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I think I may have caught up on sleep. Night before last I had a very vivid dream that I called Dad to tell remind him that he died five years ago, and he told me I should have called him to let him help me through it. We talked, we hung out, and at 3:45 am I woke up from that dream and was done sleeping. It's wasn't upsetting; in fact, it was a bit comforting, but there was no way I was sleeping again. We went to bed early last night and slept late, so I'm better today.
Rigs, it's been raining here today quite a bit, but fortunately we missed most of being out in it. Generally speaking, rain in the tropics means humidity galore. Tomorrow should be wondrously sticky. Chaco, good for you and details, please! |
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I was feeling like a real butthole because I took the dogs to Home Despot TWICE without letting them out of the truck so to make up for it I found a new off leash park with shade and a FENCE around the whole thing and we went over there and they played and chased the ball and had a grand time for like two hours. Now they are tired, but I am not because I was sitting in a chair the whole time throwing tennis balls with the chucker. There ended up being a whole slew of dogs out there, about twenty at the high point and every size from itty bitty Chihuahua mixes up through a bunch of herding dog types all the way up to one absolutely beautiful Russian Wolfhound. It was really fun and Bear only had to have one time out for getting into a scrap with another dog who was just defending his toy. He was being really embarrassing with the peeing on random things (chairs, bags, other dogs) then another dog came in who would drink from a water bowl, then let fly into it. Little asshole. Cute, though. I felt a little better about my mannerless dickhead after that. Widget, of course, was the perfect little gentleman. BFF says he's like a home school kid and she's right.
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Thanks, it is a genuinely long and boring story. A meth-head and her redneck husband made up a bunch of shit and got their sleazy lawyer to sue me. The truth prevailed and they got nothing. Listening to them shouting at each other whilst speeding away with their TruckNutz swinging in the breeze almost made it all worth it.
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Carolia--humidity is one reason I was glad to leave Florida back in the day. Illinois has just as much, just not all the time.
Am watching another Miss Marple (with a very young Detective Sergeant "Lewis"--the actor Kevin Whately, which is fun to watch.) Went for a walk earlier. Meant to do some Art and did nothing. Maybe tomorrow. Need to tidy the house a bit as well. |
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Chaco, I've made ice cream scoops like that...the price for the scoop you linked to is fair, as all the prices on that web site seem to be. I mention this only as a general comment, in case anyone was wondering about it. I know crafts people who might charge $75 for one, but I don't know anyone who might actually pay that much.
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Well, that was interesting. More stuff to move today, this time at the storage locker, which is a concrete blockhouse in the middle of an acre of asphalt. Naturally I forgot to wear my gym shorts and sun hat, but at least I remembered the jug of water. Normally I like to keep a brisk but steady pace. So I worked up a decent head of steam and then paced myself, taking breaks every once in awhile and drinking plenty of water. But after a couple tons I noticed that I needed to rest more often and it really wasn't helping that much. I was drenched and tached out and feeling like my guts were in a medium oven. I recognized the leading edge of heat stroke, been there before. You can't tough it out with this shit. I decided to cut it short and go hit the shower.
But I did at least have to get things sorted enough to close the door. So I took an extra long break and drank a lot of water and then got back to work really slow. At this point I only had a little bit of lumber to load up, so I backed way off and took it one 2x4 at a time. But then I bent over to pick up another stick and ended up on my knees. Uh oh. I heaved to my feet and stumbled in to the back shady part of the locker. When my bare back hit the cool concrete I jumped so hard it set off a dandy leg cramp which worked it's way up into my lower back. So I rolled around and made odd noises for a little while. It didn't get that bad and eased up pretty quick. After that I figured I would just lay there and watch the roof spin. I know how this goes, used to work in desert country, it felt like a mild case. I was still sweating alright, just needed a few minutes in the shade. Cheap thrills. Fifteen minutes later I tried to get up and ended up back on the floor. Almost heaved chow this time. OK then, middling case it is. I crawled over and got the water and then spent a couple hours snuggled up to that sweet icy floor. I felt better right away but I know how that goes too. Eventually the shade got to my side of the building and I staggered out and finished up. Six hours later my back is a bit sore but everything else works. The fucked up part? It was only about 85 today. The redline used to be 100. I've been living in the great white north so long I've completely lost my chops. It's down to 66 now. I'm sitting here buck nekkid with all the windows open and it's finally comfortable. Last edited by Jaglavak; 1st September 2013 at 12:58 AM. |
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Never mind that stupid macho stuff about being able to handle "it" when's it's 100 out. Ye gods--heat stroke is dangerous!
![]() And besides, maybe there were contributing circumstances: the humidity may have been up or the ozone level. Having said all that, here is my day planned: Today it will be hot outside, but a cold front is moving in by dinner time, so I'm going to be a brave American and not turn on the AC. <smug> However, I am not going to be working in the stuffy, hot upstairs, but either in the cool garage or the even cooler basement. I can't decide which needs my attention more... |
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We had a nice time yesterday.
First we stopped here for breakfast: http://www.eatbrunos.com/ The men ordered the Bruno sized chicken fried steaks. They are so big they have to sit on a plate by themselves. They didn't finish them, but they ordered them. I ordered hobo hash, which wasn't bad. We've eaten here several times; it a family run place and is named after the dog, Bruno. They have a killer elk burger which I really like. After enjoying our breakfast, we drove back to the place I linked to yesterday. We strolled about looking that the animals (those that weren't hiding from the heat anyway), and then made our way over to the 55 minute tram tour. It was quite nice; big horn sheep, mountain sheep, moose, roosevelt elk, trumpeter swans, and deer were seen. Then it was back to the viewing of animals that are kept in pens and what not. We also saw the zip line/obstacle/climbing course. It was way bigger than I thought it would be, and we didn't even see all of it. At any rate, we were gone a good seven hours and this place isn't all that far from where I live. We returned home and relaxed. Today is more estate stuff and then maybe we'll go to our friends' house and bring our dogs so they can have some play time. |
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The last thing I want to do is go on a nature walk with my GF. I forgot all about this event, until she just texted me. But, we're going somewhere I haven't been in a loooong time, so despite the heat and humidity (and the ticks and mosquitos), I'm going.
and then I'm coming home to an icy cold shower, jammies, Netflix and popcorn. |
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I'm whaling away on the gravel, only have a few square yards left to cover, w00t! Man, I love this damned excavator and I want to own it forever. No idea WTF I'd do to keep it busy, but I sure do want it! Nice part about this project is that most of the time I'm in the shade of either the bigass maple or the bigass conifer on the south end of the property--the only sunny bit is the 20 feet or so between those canopies. Nice!
I moved some of the dirt from the back forty out front to fill up a planter I've been meaning to finish so now I can finally get the blueberry bushes planted. They've only been living in pots out front for two months now. ![]() Once the rock is all down I can tackle finishing up the retaining wall, which is in the coolest part of the yard and I can work at it as I have time. I only have to work two days before I have two more days off, which rocks. I love gettin' shit done! |
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Am back from my walk. It was ok. The people who are in charge of this part of the Park District have made some changes in recent years--and not all for the better. Plus, the trails are really overgrown this year.
It was sticky and hot and buggy. But I got some exercise and can now look forward to takeout pizza. |
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Busy weekend so far, but got a lot of the end of summer stuff done, so not so bad. In sad news, my favorite mini-golf place has been shut down for good. The mechanicals have been removed and the land, with the concrete and outdoor carpet are for sale for $625k. Which is pretty silly, even if you put a combined brothel and meth dealership in, it still wouldn't make enough to justify that price. The lady at the real estate price was very nice, but I could see that see thought that was too high too.
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Woohoo, I'm technically DONE! Everything that was on my list for this weekend has been accomplished, along with a few ancillary chores as well, and I still have a whole 'nother day left over. Perhaps I shall not labor on Labor Day! I still have a bit of gravel here and there that can be levelled a bit, but the main job is done. AND, I might add, almost completely without help. Not too shabby for an old broad.
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Well done!
It's raining again here. Yay! And it's cooling off nicely. Am enjoying a large amount of texting between my Daughter and I. But she has told me that Grandpa isn't well, which is worrisome. He says he's going to see a gastroenterologist once they get to DC next week. I hope so. At 82, downhill can happen all too fast. ![]() |
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Quote:
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Smartie, my long weekend has been spent in a way so similar to yours that, well, I don't know what, but the coincidence is making me smile.
![]() We have an "upper garden" and a "lower garden", and we are widening the slope that joins the two. We've been making the slope a little gentler for the past seven years, and we've been dreaming about this latest undertaking (the widening of it) for the same amount of time. Now we're actually getting it done; yay! Once we've removed all of the big rocks that came with the gravel, we'll get a big truck load of top soil, and then this little project might actually be finished (once the grass seed has been sown, of course)! I've taken a few photos, and I'll put 'em on my Flickr pages when the project is (more) complete. ![]() |
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Wolfette called up to chat today and mentioned that she is turning into us, she has taken up two things (driving for fun and long bike rides at night) that we like. She is not happy with this. Being the kind, caring father that I am, I sent her a text telling her to come over to the dark side and we'd get her a Land's End squall jacket in Garnet (the official old person color). Good thing I'm out of reach.
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Man, I'm trying to get some energy up to finish up a couple little fussy bits like putting landscape edging around the gravel area in the north side of the yard, spreading the remaining gravel around a bit and planting the blueberry bushes but I'm just beat. I've called the rental place to have them come pick up the little excavator *sob* and then I'll likely fall down in a heap for the rest of the day. I did go by Home Despot this morning to pick up a couple trowels so whenever I'm of a mind to get crackin' on the wall I can. Hardest part of that is going to be schlepping the blocks in over the gravel. I'll likely put down a couple boards and use my cheesy little garden cart--I should be able to schlep four blocks per load in it. Or use the hand truck, whichever floats my boat at the moment.
Glad to hear I wasn't the only crazyperson moving the world this weekend, Duckie! Plz to not be forgetting to post pics of your efforts--and if you PEEM me I'll send you my Facebook info so you can see mine. |
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Got a lot done today. I got up on the ladder and trimmed the branches that were hitting the garage roof and cut them up and stuffed them into the compost bin. Then I mowed the lawn. Fortunately I was wearing gloves when I did, because I almost hit a small grass snake. I was able to grab him and gently put him in the bushes where he would be out of harm's way. In the yard of my snake hating neighbor.
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Well, the chilies I bought last weekend at the big flea market are getting a good fate. Mrs. Larsen is making up a monster batch of her famous Chili Corn Chowder, which goes really good on a cold fall evening. I just finished cutting the kernels off of 12 ears of fresh corn and the corn, onions, potatoes and chilies are a simmering as I type. This will get refrigerated later and will probably be made into 3 batches, with batch 1 for tomorrow night and the other two to be frozen and taken out when the time is right.
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Quote:
![]() ![]() I got a lot done this weekend, and I'm feeling good about it. I just came in after doing a bit of star-gazing, and before that I finished writing a resume for the son of a co-worker. Now, I'm having a pina colada, which is not the sort of drink that I usually enjoy, but which I'm presently enjoying quite a lot. (It's been hot today.) And I get to wake up 1.5 hours later than I usually do tomorrow! It's been a good long weekend. |
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Major skunk blast last night. I had to get up and shut the windows. It woke me out of a sound sleep. There has been little skunk action this summer and it's usually earlier in the season. Hope this doesn't get to be a habit.
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So, about 0030, I was awakened by a HUUUUUGE crack of thunder, then the skies opened up and it poured down rain--lots of other lightning but nothing as close as that one. I listened to it for a couple minutes before it occurred to me that I'd left Agnes' windows open. Ooops! Dashed out to get them closed, got nice and soaked in like ten seconds. Luckily, it was warm. Still drizzling a bit, and I'm damned glad this didn't happen like three days ago, that would have been awful.
Work again. Poop. |
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I made a blankey this weekend. Been thinking of doing it for a while, finally got around to it. 7' x 7', 49 squares. Denim and twill top, flannel underside.
And that's pretty much what I did this weekend. Cut out the squares on Saturday, sewed them into rows on Sunday, assembled everything on Monday. |
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I went in to RNwork early to take a class. I took the class (and got a 93%, go me), only to find that RNwork does not need me today. I'd be more ticked off about this except that this was the only day I could take the class, so I would have had to have come in anyway. And now I'm home to enjoy a lovely fall day.
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The car is totally totaled. We're getting a lot more from it than we thought, so this weekend is car shopping--specifically, Honda CR-V shopping. The girl has requested blue. We told her that we'd look into it, especially since it comes in a pretty blue, but it would not be a deciding factor. We haven't decided new or used yet. At first hubby just announced that we were probably getting new because of reasons, which irritated me because I really dislike it when he just announces things rather than explain reasoning behind and discussing. However, he redeemed himself today by discussing pros and cons of both, agreeing to compare new and used, and taking my input. I know why he does that--he gets worried, does research, and tries to tell me what he's learned, but when he's worried it comes out as orders instead of, "here, let me share this information."
This morning, I got a call from carpool sistah's mom. Her oldest girl E had two job interviews today (she's doing retail while looking for a teaching job), but the coolant tank was apparently cracked and overheated on her way out. Mom is a teacher and couldn't leave class right away, so I picked up E and took her to her mom's school to borrow her car, which was fortunately on the way to the interviews. Then I got a call from Mom because her aide had car trouble and couldn't make it, so I ran over to do some laundry for her. It's been a crazy day! Tomorrow is no school, so the girl is going into work with hubby. He has a project for her that actually helps him, rather than just being busy work, and will pay her in a lovely lunch out. They'll both be happy, and I can finish errand running. |
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We have survived the visit with the mother-in-law, all ten days of it. She's a real delight and I'm glad she came, but ten days of someone in your space..uff da.
Everyone's working in their yards and making me feel lazy. I should be in a condo, as little interest I have in yard work. We do have our wee garden, although it's looking like we'll never get to harvest most of the tomatoes. It finally warmed up enough to begin ripening them, but now it's cooling off dramatically at night and I doubt the majority are going to make it. Still, it's awfully nice to be making something and think "Gee, some peppers or cukes or fresh basil would be handy here" and be able to grab some out of the back yard. |
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My mother has been assessed for dementia. Don't know the full results, but we are able to get someone in 5 days a week to make her midday meal &/or take her for a walk. I'm so relieved.
Mum isn't happy. Says this will be cutting into her free time. ![]() She can only do a little light housework, so unless she is knitting she just sits. |
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Queen Tonya, that happened to us once -- tomatoes not ripening before the weather cooled. We pulled up the plants and hung them upside down in the basement, and many of the tomatoes ripened. We also picked some green ones and ripened them in brown paper bags.
Not the same as ripening on the vine in the dirt in the sun, but better than nothing. |
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MK: Can you get your mum on video before real changes start happening? Sorry if that sounds morbid, but memories blur and fade--your kids and grandkids will be glad you did.
Am home from frantically busy day at the Library, then the grocery. There were long lines at the store--what is up with that? Anyway, at least I won't have to go again until next Wednesday now, god willing. Dr's appt for an issue that's been bothering me for some time--this was the first appt I could get. Let us all hope it's straightforward, simple and solved with an Rx. |
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Hope the Dr appt goes as you want it to go, rigs.
I am sorry to read about your mum, maplekiwi. I wish I had some advice to offer. Work was...irksome. Things only seem to get worse, so all I can do is keep my head down, keep plugging along, and hope for the best. All the while, I keep hoping for a new job opportunity to open up too. I can't believe I am still waiting to hear about one of the jobs I applied for back in June. Dinner is in the oven. I am tired and wishing for the weekend to arrive much sooner than it will. I did receive something good in the mail yesterday, so I have one bright spot. My grandmother died way back in the 90s. At the time, there was a lawsuit because my grandfather had died from mesothelioma. Anyway, as far as I knew, Grandma had received a settlement, and we of course, never saw any of it. Upon her death, my father was the executor of her estate, and I figured any proceeds had gone to him and his two sisters. A couple of years later, one of his sisters died and one of her daughters called my Dad claiming he was keeping her and brother's part of that. He wasn't, and a law firm was engaged. At any rate, yesterday a check arrived in the mail. It isn't huge, but it's enough to make me feel comfortable about going on my husband's 50th birthday party bash to Lincoln City and having spending money for our trip to Kauai. I received a check, as did my two sisters and they were all for the same amount. I believe the cousin mentioned above received a check too. |
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Sorry about your mom, maplekiwi, and concur with Rigs' suggestion about getting her on video for posterity. I wish the technology had been available when my granny was still alive, because in spite of her being a crazypants old broad she was also a hoot and I'd love it if the grandkids could see a little more of where the nutsiness in our family came from.
![]() Off again--I looooove short weeks! My screeching twat of a former supervisor decided that right next to me was a GREAT place to have one of her loud, screechy conversations with like three other people and it was driving me bugfuck until I finally turned around and asked her to please go elsewhere because I was trying to work and couldn't hear myself think. She got all snitty and said "well, we're working TOO" and I replied "Yes, but YOU can get up and LEAVE, I can't!" She left. Things got better after that. So, I need to build a wall tomorrow but the forecast is for freaking thunderstorms, of all outlandish things. It's definitely a thunder sky right now, weird pinky-orange light and heavy air and still. Yikes. As long as it's warm I'll probably just work out in it, I'll be under the maple canopy and it protects from rain a lot. Might compromise the integrity of my mortar, but we'll just have to see how it goes. I really need to get the wall and gate put in, the damned dogs are crapping in the gravel, which totally pisses me off. They have a whole 'nother yard with grass to crap in, why they have to dump in my nice new gravel? Assholes. ![]() |
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Oy vey! Unca Jag is bushed. Moved another couple tons today and sweated my ass off. I'm working on my fourth quart of water and haven't had to pee since this morning. That's not great but I can't choke down any more water. This time I stripped down to gym shorts and tennies and neighbors just had to suffer. A couple more loads to go and I'm outta there. The trailer I'm using is too low to stand up in, and the heavy lifting in there is starting to tweak my lower back right where it cramped up the other day. And damn if I didn't drag a nipple across the edge of a toolbox, that got my attention. But so far I'm healing faster than the damage, knock on wood.
If I'm out by Friday evening I save a couple hunskie. Naturally there is another typhoon in the forecast for tomorrow. The man says up to an inch an hour with localized flooding. At first I thought I was screwed, but then I realized that I've cleared out enough stuff so I can back the trailer right into the locker and keep working. No big deal, but I can think of about a thousand better things to spend it on. About halfway through loading up I found that one set of garage shelves were about 3 inches too high to fit into the trailer in any direction. Do you think I could find a saw in that pile of tools? Not even a hacksaw blade. That'd be too easy. Every one of them were 80 miles away at the shack. After gazing thoughtfully at the maul for a minute I finally stuffed all the junk back in the locker and went and bought a little saw. So that burned an hour. Back at the shack I had three hours of daylight to wedge all the stuff into the shed. I had to hustle but got it done. Just as I was finishing up, a slender little teenage girl from around the block slouched up and asked to borrow some tools to fix her bicycle. Not a chance. I spent hundreds of dollars learning that lesson. But I offered to help if she brought it over. So I helped swap out the front tube & tire. She's an odd kid, I think maybe somewhat autistic. I had to ask her name twice and she doesn't do eye contact. Also extremely socially awkward; did some rocking and singing and grimacing to herself while we worked. But she's handy with a wrench. And I got to meet another neighbor. Dinner was a diet health food bacon cheeseburger. Gotta stop doing that. Now if you will excuse me, I believe I shall fall down in a heap and dream about boxes and crates. |
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<tucks a blanky around Jags; closes the door so we don't have to hear his snoring>
Am off to the doctor. Slept horribly--I was up at 0200. Doctor, Library and lawn mowing on are my agenda today. Plus, I just realized what I forgot to buy at the grocery. I hate that. I even make a list, dammit. ![]() |
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Holy Jeebus! It sure was rocking and rolling around my house this morning! The cracks of thunder were so loud my window were rattling and that says a lot. My poor lab mix was hiding under the bed and crying and with one particular boom Polar ran down the stairs and promptly shit in the great room.
![]() It had calmed down a little by the time I left for work, but I still had to clean up Polar's mess and put the dogs in the kennel. I felt like such a shit, but I don't have any choice. I found out that I'm out of Nature's Miracle, so I need to stop on the way home and get some. Once I get home, I'll douse the carpet where Polar did his bidness, put towels on top and let it sit. I am at work trying to meet some really stupid deadlines...again. I don't dare take an unplanned day off, because the boss is riding me hard and micro-managing everything I do. |
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Giraffiti |
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