A Day In The Life.....

Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:09 am
disneydream06: (Disney Surprised)
[personal profile] disneydream06
I'm not sure if this is a sign of Spring, but my front yard looks like a scene from the Alfred Hitchcock movie, "The Birds" this morning.

They are kind of a small/medium sized black mixed with brown birds.
There has as been off and on a whole flock of them in my front yard. :o

I tried to google Minnesota birds but not finding anything, and of course I can't find my Minnesota Birds book. :(

(no subject)

Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:02 am
ravena_kade: (Default)
[personal profile] ravena_kade
Yesterday Dad and I went to Ipswich for lunch so he could have a cheat meal before his hospital stay. He had fried scallops (and extra fluid meds when he came home) and I had fried clams. It's nice to go there. The bartender saw us crossing the street and poured us our usuals; me a hard cider and Dad a diet Coke. This will most likely be the last time we are there until June. I know I will be there in the summer even if he is unable to drive.

On the way home we stoped at a giant Ace Hardware/Tractor supply store close by Ipswich. I stopped because the sign said that they had ice melt. The store was huge and had tons of things. I wanted to buy seed trays, but stopped because I really won't be able to pay attention to seeds in the next few weeks. I did buy myself a steel shovel. They are saying we could get a foot or more of snow. Maybe 2ft. Plastic shovels don't do a good job with the piles the plows leave in the driveway. I also have to carve out space for 2 cars this storm.

Tomorrow Dad has a 1 pm appointment, but I don't know if they will cancel. I don't think they call for cancels on Sunday. I know on Friday the hospital sent out emails that staff is supposed to show up and listed hotels that were nearby for Sunday night. Sadly the hospital does not pay for the hotel rooms. I may or may not get a text from my boss today. I have the ability to work remote only if the computer is on in the office. If the hospital cuts power then the office pcs all shut down. It happens a few times a month.

My sister's car died again. They were going to try and drive it here. It died yesterday and they got it to the mechanic 10 minutes before the guy closed. He said he really wouldn't make that drive as they could get stuck in the middle of nowhere. So last night at 8 pm they were looking for a car to rent. Umm.. the car broke down last week too and they hadn't started looking for a rental then? Oy. I told he that it would be okay if she had to come out a few days later... Nope. They are supposed to leave at noon today. Oy.

I also told them to check with me Monday morning before they leave their hotel. They stay in Buffalo. No need to leave at the crack of dawn if there is a raging blizzard. Stay as late as you can because the roads may be dangerous.

Today is Dad's last cheat day. Chinese food.

Five Random Things Makes a Post

Feb. 21st, 2026 07:38 pm
brickhousewench: oh look a chicken (chicken)
[personal profile] brickhousewench
I got a letter from the DMV this week. I got my first choice on spelling for my vanity plate. Whenever it arrives (they say it could be twelve weeks, seems like a long time to stamp a plate to me!) my Subaru Forester will be sporting the license plate SHERWD.

Yep, Sherwood the Forester. Because I am THAT nerd.

***

Someone rang the buzzer at 8:30 am this morning. And I could hear the plow going by. So I dragged myself out of bed and went out to brush off the cars. I had both cleared off and was headed out to do my grocery shopping when the text came through at 9:30 that the plow guy was going to be on site. Thanks for the timely warning there. =P

***

A handful of us from the Guild are headed down to Jamestown for Military Through the Ages next month, to spend time with Das TeufelsAlpdrucken Fahnlein and to help out since this will be their first MTA without Larry leading them. Stephen organized a Zoom call today, because he figured a 30 minute call would save us a bunch of texting back and forth. We talked about what we might need to get out of storage, who is driving with whom (I’m going to grab Tom on my way down) and where we wanted to stay. Since there are several of us, we’re going to stay at the Historic Powhatan Williamsburg again. It’s a timeshare/condo thingy where we can rent basically a townhouse, with several rooms and a kitchen, for a pretty reasonable price. I’ve stayed there two or three times in the past.

***
Since last weekend was Valentine’s Day, I decided to take a break from reading murder mysteries and read a couple of romance novels I’d picked up but not read yet.

I’ve been reading a bunch of books by Christina Lauren (which is actually Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings writing together). I’d picked up a book called Tangled Up In You, which turned out to be part of a series of books (A "Meant To Be novel") based on Disney movies. This one was very loosely based on the movie Tangled (‘natch). I’m not a huge Disney fan like some people are, but the book was enjoyable. The authors only picked a few bits and pieces of the movie and spun a totally different story (but with a happily ever after, because it’s a romance). So I figured I’d take a chance on the other books in the series, and had ordered three more. So last weekend I read through If The Shoe Fits (Cinderella), which was excellent. And then I read By The Book (Beauty and the Beast) which was also good. Then I read Kiss The Girl (The Little Mermaid) which was probably my favorite of the series. I’m currently waiting for my order of Worth Fighting For (Mulan) which is new since I ordered the other four.

Anywhoo, if you’re a Disney fan and looking for some romance to read, these were fun.

***
My back has been hurting all week, so I haven’t really gotten anything done other than work. Since I was up (and out) earlier than usual today, it at least got me jumpstarted. And driving to pick up groceries with the heated seats on probably helped too. So today I tackled some neglected housework. I finally folded the load of laundry that I washed last week that’s been hanging out in the dryer ever since. I washed another load of laundry, and this time I got it all folded. I hauled two bags of kitchen trash out to the dumpster. Washed a bunch of dishes. And sorted through a pile of mail. Go me! Adulting! Being productive on a weekend!!! And I still have time to read in the evening.
siderea: (Default)
[personal profile] siderea
If you live in the BosWash Corridor, especially in NYC-to-Boston, you need to be paying attention to the weather. We have an honest to gosh Nor'easter blizzard predicted for the next 3 days, with heavy wet snow and extremely high winds – the model predicts the damn thing will have an eye – which of course is highly predictive of power outages due to downed lines.

Plug things what need it into electricity while ya got it.

Whiteout conditions expected. The NWS's recommendation for travel is: don't. Followed by recommendations for how to try not to die if you do: "If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle."

I would add to that: if you get stranded in your car by snow and need to run the engine for heat, you must also periodically clear the build-up of snow blocking the tailpipe, or the exhaust will back up into the passenger compartment of the car and gas you to death.

As always, for similar reasons do not try to use any form of fire to heat your house if the regular heat goes out, unless you have installed the necessary hardware into the structure of your house, i.e. chimneys, fireplaces, and wood stoves, and they have been sufficiently recently serviced and you know how to operate them safely. The number one killer in blizzards is not the cold, it's the carbon monoxide from people doing dumb shit with hibachis.

NWS says DC to get 2 to 4 inches, NYC/BOS to get 1 to 2 feet. Ryan Hall Y'all reports some models saying up to 5 inches in DC and up to three feet in NYC and BOS.

2026 Feb 21 (5 hrs ago): Ryan Hall Y'all on YT: "The Next 48 Hours Will Be Absolutely WILD...". See particularly from 3:30 re winds.

If somehow you don't already have a preferred regular source of NWS weather alerts – my phone threw up one compliments of Google, and I didn't even know it was authorized to do that – you can see your personal NWS alerts at https://forecast.weather.gov/zipcity.php , just enter your zipcode. Also you should get yourself an app or something.
jazzy_dave: (bookish)
[personal profile] jazzy_dave
Winifred Watson "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" (Persephone Classics)



Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a book with two settings. It's either a charming, frothy Cinderella-esque fantasy where the eponymous character, teetering on the verge of destitution in 1930s London, sees her life transformed over the course of a single day following an accidental encounter with glamorous nightclub singer Delysia; or a brick-to-the-face of antisemitism, xenophobia, and that weird interwar insistence that what a woman really loves is a man who'll shake her, tell her they're an idiot, and insist that "obviously she needs a little physical correction."

Oof. The ratio of froth delight to yuck was such that I was just able to get through the book without throwing it away entire;y. While I've heard so many people recommend this as a much-loved comfort read, I don't think I'll be coming back to it. In fact, dear reader, avoid it.

Book 15 - Adrian McKinty "The Chain"

Feb. 21st, 2026 06:54 pm
jazzy_dave: (books n tea)
[personal profile] jazzy_dave
Adrian McKinty "The Chain" (Orion)




I was very intrigued by the plot. Someone kidnaps your daughter and to get her back you need to pay a ransom and kidnap someone else to take her place, to keep The Chain living. Certainly not your every day mystery thriller story.

With this plot, it is easy to assume that at the end, the daughter gets saved, the bad guy gets caught or killed, and that the hero will be the mother. It is crucial that the story takes you from beginning to end through a rollercoaster of emotions and thrills. And that's where this book fails.

The character are poorly developed. At no point in time, you feel the stress of the main characters or the fear of the victims. The bad guys don't even get on your head because, again, the characters are poorly developed. Protagonists get out of difficult situations without a sweat. Things happen, sure, but most of them don't matter.

I am surprised about the good reviews it has received, but to it's an absolute skip and not worth your time.

Snow!

Feb. 21st, 2026 01:24 pm
brickhousewench: (Doomed)
[personal profile] brickhousewench
Wheee!

Four inches of snow this morning.

Six more inches due on Sunday

Seven more inches due on Monday.

So much shoveling and brushing! =P

At least we're supposed to hit the 40s next weekend, so there will be meltage.

Isn't It Punny.....

Feb. 21st, 2026 09:52 am
disneydream06: (Disney Funny)
[personal profile] disneydream06
February 21st/22nd...


When You Dream In Color,

Is It A Pigment Of

Your Imagination?

(no subject)

Feb. 21st, 2026 08:59 am
ravena_kade: (Default)
[personal profile] ravena_kade
Sooooo.....Dad goes in Tuesday and is watched and fine tuned for the procedure on Thursday. Thursday at 6;45 he is the first surgery of the day and they will apple core out his heart. Sigh. Part of me thinks Cyberman from Dr. Who. A friend said think Ironman...sure...but we are not rich people... although I would love a Jarvis.

The snow coming on Monday has me worried. A foot to 2 feet of snow. I am really not up to shoveling 2 feet of snow for 2 cars to fit in the driveway. My sister cannot park in front of the house now as we still have a 3 foot by 4 ft deep plow packed snow at the street. I also don't think her partner can make the swing into the driveway because of the snow mounds. Dad can, because he is still a super driver... and I hope he will be for a few more years.

Last night I had some hard news about the stroke cousin. She is moving into an assisted living place that I can walk to...that is not the bad news. Her sisters found out yesterday that her bank accounts are all overdrawn and she has had no money for a week for undergarments... think about that...or not. They also found out that she transferred $100,000 out of her 401k and that Well Fargo has no trail of where the money went. WTF. Cancer cousin is a vice president at a bank and cried BS and will bring a bank lawyer in to find out where the money went. OMG. They figured out that her social security and the pay outs from one annuity will cover her new rent...and that includes 3 meals a day at her new place. They are going to have to get power of attorney over their sister. Also, she has maxed out all credit cards. She spent $19000 on Amazon since November. It is so sad. It breaks my heart and scares the crap out of me.

This Isn't a Philly Cheesesteak

Feb. 21st, 2026 05:56 am
nverland: (Cooking)
[personal profile] nverland posting in [community profile] recipecommunity
image host

This Isn't a Philly Cheesesteak

ASIAGO & SMOKED GOUDA CHEESE SAUCE
2 Tbsp butter, unsalted
1 Tbsp flour
1 c heavy cream
1 egg yolk, beaten
8 oz Asiago cheese, shredded
4 oz smoked Gouda, shredded
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp horseradish sauce
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

STEAK INGREDIENTS
4 Tbsp olive oil (you may need a little more for cooking steaks)
2 oz pancetta, dice (this gives extra flavor to veggies)
1 small green bell pepper, sliced thin
1 small red pepper, sliced thin
1 medium white onion, sliced thin
4 oz mushroom gourmet blend (baby bella, shiitake & oysters mushrooms)
1 1/2 lb rib-eye steak - thinly slice (about 8 slices, 2 per sandwich)
Salt and pepper to taste
4 ciabatta rolls

Directions
2 Asiago & Smoked Gouda Cheese Sauce
The first thing we want to do is get the sauce going. To make this sauce you will need a double boiler. If you do not have one, then use a stainless steel bowl set snugly inside a saucepan filled with water.
3 The key to this sauce is low and slow over a gentle heat. This will achieve a creamy cheese sauce. You will also need a wooden spoon and whisk. This sauce should take about 8 -10 minutes to complete. But it requires your undivided attention. Stay with this step until sauce is complete.
4 Pour water half full in double boiler and place over a medium heat. Melt butter in the top of the boiler. Once butter is melted add flour to make a roux, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for about 2 minutes or until blended well. Then add heavy cream and continue to stir constantly. Add Asiago and Smoked Gouda to cream mixture, use whisk to blend cheese well. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk until nice and smooth, then add beaten egg to mixture. Whisk until the sauce is warm and begins to thicken, then add Italian seasoning, horseradish sauce, and nutmeg. Continue to whisking constantly, then salt and pepper to taste. When cheese sauce is thick, reduce the heat low to keep it warm while preparing steaks.
5 Philly Steak
In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then add pancetta, green peppers, red peppers, and onions, sauté until slightly softened, about 2 -3 minutes, then add mushrooms to the mixture sauté until mushrooms are tender. Season veggies lightly with salt and pepper. Then transfer mixture to bowl cover and keep warm.
6 Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to skillet and be sure pan is hot so rib-eye steak will cook fast. Sauté steak, cooking each slice about ½ minute on each side, but do not overcook. Remove steak and place on a plate, season lightly with salt & pepper.
7 Let’s make this sandwich, with tongs, place 2 slices of steak on ciabatta roll and top with veggie mixture. Then spoon some of the cheese sauce over the steak and veggies, cover with top roll and serve the best cheesesteak sandwich ever.

Photos: House Yard

Feb. 20th, 2026 09:10 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posting in [community profile] gardening
Today's project was creating an enclosure behind the log garden. I dragged some more logs back there so I can dump dead leaves inside. That way, they'll stay put, create habitat, hold moisture, and remain available in case I want some leaf litter during the warm season. This is a good use for old logs if you have any lying around.

Walk with me ... )

Be Kind.....

Feb. 20th, 2026 10:33 am

Political Rant.....

Feb. 19th, 2026 09:01 pm
disneydream06: (Disney Angry)
[personal profile] disneydream06
Just The Felon showing his love for Colored People and the Military.....


Maybe I'm just getting old

Feb. 19th, 2026 01:54 pm
brickhousewench: (burnout)
[personal profile] brickhousewench
My company's fiscal year begins February 1st, which is nice because it means the "year end" scramble for everyone doesn't happen over the holiday season in December, but at the end of January.

Today we had our "virtual kick off" meeting, where we review the last fiscal year and talk about our goals for the coming year. The leadership team tries to drum up enthusiasm, and today we talked about our All Hands, in-person offsite that is going to happen in Vienna right before Labor Day, and our new set of goals for this year, since we met almost all of the goals we set last year.

Maybe I'm too old, or becoming more socialist, but it's really hard for me to get excited when the TL;DR message was, "We had a really good year last year, blew past our goals, everyone worked really hard! Now let's get excited to work even harder this year!"

"Time is our enemy. Speed is our weapon."

"Every team in the company needs to think aggressively about how to use AI. If you're not using these tools in your daily job, something is really wrong."

It's easy for the leadership team to say, "Work harder! Work faster!" when they're not the ones who are going to burn out as the pace of work just keeps going faster and faster.

tiny long-tailed tit

Feb. 19th, 2026 07:19 pm
turlough: red house in snowy forest ((winter) seasonal)
[personal profile] turlough posting in [community profile] common_nature
We've had a very persistent winter here this year and this has happily meant that I've had lots of visitors at my bird feeders. Today I had the opportunity to photograph this adorable little Long-Tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus caudatus) while it was hunting for seeds on the bike-shed roof just outside my window.

Click to enlarge:
small black and white bird with very long tail feathers

one more photo... )

Strange dream

Feb. 19th, 2026 07:46 am

Skunky

Feb. 19th, 2026 07:15 am
fbhjr: Cry Cry horse (Cry Cry horse)
[personal profile] fbhjr
Yesterday morning when I set out for work my car smelled excessively of skunk.
I drove with the windows down in freezing rain bad.
I park under our bedroom window and my wife tells me that about the time I left yesterday there was a wave of skunk smell.
So, I must have frightened a poor skunk as I came out to my car yesterday. Maybe it was hiding under my car when I started it or something.
Poor little skunk.
I was still driving with the windows down today…

Photos: Flowerbeds

Feb. 18th, 2026 07:58 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posting in [community profile] gardening
The first crocuses are blooming! I just had to take pictures when I spotted them this morning. Yesterday they were just buds.

Walk with me ... )

Photos: Flowerbeds

Feb. 18th, 2026 07:56 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posting in [community profile] common_nature
The first crocuses are blooming! I just had to take pictures when I spotted them this morning. Yesterday they were just buds.

Walk with me ... )
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