Ok if we keep thinking you are your dad’s greatest work of art?
[the car is awesome also]
It’s a lovely word. Celebrate away!
Geez Louise, it was 21 on my weather widget when I woke up at my usual 5:00 AM. Holy crap, if I wanted to experience temperatures like that, I’d live up Nor’ wit all youse guys! Where do I complain? 
Dominus vobiscum, @Old_Wench 
Best of luck to you both, Die - exercise can truly work wonders, and I hope it does for you and yours.
I really appreciate all the virtual support - I knew I could count on you guys. And, yes, the body is a hideously disgusting miracle for sure. For example, last night while I was at the hospital they happened to be changing the packing on my mom’s neck. The hole they’d made to more fully drain the abscess was covered by a bandage. Not too unusual. Until…the doctor walks in to take a look, pulls aside the bandage, grabs hold of the medicated packing strip and pulls. And pulls. And pulls. It was like watching a magician pull scarves out of a hat. This stuff just kept coming out of the hole in her neck. There must’ve been at least two feet of it scrunched up and packed deep into the pocket inside her neck between the muscle wall and tendon.
I watched in astonishment until the doc started packing it with new tape, pushing it into the hole with the blunt wooden end of a long q-tip until another nearly 2 feet of it had disappeared into the cavity. Finally, I leaned forward and asked for the q-tip, figuring I might as well know what tension to look for to make sure the thing was successfully packed because this will be my job, twice a day, for as long as the thing takes to heal from the inside out.
Anywho, I never imagined my mom suddenly having an extra orifice. Particularly one I’d have the pleasure of cleaning. Oh, well - the things you do for love. Now I can confidently say that I’ve cleaned not only everyone’s butt in my house (husband’s included, which is a story for a different day), but now I’ve taken care of additional orifices that shouldn’t be there. I need more coffee.
Oh, on the bright side, overlymom is sprung today. Can’t wait to get her home and comfy. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to clean her place but she’s feeling energetic enough she can’t wait to do laundry and also plans to drive to my place once a day and I’ll go to her place once a day so we can manage her wound (yes, she’s off pain meds, though I have no idea how).
Mine too-I feel so cool having a friend over there who describes life in an actual civilized country.
I’m a looker at avatars first also, I’m like a kid who gets attached more to the pictures in a book. When I meet any of you I’ll need your avatar on your t shirt (or screen printed on your face mask0.
I survived the frosty frigid drive to drop off the teenager at middle school-she’s a lovely, sweet kid so it’s a pleasant task, then to the grocery store for them to contactlessly put groceries in the trunk. I didn’t even trip and fall on my face carrying them in, like I did last time. It was dark when I fell carrying those groceries and the next morning when I came back from the middle school trip there was a forlorn can of no sugar added peaches waiting up on the curb, half buried in the leaves. Usually it’s a beer bottle or empty little nip of Fireball-guess that is why the peaches were still there, a disappointment to passers by.
Morning, all. Another sunny day in SoCal. Pixel has an upset tummy and was puking all morning. Thankfully she waited until we were all up before ralphing on the sheets. She hasn’t puked in an hour or so, so maybe she got it all up. We’ll see.
A good addition to the MMP FAQ might be a list of widely-used nicknames and how they were acquired. Or they can just remain a mystery.
Trash Day and a Smart & Final run after classes. Life is thrilling here in the not-that-big city. Stay warm, cool, dry, whatever and have a great day, y’all!
Morning all. Stayed in to 8am today, and since it’s below freezing here (30F), I wasn’t in any hurry to climb out of the comforter anyway. Have done the bulk of my Xmas shopping (Amazon/Barnes and Noble) already and need to discuss my billing with the Pest control company today (they don’t send paper bills anymore, it’s all on their computer but I don’t get any notifications so I’m often late). A couple of other stops and that should take care of the morning hours.
Since this seems to be change the avatar day, I’ve put a new one up myself, hope it looks ok. The pic is one of the character known as the Stainless Steel Rat, one James Bolivar “Slippery Jim” DeGriz from a comic adapted from the SF stories. May have to edit it a bit.
quietly, most of the Mumper names, which are given to the new poster by the older ones, are some type of play on the poster’s name–since your ‘silenus’, which seems to mean ‘be/keep quiet’, quietly seemed appropriate. And since I’m the Stainless Steel Rat, metal mouse is easy to get too. Tell you what, next new mumper you get to assign them their MMP name.
talky, that’s a big job ahead. And Mom is not only coming home but talking about driving?!? Sounds like she’s taking some leadership on this.
And an Et Cum Spiritu Tuo to you, Thel (no Catholic school but a lot of Latin masses in my youth).
Wheelie, SCAdian is Herald. We didn’t know what to do with his name when he first joined this merry band, but SCA stands for Society of Creative Anachronisms and he mentioned he was often a herald in that role, so herald he became.
FCM, four times? I usually have a 5am wake-up wee, but if that keeps up, maybe see an uruologist?
Boo fae, until the temperature sees the north side of 50F, walking is not something you’re going to get me to do, rota or not.
yanker, that is an impressive list of doctoring…may 2021 see you resuming whatever you consider normal life.
OK, need to make myself presentable and go forth and do great (or at least modest) things. All y’all take care.
Just finished assembling Roxy’s big present.
I’ve ordered Crayola dry erase markers (they’re washable) plus a set of dry erase erasers as well as a roll of paper to mount on the rod at the top. She loves drawing ans stuff, so she should love this. Not sure if it’ll live here or at her house.
And I boiled some eggs. Now I should vacuum…
Oh, wow. That’s so wrong it’s perfect! Silenus, which has been my nom de net since before there even was a Net, refers to the Greek demigod, described as:
Silenus was a companion of the god of wine Dionysus in Greek mythology. He was much older than the satyrs, followers of the god, and had the characteristics of a horse rather than a goat. A group of Dionysus ’ followers was also named Sileni (plural), their most notable characteristic being that they were drunk. Eventually, the word was used as a name of the teacher and close companion of the god.
Silenus was always drunk and was either supported by satyrs or on a donkey. While drunk, it was believed that he acquired arcane knowledge and was able to predict the future.
Quietly is so far off the mark it’s perfect. I love it!
I worked the Midnight sort, but the truck never showed up, so we all just stood around on the clock. Morning sort was chaotic, as there was a metric butt ton of unlabeled stuff to scan and sort. It was 45 when I took Gordie out(wind chill of 43), and 63 in the apartment, since I had the heat off since it was in the upper 60s yesterday.
FCM, that looks nifty.
FCD says it’s my prostate. 
I suspect it has more to do with all the water I drank yesterday.
Paul called - my car is ready. But my to-be-signed-for delivery hasn’t occurred and the website hasn’t been updated, so I’m reluctant to leave. As long as we get over there before 6, we’re good. Meanwhile, I’ve vacuumed and had lunch. It’s been a productive morning.
Thanks, doggio! I think the RoxStar will really enjoy it. She seems to have the soul of an artist! But we’ll make an engineer out of her eventually! 
47 on the way to 56 here. It will feel warmer since the sun is out and there’s no wind. I won’t mind working outdoors today; I usually don’t, unless it’s exceptionally cold, windy or rainy. I expect another quiet day, and I’m on the downslope of my week, so I’m in a pretty good mood this morning.
FCM, of course if you leave the house for 72 seconds, that’s when the package will arrive.
Roxy will love her gift! I remember as a kid, all the fancy toys got played with a few times and then forgotten, while simple creative supplies got used over and over for a long long time… and probably helped our brains too!
Good morning, Mumpers! It’s a few minutes before noon, so is TOO still morning!
I slept badly (stuffy nose) and decided to go back to bed this morning and try to get some more rest. It worked!
Not much on the agenda besides laundry, and paying rent. Whoopty-doo. The elastic broke on my favorite mask - maybe I’ll get around to fixing it.
Very sunny out, but staying in the upper 30s today, for those keeping tabs on local weather.
Time for a hot cuppa & perhaps a yogurt.
Since shoe said good morning, I’ll start with good evening as it is almost time for the second bell of the second dog watch.
talky I am always impressed what people can do when they have to. I am in awe of your orifice cleaning.
For those of you changing your avatars, I like the changes, but I’m probably going to confuse you for a bit. And boo, probably because it’s black and white and your hair is a bit curly, I’m probably going to confuse your picture with Shirley Temple.
metal mouse, I just looked and I guess my copy of Harry Harrison’s The Stainless Steel Rat was actually my dad’s and didn’t make it over here. Read it when I was a teenager, soon after I started reading science fiction in 7th grade.
We managed our walk, which was just 30 minutes, in slushy snow. Not a good idea to wear flared jeans - they got wet up to mid-calf. But if we can get a walk in when it’s that kind of weather, we should be able to be rather consistent. Thursday’s a problem because I have a workshop from 11 until 2. I hope we get a lunch break, but probably not much of one, since our colleagues in the Americas have to get up really early, and the ones in Asia are already staying up late, so everyone has to suffere.
Have to go talk to the neighbors about a wall tonight, so need to get dinner done.
Stay safe!
Afternoon all. Put savings into the Credit Union, bought check ledgers from Staples, and got a space heater (the computer room is the farthest from the heater and thence the coldest) from Ollie’s. The pest control company isn’t taking visitors, so I’ll write them a note or two.
quietly, that’s a fascinating history and probably no one else in the MMP (heck, in the whole Straight Dope) knew that. Glad you do like your name, since there are no take-backs… 
Dice, your avatar looks a bit…aqueductish? I read the SSR a little later than you, but I have, I think, all the novels and several comic books that came out in a limited series. And walking in slushy snow…you’re a tougher Mumper than I, Gunga Dice…
FCM, that’s a great Xmas present, not only for now but for many years after. Well done.
Lunch has been assimilated and the house is warmed nicely. Champion’s league soccer starts in about 90 minutes, so that will keep me entertained this afternoon. All y’all take care now.
Done with my appointment and killing time until checkout at the hotel, as they won’t let me into the Amtrak station until half an hour before departure time. The rheumatologist was very nice and very thorough, and she’s putting me back on lupus medication. 
I hate taking anything so potentially toxic to the liver that I have to have blood work every three months, which is why I keep going off it. Also, I’m on so many friggin’ meds for lupus symptoms now, I could open a pharmacy. However, she says the dangers of the constant inflammation I have are greater than the potential danger of the medication, so here I go again. Hmph. [mutters and stomps feet]
No signs of last night’s protest, so as I thought, it was peaceful-and clean–no trash left behind.
wordy, did the doc find a quarter behind her ear, too? 
You were smart to learn how to do the packing. Your mom’s a very lucky woman to have you. Can’t be said too often!
I agree! Who can do so? I think if someone doesn’t get assigned, it won’t happen.
Hey, God’s telephone number! I can’t be the only survivor of Catholic school who remembers that joke, can I?
And MetalMouse, 50 is WONDERFUL walking temperature because you won’t get overheated. After the first block, you’ll feel toasty warm. No excuses, young mouse! You get out there and beat feet!
In other words, you were out of sorts.
Wait! What? Do you mean that when you give one of your old vehicles to a child (or grandchild) you get to take it off of your own insurance? 
Could you explain that novel new idea to the wimminfolk in my family? Thx.
We stayed up until 2:20 this morning watching the end of season 5 of Line of Duty (the British original) on Amazon Prime, so we slept in a bit today. As much as our bladders and two small dogs would let us.
When I let the ‘boys’ out at 6:20 this morning it was 28f on our porch.
I ain’t changing my avatar. It’s just too much trouble.
I saw what you did there. 
We’ve got some corned beef hash out for breakfast/lunch. I need to go get after it. I’s hongry!
Well, the sun has warmed things enough to let the cats out. I tossed some peanuts out to the birds, and to Monkey, who likes to briefly chase each peanut before bouncing off to fly after the next one.
Second load of laundry is washing, and the litter box is scooped. I also called both my mom AND my dad, to thank them for a bit of Amazon shopping they did on my behalf - my mother 'fessed up that she was not at home when I called. She was at IKEA and at least had the decency to sound a bit sheepish about it.
Anyway, I feel all nice and productive.
Plus while I was outside, a chickadee came to investigate this peanut-throwing business for himself, and perched within maybe 10 feet of me. All fluff & noise.
It was so nice to just stand quietly in the sunshine and watch a little birdy.
Well done! I LOL’d.
In my family we think engineers are artists. So are planners and architects.
I mean, they create things that do what you need them to and they don’t fall down=Art.
Enjoyed the fluffed up chickadee and glad nellie’s doc visit went well, hoping also that the train ride is enjoyable and goes smoothly.
Day 16 of granddaughter quarantine-she’s doing fine but grandma Boo is losing her composure. Next Sunday hopefully, one more negative test to go.
There’s a bit of a haze in the air as well as a slight breeze, making the current 56 feel a few degrees chillier. I like to stay in just a long-sleeved t-shirt as much as possible, but I broke down and put my jacket on earlier, and am beginning to regret not bringing an extra layer today. And just when I said I don’t mind working outdoors. Oh well, I shall survive this minor discomfort.
FCD is actually both. He’s a mechanical engineer with much knowledge of electrical engineering, and he does some amazing airbrush art. One of his brothers is a rather talented artist, and his mother was a painter once upon a time before she started losing her sight.
My daughter, her husband, and I are more of a musical inclination, tho I do play about with clay. So, yeah, arts and engineering go together.
I’ve got my car back, and I picked up FCD’s meds. There’s a little bitty outbuilding at CVS - I’m guessing it will be for COVID vaccinations. I intend to get shot as soon as I can. I’m pretty sure we didn’t contract anything in FL, but we’ll go tomorrow to get tested.
Chickie is rotissing, and I haven’t decided on sides yet, but carrots may be one of them. Maybe instant smashed spuds, too. And green beans… Sounds like a decision has been made!
It’s starting to smell yum in here - the rub I use is very tasty and versatile. It’s the only recipe I use from the rotisserie book my MIL gave me.