Liberum Filum
April 25, 2022 8:56 AM Subscribe
No person is free who is not master of himself, but this thread is no person! (Yep it's a Free Thread, folks; come on in and converse ad libitum and extempore. )
Twitter being bought by E. Musk.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
posted by Faintdreams at 9:00 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
posted by Faintdreams at 9:00 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
I can do "ad bibitum".
posted by flamewise at 9:05 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by flamewise at 9:05 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
We’ve got covid, yes we do!
We’ve got covid, how ‘bout you?!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:05 AM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
We’ve got covid, how ‘bout you?!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:05 AM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Q: Who is the loneliest billionaire?
A: Alone Musk.
posted by plep at 9:10 AM on April 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
A: Alone Musk.
posted by plep at 9:10 AM on April 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
We planted a bunch of berry plants in the backyard yesterday, can’t wait to have my blueberries in….2 years apparently? at least for a fully mature blueberry bush?
I mean i don’t know why I thought it might’ve been sooner. At least we’ll have some strawberries sooner. Still was really nice.
We have a couple of raised bed planters so might try growing some herbs in there.
posted by bxvr at 9:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I mean i don’t know why I thought it might’ve been sooner. At least we’ll have some strawberries sooner. Still was really nice.
We have a couple of raised bed planters so might try growing some herbs in there.
posted by bxvr at 9:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Haven't been sleeping well this past week. Gotta love spring and its temperature and humidity fluctuations! -_-
My favorite thing on the internet from the past day or so: this absolute unit of a bodega cat.
posted by May Kasahara at 9:14 AM on April 25, 2022 [9 favorites]
My favorite thing on the internet from the past day or so: this absolute unit of a bodega cat.
posted by May Kasahara at 9:14 AM on April 25, 2022 [9 favorites]
My birthday weekend was...interesting.... a combination of rehearsals and then one actual performance. Rehearsal for show #1 Friday night. Set building for show #2 Saturday afternoon.
The show I did on Saturday was great. It actually SOLD OUT, which is the first time they've ever had a sold out show. People laughed, it went great. I got to see some people I haven't seen in ages, or years.
I went to the party afterwards and I apparently was so tired going home that I blew through two stop signs and got pulled over. The cop was very nice and I got a written warning. I'm surprised I wasn't drunk tested--I note we had A Big Event that day and it's a huge drunkfest for a lot of people. But hey, not too bad given that situation. (No, I had no alcohol.) I was tired and yet still didn't sleep though, sigh.
I had rehearsal most of the the day for the other show, which was pretty well trainwreck.
First night of sets/props/costumes, and unfortunately they are making the women change clothes LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE NUMBER for the entire first half of the second act. Suffice it to say there is neither room nor time for this to be going on really and being told "We've done it before!" is not as comforting as they think. Like "oh, sure, we have 30 seconds to put on another dress, accessories that don't go on or come off easily, and change our hair EVERY OTHER NUMBER," REALLY?! There's really no options for people to get help with dressing when literally every woman is in another outfit. Evita gets her own dresser for obvious reasons, but other than that...good luck. At least I was strategic in picking out my outfits (stretchy, few fastenings) which I can layer over each other at least. Everyone who picked out a tight fitting/backless/lots of snaps and buttons dress is unhappy right now. (I note that the costume designer brings out a rack of clothes and says "pick something out from this," so to some degree you get to have influence over what you are wearing.)
The originally set stage manager can't do it, and the one we have is going out of town for a week. They got a substitute for most of the nights, but they can NOT get one for opening night. (I would not recommend anyone buy a ticket to opening night on this one...) I don't know what the heck they are going to do about it, if anything.
And finally: nobody likes the musical director. He's cranky/grumpy, doesn't say much, not exactly playing the world's best at times, and is kinda yell-y. Apparently he made one castmate cry on Thursday, which I didn't see. The girl playing Evita was saying backstage the other week that she wanted to say something about the yelling. Well, he was yelling at her repeatedly last night and finally she yelled back that we're all volunteers and not getting paid for this, she's a grown-ass woman and dealing with a lot right now (like seriously, she's on dialysis), we're all trying and doing our best, and we shouldn't be yelled at. He backed down after that, the show finished. We all told Evita afterwards we totally were in favor of her doing that, and some folks who had dealt with this guy before said he's always been Like That.
And then as we were all in the dressing room, the stage manager came in and said "Do NOT go in the house" (theater area) right now, please walk around, if you left stuff out there I will get it for you." However, I note that there's a camera backstage and I could see that the people who run the place were having A Talking To with him.
By the time I got home, there was an announcement that we have a new musical director starting Monday. A nice one. THANK GAWD. Dunno if this guy was fired or quit in a huff, but good riddance!
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:22 AM on April 25, 2022 [9 favorites]
The show I did on Saturday was great. It actually SOLD OUT, which is the first time they've ever had a sold out show. People laughed, it went great. I got to see some people I haven't seen in ages, or years.
I went to the party afterwards and I apparently was so tired going home that I blew through two stop signs and got pulled over. The cop was very nice and I got a written warning. I'm surprised I wasn't drunk tested--I note we had A Big Event that day and it's a huge drunkfest for a lot of people. But hey, not too bad given that situation. (No, I had no alcohol.) I was tired and yet still didn't sleep though, sigh.
I had rehearsal most of the the day for the other show, which was pretty well trainwreck.
First night of sets/props/costumes, and unfortunately they are making the women change clothes LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE NUMBER for the entire first half of the second act. Suffice it to say there is neither room nor time for this to be going on really and being told "We've done it before!" is not as comforting as they think. Like "oh, sure, we have 30 seconds to put on another dress, accessories that don't go on or come off easily, and change our hair EVERY OTHER NUMBER," REALLY?! There's really no options for people to get help with dressing when literally every woman is in another outfit. Evita gets her own dresser for obvious reasons, but other than that...good luck. At least I was strategic in picking out my outfits (stretchy, few fastenings) which I can layer over each other at least. Everyone who picked out a tight fitting/backless/lots of snaps and buttons dress is unhappy right now. (I note that the costume designer brings out a rack of clothes and says "pick something out from this," so to some degree you get to have influence over what you are wearing.)
The originally set stage manager can't do it, and the one we have is going out of town for a week. They got a substitute for most of the nights, but they can NOT get one for opening night. (I would not recommend anyone buy a ticket to opening night on this one...) I don't know what the heck they are going to do about it, if anything.
And finally: nobody likes the musical director. He's cranky/grumpy, doesn't say much, not exactly playing the world's best at times, and is kinda yell-y. Apparently he made one castmate cry on Thursday, which I didn't see. The girl playing Evita was saying backstage the other week that she wanted to say something about the yelling. Well, he was yelling at her repeatedly last night and finally she yelled back that we're all volunteers and not getting paid for this, she's a grown-ass woman and dealing with a lot right now (like seriously, she's on dialysis), we're all trying and doing our best, and we shouldn't be yelled at. He backed down after that, the show finished. We all told Evita afterwards we totally were in favor of her doing that, and some folks who had dealt with this guy before said he's always been Like That.
And then as we were all in the dressing room, the stage manager came in and said "Do NOT go in the house" (theater area) right now, please walk around, if you left stuff out there I will get it for you." However, I note that there's a camera backstage and I could see that the people who run the place were having A Talking To with him.
By the time I got home, there was an announcement that we have a new musical director starting Monday. A nice one. THANK GAWD. Dunno if this guy was fired or quit in a huff, but good riddance!
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:22 AM on April 25, 2022 [9 favorites]
If there's anyone out there in the Philly area who's thinking of adopting a cat or two, Memail me. I've got two sweethearts I've been fostering for quite a while now who really need to find their forever homes. Both of them were adopted out but came back to us because of a poor fit with their adoptive families, and I don't want to put them through that again. I'd feel good about sending them to Mefites though.
posted by biogeo at 9:23 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by biogeo at 9:23 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
this month is 19 years in our house (!) we have long intended to have one of our neighbors over for dinner...and we finally did it last night. NINETEEN YEARS. my husband made a lovely meal and we had some wine and our neighbor made a wonderful pie (when we moved in, so many years ago, she was the first neighbor we met. she came over to introduce herself, WITH A PIE!!! we felt so incredibly welcomed and were blown away by that sweet gesture). we spent the evening rehashing neighborhood gossip and talking about food. maybe we'll do it again...some day.
posted by supermedusa at 9:26 AM on April 25, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 9:26 AM on April 25, 2022 [9 favorites]
First day back at work after a week of vacation. 'Nuff said.
posted by briank at 9:31 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 9:31 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
So I promised myself that when I returned to work I would spend part of my very first paycheck on art, and I did! It's this print and it's up on my wall now and it's perfect in a wide shadowbox frame. The artist is local. I am excited.
The original painting is much more substantially sized, about four feet in either direction, and I dream of cramming every wall of my very small house with enormous paintings, specifically that one, but others too, but for now, this smaller print hangs on the eastern wall of my kitchen wall next to a painting of my own and it's one of the first things I see every morning. It's breathtaking and brings me joy.
ALSO ALSO ALSO:
I've decided to start The Artist's Way on Sunday, May 8, and I'd love some company/accountability if anyone's considering finally doing that one and is interested in joining me.
The Metafilter IRL page is HERE.
posted by mochapickle at 9:32 AM on April 25, 2022 [14 favorites]
The original painting is much more substantially sized, about four feet in either direction, and I dream of cramming every wall of my very small house with enormous paintings, specifically that one, but others too, but for now, this smaller print hangs on the eastern wall of my kitchen wall next to a painting of my own and it's one of the first things I see every morning. It's breathtaking and brings me joy.
ALSO ALSO ALSO:
I've decided to start The Artist's Way on Sunday, May 8, and I'd love some company/accountability if anyone's considering finally doing that one and is interested in joining me.
The Metafilter IRL page is HERE.
posted by mochapickle at 9:32 AM on April 25, 2022 [14 favorites]
jenfullmoon,
When I danced as a kid/teen we would get those one number changes sometimes. It's fun when there's two mothers pulling stuff off and off you. Thankfully we didn't have to change hair. But shoes, hell yeah. By the time I was a junior/senior, I had 12-14 numbers needing 6-7 different pairs of shoes. Packing the car for shows was always and adventures (especially the one year we danced with wire frame chairs that didn't fold/breakdown).
So I totally feel you.
posted by kathrynm at 9:32 AM on April 25, 2022
When I danced as a kid/teen we would get those one number changes sometimes. It's fun when there's two mothers pulling stuff off and off you. Thankfully we didn't have to change hair. But shoes, hell yeah. By the time I was a junior/senior, I had 12-14 numbers needing 6-7 different pairs of shoes. Packing the car for shows was always and adventures (especially the one year we danced with wire frame chairs that didn't fold/breakdown).
So I totally feel you.
posted by kathrynm at 9:32 AM on April 25, 2022
My mother-in-law died suddenly of a massive coronary event on Wednesday and we're just dealing with the fallout of that and all the stuff that goes along with it and I was already tired but sweet Jesus there isn't enough sleep in the world to handle this. I'm going to miss her a lot.
posted by cooker girl at 9:34 AM on April 25, 2022 [27 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 9:34 AM on April 25, 2022 [27 favorites]
My Arizona Tea hat arrived on Monday, but I couldn't find my mailbox keys until Saturday, and I've been wearing it ever since. It does not stay on in a stiff wind.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:52 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:52 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
Also, it came with a sample bottle of LIQUID WATER ENHANCER so I can make water taste vaguely like green tea with ginseng and honey. It's kinda earthy.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:53 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:53 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Our sweet old cat Oscar passed away this day two years ago. He was a survivor of a hoarding situation and a subsequent fire IN that hoarding situation, but apart from a scruffy coat of fur you’d never know. He was sweet and loving and we were very fortunate to find a home euthanasia vet who was still doing house visits during those early pandemic days.
And the world turns. And in our turn, we are fostering some rescues from a hoarding situation ourselves, and they are finally turning the corner after a good 6 months of care. Grace, the shyest, was caught hanging out on my bed this morning which she has never before been brave enough to do.
posted by notoriety public at 9:55 AM on April 25, 2022 [17 favorites]
And the world turns. And in our turn, we are fostering some rescues from a hoarding situation ourselves, and they are finally turning the corner after a good 6 months of care. Grace, the shyest, was caught hanging out on my bed this morning which she has never before been brave enough to do.
posted by notoriety public at 9:55 AM on April 25, 2022 [17 favorites]
all i want to do is take off work and make fake magazine covers and posters and menus for my goddamn goblin world but now i have to work and then eat lunch and work again and why when i already know the bit of life i want to do right now
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:58 AM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:58 AM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
GoblinHoney FEEELS!!! so much (especially today)
a friend posted a meme on fb "do art badly, have fun blahblah" and another friend responded that doing boring things really well was often a very good way to make money. waaaaaa. I hate that so much. he's so right. wtf is wrong with our society! I don't want to make webpages, I want to garden and do art and read too much. le sigh...
posted by supermedusa at 10:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
a friend posted a meme on fb "do art badly, have fun blahblah" and another friend responded that doing boring things really well was often a very good way to make money. waaaaaa. I hate that so much. he's so right. wtf is wrong with our society! I don't want to make webpages, I want to garden and do art and read too much. le sigh...
posted by supermedusa at 10:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I finally got around yesterday to doing some initial experiments for an art project I've been thinking about for years, doing rubbings of random bits of sidewalk surfaces. I documented some tests and my underwhelmed feelings about them, and am trying hard to remind myself that experimenting is good and failed experiments are good. There's that weird drag of having thought about it for a long time that makes an initial stumble feel more frustrating than if it had been a sudden wild hair, and I'm trying to keep that in mind too.
I got a couple suggestions from art friends for other tools/media that might work better; there's lots of things to try still, and I'm hopeful I can get closer to what I was imagining with some more work.
posted by cortex at 10:16 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I got a couple suggestions from art friends for other tools/media that might work better; there's lots of things to try still, and I'm hopeful I can get closer to what I was imagining with some more work.
posted by cortex at 10:16 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
There is not a formal diagnosis, but there's an assessment scheduled, and it's looking like I might have ADHD. This would ... explain some things. I had thought of it before but was afraid I was making excuses for an essential failure of character. Thing is: what if it is that? What then? I can't get a new character. I can get help for ADHD-type behaviors, even without meds.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:24 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 10:24 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
wtf is wrong with our society! I don't want to make webpages, I want to garden and do art and read too much.
I've been quoting Tillie Olsen on this topic for years:
"The attitude: nobody owes you anything; the world never asked you to [create].
My long ago and still instinctive response: What's wrong with the world then, that it doesn't ask - and make it possible - for people to raise and contribute the best that is in them."
posted by Emmy Rae at 10:27 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've been quoting Tillie Olsen on this topic for years:
"The attitude: nobody owes you anything; the world never asked you to [create].
My long ago and still instinctive response: What's wrong with the world then, that it doesn't ask - and make it possible - for people to raise and contribute the best that is in them."
posted by Emmy Rae at 10:27 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’m a big fan of suspenders. I recently found a cool suspenders store: Wiseguy suspenders. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to have a subforum for posts about commercial products. In one Metafilter discussion, a member posted about the difficulty some women have with suspenders. I gave it some thought, and came up with a design idea. Instead of the suspenders going over the shoulder, have them attach instead to some kind of garment like an underbust corset.
posted by No Robots at 10:53 AM on April 25, 2022
posted by No Robots at 10:53 AM on April 25, 2022
I'm already such a shitty, grumpy, exhausted caretaker and we're still on caretaking Easy Mode, I am pretty sure when this gets harder I will simply up and die from it
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:54 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:54 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have six flights to take across five cities in the next seven days. I booked them when I was a bit more optimistic about the state of the virus than I am now (and several are for work and non-negotiable anyway) and people were still masking on planes. And now, [gestures broadly at everything].
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
My current leader is "I don't have to wash my hands after I poop either, but science makes it clear it's better for me and everyone else."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:55 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
My current leader is "I don't have to wash my hands after I poop either, but science makes it clear it's better for me and everyone else."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:55 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
No Robots, I keep going back-and-forth on whether or not I want to become a Suspenders Guy. I would love for my wife to pick up the aesthetic, because Christ she'd look good in them, but for my I am afraid I'll just look like an old-fashioned redneck.
posted by gwydapllew at 10:57 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by gwydapllew at 10:57 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how certain are you that you want to breathe what's coming out of my lungs?"
posted by Etrigan at 10:58 AM on April 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how certain are you that you want to breathe what's coming out of my lungs?"
posted by Etrigan at 10:58 AM on April 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
gwydapllew, check out Wiseguy. I think they're on to something re: aesthetics. The photos and the whole vibe are really inspiring.
posted by No Robots at 11:00 AM on April 25, 2022
posted by No Robots at 11:00 AM on April 25, 2022
an essential failure of character
I was diagnosed with ADHD over a decade ago and I still grapple with this at times. I'm not sure if there is actually a difference, honestly. One person's character flaw is another person's developmental disability symptom.
Is there really such a thing as laziness, or is it a term used by neurotypicals to describe those struggling with profound executive dysfunction? Is someone inherently careless, or are they struggling with impulse control issues? Inveterate slob or underdeveloped frontal cortex? Ditz or deficient working memory?
The good news is, character flaw or developmental disability, once you have these problem areas mapped out it can be a lot easier to plan for them and create workarounds.
Good luck with your diagnosis, it gets better!
posted by rustybullrake at 11:04 AM on April 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
I was diagnosed with ADHD over a decade ago and I still grapple with this at times. I'm not sure if there is actually a difference, honestly. One person's character flaw is another person's developmental disability symptom.
Is there really such a thing as laziness, or is it a term used by neurotypicals to describe those struggling with profound executive dysfunction? Is someone inherently careless, or are they struggling with impulse control issues? Inveterate slob or underdeveloped frontal cortex? Ditz or deficient working memory?
The good news is, character flaw or developmental disability, once you have these problem areas mapped out it can be a lot easier to plan for them and create workarounds.
Good luck with your diagnosis, it gets better!
posted by rustybullrake at 11:04 AM on April 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
“You know you’re free to mind your own business, right?” No argument, no engagement, because that’s what they want, they want a win. Telling someone to mind their own business is a hard slap that there’s really no answer for.
posted by azpenguin at 11:06 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
“You know you’re free to mind your own business, right?” No argument, no engagement, because that’s what they want, they want a win. Telling someone to mind their own business is a hard slap that there’s really no answer for.
posted by azpenguin at 11:06 AM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
On Friday night I was watching Classic Arts Showcase streaming channel, which is worth watching because you never know what weird or wonderful video will come on next (and no commercials). One highlight was Ride of the Valkyries for Eight Pianos, with some really stellar concert pianists, including Emanuel Ax. It sounded like a great concept, but in execution it is kind of a hot mess. It had us all in stitches, especially my son, who is low brass and asserts that Valkyries without trombones is a sacrilege.
On Saturday, I ushered a matinee recital given by Emanuel Ax, an all Chopin program. It was sublime. I saw him by the stage door giving autographs and I regret not stopping by to ask - "Hey, about that Ride of the Valkyries...who thought that was a good idea?"
posted by rekrap at 11:06 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
On Saturday, I ushered a matinee recital given by Emanuel Ax, an all Chopin program. It was sublime. I saw him by the stage door giving autographs and I regret not stopping by to ask - "Hey, about that Ride of the Valkyries...who thought that was a good idea?"
posted by rekrap at 11:06 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
"WHAT? Are you kidding? I've never heard. My god, that sounds wild, people must have been thrilled to hear that. Holy shit, what a time to be alive!"
Just continue in that vein, not removing the mask, until they become alarmed and walk away.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:08 AM on April 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
"WHAT? Are you kidding? I've never heard. My god, that sounds wild, people must have been thrilled to hear that. Holy shit, what a time to be alive!"
Just continue in that vein, not removing the mask, until they become alarmed and walk away.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 11:08 AM on April 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
the perfect snotty answer
not necessarily feasible but I saw either on metafilter or twitter someone who responded by slowly and steadily applying more masks over their original mask. By 4 masks, the asker walked away.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [11 favorites]
not necessarily feasible but I saw either on metafilter or twitter someone who responded by slowly and steadily applying more masks over their original mask. By 4 masks, the asker walked away.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [11 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
[scoff]
"That's how they get ya."
[tap temple twice]
posted by rustybullrake at 11:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [11 favorites]
[scoff]
"That's how they get ya."
[tap temple twice]
posted by rustybullrake at 11:11 AM on April 25, 2022 [11 favorites]
Another candidate is "This is how I bypass the Deep State's facial recognition surveillance."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:12 AM on April 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:12 AM on April 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
"You know the anti-mask thing was about freedom, right?"
Elon buying Twitter, my main news source. I have too much on my to-do list to get started with Mastodon today, but here I come...soon.
posted by rhizome at 11:13 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
"You know the anti-mask thing was about freedom, right?"
Elon buying Twitter, my main news source. I have too much on my to-do list to get started with Mastodon today, but here I come...soon.
posted by rhizome at 11:13 AM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Oh, and the t-shirt I was going to make about masking: "I'm trying not to kill you more than you're trying not to kill me."
posted by rhizome at 11:14 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 11:14 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
A week or so ago, we said goodbye to the first cat I ever had, a sweet gray and white beauty who chose us at a shelter adoption event 14 years ago. She's not the first cat I've lost - she was here before the others and she outlived them all. My husband and I agree that our catless home needs cat energy, so we've put out feelers (whiskers?) and I think we're meeting a bonded pair later this week. They're older than we had envisioned for our "ideal next cats," being 6+ years old, and one has diabetes and will need daily meds, but maybe maybe maybe.
posted by dywypi at 11:19 AM on April 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by dywypi at 11:19 AM on April 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
Saturday night, the band was three hours away from home for an indoor party for 400 RSVPed guests. Speeches ran long and we didn't go on until 8:45, finishing at midnight after two 90s with a half-hour break. I hope I didn't bring home COVID on Sunday because I came home to fresh brownies.
Today's the 13th anniversary of the first gig this band ever played, a junior prom at Beto O'Rourke's old boarding school.
posted by emelenjr at 11:33 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Today's the 13th anniversary of the first gig this band ever played, a junior prom at Beto O'Rourke's old boarding school.
posted by emelenjr at 11:33 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
DirtyOldtown if anyone questions my continued mask wearing I am going to tell them I have bubonic plague
posted by supermedusa at 11:35 AM on April 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 11:35 AM on April 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
Instead of snotty responses to nosy questions, how about nonsensical ones? "No thank you, I already own a penguin" is something I've used on people who stop me on the street. Or I say one of the six Irish Gaelic phrases I know, because chances are very, very remote that they're going to know that all I'm saying to them is "What is your name", they will just think "oh, not English" and drop it.
In other news, Tish James continues to be a badass.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:44 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
In other news, Tish James continues to be a badass.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:44 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's getting cold here and I've been trying to find the most economical way to heat my birds when they're in their cage.
Heating the whole room is too expensive.
I got a ceramic infra red heater today. It's such a strange way of heating. Really directional. It doesn't heat air? Just objects?
posted by Zumbador at 11:53 AM on April 25, 2022
Heating the whole room is too expensive.
I got a ceramic infra red heater today. It's such a strange way of heating. Really directional. It doesn't heat air? Just objects?
posted by Zumbador at 11:53 AM on April 25, 2022
Like sunlight!
posted by clew at 11:57 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 11:57 AM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
When I danced as a kid/teen we would get those one number changes sometimes. It's fun when there's two mothers pulling stuff off and off you.
Hah. Now imagine it with 12 people, no moms, literally no extra help, and no assistance whatsoever in a tiny space and 4 different outfits that have to be put on within a 15 minute period. We're not changing shoes, at least, but taking off and putting on two pairs of gloves? Noooooooooooo.
I said previously that I don't get why they needed so many extra people in this show (we have about 20). Someone told me they figured it out: specifically because if you have enough people, you don't have to have every single person doing a costume change for every single number.
Seriously I think they need to be more practical and say, drop the "change your hair" and "drop the gloves" stuff. I don't care if it's less pretty, that is just practical if you are demanding this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:58 AM on April 25, 2022
Hah. Now imagine it with 12 people, no moms, literally no extra help, and no assistance whatsoever in a tiny space and 4 different outfits that have to be put on within a 15 minute period. We're not changing shoes, at least, but taking off and putting on two pairs of gloves? Noooooooooooo.
I said previously that I don't get why they needed so many extra people in this show (we have about 20). Someone told me they figured it out: specifically because if you have enough people, you don't have to have every single person doing a costume change for every single number.
Seriously I think they need to be more practical and say, drop the "change your hair" and "drop the gloves" stuff. I don't care if it's less pretty, that is just practical if you are demanding this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:58 AM on April 25, 2022
(I posted this at the literal end of the last thread, not sure if anyone saw it so here goes again)
For sale: 1.5 acre island a mile off the coast of Maine, few amenities, $340k, get it while it's... still there.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:18 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
For sale: 1.5 acre island a mile off the coast of Maine, few amenities, $340k, get it while it's... still there.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:18 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Instead of the suspenders going over the shoulder, have them attach instead to some kind of garment like an underbust corset
Corsets that get their vertical support from horizontal constriction reduce breathing and will slide down a lot of bodies anyway. Most corsets get their vertical support by resting on the flare of the hips or belly. If you're dressing a body with that kind of flare, you can support the lower garments with a yoke or belt.
I wear suspenders with heavy work pants and the comfiest ones currently are side clips. I couldn't find any actually small enough for me, so I sewed a big tuck into each strap, works fine. I haven't tried buttons instead of clips.
Side clips don't cut into bosoms or bellies in the front or press against your back when seated, so there's a small steady production of them. Wide elastic; no metal, hook to your belt; a couple more clip options.
posted by clew at 12:28 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Corsets that get their vertical support from horizontal constriction reduce breathing and will slide down a lot of bodies anyway. Most corsets get their vertical support by resting on the flare of the hips or belly. If you're dressing a body with that kind of flare, you can support the lower garments with a yoke or belt.
I wear suspenders with heavy work pants and the comfiest ones currently are side clips. I couldn't find any actually small enough for me, so I sewed a big tuck into each strap, works fine. I haven't tried buttons instead of clips.
Side clips don't cut into bosoms or bellies in the front or press against your back when seated, so there's a small steady production of them. Wide elastic; no metal, hook to your belt; a couple more clip options.
posted by clew at 12:28 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Greg_Ace LOL I can't imagine what that island is like in a storm!
posted by supermedusa at 12:36 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by supermedusa at 12:36 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Wha happen, my Twitter app just drove itself into a wall and told me that food is overrated.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:40 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:40 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
No Robots - Ahh… I love those transatlantic moments! It took me a while to work out that suspenders were braces. (And I mean braces, not brackets. I will also maintain that parenthesis should be called aunty.)
I’ll stop now
posted by stanf at 12:51 PM on April 25, 2022
I’ll stop now
posted by stanf at 12:51 PM on April 25, 2022
I’m a big fan of suspenders
I never tuck in my shirts if I can help it, so I'm a convert to Hikers under-the-shirt suspenders.
posted by Foosnark at 12:57 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I never tuck in my shirts if I can help it, so I'm a convert to Hikers under-the-shirt suspenders.
posted by Foosnark at 12:57 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
- That list of sequels is seriously flawed if their only MCU entry is Avengers rather than Winter Soldier.
- My feeling on suspenders is that a) adjustable is vastly preferable to elastic and b) ideally they should be used with pants that don't have beltloops on them, but have those little waistband buttons that the suspenders attach to. Not sure why I believe this to be true, but I do. And I have no pants like that, but I aspire to.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:12 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
- My feeling on suspenders is that a) adjustable is vastly preferable to elastic and b) ideally they should be used with pants that don't have beltloops on them, but have those little waistband buttons that the suspenders attach to. Not sure why I believe this to be true, but I do. And I have no pants like that, but I aspire to.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:12 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Halloween Jack, I've been scoping these pants. Also interesting is this Japanese jeans maker, who has some very good braces for sale.
posted by No Robots at 1:28 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by No Robots at 1:28 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
'You know there’s no law against being stupid, right?
But I guess I already knew your answer.'
posted by jamjam at 1:30 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
'You know there’s no law against being stupid, right?
But I guess I already knew your answer.'
posted by jamjam at 1:30 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
My partner who I thought didn't get covid, did in fact get it. I spent Friday through last Saturday (8 days) taking care of her until she felt well enough to go home and take care of herself again.
Today, my work announced that they're moving forward with a return to office work a week from today.
It's like I'm living in a different reality than everyone else or something.
posted by explosion at 2:00 PM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
Today, my work announced that they're moving forward with a return to office work a week from today.
It's like I'm living in a different reality than everyone else or something.
posted by explosion at 2:00 PM on April 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
I got the results of the CT scan back, and to my untrained eye it looks like there are problems developing with the mesh they implanted when they took care of my inguinal hernia back in 2016. And that makes sense, because ow. But I didn't want to assume, so I waited for my appointment with my general surgeon the next day. And then that didn't happen, because of some sort of mixup with scheduling? I think? And now the surgeon isn't available until mid-May.
So I put in an urgent note to my primary care physician, and he's going to refer me to another surgeon. I should probably get a second opinion anyway, though I really like my old surgeon, but he's had two cracks at this so far. But in the meantime, ow.
Has anyone successfully dealt with surgical mesh problems before? Any clue as to how this plays out from here? Any helpful suggestions on how to deal with it (aside from plenty of weed; I'm on top of that already)? Anyone know what a "patulous right inguinal canal containing fat only" means? (Also, can we consider for a moment what a wonderful word patulous is? It means spreading, like the branches of a tree. "I found him on a remote bench beneath a patulous tree". I want to rhyme it with fatuous. Anyway.)
And for those of you playing along at home, here's where I'm at these days: Crohn's disease, microscopic colitis, easily herniated discs in my lower back, and now post-surgical inguinal hernia complications. For someone who was never all that excited about life to start with, this is a lot to deal with.
But I should probably start looking into wearing suspenders, seeing as wearing any sort of belt or tight waistband isn't going to be really feasible for the foreseeable future.
posted by MrVisible at 2:41 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
So I put in an urgent note to my primary care physician, and he's going to refer me to another surgeon. I should probably get a second opinion anyway, though I really like my old surgeon, but he's had two cracks at this so far. But in the meantime, ow.
Has anyone successfully dealt with surgical mesh problems before? Any clue as to how this plays out from here? Any helpful suggestions on how to deal with it (aside from plenty of weed; I'm on top of that already)? Anyone know what a "patulous right inguinal canal containing fat only" means? (Also, can we consider for a moment what a wonderful word patulous is? It means spreading, like the branches of a tree. "I found him on a remote bench beneath a patulous tree". I want to rhyme it with fatuous. Anyway.)
And for those of you playing along at home, here's where I'm at these days: Crohn's disease, microscopic colitis, easily herniated discs in my lower back, and now post-surgical inguinal hernia complications. For someone who was never all that excited about life to start with, this is a lot to deal with.
But I should probably start looking into wearing suspenders, seeing as wearing any sort of belt or tight waistband isn't going to be really feasible for the foreseeable future.
posted by MrVisible at 2:41 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
- That list of sequels is seriously flawed if their only MCU entry is Avengers rather than Winter Soldier.They do have a one sequel per franchise rule, but there are two Batmans! Yet another bizarre aspect of this bizarre list. Although, it is kind of beautiful to have George Miller movies bookending the list at 1 and 101, and still giving Babe Pig in the City it's rightful due for a third Miller on the list.
posted by 3j0hn at 2:54 PM on April 25, 2022
Working 6 days per week now, and a part day from home. This is the first "day off" I've had that I didn't need to go anywhere. (Neighbor's car has been kaput for five weeks and I have chauffeured her to all the necessary places on my days off. Her car is now repaired I am celebrating!
Kitties have enjoyed the day today. I did required computer work from home sitting out in the kitty kompound this morning. Weather was awesome. Plus I watched houdini-cat demonstrate his new escape path and twarted his method. (He figured out how to unlatch the screen door) yes, he's that kind of cat. So, the kitties were allowed to spend the whole day out. It's 6pm and they are now all inside snoozing.
posted by mightshould at 3:06 PM on April 25, 2022
Kitties have enjoyed the day today. I did required computer work from home sitting out in the kitty kompound this morning. Weather was awesome. Plus I watched houdini-cat demonstrate his new escape path and twarted his method. (He figured out how to unlatch the screen door) yes, he's that kind of cat. So, the kitties were allowed to spend the whole day out. It's 6pm and they are now all inside snoozing.
posted by mightshould at 3:06 PM on April 25, 2022
Oakland...Love You Oakland! Trucker Convoy-vs Safeway patrons.
"When the convoy got stuck in traffic outside an Oakland Safeway, however, a group of residents began throwing eggs at the stalled vehicles, shouting “get the fuck out of here”, according to video of the incident. Passersby partook as well, grabbing eggs and tossing them at trucks scrawled with phrases such as “Let’s go Brandon”, a coded term among Trump supporters to insult Joe Biden, as they drove by. Many of those throwing eggs at the group were kids who cheered each other on and then fled after running out of eggs."
posted by Oyéah at 3:08 PM on April 25, 2022 [8 favorites]
"When the convoy got stuck in traffic outside an Oakland Safeway, however, a group of residents began throwing eggs at the stalled vehicles, shouting “get the fuck out of here”, according to video of the incident. Passersby partook as well, grabbing eggs and tossing them at trucks scrawled with phrases such as “Let’s go Brandon”, a coded term among Trump supporters to insult Joe Biden, as they drove by. Many of those throwing eggs at the group were kids who cheered each other on and then fled after running out of eggs."
posted by Oyéah at 3:08 PM on April 25, 2022 [8 favorites]
I had to go to Home Depot this weekend to get a tool for a small project I was doing. I had my mask with me but literally nobody in the parking lot - customers or employees - had masks on (later as I was checking out I finally saw a single masked person). This was in an overall less-affected area (and I'm triple-vaxxed), but still, yeesh. I decided to forgo the mask; I rationalized I'd be in and out in 10 minutes and I didn't have the energy to be The One Guy wearing a mask (I know, moment of weakness...). I guess that's my risk budget for the week. I'll try to avoid places like Home Depot in the future and continue wearing a mask during my weekly grocery store visits.
On the plus side, I completed said small project: treating my bedroom-slash-home-office walls with sound absorption tiles to reduce reverberations/echos, so I can start working on some recording projects again. I'll still have to work around the periodic noise from the street out front - once I started trying to record I realized how much of the surprisingly busy "residential" street traffic I'd learned to subconsciously filter out. But otherwise at least I've got my desk area sounding "dead" enough for my purposes. For starters I'm doing the narration on a few training videos for work, which means I can hone my skills on the clock, and I may get the opportunity to do more as well.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:23 PM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
On the plus side, I completed said small project: treating my bedroom-slash-home-office walls with sound absorption tiles to reduce reverberations/echos, so I can start working on some recording projects again. I'll still have to work around the periodic noise from the street out front - once I started trying to record I realized how much of the surprisingly busy "residential" street traffic I'd learned to subconsciously filter out. But otherwise at least I've got my desk area sounding "dead" enough for my purposes. For starters I'm doing the narration on a few training videos for work, which means I can hone my skills on the clock, and I may get the opportunity to do more as well.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:23 PM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
twitter exiles come here! We have free threads now!
posted by Going To Maine at 3:37 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 3:37 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Made this lentil salad and a chopped Greek salad to use up veggie bits and bobs from the fridge. It is the early edge of all salads all the time season and I am psyched for it.
I am also making brownies so I can use up some ice cream (brownie sundaes!) lest anyone mistake my salad enthusiasm for health consciousness.
posted by the primroses were over at 3:41 PM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I am also making brownies so I can use up some ice cream (brownie sundaes!) lest anyone mistake my salad enthusiasm for health consciousness.
posted by the primroses were over at 3:41 PM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
So far haven't been able to get any work done today. Got a new laptop (finally!) from work, but the poor IT guy discovered that evidently, my OneDrive sync hasn't worked in...ever? Had to completely reinstall it, and send me home with old and new laptops. The OneDrive sync is now sitting at 42GB of 73GB total. This is mostly because of the 50+GB of Outlook pst files I had saved to my hard drive.
When he was starting to provision the new laptop late last week, he actually asked if I had any Outlook archives (hoping I would say no, I'm sure). He might have cried when I sent him the screenshot of the folder with the 50+ Gigs. He definitely called me crazy. LOL. But I regret nothing. Those archives are my CYA, and also some of the last institutional memories from a couple people who came before me. Also, our legal department sometimes likes to make data requests for stuff that happened like...way back in 2012 or earlier, and if no one saves their damned emails, how does anyone know what happened back then??
posted by sharp pointy objects at 3:57 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
When he was starting to provision the new laptop late last week, he actually asked if I had any Outlook archives (hoping I would say no, I'm sure). He might have cried when I sent him the screenshot of the folder with the 50+ Gigs. He definitely called me crazy. LOL. But I regret nothing. Those archives are my CYA, and also some of the last institutional memories from a couple people who came before me. Also, our legal department sometimes likes to make data requests for stuff that happened like...way back in 2012 or earlier, and if no one saves their damned emails, how does anyone know what happened back then??
posted by sharp pointy objects at 3:57 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
DyWypi, my cat had diabetes, but because he responded well to the type of insulin we gave him, it was never a big deal. As for age... my current cat only became bearable at about 6 years.
posted by acrasis at 4:04 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by acrasis at 4:04 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I found the winner on Twitter via @korb_heather:
*wearing mask on airplane*posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:56 PM on April 25, 2022 [21 favorites]
Seatmate: “why are you wearing a mask when you don’t have to.”
Me: “because if I’m going to catch COVID it’s going to be from spending time with people I love and care about, not a tube full of people who don’t mind their own business.”
I cannot imagine trying to coordinate that kind of costume change more than once or twice in a show. It took two people (three if you included the actress) multiple rehearsals to even begin to get it done fast enough, and we barely got it in time for opening night.
Hahahah, I'm one of Evita's dressers and I have to do that (minus the pregnant) TWICE on stage.
However, I do sometimes tell someone I had to get a women pregnant in 15 seconds or less for a couple of weeks when I was young.
I would absolutely say that line myself if I were you ;)
I rationalized I'd be in and out in 10 minutes and I didn't have the energy to be The One Guy wearing a mask
Yeah, on a related note, I'm the only one in this cast who would like to wear a mask. So I'm not going to be wearing one. The theater people won't shame me, but I am SURE the audience will bitch about me if I'm the only one on stage, especially since the theater is relaxing their mask mandate (they were the last ones doing it here). I don't want to cause any social trouble and be the only one not free facing. SIGH.
Off topic: I had a Deep Thought today while driving: it took a pandemic and almost everyone being forced to stay home to make most employers accept that people could work from home. God knows my job absolutely wouldn't have done it before this. It took THAT level of enormous dire overall societal change to get that to happen.* So it makes you wonder how bad things have to be before a giant change would happen.
* and now of course half the employers are trying to Go Back To Normal.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:05 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Hahahah, I'm one of Evita's dressers and I have to do that (minus the pregnant) TWICE on stage.
However, I do sometimes tell someone I had to get a women pregnant in 15 seconds or less for a couple of weeks when I was young.
I would absolutely say that line myself if I were you ;)
I rationalized I'd be in and out in 10 minutes and I didn't have the energy to be The One Guy wearing a mask
Yeah, on a related note, I'm the only one in this cast who would like to wear a mask. So I'm not going to be wearing one. The theater people won't shame me, but I am SURE the audience will bitch about me if I'm the only one on stage, especially since the theater is relaxing their mask mandate (they were the last ones doing it here). I don't want to cause any social trouble and be the only one not free facing. SIGH.
Off topic: I had a Deep Thought today while driving: it took a pandemic and almost everyone being forced to stay home to make most employers accept that people could work from home. God knows my job absolutely wouldn't have done it before this. It took THAT level of enormous dire overall societal change to get that to happen.* So it makes you wonder how bad things have to be before a giant change would happen.
* and now of course half the employers are trying to Go Back To Normal.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:05 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I was in a production of The Mystery of Irma Vep back in the early aughts, two actors, eight characters, and thirty some odd costume changes. In one scene as the caretaker I had to turn into a werewolf on stage, run out the french doors up stage center, then almost immediately enter from stage right as Lady Enid. It was a pretty intense show technically, and an absolute blast.
Completely unrelated, I made it to my first Mariners game since the before times on Saturday. The crowd was electric. These guys have me feeling kinda excited about their chances. I know, I know, it's the Mariners, but what kind of fan would I be without a little hope?
posted by calamari kid at 6:45 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Completely unrelated, I made it to my first Mariners game since the before times on Saturday. The crowd was electric. These guys have me feeling kinda excited about their chances. I know, I know, it's the Mariners, but what kind of fan would I be without a little hope?
posted by calamari kid at 6:45 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
So I am accepting suggestions for the perfect snotty answer to "You know you don't have to wear a mask anymore, right?"
'But, I'm not wearing a mask', said with as puzzled a look as you can while wearing a mask.
posted by dg at 7:08 PM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
'But, I'm not wearing a mask', said with as puzzled a look as you can while wearing a mask.
posted by dg at 7:08 PM on April 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I've been quoting Tillie Olsen on this topic for years:
"The attitude: nobody owes you anything; the world never asked you to [create].
i'll just quote chrissie hynde - "rock and roll isn't fuck me, it's fuck you" - the world never had to ask me, right?
posted by pyramid termite at 7:09 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
If someone bugs you or patronizes you about wearing a mask, say it's not for Covid, it's for my Anthrax.
posted by Oyéah at 7:37 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 7:37 PM on April 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
yes, mine's for my rabies
if i take the mask off, you'd better run
posted by pyramid termite at 7:49 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
if i take the mask off, you'd better run
posted by pyramid termite at 7:49 PM on April 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
A woman I often meet while out walking, invited me to visit her. She still remembers my dog, and in our chat we discovered that we belong to the same small animal rescue group.
I somehow overcame my pretty intense social anxiety and went to her place despite not being sure which house was hers. Spent the cycle there rehearsing what I could say to the strangers that opened the door if I got it wrong.
"Oh sorry, I thought, um, I don't actually know her name, but this woman invited me, sorry wrong address..."
But it was the right place.
Turns out she has five extremely nice dogs. The kind that look you in the eye and trust you immediately.
She only ever walks them one at a time, and they look rather similar to one another so I'd always thought that I was imagining the differences between them.
("wow I never noticed her dog was that old before")
She showed me the various small creatures she's caring for.
The hilight of the visit was her bedroom and on suite bathroom. Bedroom was the territory of 2 juvenile squirrels who were recovering from being attacked by a dog.
Perfectly normal, extremely neat, feminine bedroom, but with this beautiful young squirrel leaping around all over it.
It's pretty amazing, having this intense, silent creature come flying through the air and attach itself expertly to whatever part of your body it happens to encounter.
It kept climbing up my leg all the way to my shoulder and at one point it investigated my ear very thoroughly in a sort of "hmm I bet I could store something in here" way.
The bathroom was mostly full of a big dead tree, but otherwise perfectly standard pretty bathroom, super neat and glossy.
The squirrel in there had its own outside cages, connected to one another and the bathroom with long plastic pipes.
Apparently there is something wrong with its teeth so it couldn't be released back into the wild.
It's apparently the source of much strife with the rescue group who want it to be euthanased since it can never be rewilded.
All in all quite an amazing visit.
Now I have to conquer my social anxiety to visit her again and collect all the rat toys and equipment she wants to give me.
posted by Zumbador at 9:06 PM on April 25, 2022 [21 favorites]
I somehow overcame my pretty intense social anxiety and went to her place despite not being sure which house was hers. Spent the cycle there rehearsing what I could say to the strangers that opened the door if I got it wrong.
"Oh sorry, I thought, um, I don't actually know her name, but this woman invited me, sorry wrong address..."
But it was the right place.
Turns out she has five extremely nice dogs. The kind that look you in the eye and trust you immediately.
She only ever walks them one at a time, and they look rather similar to one another so I'd always thought that I was imagining the differences between them.
("wow I never noticed her dog was that old before")
She showed me the various small creatures she's caring for.
The hilight of the visit was her bedroom and on suite bathroom. Bedroom was the territory of 2 juvenile squirrels who were recovering from being attacked by a dog.
Perfectly normal, extremely neat, feminine bedroom, but with this beautiful young squirrel leaping around all over it.
It's pretty amazing, having this intense, silent creature come flying through the air and attach itself expertly to whatever part of your body it happens to encounter.
It kept climbing up my leg all the way to my shoulder and at one point it investigated my ear very thoroughly in a sort of "hmm I bet I could store something in here" way.
The bathroom was mostly full of a big dead tree, but otherwise perfectly standard pretty bathroom, super neat and glossy.
The squirrel in there had its own outside cages, connected to one another and the bathroom with long plastic pipes.
Apparently there is something wrong with its teeth so it couldn't be released back into the wild.
It's apparently the source of much strife with the rescue group who want it to be euthanased since it can never be rewilded.
All in all quite an amazing visit.
Now I have to conquer my social anxiety to visit her again and collect all the rat toys and equipment she wants to give me.
posted by Zumbador at 9:06 PM on April 25, 2022 [21 favorites]
The squirrel in there had its own outside cages, connected to one another and the bathroom with long plastic pipes.
Apparently there is something wrong with its teeth so it couldn't be released back into the wild.
On rereading this I'm seeing visions of feral bathrooms with perfect teeth roaming our neighborhood at night.
posted by Zumbador at 9:18 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Apparently there is something wrong with its teeth so it couldn't be released back into the wild.
On rereading this I'm seeing visions of feral bathrooms with perfect teeth roaming our neighborhood at night.
posted by Zumbador at 9:18 PM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
My company is opening a new location, in addition to our current one. They are discussing whom to move to the new location.
I would not be in favor of moving there, as it is further from my home. But I work from home three days a week.
Mostly I'm just hoping they don't pull a dick move and take away working from home because "we have more office space".
posted by Fleebnork at 4:14 AM on April 26, 2022
I would not be in favor of moving there, as it is further from my home. But I work from home three days a week.
Mostly I'm just hoping they don't pull a dick move and take away working from home because "we have more office space".
posted by Fleebnork at 4:14 AM on April 26, 2022
I appear to have injured my back. Getting out of bed. Getting out of BED.
Take care of your bodies, people.
posted by majick at 6:25 AM on April 26, 2022 [7 favorites]
Take care of your bodies, people.
posted by majick at 6:25 AM on April 26, 2022 [7 favorites]
DirtyOldTown, that's kind of long. I'd go with I'll bet you don't wash your hands, either.
posted by theora55 at 6:34 AM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 6:34 AM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
I don't have any quick-change stories (99.9% of the time I was up in a crows-nest booth during the runs of shows), but I do have a costume story....
I can't remember the show - but one performance I was doing the intermission stuff when the lead came up to me looking a little nervous. "I got a costume problem," he said. He pulled me to one side and showed me - the zip fly on his pants had popped open. "I just saw this," he said. "But - I don't take my suit jacket off at all during Act II, so I figured that I could just pin the fly closed and we'll deal with it later. I found a big safety pin here."
"Oh, that's a good idea," I said. "So...okay, take your pants off and give them here."
He stared at me. "Uh...we can't do that when my pants are off. Because they I wouldn't be able to get them on after."
"Oh. Right." I blinked. "So....oh. So I'm going to have to do this with you wearing them, aren't I."
"Uh-huh."
I stared at him. Glanced at his fly, then at him again. Then I took the pin and knelt in front of him, and said only "Apologies in advance if I...well, if I anything," and then got to work.
So, yeah. The pin was one of those really stubborn ones that's stiff and hard to close, and they were heavy wool pants. And I was also trying to be really careful because it was his junk, and I was trying desperately not to squeeze or poke anything sensitive. So I spent a few minutes struggling trying to get the thing to catch, having to pull the pin out and try to do it again, trying to close it and missing, trying to get another purchase without squeezing anything, having to take the pin out and then put it back in again without catching HIM along with the pants...it was super-fiddly.
But after struggling, I happened to glance up - and I saw the entire rest of the cast was standing in a circle around us, all peering at me with fascination. I blinked back up at them, and then hissed, "Can we get a little room here, please?"
"Oh, sorry!" they all shuffled further back. And seconds later I finally closed the pin. The lead straightened up and started brushing off his jacket, and I stood up and glanced at my watch. "Five minutes to places for act II," I announced and went to finish my rounds.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:12 AM on April 26, 2022 [6 favorites]
I can't remember the show - but one performance I was doing the intermission stuff when the lead came up to me looking a little nervous. "I got a costume problem," he said. He pulled me to one side and showed me - the zip fly on his pants had popped open. "I just saw this," he said. "But - I don't take my suit jacket off at all during Act II, so I figured that I could just pin the fly closed and we'll deal with it later. I found a big safety pin here."
"Oh, that's a good idea," I said. "So...okay, take your pants off and give them here."
He stared at me. "Uh...we can't do that when my pants are off. Because they I wouldn't be able to get them on after."
"Oh. Right." I blinked. "So....oh. So I'm going to have to do this with you wearing them, aren't I."
"Uh-huh."
I stared at him. Glanced at his fly, then at him again. Then I took the pin and knelt in front of him, and said only "Apologies in advance if I...well, if I anything," and then got to work.
So, yeah. The pin was one of those really stubborn ones that's stiff and hard to close, and they were heavy wool pants. And I was also trying to be really careful because it was his junk, and I was trying desperately not to squeeze or poke anything sensitive. So I spent a few minutes struggling trying to get the thing to catch, having to pull the pin out and try to do it again, trying to close it and missing, trying to get another purchase without squeezing anything, having to take the pin out and then put it back in again without catching HIM along with the pants...it was super-fiddly.
But after struggling, I happened to glance up - and I saw the entire rest of the cast was standing in a circle around us, all peering at me with fascination. I blinked back up at them, and then hissed, "Can we get a little room here, please?"
"Oh, sorry!" they all shuffled further back. And seconds later I finally closed the pin. The lead straightened up and started brushing off his jacket, and I stood up and glanced at my watch. "Five minutes to places for act II," I announced and went to finish my rounds.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:12 AM on April 26, 2022 [6 favorites]
Drama/Theater is one of my high school minor regrets. I didn't know that they needed engineers, set building, sound board running. I thought it was all costumes and being on stage and remembering lines and acting and all that. By then I'd helped build houses and wired things and run audio stuff since second grade. I had no clue that there was off-stage stuff that wasn't acting. Sigh.
posted by zengargoyle at 7:40 AM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by zengargoyle at 7:40 AM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is mostly because of the 50+GB of Outlook pst files I had saved to my hard drive.
Please ask your IT if they have the ability to convert those to Online Archive.... PSTs are notorious for getting corrupted. Once corrupted there is almost nothing that can be done to recover them...
At the very least, I hope you have multiple PSTs and keep them all under 5 GB or so. The bigger they are, the quicker they tend to corrupt.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 10:35 AM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Please ask your IT if they have the ability to convert those to Online Archive.... PSTs are notorious for getting corrupted. Once corrupted there is almost nothing that can be done to recover them...
At the very least, I hope you have multiple PSTs and keep them all under 5 GB or so. The bigger they are, the quicker they tend to corrupt.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 10:35 AM on April 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Arrow Film Podcast recently highly recommended a film called Dinner in America that isn't yet released in the US. They also played a bit of a song from the film performed by Emily Skeggs called "Watermelon" and it's an absolute banger, a total earworm, and a scuzzily romantic 90s alt-punk love song. When she sings "Fuck the rest of them/Fuck 'em all/Fuck 'em all but us" it's just absolutely next-level irresistible.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:41 AM on April 26, 2022
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:41 AM on April 26, 2022
"Why are you still wearing a mask?"
*wet, hacking, prolonged cough* "Oh sorry, what did you say?"
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 11:02 AM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
*wet, hacking, prolonged cough* "Oh sorry, what did you say?"
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 11:02 AM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
I somehow overcame my pretty intense social anxiety and went to her place despite not being sure which house was hers.
Good! Once a coworker (Shawn) invited me to his new house for a housewarming party. The whole neighborhood was new construction, in fact, it wasn't on Google Maps. I was very proud of myself for following his directions and finding the house. The house was well lit and the front door was open, allowing the sounds of the party to spill outside. I picked up my Bristol Brewing sample pack and walked in. A stranger with a friendly face greeted me in the kitchen. I returned the greeting "Hi, I'm [Monochrome]. Where should I put out these beers?" As he led me to a cooler on the patio I said "I'm a coworker of Shawn's. How do you know him?" We quickly discovered there was no Shawn at the party. Shawn lived in the house next door. Thankfully everyone had a good laugh and there were no hard feelings.
posted by Monochrome at 11:03 AM on April 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
Good! Once a coworker (Shawn) invited me to his new house for a housewarming party. The whole neighborhood was new construction, in fact, it wasn't on Google Maps. I was very proud of myself for following his directions and finding the house. The house was well lit and the front door was open, allowing the sounds of the party to spill outside. I picked up my Bristol Brewing sample pack and walked in. A stranger with a friendly face greeted me in the kitchen. I returned the greeting "Hi, I'm [Monochrome]. Where should I put out these beers?" As he led me to a cooler on the patio I said "I'm a coworker of Shawn's. How do you know him?" We quickly discovered there was no Shawn at the party. Shawn lived in the house next door. Thankfully everyone had a good laugh and there were no hard feelings.
posted by Monochrome at 11:03 AM on April 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
Two weeks until Eurovision!!! 🔥🌈✨🦄
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 11:06 AM on April 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 11:06 AM on April 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
"Why are you still wearing a mask?"
My personal favorite is one I saw...here? in a previous thread? maybe in a comment by bondcliff?:
"It reminds me to keep my mouth shut and mind my own fucking business."
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:06 PM on April 26, 2022 [12 favorites]
My personal favorite is one I saw...here? in a previous thread? maybe in a comment by bondcliff?:
"It reminds me to keep my mouth shut and mind my own fucking business."
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:06 PM on April 26, 2022 [12 favorites]
Go Mariners! Feels like we have some hope this season.
Had hernia mesh put in 10 years ago, no real problems, though I have started having a weird pain in my abdomen, which might be another hernia, ugh.
I was in the barbershop quartet in a high school production of The Music Man back in 1980, and we had one change where we had to finish our song, go offstage, and change in about 30 seconds and then walk back on singing. A few times in the dress rehearsal, it did not go well. Neither did my angry response to our choir director, who was also the football team's offensive line coach...
Nailed it in the actual performances though.
posted by Windopaene at 12:35 PM on April 26, 2022
Had hernia mesh put in 10 years ago, no real problems, though I have started having a weird pain in my abdomen, which might be another hernia, ugh.
I was in the barbershop quartet in a high school production of The Music Man back in 1980, and we had one change where we had to finish our song, go offstage, and change in about 30 seconds and then walk back on singing. A few times in the dress rehearsal, it did not go well. Neither did my angry response to our choir director, who was also the football team's offensive line coach...
Nailed it in the actual performances though.
posted by Windopaene at 12:35 PM on April 26, 2022
In California, all meshes have to be bioabsorbent, and gone in a number of weeks. I had an off the shelf mesh put in my left shoulder in 2019, In a couple of months, the skin was rough and unusual, for a while, now it is just like the other shoulder, on the outside. But inside the other shoulder hosts 11 terephthalate screws. I have to convince someone of the need to take them out.
posted by Oyéah at 1:23 PM on April 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 1:23 PM on April 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
P.S. I got Wordle in two tries today. If only it were world peace.
posted by Oyéah at 2:44 PM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 2:44 PM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
Grilled out in sunny weather.
Which has been rare this season.
posted by zenon at 4:52 PM on April 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Which has been rare this season.
posted by zenon at 4:52 PM on April 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
so I was trying to put together a post and found two interesting facts about the subject matter but there's not really enough flesh on the bone yet but the two are quite interesting. Story starts in 1886 in Flint Michigan. one fine evening, Billy Durant, local business person, sees a small Road cart and asked a man for a ride. Within a day or two, Durant was down buying the road cart and all the patents for $2,000. this was the basis of the Flint - Road Cart Co. and later General Motors at one time the largest corporation the world has ever seen. I've looked to the Durant collection here in Flint the largest in the world. but 10 years ago some of Durant's papers came up for sale, starting price $1,9999. No bids. got to remember Durant lost general motors twice was one of the biggest Wall Street barons and wound up running a bowling alley in Flint Michigan. but something screamed of this story.
I'd buy that for a dollar.
posted by clavdivs at 5:30 PM on April 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
I'd buy that for a dollar.
posted by clavdivs at 5:30 PM on April 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
had a couple of days in a cottage just on the edge of Algonquin Park. It absolutely whizzed down all the time, but we had books and food and someone left me in charge of a woodburning stove and the BBQ.
posted by scruss at 6:18 PM on April 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by scruss at 6:18 PM on April 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
I randomly pick starting words for Wordle based on my mood.
Today I learned that AARGH! is a valid starting guess.
posted by mark k at 7:27 PM on April 26, 2022 [12 favorites]
Today I learned that AARGH! is a valid starting guess.
posted by mark k at 7:27 PM on April 26, 2022 [12 favorites]
Nailed it in the actual performances though.
From Shakespeare in Love:
Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.
posted by bryon at 9:03 PM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
From Shakespeare in Love:
Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.
posted by bryon at 9:03 PM on April 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
This week is crazeballs, y'all.
Good news side:
(a) I got a dress in the mail and it fits.
(b) I got some insoles that will hopefully make wearing high heels for 3 hours less excruciating.
(c) I did a very short/quick improv audition for a murder mystery company on Monday, didn't think I did well but was doing it for the heck of it anyway. I got in! I said I couldn't do the callbacks because it's Evita opening night and she said she'd let me in, training starts next week. I was surprised I got in because I didn't do too much--the guy I was in with was really good and ah, supplied a lot of information so I didn't have much to do. She liked how I rolled with it.
(d) I'm going to go to a show some friends are in on Saturday and made arrangements to meet up with people at the end of May to do it again.
In the middle:
Had Yet Another Management Talking To about my fuckups, but they actually started to get kind of nice about it? At least acknowledging that I'm not bad ALL the time, just "intermittently." They asked why I hate my job/don't leave (can't find non-customer service) and I said I don't hate it, just the customer service part because I feel like I'm always pissing people off or doing something wrong here. It actually got rather sweet on their parts, go figure.
Tech week rehearsal continues to be stressful re: way too fast costume changes, but they're at least making a few adjustments to make it less bad.
Crazy side:
My apartment complex wants to spray for roaches on Friday and I do NOT have the time for that. Like I'm literally having to take some time off from work tomorrow to clean around here. I'm so angry at the timing of it, I can't even tell you. I don't have a big enough place to literally empty out half of it into the other half.
Someone walked up to the stage manager while she was outside on smoke break and claimed to have "stabbed a bitch 37 times, if you wanna call the cops." Cops were indeed called.
This week is only half done and look how much has happened.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:12 PM on April 27, 2022 [4 favorites]
Good news side:
(a) I got a dress in the mail and it fits.
(b) I got some insoles that will hopefully make wearing high heels for 3 hours less excruciating.
(c) I did a very short/quick improv audition for a murder mystery company on Monday, didn't think I did well but was doing it for the heck of it anyway. I got in! I said I couldn't do the callbacks because it's Evita opening night and she said she'd let me in, training starts next week. I was surprised I got in because I didn't do too much--the guy I was in with was really good and ah, supplied a lot of information so I didn't have much to do. She liked how I rolled with it.
(d) I'm going to go to a show some friends are in on Saturday and made arrangements to meet up with people at the end of May to do it again.
In the middle:
Had Yet Another Management Talking To about my fuckups, but they actually started to get kind of nice about it? At least acknowledging that I'm not bad ALL the time, just "intermittently." They asked why I hate my job/don't leave (can't find non-customer service) and I said I don't hate it, just the customer service part because I feel like I'm always pissing people off or doing something wrong here. It actually got rather sweet on their parts, go figure.
Tech week rehearsal continues to be stressful re: way too fast costume changes, but they're at least making a few adjustments to make it less bad.
Crazy side:
My apartment complex wants to spray for roaches on Friday and I do NOT have the time for that. Like I'm literally having to take some time off from work tomorrow to clean around here. I'm so angry at the timing of it, I can't even tell you. I don't have a big enough place to literally empty out half of it into the other half.
Someone walked up to the stage manager while she was outside on smoke break and claimed to have "stabbed a bitch 37 times, if you wanna call the cops." Cops were indeed called.
This week is only half done and look how much has happened.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:12 PM on April 27, 2022 [4 favorites]
I get my tooth repaired today! In about 20 minutes! I'm super looking forward to, you know, eating without pain. I like eating.
Take care of your teeth, people!
posted by majick at 10:09 AM on April 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Take care of your teeth, people!
posted by majick at 10:09 AM on April 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I just had to write a polite but firm email to one of the staff here who likes to copy half the known world on her requests, and was following up on a minor request involving both IT and facilities after only 3 hours. The IT guy is tackling a more direct business-related item instead, and I gently pushed back to say that "I promise we haven't forgotten, we're just on a more pressing time-sensitive thing and he asked me to say that we promise he will get to this when he is free."
I am using this space to write the email I very much wish I could have sent instead:
I am using this space to write the email I very much wish I could have sent instead:
Dear [blank] -posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
The CPO's broken laptop is a higher priority than your office TV looking weird. Take a number and cool your jets.
Me
YoutTube Rabbit Hole:
Beethoven Virus Like Youve Never Heard Before (EPIC REMIX) - YouTube
5 Levels of Canon in D - Easy to Insane - YouTube
12 Levels of Beethoven: Easy to Impossible - YouTube
posted by zengargoyle at 12:27 PM on April 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
Beethoven Virus Like Youve Never Heard Before (EPIC REMIX) - YouTube
5 Levels of Canon in D - Easy to Insane - YouTube
12 Levels of Beethoven: Easy to Impossible - YouTube
posted by zengargoyle at 12:27 PM on April 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
* snort *
IT guy's boss just responded to the email chain to say that "I'm not too crazy about you hooking a TV up to our Internet account in the first place, what's this for anyway?"
IT guy has the office next to mine and we both just grinned and agreed to step back and let them hash things out.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:03 PM on April 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
IT guy's boss just responded to the email chain to say that "I'm not too crazy about you hooking a TV up to our Internet account in the first place, what's this for anyway?"
IT guy has the office next to mine and we both just grinned and agreed to step back and let them hash things out.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:03 PM on April 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Back in 1999 I installed the first Network TIme Protocol (NTP) servers and satellite TV into the office "just in case y2k". Time overlord, I am chronometer, metronome and ticktock, the master of time.... Also the TV guy.....
More YouTube that flying chainsaw appreciation club might enjoy... The Art of Code - Dylan Beattie - YouTube. Stick around, don't miss bad 80's metal version of FizzBuzz at the end and learn to maybe want to program in ROCKSTAR.
Totally reminds me of Lingua::Romana::Perligata - metacpan.org... turning Perl into Latin (or Latin into Perl) take your pick. They're no Damian Conway, but yeah, let's orbit chainsaws.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:35 PM on April 28, 2022
More YouTube that flying chainsaw appreciation club might enjoy... The Art of Code - Dylan Beattie - YouTube. Stick around, don't miss bad 80's metal version of FizzBuzz at the end and learn to maybe want to program in ROCKSTAR.
Totally reminds me of Lingua::Romana::Perligata - metacpan.org... turning Perl into Latin (or Latin into Perl) take your pick. They're no Damian Conway, but yeah, let's orbit chainsaws.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:35 PM on April 28, 2022
"what's this for anyway?"
Matt, how do I favorite this harder?
tooth repaired
Procedure went well enough. First time I've had significant pain during a dental procedure but otherwise so far so good. Looking forward to trying to eat food!
posted by majick at 4:56 PM on April 28, 2022
Matt, how do I favorite this harder?
tooth repaired
Procedure went well enough. First time I've had significant pain during a dental procedure but otherwise so far so good. Looking forward to trying to eat food!
posted by majick at 4:56 PM on April 28, 2022
I have finished the first leg of my Week O' Many Flights and the somewhat reassuring/mildly disappointing answer to "What snarky comeback will DOT employ if his seatmate asks why he is masking?" is "None needed." My seatmates for both flights were both masked. We gave each other appreciative nods and minded our own business. Nearly the entire flight each way was unmasked but I was masked and seated with a masked person both times.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:09 AM on April 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:09 AM on April 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
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I am not sure if it is more crazy if you start at 101 and scroll down, or if you go the other way.
posted by 3j0hn at 8:59 AM on April 25, 2022 [3 favorites]