non-snow snow day, 2.28.23

today was supposed to be a snow day/wfh day, but when i woke up, there was barely any snow. i let bagel out, warmed up the sequoia, then brushed the snow off my windows. i got in to work, did data analysis, had an hour and a half meeting with my new boss, then ended the day with 5s. 5s is a company that comes in and reorganizes the lab. the goal is to save money, make things convenient for us, and save time. the guy leading it, mr. tim, lives in cary, north carolina so you know i had to ask him how he liked it. the conversation stemmed from him calling out alan for wearing a michigan state sweatshirt. alan’s dad went to msu, but mr. tim went to michigan. he’s originally from detroit. at first, he said his wife didn’t like north carolina, but they’ve grown to like it. he lives off the us-1 tryon exit, next to lifetime. what a small world. mr. tim asked when the last time i went down was. i told him a few weeks ago, and he said the area is changing a lot. i agreed, because it’s much different than it was when i remember things.

it gets busier and busier every time i touch down, but somehow peace is still able to find me whenever i visit.

-ratha, 5:21pm, 2.28.23

finding verses, 2.27.23

the more i go to work, the less i want to be there. my time in the corporate world is coming to an end. maybe not immediately, but in the near future. tonight, after bagel’s walk and the gym, i went downstairs to write. i decided to look at some old verses i wrote. i forgot about some of them, but i played some beats and ran through the lyrics. it was pretty damn good. of course, the writing is there, but i have to piece it together. it’s really more of a courage thing than it is a talent thing in my case, which is the way i’d have it if god were to have me choose.  

february is almost over, and time won’t slow down any time soon, so i gotta get a hold on things and begin.

-ratha, 10:32pm, 2.27.23

eyes on florida, 2.26.23

i’ve been walking downstairs to let bagel out on the weekends only to find my dad playing videos on youtube on the living room tv of houses, boats, and life in florida. he showed me a house that was 1.7 on his ipad yesterday. he’s got his eyes set on retirement and i can feel it. he deserves it more than anything. my dad could’ve been retired, but he decided to keep working. i’m hoping to meet him in florida in the next few years, but first i gotta put in my work.

-ratha, 12:32pm, 2.26.23

stacking with bagel, 2.25.23

i stacked 7 cookies on bagel’s head. i could’ve done more, but when i went to open the cookies, he moved is head and the ones on his head fell. most of them broke into pieces. i gave him two and put the remaining 5 back in the package. i wanna see if i can get 10 later this week. i took a photo and i can’t stop looking at it lmao.

he’s too cute, i could stare at that face for the rest of my life.

-ratha, 11:43pm, 2.25.23

an afternoon in worcester, 2.24.23

i’m working from home writing an sop on gating for our department. i was so caught up in my work i missed the dtlr new balance drop. it’s the gr3yscale 990’s v3. i’m a sucker for grey/black/white sneakers, so these have been on my radar. considering the last time dtlr released an exclusive 990 v3, i thought this would be an easy cop. they dropped at 10am, but i was on the site at 10:21am. sold out, smh. i even resorted to downloading the app, but no dice. dtlr was popular in the south, but the closest one here is in worcester. i called the store and shorty on the phone told me they only had one size 11 and that it was first come first serve. she said she’d put it to the side, though she shouldn’t and when i pulled up to look for her in a yellow hoodie. i drove an hour after lunch to get them. usually when i’m in worcester, i’m surrounded by intimate company coupled with deep conversation, so it felt strange to be here on my own. as i entered the store, i found the girl in the yellow hoodie to buy the shoes. another lady working said she liked my jacket and asked if i was going to wear them out the store because i had black and grey. i told her i couldn’t because i had to go back to work, but i for sure lied because there was a planet fitness next door. i laced them, worked out, then went for food. i looked for indian joints, but they were all closing until dinner. i found one in a public market. as soon as i pulled up, i parked right outside. i went in, and there was a sign on the indian spot saying they were on vacation until saturday, smh. i settled for the teriyaki place. it was decent, but they didn’t have any shrimp sauce. i don’t know why, but these japanese places up here don’t even know what shrimp sauce is because every time i ask, everyone looks confused lol.

though i didn’t get indian food, i got my new balances and a good pump in, so i’d say it was a successful afternoon in worcester.

-ratha, 6:11pm, 2.24.23

why even show up?, 2.23.23

it snowed yesterday evening, then iced overnight. it took my car 10-15 minutes to warm up before work. as i get to work, jennifer tells me the samples are missing that i submitted last week. luckily i took a photo as evidence to prove my submission. we go up to the qc lab, and they’re nowhere to be found. though an inconvenience, i’m cool with it because it’s out of my hands. i end up leaving work after lunch. today was one of those days where i could’ve worked from home writing an sop or doing trainings, but i fought traffic, snow, sleet, ice, and end of week exhaustion to go onsite.

this ain’t it, smh.

-ratha, 8:32pm, 2.23.23

for the win, 2.22.23

rucha and i were talking at our desks today. i told her i hate coming to work and she said it’s written all over my face. we then go on to talk about retiring by 45, and it’s a possibility. she was telling me about switching departments/jobs and getting paid more. she even sent me a link to a course i could take that would make me more qualified for certain jobs. after our conversation, i was left thinking how kind it was of her to give me game on getting out of this place. god really blessed me with the people in my life. i’m so lucky to cross paths and build relationships with all of the people i hold close to me. i don’t want to seem arrogant nor naive, but compared to the average person i feel i have a multitude of people who want me to win, which is a win in itself, but trust there’s still a lot of winning i have to do.

not only for me, but for everyone who believes in me.

-ratha, 1:02pm, 2.22.23

hot-stamping, 2.21.23

i stopped by the louis store to get my new wallet hot-stamped. they would of had it done if i waited 2 hours, but since i didn’t want to, i have to pick it up tomorrow. hopefully it’ll come out good. i got my initials in gold lettering, so we will see.

when i go to pick it up tomorrow, i might look around because although i just got a new wallet, i might need another one, who knows?

-ratha, 5:21pm, 2.21.23

working for dead presidents, 2.20.23

since gsk took over, a lot of things have changed for the worse. today is president’s day, a national holiday. we’ve had it off the past couple of years i’ve been here, but today was different. as soon as i pulled into work, nobody from any other company was here. security was even off. the whole building was a ghost town. i thought i was going to get out early, but i didn’t leave until 4:30pm. i got home in 45 minutes, which is pretty decent. i’m going to walk bagel, then go to the gym. hopefully by the time i get back, eat, then shower, it won’t be 10:00pm and i get go have some time to myself.

there’s gotta be a better way.

-ratha, 6:15pm, 2.20.23

sundaze, 2.19.23

mochinut was so good i had to go back and get the 12 count. there were a few more flavors i had to try out. the original, the honeydew, the coffee, and the ube. i also ate a spicy-ass pork spare rib noodle soup at boston soup dumplings. it wasn’t too bad to be honest. it was hot, but not unbearable, which means my spice tolerance is going up. afterwards, we came home to bagel. i know it was only one night, but i miss tf out of bagel when i’m away from him. we took a nap together, then walked. it’s 42 degrees at 7:32pm currently. not ideal, but better than what it normally is during a february in boston, so i guess it is ideal after all. i’m about to hit mandarin, get some mongolian beef, and come home to watch the nba all-star game. after, it’s unpacking and getting ready for another week of work.

i don’t want to wish away my weeks, but damn do i need to make them more bearable.

-ratha, 7:35pm, 2.19.23