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Aug. 27th, 2024 05:16 amThe project that I completed in July that dayjob wanted me to redo in 3 days was, of course, utter trash and now they want me to redo it again. I have a week this time, as if that really makes a big difference. I'm simmering with annoyance and resentment, which is never a good combo, but at least now I'm working with the project's manager and I'm running everything by her as I do it.
I hate having Not Enough Time to Do Things Right and still being expected to push out miracles. I don't feel bad that I turned in trash because I had three days and I told them that, over and over. The fact that it functioned on a technological level is a marvel in itself. And after a disastrous meeting last week where I felt like I was getting the brunt of the blame, at least the manager met with me later and shared that I hadn't even received half the material. She seemed fairly teed with her team and I think the earlier meeting had been more her trying not to chew them out in front of me.
Anyway, dayjob aside because fuck, that's going to be my life this week and I'm already exhausted. I've burnt myself to an inch several times over for them in just the last month and I ain't doing that anymore.
This weekend we finally went to a spring, after trying to go all summer long and being thwarted by storms, sickness, and general inability to get out the door. The springs are usually full up by 10am, but I guess a combination of them just re-opening and the kids being back in school meant they didn't close until after we got there.
They weren't kidding about it being flooded still; the water went well back into the treeline. But it was low enough to be safe, I guess... honestly, I don't know. They could have waited another week to open. The beach area where I'd assumed Toddler could play was completely gone, now just a muddy little walk-in to the swimming area. Poor kiddo didn't want to get into the cold water -- fair! -- and just kind of spent the time playing with a pool noddle.
CG had fun, at least. She kept saying it didn't feel as cold as last time and I pointed out that's probably because she's a bit bigger. She was still shivering by the end, but her lips weren't blue. The water, usually clear, was pretty murky. I don't know if that was a result of the higher water levels or all the people stirring up silt at the walk-in. Folks kept getting knee-deep and then retreating because it's, well, cold. What did they expect? Still, it is a shock if you haven't visited a spring before. Just gotta jump in and let your body go numb.
I'm glad we went; spring season is pretty much ending soon, as the days get less sweltering. You kind of need it to be 90 degrees just to recover from the cold after. In theory, the 72 degree water feels warm in the winter, but I haven't been brave enough to test it yet.
After all that swimming, CG still had energy to spare, and she remembered me saying we could practice biking to her school later in the afternoon. Despite me reminding her it would be a bit further than other trips we'd gone on and also had at least two intense hills, she still wanted to do it. So I strapped Toddler on the cargo bike, made sure we all had water and sunglasses, and away we went.
We had to stop for water three times, and once at the top of a hill for CG to catch her breath, but we did it! She was so proud of herself when we reached the school; she's been talking about wanting to bike to school for a few months now. I'm so proud and also a little bittersweet; she really will start biking this year, and then I won't have both my kids on my bike anymore. I knew some day they wouldn't both fit and I'd have to find a solution, which is why I've been working with her to get stronger at biking, but gosh, it feels like it came on all of a sudden.
CG is already talking about when she can bike to school for real. I'm trying to figure out when and how; we'd have to be able to leave early enough, since she bikes a lot slower than me and then there's the problem of retrieving her bike, since she still goes to afterschool at another place. Still! I will figure it out because I know how much I loved biking to school as a kid and I want to continue fostering her independence.
It's also that my own choice to bike them instead of driving feels like it's paid off. Not only do I get to talk to them on the bikeride in -- sometimes we sing, sometimes we point out cats, sometimes we get to see baby ducks -- but CG has developed an interest in biking and understanding that she can go places, too, and eventually on her own (although I have to remind her that there are Laws here, unfortunately, so it will be a few more years).
I've also noticed she has a much firmer grasp of our neighborhood and its surroundings. I read about a study a year ago that had kids draw a map of their route to school; the study found that kids who were driven often drew a very ambiguous map, little more than a line from their house to the school. Kids who walked or biked drew their entire neighborhoods, with important details like Big Tree and Friend's House.
It reminded me of how, when I returned to my childhood town as an adult, I could find my way around some areas just fine but was an absolute loss at others -- of course, the former were the roads I'd biked and the latter were the roads I'd been driven. Even now, trying to picture my town and the surrounding area, everything gets hazy at the edges of my biking route. When folks mention streets from where I grew up, I can't even place them, even if I recognize the names.
Anyway, just another perk of biking. I kind of want to give her the map test from the study and see how she does.
I hate having Not Enough Time to Do Things Right and still being expected to push out miracles. I don't feel bad that I turned in trash because I had three days and I told them that, over and over. The fact that it functioned on a technological level is a marvel in itself. And after a disastrous meeting last week where I felt like I was getting the brunt of the blame, at least the manager met with me later and shared that I hadn't even received half the material. She seemed fairly teed with her team and I think the earlier meeting had been more her trying not to chew them out in front of me.
Anyway, dayjob aside because fuck, that's going to be my life this week and I'm already exhausted. I've burnt myself to an inch several times over for them in just the last month and I ain't doing that anymore.
This weekend we finally went to a spring, after trying to go all summer long and being thwarted by storms, sickness, and general inability to get out the door. The springs are usually full up by 10am, but I guess a combination of them just re-opening and the kids being back in school meant they didn't close until after we got there.
They weren't kidding about it being flooded still; the water went well back into the treeline. But it was low enough to be safe, I guess... honestly, I don't know. They could have waited another week to open. The beach area where I'd assumed Toddler could play was completely gone, now just a muddy little walk-in to the swimming area. Poor kiddo didn't want to get into the cold water -- fair! -- and just kind of spent the time playing with a pool noddle.
CG had fun, at least. She kept saying it didn't feel as cold as last time and I pointed out that's probably because she's a bit bigger. She was still shivering by the end, but her lips weren't blue. The water, usually clear, was pretty murky. I don't know if that was a result of the higher water levels or all the people stirring up silt at the walk-in. Folks kept getting knee-deep and then retreating because it's, well, cold. What did they expect? Still, it is a shock if you haven't visited a spring before. Just gotta jump in and let your body go numb.
I'm glad we went; spring season is pretty much ending soon, as the days get less sweltering. You kind of need it to be 90 degrees just to recover from the cold after. In theory, the 72 degree water feels warm in the winter, but I haven't been brave enough to test it yet.
After all that swimming, CG still had energy to spare, and she remembered me saying we could practice biking to her school later in the afternoon. Despite me reminding her it would be a bit further than other trips we'd gone on and also had at least two intense hills, she still wanted to do it. So I strapped Toddler on the cargo bike, made sure we all had water and sunglasses, and away we went.
We had to stop for water three times, and once at the top of a hill for CG to catch her breath, but we did it! She was so proud of herself when we reached the school; she's been talking about wanting to bike to school for a few months now. I'm so proud and also a little bittersweet; she really will start biking this year, and then I won't have both my kids on my bike anymore. I knew some day they wouldn't both fit and I'd have to find a solution, which is why I've been working with her to get stronger at biking, but gosh, it feels like it came on all of a sudden.
CG is already talking about when she can bike to school for real. I'm trying to figure out when and how; we'd have to be able to leave early enough, since she bikes a lot slower than me and then there's the problem of retrieving her bike, since she still goes to afterschool at another place. Still! I will figure it out because I know how much I loved biking to school as a kid and I want to continue fostering her independence.
It's also that my own choice to bike them instead of driving feels like it's paid off. Not only do I get to talk to them on the bikeride in -- sometimes we sing, sometimes we point out cats, sometimes we get to see baby ducks -- but CG has developed an interest in biking and understanding that she can go places, too, and eventually on her own (although I have to remind her that there are Laws here, unfortunately, so it will be a few more years).
I've also noticed she has a much firmer grasp of our neighborhood and its surroundings. I read about a study a year ago that had kids draw a map of their route to school; the study found that kids who were driven often drew a very ambiguous map, little more than a line from their house to the school. Kids who walked or biked drew their entire neighborhoods, with important details like Big Tree and Friend's House.
It reminded me of how, when I returned to my childhood town as an adult, I could find my way around some areas just fine but was an absolute loss at others -- of course, the former were the roads I'd biked and the latter were the roads I'd been driven. Even now, trying to picture my town and the surrounding area, everything gets hazy at the edges of my biking route. When folks mention streets from where I grew up, I can't even place them, even if I recognize the names.
Anyway, just another perk of biking. I kind of want to give her the map test from the study and see how she does.
