Fucking Subaru.  My car won’t start.  The battery is dead.  It started yesterday when I pulled it out of my parking spot to spread some salt.  And when I pulled it back in.  I guess I should have left the car running like my neighbor did to charge the battery.  She’s long gone to work (so I can’t ask for a jump start.)

I called Subaru roadside assistance since I’m still under warranty.  I got a recording.  “Due to severe conditions in your area, we are experiencing extensive delays.”  What do you think extensive would be?  2-3 hours?  Try 8!  E-i-g-h-t! Holy shit!  That means they can’t get to me until around 9 p.m.  Fuck!  Guess I won’t be going to work tomorrow, either.

I was all set to go to the grocery store.  I didn’t need much, but I was planning on getting some milk (ran out this morning), evaporated milk (to make pumpkin pie) and a pecan pie—the one I’m allowed yearly.  Do you know how sad it is to have your taste buds set for one of your most favorite foods in the world, and then be denied?  Well, I guess I could spend the afternoon making 1 pumkin pie.  (I’d planned to make 2.)  That’s an acceptable compromise. 

I’ve completed my icons for this week’s Jared Stillness contest.  (The theme is so cute this week.)  Actually, I’m working on a 4th (because one of them is very similar to an icon I already had “published”), but it’s not turning out the way I’d like.  Well, now I have plenty of time to work on it.

I suppose I can also get back up to speed on my Supernatural Death Tally.  (Yeah, I know I’m not being consistent in what I’m calling it.  That’s just the way I roll.)  I totally forgot about it yesterday until around 9 pm, and so I ended the glorious day (post-shoveling) watching the uber-awesome “Nightshifter,” one of Supernatural’s best episodes ever.

All in all, life is pretty sweet.  Just hope I get some wheels (& milk) soon.

The great snow storm of oh-nine has come and gone.  The biggest snowstorm in the history of the region left us with 16½” of snow at Reagan National Airport (only a couple miles from me),  6′ piles of snow left by the plows, beautiful 4′ drifts, and lots of tired, aching muscles.  Oh, and a Federal government that’s closed tomorrow.  Snow day!  Wheeee!

I went to bed last night absolutely dreading today.  I decided I’d go out 3 times and work for 15 minutes each.  When I went out the first time, about 9:30, my neighbor was out cleaning off his car.  (Well, not his, but his wife/co-habitant’s.)  Turns out he’s an old pro.  He’s from Connecticut and went to college in upstate New York.  And he’s young.  And male (better upper-body strength, ya know).  God bless him, he helped me clean off my car and shovel me out.  Then he helped my other neighbor.  She’s baking him cookies.  Perhaps I’ll bake a pie for him.  Anyone got a better idea of something to do for him?

So, here’s the pre-shovel wonderland.

We’re supposed to get over 10″ (and more like 15-20″) of snow tomorrow.  In a place where 4″ is a blizzard!  The  weatherman says it’s going to be the biggest storm we’ve seen in years.  The governor of Virginia has already declared a state of emergency—and not one flake has fallen!

I was supposed to get my hair cut in the morning and had another appointment in the afternoon about 30 miles away.  I just called the salon and they said my hairdresser is planning on coming in tomorrow.  But she lives fairly far out in the area that’s supposed to get the most snow.  I think once she gets up and sees the snow, she’ll reconsider.  Of course, if she doesn’t work, she doesn’t get paid.  Worse, this area is overflowing with Type-A types who’ll probably be pissed if she doesn’t come in.  But geez, her husband had a heart transplant a few years ago.  I think it’s better for her to be safe.

Although I didn’t really need anything from the grocery store, I stopped by to get some cheese I’ve become very fond of.  And since I was thinking about baking (pumpkin pies) this weekend, I picked up some eggs and condensed milk.  The store was crraazzzyy!  One youngish guy came by with his cart full of  beer.  (Hee!)  Later, when he was picking up some kitty litter (double hee!), I noticed he had some sodas, too.  He probably won’t get a chance to get to the store before Sunday football, so I figured he was getting ready for the game.  [Oh, I just realized he was probably getting the litter for his car.  He didn't really look like a cat person.]

As I passed the gas station, there was a line there, too.  I’m so happy I filled my tank earlier this week!

And I am so freakin’ double uber-happy I got all my Christmas presents out last night!

What?!?  No Supernatural tonight?!?!  I don’t care if it is a rerun, it’s on my death-toll watch schedule, and there’s already not enough weeks to rerun everything.  Well, I’ll show them!  I’ll just watch the copy that’s on my DVR.  So there, Vampire Diaries! :þ

I spent some time at the post office on my way home tonight.  Actually, it wasn’t too bad.  But when I got to the very front of the line, some asshole starts nervously running around in front of the counter.  I thought maybe he’d forgotten his credit card or something, but nope, he was looking for a pen.   One of the clerks gave him one.  Then, when I get to the counter, he does his routine again.  The clerk next to me (the one who gave him the pen) tells him he has to pay for it.  (I don’t know what “it” was, nor do I care.)  He said “Do I have to get in line?”  The clerk said no and let him pay for whatever.  My clerk was pissed!  He commented on all the people waiting in line.  And then he rolled his eyes.  I love him!

I have one present left to mail.  My schedule had me going to UPS tomorrow.  (Yes, my life is one schedule after another, but it seems to be working so far.)  But it’s still early enough, so I’m going to do it tonight.  Unlike my previous packages, this one is already packed and boxed.  It should be a breeze.  If I can find a parking spot.  And then I will reward myself by going to Baja Fresh and getting a shrimp burrito.  And maybe some chips.  I already have dessert; leftovers from our office Christmas party.  Yummm!

Ah yesterday.  I found the coffee mess at work.  And the candy dish!  What more could I ask for?

How about a job where I don’t have to work shifts?  Nah, that’d be too much to ask for.  Especially from an organization that doesn’t give a shit about me.

I saw the gal I’m going to be working for today.  (I remember when I was her teacher.  *sigh*  I don’t begrudge her, she’s good.  But I feel a little blue for me.)  She said she’s been spending all her time on the organization chart.  She pulled it out for me and said I was slated to be a “battle captain,” which means a shift worker.  Granted, it’s the boss of the shift workers, but it’s still fucking shift work.  I told her I can’t do shift work because of my age and heart condition.  She said I’d have to take that up with P.G.  (I wouldn’t mind giving his name, but I’ll try to be “nice” about this.)  I told her I already had.  I then gave her a knowing look and she understood.

When I told P.G. about my concerns being a battle captain, he “understood” and said it wasn’t a “good fit,” mainly because of my seniority.  But I’ve worked with this guy before and I know he’s a fucking snake in the grass and I can’t believe a goddamn word he says.  Obviously, this just proves it.

Actually, I’m a lot more ok than my bitching and cursing indicate, mainly because 1) I sort of expected it, and 2) I have options.  Not great options, but at least something.

And it’s Supernatural night.  And even though it’s a rerun, it’s a great episode, even if it’s a little short on Jared Padalecki.  (Ha! “Short” and “Jared Padalecki” used in the same sentence!  That’s gotta be a first.    Sometimes I amuse myself greatly.)

It’s been snowing all day, but has finally tapered off.  Good thing I have enough milk, bread and toilet paper!

Just kidding.  The temperature’s been warm enough that it hasn’t really stuck to anything other than the cars in the parking lot.  But it’s been a great excuse to stay indoors all day.  Not that I needed snow as an excuse to stay inside.

The day’s also been nice because I get to take reprieve from wrapping Christmas presents.  I set a schedule for wrapping and mailing packages and got the first one sent off last night.  I still can hardly believe it.  Accomplishing something on time is such an unusual feeling for the world’s greatest procrastinator.  But I’m bound and determined to get my Christmas gifts mailed in time this year!

Tomorrow’s schedule is to pack up the iPhone to return to AT&T.  (I’m still within my 30-day limit.)  Apparently I’m the only person in America who’s not thrilled with the iPhone.  But then, I can’t use it for the bulk of my waking hours, and when I can, I haven’t figured out how to do the I want to do.  I figure I’m better off just getting a pay-as-you-go phone.  I really does better suit my baby boomer and introvert tendencies to not be on the phone 24/7.

I’ve spent most of the day working on my Supernatural death tally table.  So many false starts, and it’s still not right.  Ugh.

Speaking of designs, I suppose it’s time to find a winter scene for my header, now that we’ve had our first snow of the season.

My drive to work this morning was really annoying.  First of all, I think I hit every red light possible.  And other drivers were were doing weird and crazy things.  (Of course I can’t remember specifically those weird and crazy things were now, but trust me, whatever it was, it was out of the ordinary.  And weird. )  I wondered if there must be a full moon.  On the way home, I saw the moon.  Guess what?  It was full!  (I am awesome.  Sometimes.)

As for me, I left my wallet at work.  I had my purse, but my wallet is in my file cabinet.  I didn’t find out until I stopped at the post office (it’s already getting busy!) to mail a package.  Oops.  Guess the full moon got me, too.

I did up some stats today for the Supernatural casualty challenge.  They are really interesting.  I’m going to post something about them on Sci Fi Chick/s.  Hopefully later tonight.  After I wrap a couple Christmas presents.  And sort through the mail.

Yay!  My team got an early Christmas present at work.  We were supposed to gear up for a big conference in December (we do these every month, but with different “customers”); but we were having difficulty getting everything scheduled without going into Christmas week.

I was finally able to talk the schedulers into pushing  the conference back to January.  So the team gets one month off to catch our breath and fine tune some things.  Unfortunately, when I went to give folks the great news, everybody had left for the day.  Oh well, it’ll give me something to look forward tomorrow.

I’ve been so busy during the day, I just flop when I get home.  And since I work in IT and sit in front of a computer most of the day, I have no interest in getting online when I get home.  And since, I don’t have WordPress or LiveJournal at work, I can’t get up to date during lunch.  I’m afraid I’m going to lose touch with all my LJ friends.

The good news is, while I can’t say I love my job, I feel I’m making things better.  I haven’t felt that way since 2001.

The job is not really “important” in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a program  the big boss, a 3-star general, likes.  (For you non-military types, there’s only a 4-star general ranks higer.)

I’ve even had a few small successes.  I was able to charm the general’s aide.  (Actually, all I said was “I used to be a Navy officer,” and his whole demeanor changed.)  And I got a small kudo from the general himself.

But the best reward came from my team.

During a meeting that included a couple team members, a guy we’ll call “Joe” asked me was where I was slated to go in the new organization.  (That new organization being the new CyberCom which you may [or may not] have heard about.)   I told him I’m destined for  a division of shift work.  (A trauma in and of itself which is I won’t discuss here.)   During the meeting, Joe got off on some pretty broad tangents (good tangents, but we were pressed for time that he was taking up).  The next day, I mentioned how the 2 team members who’d been with me got a chance to see how Joe’s mind works.  Instead, they told me they really didn ”t pay much attention in the meeting.  All they could think about was losing me.

Wow.  Only in the last few years have I realized I’m actually a good leader.  So to not only be working for lousy bosses, but also having them not listen to me, has been extremely draining.  Being in a position where I’m making a change for the better has been a great boost to my morale.  And being appreciated for it, especially by these folks who are truly awesome, means the world to me.

Of course, this euphoria might be due to the fact that all the idjits were out last week.

Since I was out most of last week, I met with my team this morning to get back up to speed.  The minute I closed the door, the bitching began.  That’s not meant to disparage them.  This is a great team, so their complaints were valid.

Last Friday afternoon, one of the officers (we’ll call her Jane) went into panic mode.  Her boss (we’ll call him Tom) asked for some information by 3:30, so  she proceeded to get the team spun up.  The  team already had the information (since it’s part of what they regularly do), but apparently it wasn’t what Jane wanted, or it wasn’t enough.

As more and more idiotss people got involved, the tasking just escalated.  When the team missed the 3:30 deadline, Jane  yelled at these people, telling them their work was unacceptable.

When the data was finally given to Tom, turns out, all he’d wanted was one slide from a brief we’d already done.  It would have taken 2 seconds.  The 3:30 deadline would have been met, people wouldn’t have had stay until 7:00 pm (on a Friday), and panicky phone calls to people at home wouldn’t have been necessary.  All because Jane didn’t understand what Tom was asking for.

I wonder if Jane realizes the whole incident is her fault and she made an ass of herself.  Honestly, I don’t think she’s smart enough to recognize it.

I’m not sure how I’ll be able to help.  I can give Jane recommendations and feedback, but even though we’re equal rank, I doubt she’ll listen to me.   I don’t think she understands I have a strong background, more years experience, and am a better leader than she.  If nothing else, I can hopefully be a shit filter.