(Old) A spot of good news in the MMP

[Die_Capacitrix]

@Misnomer

The book I’m reading right now is called Miss Wolcott’s Ghost, which it turns out is the name of a plant.

Almost forgot about this - it’s sitting on top of my (virtual) pile of books to read. Hope Husband BFF’s medical issues get sorted - doesn’t sound like fun at all.

Today was a bit busy. Washed sheets, switched to the fall comforter, made oatmeal with apple and raisins, got our hairs cuts, went to 3 grocery stores, a home improvement store and even the international candy store. And the gym.

The third grocery store was because it’s a “mega store” and I was curious if it had anything special. It does have a bit more variety, and just more product on the shelves. But I probably won’t go out of my way to go there too often.

I got more gloves for gardening - the ones I have are wearing out at the finger tips, so I end up getting dirt under my fingernails. Preventing that is one of the reasons I wear gloves.

Managed to score a Reeses’ Big Cup for hubby - that’s his favorite Reeses. My favorite is the pieces, but I decided to try the Reeses’ Oreo version, which was rather disappointing.

One of the advantages of not (officially) celebrating Halloween is no need to wait before putting up Christmas trees. At least I guess that’s why there was a decorated Christmas tree in the department store.

Going to the gym was interesting. It’s open until 6pm, but it was in self-service mode, meaning there wasn’t anybody there. I accessed the gym with my membership band and had to turn on the lights over the machines. Was my first time there on my own, probably won’t be my last, unless hubby gets a membership.

For those who celebrate, Happy Hallowe’en!

[Chefguy]

@Aspenglow

cookie, yeah, it was a nasty puzzle today. I didn’t do well at all.

I got about 2/3 of it done, but hit a brick wall.

I’m in tears today. Well, figuratively anyway. My beloved Le Creuset enameled Dutch oven got chipped when I was trying to get off some really tough food residue. I bought this on sale about 15 years ago or so, but a chip in the enamel renders it unusable, since enamel is basically fired glass and you don’t want that in your food. I found a red replacement (the old one was green) on sale on Amazon, so I ordered it. Goodbye old friend.

[dogbutler]

They called the Senior Clerk to come in, so I wasn’t swamped, although the Green 88 PT Sup did dump a bunch of missorts and an unscanned bag of Next Day Air. Cleanup wasn’t hideous, I was out by 12:30. I had the Aldi breakfast pizza for lunch. OK, but the “biscuit” crust was closer to saltine than Bojangles. I’m having my pre nap gin&tonic.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/2082da7f9909ca5de55173dd983ed5b1/eabeefc1b5d51696-43/s540x810/487d3242bf07a992b8fbb84eb0fd36639334807b.jpg

@swampbear

My DAWGS play Flahrduh this afternoon at three-thirty. The game is usually played in Jacksonville, FL

Wolfpack beat Cal, but Incarnate Word won, so my harsh got mellowed.

@teelabrown

I think I’m hooked on Wagyu tri-tip. At least it costs less per pound than New Yorks, filets, and ribeyes.

Sounds like you had a good meat-ing.

@Filbert

Pub happened, they even had the Belgian raspberry beer I really like on tap, which was nice.

Nice. Lynnwood Grill had a nice Raspberry hefeweisen this spring.

@Aspenglow

True, but you had no way of knowing that! I’m sure you aged a bit before you recovered the little miscreant.

Slightly. Ironic since they say pets help you live longer.

@Chefguy

Goodbye old friend.

[Seanette]

I’m really wondering about Kasya’s brainpower, even for a juvenile orange cat. I was hunting through clean laundry for something I needed and heard her hissing from the windowsill. Looked outside, the only other visible cat was Buddy. She was acting like her big brother was a territory invader!

[susan]

G Street Fabrics was always my favorite. These days, I buy from Spoonflower online.

Hippie, eagerly awaiting your photos!

[missred]

@Aspenglow

Mollie, mmmmm. Stromboli. Also, I hope we are treated to a Chloé in costume pic later. I have a cowboy one for Ollie, but he fights it every second so pics will not happen, I’m sorry to say.

Nelson’s costumes can’t have head gear. He won’t stand still for anything that is put on over his head or any kind of hats. Halloween costumes have to be confined to ones that velcro on or are just part of his collar.

@Chefguy

I’m in tears today. Well, figuratively anyway. My beloved Le Creuset enameled Dutch oven got chipped when I was trying to get off some really tough food residue. I bought this on sale about 15 years ago or so, but a chip in the enamel renders it unusable, since enamel is basically fired glass and you don’t want that in your food. I found a red replacement (the old one was green) on sale on Amazon, so I ordered it. Goodbye old friend.

I thought you had replaced that one with a Lodge.

I took Nelson for a ride and had planned to stop at Hartz for some chicken and found that, sadly, it appears they have closed. We wound up at a Cajun chicken and seafood place (not Popeye’s, that was next door) and got a Po’ Boy and some okra. Not bad. Now for RDOS.

[Chefguy]

@missred

I thought you had replaced that one with a Lodge.

Must have been someone else. I’ve never owned a Lodge product.

[Paintcharge]

I have come to the realization, after being parked at by these things a number of times today, that the sound from electric cars is the same as the self-satisfied doors from Hitchhiker’s Guide. For some reason I was thinking it was the elevators.
Self-Satisfied Door by Douglas Adams from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
First against the wall when the revolution comes.

cookie Sorry to hear about the demise of the pot. I love mine and will be sad to retire it to being a plant pot. That’s what my mom did with hers.

[swampbear]

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! Y’all! My DAWGS munched some Flahrduh Gator to the tune of 27-8. I will not need sooper sekrete extra speshul double confession tomorrow. We et foodstuffs from Jack’s for lunch and I even got nappage in before the game. The Boston < snerk > BUTT! < snerk > got crock potted and shredded and a triple batch of brownies got made. One batch is for da cave because somebody was doin’ sad puppy dawg eyes at me. I am sure half of ‘em are gone by now. I only et one. Tomorrow mornin’ I will make up and bake the corn casserole as it gets mixed and baked in the same dish. Now I think I shall prepare myself for beddy bye cause I’s tahrd and a wee bit inebriated. When one watches the WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR (though today it was inside) COCKTAIL PARTY, one must imbibe.
BooFae sofa, films, and some good cocktails sounds like a fun evenin’ to me!

Nuts glad pub time was had and you got to have the beer you like.

Taters we have Sam’s Club instead of Costco. OYKW has self-banned himself from there because of his tendency to go waaaaaay overboard. When I go I will bring him home a treat, however. I have much more controlled impulse buyin’ impulses than he.

Oopsie glad your dad’s surgery went well. He could always tell folks it’s makeup for Hallowe’en! Sorry about HusbandBFF! Hope he’s better soonest.

doggio glad the Pack won. Sorry Incarnate Word won. I think I am developin’ an irrational hatred for 'em vicariously.

[dogbutler]

Up from naptime, at least I was up once Spot had his cuddles. Having a La Louisiane and Asian BBQ stir fry. I think the upstairs neighbors are watching a sportsball, because the screaming and stomping have gone on too long to be an axe murder.

@Seanette

I’m really wondering about Kasya’s brainpower, even for a juvenile orange cat. I was hunting through clean laundry for something I needed and heard her hissing from the windowsill. Looked outside, the only other visible cat was Buddy. She was acting like her big brother was a territory invader!

I could never have floor level mirrors when I had dogs, because they would see the reflection and have a conniption at the “invader”. So I feel you.

@Paintcharge

First against the wall when the revolution comes.

I ain’t buying anything with GPP installed.

[Aspenglow]

@Johnny_L.A

From your keyboard to God’s monitor.

Yeah, s/he probably won’t listen to a heathen like me. But I’ll sure send good vibes!

Sounds like you got lots done today, dicey! Good work!

@dogbutler

Slightly. Ironic since they say pets help you live longer.

I’ve heard that, too. I have my doubts.

@Seanette

Looked outside, the only other visible cat was Buddy. She was acting like her big brother was a territory invader!

Ollie does that with reflections of himself in the glass of the sliding door in my bedroom. I think he may have finally figured it out, but it took almost 3 years. Derp.

@missred

Nelson’s costumes can’t have head gear. He won’t stand still for anything that is put on over his head or any kind of hats.

Ollie won’t even tolerate things that just go around his neck. It is an enemy! It must be annihilated! Too bad, because he was made for costumes.

Congrats to your Dawgs, swampy! My Ducks barely pulled it out of the fire against Northwestern in the fourth quarter. As always, I couldn’t watch the game but followed along with regular updates of the score. Lotsa cooking going on at your place, for sure! Sleep well.

---

As predicted, a nice quiet day here. Clocks change tonight. Don’t they? I’m going to lunch tomorrow with a friend and would rather not show up an hour early. I don’t really mind changing the clocks since I don’t live by them, but it always takes a day to get into the swing of the new time.

Dinner turned out to be pork chops roasted in onion and sour cream sauce with mashed spuds and peas alongside. Now Ollie is giving me Dinner Eyes, so I’d best push along to take care of that before getting back to watching the second season of The Gold on PBS.

Happy Halloween evenings, all!

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Evening all. Between soccer and gym there was adequate exercise for me to finish off a half-pint of cookies and creme ice cream and still not spoil dinner. Have reset my watches and the kitchen clocks, will get the wall clocks done before bedtime and the bedroom alarms before going to sleep. Looks like we’ll get some rain tonight but no thunderstorms (at least not until tomorrow) which we can use.

Trick-or-Treat was relatively slow, probably about 20-25 folks, I got rid of about 2/3 of my candy, so will try to be moderate in taking care of the remainder.

And doing a late-night final check on how life is treating my fellow Mumpers.

Mollie, if you have a picture of the dastardly killer and his victims, would love to see it, it must be marvelous.

FCM, probably will be at your table, haven’t been to BJ’s in months and may just close out that membership, I just don’t need the extra-large proportions they sell for just one of me. Hope nothing was accomplished as you preferred.

Bright Tree, I never planned to get this deeply into the coupon/store points system as I have, but at least it simplifies shopping plans. Have to go to Wal-Mart for a couple items Kroger doesn’t seem to carry anymore (fat-free cheese slices and Lewis half-loaf Rye Bread), but most of the rest of the time they are the first choice and being less than 3 miles from me it’s easy to get to. And looks like Kroger and Wal-Mart here stock Honey Smacks, may have to give them a try for old times sake. Hope you enjoyed your irresponsibility day.

Dicey, sounds like a full Sattiday was had. My gym had people and was accessible but seemed less busy than usual, too.

Cookie, a sad farewell to your Dutch Oven. May the new one do it’s duty just as well.

And guess I’ll get the stepladder and change those clocks so I have another hour to do slothage. Y’all take care and I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.

[purplehorseshoe]

Tonight started off with a BANG!! Remember a week or so ago, one night I said we were super-dead? We sold more product IN THE FIRST HOUR today than we’d made that whole night.

I think there were at least a half-dozen online pre-orders before we even opened, which is extremely rare outside of madhouse days like The Superb Owl.

I had fun with the cat nose & whiskers, but you don’t notice how much you brush your nose or scratch your cheek real quick … until you have black eyeliner carefully drawn all over that you’re trying to not smear!

Or, if not “you” necessarily, then me.

I got all the way home, pleased at having stayed later than the other Early Outs (thus earning a brownie point w/mgmt) but still leaving at a decent time for a busy weekend … and then had to turn around & go right back. I had someone else’s phone in my purse.

So guess who’s looking for a new and unique looking phone case tonight?

(Sorry 'bout that, Sprinkles.)

@Chefguy

My beloved Le Creuset enameled Dutch oven got chipped when I was trying to get off some really tough food residue.

Oh, no!

May I ask how the chip happened? I also have a beloved Le Creu - it has deeeeeep sentimental value, in addition to being pretty, sturdy, and practical - and replacing it is out of the question, so I’d like to avoid repeating your tragic mistake.

---

Alright, imma bust out the makeup remover, and then go find some meat and/or cheese for dinner. I need protein - there was the predictable assortment of Halloween candy, plus a whole tray of mini cupcakes (I did not eat one .. I did not eat two .. but let’s not ask about “three”) and I need to balance out that much sugar.

On a totally unrelated note, I heard a commercial for Metamucil on the way home. Why does the universe think I need more fiber in my diet?

[susan]

About 120 trick or treaters, and now we’re out of candy. Fortunately, we pre-dosed before sunset.

[nelliebly]

I’m back! I started replying to posts yesterday, got distracted, and then my laptop wouldn’t charge. I tried different outlets, restarting it, and everything else I could think of, but nada. So late this afternoon, I walked to the mall and got a new charger. Still nothing. Argh! I go online to make an appointment at the Tacoma Mall and discover I can now get repairs done at the mall here! Yay! So I went over tonight–dodging ghosts and goblins en route, of course, and…it worked fine.

“That’s weird,” the Geek Squad guy said. “They’re remodeling, and nothing is working.”

Spooooky.

DON’T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS! This has been a public service announcement from Wee Willy Winkie Enterprises. (I always thought that guy was skeevy, running around in his night gown knocking on windows.)

This morning I walked and dog-sat Sterling, the perpetual motion machine. They brought him over with a huge bag of everything he might need for a two-week stay instead of a two-hour one. He’s their baby. Of course, Sterling was excited to be here. I’d say he was beside himself, but two Sterlings would be more than I can handle. I took him for a two-mile walk, a long hike for a miniature beagle, but nothing daunted, he resumed his frenzied attack on toys, tennis balls, and my slippers. He’s really sweet, though, and behaved well on the walk.

Then I walked Charlie. Talk about the swing of the pendulum!

I talked to my Chicago sister. She gave out 103 treats in 75 minutes. She usually gets about 70 for the entire night. She had to shut up shop. I hope you folks got lots of kids at your doors. I miss that.

I’m hopelessly behind, but here’s the replies I made in the post I started yesterday:

@Filbert

Actually, I don’t think any fuchsias are properly annuals; many aren’t hardy, so they get sold as annuals, but if you can keep 'em somewhere cool, light but frost-free they’ll probably survive multiple years.

TIL! Thank you! Until a year ago, mine would swoon and die by November. I must have a hardy bunch. I actually had three last year, but one didn’t make it. Oh, my. I wonder if the 40" tall (now long, since it drooped) plant will keep growing.

@dogbutler

My go to after school snack was 2 Twinkies and a bottle of Jolt Cola.

Your poor mother.

@The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

@nelliebly

21 leaf-blowers Ode to Cochlea Extravaganza.

That’s brilliant-yours or some other creative mind?

It came from the dark, dusty recesses of what passes for my mind…sometimes, anyway.

@scareyfaerie

Also still at a loss over you furriners making such a dog’s breakfast out of pronouncing what we over here call “Wooster” sauce

Do the Hobbits know you killed the shire?

To me, it’s long been pronounced "Woos-tah-sher. " There used to be another R in there, but when I lived in MA, the Worcester people pronounced their city name, “Woos-tah,” and it stuck with me.

Tha’s as fars as I got. I hope to do better tomorrow.

[Seanette]

As usual, despite kid presence in the complex, not a single cute little mooch at the door. DH and I shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with that package of mini-Rice Krispie bars.

We seem to be binging Tim Burton today. Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands...

[purplehorseshoe]

Whiskers, tiger ears, glow-in-the-dark shirt, and a bonus photo photobombing by Coolio

[susan]

Nice!

[purplehorseshoe]

The earrings are a flower-child ghost throwing a peace sign.

Had another one-eyed Jack (egg fried in wheat bread) plus a new-to-me frozen snack: a quesadilla stuffed with Korean BBQ beef.

Now I’m the one who’s stuffed!

Having assimilated the needed protein (and a multivitamin) I’m nursing a hot cuppa, but I feel the strong pull of Slumberland.

May the ghosts haunting your dreams be friendly, and the witches in your life cast spells of peace and joy.

[Johnny_L.A]

We went out for Thai food tonight, which we virtually never do. (We usually order take-out.). We went early, of course, since Mrs. L.A. thinks ‘dinner’ should be around four o’clock. Nice view of the marina. We both had Pad Garlic (choice of meat marinated in garlic oil, white peppers, broccoli, spinach, garlic & thin soy sauce, stir-fried with garlic sauce). I had beef, and she had squid. Both were excellent. She ordered coconut shrimp, and I ordered chicken satay, for appetisers. Two Singha beers each.

No trick-or-treaters tonight. Mrs. L.A. intentionally did not buy any candy, since we never get trick-or-treaters. I bought small bags of Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Kit-Kats just in case. Didn’t tell her. Anyway, she was right and I was wrong. I need to donate the candy somewhere.

We watched The Wizard of Oz on Svengoolie, preceded by some Vincent Price movies.