60 the last two days. Today theres a dusting of snow and its windy.
Morning all. Stayed in bed until nearly 8am this morning because I can. May make a trip to the Mart of Wal for a couple of things and do my walkies at the gym, but otherwise not much on the agenda. Am having my Big Bowl O’Cheerios and an apple as I scroll though the messages of the day. The rain is all gone, but the high temperature is only getting to 54F, so guess we’ll have to wait until next week for Spring.
I have shoe to thank (IIRC) for mentioning pudding cups several weeks ago. Bought some as an experiment, and now they have become a regular snack (and only 100 calories) along with applesauce cups. Guess I’m just in my cups these days…
Now onto the MMP news of the last 12 hours…
Nettie, I try to make sure I have turned off and unplugged my room heating unit when I leave the house; it’s probably not necessary and it has safety features, but I remember old stories of houses burning down and people killed by space heaters, so I just make it part of my routine.
Baker, been a long time since I was ashed, but like Nettie, I know enough not to bother folks who have been.
Great 8 nice of you to drop by, know what you mean about toenails, I have a habit of letting them grow too long and they start snagging my socks. Just clipped them a few days ago.
{{shoe}}, hope things settle down soon, and seems like sound advice to me… 
boo fae, I’m going to be using trains in England when I visit in July (London to Southampton and Portsmouth and then back to London) so I hope they are reasonable dependable.
Sticky Buns, as one who has been overweight (sometimes very obese) I feel for you, but don’t let it get you down, you have you life to live and people who care about you very much, so just take the Doctors as they come and rejoice that you have one that knows when to button their lip.
FCM, you’re undoubtedly right, I started in 1981 and know it was not too long after I was working that they made the transition. Funny though, a couple of sites I went to showed 1987, guess your office started early.
52, I’m running low on Diet Pepsi here, waiting for a sale to come along. I stopped stocking 2-liter bottles as i though I was drinking too much, but the rate I am going through the caned stuff makes me think that I should go back to having some 2-liter bottles around.
OK, 4 cups of Cheerios, 2 cups of skim milk, a Gala Apple and a small cup of applesauce are happily digesting in my belly and I need to get dressed and head off to Wal-Mart. Have a god Thorsday all.
I stock Coke Zero, but would share if I could.
I could have sworn I still had two cans left. Such a pit of disappointment so early in the day… (but definitely enjoy those doggo cuddles)
Thankfully work chilled long enough I could procure a bottle from the nearest store, but we were almost at that point!!
Also, $350 for a designer bag is actually rather cheap. I don’t buy them myself, but I’ve had many coworkers over the years that will drop $1k or more for a bag. I personally find the quality for a $50-100 bag sufficient for my needs - ie, it’ll last several years before it starts showing signs of wear.
That’s exactly why I buy cans also! Well that and they’re more portable. Two cans a day are generally sufficient and I drink them slow enough they last until lunchtime. But if I have a 2-liter I find I’ll drink a liter in just a few hours, and I have no idea why the difference!
For home, cans work fine. At an office job, a reclosable bottle of the 1/2 liter variety is usually needed, since offices tend to insist on drinks being in spill-proof containers. I consider that reasonable, since having people spilling their drinks into their computers can get to be an expensive problem.
2-liter bottles just don’t really fit in my current refrigerator.
Oh that’s interesting - I haven’t worked anywhere that required a spill-proof container since I worked at a bank in college. No other place has had any kind of policy around it, and my current workplace even supplies free cans of soda as a benefit.
The last call center I worked in, which I refer to as Hades Annex, required spill-proof on our desks, but the vending machine in the break room had cans, which were theoretically taboo at desks (puzzled look).
I just brought my own (6-packs of 1/2 liter at a grocery store work out to a much better per-bottle price than convenience stores or vending machines anyway). It’s been my experience that most employers do prefer spill-proof, and I don’t consider that unreasonable.
Vegan leather is pleather. Plastic. Vinyl. Doesn’t resemble leather in the least. I carry leather or Le Pliage from Longchamp which is nylon and certainly not touted as vegan leather.
I must have coffee in the morning and I stop drinking it around 10:30. I used to go through a 2 liter of Diet Dr Pepper in 2 days but I’ve cut back to 10 ounces a day.
Wifey, RN is a Certified Foot Care Specialist. As an RN, she is authorised to clip the toenails of diabetic patients. She was in home health, with a background in wound care, and she noticed people really needed someone to take care of their feet; so she quit her job and started her own foot care business. She goes to people’s residences, as it’s difficult for her patients to get out to see a podiatrist. She only charges $55 per visit ($45 for veterans). Her patients think that’s very reasonable. She gets more from the state for her DSHS patients.
In other news, I told The Missus about an article wherein Trump is planning on revoking the parole of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees, who will then be on the fast track to deportation. She was appalled. My wife, who has always been politically apathetic (‘Old men die,’ she’d say.) was so appalled that she ordered a Ukrainian flag and a flag pole.
I should thank shoe too. Her mention of pudding cups was so timely-just as I was scheduled for that surgical extraction of a molar, condemning me to several weeks of soft foods. So when I went to the sto’ for stock up for that I grabbed 3 varieties of pudding cups, all of which were tasty and fun just when I needed tasty snacks. Pretty sure I’ll be buying more even though I no longer need to limit myself to soft food goodies. Try the Jello lemon and Jello strawberry cheesecake cups, can recommend highly.
I can’t wrap my head around this. I feel like if I spend $100, that’s a lot. Especially for something that gets tossed on the floor of the car every time I go somewhere. I don’t know if I could spend $1000 even after I hit the big lottery jackpot…
I’ve opted out of purse shopping today - just don’t feel up to it. Translation - LAZY!!! I think I’m still dealing with my melatonin hangover. Yeah, that must be it.
And I am now the possessor of two new sweatshirts and three new sweatpants, which means I am now well-prepared for next October, even if I won’t get much use for them once spring weather really kicks in. Celebrated my morning activity by having a late second breakfast (pancakes and bacon) so have a good reason to go to the gym this afternoon. Beautiful blue sky to look at, but only 44F so not time to break out the shorts yet.
I drink least 4-5 cans of Pepsi (split between Diet and Zero), which is probably too much but I can’t just sip them during the day, get them out and in a glass on ice and glug…glug they are gone. Trying to use water or gatorade instead to vary my consumption.
And probably will head over to the gym in a bit–some You Tubes need watching first…
Most restaurants and fast food places have fish features during Lent. Even Hardees (it may be Carl’s Jr where you live) and Arby’s usually do.
Back when I still attended church, there were enough Catholics, Lutherans and Episcopalian folks around that no one blinked an eye.
Welcome back! And welcome to our particular (and peculiar) little corner of it.
Well said! Keep up what you can JtC.
My dad used to do the same for his mother. She had two very thick toenails (almost all of her granddaughters got them on the second toe) that he used bolt cutters (very carefully) on.
Hit up Goodwill or another thrift store. I’ve purchased some nice purses there. Be picky and stop often, but you can usually get that $150-250 bag for $5-10.
For the most part, wearing a prominently placed label on clothing items, purses and footwear is for the benefit of folks who don’t know quality without it or those who want the flash. Thing is, most commercially available designer labels have outlet mall versions with the name but dollar store quality.
My irkplace doesn’t allow food or beverages in any work station not in a purple zone. The reason for that is that out in production, you will have product on your desk and they don’t want to fry a dozen iPhone16s because someone knocked over a drink or have the pest issues that foodstuffs would bring. That was quite an adjustment when I went from a position under Finance to a position in operations.
I went to my PCP office for an allergy jab this morning. Since it is a regular thing during the season, I don’t have to have an appointment and a nurse administers it. Got home, napped and am now getting ready to play around in the studio, once a certain small, reddish dog finishes his nap in my arms. 
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
This was gonna be my suggestion too. Just make a circuit of thrift stores every couple of days and you’ll find a nice broken-in leather purse for $5-10 that somebody used for one season and then got bored of. That’s how I got my purses for decades.
Got a call a little bit ago on my phone with callerID of Teledoc and a woman wanting to talk to FCD about BC/BS programs he may be eligible for. I gave a non-commital grunt and hung up, then searched the number - it came up as scammy. No surprise there, since our BC/BS is under my name, not his. Bastards.
I did get a nice little purse at a thrift store before our Antarctica trip - just big enough for passport, ID, phone, and a comb. But it’s too small for everyday use. And I honestly don’t care if I get a leather bag or not. I don’t want fabric - leatheroid will be fine. I’m more interested in the interior features and the length of the strap.
I see a wee bit of blue breaking thru the clouds and shadows indication perhaps the sun will shine also. Maybe. But it’s still windy. So I’m making ice and playing on my tablet till it’s time to start the soup.
That’s the “gun show loophole” that you hear about. If you go to one of the official vendors, you have to fill out the paperwork and show ID. If you buy from someone else attending, cash is all that is involved.
Lamor Alexander. I knew it would come to me if I didn’t think about it. Al Gore said he invented the internet and all of the other candidates claimed to have invented something as well. Lamar invented plaid, LOL!
We went to the big booze sto in Charleston today and they had Kentucky bourbon on special. I guess if the Canadian government (the government owns the booze stores in the parts of Canada that is pulling it from the shelves and the government is the ones who are pulling it. I haven’t heard of it being poured into the ocean, so I’m guessing they are putting it in a warehouse to be “aged in the bottle” and then sold in twenty years.) isn’t buying it anymore, they need to find another market.
We didn’t buy any, neither of us drink those sort of spirits. I was mostly looking to restock my cream liquors (I’m still kinda grumpy that Hubs gave my booze collection away so he would have room to pack the Tabasco and apple cider vinegar.) but I also grabbed a bottle of Canadian Mist in a fit of nostalgia. (which I spelled right too! wow, I’m on a roll lately)
I also use duct tape on those mail-in colonoscopy things. I’m sure the tape is designed to hold, but still…
Oh, goodness, that sure could have ended badly. I’m glad it is a nothing. I’d agree that they will be much more careful now.
So Hubs had a chiro appointment today in Charleston and I went with and waited in the car with kindle and blanket (it was snowing). Someone backed into the car, I felt it move but didn’t hear anything. I got out and the truck owner got out and started apologizing to me. I didn’t see any damage to our car and none to his truck, so I told him to have a better rest of his day and got back into the car.
A few minutes later, Hubs, the retired Auto Body Collision Repair Specialist, AKA bodyman, came out and I told him what had happened. He looked at our car and the truck, couldn’t see any damage and called it done.
We went to a different Asian Buffet that we didn’t like as much as the first one. It was acceptable but both of us liked the first one better so that’s where we will go when in the mood.
I liked the first one better before even tasting my food, this one had big serving spoons and the first one had small serving spoons that made it much easier to graze. When I’m at a buffet, I don’t want a big serving of anything, I want a whole lot of bite sized servings.
There aren’t a lot of Catholics out this way, but there are a bunch of coal miners. A little dust wouldn’t even be noticed when folks are used to coal black faces.
I used to love Lent when I was a kid. That meant fish sticks and french fries! Even in school!
Hurray for that and welcome back
That’s rude AF. Don’t blow smoke of any sort into someone else’s space, jerk!
I’m spending a lot of time on the protest lines, so don’t read my blurred stuff.
Well, finding out how those snail shells made it to England is going to be a fun rabbit hole.
Sorry for sounding so whiny. I’m having a lot of big feelings lately.
Oh those poor babies, you abuse them so!
Our neighbor to the left has daffodils blooming and the trees are starting to look bumpy. I’m so excited, this is going to be my first entire spring in the forest and I just know it is going to be beautiful.
Hubs sets his alarm for 0600 every morning. He says it is important to have a routine. My alarm is set for 1030 which usually allows me to wake up when I want to.
Thank you, TIL. I will give it a try, it certainly can’t hurt!
Holy Cow! I’m so glad you survived!!! I’ve had to cut way back on my caffeine lately but that just makes the little bit I am allowed to have even more precious!
I agree. Back when I carried purses, I got most of my purses at thrift stores. Goodwill seems to be pretty junky nowadays but the small locally owned shops often have nice stuff.
That was something that annoyed me about Harley gear. They make quality riding gear that is well worth the money. I owned a Harley, I didn’t need to prove anything by buying boots that had the HD brand on every single grommet as well as labels on the sides, back and soles. But they were good riding boots that served me well for years, not a purse I would want to keep nice looking.
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This morning I applied to an internal position that only opened yesterday: it’s a bit of a stretch (a grade higher + some things I haven’t really done before) but not unrealistic, and it’s something I think I could both enjoy and be good at. I emailed the recruiter and let her know I was at risk and had applied, and she and the hiring manager have both already been in touch with my grandboss – who, BTW, was my boss/our program manager until just over a year ago. My current boss has only been my manager for about a month, and my previous boss is now retired, so my grandboss is the one for an internal reference. Anyway, she told them nice things about me. 
I won’t be surprised if I don’t get an interview – it is a bit more senior than my current position – but it would be nice to at least talk with the hiring manager. I inquired about two other openings, as well, but neither was a good enough fit for me to apply. I check for new openings twice a day. I’ve decided that I’m going to stay focused on internal opportunities for at least the next week.
At a little after 2pm, HR notified us that the furlough will begin on Saturday (not that we usually work weekends; it’s just the start of the next pay period). As expected. There’s no estimated duration of the furlough period yet, also as expected. The good news is that they will allow people with accrued leave to defer the switch to furloughed status, so I can buy myself at least two more weeks of getting paid. But the bad news is that it has to be used in 8-hour increments – and, I’m not sure whether I’ll be allowed to charge a day or two here and there in order to make my leave last longer (the form asks for how much we plan to use, and the start and end dates). Our HR rep is slammed this afternoon, so I’ll just wait and ask my question at tomorrow’s final all-hands. Also, I’m hoping to get some additional news before then: during yesterday’s conversation with my grandboss she indicated that there will be some contract close-out and other tasking for me that should delay my specific switch to furloughed status. 
Remember how I was worried that my junior employee might be spinning out? I checked on him this morning: turns out he’s actually just being super casual about the whole thing. 
He said he’s fine and just took a couple of days “off,” but really appreciated me asking and would send his updated resume to me by the end of the day (it’s now 4pm: nope, haven’t seen it yet). I told him I always recommend prioritizing the things that will help him find a new job and then taking a break, but you can only lead a horse to water. While I’m glad he’s not freaking out, frankly I’m a little annoyed by his laissez-faire approach. His big brother also works for the company (not on a federal contract) and I’m sure has heard the news by now, so I’m probably not the only one trying to get him to step up a little.
Oh, if only Bailey were a cuddler! Plus, when I’m in the living room I only see her when she needs to pee or eat. Most of the time she’s sleeping in the home office. Even before she got old she was never a “touchy-feely” dog: she always wants to be close by, but barely tolerates being petted every now and then. Sometimes she’s all about the ear skritches, but usually she’ll put up with a kiss on the head only so she can go outside. Heh. Knowing she’s in the house and seeing her from time to time is definitely comforting, though (she is under strict orders not to die before I find a new job!).
I’m a fairly physically affectionate person, and at first it bothered me that she isn’t a lap dog at all/big on contact. But one of the many things this dog has taught me is the value of accepting love on the giver’s terms; in whatever form it’s offered. 
Ha! My father has been a Catholic church organist for 60+ years, and I’ve often thought he should have a “Jesus and I Both Survived Easter” t-shirt. 
Everyone’s good at something…
Welcome back!
It happened to my family a couple of months before I turned 5: the guy upstairs fell asleep with a lit cigarette, and burned the whole building down in the middle of the night. Luckily, the four of us got out unscathed – but our cat didn’t make it. I like to think she was able to run away. The contents of one closet miraculously survived, so there are pictures from my little brother’s and my early childhoods and a few other pre-fire things, but everything else was lost. I was young, but can still hear the pounding on our door and the yells of “fire!” in the hallway.
Woah! I’m glad there was no damage and – most importantly – no injury to yourself!
You are a woman of great discernment & wisdom. Most denizens of buffets want a whole lot of plate-filling servings, not bite-sized ones. Serving spoons the size of soup ladles would be ideal for those folks.
Here’s hoping!!! Your stellar record seems to be well-known amongst the folks who matter. That’s gotta count for something.
Once again, I made a superb soup! The base was some beef broth plus the leftover pot roast broth. I cut up the leftover meat used the leftover spuds and carrots, plus added another cut up potato, some onion, some canned diced tomatoes, some frozen mixed veggies, and some barley. Plus assorted seasonings. I just wish I’d grabbed a loaf of crusty bread when I was at the store. Dammit.
I also want a hot fudge sundae. Dammit.
Shortly, I’ll head downstairs to bike. Not sure what I’ll watch on TV - I have a few things on my BritBox waitlist - maybe I’ll try one of those that I think FCD won’t like. Our evenings are for binging series together.
You’re basically just stretching the bursa. I usually get up several times at night, so when I come back to bed, I do that stretch so I can sleep better.
Tonight’s dinner was pancakes topped with bananas Foster, and sausage on the side.