Been trying to do better about getting to bed early this week, that heat really knocks you out. I know I could have air conditioning if I wanted it but I enjoy the fresh air, cheap rent and low power bills in the summer.

Rode in a little after seven o’clock this morning 🚲 so to be in the office at 8 am. Trying to build up some comp time in my time bank plus I had work to do. Need that comp time for the fall when I’m taking time off to help with the campaign committee. 🐴 Wanted to get to the office 🏢 before it got hot. 😰 Took the bus 🚍 home in the evening 🌃, I could see the thunderstorm ⛈ approaching and it poured by the time I got home 🏡. Got soaked but it’s fine as I was planning to change out of my jeans 👖 once I got home. The rain stopped and I rode my bike 🚲 to the grocery store to stock up. Just the basics – more frozen fruit, vegetables and tofu. Got quite a bit of other things from the Shauls farm stand over the weekend.

There are a few different supplies I should research and get before vacation 🏖 though honestly none of them are truly critical and I can live without. Still replacing the worn handlebar grips and getting a bolt on kick stand would be nice on the bike plus an extra lantern 🏮 globe and a bigger memory card for my phone 📱 for pictures and music 🎶 and other things to download and enjoy at camp. 🏕

Finished up on interviews for work, 👥and I think I have a short list but I want to double check social media and other files 📂 we have plus discuss with the supervisors. Then maybe discuss with the other unit directors. Finally ordered updated business cards 🎴 so I can hand out to vendors and future interviewees though I’m hoping not to do more interviews soon. Six job interviews on Monday made my voice hoarse and I was exhausted after a while. Did check ☑ all the boxes though for diversity and a wide variety of qualifications. I think I got a good sample and whomever I choose will be good. ☺ I’ve been involved with hiring decisions for years now as the Deputy Director of Research Services but I was always the second fiddle, ⚖ now the decision fully rests in my hands 👐 as does the direction and the future 🔮 of the agency.

I’ve been weighting my options for the weekend. ☀ Going to be sunny and hot but on the other hand, a week from Thursday or Friday of next week I’ll be heading out to the Finger Lakes. I’ve thought about hammock camping 🏕 in the back country maybe Saturday or maybe both nights this weekend but I should also spend time cleaning and preparing for vacation. 🏞 It would be nice if it’s hot to spend it down by a creek. ⭕ Or I’ve considered putting a tube in the Norman’s Kill by the New Scotland boat launch and doing some floating there. I thought about Schoharie or the Green Mountains ⛰ but if I’m leaving for the Finger Lakes for nine 9⃣ days in a few more days for summer vacation. 🤷‍♂️

I figure at this point the beautiful weekends will crap out come vacation 🌥 and it will be ten days of camping in the rain and clouds and generally cool. I guess good weather for hanging out up at camp, doing some cooking, reading and relaxing. It’s been a while since I had a totally cloudy and wet summer vacation.