I just made an expensive mistake at work, and though it was my fault, it was an unpredictable hardware failure so was beyond my ability to control. I’m annoyed at myself, yet also know I was at the mercy of physics and engineering.
Bah.
Dogs are far less discriminating than cats, that’s sure. 
And it’s good to hear that Ember Nutmeg Saffron Brandy is settling in so well!
Ollie’s munch of choice for his first couple of years were my hair scrunchies. He tried to consume them several times. He finally puked one up – I didn’t even know he’d snagged it – and that finally cured him of his quest to devour these delicacies. I hope Peach makes the same choice soon with your socks!
You’re Spot (ha!) on with this observation! We hates 'em, we do!
I’m glad you had an unexpectedly better day than you planned for, Boo fae! Enjoy Scotland next week. I know 'im indoors hails from there, so I expect you’ll spend some time with family. I’ve never visited a more enchanting country – hope to go back one day.
swampy, you’re far more ambitious than me for the feasting holiday! I’m hosting only two, maybe, and that will be plenty of guests. I agree with you about the paper plates – it is just Not Done! I say “maybe,” because they invited me first. But I’m an asshole about Thanksgiving feasts, and I’d rather do all the cooking and cleanup than compromise on my admittedly unreasonable expectations for the meal. So I invited them, and we’ll see where we end up.
That’s super cute. 
Thanks for sharing about it!
These days, the most I put myself out as regards holiday decorations is to put up the Solstice Rake:
That’s plenty of festive decor for me.
You are ever welcome, metal mouse! Be careful; it’s dangerous to encourage me. 
LOL, oh, I do hope so! And thank you for making me laugh in return! You’re very likely correct about the internet, although the outage was weird. I still had phones and could watch tee vee, but anything relating to internet (surfing, email, e.g.) was gone. I’m just glad it’s resolved now with no further hiccups.
Nice work on the swim platform, FCM. Naturally.
Dicey, however it happened, it was a truly awesome result all the way around, as JtC agrees!
Thanks for reminding me that I need to take several of mine for professional sharpening. You’re so right about the difference it makes! Working with a sharp knife is a joy. Working with dull ones is a hazard.
Sorry about all the barfing kittehs. Perhaps Spot will dodge the emetic epidemic.
I went into town to do my errands and meet my dear friend for lunch. We had good food at the diner, teased around with the wait staff, laughed ourselves silly and generally improved one another’s moods. We’re suffering heat pump killing weather just now – overnight fog coupled with cold temperatures, which causes them to freeze up – so I gave the heat pump the night off and am heating the house tonight with wood. Very cheery and cozy here.
Work is done for the next couple of weeks, so I should be able to give the house a good clean before the holiday. Nothing like the threat of dinner or house guests to galvanize my slobby ass to do a good spiffing! My late husband used to invite friends for dinner every couple of weeks. Took me forever to work out he did it so we’d clean the house properly. No flies on that boy!
Hope everyone has a warm and safe night.
Absolutely TRUTH.
You do have a way with words.
Tonight’s shout-out goes to the (possibly oh for sure drunk) guy who wanted a discount for his birthday, and then with a HYUUUUGE wink at me said he’d meet me at the bar when I got off work.
WHICH BAR YOU DIDN’T EVEN SPECIFY (not that I was remotely interested) my manager got the biggest laugh out of the whole thing.
“The” bar. Like there’s only one ‘round here.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. Spot has had his 0300 Zoomies, and is crashed out on the cat tree. No hornk. Yet.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently -1c/30f with a predicted high of 3c/37f and sunny. Weather app says “It’s chilly, motherfucker!” Well, yes it is. It’s winter, y’know?
It sounds like more of a chore than a pleasure, in which case I wouldn’t bother this time round and see if anyone complains. Then you can tell them to do it themselves if they’re so bothered! We are putting decorations up at work so the office looks bright and cheerful, the shops and other places are all decorated too. We don’t have any at home, it’s nice to come back to somewhere calm and peaceful on my eyes!
That’s a nice thing to do for them, and their mother. Nigerian food afterwards will be interesting too, it’s always fun to try other people’s traditional food!
Blossom is following the trend, she regurgitated biscuits all over the carpet for me to clear up.
Looks very nice, and enough festive cheer too.
Yesterday was a non-productive day all round. I had meetings for most of the day, and the odd bits in between were largely spent making tea, drinking tea, and preparing for the next meeting of the day. The big meeting of the day was a real “head in hands” one for us - there’s been a project running for the last 3 years that still isn’t finished, it focuses on how we do student module registration when students are picking their options for the following academic year. When the project was first launched, there were student focus groups and various workstream meetings (none of which involved people on my grade). The was an overwhelming response that there was one process the students didn’t like, the support staff didn’t want, and the academics didn’t understand. Three years later, when the project is almost ready to partially launch…guess which process they’ve used?
Only one meeting today, it’s a departmental one so more minutes for me to do. Fortunately I’ve just sent off the minutes from Tuesday’s meeting so I should have plenty of time to get this lot done. I will need a strong cup of tea before it starts though, they’re an excitable lot.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 55 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 78 and cloudy. Sounds like a good day to make chikin sallit. That’s the big item on today’s agenda. RDOS inactivities will make up the rest of the day. Any need to feed today will be via forage just cause.
Coppertone a little thing like that is always a day brightener. Just like Dicey findin’ the cookie recipe for JtC.
FlyBoy hope you can determine what the leak is. Early happy bday to SWMBO.
Cookie glad the wicked witch is gone along with the pet fees. I kinda get the feelin’ maybe corporate was not happy with her.
Hope the cat barf epidemic has been contained.
BatBoy I can understand your frustration, but no need to beat yourself up over a situation beyond your control.
BrightTree there was a time in my life when I would host up to a dozen folk and insist on makin’ the whole meal. Now I am fine with others bringin’ food. However, I still do the turkey, cornbread dressin’, giblet gravy and deviled aigs. I don’t trust others with those.
BooFae it is perfectly reasonable that TPTB would include the process nobody wanted. How else can they ensure everything gets FUBAR. After all, that is their job!
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Firday Y’all!
Well, it will be done at FairyChatEstate. Along with generic solo cups. And paper napkins. But we will use real flatwear, because plastic forks sucketh mightily! You don’t like it? You don’t have to dine with us. 
The only thing we’ll have is a picture MIL painted of Santa’s workshop
when FCD was a toddler. It means a lot to him, so it’ll replace the painting over the piano for the holidays.
I have a favorite serrated knife that I can get sharpened for free by Cutco - free being I send it to them with $7 for return packaging and postage. Or I find a local sales rep, but I don’t want to be pressured to buy more knives. Meanwhile, I really like my ceramic knives. What to do, what to do??
Apparently FCD had a sleepless night again - he woke enough to take some pain meds and ask me to tend to Otis this morning. Once he gets up for reals, I’ll get laundry started. And I should have a look at the smoker - I’m pretty sure I cleaned it last time I used it. I think. I hope. But I’ll be firing it up on Sunday. It’s supposed to be a nice, sunny day, so I won’t have to dodge raindrops as I go out to check on it. Yay!
And apart from yet another session of Cetol-on-the-teak, there’s no plans to speak of. Theoretically a mostly chill day. Theoretically.
Happy Firday!!
Happy Friday. 52 freedom units and rainy outside.
Today is a fairly regular Friday. Teaching at University 1 for a few hours then rushing over to University 2 for a student recital that three of my students are singing in. Then home to maybe chili (“maybe” chili because it will be the third time in a week we’ve planned to make chili, and the first two times we ended up doing something else).
Cats continue to do pretty well. They seem to have learned that counters are off-limits (while we’re looking; all bets are off when we leave the room), although they are obsessed with the kitchen sink (my wife started plugging the disposal drain because Hazel was sticking her head in). At least I’ve been able to make meals in peace. Mostly leaving the furniture alone. Hazel still occasionally attacks hands, but seems to be getting better. Ash is currently sitting on me, preventing me from getting my second cup of coffee.
Wednesday’s door project mostly went well, but the weather wasn’t cooperating with paint, so they’re coming back tomorrow for the second coat. It’ll still be an old door, but with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware it will look much better. Incidentally, re door pricing, the prices I mentioned above were quoted to me by Lowe’s. I suspect the expense is largely due to it being a double door which is a lot more complicated.
Mornin’ all.
It’s 38°F and partly cloudy outside. The day will be mostly cloudy, with an expected daytime high of 52°F. There may be a bike ride today.
JtC, the pups pretty much leave the Christmas decorations alone. They do like to try and lie under the tree; Polar did the same. The first year, I had a puppy pen surrounding the tree, but last year I didn’t, and it was all good. The only things not safe from the dogs’ teeth are socks and shoes, and that’s mostly Maisie.
The Christmas decor will most likely go up, even though it’s a chore. I have scaled back over the years; I used to decorate outside, run lighted garland up the stair banister, decorate the entryway, put a small tree in the entryway, and put a lot more decorations out in the great room area. Now I just put up the tree, the village, and put some decor on the coffee table. One year, I didn’t even bother with the Christmas village, but I suppose I’ll do it this year. I also used to bake Christmas cookies; I haven’t done that since the kids were living at home.
Yesterday was an expensive day. On the one hand, I knew it was going to be costly; on the other, I thought it would be two to three hundred less expensive. Nine hundred bucks at the vet yesterday 
Check up, ear swab, nail trim, bortadella, allergy shot, ear drops for yeast, bacterial infection meds for Buster, and Trazadone renewal for both the pups. I mean, jeebus. We have to go back in 10 to 14 days to ensure the infection is gone. And, to cap it off, the charge went through this morning for their auto-ship prescription food. The vet suggested switching to a different food, but I asked to hold off on that for now.
I’ll be heading to the grocery store in a couple of hours. I figure the earlier I can get there today, the fewer people I’ll encounter. It was made very clear to me that there will be stuffing. My husband was bemoaning the fact that we didn’t have it last year. The oven broke last year, so we had to make a slow-cooker pot roast. If I’m honest, I enjoyed last year’s meal much more, but my husband likes turkey, and I really don’t. However, once a year is not too much to ask, so I make the whole shebang: turkey, gravy, mashed taters, stuffing/dressing, and a vegetable side.
Let’s talk mashed taters for a sec. And no, I don’t mean smashed Taters. This morning I saw a recipe that calls for one to simmer the potatoes in milk until the milk is absorbed. This generally takes around 50 minutes on the stovetop. Who has time for that? You must stir constantly to avoid scorching the milk. I dunno about you, but that’s just too labor-intensive, considering you’re already prepping the rest of the meal. I generally boil red or Yukon gold potatoes and hand-mash them with cream, butter, salt, and pepper. They’re creamy and delicious.
Well, I suppose I should finish my coffee and prep myself for public viewing. Please take care of yourselves. I hope everyone’s day is smooth.
My recipe: let Daughter do it! OK, if it’s up to me, I pretty much do it as you do, with sour cream instead of just cream. Much yum!!
First load in the washer - it should be done soon. Two or three more to go - depends on how many jeans there are. I don’t want to overload the machine. Once I throw the second load in, I’m gonna run to the dollar store to see if they have a big, disposable roasting pan. Plus a small bag of M&Ms for the brownies. That should be all. I hope.
It’s dreary here with rain in the forecast. If it doesn’t rain, I’ll be running the sprinkler tomorrow. But that’s for tomorrow. Laundry for today.
I boil mine and mash by hand with butter, milk and an egg.
And a good Firday morning all. Slept to about 8am again, guess I’m getting lazy in my dotage, have pilled, shopped, and ate an apple so a fairly productive morning for me. Supposed to be back around 70F again but it’s cloudy and threatening rain again so in no hurry to get outside anytime soon. Looks like next 2sDay is predicted to be rainy for most of the day, so will set that up for my Laundry Day pre-travel. Ordered 4 pair of slacks last night with 38" waists, but won’t be getting rid of the 40" ones quiet yet, I’m pretty sure I’ll be bouncing between those waist sizes in the future. Still, it’s a nice come-down from a 46" waist several years ago…
Coppertone, glad you ran across one of the nice humans; I still think they are a majority of us, but one never knows…
Bat Boy, I know the feeling, you figure there is something you could have done different, but nope, you canna change the laws of physics…
boo fae, I always loved the definition of meetings as being where the minutes were kept and the hours were lost. And choosing the worst of all possible options is a human behavior that we may never outgrow…
Pavo, May the Chill be with you today.
Taters, that is quite a Vet bill…is there anything like affordable pet insurance? ANd I’m not a stuffing person and would be quite happy with Pot Roast… As for mashed potatoes, I don’t make them for myself and French fries are my usual means of getting potatoes down my gullet.
And time to get about the Firday internetting. Have a good day all.
It didn’t seem like a high volume day, but a late Air and a late 53 footer made it long. That and TPTB dragged out bringing damages and rewraps. But I get paid by the hour, so fine by me. I stopped at Teeter fro some, tuna, green onions, and bok choy for tonights dinner. Laundry is in the dryer, so naptime till hockey.
Or do what I do, and just leave the tree up for 24 years straight.
< stares nervously at Spot >
This is the same sentence twice.
Red?
I skip the egg, but this. And stuffing and deviled aigs are mandatory for Thanksgiving dinner.
The power went out down in Burien this morning, and I lost the connection to my computer. The power is back on, but someone needs to turn on my computer. Here’s the thing: La Jefa decreed that except for me, and one of the account execs who lives at least as far away as I do, only in the other direction, have to be in the office three days a week. That worked well, until she decided that people should see each other more; so the physical office is closed Mondays and Fridays, and everyone is in the office Tuesday through Thursday. The upshot is that since she’s removed people’s flexibility, there won’t be anyone there to turn on my computer until Tuesday.
I have the company laptop, so I can still work; but I can’t run my Easytrieves.
Off to the gym. 4 straight hours of sitting and internettin’ appears to be my limit.
We has white stuff. This morning I had a banana and decided to put it in the compost bin which is outside the kitchen door. Opened the door and there was white stuff everywhere. Wasn’t there when we got home at 11:00, and I thought that was it.
Had to get out my other boots to go to work, since we walk to the train station. It snowed some more later in the day, and it was snowing on our way home. Tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny and cold.
Got laundry in the dryer and I think I’ll go make some tea. My mom gave me two containers of tea from a company that I think is out of business, so I wonder how long she’s had them. She did say that they had been a gift and she was trying to find homes for them. The one I drink in the evening is white chocolate peppermint tea (but no actual tea, so it’s caffeine-free), and it has little chocolate chips in it. Sort of like this tea:
Never saw tea with chocolate chips before.
And I’m babbling about tea. Tea time!
I received two email with downloadable files from out Southwest affiliate. First, I haven’t communicated with them in years. Second, I’ve never heard of the person who sent them. The signature block was legitimate-looking, so I googled our Southwest affiliate and called them. They confirmed that they were spam. I sent a message to everyone on Teams, alerting them and telling them not to click on anything, to report them as phishing, and to delete them. I attached this image, as I do when I alert my cow-orkers to spam.:
Laundry is all done. Today’s teak coating chore is done. Supper will be forage.
I got a disposable turkey-cookin’ pan at the dollar store as well as the M&Ms, plus I scored a pack of seasonal napkins to class up the table! And, yes, doggio, red cups. Daughter and I discussed the menu, so I’m pretty sure we’ve remembered everything, right?
Sure…
Am very much appreciating it being Friday today.
Still cold, the first proper frost this morning, but no snow. There’s white on the hills and occasional cars, but none here. No snow day off skool for me 
Still, the woodburner is on, and the living room is toasty warm. Irk was dead today, which was nice in that there was space, but it’s a pain when you need to find someone to ask for help with the arcane and mysterious internal ordering system.
Looking forward to a nice weekend of sloth.
ah, money, yep, that gets the big bosses attention.
i’m glad they are doing the right thing.
suntanlotion, what a lovely young man.
aspenglow, that is a wonderful display!
die capacitrix, thank you for the link, i ordered some samplers.
today i spent 3 hours at wills eye for what turned out to be an eye goo issue, and not a retina issue. good news there. i did get more of my book read, not as much shredding as i had planned in the office.
last night’s meetings went well. decisions were made and i got into my flat by 8:20pm. not bad.
they did decide to try the community lobby decorating again this year. there better not be a repeat of last year!