Musical Chairs

Well, here I am in a new cube at work.  God, it's so exciting.  Added to the move, I got more work piled on me today than in the last month or so.  All of it was from people who were both stressed and desperate, and components of those conversations have me concerned that the lack of a contract (on the part of all the contractors, not just me) is more of a strategy and less of an administrative delay.

Yes, I fear for my job, but I don't know what I can do about it other than do what people ask me to do.  I know better than to bother spending more time here.  The appearance of toil  will make no goddamn difference.  As long as I do a good job I'll get kept if the budget allows.  And I have no control over the budget.

I will try and restrain myself from using the ol' Amex so that I don't have a bill waiting to hatch.  I can use cash for stuff for a while.

I ran around the lake last night, and I aim to do it again today.  I don't really understand why it's so hard and why I'm so incredibly sore because my pace while running is about the same as my walking pace (my walking pace is 3.5-4mph).  You'd think, moving more or less the same speed would take the same amount of effort, but no.

I hope to hell I can keep up with this running thing, because I know already that it will make backpacking a whole lot more fun.  Besides, I still want to lose 20-25 more pounds, and running is good for that too.

And speaking of backpacking, I ordered a new sleeping bag today (with the debit card, so it's real money and all).  The guy at Nunatak who took the order was so grateful that it was kind of cute.  They are a new company, and they have some great products, all ultralight.  The other guy I talked to who has the bag I ordered said that he hadn't had a chance to use it but that it's very well constructed.

Stupid Einstein's bagels proved they aren't Einsteins by changing their stupid menu.  The eliminated the one veggie baguette sandwich.  Now the only veggie sandwiches are on bagels, and they are packaged with chips, which I don't *want* but now have to pay for.  So, it's a rip off and less veggie friendly.

Bastards.

I drove the Canyonero to work today.  I had to call Tino back in the house for advice on how to start it and pull out of a parking space.  It died the first time I tried, and then it wouldn't turn over after it died.  It's apparently the sort of vehicle that requires instructions for standard operation.  It is eleven years old, after all, and it's a very, um, eccentric vehicle.

Once it's going forward, it's fine, and I love being able to see everything around me effortlessly.