Air quality in my location’s been fine and the last couple of days have actually been below-average temps as far as I noticed.
We’re hoping for one to find us at some point.
Daughter is on the way in with a pot o’ soup. I’ve got some Hatch pepper cornbread in the oven to go with. She’s also bringing some bell peppers and jalapeños from her garden.
A couple of hot days ahead. We’ll see if the AC can keep up now that we have new blinds installed.
MN state fair is underway. Many thousands of sweaty people spreading germs and eating really bad food. Not my idea of fun in my old age.
Started Typing: 10:35 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:33 AM ET
{{{FairyChatFamily}}}
When I woke up this morning and no alarm was going off I panicked for a split second, and then remembered that it’s Saturday. Ahhhh. 
Today’s high temp is supposed to be 85°F, but it’s currently only 72 – and the humidity is quite tolerable – so windows/the front door are open. It’s been a nice quiet morning (Bailey’s random barking at the neighborhood notwithstanding): I brought in a package from Amazon that had been delivered shortly before I woke up, took the doggy outside and then fed/watered her, paid some bills (yesterday’s payday was the first to reflect the small raise I got at the start of the month! woo hoo!), and now I have about an hour to kill before I need to head to a personal training session.
For the first time in I don’t know how long, I don’t need/plan to go to the grocery store after the gym! Normally by now I’d be out of bananas, but on Tuesday the store only had green ones and they didn’t ripen enough to be edible until yesterday. So, I still have enough of 'em to get me through the weekend (at least until Monday, when I’ll be working from the office and can pass the store on the way home if needed). And I don’t need anything else that can’t wait until Monday or later.
Friday nights are always when my snacking impulse is strongest, and about an hour after I ate my popcorn last night I caved and had some cookies, etc., delivered via Instacart. Even though I know that I shouldn’t have, honestly I mostly regret nothing. 
But along with the snacky stuff I also got more Gatorade Zero and a few other things, contributing to the lack of the need for a shopping trip today. Instead, I’m planning to finally go to the new Chicken Salad Chick on the way home and get lunch from there…if I remember!
After I get home/shower/eat lunch, I’ll put together one of the things that came in this morning’s Amazon package: a 5-tier corner shelf for the home office. The rearranging I did on Sunday resulted in an empty corner, more shelves in here are always a good thing, and the new unit will match shelving from the same company that I already have in the room. I love organizing/rearranging things, so I’m looking forward to deciding what should go on the new shelves.
The other item from this morning’s delivery is an ottoman for the living room. For as long as I can remember I’ve happily sat on couches with a leg tucked under me, or both legs to the side, or sitting slightly sideways with both legs up, but for some reason a couple months ago I started thinking that facing forward with my feet up – yanno, like using a recliner – might be comfy. A few weeks ago I gave the idea a test run with a MacGyvered setup, and liked it enough to be willing to buy something. It was harder to find something that I like and is high enough than I thought it would be!
Later today I’ll be going to my BFFs’ for dinner, to celebrate Wife BFF’s birthday (earlier this week). All in all, it should be a pretty good Saturday.
I’ve never been able to get into watching NFL games, but when I was living with my ex – who went to Ohio State – I started to enjoy college football. I actually kind of missed watching it the first season after we broke up!
It’s been 15 years and I still remember most of the OSU chants/fight songs…heh.
Ha! 
Afternoon, mumpers! It’s currently 17c/63f with no predicted change, and partly cloudy. Weather app says “This is the perfect fucking day for a run. To the fucking fridge for some pie.” That would be a great idea if we had a fridge with pie in it!
Sadly it does sound like she’s reaching that stage. Of course FCD would be in bits, but he should never feel guilty about wanting it to be over. It isn’t fun for anyone, and I am sure the hospice people would be the first to say that his feelings are perfectly natural. I hope MIL’s passing is peaceful, when it happens.
She is a beautiful girl, I am sure she will grace your lives with her presence.
That must be a relief for you, especially if GG knows how to cope with that kind of Bella.
That would not be my idea of fun at any age!
It’s been a busy day so far today - I was up around 7am, did feline tums and bums, had a fruit load bar and a cup of tea before heading off the gym. I know I burned 320 cals in a half-hour spin class, and 615 in an hour on the elliptical thing, so I am guessing there was another 2-300 gone in the dumbbells class in between those two.
I went home and had a shower, then we had lunch ('im indoors has fallen out of love with the Good Chinese Place) at home and then went into town. I parked at the small retail park where the pet store is, because we need more cat litter. Three large bags of litter were acquired, then we walked into town and did our separate errands. Now we’re back home, and I’m catching up with the rest of you.
This evening we’re going to a friend’s birthday party, it’s about 45 minutes drive from home so that’s my night sorted out. Hopefully it won’t be too late a night, we are off to a music festival in Northwich tomorrow (just short of Manchester) so I am driving up there and I’ll need to get petrol on our way out of town.
Right now, I need another cup of tea!
Oopsie, since you work at the same mega corp as Daughter, I have a nosy question. Are raises based/awarded at annual reviews or at specific times of the year? And are there typical percentages or dollar amounts? Daughter has just been there a few weeks and I doubt she ever asked. Like I said - nosy.
MIL is up. She completely forgot falling last night and her right hand is swollen. Hospice nurse is on her way. In other news, I made a cuke-onion salad. So supper has been planned.
Good morning everyone.
It’s 57F and raining right now. The rain will continue through late afternoon, and our high temperature will only be 65F.
FCM, I’m sorry the night was so rough. I am sending all of you hugs.
We picked up the pups around 2:00 p.m. yesterday, and they were pretty much out of it until the wee hours of this morning. They are back to their usual selves now. Buster is sleeping on my feet beneath the desk, and Maisie is right next to my chair, also sleeping. I had to put ointment in their ears this morning, which was difficult. I must do this for seven to ten days, using a “moderate” amount for each dose. I don’t know what that is, and the tubes are small. Plus, trying to wrangle a pup who won’t sit still and squeeze some stuff in the ears is challenging. Pills would be easier.
I still haven’t heard back from the surgical tech regarding the surgery cost estimate. If I don’t hear anything today, I’ll follow up on Monday.
JtC, I now have an earworm. Thanks for that.
I used to just hop in the car or SUV and go where the road took me. I’m a fan of taking the roads less traveled. I haven’t been able to do that in a while, and I miss it. I think that’s why the road trips for work don’t bother me much (if I’m alone). I have now decided always to take the less traveled highways when driving all over the state. I did that when forced to go on the “Safety Tour” last month. It’s much more scenic and less crowded than the usual routes.
I guess my son is doing better. He went to a follow-up appointment yesterday, and the surgeon is pleased with how the surgical sites have healed so far. My son’s appetite still isn’t great, but he claims he is managing to eat a little.
Cookie, I am also not a fan of overly crowded places. I haven’t been to the State Fair in 20 to 25 years. The fairgrounds are less than five miles from my house, and I avoid entirely downtown Puyallup during fairtime. Besides, it’s wholly overpriced and always has been that way. It’s due to start soon.
Since today is just wet and a little dreary, I think I’ll finish my laundry and maybe steam clean the carpet in my WFH office. When I was vacuuming the room yesterday and pulling away my glass floor mat, I noticed the difference in carpet color between the covered area and the rest of the room.
My best to all of you.
.
Hospice nurse just left - she thinks it’s a matter of days…
I think I’ll go do a chore or two.
May her passing be peaceful. 
So once again, all the delayed delivery stuff got sent to the 100 slide instead of the trailer at 49. and once again I had to deal with it by myself for most of the sort. Despite that, i was out a bit earlier than usual. I got laundry in the dryer, bacon and aigs in my stomach, and preseason football on TV. And a gin&tonic made with the last of the bitter orange Tanqueray, so it’s 40% more citrus-y than usual. Which is nice, considering my scurvy flare up today. 
Put gin in the Holy Water font, so more people are moved by the spirit?
{{{{FairyChats}}}}
OOOOO, that sounds good!
The people in 307 had their window open today, so I got warned about The Invisible Mole People by their dachshund and their Bichon.
Critter fountain is clean again - it gets pretty icky in 2 weeks, especially when Trevor is here. Back yard is mowed - the rest will have to wait.
MIL is drugged and sleeping. I expect that’s most of what the next few days will be. 
We just had the most exciting Saturday morning in ages - Roxy caught a mouse! In the house.
There was a mouse invasion in our house back in the mid-2010’s. Our adorable fluffy tabby cat, who was the sweetest creature I’ve ever known, a good-natured friend to all cats, dogs, and humans he ever met, alerted us to their presence by taking up a post staring fixedly at the space between the fridge and the cabinet. He murdered at least five mice in cold blood in the space of three weeks.
This is why I recognized the pose Roxy took up in front of our stove this morning. I pulled it out from between the cabinets and swept the detritus from under it - mostly dried-up peas, dust, and a few stray peppercorns, but no mouse droppings. While I was examining those things and emptying the dustpan into the trash, Roxy darted towards the wall and came out with something that looked like a dust bunny in her mouth. I grabbed her and saw that the object was wiggling and looking up with a beady little eye, so I hustled out the door with them. My daughter followed and got Roxy to drop it, and it was indeed a mouse. Because the cat has no teeth to speak of, the mouse was still in good condition, if a little stunned, and while we were trying to figure out what to do with it, it recovered and shot away in the direction of the garage, where it is now no doubt regaling its numerous children with the tale. Meanwhile, we’re pondering what kind of traps to get. Where are the neighborhood roadrunners when you need them?
Anyhow…
On a much more serious note, FCM, I wish you and your family as much peace as possible during this time. With any luck, the hospice folks will step up the frequency of their visits and take on a bit more of the load.
Cookie, I’ll need to tell Older Daughter and SIL about the MN fair! Before they moved to MI, they lived in an apartment right behind the fairgrounds, and it’ll be nice for them to savor the thought that they never have to deal with that traffic and parking nightmare again.
Now I’m off to scrub a kitchen floor and renew the steel wool that I stuffed into all the openings in the drywall between the house and garage ten years ago. Ick.
Thinking ahead - MIL and FIL wanted their ashes spread in Cades Cove. It’s an all-day drive from here, so does anyone have hotel recommendations? If looks like Knoxville is the nearest big city - would that be our best bet?
I’m assuming we’d make the trip this fall, tho it might have to be in the spring. Like I said - thinking ahead.
I remembered to go to Chicken Salad Chick after the gym! Woo hoo! I went with the Classic Carol: I don’t have a lot of experience with various chicken salads, but it was quite tasty. My sandwich came with a pickle spear and a small cookie, which endeared me to them even more. I’ll definitely go back.
I don’t mind. 
But I’m pretty sure your daughter works for a different sector, which really is like working for an entirely different company (different benefits, possibly different review schedules/processes, etc.). That said, my sector’s merit increases are effective every April, after the annual performance review process ends. Budgets vary year to year, but my last few merit increases were 2-3%. The raise I just got, though, was part of a promotion.
I mentioned this to Bailey, and she became quite insulted by your characterization of the Mole People as “invisible.”
So you don’t “do the Puyallup”? A great name to try to get other people to guess how it’s pronounced.
Afternoon all. Much excitement at my second soccer game today. One of the coaches for the other team was on the field helping his players (we allow this the first couple of weeks with the U9’s since they are changing field size and playing with a goalie for the first time). He got hit with a soccer ball and one of my parents yelled something about getting off the field, to which the coach replied in effect that he could come out and try to get him to leave. Fortunately the referee intervened, got the situation under control, and we finished the game with no further incident. Talked to the dad afterward, told him the other coach was out there with my permission and just keep it cool…we’ll see how well it takes.
Then right at the end of the game one of the spectators collapsed and passed out, either from heat or her BP, so 911 showed up, gave her O2 and some Saline solution and hopefully she’s OK (couldn’t stay too long). At least the boys won both games, 3-1 and 8-2, so there is that.
Now in less than an hour I have to go referee, and hope it’s not me passing out. Have fed and hydrated, so should be fine.
FCM, that’s one reason I don’t do ‘club’ or ‘travel’ level soccer, don’t need the hassle.
And I think the same, those two kids got good parents (and good grandparents too).
Cookie, think I mentioned that I haven’t been to a State Fair in ages, but might go up the road to the N. Ali-bama one in a couple of months, for fishy reasons (just for the Halibut…). And what’s so bad about deep-fried bananas and Oreos anyway???
Oopsie, enjoy the Ottoman and a good day of sloth.
boo fae, sounds like your usual hectic weekend. Enjoy.
Taters, glad the pups are home.
Legend, glad ROxy did her duty, there are several catch-and-release traps I got at Wal-Mark for little money that worked like a charm.
Need to climb into my referee gear and head over to the field. Take care all.
This thread (if you dare).
Howdy Y’all! The listenin’ session this mornin’ turned out to be pretty good. The discussion was lively and the facilitator did a great job gettin’ folks to engage. Plus we had a great turnout from ol’ St. Pat’s which made me happy. I got us a McN.O.L. and then nappage occured followed by day drinkin’. In a while it shall be Netflix, chill, and popcorn time.
MOOOOOOM sorry y’all had such a rough night. Maybe hospice will expedite the hospital bed. We had one for mom and it was a great thing as it was easy to adjust to get her comfy and high enough that it was easy to assist her on and off as needed. Thankfully she mostly stayed in bed the last three weeks. If BIL wants to visit it seems like now is the time. I would recommend lookin’ into one of the cabin rentals around Cades Cove or maybe a motel in Gatlinburg. Both would be a little pricey but the area is really beautiful. If you enjoy the mountains it could be a nice couple of days getaway for y’all.
Nettie forgot to say earlier, but the cartoon is hilarious. It’s like they know me!
Taters yay for son doin’ better!
doggio don’t be ridiculous! Blessin’ oneself with Holy Gin would be a waste of gin. Plus one should never drink from the Baptismal Font, not even if one uses a straw. We fought off scurvy and malaria here as well.
Cookie I want some of that cornbread. YUM!
MetalMouse YIKES! Hope soccer part two is not so fraught with extra curricular excitatement.
Terrific!
Remember those $100k outboards I told you about? Well, they’re 600HP each. In case you were wondering…
She may have been barking back at Nelson, or, perhaps, the invisible mole people.
(he woke me up with a bark this morning)
That’s me going into Nashville during CMAFest. I used to live 1/2 mile from the fairgrounds of one of the top ten county fairs in the nation at my old place. Other than some volunteer work, I avoided it. Now, it’s combined with the smaller state fair and just got over.
Hugs to you all. You’re not in an easy place, but it won’t last much longer.
Actually, you’re in a very touristy area with Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg very close by. There are a lot of cabins and lodges available, but booking ahead is highly recommended.
Took Nelson to the dog park for a bit this morning before it got too warm. He got to play tag with his buddy Max and give puppy dog kisses to his sometimes sitter, Miss Vickie.
I made some Christmas cards when I got home. Then I picked up a prescription, exchanged a CO2 cartridge and mailed a sympathy card. Now to play some more in the studio.