July's Jaded Jabs

[Wolf Larsen]

This is the mini rant thread.

[C2H5OH]

I misplaced my bottle of booze. There's 100 ml left in there. OK, it's an extremely minor rant, but RANT I will...

[Wolf Larsen]

The elbow tendon got unhappy with all the stuff I carried during the move. Ice and ibuprofen haven't chilled it out, so I'm staring a diclofenac run. This is the topical gel which is much easier on the system than the pills.

[Zeener Diode]

Have you tried Tiger Balm? Stinks as bad as Ben-Gay but it never failed me.

[Wolf Larsen]

This is a good/bad, but mostly bad. So the fly trap I bought and put in the backyard is collecting flies like crazy. I've seen as many as 10 live flies buzzing in it before they drown in the goo. But the reason there are so many flies in the trap is there are way too many flies in the backyard.

[Sputnik]

I lost my beloved today. This morning at about 5:30 AM I reached over and tried my best to wake it from a sound slumber. It was gone, kaputz, forever destine to sleep in iPad 9 heaven. You were a great companion for 31 months. You will be missed.

I plan on adopting an iPad 10 as soon as t-mobil opens, and I will provide it with a forever home too. It's a bitter sweet day. A loss and a gain.

[hajario]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

This is a good/bad, but mostly bad. So the fly trap I bought and put in the backyard is collecting flies like crazy. I've seen as many as 10 live flies buzzing in it before they drown in the goo. But the reason there are so many flies in the trap is there are way too many flies in the backyard.

How does one fly trap cover an entire back yard? It doesn’t seem like such a thing would be effective.

[Radical Edward]

My sewer cleanout pipe started leaking gross water Tuesday night. Apparently the water department didn't think that was an emergency and wouldn't come turn off my water. "Just don't use any taps or the toilet until you can get a plumber" they said. Ok well I just accidentally washed my hands 2 times already since I noticed the gross sewage puddle, so I don't know what to tell you. It's automatic, just like when you walk around turning light switches on during an outage. Do they care? No.

So I went to Lowe's at 9pm and bought an auger and slapped on a head lamp, and spent all night and part of yesterday unclogging it. Super fun time. It is doing fine now but that is not the point. The point is, fuck you utility department. On the bright side, now I've got a super fun auger and some new homeowner knowledge.

*snorts pvc cement*

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by hajario

How does one fly trap cover an entire back yard? It doesn’t seem like such a thing would be effective.

Well, I have no idea on cause and effect, but there are fewer flies in the backyard than there used to be. And there are a lot of flies in the trap. When it stops working, I'm going to throw it out and get a new one rather than try to clean it out.


And I'm expecting to get two cups of dried mosquitos out of the dehydrator when I shut it off in the fall.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

... and some new homeowner knowledge.

Learn where your water shut-off is, and how to use it. It should be just before your water meter, just as the main supply pipe comes into the house.

[Radical Edward]

Originally Posted by C2H5OH

Learn where your water shut-off is, and how to use it. It should be just before your water meter, just as the main supply pipe comes into the house.

I know exactly where it is, and also that they have a lock on it so it can't be shut off except for by the city.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

I know exactly where it is, and also that they have a lock on it so it can't be shut off except for by the city.

That's just daft, but I've learned never to expect 'not-daft' from any bureaucracy, so it doesn't surprise me.

[Radical Edward]

Yeah it's complete nonsense, and it's recent. I have a water key, I remember being able to turn it off myself maybe as recently as last year.

PS, a water key as in the tool that turns it off, not a key as in a key that unlocks the lock.

[C2H5OH]

My mother just woke me up to report that there are a bunch of flashing lights out in the back yard, and I should go investigate...

They're fireflies, ma... It's firefly season. Ignore it. It happens every year about this time of year. Why did you even wake me up to ask about them? You've seen them every freakin' year at this time.

Senility is a bitch...

[wring]

got the mail today and in it was a birthday card for Enzo, wishing him "best wishes through the upcoming year" from some company I've never heard of. I called them to say "he died 23 months ago". They said they were the underwriters of his health care plan (so, wouldn't you notice that you weren't still underwriting said plan since it became void, say 23 fucking months ago???????? They told me they send out greetings annually, I pointed out that I've been picking up the mail for the past decade and never heard of their company, and certainly didn't get one last year for example. they apparently used to send them via email.

I've been assured they've updated their records. Any takers on that?

[teela brown]

This is the third day in a row that the temperature has topped 100 degrees. Today is forecasted to be 105 and tomorrow 101. After that it will be in the mere mid-90s for several more days.

Goddam I hate the heat. Goddam I hate climate change.

[picunurse]

It's 80°F here today. It was 68°F yesterday. Weather be crazy.

[C2H5OH]

I'm installing new doorbell buttons. The old ones, my father put in when I was a kid. They've seen better days.

I got almost all the way through the first one, when the electric screwdriver I was using proved ... err... inadequate to the task of screwing into the wood, since the screws on the new button weren't in the same place. So, I got out my big one, and found out that the bit I had in the socket (a #2 phillips, I needed a flathead) was rusted into the socket. It's almost the only one I ever use, so it's been in there for months of high humidity. I had to run down to buy a bottle of Coke to soak it in. I have to wait 'til tomorrow to screw in 2 more screws.

On the rave side, however, I made it with 6 minutes to spare until closing time, so I didn't have to drive all the way into town, just for a freakin' bottle of Coke. And I could get Cherry Coke (my personal favorite) since I have to drink the rest, tomorrow. It's the phosphoric acid they put in that which makes it useful for the purpose, and, except for the cherry flavoring they put in it, it's the same base formula as regular Coke, so it should do the job, just fine.

[Diamonds02]

IM LIVID

I’m going to stuff myself with a fucking Pizza Hut personal pan pizza and three or four motherfucking breadsticks! Well, I’m going attempt to.

Too make myself feel better.

I’ll be okay, I won’t clog my arteries. I’m going to eat a cup of Kashi wheat cereal beforehand. All that fiber will soak up some of the grease.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Diamonds02

I’m going to stuff myself with a fucking Pizza Hut personal pan pizza and three or four motherfucking breadsticks! Well, I’m going attempt to.

Hey it's a free country (for now)... INDULGE yourself. but Pizza Hut? What are you smoking that makes THAT seem like a good idea? I pity your bowels... "Here, hold my beer..."

Even the Kashi will be hard-pressed to make that work out well...

[Jaglavak]

Dare we enquire as to the cause of your current shade of puce?

[Radical Edward]

I went out to get in my car today, and two long black wires have disconnected from the house and are now draped across the yard and driveway and up to the telephone pole. Can't I just have a normal week? Can't everything I own not be garbage? Fuck my whole life, why do i bother to do any goddamn thing ever?

[wring]

I was expecting delivery of a package through fedex today - it's chocolates (for Christmas) from Sander's (the bestest chocolates in the world, and I don't even like chocolate), so, since it's hotter than hades outside these days, I sat in our lobby for the entire 4 hour delivery window. about 20 minutes before that 4 hour window closed, I saw the fedex truck pull up. I started to get up to let them in the building (we're a secure building, you can get inside one door then have to be buzzed in through the second door), but before I could even get to the door, the truck drove off. the bastid never even exited the vehicle, sure enough a few moments later, I get the updated delivery notice "we attempted delivery" bull fucking shit you attempted delivery. bastid.

called fed ex directly, waded through their expansive options menu twice, eventually got to talk to a human being, gave my complaint, asked to be contacted with a follow up. basid.

so, on Monday, I'll again be waiting in the lobby (this time for TWO packages from Fed ex, and some from amazon). bastids.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by C2H5OH

I'm installing new doorbell buttons. The old ones, my father put in when I was a kid. They've seen better days.

I got almost all the way through the first one, when the electric screwdriver I was using proved ... err... inadequate to the task of screwing into the wood, since the screws on the new button weren't in the same place. So, I got out my big one, and found out that the bit I had in the socket (a #2 phillips, I needed a flathead) was rusted into the socket. It's almost the only one I ever use, so it's been in there for months of high humidity. I had to run down to buy a bottle of Coke to soak it in. I have to wait 'til tomorrow to screw in 2 more screws.

On the rave side, however, I made it with 6 minutes to spare until closing time, so I didn't have to drive all the way into town, just for a freakin' bottle of Coke. And I could get Cherry Coke (my personal favorite) since I have to drink the rest, tomorrow. It's the phosphoric acid they put in that which makes it useful for the purpose, and, except for the cherry flavoring they put in it, it's the same base formula as regular Coke, so it should do the job, just fine.

An update to this:

Rant: when I went to resume the job, I figured I could make do with one of the sockets and the screwdriver bit from the wimpy screwdriver, when I discovered that the socket that's supposed to hold the bits was still in the case, and there's one row of bits that were permanently attached to sockets (a smaller selection than the two main rows of bits) and the #2 phillips was not in the case. Now I feel like a dunce.

On the rave side, I don't have to figure out how to get the two to come apart, since they're not supposed to come apart.

[Rebo]

Well that was fun! Hurricane Beryl ran right over us. Literally! The eye was centered over my house. We lost power at 6 am, but it was turned back on at 8 pm. I was very surprised! I had prepped everything for dinner and was ready to cook on the gas stove by flashlight and a lamp and the lights came on.

The wind was gusting probably 60-70 mph and our rickety old fence collapsed - again. This time I told Mr Rebo that he really had to build a new fence instead of propping up the old one again. He agreed. It's only one section of the right side. He built the back side in the spring, and wanted to wait until fall to do the left and right sides. He's built a new gate as well. He is really amazing for a 70 year old man! I help him when I can, but he gets annoyed with me (and anyone!) so wants to do it himself. He hires people to help him do heavy things like moving paving stones, etc. But he's so particular about some things!

Anyway - we were lucky and are fine. I heard at least 4 people died in this storm. My heart goes out to their families.

[Wolf Larsen]

Good to hear you guys are okay, Rebo.

[Sputnik]

Seconded, glad Beryl didn’t win with ya Rebo.

[wring]

Originally Posted by Rebo

Well that was fun! Hurricane Beryl ran right over us. Literally! The eye was centered over my house.

very glad you're ok.
very.

my rant is petty. very. but.

for some unknown goddamn reason, I'm getting multiple (like at least 3) DAILY emails offering me a free "Trump" flag.

seriously? I've not clicked on anything w/in 'cause I don't want to encourage anything but I do have to wonder if it's authentic - I mean, really, since when does Trump ever do anything for free?

[hajario]

$50 for shipping?

Glad you’re ok Rebo

[What Exit?]

Glad you made it through OK Rebo.

[JackieLikesVariety]

yay, Rebo is OK!!! I lost track of current events, was it a cat 1 by then or what?

Rebo

[Diamonds02]

Hooray! Rebo has been marked safe from Stormaggeddon!

Originally Posted by C2H5OH

Hey it's a free country (for now)... INDULGE yourself. but Pizza Hut? What are you smoking that makes THAT seem like a good idea? I pity your bowels... "Here, hold my beer..."

Even the Kashi will be hard-pressed to make that work out well...

When ME ANGRY, ME SHORTSIGHTED! Pizza Hut was right around the corner…

I have the palate of a 19 year old frat boy…at times. I have the digestion to match it. My skin, on the other hand, did not appreciate that culinary indiscretion. Damn acne!

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

Dare we enquire as to the cause of your current shade of puce?

What had me seeing shades of deep red was being pulled over for driving “too slow”. It was a damn construction zone. There was no speed limit sign, but I drove slower as a precaution. Cop deemed that as “suspicious” and then asked me nosy questions like where was I heading to. Sigh…

[Metal Years]

Originally Posted by Diamonds02

What had me seeing shades of deep red was being pulled over for driving “too slow”. It was a damn construction zone. There was no speed limit sign, but I drove slower as a precaution. Cop deemed that as “suspicious” and then asked me nosy questions like where was I heading to. Sigh…

This is one of the many reasons I hate cops.


wring, do the flags look like the ones in this video?


Rebo, me and everyone's so glad that you're Ok. You know that Greg Abbott went to Europe during the devastating storm, right? He'll say all kinds of stuff to justify it but it's obvious that he doesn't have a leg to stand on.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Metal Years

This is one of the many reasons I hate cops.

I grew up thinking they were The Good Guys.
You know, like on Adam 12.

[Sputnik]

Originally Posted by Diamonds02

What had me seeing shades of deep red was being pulled over for driving “too slow”. It was a damn construction zone. There was no speed limit sign, but I drove slower as a precaution. Cop deemed that as “suspicious” and then asked me nosy questions like where was I heading to. Sigh…

They are talking to you to observe your behavior, also they are sniffing you for weed and or alcohol. Tell the officer you are remaining silent per your right to do so and look straight ahead. He ain’t being friendly by talking, he’s being a cop.

[wring]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

They are talking to you to observe your behavior, also they are sniffing you for weed and or alcohol. Tell the officer you are remaining silent per your right to do so and look straight ahead. He ain’t being friendly by talking, he’s being a cop.

and... as I've shared w/a whole lotta people, any cop can claim they smelled weed, thus giving themselves probable cause to search. 'course if they claimed that w/me, they'd have to 'splain how they could have smelled weed when a hair analysis of my two feet long locks of hair shows no weed consumption, but most folks couldn't claim that.

[Rebo]

Yes, Metal Years, I heard that Abbott is over there in Korea and Japan to provide cover for claiming that the Chips Act was all his doing and he should get all the credit!

Yeah, it was a Cat 1, Jackie.

[Zeener Diode]

Good to hear you're okay, Rebo.

[Jaglavak]

All your shingles are still there? I'd say you got your money's worth out of that roofing job.

[C2H5OH]

We just had shit-loads of tornado warnings just pass through. They were playing on the radio for the past 2-3 hours. They all missed. Some, just barely. Spent the whole time thinking about how to gather up the cats and stuff them against their will into the first cat-carrier I could grab. Fortunately, I didn't have to. There was nothing I had to run down to the basement for. Barely. I don't know how many (if any) barely missed. But the storm fronts and squall lines also passed through where our NY Finger Lakes based 'raffers are based. So we're not all confirmed safe in CNY, yet. I am, so I'm done worrying about something I can't control, or even change. No point in recreating Canute's 'commanding the Sea' in that play... But my adrenal glands are calming down, now.

BTW, this is what I have for the 'emergency radio'. I highly recommend one of those. Cheap, easy to use, and, Oh, yeah, cheap, fairly tough, and reliable... Oh, BTW. Learn to use the NWS Weather-radio band. That's the most important one...

[Wolf Larsen]

Well, I have a clue on the fly problem in the backyard. The fly trap is still pulling them in, there are always trapped flies buzzing around in it before they drown. But I keep smelling something bad in the backyard. It's just a whiff here and there and I don't know what it is, but if something smells bad, it will attract flies.

[Solfy]

When's the last time you've seen your neighbors?

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Solfy

When's the last time you've seen your neighbors?

The really elderly ones on the North are okay. I saw her this morning and her son was over for lunch and they were waving at each other as he rode off. The ones on the south move cars around a lot, so somebody is home.

I did find out how some of the bugs are getting in. There is a pipe to bring outside air to the furnace that got cut off a while ago and it has no screen on it. I also saw the old dryer vent was never capped, so might put a screen on it.

[Solfy]

So none of the neighbors have the family name Klopek.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Solfy

So none of the neighbors have the family name Klopek.

No and no weather modification that I know of. But now that I have 200 amp service, maybe I should try my hand...


I put Press and Seal and electrical tape over the two pipes, so hopefully less flies.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

It's just a whiff here and there and I don't know what it is, but if something smells bad, it will attract flies.

You can attract more flies with honey than you can with vinegar, but to really get them to come around, nothing beats a dead body.

Originally Posted by Solfy

When's the last time you've seen your neighbors?

[picunurse]

My husband has developed bleeding sores on his arms. He went to the doctor last week for them. The doc told him to go to urgent care for a separate problem. In urgent care they gave him antibiotics and told him to come back the next day. He did not.

The sores are worse. He's nearly finished with the antibiotics. His doc emailed him to say to go back to urgent care since he didn't last week. He just called to tell me its my fault.

[picunurse]

What do you do when someone needs to be mad at somebody, but can't find a target?

[Monstera deliciosa]

This month, I started the mini-raves thread with a picture of our cat Lily, celebrating her 17th birthday. I noted that she was in good health. Without going into specifics, she suddenly took seriously ill this week, and today I had to say goodbye to my little bestie.

She was as sweet as she looked, just the best kitty. I miss her so much, and so does Bob.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I'm so sorry, my condolences to you both.