what are you doing right now?

[toomuchreality]

Dec 22, 2022 11:56:19 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Dec 22, 2022 8:58:53 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

I've been awake all night. Haven't slept yet. It's going to hit me like a ton of bricks, before long, I think. Then I'll sleep the day away, without getting anything done.
This is not a good time of year, to sleep your day away, when you have so much to do. I did get 3-4 loads of laundry done and put away, last night. So that's good. But my closet door fell off again, and that's not good!
I hope they come fix it, today. It creates an issue getting my bathroom door open and closed, when it's off and I can't access my washer and dryer either, or the things in that closet.
(I only have 1 bathroom.) 🤞

Fingers crossed for you @toomuchrealty

Thank you!
I was told they would call me, right after they opened (9AM). It's 11 now and I haven't heard a thing. I guess, I'll go down to the office and talk to them.

I'm not surprised. I wish I was.

[snapdragon]

I managed to get 2+ weeks of filing done. It took less than 2 hours to do. It's amazing how fast that occurs when someone (ME) takes the time to put everything in alphabetical order.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Dec 22, 2022 12:21:24 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Car batteries will freeze at certain temperatures related to level of charge. So it's a good idea to keep them charged.

In our defense today is a 30 year record. So last time this happened I wasn't old enough to need to worry about it.

Both were almost 5 years old. Stupid weather polished them off.

This is the first time either of us had this happen.

[wvugurl26]

Well the temperature was supposed to climb but it hasn't in the western part of the state. My nerves are shot halfway through the trip so I stopped for lunch earlier than where I normally stop. I was 100% not ready yesterday. It still took me 2 hours to pack up this morning.

I hate making this trip in the winter.

[weltschmerz]

I hope your heated gloves are fabulous! I had some heated mittens years ago. Even on clearance, they cost me a small fortune. I was SO disappointed! Although they were heated, they didn't even come close to keeping my hands warm. They kept my hands dry, that was about it. Hopefully, the technology has come a long way, since those days! Please post back and tell us what you think of them!
Thanks!

Sometimes, when it's bitter outside, I zap a couple of potatoes in th microwave, and put one in each pocket. Keeps my hands toasty.
Bonus...when you come home, you can eat the potatoes.

[chiver78]

I found Top Gun on Paramount, for the next couple hours' worth of background noise. and now I'm listening to the damn Ozempic ad again. gah! I wish there was a way to mute this one automatically, like a junk mail filter in your email.      I almost had it out of my head. 

[daisylu]

Putting away laundry. Looking at the sorry state of DH's underwear I don't think I have to worry about him cheating. 🤣

[weltschmerz]

I ate 2 wings on Saturday afternoon. They probably had Butter and High Fructose Corn Syrup in the sauce. I did not have an immediate reaction, but later that evening I had serious issues and had to spend quite a long time in the bathroom. I took about 3 doses of Imodium before everything settled down. Constipation is not my problem; my issue is I get violent Diarrhea.

I guess I can add trying to diagnose the issue to my New Year's Resolution list. LOL. It could also be celiac disease - It has crossed my mind before, but I hate to add more onto the list of foods I can't eat. I guess there is a genetic test for that - It makes me nervous to have your genetics out there for some nefarious party to use for unknown purposes, but my DD and bunches of nieces and nephews have done it, so it is not like our family history is not floating around out there.

My kids were in early grade school when I realized I was lactose intolerant-they are now 26 and 29. I eliminated corn and all byproducts about 3 years ago. So, I have been dealing with this for a long time.


Tell me about it.  I'm not supposed to eat most fruits and vegetables, corn, all beans, lentils, peas, nuts, etc. Plus, I refuse to buy anything with palm oil in it, just on principle.
There's not a whole lot left. I'd make a terrible vegetarian. Salads make me sick, and I love them.
I've been struggling with it since my 20s and I'm 70 now. It is what it is. I console myself with the thought that it's keeping my weight down.
I have to have Imodium or Lomotil with me at all times.

[teen persuasion]

Got the Robocall preemptively cancelling school for tomorrow at 9am. We've been trying to guess if Xmas at my parents' house will be happening, or not due to the weather. Talked with mom about it last night, she wants to wait & see. Everything I'm hearing about the forecast says NO WAY.

Let's see:
Rising temps tonight with rain, then a flash freeze early tomorrow.
Wind gusts up to 74 mph thru Friday and Saturday, dropping to the 24 mph range on Xmas day.
The lake is wide open at 40*, so the LES machine can crank with those winds, plus the wind is expected to push water levels up 12ft at our end of the lake, and may cause 24ft waves! TG we are not anywhere near waterfront.
Mom's snowbelt area is expected to get another 36in of snow (they still have that much on the ground left from the 6ft they got a few weeks ago). We are several colors out on that snowband range, but it's always up to the wind direction.

So we are prepping with the possibility of power outages due to the extended high wind gusts. DH and I (and everyone else) went shopping a few days ahead for staples. He made sure the generator started up. We've got dry wood stacked in the outer porch for the woodstove. I'm planning to cook a ham Xmas eve - I'd bought a ham at Aldi on Sunday at $1.49/lb, but didn't they have them today for $.85/lb, so I got another! I need to make another batch of soup, too, so will be cooking a bunch to keep the house warmer with the nasty windchills expected.

[Deleted]

I'm waiting on the generator service guy-they say I'm still on the list. It's drizzling and getting colder. They lowered the forecast temp for tonight to 13-17 depending on which tv station you look at

[teen persuasion]

Still have to work tonight, but my library is always closed on Fridays, and we opted to close Sat for Xmas eve. We are supposed to be open Mon, but waiting to see what the situation is then. Last night the President of the Board called to check/discuss plans (Director is OOO), and half of the cleaning/maint/groundskeeping couple stopped in a bit later - I relayed the gist of the convo. Nothing is crucial, Fri cleaning can wait or be skipped, don't rush to clear snow if we close for weather Mon.

Tonight will either be dead (everyone in Xmas mode) or lots of last minute pop-ins to pick up books/videos to get them thru the storm. I've got tons more books to catalog. I've added over 150 new books to the system so far just this month, and there's still a box I'm currently working on, a new box delivered yesterday, and a cart with books in limbo waiting for bib records from Central. Plus another week left in the month for more boxes to arrive...

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2022 12:55:29 GMT -5 alabamagal said:

I just had a fortune cookie with no fortune. Is that bad luck?

No, you get to make up your own!

Back from an expedition to the grocery store, Starbucks and Marshall's with the kids,  It's 9 below zero and I forgot how awful that is.  You can get frostbite just going between the car and the store.  Wy do people live here?

[toomuchreality]

Dec 22, 2022 13:30:25 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Well the temperature was supposed to climb but it hasn't in the western part of the state. My nerves are shot halfway through the trip so I stopped for lunch earlier than where I normally stop. I was 100% not ready yesterday. It still took me 2 hours to pack up this morning.

I hate making this trip in the winter.

Hugs ♡
Stay safe!

[toomuchreality]

Dec 22, 2022 13:52:12 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Putting away laundry. Looking at the sorry state of DH's underwear I don't think I have to worry about him cheating. 🤣

Made me laugh. 😳🤣

[andi9899]

Turned off my work laptop until Tuesday. Now I'm going to see about feeding my face. I shoveled instead of eating on my lunch. It took forever because it's so cold that I stayed out a few minutes until I couldn't feel my fingers anymore and had to keep coming back in to warm up. I feel awful for homeless people right now.

[MarionTh230]

Finished the outside chores.  Will cover the remaining plants before it gets dark despite it being an exercise in futility. 

Currently wondering what the birds do when the temps drop into the teens?  I brought the bird feeder in to clean it.  Once it's dry I'll put seed in it and take it back out.  I'm sure my feathered friends will appreciate it in the morning, but, I'm not real clear on what they do or where they go tomorrow night when it's the coldest.

We have a brown cardinal and a red cardinal.  And a few other random birds.  The cardinals are the ones we see the most though.  I'm also very embarrassed to say we only recently realized the brown cardinal is a female.  Apparently they are a mated pair from what I can tell.  They were out while we were doing our chores.  They aren't too happy all the plants are gone.  But seeing them is what made me wonder what they will do tomorrow night. 

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2022 15:28:14 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

Finished the outside chores.  Will cover the remaining plants before it gets dark despite it being an exercise in futility. 

Currently wondering what the birds do when the temps drop into the teens?  I brought the bird feeder in to clean it.  Once it's dry I'll put seed in it and take it back out.  I'm sure my feathered friends will appreciate it in the morning, but, I'm not real clear on what they do or where they go tomorrow night when it's the coldest.

We have a brown cardinal and a red cardinal.  And a few other random birds.  The cardinals are the ones we see the most though.  I'm also very embarrassed to say we only recently realized the brown cardinal is a female.  Apparently they are a mated pair from what I can tell.  They were out while we were doing our chores.  They aren't too happy all the plants are gone.  But seeing them is what made me wonder what they will do tomorrow night. 

Yes, they are mates.  They will find someplace to shelter.  I filled my feeders this am and it was amazing - I had cardinals, blue jays, white-wing doves, goldfinches, house finches, black-capped chickadees and my beautiful woodpecker.  Plus 5-6 grey squirrels and my beloved fox squirrel.  

[weltschmerz]

My new neighbour carried my really heavy groceries from the store to my house.  I figured the least I could do was invite him in for an eggnog.

Mon Dieu!  I felt like I was having a drink with Alex Jones! He's a Trumper and a conspiracy nut. Evidently, our patients in nursing homes didn't die of Covid, but they were secretly killed by doctors, with morphine.
The LGBTQ agenda is being pushed down his throat, but he can't say who is doing the pushing. Apparently, seeing a commercial about a gay couple feeding their adopted child cereal is homosexuality being shoved down his throat. I asked him if seeing a hetero couple feeding their child cereal is the hetero agenda being shoved down my throat. He couldn't, or wouldn't answer that.

He's one of those people who says he's not racist because some of his best friends are black.  Funny, I haven't seen any of these 'best friends' visiting him since he moved in last summer.

Damn! We have to get along because he lives right next door and we share a wall. It's going to be difficult, because every single topic devolves into a conspiracy.

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2022 15:37:33 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

My new neighbour carried my really heavy groceries from the store to my house.  I figured the least I could do was invite him in for an eggnog.

Mon Dieu!  I felt like I was having a drink with Alex Jones! He's a Trumper and a conspiracy nut. Evidently, our patients in nursing homes didn't die of Covid, but they were secretly killed by doctors, with morphine.
The LGBTQ agenda is being pushed down his throat, but he can't say who is doing the pushing. Apparently, seeing a commercial about a gay couple feeding their adopted child cereal is homosexuality being shoved down his throat. I asked him if seeing a hetero couple feeding their child cereal is the hetero agenda being shoved down my throat. He couldn't, or wouldn't answer that.

He's one of those people who says he's not racist because some of his best friends are black.  Funny, I haven't seen any of these 'best friends' visiting him since he moved in last summer.

Damn! We have to get along because he lives right next door and we share a wall. It's going to be difficult, because every single topic devolves into a conspiracy.

I am howling at the visual image of you listening to his crap.  Obviously, conspiracy nuts are alive and well around us!

[chiver78]

I just put out the "Friday's gonna be a sick day" message with a bunch of frustrations about this week's crisis that everyone but me knew was THIS LEVEL OF CRISIS last Friday on a call that I wasn't invited to. and my OOO message says I'm off, and not checking emails. in case of emergency, you can reach me via mobile, if I've given you that number. 

in 2022, I got a lot better about being vocal about the shit I was never trained on for my job. 2023 is shaping up to be more of the same, except louder for those who refuse to listen (that were CC'd on some of this afternoon's emails...) I've always been someone who would help if asked, but after being thrown under the bus for things that weren't even in my purview basically since I stepped into this role? I think I've suddenly become someone that's focusing on my own shit, and only my shit. and everyone else can dance in the rain. and if anyone wants to throw me under the bus, buckle up, kids. I'll spend personal time to show how you failed, not me. 

[andi9899]

I just had a productive conversation with a recruiter. I told her exactly what I want and what I would and wouldn't budge on. I gave myself a $10K minimum raise to even consider a move and told her I had all the time in the world so no rush.

[MarionTh230]

Sitting for a minute trying to gather my thoughts. With the cold weather I got sidetracked and distracted. I was starting to feel overwhelmed with my holiday to do list. I just put it on paper to get it out of my head and it's actually a short list. Feeling better about that now.

I outsourced the gingerbread kit to DH. He and kiddo are working on it now. I could have given him the bag of Christmas crafts, but I decided to save those for tomorrow. I have done the gingerbread thing in all the previous years. They are much more difficult than they look!!! I'm wondering how far he will get before kiddo eats all the frosting and decorations. 

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2022 16:47:42 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

Sitting for a minute trying to gather my thoughts. With the cold weather I got sidetracked and distracted. I was starting to feel overwhelmed with my holiday to do list. I just put it on paper to get it out of my head and it's actually a short list. Feeling better about that now.

I outsourced the gingerbread kit to DH. He and kiddo are working on it now. I could have given him the bag of Christmas crafts, but I decided to save those for tomorrow. I have done the gingerbread thing in all the previous years. They are much more difficult than they look!!! I'm wondering how far he will get before kiddo eats all the frosting and decorations. 

This tactic helps me a lot all through the year.  Once written, I can release my worry about forgetting something and figure out reasonable timelines, materials needed, shopping trips etc.  Much better than the unwritten anxiety ricocheting from one side of my head to the other

[MarionTh230]

Dec 22, 2022 16:53:08 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Dec 22, 2022 16:47:42 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

Sitting for a minute trying to gather my thoughts. With the cold weather I got sidetracked and distracted. I was starting to feel overwhelmed with my holiday to do list. I just put it on paper to get it out of my head and it's actually a short list. Feeling better about that now.

I outsourced the gingerbread kit to DH. He and kiddo are working on it now. I could have given him the bag of Christmas crafts, but I decided to save those for tomorrow. I have done the gingerbread thing in all the previous years. They are much more difficult than they look!!! I'm wondering how far he will get before kiddo eats all the frosting and decorations. 

This tactic helps me a lot all through the year.  Once written, I can release my worry about forgetting something and figure out reasonable timelines, materials needed, shopping trips etc.  Much better than the unwritten anxiety ricocheting from one side of my head to the other

Yes, once it is on paper I don't have to carry it in my brain and worry that I will forget it. Sometimes I just write the list and don't even do it! Once it is on paper it is a tangible thing that I can just pick up and look at when needed so that eliminates the need to keep it swirling around in my head. Then since it's out of my head I can either focus on executing the list or just decide the list isn't that important and focus on something else completely. 

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2022 17:05:47 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

Dec 22, 2022 16:53:08 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

This tactic helps me a lot all through the year.  Once written, I can release my worry about forgetting something and figure out reasonable timelines, materials needed, shopping trips etc.  Much better than the unwritten anxiety ricocheting from one side of my head to the other

Yes, once it is on paper I don't have to carry it in my brain and worry that I will forget it. Sometimes I just write the list and don't even do it! Once it is on paper it is a tangible thing that I can just pick up and look at when needed so that eliminates the need to keep it swirling around in my head. Then since it's out of my head I can either focus on executing the list or just decide the list isn't that important and focus on something else completely. 

And I find I'm more productive with those things I choose to move forward on, perhaps because I've released some non-essential tasks and have a better game plan for those I will do.  I am sometimes embarrassed by how much less effort is needed for me to actually accomplish something versus the effort I invest worrying about doing it.  I'm glad I can laugh at myself 

[raeoflyte]

Feeling puny after my iron infusion. They moved it up due to weather but I wish I could just go to bed instead of trying to work.

[Pink Cashmere]

What I’m doing is trying not to cry. My Mom called me this afternoon and told me the heat went out a couple days ago, and her and my daughter had the bright idea to try not to stress me and Mister (who went to school for HVAC) out, and try to get my kids’ Dad or my Uncle to fix it. 

None of that worked out, so she finally texted me about it this afternoon. I did NOT want to have to call Mister about that. He was at work, 30 minutes away from home, where his tools are, then it’s another 40 minutes to the house. That house and his job are only like 20 minutes away from each other.

AND the forecast called for rain/ice/snow this afternoon, AND it’s supposed to get down to 4 degrees tonight. So Mister had someone else he knows that does that kind of work to over there. He got it running. RELIEF!

Not 20 minutes later, I got a text from the utility company saying they had detected a power outage in the area. When I was getting ready to call my Mom, she called me, saying the power is out at the house. It’s already sleeting/snowing and it’s too far for me to go get her. I’m sure the house was already cold, since there hasn’t been any heat on for a couple of days and it was only running for maybe 20 minutes before the power went out.

My nerves are SO bad right now. WHYYYYYY is my life like this?!

[TheOtherMe]

Snow has finally arrived along with the wind.  Sounds like the window in my room is going to blow up.

Watched a man go to help a woman in a walker walking in the street that is covered with ice.  He left the sidewalk to go out and help her.  Don't know why she is walking in the street.  It might be because it's easier to get through than unshoveled sidewalks.

Seems most of the basketball team ended up staying here overnight after flight cancellations home.  The largest group is going to Denver and because of Denver weather they had to drive to O'Hare for an afternoon flight.  I hope they get home tonight.  

Seems the only international player who is going home is going to Toronto.  Others are going to spend their time with friends.

[Deleted]

Dec 22, 2022 17:55:25 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

What I’m doing is trying not to cry. My Mom called me this afternoon and told me the heat went out a couple days ago, and her and my daughter had the bright idea to try not to stress me and Mister (who went to school for HVAC) out, and try to get my kids’ Dad or my Uncle to fix it. 

None of that worked out, so she finally texted me about it this afternoon. I did NOT want to have to call Mister about that. He was at work, 30 minutes away from home, where his tools are, then it’s another 40 minutes to the house. That house and his job are only like 20 minutes away from each other.

AND the forecast called for rain/ice/snow this afternoon, AND it’s supposed to get down to 4 degrees tonight. So Mister had someone else he knows that does that kind of work to over there. He got it running. RELIEF!

Not 20 minutes later, I got a text from the utility company saying they had detected a power outage in the area. When I was getting ready to call my Mom, she called me, saying the power is out at the house. It’s already sleeting/snowing and it’s too far for me to go get her. I’m sure the house was already cold, since there hasn’t been any heat on for a couple of days and it was only running for maybe 20 minutes before the power went out.

My nerves are SO bad right now. WHYYYYYY is my life like this?!

I could say some things that wouldn't be helpful, so I didn't  .  Can your daughter or someone get over there to turn off the water supply so the pipes don't blow?

[Pink Cashmere]

Dec 22, 2022 16:53:08 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Dec 22, 2022 16:47:42 GMT -5 MarionTh230 said:

Sitting for a minute trying to gather my thoughts. With the cold weather I got sidetracked and distracted. I was starting to feel overwhelmed with my holiday to do list. I just put it on paper to get it out of my head and it's actually a short list. Feeling better about that now.

I outsourced the gingerbread kit to DH. He and kiddo are working on it now. I could have given him the bag of Christmas crafts, but I decided to save those for tomorrow. I have done the gingerbread thing in all the previous years. They are much more difficult than they look!!! I'm wondering how far he will get before kiddo eats all the frosting and decorations. 

This tactic helps me a lot all through the year.  Once written, I can release my worry about forgetting something and figure out reasonable timelines, materials needed, shopping trips etc.  Much better than the unwritten anxiety ricocheting from one side of my head to the other

A few years ago, I grabbed my bullet journal and wrote down all the things that I needed to do/address/deal with. It ended up taking up about 3 pages! But it was such a relief to get it all written down so it wasn’t all constantly tumbling around in my head, with me trying to figure it out or make sure I remembered or whatever.

I should probably do something like that again. Maybe even regularly.