Hmm, Unboxed at Last

[What Exit?]

It got above 50° today and we got the lawn raked and bags sitting out for pickup.

Christmas is up, but I'm not loving it, I kind of rushed things this year due to be away 10 days and it being freezing cold when I got back. I did add a set of year round programable LED lights to the gazebo frame. Set for Xmas currently and can be used as bright white lights for a summer BBQ.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

Weather isn't too bad today, so going to grill a flank steak.

I've got a prime rib in the Sous-Vide. I was going to leave it in 4 days, until Tuesday, but it has a logarithmic response, so tomorrow after 3 days should be fine. Mmm... Prime rib!

[Solfy]

I've been lurking and licking my proverbial mental wounds, i.e. I haven't been fit company even virtually, but I miss yinz guys.

Brain dump weekend update:
Spent the week in Austin last week for a Very Important meeting. It was a good meeting, and I love my new job. That was driven home even further by all my former co-workers collectively updating their LinkedIn profiles simultaneously to reflect the new company branding, as the divestiture is complete. New Co must have threatened them with the wrath of the almighty if they didn't update because people who never update updated. I wish them all well and am still super glad I left.

Austin was 55°F and gloomy/rainy but is a beef lover's paradise with plentiful live music. My inner curmudgeon is only a casual acquaintance of beef and decided the music was quantity over quality, but at least I wasn't home for 22°F and blustery, so there's that.

Had my very first hangover on Friday. Not bad for 47. Note to self: if kind colleagues are buying rounds, eat more food.

Came home to the house in shambles. Husband "decorated," if by decorated you mean shoved all the decorative shit we normally have out ALL THE FUCK OVER MY OFFICE, put out half the holiday decor, then piled the Christmas decoration bins in the middle of my office and called it good. If I say anything about the worse-than-half-assed job other than "Thank you for helping me with what is solely my responsibility that I abdicated!" I'm a bitchy ingrate. Spent Saturday out running errands and buying groceries, except no one fucking adds shit to the grocery list so we're still out of all sorts of staples because it's too fucking hard to say "Alexa, add eggs to the shared grocery list," when you see that there are two fucking eggs left. Note to self: make sure to take a proper inventory of the fridge and pantry upon returning from six day work trips.

Swimmy decided she has a mental disorder she saw on whatever social media she managed to squeeze around the parental settings and is "literally incapable" of doing anything if we tell her to do it. Including showering, eating dinner, doing school work, or cleaning up after herself. Because it's a "real mental disorder," I'm a big meanypants if I don't respect her totally legit self-diagnosed neurodivergence.

Went to Brother's holiday party and had a lovely time.

Picked up a very nice Christmas tree that we will put up when the College Kids come home this weekend. Eldest's SO may stay with us over the holidays because reasons. They are Jewish and asked if we would mind also celebrating Hannukah. I told them I'd be delighted and added a menorah to my Amazon list just in case. I will add potatoes to the shared grocery list.

On top of the standard issue holiday stress, Mom is having surgery Thursday to remove the extremely cancerous lymph nodes in her groin. Last week's PET scan showed that there are additional cancerous nodes in her pelvis now. This is Not Good news; she will learn how not good at today's battery of appointments. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that this could be a Last Christmas, and it's making me a little grouchier than usual. When I cracked yesterday after Husband blew up at me for not being Mary Sunshine, he decided cancer is a good enough reason to be nice to me and took the bins out of my office (but left the mess) and told Swimmy to be nice to me.
Apparently the secret to being treated kindly at the holidays is to have a possibly terminal parent.

[Wolf Larsen]

Sounds like a very tough weekend.

[JackieLikesVariety]

sorry to hear about your Mom, Solfy.

[Zeener Diode]

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, and silently celebrating your handling of Hubster.

And kudos and WFT? about getting your first hangover. I've been avoiding those for years, mostly successfully but often not, and the best trick I learned is drinking lots of water while imbibing. (Taking aspirin before bedtimes also helps, but since I'm taking daily baby aspirin I don't need to subject my kidneys to more punishment, and chomping aspirin/Tylenol/Aleve will take its toll on them.)

[Detroit Hoser]

Dang, Solphy. This is too much gunk in the narrow tubes of life after nice week away. If I lived next door I'd make you a cup of tea and some warm Snickerdoodles, then give you a big hug. But I'm not a hugger. My SiL, Pam, is. I'll mail her out to you tomorrow.

I'm keeping your mom's hopefully-excellent prognosis on my wish list, my friend.

[Peeking Duck]

Oh, Solfy; I'm so sorry hon. About all of it.

[Solfy]

Thanks, all. Mom just texted, says surgery is postponed until after New Year's. Not sure what that means for the prognosis. Will talk to her later.

The water thing, coupled with my absolute fear of chundering, is what I believe kept my hangover streak going for so long. Not sure if the visceral misery I experienced on my first flight that morning was worth it, but I did have fun having dinner and drinks (and drinks and drinks) with new friends/colleagues. Much to my surprise I didn't have a trace of a headache, but the vertigo and existential dread were astonishingly acute.

Not a hugger myself either, with the exception of Swimmy who needs a daily quota. Having tea and marzipan stollen while procrastinating an expense report. Small indulgences are the order of the day.

[Peeking Duck]

(Dares to ask...) Hoser, how IS Pam, these days?

[SmartAleq]

Sorry about your mom, Solfy, adding my well wishes for her to the pile. I'm also making a quiet little bet to myself that once Swimmy heads off to college there will be a big surprise in store for your husband in the form of divorce papers. There are clear reasons why divorce is initiated by women 70% of the time and ya husband is the poster boy for a whole slew of 'em.

In case anyone is wondering, the no-fail method of making sure of getting full day's hours at work is to schedule a Zoom meeting a half hour after the latest one should expect to be done. It worked out fine though, since I have a phone mount in every car it's no big deal to work and meet at the same time.

ETA: Can anyone tell me why Shoga is acting all weird? She's slinking around like there's something wrong but I'm not seeing anything amiss. Sensitive dogs are a little freakish to be around sometimes.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Solfy

... my absolute fear of chundering...

"In the land down under, where beer does flow, and men chunder...



Speaking of which, I've got several jars of Vegemite. Want a sandwich?

...wait a minute... Vegemite ain't that bad! I kinda like it... Try it! Hey! Where you going??? <throws a sandwich at your head>

[Jaglavak]

I hope your mom is OK, Solfy. It sounds like you need a weekend under a blanket on the sofa.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

My SiL, Pam, is. I'll mail her out to you tomorrow.

The box doesn't have to have the correct delivery address or any return address if you catch my drift...

[Detroit Hoser]

Originally Posted by Peeking Duck

(Dares to ask...) Hoser, how IS Pam, these days?

She is exasperating, exhausting, neurotic, deliberately misleading no matter what the topic is, infuriating, a complete slovenly pig, a liar, and in remarkably good health for someone who keeps telling us she's at death's door. Other than that she's great, thanks for asking.

And Lars Wolfen? I don't even need to pay for postage if I say, "Hey! There's free cigarettes at [X] address!" cuz there's nothing like a pack and a half a day when you've been diagnosed with COPD. But I suppose if she didn't continue to smoke she'd have no reason to complain nonstop about being out of breath all the time.

But her dog is really cute.

[Solfy]

That is a VERY cute dog. No clue on what's rattled Shoga - is there something new/different outside that she's picking up on?

The news was indeed not good. Immunotherapy isn't working, next move is TIL therapy after the holidays (have to wait a few weeks for the biotheraputic company to be ready to spool up for her cells). It's amazing science, but the treatment is brutal and the odds, while the best of next options, aren't awesome. I'm shocked at how much progress has been made in the past few years for melanoma, but it's still a bitch.
So we make this the happiest Christmas possible given the circumstances (the tumor has her in a lot of discomfort; I'm hosting Christmas Eve out of cycle) and go from there.

Eldest shared, very respectfully and with no small amount of anxiety, that she is not planning to join Husband's side of the family's Christmas gathering as being around her cousin is too difficult. I support her decision, but it could potentially force Husband to come clean to his mother about why. Or just lie to her and kick that can further down the road.

Life is messy sometimes.

[JackieLikesVariety]

wow, super cute dog!


so sorry about the news, Solfy.

meanwhile, good for your Eldest. what are the chances your husband will tell the truth about it? seems unlikely from here.

[Solfy]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

meanwhile, good for your Eldest. what are the chances your husband will tell the truth about it? seems unlikely from here.

He's seriously considering it. His preference would be to do so after the holidays. We discussed telling her that Eldest is not comfortable around Nephew and let MIL inquire further if she chooses to. I think she would. She noticed years ago that there's distance between her grandchildren and expressed disappointment that they weren't closer, but the girls demurred and said they just didn't have that much in common. (which happened to also be true) MIL is a very kind woman and wasn't born yesterday, but she also thinks Nephew hung the moon.

[eleanorigby]

Whoa, Solfy... that is A LOT to cope with. I am sorry to hear about your mother's impending diagnosis and surgery.

I can't even with the self-diagnosis of mental disorder. Like life isn't hard enough... ah, to be that young again (hard pass, but I'd be 35 again).

I dunno what's up with Nephew, but having been pawed (not groped) by TH's uncle when I was 17, I stand by your girls, as you are, and rightly so.

Or they could all show up and laugh him out of existence. Just a suggestion.


I slacked for the first time in 30 years and did not put up the entire Snow Village. I have 2 reasons: 1. is that Sweet Baby Ray (almost 12 months old and cruising) is coming for the holiday, and 2. I just don't have much in the way of Xmas spirit (see election results).

I did put out the lighthouse from the collection (on the mantel, far away from toddler hands) and that feels right. Tree is up. Cookie dough is made (1 batch), but I need to bake those and also make at least 2 more batches of different cookies this weekend. I am WEEKS behind in my holiday baking...
Presents are all wrapped and under the tree. I have a full house this year. I am blessed.

Retirement looms. They are paying me to go away by the end of January, so I'm taking it. Lots of changes coming. <gulp>

[Jaglavak]

Take the money and run.

[Detroit Hoser]

Shoot, I'll turn 62 in five months and plan to start drawing Social Security before they move the markers or take it away entirely.

[Detroit Hoser]

Okay, double-post here but I just need to point out how really jarring it is to see "I'll turn 62 in five months" in writing. And now it's there twice.

[Wolf Larsen]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Okay, double-post here but I just need to point out how really jarring it is to see "I'll turn 62 in five months" in writing. And now it's there twice.

Yeah, sometimes I think about future plans, and how old I'll be when they happen and suddenly feel really old.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Shoot, I'll turn 62 in five months and plan to start drawing Social Security before they move the markers or take it away entirely.

what are the bastards going to do to SS is on my mind, too

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

what are the bastards going to do to SS is on my mind, too

A very large part of their support is from seniors, I don't think they'll do much to harm Social Security, they might raid it a little to make it less secure for the future, but I guess I always expected that anyway.

Medicare, they'll probably leave mostly be. Boy was I hoping that was going to be expanded instead.

Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act is what they'll try to gut. They'll convince most of their followers that people don't deserve it or whatever other nonsense they've been peddling.

[Solfy]

The death of the United CEO has a lot of people on the interwebs from both political persuasions coming together to complain about how we collectively get fucked over by health "care" companies.
Yet half those people voted for the person most likely to make healthcare worse. But that's okay! We'll have the 10 commandments in the classrooms to save us! Thoughts and prayers are better than doctors and medicine!

Going to "How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas" again this year. Taking Swimmy because a) she wants to go b) she's old enough to appreciate it and c) it feels particularly subversive. Drag queen story time!

[wring]

Originally Posted by Zeener Diode

@wring, you gots some 'splaining to do!

sorry to drop in so late and all, just noticed this.

um.

well, I have to admit this is something that I have actually done... not there, but.

[C2H5OH]

Jeep Ducking

I've seen them all over the place since I read about it. Someone had a bumper sticker on their jeep that said "It's Jeep thing. You wouldn't understand."

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Okay, double-post here but I just need to point out how really jarring it is to see "I'll turn 62 in five months" in writing. And now it's there twice.

You and me both...

Originally Posted by JackieLikesVariety

That did cross my mind more than once.

Originally Posted by What Exit?

A very large part of their support is from seniors, I don't think they'll do much to harm Social Security, they might raid it a little to make it less secure for the future, but I guess I always expected that anyway.

Medicare, they'll probably leave mostly be. Boy was I hoping that was going to be expanded instead.

Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act is what they'll try to gut. They'll convince most of their followers that people don't deserve it or whatever other nonsense they've been peddling.

That's an issue for me because this tin foil parachute includes 18 months of them paying COBRA, which leaves me with a 5-6 month gap from the when the COBRA ends and I'm eligible for Medicare. I can opt to keep the COBRA (sounds spendy as all get out) or go on the ACA (my preferred option since it's so short term, but I do not want to go uninsured).
But given the fraught state of healthcare systems currently, there is NO guarantee they won't simply eliminate my position in 6 months (or less) with no severance deal at all... so I jumped.
I feel much the way Solfy does about all of this. These people are delusional on many levels, and for some reason are averse to learning about how systems actually work. Prayer will not save us in schools or in healthcare.

[taters]

I've been gone again, but I think of you all often.

Solfy, I'm sorry about your mother. I also stand by your girls. Good grief, you have so much going on, but know that some internet stranger supports you.

I'm approximately a year and a half from turning 62. It can't get here fast enough. I need to reach 62 to obtain that extra ten percent on my federal retirement. At that point, I'll have 43 years of federal service.

Rigs, I don't have much Christmas spirit either. I don't have my tree up yet, but it will go up this week. I am not putting up the village. The thing is, I like it when everything is up, but I'm doing it all on my own, and between the long work hours and some other things, I'm just tired. I'm only putting the tree and some tabletop decorations up for my son since he'll be here for Christmas.

The "puppies" are now 15 months old and still keep my husband and me busy. I'm unsure if they'll leave the tree alone; I may have to put a pen around it like I did last year. Ironically, Buster is much calmer than Maisie. They were spayed and neutered in September, and I was hoping that Maise would start to calm down, but she's still just a ball of energy who wants nothing more than lots of love and to hog the bed, and will take any sock she finds and rip it to shreds. I caught her pulling them out of the hamper.

Life keeps rolling along here in my little of the PNW.

My daughter and her family are doing very well, and the house they're building in MO will be done in February. It's going to be quite a lovely home. I would have preferred them to stay in the PNW, but you can't always get what you want.

My son is also doing very well, but his job keeps him exceptionally busy, too.

I'm sending my best to all of you.

[Jaglavak]

43 years? Now thats some sticktoitiveness.

I hung up two more strings of lights last night before the weather blew in. So I have four up now along the eaves that can be reached from a stepladder. A row along the gable end would look nice too but I'm not going up an extension ladder for that.

[Jaglavak]

Boy, the wind is howling tonight. Theoretically its trash day, but if I put the can out now it will be in the next zip code by morning. I'm going to see if I can flog myself out of bed at 5 AM to beat the garbage man. It all depends on how warm and snuggly the covers are. Vegas doesn't like the odds. The power has flickered several times this evening so I'm charging up the phone and laptops. At least its relatively warm, being as how this breeze is coming straight from Hawaii. We'll see what the yard looks like tomorrow.

[Wolf Larsen]

Well, the kitchen is a disaster area, but the molasses ginger cookies are first rate. Today is clean up and package them to deliver to the recipients. (Most are for presents.)

[Jaglavak]

Warm covers 1 - Trash cans 0

[eleanorigby]

Tomorrow I have to pick up some puppy gates and outlet covers from another grandmother whose youngest grandbaby is 7, deliver a condolence card, go on a walking tour with a dear friend (annual thing to all the little boutiques in town), make another batch of cookies, and finish Baby's stocking. Oh, and clean bathrooms and do laundry.

Honestly, I'm tired just thinking about it.

Neurologist today was awesome; young and funny. My fasciculations are benign, but stretches may help.

I had something happen at work that I will share with you once I am retired, but let's put it this way, they make it easy to not miss them....

[Wolf Larsen]

Mark.

[Jaglavak]

Polo.

[Wolf Larsen]

Well, I'm a grandpa. Wolfette had her baby and we are getting ready to head out to see them. Little boy, just shy of seven pounds. Mother and baby doing well. We're really happy about this.

[Rock]

Congratulations, Grandpa! Was the little fellow born today? Because today is my sister's birthday.

[SmartAleq]

Mazel tov, welcome to the Grandparent Club! Take a good big sniff of baby's head for me, that's one of the best smells in the world, along with puppy breath!

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

Well, I'm a grandpa. Wolfette had her baby and we are getting ready to head out to see them. Little boy, just shy of seven pounds. Mother and baby doing well. We're really happy about this.

Congrats!

[SmartAleq]

Hey, @wring I think mebbe you got some 'splainin' to do here! This HAS to be you, right?

https://old.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile...ef_source=link

[taters]

Congratulations Wolfie!

[Jaglavak]

Hey congrats, Grandpa!

[JackieLikesVariety]

congratulations on the new baby!

[wring]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Hey, @wring I think mebbe you got some 'splainin' to do here! This HAS to be you, right?

https://old.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile...ef_source=link

well, when I'm downstairs waiting for package deliveries, every delivery driver gets one...

[Wolf Larsen]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[taters]

Merry Christmas. I hope you all find warmth and cheer today.

[teela brown]

Congratulations to new grandpa Wolf Larsen! I hope a photo will be forthcoming.

And Merry Christmas, everybody!

[Wolf Larsen]

We're at Wolfette's place. Grandson is indeed a cutie.