size it 45, 9.2.23

so a few days ago, i needed to use a medical gift card my old insurance gave me. some shoes i been wanted, popped up on a website i frequent. the only size they were sold out of was 44, which is my size ironically. when i clicked on the size guide, it said size 11 us in italy is size 45, which was still in stock. maybe it’s different, but i contacted the online chat, and they confirmed. i’ve always been a size 44, but if it says 45, i might as well try it out. plus, i could always return the shoe. i got to use my gift card as well as take 15% off, so what did i have to lose? i was nervous because youtube reviews said to go true to size. the sneakers came in, and they fit perfect! there’s a little room in the toe box, but it’s all good. i’d rather it be a little roomy than a little tight. i don’t know where i’d wear the shoes to, but i need to find an occasion.

i could wear them casually, but it doesn’t feel right unless i’m stepping out and it only feels right when i step out with the right company.

-ratha, 5:42pm, 9.2.23

welcome september, 9.1.23

it feels so good to be in september. i really like september as a month. that september/october back to back really does it for me. i know i said my favorite holiday switched from fall to summer, but with the weather today, i think it’s switching back. plus, football is going to be on this weekend, college that is. i’m hoping september brings more blessings to the people i love, because God knows some people i love need it most.

i’m excited for a lot, and i hope i get to experience everything as planned.

-ratha, 3:32pm, 9.3.23

btg at the vet, 8.31.23

i took bagel to the vet today for his bi-annual check-up. the doctor said he is in great shape and that she wouldn’t think that he’s turning 11. that made me so happy. they took his blood and gave him some shots. he took it like a champ, i’m proud of my boy. as usual, i asked a bunch of questions, but the doctor was patient and well-received. especially when i told her my opinion on using flea and tick medication on bagel. i am so thankful for her, because a lot of vets would shut down concerns for something that is pretty much mandatory. she told me the benefits outweighed the risks, and i appreciated that. all in all, they say his lab results should come in over the weekend.

hopefully it’s good news!

-ratha, 12:53pm, 8.31.23

work wednesdays, 8.30.23

i took a meeting from home this morning at 8:30am. we presented data on 33f to some people in belgium. afterwards, i got ready, filled up gas, picked up a hex nut from ace hardware, picked up mcdonald’s, then went to work. at work, i had a one on one with my boss. there are two/three bosses. this one got hired some time last year. i actually really like him. he’s a good guy, he gives good advice, and most importantly, he’s honest. we spent over an hour talking about the company and careers. i don’t feel like this job fully appreciates me, at least enough to do anything for me, but the team does if that makes sense. pretty much after the merger i’ve become just a number to hr, but to the team, they recognize me. i should be grateful they recognize me, but i find myself wanting more compensation. of course, the bottom line is about money, but how can it not be when money can afford the luxury of freedom?

-ratha, 3:25pm, 8.30.23

the emergency mount, 8.29.23

i’ve had this thing in my center console for years. it’s an emergency seatbelt cutter/window hammer. i hope i never have to use it, but it’s there just in case. i used to hang it on the side of the center console with velcro before i installed a molle panel. the velcro looked dingy and wasn’t that strong. i was rearranging the sequoia and came across it. i went to ace hardware after my dental cleaning yesterday and got a few screws and bolts. i mounted the emergency tool today, but dropped the last bolt and lost it so i have to make a trip back to ace tomorrow.

doing small things like this scratches the automobile itch, but i still want a new car.

-ratha, 7:11pm, 8.29.23

updating btg’s food, 8.28.23

the goal was to finish reading the forever dog by bagel’s annual on thursday and i think i’ll get it done. i’m less than 30 pages away from finishing. his food is close(-ish) to running out, so i went to petsmart and petco today to look for new food for him with this newfound knowledge i have. conveniently for me, petsmart is right across from petco. thank you to the free market for competition. i wanted to find a food less in starch, without the “dirty dozen” ingredients, and that was as least adulterated as i could find. oh, and i wanted to find food without any chicken ingredients as i think bagel is allergic to chicken. to my surprise, there was only two options between the two stores that really fit what i was looking for kibble-wise. i want to start him with a better kibble with freeze-dried add-ons and continue from there. rather than purchasing it in store, i found that chewy is doing a promotion where you can a $30 gift card for spending $100 or more so i bought it through chewy. i already received shipping confirmation and it should be here by tuesday. they are quick, quick with it.

not only do i hope bagel likes the new food, i hope it nourishes him and doesn’t give him any problems.

-ratha, 12:25pm, 8.28.23

red light sleeps, 8.27.23

it was a beautiful night driving home. the temperature was 67 degrees. i had the windows down with the heat on. it sounds so crazy, but i love when i can do that. at a red light before merging on to 93-n, i looked to my left. it was an elderly white man in his car. he was hunched close to the steering wheel. his eyes were closing and opening. he was falling asleep at the wheel literally. he was driving a small silver hybrid type car. the back was packed full of belongings. i could only assume he was moving, at least that’s what would be the best-case scenario. i hope he didn’t get kicked out or that he didn’t live out his car. though he was elderly, he looked exhausted. of course, he was tired because he was falling in and out of sleep at the light, but it was more than that. he just looked drained. when the light turned green, i took off and he fell behind with traffic.

i tried to keep an eye on him for as long as i could, but when i lost him, i sent up a prayer not only hoping that he’d get home safely, but that everything would work out for him.

maybe i’m being dramatic, but it never hurts to pray.

-ratha, 9:21pm, 8.27.23

6.6 quarts, 8.26.23

everything is getting expensive and oil changes are no exception. the sequoia takes more oil than a regular car, at 6.6 quarts. not wanting to pay these ridiculous prices, i fooled around with the idea of changing my oil myself a few days ago in austin. for the sequoia, it’s 5 bolts to take off the skid plate, then it’s one 14mm bolt to drain the oil, then you can change the oil filter afterwards. i ordered everything with the exception of the oil, which i picked up from walmart last night. i watched two youtube videos before embarking on this journey. along with being extra cautious and unable to find the right tools, it took me 2 hours total from start to finish. it really shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes, and i think that will be my experience next time. i took bagel to the dog park afterwards. when i drove off, i saw a puddle of liquid under where the sequoia was parked. i reversed, then dabbed a white napkin on it. it was clear, which means it was water most likely from the ac. nervous, i drove to dinner at cheesecake and back without turning on the ac. i must have looked like a maniac checking under the sequoia for any leaks and to make sure the skid plate screws were on tight. because the ac was off, there were no leaks, which confirms what was at the dog park was most likely because of the ac.

i knew i was a hypochondriac, but maybe i’m just an anxious person overall.

-ratha, 10:11pm, 8.26.23

car shopping, 8.25.23

i’m in that mood again. it was between an s5 or a challenger scat pack, but now i kind of what an is350 or an is500. the issue with the s5 is the maintenance is pricey (though i could swing it) and it’s unreliable. the problem with the scat pack and the is500 is it’s rwd, and i’ll need awd for the boston winters. the is350 is looking like the winner, but i kind of want the v8. the scatpack would get dinged because of how small the spots are at work, but overall, up here in general. maybe i can swing the is500 because i have the sequoia.

who knows, but this itch is getting stronger and stronger each day, smh.

-ratha, 4:24pm, 8.25.23

stuck in jfk, 8.24.23

our flight got delayed 3 times. we were supposed to land in boston at 11pm, but now we are taking off at 1am. the plane had to go to portland, maine, then come back to take us to boston. with everything going on, i think we will arrive at my house around 3:30-3:40am. i’ll have to miss work tomorrow, but i’m not trying to complain too much. i was sitting down and a pilot comes around the corner. i don’t know how he knew we were delayed, but he started the conversation saying how we should write a complaint to the company via email, then print out the email, then sign it, then mail it to their offices. he says maybe we could get a voucher and that if we do, we should use it because only 50% of vouchers are used. he was so kind and so nice. i just wonder how he knew we were delayed. then he went on to say how airlines are tightly scheduled because they don’t want people like him (a pilot) sitting around getting paid if they aren’t flying. he walked away and told us good luck.

man, he was so nice.

every so often i’m reminded that good-hearted, kind individuals like him exist in this world.

-ratha, 12:19am, 8.24.23