what are you doing right now?

[countrygirl2]

Yes, its the same roast, I cut a small piece off and it tasted really good. Well I cut more off and sliced it and the further I went the tougher and more tasteless it got. I was so disappointed.

Just a few minutes ago I put it in the instant pot for 15 minutes to see if I can make it better. But it may be a lost cause at this point.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 22, 2023 19:43:00 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Sept 22, 2023 17:28:15 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I spent the afternoon on the phone with a company that procures visas.  We need visas for both Cambodia and Vietnam next year.  We are under time constraints, and I need to figure out time constraints before I start making further reservations.  

TD decided he wanted to go to Angkor Wat, in Cambodia.  We are only in Cambodia for less than 2 days and from where we port, it turns out that it’s easier to get there from Bangkok (where we board) rather than the port.  Today, I find out that Cambodia does not provide multiple entry visas.  This means I need to submit 2 sets of paperwork (including pics), with different ‘in country’ dates.  We need to get 2 visas each for one country we are visiting about 1 week apart.  Oh, and the additional visa for the additional day is only going to cost $170 each.

As I jump though these hoops, I have to wonder how hard it is to jump though the US visa hoops.  

You really don't want to know, trust me

I’m sure it’s just as hard.  I have a friend in Turkey, and since she is ‘special’ (both she and her DH are professors who teach their respective specialties in dentistry) they easily get visas.  They have a daughter who is a curator at a museum, and she can’t even get out of Turkey to travel on vacation.  It is far easier for us to visit them, than them us.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 22, 2023 18:39:30 GMT -5 saveinla said:

mpl - if you have to buy them every year, you should go to one of those cheap suit places - you can outfit him for 3 years for that cost. It will not look that good, but who cares.

We have one in our mall and its where we used to get the suits for band - 70$ per year for these growing boys is still a lot but much better than 275$ a year.

Not sure I know what those would be?  We don't have anything like that around here that I know of.

One thing I am going to start doing though is stalking the thrift stores.  I hate shopping and it's even worse at those places because there's so much hunting involved, but if I can find something a size or two up from what he's wearing I'm going to stash some.  It sucks that he's a slim (or super slim) and his brother was not so there's no raiding his supply.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 22, 2023 18:21:39 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

Dinner wasn't good. I baked the roast forever, still tough. It took an hour to cook some potatoes and carrots, carrots were not done. I told hubs at times this stove doesn't work right. He said I cooked pizza in it and it was just fine, sigh. Well bake a cake or cook some meat and see. He says put a thermometer in it and see what the temp is. I'm not paying $2000 for a stove and we are talking about moving. He says I don't have problems with it. It worked ok for awhile, now its acting up again. He says so don't use the oven, sigh. I said should I call a repair person, no, I will fix it, but there is nothing wrong with it.

Ok it's one of those days I'm not happy. Now he was saying sell the post office, now he is telling me it won't pass inspection. But he is not about to fix anything there?  I said why don't we wait till Monday and see before we make that statement.

I don't know maybe he doesn't feel good or is just being contrary, I don't know. I am going to put the meat in the instant pot and see if I can tender it up. I was looking forward to a good tasting roast, well this isn't one. It sure looked like it would be when raw, I haven't had one in ages. Guess we should have bought it at Odon.

Our oven is about 25° off, I bought a $10 oven thermometer and measured the temp at different settings.  As a result, when anything goes into the oven, I compensate by adjusting the temp setting.  I would not get a new stove for such an easy fix.  

What kind of roast?  These days, I only roast prime rib or a NY strip roast.  Otherwise, it gets braised.  

[Sharon]

Sept 22, 2023 19:58:54 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 22, 2023 18:39:30 GMT -5 saveinla said:

mpl - if you have to buy them every year, you should go to one of those cheap suit places - you can outfit him for 3 years for that cost. It will not look that good, but who cares.

We have one in our mall and its where we used to get the suits for band - 70$ per year for these growing boys is still a lot but much better than 275$ a year.

Not sure I know what those would be?  We don't have anything like that around here that I know of.

One thing I am going to start doing though is stalking the thrift stores.  I hate shopping and it's even worse at those places because there's so much hunting involved, but if I can find something a size or two up from what he's wearing I'm going to stash some.  It sucks that he's a slim (or super slim) and his brother was not so there's no raiding his supply.

Doesn't the school maintain a list of students who might be selling last years suit that no longer fits them.  When DD was in band the teacher maintained a list of students who were selling suits and the required black dress for students who were looking for them.  The dance studio did that with shoes also.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 22, 2023 20:06:07 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Sept 22, 2023 19:58:54 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Not sure I know what those would be?  We don't have anything like that around here that I know of.

One thing I am going to start doing though is stalking the thrift stores.  I hate shopping and it's even worse at those places because there's so much hunting involved, but if I can find something a size or two up from what he's wearing I'm going to stash some.  It sucks that he's a slim (or super slim) and his brother was not so there's no raiding his supply.

Doesn't the school maintain a list of students who might be selling last years suit that no longer fits them.  When DD was in band the teacher maintained a list of students who were selling suits and the required black dress for students who were looking for them.  The dance studio did that with shoes also.

Not that I know of.  Every Fall they have a clothing swap for uniforms. People donate outgrown clothes and they have one day before school starts when you can come and take whatever you want for free.  I've never seen anything but regular school day clothes there though. Polos, khakis and quarter zips. 

[giramomma]

Sept 22, 2023 18:44:09 GMT -5 susana1954 said:

Sept 22, 2023 14:46:28 GMT -5 taz157 said:

😱😱😱

I read your post to DD1 and she wanted to know who approved that email to be sent…

Lol. I don't know why you guys are surprised.  Aren't you used to donating prizes and cakes and similar stuff to things like Fall Festivals/Halloween Carnivals where you then pay for your kids to "win" them?

However, I do think, as a teacher, if they had monthly raffles where the parents of middle schoolers could win money and/or giftcards, it might improve kids' behavior even more.  Of course, you'd have to donate those prizes, too.

We don't do that stuff, actually. 

I also like your idea. It seems the parents in the peanuts class like to prevent their kids from feeling the natural consequences of their kids' choices...I think Covid really did a number on these kids. I know the peanut is way immature that DS and DD1 were at her age.

Though, if she forgets something at home, she knows better than to call us to deliver it to her. And she also doesn't have a phone. And if she did have one, it's supposed to stay in the kids' back pack all day long and the kids aren't supposed to use their phone during school hours.

Normally we just get the parents that don't feel the need to stay on top of making sure their girls aren't the mean girls. Because you know, kids that go to parochial school can't possibly misbehave or make poor choices.

It is feeing a bit extra, though this year.

[andi9899]

Just booked my trip to the office. I started it the other day but didn't have my CC with me the time so I had to come back to it. Flight went up $20 since then, but for some reason my hotel went down $10/night for the 2 nights I'll be there so it was a wash. Winning!

[andi9899]

Sept 22, 2023 15:09:10 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Sept 22, 2023 11:52:53 GMT -5 giramomma said:

OMG. You guys, I kid you not.

We just got this email from the kids school 

"We are going to have  monthly raffles to encourage good behavior from our middle schoolers. We need you to donate money and/or giftcards to cover the cost."

I thought encouragement for good behavior was I allowed her to live another a day. 

Just WOW.  I think we found the poster child for the "entitled youth" movement.

I would tell the girls this when they complained about not getting an allowance. I informed them that I allowed them to live. Also that I went a step further and allowed them to live in the house.

[andi9899]

Sept 22, 2023 16:00:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

omg.  That shopping trip was as horrible as expected. Besides the fact that the kid was whining the whole time about trying things on and nothing being in his size, it was a financial blood bath and we haven't even gotten shoes yet. I'm really pissed because I get home and see a 35% off coupon sitting in my mail so I plugged everything we bought in online and it's $50 cheaper going that route.  I'm not sure I want to bother with re-ordering everything online and returning it to the store.

Why don't you take the coupon to the store and get a price adjustment?

[andi9899]

Sept 22, 2023 16:52:36 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Sept 22, 2023 15:09:10 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I thought encouragement for good behavior was I allowed her to live another a day. 

Just WOW.  I think we found the poster child for the "entitled youth" movement.

Basically this claims that we need to go from this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: if you don't I will stick you behind the wallpaper and rub it really well so there won't be any bubbles visible

to this:
Adult: I need you to behave
Child: what is in it for me
Adult: 

When did good behavior something that needs to be bought? Really. I would answer that email by pointing out that I find it morally wrong as well as detrimental to kids if we make good behavior a competition rather than an expectation and I am vehemently against this and I will not be participating in this scheme

Mine just knew to behave in public. They were a little rowdy at home, but that's different. When we would go somewhere the conversation went like this.

Me: We're going to behave when we go to (place), right?

Them: Yes.

Me: Good. What happens if we don't behave?

Them: You're gonna beat us in front of God and everybody.

Me: Alright, let's make it a good day!

ETA: I never literally beat my children before anybody gets excited.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

So I learned that when trying on bulky heat resistant gloves at work the first thing out of your mouth should NOT be

"It'd be really hard to cut up a body wearing these".

Darn you over active imagination!

[andi9899]

Sept 22, 2023 17:40:27 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 22, 2023 16:51:34 GMT -5 bean29 said:

you can try calling and seeing if they will adjust your purchase over the phone.  I have had some success with that.  

I went to Talbots on my lunch hour to return something.  I bought two sweaters and a Sweatshirt for my Mom.  I am not done, I want a pair of jeans, but I have to check the colors I have in my fall wardrobe first.  They have 25% off everything and free shipping today.  The lady also told me that Ann Taylor and Talbots have the same ownership and Ann Taylor is coming back to the mall soon.  Yea!  I shop there sometimes, and it is expensive to return stuff if I order online and decide to return it.  They got pushed out of their spot in the mall b/c Urban Outfitters wanted their space.  It left no Ann Taylor in the entire urban area.  I would either have to go to Madison or Chicago to get to a store.

Where did you find his Suit?, and why does he need a suit if you don't mind sharing those details.  DH usually goes to Macy's now.  In the past he has purchased from JC Penney's.  My Brother and Son often go to Men's Warehouse.

I tried, it was a no go.  They told me to take the items back to the store and return them then repurchase.  Yeah, no. It's 60 miles of driving round trip.

It's from JCPenneys and he needs a suit for congressional debate and speech team. He needs a new one every freaking year.  Last year we skipped the jacket for speech, but this is his first year in debate and the coach said he should have one.  $275 for the suit with 3 shirts.  Yuck.

Didn't see this before I responded. I keep forgetting that not everyone has stuff within a 15 minute drive like I do.

[busymom]

Don't know if this is the appropriate thread to mention this, but I'll put it here.  I've been trying for months to get a problem with my bathroom flooring fixed.  I have interlocking flooring, and a piece popped loose for no good reason.  I know the land under our house "churns" in the Winter, so I suspect the house just shifted a bit, and one of the panels just plain popped loose.  I've had 3 different (white) handymen out to try & fix it, but they couldn't figure out how to do it.  So today, I had a new handyman, a non-English speaking Hispanic gentleman, and guess who not only successfully fixed the floor, but put in fresh caulk along the edge of the tub, and did some minor repair work along the mopboard.  He did say to me that he didn't speak good English, but had an app on his cell phone when I had a question that converted my English to Spanish, so we communicated pretty well.  I'm sure some anti-immigrant folks would be having kittens, but I'll say once again that we NEED immigrants to handle the tasks that no one else does.  Obviously, I'll be recommending him, and I've already sent a compliment about his work to the company he works for.  

[bean29]

Sept 22, 2023 17:40:27 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 22, 2023 16:51:34 GMT -5 bean29 said:

you can try calling and seeing if they will adjust your purchase over the phone.  I have had some success with that.  

I went to Talbots on my lunch hour to return something.  I bought two sweaters and a Sweatshirt for my Mom.  I am not done, I want a pair of jeans, but I have to check the colors I have in my fall wardrobe first.  They have 25% off everything and free shipping today.  The lady also told me that Ann Taylor and Talbots have the same ownership and Ann Taylor is coming back to the mall soon.  Yea!  I shop there sometimes, and it is expensive to return stuff if I order online and decide to return it.  They got pushed out of their spot in the mall b/c Urban Outfitters wanted their space.  It left no Ann Taylor in the entire urban area.  I would either have to go to Madison or Chicago to get to a store.

Where did you find his Suit?, and why does he need a suit if you don't mind sharing those details.  DH usually goes to Macy's now.  In the past he has purchased from JC Penney's.  My Brother and Son often go to Men's Warehouse.

I tried, it was a no go.  They told me to take the items back to the store and return them then repurchase.  Yeah, no. It's 60 miles of driving round trip.

It's from JCPenneys and he needs a suit for congressional debate and speech team. He needs a new one every freaking year.  Last year we skipped the jacket for speech, but this is his first year in debate and the coach said he should have one.  $275 for the suit with 3 shirts.  Yuck.

But you know what size you need, so you could order it, use coupon, get free shipping, and return at your leisure.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 22, 2023 23:11:08 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Sept 22, 2023 17:40:27 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I tried, it was a no go.  They told me to take the items back to the store and return them then repurchase.  Yeah, no. It's 60 miles of driving round trip.

It's from JCPenneys and he needs a suit for congressional debate and speech team. He needs a new one every freaking year.  Last year we skipped the jacket for speech, but this is his first year in debate and the coach said he should have one.  $275 for the suit with 3 shirts.  Yuck.

But you know what size you need, so you could order it, use coupon, get free shipping, and return at your leisure.

After looking at it closer, most of the price difference was in the pants and the jacket so I re-ordered them and left the shirts since it was less than 50 cents a piece on them.  Of course, now that I submitted the order I realize that $14 of that $50 price difference is that WI charges sales tax on clothes and when I buy them online from MN it does not, so I should have re-ordered those three $30 shirts anyhow.

Oh well.  I will get $41 back off those two things.  I'll just bring them with the next time I go to Sam's Club.

I hate doing stuff like this though because I'm afraid I'll screw something up and order something not quite right that won't match for the return.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate clothes shopping?

[minnesotapaintlady]

It has been raining steady here for a couple hours now.  This is pretty exciting as we've been in a severe drought for quite a while. I haven't mowed the lawn for like a month...except over the septic...that still grows like crazy.

[countrygirl2]

Watching season 2 of the Colony. It's about an alien invasion that has taken over the planet.

I need to go to bed after this episode is over, it is after 2 again.

[Opti]

Sept 22, 2023 23:11:08 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Sept 22, 2023 17:40:27 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I tried, it was a no go.  They told me to take the items back to the store and return them then repurchase.  Yeah, no. It's 60 miles of driving round trip.

It's from JCPenneys and he needs a suit for congressional debate and speech team. He needs a new one every freaking year.  Last year we skipped the jacket for speech, but this is his first year in debate and the coach said he should have one.  $275 for the suit with 3 shirts.  Yuck.

But you know what size you need, so you could order it, use coupon, get free shipping, and return at your leisure.

I think MPL is saying there is no leisure if she has to do a 60 mile trip to do the return. She's decided it is not worth the hassle at this time and I agree with her. I have one ordering mistake from Macy's that I am stuck with as I did not address it quick enough in their time window. I would have had to argue with someone in the store to even get the return done. The ordering system gliched on me and I ended up ordering two sizes instead of changing from one to the other. The item was on final clearance which policy wise they do not refund except in significant circumstances. I would have needed to plan and take the bus within the 30 day period, which I did not, so I have something I don't need and tried not to order. 

[toomuchreality]

Sept 22, 2023 22:14:17 GMT -5 busymom said:

Don't know if this is the appropriate thread to mention this, but I'll put it here.  I've been trying for months to get a problem with my bathroom flooring fixed.  I have interlocking flooring, and a piece popped loose for no good reason.  I know the land under our house "churns" in the Winter, so I suspect the house just shifted a bit, and one of the panels just plain popped loose.  I've had 3 different (white) handymen out to try & fix it, but they couldn't figure out how to do it.  So today, I had a new handyman, a non-English speaking Hispanic gentleman, and guess who not only successfully fixed the floor, but put in fresh caulk along the edge of the tub, and did some minor repair work along the mopboard.  He did say to me that he didn't speak good English, but had an app on his cell phone when I had a question that converted my English to Spanish, so we communicated pretty well.  I'm sure some anti-immigrant folks would be having kittens, but I'll say once again that we NEED immigrants to handle the tasks that no one else does.  Obviously, I'll be recommending him, and I've already sent a compliment about his work to the company he works for.  

That's AWESOME! Good for him and good for you! I love it when things come together like that!

And here I was, yesterday, impressed by the fact that my maintenance man showed up to change my air filter and a lightbulb. He's very tall, so neither required even a step stood and I furnished the lightbulb.

I like your guy much more.
I'm glad that stuff got done for you. Well done, to the guy who did it! Here, if they don't know how, or what to do, they just don't do it. Yeah, that's helpful.

[toomuchreality]

I had a fabulous day with my 2DGDs today. Definitely one of the best days we've ever had. No fighting, or whining and no crying when mom and dad left, or while they were gone. Either time (gone all afternoon, running errands, then they went out for the evening, for 4 hours.) All this, with no naps! And the hardest thing I had to do, was push the 3 yr old, on the swing set! Oh. And no crying for their computers. It was a perfect day!
I loved every minute! ♡
I feel blessed.

[finnime]

Good morning and welcome to Saturday, illustrious invisipeeps of Y Ma'am. I hope your day is rich in realized potential and ends with a sigh of contentment.

Here by the sea we'll have a day of rain. I'm waiting to see if it starts before 6:00 when it would be time to go see the sun rise at the beach.

C, our neighbor, is gone now to Florida with her little dog. She leaves on a cruise in Europe in a few weeks and needed to bring Pepper to her DD before she left. So we can commence moving DD's things over gradually. I've hired help to do the big move on Tuesday.

For next year, NO MOVING. It's expensive and too much like work.

DH has still not called the nephrologist's to set up a time to meet with the nurse coordinator. I hate nagging him, but need to. Men.

Because we had some clouds yesterday the dawn was rather special.

[finnime]

I'm so glad you had a fabulous day with your grands, toomuchreality. 

[toomuchreality]

Sept 23, 2023 4:07:41 GMT -5 finnime said:

I'm so glad you had a fabulous day with your grands, toomuchreality. 

Thanks♡
I really did enjoy it. ❤

[giramomma]

I should be doing all the things.

I also am not there yet.

[raeoflyte]

I know somewhere I'll be smited for even thinking this but I'm getting bored. Im also not sure about my driving restrictions. It isn't on my discharge instructions, but I don't think it's worth calling the on call doc about so I'll try to wait till Monday.

[giramomma]

Sept 23, 2023 8:42:57 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I know somewhere I'll be smited for even thinking this but I'm getting bored. Im also not sure about my driving restrictions. It isn't on my discharge instructions, but I don't think it's worth calling the on call doc about so I'll try to wait till Monday.

I feel that. Folks at work were thinking of taking bets for when I'd log on after my lumpectomy.

One of my colleagues was like " I knew we should have made it official. I had the afternoon of your lumpectomy, and I would have won."

Do you have mychart? The driving restrictions might be there.

[chiver78]

I'm hanging out in the basement with Punk, while laundry is in progress out in the hallway. going to be a low key weekend here in the rainy weather. I plan to deep clean the stove this weekend and do some more purging of crap. I may tackle some of the boxes in the back of the living room while I'm down here. 

[daisylu]

Need to do a deep clean of the main bath today, yet here I sit.

[finnime]

Going to be running errands in the rain. It can wait a while. I've been doing some work on my website prelude to the show which will now be next weekend, and culling photos.

What I really want to do is make and have some blueberry pancakes or maybe scones, but DD ate all the blueberries.