I just heard Mary the Mail Carrier. That means my Cthulhu by Gaslight rulebooks have just arrived. I know I should finish my D&D Curse of Strahd campaign first, but I’ve really grown bored with it, and the Call of Cthulhu rule set seems to work better than D&D.
That was often the only way I could get an intelligent conversation on the boat. 
I just spent a tad over 2 hours in the front yard. The flower/azalea bed has been raked and lots of stuff is poking up - glad I got all the leaves out as some of the greenery is on the yellowish side. I cleared out 10 Gorilla carts of leaves and sticks and dumped it all in the woods. Then I drove ol’ John round and round, chopping up leaf debris on the lawn. That should have been done last fall - this year it will be.
I think I’ve earned a break. I’ve got one more bed out front and 4 out back that need rakeage - not today, tho. At least, not now. We’ll see how I’m feeling in a couple of hours.
Meanwhile, recliner beckons!
If he’s under 18, state law says no to that anyway.
Evening all.
Still slightly affected by the lurgy I’ve had for the past few weeks- at least I sound rough enough that no-one at work thinks I made it up.
Got back late yesterday from a trip down to England for smaller neice’s 2nd birthday. I should not have been late, but I got caught up in train chaos due to one of the two train stations in Glasgow being on fire; it’s a lovely old building, I really hope they rebuilt close to how it was, part of it collapsed… Missed the train connection in Edinburgh due to the delays, so had to get the last train home on a train so packed I literally spent the first half hour sitting on the luggage rack. Did at least just catch the last bus back to the house from the train station, but still, it was after 11 when I finally got home, which isn’t great after spending a night on a crappy air mattress. I’m one of the younger mumpers, but still, too old for that nonsense.
I have to go back in 2 weeks due to brother getting married, then again 2 weeks later for bigger neice’s 4th birthday. I think I’ll bring the car… It may be 6+ hours drive each way, but at least I won’t be sitting on a luggage rack.
Spring sowing is getting underway here too; I have a lot of herbs which overwinter fine here (rosemary, loads of thyme and lemon thyme, 5 different mints, chives, garlic chives, fennel, hyssop, winter savoury, oregano, sage, English mace, lovage and I’ve probaby forgotten some) but I do need to sow basil and summer herbs. I rather like herbs, as you may have guessed. The only dahlias I’m trying are a cheap mix- I’ve never really done well with them.
Hopefully I’ll get some time soon to do some gardening despite all the weekend trips planned, as at least we’re at least getting daylight until after 6pm now, though the clocks don’t change here for another few weeks.
I’m here! I know you were all waiting with bated breath (or baited breath if you’re a cat who just ate minnows).
My daughter is with me, safe and sound. I am SO relieved to have her here and out of that craziness! Her soon-to-be-ex-husband almost delayed her departure because he needed a ride to work that afternoon (In addition to buying the other woman a new used car, he lent her his for some reason.) Anyway, she left him the letter and a note saying the OW could give him a ride and dashed out while he was showering. They’ve texted. I think he was relieved at first, but she saw him when she got a Ring notification and says he looked tired and miserable.
She’s doing well, though. She says she’s beyond the sobbing-in-a-fetal-position-on-the-floor phase. We’ve talked a lot, laughed a lot, and had cocktails most nights–strictly medicinal, of course. And today she had a second interview (via Zoom) for a job, so please keep fingers crossed and send good vibes toward Spokane. Her brother is coming up on Friday, so that’ll be good. He was his usual even-keeled self when she broke the news. He told her that what happened was a good reason to get a divorce. (He’s not bringing the dogs, but we’re letting come anyway.)
My siblings were shocked at the news. My brother was actually speechless. They all thought my daughter and SIL were rock solid and that he was a great guy. So did I until recently. Yeah, not so much. The more I learn, the worse I feel for her. However, she’s got a huge amount of support from her friends and her family.
I had the back surgery last Tuesday. I do feel a little better, though I was disappointed to learn it takes two months to reach peak effectiveness. My walks are very short now. My daughter got to meet Max AND Charlie the day before surgery. She thought Max was adorable, but she loves Charlie.
Today was the training session for scoring Pearson tests, and I am officially frustrated and angry. I don’t think I want to score for them now and am hoping they decide they have too many scorers. If they don’t, I may just opt out. I used to work with a team that created anchor papers (examples of papers warranting differing scores), so I really do think I know what I’m doing there, but Pearson doesn’t. I’d read that this is the case but thought it wouldn’t bother me as much as it does. I’d rather walk dogs.
My new right contact lens arrived last week. Daughter drove me there. We ran 3 errands in one afternoon! It’s nice to have a car and driver. Somehow , the vial must have fallen out of my purse. Yep, lost another one. And the old one fell apart, so I’m back to seeing out of one eye only. Still beats the legally blind years!
I’m just so glad to read up on all your collective doings! I missed you!
flyboy, I agree 100% with your opinion on year-round standard time. If it’s any consolation, sleep experts do, too. It’s bad for us in ways most people don’t know about: increased health issues, for instance. I may smack the next person who says they’re glad to have the “extra” hour of daylight. Maybe you and I could tag team.
doggio, I knew who started the MMP without looking. Good work!
FCM, do you worry about FCD working on the boat by himself? I know he knows what he’s doing, and the work has to be done, but I’m a congenital worrywart. I know you’re much calmer than I am.
Oops! Daughter says it’s time to attempt a walk. More later, I hope.
I do fret a bit, but I have the number at the marina and I’d call if he was too late. That helps.
Glad you and your daughter are having lots of together time. Fingers crossed (That should make crocheting interesting.)
I don’t remember what else I wanted to say, so I’ll leave it here and cogitate a bit.
MWAH!!!
I made it home without many more minor annoyances.
jtc, I did do the eraser trick once I got to the office.
Nelliebly, I glad you are recovering and your daughter is with you.
Good vibes sent from Houston.
I played around in the studio today. Yesterday’s project was a dog themed set. I went with some bright primaries. Today, I made some hi cards with scraps.
Afternoon all. The electricians finished about 4:30pm, just in time for the Thunderstorms to arrive, and they are still going on as I type this. They’ll be back on Wednesday morning to do the new circuit panel, it’ll mean they cut off electricity for most of the day (they need the city to come out and do that) so looking for options to get out of the house. Plumbing leak folks will be here tomorrow morning, so we’ll get that sorted out. Missing my gym time for the first time in several weeks, but the rain is due to continue until 8pm and that’s a bit to late to be out sweating for me. Just will have to try and make it up tomorrow if I can, since Wednesday doesn’t look promising.
Mollie, been there, had that done to me. Guess they need to find a way to get the system to kick on. Enjoy being heroic in your games.
JtC, I suspect that the leak is underneath my kitchen cabinets, which means getting some professionals in to disassemble that and the granite top and then put them back together, so more $$$ for that. We’ll see what the leak detector folks say.
FCM, my HVAC service usually calls sometime in April to come out, might have a problem finding me what with all the travel I have planned…
Cookie, glad daughter has some stability in her debt, hope she can get it worked out.
lucky, pretty flowers.
Nut, sorry to hear about the station fire, I was in one of them once, don’t know if it was that one or not (came in from Edinburgh).
nellie, so happy your daughter is with you and is finally out of soon-to-be-ex’s life, I think is he finally grasping how much he may have fugged up his life. Nothing but good wishes for her. Hope the back surgery pays off.
And still rain and thunder around the area, so I guess I will be keeping my calories with me today. Take care all.
Howdy Y’all! We were our usual RDOS sloths all day. We napped and then day drank out at the cee-mint pond. At some point I must really mow da back yahd dangit. Can’t believe it’s that time of year again.
Cookie good to know your daughter has worked out a solution with the IRS.
Nuts what an adventure you had gettin’ home! Don’t blame you for takin’ your car on the next trip.
red I 
the doggy cards.
Nellie glad your daughter is with you now. Appropriate/inappropriate appendages crossed for her job interview. Glad the back surgery went well and that you are on the road to recovery. Medicinal cocktails are a great sickness preventative. We warded off scurvy and malaria twice this afternoon.
Today I had an in-person interview at the small credit union. Monday, I go down to Seattle for USPS orientation. I need to be there Tuesday for a Defensive Driving Course. Mrs. L.A. suggested I book a VRBO so that I wouldn’t have to get up at three in the ayem two days inna row. So I did.
I bought a corned beef brisket today, so I’ll make corned beef and cabbage on Sunday.
Up from naptime. Having a cheeseburger with fries and an Old Fashioned.
Well, Face Tentacles> Magic Missile
I saw some of the pics. 
{{{{nellie and daughter}}
As long as you get better.
< crosses appropriate and inappropriate appendages for both >
< forgets to hit "< -reply " >
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s currently 55 degrees Ferret Height(12.778 Centipedes)
Things I’ve said to my cat: “I can out-insane you.”
I think the Edinburgh trains come in to Glasgow Queen St- you actually have to get out and walk or get the bus between the two.
Having a bad case of dontwannas this morning. Bed was so very comfy, it seemed a shame to leave it.
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 6c/43f with a predicted high of 10c/50f and cloudy. Weather app says “It’s fucking black over Bill’s mother’s fucking house today.” Bill’s mother doesn’t live around here, it’s bright and shiny where I am.
If there are raked leaves involved, Otis will probably think it’s a great new game!
They look beautiful, I hope they flourish in your garden.
One of my friends from Kilmarnock was in Glasgow that night and saw the fire from her hotel room. It’s such a shame because it is a beautiful building. I’d like to think it can be rebuilt to the same style, the dome was a really lovely feature. It’s going to be causing problems on the main line for a while yet, I thnk. ‘im indoors is due to go and visit his mum in a couple of weeks which involves getting to Glasgow and then a local train out to Largs. I’m not sure how he’ll manage that if the station doesn’t reopen quickly.
We missed you too! I’m glad to hear that things are largely sounding positive for you and your daughter too. She must be relieved to be out of that situation and now ready to start getting on with her life. Fingers and paws crossed for her job interview! Sorry to hear about the new contact lens though, I don’t suppose there’s any chance it was handed in somewhere?
Mrs L.A. speaks wisely! Good luck with the interview and the USPS stuff too. Fingers still crossed for you too.
Yesterday was a busy one, I spent most of the day writing my own staff review form along with doing a few bits and pieces for other people. After I logged off work, I went to make some campus food for two days, then had a cup of tea before heading out to the gym for Amani’s “cycle revolution” class.
I got home afterwards and put some water on to boil for spaghetti, emptied all the bins in the house and hauled the biiiiig bin out to the kerb for today’s collection. By the time I’d done that, the water was boiling so spaghetti was cooked, leftover bolognese was heated up and dinner was scoffed. We watched a bit of “High Potential” and an episode of “Murderbot”, then it was bedtime.
I was up a stupid o’clock this morning, got my hair washed and dried, tended to the needs of cats, packed up my stuff for irk, and headed off to the station. I just missed one train by a whisker, the following one was cancelled, so I caught the mainline service and was in the office at a reasonable time. The mainline services were a bit messy due to the fire at Glasgow Central - the service going up was terminating at Motherwell, the service coming down probably started at the same place but was busy because people were travelling today who’d not been able to travel yesterday. It’s also the start of Cheltenham Races, so Big City Station was busier than usual.
I am in the office on a non-usual day which means I’ll be confused for the rest of the week Today we have Greek and Latin language tests and although I know we are well-prepared for them, I still feel the need to be here in case something happens. Tonight I need to get a birthday present for Troublesome Minion as her birthday’s on Sunday and after tomorrow I won’t see her again until next Wednesday. I was thinking I’d have to go out somewhere for that when I get home from irk tonight, but I think I can stop off at Big City shopping centre and get something there instead.
Onwards, and upwards!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 63 Amurrkin out and partly cloudy with a predicted high of 85 and sunny this afternoon. I need to pick up a ‘script this mornin’ and deal with a couple of other errands. Then it will be back to da cave for RDOS inactivities the rest of the day. I’ve been in a group chat about the annual St. Patrick’s dinner which will be this Sattidy over to the church. We have a schedule for gettin’ it all done, so go us! Sup will be burgers ‘n fixin’s and fries cause I have a gnawin’ and a cravin’ for a bacon/cheese burger and we make good ones.
FlyBoy Mrs. LA is wise in her ways. The VRBO is a most excellent idea.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, alas, I must purtify and don attire acceptable for bein’ amongst the great unwashed. I will have to people every day for the next seven days. However shall I deal with it all!
Happy Tuesday Y’all!
Oddly enough, he just walked around or got underfoot, as if he didn’t want to be away from my side. I think he’s starting to chill a bit as he’s getting past the puppeh stage.
I had a terrible time falling asleep last night, which is odd after all the fresh air and exercise I gotl A bit after midnight, I started hearing an odd buzzing - it wasn’t any sort of pattern nor was it anything I’d ever heard before. So, unlike every sitcom in the world, I got up myself to investigate instead of waking FCD. Turns out the dog’s water fountain was nearly empty, so the motor was stopping and starting as it would pump a bit, causing the reservoir to empty, then vibrate till the water drained back, lather-rinse-repeat. And once I filled it, Ziva was right there, ready for a drink. And it was after 1 before I fell asleep.
Did I mention I had set Alexa to wake us at 0630 because FCD has an early service appointment for his car? So I might have had 5 hours of sleep, maybe. I’m hoping to have a go at some of the back yard leaf debris. We’ll see how the day goes. We’ve started at 45 Ferrets and the forecast high is 82°! I’m thinking my first chore will be taking a load to the convenience center. We’ll see how that goes.
Happy Tuesday!!
Morning all. Up early since I do not know what time the leak detector folks will be here, with my luck it’ll be 11am… Still, worth starting the day. The rain is gone and the temperature is supposed to get nearly to 80F, so will be an improvement on yesterday. Day’s activities will be predicated on what the leak detector finds, I need to get the work done before I leave on vacation 8 April, or postpone it until I get home. Add soccer and other stuff to the list and it may prove to be a…interesting…March.
Flyboy, good wishes for the training and the interviews.
Nut,
Preach it!
boo fae, hope the tests go of as planned.
FCM, hope you can stay awake for the day.
And that’s all I got for now. Time for a Big Bowl O’Cereal. Have a good 2sDay all.
Here in Elkhart, there are 62 ferrets on the lawn, looking nervously at the sky. Weather risks today include severe storms, hail, and maybe even a tornado. By coincidence, today is also the day for a scheduled check of tornado warning sirens. Confusion and panic may ensue. Is it better to be sorrowfully safe than to be safely sorry?
It’s Tuesday, time to wind the clock.
Happy Tuesday. It’s 61, the birds are singing, and we may have tornadoes later. Good times.
I may be buying a car today. Which is good, but also we’ve been enjoying not having a car payment. But my wife will need her car back.
Speaking of which, we also have her follow-up with her surgeon. I anticipate everything will go well.