When I was a pre-adolescent/adolescent, I had a K-Bar knife. I don’t remember where I got it. It may have been given to me by my mom’s boyfriend at the time, an ex-Green Beret. I don’t know what happened to it.
Today in the mail I received a new one. It was hideously expensive ($83), and I have no use for it. But I’ve always liked the shape. It will remain unused somewhere with my Cold Steel Recon Tanto and Cold Steel SRK and my vintage (bought new but used back in the '80s) Gerber Mark II.
I was lying in bed, when it suddenly hit me: if there were fences, the snoopy HOA members couldn’t see each other’s yards and might miss all kinds of violations, like grass blades that aren’t regulation height or birds that aren’t regulation birds.
doggio, so sorry about your the loss of your sane aunt.
OK, back to bed.
Granted, I don’t live in that neighborhood, but my in-laws don’t seem to consider their rules to be all that bad. They don’t have to get permission to plant something or remove a shrub/tree/whatever. They’re not required to decorate or undecorate on any schedule, and they don’t care about yard art - some of the places have some gawd-awful displays of little statues and such. The one rule my FIL didn’t like - they don’t permit yard sheds, so he built an un-roofed enclosure in their back yard against the house to hold garden tools and such - for some reason, that was allowed.
They just don’t want the yards separated, and I’m sure it’s to keep people from putting 6’ privacy fences around their postage-stamp sized back yards. Anyway, they knew the rules before they bought the place and they accepted them…
Good morning, I guess. It’s cold out. FCD hardly slept - he’s in bed trying to get some sleep now. I woke at 5 and that was that. Not sure what’s on the agenda, but it’s not moving money yet. Some documents will be overnighted to us for signatures and notarizing and that might not happen till next week. No sense in losing any interest earned by yanking out the funds too early. Every little bit helps, right?
Long range forecast shows 70s again on Saturday - really?? So I’ll gather downed branches then - in fact, we’ll have 60s Thurs and Fri - I could do it then - we shall see. But nothing on the schedule for today. Maybe some laundry. Maybe I’ll push a mop around the kitchen. Maybe I’ll learn to yodel. Or not. We’ll see.
Happy Wednesday!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN 'Tis 49 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 74 and cloudy for the day. For reasons completely unknown (heh!) to me I did not post again yestiddy. This mornin; I shall deal with some church janitor JW duties and we shall lay in provisions for the week. Sup shall be what I said sup would be yestiddy as that did not happen. We decided we needed, needed, mind you, to go have N.O,L. at the not to shabby Chinese [s]hog trough[/] buffet place and thus were stuffded and did not need a big sup.
I see that I was remiss, and must make amends!
< AHEM > CLEARIN; THROAT < AHEM >
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY DEEEAAARRR UUUNNNKKKNNNOOOWWWNNN!!!
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, alas, alack, woe, despair, and bother, I must needs purtify and don appropriate bein’ amongst the public attire. I hope the public appreciates the sacrifices I must make!
Happy Hump Day Y’all!
Good morning.
Happy Belated Birthday wishes, unknown!
It’s currently 34 degrees with an expected high of 41. There may be some wet snow showers in areas in some areas, especially the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas, but it’s already too warm here. I guess some snow fell at my office in Olympia yesterday, but I was home and saw nary a snowflake.
Good grief! I hit the ground running yesterday morning for work! I had barely opened my first email when a call came in via Teams from my budget analyst. We talked for nearly an hour. I got a couple of things done and then I had back-to-back meetings from 7:30 through 1:00 yesterday. In between and during the meetings and training sessions, I was answering emails, PMs via Teams, and working on various other projects. During the afternoon, I dealt with various other issues and communicated with various folks on our Pandemic and Workforce Safety teams about something that was shared with me via my budget analyst. It shouldn’t have been shared, as the policy hasn’t even been fully written, approved, and reviewed by unions. I had a flurry of emails and calls. Bottom line is that we have to be careful about what is being released or shared because that could cause problems down the road. I knew better than to share with the leadership, much less the employees in my state.
Today will probably be more hectic and is also filled with back-to-back meetings through 1:00. Tomorrow my day “officially” starts earlier than normal due to a meeting called by members of another return to work team. Tomorrow is also my last day of work until the Monday after Christmas. My boss called me yesterday concerned that it appeared I still had 18 plus hours of use or lose, and we’re concerned there may be an early release on the 23rd, so opted to take this coming Monday off as well. Next week’s leave should leave me at about 12 hours below the max carryover for next year.
I’m still struggling with a couple of gifts for my son and son-in-law and I hope to have them both ordered by tomorrow at the latest.
Next week I can get things super sparkly clean around the house in a leisurely manner, instead of rushing to get it all done the day and night before Christmas. Also, I’m just looking forward to some downtime from work.
The husband is supposed to do some grocery shopping today. I ordered a little stuff through Costco over the weekend which carried us through last night, but now he really needs to go to the grocery store. He won’t need to get much because we’ll be eating Christmas leftovers and then soup after Christmas, so just basic stuff to carry us through Friday will be good. On Thursday, I’ll pick up groceries for the actual Christmas meal (potatoes, veggies, red wine, broth, etc.) along with the fixing for prime rib soup (barley, egg noodles, carrots, celery, onions, etc).
Well, it’s time for another cup of coffee. I didn’t get downstairs until 4:00 today because I took the time to put on make-up due to look presentable for some of my meetings. I’m still wearing lounge pants though; no one can see them.
Have not read but will. Sonny boy is kicking ass. I have a new linen closet door ( still don’t know where or when the other one went), hot water without changing faucet, new bathroom door replacing a pocket door, trim almost finished, screen door fixed, three new outside lights, closet being basically rebuilt from A\C install years ago, new doorknob on laundry room door and stuff I’m forgetting. Nothing is square so he has to make everything perfect and level. I’ve never seen such a picky person. Painting should happen by tomorrow I hope. Plus his girl cooks every night since I am crippled.
This ankle is really slowing me down on getting rid of stuff. Shall never buy another stitch of clothing. Donating literally tons and trashing a bunch. A/C company trailer coming today to load up for the dump. The real estate lady says she already has two ppl wanting a sneak peak. Not near ready for that.
I have my regular ortho appt for my last set of knee shots tomorrow and he will have to X-ray the ankle. I believe it’s broke. Hurts like a mofo and I am still hobbling as much as possible.
They’ve ran back to Home Depot so I got a minute. Gonna go see what y’all are up to.
Happy Belated Birthday **unknown **. Swampy I miss your colorful singing.
Sunny Did you ever find out how you got a SF leak? Hoping the new treatment fixes it once and for all.
Can’t remember who it was now but those Cherry Nut Balls ( maybe Nelliesound amazing.
Taters you work too hard.
MetalMouse I was a middle manager and never again. If I had it to do over…managing ppl is hard and being responsible for maintaining operations with or without help or time off sucks. You’d have thought I owned that office. And all the extra government BS. It’s a wonder I’m still sane.
Have a great rest of the day everyone.
Mooomm The Marion Oaks subdivision does not have the no fences law nor does it have an HOA which I flat refuse to pay anywhere.
Butters - yeah, I know the hatred of HOAs. I also know that the monthly fee my inlaws pay covers their water (unless they go over a certain threshhold) and garbage pickup, as well as access to the pool, golf course, bowling alley, and gym facilities. They don’t think it’s particularly outrageous, and they no longer use any of the facilities, but they did when they moved there.
I don’t envy you the task of prepping to sell and then moving. We vowed that our move here 17 years ago was our last. I’m hoping that holds true, tho it will depend on our health most of all.
On the domestic front, I’ve loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher and I’ve started the laundry. It’s a start.
I’m sorry to worry folks. Things are not so great in Casa De Shoe. I am clambering through a lot of stuff.
Did not blow away in the insane wind. But I feel like I have.
{{{butters}}} and {{{shoe}}}. Hope your problems get resolved.
FCM, concur, I moved here in 1997 and have no plans to leave until and unless I have to. Brother and SIL just moved from their old house to a smaller one, and that was probably a hassle and a half.
Taters, more I read from you, happier that I am a retired gentleman of leisure.
58F now heading for 65F. Kroger has Pepsi at 4 12-packs for $11.88, so I’ll probably add to my stash (currently I have enough until my Birthday), but at less than 0.25 a can, just can’t pass it up…
Take care all.
Well, I finally got my parcel-on the third attempt to pick up. It’s a coat I ordered. It doesn’t fit. It’s labelled as a size larger than my existing falling-to-bits coat, from the same company, but I can barely do it up.
I also overslept- ‘I’ll just wait 5 minutes until my housemate is done in the kitchen’, and woke up 2 hours later, and I’ve had a headache all day.
I really just can’t be bothered with today.
Happy Hump Day!
Cold 30 degrees this morning, now it’s in the 50s.
The brats are a daycare and I’m kinda sorta getting stuff done.
Just got off the phone with the daycare, Echo got a booboo. From the sounds of it, nothing serious. Daycare said they cleaned it and put some stuff on it. Probably more than I would have done. As long as she doesn’t need stitches, I’m not going to worry about it. Even if she does need stitches, I’m not going to worry about it. She’s tough, she’ll live.
Poor Ripple is always covered with scabs, but his fur is thick and you can’t see all the cuts, scrapes, bites, whatever. They play rough and you know it some of it has to hurt, but doesn’t seem to bother them at all.
Every time I’ve moved, I said it would be the last time.
Here I am, looking at houses. I found another one I fell in love with but it is not practical. Huge Victorian, but way too big for us, and is still in the city limits.
Washer just stopped, time for the next load.
Oh no - I hope it isn’t too serious. 
Not for certain. I think it’s from an old back injury and the follow up surgeries for that. The first surgeon left a bunch of stuff in the wound that should have been removed. I’ve had a few surgeries since but apparently there’s still a bone chip loose, which can’t be helping. I also have some screws and fusion hardware. Some of that could be doing it.
shoe What happened? Are you ok? Sending hugs and spoons.
I always wanted a Victorian. I think older houses can be a PITA, but they are so pretty.
Off to a phone call with a financial advisor. We’ll see how that goes.
Went out and got the xmas tree today. The lot was pretty picked over and we had to get a smaller tree than usual. Odd that they ran out ten days before the holiday. First world problem, I know. Anyhow, it’s up and decorated and I’m about to start on my mince filling; making mini-tarts this year. Christmas music is on, but I don’t think I can take The Carpenters this time around.
I cannot seem to retain anything lately, but Butters, I hope your ankle is okay!
Today has been a freaking whirlwind at work. I had to leave the room for my call with my boss thanks to all the cursing (both mine and hers). I managed to waddle this morning, which was nice. It was surprisingly sweaty. It’s not supposed to be in the high 60s in December.
Anyway, my throat hurts from talking all day. Everyone is taking off next week, so trying to jam as many discussions into the next day or two as possible.
Some low-life, scum-sucking, bottom-feeder of a scammer got my FIL to give his SSN today. Dammit. My MIL arrived just in time to hear him give the last 4 digits, and she took the phone from him, realized what was going on, and hung up. The bastard then had the nerve to call her back and yell at her for hanging up.
Needless to say, she was distraught and she called FCD. He advised her to go to her bank. From what I understand, a bank can help you put in a credit freeze and a fraud alert with all 3 credit agencies. We don’t know if he gave his birthdate or any other info, but I hope their bank can help them out. Being in an area full of seniors, I expect they’ve encountered this before.
Bastards.
We’re all pretty sure FIL is in early stages of Alzheimer’s - he’s truly not as sharp as he used to be. Plus he’s always been so very helpful and trusting - prime for fleecing. Yet another reason they shouldn’t be living alone there. Dammit.
People like the ones who phoned him deserve to burn in eternal fires of damnation, and then they need their asses seriously kicked!!!
The rent check was late. Rent is due on the 1st, and after the 4th it’s late. But we have a good tenant and I usually receive the check on the 9th. This month it didn’t arrive until yesterday. Must’ve gotten held up for a few days in Seattle traffic. Maybe L.A. traffic too. Or it might be the USPS slow-down.
Anyway, I took it to the bank today. I drove the MG. 
Maybe electronic funds transfer (Paypal, Venmo, CashApp, etc)?
I’ve never been a cook/baker. My best friend makes amazing Christmas cookies, and I’ll really miss them next week…but she made some for me last month, and I got to have a few of my favorites at my Last Supper. I have the bestest best friend. 
{{{shoe}}}
Sunday’s vocal workshop went well! But I’m starting to get a little nervous about the Big Show I have coming up in February, because it’s clear that my performance chops are not up to par. The good news is that everyone was affected by the music scene completely shutting down for 18 months, but that excuse is starting to wear thin and it’s time to get back out there. I’ll have to try to go to some jam sessions in January.
So sorry for your loss! 
My current neighborhood doesn’t have an HOA, but I’ve lived in plenty that did. I have mixed feelings about them. They can help prevent nightmare properties, but individuals can get a bit carried away. I do miss the townhouse HOA that took care of cleaning the gutters.
One of my direct reports is dealing with this with her mom right now: she has either dementia or Alzheimers (they’re in the process of getting a diagnosis), and she recently fell for a romance scam. On Monday, my employee discovered that her mom has lost $185,000…and it would have been an additional $150,000 if her sister (who is on the account) hadn’t been able to get to the bank and stop payment in time. There are other issues, and everyone is taking the appropriate steps, but scammers will go to a special part of hell.