So After another decently long week, I have had the opportunity for a bit of time to relax, and what better way is there to do that, then to spend some time with the family. I was eased into some more things at work on Weds, and got some more detailed explanations of some things going on. Thankfully Jeff was around to ask some questions of, and get some short, sweet, to the point answers on. I was also able to take a lunch which I was not able to do on Monday due to his absence, which was repeated today, though I asked and Tom told me to take lunch from 4-5. But anyhow, after Jeff took off, it left Stacy and I alone here to handle all of the world’s problems, well all of USF’s problems anyhow. There was a bunch of problems that seemed to peak through and cause some issues throughout the evening, and I was unable help everybody, but I was good enough to get those calls logged and someone resolved them.

Wednesday morning also provided me the opportunity to take young Abby to the Airport in Lansing. That was a long day, just having had to get up at 6:00 to get to her house by around 6:30. But it all worked out and I even had some opportunity to clean my apartment.

Thursday was a nice change almost to get back to being lazy over in the NOC. There was really not too much to be done or said. Tom asked how things went the first few days that he was out of town, and I was easily able to tell him the truth. While working the NOC I was bored off my arse, and got through the mail and the Nextel phones in style with plenty of time left after 5 to help Darrin out. I was still providing Tod with some support for his PC that bit it the week before, mostly getting WinXP installed on the new hard drive. I was successfully able to slipstream SP2 onto a XP disc for installation on a large hard disk. That made me happy, I think eventually we got pretty much everything that Tod needed up and going, and eventually got his outlook data restored and all. I bite to eat and some beverages with Darrin after work on Thursday provided a nice opportunity to relax and just kick back a little bit.

Friday was mostly spent cleaning up the apartment, getting some food, and relaxing. After a while I gave dutch a call and we went shopping to get me some new clothes. Yes, I had to take advantage of his style to help me get some new duds for work. And best of all I like the stuff I got and it makes some nice combinations of shirts and ties. After that we headed back to wherever they live, and did a little wine sampling. That was an enjoyable time, the stuff that Jason’s parents bottled. After that I headed home to do a little more cleaning up, and then a bit more shopping for my mother’s birthday. I hope she liked what I got her, she seemed happy when she opened it on Sunday, but I don’t know, she is so hard to buy gifts for. Anyhow, after that I went and met up with the gang over in East town for some beverages and Dogs. It was a nice relaxed evening and I was able to just kick back and enjoy myself. I accidentally tipped the waitress a little too much though. I thought I gave her a $5 for a $3 drink, but it ends up it was a $10. She was very thankful and I even got a little peck on the cheek for it. Contrary to popular belief, that was not the goal of the tip, but really just a mistake.

Saturday was a quiet and quick day at the office, again doing the NOC stuff. After work, I was able to meet up with my parents at the Kirby Grill in Grand Haven, where we wandered around a bit, then headed to Old Boys Brewery for some drinks and food. Both were excellent, we next hit Meijer for some wine, and then headed to the GV football game. We tailgated for a little while, then headed in to observe the near shutout of the Ashland Eagles, unfortunately GV let down their guard in the closing seconds of the game and allowed a TD. After the game and low fireworks, the parents checked into a hotel and then we hit the Pub for a nightcap. Sunday was a celebration mom’s 50th year, as well as a trip to the Meijer gardens and the Amway grand for the end of the Bears game. Who would’ve thought that the Bears would be able to pull through and beat the Packers at Lambeau. Which after some laziness brings me to today, I have spent a good deal of my time here in the office on the phone, and did’t even get my full lunch hour. I have touched around 30-35 tickets, counting phone calls and ATGs, which I believe should top what some of the day shift folks had, and it is still 2.5 hours left to the shift.

I want to get out and get some more photos, both with the SLR and the UZI. For the time being my time is not budgeted best for doing those things. The lack of a couple days in a row off, and the weekdays that I do have, keeps me at bay. I want to get back to the Gardens to take some SLR photos of the beautiful flowers, as well as get some photos of fish jumping if possible down at the fish ladder. The fall colors will be coming soon, and if I have the time I would love to head up to the UP to the copper peninsula for some spectacular photos of the changing colors. But for now I weary of typing here, there will be photos to come from the game, and maybe even some from the gardens if I get my hands on the photos I took with Dad’s camera.