I'm Up So Here's The New MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
161

Funny you should say that. One of the topics of conversation over cocktails was how long we can and should stay in our neighborhood. We’re talking about retirement - it’s still some years off, but imminent enough that we’re talking about it - and there’s no way we can afford to stay in the city after we stop earning.

The nest-egg looks impressive, but when we actually crunch the numbers it clearly won’t last very long around here. The rent is too damn high, and no way we can buy a home in the city. Even modest condos around here push seven digits.

So we can either find a cheaper place to live sooner, all the better to save for retirement, or delay retirement to be able to enjoy the perks of city living until then. Tough choices ahead.

162

My dog is stoned.

Ripple was very bad at the vet’s, very very very bad. They had to come out to get me and have me come in to get a muzzle on him. When I walked in the office I heard barking. It was my Ripple, my Ripple who never barks unless there is a reason.
So he was sedated and his ears checked and toe nails trimmed.
He has an ear infection, 3 different meds, a cleaner, and medicine.

Now he is stumbling all around the house because he refuses to lay down and go to sleep. We have to watch him so he doesn’t fall face first into his water bowl, or try to go upstairs. I think he wants to go up to bed. I’d go up and take a nap with him if I thought I could get him up the stairs.

He is more spry than expected though. The tech thought she was going to have to lift him into the truck, but he jumped in before she could stop him.

Poor baby, I think he doesn’t like being stoned.

163

Maybe moving sooner allows you to explore the joys of your new, cheaper locale while you still have the energy (and knees) for it?

So, you guys, know what I did last night? I went to a party. An honest-to-god birthday party, with living humans and everything.
If you went back in time one year and told my introverted ass that I’d be this excited about an evening out, with people ferchrissakes (not to mention that telling about it would inevitably elicit jealousy) I’d be confused by your statement.

It was the 50th birthday of one of the women who works at the same place I do. Her sister (who also works there) has a hot tub. Couple other people there were all also coworkers or their immediate family, so all part of the same germ bubble, really.

But it was SO NICE to sip a wine cooler with a couple of new faces, and sit around a hot tub telling jokes & ragging gently on whoever wasn’t there, and to meet her fat, friendly dog and umpteen cats, and to be in a new space, really. Just the physical change of background scenery was such a nice novelty.

What a strange thing, that leaving home (after working late that evening!) would someday turn into an opportunity there was no chance in hell of me passing up.

One day off before the long multi-day run at work. Been raining all morning, and I awoke to the power being out. (It’s back on, answering “did I pay that bill?” for me.)

Munching on roasted pumpkin seeds, one of my favorite perks of autumn. I leave all the stringy pumpkin goo slathered on the shells, and roast it to a caramelized, sweet coating on the (heavily salted) seeds. Eaten whole, of course. I figure I probably quintuple my fiber intake for the year over the coming weeks.

Need to get another pumpkin!

Maybe I need to turn on more lights, too. It’s so gray and dim, and the patter of rain is so soothing, and the cats are both snoozing …

164

The Brown package people are being weird today. (what else is new?) They sent me a “MyChoice” email yesterday with a delivery time window that they never meet. But, my package is still showing as somewhere at Worldport in Kentucky, and not at the local depot. I really hope this doesn’t end up like the pizzas.

165

Back from willing… having just 1 kid and no fancy assets made for a simple will for both of us. Plus we’re having financial and medical powers of attorney done up. And she gave us the info for body donation in this state. After, we stopped at Wawa for a grabbed lunch to go.

Roxy is napping. SIL just left with his stuff and our trash, saving me a trip this weekend. The kitchen floor is almost done and the dining room is carpeted. Not sure how much they’ll get done today. They did complain that we ordered HEAVY carpet. Oh well… :yum::yum:

166

Afternoon all. The furniture place had my new nightstand so I loaded it in the Durango and brought it home myself. Found a small chip in the top, I’m not going to complain about it (since I did the transport and unpacking), I’ll just get once of those fill-in marker things and be done with it. Also did the start of the month budget things and worked out the last three months of the year (if things go as planned). So now it’s keeping myself amused until soccer at 5pm.

FCM, I have a will I drew up and got a couple of guys at work to witness, but I really ought to get a lawyer to look at it and formalize it. Problem is I lost the saved copy so I’ll have to type it out again, and being the lazy sod I am…

shoe, sounds like you had fun. I am not a social person (I would do well in the Diogenes Club of Mycroft Holmes), but good on you on getting with friends.

Sari, wonder if the ear was bothering Ripple more than he let on. Hope he gets some rest.

Wheelie, I had the chance to move to the East Coast, but looking at prices there…(I’m presuming you’re on one of the coasts). I ended up in Ali-bama, where I could afford a house and put money away. Good luck on your future decisions, sounds like you and wife are making plans at the right time.

talky, good you have a friend who gets you up…I don’t have that motivation.

Everyone have a good afternoon now.

167

Dagnabbit, joints are swollen and sore. You’d think my body would be attacking the germies in my sinuses, but noooooo, it’d much rather attack itself. Stoopid lupus. It’s nice and foggy out, which always makes me want to go for a walk, but my feet have other plans, namely lying around and grumping. Lessee, focus on the positive…my collarbone feels GREAT! :slight_smile:

That cracked me up. Geez, that guy was weird-looking. I should hang a photo of him on the wall behind the rowing machine.

nettie, ick on the AQ. Please be careful. Hope DH’s leg improves.

sari, hope Ripple comes down from his high soon.

swampy, what must be done with candles? Swap 'em out with fresh ones?

168

This is to go jogging, yes? I salute you. You amaze me.

I’d literally not do this ever unless maybe an actual gun was pointed at my head, and even then, I’d seriously consider the Hollywood movie “roll over super fast and magically dodge the bullet” move.

But then, I’m having an exceptionally lazy day, encouraged by the calm, benevolent rainy patter outside. No thunder, no dramatic sheeting or bucket full, just … nature’s lullaby.

I have mental images of turning on the T.V. for background company and moving the next rat group, or maybe finishing cleaning the kitchen (it’s so. close. to being fully done) but then I snuggle up with a kitty for a while, or start to oven to fix lunch, or whatever.

So I’m slowly working towards achieving some accomplishments.

169

He has probably had the ear infection for a while. He hides it very well.
He’s finally down and sleeping and I’m afraid to move. I moved once and he woke up and started pacing again. However, I want some lunch, I’m thirsty, and I need to pee.
I would also like to put some clothes in the dryer, load and run the dishwasher, and unpack the box from da junggle.

He just woke up on his own and is not so wobbly.
Maybe I can get up without worrying about him.

170

Nope, he’s looking very similar to The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

171

Poor pupster! :frowning:

The rain just stopped and the sun burst out, so despite the general drippiness I let the cats out. Monkey shot off, then … shot back in to me. I’d be charmed that he prefers MEmemeeee to the great outdoors, but I’m realistic that he’s simply appalled at the wetness.
He’s sitting on the back door sill, doing his level best impression of the poster for Le Chat Noir.

Nikki, being well coated in a ball of floof, is rather immune to the occasional droplet of water, and really doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.

172

I managed to sell my 13" power planer for the asking price. Good thing, because I just discovered that the holding tank for our carpet cleaner is cracked. So there goes $85 for that. It’s the second one in six months. I know that I could just replace the machine for less than two of these, but the thing operates just fine, so why add to the landfill? And now my wife informs me that the washer door isn’t latching properly. We are not amused. :unamused:

173

My brain wandered off on a visit to Ye Olden Times, specifically when Nixon ran for his second Term. Old Tricky Dick was incensed by all the liberal, hippy college students participating in protest marches all over the US. His campaign speeches were directed to the parents and grandparents of those hooligans, and he spouted “Law and Order!”

Bet Trump thinks HE invented that catchy phrase!

A political pundit of that time remarked that when you hear “law and order” repeated again and again and AGAIN, it sounds a lot like “lawn ordure.”

What goes around, comes around again!

~VOW

174

Since the West Seattle Bridge is closed, and only truck and transit traffic are allowed on the Spokane Street Bridge, I bought two Cobb salads at Trader Joe’s on Tuesday. Since I didn’t have to go anywhere for lunch, I took a walk over the Spokane Street Bridge and back – a round-trip distance of 1.4 miles. On the way back, I stopped to look at a railway draw bridge that I had never seen down. I watched it being raised. About the time I was done looking at the draw bridge, the warning bell started ringing on the swing bridge I was on. I moved along, and stopped where the gate would shortly close – which it did. Then the bells stopped ringing and a barrier closed across the roadway. (Red lights and crossing guards had already stopped traffic.) The bridge rose a few inches and then swung open, and then swing closed again. I guess it was just a test.

Anyway, that was the first time I’d actually seen it in action.

175

Neat story on the bridge, flyboy. I watch trains on a You Tube channel called Virtual Railfan and one of the sites (Ft. Madison, Iowa), has a swing bridge across the Mississippi that will hold up trains while the barges pass through (it’s open right now–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOHhA_XIZZw&list=PLR9jbUvWYuLtC4DRU-0AeU9CC6GIzlqF_&index=16)

Other than that, nothing much to report in the last couple hours, except cheeseburger has been prepared and consumed.

176

Pics up on FB - the kitchen is done and all rooms but this one are carpeted. These guys worked fast!! The carpet is a wee bit darker than we’d imagined, but after the cream color we’ve had for 16 years, anything would seem dark. We are pleased. In the morning, I’ll start moving some stuff back in. Maybe a little tonight - we shall see.

For now, I need to figure out supper. I had a huge salad so I’m not really hungry. Maybe I’ll have leftover stir-fry. Later. I’s tahred at the moment.

177

Pretzel has eaten, so have I, and clean dishes are all put away.
I set up a bigger litter box to better accommodate kitty bombs, plus a second box down in the basement for their excess pooping needs. Doubt Nikki will venture all that way, but since Monkey has 3,000% as much energy as Nik and I combined & is responsible for 98% of the horrors recently appearing in their litter box, I have hopes that he’ll trot on down there once in a while.

I also moved a group of eight lil rattie pups (7 agouti, or brownish gray, and one amber e.g. reddish fur markings) in with a better group, to foster them.
Watched for a minute as one of the moms sniffed them all over, frantically washed each squirming pup (“You stink of … some other rat.”) and promptly assimilated each pup into their existing pile of fuzzy milk vacuums.
Much squeaking ensued.

So much drama can occur in a couple of cubic feet!

178

Ohmylord, I started fixing a quesadilla for myself and realized I haz no cilantro.
I was just at the store, and even in the produce section, where I helpfully got more garlic even though I got some last time.
(I was nearly out of garlic last time I wanted to use some, provoking some panic.)

I’m sorely tempted to turn the burner off & temporarily pause this entire quesadilla project until I can get some. Haters gotta hate, but cilantro is my favorite leafy green.
The culinary version of “I will turn this car right around!!”

179

shoe: You should try a sincronizada. When I was still eating carbs, I’d smear slightly-warmed (to facilitate smearing) refried beans on a 12" flour tortilla, add a good layer of ham, a layer of shredded cheese, and another tortilla. Bake it in the oven until it’s warmed all the way through. Cut it up like a pizza and garnish with a glob of guacamole, a glob of sour cream, some diced tomatoes, and some shredded cheese.

180

That sounds absolutely amazing. I love when it’s raining and I get to just stay in bed. One day my husband asked me about my perfect day and I told him that my perfect day would be me sleeping and drifting in bed until I was thoroughly sick of it, wandered out to get coffee to find I was completely alone and only got to see people when I felt like it. I’d lounge on the couch, watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians, drink coffee with heavy cream and knit until I couldn’t stand myself anymore.

And yeah, I go on a shuffle (you know, the top half looks like you’re running but you’re moving as fast as a snail) every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30. No way in heck would I get up if my friend weren’t banging on my door. She’s one of those people who wakes up at 4:30 a.m. regularly - you know, just because.

Bleh, I need to go clean the house. Well, get started cleaning anyway. I made the grave mistake of inviting a friend and her kid over Saturday evening and she’s a huge germophobe. Her house is completely immaculate despite her having a ten year old daughter, a five year old daughter and a baby. She does it all herself. I couldn’t even hang the hummingbird feeder when my son was 3; how the heck does she clean the whole darned house every freaking day??? Anyway, I’ve got an inferiority complex when it comes to a clean house - it’s just not a priority for us, so we’re constantly saying “excuse the mess,” but we never actually do anything about it.