Good to know - I was thinking about ordering some. Now I won’t. Luckily, the automatic threader arm on my sewing machine works fine, since my eyes ain’t what they used to be.
Still nice and quiet here. I kept dozing off while playing a game on my tablet. Geezer nap! 
FCD is back with Higgs. She has at least 5 tumors on her and she’s got an appointment next Firday to have them removed. (To the tune of almost $1K!!!) The vet said 8 out of 10 of these types of tumors are benign, but the other 20% are really, really bad. So there’s something to look forward to. But she seems to be in better spirits at the moment.
Roxy is in her room singing to herself, Daughter is on her way here, and FCD just lay down for a nap. Not sure what I’ll make for supper.
Afternoon all. Was at the car place for over 3 hours, don’t know if it was lack of employees or taking on too many customers, but since I had my Sudoku and a book with me, I kept myself entertained. Came home and fixed a couple B_T’s (ran out of L) so both body and mind are happy. Also popped the heater on, only 67F today and I like warm houses.
Moooomm, hope Higgs is OK. And the Baltimore Aquarium is a neat place (but then, I like most any Aquarium).
Sari, been lucky not to have any car alarms go off here recently…would drive me nuts. And if the cops ever do catch someone ‘being funny’ like that…
shoe, great job on the rat-selling program. Do you offer discounts per dozen? And hope the IRS doesn’t take away your refund for being late.
talky, you can never have too much cake. Enjoy the soccer game (my season is done so I can stay inside now).
OK, need to do something…taking a nap is doing something, isn’t it…so all y’all take care.
Hi all.
Wednesday was actually a good day at work. Got to drive the train all day, which is my favorite thing to do. It’s also the highest-paying assignment, and our otherwise worthless union has negotiated double-and-a-half pay on holidays, so it was quite a lucrative shift. And my two favorite cow-orkers were helping out.
Still, I’m spending my weekend in a little bit of a funk and I can’t seem to shake it. Thinking about my family with Thanksgiving coming up, COVID is out of control again, still uncertain about the future of my job, blah, blah, blah. Trying to look on the bright side; I know I have it better than most.
FCM, sure hope the poochie’s tumors turn out to be benign.
Sari, there are some extremely loud motorcycles in my neighborhood. They roar down the street, and I think it’s a badge of honor to set off car alarms as they go by. Talk about annoying!
We’ve been to the aquarium many times over the years and we’ve always loved it. Roxy will go bat-crap crazy when we take her!
You and me both. Today’s appointment took so long, I was afraid she wasn’t coming home. But she seems to be in better spirits than she was this morning, if that means anything. We’ll know some days after the surgery if they got all the tumors out and what the prognosis is. Meanwhile, she’ll spend the day after in the car for the long ride to FL, which is probably for the best - she won’t be running around.
Roxy has gone home. I put the (I hope) thawed turkey back in the fridge till it goes in the smoker tomorrow. The sweatpants I ordered arrived - they’ll be laundered tomorrow, ready for lounging around the house. That’s been the rest of the excitement of my day.
Oh, and big ball of fire is in sky! 
Evening {{hugs}} all round, especially {{{Butters}}}
Irk… irked.
I had the obnoxious teenager class again; it’s so frustrating, some of them actually are there to learn, but the rest are so disruptive it’s almost impossible to talk to them as a group. They’re sort of OK if they’re doing something practical, but they’re bouncing off the walls inside, and the exam is written, so we have to do some theory- I can’t just let them go outside all the time. As a first proper class, with basically no training, it’s not ideal.
Anyway, it’s the weekend, so they’re Someone Else’s Problem until next week.
My other entertainment for the day was getting a somewhat demanding request to write a risk assessment from the new staff member (it’s not really my job- I sometimes do it to help out when it’s something I do myself, but it should be her own job) for using what turns out to be a fungicide banned in the country last year. She also sent an equally demanding request to the other tech asking him to get her some of the stuff, for next week (which would be my job not his, if it wasn’t, y’know… illegal) which would be stupidly short notice anyway. I haven’t actually spoken to her yet more than exchanging hellos.
The awkwardness gets somewhat dialled up by the fact that she’s the CEO’s wife.
This is going to require a very carefully crafted reply, I think…
Quite often - I’m a sucker for people asking nicely. (Hint.)
I’ll do five for $20 (they’re $5 ea. so that’s “buy 4, get 5th free”) or throw in extras on a big order. If I know someone is anxious to start breeding, I’ll go out of my way to find a suitable group that’s already got babies (throw in pups free).
Folks with kids who are clearly gonna half-spoil their feeder breeders anyway get the “good” groups: calm temperaments that are fun to watch.
By definition, that means I have not-so-good groups. (Hint.) Those go to asshole customers.
Pro tip: don’t be an asshole.
Mom, a thousand dollars for 5 tumors isn’t that bad. We had one tumor removed on Vinnie and it cost that much. He has a bunch more now, but he’s 13 now and the new vet said that schnauzers rarely live past 15, 
so unless they start to bother him it’s not imperative that they come out. 
We got up early and went to Costco this morning. It’s supposed to be seniors only for the first couple of hours there. We saw some people who were apparently too important to read the memo, but it was fairly empty, so no big.
And I got my Costco fruitcake, so it is officially the Holiday Season.
We also found out that the 1 unit per customer only applies to Charmin. Costco brand TP is as much as you want.
Came home and started raking leaves and such in the yard. Joy! I love yardwork, Not! got driven inside by rain. Oh Darn! 
So here I am. Wifey has gone to her office.
The bakery a couple blocks from our ‘big’ house closed last month, which makes us sad 'cause it was owned and operated by a good friend of ours. (and she made really good bagels) 
Anyway, we were walking by there yesterday and there was a sigh outside for an ‘equipment sale’, and our friend was there, so we went in. We scored some bench scrapers, and tong and things, and she sold me her electric knife sharpener for $5.00. 
Still wish she was staying though.
Words to live by. 
Howdy Y’all! This has been a day of much sloth for both of us. Much teevee bingin’ for OYKW and much play on the 'puter for me. We have supped and sloth continues.
Poor Higgs! Hope the surgery goes well for her. ::skritches::
Or to add, in Straight Dope terms: don’t be a jerk.
Covers just about everything.
Took my taxes to the Post Office, since they are Very Important Documents and I didn’t wanna just lick a stamp & hope for the best.
Good thing, too, since official postage was a bit more than a single stamp. (Less than two, which is what I woulda done if I’d rolled the dice & mailed from home.)
Made a phone call to confirm the process for getting my MMJ card. Expired driver’s license is a problem … but a current voter registration card (which I got, in the slimmest bare nick of time to do my part) is enough to save the day.
So imma talk with my former I.T. Guy this weekend to iron out $$ (since he’s payin’ for it - my Christmas gift) and OMG Dopers help me find a suitable gift in return!
Meanwhile, as a reward for accomplishing so many Adulting Tasks, I have some chicken thighs simmering for soup, and AIGS! BOILED AIGS! Been wanting deviled eggs for months - finally shook off enough depression to just go and boil the damn things.
Still need to peel the damn things, and mash up the filling (that’s the fun part!) but at least the initial step & barrier to entry is hurdled.
May I ask what digital entertainment fascinates the denizens of Casa Le Bear? I’m bored to death with my current choices.
I survived getting swallowed by the MRI monster. While I didn’t like the grogginess the Valium caused, it sure did help relax me. I took one just before leaving the house for the 1.3 mile walk to the facility), and halfway there I found I had to concentrate so I wasn’t weaving on the sidewalk. I don’t know how day drinkers do it. Anyway, tech gave me earplugs, and it only took 35 minutes, so not too bad. Doc will get the results today, so I’m guessing I’ll hear next week.
I thought I might go for another walk, but the wind picked up and it’s raining, so I may skip it. Or not. I don’t want to turn into a wuss.
Oh, and Amazon insists the USPS is going to keep trying to deliver the goods, even though they didn’t today. Until I get that attempted-delivery card, I can’t pick up anything at the PO.
VOW, the self-threading needles of 30 years ago must have been the Cadillac of needles. I’ve used the new-fangled ones for the past 12 years. I kept my mom and aunt supplied, too, as they were unfamiliar with the ways of da jungle. I haven’t had issues with the thread popping out, but then, I’ve only done a few hems and the occasional button. If this batch sucks, I’ll at least have the nice holder they come in to keep. 
shoe, I think you probably gave him a pretty great gift while you were down there.
nut: Good luck on the weather.
Hugs to Higgs!
FCD didn’t want supper, so I made a big salad and tossed in some leftover chicken. Then I had some fresh pineapple (YUMMMMM!) Probably some frozen yogurt later.
It’s a lazy evening here.
I have heat!! The furnace has been giving trouble for the last couple of years, and this year it just conked out. Thought it was the input box and replaced it, but…put it back on without grounding it by putting in the second mounting screw. :smack: Cost me $80, but the furnace guy inspected everything, replaced the wires that weren’t totally connected any more, and a few other tweaks. Well worth it to be sitting here in my shirtsleeves instead of sweats and a knit cap. The cats are quite happy as well.
Mrs. L.A. just made me suggested I make a fire, which I’ve done.
nellie, I wish that I lived closed enough to give you a ride when you needed it.
Happy belated birthday wordy.
{{{Higgs}}} I hope that her tumors are benign and that she’s back to her delightful self soon Moooooom.
I’m with you on the embroidery needles VOW. I’ve used them for quite a few years.
Happy Friday the 13th y’all!
Irked, came home, took Nelson to the dog park for about the last 15 minutes before dark and swung through the drive thru for a stoner special (a chili CB, a chorizo quesadilla, sweet potato fries and an iced tea). I’s tahred and am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
You guys. After months of a gnawin’ and a cravin’ and reading about everyone else’s deviled eggs, I finally shook off enough depression to make goddamn deviled eggs for myself.
They taste like victory.
{blushes modestly}
Ah, who’re we kidding? I’m sure he’d say I did.
I decided to use some of the leftover pork loin roast to make tacos. Seems like a good idea, right? I mean, the roast was a garlic/herb version and I just diced it up and added some chili seasoning while it was browning up in the pan. Added some sautéed peppers and onions and shoveled it into corn tortillas. It was. . .different. But not really in a good way. I can’t quite put my finger on it. . .maybe the corn torts were the culprit. Or perhaps these prepared roasts really aren’t all that tasty to begin with. Anyway, I’ve still got another half pound to figure out a use for.
We’re watching the British series “Last Tango in Halifax”. It’s sorta sappy in a Hallmark channel sort of way, but pretty harmless entertainment. And Derek Jacobi is always watchable. Also, we’re running out of things to watch after eight months of Covid.
Lady SCAdian and I have reached the end of the sixth season of Murdoch Mysteries. Two episodes at a time are enough for me (it’s been years since I last watched TV), so I go off to do something else for an hour or two and she goes back to re-watching Inspector Morse, After we finish Murdoch I want to have a look at Two’s Company, and there are several other old shows I’d like to watch, but they either are not available or will cost extra. I know some can be found on YouTube, but probably not complete runs. 
Another lazy day for me. I needed to get out and do stuff but just have no motivation. I received a life insurance check today. A very small one but I’ll take it. I didn’t even have to submit a death certificate which I don’t have yet. I need two to collect the life insurance from irk.
I spoke to the payroll lady for my a/c company. Hubs did get a regular paycheck automatically deposited every two weeks. She is going to continue those to the same account that I am a signatory on. Huge relief there. She’s also going to help me figure out the vendors payments. She has a checkbook for the business account but I don’t. She said she”d drop some off for me but I am not touching that business account. We get checks almost daily. I let them pile up until there are 5 or 6 and had them over to the new boss man to deposit.
Brian is a very hard worker and hubby trusted him completely so at this point it’s business as usual.for awhile anyway.
The memorial service is next weekend and hubby’s woodworker friend is building a box for the ashes. It will be a work of art.
The house payment was made from that account so that’s good too as I am not on that account. I spoke to hubby’s lawyer friend who told me to March into the bank as if I own it and give a copy of the death certificate to them. He said I could be on the account without having signed anything. There is enough money in there to make about 6 months of payments which gives me time to decide whether to pay it off and be broke or just continue with the payments.
So family will start arriving on Sunday🙁 which is really a vacation for them. Everyone has found a free place to stay except I get the 22 yr old granddaughter who has some emotional issues and a support dog.it will be interesting with Buddy the killer wawa mix and her catahoula service dog. Her issue is she is not the brainiac her brother is. He is almost finished with a dual doctorate in biology and astrophysics. The girl chose landscape design and is almost finished. Plus her mom says she smoke pot a lot. I don’t have a problem with that I just don’t want her smoking in my house or anywhere near me. Since she is not as ambitious as her brother I think they have labeled her. I told her mom she can come live with me and there are plenty of multimillion dollars homes here that need landscape design so a job shouldn’t be a problem. She would have to help out financially. No free ride here.