Courses are fun

At work yesterday, we had our weekly team meeting. Our manager indicated that we had a couple of courses to take as a group.

I have re-inherited a writer who needs to be hounded because she can't work independently. She has told me for over a month that she has work for me to review. I have yet to do any reviewing because she has been working on "last-minute changes" that apparently stretch for weeks.

She used to be a part of my team years ago. She got a different team lead. Due to a bunch of assignment shuffles, I now take on more of a team lead role and I lose writing new software enhancements. I basically have half the team under my wing.

Change is good. Inheriting this woman again isn't good, though.

Anyway, this incompetent person had this exchange with our manager in the meeting:

"How about Cutiebootie? Did she complete the courses?" she asked.

"Of course she did. It goes without saying," he replied.

It was odd that she asked if I did. It actually made the females on our team look bad. The males are doing much better in the course completion department. I'm the only female who has completed them.

My manager knows how I tick. Give me a course to take and I will do it as soon as I can because I like learning. It's that simple.

Broke out of the house

Yesterday, I went out at long last. It was a warmer day for a brief period, reaching a high of 3°C.

There is a lot of snow here. A bit of it melted. The problem now is that it's refreezing. I expect lots of potholes.

 

Right now, it's windy and the temperature is tanking. Fun.

Here's a carved path near where I live:

All packed

I am all packed. I fly out tomorrow.

Before I fly out, I need to take an antigen test. Rules have changed where it has to be taken within 24 hours. On my last trip, it was 72 hours. I'm getting this test done tomorrow morning before I head over to the airport.

My setup is different on this trip. I'm carrying a backpack with my laptop and charger instead of my rolling bag. I also and bringing a larger piece of luggage that I've had for nearly two decades. I will be saying goodbye to it (one zipper works out of the whole thing) and getting a new piece of luggage while in the States. I may also buy a smaller rolling bag that fits in the overhead compartment. I love my rolling bag, but it no longer fits up there. The airline has made this compartment a lot smaller now.

Here's hoping that everything goes smoothly!

Android 9 Pie and my Pixel's dying battery

I wonder whether Google has been hearing about my current and probably only woe with my Google Pixel phone.

My phone is nearly two years old. These days, the battery doesn't hold a charge as well as it used to. A couple of days ago, my phone had 34% battery life and then it automatically shut itself off. I tried booting it up and it simply didn't have enough juice to stay on.

The good news is that whenever there is an Android update, Pixel phones tend to be the first to get it. This time, it's Android 9, also known as Pie, that is out.

I installed it. One of its biggest features is adaptive battery. The idea is that the operating system learns my phone usage patterns. It then direct power to apps that I need. It's essentially predicting my day-to-day battery usage. That's cool to me.

So far, I've noticed that my phone's battery drain at a slower pace. There is also a battery saver option. Nice!

The next Google Pixel phone gets revealed in early October. Chances are that I will upgrade to it. I love my phone. I am hoping that the new phone's battery is better. For now, I thank Pie for extending my battery's life for another couple of months, at least.

Concert and parking lot changes

The other night, I went to see a concert. I had a fabulous time!

I used to work downtown. I have a particular parking lot where I park and walk over to the venue. It has been roughly a couple of years since I have parked at this lot. It has changed! It no longer is dumpy. Luckily, the price is still right.

After the show, I walked back to the building in which the parking lot is located. The security guard and I had a brief conversation. He was pleasant and asked me if I was going to the parking lot. I was and even indicated the level. He was kind to point to the elevator that would take me down. I had used a different elevator that got me on the mezzanine level earlier in the evening. I thanked him and continued on my merry way.

Unfortunately, leaving the parking lot was annoying. The person in front of me could not get his payment method going at the exit area. After patiently waiting for him to get his transaction done for five minutes, I went to a different kiosk, put my ticket in, and left.

I do like the new parking lot. The parking spaces are wide, which prevents idiots from dinging my car if I am parked next to them.

Cars, packing, plan changes, and travel

I wrote to my guy the other day, indicating that his car is safe in the parking lot at work. I sent him a photo of my car parked next to his. He liked that a lot.

On Sunday, we chatted on Skype before he had to turn in for the night.

"Your car keeps telling me that I need to drive it," I told him.
"It did? Right now, you can do whatever you want," he replied.
"You miss me, don't you?" I noted.
"I do. I miss sweet and sexy you."

He's sweet, as always. I miss him, too. He is in Istanbul, safe and sound.

Things have changed. We were supposed to meet when he returns home this Friday. However, he has been asked to return to Cairo after his trip to Istanbul this week. So, we won't see each other until I am home from Shanghai next month. It seems like an eternity.

On a good note, we will be chatting more regularly this week. So, all is not lost.

My packing is going okay. I am slowly chipping away at my list of important items to bring along. Thank goodness for this long weekend! I always feel like I am missing something, even if I have prepared a list. My list continues to grow.

Fixing more issues with my cell phone plan and having my photos credited on Facebook by one of my favourite music bands

A follow-up post about ironing out my cell phone plan issues. My sales rep wrote an e-mail on Thursday night, claiming that she had fixed everything. It appeared that way until I analyzed my plan's details carefully.

I was supposed to get a $10 per month discount on my plan. She managed to reimburse me for the last two months and add it to my plan going forward. However, to get this discount required moving my account from a business one to a residential one. Okay, no big deal.

What she did instead was create two accounts for me. One was a temporary one (why, I haven't got a clue) and the other was my new one. I get a corporate discount. Apparently, she applied this discount to the temporary one and not my actual account. I didn't figure this detail out until I spoke with a representative over the phone.

She also failed to give me Canada-wide long-distance calls on my plan yet again. So, this issue alone prompted me to call to have it slapped on. 

The service representative did a fantastic job fixing everything. I was impressed. I am a happy camper. My cell phone provider also increased my data limit each month. I have a ridiculous 7 GB each month. I don't know what I am going to stream away from home now!

On a wonderful note, one of my favourite music duos included two of my photos taken at their show in Toronto on the band's Facebook page. I am over the moon and about to faint!

Fixing things to make things right and having them run smoothly

It would be nice if things ran smoothly all the time. Sometimes, they do. Other times, they go horribly wrong.

As you know, I changed cell phone providers in late October. Last month, I noticed a number of issues with my first bill:

• I had asked for unlimited Canada-wide long-distance calling. It wasn't applied to my plan. As a result, my talking to my guy over the phone for a month racked up $31 worth of charges.
• I was promised a $10 per month discount on my monthly rate. It never got applied either.

So, I called the company on a Sunday. I spoke to a guy who was helpful on the whole. 

He was great to reimburse me for the long-distance charges and added unlimited Canada-wide calling to my plan. My guy and I are roughly a two-hour drive away from each other, so it makes sense to have unlimited calling since we chat a lot.

I was advised that the second point could be fixed if I switch from being a business customer to a residential one. I have a corporate discount, which is why I ended up being a business customer. Still, it's ridiculous to transfer my account over simply for a discount.

I told my guy about the whole situation. He was annoyed. He has also dealt with similar issues when he changed to his corporate account. He's used to it, unfortunately.

Last week, I contacted my sales rep. She advised that she was driving. She asked that I call her. I was about to have lunch, so I didn't.

I remembered to call her today. She checked. Sure enough, the discount was not applied. She is having that slapped on. I will also get reimbursed for the previous month.

And then, there's work.

Whenever we have a software release, our user guides need to be uploaded to a special repository for folks to access at any time. In the past, three of us would upload each guide one at a time. The work was not difficult. Rather, it was extremely time-consuming.

This past weekend, I tried a new tool that allows you to upload all guides at once. The catch is to load the details correctly. You then press a few buttons and everything runs smoothly.

I triple-checked my information. On Monday, I uploaded all 117 user guides. No errors! 

My colleague then kicked off another build to order the documents in our repository. In less than a day, we were done.

I told him that it was the most stress-free upload that we have ever worked on. He commended the fact that I was meticulous with all details, which helped. Everything ran perfectly.

It was a good day. Let's hope for more of them.

Blogger changes, contractor woes, yummy sweets, and gym trips

I see that Blogger's user interface has changed. It gives you the look and feel of a Google application. So far, I haven't come across any bugs. Naturally, there is plenty of time to find one!

With the annoying contractor at work, we had a talk and I gave him a piece of my mind. I was firm, but not to the point where I was bashing him to death. Part of me wanted to, but I am too polite to do that in front of his face. I felt better. He hasn't got a clue.

I told my guy about my interactions with the guy. He laughed at the fact that this guy is socially inept and started firing work-related questions when I first walked into the office. As usual, my guy told me to hang in there. After all, this guy will be gone in a month's time.

My manager and I had a venting session on Friday about this guy. We both agreed that his contract will not be renewed next year. He advised that this guy will not pass probation.

My guy and I had a good chat on Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, my new cell phone provider's signal is weaker than my previous one when it comes to talking in the basement. I need to do some research on cell phone boosters in the home. I was fine holding it up in the air, doing my best impression of the Statue of Liberty, which made my guy laugh.

Anyway, my guy is travelling to Egypt and Moldova in over a week's time.

"What would you like me to bring back from Cairo?" my guy asked me.
"How about those honey sweets that you brought back a few years ago. They were yummy," I replied.
"Sure. Yummy goodies for a yummy girl."

We chatted while we both worked out. I was on my glider. My guy at the gym on a treadmill.

"I was planning to go to the gym yesterday, but I didn't. I was dressed for it," my guy admitted.
"Hey, that's progress. In the past, you would just say no and climb back into bed without changing your clothes."

He chuckled. He knew that I was speaking the truth.

Revised spanking tally - number of spanks is in triple digits

Love our lurkers (LOL) day ended up being a two-parter event this year. My intent was to collect comments from day one. The number of comments that day would be tabulated and the final result, along with the various spanking plans, would be shared on day two.

I received four comments on day 2. Part of me wants to say no, that wasn't the original plan, and to reject them. The pushover side of me wants to include them.

Well, since I am creatively adjusting my spanking plans from LOL day, I am going to include the four late comments, but reduce the number of smacks. So, instead of eight smacks, they count as four.

Why? I want the number to be 34. It's sentimental.

When my guy and I first started dating, he didn't want to know how old I was. To this day, I don't know whether he knows how old I am. To him, it doesn't matter. He just wants to be with me and love me. It's mutual.

We were chatting one day, several months after we officially started dating. He said that I looked cute and young. I was curious how old he thought that I was. Without hesitation, he said that I looked 34 years old. He was and is sweet.

So, it's 34 spanks. It's final.

My guy and I agreed on the following spanking plan:

• 34 smacks with a wooden hairbrush
• 34 slaps with my purple acrylic ruler
• 34 whacks with a leather paddle
• 34 spanks with whatever implement my guy would like to use

My guy is happy to carry out this plan. I can't wait! I will definitely share the results of this fun plan. Thanks for helping out!

The aftermath - resting my head on lap

Normally, my guy and I will quietly chat on Skype to determine where we're going after work and what we're going to do. This past Wednesday was different. My guy wasn't logged on to Skype. Yet, our cubicles are diametrically opposed and we tend to keep our personal lives private at work.

I packed up first and said goodbye to a few colleagues. I then stopped by my guy's cubicle and asked why he was still at his desk -- that he should leave. He agreed.

I made a stop at the ladies' room. When I had left, my guy was leaving the office. He was walking ahead of me.

I could tell from his posture that he was relieved. My car was parked in the lot next to his. He turned around and looked at me.

"I walk slowly," I said, wearing my fairly new sandals that have a slight incline, which takes getting used to.
"No, your stride is pretty good," he said, still looking at me.
"It's nice to see you," I said.
"Likewise," he said. "Did you want to get a bite to eat?"
"Are you hungry?" I asked him.
"Not really. But, if you are, I could having something light."
"I am," I admitted. "All that talk from [our colleague] about Italian food has made me hungry."

My guy had suggested going to a pizza place up the road, midway between our workplace and our treehouse location. I was game.

We drove over there. Unfortunately, this pizza place is attached to a hotel. Parking was packed. We both managed to find parking spots. We had to parallel-park our cars next to the cement wall, which was really a fence.

We walked in the restaurant. It was more than just a pizza lace. My guy ordered a pizza slice. I went with a Philly cheesesteak. We both had pop. We sat there, ate, chatted, and then left.

What's interesting about me is that I am okay with changing out of my pants and into a skirt in my car. I was parked in a quiet corner area of the building. So, I changed into a navy blue skirt and then drove over to our usual location. I should have changed at work, but I had left my skirt in the car.

My guy was patiently waiting in the treehouse. I climbed in there and apologized for being tardy. I explained that I had a wardrobe change. He didn't mind one bit.

We continued to chat while holding hands. He could see that I was getting back to my regular self. I confessed that I still felt sad. It was then that my guy started to tickle me.

My guy is trying to "undo" my being so ticklish by introducing the hand-on-tummy method. Most of the time, his hand on my tummy is okay. However, when he constantly moves his hand over my tummy, it causes me to squirm and grab on to both his hands. He finds it cute. I find it a form of torture, at times.

I ended up resting my head on his lap. He liked it. I inched closer up to him. Being the gentleman that he is, he helped me move closer to him. He fingered me while I was on my back. It was nice. I enjoyed the change of scenery and position. He did, too. I came quickly.

My guy loves to play with me, to the point where he ended up fingering my butt. He started with one finger, tried two, and ultimately had three fingers up me. I thought that I couldn't handle it, but I was horny as can be. I could. I did. I came again.

With my head still in his lap, I rested with my eyes closed for a bit. He kissed my forehead and played with my bangs. He has always loved my hair. He marvels at how straight and black it is.

He looked into my eyes. He didn't have his eyeglasses on. Yet, he could see my contact lenses. It was neat.

We chatted a bit longer. At one point, I asked him if we could hug a bit longer. I am normally not that clingy, but I wanted to be. He was fine, wrapping my arms around me as I tightly hugged him back.

Minor tweaks to my blog links section

It has taken me some time to convince myself to switch from the old Blogger editing interface to the new one. I have been using the new, cleaner version for at least a month. So far, so good!

I finally got around to changing my blog links on the right menu pane. The older version would not allow anyone to click a link and have it open in a new window. I finally installed the new blog gadget, which automatically does what I want it to do. I also got rid of some older blog links that no longer exist and have added a few new ones that I have been reading as of late.

In my profile, I have removed my e-mail address. It is not that I don't welcome your feedback. I am horrible at responding to e-mails these days. I do respond to comments on blog posts a lot faster, so please continue to do that!

Those are all my recent changes to my blog. I suppose that I should hit the sack. The combination of springing ahead due to Daylight Saving Time and going to work tomorrow is probably going to make getting up a challenge. We'll see.

My guy is pretty good at going to bed at a decent time. I am horrible at it. I need to learn from him. Then again, my habit gives him a fun reason to spank me. I will need to suggest it to him.

Geez, has it been nearly three months since I last wrote?

Yikes! Time does fly by when I'm busy. I'm still figuring out my new job. Well, it's not exactly new, now that I've been with the company for just over four months. I still don't know what I do, though. It'll take some time to understand it all!

I have started my graduate studies, which is the main reason why I haven't updated my blog all that often. I've got a bit of a break now, thank goodness! I must tell you now that I have four assignments due within the next six months. After that, I should be posting more on my blog. When I mean more, I can't guarantee that it'll be every week, but it certainly won't be three months later!

Perhaps I should get a firm paddling for taking this long to post. It's a fitting punishment!

The other day, I did give my hubby, G, a nice over-the-knee spanking. I had asked him to proofread an assignment that I was going to hand in the following day. He had made changes to the first two pages, but didn't bother to edit the last two pages. I reread my paper and noticed that he had missed several major grammatical errors.

Technically, I should be the one over his knee. He should truly give me five swats on my bare bottom for every grammatical error that I had made. However, the onus was on him to correct my mistakes. So, it was fitting for me to spank him.

I started playfully spanking his backside with my hand over his underwear. I then lowered them and spanked him with my bare right hand, with my left forearm holding him down. We both enjoyed the spanking, with my telling him to be more consistent with his editing and pointing out that he should be more thorough.

I think the spanking help. He finished editing my paper and I incorporated the changes.

I think with my next paper, I will deliberately screw up my spelling, punctuation, and grammar, so I can get a sound spanking from him. That shouldn't be too long of a wait. My next assignment is due in less than two weeks.