This was a gamble, as the 5G in Portland was pretty bad. But this one has rekindled our affection. We used to go to the original in WDC/VA. Funny how smashburgers are all the rage now when 5G was doing it over 30 years ago.
Good morning! It’s sunny, clear, and cold here in the mountains of northwest NJ (walking distance from the NY state line and not far from the PA state line). Right now I’m in the “common room” of the B&B with my iPad, catching up on internet stuff and having breakfast. The staff made me a yummy fruit bowl, and now I’m having my morning protein shake. I don’t have to leave for the funeral home for almost 90 minutes: it won’t take long at all to change and get packed, so I’m just going to hang out down here for a while.
Luckily, yesterday’s 270+ mile drive to the B&B was smooth sailing. There was more traffic than I expected, but no accidents/delays. Even with two stops — one bio break and one gas tank refill — the trip only took 5 hours. One of my uncles and his wife mostly live in NYC but have a place 40 miles north of the B&B, and I went there for dinner and a visit last night. He’s my father’s youngest brother (today’s funeral is on my mom’s side) and is only 12 years older than me, so he’s been more like a big brother than an uncle. I saw them in July, at the family reunion, but it was great to see them again.
The B&B is very comfortable, but I didn’t sleep well due to waking up at 3:15am to pee and then barking my shin on the sharp-ish wooden bedframe in the dark. I hit it hard enough that it hurt for a while afterwards. I took a peek when I woke up: it’s gonna be an impressive bruise! The coffee in my protein shake is kicking in, though, and I’m gradually waking up. Which is good, because it’s just about time to head back upstairs and get ready to leave.
I’m hoping that my surprise appearance at the funeral home will go over how I intend, and won’t result in any inadvertent drama. If I thought that was a significant possibility I wouldn’t have come, but with family you just never know… 
I just want to be there during the viewing, then head back home when the funeral service is over. I’ll want to hit the road no later than 5-6pm, so I won’t be trying to stick around for dinner or anything.
Have a great day, everyone…I’ll be more interactive once I’m back home. 
Entertaining morning so far. There was a dead rodent on the patio, right next to the door (it’s been duly conveyed to the dumpster), and on the way back, I met a friendly nearly-white cat with huge paws. He let me pet him and even pick him up briefly, then followed me about to that post outside the door. Buddy apparently noticed him when I came in (Mr. Big Paws did not seem interested in visiting), got me to reopen the door, then chased Mr. Big Paws away, yowling, hissing, tail puffed out. Seems Buddy figures it’s fine for him to decide to move in, but not for another cat to visit.
So far as I can tell, I successfully wrangled the DMV site and DH is going there in person tomorrow to finish that process.
Not a lot on today’s agenda, I have an Instacart shopper doing his thing, so groceries should be here fairly soon. I may go back to bed for a while after that. Also must do PT exercises and follow up with a job application. May have to do call center again at least for a while, dammit. Don’t want to, but nice PT kid pretty much vetoed non-desk jobs for a while until we’ve got my back in better shape. I have to admit there’s a point there, considering how much my back was bothering me after about 15-20 minutes of roaming what remains of a mall in the area on Saturday.
I also reported the two-MMP situation. Sorry, mods, didn’t realize there were going to be so many of us doing so around 2am Pacific.
Happy Moonday!
Chilly 38 degrees at the park this morning. I need to pull out the toe warmers.
Also, chilly in other ways.
I was there with Lily mom and we were having a great time talking about angry cleaning and laughing our butts off. She spent two days at it and is sore. Rocky mom came and more laughter. Lucy dad came and I had already warned him Barly/Humpy mom was coming, so he went to the small dog side.
Barky/Humpy mom pulled in pretty close behind him, just in time to see him come for Echo and Ripple, and then Lily squeezed through the gate to go with him too.
All the dogs but Rocky were on the small side and all the people but Lucy dad were on the big side.
Barky/Humpy mom was PISSED.
She said something about all the dogs being on the other side and her dogs not having anybody dogs to play with. I just laughed and said we should send all the dogs over with Lucy dad and go get some breakfast. She was not amused.
She sat and bitched the whole time she was there because her dogs were just laying around.
Well, dogs do that. There are days when there are seven or eight dogs just laying around.
She thinks there is no reason to bring them to the park if they are just going to lay around. I think it’s good for them to get out and visit with other dogs and people.
She eventually left in a huff, really pissed off.
I had a cat named Whiskey. He wouldn’t go outside. A friend found him when he was a kitten. Some kids in the neighborhood put him under a big pot and beat on the pot with spoons. Once he found a safe home, you couldn’t get him out the door. He was a very nervous cat.
I’ve known two dogs named Kitty. The dogs seemed to like their name.
On with the day, I guess.
I need to finish filling out a job application. Irk has been stressful too, I just can’t talk about the bullshit there. I am on the verge of quitting, without having another job lined up.
I need to re-pot some plants and figure out where I am going to put all of them.
I need to get my taxes done; I think they are due in seven days.
I wanted to get somebody to do them for me, but nobody answers their phone, and nobody calls me back. I know it’s crunch time now, but I have been trying to find somebody for weeks.
That is three big jobs though, on top of finishing laundry
I still need to call unemployment back, that keep getting pushed back, because it’s so fucking annoying.
Short heave, so an early naptime.
Silence, Daywalker!
I only produce a regular amount.
Good morning everyone.
I was up at 3:30 this morning, but after about 15 minutes decided I need more sleep, so I went back to bed until about 6:45 or so. That is serious sleeping in for me, and of course, I’m mildly miffed with myself because I lost my goof-off time. On the other hand, one of my aims was to get more sleep, so I I can’t be too angry with myself.
2gig, I am sorry for your loss.
We just hung out with our son yesterday, and it was nice. He headed back to his home around 7:00 last night. It was mainly my son and his Dad playing computer games together, but it’s always nice to hear the laughter and just have him home. He’s a grown man who will be 30 in a couple of months, but I still miss his and my daughter’s presence in the house.
I haven’t decided what I’ll do today. Laundry for sure; I need to wash sheets and towels, some delicates, and a load of lounge/sweat pants.
FCM, I hope things go/went smoothly and quickly today.
It’s currently 50 degrees with an expected high of 70. Later this week early morning temps will drop down into the 40s. Yay! Finally, some coolness to brighten up those fall leaves!
Onward with the day! I hope you all have a great day!
Happy Indigenous Columbus Peoples Day!
I’ve been reading all of this and the previous MMP. Sometimes I feel like responding; lately I have not. But rest assured I’m following along.
There’s just not much happening these days. 4-5 months to go before the big move. We’re downsizing our stuff little by little. I need to get serious about finding a remote job so I don’t have a period of unemployment in between.
Truth be told, we could easily afford for me to be out of work for a few months, but Mrs W won’t have it. It’s the right call anyway. Doesn’t have to be a great job, as I can look for something local once we’re settled in. There’s no shortage of opportunities in the Vegas area. I actually prefer working outside the home, while the Mrs loves her work-from-home job.
Most of me is excited for the move, while a small part is wishing everything could just stay the same. The weeks are flying by and it’ll be happening before I know it.
Please post in the Hobbies thread (heh) - please! 
I have to take daughter to school. I’ll be back in a bit to catch up on the thread.
Hugs! Happy Monday.
NOOOOO!!! I’m willing to show mistakes to my fellow Mumpers, I’m not willing to post them for the general public to critique. I’ll post pics there when I’m finished and all of the mistakes have been successfully hidden or ignored.
I ripped that whole section out again and now I’m working on the border because I just cannot look at the ribbon again for a while.
I think our dryer is flaking out. It is getting warm but doesn’t seem to be completely drying the loads. We are hoping it is just the sensor because we can work around that. We really don’t want to deal with buying another appliance and I can’t hang our laundry outside because the sun fades everything out so quickly. Grumbles.
I was awakened this morning by a call from my sister. She wasn’t trying to call me. She had dialed a local (Louisiana) store. This is the third woo-woo call in a week that involved my phone.Sound the alarm! Bring out the crystals and shungite! 5G is out to get us all! Or maybe it’s Big Pharma. It’s hard to keep all the conspiracy theories straight. I want a bumper sticker that says, “5G killed Big Pharma.” Of course, I don’t have a bumper to put it on…
Today I’m taking the cookies and casserole to the friend whose cat is back. I’ll also head to the gym later. So far all I’ve done is talk an hour with my sister and get myself washed and brushed. I feel like starting a project.
FCM, doesn’t BIL drive? Just wondering why he doesn’t take your MIL grocery shopping. Maybe he’s not very patient or hates grocery stores or wants to fill the cart with pork rinds or Twinkies or something?
[quote=“Sahirrnee, post:24, topic:972997”]
She thinks there is no reason to bring them to the park if they are just going to lay around. [/quote]
Oo! Oo! Maybe this is what will finally get her to stop bringing them!
Poor kitty. That was horrible of those kids.
Ditto, and mine are 40 and 30.
Taters, is it still smoky over there? Last night it smelled like there was a bonfire in the building. I had to close all the windows, and STILL I was coughing. My son says the smoke has been nonstop in Seattle. Still no rain in the forecast here. This is not good.
One step forward, three steps back.
I was talking with my cousin, checking up on my aunt.
She asked about all the trust stuff and I said I have no idea where stuff stands.
Then I remembered my niece said there was an account with another company that is not part of the trust. They wouldn’t talk to her, she said, because it’s not part of the Trust and they will only talk to the beneficiaries and she assumed isn’t one of them. It’s been over two weeks, my cousin said I need to call them.
So, I called them, and I explained that this account is NOT part of the Trust and that I heard the beneficiaries should be getting something from them
The woman who answered the phone said that’s not what it is, it’s that they can’t talk to the trustee until paper work is signed by the trustee, and nothing can be done until they receive that paper work.
That doesn’t make sense. If it’s not part of the trust, what does the trustee have to do with it?
I got an email with a form my niece needs to fill out, but then a second email with a form for the beneficiaries to fill out.
I’m going to fill out the beneficiary forms, once for me and once for my son. I guess I need to forward the other form to my niece.
Or maybe call the company back and get somebody else who can explain why they need something from the trustee when the account isn’t part of the trust.
All y’all need to take notes and make sure your wills/trusts/accounts are set up clearly, with accompanying notes. Make a list of everything so people don’t have to search around.
A friend just went through this shit. His mother told him he was the beneficiary of her life insurance.
It took him months to track it down, she never told him what company and it wasn’t in her paper irk.
Howdy, y’all. I woke up this morning and realized I can’t do anything at the shop until parts come tomorrow, so I went back to sleep. It was great. Sometimes working for yourself has benefits. Sometimes negatives, like beyond the next month, I have no idea what I’ll be doing to make money. Some potentials, but nothing concrete.
FCM Hope the move in goes well.
sahi Good luck dealing with bureaucracy, always sucks.
wheelz Have fun on the move! And find a job that’s at least kinda fun.
Afternoon all. The heater at the gym’s swimmin’ pool was off, and the water was rather cold, so I decided extra time in the sauna and whirlpool would be enough. Then ended up doing a little Moanday shopping and got the evening sammich (first meal was a Big Bowl O’Sallit). And now I have a mystery; I know I bought 6 packages of Lean Cusine Fettuchini Alfredo, but I just remembered that I didn’t remember putting them in the freezer, so I looked in car and in the kitchen and yes, the refrigerator, and they are missing. Guess I forgot to pick them up out of the cart and put them in the car. So definitely a senior moment for me.
VanGo, hope something comes up for you.
Sari, got my will in order this year and made a list of all the accounts/policies/annuities I have—now, where did I put that? Good luck on the paperwork, sounds odd to me took.
Wheelie, hope the job hunt works out good.
Nettie, Buddy is simply saying (in feline) “hey, I’m working this side of the street–bug off!!”
Oopsie, hope the funeral went well. Be safe driving.
nellie, reading that made me think of this animation; it’s older, but I still think it’s one of the funniest things Ive seen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETCusT5kNM
OK, need to start getting ready for soccer. It’s up to 77F now, so just right to be out.
I imagine Canadians are thankful that Canada isn’t part of the United States.
You’d have to be extra careful or Doggio would be trying to move in with you.
It’s those pesky bloodstains. Ya want to wash 'em before they set.
2gig, I’m sorry for your loss.
Wifey is after me again to install the fan in the bathroom. Now that we have a new service entrance I don’t have any excuse to put it off any more. I’m really not looking forward to doing it, but do it I must.
This morning I discovered an exploded Pepsi can in the back top shelf of our old refrigerator. The same fridge whose ice maker committed suicide last year. The problem is that fridges have gotten bigger since ours was born and the door the new one would have to go through is too small. 
Fortunately a 36" door will fit in that wall.
It’s always something.
This amused me far more than it should have! 
He does drive, but their car was in the shop for inspection and repairs. Plus I’m a lot quicker with helping her shop - I can make suggestions or tell her that the produce ain’t right, and stuff like that. Plus I want to learn what she shops for so I can keep an eye out for sales, since she can’t read well enough to deal with the weekly flyers.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Yep, home. Tahred. I took MIL to WalMart for groceries and a few other items. She said she wanted milk and bread. Over $100 later, we were out of there. She was asking me for advice on quick-to-make meals because she’s tired of cooking. Stuff like boxed mac-n-cheese, or Hamburger Helper. I think I’m going to talk to her about giving her part of batches I make up if she buys half the ingredients. So I’d split the sketty sauce, or pulled poke, or meatloaf - stuff like that. We’ll see what she says.
FCD and I ran to Lowe’s and got them a set of shelves for towels and sheets (there’s no linen closet in this apartment!!) and some suction cup grab bars for the shower - them suckers really do suck! Very solid, which is what FIL needs. And we replaced a burnt out light and figured out one of the mystery light switches. We also moved their bed - they didn’t like the way we’d put it, but MIL is happier now.
On the way home, the car guy called so I dropped FCD off to pick it up. He’s going to have his brother drive him around tomorrow to get to know how to go from the apartment to WalMart, etc. BIL navigates by landmarks, as does FCD, so it should be a helpful lesson.
I get the Tobester again tomorrow and we’ll spend the day in the basement while I do laundry. Meanwhile, the evening is for chillage!!
Looks like you’re in the home stretch, Mom. I hope you’re able to take a good rest soon.
We’re slowly working on this and that on our house in preparation for selling and moving next year. So far, we’ve:
- Removed a couple of scraggly silver birches and dead plantings in our front yard and replaced them with a pretty drought-resistant garden.
- Removed and replaced some aging fence and a gate.
- Refreshed all the cruddy-looking grout in the house.
- Replaced a crummy old yellowing plastic ceiling/light fixture in the bathroom.
- Placed a course of retaining stones at the base of a fence to conceal rotted wood.
- Had all the builder’s grade oak cabinetry in the kitchen painted and new hardware installed.
We still have to:
- Replace bathroom shower/sink fixtures because they’re cheapo and 23 year old and they look it.
- Replace the plantation shutter in our big bedroom window because many slats are broken.
- Restretch the buckling wall-to-wall carpeting upstairs.
- Fix a pothole in our concrete driveway.
Phew.
nellie, you could always put your bumper sticker on the babushka cart.
I’m glad that you have some downtime in sight Mooooooom.
Laundry is done, lunches prepped, car washed, gas and groceries bought. Tonight will be an early one to prep for irk tomorrow.
Howdy Y’all! Da cave got spiffed. We accomplished sloth, nappage, and day drinkin’. Sup got cooked and et and the kitchen cleanded up. The biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig trash can got hauled all the way back up from the road to where it lives. Thus was the day in swampland.
shoe we launder once a week, cause, well, you’re supposed to do that. Seriously, we were both taught that. Don’t know what would happen if’n we skipped a week. We’re too scared to find out.
red welcome back. I saw over on the book of faces that a good time was had by all.
tee we’ve thought about sellin’ and gettin’ a smaller place, but then we think about the stuff we’d need to do before puttin’ da cave on the market and then we quit thinkin’.
Just killed a mosquito! Bah!
Also, I let Monkey out earlier and now he’s howling incessantly at the door to be let back out again, to finish whatever errand to which he was attending.
It’s full dark outside! No, Monkey! Annoying little twerp, sometimes - good thing he’s so damn cute.
Oh, our fellow Dopers are not the general public! But I understand not wanting everyone to read the drafts until the edits are complete.
Worth it just to see all the heads of all the conspiracy theorists explode. (Can we work in contrails, somehow?)
Oh, man. How many of us haven’t committed this particular sin?
“Oh, I just need three things, I don’t even need a cart, tee hee!”
… three hundred items later …
I have an entire two bedroom house to myself, and I don’t have a linen closet either. I did rig up a shelf (plank + L brackets) and that serves well enough.
The ghosts of 20,000 judgemental old women haunt your linen closet?
We (don’t) think alike!
Me: Let’s do a thing!
Also me: That sounds like a pain in the ass.
Me: Let’s not do the thing!
Also me: Well, alrighty then.