If? If?
We just finished clearing the drive and sidewalk. I am not sure of everyone’s totals, but t here were 6" in my drive
Evening all.
Operation stash beekeeping kit successfully completed. I did meet up with a friend in the park for a walk as well- it was a lot worse weather than the forecast indicated. It was supposed to be dry, but we actually got sleet, but it was still nice to meet up.
It’s still so weird driving through Bristol seeing everything shut, with almost no traffic. Not quite ghost town level, but still odd. I kept waiting for rush hour to start. There’s not much difference here from normal, as we don’t have many shops or offices anyway, with a lower level of restrictions to boot.
Howdy Y’all! We have laundered, taken care of errands, and supped. A whirlwind of activities for us! I made the observation that today was our first time out of the house since last Thursday. That fact does not bother either one of us. We could easily become hermits.
shoe glad the ratties liked the mealworms. Just goes to prove most anything is tasty to sump’n or other. There’s wisdom in that somewhere. We have considered a cleanin’ service and may yet do so. Then again. I’d probably clean for the cleann’ service. Then, I’d decide it was too clean for the cleanin’ service and mess up. Then I’d decide it’s too messy for the cleanin’ service. There could be sump’n wrong with me.
Hippie ain’t bein’ a retired drain on society great! I still like to sit out on my back porch early in the mornin’ and sippin’ coffee and smilin’ to myself about all the suckers that are either gettin’ ready for or on their way to irk.
Like I always say, pancakes are the gateway to happiness.
Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was bitching about my furnace going out? Well, the replacement control box wasn’t any better than the old one. We’ve spent the last few days sans heat, and the snow got down to 3100’ last night. Since I live at 2700’, this is a problem. The cats are bitching up a storm because the house is freezing and why won’t the cat fud giver person do something about it? Heater repair company says they’ll have the part today. Or maybe tomorrow. Since it is getting on to mid-afternoon and no call, I’m guessing I’m spending another night huddled under lots of blankets.
I can’t stop gazing at a blank wall. It’s such a thrill. Last night’s spackle-and-paint job rendered the abrasion invisible. Even close up, you can’t tell there was ever an issue. It’s so satisfying. 
When I wake up, I want to brush my teeth before eating. Of course, I loved when my kids were small and surprised me with breakfast in bed, usually a bowl of milk in which three Cheerios floated, often delivered with a limp dandelion and a sloppy kiss.
Nope, not as far as I’m concerned.
I can receive texts, and therefore assume I can send them, but I have no idea how. Haven’t bothered with learning to use the camera (which I didn’t want in the first place), either.
shoe, I’ve heard of windows that flip up so both sides can easily be cleaned, but have never actually seen any.
Heck, I can’t even get the cat to bring me his own bowl, let alone make coffee or pancakes for me…
With a note saying that retirement is fun, and they really ought to try it… 
Currently 30o and mostly clear; 16 tonight, 44 tomorrow.
Evening all. Nappage this afternoon and eating a bowl of Mac-n-Cheese as I type, so a pretty uninteresting day at Casa Rat. No indoor soccer this weekend, so I need to find something to keep me active.
Herald, flyboy, nice to know someone else is not so technically saavy. Don’t even have a cellphone (which I really should), much less the 2,000 things they can do besides act as a phone. I did have to carry a Blackberry when I traveled for work, but that was years ago.
nellie, there’s a couple spots at my place… and if I end of dreaming about working in a mealworm freeze-drying plant tonight, I’ll know who to blame…
quietly, stay warm and hope the part is delivered tomorrow.
shoe, I’ll consider it. Really need them for mopping/floor cleaning, I can handle most of the rest.
All you snowbirds, be careful out there.
I’m fairly technical, but I’ve missed out on a lot of things that everyone else takes for granted. Once it’s shown to me, no problem. But I have little time for things like Twitter or Tik Tok. I don’t feel the need to share everything on social media, so I only today learned how to live-stream a video to FB.
metal mouse, I’ve had contact with my trainee. When I still did sales orders subbing for the analyst, I often had to contact her for details. I think she’ll do fine.
dicey, you are younger than I thought (or maybe I’m just old 
). I was in high school in the 70s. The music that your teacher was after was actually sixties and some early seventies. The seventies had anything from leftover folk to punk to metal to disco, so there was a lot to choose from.
Stay warm silenus!
I irked an hour and a half over this afternoon. I am so ready for this EoM / EoQ / EoY to be over. I think I’m going to stay in my PJs for most of the long weekend ahead. I might put on pants to take Nelson to the dog park.
Speaking of which, his sitter says that he and Max have established a pecking order. Max is the boss at her house, her car is neutral and Nelson is the boss at the dog park. 
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
No, you’re young. I was in high school in the late '60s/early '70s.
Herald, me too (Class of 1971). But she may be right about dicey (Die_Capacitrix) having to write an article on 70’s music–why, he might not even be 55 yet!
And red, having met you in person, I’ve no doubt you’re the youngest of us all, definitely the prettiest (I am making presumptions about dicey and Herald, but I think it is a safe bet).
Just typed in my expenses/assets for the year 2020 on the never-ending spead-sheets. Been doing this since 2005 so I can track costs for the last 15 years. Why, I don’t know, but I’m still doing it…
Night all.
I’m pretty sure @Die_Capacitrix is female. 
I’m 51, and quite sure there are younger people than me in here. I still prefer 60s/70s/80s music to a lot of the current stuff.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to sort. it’s my Firday already.
I may be one of the younger Mumpers, at 49. But red is definitely better looking than me.
I fit just between the two of you, age-wise. And yes, I’m female. (Die (pronounced “Dee”) is the the feminine article in German.)
And I haven’t met her, but probably red is also better looking than me.
Managed to Zoom with my dad in the hospital and my mom at home. It was the first time my mom and dad had seen each other in a week. My dad was able to figure out how to get the microphone and sound working, and he was quite glad to see both of us. He’s in his own room and said that everyone has their own room. He has a front row seat for the vaccinations.
Then I spent more than an hour with my mom figuring out why her microphone wasn’t working on her Zoom app on her phone. So glad Zoom has screen sharing. My parents both have Android phones and we have iPhones, and things are a bit different. So I was talking to her with Zoom on her computer and then she connected to the same Zoom call with her phone. She was really impressed that she could see her phone screen on her computer.
I think we were both exhausted after that.
My dad even posted on Facebook, so he’s getting a bit more social. The current situation means anyone in the hospital is really isolated as even the doctors and nurses don’t hang around more than necessary. But he got to read a real newspaper and was strong enough to stand up for a shower.
Made bacon, blueberry buttermilk buckwheat (3B) pancakes and served them with orange juice and lattes, which my husband made. We’ll definitely have to take a long walk today, especially as lunch / early dinner will be leftover lasagna.
We had sunshine, but it was sneaking underneath the clouds and now it’s gray with a dusting of white all around. I was hoping for some drier weather - stepping on hidden ice doesn’t thrill me at all.
Got to mop the floors. Hubby vacuumed yesterday and I cleaned the bathrooms, so the floor mopping will complete the set. Just about ready to greet the new year.
Still working on papers, but seeing a lot more floor than papers, so that’s going well. I think I’m going to send a few Christmas cards to those who send us cards and call it a year. The remaining Christmas cards I’ll save for next year.
Guess it’s time to get moving. Happy hump day!
Morning, mumpers! It’s sunny out there this morning but we still have snow on the ground and (as most people know), that is enough to bring the entire country to a standstill. Today the weather app says “Oh, shut up and enjoy the sunshine” while promising me temperatures of 2C/36F with a high of 4C/38F if I’m really lucky.
We should probably go grocery shopping at some point today, that means going out and thawing the car out - I need to get the snow off the windscreen and the back window, plus there’s probably a nice layer of frost underneath. I doubt the rise in temperatures will do much for it, so I’ll have to do the job myself.
Our kerbside recycling collection didn’t happen yesterday due to bad weather and the fact that the council are a couple of days behind with it. They said we should get it picked up today so I’ll leave the bin out on the pavement until that happens. No idea what time they might show up, if they’ve not been by the time I want to go shopping, I’ll just have to shift the bin so it’s not in the way of the drive gates! Other than that, I’ve got very few plans for today. I’m currently listening to my DJ friend’s radio show that’s due for broadcast tonight. He’s put together his top 20 tracks from this year and I have to say that we agree on a lot of it.
Last night saw a livestream gig from my favourite local band (Gin Annie) which was performed at a venue close to home - seems such a pity that we were watching it from our living room when the venue is within walking distance. Still, it was good to watch, and well worth the £10 for the access pass. With that and the various storytelling events I’ve had recently, I do feel very well entertained.
Right…time for more tea! I made a cup for myself and one for 'im indoors but he’s still in bed so I had to drink it for him. I’m so good to him 
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 51 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 72 and cloudy for the day. Also looks like tomorrow through Sattidy shall be rainy. I guess 2021’s first order of business is to wash away 2020. We took care of grocery stuff whilst out and about yestiddy, so we shall sloth today. Except I will make cookies, cause cookies. Chawklit chip/pee-kahn for those who are nosy wanderin’. We shall take ourselves to our favorite Mexican place around two this afternoon to partake of late N.O.L./early sup. OLÉ!
I graduated high skool in 1972, so I guess that makes me one of the geezer Mumpers. All you whippersnapper Mumpers git off’n mah lawn!
Die glad you were able to connect mom, dad, and yourself via Zoom. Hope your dad continues to heal and can get outta there soonest. I am tech savvy when I need to be. Like flyboy said, I have little to no need for stuff like twitter and tiktok and the like. I do, however, know how to make use of such things.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Hump Day Y’all!
Being slightly older than swampy, as he likes to remind me, I’ll hit the big 67 in about 3 anna half weeks. I know MetalMouse and Bumba are both a bit older, but I won’t speculate beyond that, as I know some people are really touchy about their age. Not necessarily here, but in general, so I’ll err on the side of “I dunno.”
Awful night last night. I woke around 2 feeling weird and a bit hot and sweaty. Next thing I know, everything in my gut is liquefied and and I feel like I might vomit. All I could think was Is this COVID? Should I cancel my dental appointment? What if I infected everyone? How could this have happened?What did I eat to cause this?
When my gut was finally empty, I crawled back under the covers and fell back asleep till 7:30. And this morning, I feel fine - well-rested even! I recall when a similar thing happened in ‘73 - the first time I was truly alone, spending the night at my grandparents’ cabin on the Magothy River. There was no phone in the cabin, no cell (of course) and all I could find in the medicine cabinet was a bottle of baby aspirin. So I took half a dozen, went back to sleep, and was fine when I woke. So maybe a 47-year bug?? So I think I should be OK to go to the dentist. They always wore masks and shields, even pre-COVID.
We’ve discussed what we’re going to do in the basement. It involved pulling a lot of stuff off shelves and out of the closet under the stairs, putting the shelves in the closet, and deciding what stays in the basement and what goes to the shop. I doubt that all the sorting will get done today, but we should be able to get the shelves moved and start loading them. With the cart and the 2-wheel dolly, I’m hoping to minimize back strain.
Daughter has invited us to dinner tomorrow night - she’s making beef stew and she asked me to bring crusty bread. I’m going to see if my bread machine has a recipe that won’t terrify me. Dunno why bread-making spooks me so. But worst case, I’ll run into Food Lion on the way there. And that’s how we’ll end the old year.
Happy Wednesday!!
The blizzard has subsided. The sky is clear and the day is calm. We will get out and about for a while to combat the cabin fever. JFTR: I am close approaching 68.
Morning all. Slept until Boeing time (7:37am) and have retrieved paper (still no mail after a week, I may have to go to the Post Office to see if there is a problem). 50% chance of rain tomorrow, but heading for 66F today, so heater will not have to work quite as hard.
And I’ll post other stuff in another message, I posted this one too fast as the edit bug will get me if I go on too long.