A whole number of different situations today will make for lively reading. In order of occurrence, the database strikes again. This time it was a printout of all the people who failed to return a required paycheck document. It would never have been noticed, except the company president's name was on the list. Rhonda (psst, the president is her husband) brought this up. I immediately changed his status to AX, which prevents it’s printing on most reports – but what a clear indication of the way things have changed. Information is no longer at a premium, I pushed a button for that report, and am glad if I pushed any other buttons in the process. For there is no doubt how powerful that database has become. I have now officially acted the censor.
Rhonda is off to Hawaii and I cannot figure out why. Shopping? Everything there except pineapples, expensive nuts and Oprah-sized clothes is imported and cheaper elsewhere. The decor is oh, so 1950s and as for people, you got tourists and retired military types. You can prove my next theory by watching television: anybody in the military, unless he is the general of the army or admiral of the navy, is the most boring brand of monotonous creature as ever existed. The same is true of most anyone who spends their lives following orders, but soldiers and sailors lead the pack.
I gave her the two minute lecture on what to stay away from, places like Honolulu, which is a few government buildings, but otherwise a bunch of third rate titty-bars and bricked up warehouses. Don’t stand too close to the Ala Wai Canal, I hear certain diseases are re-emerging. They are taking a package tour which includes the outlying islands. Where there is even less excitement and still more scenery.
The lottery is 27 million, so Florida’s best run pool swings back into motion. Last pool was January 24 this year, thus we already have a record turnout, 180 tickets and it is only Tuesday. If the subscribers make it before noon Wednesday, it could mean 200 tickets and a record chance to win. That would be $650,000 before the co...., um, I mean the hardworking, loyal government people take their fair and hard-earned share to do such a fine job of running this country.
The inclement weather is slowing down my auto repair jobs. The Caddy was in the shop, but no headway. The Sunbird has lots of news instead. The fuel pump was indeed broken and replaced. This peeled another layer off the onion, for you see, the last owner had put a lot of money into the car. Our guess is about $600. The rocker arm broke. Oil everywhere, and it needs a new motor. My advantage is that new motor only costs me $250. The battery, generator, belts, everything else on the broken motor and the air conditioner looks very shiny and new. Our guess is the motor blew up a short time after the owner had put all this on the car, and he also blew up and gave the car to charity, where it wound up in our hands. It is still slow to get Manuel to accept this as just another challenge. That we don’t have to move that car as fast as possible to meet our bills and deadlines. All is fine if it sits, it is still a good investment already, no matter how long it sits now, within reason.
[Author's note: published 2014-05-01 Light explanation of the above: I devised a database for the company where none existed before. I didn't charge them for it. Rhonda was a character I used to work with, sharp lady. I am not a fan of Hawaii. I ran the lottery pool at work, a highly-automated system that ensured everybody's tickets were logged and listed all potential payouts in advance. That's likely what I'm most remembered for in the other departments. I'm rebuilding a Sunbird, but eventually had to sell it when I could not find parts for the power windows.]
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