On the lighter side, in Berkeley a delivery robot caught fire. No injuries, but someone's food was - so to speak - toast. And some students set up a candle memorial to it.

So, I got a Taco Bell box for lunch yesterday - this thing where fast food places will let you order on an app and pick it up through the drive through, I'm a sucker for it - and it included their Cinnamon Twists, which I didn't feel like eating yesterday but I thought might be good with my coffee this morning. I also picked up a piece of peppermint bark at some point during the day and likewiise never got around to eating it, so I kept them both in the same little cardboard box overnight on my desk. I think the cinnamon twists absorbed some mint flavor. It's interesting.

The tater tots were not a lie today!

I know I have not been very positive lately, but I have to keep sharing with you all else I'll go something bad.

Office holiday party thing, just food ordered in, regular work day, and vendor donated raffle prizes drawn. It was a clusterfuck in many ways as of Thursday which was my last day in the office last week.

- boss had overridden workers suggestion for lunch food ( at the office location HE WAS NOT EVEN GOING TO BE AT) , not my suggestion, other employees.
- one of our vendor donates a box of hunting stuff -like dead stock from a store and a lot of it is clothing (not good and hard to value)
- as of Thurs end of day, we do not have enough prizes for all employees. I send an email to office staff saying we'll postpone the raffle drawing until We'd. Boss immediately replied, no we will not, we'll do it Friday and make it work and we can do it without you. As if my being there was the issue.

So they do get in more gift cards and everyone gets a gift, but some are truly shitty and the boss kept himself in the drawing AND he put everyone 's name back into the pot to draw for the big item last (which I HATE! as a practice) and so one guy got a 50 inch smart tv AND a $50 gift card.

I got an XL men's shirt with logo of a trucking company, a gimme cap from an industrial hose and fitting company, and a pocket knife set. I shit you not.

And mine was not the worst.

You could probably come up with a use for the knife set ....

So you're all set with a Christmas gift for your dad, then?

(lol)

Timelies all!

We docked at Grand Cayman today. Went to the turtle center and saw many turtles. Gary and Mr. S went to the pool area where people can hold little turtles. Mr. S may have touched one, I don't know.

Laura, unfortunately activities for kids his age require them to be fully potty trained. He isn't.

Well, that's pretty crappy, msbelle. Condolences.

Our company party isn't until January and I am deciding whether or not to go. It's the Friday night before I'm dancing at a Hafla on Saturday. I already got my 5-year jacket and certificate (at the department holiday thing last week) which was my big motivation for going. They got feedback that the speeches that went with awards went on too long (which they did), and there wasn't enough time for socializing and dancing, so now it's an hour of drinks and appetizers, an hour or so of buffet dinner and raffle (I have not won anything at the raffle in 3 or 4 years and the quality and quantity of the prizes seem like they are declining), half an hour of "announcements", and then dancing and "Casino Royale" which is a new thing to me, although I guess they used to do it a lot and the longer term coworkers who like gambling and bingo and bunco are excited about it. I don't really like gambling, so, eh. I do like dancing, but I don't know popular music anymore. On the plus side, free wine and dinner. And I do like many of my coworkers. but my introversion goes to 11.

Turtles! Tater tots! Yay!

Tim's new company does their Christmas party during the day, for employees only (no spouses/partners), which I wouldn't really care about, except -- they go to Dave & Buster's! I could play skee-ball on his company's tab! I am being deprived of skee-ball!

Otherwise, man, office holiday parties have always been so damn awkward, in my experience. Though *I* am so damn awkward, so I bring that to the table.