That person won’t make it far in this doggie dog world!
Yep. My twinkly white light tree is still front and center in my living room window, facing the street. I have it on a timer to be on from sunset to sunrise. It cheers the dysthymic old lady in me and tickles the inner kid who didn’t get to enjoy such fripperies in her early years.
I hope it occasionally does the same for neighbors, dog walkers and passers by. If not, they don’t have to look.
The 
wreath I took off the front door, replaced with a heart shaped wreath in bright pink for Valentine’s Day. Then I need to find something for St Patrick’s Day, or Easter. After that a lull until it’s acceptable for my garish black, purple and orange Halloween wreath to go up.
At some point I need to turn off the tree but I just don’t know how I’m going to bring myself to do it. Maybe when the days lengthen. Maybe.
Keep it up as long as you please. I only this year started trying to decorate for the holidays. Seems like December goes by too fast when you put all that effort in.
Snoop Dogg gave his name to some cereals but I’m not going to buy sugary junk just because.
And now you’ll be able to order them on-line, all hip and relevant. Maybe we can get her to create a Mumper 
pizza that will become the foodie hit of the town. First, extra cheese and every vegetable there is, plus….? Bacon certainly.
And pineapple🍍
runs away…
Evenin’ all. About 6:30pm as I start typing and the sun’s fully down with no dusk left to be seen. The air is warm, the breeze is cool, and short & polos are all the clothes one needs.
The day’s boating / snorkeling trip was great. We had only 12 passengers on a 40-foot catamaran able to hold 60. We later encountered one of their other larger cats that holds 100 and had about 90 aboard. It looked like an elbow-to-elbow zoo compared to our luxurious amounts of space.
Had good yaks with the other folks who’re generally my age+, and fairly spry. One retired guy from New Hampshire had grown up in the 'burb next to mine in SoCal. Our respective high schools used to play each other in all the sports. He was just older enough that we didn’t overlap in time. Small world.
Had 2 stop-and-snorkel sessions and 3 stop-and-swim sessions as we circumnavigated the whole island in about 7 hours. Saw many interesting fish and corals; the water was a comfortable temp; slightly refreshing vs the sun, so not a tepid bath, but not chilly either. Just about ideal. Despite careful UV management I OD’d a bit. I’d not been beaching at home much for about 3 months and it shows; my tolerance was waaay down. Going to be circumspect tomorrow and hope I didn’t queer the rest of the trip for watersports.
The particular town I’m in, Phillipsburg, has a cruise dock for 4 big ships. Which we’ve seen coming and going ever since I arrived. The “good” news is that means lots of tourist shops, jewelry stores, and casual eatin’ / drinkin’ joints at the foot of the dock. The bad news is the whole town shuts down at sundown = 6pm when all the cruisers go back on the boats to eat their free boat dinner and then sail away into the night. So after my trip ended I walked through the tourist area, had a pleasant very informal shorefront early dinner at Craft Beer Bar | Dutch Blonde Experie (dutchblondeexperiences.com) before they closed, and walked the further half-mile back to my hotel. Whereat after a shower & clothes change I’m enjoying a glass of good wine & yakkin’ w y’all.
Switching away from vacation …
Thanks for the kind words from all y’all about my MCI. I’m not much worried about it as such. Want to keep an active eye on it to see how it evolves over time. This could get ugly, but life ends ugly no matter what you do or don’t do.
So far it manifests mostly as increased Squirrel!! and more arriving in a room wondering why I’d interrupted myself from [whatever], gotten up, and walked over there. I can usually puzzle out why in a few seconds of concentrated effort, but it’s weird when the intent just disappears like that and then reappears again later. Plus slightly increased random clumsiness. It’d be easy to dismiss any one event, but there is a definite pattern.
While I was taking the IQ tests and talking to the shrinks both sessions turned into impromptu me-dumping-marital-stress sessions. One of the shrinks said “If you get that stress out, you’ll probably mostly recover. It’s tearing you up.” Yep.
I’ll be starting a formal course of therapy late next week after I get back home. I’m optimistic that’ll quickly prove unnecessary, but worst case I’ll be smarter about whatever crapola is rattling around in this embattled brain.
Thanks again for your support.
As to y’all …
Mom never gets tired of bragging about you either. So keep feeding her those interruptions! You’re a great daughter.
Late aged MIL was so funny when we’d come to visit her at the Independent Living place. She’d show us off to everyone, then “quietly” in her deaf lady bellow, confide to us that all these people were so jealous of her (Mom) and her fine offspring who care enough to visit semi-regularly. Unlike their kids; the ungrateful wretches.
The fact we lived nearby and most of the other inmates had come to FL from NY and all their offspring were up there not down here didn’t seem to matter much to her. They still sucked compared to how great we were because we visited. They’re so sweet!
On such mundane things does the state of humanity turn. If we don’t care for each other, it’s just a giant uncaring Universe of rocks and radiation.
Aaah, got it. Although some women waddle in a verrrry interesting manner. 
That’s my preliminary understanding as well. MRI shows mild atherosclerosis in the white matter, which again is nothing unusual for an old person, just a few years early for me.
Don’t forget to feed Romeo some of that good stuff too; he’s got a tough job. 
Truefish I’m struggling to find the right things to say; the whipsaw really sucks. I have a question / observation and please believe I’m coming from a position of love for you both. You said:
I’m struggling to parse the pronouns, but it sounds like you persuaded Dad to try the feeding tube.
I’ll offer one caution: Make sure you’re not persuading Dad out of a desire to (temporarily) spare yourself the pain of his dying. Feeding tubes can be a lifesaver. They can also condemn the patient to 6 months of tortured bedridden existence then they die anyway. They’d have been spared the torture absent the tube. Dad (assuming he’s lucid) is the one to decide when he’s done and when the risk of torture is not worth the time possibly gained.
It’s understandable to want to “do everything”. Especially if the doc(s) are stuck in the “do everything” approach to medicine. But be sure you’re doing things to help him live, not merely help him be alive. There is a difference.
About 3 years into my late wife’s 7-year decline she developed an intestinal blockage. Which did not clear and did not clear and did not clear despite the inpatient hospital care she was getting. We faced the “insert a feeding tube (“TPN”) or die of starvation in a few days” decision. Knowing the trap the tube represents. She was sufficiently vigorous before the blockage struck that recover to near-normal was a realistic expectation if the blockage eventually cleared. We also knew we had doc support to pull the tube again if another week didn’t turn the tide. And she knew that I knew what she wanted and that I would have the guts to order the tube removed if she couldn’t.
We went with the tube and a couple days later the clog cleared up. Despite a failed surgical repair attempt that never got into her innards before they hit a wall of tumor and had to back out having accomplished bupkiss. And after a couple more days of TPN feeding the tube was removed and she was eating clear liquids on her own. But it could easily have gone the other way. Later she said she would never agree to that again. And in fact when she did die, it was from exactly that: an intestinal blockage, a refusal of treatment and rapid starvation from an already emaciated state. Which refusal was the most merciful thing to do from where she was then.
Bottom line:
Be sure you’re doing for Dad, not just papering over your own fears. Monster big and long {{hugs}} however you two sort this out.
Shop online only. Places like e.g. Zappos are totally used to having half their sales returned. If you’re a hard-to-fit size it is just silly in 2024 to limit yourself to the negligible selection in the few brick-and-mortar stores nearby. So don’t do that.
HL also has wide feet and a LOT of shoes came and went from online retailers because the B&M folks simply refuse to stock anything but the most common of sizes.
Spicy that kid is quite something. Congrats on his Nobel prize in 2060.
FCM congrats for seeing penguins and surviving the dune trek. Here’s hoping the ride down the home stretch and then back to home is easy. Perhaps the "ease drop"pers could be easily dropped overboard. Morans!
The matress naps good, and doesn’t creak(being 15-20 years younger will do that) Drinking a Queen’s Park Swizzle for #TikiThursday.
A noise mattresses on Sqornshellous Zeta make when excited(from Life, the Universe And Everything by Douglas Adams)
Yay!
{{{{Miss Owl}}}}
No rush. Mine has been up since Novemeber. 2002.
None pizza with left beef
< flings rubber chicken at Coppertone >
Well we do want you to stick around and enjoy life for a bit.
I have two pair of Brooks currently in the rotation. I love them. Think of them like a car’s tires.
My renter’s insurance is still less than the waiver fee at my complex.
Don’t feel too bad. That’s how Tennesseans feel about Kentucky.
When you get your new comforter, may I suggest that the old one be donated to your local animal shelter? That’s where most of my old blankets, sheets and towels wind up and I know from volunteering there that they are very welcome.
Hugs to you JtC and to your hubby too.You may both have a long row to hoe. Make sure that you practice some self care too. Being a caretaker can wear you down.
{{{fishy}}}
Hugs to you too OW.
How’s about hugs to all of the Mumpers who need them.
Irked, came home, took the small beast to the dog park, went to the Bojangles drive thru for a couple of pieces and a biscuit (they gave Nelson a little milk bone too 
), made a salad to go with when I got home and have slothed since.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
I went on a long walk. I swear Ma Nature is out to get me. I got about three miles, and a front blew in. I can walk in rain, but the wind blowing it in was c-c-cold, and I decided I’ve had enough misery for one lifetime, so I caught the bus home. I only did 3.5 miles, but better than nothing.
I have been less than impressed with Zappo’s selection of EE athletic shoes. Best case scenario: Me: Oh, those shoes look good! Zappo’s: Just kidding! Not available in your size!
This is the truth. And I’ll add that some medical folks will guilt you into it. When my BIL was dying of dementia and Covid, his DNR stipulated no feeding tubes. A nurse guilted my sister into it. The feeding tubes did nothing, so she stopped that BS. RealFish, I’ve come to see that our bodies tell us when they want to go. The kindest, most selfless thing we can do is to let them. Still, I know it’s hard.
Yes, this!
Wait. What??
Yet again I had to look up your tipple. (Sorry. I tried to avert my eyes .) Do you actually have demerara rum? I’m impressed.
No need to run away! We’ll just put your slices over there,Keep backing up…Mind the crocodiles!..Almost there…Only 200 kilometers to go!..Ta-dah!
That’s a great way to look at them!
OW, I still miss ruble. I just wanted you to know that even if we don’t say so, we miss his presence.
You have my understanding and sympathy. It is so hard, we love them and want them to stick around for a while and they don’t seem to care if they live or die.
Hubs refuses to get any exercise, he won’t even go to the park with me anymore and that is a really short walk. currently his only exercise is walking across the street to get the mail, he hasn’t been out in the back yard for months.
I think it is fear. I think they know they aren’t doing well but they don’t want a doctor to agree with them.
I used to really resent how much work interfered with the things I really wanted to do.
I’m not looking forward to going through Mom’s things when she’s gone. That will make it final and denial is so comfortable.
I was right, I checked their performance schedule and they won’t be performing in July again. The weenies take the summer off to probably go somewhere cooler than Vegas in July. I’ll make the drive just to see them, I’m sure they are amazing.
I try to be a good daughter, she did her best for us and deserves to be cherished during her twilight years.
Are you using scented laundry soap? I’m asking because I learned I was allergic to it about five years ago. I also bought new bedding because I thought that was the issue but then my socks and unders started giving me a rash. Once we changed to unscented soaps, my itching and rashes went away.
You walked, that’s all you had to say! Good on you for getting a short walk in. Tomorrow you will go further.
May we all have clear skies!!!
How could he not?
I like it too!
Sounds just like me. I would suggest you do not start smoking weed, because that is a pretty common side effect.
Thank you for your kind words, I do try to remind her often that she is valued and important. She was a great Mom.
It is odd how memories work, though. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. I watched every launch and read every book I could get my hands on because I wanted to grow up and go to space. Mom knew that it wasn’t going to happen because of my internal plumbing (which was the main reason women got washed out of the Mercury Project), and remembers telling me that I couldn’t be an astronaut because I was a girl. Mom says she always felt bad about that conversation because she knew she had dashed my dreams and she wanted her daughters to know that they could do anything.
I don’t remember the girl part at all. I remember her telling me that you had to be a fighter pilot to get into the astronauts program and that fighter pilots all had perfect vision. I started wearing glasses in the third grade, I understood that meant I would never be an astronaut so I started planning to be a librarian instead. I ended up becoming an archivist.
Thank you.
Tonight I fixed a clogged drain (while he was freaking out about calling a plumber this time of night) by pulling the stopper out.
Happily, TC is a hospice nurse who does home care. She is willing to come over and check up on him while I’m off looking at the eclipse or taking a train ride. As long as I make sure he has food ready to be nuked, he will be fine for a week or so. Now. No telling what will happen in the future.
I think it is raining now. I need to go outside and look at it. BBL.
Much thanks and I know what I am reading next for my gym sessions.
Doesn’t seem possible it’s been that long. I grieve.
That never occurred to me. Some of the seams are torn open and the inside padding is exposed, so maybe not good for the doggies, but something for me to remember.
Got 750 calories pedaled and a good hot shower after sauna time, so I am clean and (hopefully) nice-smelling. Heading off to bed in about an hour or so. Waiting to try out the new comforter and pillows.
Pilot, sounds like a good time was had.
Spicey, probably too early yet, but I’d be looking around to see if there are any advanced programs that would benefit him (without unreasonably denting your pocketbook). Kid sounds special, hate to think of him being crammed into a ‘regular’ classroom.
nellie, most people (including me) would find 3.5 miles of walking at our ages a good reason to do nothing for a couple of days. Your stamina and strength always impresses me.
JtC, Hubs sounds a bit like my brother, in his defense he had his hip replaced a few years ago, but he’s way overweight and doesn’t seem interested (or able) to do much. I worry about him, but any signs of concern and he blows up at me, so I worry from afar.
Don’t think the laundry soap is scented, I’ve used Tide Pods for many years. Will double-check it though.
Take care all and I’ll try to catch up again on Firday.
I just found out my niece’s dog died. That may not seem like much to get upset about, but here’s why I’m crying. Niece’s husband, Troy, headed up a program for at-risk HS students to train and care for dogs that would become service (NOT “emotional support”) dogs. It was SO great for those kids. They loved those dogs and learned the importance of responsibility and of selfless motivation. The dogs were their reason for getting up in the morning. To be able to help other people is a life-changing experience.
The school decided to save money by shutting down the program. The three dogs left went to niece and husband’s house, where they were loved and cared for. Two died of old age before Niece and husband had a very much longed-for baby. The dog who died today was the last one, and the only dog their little boy had ever known.
I met her once, and she was a very sweet soul.
RIP to a very lucky dog and hugs to its humans.
I wear Brooks also. Which ones do you get? I wear the Beast, which is a men’s shoe but they work perfectly for me. It’s also the name of an excellent roller coaster, which highly amuses me. 
My suggestion is to look for them on eBay. A lot of people sell used ones there (which I won’t buy), but I’ve had very good luck in finding brand new ones that are just previous years’ models. I don’t care about color or trim or anything, they just have to be the right size. I’ve bought numerous pairs for around $100/pair. This is still a lot, but much better than retail, and my feet are happy.
Had to make a (Work!) produce run today (someone went just yesterday but they were all out of both zucchini and coleslaw) and … well, as long as I was at the deli counter anyway … been absolutely craving pasta salad but really don’t feel like dirtying a pasta pot, a mixing bowl AND something to mix the dressing, so … uh … I am the proud owner of storebought pasta salad and also chilled sesame noodles. (Paid for separately, of course.)
So dinner is sorted!
I love going on produce runs, especially now that I have a D.L. and am breaking slightly fewer laws.
I get to put on my own tunes, sit my tired ass DOWN for a minute … and occasionally, snag a quick personal errand. 
(Shh! Don’t tell.)
Oh, and zucchini is crucial to how we operate, even though someone ordering zuc as an actual topping is very, very rare.
So rare, that it gets employed for an alternative use: to communicate “this pizza is special/different” as it moves from assembly, to oven, to slicing & bagging.
For example, light sauce. Or maybe double sausage. Or sliced in little-bitty “party squares” instead of regular.
Which means we BLOW through zucchini.
If we run out, the backup marker is a banana pepper slice - also unpopular enough to be mostly unique.
The exception? A “crispy” or “well-done” (there is a difference) gets a slice of ham instead.
Unless it already has ham as a topping, in which case, we’re back to zuc/banana pepper.
ONCE so far that I’ve been there, we ran into an absolute standstill on a foreseeable but incredibly rare problem:
… a light sauce, well-done … with an array of toppings including, yes, zuc, banana, AND ham, among a mind-boggling assortment of other crap.
Poor woman making it was like, “How the hell do I mark THIS?!?”
Consensus: look, we’ll just hafta remember. (There was also much laughter. “Oh, just put a … shit, never mind, not that either.”)
You’re missing an opportunity for a red-white-blue wreath … bonus points for (lit!) sparklers.
(Okay, maybe not; you’ll catch something on fire.)
Oh, good deal. Get that shit exciting forms & interesting paperwork all filled out, pronto.
… and let us know how the new gig goes! When do you start training? (Or is this a “jump right in” situation?)
Charitably, that could be ascribed to auto-correct fail.
But { sigh } probably not.
{ clutches pearls }
I have a coupla redeeming qualities.
Overheard from a certain nurse’s desk:
“Man, this bitch keeps complainin’ that we never call her with updates. Well, lemme tell you sumpin’ right now, imma CALL her, for every dang last lil’ thing.”
Aw, naw! I bet you have lots of interesting topics to start!
{ waves from Muskegon }
Waitamminnute … is Michigan gonna be in the path of totality?!?
Stuff’s known for messing with your memory, but in nearly every state a med card requires some modest amount of paperwork, a (generally very cursory) medical “appointment” which can amount to a 5-minute phone conversation, and some $$ fees.
No giant hurdles, but not something you can really space and forget ever happened … plus, it comes with a, yanno, med card. Like, an actual card, similar to a driver’s license or library card. That one would have in one’s possession.
No kidding, right?
Hey. That sad lump of “food” was made precisely as ordered. Not the kitchen’s fault the order was placed by what appears to be a drunken toddler.
Guarantee there were some good laffs back of house, along with more than a few, “What the fuck is THIS?!?”
Oh, we always do that, too. For reeeeeally Gud Dogs ™ if we’re slow enough, it might be a lil’ piece of ham instead.
Seeing the various doggies (and, verrrrrry occasionally, a kitty-cat!) at the drive-thru is some of the best part of my shift.
That absolutely stinks.
On my way in, I gave in to my inner 8-year-old and got a Happy Meal.
Yum.
But more importantly, it came with a cute little penguin figurine, in FCM’s honor, complete with stickers so you can give it pigtail braids, sunglasses, a tie, a mustache, and OMG a fanny pack!
Loooookit how cyooote! Good for a solid 45 seconds of delightful entertainment.
Heh, there’s a (very blurry) Charm head just barely visible top right.
I hopefully start training next week.
Ringing up orders, ( and the menu isn’t large), helping her prep an hour before opening.
I hope its one of those places that lets me eat free while I’m there.
No, no pineapples are on the menu.
It’s extremely rare for that not to be the case … or at a bare minimum, they charge you half-price or something like that.
Even then, you can usually snag “dead” food (e.g. a mistake order, or maybe the customer never showed up) perhaps not at first, but after a while once you’re integrated into the crew you’ll get a feel for how things flow.
What kind of place is it, if you don’t mind me asking?
I don’t want to dox myself and theres not a great number of them, so I can say its a nice food place with a smallish menu, and not a lot of veggie options. But some.
Glad I’m not the only one.