I’ve been hearing sounds this morning. Call them ‘chimes’. As part of transitioning to gmail, I downloaded the gmail app onto my iPhone yesterday. It’s letting me know I’ve got mail. I googled how to do it, and changed the notification sound from Welcome to None. Now I wait…
TokyoBayer, your kids sound awesome!
Lewis Grizzard titled one of his collections “Elvis Is Dead and I Don’t Feel So Good Myself”. My generation is saying, “If Ozzy can die, any of us can die, man!”
When I make oatmeal-raisin cookies, I soak the raisins for 45 minutes. Whiskey, brandy, or for a G-rated crowd, water.
[quote=“TokyoBayer, post:130, topic:1021132”] Did you say how long is the homestay?
It’s not a big deal, really. Sorry for not knowing this, but do you have kids? How old is the girl?
[/quote]
She’ll be here for ten months, the length of the school year. No, we have never had children. Which, as I said above, was one of Mr. Rilch’s selling points – “You keep saying ‘what if?’ So here’s your chance.” I don’t know her exact age, but I think eighteen, give or take.
One thing the facilitator told us is that where she’s from, people dress very formally, not in shorts and t-shirts. Which she, I and Mr. Rilch were all wearing. Not that we have to change our ways, mind you; it’s one of the many things she’ll have to get used to.
So at various times today I was on the 100 Sort Table, the 200 Sort Table, loading Bottom Blue on the 100, loading Bottom White on the 200, and pulling Middle Red on the 200, because Nails loads at Quaalude-ed sloth speed. And J was doing the same time. While we were supposed to get the rewraps and partial labels on the package cars while being nowhere near the computers. 
And it’s likely to get worse, because I hear the Preload boss talking about layoffs.
And just now Spot leapt onto the cat tree, ran into the Hartz Large Latex PigTM, which grunted, and scared the hell out of himself. 
But that’s a small price to pay for you boss to be able to check off “micromanaging” on their checklist to justify their existence.
Spot and I will join you long distance.
“Slacker Roofing and HVAC: We do nothing for less!”
I haven’t had weekends off since the 1990’s
The whales will be safe, then. 
She’ll still have less shock than some exchage students.
You really think so? 
Try this video - Every MARK OF THE YEAR Since 2001.
Per Wiki:
fcm, i hope they have lovely knitted items in lerwick. i remember on the show shetland, everyone had glorious knit wear. one murderer had a knitted cowl that i particularly coveted.
poor spot.
one time i put a raven cling on the window. koritza was fine with it all day. then she hopped up on the windowsill after sundown, i guess it looked different. she jumped back and ran across me, i startled and that had stretch startle and freak. lager chased after both of them, leading to more frantic scurrying. it took a bit before everyone’s hearts calmed down. lots of soothing and fits of laughter.
today started out well. i met up with doggy neighbour jimothy. a good way to start the day. i was happy to see him, it has been a bit.
it is a cold day in the office. i think it is time to take some things down to the mail area. perhaps i’ll warm up a bit.
Oh, geez. Last night at 2 a.m., give or take, I woke up because I heard a phone number ringing. It was my phone, which was on the nightstand. I grabbed it in a panic and hung it up, but seconds later, my brother called, groggy but alarmed. Honestly, I think it’s possessed. Or maybe I am: an earlier phone, which was three feet away from me, once dialed my daughter at 6:00 a.m.. Help. My blender is stalking me, and my toaster is looking at me askance.
I have a call in to Maintenance. My bathroom light is strobing so rapidly, I’m worried it’d give me a migraine. The only other light in there is the warming light, which is dim and obviously unsuitable for summer, so I can’t do anything in there but look in the mirror and chant, “I believe in Mary Worth.”
I shall take Sir Charles for a walk shortly. It’s a little early, but I don’t want him to get overheated.
Yet another reason I like you! I plump 'em first in a little hot water and either rum or vanilla extract, depending.
flyboy, happy whale watching! I hope you see a pod.
Funny you should say that…yuk, yuk, yuk.
All in all, it’s just another brick in the brawl.
May I choose that someone else? I don’t like to wish them on anyone, but I nominate a certain political leader.
doggio, I could have sworn I referred to Spot as “he” in a post once, and you corrected me. Who knows? When it comes to pets, I’m gender confused.
Will anything be bedazzled?
We’ve been seeing beautiful knitted wool items, but I don’t do wool because you can’t just toss it in the washer and dryer. Honestly, the one thing I plan to buy in Lerwick is ibuprofen. Not too touristy… 
Tonight’s comic was pretty good - Mike Delamont. Several really big laughs and many more, including some fun audience interactions. So a good way to wrap up the day.
We plan to spend most of tomorrow in Lerwick. FCD is wanting to see some of the Shetland sites. I’m hoping we don’t get rained on. Till then, early to bed, very early to rise.
Started Typing: 2:28 PM ET
Clicked Reply: 3:36 PM ET
Another work Wednesday is nearly over! The “hump day” concept has new meaning for me now that I work from home every Thursday and Friday. Heh. I’m happy to be in the office 3 days a week – and very happy to be in this office, where they actually care about employee morale (e.g., this morning, in observance of Shark Week, someone walked around in a shark costume handing out shark-shaped candy! 
) – but by the time I head home on Wednesdays I’m ready to not come back until Monday. I think Bailey agrees. We’ve both adjusted to my new schedule pretty well in the past 3.5 months, but it still makes me sad to leave her every Mon/Tue/Wed morning…come to think of it, that might never change. 
I’ve decided that the large empty window ledge in my new workspace could use some Lego flowers. I ordered a few small sets that have a similar look: they’re each in a tiny planter on a tiny stand (e.g., the mini orchid). I think they’re just about the only Lego I could have at work that will be nice decor and look professional. I actually plan to bring the boxes in and put the sets together at my desk: they’re small enough that I could start one at lunchtime and finish it after work without having to stay too late. Building one a day for a couple of weeks will give me an actual break midday (vs working through lunch), and I won’t have to worry about moving them (the botanical sets tend to be fragile). Once all of them are assembled and on display, I’ll share a photo.
(BTW, last night I concluded that the wooden model kit I’d been working on was way too fiddly for me. Too many pieces that needed to be waxed or sanded, too much debris after the waxing or sanding, and too much tiny print in the assembly instructions [with no digital version available]. Maybe there is no substitute for Lego assembly in my brain…ah, well!)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner on Monday, Ozzy yesterday…I’m keeping an eye on the celebrity news today!
Maybe some do, but my CVS has a delivery charge. It’s small, but a charge nonetheless.
Ha!
Seconded.
Preach!
I have an antenna, but I hardly ever use it/watch live TV anymore: if something like that had happened in my area, I’d never know.
I was a street kid growing up in a bad neighborhood.
Howdy Y’all! We procured and stowed provisions and et fried chikin lunches. Then nappage occurred. I have been watchin’ episodes of The Addams Family on my tablet. I downloaded tubi and can also watch from the livin’ room teevee. OYKW is not a fan of The Addams Family (I will keep him anyway) so he has been watchin’ reruns of Mom on Netflix. I hear a storm brewin’, so shortly we will quaff beerverages on the back porch and watch it.
CupCakes doggio has the corner on bedazzlin’. After all he has to keep up with the latest trends. Mrs. Johnson only allow folk who are stylish attend her soirées. To those who have no idea what I am talkin’ about, go check out the daily nonsense on my book of faces wall.
I hear booms. Onward to the back porch!
the addams family is the best! i love lurch!
is he a munsters fan?
Hi folks - y’all have been busy since I stopped by last. 20-someodd (some very odd) 
posts between 9pm and 6am, and then y’all really got to typin’. I have read all 70-some posts since last night.
I’ve gotten all my trip prep done; reservations for activities made and paid for, bags packed net of a couple last minute checklist items, laundry from housekeepers done so I don’t have to face that in a week on top of a suitcase of dirties. Naught remains but to start the adventure.
About to go find some food. Tomorrow is an early start. Up at 0530 to meet my 0630 ride to the airport.
Our day started gray and threatening but cleared out to sunny around noon, never having dripped where I was. Still sunny and glorious; NWS says 89/32 here a bit after 5pm. The low tonight should be 79/26.
About to go find some food. Tomorrow is an early start. Up at 0530 to meet my 0630 ride to the airport.
In the interest of brevity I’ll just say good luck to all!
Inneresting day at the museum. We’re in a test prototypes with kids mode this week. The 2 I made have been popular so far. A group of 4 boys, cousins I think, played with one for half an hour, which is incredible dwell time. And I think that they even picked up on some of the facts we are trying to get across.
Happy and safe travels to all who are on the move over the next couple of days/weeks.
You totally rock!!
Flashlights are your friends.
Mine too. However, it’s in the same plaza as Fud Kitty, a good Chinese takeout, a decent BBQ joint and a wonderful ice cream place, so it’s often paired with another errand.
I got phone calls made and a dental appointment for Monday morning. I woke up a couple of days ago with swollen gums on one side, I figured a popcorn hull got caught. At this point, I know that it’s infected, so off to the dentist I go, likely for excavation.
I packed up most of the small kitchen appliances and most of the bakeware today, then took the trash out. At some point, I’ll have to load donations in the car and deliver them, along with taking an old desktop to Staples for recycling.
Right now, we’re just awaiting the paperwork coming back for the lease to come to me. Then I can finalize the movers.
Hooray. So much progress! Congrats.
That sounds like a great exhibit! Playing as well as learning are great things for that age.
I hope your fun exceeds your expectations!!!
Not only is that cute, it also looks like a desk accessory. I’m sure your PTB will approve. If they don’t, just dramatically smash them on your floor mat while sobbing about individuality.
You can indeed wash wool in the machine, you just need to use cold water and a gentle cycle. Then squeeze (not wring) it out over your sink, then roll it up in a towel and then wring. Let it lay flat on your drying rack and it will look perfect the next day. No wire hangers!!!
Going to that wedding looked expensive, someone’s gotta pay for it.
Running out of steam already, it was hot and humid at the capital. I’m not seeing nearly as many coal barges floating by as before. I’m so happy I put the money out for cotton, I wouldn’t last an hour in poly/plastic.
Yesterday Tara the Walking Lady asked me if we needed any yard work done or maybe help cleaning out the shed. Apparently she lost her part time cleaning job at the nursing home. They are also cutting staff due to the BBB. 
As we were still looking for a housekeeper, I invited her in and showed her around and then asked how much she would want. She asked for less than we were paying in AZ for a smaller place. Of course I counter offered with something more reasonable and we settled on an amount for the job.
She showed up on time today and did a kick-ass job and agreed to come back in two weeks, so that is a good thing. I don’t have to be washing our baseboards and she gets some cash.
The big problem with her is that she doesn’t seem to understand how deaf Hubs is. She is very soft spoken and if he’s not looking at her, he has no idea that she is talking to him. I’ve told her that he isn’t rude, just deaf here’s hoping she remembers when she’s over next.
Before I go, I gotta share our catnip issues. Now that GG has had the good stuff, he totally ignores the rather pricey store bought stuff Hub’s tries to pawn off on him. (There’s no room in the fridge for my expensive spices but somehow there is room for the catnip.)
GG doesn’t like it when we have cleaning people over. They disturb his naps and move his things and try to pick him up. GG is NOT a pick-me-up cat, if he doesn’t indulge his slaves like that, how dare a stranger try!!!
GG has never been taught to eat people food. His breeder didn’t feed his cats people food, so GG didn’t see his mama eat it. VBC didn’t get people food either, she was a pudgebutt who also tended to snarf and barf, so she didn’t teach him to eat people food either. He has never once indicated that he wanted people food.
Tonight we were just sitting down to eat when GG sat on his scratcher in his “Catnip plz” pose so I went out and grabbed a few leaves off the very small plant. I came back in and used my fingernails to slice the nip into small fragrant bits and then sat down to eat. GG did his roll and rub thing then started standing by the table (no paws on tables or counters) and staring at my plate.
At first Hubs thought that GG was actually begging for food, then I asked him where my hands hand just been and reached out to pet GG on the head. He grabbed my hand and started rubbing his face against my fingers and licking them.
So, then I went off to wash my hands at the kitchen sink while he was looking like he was considering jumping into the sink for just one more lick.
WFT are we going to do in the winter?
Wow! Good work!
It’s been a few weeks.
We had a nice trip. Got some quality family time. My sister has largely managed to get her asshole husband out of her day-to-day life. Now she just needs to get him out of the house. Mom is old. Her mobility is very limited. Still reasonably sharp, though.
We got a day in Newport, RI to see some mansions, which I haven’t done since I was a kid and my wife has never done. Then a few days in Provincetown, which was very nice. Visited my half brother (we found out about him a few years ago) on the way home.
When we got back our cat, Mona, started acting, well, old. We got her in May 2006; they estimated her age to be about 8 months at the time. She wasn’t eating and while she would still climb the stairs, she wasn’t getting on the bed, as if she couldn’t muster the strength. On Sunday I found her curled up on the floor near her own sick. She couldn’t stand. So we had to make the hard decision to let her go. We’ve had her for most of our marriage.
Three months ago we had two cats. Now we have none. I haven’t been catless since 1999.
My wife left town for a conference on Monday morning. The house is weirdly quiet.