What did you do this week (and weekend)?

Just general stuff around my house. Don't really recall what I did Monday/Tuesday, but Wednesday I turned my huge pile of Cucumbers from my garden into Pickles, which wasn't hard, just tedious, so I had been putting it off. That said, while doing so, I sliced my right thumb open with my mandolin. I knew it had to happen eventually, as I'm both a klutz and I'm aware of how dangerous they can be, but I'm glad it wasn't too severe. A few years ago, I chopped off about half an inch of my left thumb while chopping mushrooms, so it could have been worse...

Also did all the house laundry this week, so that was an accomplishment. I had intended to put away my own clean clothes today with my 2ish hour break while my youngest was at preschool, but alas, they're sick. Only a minor illness and symptoms disappeared after some Tylenol, so I feel a little bit of guilt about keeping them home, but probably the best choice for everyone.

This weekend will probably be pretty busy, as I'll be going out with my Wife and Siblings-In-Law Saturday for dinner and maybe Karaoke (though I probably won't participate) and Sunday is my Wife's birthday, so we'll be busy all day eating and doing family stuff, but we'll at least have some time with just us together at a few points, so that'll be nice.

One thing I've been feeling lately is a lack of inspiration for my many, many miniatures I have. I feel like I ought to be accomplishing something, getting something painted or built, but I just feel no inspiration about any of it. Next I have an opportunity, I may do a very simple painting task and see if that inspires me, but if not, at least it'll be one step closer to something finished.

This week has been a busy one at work, but I'm more excited to talk about the upcoming weekend. I plan to propose to my partner! She knows that it's coming but not the details of when or how - I'm not great at surprises, but I've managed to keep a little bit back.

We'll be taking a few hours drive for a nice trip up north to look at fall leaves, eat some good food, and go to a stone beach that we visited on one of our early dates. I've got a nice picnic packed for the beach and the ring box hidden away in a pocket of my backpack. I will do the proposal itself as the sun goes down over the bay. We'll stay over at a hotel Saturday evening and head on home Sunday.

It's all very exciting, and there's a few other emotions mixed in there, too. It's somehow a big change and almost no change all at the same time. We live together and have for a while. This is really just making something official out of the relationship that has already been in this place for some time. I am very lucky to be in the position I am in - it's something I wouldn't have imagined when I was younger that I ever would have been able to achieve but here we are.

Thankfully the weather looks gorgeous and we should have a nice time just enjoying each other's company and the lovely nature all around.

Anyway I hope everybody reading is having a good day and that you all have a nice weekend as well.

First week on-call with my team! I got a call Tuesday morning after some reboots, and two today, one related where I verified the server was fine, and one where a client updated an app and the server lost its shit. It's really provided a boost to my confidence, since I thought I was having a hard time learning on the fly like this.

I think I told the saga of my late Hyundai Accent: I was driving home with a graphics card standing in my passenger seat, it fell, I tried to guide it into the foot well, and I went off a freeway onramp, knocked over a light pole, and totalled the car by way of destroying a quarter panel and the suspension.

Due to the previously mentioned on-call, I was able to sneak out of work early and pick up my new ride. I had initially submitted a car I saw to my broker (Autoland, works with credit unions) to get a really nice Toyota Camry that looked like a steal onder $20k, then I realized it was like 24k (he confirmed). I wanted to get a Toyota or a Honda, with the sole intent of keeping it for a long time, and we talked numbers, and he said he'd try to see what he could get for cheaper. He remembered me being a large dude (6'4", broad, kinda fat), and threw in a Honda HRV that cost as much as the sedans, but was taller. I was sold, picked it up Tuesday, and it's great. I wanted a Kia Soul for my next car, but since those are getting broken into, this is the perfect next thing for me, it's got reasonable fuel economy (28 city, 31 hwy, but seems to pull much more) and handles like my Accent did, mostly, except for being 15in longer, and me being able to sit taller. I was also amazed that I fit in the front and back seats quite easily. The broker also saved me $600 total, so I saved a few bucks that I'm putting into accessories, like a cargo space cover (I park on the street a lot), and a battery jump setup (portable jump battery + cables).