how about drinking?

We're going through the typical meteorologically-bipolar Chicago February. Snow, cold, melt, rain, ice, more snow, more cold, lather, rinse repeat. Got about 5" from yesterday aft, through this evening. Barely getting to freezing tomorrow, warming into the high 30s-low 40s till it rains nezt Thurs. Hopefully, though, the cycle will be broken and the rain won't turn to ice & snow again.

Haven't been drinking for a couple of days. Went to Big Jones Wed. night for their Mardi Gras menu (tried my best to "eat around the carbs." DOTD was a hurricane--so sweet & strong that I could get through only a few sips before letting Bob finish it. WIth dinner, Schramsberg Brut Rosé--in old-school cut-crystal coupes rather than flutes (a nod to millennials' & Gen-Zers' cocktail culture). Seltzer last night, almond-breve cappuccino this aft., decaf tonight.

(Not logging in much--Happy keeps leaping on to my lap and messing up my computer).

For the continuing saga of the Mother-of-the-Groom dress(es), see the "Older than 60..." thread. If I get there tonight.

My goodness, is everyone passed out drunk in the corning or something?

Not much going on here, had a real bad Friday, pretty much cried all day on and off. Got up yesterday and decided I did NOT want to do that again. So I showered, even put make up on and did my hair! What for, I don't know, I'm the only one to see me! And just stayed busy all day, so yesterday was a good day. Most of what I do is cleaning, and one can't clean all day/every day! Still cold here, especially mornings, but that's ok. Warming up later in the week hitting 70 on W and Th, then back into the 50's after that.

NM, I'm thinking you are home now?

Sandy, for your "meteorologically-bipolar Chicago February" weather.

DOTD: Chicago Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz Brandy
• 1 dash Bitters
• 1/4 tsp Triple Sec
• Ice

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Sunday Funday! I had a great time in Orlando this week. It really was the break I needed. Warm, sunny, lots of fun and mindless things to do, very little COVID anything, very little work anything, lots of catching up with the family time. I am totally exhausted, in a good way, and am going to vegetate all day today, except for a few little things I need to do to get ready for work tomorrow. I will post pictures, but probably not today. Got to figure out the linkage to the photo pass thingy in my cousin's name and download, as well as transfer her personal pics from Facebook to my computer. Laura is an prolific picture taker and she got some really good ones. Her big project is getting a pic of all of the 50 gold statues of Disney characters created for the 50th anniversary celebration. She's gotten all but a few, and she and her DH are there through this coming week, so she's sure she'll get them all.

The traveling was sort of eventful. Woke up Friday ayem, no power. Nope, no electricity. Have to get ready for work and load the car in the dark. Not so bad, I was pretty well set to go. Got through the half day at school, got to the airport an hour early and treated myself to a glass of Rose and a burger while waiting to board.I got into Orlando about 10:30 peeyem Friday after a late flight out of Portland (Maine, not Oregon), fortunately the connecting flight was held. After rushing to board we sat in Baltimore for at least half an hour while they transferred luggage. Similar on the way home yesterday. Flight from Orlando got into Baltimore half an hour early, but we had to sit on the tarmac for an hour waiting for the plane in the gate to finish loading luggage, by the time we got to the gate we were 50 minutes late. Again, rush to the connection, then sit and wait for an hour for the luggage to catch up. Staffing issues was the given reason in both directions. Going from sunshine, in the 90's with 80% humidity to cloudy, 25 degrees and new snow was a definite shock to the system!

It was sunny and warm, upper 80's with a couple warmer days, but usually with a nice breeze. We closed down Magic Kingdom on Sunday, and saw the Magic Kingdom fireworks Monday and one other evening from the restaurant during dinner. Our first day was at Epcot Center, walked 16,200 steps that day, going around all these walls that are blocking off where new attractions are supposed to be coming, and I can see why it's been called "Wallmageddon," it's all very long walks around walled off areas without any shade between very few things to actually see and do. Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios were great, though, with lots to do and see and shaded walking

Goldie--glad your got your money back from Lowes!

Thanks, Illi, by birthday was Sunday, but we celebrated all week!

Thank you, too, Minus! Yup, vacay and B-day, lots of fun!

Goldie--I can't imagine how lonely you must be right now. The Snowy White Chocolate looks wonderful!

Reader--oh my, the coffee on the keyboard! I'm sure they did not get along well at all! Thanks for the B-day wishes!

Thank you, Teka!

Belated Happy Birthday Wishes to Illi!

Chi--oh my, the dress saga continues!

Goldie--I almost got one of those Cosmic Concoctions!They looked so cool with the light in them.

Thank you, Karen!

Thanks, Chi! It was a wonderful vacation.

Celia--thanks, I did enjoy sunny Florida!

Chevy--I did love every minute. Claimed it was my birthday in each restaurant, it was super fun!

Thank you, Misty! Glad to hear the boot is off and the ankle is better.

Karen--I did have a most wonderful time, and skipped out of professional development on Friday afternoon (which was OK, because it didn't involve me, anyway)

Goldie--how horrible to feel so badly and be stuck in traffic like that! I hope it blew over very quickly for you. Neurological degenerative diseases can get very ugly and long and drawn out. At least you and your DH were spared the months of ongoing decline and total disability that often happens. Not that makes for much comfort for you.

Lalbo--Hi! That gin does look wonderful! There's a distillery a few miles from my home that makes gin, I'm going to get some, I already have the elderflower syrup, the combo sounds heavenly!

Karen--isn't is amazing how exhausting sitting and training can be?

Goldie--I looked for the Disney Pineapple Whip but didn't find it, but I wasn't looking in the places serving alcohol at the time. I guess I'll just have to add to the shopping list and make myself one!

Thank you, Lalbo!

Thanks, Chevy!

Karen--I did have safe, if delayed travels home. Sounds like you are really getting the cold stuff. Stay warm!

Goldie--I love the little animation things in the pics, too. So much fun! I'm sorry you had a bad day missing DH. I'm glad you can keep yourself busy. I pray it gets easier with time.

Karen--119 hours of below freezing weather? YIKES!

Yes indeed NM - welcome back to the cold!!! Glad you had fun and hope you really do NOTHING today.

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Monday Monkey Day! Boy oh boy what a difference I'm getting up to this ayem! From thinking about sunburn to thinking about frostbite. 8 degrees, feels like 0, temps going down, winds picking up. Brrrrr.It's going to be good to see the kiddos again, though. I didn't do anything yesterday except reading some emails and CDC reports. I did download and organize some pictures to get a start on that job. And relived some fun experiences while doing that.

My cousin Laura on the left, me on the right. I got 72,300 points, and beat Laura's score! Didn't come close to the guys' scores, though.

Duane (Mark's best friend, my "part time husband", me, cousin Laura, her husband Mark

Thanks again Karen, I think sometimes just writing it helps. Looking forward to the warmer weather mid week. I have all my tax stuff turned in.

NM, WELCOME BACK! We've missed you! Great ketchup post and I love all the pictures. Of course seeing TinkerBell, makes me think of Stella! Sorry about the cold you came back to and glad you just vegged yesterday. LOL "part time husband"!

Good morning to everyone else.

I will be going to Moab beginning of April and then I decided to go to MI in May for Nora's first birthday on Cinco de Mayo. I think I have my times worked out around my treatments, provided I stay on the same one. TM's continue to sky rocket, but I don't feel any different!

DOTD: Part Time Lover

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. blanco tequila
• ½ oz. aperol
• ½ oz. elderflower liqueur
• ¾ oz. lemon juice
• 2 dashes angostura bitters
• orange peel for garnish

Whatcha gonna make Lalbo?

That's great Goldie. I'll raise my glass to that & join you.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday! First day back at work was moderately eventful. I found out, indirectly, that the school nurse position I applied for had already been filled, but I found another position in the same district on the Soliant site, so I'm pretty sure I will be able to stay in the district, at least. I also found out my application never got to the central office over break, if it's still in the 'going to Central Office' bin today I'll take it over myself after work. I listened/watched the School Board meeting last night, lots of discussion about masking, etc, final vote is to stop contact tracing as of today, allow masks to come off during outdoor recess as of today, going masks optional on the 7th if the county is still in yellow status, now being determined by hospitalization rates and available beds and resources. Pool testing will continue through the end of the school year, with PreK starting to be included as of the 14th. While I'm looking forward to not doing contact tracing, I'm not looking forward to the reaction when parents find out that they will only be getting a generic "a person associated with X School has tested positive for COVID-19." Why does change have to be so hard?

My cousin's hubby got himself sunburnt on Sunday, now he's "reverted back to my natural German white with lots of peeling" status. I say that's appropriate punishment for having a week more vacation than I had!

Karen--a lot of schools here in Maine are ending universal masking as of today. Maine doesn't have a mask mandate, so each district is making its own decisions. I'm still wondering about the why wear masks on Monday Feb 28th but not on Tuesday March 1st, but whatever. The line has to be drawn somewhere,I guess.

Goldie--I thought of Stella, too, from time to time while on vacay, and everything I saw Tinkerbelle. Sounds like you have some good travel plans. I hope it all works out.

Lalbo--sometimes I think the getting over a cold is worse than the cold itself! I hate that post-nasal drip cough. If the bourbon doesn'thelp with the cough directly, it at least makes you not care so much about it!

Goldie--I'm on board!No Alcohol for Feb 29, 30, and 31st!Hurry up March 1st!

Jazzy--great clip, thanks for posting.

Minus--I agree!

Morning, Misty!

Peace Train

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 oz Apple Brandy (Calvados)
• 1 tbsp Yellow Chartreuse
• Glass: Cocktail Glass

Directions

• Shake all ingredients well with ice in a cocktail shaker.
• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve.

From <http://www.completecocktails.com/Drinks/PeaceTrain.aspx>

Morning gals! Have any of you had problems logging in? MAN! I couldn't figure out what went wrong! Is this all new, or is it just ME? This whole site changed, and I just couldn't figure it out yesterday! I just got up.... 2:00a/m, to see if I could figure it out!

Guess it's all different, and thankfully, I could log-in, because my pw was saved!

Maybe I should start drinking, right? Hah! Then I could figure it out!

Worked around our yard & gardens yesterday.... snow is melting pretty fast.... just in time for another storm Friday.

Oh boy, not liking this new format at all. Hopefully this isn't how it's going to stay! Biggest complaints, too bright/white, small font and slow. Also, I do not see my avatar, but I can see others. Pictures posted are HUGE.

ED, it's not you, but you can still drink .

NM, Sorry about the pool testing taking so long, gheesh!

I was having some trouble with the font too. I use a laptop and by pressing Ctrl and + it gets bigger. Ctrl and - will take it back.

Oh MAN! I'm so glad it's not just me, Hah! Going to be beautiful today.... been picking up in the yard, and moving things around.... I can hardly wait until SPRING!!!

Yeah, I hear ha! Hope it gets straightened out pretty soon.... Sounds like we all are having the same trouble~

I DETEST this new format--what was wrong with the old one? Tiny font, blinding white space. Even the icons in the edit bar above the reply box are extremely tiny.

Sun., when we went out to Shaw's Crab House for their Mardi Gras menu, I nursed a flute of Charles de Fere Brut throughout the meal. Mon. night I had a couple oz. of FitVine Pinot Noir with my salmon; and glass of milk in the wee hours with my carb-cheats, decided not to take Arthritis Tylenol. Big mistaks--awoke with a sore back, so took an Aleve and then had my coffee. Bigger mistake--my gut was turning cartwheels all day and my temp began rising. Rapid-tested, negative. Went to Urgent Care to find out what was going on--I had defrosted the salmon in its vacuum packaging and though there were still some ice crystals when I took it out to cook, Dr. Google (I know, I know) suggested seeking immediate medical care to rule out botulism. The NP assured me that if I had a foodborne illness my body would violently try to reject the offending food--and that wasn't happening. They also said that despite there being a new Omicron variant, BA.2, they would not PCR test me because it was only 30 days since my last one and I could PCR-test positive for up to 90 days. They didn't think it was flu either, because my fever was too low and I had no joint or muscle aches. So they settled on "viral gastritis," with advice to go home, take Tylenol until my temp is normal, push fluids (water or Pedialyte), and eat a "BRAT diet:" banana, rice, applesauce, toast. Well, seeing as how I've had practically no appetite (I tried a half of a small paczki, which felt like I was trying to eat an entire cake), and the thought of the smell of raw bananas makes me hurl.... All I've had to drink is water, and one small shot of espresso this morning to cure my caffeine-withdrawal headache.

Still no appetite. This is not the way I'd prefer to fit into one of those dresses!

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Thirsty Thursday! Got an unexpected day off today, it snowed overnight, so school was originally delayed for 2 hours, just now a message came across that school is closed due to snowy back roads. Traditional snow day due to not sending 1:1 devices (aka, laptops and tablets) home with kiddos yesterday. Seems odd to be looking a snow day with the sun breaking through the clouds and brightening everything up.There must have been quite a bit more snow along the coast, I haven't even gotten enough to warrant plowing the driveway.

The big good news is the pool tests all came back NEGATIVE again this week!

Goldie--I'm not crazy about the new look either. Too plain, too much white space, do need to increase the display size to read comfortably. I'm not too worried about finding a job for the next school year. I'm working on getting my state certification as a school nurse (didn't have to have it due to COVID emergency when I was hired) and that will put me a step ahead of other applicantswhen it goes through, but, of course, it is currently taking 6 weeks or more to process. Sigh. I saw a mention on the log in page that the loading times should get better as the new system gets going. I sure hope so.

Lalbo--good point about the font color!Dark grey on white is not a good choice. The heading info--where our avatars and joined/posts data is shown is in black and much easier to read.

Morning, Chevy! No yard work going on here except some moving of snow off the deck!

Beaver--I'm seeing the same avatar issues. Most avatars are just a letter now.

Karen--I'm going to message the moderators and ask for the avatars back and posts showing in black, make the other stuff gray if they want, but leave the posts black.

Chi--Yikes, what a time you are having! I hope you feel better soon.