MMP and Chill - Winter is Here

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Ya know, many folks don’t realize that it snows a bunch in the high desert. I used to drive from 3400 ft to Prescott’s 5400 ft for work for over a decade in rush hour traffic. (And I never once killed anyone because they really needed it.) The main thing I’ve learned is to slow the fuck down. If your tires don’t touch concrete, your car isn’t going to stop.

Sorry, I do get crabby about that. Every winter some jerk in a lifted vehicle would go speeding between lanes and end up rolling over and backing traffic up for hours.

My mother lives in Boise and I understand that going out on snowy days there is not a whole lot of fun what with the constant construction and the very impatient drivers.

Also, I did think about mailing the jam sandwiches, but I’m not that confident in my preserves. I know I have the sanitation part perfect, I just don’t understand the science behind preserves like I do cheese.

Finally, thanks for helping to keep this little corner of the interwebs nice. We do really appreciate you.

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Yes, this.

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She ate a lot of it. Snowing is apparently way better than raining. 'specially if she’s dressed like a German.

And now the new purple sweater has been munched. I mean she chewed through the part that goes from neck to belly. I’ll be able to fix it, but darn annoying. I looked away for a minute. Friggin Dope, hogging attention.

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I learned about cordons today. This sounds quite useful for a smaller garden, and doesn’t need the fiddliness of a espalier.

From the creator, Gavin Brown. Should have been named Gavin Junior.

Now I’m wondering how many bandmembers ended up getting pacemakers. I know I heard their recording of You’ll Never Walk Alone during shutdown - I like Chills better - get up and move!

Impressive work. Congratulations for sticking to your new routine.

The only way I voluntarily eat chestnuts is if they are glazed, and they are served as part of a wild menu, which is served during this time of the year. I actually had something similar yeasterday, but mine was also with mushroom pastetli.

Have to catch up later. Had my lab appointment, and then I had breakfast, but now I need to go catch my train.

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Up, caffeinated and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s currently 33 degrees Ferret Height(0.55 Centipedes), on route to a high of 49.

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Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 11c/51f with a predicted high of 14c/57f and cloudy. Weather app says “The fucking weather could only get worse if all the clouds were fucking filled with shrieking hippies” Not our hippie, of course.

That sounds like fun, glad you enjoyed it!

Sounds like it, but it also sounds like you are getting through it all and you’ve got some good plans for the rest of the year. Good to see you back!

That doesn’t sound like fun, and it does look like he hasn’t really got a clue. I hope the meeting goes better than expected for you.

So he’s got time to look at them, lose them, find them again, look at them again, forget what he’s seen, and then have to look through again when you’re sitting in front of him?

That is so annoying. It’s a shame you can’t charge the vet for your wasted time and the trauma to Ollie, same as they might bill you if you missed an appointment with them.

That’s good news, you’ll have everything fixed before the drive home so you’ll have nothing to worry about except traffic conditions.

That’s great news! You’re both very dedicated to keeping fit and healthy, and the results are showing. I’m happy for you.

Sounds like you might have an interesting conversation with the ex-boss there. And temp agencies can fill a gap when you’re looking for other employment. Sometimes earning a little can just help tide you over until you find something more permanent. Keeping things crossed for you.

I’m sorry to hear you’re still feeling bad, hope you start feeling properly better soon.

Not much excitement here. I did make it to the gym after work yesterday and burned at least 660 cals on the pushme-pullyou, then shifted some weights around as well. I plan to go again today, not sure if I’ll got a lunchtime or after irk, I haven’t decided yet.

Yesterday evening I gathered up all the recycling stuff and put that in the biiiiig bin before hauling it out to the kerb for today’s collection. The dustcart’s already been round, so I need to haul it back to where it lives. I’ll do that when I’ve posted this, as it’ll be time for another cup of tea.

I’ve been productive today, but not achieved much. I’ve already made my breakfasts for campus, and chopped enough fruit for the rest of the week. I still have main meal part to do, but I am not sure whether I’ll cook something and use leftovers for lunches, or have sandwiches and cook in the evening instead. I’ve got all day to decide!

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Thank you all once again for the support

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While the rest of the world observes Remembrance Day or Veterans Day, Japan has the very special Pocky Day, given that it’s the 11th day of the 11th month. 11月11日. I asked all my students what day it was and a few kids got it. I took some Pocky for the students.

So, Happy Pocky Day everyone!

SenWife is busy studying for a test for a professional license. SenBoy and SenGirl are busy getting into fights just when she’s the most stressed. I am thinking about moving back to the States for the next three weeks.

I’m not that much of a cook, but have to put food onto the table and make lunches for the kids and me. SenWife works from home. Japan has premade block roux stews and curries, which get disproportionately made in the house. Becoming a better cook is on my list of things to do, but it’s hard to keep at it.

I have a bunch of 9th graders with a disinterest in English. I finally broke up the class into two section and teach them separately. I have the better kids go to one side and the lower kids on the other, and alternate teaching and having them do assignments in class.

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I wonder if it’s the same with boiled peanuts? To me, they taste like mud, or like I imagine mud would taste were I inclined to eat mud.

Yeah, and he’s getting better, most of the time. Last 2 nights, he decided on his own when it was bedtime - we found him in his crate.

Mine hang right next to the kitchen-to-garage door, as long as I remember to put them there when I get home… The key fob for the Santa Fe is attached inside my purse, so I don’t have to search for it should I drive that vehicle. I should probably make copies of the keys to Daughter’s house and leave them in the Santa Fe. At least I can get into our house as long as I have the garage door clicker.

But… but… AWD!! or 4WD!!! As if that negates the laws of physics. Even hereabouts, I’ve seen similar idiocy. Not too long ago, such stupidity cost an Amish family their buggy - possibly injured their horse, too. I’ve forgotten all the details.

Then there was that day in Jacksonville when we got all of a half an inch of snow. Auto body repair shops were kept pretty busy for some time.

I’m not sure Otis will get a sweater. He’s got a shaggy coat and an inclination to chew, so a sweater would be in danger. I guess it will depend on how much time he wants to spend outside once it gets really cold.

Speaking of cold, it did get below freezing here - 31 Ferrets when I checked my outdoor thermometer. (No, not below zero - that’s just a dash!) Highs today just in the 40s. So I won’t be doing any outside work. There is some boat stuff that needs to be sorted and organized, and it’s all in the basement. I can get a fire going down there to take the chill off and tend to that chore. Go me!!

Happy Tuesday and a tip of the hat to my fellow Veterans!

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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN I was a slugabed until seven-fifteen! :bed: ‘Tis 28 Amurrkin out and sunny with a predicted high of 54 and sunny. We had the first frost overnight. Today is laundry day. I can hardly contain myself. Also I shall order the Turkey Day boxes from Aldi’s. We are gettin’ three of ‘em and will take ‘em to Neighbors In Need from whence they will be distributed to the three families. Speakin’ of which, we have decided to give money to NIN on a monthly basis rather than shop on a monthly basis. Really, I am sure they could make the money go further than we can with shoppin’. Sup will be an easy fix. I took some beast stew outta da freezer. That nuked up and some cornbread muffins will be easy peasy.

JtC as usual, you give great advice. Butter and milk will be added to the boxes. I can offer no ideas for chestnuts. I think they are ick. I think you have to grow up eatin’ ‘em, much like boiled peanuts. I like boiled peanuts, but folks who didn’t grow up eatin’ ‘em think they’re ick.

red hope the PCP can prescribe what you need to get better soonest.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, laundry awaits! Rah.

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

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Good morning.

It’s 40°F, dark, and clear outside. The day will start mainly sunny, but by the afternoon, clouds will begin to drift in, and our daytime high will reach 53°F.

liirogue, I’m sorry these last months have been difficult. I hope things start to improve soon, and that crazy relative tones things down.

I don’t think I’ve ever had chestnuts.

Hippie, nice work! It’s always such a pleasant surprise when it pays off.

Bright Tree, I would have been pretty irritated. Hopefully, all goes well today.

Flyboy, I would love to be a fly on the wall when your old boss fills you in. Still, I’m sorry you have to deal with this at all.

red, I hope the doc can get you on the road to recovery very quickly.

We have plans to go out on the bikes again today. This time we’ll go to a trail near Nellie’s neck of the woods. My husband seems to think we’re going to do the whole forty miles. I told him that it probably wouldn’t happen due to tender backsides. At any rate, the weather will be nice, if a bit cool. The coolness will certainly keep us from becoming overheated. We purchased cushier seats last night; unfortunately, my seat won’t arrive until Sunday.

I washed all the clothes yesterday, but I need to wash bedding and towels. That’ll probably happen tomorrow.

Ah, poor winter driving…I’ve seen a great deal of it over the years. I used to chuckle at people who would say road conditions were too poor to drive to work, but they could load up their skis and head to the slopes. There was a lot of that. Meanwhile, the people who should have stayed home went out and wreaked all kinds of havoc. I personally never had issues, but have always driven for conditions, even with four-wheel drive. I was more worried about someone hitting me than the other way around.

My thanks to those who have served.

It’s time for another cup of coffee. Please take care of yourselves.

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FB in Firefox is being weird. I can’t reply to an OP, but I can reply to comments. No probs on my tablet - it works as it always has.

I’m not gonna think about it. I’m gonna take a shower and get dressed, then head to the basement. I don’t need any aggravation.

Stoopit FB.

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31 f this morning. i did not have get up and go last night, so i had to quickly get up and get the medium weight winter coat out of storage. i grabbed the bin of hats/scarves as well. the wind is giving wind chill today.

i don’t remember having chestnuts… i’m more a pistachio/cashew/almond person.

here is the polar bear cam Polar Bear Camera - Tundra Buggy Lodge - Churchill, Canada | Explore.org

as things freeze up the polar bears get scarce.

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We have a lot of Puerto Ricans and other Latin Americans here in the area. When I was still working, I always enjoyed watching newcomers experiencing their first snow.

" Drsunflower1" – I keep reading that as “Drumflower”.

Good idea. BRB…

I’ve never understood this. My keys stay in my pants pocket. When I use them, I put them right back into the pocket when I’m done. And when I change pants, the keys go directly from one pocket to the next.

I know I haven’t.

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They had predicted about 6 inches of snow. They were wrong. They always are. We have a trace.
Just waiting around for snap to fill.

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When I was working in Jacksonville, FL, we got a new engineer who grew up in Puerto Rico. Oh, how we ragged on him about being cold when most of us were still in shirt sleeves or very light jackets. :rofl: I wonder if he ever got acclimated - as far as I now, he’s still working there.

I’m guessing you never work women’s pants. Pockets? It is to laugh!!! I have one pair of jeans with front pockets that are all of 3" deep - not deep enough to completely conceal my fingers if I slide them in.

OK, I’m clean and dressed. Off to the basement with me!!

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Are you from somewhere down-under? I am from Arizona and always felt a little left out when folks were enjoying winter too.

Another west coast kid checking in.

I just mushed up the other half of the bag and threw them out for the birds. They are very hungry this morning, everything’s covered with snow.

Do they still sell Oscar? Maybe buy a few bottles to get through it.

Exactly! I didn’t care if they were off the side of the road, it was when they made me an hour late for work that I hoped they would get their insurance cancelled and end up on indemnity. (I keep telling folks that I am far from nice!)

Besides the narrow roads and hilly altitude, drivers in Prescott also had to contend with the snowbirds. Prescott bills itself as American’s Christmas Town and decorates accordingly. It really is charming, but when you mix tourists in with the snow and crowded rush hour traffic, many people had a lot to say after their morning commute.

Shopping and picking out goodies for needy families is a lot of fun, I do agree, but I also agree that NIN knows better how to spend the money than you do. You are a very good and kind person to care so much.

I’ve changed the sheets and am going to deal with those stoopid name tags before they go in the washer. I’ve got a load of towels going now.

I think you are right. I didn’t grow up eating boiled peanuts and also think they are ick. I don’t know why I didn’t have them as a kid, I saw bags for sale in the bodegas but I guess Mom and Dad didn’t grow up eating them, so didn’t buy them for the kids.

That was always my concern too. I was driving on well traveled roads and Prescott/Prescott Valley had a well maintained fleet of snowplows. The road conditions were never that bad as long as you slowed down.

I worked for the government. Snow days were weird. If you looked out the window at three feet of snow and decided to call in, you lost a day of PTO. If you risked your life to drive in while defying the Stay At Home orders, you usually got sent home a few hours later with the rest of the day not counting against your PTO, but you were still out there when the roads were supposedly closed.

So it was bright and white when I got up this morning and about three inches of snow on the cars. It is melting off now and the sidewalks are already clear. I didn’t hear any snow plows this morning, it must not have gotten bad enough to send them out.

No plans for the day besides dealing with pillowcases and drinking hot chocolate. It’s a great day to be a RDOS.

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Happy Veterans Day to all applicable Mumpers! :us:

Add me to the list of those who’ve never had chestnuts. I have no desire to ever try one.

It’s a little before 10am here in chilly North Jersey (currently 33F, with an expected high of only 39), and I have until 11am to check out of NJ hotel #1. I need to make two trips to the car, so I’ll take the first load of stuff down in about 40 minutes. After I’m all checked out I’ll let my aunt know that I’m on the way, and will drive the 50 miles south to her place. We’ll easily be able to kill several hours with lunch and chatting, and at some point I’ll go check into NJ hotel #2.

Excellent! :tada:

Upon re-reading my post I can see how my wording might have given that impression, but there was no dealership cooperation. :slight_smile: My interaction with the place near this hotel lasted all of 5 min, and was limited to asking whether they could possibly fit in two new tires and an alignment: I walked back out as soon as they said “nope.” Discovering the dealership that’s 2 miles from NJ hotel #2 — and making the appointment — was all me.

Have I mentioned lately that I love the internet and smartphones/tables? :grin: My little adventure would have gone very differently if I hadn’t been able to look up dealerships, hotels, etc.!

I :heart: Pocky! Strawberry is my favorite.

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Heathen! Chocolate is best!:wink:

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Salutations to my fellow veterans. ::hand salute. . .:: May your good memories persist and your bad ones fade quickly.

The Home put on a veterans’ breakfast, but we decided not to attend. Couldn’t get our collective act together fast enough. There’s some sort of acknowledgment later this morning, so we’ll go to that. They’re calling it a “pinning ceremony”. No idea what that even means: some sort of plastic doodad for one’s shirt collar? I was recounting my Vietnam experience to the wife, including why I’ve never rented a car from Hertz since my return.

Marginally warmer today at 35F and bright sunshine, and it will continue to warm into the weekend, then plummet again. Happy to see that the boilers are hanging in there. Maybe they finally got them into good working order.