A Slow Week

Most unusually, it has been an incredibly slow week at work.  I don't have anything to work on.  Or at least nothing urgent.  And so how have I been spending my time?  Well, for starters, I've been binge-watching The Diplomat on Netflix.  A great political thriller - that I can only recommend.  The creator of this show has previously worked on stuff like The West Wing (a show that I have never watched, but I think I should) and Homeland - so if you like fast-paced, high-pressure political stakes then you will really like this show.  With opportune timing, I've also got a few new LEGO sets this week to work on.  Maintaining my British-themed collection, I've got a new London bus model (the 3rd different one Lego has produced!) plus the Jaguar E-Type model to work on.  And naturally I will soon be getting the Downton Abbey set that came out today.

Man City

Guilty of 115 charges.  They should be docked 115 points.  Let's see them cheat their way out of relegation.  Case closed. 

Chicken and Waffles

Because I watch too much telly and I've seen plenty of adverts for Chick-fil-A's chicken and waffles sandwich, I had to check it out.  So I ordered it a few days ago.  Let's just say it tasted weird.  An unusual mixture of sweet and savory.  I didn't dislike it, but I can't say I'll go out of my way to order it again.  It is a quintessentially American dish - who else would combine a breakfast waffle with fried chicken and bacon (you even had the option to pour syrup on it, but I didn't because that would be too sweet even for me).  But I feel like to properly judge it as a meal, I need to try it at a true southern food restaurant rather than a politically-dubious fast food joint.

Department of War

I saw this on TV recently.  I'll let you judge for yourself what you think of the messaging.  Personally, I find it obscene.

 

End of Summer

I know summer officially ended earlier last week.  But today it really felt like it, because it was the first time I had to turn my heating on this "fall".  And this was accompanied a few days ago by our first post-summer windstorm.  Not enough to knock out power for me, but enough to coat my driveway and deck with all manner of tree debris.  And with the sun setting now before 7 pm, summer is starting to feel like a distant memory.  This is the time of year when seasonal affective disorder starts to be a real threat.  Mind you that might not be an issue this year, because I can't say I particularly cared for the extreme hot and dry weather this summer....      

The Great British Baking Show

Now I've got Netflix, I can watch episodes of The Great British Baking Show (as Bake Off has sadly been renamed in the US).  And I watched the first episode of the most recent series today.  I think the success of each season depends a lot on the quality of the competitors.  Judging by the first episode, this season is not going to be a good one.  The casting seems particularly bad.  There are an abnormally high number of either really annoying characters (in particular the girl who should have been sent home after the first episode) or really dull characters (like the star baker from the first episode).  Where are the "normal" people?  The show has been going on for a long time - has it finally lost its luster (lustre)?  Changing up one of the judges might be a way to help it stick around for a few more years - and Nigella seems like a good fit.  But I wonder whether this is just a short term fix for an increasingly stale-feeling show.   

The Worst Bond Scene

No surprises, this is by far the worst scene across all the James Bond films.  And it's not even close.  A harsh lesson that James Bond and CGI should not be mixed.

Spam

I am definitely receiving a lot more spam e-mails than I ever used to.  And it seems to be getting worse.  I wouldn't mind so much if those e-mails just ended up in my Junk folder.  But nope, some of them have started creeping into my Inbox.  I don't know how because they are clearly spam - some are not in English, some have attachments, some are just the most insultingly obvious phishing attempts.  Naturally, I think we have AI to blame - making it easier to automate sending out these e-mails.  But I think we also have to consider data leaks exposing my e-mail address - and I've definitely been a victim of data leaks, because I have received a few (very small) settlements from some of them.  Whatever the reason, it seems to me that the email providers (specifically, Microsoft) could do a lot better job to filter out this crap.       

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. 

Celebrity Traitors

The Celebrity Traitors trailer that came out today even made it into the US pop culture news.  Let's hope they don't mess up the US streaming of the show.  The key is to make each episode available on streaming simultaneously or immediately after they have aired in the UK.  But I fear that is not going to be the case.  The indications are that it's only going to be available to stream after the full broadcast run has concluded in the UK.  In which case, it is going to be next to impossible to avoid spoilers.  What a shame.  On a related note, the next season of the US version of The Traitors (titled "New Blood") is actually airing on network TV (starting this week) and not exclusively on streaming.  This feels like an expansion of the franchise - especially since it will be the first US season that won't feature "celebrities".  However, when you consider adverts then each episode will only be about 45 minutes in length - so I fear it will feel quite rushed.  But I will probably check it out.  And I stand by my opinion that Alan Cumming is a MUCH better host than Claudia Winkleman. 

COVID Vaccination

Thanks to the current administration's anti-vax stance, it is so difficult to obtain details about COVID vaccinations.  Apparently four formulations were approved within the last week, but don't expect any federal guidance on getting these shots.  But the vaccines should start to be available soon.  Considering September and October are the best months to get your annual vaccination, it's all rather last minute.  It doesn't help that they are no longer universally free for everyone, and I have recently changed my health insurance provider.  Naturally my new provider has absolutely no details yet on how to get a vaccination.  But I think I have to get it through them, otherwise I'll have to pay out-of-pocket.  What a pain in the ass.  As a high-risk individual, it is important I get my COVID shot - ideally at the same time as my flu shot.

NFL

The American football season started this weekend.  Well, strictly speaking, it began on Wednesday (!) night with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots in a low-scoring affair, and a rematch of last year's Superbowl.  Cue the fireworks.  I used to really love watching American football.  I was a fan even before I first came to the US.  But nowadays, I don't care for it much at all.  It's a very difficult game to watch live, because of the constant commercial interruptions.  It's a game where the teams are owned by rich assholes who don't care about their players (although this is a common occurrence across sports, it feels particularly acute in American football).  And as with many other sports, an emphasis on changing the rules to make the game safer has also made the game more boring.  It doesn't help that my team - the San Diego Chargers - doesn't even exist any more...    

Streaming

I've just signed up for a streaming bundle - that includes Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock and Hulu.  So there are a whole bunch of new shows available for me to binge.  So much choice, it's quite overwhelming.  All recommendations welcome.  And it's not just current shows.  For example, I haven't subscribed to Netflix since the very early days of streaming.  So there are critically-acclaimed shows - like Black Mirror and The Crown - that I've not seen a single episode of.  What I really need to do is compile a list of shows to prioritize watching.  I'm sure I'll share that in a future post.  What with GTA VI being released in November (I've already pre-ordered it), I'm well prepared to keep myself occupied in the evenings as the nights get earlier.  

Spiders

It's spider mating season - which means they've started to come out of hiding inside and outside the house.  And this year there seem to be more of them and they are bigger.  Is global warming to blame for this?!  There's been a few times when they've scared the bejesus out of me when I turn on a light and see this giant monster on the ceiling.  It's not just spiders.  I found a flying ant infestation outside my front door the other day.  I only discovered it after I noticed some birds flying around near my front door - something they don't normally do - who had apparently found it before me and were feeding on the ants.  Thinking about insects,  I also note that I've seen a lot less wasps this year than previous years.  Maybe global warming is not all bad.  

United States Space Force

Nothing unsettling or fascist-looking about the new uniforms Trump has proposed for the United States Space Force.

And when the hell did the US get a Space Force?  (Apparently since 2019).  And what exactly do they do?  I know the administration wants to fight aliens - but I always thought it was more about non-citizens rather than extraterrestrials. 

US Open

I've been watching quite a bit of the US Open - including staying up late last night to watch Alcaraz get beaten (the match finished around 12.30 am for me, which was 3.30 am in New York!).  What I've been noticing is that there seem to be lots of empty seats at many of the matches.  It's kind of making me want to go to the tournament some day in the future.  I'd rather go to the US Open than experience the pretentiousness of Wimbledon.  I don't imagine a ticket for a decent seat at one of the bigger stadiums is particularly cheap, but they do seem to be available - particularly for a mid-week day session during the early rounds.  That's also your best bet of catching a decent player competing on one of the smaller outdoor courts.  Or watching a British player inevitably getting knocked out in an early round.

Noise

I always seem to find something a neighbor does that annoys me.  Normally noise related.  And I have a new source of my ire.  And this one seems to be a legitimate complaint.  It seems like I have a neighbor who has a kid that belongs in a band.  And that band has started practicing outside - and not being quiet about it.  It is very loud and quite distracting - even when I have my windows closed.  Louder than when they occasionally hold music concerts at the local park.  I'm not sure which neighbor it is - it is somewhere behind my landlord's house, and probably a few houses down.  But today is the second time I have heard them, and I am really worried that it might be becoming a regular thing.  I surely can't be the only one bothered by the noise - there must be so many other neighbors who can hear them playing.  I hope someone else says something, because I don't want to be the one to do so.  I will speak to my landlord about it.  Surely he has noticed it.

Happy Labor Day

How did I spend Labor Day?  Well, I couldn't do very much because I've just started taking a new medication for managing my diabetes, and - how do I put this politely - it's going to take my body a little while to adjust to it.  Let's just say I can't be too far away from a toilet.  So instead I've started going through some of the photos from my UK trip, and saving them to my laptop.  I might eventually post some of them onto this blog.  But this task is not easy, because I'm encountering the same issues that I did in the UK - in that some of the photos cause the file conversion process not to work properly.  Thanks Apple for using a specific file format for photos and videos that doesn't work with anything else.  It means I can't use something like the Windows Photos app to import the photos, because it just messes up.  Even copying and pasting the images doesn't work when one of them is "corrupted" (even though I can see the photo perfectly fine on my iPhone).  I've found ways to get around it (mainly via dodgy online file converters), but it's frustrating and time-consuming.  I'm also starting not to trust my iPhone either.  I could have sworn I took a video of the view of the London skyline from Primrose Hill, but there was no such video saved on my phone.  Am I going crazy?     

August Trail Cam Highlights

Finally got round to checking out my trail cam footage for the last month.  No sign of the bear.  My landlord had mentioned that he had been seeing a lot of deer, and the trail cam confirmed that.  Though rather than lots of different deer, I think it's the same family of deer that happens to be hanging around.   

Another One

Look what arrived today.  Another set that will probably never get built.  At least by me.  I don't think I can even justify this as a good investment.  I'll just add it to my pile of boxed sets that are gradually taking over my third bedroom.

A quick one

I'm feeling like I need a break from this blog.  But that is tough to do after nearly 3,800 daily entries.  But I don't think I'm going to spend much time on any entries over this Labor Day weekend.  Starting with this one.

Liberty

Trump's official $1 coin says it all, with his sourpuss expression accompanied by dates suggesting liberty started in 1776 and officially ended in 2026.  That sounds about right.  The sad thing is that these $1 legal tender coins are actually being sold for a lot more than $1, if they're not sold out.  And of course they are entirely illegal - the law prohibits the likeness of any person who is alive to appear on currency.  But when has a small thing like the rule of law ever stopped Trump from doing anything.

Sick

I've had a splitting headache most of the day.  In fact, it's probably accurate to say all day since I had it when I got up and I've still got it as I write this just before 10 pm.  Lots of possible reasons for this headache, but I think the most likely culprit is lack of sleep - because I simply haven't been sleeping well since I've come back from the UK.  My body clock is still all over the place.  I've been dozing off in front of the TV in the early evenings, and then have short but deep sleeps in my bed before getting up very early in the mornings.  These strange sleeping patterns are affecting my diet as well - I'm finding I have absolutely zero appetite in the evenings, so I'm not really eating properly either.  I should really have taken this week off work, because I've not been feeling anywhere near 100% and I'm getting absolutely nothing done at work this week.  At least it's a bank holiday weekend coming up.  All in all, I feel like I'm a bit of a mess right now. 

Palace

I haven't talked about the Premier League and Crystal Palace this season yet.  Mainly because I've made a conscious effort not to follow football so much this season.  I haven't seen any highlights of games yet this season, nor any live games.  And I haven't been following all the transfer news - so I don't know who is playing for who nowadays.  None of this stuff particularly interests me.  The games are just less interesting than they used to be - an over-reliance on set pieces and tactical safety, and very little open-play flair.  And it doesn't help that I am extremely worried about Palace this season.  I think we will be deep in the relegation battle.  Not so much because we've started 0-0-2 (losses against our bogey side - Everton - and Man City is not really a surprise) but more to do with the fact that our squad has definitely taken a step back in quality.  Many of our best players have left or want to leave.  I don't think our ownership is giving our new manager a fair chance to prove himself.  There is just too much negativity around the side right now.  Not good.