It's September! Already! And your free thread.
September 2, 2024 9:18 AM Subscribe
It's your Monday free thread, and also the first week of September! The heat of summer is beginning to ease in the north, marking the beginning of meteorological Autumn, while the cold of winter will be lifting soon in the south as meteorological Spring begins. Kids are back to school in countries with long summer vacations. How are you preparing for the seasonal change that's on it's way, or already here as far as some are concerned. Or talk about anything you like.
ugh. August went waaaaay too fast. I just cannot believe it's September. I don't have kids, but I do work for a University, so I'm somewhat impacted by the start of the semester (at least I hope to be, could really use some more hours please).
or: I am unprepared!
posted by supermedusa at 9:36 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
or: I am unprepared!
posted by supermedusa at 9:36 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
I just received a letter from a credit card company asking me to remove my restrictions on my credit reporting accounts. I did not apply for a credit card. I am relieved that the blocks I placed on all my accounts held. I have an account with myFICO as well that will alert me to any changes to my accounts/account balances, etc. I would highly recommend to everyone in the USA to put a block on your Transunion, Equifax, and Experian credit reporting accounts. With all the data leaks, it is almost inevitable that folks will try to scam you.
The blocks are easy to remove if you are legitimately trying to apply for credit. The last time I did so was when buying a car. You specify a date range, and the block is automatically turned back on when the time has elapsed.
I will call the credit card company tomorrow and make sure the application is cancelled.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:40 AM on September 2 [12 favorites]
The blocks are easy to remove if you are legitimately trying to apply for credit. The last time I did so was when buying a car. You specify a date range, and the block is automatically turned back on when the time has elapsed.
I will call the credit card company tomorrow and make sure the application is cancelled.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:40 AM on September 2 [12 favorites]
The snowplows are out in full view at all the big box home improvement stores, along with piles of bagged rock salt...The groundhog who lives under my shed comes out daily to munch on clover and whatever, much to the annoyance of my senior rescue cat...We know the short summer months are coming to a close when the state fair leaves town. The Cirkys or Carnies gather in a local tavern after their day is done. A genial lot.Well, time to dig out the shovel and spray the surface with silicon. It helps greatly to make the snow not cling to the shovel.What city am I in?
posted by Czjewel at 9:52 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
posted by Czjewel at 9:52 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
This year's weather has been weird on the North Dakota - Minnesota border; last winter had very little snow, it stayed cool well into Summer with just a few weeks of hot in the beginning of August, and Autumn looks mild so far. It's been relatively wet, but not too wet.
My wife's main predictor of the weather is our very floofy dog, Maggie. Maggie has been in full Coat Replacement Mode for at least two weeks, clumps of summer-coat-fur falling off of her as her winter coat comes in. We've brushed her roughly every third day, producing a huge pile of fur each time. This is early for her -- usually this is an October-ish event, so my wife's theory is we're going to get cold soon and keep getting colder.
Film student update: Class started; nothing too exciting or out of the ordinary, other than on Tuesdays I have two in-person classes, one from 1:30 to 2:45 and one at 4:30, so there's not really enough reason to drive back to work in between to sit at my desk for 45 minutes and then turn around and drive back to campus. Last week I went and sat in my professor/director/friend's office and chatted, mostly to let him know that my Tuesday schedule leaves me time to be ordered around to do stuff, if need be, but since it's his, you know, workplace, I have to resist doing that every week.
In really-real filmmaking: there are two amateur films being produced in town, which I've known about for a while but was busy enough to have not responded to their initial calls for techs, until a friend who's involved in both productions connected me with each filmmaker to fill in gaps in their skills. One is a gaffer role -- basically 'lighting technician' -- and the other is camera operator. The one I'm gaffer on I'm stepping into the role very late in the process due to them losing several of their production team for unspecified reasons -- filming starts September 13th, and much of the filming is in natural light so I'm making a list of reflectors and flags and other tools for moving existing light around rather than making my own. They also lost their cinematographer in the upheaval and that role is really the one who decides what and how things get lit, and I haven't met the new person yet.
Because I literally signed on to both films within a week of each other, I have to be very careful I'm talking about the right film when responding to emails or in Zoom meetings.
Speaking of Zoom meetings: my online-only class with its required Zoom meetings has its first Zoom meeting happening in a half hour. I was assigned to coordinate and moderate the meeting by the instructor, which means that not only do I get to coordinate and moderate zoom meetings at work, I also get to do so for school....yay?
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:52 AM on September 2 [10 favorites]
My wife's main predictor of the weather is our very floofy dog, Maggie. Maggie has been in full Coat Replacement Mode for at least two weeks, clumps of summer-coat-fur falling off of her as her winter coat comes in. We've brushed her roughly every third day, producing a huge pile of fur each time. This is early for her -- usually this is an October-ish event, so my wife's theory is we're going to get cold soon and keep getting colder.
Film student update: Class started; nothing too exciting or out of the ordinary, other than on Tuesdays I have two in-person classes, one from 1:30 to 2:45 and one at 4:30, so there's not really enough reason to drive back to work in between to sit at my desk for 45 minutes and then turn around and drive back to campus. Last week I went and sat in my professor/director/friend's office and chatted, mostly to let him know that my Tuesday schedule leaves me time to be ordered around to do stuff, if need be, but since it's his, you know, workplace, I have to resist doing that every week.
In really-real filmmaking: there are two amateur films being produced in town, which I've known about for a while but was busy enough to have not responded to their initial calls for techs, until a friend who's involved in both productions connected me with each filmmaker to fill in gaps in their skills. One is a gaffer role -- basically 'lighting technician' -- and the other is camera operator. The one I'm gaffer on I'm stepping into the role very late in the process due to them losing several of their production team for unspecified reasons -- filming starts September 13th, and much of the filming is in natural light so I'm making a list of reflectors and flags and other tools for moving existing light around rather than making my own. They also lost their cinematographer in the upheaval and that role is really the one who decides what and how things get lit, and I haven't met the new person yet.
Because I literally signed on to both films within a week of each other, I have to be very careful I'm talking about the right film when responding to emails or in Zoom meetings.
Speaking of Zoom meetings: my online-only class with its required Zoom meetings has its first Zoom meeting happening in a half hour. I was assigned to coordinate and moderate the meeting by the instructor, which means that not only do I get to coordinate and moderate zoom meetings at work, I also get to do so for school....yay?
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:52 AM on September 2 [10 favorites]
A pair of mossies (a kind of sparrow) have built their nest in the bougainvillea just outside our garage door! So spring is really here.
We've been alternating between cold, grey, rainy days, 14 degrees C inside my house, and blazing hot sunny days. Kind of confusing.
posted by Zumbador at 10:04 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
We've been alternating between cold, grey, rainy days, 14 degrees C inside my house, and blazing hot sunny days. Kind of confusing.
posted by Zumbador at 10:04 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
August has been relatively mild here this year after a long blazing July. But summer is having its last hurrah this coming week, today and tomorrow will be pleasant but temps start ramping up toward 100 the rest of the week. I'm so ready for fall weather. I'm looking forward to going camping in a couple of weeks, at an elevation of ~3500 feet it should be pleasantly cool.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:08 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:08 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
Just saw two massive motorbike frogs in my back garden.
I wasn't sure I had any left (they've been dormant), so this was a pleasant surprise.
Also a little scary tho because I was admiring Frog #1 (about a metre away from me) when I realised that there was also a truly massive Frog #2 which was RIGHT NEXT TO MY ANKLE.
(They're harmless, I just didn't want to accidentally step on one and kill it.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:17 AM on September 2 [5 favorites]
I wasn't sure I had any left (they've been dormant), so this was a pleasant surprise.
Also a little scary tho because I was admiring Frog #1 (about a metre away from me) when I realised that there was also a truly massive Frog #2 which was RIGHT NEXT TO MY ANKLE.
(They're harmless, I just didn't want to accidentally step on one and kill it.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:17 AM on September 2 [5 favorites]
Re, my backyard groundhog. In the past year several apartment complexes have been put up very near our streets. It's very suburban...but we had acres of woods surrounding us. Not full growth forests, but acres of tightly packed trees and shrubbery. Many critters lived in them. Deer crossing signs abound. So now they are migrating to our backyard. This is freaking some neighbors out. They post they've seen a coyote in their yard. Gather the children and lock your doors. There are the same ones who opposed the building of new housing. They are homeowners and don't want apartment dwellers near the area.
posted by Czjewel at 10:21 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by Czjewel at 10:21 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
I just got over a (relatively) mild case of shingles. Doctor thinks it's because I'm (relatively) young and vaccinated that I only got a handful of sores. I really had to Karen the folks at Kaiser to give me antivirals, though, which was annoying and possibly dangerous.
Also had a really painful arthritis flareup to where I could barely put my sock on the affected side of my body, and had trouble sleeping. That seems to have calmed down too and I'm wondering if I can go back to my usual Aleve dosage or if that's asking for trouble.
There was a rum tasting at SOMArts yesterday. Not as big as last year's. They did have an amaro vendor--good stuff, and the spox looked like a young Cheech Marin--and a sweet grey-haired lady selling utterly divine chocolates.
Feeling pretty darn good today. Pulled some weeds and then I'm going grocery shopping with my neighbor this afternoon.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 10:28 AM on September 2 [4 favorites]
Also had a really painful arthritis flareup to where I could barely put my sock on the affected side of my body, and had trouble sleeping. That seems to have calmed down too and I'm wondering if I can go back to my usual Aleve dosage or if that's asking for trouble.
There was a rum tasting at SOMArts yesterday. Not as big as last year's. They did have an amaro vendor--good stuff, and the spox looked like a young Cheech Marin--and a sweet grey-haired lady selling utterly divine chocolates.
Feeling pretty darn good today. Pulled some weeds and then I'm going grocery shopping with my neighbor this afternoon.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 10:28 AM on September 2 [4 favorites]
Czjewel, is a single coyote a genuine danger to anyone except
a) cats allowed outdoors;
b) chihuahua/dachshund sized dogs allowed outdoors;
c) children 3 years old or smaller left unsupervised ?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:28 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
a) cats allowed outdoors;
b) chihuahua/dachshund sized dogs allowed outdoors;
c) children 3 years old or smaller left unsupervised ?
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:28 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
It's cool today (Western NY), but the temperatures will still be toasty for the rest of September, in all likelihood. Some leaves have started leaving, and I see red coming out on the burning bushes.
My mother piled up a lot of fallen walnuts for disposal and found that they were all gone the next day, so we assume that the local squirrels appreciated the favor.
One thing I hope will persist is the absence of stink bugs, which are VERY LOUD when they fly around your room after midnight. There's normally a fall invasion as they come indoors for the winter (they don't eat or bite, they just hang out, crawl around the walls, and look ugly), but only a few showed up last fall, and almost none appeared in the spring.
In the meantime, I booked a trip to go back to the UK over spring break--talk about looking ahead!--to do some reading in the British Library.
posted by thomas j wise at 10:30 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
My mother piled up a lot of fallen walnuts for disposal and found that they were all gone the next day, so we assume that the local squirrels appreciated the favor.
One thing I hope will persist is the absence of stink bugs, which are VERY LOUD when they fly around your room after midnight. There's normally a fall invasion as they come indoors for the winter (they don't eat or bite, they just hang out, crawl around the walls, and look ugly), but only a few showed up last fall, and almost none appeared in the spring.
In the meantime, I booked a trip to go back to the UK over spring break--talk about looking ahead!--to do some reading in the British Library.
posted by thomas j wise at 10:30 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
I’m using the extra day off for some sewing - am going to cut out these overalls once the iron heats up and I’ve pressed my pre-washed fabric.
My hair finally grew that last fraction of an inch that moves it from neglected into annoying so I cut half of that off this morning.
We went to The City yesterday to get new snowboarding boots and have them heat molded. There was a gorgeous board at about a third of its normal price that happened to be my size and that came home with us as well. Now to wait for snow ❄️
posted by hilaryjade at 10:38 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
My hair finally grew that last fraction of an inch that moves it from neglected into annoying so I cut half of that off this morning.
We went to The City yesterday to get new snowboarding boots and have them heat molded. There was a gorgeous board at about a third of its normal price that happened to be my size and that came home with us as well. Now to wait for snow ❄️
posted by hilaryjade at 10:38 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
chariot pulled by cassowaries. No.
posted by Czjewel at 10:40 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by Czjewel at 10:40 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
We had the vet out this evening to put Alfie down.
It was a good death as these things go; he was in his fluffy bed in front of the fire and I was curled up with him stroking his little head as his lights faded out. So he went super peacefully but I'm still a bit verklempt.
This whole business of having a future while the dependants have only the present just fucking sucks. I truly resent having no better option than to betray their trust like that.
posted by flabdablet at 10:45 AM on September 2 [24 favorites]
It was a good death as these things go; he was in his fluffy bed in front of the fire and I was curled up with him stroking his little head as his lights faded out. So he went super peacefully but I'm still a bit verklempt.
This whole business of having a future while the dependants have only the present just fucking sucks. I truly resent having no better option than to betray their trust like that.
posted by flabdablet at 10:45 AM on September 2 [24 favorites]
Got my COVID shot yesterday, so today is going to be a lazy day. Will probably go out later for an AA meeting.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:52 AM on September 2 [7 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:52 AM on September 2 [7 favorites]
flabdablet, really sorry about that. Even when it’s the only option, it never feels like the right decision.
Went out for 11 miles on the mountain bike this morning which kicked my ass, probably because I have to get up so early to ride in the summer. It gets too hot too fast. I did 34 miles south of Patagonia, AZ mostly graveling, and it is gorgeous out there. I’ve gotten stronger, as evidenced by not stopping on some climbs that I had to stop and catch my breath in the past, and also by Strava numbers. I just wish I was stronger than I am, since I’ve been riding quite a bit, mostly rides with a lot of climbing. Also wish I knew why on a lot of mornings my legs just aren’t there. Oh well. Follow up appointment with the cardio doc this week. I told him about that and he said to push harder, so I have.
As a desert dweller I’d like to say good riddance to August.
posted by azpenguin at 10:55 AM on September 2 [4 favorites]
Went out for 11 miles on the mountain bike this morning which kicked my ass, probably because I have to get up so early to ride in the summer. It gets too hot too fast. I did 34 miles south of Patagonia, AZ mostly graveling, and it is gorgeous out there. I’ve gotten stronger, as evidenced by not stopping on some climbs that I had to stop and catch my breath in the past, and also by Strava numbers. I just wish I was stronger than I am, since I’ve been riding quite a bit, mostly rides with a lot of climbing. Also wish I knew why on a lot of mornings my legs just aren’t there. Oh well. Follow up appointment with the cardio doc this week. I told him about that and he said to push harder, so I have.
As a desert dweller I’d like to say good riddance to August.
posted by azpenguin at 10:55 AM on September 2 [4 favorites]
awwww flabdablet so sorry about Alfie. he was a cutie. I'm sure Herbert will give him a good welcome over the bridge.
posted by supermedusa at 10:55 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 10:55 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
Well, time to dig out the shovel and spray the surface with silicon. It helps greatly to make the snow not cling to the shovel.What city am I in?
*stares at the baking landscape outside my window in Chattanooga*
A city I wish I was living in?
posted by AdamCSnider at 11:12 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
*stares at the baking landscape outside my window in Chattanooga*
A city I wish I was living in?
posted by AdamCSnider at 11:12 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]
What city am I in?
I guessed and I was apparently right! … but I never get that kind of thing right.
posted by jamjam at 11:12 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
I guessed and I was apparently right! … but I never get that kind of thing right.
posted by jamjam at 11:12 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]
I encountered a coyote during my morning walk the other day. It was just standing there on the path, gazing at me. I stopped to look closely and verify, yep, it's a coyote and not a dog. I took a step towards it. It stepped back. I took another step forward and it gave me the saddest "please don't hurt me" look I've ever seen. Then it ran off.
I understand that coyotes can be a danger to pets, and maybe even small children. But that doesn't prevent me from caring about them.
posted by SPrintF at 11:15 AM on September 2 [7 favorites]
I understand that coyotes can be a danger to pets, and maybe even small children. But that doesn't prevent me from caring about them.
posted by SPrintF at 11:15 AM on September 2 [7 favorites]
Spending the weekend in a sort of mini vacation, not going very far but visiting my brother and his wife, doing some shopping, going for walks, enjoying the cuisine. Yesterday was glorious, maybe the best weather of the season. It's been mostly a fairly average summer in terms of temperature and rain, except for an early heatwave that would have been very rare before the last number of years. The one very strange thing is that there were almost no mosquitoes all season, something that has never happened before.I don't think I've had a dozen bites this year - not complaining, but it is bizarre.
posted by blue shadows at 11:17 AM on September 2 [1 favorite]
posted by blue shadows at 11:17 AM on September 2 [1 favorite]
I am so not ready to start teaching on Thursday. Preparation-wise, I mean. Not psychologically. I'm looking forward to meeting the students.
posted by pangolin party at 12:00 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
posted by pangolin party at 12:00 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
So I had some kind of cold for eight days. Today, day nine, is the first day I haven’t had a nap and it’s killing me. So sorry for your losss, flabdabbet. What a lovely video. I would love to hire that masseuse. Those overalls look amazing, hilaryjade! I am not much to sew but I’m going back to the US soon to deal with some dead dad business. A mere 4 1/2 years after he shuffled off this mortal coil but Covid and all that. So I have this huge long linen dress that is way too big for me but that I love because it’s linen and also it’s huge. But in truth it’s simply too large and so I took off the short sleeves today and I’m going to attempt to trim it down a bit so I can wear it when I go to Colorado for the dad stuff.
I decided to go while palisade peaches are still available. Because no part of the trip is going to be any fun but Palisade peaches are delicious so that way maybe I will get something out of it. Otherwise it’s just me being sad while dealing with people who annoy me. But after that I got to go to the East Bay and enjoy a cheeseboard pizza and go to Monterey market and do other Berkeley kind of things with Berkeley kind of people whom I love. So yay for good food and good company coming up in a few weeks.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:08 PM on September 2 [6 favorites]
I decided to go while palisade peaches are still available. Because no part of the trip is going to be any fun but Palisade peaches are delicious so that way maybe I will get something out of it. Otherwise it’s just me being sad while dealing with people who annoy me. But after that I got to go to the East Bay and enjoy a cheeseboard pizza and go to Monterey market and do other Berkeley kind of things with Berkeley kind of people whom I love. So yay for good food and good company coming up in a few weeks.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:08 PM on September 2 [6 favorites]
To be clear, lots of the trip will be really fun but not the Colorado part. No offense intended toward Colorado. That is a comment about my relatives and the Maga folks in that particular area as opposed to the state as a whole.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:11 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 12:11 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
I took an extra long weekend and have done very little aside from the intense block of time I spent yesterday running errands and putting together dinner. I read a lot, I ate a breakfast of fabulous breads with butter, honey and house-made jam from a nearby Greek bakery café. I rowed and elliptical-ed and lifted weights. And tried to silence the whispering in my head that I wasn’t doing anything.
Today I learned that you can have great ingredients for a salad and completely ruin it with a bad-tasting dressing . I finished it because I don’t waste food, but it has been several hours and my taste buds and stomach are still angry and I’m seriously considering abandoning my diet today just to get the aftertaste out of my mouth. I poured the remaining dressing down the sink, good riddance.
Kiddo officially starts high school tomorrow. I’m not quite ready for that.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 12:16 PM on September 2 [7 favorites]
Today I learned that you can have great ingredients for a salad and completely ruin it with a bad-tasting dressing . I finished it because I don’t waste food, but it has been several hours and my taste buds and stomach are still angry and I’m seriously considering abandoning my diet today just to get the aftertaste out of my mouth. I poured the remaining dressing down the sink, good riddance.
Kiddo officially starts high school tomorrow. I’m not quite ready for that.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 12:16 PM on September 2 [7 favorites]
It's been mostly a fairly average summer in terms of temperature and rain, except for an early heatwave that would have been very rare before the last number of years. The one very strange thing is that there were almost no mosquitoes all season, something that has never happened before.I don't think I've had a dozen bites this year - not complaining, but it is bizarre.
That's a fascinating observation!
And it prompted me to look up the heat tolerance of mosquito larvae.
50° F will kill them apparently, and since the adults do not overwinter, an early heatwave the following spring might nip that year's infestation right in the bud.
posted by jamjam at 12:32 PM on September 2 [4 favorites]
That's a fascinating observation!
And it prompted me to look up the heat tolerance of mosquito larvae.
50° F will kill them apparently, and since the adults do not overwinter, an early heatwave the following spring might nip that year's infestation right in the bud.
posted by jamjam at 12:32 PM on September 2 [4 favorites]
So sorry flabdablet. Sucks to lose our friends...
Also AzraelBrown, what a good girl Maggie is.
Coyote story:
Let my dogs out in the morning a while back. Saw one was acting oddly so went out to check it out. Opened the gate between the yard and the front yard. Didn't see the rabbit that tends to chill out there. Then saw movement. And then saw the coyote that hangs out in the neighborhood. I looked at him, he (I think) looked at me. We paused. Certainly wasn't going to turn my back on him to reopen the gate. We chilled, he ran off.
posted by Windopaene at 12:37 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
Also AzraelBrown, what a good girl Maggie is.
Coyote story:
Let my dogs out in the morning a while back. Saw one was acting oddly so went out to check it out. Opened the gate between the yard and the front yard. Didn't see the rabbit that tends to chill out there. Then saw movement. And then saw the coyote that hangs out in the neighborhood. I looked at him, he (I think) looked at me. We paused. Certainly wasn't going to turn my back on him to reopen the gate. We chilled, he ran off.
posted by Windopaene at 12:37 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
I was going to declutter my house some this weekend and instead I sprained my knee. Enforced rest it is. Happy Labor Day, friends!
posted by gentlyepigrams at 12:40 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 12:40 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
Leonid & Friends, "September" (Earth, Wind & Fire cover)
posted by kirkaracha at 12:50 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 12:50 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
It's unseasonably chill today. Like, max 19C
This morning there was an interesting little gray small-beaked big-eyed bird dozing in the sunlight on some black trim on my truck. Got a few pictures before it decided it wanted less attention. Turns out it was a male nighthawk! Our first. He's probably on his migration.
Wait, birbs is soooo last week. Sorry.
We are on the glide path to finishing all preparations for the party in Oct for my Mom's 90th birthday, and it's gone pretty well, all things considered (except for my stress level). Just hoping for enough RSVPs. She's in pretty good health and has all her marbles, but we're such a shitty family that this is probably the last big party we'll arrange for her that Mom gets to attend vertically. Harsh but true. We suck.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:29 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
This morning there was an interesting little gray small-beaked big-eyed bird dozing in the sunlight on some black trim on my truck. Got a few pictures before it decided it wanted less attention. Turns out it was a male nighthawk! Our first. He's probably on his migration.
Wait, birbs is soooo last week. Sorry.
We are on the glide path to finishing all preparations for the party in Oct for my Mom's 90th birthday, and it's gone pretty well, all things considered (except for my stress level). Just hoping for enough RSVPs. She's in pretty good health and has all her marbles, but we're such a shitty family that this is probably the last big party we'll arrange for her that Mom gets to attend vertically. Harsh but true. We suck.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:29 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
I'm sorry, flabdablet.
Saturday I finished the first draft of my fourth novel, one that had a couple false starts and has landed at a perfectly cromulent 98,000 words, and it feels very good. For the next 4-6 weeks, the book sits and rests in the virtual dark while I let it slowly slip away from my conscious brain and do other things. Like revising a short story today! It was glorious. Also glorious: going out for celebratory gelato this afternoon. I finally tried the "Seven Hills" option, which I took as an opportunity to try flavors outside my usual wheelhouse that I wouldn't typically order on their own (e.g. "Americano," with pretzel bits, chocolate, etc.). I was, myself, an icy treat by the time I'd finished that plate.
posted by cupcakeninja at 2:00 PM on September 2 [4 favorites]
Saturday I finished the first draft of my fourth novel, one that had a couple false starts and has landed at a perfectly cromulent 98,000 words, and it feels very good. For the next 4-6 weeks, the book sits and rests in the virtual dark while I let it slowly slip away from my conscious brain and do other things. Like revising a short story today! It was glorious. Also glorious: going out for celebratory gelato this afternoon. I finally tried the "Seven Hills" option, which I took as an opportunity to try flavors outside my usual wheelhouse that I wouldn't typically order on their own (e.g. "Americano," with pretzel bits, chocolate, etc.). I was, myself, an icy treat by the time I'd finished that plate.
posted by cupcakeninja at 2:00 PM on September 2 [4 favorites]
It's 107 and sunny in The Tecopa this afternoon , says the Google robot voice.
This morning was cool enough for a daybreak soak with the dog at the ole mud hole hotspong,
My neighbor, Wonderhussy made a video about it years ago. if you are curious.
It looks like another planet .
I've been enjoying videos presented by Major Moxie Babylon on YouTube , roller Derby bon vivant. DIY ,wild horse charmer, desert art and exploration . I have difficulty making
links on my phone,
https://youtube.com/@majormoxybabylon?si=FaJmbwtHgWXba7UB
posted by hortense at 2:04 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
This morning was cool enough for a daybreak soak with the dog at the ole mud hole hotspong,
My neighbor, Wonderhussy made a video about it years ago. if you are curious.
It looks like another planet .
I've been enjoying videos presented by Major Moxie Babylon on YouTube , roller Derby bon vivant. DIY ,wild horse charmer, desert art and exploration . I have difficulty making
links on my phone,
https://youtube.com/@majormoxybabylon?si=FaJmbwtHgWXba7UB
posted by hortense at 2:04 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
I just wanted to say, to the Internet At Large: all you jokers posting Mariah-Carey-defrosting-in-preparation-for-All-I Want-For-Christmas-season need to lay off right now. Hallowe'en memes until November only*, you degenerates.
* Thanksgiving memes, both Canadian and American, are of course optional.
posted by spoobnooble 3D: the spoobening at 2:12 PM on September 2 [4 favorites]
* Thanksgiving memes, both Canadian and American, are of course optional.
posted by spoobnooble 3D: the spoobening at 2:12 PM on September 2 [4 favorites]
Tech week for Something Rotten. I will be dead tired with no sleep or free time all week. The theater is HUGE and awesome, though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:56 PM on September 2 [6 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:56 PM on September 2 [6 favorites]
I finished a work project I had been avoiding for weeks in what seemed like ten minutes (it was a day, maybe). First bit of coding I had done in ages, was kind of fun because of that, but whoever designed and wrote the code I was modifying* should have their head examined...way too complex for what it does, hard to keep the entirety of it in your mind as you work on any one aspect of it. And woefully under-documented.
Now my load-bearing "you need to get these done, this is embarrassing" tasks is down to 2. Hopefully down to 1 by the end of the week.
Mr Dog found a (likely imaginary) illegal visitor to the yard out the window at 0530 this morning and made a full report at the top of his lungs. 0530 is prime "dead-time" here--as a consequence I got up really late and am behind on everything so far today.
* It was me
posted by maxwelton at 2:59 PM on September 2 [7 favorites]
Now my load-bearing "you need to get these done, this is embarrassing" tasks is down to 2. Hopefully down to 1 by the end of the week.
Mr Dog found a (likely imaginary) illegal visitor to the yard out the window at 0530 this morning and made a full report at the top of his lungs. 0530 is prime "dead-time" here--as a consequence I got up really late and am behind on everything so far today.
* It was me
posted by maxwelton at 2:59 PM on September 2 [7 favorites]
it is gloriously cool in Toronto today. I took the e-bike out to Highland Creek, which is about 25 km round trip. It was delightful to feel slightly cold
posted by scruss at 3:08 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by scruss at 3:08 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
My 500th figure modeling gig is currently scheduled to take place on October 15th at the Mystic Museum of Art in Mystic, CT. And I just booked a 25-day block of dates for a single long pose at Lyme Academy of Fine Art, which puts my total gigs booked to date at 527!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:19 PM on September 2 [5 favorites]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:19 PM on September 2 [5 favorites]
Quote of the week:
- I'm running for Vice President
- ok
posted by adept256 at 5:16 PM on September 2
- I'm running for Vice President
- ok
posted by adept256 at 5:16 PM on September 2
I realized I'd mentally started switching over to fall already a couple weeks ago - the new job gave me a sort of back-to-school vibe. I also wasn't expecting to have Labor Day off; they only offer Labor Day as a "floating holiday", and I was just too new to avail myself of the Floating Holiday package yet. But then last week everyone realized that I'd be sitting there on Monday doing nothing becuase everyone else would be out, so they told me to stay home today too.
The first two days of this three day weekend were spent doing some serious home re-org - overhauling some stuff in my office, wrestling the air conditioner out of the window, making up some food for the coming weeks' lunches - which left today for one last summer gasp. I took myself to Coney Island, gorged on fried clams and rode three rides and played the best game of Skee-ball I've ever played in my life.
Then I made up a batch of Rocky Road ice cream when I got home. That was SUPPOSED to be the last batch of ice cream for the year, but I've got a hunch the plums I got in the CSA box will end up with one last batch of plum ice cream later this week.
Sitting in my room now with the windows open (with screens) to let in a late evening breeze.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:23 PM on September 2 [6 favorites]
The first two days of this three day weekend were spent doing some serious home re-org - overhauling some stuff in my office, wrestling the air conditioner out of the window, making up some food for the coming weeks' lunches - which left today for one last summer gasp. I took myself to Coney Island, gorged on fried clams and rode three rides and played the best game of Skee-ball I've ever played in my life.
Then I made up a batch of Rocky Road ice cream when I got home. That was SUPPOSED to be the last batch of ice cream for the year, but I've got a hunch the plums I got in the CSA box will end up with one last batch of plum ice cream later this week.
Sitting in my room now with the windows open (with screens) to let in a late evening breeze.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:23 PM on September 2 [6 favorites]
Sliding right from “Watch DS9 episode Past Tense to commemorate the Bell Riots” to “Watch DS9 episode Bar Association” (where Nog organizes a union of Quark’s Bar employees) to commemorate Labour Day.
posted by dry white toast at 5:27 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by dry white toast at 5:27 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
A couple of months ago I was notified I was being called for grand jury service. In this jurisdiction you get summoned for three months of service (but mercifully only one day a week.) Anyway.. September is the last of my three months and I also have plane tickets for a short trip to Seattle towards the end of the month.
I'm quite looking forward to:
posted by Nerd of the North at 5:36 PM on September 2 [5 favorites]
I'm quite looking forward to:
- no longer having to spend a day every week reviewing the worst behavior of the people in my community, and
- being able to get off-island for the first time in half a year and having a chance to visit some different restaurants, maybe catch a musical performance, and do some shopping for construction materials to complete a project I'm trying to finish
posted by Nerd of the North at 5:36 PM on September 2 [5 favorites]
September? Already? Who's responsible for this‽
I'm looking forward to getting out walking and birding a bit more as it gets cooler and the birds start migrating here in New Jersey. Things are going sideways with the local Audubon Society that I'm the president of, but that was sort of expected as lots of the people that did things are getting to the point where they no longer can. Weirdly, most of the other people involved don't see the looming problem, but it will work itself out one way or the other.
posted by mollweide at 8:04 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
I'm looking forward to getting out walking and birding a bit more as it gets cooler and the birds start migrating here in New Jersey. Things are going sideways with the local Audubon Society that I'm the president of, but that was sort of expected as lots of the people that did things are getting to the point where they no longer can. Weirdly, most of the other people involved don't see the looming problem, but it will work itself out one way or the other.
posted by mollweide at 8:04 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
We have new kittens! A litter (plus mama) needed emergency homing, and we were just about ready to start fostering again, following the August 1 departure of our toxic abusive ex-roommate. Everything fell into place and we got them settled in over the weekend.
This is the first time we've ever fostered with a mama. Mama is not entirely feral, but isn't entirely happy being inside either. Too early to see if she's going to warm up to us. She lets us get close to her, and she has tolerated a small amount of petting but we are far from being ready to try to pick her up. At the worst, we will keep her till the kittens are weaned, get her TNRed, and then send her back to her origin spot at least with the avoidance of any further pregnancies. They only just rescued her first litter a couple of weeks ago and were going to try to trap her to have the second litter indoors, but she disappeared and had the litter somewhere else, and they only just found her and the litter again. In a neighbor's yard, who has dogs. Hence the emergency homing- the neighbor was keeping the dogs away but wasn't going to do it for long.
Her first litter was 5 boys, I am told, and this one is 3 boys and 3 girls. 11 kittens in a single season! This poor girl is exhausted. We are theme naming the kittens as the Brady Bunch, with mama being Alice, because she's the one doing all the work. The kittens are only about 3 weeks old, so having the mama is a big, big help. Kittens this young are a lot of work.
posted by notoriety public at 8:14 PM on September 2 [14 favorites]
This is the first time we've ever fostered with a mama. Mama is not entirely feral, but isn't entirely happy being inside either. Too early to see if she's going to warm up to us. She lets us get close to her, and she has tolerated a small amount of petting but we are far from being ready to try to pick her up. At the worst, we will keep her till the kittens are weaned, get her TNRed, and then send her back to her origin spot at least with the avoidance of any further pregnancies. They only just rescued her first litter a couple of weeks ago and were going to try to trap her to have the second litter indoors, but she disappeared and had the litter somewhere else, and they only just found her and the litter again. In a neighbor's yard, who has dogs. Hence the emergency homing- the neighbor was keeping the dogs away but wasn't going to do it for long.
Her first litter was 5 boys, I am told, and this one is 3 boys and 3 girls. 11 kittens in a single season! This poor girl is exhausted. We are theme naming the kittens as the Brady Bunch, with mama being Alice, because she's the one doing all the work. The kittens are only about 3 weeks old, so having the mama is a big, big help. Kittens this young are a lot of work.
posted by notoriety public at 8:14 PM on September 2 [14 favorites]
Yeehaw! It WAS cooler today, low 90s after a long spell over over 100° days. Only 8-10 weeks until Autumn! It usually cools off sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving! But sometimes September has the hottest temps of all 112-114°. This is Austin.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:55 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:55 PM on September 2 [3 favorites]
I recently learned about Come!Unity Press a queer, anarchist print shop, and found it to be an interesting little bit of history.
posted by signsofrain at 9:03 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
posted by signsofrain at 9:03 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]
Thanks for all your kind words about Alfie. He's buried in the back yard now and in a few years he'll mostly be a tree.
Here he is in happier times, and here's his masseuse in very early training (Juno, in the blue collar) and on first setting up shop two years ago.
posted by flabdablet at 6:31 AM on September 3 [5 favorites]
Here he is in happier times, and here's his masseuse in very early training (Juno, in the blue collar) and on first setting up shop two years ago.
posted by flabdablet at 6:31 AM on September 3 [5 favorites]
I just took the plunge and sent an email to Our Opinions Are Correct podcast to let them know about my books We Broke The Moon and The Babylon Eye.
This seems a good way to get visibility - their listeners are exactly my likely readers. But it's SO HARD to do self promotion. I feel like a spammy spammer.
I've tried a lot of the recommended ways (signing up for promotional newsletters, etc) and they just result in a short term bump in sales.
Selling books is hard.
posted by Zumbador at 7:08 AM on September 3 [8 favorites]
This seems a good way to get visibility - their listeners are exactly my likely readers. But it's SO HARD to do self promotion. I feel like a spammy spammer.
I've tried a lot of the recommended ways (signing up for promotional newsletters, etc) and they just result in a short term bump in sales.
Selling books is hard.
posted by Zumbador at 7:08 AM on September 3 [8 favorites]
Flabdablet I'm so sorry for your loss. What a cute floof-dog. Looks like he was a big presence despite his tiny size.
posted by Zumbador at 7:14 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
posted by Zumbador at 7:14 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
Today I learned Metafilter has a free thread sometimes (once a week? )
After an absolutely murderous summer where it felt like the weather was trying to kill me every time I walked outside, this morning is fresh and cool. I sat on the deck staring into the trees and realized I needed to go get a jacket. A jacket!
I need this slight mercy from the outside right now because everything else is hard. My husband has cancer, next week will mark 3 years, and I think we're entering the endgame. But who knows? We've been at the absolute bottom several times now, of terrible pain and near death and then he's treated (for infection, for side effects, etc) and he bounces back.
Last night was a middle of the night pain and itching nightmare, and then we figured out it was an allergy to some wound dressing. I gave him a benadryl and acquired some hypoallergenic dressing and then everything was better, now he's sleeping peacefully. I've had some coffee and the weather is being amazing and suddenly it feels like everything will go back to normal. Probably it will. And then it won't.
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 7:30 AM on September 3 [12 favorites]
After an absolutely murderous summer where it felt like the weather was trying to kill me every time I walked outside, this morning is fresh and cool. I sat on the deck staring into the trees and realized I needed to go get a jacket. A jacket!
I need this slight mercy from the outside right now because everything else is hard. My husband has cancer, next week will mark 3 years, and I think we're entering the endgame. But who knows? We've been at the absolute bottom several times now, of terrible pain and near death and then he's treated (for infection, for side effects, etc) and he bounces back.
Last night was a middle of the night pain and itching nightmare, and then we figured out it was an allergy to some wound dressing. I gave him a benadryl and acquired some hypoallergenic dressing and then everything was better, now he's sleeping peacefully. I've had some coffee and the weather is being amazing and suddenly it feels like everything will go back to normal. Probably it will. And then it won't.
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 7:30 AM on September 3 [12 favorites]
Selling books is hard.
That's why you ought to post a link to the outlet I could buy them from that gives you the biggest cut. I've always enjoyed your turn of phrase on Mefi and I'd love a chance to ingest it in book-length quantities.
posted by flabdablet at 7:52 AM on September 3 [6 favorites]
That's why you ought to post a link to the outlet I could buy them from that gives you the biggest cut. I've always enjoyed your turn of phrase on Mefi and I'd love a chance to ingest it in book-length quantities.
posted by flabdablet at 7:52 AM on September 3 [6 favorites]
Two or three people complained of the "cold" when they came into the office today; one of which was the chief of staff, who was in sandals and a dress. It was the low 60s early in the morning; I was dressed in dress pants and a blouse.
They've been asking me how I can withstand the "cold". I've just shrugged and told people it's because I'm originally from New England.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:26 AM on September 3 [2 favorites]
They've been asking me how I can withstand the "cold". I've just shrugged and told people it's because I'm originally from New England.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:26 AM on September 3 [2 favorites]
that's a more politic answer than "because i know how and when to wear seasonally appropriate clothing" for sure
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:17 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:17 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
We went to Detroit for a Labour Day weekend to visit some good friends of ours who moved there for work. It was a long drive for so short a visit but it was fun! Also, daaaaaaamn Michigan, your weed is stupid cheap.
posted by Kitteh at 9:22 AM on September 3 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 9:22 AM on September 3 [1 favorite]
I was on the receiving end of a surprising instance of textbook narcissism last week, and I would just like to thank the generations of AskMe responders who enabled me to immediately identify it and to quickly come to terms with the fact that I can’t change it.
posted by whuppy at 9:26 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
posted by whuppy at 9:26 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
I saw two plays on Saturday in Lanesboro, a tiny cute little town in SE Minnesota. The first was The Outsider, about a man who gets pushed into political office when his predecessor has to resign. The second was Neil Simon's Rumors. Both were hilarious, and Rumors is playing through the end of the month at least. It was pretty warm this past weekend, but it is supposed to cool down by Friday. The theater was on the cold side, and they even have blankets to hand out. I am ready for cooler weather so I can wear sweaters again! We got spoiled by last winter's mildness, but I am guessing we won't get two in a row.
posted by soelo at 9:52 AM on September 3 [2 favorites]
posted by soelo at 9:52 AM on September 3 [2 favorites]
This weekend we drove 8 hours to where our daughter, who died in May, had lived until last year and had a rented storage locker. We didn't know what we'd find. There wasn't anything special. We took a ratty old chair to the dump, some stuff to a thrift store. We brought home a bicycle, a table saw, and some small miscellany. After 2 days/3 nights there we drove home on Sunday. Yesterday I was exhausted from the drive. Today I'm back in the grind.
We had another big trip 2 weeks ago for vacation with friends and then another one next week for my wife's family reunion. At that point I'll be out of vacation and sick days.
posted by neuron at 9:55 AM on September 3 [4 favorites]
We had another big trip 2 weeks ago for vacation with friends and then another one next week for my wife's family reunion. At that point I'll be out of vacation and sick days.
posted by neuron at 9:55 AM on September 3 [4 favorites]
That's why you ought to post a link to the outlet I could buy them from that gives you the biggest cut.
Thanks flabdablet! This is my book site the links allow you to choose which platform to buy from. It's honestly the same for me so whatever's most convenient.
Briefly:
The Babylon Eye hardboiled ex eco terrorist searches for a lost cyber dog and finds community and friendship.
Ray and the Cat Thing a reviewer said "it's like falling face first in a studio Ghibli film" it's the cozy fantasy escapist book I wrote during lockdown.
We Broke The Moon is my own favourite book, about teenage hackers on a generation space ship, encountering a rogue AI that's obsessed with stories. Hope Punk.
posted by Zumbador at 10:23 AM on September 3 [6 favorites]
Thanks flabdablet! This is my book site the links allow you to choose which platform to buy from. It's honestly the same for me so whatever's most convenient.
Briefly:
The Babylon Eye hardboiled ex eco terrorist searches for a lost cyber dog and finds community and friendship.
Ray and the Cat Thing a reviewer said "it's like falling face first in a studio Ghibli film" it's the cozy fantasy escapist book I wrote during lockdown.
We Broke The Moon is my own favourite book, about teenage hackers on a generation space ship, encountering a rogue AI that's obsessed with stories. Hope Punk.
posted by Zumbador at 10:23 AM on September 3 [6 favorites]
hugs neuron
posted by supermedusa at 11:12 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 11:12 AM on September 3 [3 favorites]
Two or three people complained of the "cold" when they came into the office today; one of which was the chief of staff, who was in sandals and a dress. It was the low 60s early in the morning; I was dressed in dress pants and a blouse.
I'll put it this way: I've never figured out how to dress for "It was 54 degrees when I had to go to work, 80 at lunch, 100 when I leave work, and then who the hell knows how hot/cold it will be by the time I go home at 10 p.m.?" Because putting on and taking off any kind of pants during the day is not as easy as the "wear layers! bring a sweater!" advice one can follow on the top. I tend to wear leggings under dresses and then taking them sumbitches off awkwardly in the toilet later is...not so fun. Neither is boiling like hell going through the parking lot with pants on, either. I wish zipoff at the knee pants were more of A Thing (all I can find are ugly colored ones at REI once in awhile), or perhaps breakaway leggings.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:39 AM on September 3 [2 favorites]
I'll put it this way: I've never figured out how to dress for "It was 54 degrees when I had to go to work, 80 at lunch, 100 when I leave work, and then who the hell knows how hot/cold it will be by the time I go home at 10 p.m.?" Because putting on and taking off any kind of pants during the day is not as easy as the "wear layers! bring a sweater!" advice one can follow on the top. I tend to wear leggings under dresses and then taking them sumbitches off awkwardly in the toilet later is...not so fun. Neither is boiling like hell going through the parking lot with pants on, either. I wish zipoff at the knee pants were more of A Thing (all I can find are ugly colored ones at REI once in awhile), or perhaps breakaway leggings.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:39 AM on September 3 [2 favorites]
Job searching is so weird. I got turned down for a job I didn't even really want and now I'm mad.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:53 PM on September 3 [11 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:53 PM on September 3 [11 favorites]
My partner says it's like when you're a young person and you are upset someone you were planning on breaking up with dumped you first, just purely stupid pride. She's probably right.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:03 PM on September 3 [7 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:03 PM on September 3 [7 favorites]
Ah, all this talk of temperatures going up and hot days. Sigh. Greetings from London, where I'd love more than a day or two of decent summer weather.
The good news today was being signed off by the cardiologist. Eight weeks after surgery and she says everything is good, come for a checkup next year. Now cones the hard work of getting fit again...
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 1:31 PM on September 3 [9 favorites]
The good news today was being signed off by the cardiologist. Eight weeks after surgery and she says everything is good, come for a checkup next year. Now cones the hard work of getting fit again...
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 1:31 PM on September 3 [9 favorites]
Good for you 43rdAnd9th!
My "cardiologist" who isn't actually a doctor, made me jump through every possible hoop, before my surgeons would even consider doing what they wanted to do. Now I can't get ADD meds because of my "heart issues" Sigh.
posted by Windopaene at 2:06 PM on September 3 [2 favorites]
My "cardiologist" who isn't actually a doctor, made me jump through every possible hoop, before my surgeons would even consider doing what they wanted to do. Now I can't get ADD meds because of my "heart issues" Sigh.
posted by Windopaene at 2:06 PM on September 3 [2 favorites]
The brutal heat has left us (for now) and I have truly come to love late summer here near the city of Granada, Spain. Cool breeze at night nearly all the time, and it's safe enough where I live to leave the terrace doors open all night.
This Thursday, the Muslim month of Rabi' al-Awwal starts for many of us here in Spain, based on the (lack of) new crescent moon sighting tonight. This is the month when many Muslims celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAWS. It's really an all-month commemoration in which we learn more about his life and work and ask Allah SWT to send special blessings on him, his family, and his companions. The month culminates in the Mawlid celebration on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal (around September 15 this year). Special get-togethers, food, prayer, singing and percussion, and prayer all play a part.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 3:31 PM on September 3 [4 favorites]
This Thursday, the Muslim month of Rabi' al-Awwal starts for many of us here in Spain, based on the (lack of) new crescent moon sighting tonight. This is the month when many Muslims celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad SAWS. It's really an all-month commemoration in which we learn more about his life and work and ask Allah SWT to send special blessings on him, his family, and his companions. The month culminates in the Mawlid celebration on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal (around September 15 this year). Special get-togethers, food, prayer, singing and percussion, and prayer all play a part.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 3:31 PM on September 3 [4 favorites]
Bye, August, happy to see the last of your heat but also happy it really made the garden grow. The squash exploded, I go out to cut a cucumber or two and find half a dozen monsters (I don't want monsters, oh well, dill relish), the tomatoes are a huge tangled mass and it's time to get the canning stuff out. The apple tree is a learning experience; next year I'll know better about thinning it by June, etc; meanwhile I've got 6 or 7 gallons of apple cider vinegar and starting another batch, and buckets of apples to become hard apple cider. The bugs are fierce all day now, but it's lovely to have the windows open at night and hear crickets instead of cars running the stop signs at the old place.
posted by winesong at 4:05 PM on September 3 [3 favorites]
posted by winesong at 4:05 PM on September 3 [3 favorites]
Our kiddo was talking about Homecoming and I kept humming "How Soon Is Now?" and couldn't figure out why.
Then it hit me:
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home
And you cry and you want to die
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:32 PM on September 3 [4 favorites]
Then it hit me:
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home
And you cry and you want to die
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:32 PM on September 3 [4 favorites]
We just had, here in Seattle, like our coolest August in decades. My driveway garbage can cucumbers have been awesome. My back yard ones, nada. But can't eat enough refrigerator pickles to keep up. After two years of the driveway ones being all bent and weird. And the strawbs in the back have had more fruit than ever. And the one good blueberry in the front that has always been productive, it is again.
Fresh Fruit!!!
posted by Windopaene at 7:05 PM on September 3 [2 favorites]
Fresh Fruit!!!
posted by Windopaene at 7:05 PM on September 3 [2 favorites]
Awww, flabdablet, I'm so sorry. I'm certain he had a wonderful life being mauled by a fluffball, and being loved by you and your family.
posted by theora55 at 8:05 PM on September 3
posted by theora55 at 8:05 PM on September 3
A person is flirting with me. I'm also flirting. It's so much fun. There's an age gap, so, hmmm, but it's been a long time. I just needed to tell somebody.
posted by chekhov's sock at 8:11 PM on September 3 [8 favorites]
posted by chekhov's sock at 8:11 PM on September 3 [8 favorites]
They only want your money
posted by Mr. Yuck at 8:23 PM on September 3 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr. Yuck at 8:23 PM on September 3 [1 favorite]
The epony is strong with this one.
posted by flabdablet at 9:55 PM on September 3 [4 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 9:55 PM on September 3 [4 favorites]
I need this job, very much, as it is currently the only job in the household and pays quite well and our lives have abruptly become extremely expensive. But oh lord, I am exhausted, and I don't want to do any of this anymore. It doesn't help that recently my boss is also BIG UP on going all kinds of extra miles to "develop" our "careers" without considering whether any of us actually have careers we want to develop, or any time to do that in.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:29 AM on September 4 [4 favorites]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:29 AM on September 4 [4 favorites]
We were asked to leave our favourite independent café for bringing outside food in this morning. We've been coming in at least once a week since they opened late last year. We tried their food, and it wasn't great. La Bastille bakery is on our way to the café, so we'd started bringing their snacks in. There were no signs, the place was virtually empty: so I guess paying $12 + tip for two cups of coffee isn't enough these days.
posted by scruss at 1:46 PM on September 4 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 1:46 PM on September 4 [1 favorite]
We are getting the exterior of our house painted, and because we live in a subdivision with a HOA we have to choose our colors from the Book of HOA Approved Paint Colors, so we spent some time looking through that book today. There were lots of interesting color names, including "Accessible Beige" and "Hint of Mist", but the best name winner was "Dorian Gray". I think if you paint your house that color, it looks good forever, but you have to keep a picture of it in your attic that looks progressively more cracked, chipped and faded.
posted by Daily Alice at 2:20 PM on September 4 [7 favorites]
posted by Daily Alice at 2:20 PM on September 4 [7 favorites]
Today, I got a pretty decent job offer. Then, the company that laid me off in June called me back and said that they now realized they laid off too many people, so they wanted to know if I would like my old job back. I'm still waiting on a third company where I am supposedly the top candidate to set up a final interview. I think I might like that one best of all.
So, everything's coming upMillhouse DOT, I guess.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:46 PM on September 4 [11 favorites]
So, everything's coming up
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:46 PM on September 4 [11 favorites]
Today's school shooting was just up the road from where I work. Many of my students went to that school. Many of my colleagues live in that community (because it's cheaper than just over the county line where we work). One of my best students wasn't in class because she had gone home to make sure her family were all okay. The shooter was 14 years old. The congressman who represents that area literally had an AR-15 on his campaign signs in 2022. Ban guns now.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:24 PM on September 4 [7 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 5:24 PM on September 4 [7 favorites]
Expensive afternoon for Mr Dog and I, though not as expensive as it could have been.
I finally got a new pair of walking shoes (mfg recommends 300-500 mile interval, I was well over 1,000 miles on these and it really showed). So my feet and knees will be happier and we might actually have some traction for a few weeks, good news as autumn rains will soon enough be here. But shoes are $175 (which is why we waited as long as we did).
Pup needed his flea prevention medication, six month supply. It's $225! It was half that not that long ago, and I see online it's around $175 at petsmart, so I gather my vet isn't getting the same deal the big guys are. (It's prescription, though, and while I'm not "happy" about paying more to buy from my vet, it's a lot less of a pain than jumping through hoops online...I think.)
Also, pup has chewed his way through his "fancy" kibble and we needed a new bag. They're normally $70 or so, but the pet store has a "buy 12 bags get the next one free" loyalty program. We were still a few bags away, but the clerk looked at our history and noted that they changed the program to be "12 bags within 24 months" a while ago, not a straight-up "every 12 bags" deal, and told us we'd likely never hit the free bag again as we only buy a bag every 10 weeks. However, he said "not fair--with no prompting from me--and gave me the bag for free today! Which kinda makes up for the expensive flea meds. In any case, a very nice thing to do. (I should have wondered, in retrospect, why every time I've asked "how many more until the free bag?" for the last few times, the number they told me had not changed...)
Finally, we ran into Pretty Woman with the Pretty Collie at the park on the way home, which was enjoyable. Third time we've seen them. (Sadly, I suspect she is at least 20 years younger than me [and I'm not pretty], so best stay in my lane.) But it's fun to chat and Mr Dog likes Big Fluffy Collie, whose roughly his size--my guy is a (big) border collie and her dog is a rough collie who is a bit taller than my guy, not even considering the extra dimension of his big hairdo. I suspect they weigh about the same. Running into those two would put a bounce in my step for the rest of the day, if it wasn't for the possibility of injury. Probably better to have a graham cracker.
posted by maxwelton at 7:04 PM on September 4 [2 favorites]
I finally got a new pair of walking shoes (mfg recommends 300-500 mile interval, I was well over 1,000 miles on these and it really showed). So my feet and knees will be happier and we might actually have some traction for a few weeks, good news as autumn rains will soon enough be here. But shoes are $175 (which is why we waited as long as we did).
Pup needed his flea prevention medication, six month supply. It's $225! It was half that not that long ago, and I see online it's around $175 at petsmart, so I gather my vet isn't getting the same deal the big guys are. (It's prescription, though, and while I'm not "happy" about paying more to buy from my vet, it's a lot less of a pain than jumping through hoops online...I think.)
Also, pup has chewed his way through his "fancy" kibble and we needed a new bag. They're normally $70 or so, but the pet store has a "buy 12 bags get the next one free" loyalty program. We were still a few bags away, but the clerk looked at our history and noted that they changed the program to be "12 bags within 24 months" a while ago, not a straight-up "every 12 bags" deal, and told us we'd likely never hit the free bag again as we only buy a bag every 10 weeks. However, he said "not fair--with no prompting from me--and gave me the bag for free today! Which kinda makes up for the expensive flea meds. In any case, a very nice thing to do. (I should have wondered, in retrospect, why every time I've asked "how many more until the free bag?" for the last few times, the number they told me had not changed...)
Finally, we ran into Pretty Woman with the Pretty Collie at the park on the way home, which was enjoyable. Third time we've seen them. (Sadly, I suspect she is at least 20 years younger than me [and I'm not pretty], so best stay in my lane.) But it's fun to chat and Mr Dog likes Big Fluffy Collie, whose roughly his size--my guy is a (big) border collie and her dog is a rough collie who is a bit taller than my guy, not even considering the extra dimension of his big hairdo. I suspect they weigh about the same. Running into those two would put a bounce in my step for the rest of the day, if it wasn't for the possibility of injury. Probably better to have a graham cracker.
posted by maxwelton at 7:04 PM on September 4 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: bounce, or graham cracker
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:14 PM on September 4 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:14 PM on September 4 [2 favorites]
We were asked to leave our favourite independent café for bringing outside food in
Lifetime ban, or just a one-time ejection? I would be inclined to tell them that their coffee's great but their snacks are lacking, and maybe they could be selling stuff from that bakery you like?
Or you get everything to go and find a nice park bench. They lose the tips.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:54 PM on September 5
Lifetime ban, or just a one-time ejection? I would be inclined to tell them that their coffee's great but their snacks are lacking, and maybe they could be selling stuff from that bakery you like?
Or you get everything to go and find a nice park bench. They lose the tips.
posted by Artful Codger at 1:54 PM on September 5
So yeah, I'm pretty sure this new job is gonna "take". The biggest adjustment is timing - for the previous 4 years I've been able to either walk to work or had a super-short commute, and now it's an hour each way; which is actually more typical for NYC, I just got lucky for a while. It's still dealable, I've just got less pep in the evenings when I get home and tend to want dinner to be easy instead of being able to do the luxurious cooking I had been doing.
Fortunately we are entering the season where I tend to do lazy-weekend batch-cooking meal-prep anyway, and got a promotional deal on these freezer trays in varying portion sizes. The idea is that you freeze stuff in them, and then you can either leave them in the trays (they are oven safe) so you can pop them right in the oven later, or you can extract things out of the trays when they're frozen and store the solid blocks of whatever in a freezer bag. The biggest size is the perfect size for a baking dish I already use for single-serve casseroles, so in theory I could freeze a few blocks o' casserole and have them ready so I can come home, pull out a casseroleberg, drop it in the dish and fling it in the oven.
I may soon be stashing blocks of chili, pot pie and Hot Dish in my freezer already portioned out for the months ahead. Lunches are already covered with the copious bean salads I make anyway (someone I work with remarked that I bring "very healthy lunches" every day; I'm working on her as a Rancho Gordo convert and I haven't even been here a month).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:07 AM on September 6 [2 favorites]
Fortunately we are entering the season where I tend to do lazy-weekend batch-cooking meal-prep anyway, and got a promotional deal on these freezer trays in varying portion sizes. The idea is that you freeze stuff in them, and then you can either leave them in the trays (they are oven safe) so you can pop them right in the oven later, or you can extract things out of the trays when they're frozen and store the solid blocks of whatever in a freezer bag. The biggest size is the perfect size for a baking dish I already use for single-serve casseroles, so in theory I could freeze a few blocks o' casserole and have them ready so I can come home, pull out a casseroleberg, drop it in the dish and fling it in the oven.
I may soon be stashing blocks of chili, pot pie and Hot Dish in my freezer already portioned out for the months ahead. Lunches are already covered with the copious bean salads I make anyway (someone I work with remarked that I bring "very healthy lunches" every day; I'm working on her as a Rancho Gordo convert and I haven't even been here a month).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:07 AM on September 6 [2 favorites]
I need everyone to send positive thoughts for the young foster cat I have, who has gotten a application in. She is one of those Full of Personality bossy queens-in-the-making, and I'm hoping that the fact that she does love people and cuddling, and gets along well with cats (especially young dumb boy cats who she can sit on and groom) will make up for the fact that she take a bit longer than average to adjust to new situations and can occasionally be swatty. I need her adopted because she loathes my two dogs, and they have to take wide paths around the house to avoid her charging at them hissing like a steam kettle.
Meanwhile, the two kittens in the upstairs bedroom are cheerful little fuzzballs who enjoy life immensely.
posted by PussKillian at 9:42 AM on September 6 [4 favorites]
Meanwhile, the two kittens in the upstairs bedroom are cheerful little fuzzballs who enjoy life immensely.
posted by PussKillian at 9:42 AM on September 6 [4 favorites]
We had our elderly cat's senior wellness exam today, and our usual vet wasn't available so we saw a guy I've never met before. He was very nice but seemed surprised and amused at the lengths we go to keep our elderly cat comfortable which include such onerous tasks as providing her a step for the bed, trying to keep her from drinking water on an empty stomach (since that makes her throw up), and providing her a 24/7 heat pad. He jokingly described it as "it sounds like you've set up your whole lives around this cat!"
We figured based on a few of his comments that he's just more of a dog person than a cat person, and I do know the level of care we provide for our cat is not typical in today's society, but he did seem to think we were being really over the top for being willing to--his example--get up off the couch while watching a movie to go stop her from accidentally making herself throw up. After we left I said to my partner, "Well, I guess somebody's not a cat lady for Kamala!"
posted by brook horse at 1:56 PM on September 6 [1 favorite]
We figured based on a few of his comments that he's just more of a dog person than a cat person, and I do know the level of care we provide for our cat is not typical in today's society, but he did seem to think we were being really over the top for being willing to--his example--get up off the couch while watching a movie to go stop her from accidentally making herself throw up. After we left I said to my partner, "Well, I guess somebody's not a cat lady for Kamala!"
posted by brook horse at 1:56 PM on September 6 [1 favorite]
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posted by seanmpuckett at 9:18 AM on September 2 [1 favorite]