headache if I don't drink it. What that means in practice is that during the week, I have a single cup of coffee before I leave for work. Approximately once per week if I am really lagging, I allow myself a second cup after I get in to the office.

Our building, in its attempts to retain and attract tenants in a depressed office market, has been updating the 100+-year-old building slightly. The latest amenity is a new lounge on our floor with couches, a couple tables, a microwave... and a free coffee machine.

Part of the way I enforce my limit is that I have to go out of the building and buy a second cup of coffee. It's just enough inconvenience that I have to feel like I want/need to do it rather than just being available. So... I am going to pretend that this free coffee machine doesn't exist.

comments

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 22:45:39 GMT

I got my long-awaited Laurel scroll in May '23. A couple months later, it was framed and ready to go on the wall of Diffidence*. But to make room, I needed to take my AA off the wall, put the Laurel there, and then put the AA above it. And because this is on the side of the stairs, the height is quite high and the base surface is uneven.

So I put it off. The Laurel scroll stayed in the study, mocking me for my inaction. Maybe six months ago I got my act together and figured I would at least remove the AA and swap in the Laurel. I did... and the hangers failed utterly. It felt like there was metal inside the wall blocking the nails. I couldn't deal with it, so we left the blank spot alone.

Finally the wife suggested we just bloody hire a handyman to do it. Genius! The first one I tried had good recommendations, but didn't want to deal with the stairs. Disappointing but fair enough, that is why I mentioned them. Sunday I actually used Yelp and put out a request. We got back several comments and one is scheduled to show up tomorrow afternoon.

I think I'll come into the office, though, so I don't have to deal with the inevitable noises while I am trying to be on calls. And that way it will hopefully be up and done when I get home.

*As jokingly compared to Hirsch & Aldith's "Arrogance wall".

comments

Orifice Commute

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:55:14 GMT

I walked to my usual bus stop, and there was an early bus pulling up. Score!
...and when I checked my wallet for my muni pass, it was nowhere to be found. I apparently left it at home. The system didn't lose any money with me not having it today - I have an unlimited monthly pass - but it was still irritating.

And then I got to the office, and realized I had apparently left my key and badge in the suite. Security will unlock the door for me, but even more irritating. And yes, my badge was precisely where I thought it was. And after a quick call to the wife, so was the muni pass.

Hopefully there's nowhere to go but up. But since I have to go to an AT&T store because they won't transfer my eSIM to the new phone, I am a little apprehensive.

comments

Fuzzy This Morning

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:15:27 GMT

We saw Hot Fuzz last night at the local theater. We'd seen it before, of course - we have it on DVD and re-watch every few years, because it is a well-done action film/buddy cop satire. It's also really tightly written, which I appreciate. But we had never seen it on the big screen.

Anyway. This was billed as a "party movie night" so they allowed you to interact with the movie, presumably much-lower Rocky Horror style. It didn't really work. I think we were the only ones who yelled out "The Greater Good!" each time it was chanted. But it was fun, and of course the explosions and gunfire were much more over the top on a professional sound system. They also gave us aviator glasses, a fake moustache to look like the Andys, and a police badge. No one put them on during the show but the wife and I will take a picture later today.

I did catch a Doris sex joke that I hadn't noticed before - at the village fair she is standing with two men, looking at a roast pig, and says "That'll be me in a few hours." Because it's spit-roasted. I laughed.

Tired because we got home later than I usually do on a work night, but I had planned to work from home today to at least give me a bit more time in the morning.

comments

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:58:03 GMT

Not commuting for two weeks got me out of the habit. My trip in to the office isn't difficult, by any stretch, but I am tired now.

At least my cow-orker is out this week so I get the office to myself. That should help the transition back.

comments

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 17:21:58 GMT

My alarm didn't go off today. I didn't wake up much beyond when I usually get up, but... with the wife on the other coast things are a bit disjointed. I decided to work from home today rather than rush to get out the door.

Miss Bea was willing to give me a few cuddles in the early morning. (I am hoping that loneliness and desperation make her willing to sit on me during the week.)

comments

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 20:15:57 GMT

Our home internet vanished yesterday, conveniently after phone reps left the office. We ran automated tests and they told us it had been shut off for non-payment.

Which was BS, because the account is linked to a (valid) credit card. The wife called in today, prepared to argue and present proof, and was told that we needed a new modem. Which is less stupid, but less convenient because it can't just be switched back on. A new modem is ordered and is supposed to arrive tomorrow evening (again, conveniently after phone rep hours).

I'll have to go into the office so I can work. Which is not the worst thing ever, but.

comments

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:06:18 GMT

I didn't sleep well. A combination of work brain and play brain. Re: play brain, the worry over my lines should be unfounded as I can rattle them off during the week. Then I drop a couple particular ones in rehearsal...

comments

Yesterday was a long day.

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:10:25 GMT

I left the house around 6:15 AM, and got home at 8:30 PM. I am dragging a bit today.

The vendor documentary last night was... well done, but the last half amounted to a puff piece extolling how great their firm is. It wasn't a total waste of 90 minutes, but I would have had a more productive evening if I had simply gone home.

comments

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:18:51 GMT

We have what seems to be an intermittent electrical problem in the office. We paid to get new outlets installed since there were only two when we moved in - but they did not update the existing ones, and they are extremely old. (Our building is over 100 years old and has radiators but no thermostats.)

There are two UPC boxes plugged into one of the old outlets, feeding a number of things including the all-important router. There isn't room to plug them in anywhere else. Unfortunately, I have had several occurrences of the boxes beeping when I get in the office. We think it's because they aren't drawing enough power to charge. Last time I reported it, I ran an extension cord across the room to one of the new outlets so that we could have internet (i.e. I could actually work) while not having the annoying box beeping. By the time the electrical guy showed up he couldn't find a problem; perhaps being off for several hours had cooled the wires down enough to work again. He left his number for me to report the next time.

This morning one of the boxes was beeping and I immediately called him. That was 90 minutes ago and it's been beeping continually ever since. But if I turn it off, he won't be able to see anything when he does show up.

In the meantime, beep. Beep. Beep.

comments

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:08:37 GMT

I took today off work. It was a last-minute decision yesterday, but various things have been keeping me uninspired at work. A single day off won't change that, but it is nice to ignore them for a day.

Also, I have a library book and, at our SF bookstore across town, one of the few book orders I've made to pick up. So that works out nicely.

comments

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:40:18 GMT

I was somewhat surprised that calling the plumber yesterday produced an appointment for this morning. Not going to question the gift horse's (potty) mouth, though - while this isn't an emergency toilet repair, we would like to get the replacement done as quickly as they can. Having to manually tip the tank stopper every time is, if nothing else, a waste of water.

However, I realized that it would be better if I came into the office today. That way I am not bothered by installation clanging... and I have access to a working toilet. But I did decide to wear my usual Friday work-from-home clothes: a T-shirt and tennis shoes.

comments

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 16:32:50 GMT

I needed a holiday/day off from work. I slept in a bit, had a leisurely breakfast, and will do shopping later today. Such is my exciting life.

comments

A few random things

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 16:21:55 GMT

The wife and I have been suffering lingering colds for the last two-three weeks. Or possibly two separate ones, as the symptoms had gone away and allowed us to go to WCCS. But ever since then we've been sneezing, coughing, and hacking.
COVID tests have been negative. The wife even got a chest X-ray to make sure it wasn't pneumonia, because that was how it started. That was negative too. So it's either a low-grade flu that didn't get vaccination protection, or a really bad cold.

I stayed home from work last week. No one else is in the office right now, but I didn't want to make the trek. I am (knock on wood) feeling better today and came in, but I am trying to take it easy anyway.

comments

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 21:34:59 GMT

I took a full hour for lunch today. Outside the office. With my phone on airplane mode.

I have zero regret about this.

comments

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 16:54:05 GMT

Off to the office soon. The second Sunday in a row. We moved most of our office last weekend up two floors (with the bulk done by three strapping young college students, one my boss' son). Today is about finishing up and making sure everything is ready for work tomorrow; the network install wasn't finished until middle of last week.

comments

Phoney WFH day

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:31:11 GMT

Most Fridays I work from home. This was our policy even before the pandemic lockdown. It usually gives me a nice lead-in to the weekend (as well as allowing me to pack if we are going to events).

However, yesterday I got home... and realized I had left my phone in the office. Verified via the Apple "Find My" app just in case. And since my cell phone is often my main point of contact, as well as where the office phone forwards to when I am working from home, and I also didn't want to leave it there all weekend - my choice was either to spend a lot more time last night driving or commuting to and fro a third time, or going in today. I chose to go in. And my phone was sitting where I expected it to be.

However, as a mild sop to my usual schedule, I am wearing a T-shirt and tennis shoes rather than a button-down and work shoes. Not that anyone will notice, but there it is.

I should look on the bright side: I got a mildly clever header out of this.

comments

Boosting the Non-Signal

Fri, 06 May 2022 14:47:33 GMT

I went into the study this morning (Fridays are typically a work-from-home day) and the computer registered no wifi. I tried turning it (the laptop) off and turning it on again. Tried the home laptop to the same effect. The phone, meanwhile, was getting wifi... until all of a sudden it wasn't. Tried turning the router off and turning it on again. No dice.

Said screw it, went into the office even though I'm in WFH clothes. (No one else will be there and I'm not meeting clients. But still.) I got in 45 minutes late, but I'm up and running. The wife will see if she can sort it out today and at least I'll be somewhat productive in the meantime.

comments