Moooom, I’m delighted that your cruise is going well.
Fireworks are forbidden here, so we have only some, not many.
It’s sunny, mid-60s, and I’m about to start writing. My lovely wife is helping the neighbor paint her fence. We had her grandkid pressure wash our driveway, back walk, and patio yesterday; he’ll be back to spot-finish* tomorrow. I appear to be Tom Sawyer in this scenario, but I did offer to help and said lovely wife sternly directed me to write instead.
*NOS
And a good afternoon all (well, it will be by the time I finish this). Up about 7:30am and since 8:00am have been shopping, with a couple intermediate stops along the way, so I am now 99% stocked up and the one item I’m missing has stock in the freezer. Even if I miss the gym today (only open until 4pm), I’d say loading a cart with 5 12-packs of Pepsi products and a 40-count case of water bottles and pushing that sucker around the store for 45 minutes is a bit of a workout all by itself. Everything is put away and lunch has been consumed, so the major activity for the day is complete. Which is just as well, it’s 90F now and the sun isn’t getting any cooler. The early shopping was easy, but when I had to go back to another Kroger for some items, it was much busier, so glad I did my shopping early.
Entering scroll mode in 3…2…1…
FCM, Guess I’ll have to look for a trip to the Northernmost city in the world sometime, been to Ushuaia too. And we’ve all been to the most Easternmost and Westermost cities from us…(nearest east/west city to you, it depends on what direction to start out from… 
. Glad you got your card back, I somehow lost my card getting back on the ship at one stop (I had it to board back on but when I got to my room…gone. They replaced it no problems). Good luck on the video call.
boo fae, do you two ever stay home on weekends? 
So, is GF coming over…
Sensei, only 2-3 hours to go… And hope the revised and improved house becomes a great home for all y’all. And googling it it appears to be based on a Magna storyline, which proves people around the world are all the same…either slightly goofy or completely goofy.
cookie, have a good visit with family.
Taters, hope the roofing is well worth the cost. And having a faith in competence instead of slick talking is usually too your benefit.
Oopsie, sorry to hear about the Washing machines’ apparent demise. Hope the plumber can be of immediate assistance. And yeah, with a choice between a crowded room and hornets, i might take a pass too.
And as predicted at the start, it is now 12:25pm, so everyone have good remainder of the day. Think I will put the gym shorts on a go get a few calories burnt.
Today around 11am I was eating late breakfast outdoors a few miles inland from home. And I heard one isolated loud boom. First of the season for me.
Strip yourself down, then bathtub & handshower for the stuff and myself is my go-to for anything I’m not going to be able to run through a washing machine for any reason. Sometimes that’s due to malfunctions, sometimes due to noxious chemicals, sometimes due to excessive poop, etc.
Seems the least bad solution to an often nasty task. Good luck w your service dude.
OK, time for a better, more complete daily summary. At least that’s what I’m about to attempt.
I think I mentioned waking to my alarm and watching the ship rounding North Cape. It was not-cold enough that I was able to stand a short time on the balcony to take some pics. But that didn’t last - I donned flip-flops and the complimentary robe so I could continue photography, such as it is.
Eventually, we showered, dressed, and had breakfast from the New York Deli - one of the little eateries aboard. I got a bagel sammich with ham, egg, and swiss - quite good! Afterwards, we sat on deck slurping down our Diet Cokes and futzing with our phones till it was time for our excursion.
The bus ride was ever-so-slightly terrifying - the road snaked thru terrain with stony hills/cliffs on one side and steep drops on the other. Occasionally there were guard rails, but mostly not. One cool thing, tho - we passed a couple of herds of reindeer! FCD got a pic that I think I can zoom up once I have my computer. There were also patches of ice/snow, winding streams, and small lakes, but no shrubs or trees or flowers – just grass and tons of rock. It was a rather desolate landscape in spots.
There were about 20 busses when we got to North Cape, but the crowd did thin, gradually. We walked around taking pics and marveling at the terrain. It’s just an amazing place. Losing and getting back my ship ID card was a bit nervewracking but all’s well and all that.
We hit the gift shop for some souvenirs and t-shirts, then found a place to sit till it was time to get back on the bus. The return ride was as harrowing as the trip there and we got back safely.
Not going to the show tonight. It’s a singer and we’re not interested. And as soon as I post this, I’ll attempt the vid-call. Nothing else on this evening’s agenda. Hoping for a good sleep.
At around 1:15, the guy texted and gave me a 2-4pm arrival window…yay!! It is currently 2:10pm, so I am appropriately sheveled and waiting. 
I lightly/gently wrung them out and moved them to the kitchen sink (which, thankfully, is oversized). For now. If the washer can be fixed today, they’ll go back there; if not, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
How cool!! 
I’d love to see a photo if/when you’re able!
Dumplings, and a boba milk tea. 'Twas delishush. Worth the rather exorbitant delivery fee.
Alright, I gotta feed/water the ratties and pull myself together for a very busy Long Night.
ooopsie - I posted it on FB - message me if you want a friend invite.
The appliance guy arrived shortly after I posted: the problem is a loose electrical connection related to the washer being able to tell whether the lid is closed. He needs to replace a small part, and has to check his warehouse to see whether he has one on hand (and can come back tomorrow) or needs to order one (and will come back Monday or Tuesday). In the meantime, he applied a temporary fix — not his preference, but I begged — so I can finish today’s laundry and do any other doggy laundry as needed. My own laundry can wait a few days. I’m so relieved that it’s something easily replaced/fixed and I don’t need a new washer!!
The shooting’s definitely not funny, but WV grudges are. 
Not fair.
US toppings: It’s loaded with toppings that include pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, beef, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and extra cheese.
The Swiss version: EXTRAVAGANZZA
Tomato sauce, extra mozzarella (45%), salami (CH), ham (CH), beef burger (CH), champignons, bell peppers, olives, red onions
I miss Italian sausage. Yes, I’m closer to Italy, but spicy Italian sausage is from the southern end of Italy, and doesn’t get up this far north. So I buy boring central Switzerland farmer’s sausage and add spices. Turns out pretty good.
Yay for Bailey’s test results!
Hugs for shoe, JtC and VanGo. 
Do you know why it was empty for so long? Congrats on the purchase!
Thank you! Because of this recipe, I just looked up how to make my own frozen lemon concentrate. And I can do whipping cream instead of cool whip. And I have a scratch recipe for graham cracker crust or use Biscoff cookies. So I can do this!
Not bothering with a meringue topping though. And I wanted to try the Swampy version. Because I liked the other Swampy recipes I’ve tried.
Which reminds me, I have two pie crusts in the freezer. Maybe I should buy strawberries tomorrow and make strawberry pie. Haven’t done that in years. Unless hubby’s too sugared out from the Krispy Kreme sugar rush.
Sounds promising!
Was going to clean the bathrooms this evening, but grocery shopping and catching up here took care of my spare time tonight. About ready to get in the settling down position. The temperature dropped enough that hubby opened the windows to let in the fresh air.
It seems to be extra fresh - the farmer across the valley must have applied cow manure on the field. Oof. It’s supposed to be warm tomorrow, then rain and cooler temperatures on Sunday/Monday. Happy to be done with the Floridian temperatures.
Tomorow morning will be cleaning and taking stuff to the recyling center. Then hubby wants more t-shirts. Oops, guess I need to put the chicken in the marinade tonight.
Stay safe!
Finally talked with Daughter and the Grands. They were swimming but they stopped long enough to say hi. We had a better connection in Antarctica- wonder if the other cruise line had better equipment? Still, nice to be able to connect.
Hooo-ooo-RAYYY!!!
Afternoon all. Made it to the gym for about 750 calories worth of cycling and walking and about 25 minutes on the weights, so a good workout. Weight is at 206lbs which is a gain of about 4lbs, but considering I was on a cruise ship and eating well and often there and have been eating the last 2 days with minimal exercise, not to bad. Home now and plan to stay inert for the remainder of the day, but have the Big Bowl O’Sallit to eat tonight so there is that to look forward too. Got the last-item on my shopping list after gym time and saw that White Castle now has double cheeseburger sliders so of course I had to buy a box to try. Freezer is now packed so I should be good to go for the balance of July (I hope).
Oopsie, glad it is a minor problem with the washing machine.
Oof indeed. One reason I am glad I am suburban man and not rural man.
FCM, great pictures over on the Book of Faces, I need to download and edit my collection and get them posted over the weekend if possible. Glad you got through to the family.
shoe, hope The Long Night isn’t too bad. A Science Fiction writer named Poul Anderson used that term to describe the Collapse of the Galatic Empire and the chaos that followed it, so hey, it could be worse… 
And midday ham-n-cheese sammich has been consumed so will continue catching up on the You Tubing for the balance of the evening.
The set up for phila is aggravating! I went to my cousin’s for quick visit. To get to 30th street station for the train I go around the back of the art museum. The streets were blocked, but not the sidewalks.
On the way back the sidewalks were blocked as well. I kept getting blocked trying to get to my building. You would think they would let residents through…noooooo, they do not.
Finally home, I’m not going out there again.
Howdy Y’all! Today was good. Lots of merriment at the cee-mint pond and lots of good eats. The last folks left around four-thirty. I love company both comin’ and goin’. Nice to see their faces come in and nice to see their backsides leave. Cleanup was easy as we used mostly disposable stuff. We have been in large chill mode this evenin’. Hope the booms stay away as I feel like I could go sleepy bye right now, but won’t.
Peedin it’s sweetened condensed milk like the eagle. There are other brands. I won’t shill for one over another cause consumerism!
sensei I remodeled my first house. It was an older home in dire need. Fun times ahead for y’all!
taters the new roof will be worth it in the long run. The super duper deluxe roof on da cave survived a cat 1 hurricane even. Hope the booms don’t get to Maisie too bad. No booms here last night. I am sure tonight will be different.
Lily, accordin’ to doggio if our Spot were doin’ the finishin’ it would end up in shreds.
Oopsie glad there’s an easy fix for the washer. I did my share of support for grant proposals back in the day. I liked it, but bein’ a RDOS is much more fun.
MOOOOOOM glad the video call went through. I am surprised the Tobester got out of the water long enough to talk.
Dicey never thought about usin’ crushed biscotti to make a crust. I might need to get ambitious and try that someday. Bet it would be good! Do you mean strawberry pie with chunks of strawberries and strawberry glop? Haven’t had one of those in years!
I hooked up my new Good Ice machine. Now I have the Good Ice on demand. Did some work on the entertainment center. I ordered a 2 into 1 HDMI cord to fix the problem. And the old Blu Ray player is most certainly dead(It has the Fuchsia Screen Of Death. And it was only 20 years old).. I also did a load of regular clothes, and my white hockey jerseys. Outside is quiet after yesterday and last night.
Until they take your stapler.
And sorry about the roof.
Yay!
I’m trying to recall where you are located, but if your town gets tourist traffic, there’s the stretching a three day weekend to four.
Good luck with the washing maching, oopsie. ETA: I see that you have a temp fix.
I enjoyed the gathering at SIL’s today. She, my nephew (grill master), niece and her hubby, great nephew and great niece and her partner came, along with niece’s old, blind, nearly deaf pupper, Ollie, truly the sweet soul. She and her hubby were leaving for Memphis after the lunch for a Nashville Sounds / Memphis Redbirds game and some Memphis nightlife. I’m gonna miss them when I leave.
The booms haven’t begun yet, but I have things set up to comfort Nelson when they do.
Happy fourth!
It is pretty funny to be honest. As I was told, it was a true accident and if you ignored the part where the FedEx guy shot his best friend in the back, he did every thing right. He patched little brother up, got him off the side of the mountain and into the truck and took him right to the ER. Then he called the police, lil bro’s parents and his parents. Little brother forgave them and they stayed friends.
Big brother and mother hate the FedEx guy with every fiber of their being and apparently FedEx guy feels so guilty about the whole thing that he allows them to mistreat him any time they see him.
It’s haunted. Japan is a very haunted place, lots of ancestors, both happy and unhappy.
Oopsie I’m glad you have a temp fix for your washer and hope that the repair guy finds the right part.
Now you need to get a countertop R/O system. They make portable ones for apartment dwellers like you. Spot needs good clean water to flush out his kidneys and your Good Ice machine needs clean water as well. Plus, it will probably pay for itself in a year or so because you won’t have to be buying plastic bottles full of R/O water.
Shoe, I hope you survive your Very Long Night.
So, I’m super tired, peopled out and thought I’d like to sit and yammer with ya’ll but it seems as though I’m done for a while. I’m heading out to smoke and stare into the forest, that always settles my mind.
We live in a small town and the elderly pass away, eventually. Their grown children have moved away and there isn’t a market for old homes.
The town offers a small subsidy for people to buy and renovate these houses. They also help subsidize the cost of removing the previous owner’s property, including furniture and such.
Depending of the cost of renovation, it may be worth it.
It didn’t have enough insulation so the second floor would have been freezing in the winter.
Late Night Final here. Did make one last run to the store to grab several items (pickles, salad dressing and sandwich bags, so now at last I am all stocked up…unless I decide to head out on a Brauschweiger run, the place I stopped at only had tubes with a 15 July expiration date, so may see if the other, more distant store has a longer use by date. But we’ll see how I feel about it tomorrow. Been intermittent booms this evening as the public does their thing, but it’s tailed off now so sleepage should not be a problem (I hope).
rocky, sounds like they organized for visitors and didn’t care about the folks living in the area. Sound decision to stay in place.
swampy, glad you had a good time and folks cleared out in reasonable time.
red, sounds like you had a good day. And driving Nashville-Memphis for a baseball game is a bit of a stretch, but with some nightlife I’m sure they will enjoy it.
JtC, happy mind-settlin’.
And that’s all I wrote for today. fter 10:30pm local so sleepy-time beckons. Catch y’all on the 5th (or with a fifth…).
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s my second Firday.