Stayed out way too late last night. The place we went to had a trivia game, so I got a gamepad and proceeded to kick ass. A guy at the bar were was giving me “how you doin’?” looks, so I had a conversation with him until his friend busted in on his game and I ended up having a conversation about movies with the friend.
I now know how much it takes for me to drink myself sober again: 4 drinks. I am such an alcoholic. By the second margarita I was toast so I switched to Bailey’s and came back to the land of sobriety. Hence no drnukne psots last night.
It looks like I’m going to have to spend my half-day off cleaning. This is why I hate working three weekends in a row. The house is a mess. I’m only taking care of my room, other people are going to clean the kitchen. They don’t know that yet, but they are.
LiLi, romance is highly overrated–what you have there is a smart man which is worth more than all the romance in the world!
Way to go, Pie! Well done!
Second opinion time, Rigs… How do you suddenly get told you have flat feet after seven years with the same doctor? Did he never notice until just now? Did they suddenly collapse? That’s dumb.
Well, I’m up and having a cold reality slap. Unfortunately, the business I’ve been trying to grow with my partner is not gonna make it right now–our financing blew up with this whole financial crunch and we can’t seem to make that next step on our own. So he’s going back to wrenching full time and we’re gonna hope that the next president makes more $$ available for green energy loans. This means I have about three weeks to get a job before the money runs out. This sucks. I keep waking up in the middle of the night in a panic, which I really hate. Any leads appreciated, because at the moment I’m even thinking of putting the van back into delivery–it would be spendy but less so for me than for someone else since the van runs on propane, which is going for about 75 cents less per gallon than gas at the moment. Any leads from PNW residents happily considered!
I’m also a little pissed that they can give away 700 billion for Wall Street, with another 100 billion tacked on for various giveaways to the corporate world but they won’t pass an unemployment benefit extension. Fucking rich bastards need to choke on it.
Way to go Cutie Pie. You are supremely awesome and entitled to much bragging, IMO.
Lili, at least you know you’re getting what you want and can use. That’s always a plus in my book. At least he didn’t have you buy them too…or maybe he just didn’t think of that…yet.
I feel your pain, I really do. My husband is currently starting up a biofuels company and getting funding has been really hard in this climate. Moving forward seems to going at a snail’s pace!
Quasi-Daughter not only has to buy her own Christmas presents (from her mother), she also has to wrap them and then act surprised on Christmas. It could be a lot worse. And I expect I’ll get something random and probably Asian. He’ll stop at a Chinese import store and fall in love with something. I hope it’s a cheong-sam. SmartiePants, I’m sorry.
I should get my sleeping baby up. We’re running over to work to take my sick co-worker (one of Nat’s favourite people) some cake.
The problem is it’s still too nice out for that kind of outfit. This weekend will be sunny and in the '60s, which is too cold for my summer clothes but too warm for boots and a turtleneck sweater dress. :rolleyes: I don’t really have fall dress-up clothes because generally I haven’t needed them. I have dress-up clothes for winter needs like Christmas parties, our anniversary, Valentine’s day, etc. And I have summer dress-up clothes for summer weddings and such. But up to now I haven’t needed not-too-dressy-but-not-work-clothes-but-not-too-casual fall attire.
Actually, I think I have my outfit picked out. I’ve got the knee-length denim skirt and a lavendar light-ish cable knit sweater. And I’ll put it with some pair of shoes or other. Should work well.
{{{Smartie}}} A coworker and a coworker’s son both just moved to Seattle (completely unrelated to each other) so it seems - at least from here - that the PNW’s economy can’t be too bad and that you should be able to find a job somewhere. Good luck. :: fingers crossed ::
Exciting news here: Southwest is (finally) coming to the Twin Cities! Yay! I loooooove SW and was very disappointed when I moved here that they weren’t here. So I’m really happy that they’ll be here starting in March. Yay!
I need to use up a voucher from a canceled flight from Northwest (aka almost-Delta) before February. I’m thinking about Charleston, SC, either for our anniversary in early December or sometime in January. Tell me about Charleston. What to see, where to go, what to eat, etc. And would Dec/Jan be a bad time to go? Remember I’m coming at this from the point of view of someone from the upper Midwest so it’s definitely going to be warmer there than here!
{{SmartiePants}} Sorry, no contacts in the PNW. Sending lots of good vibes your way, though.
{{Pie}} and {{Soapy}} More sympathy radiating in your direction as well.
Tough times all 'round, I think. I’ve got my fingers crossed that things stay relatively stable here… I’m thanking my lucky stars that I decided to take one more job as a full-time employee before making the switch to independent contract work… worst case, there will be a package to cushion the blow if things go horribly wrong.
LiLi, romantic gifts aren’t particularly useful. Chocolates make you fat and flowers die… but the Le Creuset that The Boy and I bought each other last Xmas makes delicious food over and over and over again - best gift ever, as far as I’m concerned, despite the fact that I paid for half of it.
Also, in random news, I had four vacation days I’d planned on carrying over to next year, but have now been ordered to book them ASAP. So I decided to interpret this in the most literal sense possible by taking tomorrow off. I do believe I shall do some gardening, assuming the weather cooperates. WHeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I have done this. I used to go shopping with my mom every day after Thanksgiving. (There was much complaining on my part re: crowds, early morning hours and shopping in general.) The good part was that I got stuff that I liked.
I was just surfing the NYTimes website and found this recipe for tuna risotto. In the last couple months, after looooooots of practice, I’m finally getting really good at risotto, and it seems serendipitous that a recipe for it just appeared. And that I have almost all of the ingredients on hand. I think it may be making an appearance on our dinner table sometime next week.
I like chocolate. Chocolate’s on the list. Not a box of chocolates, Green & Black’s chocolate bars.
I think the best Christmas present I’ve gotten in the past few years was the stand mixer. The best birthday present was the washer/dryer. Perfect. The worst are knicknacks. I hate knicknacks.
Pie a big well done for losing so much weight. I myself am trying to shift a good few pounds and I know how hard it is. Where do you buy your willpower? Im extremely short of it and cant seem to find it anywhere!
{{SmartiePants}} I know people saying not to worry doesnt help but Im going to say it anyway! Whats for you wont pass you by, perhaps theres something bigger out there for you or its just not the right time. One thing I do believe is that you will be ok and everything will come out in the wash (I think thats how the phrase goes!) Keep a postive attitute and just think how in their right mind wouldnt want you to work for them?!
My mother has given me the task of choosing what I want for my birthday. I cannot think of anthing, well except from a million pounds! Unfortunately my parents are not well off so I have to choose something less expensive! HELP!!!
I like Nigella’s Chocolate Microwave Pudding It’s a sponge pudding you cook in the microwave, it’s made of chocolate, butter, eggs, and double cream, and it takes fifteen minutes. I’ll post the recipe tonight.
I do believe I’ve decided on what to make for dinner tonight (though I think I’ll go with mushroom, or maybe ham and green peas in the risotto… I’m not in a tuna mood today).
See, this is why I love the Dope.
Jemmy, what sorts of things do you like, besides money? Magazine subscriptions are always a nice not-too-expensive gift to ask for, and they’re great because you get a nice surprise in the mailbox each month (anything that’s not a bill is a nice surprise in my books). Movie passes? Clothes? Books?
Im the worst person in world to buy for I swear! I already have a subscription to the only magazine i’ll read. Thats def a gift I will think about for others in the future though - thanks that is a really good idea. I dont read books, I’m extremely fussy about clothes and I dont go out to busy places like the cinema. I knwo I should get out more but I have major confidence issues. Everytime I’m out I feel like everyone is looking at me (and not in the good way!). Thanks for the suggestions though, its opened my eyes to things I should try and may find I could enjoy.
Lissla Lissar I look forward to seeing that receipe - it sounds yummy!
Delores R is right. I’ve never been sure whether I was a 14-16W on top or a LG-1XL. After a year at Wally world, my bottom half is either 10-12reg or something or other petite. (my work pants shrunk in both width & length. why?)
Things are currently quiet here at casa Phil. My husband’s at work, my daughter’s at school, and my son-in-law’s at his mom’s house, picking up Rex (his pet lizard). His mom informed him that since they were no longer living there, Rex would be on his own foodwise, so Rex is on his way over here.
My grandson, Angelboy is currently asleep on the couch.
I’m an inverate reader, & have always been a fan of Patrick McManus (of the outdoorsman comic short stories). I recently discovered that he’s written a series of murder mysteries. (I love murder mysteries, so what’s not to love?) I read The Blight Way. I plan on reading the rest of the series.
150g butter cut in pieces
250g dark chocolate (I usually use choc chips)
100 brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
125ml double cream
40g flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
double cream for serving
Butter a microwave-proof bowl with some of the butter. Grate or otherwise pulverize chocolate in a food processor, then, using the double-bladed knife thingy, add the rest of the butter, cut up, and then the sugar. Process it until it’s smooth. Add everything else, blitz until combined.
Pour into the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and nuke for five minutes, or until it’s set. Pirece the plastic with a knife, and put a plate on it for t5en minutes.
Thanks for the good thinkies, guys, it’s much appreciated… I sent off about four gazillion resumes to all kinds of weird jobs–it’s both my blessing and my curse that I’m a jack of all trades, mistress of none so I applied for truck driver/delivery jobs, warehouse work, clerical/secretarial jobs, dispatching, customer service, tech support and owner operator delivery contract places as well. I’m also thinking of putting in for 911 dispatcher, both Portland and Oregon City are taking apps right now. It’s a fuckload of work to get, though, but the pay and bennies are great. I’m pretty unflappable, I think I’d do well in 911. I’m applying for a lot of city and other gov’t jobs as well as in the health care industry because everything else is so goddamned unstable right now. Himself needs to get off his ass and get a regular dayjob as well–vacation is ovah!
Gah, I just want to drive a truck for a while, I’m tired of thinky jobs!
Both the risotto and chocolate pudding sound good. I’ve added them to the blog.
Pineapple kugel was yummy, by the way, Soapy.
Trying to remember why I know Patrick McManus. Have I read something by him??? Maybe they’ve read something by him on Selected Shorts? Or maybe he’s been on Only A Game? Read through a list of his books and nothing jumped out at me. Hmmm.
Sorry to hear about the job situation, Smartie. Good luck with the job hunting. Sounds to me like you’re applying in the right places.
Long day. Too many things going on; not enough time to do stuff. In short: the usual story.
Dinner was Cheerios with strawberries. Tres exciting. (The strawberries smelled good when I opened the fridge and it just seemed so simple…) Also, I’m munching on a few Wheat Thins. Apparently, they’re dessert.
Off to consider what to do with my evening. (And I really should go out to Facebook and find some of us Mumpers, Soapy, but I’m too tired tonight…)
