Thursday

[susandennis]

Last night, I was sitting on my bed playing a mindless computer game and listening to my book when I kept hearing an intriguing background noise. Living downtown, you get used to hearing sirens and traffic but this was something else... It was rain. My only access to the outside in this loft is doors to the terrace which are about 30 feet from my bed on the other side of my 3/4ths bedroom wall.

One of the very few things I do not like about this condo is that I can never hear the rain. (There is a whole floor of units above me.) I got up to go see for sure and wow. It was pouring down buckets. It was east coast rain - not the rain we usually have - but a gully washer. And it went on for a really long time. It was pretty amazing.

And I went to sleep listening. Usually I have my Echo play me thunderstorms but I didn't need them last night! And I usually wake up 20-30 minutes before the alarm goes off. Not this morning. It jolted me awake. And good thing because today is one of the two days a week that the pool closes for lap swimming at 9 so I need to get there and get my swim in before it does.

The pool was way too hot today. By the end of my swim it felt like hot tub hot. Ugh. Usually it's fine. Often, it's brrrrrrr when I first get in but fine after 3 laps. Today it was just hot. Not fun. Hopefully, it's a one off OR I'll get used to it.

I have two books waiting at the library. There's a huge soccer game tonight. If I'm going to the library, it needs to be sooner than later or tomorrow. I am dipping my toe back into crock pot today. As I recall, the problem is that by 3:30, the house smells amazingly delicious and at 5:30 the dinner disappoints. We'll see.

I got a letter from my insurance company (the one I am leaving) saying that I will no longer be covered at the end of this year. I thought that the coverage ended as soon as the new company got the application... So maybe I have double coverage til the end of the year? Still no word from the new outfit. As long as I can swim at the gym for free every day, I'm cool.

I've really grown accustomed to my retired life and learned to enjoy the heck out of it but there are still a few things I miss about my working life. I still have work dreams - lots of them - always great experiences.

Yesterday morning, my brother, who owns a small computer company, called me with a curious case of What The Fuck Is Going On Here. One of his customers thought her business was getting hijinked. And it sure looked like that. Anyway he wanted to run it by me and see what I thought. We talked about various things that could be happening and I came up with a decent idea for repatriation and then we hung up while he called his customer and I did some research. I found a couple of very relevant things. Over the course of yesterday, and a few more insights, it all came clear.

This morning he called me back and gave me the What Happened. It was really interesting but the coolest part was that he said what led him to the ultimate discovery was the remedy I proposed and the research I did. That feels so nice. It's a sense of worth that I just don't get any more. Retirement is great but feeling that again was very cool. Thanks, Bro!

And my new phone does GREAT video phone calls. Not that I really need it for phone calls at all. :)

I LOVE voting by mail. Washington State gave us an absentee option in the early 90's and I grabbed it. I have not been to a polling place since and I do not miss it at all - especially when I see those long lines.



Ok, I think I'll go make a doll and then go library.

Comments

[solteronita.livejournal.com]

Until I moved to Massachusetts a few years ago, I had never voted in person! Vote by mail started in Oregon the year I turned 18. So for me it's kind of a novelty to vote in person. However, I really like that in Vermont you can choose your own adventure: request a mail ballot, go into your local office and vote early whenever you feel like it (after they have the ballots, of course), or wait until election day and go to your polling place.

[susandennis]

Oh interesting! I guess, since Washington moved to all mail ballots, there are a growing number of you... folks who have never seen a poll. It does sound like Vermont does it right. (I love reading about your Vermont adventures, btw.)

[zhelana.livejournal.com]

I love the sound of rain. I wish Georgia had absentee voting for people who were still going to be in the state on voting day. I'll go early, next Monday, but there will likely still be a line.

[susandennis]

This was truly Georgia rain without the thunder and lightening (which we rarely get). My Mom used to call that kind of storm 'Get the car out of the garage and let God wash it!'

[zhelana.livejournal.com]

lol!

[fitzjameshorse.livejournal.com]

I am a political junkie.
I find those long lines at polling stations in USA very surprising.
I presume it is a slow process because its about Presidential, but some Gubnatorial , Senate, Representative plus State, county, city ballots etc.

[susandennis]

Yeah a presidential year ballot usually includes a whole bunch of state and local stuff. We had 34 different things to vote on - some of them not people and confusing. Plus I think not enough polling places and untrained volunteers and mucho regulations. It's a mess.

[goddessdi.livejournal.com]

I think one thing that's hard is that our careers become so much of our identity and self worth that the loss of that can be so hard. It's so great that you were able to feel like you made a meaningful contribution!

[susandennis]

I had a wonderful work life. I enjoyed it while I was in it and the memory is sweet. So, yeah, being without is still a little strange even now 4 years after retirement.

[maju01.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever not voted in person. I've voted absentee once or twice, going to a polling place away from home, and I've voted at the Australian Embassy here in DC once. I think in Australia you're only supposed to vote by post if it's impossible for you to get to a polling place on election day.

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

So excited to have already voted by mail! I think all states need to do this. It would definitely improve voter turnout.

[luzclarita.livejournal.com]

I love coming back to vote by mail!

As for crockpot, I have good luck with meat, stew, chili and soup, but all those one pot wonders seem to do horribly. I love crock pot BBQ pulled pork. Make a batch and then eat it all week in tacos, sandwiches, enchiladas, you name it.

[susandennis]

Oh, that pulled pork thing is a good idea. Thanks!

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I love to just listen to the rain. I have an app to play rain on a tarp to me when I can't sleep.

Well done for your part in getting to the bottom of the mystery for your brother's client.

I vote by post here but my husband won't as he says he doesn't trust it