(Old) For Whom The Bin Tolls- A Trashy Vacation MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
161

That’s a tough call. It’s good that he’s feeling better, but sometimes, we have to be grown up enough to hang something up (says someone who is considering selling her Can-Am for similar reasons).

This is sad.

I’m sorry for the loss of your friend, baker.

Yay! I hope that they track down the source of the vision problem though.

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and, from the sound of it, fixing to walk Nelson (he’s sleeping in with Sis and her crew). Today’s agenda includes a trip to the grocery store and Sis getting most of her stuff packed in her car for the trip home tomorrow. I’m going to miss her when she leaves.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

162

We used Window World. The workmanship was good, the installers were great, the office people don’t know how to return phone calls and appear to not know how to read contracts or schedules. The salesman promised installation in six weeks from signed contract and it was closer to three months before they finally came out.

One of the windows they brought got damaged and it was another three weeks before they came back with an undamaged one to replace it with.

So, many complaints about the lack of communication and amount of time we had to wait. However, the windows look good and work well. If a train with screeching wheels comes along, all I have to do is close the windows on that side of the house to cut most of the noise. They don’t leak air or heat and they come with a life time warranty against breakage.

163

Gooooood moooorning!

It’s 49°F and partly cloudy with an expected high temperature of 75°F and partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies. Who knows, it may clear up even more.

Jack, I’m sorry to hear about all the hits that have come your way, but am glad to read your father is improving.

Baker, I’m sorry about your friend.

Jeebus, Sticky, those prices are outrageous.

I’m off today, but am unsure what the day holds. I’m waiting for a call to set up the funds transfer between accounts. I need to be sure I’m in the house when that happens.

It’s a little annoying, if I’m honest. I would have liked to have made my first trip to the plant nursery this morning. Maybe the call will come early enough so I can still do that. We shall see.

Work has been chaotic. I’ve been trying to prepare the remaining staff for success by leaving behind guides, cheat sheets, SOPs, frequently used links, POCs, etc. However, processes are literally changing by the day, so I have to keep writing new stuff.

In the end, I can only do so much, and I’m starting to accept that, so I’ve told the remaining staff the same thing. I cannot prepare for every eventuality.

Only three more wake-ups for work. I’ll probably only work part days for two of those days. Otherwise, I’ll have too many hours on the timecard. I can’t ask for overtime (no funds), and comp time would be useless.

It’s still pretty disconcerting to face this new normal. I hope I’ve made the right choice and don’t have to get another job because I need the money. I think we’ll be okay, but I won’t know until a few months later. I’ve half-heartedly looked at some jobs outside the government, but I don’t really want to do that right now. I need to give myself time to catch my breath first.

Otherwise, things are the same as they ever were. The pups continue to be full of love and rambunctiousness, the kids and grandkids continue flourishing, and life continues.

Alrighty, I need to tidy the kitchen. You all take care.

164

“Having cats in the house is like living with art that sometimes throws up on the carpet.”

{{{{Taters}}}}

< continues crossing fingers >

165

Good morning all. Waited until all the rugrats were in school and then did my Firday shopping, so inside and idle until the swimming, sauna, and weight training kicks in this afternoon. I was actually a good house-irker this morning, even cleaned the terlets. Looks like we’ll be blessed with a little more rain this afternoon, I suspect Sattiday soccer will get cancelled as the fields have had no time to dry out, but I’ll face that when/if it happens. Temperature is 68F heading to 74F, so at least it’s fairly comfortable.

J-Bats, glad to hear Dad is doing better. And ‘affected vision’ and ‘driving home’ do not seem like a great combination to me, but hopefully he knows his limitations.

boo fae, 2 bob, thanks for the discussions, I haven’t booked my travel to/from Portsmouth yet, but will take your info under consideration. My return flight isn’t until 4:50pm, so getting to Heathrow isn’t a rush matter (still will leave myself a lot of time, I’m cautious that way…).

Sticky Buns, I concur, contract Verizon and go over those charges in detail; sounds like something is screwy there.

Taters, give yourself a chance to adjust to retirement life; it will take some getting used to. And if you look for a job, you can do so rather leisurely, and get one you will enjoy instead of one driving you to distraction.

And that’s the morning report. Need to check out the Firday webcomics and maybe even tidy the house some. Have a good day all.

166

The jackhammers started at 0700 this morning, as the roadwork continues on our main thoroughfare. Four hours later, it’s still going on.

The NYT crossword was a pain today, and exercise was uninspiring. The croisandwich for breakfast was good, though. I finally got around to opening the “aged 1000 days” Gouda and shredded some into the eggs. That’s some seriously good cheese. And the hot water is back, so showers all around!

167

Yes! A thousand times yes! It was about a year before I felt like taking on something else, and even then it was just a short term project that put some cash in my pocket with minimal stress. Then I bounced around for the next 6 or 7 years until I hit 65 and had done with it. It worked for me. I hope you find something that works for you.

Turns out there was a miscommunication with Daughter and SIL - they figured we’d be there on Sunday to finish the installation. So we came home and left then to clear out all the crap in their outhouse. They’ve got our truck for a trip to the dump. We’ll go back there after the kids are out of school, then we’ll all go to Cracker Barrel for supper.

So, I’ve got laundry going. Huzzah!

168

{{{Taters}}}

I don’t want to post it here, but if anyone would want to donate to a fundraiser for a friend of mine from the Clubhouse, see my fb page or let me know and I’ll send you a link. He’s a good guy who is having a very rough time. Nearly all at once his mother is about to pass away, he’s lost his side income, gotten his knee replaced, and his car is dead. The fundraiser is to help him get a used car that he’s found.

169

Started Typing: 11:37 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 12:49 PM ET

Happy last Friday of April!

My only meeting today isn’t until 2:30, and I’m appreciating the slow/quiet morning. Well, figuratively quiet: the cleaners arrived about an hour ago and have been vacuuming up a storm. :joy: They’re usually only here for an hour, so they should be wrapping up pretty soon. Then I can go back to literal quiet, interrupted only by whatever neighborhood sounds come through my open windows. (Earlier there were a lot of lawn mowers and trimmers, but now it’s mostly just birds…aaaahhhh.)

When the cleaners leave I’ll take Bailey outside, then see about lunch. I have a few frozen options in mind: either a Hot Pocket (meatball), Lean Cuisine fettucini alfredo, or Stouffer’s classic meatloaf. I’ll decide when I open the freezer door and one of them calls to me.

(11:51am: The cleaners are done! Back in a bit.)

(12:12pm: Well, I chose none of the above for lunch: when I looked in the freezer I saw a box of Golden Krust spicy beef Jamaican patties, and one of those was the winner. :grin:)

It will shock no one to hear that I’ve officially decided to stay home this evening (in addition to skipping last night’s live music). Tomorrow night is still a possibility, but right now my only firm weekend plans involve going to a community theater production of Legally Blonde: The Musical with a friend on Sunday afternoon (she helped work on the set). Curtain is at 3pm, and I plan to ask if she’d be up for either a late lunch before or an early dinner after the show. Her husband isn’t interested in the show, but maybe he’ll join us for food.

When I pre-ordered the Lego *Star Wars* logo set over the weekend, I also got a small “Yellow Travel Suitcase” set: it was delivered on Wednesday, and I put it together on my coffee table that evening while watching TV. It’s aimed at kids, but I love to travel – though I haven’t done any in 5 years – and I thought it was cute.

It’s 3" wide and about 3.25" tall, not including the handle. A picture of it open, with its contents – a tiny toothbrush, camera, passport, etc. – is in my Lego photo album. There are back wheels, and the handle collapses. :slight_smile: It was a fun, quick (~30 min) build. I miss having a “big” project, though…happily, the Star Wars logo will ship just before 05/01 and should arrive the following week.

Per Google: “A ‘mini-stroke,’ also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), is a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, while a stroke is a more permanent interruption of blood flow, leading to brain damage and lasting symptoms. While both share similar symptoms, the key difference lies in the duration and severity of the symptoms, with TIA symptoms usually resolving within minutes or hours and not causing permanent damage.”

They (“Caramel Café au Lait” Milano cookies) are better than the Earl Grey ones, but I wish there were more of the “rich coffee flavor” (there’s hardly any). I mostly just taste caramel, which is enough to make them better than the other ones. :grin:

Oh no! I’m sorry about your friend. :people_hugging:

Excellent news!!

OMG I love that movie. :joy:

Exactly. And what Metal Mouse said. :people_hugging:

170

Already done. And he knows that the reason I’m now demanding that he start selling his guns is because I don’t want to have to deal with them after he’s become roadkill.

Not to get personal or anything but how are you feeling when you look in the mirror now? Can you see the difference now that you are working with your trainer?

sounds like that is a very good thing!

I’m glad he’s doing better and hope he continues to improve.

How dare you! It’s so good that she didn’t stop eating, poor GG lost almost three pounds after VBC died.

Hubs uses gloves, I don’t. But…I rarely touch the food with my hands either. I use bear claws or big serving forks for shredding meat. I was hoping that the mixer method would be easier and faster…but it wasn’t.

Sounds a lot like my afternoon plans. We just have a big thunder boom, then nothing. Fingers crossed for rain, I just love watching the water fall.

Yeah, it sucks. But, I kinda always figured he’d die on his bike.

Plus, I think buying one will be an expensive reminder that he is getting old. Of course he’s getting a Harley and even the lightest sportster is at least 650 lbs. He more than likely will get a mid-sized bike at about a thousand lbs. He has crap knees and his hip is starting to ache. Anyone can handle a thousand lb bike at speed, stoplights and slow traffic are the real challenges.

Be sure to remember road snacks!

I’m glad she was able to come and help when you needed her. You have a very good sister.

I agree. Don’t make any decisions for at least a month.

Oh, so true!

Hurray!!!

I’ll give you cash next week.

Thank you. I would be disappointed as well.

So today my eye doctor told me that I didn’t need new glasses, I need cataract surgery. Finally. I missed getting my eyes checked the last couple of years because everything had been so up in the air, but it is possible that I could have gotten it done before we moved. Being able to drive after dark would have been a game changer.

Consult/exam in Charleston is scheduled for the 15th and surgery for the first eye will be the week after. The great part about having worked for the eye surgeon back in the day is that I know all about how cataract surgery works and how much it improves people’s lives. Plus, I’ve watched the surgeries from start to stop several times. Fast, bloodless, painless and ready to go home half an hour later.

171

Yes, part of it is the novelty factor but part of it is also because you are a very friendly person and likely make them all feel that they had a great interaction. Also sounds like you might be starting a new stitching group. That will be fun for all the stitchers.

I use my Mom’s method which is to use a milk carton for vegetative matter, fruit peels, fat/bones and keep the lid tightly closed.

…watching Rachel. (TRMS). She showed shots from Huntington and one other location in WV, not positive but it must have been Morgantown. In one of the shots there was an older woman wearing a red outfit but she didn’t have her hair covered and she was sitting on one of those combo rolling walkers with a seat. Kudos to the WVirginiaites for protesting the madness.

Last week my sis & I were doing a Wildflower pilgrimage in SE Ohio where there were a lot of Mennonite farms. We stopped at a Mennonite bakery-those ladies are excellent bakers! When I returned my BF had come down with sickness and I haven’t been able to go see the seedlings. She is furious with her husband because he doesn’t take precautions and was sick. When they were out to eat, he coughed directly at her and onto her food. Within 2 days she became very sick, although luckily not covid.

Also, your beautiful message brought some moisture to my eyes and one drop trickled down my cheek. Thank you dear friend.

Well, I’m up to post 70 and there’s 170 so I’m only 100 behind.
Since our daughter went to some Art event weekend in Chitown, we have Bella. I should go play with or rub her. So, hopefully I’ll get back and maybe get caught up.

In case I don’t, sending cheers, yays, boos, hugs, noogies to all as appropriate. :slightly_smiling_face:

172

I am so happy that you are back, I’m not the only one who’s been missing you, I’m just the loudest about it.

How’s your hubby? I’ve been thinking about him more now that measles, whooping cough and RSV are sweeping the nation. Is his immune system strong enough to allow him to get vaccines?

Thanks also for the kind words about the store. I did try to make everyone feel welcome and as a newcomer, I will often take written notes when folks are telling about places or things. That’s not just to make them feel heard, I have been a note taker all of my life. I’m a stoner, I forget stuff, what can I say?

I stopped by the store today and bought more seed onions. One of the sons was there and he had so many happy things to share about his trip to AZ, I really did enjoy seeing his pictures. Nobody ever has the same pics of the Grand Canyon, even if they took them in the same spot. The light and shadows are always changing, it is always fascinating.

Oh, a sister I haven’t met yet! That must have been Morgantown, I was in Charleston and my hair is covered with both wimple and hood when I can remember to bring safety pins to keep it up. The wimple ties under my chin so it stays up, the hood slips down without me noticing without safety pins. You would think that by now I’d just put some snaps in, but I still don’t want to think this is going to be a long term thing. Even though I know it is.

Did you see the men in the blue pants with orange reflective tape around the legs? Those were disgruntled coal miners. Minds are changing.

Your Wildflower pilgrimage sounds delightful. I understand your BF’s rage, I care more about Hub’s health than he does…but at least he knows that coughing in my face is a very dumb way to die.

So the dilating drops have finally worn off and my vision is back to what is normal for me. I have a headache so dinner will be self-serve leftovers. He likes to eat earlier than me so won’t cry too hard about having to use the microwave himself, LOL!

Tomorrow we are going to look at bikes. In Kentucky. One town is Hazard and the other one is about two hours away from there. While I’m always up for a road trip, I don’t really like vaping and smoking da bud in Kentucky is not that smart. Humpf.

There are a few needlepoint stores in the areas we be visiting, so I’ll probably come home with more patterns that I don’t need.

173

National Express coach takes about an hour and a half (so long as you pick no changes) and costs £25 or so, which is probably a lot cheaper than the cruise line coach.

There is no direct train, so you have to go into London, change and back out to Heathrow.

You can book a private car, which would be easier, but it costs a lot more than the coach.

You may gather from all this that Heathrow is not well served by rail except from London.

174

I’ve been trying to find a hobby that’s similar to but way less expensive and takes up way less space than Lego*, and I just learned about anxiety bookshelves!

    Small, miniature wooden shelves filled with tiny, non-functional books. They are designed to be a tactile and visual outlet for stress and anxiety, allowing users to shake the books and then rearrange them when they feel stressed. These bookshelves can serve as a form of stress relief and a visual distraction from daily anxiety.

There are “big” ones and smaller ones: thankfully/luckily I don’t struggle with undue stress or anxiety, but I feel like these might give me something to do with my hands that doesn’t take a ton of brain power and appeals to my OCD and would help kill the time that I’d otherwise spend building a Lego set. Of course it wouldn’t be the same, and the novelty might wear off pretty quickly, but they’re cheap enough that I’m willing to try one. How long have these things existed?! Does anyone have one?

*I have a piano, but I mean something I can sit and do while the TV is on. Sometimes I color. I’ve tried jigsaw puzzles, but don’t care for them. Every now and then I consider taking up some kind of needlework hobby, but so far I’ve never had the patience to actually learn one. Maybe an anxiety bookshelf or two will join my coloring books!

I have that feeling about my brother. He’s been riding for decades without major incident, including regular long road trips, but if he dies young (he’s about to turn 52) I won’t be surprised at all if it’s the bike. That, or the gun he bought a while back after someone tried to break into his place (he says). In either case, though, it’s likely to be his own fault.

I’m glad you’ve got it scheduled! I took my dad to both of his cataract surgeries, and they were just as you say: quick and painless. They did require anesthesia, which is why someone had to go with him/drive him home.

175

The first local strawberries are starting to come in. Last week they tasted a bit thin and tart, but this week they’re much better. And huge! In one week, I estimate, they’ll be topnotch and I’ll buy a big batch and make them into jam. At the end of summer last year, I had a few dozen jars of strawberry, apricot, peach, nectarine, and cherry jams, and followed it up in the winter with orange marmalade. But I ate it all up! I’m looking forward to making more jam this year. That reminds me, I had better check on my supply of jar lids and rings.

To everyone discussing cataract surgery and anesthesia, isn’t local the only type of anesthesia they give you? Or do they also dope you up with something to settle your nerves and make you less twitchy?

176

Howdy Y’all! I was productive this mornin’. I made chikin sallit and a big batch of chawklit chip and pee-kahn cookies. Spoiled brat is very happy right now. He showed his appreciation earlier this afternoon. Nappage and day drinkin’ were also accomplished. Sup got made and et as well. Thus is the news from swampland.

Taters yes! Take time to wind down and relax. Do sump’n fun. Then decide if you want to find a job. Or not. You may find bein’ a RDOS to your likin’.

177

You have an IV through which you’re given ‘twilight sedation’, so you’re relalaxed and calm before they take you into surgery and out, unaware and feel nothing for the surgery. You won’t remember anything except slipping into sleep and waking up seemingly a minute later.

If you start to wake up, the anesthetist gives you another little squirt of joy juice and you’ll gently go back to la-la land. It’s all very gentle and smooth.

178

In addition to twilight, I had numbing drops in my eye. Everything was completely painless AND I got Lorna Doone cookies after surgery.

179

Here’s a little free set of classes that will help unmystify the needlepoint world. You don’t have to buy anything (but that little kit she sells is very reasonable) and you don’t even have to give her your email addy, the classes are totally free.

Once you watch them, you will want to try it and then you will buy one of her kits and then once you are hooked, you will start getting ads for her big designs. Like this one:

Imgur

She’s one of my favorite designers, her instructions are so clear and easy to follow.

Hubs is a couple of decades older than your brother and probably won’t bounce nearly as well when he gets hit by the beer truck.

I bought my first bike when I was 17 and sold my last one when I was 59. I caught myself changing lanes without looking and that is just the sort of momentary lapse of attention that can kill at least one person.

The surgical center I worked for about thirty years ago gave their patients Valium to take an hour before surgery to settle the nerves and then hit them with a nice dose of Versed and numbing drops for the actual surgery. Versed has the added benefit of wiping short term memory so even if the patient was uncomfortable (and they weren’t), they wouldn’t remember it.

No idea the drug protocol now, I’ll let you know in a few weeks.

OMG!!! Did he dust the ceiling fans for you!!! What a guy! :joy:

I will be sure to tell them that I am expecting the GOOD cookies after surgery :slight_smile:

180

Exactly right~I forgot about the numbing drops before. Two sets of drops starting about half an hour before the surgery.

Except I didn’t get any Lorna Doone cookies, one of my very favorites! Now I’m going to have to go buy some. I got Coke Zero and some very pedestrian chocolate chip cookies.