I got the majority of today’s haul sorted and mostly put away. There was some very high quality, beautifully colored (and some printed) cardstock, which is what I bought the lot for, and some odds and ends. I am going to try to contact the original owner’s daughter, who was selling the estate, because I found several small scrapbook layouts that appear to be family. She may want them. She said that she would post anything remaining later for bargain basement prices and I may buy a bit more (like I really need it).
Despite its expected delivery date of 6-22 Jan, Lady SCAdian’s present arrived today, courtesy of the Royal Mail and the USPS.
Metal Mouse, my favourite part of that German Xmas commercial is at about 0:30 – the expression on his face after he first tries to lift that weight. 
I googled Beach Cat Brewery when you mentioned it last and remember thinking that the hoodies were fun. Black is a good color in the winter and really shows the graphics well. The beach brew cat on the face mask makes it almost fun to wear one so I bet she’ll be tickled to get it.
No luck finding groats at my grocery store today. I’ll have to gird my wallet and look at Whole Foods come the post holiday doldrums times.
Shoppers at my store tonight were mostly wearing masks correctly-I’d say about 85% of them. The 15% with their snooz hanging out should be escorted out of the store by burly defensive linemen from the local high school teams I think. Do they not understand that it is the same air that goes in and out of your mouth as your nose? Yeah, it is easier to breath with your nose out, but that is the point. I live in an unrepentant deep red red state so there is so enforcement at all. Thanks for letting me rant.
I tried to post this hours ago, but the Intergoblins ate it, so here goes attempt #2: I had a long walk planned today. Didn’t happen due to family stuff involving my sister’s eye surgery, a relative potentially exposed to COVID, and a mess of other stuff. I didn’t get off the phone until almost 4 PM, by which time it was getting dark, so I’ll postpone the long walk until tomorrow. The important thing is that relatives are calmer.
I had bad dreams about my ex last night. These are not uncommon, though why my subconscious feels the need to underscore that he was a scary guy 10 years after I finally left him is beyond me. Last night’s dream focused on a real-life incident in which the ex killed a cat. I will spare you the details. It doesn’t take Freud to figure out the message was that if he could kill cats… but maybe my subconscious doesn’t think I’m all that bright.
flyboy, I like the hoodie and so will she. What does she like about hoodie pullovers? I’m curious because I hate the pullovers and find them a nuisance to, uh, pull, uh over, so I only get the zip-ups. What am I missing?
Herald, glad Lady SCA’s gift arrived earlier than expected. Wait, it wasn’t supposed to arrive until June 22nd? Or June of 2022? Yikes.
hippie, sounds like a very good day, indeed.
doggio, you must have muscles on your muscles with all that unloading. Does time go by pretty quickly at work, or are you bored most of the time?
{{{{{{{silenus}}}}}}}}
Since we went on lockdown there have been opportunities to share pictures according to themes. One was “show us your home office” and another one was “show us your Happy Socks”. I love buying socks, but am resisting, because I now have socks for the next 2-3 years.
Made chili (with red kidney beans) yesterday, which will be lunch today, and Tuesday, and put some in the freezer for later. Had to finish putting it together it while Zooming with my parents, as I didn’t get it started early enough. Hubby decided to hold up the laptop so they could see what I was doing. Now my mom wants to bake together on Zoom.
As I am delaying working on sorting papers, I made chocolate pudding this morning. That’s the end of the unsweetened chocolate that I had, so I have to get more from the bakery or order from the store in Zurich. I’m not going anywhere I don’t have to, and unsweetened chocolate is not worth the trip to Zurich.
And yes, I cannot buy unsweetened chocolate at a normal store. It seems that most people use cocoa powder instead, and unsweetened chocolate is a specialty ingredient. I used to be able to get it at the fancy grocery store, but even there it was only the two months before Christmas. Switzerland is weird sometimes.
I almost wish I was in the office so I could wear this on a t-shirt. Maybe next Christmas.
I got two tetra-paks of eggnog from the American food store. We’ll probably open one later this week and start with eggnogg lattes. Have to be careful because the fridge only has so much space and we have to shop ahead because of the long weekend. I don’t like going to the store normally on December 24th, and I expect this year to be worse.
And I wasn’t thinking when I bought tea lights. Hubby has 2 burning all day, in addition to the ones we light in the evening. So we’re almost out of tea lights, and it’s not even Christmas. I’m going to try to go to the other store on Monday to see if they have any, plus the steaks we like.
Okay, I just wrote a book, so I think I’ll end here and go put the pudding in the fridge and the chili in the freezer downstairs.
{{{{{{{silenus}}}}}}}}
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 48 Amurrkin out and rainy with a predicted high of 56 and rain for the day. This bein’ Sunday, we shall deheathenate (I have ush duty and will thus be there for both services) and then we shall obtain foodstuffs via the MickeyD’s drive thru. Actually OYKW will do that when he leaves the second service and have it at da cave when I get home. Ush duty has duties before, durin’, and after services. Other than that I foresee much sloth and laziness on a rainy Sunday.
I read all but retained little, so yays, boos, hugs, trouts, chitlins, noogies, and how you doin’s all around, as needed.
Now I need more caffeine and rumbly tummy wants sustenance. Then, purtification for deheathenization must commence.
Happy Sunday Y’all!
I was exhausted when I went back to bed last night, but after a quick doze, I was wide awake till after midnight. Then I woke a bit after 6. Yep, another one of those days…
No real plans for today - I suppose I could do a quick but of dusting. I do need to go downstairs - when I was feeding the critters this morning, I heard something fall rather noisily. No sound of breakage that I could tell. I’ll investigate later after I’m in proper clothing and not fuzzy robe and slippers. And I’m sure I can find things to do town there. I really should sort out my studio and start claying again. I should also work on our Book of the Dead some more - I have some pages to print out.
Long range forecast calls for 60° and rainy on Christmas Eve, then 47° with rain and snow on Christmas. Definitely glad we’re not making the long trek to my bro’s - the 15-ish minutes to daughter’s shouldn’t be a bad ride, especially since it’s pretty much all on main roads, just in case it’s snowy/freezy. And till then, it looks like a fairly chilly and dreary week, then a rainy start to 2021.
For now, tho, surf’s up! Happy Sunday!
Afternoon, mumpers! It’s Sunday and therefore an official day of slothage I had a late night involving cocktails and films so was not up particularly early either. But since I have absolutely no plans for today, it doesn’t really matter.
Got my hair cut yesterday which was a relief as I was starting to resemble a very shaggy dog. I almost missed my appointment as the alarm didn’t go off (new battery required) and I woke up five minutes before my 9am appointment time! Fortunately the salon has just moved to new premises which are out of town and much closer to me, so I threw some clothes on and drove over there, and was only about 5 minutes late.
Mooooom we learned virtually nothing about the royal family at school, and especially not about how any of them should be addressed. My mum could have told you everything you needed to know in explicit detail as she was very much a fan of the family but they just don’t mean a lot to me. She would insist on the whole family watching the queen’s message on xmas day which always annoyed me because I meant I had to put my book down for 10 minutes
BBBoo, I’m in a Tier 3 area in the Midlands so our restrictions remain unchanged. My brother is now Tier 4 but I had no plans to go anywhere near him and his family anyway. Since travelling between tiers is now seriously discouraged, we are definitely not going anywhere. We’d been holding out hope of going to see ‘im indoors’ family in Scotland but their First Minister wants to stop cross-border traffic from Boxing Day. It’s a relatively long drive from here to there, and since he doesn’t drive, it’s a long way for me to take the pair of us just for a day. I shall instead spend my time lurking around here and the book of faces, in between working through our stack of xmas horror films, and my stack of books.
hippie good to hear that your recovery continues, you can’t stop telling us about it, we have a need to know, and certain other mumpers will probably hound you mercilessly unless you check in regularly 
Oats…oats are my friend for breakfast. I usually do overnight oats - mix them with a serving of protein powder, some milk and put some frozen berries on top. Cover with clingfilm and leave them in the fridge. As the fruit defrosts, the juice soaks through everything, and in the morning they are ready to go in the microwave while I’m making the morning brew. I use Mornflake Superfast Oats, but only because it’s the only brand my local supermarket stocks in big bags!
Right…time to forage for lunch, I have no plans for the day and that includes no lunch plans so I’ll have to see what delights I can find in the fridge since I didn’t take anything out of the freezer. For some reason, I thought it was a good idea to buy some prepared mackerel last week, which is now in the freezer while I work out exactly what to do with it!
Good morning/afternoon. I’m up WAY early, by my standards, but I guess that’s what happens when you keep going to bed ridiculously early.
Also, we have our irk party tonight, to exchange Secret Santa gifts, and I’m super excited to just hang out with everyone in chillage mode. It shall be an outdoor thing, around a bonfire, which is frankly a bit silly IMnsHO considering we’re in close quarters with each other all day, every day.
I’m bringing a tray of crackers and cold cuts, and toothpicks, so everyone can snack together safely. Oh, and guacamole and chips. No double-dipping!
swampy may your deheathenation today be successful.
Given the upcoming solstice, I plan to heathenate later to balance it up.
I’m also feebly attempting to start sorting stuff out for moving. Where did all this junk come from? I was living in one room in a share house 3 years ago, how did that extend to this much stuff?
Nut - it’s amazing how stuff accumulates when you’re not paying attention. My first place was a studio apartment with the bed that folded out of the wall - tiny place. I arrived there with some towels and my clothes. When I left, I had kitchenware and cookware, sheets, a rocking chair, a storage chest/bench, and a few small appliances. It all appeared in less than 18 months!
And here I am today, trying to get rid of stuff so my daughter doesn’t have a huge mess to deal with when I die. But toddler toys seem to keep appearing!
Good luck with the move - try to be ruthless and dispose of stuff if you can. Not that I ever followed that advice… 
p, caffeinated and sheveled. Off today. It’s cold, rainy, and dreary. I have to go to the sto today for vittles. And beer.
Busy is good, especially if I’m doing back to back shifts. otherwise time really dra
Last time I moved, I tossed 2 dumpsterfulls of accumulated junk. 
Morning all. Stayed up to midnight so stayed in bed until nearly 8am, which seems fair. Will shortly make myself presentable and go forth to dine out, my one luxury that I grant myself once a week (Lone Star Steak House today). 45F heading for 52F.
Leave Wednesday for Xmas and return Saturday, so a short visit and probably won’t leave Brother’s house while I’m there, so I’ll limit my possible infection points. Probably shouldn’t go at all, but there are times a lonely man needs at least some company…
FCM, doggio, nut, haven’t moved (since 2003), but the remodeling and refurbishing of the house in the last couple of years has made me aware of how much stuff there is and how little of it we use on a regular basis. One of these days I’ll clean out my garage, but that is going to be a major job and as long as my car fits inside I’m not in a hurry.
shoe, enjoy the party, and outdoors in Mitch-E-Geen in December!!??
nellie, may you have good dreams tonight…it sounds like you had enough nightmares for one person’s life already. And good on you for settling the relatives down.
Cupcakes, it is good to see you about the MMP this holiday season. Be well.
OK, onward with Sunday morning. All y’all take care.
I don’t think it’s an active dislike, but she prefers pullovers because she says they’re warmer than zip-ups. If she thinks the cold is getting in through the zipper, then I’m not going to argue with her.
I prefer zip-ups because, like you, I find them easier to don and doff.
[quote=“dogbutler, post:203, topic:928011, full:true”]
< turns on Zoom >
Thank you, Mr. Catt. In response to your charming message, please enjoy this view of our lovely derrieres (we are fine young ladies so we do not say “buttholes.”)
< turns off Zoom >
Greetings again, MMPers (does that stand for Many More Petters?). As you can see, we 
are still in control of Miss_Owl’s account because she has still not apologized for putting snow in our treat bowls and “other things.” However, we now have reason to believe that she is not being Naughty but, rather, that she and FWB have decided to turn themselves into cats! The proof:
When the humans retired suspiciously early to the bedchamber and closed the door, we just knew they were going to practice their napping skills in preparation for becoming cats. We wanted to come in and demonstrate Proper Napping Techniques but they would not open the door, despite our Meows of Protest, and not even when we stuck our adorable little paws under the door. They couldn’t even seem to get to sleep, they just kept talking. In fact, Mr. FWB was heard to say that he really REALLY likes one of Miss_Owl’s cats. She seemed pleased by this but didn’t ask him which one he liked best. When she finds out, we hope she’ll tell us! We are cats and thus very curious about this. And they sure snored funny.
Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, they were quiet, but not for long. How can they ever learn Proper Napping Techniques if they won’t be quiet and let us demonstrate?
We are also very confused by something else. One of the humans went downstairs to the Cold Food Monolith a/k/a The Ham Box, removed a container and took it upstairs. We tried again to get into the room but the door was firmly closed. Therefore, we will need someone to explain to us what something called “Cool Whip” has to do with them turning into cats. Again, we are most curious.
After Mr. FWB left, Miss_Owl went back to bed and took a Most Proper Nap, accompanied by us. She earned an A+ in Napping Techniques, but we just don’t understand why she was so tired after having just spent all that time in the bedchamber.
We have decided that this is all Mr. FWB’s fault and thus HE is The Naughty One.
Phoenix T. Cat 
Twister T. Cat 
And Gordie says its proper name is “The Humming Food Obelisk”.
Dear Mr. Dogbuttler:
Gordie is a mere dog. 
Dogs know nothing.
Cats rule, dogs drool!
Phoenix T. Cat
Twister T. Cat
As soon as you figure that out, please let me know.
For me it didn’t help that 3 kids finished college and left for homes and apts, storing stuff with me that they never quite came back to collect. Nerf guns, bins of legos and books figure large in that.
22 Jan, not 22 Jun, 
Uniform regulations do, though. I was attending a Navy class – an informal affair with us all seated in a circle – and had my legs crossed, which meant that my pant leg was hiked up above the top of my boot. We were discussing something when suddenly the girl across the circle from me started laughing. Everyone stopped and looked at her, and she pointed at me and said, “I’m sorry – I just realised he’s wearing purple socks.” (They were actually very faded blue socks.)
“In Europe, 100 miles is a long distance; in America, 100 years is a long time.” I once read a book by an English author who remarked that when visiting the States he had no problems with 400-mile road trips, but driving from (I think) the Home Counties to visit relatives in the north of England – a distance of less than 300 miles – always required an overnight stop each way. 
All this talk of cleaning/unpacking/disposing is making my back hurt. We really need to engage in some of that, though – there are still boxes in the basement that haven’t been opened since I left Scotland 28 years ago. 
Possibly even one or two that date back to my departure from Hawai`i three years before that…