(Old) Mad March Hares in the MMP

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Afternoon all. Did a load of laundry before going swimming and am now home. Yesterday at this time it was 72F; now it is 43F with a few sprinkles and now sun to be seen. Will probably spend the rest of the day indoors.

BBBoo, glad you made3 it home in the nick of time; can remember a few times in my life that I made it to the door just before all heck broke loose.

FCM, I get nothing from SS, never earned enough with them to qualify, so don’t get the notes you do, but occasionally one or another financial place wants me to double-check my info.

JtC, sounds like you are well-prepared for trouble… And yay! for good neighbors.

Oopsie, enjoy jammin’ to the jazz. And junior employee needs a solid boot to the rump (in a metaphorical way, of course) or he may find himself joining the growing ranks of the unemployed.

flyboy, glad the procedure went so well, hope the hurtin’ is minimal.

And TV time now, found a channel that shows MASH reruns from 5-6pm.

[FairyChatMom]

@JaneDoe42

That’s gone forever, there is no forgiving invasion threats and trade wars. Fuck.

No, if we survive these next 4 years (or less, maybe??) I think things can be patched up. Everyone knows what the problem is.

@The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

FCM, I get nothing from SS, never earned enough with them to qualify,

I was FERS, so SS and TSP were my retirement, supplementing a small gummint pension. The SS website is bookmarked for easy access!

Rain is done - we got a pretty good downpour for a few hours, but from the looks of weather radar, no more will hit us tonight, tho the temp will plummet. I went out and looked at the garden I raked - holy crap on a cracker, are there a lot of little things poking thru the dirt!! I think they’re mostly lilies, and I think a buttload need to be transplanted. So another chore on my list.

Supper was pretty good, FCD rinsed the dishes so I can load them in the dishwasher, and we’re in chill mode. I’ll go down to ride the bike in about half an hour. I’m thinking I’ll sleep with Mel tonight, after last night’s stoopity. I’m draggy.

[Northern_Piper]

@FairyChatMom

No, if we survive these next 4 years (or less, maybe??) I think things can be patched up. Everyone knows what the problem is.

I’m afraid I disagree. Trump has strong support in both houses of Congress. That tells this Canadian that there has been a major political change in the United States towards Canada. And that’s all I want to say in this thread.

[LSLGuy]

@FairyChatMom

But it was just the periodic check-to-make-sure-the-proper-beneficiaries-are-listed. So freak-out

IME/AFAIK SS has no concept of beneficiaries. Care to share more?

@JaneDoe42

I have a two inch wide piece of wood I was using for my sign and he bought me a baseball bat to use instead

Years ago I ran a picket line in NYC. All signs had to be cardboard sandwich board signs w strings over your shoulders. Even the flimsiest of sticks were prohibited. NYPD was friendly enough but quite adamant. And menacingly persuasive.

@Misnomer

Either way, I think the music – and getting out of the house – will be good for me.

Yes it will. {{Hugs}} as you adapt to your new reality. And yes, your junior is, likely inadvertently, playing w fire.

[Misnomer]

So, yeah, I’m not going to the jam session after all: I got off the phone with my grandboss about 10 min ago (I had a question; we wound up talking for an hour), and I’m just not in the headspace for being out. Not because of her or any additional bad news – in fact, I learned there are a few things they want me involved with that could help delay my specific furlough (!!) – but just because the whole situation is freaking exhausting. I’m going to order a pizza and watch some TV.

Thanks to all who have offered support, though; it really does mean a lot. Y’all are the bee’s knees.

[Chefguy]

@JaneDoe42

How’s the heat holding up?

Great! I was worried that the high winds (40mph+) might knock out a transformer or down a line, but fortune smiled on us this time.

[JaneDoe42]

@FairyChatMom

I think things can be patched up.

Once again, you have proven to be much nicer than me. IMHO, if you haven’t held a grudge for at least half a century, you don’t know how to do it.

@The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

And yay! for good neighbors.

I seriously do appreciate our current neighbors. Our last neighbors wouldn’t have bothered to knock on the door and tell us about it. It used to distress me when I was back behind the sheds and found deflated balls. Had someone knocked on our door, I’d have thrown the balls back right away, but I didn’t see them from the house or porch.

flyboy maybe now is a good time to go to sleep and let your body heal and recover. Hopefully you won’t even have a dull ache in the morning.

@Northern_Piper

I’m afraid I disagree.

I do not blame you one little bit.

@LSLGuy

All signs had to be cardboard sandwich board signs w strings over your shoulders. Even the flimsiest of sticks were prohibited.

Nobody is looking at our signs or how they are made. So far.

I don’t know if you have ever been to an AZ gun show, but one of the features is if you see someone walking around with rifles over their shoulders, that means the owner is trying to sell them, come on over and bring your cash. Sidearms were carried by all, but the folks with more than one gun in their belt were usually also trying to sell. Private sales, cash only.

Folks who bought guns often had several as well, but most of them had signs taped to the stocks saying “not for sale”.

So…that presidential candidate that invented plaid? (Cannot remember his name ATM, I did kinda like him despite his politics.) He came to a gun show to rally support. Hubs and I were super entertained watching the rather embarrassed secret service guys taking support signs away from people over the sticks while pointedly ignoring the guns.

Oh, and I meant to tell you that I agree with you that LJS got much worse during the times we didn’t eat there. Even back then, I would have been squeeked out by the plate full of grease I received last time I visited.

@Misnomer

but just because the whole situation is freaking exhausting. I’m going to order a pizza and watch some TV.

Cuddle dog! Don’t forget about that!!! Doggy cuddles have to help.

@Chefguy

Great! I was worried that the high winds (40mph+) might knock out a transformer or down a line, but fortune smiled on us this time.

Here’s hoping we didn’t just jinx things!

So tonight I was in the mood for shrimp scampi and went to Food Lion for a bottle of white wine. There are four fridges full of beer and two shelves of wine. I don’t know if this is because folks out here don’t like wine or because of the alcohol laws.

We can’t get the hard stuff at Food Lion, but Walgreens has fully stocked booze shelves. They don’t really have the stuff I like so we have to go to Logan for it, but it’s not like that’s a long drive.

We used to just jump in the car and drive an hour to buy groceries, now we get whiny about driving 15 miles to buy fancy booze.

[Sticks_and_Scones]

@JaneDoe42

my hips been screaming for the past couple of weeks

@JaneDoe42

must be tasted and spat out.

@FairyChatMom

In fact, I avoid all canned pasta - it’s just too easy to make myself.

Funny you should mention this. I’ve just today added a couple of cans of Spaghettios to my grocery order - but only two just in case they’re vile.

@JaneDoe42

I’m all set to go to battle over Medicaid.

You go, girl!

Doggio, not sure if I’ve mentioned, but I am sorry to hear about the cost of your car repairs. Yuck.

Well, it was a day. I don’t think I’m actually ready to discuss it - not that it was horrible, just that I’m tired. I did want to make sure to stop by here, though, and wish you all a good night.

[JaneDoe42]

@Sticks_and_Scones

I’ve just today added a couple of cans of Spaghettios to my grocery order - but only two just in case they’re vile.

Underwood chicken spread is just as good as it was 50 years ago, I should probably get a few more cans for my new cabinet.

How’s Annie doing today? I hope that both of you are feeling better.

[Chefguy]

@JaneDoe42

I also don’t like the parking at the university, my hips been screaming for the past couple of weeks and just getting from the parking lot to the front sidewalks is an uphill slog.

Bursitis? If so, there are easy exercises to help with that.

[BippityBoppityBoo]

@JaneDoe42

GG isn’t a fan of the wind either and having the gutters banging around didn’t help his mood. He’s mostly spending his day in his cave of solitude and pouting.

My meezer Moxie has just now settled down and started acting like her usual self~the blizzard winds dropped off right about 3pm and now the trees in my backyards are only swaying gently, so I can enjoy my Ukrainian flag colored sunset-blue and gold.

I’m presuming this will mean she won’t insist on sleeping with me tonight. She’s a brave and scrappy cat and it was weird how spooked she was. She’s now gone back to sleeping on my coat piled on a chair on the other side of the oil radiator space heater from me, so she’s still only a foot or two away.

@Johnny_L.A

I’m waiting for the feeling to come back to see how much it will hurt.

Two weeks ago a periodontist yanked a badly infected cracked molar out of me. I took otc Tylenol and ibuprofen, in higher prescribed doses, together for 48 hours. Because of the infection I had to rinse with chlorhexidine prescription mouthwash twice a day for 2 weeks. The doc forgot to tell me that the RX rinse would temporarily deaden my taster buds (gradually wears off after you stop using the rinse)-it’s actually hard to eat when you can’t tell if you’re eating lasagna or baked dryer lint.

But extracting the molar did into translate into much less pain, thank gawd-I was about to go outta my mind (I know, for me a short trip).

@The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

BBBoo, glad you made3 it home in the nick of time

Thanks, everyone. I’m glad I scrounged up enough common sense to hightail it home when I did. The last few blocks were scary, almost by braille. A few more minutes hobnobbing with my granddaughter and I would have had to pull over and call for help. There’s a lot of bravado in the Midwest about not listening to weather cautions, especially when it comes to slowing down or just staying home. I’m glad I was willing to be a wuss and live to grandma and Mumper kvetch another day.

@The_Stainless_Steel_Rat

TV time now, found a channel that shows MASH reruns from 5-6pm.

I have Netflix which has 18 seasons of NCIS, my go to. Some of them I’m watching for the 5th or 6th time, I often can predict the exact dialogue coming up. I like the characters so knowing who the villains are already doesn’t spoil anything, I’m just spending time with favorite characters.

I still have 7 seasons of Outlander I can re-rewatch on Starz, but that isn’t nearly as many episodes. Equally likable characters though, equally soothing mindless watching. Once my eyes heal enough that I can read books easily again I have a long list of favorite authors waiting for me. I can hardly wait. I used to read 12-14 hours a day. Not being able to for two months is a tiny problem compared to real world problems but the doc didn’t warn me and it’s taken me aback.

@LSLGuy

Even the flimsiest of sticks were prohibited

Pretty sure they can’t legally take our canes away from either of us jane. They may be lightweight aluminum but they still are sticks. Plus I have a dense, heavy portable oxygen concentrator that would make a dandy caber toss or stone put. I’d want to be sure to take the oxygen tubing offf from behind my ears before I lobbed it at anything though. It hurts bad enough when it just gets caught on a door knob.

@JaneDoe42

Hopefully you won’t even have a dull ache in the morning.

Fortunately he’s got a nursey sweetie there to tend him. Otherwise 1,000mg of Tylenol and 600mg of ibuprofen, taken together every 6-8 hours. The taken together part was new to me. My periodontist explained that recently they found out that the two act synergistically together, preventing and relieving pain better than alternating every 3-4 hours like they used to tell us.

@JaneDoe42

@Northern_Piper

I’m afraid I disagree.

I do not blame you one little bit.

Me either. I just hope we can re-earn Canada’s trust eventually, one friend at a time.

[JaneDoe42]

@Chefguy

Bursitis? If so, there are easy exercises to help with that.

Bursitis, bone on bone joint and degenerative arthritis in my back. Tai Chi helped so much, I am really looking forward to being able to go again.

@BippityBoppityBoo

I’m glad I was willing to be a wuss and live to grandma and Mumper kvetch another day.

Sometimes wisdom does come with age and I’m so glad you have gotten wise about the weather.

@BippityBoppityBoo

They may be lightweight aluminum but they still are sticks.

Ummmm…mine aren’t lightweight aluminum. I don’t like how they creak under my weight, so I have wood or carbon fiber. The carbon fiber one is TSA approved for flying, has shark tooth grips down the shaft and a large enough hook to grab someone by the neck and stab them with the sharp end. Or that’s what the advertisements showed.

@BippityBoppityBoo

My periodontist explained that recently they found out that the two act synergistically together, preventing and relieving pain better than alternating every 3-4 hours like they used to tell us.

TIL. Thank you.

So, I gotta brag about my shrimp scampi. Ya know how shrimp can go from perfect to rubber in 30 seconds? I got them right tonight. Living close to sea level has really changed up my cooking game, I can actually follow recipes without remembering to adjust for high altitude.

Hubs has gone low carb so I pulled his shrimps and garlic out before tossing the linguini (speeled right the frist time, W00t!) in with with my shrimps and sauce. Despite halving the recipe and then halving the amount of pasta…it’s good that it came out well because I’m going to be eating it for a few days.

[swampbear]

Howdy Y’all! I should have a t shirt that says “I Survived Ash Wednesday “. Both services were fairly well attended. We decided on fish ‘n chips from Captain Ds, as we remembered there’s one not far from the church house and kinda on the way home. I did manage a short nap this afternoon.

I read all but can’t brain right now, so yays, boos, hugs, trouts, chitlins and how you doin’s all around, as needed.

[Johnny_L.A]

@JaneDoe42

Hopefully you won’t even have a dull ache in the morning.

There’s barely a dull ache now. I’ve had two Johnsonville Irish O’Garlic sausages. I’m hungrier than I knew. I had a bologna sandwich for breakfast. Now I’m cooking the last two chicken tenderloins.

@BippityBoppityBoo

But extracting the molar did into translate into much less pain, thank gawd-I was about to go outta

The implant was nice while it lasted. But it replaced the last molar, so I probably didn’t need it. I’m hoping to have fewer problems now it’s gone.

[BippityBoppityBoo]

@Johnny_L.A

it replaced the last molar, so I probably didn’t need it. I’m hoping to have fewer problems now it’s gone.

Thai’s what they told me-I didn’t really need that last molar, it is the next one that is critical to retain. Because of the infection in the bone they didn’t think it was worth the immense cost and bone grafts etc that would be required to attempt an implant.

Now I need to buckle down and not lose that second molar or any more teeth.

[missred]

@FairyChatMom

I do, too, but the only one in our county closed years ago, dammit.

The one here in town closed a few years back too. I liked their fish tacos sold during Lent. We still have Captain D’s though.

@JaneDoe42

People don’t understand that staples are hated in mail-rooms world over. They just want to be sure their package doesn’t get opened accidentally. Once I learned how much staples were hated, I moved to using duct tape. I’m sure it is also a PITA but at least fingers aren’t getting poked with sharp points.

Yeah, we curse duct tape users too. Honestly, the handy dandy envelope that we provide for you to mail your old phone back in does what it is designed to do without any additional reinforcement. If I have to use a utility knife to get into the package instead of the handy dandy safety cutter, I’m at a much higher risk of getting cut.

@JaneDoe42

At least he’s cuddly! Hubs weighted him yesterday and it looks like he’s finally stopped growing and settled at 21.4 lbs. He sure does look so much bigger, LOL!!!

Awwww… He’s about the size of my goddog Penny and about 3.4 lbs bigger than Nelson.

@JaneDoe42

So, I just came online briefly to brag about Hubs. I have a two inch wide piece of wood I was using for my sign and he bought me a baseball bat to use instead. Between my trusty cane and baseball bat sign, I’m all set to go to battle over Medicaid.

That’s true love!

@JaneDoe42

OK, that makes sense. There won’t be a retirement community for us, we will die in this home. We can pay someone to come and help with housework and showers when needed, it will be less expensive and we don’t like people enough to want to live that close to them.

That’s about what my 87 year old dad does. Even after he quit driving, he hires drivers for medical appointments and until recently, to go grocery shopping (delivery just became available in his small town). He has a cleaning lady, a bath lady, a woman who comes in twice a day to put on / take off his compression stockings (also a safety check), etc. He knows that there may come a time when that’s no longer an option, but until then, he’s staying in his home.

I irked on envelopes again today. My cow-orker came in and they moved both of us up front. She was still sick and I am all sinus-y, so we both submitted PTO for tomorrow. She actually went home at first break today. I hope she feels better by Monday.

I got rice bombed twice today! There are still people who stick their phones in rice before giving up and submitting a claim for them. That tends to leave rice, sometimes as much as a tablespoon, in the envelope. Most of the time, those phones are scrapped. Between the water that did the original damage and the rice that turned into glue or got into sensitive parts, there isn’t much to salvage.

It was about 13 degrees colder when I got off irk than when I went in, with small dog warnings. Now, they’re calling for snow up on the Plateau.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

[JaneDoe42]

@swampbear

We decided on fish ‘n chips from Captain Ds, as we remembered there’s one not far from the church house and kinda on the way home.

Who gets the hushpuppies? I always give mine to Hubs because I’m such a good wife.

@Johnny_L.A

There’s barely a dull ache now.

That’s great, that means your face likes having that infection gone!

Don’t mess around with the hole, no matter how much your tongue wants to lick it.

@missred

Honestly, the handy dandy envelope that we provide for you to mail your old phone back in does what it is designed to do without any additional reinforcement.

I’ve never sent a phone back, mostly it is those worthless plastic pull-tab amazon return envelops that got the duct tape treatment. The tabs didn’t open the envelope right and often they came with tape or something on the edges. I was far too lazy to go and find something to use for returns, so out the duct tape came.

It is a moot point now, we don’t use Amazon and haven’t had to repackage their stuff for quite a while before I fired them.

@missred

That’s about what my 87 year old dad does.

We looked at all of that when we bought this place. We bought close to the hospital and medical care. We are on a bus line that goes right to the grocery sto and doctor’s offices and know that there are several home-health companies that provide all of those services close to hand.

@missred

That’s true love!

Yeah, he doesn’t want me out there and has said he won’t bail me out of jail…but he does want me to be able to go down fighting if needed. He wouldn’t want it any other way, he married me for my passion and likes knowing that I still seethe and burn when needed.

[Johnny_L.A]

@JaneDoe42

Don’t mess around with the hole, no matter how much your tongue wants to lick it.

It’s too far back for that.

[SuntanLotion]

I was exiting the library and a dude asked me, Do you have a lighter miss?
I always say I don’t smoke but I usually get ma’am. I feel young!
Had a weirdass dream; it was some family gathering, my parents were there and Hunter B and I were trying to find a private place to rendevous.
Honestly a better dream than my usual ones.

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Late night final from N. Ali-bama. Stayed inside all evening, got my sweatpants/shirts hung up and dinner eaten, outside of that pretty much just sitting reading and watching You Tubes. Temperature is down to 39F and going to just dip below freezing tonight, so hoping spring will start soon and this time stick around for a couple of months.

FCM, I beat the CSRS/FERS changeover by about 5-6 years IIRC, fairly glad I did, although I expect the number of retirees drawing it is decreasing steadily over the years. (For those who don’t know the code, CSRS is the Civil Service Retirement Program, which is the old, pension-like retirement system and FERS is the Federal Employees Retirement System, which started in 1987 and is a combination of Social Security and a Government 401k-like Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). And now you know more than you ever wanted to know about US Government retirement…)

JtC, thanks for the info on the gun shows; I have never been to one anywhere and don’t plan to, but am always interested in how things work. Enjoy the booze (I just reread an old Science Fiction story that had a place called “The House of Exquisite Pleasures and Ferocious Booze”).

BBBoo, glad the extraction was a big help; so far my teeth have behaved themselves, despite my less-than-stellar treatment of them.

And that’s all the energy I got. Catch y’all on Thorsday.