What ya smokin' in the MMP?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
101

Still raining, although it let up a little when I went to get the pups. They aren’t very tired.
The wind is picking up, I moved Mike closer to the house, I don’t want him getting knocked over. I fed the stray, and pulled her bowl closer to the house where it’s dry.

I parked out back. That damn tree better not drop another branch on my truck.

Nellie, it gets awfully hot in the warehouse, so every few weeks the company gets the snowball truck to come out and they pay for all the employees’ snowballs. They might be called snow cones where you are. They get extra time for their break so they can go outside to the truck and have time to eat them. It’s a nice treat on a hot night.
My son was really looking forward to it.
Every few weeks they get a boxed lunch. My son hasn’t been real impressed with them. Usually a sandwich, a brownie, a bag of chips, and a can of soda.

I don’t where to get snowballs out here. In the armpit there were snowball stands everywhere. I got him a slushie cup, but he’s not impressed as the flavor gets a bit watered down. I might just go ahead and order a snowball machine and some flavorings for him.

102

Evening all. Nothing much accomplished once again, but tomorrow I should be back coaching soccer so that at least will get me out of the house. Also need to do the Great Grocery Shopping monthly trek, still need to get my list done though. They built a new Publix not far from here (there are three Publix within a 4 mile radius of me) so maybe I’ll pay them a visit. Also paid the electric and water bills. Such excitement!

Sari, sounds like the place your son works is a pretty good employer; not many would do such a thing.

nellie, second the desire for a pic of the Pic/frame. I have an old picture, done by one of my dad’s relations, that is probably over 70 years old, not worth much on the market but it’s a family thing so…

FCM, glad school went well, even if Roxy didn’t hold her water well…sounds like you’re getting some of what I got Monday and Tuesday.

Nut, good luck on the perpetual housing chase; they’re building a ton of apartments and condos around here, but given that’s 4,000 miles away, it won’t help your problem much.

doggio, just remember that we didn’t start the fire…

Sari, the Dodge dealer would love to get their hands on my 2017 Durango SUV…get notes every couple of weeks from them. Sorry guys, keep it until at least 2024.

OK, BLT’s and Banana have been assimilated, off to watch some TeeVee for awhile. All y’all take care.

103

Roxy and Nelson are both waaaay too cute!! :smiley:

My very first job was working in a snowball stand: it was the summer between high school and college (‘89), and the stand was run by my former grade school. I made $1/hr, and the stand wasn’t air conditioned. But I learned how to deal with customers, and it was a cash-only operation so I learned how to make change. And there were unlimited free snowballs; I might have eaten my weight in marshmallow topping. Everyone who worked there had gone to the same school. It was a pretty great job.

Last night was ridiculous: crazy loud thunder and rain with near-constant lightning, for a solid 30 minutes, starting at 3am. :angry: I was awake from 3am-4am, so bedtime will be on the early side tonight. Bailey was terrified (once I was awake I had to pee, so after I peed I checked on her). Today it was dark and rainy for a while, then the sun would come out, then it would be dark and rainy for a while, etc. There was some thunder a couple of hours ago, but it’s quiet now and radar says everything is east of me. The dog should come out from her storm spot any minute now… (poor puppy).

In other news, it’s been 12 hours since I went to the lab and I still don’t have the A1C results yet. :flushed: Every other time I’ve had lab work done, I’ve gotten all of the test results by the end of the same day…but this time? When it really, really matters? And I took the earliest available appointment? Nada. (Ok, not quite nada: I got my CBC results.) I see my PCP at 10:30 tomorrow morning, and I’m really hoping the A1C is in by then. I have moments where I can be zen about it — what’s done is done — but eventually I go right back to HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WHY DON’T I HAVE THE RESULTS YET. I think going to bed early will be a good thing for me…heh.

Dinner was yummy meatloaf (by Hormel) and some yummy lemon pudding (by Jell-o). I seem to be on a West Wing kick: I’m going to watch one more episode, then turn in. I hope everyone is warm and dry tonight!!

104

Awww, she’s adorable! All grown up! I predict it was less than 11 minutes before she had her teachers completely charmed.

105

There were tons of snowball stands in our general neighborhood when I was a kid. The Oberle’s, directly across the street from our house, had a really good one. The Mignini’s up the street also had one, but it was meh. There were others farther afield, but why travel when Bobby Oberle was right there?? :smiley: Can’t recall the last time I had a snowball. Cherry, with marshmallow, of course!

The grossly overpriced house in our neighborhood has dropped in price again. It started at $695K, then $679K, now $649K. In the right neighborhood, it’d easily fetch $695K, but this neighborhood is pretty much in the $300-400K range. It’s just too much house here - larger than every other house by a lot, but it sits on 3 acres like the rest of us. I guess the market isn’t as hot as they’d hoped.

I think the rain is just about done here. We had a couple of really hard, really short downpours, and now it’s just sprinkling. The remnants should clear our area in the next couple of hours. Then we have some blissfully cool nights - like open-the-windows cool.

My daughter is meeting me on Friday evening (after I’m sure FCD is doing well - plus visiting hours end at 6) for First Friday in Leonardtown. I’ve never attended one, but I’ve wanted to. And the weather is supposed to be perfect - cool and dry.

But first, I have to get thru tomorrow. Not sure what’s on the agenda - I’ll just wing it.

106

Anniversary of the death of my Other Shoe in a couple days, plus someone, ah, got inappropriate with me about a week ago. I’m having difficulties processing either one.

Bad touch. Unwanted, naughty. Now I’m feeling super vulnerable. Which means I’m attracting predators.

Not a cheery post, but an honest one.

107

shoe, I’m very sorry that either thing is happening to you. {{{{{ sad anniversaries }}}}}.

As for the creep who touched you, report him to his employer, tout suite. If he is your employer, report him to the police.

108

{{{@purplehorseshoe}}} (if welcome, of course)

Temp gig is the most relaxed call center I’ve been in in a LONG time. They don’t fuss about bathroom or other unavailable time and they really don’t care what you do between calls as long as you do answer calls promptly. I’ve seen two people with books, most are doing something with their phones at least occasionally, and no one’s said anything about SFW web surfing (I keep an eye on news, AQI, and such). No handle time metrics, no call scoring. I’m starting to remember that call centers aren’t ALL hellholes.

Sky’s been definitely blue the last few days.

In food matters, black beans are a surprisingly nice add-in to a Taco Bell chicken quesadilla, and Panda Express’s crispy almond chicken breast nearly has me ready to forgive them for discontinuing the mandarin chicken.

109

Thuderstorms are about to start.

Well, if you stocked good beer, I wouldn’t act out. :stuck_out_tongue:

As long as it’s not Snowballs(NSFW)

:heart_eyes:

{{{{Shoe}}}}
And what Boo said about reporting that creep.

110

Squeeeee! He’s SO adorable in his ducky coat, I could reach through the screen and hug him! :heart_eyes: Smitten for life.

Sari, snowball night sounds like fun! I hope they reschedule. We did indeed call 'em snow cones in my neck of the woods. On the rare occasions I got to have one, I’d have Green River. But mostly we had Italian ice, which was much more readily available.

It does sound like a dream job. Did they sell sundaes, too, or do people in your neck of the woods put marshmallow topping on snow cones/snowballs? Also, I hope you get the lab report soon, and that it’s good news. Waiting for tests results when so much is hanging on them just sucks.

Has anybody had a snow cone/snowball made with liquor? I hear they’re pretty good.

shoe, I salute your honesty and though I’m not a violent person, would gladly smack the perp. You were assaulted, and coming as it did so close to losing Other Shoe must’ve made it twice as painful. But you are NOT attracting predators. They’re opportunistic and look for situations (where they might get away with it), not merely individuals. If you can report him, do. If you don’t want to for any reason, that’s OK, too. Take care of yourself. We’ll be here for you whenever you need us.

Why, why do I listen to you and click on stuff?

111

I’ll gladly hold that jerk while @nelliebly smacks them and then I’ll stomp on the grease stain that is left when she’s done with them. Hrruumphh.

112

Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to work.

:crazy_face:

113

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 71 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 90 and mostly N.O.S. for the day. Almost Fall like weather for these parts. Today I shall fire up the smoker and fill it full of ribs and chikin boobs. Also we shall participate in a drive-thru birthday celebration for one of my favorite persons ever. Doris, who is one of the most beautiful and classy people I have ever known is ninety-nine years old today. She lives at an assisted livin’ facility (a very nice one!) so the church is doin’ the drive-thru thingy to wish her a happy bday. Should be fun. Sup shall be ham steaks, scalloped N.O.T., peas 'n carrots, and rolls.

{{{Shoe}}} you should report the scumbag if at all possible. I’d be glad to join nellie and Boo in the stomp/kick fest. GRRR!

red OK, Nelson is just toooooo cute in his ducky slicker!

Everybody else, I read all, but retention is minimal, so yays, boos, hugs, trouts, chitlins, noogies, and how you doin’s all around as needed.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.

Happy Thursday Y’all!

114

It’s a glorious 63° this morning!! At least that’s one good that came out of Ida. Annapolis got tornadoed - the pictures on the news were terrifying! We got a few heavy bursts, but mostly, just regular rain, and thankfully, the basement didn’t flood. I went and checked twice to be sure.

Anyway, I opened some windows, and after FCD gets up, I’ll open the bedroom, then strip the bed and let it air in fresh air. Plus he’s supposed to sleep on clean sheets tonight anyway.

The hospital must have been sued at one point for an infection, because they put this rather, um, unique protocol in place. They gave him a small bottle of a cleaning solution. Last night, he had to shower with it, using 1/3 of the bottle, except not on his hair, face, ears, or genitals. (Remember, he’s getting a new knee.) Then he had to dry with a “fresh, clean towel” and put on “fresh, clean clothes.” We have to repeat the same tonight, with the addition of sleeping of “fresh, clean sheets.” Then he’ll use the final 1/3 of the bottle on Firday morning before going to the hospital.

Bear in mind, he’s had 10 - count 'em 10! - spinal surgeries over the last 12 years or so. The most he ever had to do was clean along his spine with special wipes on the night before and the morning of surgery. But St. Mary’s (or maybe it’s Medstar?) is a bit out there, IMHO. Especially in that there’s no mention of avoiding pets or not sitting on “fresh, clean” furniture. But we’ll follow their protocol, if only to be able to say we did.

They’d also tested him for MRSA - again, never in 10 other surgeries - all of which were done in three different hospitals. I know there’s a story behind this…

Anyway, apart from covering our bed in “fresh, clean sheets”, I have no particular plans today. Apart from being pissed about having to wash an extra load of towels, dammit! :stuck_out_tongue:

Happy Thursday, anyway!

ETA - right - I have a chicken to smoke. It’ll go in around noon, I’m thinking.

115

Morning all. Looks like another clear day today. Weather Wizards say it is getting to 84F today, which is much cooler than normal around here.

shoe, add me to the list of folks who will hold/punch the creep. Take care.

FCM, somedays cleaning my my hair, face, ears and genitals is all I can manage… Hope things go well for FCD.

swampy, a happy birthday to Doris; another of the “I’m going to live forever or die in the attempt” crew I hope to belong to.

Lovely picture of Nelson, red

Seanette, glad the stress and mis-mangement that was causing it has mostly gone away.

OK, need to actually do stuff today. All y’all take care.

116

Good morning, everyone.

Once again, I had a sleepless night, and then when I finally fell asleep, it was almost time to get up, so I ended up oversleeping (by my standards). I now feel ripped off because I missed an hour of goof off and tidy-up time. Oh well, it’s my Friday.

No one left me alone at work and thus, my plans for getting some reconciliation done were torn completely asunder. I even told the leadership team I would be locked down with something and to please not contact me if the situation could wait. Guess what, the multiple situations couldn’t wait. Then there were other issues; a company we have a contract with being bought out and not doing appropriate contract paperwork so now I can’t pay the bill until I hear from PMO, some dummy who is a constant thorn in my side causing me extra work because he let his access to a system lapse and it had been so long, that he’d even lost the basic ID to access the system that accesses the system he lost access to. Does that make sense? I don’t feel like rephrasing it; I’m tired. PAO guy and computer upgrade funding woes. Waiting to hear back on that one and then just a multitude of other stuff. It just never stops.

In good news, I received the resumes for the people we are going to interview to replace me in my old position. Some good ones (on paper) and I’m hoping we can choose the candidate that can hit the ground running. I have an open mind about all of the candidates, but I really need someone who knows the job, the mission, and the priorities. My other panel mates may have other ideas, but I’m hoping they’ll seriously consider my input since I will have to work with the person.

shoe, please report that creep.

Our new next-door neighbor has a dog and he (she?) and Polar have been running up and down the fence line sniffing at each other. Nothing aggressive, just sniffing. So, I now often find Polar lying down in the side of the backyard waiting on the other doggo. This tells me he really misses having a playmate.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sno-cone stand around these parts, except for at the state fair. They are alright, I guess.

Speaking of the fair, our big state fair is scheduled to begin tomorrow. I live just a few miles up the hill from the fairgrounds and I’m not looking forward to all the extra traffic. Worse, the County Health Department explicitly stated the fair shouldn’t even happen due to the rampant cases of COVID in my county. Supposedly, there is a mask mandate and people will be required to wear masks both outdoors and indoors. I don’t know how they are going to enforce that and foresee lots of stupidity and even more COVID spread. This is the dumbest thing ever and it just makes my blood boil.

I think today, I will start at my official time which is 0630. They get enough free time from me.

117

Add me to the list, too, shoe. I’ll gladly help the Dope smack the bejeezus out of that guy.

118

shoe I’m so sorry things are so rough. Hugs and encouragement from me as well. You are a wonderful person and you deserve wonderful things. I hope you know that his bad behavior is a reflection of him NOT of you.

nettie I’m glad the temp gig is working out so well. Any chance it could become permanent?

taters sorry about the fair. The world has gone crazy.

I pulled my back getting dressed today. Aging is awesome. Kid has a migraine, so he’s not going to school. Husband’s 6 am meeting got moved to tomorrow, so he also got up earlier then he had to. Off to a great start here Thursday. I’m keeping my eye on you.

119

This, so much this.

120

Our county fair is schedule for Sep 23-26. I don’t know if they’ll require masks, but if we go, we’ll mask. Period. I know my daughter wants to take Roxy, and I also know that FCD won’t be going. So dunno if I’ll go or not.

I’ve got the smoker preheating and I’ll be taking the chicken out shortly. I soaked it all night in a Sonny’s Sweet BBQ sauce mixture and I just sprinkled it with our favorite rub. I’ve got the lemon-lime soda standing by. So we’ll see how it goes. I do wish I’d started this a couple of hours earlier, but I kinda forgot… dammit.

FCD just left for a meeting, and once I get the bird in the smoker, I’m going to push the vacuum around, since I neglected to do that the other day. And the kitchen needs tidying. Then chillage, I think. House is open and it’s a beeyooteeful day!