CafeChatNoir

Murphy’s law being what it is, the cleaning ladies arrived at 6. There is an exceptionally disturbing amount of crashing and banging going on upstairs as they are getting things done, so it’s probably a good thing that a) this is their last visit and b) I am usually not here when they do the work. I find it to be completely unnerving – though nothing has ever been broken, it always sounds like they’re taking out one of the walls when they’re working. Everything on my nightstands also gets rearranged, but that I can deal with – except when I can’t find something, but things always turn up eventually.

I got out and ran this afternoon and unfortunately have yet to be able to get a shower in cause I didn’t particularly want to be IN the shower when they arrived… I’m half tempted to just say, “Nice job, go home” so I can get myself cleaned up…

That pause you may not have detected was my having to move my bed since the dog got stuck behind it while hiding from the vacuum cleaner. He likes the cleaning ladies just fine, he sees the vacuum and he’s gone. And I can’t put him in the backyard right now because the lawn guys have arrived as well.

OK, the cleaning ladies have taken off (I retreated to the bedroom and have stuck with the dog) so I think it’s safe to go back downstairs without fear of getting squirted with windex or run over by the vac.

At least 50 people have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in central Baghdad, Iraqi security officials say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5048116.stm

OK, I don’t claim to have an in depth understanding of what on earth is going on over there right now beyond complete chaos, but this is downright bizarre. 50 people rounded up and taken off, mainly employees of travel agencies and their customers, by persons wearing Iraqi special security forces uniforms. Interior ministry is saying it was definitely NOT “officially sanctioned.” (This sounds much less like “kidnapping” than “just go get those people and bring them in.” I can’t see how you can “kidnap” 50 people in the traditional grab & dash sense.)

First, it sure seems that everyone and their brother has access to some sort of “official” uniform of some branch of the Iraqi defense/security forces. Second, what the hell do you want with a bunch of travel agents? The agencies in question don’t even do big time international travel – in country or to Jordan or Syria. (Granted, it has been stated in the past that insurgent forces are coming from these two nations among others.)

So – do we have a group of breakaways who actually do work for the security forces and have decided that they will take matters into their own hands as far as determining who is going to/from Syria and Jordan and why, in some attempt to stem the flow of insurgent activity?

Was it something that actually WAS sanctioned, for the same reasons?

Or, do you have a group of people who got hold of some uniforms, decided this was a good place to hit and are just looking for money?

I think perhaps the cleaning ladies learned the last time they showed up at 8AM that this is a bad idea, as they have not shown up that early since then, for which I am eternally grateful. (I was in the midst of just starting the pickup blitz when they arrived and had to tell them to go start upstairs, which is infinitely in better shape than the kitchen/living room is at any given moment.)

I am still getting my coffee in me and slowly getting things taken care of downstairs, so if they do show up in the next 5 minutes, they get to start upstairs again, cause that’s all picked up and good to go. I’ll be more pleased if they don’t show up until noon. As I was telling , I will be glad to abandon the monthly Sunday night/Monday morning “ACK!” blitz, but I’m not real sure what’s going to get my butt kicked into gear otherwise. I guess I should start having people over or something, huh?

My office is apparently still as effed up as it was when I left it – they’ve now instituted a “President’s Club” for all that make their quotas – however, it does include all employees, not just sales. (I think upper management is starting to feel a little bit of the backlash of “sales is everything and the rest of you can sod off”.) So, all that make their quotas get to go to West Indies at the end of January next year. Nice, except for the fact that if you’re in support, it’s busy season and you can’t take off. They’ve also not sent me any of the normal “post employment” paperwork and I’ve emailed them about it and not heard back – I think they still have my old address on file. I attempted to change it through our wonderful ESS system, but I seem to recall it crashing repeatedly when I tried, so at the time I also emailed HR and told them what my new address was – I’m guessing no one followed up on it. So, another email goes out today to one of our somewhat more responsive HR folks.

In other news, I sat down last night and nailed down my spending budget for the rest of the year. What can I say, I am still a recovering accountant, so this is an enjoyable exercise for me. All the normal monthly stuff is accounted for (groceries, gym dues, gas for the car, netflix, etc), a couple small trips this year, the beach & hockey tickets once the season starts up again. And there is still money left for beer and other things that may crop up, so all is well in my little world.

Given that it’s past 9 at this point, I’m probably pushing my luck with the cleaning ladies, so I’d best go get that tended to.

Well, seems that I am a writer. :-D

And another one is in the books! 1:43:15 for a pace of 11:05 – woohoo!!! Could not have asked for more absolutely perfect, spot on weather for it – 70 degrees and a very, very light rain through most of the race.

Full race report is over here.

Moxley, Snoopy & Target all have kennel reservations for the beach trip.

*whew*

It’s gonna cost an arm and a leg, but it’s a VERY good place so I don’t care. Old Towne Pet Resort. Moxley’s “suite” is 5′x6′ (should be roomy enough for a 30 lb dog), he gets 3 walks a day, one play session, 2 meals and a snack, plus a mandatory bath cause he’s there more than 3 days. (Fine by me!)

Snoopy & Target will share a suite (25% discount on the second cat), with 2 meals a day, snack and a play session.

In addition, here are some of the other things you can get for your pets (yes, they play well into pet owner guilt)
– Grooming
– Pool sessions for dogs
– Canine massage
– TLC time (quiet one on one cuddle sessions)
– Limo service (they’ll come and pick up your pet)
– Personal Shopping Allowance – set a price limit and they’ll take your critter through the gift shop to pick out toys.
– Photos of your pet at play
– TV’s and Webcams in some suites

And last night’s 4 mile run put the lid on my best training month to date. Over 5K of swimming, 43 miles on the bike plus trainer time, and 20 miles of running. (The running mileage is definitely lower than it’s been this spring, but the swimming has been much MUCH more necessary.) 15K on tap this Saturday and then a mini tri Sunday – it’s just a 250M indoor pool swim, 4 mile bike ride and a 1.4 mile run – should be an fun & insane free for all. (This is assuming I am not in too much pain from the 15K, in which case, I may just go and volunteer.) Overall, just incredibly pleased with what I’ve accomplished last month.

On tap for June is to keep the training volume up and the following:
6/2 – Volunteering at packet pickup for the mini. (I am writing this down because I keep worrying that I’ll forget.)
6/3 – 15K down at Quantico
6/4 – Manassas Mini (depending on if I can move, LOL)
6/17 – Tim Harmon 5K
6/25 – Lake Montclair Olympic distance tri.

I just registered for the 5K this week, they had flyers for it at the 10K last weekend. I’ve never done a stand alone 5K before, and it should be fun. It’s also a whopping 20 minutes from the house and starts at 8:30, so I don’t have to be up at 5AM. Lake Montclair is why my swimming volume has been upped so much – it’s a 1 mile lake swim to start things off, so I’m shooting for 3x a week in the pool. I’ve added in a speedwork day on Tuesdays for running – just around the block (1.5 miles) and it’s walk 1 minute, sprint 1 minute. Did that yesterday w/ a 10:56 pace, not too bad considering half of it was walking. :)

Oh, since I’ve stopped the whole “work” thing, I moved the laptop out of the office down to the living room. The dog is MUCH happier with this setup as he can chill out on the sofa with me instead of cramming himself under the desk. He’s becoming a fan of the Late Late Show as well.

Oh, and this was sent by a friend of the family – damn funny video – it’s like they have seen me & my brother go at it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhcA4Ry65FU Work safe.