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Monday, January 11, 2016

January made me shiver....

(Stolen line from American Pie, which actually features February.)  But it's been pretty cold, no?

This week, I'm going to make progress on the remaining albatross, I swear.  My goal is to finish the last 2 pieces of this section in the next week.  Go team go!  [The rest of the team being feline, not expecting a lot of help...]

We have temporarily won the War on Ants, at least until the next rainstorm chugs through.

Several other little to-do projects lined up, to keep the momentum going on the new year's aspiration of clearing some of the clutter around here.

What's going on at your place?


72 comments:

esperanza said...

Today's albatross is Put Away Christmas. With a move possibly looming, I'm packing it for moving, which is more padding, more carefully, than usual. Then I can say "I have two boxes packed already!" Three, if you count the tree.

Thanks for hosting :)

kathy a. said...

Ack! Well, may the packing mojo be with you.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Good thinking, packing the Christmas stuff for moving! And then you can rest on your laurels, that you're already preparing.

W: I was initially fooled by a salesperson, who was acting like she was doing a study for the government. Let her inside the house, and then she started into the spiel! I sent her away, but I'm grumpy at myself for not being more suspicious. (Government research: my one weakness!)

kathy a. said...

Yeah, the Posse rides for salespersons faking some government research thing. The Posse strongly disapproves. (and eek, in your house? yuck.)

Sue said...

Packing mojo being sent for esperanza, while Un-packing mojo is heading West to QWP!!!

And ugh - the Posse definitely rides for icky salespeople.

W: There were a few (moderately) scary moments on the weekend when a Great Big Very Important Bridge snapped in the cold and broke. It literally cut the country in half. In this part of Middle Earth Canada, the only other road to the West is via the USA, which adds mulitiple hours of travel. Since things like food and gasoline arrive via that route, it's a bit of a problem.

AW: One lane is opened as of yesterday. Yay! We can remain civilized for another week or so. No need to fight over the last can of spam in the grocery store. :)

esperanza said...

W: internet not working at home. It's the router, which we replaced just a few months ago. I reached the end of my knowledge, and now it's on Mr. E's to-do list.

So now I'm at P@nera in semi-big town. I was headed to town anyway, to have lunch with a friend.

Yikes on the bridge, Sue. One would think that engineers might consider that it gets cold in Canada?

Sue said...

I suspect they allowed for typical winter lows, but did not anticipate the bizarre winter we're having. Until Sunday, temps were hovering around the freezing point, then plunged to uber cold -30C or so. And it's only getting colder this week. So we went from rainy to deep freeze almost overnight.

kathy a. said...

Glad they found a way to keep at least a lane open -- but yikes, Sue! Hope they can find a fix.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Sue, I've been wondering how you were doing! I've been following the news about your bridge. (I have a friend who works for your city government, and she said the bridge wasn't designed with that extreme cold plus wind in mind?! I'm shocked, and glad that things didn't turn out even worse than they did.)

W: 5am wakeup. And no naps, because we're still adjusting to the new house. Also, I caught a cold while recovering from an ear infection, and it's starting to feel like this sore throat is the new normal.

AW: unpacking progress! I have a kitchen! And an office!

kathy a. said...

Go, QWP! Hope you get some rest and the cold settles down.

Even though that temp shift isn't usual, Sue, y'all live in the tundra in winter, and the parts should have been able to hold up. Cluesticks!

AW/W: This work-related development happened, and I've managed to work myself into a headache over its implications. Although I think it is a good development.

Menu: ravioli, sauce, and broc. All the birthday brownies are gone, so everybody in need will turn to excess holiday chocolate and ice cream.

esperanza said...

QWP, whine of early morning solidarity here. Sweet awoke at 4:15 am. Which as far as I'm concerned is the middle of the night. I sent her back to bed, and she was back in 30 minutes, up for the day. I dozed while she read books and did puzzles in her room.

W: Albatross #2 developed a serious complication today. I am lacking in wisdom to know what to do, so I'm trusting that the committee can handle it. I'm waiting for the official email so we can discuss the complication.

W of the "you might as well laugh" variety: I was waiting for a phone tag call back related to Albatross #2 (not the complication; that developed later). I was bra shopping, in the dressing room, when the phone call arrived. So I discussed Serious Business while half dressed.

W: bra shopping. I entered the store at the outlet mall (because they have the best selection). I asked to be shown bras in my size. In the entire store, there were two bras that were made in my size. Bah. This is why the ones I have are two years old and wearing out.

AW: Mr E healed the router, and our internet has returned.

kathy a. said...

Ack on the Albatross complication! V. funny about taking a call while bra shopping.

There has to be some kind of reward for bra shopping that involves exactly 2 items in one's size. I hate bra shopping, and am in the same dire straits about continuing to use the old.

esperanza said...

Well, when there are only two options, I just picked the one that fit the best, bought them, and moved on. It didn't take long, and would have been quicker were it not for the phone call. There were no other shoppers in the store, and I apologized to the salesperson. Then said, "I'm sure I'm not the first person to do that." She said, "No ma'am!"

Liz Miller said...

Solution: you need to come here for a visit and I will take you to The Best Rack Around

esperanza said...

That might be the only way bra shopping might be fun, Liz. 32D? Or really, based on the ones I tried on today, a 30DD? Because that's a common size.

kathy a. said...

Liz is definitely the pro on bras of difficult sizes. I apparently try to get by with online purchases that sit in their little bags until it's time to give them away, because they don't fit.

Sue said...

32DD here. I had a proper fitting a few years ago at a specialty bra shop in town. Their bras cost a bit, but they last, and (can I get an amen?) they FIT!! Turns out I had been wearing the wrong size for years. There is something so empowering (and I am not a huge fan of that word) about a bra that fits.

Sorry about the early hours, Albatrossi, colds, and all other unpleasantness. By all means, send the Posse for the folks who designed our bridge. It's an odd winter, but yes, we live in the tundra. Sheesh.

esperanza said...

Sue, that's my mom's size, so we join in you in small-torsoed, large-busted glory :)

Posse on their way. The members from here will need to borrow a coat, though.

AW: Albatross #2 advisor was very helpful on the complication. Hopefully the committee will see it the way we both do, and we'll be back on our way in no time.

kathy a. said...

Quite the week for tatas. ;)

Here's to getting that albatross on its way.

I've developed a bad attitude about my mailbox place, partly because the parking is a nightmare and partly because they aren't very competent. So I've put off going for too long, but I really have to go. On the up side, I'm returning something during that trek, which is an improvement over forgetting to return something and finding it a year later.

Liz Miller said...

I'm a 32H/34G. Yup, I'm a special snowflake. Nordstrom's will often have stuff that fits, but BRA is locally owned by a breast cancer survivor, and I love to be supportive (pun intended)

esperanza said...

You are a special snowflake, Liz, for many reasons :)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

This is a good reminder that I need to get myself to my local, lovely, independent bra shop, and buy new bras. Confession: I'm still wearing my old nursing bras, because my pre-pregnancy ones don't fit anymore. Actually, I'm surprised the nursing ones do, since I've shrunk significantly since weaning.

We had ANOTHER weird night. We all have colds (I thought it was the ear infection congestion lingering, but no: the millionth cold this month), and I woke up coughing at 4:00. Then E coughed and cried at 4:30, but fell back to sleep before I could bring her water. But, since I got out of bed, it took me forever to fall back asleep. And I'd only been asleep for half an hour, when Mr. Q woke up to go to the bathroom, waking me up as well. At least E slept until 7:00, and I slept a bit after that. But that does not help The Eternal Sore Throat, and The Inflamed Sinuses of Doom.

I can tell we have a lovely neighbourhood. We've had some nice days again lately. But I don't dare leave the house right now, because I'm desperately trying to rest and get better.

AW: after a difficult beginning to the day with E's behaviour, she rallied and had an excellent afternoon. She was really thoughtful and helpful! And entirely different child from the one who hit me in the face with a marker (right on the sore spot of my sinus) and spat in my face.

Small whine: I get better behaviour out of E when I pay more positive attention to her. But I'm tired. And introverted.

Sue said...

(((QWP))) The Posse is on the way to run the Inflamed Sinuses of Doom and their sidekick The Eternal Sore Throat out of town.

esperanza said...

QWP, your last whine is not "small!" It's huge, for me the introvert, anyway.

I have no emotional attachment to either David Bowie or Alan Rickman. Which is good, because I just don't have the emotional energy to expend on grief this week.

W, family version. Remember Mr E's nephew the suicide victim? he died in 2015. Nephew's stepmother-to-be posted one of those "best picture of 2015" things on fb this morning, a photo of her and Nephew's dad/Mr E's brother. Her caption was "2015 turned out to be a great year. I love you!" Um. Tone deaf much? Self-absorbed much?

kathy a. said...

OH Em Gee. Appalling, Esperanza.

kathy a. said...

Also sending sympathy to the Tired Introverted Mamas, which could be a good name for a rock band if they weren't so tired and didn't like quiet so much.

Turned out to be a fairly rainy week, but so far the ant patrol has failed to move back upstairs. (Probably just jinxed myself.)

More kinda big work-related stuff going on. The regular agenda has gotten pushed some. Sigh.

Also, now I think I really do need to drag myself to a reputable bra-fitting location.

Sue said...

Oh my goodness, esperanza, that's appalling. Just horrible.

I will add my sympathies to the Tired Introverted Mamas club, as I could have been in that band back in the day.

Too much death this week, period.

Tomorrow night is dinner with the girls - we just had a Christmas dinner together, but one of the group is spending the winter South of here and wants a party before she leaves, so hey, I'm in.

Anonymous said...

Done while waiting for news on the job: got MM's hair cut and dyed blue. Peacock feathers have nothing on my boy. He looks like a fireplacing grownup I swear.

Reorganized the kitchen, which was truly necessary for my mental health.

Downloaded more music to my iPhone, ditto.

Cooked lots of good food.

Bought a new recycling bin. And a 25 lb sack of flour.

Walked in circles. Spent way too much time on Twitter and Facebook.

Mourned amazing 69 year old British irreplaceable artists.

-Liz

kathy a. said...

Sue, hope it's a good dinner!

Go, Liz! Hope the wait is not too long. Fingers crossed!

kathy a. said...

Chunky news is not my beat, but I'm pretty astonished at the Anglicans suspending [or whatever it is] the US Episcopal church over gay marriage. Hope things come around, because the church of my youth taught that love is good, and I've been glad that the meaning of love has been interpreted broadly in time.

esperanza said...

Fingers crossed, and everything else I can cross, Liz!

AW: As you know, I've been feeling over my head/out of my league with Albatross #2, especially this week. So today, from a friend who has *never* texted me before, a text saying she has been thinking of me lately, and has prayed for me to have all the faith/strength/understanding/wisdom/whatever else I need to do for what is before me. She has no idea that Albatross #2 even exists, but said exactly what I needed to hear.

kathy a. said...

Friends show up.

Anonymous said...

esperanza, yay for your friend and her timing.

liz, my neighbor boy also currently has a streak of green/blue in his hair. I LOVE it!
MMs hair sounds wonderful!

W: Aunt Flo-- seriously, you have overstayed your welcome (and it's not like I was really looking forward to your visit in the first place!)-- 11 days is too long. You are not a fun houseguest. DOn't let the door hit you on your way out. And, can someone please reassure me that every now and then these anomalies of length may happen in the mid-40s? (or, not?) yikes. trying not to be dramatic or go to my most dire worries.

also, just whiney!

--Neighbor Lady

Liz Miller said...

NL, I've been experiencing varying lengths between visits since 2012, as short as 15 days and as long as 111 days between start dates, but the length of stay has been pretty consistent. I'm 46. Regular as clockwork up until sept 2012, irregular ever since. I have had a couple of ultrasounds to rule out things. I agree that 11 days is worrying. You have nothing to lose by seeing a doctor about it.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm trying to calm myself down right now. I got out of the shower, and discovered that E was colouring all over my master's degree. (My degrees had been in picture frames, but I couldn't handle the one empty one, that had been a placeholder for my PhD, and needed some nice frames for baby pictures, and so my degrees have been frameless, in a box with picture frames that need sorting. I guess E found her markers, looked in her box, and said, "Look! Paper!"

I know it didn't render my accomplishments meaningless, but it's really easy to feel like everything I'm done is getting erased. This felt a little too symbolic. I'm fighting off a panic attack right now.

kathy a. said...

NL, why don't you call the doctor? That sounds too long to me. During the long long road to menopause, I had a lot of variation, too, but not a visit that long.

QWP, I'm so sorry! I'd be upset, too, even though I don't display my paper items. Is it possible to get a duplicate?

Sue said...

Fingers crossed Liz!!!

kathy, that announcement from the Anglicans astounded me. How is this even a thing anymore?????

Your friend's text is perfect esperanza. Perfect. I love it when that happens.

NL - I had an early menopause (mid-40s) and one of the indicators was the crazy length of time for Aunt-Flo's visits. Eventually she gets bored and leaves, but in the meantime, I'd check in with the doc just to be safe. and to make sure you're not anemic.

(((QWP))) I'm so sorry. I'm sure the university has had duplicate requests before - worth a call to see if that's possible.

kathy a. said...

QWP, the diploma incident reminded me of some things from my kids' youth! Mr. Q should watch any grading he brings home -- more than once, I had to explain that not all the marks on somebody's draft something were actual comments on the content.

In my own youth, I once covered an entire windowpane by my bed with crayon -- which caused no permanent damage, only my mom didn't notice it for a long time since there was a curtain, and this might have contributed to her eventual crossing of the line to crazyland. Probably also the lipstick incident, in which my sister stole the red lipstick and enthusiastically decorated an entire porch with it.

esperanza said...

QWP, not the same thing, but our kids have a tendency to appropriate anything--anything!--that has not been expressly forbidden. And I do not always remember to expressly forbid things. Sorry that the diploma incident is stirring up yucky feelings.

esperanza said...

Is there something in the female DNA that allows her, and only her, to throw away expired items from the refrigerator?

Anonymous said...

Thanks all for the advice!
--NL

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, a man can actually toss the expired things, but he doesn't get to it until we're only talking long-term jars at the back of the fridge, and he starts checking expiration dates, and this doesn't happen so often, but he'll be really ticked when it catches his attention. IMO.

kathy a. said...

Grace and Frankie season 2 doesn't start until JUNE. Grey's part 2 is still a month off. I'm having a dearth of amusing entertainment diversions.

On the up side, sun today!

Anonymous said...

kathy a. We have been enjoying a show called Scorpion, lately-- don't know if that kind of thing floats your boat.... also have been checking out other series on demand, which is fun because then you can get sucked in and have the whole old series already there at your convenience....
:) NL

kathy a. said...

Thanks, NL!

kathy a. said...

Anybody in naptime despair (QWP)? You aren't the only species. http://shareably.net/mama-panda-puts-baby-back-to-bed/?utm_content=inf_10_3000_2&utm_source=TSE&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=TSE&tse_id=INF_55035490b0294b93866fc1a4974d5967

esperanza said...

W: My naptime despair: I was awakened from my nap today by Mini yelling "Mom. Come wipe my bottom. I had to go poop!" As she does. She was home from school because she has strep. She went to the school nurse with an earache; nurse sent her back to class but called me. I decided, it being Friday of a holiday weekend, to go ahead and take her to the doctor. Ears were fine. Strep test positive. I made her get the penicillin injection, and by this afternoon, she was racing her bike around the driveway.

kathy a. said...

The Butt Shot for the win! Except for Mama's naptime, of course. The shot sure does work fast. And you know it would have been an ear infection by morning at the latest.

AW, maybe: I keep trying to work on the albatross, really, but all this other workish stuff comes up! Pretty full week on Big Issue stuff, and some stuff bearing on things I used to work on, and etc.

Menu: chicken baked with teriyaki sauce; yakisoba (stir fried veggies and whatever with fresh noodles and some sauce). Yakisoba is one of my favorite "use it before it goes bad" dishes; and I am ever so lucky to have a japanese store nearby.

esperanza said...

Thigh shot for little kids, butt shot for grownups. It clearly works, and works fast, and that is why Mean Mama opts for it, every time.

Liz Miller said...

I am having a fantastic time at Marscon this year. MM is old enough to go to panels on his own, and is going to really good ones (writing LGBT characters, designing comic book characters). I went to one featuring the GUest of Honor, who is a cousin of a former WW (Els!), and mentioned I know Els thru blogging and we ended up hanging out after the panel. Then I went to a concert, soon I'll be going to a sing along.

So new for me to really enjoy this, because I can go to what interests just me, without having to consider if MM would like it too.

kathy a. said...

Yay! Liz, sounds like you have the winning social life this week. ;)

Liz Miller said...

And woke up to Aunt Flo. 16 days from last visit. I'm at a hotel. Didn't pack more than two pads, because, haha why would I?

esperanza said...

Oh, Liz. Grr.

W: Complication-Making Man for Albatross #2 has now missed his OWN deadline. He said "by the end of the week," and it's not here.

kathy a. said...

Oy, Liz.

Cluesticks to that mighty superpower, Complication Man.

esperanza said...

I just consulted with the Baboos on when "end of the week" means. They said "December," so maybe he's got a while yet.

Complication Man, you're not getting any points here.

esperanza said...

1:15 pm Saturday: half of the promised items have arrived from Complication Man

kathy a. said...

I guess you could call that a progress report, Esperanza...

AW: My beloved is replacing the 40 year old doorknobs on kitchen and front doors! The kitchen one had gotten balky, refusing to open unless you turned it a particular way. Also, we've never had keys for these knobs, relying only on the deadbolts above them. Yes sirree, we are all on top of doing those maintenance tasks immediately....

esperanza said...

Second half has arrived 8:30 pm. The complications begin in earnest now. Sigh. The rest of the Albatross #2 team will discuss said complications on Monday. I'm going to attempt not to think about it too much between now and then.

kathy a. said...

Y'all know how to have fun on a Saturday night. Just sayin'. ;)

Liz Miller said...

The cosplay crew I joined at the last minute, because they were doing Harry Potter and they were looking for someone to be Snape? We won Best Group. General agreement that it was because they had a Snape.

kathy a. said...

Yay, Liz! In real life, you look nothing like Snape -- but it appears you have some hidden talents. ;) Sounds like a lot of fun!

Liz Miller said...

It's amazing what a center part, hair straightener, and mascara on the grey streets will do. I glued the hair down with gel.

Then I pt mascara in my eyebrows to beetle them up, and used grey eyeshadow to deepen the stern expression. Long black coat and fringed silk black scarf completed the look.

esperanza said...

I saw pictures, Liz, and I did not recognize you without your smile! I'm glad you and MM are having fun.

kathy a, Saturday nights are rarely fun at our house. Someone(s) is/are always finishing sermons.

W: ...and now Sweet is running fever. I suspect Mini's strep, but her only complaint is her tummy. She's also been coughing a LOT, so i wonder if the tummy is actually abdominal muscles that are sore.

esperanza said...

W: red crayon in the whites load. Didn't find it till the dryer was finished. It looked like a crime scene.

AW: dryer came clean fairly easily. Then I threw in the wet load of pinks and reds, so they shouldn't matter if a bit more comes out of some crevice somewhere

AW: I think it will be mostly out of the whites load after a couple of runs through the washing machine. Which is way easier than I expected.

kathy a. said...

Oh, poor Sweet! Yeah, possible about the tummy hurting because of a lot of coughing. Sweet is prone to chest problems, no? Whatever's going around can trigger that -- so hope this is able to clear up swiftly. (My magic ball is imagining the sturdy nebulizer, doing its good work.) xoxo

AW: My beloved does dinner tonight! And last night also; but tonight's dinner will result in leftovers.

AW: It's raining a good bit this week, and the ants have either drowned or found a more hospitable place to crawl around.

AW: There is actually a bundle of good news this past week on the work side, generally speaking. Which is a wonderful motivator, because......

W: Next week has to be pedal to the metal on work.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza wins the Domestic Goddess Award this week. That is a fabulous outcome for crayon in the white load!

esperanza said...

You will win a prize if you can figure out for me HOW the crayon got in a load full of clothes with zero pockets. Very mysterious....

esperanza said...

oh re: nebulizer. Yes, she is hard at work. We got a new one right before Christmas. Her name is Betty, and she is a pink pig. Our previous one was an off-white rectangle, so Betty has really increased the personality.

No fever today. I may take her to the doctor tomorrow anyway, for tummy complaint, increased coughing, increased snot, and fatigue. She's hardly moved all day.

kathy a. said...

You got a neb that is a pink pig? That is totally awesome!!

Oh, either someone stuffed the crayon in their underwear, or else it just dropped from the sky into the laundry basket. Which seems like a topic not worth exploring in depth, except for explicitly stating the rule and the possible consequences (your very favorite thing could be ruined forever if there is a crayon in the wash).

It's been years since we found cash or a cell phone in the wash, so even adults can eventually be trained.

kathy a. said...

It turns out this spot around a skylight is leaking. I keep thinking it wasn't that long ago since we did the roof, but according to my sweetie, it was probably 18 years or so. Hmph. On the up side, looks to be a smallish leak. On the down side, there's a piece of wood on the ceiling [yeah, we have wood planks for ceiling, right under the roof] that is looking kind of wonky.

The man has plans to fix it himself. As soon as it stops raining, which, due to this very unusual season, might be a month or few.

Sue said...

Just checking in - it's been a fun and frantic weekend here. The kittens are starting to relax and play more and they had a good nap with me this afternoon. They really are adorable.

kathy a. said...

oooh, kittehs.... <3