(Old) It's the heat AND the humidity in the MMP!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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I’v mentioned before my need to stay out til all hours on my days off work so my sleep schedule can maintain some predictability. This morning I was out until about 4, and in bed at 4:30. And I slept.

And I dreamed (Dreamt? I’ve always kind of held a grudge against the word “dreamt,” since its existence is wholly unnecessary. “Dreamed” fulfills all of the necessary functions that “dreamt” could possibly aspire to. If “dreamt” wants to hang around, it should get a couple of side hustles, like as onomatopoeia, or some kind of utility cuss word. But I digress).

I dreamed that, due to being enrolled in some sort of adult education course (sorry, no details are available to my subconscious) being held at a local high school, I found myself on the track team, about to participate in a 4-440 relay race. As second man to carry the baton (which was actually a 6" diameter rubber ring such as I used to have to play tug-of-war with Oliver, my erstwhile Labrador. But I digress again), I was explaining to my teammates that I had to give and receive handoffs on my left side. So now we’re just standing around, waiting for the order to get on our marks, and it suddenly occurs to me that, as a 67-year old man, I really have no business participating in this thing. Mostly because I could not possibly be an asset in this race. It generally takes me between five and ten minutes to perambulate a quarter of a mile (and on an oval track, I’m likely to decline to make the circuit, on the grounds that I’m already at the place where I’m “supposed to get to”), and these guys were aiming (at worst) for 45-75 seconds.

So, there I am, worried about letting down the side, and that’s when I wake up, and think to myself “Besides, trying to run 440 yards, will probably kill me.”

Anyhow, going to try to grab another couple of hours of sleep, then off to my sister’s house for some July 4th BBQ, after which I head to work. Stay safe and sane, keep all your fingers, and give any freaked-out critters in your care an extra comforting hug from me!

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Maybe they’re anticipating parking difficulties at the public fireworks display tonight, and they’re making preparations to watch from your roof.

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'Yakwife’s kayak’s clean and glossy,
And the deck chair’s much less mossy.

I don’t know how it is down south, but up here people flock to the shoreline to touch off zillions of flying explody things. Fireworks (except for the ‘Safe and Sane’ kinds) are illegal, but waddaya gonna do? Where you can get into trouble is if you light fireworks after midnight. People generally abide by the rule, and it’s quiet once the 4th turns to the 5th, except for a few stragglers.

As for nostalgia, we had sidewalks, a street, and streetlights when I was a kid in San Diego. Only ‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks were allowed, so the neighbours bought assortments: Various fountains, Piccolo Pete’s, Black Snakes, Ground Flowers, and sparklers. The kids had to be careful running around barefoot. Those freshly-spent sparkler wires were hot! I always enjoyed the Black Snakes. And the ‘log cabin’ was a hoot. You put the firework into the roof as a ‘chimney’, and it just smoked. Then it burned the carboard log cabin down.

84

Skipped yesterday because I was already late for work now I’m just way, way behind. Rain this morning. Yay! It was needed. More coming this afternoon and evening, so a quieter than usual holiday with fewer booms. The smart cities had their displays over the weekend and last night. The 'burb, I am staying in? Nope. Supposed to be tonight. The town calls this “Freedom Days” and that says all we need to know about it. Hoping for a quiet, damp night.

{{{ace}}}

Best of luck to you tomorrow @Chefguy; you dang well better wake up.

FCM, the boat is coming along nicely. I’m impressed.

Purple, may your work day go smoothly. I’m amazed I got the day off. But like with all my contracting jobs, this means a day without pay. And a day listening to my friend’s choice in music. I might have to take a drive just to get away from it all.

I’m missing my kitties. One was adopted again almost immediately after I surrendered her. I am happy for that and hope her new humans bow to her every wish. The other (my boo) is a shy guy and has left a big hole in my heart. He is still available and I want to go scoop him up again, but have no place for him, nor can I afford his medical needs.

The good news is that I am working and I managed to finally submit an application for low income housing in hopes of getting kitchen space to myself again. Keep your fingers crossed for me because it is almost jam making time so I need that kitchen.

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Happy 4th of July to those who observe! :us:

I’d planned to drive back from NJ today, but yesterday morning I woke up with a strong “I want to go home” feeling…so, I did. I spent the morning packing, notifying the kennel of the new plan, going to see my aunt and (deceased) uncle’s house for the last time – my aunt is 82 with some dementia and mobility issues so she now lives with one of my cousins, and another cousin is clearing out the house so it can be sold; they lived there for 50 years, and I have a lot of great memories – and spending a little more time with my aunt and the cousin she lives with. At lunchtime I checked out of the B&B and headed south, stopping 50 miles later in my mom’s hometown to visit her best friend (my “aunt”) and her husband: she’s only 75 but he’s 86 and has been living with prostate cancer for many years, and earlier this year it suddenly metastasized and he had a bad reaction to the chemo. He got weak and developed pnuemonia, but after a short hospital stay he’s now in rehab and slowly getting better/stronger. It was a relatively quick visit, because I needed to hit the road in time to pick Bailey up from the kennel before they closed at 7pm, but it was really good to see them. I worry about him. I left 10-15 minutes later than I should have, but the traffic gods smiled on me and I made such good time that I was able to stop briefly for a bathroom break and some Auntie Anne’s pretzel bites (to go) and still pull up to the kennel at 6:59pm. I got Bailey in the house and everything out of the car 10 minutes before the skies opened.

It was an emotional few days, but it was really good to get to spend some quality time with my aunt and cousins. I’ll be going back up there in two months for my cousin’s daughter’s wedding: I’ve been to NJ four times in the past year and three of them were for funerals, so it’s wonderful to have a positive/happy trip to look forward to!

I’m super glad to be home with my doggy, and to have today off before I jump back into work (there’s a deadline this week, so I’ll be slammed pretty much right away). I did look at my email a little while ago, though, so I could go through my unread messages (there were only 98; less than I expected!) and delete/file the ones that don’t require any action. Otherwise, I’ve spent the day so far paying some bills, catching up on NAACP-related emails and tasks, and doing laundry. After I post this I’ll go to the grocery store, then spend the rest of the day/evening chilling on the couch while Bailey continues to recover from boarding. Everything goes back to “normal” tomorrow. :slight_smile:

:crossed_fingers: :crossed_fingers:

:people_hugging:

Yikes!! :frowning:

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Hooray! Best of luck!

The chicken-tomato stew was pretty good, though next time I’ll use less tomato paste and add mushrooms.

We’re spending the 4th like any other day because we’re retired, mah nishtanah, as my people say–why is this night [different from all other nights]? Today this means I am femme-of-the-day for washing the solar panels and catio roof, and spraying pretend-rain on the moss killer that I put down last time they lied that we would get rain. Later I’ll move some wood scraps to start the next dump pile, look through some boxes, do some shredding (paper, not half-pipe, yo), set up donation boxes to take away tomorrow, and the dreaded item, “see other list.” My lovely wife is cleaning kitchen appliances and apparently wants to sort through the camping boxes. We’re finally getting the stuff from the three offices (moved out of during COVID) integrated into our other stuff, put in storage, or donated. We hope that by the end of August, our community, neighbors, and friends will be the lucky recipients of our excess. J-cat is helping by being an attractive nuisance on the stairs. Soon, though, he will devolve to his usual summer posture, which is of a supine roadkill-like nature.

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J-cat assembly is almost perfect. Almost. :laughing: And thanks!

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F’ing IKEA cat :rage:

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Howdy Y’all! A good time was had by all out by the cee-mint pond. It was off and on cloudy, but that is just fine by us. We even et out under the gazebo cause it felt kinda good out there as a nice breeze was blowin’ at that time. JDD and Partner left and we got showered and now are inside enjoyin’ the a/c. It’s lookin’ rainyish out, so maybe that will happen. Be so nice if’n it did!

Ace your in-laws and hospitals made me think of a character in ye olde home towne. His name is Frank and he loves to go to funerals, Hence he is known as Funeral Frank. Seriously, I do believe he goes to any and all funerals he can within a fifty mile radius. Any conversation with him will include the details of how many funerals he’s been to lately. Hey, at least I get to catch up on who all has died recently.

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My song for the next 24 hours: Young@Heart - I Wanna Be Sedated - YouTube

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FYI: FCM, Sari, doggio, oopsie, rocky and anyone else within the environs of PA, MD, OH, NC, VA & WV

Saw report that Sheetz Gas has lowered its price to $1.776/gal in honor of July 4th at all stations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia

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Thanks for the ear worm. We’ll all be cheering for you.

93

SWMBO told me to turn on the a/c by noon, so I did… even though the back door is open about five inches so the cats can get in and out. I suppose it doesn’t matter if I’m trying to cool off the outside. The a/c would be on anyway. I’ll have to keep an eye on the bucket, so that I can empty it before it gets too full.

I didn’t get out on my walk until noon. Still behind my pace, but it was a nice walk. Loads of people at the beach for tonight’s festivities/apocalypse. After a shower, I drove the MG down to the south end of the state park and back. I parked it at the street, and I may or may not move it into the driveway after Wifey, RN gets back from seeing her patients.

The supermarket had a sale on T-bone steaks ($5.99/pound for the first two packages). I got a 3-pack that looked good. I can’t remember the last time I had a T-bone. We get rib-eyes from the corner market. We’re having steak and corn-onna-cob for dinner. SWMBO wants me to make one steak and share it. I want to make two because I like leftovers, I season my steaks differently from hers, and like my steaks rare, and she likes hers medium-rare.

I guess I should get ahead of the game, and prep the corn.

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Yay!!! Not having to share a kitchen is one of the things that keeps me sane (somewhat :stuck_out_tongue: ).

nellie, I’m overdue for new glasses anyway, so I’ll replace rather than repair. I’ll also go back to Wally World for them, since they have always done a good job of fitting my hard-to-fit face.

lily, J-Cat is adorable! S/he looks like total royalty.

I got some more done on the wedding album, took Nelson to the dog park, since it wasn’t too stinkin’ hot and et. Right now, I’m watching a documentary on Fats Domino that has some most excellent music.

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Thanks! J-cat is a man-doggie cat.

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Afternoon all. Three loads of laundry done and 750 calories burned at the gym. Also did several on-line classes for soccer (Safe Haven, Concussion, Cardiac Arrest) that coaches are supposed to take each year. Some have been updated and all provide useful information, but still glad they are done for another year. There was a moving van putting stuff in the house next to me, so for the first time in probably 7-8 months I may have some new neighbors there (house has been rented out many times in the past 4-5 years and given the number of workers there the last several months it probably need an interior overhaul). Haven’t met the newbies yet, hopefully they will be nice folks like the rest of the street.

Cat Glove, aw Sheetz, we don’t have them here in Ali-bama…

Best wishes cookie. See you once you’re back home.

Welcome home oopsie. Sounds like you got to see most everyone there, sets the stage nicely for the return for the wedding.

carnut (do we have a MMP name for you yet? I forgot.), fingers and other appropriate appendages are crossed for some housing (and kitchen space) for you.

K-Dad, loved the dream…and like you, trying to run a 440 is not something I would do in real life, much less dream about it.

And that’s alright for anyone.

Or Happy Treason Day…

boo fae, sounds like a great vacation, but that LHR-JFK-LAX route is a killer. Don’t forget about us if you have a chance to post between doing touristy stuff.

Sensei, hope the talking-to gets results, but if they have to miss a weekend on the water to get it through their heads, so be it.

ace, way I see it is that they started the shit, so giving it back to them with interest is only human. Hope it gets through to them. Best wishes for the dogs sanity tonight.

And assorted yeas, boos, tears, hugs and general caring to all.

Hey, nearly 5pm, need to be thinking about dinner-time. Take care all.

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Hah! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh, how I wish! They’re illegal here, too, but there’s always plenty of mortar fire after midnight. One year it started raining just at 1 a.m., and it got blissfully quiet.
I’d forgotten about the black snakes, and I had to laugh at your log cabin description. There’s no public display down here. The city waits for some festival in late July.

carnut (I also can’t recall your MMP name.), fingers are crossed for the low income housing. When will you know?

Oopsie, glad you’re home safe and sound. I bet Bailey was overjoyed to have you back.

Lily, that may be the funniest cat photo I’ve ever seen. Imagine if people slept like that.

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I’m not entirely sure the cabin was supposed to burn down, but it did. Looks like they’re still making them.

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I napped. I dreamed Mom told me that my frozen pizza spoiled. :thinking:
Also, kitchen table ate Spot this morning. He was rubbing against one of the chairs, trying to get my attention, when he leaned too hard, the chair rocked back, he fell onto the seat, and it rocked forward. You should have seen the WTF look on his face. :rofl:

: crosses fingers :

nona, I wouldn’t just stir shit, I’d whip it into a meringue if I was you.

KaãTT, by IKEA

Yeah, but I ain’t waiting in line, just to put a gallon and a half in Carmen.

I’m watching Vehicular Firing Of The M5 Stuart Light Tank on YouTube.

100

I’ve been back from the grocery store and basically doing nothing for almost four hours, and wow am I more tired than I realized. I’m so, so glad I didn’t wait until today to leave NJ. I can’t believe it’s already almost 8pm, though. At least the weekend is only a few days away!

I have an NAACP meeting on Saturday, for the committee I’ve been a member of from the start — but which I’m in the process of leaving, because the committee I’m chairing now is taking up more time than I thought it would. I’ll be meeting with some interns in the next week or two to hand over the admin stuff I do (I already wrote some job aids), and Saturday will be my last meeting with that committee. I thought leaving after three years would feel bittersweet, but I’m actually super ready to move on and focus solely on “my” committee.

On Sunday I’ll be going to the Kennedy Center: the show is the musical 1776, but with an all-female/trans/nonbinary cast. It’s gotten good reviews, but this is one of my favorite shows and I worry a tiny bit that the casting could be kind of gimmicky…I’m looking forward to finding out, though, and to spending some time with the friend who’s going with me. I’ll be watching the 1972 movie in a little while, both because it’s my 4th of July tradition and as prep for Sunday’s show.

:notes: “A second flood, a simple famine, plagues of locusts everywhere; or a cataclysmic earthquake, I’d accept (with some despair). But no, you sent us Congress…good God, sir, was that fair??” :notes:

Speaking of 1776…

How awesome/thoughtful of you! Thank you!! :slight_smile:

I go to Shell whenever I can: it’s always been “my” station, plus BMW recommends it. But I still need to refuel after yesterday’s driving, and I’d be tempted to make an exception today…if the nearest Sheetz weren’t 14 miles away. And if I weren’t in “I’m barely willing to leave the couch, let alone the house” mode.