Father’s Day Happenings – Back on Father’s Day, we “consecrated” the new grill by smoking some brisket. I tried a recipe for a mustard-based rub that turned out not too bad. The meat was well liked, and we generally had a good day.

Day Job Happenings – I really want to believe I’m going to come through the upcoming RIF, but my leadership is keeping its plans close to the vest. It doesn’t help that my local leadership is expanding my team. Mixed signals there. We’re adding more people, but we don’t know if any of you will be cut. I would like to think my local leadership has been assured that us in field operations are “safe” and that’s why we’re getting new people foisted on us. One of the “new” people is someone I’ve known and worked with for fifteen years, so that was a good addition.

Upstairs Happenings – The great reshuffling of the upstairs continues as we work at decompressing The Wife’s office. This weekend’s adventure was putting together a new bookcase for the bedroom. Yes, it has a litter box in the bottom. Yes, we don’t have a lot of books on the bookcase.

The ladder bookcase is now in the loft/craft room. Instead of books, it is now festooned with The Wife’s Cricuts and our big printer. And The Wife’s collection of mouse ears from our sojourns to the Disney properties.

Bird Happenings – Yesterday at one of the bird feeders, we saw a cardinal among the doves. First time one of those red birds have shown up in our area. Unfortunately, it was just there for a bit, grabbed some seed and then flew away. We’re hoping it sticks around.