Sharing: A Cool-Things-on-the-Internet MMP

[gardentraveler]

So, I started using Twitter to follow some interesting sites and people sometime last year. I think it started with Scott Simon (http://twitter.com/nprscottsimon), who has been my favorite NPR host since about forever and is an active Twitter user.

My account has snowballed and now I'm following a motley group that runs the gamut from local businesses to very well-known people (Bill Gates, for instance). I pretty much never tweet (what an odd verb!), but I read at least once a day.

Because I follow this odd assortment of people, I'm forever coming across cool things. Allow me to share a few of my meanderings through the Internet:

The coolest by far: the TED conference. This Scobleizer post (http://scobleizer.com/2010/02/14/the-elephants-in-the-room-at-ted/), which I got to via someone I follow on Twitter, of course, explains quite a bit about TED and links to both Jamie Oliver's (yes, the chef) and Blaise Aguera y Arcas's talks. Aguera Y Arcas showed what they're building into Bing Maps and it really blew me away (I linked to this talk in the old MMP and I'm re-linking because it's just that shiny).

Other cool things I did because of Twitter:

Found out about a new Vietnamese restaurant (http://www.columbusunderground.com/lac-viet-opens-new-bethel-center-location) in town.
Practically gained weight reading this recipe (http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/us/new_york/new_york/1869577-dark-chocolate-panna-cotta-with-raspberries-and-acacia-honey-syrup)
Met the longest-married couple in the world (http://twitter.com/longestmarried) (85 years!)
Learned more about Google Buzz (http://mashable.com/2010/02/14/google-buzz-column/) (If I was forced to limit myself to following a single person, it would probably be Mashable.)


And, as with every internet phenomenon, there are cats (http://twitter.com/sockington). Entertaining ones, even.

My challenge to you: tell me one cool thing you've learned in the past week. Doesn't have to be internet related...

Happy almost Monday, everyone!

GT

[VunderBob]

First to reply! w00t!

I got nuttin to contribute to the OP, 'cuz I don't Tweet. Just Facebook.

[Dottygumdrop]

It's Monday here!

One cool thing I learned this week - GT's real name! GT has a film-star name in real life!!!

Nice OP - will respond more appropriately once I am awake!

[gardentraveler]

Hee, Dotty. Until yesterday, it had never occurred to me that my name had a movie star feel to it.

Bobbio: you must share one cool thing. No Twitter (or Internet, for that matter) required. I have spoken. :p

Of course, you're forever sharing that cool firefighter/EMT stuff, so maybe you're absolved of that requirement. :dubious:

[Sticks and Scones]

I guess it's time to go to bed. I can't think of anything cool right now. I guess I'll have to try again tomorrow.

[Wile E]

I don't think I get the appeal of twitter.

One of my favorite sites is instructables.com. Some of ggd things people come up with are just amazing.

On the home front it appears that my water heater may have died. So there goes my plans for my tax refund. Since it's way over 13 years old I'm doubtful that it's fixable but I only discovered it not working this weekend so I haven't had anyone look at it yet. I also have to do some cleaning in my garage before I can have anything done so it looks like I'll be taking showers at work for a couple days.

[Sticks and Scones]

Wait! I thought of something. It's a photo editing site that is free and fun. www.picnik.com

[gardentraveler]

Hey, Wile E! Long time, no see. Hope the water heater is just hibernating.

I didn't get the appeal of Twitter for a long time. Now I just use it for a stream of interesting incoming snippets of information. If you take a look at someone's profile and look at who they're following, you start to see the possibilities.

I was supposed to finish cleaning the kitchen. I didn't. Guess I'll be up early tomorrow to do that. Woot.

[anyrose]

8th!

The only thing I can say on topic is that I've been known to get lost in LOLcat land for hours at a time.

Oh, and the Dope is fun, too. ;)

[Nava]

I learned the English names of a bunch of cinematic techniques. So far the Subtitling course is being one of the coolest.

[ems]

Morning!

My cool thing is I am going to Rome next weekend.

Must get in the shower and go to work now.......

[ScareyFaerie]

Greatp OP, gt, but I'm with the others who don't get the appeal of twitter. I looked at it very briefly but just couldn't see what the fuss was all about. Mind you, I felt that way about farcebook too and I seem to have got caught up in that one.

What have I learned this week? Mainly that I have completely lost my tolerance for drinking red wine. That's the downside of dieting and having to cut back severely on the alcohol! Let's just say that the end of Saturday's date night with 'im indoors was a bit of a blur...

[tarragon918]

Good Monday morning all - or even Tuesday if that's what it is where you are. :)

Excellent OP, GardenTraveler; we seem to have similar histories wrt Twitter, btw. I'm probably not yet as active as you are but do follow a somewhat rag tag group of posters that has grown a bit more now, thanks to you. :) I don't tweet much though!

Something cool that I've learned this past week comes via Turner Classic Movies, which is one of my very favorite cable channels to watch (for a long time, my cable co. didn't carry it and I was beyond the moon when they finally offered it on -regular- cable). At any rate, Robert Osborne, the TCM main host, is a terrific font of movie knowledge and trivia; sometimes, I follow up by looking up on Internet Movie Database. TCM has been doing their yearly Oscar lead-in, 31 days of Oscar and it's also Black History month, so within the past couple of weeks, they've shown "Little Cabin in the Sky," an all-black cast movie made in the 40s and directed by Vincente Minelli. If you've never seen this, try to catch it next go around on TCM or wherever. It was originally a stage play on Broadway; Minelli was able to convince a Hollywood studio to back it. It is dated, but it's a great movie and eye-opening. I -believe- it was Lena Horne's first film. I've enjoyed other movies as well - last weekend they showed two of my favorite movie musicals - South Pacific and Annie Get your Gun. Mitzi Gaynor played Nellie Forbush in South Pacific (which came from James Michener's book "Tales of the South Pacific" about his time there during WWII) and that was pretty much the role she was best known for.

Hahaha.... I'm sure this is all you've ever wanted to know (and then some ...) about movies! Ah well, I've also been cooped up due to the blizzards here for over a week. Time to break loose today, and back to work tomorrow. :)

Hugs to all!

[Sticks and Scones]

I too have been enjoying 31 days of Oscar, herbs!

I am not, however, enjoying being up this early since I have a breakfast to cater this morning. I'm sure I'll appreciate the $$ from it, though.

I just woke up from the most horrible dream. I had gotten up to get started on the breakfast and I found that a fire that I had started in our fireplace had gotten out of hand. I got a fire extinguisher and tried to put it out but it kept coming back to life so we called 911 and the fire department came out. I'm a little fuzzy on the rest, but it involved smoke inhalation worries for the dogs and wondering how I was going to still get breakfast made and out of here by 7:30. I'm so glad that it was a dream.

[FairyChatMom]

It's way too early to think of anything I've learned lately. Other than the trivia contest thingy in Damon's had some ridiculously simple/stupid questions. Like the one about what element has the lowest boiling point, and the choices included only one gas. OK, maybe that's not fair since my little family is science-geeky.

OK, I did learn that the last president to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda before Reagan was LBJ. I thought it was JFK. I assumed LBJ was whisked to Texas. Then again, I never was history-geeky.

So, it's President's day. Daughter and I have the day off. Spousal unit just left for work. (another bit of trivia - I've gotten people at work to refer to their wives/husbands as spousal units. Ah, the power of my words...) Gotta haul half of my critters to the vet for a 1230 appointment. Gotta haul my dirty laundry downstairs. Oh yes, envy me my exciting day.

I need breakfast. And a shower. And caffeine. It's such a challenge being me.

Happy Monday, all!

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienated but in need of brekkie. I'm thinkin' a piece of cheesecake with some strawberries on it would be a nutrious way to start the day. :D

I have discovered the joy and time wastingness of Facebook recently. I've said hello to some old friends, found out some of you all's real names and gotten into (help me!) Farmville and Cafe World. Hours and hours of wastin' time entertainment!

I have also discovered the Independent Film Channel (http://www.ifc.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=independent%20film%20channel&utm_campaign=brand). If your local cable provider does not have this channel I suggest you request, nay badger, them to start carryin' it. Good stuff!

Plans today include gettin' a haircut and marinatin' steaks cause tonight is men's night at church. Oh yeah, some laundry and, of course, workin' in a nappy poo.

Happy Monday Y'all!

[Sticks and Scones]

Well that was the suckiest breakfast that I've done in a long time. I didn't want to do it, but the client badgered me into it. I should have said no. Believe me, the next time that somebody wants homemade french toast for 30 people, I will definitely TURN THEM DOWN. All of the food turned out just fine but the problem is that only half of my fancy Jenn-Air stove actually works. So I had two burners on which to prepare about 90 pieces of toast. Not fun and now the front of the stove is a total disaster because of all the egg mixture that has dripped down it, not to mention the floor. :rolleyes:

Ah well, at least I've got some time to take a break and clean it all up before starting on lunch.

[dogbutler]

Morning Mumpers! I'm up, caffeinated, off to work.

Cool things: The Hurricanes AHL minor league team is moving to Charlotte, and the Canes are starting the season in Finland.

[Tupug Anachi]

I learned a whole bunch about Galileo this week from a book I was reading. Some of it was so off the wall that I had to research it. In fact, did you know he had a terrible hernia requiring that he wear a truss? I didn't think so.

I understand the appeal of twitter but the last thing I need right now is another distraction.

Speaking of, I'd best get to the job ads before the other eleventy billion people out of work do.

Tupug

[FairyChatMom]

I'm showered, shampooed, coiffed (OK, so I combed my hair) and dressed. I'm having some cheddar on italian bread with a side of diet coke - breakfast of champions!!

While I was showering, the water started to feel uncomfortably cool. Our water heater is not dying. Our water heater is not dying. Our water heater is not dying. Our water heater is not dying. Our water heater is not dying. Our water heater is not dying. Our water heater is not dying.


Daughter just came upstairs. Turns out SIL had already showered (he takes loooooong showers) and she got in while I was showering. OK, I feel better.

I'm about to ride over to our mechanic's - her car needs an oil change and I'll bring her home after. Then I'll have some time to kill till noon when I head to the vet. I should be able to get a couple of loads of laundry done. Then clay play afterwards. And maybe some knitting.

Unlike a certain bear, I'm not a slug - I don't sleep during the day... :p

[gardentraveler]

I'm up and have commenced scrubbing the kitchen floor, particularly the spot where the fridge normally lives. Turns out my "new" fridge is much easier to pull out than the old one (which has been gone for...some time). So I'll be pulling out the fridge a couple of times a year instead of...once a decade.

Haven't had breakfast yet, though. Guess I should do that. The paper says we could get up to 9 inches of snow today. Weather.com says 3"-5" today and 2"-4" tonight. I'm praying for the low end of the spectrum because, really, we've had enough.

Gotta get back to Target for a couple of things I forgot yesterday. Guess I should take inventory in the fridge since little brother will be here at some point and I really don't want to have to go out if it does start snowing.....

Back later.

GT

[swampbear]

I have accomplished a monumental feat! I got cleaned up, made myself presentable for the general public and ventured out to get a haircut. Amazin' ain't it! :D

The effort has exhausted me. I feel a nappy poo comin' on. I'm delicate and tire easily after all!

[FairyChatMom]

Yanno, when I do word association, swampy and delicate just never seem to occur simultaneously.

First load of laundry in dryer, second in washer. It's cold and the sun has retreated. We're promised mixed rain and snow, mostly rain. It'd be nice if it melted down some of the snow, but it's supposed to freeze overnight. ugh. I am well and truly sick of winter. But not sick enough to move back to FL...

[Wile E]

Hey, Wile E! Long time, no see. Hope the water heater is just hibernating.

I didn't get the appeal of Twitter for a long time. Now I just use it for a stream of interesting incoming snippets of information. If you take a look at someone's profile and look at who they're following, you start to see the possibilities.

I was supposed to finish cleaning the kitchen. I didn't. Guess I'll be up early tomorrow to do that. Woot.

My internet access has been limited to mostly iPhone use and it's really hard to catch up on a long MMP from an iphone but I managed to catch this thread in it's early stages and I wanted to whine about my water heater somewhere.

[elbows]

I just found this yesterday and found it very amusing, hope you like it.

(It was filmed in my town, buy a local young songwriter.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWQf13B8epw

[anyrose]

Coyote - this is the perfect place to whine - that's one of the MMP's most used functions. ;)


Today is paperwork day - tax & medical - (yeah, right, she says as she wanders off into her little island on fb)

[taxi78cab]

I'm still fighting off that sinus thing from last week so I'm not entirely thinking clearly enough to come up with something cool. But otherwise, things are good around here.

[Dolores Reborn]

Interesting goings on at work while I was away. We've lost two employees from my department, one failed the drug test, and one apparently let some "bad text" get through to a customer. I'm not sure what was said, but the guy supposedly said that he didn't type it - the bad news is no one is allowed to have access to your computer or password. So out he went. It's all scuttlebutt - nobody knows for sure about the second guy.

Oh - my cool thing. I found Them! on youtube and watched the whole movie! War of the Worlds (original) is there, too. I love me some B-grade horror flicks!

[Taters]

Good morning.

I don't twitter, so I have nothing to add on that front. I look at youtube and videosift. I also look at fark. These in addition to news sites, the Dope and the Giraffe boards. Oh, and FB of course.

I just spoke to AT&T. It turns out there is a tower issue. The trouble ticket was submitted on the 12th, but it appears it won't be fixed until late after on the
17th. Sheesh! It took them awhile to figure out what was going on. If I'm still having problems on the 17th, I'll call them again.

After all, I pay to be able to you know, actually use my phone.

I'm enjoying a little peace and quiet. My husband is at work and my son is still sleeping. He's off school today.

I should get myself cleaned up. I also need to clean the kitchen.

[Beware of Doug]

Hungarian newsreels (http://filmhiradok.nava.hu/) from the 1930s and early 40s are a trip into a parallel dimension.

I'm not entirely kidding. Here's this tiny country where they speak a language that's basically Martian and where World War II doesn't really start until it's almost over. They are so inward-looking that every public ceremony includes huge crowds, dignitaries in top hats and chestfuls of medals - and yet they seem to care about stuff happening in the US, Britain, Japan...all translated into Martian, of course.

The really weird part of all this is that they still have the reels. Hungary was just about wrecked after WWII and the Iron Curtain years weren't much kinder to her. But there they are.

I probably shouldn't find them so fascinating, but I'm deeply devoted to the period. I've also known a few Hungarians - beautiful volatile people who remind me a lot of my Italian family (turn an Italian flag 90° and it's a Hungarian flag).

[Beware of Doug]

Oh, and another thing about those newsreels. The Germans, Italians, and Japanese were the good guys. Bizzarovilág (=world) it most definitely was.

[swampbear]

Coyote this the place to come in and whine, moan, and/or generally ramble on at will. Everything goes!

elbows that video is jake! :D

BOD Hungarian videos, huh. I shall go take a look.

I have napped. It is cold outside so a nappy poo was the right thing to do.

Also, I am too delicate dammit! :p

[Dolores Reborn]

There, there, Swampy. We all know you are a delicate little flower.




<snerk>

[Sticks and Scones]

I happened to be delivering lunch sorta near TVLand today, so I stopped and we went out for lunch. It was quite yummy. TVMan had pizza and I had a HUGE buffalo chicken sandwich with french fries. There was so much food that I took half of it with me.

[maladroit]

It's not new and not obscure, but I am loving Pandora. I've known about it for quite some time, but last week I had it on for hours and hours, both at work and at home. I love the responsiveness, and I love hearing new stuff. You can add artists or songs to your "stations"and they will find similar music. You can thumbs up or thumbs down each submission. When you thumbs down a song they stop it immediately and move on. Love it! You can make separate "stations" with distinct flavors. Classical mood, no problem; punk/garage no problem; singer/songwriter? Brazilian? Anything you want they've got more of it than you've ever heard.
I use the free version and they play commercials intermittently but they're not obnoxious.

Pandora.com

[FairyChatMom]

Back from the vet. Scruffy has icky teeth. When I take her for her grooming, I'll see if they can clean her teeth.

Ziva has a heart murmur. According to the vet, either it won't bother her, or it could kill her. She could live a normal life or die in her sleep or throw a clot like Brandy did and end up paralyzed. We can get a referral to a kitteh cardiologist, but as far as I'm concerned, that's not an option.

I treat my critters well, but they're just critters. They don't rate extraordinary measures, nor do they rate emptying my savings account or running up my credit card. For the hundreds of dollars a critter cardiologist would cost, I could adopt several more kittehs. He said the main sign of distress is labored breathing. If and when that happens, we'll take her in and deal with it. But considering she's an indoor kitteh who spends most of her time lounging around, I'm thinking her heart won't get taxed too much.

Why do we seem to attract critters with issues? OK, Bernie doesn't count. She's already exceeded her predicted lifespan, so her issues are to be expected. And Scruffy may be as old if not older than Bernie, so she's entitled to issues. But doggone it, Brandy was only 8, Ziva isn't yet 2, and our never-named grey and white kitteh was only 4 or so when he died.

I think I need some chocolate.

The only way swampy is a delicate flower would be if stinkweed has a blossom. :p

[gardentraveler]

Doug - wow, what a cool film archive. And elbows, that's an excellent video, too. (YouTube is a great source of amusement as well.)

I've scrubbed every inch of kitchen floor and cleaned cupboard doors. I think I still need to clean the top of the fridge, but other than that, I think all the major stuff is done. (Microwave has been scrubbed within an inch of its life as well.)

Now it's time to move stuff back into the kitchen. Woo hoo.

Then it's on to the bathroom.

I do know how to celebrate President's Day, don't I?

GT

[Man With a Cat]

Wheeeeeeee! Dead Presidents!!!!!!!


Goofed off, defragged, got an oil change and now off to the gym, then out to meet a few guys for wings and beer.

In honor of all the dead presidents, of course. ;)

[gotpasswords]

On the home front it appears that my water heater may have died. So there goes my plans for my tax refund. Since it's way over 13 years old I'm doubtful that it's fixable...
It's not fixable. Just replaceable. Take solace, though, in knowing you got a good long life out of it.

There's a nice breeze outside, and this screwy vinyl siding is clattering away like we're in a tornado. <Makes mental notes not to every buy a house with this kind of siding.>

The TV has landed! And it's just lovely. Big sonofabitch too. It's "only" eight inches larger than its predecessor, but it looks three feet bigger. Sort of like "AOL inches" but in reverse.

Right now, DH is exploring the magic of Netflix streaming movies into the Blu-Ray player.

The ARGH moment for the week... Right now, I was supposed to be in Aruba. But life and finances got in the way of that.

Good deed for the week was to fix a phone line at SIL's house. She says the kitchen phone hasn't worked in ten years. Works now.:cool:

[Silver Tyger]

I've got the day off of school which should give me time to catch up on my homework, except that I didn't manage to get out of bed until noon. Then I had to go down to the cafeteria because I have nothing to drink but water and cider. They still don't have gallons of milk so I had to buy four pints, which is a ripoff since they cost 89 cents and a gallon costs $6 (which is still a ripoff since I could get *two* gallons at the grocery store for almost two dollars less, but what are you gonna do?) But had lunch/breakfast and thus far have goofed off on the internet...

And the construction is REALLY loud today. I'm starting to think I need to put in earplugs.

One of my classes doesn't meet tomorrow and I'm trying to decide if I'm going to use it to do homework or go to taijitsu...

[swampbear]

gotti you earn a gold * :D I know what you mean about the big teevee. When I got the one in the livin' room I was all WHOA! that's biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig!!!

Oh, and for a certain Old broad who shall remain nameless's information, stinkweed does indeed have a blossom. I am, however, as delicate as a gardenia blossom and I smell like a gardenia blossom too. So There! :p

[Silver Tyger]

Oh, btw, I accidentally printed too many valentines, because apparently I can't multiply. Anybody want a really cute very late valentine?

(Hidden since I know some of you are part of the valentine exchange and I haven't gotten them in the mail yet... :smack: )
You get to choose between a squid and a goat.

[VunderBob]

Man, do I ever know how to live dangerously. I made horseradish inside the house this afternoon.

CindyTheFlake is the local Master Gardener :rolleyes:, and knew I wanted to try growing horseradish here. She found me a root at the grocery store thinking I could plant it. You really can't, so I tossed it in the blender instead and chopped it up.

My eyes and nose were running like I had been maced, and I even ran VWife and the dogs out in the process. But day-umm, it's good...

[gotpasswords]

Encouraging news on the DH job front. His replacement started today. The person who trained him confided that the replacement is unlikely to last very long.

[gardentraveler]

Yay on the DH workplace story. Hopefully they'll realize that they have a valuable potential employee in him.

Horseradish - yummmmmm. Although I can imagine that it would be smelly.

Dinner has been et and now I'm sleepy. I still have lots to do, but I think I'll take a nap first.

Back later.

GT

[eleanorigby]

Some of us had to work today, she said, sourly. And I'm beat. It was a quiet day, but for some reason, I am exhausted. Oy. :rolleyes:

I don't twit, which is the proper "verb" for the noun "twitter" which isn't really a noun at all, but something birds do in springtime*.... I hear it's a whole 'nother world, but I can't handle the Dope, Raffe, Mello and FB, so I don't need another media outlet.


Off to wash hair and watch some stupid sports aka Olympics history in the making. I hafta work tomorrow (no day off this week for me--no rest for the wicked, I guess).






*I know that tweet has become the verb of choice. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[FairyChatMom]

We had a few snowflakes followed by rain. Hope the rain continues and melts the snow. Daughter has a 2 hour delay tomorrow, but at least school will be in session. She also finally had class tonight - the instructor said they'll be doing some long nights to make up for the 2 they missed.

I've been crocheting - nothing fancy - just double crochet strips of 4 different color bands. I'll do 4 different strips, sew then together, then double crochet a ruffle edge. It'll be a fast one, and it'll be soft and colorful. Then I'll have 4 to take to Mom this weekend.

I didn't do much today, but I'm beat. This week may be somewhat frantic at work - we need to have our project from hell ready for review on Monday so it can be posted next Friday. I hate the last weeks of a project - it's always a fiasco. Oh well, that's why we get the big bucks, right?

Back to my crocheting for a few more minutes, then off to bed. Gotta be fresh for my return to the working world... meh

[Sticks and Scones]

It's getting pretty ugly outside around here. Fortunately I didn't have too much grocery shopping to do.

Not too much else going on now, I'm just sitting here watching The Parent Trap that I recorded from TCM.

[anyrose]

Well, if the storm tracks north, we'll get rain which, while messy and slippery, will wash away the snow. If it tracks south, we'll get some white stuff, but nothing horrific

[dogbutler]

Sorry I've been absent, I've been working like a dog machine. I did go out with some friends drinking and dancing(with a drunken snowball fight thrown in) to celebrate a divorce on Friday. Cool thing #2: I apparently have good rhythm for a white guy.:D I just watched the Canadian Women's hockey team crush Switzerland 10-1.

rigs, I had to work today, but only for 9 hours.

gt, wanna clean my apartment?

FCM, both Maggie and Nelly have ear infections. And Gordie is just plain nuts.

gotti, streaming Netflix is Da Bomb!

[Taters]

My daughter did her first roasted chicken today. I gave her a few pointers over FB, at her request, and she told me just now that it turned out well.

Hell, I've been trying to get her in the kitchen and teach her to cook for at least the last 10 years and she never showed an interest. Now, she's not living here and has finally decided she needs to learn.

Not much else going on here. Hubby had to work a little longer than usual today and wasn't in a great mood when he got home. To cheer him up, I made him bacon spam, white rice and scrambled eggs. He LUUUUUURVES the stuff. I'm not all that excited about it, but it makes him happy.

Sigh, back to work tomorrow, but I only have three days. Plus, I need to leave work early tomorrow for my pre-op appt.

Friday, I need to be at the specialty center at 6:00 am for surgery at 8:00.

[anyrose]

新年快乐！Gung Hai Fat Choi!

[Nava]

Can't use Pandora, it's US-only.

I'm trying to decide whether I should kill one of my teachers or the people who create email accounts. In my uni account, my firstname is listed as "Maria L.", the lastname is complete. She just sent us an email with the listings of groups for an upcoming activity, where she calls me Maria and 1/3 of my lastname. Please note that this is a woman whose email will go to the wrong person unless you type her name in full... My name is not Maria, dagnabit!

[ScareyFaerie]

I think you should kill all of them, Nava. There's really no point killing unless you're making a spree out of it.

In really important news, I fixed the laminator in the office! Well, it was me that broke it, so I decided to fix it. Didn't require much, but I have made the office manager aware of the fact that I've saved them at least £10 to buy a new one. I shall remind them of that next time they squeal about budget constraints and suchlike.

Nothing exciting going on today, I have a team meeting to go to this morning and tonight it's Fat Club. I shall prepare by having a cup of tea.

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin'. *YAWN* Thus beginneth the work week.

Men's night was good as always. We've decided on a fish fry next month bein' as it will be Lent and all.

Speakin' of which to day is

MARDIGRAS!!!!

So get out there and celebrate!

Happy Tuesday Y'all!

[FairyChatMom]

There's really no point killing unless you're making a spree out of it.What a lovely thought to embroider on a throw pillow... :D

It's flurrying/sleeting at the moment. According to the weather site, there's a 30% chance that it's doing that. ;) We've got a delayed opening today - don't have to report till 8. For me, that translates to 90 minutes off, so I've had a bowl of cereal and now I've got an hour or so to surf, read the funnies, and generally chill. Not a bad way to start the day.

I awoke with all 4 animals in the room. Both cats were on the bed (Ziva never does that! I guess I'm forgiven for the vet trip) and the dogs were on FCD's side of the bed blocking my path to the bathroom. My entourage!

Anyway, thus beginneth my day. I can has Firday??

[Sticks and Scones]

Ok... So the only downside to having moved the dogs' crates is the fact that they can see and hear the snow plows as they go by in the middle of the night. And of course they have to protect us from the vicious, evil plows by barking at them!!! :p

Oh well.

It looked like we got about 2 or 3 more inches of snow out there. Fortunately my grandpa got out the vintage early 1900s John Deere giant tractor and plowed the drive yesterday, so getting out shouldn't be a problem.

[eleanorigby]

Why o why did TH's alarm go off at 0430? :eek: And I couldn't get back to sleep until about 0615 when my alarm then went off... :rolleyes:

Lemme put it you all this way: Snow White lives.


Off to work on the computer all day (this is really making my day off computer time less attractive). Then class all day tomorrow and Th. Then work again. Then solo-ensemble for #2 son. Then--you get the picture.

It's Tuesdays, folks: be careful out there.

[VunderBob]

Blurf.

Firmly ensconced in Cubeville today. Now, I'm POed that there are no more holidays until Memorial Day at the end of May. :mad:

Cottonfield County dodged the newest snow. Heck, it barely rained when the forecast called for yet another apocalyptic deluge.

[tarragon918]

Morning all, up and caffeinated. We've got a two hour delayed arrival to work as well, so I'm getting ready to leave in a few minutes. We got some snow last night and this morning too, so I'm hoping I'll make it in okay.

Happy Tuesday all.

[anyrose]

One of my friends is having turbriskafil for dinner tonight - turkey stuffed with brisket stuffed with (get this) gefilte fish. It's a Jewish turducken.

[Tupug Anachi]

I bring you the most delicate Stinkweed Blossom (http://www.westernwildflower.com/Hikes/Sonoma%20County/09.10.22%20Ellis%20Creek/My%20Albums/slides/sm%20847.jpg)! TA! DA! :D

I have solved my cold feet problem by plugging in a heating pad to rest my tootsies on while I peruse the job boards. Ah, bliss!!!

rosie, that sounds like a heart attack!

bobbio, does one only need to cuisinart a horseradish root to produce the condiment?

Interestingly, I was alerted to a job yesterday where I may need to be an expert tweeter so I'm off to see what I can find out.

Tupug

[VunderBob]

bobbio, does one only need to cuisinart a horseradish root to produce the condiment?

Either a Cusinart (/generic blender), or a meat grinder, and vinegar. A grinder on fine will probably yield a finer grained product than a blender on chop. For the love of Pete, do it where you have some ventilation.

[taxi78cab]

One of my friends is having turbriskafil for dinner tonight - turkey stuffed with brisket stuffed with (get this) gefilte fish. It's a Jewish turducken.
That sounds horrible, rosie! Does it taste as bad as it sounds?

Got together with neighbors last night and played Killer Bunnies. It's a very funny game, but quite complicated so figuring out what to do/how to play is a challenge. But it's worth it for some of the silly cards that you can draw.

Now if someone would kindly make this #$&@#$ cold go away, I'd really appreciate it. kthxbai.

[Mahna Mahna]

Happy Fat Tuesday, y'all! I'm planning on swinging over to the Polish bakery on my way home to get some paczi. I loves me some paczi.

Cool things on the Internet, huh? Let's see what I've got:

Tastespotting (http://www.tastespotting.com) - the food porn site to end all food porn sites. I've discovered most of my favourite food blogs using this site.

Regretsy - the bad, the ugly, and the OMGWTFBBQ of Etsy, curated with extra snark for your enjoyment. It's NSFW. Actually, it's just not safe, period, which is why I'm breaking the link. (www. regretsy. com)

MoCoLoCo (http://mocoloco.com/) - for when I need a design fix. It's like Tastespotting, only for designy-type things. When I'm rich, I'll own one of everything they feature on this site. :)

And I can't forget about Design*Sponge (http://www.designspongeonline.com). General crafty/designy/interior decorating goodness. I wish my house looked half as pretty as the ones they feature.


rosie, that sounds kinda gross. Kinda cool, too, but mostly just gross. :P

[VunderBob]

BioRosie, wouldn't an HTG turducken meet kosher requirements?

One of these days, I'm going to try making corned beef from scratch, FWIW. If I ever get a smoker, pastrami will follow forthwith.

Homemade corned beef with a generous layer of homemade horseradish. Yum.

[Sticks and Scones]

one of my friends is having turbriskafil for dinner tonight - turkey stuffed with brisket stuffed with (get this) gefilte fish. It's a jewish turducken.

g-r-o-s-s!

[Nava]

I think you should kill all of them, Nava. There's really no point killing unless you're making a spree out of it.

I can always say I'm an equal-opportunity spree-killer, too!

MoCoLoCo (http://mocoloco.com/) - for when I need a design fix. It's like Tastespotting, only for designy-type things. When I'm rich, I'll own one of everything they feature on this site. :)

Mad goober? Srsly? *walks slowly away from the strange people*

[Dolores Reborn]

Blurf.

Firmly ensconced in Cubeville today. Now, I'm POed that there are no more holidays until Memorial Day at the end of May. :mad:

Cottonfield County dodged the newest snow. Heck, it barely rained when the forecast called for yet another apocalyptic deluge.

What about Good Friday, April 2? I'm looking forward to a long weekend, too.

Rosie - yuk!

Busy, busy - until later today. Then nothing.

[Wile E]

Okay, none of you snowed in Northeners kill me for this ... It's supposed to be in the 70's for the rest of the week! Yay!

A couple people at work may gave had the piggy flu and now I have a scratchy throat. I'm hoping it's just my chronic sinus issues which have been plagueing me for a couple weeks and the scratchy throat is from post-nasal drip. I hope.

Fortunately I have about 7 hours of vacation left (it renews in March) so I can cut back on my work hours a little in order to work on my emergency
garage cleaning so I can get someone in to replace my water heater. I knew if I kept procrastinating on the garage cleaning that something would happen that would require me having to have someone come into my house/garage. Oh well, I may kill myself trying to get it done in a couple days time but at least it will be done. Providing I don't get the flu. *knocks on wood*

I have some blackberries to use up so I guess I will make blackberry pancakes for Mardi Gras. I've made them before and they were very good, but blackberries are bigger than blueberries so you have to cut them up and add them to the batter and mix slighty just before dropping them on the griddle. If you mix too much you get purple batter.

[Sticks and Scones]

If you mix too much you get purple batter.

I see no problem here at all. :D

Well, I promise you won't see me on here this afternoon at all. I have some work to get done and by golly I'm going to go do it! Heh.

[Wile E]

I had my pancakes, they were delish and I have many leftover so I will freeze some. Since I'm not Catholic anymore I don't need to give anything up so I can eat my pancakes tomorrow and the day after and the day after that and so on.

[VunderBob]

I had my pancakes, they were delish and I have many leftover so I will freeze some. Since I'm not Catholic anymore I don't need to give anything up so I can eat my pancakes tomorrow and the day after and the day after that and so on.

I gave up pancakes, too. It's all about sveltification...

I hereby announce to the world that I'm going to give up snow for Lent this year.

Rebo, Good Firday is not a Federal holiday that generates time off. For that matter, April Fools, St. Paddy, Easter, etc. also don't count.

[gardentraveler]

I took off early so that I can finish all my housecleaning projects and finish my book before friends descend on my humble abode tomorrow night.

We received about an extra foot of snow between yesterday and last night's accumulation. Just about everything was closed today.

I might make blueberry pancakes for supper just because that sounds good. Well, that and I have the ingredients.

Back later.

GT

[anyrose]

That sounds horrible, rosie! Does it taste as bad as it sounds?

Got together with neighbors last night and played Killer Bunnies. It's a very funny game, but quite complicated so figuring out what to do/how to play is a challenge. But it's worth it for some of the silly cards that you can draw.

Now if someone would kindly make this #$&@#$ cold go away, I'd really appreciate it. kthxbai.
apparently I *am* as gullible as I look - the "fil" is filet mignon :eek: :rolleyes:

[Sticks and Scones]

I have been working, honest...

It's just that the craft glue that I've been using has given me quite a headache so I'm taking a break.

[taxi78cab]

The Hershey's Extra Dark chocolate with pomegranates is surprisingly really good. Nom nom.

[VunderBob]

Turbriskafil? I think we done been whooshed... (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=turbriskafil&start=0&sa=N)

[gardentraveler]

Almost forgot...Puggy: Mashable has a Twitter guidebook (http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/) that includes info on using Twitter for business purposes.

[ems]

I am all packed and headed to Rome tomorrow. I have managed to swing a location visit to our location in Italy and I have to fly in and out of Rome.

Seeing as I leave the location on Friday I thought I may as well spend the weekend in Rome. Couple of my girlfriends are flying in for the weekend so it will be fun!

I filled in a 12 page questionairre today to start the US visa process......that was not so fun!

Now to bed I have a cab booked at 5.30AM....................

[gardentraveler]

Weekend in Rome sounds like fun, mmmmmmmm. 12-page questionnaire...not so much. Hope the process goes smoothly.

I got 3 more Valentines today, including ones from SO and tarra. It was very difficult for me to use their proper names in the exchange thread. Almost wrote out Special One.

Back to the putting away and cleaning of stuff. Woot.

GT

[Sticks and Scones]

Ok, I've partially completed two projects (doing as much as I can for now) and soon it will be time to head to the Y for water aerobics. Starting tonight my cousin and I will be going together. Hopefully the time to chat will give us incentive to stick with it!

[Silver Tyger]

I have four extra valentines to send out. This is your last chance!

[swampbear]

Howdy Y'all! I had a very busy and boring day and I's tahred! So tahred I got nuttin' to say.

Hugs, boos, yays, awww, noogies, wedgies, trouts, chitlins, how you doin's as needed.

[FairyChatMom]

Whew - I'm back! Lots of folks didn't make it to work today. The main drag from Fredericksburg to King George was mega-icy. They cancelled school in the county again, so daughter hasn't taught since Feb 4. Since my team lead turned around and went home once she hit the ice, I got to go to her meeting for her. And I got to vote in her stead. If she doesn't like it, tough cookies.

After work, I ran by the credit union and the grocery store. Then home to chat with my mom a bit before making supper - broiled steak, N.O.T.-n-onions, mushrooms in sour cream, and salad. All muy yummo! Dishes are done and I'm free for the evening. Yay.

Still no new glasses - it's been 2 anna half weeks. If they're not in by Friday, I'm gonna raise a stink. They said it'd be a week. I know there was snow and all but doggone!!

That's all. One down, 3 to go. C'mon Firday!!

[swampbear]

Ima go lie upon the bed and watch teevee for a bit. I took me a Melatonin so I plan on sleepy bye soon.

Nitey Nite Y'all!

[dogbutler]

Home, gonna watch a movie and crash.

BBBobbio, real turdurken has sausage between the birds, so it's not kosher. Oy!

Nava, if you go on a killing spree, could you whack my PHB?

[VunderBob]

Let me run this by y'all; PieBabe, you especially since you cater.

If I was going to do a taco bar to feed 20 or so hong-uree fahrmen, how much meat should I make, and how many shells to buy?

VWife and I are poor choices to gauge by, because we both have altered stomachs. My gut-level reaction is 5 lbs of burger, and 5 dozen shells.

What say you?

[VunderBob]

BBBobbio, real turdurken has sausage between the birds, so it's not kosher.

:dubious: If that's so, they left some syllables out.

Tursauducksauhen...

[anyrose]

Let me run this by y'all; PieBabe, you especially since you cater.

If I was going to do a taco bar to feed 20 or so hong-uree fahrmen, how much meat should I make, and how many shells to buy?

VWife and I are poor choices to gauge by, because we both have altered stomachs. My gut-level reaction is 5 lbs of burger, and 5 dozen shells.

What say you?
5 dozen shells is only 3 tacos per burly fireman - are the guys big eaters or average ones? and don't forget all the toppings and a side of refried beans

[VunderBob]

5 dozen shells is only 3 tacos per burly fireman - are the guys big eaters or average ones? and don't forget all the toppings and a side of refried beans
I'm planning on having lettuce, onion, salsa, taco sauce, and sour cream available, and refried beans. Others in my committee are bringing other stuff.

Seven dozen shells? They're cheap...

[Sticks and Scones]

Let me run this by y'all; PieBabe, you especially since you cater.

If I was going to do a taco bar to feed 20 or so hong-uree fahrmen, how much meat should I make, and how many shells to buy?

VWife and I are poor choices to gauge by, because we both have altered stomachs. My gut-level reaction is 5 lbs of burger, and 5 dozen shells.

What say you?

For lunches, I plan on 5 ounces of meat (cooked weight) per person and 2.5 shells. Although hungry firemen might eat more then doctors, nurses and other assorted office staff.

[Taters]

Long day at work. Or, at least it felt long. I rushed home, threw some dinner in the oven, and have to leave in a half hour for an HOA meeting. Hubby and sun will have to take the dinner out of the oven, because it won't be done by the time I leave. Envy me.:rolleyes:

I haven't gone in ages, and really I want to hear what fresh, new hellish, stupid stuff they're coming up with now. Plus, I need to pay my stupid dues.

FCM, at first I read your dinner menu as "boiled" steak and I thought that didn't sound so good.;)

It's official, the condo in Hawaii has been reserved for the week starting 25 September. I'm going to have to buckle down and start searching for reasonable airfare. Hopefully, my award will cover most of it, if and when I receive it.

After the meeting, I plan to read my Kindle. I downloaded a new book last night and started reading it, but fell asleep.

Laterz folks!

[gardentraveler]

Neither Turducken nor Turbriskafil sound appealing to me.

Thanks for the links, Muppet. I had a similar reaction to Nava's on MoCoLoCo (my brain said "crazy booger," but same difference); definitely not a site built for a Spanish-speaking demographic. I've never had paczi, but they look awfully good (there was a conveniently-placed picture on Tastespotting).

Went out to a nice restaurant around the corner for dinner. Now I'm sleepy.

Book group is postponed due to weather, so I've lost some of my motivation for organizing and cleaning. Hopefully I'll be more motivated in the morning (I'm going in a bit late so that I can get more done; decided to keep my time off plans since I still have 3 furlough days to use).

I"m thinking I'll turn in early.

Hope everyone's having a lovely evening.

Hugs.

GT

[kaiwik]

bobbio I remember very well the summer I was nine and helped my grandma grate the horseradish. In a hand cranked coffee grinder. I thought I was gonna die, but I loved my grandma sufficiently to keep me in the kitchen with her. We tied dish towels across our faces, but it didn't help. I have loved horseradish even as a wee child, and I appreciate it still. I envy you the fresh stuff!

I think you should kill all of them, Nava. There's really no point killing unless you're making a spree out of it.

This, minus Nava's name, needs to be cross stiched on a throw pillow. Yep, I just stole a swampy saying, don't tell on me. (I love you, bear!) On further reading I see that FCM beat me to it! Great minds think alike and all that!

Wile E the blackberries will stay in shape better and not stain the batter if you drop them onto the uncooked side of the pancake.

Other than that I haven't been posting because I have been in the dark place and it doesn't really look as if things are going to change much in the immediate future. The evil bastard to whom I am still legally tied to is causing all kinds of ruckus in my life. Everybody think strong dissolution thoughts for me, please, it's easier and faster (30 days after filing) than a divorce.

On a much brighter note, Jess, Randy and the grandbabies are on their way over, and that makes me smile. They leave for home tomorrow, but are moving back to the island at the end of March. More on that and (hopefully happier) other stuff in the life of me in the next day or so. ('cuz I miss you guys!)

[anyrose]

hmm - Draelin does crosstitching - I will suggest that she come read the thread

[ScareyFaerie]

We opened and drank two bottles of champagne yesterday night for no other reason than the fact it was in the fridge and well-chilled. I can haz hangover, pls?

Actually I'm not feeling too bad today and I'm in the office so it isn't all bad. And as it's Wednesday, it's beerverage night. Hair of the dog (n.o.D), of course!

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! A driveby post before work purtification.

Happy quick dissolution thoughts headed your way kai!

It's Ash Wednesday so tonight I get ashes heaped upon me by the Priest. Ok, so he just makes The Sign Of The Cross on my forehead and tells me I'm dust, but still.

I've always wondered if Priests get some kind of secret joy on Ash Wednesday because they, in effect, get to call everybody a "dirtbag". :D

Y'all be good!

[gardentraveler]

Sounds like there's light coming soon, kai. Glad they're moving back to the island. I'm sure regular doses of grandbabies will help. Speaking of which, I don't believe you've told us about grandbaby #2. Also we haven't seen pictures of Tea in some time.

Loved the pillow idea. And in my Twitter stream there was a link to a pillow with funny, but not nice language cross-stitch (http://tweetphoto.com/11622968).

Little brother is on the phone talking business when he's supposed to be on the road (and out of my way). Guess I'll have breakfast and then continue organizing stuff before going off to work.

For those of you fascinated by what I'm doing for Lent: giving up clutter.

Up and at 'em....

Hugs.

GT

[dogbutler]

I spending Ash Wednesday working all day.

[Lissla Lissar]

Hi, all. I've had a blood pressure spike, and am supposed to move slowly or lie down. May not be around a whole lot. Prayers and good thoughts to bring it down so I can resume a normal life much appreciated.

I was unable to get a prescription to eat more chocolate. Sad.

[Dottygumdrop]

{{{LiLi}}}

swampy, does the pile of ashes come with some sackcloth, or do you have to wear that to the church yourself?

TGIW - only one day left to the weekend!!!

[Tupug Anachi]

My prayers are on the way, li-li. Sorry you are having such a rough time.

Thanks, gt! That's going to come in really handy!

Strong dissolution thoughts headed your way, kai. You can borrow my mantra: "It can only get better!"

My last call with my career counselor is today. We're to discuss the interview process. It will be helpful if I ever get one.

Happy hump day to all.

Tupug

[VunderBob]

TGIW - only one day left to the weekend!!!
Instead of Thank God It's Friday, you do So Happy It's Thursday?

[tarragon918]

morning all; good to see you kai and sending quick dissolution thoughts your way too. {{{{{{kaiwik}}}}}}

Been busy this morning; our office space will be re-configured this weekend so all in cubes are having to pack everything up. Wah!

Happy hump day, and the beginning of Lent, for those who observe.

[Lissla Lissar]

My midwife says that I am attention-seeking, and she'd like me to have a normal pregnancy next time instead of developing all kinds of weird symptoms. I love my midwife. :D I particularly love that she came here this morning at eight to run tests on me, and hang out with Gnat and drew him some pictures.

I also love the Ontario health system, that provides midwifery care for free (well, covered under our socialist medical stuff).

[Sticks and Scones]

{{{Li-Li}}}

Not much going on here just snow, snow, snow.

[kopek]

It (the internet) allows me to follow the daily events at St Olaf College. No -- I didn't go there but I have done guest lectures there and it is now my most favorite small liberal arts college in the world. The place is just frikkin cool.

Also I am into the "props" side of horror - film and amusement park rides. Without the internet the choices of zombies, corpses and rubber baseball bats is fairly limited. With computers the possible products available is almost endless.

[kopek]

It's Ash Wednesday so tonight I get ashes heaped upon me by the Priest. Ok, so he just makes The Sign Of The Cross on my forehead and tells me I'm dust, but still.

I've always wondered if Priests get some kind of secret joy on Ash Wednesday because they, in effect, get to call everybody a "dirtbag". :D




No ----------- the joy comes from recycling the pancakes they burn Tuesday as the ashes for Wednesday!!!!! :D


I skipped the pancake thing because of the weather (our congregation is about 20 miles from our door) and did the buffet down the casino. It was fantastic but had Pastor run short on ashes this AM I would have felt very guilty.

[taxi78cab]

{{LiLi}} Yay for the midwife, though!

{{kai}} Quick dissolution thoughts headed your way. Give the grandbabies extra hugs.

I'm trying to figure out what to do about my Eeyore coworker. He's the one who's been working lots of extra hours and making me feel bad (not by saying anything, though, just by being here) for leaving at 5 or 6. He does occasionally complain about the late nights, but a big part of it is his own fault for not leaving stuff until tomorrow. There's only one thing we do that has to be done by EOD Tuesday (i.e. before you go home Tuesday so two of us were here until after 6 last night and he was here until 10:30); everything else that we do can be pushed out a day if necessary. I'm not his manager, but our manager has asked me to mentor him. I'm trying to figure out how to say "It's your own damn fault that you're here late all the frickin' time. If there isn't going to be an impact to the company or our customers if a project doesn't get done today, then frickin' go home at 5 and finish it tomorrow. There's no award for being here the most hours." I need to say that in a nicer way when I'm not frustrated with him for complaining about something (in a very Eeyore, woe-is-me, kind of way) that's his own fault. He's also much slooooooooooower at everything than I am so I would have been done with the project he was working on yesterday at 6-ish where he was here for another 4+ hours. I don't know how to deal with that either. He really does remind me of Eeyore. I like him well enough on a person-to-person basis, but working together is driving me crazy.

[Mahna Mahna]

{{LiLi}} and {{kai}} Sending lots of blood pressure lowering and strong dissolution thoughts as appropriate.

I'm not sure where the first half of today went, but I'm sure it was put to good use. Or maybe not. I need to stop watching replays of the men's figure skating events from last night. :P

BTW, another awesome (and potty-mouthed) cross-stitching site for y'all: Subversive Cross Stitch (http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/). I'm a big fan of the "Don't Make Me Cut You" panel.

[Ellen Cherry]

Li-Li how far along are you now?

[Lissla Lissar]

35 weeks. So only two more weeks until I'm full-term, and start getting everyone's wacko sure-fire labour inducing tips.

We did pancakes last night. We also had our reading group over talking about natural law and virtue ethics, which was fine as long as Argumentative Friend wasn't super-irritating, and I stayed mostly lying down and watched the five guys tidying up after Gnat went to bed.


I've got a bunch of Diana Kennedy cookbooks out, and it always astonishes me how many Mexican recipes seem to amount to- roll in tortillas, cover with sauce or salsa, and eat. I'm not complaining, it just makes my pathetic attempts at Mexican food seem almost kind of authentic.

[Dottygumdrop]

Instead of Thank God It's Friday, you do So Happy It's Thursday?:D

[anyrose]

ruble - is that true or a whoosh?
Having grown up in a primarily Jewish neighborhood, it took a lot of will power to resist going up to my Christian co workers with a tissue saying "there's some schmootz on your foreheaad"

[Beware of Doug]

Did people in your neighborhood - not you, naturally - perhaps find this a small way of getting back at the Catholics who had, historically, been their persecutors?

I have no dog in this fight...just curious.

[Wile E]

When I was a Catholic schoolkid we used to compare our forehead ash blobs, while everyone else had nice dainty ash smears I always seemed to get a big ash blob smeared across my forehead and halfway down my nose and I'd get teased about it all day. Just one of the many things that drove me away from the church.

[anyrose]

ruble - is that true or a whoosh?
Having grown up in a primarily Jewish neighborhood, it took a lot of will power to resist going up to my Christian co workers with a tissue saying "there's some schmootz on your foreheaad"

Did people in your neighborhood - not you, naturally - perhaps find this a small way of getting back at the Catholics who had, historically, been their persecutors?

I have no dog in this fight...just curious.

No, I just wasn't used to seeing it and had to consciously remind myself that they do it on purpose

[Sticks and Scones]

IANA Catholic but if I remember right it's the ashes from the palm fronds from the last Palm Sunday.

I just told Sock Lady (who is Catholic) the pancake story and she laughed.

[Ellen Cherry]

When I was a Catholic schoolkid we used to compare our forehead ash blobs, while everyone else had nice dainty ash smears I always seemed to get a big ash blob smeared across my forehead and halfway down my nose and I'd get teased about it all day. Just one of the many things that drove me away from the church.

When I was a kid it seems our priest just pressed his ashy thumb into our foreheads. Now, they seem to put a big ole cross on there, which is pretty dramatic looking.

[swampbear]

Howdy Y'all! Survived another day. Yay me.

Dotty what CutiePie said about the ashes. They are from the palm fronds of the preceeding year's Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is always a fun service for me because I get a palm frond to have pretend sword fights with. It's fun to walk up to somebody, hold up your palm frond and say, "En Garde!" :D I think that's how you spell it.

I get ashed tonight. Since we have a new Priest I have never been ashed by him so I don't know how he does it but our former Priest made a biiiiiiiiiiiig Sign of The Cross on the forehead with his ashy thumb. Some of those Crosses would turn out hyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!

Ok, off to investigate other stuff. I hear rumors of custom titles. Don't know as I'm innerested but gotta go check it out!

LiLi prayers and good thoughts headed out from South Jawja.

[Sticks and Scones]

Hooray for paying work tomorrow!!! :D

[taxi78cab]

I'm Methodist, and we have an evening service so you just go home with a dirty smudge on your forehead instead of having to walk around with it all day. :D

[Taters]

Well, I'm a non church going person, so there will be no smudges of any kind on my forehead. Nor did I have pancakes yesterday.

Hugs to you LiLi ,and fast dissolution thoughts to you kai.

I've just returned from my pre-op appointment. I've been sent home extra special sponges to wash with the night before my surgery and the morning of my surgery. I've also been told not to shave. Ermmm, I'm going to ignore that piece of advice.

I guess I'm a pain in the ass because I can't have any codiene based drugs. The doc who was going to do my surgery is "out of the office". So, I had to go through all this crap with the doc who will be doing my surgery.

In the end, I was sent home with hyromorphone and some sort of antihistimine to counteract any stomach upset or itchiness the hydromorphone will cause.

Other than that, nothing much is going on. I'm unbelievably tired all of a sudden.

[FairyChatMom]

Hi. I'm alive. And pooped. Woke up early, worked late, went to pick up my glasses and left in disgust after spending half an hour listening to some twit nattering on and on about her glasses, monopolizing the lady who fitted everyone's new glasses. There were 2 or 3 people ahead of me and I was starving. So I left. Maybe tomorrow?

We went to Salsa's for supper and I had their yummerrific shrimp and rice - one of my favorites from that place.

Gonna crochet tonight and try to go to bed early. That's all I've got.

Hi, kai!!

[eleanorigby]

Question: On my MacBook, I used to have a cute lil icon at the top with the volume icon, the time and date etc, that showed lines in an array (it told me that my wireless was up and running and that I had an internet connection).

It's gone. I've tried display and desktop and About My MacBook etc to no avail. Anyone know how to get my lil icon back? Clearly I am online, but I want to see my icon, dammit! Thanks.

And I'm sorry: I didn't read and won't be staying. I was in a computer class for 8 hours today and have more tomorrow and I am heartily sick of the computer. Have a good night, all.
:)

[Taters]

Nighty-night rigs!

[anyrose]

rigs - your best best is the Help section of Apple.com

[gardentraveler]

Hugs for LiLi. Hope everything calms down soon. Your midwife sounds excellent.

Not sure how to get your info back, rigs. Do you get any choices if you click on the area where they're usually displayed? They're probably something that needs to be checked that's currently unchecked.

I'm Catholic, but don't normally make it to Church until Ash Wednesday evening, so I'm not wandering around with a smudged forehead all day either. Ash stories (http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/show-us-your-ash-again/)and pictures over here (unfortunately, they haven't edited out the part of the article where they make the assumption that Catholics are the only ones who get ashes; at least there are comments pointing out this inaccuracy). Here's what mine looked like. (http://flickr.com/gp/shetravels4th/63NF9N) :D

I'm really tired too. Off to beddie bye.

Nitey nite, everyone!

GT

[dogbutler]

Home, tired, more tomorrow.

Some of those Crosses would turn out hyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!
That's so it's easy to spot the sinners in the congregation.:eek:;)

{{{{{LiLi}}}}}

{{{{{kai}}}}}

[gotpasswords]

Question: On my MacBook, I used to have a cute lil icon at the top with the volume icon, the time and date etc, that showed lines in an array (it told me that my wireless was up and running and that I had an internet connection).

It's gone. I've tried display and desktop and About My MacBook etc to no avail. Anyone know how to get my lil icon back? Clearly I am online, but I want to see my icon, dammit! Thanks.)
It's not super-intuitive, but fire up System Preferences, click on Network (in the Internet and Network band of icons) click on the AirPort icon on the left, then click "Show AirPort status in menu bar" at the bottom, and Apply.

Something amazing has happened today. After three months of forced overtime, we're finally caught up at work! I don't know what I'll do with all the extra time. (Last week, I worked just shy of 60 hours) I do know I'll miss the extra money, but I won't miss waking up early, getting home late and working on weekends.

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin'. *YAWN*

New Priest is a big asher. I had one hyuuuuuuuuuuge smudge on my forehead in the Sign of the Cross last night. I did not wash it off before beddy bye cause, IMO, it's supposed to fade off by itself. I have some remains of it right now but as soon as I shower, I shall have a spotless forehead again. The choir sang a very beautiful, moving, send chills up and down the spine choral version of Kyrie Eleison last night. I was amazed that eight people could make such beautiful music!

So, we have this list of self-led trainin' to do at work now. As usual, this is stuff that should have been goin' on all along. However, TPTB decided, again, as usual, to delay it until the last minute and run around like the sky is fallin' cause it's not done! Natch, it will be impossible, or next to impossible, to get it completed for 900+ people over the next three weeks. :rolleyes: Idjits!

Rumbly tummy demands to be fed now.

Happy Thursday Y'all!

[anyrose]

blurf
I owe, I owe, it's off to work etc

[ScareyFaerie]

I can haz blurf?

[eleanorigby]

It's not super-intuitive, but fire up System Preferences, click on Network (in the Internet and Network band of icons) click on the AirPort icon on the left, then click "Show AirPort status in menu bar" at the bottom, and Apply.


I love you. I knew there was a way to do this and that I had done it before. Thank you, thank you, thank you! What I don't understand is why it decided to disappear on its own.

I am up and off for another 8 hours of stuffy, windowless room learning. Gah.

Hugs to those who need them.

[Sticks and Scones]

Time for work!

:)

[VunderBob]

I love you.

I don't think you're his type. :p

Blurfage. Foraged and caffeinating part 2.

I got nuthin.

[dogbutler]

Up, caffeinated, off to work.

[ems]

Sunny and warm here in Italy!

I am stuffed I tell ya - not used to eating homemade ravioli at lunch time. Food gooooooooooooood :D

I did not sleep well last night at all the combination of the worlds smallest hotel room with worlds hardest bed did not make for a restful night. But hey I am in Italy and I get to party it up Rome style this weekend so life is not bad. :D

[Dolores Reborn]

Ugh.

I have a headache that won't go away.

{{{kai}}} and {{{LiLi}}}

I've read, but I'm not remembering much right now. Happy Lent? Is that even appropriate to say? I'm not very church-y.

I made some awesome minestrone soup night before last. I just had some for breakfast!

Minestrone in the Crockpot
(adapted from Robin Miller)

3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
2 small-to-medium chicken breasts, diced and sautéed (or any cooked chicken - raw would work, too, I suppose)
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can white (cannellini or navy) beans, rinsed and drained
handful of baby carrots, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
2 bay leaves
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups cooked ditalini pasta
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh or frozen spinach, defrosted
grated parmesan, for garnish (optional)

In a slow cooker, combine broth, chicken, tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, onion, thyme, sage, bay leaves, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 12 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.

Thirty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. (I actually transferred the soup into a large pot, as I wasa running out of room.) Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves and season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Serve with pasta in the bottom of the bowl, and garnish with grated parmesan.

[Tupug Anachi]

rebo, that soup sounds delish!

ems, I am soooooooooo jealous! I loved Rome! Have a gelato for me!

rigs, perhaps it disappeared during an auto update?

gt, that's one HUUUUUUUUUUGE ash! :D

I was raised Catholic and always felt very important getting ashes. And I loved Palm Sunday because it meant only one more week till we got CHOCOLATE!!!!

Still cold here. Coldest winter since 1958. That's half a century in case anybody was wonderin.

Off to the job boards.

Tupug

[gotpasswords]

I love you.
I don't think you're his type. :p
Pay for the service call, and it's all good. :p

Meanwhile, my neck and shoulder are killing me. Almost to the vicodin and Jack stage, so you know it's serious. Hopefully, it's just the cumulative effects of sitting in lousy chairs for so long at work, and will get better quickly.

[Mahna Mahna]

Rebo, great minds must think alike, because guess what I posted to my blog (http://messycook.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-soup-from-stone-winter.html) last night? :) Mine's a little different, of course, but that's the magic of minestrone... you're supposed to make it with whatever you've got kicking around the vegetable drawer.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I am sooooo jealous right now. I've been dying to go to Italy, but it's just so expensive compared to some of the other places I want to go... Too bad my company doesn't have an office in Rome they can send me to. :(

When's the surgery, Taters? Thinking lots and lots of good thoughts for you.

[Sticks and Scones]

GilaMonster is making croutons today and boy do I have garlic breath! :D

[kopek]

ruble - is that true or a whoosh?
Having grown up in a primarily Jewish neighborhood, it took a lot of will power to resist going up to my Christian co workers with a tissue saying "there's some schmootz on your foreheaad"


The "ashes from pancakes" thing? A joke ------- at least in most cases. The ashes are actually purchased through the Synod (in the case of us ELCAs) and are made from the burning of palm fronds under certain conditions I never fully understood.

However ------ since the pancake dinner is tradition, and tradition being Pastor cooks, and some Pastors being horrible cooks, my money says the joke may have been lived out in real life at some point in history.

[kopek]

That's so it's easy to spot the sinners in the congregation.:eek:;)



So that's why I always come out of that worship looking like Al Jolson! Whoda figured? :smack:

[anyrose]

Mid-morning blurfage

[Silver Tyger]

I may be a crazy person. I stayed up all night to work on homework and stuff. I got my room cleaned up and major progress done on my homework. Unfortunately it's not done. Between the super-drowsy times and an upset stomach, I couldn't focus for a while. But I should be able to finish in time. I hope.

I'm also afraid I'm getting sick. :(

I wish I could get caught up on my homework already.

[Nava]

I've been on a steady diet of tons of ibuprofen for the last two days, thanks to an achey tooth (the one with the crown) that's making my eyes and my ears hurt with it. I hate toothaches :(

*pushes down on LiLi's blood pressure*

Hugs, chocolate, pats on the back and gropes: to be distributed as needed.

[taxi78cab]

I've read, but I'm not remembering much right now. Happy Lent? Is that even appropriate to say? I'm not very church-y.
Not really... Lent is a time of repentance and reflection, a time to examine your life and to do something to try to be a better person. Traditionally, that means giving up something (not eating meat, not drinking, no caffeine, no chocolate, something tangible) to remind yourself of Christ's sacrifice. In non-traditional churches like mine, we're encouraged to do something more spiritual or more directly related to being a better person, e.g. doing devotions daily, praying more, not gossiping (for a whole 40 days!), serving at a soup kitchen, etc. I believe LiLi said she's going to do the Rosary daily. Something like that. So it's not really something to be "happy" about per se, although everything we do should be with a joyful spirit, so... that's where my theological explanation is going to end. :)

I missed Ash Wednesday service last night 'cause I assumed it was at 7 so we were sitting down to eat dinner at 6:30 (well, 6:29 technically) and I pulled up the church's website, and the service was at 6:30. Even if I'd wanted to run out on my dinner, the church is ~10 miles away so by the time I would have put on boots, coat, etc., gotten into my car and driven there, the service would have been half over. Who schedules a service at 6:30??

My company's name is changing today. No other changes. Just we started as one company, created a second company while retaining the first's name for the umbrella company, and now they want to be able to add more companies without having them all associated with the first. So a new name for the umbrella company. It was weird to come back from lunch to a new sign on the building.

[swampbear]

I never knew taxi works for a place that makes umbrellas. Umbrella Company, what a catchy name! :D

Howdy Y'all! Three down and two to go! WOOHOO!!!

Tonight's dindin is all about leftovers. Thus it shall be a little bit of left over sketties and leftover veggie soup. If that ain't enough sammich makeage can be done. It's Lent. We're supposed to suffer. :p

Ok, Ima go check out other stuff.

Later Y'all!

ETA: First on Four!

[Mahna Mahna]

My iPhone just reminded me that I have a dentist appt after work today. Boooooo.

Worse yet, I have to swing by a neighbourhood bakery on the way, because I'm featuring them in my next piece for the food website and want to do a brief interview with the owner. My definition of hell is taking photos of delicious baked goods when I'm not allowed to eat anything sugary. :(

taxi, I've been through several rebrandings in my seven years with MegaCorp. Definitely a disorienting experience. :P

[eleanorigby]

Um, so the instructor today said (when I asked a question in front of the group), "You are competing with me and you need to stop." :confused: I don't see how, since I have no knowledge base and was not trying to teach, but to learn(?). My questions were content based, "if I input x, does another drop down menu appear to allow for stats?"--stuff like that.

Yeah--whatever. :rolleyes: I didn't think I should confront her (we all just wanted to go to lunch by then), but I must have looked like she'd hit me with a wet trout. I stammered an apology (which I wish I hadn't now--I mean, WTH?), and I didn't say another word all day.

I got so bored in class that I started doing my Fred and Barney. (I don't know why it's called Fred and Barney, but it's all continuing ed like hand hygiene, fire safety etc). I figure I'll eventually learn the damned computer charting because I will have to, but I am too tired and brain dead to learn today.


I am now coloring my hair and eating chocolate. I will say she hurt my feelings--I was asking questions and engaged in learning. Bah. What a stupid thing to have ruin my day. So I won't let it. But (of course) I had to come in here and whine about it!

[Sticks and Scones]

What a rotten and insecure individual, rigs!

It's almost time to go to water aerobics. I took a little nap and when I woke up I found that my cousin can't make it...... again. For the fourth time. Well, at least I will make it. I did shallow water instead of deep on Tuesday and it was alot of fun and didn't make me sick. Hopefully the trend will continue.

See you all later!!!

:D

[eleanorigby]

Water aerobics sounds like fun--and quite a workout (all that resistance). Go!



It's 4pm and feels like midnoc. That's what getting up at 0530 does to me. One more day before the weekend. Yay!

TH got some very good news today re a deal he is putting together involving wind energy. So, picking out my refrigerator box for retirement may be premature... Let's hope it pans out.


I have nothing to say and nothing to do while I wait for my hair to dry.

[FairyChatMom]

rigs - my daughter is taking a class and she comes home complaining what a lousy instructor she has, and she critisizes specifics for a teacher's point of view. Makes me giggle. But your instructor sounds like a real butthead! I probably would have said something snarky like "What? I'm not allowed to ask questions??" But that's just me.

Home and exhausted. I worked another 1.5 OT today. I'll be so glad when this idiot project is posted. Next week... <fingers crossed>

Glad tomorrow's Firday. Gotta cook supper now. Maybe I'll post later.

[swampbear]

rigs my guess is you asked a question she didn't have the answer to. *Gasp* I ended a sentence with a preposition! Why on earth would I do that for?

Anywho, just think of it like this. She probably has no chawklit to go home to like you did so you got the better deal. :D

I'm ready to go to bed too. Then again I was awake at a quarter of four this am.

[anyrose]

We have Yom Kippur - sometimes affectionately called "Instant Lent"

[eleanorigby]

Thanks, all. I am just so :confused: about the whole thing. What an odd comment. Up until then, I had thought she was a good instructor. Now I just think she's a jerk. She is also a software person, NOT a nurse, so she doesn't understand when we (RNs) ask how or why or what else can this particular bit of the program do--because we know what needs to be charted/recorded/assessed etc. And lemme tell ya-some of the stuff in this program is just bone-headed stupid. For example:

This is charting/documentation software. It will replace (most of) the chart. It will be used on all units and departments. So, you might wonder why the following exist:

1. There is no diaper choice--not for infants, not for adults. Not in the intake and output menu, not in the "devices" menu, not in the patient care menu. We are told to use "stool" for diaper. This makes no sense logically or legally. Babies don't continually poop (it just seems like it), nor do incontinent old people (ditto).

2. A foley is a Foley is a Foley. Nope--here it's an "indwelling catheter". Yes, Foley is indeed a brand-name, but like Kleenex or Band-Aid, it has become the thing itself. There is no trademark or whatever infringement to using the term Foley. And yet, that option is not available.

3. Anatomical terms for injection sites: spotty at best. "Left hip" doesn't do it, legally. Any RN could tell you that.

4. Height and weight input at admission does not automatically load into other portions of the program. So, if you have a weight based drug (say an IV drip), you have to RE-enter the damned weight. This is duplicating effort and is stupid. What makes more sense is for the original weight to do that (auto-load throughout the program) and then any NEW weights must be input.

5. Medication Reconciliation just makes no sense. The concept makes a great deal of sense. The notion that we need or want a text box to input "white pill, doctors says for my heart" is a big No-No. If the pt does not know his meds, we are to obtain the pharmacy phone and call them for a list of current ones. "Little white pill, doctor says for my heart" has no place in the chart EXCEPT under pt education--meds. Oh, and a text box for the pharm name and number? Not on the same menu as the med recon (it is now, on paper, but not in the computer). ARGH!

I could go on, but there is so much...

[taxi78cab]

I never knew taxi works for a place that makes umbrellas. Umbrella Company, what a catchy name! :D
Free umbrellas for everyone!

KT's grandmother passed away last night. It was not unexpected. By the time I met her more than three years ago, she was already unresponsive in a nursing home. But his mom is pretty upset. (It's her mother.) So hugs for KT's family would be appreciated.

[anyrose]

{{{{{{{{{KT & fam}}}}}}}}}}

[gardentraveler]

Sounds like the instructor is new, rigs. Probably has potential, but is way insecure. Also, that software sounds like it was designed without user input. So sorry.

Sorry about KT's grandmother, taxi. Hugs and prayers headed their way.

...What I don't understand is why it decided to disappear on its own....I think gremlins come pre-installed. My iBook periodically has its sound muted for no apparent reason and the only way to fix it is to go into System Preferences. It's a wonderful machine otherwise, but the sound...very odd.

Added the minestrone to the blog. Yum. I like what you've done with your blog, Muppet; and your minestrone sounds yum as well.

Yep, Lent is something like 40+ days of Yom Kippur or Ramadan Lite. The Catholics I run with are much more from the "do something special" school of thought. For some reason, Lent has become my favorite season, I think because it's a good excuse to focus on mental/spiritual clean-up for a pre-defined period of time. So for me, "Happy Lent" is quite appropriate. And with that, I'll shut up about Lent because I seem to be over-geeking on it.

Just had a yummy pita with refried beans, cheese, bacon, avocado, spinach and salsa. My favorite Mexican in East Lansing used to have something like this on its menu. It was one of my favorites. At least it's very easy to duplicate.

Off to declutter something.

Hugs.

GT

[Sticks and Scones]

Water aerobics was fun! I've enjoyed getting back into the swing of things this week.

{{KT and taxi}}

[Sticks and Scones]

Looking for egg roll wrapper recipe ideas... Here's my thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=552802).

Thanks!

Actually what I'm really looking for is new and non-boring ideas for Lent that are fairly simple. All thoughts appreciated.

[Taters]

taxi, I'm so sorry about KT's grandmother. Hugs to the family.

rigs, that instructor sounds like an insecure git. I tend to question things too, because I want to learn dammit, not because I'm trying to give someone a hard time. Besides, I'm an analyst, that's what we do, we question, research, and analyze.

I'm going to have hit the sack pretty soon. Before I do that, I need to shower with one of antiseptic sponges I was sent home with. Then, I have take another shower tomorrow morning with remaining sponge. Lucky me; I have to rise at 3:30 or 3:45 so we can be at the ambulatory surgery center at 6:00 am.

There isn't much else going on. I think I'm just too tired to think properly.

Hugs and smooches to all.

[Mahna Mahna]

Glad you like the blog, gt. :)

rigs, I'm always amazed at what kinds of flaws some software designers expect their users to live with. Of course, part of it probably has to do with the fact that I work in software development lifecycle, which means I'm usually the one yelling at the designer that no, it really is a big freakin' deal. :rolleyes:

Sorry to hear about KT's grandmother, taxi. It's tough to say goodbye, no matter how much it was expected. I'll be keeping them in my thoughts.

I have a clean bill of health from the dentist, accompanied by a stern lecture about my flossing habits. Glad that's over and done with... for the next four months, anyway.

[dogbutler]

Home from work, laundry going, Gordie is trying to gnaw Nelly's leg off.

{{{{{taxi and KT}}}}

So that's why I always come out of that worship looking like Al Jolson! Whoda figured? :smack:
Father just dumps the bucket on me and shouts, "UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!"

rigs, your instructor is a moron.

[Nava]

Um, so the instructor today said (when I asked a question in front of the group), "You are competing with me and you need to stop." :confused: I don't see how, since I have no knowledge base and was not trying to teach, but to learn(?). My questions were content based, "if I input x, does another drop down menu appear to allow for stats?"--stuff like that.

Must be related to those teachers and bosses of mine who reckoned I "questioned their authority." No, you moron, I'm asking questions, but you just managed to make me lose any respect I had for you.

The program defects (database defects actually) come from having had the design made from a theoretical standpoint, that is, with no input from actual nurses and without grabbing a pile of old charts This Big and seeing what data does actually get recorded. I don't know if they use that specific program any more, but my local SS doctors used to have this "medical history" program where it took 11 steps to record any illness. And if you were recording, for example, "arthritis on left knee" and "arthritis on hands," you had to do 22 steps, isn't that grand?




{{{{{{{{KTMom}}}}}}}}}

[ScareyFaerie]

I have read but not really retained. I had a bad dream last night which was quite disturbing in a very unpleasant way. I don't so much remember the finer details now but it has just left an uneasy feeling.

Yesterday we had snow...again....who did that? I wish it would stop, it is really annoying me now. We are forecast more snow today and over the weekend in bits and pieces so no real idea what to expect. I predict a quick run of grocery shopping tonight so that it is out of the way in case the blizzard descends.

(((((rigs))))), just 'cos.

(((((KT and family)))))

(((((Kai))))), am thinking quick dissolution thoughts for you too.

(((((LiLi))))) - hope the blood pressure sees sense and returns to normal soon.

rosie's sig to the rest of you!

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin'. *YAWN*

{{{KeithT&Family}}} I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

{{{Taters}}} prayers, hugs and good thoughts for the proceedure today.

Time to feed rumbly tummy then purtify for work.

Happy Firday Y'all!

[gardentraveler]

Hope everything goes well, Taters.

It's Firday!!!

Hugs to all.

GT

[Taters]

Thanks for the good wishes guys. I'll be leaving in about 40 minutes.

I couldn't sleep for shit last night. I think I got about two hours of sleep. I guess I'll sleep in surgery.;)

[Sticks and Scones]

Blurf!!!!

[Sticks and Scones]

I guess I killed the MMP!

GilaMonster just made 3 cakes using oil that had gone rancid. Total loss. But terribly funny to see her taste the cake and then nearly hurl afterwards. :p

[kopek]

Not really... Lent is a time of repentance and reflection, a time to examine your life and to do something to try to be a better person. Traditionally, that means giving up something (not eating meat, not drinking, no caffeine, no chocolate, something tangible) to remind yourself of Christ's sacrifice. In non-traditional churches like mine, we're encouraged to do something more spiritual or more directly related to being a better person, e.g. doing devotions daily, praying more, not gossiping (for a whole 40 days!), serving at a soup kitchen, etc. I believe LiLi said she's going to do the Rosary daily. Something like that. So it's not really something to be "happy" about per se, although everything we do should be with a joyful spirit, so... that's where my theological explanation is going to end. :)



Actually like 47 days although that brings in the fine points and theologians. Sundays and Feast Days don't count as they always belong to the Lord. The debate comes - do you need to fast (whatever you chose to give up) on Sundays and the like during Lent or are those like "free spaces" where you can grab a cup of High Test and a Snickers bar?

You are right on Lent traditionally being "not happy" but ----------- like a lot of things I am sort of odd man out there. Christmas to me is gloomy and Easter happy. Think of it this way ------ we were so screwed up as creations go that God had to be born and live as a man just to give us a chance at Heaven. How sad is that?

That He saw something in us during His time on earth, some glimmer of hope - that He so loved us all that He suffered the cross and died for us all, that is frikkin amazing. Now that is something to celebrate with great joy! Of course that puts the onus on us to deserve all that ------ but I think that may have been His intent anyway.

[dogbutler]

Up, caffeinated, off to work.

Good luck, Taters!

[anyrose]

zoom - no time to read, just had to share:POWEROUTAGE
>
>
>At my recent assault trial, Ioffered a plea of "Guilty
>with an explanation." The judge asked me what my
> explanation was, so Itoldmy story.
>
>
>
>"YourHonor," I said, "I had a mammogram appointment,
>which I actually kept. I wasmet with: 'Hi! I'm Belinda!' This perky
>clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her
> head to one side andcrooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this
> room right here, strip tothe waist, then slip on thisgown. Everything
> clear?'

I'm thinking,'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.' Belinda skipped away toprepare the chamber of horrors.
>
>
> With the rightsidefinished, Belinda flipped me(literally) to the left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can youstand on your tippy toesand lean in a tad so we can geteverything?' 'Fine', I answered. I wasfreezing, bruised, and outof air, so why not usethe remainingcirculation in my legs and neck and finish me off? Mybody was in a holdingpattern that defied gravity (with my other breastwedged between those two4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felta zap!
>
>
>
> Complete darkness and the power went off! 'Oh,maintenance is working. Betthey hit a snag.' Belinda said, and headed for the
> door. 'Excuse me! You'renot leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I
> shouted. Belinda kept goingand said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's
> wide open so you'll have theemergency hall lights. I'll be right back.'
>
>
> Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared. And that's
> exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance menExtraordinaire, found me ...Half-naked with part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the otherpart smashed betweenglass! After exchanging apolite 'Hi, how's it
> going' type greeting, Bubba (or possiblyEarl) asked, to my utter
> disbelief, if I knew the power was off. Trying todisguise my hysteria, I
> replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.' 'Youbet, takecare' Bubba replied and waved
> good-bye as though I'd beenstanding in the line at the grocery store.
>
>
>
> Two hours later, Belinda breezes inwearing asheepish grin. Making noattempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh Iam sooo sorry!' The
> power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went tolunch. Are we upset?'
>
>
>
> And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up
> between theclamps....."
>
>
>
> The judge could hardly contain her laughter as she said
> 'Case Dismissed!!'
>
>

Enjoy

[taxi78cab]

Thanks everybody. Fortunately the funeral got moved to Sunday instead of Monday so I won't miss some Important Stuff on Monday at work. Not that they Icouldn't do it without me, but it's stuff that I like to be involved in so I didn't really want to miss Monday. Which is probably not the stuff I should be thinking about when there's a funeral about to take place, but that's what the MMP is for, right?

[Sticks and Scones]

And so then I decided to try to burn the house down with a propane torch...

It's been a great morning. :rolleyes::p

[taxi78cab]

We aren't exactly talkative this week, are we?

[Silver Tyger]

We aren't exactly talkative this week, are we?

Nope.

I just can't get started today. I need to do laundry (desperately) and homework and I just feel like going back to bed. Despite sleeping until nearly 11.

On the other hand, the Paxil has kicked in. I spent most of yesterday barefoot and enjoying it immensely - I only put on shoes to go to the grocery store.

And I have sushi for lunch, just as soon as I get dressed.

[swampbear]

Howdy Y'all! I survived comin' home from work today. YAY! What? I passed six wrechs on the way home! :eek:

Still, at least I haven't attempted to burn da cave down, right CutiePie? :D

Dindin tonight is baked chicken, mac&cheese, steamed broccoli and carrots and bizkits. MMMMMMMM.......... I was in the mood for a real home cooked meal and this bein' a Firday in Lent I figured that means either fish or chicken. I chose chicken. Can't wait! Da cave smells nummy!

[FairyChatMom]

Home on time today. And tired. And glad my work week is over.

Sloppy joes for supper. Crocheting for the evening. Such goes my day.

Time to feed the doggehs!

♥♥♥MWAH!!!♥♥♥

[swampbear]

I take the mac&cheese out of the oven in five minutes. Five, long, tortuous minutes! I's hongreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gotpasswords]

Tacos for dinner tonight, and I seem to be getting sick. My nose is running enough to qualify for a marathon, and one eye is achy and stinging.

Ugh.

[FairyChatMom]

Sloppy joes are yum! I'm chewing on my second one as I type this.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[taxi78cab]

We're having pizza from a gourmet take-n-bake place tonight. It will be teh YUM.

[swampbear]

Feel better soon gotti!

Da bear has feasted. NUM! I done good!:D

[gardentraveler]

We are, indeed, quiet this week. Hope everything survived the rest of your day, Pie.

I'm having pita with beans and fixins again. And maybe an orange or something.

Gotta find something to celebrate little brother's birthday. I know he really likes the hot cross buns that my local grocery makes, so I'm hoping to get some for him. We'll probably have brownies as well. Not sure what to get him for a present, though. Maybe another movie.

Got your card today, STG. Very cute. Loved the quotes, too.

Back later.

GT

[gardentraveler]

Bacon. (http://twitpic.com/146zam)

That is all.

[Sticks and Scones]

Actually, it was pretty scary. I'm terrified of the torch to begin with and we're lucky that in my moment of panic that I didn't catch me or GilaMonster on fire. I was working with it and a ball of fire erupted from the ended of it. I was so scared that I was thinking something like 'water quenches fire' and I moved it over to the sink. Well, that would have been ok in the kitchen, but the I was in the basement standing next to the plastic utility sink. Fortunately, the flame died down before anything bad happened. TVMan, genius that he is :D, suggested something that will make things much easier the next time that I have to fire up the torch. It will be alot safer and I'll feel much more comfortable using it the way that he suggested. After I've spiffed up my pendant a little bit tomorrow, I'll take a picture and post it here so everyone can see the reason that I'm trying to burn the place down. :p

ETA: Tonight I'm working with sculpey. The only danger there is maybe carpal tunnel. :D

[kopek]

zoom - no time to read, just had to share:Enjoy



This reminds me of something that happened to me once years back. I was having some chest pains so I went to the ER to get checked out; this was long after my initial problems and survival being important to me I take things like this serious. Little things in my blood chemistry were a bit funky and some of the beats a bit off so the Doc came in and said "We want to do a chemical stress test on you. Things are such that if we do the wrong thing we could make your condition worse and that test will give us the information we need. I have to warn you that there is some danger and ------ well, it doesn't hurt. But most folks relate the sensation to dieing. There is this massive heavy feeling in your chest. We counteract all that right away - it all comes down to timing. But we have a good team here, we know you as a patient from times you've been here before, and we only need to do it once."

Well, Doc, you sold me. This was Divine Providence, my usual hospital before it sold out to the local health care giant, and I always had great luck with them. I am not stretching things to say they saved my hide a time or three over my years here.

So they bring in this machine, set these IVs up, and they have this whole team with needles and wires and stuff. They go through a couple "dry runs" just to be sure. They are set and ready to go.

"One" and the Doc shoots something in the IV
"Two" and this hand grabs my chest
"Three" and this elephant sits on the hand grabbing my chest
"four" someone says "aw shit"
"Five" and someone chases the elephant away and I'm feeling a little better except for --------

"Hey Doc ----- I can't speak for other patients but to me that Aw Shit didn't sound like something I wanted to hear!!!!!!"

And the Doc comes next to me and says "Small problem. We forgot to reset the machine properly and none of the information we got is any good. Remember how I said you would only have to go through this once? Do you think you could handle it a second time?"

Silly me, I did. And it was even worse knowing what was coming. But it got them the data they needed and I got released the next day knowing what I needed to avoid further visits. So all in all it worked. But that second round, with the doctor having her throat so close to my hand, I was sorely tempted.

[anyrose]

so? where are all the mumpers from the other side of the world?

[Dottygumdrop]

Sleeping in and then trying to wrangle an almost-3-year-old away from washing everything in sight in the bathroom sink, that's where!

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin'. *YAWN* It's my Firday!!! YAY!!!

Dotty at least HRH is clean.

Ruble "aw shit!" should become a part of every doctor's bedside manner, IMO. :D

Ok, so this comin' Firday is the first of our "fish and chips" suppers at church. No worries, I got it all under control. I got the fish lined up (catfish fillets) and fries and slaw are no biggie. So, I get an email from one of my co-parishoners askin' if we will have baked fish because she only eats baked fish. I politely wrote back explaining that "fish and chips" means fried fish and french fries cause, well, that's what it is and that if she needs a special order perhaps this is not something she should consider participating in. What I wanted to write was, "Toots, you are sol on this. This ain't no short order cafe we're runnin' here." :rolleyes:

On the other hand, it looks like we have around forty people signed up so far, which ain't bad for our lil' old church.

Happy Saturday Y'all!

[ScareyFaerie]

Morning all, it's Caturday! Last night was uneventful, we didn't go out with our friend and thereby avoided any risk of meeting her Cheating Bar-Steward. We went grocery shopping instead. We usually buy a bag of meat offcuts from the deli counter because they make excellent treats for the cats, yesterday I found a pack of salmon trimmings for 24p in the chiller cabinet by the fishmonger. I think we are about to have some very spoilt moggies in the house!

Today I have to go into town to do the usual errands, I shall probably spend a bit of time playing on the Wii later and it's my turn to cook tonight so I need to find something exciting to do.

The cats have been fed and have retired back to bed, I'm faffing about doing very little at the moment...guess I should consider getting dressed and doing something productive. Drinking tea, that's productive!

[Sticks and Scones]

Ok, so this comin' Firday is the first of our "fish and chips" suppers at church. No worries, I got it all under control. I got the fish lined up (catfish fillets) and fries and slaw are no biggie. So, I get an email from one of my co-parishoners askin' if we will have baked fish because she only eats baked fish. I politely wrote back explaining that "fish and chips" means fried fish and french fries cause, well, that's what it is and that if she needs a special order perhaps this is not something she should consider participating in. What I wanted to write was, "Toots, you are sol on this. This ain't no short order cafe we're runnin' here." :rolleyes:


Welcome to my life! :D

Not quite awake yet. Back later with more coherency. :p

[gardentraveler]

Oooh, that sounds scary, Pie. Glad TVMan came up with somehting safer.

Awake at unreasonable hour. Off to a lecture in a bit, then to work for a little bit, then to little brother's.

Might not be back till tomorrow.

Happy weekend everyone!

GT

[Tupug Anachi]

Warming up here abouts! Yay! That is all.

[FairyChatMom]

Gooooooood morning!! When I took the doggehs out last night, I noticed the gutter in the back has pulled away from the house over the dining room and the master bath. Good thing we're getting new gutters and stuff. In fact, our contractor is on his way over now to write the contract and he's bringing his window guy to measure our windows. Dunno when they'll be able to do the work, as we still have a foot of snow on the roof (thanks to a well-insulated attic.) But today, we're going to write him a deposit check. At breakfast today, we picked out the colors for the siding and the roof.

So yay!

I'm hoping to finish my current afghan today so I can take 4 to Mom tomorrow. That'll be 4 kids getting a warm gift. Which is good. And Mom has more yarn for me, so I can keep knitting/crocheting. Which means more kidlet afghans. And on and on.

We're promised a week of temps above 40, and near or above freezing at night. With luck, the evil white stuff will start melting in earnest. <fingers crossed>

Plus I get to do laundry today - will the fun never end??

:D

Happy Saturday!

[FairyChatMom]

Oh, forgot to share - we've got another fish - a spiny box puffer fish. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dgWuPrMiFs) Ours moves a bit more frenetically than the one in the video, and he's a bit nervous. FCD came around the corner and startled the fish who puffed up for a second, then deflated.

Our aquarium is getting really interesting...

[Taters]

Good morning everyone.

The surgery went well yesterday and I was home before noon.

The anesthesia didn't make me sick, thank goodness. They really gave me some good stuff this time to counteract that particular issue.

Once I got home, I spent the day lounging in our big chair with my feet elevated on the ottoman. I watched a TV and dozed off and on all day.

I'm not currently in any pain and I hope that keeps up.

I read, but couldn't retain much.

Hugs and kisses to all.

[Silver Tyger]

Got your card today, STG. Very cute. Loved the quotes, too.


Yay!

I'm just on long enough to finish copying music to my mp3 player, then I'm off to a meeting with my RenFaire Guild. I'm probably slightly nuts to go, since it's about two and half hours from here, but I don't care! :p

[FairyChatMom]

Yay for a good surgery, Taters! Enjoy your slug time - goodness knows the wimmenfolk of the world don't get near enough!

Contractor and window measuring guys have come and gone. We added a window and a solar tube to our order and due to the size of our contract, the guy is giving us new fascia boards for free. So that'll save a few pennies.

The roofing can't be done till we have temps over 40, plus all the snow has to melt off. And nothing can be done until the windows are made, which will take 10-14 days. So with luck, some time in March it'll all start coming together. Yay! And once they start, it'll take less than 2 weeks to get it all done. I am very pleased! :D So's the contractor - this is his biggest order so far this year. He said mostly they're getting handy-man type calls.

FCD and daughter just left for JoAnn's and Lowe's - she's going to get some fabric and I don't know what he needs. I've got a load of jeans in the washer, and shortly, I'll assume the crochet position. I'm counting on a nice, relaxing day.

[VunderBob]

New fahr and rescue tale in the works. Obligatory tease: who knew the grim reaper can leave humor in his wake?

[anyrose]

facebook is having a bad day, my taxes are mostly complete (just waiting on some archived docs), and Peapod has come and gone. It must be nap time.

[eleanorigby]

A wonderful Saturday to you all! Taters--so glad it all went well. Now, 2 things from the MMP nurse:

1. Rest and take your pain pills. Don't wait for the pain to get "bad"--drug up.

2. That said, you had surgery; you're not sick. By all means laze around, but you can be dressed (if you want); get out of bed--and push fluids. Water, juice and clear (no caffeine) pop. No alcohol or driving for 24 hours. No alcohol while taking pain pills.

Ok, I'll shut up now.

Tonight is Turnabout (some of you may know this as Sadie Hawkins). #1 son is going with his GF, Megan. #2 son did as well as could be expected at his solo piece this morning. We're proud of him.

It is so nice out (warm), that I am tempted to go play in the snow or at least run errands. I have already foraged for food and made Heath Bar Cake, which is sinfully good warm with a cold glass of milk. Life is GOOD today--I like it when that happens. :)

[Taters]

rigs, I have to laugh. I have been pushing the liquids, just plain water, although I was a bad girl and did have two cups of coffee this morning.

I haven't been in my bed except to sleep. Yesterday, I just lounged around on the big chair and a half, although I did get up every hour or so to use the bathroom, or just to simply move.

I did not have any alcohol yesterday simply because I did take the pain pills. I haven't needed any pills today and am hoping I won't. They gave me hydromorphone. However, if I do feel any type of contant pain coming on, I'll be sure to take one. The 'script says to take one to two every four to six hours as needed for pain. I only took one at a time yesterday.

Finally, this evening we're supposed to go to some friends' house for a Dexter marathon. Don't worry; I'm not driving. My husband is. I've been very firmly told that I'll be ensconced on their double recliner and will not be doing anything other than watching Dexter. I will not be drinking any alcohol if I'm taking or have taken any pain pills today.

Today, since about 8:00 am, I've been sitting upright in my computer chair, faffing about on the 'net. I need to go take a shower now.

[swampbear]

Howdy Y'all! It's the weekstart! I have cold beer! Da bear's happy! :D

Taters glad the surgery went well. You were (and are still) in my thoughts and prayers. I say take it easy. Make Mr. Taters and son wait on you hand and foot. Call your daughter and make her feel guilty for not bein' there. Take advantage woman, this is gold! :D

Dindin tonight is smoked poke chops, field peas with snaps, nuked mac&cheese from last night and bizkits. I am on a bizkit binge right now. Need to stop that.

Oh, and it's seventy degrees Amurrkin outside. Gonna go soak in it some.

[Beware of Doug]

Must be related to those teachers and bosses of mine who reckoned I "questioned their authority." No, you moron, I'm asking questions, but you just managed to make me lose any respect I had for you.This is typically a blue-collar thing, but it carries over to a lot of occupations. The person with the knowledge is not just your teacher, but is assumed to be your superior because of seniority. If you ask a question s/he can't answer, it's not a "teachable moment"; you're just out of line.

Doesn't make it right, of course, but status is always going to be on some people's minds. Especially when they're defensive or have been made to feel inferior about it (which is endemic in the nursing field).

[Taters]

Howdy Y'all! It's the weekstart! I have cold beer! Da bear's happy! :D

Taters glad the surgery went well. You were (and are still) in my thoughts and prayers. I say take it easy. Make Mr. Taters and son wait on you hand and foot. Call your daughter and make her feel guilty for not bein' there. Take advantage woman, this is gold! :D

Dindin tonight is smoked poke chops, field peas with snaps, nuked mac&cheese from last night and bizkits. I am on a bizkit binge right now. Need to stop that.

Oh, and it's seventy degrees Amurrkin outside. Gonna go soak in it some.

Nah, can't run the invalid thing into the ground. I can tell the hubby is getting tired of it already. Besides, he did take quite good care of me. I wanted Pho and he went and got some. He was very solicitous of me and made sure I got anything I needed yesterday. I let him sleep in today. He was obviously very tired.

My son was at work yesterday evening and this morning. It's not like he can do anything from work. My daughter is coming to see me tomorrow, and, she asked, I didn't have to ask her.

I'm doing well. Really, I am. I'm pretty amazed actually. I feel "puffy" all over, but other than that I'm fine.

[VunderBob]

It was another night of ambulance duty, with two calls. The first was to a place I've written about before, the home of tightly wrapped Wilma and her hubby Wayne with COPD. When I told my first tale about them, they weren't exactly newlyweds, but the honeymoon wasn't over, either.

It is, now. Last night's call was for another episode of breathing problems, this time as the result of a domestic dispute related to an in-process divorce. They were fighting; she attacked him with car keys as a weapon, and his lungs swelled shut. We gave him a breathing treatment, patched up a couple of punctures on his arm, and transported. No big deal as far as storytelling.

It had been a long day for me, and I fell asleep at the keyboard while doing the report for Wilma and Wayne at roughly 11 PM; I went to bed. Around 3:30 AM was a page for an elderly man with difficulty breathing. We stumbled out to the bay, started up, and took off. About 2 miles down the road the dispatcher called back and said he quit breathing altogether.

Shit.

I went even faster, but this call was a long drive, and we weren't going to get there within the 5-minute window for saving a cardiac arrest. When we arrived, I did the technical stuff with the patient (no pulse, no lung sounds, no heart sounds, and the monitor showed a flat line that could have been drawn with a ruler) while Amy talked to the wife.

"Do you want us to start CPR? I have to tell you that at this point, it will be futile."

No was the answer, because he was terminally ill with asbestosis, and was about 1 month into a 6 month life expectancy. We have a long list of stuff to do with patient deaths, and the first is to talk to our medical control for a pronunciation, and second is get law enforcement on scene to determine the death is not suspicious. In practice last night, the order was reversed, but that's no big deal. To add to the excitement, there was a page for a second crew to go back to Wilma and Wayne's place because Wayne was having more problems.

Deputy Riley showed up after a significant delay. He was involved in a high-speed chase, and nailed the driver with a serious amount of drugs in his car. In the meantime, the wife was understandably having the mother of all panic attacks. She was trying to be helpful, go through the things to do and people to call, and have her crying time all in turn. Amy and I took her vitals because she was hyperventilating and having chest pains. We wound up putting her on her husband's oxygen to help calm her down, and then she requested that I bring her the tranquilizer prescription for her husband, and she took one of those, too.

Riley's job, once he determined the death to be non-suspicious, was to contact the doctor in charge, either the primary physician or the specialist, to sign the death certificate.

Riley: "Ma'am, who is the doctor in charge?"

Wife: "Dr. I. C. Spotts of Northside Family Medicine."

Me: "Their number is 934-3434. They'll have a service on right now." Amy and Riley both looked at me as if I had just pulled a live chicken out of my ass.

Riley: "How in hell did you know that?"

Me: "My doctor used to be part of that practice."

Riley: "Bob, every time I see you, you amaze me somehow." :D

About an hour after we arrived, the wife had calmed down considerably, and friends and family had gathered while we waited. Normally, the deputy would have custody of the deceased while waiting for the undertakers to arrive, but Riley had a date with the magistrate to arraign his drug dealer, so Amy and I waited instead. You could see the change in the wife, from panic attack to actually cracking some lame jokes while trying to conduct the sad business at hand. This was good, because I had counselled the preacher to consider taking her to a doctor for a Valium prescription.

Finally, around 5 AM, the funeral home people arrived, and Amy and I could leave. We both gave the wife hugs and sympathies, and the last thing I heard as we headed for the door was the wife saying to family members, "You know, these drugs work pretty good…" :D

[swampbear]

HEE BBBobbio! It's stuff like that that gets ya through the tough times, right? :D Great story!

Taters I take comfort in knowin' Mr. Taters was ever so helpful and that daughter is comin' on her own. I trust she shall show up with chawklits? You did request chawklits right? Surely you did! Everybody knows chawklit is needed at at time like this!

Ok, I was just out on the back porch and heard the liltin' strains of the ice cream truck. Tonight's little ditty is "Turkey In The Straw". I swear, the temp hits 60 and the ice cream truck emerges from hibernation!

Dindin was teh num! Those were some tender poke chops. The burly butcher up the road done a good job smokin' those chops!

[anyrose]

It was another night of ambulance duty, <snip> and the last thing I heard as we headed for the door was the wife saying to family members, "You know, these drugs work pretty good…" :DGotta love those drugs. And gotta love you, Bobbio, and your fellow rescue workers. And a hearty slap on the back for Deputy Riley

[Taters]

Hm, don't know if daughter will show up with chawklits or not. I didn't request them.

Besides, my mommy showed up with a box of dark chocolate brandy beans (the good ones) on Thursday night. I have yet to open them because I'm trying to be good.

My MiL just left. She brought me flowers and a card, along with a box of doughnuts. I had a chocolate bar. This trying to be good stuff sucks when people keep bringing forbidden food into the house.

It's funny how humor can strike folks at the oddest times. I try to deal with bad stuff with humor too. If I don't, well, I'll spiral into the deepest, dankest pits of despair.

[eleanorigby]

Hydromorphone is a gift from the gods, but it can make you constipated--another reason to push fluids.

I am going to see #1 son off with GF and take pics for Turnabout in about 30 minutes. When did he grow up? I know he's been in HS for awhile, but it truly hit me today that he is 18 and will very shortly be out of the house for college. :(


I was a pyromaniac this afternoon after errand running. I cut up part of the Xmas tree (in the backyard--we have a large yard with woods), put it in the open pit fire thingy on the deck and lighted it. Yeehaw! Cold wet pine burns like a mother! Then I shoveled the back deck of snow, just to stay outside in the thaw. It was so nice out today. And I bought an ironing board. I know how to LIVE. Such was my Saturday.

[swampbear]

Taters it's not too late to call daughter and request chawklit for her poor, suffering mother. See how easy that is! :D

rigs Burn! Baby! Burn! Plus a new ironing board to boot. How can you stand it all!

[Taters]

The only effect I noticed from the hydromorphone was sleepiness. I really don't know if was the antihistimine I took first to combat any nauseau, the hydromorphone or both, but really, all it did was make me sleepy.

I guess it killed the pain, but then I didn't let it build to serious levels before I popped the pills yesterday.

Still haven't needed any today.:)

The nurse told me that hydromorphone would constipate me, and that was one of the reasons I was drinking so much water.

Swampy, I'm going to let the daughter decide if she should bring me anything. Frankly, I'll just be happy to see her again. I miss her everyday.

[VunderBob]

The only effect I noticed from the hydromorphone was sleepiness. I really don't know if was the antihistimine I took first to combat any nauseau, the hydromorphone or both, but really, all it did was make me sleepy.

I guess it killed the pain, but then I didn't let it build to serious levels before I popped the pills yesterday.

Still haven't needed any today.:)

Just sleepy? If I took any kind of opiate and an antihistamine at the same time, I'd be out like a rock.

Don't get any ideas.

FWIW, with trauma or surgery not involving orthopedic issues, the worst days for pain are the first and 3rd. If you can get through tomorrow without a lot, you should be home-free.

[Taters]

Yep, just sleepy. I dozed for a bit here and there, but dozing consisted of short cat naps; basically 15 or 20 minute intervals of sleep followed by an hour or two of wakefulness, then another little catnap.

Frankly, I wish I could lie down right now, but we're getting ready to go. Somehow, I don't think I'll see much of Dexter tonight. I think I'll be napping more than anything, which is fine with me. Since it's my DVD set, I can watch it anytime.

[swampbear]

I remember gettin' liquid valium when I had a heart catherization. That was some fine stuff! I asked for some to go but they said not. Spoilsports! :D

ETA: That Bucket woman is on the teevee! :eek:

[anyrose]

it's quiet, . . . too quiet.

[kopek]

I'm saving a rant for some place in the next MMP. Lets just say we talked to a real estate agent about selling Muvvers house and we had a failure to communicate. Throttling at one point was an option but I was just too out of energy to hide a body or car or anything. But I do have a strong feeling I may need to fire her before we bother doing the "hire" thing.

Besides I so glad Taters is doing well that I want to save my voice for some praises I intend to sing in the morning ------- well, later this morning.

[kopek]

Ok, so this comin' Firday is the first of our "fish and chips" suppers at church. No worries, I got it all under control. I got the fish lined up (catfish fillets) and fries and slaw are no biggie. So, I get an email from one of my co-parishoners askin' if we will have baked fish because she only eats baked fish. I politely wrote back explaining that "fish and chips" means fried fish and french fries cause, well, that's what it is and that if she needs a special order perhaps this is not something she should consider participating in. What I wanted to write was, "Toots, you are sol on this. This ain't no short order cafe we're runnin' here." :rolleyes:

On the other hand, it looks like we have around forty people signed up so far, which ain't bad for our lil' old church.

Happy Saturday Y'all!

As a former Orthodox Catholic married to a former Roman Catholic, I know the ins and outs of Lenten fish dinners like the back of my hand. Just be sure to have two different people in charge of the cooking - one for the fish and one for the potatoes. And make sure each is clearly identified. Getting the Fish Friar confused with the Chip Monk is one of the main signs of the Apocalypse.

:D

(Ahhhhh, c'mon - someone had to say it!)

[Nava]

New fahr and rescue tale in the works. Obligatory tease: who knew the grim reaper can leave humor in his wake?

Anybody who's read Pterry, d'oh!

Tonight is Turnabout (some of you may know this as Sadie Hawkins).

*raises hand* in English for furriners, please?

*heal fast vibes* for Taters.




Middlebro, AKA The Proud Daddy, is having surgery for an inguinal hernia on Wednesday. The Kidlette, aka The Proud Daddy's Littlest Baby, has bronchopneumonia (sp?). Prayers and good thoughts bearing aspirin and un-crankiness will be welcome, please.

[Sticks and Scones]

Somehow I feel......... different today. ;) Bonus points if you can tell me (without Googling it) where my name came from.

I'm glad you're doing well, Taters!

And I hope that Doggio is doing well, too, since I had a dream last night that he had major abdominal surgery and that me and my family came to visit him. Unfortunately, his hospital room seemed to be in the middle of what looked like an elementary school classroom and he was surrounded by foods and craft items. :p

[Nava]

... will harden your bones?

[Sticks and Scones]

... will harden your bones?

Nope. Sorry. But thank you for playing! :D

ETA: Forgot to say hugs for Middlebro and Kidlette!

[ScareyFaerie]

So last night we made cocktails...lots of cocktails.

Today is my lazing about day, although I have a couple of very large Bramley apples that need to be cooked so I will have to decide what to make with them. I'm considering an apple sponge pudding because I have a craving for custard and nothing goes better with custard than some yummy pud.

It's not my turn to cook dinner tonight so other than cleaning the kitchen and making apple pud, I have very little else to do today. I think there will be a bit of Wii-playing later and a bit of reading, a soaky Lush bath and some general lazing about on the sofa. That sounds like a good Sunday to me. I'd better get on with it!

Glad the surgery went well, Taters, make the most of being waited on because us wimmins deserve it.

[tarragon918]

glad the surgery went well, Taters, and specially that you're recouperating fine. :)

Happy Sunday all. I'm going to make a beef stew today, I think, in the crock pot. It's still cold here (below freezing), so something warm that will stick to the ribs sounds just right. :) My cousin made Brunswick stew yesterday.

Not much else going on - everyone take care and have a relaxing day if possible.

[swampbear]

Good Mornin' Y'all! Up and caffienatin' on a beautiful but cool Sunday mornin'.

Nava prayers and healin' vibes headed out to Middlebro and Kidlette.

Ummmmmm....... sticks and scones are good with tea? :D

Ruble that was a bad pun. Bad! Bad! Bad Pun! I should know. It made me giggle like a roomful of six year old girls. :D

Herbs Brunswick Stew, YUM!!! I loves me some Brunswick Stew but don't like to make it cause the real thing is a whole lot of trouble to make. Sis has a cheat version that's pretty good though.

Today we sing The Great Litany (http://churches.kconline.com/all_saints/litany.htm) at church. This means Lent is for real now. The big long part where we say "We beseech thee to hear us good Lord" tickles me because, as I've mentioned before, in my mind the Good Lord says, "Alright! Enough! I hear ya already!" I imagine that being said (sung) in chant just like in The Great Litany. It amuses me. :D

-swampbear ( :D smilie abuser)

[dogbutler]

And I hope that Doggio is doing well, too, since I had a dream last night that he had major abdominal surgery and that me and my family came to visit him. Unfortunately, his hospital room seemed to be in the middle of what looked like an elementary school classroom and he was surrounded by foods and craft items. :p:dubious:
Who do people have such weird dreams about me?

Up, caffeinated, off to work.

[anyrose]

Somehow I feel......... different today. ;) Bonus points if you can tell me (without Googling it) where my name came from.

I'm glad you're doing well, Taters!

And I hope that Doggio is doing well, too, since I had a dream last night that he had major abdominal surgery and that me and my family came to visit him. Unfortunately, his hospital room seemed to be in the middle of what looked like an elementary school classroom and he was surrounded by foods and craft items. :p
Purple Pie? Is that you?

[Mahna Mahna]

Happy Sunday, everyone.

It's a gorgeous clear-sky sort of day here, which is somewhat annoying because I originally planned to spend the whole day doing housework... and I really hate being stuck indoors doing housework on a nice, sunny day. :mad:

Maybe I'll find an excuse to go for a short walk at some point, just so's I don't feel like I wasted the sunshine.

Awesome looking fish, Mooooooom. I've always thought of aquariums as being less interesting than some other kinds of pets, but you're definitely changing my mind with all the cool fishies you're showing off. :)

Glad to hear everything went well, Taters. Hope your recovery is speedy and uncomplicated.

Love the new monicker, Pie! (You know we'll still call you Pie, right? Which will confuse the hell out of everyone, because now you're named after an entirely different sort of baked good now...hehehehehe)

*whacks ruble with a wet trout for bad pun infractions*

K, time to get this day started. The sooner the cleaning is done, the sooner I can get outside and do fun stuff.

[Sticks and Scones]

:dubious:
Who do people have such weird dreams about me?

Up, caffeinated, off to work.

Good question.

I just woke up from a short nap where I had a weird dream about myself. I had a terrible rash that looked like chicken pox (only on one arm and one leg, though) and it went away when I took Benadryl.


I've been thinking about this and there's only one person that might have some idea of where my new name came from, but since Li-Li isn't around that much, I guess I'll have to tell you.

Sticks and Scones (http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780553578317.html) is the name of my favorite culinary mystery written by Diane Mott Davidson. It's set in an old medieval castle that is being converted to a conference center. Good book, good recipes!

[anyrose]

did the screenname change have anything to do with <<<<<EDITED>>>>>

[Lissla Lissar]

Blood pressure's up again. May spend a lot of time online with Attacks Husband's laptop. Am on sort-of bedrest for a while. Pthibbit.

[Taters]

Good morning everyone.

We had a very nice time at our friends' house last night. They made us dinner and drinks. After we ate, we all became comfortable on the couch, loveseat (both with recliners) and the recliner and sat back and watched season 3 of Dexter. That show is addicting. We just got home maybe 15 or 20 minutes ago.

As we drove home, I watched sunrise over Mt. Rainier. It was a beautiful sight.

My lovely daughter is coming down to visit today. It'll be nice to see her again. Although I'm getting somewhat used to her not being around on a daily basis, I miss her every day. I really miss her sharp little quips. She has a great sense of humor.

I had a couple of rough spots due to pain last night, but I did pop a pain pill and felt a little better after about 30 minutes or so.

Thanks again for all your good wishes. It's nice to know there's a great group of people out there that really do care. You all make me smile every day.

[Sticks and Scones]

Nah. I had been re-reading that book recently and thought that it would be a cool name. Besides, my history is always with me no matter what my name is.

Ok, just woke up from another nap. This time I dreamed that I went into the local shoe store and they had very few shoes, but had a bunch of old tvs on display.

[eleanorigby]

*raises hand* in English for furriners, please?



Turnabout aka Sadie Hawkin's is a dance (usually in mid-winter or very early spring) where the girls ask the guys, buy the tickets etc.

Here is a pic of #1 son and his date (and all the kids who went together):
Turnabout2010 ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/19350879@N07/4375900693/in/photostream/)


Here is a pic of #2 son with his clarinet yesterday:

#2son ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/19350879@N07/4375904683/)

and I hope Nephew and MiddleBro are doing well.

[ems]

Thoughts headed out to Nephew, MiddleBro and taxi & KeithT.

Rome was fantabulous - we had a great time. I am exhausted and headed for an early night.

Kisses to everyone! MWAH!

[Marley23]

did the screenname change have anything to do with <<<<<EDITED>>>>>

I've edited out part of this post for privacy reasons, anyrose. I think it would be better to keep this stuff off-board.

[swampbear]

CutiePie will I need to start callin' you Bizkit now? :D

I've had bbq from Sonny's BBQ, a nap and am now defilthyfyin' da cave. I'm on a break but gotta get back. Livin' room, dinin' room and study need defilthyfication still plus I need to vacuum and mop da cave.

[anyrose]

I've edited out part of this post for privacy reasons, anyrose. I think it would be better to keep this stuff off-board.
understood

CutiePie will I need to start callin' you Bizkit now? :Dthat's cute. I suggest Sticky

[Mahna Mahna]

It's been a productive day. Dishes have been washed, kitchen has been scrubbed, laundry has been done, house has been vacuumed, and there's a batch of chewy granola (http://yummysupper.blogspot.com/2010/02/chewy-granola-with-cranberries-and.html) in the oven that's smelling mighty fine.

Still need to finish writing my next article for the food website, process the photos of the bakery for said article, and maybe fit in a blog update about the Meyer lemon marmalade I made the other day. Oh, and make dinner and finish up some knitting.

Bedrest sounds kind of tempting right about now. :)

[Lissla Lissar]

It's lovely for about four hours. :D And then you start thinking about the laundry that needs putting away, and that no one's started dinner, and that you really need dark chocolate and there isn't any in the house... and that's when it stops being a fun fantasy of indolence.

Because no one around you will believe chocolate is medicinal.

[swampbear]

understood

that's cute. I suggest Sticky
We could call her StickyBizkit, or better yet, StickyBuns. :D

Da cave is officially defilthyfied. YAY!!! I's tahred. I think I deserve a cold beer.

[Sticks and Scones]

We could call her StickyBizkit, or better yet, StickyBuns. :D



Oh brother. :o


Just got home from TVLand a little bit ago. I worked some more on my jewelry (without the blowtorch:p). Actually, I was using the dremel this time. It's coming along nicely. When I get motivated to return to the car for the bolt cutters, I'll take a picture when it's closer to finished.

[FairyChatMom]

Hi, all!! Did ja miss me??

I was up till 11-ish last night sewing the strips of my last afghan together. Then when I got up this morning, I started adding the edging around it. We loaded the car and headed to Mom's and I finished the ruffled border just as we got to her exit off I-95. So I was able to give her 4 kidlet afghans.

We visited her for a while, then 11 of us went to lunch/dinner at a place near her house. Oh, was it gooooooooood! Daughter and I shared a portobello mushroom appetizer. I had grouper with vidalia onions and crab, and I finished with a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse between the layers. Man, I am stuffded still, but it was yummerrific. And it was nice to hang with various family members.

We just got home a little bit ago, and amazingly, no doggie pee or poo in the house. Yay.

I'm now reading the Sunday funnies before heading off to bed. I'm tired, and tomorrow I have the final project review for my project from hell. With luck, I'll finally get my glasses after work tomorrow. FCD will be gone till late Thursday.

It needs to be spring. I have spoken.

[swampbear]

It's been Springish the past two days here. Temps hovering around 70 degrees Amurrkin! Nice! Of course it ain't Spring yet so who knows what will happen. I do know the pine trees are getting that light green pollen tinge which means soon it will turn to yellow and then pine pollen everywhere. ICK!

StickyBuns whassamatter, don't like your new name? :p

So, who's up for tomorrow?