(Old) An Air of Finality in the last 2024 MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Happy New Year, chums! I wrote a long post yesterday, but for some reason, couldn’t post it. It was quite pithy, too. You can read that as is or assume I have a lisp, your choice.

I was asleep before the fireworks started, not that they didn’t wake me up. It’s so weird. Nobody set off fireworks when I was a kid in suburban Chicago. Mom let us bang pots and pans on the front porch, though, which was probably more annoying. And Dad gave us pennies so we’d have a prosperous new year. Not that you could get prosperous on our 50¢ per week allowance, half of which had to go in the collection plate at church.

The next-door neighbors cranked up music at 7:23 (I keep a log now.), but I pounded on the wall, and they turned it down. Yay, me!

I spent way too much time trying to log onto my airline account. I finally had to call. The rep couldn’t do it either but figured out a work-around. I booked my trip to Chicago to help my bro post knee-surgery.

I’m going to the office tomorrow to see if the corporate overlords will let me stay here one extra month without charging me a gazillion bucks. I’m trying not to panic at the sudden dearth of rentals, but an extra month would by me more time. The Chicago area is back on the table. Or did I say that? Can’t recall what I said in the missing post. I’m thinking about Joliet. Anyone ever live there? I always thought it’d be funny to have one house in Joliet and one in Romeoville. Anyway, I have to see if I can afford a long-distance move.

Maybe they thought when he said…no, wait, that’s too dirty, even for me.

I live in a northern region, but the skies are never clear when there’s anything amazing going on. If a meteor is headed straight toward us, we’d never see it coming. Of course, I’d be under the bed so wouldn’t see it anyway.

That happened to our car once. It was -45ºF (actual temp, not windchill), and the accelerator cable contracted. I wonder if that’s your car’s issue. I hope yours is a quick, cheap fix. And welcome back!

Aw. He’s a good boy. He reminds me of my kids. My daughter had a cast of thousands in her bed, and my son had cars and fire engines. Tobias is such a cutie! How do you keep from spoiling him rotten?

Glad I’m not the only one. When I was in the hospital after having my son, I kept hearing electric guitar music. I finally asked a nurse. Her look said, “No more morphine for YOU!” I finally figured out it was the AC twanging through a duct.

Snuggly dogs are the BEST!

Then you’re not 70, since we all know you’re as young as you feel. Happy Belated Birthday!
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Boo, yay for getting the cataract surgery soon!

swampy, glad you and your hubba-hubba-hubs had a great time with friends.
Hugs to all!

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What a pleasure!

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So I had my collards and black eyed peas for lunch(canned Margret Holmes, not home made) with baked fried chicken. I napped.
Me: < awakens from nap >
Spot: “What is with this primate obsession with being conscious more than 5 hours a day?”
Having a martini and teriyaki stir fry for dinner.

Good.

“You’re only as young as you feel, so only feel young people.” :wink:

Chaos.

Should we cross fingers?

Well, you can’t go wrong with klezmer. Or Rhapsody in Blue.

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And it’s getting late and my left knee is a bit achy, so will be heading off to bed to do some reading here in a little bit. Wanted something to snack on but didn’t want to open anything new, so 2 cups of dry Frosted Flakes washed down with Diet Pepsi worked out well (hey, it’s my digestive system, I’ll put what I want in it).

nellie, hope brother does well with the knee surgery and while I never lived in the Chi-town area, I have friends who do and they love it there. And I hear a noise like something is rattling around at my window, it’s just the HVAC venting air onto the window blinds.

And off to reading and bed-time. Take care all.

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No, hun, that was yesterday.

Sooooo… both?

Backup Manager was in charge tonight as scheduled (and sounding decidedly less like death warmed over) but her mom - the G.M. - was there as well. But she just ran the ovens, and (mostly) let her daughter run the main show.

I’m not sure how I feel about a 70+ year old with diabetes and who knows what all else, doing a job for a full shift that physically (and often mentally) kicks my ass after an hour or two …

We could help … Dopers are a pretty smart bunch.
You could start a thread and let folks know what error or problem you’re encountering, see if anyone here can get you past that hurdle.

I snacked a bunch at work, so came home very not hungry, but I should figure out something tasty for tonight.

I still have that ill-fated half-a-baked-potato in the fridge (there’s butter, cheese, green onions, and sour cream to top it off) or possibly pan fry some pierogi … which are, perhaps ironically, baked potato flavor/filling.

Or maybe soup.

But for now, Monkey is demanding I toss him some treats to chase. He’s pretty good at snatching them out of midair, although sometimes there’s a weird half-miss and he accidentally bats it into an odd spot.
Which then entails a thorough search, and he almost always finds it. (“cronch!”)

Plus I have a dogwalker joint calling my name; it’s basically a lil’ mini preroll.

The idea being, it’s just enough for a nice stroll with your poochie.

(I’ve also heard them called “soccer mom” joints - drop the kids off, light one up, and it’s done & flicked out the window before they’re finished and ready to go back home.)

Then, after treats for the kitty & catnip for me, some sort of hot food.

Tomorrow’s my Blessed Day Off … need to pay rent, then see what - if anything - is left over.

There’s some stuff I’d like to get at the Sto’ but, seeing as I have T.P., litter, kibble, and people food - including butter, can’t run outta butter - there’s nothing on the list that’s ZOMG URGENT.

Speaking of zomg, time to kill some zombies.

What? It relaxes me.

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Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s likely to be another clusterfuck. It’s currently 35 degrees ferret height(1.67 Centipedes).

Did you bring the big bin back in?

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Dear Rats:

Would you PLEASE stop knocking your water bottles down and then burying them?
Especially when they’re still half-full.

Now you’re all thirsty, and it’s all your own damn fault.

Dear Cat:

No, I’m not gonna let you out.
Cuz it’s three in the morning and there’s snow on the ground, that’s why.

Now stop yeeting random objects in protest.

Dear Landlord:

You haz my rent money, on time. I have my shit together. (Sorta. Close enough.)
Can you get your poop in a group enough to charge the monthly water bill we should be getting billed every, yanno, month?

Now get your ducks in a row.

Yup.

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Why have I woken up sweaty?
Because its cold out and I have it nice and warm in here?
At least I had a normal dream.
There is nothing to do today.
Somebody give me a chore and then payment for the chore.
I shall return.

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Definitely a treat.

Somehow this reminds me of Laverne mixing Pepsi and milk.

When we go hiking, there is invarably somebody older than us hiking in the opposite direction. And they’re cheerful!

Yesterday we went for an extra long walk and I actually slept in until 8:30. Need to go to the store for salad and chicken before it starts raining. Since it’ll be raining, I plan to bake orange poppyseed cake and ginger snaps today.

And maybe I’ll get around to sorting out the pile of paper that’s been gradually growing over the last month or so.

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That suggests a possible alternate option, since it seems like the corporate retail/food service gigs (especially the modern ones with online stuff) just do not seem to be working out for you.

What chores are you willing/able to do? Do you live somewhere that there’s a market for those skills?

If you are reliable and thorough, you can probably find work doing things like, for ex. housecleaning.

If that’s a possibility for you (and again, this is all just hypothetical examples) I’m sure your generous church friends might be able to help you find someone - or they may themselves be that someone - who needs a reliable person to come over, say, once a week for a couple of hours to sweep/mop/wash dishes/clean the potty.

Maybe a local vet could use help cleaning kennels? You seem to like critters.

Just brainstorming. . .

Look, we all got chores. Some people are in a position to pay other people to handle those chores for them.
You just gotta get in touch with each other.

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I like feline critters ( no offense to the canine lovers).
My new job will involve making food, in the back, and ringing up, in the front.
Theres nothing like telling a customer, “Enjoy!”
I am good with customers.

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I’m pretty sure I had an uninterrupted night, tho I might have awakened long enough to look at the time then fall asleep again. Anyway, I made it all the way to 6:30, after going to bed before 11. That’s the longest sleep I’ve had in a long time. So YAY!!!

Ziva is sitting here yelling at me for some reason. The bedroom door is open enough that she can go hide under the bed, so it’s not that. She had her treats this morning. She has water. I gave her skritches. Maybe she’s just singing the song of her people. Such a weird cat.

I may run to Food Lion today. We’re almost out of milk, and probably other stuff if I look. That’s as far as my plans have gone. I need to get out of the frame of mind of keeping sweets in the house as I did for MIL. Neither of us should have so much ice cream or cookies or pastries. Not sure if crackers are better or worse. Apart from that one jaunt, I have no real plans.

Well, maybe I’ll clean out the closet under the stairs. We have 2 walkers and a wheelchair to store and that’s the dryest, coolest, and most out-of-the-way place I could think of. The attic gets way too hot and my studio is way too cluttered already. I’ll have a look in that closet and see what I can do myself or if I’ll need FCD’s help, since it’s mostly his stuff down there.

Oh, and the dishwasher needs to be emptied. Gracious, how shall I find the time?!?!?

:rofl:

Happy Thursday!

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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 33 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 58 and N.O.S. That’s Winter weather in these parts. Today is OYKW’s bday. He wants to go to our favorite Mexican place for steak ‘n shrimp fajitas and one or two of their, his words, big ass margaritas. So we shall. He also gets an ice cream cake from DQ. My DAWGS play Notre Dame at four p.m. He says he will tolerate me watchin’. Like there would be a choice there. RDOS inactivities will be accomplished as well.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then I suppose I must purtify and don attire acceptable for bein’ amongst the great unwashed. How I do suffer for love!

Happy Thursday Y’all!

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Good morning.

It’s 39F and cloudy; rain is expected to arrive around 5:00 a.m. It’ll rain off and on during the morning, but the afternoon appears to contain only clouds with one rain shower and a high temperature of 47F.

Happy Birthday to OYKW!

I spoke with my middle sister last night. My last remaining aunt in Germany is dying of pancreatic cancer. My mom is the oldest of her siblings: two brothers and two sisters. After Tante Gerda goes, all of my mom’s siblings will be gone. Mom will turn 88 this year. It makes me sad for my mother. The cousins don’t communicate with me or my sister. Hell, some of them never even met us. We left Germany in 1970; only one of those cousins was alive then. Another of my cousins came to the US with my aunt and uncle in the late 70s to visit us. He was around six then, a bit of a spoiled brat. We communicated some as adults, but I last heard from him around 10 or 15 years ago.

It must be difficult for my mother to realize she’s the only one left.

Back to work today and tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the first Friday I’ve worked since October. It’s always a bit of an adjustment to get back to nine-day working schedules after the holidays—the things we do to keep a roof over our heads and food in the doggos’ tummies. I know I’m fortunate to have a good job, but I sure am looking forward to being a RDOS.

I must finish my coffee, wipe down the kitchen counters, and unload the dishwasher. After that, I’ll boil a couple of eggs for brekkies. I’m out of yogurt, so I’ll boil the eggs to get some protein.

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I just ate breakfast and I believe that I am officially over pecans for awhile. I’m going to have to figure out what else I want to eat instead of high protein granola.

Just read Tater’s post and I’m not sure if eggs will do it for me, lol. Oh, and I’m sorry to hear about your aunt.

On today’s agenda is hopefully working with the leather pieces that I bought when we were in Columbus awhile back and also physical therapy. Also on the agenda is trying not to freak out. I ended up resigning from my position at the school. It was only 6 hours a week, but it was apparently more of that type of work than I could handle. My anxiety has gone through the roof - especially on the way to and from there - and this was causing issues.

I don’t like being a quitter, but I know that I need to do a better job of taking care of myself. So, I’ve got some things in the works and I’m going to try to be a better version of me. It was interesting when I read my therapist’s notes about me the other day to see my ‘level of mental illness.’ (That wasn’t what it was called exactly - I forget) but it had something to do with the impact that mental illness has on your life. The weirdest thing was that it was higher than I expected. On some level that makes me feel better to know that there’s a reason that I can’t just get over it. It also gives me insight into my dad because I know that we struggled with similar things.

Ok, enough seriousness, if the milk that you spill is Almond milk, should you cry over it??

Happy Birthday, OYKW!!

ETA: For some reason the thing that’s freaking me out the most is worrying what their responses will be to my resignation. I mean, intellectually I know that it doesn’t matter and I can quit if I want to. But emotionally, I’m afraid to see what they have to say. Ugh.

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My mom was talking about this when I saw her on Christmas. She was the oldest of 4 - all are gone. She has only 3 or 4 cousins still alive (no one has heard from Peggy in ages.) I don’t think any of my dad’s cousins are still alive. So at 90, she’s one of very few of her generation on either side of the family. Because she talked about it, I think it hit her pretty hard when she thought about it.

Of my generation of the family among first cousins, three have died, one of an opioid OD and the other 2 of health issues. (Actually, one is suspected to be the result of an affair, so technically she was not a blood relative.) The oldest of us is Eleanor who will be 81 this year. The youngest is Nicole - I’m guessing early to mid 50s. So we’re pretty much the family elders now. It’s strange to think in those terms.

Sorry - I didn’t mean to bring down the tone here. Just random musings that no one else really cares about. FCD just told me the bathroom’s nice and warm - it’s shower time!!

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Nope, I was wrong. I just looked it up. It is just about your level of mental illness and whether it is better or worse in the last month or so. Aren’t y’all glad I clarified?? LOL

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Shirley you jest…

Except for my brother and maybe one cousin on my Mom’s side, I think I’m the last relative alive on either side of the family tree, but haven’t dwelled on it too much; I have so many friends here and on other connections that it isn’t something I think about; one good thing about the21st century inter-connectivity, I guess.

I am never over pecans…unless you have walnuts…

A most Happy Birthday, OYKW!!

shoe, I trust G.M. made it through the night. Happy Zombie killin’

Sticky Buns, my best wishes, sometimes life can throw us curves, but sounds like you have a pretty good therapist so soldier on. We’ll be here for support.

Up at 3:30am to micturate and then stayed warm and cosy until after 7am. Am waiting the requisite time after pillage before eating, then some pancakes and bacon are on the way to my belly. Nothing much on the agenda, trash pickup is usually today but gets pushed back a day for holidays, so will put it out tonight. Temperature is down to 25F so definitely an in-house day…might get to the library to try and finish that massive NY Times crossword.

So onward, all. Excelsior!

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Afternoon, mumpers! It’s currently 2c/35f with a predicted high of 3c/37f, and mostly sunny. Weather app says “An optimist would say it’s partly fucking sunny outside. Fuck that bullshit!” It’s true, it’s sunny out there but very cold and we had a sharp frost last night.

We didn’t connect the dots on that one until we realised that the fireworks were starting hourly, on the hour :slight_smile:

Those proper boxes always look nice but I know it would end up a complete mess with the kind of stuff I take to work. I use plastic tubs from the takeaway, they have a pretty good seal on them, and I can wrap them in clingfilm to ensure nothing escapes.

Many happy returns to our favourite imaginary RDOS!

I am sorry to hear about your aunt, it must be tough on your mother too. It’s a shame the rest of the family haven’t really kept in touch either - mine is much the same, I know I have cousins but I can’t remember the last time I saw or spoke to them. I expect my brother knows where they are, but I barely communicate with him unless he wants something. The last contact I had with him was a text message asking me if my mother’s neighbours from 10 years ago were still alive.

Sticky Buns that sounds like a tough situation for you, I’m glad you have found a therapist who suits you.

I’m back at work and on campus today. The commute was not too bad once I actually got on a train. Two buses didn’t show up today, and I was running half an hour late by the time I got on the local chuffer. Changed trains at Big City Station, where I met the ADHD Squirrel. We have both decided to be less stressed about getting to work on time since public transport’s not helping us.

The nice lady from Facilities brought us a dehumidifier today, our office is very damp and it’s made worse by a leaky ceiling (related to another building issue) so we’re hoping that will help with the condensation problems. It’s also cold in the office even though the antiquated heating system is doing its best - I’m rarely cold, but today I am definitely feeling the chill.

Nothing else going on, work is slow and we’ve got two people out sick today so there’s only three of us in the office. Possibly only two of us tomorrow as well, I am not expecting one of the sickies to be in as she’s had covid and now her brother and sister have it too, and they all share a house. I’ll be here, might be trying to type with my gloves on though!

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Happy birthday OYKW! :birthday:

I’m sorry. My dad is 87 and has been the only one of the five brothers left since 2008. There’s only his younger brother’s second wife left in his generation besides him.

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP. Today’s agenda includes grocery shopping and mending. Such excitement!

Stay safe and healthy y’all!