doggio - Holland America is the geezer cruise line, or so we were told when we sailed with them 5 years ago. 
Day is done. Bed beckons.
Fezzes are cool. 
I have no fez, I wish people’s interviews were going more smoothly, and I’m happy some folks are getting nice vacations.
Roof guy checked with an inspector, called us back to say that inspector said the HVAC coolant line was improperly installed. We relayed this to HVAC guys. Upshot: HVAC company will eat the cost of the repair.
To celebrate, we went sofa shopping, having only a cute but not entirely useful love seat. We picked one out at Ashley and were buying it, but there started being all sorts of other charges. You’d have thought it was a car dealership. We left. Went to Macy’s instead and spent a bit more than we’d have wished, but it’s a better piece of furniture and the salesperson was very helpful.
I was accepted to a brief but intensive history and language course later this year, so I’ve spent several hours finding an okay plane route at an okay price. Tomorrow or so I’ll work up my anticipated expenses so I can buy my trip insurance.
I just sent a nasty-gram to the county road guys. They just happen to reside around the corner from our museum, and there are horrible potholes on the corner. I have zero confidence that they will successfully fix this. They can’t seem to get manhole covers up to pavement level. Gotta love going over a manhole cover 3 inches below the road.
Just fill it in with cement. Then they’ll do something.
Still only walking 2.5 miles, and not often enough. Still averaging under 3 mph… although my second mile today I did make 3 mph with four seconds to spare.
Wifey, RN texted me before she came home and asked if I wanted anything from Hagens. I said, ‘Maybe a bag of salad for dinner?’ So she brought home a bag of salad, Marie’s Creamy Ranch dressing, and an 8-piece sushi. She had a salad with a sliced boiled egg, shredded cheddar, and the ranch. I had a salad with a sliced boiled egg, diced chicken breast, cheddar cheese, and Bob’s Roquefort. We ate the fish off of the sushi (4 ea. tuna and salmon), and tossed the rice balls. She said the sushi was $16. 
I should buy some nice salmon and tuna and slice it at home.
It’s always the last place you look. 
Hard to believe it’s already been three years. Hope the new maintenance guy stays around long enough to get things in shape.
Pedantic Emmental/Gruyere. As Gruyere is also a Swiss cheese. 
When I was little, the Swiss Emmental cheese my parents bought had a mouse on it, so I called it mouse cheese. Even when I was a kid, I knew it shouldn’t be called Swiss cheese. 
Yay! (Hope that’s the only thing they did wrong.)
Due to yesterday’s training session, this morning I have some muscles complaining. Today will be chores at home. All the local shops are closed today.
At 9:00 there will be the traditional cannon salute, with something that looks about like this:
I saw them last night, but didn’t have a chance to take a picture. They fired them last night at 7:00 or 8:00. This is to remind everybody in hearing distance that they will fire them today, along with a processession, etc. And they even use horses. Hopefully the horses won’t be too close, or get hearing protection of some sort.
Up, caffeinated, off to heave.
Well, it was from Aldi, so it was generic “Swiss” cheese.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 71 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 90 and partly cloudy. I went to bed shortly after eight p.m. and slept until just before four a.m. when I woke to the call of nature. I felt rested so up I am. I have a doc appointment at eight-thirty. No vampire today so I can eat before I go. After that I will go to the church house to deal with candles and to talk about the funeral Sattidy mornin’. I mentioned my friend who died last week in the last MMP. This is her funeral. Then it will be back to da cave to cook a big chikin that will become chikin sallit sammiches for the brunch followin’ the funeral. The planners of the brunch have been contactin’ folks about foodstuffs so as to make this a special brunch which I think is nice. Sup will be fried chikin from the burly butcher sto’, peas ‘n carrots and some kind of rice side dish. Busy day for me. I must somehow squeeze nappage and day drinkin’ in lest I damage my RDOS cred!
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then I must purtify and don attire acceptable for bein’ amongst the great unwashed. I have an early appointment so maybe fewer of the great unwashed will be around.
Happy Thursday Y’all!
I am better today. The rescheduling is still in process, but hopefully it will net good results.
Somewhere around noon we’re heading up to Canton to run around. Then at 3:15 (I think) is my appointment for hearing aids at Costco. Also, they just sent me a $40 gift card so we’ll just have to find something to spend it on while we’re there! My mom is going with me.
Furniture store add-ons? Lesson learned - should I possibly need furniture in the future, I’ll avoid Ashley.
And Yay for finding the HVAC company responsible. Hope the repairs are quick.
Low 90s today with chance of t-boomers later, maybe. My main plan today is finishing that last damned cushion. And I need to make a schedule for Casey to remind her to water my plants while I’m gone. I don’t know how much she knows about houseplants, but I’m guessing not a lot, since her mom never had any. And there was something else I’ve forgotten, but I’m sure it’ll come to me… oh yeah - boil some eggs for egg salad.
One week till we leave. We’re leaving our car at my sister’s house (she lives about 2 miles from the airport) and she’ll drop us off at the terminal - I just gave her our schedule. I’m thinking there will be no more grocery shopping - we should have enough to get us thru a week, and I’ll make sure Daughter takes any perishables from the fridge while we’re gone.
Last minute panic begins… 
Happy Thursday!
I forgot. Annie’s bloodwork came back normal. That’s good. But, they don’t know what’s causing her to drink too much water and pee so much. They told me that they could do two other tests that would rule out Cushings for sure, but they suspect they would come back negative. Said tests are $500*. I am going to pass on those and hope for the best. She’s not in any kind of distress so I’m just going to watch and see if something else changes. Just don’t any of you judge me if you come over to visit and there’s pee on the dining room floor that I haven’t got to yet! 
*The office visit and bloodwork was also $500.
It always sounds cold, but the way I look at it, you do what you can for a pet, but there comes a point, usually financial, when you can’t do any more. Or you shouldn’t.
I had a former boss who accidentally hit his dog with his truck (he lived in the boonies and the dog ran in front of him as he was driving out.) He took the dog to the vet immediately, and was quoted a rather high bill, but since it was his fault and the dog was all he had, he went ahead. Over the following months, this and that came up, all requiring more $$. And as the dog was older, he died anyway. Meanwhile, boss said he could have bought a new truck for what he’d spent on the dog.
It’s a difficult call, but sometimes you have to make what sounds like a cold-hearted choice. Here’s hoping for the best for Annie!
Afternoon, mumpers! It’s currently 27c/81f with a predicted high of 29c/84 and sunny. Weather app says “This day is fucking perfect. If you’ve got a stick up your ass, it’s time to fucking pull it out!” I feel that comment speaks for itself.
Not just that, some of the “older” and bigger bands are touring but only putting on a few shows, which are not always accessible, and often very expensive. Seeing a dedicated and hardworking tribute band who put the effort in, can be as much fun as seeing the original band. For example, Iron Maiden are playing in our nearest Big City on Saturday (tickets are £110 for the cheapest ones), but Ion Maiden or High On Maiden are both excellent tribute acts, and charge more like £20 a ticket
I am so sorry 
metalmouse glad to hear you’re enjoying London and getting to see the good stuff. Aside from the National Gallery/Portrait Gallery and the Natural History Museum, my favourites would be the Museum of London (now known as the London Museum, currently open in Docklands) and Sir John Soanes Museum which is an eclectic private collection.
It’s good to find someone who actually listens and knows what to do to fix it easily. Good for you!
I used to be guided by the vet and if they said something was definitely worth doing as a test, then I’d try to get it done. Otherwise, it’s an unnecessary expense that may not even do anything for your pet. Moooom is right, you have to make a sensible decision sometimes.
Yesterday was frustrating because the hot weather melted the train track points somewhere so I got to the station to find everything “delayed” with absolutely no idea when trains might be running. I had to get a bus to the Big City Station and got home later than I’d hoped. The cats weren’t quite melted or starved but they were looking very lethargic. I opened as many windows as I could to get some cool air in, and all was well.
Today is even hotter. And it’s double exam board day too. First one happened without incident this morning, and the second one is half done - they have an opening session, then everyone has time to look at all the paperwork and ask questions, then they have a closing session which is due to finish by 4pm. I’m doing minutes (for both) so I bet it ends late.
Sometimes, you do what you have to do.
Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP. There are a couple of things on the agenda today, but they’ll take more travel time than actual time.
Tomorrow, I’ll likely head up to SIL’s for a visit. We haven’t seen each other in a couple of months and Saturday is her birthday.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
At long long last, the cushions are DONE!!! We’ll take them to the boat on Saturday to make sure they fit. If not, I’ll just throw myself into the river… er… creek. Not sure how deep it is by the boat, but there are jellyfish, so there’s that. 
I need to empty the dishwasher and make up a note for Casey. Then, dunno. We’ll work that out eventually.
Yeah, “Oh, the sofa marked Clearance is actually a floor model, so there’s no free delivery or warranty. Oh, but that sofa is on sale for only $100 more. Oh, but unless you pay $100 more than that, they’ll only deliver to the door. No, they won’t deliver to the sliding patio door–only to the front door.” At which point we left.
I’m delighted that the cushions are done!
It appears I live in a much higher-end neighborhood than I thought. 
A house on the main road just outside and adjacent to our development just went on the market for $1.2 million!! Five years ago, it sold for $605K, and even that felt a tad high, considering it’s right across the street from a bar and 2 hair salons.
One has to wonder - if it sells for that, what will it do to our property taxes???
Egg salad is made and sitting in the fridge till supper time. The dishwasher is doing a clean cycle, then I’ll start loading it again. I sorted my meds prior to our trip, having heard a video FCD was listening to last night - prescription meds in carry-ons need to be in their original containers. So I packed enough for the trip and left the rest in zip bags for when we get back. They specifically said don’t use the daily pill sorters. So I won’t. I’ll take a couple of small ones and fill them every other week once we’re on the ship.
Slowly but surely, I’m getting thing sorted.
Hello all. Met up with some of my friends today, made it to 2 more Museums (London Transport and The British). Boo fae, sorry I won’t get to the two places you recommended, probably going to Greenwich and the Tower of London tomorrow and then need to catch my ship It was over 80F again, I am uncomfortable but the English are suffering. Heading out to eat in a bit then will settle in for the night.
Lily, good news on the HVAC repair.
FCM, glad the cushions are done.
Cookie, hooray for your perseverance, hope others will learn to keep following through.
Boo fae, I am supposed to take a train to catch my ship in Southampton and now I’m worried. Hoping it’s cool Saturday morning.
And that’s all the responses I could manage. Take care all.
The air temp went from 74F last night to 62F this morning. 
The workers will be here sometime today to patch the wall where the water leak was coming in, and the maintenance guy still needs to come back and unclog the bathroom sink. Then perhaps we can draw a breath for awhile.
Sadie is unhappy with the disruption and with closet contents scattered about. She was yowling at 0500, and when that didn’t get our attention she went into “ATTACK THE BED COVERS! THERE’S SOMETHING EVIL UNDER THERE!!!” mode. I finally dragged my dreary ass out of bed and fed her, then went back to sleep for an hour.
Shopping done this morning. Maybe I’ll wash Miss Piggy down in the garage. Been a minute.