Thanks, all for your caring. I just wanted to her this update out before I had to bed.
Heard from Dad. He’s at the new hospital now. They had to send him by helicopter. The bleed isn’t a bad one and may clear up on its own. But the bigger problem is that he has a mass on his brain. They don’t think it’s cancer and they’re doing an MRI on the morning to find out what they need to do next.
I’ll post more as I know more.
I felt kind of ‘frumpy’ (wife’s word) today. Like… I felt like I had diarrhoea but didn’t actually have to go. I felt like I had a temperature, but the kitchen cooking thermometer said I was 95º to 97º. (No ‘temperture’ thermometer at-hand.) I’d eaten an avocado on toast for breakfast, and a salmon salad sandwich and some Baken-Ets for lunch, followed by a couple of tablespoons of psyllium husks for lunch. I felt very sleepy. I think the snow removal played a factor. After I had some collard greens, and salami and provolone for dinner, I feel better. Still might crawl into my rack early.
All of the wood that was in the catio is inside. tomorrow I’ll have to shovel a path to the wood stack.
Thanks for letting us know. Sounds hopeful, glad he got transported quickly.
Will be holding you in the light during the night. Here’s hoping you get deep and restful sleep.
Not only am I planning to outlive you all…I am going to adopt your cats and spoil them until I outlive them too.
Good! I was just worrying about that the other day. I’ll put that in my will. My little high-faluting meezer will fit right in at your place. Of course she’ll torment GG but no worse than he’s getting already. Moxie will be in heaven with the bird watching opportunities.
Just be sure to let her lick your oatmeal bowl after you’re done, she counts on that.
Nope.
I took stock of what I needed wanted, my energy levels, my finances, my available pantry backups, and also my “giveashit” availability.
After careful consideration sitting on my butt looking at the snow and the ever-accumulating ice, I have decided to NOT with that nonsense.
Best case scenario, I get slightly lit, turn up some music, and blow through this kitchen cleanup.
Then you’re gonna hafta explain why you have a Monkey.
He’ll lurve you; you brought furry balls back into his life!
Shit, I already hafta explain to newbies, if I mention him.
New hire: “You have a monkey? Oooh, cool!”
Me: “No. I have a cat. His name is Monkey.”
Coworker: “Oh, and she has two snakes!”
New hire: " … ?"
Other Coworker: She has RATS, TOO!!
Me: { cringes quietly }
New hire: “Why … why is your cat named Monkey?”
New hire: " … "
Me: " …"
New hire: " … did she say snakes?"
Me: “Because I have two snakes, and my cat’s name is Monkey.”
New hire: But why is your cat’s name Monkey?
Me: { explodes mentally } “Because! Because it is!!”
Monkey and Moxie (sounds like an ice dancing team) will give the zoomies a whole new definition. She’s even good about sharing her toys, as long as her furry playmate will sleep with her in a pile after playing. Sleeping with hoomans she prefers sleeping under the blankies either at your hip or in the curve of your knees.
Nuh-uh. Sorry, my lovely, but that’s Monkey’s designated spot. (I did not designate; he made that decision.)
He will wake me out of a sound sleep until I roll onto my side, and then PLONK hizzelf in the triangle between knee and leg (one leg bent, one straight) and PUURRRRR…
… until I realize how badly I gotta go pee.
Then when I get up, I get the “Oh, how DARE you?!?” routine. Complete with miffed faux-ignoring nonsense.
Until five seconds later, when my feline supervisor pokes his head into the bathroom door to make sure I’m okay.
I guess it’s a good thing two people sleep at Chez Jane. Hubs will simply have to be trained to sleep on his side with his knees at the prescribed angle. And he can wait to pee til the kitty lords are darn good and ready to wake up. No one does miffed like a Siamese.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s only down to 27 right now.
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You’re far too knowledgeable for me to give you advice. I just want to say that Wee Weasel sounds adorable and interesting and very, very bright. As I see it, Wee Weasel 's inner world has its own rules and physics–very neat. Perfect, even. Trying to grok the outer world must get frustrating. He learned some time ago about opposites, but now it turns out NOT everything has an opposite. The rules of Outer World are messy and don’t fit into Perfect World at all. This is unacceptable. It’s madness! Maybe his incredibly detailed instructions can control this insanity and bridge the divide!
I dunno. I’ve never met Wee Weasel, but to me he doesn’t sound like middle management. He sounds like the future inventor of amazing, incredibly precise kites that soar even on windless days or hover crutches that help us get around easier when we have broken legs. The instructions may be 27 pages long, but by golly, they’re thorough. Once he opens Wee World a bit–admittedly much easier said than done–the sky’s the limit with this kid, regardless of the limitations the ASD imposes on some areas.
Just my hunch.
Morning, mumpers! It’s a balmy -4c/26f with a predicted high of 1c/33f and sunny. Weather app says “You will, most likely, fucking hate it outside.” I didn’t quite hate it but the air was brittle cold this morning and we’d had a thick frost overnight.
JtC I am sure my mogs will be very happy to know they’ve got an adoptive home when I’m gone, even if it does mean a long trip to get there!
Real Fish sorry to hear about your dad, but it’s good that he called for help himself and is getting the kind of treatment he needs. Fingers crossed for him, and for you.
flyboy I don’t envy you the snow at all, and I’m sorry about Mrs LA incident with the broom too. That’s a pain in the backside to fix. No wonder you’re feeling out of sorts.
shoe Monkey had a little explore before he said no to the snow…my Shadow looked out of the catflap, got a noseful of cold air and decided food was a much better option.
Mooooom safe travels today, looking forward to tales of your big adventure!
sari Good for you telling your son to get himself home. This could also be something that spurs him on to get his licence too, he has to take responsibility for himself now.
swampy the correct scone technique is a sign of good breeding. Even better with the appropriate apparel and a monocle. You may need to upgrade to a Harris Tweed boobtube and matching hotpants 
It’s been a mixed day so far (and it’s only 10am!) - I was out of the house early but the Travel Gods weren’t smiling because the bus I should have been in time for didn’t turn up, but one did turn up before 7am (could have been the anticipated 6.47am running late, or the 7.02am being early) so I was able to catch the nice Avanti train to Big City Station, where the Travel Gods grimaced again and decided everything on the cross-city line would be snarled up due to frozen points, which meant a longer wait for a different train. Made it here before anyone else though!
To me, great room is a combined living room/dining room area that is overlooked by an open kitchen.whereas a living room is defined by its 4 walls.
What I gather from these trashy period romances that I’ve been reading, the drawing room was always one floor up from the ground floor and it was where the family would gather, as opposed to a visitor parlor on the ground floor where one received visitors. Only special visitors were invited to the inner sanctum that was the drawing room. At least among “polite society” - whatever that was…
Extra double bonus points if you remember to call it a quizzing glass! (also from my trashy novels.)
I thought you had a bidet thingie??? 
Because it would be ridiculous to call him Rhinoceros! Sheesh!
All righty, it’s the day. I managed to sleep till 4:30, which is an accomplishment. I’ve tended Higgs, fed my face, and after I read my few morning things, the final rush begins. Ran the dishwasher last night, so that needs to be emptied. I’ll also hand-wash the last few items. There are a few things in the fridge that I’m sending to my daughter, lest they turn into science experiments before we get back.
We have to take Higgs and her food to Daughter’s house (along with the fridge stuff) then FCD will pick up the rental and I’ll drive our vehicle back home. We’ll finish packing, then drive to the Budget drop-off at the airport and catch the shuttle to American Airlines. Our flight is at 3:45 to Dallas, then 7:25 to Santiago.
Princess sent us this:
IMPORTANT EMBARKATION LOCATION UPDATE
Please be advised that due to adverse weather conditions in San Antonio, Chile the port there has closed. Embarkation for your Sapphire Princess voyage on Saturday, January 20, 2024 will now be in Valparaiso, Chile at Valparaiso Terminal de Pasajeros (VTP), at Nudo Baron s/n. Departing from this sheltered port will help us maintain our voyage’s schedule. No changes are required to your hotel or flight arrangements as the distance between these ports and the Santiago city center is the same (our flight guidelines remain unchanged).Guests with a Princess pre-cruise hotel package or airport transfer will be taken directly from their hotel or the airport to the cruise terminal in Valparaiso. After checking in at the terminal there, all guests will walk approximately 0.9m/1.5km to the dock to board the ship. Your check-in start and end times can be found in your OceanReady pass.
I’m concerned about FCD walking the mile to the ship, but he is taking a cane, so that’s good. And maybe they’ll have some sort of shuttle for gimps.
In non-travel news, the board decided to close down Daughter’s school immediately. So that sucks. She’ll need to find a job, tho we’ve got some savings we can help her out with for a bit. It’s a mess, and the timing couldn’t be worse with us leaving right now. Dammit.
Dunno how much I can check in until I’m on the ship on Saturday, so you’ll see me when you see me. Happy Thursday!
Mornin’ all. About a half-hour pre-dawn and I’ve been balconatin’ in the slightly too-cool dark for an hour now. All sheveled and about to leave for breakfast, belated caffinatin’, and eventually golf once the course opens.
FCM the school being done is probably a blessing; that was a tar baby of a situation that would simply have given more angst and more stress to everyone who touched it for the next 5 years. Bon voyage!!!
Shoe, wise decision to stay in. Hope your sleeping went well.
Except for the whole she-needs-a-job thing… And I’m on her mortgage so if she can’t make the payments, guess what? yeah, not so much of a blessing.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 24 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 58 and N.O.S. for the day. I have a re-scheduled doc and vampire appointment this mornin’ at nine-forty-five. Then it will be back to da cave for sloth, general overall uselessness, nappage, and day drinkin’. Sup shall be taco soup and cornbread as it was yestiddy.
Real_Fish prayers and good thoughts headed out re your father.
MOOOOOOM sorry about daughter’s school. I’m sure she’ll find sump’n soon. She seems resourceful. Bon Voyage!
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, alas and bother, I suppose I must purtify and don attire acceptable for bein’ amongst the great unwashed. How I suffer for the public!
Happy Thursday Y’all!
Good morning, everyone.
It’s 35F and cloudy right now. Our expected high temp is 39F, and we have a 100% chance of rain falling most of the day. Rainfall accumulation is expected to be around half an inch.
*** Sari** I’m sorry things continue to be difficult, but I am glad you told your son to find his way home on his own. How did he do?
FCM, I am really sorry about your daughter’s school closing. I hope she can find a new job with a living wage very soon. I know you’re worried about your mother, MiL, BiL, and now your daughter, but I really hope you can enjoy your trip.
I have a great room, and I have always thought of it as a combined kitchen, dining, and living room. I do not have a formal dining room and specifically chose this house because it doesn’t have one. Wasted space for me, as I don’t entertain in a formal manner. My next house will also have a great room and I won’t have a formal dining room.
JtC, I hope your friend is okay.
I started feeling okay around 10:00 a.m. yesterday, so that was good. However, it was pretty much a sleepless night, no thanks to the pups and my husband’s tossing/turning/scratching. I gave up and got out of bed before 3:00 a.m. Gonna be a long day…
Unlike flyboy, all I had down here was freezing rain, which eventually shifted to regular ol’ rain. My backyard is now a mud pit. I miss having grass, but I will soon have it in part of my yard after I install a fence to keep the pups out of my garden area. That area includes a small patch of lawn, so at least I’ll have something green to look at. It will be some work to bring it back, though; those pups did a real number on my yard.
truefish, I’m sorry to read the news about your father. I hope all goes well.
Sigh, the pups are fussing again. I think part of their restlessness stems from the fact that I had to change their feeding schedule from four times a day to three. I’m still feeding them the same amount of food, but it’s been a little rough.
Everyone take care.
Morning. It’s 22F right now and supposed to get to 42F today with rain in the afternoon; however it will drop below freezing tonight and freezing rain/sleet is possible, so Firday still isn’t looking good. Will make a couple phone calls today for re-scheduling things if I don’t get called and maybe poke my nose outside if the ice begins to melt. The city told us to put our garbage cans out at the curb on our regular days (today for me) and they’ll get to them when they can…yeah, right. Will probably put it out sometime today.
Otherwise not much activity planned at Casa Rat, have broken fast and do need to label the paperwork folders for the 2024 stuff, but as for anything else..we’ll see.
FCM, sorry your trip has to start with a downer about your daughter. Hope she can find a new job quickly. If I remember to I’ll track your flights today. And don’t be afraid to ask about transportation for FCD at check in, because he probably won’t (Men–I know because I iz one).
True Fish, sounds like while it’s bad for your Dad, it is not quite as bad as it might have been; that he is talking about it on the phone to you says he still has his wits about him. Best to you all.
Pretty much what I have. Except the dining room is my library.
boo fae, glad you live in a country will so much travel options, unlike here (there is no public transportation in the city I live in and pitifully little in the larger city next door).
shoe, I wou;ld have been much more interested in the snakes and rats than the cat’s name. But that’s just me.
flyboy, sometimes the weather will do that to you, when you can’t get out and miss your regular routine. I’m feeling it too.
JtC, like BBBoo says, take care of yourself even if others won’t take care of themselves.
OK, need to do the morning internettin’ and make a few phone calls, then onward into the day. Have a good one all.
I apologize for not replying individually. It’s just a little beyond me right now.
We still don’t know what they’re doing regarding the mass or any of that. I’m hoping that the doctor will call me and talk to me since I’m Dad’s health advocate. But they did find one other problem. His T8 vertebrae is broken. They have a back brace on him which is uncomfortably because of his port and they have him on a morphine drip. They’re talking about moving him to a critical care unit.
He’s tired. Tired of the pain, tired of the problems, tired of everything. I don’t know what to expect right now. I’m holding on to my composure for the moment, being the information conduit to my family. But it wouldn’t surprise me to have the hospital call and tell me he’s gone before this is all over. That’s when I’ll probably breakdown.
I’ll keep you posted as I know more. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and good wishes. And for being part of my support.