(Old) It's still dark MMP

I feel like I didn’t get much done today. Well, at least I got some cleaning done.

I keep an emergency Andrew Jackson in my car for such occasions.

Walked to work; it was a one bunny morning. A bit of drama this morning. We had some vandalism over the weekend and the Police posted on Facebook asking for help identifiying the perps so local radio station sent out a reporter. Since my vaca is coming up in another week and a half, I worked on a procedure for my manager to do just enough to send documentation needed to the Admin office to record the transactions while I’m gone. Then walked home.

Hubs had made half a sandwich for me as we needed to leave shortly for appointment with his Hematologist/Oncologist who gave Hubs a bit of ‘what for’ since Hubs had told the Bone Marrow Transplant Dr 2 wks ago that he wanted to pause the search for a donor. So, the search is back on. His Sis hasn’t received her results back from her swab yet. He’s doing much better than a few months ago; pain gone, he’s able to mow the lawn, is walking just fine and has made plans to play golf on Friday for first time in 2 years.

Then we went to the Big Bear Lodge for a very early dinner. It opens at 3pm and we arrived at 2:59pm and had to wait a minute for them to unlock the door. I had a Buffalo meatloaf which came with some awesome mashed potatoes and very tasty steamed veggies (summer squash, zucchini, broccoli, carrots). Hubs had crab cakes and a salad. I asked for an Arnold Palmer. We had 2 waitstaff, one who was a quite young woman who was in training. I asked her if she knew who Arnold Palmer was and she had never heard of him. I explained and when she went to fetch our drinks, Hubs and I had a little laugh.

After I digested, I was going to walk to the swimming pool but it dawned on me that perhaps this was the week that they reduce their hours. yuppers, reduced hours as of Aug 14. Where the heck did Summer go??? It’s going by so fast! So, I drove the 3 1/2 blocks to the pool and swam 850 yds.

Now filtering water.

Nettie, so sorry to hear the news about DH’s job.

Ouch! and double-ouch. With luck that bad (crashing), you’d better not bet much in Vegas. But with luck that good (nobody much hurt and still making the flight) you’d better bet a lot. :grin: Either way, remember the motto that made Las Vegas a glittering boomtown:

You can’t lose if you don’t play.

(Motto for the casinos that is, not the gamblers.)

Have lots of fun!

Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. That other poor bastard however, is well and truly dead.

This pilot is no more. It has ceased to be. It’s expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late pilot. It’s stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. It’s rung down the curtain and joined the choir, invisible. This is an ex-pilot.

Not half as glad as I am. :grin:


Red, Congrats on having a reassignment work out well, not badly!!

Seanette: Wow, DH didn’t last long. That is quite amazing. And disappointing. I hope the story to go with it is encouraging for next time.

I’m so sorry and I know how it feels.
With Ripple it wasn’t the quiet so much as the warmth. He always laid to the right of me, and even though he was several feet away, my arm always felt cold after he passed.
Their energy is gone and it feels empty.

Years ago, I had a Doberman that I rescued. He was probably around 12, and one day he came in from outside and lay down in the middle of the room.
I was reading a book and all of a sudden it hit me, Troy is dead.
I looked up from my book and he was.
Died in his sleep, and I didn’t feel his energy anymore.

When Harvey died (almost 13 years ago!) we were going to bury his ashes under a tree in the back yard. I couldn’t bear the thought of him being out there in the cold. (I know he was beyond feeling the chill.) So he is in an urn on a shelf, next to Tonka and Creamsicle.

Happy Hump Day!

It was a nice cool day today.
The GR had the zoomies all day.
No daycare because the dogs aren’t supposed to ride in the loaner.

My son called me at 1250 this morning.
I had a hard time waking up.
Once I got outside city limits to pick him up, I realized I had no headlights. I couldn’t find it then, but I found that the turn signal controlled the high beams, so I drove the entire way holding the lever. Once I got to his job, I was able to find the headlights switch.

He just texted, he will be getting off at 3 or 4.

Not much got done today except for making phone calls.
The seller wanted to change the closing date and I said okay, but then it went back to the original date because she couldn’t get movers any sooner.
The money from the estate was available today. I am shocked there was no hold on the checks.

If y’all can stand one more cooking channel

I cut the cable years ago. I was only watching about 6 channels. It’s a lot of money for so little.
Now I watch YouTube videos, and I have a Fire Stick.
I don’t miss TV at all.
Well, there was one channel I liked, all the shows were from Europe. I probably would have gotten bored with those after a while, and you really had to WATCH them because they weren’t in English and you had to read the subtitles.

I’m tired. I went back to bed after picking up my son and slept until 930, so I shouldn’t be.

Made sauteed chicken with gnocchi and pasta sauce and a salad for dinner. I had a martini, and in a show of Gatsby level opulence, I made it with olives and a twist.

Rule of thumb: If it makes things better(beer, cheese), it’s fermenting. If it makes things worse(hakarl), it’s rotting.

Well in my defense, all my previous critters either had Xanax-ed sloth level of energy, or to quote Foghorn Leghorn, “about as sharp as a sack full of wet mice”.

We had a bunch of 6"x9" envelopes come through with fake tracking numbers, and nothing in them but a piece of ripped up cardboard. Scams are weird these days.

Eek! Glad nobody got hurt.

Damn. I’m sorry.

Then you did get something done. :slight_smile:

Nice day at work - steady (so no standing around bored) but not so slammed that anyone got stressed, and we were able to get caught up & a bit ahead on prep stuff. (It sucks to start the weekend dinner rush and then discover there’s no onion chopped up.)

Got out nice ‘n’ early, too. Was able to sit outside and watch a bat; Monkey got some outside time and then gooshy food, and imma probably go back outside once dinner is assimilated to listen to the crickets some more. It’s delightfully cool again.

I have some bone-in chicken parts that I really ought to cook but I just didn’t feel like it tonight. So I am baking up two (2) frozen things: a stuffed chicken boobie, and a little shepherds pie (technically, cottage pie) plus there’s ice cream and such for dessert.

Y’all have a nice evening!

Evening all. Worked a bit with the 8 year old soccer players (getting their attention for longer than, say, 14 seconds at a time is the primary duty) and had some fun, then came home to ham-n-cheese for dinner, so I am exercised and satiated. Reading and bedtime beckon, it’s under 70F outside so more rest for the AC system tonight.

Shoe, know what you mean, work seems to go faster when there is steady but not heavy activity going on. Have a nice dinner.

Czarcasm, glad that you and yours are fine and made your flight.

Sari, glad the money is there and hope closing (whenever it is) goes smoothly.

Hmmmmm…

Well, you’re ahead of me.

Nettie, sorry to hear DH was let go, hopefully he’ll be successful in picking up a new contract quickly.

Red, the work changes sound promising. Hope it all turns out for the best.

Glad that our Pilot is still with us; must have been a bit creepy for that other guy, flying a plane with a Dead Guy as your Co-Pilot…

OK, heading off to do a bit of reading and then on to sleepage. Catch up with y’all tomorrow.

Someone’s eyes were bigger than her stomach. I was so stuffed from the, uh, stuffed chicken that I didn’t touch the cottage pie. It’ll reheat quickly without me having to faff about with a 45-minute bake time once I DO want a snack.

Meanwhile, I’m having a hot cuppa outside & listening to the crickets and froggies. So chilly I had to go back in for fuzzy slippers & a sweater! In AUGUST!

Yay.

I was so full I couldn’t even face ice cream, too rich, so I had one of those vegetarian Jello cups (Juicy Gels? I think?) because they’re light and not filling.

I really need to fire up my laptop tomorrow and check the status of that application. Other than that, just minor this-and-that around the casa.

Okay, Mr. Sandman showed up early tonight. Time for lights out.

Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave.

Spot is way ahead of you

I’d guess they were looking to see if any would go thru before using fake numbers to send all kinds of stuff. It’s genius, I tells ya - GENIUS!!! :rofl:

At what age do they start to be serious about the game? Is it about the time kids drop out? My daughter tried a lot of different activities and other than swimming in high school, none of them lasted more than a year. She obviously wasn’t interested enough in gymnastics or dance or softball to put in the effort - all before age 11 or so.

Mel done me good last night - I started to notice I wasn’t retaining what I read, and determined to get to the end of the chapter and put up my tablet. Next thing I knew, FCD was coming to bed and I was lying there, wearing my glasses, with my tablet on top of me. So I put them away and finished just over 8 hours of sleep which I needed badly! Now I’m clean, dressed, fed, caffeinating, and waiting till it’s time to go to Aldi. I’ll shop, then grab the kids and come back here to do laundry and other fun chores. Hot with a chance of rain, so a basement day.

I saw a forecast for temps dropping to the low 60s this weekend - great sleeping weather! Can’t wait!! I have the windows open at the moment, but it won’t last, alas.

Happy Thursday!!

They stow the body outta the way. Meantime, the crew was 3 pilots because it was a long flight. So the spare hopped in the seat and all was normal-ish. They landed only about 4 hours after takeoff, so it wasn’t even a long shift for the survivors. But it’ll be a memorable one.

I must say that if a pilot gotta die in an airplane at irk that’s probably the most considerate way to do it for everyone else.


Mornin’ all! Well pre-dawn here in lovely Central America. Sheveled & caffinated and about to wrap this up and go downstairs to begin irk.

Plans for dinner last night fell through because the place we wanted didn’t open as early as we needed. An alternate was readily available and we had that. I’d share a url but they don’t have a website. Anyhow, a fine mixed grill of steak bites, chicken bites, & spicy sausage chunks served w a pile of fun condiments, odd vegetables, and thick homemade tortillas. Not fajitas exactly, but kind sorta in that direction.

My co-pilot (second one of the trip) is an interesting young woman who grew up in Haiti and has worked all aspects of aviation before making the big leagues here. Lotsa good convo to be had.

Gotta go!

Happy Thorsday to all. And to all a good day spent pounding whatever needs pounding to earn our pay. :wink:

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis < snerk > 69! < snerk > Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 92 and N.O.S. for the day. No biggie plans for the day, so sloth and general overall uselessness it is. Quality cee-mint pond time is in store along with nappage and day drinkin’ as is our usual wont. Sup shall be leftover sketties from Tuesday along with sallit and cheesey garlic bread. A slothful but tasty sup it shall be.

Czar YIKES! Glad no one was hurt and y’all made your flight. Enjoy Lost Wages!

MG cleanin’ counts as a major thing done. It always does.

Pilot as sad as it is for the other pilot and his family, I’m glad it was not you.

Nettie sorry to hear DH got let go. May he find an even better gig soonest.

Red glad things seem to be lookin’ up at irk.

Sari glad the money is in the account and may the closin’ go smoothly.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.

Happy Thursday Y’all!

Good morning.

It’s currently 66F, dark, and mostly clear outside. Supposedly we’ll see some clouds this morning that will clear in the afternoon. Daytime temps will reach 93F, and it’ll be HOT according to the forecast. It was 96F here yesterday. I’m well and truly over these temps.

red, I’m glad the job change thing is something you’re happy about.

seanette, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for DH.

pilot, I’m glad you’re still among the living and us.

czarcasm, I’m sorry about the wreck. I am glad no one was hurt. I hope you enjoy your trip to Vegas despite the rocky beginning.

Work was frustrating, and I had another long day. I think that a lot of what makes my job frustrating is that I am in the middle or a pass-through and that I have to rely on people on both ends to do things. People on the budget end complain my MPA isn’t reconciling timely (which frustrates me greatly), but I’m not her boss, so I can’t really make her do anything. I can point my name is there, too as the approver, and I’d appreciate her keeping on top of it. I cut off purchasing early so she could catch up on her reconciling, and hopefully, we’ll have a clean year-end next month. I can’t get written guidance concerning new purchasing policies that put myself and the cardholder (the MPA) in the line of fire, so I told both of my bosses that I refuse to sign any funding documents until that is cleared up. I’m not paying thousands of dollars because Congress can’t get its shit together and fund the government.

My SD, who is also one of my bosses, wanted to involve someone like me but at a higher level, and I told both her and the deputy it’s an unnecessary stop and layer. They need to go straight to the head of PMO and get the new policy in writing AND find out what to do about the whole fiscal responsibility thing. As it stands right now, if I approve a conference registration for October (new FY), but the conference has to be paid for using FY 23 funds due to cut-off dates, and we can’t get proof of refund policy or a refund in the event of government shutdown that prevents attendance at training or conference, I am on the hook for it. That’s utter bullshit, I don’t control Congress.

Well, crap I took too long to edit.

BLUF: “New” to RD, but in fact long-standing policy in effect regarding purchasing. I have told SD that I will no longer approve such purchases and that she will have to work with the head of PMO and let them know that contracting officers from her shop will be handling them.

One might say just get the refund policy documentation from the vendor, but, these are private agencies and tribes and some of this stuff is non-refundable. Part of our mission is partner with these agencies so we’re caught in the middle. It’s asinine.

Anyway, today I’ll keep my head down, and just plow through other items on my list.

Tomorrow is Friday, and hopefully I’ll get to sign out on time.

Afternoon, mumpers! It’s currently 21c/70f with a predicted high of 21c/73f, and partly cloudy. Weather app says “Oh look! The fucking sun finally decided to fucking show up.” I sense weather app is somewhat peeved.

Czarcasm yikes! That sounds bad, but good to know that you all survived and made it to Lost Wages. Have a great time, despite the dramatic start.

Pilot good to hear that you are still with us, but what a shock for the other crew!

Seanette sorry to hear that DH got dumped so soon. But good news that your irk still loves you :slight_smile: Fingers crossed DH finds something else quickly.

Red sounds like some promising changes there, I hope it all work out the way you want it to.

Sari fingers and paws crossed here for smooth closing on your house.

Good news here is that Shadow seems to be perking up again, we haven’t seen any evidence of squitty poo for at least 24hrs, and yesterday he started showing a bit more interest in food. The vet called and said his numbers for thyroid indication are down a bit, but not as much as they want, so we’re increasing the dosage on his meds. I collected some more probiotic stuff but he’s not keen on it, so (thanks, JtC) we will try a little bit of plain yogurt instead.

I was out with friends last night and got home just around 11pm so it wasn’t too late a night for me. Didn’t really matter because I am on strike today so haven’t had to get up early for work. Instead, I have stripped the bed and washed the duvet, and now the bedding’s in the wash too. We are flea-bombing the bedroom today, the living room tomorrow, and probably this room on Saturday. Each flea-bomb required the room to be shut up for 4hrs - sadly means I can’t get out to the gym 'cos my trainers and other gym bits are in the bedroom so I can’t get to them until 3pm!

Morning all! Well, the creepin’ crud has finally abated significantly. Still had to cancel my PT appointment today, just to be on the safe side. Hopefully it will be gone by Sunday. Slept pretty well last night, although woke up in severe knee pain at one point; musta slept on it wrong. Feels fine now.

I cleared all the halt-and-lame gear out of the living room: walker, cane, ice-water circulator, bag of helping tools for people in surgery recovery, etc. Tired of looking at it.

I finally shamed my youngest son in to coming to visit me this weekend. I really just wanted to see his daughters, as I’m pretty ga-ga over them, but he has to bring them. My favorite grandchildren out of the 12 or so (last time I counted). They’re still young, so haven’t reached the pouty/sulky stage yet. I think my daughter may come over as well, so this will cheer my outlook significantly.

Hash browns and fried eggs on the menu this morning. I may even have a (weak) cuppa coffee, too.

i got a bit of an organizing bug last night. it was short lived. i got through the lunch/cooler bags (1 for sure, possibly 2 in the give away), the lunch container shelf (about 4 give aways there), the microwaveable cover bowl shelf (possibly one give away there), and the recipe folder (a clump of paper for the recycle bin).

i had to stop because lager was not happy that i was kitchen adjacent and not giving out food/treats. he was happy with cuddles in the chair. this ended all other activities as we decided it was bed time.

Morning all. Somebody decided 7am was a good time to do yardwork so I got up a bit earlier than intended, but will work through it. Not much on the agenda, gym time and soccer of course, and Cheeseburgers (or one double chee-burger) for evening meal. May do a little shopping, out of Comet cleaner and the sink is getting a bit funky (I know, TMI). Otherwise no rain and only getting to 84F today, so the AC will get only a modest workout today.

Got a call from Purple Heart, they’ll pickup my donated stuff Tuesday, so that will clear a little space. Still need to do some organizing like rocky, but haven’t got the bug yet.

Cookie, keep feeling better and enjoy the grandkids!

boofae, good news about Shadow and enjoy the strike day. Since I don’t have pets I’ve never had to flea-bomb my house, hope all goes as planned.

Taters, hang in there and count your blessings (or if you can’t count your blessings, count you retirement savings…)

Pilot, glad to see more women are flying these days, sounds like your co-pilot had more than a few walls to break though, good on her.

I would say most start getting serious about 11-12, and we have the biggest dropoff after the age of 14-15. We also get more boys than girls sign up, especially at the older levels, wish we could do a better job attracting young ladies to the game.

Shoe, even though I am working to lose weight and trying to watch what I eat, stuffing oneself now and then is a good thing, IMHO (for me, that usually comes from 5 Guys, I am a sucker for their fries and eat way to many-try to restrict myself to 1 trip per month).

OK, have broken fast and need to be about the day. Take care all.