I’ve ordered the new sides and roof for the canopy garage. Yes, it will be a PITA to put them on. It’s not difficult, but the roof is heavy and needs to be ‘situated’ on the 10x20 frame.
Yesterday I had an avocado on two slices of toast for breakfast. For lunch I mashed up a small piece of leftover salmon with some mayonnaise and tarragon and made a sandwich (with some Baken-Ets on the side) followed by some psyllium husks for the fibre. Then there was the snow removal and car-shifting. I just felt drained and a bit ‘frumpy’ (as Mrs. L.A. calls it). She decided to have a bologna sandwich for dinner, and kept suggesting things for me to eat. Eventually I realised I was, in fact, hungry so I had some collard greens followed by some salami and some provolone. I felt better after eating.
Casa de las Ratas? Although Casa Raton is alliterative when translated to English.
Good morning (afternoon.) I had a busy one. Spent two hours at the bank getting some financial ducks in a row. Since we have accepted that we aren’t buying a house anytime soon, we decided to park that money in an ultra conservative short-term investment. A bit of risk, but a better potential payout than a CD.
Going to open a 529 plan for our son. I don’t know whether he’s going to college or not (I’m leaning toward yes, but you never know), but they passed a new law making it possible to use 529 savings toward Roth IRA contributions if you don’t spend it on schooling, so there’s no reason not to open one now.
Finally we transferred a bunch of investments to our bank. I’m not talking a ton of money here. Some are still out there somewhere else. I’m annoyed that I have three Roth IRAs right now and I’m not sure how entirely necessary that is.
It’s weird that I’m old enough to have investments to manage.
What wonderful, kind words. This made me smile.
I’m very pro trashy romance novel, but man I could not hack it in Victorian times with all those social obligations. I have enough struggle with the social obligations of my husband’s family.
I’m really sorry. I know your Dad can’t stay with you forever, but it’s scary when something like this happens, and if you’re not scared now, well those feelings might catch up with you soon enough. Hope you get an update soon.
I shovelled the walk out to the mailbox. My fingers (which were in heavy ski gloves) and my toes (in Sorrel pack boots) are freezing. I’ll knock the snow off of the Jeep in a bit, and drive around in front of the mailbox in case the mail delivery people come out today. I think they’re more likely to stop if there are tracks and flattened snow in front of the box.
But first… I think I’ll have a fried SPAM® sandwich.
I am absolutely, shamelessly gonna steal borrow this line. It’s perfect.
Yes, it does. I’ve been downsized. Definitely much suckitude.
.. but wait … with absolutely no notice?
So a bunch of kids - and their parents - have their education just … nope? In what appears to be smack in the middle of a school year?
This just happens?
Oh, yeah! @Sahirrnee how’d the “you gotta take care of yourself” independence trial run go?
As much as you’ve mentioned this … I’d be curled up in a sleeping bag in the bathtub or the couch - or make him do it.
Sleep is important.
As evidenced upthread, I can monologue at length.
Wanna ask me the differences between corn snakes and ball pythons … ?
Huh? Do ya? { squint } Do you feel lucky, punk?
Your apology has been rejected. You owe us no such thing.
Yes. Yes, you do.
I say that, my dear, with absolute love.
A lot of us have walked this same path. We are here for you, in spirit if not in person.
According to stoopit clickbait articles, YOU are the reason the economy has collapsed!
Shame! SHAME!!
Well, a slightly lit-up Shoe was kind enough to take over. She fired up what I like to call “cock rock” (stuff like “Pour some sugar” and “You give love a bad name” … that kinda stuff) and went to TOWN on that kitchen.
Stopped when the dishrack was full, had a fortifying break, slapped a towel down on the counter for more clean stuff, and kept at it.
I now have one saucepot, a mug, and a coupla knives left in the sink. There was simply no room left, and no more available me.
I might go out to the Gettin’ Sto’ before work, mostly to celebrate having my own wheels again, and also because this idiot cat won’t stop eating (need kibble) and pooping (need litter) and I suppose one problem just leads to the other.
Good thing he’s so snuggly. Good for him; good for me.
Also, I bought store-brand butter (they were completely out of the name brand I usually get) last time I ventured out, and, sadly, I can absolutely taste the difference.
Probably not for something like cooking onions, but sliced on a Triscuit? Yeah, def notice.
{ contemplates the putting on of the pants; looks outside }
Pardon my language, but … Jesus fuck, it’s snowing again?
They better have name-brand butter. And kitty litter. Which are on opposite sides of the big-box, and I would absolutely order delivery but it appears to be approx. 2x expensive for those particular items.
Meanwhile, SOMEone wouldn’t shut up about cabin fever, and judging from the extra pawprints, his Crush Nemesis came by:
The “drawing room” was actually the “withdrawing room”. The place where the family, or the ruling clique within it in a big enough multi-generational household, would remove themselves from the riff-raff to do the serious business of yakking.
The very wealthy folks had one for the men and one for the women. One simply can’t smoke cigars or natter about ladies’ concerns in the presence of the Other, now can one?
Yes, this. And please send everyone some warmth from Antarctica. I’ll pass my share along to somebody deserving.
Oh please dear Shoe can you enlighten me/us about corn snakes and ball pythons? And bears, oh my!
As to me:
Had pleasant breakfast, golfing, & lunch at the course. Now off to get a biopsy on what’s 99% sure another skin cancer. Biggest issue is that it’s under my beard, so that may need to be sacrificed. It’ll grow back. Then dancing 2x this afternoon & evening.
Started Typing: 12:35 PM ET
Clicked Reply: 1:25 PM ET
I mostly skimmed the last 100+ posts, and have two main takeaways:
Safe travels, FCM (and FCD), and have a great time!
Thinking of you and your dad, RealFish…
Yesterday at lunchtime I uncovered my car (we only got 2-3" of snow on Tuesday), and shoveled the gravel driveway behind it as best I could. Temps never got above freezing, but the sunshine was a huge help. Then at around 4pm I went to the grocery store, because I wanted bananas and Gatorade Zero and frozen pizza and cookies and figured I should go while the sun was still out (i.e., before the slushy/wet surfaces started to freeze again). When I came back, I parked at the end of the driveway. Today is dry and cloudy, with a forecast high of 36°F; right now it’s 34 (above freezing! woot!). We’re expecting more snow to start after midnight and keep going through most of tomorrow: the memorial services and funeral for my co-volunteer are tomorrow morning, 20 miles away, so I’m really hoping we just get flurries/no significant accumulation.
Some friends are singing jazz tonight at a DC venue that I like, but I’ve decided not to go. The roads are fine, I just have a huge case of idonwanna. Plus it’s a “group show” thing with 9 vocalists, and I’m only interested in hearing 4.5 of them. Also I’m going to be at that venue on Saturday night for another show, and I’ll be seeing some of the 4.5 on Sunday at a vocal workshop we’re doing together. Mostly, though, it’s the “idonwanna” thing.
Last night I watched the first two episodes of a promising new Hulu original called Death and Other Details (it premiered on Tuesday). It’s nice to see Mandy Patinkin again, though the accent took some getting used to. Tonight I plan to watch the S12 premiere of Chicago Fire (which aired last night), and more Northern Exposure (I’m at the end of S3).
In the vein of “there’s nothing too mundane/miscellaneous for the MMP,” I’ve decided to refresh all of my bedding. The other day I realized that my pillows and all of my sheets/blankets are several years old…it’s time. I’m not a big blanket person: I just have two thin-ish, hole-y polyester blankets that I got from Target decades ago and swap out whenever I change the sheets, but I ordered two new “light” fleece blankets to replace them. One arrived yesterday, and I used it last night: ! This evening I’ll put the old blanket on the couch, and see if Bailey might be interested in using it there (if not, I’ll donate it along with the other one). Just sheets and pillows left to go now…
But I don’t consider skin cancers dealt with timely to be any bigger deal than, say, semi-annual teeth cleanings at the dentist. Undesirable stuff builds up then it needs to be removed. Nothing more exciting than that. To be sure, folks can screw themselves by ignoring the crabgrass until it’s taken over their lawn metaphorically speaking. But weeding a patch here and there now and again is just part of being alive. I’ve probably had 100 of them cut off me over the last 50 years.
I went in, the PA looked at it, suggested it may just be a persistent keratosis which is “pre-cancerous at worst”, but she biopsied it and we’ll know for sure in a week or two. Didn’t even take a noticeable divot out of my now fairly full beard. If the lesion does need proper removal, that’ll probably be cause to cut a whacking great hunk out of my beard at which point it’s probably simpler to just shave it off. I’ve never been a fan of the “bare cheeks and jawbone with a muff around the mouth / chin” look. We’ll see.
Aaaah yes, BWI C3; I remember it well! . Not one our prouder facilities.
Happy thronging! Best of luck w everything! Bon voyage!
Well, still haven’t left the house, made any calls, or done much of anything today. Might get up enough ambition to take the garbage/recycleables outside (as suggested by neighbors, I’ll put them on the edge lawn instead of on the street so drivers have no extra obstacles to miss). Up to 41F now, so hopefully the snow will start melting, but with more freezing temperatures tomorrow, it’s more likely the roads will be sheet ice. They’ve called off school for Friday and Indoor soccer this weekend has been cancelled, so my hibernation will continue. At least next week will be in the 40s/50/s according to the Weather Wizards.
FCM, good thing you’re one of the earlier boarders, but yeah folks bring so much stuff on-board these days.
Pilot, sounds like the skin cancer is fairly routine for you; hope it works out well.
Shoe, nice pic of Monkey; don’t think he can do the disappearing act in these conditions.
Spicey, I have some investments in solid programs (at least they’d better be), these should work out for you.
True Fish, I wish your father well, but sometimes I think we can will ourselves to pass on when the time is near; hope he still has some fight left as he has people who care about him to fight for.
And do want to try calling the plumbers and see if they are in. Take care all.
Hmmm, where did everyone go? Anyway, FCM/FCD’s flight has arrived DFW at Terminal A and they have 90 minutes to get to terminal E, which given the terminal shuttle train should be pretty easy. So onward to S. America.
I have little news. One box of berries made it to my sister today, only 5 days post-birthday. The driver said the second box (sent no charge by the company) should arrive tomorrow. I worked out at home because it’s rainy and ick.
Also, Command strips don’t last forever. One of my framed paintings (My daughter’s from her Garden Period.) crashed at 2 a.m. I wish they gave you some warning. The glass is cracked, so I have to find replacement glass.
Bon Voyage, Mooooom! So exciting to be going under the Land Down Under!
Which half of a vocalist is the .5 person? Let’s hope it’s the upper half.
And I love how Bailey gets to try out your old blanket. So sweet!
So you landed there often back in the day? Which airports did you as a pilot least like to fly into? I always heard San Diego was challenging. I remember flying in there innumerable times when my folks lived in Carlsbad. Swooping between the skyscrapers, you could practically see people inside: “Huh. Look at that guy brushing his teeth. Oo! Gingivitis!” OK, not quite. When I lived in Montana, I heard the Butte airport was dicey, but I never flew from/to there. Something about no control tower? Could that be?
Parenting. It was a nice evening making shapes out of Chinese checkers with my son and then answering a billion questions at the dinner table. I needed some human interaction after this stupid day stuck on screens. I’m making instant pot split pea soup for dinner.
I know I had deeper thoughts to share but I can’t remember them. Lately my brain starts shutting down around 3pm to 4pm and by this time of night I’m just cooked.
Oh. Not a deep thought, just a silly story.
I’m making vegan split pea soup, and in my confusion I said to my husband I was “trafficking in vegans.” I can’t remember what I was actually meant to be trafficking in, but he replied, “It’s important for your trafficking to be ecologically sustainable.”
Well, I irked… sort of. Slow day. Then I shovelled a path on the deck, brought the rest of the firewood from the stack into the catio (some in the house), and got the heavy snow off of the wood stack cover. Now I’m making salmon pinwheels and asparagus for dinner. We’ll be eating in ten minutes.
It’s snowing again. Should turn to rain in a few hours.
voyage!!
! 
This evening I’ll put the old blanket on the couch, and see if Bailey might be interested in using it there (if not, I’ll donate it along with the other one). Just sheets and pillows left to go now…
!
. Not one our prouder facilities.
The driver said the second box (sent no charge by the company) should arrive tomorrow. I worked out at home because it’s rainy and ick.