(Old) It's a-warmin' up (again!) in the MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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I worked with a guy who had a friend or a roommate. Said roommate was very fastidious… and there was a mouse in the kitchen that evaded all traps. So this guy put a metal grate on the floor, and a wire hanging from the ceiling. The top wire had a piece of cheese on it, a few inches from the floor. The metal grate and the top wire were connected to an industrial-strength capacitor, which the roommate charged. In the middle of the night there was a loud pop. The next morning, the kitchen was covered in exploded mouse.

It occurred to me that I have some 1.5-inch inside diameter PVC pipe. That would probably fit down a mole hole nicely. I could put metal strips on the inside, stick it in the hole, and charge a capacitor. :imp: Only I don’t have an ‘industrial strength’ capacitor, and I don’t know how to energise it. (Just hook the terminals to a car batter charger?) Muwahahahahaha!

So I bought a case of cabernet sauvignon at Trader Joe’s yesterday. I went out to the car to get it (which is when I saw the new mole hole), only to discover it’s sauvignon blanc. I only drink white wine when we’re out of red, and white wine upsets Mrs. L.A.'s stomach. I’ll exchange it over lunchtime (which means I’ll miss out on my walk – again).

I’ve been looking at the deck. Last year (two years ago?) the Spousal Unit wanted to power-wash it to get rid of the mildew. Fine. We did that. I wanted to paint it with deck paint that matched the treated wood. ‘No, we’ll just spray it with water seal,’ she said. I thought that wasn’t a good idea, but I know better than to contradict her. Several months ago, she said I was right and we should paint the deck. OK, only… She’d bought me an 8-feet by 2-feet by 5 feet wood stack cover for Christmas. I built a PVC frame (hence, the leftover pipe) and entirely filled it with firewood. Now I need to remove all of the wood and get it (and everything else) off of the deck so I can paint it. Wifey says I can just paint around it, and move it out of the way once we’ve used all of the wood. That would be a lot less work, but I’d like to get the whole thing done at once. I’ll have the time next week when I’m on ‘vacation’, but it is a lot of heavy work. Decisions, decisions…

ETA: Oh – I saw a ‘hack’ on Facebook for making ‘easy’ hard-boiled eggs. It’s a pain to peel a bunch of eggs for egg salad or whatever, so the ‘hack’ is to break the eggs into a Pyrex bowl and put the bowl into a pot of boiling water. You end up with a ‘hard-boiled egg loaf’, but that doesn’t matter since you’re going to chop it up anyway. I thought I’d try that with one egg for breakfast this morning. I sprayed a ‘Pyrex’ ramekin with PAM and double-boiled it. It was a bit noisy, with the ramekin vibrating in the pan. The egg was just as tasty as if I’d boiled it in the shell. But really, as much as I don’t like peeling eggs, boiling the traditional way seems less trouble.

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Thanks, everyone, for the emotional support.

I told my manager about the back wages/stolen tips thing, and she was thoroughly appalled for me. Told me I had absolutely every right to be pissed, and suggested I process that anger, and then I can freely enjoy spending the money.

It really, really helped to have so many people validate that I - what’s that charming phrase - felt some types of ways about all this. Because I guarantee that if I told my mother, she would shrug and say, “You got big check! Now you pay bills!”

(Well, no, but I will get some stoopit expensive DoorDash delivery, so I can EAT dammit and also, not hafta put on pants on my day off. Dumplings, and bubble tea.)

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The hair is gorgeous!! I’z jealous.

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Ooeee! Nice hair!

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We’ve invited her several times - she declines. She was just widowed in January - it may take some more time.

It’s been raining on and off all day - the good kind of rain - nice showers rather than deluges. But boy-howdy is it windy!! There are gale warnings, and they weren’t kidding! So far nothing has fallen on the house, so there’s that.

Daughter has gotten 3 applicants for her vacancy - she’ll start interviewing soon - she wants to get someone on board right away. The problem I foresee is that she can’t afford to pay a lot, plus they can’t offer any bennies. That’s why most of their employees are retirees. But fingers crossed…

Now, what to do for supper. I’s hongree and it’s not even 4PM yet.

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sunny Like the hair!

shoe We got your back, even if it’s only imaginary internet friends. Yes, eat, dammit!

As for me, I actually got paid by the hoity-toity prep school, so I guess I’ll start building their stuff. 3 months work, ok by me. Time to build a big L. Gotta figure out if I can purchase a carpet down there, rather than rent a huge truck. One of the things I’m doing for this thing is a 16’ diameter round carpet. Yeah, I get asked for weird stuff.

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Grief is incredibly energy-sapping, as well as flattening good emotions so nothing feels enjoyable.

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Afternoon all. The pool was closed as they were dumping various bags of stuff in it (if I grow an extra arm or leg due to it I will be most displeased) so just whirlpool and sauna today. Got a little shopping in and made it home before the rain-cloud came overhead and dumped some more moisture on us. Only 76F outside, so we’re having a cooling trend right now (doubt it will last long).

FCM, sometimes people are together for so long that they just don’t know what to do without the other; my dad was like that after Mom died, he never really got around to doing anything else, even when he was in a place with other retirees…and then the dementia…sorry for being so downbeat, but I do feel for MIL…and you guys.

VanGo, happy building.

Sunny, I like the hair. I don’t have enough on top to color, but did let some of my soccer kids work on my beard (Facebook link if you didn’t see it: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2036450516695045&set=pcb.2036451176694979

Flyboy, have your lawn covered with exploded mole might not be a good look…but good luck in your endeavors.

Baker, that’s good progress; I’ve dropped about 30 pounds in the past 15 months, mostly from exercise and drinking Diet (no calories) soda–otherwise I still eat unwisely. Good luck with the tomatoes.

Niner, nice to be in demand; hope the job hunt it all works in your favor. And easy on those blisters!

OK, bought a NY times at Kroger, so I have puzzles and some reading to do, so take care all.

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absolutely fabulous!

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Howdy Y’all! We procured provisions and got fried chikin N.O.L.s to bring back to da cave. Groceries got unloaded and stowed then we et. This was followed by nappage. Nappage was followed by day drinkin’ on the back porch while watchin’ it rain. Been a very rainy day. Right now, it’s not rainin’ but it shall return soon, I am sure.

Pubic Sto’ means Publix. Some years back we were in PC, Flahrduh and saw a Publix store sign at night with the “l” burned out, so it said “Pubix.” We were amused because it almost looked like “Pubic.” Since then, it has been the Pubic Sto’. Juvenile we are!

And now this…

< AHEM > CLEARIN’ THROAT < AHEM >

HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY DEEEAAARRR GGGOOODDDBBBOOODDD!!!
HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!

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I’m eatin’, I’m eatin’!

Dumplings are gone and bubble tea is half-slurped, so the only logical solution was to … go to the local hole-in-the-wall for a taco and extra avocado.

Heard sirens as I was heading out to go there, and saw a fire truck circling around. Thought little of it, until I saw the crowd lining the sidewalk up the street from me. Figured, “Eff it, maybe I’ll beat the truck” and drove right past a grass fire smoldering directly adjacent to & under a parked car, just as the fire truck came 'round the corner.

Got the hell outta there & took a slightly alternative route back. There’s still tons of flashy lights (it was only a 10 minute errand, I’m sure the 1st responders will be there a while) and I sincerely hope the car doesn’t go “boom” and explode like in the movies. (Which we all know to be factual documentaries.)

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To quote Roy Blount, Jr: “Never eat barbecue where the chairs all match.”

When I was looking for a dog pre-Nelson, I knew I would be limited to one that I could lift into the car in case of a vet emergency.

taters, your contact list and MSOffice should be on your sim card or backed up in the cloud, so you may want to check those avenues.

niner, my soft tech worker / crafter hands get blistered when I do things like gardening or raking, so no judgment on the gloves. Digits are crossed for your interviews.

I like the hair sunny!

flyboy, my granddad always used mothballs in mole holes. It seemed to work.

Happy birthday godbod!

Today at irk, the maintenance crew who are in charge of my area’s physical move came over with my boss to see what was needed in my area. I made some constructive suggestions to consolidate almost of my tasks to one work station (I’m titled as a specialist. That just means that I do a lot of odds and ends). Since our new area is smaller than the current one, my boss and the maintenance guy agreed that that was a good idea and the boss will get with IT to get me set up with the desktop for working online and Motorola flashing software, one for the wiping software, three monitors and a docking station for the third party laptop to flash Google phones, plus a label printer for when I cartonize. It will be so nice not to have to move five times a day.

It was another rainy day here. Like Moooooom’s rain, it was just a nice gentle one. My patio herbs are loving it.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

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How’d he get their little legs apart?

134

Today’s winner :trophy:

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Nice!

Shoe a taco sounds really good. I live vicariously through you.

I’m currently having roast peanuts and beer for dinner. Dinner of champions!

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Happy Birthday godbod

Sunny beautiful hair!!

flyboy my kids are waiting for the next report on Man vs. Mole! I can understand doing things wrong because it was easier to not get into a fight.

Shoe, there’s only one restaurant here in town and no tacos. I’m jealous. I don’t know if there are any in Sapporo, but that would be the closest, at two and a half hours away.

Metal Mouse, I love the beard!! I should do that with mine, some day.

niner, good luck with your job search!!

My kids are pretty typical teenagers, which means they alternative between being cute and irritating as all get out. Sometimes within the same conversation. This is quite a learning process.

We have our kids in an alternative education system. Small classes, lots of oversight, less screen time, no video games, and all that. It’s good but very involving for parents. We have monthly PTA meetings with the teachers that run two hours. I only have to do that twice where my friend has four of her give kids enrolled.

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Oh gosh yes. The last couple of years, we didn’t get raises, we got random $500 bonus checks. I would have been so much happier to stop watching my bring-home money shrink every year.

Happy Birthday, GodBod. Enjoy each and every one!

That is so sad.

:rofl:

How nice, but not really surprising. You are good and you know your stuff. Fingers still crossed for your dream job, but more money and a resume builder is always a good thing too.

I think you are right. It really hasn’t been that long since she lost her life partner, grief is a slow process. I hope she is able to start enjoying parts of her life soon.

Wow, how very pretty, thanks for sharing.

How long did it take and did you do it yourself?

Oh, I sure do hope your bed didn’t get lost in the mail!

I wonder what would happen if you bought something like this and stuffed it down the hole.

I don’t think you could set your yard on fire from the inside…

Money is always good!

How’s it going with the squirrels?

I actually learned that lesson when an elderly friend with an elderly mastiff called us for help because she couldn’t get her dog in her car and it was a medical crisis. Sadly, the delay in treatment caused very bad results.

Today was surplus produce and it was a nice 70F when I got to the line, but over 85F in the half hour I waited for the truck. I always loudly thank the volunteers who stand in the rain and sun to help their community.

Now that NF has gotten used to me texting her weekly with a list of food, I am finally able to give ALL of my surplus surplus stuff away without resorting to feeding my friend’s chickens and my compost bin. I’m really pretty proud that I’ve managed that. No food given to me ends up in the landfill, but sometimes it’s harder to accomplish than other times.

We’ve been getting a lot of energy drinks lately which go to adults, but when I saw the two boxes of berry juice pouches, I knew that BFF would want one for her grands and offered the other box to NF because I’m still learning what she uses.

Her response was “oh, those would be lovely for when our grand nieces visit, as long as nobody else wants them.” This stuff ends up in my hands because nobody else wants them so of course the box got put in her bag. She’ll get used to it, most folks don’t really understand the concept of condition-less free food because we have paid for it all of our lives.

Speaking of paying for food, hubs has bought and eaten pre-cooked sausages for breakfast for many years. Like everything else, they have gotten more and more expensive so today he bought a big box (30) of uncooked sausages and announced he could cook his own sausages for half of what the pre-cooked ones cost.

One person cooks and the other one cleans. I did not want to clean grease splatters up for the rest of our lives so I pulled out our broiler racks (the ones with the grease pans) and baked the sausage patties. Hubs can have nuked pre-cooked sausage for a couple of weeks for half the price and I can continue to be lazy while he thinks I’m wonderful for doing all that for him. (the oven did most of the work, the dishwasher finished the job)

ETA: I’m watching a little finch sitting on my pomegranate tree which makes me irrationally happy and then I saw a robin checking out the berries on my pyracantha. My cup of joy is overflowing now.

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'Twas the nightingale

139

Awwwww!

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Well, no giant truck o’ tires. But the Extendo on the first truck dies. But theRe is something so nice about unloading a 53’ footer that’s full of frozen food and refrigerated meds.

Yay

Looks good!

:partying_face: :birthday: :champagne:HAPPY BIRTHDAY GodBod :champagne: :birthday: :partying_face:

AND :partying_face: :cake:***HAPPY DOPERVERSARY! :cake: :partying_face: