I Guess There Needs To Be A MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Thanks to all for the expressions of support. :blush: I do think I’m feeling better today. Diving back into work tomorrow morning will be the true test, but at least it’ll be Friday.

I hung out with my best friends for a few hours on Tuesday, which was a big help. Also they hadn’t seen me in two months, during which time I’ve lost an additional 15 pounds, and I’ll admit that the initial “wow!” responses (from both them and my “nephew,” who wound up stopping by) were gratifying!

On the way home from their place I went to the grocery store, hoping to up my chicken nugget game by looking for (a) breaded all-white-meat nuggets and/or (b) sweet and sour sauce for dipping. I found both! There was only one available brand of S&S sauce; unfortunately, it wasn’t very good. However, I also bought some yum yum sauce, and I’m looking forward to trying that tonight.

Tuesday night I was able to attend my online support group meeting for the first time in over a month, and even though I didn’t say anything – I even turned my camera off for the last half of it – it still felt good to be there and hear others talk and see some familiar faces. And, this morning I reached out to a possible therapist. :crossed_fingers:

Yesterday I did very little, except that I cleaned the big living room window for the first time since I moved in (8 years ago). In the late spring/summer the evening sun is very strong through that window, resulting in a lot of glare on the TV and unwanted heat. Last year, I successfuly experimented with using a blackout curtain; I recently found a “portable” blackout curtain that uses suction cups on the window instead of needing a curtain rod. I tried it yesterday and didn’t care for it in that location (though I can see how it might come in handy, so I’ll happily keep it), but while the blinds were up I decided to clean the window – which is actually three sections of window. The middle section doesn’t open, but the sides tilt in for cleaning, and after the rain finally stopped I tackled the insides and outsides. I never have the blinds open, so I never see that window, but cleaning glass has always been theraputic for me.

I briefly considered going to the mall today – as of this week I’ve officially lost 50% of my excess bodyweight, and was toying with getting a celebratory new blouse for Easter (and maybe something from the Swarovski store) – but it’s rainy and gloomy and I don’t wanna. So, home I shall stay. More quality time on the couch with the doggy can only improve my mental state. :slight_smile: Lunch shall be tuna with crackers.

OMG…that might be the best way ever of saying what you did without saying what you did… :rofl:

For me, it’s mystery bruises.

You and I could be on a Very Special Boring Episode of Miss Marple… :wink:

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cakes, I’m joining in with the choir: see the doc. A friend of mine had sudden onset vertigo a few weeks ago. She’s in PT for it now, but the doc thinks she has vestibular neuritis caused by a virus she had a while back. Anything messing with your sense of balance or causing dizziness should definitely get checked out.

Already got my walk in this morning - it was chilly but I’m glad I did it. It was super sunny and I got to walk in the woods before it got all grey and gross again. My brain is mushy right now. Overlyhusband ran out to get some takeout for us for lunch - Mexican/Korean fusion. Yum. I get to have my queso fix!

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You guys shoulda picked a smarter cat. GG just went over the baby gate and once again forgot how to get back over when the little old bully cat went after him.

Do you have access to Star-san? Your work probably gets it in big ass bottles and your boss might allow you to buy small amounts to use at home. It won’t keep the cats off the counters, but it will make you feel better about messing around with food on them.

HURRAY!!! Can you nap in the shop? After invoicing them, of course!

It sounds like you are making some sort of progress which is wonderful. You deserve good things :slight_smile:

I went to surplus produce this morning and they gave us a frozen rack of lamb. We try to find a way to use what we are given, but neither of us have ever cooked lamb (or even made it a point to find restaurants that served lamb), I’m going to give it away. Someone else will be thrilled to have it.

This is Arizona Bike Week and we have a ride with friends planned for tomorrow. They want to get out of Phoenix and we never want to go to Phoenix, so it will work out nicely for everyone :slight_smile:

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Especially near Easter. Makes for a lovely Easter dinner.

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The mortgage interview went well. Mostly just verifying account numbers and employment and stuff. We had a good conversation about rates as well. The guy was very nice and helpful.

The only bad news was that my zoo income cannot be considered, as I can’t keep that job after we move. The good news is that Mrs Wheelz’s income and our combined assets should be more than sufficient. The agent seemed very impressed with us; we’re not very liquid right now, but our retirement funds are solid. And he said he’s never seen an applicant with zero liabilities. Our cars are paid for, and we always keep our credit cards paid off, so we’re carrying no debt at all. I didn’t think that was all that unusual, but he mentioned at least three times that it’s the first time he’d ever seen it.

So the approval should be a slam dunk, but there are still some brain-twisting decisions ahead. The fed has raised rates (boo!) and likely will again soon. For a price, we can lock in today’s rates ahead of closing (likely January). For a smaller price, we can shave points off the rate when we do close. Or, we can come up with a bigger down-payment to push the monthly mortgage down. Or, we can eat a high payment for a few years in the hope that rates come down again and then refinance.
I don’t have a mind for this kind of stuff and it’s already giving me a headache.

But I still feel good about the whole thing, overall.

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I lurve you

VanGo Invoicing sounds like a great idea. Definitely include the hours today.

I am so tired. Half the fun of disability is how exhausted you are after doing relatively simple things. Oh well.

Miss Akiko is off having a sedated nasal biopsy today. The exterior of her nose is healing nicely, but she still drips blood, so something’s not right. I hope we figure it out. I have the usual guilt for leaving her at the scary place, but I know it’s for the best.

We’re looking at a new house today. It’s the same sort of deal as Wheelie’s future abode. It’s under construction. We pick the floor plan and finishes, and move in sometime several months from now. It has a nice view of Mt. Diablo. I’m still not wild about where I live (the region), but my family is here and I’m making the most of it.

'Beamer has Friday off. I expect him to be a happy little camper (well, big camper) when he gets home.

Happy Friday Eve.

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I get those also, and my left knee is skinned, but honest-to-goodness I don’t recall that happening. I mostly get bruises on my arms at doorknob height, from walking down the hall, swinging my arms with wild and reckless abandon. :open_mouth: I swear, if I wanted to have FCD arrested for spousal abuse, I’d have to purple to prove it. In reality, the only time he “assaulted” me was when he kicked me in bed one night - I think he was having ninja dreams. It didn’t hurt, but it woke me up, dammit!

Toby is back with his maternal parental. I’ve got the meatloaf in the convection oven, and we’ll have twice-baked spuds and some sort of veggie on the side. And I got some pastry bites for dessert, just because.

I may do some laundry tonight - it’ll be easier without the Tobester around. Or not. We’ll see…

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Thanks for the concern shown about my dizziness episode yesterday. It’s only the second time it’s happened, as I said the first was about four years ago.

I’m going to talk to my sister and tell her about this, She knows my health as well as anyone, seeing how she’s helped me so much this last year. Sis is also a pharmacist in a big hospital, she knows her meds and speaks doctor fluently. After I talk with her I’m going to call the gp’s office.

Changing the subject, next Monday my mother’s house goes on the market. Sis and I signed the papers Tuesday and have been working on getting out the last of the personal stuff. This will be the third transaction I have had with the realtor, she impressed me when I bought my current place so I had her sell the previous one too. My folks moved into that house after all us kids were gone, and it was the place they lived in the longest, over thirty five years. I never lived in it but have been in and out of it forever now it seems, there are tons of family memories. Can I bend your ears and tell you one funny story? It’s called “the tectonic birthday cake”

This happened many years ago now. I’d made my father’s birthday cake. It was a chocolate sheet cake, chocolate frosting. Around the edges I had placed chocolate candy molds of motorcycles, as Dad was really into motorcycle travel. I brought the cake, in a white cardboard box, over to the house and mom and I put it just inside the door to the attic. This was November, and it was cool enough to keep it well, I left and returned about three hours later for the party. Mom saw me coming and came out with a serious look on her face saying “I don’t know how to tell you this…” I was afraid someone had died or been in an accident. Turns out Dad had gone up into the attic and, on seeing the anonymous box, moved it out of the way by tilting it up on it’s side. So there was a big crack, like an earthquake fault, across the cake. Mom feared I’d be upset, but I was so relieved that that’s all that was wrong I didn’t care. Made for great pictures!

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Just got back from ‘lunch’ – which is to say, a 2.49 mile walk. I managed 3.1125 (3 1/9) mph.

I think I’ll take a quick shower and get back to irk.

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Well, according to their website they do serve food …

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Howdy Y’all! I futzed in the kitchen makin’ chikin sallit and then made sup. Nappage was also accomplished. Sup has been consumed and fartfest is ensuin’ as I post. All is well.

Oopsie Yum Yum Sauce is da bomb! I lurve that stuff!

Jane The Cane (that will never get old!) GG’s not so smartness is what makes him the perfect mascot for us. Plus he makes good cheese.

VanGo nap in the shop and then invoice 'em for the nap since you have to stay there for them.

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You also now have time for a good meal. :slight_smile:

It’s great that they’ve worked out shipping insulin safely, but I’m trying to figure out what to do with the ever-growing collection of refreezable ice pack thingies that come in those package. One household really only needs so many stashed, and we’re getting past that “so many”. One of those things that seems too good/useful to just toss.

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sari, I hope that the diet doesn’t harm your mom.

Hugs to your friend doggio.

unknown, GG’s not fat, he’s just fluffy.

shoe, drunks have the Waffle House. Others have Taco Bell. :smiley:

baker, I’ll join the chorus of see your PCP. I can’t really speak to food processors, but Cuisinart isn’t the brand that they used to be. My most recent experience was a burr coffee grinder. It was well designed from a user’s standpoint, but only lasted about 1.5 years. It really should have lasted longer, considering that it was only used once a day. KitchenAid makes some good things (love my stick blender), but I would go with commercial grade for anything that you wanted to use for a few years.

Is sweet chili sauce on your diet oopsie? There are a few good ones out there, but Kroger’s Private Selection store brand has really impressed me as of late.

seanette, if you know anyone who fishes or camps, they would likely take the cold packs off your hands.

I got to show off my mad Inventory Skillz at irk today. I brought up an issue that began occurring Tuesday and the lead didn’t know what to do about it. I showed him where quite a few phones had been adjusted from inventory in our location by my old department then (they had been counted over the weekend). He gave a list of serial numbers to have the adjustments reversed and offered to show them where they had been placed when the transfers wouldn’t go through because the quantity on hand was zero. My old boss and Golden Girl had to suck it up and reverse their adjustments. Is shadenfreude a bad thing? :stuck_out_tongue: This also brought to light that a research position in my current department will be opening up soon. My boss made the suggestion that I submit my CV for it when it does. The pay would return me to my former pay grade, which would be very welcome and it would return me to a work week of five eight hour days (meaning that I wouldn’t have to get up ~2 am).

All in all it was a good way to end the work week. A trip to the dog park and hanging out in my jammies is what is / was happing now.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

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Woo-hoo! This all sounds excellent. :grin:

Akiko is back from the vet. She’s wearing the cone of shame and is Not Happy. She was pawing at her stitches so it has to stay on.

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Happy Thorsday!

Been rainy all day, I think I heard some thunder while I was in the tub.
Only two of us showed up at the park, so we were able to talk and catch up on things.
I heard that a woman who came to the park the other day complained to the park management about the barking. I don’t know if it’s true, but if the park steps in, the problem will be solved, I guess.
I don’t know if I should say anything to Barky mom, or just let it roll and see what happens.

The irritations are continuing. Small shit, like I canceled an order and got charged for it anyway. I have to call and get that mess straightened out. I paid to have my prescription delivered, everything is set up for tomorrow, and then I got a message that I have to pick it up by today.
Little things, but annoying little things that happen every day it seems.

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I hadn’t even considered Easter, we don’t eat lamb or mutton and I didn’t make the connection. As it happened, something else I didn’t think about is that my BFF’s husband is Greek. The package went from my hand to her purse so fast it was like a magic trick!

Sometimes I really wish there was a way for me to share these boxes with you mumpers, we like such a variety of things that the boxes would be emptied right away. And for some reason, making a good dinner out of free food that would otherwise be thrown away just seems so very thrifty and earth friendly.

Wow, I didn’t think it was that odd either, but we had planned to have everything paid off (house included) before we retired. You kids are still hanging out with a younger crowd, that’s what’s happening!

Can I make a bathroom suggestion? Be sure that you have a walk-in shower as well as a walk-in bathtub or a combo. You might think you only need one or the other, but having both available is really nice.

Way back when hubs and I were first married, I had a very vivid dream that hubs was kissing one of my sisters. I was so outraged that I woke up and slapped the poor sleeping man as hard as I could. Ya gotta learn 'em early lest ya gotta take the cane to 'em later. (I agree, it’s a wonder we are still married. Wonder no longer, its because murder is illegal.)

Thank you. I laughed at your cake story, but mostly thank you for taking care of your health.

/Grins/ I know, I love it too!

Today GG LLC proved that it is possible to put too much garlic in feta, but for the most part, you are right!

Food banks, homeless shelters, work break room, donate to scouts for their camping trips. I know what you mean about them being too good to throw away.

You are a hundred percent right, VBC is fat, GG is all fur. He’s got such a skinny tail compaired to the others, but you wouldn’t know it due to the fur.

Fingers crossed that it works out for you. I’m excited :slight_smile:

Poor lil thing. It sure would be nice if we could explain it to them.

Death by a thousand cuts is still death. It’s got to be wearing you down.

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I had to give Higgs a bath - she rolled in something that reeked of excrement. ugh. Now she smells sweet… OK, she doesn’t stink. It’s a win.

Poor Taz is starting to look skeletal. He’s eating and drinking and peeing and pooing and sleeping lots (yanno, cat stuff) but he is an old man - 16, I think. So we may not have him much longer. If he gets to the point where he’s suffering, we know what has to be done.

My car can’t go to the body shop till April 28!! Dammit! They’re that busy! But I got the money from GEICO and I have the info to get the rest from the bus company’s insurance company, so there’s that. With luck, I’ll have a car again in May.

Speaking of May, FCD’s folks may be coming here to visit then. MIL’s youngest sister and her husband are going to FL for a visit. They’ll take the inlaws back to Indianapolis to have a chance to visit the rest of the family. Then FCD will drive out to pick them up, bring them to stay with us for a while, then we’ll take them back to FL. Not sure of the dates yet, but not before the second week of May most likely.

It’s been raining a bunch, but I think it’s done. I’m going to crawl into bed and read till I’m sleepy. FCD is starting to show signs of my cold - I warned him!! Poor guy… Always something.

And that’s all the news that’s fit to print… or that I remember. MWAH!!

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I’ve now thrown my sister’s dog in with my mom’s dog. He celebrated the occasion by peeing on the floor and then peeing on one of my dad’s train hobby boxes. Lest you think it was being thrown in with Daisy, Daisy raised him from a pup. He lurves her. He’s stayed at my mom’s house several times. He’s just an uncivilized little dude. I love him anyway.

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This cracked me up.

If it’s anything like what they have at the local sushi joint … oh, man. That stuff is sooo good.

I hope you like it, too!

That. Is. Amazing.

CONGA-RATS!!!

I lurve you, too.

I kept re-reading this as “maternal paternal” and wondering what the hell kind of a family you have.

Mom was clever. “Oh, is that ALL that happened?!?” Get ya all wound up, and then you’re not so upset about the “real” bad news.

Yes. “Food.”

(Is that what the kids are calling it these days now?)

My god, I like the way you think.

The “Free” section of Craigslist, or your local Facebook marketplace group, oughta net you some grateful takers.

And just WHAT do you mean by “others,” hmmm?

… nope. Not a thing.

(I’m snacking on straight cloves of roasted garlic as I read/type. No crackers. Just garlic.)

Yeah, Nikki is around 14 and rapidly going from “elderly” to “distinctly old.” I’m really hoping she rallies once the sun warms things up. In my experience, old pets go downhill in winter, but often get better when they can bask in the summer sunshine.

… didn’t know you hung out with drunken frat boys, but hey, yanno, who am I to judge?

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It took a while to catch up, sorry. I am still a lurker, but I am with you all in your trials and triumphs.

On one small subject: We have a local Spearmint Rhino club and they are clients of the company from which I retired. Shortly before the end of my career their fire alarm inspection showed up on my schedule. I was amazed to find out that the service entrance was also the entrance to the manager’s office. To get to the rest for the club, one needed to go through the opening into the dancer’s dressing area. There was no door between. Any time I needed to go from one section to another, I had to go through this dressing room. It was surreal.