I hate it when I get myself

A student calls for assistance with a password problem.

Me: "So where are you trying to log in from?" 

We were having trouble with one of our websites and I needed to know which site the student was trying to log into.

Student:  "The library."

Ok.  I asked for that.  The student was not being a smart ass.  It was an honest answer.

Me: "I meant what address."

Yes.  That is exactly how I worded it.  Obviously I did not learn my lesson with the first answer I received.  I was hoping to get the web site address.

Student:  "I don't know.  Let me check."


I hear the student set the phone down.  A few minutes later he picks the phone up and gives me the physical address for the school.

(Face Palm)

I really deserved that.

Everyone I worked with got a good laugh at my expense.  It would have been wrong to not share that call.

It's a New Year

Things are finally settling down and I am getting used to my new job.  The weather has been strange.  Dearth and I played tennis on the 30th of December and again on New Years Day.  It was warm enough for shorts and t-shirts (once you got warmed up).

Last week the temperature was actually cold.  Tuesday and Wednesday dropped below freezing.  Now we are back up to tennis weather. 

Our New Years Eve was very exciting.  Dearth was out with his girlfriend.  Deb was not feeling well and went to bed around 9pm.  I stayed up playing Skyrim (on the XBox) until Dearth got home (I'm a little silly that way).  I did have a nice stiff drink (grapefruit juice on the rocks).  What can I say?  I'm a party animal.

Happy Christmas (a little late)

We survived another Christmas. 

Dearth was even more excited this year than most.  He was in bed by 9pm on Christmas Eve.  He was given instructions to not wake us until after 5:30am. 

He woke us at 5:37am.  We had a good time.  The cats all chipped in where they could be the most disruptive.

The highlight of the morning was pulling a joke on Dearth.  All the presents, under the tree, were opened.  We told Dearth to go out to the car and get another one of his presents out of the trunk.  He went outside to get a 36 pack of Brisk (iced tea) with a bow on it.  While he was doing that I moved the electric guitar (this is the gift he was hoping to find) on to the chair he had been sitting on.  The reaction was priceless.  The best part was that I didn't have to carry that heavy 36 pack into the apartment.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas also.

Good thing I had a book

I almost hate to post this after last year, but it is four days until Christmas.  It is almost 70 degrees outside.  Normally it is cooler.

So what does this mean?  Last night I woke up a 2am sweating.  Athena was sleeping near (almost on) my head.  Jo was stretched out the length of my legs.  I was on the very edge of the bed.  Topaz was sleeping in the middle of the 3 or 4 feet of open space between Jo and Deb.

Fine. 

I got out of bed and went into the living room.  I was reading Changes (book 12 in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files) and decided to get a few pages in.  I finished the book at 4am.  Oops.  Oh well.  Sleep isn't as important as finding out what happens to Harry Dresden.

I get back to bed.  No one has moved.  I push Jo over and reclaim my comforter.  I toss a bit getting comfortable under the blanket.  Jo waits for me to settle and lays back down next to my legs.  He makes a point of leaning against me and sliding down.  This is to ensure he is as close as physically possible.  I heat up fast and Jo's evil plan pays out.  I kick most of the comforter off and he makes a nest of it.  He puts a paw on my leg.  I guess he just wanted to let me know that it was a good try.

I over sleep.  I rush out of bed, get showered and dressed for work.  I kiss Deb good bye.  Athena was still on the pillow and Jo was still in the middle of my comforter.  Sigh...

Sometimes Simple is Best

There is a place down the road from my new workplace. It is Tony’s Hotdogs. It is a little dive that reminds me of every “greasy spoon” eatery I have ever been in. The difference is the menu. They serve hotdogs, coffee, and four or five different flavors of soda.


The hotdogs come with chili (no beans), mustard and onions. You have the option of holding the onions and/or the mustard. Cheese or sauerkraut may be added for a .15 fee (each). There are no sides. There are no desserts. If you want those you will need to go elsewhere.

It is simple and fast. The two men behind the counter were friendly and efficient. The customers were mostly men and a lot of them were regulars (reading papers and chatting on a first name basis with the guys serving the dogs).

The hotdogs were pretty good. They weren’t the best I’ve ever had, but I’ll go back. I don’t recommend asking for ketchup if you are over the age of 10 though.

Death Wishes

The boy hasn’t been feeling well for the last few days. Today he went to school, but left early. Deb sent me a text.


Deb: Your son said I need to color my hair because he feels old seeing my white hair… the back and sides are getting bad. This as we are in the school parking lot.

Me: How long did it take him to walk home?

An Evening in Front of the Tube

We were watching hockey on TV tonight.  The Penguins were playing the Flyers.  It is probably the only time we will all cheer for the Penguins.  Deb is a Penguins fan, but Dearth and myself will cheer for them because they are playing the Flyers.

One funny moment during the game was when the announcer described a great play made by a Pittsburg defenseman.  I should note that Dearth and I constantly rib Deb about the Penguins players diving or taking dives (to draw penalties).  The announcer says "He makes a terrific diving poke check!".  Deb's eyes get big and she gets a bit indignant.  "What?"  We had to explain that a poke check is when you knock the puck away from the opposing team using the stick.  Of course I couldn't let it go.  "Diving poke checks can only be made by Penguins."

I made sure she wasn't holding anything that could do me any harm.  Dearth almost got kicked when he laughed though.  It was a win win comment.

Jo was sacked out during the game.  Looking very comfy on one of the living room chairs (made for a human enjoyed by the feline).  He manages to twist himself up on his back with his legs all going different directions.  Dearth can't help but rub his belly a few times when he walks by him.  "He looks too comfy not to mess with."  He told me this as Jo caught him.  A few claw marks and a couple noms to the knuckles showed him who was boss.  To add insult to injury, everytime Dearth played with Jo's tummy the silly cat would reposition himself in a way that looked more comfy than the first.