March Madness Mother Nature Style In The MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
81

Howdy Y’all! We went to the service (I served) and were quite surprised by the number of people there. Not Sunday mornin’ attendance, but close. Other Verger was Verger tonight and she had to go in the Sacristy for extra wafers and wine. It’s a good problem to have. There’s a funeral on Thursday which I have agreed to serve, so we set up for it after the service. OYKW was impressed with how she and I can do that so easily. In other news it’s cold out, so good sleep weather.

I read all but lack comprehension right now, so yays, boos, hugs, trouts, chitlins and how you doin’s all around as needed.

82

I took a short nap, took Roomie to PT, took another nap. Watching hockey. Dinner tonight is chicken, rice, and mushrooms with mushroom sauce, and a couple of Guinnesses.

I’m in N.C. If you don’t have French Toast fixin’s when it snows, the Wampas eat you.

Yeah, but we got your back {{{{Mollie}}}}

83

Paranoid isn’t fun, some folks just do not tolerate it well.

So when is your cataract surgery going to be? I’ll tell you right now that the worse part of it will be remembering that you cannot bend over to tie your shoes or pet your sweet pupper. You won’t be able to pick her up either. Other than that, it is a breeze :slight_smile:

Changing one’s name is a total PITA, I can certainly understand why it would fall out of favor even without all of the current garbage. I wouldn’t have done it twice.

BFF in AZ says it is expected to be 97 on Wednesday. I sure do not miss it!

See, that’s the thing. They already know who we are. We file taxes and many of us work so pay the feds money every pay check. When we get old enough they send us a monthly check and pay some of our medical bills. I had to provide all of the documentation required for a passport to get my Real ID which is also required and verified by the feds. The IRS sent us a letter saying that they would start denying my tax returns because my name hadn’t been changed with the Social Security department in a timely fashion.

They fucking know who we are and this is just a lot of…kicks soapbox back under the desk.

OH NOOOO!!! That sounds very painful, I hope you recover quickly.

We’re not sure what we are going to do when our current feline overlords leave us. We won’t be catless, but we might foster instead of adopting a senior. Hopefully that will be long in coming.

Up until now, we have always had catios and will be putting one up here this summer. We have had several snakes as well as assorted rodents and birds carried proudly into the house because they were stoopid enough to break into a cage full of excitable obligate carnivores. After dark, in the middle of the night while we are sleeping of course.

I am really happy that this journey is bringing you such joy :slight_smile:

I’m so glad she was able to do that for you (tell her I said HIGH!), we can’t get edibles here. Well except for THC infused drinks, not sure why that doesn’t count. I can get micro doses and could probably get edibles in Ohio if you run out. Do let me know - and Ohio is less than two hours away and involves driving on some spectacular county roads, so any excuse is a good one.

Yep. It doesn’t stop the pain and won’t cure anything, but not caring can be huge at times.

Hubs has never objected to me going commando…

NF’s car has duel settings so she just has to push a button to get all of her stuff back. Her husband has his settings as well. I’m not usually jealous of other people’s possessions, but I’ve got some serious envy over that.

While I’m sure it wasn’t me because I don’t like chili, I printed it because Hubs does, so thank you :slight_smile:

So today was spent watching snow :slight_smile: It did stop about three pm and now almost everything has melted off, but it was beautiful while it was happening. The birds are coming back, Mrs Cardinal was here for sunflower seeds so I expect I’ll be seeing a little red bird in a few weeks. Harry and I went to the river and put bark butter on the trees by the flying squirrel nests and I caught a peek of a pair of big brown eyes looking down at us from the branches.

I learned that we get our power from different lines than Harry because his power went out around 11 and ours didn’t even flicker. Harry got to use his genny and his emergency lamps and spark up both fire places because he is all kinda prepared and stuff. He wanted to fire up his kerosene heaters but Mrs Harry says they are too stinky to use unless it is a serious emergency.

Hubs was jealous, he hasn’t been able to show that he’s a rough, tuff hillbilly who is ready to fight the elements with his stuff yet.

84

The short recap from the previous MMP - I’m driving from Portland, OR to The Villages, FL. My first leg was from Portland, to just north of SLC. Second leg from there to Kearney, NE. Today, I made it from Kearney, NE to Mt. Vernon, IL, about 45 minutes east of St. Louis. More traffic today and more construction, but it was an easier day because I finally figured out the cruise control.

Here’s the thing … I like cruise control, but this was my first experience with “Adaptive Cruise Control.” The first thing that irritated me was the lane control shit. Every two minutes it’s giving me some warning or notice, my favorite being, “KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL!” in crimson red. Jesus. Scared the shit out of me. I did appreciated the slow me down and keep me from driving into the back of an 18-wheeler function, but this speed limit control shit was totally fucked.

Apparently, it’s suppose to know, A) the speed limit of the road your driving down and 2) how much of a curve you are on. This system knew none of that shit and seemed to assign speed limits and curves at random. Two things that happened to me:

  • I was going up a hill in a 70mph zone, accelerating up to speed, when all of a sudden the little curve symbol lit up and I slowed from 60 to 40 … on a straight up hill. Your only option is to just turn the whole system off and wait for the thing to clear.
  • (This was the really maddening one) - Nebraska. The whole state is 75mph, absolutely straight. The limit indicator reads 80mph, but I’ve got the cruise control set to 78 anyway (I ain’t trying to fuck with noooo cops on this trip). Then it drops down to 70 but increases my speed to 80 because, apparently, it gives you a 10mph buffer. A few miles down the road, it flicks back to 80 and increases my speed to 90! A couple times I didn’t even notice until I realized I was passing everybody. It was like a video game with my thumb on the cruise control button, making adjustment like I was goddamned Neil Armstrong.

Half-way through Nebraska I figured out how to turn that feature off. Also half-way through Nebraska, Bob finally found a position he could sleep in - with his muzzle over my snacks and his ear in my iced tea.

Imgur

Imgur

85

Lovely pictures, J-Bats, of a dog settling in for a long trip. And my Hyundai has the “Adaptive Cruise Control” to, but mine doesn’t (as of yet) accelerate me past my cruise setting. But yeah, the first time it decelerated me when I got to close to the vehicle in front of me was…surprising. Used to it (mostly) now. If you’re coming down 65S to Mobile and over to FLA, give me a wave when you cross the Tenn/Ala border or around the Buc-ees about 20 miles inside Ali-bama.

JtC, I’m sure hubs will get his chance someday to prove his credentials…

And late-night final time, off to bed and try to be more active tomorrow or at least eat less…catch y’all on Hump Day.

86

This morning, I asked Mrs. L.A. when she’ll be home. She looked at her schedule and I said, ‘I mean after your Bible study.’ She said, ‘Bible study is on Wednesday.’ I’d thought today was Wednesday. I guess my first day at the new job was longer than I thought.

It was less busy today. The ‘morning’ (we didn’t go to lunch until 14:00) was spent going through tabs and stuff. She had an issue to deal with, so the rest of the day was really slow for me. We did one cash deposit (for another employee), and deposited one check that came in from the drive-through. I alphabetised a couple of months of returned mail. I think they returned mail that had not been added to a spreadsheet, needs to be added to a spreadsheet. Lots of dead people.

87

Mollie So glad to hear you are progressing with your journey. I hope it continues well.

J-bats Bob looks comfy. Ms Peach likes to ride leaning on my right shoulder, which is quite inconvenient. I once had a loaner when the dealership was working on a recall. The first time the lane assist bs went off I had no idea why the car was vibrating at me. Hate that crap.

Speaking of Ms Peach, I got back her embark results, she’s 65 percent american pitty (duh) 15% bulldog, and 20% “supermutt”. I’m taking a sewing class in a couple of weeks, I think a supermutt cape is in order. It’ll probably last 15 minutes until it gets shredded.

88

When I was a kid, every year I’d start school resolved to keep my desk and notebooks tidy. It never lasted more than two weeks. That’s the approach I find myself using on the MMP: THIS week, I’ll stay on top of it! Then I fall behind, start to post, get distracted, and the next thing I know, it’s Monday again. How I envy and admire those of you who keep up so well! MetalMouse gets a gold star.

Today was nutso. I got a BOGO sale on some store items. When that happens, I give the freebie to Max’s person. She wanted to catch up, so I was late for Ms. Dog’s arrival. Here she is at the playground. She always insists on climbing the stairs to the slide. She refuses to go down, so I don’t get the attraction.

Then my daughter called. She and STBX are working on a property settlement. I told her to call her attorney before agreeing to anything. STBX gave her a list of regrets that included regret for the affair. He referred to the upcoming baby–which, it turns out, was NOT a random oops but a deliberate decision he and the OW made–as the “annoying roommate.” I’m sure he was joking, but that’s a terrible thing to say. Daughter says reality of what his life will look like now is just starting to hit him, and he’s pretty miserable. He said he keeps starting to text her and send her memes and then remembers that’s off, now.

My brother called. My SIL is having trouble. Diabetic Mumpers, can it cause vomiting? She said her blood sugar is OK, but she’s been sick repeatedly since last Friday.

J-Bats, yay on the Bob photos! Those always make my day. He looks like he’s a comforting chap. Did you wave to Boo as you drove through Nebraska?

B-but then the people won’t see London, and they won’t see France. :worried:

I always thought you were fairly tall–well, relative to my 5’2 frame.

I hate to sound ignorant, but what is a Yaris?

Mollie, the road might be bumpy sometimes because you are, after all, under construction, but I’m confident you’ll navigate it well. Two years ago, a woman I knew passed away. Her obituary said that she was grateful to [her deadname] “because he got me here safely.” You’re doing such good work for yourself.

swampy, is a verger in the Whiskeypalian church kind of like an adult altar boy/girl (acolytes now ) in the RC church? Do vergers distribute communion? My brother was an altar boy. We had a huge parish–14 masses in 2-3 different locations within the building–and only 4 priests, so each priest had to celebrate a few masses. The altar boys were instructed to only pour a splash of wine into the chalice, but of course they’d pour quite a bit, and the priests would mumble under their breath.

But do they smother you in syrup first?

89

Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s currently 31 degrees Ferret Height(-0.556 Centipedes), so I’m likely to have to scrape a mixture of frost and yellow dust off of Carmen.

< flicks switch from “pistol” to “rapier” >

:rofl:

Nobody likes a dry wafflevictim.

90

Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 9c/47f with a predicted high of 18c/64f and sunny. Weather app says “You can take the sun and shove it up your fucking arse.” Bit rude, right?

Packed lunches and a stroll around the local streets for a bit of a break?

Well, someone started a massive fire near Glasgow Central station which is where ‘im indoors needs to get to at the weekend. He’s still not sure whether it will be open for the routes he needs, so his travel plans could be far more screwed up than mine, for a change.

That makes me so happy for you!

The seat in my car moves in various directions, the guy at the garage has to drive it from where I park it in front of the service bay doors, all of 100ft into the service bay and up on the ramp. This necessitates adjusting the seat height, distance from the pedals, and the angle of the back of the seat. When I pick it up, it takes me 10 minutes to get everything back to where it ought to be!

I’m glad the journey is going relatively smoothly after a rocky start. Bob looks quite comfortable there :slight_smile:

During the week, it becomes a habit to read and reply while I’m having my morning cup of tea when I get into work. Home days and campus days are much the same, make a cuppa and read the MMP while I’m having breakfast.

Yesterday was a bit of a washout as far as most things were concerned. I was tired and unfocused so didn’t get much productive work done. I also didn’t feel like going out to do the grocery shopping so I did an online order to be delivered this evening. I also put a load of laundry on so I did make some progress.

I made tarragon chicken with pasta for dinner so there’s a spare portion in the freezer for another day. ‘im indoors will be going to Scotland for a week to look after his mum so I will have stuff in the freezer that I can use for meals instead of cooking every day. Went to bed early, got up early, tended to the needs of cats and got myself to campus.

Busy meeting day today, I have my staff review this morning, then a senior administrators’ meeting, and then a meeting with erstwhile manager and ADHD minion to discuss next steps and have a bit of a round-up of what we can (or can’t) do for him and what we need to do now. Troublesome Minion is working at home today so I have a day of peace from her. Onwards, ever onwards!

91

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 33 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 58 and sunny. High temps will be back to the low 80s by Sattidy. Go figure. We shall procure provisions this mornin’ and pursue RDOS inactivities the rest of the day. Sup will be grilled poke chops, succotash, cheesey rice from a box (don’t judge!) and rolls. Borin’ but it will provide sustenance.

Mollie so glad you had a good session with your therapist. Like doggio said, we Mumpers will always have your back.

J_Bats Bob looks so comfy. The fact that you can’t get to your snacks and iced tea is no matter as long as Bob is comfy.

BooFae enjoy your troublesome minion free day.

Nellie a Verger is more like a MC. We make sure that everyone is present, knows what they are supposed to do (this includes Acolytes, Chalice Bearers, ushers, lay readers etc.), find subs if someone is not there (even though someone servin’ is supposed to do that if they are not goin’ to be there and let the Verger on duty know), ensure everyone is lined up for the processional in the right order, prompt folks to do their thang durin’ the service if needed, make sure candles are lit, make sure all the elements for Communion are there, make sure the hymn board is correct (even though no one ever looks at it) make sure the Priest has water in the pulpit and by their chair, keep an eye out for stuff like the need for more wafers or wine, or whatever else the Priest may need and who knows what else, and lead the processional and recessional. Sounds like a lot, but for the most part things go pretty smoothly at a normal service. On occasions when incense is used, the Verger ensures that the charcoal is lit, the incense is there for the Priest to add, and makes sure the Thurifer doesn’t get too wild swingin’ the Censer around. There is a ceremonial Verger stick (wooden with a Cross on top) we use for the processional/recessional, and to Verge the Gospel out into the congregation. In earlier times in Europe and I suppose other places in smaller towns, the processional would go from the center of the town/village into the church. The Verger would use the stick to move animals out of the way, and who knows what else. That might even have happened in the church itself. I am jealous that I never get to do that.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, alas and bother, I suppose I must purtify myself and don attire acceptable for bein’ amongst the great unwashed.

Happy Hump Day Y’all!

92

Morning all. Up early and have broken fast, am awaiting the plumber’s return and another day of getting the house worked on. Hopefully this will be the end of the plumbing problems but it’ll take another chunk of change to repair what’s been torn up to get to the plumbing…ah, the joys of house ownership… Hope to make it to the gym today, have already started the over-consuming of calories and need to be working some of that off. 35F now but the predictions are it’ll be in the 80’s by the weekend (one can hope).

Swampy, thanks for the explanation of Vergering. Most of what I knew about it came from this short story: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Maugham_The_Verger_0.pdf

flyboy, days do tend to bunch up on us. Hope the job continues to go well.

VanGo, yay! for SuperMutt!

nellie, I keep up because I don’t do all that much, spend a couple hours in the morning internetting, check while I am out at the gym, and then spend most of my evening browsing the Web. Most a very dull time, but you folks help keep thngs interesting. Hope things keep working out for daughter. Hope Sis-in-Law just has a bad cold or something.

boo fae, read about that fire, best wishes to 'im indoors. Hope all the meetings go smoothly.

And that’s it for the morning report. Need to dress semi-proper (jeans and polo instead of sweatshirt/sweatpants) for the visiting plumbers, lest they think I am some indolent plebeian (oh wait, I am…). Take care all.

93

Monday I brought a shapr cheddar sandwich with Colman’s mustard and Best Foods mayonnaise. But Trader Joe’s is right there! So I went over and got a Cobb salad. I actually ate both. Yesterday I brought bologna and Romaine lettuce with yellow mustard and mayo, and Trader Joe’s Cheese Bites (little discs of baked parmesan). I’ll do bologna again today, maybe with some nuts.

94

bob is such a good buddy. what a good, handsome lad.

johnny la, i do that all the time. somewhere around midweek i move forward a day. today i am sliding between weds. and thurs.. mostly because i have stuff to do thurs. night and i keep thinking, when i get home, i should…then remember that is tomorrow.
way to impress the boss on your first day!

nelliebly, stbx just finds ways to make things worse, doesn’t he? wow. i’m sorry your daughter has to deal with this stuff.

swampbear, when you mentioned the verger stick, i thought “that would be good for whacking”. then i see it was meant for whacking!

i also read the mmp around meals. kinda like sitting down at a table in the cafeteria. you can just listen in, or engage a bit.

95

Good morning, all.

It’s 52F and raining. The forecast calls for steady morning rain, afternoon showers, and a high of 58F. Several areas are under a flood watch or warning, and many of the mountain areas are also under avalanche warnings.

J-Bats, Bob looks like such a good car buddy.

Nellie, I’m sorry STBX is such an ass and that your daughter has to continue to deal with him.

Johnny, soon you’ll have a work rhythm. It takes a minute to get used to new places.

Mollie, I’m glad your session went well.

Metal Mouse, yay for plumbing work almost being done.

Well, my son did not get the house. His offer was higher, but the other couple could close in three weeks, while his offer had a four-week closing. I don’t know why, and I didn’t ask. Disappointing news to be sure, but on the other hand, maybe it just means something better will come along.

My state is one of the five states where Real ID is proof of citizenship. Thank goodness. Lord knows it was a pain in the ass to get one.

I don’t have plans for today. I may go out for a bit to get the pups some doggy ice cream. They’ve been out for several days now. Other than that, the day will consist of the usual tidying up, etc.

You all take care, now.

96

Ah…so Trader Joe’s is a good thing, although not good for the bank balance if you’re in there every day!

97

Today started with 26 Ferrets and dreariness. We’re promised 40s today, 50s tomorrow 60s for the weekend. I am so over this cold weather. FCD wanted breakfast out so we went to Flashback Diner. Now we’re home. I’ll be helping him in the shop a little, but nothing in particular planned beyond that. We’ll see what happens.

Otis is taking full advantage of his door. I needed to add some foam insulation around one edge because cold air was flowing in, but it’s all good now. I’ll be curious to see what summer brings - specifically regarding bugs. Something to look forward to.

FCD’s Caddy had this, too, and I loved it! The car was meh, but the seat memory was Da Best!!!

FCD’s Santa Fe has all those “helpful” features. He’s turned most of them off, but he still get reminders to stop and take a break, even if he’s only been driving 10 minutes. :roll_eyes: I hate when technology steps out of the realm of helpful and becomes a naggy annoyance. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should…

I usta be 5’5", but I’m barely 5’4", if that much. Old age shrinkage, y’know.

How do you make it? I love tarragon chicken, but I kinda make it up as I go along. I suppose I could google a recipe…

OK, time to get myself in gear. Happy Wednesday!!

98

Make it up as I go along :slight_smile: I used chicken thighs, mushrooms and onion thrown in a pan to brown. Then added garlic, chicken stock, water, black pepper, mixed herbs and plenty of tarragon, and half a pack of reduced-fat garlic and herb cream cheese. Stir it around a bit, let it simmer for 20-30 minutes and use a bit of cornflour to thicken the sauce if needed. Yesterday, I added a pack of baby leaf spinach to it, because it was in the fridge and needed to be used up.

99

A compact Toyota. They are no longer made. :frowning:

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP. After that, I shall get sheveled and do the girls’ day out with Sis.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

100

Good morning all. I wore ankle weights to my sculpt class last night, and I’m paying for it today. Stairs are not currently my friend. I’m trying to increase muscle mass so there will be less loss in a couple of months. Typing that made me realize I’ve already got a mental roadmap. Oh fuck, this is scary. It would be so much easier to curl up and be miserable, but I know at th end of the road, life will be so much better - especially if Mrs Magill will join me on the road. That’s my biggest fear - even bigger than being rounded up and shoved in an ICE detention camp.

Deep Breath

I find if I state my intention, I feel better. - My name is Thea, and I am a girl.

There - that’s out in the universe. I’m going to get some tea.

JtC - My surgery is tentatively scheduled for 7 & 21 April. I’m not too concerned with bending over, as with my back, I can’t really do that already. I am now concerned about yoga. I’ll have to ask about that at my second consult next week.

Come to think of it, I think It was. The chili and the lentil soup. Let me see if I can find it while the notebook is out…
https://www.wellplated.com/instant-pot-lentil-soup/

J-Bats - I like my adaptive cruise control. Unless I’m in a rush, I’ll set it for 72 and find a truck that’s cruising and get behind them, making sure I can see their mirrors. If you leave enough pressure ion the wheel, so the adaptive steering senses it, you should avoid the warning lights.

I’ll wave from Nashville.

nellie - Good call on the attorney. In fact, I would recommend communicating through the attorney. They’re there to advocate for you, and they’re harder to emotionally manipulate, so it’s less draining. At least STBX realizes the hole he’s dug for himself, but that’s TDB. He fucked up. He knows he fucked up, but he wants your daughter to deal with the consequences. That’s not her job.

I had the same question regarding the verger a while back. My rector said they were like a stage manager, and they keep the service running. (Or what swampy said, only less eloquently and lighter on the details.)