As of today, I have worked for my current employer for 34 years. Surely I can retire SOON.

Another amazing weekend in Pittsburgh is over. Many thanks to Uncle Kage and his hardworking staff. With luck, I will be recovered by next year. An additional shout out to the Double Tree for taking such good care of me.

On the way to work this morning, my car's transmission crapped out again. It has almost 300 miles (that's three hundred) so I suppose I should not be surprised. Wednesday, my computer had a stroke of some kind and I have not had a chance to check on it. So, I will be depressed and difficult to reach for the foreseeable future. Which deity have I pissed off and how do I mollify him, her, or it?

Some good news. Both GM and Jet Chevrolet said warranty was only 12 months and 12,000 miles. Not the 36 months and 100,000 miles we were told when we replaced it in October of 2013. Mechanic found documentation proving Jet Chevrolet said 36/100K so they are furnishing another transmission. Alas, I have to pay labor but that is much less than the transmission costs. With towing, diagnostics, and some other maintenance that is due, I'm out about $2,000. So much for my annual bonus. At least this will give me time to do a proper replacement of the car.

Car problem diagnosed. The transmission has gone out. Again. This is the one for which I paid $5,000 in October of 2013. It was supposed to have a three year, 100,000 mile warranty. GM says, oh no. It was only 12 months and 12,000 miles. Mechanic is trying to get in touch with the dealer that furnished it and told us it was three years and 100,000 miles. I'm thinking somebody is getting sued. Anyone in the Seattle area know a good lawyer?

In any case, I think it is time for a new car. Any suggestions on what to get? Obviously, anything by GM is out of the question.

Sitting at McDonald's waiting for a tow truck. Car started acting funny on the drive to work but it didn't seem too bad. Made an appointment for tomorrow at the shop. On the way home, it just went nuts. Engine light came on now it won't go. Made it into the parking lot and called for a tow. This on the same day raises came out and mine was the smallest I have ever gotten in my 33 years at the company. Can you say "crappy day"? I knew you could.

I have returned from Confurgence. Delayed 16 hour flight. Missed connection. Tired kitty.

At the Seattle airport on the way to Melbourne, Victoria via Los Angeles. Confurgence, are you ready?

Lost power and internet yesterday evening. Estimated restoration is noon Friday. Will be in the dark until then.

Well, I have survived another wonderful Anthrocon. It will take me until next year to recover. Many thanks to  kagemushi and his awesome staff for a great weekend.

Big, French metal bird just spit me out in Pittsburgh. Foods and then taxi to hotel.

At the Seattle airport. Waiting for big metal bird to swallow me and take me to Atlanta so I can get to Pittsburgh. The journey begins.

How do you want to be addressed?
Tallyhawk or "My Lord and Master" will do.

Where are you staying?
The Hilton.

What day are you getting there?
Thursday

Who will you be rooming with?
My favorite con roomie  2gryphon

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
With whomever I run into.

Are there any panels you might be attending?
Probably but will have to check the schedule when I get there.

Will you be suiting?
Nope. Will be there as myself.

Do you do free art?
Alas, I have the artistic skill of a rock. So, nope.

Do you do trades?
See above.

Do you do badges?
See above.

Do you do commissions?
See above.

What is your gender?
Male

How old are you?
Old enough to know better.

How tall are you?
Five feet nine inches (which is 69 inches (I hear you giggling!) or approximately 175 centimeters).

Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate’?
No and no

Can I talk to you?
Certainly. But, do not expect me to be too terribly coherent in the early morning since I am an afternoon/night person. Early morning is defined as anything before lunch. My lunch, not yours.

Can I touch you?
Unless I know you, it would be unwise. I have a very strict sense of personal space.

Can I dance with you?
This "dance" of which you speak. What is it?

How can I find you?
Good question. I am pretty spontaneous at cons and don't really plan much. However, I will certainly attend major events and anything involving food.

Can I visit your room?
Not without an invitation. My roommate and I consider our room a place to escape the craziness of the con and have a quiet place to relax. If we know you, we might invite you. Otherwise, death to the invaders.

Can I buy you drinks?
Maybe. Because of past incidents, I am reluctant to eat or drink anything that does not come factory sealed or that I do not see the bartender make.

Can I give you stuff?
If you really want to. But, after half a century, I have plenty of "stuff." Intelligent conversation is an amazing gift all by itself.

Are you nice?
So I have been told. But, I can be grumpy if it is early in the morning or I am running late for something.

How long are you going?
Thursday to Tuesday.

Do you have an artist table?
No.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Just walk up and say something like "Hi. My name is __________."

Where will you be most of the time during the day/s?
Now that is a good question. I don't know myself until I get there. Art show. Dealers' den. Panels. I am on vacation. I try to keep it as spontaneous as possible.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
Probably. Unless I already have plans to meet someone. I enjoy polite conversation while eating.

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
Have fun. Same as every con.

Is anyone else with a Droid having trouble with the Twitter Ap crashing? It was fine yesterday before work. Since after work, it just crashes. I click the Ap. Twitter appears for a second or two then crashes. Phone has not changed.

Go to http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11235288/ for details. Be there. "I don't live in LA" will not work as excuse. I am coming from Seattle.

On my first flight to AC. Follow me on Twitter.

Creatively acquired from  lionus

How do you want to be addressed?
Tallyhawk

Where are you staying?
The Double Tree. You cannot beat the cookies at check in!

What day are you getting there?
Wednesday mid-day

Who will you be rooming with?
 2gryphon and  huepow00

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
My roommates,  lionus and, I hope, some of the Australian furs

Are there any panels you might be attending?
Will have to check the schedule when I get there.

Will you be suiting?
Nope. Will be there as myself.

Do you do free art?
Given a ruler, a pencil, and several minutes, I might manage a straight line. So, no.

Do you do trades?
See above.

Do you do badges?
See above.

Do you do commissions?
See above.

What is your gender?
Male

How old are you?
Old enough to know better and to have plenty of gray hair.

How tall are you?
Five feet nine inches (which is 69 inches (I hear you giggling!) or approximately 175 centimeters).

Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate’?
No and no

Can I talk to you?
Certainly. But, do not expect me to be too terribly coherent in the early morning since I am an afternoon/night person. Early morning is defined as anything before lunch. My lunch, not yours.

Can I touch you?
Unless I know you, it would be unwise. I have a very strict sense of personal space.

Can I dance with you?
This "dance" of which you speak. What is it?

How can I find you?
At Anthrocon? Good luck finding anyone at such a mad house. If I know you, you have my cell number. A text to set up a meeting time and place is probably the best way. Otherwise, roll the dice and hope for the best.

Can I visit your room?
Not without an invitation. My roommates and I consider our room a place to escape the craziness of the con and have a quiet place to relax.

Can I buy you drinks?
Maybe. Because of past incidents, I am reluctant to eat or drink anything that does not come factory sealed or that I do not see the bartender make.

Can I give you stuff?
If you really want to. But, after half a century, I have plenty of "stuff." Intelligent conversation is an amazing gift all by itself.

Are you nice?
So I have been told. But, I can be grumpy if it is early in the morning or I am running late for something.

How long are you going?
Wednesday to Wednesday.

Do you have an artist table?
No.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
Just walk up and say something like "Hi. My name is __________."

Where will you be most of the time during the day/s?
Now that is a good question. I don't know myself until I get there. Art show. Dealers' den. Somewhere between the Double Tree and the Convention center. I am on vacation. I try to keep it as spontaneous as possible.

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
Probably. Unless I already have plans to meet someone. I enjoy polite conversation while eating.

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
Have fun. Same as every year.

I need to replace my 2004 Saturn Ion. What should I get for my daily 115 mile commute?

Mein Gott! I've been ponied!

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/10137314/

Here's to 2013. May it be a good year for us all.

Just a quick note to let anyone who is trying to contact me know that I am leaving for MidFur later today and will have limited or no internet access until December 12 or 13. I am not ignoring you. I just don't know you are trying to reach me.

The cat defiled her litter box some time last night for the first time in a week so she seems to be on the mend. The security system people can make it out first thing in the morning to get it fixed before I head to MidFur. And, somewhere on the 57 mile commute to work, the car decided the check engine light could go off. Now, I just need to hide under the bed until my flight leaves on Wednesday.

The cat has some sort of blockage and has not had a good poop since last Monday. She has seen her doctor twice and it looks like a third time is coming up.

The security system has decided to randomly announce that a door or window has opened. I took the battery out of the sensor I think is causing the problem but it will not die. I just get a low battery message.

And, just now, I went out to have some dinner and the "check engine" light on the car decided to come on. This despite several hundred dollars worth of work on it last month.

So, which deity did I piss off and how to I appease him or her? Wednesday, I am supposed to leave for MidFur. Do I dare get on an airplane for 16 hours with this streak of luck running?

It was one of those days. It started out okay but early in the afternoon while I was doing the joyful task of writing online help for one of the software tools I have written for work, the security system decides that barn is burning down. No. It's fine. The sensor just went nuts. But, it kept going off so often and so quickly, the monitoring station could not call me and I could not call them. So, I got to meet the duty fire fighters from both my local volunteer station and the big one in Maple Valley. Apologized to them. Filled out the "oops" form. Got back on the phone with the monitoring company's service people using my cell phone and its wonky signal and put a temporary end to all the noise. A service person is supposed to appear tomorrow afternoon to figure out what is wrong and fix it. That should be a nice bill.

On my way out to test ride Rio, the applicant for my new horse I talked about in my last post, I thought I would take a minute to grab the ladder and nail up a loose gutter. Not a problem. Have to do this just about every year. Got it nailed back up with only minor difficulty and then notice the water is not draining out of the cursed thing. (How do I know it is cursed? I cursed it myself, personally and vigorously.) Traced the problem to the down spout which is full of water. Clogged french drain. Don't have time to deal with that so I figure I can just pull the bottom of the down spout out of it and let it drain into the yard until I can unclog the drain. Alas, the clog is in the down spout, too. While trying to dislodge this, the top end comes loose from the gutter and it drains all over me. Must change clothes before going to the stable to play with Rio. And, just what I needed, something to do this weekend.

There are days, and this is one of them, where it becomes obvious that this home ownership thing is not all that it is cracked up to be.

As for the test ride with Rio, it went pretty well. Although, he is very stiff and sore from being "out" just about everywhere. So, he is seeing the chiropractor tomorrow. He should feel better after that.

Rio

Rio is an applicant for "my new horse." Or, I'm an applicant for his new pet human. Goes both ways. He is a red roan gelding that stands 16 hands and is about 10 years old. He arrived today to start a one week trial period. Testing starts tomorrow and ends on Friday with a vet check. So far, so good. Cross your manipulative digits that the long search is over.