Wow: I just found out today that a woman living here in Walking Dead Manor was Prince’s music teacher back in the day! There’s also a guy living here who was the Minneapolis police chief, among other positions he held.
The metallic ones? The cross-stitch groups on FB have some, ah, colorful choice words to describe that stuff. It looks beautiful, but every single post is just 
about working with it.
“Satan’s pubic hair” is my all-time favorite so far …
To everyone else: imma tryin’ to catch up with y’all. Seems there’s a lotta bad news lately, so {{ huggzz }} all 'round as needed. I’m just tired, sleeping a lot, and dragging my sorry carcass to work each day.
{{ clutches pearls }}
Welp, there’s a possible kink in my weekend travel plans: the kennel has space but Bailey’s updated bordatella vaccination is due on the 9th (the day I need to drop her off), and while I do already have a vet appointment for her annual exam and vaccinations it isn’t until the 15th. If she can’t get the bordatella before Sunday, she can’t board. I called my vet this morning to see if that’s possible, explaining that I’m trying to attend an out-of-town funeral, and the woman who answered the phone said she’d need to leave a message for the doctor…who is in surgery all/most of the day. I’m 99% sure I’ll wind up having to call them again tomorrow morning. She also said something about them maybe not being able to do just the bordatella, which could mean needing an actual appointment (vs a tech visit) and therefore almost zero chance of being able to get it done before Sunday.
I won’t be upset if I wind up not being able to go to NJ. No one is expecting me to show up (no one expects the Northern Virginia inquisition!), and like I said it isn’t a personal loss for me. I’d like to go if I can, though. We’ll see if I hear from the vet today/what happens when I call again in the morning. 
(Before anyone asks: there’s no one Bailey could stay with, and boarding her somewhere else isn’t an option. Any other decent kennel would also require her bordatella to be current, plus she’s too old for me to be willing to put her through the significant stress of staying somewhere new.)
JtC, you replied to me twice: I only posted one link. 
And you have zero reason to feel self-conscious about/apologize for needing what works for you! (My feelings don’t get hurt that easily! 
)
Meanwhile, at work so far it’s been People Can’t Follow Directions/Read for Comprehension Day. In particular we have one manager who is significantly disorganized and unable to follow simple logic, and who has repeatedly – over the years – accused me of making mistakes and/or contradicting myself when the truth is always just that she’s confused. And did I mention that she loves to copy her manager on those accusations? *heavy sigh* Her manager is my peer, but even if she were copying my boss I wouldn’t be worried; it’s just super frustrating. And I have to waste time (extra time, because I need to remain calm and polite) proving that she is, in fact, mistaken.
I’d like to go back to bed, please…
…but I can’t, so instead I’m taking this break to vent a little. And I plan to have something warm and filling for lunch. I thought the rain was supposed to stop today, but now they’re saying tomorrow. I do so love fall, but I’ll admit I’m ready for a break from this almost-week of dampness.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you, FCD, and the FCC (that would be the FairyChatClan)!
Sometimes that’s the best we can do/all anyone can ask of us! 
Afternoon, mumpers! I can’t believe we are halfway through the week and I have only just made it to the MMP. It’s 14c/57f with a high of 16c/61f and we have rain showers. Weather app says “Seriously? This rain fucking blows.” It’s quite right, has been grey and gloomy all day so the cats have been snuggled up in their chosen snoozing spots for most of the day.
(((Boo, Nellie, Taters, Wordy, VanGo, Shoe, FCM, FCD and everyone else))) Looks like you are all in need of a hug today. I have read much, and retained little…but hugs are always necessary.
Reasonably decent heave. I did thwart 2 acts of carnage today. First, I had forgotten to grab the recycling when I was leaving and when I went back into the kitchen I startled Fred before he could eat Jimminy Cricket. Then I was leaving work, I spooked Blueberry the cat while she was about to pounce on some prey. The prey being a pair of Canadian Geese. Good thing I was there, or Blueberry would have ended up like the guy in the wishbone scene from Jurassic Park II.
Very well played.
Good luck on moving the inlaws!
Not much to report here. Went to work, had cafeteria pizza, worked some more, and came home. Since it’s sunny, we could sit in the winter garden, but now the sun’s going down and it cooling down.
Time for dinner (simple nachos) and tv.
{{{{{{{{{{{{mumpers}}}}}}}}}}}}
About to head to the gym and the store. I want to get everything outdoors done before the marine layer evaporates. And yes, I’m envisioning myself under a layer of Marines. They don’t look too happy. Someone must’ve promised 'em Beyonce or Chrissy Teigen or someone, I dunno, under 60 with good vision.
I hit a minor road bump last night. I coast along on the Denial setting most of the time, and it works like a charm, but the reminder yesterday that the left retina is irretrievably damaged hit me, and for about three minutes, I got the sads. It’s not self-pity. It’s just a brief realization that vision-wise, I’m kinda screwed. Then I went back to being determined to see well enough to drive someday.
JtC, my daughter’s gormless one is about 5 years old physically and about 3 months old mentally. Her other cat–the intelligent one–is about 11 and has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen on a feline. I love that cat. She sleeps with me when I visit, usually in the crook of my knees, though once she spent the entire night with her head next to mine and the covers drawn up to her neck. She’s an easy cat to have around. Her brother, on the other hand…well, he’s the GG of the northwest: always getting in scrapes but very entertaining, kind of like Joey on Friends.
Huh. It’s a new thing at my sister’s old school. I think it really has to do more with hunting season. Some people at my old school pushed for getting opening day off, since so many kids went hunting anyway, but it never happened. It always puzzled me how her school had so many more vacation days than ours did–and now even more with the “fall break” week. I just looked at their calendar, and–Sh! Don’t tell anyone, but they don’t come close to meeting the state’s supposed minimum instructional days. I checked another district, and it’s not just theirs. Apparently some states are more loosey-goosey about such things than my old state. Their teachers probably twitch a lot less. 
Cookie, how cool about Prince’s music teacher! And I bet the former police chief has some stories to tell.
OK, that cracked me up. I hope Bailey can get the bordatella shot (which I kept reading as “bordello shot.”), but it sounds like if you can’t go, you’re chill with that.
Hugggggzzzz to all, whether ya need 'em or not. They’re good for you!
The horror! 
I think my kids would explode into tiny pieces without internet. 
Good luck with the move. To be honest, I’m still astonished they’re actually moving. They seemed determined to stay. I’m glad they’ve relented.
Speaking of, how’s the no smoking going?
I grew up with not sweet. I’ll eat sweet cornbread, but it’s weird. Of course, my kids don’t understand not sweet cornbread. I have failed them.
Minneapolis PD has a reputation. It would be interesting to talk to him.
He sounds like Jorts!
Hugs to everyone! May the week improve from here with only good things for all.
We’ve got the toilet put back in place and we’re getting quotes from a few contractors to fix up the bathroom. I’ve also started a claim with our insurance company. It turns out that toilet overflows are covered (but a pipe leaking would not be). Insurance be weird.
Take care and Happy Wednesday!
Back from my first PT appointment. I need to use a heating pad on my fingers for 10 minutes. Then I need to flatten my fingers for 30 seconds, curl my fingers for 30 seconds, and repeat five times, four times a day. I was also given a pair of splints that apply gentle straightening pressure. I’ll need to wear those for at least an hour four times a day, or perhaps overnight, or as much as possible. Next appointment is on the 24th.
I bought a couple of chicken breasts on the way home. I put them in the freezer, but I plan to make my version of chicken cordon bleu with them, using ham and Swiss instead of prosciutto and Gruyere. But there are a couple of nice steaks in the fridge for Friday or Saturday, so I don’t know when I’ll make chicken. I’ll have to think of a vegetable. My default is broccoli, but it gives the Missus gas. Our default is asparagus, but I’m getting just a little tired of it. So maybe steamed yellow squash.
flyboy I’m sorry that your fingers are still giving you trouble. I hope PT helps get your hand healthy again.
Thanks. You know how hard it is to point at something when your two pointing fingers won’t straighten?
I just got back from a lunch of warm steamed duck on top of salad. It’s served at a duck specialty place in Little Saigon in San Jose, a little hole in the wall that I’ve patronized for years. But I haven’t been there since before the pandemic, so this was my first duck in a long time.
Boy, it’s great. Warm juicy duck slices with house-made gingery sweet and spicy duck sauce, and it’s served on a salad of shredded cabbage and Vietnamese herbs to cut the richness. Mr. brown despises duck, so I have to make an effort to drive myself over there once or twice a year if I want to eat duck. Which I do.
@Sunny_Daze , November 3 will be my third anniversary of not smoking. The urge to smoke has lessened but will always be there. I think of myself as a smoker who doesn’t smoke.
Keep up the good work!
Trigger finger?
I get that. I have been smoke free fro a long time, but I realize that I am one good cigar away from being a full time smoker again.
I can go to NJ/the funeral! 
The vet called, and they’re fitting Bailey in on Friday morning (just for the updated bordatella; I keep the appointment on the 15th for everything else). Now everything is officially squared away. I’m glad that I’m able to go.
I’m glad someone appreciated it. I almost deleted it right after I typed it.
How much does any/all of that hurt?
There are only two green vegetables that I like: string beans, and peas. The others are corn, carrots, and potatoes. Feel free to be inspired. 