(Old) Oh, Eh? Can You See? - A Holiday MMP

Mornin’ all. Right at 6am as I start driveling. Been up a bit less than an hour. Was caffinatin’ and balconatin’ while watchin’ a busy Donner & Blitzen show out over the ocean. Very pretty. Which show is just now arriving here in town and the light misting (mizzling; thanks be to thule) has begun, so I’m chased indoors with the doors open. The happy news is it appears that unlike yesterday this might become a fine sunny day after this line slides past us over the next hour-ish.


From yesterday afternoon / evening = previous thread …


Teela: you are a brave woman to put in all that window-cleaning effort. Some tasks just suck.


I am humbled at the Master’s praise for my weak efforts. But I shall redouble my slothful practice as you’ll read more about below.


FCM: hooray for rain, at least as long as it doesn’t turn to flood.

I expect you know this, but a reminder can’t hurt. The doors on most fridge/freezers can be adjusted to increase the closing force. If she toddles off with the door wide open that won’t help, but if she sorta-closeses it but not real vigorously, more closing force will stop at least some of the ajar events.

Ah ha! Inspiration …

At the scruffy but yummy chicken place I’ve cited, they have a typical glass-fronted upright drinks cooler full of sodas in the small dining area. As in “help yourself after you’ve paid”. The fridge have a doorbell-like thing that beeps continuously while the door is open. So the staff who’re facing the fryers and whatnot know to turn around and see who’s getting what. Reduces pilferage.

I just Amazoned and this gizmo Amazon.com: WSDCAM Freezer Door Alarm is not what they have, but it might be just the ticket for you. I’m sure there are another 50 kinds for the choosing. Including one for both fridge and freezer or that hook into Alexa or … Heck, you could outfit the whole house with sensors so you’d know when she’s up and about or away from her walker or …


Metalmouse that sounds like an awesome day at a great train museum. Color me envious in a supportive way. I imagine you’ve done the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, since you too used to live there. For those not from The Lou, despite it’s generic name it’s about 90% railroad stuff.

Good luck getting home with minimal vexation.


As you rightly say, the “Can’t force 'em” is an obstacle.

But the sad truth is that we have actual effective help for actual mental illness about like 19th century medicine had actual effective help for cancer. NOT!

We can tamp down some of the worst external symptoms in some of the easier cases, and (sometimes humanely) jail those who need it to prevent greater harms, but beyond that we as a society are at a technological and moral loss about what to do with these unfortunate folks. And that moral confusion conveniently offers the government and the citizenry who elects them a budget-lite solution: just ignore the problem.

Hooray for a fox sighting. I would occasionally see them around the lake house at the edge of suburbia. Always a heart-warming sight.


Yaay! Just like Roxy & Tobias today.

Been a couple years for me now since my last box, but before that it was a good long time. Some kid food ages better than others. Kraft Mac’n’Cheese is one of the better ones. Speaking from experience, Cap’n Crunch is … not.

Thanks for the inspiration; it’s now on my list for my mini-groc run slated for later today.


From this thread this morning:


Yes, doggio that title is a thing of beauty. Your bow is well-deserved. As our resident Poet Laureate and somebody who’s often up shortly after midnight, I’d like to encourage you to start MMPs early and often. Unless roundly beaten by thule or boofae whose head starts on our days are even greater than your own.


And a happy Canada Day to all. Are you sure you all can’t be persuaded to invade and conquer our country? A) we could sure use it, and B), it will avenge certain unpleasantnesses that went the other way back in Ye Olden Dayes that doubtless still stick in a few Canadian craws. I for one would hail our new Canadian Overlords.


Boofae, you have the most interesting weekends when you launch out to festivals. Can hardly wait for the live on-scene reports.


Thule: It is always amazing how much better work goes with less supervision. Shame you can’t create some anonymous piece of paper with a graph showing daily production stats of whatever you and your section-mates produce alongside a graph of “boss present” vs “boss on holiday”. Just leave it lying around where the grandboss or great grandboss might find it. :evil leer:

The trip to Sri Lanka sounds really neat. I hope you’ll share at least your observations, if not some pix with the crew back here.


Well, former Empires down on their luck have to get their neener-neeners in where they can. :wink: Soon enough it will be the US’s turn to eat some humble pie for a century or three. It would certainly improve our character if not at first our disposition.

Yes; those are awesome there red. Color me wowed.

Are the layers cut with something like a cricut, or are those hand-cut?


[aside]
I keep gettin’ interrupted while everybody else wakes up and posts more so this just keeps getting longer and longer as I try to catch the moving end of the thread …
[/aside]


Swampy: sounds like your day ahead is just about RDOS-optimal, net of any rain. I’ll be curious in due course to hear about how you prepare your ribs.


FCM: MIL’s cognition isn’t that bad if she can come to the correct conclusion about dealing with BIL.

Sadly, he seems to be a write-off at this point. Partly from the bad luck of the genetic draw, and partly from the cumulative results of 60+ years of bad decisions about nearly everything. One can be concerned for his outcomes, but one can’t beat oneself up over trying to manage his outcomes, much less force them.

The serenity prayer applies and this is one of those things where nobody can change it, so we all need to just accept it. 'Twould that it were not so. {{Hugs}}.


Metalmouse: Hooray for a good start to the day; Remember: “Nothing can go wrong … go wrong … go wrong …” :wink:


Jane: Welcome back!! Hooray for impending w/d, and once the ceremonial First Load is merrily spinning, perhaps you could light off a celebratory joint instead of a firecracker? A) you already have those at home, and B) it’ll be quieter for poor GG’s shattered nerves. :wink:


This. Far better to ask and be told “no” than to be afraid to ask. Don’t forget to ask for a bit more than your true minimum. That way when they come back a smidgen lower you’re not in the hole.


As to me …

Had a very lazy day on Sun after my last report. Post-nap I hung around the apartment and tried to reorg a couple drawers but sorta abandoned the effort half complete. Now I have stuff out and strewn about and need to stuff it back in. Oh bother.

Finally watched part of a James Bond DVD I’d gotten from the library a month ago, but after ~20 minutes realized I just wasn’t up for it. Despite this being from ~15 years ago ISTM modern drama has gotten too complicated; too many plots within plots within plots. That was certainly my experience trying to join HL in the trash she liked to watch.

I think something closer to the old Batman TV series with Adam West is about the degree of dramatic complexity I most enjoy. And always have.

But along the way I did inadvertently learn about Kanopy which is a video streaming service at least some libraries (including mine) subscribe to. Which led in turn to setting up an account on my PC, installing the app on my phone, and best of all, figuring out how to install and enable the app on my smart TV. Another small, hesitant, and unsteady geezery step into the 21st. century. Go me!

But now I have another source for a vast supply of zero cost video, all of which is professional stuff, not the mostly-amatuer grab bag on e.g. YouTube. Not that I intend to watch any very often.

I made dinner at home, a dry-rubbed and pan-fried poke chop, reasonably fresh cob corn, and frozen spinach.

Successfully resisted the temptation to have any alcohol; doc is right that even 3 a day well spread out is more than my aging bod can withstand long term. I’m far from addicted, and have no-booze days fairly regularly, but this was an attitude shift from “The opportunity happened to not arise today” to “Here’s ample opportunity, but I’m gonna say ‘no’ for no’s sake”. Quite a different thing.

Finally at 9-ish pm I bestirred myself enough to take out the trash 30 feet down the hall. First time I’d opened the door all day. Trash done, it was bedtime. So how’s that for RDOSin’?


Back to the present moment …

It’s now over 90 minutes since I started driveling. Along the way I noticed that when I came in from the pre-dawn rain starting that I’d left my phone on the table out there in the dark. Where it was now sitting in a puddle and had been for over an hour. Oops.

It seems none the worse for wear, but all the stuff I tuck into the elastic pouch on the back as my wallet are a damp mess, as is the pouch itself. That’s all gently drying now in a slightly warmed oven. It’s always something.

Time now to overcome the avoidance of all laborious tasks and start my weekday.
Narrator: We’ll see about that.

Happy Moanday to all!

Cheers!!

It’s not a door - it’s a slide-out lower freezer and it needs a bit of oomph to close. I’ve asked her repeatedly to ask us to get her what she wants from the freezer (usually ice to crunch on) but she doesn’t want to trouble us… Independent old ladies are a challenge. I will look into an alarm, tho. Thanks!

The fly in the ointment is that the complex calls FCD when there’s a problem, and I think he’s just one or two problems away from homelessness. And he won’t even have a car to live in, but we’ve already decided he won’t live with us… theoretically. It’s an ugly situation.

I"m showered and dressed and I just got the reminder to give Higgs her first-of-the-month meds. Guess I should do that now. Onward!!

Off to “training.”

Despite it being the beginning of July and the depths of summer, it was chilly last night! Barely mid-50s even now.

This is NOT a complaint, mind you!

Those wacky Brits.

You keep advertisin’ your menu like that, folks are gonna start showing up.

I cannot imagine bringing a dog - especially a young dog that’s new-ish to me - to a fireworks display.

They’re negotiating. Ball is in your court.

That is 128% not your problem.

I had the same notion.

Would you mind sharing any of your list items? I was just last night while wrapping up at work thinking I really need to find some better quality entertainment. I can put up with ads as long as the content is free.

Well, don’t forget about it again! Melted phone can be quite stinky.

I strongly suspect that’s where this situation is headed. I’m so sorry, dear, there are simply no good answers here, at least not realistically.

Vent away as needed!

Agreed. This is such a mess and the worse part is that nothing can be done about it.

It is now 0905 and the first wash has been run (no clothes, we wanted to be sure all the factory detritus was gone).

There is an app that will allow us to control the w/d with our phones. I think I’ll just delete that along with the app to control the Litter Robot.

GG has just come out and sniffed the washing machine and it made a noise. Poor kittyboi, I know he’s going to be much happier when we have our stuff and the house doesn’t echo so much.

ETA: Hubs was just giving telling our new electrician where we live “we’re just past the country club, the brick house that had the RV in it”.

Ya gotta love living in a small town, the electrician knew just which one he meant.

red I’m gonna “borrow” the cat and bat card layout. Love it.

I decided to buy a new saddle. Put out RFPs to 2 saddle fitters in the area. This will be interesting and nerve wracking.

Have ‘fun’.

I just got word that my best friend’s husband passed away early this morning. I’d like to specifically thank FCM for sharing her experiences with hospice. When I was talking to my friend, I mentioned how much help they had been to you. She was very hesitant because she was used to doing everything by herself. Enough of us who care about her nudged her in the right direction. He’d had them for about 2 weeks when he passed this morning. He was 92. I am sad and relieved for her at the same time.

In the meantime, I am sitting here with Annie and MusicMan waiting for the Spaw appointment.

Coppertone: Best of luck today. May it be a long session worth the hassle of getting there, effective, and fully paid in a timely manner!


I have no list. I was poking at my library’s website casting randomly about for something to pick up when I return the DVDs I have. That’s when I noticed this strange thing called “Kanopy” and looked into it.

If the library where you are subscribes to them, go to kanopy.com and poke around. Pretty much if it’s a DVD a public library might own, Kanopy has it too. So no ads whatsoever.

Now that I know that, I rather suspect I’ll be using my mouse, not my car, to pick up vids for watching. Once I figure out what I care enough to watch.

Oh yeah. I’ve been using slightly warmed ovens to dry stuff for years. Or to rise bread. Or …

The trick of course is turn the empty oven on at the lowest temp, wait a couple-few minutes, turn the oven back off, then put the whatever in there. And leave the door open.


You can tell you’re a true local when you start giving directions relative to landmarks you’ve never seen that you learned from other people had once been [someplace] but were removed years before before you moved in.

Sounds like Hubs is well on his way to “local” status. :wink: Congrats!


Yes. The story of most long lives and most caregivers’ lives as well.

{{Hugs}} to all, but especially the widow.

Some would say it was deliberately chosen because of that!

We’re British, we have rules about elections and campaigning! Yes, you can declare that you intend to run for office at any point, whether or not you are actually nominated. Most people don’t bother to start campaigning until there is an election in the office, simply because it’s expensive, time-consuming and largely pointless if nobody can vote for you for the next few years.

Thank you - I’ll try for some enlivening on-scene reports from the one coming up this week. It’s SOS Festival and one that I’ve been to a few times before. The venue is a really cool place, it’s got a large indoor stage and bar area, and a big outdoor stage. Plenty of seating, a couple of places doing food, some decent real ales, and it’s quite easy to get to. Oldham is about 1.5hrs drive from us, we’re staying on the outskirts so we’ll get public transport from our accommodation to the venue, and a cab back. The thing that amuses me most about this place is that it’s on the main tram line through Manchester, and the tram stop we use is called Oldham Mumps. Always makes me think of the mumpers :slight_smile:

I have to admit to a soft spot for the word “embuggerances”, since I too have many of them. Or I have too many of them…and enjoy the trip to Sri Lanka. The PSWNSLS platoons will be at home, polishing their hobnail boots, waiting for the summons to their next mission.

Hurrah! I hope GG appreciates that it’s actually for his benefit, and he enjoys having a new playmate. They can bond over their shared fear of washers and dryers.

Good for you! There’s no harm in telling them what your ballpark figure is, if they can’t do it then they will have to do without you, but if you are really a good fit for the job then they’ll find a way to get you in there.

We have our reputation to maintain, y’know!

I’m glad you were able to help - it’s such an important thing during such a difficult time.

Hear, hear! Hoping things go well for you today, SuntanLotion.


I slept so well last night that after bio-break, I had no desire to go back to sleep.
My first Blessed Day Off and I’m not sleeping in! :angry:

So here I sit broken hearted, tried to in a sweatshirt and warm PJ pants, on the first day of July, when by the calendar I should be sweltering unhappily … has the world gone completely topsy-turvy?!? What is this madness?

Whelp, since Monkey-butt is very good at being handsome & is becoming a skilled snuggler but still flat-out refuses to bring the trash bin back up, I guess - since I am dressed, in a manner of speaking - that I shall bestir myself to retrieve it m’damn self.

I heard the truck come rattlin’ around at their usual time, barely, through half-sleep, and then promptly zonked back out.
“Normal” for some, I suppose, but not my usual sleep cycle.

Perhaps a nap shall be in my future … ?

For a non-RDOS you do a pretty good job of playing one on TV. :wink:

So I was in the Mez today, which normally isn’t too bad on Mondays. Except “Anna”(not sure if a company or person) had shipped a pig load of big boxes. Half needed data entry, since they hadn’t transmitted the address info, and half, they had sent to Raleigh, but were supposed to go to Atlanta. Which meant doing the updates, putting on the new label, covering up the second label on the package(usually smart to have, but a real PITA in this case), and having 25% of those come through again for.. reasons. I suspect Anna’s last name is Cephlic. But I’ve had my dry, flavorless bits with strawberries, and now it’s naptime. And I paid the rent, so Spot will not be feral again for at least one more month.

Considering your last few, y’all might actually want to go back to Strange Women Lying In Ponds And Distributing Swords.

If you help handle the equipment, can we call you bat man?

Well, technically they choose a pack of Idiots, and the Pack Of Idiots chooses The Supreme Idiot. And frequently there is a Coalition Of Idiots choosing in exchange for cabinetry.

Awww, poor GG. But you’ll probably hear fireworsk, and light to moderate small arms fire. But yay for W/D!

Be careful what you wish for. Alberta is pretty much Alabama with poutine.

Good luck!

Good luck on the negotiations, sticky!

Seems like pouring gravy over anything makes it an improvement, so { shrug } okay.

Never mind

Ursala staring into space.

Ha! ‘Murricans don’t need no calendar to tell us when to shoot off fireworks! We’ve been hearing them off and on since Memorial Day. At least it’s nowhere near as bad as our old neighborhood in San Francisco. There was always some yahoo shooting fireworks just about every weekend (and often weeknights) throughout the entire year. Around July 4th and Lunar New Year, it was pretty much a constant din for weeks before and after.

Moooom, I kind of doubt MIL will follow through on her threat to not call BIL anymore, but maybe something sunk in that his behavior affects other people. Nah, probably not.

JtC, yay for the new washer and dryer! And I hope GG gets his new sibling soon, and she’s a good fit for the whole family.

As cool as stuff like this sounds, the actual functionality of such apps is negligible. I once got a notification on my phone that my oven had preheated to the desired temperature. I was 1400 miles away! (Yes, Mrs W was at home.) I deleted the app.

MetalMouse, looks like you’ve got a pleasant - if a bit chilly - day for your boat tour. Enjoy, and be sure to let us know how you liked it!

As for me, I’m back home and have a good-sized list of honey-do’s to get to today. I’ve also accepted a three-week job in New York City beginning a week from today, so my stay here will be relatively short. And so it goes.

I have a relative who works in computer forensics and security. If you mention the Internet of Things, he purses his lips and shakes his head no.

You misspelled “slowly achieving Nirvana.”

Good morning, and Oh, Canada! I’ll be happy when our week of explosions is over here.

It’s been ages, but I’ve tried to catch up on what all you busy, busy Mumpers have been doing. My therapist had suggested I focus on in-person interactions for the month of June, and I like to cooperate with the people I’m paying to help me, so that’s what I did. Not surprisingly (to me), I would prefer not to. The in-person people I met aren’t nearly as much fun as you all.

JtC, I’m glad to see that you’re getting settled in well. I hope you can find GG a pal who can lift his spirits.

FCM, it’s good that the much-dreaded trip was a success! I feel for you with BIL. Mr. L’s brother was both scatterbrained and stubborn, and it was very heavy lifting dealing with him, especially when he refused to cooperate to improve his own life.

doggio, I think of you every time I ask Da Jungle to combine all my piddly items into one shipment. News flash: they usually don’t, no matter what I say. At least I can take comfort in knowing I’m doing my part to keep Spot in treats.

Pilot, I’m glad you’re feeling better and that it wasn’t the 'Rona!

Coppertone, best wishes on the training. It’s so dumb when companies are so understaffed that they can’t get it together to train new staff!

BooFae, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a good outcome for your elections; yours are often a harbinger of ours.

MetalMouse, I hope you have a good conclusion to what sounds like a great trip!

WetOne, there’s just nothing like a pensive black cat!
https://www.instagram.com/p/C84xTL3pQMO/?igsh=aWV4cDcwMW1qamJ4

shoe, I wish you a happily lazy day off.

And now I’m being summoned to take Her Feline Majesty out for her daily constitutional. We’re off to stare at birds and bugs!

Tell him I re-use the same password across multiple platforms, and that it’s written on a Post-It that I keep taped to my monitor.

Just kidding.

I don’t use a monitor anymore.