Baker Thanks! Good enough for gov’ment work.
metal Mouse PM me, if you wish… I’ll 'splain.
love ya’ll
doggio Hope all goes well with Ace. He looks like a winner.
JtC That tale of your sadly late black kitty is heartbreaking. Belated 
flyboy Handsome kitteh!
shoe The Monkey is indeed a handsome lil dude.
I’m debating getting a new to me pup. If’n I get the job to build the boat exhibit it’ll happen. Or if the school dept hires me to do more.
"gnight, y’all. Stay safe.
Oh such a beautiful cat! I had two black cats. The first ever cat of my own was Baby. Years later I had Tobermory.
Hi folks: 5pm-ish here as I started this at the MIA airport.
Some comments on Friday’s earlier posts:
As I deserved. I was kidding of course, but sometimes that comes across a bit heavy-handed. Sorry if I stomped my clodhoppers on you.
But long-term tenants who’re paying 20% more are even better. Even if they have to go through 100% turnover once to achieve that. Jackasses the lot of them. The future will have a lot of de facto monopolies structured so they don’t fall foul of US anti-trust law that hasn’t been updated in a literal century. Brace yourself; that ride has just barely left the loading station.
The other day I had a dream that involved both Mom & Dad. First time that’s ever happened. Dad’s been dead 26 years and Mom 17. The dream was set long after I was grown and they were divorced and living in different cities. Somehow they were nearby one another, although not interacting and I interacted with both of them separately. An odd experience for sure.
Yaay! You are awesome. Not that all of that is due to you, but a material fraction of it is.
I am not an RVer. But having poked my nose into that world, and living most of my life in areas where those can be popular. …
IME there are people who are all but homeless existing in a raggedy assed RV that’s essentially a motorized shopping cart for their scrounged crap while they move from city park to city park whenever they are rousted by the local cops. Those folks would settle in RV parks if they were allowed and could afford the fees.
Professionally speaking …
Do NOT ever leave your hometown with only one credit card. Take two, intending to use just one. If somehow that one gets shut down you will be in very bad shape without another to fall back on. To be sure, already having air travel & ship travel paid for you won’t as bad as you might otherwise be, but I can tell you it will suck far harder than you expect if you find yourself CC-less early in this trip.
Take 2; they’re small.
Yaay for cheap fix on cars!!!
As to me:
it’s now 2am Sat in Medellin and I’ve only read and replied to the thread up to about 3pm Fri. Sadly the internet was inop on the airplane or I’d have been caught up to Fri evening when we landed at ~9pm. But now I’m way behind on you folks and will try to catch up as able.
Quite the party central in downtown Medellin. An amazing evening was had.
Not sure how my Sat morning will go. I have a half-day event reserved but may sleep through that and pick up my planned itinerary in the afternoon. Or not; vacation is like that.
Cheers all!!
< hold my tuxedo cat >
Everytime I wash Spot’s food dish, he loudly starves to death.
Awww. He was a good looking boy.
Enjoy!
Is it tomorrow yet? Ace is adorable!
If every little community did so well, the food waste in the country (world) would be much less.
Swampy, every time you mention those, I have to resist making them. They are so good, but hubby doesn’t like them (or at least he’s able to resist them), so I end up eating them all.
Somehow I haven’t been paying attention, probably because I haven’t bought stamps in the U.S… I still thought first class stamps in the U.S. were only 25 cents. First class stamps here are 1.20 CHF (1.40 USD), 2nd class are 1.00 CHF (1.20 CHF).
IRS charges almost 2% for credit card payments. 
An international stamp (approximately 3.00 USD) is a lot cheaper.
Hippie, glad to read the good news.
Today’s weather is rainy, cold and blah. Might try to go for a walk during the intermittent dry spells before the rain comes back and turns into snow.
Since the weather’s crap, it’s a good day to go through the closet. I know there’s stuff to get rid of, but I keep thinking I might wear it again. If I haven’t worn a top since 2015, it’s probably time to get rid of it.
As today is the 6th, the Christmas stuff is staying up today, but I’m cleaning the Christmas textiles today, so I can pack them away tomorrow.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 58 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 66 and mostly cloudy for the day. A busy day for me. Buster will be funeralized at ten a.m. with a reception in the Parish hall to follow. I shall attend the reception for a bit and then head back to da cave to make the cake for tomorrow and to engage in some sloth and nappage before the Epiphany soiree this evenin’.
Hippie great news on the recovery!
Doggio Ace is a handsome doggo. Good luck!
Dicey whenever I make cheese thangs I have to make sure there are some extras for munchin’ purposes in da cave. A certain spoiled brat insists on that.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then purtification for funeralizin’ must commence.
Happy Sattidy Y’all!
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 5c/40f with no predicted change, and mostly cloudy. Weather app says “So, like, today is, like super fucking weak sauce.” It is definitely cloudy, but it’s dry so I’ll take that as a win.
doggio Ace looks so handsome, I hope you hit it off and he decides he wants to join you, Roomie and Spot.
hippie so glad to hear that you’re cleared for all kinds of activities!
Spice Weasel I enjoy reading your posts in other threads, I’m glad you decided to come and join us in here too. People post all sorts of random things, the post starts with a theme and gets hijacked almost from the second post so who knows what kind of things we will find out during the week? At the moment, I know when the bins go out, and I know everyone’s laundry schedule, and what people are making for dinner 
Swampy good to hear that you resisted the lure of Vestry stuff, it’s nice to be nominated but equally nice to turn it down. You do a lot for the church already, especially when you’re channelling your inner Church Lady.
JtC your food programme sounds amazing, it’s heartening to hear that there are programmes around to help people in need, and to help reduce the horrendous amount of food waste. I wish there were more of them here too.
wheelie I understand the melancholy days too - I lost my mum four years ago last Thursday, and today it’s 38 years since my dad passed. Most of the time I’m ok with it, but there are odd little things that get to me.
pilot glad to hear you arrived safely and you’re having fun on your little adventure!
nellie the pointy stick wielding ninja spiders are polishing up their hobnail boots, ready to go at a moment’s notice!
I’ve had a good day so far, I was up reasonably early to tend to the mogs and have a cup of tea. Then off to the gym for a 30-minute kettlebells class followed by a 45-minute dumbbell hustle class. I’m suitably worn out now, having a restorative cuppa before getting a shower. Then it’ll be time to head into town for lunch at the Good Chinese Place, and do some errands.
I asked 'im indoors for a new watch for hexmas. My old faithful one is many years old, the strap’s been replaced a few times and the mounts where the pin fits have worn away so the strap now pops out very easily. Sadly means it’s time to retire that one and replace it. I gave him a link to the jeweller’s shop in town, with a picture and written description of exactly what I wanted. Should be simple, right? But instead of a silver casing and black strap, he bought a watch with a gold casing and brown strap. So today I need to take him and the watch to the shop, and exchange it for the one he should have got in the first place Bless 'im.
Just being nosy here - how long has it been since you’ve had a real vacation? Apologies if you’ve talked about it and I’ve forgotten - I don’t brain well these days. But I feel like all you talk about are your projects, with nary a mention of lying on a tropical beach with an umbrella drink in your hand (or whatever your preferred getaway is.)
I’ve probably told this story, but if so, it’s been a long time. When Daughter was 6 or 7 - whenever it is that kids lose teeth - she apparently began to question the existence of the Tooth Fairy, despite the appearance of cash under her pillow for lost teeth (or the one time there was a note under her pillow that said “It’s on the windowsill”) Anyway, one morning she came to breakfast and told us she knew there was no Tooth Fairy because she did what she called “The Ultimate Test.” She’d put the tooth under her pillow and didn’t tell us. What she hadn’t figured out was that her Ultimate Test put an end to $$. But we were still impressed at her approach to the mystery.
Same for me, dammit. I used to eat grapefruit like oranges - it freaked out one of my shop chiefs. He’d make a sour face and stare in disbelief. I do so miss them.
OMG - only geezers know what E-tickets are (were?) 
Well, most of us are. Some are a tad sketchy… 
My daughter has 2 - they’re sisters. They’re not jerks, but they are little attention whores. If you dare to sit down at her house, you’ll have one or both on your lap and/or in your face.
I know you were. If I’d thought you were serious, you’d have gotten a scathing PM. I’m classy like that!
And, again, I woke at 2:30 and couldn’t fall back to sleep. I guess my body thinks its only needs 5 hours of sleep some nights. It’ll be interesting to see what my sleep cycle is on the ship when I don’t have to worry about tending to the critters’ morning needs.
Turns out for my car repair, they just charged me labor - no parts - since it was only 13K miles since they did the brake job. I had a leaking caliper and the shoes were iffy. They also turned the rotors. Bottom line - no more shuddering when I come up to a stoplight! So huzzah!
We were talking about whether to give my car to my daughter, since her Rogue has been a thorn in her side since she bought it. An expensive lesson she learned there - go to a legit dealer close to home. The price was good, but the place she bought it from was too far away to take it back for problems, and there were problems. Anyway, she’s been wanting to replace it, but vehicles the size she needs are $$$. My Sonata is not exactly what she wants, but it meets most of her needs. I have mixed feelings - I hate to give it up. Oh the other hand, we don’t need 3 vehicles here, especially since I’m not keeping the kids full time any longer. I suggested we wait till after our trip to talk about it some more.
Today is supposed to be a soggy one. FCD wants to go to the apartment and hang pictures today. I started my day by emptying the dishwasher. I need to bring the suitcases up from the basement so they can air out. We’ll leave them open in the guest room and I guess we can start packing some stuff - I’m pretty sure I won’t need my swimsuit and flipflops before we leave.
Anyway, Happy Saturday!!
Can’t remember if I already told y’all, but the house inspector finally showed up yesterday. Glad that’s over with.
Having a hot cuppa tea and some Triscuits with cream cheese (and the other half of last night’s dessert, half an Uncrustable, the chocolate hazelnut kind) before heading back to bed to get more rest.
It’s Long Night tonight, although people are broke after the holidays. Lotsa gift cards being redeemed; lotsa people asking how much for a large and then ordering a small.
Monkey has zoomied his zoomies and is switching between windows now, presumably on the alert for birdies or the Hated Neighbor Cat.
I’ve been making batches of variously colored/flavored Jell-O jigglers for Monday’s work party. So far, I have lime (green) blue (raspberry) and purple (Skittles wildberry) plus a very pretty teal colored one where I tried to layer blue & green but they just mixed. Still have red (strawberry) left, oh and plus I made a few watermelon shots with vodka that I may or may not bring.
All these Jell-O flavors in wide, flat containers mean my fridge smells like a sorority party threw up… 
ETA: I mean that in a good way, it smells awesely fruity.
Mornin’ everyone.
It’s 41F and soggy outside. Our expected high is 47F with rain showers in the morning and scattered thunderstorms for the afternoon. Sounds like it’ll be a pretty icky day.
doggio, Ace certainly is a handsome boy, yes he is! I hope you both take a shine to each other.
hippie, I’m glad the recovery has went so well. That is really good news!
cookie, I’m glad you’ve recovered now too, or at least enough that the doc is happy and you’re not expected to trudge back for a visit so often.
yanker, I’d be P.O’d and cranky too. That was some serious B.S. and I can’t blame you one bit for walking away from that mess.
FCM, I’m glad the repair cost was so much lower than expected.
I’m unsure what my plans are; do I go to the mall today or tomorrow? Decisions, decisions. I need to get that coat, but at the same time, I really don’t want to go anywhere.
I bought the pups stainless steel puzzle food bowls to slow them down on eating. They are working fairly well, but Buster is still a hog, finishes first, and tries to get to Maisie’s food. Maisie doesn’t always finish her food now because she has to work at it a little bit.
Work was really “meh,” although I finished several projects. I was glad to sign off on the dot yesterday. I logged on to see an email from another branch up at National with a calendar invite for a meeting this Monday. Monday is payday, so my MPA is off, and she is not interested in signing on for a meeting. I need her at this meeting because she will have to take care of a lot of the work related to this project. So, I had to decline the meeting and send back a request for a meeting on Friday, which happens to be my day off. 
Whatever. I’ll add comp time to the crazy amount of leave I already have. I can’t do the meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday because I’ll either be on travel status or touring office sites.
There really isn’t much else going on, I guess. I’ll start packing for my trip on Monday night and there really isn’t much to pack. A pair of slacks, a couple of undergarments, shirts, toiletries, my laptop, power cord, battery charger, and cell phones. It should all fit in one small carry-on.
I’d still much rather drive over there, but the passes will be nasty coming and going, and I can’t really take the chance of them closing down I-90 due to spinouts and accidents. That happens a lot. I am grateful that we’ll see mountain snow, though. We need it.
Everyone take care.
That is one clever girl.
Morning all. Rained much of the night and it is still damp and cloudy outside and 45F, so spending 4-5 hours indoors coaching soccer seems like a good idea. That will be the main activity, we’ll see what else develops. Have broken fast, probably have more of a snack day today what with being out in the real world with temptations aplenty, but we’ll see.
doggio, lovely pic and hopefully you and Ace hit it off well.
shoe and flyboy, thanks for the pics. Never have owned a cat, but get along with them ok.
Not a clue. Guess I’ll find out next week.
Hippie, I am so happy to hear how well things are going for you.
Pilot, enjoy your Colombia trip. Medellin is now a tourist site…and mostly what I remember it for is the Cocaine cartels of the 80’s and now…times do change. may have to add Colombia to the bucket kist.
boo fae, hope they have the watch you want in stock.
FCM, smart kid you have there.
shoe, glad the inspector showed; any progress with the tree removal?
Onward into Sattiday. Have a good weekend all.
A what now? When one relies on going from gig to gig much of the time is spent finding the next one. Aside from the occasional mental health day, the last week off was probably a trip to Mexico in 2015.
shoe Good that the inspection finally happened. Did they note/do anything about the tree?
I’m in prep mode for the looming snow-pocalypse. (I’m getting the shovel out of the garage and retrieving the recycling bin from the front of the driveway.) They’re saying 6-8" of snow over night.
Every Saturday morning I get up at 6:30am to take my kid to 8:30am swim lessons. It’s great for him, but it’s usually stressful for me. Getting him ready and out the door on time, getting him changed and into the pool, and afterward getting him from soaking wet to fully dressed while he tries to run all over the place (including, once, out the front door.) I’m not the most patient Mom during this event. Though I do love the place, the people are great, the facility is clean, everyone knows his name and celebrates his achievements, so it is well worth it.
Now I am home, I parked him in front of the TV (I don’t do this always, usually just after Saturday swim because I have nothing left in me.) I’m drinking tea and working on a puzzle, and thinking about my novel, but not really. I said to my husband, “I’m going to go pull out my puzzle and then sit there and post on the Straight Dope instead.”
He replied, “You mean you’re going to pull out your puzzle with the intention of thinking about your novel and post on the Straight Dope instead.”
The man knows me too well.
What sort of novel are you thinking about? I had an idea once for one on my own, but never seriously pursued it.
I’m in the middle of a trilogy. I’m calling it the Levian Wars Trilogy. It’s futuristic fantasy romance meets political thriller. The one I’m working on right now is called Battle Fatigue. It’s about a revolutionary leader falling apart psychologically following a stint in a political prison, who is inexplicably attacked by an enemy foreigner in search of her missing adult son. Plots twist, romance ensues. War, terrorists, spies, betrayal, we got it all.
I don’t intend to publish until I finish the trilogy. I don’t want to live the fate of a writer with the pressure of an unfinished series. But I figured since I went to the trouble of creating a whole alternate world I should probably get more use out of it than a single book.
I have similar remarks from Hubby. "I’m going to sit down for a few minutes to check my socials then get started cleaning. "
"So I should plan on doing the cleaning. Got it. "
I’ve been reading since yesterday but don’t have the spoons to go back and reply to all the things that caught my attention. So yays, boos, congrats, hugs, love and laughter as appropriate.
I had PT yesterday and, as per usual, got chatty with the therapist. I couldn’t get in to see my regular guy but the one I did see is great. He’s am athletic trainer and works with the athletes at my kids’ school. So we chatted about that quite a bit. I’ve got some good exercises to work on. So here’s hoping this helps more because last night was a bad pain night.
I am hoping to get to the library today. I haven’t been in two weeks because of the holidays. I’ve had to rerequest a couple books. I’m trying to talk Hubby into taking me, just so I’m not having to worry about spasms while driving.
I had a happy find on Netflix yesterday. There’s a manga series that I love called “Delicious in Dungeon”. Apparently, there’s an anime made of it. There’s only one episode of it so far but it’s incredibly faithful to the manga. So now I have something new to watch on Thursdays.
I’m also putting together a TBR list with recommendations from friends. I’m trying to broaden my reading and get some things I otherwise wouldn’t have touched. If anyone has suggestions for me, I’m happy to take them.
Abbey just defecated (in her box, not randomly) and ran out to scratch a chair. I told her ‘No! You can scratch the scratchers, not the chair.’ But she keeps doing it. Sometimes I think that cat doesn’t understand English.
Yay cookie and hippy on the positive progress from surgery!
Up, caffeinating, breakfasted, napped and fixing to mess around in the studio. Today’s goal is sloth.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!