In a Weird Way I Missed Them

Today was the last day of work at the Valve Store(tm) until next Tuesday because of getting a 4 day weekend off for Christmas. Every year, as we get to the end of the final work day before this holiday, various employees will punch 6 on their phones, activating the paging system, and broadcast a loud, “Merry Christmas from Line 6” (or SBSA or Nuclear or whatever.)

I always find these very cringe-worthy and am far from being alone. One notable detractor was our previous Director of Operations, he hated it, but didn’t want to come across as a Scrooge, so he let it go on. Hey, it is only once a year and the hourly Janey Lunchpails got a kick out of it.

The new Director started last October and he is not so worried about what folks think of him. After he got an earful of all the “Merry Christmas froms” last year, he decided that was just not professional and would not be tolerated. There was no official word that the new Big Cheese didn’t want that to go on anymore, but word did filter down through the ranks somehow.

From 2:30 to 3:30PM today the paging system was oddly quiet and even though I thought the practice was kinda stupid, I missed hearing it.

I Dare Anyone

To not enjoy this video and/or not get this song stuck in their head.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf_hdFSnOEI

The Sweet Smell Of Decay

I haven’t turned all morbid, stared taking mortician training courses at the local junior college or anything, but me merely enjoying the slowly drying out of our real pine wreath hanging on the inside of our front door.

Mail Call!

In today’s mail:

  1. a check for $18.04 from the Foreign Currency Fee Litigation Settlement Fund. My first thought was that it was a scam, but an internet search led me to the BBB and to Reuters’ saying otherwise.
  2. a mailer from Kroger chock full of coupons.
  3. a statement from Hyundai Finance reminding me of my next Purple Whale payment, including a handy payment coupon even though they know I have it set up as an automatic payment from my bank.
  4. and a couple of Christmas cards. One of which included a bunch of old photos of Donna’s family.

The above photo, circa mid 80’s*, was taken in New Orleans. I immediately recognized Donna, but it took me a while to figure out who she was holding on to. Yikes, it’s me! Donna looks just about like she does now, but that person she is standing next to looks nothing like the old guy I see in the mirror every morning.

Try as I might, I couldn’t conclusively make out what is embroidered on the shirt, best guess is Louisiana State University.

*Photo dating clues were Donna’s big glasses, my positive amount of hair, the bicycle helmet I am holding onto and the shortness of my shorts.