Saturday between the papers

I set the cell phone for 6:30 am this morning, having gotten a text message re: the papers last night; we were supposedly loading at 8:20.  I didn’t sleep at home last night, so got a little less than a full sleep, but when the alarm rang, I was ready to get up and get going.  I called the paper about an hour before our projected load time, and was told then that things were running slowly and that it would likely be 9 before I got our papers.

It was well after 10 when I finally drove out of the press building with our papers. (more than half as few as we got on Thanksgiving)  I swear they had to cut down more trees to make up my 109 bundles of seven – they came down that slowly.  I get into the groove and say "good morning!" as I enter each shop or store we service, but I had to change that to "good afternoon" for my last five stops.  It had changed to noon before I finished.  bleeeh

I should mention that I luuv this time of year for the papers.  (hm.  Not sarcastic enough looking)  Fat papers that come to me late, causing me to finish after the idiots wake up and get out on the road in their cars and on their bikes – oh yeah, luuuv is not too strong a word to use.

I was so beat after I finished this morning that it was a real effort to get in my van and drive downtown to check my PO Box, and when I got back (with the one catalogue in the PO Box $&^%$!) that I faded fast and right into bed.  I woke up in time to watch the news, but I foresee another nap before I get my papers tonight (tomorrow morning, more like it). 

We are not last on the list to load, no, we are second to last.  Imagine the joy that fills my heart as I look at loading after 2 am.  At least I should be finished BEFORE the sun comes up, unlike Thursday with the Thanksgiving Day papers

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On a subject completely unrelated to the above:

Last week, I had to replace the oil pressure sensor sender, which screws into the side of my van’s engine.  It had been leaking for a while (ahem) and had gotten oil all over the side of the engine that faces the front of the van.  (It’s a transverse engine, mounted sideways in the engine compartment)

Well, that oil picks up dust and shit and stuff from the road and was looking pretty ugly.  I stopped over at BiMart and bought some Simple Green, a very good cleaner/degreaser, and drove over to the spray and wash, spraying the engine all over with the simple green and letting it soak while I smoked a cigarette.  I pugged in my seven quarters and washed the engine off, using the rest of the time on the clock to flush the van with water.

I’m pleased with the wash – the engine compartment looks virtually brand new, and even more important, the new pressure sensor that I installed is not leaking and my engine is staying clean.  Simple Green is good stuff; useful for lots more than claening my engine.  I use it in the apartment too; it’s dilutable and is a good all around cleaning product.  It smells ok too.

Winter is definately here; it will be in the high 20’s tonight (or for my celsius readers, below 0).  It has been dry out, so no worries about ice, but the Cascade ski areas will be getting inches of snow all week, apparently.  It looks like a cold week for waiting for the bus; thank god I drive the damn thing and don’t have to wait for it, lol.

Four weeks of school and then a two week vacation for Christmas/New Years.  Four full weeks of work.  Five days a week with the school bus, and then two full weeks off (except for the papers on the weekends).  Last year, I had to go into work for training during the holiday break, but I don’t have to this year – I’m good for training until next summer.

Two full weeks off – what’ll I do with myself?

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