What a handsome guy. I am so sorry you lost him, they leave such a big hole in our hearts.
Pavo, I am so sorry about Catsby. He looks to be a sweet boi.
Afternoon, mumpers! It’s currently 18c/65f with no predicted change, and partly cloudy. Weather app says “Today is a good fucking day for a good fucking day.” It’s true, partly cloudy means it’s partly sunny too.
And probably decided that was quite enough activity for one day!
I’m disappointed not to have any sage piloty advice on what to do with Miss Growler 
WetOne yay for riding Ariel, that must have been wonderful for both of you. I’m sorry about your FIL, sounds like the visitation would be too much at once. Hold on to the good memories instead.
Maybe he’s finally in the right environment for it?
Definitely weird for humans, I suppose it could be a comfort for a bonded animal but I would have thought it would cause more distress as they’d spend time still looking for a friend that wasn’t there any longer.
I am so sorry, he was a beautiful boy. I’m sure he had the best possible life with you. Big hugs to you and yours.
Fun times last night, we went to see a couple of bands at our favourite venue last night and had a great time. Today sees the start of the annual Mayor’s Fest which is a weekend music festival in aid of various charities, both local and national.
I booked today and Monday off work because that seemed quite sensible! Today I went into town as I needed to go to the bank and do something that requires going inside the doors. Although they are open on Saturdays, after covid they changed their hours and close too early on a Saturday for me to get there. So it’s a good use of a day off. I also took the chance to pick up lunch from our favourite Indian food truck who are only in town on weekdays. Another good use of a day off!
I haven’t been able to tempt Miss Muffin in much in the way of food so far. She’s had some dry, flavourless bits and has eaten the ham and treats that we put out for her, but she’s largely ignored her gushy food. The only ones she’s eaten have been a couple of small tins of something chicken-based, and the pouches of Encore chicken with brown rice that I bought to try out. While I was out today, I found some different pouches of chicken-based food that she might prefer, so I’ve put some of that down for her. She growled.
Ah.
I use two apps on my walks. The other one is MapMyWalk. I use MapMyWalk for entering distances and times in my spreadsheet (which calculates MPH), as it indicates a slightly longer distance than WoofTrax. (Also, it tells me whenever I’ve walked a mile.) WoofTrax somehow generates donations to a shelter (The NOAH Center, in my case), so I use it too. I don’t know which app is the more accurate one.
I’d have to look it up, but I think you need to walk a certain distance for your walks to ‘count’ on WoofTrax. I think maybe half a mile. But I may be mistaken.
Such a productive morning here, what’s wrong with me? As of 1045 when I sat here at my desk, I’ve emptied and started refilling the dishwasher, cleaned the sinks, unjammed the disposal (I need to remember to run it every other day or so) then dumped some baking soda and vinegar in it to clean it, started the ice maker, moved first load of laundry to the dryer and the second to the washer, assembled the chickie-grape-celery-apple-tarragon salad (dammit, forgot the pecans - must add them) and, um, I think that’s it. So far. As I was cutting up the chickie, I put some scraps into a dish for Ziva - not sure if she’ll eat them or not - she seems to prefer her dry, flavorless bits to gooshy food or meat. Weird feline.
Oh, and I took the cushion downstairs on one of my trips. No tripping, tho. I will always have a death grip on the railing when going down, and often when coming up. I also lean a bit to the up side in case I do stumble. The basement floor is a concrete slab - not something one wants to fall upon.
Guess I’ll go chop some pecans then have some lunch.
And no, I have no idea where all the energy came from.
Oh no, I’m so sorry.
Same here.
I have the same issue with the Polish side. The Germans, Irish and hillbillies are a piece of cake in comparison.
I’m sorry. He looked like a good, butterscotch boy.
Up, caffeinating, houseirk done, last load of laundry in the dryer, phone visited with Sis and fixing to do meal planning and grocery shopping. IOW, the usual Firday.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
My Other Shoe watched me composing an email to my mother, in Polish, and remarked that it looked like a cat sat on the keyboard.
Me too!
Oh, I love lobelia and bleeding hearts. I’d love to see photos of your ersatz florist shop.
Jeez, everyone is getting pizza today! I bet we’re gonna be slammed at work tonight.
Yup.
Oh, hun, I am so sorry.
I haven’t emotionally committed to getting up yet, but damn do I want a hot cuppa tea.
Wow, it looks like the weather might be worse than I though. There is flooding all around and our cell phones keep going off telling us to move to high ground while hiding in a basement or inner hallway.
And the interwebz keep flickering so I won’t be able to give god updates. That apartment building I showed pics of before is flooded again. There was a mudslide down Harts way, GG did not like watching the parade of dirt moving equipment rumbling down the highway.
I finally got my hands on a good mailing box, but I’m not sure if the post office is going to be open (their phone doesn’t work) and heard that parts of downtown are flooded so I’ll probably not go out today.
Not to worry, god’s internetz is probably flickering too.
Had a good visit from the wife’s niece yesterday, although the lunch we had at a local restaurant was not very good. Surprising, as we’ve had good food there in the past. This was bad enough that they had to take one dish off the bill as inedible. On the plus side, Sadie stayed in the living room the entire time the niece was here. That’s a first for her, as she usually hides from strangers.
A decent day today, nice and bright if a bit on the cool side. Did the exercise thing this morning.
I think I need to get back to the doc about this bursitis. It’s really causing me some pain. Fucking old age really sucks.
Another light day. I was loading 5 cars and was finished loading by 0745. Looked like most cars were light, except one. I dunno if the people on that route have been selling short on stocks the last 2 weeks, or Dispatch just hates that driver. Of course they were yeeting people out of the door as fast as possible, so I had to do all the cleanup by myself. But that meant OT, so it makes me happy. Laundry is swirling as we speak.
Awwww, I’m sorry.
When Gordie’s BFF died, Gordie got his toys. He spent an hour just sniffing them.
Well, the Small Egyptian God is currently sacked out on the couch.
One of these things is not like the other one. 
Got some random stuff cleared out last night, so now my trash bin is extra full, and my pantry has space.
Go, me!
Having my self-promised hot cuppa while Monks basks in the sunshine.
I took my plants back outside so they, too, could bask in the sun, and Monkey shot around the corner and up the stairs just as I was precariously balancing my way down, like the bastard has a life insurance policy out on me or something.
Bright, sunny day, Friday, in the budding spring. Goddamn, we are gonna be so busy. Hopefully ppl will be in a good mood.
(She wrote, absolutely jinxing herself.)
I should explain that my trepidation yesterday was due in part because a friend who works for a state environmental protection agency was telling me about the horrible havoc the feds are causing, and then Ms. Dog’s person, who’s an attorney at the state AG’s office, told me what’s happening to the federal judges. I’m not feeling any more optimistic, but I apologize if I thrust anyone into The Gloomy Place.
I don’t have any dogs to walk today, but that may change. Ms. Dog found a couple of toys Mr. Max left here. (They were behind an armchair, and I didn’t think even Mr. M. could fit back there.) I’ll run them over there, and Mr. M.'s person will probably ask me to walk him “if you’re walking anyway.” (Money is tight, and this is her way of not having to pay me.) I have errands to run, though, and Mr. Max wouldn’t be welcome at the stores. He does need exercise, though, and she can’t walk him very far. We’ll see.
I’m so sorry. He looks like a serene sweetheart. And may I say I love his name?
What a wonderful description!, red. 
shoe, I meant to say yesterday that I’m sorry you were having a melancholy day, missing other shoe as you were. IME, at those times, all the sweet memories are edged in heartache. I hope today is easier.
He could just lay His hands upon it and poof! Fixed! I hear he gets pretty steamed about popup ads, though,
[quote=“dogbutler, post:232, topic:1016391”]
I was loading 5 cars and was finished loading by 0745
[/quote]I misread this and thought you were loading five CATS. I thought, Wait! Dooggio got 4 more cats?! Then I thought of that famous reddit story about the guy who took shrooms and couldn’t get all 5 of his cats out of the basement (maybe funniest story ever). But you don’t do shrooms, and Spot would probably give any hapless immigrant cats the bum’s rush.
And the tiny Siamese god is draped across my lap snoozing.
No need to apologize, heavens to Betsy. I am glad to not be alone in this dire mess. We all get by with the help of our friends 
.
Laundry is done. Sloppy Joes are simmering. I just ordered a pair of deck chairs. FCD is napping. Chillage reigns.
Started Typing: 1:05 PM ET
Clicked Reply: 2:41 PM ET
I made it through my first week at the new job! Woo hoo! Happily, today has required very little brainpower…but although I’ve been glad for the slow/quiet Friday, I find myself looking forward to jumping back into everything next week. I guess that’s a good sign.
I’m only working for a little while longer: Bailey has a 4pm vet tech appointment for a Bordatella booster. The vet is close to home and the appointment will just take a few minutes, but it’s a good excuse to start my weekend a little early. When she’s with the tech I’ll make a reservation for her to board there while I’m at the vocal jazz conference in June (just two months away now!).
Speaking of vocal jazz, a couple of friends are singing in DC tonight: I’d had their show on my radar, but I’m kind of beat and don’t wanna. So, once Bailey and I are back from the vet we’ll both stay home tonight. I have another thrilling evening of TV and Lego planned! Last night I got through bag #6 of the Ghostbusters firehouse: each bag is taking ~90 minutes, and there are 14 of 'em (4634 pieces). If I can get through bag #10 by Sunday night, that will be a solid accomplishment. The cleaners come a week from today, and I’d love to be done before then…we’ll see.
Tomorrow afternoon I should really go to the mall (and Kohl’s) for work clothes. I didn’t get the clothes shopping gene: I run out of patience pretty quickly, but I have even less patience for buying clothes online (with the guessing and the inevitable returning) so the mall it is. Thankfully, it’s only 1.7 miles from home. Whenever I finally go, I plan to reward myself with trips to both the Lego and Swarovski stores. 
Tomorrow night I have a ticket to hear some jazz really close to home (a new-to-me venue), but I’ll see how I feel after the shopping.
On Sunday I’ll be meeting a friend for lunch. I haven’t seen her in almost two months. She doesn’t know about my job situation yet, and she works for a different large federal contractor – so, in addition to telling my story I want to hear how things are going for her. We’re meeting at our “usual” Thai place, and it’ll be good to catch up while having some yummy panang chicken (well, I’ll get chicken: she’s a vegetarian, and will get some tofu thing).
Oh, excellent! 
I hope it went as smoothly as possible. 
OMG! Were there a lot of nervous people?
Ugh…what a rock and a hard place she’s stuck between. 
<Later, as uniformed officers lead me away from FCM’s house: “But, shoe told me to do it!!”>
(
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I could never keep a mental tally, and used to carry around an actual calculator (before smartphones) when grocery shopping. I rounded up each item’s cost to the next whole dollar, and that did a pretty good job of accounting for the tax.
Oh no…I’m so, so sorry.
Thanks everyone.
The hardest part is how unexpected and sudden it was. His sister is almost 20; of course we hope she’s with us for a long time, but we expected her to go first. He was only 13. My wife was looking forward to getting him a kitten. He would have loved having a kitten around (we can only be a two-cat household because of her allergies). He’ll never get his kitten.
Honestly, it was more a happy accident than anything else.
My ex used to say, gently, “Nobody ever hired you for your math skills.” (Meaning, I have other skillzzz. Just, not so much math.)