FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for August 26, 2021

on the days I’m scheduled to open my employed grocery store, I set my alarm clock for 0400 and get out the door by 0530 as the store opens at 0600

This was in the PZ era (Pre-Zoom).

Funny one for today. I have a test to run requiring me to in by 6, so up at 5am (the plan), actually up at 4am (bladder timing). Normally I get in at 7:15.

When our oldest daughter was a baby, my husband was a delivery driver for a place that stocked little “Mom & Pop” stores. He would have to be at work at around 3:30 am. We only had 1 car, so I had to get up with him, bundle up the baby, and drive him to work. Thankfully, I could go back to bed & grab a couple more hours before starting my day.

I start work at 7 AM, work until noon, eat lunch log back in about 12:30 work until 3 PM take a break in the pool, log back in at 3:45 work until 5:45, help wife with dinner, eat dinner, watch Jeopardy, log back in at 8 PM, download a file, log out at 8:30 PM.

Of course I work from home. The office at the plant doesn’t have a pool.

These days I’d just do the meeting from home.

It’s like when my boss schedules us for a 6 am flight to somewhere. Need to be at airport by 4 if checking bags, by 5 if not, need an hour to drive, park, and take shuttle to terminal, so up at 3: – 3:15. Makes for a long day.

He thinks his family loves him at 5 o’clock. Ha, ha, ha.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." – and the majority of kids never think about it, never appreciate the heart attack inducing labor, and the endless, daily grind required to provide for a family.

Sadly, that’s how I felt.

I start work with my daily meeting at 11:30 but still get up at 6 so my wife and I can take a long hike before work (yes, I work on software).

I’m up at 5 and out the door by 5:30 and I’ve never been silly enough to wake anyone before I left.

Back in the bad old days I had to coordinate a conference call with Seattle, Warsaw and Stockholm. I still have nightmares. The topic was advanced materials science, and the Polish secret police (UB/SB) kept pulling the plug in case Polish state secrets were being revealed. Every time I use Zoom today I have flashbacks.

When I first got married I got in trouble for not waking my wife to say goodbye when I went to work. 33 years later I get in trouble if I make too much noise leaving for work.

If they weren’t up when I left, I just left.

If daddy ain’t happy… oh, wait. That’s not a saying. Just shut up and bring the money home, Roger.

I’m happily retired, so I can go to sleep and wake up whenever I feel like it. Getting out of bed in the morning is optional. :)

For a very long time, I didn’t even get home from work until 7 a.m., or later.

Seriously, family, there is no need to be toxic about this. Roger loves you, just reciprocate.

Try this one, Roger: “It’s not my fault that I’m an idiot.”

Before I retired, I use to do shift work. Either 06:00 to 18:00 or 18:00 go 06:00. With a long commute, I had to be out the door by 04:00 or 16:00. I’d get there a few minutes before my shift.