SCL, I’m sorry.
So sorry, SCL. Wish there was something I could do. Good thoughts and hugs headed your way.
GT
SCL that’s always the worst night, when you KNOW it’s the last one.
Damn Hazel that’s really tough. I hope you are feeliing better.
TWife got really down on Sunday and I spent the time after I got back from golf holding and comforting her. She goes through this sometimes, when she gets down. At first, she would really spiral – start to get depressed, then would feel bad about herself, then she’d start thinking that I would now longer love her and in a short time she’s see herself divorced, without money a job or hope for the future. Kind of freaked me out the first time when she was pregnant, which also had her trying to figure how to raise a child with no husband, money or hope for the future, but I’ve since learned how to head it off at the pass.
I started to get really down on Monday (a delayed reaction, TWife says that it’s because I’m bigger so it takes longer for the emotions to hit) which lasted for a could of days. I had a kind of weird session with my counselor, but may have gotten something else cleared up.
TWife is going to take up golf! I’m excited since it will give us another sport to do together. 
Oh, SCL, I’m so sorry. She’s a beautiful cat. Hugs.
TokyoPlayer, you and your wife have always impressed me with the lovingness and mutual support of your marriage. I’m glad she’s feeling better, and I’m glad she’s going to take up golf. Even thought I think it’s boring.
So, you know how when you’re unemployed, you lose track of time? And how sometimes you don’t visit the board as much as you did when you were sitting at work, looking for ways to appear busy? Yeah … um … guilty. But then you have wonderful friends like Mika and Rosie who remind you that the little people that live inside your computer might think you’re dead, and maybe you should check in.
And so … checking in. 
Newton’s First Law has kept me on the couch. A body unemployed stays at rest. Between semi-fanatic cleaning sprees, job interviews, trips to the dog park, and my mother’s insistence that I take up needlepoint so she has someone to talk to about it, I honestly hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I’d posted in the MMP.
Anyhow, the quick summup–still unemployed. I’ve registered with a million temp agencies (well, okay, five) and have been on about a gazillion interviews, but for some reason people just don’t want to hire me. I don’t even have a giant zit or announce my fervent belief in leprechauns and Scientology at interviews or anything, I’m just not getting jobs. My unemployment runs out in another month or so, and I’ve got a line on something that I may or may not get. My subscription to the Dope is paid up till April, though, so I have no excuse.
Roomie had her two murderous month-long sinus infections followed by an infected tooth, a root canal, an infected root canal, and a second root canal on the infected tooth behind the infected root canal–and lost her job today because of it. She had been out on disability, but none of her doctors would sign the return to work forms (GP says the ENT has to sign it, ENT says it’s not a chronic condition, so the GP has to sign it, and endodotist says that her employers are tools and she’s better off working for somebody else who doesn’t send her home when the only thing she can’t do is talk). So, her company let her go, effective today. Which is actually good news, because now she can collect unemployment, too. For the past two months, we’ve both been surviving (well, all six of us have been surviving, once you count the pets) on my lousy $275 a week from the state, but today we splurged on some celebratory ice cream.
But the dog is healthy and well-fed, at least. Belated happy birthdays and hugs and congrats and awws and everything else, and I promise I’ll be back more often. Except Roomie suggested that tomorrow be Star Wars Day (which is totally out of character for her, as she really kinda hates Star Wars–I think it’s her way of thanking me for not euthanizing her at any point in the last three months), so I probably won’t be back till Monday.
I’m really parenthetical tonight. And not entirely sober. Sorry about the rambling. But I missed you guys!
I’m so sorry about Gwen, SCL. She’s a beautiful girl, and I know she’s well loved. Pet her for me if she’ll let you!
Good to see you back, Drae, we’ve missed you! Sorry about all the (un)employment problems. A friend of mine had a t-shirt that sums it up so well: “I know that when God closes one door, He opens another…but man, these hallways are a bitch!” Here’s hoping you’ll both end up with terrific, wonderful, well-paying jobs with short hours and high benefits that you absolutely love!
I’m not surprised you and TWife go through emotional ups and downs, TPlay – you guys have really had a lot to deal with lately. It sounds like you do a wonderful job of supporting each other, though. Good on you.
Are you sure you can’t get on with USAA, FCM? I know they’ve changed the rules a lot in recent years; have you looked at them lately? It’s worth checking, anyway. But I’m glad you’ll find cheaper insurance; living in the boonies the way you do? $5500 is completely insane!
I was a bad girl, Swampy – I went in and put my feet up and watched TV with Alice this evening, and am just now getting back to my computer. But I’ll get it done, promise! I don’t want my face to freeze this way!
Hi Drae! It’s so nice to see you back. I’m sorry about all the unemployment woes. I hope something good turns up for you soon.
SCL, I’m sorry about your kitty. I’m thinking warm thoughts for you.
Mika! It’s so nice to see you again too!
A big hello to everyone else and a welcome to Someone Special. Have you noticed that we change everyone’s names in here. Well, except for mine. You can’t really shorten it.
It was stunningly beautiful outside today. Temps reached 92 degrees, which is damn hot for this area. The hubby met our neighbor to go out on his new boat at one of our favorite local lakes. They all had a blast. I, of course, was slaving away at work, mumbling in envy.
I grilled beef kabobs for chop-chop tonight, and made a tossed salad to go with them. My husband probably didn’t like the fact there wasn’t any sort of starch, but I didn’t feel like dealing with it today.
Nothing much else going on here in TaterLand. This coming weekend looks to be a busy one. We’re supposed to go to my Dad’s so we can meet my sister’s new sweetie and see my Dad and step-mother’s new place. My daughter has kind of thrown a wrench in the plans, though. She informed me today, that I need to take her to one of the local community college libraries so she can work on her junior project with her group. I’m supposed to drop her off at noon, I guess. It’'ll all work out though.
Off to veg for a bit, I guess.
Spuds? ( ::rimshot :: )
Another morning in the Holy Land… had to take The Wife’s car in for an oil change; these new-fangled machines now tell you when they’re thirsty for clean, new oil! $85, even under warranty :eek: Oh well.
Also dropped Special Teenager off early at school for a two-day trip. This isn’t even a big deal anymore… and next year she’s going to school in a top-notch (but boarding) school in Jerusalem. At least in this country “a whole other city” is a 45 minute drive away, so it’s not like going from Boston to LA or even NYC. Oh well, again.
TPlay – I’ve followed your travails in other threads; the two of you are holding up surprisingly well, I think. And I’m sure sooner or later you’ll manage the parenthood bit, too! Good luck in any case.
Rosie (Hey, another name to play “color me” with. Woooo! :)) – Must have missed the week when you explained what happened; all I know is you’re in Physical Therapy for you knees, right? Sounds like you’re making great progress! Oh, colored names – how’s your day shaping up, Hazel?
SCL yes, it’s so hard knowing a cat is going. We had this happen to our previous cat – curled up under the bathroom sink to die. I picked him up, played with him a bit, made him a soft nest on his favorite couch, and left him there… 
[it was after midnight] Got up in the morning before anybody else so no-one else in the house would have to deal with seeing Zorro’s body. For the final time… oh, well.
No, I’m not usually this much of a downer. But I haven’t had any coffee yet and it’s almost 9 AM (and I’ve been up and about for ages, it seems)
Hope I didn’t wake up any of the US contingent this time 
Haze, have you emailed the consulate? I’ve been able to do things like get a Visa (which I really didn’t need, but the company’s lawyer was a leech) without setting foot in the place. And OTOH, sometimes you bring “all your papers” and they ask for the most amazingly imbecilic piece of paper - wait a minute, I’m trying to register to vote by mail and you want to see my last power bill? Proof of address… uh, riiiiight… uhm, it’s a shared house and the power bill’s not in my name, will phone bill work?
People who accuse bureaucrats of not being creative live in an alternate universe. Bureaucrats are terribly creative, just not in a helpful way.
SCL, I’m sorry about Gwen, she looks like a lovely cuddly cat too. Hope she lets you pet her again before she goes.
Nothing exciting happening here, I’m tired 'cos it was a late night after beerverages at the Newhampton where we had some Corvedale’s Secret Hop which went down far too well. Not enough sleep.
Need caffeine.
Oooh, look, a stranger. Hi Drae! Congrats on roomie’s layoff. Hope you both find something better very very soon. So, are there pics of the needlepoint?
Never realized that Taters didn’t have a nick - I guess because of the NOT thing. Spuds…I like it.
$85 for an oil change? Ouch.
I’m up, have sent a few e-mails and put a few things away. Gotta go make lunch and get ready for work. Oh, and water. There are scattered thunder showers in the forecast, but I no longer believe that those exist.
Is it Friday yet?
GT
You really should know better than this Tatas. 
TP you’re so great to hang in there with your wife when she’s down. Who knows, taking up golf together could be a great relaxin’ thing for the both of ya. Me, I never got the hang of it. Ok, I got the hang of it as in understandin’ what to do, I just never got into golf. I even bought clubs, shoes, the works. But no funny clown pants.
Howdy Drae! I’m still unemployed too but I’m hopin’ that ends soon. Here’s wishin’ roomie and you f-aaaaaa-bu-lous new jobs soon!
Snakes I’m so sorry about Gwen. May her passing be peaceful. She knows she’s loved and she had a great life.
{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} to SCL as I suspect you’ll need them this morning. Gwen had a good life and you were a great Mom to her. I’m so sorry for you, though. Give your brood extra pets and cuddles.
Hamsters duplicated my post, but the one below was the one I added a bit to!
I just had an email from 'im indoors. Nothing spectacular about that, he’s working at home today though. He said he was looking for a copy of his CV as his contract ends next month and he wanted to send it out to a few places. Except he said he was looking for it on my computer. Then he said he found a copy of my CV on there and read it, and now he’s going to email me some handy hints to improve it.
Err…and which one of us already has a permanent job?
Did I mention that I’m just a little bit peeved about it all?
Y’all have ever heard of chocolate con churros? Or chocolate a la taza, which is the same without the churros.
Nowadays (geroff my lawn!) the chocolate usually starts with powdered chocolate and milk; the traditional version starts with these tablets called chocolate a la piedra, rock chocolate. Rock because lemme tell you, that stuff is so tuff it makes granite call its lawyers.
I’d like to suggest getting some rock chocolate, hitting him over the head with it and then using any broken up pieces of chocolate to make chocolate a la taza…
…singing La Cucaracha, just to be complete. Of course, I’d probably run right back onto the plane!
Thank you all for welcoming me back. This place always feels like home.
SCL, I am sorry to hear about your kitty.
And yes! I (and rosie) nudged Drae into posting again.
I…well, we’re in the market for a new apartment. Yes, again. But this time we’re looking to upgrade.
We saw an apartment yesterday. Well I say apartment but it’s really the whole ground floor of a house! In a nice neighborhood (Guilderland for those in the know), on a shady side street, with even more gardening space, and she’s willing to knock off rent if we do the mowing/snowblowing. She has a mower and a snowblower. Washer/Dryer in the basement. Nice large kitchen. Private enclosed backyard.
The downside? Well the major downside is the landlady lives upstairs. Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing? She wants a lease of a year, which is fine with me - if we hate each other we can leave - but she seems to like us best of all the candidates she’s gotten.
Does anyone know what it’s like to live with your landlady? She is an older sort, around 50, and seems nice enough, and we are quiet - we don’t ever get drunk, no parties, rarely have people over after 9 PM, etc. (barring family). However we do stay up late, though we do it quietly.
Suggestions? Should we jump? It’s practically a single house! And I must admit, the commute is all reverse for us then.
G’mornin’! We got a heck of a rainstorm last night. Hail, too! No hail at my house, thankfully. I sure wish we could share the wealth though - some of y’all need it more than we do, that’s for sure.
Hello, Drae! Nice to see ya!
That would tick me off, too, BooFae.
Hey, Special One - Haze got her name from the Jimi Hendrix song - “Purple” Haze - get it? : nudges SO in the ribs:
Nothing much going on here at work, 'cept stuff I’m s’posed to be doing. I’d rather play. Is it Friday yet?
Jump. It sounds perfect, the thing you risk is that she has heavy feet or lots of kids, which it doesn’t sound like she does. The kids, not the feet I mean. (someone get me some coffee…)
We lived on the ground floor of a two-flat in the city for a while, and loved it. We got along with the landlord and he was always fixing things for us.