¡Gabz!

1. Last night we made chicken-bacon-ranch mini wraps/soft tacos/burritos type thing, therefore, there was bacon! Of course, by the end of it, there was some leftover bacon. Bedtime came around, and we asked the girls to grab a snack before brushing their teeth. The next thing I saw was Luna snacking on a big piece of bacon while watching night-night stories.

2. Although I went to bed relatively early and had my super-magical melatonin gummies, I still had a shitty night’s sleep. It is going to be a rough day.

3. Looking forward to some Sea of Stars tonight.

Part of me just wants to leave work and nap. I am truly struggling and it is hard to concentrate on anything. Too many nights, and it is starting to mess me up mentally, and physically.

But then, what would be the purpose? For just to have the same issue tonight?

Even the thought of knowing is nighttime and that I need to go to sleep gives me anxiety.

Today we visited a new spot for a late lunch with the family, El Cafetal Colombian Food.

It was delicious! I had the Bandeja paisana!

Arroz, frijoles, chicharrón, chorizo, carne molida*, huevo frito, maduro, arepa y aguacate.

Red kidney beans, white rice, pork belly, chorizo (pork sausage), shredded beef*, arepa, sweet plantain, avocado, and sunny side up egg*

Friday, August 11th, around noon, we head out to Bend, Oregon. This trip, had two intentions, the most important being, meeting up with the Burks. Why Bend, Oregon? Neither party has ever been. Thus, it was the perfect excuse for the trip.

After almost five hours of non-stop driving, well, we did stop in Burns for gas and pee-stop.

Our first stop was, Crux Fermentation Project, because we needed food, duh! 😜

Next morning, breakfast at the Bends. It was Smokey, due to neighboring fires, of course, and yet it was a good morning out.

An hour or two after breakfast. A nice yellow thing shows up!

And so, our adventure begins.

There was some beer and crafting at Bend Brewing.

Then some mermaid hunting.

The Mermaid

Then, it was another brewery plus, tiny tattoos session by Marley.

More crafting courtesy of Valerie

After all that fun beering, walking, and crafting, there was one stop that _had_to be done. The last, and only, Blockbuster in the United States of America!

After our visit to the last and only Blockbuster in existence, a nice little bbq at the Airbnb that was not documented in photos was had. There was good local Bend beer, steaks, chicken, salad, and then some.

Once our friends were fed and somewhat rested from all their driving, they left. And we stayed one last night before driving back to the 208s.

So, what is next for the wonderboy (yours truly)?

After driving almost five hours, again, we drive not to our home, but straight to the airport!

Our wonderboy is now heading to Sacramento, California! For work. Field grow outs, tomatoes. Also, we had the chance to see how watermelon seed production gets done. Something I hadn’t experienced before.

There was also good local beer to be had, of course.

And there was that. Four states in less than 24 hours. I mean, on a Sunday.

I want to thank Jason and Valerie for joining us in Bend. We had a good time. In fact, in you’d as Marley what her favorite part of the trip was, it was riding in Jason’s car 😅, and second, hunting for mermaids.

We definitely want to be back in Bend, but much longer. There’s so much to enjoy and explore.

According to “The Oracle”, I slept 7 hours last night. That is a new record! Let us see how the rest of the week shapes up. Last week due to some work travel and Marley starting school again, it kind of screwed up my workout routine, so very little was accomplished or done. The plan for this week is to come back in full force.

My only debate is if I want to set up my new workout routine in the mornings, right after dinner, or at night after the girls go to bed. I must admit, going to the gym right after work, was probably the best time.

Today’s workout was pretty awkward. When it comes to “conventional” training, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. I have been training using kettlebells or unconventional training for so long that I feel like I’ve lost that knowledge in some way.

Today was leg day (the best day) and I had decided to do some squats with the barbell like most people do. It felt so weird, as if I never had my form right. On top of that, the two lady trainers were exactly where I was and it made me feel super uncomfortable and awkward 😅. I just wanted to finish my rounds and move on to the room I’d normally workout in, away from everyone else.

Once I was in that room with a heavy kettlebell, I was home, I was safe. I don’t know, it is a weird feeling.

This weekend, was a good weekend. Yesterday Annie went out with her friends for some zip lining in Tamarack, here in the Idahos. Meanwhile, I spent the afternoon with the girls, Annie’s brother, his wife, and their kid, at the water park and later at the community’s pool.

Today, after picking up around the house, we all went for pedicures. It only took 40 years for me to get my first one.

Now we are closing this fine weekend with some pizza, and beer, beer for the adults only that is.

It is a super-chill morning today, so far. It rained last night and we are still getting a little drizzle. It is currently 66 degrees outside and the highest will be 86. The coffee is good, as good as Starbucks coffee can get, that is. I had a decent night’s sleep, and a good breakfast, it is quiet in the office and my boss won’t be around today. So today, I am Gaby, and not “Hey, Gaby!”

I am liking today so far.

Playing: Don’t Know Why by Norah Jones

It has been now about three nights of less than 4 hours of sleep, 3 hours max. Why? The fuck I know (laughs). I haven’t changed anything, and still taking my sleeping pills, and yet, for whatever reason, can’t seem to have a good night’s rest.

The only times I can sleep well is if I drink, and, I am sure as hell, that I don’t want to rely on the drinking. My humor seems fine though, I am chirpy and as focused, and alert as I can muster. Maybe a little snarky every now and then but that’s normal in my personality I think.

It is messing up my workout routine, though. I am yet to skip any days, well except for Monday, but no matter how exhausted I am feeling, I have managed to go to the gym and do my sesh the past two days. But I struggled and today, it won’t be any different.

> Silly Gabz, you need to listen to your body and get some rest.

Yes, perhaps but I can’t help it at this point, I just go and do things.

Perhaps I need to try something different.

I like sleeping, I’ve just forgotten how to I guess.

I love my job like I truly do and I’m happy to do the things I do, no matter how overwhelming they might seem at times. Today we had a meeting, something about core competencies for each level. Technician, Analyst, I think then it’s Technical Expert and Manager level.

When looking at that slide and all the different buckets and their competencies within those buckets, I came to a realization. I have more buckets than what my current level is described as. My current position is, on paper, at a technical level, when in reality, I match all the Analyst’s buckets. I have been doing what would seem like a 60K job for 47K. These are made-up numbers but you get the idea.

In a way felt like a slap in the face that I wasn’t looking to get. But probably a necessary one. Why go above and beyond when I am getting the bare minimum? I don’t want to sound ungrateful or something but can’t help to be somewhat bothered by it.

Not sure what will happen from here, definitely will have a talk with my manager on our next 1-on-1 (which is tomorrow). And for sure, I don’t want to become a little bitter, or discouraged, and lower my standards in the work I do and the passion I have for it.

A few months ago, our company changed timekeeping systems, to a much “intuitive and reliable” one. Well, little did we know. The thing is confusing to use, things are tricky and don’t make sense. Even the managers don’t know what to do in some circumstances. Heck, you can’t even enter days off ahead of time you either enter your time off on the day of or after the fact.

A few weeks ago, my mom was here, visiting the girls, and I took three days off. When I got back I tried to enter my time in the same way I have done before with our previous system. Well, first, is not like I could change the pre-populated time, to vacation time. Then I was told, to leave it and enter a “new shift” with my vacation time and vacation code, and the system would automatically update, somehow.

A week later, payday comes around. I got asked if I got a raise. I was confused for a minute, then, I realized what had happened. The system did don’t correct itself, I got paid for 24 hours of overtime…

Then, a debate started in my head. Do I say something? Should I not? Is not my mistake. Or is it? Now I’m conflicted, and I knew this would not let me sleep. So that afternoon, I talked to my manager and explained the situation.

I was praised for my honesty and for coming forward and saying something. Neither I nor my manager knew exactly how to go about it. Eventually, he talked to his manager who in turn asked him to reach out to HR.

Long story short, my next paycheck will be short. Sometimes being honest sucks 😜

Today, on this beautiful morning, the sun was out, the birds were chirping and I was ready to head out to the wilderness that is life and work. I’ve got my backpack, my lunch, my coffee, and loud music – I’m ready. I take my usual route, for when I am not taking the girls to grandma’s, and head out to the freeway. Normal traffic, nothing out of the ordinary. When I noticed that the traffic in the opposite direction was stalling more than normal. I said, hm! Then I saw that a car or two were “stopped” obstructing the traffic and there were some people sort of dealing whit the situation, cops, an ambulance, and whatnot. Then I saw it, a red car, a mini SUV, upside down, doors wide opened, yikes!

Slow down, pay attention, and be safe out there, people!

Oh, and wear your seatbelts.