Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 52 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 65 and mostly cloudy for the day. Positively balmy compared to the past week. The big item on today’s agenda is laundry. Be still my heart. Never fear, there will be the sloth, general overall uselessness, nappage, and day drinkin’ as well. Sup sall be pot roast with N.O.T., baby carrots, and onions along with some peas, butterbeans, and okra cooked togethher and cornbread cooked together.
red sorry about Skip.
shoe glad the ratties got a new home. I’d say cute pic, but rats (N.O.R.) squick me out.
It’s showery and 47F outside. The rain ends this morning sometime, but the sky will remain cloudy. The expected high temp is 50F.
shoe, yes, it’s FCM’s b-day today.
FCM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I view milk as an ingredient, too. I used it to cook oatmeal and cream of Wheat and put it in cereal. It also goes in various other dishes. I can’t stand drinking it, though.
nellie, I’m sorry you fell yesterday. I hope the knee is doing much better today.
Work was pretty hectic and a bit stressful yesterday. The commute in was uneventful and thankfully, the rain held off until I made it to the office. However, the commute home pretty much sucked. A multi-car accident blocked all the northbound lanes of the interstate. It took me well over an hour to go a short distance on the interstate. However, my day wasn’t as messed up as those involved in the accident, so I guess I’ll take that. Some of those cars were pretty smashed up, and, two of them were facing south in the northbound lanes. Another pickup truck was all smashed up and had a broken axle. There were a few other munched cars too.
Today I deal with continued fallout from a leasing snafu. Our national leasing office changed a process and it’s now caused me hours of work and stress. I spent hours on it yesterday too. Thankfully, the person I am working with is very helpful and driven to get this corrected. None of it is my doing, but if we don’t do this right, we’ll mess up the whole procurement/acquisition of this leasing project.
Oh, yeah, everybody’s hand gets held in a parking lot. I was referring to them being self-tending once inside the festival. It was crowded, but not so crowded that you couldn’t see between people. But the whole time all three adults heads are like a radar antenna: sweeping around and counting to 7, sweeping around and counting to 7, sweeping …
We meet with the full Horde often, maybe once a month. And heavily at Thanksgiving and Christmas, as in several days in a row. As mentioned, Daughter’s got 1 permanently adopted and up to 6 fosters who rotate slowly through. Over the course of a year it might be 15 or even 20 distinct kids, and she doesn’t always have the full 1+6, sometimes it’s just 1+5 or +4, then pretty soon more arrive.
Daughter has no twins now; the two 3yos are unrelated and about 6 months apart in age. She has in the past had fraternal twin infants.
It takes getting used to the idea that although her Horde is constant, the identities and ages and names keep changing. And unlike more permanent kids, the fosters get younger over time as well as older. Right now her batch averages about as old as we’ve seen. I expect their next turnover will introduce more infants and drop the average age again.
I don’t find the need to drink afterwards. The want is strong, but one will do. OTOH, the need for silence and inaction is profound.
Good morning all. Slept well and am heating up the house in anticipation of the carpet folks coming out this morning. Have unplugged the Big TV but would really prefer having help moving it, so will wait until they arrive to do so. (hey, I’m paying them for the furniture moving). Once that is done no major actions are required and gym will be at my discretion, feel pretty good but still have the rasping cough. Rain on and off today and most of the rest of the week, but it’s already 50F and getting to the mid-50’s today, so a great improvement over last week.
shoe, nice pics of the young’uns and Mamas.
doggio, Spot is simply exercising the Feline right to everything in the house.
FCM, a most Happy Birthday to you way down South. Enjoy breaking fast.
Taters, glad you were an observer and not a participant in that accident. And I have faith you and work partner won’t mess up. Fixing other people’s FUBAR’s seems to be your specialty.
Pilot, I think I’ve said it before, buit your daughter could qualify for Sainthood in my book. So many kids hacve got/are getting a fair start at life thanks to her.
OK, need to eat, but soon as I fix something the carpet folks will probably show up…we’ll see.
Have a good 2sDay all.
ETA: Just got a call, the carpet guy should be here in about 30 minutes, so that takes care of the meal question. Later is good.
I put about a tablespoon of heavy cream in my porridge. And salt, of course. Once in a while I’ll top my porridge with an over-easy egg instead; but it’s easier to just have porridge.
A foggy 32F this morning. Johnny cakes (cornmeal pancakes) for breakfast. Damn, but those are good. And leftover batter for tomorrow. The wife’s niece is bringing by a pot of chili for us, so dinner is done.
Started reading Rachel Maddow’s book on Spiro Agnew: now I see where Trump got his role model.
Nothing new under the sun, which is probably a good thing.
Thanks for the wishes! Can’t believe I’m 70!! To quote a t-shirt isaw once : if I knew I’d live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself!
We went to a couple of talks on Antarctica this morning, then had lunch in a fancy dining room. FCD wanted a nap so I came poolside to read, but it’s chilly, so I’m gonna find a warmer seat.
If you check my FB, you’ll see a couple of videos of how rough it is, but we’re supposed to enter the Strait of Magellan this evening, and it will smooth considerably.
I think it’s because I’m close to Italy. Both my Bologna and Pescara coworkers insist béchamel is the way to go. Haven’t asked my Sicilian coworker - maybe he does ricotta. I have learned that spicy Italian sausage is only from the far south - the northerners are really sensitve to spice.
nellie I hope the icing worked and your knee isn’t too uncomfortable today.
shoe, the ASFs are cute! Probably tasty, too.
FCM, Happy Bird Day! Saw the pool slopping over - hope both you and FCD keep your footing.
After slipping and sliding to work this morning, the temperature’s warmed up and tomorrow it might hit 15c/59f. Wacky weather.
Packing up an assortment of powdered/nukable “foods” (Insta MacChz, a semi-fancy ramen, and Rice a Roni) to bolster the powdered/nukable cup of mashed potatoes in my locker at work.
See, I eat a varied & balanced diet!
Tossed some peanuts and birdseed out earlier, so now I get to watch a pair of cardinals and a few chickadees ( “chick-a-DEEE-dee-deee!” ) hopping about, while awaiting the return of the black squirrel(s?) that haunt my 'hood to come get their peanuts.
They’re all having such a good time investigating the remains of the tree branches, I didn’t have the heart (yet) to bitch at the mgmt. co. about sending the guys back to finish cleaning up their mess.
Plus, two (!!) of the duplicate maintenance requests regarding said tree are still open, so … pbbbth!
Opened the door for Monks, who was thoroughly unimpressed by how drippy it is out there. At least it’s thawing - imma try to park in my own driveway tonight. Tried earlier, and got about two feet in (there’s an uphill incline right at the street) and that was a definite “no” from my car, and physics.
HaHa - I’m back for the second day in a row. If this keeps up, I’ll start learning all of the new names.
We got a new kitten last week. She was found at a construction site with her siblings, and someone at our vet was fostering her. She’s making friends with my daughter and avoiding the rest of us like the plague. Her name is Onza, after a cryptid big cat from Mexico.
Moommm what cruise line are you on? We’re hoping to take Holland America down to Antartica one of these days.
I don’t have the energy to read or reply right now but i wanted to let you know I’m still around. I’m at the making hard decisions phase with things with Dad so… yeah.
Got the oil changed in the truck, also got a new rear bumper put on. The old one was kind of ratty/rusty, but after 16 years and 220k miles in NY weather that’s to be expected.
Now in my shop waiting for glue to set. On second thought, almost 3 PM…it won’t be cured enough for me to do anything today. I’ll pre-set the CNC for tomorrow and get the hell outa here.
Things are just crazy right now at my job. The stress is getting to me big time. I’ve really been on the verge of panic for a couple of days now, but I can’t stop.
I am trying to find the humor in this situation because supposedly this makes people more resilient, but I don’t see the humor in feeling like I’m failing everyone.
What a cool way to spend your birthday! Pun intended.
spicy, I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. First off, you’re not failing anyone - you’re doing the best you can, and that’s all you can do. And, although it might not seem like it, you’re doing it with grace. Second, come scream into the void whenever you need to. Doesn’t matter if it’s total gibberish, sensible or somewhere in between.
Well, the carpet is back in-place, so that much of the house looks normal. Left the furniture where it is and went to Home Depot and rented a rug cleaner for 24 hours, haven’t done a deep clean in forever and this may be my best shot at it. So gym, if it happens, will be another night excursion. Up to 53F outside, but a little rain here and there (more due tomorrow).
shoe, Ah, the well-balanced diet. I like the Irish version of a “Well balanced Diet” A pint of Guinness in each hand. Hope parking is OK tonight, I think between the 50F weather and the rain all our ice and snow are gone now.
Sunny, you are always a welcome sight in Mumperland and the names will come to you. And congrats on your new Feline overlord.
{{Real Fish}}, because you need them now and later. Take care. We’re here.
Spicy, sometimes jobs get that way. Just take a deep breath, wade in and do the best you can, and what happens, happens. No panic, though, that never solves things; you are not failing, you are doing the best you can in an impossible situation.
OK, need to (gasp!) read the directions and do some industrial-strength rug cleaning. Take care all.
Thank you. I realized I was kind of stuck in this panic state even though I made some progress at work today, so I had an Ativan and a big bowl of oatmeal (I skipped lunch today too.) Hopefully I can “reset.”
I have a friend who says sometimes when you’re stressed it’s helpful to treat yourself like a cranky toddler. “Is it time for a nap? Do you want a snack? Here, drink some water.”
The absolute worst case scenario is not that bad. I keep trying to remind myself of that. Will I have to work through the weekend? Will I have to make a few uncomfortable phone calls? Okay, I can live with that. I’ve had to do things last minute before and I lived to tell the tale.
My brains are scrambled. I did not get my cookies yesterday - I blame the ditziness on that. Clearly I didn’t have enough sugar and chocolate. Also, I had to drag two teenagers to the dentist for a very early morning appointment because I’ve been a delinquent parent and forgot that, though their braces had been looked at copiously over the last several months, the relative cleanliness of their teeth hadn’t been looked after for a while. They weren’t happy but they both got Starbucks on the way to school, so 'twas fine. What was not fine is that overlygirl may need dental implants and said implants are not covered by my insurance. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a bonus or the lottery or both.
So that’s nice.
Work is stupid lately. Very, very stupid. We have a focus group tomorrow about what they could possibly do better and it’s on the tip of my tongue to say, “Well, you might try not firing 3,000 people then requiring everyone who’s left to come back into the office and forcing them to get more done with fewer people and less time. Start there.” But that’s probably not cool, so I’ll just have to find a nicer way to say it.
Other than that…good things: I had some chocolate lava cake chocolate (an actual truffle-like chocolate filled with “lava cake,” which is actually more like dark chocolate syrup), which was tasty. I lifted weights last night, which made me feel good about myself. And I get to listen to a fun audiobook tonight while I run/waddle. And my daughter just texted me to say hi.
I’m trying to do my “good things” lists again after I came across a journal of mine from a really dark time in college. It listed some phenomenally hilarious, stupid good things that made me smile, so it does help even if it feels silly.
I try to make a list of good things from the day every night before bed. I just have to pick five. It’s a good wind-down activity for me. And I use a real journal and everything.
Last night I was too tired to do it. Maybe that’s why I’m so cranky today.
Also y’all might laugh at me but I’m doing a Break Up With Your Phone text course. So far I like it. It’s not about total phone abstinence, just using it more intentionally. I want to spend more time with my kid and keep the Straight Doping to a minimum around him.
I’m teaching him how to do laundry. I told my husband, he needs a daily chore. Why not laundry? He already gets the gist. It will be quite some time before he does it independently but start him now and someday I’ll never have to do laundry again.
