Bad by Design: Seriously – who in their right mind would engineer something so crappily as the human knee has been? I was sitting here in my chair, cross-legged as usual, catching up on email and keeping an eye on the IRL race at Richmond. I straightened my legs to stand and my left knee has just refused me – any way I move it really hurts. Putting weight on it is really hard to take. It’s getting puffy to the inside of and just below my kneecap. I’ve strapped an ice pack on it and keep trying to walk it off. Sure hope it straightens out…more medical troubles are just what I don’t need at this point.

It’s All Dario: Franchitti is on a tear in the IRL series. He started on pole and dominated the race at Richmond tonight. He’s really been on a roll the whole season, and that usually means plenty of interview time afterwards with his wife, Ashley Judd. She’s definitely a way different interview than anyone else around the league. I’m happy for the Great Scot – Dario has seemed to have crap luck in the last few seasons and he really deserves this wave of good fortune.

Survived: It has been a hectic last few days getting a handle on the crunch at work. The next couple of weeks will also be crunched. Good thing I don’t actually also have a life to attend to.

Bullring: The Indy Cars are racing at Richmond, VA,  tonight and that’s always an action-packed event. Trying to get my out-of-house errands done in time for the late afternoon start time here on the West coast.

Fixxed: Two weeks until the boys are here…I’ll be ready for a little fun by then. *smile*

Fed Up: Today I was told that I didn’t sound the alarm early enough – totally tossed under the bus – so I have to do this huge project by end of day Thursday as originally scheduled. Not possible. We can’t get any dates out of engineering as to the last day they can receive this work and still get it done – they’ll have to get back to us, they keep saying. So my boss has to drop everything and pitch in and we’re cranking this stuff out as fast as possible. The whole company is going to the Giants/Padres game tomorrow for our annual day at the ballpark, and I get to stay home and write like a mad woman, while my boss locks herself in her office to do likewise. It’s infuriating since 1.) we told our executive team we didn’t have the resources for all these projects when the priorities were being set, and 2.) I’ve been communicating my concern about this to my boss and producer in different formats for about 2 weeks now, and yesterday is the first day anyone decided to act on it. I got really angry today when my boss told me the decision. Several folks noticed my anger and stress and went to my boss with their concerns. She ended the day asking me what else she could do to help, telling me she realizes she and the department as a whole need to do more to support me and all of us in general, etc. I know she means well, but she can’t fix the problems we have by herself, and fixing these problems would be the best support she could give me. She needs strong buy-in from those above her, and those folks have to make their bosses happy, and often times that means doing things that are at cross-purposes to what our team needs. And yet, there’s all this talk about keeping our talent and ironing out these kinds of issues that have people running from the place. It’s been this way far too long and is just getting worse as we explode in size and I’m not sure I have the energy to ride it out and see if it ever does change.

Red Flag: For the second time in as many months, the producers are all meeting to re-schedule my workload. A little over a month ago, a large, high-priority project landed on us. We sent up a flare that we were too understaffed to take this on without something else being eliminated. We were told to suck it up. So, we staggered things best we could and slammed each writer’s plate with as much as it could hold. If nothing went wrong at all, we could just barely do it. Well, one project keeps getting sent back to the drawing board; a secret project got added a couple weeks later, and the big important project is three weeks delayed in the wireframes being completed and much bigger than we thought. Also, I took a piece of my new guy’s project because it was and always has been too much work for just one person. On the original schedule, I have three days to create a copy doc for the priority project that will number well over 200 pages. Not gonna happen. So we’re trying to figure out how to limit the damage. It just infuriates me that we got shoved into this corner – we couldn’t get funding for the staff we needed, and now we’re paying for the fact that the project load hasn’t been lightened as a compensation for that. For all the good in my workplace, the tendency for this to happen on a regular basis makes me wonder just how much longer I should stay.

Loads of Loafin’: Well, I did go out for a haircut and manicure and grabbed a few household needs on the way home. But for the most part, I’ve been at home lounging, keeping up with my sports interests as you’ll see below. Feels great!

Expensive Lessons: The IndyCar Series broke in the new Iowa Speedway, in more ways than one. Rusty Wallace’s new track is a challanging one – add in much cooler and overcast weather than expected and a bunch of impatient drivers, and we had more wrecks than we’ve seen in ages. Some folks were just not careful enough – others had their cars set up for conditions that never materialized and spun out as a result. No injuries, but a lot of CARnage. It was a costly debut that finally got down to some racing, with Dario Franchitti nosing out teammate Marco Andretti for the win. Richmond is next – another short track where a lack of patience often brings much wreckage…

Lumbering Taxicabs: I don’t follow NASCAB, but have the broadcast video on today because they’re running at Sonoma. I’m heading up there for the first time in August, so want to get an idea where I might shoot photos from. The taxicabs use an easier course configuration than the IndyCars and look soooo clumbsy turning left AND right.

Gigantes!: A long, dismal losing streak ended last night in a 13-inning victory over the Yankees, and a walk in the park by the Giants today. Lovely day here in SF for baseball.

Overworked: Really starting to pick up at work – I’ve taken on a part of my direct report’s project because it’s a lot bigger than we thought. Also doing two small projects, plus my major one is three times or more the size we thought and will require two writers and a lot of syncing up between the two. Next three weeks are going to be really busy.

The British are Coming: The PFurs, The Alarm and The Fixx will be here in about three weeks, playing a gig at the Mezzanine. Looking forward to a gathering of friends for this one!

Corny, but Wicked FAST: Sunday’s the inaugural Iowa Corn 250, run at Rusty Wallace’s new track at Newton, IA. The banking and surface of the tack give it more grip than anywhere else we run, so lots of wheel to wheel action should occur. It’s gonna be sweeeeeeeeeeeet!

Takin’ it Easy: Doing mainly liquids today (may need a soda cracker or two to make it through) to try and reset the ol’ bod. Have started walking regularly again and I hope that’ll help, also. Energy levels are just really low at the moment. Following Formula 1 practice and quals via timing and scoring online. It’s all being covered on the SPEED channel, but it’s not part of my cable package, so I just peek at the stats now and again. All my favorites (except Davey Hamilton) from the IMS Radio Network will cover it on WIBC tomorrow – glad I can listen online.

Visitors: Haven’t checked my stats in a while – a nice international roster has been by the last few weeks! The UK, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Canada and several locations around the US. Welcome to BashUp!

Fenway’d: The Giants are visiting Fenway Park for the first time since 1912, and last night’s debut there didn’t turn out so great. This afternoon’s game starts in about an hour – hope Matt Cain has a great showing against Dice-K.

T.G.I.F: The weeks are flying by this year, and I’m glad this one’s over. Had a really great time with my friend Steve at the Police show in Oakland. The show was a lot of fun, and I also really enjoyed Fiction Plane, which features Sting’s son Joe as lead singer/bassist. Other than that, the week was a mad dash to the finish line. I just made it. *grin*

Detox: I’m gonna do a detox weekend – liquids, broths and lots of books. Need to see if that will clear out all the residue from the allergies. If not, I’ll be off to the doc…

USGP: The Swarm of Angry Bees (aka Formula 1) will race at Indianapolis this weekend. I don’t follow F1, but my favorite folks at the IMS Radio Network will broadcast it, so I’ll be tuned in while I’m reclining with my books.

Bonehead Taxicab Drivers…: So I was exchanging messages with this rabid NASCAR fan who asked me what kind of dumb-sounding name Castroneves is. I had to chuckle – I mean, just how dorky does BIFFLE sound? I suggested we strap one of his boys into one of those 220+ mph missles we call Indy Cars and send him on his way around IMS. What? No power steering? No traction control? Better know how to drive, I guess. First time that bonehead hit 230 on the backstretch (IF he could get there), he’d be keying the radio with “I want my mama…” Better yet, send him out on the track at Texas and see how he handles THAT bowl of terror. Hope he has some spare shorts on hand.

My motto: Real racers don’t need fenders and roofs. *grin* (and in the way off chance he finds this blog in a Google search – Happy birthday tomorrow, Davey H.!)

Arresting Text Message!: I got a text message from a friend down in Santa Maria today. He has an extra 5th row ticket to see The Police in Oakland Wednesday night – did I want to go? Schweeeeeeeeeeeeet! This guy is one of the most avid concert-goers I know, so I’ll be in the company of someone who’s gonna enjoy this as much as I will. Never saw The Police back in their “day,” and that’s something I’ve always regretted. I’m stoked!

(That’s RaceSpeak for Caution): Have been taking the last few days really slowly. I’ve developed a cough that will not go away and am extremely tired – I swear I wasn’t on the plane with that tuberculosis guy! Followed the race at Texas last night, mainly watching online, where you get the view from several in-car cameras. Set that to full screen and hold on tight – what a thrill ride! Great to see Danica Patrick get her best finish by coming in 3rd. I hope she gets her first win soon – that will be terrific for the IndyCar Series.

Soon to Be Fixxed: Heard from Ira – he was in Indy visiting his main squeeze and finishing nailing down the flights/hotels for the boys’ tour next month. Lots of internal flights and extra expense meant some of the guys’ plans to bring family along got canceled. Kinda bummed about that. I’ll see the boys in San Francisco mid-July, and maybe in August in Vegas.

Sonoma, Take 2: Had to cancel a trip to Sonoma earlier this year, but I’ll be attending the IndyCar race there in August, along with getting pampered at the Sonoma Mission Inn/Spa. All part of the plan to add a little more luxury to life. Looking forward to it!

Bloggy: Haven’t taken the time to update the last few days – really the same story, just a different day. Unfortunately, I was too tired to see either Arcade Fire gig this past weekend. Bummed about that, but I didn’t want to end up sick again. Followed the racing at Milwaukee – good to see TK get a win to help salve his Indy 500 wounds a little. Got back to work this week to find my secret project placed on hold and replaced by another secret project. My boss talked to me today about trying to find time to take a week off to really rest after the marathon three months I put in. I doubt I can do a whole week this month, but definitely a long weekend. Later in the month I’ll schedule it. Still planning to get the trip pictures up on my site…probably this weekend. Stay tuned!

All Stitched Up: Just dawned on me that it was a year ago today that I had my surgery. Feeling pretty decent these days. Could really use a full vacation and I think that would make it all good. At least I can walk long distances again – until recently, the regenerating nerves around the incision would “spark” if I walked too far. It’s much better – all the walking at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis Zoo last weekend was no problem. Really tired today, though – believe it or not, I’m skipping the Arcade Fire gig tonight to get some extra rest. I have tickets for tomorrow night’s show, though. *grin*

Chase: He’s the best dog ever….