Septic Tank

I have a septic tank, and I woke up this morning to the septic tank alarm going off.  Not good.  This is where I'm glad I'm renting and I'm glad my landlord lives next door.  He discovered that the septic tank pump is no longer working.  So while my landlord fixes the issue, I have to be very careful about my water usage.  My yard is currently a mess where they've been digging up where the septic tank is, so I'm going to have to do a lot of clearing up after they've finished.  I think they've also been using a lot of my water - and guess who pays the water bill...  And to make things worse, a septic tank guy came round this afternoon to pump the tank.  But he managed to run over my trail camera while reversing up my drive.  Even the memory card in the camera got destroyed.  At least he ordered me a new camera - but I've lost footage from the last 3 weeks or so, and I don't think the new camera is as good as the one I had (which is no longer available).  And just now I've lost a couple of eBay auctions on some James Bond trading cards I really wanted.  Not a good day.  

Dahlias

On a lunchtime walk today, I came across a colorful display of dahlias that someone had clearly spent a lot of time maintaining.  I had to snap a few photos, because the flowers were really attractive and vibrant.  I'm no gardener, but I would definitely consider growing these if I was.

Golden Arches

Someone needs to tell Trump that there are already plenty of golden arches in the US, so he doesn't need to erect another one (especially one that he is trying to justify via BS national security reasons). 

Distracted

A late post.  I was distracted this evening as I was looking at the cost of flights to the UK over Christmas.  I still haven't decided whether I'm going to go or not.  I'm weighing up the pros and cons.  But if I'm going to go, I should book my flights soon before they start to get even more expensive.  Which is a major issue, because they are already really expensive.  Some conclusions I reached.  If I'm going to fly back, I would have to get a flight that arrives in London on Christmas Eve.  Less than ideal, but anything that arrives before then is significantly pricier.  And similarly for the return flight, the only affordable options are either on 29 December (which would mean shelling out an awful lot of money for just 4 full days back) or on 6 January (which would cost me a whole week's work of valuable vacation allowance).  Anything in between these dates is also significantly pricier.  Neither of these are particularly good options.  So I'm in a quandary because I don't want to let people (well, really only one person - my mum) down...  

Casino Royale

The good news - Casino Royale is going to be re-released at cinemas to celebrate its 20th anniversary.  I would happily watch what is arguably the best contemporary Bond film on the big screen.

The bad news - they haven't announced exact dates for the screenings yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was on James Bond Day (October 5th).  That will be a problem - I am going to be in California that week for work, with no opportunity to get to a cinema.  

Union Jack Classic

I saw an advert today for a sports event being held at Wembley this weekend - named the Union Jack Classic.  The first of what is apparently going to be an annual event.  And I don't get it.  Of all the American sports to bring to the UK, I don't see this one working.  It doesn't have a built-in UK audience.  At all.  And it is not even a sport I follow.  We are talking about college football.  Yes, American football played by university students.  Why is there a game being played in London?  I suspect some half-baked scheme for international expansion.  Which is nonsensical to me.  Plus, of course, I'm sure there are financial reasons.  The inaugural game is not even being played between two particularly good teams (the Kansas Jayhawks and the Arizona State Sun Devils, if you're interested).  But apparently 60,000 tickets have been sold.  Frankly I'm gobsmacked at so many.  I suspect mostly to traveling Americans or American expats - I don't imagine anyone British would want to go.           

Job (Dis)satisfaction

I completed an employee survey today.  And let's just say that my responses were less than positive.  I've become extremely disillusioned with my job again.  I was supposed to transition to a new role, but we've only recently got a new head of our department and the transition has been put on hold.  It's the same thing that happens whenever someone new comes in, they always want to change things up.  So who knows where my job is heading.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I wouldn't mind at all if I get laid off.  I'd rather that than have to quit.  But what I would really like to do is take a sabbatical. I said I would do that when I turn 50, so I have to seriously consider requesting a leave of absence sometime soon.  I'm busy through to the end of the year, but don't have any scheduled work yet for next year - so maybe then if I'm still employed.