Jingle Bells, Santa Smells, Surgery's on its Way........

 .......Oh what fun it is to ride in a beat up Chevrolet!

All right.  This afternoon I was over at the specialist for a couple of hours.  I came home a bit woozy and it wore off an hour or so ago.  The surgery will occur in 2 to 3 weeks, pending approval from Evil Private Insurance Company.  Once Evil Private Insurance Company approves it, we set it up, and I go in.

I will be out of commission for the day of the surgery and the day after.  But it won't be over.  I have to go in again for another surgery, which I'm sure Evil Private Insurance Company will approve.  My co-pay on this one will be a few bills, maybe $500, and Evil Private Insurance Company will pick up most of it.  I don't know why this company is evil, but the prevailing narrative is private insurance is evil.

OK, I have my issues with them from time to time, but I want to stick with Evil Private Insurance Company.  I know, I'm evil.  I have private insurance from Evil Private Insurance Company and I have been known to shop at Evil Walmart from time to time.  I'm sure I was born that way.  

In other news, most of all else is well.  I am somewhat concerned over a few people leaving my employer.  I don't think it's the business outlook.  Funding from the customer on my project has slowed down, but I see this as temporary.  They are now popping some money for some special testing that we want to do, and the official position six months ago was that this testing wasn't going to happen.  I figured back then it would be, because part of this design doesn't have flight heritage.  Developing flight hardware isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world to do.  Materials have to survive all sorts of cosmic radiation, varying pressures and temperatures, in addition to being shot up there on a rocket.  We have to know that it will work before we fly.

That is going to be it this evening.  Life is busy these days.

It's what I get for being evil.

Remaining Positive When Some Don't Want You To

 There has been quite a bit to digest over these past few weeks.  I feel like I'm in some sort of alternate universe, watching theater that Tom Clancy himself couldn't have imagined putting into one of his novels, and wondering what's next.  I can guess at what's next but again, I am not in the prediction business, even if I might have a better batting average than Sylvia Browne did.

Casting all of that aside, I have been concentrating on my blessings.  Many are the times when Sheila and I are upstairs laying on the bed, and mentioning how blessed we are.  We've had an expensive plumbing repair here.  I will be needing some surgery soon for one issue, and I'll know more about that in a few days.  And we are extensively blessed!

My job is going well.  I'm more entrenched into the quasi-management position of Lead Test Engineer.  My direct report is to program management and the program chief engineer.  I know that they're glad that I am on board, but I can't take that for granted.  Every day I have to do something to make them glad they hired me.  Every day I have to go to bed a little bit less ignorant.  Right now I have a hot project, but I also have help with it. 

What has changed is that we're no longer putting in overtime, and I have spare time again.  I've been spending it on ham radio, listening to distant AM stations at night, listening to air traffic on my 2 meter handheld (it can also function as a scanner) and I've been doing some reading as well.  

I also have been doing some cooking.  I have a weakness for curry dishes and there is more than one type of dish that I do.  Sometimes it's a golden curry from scratch and other times it's based on a red Thai curry paste, or butter chicken, or korma curry.  I also do chili from scratch, which always manages to taste better on the next day.  

As for COVID, we're getting a spike here in Arizona.  To my knowledge the curfew has been extended but I haven't seen anything on the local news that says it has.  I am remaining home to the extent that cabin fever will allow and even if I do go out I don't go out far.  I personally know people who have been exposed to it and I already know a fatality.  Uncle Joe's going to need all the luck he can get on this one.  

That's pretty much it.  I have no complaints.  Yes, I could invent a few, but today won't be the day for that.