Well this year was mostly shit. It's bad enough that we're still dealing with the covid foolishness, then my dad died and that was an ordeal. Now things are starting to turn around. I sold his Volvo & got some $$. Then yesterday I got a check in the mail from his pension plan for the death benefit. Also today, QoH's social security payment was deposited with the amount that dad was getting. $$$ I signed the papers to sell dad's properties on Monday, so when that sale goes through, more $$$$$$. Having piles of $ suddenly start showing up really is a great stress reliever. ☺☺☺
Arekino-san, have you ever been to Germany? I was just looking up the driving distance between Amsterdam and Berlin. It's similar to driving from Miami to Georgia. Not terrible. I'm sure there's probably a train that would get one there. I have a few European cities on my bucket list. Now that I'm going to have some money coming my way, it's not out of the question any more.☺
Only in the technically correct sense in that I have been at the Drielandenpunt in the south of the country. It's a location at the border where 3 countries, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.
It's a location at the border where 3 countries, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.
That's kinda like a few states where you can stand on the spot where they all meet.
I guess your sister would be the one to ask about travel related things. ;P
What about US cities?
I guess LA and San Francisco, although San Fran has been ruined by all the homeless people everywhere and who shit all over the sidewalks. Plus it's terribly expensive. Driving up the Pacific Coast Highway in California is something that I'd like to do, but gas out there is so damn expensive (like everything else in that state) that it's probably not something that's going to happen any time soon.
I figure at some point I might go to Las Vegas with Roxy since that's her favorite place. I'd also like to go to Salem, Massachusetts, but that's not a big city. I've already seen everything else that's interesting on the east coast. I would like to visit Utah, but mostly the national parks there.
Any other places in the world you'd like to go to?
I'd like to go to a few places in Europe, like Mont St Michel in France, Bruges & Antwerpen in Belgium, NL, Germany, Czech Republic, & Hungary. Also New Zealand has always seemed like a really cool place to go to.
As far as semi-locally, I'd like to take a trip up to Ichetucknee Springs again. I went there a couple of times with my family when I was a kid, but we never got to see the spring head because it was closed because of too many people there. We only got to tube the river from the halfway point. Still, it was a beautiful place and the river is crystal clear like a swimming pool.
I'd also like to go up to St Augustine again. One of my cousins lives there now, so it would be nice to see him again as well.
One of my cousins lives there now, so it would be nice to see him again as well.
I think it's been decades since I've seen a non-direct family member. Also, I'm not really hoping to see one. I don't hate them but I'm just not interested in them.
They are better. My feet are a little sore from being on them for a while today. I went to my dad's house to get some more of his tools to bring back home. My cousin came over because there were some things that he wanted.
Afterward, I went to Burlington in the shopping plaza across the street to try to find a pair of black sneakers for work. I was successful. I found a pair of Avia brand for $20. Then it took a half hour standing in line to get to pay since they only had 2 cashiers working. :/
After that, I went to Aldi to get a few things. I had been buying canned herring fillets from there for QoH, but it appears that they are all sold out now. I picked up some kielbasa and a marinated boneless pork shoulder roast instead. I wanted to buy another tri-tip sirloin like I bought a few days ago (it was really good), but those were sold out, too. :/
Like sardines, but it's herring. Also they're in a mango & pineapple chutney. I think they're quite tasty. QoH likes them also.
Probably not as Dutch as I'd like. ;P
You're probably right. ;P
Is there a general lack of foodstuffs to buy or is it just some particular things? Coincidence or pattern?
I think Aldi only purchases small amounts of things from their suppliers to cut down on unsold inventory. It's kinda annoying because you'll find a product that you like, then they don't carry it all the time. They do have a lot of things that are regular items, so it's not like that with everything.
I'd say the fish themselves taste slightly smoked. The chutney is not very sweet. I think it has a nice flavor.
Surely Aldi isn't the only shop that has that those products?
Other stores have canned herring, but it is plain. I've only seen the chutney ones at Aldi.
I'm blogging from my phone. How do you scroll down on a phone?
Anyway, I went to my dad's house today to sign some more paperwork regarding the sale of the house. I also brought home the 2 smaller TV's. I can't bear to just give them away. The big TV was too heavy for me to pick up & I have no place for it at home.
Then a while ago I got an email from the HR lady at work. She denied my request for religious exemption and took me off the schedule until I bring proof of vax. I guess I'm done working there since I'm not going to take an experimental mRNA "vax". If there was a traditional style vax, I might consider taking it. I'm not really upset about losing my job there. They were just putting me on all the bs 6am shit and the new manager is difficult to work with. No great loss. Plus I can find something somewhere else that pays better.
There is a possibility. I don't see why a shot that neither prevents one from getting sick nor prevents the transmission of this virus should be mandated. It seems like Sweden got it right with their approach to handling the virus.
neither prevents one from getting sick nor prevents the transmission of this virus
As I understand it, the vaccine makes the virus less transmissible as it indirectly causes the virus to make fewer copies of itself. You get less sick and you're sick for a shorter period. Something like that.
It seems like Sweden got it right with their approach to handling the virus.
I guess moving to Sweden is out of the question? :) It's a pretty country though.
I still prefer natural immunity. Once you get the virus, your immune system will recognize variants. With these 💉, they're only good for the original version of the virus, hence the need for boosters every 6-8 months like they're now saying. It makes no sense to me to mandate a shot for everyone for a virus with a 99% survivability rate.
I guess moving to Sweden is out of the question? :) It's a pretty country though.
LOL I won't be moving anywhere. It *is* a pretty country. I used to work with some Swedish people. Both were characters. Very opinionated & headstrong, but very serious about being professionals.
I think long-term, natural immunity is going to win out.
Apparently a little over 50% have been fully vaccinated in the USA at the moment. Even in Florida it's over 50%. Looks like vaccinations are going to win.
If by "win", you mean that there will be more people vaxxed than unvaxxed, then yes, it looks that way. But as far as long term benefits are concerned, only time will tell on that.
Well it is Labor Day weekend here. It looks like it's going to rain all weekend. I haven't bothered to take anything out of the freezer to bbq. :/
My cousin is taking his boat down to Key West for the holiday. Hopefully the weather will be better for him down there.
My dad used to joke that his mother & her family left Amsterdam and came to a place with similar weather. ;P
He didn't invite you to come along?
He was going with his girlfriend, so I don't think he wanted anyone else going along. LOL
Speaking of my cousin, last weekend he went up to Lake City where his parents lived (before they died) and brought back his father's 1969 Chevy Nova. It's too bad he's in Key West this weekend because Holy Mackerel is having the classic car show today at the restaurant and that car could definitely win a prize.
They came to the US in 1923. I don't know why they left Amsterdam, but according to the Ellis Island records, they were originally from Garoet, Java, Dutch East Indies (before it became Indonesia).
Well, once again it is raining & thundering here. I'm watching a NWSL soccer game between Orlando and Houston. It's not very excited. I'm going to have to find something more interesting to watch. :/
they were originally from Garoet, Java, Dutch East Indies
Were they indigenous Javanese people?
once again it is raining & thundering here.
Over here it's annoyingly warm (but dry) for September. I have to actually open a window to keep the temperature pleasant, although it's mostly the humidity that bothers me.
No, they were ethnically Dutch. I think they worked for the Dutch East India company.
Over here it's annoyingly warm..it's mostly the humidity that bothers me.
What a coincidence! It's the same here! ;P
We've been averaging 92 degrees every day here. Sometimes it's much hotter. A couple of times last week when I was out & about, my car's thermometer registered 98 degrees (Ft Lauderdale & Hollywood). :/
I think they worked for the Dutch East India company.
Yeah, I guess they would have to be in those days.
Man, I'm glad the Netherlands got out of there, eventually. Such a dark chapter in our history. More than a chapter actually. Over half of the book.
What a coincidence! It's the same here!
But it's relatively normal for you guys. It's times like these I wished I lived in the north of the country. But then I'd have to live among the Frisians. Don't know what that would be like.
my car's thermometer registered 98 degrees
Sure, but the inside of a car is like a greenhouse. It's bound to get hot in there.
I'm glad the Netherlands got out of there, eventually.
I'm glad my ancestors got out of there and weren't killed by the Japanese during WW2. My ancestors on both sides had a way of slipping away from serious historical events. My maternal grandfather was too young for WW1 and too old for WW2. He came to the US to work for Marconi (as the story goes) at Westinghouse in Michigan.
More than a chapter actually. Over half of the book.
Meh, it's the way of the world and human behavior. Only the players change. Now it's the Chinese who are colonizing and sucking up resources from around the world.
But then I'd have to live among the Frisians.
LOL Are the Frisians that bad? (Besides talking funny? ;P )
but the inside of a car is like a greenhouse. It's bound to get hot in there.
No, it's an external thermometer. The inside temperature was probably 130 at least! (Before I turn the AC on.)
Well the last couple of days haven't seemed too bad. It's a very subtle difference that only a native such as myself can detect. ;)
They're probably no worse than the rest of the country. :)
I was curious as to what Frisian sounded like. I recalled an Eddie Izzard video where he was trying to speak Old English to some Frisian farmer. I did a little research. It seams that Frisian is sorta in-between Dutch & English. I found a video of a lady speaking it. It's weird hearing a language that I don't understand but kinda-sorta understanding a few words.
So it measures the temperature of the air?
Yes.
Well yesterday we had a thunderstorm that had a lightning strike which knocked out our power for almost 2 hours. FPL sent out a crew & got it back on. Then 2 hours later, it went out again. It took them 6 hours to fix it the second time. I think the transformer that was damaged during Hurricane Wilma back in 2005 finally went 100% caput and they were finally forced to replace it. It was very annoying being without power for that long, but if it's a new transformer, then it shouldn't have problems all the time like the old one, and that's a good thing and a small price to pay for a consistent energy supply. :)
I left the house at 6:30pm yesterday (2 hours after the power went out the 2nd time) to go to my dad's house to collect the mail and check on things. Then I went to Publix to buy the 20 piece box of fried chicken wings that they had on sale and to see if they had a couple of other sale items. I think it was a little after 8pm by the time I got back. I was hoping that the power would have been restored by then, but it wasn't.
It seemed like they had the whole FPL fleet of trucks out by then. It had turned into a major production. Luckily for them, it wasn't raining. They got the power switched back on around 10:10pm.
At least it didn't get too hot in the house while the electricity was off. I think it only got about 2 degrees hotter than what I had the thermostat set at. And I had plenty of battery powered lanterns & flashlights already set up for hurricane season, so it wasn't like we were sitting around in the dark for several hours.
I played with my phone. Then when the battery power started getting low, I went out to my car & put it on the charger and listened to music on the stereo while it charged. QoH kept falling asleep during the ordeal, so that was a good thing. :)
Well when I finally get my dad's properties sold and I have some money to spend, I'm going to fix a few of the minor things that have broken on my car. It needs a new window regulator on the passenger side, new stereo speakers, a paint job, and probably new spark plugs & wires.
Today it didn't rain, so I took the opportunity to mow the yard. I still need to trim a lot of the shrubberies which have grown out of control from all the rain. At least it has felt a little less humid the past couple of days (still hot, though).
I haven't heard a thing from anyone at work. They are very unprofessional. I'd like to file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC, but on the other hand, I don't really want to fight for a job that I dislike.
The few days that I went back to work, it was back to the old nonsense. I felt disrespected just like before. I don't miss going in to work there. The only thing I miss is the easy money. When I get everything with my dad's estate completed, then I'll look for another job. Hopefully I can find something a little closer to where I live. Having to drive all the way to downtown FTL was getting to be a chore.
I don't know yet. I'll see what's available and what interests me.
Today I was going to make a delicious meatloaf, but when I went to get an onion out of the root bin, I discovered that the 3 in there had gone bad. I managed to salvage half of one, but it wasn't enough for my recipe. I prepped most of the ingredients, then had to go to the grocery store for new onions and a few other things.
When I got home, I chopped up an onion & mixed everything together and put it in the oven for an hour. I made some broccoli & mashed potatoes to go with it. It was a delicious meal. :)
I haven't had meatloaf since I was a child. Actually, maybe that wasn't meatloaf. I vaguely remember it had melted cheese inside. I think it was called a "boomstam", a tree trunk.
Really? It's wonderful comfort food. And there are many ways to make it.
Today I mailed some legal paperwork, then fixed the broken passenger side visor in my car. The little plastic thing that holds it in place had cracked. I used some electrical tape to hold it together, then screwed everything back in place. It is holding for now. I also took the door panel off the passenger side to try to fix the window, but it was a little more complicated than the visor, so I put it back on. I don't have the new regulator, so I'll try it another time. Or I'll just pay someone to do it.
Right now I have a Key Lime pie in the oven that I made from scratch (aside from the crust lol). I didn't have Key Limes, so I just used regular limes. I guess technically it's a lime pie.😜 It still tastes the same to me anyway.
I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference. Maybe some lime snob would. :)
It seems like it doesn't taste intensely of lime like Key Lime pie usually does. Or that could be because I didn't use enough lime zest.
Why the smiley? Are you alluding to something?
Nah, just joking around.
Today I contacted the city of Hollywood regarding my dad's business tax bill. I told the customer service lady that he died & the property is being sold. She said that I wouldn't have to pay the tax, but just email the city & let them know (which I did). Then I called the gas company to cancel his gas service. I didn't have to pay that bill either because the customer service lady said that the June bill was paid twice. The only thing I have to pay is a partial final bill which they'll send next month.
Two phone calls saved me around $90. ☺ I'll be glad when the sale is finalized so I can stop paying the electric & utility bills. I don't want to have those disconnected yet because it's nice having electricity & water when I go over there. It'll also be nice to not have to pay the mortgage any more.
Yes. I have some things boxed up that need to be donated. I'd also like to try to sell the furniture. And I still need to sell dad's truck. And I think there are a few small things that I'd like to bring home.
Unfortunately, no. My house is packed with crap and I'm not going to pay to rent a storage unit. For the amount of stuff that's worth selling, it would probably cost me $100 per month for a storage unit large enough.
I doubt I'll ever be moving into my own place. If QoH ever croaks, I'll just continue living here. I'd get rid of most of her crap, then fix the house to my tastes.
No. I kinda like the sky blue color that it is now.
I would clean out all the crap in the basement and turn it into the entertainment room that it was meant to be. I'd also like to fix up the kitchen. I'd put new bottom cabinets & granite counter tops and refinish the upper cabinets. The spare bedroom I'd clean out, then turn it into a closet room for all my shoes and clothes.😎
You mean like a home cinema or something? Or you own private pole dancing stage? :)
I think you're confusing me for Roxy!😂 There's a half-finished bar down there. Plus I'd like to put a pool table and a comfortable sofa for watching TV. There used to be a pool table down there when I was a kid, but it was a really crappy cheap one. I learned when I was an adult (and it was long gone) that it was given to us by the neighbor across the street when their family moved. Our next door neighbors who were in the unlicensed pharmaceutical business IYKWIM had a really nice professional quality one, plus a nice bar & big screen TV and a gazillion VHS tapes.
LOL I told her what you said and she thought it was an excellent idea!😂😂😂 Unfortunately, the ceiling is too low in the basement for a stripper pole. It would have to go in the living room.😜
LOL Now I have 2 of you wanting me to put a stripper pole in my house! I might just do it when QoH croaks!😂
How is Roxy doing BTW? No covid probs?
She's ok. I went to her house on Saturday to bring her an avocado. I stayed & chatted with her for about 2 hours. She mainly takes care of her parents & worries too much. She doesn't look too healthy to me. I don't think she gets enough sleep or eats right. She's really showing her age (I would never tell her that so bluntly).
No covid probs?
Her and her parents have managed to avoid getting sick without being vaxxed. Her guy friends haven't been so lucky.
Parents doing okay?
Her mom is doing well. Her mind is very sharp. Her only complaint is a mobility issue from when she fell & fractured her hip last year. She gets up & out, she just has to use a walker to get around.
Her dad is still suffering with the skin cancer on his head & memory issues. Roxy doesn't want him to get chemo or surgery because it would probably kill him faster than the cancer. She's trying alternative methods for it.
"Boyfriend" doing okay?
She has 4 guy friends that she talks to. She doesn't have an official boyfriend. The one she calls "redneck" is in the hospital with covid. He is seriously overweight so it doesn't surprise me that he's in the hospital.
"Limp" also has covid + pneumonia. He went to the hospital, but they sent him home. At least he takes vitamins & stuff & is relatively healthy. His regular doctor prescribed steroids & antibiotics for him. (IDK why antibiotics as they're useless for viruses)
"The cop" finally retired and is doing ok. I think he was sick with a sinus infection. And "Uniball" is his usual self. I don't think he's been sick. I know Roxy went out to eat with him and tried to get him to help her with her unemployment stuff.
I guess that settles it then: the living room it is. :)
It's the only logical solution.😜
Today I had to go over to dad's to unlock the gate & hide the house key for the buyer's general contractor who is supposed to go over there tomorrow to take measurements. While I was out, I stopped by TJ Maxx. I bought myself a bracelet and a bottle of the perfume that I wear (both on sale, $16 & $12 respectively) and a shirt for $10. I'm just considering them to be early Christmas presents.☺
She looks very exhausted. She used to care about her physical appearance, now she doesn't bother. She used to have really beautiful thick hair, now it's looking very thin & brittle. And her skin is getting saggy & wrinkled. I know that we all age differently due to genetics, but nutrition & stress do play a role. I know that she doesn't get enough sleep & doesn't eat right, plus she's always worried about her parents.
She may be keeping herself a bit too busy.
I don't think she's been seeing them in person. She usually communicates by phone or text. When she went to the restaurant with Uniball the other day, I think that's the first time in a couple of months that she's been out with anyone.
Is she someone who tends to worry about people?
Yes, but she mainly worries about her parents & her brother who has cancer and isn't doing well.
Today I was going to go over to dad's house to check on things & make sure the contractor locked up the house & left the key, but it's been raining all day and I don't feel like going out. I'm going to run some errands tomorrow, so I'll do it then while I'm out. I just hope that the lights & air conditioning weren't left on like the last time people were over there to look at things. :/
She doesn't drink. She uses THC products. I'm not sure how often she actually smokes it. I think she usually vapes or takes edibles. Lately it's been a lot of edibles. :/
You haven't yet heard from him then?
I communicate with the buyer. The contractor is someone that his company uses to fix up the properties that he buys.
Anyway, it's a good thing that I went over there. Everything was left on again. I texted the buyer & let him know. He said he'd pay the electric bill.
I suppose to reduce stress. Just to be able to relax.
Yes, and also for nausea. She has anxiety and needs to get that under control. I can understand and empathize since I had anxiety for almost the first thirty years of my life, but there comes a point where you need to deal with the cause of it and not rely on substances to cope.
Maybe she should just take hot baths.
She saw her doctor yesterday. He gave her some sleeping pills. She had taken one last night while we were texting. I guess it worked since it seemed like she passed out before I did.😂 I had slept 10 hours the night before and was still wide awake after midnight. Usually I go to bed around 10:30 or 11pm. She usually stays up all night checking on her parents & worrying about them.
That's really inconsiderate. :/
Yes, it is. People don't seem to have any common sense these days. I wonder if they leave all the lights on & the AC running full blast when they leave their own home? I had a feeling that he was going to do that again, hence the reason I wanted to go over there to check things the day that he was supposed to go to the house. If it wasn't for the bad weather, I would have. It pisses me off that everything was on over 24 hours. My dad's AC is old & very inefficient and uses a lot of electricity. I've been trying to keep the bill as low as possible by not turning on lights or running the AC if I can get away with it when I'm over there.
What would happen to her if they got sick or died?
IDK. I was thinking about that yesterday. She'd definitely be distraught. I know when her dad eventually dies, she'll definitely take it a lot harder than when my dad died. She's very close with her parents and they've always been supportive of her.
Are contractors actually people though? :)
The one that the buyer uses seems to be an idiot.
It has rained here all week. It rained off & on all day today. I'm really tired of it. I had no energy to do anything today. :/
Maybe. Dealing with QoH and her bs every day is also exhausting. :/
Have you heard anything from work BTW?
No. I didn't expect to. There was only a couple of emails from one of the tech guys about wifi passwords and stuff, but I think that was something sent out to everyone. I just ignored it. I don't care about that place any more. They've gone too far with their authoritarian approach to the virus. I think they'd fit in well in Australia. They are already breaking Florida law by asking guests for proof of vaccination before they can get in to see the shows.
I'm surprised that no one has reported them yet. Although I *did* see some people grumbling about it on a FB post about the Pat Benatar show next month.
Well the weather has finally gotten kinda nice. There was definitely less humidity today, and it was sunny and not extremely hot. I tried to sit out in the back yard to get some sun, but after about 5 minutes it was too hot so I went in the house. At least I'm not as ghostly white as Roxy.😂 (I have a little bit of a tan, but not leatherized like a French Canadian snowbird.😂😂)
We've had excellent weather here as well. I took a really nice walk today. :)
Sounds nice.☺ We are supposed to have nice weather for the rest of the week. It would be nice to get out and enjoy it.
For a minute there I thought you were talking about an actual bird. I even googled "French Canadian snowbird"...
😂😂😂 No, it's what we Floridians call the northerners who come down here for the winter. They usually go to the beach every day until their skin looks like old leather. I found a documentary for you.😜
Today was much hotter than the weather peeps said it would be. They said 87, but my car's thermometer said 92 when I was out running errands. :/ I had to go over to my dad's house to collect the mail since I hadn't been over there since last Thursday. I also wanted to take his battery powered lawnmower to Roxy, so I loaded it in my car & took it to Roxy's house. I told her if she wanted to make some extra money to list all my dad's furniture & stuff on her Neighbors app & I'd let her keep half of the sales. The guy who is buying dad's properties wants to close on them soon, so I don't have much time to try to sell stuff. I don't really want to leave everything in the house for him to dispose of if there's a chance that I can make a little money on the stuff.
Oh.. I see.. Yes.. Thank you.. :)
I was trying to find a pic of some snowbirds when I ran across that documentary. I know exactly where that trailer park is located. It's one of a handful that are left.
I meant one of those big ones that you can put in garden and sit under. We've always had one of those. You put a chair and little table underneath it and you drink a cold beverage. :)
I'd let her keep half of the sales.
Look at you. It's like you're running a business. Paying people to sell stuff for you. Pretty neat.
I meant one of those big ones that you can put in garden and sit under.
We don't have one of those, either. When you said parasol, I thought you meant one of those small frilly umbrellas that ladies used to carry to shield them from the sun. ;) For Florida it would be convenient to have the big umbrella with the mosquito netting attached. (I saw one of those on the Internet somewhere.) A lot of people just have screened-in patios here. Unfortunately, we don't. :/
It's like you're running a business.
Well time's up on that. I have to go to the lawyer's office tomorrow morning to sign paperwork for the estate bank account & find out about the closing. The buyer is eager to finalize everything since the judge has approved everything. It should be a done deal by Monday.
I'm trying to talk Roxy into taking a few things to her house to sell(like the big flat screen TV & the other portable AC). If not, the smaller things I can theoretically find a place for here(like dad's batter powered lawn tools).
I had no idea mosquitos were that much of an issue. Even in the middle of the city?
It's Florida, so yes. It's hot, humid, subtropical, and rains all the damn time for 8 months of the year. And there's that thing called the Everglades. It's the perfect climate for mosquitoes. :/
I went to see my lawyer today to sign papers for the estate bank accounts that the money from the sale of dad's property has to go in until the probate is closed. The good news is that I'm not the one who has to pay off the mortgage. It gets done at the closing, so one less thing I have to do myself. I went to Roxy's afterward and chatted with her for about an hour before she had to go to work. Then I went to the post office to get the form to forward my dad's mail to my house. I should have done that a while ago, but whatever. Then Monday or Tuesday will be the closing on the properties. It'll be nice to finally be done with it. ☺
Are people still sending mail to him/his address? Just ads and bills or personal mail as well?
Everything. I should have had his mail forwarded to my house much sooner, but I didn't want QoH getting ahold of anything important. It's mostly junk mail, but he did have some bills and important things. I also registered his name on the deceased/do not contact list. It's something that you register deceased people's names on so that advertisers stop sending mail to their address.
After I get the houses sold & cancel his utility bill & electric bill accounts, there's not much important mail that he could possibly get.
So your weekend is going okay then, I guess? Nothing unusual to report?
It was mostly uneventful. I mowed the yard today. Chatted with a neighbor. Texted with Roxy, Janet, & my cousin. Nothing out of the ordinary to report.
I suppose my lawyer will contact me tomorrow to tell me when I need to come to his office to sign the paperwork for the closing on dad's properties. It feels weird to be getting all that money.
I'm starting to believe that if you didn't have that yard then you'd be bored out of your mind. On a regular basis. ;P
I am bored out of my mind on a regular basis! I just have something to do for 3 hours every 3 or 4 weeks. Hopefully it will be less hot & humid in the upcoming weeks. I have a lot to do in the yard besides the mowing. Lots of plants & trees need trimming. It's usually too damn hot & humid to do it, so I've been neglecting them.
I *did* cut down a Suriname cherry bush that had started growing by the front corner of the house. It was getting rather large & had to go. A bird probably shit out a seed there.
There are other random plants sprouting up around the yard that were probably started by birds shitting out seeds. I need to pull those up, too. The plants I hate the most are the sanseveria. Those have to be dug up by the roots. I don't know which neighbor original had those, but they are invasive & I've been having to dig them up for most of my life. They're difficult to eradicate because I can't go into neighbors' yards to dig theirs up.
I don't want to think about that. One thing at a time. There's always something. :/
I emailed the lawyer to find out what's going on. He said when he gets more details he'd get back to me. IDK what's taking so long. I guess it's the usual bureaucracy in action.
I went by dad's house today to collect the mail and I took the other portable AC unit to Roxy's house & dropped it off. She wasn't there because she had to take her mother to a couple of doctor appointments. I went grocery shopping afterwards.
I'll have to go back to dad's again to collect a few more items for myself. He has a small patio table & chairs that I could use, a hand truck that's nice, and I could probably take the few battery powered yard tools (even though they are cheap quality).
Can you still do that? I mean, now that the property is sold?
Yes, I still have the keys. It's not sold until I've been paid. I haven't been paid yet. I'm still waiting for the title company to get their shit together.
Hopefully Roxy can come and help me tomorrow. Dad's truck is still over there and I need someone to give me a ride there so I can drive the truck back to my house. I've decided to keep the truck for now. Having an extra vehicle would be useful.
I thought it was sold the moment you put your autograph on...
I spoke to the lady from the title company today. She was getting things in order (whatever it is that they have to do to make sure there are no liens or debts attached to the property). She said it should be done by Tuesday (since Monday is a holiday) then I can sign more paperwork to finalize everything.
Roxy is working all weekend. I think she can help me on Monday. I'm planning on going over to dad's tomorrow to get the last few things that I want. Roxy can help me with the truck on Monday.
Do you have parking space for it?
Yes. We have plenty of room in the yard to park it.
I went over to dad's house today to collect the mail and bring more stuff back to my house. I got his patio table & 4 chairs, an electric lawn edger, and an extension cord & air hose that probably goes to his air compressor.
I also tried to start up his truck, but the battery was dead. If Roxy can help me out tomorrow, I'll have to bring some jumper cables so I can jump start it. If that doesn't work, I'll just call AAA and have someone come out to jump start it.
Why do you need 2 trucks? Seems like one is sufficient.
We don't, but QoH's truck isn't running. The battery is long dead. She stole my set of keys to it, so I couldn't get into it to start it up occasionally to keep the battery charged.
Well just as I had figured would happen, Roxy has an excuse why she can't help me. I'm really pissed. Any time I ask her for a favor there's an excuse why she can't. For someone who claims to be my best friend, she doesn't seem to help me if it's something that inconveniences her. And I'm not asking for much. I just need a ride over to his house.
I tried texting my friend Janet to ask if she'd help, but she hasn't replied. If she doesn't respond in a couple of hours, I guess I'll have to ask my cousin. I didn't want to bother him again, but at this point I don't have many alternatives. :/
A sensor light came on in her car. It turned out to be just a faulty sensor.
Maybe she has different ideas than you have about what best friends are?
It sure seems that way. It's really annoying when people say if you need any help, to ask them. Then when you do, there's always an excuse why they can't. If you don't intend to help, then don't offer.
You should make more friends. :)
Unfortunately that is easier said than done. Once you get to be my age, most people have families who are their priority and don't have time for friends.
Well the closing was moved to this Thursday. I'm going to meet the lady from the title company at my dad's house. It's easier to do it there so QoH can't interfere. The lady had originally wanted to sign the papers at my house.
Hopefully I can get dad's truck started while I'm over there and maybe my friend Janet can help me since she lives kinda close to my dad's house.
Well tomorrow I sign the paperwork with the tile company, then everything with my dad's estate will pretty much be over. I'll be so glad to not have to deal with it any more.
I'll be so glad to not have to deal with it any more.
So how do you think you will look back at the experience? I think you handled the situation quite well even though you've never been through anything similar AFAIK.
Papers were signed, just called the bank, funds are in the accounts! The ordeal is almost over! Now I'm waiting for the court to close the probate.
So how do you think you will look back at the experience?
It was very stressful, but I learned how an estate with probate works. I'll be prepared for when QoH croaks.
I think you handled the situation quite well even though you've never been through anything similar AFAIK.
Yes, I agree. I felt like a real adult taking care of adult business. The anxiety that I had most of my life did not come back during the ordeal. I'm thankful that my lawyer & the buyers were very professional and knew what they were doing and did not scam me.
Although I guess the newly cashed funds are nice too. :)
I'm not allowed to touch the funds until the court closes the probate. I'll have to ask my lawyer how long that will be. But it's nice to know that I will have all that money for future use. ☺
I didn't do anything today. Yesterday was such an ordeal with waiting around 2.5 hours for the tow truck to come to tow my dad's truck to my house.
I still need copies of the documents that I signed with the lady from the title company yesterday. She was supposed to email them to me. I texted her today to find out when she was going to do it and she said her internet was down. I find it hard to believe that it's been down for 24 hours now. I need those papers to be able to close my dad's utilities account with the city. If she doesn't email them to me I guess I'll have to ask my lawyer if he has copies of them. Nothing can ever be easy.
I can't see any advantage to her lying about that.
She's probably lying to cover for the fact that she told me that she would email me a copy of the documents when she got back to the office, but didn't do that. Who knows what she really did after she left. She probably went out and had a good time or took an early weekend. My lawyer's paralegal had mentioned something to me about the title company people being disorganized. Roxy said probably just lazy. The lady said she works from home, so it's not like she has a manager there riding her ass to make sure she gets her work done in a timely manner.
Well, it's not that hard to make a phone call though. :)
It's easier to email. Usually if I call, it goes to voice-mail. I hate leaving messages. At least with an email, I can formulate my thoughts and word the message so that it looks professional. No umms or uhhs or searching for the right thing to say.
I did almost nothing again today. I just put a load of laundry in the washer. Then I brought in a few items that I brought home from dad's house while QoH is nodded off. She didn't want me to bring anything here, but I brought the majority of his tools anyway.
He had 2 new plastic saw horses with the packaging still attached and 2 new furniture dollies that I didn't want to leave behind. (I brought those in and stashed them in the basement today😎) I don't need them, but I can probably sell them.
Most of his tools I don't need, either, as I have my own, but he had some good quality power tools that I also didn't want to leave behind.
The one thing that I forgot to bring home was his hand truck. Too late now, as I already signed the paperwork & gave the keys to the new owners. Just as well. I already have one and there's no place here to store another one.
You're days are starting to sound a lot like mine. Sort of. :)
Yes, it's getting very boring. :/
From Roxy's place?
No, my dad's stuff that I had in the back of his truck.
Those can be handy if you want to move heavy stuff around.
I figured I could use them if I needed to move furniture.
Well today my dad's final electric bill came so I paid it. I closed the account also. The only thing I still need to close is his utilities account which I can do one I get a copy of the closing documents from the sale of the house. My lawyer said my creditorship ends on November 17, so 1 more month and it will all be officially over. ☺
And today I ordered some t-shirts from Grunt Style. They had a 20% off Sale + free shipping, so I bought 2 for myself & 1 for Roxy. They can be Christmas presents.
I got 2 for myself. One says SALTY and is a US Navy shirt. The other one has a pic of the original Legend of Zelda character Link with the caption 'it's dangerous to go alone, take this' but instead of it being a sword like in the game, it's an M4 rifle.😎 The one I got for Roxy says Boujee Battle Rattle and has a warrior woman with a gun and faux bling on the lettering.
Now if only I could get you into a uniform. ;P
Oh, you would like to see me in a uniform??? I actually have several. Do you have a preference?😜
Well, I was kidding but some uniforms do look quite nice on women.
This is true. The milspec camo pants make my ass look especially good.😎😜
What type do you have again?
I have a full East German border guard uniform complete with overcoat, an East German Army uniform, an East German Navy peacoat, a Dutch army dress uniform jacket, a Dutch Air Force dress uniform jacket, an olive green Dutch army shirt, an olive green German army shirt, and a US army camo uniform (1990's era como pattern). I actually have 2 pairs of the camo pants. Then I have those pink camo pants that Roxy got me a few years ago. Those look very stylish as well. I have an olive green military style jacket that I bought probably 10 years ago from JC Penney, but never really had a place to wear it since it's kinda dressy.
I told Roxy that I need to come over to her house with my military uniforms so I can do a photo shoot for you lol.😜 She thought that was a great idea since she likes to dress up, too.
Any idea where your interest in military uniforms comes form?
IDK. I think I've been drawn to military stuff since I was a kid. Many of the dress uniforms are very stylish. It could also be because growing up in the 80's in the US there was a very pro-military thing going on in the pop culture.
The shirts that I ordered are supposed to arrive tomorrow. I will definitely send you a pic of me modeling them. ;)
Fashion and television and movies. I remember that GI Joe and camouflage clothing was very popular when I was a little kid.
Cool. Looking forward to it. :)
Check your mailzzz. I'll have to get some better pics the next time I go to Roxy's. Hopefully we can go out somewhere with better scenery and I'll have my hair colored by then.😜
I like the salty t-shirt but the zelda T-shirt is amazing. :)
Since Legend of Zelda was one of my favorite games, I had to have it. The Salty one is an inside joke from work. My ex-assistant manager told me that someone made a comment to the f&b director about me cursing a lot and he told them that I was in the Navy. We used to joke around after that that any time I got a little salty it was because I was in the Navy.😂😂😂
Are you going with black again or something different this time?
My natural color is almost black, but after it grows out and gets sun bleached it looks dark brown. I switched from the brown/black color that I used to get because it looked too black & unnatural. Now I get dark brown and it looks better.
I seem to remember you once said you used to curse a lot but don't anymore.
I try to cut down on it depending on the company I'm with, but it's a tough habit to break.
I'm feeling pretty good today, so I'm going to try to get back on a regular exercise regimen. My routine was completely destroyed after my dad died. I was under too much stress for exercising. And my hormones being out of whack for the past year & a half didn't help, either.
Now that my dad's estate is almost completely settled, I don't have that stress to deal with. And since I added a couple of additional supplements to my vitamin regimen (ashwagandha & spirulina) I seem to be feeling much better. ☺
I don't know if they're my favorite, but my most frequently used are fuck(-ing, -er), shit, bitch, & cunt.
Seems to have some negative/unwanted possible side-effects.
I haven't had any negative side effects. I've had fewer bladder issues and I have more energy since I've been taking them.
QoH has been bitching about not having any clothes or underwear to wear even though she literally has a whole drawer full of underwear and 2 bedrooms full of clothes. The truth is that she has gotten too fat to wear what she has, and what still fits is getting worn out. So I ordered 2 packages of 12 underwear from Walmart for her which are supposed to arrive by Friday. I'm sure she'll find some reason why she doesn't like them & can't wear them. They also had pants in her size marked down, but I had already placed the order before I saw them. I'll just go into the store by me & see what they have.
my most frequently used are fuck(-ing, -er), shit, bitch, & cunt.
I use Dutch versions of all those except bitch. It's just not a very common curse word here in my neck of the woods. I'm not sure which I use the most, either fuck or cunt. I don't use cunt, or "kut" in Dutch, to refer to anyone though. It's just a general expression of frustration just like fuck.
I'll just go into the store by me & see what they have.
I'm sure she needs more than underwear and pants. What's her fashion sense like?
Bitch I usually use as an exclamation of frustration against uncooperative inanimate objects. LOL I used to say it a lot at work when equipment would get stuck or not work properly. I don't usually use it to refer to females in general like some people do. For me, it's reserved for those whose behavior warrants being called that. Cunt is also reserved for those who deserve it.
What's her fashion sense like?
Since she got fat, she usually just wears muumuus. It's had to say if she has a sense of fashion now. When she was younger she liked stylish clothing.
Yes, QoH!😂 She gets me so mad that it's the only word that's fitting.
Did she have a traumatic experience or something?
I think being fat is traumatic for a narcissist like QoH. But she's always been too damn lazy to lose weight the correct way. Lazy & no self control when it comes to food choices. She started gaining weight around menopause, but instead of seeing a doctor or adjusting her diet, she continued to eat the wrong things and blew up like a blimp. And because she's embarrassed to be seen because she's fat, she's given up on life. But instead of taking responsibility for her choices, she chooses to blame me for everything wrong with her life.
She's probably not leading her ideal lifestyle. But then, who is?
Her ideal lifestyle is trying to control everybody and everything.
In other news, Roxy's mom had a minor surgery yesterday. I think it was to remove a wire in her hip. She fell and broke her hip a year and a half ago. I think she had surgery for it then, but something came loose and was causing pain, so they had to go in and remove whatever it was. I think they did the surgery under local anesthesia, so she was awake during the procedure.😫
I haven't heard from Roxy today. She took off work yesterday to stay with her mom. She's a bad enough worry wart when it comes to her parents. I'm sure she's really stressed out over caring for her mom while she heals.
It's just kinda creepy to know that someone is cutting on you and you're fully awake while it's happening.
I had that done to me as well some 12 years ago. Had to have some growth thingy removed from the inside of my right cheek. Was actually quite a relaxed operation. :)
I haven't heard from Roxy yesterday or today, though.
I'm sure she's busy giving her mother the extra help that she needs to recover.
Had to have some growth thingy removed from the inside of my right cheek. D: Mouth cheek or butt cheek???😜😜😜
I'm sure she's busy giving her mother the extra help that she needs to recover.
Yes, she is. I texted a bit with her last night. Mainly she's trying to keep her mom from attempting to do things for herself. She's supposed to be recuperating and staying off her legs. The hospital sent a walker home with her if she needs to get up and walk, but she refuses to use it. She's very stubborn. And Roxy's dad is also a handful. He's a little like QoH but not as verbally abusive. I told her it's like having to deal with misbehaving toddlers in elderly bodies. :/
Speaking of QoH, she really pissed me off today with her slander. Now she's accusing me of getting in accidents in my car. I've never had an accident in my life. Also she's accusing me of driving drunk & using drugs. I've never used drugs in my life, nor have I ever driven drunk. It pisses me off because not only is it not true, but she would tell that shit to people who don't know me and it could possibly lead to trouble for me. She's threatened to call my job before and she's told the paramedics who've came here all sorts of crazy shit.
The dry season & cooler weather did arrive today. There was a nice breeze and less humidity. I think it was around 82 degrees for the high temperature. It's supposed to stay that way for the rest of the week. It's even supposed to dip down to 79 degrees for the high on Friday.😜
I took advantage of the nice weather today and mowed the yard. I barely broke a sweat.☺
Roxy made a lot of money in tips the last time she worked so she's at Macy's tonight spending some of it. I told her to check if they have a retractable lipstick brush for me since QoH stole mine out of my bedroom a couple of weeks ago. :/
She bartends in the 954 club at the hockey games and concerts at the arena.
I saw an interesting recipe for an apple coffee cake on yootoob yesterday. I modified the ingredients a little and made my version of it a while ago. It's in the oven ATM. Hopefully it turns out good. We shall see. ☺
I've been baking bread this week. The organic food shop where we normally buy bread closed for a week and a half and we didn't have enough room in the freezer. So we decided to make our own bread.
Cool. I love freshly baked bread. And it's not difficult to do, either. :)
I have been gathering the ingredients for the Thanksgiving day feast little by little the past few weeks. Aldi had bags of stuffing in stock today so I bought 2. I bought 2 butternut squashes and 2 spaghetti squashes a couple of weeks ago. I bought fresh cranberries a week ago. QoH doesn't want turkey. I'm not a fan of it myself, so I'm hoping that Aldi will have hams as it gets closer to the big day.
the smell of it through the entire house is really nice. :)
That's the best.☺ I live about a mile from the big Flower's bakery warehouse/giant industrial size bakery. When they're baking the bread at night and the wind is blowing from the right direction the aroma is wonderful.
Better buy one extra ham, QoH will eat the other ones. :p
That's always a possibility.
I bought a package of chocolate & orange jaffa cakes from Aldi yesterday. They were imported from Germany. They were pretty good. I like going there this time of year when they start getting all the imported holiday stuff. They also had bags of black drop, but I don't like that.😝 The herring fillets were back in stock, so I bought 10 tins of those.☺
I already bought QoH's Christmas presents from Walmart. I got her 2 dozen underwear, a nice pair of jeans, & a magenta colored zip front hoodie. They have a 90 day return policy, so if she doesn't like what I got, I'll still have time to return them after Christmas.
Are you being generous or is this damage prevention?
A little of both. I actually like buying Christmas gifts, but if it prevents her from having something to complain about then that's a bonus. Like Roxy said, it's a small price to pay to avoid an argument over not buying her anything.
In other news, I got an unexpected mini windfall in the mail today. The bank that my dad had his mortgage with sent me a refund for the money that was in escrow. It was a nice chunk of change.☺ I'm assuming that I will have to deposit it in the bank account for his estate since it is written out to him. I think I can sign the check as his personal representative, but I'll have to go in to the bank and ask someone to make sure.p
But will you use them in a dish as part of a recipe or can you eat them as they are?
I like to eat them straight out of the tin. They come in a chutney sauce that is delicious.
You're turning into quite the Gladstone Gander, finding money left and right. ;P
If QoH would hurry up and kick the bucket, I'd be turning that money into lots more money. Roxy and I have been talking about starting a business selling various things. We can buy direct from China through Ali baba and then resell at a significant markup.
There are several open air markets in the Fort Lauderdale area that we could try selling at. Having our own business is the best way to make money. :)
You should try eating them with diced/shredded raw onions. :)
QoH likes that. I'm not a fan of raw onions.
Have you ever tried a rollmops?
I don't like pickled herring. QoH likes the one in a cream sauce. IDK if you do that style. I think it's more of a Jewish food.
That sounds easy. I assume everyone else is already doing this?
I see lots of people selling stuff online who do that. Usually if I see something that I like that costs too much, I'll search for it on Ali baba or Amazon & find it cheaper(Ali baba is dirt cheap). I guess there are more people who don't know what Ali baba is than people who do.
Pickled herring and cream? Doesn't sound great to me.
When I looked it up, it seems to be a Swedish thing. We served both the regular pickled herring & the one with cream sauce in the temple. IDK how it became a popular Jewish dish.
I've never bought anything from ALi Baba...I've never bough anything from Amazon either.
Me either, but I've looked at both sites plenty. I *did* have Roxy order 2 items from Amazon for me about 3 years ago. It's kinda a crap shoot as to what kind of quality you're going to get. The same with Walmart dot com. They allow 3rd party sellers on their site, so you have to beware of anything with a Chinese seller. I got skunked a couple of times with clothing. What they sent didn't look anything like the pic of what they were supposed to be selling. Now I don't buy anything but items that are being sold by Walmart. They are usually good quality & if there's some reason that I need to return something, I can do it at the store & don't have to pay to ship it back.
Now I don't buy anything but items that are being sold by Walmart.
Yeah, I like to buy stuff online at bol.com because there more or less local. Their headquartered in the Netherlands. They don't always have what I'm looking for but usually they do.
In other news,I went to the doctor last week because I had some unpleasant feeling in the lower part of my belly for a couple of months. I had some blood tested, got the results today and it was fine but my blood pressure is too high. No idea what causes that although it may be diabetes related. I got some pills and I have to inject more long term insulin. I am feeling somewhat better now.
Hmm, very strange. I think there are many different things that can cause it, but that's something your doctor will have to figure out. I hope you feel better soon.😘
I think there are many different things that can cause it
Yeah. I've also removed all the extra salt, butter and mayonnaise from my diet. And I've quit drinking coffee. Plus I'm taking walks more often. I'm hoping it's reversible.
You know, the pills I've been given seem to have a relaxing effect. It's not unpleasant. Or maybe it's my body's reaction to the daylight saving time thing? Hm.
That can definitely raise your blood pressure. When I was drinking regular tea like crazy about 15 years ago, I did notice that it raised my blood pressure. When I went off it for a week, my pressure went back to normal. Stress will also raise your pressure. I have no shortage of stress from QoH. :/
I'm hoping it's reversible.
Once you figure out the cause and stop doing whatever it is, it's definitely reversible.
You know, the pills I've been given seem to have a relaxing effect.
Did they give you CBD or something?😜
Anyway, how are you doing over there?
With all the stress dealing with my dad's death and his estate the past few months, I haven't been taking care of my health like I was before. My lower abdomen was starting to get big again so IDK if it was the fibroids growing back or something else. Stress can make them grow. So these past few weeks after I closed on both properties, I started taking my supplements regularly again and bought a couple extra things to take. Plus I've been drinking an herbal tea with red clover every day for the past 2 weeks. It has an anti-tumor effect. It must be working because my stomach is much flatter. I've also been trying to work out some, but it's tough to get motivated when I have to deal with QoH's nastiness every day.
In other news, when I went to Aldi today, they had the delicious spiral cut honey hams in stock for Thanksgiving so I bought one.☺ They also had the fancy mustards and fruit spreads in stock so I got some of those, too (I bought fig, onion, and red pepper & whole grain mustard).
At Publix they had shank portion pork legs so I bought one of those to put in the freezer for later. I love a roasted pork leg with the delicious crackling skin.😋😋😋 I think I'll freeze a portion of the Thanksgiving ham to have in reserve for whenever I cook the pork leg. Then I can have the main ingredients ready for making delicious Cuban sandwiches.😋😋😋
Speaking of deliciously decadent, I just had a snack of some of the goodies that I bought from Aldi yesterday: goat cheese and onion chutney on water crackers. It was a delicious combination! The savory flavor of the chutney blended well with the goat cheese & neutral flavor of the crunchy crackers.☺😋
I also bought a six pack of stout that they were selling. It was a really good price. IIRC it was less than $8. I think I will have one of those a bit later today.☺
It's a pre-Thanksgiving treat.😜 It wasn't anywhere near as good as Founders Breakfast Stout, but it was decent for the price.
I do love me some goat cheese though.
Me too. Of course QoH had to have some. Now she's going overboard with it.😩
Well Ma Nature came yesterday morning. I've been cramping a little bit. Not enough to need ibuprofen, but enough to make me feel like crap. And I have no energy or appetite. :/
Seems like an excellent reason to take some rest and enjoy some easy entertainment. :)
I went to bed early since there wasn't anything interesting on TV to watch. I got up relatively early today. I felt much better so I exercised some. I'm really out of shape. It's amazing how quickly you lose strength after only a few months of not working out. The only good thing is you can quickly regain it if you get back to exercising regularly again.
I got a flu shot yesterday and felt like crap most of the night.
I've never gotten a flu shot. I live in Florida and haven't felt the need to. Everyone I've ever known who says that they get them always say they feel like crap afterward.
I'm feeling better now so I hope I'll get a good night sleep.
That's good. I slept 9 hours last night. I guess it was due to the workout. I did my dumbbells exercises again today. I definitely felt stronger and lasted for more reps. As soon as Ma Nature leaves I'm going to try doing an abs workout.
Does working in your dad's house not count as exercise?
I don't consider it as such. I was mainly throwing crap into the garbage. The only things that constituted a workout was when I mopped the floors and scrubbed the bathroom tiles. The latter was definitely a workout and my back was sore the next day! :/
Today I did a little bit of work in the yard. I used the shovel to cut the weeds that were growing between the paver stones by the back porch (picture a motion similar to shoveling snow). It's much easier than trying to pull them up. Next I need to pressure wash the pavers since they are looking nasty from the weeds growing up over them.
I also cut back some other shrubbery that was getting out of control next to the carport. When QoH eventually croaks, I think I'm going to eliminate about 90% of the crap in the yard. I'm tired of wasting time on plants.
What would your ideal (front/back) yard look like?
I'd get rid of all the enormous ferns, bougainvillea, and random orange jasmine bushes, and I'd get rid of all the stupid fencing in the back yard that divides the yard into unusable spaces. I guess it was originally that way to provide access to the powerlines & utilities (water & natural gas meters) for their respective workers. I think the zoning has changed, so that's not necessary now. I'd like to grow food, so I'd like an area of the back yard for a vegetable garden. I'd also like to put one or two small shipping containers in the back yard for storage. In the front yard, I'd like to eliminate the plumbago since it requires too much maintenance and I'd like to rip out and redo the existing landscaping. Anything that requires trimming & maintenance needs to go. I'd just like to have a tidy appearance in the front yard. QoH has too much random stuff sprouting up all over. I think she likes the jungle look. I think it gives her a sense of privacy. I think it looks unkept.
Yes. The powerless run on poles that are along the back lot lines. They run right down the middle of everyone's backyards. The water meters are on the ground on the back lot lines also. The gas meter is on the outside of our house, but I think the main lines run parallel to the water lines.
What do you want to store in them?
I'd like one for all the yard tools, and plywood & assorted lumber that we have. The other can be for all the catering crap.
Probably. I'm not sure about every state, but it seems to be the norm. I think it used to make it easy for the meter readers. They used to send out a worker to physically read the electric & gas meters. Now all of that stuff is automated. And it probably makes it easier to disconnect utilities for non-payment.
I guess that will free up some room inside the house.
OMG Yes! I think the majority of crap taking up space in the house is catering crap! :/
Well today I went to Aldi and bought enough cheese & crackers to make the great grand daddy of all charcuterie boards!😂 Roxy said QoH and I are acting like ballers!😂😂 I just like good cheeses. I got some different flavored goat cheeses, a brie, an asiago, a fancy white cheddar with cranberries, and a pepper jack. I also got some fancy crackers.☺
I'm not going to make one, but if I did, I have plenty of items for one. ;)
Which brand?
Just the Aldi brand, but they are like Carr's.
Well I've been having a ridiculous screaming match with QoH for the past hour and a half, ever since she realized that I was going through and throwing away the giant pile of junk mail that was on the table. Her paranoid brain thinks that I'm throwing away paid bills (those are in a separate box) so she's been flipping out, threatening me with legal action, and calling me all sorts of slurs. It's completely ridiculous! Some of the shit had been sitting there since February! She's had 9 months to deal with it, but she refuses because she's too lazy. She'll complain that I don't clean up, but when I try it turns into an insane fight that she instigates! Is there any wonder why I refuse to do things around here? It always turns into a fight because of her paranoia. :/
She was the one who threatened to get the lawyer.😂 Empty threat. She's too lazy to do anything.
Do you actually refuse to do things though?
I don't say so aloud, I just don't do things.
Well it has rained all day today and is supposed to rain all weekend, too. But Tuesday it is supposed to get cool and last for Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to that.☺
I mainly don't do stuff in the yard. I *did* buy myself a new hedge trimmer with a telescoping handle a few days ago. That will definitely make it easier to trim all the tall hedges so I don't have to use a ladder. It's a pain in the ass to have to go up the ladder, trim a little bit, go back down, move the ladder, go back up, repeat, repeat, repeat.
I guess you appreciate it more when it's always hot where you live.
Yes, definitely.
I forgot to mention that on Wednesday when I went to Aldi, I got a great deal for a 10 pound bag of potatoes.. $2.50!!! Now I guess I'll be making real mashed potatoes from scratch for Thanksgiving instead of the instant ones. I'm also plotting what other potatoey delicacies I'll be making.😜 I think I'll make some delicious latkes, but not for Thanksgiving. That's more of a Hanukkah thing.☺
I'll be making real mashed potatoes from scratch for Thanksgiving instead of the instant ones.
I've never had instant mashed potatoes. I always make them myself. You have to use a few more than he usual number of potatoes. Also, keep mashing until it's silky smooth. Wait, you've made mashed potatoes before, haven't you? Never mind then. ;P
I'm also plotting what other potatoey delicacies I'll be making.
How about potato croquettes? You do need to fry those though. Watch your fingers. :)
I can tell you that they've certainly improved since I was a kid. It's what they used in the cafeteria at school. QoH always made mashed potatoes from scratch, so when you are used to eating the real thing, anything else tastes terrible in comparison. The Idahoan brand is pretty good, though. It's very close to tasting like the real thing.
keep mashing until it's silky smooth.
Just be careful not to work them too much or they can get gluey.
you've made mashed potatoes before, haven't you?
Yes. I used to have to make them for a client when we worked for them on Thanksgiving.
How about potato croquettes? You do need to fry those though.
If only stuff didn't get so greasy. Do you use vegetable oil or lard to fry?
I try to drain everything well when I take it out of the oil. I also lay the fried foods on paper towels to soak up any extra oil.
I usually use regular olive oil(not the extra virgin stuff). As long as you keep the temperature of it no more than 350F it's fine for frying. We used to use Crisco, but got away from using it since it's not very healthy. I only use it if I fry pork chops.
Since I didn't feel like waiting until Thanksgiving, I made most of the food today. I made the ham, green beans, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, and cranberry mould. I only have the stuffing and pumpkin pie left to do. I'll do them tomorrow. The ham was delicious! It was a spiral sliced honey ham from Aldi. They have been excellent every time I've bought them. Very mild taste and not salty or overly smoked like some hams can be.
I'm getting the feeling that your Aldi has better products than ours.
The one that I go to is really good! I've been to 3 others around town that vary in quality. I think it depends on the neighborhood and the managers.
Today I went to Walmart for a few things. It was busier than usual due to Thanksgiving being in 2 days, but they weren't out of anything that I went for. I even bought a turkey breast. QoH originally said that she didn't want turkey, then she flipped the script and said that I was the one who wanted ham instead of turkey. Whatever. I got the turkey breast thawing in the fridge. I can cook it on Thanksgiving. No big deal. It's only 6 pounds, so it's not like it's a shit-ton of turkey.
I guess that would be called a Hamkey? Or a Turkham?😂 I guess it's an alternative to a Turducken?😜
I have the turkey breast cooking right now. Just another 30 minutes uncovered to brown.☺
It's almost 3 kg of turkey. You're gonna need a lot of sauce for that. :)
I'm not sure how much meat it is. It's connected to the bones, so those are probably a pound at least. Last time QoH ate it all pretty quickly and it didn't seem like a lot. It came with a package of gravy. I also bought a jar of gravy, so I'm sure we'll have plenty.😎
It was delicious! It turned out really well. I also used the drippings to spruce up the gravy that came with it.😎 Everything turned out really delicious, especially the stuffing. I'm glad I went ahead and made a double batch, because we've already eaten half!😂
What are you thankful for this year BTW?
I'm thankful that I got both of dad's properties sold quickly and the money is in the bank. I'm also thankful that QoH is getting his SS money.
Roxy is going to her sister's house for thanksgiving today. They don't get along and Roxy is already pissed off about several things, now her sister is trying to tell her what to wear!😂 I told her to wear something that will piss her off!😈
Well I already had a plate of food, now I'm enjoying a beer. I'm getting ready to go for round 2.😜😎
It's normal for her sister to be bitchy. I just talked to Roxy a while ago. First her sister made some remark about Roxy wearing white shoes & socks with black workout pants. I was like wtf drugs is she on to hallucinate that? Roxy doesn't own any white shoes! (Me either!) Then her sister ordered food from Costco (which Roxy said was gross) and nobody could eat it since her parents & brother are on restricted diets due to health issues. I told Roxy that next year she should hire me to cook.😜 At least I make everything from scratch and I know what the hell I'm doing!😎
Roxy have an "unusual" taste in clothes?
No, she dresses appropriately.
I see a workout in your future. ;P
More like several. I got a head start on the Thanksgiving food this week and already put on 2 pounds.😩
Although I suppose sneakers often have a light color. Like tennis shoes.
Roxy said her sister accused her of wearing white shoes when she took her mom for her surgery appointment. It was at 4:30am, so Roxy said she was wearing black leggings and her black & pink sneakers. The only one who has white sneakers is her dad. Roxy said she bought those for him because they were New Balance and marked down to $30. I told her that the only white sneakers that I had were ones that my sister found. Someone left them on the top of the dumpster and my sister found them when she was taking her garbage to throw away. They were new Sketchers and my size, so my sister gave them to me.
She knows your a good cook, right?
Yes. I send her pics of things that I cook. Her parents always say that they'd like to trade Roxy to QoH in exchange for me.😂😂😂
How? Did you forget to go to the toilet? ;P
The Carbpocalypse started a week ago when I made a rather large batch of potato latkes. I ended up eating most of them. Then I started making Thanksgiving food on Monday. So I've been eating lots of carbs and sugary things for a solid 7 days. I'm just glad it was only 2 pounds. I normally don't eat many carbs or sugary things. I had to cut way back because of the fibroid.
Speaking of..I've definitely been feeling much better. IDK if it's all the vitamins & herbals finally working or my hormones have balanced out, but my bladder seems to be back to normal capacity. I can sleep 7 or 8 hours before I have to get up to pee and it's usually around 20 ounces. I don't feel like I have to go all the time and when I do go it's usually more than 10 ounces (more like 12-15).☺
That ended today. I'm back to doing intermittent fasting. I've had good results doing 16/8. I also used my new pole hedge trimmer today, so I count that as exercise even though it was only for 15 minutes.
You measure the amount of urine you pee? When did you start doing that?
Yes. For the past year and a half. It was a good gauge for how large the fibroid was. Larger capacity means shrinking fibroid.
Glad to hear you're feeling better.
Thanks. For a while I thought things might never get back to normal. It was very distressing.
Why not just count the number of times you had to pee per day? I'm assuming that a smaller capacity means a greater urge to pee for small volumes of urine.
For a while I thought things might never get back to normal. It was very distressing.
I can imagine. And there's still lots of other things to worry about.
Why not just count the number of times you had to pee per day?
I track both. I write down the time and how much. At one point my capacity was around 6 ounces before I'd get pain from it pressing on the fibroid. I also had to be careful how much I drank. At its worst I was getting up 3x per night to pee. Now I can drink quite a lot and sleep 7-8 hours before I get up to pee.
And there's still lots of other things to worry about.
Yes. Stress isn't good for hormone balance and it can be a factor in fibroid growth.
Today I went to TJ Maxx to see if they still had any 5 pound containers of pink Himalayan salt. The last time I was there I noticed that they were selling them dirt cheap ($7.99) and I regretted not buying one. The grocery stores charge $3-$4 for 8 ounces.
I was in luck as they still had 3 of them so I got one. Even better, when I got to the cashier, she gave me a 10% discount! I texted Roxy to tell her that I think the girl gave me a senior discount and I don't know if I should be happy or horrified!😂😩 She said that's what happens when you go too long before coloring your hair. I told her that I was wearing a hat and she couldn't see my hair. I don't think I look that damn old! I think young people are just bad at guessing ages and don't want to come across rude if they ask. I don't mind the discount, though.😎
I can't imagine anyone thinking you're old even with some grey in your hair.
I certainly don't look as bad as some of the people who I went to school with.😲
I still don't know why I got a discount. I looked up the TJ Maxx website and they don't give senior discounts. And I don't think it was for cyber Monday because that only applied to online orders. They give a 10% discount on your first purchase if you use their credit card to buy stuff, but I paid cash. I don't have their card anyway. I guess it will remain a mystery lol.
Something I *did* learn is they mark down lots of stuff twice per year to get rid of inventory--after Christmas and after July 4th. Not that I need anything, but it is fun to bargain hunt.☺
I don't know what those people look like but does it really matter?
It only matters that I look better.😜😎 One guy that I used to be good friends with looks like he weighs about 500 pounds now. I'm not kidding. He was always the chubby kid in school, but now he's taken it to a whole new level. It was really shocking to see. Then another girl who I was friends with in HS really looks like hell. I guess she had a rough life after graduation. It's sad to see. Then there are the ones who look like old whores. Once you reach a certain age there's such a thing as dressing appropriately, not like you're working the pole at the strip club.
I've tried to eat healthy, never smoked or drank heavily, and tried to exercise & maintain a healthy weight. I think I've done ok.☺
I went to a few stores to go grocery shopping today. Now I'm exhausted. Having to make several stops because the stores don't have what I want just wears me out.😩
I did all those things as well and I ended up with type 1 diabetes.
Yes, it sucks when you are betrayed by genetics. Like with my fibroid. It pisses me off.
Were you looking for something really specific?
Yes. I wanted some fried chicken wings from Publix. I usually just go up University Drive to Aldi, then the rest of the stores that I stop at are along University Drive on my way back. I stop at the Pembroke Commons Publix (which is massive) and they're always out of fried chicken. Then I have to go to another Publix. The next closest one is on Miramar Parkway, but it is a couple of miles out of the way. It's an original store and small compared to the newer Publix stores. The good thing is the parking lot is not massive and I don't have to walk a long distance to get in and out like the other Publix. And they always have fried chicken ready to go in the warmer. And I discovered that they also have QoH's Vernor's Ginger Ale unlike the other Publix which is always out of that, too.
The Pembroke Commons store just wears me out. There are many stores in that shopping center and the parking lot is huge and always full. You have to park far away, then schlep a distance just to get in the store, then the store itself is huge and you have to go from one end to the other just to get everything. The same at Sam's Club. Huge parking lot that's always full, huge store, and much schlepping. :/
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Well this year was mostly shit. It's bad enough that we're still dealing with the covid foolishness, then my dad died and that was an ordeal. Now things are starting to turn around. I sold his Volvo & got some $$. Then yesterday I got a check in the mail from his pension plan for the death benefit. Also today, QoH's social security payment was deposited with the amount that dad was getting. $$$ I signed the papers to sell dad's properties on Monday, so when that sale goes through, more $$$$$$. Having piles of $ suddenly start showing up really is a great stress reliever. ☺☺☺
Arekino-san, have you ever been to Germany? I was just looking up the driving distance between Amsterdam and Berlin. It's similar to driving from Miami to Georgia. Not terrible. I'm sure there's probably a train that would get one there. I have a few European cities on my bucket list. Now that I'm going to have some money coming my way, it's not out of the question any more.☺
have you ever been to Germany?
Only in the technically correct sense in that I have been at the Drielandenpunt in the south of the country. It's a location at the border where 3 countries, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.
I have a few European cities on my bucket list.
What about US cities?
It's a location at the border where 3 countries, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.
That's kinda like a few states where you can stand on the spot where they all meet.
I guess your sister would be the one to ask about travel related things. ;P
What about US cities?
I guess LA and San Francisco, although San Fran has been ruined by all the homeless people everywhere and who shit all over the sidewalks. Plus it's terribly expensive. Driving up the Pacific Coast Highway in California is something that I'd like to do, but gas out there is so damn expensive (like everything else in that state) that it's probably not something that's going to happen any time soon.
I figure at some point I might go to Las Vegas with Roxy since that's her favorite place. I'd also like to go to Salem, Massachusetts, but that's not a big city. I've already seen everything else that's interesting on the east coast. I would like to visit Utah, but mostly the national parks there.
Any other places in the world you'd like to go to? Australia has always seemed fun to me for some reason.
Any other places in the world you'd like to go to?
I'd like to go to a few places in Europe, like Mont St Michel in France, Bruges & Antwerpen in Belgium, NL, Germany, Czech Republic, & Hungary. Also New Zealand has always seemed like a really cool place to go to.
As far as semi-locally, I'd like to take a trip up to Ichetucknee Springs again. I went there a couple of times with my family when I was a kid, but we never got to see the spring head because it was closed because of too many people there. We only got to tube the river from the halfway point. Still, it was a beautiful place and the river is crystal clear like a swimming pool.
I'd also like to go up to St Augustine again. One of my cousins lives there now, so it would be nice to see him again as well.
One of my cousins lives there now, so it would be nice to see him again as well.
I think it's been decades since I've seen a non-direct family member. Also, I'm not really hoping to see one. I don't hate them but I'm just not interested in them.
How are you're ankles BTW?
How are you're ankles BTW?
They are better. My feet are a little sore from being on them for a while today. I went to my dad's house to get some more of his tools to bring back home. My cousin came over because there were some things that he wanted.
Afterward, I went to Burlington in the shopping plaza across the street to try to find a pair of black sneakers for work. I was successful. I found a pair of Avia brand for $20. Then it took a half hour standing in line to get to pay since they only had 2 cashiers working. :/
After that, I went to Aldi to get a few things. I had been buying canned herring fillets from there for QoH, but it appears that they are all sold out now. I picked up some kielbasa and a marinated boneless pork shoulder roast instead. I wanted to buy another tri-tip sirloin like I bought a few days ago (it was really good), but those were sold out, too. :/
I had been buying canned herring fillets from there for QoH
Herring fillets? What are they like? Probably not as Dutch as I'd like. ;P
but those were sold out, too.
Is there a general lack of foodstuffs to buy or is it just some particular things? Coincidence or pattern?
Herring fillets? What are they like?
Like sardines, but it's herring. Also they're in a mango & pineapple chutney. I think they're quite tasty. QoH likes them also.
Probably not as Dutch as I'd like. ;P
You're probably right. ;P
Is there a general lack of foodstuffs to buy or is it just some particular things? Coincidence or pattern?
I think Aldi only purchases small amounts of things from their suppliers to cut down on unsold inventory. It's kinda annoying because you'll find a product that you like, then they don't carry it all the time. They do have a lot of things that are regular items, so it's not like that with everything.
Also they're in a mango & pineapple chutney.
So they mainly taste sweet? Sweet fish?
you'll find a product that you like, then they don't carry it all the time
Surely Aldi isn't the only shop that has that those products?
BTW New post because I'm tired of scrolling comments on the last one.
You can do CTRL-down_arrow (CTRL key and then cursor down key at the same time) to scroll down instantaneously.
So they mainly taste sweet? Sweet fish?
I'd say the fish themselves taste slightly smoked. The chutney is not very sweet. I think it has a nice flavor.
Surely Aldi isn't the only shop that has that those products?
Other stores have canned herring, but it is plain. I've only seen the chutney ones at Aldi.
I'm blogging from my phone. How do you scroll down on a phone?
Anyway, I went to my dad's house today to sign some more paperwork regarding the sale of the house. I also brought home the 2 smaller TV's. I can't bear to just give them away. The big TV was too heavy for me to pick up & I have no place for it at home.
Then a while ago I got an email from the HR lady at work. She denied my request for religious exemption and took me off the schedule until I bring proof of vax. I guess I'm done working there since I'm not going to take an experimental mRNA "vax". If there was a traditional style vax, I might consider taking it. I'm not really upset about losing my job there. They were just putting me on all the bs 6am shit and the new manager is difficult to work with. No great loss. Plus I can find something somewhere else that pays better.
I'm blogging from my phone. How do you scroll down on a phone?
Ah.. Yeah.. Didn't think about that. There doesn't seem to be a way to do that out of the box. Maybe there are apps for that?
She denied my request for religious exemption
What specifically is your religion?
I'm not going to take an experimental mRNA "vax".
Are you worried it will harm you?
What specifically is your religion?
Christian, Baptist to be specific.
Are you worried it will harm you?
There is a possibility. I don't see why a shot that neither prevents one from getting sick nor prevents the transmission of this virus should be mandated. It seems like Sweden got it right with their approach to handling the virus.
neither prevents one from getting sick nor prevents the transmission of this virus
As I understand it, the vaccine makes the virus less transmissible as it indirectly causes the virus to make fewer copies of itself. You get less sick and you're sick for a shorter period. Something like that.
It seems like Sweden got it right with their approach to handling the virus.
I guess moving to Sweden is out of the question? :) It's a pretty country though.
I still prefer natural immunity. Once you get the virus, your immune system will recognize variants. With these 💉, they're only good for the original version of the virus, hence the need for boosters every 6-8 months like they're now saying. It makes no sense to me to mandate a shot for everyone for a virus with a 99% survivability rate.
I guess moving to Sweden is out of the question? :) It's a pretty country though.
LOL I won't be moving anywhere. It *is* a pretty country. I used to work with some Swedish people. Both were characters. Very opinionated & headstrong, but very serious about being professionals.
I still prefer natural immunity.
I must admit, I am curious as to who will come out of this disaster best.
I must admit, I am curious as to who will come out of this disaster best.
I think long-term, natural immunity is going to win out.
I think long-term, natural immunity is going to win out.
Apparently a little over 50% have been fully vaccinated in the USA at the moment. Even in Florida it's over 50%. Looks like vaccinations are going to win.
Looks like vaccinations are going to win.
If by "win", you mean that there will be more people vaxxed than unvaxxed, then yes, it looks that way. But as far as long term benefits are concerned, only time will tell on that.
Well it is Labor Day weekend here. It looks like it's going to rain all weekend. I haven't bothered to take anything out of the freezer to bbq. :/
My cousin is taking his boat down to Key West for the holiday. Hopefully the weather will be better for him down there.
It looks like it's going to rain all weekend.
Sounds like regular Dutch weather to me. :)
My cousin is taking his boat down to Key West for the holiday.
He didn't invite you to come along?
Sounds like regular Dutch weather to me. :)
My dad used to joke that his mother & her family left Amsterdam and came to a place with similar weather. ;P
He didn't invite you to come along?
He was going with his girlfriend, so I don't think he wanted anyone else going along. LOL
Speaking of my cousin, last weekend he went up to Lake City where his parents lived (before they died) and brought back his father's 1969 Chevy Nova. It's too bad he's in Key West this weekend because Holy Mackerel is having the classic car show today at the restaurant and that car could definitely win a prize.
his mother & her family left Amsterdam
Do you know why they left? And when?
1969 Chevy Nova
That type of car is only a year younger than I am but it nevertheless has much better looking features. ;P
Do you know why they left? And when?
They came to the US in 1923. I don't know why they left Amsterdam, but according to the Ellis Island records, they were originally from Garoet, Java, Dutch East Indies (before it became Indonesia).
Well, once again it is raining & thundering here. I'm watching a NWSL soccer game between Orlando and Houston. It's not very excited. I'm going to have to find something more interesting to watch. :/
they were originally from Garoet, Java, Dutch East Indies
Were they indigenous Javanese people?
once again it is raining & thundering here.
Over here it's annoyingly warm (but dry) for September. I have to actually open a window to keep the temperature pleasant, although it's mostly the humidity that bothers me.
Were they indigenous Javanese people?
No, they were ethnically Dutch. I think they worked for the Dutch East India company.
Over here it's annoyingly warm..it's mostly the humidity that bothers me.
What a coincidence! It's the same here! ;P
We've been averaging 92 degrees every day here. Sometimes it's much hotter. A couple of times last week when I was out & about, my car's thermometer registered 98 degrees (Ft Lauderdale & Hollywood). :/
I think they worked for the Dutch East India company.
Yeah, I guess they would have to be in those days.
Man, I'm glad the Netherlands got out of there, eventually. Such a dark chapter in our history. More than a chapter actually. Over half of the book.
What a coincidence! It's the same here!
But it's relatively normal for you guys. It's times like these I wished I lived in the north of the country. But then I'd have to live among the Frisians. Don't know what that would be like.
my car's thermometer registered 98 degrees
Sure, but the inside of a car is like a greenhouse. It's bound to get hot in there.
I'm glad the Netherlands got out of there, eventually.
I'm glad my ancestors got out of there and weren't killed by the Japanese during WW2. My ancestors on both sides had a way of slipping away from serious historical events. My maternal grandfather was too young for WW1 and too old for WW2. He came to the US to work for Marconi (as the story goes) at Westinghouse in Michigan.
More than a chapter actually. Over half of the book.
Meh, it's the way of the world and human behavior. Only the players change. Now it's the Chinese who are colonizing and sucking up resources from around the world.
But then I'd have to live among the Frisians.
LOL Are the Frisians that bad? (Besides talking funny? ;P )
but the inside of a car is like a greenhouse. It's bound to get hot in there.
No, it's an external thermometer. The inside temperature was probably 130 at least! (Before I turn the AC on.)
Well the last couple of days haven't seemed too bad. It's a very subtle difference that only a native such as myself can detect. ;)
Only the players change.
That seems awfully cynical. Then again, the Chinese probably agree with you. ;P
Are the Frisians that bad?
I was exaggerating. They're probably no worse than the rest of the country. :)
it's an external thermometer
So it measures the temperature of the air?
They're probably no worse than the rest of the country. :)
I was curious as to what Frisian sounded like. I recalled an Eddie Izzard video where he was trying to speak Old English to some Frisian farmer. I did a little research. It seams that Frisian is sorta in-between Dutch & English. I found a video of a lady speaking it. It's weird hearing a language that I don't understand but kinda-sorta understanding a few words.
So it measures the temperature of the air?
Yes.
Well yesterday we had a thunderstorm that had a lightning strike which knocked out our power for almost 2 hours. FPL sent out a crew & got it back on. Then 2 hours later, it went out again. It took them 6 hours to fix it the second time. I think the transformer that was damaged during Hurricane Wilma back in 2005 finally went 100% caput and they were finally forced to replace it. It was very annoying being without power for that long, but if it's a new transformer, then it shouldn't have problems all the time like the old one, and that's a good thing and a small price to pay for a consistent energy supply. :)
It's weird hearing a language that I don't understand but kinda-sorta understanding a few words.
I get the same thing with Danish. And Frisian, of course. And Flemish. And pretty much every Dutch dialect, I guess. :)
it was very annoying being without power for that long
I can imagine. Although it also seems kinda exciting to me. Having to adapt to the situation and such.
Having to adapt to the situation and such.
I left the house at 6:30pm yesterday (2 hours after the power went out the 2nd time) to go to my dad's house to collect the mail and check on things. Then I went to Publix to buy the 20 piece box of fried chicken wings that they had on sale and to see if they had a couple of other sale items. I think it was a little after 8pm by the time I got back. I was hoping that the power would have been restored by then, but it wasn't.
It seemed like they had the whole FPL fleet of trucks out by then. It had turned into a major production. Luckily for them, it wasn't raining. They got the power switched back on around 10:10pm.
At least it didn't get too hot in the house while the electricity was off. I think it only got about 2 degrees hotter than what I had the thermostat set at. And I had plenty of battery powered lanterns & flashlights already set up for hurricane season, so it wasn't like we were sitting around in the dark for several hours.
so it wasn't like we were sitting around in the dark for several hours.
So what did you do? Play card games? :)
So what did you do? Play card games? :)
I played with my phone. Then when the battery power started getting low, I went out to my car & put it on the charger and listened to music on the stereo while it charged. QoH kept falling asleep during the ordeal, so that was a good thing. :)
Well when I finally get my dad's properties sold and I have some money to spend, I'm going to fix a few of the minor things that have broken on my car. It needs a new window regulator on the passenger side, new stereo speakers, a paint job, and probably new spark plugs & wires.
QoH kept falling asleep during the ordeal, so that was a good thing.
You know, veterinarians sometimes put a rag over an animal's eyes to calm it down. :)
I'm going to fix a few of the minor things that have broken on my car.
How old is your car again?
How old is your car again?
16 years old.
Today it didn't rain, so I took the opportunity to mow the yard. I still need to trim a lot of the shrubberies which have grown out of control from all the rain. At least it has felt a little less humid the past couple of days (still hot, though).
At least it has felt a little less humid the past couple of days (still hot, though).
It's mostly just humid over here.
How's your work situation ATM? Still unclear?
How's your work situation ATM? Still unclear?
I haven't heard a thing from anyone at work. They are very unprofessional. I'd like to file a discrimination complaint with the EEOC, but on the other hand, I don't really want to fight for a job that I dislike.
The few days that I went back to work, it was back to the old nonsense. I felt disrespected just like before. I don't miss going in to work there. The only thing I miss is the easy money. When I get everything with my dad's estate completed, then I'll look for another job. Hopefully I can find something a little closer to where I live. Having to drive all the way to downtown FTL was getting to be a chore.
then I'll look for another job.
Another catering job or something else?
Another catering job or something else?
I don't know yet. I'll see what's available and what interests me.
Today I was going to make a delicious meatloaf, but when I went to get an onion out of the root bin, I discovered that the 3 in there had gone bad. I managed to salvage half of one, but it wasn't enough for my recipe. I prepped most of the ingredients, then had to go to the grocery store for new onions and a few other things.
When I got home, I chopped up an onion & mixed everything together and put it in the oven for an hour. I made some broccoli & mashed potatoes to go with it. It was a delicious meal. :)
a delicious meatloaf
I haven't had meatloaf since I was a child. Actually, maybe that wasn't meatloaf. I vaguely remember it had melted cheese inside. I think it was called a "boomstam", a tree trunk.
broccoli & mashed potatoes
Yeah, that's a good combination.
I haven't had meatloaf since I was a child.
Really? It's wonderful comfort food. And there are many ways to make it.
Today I mailed some legal paperwork, then fixed the broken passenger side visor in my car. The little plastic thing that holds it in place had cracked. I used some electrical tape to hold it together, then screwed everything back in place. It is holding for now. I also took the door panel off the passenger side to try to fix the window, but it was a little more complicated than the visor, so I put it back on. I don't have the new regulator, so I'll try it another time. Or I'll just pay someone to do it.
Right now I have a Key Lime pie in the oven that I made from scratch (aside from the crust lol). I didn't have Key Limes, so I just used regular limes. I guess technically it's a lime pie.😜 It still tastes the same to me anyway.
I guess technically it's a lime pie.😜
I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference. Maybe some lime snob would. :)
Why the smiley? Are you alluding to something?
I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference. Maybe some lime snob would. :)
It seems like it doesn't taste intensely of lime like Key Lime pie usually does. Or that could be because I didn't use enough lime zest.
Why the smiley? Are you alluding to something?
Nah, just joking around.
Today I contacted the city of Hollywood regarding my dad's business tax bill. I told the customer service lady that he died & the property is being sold. She said that I wouldn't have to pay the tax, but just email the city & let them know (which I did). Then I called the gas company to cancel his gas service. I didn't have to pay that bill either because the customer service lady said that the June bill was paid twice. The only thing I have to pay is a partial final bill which they'll send next month.
Two phone calls saved me around $90. ☺ I'll be glad when the sale is finalized so I can stop paying the electric & utility bills. I don't want to have those disconnected yet because it's nice having electricity & water when I go over there. It'll also be nice to not have to pay the mortgage any more.
it's nice having electricity & water when I go over there.
Is there still work to do then?
Is there still work to do then?
Yes. I have some things boxed up that need to be donated. I'd also like to try to sell the furniture. And I still need to sell dad's truck. And I think there are a few small things that I'd like to bring home.
I'd also like to try to sell the furniture.
Can't you store it somewhere? If you ever want to move into a place of your own then you're going to need furniture.
Can't you store it somewhere?
Unfortunately, no. My house is packed with crap and I'm not going to pay to rent a storage unit. For the amount of stuff that's worth selling, it would probably cost me $100 per month for a storage unit large enough.
I doubt I'll ever be moving into my own place. If QoH ever croaks, I'll just continue living here. I'd get rid of most of her crap, then fix the house to my tastes.
I'd get rid of most of her crap, then fix the house to my tastes.
Will you paint the house pink? :)
Will you paint the house pink? :)
No. I kinda like the sky blue color that it is now.
I would clean out all the crap in the basement and turn it into the entertainment room that it was meant to be. I'd also like to fix up the kitchen. I'd put new bottom cabinets & granite counter tops and refinish the upper cabinets. The spare bedroom I'd clean out, then turn it into a closet room for all my shoes and clothes.😎
the entertainment room that it was meant to be.
You mean like a home cinema or something? Or you own private pole dancing stage? :)
You mean like a home cinema or something? Or you own private pole dancing stage? :)
I think you're confusing me for Roxy!😂 There's a half-finished bar down there. Plus I'd like to put a pool table and a comfortable sofa for watching TV. There used to be a pool table down there when I was a kid, but it was a really crappy cheap one. I learned when I was an adult (and it was long gone) that it was given to us by the neighbor across the street when their family moved. Our next door neighbors who were in the unlicensed pharmaceutical business IYKWIM had a really nice professional quality one, plus a nice bar & big screen TV and a gazillion VHS tapes.
I think you're confusing me for Roxy!
I guess I might be.
I guess I might be.
LOL I told her what you said and she thought it was an excellent idea!😂😂😂 Unfortunately, the ceiling is too low in the basement for a stripper pole. It would have to go in the living room.😜
I told her what you said and she thought it was an excellent idea!
Well, of course, because it is. :)
How is Roxy doing BTW? No covid probs? Parents doing okay? "Boyfriend" doing okay?
It would have to go in the living room.
I guess that settles it then: the living room it is. :)
Well, of course, because it is. :)
LOL Now I have 2 of you wanting me to put a stripper pole in my house! I might just do it when QoH croaks!😂
How is Roxy doing BTW? No covid probs?
She's ok. I went to her house on Saturday to bring her an avocado. I stayed & chatted with her for about 2 hours. She mainly takes care of her parents & worries too much. She doesn't look too healthy to me. I don't think she gets enough sleep or eats right. She's really showing her age (I would never tell her that so bluntly).
No covid probs?
Her and her parents have managed to avoid getting sick without being vaxxed. Her guy friends haven't been so lucky.
Parents doing okay?
Her mom is doing well. Her mind is very sharp. Her only complaint is a mobility issue from when she fell & fractured her hip last year. She gets up & out, she just has to use a walker to get around.
Her dad is still suffering with the skin cancer on his head & memory issues. Roxy doesn't want him to get chemo or surgery because it would probably kill him faster than the cancer. She's trying alternative methods for it.
"Boyfriend" doing okay?
She has 4 guy friends that she talks to. She doesn't have an official boyfriend. The one she calls "redneck" is in the hospital with covid. He is seriously overweight so it doesn't surprise me that he's in the hospital.
"Limp" also has covid + pneumonia. He went to the hospital, but they sent him home. At least he takes vitamins & stuff & is relatively healthy. His regular doctor prescribed steroids & antibiotics for him. (IDK why antibiotics as they're useless for viruses)
"The cop" finally retired and is doing ok. I think he was sick with a sinus infection. And "Uniball" is his usual self. I don't think he's been sick. I know Roxy went out to eat with him and tried to get him to help her with her unemployment stuff.
I guess that settles it then: the living room it is. :)
It's the only logical solution.😜
Today I had to go over to dad's to unlock the gate & hide the house key for the buyer's general contractor who is supposed to go over there tomorrow to take measurements. While I was out, I stopped by TJ Maxx. I bought myself a bracelet and a bottle of the perfume that I wear (both on sale, $16 & $12 respectively) and a shirt for $10. I'm just considering them to be early Christmas presents.☺
She doesn't look too healthy to me.
In what way?
She has 4 guy friends that she talks to.
She may be keeping herself a bit too busy. Is she someone who tends to worry about people?
I'm just considering them to be early Christmas presents.
Not sure Santa would approve of that. Unless he works for TJ Maxx during the off-season.
In what way?
She looks very exhausted. She used to care about her physical appearance, now she doesn't bother. She used to have really beautiful thick hair, now it's looking very thin & brittle. And her skin is getting saggy & wrinkled. I know that we all age differently due to genetics, but nutrition & stress do play a role. I know that she doesn't get enough sleep & doesn't eat right, plus she's always worried about her parents.
She may be keeping herself a bit too busy.
I don't think she's been seeing them in person. She usually communicates by phone or text. When she went to the restaurant with Uniball the other day, I think that's the first time in a couple of months that she's been out with anyone.
Is she someone who tends to worry about people?
Yes, but she mainly worries about her parents & her brother who has cancer and isn't doing well.
Today I was going to go over to dad's house to check on things & make sure the contractor locked up the house & left the key, but it's been raining all day and I don't feel like going out. I'm going to run some errands tomorrow, so I'll do it then while I'm out. I just hope that the lights & air conditioning weren't left on like the last time people were over there to look at things. :/
but nutrition & stress do play a role.
Does she smoke and/or drink? Those things will make you old before your time.
the contractor
You haven't yet heard from him then?
Does she smoke and/or drink?
She doesn't drink. She uses THC products. I'm not sure how often she actually smokes it. I think she usually vapes or takes edibles. Lately it's been a lot of edibles. :/
You haven't yet heard from him then?
I communicate with the buyer. The contractor is someone that his company uses to fix up the properties that he buys.
Anyway, it's a good thing that I went over there. Everything was left on again. I texted the buyer & let him know. He said he'd pay the electric bill.
Lately it's been a lot of edibles.
I suppose to reduce stress. Just to be able to relax. Maybe she should just take hot baths.
The contractor is someone that his company uses to fix up the properties that he buys.
Ah, okay.
Everything was left on again.
That's really inconsiderate. :/
I suppose to reduce stress. Just to be able to relax.
Yes, and also for nausea. She has anxiety and needs to get that under control. I can understand and empathize since I had anxiety for almost the first thirty years of my life, but there comes a point where you need to deal with the cause of it and not rely on substances to cope.
Maybe she should just take hot baths.
She saw her doctor yesterday. He gave her some sleeping pills. She had taken one last night while we were texting. I guess it worked since it seemed like she passed out before I did.😂 I had slept 10 hours the night before and was still wide awake after midnight. Usually I go to bed around 10:30 or 11pm. She usually stays up all night checking on her parents & worrying about them.
That's really inconsiderate. :/
Yes, it is. People don't seem to have any common sense these days. I wonder if they leave all the lights on & the AC running full blast when they leave their own home? I had a feeling that he was going to do that again, hence the reason I wanted to go over there to check things the day that he was supposed to go to the house. If it wasn't for the bad weather, I would have. It pisses me off that everything was on over 24 hours. My dad's AC is old & very inefficient and uses a lot of electricity. I've been trying to keep the bill as low as possible by not turning on lights or running the AC if I can get away with it when I'm over there.
She usually stays up all night checking on her parents & worrying about them.
What would happen to her if they got sick or died?
People don't seem to have any common sense these days.
Are contractors actually people though? :)
What would happen to her if they got sick or died?
IDK. I was thinking about that yesterday. She'd definitely be distraught. I know when her dad eventually dies, she'll definitely take it a lot harder than when my dad died. She's very close with her parents and they've always been supportive of her.
Are contractors actually people though? :)
The one that the buyer uses seems to be an idiot.
It has rained here all week. It rained off & on all day today. I'm really tired of it. I had no energy to do anything today. :/
I had no energy to do anything today.
Well, you've been very busy the last months. Had a lot on your mind. Maybe it's not just the rain.
Have you heard anything from work BTW?
Maybe it's not just the rain.
Maybe. Dealing with QoH and her bs every day is also exhausting. :/
Have you heard anything from work BTW?
No. I didn't expect to. There was only a couple of emails from one of the tech guys about wifi passwords and stuff, but I think that was something sent out to everyone. I just ignored it. I don't care about that place any more. They've gone too far with their authoritarian approach to the virus. I think they'd fit in well in Australia. They are already breaking Florida law by asking guests for proof of vaccination before they can get in to see the shows.
They are already breaking Florida law by asking guests for proof of vaccination before they can get in to see the shows.
And nobody is suing them? In the USA? :o :)
And nobody is suing them? In the USA? :o :)
I'm surprised that no one has reported them yet. Although I *did* see some people grumbling about it on a FB post about the Pat Benatar show next month.
Well the weather has finally gotten kinda nice. There was definitely less humidity today, and it was sunny and not extremely hot. I tried to sit out in the back yard to get some sun, but after about 5 minutes it was too hot so I went in the house. At least I'm not as ghostly white as Roxy.😂 (I have a little bit of a tan, but not leatherized like a French Canadian snowbird.😂😂)
Well the weather has finally gotten kinda nice.
We've had excellent weather here as well. I took a really nice walk today. :)
leatherized like a French Canadian snowbird.
For a minute there I thought you were talking about an actual bird. I even googled "French Canadian snowbird"...
We've had excellent weather here as well. I took a really nice walk today. :)
Sounds nice.☺ We are supposed to have nice weather for the rest of the week. It would be nice to get out and enjoy it.
For a minute there I thought you were talking about an actual bird. I even googled "French Canadian snowbird"...
😂😂😂 No, it's what we Floridians call the northerners who come down here for the winter. They usually go to the beach every day until their skin looks like old leather. I found a documentary for you.😜
https://millennialsnowbird.com/2019/04/12/french-canadian-retirees-flock-to-florida-trailer-park-in-snowbirds-short-doc/
It would be nice to get out and enjoy it.
Don't you have a parasol or something?
I found a documentary for you.
Oh.. I see.. Yes.. Thank you.. :)
Don't you have a parasol or something?
No, just regular umbrellas.
Today was much hotter than the weather peeps said it would be. They said 87, but my car's thermometer said 92 when I was out running errands. :/ I had to go over to my dad's house to collect the mail since I hadn't been over there since last Thursday. I also wanted to take his battery powered lawnmower to Roxy, so I loaded it in my car & took it to Roxy's house. I told her if she wanted to make some extra money to list all my dad's furniture & stuff on her Neighbors app & I'd let her keep half of the sales. The guy who is buying dad's properties wants to close on them soon, so I don't have much time to try to sell stuff. I don't really want to leave everything in the house for him to dispose of if there's a chance that I can make a little money on the stuff.
Oh.. I see.. Yes.. Thank you.. :)
I was trying to find a pic of some snowbirds when I ran across that documentary. I know exactly where that trailer park is located. It's one of a handful that are left.
No, just regular umbrellas.
I meant one of those big ones that you can put in garden and sit under. We've always had one of those. You put a chair and little table underneath it and you drink a cold beverage. :)
I'd let her keep half of the sales.
Look at you. It's like you're running a business. Paying people to sell stuff for you. Pretty neat.
It's one of a handful that are left.
I hear they're popular with hurricanes. :)
I meant one of those big ones that you can put in garden and sit under.
We don't have one of those, either. When you said parasol, I thought you meant one of those small frilly umbrellas that ladies used to carry to shield them from the sun. ;) For Florida it would be convenient to have the big umbrella with the mosquito netting attached. (I saw one of those on the Internet somewhere.) A lot of people just have screened-in patios here. Unfortunately, we don't. :/
It's like you're running a business.
Well time's up on that. I have to go to the lawyer's office tomorrow morning to sign paperwork for the estate bank account & find out about the closing. The buyer is eager to finalize everything since the judge has approved everything. It should be a done deal by Monday.
I'm trying to talk Roxy into taking a few things to her house to sell(like the big flat screen TV & the other portable AC). If not, the smaller things I can theoretically find a place for here(like dad's batter powered lawn tools).
^battery powered
A lot of people just have screened-in patios here.
I had no idea mosquitos were that much of an issue. Even in the middle of the city?
It should be a done deal by Monday.
I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed until then. :)
I had no idea mosquitos were that much of an issue. Even in the middle of the city?
It's Florida, so yes. It's hot, humid, subtropical, and rains all the damn time for 8 months of the year. And there's that thing called the Everglades. It's the perfect climate for mosquitoes. :/
I went to see my lawyer today to sign papers for the estate bank accounts that the money from the sale of dad's property has to go in until the probate is closed. The good news is that I'm not the one who has to pay off the mortgage. It gets done at the closing, so one less thing I have to do myself. I went to Roxy's afterward and chatted with her for about an hour before she had to go to work. Then I went to the post office to get the form to forward my dad's mail to my house. I should have done that a while ago, but whatever. Then Monday or Tuesday will be the closing on the properties. It'll be nice to finally be done with it. ☺
I'm not the one who has to pay off the mortgage.
Very good news.
to forward my dad's mail to my house.
Are people still sending mail to him/his address? Just ads and bills or personal mail as well?
Are people still sending mail to him/his address? Just ads and bills or personal mail as well?
Everything. I should have had his mail forwarded to my house much sooner, but I didn't want QoH getting ahold of anything important. It's mostly junk mail, but he did have some bills and important things. I also registered his name on the deceased/do not contact list. It's something that you register deceased people's names on so that advertisers stop sending mail to their address.
After I get the houses sold & cancel his utility bill & electric bill accounts, there's not much important mail that he could possibly get.
So your weekend is going okay then, I guess? Nothing unusual to report?
So your weekend is going okay then, I guess? Nothing unusual to report?
It was mostly uneventful. I mowed the yard today. Chatted with a neighbor. Texted with Roxy, Janet, & my cousin. Nothing out of the ordinary to report.
I suppose my lawyer will contact me tomorrow to tell me when I need to come to his office to sign the paperwork for the closing on dad's properties. It feels weird to be getting all that money.
I mowed the yard today.
You know, I'm starting to believe that if you didn't have that yard then you'd be bored out of your mind. On a regular basis. ;P
It feels weird to be getting all that money.
Good weird or bad weird?
I'm starting to believe that if you didn't have that yard then you'd be bored out of your mind. On a regular basis. ;P
I am bored out of my mind on a regular basis! I just have something to do for 3 hours every 3 or 4 weeks. Hopefully it will be less hot & humid in the upcoming weeks. I have a lot to do in the yard besides the mowing. Lots of plants & trees need trimming. It's usually too damn hot & humid to do it, so I've been neglecting them.
I *did* cut down a Suriname cherry bush that had started growing by the front corner of the house. It was getting rather large & had to go. A bird probably shit out a seed there.
There are other random plants sprouting up around the yard that were probably started by birds shitting out seeds. I need to pull those up, too. The plants I hate the most are the sanseveria. Those have to be dug up by the roots. I don't know which neighbor original had those, but they are invasive & I've been having to dig them up for most of my life. They're difficult to eradicate because I can't go into neighbors' yards to dig theirs up.
So what did the lawyer say? Is it all over and done with now? Can I finally uncross my fingers and toes? :)
So what did the lawyer say?
I haven't heard from him yet. If I don't hear anything by the end of today then I'll call him tomorrow to find out what's going on.
It will be nice to not have to deal with this stuff any more.
If I don't hear anything by the end of today then I'll call him tomorrow to find out what's going on.
Good luck. Or just mediocre luck, I guess. Seems sufficient. :)
It will be nice to not have to deal with this stuff any more.
Ah, but what about the next thing? There always a next thing to unnecessarily take up some of ones' time and energy. Maybe that's just life.
Ah, but what about the next thing?
I don't want to think about that. One thing at a time. There's always something. :/
I emailed the lawyer to find out what's going on. He said when he gets more details he'd get back to me. IDK what's taking so long. I guess it's the usual bureaucracy in action.
I went by dad's house today to collect the mail and I took the other portable AC unit to Roxy's house & dropped it off. She wasn't there because she had to take her mother to a couple of doctor appointments. I went grocery shopping afterwards.
I'll have to go back to dad's again to collect a few more items for myself. He has a small patio table & chairs that I could use, a hand truck that's nice, and I could probably take the few battery powered yard tools (even though they are cheap quality).
I'll have to go back to dad's again to collect a few more items for myself.
Can you still do that? I mean, now that the property is sold?
Can you still do that? I mean, now that the property is sold?
Yes, I still have the keys. It's not sold until I've been paid. I haven't been paid yet. I'm still waiting for the title company to get their shit together.
Hopefully Roxy can come and help me tomorrow. Dad's truck is still over there and I need someone to give me a ride there so I can drive the truck back to my house. I've decided to keep the truck for now. Having an extra vehicle would be useful.
It's not sold until I've been paid.
Ah. I thought it was sold the moment you put your autograph on... some legal documents that I don't know name of.
I've decided to keep the truck for now.
Do you have parking space for it?
I thought it was sold the moment you put your autograph on...
I spoke to the lady from the title company today. She was getting things in order (whatever it is that they have to do to make sure there are no liens or debts attached to the property). She said it should be done by Tuesday (since Monday is a holiday) then I can sign more paperwork to finalize everything.
Roxy is working all weekend. I think she can help me on Monday. I'm planning on going over to dad's tomorrow to get the last few things that I want. Roxy can help me with the truck on Monday.
Do you have parking space for it?
Yes. We have plenty of room in the yard to park it.
She said it should be done by Tuesday
Okay. Well, let's hope she's right.
We have plenty of room in the yard to park it.
How many cars will you have then?
How many cars will you have then?
3 vehicles. 1 car & 2 trucks.
I went over to dad's house today to collect the mail and bring more stuff back to my house. I got his patio table & 4 chairs, an electric lawn edger, and an extension cord & air hose that probably goes to his air compressor.
I also tried to start up his truck, but the battery was dead. If Roxy can help me out tomorrow, I'll have to bring some jumper cables so I can jump start it. If that doesn't work, I'll just call AAA and have someone come out to jump start it.
1 car & 2 trucks.
Why do you need 2 trucks? Seems like one is sufficient.
Why do you need 2 trucks? Seems like one is sufficient.
We don't, but QoH's truck isn't running. The battery is long dead. She stole my set of keys to it, so I couldn't get into it to start it up occasionally to keep the battery charged.
Well just as I had figured would happen, Roxy has an excuse why she can't help me. I'm really pissed. Any time I ask her for a favor there's an excuse why she can't. For someone who claims to be my best friend, she doesn't seem to help me if it's something that inconveniences her. And I'm not asking for much. I just need a ride over to his house.
I tried texting my friend Janet to ask if she'd help, but she hasn't replied. If she doesn't respond in a couple of hours, I guess I'll have to ask my cousin. I didn't want to bother him again, but at this point I don't have many alternatives. :/
For someone who claims to be my best friend, she doesn't seem to help me if it's something that inconveniences her.
What was her excuse this time?
Maybe she has different ideas than you have about what best friends are?
but at this point I don't have many alternatives
You should make more friends. :)
What was her excuse this time?
A sensor light came on in her car. It turned out to be just a faulty sensor.
Maybe she has different ideas than you have about what best friends are?
It sure seems that way. It's really annoying when people say if you need any help, to ask them. Then when you do, there's always an excuse why they can't. If you don't intend to help, then don't offer.
You should make more friends. :)
Unfortunately that is easier said than done. Once you get to be my age, most people have families who are their priority and don't have time for friends.
Well the closing was moved to this Thursday. I'm going to meet the lady from the title company at my dad's house. It's easier to do it there so QoH can't interfere. The lady had originally wanted to sign the papers at my house.
Hopefully I can get dad's truck started while I'm over there and maybe my friend Janet can help me since she lives kinda close to my dad's house.
If you don't intend to help, then don't offer.
Maybe some people overestimate themselves because they want to be better people too much.
It's easier to do it there so QoH can't interfere.
Yeah, it's definitely a good idea to not get QoH involved.
Well tomorrow I sign the paperwork with the tile company, then everything with my dad's estate will pretty much be over. I'll be so glad to not have to deal with it any more.
I'll be so glad to not have to deal with it any more.
So how do you think you will look back at the experience? I think you handled the situation quite well even though you've never been through anything similar AFAIK.
Papers were signed, just called the bank, funds are in the accounts! The ordeal is almost over! Now I'm waiting for the court to close the probate.
So how do you think you will look back at the experience?
It was very stressful, but I learned how an estate with probate works. I'll be prepared for when QoH croaks.
I think you handled the situation quite well even though you've never been through anything similar AFAIK.
Yes, I agree. I felt like a real adult taking care of adult business. The anxiety that I had most of my life did not come back during the ordeal. I'm thankful that my lawyer & the buyers were very professional and knew what they were doing and did not scam me.
I'll be prepared for when QoH croaks.
Ah, there's that silver lining. ;P
Although I guess the newly cashed funds are nice too. :)
Although I guess the newly cashed funds are nice too. :)
I'm not allowed to touch the funds until the court closes the probate. I'll have to ask my lawyer how long that will be. But it's nice to know that I will have all that money for future use. ☺
I didn't do anything today. Yesterday was such an ordeal with waiting around 2.5 hours for the tow truck to come to tow my dad's truck to my house.
I still need copies of the documents that I signed with the lady from the title company yesterday. She was supposed to email them to me. I texted her today to find out when she was going to do it and she said her internet was down. I find it hard to believe that it's been down for 24 hours now. I need those papers to be able to close my dad's utilities account with the city. If she doesn't email them to me I guess I'll have to ask my lawyer if he has copies of them. Nothing can ever be easy.
I didn't do anything today.
Nothing wrong hanging out on the couch now and again. :)
I find it hard to believe that it's been down for 24 hours now.
I can't see any advantage to her lying about that.
Nothing can ever be easy.
Well, it's not that hard to make a phone call though. :)
I can't see any advantage to her lying about that.
She's probably lying to cover for the fact that she told me that she would email me a copy of the documents when she got back to the office, but didn't do that. Who knows what she really did after she left. She probably went out and had a good time or took an early weekend. My lawyer's paralegal had mentioned something to me about the title company people being disorganized. Roxy said probably just lazy. The lady said she works from home, so it's not like she has a manager there riding her ass to make sure she gets her work done in a timely manner.
Well, it's not that hard to make a phone call though. :)
I'll just send an email.
so it's not like she has a manager there riding her ass to make sure she gets her work done in a timely manner.
I hear some companies can be rather intrusive with regards to that.
I'll just send an email.
Ah, the conveniences of these modern times. ;P
Ah, the conveniences of these modern times. ;P
It's easier to email. Usually if I call, it goes to voice-mail. I hate leaving messages. At least with an email, I can formulate my thoughts and word the message so that it looks professional. No umms or uhhs or searching for the right thing to say.
I did almost nothing again today. I just put a load of laundry in the washer. Then I brought in a few items that I brought home from dad's house while QoH is nodded off. She didn't want me to bring anything here, but I brought the majority of his tools anyway.
He had 2 new plastic saw horses with the packaging still attached and 2 new furniture dollies that I didn't want to leave behind. (I brought those in and stashed them in the basement today😎) I don't need them, but I can probably sell them.
Most of his tools I don't need, either, as I have my own, but he had some good quality power tools that I also didn't want to leave behind.
The one thing that I forgot to bring home was his hand truck. Too late now, as I already signed the paperwork & gave the keys to the new owners. Just as well. I already have one and there's no place here to store another one.
I did almost nothing again today.
You're days are starting to sound a lot like mine. Sort of. :)
I brought in a few items
From Roxy's place?
I don't need them, but I can probably sell them.
Those can be handy if you want to move heavy stuff around.
You're days are starting to sound a lot like mine. Sort of. :)
Yes, it's getting very boring. :/
From Roxy's place?
No, my dad's stuff that I had in the back of his truck.
Those can be handy if you want to move heavy stuff around.
I figured I could use them if I needed to move furniture.
Well today my dad's final electric bill came so I paid it. I closed the account also. The only thing I still need to close is his utilities account which I can do one I get a copy of the closing documents from the sale of the house. My lawyer said my creditorship ends on November 17, so 1 more month and it will all be officially over. ☺
And today I ordered some t-shirts from Grunt Style. They had a 20% off Sale + free shipping, so I bought 2 for myself & 1 for Roxy. They can be Christmas presents.
if I needed to move furniture.
..or QoH. ;P
t-shirts from Grunt Style
Oh, military style. Nice. :)
Now if only I could get you into a uniform. ;P
..or QoH. ;P
^This.😂😂😂
Oh, military style. Nice. :)
I got 2 for myself. One says SALTY and is a US Navy shirt. The other one has a pic of the original Legend of Zelda character Link with the caption 'it's dangerous to go alone, take this' but instead of it being a sword like in the game, it's an M4 rifle.😎 The one I got for Roxy says Boujee Battle Rattle and has a warrior woman with a gun and faux bling on the lettering.
Now if only I could get you into a uniform. ;P
Oh, you would like to see me in a uniform??? I actually have several. Do you have a preference?😜
Oh, you would like to see me in a uniform???
Well, I was kidding but some uniforms do look quite nice on women.
I actually have several. Do you have a preference?
What type do you have again? I guess I prefer the ones that look freshly ironed. Some of the dress uniforms look nice.
Well, I was kidding but some uniforms do look quite nice on women.
This is true. The milspec camo pants make my ass look especially good.😎😜
What type do you have again?
I have a full East German border guard uniform complete with overcoat, an East German Army uniform, an East German Navy peacoat, a Dutch army dress uniform jacket, a Dutch Air Force dress uniform jacket, an olive green Dutch army shirt, an olive green German army shirt, and a US army camo uniform (1990's era como pattern). I actually have 2 pairs of the camo pants. Then I have those pink camo pants that Roxy got me a few years ago. Those look very stylish as well. I have an olive green military style jacket that I bought probably 10 years ago from JC Penney, but never really had a place to wear it since it's kinda dressy.
I told Roxy that I need to come over to her house with my military uniforms so I can do a photo shoot for you lol.😜 She thought that was a great idea since she likes to dress up, too.
She thought that was a great idea since she likes to dress up, too.
I hope you two have a lot of fun dressing up. Also, I am curious about the results. :)
Any idea where your interest in military uniforms comes form?
Any idea where your interest in military uniforms comes form?
IDK. I think I've been drawn to military stuff since I was a kid. Many of the dress uniforms are very stylish. It could also be because growing up in the 80's in the US there was a very pro-military thing going on in the pop culture.
The shirts that I ordered are supposed to arrive tomorrow. I will definitely send you a pic of me modeling them. ;)
in the 80's in the US there was a very pro-military thing going on in the pop culture.
You mean as far as fashion is concerned? I guess some singers wore military looking stuff.
I will definitely send you a pic of me modeling them.
Cool. Looking forward to it. :)
You mean as far as fashion is concerned?
Fashion and television and movies. I remember that GI Joe and camouflage clothing was very popular when I was a little kid.
Cool. Looking forward to it. :)
Check your mailzzz. I'll have to get some better pics the next time I go to Roxy's. Hopefully we can go out somewhere with better scenery and I'll have my hair colored by then.😜
Check your mailzzz.
I like the salty t-shirt but the zelda T-shirt is amazing. :)
I'll have my hair colored by then.
Are you going with black again or something different this time?
I like the salty t-shirt but the zelda T-shirt is amazing. :)
Since Legend of Zelda was one of my favorite games, I had to have it. The Salty one is an inside joke from work. My ex-assistant manager told me that someone made a comment to the f&b director about me cursing a lot and he told them that I was in the Navy. We used to joke around after that that any time I got a little salty it was because I was in the Navy.😂😂😂
Are you going with black again or something different this time?
My natural color is almost black, but after it grows out and gets sun bleached it looks dark brown. I switched from the brown/black color that I used to get because it looked too black & unnatural. Now I get dark brown and it looks better.
me cursing a lot
Do you really curse a lot? I seem to remember you once said you used to curse a lot but don't anymore. I could be misremembering that.
Do you really curse a lot?
Yes LOL.
I seem to remember you once said you used to curse a lot but don't anymore.
I try to cut down on it depending on the company I'm with, but it's a tough habit to break.
I'm feeling pretty good today, so I'm going to try to get back on a regular exercise regimen. My routine was completely destroyed after my dad died. I was under too much stress for exercising. And my hormones being out of whack for the past year & a half didn't help, either.
Now that my dad's estate is almost completely settled, I don't have that stress to deal with. And since I added a couple of additional supplements to my vitamin regimen (ashwagandha & spirulina) I seem to be feeling much better. ☺
Yes LOL.
Okay. What are your favorite curse words then? :)
ashwagandha
Seems to have some negative/unwanted possible side-effects.
What are your favorite curse words then? :)
I don't know if they're my favorite, but my most frequently used are fuck(-ing, -er), shit, bitch, & cunt.
Seems to have some negative/unwanted possible side-effects.
I haven't had any negative side effects. I've had fewer bladder issues and I have more energy since I've been taking them.
QoH has been bitching about not having any clothes or underwear to wear even though she literally has a whole drawer full of underwear and 2 bedrooms full of clothes. The truth is that she has gotten too fat to wear what she has, and what still fits is getting worn out. So I ordered 2 packages of 12 underwear from Walmart for her which are supposed to arrive by Friday. I'm sure she'll find some reason why she doesn't like them & can't wear them. They also had pants in her size marked down, but I had already placed the order before I saw them. I'll just go into the store by me & see what they have.
my most frequently used are fuck(-ing, -er), shit, bitch, & cunt.
I use Dutch versions of all those except bitch. It's just not a very common curse word here in my neck of the woods. I'm not sure which I use the most, either fuck or cunt. I don't use cunt, or "kut" in Dutch, to refer to anyone though. It's just a general expression of frustration just like fuck.
I'll just go into the store by me & see what they have.
I'm sure she needs more than underwear and pants. What's her fashion sense like?
I use Dutch versions of all those except bitch.
Bitch I usually use as an exclamation of frustration against uncooperative inanimate objects. LOL I used to say it a lot at work when equipment would get stuck or not work properly. I don't usually use it to refer to females in general like some people do. For me, it's reserved for those whose behavior warrants being called that. Cunt is also reserved for those who deserve it.
What's her fashion sense like?
Since she got fat, she usually just wears muumuus. It's had to say if she has a sense of fashion now. When she was younger she liked stylish clothing.
Cunt is also reserved for those who deserve it.
Do you remember who last deserved it? :)
Since she got fat
Did she have a traumatic experience or something? Did she suddenly start eating? Or did she just give up on having a life?
Do you remember who last deserved it? :)
Yes, QoH!😂 She gets me so mad that it's the only word that's fitting.
Did she have a traumatic experience or something?
I think being fat is traumatic for a narcissist like QoH. But she's always been too damn lazy to lose weight the correct way. Lazy & no self control when it comes to food choices. She started gaining weight around menopause, but instead of seeing a doctor or adjusting her diet, she continued to eat the wrong things and blew up like a blimp. And because she's embarrassed to be seen because she's fat, she's given up on life. But instead of taking responsibility for her choices, she chooses to blame me for everything wrong with her life.
I think being fat is traumatic for a narcissist like QoH.
She's probably not leading her ideal lifestyle. But then, who is?
She's probably not leading her ideal lifestyle. But then, who is?
Her ideal lifestyle is trying to control everybody and everything.
In other news, Roxy's mom had a minor surgery yesterday. I think it was to remove a wire in her hip. She fell and broke her hip a year and a half ago. I think she had surgery for it then, but something came loose and was causing pain, so they had to go in and remove whatever it was. I think they did the surgery under local anesthesia, so she was awake during the procedure.😫
I haven't heard from Roxy today. She took off work yesterday to stay with her mom. She's a bad enough worry wart when it comes to her parents. I'm sure she's really stressed out over caring for her mom while she heals.
Her ideal lifestyle is trying to control everybody and everything.
Which she is failing miserably at. What is she still in control of these days?
so she was awake during the procedure.
That's not so bad, is it? She doesn't have to look at it.
What is she still in control of these days?
Running her vile mouth and trying to instigate fights with me.
That's not so bad, is it? She doesn't have to look at it.
It's safer to do it that way at her age. It's just kinda creepy to know that someone is cutting on you and you're fully awake while it's happening.
I assume that she is ok. She was back home soon after the surgery. I haven't heard from Roxy yesterday or today, though.
It's just kinda creepy to know that someone is cutting on you and you're fully awake while it's happening.
I had that done to me as well some 12 years ago. Had to have some growth thingy removed from the inside of my right cheek. Was actually quite a relaxed operation. :)
I haven't heard from Roxy yesterday or today, though.
I'm sure she's busy giving her mother the extra help that she needs to recover.
Had to have some growth thingy removed from the inside of my right cheek. D: Mouth cheek or butt cheek???😜😜😜
I'm sure she's busy giving her mother the extra help that she needs to recover.
Yes, she is. I texted a bit with her last night. Mainly she's trying to keep her mom from attempting to do things for herself. She's supposed to be recuperating and staying off her legs. The hospital sent a walker home with her if she needs to get up and walk, but she refuses to use it. She's very stubborn. And Roxy's dad is also a handful. He's a little like QoH but not as verbally abusive. I told her it's like having to deal with misbehaving toddlers in elderly bodies. :/
Speaking of QoH, she really pissed me off today with her slander. Now she's accusing me of getting in accidents in my car. I've never had an accident in my life. Also she's accusing me of driving drunk & using drugs. I've never used drugs in my life, nor have I ever driven drunk. It pisses me off because not only is it not true, but she would tell that shit to people who don't know me and it could possibly lead to trouble for me. She's threatened to call my job before and she's told the paramedics who've came here all sorts of crazy shit.
Mouth cheek or butt cheek???😜
Definitely mouth cheek. :)
But hey, I am getting older. Who knows what horrors abound in that moist, dark cavern down below. ;P
I told her it's like having to deal with misbehaving toddlers in elderly bodies.
Yeah.. now and again I get the feeling that my parents are getting less mentally mature with age.
She's threatened to call my job before
Well, she can't call your job if you don't have a job. ;P
she's told the paramedics who've came here all sorts of crazy shit.
I bet those paramedics hear all sorts of weird stuff. They may know not to take it too seriously.
But hey, I am getting older. Who knows what horrors abound
It's amazing all the weird stuff that starts growing on your body the older you get.😩
I get the feeling that my parents are getting less mentally mature with age.
Mine were never very mentally mature. QoH is getting worse with age.
she can't call your job if you don't have a job. ;P
The last time she threatened to do that I told her to go ahead since I don't work there any more!😂
They may know not to take it too seriously.
I think that's part of their policy. They just come out and treat the patient and don't get involved in any drama.
They just come out and treat the patient and don't get involved in any drama.
Yeah. I bet their job would be impossible if they got involved in all the drama they run into.
Anyway, is has winter arrived yet in Florida? It's getting pretty cool over here. Could just be me though. :)
has winter arrived yet in Florida?
The dry season & cooler weather did arrive today. There was a nice breeze and less humidity. I think it was around 82 degrees for the high temperature. It's supposed to stay that way for the rest of the week. It's even supposed to dip down to 79 degrees for the high on Friday.😜
I took advantage of the nice weather today and mowed the yard. I barely broke a sweat.☺
Roxy made a lot of money in tips the last time she worked so she's at Macy's tonight spending some of it. I told her to check if they have a retractable lipstick brush for me since QoH stole mine out of my bedroom a couple of weeks ago. :/
QoH stole mine out of my bedroom a couple of weeks ago.
Maybe it's time to invest in a lockbox? A small safe perhaps?
What does Roxy do these days BTW?
Maybe it's time to invest in a lockbox?
Or not leave things like that on my dresser. :/
What does Roxy do these days BTW?
She bartends in the 954 club at the hockey games and concerts at the arena.
I saw an interesting recipe for an apple coffee cake on yootoob yesterday. I modified the ingredients a little and made my version of it a while ago. It's in the oven ATM. Hopefully it turns out good. We shall see. ☺
apple coffee cake
Hmm, sounds delicious. :)
I've been baking bread this week. The organic food shop where we normally buy bread closed for a week and a half and we didn't have enough room in the freezer. So we decided to make our own bread.
Hmm, sounds delicious. :)
It wasn't too bad. ;)
I've been baking bread this week.
Cool. I love freshly baked bread. And it's not difficult to do, either. :)
I have been gathering the ingredients for the Thanksgiving day feast little by little the past few weeks. Aldi had bags of stuffing in stock today so I bought 2. I bought 2 butternut squashes and 2 spaghetti squashes a couple of weeks ago. I bought fresh cranberries a week ago. QoH doesn't want turkey. I'm not a fan of it myself, so I'm hoping that Aldi will have hams as it gets closer to the big day.
I love freshly baked bread.
Oh yeah, the smell of it through the entire house is really nice. :)
I'm hoping that Aldi will have hams as it gets closer to the big day.
Better buy one extra ham, QoH will eat the other ones. :p
the smell of it through the entire house is really nice. :)
That's the best.☺ I live about a mile from the big Flower's bakery warehouse/giant industrial size bakery. When they're baking the bread at night and the wind is blowing from the right direction the aroma is wonderful.
Better buy one extra ham, QoH will eat the other ones. :p
That's always a possibility.
I bought a package of chocolate & orange jaffa cakes from Aldi yesterday. They were imported from Germany. They were pretty good. I like going there this time of year when they start getting all the imported holiday stuff. They also had bags of black drop, but I don't like that.😝 The herring fillets were back in stock, so I bought 10 tins of those.☺
I already bought QoH's Christmas presents from Walmart. I got her 2 dozen underwear, a nice pair of jeans, & a magenta colored zip front hoodie. They have a 90 day return policy, so if she doesn't like what I got, I'll still have time to return them after Christmas.
The herring fillets were back in stock, so I bought 10 tins of those.
What will you do with them?
I already bought QoH's Christmas presents from Walmart.
Are you being generous or is this damage prevention?
What will you do with them?
Eat them! Nom, nom, nom!!!😜
Are you being generous or is this damage prevention?
A little of both. I actually like buying Christmas gifts, but if it prevents her from having something to complain about then that's a bonus. Like Roxy said, it's a small price to pay to avoid an argument over not buying her anything.
In other news, I got an unexpected mini windfall in the mail today. The bank that my dad had his mortgage with sent me a refund for the money that was in escrow. It was a nice chunk of change.☺ I'm assuming that I will have to deposit it in the bank account for his estate since it is written out to him. I think I can sign the check as his personal representative, but I'll have to go in to the bank and ask someone to make sure.p
Eat them! Nom, nom, nom!!!😜
But how? Okay, yes, with your mouth. But will you use them in a dish as part of a recipe or can you eat them as they are?
It was a nice chunk of change.
You're turning into quite the Gladstone Gander, finding money left and right. ;P
But will you use them in a dish as part of a recipe or can you eat them as they are?
I like to eat them straight out of the tin. They come in a chutney sauce that is delicious.
You're turning into quite the Gladstone Gander, finding money left and right. ;P
If QoH would hurry up and kick the bucket, I'd be turning that money into lots more money. Roxy and I have been talking about starting a business selling various things. We can buy direct from China through Ali baba and then resell at a significant markup.
There are several open air markets in the Fort Lauderdale area that we could try selling at. Having our own business is the best way to make money. :)
They come in a chutney sauce that is delicious.
You should try eating them with diced/shredded raw onions. :)
Have you ever tried a rollmops?
We can buy direct from China through Ali baba and then resell at a significant markup.
That sounds easy. I assume everyone else is already doing this?
You should try eating them with diced/shredded raw onions. :)
QoH likes that. I'm not a fan of raw onions.
Have you ever tried a rollmops?
I don't like pickled herring. QoH likes the one in a cream sauce. IDK if you do that style. I think it's more of a Jewish food.
That sounds easy. I assume everyone else is already doing this?
I see lots of people selling stuff online who do that. Usually if I see something that I like that costs too much, I'll search for it on Ali baba or Amazon & find it cheaper(Ali baba is dirt cheap). I guess there are more people who don't know what Ali baba is than people who do.
QoH likes the one in a cream sauce. IDK if you do that style.
Pickled herring and cream? Doesn't sound great to me.
Ali baba is dirt cheap
I've never bought anything from ALi Baba. I'm not sure that company is even popular in Europe. I've never bough anything from Amazon either.
Pickled herring and cream? Doesn't sound great to me.
When I looked it up, it seems to be a Swedish thing. We served both the regular pickled herring & the one with cream sauce in the temple. IDK how it became a popular Jewish dish.
I've never bought anything from ALi Baba...I've never bough anything from Amazon either.
Me either, but I've looked at both sites plenty. I *did* have Roxy order 2 items from Amazon for me about 3 years ago. It's kinda a crap shoot as to what kind of quality you're going to get. The same with Walmart dot com. They allow 3rd party sellers on their site, so you have to beware of anything with a Chinese seller. I got skunked a couple of times with clothing. What they sent didn't look anything like the pic of what they were supposed to be selling. Now I don't buy anything but items that are being sold by Walmart. They are usually good quality & if there's some reason that I need to return something, I can do it at the store & don't have to pay to ship it back.
Now I don't buy anything but items that are being sold by Walmart.
Yeah, I like to buy stuff online at bol.com because there more or less local. Their headquartered in the Netherlands. They don't always have what I'm looking for but usually they do.
In other news,I went to the doctor last week because I had some unpleasant feeling in the lower part of my belly for a couple of months. I had some blood tested, got the results today and it was fine but my blood pressure is too high. No idea what causes that although it may be diabetes related. I got some pills and I have to inject more long term insulin. I am feeling somewhat better now.
my blood pressure is too high.
Hmm, very strange. I think there are many different things that can cause it, but that's something your doctor will have to figure out. I hope you feel better soon.😘
I think there are many different things that can cause it
Yeah. I've also removed all the extra salt, butter and mayonnaise from my diet. And I've quit drinking coffee. Plus I'm taking walks more often. I'm hoping it's reversible.
You know, the pills I've been given seem to have a relaxing effect. It's not unpleasant. Or maybe it's my body's reaction to the daylight saving time thing? Hm.
Anyway, how are you doing over there?
And I've quit drinking coffee.
That can definitely raise your blood pressure. When I was drinking regular tea like crazy about 15 years ago, I did notice that it raised my blood pressure. When I went off it for a week, my pressure went back to normal. Stress will also raise your pressure. I have no shortage of stress from QoH. :/
I'm hoping it's reversible.
Once you figure out the cause and stop doing whatever it is, it's definitely reversible.
You know, the pills I've been given seem to have a relaxing effect.
Did they give you CBD or something?😜
Anyway, how are you doing over there?
With all the stress dealing with my dad's death and his estate the past few months, I haven't been taking care of my health like I was before. My lower abdomen was starting to get big again so IDK if it was the fibroids growing back or something else. Stress can make them grow. So these past few weeks after I closed on both properties, I started taking my supplements regularly again and bought a couple extra things to take. Plus I've been drinking an herbal tea with red clover every day for the past 2 weeks. It has an anti-tumor effect. It must be working because my stomach is much flatter. I've also been trying to work out some, but it's tough to get motivated when I have to deal with QoH's nastiness every day.
In other news, when I went to Aldi today, they had the delicious spiral cut honey hams in stock for Thanksgiving so I bought one.☺ They also had the fancy mustards and fruit spreads in stock so I got some of those, too (I bought fig, onion, and red pepper & whole grain mustard).
At Publix they had shank portion pork legs so I bought one of those to put in the freezer for later. I love a roasted pork leg with the delicious crackling skin.😋😋😋 I think I'll freeze a portion of the Thanksgiving ham to have in reserve for whenever I cook the pork leg. Then I can have the main ingredients ready for making delicious Cuban sandwiches.😋😋😋
it's tough to get motivated when I have to deal with QoH's nastiness every day.
I guess a lot of it is getting into a habit so you don't feel like you're doing something "extra". Like brushing your teeth.
I love a roasted pork leg with the delicious crackling skin.
Yes, I think I would love that too. I don't think it fits in my current diet though. :)
Cuban sandwiches
Hmmm, deliciously decadent. :)
Hmmm, deliciously decadent. :)
Speaking of deliciously decadent, I just had a snack of some of the goodies that I bought from Aldi yesterday: goat cheese and onion chutney on water crackers. It was a delicious combination! The savory flavor of the chutney blended well with the goat cheese & neutral flavor of the crunchy crackers.☺😋
I also bought a six pack of stout that they were selling. It was a really good price. IIRC it was less than $8. I think I will have one of those a bit later today.☺
I think I will have one of those a bit later today.
But..but.. it's not Thanksgiving yet... ;P
I do love me some goat cheese though.
But..but.. it's not Thanksgiving yet... ;P
It's a pre-Thanksgiving treat.😜 It wasn't anywhere near as good as Founders Breakfast Stout, but it was decent for the price.
I do love me some goat cheese though.
Me too. Of course QoH had to have some. Now she's going overboard with it.😩
Well Ma Nature came yesterday morning. I've been cramping a little bit. Not enough to need ibuprofen, but enough to make me feel like crap. And I have no energy or appetite. :/
Now she's going overboard with it.
Tonight... she sleeps with the goats. ;P
( No,I have what that is supposed to mean. :)
And I have no energy or appetite.
Seems like an excellent reason to take some rest and enjoy some easy entertainment. :)
Seems like an excellent reason to take some rest and enjoy some easy entertainment. :)
I went to bed early since there wasn't anything interesting on TV to watch. I got up relatively early today. I felt much better so I exercised some. I'm really out of shape. It's amazing how quickly you lose strength after only a few months of not working out. The only good thing is you can quickly regain it if you get back to exercising regularly again.
I got up relatively early today.
So did I. I got a flu shot yesterday and felt like crap most of the night. Tossing and turning for hours. Got out of bed at 6:30.
I'm feeling better now so I hope I'll get a good night sleep.
It's amazing how quickly you lose strength after only a few months of not working out.
Does working in your dad's house not count as exercise? I guess you used different muscles then.
I got a flu shot yesterday and felt like crap most of the night.
I've never gotten a flu shot. I live in Florida and haven't felt the need to. Everyone I've ever known who says that they get them always say they feel like crap afterward.
I'm feeling better now so I hope I'll get a good night sleep.
That's good. I slept 9 hours last night. I guess it was due to the workout. I did my dumbbells exercises again today. I definitely felt stronger and lasted for more reps. As soon as Ma Nature leaves I'm going to try doing an abs workout.
Does working in your dad's house not count as exercise?
I don't consider it as such. I was mainly throwing crap into the garbage. The only things that constituted a workout was when I mopped the floors and scrubbed the bathroom tiles. The latter was definitely a workout and my back was sore the next day! :/
Today I did a little bit of work in the yard. I used the shovel to cut the weeds that were growing between the paver stones by the back porch (picture a motion similar to shoveling snow). It's much easier than trying to pull them up. Next I need to pressure wash the pavers since they are looking nasty from the weeds growing up over them.
I also cut back some other shrubbery that was getting out of control next to the carport. When QoH eventually croaks, I think I'm going to eliminate about 90% of the crap in the yard. I'm tired of wasting time on plants.
When QoH eventually croaks, I think I'm going to eliminate about 90% of the crap in the yard.
You could pave it all over, I suppose. Lots people here have done that because the hate gardening. What would your ideal (front/back) yard look like?
You could pave it all over, I suppose.
Nah, I don't want it to look like Hialeah! 😂
What would your ideal (front/back) yard look like?
I'd get rid of all the enormous ferns, bougainvillea, and random orange jasmine bushes, and I'd get rid of all the stupid fencing in the back yard that divides the yard into unusable spaces. I guess it was originally that way to provide access to the powerlines & utilities (water & natural gas meters) for their respective workers. I think the zoning has changed, so that's not necessary now. I'd like to grow food, so I'd like an area of the back yard for a vegetable garden. I'd also like to put one or two small shipping containers in the back yard for storage. In the front yard, I'd like to eliminate the plumbago since it requires too much maintenance and I'd like to rip out and redo the existing landscaping. Anything that requires trimming & maintenance needs to go. I'd just like to have a tidy appearance in the front yard. QoH has too much random stuff sprouting up all over. I think she likes the jungle look. I think it gives her a sense of privacy. I think it looks unkept.
the powerlines & utilities (water & natural gas meters)
Those are on the outside of the house then?
one or two small shipping containers in the back yard for storage
What do you want to store in them?
Those are on the outside of the house then?
Yes. The powerless run on poles that are along the back lot lines. They run right down the middle of everyone's backyards. The water meters are on the ground on the back lot lines also. The gas meter is on the outside of our house, but I think the main lines run parallel to the water lines.
What do you want to store in them?
I'd like one for all the yard tools, and plywood & assorted lumber that we have. The other can be for all the catering crap.
Yes
Is that the norm in the USA? Over here those things are all on the inside of the house. AFAIK in every house in the country.
The other can be for all the catering crap.
I guess that will free up some room inside the house.
Is that the norm in the USA?
Probably. I'm not sure about every state, but it seems to be the norm. I think it used to make it easy for the meter readers. They used to send out a worker to physically read the electric & gas meters. Now all of that stuff is automated. And it probably makes it easier to disconnect utilities for non-payment.
I guess that will free up some room inside the house.
OMG Yes! I think the majority of crap taking up space in the house is catering crap! :/
Well today I went to Aldi and bought enough cheese & crackers to make the great grand daddy of all charcuterie boards!😂 Roxy said QoH and I are acting like ballers!😂😂 I just like good cheeses. I got some different flavored goat cheeses, a brie, an asiago, a fancy white cheddar with cranberries, and a pepper jack. I also got some fancy crackers.☺
the great grand daddy of all charcuterie boards!
Well I do hope you took a picture of it. :)
I also got some fancy crackers.
Which brand?
Well I do hope you took a picture of it. :)
I'm not going to make one, but if I did, I have plenty of items for one. ;)
Which brand?
Just the Aldi brand, but they are like Carr's.
Well I've been having a ridiculous screaming match with QoH for the past hour and a half, ever since she realized that I was going through and throwing away the giant pile of junk mail that was on the table. Her paranoid brain thinks that I'm throwing away paid bills (those are in a separate box) so she's been flipping out, threatening me with legal action, and calling me all sorts of slurs. It's completely ridiculous! Some of the shit had been sitting there since February! She's had 9 months to deal with it, but she refuses because she's too lazy. She'll complain that I don't clean up, but when I try it turns into an insane fight that she instigates! Is there any wonder why I refuse to do things around here? It always turns into a fight because of her paranoia. :/
threatening me with legal action
Oh dear, better call a lawyer. :)
It's completely ridiculous!
Well she's a ridiculous person. It fits her. :)
Is there any wonder why I refuse to do things around here?
Do you actually refuse to do things though?
Oh dear, better call a lawyer. :)
She was the one who threatened to get the lawyer.😂 Empty threat. She's too lazy to do anything.
Do you actually refuse to do things though?
I don't say so aloud, I just don't do things.
Well it has rained all day today and is supposed to rain all weekend, too. But Tuesday it is supposed to get cool and last for Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to that.☺
I just don't do things.
Things that aren't really important? :)
I'm looking forward to that.
I guess you appreciate it more when it's always hot where you live.
Things that aren't really important? :)
I mainly don't do stuff in the yard. I *did* buy myself a new hedge trimmer with a telescoping handle a few days ago. That will definitely make it easier to trim all the tall hedges so I don't have to use a ladder. It's a pain in the ass to have to go up the ladder, trim a little bit, go back down, move the ladder, go back up, repeat, repeat, repeat.
I guess you appreciate it more when it's always hot where you live.
Yes, definitely.
I forgot to mention that on Wednesday when I went to Aldi, I got a great deal for a 10 pound bag of potatoes.. $2.50!!! Now I guess I'll be making real mashed potatoes from scratch for Thanksgiving instead of the instant ones. I'm also plotting what other potatoey delicacies I'll be making.😜 I think I'll make some delicious latkes, but not for Thanksgiving. That's more of a Hanukkah thing.☺
I'll be making real mashed potatoes from scratch for Thanksgiving instead of the instant ones.
I've never had instant mashed potatoes. I always make them myself. You have to use a few more than he usual number of potatoes. Also, keep mashing until it's silky smooth. Wait, you've made mashed potatoes before, haven't you? Never mind then. ;P
I'm also plotting what other potatoey delicacies I'll be making.
How about potato croquettes? You do need to fry those though. Watch your fingers. :)
I've never had instant mashed potatoes.
I can tell you that they've certainly improved since I was a kid. It's what they used in the cafeteria at school. QoH always made mashed potatoes from scratch, so when you are used to eating the real thing, anything else tastes terrible in comparison. The Idahoan brand is pretty good, though. It's very close to tasting like the real thing.
keep mashing until it's silky smooth.
Just be careful not to work them too much or they can get gluey.
you've made mashed potatoes before, haven't you?
Yes. I used to have to make them for a client when we worked for them on Thanksgiving.
How about potato croquettes? You do need to fry those though.
That's a good idea. I like anything fried.☺
Just be careful not to work them too much or they can get gluey.
Just add enough milk to keep it smooth. :)
I like anything fried.
Me too. If only stuff didn't get so greasy. Do you use vegetable oil or lard to fry?
If only stuff didn't get so greasy. Do you use vegetable oil or lard to fry?
I try to drain everything well when I take it out of the oil. I also lay the fried foods on paper towels to soak up any extra oil.
I usually use regular olive oil(not the extra virgin stuff). As long as you keep the temperature of it no more than 350F it's fine for frying. We used to use Crisco, but got away from using it since it's not very healthy. I only use it if I fry pork chops.
Since I didn't feel like waiting until Thanksgiving, I made most of the food today. I made the ham, green beans, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, and cranberry mould. I only have the stuffing and pumpkin pie left to do. I'll do them tomorrow. The ham was delicious! It was a spiral sliced honey ham from Aldi. They have been excellent every time I've bought them. Very mild taste and not salty or overly smoked like some hams can be.
It was a spiral sliced honey ham from Aldi.
I'm getting the feeling that your Aldi has better products than ours.
I'm getting the feeling that your Aldi has better products than ours.
The one that I go to is really good! I've been to 3 others around town that vary in quality. I think it depends on the neighborhood and the managers.
Today I went to Walmart for a few things. It was busier than usual due to Thanksgiving being in 2 days, but they weren't out of anything that I went for. I even bought a turkey breast. QoH originally said that she didn't want turkey, then she flipped the script and said that I was the one who wanted ham instead of turkey. Whatever. I got the turkey breast thawing in the fridge. I can cook it on Thanksgiving. No big deal. It's only 6 pounds, so it's not like it's a shit-ton of turkey.
Whatever.
So now you have ham and turkey? Do you put the ham inside the turkey? :)
It's only 6 pounds, so it's not like it's a shit-ton of turkey.
It's almost 3 kg of turkey. You're gonna need a lot of sauce for that. :)
So now you have ham and turkey?
Yes.
Do you put the ham inside the turkey? :)
I guess that would be called a Hamkey? Or a Turkham?😂 I guess it's an alternative to a Turducken?😜
I have the turkey breast cooking right now. Just another 30 minutes uncovered to brown.☺
It's almost 3 kg of turkey. You're gonna need a lot of sauce for that. :)
I'm not sure how much meat it is. It's connected to the bones, so those are probably a pound at least. Last time QoH ate it all pretty quickly and it didn't seem like a lot. It came with a package of gravy. I also bought a jar of gravy, so I'm sure we'll have plenty.😎
Happy Thanksgiving, Xul!
I hope the turkey is all it promises to be. :)
What are you thankful for this year BTW?
Happy Thanksgiving, Xul!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Arekino-san!
I hope the turkey is all it promises to be. :)
It was delicious! It turned out really well. I also used the drippings to spruce up the gravy that came with it.😎 Everything turned out really delicious, especially the stuffing. I'm glad I went ahead and made a double batch, because we've already eaten half!😂
What are you thankful for this year BTW?
I'm thankful that I got both of dad's properties sold quickly and the money is in the bank. I'm also thankful that QoH is getting his SS money.
Roxy is going to her sister's house for thanksgiving today. They don't get along and Roxy is already pissed off about several things, now her sister is trying to tell her what to wear!😂 I told her to wear something that will piss her off!😈
Well I already had a plate of food, now I'm enjoying a beer. I'm getting ready to go for round 2.😜😎
because we've already eaten half!
Nice. :)
You didn't have to fight QoH for a piece then?
now her sister is trying to tell her what to wear!
Is that normal behavior for her sister? Or does Roxy have an "unusual" taste in clothes?
I'm getting ready to go for round 2.
I see a workout in your future. ;P
You didn't have to fight QoH for a piece then?
No, I made plenty of everything.
Is that normal behavior for her sister?
It's normal for her sister to be bitchy. I just talked to Roxy a while ago. First her sister made some remark about Roxy wearing white shoes & socks with black workout pants. I was like wtf drugs is she on to hallucinate that? Roxy doesn't own any white shoes! (Me either!) Then her sister ordered food from Costco (which Roxy said was gross) and nobody could eat it since her parents & brother are on restricted diets due to health issues. I told Roxy that next year she should hire me to cook.😜 At least I make everything from scratch and I know what the hell I'm doing!😎
Roxy have an "unusual" taste in clothes?
No, she dresses appropriately.
I see a workout in your future. ;P
More like several. I got a head start on the Thanksgiving food this week and already put on 2 pounds.😩
Roxy doesn't own any white shoes! (Me either!)
I reckon not a lot of people do. Although I suppose sneakers often have a light color. Like tennis shoes.
I told Roxy that next year she should hire me to cook.
She really should. She knows your a good cook, right?
I got a head start on the Thanksgiving food this week and already put on 2 pounds.
How? Did you forget to go to the toilet? ;P
Although I suppose sneakers often have a light color. Like tennis shoes.
Roxy said her sister accused her of wearing white shoes when she took her mom for her surgery appointment. It was at 4:30am, so Roxy said she was wearing black leggings and her black & pink sneakers. The only one who has white sneakers is her dad. Roxy said she bought those for him because they were New Balance and marked down to $30. I told her that the only white sneakers that I had were ones that my sister found. Someone left them on the top of the dumpster and my sister found them when she was taking her garbage to throw away. They were new Sketchers and my size, so my sister gave them to me.
She knows your a good cook, right?
Yes. I send her pics of things that I cook. Her parents always say that they'd like to trade Roxy to QoH in exchange for me.😂😂😂
How? Did you forget to go to the toilet? ;P
The Carbpocalypse started a week ago when I made a rather large batch of potato latkes. I ended up eating most of them. Then I started making Thanksgiving food on Monday. So I've been eating lots of carbs and sugary things for a solid 7 days. I'm just glad it was only 2 pounds. I normally don't eat many carbs or sugary things. I had to cut way back because of the fibroid.
Speaking of..I've definitely been feeling much better. IDK if it's all the vitamins & herbals finally working or my hormones have balanced out, but my bladder seems to be back to normal capacity. I can sleep 7 or 8 hours before I have to get up to pee and it's usually around 20 ounces. I don't feel like I have to go all the time and when I do go it's usually more than 10 ounces (more like 12-15).☺
So I've been eating lots of carbs and sugary things for a solid 7 days.
I think I'd be in a coma if I'd done that. ;P
it's usually around 20 ounces
You measure the amount of urine you pee? When did you start doing that?
Glad to hear you're feeling better.
I think I'd be in a coma if I'd done that. ;P
That ended today. I'm back to doing intermittent fasting. I've had good results doing 16/8. I also used my new pole hedge trimmer today, so I count that as exercise even though it was only for 15 minutes.
You measure the amount of urine you pee? When did you start doing that?
Yes. For the past year and a half. It was a good gauge for how large the fibroid was. Larger capacity means shrinking fibroid.
Glad to hear you're feeling better.
Thanks. For a while I thought things might never get back to normal. It was very distressing.
Larger capacity means shrinking fibroid.
Why not just count the number of times you had to pee per day? I'm assuming that a smaller capacity means a greater urge to pee for small volumes of urine.
For a while I thought things might never get back to normal. It was very distressing.
I can imagine. And there's still lots of other things to worry about.
Why not just count the number of times you had to pee per day?
I track both. I write down the time and how much. At one point my capacity was around 6 ounces before I'd get pain from it pressing on the fibroid. I also had to be careful how much I drank. At its worst I was getting up 3x per night to pee. Now I can drink quite a lot and sleep 7-8 hours before I get up to pee.
And there's still lots of other things to worry about.
Yes. Stress isn't good for hormone balance and it can be a factor in fibroid growth.
Today I went to TJ Maxx to see if they still had any 5 pound containers of pink Himalayan salt. The last time I was there I noticed that they were selling them dirt cheap ($7.99) and I regretted not buying one. The grocery stores charge $3-$4 for 8 ounces.
I was in luck as they still had 3 of them so I got one. Even better, when I got to the cashier, she gave me a 10% discount! I texted Roxy to tell her that I think the girl gave me a senior discount and I don't know if I should be happy or horrified!😂😩 She said that's what happens when you go too long before coloring your hair. I told her that I was wearing a hat and she couldn't see my hair. I don't think I look that damn old! I think young people are just bad at guessing ages and don't want to come across rude if they ask. I don't mind the discount, though.😎
Now I can drink quite a lot and sleep 7-8 hours before I get up to pee.
That sounds normal to me.
I don't think I look that damn old!
I can't imagine anyone thinking you're old even with some grey in your hair.
That sounds normal to me.
Yes, it's nice.
I can't imagine anyone thinking you're old even with some grey in your hair.
I certainly don't look as bad as some of the people who I went to school with.😲
I still don't know why I got a discount. I looked up the TJ Maxx website and they don't give senior discounts. And I don't think it was for cyber Monday because that only applied to online orders. They give a 10% discount on your first purchase if you use their credit card to buy stuff, but I paid cash. I don't have their card anyway. I guess it will remain a mystery lol.
Something I *did* learn is they mark down lots of stuff twice per year to get rid of inventory--after Christmas and after July 4th. Not that I need anything, but it is fun to bargain hunt.☺
I certainly don't look as bad as some of the people who I went to school with.
You don't look bad at all. I mean, I don't know what those people look like but does it really matter?
after Christmas and after July 4th
A lot of stores do that. They need to get rid of the unsold stuff.
You don't look bad at all.
Thanks.☺
I don't know what those people look like but does it really matter?
It only matters that I look better.😜😎 One guy that I used to be good friends with looks like he weighs about 500 pounds now. I'm not kidding. He was always the chubby kid in school, but now he's taken it to a whole new level. It was really shocking to see. Then another girl who I was friends with in HS really looks like hell. I guess she had a rough life after graduation. It's sad to see. Then there are the ones who look like old whores. Once you reach a certain age there's such a thing as dressing appropriately, not like you're working the pole at the strip club.
I've tried to eat healthy, never smoked or drank heavily, and tried to exercise & maintain a healthy weight. I think I've done ok.☺
I went to a few stores to go grocery shopping today. Now I'm exhausted. Having to make several stops because the stores don't have what I want just wears me out.😩
Once you reach a certain age there's such a thing as dressing appropriately, not like you're working the pole at the strip club.
I'm sure there are people who get off on that. ;P
I've tried to eat healthy, never smoked or drank heavily, and tried to exercise & maintain a healthy weight.
I did all those things as well and I ended up with type 1 diabetes. So, no guarantees, I guess.
:)
the stores don't have what I want just wears me out.
Were you looking for something really specific?
I did all those things as well and I ended up with type 1 diabetes.
Yes, it sucks when you are betrayed by genetics. Like with my fibroid. It pisses me off.
Were you looking for something really specific?
Yes. I wanted some fried chicken wings from Publix. I usually just go up University Drive to Aldi, then the rest of the stores that I stop at are along University Drive on my way back. I stop at the Pembroke Commons Publix (which is massive) and they're always out of fried chicken. Then I have to go to another Publix. The next closest one is on Miramar Parkway, but it is a couple of miles out of the way. It's an original store and small compared to the newer Publix stores. The good thing is the parking lot is not massive and I don't have to walk a long distance to get in and out like the other Publix. And they always have fried chicken ready to go in the warmer. And I discovered that they also have QoH's Vernor's Ginger Ale unlike the other Publix which is always out of that, too.
The Pembroke Commons store just wears me out. There are many stores in that shopping center and the parking lot is huge and always full. You have to park far away, then schlep a distance just to get in the store, then the store itself is huge and you have to go from one end to the other just to get everything. The same at Sam's Club. Huge parking lot that's always full, huge store, and much schlepping. :/
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