I'm late, I'm late! (a late MMP from Spain)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Animals are gross. There’s just no other word for it. Having two dogs who will eat anything – although Isaacis the kitty roca fan, so the cat box is totally inaccessible to him these days – we never have to worry about anything that hits the floor. Except mandarin oranges. They don’t like those. (Don’t ask.) The cat, Emily, is persnickety enough to make up for the canines’ indiscretion. She only likes one kind of kibble, and although we also give her half a small can of canned food every day in addition, it has to be: fish, no salmon, not minced, only certain brands, etc. etc. etc. For two years she would only eat one kind of Fancy Feast, crab, shrimp, and sardines in aspic, that was so disgusting we nicknamed it “sardines ‘n’ snot,” but at least these days she’s branched out a bit.

picu, I really hope the finger heals quickly and after a while you barely notice anything is missing!

rigs, I’m sending good thoughts out to the universe that it was an honest mixup on the coat and you’ll get it back. Losing something with that kind of emotional meaning is tough, so you have every right to be upset.

spats, just don’t scare her off. Here’s hoping the feeling is mutual, however!

kai, alaso, no, I didn’t win the auction for the serger. It went for $10 more than my bidding max. That’s okay, though; I’ve already put one on my Christmas list – they can be found on sale quite regularly, so we should be able to find a nice one at a decent price.

Sorry your pottery teacher is leaving, FCM, but I guess the universe was watching out for you to give you a class so much closer to home!

MBG, I’m still waiting for that book you really need to write. You’ll have a built-in audience!

Today is a busy day for me. I have to try to finish that last job that I had a deadline for last week when I was sick that I couldn’t get done; it doesn’t help that it was estimated to be only half as long as it’s turning out to be. For some strange reason, when a job is twice as long as expected, it takes twice as long to complete. Strange how that works.

And then I need to take a sewing break this afternoon and finish adapting the two pairs of sweats I still have to give to that injured soldier; I got feedback from his mom on how my first job turned out, which was quite usable although I was pleased that she took me up on giving me specific details of things they’d like changed – some people don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, even when they’re asked to – and her changes actually make my job easier. So that’s good.

So off to be a good girl, after getting a lovely long night’s sleep!

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Good morning everyone! I’m up too and sipping my first cup of joe.

Yesterday was a lazy day. Well, after the driving the daughter to the PSAT, picking her up and picking up breakfast part anyway.

My Dad is supposed to drop by around noon today to visit. Additionally, my mother is coming by this evening after work. So much for a completely visitor free weekend!

I won’t be around the boards on the 31st. My MIL is going in for surgery on her lung. They’ll possibly doing her masectomy at the same time. She came over Friday evening for some cheering up. At any rate, the doc told her that she’d be in the hospital anywhere from three to four days, up to two weeks. Her lung is filled with over a liter of fluid again. I guess they’re going to open it up and scrape it. The whole procedure sounds horrible.

The lung surgeon wants to save the number of hospital admissions, which is why he wants the other surgeon to do the masectomy at the same time. I’m not sure if that procedure would occur the same day as the lung surgery, or, if they’d wait three or four days and then go in again and do the masectomy.

The MIL is a strong woman. This is really the first time I’ve seen her this scared and upset, except for when my FIL was hospitalized and we lost him.

My mother has started her radiation therapy. She already has burn marks on her breast and they’re only going to get worse.

I’m just a bundle of good news, aren’t I? Sorry to bring down the MMP, that’s not really my intent. I’m remarkably calm about the whole thing. I think I’ve just gone sort of numb really. It’s been such a whirlwind of bad medical news for the parents, that I think I’m just taking it one day at a time and somehow have managed to put all the worry away in some little hidden recess somewhere.

I don’t talk about it much at work, except answer questions if someone asks how one of them is doing. I will have to talk to my boss about taking the 31st off though, so we can take the MIL to the hospital and spend the day there while she’s having her surgery and stuff.

Tonight’s din-din will be salmon fillet. I’m going to bake it in the oven. I haven’t decided yet how I’ll season it up. I used a salmon rub from Costco the last time, but I also just happen to like butter, dill, salt and pepper on it. We’ll see.

I guess I’ll cruise the board for a short while, and then get cleaned up.

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The cole slaw is made for the Meet & Greet, and I’m just chillin’ till it’s time to go decorate. Why did I open my big mouth and volunteer to decorate? I could be snoozing right now! I need to call and find out how long it’s going to take - do I need to go dressed for the party and take my cole slaw, or will I have time to come home and change? Guess I’ll wait until after 12 in case my contact person is at church.

It rained this morning and I got some good sleep - I love sleeping while it’s raining. Weird dreams, though. I can’t remember anything about them except they were weird.

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I’m thinking about and praying for your whole family, Taters. I think it’s important to be able to talk about what your mom and MIL are going through. You know you can always come here to tell us about it. Hugs.

Still having trouble waking up. Guess I’ll try going around the corner to the coffee shop for real coffee.

Decided to go to church tonight. Figure I’ll get stuff done around here, wake up some, get some work work done, and then go to church…

GT

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Ths’s why we went to church last night. Mr. Lissar is working, and I’m working, so Sunday always seems busy enough without church.

Taters, good thoughts headed out, and I’m praying for your whole family.

Not much happening beyond meal planning until I go to work.

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Whew - what a day!

Last night, **FCD ** was channel surfing and occasionally stopping on War of the Worlds. I *HATE HATE HATE * that movie - Tom Cruise looking intent, Dakota Fanning screaming, and way too much illogic for me to suspend disbelief. Unfortunately, it embedded itself in my subconscious, and I kept dreaming about it all night long. GAAAAAAH! When I woke up around 3, I tried to force myself not to dream about it any more, so I shifted to an odd melding of *WotW * and something about a church meeting in a conference room where I work. That was especially weird because there’s no way our conference rooms would be open for anything non-work related, what with the whole building being secure.

I finally work up again at 6, and decided I may as well go to work. Our original plans involved having breakfast, then me going to work and **FCD ** going to the boat. But the place we planned breakfast didn’t open till 8, and I just wanted to get it over with. So I showered, dressed, and headed across the river. I spent 4 hours working on a couple of maps and several slides for my presentation. The program to make the maps was wonky, but I finally got both made and exported. I left and headed to Food Lion for eggs, and a few other items we needed. Then home.

I did 2 loads of laundry and trimmed the 6 pots I’d made. **FCD ** did the kitty face on the bank. And now I’m chillin. I guess half a weekend is better than none.

Hang in there **Taters ** - all my best thoughts are coming to you and yours. Be strong!

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Prayers and good thoughts headed out to TatersMom and TatersMIL.

I ushed at church this morning. I don’t do this often, but I got a phone call from oneo f the people who was supposed to be an usher to ask me if I would cause he’s sick. Since I didn’t want his germs, I agreed. I almost dropped an offering plate full of checks and various green stuff. :o See, when the tithes and offerings are brought up to the altar, they are received by an Acolyte who hands ‘em over to the Priest. Ummm… I thought she had a good grip on the plate but she didn’t. I managed to do a one-handed catch before the plate hit the floor. It turned out ok though. After the service the Priest came up to me and said “Good save!” :smiley: I like a good sense of humor. Speaking of which, kai I woulda been rollin’ in the floor everytime I saw bubbles. What a hoot!

The smoked chicken boobs turned out mahvelous. I put 'em in a crockpot with a little water in the bottom and turned it on low just before leaving for church. When we got back home, (ACBG has turned into less of a heathen lately as he occasionally goes with me these days) the house smelled like smoked chicken boobs. I steamed some cabbage and carrots and made cornbread to go along with it. Dessert was some of the Hallowe’en candy I bought yesterday. What? This is my candy. The kiddies candy is safe until Hallowe’en.

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I just had a :smack: moment…

Remember my laments about the heater project I’ve been doing? My house has electric baseboard heat, and I’ve been moving around about half of the units to suit VWife’s decorating whims. Last weekend, I moved the last one, an 8 footer that went to the other end of the living room.

The temperatures got cold again, and when I turned it on, no heat. Damn. Odds are that one of the wire splices broke free when I closed up the junction boxes, so I started at the heater itself. the splices were solid; there was continuity through the element; but no voltage coming in. :confused:

Shit, it’s going to be in the other box in the crawlspace. I get my meter, screwdivers, and other implements of destruction, and go under. I crawl 75’ on my ample belly to the box, open it up and check it. Same thing: solid splices, continuity, and no power. Now I’m pissed, and I know exactly what the problem is. :mad:

I crawl back, and turn on the only unmarked circuit breaker in the box. The heater now works beautifully… :smack: :smack: :smack:

The breaker is unmarked no more…

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**Bobbio ** - the only thing worse than unmarked breakers would be mis-labeled breakers, or cryptically labeled breakers.

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I went to church this morning, then took a nice long nap. I am laundering shhets and sweters, then I am making some assorted pork chops.

Taters, Mom and MIL are in my prayers.

bobbio, my panel is labeled range, A/C water heater, Main, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

gt, I do cartoons on occasion.

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Taters, I’m sorry to hear about your two Mom’s. Just so you know, the surgeon’s will likely coordinate their surgeries so she’ll only need one anesthetic. That’s the advantage of doing both procedures in one admission. Anesthesia is the more dangerous parts of any operation. They do have to balance times under and length of time under, but usually one time os better than two.
Good thoughts coming to the Tater patch from MetroNatural.

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MetroNatural? They spent money on that? They paid people to come up with that? They paid people to come up with that and intend to use it? Really? Not to poop on Seattle picu cause it’s a wondrous, beautiful place, but MetroNatural? What do they want? Do they want people to come to Seattle to point and laugh at their slogan? They painted it on top of the Space Needle? Is that so people can point and laugh from airplanes? Cause I remember flying into Seattle and flying over the Space Needle. Tres weird!

doggio lovin’ the toons!

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Prayers for Taters Mom and MIL. You know you can talk about it here any time; that’s what we’re for.

Look at it this way, Bobbio: At least you got your exercise. :smiley:

I’ve been good thus far today; got part of my overdue job done, and got both sets of sweats breakawayed so Papa Tigs can deliver them tomorrow. Now it’s bac k to work till suppertime, and then take a break for some TV this evening. I really want to get this overdue job done by midday tomorrow so I can relax a bit; I’ve been pushing myself too hard since I recovered just enough to prop myself up at my computer and work. Sometimes I am really not fond of being self-employed.

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So, I have all this nummy tasty smoked chicken in my fridge. Nice huh? And healthy cabbage and carrots to eat. What do I want for supper? A grilled PB&J.

You people are such a bad influence! Have I mentioned lately how much I love y’all for that? :smiley:

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I’ve got a ton of leftover lasagna, just sitting here if anyone wants it.

The Kid’s working and headed straight back to school, so not stopping home for leftovers, so it’s just me and the wife and a big big big lasagna.

Come on over!

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Thanks MBG but the grilled PB&J and a glass of milk hit the spot.

I have tomorrow’s MMP all ready to post. It’ll be up early. Maybe or maybe not FCM early, but still early.

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Don’t look at me. Tomorrow, I cook chili for 25 hungry firemen…

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Had a cuppla mohitos with dinner. man, those were refreshing, and they went down very easily. I was home in bed (alone) by 10:30, asleep before midnight, and slept thru, solidly, til about 4:30pm. wow. Usually, I get up for a few hours in the am then crawl back under the covers til evening (my rationalization is that I’m safer in bed because I don’t eat there)
MBG - if you can deep freeze that leftover lasagna and send it here - I’ll happily take care of it for you. :wink:
bobbio - what do yu put in your chili? I like to cut portobello mushrooms into bite size chunks and throw that in the same time I throw the chunks of browned beef in.

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Still sleepy, although I’ve been up, went to church, etc. Really don’t feel like doing work, even though I ought to.

Oh, my. Nice to see another city coming up with an unmemorable slogan; or maybe just a memorably bad one. Can’t remember Columbus’s current slogan, but it’s also not a winner. Although I’m pretty sure *MetroNatural * is worse.

Had chicken tacos for dinner. With some nice salsa and avocado.

I know you draw, doggio, (but thanks for the link; the toons make me laugh). I was just thinking you should expand your repertoire.

I’ll be happy to have lasagna tomorrow night, MBG.

I’m gonna crawl into bed early and worry about everything else in the early a.m.

GT

300

Taters, your family is in my thoughts…

I am a player sponsor! His name is Connor MacDonald and he plays right wing. Seems like a nice enough young man - I just met him briefly at the Meet & Greet. I spent 3 hours before the party helping decorate, along with one of the most abrasive people in the club. I managed to get through it without hurting her feelings. We had a nice dinner, then spent another hour taking the decorations down. My feet hurt.

SIL is back in town, so no more puppy-sitting. I am sleeping late tomorrow.