(Old, or maybe we mean Aulde) Happy Christmas MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
141

Hi all! I’m back amongst the lazily uncommitted. Late morning on a gray & rainy / drizzly day. Kinda cool, presently 62/17 & should top out at 70/21.

Picked up our visitors Sat night, spend all of Sun, all of Mon, and the last half of Tue at Daughter’s with the Horde. Too much noise, too little sleep, and little else. Then finally on Tue night the childless unencumbered adults hit a local brewpub late that night for outdoor beers under the full Moon. Felt nice to be a grown-up again.

Wed morning was back with Daughter & her adopted kid; the 6 foster kids were in daycare. Had playground time and nice lunch out, then abandoned Daughter & kiddo, returned home, Son packed, and off we went to the crowded airport to send him on his way. His Fiancée remained with us & we had a nice tapas dinner out.

This morning we put Fiancée on the commuter train to downtown Miami where she’ll meet up with old friends who live near there. The sometime on Fri she’ll fly out to eventually rejoin Son in the same city before they both travel for work again.

There’s much exciting ferment in their lives as the countdown to their wedding continues apace. Their biggest goal is to land suitable jobs in the same city. On which topic there’s a continuous trail of almost-not-quites, and maybe-this-times. We shall see.

Now around here the clothes- and dish-washers are taking their first bites at enormous backlogs and we be chillin’ on this cool gray day. Nappage is soon for me.

I did read all of everyone’s play by play in this and the prior thread. Hooray for all the good stuff, a heartfelt “Damn, that sucks” to all the bad.

Somehow another year is nearly in the can. Here’s hoping we can collectively mostly end it on a high note. Speaking of which, we have made exactly zero plans for New Year’s Eve. Y’all?

Cheers all!

142

The only White Christmas we had was when I opened a new bag of powdered sugar and it kinda exploded all over the kitchen table, the floor, my clothes. Had to clean it up swiftly so Bella didn’t notice and start licking it up.

Was opening the powdered sugar to make some frosting for the cookies I made for my BFF. She’s gluten intolerant so I found a recipe last February that I used to make cookies for her birthday. It’s Gluten-Free Orange Cardamom Almond Flour Cookies. She loved them so I decided to use the same recipe to make some Christmas cookies for her but I made cut-out cookies from it in the shapes of bells and stars. Then instead of dipping them in melted chocolate, I made a frosting of powdered sugar moistened by Torani Orange Syrup and a tad of water then sprinkled orange zest on top of each cookie. I was a little concerned if this change would work out. She came over Christmas evening to exchange gifts and for a short visit. When she returned home and tried a cookie, she texted “Cookies are AMAZING!” So glad my revision to the recipe was enjoyed.

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We were supposed to go to lunch at a local restaurant today, but the trip got cancelled for some reason. Damn, I was looking forward to the bucatini.

The lady I referred to in a post further up was taken somewhere else by family. Her apartment is being emptied today. It’s for the best. This facility has limited care and way too many exits for someone in that mental state.

The newspaper neglected to insert the “Variety” section today, which has the crossword puzzles. Yeah, I’m somewhat addicted to them, so am in withdrawal now.

The wife decided to take action on her dental issue. She had a crown come off a couple of weeks ago and needs a bridge. She’s got an appointment tomorrow for the tooth extraction. This place isn’t cheap, so by the time it’s all over with several months down the line, it will be in the $5K range. We don’t have dental insurance.

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Wifey, RN just had a couple of patients cancel because they think they might have COVID. She also got a VM from a guy who’s having trouble with his toe nails. She was able to schedule him for this afternoon because of the cancellations.

He said he found her on Yelp. I looked and I couldn’t find her. I did see her on Buzzfile. It says she ‘is estimated to generate $30,774 in annual revenues.’ She laughed and said, ‘I wish!’ (It also says [emphasis mine] she ‘employs approximately 1 people.’)

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Started Typing: 1:25 PM ET
Clicked Reply: 2:15 PM ET

Happily, today is much less annoying than yesterday (so far! :crossed_fingers:). I’ve made peace with the credit card situation and will be just fine while awaiting the replacement card, the doggy mess was truly just bad timing on my part (in terms of taking her out) and she’s not sick, work calmed down yesterday after the fire was finally taken care of, and a little while ago I learned that we’re no longer pursuing one of the proposals I’ve been supporting. Which is unfortunate, but mostly I’m relieved because there was a lot to be done and now I can focus on the “main” proposal – and, you know, my day job. I’m quite happy to stop feeling guilty about not being further along with that draft. Best of all, in just a few hours I’ll be done working for the rest of the year…and now I’ll be able to truly enjoy my 4-day weekend!

I have no plans until Monday, except for going to the gym several days in a row*: I have a session with my personal trainer this evening, I’ll see him again sometime tomorrow to make up for a session I cancelled last week, and on Saturday morning I’m planning to go to my first Zumba class. I won’t be able to go to Zumba again next Saturday because of an appointment, but I’m hoping to make it a weekly thing after that. We’ll see how this first class goes, though. :grin:

*Did I actually just type that?? Who am I, and what has happened to me?!?! :rofl:

Like pilot, my New Year’s Eve features exactly zero plans: it’ll be just me and Bailey, as usual. :slight_smile: I’ll watch the ball drop, but these days I hate all of the NYE shows so I’ll do/watch something else until about 11:58pm (hmmm, maybe I’ll plan to be working on my Lego jazz club!).

NYE remains the hardest time of year for me in terms of my mom being gone. I always figured it would be her birthday or Mother’s Day or something: those days aren’t great, but turns out it’s always hardest to face another year starting without her. The first NYE – just two months after she died – I drank alone at home for the first time ever, because I couldn’t stand the idea of being awake at midnight. Now it’s been eight years: the past couple of NYEs were much better (I haven’t had to drink since that first one), but there’s always a moment. So, I’m just as happy to be alone with the doggy. I look forward to seeing my BFFs on New Year’s Day.

OMG I love that!! :rofl: I’ll have to remember to say that to my trainer!

As is true of so many things, one would get what they pay for: a cheap/free grand piano wouldn’t be worth the cost of moving it…even if that were included. :slight_smile:

Yay!

146

We nearly always stay home on NYE, not wanting to be out among all the drunks.

147

I’ll be at work. Busiest night of the entire year.

148

It’s my birthday, but I’ll be staying in. My day was acknowledged at Christmas dinner. And I’ll be busy NYE toting up points for the DeathPool.

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Got a text from Cycle Therapy. He says I’m probably stuck with two keys, but my best bet is the locksmith… the one that sent me to him!

My wife asked me when I started the Jeep last. It’s been a few weeks, so I drove it into town (on this errand, about a 40-mile round-trip). I went to Fred Meyer for some collard greens. I got three bunches for $1.99 each. The ones I’ve gotten from the local supermarkets are organic and much more expensive for smaller bunches. Since I was there, I went across the street to Costco and bought 1.75 litres each of Maker’s Mark bourbon and Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch whiskey. I think that should be enough for New Year’s Eve, though I don’t know what The Missus will drink. :clown_face:

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I can’t recall the last time I was awake at midnight on NYE. Same this year.

FCD is sick - coughing and snotting. So I’ll probably be next. Dammit.

151

Howdy Y’all! I am pleased to report the soup is soooooo gooooood! I foresee it disappearin’ on Sattidy when we’ll next eat (slurp) it. I am proud of myself. Outside of soup makin’ and eatin’, it has been a day of high sloth. Have I mentioned lately how much I love bein’ a retired drain on society?

Hope all the sickies are better soonest. Hope all who feel on the verge of sick avoid gettin’ so.

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I will be making soup too. I have the big hambone from Monday, and bought some Great Northern Beans. After I consume some you all may not want to be nearby, but I will enjoy myself.

153

And a good early evening to all from N. Ali-bama. If you recall from last week, I mentioned that the Sunday 17 December edition of the New York Times had a monster crossword puzzle taking up two whole pages with about 1,000 clues to solve. Well, today I finally finished it, don’t claim it to be 100% right, but I have valid answers to all the questions and every space filled in. Mildly proud of myself, didn’t consult any references or ask for any help, just persevered and worked at it until I got it done.

Still doesn’t help me with the Sunday Times crossword…

Got my pedaling (700 calories worth) in and sat in the sauna longer than usual (darn college football game took forever to get to the end), so the Mac-n-Cheese dinner got gobbled down rather quickly. The Browns are playing tackleball on Amazon Prime so I’ll probably spend the bulk of the evening watching that. 42F right now and no moisture to be seen.

Pilot, sounds like you had a good time despite the sleep deprivation.

Cat Glove, glad the cookies were appreciated.

Cookie, hope the wife’s dental woes are fixed, that is a pretty steep bill. I have dental insurance, but outside of the usual checkups haven’t used it much. And I pay extra to get the NY Times mostly for the crosswords (I do read the news, too…), so I know where you’re coming from.

It took me awhile to get the gym habit, but now I go 5-6 times a week, so once it gets to be a normal habit you’ll find yourself missing it when you can’t go. And yeah, I’ve seen the gym folks showing some maybe-newbies around the place pre-signup, so it may get crowded come January.

Like many others, I’ll probably be abed before 1 January arrives, after 70+ New Years (to be fair, the first few I don’t remember) it just doesn’t mean all that much.

FCM, maybe just as well you have your colds now with time to get over them before your trip.

As for soup, my method of making it is (1) Open Campbell’s can (2) dump into pot (3) add water and (4) heat. No problem at all… :wink: :wink: :upside_down_face:

Good evening all.

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Yep. But as every gym rat including you can attest, the attrition of January newbies in gyms makes doggio’s stories of disappearing blueberries sound like they’re long-term career employees. By Feb 1 at the latest the gyms will be back to normal.

Indeed. Wouldn’t trade it for anything else. But my 3-hour nap today was not optional either.

155

Reasonable heaving and cleanup on the Slides. When I got home, Spot jumped up on the blanket on top of the ottoman, and started kneading
< tangles claws >
< panics >
< yanks both front paws back >
< entire assembly heaves backwards off the ottoman >
[Jonathan Hillerman]Oh Bloody Hell![/Jonathan Hillerman]
< thump >
Spot is physically OK, but his dignity suffered a fatal contusion. :wink:
Watching hockey, and since it’s #TikiThursday, I Mai Tai one on. :tropical_drink:

He could put it on the boat.
< d&r >

Feel better, boofae

It’s not bad. very little traffic(although most of the other folks out at that hour have a tendency to ignore things like traffic lights.)

Shaggy has some crud. So of course he hangs 6 inches behind me to talk to his crush. :roll_eyes:

To be fair, if you did have it, it would only be $4800.

{{{{Oopsie}}}}

Yeah, I don’t go out on Amateur Night. Since I am off, I will be up to start the New Year right with debauchery. :smiley:

156

We’ll stay up and watch the ball drop at home. I usually make a ham steak with collard greens and black-eyed peas, but my lovely wife decided she’s cooking up a spiral-cut ham with apricots. Apricots are like coins, right? There will be asparagus or green peas as well, just to be sure we cement in our 2024 luck.

I’m enjoying a few days of mostly writing, though I just pulled out the whisky, so I may be done for the night.

157

IDK, my SIL got a free (for the moving) piano years ago and it’s a decent one (not grand or even baby, but mid-century upright). Her granddaughter just picked up a spinet from a MarketPlace ad that has a sweet sound. A lot of folks buy pianos, tire of them or replace them with a good electronic keyboard, then want the storage space back.

I just finished carving the leftover Christmas ham into 1# packages for the freezer and the bone, with another close to a pound of ham on it for the black eyed peas and turnip greens for new years day.

Glad that you’re feeling better sari. It will be nice when your house has closed.

Welcome home metal mouse!

{{{oopsie}}} Mine comes in February, around the anniversary of her passing.

All of you sickies feel better soonest!

Irked, came home, walked Nelson, et and napped. Off now until next Wednesday!

I have no plans for NYE, as usual, other than hanging out with Nelson and reading. I may get some takeout to celebrate and tipple a bit of Jameson’s during the course of the evening. Such excitement!

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

158

This. Thousands of high quality pianos are landfilled every year. Nobody wants the darn things. The fact they are free does not mean they are crap. They were an essential part of any / every refined household 75 years ago. And a common part of many, many more modest households 100 years ago. Not now.

We’re similar in that it’ll be ad lib. Might attend a party at our old residence. Might do as last year and walk down to one of the many outdoor eateries to enjoy a snack plus a drink or three at midnight. It promises to be a clear & cool (low 50s / low 10s) night.

With luck we’ll see something as interesting as last time but maybe nicer. Last year near the stroke of midnight there was a t-bone accident at the corner where we were eating/ drinking, and a 40-something very obese woman got out of the offending car and began running down the street as fast as she could. We quickly lost sight of her around the edge of the building but it’s a good bet she didn’t get far.

As doggio said: amateur night.

159

Rounded the corner when I got in, and who should I see, but the sick manager for whom Sweet Manager was gonna cover for.

She came complete with an entire bag of cough drops. One of the Oven Masters left super early, saying he didn’t feel well - and the guy is an absolute trooper, so if he couldn’t power through, he definitely had to go.

I should maybe gargle with salt water tonight, as a prophylactic. Take an extra vitamin or some shit.

I stayed much later, but still got out early enough to swing by the Walliest of Worlds for a few frozen TV dinners.

Tonight, I hafta prep the Casa Del Shoe for tomorrow’s annual inspection (I may or may not have taken down one of the smoke detectors, and of course all evidence of rattiness must be concealed) and I have no idea what time they’re supposed to show up.

I am, however, more than a bit surprised that management didn’t send over a chainsaw crew today, for a last-minute tree cleanup. Cuz I’m pretty sure that shit’s gonna get mentioned in the inspection report to the landowner.

Anyway, between all that nonsense, and the upcoming Long Night shift followed immediately by New Years Eve night, I had a feeling I’d need a few semi-filling “just push a button and shovel hot food into gullet” boxes.

160

When my mother passed we found homes for an upright piano and an antique pump organ. The former is the instrument I learned to play on. The latter is one my father loved, and it was gorgeous. Original velvet around the stops, lovely carving and a beveled mirror on top. A pain to dust but my dad could play it so well. We goi money for the organ and gave the piano for moving. It was a young family who took it though and they said they wanted their kids to learn on it.