I do my best to avoid singing in front of other people. They appreciate my concern.
What will it accomplish other than having the kids miss a day of classes?
I can think of many, many reasons – most of which walk on two legs. I’ve often said that if I can stand on the porch with a .45 and hit my neighbour’s house, that house is too close to mine.
Dirt has been delivered and breakfast has been devoured, so time to go shovel.
Very cold in the hizzle this morning. I turn the heat off at night because this antiquated heating system doesn’t regulate well. We’ve got a bit of a cold snap at the moment, so it was a bit nipply this AM.
Omelet for breakfast made with a 10-year aged cheddar. Really good cheese. Side of hashbrowns.
I should have, but my brain was going in about six different directions at once. Of course, they told me as I’m dropping them off that it’s not a protest at the school but a protest at the capital that a lot of students will be leaving to go to. And if I’d given them a note as permission to leave, then they would have been able to go to it (which I think would have been a fantastic thing for them). Of course, they tell me this when I have no paper or writing implement in the car so I can’t write one immediately. sigh
I know, and I appreciate it. The knowledge that there are virtual hugs headed this way helps. Especially since I found out this morning on Facebook that he passed either last night or this morning. I’m relatively ok - sad, but not beside myself. I’m thinking more of my mom, my aunt and my cousins. My mom was there when my grandmother passed and knew that she couldn’t handle the same thing with her older brother.
When Hubby and I moved in together after our engagement, we moved into an apartment in the building he was in. So we had to just go up 7 floors. That one was easy. Then about 8 years ago, we moved apartments in the same complex. That one was a little easier. Here’s hoping that yours will be easy as pie!
I’m with you on people treating their pets as disposable items. It’s not like a table or chair that won’t feel anything when you get rid of it. Animals HAVE feelings and should be treated as the living, breathing beings that they are.
As for the older pits, I suspect you’re right. MFN (the new acronym I’m going to call my friend by so I’m not typing “my friend” out over and over and over) wants to get a pit so badly, but the apartment complex he’s in won’t let pits in for renters. Almost every animal that’s gone “bad” has, in my experience, been more because of the training or lack there of than because the breed was intrinsically “bad”.
I feel your pain. I’m feeling the same way in dealing with my family in relation to my taking care of my Dad. Hopefully, the individual gets back to you with the ALL the info that you need!
Ouch! Yeah, I don’t blame you in that. I’m glad that you had the chance to relax yesterday and that today is a nicer day so your commute won’t be (wasn’t?) as bad.
Well, I’m glad to hear all of that then. I kinda envy those that Tylenol does it’s job for. I’m pretty much Advil or the heavy stuff.
It’s not the “is the ABS on” light, which I did check the button to make sure - mine is always on unless I push the button to turn it off and then there’s a separate light that lights up. This is the one that will light briefly when the ABS is actually being engaged to keep me from doing donuts all over the place. I’m hoping that they just didn’t hook something back up when they put the (third) tranny in and that everything works. I’m not noticing any change in how it drives, but I also haven’t had any times where the ABS should have engaged yet. Here’s hoping I’m right!
Oh, I remember those days. My friends and I back in high school used to joke that from about October until around April, the average age was dead. Yeah, we were snot nosed kids!
You and me both, LSL. I have a serious phone phobia. If I can’t get Hubby to make a call for me, then it takes me a couple days to get myself courageous enough to make that call. I was so bad about it that, before Vanderbilt got an online system for communicating with the doctors, I didn’t make appointments nearly as often as I needed to.
Way to go! Whether you’ve just gotten there or not, this is still really cool. And getting an honorarium on top of it… That makes it even better!
Back in my early days of the Dope, this would have gotten a LOT of comments. I love it though!
metal mouse, swampy and taters, thanks for the good wishes on the van. So far so good with it. I drove CtE to school, came back home, drove BtY to school and I could actually hit speeds above 40 without an issue. I really love having my van!
Things with Dad have gotten… strange. I tried talking to him last night about going to a SNF but he was in the middle of dialysis and in too much pain so I told him I’d call him in the morning after I dropped CtE off. It went straight to voicemail. The case manager called me at 9 to let me know she’d talked to him and he was adamant about going home. Which meant they had no choice but to start making arrangements for him to go home. I probably could have overridden him because of the PoA, but I don’t like doing it because I hate to take away his autonomy. Then about 30 minutes later, she called back again to let me know that the doctor called her and the doctor talked him into it. So now we’re just waiting to see if any of the SNF by me will accept him and if his insurance will actually cover it. Otherwise, he’ll be headed home via ambulance today and I have to worry about him ending up back in the hospital in a day or two. Because I will guarantee that he’ll end up in a lot of pain and on the floor from falling in that amount of time. So send your good thoughts that the insurance doesn’t give us a hard time on this one.
There’s a Sonic near me that I’ve been going to for over 10 years. I know the manager and a bunch of the servers, to the point that I can stop by just to chat. Several years ago, I’d stopped going because I didn’t have the money to buy my usual drink (Route 44 Diet Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr Pepper). When the manager found out that’s why I hadn’t been by, she told me that I didn’t need to worry about not having money - I’m one of their best and favorite customers and she has no problem slipping me a drink when I can’t afford one. I try my best not to take advantage of it and it’s been a couple of years when I’ve had to say, “Yeah, I just don’t have the money. Can I get a free drink?” This morning, I decided I really needed my drink so I stopped by. Not only did she give me my drink this morning, but she told me to stop by tomorrow for one as well. I love these people, not just because they’ll pass me free drinks, but also because they just a bunch of caring people. Every time I stop by, they ask about Dad, about the kids, are as disbelieving as I am that CtE is going to be a Senior next year… They’ve actually become friends.
Now I should probably head out to clean out the van. That’s my general plan for today, though I really should do some housecleaning as well. I’m just not sure how many spoons I have. I’m focusing on the van because I have a bunch of stuff that is bagged and boxed up in my apartment to go to Goodwill. If I get the van cleaned out, I’ll have room to put the Goodwill stuff in the back and that will help clean things out a little for my apartment. Knocking two things out with one job (or that’s the plan).
Everyone have a great Thursday, and thanks for being here to listen as I waffle on.
RealFish, if you want your kids to go to the protest, call the school and see if you can just email permission. When my students had to get parental permission for something, that’s what some parents did. I’ve never been wild about kids missing classes, but this would be one good reason. Not only would they get to gather with other people who are upset about the school shootings, but they get to experience the right to assemble peaceably. Besides, so many kids will be going that teachers will probably have to postpone today’s lessons. I wonder how many teachers will go.
There’s a way around that. Some of the gentlest, most affectionate dogs I’ve known have been pit bulls, and for years they were the most popular family dogs in the US. My complex also doesn’t allow them, but there are plenty here because people just bring in a note from their doc or therapist that the dog is an emotional support animal, and then the complex has to allow them. Your laws may differ. I hate people lying about this ESA stuff, but I also hate that pit bulls get banned.
Those are some kind people at the Sonic. It warms my heart to know that.
It was only one ear, so that would look kinda lopsided. Then again, the patented Spock eyebrow raise was only one-sided too, and he’s vaguely elvish.
Remember, if the doc gives you any discomfort, you and strap-on Brucie know just what to do to him (or her) in return. Bend over … 
No phobia for me. I used to earn my living on the phone 6+ hours per day. No, I can happily yabber until the cows come home. I just … hell I don’t know what I just. But stuff don’t get done.
I wish I’d thought of it earlier! The walk-out was happening at 10. As it’s now 11 here in Nashville, they’ve already gone. The sad thing is, I don’t expect that this will be the last one. And whenever the next one happens, I’ll make sure to have my ducks in a row. CtE is convinced that there are going to be a lot of kids going which is why there won’t be anything happening in classes. I’ll have to check with them when they get home to see how many teachers went.
I’ll have to mention that to him. The biggest problem is that, at the moment, he has no insurance so doesn’t have a doctor to see. But I know that’s one of the other things he’s trying to get worked out. And if he can find a doctor to sign off on it and if it’s legal in TN, then that just may be the way for him to go.
I worked for a motor club and for HSN. When I have calls coming IN, I have no problem. Especially when I’m the professional. I expect to get yelled at in those cases. And, much to Hubby’s frustration, I’m a talker in a lot of situations. But for whatever reason, the thought of picking up the phone to call anyone - even family and friends sometimes - fills me with a dread of being an inconvenience/saying the wrong thing/being one of the people that we would laugh about in my old jobs because they didn’t get it. It makes absolutely no sense - I’m very professional whenever I call anywhere, and I’m very understanding when things can’t go exactly the way I want it, but I can’t get past that phobia.
Ok, the half-nekkid men … fine. The red licorice? Dunno, were you hungry? 
UGH THAT SUCKS what a pain in the tuckus.
Years ago, there was a leak in a pipe in the wall, which was discovered when mushrooms started growing out of the carpet in an out-of-the-way corner; that was fun. Not fun.
Story of my life lately.
I, too, shall be borrowing this term.
Oh, I love the idea of adding bits of potato!
I pictured this a bit too vividly. I now have some regrets.
Conga-rats! That’s lovely news. Let us know how it goes.
That’s not how we roll here in the MMP. (Now, the Pit on the other hand … )
And now I’m amusing myself the same way.
It would give people a double-take, that’s for sure.
Oh, our Naughty Nellie. What will we do with you?
Would a pillow or folded blanket between your knees help?
Well, that don’t make no sense, honey chil’. If you love to eat a thing, why not eat the thing?
That’s probably the best short-term solution for the moment.
I mean, you can just pee in the bushes outside, right?
Teach them not to be complacent in the face of a horrible tragedy that very narrowly missed affecting them very directly & personally?
This gave me all the feels. I’m glad you have a social support network, ad hoc though it may be.
Nice! I love it when taking care of one problem helps solve another.
Two birds, one stone, and all that. (God, what a violent saying. And yet … so useful.)
That is, quite literally, the entire purpose of the MMP.
Alrighty, it’s just a smidge past noon & Monkey is howling at the side door.
Need to retrieve a small batch of laundry. Where the heck am I gonna put it all? Oh, yeah, the nearly-empty drawers, including the drawer for my drawers.
Plus, I gotta go buy a money order and pay rent. My bank app isn’t accepting my paychecks lately, so I’ve had to get my manager to cash me out each week. Plus my management company’s app isn’t letting me log in - gawd, technology is just totally against me lately - so I gotta get someone on the phone to tell me how much I owe. (My water bill is tacked onto rent, so the actual total amount varies a bit.)
I upgraded Charm to a bigger tank & haven’t dumped out the old bedding from the smaller tank, so that oughta be done today, too.
Plus, my Former IT Guy and I (my ex) had plans to chat later today, since between his workaholism & my 2nd shift work, it’s tough to coordinate any time to talk.
We’re still friends, and thay means a lot to me.
Okay, gonna go procrastinate some more. Check in with y’all later!
So the repair could be $700 or $800, depending on whether or not they have to drill out the ignition cylinder. And the Universe showed her sense of humor, because when I called a Lyft to pick me up at Aldi, after I had walked the mile there, the driver was in a BMW(poor guy has to get 4 tires and an O2 sensor for the vehicle, and said his last pickup was a lady with electrical problem in her Kia. So that wailing and gnashing of teeth you hear isn’t a sign of The End Times, it’s just a bunch of us undergoing a wallet-ectomy, sans anesthesia).
We’re here for you. And the waffles.
{{{{Fishy}}}}
Yeah, there’s a bunch of pretty pitties at the shelter, but I can’t have one. 
Well, with the dogs I adopt, my Emotional Support Animal would need an Emotional Support Animal. 
At least around here, people seem to love getting high-strung demanding yappy little dogs as "ESA"s.
The only emotion those dogs support is anger. And by “support” I mean “cause in everyone around them”. There’s no mellow within 50 yards of one of those things.
Wait, there’s waffles? Is there whipped cream? Real maple syrup? Melty butter?
I know y’all were on the edges of your collective seats, so you’ll be delighted to learn that “Saffron Road” brand Coconut Curry Chicken - while a bit spendy, certainly not in the Banquet or Budget Gourmet range - is friggin’ delishush.
I just realized, this makes my cat a howler monkey!! Hah!
I make a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs and bacon. But I also peel, shred and fry up a thin, crunchy batch of hash browns to put in there with the eggs. Top with green salsa.
Oooh! Make me one, please.
Is “green salsa” tomatillo based?
Man, I haven’t had a tomatillo since I moved outta TX, and even then, I don’t think I’d bothered for a while.
Must see if Michiganders have them in the summer…
We’re coming out of the water tomorrow! We’ll head to the marina early, and I’ll help FCD get underway, then I’ll drive around to the boat yard where they’ll be installing our thrusters so I can pick up my sweetie. We need to get to the travel lift around 9:30. Not sure what the rest of the day will hold.
Tobias napped for about an hour - stoopit Taz jumped into the chair with us, waking the baby, dammit. But we’ll be on our way in about 40 minutes to pick up Roxy.
Pulled poke for supper. That’s as far ahead as I can plan for now.
i have been at the office all day every day… the one day i have a morning appt. scheduled is when an unscheduled but anticipated thing decides to arrive. the thing that will need to be coordinated with an outside company. first the items arrived unscheduled, then the installer arrives unscheduled. oy!
of course the morning appt. was with the eye doctor. got there at 8:30 am left at 11:15am, got to work at 11:30 am. i am wearing the amber sunglasses due to pupil dilation and dealing with something that i would have not scheduled today, given the option.
on the fun side, i got 3 packages last night. 2 book things to put together (this will happen tonight) and my celebratory order from the harry potter store. i am wearing 2 of the items today. whee!!
Howdy Y’all! Dang y’all have been yakkin’ it up in here today! I forgot to mention the big excitatement of the day when I posted earlier. The termite folks did their annual inspection today. I am happy to report da cave remains termite free. Other than that we have slothed, achieved nappage and have been or overall useless selves. Have I mentioned lately how much I love bein’ retired?
Niner go, speak, collect the cash. If they didn’t think you had sump’n worthy to say you would not have been invited. As to the chikin nachos, well, I use canned chikin. Don’t judge! It’s canned chikin, bell peppers in any colors you desire, onion, monterey jack cheese, and jarred chikin gravy. I use two cans of chikin, hunk up the peppers ‘n onions, shred the cheese, heat the gravy, mix up everything in the gravy, arrange whatever nacho type chips desired in a piza pan covered in aluminum foil, pour the mix o’ stuff over the nachos, pile on some more cheese, throw on some jalapeño peppers and let the cheese melt on top of it all in an oven preheated to 350 Amurrkin. Not fancy, but easy and tasty.
Lucky I like the term intentional flu. I always called 'em mental health days.
Lucky and Cat_Glove I also hate makin’ calls. I have to make myself sit at my little laptop computer desk in an actual desk chair to make the calls. I tell myself I cannot get up until I am done with what I need to do. Then I reward myself with a snack or a drink or both.
Nellie hope the ortho doc can help you figure out some relief.
BooFae peanut butter on toast with sliced 'nanner is my go to breakfast.
Taters hope Mr. Snitfit gets over himself and responds the way he should today.
MetalMouse this sounds like it’s turnin’ into a plumbin’ woe. Hope it’s not to bad.
Real_Fish maybe if the school day is really borin’ the kids will give you more of a heads up about a note if there’s another protest. I agree it would probably be a good thing for them to participate. Hope your dad is able to find a SNF today.
Exactly. The kids in CtE’s grade were in first grade when Sandy Hook happened. They’ve grown up with this, as have we as parents. Each shooting brings me back to that place when kids my Eldest’s age weren’t ever coming home because of a madman with a gun (I much prefer a madman with a box.)
And the main two schools downtown are the two Academic Magnets (CtE’s is one). While the school can’t officially say, “Let’s go do this!” a lot of the teachers are behind it. I checked with CtE when they called to go home and they said that there were seven classes without subs, so probably a total of 10-15 out total today (we can’t get subs here in Metro for love of money - and now there’s one less, since one of those killed was a substitute teacher). I’m glad that these kids are taking it on themselves to let the legislature know that they are going to be voting age soon and they are NOT going to stand by while the legislature sits on their hands.
Hubby shakes his head at me because EVERYWHERE I go, I seem to make friends (yes, this is at odds with the whole phone thing, I know!) There are the people at Sonic, I’ve got friends I’ve made at the local Kroger, most of the teachers and administrators at BtY’s school… heck, even MFN was a valet at the hospital when Dad was in the first time and that’s how we became friends. I consider myself very, very lucky to make friends as easily as I do.
Well, I got the van cleaned out. My spoons are too low to do the Goodwill into the house, but it should be easy enough tomorrow morning to throw everything in the back after I get finished dropping kids at school. I’m trying really hard to be more gentle with myself and not kick myself when things don’t go according to plan. It isn’t always easy, but I’m having more steps forward than back, or even standing still, so I count it as a win.
That is the best kind of ending to a romantic relationship. I’m friends with a few of my exes, most of them years later, only my poly-exes and one other that stayed friends with me right after the break up, and it feels wonderful to know that they are still someone that you can go to and that will get you in a way that a lot of others may not.
Now I’m hungry for waffles. Y’know, when I typed out “waffle on”, the food briefly flitted through my mind. Now they’re stuck there until I can go shopping and buy some. With whipped cream, maple syrup and butter.
Oh and, shoe and db, thanks for the waffle reminder.
Yay! Though that sounds like a busy day up to that point! I hope all goes as smooth as silk for you with the boat coming out!
HATE that! And, of course, if it’s something you’re excitedly waiting for that doesn’t have need anyone else involved/just for fun, THOSE are the ones that never rarely show up early.
BtY’s school wasn’t doing it - he’s still in middle school and out here in the suburbs. CtE (who is non-binary, hence the "they"s that I think make people think I have more than one kid at that school) is home from school now, not having gone to the protest but tired of sitting in classrooms with nothing going on. They’ve missed a lot of school this year thanks to their depression, and as I general rule, I try to keep them in classes when I can. But honestly, I couldn’t think of a good reason to force them to sit there all day when 1) they can’t do any schoolwork because their glasses still haven’t come in, 2) they aren’t having any instructional time and 3) Hi Opal!
Me too! Nothing from the hospital or Dad yet, so I’m taking that as a good sign!
I am so very drained. I took 2 1/2 bags of trash out of the van - my kids are utter slobs and I’d actually been planning on cleaning the car out the weekend after the tranny went out this last time. But, for all that it needs a good vacuuming and the plastic needs to be cleaned, it’s good for the most part. Not perfect, but I don’t need perfect. Either this weekend or next, I’m going to run it through the car wash, put some of my window stickers on that I’ve been meaning to for awhile, use their vacuum and just make it a purdy van again.
I’d never heard anyone use “at sixes in sevens” in real life before this thread, but I knew it from part of the “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” lyrics:
You won’t believe me, all you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she’s dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
Thanks to all for the LEGO jazz quartet love! Nellie, that ice cubes suggestion was genius. 
I’m actually looking forward to having dinner with a few collegues in a couple of hours, but I’m really looking forward to tomorrow: I have no scheduled meetings or plans! For the first weekday in over a month! As previously mentioned my weekend will be kind of slammed, so I might even quit work a little early tomorrow and get some “extra” time off. 
Me, too! I signed up as soon as my post office starting offering it, in September 2015. I’ve kept every email, too, because I’m anal retentive like that.
You should definitely go sing! 
I’ve only been to Nashville once* and never saw anything other than the conference hotel (and the shopping mall that was in walking distance), but I imagine most of the places there being full of singer-songwriter types and kind of intimidating.
*I’d love to go there sometime for an “all about music” trip. And maybe try to catch one of my favorite current artists, Gabe Dixon, when he’s in town.
A very good thing? It’s kind of a miracle! 
Pfft, all I have to do is blink! 
I’m super glad that my father arranged the reunion we had back in July – of course, no one knew it would be the last time many of us would see his big brother, Mike. It’s a very good thing that his upcoming funeral won’t also be the first time we’re all seeing each other in years.
Oh I am struggling…I generally hate getting unsolicited advice, and I try never to give it…I have deleted and then re-quoted this several times…I can’t help myself! Please forgive/feel free to ignore the following!
I’ve been a renter for 29 years: if you aren’t already doing so, and if it’s possible, I highly recommend providing separate payments for your rent and the water bill. If there is ever any issue with your landlord down the road, you want to be able to show a spotless rent payment history – which will be much easier to do if you have records showing the same/an exact amount being paid every month (only changing when your base rent changes).
(For the same reason, renters should never deduct anything the landlord owes them from their rent payment: pay the rent in full on time every month, and deal with any adjustments separately.)
*whew* I feel better…thanks/sorry!
I haven’t tried that particular flavor, but I agree that Saffron Road makes some mighty fine frozen food! 
My guess is that you must have been at the Gaylord Opryland. It’s the only conference hotel that I can think of that is near one of the malls. It’s a pretty awesome hotel, though I’ve never stayed there. I did go to the Opry Mills Mall a lot when my kids were younger. I used to live about 15 minutes from it. After the flood in 2010, I didn’t go as often. A lot of my favorite places closed and didn’t return.
If you do, definitely let me know and maybe we can get together for lunch or something. I’m literally less than 10 minutes from the airport. I tell everyone to wave to me as they are landing because, chances are, I’ll see your plane!
I’ve been a bit spoiled. Most of the friends I have that I know I can do this with are Old Time Dopers that I’ve known for 20 years. While I don’t expect this to be the case for everyone, I do hope for it more often than not.
Done. Good thoughts sent forthwith and thoroughly.
A Spoon Theory sister! I love spoon theory~it is so dead on. Here, I’m at home in my robe and don’t have to be anywhere or do anything further, have a couple of mine 
Vastly more powerful teaching about, civics, government and citizenship than they get in a classroom. What a teachable moment for months to come.
Warms mine too.
Of course you do, you’re our Grandmistress of potato, garlic, butter and hunk o’ meat.
Me three.
Howdy Y’all! We just had chikin nachos for a late N.O.L./early sup. So we had lupper. We lupped. Anywho, 'twas good and as we used paper plates (don’t judge!) and since the pan was lined with foil and didn’t get icked up, all there was to wash was two forks and a spatula. Neither one of us dropped gooey nacho on our shirts as well. Go Us! It was almost civilized. I think an adult beverage out on the back porch will be had soonest.