(Old) I owe, I owe, so off to Mump I go - A Tax Season MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Here’s my life for the next while:

…. National Weather Service: A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday, January 13. A Wind Chill Warning is in effect until 12 p.m. Tuesday, January 16. Wind chills as low as 45 below zero are possible.

I was out in it a few hours ago to come home from doing snow day childcare at my daughter’s and it was well nigh on to painful on my face just to go from her door to my car and my car to my door (through 3 foot drifts each time). And I grew up in this latitude~blizzards were more fun then. I remember climbing out windows to go around the house to dig out the front door which was drifted shut four feet high. Not so fun now.

I was gone two nights and a day, albeit only 5 miles away. Solo cats take much better care of themselves than 2 year olds left to their own devices, let alone egged on by their devilish 6 year old sister. The Siamese was glad to see me, greeting me at the door meowing. Since then she has curled up next to me on the electric throw, mildly complaining when I get up for yet another up of coffee or hot chocolate. Soon it’ll be 5pm and time to sloshing some rum or bottom shelf brandy into that tea or coffee. I still have a lemon in the fridge~I could get all fancy and float some thin lemon slices in my mug o’ rum. Gotta fight off scurvy.

Getting ready to dump a tall can of Bush’s baked beans in the mini-crockpot, add a slosh of bbq sauce and 6 Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs. Supper will occur 5 or 6 slow-cooking hours hence and the house will smell good in the meanwhile.

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All y’all talking about nachos inspired me to make chili. I had a hunk of pork that I’d smoked during the summer, then got vacu-wrapped in the freezer, so that got tossed in there too. Smells great. Tasting it, it’s “sneaky hot.” Some chips, cheese, and sour cream will finish the sup.

Bbboo Here’s to hoping for some less shite weather for you.

shoe I’ve always just called it “the thing at the end of the driveway.” that lovely icy pile that the plow leaves.

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Did the shopping trip this morning. There was only one cashier. Seriously. Things were very backed up. When the call went out for more cashiers, only one showed up. One cashier, and self check out. It was a bit crazy. There were very restless customers.

It wasn’t supposed to rain today, so of course it did. As I was going across the big 6-8 lane avenue, with a big huge pond. The pond had serious waves in it.

The pond will be quite the ice rink later today.

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I finally found the 10½-inch aluminum reflector lamp, and the 250 W infrared floods. (The former was in a bag underneath the Halloween decorations, and the latter was on a shelf but I didn’t recognise what they were until I checked the order I’d placed last year.) Apparently I’m the one who put the Halloween decorations up there. Maybe I did.

Anyway… I identified the two pipes going to the laundry room (the hot water is not woking in there now either), and put the lamp pointing right at them foot or so away. I left the radiator heater on low, next to the other side of the laundry room wall, hoping that only 250 W won’t trip the breaker. Fingers are crossed the pipes will thaw. Oh, and they’re both insulated.

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Jeez. We’re in for some low temps but nothing like that. So far it’s been a very mild winter in SE Michigan.

I got slammed with a wave of fatigue for a few hours but I think I’m coming out of it. I’ve been like this all week. I can’t figure out if it’s post-COVID malaise or reducing sugar in my diet. Either way I hope it’s not here to stay.

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The Willamette Valley is a huge mess.

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My brother and SIL called with questions about the cornea, transplants, etc… I asked her what she can see out of that eye now, and she can see light and colors, which means the retina is functioning, at least to some extent, and that seems hopeful to my brother and me. They don’t know what makes the retinal doc pessimistic. He can’t even see the retina right now, so maybe it’s based on the diabetes and whatever they saw during surgery. Anyway, I’m back to being hopeful and feisty.

Sorry. This must be dull to everyone else!

Spicey, I know this is a radical suggestion, but what if your husband and maybe a friend ran the party without you? Severe social anxiety is a valid reason for not being there. I always sent my then-hubs out fishing or something when my kids had birthday parties because he couldn’t stand the noise and confusion, so I know it can be done. Heck, these days, parents of guests often stay at the party and sip wine while the kids play games . He’d have plenty of help!

Boo, I hope you have plenty of liquid medicine for the duration. Too bad cats are so finicky, or you could strap little barrels of brandy on their necks…you know, in case of an avalanche or sudden sobriety or some other emergency. As for the lemon, someone once told me her dad didn’t put olives in his martinis because they take up space that should be gin. Just a principle to consider.

I discovered last night that except for eggs, I’ve run out of protein–as in meats, cheeses, etc. I had eggs for both meals yesterday and was thinking of placing an Instacart order today, but if they’re slammed and short shoppers, that may be fruitless. The windchill is 15º, relatively balmy. Should I bundle up and go, or make due with ramen noodles and eggs? I’m also out of bread. I should have planned better.

FCM, do you have a sandblaster then? How big is it? Forgive my ignorance. I saw workers sandblasting buildings in the Loop, but I didn’t know they made those suckers for home use.

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I’m saved! I’m saved! I found a partial box of panko shrimp! I’ll be living it up tonight, boy!

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Speaking of snow, there’s a 9% chance we might see 3 or 4 flakes on Weds. That’s it. It’ll be cold - barely getting above freezing, but no precip to speak of.

FCD has been playing with his tablet, getting familiar with it. It’s just different enough from mine that I had to look over his shoulder trying to help him, but so far, he’s figured most of it out. And he’s downloaded a bunch of movies to watch on the plane. I, on the other hand, have downloaded a bunch of books.

Early supper - I pulled some smoked Thanksgiving turkey out of the freezer - it was quite good. I also got out a couple of steaks for tomorrow. I need to plan our food carefully for the rest of the week - we won’t be eating here on Thursday or beyond, so leftovers must be tossed or frozen. So much drama!!! And speaking of eggs - I’ll be offering what I’ve got to my daughter. Or I could make a couple of quiches for the freezer… hmmmmm

But not tonight.

FCD has one kinda like this in his shop. His is a little bit smaller and it’s blue, but you get the idea.

OK. my recliner beckons!

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Howdy Y’all! As I said earlier, today has been a day of high sloth. Nappage and day drinkin’ are the two big accomplishments of the day. OK, we made sammiches which called for some effort. Days like this make me happy. We may or may not deheathenate tomorrow. The urge to be hermits is strong right now.

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Bbboo where are you located? I’m thinking you are in a Plains state. Your weather is like mine. Cold. Damn cold.. I drove to CVS to pick up my ex. My inhaler is $757 for a 3 month supply. Highway robbery. It felt good to get fresh air. Had lunch, made choco chip bars, took a nap. Ursala Kitteh is curled up in the couch on a pile o’ blankets. My chair is near the front door. The space heater is going near my feet. Watching college gymnastics while the potatoes boil. Life is good. Well, it’s okay.

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Nope, not dull at all, not even a little bit. Please keep on reporting.

Good point. O.k., the space consuming lemon slices will only go in tea that doesn’t have rum or brandy in it.

I’m in Lincoln, Nebraska, 60 miles west and a smidge south of hippie, who is also getting walloped by blizzarding blowing snow and death defying wind chills.

My cat is either happy to have me back home or she is glad I stopped in to turn on the electric lap throw, which she will go through amusing contortions to curl up on no matter form my lap is taking. She already thinks I go to the bathroom altogether too often. As long as I leave it on she could probably care less if I’m here or stuck in a snow drift somewhere out of sight.

Crock pot with baked beans and turkey meatballs is crocking away (I was similarly pleasantly surprised to find them in my freezer, a la nellie’s panko shrimp). I have resolved to get better snow day supplies in stock for the rest of the winter. Freezer and canned. For instance, not a single piece of fresh fruit to be found. A can of no sugar added peaches or pears would be welcome today, but I used up my luck with the baked beans and meatballs. Some high fiber oatmeal is definitely on the menu for breakfast tomorrow. That I have in stock.

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Heh. Try explaining that to a clinical psychologist whose specialization is treating anxiety disorders with exposure techniques.

(I’m just joking. Yes that is his actual job, but he intentionally does not therapize me. I think he would just be disappointed.)

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I occasionally make grog, so I’m going to steal that line! You should check this video out. I had to break the link so join it after the = and the o

YouTube oPTdSMOQRnY

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The cold water line to the laundry room has thawed. Hot water line isn’t yet.

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flyboy Best of luck getting the pipes unfroze. Last time I had to do that I had a gusher inside a wall.

Shitballs, I’ve got hiccups. What a colossal PITA.

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Oh, I hate that. It’s always at the worst time, too, like in the middle of a meal.

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Take a spoonful of sugar, and let it dissolve on your tongue. Learned that one from my wife. It works.

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My trick is to drink an entire glass of water at a rapid pace. It works for me.

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That’s what I do, but it only works if I do it right away before the hiccoughs are established.