Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave.
Morning, mumpers! It’s a whopping 2c/36f with a predicted high of 5c/41f, and mostly cloudy. Weather app says “It’s fucking dreich out. Please pronounce “dreich” like you’re spitting at the fucking sky.” It’s definitely cloudy out there and a bit drizzly, and brisk!
nellie my bus service to and from home is usually pretty good but sometimes the bus just doesn’t turn up. Sometimes they might be short of drivers so they don’t have anyone available to drive that route. Today I missed the 7am bus but fortunately there was a ninja bus that turned up about 5 minutes afterwards that I wasn’t expecting to see 
shoe sorry to hear about your mother being difficult, I hope there are Monkey snuggles to make up for it.
Moooom sorry to hear about the school, I hope they can find suitable alternative premises quickly.
Not much excitement in my day - I have a meeting this morning about a bit of work that I got volunteered for next week, I know it’s something to do with admissions onto short courses but no more than that. I have to meet with the person who needs the help so she can show me what she needs, and make sure I have access to things when I need it. And I have a lunch date with a colleague on campus so that will be fun.
No big weekend plans either, I was looking forward to a weekend home alone and unsupervised as 'im indoors had intended to go to Scotland to see his family. Then he messed up booking his advance train ticket so he’s now not going until the beginning of Feb. Bah!
Missed the edit window, and forgot to tell you lot something amusing
I did think of all the mumpers yesterday afternoon - one of our archaeology profs came in with some stuff to go in the mail. One thing was a package and I asked him what it was (he’s often sending or receiving animal remains, usually skeletons). He said it was dead spiders! Apparently there is a lady who catalogues dead spiders, keeping track of what species they are and where they’re found. The prof had been working on a particular site and found them, so he bagged them up and wanted to send them to her.
It wasn’t my day on the post rota but the person who was supposed to do it didn’t want to carry a package of dead leggedys downstairs to the post room so I did it for her. Thus, I have put a package of potential pointy stick wielding ninja spiders in the post to some lucky person!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 46 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 67 and heavy rain with a wind advisory for the day. Rain is supposed to start late mornin’ and last through early evenin’. Fine by us as we have no where we want or need to be. ‘Twill be a day of high sloth, general overall uselessness, nappage, and day drinkin’. Sup shall be chikin nachos just cause.
MOOOOOOM that sucks about daughter’s school even though istr it was an expected thing. Hope the new location works out and don’t blame y’all a bit for rippin’ out the network stuff.
Nellie sometimes it’s better to take precautions against freezin’ pipes. I’ve done this exactly twice at da cave and didn’t really need to do so either time except to err on the side of caution.
CupCakes go ride the carousel in his honor. I think it’s a cool way to pay tribute, plus ridin’ a carousel is fun.
BooFae HEE! I’ve always wanted to mail some PSWSLNS to somebody.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Firday Y’all!
Good ol’ Mel knocked me right out. I took a tablet around 8:30, and by 9, I was drowsing in my recliner, so I headed to the bed. I swear, I was instantly unconscious and stayed out pretty much till 5. I think I woke during the night, maybe, but maybe not. Anyway, I feel more or less human again.
I think Mel causes weird dreams, tho. Once again, I was in the last gummint job I held, even tho in dreamland, it was a different building, different people, and well, entirely different. Including the part where I was walking around wrapped in a bath towel that was secured with a clothespin. Thanks, Mel…
CVS run this morning to pick up the photos I had printed, thru the miracle of the internet. I’ll also be pulling out my sewing machine to create 2 tablecloths from one. And the dishwasher needs to be emptied. Which, BTW, I typically run every 2-3 days, because with only 2 of us, we don’t create nearly enough dirty dishes in a day to run it.
As of this morning, I have shed the poundage I accumulated from Thanksgiving thru the holidays.Now, the challenge will be not to regain it all and more while on the cruise. It will require a concerted effort to take small servings from the buffet, make smart choices, and stay busy enough that I don’t resort to boredom eating. There is a gym aboard - maybe I can make myself do the treadmill daily. We shall see how that goes.
And speaking of the cruise, I need to make a couple of phone calls - one to verify our rental car on Thursday and one to cancel the bus from the ship to the airport since we’re taking an excursion that will end up at the airport. FCD also asked me to find out what American Airlines charges for an extra bag - I can probably find that on line. (ETA - looks like since we’re Premium Economy, we get 2 free bags! WOOHOO!!!)
Meanwhile, it’s 27° at the moment, and much rain and gale force winds are promised tonight. But we should see 50s this afternoon so I might venture out for a bit and sweep up some leaves. Or not. We’ll see.
Happy Firday!!
Learned a new word today!
Oh, he’s a very snuggly boy.
He’s in my lap in that derp-y picture I posted last night. (The thing with the little triangles is the top of my pajama-clad leg.)
… and I thought my life is unusual.
That’s absolutely hilarious. I’m so glad you shared that with us!
Even in your dreams, you use a coaster clothespin. How proper of you!
You haven’t realized by now that I’m classy and shit?
Well, the cold arrived (6F this morning), but not the promised snow. Weather Underground says it may start around noon, but is only forecasting one day instead of the three that the local TV station was predicting. Continued bitter cold all week, though. Very weird weather patterns this winter.
Bought some vanilla from an outfit online called The Vanilla Bean Project. Smells really good, but I’ll have to make cookies to know for sure, because science.
Morning all. I have three meetings today and maybe a grant report due, so I’m afraid there won’t be much time for navel-gazing. Which is a shame; metacognition is one of my favorite pastimes.
I think I have a touch of the post-COVID malaise. It’s not world-ending, I just feel slow. I am also losing weight, but I’m fat, so I don’t really have a problem with that (It’s not at a concerning rate. I just have less of an appetite.)
In brighter news, I spoke with my parenting therapist (I have two therapists. I have a parenting one and a PTSD one.) I’m dealing so much better with Wee Weasel and parenting an autistic child, I felt it was time to wrap things up. So we are going down to once a month from now on. She did some screeners. Depression - negative, except for the sleepiness probably from getting slammed by viral illnesses last month. Anxiety - significantly better. Stopping rumination works. PTSD… moderate. In the last month I’ve had two or three major triggering incidents as well as some nightmares. But I have a different therapist for that. Since I’ve been seeing this parenting lady at 8pm on Thursdays, I’m looking forward to more family time and an earlier bedtime.
I really think I’ve reached a state of acceptance with Wee Weasel. We keep working on new skills, but I’m not longer stressing about things like, will he ever be able to have a conversation? How will he do in school? I don’t know the answers to those but I can live with any answer. He’s my boy. I love him as-is. That’s the deal.
Things I never knew about you! Sounds… intense. My grandmother taught in Colombia for a year (or two?) when I was little, when my Aunt was a teen. She said teenagers got up to some crazy shit there. She was just along for the ride. (Also, have you seen Encanto? It’s marvelous, and very much about intergenerational trauma in present-day Colombia… in the most uplifting way possible.)
The only comfort I can see coming from that is knowing it was her and not one of that man’s loved ones who found him. There is meaning in that.
Moms are hard. I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say that isn’t a platitude.
I once interned in a continued care retirement facility, at which point I concluded that living to a ripe old age may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Though if you look at my maternal grandparents, both in their mid-80s, they are extremely active with all mental faculties accounted for. My grandma goes out dancing until the early morning and my grandpa’s always doing some kind of yard work or roof work or mechanical thing. My grandfather recently complained that his memory wasn’t what it used to be, to which my (other) grandmother replied, “You’re 86! What do you expect?” They have always been movers and shakers, though, and me not so much. So I can’t assume I inherited it.
Morning all. The rain has come as promised and while not really stormy outside (that may come later) it is a now steady rain that will get one soaked in short order. Awaiting the plumbers (in this case, the concrete layer(s) call, car is out at the curb, heat has been turned up, and need to break fast soon. 50F outside heading to 60F, so if the rain stops it will be a pleasant day.
Cupcakes, sounds like a man who enjoyed life and people and left good memories; everyone should aspire to be that sort of person. Glad you knew him and enjoy the carousel when you can.
shoe, great pic, was that just before or just after he did something dumb? 
nellie, stay warm.
boo fae, I might have been like your cow-orker, I’m doing better with it now but spiders (dead or alive) have always been my major creep-out beastie.
FCM, I used the gym on my ship through the Panama Canal, it was well-equipped so hopefully you can use it. Lots of cruising days, I am sure the ship will have lots of activities on those sea days, but food will, as always, be in abundance.
Cookie, like nellie, keep warm.
Spicy, glad to hear about you parenting good. Hope the PTSD abates too.
I’ve had several relatives live to 90 or so with most of their cognitive functions intact. One of my Aunts didn’t decline until she was 89 when she fell while bowling. That’s what I;m hoping for. Trying to keep both body and mind active and working. We’ll see how it goes.
{{{hugs}}}
OK, need to break my fast. Take care all.
7º Ferret Height according to The Weather Channel. And windy. The morning news is saying the wind chill in Bellingham is minus-18º. The cold water in the utility sink (and thus, the washing machine) is frozen.
Mornin’ everyone.
It’s 24F and cloudy outside. When I woke up, it was snowing, and it snowed last night, too. However, there really isn’t that much accumulation. The high temp for the day is 25F and it’ll be cloudless and sunny by afternoon.
It’ll be colder here tomorrow but not as cold as up where Flyboy lives.
I returned home from Spokane yesterday. Although I’ve read, I wasn’t able to retain much.
First, happy belated BBBoo!
nellie, I think what you did for the homeless lady was very kind. Also, I agree with Lily: open the cupboards to allow the room temperature inside to help keep those pipes warm. We used to do that all the time growing up here. A small drip of water also helps.
FCM, I’m sorry to read about the county taking the building. I hope a good replacement can be found.
pilot, that trip sounds interesting.
shoe, I also have a difficult mother. I empathize, I really do.
I know there is more, and I have more to say, but the pups are fussing, so it’s time to let them out and then bring them back in for some playtime.
It’s getting cold enough here that the building committee is recommending opening cupboard doors. My kitchen faces a north window so I’ve done that. It looks untidy but that’s better than not having water.
Thanks to those who have commented on riding the carousel. I remember when another childhood icon of mine passed, over thirty years ago now. A gentleman had a local clown show in television. Whizzo the Clown was a favorite of mine, and when Mr. Wiziarde died my mother sent me his obituary, from the newspaper. I got a little teary eyed.
I don’t know how much snow as fallen so far but it’s enough to close schools, the public library, and a handful of retail businesses. Today is “stay in your jimjams all day and watch tv all day” day. Apparently Jim Cantore is in Chi town, so we are doomed. Doomed!
It’s 4F with lots of wind. I don’t think I’m going to go to my writing group this morning.
This would seem like a good day to stay in if you’re in an area that’s getting hit by difficult weather.
6º now, with lots of wind.
I put some socks in the dryer to warm up. My wife said, ‘They only have to be in for 10 minutes,’ so I went to get them out… only to discover that when I put on a fresh pot of coffee, I’d neglected to put the urn in the maker. Coffee all over the counter and the floor. This cold weather is causing cognitive difficulties, I think.
46F/8C and sunny here in southern New England; low tonight 41/5, high tomorrow 54/12. Wind advisory 2200-0900, flood watch 2200-1000, coastal flood warning 0700-1400 tomorrow. We may get some snow Tuesday.
When I was a kid I read stories about New England winters and snow so bad that barns were connected to houses so people wouldn’t get lost in between. We’ve been here 26 years, and I have yet to see anything like we considered normal amounts of snow in the Midwest.
Four of us in the house – we usually run the dishwasher every other day, though it occasionally gets run two or even three days in a row.
Okay, I’m back.
My daughter reported from Missouri that they are enduring 45 MPH winds and -35F temps. They don’t have a fireplace or woodstove in their house. They have a five-year-old and a three-year-old who are both probably full of zoomies and can’t get outside, and four of them are crammed into a tiny house. They are only staying in that house until their new home is built, but dang.
Further upthread, there was a discussion about walking to school. I had to walk, and both my elementary and junior high schools were a little over a mile away. We walked in the rain, the snow, and the wind. Rides to school only happened after doctor/dentist appointments. There was NO WAY my mother would drive us to school.
The trip to Spokane was interesting, but I am so glad to be home. The weather was not nearly as bad as was originally forecasted. There were some snow flurries, but that’s about it. However, a wickedly strong and cold wind blew on Tuesday, so that was interesting. Temperatures remained in the 30s and high 20s the whole I was there. At any rate, I departed at the right time because temperatures are going way down there starting today.
The descent from the Cascades to Sea-Tac was rather turbulent. In fact, it was so turbulent that I raised out of my seat a few times. But, all was fine.
Well, I should get going. I’ve already cleaned the kitchen, but the pups want some snuggles. They were very, very happy to see me last night and didn’t let me out of their sight.
I want to stay home in jammies, but I must attend an HOA meeting at 5:00 p.m. today.
Lotta Marines have very muscular big barrel chests. I’m gonna bet it was maybe the shape difference more than the size difference. Maybe. 
Whole lotta transportation snafus this week in mumperland. Sorry you’re stuck with 'im this weekend.
When I first started in the airline biz with its wildly varying daily schedules I gave it a try. Not good. It seemed to put half my brain to sleep and leave the other half running around in bewilderment looking for its accustomed skull-mate who’d mysteriously disappeared.
A very odd and mildly unpleasant experience. Pretty quickly I developed the skill of sleeping pretty much on demand w/o meds. Handy that.
Yes. Great story!
The best part is that the lady will be happy to get them. Sometimes folks are less happy to receive wildlife in the mail:
Are you sure you’re not me? Although you’ll notice that it was she who derailed your train of thought.
I really struggle between the horns of “Do the interrupting thing now so you don’t forget it” and “Don’t do the interrupting thing now so you don’t forget the rest of the interrupted thing.”
As to me:
It’s go-home day. At the airport I had to visit the ticket counter to show my passport to get a boarding pass, then security, then immigration/emigration. After my other transport challenges I was taking no chances, so allowed worst case time for all 3. Took 20 minutes total from car to gate; the longest line I stood in had 2 people in front of me. Better safe than sorry.
Although security confiscated my fingernail scissors. That have been through umpteen thousand US and foreign security screenings before without incident. At least I remembered to pitch my water bottle first.
Been killin’ time here for 90 minutes now and we don’t start boarding for another ~45. A fairly pleasant and uncrowded terminal, at least some electrical outlets, and free Wi-Fi; about all anyone needs anymore. I’m riding on a LATAM Airbus; I wonder what power and Wi-Fi they’ll have?
Here in a few minutes I’m going to go find a new water bottle and a sandwich or something to eat later in the air. It’d be almost 5pm by the time I’m loose in MIA and although breakfast was good and big, by then it’ll have been long long ago and far far away.
This has been a good trip, but being home will be nice too.
Cheers all!