MMP and Chill - Winter is Here

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
186

Yesterday, I ran the vacuum cleaner, or as I learned from my SDMB friends from across the pond, the rollsuck.

I have never seen the aurora borealis, the northern lights. Now that I live in NW Indiana, the land of permacloud, I probably never will. Oh, sure, I’ve seen photos and videos on the computer, but is that the same? I’ll never know.

Hippie, a standing ovation for your access to your smaller jeans! Now, I 'll sit down. It’s hard to type while I’m standing.

Red, We got some snow, but not much. Today’s forecast is a high of 53F, so it probably will all melt today.

Jane42, the famous song speaks of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Maybe their best use is as noisy firewood. The song was written in Beverly Hills, California, far from any actual winter weather.

Oopsie, my last dog was a wee Lhasa Apso, and we’d shovel a clear spot in the back yard so she could go do her business without snow up to her belly.

Mrs. Nott is back from her travels, and she’s catching up on laundry and stuff. I don’t think she trusted me to do the laundry “right,” so that’s her job.

187

Today should be a quiet day, compared to yesterday. Between the vet bill and the dentist (for both of us), it was a $1,000 day. The wife wants to take her niece/husband to a fancy place for dinner on Saturday, which will likely be another $500. Honestly, a lot of the food on the menu is a mystery to me, and I’d rather just have a taco somewhere.

Filled out the online info for the ESA certificate and got a call almost immediately from them. I should be getting a call today from some sort of person who is certified to issue such documents. I suspect this is somewhat of a hustle that has sprung up over the years, but if it saves us a big chunk of money I’ll just grit my teeth.

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I’m sorry.

189

Morning all. Stayed in bed until after 7:30am this morning, so should be well-rested. Quick trip to the Mart of Wal later this morning is planned, outside of that it’ll be a “we’ll see” day. Hope my other prescription is ready, awaiting notification. It’s 58F heading to 67F and a bright, blue-sky day which according to the Weather Wizards will stay that way for another week at least. Which is good for my heating bill, but probably means I’ll have to go out and mow the lawn once more this year…and mowage just before Thanksgiving just ain’t right in my way of viewing things…

And I did solve it. For those who don’t know what a Ken-Ken is, it’s a square grid (5 x5 or 6 v6 for example) that is divided into sections with a math operation in each section and you have to solve them all with the number of spaces without reusing the numbers more than once (for example, in a 5 x 5 grid, I can only use the numbers 1-5 once in each row or column, no matter what the sections want me to do). They can be easy or like the Sunday one (which is 7 x 7) can be diabolical. But I got it last night, by damn!!

Glad y’all enjoyed the Dave Barry column; he was one of my favorite column writers and guess I’ll have to pickup some of his books now that I’ve thought about it.

And as for the rest of you lot…

Piper, glad the car is not too bad and your feeling better on the court visit.

Oopsie, safe drive home. NO POTHOLES!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Van Go, sounds like for all the work, you are having fun at your job, hopefully that feeling will not be going away anytime soon.

Coppertone, hope you’re OK. And glad you have some SNAP resources now.

boo fae, enjoy the planning for your excursion to Scotland, and hope the irk/work situation improves.

Outside of a couple home invasions in the past 20 years, mice have not been an issue here, if they inhabit my garage I have never seen them, but considering the mess in there I probably wouldn’t…

Cookie, never understood the joys of spending triple-digits for a single meal, think the most expensive place I’ve ever been was Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and even that wasn’t in that category (if my memory serves). And good luck on the ESA certificate.

And that catches me up for the morning report. Need to do the rest of the early internettin’ and see y’all later. Have a good Thorsday!

190

193 is enough to feed me the rest of the month. May have to cut back on my chocolate muffin breakfast.
The er doc said he saw delta waves on my ekg. He thinks maybe my wpw returned ( it was ablated in 98).
However.
Blood work came back..one was abnormal. Glucose 150.
No I wasnt fasting but in April it was 83.
May explain yeast infections, the rapid heartbeat yesterday.
Doc called a cardiologist at 3 am and he said he wasnt worried.
I made an appointment tomorrow with my dr.
Shit. I wasnt expecting that.

191

Good morning.

It’s 53°F and it’s raining. Rain will fall with varying degrees of intensity throughout the day, with an expected daytime high of 56°F. This is typical November weather.

Oopsie, wishing you a safe drive home.

Bright Tree, meeces in cars! I have never experienced this, thank goodness.

BooFae, I’m sorry about the work woes, but glad you will soon be enjoying Scotland!

Both of the pups are beggars.

Swampy, I hope you’re feeling better today.

Red, I hope you’re feeling better today.

My gut is a little grumpy this morning, so I think this “cold” may be transitioning into the flu. I’m feeling under the weather, but my husband was kind enough to get me both day and night flu/cold medications last night to help alleviate the symptoms. I’m not at death’s doorstep, but I certainly do not have any get-up-and-go.

I ran the roll suck yesterday and helped my husband with some paperwork and that’s about all I did.

I skipped a shower yesterday, so I definitely need one today, but that’s about all this is on my “to-do” list.

Please take care of yourselves!

192

Oh, they leave their calling cards. :stuck_out_tongue:

Have a safe drive home, oopsie!

Not feeling wonderful this morning. I’m going to ask the PCP a few serious questions when I go in tomorrow. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

193

That would always be the big treat when my dad got his Christmas bonus. This was back in the olden days when companies gave significant bonuses to everyone, and especially the higher-ups, like my dad. Heck, I even got bonuses even tho I was just a part-time barely over minimum wage grunt worker. Then again, it wasn’t your run of the mill corporate operation, but owned and run by a family for decades.

Anyway, every year, Dad and Mom would decide on a fancy-pants restaurant, and the seven of us would get all gussied up. The kids were not restricted on what we could order, provided we didn’t waste. We even got to order dessert!! And tho we, obviously, didn’t get alcohol, the tab, even in the late 60s/early 70s ran well into 3 figures. As we got older and spouses and grands were included, I’m sure it hit 4 once the tip was added.

Heck, when Daughter and her crew come over for Chinese, it creeps close to $100, even with the grands sharing.

Speaking of the grands, I’ve decided that I’ll have them both here on Dec 23 to make gifts for their parents and their other grandmother. I’m going to buy some wooden character ornaments, markers, glitter, and other miscellany so they can decorate them. I just have to hope that Tobias can keep a secret for 2 days!

Daughter has informed me that SIL’s friends won’t be coming, so Thanksgiving may just be the 6 of us. Too baad you all live soooooooo far away! I foresee a metric butt-ton of leftovers. Hope I have the freezer space!

194

I spent some time thinking about it, but shipping would be much more than the value of the pennies. Does your museum have a facebook page? Maybe ask for pennies there?

As the Alpha in your house, it is important that you eat before your pets to display dominance and gain their respect.

Or you can be like us and just understand that the cats rule the house and feed them half an hour before your est. That lets them get full and sleepy when you are eating. It slows them down a little.

Jolene was raised in a shelter and the volunteers “socialized” her in many not great ways. Its been a year and she still doesn’t understand that she’s never allowed on the table or counters and she can’t eat off our plates.

Hurray for your vacation, but isn’t it a bit wet to be driving around Scotland this time of year? I understand it is always damp, but would assume that winter brings additional moisture.

Do you get a treat after your doctor visit? Like a fancy drink or pastry as a reward for being so brave? Because I’m sure you deserve it!

We used to have a serious issue with kangaroo rats when we had acreage. They would chew through wiring practically overnight. I haven’t heard that mice in cars is a problem here, hopefully we are done dealing with that.

Well, that explains a whole lot!

I don’t trust Hubs to do my laundry right, but I’ve started taking over some of his laundry because I don’t think he’s doing it right either.

That sucks. Pay attention to your body and get some rest!

I do not blame you. Write your questions down, I always manage to forget something important if I don’t. I hope you get this solved soon.

I fondly remember Christmas bonuses. While they didn’t happen in government work, Hubs was getting them the entire time he was pounding on sheet metal. He used to bring home frozen turkey’s or gift cards too.

The ground was covered in frost this morning but its warmed up to mid-50’s now. Hubs is out messing around with his mower, and will probably be mowing and then putting it to bed for the winter.

195

Thanks for the encouragement about Ollie, metal mouse. He’s definitely doing much better, so I’m hopeful.

As for where I park, welcome to rural living. The car is parked out in the open only 5 feet from the house, but the wildlife here is very abundant. The mice: Not all 23 at once, thank heavens! That would have made it a rodent clown car!

The car is aged, but it’s a good car and very sound, with not even 200,000 miles on it, so I keep it. I don’t drive much. For many years, I had no trouble with rodents getting in. But once one found its way a couple years ago, others followed the scent trails and they kept coming. I’d get one, and there would be another in its place within a day or so. I finally got onto the electronic traps last May. Then I was exterminating 1-2 every other day, until the total was 23 in mid-August Don’t ask me why I kept count. After that, nothing. Until yesterday. Hopefully there won’t be another 23 this round!

At least I’ve never had a mouse in the house. I’m kind of fanatic about keeping doors closed for that reason.

You are, as ever, very clever. :slight_smile: But you don’t know Ollie. He can kill fuzzy toys all day long, but when a real animal is in the mix, he raises his hackles and barks like a mad thing, all from the safety of behind my legs. I doubt he’d take on a mouse. He’s always crated in the car, so I guess I’ll never find out. I’m sure your dachsies were far more intrepid!

I could not agree more, swampy! They are just awful. And I’m happy you’re feeling better and back to your stellar RDOS routines again! :slight_smile:

I will hope you never do, either! I hope you feel better today, taters. Rest a lot. Flu is miserable.

Coppertone, it’s good you are following up with your doc. You’ve mentioned a few symptoms here that make me concerned you could be prediabetic: Persistent yeast infections and skin tags. Those cake and chocolate muffin breakfasts won’t help that, I’m afraid. I hope it’s nothing, but you’re smart to dig into it.

Oopsie, safe drive home, please!

Boo fae, I hope they find a reasonable replacement for your temporary team manager, but I agree it doesn’t sound hopeful. I guess the best that can be said is it will only be for 3-4 months. Maybe an unexpected good someone will spring forth for unfathomable reasons and it will work out better than you anticipate?

Congrats on your superior puzzle-solving skills! I’m good with the NY Times’ Wordle, Strands and the daily crossword, but I’d never even attempt a Ken-Ken. No head for math.

It’s cloudy today, but not much rain in the forecast. Too wet to mow, but I hope to fit in one last mow before winter arrives in earnest.

I think I will make bagels this morning.

196

I got the call from the “therapist” awhile ago. I think perhaps the only person more bored with her life might be someone working the popcorn counter at an AMC theater. Anyway, Sadie is approved as a therapy animal, so I just need to print out the letter and take it downstairs.

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Can you share what it cost?

198

I think it was about $180. There is another option that is cheaper. Website.

199

Yes. Yes it is.
It is also dark and we’re finally getting actually cold. However, if you live in the Wet Midlands anyway, it’s not that big a difference, except maybe the dark is worse.

I’m thinking I’ll try book a trip somewhere warmer soon. Probably early next year, but I haven’t decided yet.

I was especially appreciating the weather today as I didn’t get the car back until this afternoon, so I’ve been stuck on the buses all day. They’re not terrible, but it still meant a 30 minute walk in the rain to get to the stop to get back, cos it’s either that or get about 4 buses and wait around a lot, and I’d rather walk than stand in the rain.

When I was small we accidentally had a pet mouse loose in the car for a few weeks- I think we’d been picking her up from my cousins’ house after a holiday, and she got out in the car. That was fun. She’d just run across your feet every now and again, which was especially exciting for the drivers. We eventually caught her with an unlikely DIY trap using a fishtank and an unstable bridge.

I shall definitely avoid letting the ratties loose in the car, though stopping Pepper from doing whatever she wants is becoming somewhat difficult.

200

Thats just it. Its always been good. At my physical in April it was 82!

201

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :rofl: We try to feed Otis right before we eat, but it doesn’t stop him from bothering us at the table. Sometimes we can get him to lie down. Thanksgiving is going to be interesting with him and Trevor (who has absolutely no table manners.)

Old swim platform on boat:
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On shop floor:
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Bottom of new platform in progress:
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We’re waiting for the glue to dry before putting the last piece on the right. If you look closely, you can see the pencil lines marking where the curves will be cut to fit the boat. It’s a bit wider than the old one.

Pics on FB for those who can’t view these (looking towards the British Isles.)

Anyway, break time.

202

Believe me, I’ve tried.

I think it’s honestly a little bit of bonding behavior as well as food motivated. He tends to follow me all over the house and get up in my business no matter what I’m doing. Which is kind of nice.

I fully expect it will get better with age. We knew what we were getting into when we decided to get kittens. My exasperation is entirely affectionate.

Oh, and they will absolutely be spending Thanksgiving in their room. I expect they will regularly escape as people go to visit them…

203

We always give Jolene sniffs of our salad or vegetable. She looks at us like “you people eat weird shit”.

Its understood that you are madly in love with them :slight_smile:

204

Had the doctor’s visit to go with my bloodletting. Lousy chloresterol is down (which is good), my Vitamin D is exactly the same (so I need to take more) and she wants me to start taking calcium because it’s low, and probably will get worse since I no longer have ovaries.

Have to remember to ask my mom when she first found out she has bone density issues. Depending on her answer, I may need to get a bone scan at 60, instead of waiting until 65. But if I need it, based on my mother’s history, the insurance might pay for it, even though they normally only pay starting at age 65. It’s only CHF 250 (USD 315) for the bone density test, so it’s not that pricey.

My back is mad at me, so I took 2 ibuprofen and used the heating pad, which helped. Hope it’s better tomorrow, because I want to do garden work on the day after that. Might even need to mow the lawn. It’s November. Bah.

205

So I was in Brown 112 all sort. What wasn’t in 112 was one of the package cars. And it took a while to get it on the door, because A. Management was in hiding. B. when they did show, they were more concerned about some other dude’s attendance. Cleanup was slightly shorter today. I did my Senior Day shopping, had some soup, and now it’s naptime.

I’d be ready, too.

< crosses fingers > and yay!

Spot doesn’t like my cooking. I feel vaguely insulted.

Like driving at full speed towrds the bridge while screaming “SO HELP ME GOD I’LL KILL US ALL IF YOU DON’T HOP YOU LITTLE RODENT BUTT INTO THIS TANK!”?

Ouch.