Category: Blogs!

06/18/2024 Back to School…

We’ve reached the point of the grievance process where it will sit in a “No Man’s Land” between the Union and Management: Step A. When this occurs, Union leadership sends the evidence up the chain of command so Management cannot squirm out of the decision-making process on whether or not I still have a job.

Technically, I’ll still be Career, but I’ll be sitting in Limbo until they finally stop being stubborn. My experience tells me that this is how they get around the higher-level charges being set against them: they wait out the grievance. I’ve one coworker who’s been at this stage for nearly two years…

I can’t sit on my laurels and wait that long. I’m no longer involved in the grievance, so I’m left to my own devices. That left me with many late-nights pondering (despairing) on what to do.

But I have a lot stashed away, financially, so the family will be fed. It might get tight occasionally, but we have breathing room for me to decide on something:

“Should I go back to school and try a new stage in my life?”

I’ve applied for a course on Cybersecurity. It’s something that I’ve had an interest in for years, but when I started in the Post Office, it was a highly-restricted field. Now that it’s been made more available, I can finally learn and work in a new field.

So, there it is. I’m going back to school. Only took twenty years…

Going to be some late nights spent studying and handling homework. I have an assessment to take in a couple of days, but I’ll let you know how it goes. For now, it’s chores and budgeting.

Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift

06/15/2024 No More Deliveries, Time for a Session

Well folks, I tried. I tried to keep up the pizza delivery work as a possible alternative to staying at home while the grievance process went through, but the pay wasn’t enough to make it worthwhile.

Having the kids cry and seeing the worried expression on my wife’s face at my leaving for a night shift, after getting used to me being around them so recently, was a factor, I’ll admit. But economics and quality of life were the driving influences in that choice.

It was costing more in fuel and planned maintenance for the vehicle than what I could make at the best possible chances in a week’s worth of shifts. In effect, I was losing money by working that job again. Coming home to a darkened house every night, knowing my family hadn’t had me around when I was so near, and missing out on the routines we had made over the years, was driving me back into a depression from which I had just managed to get free so recently.

I turned in my cap and shirt. I’ll still be on payroll if we ever get desperate, but I’ll turn my attention to something else. Something I know I’ve wanted to learn and work at (but never had the chance to further my education, thanks to the career), and would challenge me.

I’ll write about it once I’ve confirmed my choice.

In any event, it’s time for an event! A gaming session! First one in nearly a month!

Good Lord, I’ve needed one.

Stay safe out there, folks!

-JB Swift

06/14/2024 Morning Puzzles

7yr-old daughter: “Hey Dad, I’ve left you a puzzle when you start writing!”

Me: “Really? What kind of puzzle?”

7: “Can you find something at your desk that shouldn’t be there?”

… solid puzzle. It took me nearly five minutes to figure it out. I think I’ll leave it there and let the kid imagine she’s stumped her Old Man.

Back to writing, researching, and job searching. Hopefully, I’ll get things sorted out enough to host a couple of gaming sessions. I’ve missed my players.

Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift

06/13/2024 Story Progress, Work Stress

We’ve made it nearly a week into delivering pizza again, folks.

And… it’s not going well.

When I first had this job (20…years ago), the pay was decent enough to afford a 2-bedroom apartment on my own. But those days are long gone, and it’s extremely disheartening. It’s spurning on the drive to consider going into a school program for IT work.

The desire to work from home and be around my family more often is also a big factor.

When there’s stress, there’s escapism! So, I’ve made progress in the story-writing.

Time to get some sleep, folks. Stay safe out there.

-JB Swift

06/12/2024 Carport Kitten Replaced By New Hire

Bakka wandered into the subdivision behind our property and was taken in by a family. Much as I’ll miss having a carport cat to patrol the yard for snakes, I’m glad he is being taken care of.

But then my daughter told me that his bowl was still being emptied at night, so we waited to see what had decided to take his place.

Me, a Southerner: “It’s still cute!”

Welp, at least now the property is being patrolled for ticks and other insects that I’d rather not have to deal with. Possums are actually good critters to have around, especially here. They don’t carry rabies, contrary to old stories.

Looks pretty young, too. It kicks in my sheltering mind. So, we’ll let the guy be.

Stay safe out there, folks. Check your carports when you go outside at night.

-JB Swift

06/11/2024 Stepping Back In Career Timeline

It’s been a frustrating day, folks.

With everyone stressed that I haven’t been working, I’ve taken a job back at the first place to employ me.

Yes, I’ve stepped back 25 years and went to deliver pizza.

… they don’t pay like they used to. Gas prices aren’t what they used to be, either.

Eye twitches

I’ll keep working on studying for certifications and writing my stories. It might start becoming chaotic when I make posts, but I’ll be making an effort to keep daily posts and my gaming schedule.

Stay safe out there, folks. It’s going to be a long week.

-JB Swift