how about drinking?

Jazzy, your SIL's resting place is beautiful!

Cami, if you did tell, I don't recall. I know you told us (Mary and I) that you asked him awhile back and he said NOOOOOO, I'm not. Well Mary and I discussed it and agreed that he was, he either didn't know it yet, or didn't want to tell. I think he told you because of that time, and you told him you didn't care. So that is why he confessed to you. I sure hope Jodie doesn't tell FF. Does Leslie know? Being gay, or bi, doesn't change who Joey is, he is still the amazing young person that we all know and love. I have 2 gay brothers and I love them both dearly!

Lol, I love that pic of Sadie! Good girl.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Thirsty Thursday and first day of July! Plans to go swimming got shot down yesterday, just as I was getting up to put on my swim suit and get the blanket for the back seat KABAM! A rather ripsnorting thunderstorm came through. The weather radar showed a few more behind that one, and severe T-storm warnings were up, so Sadie and I stayed away from the water. This morning the temps are 10 degrees lower in the house, the humidity is down from over 70% to 61% and it feels somuch nicer. Still a bit cloudy, we'll wait and see what happens weather-wise today.

I had a really weird dream last night. I dreamt I went to a signing by a favorite author of mine. The signing in a book store moved to a little party in someone's home, with the author staying there. I drove over to the home, parked Pearl (yup, I was driving Pearl again!) and went in. I didn't know anyone but they all seemed to know me. We were all doing some kind of work while talking about the author's book series. Here's where things get weird. The author was Mercedes Lackey, who writes scifi/fantasy novels, and is my very favorite author. But, we were discussing the Stephanie Plum mystery series, actually written by Janet Evanovitch, my second favorite author! It got dark out and I decided to go home, left the house and got in Pearl, started driving and realized I was lost. So I drove around until I saw something I recognized, a huge brick building a lot of people sitting outside listening to music and speeches. I used that to get back to the house I just left, but parked on the other side of the house and not in the driveway and went in the back door. Sat and chatted a while, then tried to go home again, left through the front door and walked around trying to find Pearl. Got lost again, came across the same building, found the house and went in the back door again but followed a strange man downstairs to the basement and we found secret tunnels. I got scared and ran back out of the house and was running around looking for Pearl so I could escape when I woke up. I wonder what that was all about???

Illi--that was the look I got one morning not too long ago on my third try to get out of bed and start the day. She wanted more belly rubs and was upside down to me, it was hilarious.

Jazzy--nice place! Where is this?

Strawberry Thunderstorm | Icy Vodka Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 ounce Vodka

2 ounce Cranberry Ginger Ale (You can buy cranberry and ginger ale separately as well or just use Ginger Ale)

Mint to Garnish (Optional)

Strawberry-Mint Ice Cubes (Fills 1 Ice-Cube tray)

5-6 Strawberries

3-4 Mint leaves

Juice from ½ lime

Directions:

ICE CUBES: In a blender; add roughly chopped strawberries (stem removed), mint leaves, lime juice and a splash of water. Blend well and pour in an Ice Cube tray and let it set in the freezer for a couple of hours!

DRINK: Lightly crush the strawberry-mint cubes. I use a cloth and place Ice Cubes on it, cover and gently crush using any object in your kitchen. If you have a bartending set; you can use the crusher as well.

In a small glass; I prefer Whisky glasses for this drink. Fill the glass half-way through with crushed strawberry-mint ice cubes; add in Vodka and cranberry ginger ale. Mix & Garnish with Mint leaves or Enjoy as is!

From <https://www.herbsngarlic.com/2021/02/08/strawberry-thunderstorm-icy-vodka-cocktail/>

Jazzy, although it has been years since I was there, I remember meals at the Rusty Pelican as being sooooo good! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Thanks for the memory.

Cami, fingers crossed about no new cancer--and that if they find any, treatment will not be uncomfortable. The fact that Joey has loved women since early childhood doesn't mean he's not gay: homosexuality is sexual attraction to one's own gender, not antipathy to the opposite sex. (A man who dislikes women isn't "gay," he's a misogynist). I have always had many gay male platonic friends, and they in turn have platonic women friends and love their female relatives too. (My ex-BIL is gay and he is still friendly with my sister and her DH. I even went up to WI back in 1980 to get their divorce finalized, and we all went to the disco afterward). Joey is whom he is and is no less amazing and lovable for it. I hope Marty can eventually understand (if he doesn't already and just isn't saying anything). Gordy & Leslie did indeed come to the party, of course!

Jazzy, glad the memorial service went well and you got through it and the traveling wasn't too rough on you. These days, people who hadn't yet gathered much with their vaccinated friends, hadn't dined in a restaurant or had not yet attended any kind of event or gathering are having emotional difficulty "getting back into the pool," so to speak. After 15 months of being super-careful, it's tough to shift gears. I fear what'll happen if the case numbers continue to rise again (IL's test positivity is up to 1.1%, compared to 0.7% as recently as Monday) due to the Delta variant and plunging vaccination rates. Yeah, Lori, I'm "over the COVID thing" too, and will resent having to start mitigating again--but I have seen so much misery & death among my "circle" since the pandemic began (including my own PCP) that I will suck it up, pull up my "big girl pants," and do it if I have to. I still wear a mask on transit, after getting my car back from a valet, whenever a repairperson or installer comes over, and of course wherever else it's still required. (And on long walks on high pollen/mold-count days).

So the recliners arrived Tues., and I'm slightly disappointed. The leather is dark brown, rather than cordovan, and the wood is oak instead of cherry--as we'd specified. But it took 3 months after we ordered them (they had to be built in NC and the process was slowed due to the pandemic), and I'm not willing to go through it all over again (and sit on dining room chairs to watch TV in the den). They are quite comfy, though. They still have a slight varnish smell (La-Z-Boy says it's food-grade varnish) but should outgas w/in a few weeks. Same thing happened with our memory-foam mattress 20 years ago. In the meantime, we keep the den window open whenever it's not hot enough outside to run the A/C in there.

Our new living room A/C was installed today. It has wi-fi connectivity (as does my fridge) to be controlled by my phone or computer, but I'm not gonna use that. I prefer to be (or at least consider myself) "smarter" than my appliances, thanks.

On Tues. we went to Mercat a la Planxa (founded and formerly run by Iron Chef Jose Garces) for upscale tapas--and had a nice rosé cava and then with the meat courses a Catalan blend of tempranillo, garnacha, monastrell, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Stormed like crazy, but only while we were in there. Wed. night I made corvina (from our weekly fish CSA) out on the deck, grilling veggies too--drinking Mumm Napa Santana brut. Last night, with the leftovers (out on the deck), I Coravined 2015 Williams-Selyem Anniversary Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Not sure what tonight's DOTD will be. It's still cool enough to wear long sleeves when dining outside, maybe even bring a jacket. Heat returns tomorrow, rain returns Tuesday.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Saturday! Another gray and gloomy day, still in the 60's but only drizzling a little rain right now. I hope the clouds will clear out for tomorrow, most fireworks displays are scheduled for tomorrow. At least Monday is a holiday if things need to be moved out a day. I don't plan on going out to see any fireworks, the neighbors usually do a pretty good job of that. I'm kind of surprised that they haven't been shooting some off every night for the last week or so! They don't bother Sadie like they used to, I think because her hearing is pretty far gone for lower pitched noises like that. She does notice the lights, though and that can make her jump and bark. When Sadie first chose me she would hear thunder and hour before I could and she would cling to me like static electricity until I figured out what was going on and told her it was ok. Then she'd settle down, but up against me somehow, and watch the storm with me. Now she sleeps through them!

Chi--I've got mixed feelings about the lifting of mandates and mitigation practices. I still feel funny going into a store without a mask, but find myself having to run back to the car to get a mask before going into a business that still requires one cuz I didn't think of it when getting out of the car. Still waiting to hear from the state Dept of Education what the rules will be for schools come fall. One source is saying that with the end of thestate of emergency all the guidelines about masking and distancing are gone, but the state DOE site says guidelines for fall are coming, so who knows what will be. Everyone is expecting different guidelines for elementary and pre-school than high school due to the vaccination situation, and no one knows what to do with middle schools. The one thing that really struck me was the announcement that the updates with the Maine CDC director have ended. Since February 2020 I have been following the updates that started out daily M-F, increased to daily 7x week for a while, then varied from daily M-F to 3 x week, to 2 x week to once a week up until this last week. That these updates have stopped actually makes me feel rather cast adrift. It was the one most dependable source of information throughout the whole pandemic thing. I'm sorry the recliners aren't what you ordered. With all that waiting you'd think they'd have been sure to get the order correct! I don't blame you for not wanting to re-order. My brother and his wife ordered a couch for their home in April, it still hasn't come, and it wasn't a special order, it was a stock order. So the whole thing for them is transportation, they're told. Furniture trucks repurposed to carry essential goods. It makes me wonder just how fragile our infrastructure really is.

Jazzy--LOL!!!

https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/Zombie-Cocktail-Recipe-by-lisa86f/10339544.1G4ZT

Good afternoon ladies and happy July 4th weekend!

This week went quickly, super busy after I got home Monday and into Thursday, better the last two days of the week. Some things are starting to shift on this project in a good way and think we are going to do okay in the end. Plus two really good peices of news this week from the job- they are doing a "pay equty" review and some people who have been there awhile getting pushed up to more competitive salaries or hourly rates and everyone is getting a raise the month of their job anniversary date. I should know more in July what that increase is. But then even better than that, something I had missed in an e-mail where we can convert some sick time to vacation time over an excess of three days. They give us tons of sick time at this job, a bunch for major (like a short term disability) and then also minor sick time for those days you need here and there or if you need to be out for a few days to a week. The minor is what you can either convert to sick time or actually cash out! I have worked in places where you can cash out vacation time over a certain amount but those are usually for long timers who accrue so much they can never use. Never stayed long enough for that. Anyways, one of the REALLY hard parts of taking this job is having to accept a starting vacation time of only two weeks which is just not enough. As of this month I will have three this first year and am happier now. I liked my job this week!

Nothing big going on this weekend, just a lot of catch up from being away with house stuff and errands. Also have my second car in for service today, may get her back on Monday. I am meeting friends tonight for a pizza outing and that will be my only social time this weekend. I just needed to decompress this weekend after everything last weekend and have a lot more social time coming up this month. I love my long holiday weekends in the summer time.

Chi- I am sorry to hear they delivered the WRONG color for your new chairs. I find getting anything right with things I buy or with service needs or with things I buy a crap shoot. I am chasing down a new dishwasher now I am trying to secure for my kitchen reno next month and that is hard too. Will you keep the chairs or have them come back for them and swap them out?

NM- with respect to visiting your brother, just give yourself more time with the air travel, and expect things to not flow as easily as they did in pre-pandemic times. When I went to Denver over Memorial Day, it was a direct flight up each way, this one had a connect and you may find the connection times longer between flights but you are going to need them too. All my flights took off late on all segments and those two hours in between helped with delayed arrivals. I hope you have a good time and get to see some fun new places. The story about the neighbors building something for your mom in the dark made me chuckle (what were they thinking?) And be ready for beligerent people on the flights, many balk at masks but those flight attendants will take no crap from anyone. No mask? Get off the plane then.

Cami- so am I reading that Joey has come out to everyone? As everyone knows here, my sister is a lesbian and I also had a neighbor friend (guy) who came out as gay in the 1980s. I think we all knew he was and although nothing was openly talked about back then, I always felt like it was no big deal. I do understand parents sometimes have to adjust to the idea, and my parents did with my sister too for the most part. Hopefully Marty will adjust, seems like men always have the bigger adjustment to these things. Is he going to visit some of those colleges he is interested in this summer? I hope you are doing okay too sister.....

Beaver- that is cool you know the Rusty Pelican, I figured someone here would. It's a treat to eat indoors unmasked with my family and was a great afternoon of memories for sure. And mouth watering indeed!

Goldie- how is everything with you and your DH too? We got a good four days of rain here and it's sunny again but monsoonal rains are here and some storms around the city. Are you getting rain at all?

Ill- how are things Houston? Anything good to eat or drink this weekend?

How are my friends MinusTwo, Celia C, Misty Eyes and Teka? Who am I missing?

Got some laundry to get to and may poop back in to tell you more things about more things. Lubs ya!

A soggy start to July!

Independence Day breakfast takeout from a local cafe.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! Raining again, here. Still that nice, gentle rain that the farmers must be absolutely loving. Of course it comes just as I can finally get the yards mowed and cleaned up, and I really want to be doing that, but such is life, right? Sort of like it always rains after washing the car?

Mom called yesterday just before dinner time. "Are you coming for dinner or not?"

Ah, was there a plan for me to come to dinner?

"Well, yes."

I'm sorry, I missed that conversation totally. When did we have that conversation?

"When I called you the day before Dick went into the hospital."

We never talked on the phone that day, Mom.

"Are you sure?I must have planned to call , got side tracked, and then figured I had."

You must have. I've already got my dinner almost ready.

"Well, that's ok, the beans didn't turn out right and it didn't make anywhere near enough for all of us anyway."

All of who? Who else is coming?

"No, one, I'm going over to Bob & Sharon's camp for dinner and bringing the beans."

Then why did you think I was coming to your place for dinner?

"Because Bob and Sharon said you could come, too, if you want."

Shaking my head.

FYI, Dick had a spell where he was unable to speak and not really with it, was taken to the hospital Friday ayem. According to his daughter, he was fully awake and talking fine by the middle of the day, and as of Saturday they were waiting to hear from the docs about the tests they ran on Friday to see if he'd had a stroke or another mini-stroke or what. The hospital only allows one visitor per day, his son stayed Friday, his daughter Saturday, and they were going to make out a schedule of who gets what day to visit so Mom could get in to see him.

Chi--Is Illinois still in a state of emergency or has the gov let it lapse? I'm getting the impression that the states of emergency are being let go all across the country now. Do you have any idea who/what has been chewing on the cables? It sounds like the power strip burned out in whatever happened, and that may have saved you from damaging the TV and other equipment. I hope the TV is ok. Isn't it fun to try to type with the fur baby helping?

Jazzy--I'm glad there is going to be a pay equity review where you work. I think that kind of thing is going to be really important to keeping people working in health care. It's discouraging when the new kids coming into the field are getting paid almost as much as someone with 40 years in the field and two degrees more education! One nurse I used to work with would quit her job every other year, wait for it to be posted, and apply and come back to work in the same job. Last I knew she was making almost $10 an hour more than the nurses who were working beside her for the same number of years but who did not quit and reapply. Wage compression is a real thing! I've worked in places where earned time could be cashed out once a year. You had to keep a minimum amount of earned time (covered vacation and sick time) in your account, and could cash out all the rest. Another employer required cashing out any earned time over a maximum number of hours. I was told that employers don't like people who build up a lot of earned time, cuz the company pays it out at a higher rate than when it was earned. I will give myself plenty of time when I go to North Carolina and back. There is a 1 1/2 hour layover each way. One of the advantages I have on the way down is that by flying out of Maine, morning flights are usually origination flights, most having come in the night before, so delays are less of an issue unless there are weather problems. Frankly, I have no issue with wearing a mask on a plane, in fact I think it may be a benefit. The mask catches some of the moisture in exhaled breath, so the inhaled air gets a moisture boost through the mask, and is less uncomfortable than the really dry air that is usually on planes. Whatever. It's only a few hours. I've been doing this for up to 18 hours per day at the nursing home and at least 8 hours per day at school, so 5 hours is going to be nothing. And I would love to see the flight attendants get tough with the anti-maskers! It's about time someone did!

Illi--I chose the wine!!!!!

Teka--is that corned beef hash in the top pick? And what on earth is the bottom one, all I can see is a human liver, and I'm pretty sure liver, from any animal, is not served with syrup on the side!

Bomb Pop Shot

Ingredients

1 Part Blue Curacao

1 Part Pina Colada Drink

1 Part Cherry Vodka

Directions

1. Add blue curaçao to base of shot glass before layering over pina colada drink.
2. Next layer cherry vodka on top.

From <https://tipsybartender.com/recipe/bomb-pop-shot/>

The 1st is corned beef hash and poached eggs.

The 2nd is french toast.

Delicious!!

So it turns out that the culprit was the outlet, not the circuit. Best we could tell is that when the plug got yanked out, a wire in the outlet (likely on its last legs) burned out, broke or otherwise shorted. We were able to run a heavy extension cord over the "pass-through" opening from the nearest outlet in the living room and plug the power strip into it--and the system sprang to life. The TV is intact. The trashed-plug and gnawed HDMI cables ran from the TV to the A/V receiver--which we haven't used in years. (I still bought a couple of new cables to keep in reserve). Our cat Matthew (who died in Jan. 2015 at 19-1/2) liked to gnaw on cables--which is why the cables got all gunky with Bitter Apple spray and collected dust. (He also killed our previous receiver by peeing on the rear panel, causing a spectacular multicolor fireworks show, but that's another story for another time). The electrician thinks that there may be another outlet on the same circuit that might have a bad receptacle--but we'll wait till our HK gets home next Mon. from her family reunion down in B'ham, because there's a lot of stuff we'll have to move (and likely, discard).

DOTD: Aperol Spritz, which I made (and am still sipping) both to reward myself for the mile walk to the beach to watch fireworks, and calm my nerves from the nonstop fusillade still going on in the neighborhood. (Freaked out Happy enough that he puked up his dinner and then clung to me). The fireworks I walked over to watch were a professional show put on by a small nearby country club (Saddle & Cycle--every bit as elitist as it sounds) along the lakefront; but there were fireworks all around--lots of them set off by police at the next beach about half a mile south, plus DIY ones all over. I left for home after some morons began setting off Roman candles and aiming them at the high-rise condo balconies--and then a real firework that exploded sideways, sending embers all around.

As I did last year, I'd DVR'ed "A Capitol Fourth" and the Macy's NYC fireworks show (the only way we were able to see fireworks during the middle of the pandemic); but there's something about watching them in person--and sitting with people, especially families, oohing and aahing with everyone in unison. (And definitely something to be said for--unlike 2019--not having to jockey for parking and then walk, hauling chairs & a cooler, to a suburban municipal display & concert, and then crawl through traffic and detours afterward). Definitely worth having to shake the sand out of my shoes and hose off my feet and orthotics when I got home. (Not sure if I'll play the TV versions back).

NM, I guess mom forgot to ask you about dinner, but thought she had. Cute story. Sorry to hear about Dick, I hope he recovers completely. As for the bleach in the IV, I'm just tired of the "suicide" comments. Besides, you need 2 hands to do all this, and with the IV in his hand, he would have to try and do it with just 1.

Ok Teka, I see the poached eggs now, I thought it was butter, and french toast. I think I might go make me some poached eggs!

BabyGirl, watermelon vodka slush, sure sounds refreshing!

Sandy, good you got things figured out and the telly survived.

No fireworks for us. I can't believe some places out here are even having them, due to how dry we are. Had a real nice steak dinner, with shrimp scampi, baked potato, fresh corn off the cobb (local corn I get every year and freeze) and garlic bread.

Mornin'

Kim sadie always cracks me up. U must be running from something scary way deep down that dream was weird all right. Ur drinks are fab this month.

Lori what ur DH asked u was awful does he want u to worry cuz he could have looked it up if he was really thinking about it. IDK But I did think ur helpers were funny, not for u tho.

Jazzy ur job is actually sounding better all the time so maybe u should give it some time. Ur pics are great.

Illi u too ur pick of drinks are perfection girl good job.

LOL Teka liver kim said but I didn't know what it was either;

Wow Sandy what a mess u had glad it was all cleared up.But it sounded like u had a good weekend tho and the food sounded like I wanted some right now.

Oh for God's sakes Cammi! You fell? I mean just like me? I've only fallen a few times.... That one time off of the telephone pole, I mean walking in the alley..... when I broke my hip & had a rod & a few screws put in.... just like a car engine! And then I tripped on a little step & fell on my face against the gate latch, and hit the corner of my eye on the steel latch! Missed my eye by not very much! So I just laid there.... I had a 1/2 can of paint that was running all over.... with me in the middle of it... So I just laid there for a few minutes, pushing it off the walk-way into the little drain gutter, and made sure I could get up. WHAT A DAMN MESS!!!!

So then I got up, went & got the hose, and tried to wash the rest off the carpeted walk-way, into the parking area. You are like me with my Grand-sons! I love them no matter who or what they are.... they are 30 and 33 now, and we will SEE them at the end of this month! I am so excited! Sheri is bringing Chase, then he is going back to Orlando, then Brandon is coming out, and they will both go home together!

I'm just hoping and praying my Husband remembers who they all are! Every day is a new adventure.... And I have to just know that "things" will not get a lot better, and that I have to pray we have a million more tomorrows together.

So do they laugh at you when you go to the store? Just color the rest of your face to match the bruises.... because mine spread all the way down my neck! Put some little ice packs on your face.... or cover it with ice cream. Or just stick your head in the freezer for a few minutes. Just some helpful hints.......

Good Morning, Loungettes!

Happy Twofer Tuesday! We had a lovely day here, Sadie and I spend quite a bit of time on the deck. Cloudy today, thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon. At least it's not muggy humid! In my class we've been working on a big paper, part by part, and now I have to put it all together and it's not going as smoothly as I anticipated. So today will be alternating working on that and housework/decluttering. My life will be run by the timer today!

Goldie--Dick is fine now, back in his assisted living apartment. Mom spent most of the day there yesterday visiting him. She can go visit him, but she can't eat lunch with him, even though he sits at a table by himself like almost everyone else there. I think they are still requiring mask wearing, too.I can imagine the negative comments are getting tiresome, and good point about needing 2 hands to do anything. One neighbor did set off a nice fireworks display last evening, didn't last long. Other years there have been a bunch of them all up and down the road, not so much this year. I heard fireworks were hard to find to buy this year.

Cammy Cat--love the kittehs washing the glass door! I must have been running away from something in that dream, that's for sure. I wish I knew what, then I'd know what to work on! Teka's french toast was in the shape of a human liver, I just couldn't see past that to figure out what it was!Heavens, that sounds like quite the tumble you took! The bruising you can get from that kind of thing is horrendous to look at. I don't blame Leslie for getting upset, seeing a big egg pop up like that is pretty impressive even when you are used to seeing stuff like that! At least it got Jodie and Les talking again, if only for the moment. And you are right, Joey is still the same guy, and always will be. 17 is a hard age no matter what else is going on in the world. He knows he has your support 100% and that will help.

Chevy--great helpful hints for Cammy! I remember your fall onto the gate latch, you posted pics and they were pretty frightful!

LOL at the nightclubs!!

Faceplant drink

From <http://www.idrink.com/v.html?id=5399>