OMG, Jess. Your monopoly is worse than my monopoly.

I've been reading...and meaning to go back and respond to stuff, but it's pretty clear that's not going to happen. Please take it as read that I had the appropriate responses to everything, and I've been thinking of you all.

I am off work today because I took yesterday off due to a head cold. So I had to COVID test and can't return to work until my results come back. But after they sent the "we got your test!" email, the sample leaked and they cancelled the test BUT DIDN'T TELL ANYONE. So, no work for me today.

I'm DebetEsse in terms of reading-not replying. Have been sending love and ~ma to many people, in my head, anyway.

I haven't written a check in ... over a year? I pay everything electronically, but only some on auto-pay, because that way lies madness (for me).

Also, Jessica, WTFF?! My surprise at learning that was a utility? None. I have zero surprise.

Gentle hugs and ~ma to ltc and to her mom, who deserves a break.

I started a new job today! Front desk at a physical rehab clinic, and it turns out it's pretty much exactly like my old job but with different software. So, not too tough. And I'll be working at the clinic closer to me, which just opened last summer, and with MY physical therapist (for the shoulder surgery), who is a great guy, and 100% endorsed me applying.

It will much quieter over there, which is the speed I need right now.

My surprise at learning that was a utility? None. I have zero surprise.

ConEd is pretty good at delivering gas and electricity, and totally shit at everything else. They've been incorrectly billing customers in our area for well over a year now with no signs of stopping. (We now monitor our reported usage to the penny and call them if anything seems even a little bit off.)

Escape rooms in theory sound fun to me, but I'm self aware enough to know that timed puzzle solving would hit my anxiety buttons. Now if escape rooms had a bar and a live camera feed so you could watch the people in the room, I'd send Mr. Loomy into one and watch the chaos.

I wrote a giant 5-figure check for our car, and I was a little shocked it was that easy. Like, if I'm giving you $30K, don't you want it as a certified check at the very least? But apparently no. I can just write a personal check like I'm paying for Girl Scout cookies (which are almost as expensive as a new car) and they give me a car in exchange. Very weird experience.

I'm self aware enough to know that timed puzzle solving would hit my anxiety buttons.

Escape rooms would hit my anxiety buttons AND my extremely-competitive-oh-god-I-HAVE-to-win buttons at the same time. That is a terrible combo. So no escape rooms for me.

I can just write a personal check like I'm paying for Girl Scout cookies (which are almost as expensive as a new car) and they give me a car in exchange. Very weird experience.

It would be perfect if the Girl Scout cookies came with the new car, check or no check. ::nods::

Yeah, I think I'll pass, also, Tep. Also, I'm in a wheelchair. If I really want to feel like that, I'll pretend to use your bathroom. ETA: context and stuff.

Congrats on the new job, Amy! I hope it is fabulous.

Team meeting over. Regular workday tomorrow, then smaller strategy meeting Thu-Fri. Then delayed Christmas with La Familia, then I head home!

Gabapentin still doing the job. Am positive-thinking my way into this pain being all gone by next week so I can taper off. Let's all just assume that will be the case, shall we?

My office did an escape room - three teams of staff, each in a different room - and I discovered I'm not good at them. However, I did discover that I was the only person on staff who knew that the safe is always behind the picture on the wall.