This Past Week...

Things that pissed me off in the past week:

1) Windows updates: Which, as far as I can tell, are geared towards giving Windows apps more access to my personal information, and serve no other purpose.

2) The Bell guy: Doorbell rings. I ignore it. Thirty seconds later, it rings again. Thinking a neighbor might need something, I answer. Not a neighbor, it's the Bell guy.

Seriously, dude, two rings are for emergencies only. (Not his first visit, I might add.)

Even after I clearly state it's a bad time, he launches into his "this is the best offer ever you really need to switch to Bell and you really need to do it now" speech. Mid-spiel, I repeat it's a bad time and close the door.

I was tempted to add, "For as long as we live in this house we will not be switching to Bell. Fuck off and don't come back." I kept those thoughts to myself. But if Kiddo, who was napping, had woken up to the sound of that second ring of the doorbell, I'm not sure I could have restrained myself.

3) Static: It was time to change Kiddo's bed sheets. I pulled them off the bed (apparently building up quite the static charge in the process). Sheets bundled under one arm, I turned to leave the room. The clock caught my eye--this was on Sunday, by the way--I realized hadn't adjusted the time yet.

I can do that one handed, it'll only take a second...

I reached out with my free hand. Snap! As I pulled back from the surprisingly-painful shock, the time on the clock jumped to 12:00. Some of the buttons, including the set button, are now dead. Which brings me to...

4) Daylight Savings: When will the insanity end?


Things I enjoyed in the past week:

1) Having a phone chat with a friend I haven't spoken to in ages--two friends, actually, if I go back a few weeks. It was great catching up with both of them. Note to self: I have some good friends. I really need to do a better job staying in touch with them.

2) Reading the Alistair Reynolds novella Diamond Dogs. For someone who likes to write science fiction, I haven't been consuming enough of it lately.

3) Finishing Shetland on Netflix. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Though, if you're like me, it might make you want to move to rural Scotland. Unfortunately, I now have to wait for the latest season to come out on TV in the old-school, one-episode-per-week fashion. I should find this prospect less distressing than I do, considering I have memories of watching a little black-and-white TV with a coat hanger for an antenna.

4) Watching Kiddo's swimming lesson. He just finished his first 8-week session without a parent in the pool. A few months ago Hubby and I had a conversation that went something like this:

Hubby: "I think he's ready to do swimming lessons on his own."

Me: "You're kidding."

Hubby: "He's definitely ready."

Me: "No way. He'll freak out."

Hubby: "He'll do fine. He is so ready. "

Me: "He's so not ready."

We went back and forth for a while. I gave in, and Hubby signed Kiddo up for the no-parent lessons.

Hubby was right. Kiddo did great. Moral of the story: I have a tendency to underestimate my son. (Of course, I kinda knew that already.)