What'cha gonna buy me in the MMP?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

Frustrating day at irk. I saw a FB post from Paso del Norte for $3 Margarita Monday. I’m not driving four or five miles for a $3 margarita, so I made one at home.

For dinner I made a quesadilla with leftover turkey, cheddar cheese, low-carb tortilla, and a goodly amount of Tapatio; plus a handful of smoked almonds and some cabernet sauvignon.

Mrs. L.A. got a letter from VA saying she owes them $500. They didn’t say for what. (They overcharge her for her meds, so she doesn’t use them for that.) So now she’d venting.

42

Another day, another puzzle of what can and can’t be done. Our governor’s new pandemic plan is almost as confusing as the color coded version, as it now encompasses regions, rather than individual counties. The weird part is some counties are going to lockdown in advance, so while the Bay Area region is currently still open, some counties have gone to the lockdown status, so PWAISDN was suddenly put out of work again by San Francisco. No idea what his clients who booked appointments will do. And no idea when or if this county will do early lockdown.

For anyone thinking of going into business as a sole proprietor, think carefully. PWAISDN’s net income for the year so far is a bit over $4,000 after about $30,000 in expenses.

43

BK has been on my List for months. Last visit they screwed up every item and it took 1/2 an hour and 3 trips through the drive thru before my roomie and I said ‘never again’. Which is a pain because they are the closest burger and fries place to my house.

Thanks, Boeing Dreamliner it is, 40 Mumpers & their plus ones. I just pulled 10 out of…umm, my hat, knowing nothing about jets.

We can save money and use the same architectural plans for both our houses and in yours the nooks will be train rooms and book annexes. A basement in mine is fine as long as the washer and dryer is on the living floor. Hobby rooms and guest rooms in the basement? Fine, as long as I can go weeks in between doing the stairs.

44

I was right: long line at the UPS place. Woman closest to the door was snarking, so I was glad when she left. The poor counter rep who helped me told me she hadn’t had a chance to eat all day, and she’d been there since 8 a.m. I wanted to run home and make her linguini.

Then I went to Walgreen’s and asked the pharmacist about the scary med. He said he’s only heard of 2 or 3 cases in his career, and he was probably mid-fifties. I completely forgot to ask him about the Vitamin D. Back when I was taking it, I took 5000 IU’s capsule daily. I have an appointment next month for my annual physical, so maybe I’ll just wait and ask that doc.

I’ve decided to hold off on taking the scary med because I haven’t had the better, two-part shingles shot yet. Aren’t they supposed to be 2 months apart? I don’t think the shingles shot would interact with the scary med, but because, strictly speaking, live vaccines are a tad iffier for me (due to the in-remission lupus), I just hate to make this too complicated.

Wondrous hidden treasures of books…or maybe rare documents. I was once in the Rare Document room at the Library of Congress (I had a fellowship there.), and 'twas amazing to behold. Among other wonders was a sort of diagram George Washington had drawn of the Mount Vernon garden. Only one row was labeled: “Beets.” Most intriguing. Did he simply neglect to label the other rows? Or was Martha pestering him because he forgot to have beets planted the year before, and this was his pointed response to her?

Oh, and Harald or somebody, help a low-vision gal out: what is that thing dead center that appears (to my eyes, anyway) to be hanging from the ceiling but resting on a table???

Wheelie, gorgeous house! You got it. Cabo San Lucas sold separately.

Red, you are so sweet to think of me! I was just thinking today how if I were rich, I could have my own driver.

MetalMouse, your wish is my command. How about a fire pit?

45

Nell,
Shingrix is not a live vaccine, so that isn’t a worry (Zostavax was). That not alive is specified about 2/3rds of the way down the page here:

Maybe take just the average, run-of-the-mill Vit A capsules OTC til you get to the new doc? To keep from falling behind further or more drastically. Those are usually 4,000-6,000 units each. Even cranking that up to 2 or 3 times a day couldn’t hurt. Of course, you could always gulp down cod liver oil but I wouldn’t wish that on an enemy, much less a dear heart like you.

46

I had to look up at least half of these (a few of those, I knew under a different name) but as someone who prides themselves on knowing critter stuff, I want to thank you for introducing me to a bunch of new ones!

I loved this.

My parents ordered me something that came in a BIG cardboard box, so Nikki & Monkey are enjoying hiding in it, tussling with their catnip mousie inside it, using it as a pouncing fortress to attack each other, and various other assorted kitty games.

The ratties have gotten fresh water bottles and their dinner - oatmeal flakes, and flax seeds. Last night they got brown rice and some wheat bread, and I think the meal before was birdseed mix - I like to mix it up for them as much as possible. ASFs are very much grain eaters.

Dinner for me is a couple of French bread rolls, with an assortment of toppings: I have a couple cloves of roasted garlic, a wedge of aged sheep’s milk cheese (called “Ewephoria” :laughing:) some tamarind/cilantro sauce, and another packet of instant chicken gravy.

Shaddup, I like the stuff. I doctored it up with some butter & poultry seasoning, if that redeems me at all.

All washed down with a hot cuppa Lipton, of course.

Tomorrow, I need to do a bit of Xmas shopping, and also very much need to wash some dishes. But tonight, we feast! And then (hopefully) sleep!

47

Huh. Well, that’s good news! I sure found a couple of whacko pharmacists when I asked at another pharmacy in early 2019. They were very clear that I’d had Vostavax (though live virus, my docs said it was worth the risk because shingles + lupus= disaster.) and was interested in Shingrix. They said there were two versions of the two-part vaccine, one that used a live virus and the other that used an attenuated virus. The attenuated virus version was in such short supply worldwide, they said, that they hadn’t had any in in a year and didn’t know when they’d get more in. I don’t think there’s been another version nor a worldwide shortage of Shingrix, so what the heck were they talking about? Good thing I don’t go there any more.

Many, many thanks, Boo!

48

And I learning something. IU in English is I.E. in German.

Anyway, my husband takes 4000 IU 3x per week, and I take 4000 IU only 2x per week. So he’s taking 12,000 per week and me 8000.

My dad (lives in Seattle) takes a daily pill. No idea how much, but it’s OTC. Probably buys it at Costco.

For my gift? I’m buying a train, shipping it over to the U.S. and running it around the U.S., picking up and dropping off Dopesters. Same meals as in Scotland, and keeping the spa and the workforce. Might need to expand the number of sleeping cars.

49

Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN 'Tis 31 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 54 and N.O.S. for the day. Another coolish day. The big item on today’s agenda is laundry. Fun times. Sup shall be leftovers from yestiddy. Other than that I foresee sloth. No reason to leave da cave today, so we shall have some quality hermit time.

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

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

50

Swampy,
This is scary, I haven’t gone to sleep yet.

I plead Cat Law (and I have honed personal sloth to a fine art).

51

It’s 29-freekin’degrees here this morning. Blech!!!

Apart from scooping the cat box and pushing the vacuum around the house, my only other plan for the day is fetching the RoxStar before her dad goes to work, unless he doesn’t need to go today - he’s supposed to text me and let me know.

I’m thinking it’s a good day for soup, or maybe some sort of casserole for supper. Maybe just baked pasta. Too early to think about that yet. I haven’t even caffeinated - better get on that!

Happy Tuesday!!

52

Jeeesh, and here I’m on Eastern Time and still do not consider it to be an appropriate time to be up yet. (I’m briefly awake for a bio break, but fully intend to crash back out.)

53

Vacuuming done. Cat box scooped. Dishwasher loaded. And it’s barely after 8. :smiley:

54

I had to say something, didn’t I? Fixed a snack, derped around on the Dope & on Reddit, and now the sun’s coming up.

I may actually put (pajama) pants on & stay up. No promises.

Guess I’m just kinda excited, since this is the day I earmarked to do a bit of shopping for my other Secret Santa exchange, plus for a package I want to put together for the friend who sewed me a beautiful wall quilt recently.

Quarantine, huh? I used to dread going shopping, or attending social get-togethers. I mean, they were okaayyy for a few minutes, then I just wanted to GTFO.

Now I stretch out trips (“got cat food today … I’ll save getting eggs for tomorrow! Whee, an excuse to get in the car & leave the house again!”) and just yesterday I had an un-masked encounter with a smiling human face, in which I was waiting to make a left across traffic & an oncoming car let me cross. I gave her a “thank you” wave, she gave me a “you’re welcome!” wave, and then we just kinda waved at each other again, like, “Hello, fellow human! I see your smile! I am smiling at you!”

Yeah, I did not used to seek out human contact this much. (In the “before” times.)

Well, now I’m halfway between “I could stay up” and “I wanna sleep more” and am torn. Could take a nap later instead, I guess, though I don’t nap mid-day very well.

Decisions, decisions.

55

Glass guy is coming tomorrow to measure me for a new pane. I still cannot believe I managed to break a window making coffee. Oh, well. Such is life.

Now I’m just sitting around, guzzling said beverage, and trying not to itch behind my ears. I’ve got a terrible rash from wearing a mask so frequently and for so long. And my chin is so dry my kids have taken to referring to me as “Skinbeard.” So that’s fun. And accurate. My daughter comes by periodically during the day to slap moisturizer on me. I guess that’s a sign they care? Or at least she does. Or she finds the state of my skin hard to look at.

56

Our orifice Christmas party was cancelled. I came to my desk this morning to find a $100 gift card, and the explanation that ‘This is approximately how much we spend for each employee for the party, so buy yourself something nice.’

57

Morning all. Slept in until 8:30am, it’s 39F heading for 50F today. Like swampy I have nothing on the schedule today, so may do a few household chores I’ve been putting off/ignoring (I need to make a list). Otherwise soccer is on a 2pm which is a reason to turn on the tv, otherwise it is internettin’ and reading.

flyboy, not exactly a personal gift, but better than I (or most of us) have done from our leadership.

nellie, I got my first Shingrix shot in November and you are right, it’s a two month wait for the second one. No reaction/pain from the first. so hopefully it’ll be the same for you. Oh, and no firs pit, I’ve never even used the fireplace in my house.

shoe, sounds like both you and the ratties are well-fed.

flyboy, is Mrs. L.A. calling them today? You’d think they would have enclosed the reason with the bill.

OK, watching Good Mythical Morning on the you tube, them to work (list has been made).

58

I thought it might be the Christmas bonus early. So an extra hunnerd simoleons is a nice gift – and I don’t have to trek down to Seattle for a party. :wink:

I don’t know. She likes to vent. When I said, ‘I guess you’ll be calling them tomorrow’ she was like, ‘Why should I? They didn’t say what it’s for.’ I told her to ignore it then, and it would go away. She’ll call them when she gets over her indignation.

59

Whoever guessed “purple goes back to bed” won that bet.

NOW I feel rested & ready for some Xmas shopping! And laundry! And dishes!

… or not!

60

Afternoon, mumpers! I like the idea of a fancy plane coming over to bring you to our shores. Doggio, it woud need a few nights to take you round all the great pubs here though, and then we’d need to go down to Nut’s part of the world too.

For house design, I’d like one with lots of wood, plenty of cat nooks and crannies, a mahooosive kitchen and a gym too. I know, I don’t want much, do I?