(Old) Where in the world is the MMP?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
101

Morning all. Have broken fast and have started gathering stuff for the Grand Tour, which starts with a 100+ mile drive to Nashville for the night (when traveling to a strict schedule and overseas I try to minimize connecting flights and Nashville is direct to NYC). So won’t have to leave hear, as I mentioned, until 1-2pm or so. Flight tomorrow is at 11:30am and the International one is about 10pm, so lots of open time. Just got to remember to pack everything…

At least I have a nice day for it, no rain and mid-70’sF. House is in pretty good order (for me) and only question is do I keep the heater on or turn on the AC, no telling what the weather will do while I’m away.

Homie , no fussing now, post pictures of your pets (if any) and we’ll do the appropriate fussing…and for some reason I am not following this space mission all that closely, guess growing up with Mercury, Gemini and Apollo was enough for me. But glad you are watching us head back out there.

JtC, I think red and boofae may have a point if this effort goes nowhere.

red, concur that this needs to be reported, don’t want her tossed but 5 people in a small apartment is just asking for trouble, and with drinking involved…

FCM, my HVAC folks usually come by in April, they’ll have to wait this year…

Cookie, hope the hitch goes away, and the rent hikes seem to be excessive, but given the spiking energy prices, they may be using it as a reason/excuse…

And need to collect some data and check my accounts, then packing will commence.

102

Mornin’ everyone.

It’s 36F and clear outside. We have a frost advisory, too, so I’m glad I haven’t planted any tender plants. It’ll be mostly sunny with a high of 63F today.

VanGo, I’m glad your creation is a hit, but I am not surprised!

JtC, I think seeing a lawyer to help you navigate this process is probably a good idea.

Red, the neighbor situation sounds messy, and I agree there are far too many people in that space. So, is this the elderly lady’s apartment, and the family moved in with her? Whose clothes were tossed outside, because if they were hers, then the family needs to go. I hope a solution is found for all.

Metal Mouse, I hope the drive and flights are smooth. I, too, am looking forward to the pictures on the Book of Faces.

There was a cancellation for the ophthalmologist, so I got to go in yesterday for my cataract surgery consultation. As I suspected, mine are not nearly as bad as my husband’s and are considered mild to moderate. I could put off surgery, but I don’t want to have to get new glasses every few months either, so I opted to go ahead and get it. I’m going with mono lenses for distance. I don’t mind using readers. It’ll probably be months before I get the surgery, though. Once the scheduler contacts me, I’ll ask about being waitlisted to get in earlier.

On the way home, we went through a Jack in the Box drive-thru for breakfast. I ordered the Supreme Crescent. That is not what I got, but we were home, and I didn’t want to go all the way back. Later, we went to Bros Burgers for dinner and got Katsu burgers, which were pretty good. We’d gone there once before, and I had the California Burger, which was also delicious because it had avocado slices. I think the next time we go, I’ll try either the Bulgogi burger or the Hawaiian burger.

I need to do laundry today, and don’t think I’ll be going anywhere. Tomorrow is the service for the lady who worked at my former agency. Fortunately, it’s local, so I don’t have to drive all the way up to Mount Vernon. She was only 48 years old. At any rate, I’ll show up for a bit, then I’ll head out.

I need to get the day started, but first I need another cup of coffee. You all take care of yourselves!

103

mollie, i’m glad things went well for you.

jtc, good grief! your grandmother must have had quite the labour story shuttling between multiple states.

nelliebly, thank you for that obit. sounds like a life well lived.

hey homie, i’ve been fascinated by the artemis mission. the pictures are amazing.

it was 29 f this morning. went to the vampire den, there were very cheerful vampires today. my mum would schedule her draws around lenten times so her cholesterol would be at its lowest. usually i plan it as close as i can to the dr appt. that way the readings are more current. this time i took to mum’s thinking, and went with today instead of the 22nd or 23rd.

i’m planning out my paschal food celebration. bright week is a food free for all before going back to the regularly scheduled food rules. chicken is the thing i miss most, and usually on meatfull weds. and fri. i go for some sort of beef thing. i’m thinking 5 guys for weds., fri… i’m still thinking on that. chicken fingers will happen most of the other days. i don’t know what the cousins are planning for sunday. i’m bringing infused vodka and bunny shaped butter so far.
i will have a chick fil a sandwich and diet dr pepper for after the midnight office in the wee hours of the morning.

on to setting up the office for me to be away for 4 days.

104

You guys are smart, I really wouldn’t have thought about a lawyer over documentation issues. I’m going to call the guy who got the charges dropped when I got arrested. I don’t expect him to do this for free, but I would think he probably would know where to go and who to talk to. Thank you all so much!

105

The daughter, her partner and three kids moved in with the neighbor, who is ~50ish. About 0100, someone was out there sweeping up glass and bagging the belongings thrown out. The glass was more than just the patio table, two panes of the double window are broken as well, so I’m sure that when maintenance does their morning rounds, the manager will know that something needs to be done.

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted, sheveled and fixing to do KP. Sis will be here at 1100 and we’ll go to a couple of appointments and go for groceries. Such excitement!

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

106

Morning, all! I don’t remember much from yesterday afternoon, after they put the IV in. I accidentally screwed the pooch yesterday. The Surgery was to take place at the ophthalmologist’s Goodlettsville office, but I had entered the Gallatin location in my calendar reminder, so we showed up at the wrong place[1]. The nice lady in Gallatin called ahead and let them know that we were on the way, and twenty minutes later, we arrived at the right place. After doing all the check-in stuff, we waited about ten minutes for me to get called back. One of the nurses complemented me on my shirt, and said it was a nice spring color, which felt nice. As I was going out among the great unwashed, I had to dress like I was leaving the house. Guys don’t often get complemented for their color choice, so it was like a mini-affirmation[2]. I met with the doctor, and then they squirted the medicine under my tongue and put in the IV. After that, it was:

Oh, look. They’re strapping my head down.
Hey, that laser is making cool patterns.
Hey, she’s cutting my eye open and keeps squirting it.
How did I get into the car?
Yes, I would love some lunch - I’m starving.
Whoa - how did get get home so fast?

The next thing I knew it was about 6:30 in the evening, and Mrs Magill was calling me to ask if she should pick up food on her way home from the PTSO meeting. I took at Trazadone at 8:30, and was asleep by nine.

I’m wearing a clear shield over my right eye right now, and things are slowly coming into focus. The difference in color perception is marked between my eyes. The best way to describe it is the difference between having the blue light filter turned on and off in your monitor settings.

HeyHomie - welcome to the wholesome side. I, too, am excited about the Artemis missions. I just wish they had gone into orbit, rather than free-return trajectory. My youngest, Squeaky, has been watching closely. He wants to study astrodynamics when he heads off to college in a year and a half. You’ll get used to the nicknames. I still have to consult my cheat sheet.

metalmouse are you parking at the airport or are using one of the park and ride services? We use Fly Away Airport Parking. They have a secure lot, and will have your car waiting for you. I highly recommend.

Red - Holy moly - that is some serious drama going on next door. I hope it doesn’t spill over (more that it already has).

JtC - I concur with everyone else. It’s time to look into a consulting service. Your previous attorney would probably not be able to help with this articular matter, but he should be able to point you in the right direction. You’ll probably need someone on the federal bar.

Thank you, everyone for your support[3].

  1. Honestly, when you get north of I-40, my internal local map runs out of fucks, so it’s pretty much all the same to me. ↩︎

  2. Yay! ↩︎

  3. Insert the usual blather about how I feel like a drama queen. ↩︎

107

Brought back a memory from when I had my seizure - woke up and wondered “What am I doing in an ambulance??” But mine wasn’t drug-induced, unless someone shot a blow-dart at me while I was raking… hmmmmmmm

No probs uncovered with any of the HVAC stuff, which is dang good. The mini-split is maybe 4 years old, as is our furnace/ac, come to think of it. Otis is happy to have access to his yard. FCD has gone to the boat, and I finally re-potted some spider plants. I needed a knife to cut the roots apart - it was a mess. I now have 5 pots of spiders to go on the porch - probably on Saturday. And when I cleaned up, I decided to do a quick spray-mop, so the kitchen floor is less spotted (thanks, Otis!)

Speaking of whom, I need to give that goofy canine his midday kibbles. For big dogs, they recommend 3 smaller meals rather than 2 a day. So we divide his 4 (or so) cups of kibble into 3 servings, some augmented occasionally with wet food or an egg, or some veggies. Last night he got broccoli stems. Anyway, I expect him to start bugging me shortly for lunch.

I found a couple of poke chops ready to be sous-vided, so that’ll be the entree for supper. With cabbage-n-onions and steak fries - that sounds wholesome, doesn’t it?

OK, time to feed the dog then think about venturing outside.

108

I was on the 300 Slide again. It wasn’t too bad, apart from spending an hour on the Sort Table because they were short handed. On the drive home, I stopped at the light behind an SUV with Guatemalan consular plates. [Darth Vader]If this is a consular ship,where is the ambassador?[/Darth Vader] But I’ve had my dry, flavorless bit with stawberries, so it’s naptime. Unless the appliance repair guy shows up.

Oy vey.

Elmer Fudd would be proud.

As long as it doesn’t start yelling “FEED ME, SEYMOUR!” you’re fine.

“Jesus, look at all the dust. You can tell only men have been here before.”
And welcome(back?). And oiling up Lenny the Squidqoat is no fuss at all.

Yeah. I mean, it’s not as bad as the usual gunfire in most of the neighborhoods I’ve lived in, but a little quiet would be nice.

WTF, don’t you have leases or something?

109

Evenin’ all.

Still catching up with myself after 3 weekends away out of the last 5- both niece’s birthdays and the wedding finally done with. It was nice, and not as loud as I was expecting due to the lack of tiny niece’s tiny cousins. They were all off on another trip to stay with them at a local kid-focused resort a few hours after I left.

I wound up driving a very silly route back, which involved going across the moors, which was at least more interesting than yet another drive up the motorway even if it did take longer, and I managed a side trip to Ikea to get some exercise- I went in for one thing, I came out with that one thing and nothing else, which I think should qualify me for some kind of award. Got back late Monday, but Tuesday my brain was too frazzled to post.

Regarding future trips, other than probably a visit to be formally introduced to 3rd (and presumably final) niece in a few months when she makes an appearance, I’m not planning on any more trips away until at the least October, when this Pee Aitch Dee is supposed to be done. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to run away for a bit then though, maybe somewhere in Europe I’ve not been yet.

Aside from not having time to go away at the moment, I discovered my stipend actually stopped this month. Having belatedly checked the small print on the verrrry long contract, it was supposed to, even though it’s a 4 year project. I can afford to live off savings and odd jobs until I finish, as I own this place and bill are low, especially while I’m a stoodint, but it still would have been nice to get a heads up.

By the way Nellie, there are some fuchsias that are s’posed to grow big and bushy and are often hardy enough to get through a winter, as well as the commoner droopy kind. A neighbour here in Scotland grows one as a hedge and I have one that has made it through the last few years (though it does tend to die down to the base). Yours are probably just mis-labelled, not evil mutants out for vengeance.

110

I’m using a service at the Hotel I am staying in tonight, found out they offered it when I booked the room and decided it was one less stop for about the same money.

Mollie, glad things went well, sounds like things are already improving.

Nut, a marvelous bit of self-control on the Ikea walk. And going a different route is always a little risky, but usually it pays off. Best wishes for the PHD work.

Packing is about 50% done, got all the clothes ready but now need to get all the ‘other stuff’ packed and that can be an adventure in remembering it all. Think my list is pretty comprehensive, but you never know. Long as I have my passport and papers, I can get around most everything else. Have checked in on-line for my first flight, at first I was worried that I had allowed my TSA Pre-Check to expire but looked it up and it’s good until 2031 (If I’m still traveling by then. Just had a sammich and will shortly finish the packing, do a little final house-tidying, and then off to the Big City (Nashville).

111

Just got back from my follow-up. I can take the eye shield off during the day. The sight in my right eye continues to improve, and I have to take another eyedrop to help with the swelling in my cornea. Other than that, I’ll be allowed to drive in a couple of hours.

112

I ventured out to do a bit of pruning of deadwood in my new landscaping, then I did some weeding. Found out what I was yanking up is Henbit. And the flowers are good for pollinators. So I shan’t pull up any more till they stop flowering. Anyway, when my back started yelling at me, I quit. I also discovered the shoes I’m wearing aren’t good for standing on a slope. Lesson learned.

I made a reservation at a Holiday Inn Express in San Diego. I’m an IHG member, so I get a slightly reduced rate and I can cancel without penalty in case we decide we want to stay somewhere else. But this hotel is 2 blocks from the bus line and 3 blocks from the downtown trolley. We can get day passes that are good on both. And one of the neat things is their website will map out your trip for you. Input a start address and a destination and it gives you step-by-step instructions. So now we need to decide where we want to go so I can print out the appropriate bus and trolley schedules. Assuming they don’t change between now and January.

FCD is home fighting with one of the lights that will go in the engine room. Apparently a screw was cross-threaded so he couldn’t remove it with a mere screwdriver. He’s in his shop cussing at it (I assume) so he can go back and install it. Unless he blows it off till tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I’m running the good ice maker. Go me!

113

Yeah, but I’ve lost track of when we started here. It could also be that I’m misremembering things.

Had the meeting with the lawyer and got some questions straightened out with the wills. He had some good suggestions.

Did a bit of shopping on the way home. Went into the store to get some half & half, came out $110 poorer.

114

The difference between this morning and now is remarkable. Distance is as good as with my contacts, and close up is… not bad, which is what I expected.

I’ve been asked to spearhead my church’s booth at the Pride Fest again this year. This will be a significant fest for me since coming out to my sister and Mrs Magill and to my imaginary friends. I keep wondering whether I should confide in our Assistant Rector. She’s Good People.

115

Started the day with a MOTHER of a hot flash, so after huddling with a refrigerated water bottle tucked between my boobies, and a nap snuggled with The Monkey, imma catch up …

Over a decade ago, I was walking my then-BF German Shepherd mix dog on a leash, when SQUIRREL happened. You can guess what happened next - gravity & much pain was involved.

Only bone I’ve ever cracked in my life (rode horseback, was a bit of a devil on downhill skis .. no mishaps) and after all these years, I still occasionally feel my torso muscles “catch” across the healed rib. It’s horrifying painful.

Don’t be like shoe.

RDS are so weird, especially to 2nd/3rd shift workers. That’s breakfast time, or maybe lunch if I’m super ambitious.

That was beautiful.

FUSSSSSS!!

Welcome.

Aw, you beat me to it. I was thinking the same joke.

I’ve heard/read this for a long time. Working customer service, I make a point to (quietly but sincerely) compliment ANYONE, dude or gal, if something strikes me. Pretty color on your nails? Nice. Fancy shirt (and I can tell when a dude spent $$ on it) hell yeah, imma say something!

Exhausted face but a pretty bracelet? Guuuuuurl.

Exhausted face but a fancy tie? Duuuuude, nice!

Poor guy.

(Ask me how I feel about broccoli stems.)

116

I went to Aldi for hard cider and came out 60 bucks poorer.

How’s your herb garden growing? Do you also grow grass or nip for Sadie? Jolene starts squeeking as soon as the cat grass comes in the door.

Safe travels and have a wonderful trip!

Hurray!

Well, that bites. I’m glad you are able to continue without starving, but still.

I lived over 60 years without having a lawyer’s phone number stored in my phone, now I have three. I’m not a big fan of these times TBH.

I called the guy who got me released without getting sent to a concentration camp and his assistant scheduled a time for him to call between appointments.

The assistant always makes me laugh, he reminds me of a secretary for the CEO of a major company - “Good morning, this is X from Doe legal associates, may I speak to JtC? Thank you, please hold for Mr John Doe, Esquire, Attorney at Law.”

He makes me think of three piece suits and walnut clad walls.

I think my lawyer was trying to flatter me, he said he loved defending feisty old women because when we are finally fed up, we are just done and won’t back down. He’s right, but still a lot of that is just me being stubborn. It might take a while to get me moving, but once I’ve got moving, momentum takes over.

So anyhow, he says that he wants me to submit everything one more time because nobody in the government knows what’s going on from day to day anymore and it might get approved just by virtue of overwork and lack of oversight.

If it gets kicked back again, he gave me the number for a specialist in Virginia. He also said that he agrees that the delays are caused by malice and thinks he will be able to throw some of the Defense Fund at that attorney for me. (I sure do wish I know where that money was coming from, he got ten of us released late on a Sunday night which couldn’t have easy or cheap.)

I’m SO sorry. Its been almost twenty years and I still remember how horrible those years were. Are you crying over stoopid shit yet? Pictures of the homeless pet of the week were enough to do me in for half an hour back then.

117

Yes. May all the gawds bless waterproof eye makeup. (Including sparkly purple!!)

Also, bless popsicles.

118

Typing this from my hotel room across the highway from the airport. Traffic near downtown Nashville was hideous but made it safely (outside of a bladder control issue, but not disasterous). Car is set for storage and I have a 7:30am shuttle ride to the airport, so will be in bed early as tomorrow will be busy.

JtC, sounds like your lawyer is a righteous dude.

Mollie, so glad to hear that your eyes are doing well.

And now need to Google maps and find some place to eat. Take care all.

119

:pink_heart::heart::orange_heart::yellow_heart::green_heart::light_blue_heart::blue_heart::purple_heart: enjoy those beautiful colors!

My lovely idiot cat knocked my house keys into the trash during one of his Zoomie fits. Days ago. I took out the trash, like the silly grownass adult I aspire to be. Much Sherlock Holmes ensued. Guess who’s about to welcome yet another overpriced strange man into her home?

@JaneDoe42 dumb cats, handsome so much money male dudes. These things were more fun years ago.

120

Say hello to my little friends:

And no, I don’t grow grass for Sadie. Our carpet has had enough barf abuse over the years.