The year 2024 is now in its second month. Welcome to the month of February.

White Rabbits!

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, let's see what he predicts.

The year 2024 is now in its second month. Welcome to the month of February.

White Rabbits!
White Rabbit!


Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, let's see what he predicts.
I have discovered that "Groundhog Day" is available to watch on Netflix!

I have discovered that "Groundhog Day" is available to watch on Netflix!

Splendid! O0

Are you going to watch it?

(I have seen that film several times myself.)

Anyways, the month of February got off to a good start for me. I had a good day at work, even though I had to drive there in the rain.

Splendid! O0

Are you going to watch it?

(I have seen that film several times myself.)

I might watch it.

What is the verdict of the various groundhogs?

Dais is back home. He had been travelling with work for the week.

Glad it is the weekend. It has been busy at work, we have had a couple of temporary teachers to cover for ill health and one of the technician team has been off because her children are unwell. One more week and then I get a week off.

What is the verdict of the various groundhogs?

I heard a news report saying that Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow this morning.

I heard a news report saying that Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow this morning.


So spring is on the way. We thought it felt spring-like here yesterday.

So spring is on the way. We thought it felt spring-like here yesterday.

I think it feels a bit like Spring here in New York.

Dai and I went orienteering this morning. It was in a nearby city park. I did ok - managed to run for some of it.

Tomorrow we are going to see my niece and her son to celebrate his first birthday.

So today I had to drive to work in the rain; I arrived at the office safely. Everything went well at the office. My boss decided to let us go 15 minutes early, due to the weather and the wet road conditions. She also said that she would text us if she thinks the weather will be a problem for tomorrow.

Splendid! O0

Are you going to watch it?

(I have seen that film several times myself.)
My viewing of the film was interupted.

Since I was last online I have been busy, and yesterday was hectic I was not in the mood to switch on the computer or tablet.

Since I was last online I have been busy, and yesterday was hectic I was not in the mood to switch on the computer or tablet.

Welcome back again. O0

Welcome back again. O0
Thank you, I am glad to be back, but I am not sure how it will be for tomorrow.

So today I had to drive to work in the rain; I arrived at the office safely. Everything went well at the office. My boss decided to let us go 15 minutes early, due to the weather and the wet road conditions. She also said that she would text us if she thinks the weather will be a problem for tomorrow.


Something about an atmospheric river affect bringing record rainfalls in the area. Do you still have power? Jess and Rice were commenting on their power being off for a few days

Something about an atmospheric river affect bringing record rainfalls in the area. Do you still have power? Jess and Rice were commenting on their power being off for a few days


My SIL has more snow than there is here. She is in the Bernardino Mountains in southern California.


Cat

Something about an atmospheric river affect bringing record rainfalls in the area. Do you still have power? Jess and Rice were commenting on their power being off for a few days

Oh yes, power is not an issue where I am. But yes, there has been a great deal of rainfall over the past few days.



My SIL has more snow than there is here. She is in the Bernardino Mountains in southern California.


Cat

I know where those are, but thankfully I’m far enough away from them.

So...yesterday, while I was at work, I felt an earthquake! Thankfully it wasn't too strong. However, it was a 4.7, centered near Malibu, which is a fairly short distance (as the crow flies) from where I work.

Had a nice day yesterday even though nothing seemed to go right.

My dear friend picked me up and we went into the (small) city to run some errands before an improv show we wanted to go to. The first store we went to didn't have what we were looking for. (Strike 1) She wanted to go to the UPS store to drop off some boxes but they were closed. (Strike 2). I wanted to go to an appliance store because I need a new microwave. When we opened the door, they told us that they closed a half hour before. (Strike 3). I suggested another appliance store on the other side of town. I suggested stopping at Goodwill since we were going by. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular. But, I did buy a dress.

Of course the other appliance store was closed, too (Strike 4) but there was an antique store next door and I asked her about stopping. They weren't going to be open for much longer so we rushed looking through. She found some items that she wanted. I was almost tempted on buying a couple of Hitchcock chairs but didn't.

The next stop was Staples to return something and then to a bigger grocery store than the smaller one we have here in our little town. We opted to skip Michael's (Strike 5) which was on the agenda but time was getting short if we wanted to eat.

The restaurant we were planning on going had a long wait-we could get in just as the show was starting. Nope. That didn't work either. (Strike 6) We went to the place where the show was going to be that was still closed. (It was about 5:30 and the show started at 7). Ok, where to eat? Go back into the city or go towards home. We decided to go towards home to a little restaurant. If we ate there, it wouldn't take us long to get back to the place for the show. (It was in the town between our small town and the town where the show was.) Luckily, it was open-we weren't too sure because for a while it was closed. We were seated at 6 so time was cutting it short. We told the waitress we were in a hurry.

I think it was about quarter to 7 we decided to nix the show and just enjoy our meal (Strike 7). It was REALLY good. So, good food and good company. When we were done with dinner, we came back into our little town. She suggested the local tavern. When she parked, we noticed the little bistro was still open and I suggested dessert. So, we had dessert and then went next door to the tavern. I texted another friend to come and join us but she couldn't.

A friend was working there. She said that she was happy to see me out. We talked a bit about our mutual friend (Melanie's sister) and how we both sent her condolence cards.

We closed that place down. But, this is a small town so the sidewalks get rolled up at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night. So, she dropped me off at 9:10.

Like I said, even though hardly anything went as planned, it was a really nice day-just to get out and be with a dear friend and seeing another friend. But, I still need to go back to those stores to get the things that I didn't get yesterday.


Cat

Back online after an extended visit from my family.

And so, after a pleasurable weekend for me, I was back at work today. Not sure when I'm gonna take any vacation time yet.

Off work this week (school is closed for the week). I spent quite a bit of time today emptying my inbox, and unsubscribing from some email lists. I can’t remember the last time I went to the cinema, but had over 100 emails from the local cinema telling me of their offers etc. I have resolved to try and read then deal with an email and delete it immediately.

I hope everyone had a good Valentine's Day today. http://www.inthe00s.com/Smileys/valentine/smiley.gif

I’m going to get my taxes done tomorrow.

I’m going to get my taxes done tomorrow.


Carlos always took care of it. My financial advisor have always sent us a checklist to make the process as painless as possible. I never bothered to even look at it and just gave Carlos my info. Now I have to deal with it. Right now I am just waiting for the info from my donations before I send everything back.


Cat

Carlos always took care of it. My financial advisor have always sent us a checklist to make the process as painless as possible. I never bothered to even look at it and just gave Carlos my info. Now I have to deal with it. Right now I am just waiting for the info from my donations before I send everything back.


Cat

Well I had my appointment this morning and everything went well. I'll be getting some $$$ back!

So glad we don’t have to do tax returns every year.

So glad we don’t have to do tax returns every year.
I was thinking the same thing, except for the self-employed and freelance workers. Politicians do and we hear about it all on the news.

I was thinking the same thing, except for the self-employed and freelance workers. Politicians do and we hear about it all on the news.


We have rented out houses a couple of times in the past and had to do tax returns then. Gathering all the paperwork together was a pain.

We have rented out houses a couple of times in the past and had to do tax returns then. Gathering all the paperwork together was a pain.
I can imagine, every aspect of finance has to be accounted for.

Apart from dealing with my email inbox this past week I also took my mother in law clothes shopping. The place we go to usually has racks of trousers of a style she likes but they didn’t have any this time. Thankfully another area of the shop had something suitable.

On Friday we went out for lunch to a country pub. The meal was nice but Dai was unhappy with the service. M-I-L wasn’t finished when they first came to clear the table. Then she walked past several times, cleared and cleaned a table near us and wandered off again. By now Dai was fed up of looking at his empty plate (partly his mum finished about ten minutes or so after we had, so the wait feels even longer). Gave up on having coffee and dessert there.

Today (Monday) was Presidents Day, a bank holiday in the U.S., but my work did not have the day off. (Starting two years ago, MLK Day and Presidents Day were no longer holidays for my company.) But I was fine with that, because I enjoy my job.

I did have to go to and from work in the rain, though.

Today (Monday) was Presidents Day, a bank holiday in the U.S., but my work did not have the day off. (Starting two years ago, MLK Day and Presidents Day were no longer holidays for my company.) But I was fine with that, because I enjoy my job.

I did have to go to and from work in the rain, though.


Did they give you a different day off instead?

When I worked at the University they wanted to change from a week off at Easter to three days so we had Christmas Eve and an extra day in August to compensate.

Went to turn on my computer today. I heard it come up but there was nothing on the monitor. So I turned on the monitor and still nothing. I turned the computer off via the tower and tried it again. Same thing. CRAP! My monitor died! I'm going into town on Thursday to run some errands. I guess Staples is on the list now!


Cat

Went to turn on my computer today. I heard it come up but there was nothing on the monitor. So I turned on the monitor and still nothing. I turned the computer off via the tower and tried it again. Same thing. CRAP! My monitor died! I'm going into town on Thursday to run some errands. I guess Staples is on the list now!


Cat

Good Luck getting a new computer.

Went to turn on my computer today. I heard it come up but there was nothing on the monitor. So I turned on the monitor and still nothing. I turned the computer off via the tower and tried it again. Same thing. CRAP! My monitor died! I'm going into town on Thursday to run some errands. I guess Staples is on the list now!


Cat

Good Luck getting a new computer.
Cat's computer sounds fine, it is the monitor that has ceased to be.

It is me that is having computer problems.

Did they give you a different day off instead?

When I worked at the University they wanted to change from a week off at Easter to three days so we had Christmas Eve and an extra day in August to compensate.

No. The only holidays our company has off are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

No. The only holidays our company has off are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.


So they took two holidays off you and didn’t give you extra vacation days or extra pay to compensate and you are happy with that?  :o

Back to work this week. We have been fairly busy, but nothing exciting, just the routine school experiments.

My son James came home yesterday for a brief visit. He had been in Scotland visiting his girlfriend and will be heading back to Cambridge on Friday.

I went to Morris dancing practice last night. Nice to get back to something normal.

Gonna run errands today. Hopefully it will be more productive than it was the last time I tried. Most of what I have to do were the things that didn't get done the last time. But now buying a new monitor is on the agenda. Gonna be spending $$$ today. Not only do I need to buy a new monitor, I also need to buy a new microwave. Mine still works but the 1 & the 8 does not.. The light under it (it is above the stove) hasn't worked for years and the filter has fallen off. I hate to replace it because I love it but it is falling apart and it is time. It is over 10 years old.

And what is always on the agenda is lunch with my friend who has been my chauffeur.


Cat

I was out and about today, important tasks, in the rain. Finally at home, and the computer took ages for it to start-up!

I was out and about today, important tasks, in the rain. Finally at home, and the computer took ages for it to start-up!

How long have you had it? Maybe you might need a new one? Or could it still be repaired?

We are now entering the final week of the month! Where does all the time go?

We are now entering the final week of the month! Where does all the time go?

February is always the quickest month, almost time for Spring soon.

Rough day yesterday, I will not go into details here, and now relaxing from it.

Rough day yesterday, I will not go into details here, and now relaxing from it.


Hope things improve for you.

Hope things improve for you.
Thank you and still suffering.

Also, I wish to inform everyone that my computer is out of action, and hopefully have a new one in a few weeks time.

Posting on a tablet is not the same.

Thank you and still suffering.

Also, I wish to inform everyone that my computer is out of action, and hopefully have a new one in a few weeks time.

Posting on a tablet is not the same.


I post on my tablet a lot because I don't feel like going up to the office to turn on the computer. I can't do everything on the tablet. Can't post videos. But I can ban spammers.


Cat

I post on my tablet a lot because I don't feel like going up to the office to turn on the computer. I can't do everything on the tablet. Can't post videos. But I can ban spammers.


Cat
Posting videos is cumbersome on a tablet, hence preferring the computer.

In the meantime, I am catching up on other matters.

Rough day yesterday, I will not go into details here, and now relaxing from it.


Sorry to hear that.  :(  Take good care, Philip.

Thank you and still suffering.

Also, I wish to inform everyone that my computer is out of action, and hopefully have a new one in a few weeks time.

Posting on a tablet is not the same.

I post on my tablet a lot because I don't feel like going up to the office to turn on the computer. I can't do everything on the tablet. Can't post videos. But I can ban spammers.


Cat


In August of 2020, my laptop of only 3 1/2 years went kaput and I had to instantly order a new one so that I could work from home... so I promptly shopped online for one, using the Amazon Prime app on my tablet. And within a week, the new laptop arrived (and that's the one I still use today). While I was waiting for it to be delivered, I could only come to this site via the tablet. That worked out fairly well. I mean, it has a much smaller screen than a PC does, but at least I was able to post on this site. And you're right, there are certain things you can't easily do on a tablet (and for me, one of those things was work from home because I needed a full screen to see everything I needed to work with).

Anyways, today was a good day for me at the office. 'Twas my first time working on Leap Day! (In 2020 it was a Saturday, and I don't work on weekends; in 2016 it was a Monday but I wasn't working every day of the week just yet. Before that, I was not employed anywhere during the month of February in any year, leap or common.)

Sorry to hear that.  :(  Take good care, Philip.


Thank you. I am feeling better today, but I have to wait for hospital treatment in a few months time.

And I still have no computer!

Thank you. I am feeling better today, but I have to wait for hospital treatment in a few months time.

And I still have no computer!


Sending you best wishes Philip.

Sending you best wishes Philip.
Thank you.