Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave.
Spot is having Screaming Tuxedo Zoomies.
Monkey is yeeting ALL the things tonight, so I feel ya.
Tossed him treats to chase around; gave him more 'nip (he got some before I left for work - twice in a day then!); he even on top of all that got some squeezy-crack. Each time he’d accept the hyooman’s humble offering, chill a minute, then go right back to being a bored, naughty monkey.
Having a cupful of “Dumb Soup” (tonight featured ditallini) with two of those delightful frozen yeast rolls that I think our beloved BBBoo recommended to me, for dunkin’ into.
Haven’t made Dumb Soup in a while, but it was sorta vaguely chilly on the way home - low 60s - & that put me in the mood.
ETA: thank you for the kind wishes, y’all. Things went from “kinda okay-ish” to “OMFG” in a hurry over in Shoe-World (home of the crappiest amusement park on earth!) and I appreciate knowing there’s random Internet strangers pullin’ for me & being in my corner.
It does help.
Now imma slurp down this Dumb Soup & delicious rolls and haul my carcass off to my comfy pillows & heavy-ass blankets.
Sounds to me like he’s got you trained! 
Today, FCD is going to teach his brother how the Ebike works. We’re going to the college parking lot near BIL’s apartment and once he’s comfortable with all the controls, etc, he’ll take it home and we’ll go to lunch. Or we’ll come home. Dunno.
FCD just got back with my McBreakfast. Laterz!!
Happy Saturday!!
Sorry the boat is still not functional. Crazymaking!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 67 Amurrkin out and partly cloudy with a predicted high of 84 and partly N.O.S. I have agreed to go over to the church house this mornin’ to assist with setup for tomorrow as the Altar Guild team is down one person due to a broken ankle. Jane (N.O.JtC.) who has the broken ankle asked me if I would since the other two are fairly new at all this. I don’t mind since it is a follow the written instructions thing and all shall be well thing. After that, I shall go to the Jack’s drive thru and pick up some N.O,L, for OYKW and I. Then it will be home to eat and indulge in an afternoon of RDOS inactivities. My Dawgs play Alabammy at seven-thirty tonight. I must rest up for that. GO DAWGS!!! Thus it is in swampland this Sattidy.
JtC and Rocker we have a foldin’ utility cart thingy that is very handy dandy. It’s especially great for haulin’ the mahoosive bags of pool salt from a vehicle to where it’s stored and from where it’s stored over to the cee-mint pond. It’s also great for haulin’ stuff like a cooler and so forth to and from the cee-mint pond. I am pro anything that makes luggin’ stuff around easier. JtC are y’all gettin’ blown insulation in the attic. Did that several years ago and it made a big difference in the coolin’/heatin’ bill.
shoe sleep well!
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then I shall purtify and don acceptable attire for bein’ seen by church folk. Fortunately a decent tshirt, pair of shorts, and sneaks will do for that. I’ll also most likely be amongst the better dressed at the Jack’s drive thru.
Happy Sattidy Y’all!
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 11c/52f with a predicted high of 13c/55f and partly cloudy. Weather app says “If this fucking weather was a soup, it would be Cream of Fuck Off.” OK, so weather app’s not impressed. It’s actually sunny and quite pleasant out there.
Best thing to do if there’s localised flooding, you don’t want to get wet feet! I’m glad Helene had the good sense to pass you by.
To be honest, public transport where I live and work is fairly good, although we have multiple rail operators so you sometimes find you’ve got a ticket that’s only valid on certain trains. I’m lucky as I buy a local network ticket that covers everything within that radius so I can travel on pretty much anything I need.
One little glimmer of light in the mass of stuff you’re worrying about? I’m sorry about all the other stuff, and I am totally in agreement that you shoudl sneak some edibles on your trip so you don’t get too stressy.
Friday didn’t quite go my way at irk, got a couple of icky jobs thrown my way late in the day so one lot of minutes got done and I met with my minion, didn’t get to do the second set and I didn’t get to do the training I keep promising her. Anyway, will sort that out next week. The Travel Gods weren’t playing fair either, my usual train from campus was cancelled, the one after it ran late, so I ended up having to scoot across the length of the Big City Station to get on a train I don’t usually see. Made it home eventually but it wasn’t the best journey.
'im indoors made dinner and we watched a pleasant little film (The Great Escaper) about an elderly WW2 veteran who goes to the D-Day commemorations in France by himself because he missed out on an organised trip. It was a sweet story too, and well worth watching.
Today I was up early for feline tums and bums, then went to the gym for spin and kettlebells, now I’m back home with a cup of tea. I’ve made myself reasonably presentable, and need to be out of the house in 45 minutes so we can get ourselves into town for lunch, then off to a music festival in time for the first band at 2pm. There’s 8 bands today, and another 8 tomorrow so it’s going to be a busy weekend. Good job I had the foresight to book Monday off!
I’ve ingested the sausage biscuit and large Diet Coke that FCD brought me. I’m showered and dressed. The laundry is sorted into loads (I think there are 5 total) and the first load is in the washer. Not bad for just barely 7AM.
We’re promised a pretty day today - sun and mid-80s - before rain returns. It’ll be a good day for BIL to learn to operate his new bike. I finished the striped blue afghan yesterday and I’ve started a new one that will consist of 9 squares. I don’t much like sewing pieces together, but the squares are going to be big - just over a foot on a side - so there won’t be as much sewing as when I make the same afghan with smaller squares. I brought the rest of my yard from downstairs - my recliner is surrounded!! It’s nice to have more projects. Plus Jessica took the 3 bags of stuffies and coasters when she left yesterday, so yay!
I think I have time to crochet a bit more before Alexa tells me my laundry is done. Yep, I use technology as a timer Amazing!
Good to hear!
Hugs. And I’m glad your evening got a little better.
So, um, yeah… Speaking as a very large person, I have to say first that I am totally with you. Obviously there was a misunderstanding on her part. I do have to tell you, though, that there’s a little part of my brain that wants to resort to misery and misunderstandings as some sort of ‘defense’. Now that I am over 50, in the beginnings of menopause, and injured so that exercise is difficult, it all wears on me and I’ve gained weight - some days it feels just because I’ve been looking at food too long.
And then there’s that little trauma voice inside me reminding me that being fat makes me worthless and is the cause of all my problems in life. I always find it particularly poignant when that inner voice tries to say that me not being able to find a job is because I’m so fat. When in reality, I’ve had three job offers and one actual job that I got hired for due to reasons having nothing to do with the number on the scale.
I think the biggest component that of this whole mess that I’m up against now is the part about actually being in pain. Until the last couple of months I was a very large person with mental health issues. Now I’ve got physical pain, too, which is very much related to my weight and I’m not used to being in pain all the time and I don’t know how to deal with it (other than falling back on the same old fat = morally defective and worthless).
I guess what I’m saying is that amidst all the struggles that we have here, I am my own worst enemy and biggest (ha) cheerleader at the same time. I was up against this again last night when I got good news, too. And the good news is that I officially got hired in an online teaching job. This is not my dream job, but it will be really good for me because of my knee and not knowing how many steps there will be in those old school buildings that I might have to navigate if I had gotten the other job that I had mentioned. (Not to mention safety issue with all the violence and threats directed at schools now - I would definitely be unable to either help or get out quick at this point.)
TLDR = in my head, for all the mental progress that I’ve made there’s still a sneaky little voice who wants me to know that I’ll always be worthless because of the number on the scale. And, I’ll always fight back against that voice with calmness, love, and reason telling the voice that it’s full of shit.
TLDR part 2 = So, um, yeah, the struggle is real but I am not giving up.
TLDR to the TLDRs = being overweight is a physical and mental struggle for me and YAY because I got a job!
Oh, and back to that woman at the restaurant, not defending her and her choices at all, but maybe she’s embroiled in the same inner struggle and it just won that round, sundae and all.
Anyways… We’re supposed to be going to an outdoor wedding tonight. I’m hoping for no rain and no bugs.
Ok, back to my chair and my poodle dog friend. 
Good morning!
It’s 44F and clear outside. Early in the day, there will be a mixture of clouds and sun, followed by cloudy skies for the afternoon and a high temperature of 66F.
Shoe, I am sending you hugs. I’m sorry that life is such a struggle right now.
Sticky Buns, I am so happy you got a job that works for you.
FCM, I’m sorry to read about the continue boat problems. I hope the eBike training goes well.
Today my grandson turns four years old. He has grown so much, as evidenced by the pictures my daughter sends to me. She sent me photos of him opening the presents from us and told me he loved every one of them. He is such a sweet boy; when she asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he just wanted a treat. He didn’t ask for toys or anything special, just a treat. He is, of course, getting a birthday party today. I sure wish I could be there.
In other milestone news, the puppies are officially one year old today. They are still into everything they shouldn’t be, but I know I’ll look back and laugh in a few years, just like I did Captain, Polar, and Brandi. To celebrate their special day, they’ll receive some doggy ice cream today.
I did not work late yesterday. Hurray! The day consisted of the usual problem-solving and taking care of business.
I’m not sure what’s on the agenda today. I need to fuel up the Jeep this weekend because I need to go into the office on Monday, and I don’t like fueling up at 4:00 a.m. There aren’t enough people about, and sometimes, unsavory characters are hanging around there.
I should probably do the laundry today, or if I don’t, mow the lawn and pull up some weeds. I could also feed the lawn.
I know, I know, so exciting! 
I also need to replace the shoes Buster chewed up a couple of weeks ago, so maybe I’ll do that. I don’t know; I guess I’ll see where the day takes me.
I hope you all have a good day.
Yay! Job!
Last night a sore throat decided to move in. I was hoping it was an allergy thing. It is worse this morning, and icky out, so the inaugural cart run will be postponed. Hope it is just a run of the mill thing. I was planning to get the Covid shot in 2 weeks.
Lager is on my lap, he is the nurse cat. Koritza will be by later to sniff and give her opinion. She is the doctor.
My Cornhuskers play at 11am~in an away game at Purdue. I’ll miss most of it wrangling grandkidlets, the three year old has become a no-nap performance artist but his parents want me to keep trying-I’ll be able to sneak peeks at the scoreboard on my phone in between reading Little Critter books and fetching monster truck hot wheels out from under the crib and dresser. Go 
Big 
Red!! Go Dawgs!! (I’ll be sneaking peeks at that scoreboard during the no nap terror’s bedtime).
My thoughts exactly. Throw a couple of empty, crumpled fruit snack wrappers in the bottom of your purse for plausible deniability.
Always, girlfriend. Always.
Yes. We knew the insulation up there was not good when we bought, so we bought some rolled insulation and had someone spread it out. We knew that was just a patch and are going to be scheduling that after the windows and painting are done.
Hubs is talking about putting insulation on the bottom of the house. We are still in discussion stage because we are on a crawl space and I think we need the heat from the house to stop the pipes from freezing. I also think that it won’t get that cold or hot under there because of the dirt insulating everything.
Does anyone have opinions or suggestions about this?
Made me snort laugh morning coffee out my nose. Startled the purring cat draped over my shoulder but I sure enjoyed the laugh, thank you!
Sounds like an excellent choice for morning activity, especially the poodle friend part. Enjoy! Post puppy pictures!
My grandkids (7 & 3) host a service dog in training one weekend a month, to help the dogs get acclimated to different surroundings and settings. The dogs live in a women’s prison about 55 miles away and are trained there by the prisoners they live with. This way the dogs get used to parks and stores and restaurants and backyards and walks out in the world and people who aren’t grownups. Their dog this weekend is a beautiful golden doodle-a sweet girl and very smart. Last month’s guest puppy was her sister from the same litter, just as pretty but not as calm (yet) around little kids. Go poodles !!
One more random internet friend (absolutely not a stranger I’m hoping) pullin’ for you and in your corner. Count me in-I can always phone in my night nurse voice-just put me on speaker.
In your corner and pulling for you too. Been doing that same battle all my life.
Morning all. Up bright and early to find soccer has been cancelled for today (it was raining this morning so I am not too surprised). Did book a couple referee jobs for this afternoon at a park that is still open about 25 minutes away, so just have to amuse myself for the morning. Big bowl O’Cheerios has made my stomach happy and the weather has cleared and is only supposed to reach 70F today, so just about perfect referee weather. Otherwise plan is to be slothful.
Shoe, sometimes folks have things on their mind (not that calm, quiet you would know about that… 
). Good on S.M. to intervene and says something about the respect she has from everyone that it settled down.
FCM, hope the e-bike lesson goes well. Sounds like the brothers are getting along for now. Happy Laundry Day.
swampy, happy churching and teaching.
Stricky Buns, conga-rats on the new job, it may not be your dream job but I am sure you will make it as good as possible. And as a guy who was pushing 300lbs not so long ago, I know what you mean.
Taters, Happy Grandson and Canine Birthdays.
rocky, hope you get to feeling better soon.
JtC, I’m on a slab so no crawlspace so I can’t help there, but I have blown insulation in my attic and it does help considerably. And that is a nice thing the grandkids (and their parents) are doing.
OK, need to don some attire and get a few things done in the next couple of hours before donning the referee suit and going forth. Take care all.
That was my first thought on seeing them, sympathy for how uncomfortable they must be all the time. I’m so sorry that you are in pain. I know how that goes, you get hurt and stop exercising, so then you gain weight which puts more stress on your joints so you start moving even less and gaining more weight and on and on and so forth. At least that’s how it worked for me. I’m sorry you are also living this life.
But despite all that, eavesdropping on strangers having a private conversation at a different table and then yelling at them is just rude. The whole thing was rude and judging us for calling our teenaged cat a pig was totally uncalled for.
Once she sat back down, our inner children came out and we spent the rest of our dinner not snickering or laughing or saying anything that might set us off. One of us just whispering piggy-pig at the other would probably have put us both on the floor laughing like loons. We just ate real fast and left so we could smile and laugh without getting yelled at.
Fingers crossed that it is just allergies. I highly suggest swimming after getting your jabs. Usually the day after, my arm is so sore I can’t lift it over shoulder height. Today I’m able to stitch to my hearts content.
While I was posting earlier, I was also looking over at the forest and suddenly a deer came RUNNING out of the forest and went full speed across the highway and across a neighbor’s yard in a flash. A car just missed the deer but ended up in the neighbors muddy low area in their yard. When I left, the main discussion was how to get the car out of there today without tearing the yard up. Nobody got hurt and I got the impression that the men would like me to leave so they could say the words they really wanted to say, LOL!!!
Its overcast but the rain has stopped so hopefully we will get fair food today.
I’m going to head off to splash around if the gym is open. Power went out in that area last night and water pressure is still iffy, so I don’t know how that will affect the gym. I’ll find out shortly!
Started Typing: 10:45 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:56 AM ET
Mornin’, all! It’s currently 75°F and mostly sunny, with an expected high of 83 and no rain in the forecast for the first time in days. The weather will revert to being autumn-like overnight, but it’s nice to have this little reprieve from the grey and wet. When I took Bailey outside shortly before 8am it was still mostly cloudy and kinda muggy, but things have greatly improved as the sun has come out and started burning off some of the residual dampness. 
I’m also a NOVID person. Kind of crazy that I haven’t gotten it (yet) in light of going to the gym, out to hear live music, etc., but I’ve gotten every vaccination that I’m able to and have been a little careful because Wife BFF is immune compromised…mostly I’ve just had my fingers crossed for the past four years!
One of the things I love about the MMP is that we Mumpers are a varied group. Some are barely scraping by while others can shop at Tiffany’s, some deal with significant daily psychological and/or physical challenges while others have more stability, etc. I’ve never seen or perceived any judgment here about anyone’s circumstances, and if I ever did I’d be quite disappointed. People can share stories about weekends of excess just like people can vent about real hardships – sometimes in the same post! – and we all celebrate the good things and offer heartfelt support for the not-so-good things (and, I’d venture, more empathy than some might guess). No one’s life is terrible all the time or wonderful all the time, and there’s no need to be defensive about being worse off than some or feel guilty about being better off than others. We take each other as we are. 
Personally, I’ll share that lately I’ve been really struggling with my health. I’m almost 3 years post-op (RNY, for those unaware) and still regaining weight because I do not seem to want to get a handle on my snacking, and after 1 year of working with a personal trainer twice a week I can tell that I’ve gotten a little stronger in some areas but my balance and core are still complete crap and there are so many “basic” things that are still hard for me. For the past week or two it has been super tempting to quit the gym: the change has been minimal, the membership and personal training fees are beaucoup bucks each month, I’ve never been a physically active person so why am I forcing it on myself, etc. Also, earlier this year I finally came to terms with the fact that I’m likely to remain single* and so there’s no more “I’d like to be more attractive” motivation. I keep reminding myself that the reason I had surgery and joined a gym really had nothing to do with my morbidly obese outsides: my type 2 diabetes was out of control (with related symptoms) and I was in terrible shape, and if I continued to do nothing I was likely to follow in my mother’s footsteps and die before the age of 70. I know that if I give up, those things will quickly become true again. So I’m hanging in there (I’m actually going to the gym in a couple of hours) and trying to work through everything, but all of it just annoys the crap outta me/exhausts me.
*It’s not an “I’m unloveable” thing! I’m cute and wonderful and a freaking catch. 
I’ve been happily single for the past 12 years now: part of me still loves the idea of having someone to share my life with, but so far I’ve been unwilling to do anything about it. My hobbies don’t ever put me in the path of eligible men (which are harder to find at this age anyway), and I’d never pretend to be interested in something. These days I don’t even have the office as a place to develop any crushes…heh. I’ve been thinking about getting back into the online dating scene for the past couple of years, but whenever I get close to creating a profile I decide that I’m simply not up for all of the BS that dating entails. Earlier this year it occurred to me that I might actually want to remain single, and I felt this big sense of relief. So for now, at least, I’m a happy old maid.
Oh, that’s such good news!
If anyone in a similar situation ever can’t reach a vet, the ASPCA has an Animal Poison Control number: 888-426-4435. It’s a last resort because there’s a fee for every call (I want to say at least $50?), but it could be better than nothing.
Three months?!? 
Thanks for the earworm! 
Woo hoo!! 
Aww, happy birthday Taterdogs! 
Short day for a Saturday. Maybe something to do with the entire western part of the state being impassible to traffic right now. 
But I’m home, Spot is calm, and the laundry is agitated. State plays at noon. WOLFPACK!
The technical term for this is “extortion”.
Of course. And there’s no one stranger than us!
Yay!
And listen to us and your inner Stuart Smalley, not the sneaky little voice that tells you the wrong things.
Yay for birthdays, Taters!
I’m pulling for them, too.
Better than being miserable in a relationship. Besides you can always go cougar if you change your mind later. 
OK, I’m curious, what is dumb soup? Google is only giving non-answers.
You are not alone.
Yay!
I’m glad your grandson had a good birthday taters. Birthday skritches to Maisie and Buster.
So she’s administering a cat scan? :d&r:
My bladder woke me up ~0545 today, but I decided to read in bed after and fell back asleep after about an hour and got up for reals about 0900. Now I’m breakfasted and caffeinating. I’ll mess around in the studio for a while before getting sheveled to go out in public. No big plans, but I do need to get out of the house.
I decided not to go to the benefit (I did contribute online though) last night because it was a semi-outdoor event (bar inside, performers under cover, but guests on the patio) and it was still drizzling.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
Congratulations on the new job! It may not be your dream job, but it will reduce the stress of not having a job.