Of Moose And Men
The Best Laid Plans Of Both Often Go Astray

Feeling drained this evening, a combination of diet, knee, and work. On the diet front I’m trying some new enzymes that are supposed to help with digestion of FODMAPs, and so far it’s early so it’s a little hit and miss, but I’m giving it a try anyway. If it works long term that means more options for eating without digestive discomfort, but for now it’s not quite there (so my gut is feeling off). On the knee front, just feeling annoyed at it in general.

On the work front, the latest exercise is a “find all the legal/regulatory requirements that directly tie to your job as an attorney for the agency” as we attempt to fend off cuts in the legal office (after at least two attorneys took the early out offer). The other two attorneys on my little mini-team are stressed as fuck right now, and that’s bleeding over. I think we have ways to justify all of us, but in the meantime we’re all a bit on edge, understandably.

Walked to a local restaurant for dinner, which was apparently a mistake. Knee is not happy with me now, which means it’s finally time to reconnect with the orthopedist. Ugh. Hopefully it’ll be something more helpful than ‘go do more PT’.

Steadily making my way through Dishonored 2, playing as Corvo. Three missions down.

Latest stupidity at work is trying to pin our exact job duties to particular statutes. Unlike most agencies we’re so small that we do not, by law, have a ‘general counsel’ (there’s a singular reference to our specific office in law, but it’s not an establishing statute). We should probably get that fixed the next time we look for changes to our organic legislation, but in the meantime we’re now having to justify our existence by pointing to all of the things we actually do that are called for in law. What a crock.

The husband and I went to see the last of the preview productions of Waitress up at Olney theater. Very solid production, excellent show. They have some lighting and sound cues to work on, but that’s the joy of going to a preview show – you get to see more of the sausage being made.

Quiet day otherwise. Lots of rain washing away the last batch of snow, though apparently we’re looking at another possible snow storm mid-week again. If the amounts currently forecasted come to pass it’ll mean another snow day or two. Such a shame (he said, sarcastically).

After work the husband and I went to see the newest Marvel film, Captain America: Brave New World. We enjoyed it, was probably a mid-tier Marvel movie (not the best, not the worst). For a couple sitting three rows back from us it was a very expensive nap – they both snored, loudly, through the vast majority of the movie. ‘Twas all we could do not to break out in giggles when it got particularly bad. Thankfully it wasn’t quite enough to drown out the movie itself.

Finally downloaded the Signal app for my personal phone. There are a lot of rumors that the new crew is installing key loggers and automatic transcription for all video meetings on our work devices, with monitoring to see if anyone is being ‘disloyal’ to 47. An incredible breach of several laws and national security requirements, if true. But after the firings of so many probationary employees this week it’s better safe than sorry.

Pulled back on a couple of subscriptions today, just trying to take stock of spending and rein some in.

Last virtual meeting today with my small group from the training class. Hopefully we’ll see most of each other at the end of February. A couple might not make it because of 47’s order or other budget woes, but most should be there. What a mess. Also apparently now I need to do a lot of reading before we get there so we have more time to talk and need less reading time. Whee! Good thing I just finished the last big fantasy novel I was working on (the latest Brandon Sanderson tome).

Well, snow telework day. It finally started mid afternoon and we’re up to a couple of inches outside now. Lots of leftovers for lunch (ordered pizza last night), and various and sundry work messes to clean up as we attempt to normalize what 47 is doing.

It’s unclear if I’ll be attending the second half of the training course at the end of this month because he issued an order dissolving the training institute that’s putting on the training. Rumor is that as part of an orderly shutdown they’ll finish out the class that’s there now, and then have my class come down for our last two weeks (because we already paid them for the training last fall), at which point we’ll be the last ever class there. The whole point of the institute is to train federal employees in leadership skills, and as we know this team hates the idea of a profession, non-partisan civil service (because he just wants yes-men), so it makes some sick sense that they’d close one of the ways that we maintain that professional civil service. Depressing, really.

We’re expecting another big (for DC) snow storm tomorrow through Thursday. Four to eight inches (10-20cm), which is a lot for here. Work laptop came home with me, and I will take advantage of any and all “unscheduled telework” days that pop across, like the “Early Departure ?” DC area Federal offices status message that’s posted for tomorrow (the question mark, present in the original message, was my favorite part; like they weren’t sure they completely meant it).

Commuted in, met the husband in metro on the way home. Ordered pizza for dinner and watched the last half of season one of Big Boys, a British show on Hulu that we’re quite enjoying. Probably an early night tonight as Tuesdays are traditionally busy days for me as people manage to catch up on their weekend/Monday emails and start tossing bombs at the lawyers.

Was out late to a community theater production of Heathers the Musical last night, so no chance to update. Was a fun show, some of what it tried to bring from the movie didn’t quite map, but overall it was fun, and the cast did a good job with it. Very welcome distraction.

A bit of knitting on the shawl, and I started a washcloth to have something quick to do. Finished my replay of Dishonored and all the DLC, and started Dishonored 2, playing as Corvo first (before I go back and replay as Emily). I never finished the third game in the series, so here’s hoping I get through it this time.

Figuratively and literally. Finally managed to pin down management to provide a final agency position on some things which we need for next week, balancing between court orders and administration priorities. After work I finished a hat I was making for the husband and wove in all the ends (Xmas themed, but he’ll be able to use it next year). Learned to use a new pom-pom maker (so much easier than by hand). Then after dinner I picked up the shawl I started last year and made some progress on that. Overall a nicely productive day, without quite as much insanity as the rest of the week.

After work the husband and I went to see Love Hurts, which was just as cheesy and fun as the trailers made it out to be. There’s a delightful unexpected romance that made us laugh out loud at several points. Definitely needed the break from current events, and glad we went.

Unscheduled telework because of weather here (the potential for ice all over the roads, and resultant school delays for those with kids). The husband was also home, though we didn’t interact much because we both had full schedules.