Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. It’s drizzly, but Gordie did go out, and Alex Catt hasn’t hornked yet, so 2021 has started out OK.
Well, to quote Elizabeth Regina, it was an Annus horribilis, so quietly hoping it went away was the best policy.
And we made Another Trip around The sun
Die, hoping dad poops, so he can blow that Popsicle stand.
Happy 2021!
dicey, at least your dad has his priorities in line, re his beverage choice. 
Up, caffeinating, a load of towels in the wash, black eyed peas in the crock pot. I’ll chop the vegetation that goes in them when I get my carcass up to do breakfast KP. I’ll likely start the greens about that time too. I’m debating actually getting out of my jammies today, given that it’s raining and we won’t be going to the dog park. 
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
By 0730 I had a ham hock and the soaked beans and some bay leaves in the slow cooker, and another ham hock (for the greens) on to simmer, and made coffee, and cleaned up where Tonka decided ten feet to the litter box was too far and urinated in front of the stove.
Morning, all. What kind of omen for the year is it that I want a large number of my neighbors dead this morning, preferably from extended torture? Sounded like downtown Falujah for at least an hour last night.
Up, laved, shaved and ready to face the new year. I guess. Sorta. I probably should start prepping my Spring semester classes (which start on Tuesday) but the subject will be unfolding in Real Time, so any plans will be subject to scrapping when something weird happens.
Kiwi, welcome aboard. If you keep a couple of rules in mind you’ll get along fine around here. Maxims 42 & 43, for example, and definitely #55-58 inclusive should be written in stone around here.
I am certain that I have said this before: I hate fireworks
Fireworks are a big deal here.
I read a post on Nextdoor, by someone who said she called the cops. She hates fireworks too. She needs to get used to it. It’s a tradition for people to go to a reservation and spend a buttload of money on mortars, rockets, and other things that go boom, and bring them here to light them off. Someone responded to the poster that he has a Canadian friend (Canada is four miles away as the goose flies) who has saved up $8,000 for fireworks this coming 4th of July (assuming the border opens).
Yes, the Fourth of July sounds like a war zone. Yes, there are fireworks for New Year’s. But people generally respect the 20:00 or midnight cutoff (depending on the day), and it’s only twice a year. Tonka and Goo slept through the fireworks last night.
Unfortunately the good news didn’t last, so 2021 isn’t starting off well.
My dad starting throwing up and they tubed him again. Somehow they can’t give him nutrients in his PICC line and his liver functions are elevated. Of course this is hospital nurse -> mom -> me, so there’s some confusion.
My mom’s really frustrated because a) he’s ill and b) she can’t be there and c) all the people who would normally also be able to go with her to the hospital also can’t go.
At least she’s getting better with technology.
And she was quite happy with the nurse she talked to. She said it was the first nurse who spoke English well enough for her to clearly understand.
This sucks.
It’s noon and I’m still waiting for my brain to kick in. Which is sad because I have a conference call in a minute and probably ought to be intelligible. Oh, well. They get what they get when they require people to work on New Year’s day.
Looking forward to my mom coming over tonight (hopefully after I get a nap). We’re going to have a “dip dinner,” which consists of many various and sundry dips we like to make such as corn dip, macadamia and cheese dip, buffalo chicken dip, and also baguette and chips. And I get more wine; however, I’m more inclined to sip on coke tonight. I had my wine yesterday and still need to work more tomorrow, so probably oughta make sure the brain is more functional tomorrow.
Happy New Year’s, all.
And I’m so sorry, Die - that sounds incredibly frustrating. Sending healing thoughts your dad’s way.
Not my cuppa, but thank you for thinking of me.
{{{{{Baker!}}}}}
Very few half-hearted fireworks here. Okay with me.
We didn’t cook the pork roast yesterday after all. No thawed enuff. Made Arroz Con Pollo (sorta) instead. Wifey is putting the roast in the oven right now. (10:30am)
She swears she’s gonna make buns from scratch too, for BBQ sammichs. 
Hope your Dad gets better and gets outta there soon D-C.
Hope 2021 is better’n 2020. At least there’s one bright spot to look forward to.
Slaintѐ
Almost eleven of the clock, and I’ve finally eaten something; a Jimmy Dean’s Eggwich (2 three-inch frittatas with a chicken sausage patty and cheese in the middle). Mrs. L.A. had a couple of sugar cookies earlier.
The ham hock, and the ham hock and black-eyed peas, are simmering nicely. I’ll check them around 1330 to see about removing the fat, skin and bones and putting the meat back in. I still plan to make cornbread in the cast-iron frying pan, but Mrs. L.A. nixed the ribs and asked me if I could cook them tomorrow.
{{{{Dicey}}}}
Didn’t get to bed until around 0145. All I heard was one bang at 0001, and a hafl-dozen or so pops a couple minutes later – none of them close by. If I’d been asleep I wouldn’t have heard them.
It is an acquired taste-unusually romancey and bodice-ripping for me but I enjoy the history, Scottish scenery and lore. I read the books first, which are not as cutesy.
More fireworks than I anticipated in my city center neighborhood but it did seem like a larger proportion of the city stayed home to celebrate, which is good. Our city government closes our bars at 11p (we are still on the red risk dial) so that no doubt helped, along with cold, snowy and ice-packed streets.
Got the new year’s bone-in ham and corn spoon bread in the oven. Eager to eat the ham so I can make mixed bean and ham soup-that’s the real New Year’s treat to me. Make it once and eat hot, filling meals for a week.
Happy 2021, Mumpers!
II’m envious of those of you who didn’t get many fireworks. I wouldn’t mind a very few going off at midnight and ending a few minutes after. But the constant barrage seems ridiculously self-centered and, sorry, dangerous in urban areas. There’s a reason fireworks are illegal.
I heard dogs barking and whimpering all around the neighborhood during the long siege. Critters can’t get used to it. All my pet-owning friends reported terrified animals. I doubt it’s any easier on the wildlife.
You are blessed. They went on until past 2 a.m. here and only stopped when Mother Nature got fed up and sent a drenching rain.
As you can probably tell, I’m exhausted today.
{{{{{dice}}}}} What a rollercoaster your poor family is on. Is there any way you could do a three-way call with a nurse (or doc) and your mom?
{{{{{baker}}}}}
Wishing everyone a year of happiness and smooth sailing!
I have tried to read 2 or 3 bodice rippers in the past. We have a couple of friends who write the damned things. One of them is wildly successful and is easily good enough to be a mainstream writer if she wanted. The other makes enough to service her cruising habit. (No, it’s not Mom.)
I suppose if I could approach them the way I do old black & white grade C science fiction movies I could do it, but I just couldn’t.
Wifey wants her computer back. Later.
Howdy Y’all! We ate. We drank. We made merry. A good time was had by all. JDD and Partner left just after three p.m. and got back to their place just ahead of the rain. It’s really comin’ down out there! A good time to be inside and dry. Dishwasher is doin’ it’s thing and chillage ensues.
{{{Die}}} sorry about your dad not gettin’ sprung yet. Hopefully real soon.
Hope everyone is havin’ or had a good NYD!
Ham hock and black-eyed peas are done. Ham hock and collard greens are done. The cornbread is in the pan. Just waiting for the oven to warm up to 400ºF, and then it will be 25 minutes to ‘dinner’. So… Probably about 14:30.
I took the skin and bones out of the ham hocks, shredded the meat, and put the meat back into their respective pots. I wrapped up the skin for chicharron-type things. Goo hopped up on the counter and swiped a couple of bones.
And there’s the oven beeping.
I decided to let Domino’s make supper, because. Afternoon chorage included pushing the vacuum around sucking up cat hair, then cleaning the ice maker with a vinegar soak. I’m doing a final flush before moving it back to its home.
It’s dark, it’s rainy, it’s cold. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice - we shall see. Meanwhile, max chillage shall ensue.
Black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread (and wine) have been consumed. 2021 is now safe, as of 14:50 PST.
Johnny, black eyed peas, collards and cornbread have been consumed at CasaRoja as well. No one wants to be responsible for another year like 2020.
{{{dicey}}}
The fireworks went on until around 0200 here. They agitated Nelson, who is surprisingly good when the air show comes to town, but fireworks / gunshots (yes, I live in Tennessee) piss him right off.
The laundry is all done, folded and put away, played around in the studio this afternoon (working long hours kept me out of it) and am chilling with some more creating and watching TV.
The to-do list tomorrow includes cleaning out the closets and putting things in the donation boxes. I’ll have to call GW to see if they are taking them now. If it’s still nice, I’ll take Nelson to the dog park too. Today was just enough rain on top of an all day soaker yesterday to keep him in. He did get a bath and quelle horreur got his nails clipped on all four paws. I usually take him to the groomer when his back nails get long, because I just about have to hog tie to do it. He did get a good treat afterword though.