(Old) Another lost great idea in the MMP

[Die_Capacitrix]

@FairyChatMom

I hope you’re not one who tosses items at the “best by” date.

Generally not. It’s more a comment about the food being sold at the outlet. It’s not being sold just one day before the best by date. It’s being sold at the outlet even months before the best by date.

We commonly drink milk that 1-3 days past the best by (or best buy) date, eat cheese that’s past due, and I’m not sure why dried pasta even has a date on it. It really depends on the food.

Made lunch and cleaned up the kitchen. Hubby’s going to make afternoon lattes and then I shoud clean up the diatomaceous earth which I put in the kitchen and bathroom due to ants. Supposedly 48 hours should be plenty of time, and it’s been more than that.

Hubby’s shredding paper from the first shelf of binders, and we still have two more shelves to clean up. Poor shredder’s getting a workout.

[dogbutler]

Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off today. Morning cleaning and afternoon sloth shall ensue. The Small Egyptian God is in the sunroom watching the vermin feed and fornicate.

[Taters]

Good morning.

It’s 49F and lightly raining. There will be periods of rain throughout the day, and the high temperature is expected to be around 56F.

Baker, don’t be angry with yourself. You need to take care of yourself!

I love you, beautiful people, and thank all of you who went out to protest. I saw the pictures on the news (and of you, Boo!). I thank you all for your kind words and support. It’s not just me; it’s millions of other federal employees and you and everyone else who are affected by all of this chaos, and that’s the part that really has me down. Yes, I will probably either have to retire or lose my job, and I am grieving that, but I will have to pull up my boots and get on with life, whether that means going out earlier than planned or gritting my teeth and praying I am not among the targeted RIF population.

In that vein, yesterday morning, I tracked my spending over the last year and reviewed my retirement calculations. I saw where I could make some cuts, but I’ve been cutting spending for years, so there isn’t much to pare down. I have a number that could work for me, and I have a call with a planner this afternoon. I still don’t want to do this. I’m losing 600 bucks a month because I can’t go until I’m 62 and 2500 bucks a month because I can’t go until I’m 67. And that’s just the FERS (defined pension) part of my retirement. That 600 bucks a month adds up over time. I need to see and discuss the numbers before I make a final decision, so this gets me there. My husband is not a good sounding board for this because he doesn’t think long-term.

I washed, dried, folded, and hung up most of my laundry yesterday. Today, I’ll wash sheets and towels. I should also dust and run the vacuum.

My husband is a throw-out-the-food-by-the-use-by-date kind of guy. I can’t convince him that it’s okay to go a little beyond. As for pasta, it actually does become cardboard-tasting if left too long.
I tried several times.

Alright, time for more coffee and then onward to the kitchen.

[missred]

@Die_Capacitrix

I’m always happy when I find coffee beans at the grocery outlet. At least here they are usually months out from the best used by date.

These have a best used by date in 2026. They’ll be long gone by then.

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP / Sunday chores. The temp was at today’s high (62F) when I walked Nelson and it’s supposed to be anywhere from chilly to downright cold for the week. I’m ready for this nonsense to be over and warm weather to get here to stay.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

[AskNott]

Last night, we went out to eat at Rico’s At The Bulldog with my nephew and his wife. I had a blue cheese burger and waffle fries. A lovely time was had by all.

I haven’t seen most of the news yet, but huge crowds went out to hold signs and holler in every state, and a few places outside the USA. The target of their wrath held a golf tournament on one of his golf courses, sponsored by Saudi Arabia.

We finally got started on the task of hanging some ot the art we’ve collected over the years. Here in the office, we hung a charcoal drawing of a nude woman by Cathi Riley, done in '62. Next to it is a print called “Birds of a Feather,” by Charles Harper. Maybe I can figger out how to post a pic.

I just finished “Watchers,” by Dean Koontz. It’s a great story, and I recommend it to your attention.
{{{{{Taters}}}}}

It was Mrs. Nott who figured out how to put those pics in, not me. Now the computer says I can’t do that. Sorry

Okay, gotta go. Be well. Be kind. Be You.

[Chefguy]

She’s yar, to quote an old movie.

Finally, after many months of aborting, we finally went downstairs for the Sunday biscuits and gravy. They do a credible job on the sausage gravy, but I wish they would keep the biscuits warm. I’m thinking of making a big batch of sausage gravy and freezing it in manageable containers. Gotta clear out the freezer first, though.

Perhaps a walk later, since the wind has died down. Otherwise, a calm Sunday.

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Morning all. Up at 7am and made the Sunday NY Times run followed by a quick Wal-Mart trip, so for me an active Sunday morning. It was raining and thunder/lightning all night and it is still raining out and will continue into the afternoon. At least it is cooler, about 60F now and only getting to 68F for the high, so nearly 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. Not much on the agenda for today, but all the exercising has helped, I feel pretty good today rather than completely burned out as I used to get after Soccer Saturdays. Might head to the gym after the Sunday Dinner at Longhorn.

shoe, thanks for the pictures and BBBoo, you go girl!

@FairyChatMom

I hope you’re not one who tosses items at the “best by” date.

–raises hand-- Sorry, it’s just a habit I got from my Mom, who was extremely fussy about such things.

boo fae, sounds like you are doing everything right with Muffin; hope she loosens up soon and realizes she is in safe hands.

And need to process some You Tubers then dress for dinner out. Take care all.

[purplehorseshoe]

@FairyChatMom

I hope you’re not one who tosses items at the “best by” date.

I was done when I saw salt with a “best buy” date.

It’s literally (not how the kids these days mean it, I do mean literally) a rock. A mineral. That’s been around since before dinosaurs roamed the earth.

@FairyChatMom

. I don’t really like IHOP - they do Pepsi instead of Coke,

Sorry, can’t understand judging a restaurant by their soda, not by their food.

Also … smiley face pancakes!!

(Yes, I am a toddler at heart.)

@FairyChatMom

letting me skritch her!!! I kept waiting for her to bolt, but she was happily purring and even climbed to go face-to-face with me.

D’aaaawwwwwww.

You are her person. Whether you like it or not.

@scareyfaerie

the guy who came to clear the table apologised again for the wait and said he was really pleased we hadn’t been bothered by it - apparently someone else had been there earlier and made a proper fuss about having to wait 20 minutes.

Thank you, on that entire staffs’ behalf, for not making a proper fuss. (Also, that’s a charming term for “being a complete asshole” and imma remember it.)

@Die_Capacitrix

I shoud clean up the diatomaceous earth which I put in the kitchen and bathroom due to ants. Supposedly 48 hours should be plenty of time,

It works by being there. Unlike baits and other nasties, it’s not that it’s being transported back to the nest. It only works on whatever crawls across it.

In other words, if the problem continues to exist, leave the D.E. scattered around.

@Taters

My husband is a throw-out-the-food-by-the-use-by-date kind of guy.

… in this economy?

@AskNott

The target of their wrath held a golf tournament on one of his golf courses, sponsored by Saudi Arabia.

I like to think he was intimidated, and holed up in his safe place, with his “safe” (HA!) buddies.

[Misnomer]

Started Typing: 10:21 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:14 AM ET

I made it to the mall yesterday: I found a top and a pair of pants at Talbots, then two more tops and another pair of pants at J.Jill. I also went to the Lego and Swarovski stores, but didn’t buy anything at either of them (which led to WifeBFF offering to dial 911!). And I went into Primark, which had opened since the last time I was at the mall and is the first in this area: I was hoping it would be like Kohl’s, but it was more like a messy K-Mart. I could see it being a good choice for some items, but I didn’t see anything I liked in my size. Anyway, all told I spent about two hours at the mall and managed to get out for less than $200 – not including the gift cards, and thanks to both Talbots and J.Jill having store-wide 30% off sales – which is some kind of personal record. I’ll wash everything later today when I do laundry, then I’ll get to decide which new item(s) I want to wear tomorrow. It’s been a while since I’ve had new work clothes!

I wound up skipping the live jazz performance I had a ticket to last night: after getting home from the mall, I wanted to just stay home. I can go out more than once per day if I have plans with people, it’s something I really want to do, etc., but if thing #2 on a Sat/Sun is something I’m just sort of interested in I’ll likely skip it. Even if I bought a ticket; I never mind “donating” to local musicians.

I’m looking forward to meeting my friend for lunch today. It’s roughly a 35-minute drive (27 miles), so I’ll aim to leave at around 11:25. We’re meeting near her place: I don’t mind going out there on a Sunday, because even though it’s a long-ish drive there’s no traffic.

@Paintcharge

@Misnomer

I also picked up some frozen handheld chicken pot pies, and will be trying one for lunch.

I got some a couple of weeks ago. Let me know what you think.

I was not very impressed, too dry.

I agree! I had one for lunch and the second one for dinner, and likewise wasn’t impressed. I mean, they were edible, but not particularly tasty. Convenience can make up for some sins, but I won’t be buying them again despite the 90-second cooking time. I’ll stick with my 5-minute Marie Callender’s.

@Johnny_L.A

a guy who’d brought his chair and a very sweet dog whose name was Grace. He said he wanted to ‘go with Grace.’

Awwww!

@FairyChatMom

the new bimini

Nice!

@dogbutler

Lego has this kit, and since I have my old Tyco slot car track, I might order it and combine them. After I buy a table for them.

Cool!

The team I manage now is called the Program Integration Team: the other day I was telling one of my employees that while “PIT” could have negative connotations, I like thinking of us as a “pit crew” (we support project management efforts across the entire program). He liked that metaphor, too: if my boss also likes it, and it winds up actually being used, I might have to get that set and display it at my desk!

@FairyChatMom

they do Pepsi instead of Coke, so I’m having my Diet Coke now and I’ll drink water there

Back when I could drink soda, I was a (Diet) Pepsi person: if I went to a Coke place, I’d use the opportunity to have an unsweet iced tea.

@AskNott

I just finished “Watchers,” by Dean Koontz. It’s a great story, and I recommend it to your attention.

That’s one of my all-time-favorite books! I first read it 30+ years ago, and I re-read it every now and then. Most of the time I think I’m happy that Bailey is no Einstein.

[Johnny_L.A]

@Chefguy

She’s yar, to quote an old movie.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947).

[JaneDoe42]

@dogbutler

They stopped showing the stock ticker.

I left a very small amount of money in the US stock market. I thought it would be interesting to watch this happen in real time. It is NOT interesting, it is terrifying. I used to get on Hubs because he kept so much cash in the safe. His cash is doing a lot better than my on-shore investments nowadays.

@missred

I know you miss your gleaning program back in AZ,

I really do. It saved us a few pennies on our grocery bill and I felt like I was doing something good for the world and my neighbors.

Folks here keep pointing me at the local food banks because they get a lot of close to expired food from grocery stores but I just wouldn’t be comfortable doing that. We can afford to buy our own food and food banks are for those who can’t.

@missred

take my cane or hiking stick next time (I’m having hip issues that make walking far painful right now).

Dang about the hip issues. Canes and walkers have always been pretty popular accessories at the capital. I’ve also seen many babuska carts

@Wheelz

I only hope someone is listening.

I’ve been looking at the news this morning, it would be pretty hard to ignore. king katamine made a public announcement asking for empathy and understanding but that just might be because he’s realized that tesla won’t recover without a big change of opinion.

@Baker

I hope fellow Dopers who were strong will pardon me.

I wasn’t the only geezer in the parking lot self-medicating before marching, most of us are old enough to know how our bodies fall apart.

@Die_Capacitrix

Be pissed at those who deserve it. You do not.

This!

@Die_Capacitrix

Woke up this morning feeling achy and been getting worse as the day goes on.

Dang. Do try to rest. If you can take a nap, that might help your body kick it off. I hope you feel better soon.

@scareyfaerie

She is still in her corner, still hissing and growling.

Poor lil thing must be exhausted by now. Do UK cats like cardboard boxes? If so, could you put a small box back there for her to huddle up in? Your patience and kindness will be rewarded someday and it will be so special when it happens.

@fachverwirrt

Guess what? It might rain later!

It was raining this morning and the temp has dropped ten degrees since I got up. I’m glad the weather waited for the protests to be over. I don’t melt in the rain, but other folks might have been deterred.

@AskNott

Okay, gotta go. Be well. Be kind. Be You.

Same back!

@purplehorseshoe

I was done when I saw salt with a “best buy” date.

You made me look. Good gawd, are they going to put expiration dates on toilet paper next?

@Misnomer

That’s one of my all-time-favorite books!

Dean Koontz loves to get fan mail. He always writes back and you can tell that he’s actually read and is responding to you. He also travels and likes to meet fans when possible. Yes, I do know this from experience, he is a lovely person and has almost as many dog pics on his phone as I have cat pics on mine.

So the temp keeps dropping and we are back under a flood watch again. Now that the trees are growing leaves again, we can’t see the river anymore but folks closer tell us that it is rising again. Not fast like the last time, but enough to make them start worrying again.

The temp is supposed to drop under 40F tonight and for the next couple of nights so I brought my baby tree in. GG has never seen such a thing before and had to put a leaf in his mouth again. ICKICKICK!!! I think it must taste bitter because he never even punctures the leaf with his teeth before changing his mind about clomping.

For those who are keeping track, Monday starts the Walmart boycott week. They are feeling it, more and more folks are getting mad and choosing to spend their money where it will make the most difference.

So, on with the day. One of the kits I bought uses wool and pearl cottons that do not require a laying tool. That means I can stitch one handed. When I’m using a laying tool, I hold it in my right hand and use the needle with my left hand, so my left hand already knows how to keep the proper tension. Going by that, I should be able to play with string without doing a whole lot of frogging (rip it, rip it, rip it). Wish me luck!

[purplehorseshoe]

@Misnomer

I like thinking of us as a “pit crew” (we support project management efforts across the entire program). He liked that metaphor, too: if my boss also likes it, and it winds up actually being used, I might have to get that set and display it at my desk!

The display at your desk will get your metaphor more (heh!) traction.

@Misnomer

I’ll get to decide which new item(s) I want to wear tomorrow.

Well, that’s fun!

@Misnomer

I can go out more than once per day

You are a brave woman.

Once I get home, the pants come off. If I gotta put pants on again well, buddy, either the house is on fire or you’re about to owe me a favor.

@JaneDoe42

I thought it would be interesting to watch this happen in real time.

My investment strategy right now is, “Don’t look.”

@JaneDoe42

wasn’t the only geezer in the parking lot self-medicating before marching

Lil’ bit smoky in the lot?

@JaneDoe42

Do UK cats like cardboard boxes?

Aw honey, bless your heart. Lions, tigers, and cheetahs all like boxes (I have seen the video documentaries, and highly recommend them as stress relief) so I’m sure our stiff-upper-lip-felines across the pond are enamored.

Hell, there’s a meme featuring a full-grown male lion who somehow poured himself into a bitty wheelbarrow.

(“If I fits, I sits.” "Sir, you do not – " “I SAID I FITS!” “Yes, sir.”)

@JaneDoe42

are they going to put expiration dates on toilet paper next?

What’s the point, it’s not gonna last that long.

@JaneDoe42

He also travels and likes to meet fans when possible. Yes, I do know this from experience, he is a lovely person and has almost as many dog pics on his phone as I have cat pics on mine.

You meet so many interesting people in your life, and have so many interesting stories about them.

[purplehorseshoe]

@JaneDoe42

For those who are keeping track, Monday starts the Walmart boycott week.

Well, Monday is my usual errand day, and guess where I usually get groceries?

[FairyChatMom]

@purplehorseshoe

Sorry, can’t understand judging a restaurant by their soda, not by their food.

Sorry, but you’re wrong. Except at suppertime, since I don’t drink caffeine after lunch time. So I need my Diet Coke for breakfast and lunch. And, the pancakes weren’t all that great. But each to his/her own.

@Misnomer

Lego

Roxy showed off her Lego panda - Daughter said she built it all by herself without help. The kid can follow directions. Good on her!

@JaneDoe42

I left a very small amount of money in the US stock market.

The 401k from my second retirement went into a fund that’s destined to put Roxy and Tobias thru post-secondary education. In a matter of a couple of days, it dropped by $20K, so I’m guessing it’s largely in stocks. I’m not going to panic because it’s got years to recover, but losing something over 11% that fast is rather sickening. And the next time we see our money guy, we’ll discuss…

@JaneDoe42

asking for empathy and understanding

Yeah, because he’s such an empathetic and understanding paragon…

Mini-split is almost all installed. FCD still has to do the electrical work, including the acquisition of a circuit breaker or two. I’ll help him with that tomorrow. While he and the guys were messing with it, Daughter and I raked a metric butt-ton of leaves out of her back yard. I had to be careful as I didn’t have my work gloves, but no blisters, so that’s a win.

We’re home in chill mode, waiting for the rain. It’s overcast and smells like rain, but nothing falling yet. Soon, tho. Soon.

[purplehorseshoe]

@JaneDoe42

king katamine made a public announcement asking for empathy and understanding

Apparently I’ve successfully jiggered my phone/news/etc. cuz all I could find was various stories about “Hands Off!” gatherings, and not a peep about his, well, peep.

[nelliebly]

Last night I started toward bed at 10:00 pm (too tired to go earlier), but when I took out my left contact, which had felt weird all day and gave me blurry vision, only 3/4ths of it was there. It had torn. I spent over an hour trying to find the rest of it in my eye. My eye was red and irritated, but that could have been from wearing a torn contact for hours and then poking around (clean hands) trying to find the damned thing. (Uh-oh, just swore on Sunday. Stamp my one-way ticket to Hell PAID.) I also checked the whole bathroom. I finally gave up and went to bed. I don’t think it’s in my eye. Where the heck is it?

I don’t have a spare because I was hoping to wait to spend the big bucks until May, but I’ll order them tomorrow.

shoe, thanks so much for posting the photos of our fierce warrior in Nebraska.

@Baker

Turns out that tons of people were not weak like me and did protest.

No, no, NO. I doubt any of those protesting were in misery made worse by weather. Think of the protestors as representatives. I do! I wanted to clear the capitol step I was sitting on to make room for all those I represented, and you were one of them. You can fight the good fight from home.

BooFae, I’m impressed that you met the mayor! That officially makes you High Society. I hope you visit us plebeians now and then. Maybe toss a few coppers our way and chuck one of us under the chin.

@Chefguy

we finally went downstairs for the Sunday biscuits and gravy.

True confession: I’ve never had biscuits and gravy. And while I’m coming clean, I’ve never had chicken fried steak, either.

@Johnny_L.A

@Chefguy

She’s yar, to quote an old movie.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947).

Wasn’t it also in Philadelphia Story? I have a memory of Katherine Hepburn saying it. Wait! Just found it:

As Katharine Hepburn said of the yacht the True Love in The Philadelphia Story, “She’s yar, all right.”

@JaneDoe42

I left a very small amount of money in the US stock market. I thought it would be interesting to watch this happen in real time. It is NOT interesting, it is terrifying.

Same here, though I have it in there because I’m hoping against hope the market rebounds at some point. I can’t even look at the market news.

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Drama at dinner today. Was seated next to a group of 4 people at Longhorns, One older lady and three 25-30-somethings, one male and two female, relationships unknown. As I perused the menu I could hear then talking intensely but not clearly until one of the ladies told the guy (who was sitting on the outside seat at the booth)to stand up she needed to get out, and gave him a push when he didn’t move fast enough. She headed immediately to the restroom followed by (Mom?) and then the man, who came back a couple minutes later to get the other younger woman to go back there. Well, three minutes later the second woman comes out, grabs her things and storms out the door, followed by the guy. The older woman comes back and just sits there, probably hoping this will all go away, until finally she and the woman who started it all also get up and leave. Still have no idea what was going on, just glad there was no bloodshed or cops involved (at least at the restaurant). After that a quick Wal-Mart stop was actually quite restful…

At home now, still raining off and on and considering whether to go to the gym or not.

Never been a big fan of Dean Koontz or read “Watchers”, may have to check ir out given the reviews herein.

Oopsie. glad shopping went fine. And I like the ‘pit crew’ motif too. Also a Diet Pepsi (and Pepsi Zero) drinker.

JtC, sounds a lot like my weather, it’s 64F now, about 20F lower than yesterday at this time. Also a flood watch here, but it’ll assume Noahcian proportions to threaten me. And glad Walmart Boycott doesn’t start until tomorrow, think I can manage a week without them.

nellie, so sorry to hear of the cracked contact.

@nelliebly

True confession: I’ve never had biscuits and gravy. And while I’m coming clean, I’ve never had chicken fried steak, either.

Nor I, I must admit. I like biscuits fine and gravy over my potatoes and rice is great, I never could see them together.

OK, women’s BB championship is starting so that gives me an excuse to go to the gym and watch it on their TV while walking or biking. See y’all later.

[Johnny_L.A]

@nelliebly

Wasn’t it also in Philadelphia Story? I have a memory of Katherine Hepburn saying it. Wait! Just found it:

As Katharine Hepburn said of the yacht the True Love in The Philadelphia Story, “She’s yar, all right.”

That’s right. I may have been thinking of the TV series.

[Chefguy]

@nelliebly

Wasn’t it also in Philadelphia Story? I have a memory of Katherine Hepburn saying it.

Yep, that’s the one, with Spencer Tracy. I think Ghost & Mrs. Muir is incorrect.

@nelliebly

I’ve never had biscuits and gravy. And while I’m coming clean, I’ve never had chicken fried steak, either.

You’re missing out on both counts. However, the gravy for each is completely different. The gravy for biscuits is a cream gravy made with sage sausage and lots of ground pepper. You can also put onion in it and even bacon pieces. The gravy for CF steak is what is commonly called “country gravy”, which is generally made from the steak drippings and milk.

[missred]

@Misnomer

The team I manage now is called the Program Integration Team: the other day I was telling one of my employees that while “PIT” could have negative connotations, I like thinking of us as a “pit crew” (we support project management efforts across the entire program). He liked that metaphor, too: if my boss also likes it, and it winds up actually being used, I might have to get that set and display it at my desk!

My former department had a Process Improvement Team, aka the pit crew.

@JaneDoe42

For those who are keeping track, Monday starts the Walmart boycott week. They are feeling it, more and more folks are getting mad and choosing to spend their money where it will make the most difference.

Well, I don’t have an optometrist appointment for another couple of months and it will be July before I go up north and take Dad shopping, so I’m good.

@JaneDoe42

Wish me luck!

Good luck!

@purplehorseshoe

@JaneDoe42

For those who are keeping track, Monday starts the Walmart boycott week.

Well, Monday is my usual errand day, and guess where I usually get groceries?

Guess you’ll be at Meijer’s?

@The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

After that a quick Wal-Mart stop was actually quite restful…

And likely less dramatic!

Sunday chores are done and Sunday dinner et. Today was vegetarian Sunday (I rotate types of dinners), so I tried a new recipe for Mexican style quinoa soup. The flavor was good but I’m used to a chunkier soup or stew and this was more like well seasoned gruel with a few small lumps. It won’t be on the repeat list.