Take me to your leader

I have been chosen to participate in a program for upcoming leaders here at work, thus, all my free time has been eaten up by readings, meetings, departmental visits, etc. My goal to put up a new blog entry has been pushed to the backburner, but since I'm down to 2 faithful readers, I think you guys will understand!

Also, looks like I'm going to be the proud author of a new book! Yes, it's been about 2 years in the making, but it went to press this week. Check out the website if you dare. And I'm expecting you'll buy several copies for family members, nieces, nephews, and random strangers on the street.

Tommorow I will be going out to get Sport another pair of glasses. He had 2 pairs; one broke several months ago and the other gave up the ghost the day before his eye appointment. I'm going to get plastic frames this time. Those metal ones are too delicate for an athletic kid. He wants to get red glasses. Since he's gotten all A's the last 2 semesters, I think I can splurge for a little color.

Lego has one more science project to work on. He's actually got a game plan this time (although he came up with it after we forbade computer games and the X-box until he had something written down on paper). He's still so laid back, he's practically lying on the floor. I guess it's great not to get stressed out about the little things (like finishing a project worth 1/3 of his entire grade) but it makes me crazy!

Believe it or not, we'll be getting a new roof for the house next week. The hailstorm a couple weeks back finally pushed us to take the money from the savings and just do it. SO doesn't like to see the bank account shrink, but I'm tired of the drab condition of that roof. Next year, we'll have the paint the house. That won't be fun.

Volunteers, anyone?

Tarred and bothered

I don't have a significant head injury story to share, but I am slightly nauseous. Our aged building is getting a new roof, and the smell of freshly melted tar is wafting through the office. It's like the La Brea tar pits out there, but I doubt there are any mammoth fossils to be discovered. Most likely a cigarette butt or too have been unearthed while scraping away the old tar paper. The roofing crew don't even wear masks. The smoke coming off of that tar machine is really thick, but they seem impervious to the fumes.

This morning, due to high winds, patches of insulation went flying over the side of the building and landed near the entrance. A couple of stray pieces fell onto a customer's car. The stuff looked exactly like plywood and I was afraid it was going to conk somebody right on the head, opening us up to a lawsuit, so I went running down to find the security guard. He was standing by the front window, watching the insulation fall.

"You need to tell the roofing crew to keep this stuff from falling off the building," I said. "It's going to hurt someone."

"Yeah, I was going to go out there at 9 and tell them."

Our security guard was watching it happen, actually saw a customer go and remove it from the hood of her car, yet stayed inside, transfixed by the sight. Unbelievable. He's more of a bystander than a security guard, if you ask me. It's enough to make me want to go and learn how to shoot a gun, maybe even get a conceal and carry license so I can protect myself and my co-workers. It's obvious if something really big goes down, our guard will be the first casualty. Probably his gun flap is rusted shut or something. Sheesh.

I guess there's a very real chance I could end up with a significant head injury by the time this roof is finished. Pray for me.