Of Course It Got Complicated

Apologies for the delay in posting, especially as I'm sure you were all keen to find out what happened with my little reunion this past weekend. As things will, things got a little... complicated that night and I felt it best to sort through my thoughts and memories before committing them to print in a horribly incomplete or inaccurate manner. I'm sure there's still something I don't recall properly or a conversation I've yet to grasp the point of but, well, that's life isn't it? Sometimes we don't understand things that happen to us, sometimes we forget important lessons that life teaches us, and sometimes larger events blot out life's little details.

Now, with the 'disclaimer' in place, Saturday evening.

Getting to Scott's house was no fun at all. The weather didn't cooperate, drizzling this fine mist over the area. Due to the downwards direction of the temperature, this fine mist wanted desperately to freeze but somehow never quite managed it. As the roads did become slippery because of the precipitation, the traffic became messier and messier. The driving conditions weren't awful but some caution was called for in order to proceed safely. As per usual this meant that some drivers crept along at a snail's pace while others flew along as if it were bright and sunny out. Once I found the pace I was comfortable with, I'd get stuck behind a slower car and, before I could safely get around them, a speed demon would hang onto my bumper. Over and over again this situation occurred. I hate that.

Now grouchy but safe, I made it to the suburb where Scott and his family live. I'm familiar with the area in general and expected no issues locating his street or house; that is until I was unable to identify any of my landmarks in the dark. Holiday lights obscured address markers. I drove up and down one street three times until I realized that I'd turned right when I should have turned left and really needed to be on the other side of the nearby major street in order to be in the correct part of the subdivision.

According to my own plan, I was now late. There was no real start time to the gathering, no arrive by such-and-such a time so we can eat dinner or anything like that. I was only late in my own head but, coupled with my frustration over the weather and the drive, it mattered. I took a moment in the car to relax before heading inside.

Scott's wife met me at the door. We'd not previously met but both of us have pictures available to see online so we were able to recognize each other. Natalie is an attractive little blond lady. While I didn't vocalize the thought, I was amused that my big buddy Scott, both tall and burly, should get hitched to this little lady, both petite and diminutive.

A downside to being late to a party is that everyone else is already there. Natalie politely took me around to the rest of the gang to say hi and introduce me to their significant others. I was the only one there by myself. Not for the last time that night I wished Sarah Jean was in town this weekend. I was assaulted by names during this process. I do not retain names well. This did nothing to relax me, quite the opposite actually.

Even while unaware of the nerves running through me, Natalie did her best to make me comfortable. She got me a beer, made sure it was a brand I liked, and fussed over me a bit. I got the impression over the course of the evening that this is just her nature. She's a very sweet lady. I reassured her I'd be fine and tossed myself into the pool of my old friends.

Reflecting back upon my thought processes while planning to go, I'm unable to really identify my expectations for the evening. These are people that I used to have fun with years ago. I guess I expected that there might be some trouble do to the way that we left each other's company but we would still have a good time together. A little catching up, a little polite lack of comfortability that would fade after a few minutes of reminiscing, right?

Yeah, not so much.

I need this to be quick

Spent most of today cleaning for Sarah Jean's visit next weekend because I don't know what kind of time I'll have during the week. I'm hoping that it'll stay quiet and I can slip out early once or twice but I can't plan for that to happen. If I do, interns will call in sick and another group will attack the upgrade plan and I'll end up having to stay late, rewriting the plan as I answer phones. If I plan on staying late, maybe it'll reverse that luck.

Anyway, it's raining a bit and I'm late for the reunion. Well, late only because I wanted to be gone already. Must go.

Tired

The upgrade plan got approved today. Lots of bemoaning and crying and gnashing of teeth about how IT never thinks about anything but themselves and how we don't want anyone else to succeed and so on. Most of their complaining was to be heard, not that the plan didn't support their needs. There were some scheduling things I was unaware of but that was mostly due to departments not getting back to me when I asked for information, or even begged for information. They get 'so busy' and can't get back to me and then it's my fault that I don't know when one group or another is planning to work during break. Knock on wood it's over. There's still a couple of work days before break so who knows what else will happen.

I'm going to try to ignore that now. Tomorrow is the reunion over at Scott's house and I really just want to relax and be able to enjoy that time.

Man I hope that goes well.

I so love this...

My coat 'magically' returned today, so that was nice.

The planning for the updates and upgrades we are doing over break is wearing me out. The plan was due today and I did have it complete and ready to review but 'due today' probably means 'getting approved on Friday', despite the fact that I got the go-ahead to do this a month ago. That was a general 'sure, you should do that' sort of approval. Now that it's close to happening, supervisors are actually reviewing the plan and finding issues with it.

I'd be more annoyed but this happens every year. I get ignored until the last minute and then everything I do is wrong.

Continuity. Sigh.

C'mon...

Now my coat is missing from work.

Really? Really?

It was cold today too. Fink.

Huh

My lunch didn't get stolen today. The note worked? I'm not sure what to think about that. Part of me feels stupid for not trying it earlier. Part of me thinks that was just too simple.

I kinda miss my lunch thief. Not that much but it felt odd to actually eat what I'd brought for lunch today.

Maybe he or she just took today off. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Excellent!!!

Okay. I think I can get through this without mad excitement now. I can be calm and collected.

Sarah Jean's coming for a visit!!!

Ahem. Sarah Jean is a lady type friend of mine of which I'm rather fond. I hesitate to use the term 'girlfriend' when referring to her as it tends to leave the wrong impression about our relationship. She is an intelligent, attractive young lady and I am, well, me. We are solid friends but I'm of the opinion that she is well out of my league. She is no doubt well aware of this opinion as she has telepathic abilities. This is how I got the news of her impending visit; she 'radioed' me the information this afternoon.

She's planning to be here during the school break. If the upgrades go well, we should have plenty of time to hang out together. If they don't go well... well, let's not think about that, hmm?

Now I really can't wait for break!