This. 
I stocked the Little Free Panty* Pantry this morning. There were a few things in there, two apples, an avocado, a can of tuna, and two lunchbox-sized bags of Cheetos. I’m going to stock it about half full on MWF. Gives me something worthwhile to do, ‘cause I’m not doin’ nuttin’ else.
* Thinking about my underwear thread… 
Tomatoes are finally ripening. We have a volunteer cherry tomato plant that’s already got a couple tomatoes, so maybe we’ll get some from that as well.
We’re under a heat advisory for most of the week ,but it’s currently trying to decide if it’s going to get seriously windy, following by some rain, or just pass us by. Could definitely use the rain.
It’s the last week before school starts, so anybody who could go somewhere has gone, so it’s really quiet.
Monday’s mostly done here, so everybody else enjoy the day.
Evenin’ all.
I hope the eye doc visit goes well, I should get round to visiting one of them one of these days- my eyes are generally functioning fine, so I keep putting checkups off. After a friend had a completely asymptomatic detaching retina picked up at a routine appointment (they said it was at the point he would have lost sight in that eye within a week if they hadn’t caught it then), I try to get the odd checkup anyway.
I’m getting pathetically excited about going away for a few days- I mean, it’s literally a trip to my old house, and only a 2.5 hour drive, but it should nearly treble the number of people I’ve had an actual real in person conversation with (at least, more than a 2 minute chat with a neighbour) since March. It’s tricky to work out what clothes I should be bringing though; the forecast is either hot hot hot and sunny, or hammering it down with rain and thundery- it’s switched from one to the other on the weather site I use at least 3 times today. Maybe I should just wear a bikini, which would kind of work for either.
Oh, lordy. I walked to the grocery store, which meant going past 2 of the 3 fire-damaged buildings. People were standing across the way in pj’s and bare feet at 9:45, and the fire there started, the news said, at around 3 a.m. Red Cross was there, and all those poor people were gone by the time I came back. But frick, the fire damage was horrible. Two apartments were nothing but cinders, and the roof had been chopped off the rest. 8 apartments uninhabitable.
A little farther down the street, the office/community building of the next complex was gutted, and the roof had caved in. I didn’t walk by the church, but I understand the fire was in the basement. Seeing all that devastation–just horrible. Total damages (all 3)are over $1 million, the FD says, but that seems low after what I saw. There’s been one arrest. I think my complex may have been spared because it’s gated.
Sorry to go on and on, but it shook me. Those poor people. And the fire fighters looked exhausted.
The Smithsonian is way cool. We lived there off and on for about two years and went often to all the monuments and museums. We went back for a visit a couple of years ago and went to the Holocaust Museum, the African American museum and the Newseum (which I understand has closed), and did a tour of the Capitol Building.
Got the drain cock replaced in the RV and sprayed all the accumulated moss on the driveway. I think that will do it for today. We made a crapload of pierogi yesterday, and were going to can peaches today, but don’t have the energy. Tomorrow for sure.
Still waiting for the delivery of my small freezer. It’s been “out for delivery” for three days now, and still hasn’t shown up. I’m losing patience with UPS on this. It only weighs 60 pounds. With packing it can’t be more than 70-75 pounds, so c’mon people.
This reminded me of something the Late Great Ruble used to say. Many years ago, we had a chain of convenience stores around here called “Open Pantry.” He used to say that he was going to buy that chain and remove the “R” from every sign … 
Howdy all. I have been irking doing my evaluations for my four employees. I am finished with 2 1/2. Had to take a break as my kitchen chair makes my back hurt. Evals are my second least favorite part of my job. Hiring is first. Speaking of my job our new Director is presenting an “uncoupling” plan to the CO tomorrow. If approved we shall return to irk for half days. Little gym will remain closed. Temps and medical questions will be gathered. I shall make myself the police of that. Fun stuff.
I am just a bit nervous as essentially 99% of our customers arrive from elsewhere on vacation. We have community spread but it travels too. It will be fine once the new wears off and we get all our processes changed to accommodate the virus.
Hot as ever here which is expected in August in the subtropics. As long as there are no hurricanes on the way it’s all good. Air conditioning is a wonderful thing.
I miss Ruble.
My greatest wish is a DC visit. I love museums and once the plague is over I shall make the journey.
Best wishes for a useful and sanitized eye appointment.
I lived close enough to visit the Smithsonian many, many times. It’s still a pleasure when I’m back in the area.
I’m going to read on the catio for awhile, then go get my curbside groceries. There are plenty of thing I should do today, but I’ll probably just sort laundry and make dinner.
Happy Moanday y’all!
We’re back in the valley at the big house. Drove back last night. I’ve been out to see the vampires at the hospital already this morning in preparation for my visit with my primary care physician tomorrow. Wednesday - nuttin’. Maybe mowage. The grass hasn’t grown much but the Dandy Lions are going crazy. Thursday is the dentist. Friday is the cardiologist. Then Sunday we go back to the little house in Central Oregon. We’re getting the concrete floor poured in the basement there after Labor Day and I have to clear all the junk out of the basement for that.
Did I mention our tomatoes? We have a little garden spot out front and usually plant some tomatoes and other mostly edible things out there, but didn’t this year 'cause of our being gone so much. Well, we had some volunteers pop up. 3 or 4 tomato plants and a bunch of Nasty Sturchuns. We were wondering what kind of tomato plants they were. Well, at least one is a red cherry tomato plant. 
We’ve got a bunch of little bright red tomatoes. And we didn’t even have to work at it.
The recycle truck just went by (garbage went early this morning) so I need to go haul the recycle bins in, and then go to the post office annex to pick up our mail and prolly go to the grocery store. Need a list though, otherwise too many random things jump into my cart. 
S’posed to be 91F today.
Later.
As soon as I bitched about it, a UPS truck pulled up in front and delivered the freezer. My wife and I rassled the thing into the basement. Not an easy chore, as there is a small alcove and a sharp left turn at the bottom of the steps. I got it to the alcove with the hand truck, but then it was just muscle to get it inside. So now it’s just sitting down there pining for its former home in China and waiting to be plugged in. I’ll wait 24 hours before doing that, as there is no telling how it was handled in getting it here.
There are fjords in China?? 
I absolutely loathe giving evaluations and hiring. Evals make me feel like an obnoxious kindergarten teacher and hiring makes me feel like a parrot.
My daughter just gave up for the moment on trying to fly. She constructed some cardboard & duct tape wings and tried running and jumping down a pretty steep hill, to no avail. She said she did feel some lift, though, but some 13-year old heartthrob on some middleschool sitcom was more interesting. Apparently she wants to be on this guy’s “squad,” but doesn’t know how (and I won’t let her have any social media whatsoever), so she’s contenting herself with watching him instead.
I never realized how terrifying puberty must’ve been for my mom until my daughter started going through it. She goes from doing little kid things - drawing hearts and flowers and trying to fly or playing hide and seek - to doing older things - talking about boys she thinks are cute - on a dime. Freaks me the hell out. Just like when I look at my son, I still see this wee little kid with her soft, buttery arms wound around my neck overlaid on my now-tweenaged daughter. Dammit, I’m sad.
Hello everybody -
I’m going to try to stay back this time. Life’s been a bit much lately. Somehow, put the new board on top of it, and it’s just been more than I can handle.
Briefly, my daughter was hospitalized for a week. I stayed with her the whole time. Let me tell you, the furniture parents are meant to sleep on was designed by the CIA to crack terrorists, and then passed on. She’s out and we’ll have to see how it goes.
I have been diagnosed with MS. I have no idea what to feel about that. I guess I’m in shock. So far, the plan is: do more tests and monitor. No treatment. After I do some more research, I imagine that I’ll be clamouring about the no treatment thing. I believe that I should like some treatment.
My son’s dog is snuggling with me, and Akiko is next to me on the floor. It appears to be dog naptime.
Hugs and appropriate greetings to all. I’ve missed you.
Howdy Y’all! We defilthyfied da cave and then achieved nappage. Life is a whirlwind here! Vestry is supposed to meet at the church house this evenin’, but it’s stormin’ out right now and if it does not let up I will not be attendin’. I don’t do bad weather drivin’ anymore except in emergencies and this ain’t an emergency. We shall sup shortly as the beastloaf is almost done.
Mowage is complete. Burgers are on the counter to thaw. I finally printed out our current insurance cards and put them in the vehicles. Now chillage till suppertime.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Keep us updated on what you decide.
Oof. Puberty. Fun times for all. Good luck @overlyverbose and overly’s daughter!
I successfully obtained a new phone today. Will be spending some time logging into everything, and cleaning up the bloatware. Checked in here mostly to confirm that I could!
New model is Galaxy S 10 e for economy, e for “cheeeeeaper.”
Hot and sticky here today. The oracles claim a line of storms may pass through later this evening.
May they do so with humidity-dropping alacrity
Oh, and I finally hung the macrame plant-holder thingies my mother made for me. One with chives, one with - checks tag - a pretty blue flowering thing called streptocarpella.
And sent “thank you” pics to mom.
Took me a while to finish composing, so I missed @Sunny_Daze posting.
My most enormous {{ huggzzz }} to you. Glad your daughter is out of the hospital, of course, and that you have appropriate canine companionship. Keep poking in here, love, we likeses youz!
Accomplishment for the day: I determined how to register the car. Here is CA they want $1700, which is lunacy. Up in Oregon, where the car is registered, they want $132 to renew for 2 years. I own a house there. I go back and forth. $132 it is. Oregon, bless them, is used to people spending part time in the state. They provided the option for a second address to mail the stickers. I am happy.
I also arranged for my daughter’s tuition to get paid, and I’m pushing her to finish up her last remaining assignments from the quarter that is just finishing. She starts the next one next week. She is glum, but it needs to get done.
Now, to eat lunch.
Hi Sunny_Daze! 
A very close friend of mine was diagnosed with MS over 20 years ago when she was around 50. That’s later in life than most people are diagnosed. She has the relapsing-remitting kind (the kind President Martin Sheen had in The West Wing). She has had almost no noticeable effects from it at all. Her legs are a little stiff, and she can’t rock the stiletto heels she used to love (just as well…). For many years she injected a drug called Copaxone every day, but in recent years she has switched to an oral drug, don’t know the name of it. It might turn out to be unexpectedly low-impact on your life (still, no one wants a diagnosis like that when we’re already going through all this other BS). Here’s hoping you find it easy to cope with.
A VERY important person in my early childhood was named Akiko. I get warm fuzzies just reading that name. 