Only yours, or our responses, too?
Go Mollie! I’m proud of you girlfriend.
I do agree with shoe, unless you are doing something weird or annoying, nobody pays attention. They are all too involved with what is going on in their lives to worry about random strangers in a parking lot.
Something you might need to work on is wearing your new look until it is natural. As long as you act like everything is normal, folks will act like everything is normal. If you start wobbling on high heels because you’ve never worn them before…people notice that.
Welcome back Metalmouse, you were missed and I’m happy you had a good time.
Perfect timing! I’m also glad your recovery is going so well.
Sorry about my pity party over family, they are partly my fault as well. I’ve said Yes too often and now they are all just used to me stepping up and dealing with things. When they took that cruise last year without inviting me “we didn’t think you had time” but expected me to deal with their plane tickets after their flight got cancelled was what finally made me put my big girl panties on and start saying NO.
So anyhow, it has been rainy and cool all day which was excellent for my posies. And for the %$#^& weed seeds in my mulch straw. I put straw on the beds to stop the weeds, not to cultivate them. Every time I go out, I end up pulling weeds out of the mulch. 
It was cut straw too, marketed for spreading over seedlings and even planted seeds.
In other upsetting news, Hubs drank two beers two days ago and woke up with a swollen foot today 
He has outbreak meds and took them as soon as he got up, and he’s feeling better now, but dang. I do feel sorry for him, he likes/liked going to craft breweries and trying the different IPAs.
He’s enjoying the Diablo 4 expansion a lot and has learned that vaping and hack and slash games is a bad idea. Stoned people tend to have slow reactions and boss fights need nibble fingers.
Up from naptime. Having a martini, meatballs with tortellini and spinach. Spot is in the world’s worst hot tub:
That would be me.
{{{{Mollie}}}} We’re proud of you.
The poolside bar at the DeSoto hotel in Savannah does a good margarita.
Spot and Onan: RIOT!!!
Probably only in bits I’ve quoted.
Welcome home!
WTG Girl!
Laundry is done and put away. I made an error when I took tonight’s supper out of the freezer a couple of days ago. I thought I was getting out Marengo chicken, but didn’t look at the label closely and got out a tub of Marengo sauce. I improvised by warming it up and putting it over veggies, small pasta and a hamburger, then topping it with parm. Not too bad.
The flying squirrels are out and about.
That is my brag for the month.
So does a cranky night nurse in Nebraska!
And a glorified carpenter in upstate NY.
And a writer in Cascadia.
And a pizza slinger in Michigan.
This legit made my little heart happy.
Good advice.
Wobbling in high heels ain’t sexy, but once you learn how to strut your stuff, it’s empowering. Just don’t trip. If you do, act like a cat: “I MEANT to do that”.
I know this was an autocorrect typo, but I giggled anyway.
He looks like a teenager in the throes of utter angst, crossed with Le Enui!
.. and throw some existential crisis in there, for funsies.
I am SO friggin’ jealous.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s currently 60 degrees Ferret Height(15.556 Centipedes)
Well if you had a non working hot tub, and you got served a mouse-tini at exactly the wrong temperature, you’d have an existential crisis, too.
OK, so when you send some hummingbirds over this time of the pond, can you stick a couple of them flying squirrels in the box too please? Is there anything you want back? We are somewhat wildlife limited though, probably due to glaciation and being an island.
No invigilating this morning, so I can have a bit of a slower start, as that starts earlier than my normal irk, plus it’s in the city centre, so I need to find parking or get the bus. I am invigilating this afternoon though, but it’s a short one so I’ll be back early.
It got colder than the forecast claimed last night I think. I planted the first tomato out in the tunnel yesterday, because they’re getting too big for the space and pots I have (obviously I sowed far too many, as tradition dictates) and it looked like we were done with the worst of the chill. I’m slightly regretting that now, as it seems we still have a few nights that could get too low. I’ll need to go buy some fleece at the weekend.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 11c/52f with a predicted high of 21c/70f and sunny. Weather app correctly says “If you’re looking for cute motivational phrases about fucking sunsets and flowers, this is not the fucking app for you.”
What a lovely end to your very busy day! I’m glad you got your son moved in to his new place, and everything went well. I wish him every happiness in his new home.
As members of staff, we’re not allowed to invigilate although I’ve done it many times before. If an invigilator doesn’t show up, I often have to get an exam started off and wait for the invigilator (or a replacement) to arrive but technically, I should find a member of academic staff to do that for me. Except it’s outside of their teaching weeks so finding anyone on campus is nigh on impossible.
You’ve got this, Mollie, and she seems incredibly supportive. I hope she is as proud of you as we are for taking hold of your day like that!
Welcome home, metalmouse, glad you had such a good time!
Yesterday was a busy day at irk, but not much actual irk got done. I had a 2hr training thing in the morning which was useful, then went straight to a meeting so I didn’t see much of the office in the morning. Got back at lunchtime, my afternoon meeting with our erstwhile manager was cancelled but instead, I got the Overthinker spiralling about some student presentations. Managed to calm her down a bit in the end though.
I went home and did my usual evening chores, 'im indoors decided he was making meatloaf for dinner. I’m glad I kept out of the kitchen because it was absolute carnage in there afterwards! The meatloaf turned out very well, but next time he needs to start much earlier in the day! I’m making meatballs and sketties tonight, much easier to do. Today I have a meeting with Troublesome Minion so no doubt I’ll get to hear about everything she would have done differently with the new office, and everything else she’s not happy about. I need a strong cuppa before then.
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN 'Tis 70 Amurrkin out and cloudy/rainyish with a predicted high of 78 and the same throughout the day. OYKW wants to go to the not too shabby Chinese hog trough buffet place for lunch, so we shall. That will take care of today’s main need to feed. Outside of that it will be the usual RDOS inactivities here at da cave.
MetalMouse welcome home! The good thing (amongst many) about bein’ a RDOS is you can give yourself all the time you need to get back in your routine. You get to take it easy cause you can!
Lily hope the source of the pain is found and alleviated soonest. Cool about the pendant!
JtC the MMP is a place to sound off frustrations as much as anything else. Never apologize for the need to vent. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say we one hundred percent back you up as you say NO to family drama and general stoopidness. Also I have had that happen with mulch. GRRR… Glad hubs is feelin’ better now. I feel for him for not bein’ able to drink beer and ale. I do love me a good IPA. Yay for the flyin’ squirrels!
doggio I am very aware of the fine margaritas at the DeSoto hotel. Been a while, but the memories are fond. Poor Spot! He finally gets a break from the neverendin’ laundry and ends up in the world’s worst hot tub at the world’s worst spa!
BooFae I do like me a good beastloaf. Hope the meetin’ with TM is well, tolerable.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Thursday Y’all!
Or maybe earplugs and a plastic smile?? Tho I’m long retired, your sad tales make me realize how lucky I was overall in coworkers. Then again, I remained a peon, so I never had minions.
Add me to the Go Mollie crew!
And welcome home, MetalMouse!! May you recover from jet lag, etc, in short order!
We got some nice rain overnight and today is starting in the middle 50s, on the way to 70 Ferrets with some sun. I have 3 cucumber plants doing well and some 'maters, tho I forgot to mark which were beefsteak and which were cherry 'maters, so surprises ahead, I guess. I also planted a couple of bell peppers, similarly unlabeled. Maybe I can figure it out as they all get bigger.
After FCD came home yesterday, he dealt with the bolts on the dinghy that I struggled with, so it’s just about completely stripped to its shell I’ll finish it today, including a good scrub so we can gelcoat the inside (which was left as bare fiberglass for some strange reason.) And if I can get the last couple of supports removed from the seats, I can sand them and prep them for gelcoat.
Meanwhile, FCD will be on the boat again, trying to figure out where to put the strainer in the fresh water line - the one we had leaked, so he ordered a replacement from West Marine and he’ll pick that up today. And before I start my dinghy work, I need to make a Food Lion and Aldi run. Busy day ahead.
For now, tho, it’s still fuzzy robe, slippers, and surfage! Happy Thursday!!
Okay, I caught up on reading the Thumps, but didn’t have anything to say about it. I might finish the Seed Packets jigsaw puzzle today. I don’t think we’ll be repeating that one, because it’s tricky.
Now, it’s time for breakfast.Be kind.
Good morning. It was cool outside this morning, so I hit snooze one time. The Trio walked and we had a good discussion about finding a “new normal.” My sister and Mrs Magill have been having a “good text exchange,” and she (my sister) said I looked unsure and nervous in the quick pic she was sent, which I was. No one I care about had ever seen Mollie before, and I wanted to at least look nice for the introduction. The Jagger Principle[1] strikes again.
I started copying over to a journal last night. I am only including responses I’ve quoted, I figure anything else would be almost like an invasion of privacy. Anyways, It’s kinda neat to read what my thoughts were over the last couple of months.
JtC - I’m sorry for your husband. Is life without IPAs worth living?
Shoe - I’ve been a master (mistress?) of four inch heels for decades. The signs were there, I was just too slow to pick them up. I also have cat-like reflexes - as in I’ll run headlong into a sliding glass door at full tilt and walk away saying, “I meant to do that,” until I’m behind the couch crying, “Fuckin’ meow, man. Fuckin’ meow.”
Y’all are gonna make me cry.
You can’t always get what you want. ↩︎
Morning all. Up a bit early but have already checked my finances, arranged for soccer this Saturday, and made up my Firday shopping list. Food is rather is short supply, as I pretty much cleaned out the refrigerator before leaving so a breakfast of microwaved Cheese toast and Diet Pepsi is healthy, right? Need to make a few stops outside, but today will mostly be given to sloth, I think, as I try to settle back into my routine.
Molly, add a bald old guy down in N. Ali-bama to the list of folks who have your back.
lily, hope the stitch isn’t bothering you anymore.
JtC, been following your family travails while traveling, you go right ahead and vent here as needed, I for one think you are on the right course and damn the torpedoes! Hope Hubs foot is better today. An d am happy the squirrels are flying. Have the felines noticed them yet?
doggio, have missed Spot’s adventures, now if you turn on the cold water suddenly…
Nut, hope the tomatoes do well and it doesn’t get that chilly (57F going to 68F today, which is a little below average here in N. Ali-bama).
I remember those days so well…and hope the TM meeting isn’t too…troublesome.
swampy, I do have to resume my gym habit fairly soon, did try the gym on the ship and walked way too many miles at the stops we made (all the tours were uphill, both ways…). But suspect the scale at the gym will tell me that I over-indulged anyway.
FCM, besides the timing, I stayed in a hotel in New York Tuesday night, so that let me adjust some (however, the shuttle bus took 30 minutes to arrive and the breakfast buffet was $27 (had hotcakes at McDonalds instead)). As for the boat, I have some other boat options for you in my photos once I get them posted… 
And it is so good to “talk” with all of you again. May not leave my computer lest someone posts… Anyway, no other epic trips planned (might take a short one somewhere in July, that’s a ‘we’ll see’ decision). Have a good Thorsday all.
Good morning.
It’s 46F and mostly sunny. We expect a mixture of sun and clouds, with a daytime high of 75F.
Metal Mouse, welcome home!
Mollie, you go, girl! It sounds like your Missus is a real keeper, too.
We started the day by picking up the pups from boarding. They were ecstatic when they saw us and rushed to the Jeep. Once home, they immediately ran to their water dish and drank as they’d been in the desert, and then out to the yard to potty. Poor Maisie pooped twice. I was also told that she’d peed while they were trimming her nails. I’m betting the poor girl didn’t really pee at the vet because she refuses to pee on a leash. They stuck to me like glue for the rest of the day, sometimes alternating by sitting with my husband in the den.
I took a trip out to one of my favorite nurseries yesterday and had a nice chat with the owner, as he shared and showed me his new greenhouse for flower baskets. It’s a staff-only area, but he kindly led me back there, and I got to pick out three lovely baskets. They’ve started growing their own flower baskets and are working on a new line of premium baskets as well. The reason for growing their own is that the cost of shipping from vendors has become very high. I actually prefer the locally started and grown baskets because they’re set up for our climate. I also purchased some plants to put in my gardens and pots, so it was a fairly expensive trip. I plan to give one of the baskets to my son, though.
After the nursery trip, I stopped at Safeway and picked up salad fixings, along with doggy ice cream and human ice cream. I also picked up some 'nanners.
Once home, I gave the pups a cup of their doggy ice cream because they deserved it. I know they didn’t sleep well because both dogs napped really hard during the day and weren’t really interested in playing.
After that, I gave all the baskets a good soak, then went out back and watered the new plants I purchased, along with the perennials I already have in the ground in pots.
We’re going to put off the visit to my son’s new place until this Saturday. Yesterday was a very long day for him, and he wants to unpack and arrange more before we come back down. He spent yesterday (after sleeping 11 hours overnight) cleaning his old apartment, and then after that went to the Mart of Wal to pick up some household items. It was past seven when he sent me that message.
I figured today was ambitious, and I’m not surprised. I had even suggested Saturday, lol. That’s okay, though. Now I can work in my yard for a bit, and the weather will be nice for that.
Alrighty, time for more coffee and then onward with the day. Please take care of yourselves.
taters - what do you do with your baskets at the end of the season? Replant yourself? Pile them in a corner thinking “…someday…” Something else?
The nursery in Leonardtown has a big bin in the parking lot for leave-a-basket/take-a-basket. When I buy annuals, I get them by the tray and put them in the front porch planters or one of the big pots on the back porch. I never got into hanging baskets of flora.
When we moved into this house, the front looked like this:
All of the baskets were full of somewhat dusty artificial flowers. They were removed in pretty short order. I’m not anti-basket, but silk and plastic flowers do nothing for me.
Erranding is done - between Food Lion and Aldi, I spent about $100. I accidentally stocked up on a few things I’d already stocked up on, but not a huge deal. It’s stuff with use-by dates well within a usable time frame. Everything is stowed and I’m about to head out to the shop to (I hope) finish my work on the dink. (That’s sailor talk for dinghy!) I just need to change into grubby pants and out of these slightly nicer jeans. So off I go!!