what are you doing right now?

[Deleted]

Dec 28, 2022 16:34:48 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Dec 28, 2022 15:31:00 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

BJs run is complete. just waiting on the rotisserie chickens to cool a little so I can shred them. Punk is laying on the floor in the kitchen, looking abused lol.... for the record, they will both get bites while I'm shredding. 

I had an interesting observation from my trip, though. curious if anyone else has noticed stuff like this. I buy canned pumpkin by the case when they have it, seasonally in the fall. these are the big ~28oz cans, packaged in 3pks for $10.49. price is decent, nothing stellar, but I can buy a case of cans and throw them in the basement rather than buying a few at a time on grocery runs and using up half the bags I brought with me. today, I wandered down the aisle and was surprised to see a single 3pk on the shelf, just sitting on top of something else. you know I grabbed it! well, it rang up at 5.98. no sale sign, no notice of anything. what the hell? I'd buy a pallet at $5.98/3pk if I knew when the price changes.... 

Have you checked to see if there are packets of picked chicken already?  Costco does this, I think it’s the rotisserie chickens that don’t get sold, the meat gets picked and they get sold.

I bought a pack when Harpo had pancreatitis, and he was on a chicken and rice diet.  Made my life a lot easier.  

I saw those packs at Costco on my last trip and thought that would be really handy for folks

[chiver78]

Dec 28, 2022 17:47:09 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Dec 28, 2022 16:44:38 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

hugs, lady. these chickens are my lazy "stock the freezer" thing, and I skim a few individual portions for myself to use in shortcut cooking. in fact, I picked up a container of leg quarters (at least 3, maybe 4?) that I haven't shredded yet. those will be for me.

anyway, this said - if Sushi is good with just chicken breast, I bought an Instant Pot awhile back. other than risotto, the only thing I use it for is pressure cooking BSCB for the pups when I find it on sale. perhaps this might be an option for you?

as far as already picked chickens? I like where your head's at, Mich. I don't actually mind this chore, as long as I'm not handling nuclear hot chicken.

I’d almost rather pick it hot than cold.  I hate it when I don’t have time, shove the chicken in the fridge to do later, then have to pull it off cold.  

yes, likewise. but I'd like to not burn myself in the process. lol... I usually air them out a half hour or so before I bother with them.

[chiver78]

Dec 28, 2022 17:51:55 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Dec 28, 2022 16:44:38 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

hugs, lady. these chickens are my lazy "stock the freezer" thing, and I skim a few individual portions for myself to use in shortcut cooking. in fact, I picked up a container of leg quarters (at least 3, maybe 4?) that I haven't shredded yet. those will be for me.

anyway, this said - if Sushi is good with just chicken breast, I bought an Instant Pot awhile back. other than risotto, the only thing I use it for is pressure cooking BSCB for the pups when I find it on sale. perhaps this might be an option for you?

as far as already picked chickens? I like where your head's at, Mich. I don't actually mind this chore, as long as I'm not handling nuclear hot chicken.

I use those chickens a lot. I even make butter chicken with them. They're so handy. I pick at them when I'm not hungry due to my meds, but need to eat.
I have no room in my kitchen for anything else. There's eve no room for the SodaStream my son bought me. I have NO idea where to put it.

this house has the smallest kitchen I've had since college, so I get that. my IP doesn't live on the counter, it's only out if I'm using it. anyway, was just thinking.

[CCL]

Dec 28, 2022 15:19:03 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 28, 2022 14:33:14 GMT -5 CCL said:

Check out the uprights, too. They're so much easier to see what you have. I've actually got one that can switch from freezer to refrigerator. I bought it for my camper, but use it in my garage, too.

I honestly don't need that much extra space, my bottom-freezer fridge in the kitchen just has a really shitty layout. I just want to be able to put a turkey in there, stack up some cooked proteins for the pups to make vacation prep less stressful, and maybe have a little space to stock up when there's meat sales. right now, a 12lb turkey is taking up half the big lower bin in my kitchen fridge, and it's a PITA. 

that, and what little research I've done has uprights coming in at $800 to start. not really what I was looking to spend. 

Yikes! I bought my under the counter freezer at Home Depot Black Friday a couple years ago for $79.

[Artemis Windsong]

I'm recovered from the grocery shopping trip. It didn't take long to do the math between Quest Protein Powder one scoop and Premier Protein powder with 2 scoops and fewer scoops in the container. The Quest container has gone up $6.'ll cut back a little on my servings. I

I have 4 coupons for Taco Bell that we received when our order was slow. They need to be used by 12-31.

I made Shore Lunch Navy Bean soup for lunch and added a couple of porcupine meatballs from yesterday. I can't seem to get filled up.

My shower door was leaking down on the bottom track. H. caulked it. He said under the door was a mess.

This lull over Christmas with no tennis obligations has been so restful. I am sleeping better. There seems to be less traffic, also.

I hope everyone is planning the New Year celebration suited for them! Even if it's going to the living room!

[cooper88]

I talked to a coworker who is in my department, but a different bureau. They are unionized and I am not. Their union is allegedly fighting the return to the office five days a week thing, but they have still heard nothing. We're both pondering what would happen if we just said "oops, guess I missed the memo."

[Deleted]

We decided last minute to ditch the local Democrat club event. The thought of driving miles in the dark was less appealing at the last minute. I pulled together a lentil/rice/turkey kielbasa sausage thing from the pantry and freezer as a substitute. I hate to say it, but I'm less and less inclined to go out. Some part of me says "Oh, pretty!" when the invite comes in, but another part of me says "Oh, I don't think so" when the event arrives.

[Deleted]

Dec 28, 2022 19:49:33 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

I hate to say it, but I'm less and less inclined to go out. Some part of me says "Oh, pretty!" when the invite comes in, but another part of me says "Oh, I don't think so" when the event arrives.

Yeah, I really need to push myself for evening events, especiailly when its cold and dark.  My church gathers for "God and Guinness" at a pub about half an hour away once a month.  I try to get out the door, though, since I always enjoy myself when I go.

[Pink Cashmere]

I spoke my mind a little with Mister’s Dad today, about something I’ve been talking to Mister about over the last few days and he said I should tell his Dad.

Its been bothering me that he hasn’t been spending much time with Mom, and only goes to the hospital when Mister tells him they are going or he is going to drop him off. During the time he’s been here, as far as I know, it’s not been because Dad expressed the desire to go see her.

So I told him that I was speaking as a woman, and Mister and I haven’t been together nearly as long as they have, but if I was in Mom’s situation, I would want Mister to be there with me as much as he could, given that Mister still has a job to go to and other responsibilities, like children. I told him that they’ve done life together since they were teenagers, whatever came their way, they dealt with it and got through it together, if it were me, I would want my partner, my husband, to be there with me while I go through this too. 

I told him that I’m sure she loves it when Mister visits her, her grandchildren come sit with her, her sister comes and stays with her for days, her other family and her friends come see her, but I bet NONE of that is the same as when he is there with her. 

I told him I wasn’t judging or criticizing him, I was just sharing my thoughts with him as a woman, about what I would need and want from Mister now, never mind if we had all the history over the years that they do.

At first he started talking about how it was uncomfortable if he fell asleep while he was there, and even if they gave him something to sleep on so he could lay down, that’s uncomfortable too. I told him, well I’m pretty sure SHE’S uncomfortable. He said no, she is comfortable. I asked how is she comfortable when she can’t even move herself around to get comfortable, and she’s in pain from the serious wound she has? That doesn’t sound comfortable to me. And you can come home and get in a bed and be comfortable, she can’t. So I don’t think it’s fair to say she’s comfortable and compare what she is dealing with to you not being able to comfortably take a nap while you are there, when you have the option to come home here or to your house and lay however is comfortable to you to get some rest and some sleep, when she doesn’t have that option.

He listened and told me thank you for laying it out like that for him. And he picked up his phone and called her. I left the room to give him privacy while he talked to her.

I am glad he received what I was saying without feeling like I was trying to be mean or bossy, because I wasn’t so much trying to tell him what to do, I was moreso trying to be an advocate for his wife, in case she feels any of the things I was telling him I would feel. And I do believe she feels some of what I said, based on things she’s said and her reaction when he does visit her. I’d already told Mister that I think she doesn’t ask his Dad for more of his time because she doesn’t want to be disappointed if she asks and he doesn’t deliver. And I understand that, because he hasn’t handled any of this too well. But imo, after all these years together, she should be able to ask for what she needs from him while she is going through this, and be able to count on him to come through for her. I also understand that it’s probably difficult for him to deal with what’s going on with her and see all the nitty gritty, but they’ve been in the trenches together for DECADES, get over it and be there with and for your wife.

Last night, Mister had dropped him off at the hospital, and when they came in to tend to her wound, he bailed and went downstairs to the lobby to wait for Mister to come pick him up, and that’s where he stayed. I understand not wanting to see first hand how bad things really are for someone you really love, but come on man! This is your WIFE, who you pledged “for better and for worse, in sickness and in health” to, almost FIFTY years ago and y’all DID THAT for all these years! Until now. 

I have been told many times that I am naive when it comes to how I think relationships work, and maybe I am. But that doesn’t change how I believe things SHOULD work. Whether I am naive or not, I have some very firm ideas about certain things regarding relationships and because my ideas are based on honesty, respect and loyalty being the very basics of healthy relationships and I don’t think any of those things are “bad”, I’m willing to be the odd person that expects too much in this world…… because those things are very important to me, regardless of what the rest of the world might think.

[Opti]

I feel for Mister's mom. It's OK and even expected to leave the room when someone's wounds are being tended to. However, most visitors I interacted with, would return to the room to visit after that was done. Sounds like mom has deserved a better partner for years, but never got one. 

[Artemis Windsong]

Well said, Pink. He is probably having difficulty on what to do as well as dealing with her wound. A lot of people do not know how to react or handle others in difficult situations.

Thank you for posting. Blessings to you.

[Deleted]

Pink Cashmere I'm glad you spoke your mind and heart to Mister's dad today and I'm hopeful some little deep part of him heard you. Being present for someone who is ill is a big thing, I truly know.

[teen persuasion]

The melt has begun!

DH surprised me when he picked me up from work in the truck; he'd been playing taxi-driver for all of us, so he had use of the working vehicle w/ snow tires.  It must have warmed up enough for whatever was frozen on the truck to unfreeze.  Of course, that means the driveway is turning to mucky mud where we've "expanded" it. 

Half the yard is melted to bare ground, half is still deep drifts. 


Buffalo is *still* under at least something of a travel ban, until they get roads cleared (not just of snow, but also abandoned vehicles clogging things up).  Tempers are getting short, the County Exec was sniping at the City Mayor in a press conference, and so that's the news of the day.  Death toll is higher than Blizzard of '77, mind-blowing.  We should have better tech, better info, better equipment, more experience with these storms/events/crises now.  I think it's people ignoring the bans/etc, and doing stupid stuff like going out in a bomb cyclone instead of hunkering down and waiting it out, but just MHO.  It wasn't a surprise, we had plenty of advance notice to prepare, but people still had no food?  And looting is distracting police from doing welfare checks on houses w/o power, more sniping.  No, I don't believe you were just trying to find food for your starving family, not when there's video of you breaking into the appliance store to take TVs.  

[TheOtherMe]

Pink, I think your conversation with Mister's dad was needed.  I agree that his mom wants her husband around.

I would have left when the wound was being tended to, but I would have gone back in when they were done.  

My dad was the opposite when mom was in the hospital.  We couldn't get him to go home.  He didn't want her left alone on her last hospital stay.  They were each 90 years old and he said he could sleep in the hospital chair by her bed.  We said no, he needed to sleep in his bed.  So DN2 and DN3 stayed with her all night on New Year's Eve and then the night of New Year's.  He didn't get the significance of two college kids doing that, but they did it.  

I guess he didn't think she was as sick as she was when she was hospitalized in their hometown for 10 days.  I went down, mostly to take care of him.  They had not yet gone to the hospitalist model, but I was told her doctor would come through by 7 AM, before he went for his office hours.  That meant getting up early and getting to the hospital.  That didn't fit dad's schedule.  He didn't get up until 7 AM and he had to do his routine of an hour getting ready and do his word puzzles in the newspaper before he could possibly go visit.

So I went early in the morning and we went back late morning.  Sometimes we went in the evening but he usually had television he needed to watch.

One afternoon, she looked so bad I thought she was dying.  I asked the nurse if I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing and she said she's not in very good shape.  Tried to get him to go that evening but he refused.  Mom's brother also went out and thought the same thing I did.  He called to tell me if the hospital called overnight, to call him and he would take us back to the hospital.  Thankfully that call didn't come.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 28, 2022 20:36:36 GMT -5 teen persuasion said:

Buffalo is *still* under at least something of a travel ban, until they get roads cleared (not just of snow, but also abandoned vehicles clogging things up).  Tempers are getting short, the County Exec was sniping at the City Mayor in a press conference, and so that's the news of the day.  Death toll is higher than Blizzard of '77, mind-blowing.  We should have better tech, better info, better equipment, more experience with these storms/events/crises now.  I think it's people ignoring the bans/etc, and doing stupid stuff like going out in a bomb cyclone instead of hunkering down and waiting it out, but just MHO.  It wasn't a surprise, we had plenty of advance notice to prepare, but people still had no food?  And looting is distracting police from doing welfare checks on houses w/o power, more sniping.  No, I don't believe you were just trying to find food for your starving family, not when there's video of you breaking into the appliance store to take TVs.  

I remember the Blizzard of '77.  One of my roommates was from Buffalo and she was a total wreck worrying about her family. 


I agree that people think they are the exception to needing to stay home. 

[Pink Cashmere]

Dec 28, 2022 20:41:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Pink, I think your conversation with Mister's dad was needed.  I agree that his mom wants her husband around.

I would have left when the wound was being tended to, but I would have gone back in when they were done.  

My dad was the opposite when mom was in the hospital.  We couldn't get him to go home.  He didn't want her left alone on her last hospital stay.  They were each 90 years old and he said he could sleep in the hospital chair by her bed.  We said no, he needed to sleep in his bed.  So DN2 and DN3 stayed with her all night on New Year's Eve and then the night of New Year's.  He didn't get the significance of two college kids doing that, but they did it.  

I guess he didn't think she was as sick as she was when she was hospitalized in their hometown for 10 days.  I went down, mostly to take care of him.  They had not yet gone to the hospitalist model, but I was told her doctor would come through by 7 AM, before he went for his office hours.  That meant getting up early and getting to the hospital.  That didn't fit dad's schedule.  He didn't get up until 7 AM and he had to do his routine of an hour getting ready and do his word puzzles in the newspaper before he could possibly go visit.

So I went early in the morning and we went back late morning.  Sometimes we went in the evening but he usually had television he needed to watch.

One afternoon, she looked so bad I thought she was dying.  I asked the nurse if I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing and she said she's not in very good shape.  Tried to get him to go that evening but he refused.  Mom's brother also went out and thought the same thing I did.  He called to tell me if the hospital called overnight, to call him and he would take us back to the hospital.  Thankfully that call didn't come.

Well, I might need to pray for forgiveness, but I think the wound became such a big deal because he insisted he could and would care for her the first time she was discharged from the hospital, but in reality, he wasn’t doing much of what needed to be done. Before the wound got so big and disastrous, people were telling him what he needed to do about it, and taking care of it while they were there, but he didn’t do his part. 

He couldn’t/wouldn’t even do his part to keep her clean, and left all of that to everybody else that was trying to see about her, but he was the one that insisted she come home instead of going to a facility.

I actually feel some type of way about all of that, but I reign it in because I am pretty much an outsider looking in.

But now, she is somewhere where other people have to take care of all the details of caring for her, so why can you not just be there with her now, when you don’t have to do any of the work?

I honestly don’t understand, but Imma leave it alone now, since I’ve said what I felt needed to be said.

[teen persuasion]

Dec 28, 2022 20:44:09 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Dec 28, 2022 20:36:36 GMT -5 teen persuasion said:

Buffalo is *still* under at least something of a travel ban, until they get roads cleared (not just of snow, but also abandoned vehicles clogging things up).  Tempers are getting short, the County Exec was sniping at the City Mayor in a press conference, and so that's the news of the day.  Death toll is higher than Blizzard of '77, mind-blowing.  We should have better tech, better info, better equipment, more experience with these storms/events/crises now.  I think it's people ignoring the bans/etc, and doing stupid stuff like going out in a bomb cyclone instead of hunkering down and waiting it out, but just MHO.  It wasn't a surprise, we had plenty of advance notice to prepare, but people still had no food?  And looting is distracting police from doing welfare checks on houses w/o power, more sniping.  No, I don't believe you were just trying to find food for your starving family, not when there's video of you breaking into the appliance store to take TVs.  

I remember the Blizzard of '77.  One of my roommates was from Buffalo and she was a total wreck worrying about her family. 


I agree that people think they are the exception to needing to stay home. 

I was a kid.  My dad spent at least one night stuck at his office in the city.  My mom and the nextdoor neighbor lady had planned to go grocery shopping that day, but school was cancelled and there were 8 kids between the 2 families, no way for us all to go in their station wagon.  Mom sent me as her proxy to shop with the neighbors.  While we were in the store, a whiteout hit at the time we were leaving.  I remember the dilemma - leave before it gets even worse, or wait hoping for a break in a bit.  No way to know.  So we were driving down Union Rd, and it was just like white paint had been poured over the windows.  Somehow we made it home safely.  Mom insisted I stay put at the neighbor's house for the night, she was afraid I'd lose my way in the space between houses in the snowstorm.  It sounded crazy at the time, but ...

The drifts were truly impressive in '77 - neighbors across the street could have ridden a sled out of their upstairs windows down the drifts that reached them.

[finnime]

I think, Pink Cashmere, you had a tough and necessary conversation and Mister's mom would thank you. I know I would. Mister's dad does not do hard things well or naturally and needs to understand what effect he is having on his beloved wife.

[finnime]

I remember well the blizzard of '77 here in Massachusetts. People got snowed in while they were driving on route 128 around Boston. Volunteers on snowmobiles and the national guard went out to rescue them. My father was a hospital administrator and had emegency dispensation to drive, therefore. He said he was one of maybe 4 people on the road. We were effectively snowed in for a week.

[countrygirl2]

We are home, hubs turned the furnace to 55 when we left, it is freezing in here. I covered DD up with warm blankets and turned the furnace to 77 but going to take awhile. We have been home about half an hour its up to 61. I'm sitting here with my heavy insulated coat on with hood and DD's draped over my lap. Hubs is taking a shower!!!! He turned the water back on and water heater off vacation, it heats pretty fast. But how can he stand to do that in this cold?

He caught the cold or whatever son has and his nose is running like crazy along with coughing, so far DD and I are ok. Hope we don't catch it.

My fingers are freezing typing. The flight was rough, bounced all over. We got into Indi and it's 45 and with the wind, was brutally cold. Waiting for the shuttle, DD and I froze, of course hubs had on a light weight coat, no hat or anything and sick on top of it. 

I'm not trying for a shower till it gets close to 70 at least.

The cars here are filthy and some piles of snow still around, I think they suffered through that cold spell. Hope we don't have more like that.  And I want to GET WARM.

He is in there with shorts on, I guess he will cover up, unbelievable to me.

[skeeter]

Dec 28, 2022 16:40:33 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Colon and Panama City today.  It was very, very warm.  Lots of interesting architecture, and not near enough time.  We go through the canal tomorrow.  

Yesterday, TD went on the top deck to get pics of our sail away, and his hat was a casualty of the wind.  It went overboard.  Whoops!  The cap I brought with me gives me a headache, so now both of us need head coverings to protect us from the sun.  I’ve gotta figure this out.

Would it be at all possible to post some pictures here for the those of us who are not on Facebook to see?

I for one, would love to actually see some of the fascinating and unique places/things you are experiencing along the way with you.

[andi9899]

Currently watching Bad Moms.

[countrygirl2]

It took a couple of hours to get the house warm. It's 75 now, I'm happy. DD is tucked in bed after her pills. Poor sniffling, coughing hubs is too, I feel sorry for him.

I have washed 2 loads of clothes and am drying one.  I'm tired and going to bed also.

Ate way too much and I'm up at least 2 pounds, need to get rid of it PDQ.

Going to get my babies tomorrow, hope they don't hate me for leaving them. I have really missed those 2 kitties. I hope the vet techs don't have battle scars from them.

I'm thinking of thawing out a turkey roast from the freezer. I have not had dressing, turkey, or noodles for Christmas and I want some, so may make up some. Never cooked one of those roasts before.

[chiver78]

Dec 28, 2022 22:13:07 GMT -5 finnime said:

I remember well the blizzard of '77 here in Massachusetts. People got snowed in while they were driving on route 128 around Boston. Volunteers on snowmobiles and the national guard went out to rescue them. My father was a hospital administrator and had emegency dispensation to drive, therefore. He said he was one of maybe 4 people on the road. We were effectively snowed in for a week.

it was '78 here in Boston...

[chiver78]

just woke up on the couch again, shocker. Punk and I are sleeping downstairs tonight. I never got around to making up my bed with clean sheets this afternoon, and it's sure not happening at 3am lol...

[toomuchreality]

Good night. I'm off to bed/sleep, I hope!

[finnime]

Dec 29, 2022 3:10:20 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 28, 2022 22:13:07 GMT -5 finnime said:

I remember well the blizzard of '77 here in Massachusetts. People got snowed in while they were driving on route 128 around Boston. Volunteers on snowmobiles and the national guard went out to rescue them. My father was a hospital administrator and had emegency dispensation to drive, therefore. He said he was one of maybe 4 people on the road. We were effectively snowed in for a week.

it was '78 here in Boston...

Right!! I should remember that, I was a senior.

[finnime]

Good morning, perspicacious invisipeeps, keeping worlds turning toward the sun. Welcome to Thursday, New Year's Eve eve eve. I hope your day is satisfying, leaving you contented and replete with leftover food and drink.

I'm awake and feeling MUCH better. Yesterday was a total washout, after the dawn walk at the beach with Franklin the Dog. The bug that's going around bites.

So, today I do what I didn't yesterday, putting away gifts and cleaning up the guest room for DSis to stay in Saturday if she likes.

DD made it to her home yesterday safely and easily by train, so that's good. And she finally got through to Southwest air which issued a refund in flight credit, so that's double good.

I flew SWA for decades, mainly for pleasure; corporate preferred other airlines as a rule. I never had a bad experience with them until this week. That's saying a lot. Every other airline has left me hanging, missed connections, cancelled flights, left me waiting for 6 hours once after taxiing away from the gate while the weather turned in New Jersey, forced me to find my own other flight when the door wouldn't close and lock on the plane. SWA rescued me several of those occasions when other airlines dropped the ball. So I believe this was a perfect storm for SWA, not to be repeated. JMHO.

Yesterday's dawn was special at the beach. #lifeonvacation

[giramomma]

Pink, Glad you had the conversation.

Also, know, that some people are not strong for others.

DH becomes a puddle when he worries about me dying.  And we've only been together 25 years.

My lumpectomy took longer than we thought. Only because they took their time to do a good job. DH was so worried I wasn't going to wake up that he didn't pay attention when my main surgeon came in to tell him about the initial testing of my samples. I actually was quite livid, but that was also partly because of the meds they used to put me under.

I have a friend/colleague at work that I've talked to, and she is willing to step in if we are in a situation where DH becomes a puddle. I won't have him around if that's that case. And I love him to bits. I need someone that is strong enough to put aside their feelings and deal with my heath first. Who can think clearly and ask questions so that I have the info I need when I need it.

I don't think my mom cared for my dad as she portrayed she did. I was thinking about things, and I know she didn't. That was about her and her dysfunctional needs.

[wvugurl26]

I would definitely rather shred chicken while it's hot. But I do it with forks. The one time I cooked the chicken breasts in the instant pot and had to shred them the next day it sucked. I need to make some and replenish my freezer stash.

Appointment booked for oil change, tire rotation, front brakes/rotors and brake fluid change for my car. I did find a coupon for 10% off.

We are doing the last of our Christmas tonight I think. We have not exchanged gifts yet and my gifts from his parents are still there.