TIME CRUNCH
I am popping in here on a Saturday, because I wanted to say that I have things to update you about, but this week got away from me. We’re in “close-out” season (the federal fiscal year ends on September, 30), so we have a bunch of deadlines to meet before then. I was supposed to work until 5pm yesterday and left the office after 7 pm. That’s all you need to know. Next week is not going to look much better, because I’ll be traveling for work the whole week.
So, I am going to squeeze in a quick update here and if you’re lucky and I find some time this weekend, I will crank out a couple of posts to share next week while I am away.
WORK ANNIVERSARY
Perfect segue to the fact that this month is my 19th work anniversary. Actually I started as an intern 22 years ago, but I was officially hired for my current job in 2007 – first as a contractor for 8 years, before I got citizenship and was able to become a federal employee in 2015. Crazy that it’s been that long, crazy that I am still here. But with all the ups and downs over there years, I can positively say that I always loved the work that I do and the people that I worked with.
DO YOU HAVE A FRIES LIST?
Jon and I went out to dinner this week, a spontaneous date night, if you will, and we went to one of our favorite restaurants. Chicago Fire (the name is tribute to their authentic Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizza, which are both delicious! Birchie can attest!) is a pizzeria with an expanded menu that includes wings, salads, pasta, and sandwiches. And IMHO, they have the best fries in town. I like my fries thin, crispy, and non-greasy. If the fries are good, you don’t need to dress them up, although their loaded fries are really good, too.
Are you a shoestring or wedges kind of person? Crinkle cut or steak cut? Would you be surprised if I told you that I have a running list of restaurant/eateries to remember where the fries are good and where I should skip them? :)
GARMIN WOES
My beautiful new Garmin watch is so pretty and I love her, but she’s also big and heavy on my rather small wrist. I don’t know if the weight/size is the issue or if it’s the watch band itself, but I’ve been getting skin irritations and little blisters under the watchband. A little research suggests that it’s a problem for many people and that it’s probably due to sensitivity to the the silicone band, so I bought a nylon band to see if that will help with the skin issue.
The bane of my existence
I really like hanging out in my hammock on our (covered) patio. However, I frequently have to sweep because our neighbor’s hedge, on the other side of the fence, consistently sheds leaves into our backyard. It always looks like it’s already fall around here. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate having this “green barrier” along the patio, but I wish it wouldn’t constantly lose its leaves like it does. Anyway, done for the week!
Have a great weekend!
top photo credit: @gaellemarcel via Unsplash
Tobia | craftaliciousme
August 16, 2026 at 2:00 amHaving a running list of where the fries are great is a good list to have. I loosely have that in mind. My husband has a non written list of where the chicken fingers are great. So much so that when we order in we have the biggest batch and freeze them for later use.
I understand the sweeping thing. I probably would be to lazy doing it weekly. But image it would be a stone wall or something.
Happy work anniversary. That is a very long time. And I love that you have enjoyed your job in general no matter the political ups and downs.
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:25 amUh! A chicken finger list! That’s also good to have :)
I am super-lazy when it comes to sweeping (someone said I should just get a leaf blower!).
Birchie
August 16, 2026 at 4:25 amI can confirm that Chicago Fire’s pizza is delicious. I wouldn’t mind getting first hand knowledge of their fries.
Happy Work Anni!
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:24 amThank you! Come back and try fries with me! :)
Nicole MacPherson
August 16, 2026 at 6:06 amOh bummer about the Garmin! I hope the nylon band helps.
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:25 amSo far, so good. The nylon band has been better (but alas, it’s black and I liked the white Garmin band LOL)
Michelle G.
August 16, 2026 at 6:20 amI don’t have a fries list! I can’t think of any restaurants around here that make list-worthy fries. How nice to find a place that consistently makes great fries. Congrats on 19 years at your job – and congrats that you still enjoy your work. That’s wonderful! Silicone bands irritate my wrist too, and so does metal, so I have a nylon band with a Velcro closure.
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:26 amThank you, Michelle. And I am glad the nylon band is working for you, too. I am pretty happy with it so far!
Lisa's Yarns
August 17, 2026 at 8:01 amI hope the nylon band helps! Having a skin irritation on your wrist would be annoying.
I like shoestring, crinkle cut, and waffle fries best. They have to be crispy! I’ll eat other types of potatoes if I am a guest at someone’s house and that’s what they are serving but I wouldn’t order them at a restaurant. My mom does make excellent potato wedges on the grill, though. We tried making them a few weeks ago and they did not turn out nearly as well so I need to pay closer attention when they make them next week when we are up at their lake home!
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:26 amI like shoestring fries best, but don’t discriminate as long as fries are crispy and non-greasy! :) Potato wedges on the grill sound amazing, too!
ccr in MA
August 17, 2026 at 8:24 amThose fries look perfect to me! I love really fresh-cut fries, like they were potatoes shortly before cooking. I’m not much of one for wedges, though of course I’ll eat them: it’s hard to make a potato into something I won’t eat!
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:27 amYes, I agree – potatoes in any form, please!
Elisabeth
August 18, 2026 at 7:20 amI don’t have a fries list, per se, but we have a place that we all agree has the best fries!
I don’t eat that many fries, so I don’t feel like I’m a great person to ask for recommendations. Plus, people want different things out of their fries. I know some people like them crispy (me), and others prefer “soggy”… NOT ME.
Good luck with the new band. I had an issue with one of my Apple watch bands years ago. It was so uncomfortable!
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:27 amYou know people who prefer soggy fries?? What in the world….!
Stephany
August 19, 2026 at 8:35 amI was having the same issue with my Apple watch band, so that’s why I got an Oura ring. I just think my skin is too sensitive because I tried SO many types and everything irritated my skin. So now I only wear my watch a few times a week to track workouts and such.
Those fries look DELICIOUS. I, too, believe that the best fries do not need anything else on them.
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:28 amOh bummer, you had the same issue with the Apple watch band. Interestingly I never had problems with my Apple watch in that regard, but maybe it’s a different material. I am glad the Oura ring is working for you! Do you pay for the subscription?
Kim
August 21, 2026 at 5:38 pmCongrats on your work anniversary!
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:28 amThanks Kim!
Melissa
August 24, 2026 at 9:13 pmCongratulations on your work anniversary, that is a long time in these days. How wonderful to find a job that you love; a pity about all the stress of the last few years.
I don’t mind the cut of my chips as long as they are crispy, have been cooked in clean oil and have a good amount of salt on them.
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:29 amThank you. I’ve had a good run at my job.
That’s a good list of priorities when it comes to fries!
Daria
August 29, 2026 at 11:47 amHappy anniversary at your work!! Twenty-two years is nothing to sneeze at!!
I don’t have any preference for fries but they cannot be mushy or pale. They must be. Crispy and crunchy! :)
San
August 30, 2026 at 10:29 amThanks Daria. I can’t believe it’s been 20+ years. Where does the time go.
Also, crispy and crunchy all the way!