Concert is done. Tomorrow is an actual bona fide day off. I get to see my wife’s kids’ (students, that is) musical (Hadestown Teen edition). And do taxes. Woo.
Red feel better. Hopefully some answers tomorrow.
The hip and pelvic x-rays showed a lot of arthritis. They will do x-rays of my lower back tomorrow. Right now I’m at that stage of being 30 minutes until the next pain shot, so I hurt. Internet here is spotty.
My neighbor said that when he took Nelson, he only kept looking at the door and my car. He hadn’t eaten anything. Hopefully, he’ll be reassured when Sis gets here.
Protip @FairyChatMom cook the quinoa in chicken broth instead of water. Really enhances the flavor.
You can also add chopped veggies like carrots or celery to the mix as it’s boiling, and let everything cook together in one pot.
Some folks add sliced almonds for crunch after it’s done, or corn & peas for a touch of vegetal sweetness. There are plenty of Mediterranean recipes featuring things like cranberries or other dried fruits, if that floats your boat.
HA! Get it? 
Is that Slimer on the roof? He was my favorite.
Yeah, the idea of waiting until it stops raining just to rinse something off outside (using water you pay for) seems … odd?
Definitely write the letter! Just keep it vague. "… provided exceptional service … " "… went above and beyond to ensure our stay was more than pleasant … " that kind of stuff.
Wow, really? No early-bird shoppers, huh?
Can’t do both? A chat while strolling is a time-honored custom.
Big, gorgeous full moon tonight, and here it was clear - and therefore, damn cold - so we had a lovely view of her rising from behind the trees on the horizon up into the stars over the course of the shift.
Survived Long Night, but my gods I am bone-tired.
Forced myself to make a hot cuppa immediately upon entering the house, because I knew as soon as I sat down, I wasn’t getting back up again.
I’d love a long, hot shower but I don’t really wanna stand up that much longer.
… man, I oughta get a shower chair!
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave.
Celebrity Jeopardy:
Ken: “1, 5, or 50, the number of times your heart beats in the time I read this clue.”
Roomie: “50.”
Ken: “What is 5”
Me: “Cut back on the caffeine.”
{{{{red}}}} < skritches and Milk-Bones for Nelson* >
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 50 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 70 and N.O.S. I shall work on the cee-mint pond for a bit this mornin’. It should be ready for the season after that. Mostly though, we will be our usual RDOS sloths. Sup shall be chili/cheese/onion/slaw dawgs. Fartfest to follow.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Sattidy Y’all!
The rain has stopped, but it’s overcast and dreary out - we missed the full moon, dammit. Apart from packing, I have a to-do list that includes cleaning the critter fountain and the ice maker. Daughter had said she’d be coming over around lunch time - I warned her that the basement will be off-limits to the kids because of all my sewing crap spread thither and yon, so maybe she’ll arrive later. Dunno.
I still haven’t made a packing list - maybe it’s not toooooo late. The easy part is 5 changes of clothes and daily meds and toiletries. Important stuff includes ashes and the folder with printed info for activities plus our room reservations (I trust paper more than apps.) Daughter will install the car seats and I want to put a big sheet under them from seat and floor because, well, kids…
FCD still doesn’t want to go - I think the finality of spreading the ashes weighs on him. In a way, I resent his parents for putting this on him. One final burden after all he’s been thru the last couple of years. On the plus side, we don’t have the enduring burden of maintaining a gravesite. Sorry for the downerisms.
{{{red}}} - may painfree vibes shower down upon you!
Well, guess I’ll make short work of my morning surfing so I can get stuff done.
Happy Saturday!
{{{red}}}
A bit grouchy this morning. I’m trying to cancel piddly little subscriptions and they’re throwing up stumbling blocks. In the meantime, Annie is sleeping soundly on my lap.
Today’s menu to console MusicMan for having to work will be BBQ pulled pork with homemade sauce, au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, glazed carrots, corn ?, and a buffet of desserts that I’ve already baked this week. So, I’d better get off here and get started on the pork!
Afternoon, mumpers! It’s currently 18c/64f with a predicted high of 19c/68f and cloudy. Weather app says “Are you tired of taking about the fucking weather? I’d be more than happy to tell you about my extreme fucking anxiety.” I’m guessing there’s no right answer to that one.
It’s always a good idea to get on the train before the one you really think you need! Thursday’s problems were caused by a broken-down train blocking a station at the start of the route, and problems with points failures at the opposite end of the route, so everything in between was messed up. There is a National Rail app that you can download to give you live train info too, I find that very useful.
Bestest vibes on their way to you, I hope the eventual word is a good one!
Happy rentaversary! I rented a lovely little flat in a small village out in the old mining area of Nottinghamshire, they also said no pets until the owner (not the rental agency) found out I’d got a cat, then it was fine.
Aside from the abandoned kittens, most of the cats we get called out to are broken somehow. Muffin should really be “less broken” since she seems to have come from a stable home environment but obviously she’s going through some serious trauma with her lift turning upside down. She needs a safe space, time, plenty of food and a bit of fuss when she’ll allow it. We can do that, and we’ll give her exactly what she needs for as long as necessary.
I can understand that. Mum wanted her ashes scattered in Derbyshire where she used to go walking, so far I’ve had a small bit of her made into a pendant for me and I’ve put a bag of ashes into my dad’s grave because that seemed right. I still have the majority here waiting to be scattered but somehow I’m just not ready. I thought I was a couple of years ago, but then decided against it. I hope FCD gets some closure in doing this and feels eventually that he’s done what they wanted.
Uneventful commute home yesterday, and a quiet evening at home. I was up early to tend to the mogs today, then went to the gym, back home for more sheveling, had some lunch and am off to do some fundraising for Little Paws this afternoon. Off to the Giffard for a gig tonight which will be fun, the headline act is a singer we’ve known for a few years, he’s a really nice guy and always a laugh to chat to. I predict it might be a late one…
Awoke precisely 4 hrs after crawling into bed - what is UP with that? - and having my usual bio-break while piddling around with y’all.
Ate precisely four (4) Triscuits before giving up on life staying awake any longer last night, so definitely need to get solid fuel into me before going back in this afternoon.
Tummy is already rumbly, but dang, I just wanna sleeeeeep. I don’t even have the wherewithal to nuke a frozen pretzel.
BTDT - hate it with white hot hate! I don’t know if it’s internal clock or phase of the moon or gremlins, but with me, it seems to happen several nights in succession before the cycle breaks. I hope you get more snoozies soon!
FCD just left for the boat - he left his man purse aboard and he wants it for the trip. Which is great - I don’t have to put his stuff in my smaller bag any longer. After I shower, I need to run to the credit union for cash. We use plastic for most things, but sometimes cash is easier. And I may get some granola bars for snacking. Or not. I don’t know.
Shower first, then decisions.
Dang. Poor you and poor lil Nelson. His little world has just been turned upside down and he doesn’t understand. I hope they figure things out soon, both of you need to be in your own home.
Happily, I gave her a nice cash tip when I was checking in while thanking her for going above and beyond, so I’ve got that covered already 
This is a hard letter though. I like to mention specific things, but the biggest thing she did for us was give us a pet-friendly room when the next closest one was a half an hour away. But…she didn’t charge us the pet fee, so I can’t mention that. She gave us a nice discount on the upgraded room as well, which I probably shouldn’t bring up either.
I will mention that she specifically put us on the top floor on the other side from the parking lot so it would be quieter. I’m not sure if I should mention my appreciation of the view, many folks would mistake it for sarcasm.
They cut down half a mountain and cleared land for the shopping complex, leaving a man made rock cliff face at least 15 stories tall. Over the years, some vegetation has found places to take root, small trees and vines mostly. Birds have also made it their home, with ravens using the wind currents to lazily drift up and down.
The Food Lion doesn’t open until 0900 so you’d best not run out of buttermilk for your morning biskits.
You are a wonderful person and I’m kinda fond of 'im indoors as well.
Hubs had his parents ashes in the gun safe for years until we packed up to move here. I expected him to bring them along so we could bring their ashes home, but he did something with them while packing. He doesn’t seem like he wants to talk about it, so I probably won’t ever really know what he did or where.
So everyone is feeling better after a good nights sleep. It is nice and sunny out, but still too cold to be messing around in the yard. I scored a small stock tank with holes in the bottom that I am going to use for a raised bed and the last freeze is next week, so I don’t have much time left before putting plants in it.
Critter fountain has been cleaned and Ziva’s feeder has been topped off. The ice machine is being cleaned - cycling vinegar thru its innards. I’ve gathered some things on our do-not-forget list. The kids’ seats have been moved from my car to FCD’s, altho Daughter has to install them. I already told her I ain’t doin’ it! It’s too much of a physical challenge and while I can, I don’t have to so I won’t. I’ve packed my bag, minus toiletries and meds that I’ll need before we head out. I got cash. I’ve got a list stuck on the door to the garage.
And I even joined the Publix club thing on their website - I’ll get $5 off my first $20 purchase. We’re getting Roxy’s b-day cupcakes there plus they carry the cherry Polaner that I love and can’t seem to get around here, so I’ll stock up. We’ll easily hit $20.
Turns out there are a couple of Publix’eses near Fredericksburg, but the closest is still 60 miles away across a toll bridge, so not much chance of me shopping there. However, the one in Pigeon Forge is now in our GPS. 
Speaking of toll bridge, I need to verify that FCD’s vehicle info is in our EZPass account. Off I go!
Still in the clink the horsepistol. I’m slated for a spinal x-ray today. The PT guy just gave me an assessment and will be working with me more once I have a diagnosis.
Sis is on her way from Houston and will come up once she gets doggies ( she’s bringing Nelson’s father and auntie) settled and Nelson loved on. Looking forward to getting back on my feet and out of here.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
Started Typing: 10:50 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 12:20 PM ET
My day started with cleaning up after the dog (and cleaning the dog) and putting two dog bed covers + the bath mat in the washer. The joys of having a senior pet with muscle-weakness-related incontinence. 
I’ll put everything in the dryer in a little while. Bailey is currently snoozing next to my desk on one of her backup dog beds, so there’s no hurry to put everything back together/in place.
When I was finally able to sit down at my computer, I completed some required online training from the county elections office (my election officer recertification was due). For the June election there’s also mandatory in-person equipment training, because apparently there will be some new equipment this year. I signed up for the noon training on Friday, 05/02: it’s a 2-hour session, meaning I’ll be out of the office for at least 3 hours including travel time, so if my workload is light enough that week I might simply take the whole day off. We’ll see.
Today I have tentative dinner plans with my BFFs. I haven’t seen them since WifeBFF came home from rehab 1.5 weeks ago, after having a reverse shoulder replacement, so it would be nice to visit (and take my nephew’s Batwing back to them/get the giant box off my kitchen table ). I’ll check in with her this afternoon to confirm whether she’s still up for it; if not, Easter is a week from tomorrow and we’ll try again then.
Tomorrow evening I’ll be going to workshop/performance at the home of a music friend: there’s a master class from 5-7 (which I’m signed up for), then wine and mingling from 7-8, then the woman giving the master class will perform from 8-9. I’ll see how it goes, but will likely skip the wine and performance parts: I don’t like being out on Sunday nights, plus I have to be up earlier than usual on Monday (I’m in training from 8am-4pm every day next week).
Other than quarterly bill emails, that was the first time I’d heard from them in 11 years!
Leaving it open would just result in having a biiiiiig trash can full of water, and the inside wouldn’t really be much cleaner after I dumped the water out; definitely not the same effect as simply spending 2 minutes rinsing it out with a hose. I know this because at heart I’m a pretty lazy person, and I tried the “natural” method in the past.
Today is too cold for me to feel like dealing with water, so now I’ll aim for tomorrow afternoon. That’s the “deadline,” though, because I need to be able to start putting trash in it again. (go figure)
Normally I’d have no idea, but with this one I happened to notice that each section was taking ~90 minutes: so, I can tell you that it took approximately 21 hours. That was spread over 12 days, with most of the assembly happening on weekends.
One of the local high schools is also doing Hadestown as their spring show; a friend’s niece is in it.
Yes! Holding a hot dog! 
He’s on his back, though, because when the set isn’t open he’s attached to a clear rod that hooks on part of the building to make it look like he’s flying. For that picture I just set him on the roof.
There are also generic blue and pink ghosts that attach to clear rods; you can see part of the pink one next to Slimer. I love all of the figures that came with this set: in addition to those three there’s the librarian ghost, the taxi driver ghost, Dana, Louis, Janine, and the four Ghostbusters. And most of them can actually use the “pole”!
You’ll continue to be in my thoughts! 
I can’t find where you say what prompted you to go to the ER in the first place…was it pain?
Slept until 11am. I must have needed that.
Starting the caffeination process. It’s sunny but cool out and sitting by the window is nice. At some point I need to motivate myself to finally do taxes. I expect to owe. We always owe.
Mona (the 20-year-old cat) slept in with us, and has been following me around all morning. She’s currently sitting on me, which isn’t unusual, but she’s definitely needier than she was. My wife was looking at kittens last night. We’ll have to have that conversation soon.
Ohhhh! Mine has drainage holes, that’s why the lazy method works better for me.
(If yours is plastic and you have access to a drill, it’s a fairly simple matter to tip it on its side and drill some moderately large holes in the bottom. Mine lives outside, unsheltered, so I’ve learned that’s crucial to avoid a soggy mess.)
Nice touch.
Got some more sleep with Monks curled up right next to me. I can feel an impressive pillow line on my cheek. 
Not super impressed with the idea of getting up, although several bio processes will ensure at least temporary rising.
Had a handful of Cheerios, which had the effect of waking up my stomach’s hunger, dammit. Some foraging must occur soon.
{{{red}}}
Hope they figure out something to make you feel better and let you go home to Nelson.
Went to the big city (Zurich) today for some shopping. Had a Dirty Harry hamburger (bacon cheeseburger - the vegan version is a Clean Harry) at the Union Diner, which made me think of New Jersey, as New Jersey has lots of diners, and there’s a town and country called Union. The hamburger and fries were very good. Unfortunately no fresh-brewed ice tea or milkshakes on the menu.
We stopped at the Old Botanical Garden, which we’ve never visited before. We noticed a rather pleasant smell and figured out it was coming from a Burkwood Osmanthus. Now hubby wants one for the garden.
About ready to watch Doctor Who. Still not used to it streaming, but it is what it is.
Last night was COLD (down into the mid 20s I think) but the Oracles predict the next few nights 'round here are to be milder.
Horrible oversight.
When the pandemic hit, we started buying Kirkland toilet paper from Costco. It was cheaper (in 30-roll packages) than whatever we were getting at Rite Aid, and more reliably available. At some point, SWMBO decreed we shall use Marathon toilet paper from Costco. I was not in favour. Sure, it’s double-ply; but the rolls are individually-wrapped in paper. I didn’t like that. But except for last time, she’s been buying it. And she uses more than I do anyway. So she went’t Costco without me today. She didn’t want me to come with her. She said it’s her ‘walking time’. She came back with the Kirkland rolls. She said the Marathon didn’t last as long, so why is she paying $36 for it when she can buy Kirkland for $20?
She also got a block of Tillamook Medium Cheddar, which I’d had listed on the whiteboard. It was $10.99 for 2½ pounds. I’d bought a two-pound block of the same cheese at the supermarket a couple of weeks ago, and it was $12.99. I knew the supermarket was more expensive, byt day-um! Sometimes I’ll get a 5-pound block from Chef’s Store. It’s about $26 or $27 there, so about $5.40/pound. Costco’s block is half as big so it’s easier to store, and comes out to $4.40/pound.
I’m going to make flounder for the first time for dinner tonight. I’ll bake it with some kosher salt and tarragon, and make asparagus to go with it.
Good grief - did Daughter pack!! I hope there’s room for our 2 totes and the 2 boxes of ashes. EEEEEsh.
I was told the kids would have lunch before coming over here. I just finished making them each 2 wraps on small tortillas. Plus cheese sticks. Plus grapes. Daughter is napping. FCD is hiding in his office. The basement is too much of a mess for them to play there. So I’m wrangling them upstairs.
Roxy just came with a deck of cards. Guess we’re playing war, or I’ll teach her her Go Fish. Kids are exhausting!!!
BTW, there’s a video of Tobias dancing to a Cowsills song on my FB page. OK, off I go.