i went on a skyway walk at the end of my lunch over to the walgreen, where i got an ice cream candy bar and a bottle of starbucks coffee. when i got back i saw a missed call on my phone, and an instant message. found out a tech had arrived and i needed to get to the guard station on the main floor. this was for the other machine, the check printer. a maintenance kit was sent as well, but i pointed out we already had one when swapping out was necessary. but the one the tech brought was the one put in. the warning related to the kit was gone, but the icon is still there in reference to empty trays, not a big deal. we also looked at the level on the toner cartridge, already at half, and was swapped out last week. good thing the rep finally ordered this item, although it sounds like it is going to the former location. i was advised to call the help desk on getting my location updated. i figured it would get updated on its own in the employee directory, and with UPS, but i guess not. in the morning i found the time to do a big check copy request for the colleague that places supply orders for me. there were thirty-three checks to find, once i found the correct date, back in september, most were in one file. all but one, that is. i am a credit union member, and i just got registered for their annual meeting that will be held next month. in the evening i drank the bottle of heineken with my meal and went to the liquor store and got a bottle of summit, so there still are four beers waiting. during my walks i found 75 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when the friends went to a symposium in big sur and kept switching hotel rooms. it was followed by the one where howard was on 'professor proton' with wil wheaton.
Friday, January 17, 2025
Thursday, January 16, 2025
letter from prison?
i see all kinds of things when working at the bank. today was a weird one though, as it was a letter from a penitentiary. it spoke of a check i had overnighted, and there was some kind of error on the amount. i just print checks and send them out, i don't approve them. when it arrived, vacation replacement brought it to me, i searched for the check and found it in the system. this meant scanning it and letting the business line know about it. same was true with a check that a branch employee from nebraska had sent me. the boss was in the check shop for much of the day and wanted me to help with moving things around. it meant swapping tables so the larger one could be used as a desk instead of for boxes of check stock. some boxes of check stock were moved to another room, as those would serve as the 'reserve boxes'. i was largely caught up with getting checks sent out by the end of the day, this time four full tubs ended up in the mailroom. i was also asked for verbiage when sending an email to the service provider on the inserter machine. when the tech had arrived there was mention of a credit hold, i said there was a grounding wire that was re-attached near the conveyor belt, but it only took five minutes and not two hours. later on, it was said that a case would be opened to cancel the invoice. this led to a delay on my lunching, so i decided to get a sandwich from the nearby convenience store. during my walks i found 26 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when sheldon and penny worked on an app for finding shoes. it was followed by the one where raj meets the husband of a patron from the planetarium, the two were only separated and not divorced yet.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
tracings on envelopes
tech arrived mid-morning to get a look at the inserter machine. it was determined that the issue was the envelopes being used on our largest business line. tracings were done to show what was best, acceptable, and not good. in terms of what would jam the machine, of course. and it meant trying the envelopes from a different month, and the more recent ones worked. the way the tech worded it was the ones from other business lines were fine, just put the fargo return address on those too. my boss said let the supplier know. tech was there for half of the day. vacation replacement helped with getting most of the checks run through. four tubs went to the mailroom at the end of the day, but the fourth had very little in it. just a thousand checks were not run through when we left. so it won't take long to get caught up again. during my walks i found 75 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when amy met zac and said 'hoo', as she was turned on. it was followed by the one where raj, howard, and bert played in a band, and played 'six tons of granite'. the 'night court' episode had mayim bialik, as herself, guest starring. it didn't do much for me. one reason is the overkill on mentioning she is a scientist, once would have been enough. having mayim as herself was likely done so the 'blossom' dance could be performed.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
annoyed, three times
this was a day that i felt annoyed at work, three times no less. there was finding out i am still not getting the part i need for the check printer apparently, as it needs a spare toner cartridge. but the notes say the other side cares about something else more. then there was the inserter machine acting up. although it was doing so only on the fargo envelopes. but this is something i couldn't ignore as this is our highest volume business line to process. service was called for, but the tech will not be arriving until the morning. then there was dropping off the mail tubs in the mailroom. one colleague there asked me if i was watching the game, figured she meant the vikings playoff game. then she insisted it was going to be on fox, even though i know full well that monday night football is on abc and espn. i finally said 'i don't have the time for this' and left. and i didn't, because i had some more overnight labels to do. in the evening i went to perform. the mic was moved up two hours, but the crowd was light due to the cold weather, and likely the football game as well. i watched part of the game at the bar, vikings lost to the rams. this was a game moved from los angeles to the phoenix area due to the wildfires. i did stories about the bank, but also going to a book shop and to see a movie. during my walks i found 50 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when leonard and penny fake a relationship for her dad. it was followed by the one where amy said 'bestie!' after penny said 'you're an idiot if i am not your maid of honor' then amy hugs penny.
to die for movie
in the afternoon i went to see another classic movie at the trylon cinema in minneapolis, it was 'to die for', part of the nicole kidman series. i chose this one because gus van sant directed it, who also directed my favorite movie, 'good will hunting'. along with other things, including a music video for the red hot chili peppers. i do like a good 'mock-umentary' or 'satire' so this one worked for me. and i recognized two young actors in it, casey affleck and joaquin phoenix. it was about a lady that relentlessly pursues stardom as a newswoman in new england. i knew it was loosely based on a true story, and i was paying attention to the credits. found out it was based on a book by joyce maynard, who i had met at a special screening for a movie based on another one of her books. this was through my membership with the loft literary center. i noticed she had a small role in the movie, but i am used to a movie adaptation finding a role for the author. due to being interested in the promos, it is likely that i will make more visits soon. two more movies of interest to me are slated to be shown at this venue next month. i bought a small popcorn and a can of 7-up at this screening and still like getting food and drink at this theater as it is decidedly cheaper than at a first-run theater. i did watch some of the pro football games of the day, but only parts of the three games. buffalo, philadelphia, and washington won. i fell asleep for a little while in the evening, and watched some of the third game when i woke up. but i also needed to get the dishes done. during my walks i found 25 cents.
Sunday, January 12, 2025
alternate bookstore visited
plans for the afternoon were to go into minneapolis on the light rail and attend a book fair at a micro-brewery. when i arrived i saw a long line to get in, and said i like books, but not THAT much. even said so to a college roommate, when i sent a text on the way home. it was just a few blocks straight north of the twins baseball stadium from the light rail stop. on the way there i saw a holiday gas station so i decided to get lunch there. it was mostly heat-lamp items, but it works for me. this was crispy chicken tender-stix, hash browns, and a small apple pie. i didn't feel like waiting until i got to the food truck that was in front of the brewery. i was still interested in looking at books, somewhere. this meant going to a half price books, where there was no waiting in line to get inside. when it is the middle of winter, who wants to be waiting outside for long? i found a big baseball reference book, 'more than 150 years'. i also bought five movies on DVD in their clearance section, all found on the lower level of the store. before i got on the train i went to the post office, two orders were picked up. when i got back from the book shop, i watched some of the football playoff game on TV. texans beat the chargers, aided by four interceptions. in the evening it was college basketball, the iowa men were playing indiana and iowa won big. during my walks i found 56 cents.
Saturday, January 11, 2025
caitlin clark, wilson basketball
i went to Hy-Vee in Eagan in the evening for groceries and decided to get a Caitlin Clark series Wilson basketball as well. i had seen them for sale for a few weeks but noticed they were moved to another section of the store. i figured it was time to get one. there were multiple styles available and i chose the one with my school's colors, Iowa Hawkeye black and gold. i have already noticed how these are being listed for much more than what i paid, just $20, on sites like e-bay. good thing i got one for this price, i guess. looks nice in the box, and it will likely stay there for a while. reminds me of other items that were 'signature models'. there is my little league glove, a ted williams signature model that my dad bought at sears. of course, i bought a Caitlin Clark shirt at Scheel's less than a year ago, but i decided to use it and have worn it some already. and there is a trading card that i bought on e-bay. next thing is likely the little golden book, but i hear that is not due out until April. at work the backorder on two black and decker fans arrived in the early afternoon, just before i decided to go to lunch. also notable about the day was the second i-pay file being well over a hundred checks, but only one overnight was found in it. late in the evening i went on a walk and found 3 dollars 16 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when the friends went to see 'indiana jones' and sheldon steals the movie so no one can see it. the ladies have a slumber party, the first for amy. it was followed by the one where raj gets a job at the planetarium. sheldon and amy decide to do a courthouse wedding but then call it off at the last minute.
Friday, January 10, 2025
cardboard by freight elevator
supply room found
my boss approved the order for copy paper, then said how going forward it would be easier to get copy paper out of the supply room. i said that means showing me where it is. vacation replacement showed it to me, and i got some paper from it. there was a code to enter in order to get inside. noticed some small baskets there, was informed it was for storing personal items for employees. colleagues got a look at the check shop just before then, and i carried out a box of envelopes to be shredded on the same floor as the supply room. first time using the shred bins on that floor, and i knew it was good to make it count on how i got things done. the emptied box held the copy paper when i went back to the check shop. still waiting to hear about the shred bins that were requested. during my walks i found 25 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when priya arrives and has a fling with leonard, while sheldon spoke of the pinky swear about priya from five years earlier. it was followed by the one where the friends do their version of the edison-tesla rivalry.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
intro at pizza party
attended my first pizza lunch at the bank since moving downtown. followed the advice of a colleague, who said to get in line early. i was in line just before 12noon and got two slices and some salad. i was in line behind a senior leader, we did an intro there. later on, i asked about some envelopes that were moved over from another facility, found out that function was moved across town. i was wondering due to the signs in the hall by the elevator said it was on that floor. hadn't used the envelopes in a while, it was a function inherited by our department due to the pandemic. since i started during that time, i knew nothing different for a while until 'return to office' happened eventually. then that function was taken back. this means we no longer need that box; those can be sent to a shred bin. i had only known her previously from dial-in meetings. also notable about the day was printing some test checks from the fargo files. i was fine with it even though it was a high-volume day as it wasn't that many, just six. it was three each for those two business lines. one of them was a file from december, the other dated just the previous day. my boss and vacation replacement both were absent due to illness. during my walks i found 51 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when leonard got a date by being fixed up with bernadette's friend. it was followed by the one with a rare song in it, 'almost paradise'. it was due to sheldon working with bert, but then sheldon annoyed bert so leonard worked with bert instead.
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
be careful with clicking
at work i learned a valuable lesson, about being careful with clicking. i was trying to remove printers no longer needed, and changing another to the default, and removed all three. it meant calling for service, but somehow i found a way to re-add it on my own. what i noticed was when it was set up a little over two weeks ago, it was under the universal printer's name. now it is under the more customary name, with the codes in it such as the floor we are on. it meant vacation replacement printed the early PDF files for me. the overnights were taken out before i got them, and at the end of the day i took out the ones with overflow pages. but things worked just fine after this happened. i plowed through the overnight labels once i got started, just before lunchtime. there was a dial-in meeting about test checks, but it lasted eight minutes as more information was needed to go further. i did some more fact finding about the chair massages, looking at the video board on the main floor near the guard station. looks like it is offered by the building management company, twice a month, four hours at a time. there was mention of signing up through a QR code, although i am not a fan of those. hopeful i can find another way, through an email as the building manager sends those periodically. the next one is in a week so i likely still have some time to figure it out. late in the workday i had to notify on two overnight requests that those checks would be sent regular mail. our deadline to get the regular-mail tubs to the courier was moved up, so the cutoff time for the special requests is moved up as well. one of the checks was for way more than the other. in the evening i went to the liquor store near me and got a bottle of heineken so now there are four beers waiting. during my walks i found 51 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when howard hid from bernadette but they got back together. sheldon and raj were feuding over a big desk brought into sheldon's office. it was followed by the one where howard gets a vasectomy, and we see bob newhart because sheldon didn't want wil wheaton playing professor proton.
Monday, January 6, 2025
fill-in emcee
i went to perform at an open mic in the evening, and there was a fill-in emcee. she had the same name as a comic that gave me a role in a fringe show. before i went to get beer i did watch her set, finding out after the show that she has been doing stand-up for a year. pretty good, i said, in reference to a story about private messages where i had heard the same thing before. i was on near the end and did stories about the bank, seeing a movie, and a drag brunch. and i spoke of a story like the emcee's as well. i liked how i didn't have much to do for the day, only getting into my car in the early evening when i went to perform. there were football games on, the final week of the regular season. lead-off game was bears-packers, and the bears won on a last-second field goal. although it shouldn't have been what decided it, but the bears fumbled late and the packers kicked a field goal to go ahead, briefly. that old saying about letting a team hang around for too long was true, as the bears got points off a punt return and a turnover, leading at the half and for most of the game. second game was chiefs-broncos, but the chiefs were resting many of their players, having already locked up their division and number one seed. since it was one-sided, the network switched away from it eventually. the evening game was vikings-lions, and it was on when i was at the bar. when i got home i watched it there as well. didn't do much else in the evening, just doing the dishes. during my walks i found 1 dollar 25 cents.
Sunday, January 5, 2025
a complete unknown movie
in the afternoon i went to see the movie 'complete unknown', the bob dylan biopic, in inver grove heights. i arrived just five minutes before the screening began and was warned that there weren't many seats left. but i said i was fine with sitting up front. there weren't many actors in it that i recognized, just ed norton as pete seeger. and i liked seeing someone playing johnny cash. i was aware of how the source material was a book, this explains why the time period covered was fairly short, just four years. but i didn't mind as there still was plenty of music in it. this movie was a reminder of how i am more familiar with other performers recording songs that bob dylan wrote. this definitely included hearing 'it ain't me babe' as i knew this as a johnny cash song. same is true with 'hard rain's gonna fall' which was on the soundtrack for the movie 'born on the fourth of july'. leading up to it, i was reminded of having seen bob dylan in concert at the saints baseball stadium in st. paul in 2005, with willie nelson. but i was mainly there to see willie. the movie was longer than many that i have seen in theaters, over two hours. this might explain why i needed bathroom breaks, not one but two. i know i was quick with both of these breaks so i didn't miss much. i found out after the second one that there wasn't much left. i am used to seeing the disclaimer in the closing credits for movies like this one, based on a true story. 'some scenes and characters were invented for dramatic effect'. not much left to do after the movie was done. i went home and got groceries at the aldi. then i went to have a sandwich at jersey mike's for the evening meal. normally this is a lunch thing but i ate at home for lunch due to the plans for seeing the movie. i got the errand running done in the morning. there was going to the post office, two orders were picked up. then i dumped the recycle at a place near the capitol. finally, there was going to dump change at the credit union. just over ten dollars went into my savings account, and as usual much of it was pennies. during my walks i found 86 cents.
Saturday, January 4, 2025
skyway meeting, tax specialist
this was the first time i handed off checks to the tax specialist in person since the move downtown. the dude is based in a nearby office, so it meant walking over in the skyway. found out he doesn't have badge access to the building i am in, but will be asking for it. only the second time i had met this colleague. the volume on the overnights went up, but i knew well enough to get started fairly early on creating the labels. and for this reason, i still got done close to the normal leave time. the file from kansas city was some big files, likely making up for the days where there wasn't any. also notable was cleaning a dry-erase board that was moved over two weeks ago. and finding 'helper forms' that i put in an inter-office envelope. in the evening i went to hy-vee in eagan for groceries, and this included a bag of ore-ida fries. for some reason i had a craving. later on i went on a walk and found 1 dollar 50 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when sheldon and amy argue at the lunch table and break up, then his mom uses reverse psychology and gets them back together. it was followed by the one where howard and amy work in the lab together, and bernadette uses a tom sawyer trick to get sheldon to do chores.
Friday, January 3, 2025
fast moving donuts
vacation replacement was in the check shop for much of the day. i was advised to get to another floor early once the donuts arrived, and i did. good thing as there weren't many left. i also had some orange juice. thankful how there wasn't that many overnight labels to do, aided by one business line not sending any checks. still in the holiday mode i guess, only a matter of time before i get their checks again. looks like another food event at work, the pizza party, was postponed to next week. some mention of people had the option of working from home on that day, friday. of course, this option is not available to me, but i don't mind. i like how i am finishing earlier than before, closer to my customary leave time in my schedule. guess that knowing i need to get the mail tubs out earlier makes a difference. the boss called me and asked about how much i order each month in terms of check stock and envelopes. i drank the can of budweiser with the evening meal so now three beers are waiting. during my walks i found 26 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when sheldon was using a virtual presence device. it was followed by the one when sheldon and howard try to launch a rocket in the desert. penny tries to bond with leonard's mom.
Thursday, January 2, 2025
shrek drag brunch
at midday i rode the light rail to a drag brunch, the theme was the movie 'shrek'. it was the eighth drag brunch i have attended, still averaging about one per year. good thing i got out and listened to two cd's, the soundtracks to the first two movies in the franchise. it reminded me of songs from those movies. costumes were good as usual, and it was nice to hear recordings of lines from the movie. enjoyed hearing 'love the way you lie' by eminem and rihanna, i understood how it fit the theme as the dancer had a Pinocchio outfit on. i ordered beer with the burger and fries, a blue moon, and noticed many others were having mimosas. agreed with what the emcee said about 'you are here to have a good time. leave whatever troubles you for outside of these walls'. also notable about the day was going through neckties, i have seven. i decided to get the charlie brown tie moved to where the others are, previously it was in a box with other charlie brown items. and i did some sewing on my winter coat, one of the buttons was loose and about to fall off. and i discovered a scheduling conflict in the morning, it meant i was unable to attend the annual comics brunch in eagan. just as well, as i didn't enjoy the one from a year ago. reminded me too much of class reunions i have attended. in both cases, i was there to see two or three people and there was just as many people that i found to be annoying. during my walks i found 29 cents. the 'big bang theory' reruns were when penny was chaperone on sheldon and amy's date. it was followed by the one where raj and stuart were competing for bernadette's coworker. while sheldon and amy were trying to plan their wedding.