I never owned a Dyson, but I’ve had 2 Sharks and I’m thinking about a 3rd, maybe.
Customer Service was easy-peasy. I got right to the desk and got my new tags. The only bad part is having to depart at 7:30 instead of 9. So more time in the airport. Hope Heathrow has chairs…
My sister who lives near the airport cut her vacation short so she’ll be able to pick us up. So no messing with a cab - huzzah! It’s feeling real!! 
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 73 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 90 with tstorms predicted late afternoon. However it will be sunny until then so we shall have some quality cee-mint pond time this mornin’/afternoon. Sup will be burgers’n fixin’s, and oven fries.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Firday Y’all!
Add Chuck Mangioni to the list
That’s such a cool idea!
Wait a minute. Your hair is purple?
I am so jealous. I verified that I am not allowed to color my hair for my new job or would have already been purple.
Nonetheless, I am sitting here at home with a poodle on my lap and we are contemplating our next move. I need to finalize the idea of where my work desk will sit (most of the time). My work computer will be here later on today, so I’m kind of excited about that!
Our heat wave continues. My daughter has cancelled her upcoming Sunday visit, as her car’s AC doesn’t work.
We’re infested with gnats/fruit flies. I’ve tried the cider vinegar and dish soap thing with very limited results. Also bleach in the sink trap. We’re being sure to wipe down counters, spray the trash with Lysol and toss food scraps daily, but they’re really persistent. Luckily, they don’t live long, but then the next wave comes along. Ugh.
Sadie has taken to yowling at night for no apparent reason. It’s not for long, but of course it wakes us up. Seems to have the zoomies at the same time. Cats. . .
Finally got my hair cut yesterday. I can tell when it’s too long when street people try to give me money. Having a hair cutter come to the building is a real perk of living here.
I keep misreading this thread title as “Water sports be us…”.
It’s boring brown, so at the moment it’s Ultra Violet although I do like their Orchid Purple shade too. Sadly I don’t think that would work for me, it’s best on blonde hair instead.
Question for Mumpers who dye their hair - does it make difference if you do it before or after a haircut? I plan to go back to the short, layered cut I had for years. And I’m going to dye it light auburn as I did years ago. I was thinking that since dye changes hair texture, it should be colored first. What say ye?
I’m sitting in a semi-quiet corner of the Lido deck while FCD has a snooze. And I’m trying to figure out what we’ll do for 5 or 6 (or more) hours in Heathrow. If we can get a luggage cart and some chairs, we’ll survive. Even better, we check our bags right away, but I won’t count on that. I looked into the lounges, but it’s not worth $120.
Anyway, once my sweetie wakes, l hope to mostly finish packing. And we’ve got 4 ceramic pieces to pack - gifts from HA. Two coasters and two tiles. I guess we’re supposed to be so impressed that we book with them again. But to me, it’s extra crap to deal with. At least they provide luggage scales so we can be sure we stay under 50# per bag.
Gotta remember to check all drawers, shelves, and nooks so we don’t forget anything. Especially the chargers.
Went to the World Expo Osaka 2025. It’s really hot during the day so we went at 5:00. The more popular pavilions are done by reservations and of course they have all been reserved for months. There are a few spots available from three days before, with thousands of people cramming the website for the few crumbs.
We went to the US pavilion and the wait was an hour. The kids were fighting so we split up and SenGirl and I went to the German pavilion. By then we were running out of time. After that, She and I grabbed some overpriced sandwiches in the Vietnam pavilion, then went up to a vantage point to watch the night drone show. Absolutely fantastic.
At least the crowd control for going home was well done. Our Airbnb is about 30 minutes from the Expo and we’ll be back soon.
Morning all. Up at 5:15am to attend to the call of nature, then went back to bed until 7:30am, because I can. Need to get dressed here in a bit and do the Firday shopping, and that will be my primary activity for the day. Another day in the 90’sF with a bare chance of rain, so I am glad I got my electric bill so cheaply this month because the August bill will be a monster.
JtC, I have the occasional leg cramp at night, but usually only once every 2-3 weeks so I’m not to concerned about it. May add some Gatorade to my shopping list, though…
And so happy to hear how well your eyes are doing.
boo fae, hope the quiet day you wished for materialized. And off again this weekend I see; enjoy the trip.
FCM, depends on the Terminal (Heathrow has 4 separate ones IIRC), but I don’t think you’ll have trouble finding a seat…but you might have to walk a bit to got to it…was going to suggest the lounges, but yeah, $120 is a bit steep.
Cookie, sorry about the gnat invasion, I see the occasional one but in general they seem to give my place a miss (famous last words, I know). Stay cool.
What is this hair thing you speak of?? 
Sensei, so glad your having a proper day off with your kids, even if they weren’t cooperating…
And need to grab my morning apple and dress for the Great Kroger March. Take care all and have a good Firday.
Heathrow has 5 terminals and we depart from T5. Not sure which gate yet. I expect I’ll find out when I check in this evening. No - 2 hours till I can check in. Time flies.
True enough, but only terminals 2,3,4 and 5 are currently open (aircraft/port nerd here).
You probably won’t know the gate until a couple hours before the flight, if they continue to post as before. And Terminal 5 is a little easier to get around in that 4. Take care.
Good morning.
It’s 58°F and cloudy. The clouds will persist this morning, but by afternoon, it’ll be partly cloudy, with an expected high temperature of 75°F.
I also occasionally get leg cramps, and try to eat a banana a day and drink plenty of water.
Cookie, I wonder if a potato has rolled away to a hidden spot.
FCM, I hope the return flights are smooth and that you’re soon in your own bed. I’ll bet you two will sleep like logs once you’re settled at home.
I considered getting a Shark, but performance-wise, we’ve never had issues with Dyson. I did not know the owner was a Brexiteer, sorry. Metal Mouset, I probably vacuum once or twice a week, because two dogs generate a lot of dust, dander, and hair. Additionally, these carpets are the original ones and retain a significant amount of dirt, despite regular vacuuming and steam cleaning.
Misnomer, how nice to read about Bailey’s playfulness. You’re right, it’s such a massive lift to the spirit to see that.
The roofing guys start Monday. I’ll be glad when all this is done.
Okay, on with the day. Please take care of yourselves.
Nelson let out two short barks last night while I was reading in bed. I didn’t detect anyone outside, so who knows? Dogs. 
Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP. After, I’ll email the docs to the apartment complex and do some more packing.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
I’ll hope to finish the 11th chapter of my novel today.
Started Typing: 10:35 AM ET
Clicked Reply: 12:04 PM ET
A lot of the folks on my program work a schedule where they wind up with every other Friday off, and this is the “off” week for them (including two of my direct reports): it tends to make for quiet days, and I’m hoping that today will be no exception. 
With any luck, the day’s hardest work is behind me: I only had one meeting on my calendar, and other than possibly fielding “boss” questions while she’s on vacation the only other task I have is updating a user guide. Which doesn’t even need to be finished today. I have four hours of “extra” time this week (from the weekend’s proposal support), which is perfect because I’ll likely wind up doing right about a half day of actual work.
I’ve already hauled the biiiiiiig trash can to and from the curb: the truck came earlier than usual, which I appreciate because the heat index is already in the triple digits…come to think of it, maybe that’s why they were early! I also cleaned out my linen closet a little. I went to put away the sheets that I washed a couple of days ago (it’s a process!), and instead of just cramming them in like usual I decided it was time to finally bag the sheets that I never use (because I get too warm and/or wound up not liking the way they feel). The sheets I actually use fit in the closet sooo much better now! LOL!
Due to the aforementioned ridiculous heat index, I plan to stay inside for at least the next 24 hours. It’s already 90°F with a “feels like” of 100, and the actual temp is supposed to top out at around 95. On summer afternoons the front of my house gets blasted by the sun: shortly after lunch I’ll both close the front door (sorry Bailey) and up the thermostat setting so my heat pump doesn’t have a stroke.
It’s going to be hot and yucky again tomorrow, with a 40% chance of rain/storms, but I might go to DC tomorrow night to hear some live jazz: a group I like is playing at a bar I like, and I haven’t been out to hear music in forever. The bar is also the primary venue for weeknight performances by the “singers with day jobs” crowd that I’m now kind of avoiding, but when the show isn’t one of theirs there’s a low chance of running into any of them. I asked my friends S&K if they’d be up for joining me but they’re out of town this weekend, so it’d just be me…which means it’ll be a game-day decision, sometime tomorrow afternoon. I do tend to bail when I’m not meeting anyone, but a good thing about going alone – and to this bar – is that I wouldn’t feel the need to try to look good at all: jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers would be the plan. That helps tilt the decision in favor of going.
My ex’s Beagle was named Tara; she was my step-dog for two years. I knew women named Tara before I met the ex, and have known women named Tara since then, but I still always think of the dog.
I almost had Mexican food last night: chicken quesadillas and chips+queso were in my DoorDash cart, but then I decided to make do with what I had in the house. Now that it’s in my head, though, I won’t be surprised if I wind up ordering it sometime this weekend!
I didn’t actually sell my old car to Carmax, but in 2020 I got a quote from them: the BMW dealership was literally across the road, and used Carmax offers to value trade-ins (I got the feeling that if the trade-in wasn’t a BMW, the dealership would sell it to Carmax). The quote process was relatively painless, and IIRC I could have left my old car with them right then if I hadn’t been working with the dealership (and if I’d had a ride/called an Uber). I’d purchased from Carmax in 2004 and had a good experience, so I didn’t mind taking my previous car across the road for valuation.
I’ve only had two interactions with Carmax, but they were positive. Whenever my current car dies, if the only affordable way to get another stick is to buy something used I’ll definitely be willing to consider them again.
Which is exactly why I hardly ever post in the evenings: my iPad Pro is always in front of me when I’m watching TV, and I often catch up on the Dope from my couch, but posting anything more than a quick/short comment is rarely worth it. I have a magic keyboard, so it’s not the typing: for me, something about the formatting of the site – even using Chrome – is always different/worse.
Chuck Mangione. Which I only point out because my mother’s maiden name (which she returned to after the divorce) was spelled the same except for one letter, and it got frequently mispronounced because of that dude! 
Ha! 
You are not alone.
I haven’t seen a drone show yet, but would love to sometime!
!
We’re packed. We’re checked in. We have our boarding passes on our phones. The end is in sight.
I was on the 100 and 200 Slides today, so not a lot of FUBAR-ty on that end. It was 94 degree Ferret Height(34.4 Centipedes) when I got off at 1045. I did stop at the ABC store and get a fifth of rye.
So it didn’t suck?
You can sit down in a pub.
I get toe and thumb cramps.
You probably won’t have this issue, but I thought I’d relate what happened when I took potassium supplements for cramping muscles. I started feeling weirdly faint/anxious in big spurts, and my heartbeat got wonky. I stumped both my GP and a cardiologist before I thought to check the side effects of potassium supplements, and it was right there on the label: faintness, anxiety, and palpitations. They worked well against the cramps, but the side effects (for me) were horrible.
Hello from the Satan’s arshehole that is the western Mitten State.
Every person who said, “Ohmergerd it’s SUMMER YAY!” will need to book an appointment with me, so I can glare at them.
And throw a pizza at your sweaty, sunburned face.
“My wife called in a pizza … ?”
Do. You. Know. Your. Wifey. Name?
{ * back of house * }
"What’s on the order?’
Me: Dude too drunk to know his own name.