27 December 2020
White Christmas

We had a white Christmas, we weren't too sure it was going to happen, or if the snow from the days before were going to stick around, but it happened. This is the first year where we spent it at home with no guests, no one from my family nor Nicole's. Overall it was a pretty laid back day, we still ensured that presents were opened in a leasury manner, and we had a small dinner, although even with it being small there were considerable leftovers.
Have ordered a new dishwasher. Currently hand washing all dishes.

20 December 2020
Winter

Currently on a three week vacation, of which this last week really didn't feel like one. Still did work emails, policy reviews and other stuff in trying to shepherd a work project, of whose final status is still uncertain — albeit by weeks end, is now out of my hands with others attempting to assist (likely now all on vacation as well).
Spent the week cooking every night, with everything from a large roast, cornbread tamale pie, taco Tuesday, beef dip and Goulash with spaetzle along with German red cabbage.
Today had the joy of troubleshooting my dishwasher, going through appears the circulation pump is now end of life. Pump looks to be the most expensive piece on the replacement part list, and reading the serial number indicates the machine is 15 years old, so definately in the period when things start to break and require replacement.
Days are going by too quick.

24 November 2020
Straw

Another work day is done, hopefully, just need to pull the plug so it doesn't continue into the night. For some reason feels like I'm being pulled in a few too many directions, with walls appearing in others. Today as a work day happened and then it was over, which was bizarre as it was emails, texts, video conferences, tele conferences, some work, some research, then somehow it was over, and I asked myself well how did I get here.

18 October 2020
Thanksgiving x2

Work has been work—Telecommuting most days, with one day a week spending a long day at the office. Went to the range last Saturday, and things went fairly well, which was good.
Last Sunday, spent thanksgiving over at Nicole's parents with her family, it was a nice get together. Yesterday we had thankgiving dinner with my family, and Nicole decided to put the turkey in the smoker. Can honestly say it was an extremely tender turkey, and will have to do it again come Christmas.

8 September 2020
To work

And I've build a very nice retaining wall. Will likely be spending my days off and weekends building the playhouse.

We were able to go to the twilight theater in Aldergrove and catch a showing of the Goonies. Spent an afternoon picking apples at Willow View Farms. Quite a number of days were digging and then slowly putting together a retaining wall; hands are calloused, arms still ache and my skin tone is several shades darker. Other days were planning, and doing runs for material.

23 August 2020
On vacation again

Started another holiday as of last Friday as needing to burn off vacation days, this time for two weeks. Looking to build a playhouse (read: shed) for the kids.

Yesterday had my family over a games day and steak night. Seems when we want to play games, it devolves in to chit chat and not as many games. Although we luckaly were able to play a game of ticket-to-ride to finish off the night.

16 August 2020
In the Air

Last Thursday was a good day going into work.
Friday had unpleasant allergies, and was spent as another work from home day with added suffering. Nicole was unpleased that I didn't transition from work to house work, and instead went to bed after work.
Yesterday was pretty chill, spent some time in our swimming pool, a bit cool but is slowly warming up with the heat we've had this weekend. Made Pad-Thai for dinner which was nice.
This morning was rough, again allergies, but went out did some yard-work, and made Spicy-peanut sauce noddles for dinner.

The boxes of items/books/fonds needing to be scanned currently seems insurmountable. Was able to get back into scanning one book today; Nicole had indicated she will assist with dictating what to scan to start chipping away at the pile.

2 August 2020
Vacation and Learning

Took a week off work in the middle of July, we were going to go camping, however with the cool weather the mosquito were rampant. Don't really recall what we did, other than have a stress-letdown stay-cation.

After the week off, did a distance learning course. The course was supposed to be run on the East-Coast and should have been three weeks, but was abbreviated down to two with the last week now being a at work on-the-job training. Really feel that the networking for an advance course of this nature was really missed, and I think really indicates how much socializing within work is really suffering at this moment. Will have to take what I can as the positives form the course, go over, and see what lessons I cam either help implement at work or use as personal growth.

Lastly I dug out a tree. Digging out the root system was a pain, and took multiple weekends slowly digging at it.

5 July 2020
Eaten Alive

It's been a strange year. Very cool June, and now we've had an entire months worth of rain in a few days. It's still quite cold for July (some of local mountains had snow); though it's sunny and warmish today, the mosquitoes were quite brazen and made a lunch of me while trying to mow the grass. Must continue to keep grass short and ensure drainage throughout the yard to at least somewhat minimize their population.
Had central air installed last month, the month prior we were thinking it would be a warm summer, and with having to telecommute thought it would be required to survive. Thankful it's a long term investment, because right now it's really not being used at all.

Had my family over on the 20th, we ensured everything was wiped down, and spaces setup to ensure proper social distancing. Caveat for everyone coming was they had to have no signs of sickness. We had enough sanitizer and soap throughout to enable proper hand-washing as well, as well as masks if needed. It was good to see everyone, as it's usually every few months getting together, and this was a longer period. Going to setup more distanced events, so as to be not so distant.

Watched the Death of Stalin (about a month or more back), excellent comedy, and am now watching the Netflix series Kingdom. Making a list for the kids so they receive an education of classical movies this summer, while keeping it PG.

23 May 2020
Now into...

May. Having to log into Facebook for work related items today, took a little while to remember the password, as I do not use it. Work is still alternating with principally working from home and then doing a once a week office trip. Looking forward to reverting back to where it's principally working at work and then a bit of work at home. Really does seem that the most productive days are when at work, as can corner people and get answers or ensure projects move forward.

18 Apr 2020
Weekend or not to weekend

Work keeps spilling into the weekend, now two in a row. Thinking there might be a pre-planning issue, as everything is now a last minute emergency.

13 Apr 2020
Easter

Braved Costco last Thursday, took over an hour to get in, once inside it wasn't too bad, although a lot of items were out of stock. Kids had their Easter Egg hunt yesterday, which was nice, they had quite a bit of fun looking for items left over from the Easter Bunny. We would usually either host or attend a Sunday Easter dinner, however, it was just us at home eating a Ham. This entire isolation to the pandemic is rather strange and tiring. Also tiring is the amount of people not taking isolation seriously and having large gathering or parties.

31 Mar 2020
Tired

No longer coughing up a lung, or having to sleep upright. Definitely feel drained. Have talked to my Doctor and I'm allowed to return to work, very excited, looking forward to going into work.

22 Mar 2020
Ugh

Still sick. Now two wasted weekends, and a slog through a working week. Having to sleep upright so as to prevent having a chronic cough. Think I'm more rested going to sleep than getting up from it.

17 Mar 2020
Working from Home

Have had beautiful weather for the last five days, and as of last Friday my work has indicated that we are to work as home. Between that my specific branch is supposed to rotate through in the office. Just my luck that as of last Saturday I'm sick, and am still sick. Have to wonder how much coughing I will do and how much more stuff will come up form my lungs. Unfortunately being sick appears to be split between sleeping and being holed up inside looking at government briefs and emails.

17 Feb 2020
Long weekend

Nicole was sick during the workweek. Apparently now I'm sick for the long weekend.

8 Feb 2020
Drive home

Drove into work yesterday. Weather wasn't too bad going it, and a bit rainy going home, however, crossing over the bridge it went from light rain to complete downpour with gail force winds. Pucker factor went up pretty quick, thankfully was able to keep control of the car and make it home.

25 Jan 2020
Rain, lots of rain

This last week hasn't been too bad, with it raining quite a bit. Went with work to play Nerf archery, can positively say that I'm not a good archer, and the entirety of my inside left arm is blue from using the bow.
Last week we had a fair amount of snow, with me being forced to take a snow day and work from home. It wasn't just the snow, it was the constant freeze-thaw before that turned it into a few inches of snow on top of a nice layer of ice.

5 Jan 2020
Happy New Year

It's another year, and after almost 3 weeks off of work I'm ready to return, but at the same time it's never quite enough time off.
MyHeritage had a free promotion where one could transfer aDNA from MyFamilyDNA, checking the results didn't create any more close matches, however, the family tree portion did connect with many others, alas none of them had their DNA tested for cross comparison purposes. It always appears that I'm one generation out, or lacking in closer relatives for doing triangulation.