Ok - the material (fabric?), thread and binding tape - you’re going to sew something. With the stuffing for bean bags, I’m guessing you’re gonna make some bean bags to throw at 'im indoors. The old lady clothes, wigs, and balloons are for a costume party. I just can’t figure in the red and white marker tape.
eeeeeeeew. whadja do? regergitate them and stick 'em in the freezer?
Eeeeeeew, regurgitated steak sandwiches! I’m sure my dogs would love them (hey, until I found a way to lock up the litter box, Isaac just loved those kitty tootsie rolls!), but for a person? Eeeeeeew!
I’m up and caffeinating this morning. Papa Tigs got home a few minutes ago from his massage appointment, and he smells like an old hippie, all spicy and patchouli-ey. Umm, old hippie smell. (Bathed and spiced old hippie smell, that is, not unwashed old hippie smell!)
I think a hand-spun, hand-dyed cashmere farting poodle would be utterly FABULOUS.
As long as we’re picking dates in the future for MMPs, can I have October 1st? I’ll be back from my trip to Oregon then and should have lots of lovely pictures of beaches, cheese factories, etc. (Umm, Tillamook cheese!) Hey, I figured I might as well get my dibs in early.
I slept really well last night, with open windows and fresh air. It was loverly. I hated to get up this morning, but alas, this pile of work was calling to me and becoming increasingly insistent. 
So I know what I’ll be doing today.
Papa Tigs came up with a good idea to be able to take the Idiots to the beach and still throw for them, since obviously he can’t throw right now without hurting his neck something awful – a tennis ball thrower. They make them so people can throw balls farther for their dogs than they’re able to otherwise, and since all it takes is a little flick of the wrist, he ought to be able to do well with it. I also will use it since I can’t throw for beans. Yes, I throw like a girl. So hopefully they’ll get to go for a swim at some point today. It’s far too nice a day not to take them, Now that we’ve figured out a way to get the ball far enough out to give them both good exercise. Besides running up and down the beach happily, of course.
Okay, I’m caffeinated enough my brain is starting to function, so it’s off to work I go.
I know I’m late to the party, but I’m busy and antisocial.
Alistair, if you pass up the opportunity to let meli move Natalie Portman into the apartment, I will personally kill you (I can do it, too. I have certificates from the Army to prove it). I’m visiting in late July and if Natalie isn’t around, then she won’t have the opportunity to meet me and fall in love. Her only option will to live a long, sad, loveless life like Janet Reno or Sylvia Plath.
I would also accept Neil Gaiman.
Good grief! It took me fo-EVAH to get caught up.
A belated congrats to you Swampy, on your employment! Mr. Taters wants to know if you can work at a Heinekin brewery instead and keep him in free beer. 
Tarra, hugs to you. I hope things work out.
My youngest sister is getting married and has asked me to be a candle lighter. She knows I’m not into the whole bridal party thing, so I’m not offended that I wasn’t asked to be a bridesmaid or matron of honor. The problem is the dress she’s picked out costs $180.00. It’s $180.00 I don’t have budgeted for the next couple of months. I need to get back to her with an answer, though.
Work was boooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg yesterday. I actually ran out of stuff to do. I couldn’t believe it. I tried to find “make-work”, but cripes, that becomes boring very quickly.
The weather here has been beyond June gloom. Rain, rain, rain, thunder showers, lightening, rain…you get the picture. Today is supposed to be so-so, but tomorrow is supposed to be nicer. We’re planning on going boating tomorrow. The 4th is supposed to be in the mid 80s. We’re thinking of heading out to the lake and playing during the day. We’ll probably come home from that, throw some burgers on the grill, and then just watch others’ fireworks. We’re just not feeling the whole “spend a ton of money” on stuff to blow up vibe this year. We’ll see.
Mama Tigs, I hope that Papa Tigs is feeling better.
I guess I should clean myself up now.
This is where I draw the line! No one gets between Neil an me. Brother or not, army training or not, I will fight you for Neil’s love.
Bah, He’d never love you! You’re to young and plain. He wants someone who understands the finer things in life. Your sad shut-in life is akin to Emily Dickenson, but without the poetry to show for it. Nerd.
Home from our Annapolis adventure. We coulda saved ourselves a trip. The sail we went to see was for a specific kind of racing sailboat, and although the size was technically right, the shape and style of sail was completely wrong. They said they’d make us a brand new one for about $1100. We discussed it and decided to stick with our old main, then next year when the kid is off our dole, we could afford a shiny new sail.
We also picked up a hause pipe (that’s the opening in the deck that you run the anchor line thru to stow it in the anchor locker. We’ve actually got an on-deck anchor locker, as well as one below, so we’re going to put the hause pipe in the locker and drop the line to the lower locker, then stow the anchor and the chain in the upper locker. All neat and tidy and stuff.
In addition, we got some replacement hinges for all of the cabinet doors - they’re all corroded and icky. Then on the way home, we stopped at WalMart and got fire extinguishers and clip-on fans and some battery operated lanterns and cleaning gear and some other miscellaneous stuff that we needed, including bleach to sanitize the water tanks. Unfortunately, the bleach fell as we were going to the car and, unbeknownst to me, it sprung a leak. I now have a few bleached spots on the mat in the hatch area of my car. bummer…
**FCD ** just left for the boat with a bunch of the stuff, and I’m about to get back to cushion sewing. It’s almost warm enough for air conditioning - too bad I don’t have any yet. Oh, how I suffer!!! Woe is me!!! <insert deep, sad, dramatic sigh>
OK, that’s the end of the pity party. I’m off to sew.
Sorry, Drake, but I’ve already staked the claim on her. She’s not for sharing. No one gets to tear my most beloved female celebrity crush out of my hands! 
You and Ali, however, are free to fight for Neil Gaiman. I’ll just sit back, relax with a cone of mint ice cream, and enjoy the show.
Boys! Boys! Am I going to have to separate you two and stick you in the corner?! You better kiss and make up or else!
Mama T, we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese factory when we were on our honeymoon. If you get all the way down to Newport, stay at the Moolack Shores Hotel. It’s about five miles north of Newport. Every room has a different theme (Hawaiian, Elizabithean, Sailing, Whaling, etc). Plus, they have a cottage and a beachhouse on the beach. It’s not a fancy place, but the owners were absolutely fabulous people. We haven’t been there in 20 years, but it was most definitely cool. We stayed there for our honeymoon, and came back the next year on our anniversary. They remembered us and had a bucket of ice with champagne waiting in our room on our return.
Okay, some you snuck in here while I was posting. I was referring to Drake and Allistair.
Sorry we didn’t get back to you with the restaurant recommendation, FCM – I didn’t see your post until after your bedtime, and whiterabbit didn’t know which restaurant we’d talked about (although she should have, heaven knows it’s the whole family’s favorite!). Next time you’re in the area, give me a bit more notice and we’ll meet you there. And yes, they’re open for lunch on weekends. With crabcakes on the menu. The bestest crabcakes in the whole, entire universe, bar none… Mmmmm…crabcakes…
Papa Tigs’ massage felt nice, but his arm is still a mess. So I dug out my old TENS machine that I got a couple years ago when I was having back pain problems and I’d maxed our portion of our insurance payments out for the year, so the insurance company paid the whole $400 for it. He’s got that attached to his arm right now, and is moving the pads around as need be. It’s got a whole variety of different electrostim programs so there’s something for everybody. I probably should put it on my foot when I have a day like yesterday and see if it works there, too. It may not eliminate pain, but it certainly distracts you from it. Which is just lovely!
I’m struggling to work today, but in my defense, while it’s not hot today, it’s pretty humid – which doesn’t bother me except when I’m sitting at my desk with zero breeze coming in the windows. So we finally gave up and closed the house back up and turned on the AC. I assume we’ll open up again tonight; it’s far nicer to sleep in fresh air than conditioned air as long as the temps are tolerable.
meli, as much as Neil and I have this connection, you can’t use him to distract me from Natalie. I’m not too concerned, though. Once she first meets me, she’ll understand. You’re a mere trifle to her.
No sweat - I had saved the email when you sent me the info last time I asked you - it didn’t occur to look for it till after I’d posted. And anyway, we were all the way to Prince Fred before lunch time. But we will return. In fact, next time we come to Annapolis, it’ll be by water. I think. Not sure if the kids will want to go there or not. Baltimore and St. Michaels for sure, but not sure about the capitol.
No, wait, I said I was going to go sew. And I am. I just had to reply to an email from my mom. No, really, I did. And now I’m gone… * * * <poof> * * *
This peasant is about to go [del] and be repressed[/del] to work. The A/C is on since it’s hot and humid.
Ali, by the time your parents get over the shock of seeing older British gentlemen stacked like fireword, and you and Drake getting medieval on each other, they probably won’t notice meli. 
Oooh, slick disappearing act, FCM!
I see meli fits right into the McCello-Tungsten family. You sure are chatty when you’re not busy being antisocial, Drake.
And look, there’s doggio, sneaking in with an excellent point.
I’ve been out to obtain a container for the very empty spot between the shrub and the back stoop. And some dirt. And some plants for church.
And walked around a few blocks to watch one of the early bike races. I’m gonna go out and play in the garden a bit, then clean a bit indoors, then go out to the street party/art gallery hop, then come home and clean in here, I think.
Back later.
GT
Hello, all!
Been a busy day here. Started out as usual, had to take the dogs out round 8:30. Then SWMBO got a Clean-up Attack – we spent 4 hours clearing out all the junk from both of the Terrible Twins[sup]TM[/sup]’ rooms. He, especially, is such a pack-rat :smack:
By then it was 1:30 PM. rested a bit, then went to the gym. I only manage twice a week – Friday and Saturday – so I wasn’t giving up on it.
then we had the Terrible Twins[sup]TM[/sup]’ year-end class meet – out in the park, 3 hours of the kids running around (and playing drums that were brought out for the occasion) and the parents carping :rolleyes:
Oh, and the black-dog-who-is-too-stupid-to-live managed to get lost in the park, not once but twice during this time.
Got home about 9 PM.
And this is called “a day of rest…” :rolleyes:
Anyway…
Whew! I Was getting worried there, for a while :eek:
So, at which computer in the good ole’ US of A will I find you?
‘Cos I will be in the US in August – We’re bringing the kids over to be naturalized (compliments of my mother, who lived enough years in the US before moving here that the grand-kids still get to be citizens). Jus’ sayin’ is all
'Course, SWMBO probably won’t approve these plans
Roo – It’s OK, you **know **if I actually make it to the US I’ll come visit you first, right?
Haze – hope your head [del]is[/del]was better!!
Does anybody else find it disturbing that two brothers are fighting over a man? FWIW pretty much none of the people discussed this week do a thing for me.
The butterbeans are all shelled. I knew y’all were worried about that. Not just shelled, mind you, but “put up” as well. I also boiled a whole chicken and some chicken boobs and made chicken salad. I had a gnawin’ and a cravin’ for some. That will be dindin tonight. I also have to make a ‘nanner puddin’ for brunch tomorrow. It’s the first Sunday in the month so that means brunch (lunch really casue it’s close to noon) after church. I make a nummy no bake ‘nanner puddin’ that has cream cheese in it. I make a nummy regular one too but it’s hot and I don’t wanna turn the oven on, so it’s no bake time.
It looks like it could be stormy here shortly. I hope. Yesterday’s rain was nice but not enough. Oh, whilst it was rainin’ yesterday we sat on the porch and finished up snappin’ the green beans which got “put up” last night. We are considerin’ a ride over to Cordele, GA to the biiiiiiiiiiiiiig farmer’s market tomorrow afternoon just to check out stuff. It’s usually a good place for fresh veggies and fruits. Plus, bein’ as Cordele claims itself to be “The Watermelon Capital of The World” they usually have really good cheap watermelons and canteloupes. Gotta have some watermelon for the Fourth after all!
Oh, and meli, ali, Drake – y’all realize Natalie Portman is Israeli, right? What am I asking for? Just a little bit of acknowledgment…?
Well, that and a chance at her… (with appropriate apologies to all the lovely MMP ladies of course – I love you all first :))
Whew! I’m glad you got those butterbeans taken care of Swampy. I was really fretting over that.
I’ve still done exactly nothing today. I’m going to have to get motivated. It’s easy to forget about the time when I’m sitting here in front of the 'puter.
If I had been motivated enough this morning I could have gone to the Farmer’s Market downtown. But, I didn’t go. I’m so lame.
I think you misunderstand the amount of sheer devotion to Natalie Portman that I possess. I dressed up as Queen Amidala for my Halloween costume in 6th grade. She’s the only celebrity of whom I have ever owned a poster. Compared to me, you are merely another of those “fans” (if you can call yourselves “fans”) who may claim to show affection for her but clearly cannot back up said claims with years of devotion, memorabilia and outrageous expressions of worship.
I see that watching from the sidelines may no longer be an option. I may have to join forces with Ali in this epic battle for celebrity claiming rights.