It’s Thursday! Good morning, Thumpers!
The NPR news is saturated with the grim news from the helicopter/airliner crash into the river at DC. The water is waist-deep there, but they’re saying all those aboard are dead.
The crash is horrible news. I feel for the families of all those victims.
Have you asked your doctor if trephination is right for you?
{{{Coppertone}}}
{{{Taters}}}
At first glance, I read that as “on the pus side”…
22F/-6 C out; wind chill 11/-10; predicted high 35/2. NWS says there’s light snow, but I don’t believe them. Tennessee was on the side porch when I looked out, and when I set out a bowl of kibble he started eating immediately, without waiting for me to pull my hand away from it. Wish I could get him into the house, but I don’t think he’d get along with the seven we already have.
Would stay inside today, but I’m down to just three tins of Wide Awake and one of Java Monster, and it’s not going to get much warmer until Monday. 
I need that like I need a hole in the head 
What if you bought a trumpet?
Do we need to assemble the pearl-clutchin’ committee?
I find it interesting that many vacation destinations (including port stops on cruises) talk a lot about shopping. I guess people do go out vacation to buy stuff, but not me. I suppose if there was a particular item at a particular place that I really wanted… I googled “Free things to do in Gatlinburg” and pretty much all that came up was shopping and taking hikes - not exactly things a 7 & 3-y/o would enjoy.
Maybe my opinion is colored because I hate shopping. Ya think?
I shouldn’t be surprised, but attractions in Pigeon Forge are $$$$$$$$! Not as bad as Disney, but still, a couple with 2 or 3 kids will be shelling out a few bucks. I told Daughter to do a little looking, since she knows what her kids like. I feel like we should take a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter for at least one meal a day. Dang!
OK, showered, dressed, and I guess I should do something constructive.
Ooooh, free shopping! 
I hope all of the answers he gets today are good ones! I’d have stayed up worrying too.
Poor Bailey, thinkin’ something goods going to happen and then she is betrayed. I hope treats happened in the end.
I am such an expert, I’ve got a badge that says Master Frogger!!!
I’m still new in the ways of winter, I wouldn’t be able to do anything but stare out at it.
I had a friend who thought WW was great and that going to the meetings and talking to other people going through her struggle was very helpful. If you join, I hope you have positive experiences as well.
Can you eat cottage cheese? If that is too much texture, can you eat cream cheese?
Hubs does that on a regular basis and then he gets up at 6 and leaves the lights off while he’s leaving the bedroom and closing the door so he often doesn’t even notice until I wake up and see the blood then go to check on him.
What I got wasn’t the best bleu I’ve ever had, but it is still pretty tasty and it is all mine!!!
It is great to meet you. I want you to know that I admire your rescue efforts and your love and kindness. I look forward to a new thread telling us about yet another homeless animal you’ve taken in and chuckle because it is obvious that you don’t know how special you are by doing it. Thank you so much for doing what you do. You are a bright spot in a very dark world.
Slower day, and they’re back to sending people home as early as possible. I did my Senior Day shopping. Spot is interested in consuming my psyillum capsules. The boy doesn’t need any help squeezing a load out.
Sounds like the start of a murder/horror novel.
I’m also doing that. I title mine “DUDE, WTF?!?”, so they instantly know what it’s about.
Because it’s only stealing if you get caught. 
Late last night, or rather early this morning I was watching the news and saw the Kansas senator and representative and learned the flight was from Wichita.
Woke up to the sound of Sadie hurking up a large hairball. We have two cat brushes and neither one is worth a damn for this long hair. Anybody have a good one to recommend?
Anyway, I think she was feeling some feline shame or something, as she hid under the bed for awhile. I coaxed her out and assured her that she is loved.
Laundry day, but the wife’s back is acting up. Maybe later. Supposed to hit 47F today, which would tie existing records. We’ll be back into single digits in a few days as more fronts blow through.
I remember waking to the sound of a cat horking and leaped out of bed, hoping to get something under him. Put my bare toes right into the mess.
Good Morning all. Stayed in bed until 7:30am (except for the bathroom break at 4:30am) and have broken fast and have the dishwasher running, so outside of bringing in the garbage bin (just peeked and it has been picked up, so right after this posting…) nothing much is on the agenda. Did get an e-mail from my neighbor checking in on me, which was nice of them. Rain is expected tonight but 53F now and getting to 67F later, so not a bad way to end January.
BBBoo, hope the eye surgery goes/is going/went well (cover all the bases, sez I)_
That’s a recovery plan I could live with…
Cat Glove, I have flown into and out of Washington National many times, while I appreciated the close-in location, I never particularly liked landing there…probably will like it even less if the future takes me there.
Had to look that up. amazing the things I learn from this bunch.
FCM, like you I can remember going to sessions on a cruise to discuss the next port of call and 80% of it was on things you could shop for. And with Dollywood nearby, I’m not surprised that prices are higher than normal.
Taters, sounds like they’ll need to find you some more office space.
Another Google effort, as I do not drink coffee, rather creative names…
Shopping is always free…it’s the buying part that is sticky…
Don’t have cats at all, but I do watch 'Girl with the Dogs (she also does cats) and she has some recommended items: Girl With The Dogs
And that’s the morning report. Need to bring the garbage bin in and see how the dishes are doing. Take care all.
I have one with the angled bristles like this and it seems to work well. Once I got rid of her matting, I’ve been using it regularly, and so far, no mats.
Just ordered some cremains scattering tubes. It occurred to me that we probably don’t want to go to the park and just dump the plastic bags of cremains on the ground. So I got 2 large tubes, then a set of 4 small ones for the kids to use. They’re all biodegradable. Now all we need to do is find a quiet area at Cades Cove to scatter them.
I’ve got the bed and the room ready for the kids tomorrow - I even opened the door so it’d warm up. With the heat vent closed and the door closed, it was almost like a walk-in fridge! But I didn’t bother with an electric blanket - they’ll be fine with the blanket and comforter, plus there are tons of afghans.
I’ll have Trevor much of tomorrow, too. Daughter decided against taking him to my mom’s house. But SIL will come pick him up after work which solves a problem for me - like where will he sleep? He’ll sleep at home.
Now it’s about time to go with my sweetie for lunch. I need to get out of the house for a bit. But what do I want?? Decisions decisions.
In Cades Cove there is a concessions where there are horses that can be ridden.
Strongly suggest you go up to Clingman’s Dome which is no longer called Clingman’s Dome. At Newfound Gap you turn off to the right and drive to the parking lot then walk up to the observation tower. The grands will love it. Oh it’s now called Kuwohi.
Stop at Newfound Gap parking lot (which is basically at the top of the Smokies) for great view and also bathrooms. If you go over to the other side, Cherokee, you could check out the Indian crafts and perhaps get the kids moccasins.
This is what I sent to Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and Rick Larsen:
Donald Trump is already performing illegal acts as President. His threats to use military force against our allies violates Congress’s authority over treaties and declarations of war. Donald Trump is systematically dismantling the very fabric of the United States. There is ample evidence that he is allied with Russia and wishes to withdraw from NATO. He is a clear and present danger to our democracy. For these reasons, Donald Trump must be impeached, convicted, and removed from office.
That with tacos and klonapin makes a balanced meal.
FCM, we look at 1. Where the shore excursions are going and Trip Advisor for ideas about local attractions. Trip Advisor is good for things like parks and museums.
Not an option for those who have never ridden and really aren’t interested in riding. Nor is any activity involving much walking due to FCD’s physical limitations, especially walking uphill or climbing a lot of stairs. That’s why none of the hiking suggestions on the sites are being considered. We’ll definitely drive as many places as we can and stop to ooooo and aaaaah at the views, assuming weather permits. Honestly, if his parents had not specifically requested this, we’d not be going. I’m OK around mountains for about 4 hours, then I’m done. Just not my thing.
I actually booked an excursion thru Trip Advisor at one stop. And I’m going port-by-port looking at maps to decide which ones are walkable near the ship and which ones have excursions not quite as pricey as from the ship. The ones that kill me are where they charge for a walking tour. I feel like if I have a map, I can take my own walking tour without a guide because I’m all adventurous like that! Seriously, tho, doing it on our own allows FCD to stop when he needs to. Plus we can linger where we want without feeling like we’re holding up a group.
Just back from the Happy Dragon. It’s pretty mediocre as Chinese food goes, but it’s close and cheap, so there’s that. Time to search some more for activities.
Her fur doesn’t mat for some reason, but it does shed and quite a bit goes into her intestinal tract when she grooms.
FWIW - the brush seems to do a good job of removing the shed - when I first started using it on her, I’d have to clear the bristles 4 or 5 times. Now for the same amount of brushing, I clear a small amount once. And I don’t recall the last time I found a hairball on the floor.