It’s 48F and cloudy outside; dark too. The expected high is 58F, which, in my opinion, is too warm for December, but whatcha gonna do? The sky will remain cloudy to partly cloudy all day.
I’ve read but retained little.
I have an upright piano at my house that my husband learned to play on. It’s old and needs to go, but I don’t think my husband will let it go. His parents forced it on us when we bought our first house; even then, it needed tuning up. It’s completely out of tune and probably needs more work than it’s worth. It’s simply a dust collector with framed photos on top of it. Yeah, more clutter that I want gone.
We will be home for NYE, and if the jerks next door don’t have a party, I’ll probably be asleep around 10:00 or so. Besides, the puppies make it impossible for both of us to be out right now anyway.
I’ll be making prime rib soup today. We finished the last of our Christmas Day leftovers last night, and I’m glad to be done with them. I’m also glad I got to send my son home with so much because I’m sick of rich food. I’d like a salad, please. I will make the soup and divide it between us and my son.
I had to work yesterday, but I really wasn’t feeling it. I took care of some problems that cropped up in my absence, updated my budget tracker, and answered many emails.
My boss and one of the other program directors were on the road in one of our GOVs, which DIED on them in Naches (outside of Yakima, WA). The boss called me, and I was worried I would have to pick them up, but they called a tow truck, and one of the employees in Yakima picked them up and took them to our office there. They’ll take the GOV pick-up truck from Yakima and drive it to Olympia. We’ll keep the truck until the stupid Hyundai is fixed and swap them out. I’m not too fond of those stupid hybrids; they are the most unreliable vehicles ever, and every single one has left an employee stranded at some point. We are getting rid of all of them, eventually. Unfortunately, it takes months and months for replacements to arrive.
Other than making the soup, I don’t have much on the agenda for today. I’ll probably take down Christmas and call it good.
Snacks are a no-judgement thing, so far as I’m concerned. What your body is telling you it wants is very individual and your choice of munchies doesn’t infringe on my life.
That’s pretty much what Dad did with the one that I learned to play on. The church was one with a lot of old folks and a couple who had grown up playing one.
I’ve been in apartments for years and have never encountered regular inspections. The few times an inspection notice was given for anything other than maintenance were always when the place was on the market.
Up, caffeinating, breakfasted, bed stripped, a load of sheets / towels in the dryer, a load of jeans in the wash and fixing to do KP and clean the place.
SIL will come down tomorrow and we’re going out to breakfast and taking a little ramble down US231 towards Alabammy. We have no clue just how far we’ll take it, since that depends on what kind of interesting things pop up on the way, but it will be a good day.
Me neither, until this address. But this is my first home in Michigan (previous addresses were all Texas) which is why I think it’s a state-by-state thing.
Unhappily awake, as I got my usual 4 hrs sleep, then after bio break started sliding back into drowsiness … just as my alarm went off.
I really, really wish I just knew what friggin’ time they were coming. Gimme a three hour window, not the entire effing day, and THEN I go into work!
Monkey is purring next to me, and I’m kinda counting on him to stay nearby so I can relax enough to doze back off - he’s very good about giving me a heads up when strangers are about. (By growling and running over my body in his haste to find a hiding spot … this ain’t Lassie. But knowing he’s alert nearby - plus the purring - is very soothing.)
Speaking of, when he popped back up onto the bed, he gave his usual chirpy “hello” meow … right as an unexpected yawn hit him.
Y’all, the sound he emitted was adorably hilarious.
Good morning all. A chilly 35F now and only getting to 40F for a high, so a good day to spend inside…which I won’t be doing, having shopping to do and then get back to my swimming routine, so that should occupy the afternoon. Not much else planned, we’ll see how things go.
In my experience post-trip cruises usually end at the airport, but best to be sure. Also be aware that there are two airports in Buenos Aires, one is mostly domestic/S. America and the other is the International Terminal, which is farther away.
Wet one, somebody was hungry…
shoe, never had inspectors when I had apartments, probably just as well as I was less than a perfect housekeeper…hope the Monkey Alert System works for you.
Taters, the car that wouldn’t start for me in Kansas City was a hybrid, so that and your remarks are making me think twice about getting one for my next car in a couple of years…we’ll see.
OK, need to make myself presentable in public and do the shopping, so take care all.
Started Typing: 10:08 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 11:59 AM ET
It’s Friday! And I’m off work! Woot!!
I’ve been a renter since 1994, and since 2001 I’ve rented only townhouses and/or single family homes: apartment inspections were never a thing, but every lease I’ve had in the past 22 years has mentioned annual inspections…and I’ve yet to have a single one. It might be nice if someone came by every now and then to proactively check for possible issues that I might not notice (since I’ve never been a homeowner) – or, you know, to show they care whether I’m putting holes in the walls – but whatevs.
Yesterday’s workout was good, as usual. The training space wasn’t eerily empty like it was on Tuesday – a few other people were there – but this afternoon I’ll be going at 1:45 and I’ll be surprised if my trainer and I aren’t alone. I wonder how many other people will be in tomorrow’s 11am Zumba class…
Last night I mostly just watched TV. Many years ago I bought Sports Night on iTunes (I also have the DVDs), and every now and then I re-watch the two-season series. I’ve been binging it the past few nights, and am about halfway through S2; I expect to finish it either today or tomorrow. I didn’t watch it when it first aired, because it took me ~10 more years to realize that (a) it’s an Aaron Sorkin show and I’m an Aaron Sorkin fan, (b) I liked sports more than I did when it first aired, and (c) it’s not really about sports. Sorkin reuses his own themes/plots/phrases/character names, etc., to a ridiculous extent, but I still rewatch Sports Night, The West Wing, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on a fairly regular basis. I have no interest in rewatching The Newsroom, though: not only do I find several of the characters to be annoying, he did most of the themes/plots better in the earlier shows.
I have never been good at crossword puzzles, but on Wednesday I decided to try the New York Times crossword online (I play the NYT Spelling Bee every day). I finished all but 6 clues before giving up, but yesterday I played – and completed! – Tuesday’s puzzle in less than 30 minutes. I believe they get progressively more difficult each day: I’ll try yesterday’s puzzle later, and if I’m able to complete it I might tackle today’s. I play the online games while watching TV.
After the gym today I’ll swing by the grocery store, then once I’m back home and the food is put away I’ll take Bailey for a walk. It’ll be partly sunny and in the low 50s this afternoon, which is good weather for a dog walk. This evening/tonight I think I might finally start on the Lego jazz club set, which I’m looking forward to.
Yeah, you guys, I was specifically talking about grand pianos. FCM mentioned free/super cheap grand pianos, and my comment was that they wouldn’t be worth anything. I definitely know there are tons of decent used uprights/spinets around for either free or not very much*. Sorry for not being more clear about that!
Grand pianos are expensive and are purchased deliberately – not by “a lot of folks” or as “common”/“essential” parts of households, even back in the day – and they’re either maintained (thereby preserving some value) or not worth the moving cost. They are different beasts than spinets/uprights…almost different even than baby grands. I grew up with a spinet in the house (I started taking lessons when I was 7), and there has been either an acoustic piano or a keyboard in every place I’ve ever lived – including my college dorm room. I even rented an upright for a while. I’m on a few “piano sale” mailing lists, and am friends with several professional pianists (what with being a singer and all). I know a little about the market.
Took the missus to have her tooth yanked. The dentist had a hard time getting the damn thing out, so she’s feeling pretty rocky at the moment. Also had the bone graft put in. Gave her a couple of Tylenol when we got home and told her to lie down. I’ll go back out and get her scrip for the antibiotic. I picked up some soup and some yogurt while she was in the chair, and she loves scrambled eggs, so that’s an easy meal.
One of my mother’s two favorite movies just finished on TCM. It’s is The African Queen. I like it too, and it has one of my favorite lines in all of film, “By the authority of Kaiser Wilhelm II I now pronounce you man and wife, proceed with the execution.”
Inspection still hasn’t shown up. They officially have one hour left.
If I go to the Corner Sto’ is that right when they’ll show up?
Did management pull strings to postpone it until this tree thing is dealt with?
Stay 'toooooned!
First inspection attempt: no notice, guy said he’d come back, never did.
Second inspection attempt: yes on the notice, but I’m seriously doubting anyone shows up.
… are we shooting for “third time’s the charm” here?
If you want the inspection, put the rat tub right inside the front door where they can’t miss it and sure as sunrise the bell will ring. If you don’t want the inspection, leave the rats snoozing in the car until evening. But don’t forget about them and go to work with them in the car; it might get kinda chilly for them in there before you get home.
IANA medical anything, but IMO over-using an injured ankle is the best way to keep it injured; they are slow-healing beasts. Sorry it’s giving you trouble.
As to me:
Had pitiful golfing and pleasant beachfront lunch then kaffee klatch w pal. His GF is flying in later today for a long weekend of togetherness. Damn but it’s tourist season around here; the roads & eateries are just packed.
Stopped off for a mini-groc stop and it must be Slow-Mo Senior Citizen Day. Got in the express line behind two people each with ~5 items. 20 minutes later they’d both paid & left and it was my turn for my one item. 20 seconds later I was paid and gone. Sheesh. Some day it’ll be my turn to be slower than I am now. But somebody please shoot me if I get slow / oblivious like that.
Don’t tell me people still do the thing where they wait until they’re told the total to start hunting for their checkbook … oh, here it is! … and now look for a pen … huh, guess that one doesn’t work, that’s a shame, my goddaughter gave it to me … do you have a goddaughter? … now ask to borrow a pen … aaaand start writing the date … now look around to remind themselves which store they’re at …
Evening, mumpers! It’s 5c/41f and cloudy. Weather app says “It’s a bit too chilly to fucking go streaking. How’s anyone supposed to have fucking fun?” Definitely chilly but fortunately not raining.
It’s been an odd sort of day. We got a late check-out from our hotel and caught the bus to the airport, all went well although we had to wait an hour for check-in to open. Got through that, fast-tracked through security and plonked ourselves down in the VIP lounge. Incoming flight was an hour late so that meant extra lounge time but put pressure on our connections in the UK.
Lovely flight, we had a fancy little afternoon tea platter and a few glasses of champagne before landing an hour later than planned. Scooted through security, collected luggage and hoofed it to the train into central London.
Checked the rail app and the train we had booked on to get us home was cancelled but since we had a bit of contingency built in, we were actually in time for the earlier train.
We have the “official” first class carriage to ourselves, it’s a fully refunded trip because of the cancellation, and I am tucking into some pasta bolognese with a glass of wine. And we will get home half an hour earlier than expected!
Hooray for boofae’s triumphant early first class return courtesy of a cancelled train!
I mentioned picking Her Ladyship’s Son & Fiancée up at the airport a few days ago. They had just flown from Hyderabad to Miami via London. Fortunately for them the London-Miami flight left 90 minutes late. Which was the only way they made their connection in London after the Hyderabad-London flight was an hour late.
Sometimes a couple wrongs do add up to a right.
Mercifully that didn’t happen. But other “stuff” sure did …
But between finding their debit card, keystroking their PIN at one button push every 15 seconds, having the machine time out because they’re so slow, so start over, then being asked about their phone number for loyalty points which was 10 more digits plus lots of backspacing, then deciding to get change for some cash for some reason, which meant manager override to open the drawer for no sale, and …
The other person had an EBT card that didn’t have enough value remaining to pay for everything they bought, which was a) a surprise to them, and b) cause for high dudgeon. They did at least have other payment cards, but much confusion and slow keystroking was required there too. And much dudgeon.
Good afternoon all. I have been home from the hospital for a while and I am doing well. I am amazed. I thought the discomfort would be much more than it turns out. Sixteen days out from open heart surgery and all I really need is to take a couple of Tylenol before bed. I am signed up for cardiac rehab And i have been to three sessions.
We go to a lot of estate sales and know most of the people that put them on. They all say that the two hardest things to sell are pianos and pool tables. My brother and sister in law bought a house and she insisted that the sellers leave the pool table. Neither of them play and it just takes up a whole basement room that could have been a nice guest room.
We had a piano growing up. My older sister (eleven years older) took piano lessons and it was bought for this reason. I wanted lessons but it was financially out of reach at that time. When she got married and left home, she took the piano with her. Much later she bought a nicer one and had a really hard time getting rid of the old one
Self-righteous indignant annoyance as only an old lady cruelly wronged can muster. Much waving of handbag or cane is necessary. Sort of 1950s-style Karen with a pillbox hat.
Ow. I de-stemmed three nice bunches of collard greens, cut them to the appropriate size, and washed them. I couldn’t stand any longer, and had to sit down. I took three ibuprofen.
I’ve just put the greens into a plastic shopping bag. I was going to put them into the produce bag they came in, figuring they’d fit because of all of the stems I removed. Nope. Cut up, they have more volume. I put them in a plastic shopping bag and put them iun the fridge until Monday. I’ll wash them again before I cook them.
Boo fae, glad your flights/trains worked out well, always good to build some extra time and fallbacks into any travel plans.
hippie, so glad you are doing so well with the recovery.
Oopsie, congrats on solving the Tuesday NY Times crossword. And you are right, Monday’s is the easiest and by Friday and Saturday they are real tough nuts to crack.
Cookie, ouch on the tooth extraction, haven’t had any out since my wisdom teeth got yanked about 30 years ago. Hope missus is doing better.
shoe, hope the inspector made it or at least had the decency to call and apologize.
flyboy, I agree with Pilot, be careful with that bum ankle.
Pilot, I always (well, almost always) have cash or card ready for the total, but have waited behind the Slo-mo’s on occasion. Great opportunity to practice “In’shallah” or “as God Wills” which Arabs say when anything goes wrong.
I’ve had a few 'running frantically" to make a flight in my time; I also remember the easiest one, got off a plane in Narita (Tokyo, Japan) and literally walked to the next gate and got on my connecting flight.
We never owned a piano when I was young and I’ve never been interested in acquiring one.
Have shopped, swam and sauna’ed and just finished eating dinner, so the rest of the night will be given over to sloth and internettin’, with maybe some reading thrown in. Take care all.
