(Old) Can You Hear that Cranberry "Schloop"? - A Thanksgiving MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 52 Amurrkin out with HEAVY RAIN with a predicted high of 56 and HEAVY RAIN for the day. An executive decision was made last night to not deheathenate today. We just ain’t up for roamin’ around in the HEAVY RAIN. Thus a day of sloth, general overall uselessness, nappage, day drinkin’ and slug-like behavior shall be had. Sounds good to me. Any need to feed will be via forage. My DAWGS swatted the GNATS last night. It was a good game and closer than what I thought it would be, but it was all good in the end.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.

Happy Sunday Y’all!

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Guess that would be tough if you had a life… :wink: OK, seriously, do you expect lots of OT this time of year? And how far is it to your work - not a long commute, I hope.

Woohoo!! Hope it all goes smoothly to closing! Not gonna share my closing horror stories - fortunately, only 2 of our house sales were bad. And, yeah, it’ll be nice to start the new year with all this out of your hair! Fingers crossed.

We got a cat that way, too, at our last house in FL. It happened to be just before FCD moved to Baltimore to live on the boat while I stayed in FL till our daughter graduated high school. So he got himself a boat cat, which worked out for both - cat got a home, FCD got a roomie till I was able to join him. Unfortunately, something happened some months later and I came home one day to find the poor kitteh cold and stiff under our bed - maybe he got into something he shouldn’t have… :crying_cat_face:

We’re promised some rain this afternoon and into the night. I hope we get some, and I’m glad I chopped leaves yesterday. No plans here, tho I didn’t clean the critter fountain yesterday, so that’s a must-do. I’ll probably run some laundry - I need to make the bed in the guest room and we only have one set of sheets for that bed (I think…)

Yesterday, we got the info I needed to set up our payment for the new vehicle (I think the last time we had a car payment was 2012??) Anyway, as it turns out, the payout from my annuity is almost exactly as much as we need to pay tuition for Tobias and make this car payment, with something like $2 left over each month. Guess it’s a good thing Dave talked me into starting to draw that money out. Here’s hoping I made the right estimate for our tax withholding.

And for us folks on social security - we’re getting a COLA of 3.2%, and my pension COLA is 2.2% - by my calculations, that should be enough to cover our increased mortgage amount and the rise in our auto insurance (tho I’m about to start shopping around - how is it with 2 barely-insured vehicles, the premium still jumped so much??)

I whine, but we’re actually in pretty good financial shape. I can’t imagine what it’s like for young working folks trying to cover child care along with all their other bills. Back when our daughter was in diapers, it cost us $60/week for a really nice daycare run by a family. My niece says her entire paycheck goes to pay for care for her 2 kids - the only thing that saves them is their housing is part of her “pay” - she teaches at a private school and all she has to pay for is internet - the other utilities are covered.

Anyway, I’m up. Happy Sunday!

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Awoke to a skiff of snow covering everything (outside, not in). Nothing serious, so we’ll still be heading east for a delayed T-day with a couple of my kids. This was almost the first snow-less November in MSP in recorded history.

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I chose Lowe’s and BB&B my last move. It saved me the sales tax on my washer and dryer with the 10% coupon at Lowe’s.

A happy Gotcha day to Allie seanette! She’s one of the lucky ones.

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP. Not a lot on the agenda today except the usual Sunday chores. Such excitement!

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

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Good Morning all. Eight hours of sleep have improved my outlook on life considerably and thinking about doing the Great Restockage at Kroger this morning before dining out at Logan’s Roadhouse on their meatloaf. Temperature will make it to about 55F and a 60% chance of rain sometime today, but not sustained bad weather like some others may have. Still have to finish emptying my mail travel bag, will get that done today but not in a big rush. Mostly sloth and tackleball are in the plans.

Never been adopted by a cat, did feed one in Abu Dhabi that was limping badly and probably couldn’t catch things, he/she (never peeked) would be out front every morning for the can of food and water, had progressed to coming into the house (and then bolting right back out). But then they disappeared and never came back.

swampy, I concur that staying dry would put a damper on your other plans.

Nettie and Bob-B, nice photo of a contented cat…and a nice story to go with it.

JtC, as noted never been a cat owned, but glad one of us could outsmart them now and then… :smile: :wink:

Sari, glad the old house will be only a memory by 2024. And yea! on the Long term goals, see, things are moving along for you. I don’t have any problems with my Capital One account, but my PNC credit card wants proof of who I am every single time I log in…need to call them one of these days and ask WTH.

Haven’t done a 16-hour shift in a long, long time, doggio; have a quiet Sunday.

Pilot, my favorite hooch right now is Pepsi Zero, but yeah, to be back in my old chair and the bed/comforter felt so good…

OK, need to get some things done and then make an early morning shopping trip to re-stock the old homestead. All y’all take care and have a good Sunday.

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We got a tiny smattering of snow yesterday, almost none of which stuck around. However, the Oracles predicted more overnight and through today, and so far … yup. :snowflake:

Gently falling, no wind, and not much accumulation so far.

However, the Blizzard That Canceled Halloween ™ started out the same way, sooooo … we’ll see how the day goes.

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Happy Sunday!

I went to bed early dreamed about Phil Spector and woke up at 1:30 wondering when he died. (January 2021.) I haven’t been able to get back to sleep yet. Today I’m going to wrap the various parts of my daughter’s birthday gift. When she was as a kid, she was always begging for a spa night with me, which meant giving ourselves facials while wrapping our moisturized legs in saran wrap. I’m giving her the grown-up equivalent, minus the saran wrap but including more stuff.

This bears further description/explanation.

Unrelated question: do you wear a uniform at work, or is it Come as You Are

Having spent considerable time there nursing my late, great MIL in a small house with only a swamp cooler, I salute her inflammable soul. It’s a lovely area, and if you have central air or enjoy watching your flip-flops melt, a nice climate.

That must be handy! You’re your own nightlight. (Sorry about the Rx snafu.)

FCM, that’s so kind of you to pay Tobias’s tuition. Your daughter and SIL must bless you on the daily.

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Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off today. It’s a balmy 41 degrees ferret height outside. no rain , just clouds, but Spot and I shall sit on the couch and watch handegg after chores just in case.

Happy Gotcha Day Aliie!

It’s Peak season, so yeah, lots of OT, which makes up for the slim hours in January when all y’all are too broke to have anything shipped to your house. And I’m 5 miles from work, so it’s an easy drive home.

The one girl on the 200 Table’s go to work outfit is a crop top and booty shorts. At least until it gets colder, then she adds a parka. :smile:

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Here ya go!

Outside
Inside

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It’s snowing in no. Illinois. My plan for the day is get my hair highlighted. Then home to do nothing.

Am I the only one who doesn’t understand a word of doggio’s heaving reports???

Red you are a fellow Stampin’ Upper!

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For me, that’s the best part.

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So, yes, you were indeed adopted by a cat. A short-term lease, unfortunately, but you are among the Honored Ones.

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Good morning!

It’s 28F and foggy with an expected high of 45F and partly cloudy skies.

The new pups have kept me busy, busy, busy. Buster has had two poop accidents, so we need to work on that.

Maisie is really good about letting us know when she she needs to go, already! They both pee outside with no issues.

And now, Buster and Maisie.

Buster is already sixteen pounds, and Maisie is slightly smaller. Maise is fearless and is ready to rock ‘n’ roll outside, while Buster is slightly more trepidatious. My husband chose Buster’s name, and I chose Maisie’s.

Had to stop this post for a bit for another romp and potty outside.

My daughter sent pictures of snow in Missouri and the grandkids are excited to go out and play in it. I’m jealous, actually.

Congrats on the old house being under contract, sari!

Glad you made it home, metal mouse and I hope you got a good night’s sleep.

doggio, 16 hours! Wow!

Hm, it’s quieted down in the puppy pen. Maybe they’ve crashed for a bit.

I need to get some laundry going and get the dishwasher loaded.

Hugs, yays, and boos as appropriate. I’m still tired as hell, but with new pups in the house, there will be no rest. It’s all worth it because they are certainly fun and affectionate.

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We got a dusting of light snow overnight. Shortly before 0500 I woke up and heard a weird buzzing noise. I got up to investigate and it turned out that my neighbor from two doors down was out clearing his driveway with a gas powered leaf blower.

The snow was pretty until we left to get a breakfast sandwich at Panera. There is a thin layer of ice under it. We are back home and have no need to go anywhere for the rest of the day.

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About six blocks fro my house there was a snow removal truck broke down at a key intersection.

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My grandmother made each of her kids… I don’t know what to call them. I’m estimating a portrait-orientated board, about 11 inches by 17 inches. It’s covered with velvet. I think dad’s was burgundy, but I could be wrong. Different kids got different colours. Holes were drilled in the board to put miniature Christmas lights through. Trinkets and costume jewelry were used to make an image of a tree and ornaments. I think necklaces were used to make the tree outline. Then rings, pins, sequins, buttons, and those sort of things were used for the ornaments. There may have been some trinkets outside of the tree as well, but I don’t remember. And of course there were the afore-mentioned lights. If dad’s still exists, my sister probably took it. She may have given it away or tossed it, or it may be stored away in a box somewhere.

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I did wrestle the big piece of furniture out of the flat. It is amazing how much better things look. Now I have to figure out where to store the items that were in it. I’m not sure when that will happen…

This afternoon the seasonal decor goes up in the lobby. I don’t believe I will want to do more things in my flat after that.

The last round of turkey will happen this afternoon after the lobby install.

I call the first “go” after the the cleansing of the box “the anointing “.

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MIL banks with PNC and I hate that bank with a white hot hate of hatred! Their website is a pain in the patoot and their counter service, at least at local branches, sucketh mightily. We’re trying to convince her to switch to our credit union.

Just finished with the guest room - well, except for making the bed because the sheets are being washed. But I cleared out some stuff, organized the closet, and even did a quick rollsuck. Anybody want some back braces? We have 4 - 2 basic kinds from Lowe’s and 2 that FCD got after spinal surgeries. He hardly used any of them. I don’t think thrift stores will accept them and I hate to throw them away.

And I now have 6 spare pillows, since MIL left 4 of her extras here. Maybe BIL will want a couple, but I doubt it. Dammit. We’ll also have to get rid of a queen mattress and foundation. Then after MIL dies, we’ll be getting rid of her table and chairs,( and all her other furniture.) They’re living in the basement now, but she’d be really hurt if we donated them. We have no need of them and she can’t let them go. And BIL can’t use them in his tiny studio. So they take up space in the meantime.

Creeping up on lunch time - I think I shall have some soup.

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Started Typing: 9:56 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:22 AM ET

I have no excuse for not posting yesterday other than laziness. :slight_smile: I went to the gym at 10am and had a good session with my trainer, then took Bailey for a walk upon returning home. After we finished one block she seemed to still have some energy so I decided we’d go for a second block, but while approaching the far intersection I saw a cat cross the street and look at us from the sidewalk for a moment. Bailey loses her shit when she sees cats, and I got worried that the kitty might attack her (due to either fright or just being a cat). Luckily, the feline didn’t come our way and I was able to turn Bailey around without any drama. One block it was! I know there are several outdoor cats in the neighborhood, but for some reason it had never occurred to me that we might run into one during a walk.

Anyway, we got back home shortly before noon and I spent the rest of the day (and night) binge re-watching episodes of The West Wing. I also read the news, played the NY Times Spelling Bee, lurked here, and futzed around with my decorations a little, but mostly I sat on the couch and watched TV. It was kind of glorious.

I can’t seem to get decent photos of most of my decorations, but here’s my favorite new one:

Why yes, that is a “Hans Gruber falling off Nakatomi Plaza” advent calendar. :grin:

It’s cloudy and currently 42°F, with a forecasted high of only 45 and a couple chances of rain, but I’m looking forward to this afternoon: at 2pm I’ll be meeting an old friend for a late lunch at a Thai place we like, and at 4pm we’re going to the Canadian Brass holiday show (the venue is across the street from the Thai place). I’ve loved brass instruments for as long as I can remember, and 1985’s A Canadian Brass Christmas was one of the first holiday albums I ever bought. Every year they tour with a Christmas show, and every year I want to see them but the timing never quite works out…now I’m finally going! It’s a little early in the season for a holiday show (the next one isn’t for 2 more weeks), but it’ll be great to catch up with my friend, eat some panang chicken, and hear some wonderful music. And I’ll be back home by dinnertime, with time for more slothing before my 4-day weekend officially ends.

That is a cool card! :smiley:

OMG THE CUTE… :heart_eyes:

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OMG, Taters, the adorable overload…I can’t even…They’re so cyuuuuute! I just want to scoop them up! And those are good names, though Buster may have to grow into his.

MetalMouse, glad you’re home safe and sound after your adventures. East, west, hame’s best. It’ll be even better after unpacking and resupplying. Will you be restocking liver sausage, or does that require a special trip?

red, that is a beautiful card. You’re so talented!

yanker, thanks to doggio’s free language course, I can speak broken Brown after only 864 lessons.

Has anyone heard from Boo? If she’s posted lately, I’ve missed it. Maybe she was a stowaway on MetalMouse’s cruise?