I started this several hours ago but got interrupted. Whew! That giant gust of wind you heard was my sigh of relief that JtC has reported in. Hooray! I am aww’d by those photos of Miz Jolene and her Own Personal Bigfoot. They’re so sweet together! She was an inspired adoption, JtC.
Also in the Yay Department, Happy Birthday, Red! 
I hope your day was nothing short of spectacular! IN fact, I say, let’s extend the celebrations for the whole week. Anybody have party hats we could all wear?
Remember when tManuel Noriega, the Panamanian dictator, holed up in the Vatican’s embassy in Panama City and refused to come out, so the US set up giant speakers and blasted “Panama” and “I Fought the Law” at him for 3 days? My neighbors are using the same tactic, and I’m ready to go out and confess to crimes I didn’t commit. This morning, it was an hour of music so loud, I had to yell my thoughts inside my head so I could hear them. About 30 minutes ago, I was about to go to the hall to check for an Amazon package when there was a ruckus on the stairs. Holy frick. About FIFTEEN little kids and 5 adults went into the Noisy Neighbors’ place. Now and then, kids burst out the front door and run up and down the stairs, whooping. Mostly, though, it’s just giggling and screaming and kids apparently flinging each other against the walls.
I like tightly-knit extended families. I grew up in one. But this is ridiculous. Who starts a party with little kids at 8:30 on a Sunday night? I emailed the manager.
Oh, and I ran into their upstairs neighbor yesterday, the one who said on Christmas night he was going to call the cops. HE did call them, but they said they couldn’t do anything unless he complained after 10 pm. He did, and I guess they came out and warned these folks, but it didn’t do any good.
Boo, glad you’re OK but yoiks! Like FCM, I had to leave gas stoves behind when I moved away from the midwest and have missed them ever since. I remember when we moved to Massachusetts from Illinois, there were still signs at apt. complexes bragging, “All-electric apartments!” My mom did get an electric stove when I was 10. It took awhile to get used to it, so my brother came home one day and called, “So what did you burn for us tonight, Mom?” Good thing Mom had a sense of humor. After that, it was gas stoves all the way.
Also, congrats on the upcoming grandbaby!
FCM, I hope you can stay home and stay cozy during the storm.
Shoe, fingers crossed for Charm, who doesn’t have any appendages to cross. I’ve always liked that name. Is there a story behind it?
Out of my deep appreciation for our online-ship, I shall not gloat. I know all too well what it’s like to lose to rivals on your own field. Being a Bears fan is an exercise in humility.
There are so many posts…so many, many posts, that I frequently think after responding, “Oh, I meant to tell ____ that…” Rest assured that even when nobody comments, we’ve read and sympathized.
JtC, I’m sorry your husband’s family has been giving you such grief. I’d be tempted to tell them my coven recommended eye of newt and three hairs from a virgin wombat, but that might bring them rushing to your door.
Holy frick. BAM. BOOM. The noise is ratcheting up. “Come on, kids! Who wants another cup of Jolt cola and coffee punch?” I’m going to bed.