what are you doing right now?

[wvugurl26]

I am spoiled by BWI. There's some rule the vendors can't charge more for food and drink than they do at their non airport locations. It usually ends up being maybe a few cents more for me at a Dunkin, Starbucks, etc. I'm in another county that theoretically would have cheaper rent, etc.

Since our kitchen is lacking in storage, all of our liquor lives on the top shelf of my desk. I have looked up there many times during horrible meetings wondering what I could spike my drink with.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 4, 2022 11:27:46 GMT -5 bean29 said:

My Mom's friend called me.  Talked to her for quite a bit.  The Granny's are fiery old ladies.  Who wouda' Thunk it my Mom and her Friends would turn into that bunch.  Friend Thinks my Mom should still be able to drive.  They are ready to hire a lawyer.  I think my DB is going to lose this battle.  I am typing this with a smile on my face b/c I just think Mom and her Friend are so cute.    That they all stay safe.  She wants my brother to set up for Mom to retake her driver's exam, which I think is what he will have to do.  Friend said my Mom was a better driver than her and that she should hire a lawyer.  I am not really invested in Mom not driving.  I felt she should be able to keep driving, but I didn't want to be the one that said it was not time, and then have something happen to her.

Theo, my DD regularly misplaces her CC's.  She freezes them and the if she finds them she unfreezes them.  For awhile there if you went to a certain branch they would replace in-house.  DD was very disappointed when they stopped doing that.  It happens.  Hopefully the replacement will come quickly.  

I also have been enjoying Mitch's reports.  I would love to do a European River Tour, but DH gets motion sickness very easily and he says no cruises.  We will get to Europe in the next year or two unless Covid nixes that.

There is absolutely NO motion on river cruises.  I kind of miss getting rocked to sleep.  I doubt motion sickness would be an issue for him.

[giramomma]

This morning's big thing: DD1 doesn't have enough service hours for school and the teachers are being unreasonable about consequences. (Normal/expected consequences are the lowering of a grade in a particular subject.) The conversation  may or may not have ended with me saying "Well, I just can't pull volunteer opportunities out of my ass."

Of course, when I saw DD1 at lunch today (she waved at me, BTW), that's what I should have asked her about.

Instead, I had her point out the gentleman caller, and I did a very good job of checking him out in a very non-obvious way.

And, he's cute.

Priorities.

[susana1954]

Has it really been 5-and-a-half weeks since I broke that bone in my ankle?  I got released (sort of) from the boot today.  I told the doctor that Cinderella has her own shoe, thank you very much!  He laughed and said, "Well, Cinderella, you still have to wear mine half the time for the next three or four days!"  And he is right . . . my foot started aching a little after walking through Publix without the boot.

[NastyWoman]

I need to rant for a bit

This morning when I got up (8:30 here on the West coast so about lunch time for you East coasters) what would I see but a zit on my face. A ZIT!!! Here I am, seventy years old, my hair has turned white, I have crow's feet and some other wrinkles as well, sagging boobs, and now a ZIT? A zit at 70? WTH? This is utterly ridiculous. I had zits when I was a teen and a young adult but to have one again now? It is unfair, there ought to be a law! Who do I reach out to get zits for a post menopausal person illegal? Who can I hold responsible for this? To make things worse I don't feel like either eating chocolate or drinking wine to ease my sorrows. The unfairness, the indignity of it all, is just mind boggling... Ok, I better step off this soapbox and slink off into a corner to lick my wounds.


just for the record: unlike my outrage this zit is actually real. Go figure

[catsareme]

May 4, 2022 9:27:44 GMT -5 skeeter said:

How are you doing catsareme ?  Hope the nights are getting a little better for you...

skeeter, thank you for asking.  The nights are getting better though I've yet to sleep straight through until morning.  The brain fog has finally cleared thank goodness.  It was a side effect I didn't expect to last as long as it did.

[TheOtherMe]

May 4, 2022 11:23:57 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

May 4, 2022 10:33:25 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I feel so stupid.  I thought I had lost a credit card a couple of months ago so called and had it replaced.  After the new one arrived, I found the old one and thought I cut up the old one.

Yesterday the card was declined at two places and again this morning.

Guess which card I actually cut up?  Yes, the current card which can now no longer be used.

This is the exact reason why I never travel without more than one card.

At least Amex doesn't have foreign transaction fees because this was a Capital One card with no foreign transaction fees.

I locked my cards when I thought I lost my wallet last week, but then found it and forgot. Panicked when the card was declined before remembering. I was amazed I could unlock the cards online and Check out 60 seconds later.

Guess what I found when I checked to make sure I have my passport?  Yep the credit card I called in as lost so now I have two worthless credit cards in my billfold, but I do have my passport in my purse.

[bean29]

May 4, 2022 12:05:23 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

May 4, 2022 11:27:46 GMT -5 bean29 said:

My Mom's friend called me.  Talked to her for quite a bit.  The Granny's are fiery old ladies.  Who wouda' Thunk it my Mom and her Friends would turn into that bunch.  Friend Thinks my Mom should still be able to drive.  They are ready to hire a lawyer.  I think my DB is going to lose this battle.  I am typing this with a smile on my face b/c I just think Mom and her Friend are so cute.    That they all stay safe.  She wants my brother to set up for Mom to retake her driver's exam, which I think is what he will have to do.  Friend said my Mom was a better driver than her and that she should hire a lawyer.  I am not really invested in Mom not driving.  I felt she should be able to keep driving, but I didn't want to be the one that said it was not time, and then have something happen to her.

Theo, my DD regularly misplaces her CC's.  She freezes them and the if she finds them she unfreezes them.  For awhile there if you went to a certain branch they would replace in-house.  DD was very disappointed when they stopped doing that.  It happens.  Hopefully the replacement will come quickly.  

I also have been enjoying Mitch's reports.  I would love to do a European River Tour, but DH gets motion sickness very easily and he says no cruises.  We will get to Europe in the next year or two unless Covid nixes that.

There is absolutely NO motion on river cruises.  I kind of miss getting rocked to sleep.  I doubt motion sickness would be an issue for him.

I had no idea DH got Motion Sickness so bad until we went to Universal Studios with the kids and went on a Roller Coaster.  DH always used to tell my kids your Mother Doesn't like to go on rides and I was always wtf? Well DD and DS laughed so hard at the look on DH's face when they take those pictures.  Then he got off the ride and was sick and claimed it was what he ate, not the ride.  LOL.  I don't think he will agree to even attempt to go on the Cruise, but I will tell him.

[TheOtherMe]

May 4, 2022 12:05:23 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

May 4, 2022 11:27:46 GMT -5 bean29 said:

  

I also have been enjoying Mitch's reports.  I would love to do a European River Tour, but DH gets motion sickness very easily and he says no cruises.  We will get to Europe in the next year or two unless Covid nixes that.

There is absolutely NO motion on river cruises.  I kind of miss getting rocked to sleep.  I doubt motion sickness would be an issue for him.

This may make me change my mind about a river cruise.  I can't deal with getting rocked to sleep.  What happens if there is a storm?

It will have to be next year.

[TheOtherMe]

May 4, 2022 11:27:46 GMT -5 bean29 said:

My Mom's friend called me.  Talked to her for quite a bit.  The Granny's are fiery old ladies.  Who wouda' Thunk it my Mom and her Friends would turn into that bunch.  Friend Thinks my Mom should still be able to drive.  They are ready to hire a lawyer.  I think my DB is going to lose this battle.  I am typing this with a smile on my face b/c I just think Mom and her Friend are so cute.    That they all stay safe.  She wants my brother to set up for Mom to retake her driver's exam, which I think is what he will have to do.  Friend said my Mom was a better driver than her and that she should hire a lawyer.  I am not really invested in Mom not driving.  I felt she should be able to keep driving, but I didn't want to be the one that said it was not time, and then have something happen to her.

I am so happy we didn't have to fight the driving battle with either one of my parents.  Mom gave up driving long before dad did.  When they moved to be near us in 2013, dad was totally lost and they gave the car to DN1.

Now my BIL had a fight with his mother.  It took two serious accidents and one minor accident to get it done.  She decided herself when she received the insurance bill and knew she couldn't pay it.  She called very early one morning (she used to milk cows) and told him to come take the car, so he got out of bed and went and took the car.

She had promised not to renew her license.  She told her doctor she wouldn't after she wrapper her car around a tree.  Then she went and renewed it.  Then the insurance bill arrived.

Just because an elderly person can pass a driving test does not mean they are a safe driver, especially if she has dementia/

[taz157]

Freaking out on the cost of some daycare fees I’ve seen!! I’m on a waitlist for DD2, which is relatively close to our house, but no clue on when space would open up.

I asked our neighborhood FB page and got unhelpful responses. One said to put your name on many places, but wouldn’t name any place. 🤨 NOT helpful. Another named a place that starts at 2 years old…. FWIW, I specifically said 9 month old in my request…

Ideally I’d like something closer to where we live instead of where I work. I don’t want to be solely responsible for pick-up and drop-off if it’s close to my job. DH works from home so…

DD2 crawls everywhere and needs more attention than when she was younger. Having her with us while we are working from home isn’t viable long term. I’m allowed to work in the office 1 day a week until DD2 is 1, which is in 3 months. Grandparents aren’t an option either, which we knew even before we had DD2.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2022 16:06:05 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

This may make me change my mind about a river cruise.  I can't deal with getting rocked to sleep.  What happens if there is a storm?

It will have to be next year.

You'd probably be OK. When the Ex was into deep-sea fishing, I got seasick. Dramamine didn't help much and it made me groggy. This was a 100-foot or so boat out in the gulfstream. Don't ask me about the time I was 5 months pregnant so took nothing and figure I'd be OK with bigger waves and heavy winds. Heck, poor little developing DS was so active I thought he was trying to escape.

I have been just fine on an overnight ferry between Athens and Patmos, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries, the ferry between Seattle and Victoria, BC, and small (<100-passenger) cruise ships in the Sea of Cortez, off Hawaii, off of Costa Rica, Panama and Alaska. On a few of those trips they warned of possible rough waters and had Dramamine available so I took it. Never a problem. I LOVE small ships but will be avoiding the gulfstream.

[debthaven]

The Walk of the Penguin Mich we "stalked" DS1 to Vienna many years ago when he was on a gap year during grad school ... We LOVED the Lipizanner show (DS1 rode competitively at the time), and the (short but sweet because DS1 and DS3) Mozart concert in period costume at the Musikverein.

We also absolutely LOVED the Kunst Haus. 

[mamasita99]

May 3, 2022 17:14:50 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

May 3, 2022 16:59:56 GMT -5 mamasita99 said:

Yesterday I had the foot ultrasound and cortisone shot. Dr said there was a lot of inflammation and there was a tear, and that was after 3 weeks in a walking boot. Looking forward to some pain relief. Once the pain subsides I can get back into normal daily activities and gradual exercise. I am going to be so careful, though.

I’ve had a pain in my shoulder this week, almost like I can’t get it situated in the socket right, where I can barely lift stuff and it’s painful all-night. Well that pain disappeared last night. Do you think the foot shot had anything to do with it or do you think it’s just a coincidence?

Can I ask what kind of foot pain you're having? Mine has been getting worse and worse. I googled more exercises and it's been better, but I'm still hobbling out of bed, having pain even in bed, and just much more constant heel pain then ive had in prior years. I'm wondering when I go in to the doctor for it.

I had over 3 months of escalating pain. The podiatrist told me alarm signs of a tear were that it wasn’t getting better, even after the stretches and exercise, and that supportive inserts made it feel worse, not better. If a tear is confirmed then you need to stop with the exercises and just give it total rest, hence the walking boot. Not like I could walk far with it anyway at that point.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2022 16:06:05 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

May 4, 2022 12:05:23 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

There is absolutely NO motion on river cruises.  I kind of miss getting rocked to sleep.  I doubt motion sickness would be an issue for him.

This may make me change my mind about a river cruise.  I can't deal with getting rocked to sleep.  What happens if there is a storm?

It will have to be next year.

The best night's sleep I have EVER had was on an ocean cruise that was dodging a hurricane.  It truly was like being in a swaying hammock.  That's when you realize how amazing the ship staff is as they carry trays of food to the dining room while most folks are literally bouncing off hallway walls.  

River cruises truly are dead flat, no motion whatsoever.  

[Deleted]

I think somehow over the years I've bought my dentist a boat.

My parents were always good about getting my siblings and me to the dentist regularly. One brother and sister NEVER needed fillings- sister got her first as an adult and brother started getting them when he'd buy bags of candy on the way home from HS basketball practice. Two other brothers got them occasionally. I swear I never had a perfect checkup as a kid and sometimes needed multiple fillings.

So- a mouth of fillings means they crack, the tooth wall is thinner, I've ended up with crowns, bridges, etc. and it's even harder to detect decay under those. Typically it's too late, which is why I also have implants. I use a WaterPik, a Sonicare, floss and prescription toothpaste but Stuff Happens.

Today was my regular checkup- and there's a bit of decay under an old crown. So, that will be about $1,000 and time in the chair getting the tooth ground down to make a fresh surface for a new crown. Always gives me white knuckles. He asked about whether I had a candy habit. Yeah, I do- hard candy, which stays in my mouth till dissolved. Low calorie but deadly to teeth. The last 2 implants started with bad decay in the tooth holding up one end of a bridge.

The more I read of Dr. Robert Lustig ("Fat Chance" and "Metabolical") the more evil things I see that your body does with sugar, especially fructose. I guess I now have another reason to swear off of it, but dayum, can't I have ANY bad habits? You will have to pry my nightly 2 oz. of scotch from my cold, dead hands.

[chiver78]

I've made it to the island, and we are settling in at the condo. music starts tonight unofficially, tomorrow starts the wristbanded shows. this weekend's venue is literally right next door.

I may not be around much this weekend, but look out for pics on FB if we are linked there. we will be partying late night on our rooftop patio for sure.

[jelloshots4all]

Hi all!  I hope everyone is well and happy.  I'm about 15 pages behind and just wanted to say hi!

So busy w work, prom, 2 graduations and I have 2 trips planned in the next 3 weeks.  

I'm sorry I haven't kept up but I need a few hours of sleep at night.

I wish you all the best and have a fabulous Mom's day to children/fur baby/step moms/or just the amazing mom figures (like Theother me)!!  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Have dissertation writing class tonight. 
Paid off car loans and trailer loans with the house sale proceeds. 
Need to send at least three work emails tonight also. 
Plus walk the dog. 
Boiling noodles now to mix with pesto for my dinner. 

[cooper88]

It's been a crazy week at work so far, like the floodgates opened. I've been chilling in the yard and playing with my dog, plus doing a little gardening. Going to make chicken curry for dinner and probably get to bed early.

[andi9899]

May 3, 2022 17:37:08 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

May 3, 2022 9:16:06 GMT -5 giramomma said:

skeeter

I am also sad because I'm really missing Beth. When I discovered I was pregnant with the Missy, the first person aside from DH that I told was Beth. I could have an honest, non-judgemental conversation with her. It was a huge gift at the time, to be given space to be heard without being pushed on way or the other.

I knew enough to know that I had to choose for myself so I could be OK with that choice.

I can't imagine being forced into a decision. I'm all too familiar with what happens when parents resent their children. It contributed to my mom's issues.

Of all the unfair things in this world, losing Beth so early is right up there at the top.

Driving today I found myself thinking about Beth and my almost meet up with her.  I know it's because Mother's Day is this weekend and it was over Mother's Day weekend that I was going to be there.  We tried, but because it was Mother's Day weekend, we couldn't figure out a time.

Also thought about all the stuff that went poof.

I did get to meet Gira on that trip.

I'm jealous.

[skeeter]

May 4, 2022 18:49:02 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

Hi all!  I hope everyone is well and happy.  I'm about 15 pages behind and just wanted to say hi!

So busy w work, prom, 2 graduations and I have 2 trips planned in the next 3 weeks.  

I'm sorry I haven't kept up but I need a few hours of sleep at night.

I wish you all the best and have a fabulous Mom's day to children/fur baby/step moms/or just the amazing mom figures (like Theother me)!!  

You are going to have to slow down a bit and make some time for us

I for one, want to hear ALL the details about the prom, graduations and especially the 2 trips.  If you're still planning on going to NY, I would love to hear about your Tavern On The Green experience!

If you must get some sleep at night, you can always set your alarm earlier to fill in the blanks over breakfast.

[countrygirl2]

I'm here loving on my Smokey. He is asleep between my legs, is on his back and his paws were on my stomach. So, I'm looking at his back toe nails. I decided they could stand trimming, I don't do those often. So I trimmed them, didn't bother him, he peeked a couple of times. Then I noticed they were rough so started filing them, now he took an interest in that and gave me a dirty look so just did a couple of really rough ones. He is just such a mama's boy, so spoiled, he is back asleep. I love my little furbabys. 

Bought some more green beans and have them broken so I can cook them tomorrow, we all really like them.  Bought a bag of Vadalia onions from Sam's, going to chop and freeze a bunch of them for using in various dishes and also use a bunch in my seasoned sauce.

Tomorrow hubs is getting some big landscape rocks, they came off the road down the bluff to the river and they said anyone could have them.  Hubs has to take the backhoe up to move them they are so big. We are trying to decide how many we want and where, once they are set, they won't be moved again. It would cost a fortune to buy them.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 4, 2022 16:06:05 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

May 4, 2022 12:05:23 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

There is absolutely NO motion on river cruises.  I kind of miss getting rocked to sleep.  I doubt motion sickness would be an issue for him.

This may make me change my mind about a river cruise.  I can't deal with getting rocked to sleep.  What happens if there is a storm?

It will have to be next year.

Storm this morning, I could hear the thunder but really squat with regards to motion.  It might help that we are still docked in Vienna another day and aren’t leaving until this evening.

The only thing I am not used to is that if there is another river boat in dock, we are docked adjacent to the boat and you have to go through one boat to get to either the shore or your boat.

Funny story…..in Passeau, we were docked along side another Viking ship.  We were on the outside, so had to go through that boat to get to shore.  Viking ships are identical, other than name.  In Passeau, we went to shore from the sun deck, which is on the 4th level.  Normally we have been docked going to shore at level 2 or 3.  Another passenger lost track of time taking pictures, but had made it back to the boat in time for sail away.  Only problem was…..he stopped as far as that ship’s sun deck and didn’t cross onto this ship’s sun deck.  As we were sailing away, his wife realized he was not on board!  The other ship was not leaving so the guy had to catch a cab and meet the ship at the first lock!  The funny part is she has pictures of him on the sun deck of the wrong ship as he realized he had just screwed up.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Last night, we went to a Mozart and Strauss concert put on by Vienna”# residence Orchestra.  They were incredibly good, and were supplemented with both ballet dancers and opera singers on stage.  Excellent evening!

Today, we are seeing Vienna’s boy choir and Schronbrunn Palace, a busy day as we only have 15 min between the 2 excursions.  We leave Vienna tonight for Budapest…..and the end of the river boat cruise.  

Friend got on board yesterday afternoon.  She had a GI bleed, spent 2 nights in the hospital in Satzburg, was tested, transfused and her hospital bill was 1700€.  Cab ride from Salzburg to Vienna, 600€ which Viking picked up.

We lost 2 couples to Covid on the first and second day of the trip, likely picked up on their transit to Amsterdam.  Viking is testing us daily (I’m spitting in a tube now).  TD has a cold for the last 2 days and I halfway expected us to be booted off but his tests have come back negative.  I guess a cold is really a cold!

I would definitely do another river cruise.  The only difference between this and an ocean cruise is that each day is a port, no sea days to relax.  Our cabin class got us ‘free’ laundry, which we have been taking advantage of.  I guess we have been sending a bag out about every other day, which would otherwise cost about 40€.  Trying to make sure we have everything done, as we have 3 days in Budapest and another 4 in Prague.

[bean29]

May 3, 2022 12:47:40 GMT -5 taz157 said:

May 3, 2022 12:35:27 GMT -5 busymom said:

If any good comes from all of this, let us hope that more corporations will learn to manufacture in the US, and have their own regional warehouses, rather than relying on overseas production, transportation, and inventory.

I’ve been waiting 6 months for a Honda van to be produced by an Alabama production plant and it’s still not ready yet!!!!!!!! It’s supposedly been in production each month since I ordered it, but the production month keeps changing. The vehicle hasn’t been sold as it’s been confirmed by another dealership they are having trouble getting similar vans in and seeing the same thing. The dealer I’m buying it from doesn’t know what part or parts are the issue, but just that it’s been delayed again. It’s getting very frustrating!!!

My new car has been in the shop for 2.5 weeks now because the rear tailgate does not open and close correctly. They told DH they classified it as a safety issue b/c the tail lights are part of same system. They ordered a computerized part. They don’t know how long it will be. I have a rental, but it is not as nice as my car. First Appt over issue was March 22, they ordered a part. It came and follow up was scheduled April 15. It did not resolve the issue. And they have had my car ever since.

I have been seeing similar delays on delivery of new Rav4 Prime in groups I am a part of on Reddit. I hope your car is released soon. What are you driving in the meantime?

[buystoys]

Good morning!

Well, the boy let me sleep this morning, but I had vividly weird dreams that kept waking me up.  I finally just got up at 3:45.  That's only a little earlier than I normally get up, so it's all good.

I need to do laundry today and putz around the house.  It's strange how little things add up so quickly!

Hoping you all have a terrific Thursday!  (I'm back on schedule with my days!  lol)

[taz157]

May 5, 2022 2:27:49 GMT -5 bean29 said:

May 3, 2022 12:47:40 GMT -5 taz157 said:

I’ve been waiting 6 months for a Honda van to be produced by an Alabama production plant and it’s still not ready yet!!!!!!!! It’s supposedly been in production each month since I ordered it, but the production month keeps changing. The vehicle hasn’t been sold as it’s been confirmed by another dealership they are having trouble getting similar vans in and seeing the same thing. The dealer I’m buying it from doesn’t know what part or parts are the issue, but just that it’s been delayed again. It’s getting very frustrating!!!

My new car has been in the shop for 2.5 weeks now because the rear tailgate does not open and close correctly. They told DH they classified it as a safety issue b/c the tail lights are part of same system. They ordered a computerized part. They don’t know how long it will be. I have a rental, but it is not as nice as my car. First Appt over issue was March 22, they ordered a part. It came and follow up was scheduled April 15. It did not resolve the issue. And they have had my car ever since.

I have been seeing similar delays on delivery of new Rav4 Prime in groups I am a part of on Reddit. I hope your car is released soon. What are you driving in the meantime?

The car I’m using as a trade-in, Honda CR-V. The salesman I’m buying it from mentioned that he’s had some owners experiencing similar delays on getting parts for their vehicles too.

[finnime]

Good morning, sapient but invisible peeps in my laptop. Happy Thursday, all day. I hope you enjoy this day with equanimity and equally, with joy.

I'm glad you have the day right, buystoys. I've gone most of a day with the certain belief it was a day later than it actually was. It's a bit off-putting.

Today DH has an appointment and so does Franklin the Dog, for a bath.

I got a lock on 5.25% yesterday with a lender, so I'm going to stop looking. We close June 2.

Of the myriad that things that the inspector found need attention in our new home, the windows needing replacement is the one that spells money. I'm going to give the whole list to our agent and propose that we split the costs. Hope that goes well.

[ners]

Morning all.  

Have to stay on schedule.  Have a dentist appointment this morning.