[Old] GoGo On Vacation! -A Holiday MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Good morning!

It’s currently 51 degrees and sunny, with an expected high of 84. Tomorrow and Sunday could see temps in the low 90s, and they’ve issued a heat advisory. I’m happy about the sun, but not thrilled about temps reaching the 90s. I’m perfectly content with 70 to 75 degrees, but after a really wet spring, I guess I can live with a day or two of this.

I, too have been worried about @Nellie. I asked last week, maybe the week before if anyone had heard from her. I hope she’s okay.

I woke up at 3:30 but returned to bed and slept until around 5:30. I’m finishing my last cup of coffee, and then I’ll shower and get ready to leave the house. I’ve got to go down to Lowes and maybe Home Depot. My spousal unit wants to go to lunch today, so since the place he wants to go to is toward the direction of one of my favorite nurseries, we’ll have lunch and then go to the nursery. I’d rather do the nursery first, but it’ll be too warm to let plants sit in a hot car, so we’ll do lunch and then the nursery.

The kids have decided to host Mother’s Day, and we’re going up there for lunch tomorrow instead of trying to eat in a crowded restaurant on Sunday. I am happy with whatever works for them; plus, this makes things easier for the grandkids. They can run around and have fun and not be constricted at a table in a restaurant full of people.

Work was crazy; I had many high-priority things to accomplish, I had to talk the MPA off the ledge yesterday and was thoroughly exhausted when I signed off. However, I went out and dug in the dirt a little bit and transplanted some of the plants I bought last weekend and felt a little better.

That sounds like a hell of a commute, Pilot!

Well, onward with the day.

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G’mornin’, kids. Nothing much happening here. Graduation at my workplace was yesterday - the coolest bit was all the older adults getting GED certificates. I seems to have got some kind of sniffles during my travels earlier in the week, but it’s mild and I’m already on the upswing. Tomorrow I take my mom to the airport in Fargo for her flight home. It was really great having her around.

In kind of random news… The manager at the Midas where I’ve been taking my car asked me out…? He’s been really sweet and helpful over the last few months, occasionally waving off some minor bit of repair work without charging me, and I’ve enjoyed chatting with him while waiting around the shop. Soft-nerdy-boy vibes, rather unlike most mechanics I’ve met. Thing is… I’ve never dated men? I’ve always considered myself exclusively into gals. But then again, I’m kinda demi and don’t really feel a lot of attraction to people at all until there’s actual intimacy happening. Uncharted territory! Aaaaaahhhhh!!!

On the other other hand, it just feels real nice that someone looked at me and went “yeah, I’m into that.” It was a really rough couple years living with a partner whose interest in me was manifestly waning. I was straightforward with him about my position and uncertainties, and we’ll have a date and see what happens. :woman_shrugging:

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The only good news was the guy had a nice new car and I was able to ride in the back in decent style using my tablet to type & my phone for internet connectivity. The train would have been a bumpier jostlier ride in a much less comfortable and much noisier seat.


Yaay! Feeling wanted is the best feeling in all the world. And one ideally all of us would have most all of our lives. Sadly that’s not the way it often works.

This might be a really cool growth experience for you. Or not. But either way it’ll be an adventure. As another famous Doper often puts it:

When you don’t get what you expect, instead you get experience.

Both are good. Best of luck whichever you get. :slight_smile:



As to me:

I’m now down in Guatemala City & about to set off for some reconnoitering and shopping for coffee & chocolate. And perhaps something pretty to bring home for Her Ladyship’s Bday + Mother’s day.

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Thanks to all for care and concern about Hubs {{{ }}} to you all.
He seems a tiny tad better today. When I returned from work, his car was backed into the driveway; I NEVER do that, so it told me he had gone somewhere. He hasn’t driven since 4/13 so basically a month. He went to Einstein’s for a bagel and a schmear. I had blue corn chips with melted muenster and cheddar.

Then I took him to Target to pick up various bathroom items and some Great Grains for me. Targets price on the Great Grains is $2 cheaper per box than at Kroger. Then I drove to Subway so he could get a Deluxe Club sub. I think it had turkey, ham and roast beef on it as well as a whole lot of veggies.

A good thing today is that the manager is back from his honeymoon, although he was a bit tired. His flight was delayed and he didn’t get back until around 3am. So he came in mid-morning. So, at least I didn’t have to take the deposit to the Bank, although I did have to prepare it, which is normally his job. Updated him on some happenings through the week.

Now I need to go to the Fitness Center to workout and then Krogering. No idea what we’ll have for dinner. Hmmm, maybe pierogies.

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HOME!! It was an interesting day. It started with us several miles down the road realizing we’d both forgotten our phones, so we were Luddites today. We had to go to the boatyard because FCD wanted to see what they’d done yesterday. Then to MIL’s place. We took her to Mattress Firm where she ordered 2 twin beds because the bedroom is too small for a queen and a full. They’ll be delivered Sunday. Back at the apt, we loaded 2 recliners, a dresser, an end table, a tea cart, 4 boxes and a folding table in the truck, and BIL loaded some bags of miscellany into his car. Next, on to the new apt where we unloaded the truck and car and hauled everything up in the freight elevator. MIL met her across-the-hall neighbor, who brought her some cookies.

We left them to unpack and organize while we went to lunch, then back to the boatyard because FCD frets about every little thing. :wink: All is well - the propellers are installed on the thrusters and the battery shelves have been built and installed. Yay!

I’m getting MIL’s rent account set up to pay automatically. I was going to do her change of address, but USPS requires ID verification and a $1.10 fee to do it on line. This is new since October. FCD will take his mom to the post office in the morning to get it done. And depending on the weather, we’re hoping to move the grandfather clock, the captain’s desk, the TVs and a few more end tables tomorrow. If it rains, that will be done on Sunday.

Then all that remains will come to our house, except for the big area rug that Daughter is getting. But no rush getting those things out. MIL and BIL will stay in the new place starting on Sunday. She’s having a bit of a time with the move, tho - it’ll be the first time since 1949 that she won’t be moving to a new place with her husband. I can’t even imagine…

More than anyone wanted to know, right? I’m done.

I want ice cream. NOW!!! :stuck_out_tongue:

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boo fae My clever plot of doing absolutely nothing about my keyboard has, surprisingly, done…nothing. All is backed up to the cloud, so if kaputs, I’ll be ok.

Just back from phase 2 of the installation in Rochester, this was just a one day trip, but I’m tired. Construction site, so jeans, reflective vest and hard hat required. And the AC isn’t on yet, and it was in the 80’s today. I was literally dripping sweat, had to go back and wipe it up so the infinity mirrors didn’t have water spots.

A lovely grapefruit vodka soda is next to me.

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FCM:
Hoorray for all the success with MIL’s move. You’ve proven it is possible to survive for 8 hours without your mobile toy-thingy, but it is hard.

A thought for you to consider. When we moved aged MIL to the independent living place she/we changed her mailing address to be there versus where she had lived. Just as you are doing / have done. So far so ordinary. But …

A bit later she became unable / unwilling to pay her very few bills, deal with mail, etc. It just got too hard. And frankly, too haphazard. I could not rely on her not losing or trashing the phone bill before I got over there to pick it up. I needed it sent to me, not to her.

Rather than changing her mailing address to our house, we got a PO box near our house from a UPS store and changed Mom’s mailing address for everything to that. And once a week we’d go collect that mail and deal with it. And bring her the kinds of mail she wanted, pitching the junk she didn’t. Useless distractions become a big problem as mental capacity gets flaky.

The upside to the PO box is that avoids comingling your identity with hers in the eyes of the junk mail world. And the bill collector world if that matters. After she dies and the estate process is complete, you’ll be able to cut off the never-ending but painful flow of stuff addressed to her by simply closing the box with no forwarding address.

With the first relative whose dotage and aftermath I managed, I did not do that. It was a nasty mess for a lot of reasons. The later 3 dotages and deaths went much more smoothly moderated through what amounts to a throwaway mailing address.

In that same vein, as I began, with their permission, to manage their affairs I created an email address for them that I controlled. So I could create online access logins under my account using my-her email address, ensure the elder was cc’ed by me on stuff they needed, but I didn’t have to worry about them doing a senile password change to something “easy to remember” they immediately forgot, or … And once they and their estate was over, I could shut down that email address and its unending run of spam with no impact on the rest of the survivor’s lives.

Fun stuff. Not. But as and when it’s appropriate, you might consider these ideas.

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Howdy Y’all! I am postin’ on my shiny new HP laptop. I thought it would be here tomorrow, but it showed up today. YAY! Gotta get used to a few things, but all in all not much different from dearly departed laptop. That has been the big excitatement of the day. I took care of candle duty, we had N.O.L. at the hog trough GC, accomplished nappage, and day drank. I set the laptop up and installed Norton. Now ‘tis rainin’ up a storm out complete with occasional big BOOMS and we are in chill mode.

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Yay on the new laptop swampy!

Mooooooom, while the online address change cost a minimal amount, I got that back in spades with the coupons that came with it. Places like Lowe’s hand out some discounts that can save a hunk-o-change. I used my 10% off there when I purchased my washer and dryer, so I saved $80 (that covered the sales tax). I’m thinking that there was a discount for a mattress.place in there too.

Nelson met his new vet (I like the guy) and I found out that he’ll need to have a tooth pulled when he’s getting the rest of them cleaned. Poor baby! His paternal side has those wonky chihuahua - yorkie teeth, so I hope that he’s not headed down the same road.

After we came home, I headed to my PCP office for an allergy shot. I’m just now beginning to feel some improvement. I’m still going to stay indoors for most of the weekend though.

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I laundered, I painted, I napped, I took a couple of walks. I was petting Spot when he went insane, attacked by little toe, and starting chasing nothing. I’m not sure if it was a bug, the Invisible Mole People, or he was just having an unhinged moment.*

It’s always nice to be wanted(unless it’s by a Three Letter Organization).

That was quite the commute, Pilot, but at least there wasn’t any volcanic activity. in the area.

[Chekov]Is Russian Paloma.[/Chekov]

my weather:

Apparently Spot is one of those “needs frequent teeth cleaning” cats.

*Likely all three.

211

Happy Friday!

No park today as I am still hurting.

I went to bed early Wednesday night. My son told me I should stay upstairs and rest.
I slept for about 12 hours, took a hot bath, went back to bed, and slept most of the day.
I guess I needed sleep.
My son brought me food and water, and took care of everything while I slept.
I kind of wanted to go back to bed this morning, but I made myself get up and come downstairs.
I figured coming down the stairs on my butt was safer than walking down. My ankle still feels a little wobbly., and my heel feels weird.
I still don’t know why I fell.
I’m going to get a new pair of shoes as the ones I was wearing are old.
I’m still debating on a recliner.
Once the puppy gets here, it’ll be easier to sleep downstairs on the nights my son irks.
Running up and down the stairs all night to put the puppy out isn’t going to be fun, and if the puppy is heavily wrinkled, I’ll have to carry him down.
Poor Ripple got half way upstairs one time and then screamed bloody murder because he couldn’t get back down. Every time he looked down his wrinkles would fall forward and cover his eyes so he couldn’t see. Once he grew into his wrinkles it wasn’t a problem anymore. It was never a problem for Echo because she is not so wrinkled.

Still no name, but I like Mellow.
Although looking at him, he looks like a Chubbs.

MetalMouse, we do have the critters around here, and Echo wants to get them.
Ripple did too, but he was not crazy like she is.

Happy New Laptopping Swampy

VanGo, I was also going to say, make sure the swelling isn’t because of the battery.

I hope the move continues to go well FCM
I’m sure it is rough on MIL.
I’d see the doctor about the hip.
Well, to be truthful, I wouldn’t because I’m stupid/stubborn and let stuff go too long.
But you should see the doctor.

Niner, go on the date.
I always encourage people to go on dates. I always say, unless there are huge red flags, go on a minimum of 3 dates. That gives you a fair chance to get to know a person and decide if you want to continue to get to know them better.

Taters, your job makes my head hurt, and I don’t irk there.

Pilot, your job makes me dizzy

JtC, your kitty stories make me laugh

I’m sorry your hubs is in pain CatGlove

I took a 3 pound pack of ground chicken out of the freezer on Sunday.
I meant to make it Wednesday, but of course I wasn’t up to doing anything.
It smelled okay in the pack today, but once my son started browning it, the smell was enough to gag you. I hate wasting food that way, but it went into the trash.

I’m trying to drink more water since I still get cramps in my right leg every night.
I’m ready for bed now, sleeping is what I do best lately.

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None in Miami, thank goodness. We have plagues enough already.

Halfway to Guatemala one of their local volcanoes, cleverly named Fuego, decided to start spewing. Fortunately it’s about 40 miles south of the city and the wind was blowing south, so not my problem. Today. Tomorrow may be different.

2023-05-12-07:00HRS – INSIVUMEH


Makes me too. Mad flail 30 minutes, nap for 30 minutes; mad flail 30 minutes, nap for 30 minutes. Lather rinse repeat for 35 years.

Had a fine afternoon here. Warm, not hot and it threatened to rain but never did. Although only ~50 miles from the beach we’re at 5,000 feet elevation surrounded by volcanos to 10,000-15,000 feet, so the days aren’t beastly hot and the evenings are quite cool. Kinda like Boulder Colorado, but with Boulder’s springtime temps year-round. Easy to get used to.

Went for an explore, checked out a few eateries & drinkeries for next time, hit a groc store for a couple pounds of local coffee & local chocolate, and eyeballed the several shoe stores for something cute for Her Ladyship. Latinas lurve them some cute shoes. So does Her Ladyship (who’s not Latina), so they make a good pair (heh!?). Found no appropriately buyable cute shoes today though. If she was still 25 though, Rowwr!

My co-worker was born in Colombia though came to the US as a toddler. He & I had a nice dinner here: La Media Cancha (lamediacanchagt.com) which is not far from the hotel. Upper mid-range by Central American standards, but decently cheap by US standards. We are in the capital city though, so pricy by local standards is kinda to be expected. Muy Delicioso and Mauricio took courtly care of us both.

Bedtime in another half-hour, then arise pre-dawn, shevel, eat, & ride back to work as day breaks yet again. Good thing too. Late or absent sunrise is a very bad omen.

That’s a big deal. You can’t keep doing this. Really.

Hope everything heals up quickly, and you don’t end up tripping over Mellow/Chubbs too many times in the next year.

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The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.

Wifey, RN is attending a seminar next week. She’s leaving Thursday afternoon, and returning Sunday afternoon. A perfect opportunity to make her table! Only… She wants me to come down to Olympia Saturday, spend the night, and come back Sunday.

I didn’t plan anything for dinner tonight. Wifey, RN was looking at a restaurant near the seminar, and got a craving for crab cakes. So I made some (Zatarain’s crab cake mix, canned crab (because the store didn’t have any fresh), Hollandaise, and asparagus).

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At least she still wants to be around you. Some wives (and husbands) would be treasuring the idea of 4 contiguous days without them in my hair.

Having spent a life of 2 home, 4 gone, 4 home, 2 gone, 3 home, etc., I really wonder what the hell it’ll be like to live with somebody full-time. Kinda worrisome actually.

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Evening all. Rained or looked about to rain for most of the day. Did get to the gym and the pool was warmer, but all 4 lanes were full so I passed an hour in the whirlpool and sauna and called it a day. Also bought some stuff at Wal-Mart and ate dinner at a local place called the Goodland Pour House, they sell local beers, had a couple and they weren’t bad. Now indoors and wondering if the rain today will end up cancelling the soccer games tomorrow…just have to get up at 7am and check.

Pilot, looks like those volvanos are following you around; at least they won’t get back to Miami.

Sari, hope the injuries are getting better.

doggio, Susan Ivonova was always one of my favorite TV characters.

red, I’m sure Nelson won’t mind having his tooth pulled (HA!)

swampy, congrats on the new laptop.

FCM, glad the move went as well as it did, and I think Pilot may have a good suggestion regarding mail, if not now then in the future.

Niner, have the date and see what happens.

OK, need to finish up here and be thinking about bed, soccer game is at 9am and it takes me awhile to get organized (and I still end up forgetting something). Take care all.

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Dang, how many weeks has it been since I’ve even mentioned Gentleman Caller? Anyway, he is - finally - en route once again.

I’m gonna hafta give him some lighthearted shit about how long it’s been. Maybe briefly pretend I don’t recognize him.

Some hasty post-work self-scrubbage has occurred. The remaining details will, hopefully, be far beyond the scope of this thread.

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I shaved, with the razor I bought dad for a present 30 or so years ago. I shaved Tuesday morning, and I just couldn’t stand it anymore. It feels good.

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My new boots came today. Fifteen years ago (approximately), I wanted a pair of Alden 405s. But Alden also made an attractive pair of chukka boots. I could only afford one pair. I got the 405s. My new Clarks are a fraction of the price. I tried the right one on (without a sock), because my right foot is problematic due to injuries. It felt all right. I’ll try them both on when I have the time.

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Saturday evening here. I have private online classes in the afternoon and one of the cancelled.

We had a PTA class meeting yesterday for SenGirl’s class. This is an alternative education and they have montly PTA meetins for all the classes. About three hours, so it was pretty involved. It’s not bad for us, with only two kids, but my friend has four kids in their school.

After dealing with all that stuff in Taiwan on her own, SenWife has decided decided she’ll throw it all on me. I don’t mind and I get a chance to meet other parents.

It nice to hear other parents have similar issues with their 9th grade kids.

Flyboy, those look like great boots!

Pilot, what an adventure getting to work! I’m fortunate, I like 10 minutes away from school and only have one stop sign that I may have to wait a few minutes for traffic. Of course, small towns don’t have any good restaurants so there is that tradeoff.

Niner, for dates you aren’t sure about, you can pick something that can be ended quickly such as just meeting for coffee. When I was doing a bunch of first dates, then I quickly found that long car rides were the worst if the chemistry wasn’t there.

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I have an appointment that was made when I last saw her, so no prob there. I’m thinking I should make a list of things I want to address, lest I forget something. I think I’m in pretty decent health for my age, but the arthritis, the hip, some itchy patches, and other random little things should probably be addressed. One thing I love about her - she sits and listens to me. And she doesn’t just throw pills my way - when I asked if I could cut back on anything, we figured out that I could.

Not raining yet, and depending on the forecast site, it might not start till after noon. FCD is still abed and I’ll follow his lead on what we do today. Should rain prevent moving any furniture, I plan to attack the guest room so we can store some things that shouldn’t be in the garage. It’s also clean-the-critter-fountain day - woohoo!!

There was a piece on CNN’s site where servers talked about how much they hated working on Mothers Day. It’s amazing how jerkish some people can be - OK, not amazing. More like disgusting. In any case, we’ve already decided we’re not taking MIL out tomorrow, but if she’s amenable, we’ll try today.

All righty then - Happy Saturday!!