Jayne: We was just about to spring into action, Captain. Complicated escape and rescue op. Wash: I was going to watch. It was very exciting.

'Shindig'


Natter 78: I might need to watch some Buffy for inspiration

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


meara - Jan 05, 2026 2:51:27 pm PST #10929 of 10965

Aww the crossword thing sounds fun, though I am not practiced enough at anything other than the mini to make it worth it.

53 week year sounds confusing. Unless that means we get an extra vacation week or something.

I will in theory be inheriting a chunk from my dad now that he has passed, but sadly not enough to like, retire now or anything. More “make my retirement account more robust”. If only I had a mysterious cousin or aunt or family friend…


-t - Jan 05, 2026 2:54:46 pm PST #10930 of 10965
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Excel considers the week beginning 12/28 to be 2025 Week 53, but our internal financial reporting considers it to be 2026 Week 1 so... [[flips table]]

The week Supply Chain thought it was and the week the Sales team and Finance thought it was were different all of 2025, but hardly anyone besides us actually uses the week numbers so it wasn't too bad. It will be nice to be aligned on the calendar in 2026, though.

I can't overstate how thrilled I am to have an actual-factual diagnosis supported by imaging, so I can proceed with getting this fucker fixed up. When it's fixed and healed, I am going to do ALL THE THINGS. Starting with just goddamn walking to the corner.

Super excited for this for you!

-t puts the dots in like the commander likes.

It's amazing how often I think of that when I'm formatting!

I would really like to do the crossword tournament but just looking at hotel and registration, I really shouldn't spend that money, and I don't even want to think about airfare, so probably not going to make it. I have not explored the wonderful world of reward points, I might have something applicable I suppose. I have a couple of days to think about it before I even could register, so I might change my mind.


Kate P. - Jan 05, 2026 3:27:26 pm PST #10931 of 10965
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love

I am considering the crossword tournament! I've been doing the WaPo crosswords for a while now and I'm generally pretty decent at them, but I'm a bit nervous that the NYT crosswords might be next level. Still, I enjoy crosswords and spending time with Buffistas, so it seems like it would be fun!


JenP - Jan 05, 2026 3:31:00 pm PST #10932 of 10965

Yeah, I'm not super happy about the hotel rates, especially since I used all points last year, but I also don't have much travel planned for 2026, and I have been tightening other belts fairly ruthlessly, so I'm justifying it that way, but there's a bitlot of handwaving involved, frankly.

I need to compare tolls/gas/parking to drive there vs. train fare. I do love me a train ride, though.

Hil, it would be great if you came! I would make suggestions re: the wheelchair conundrum, but I don't expect I would be helpful, because I don't what's feasible, but if I can help in any way... I'm all about getting people to the tournament!


JenP - Jan 05, 2026 3:31:34 pm PST #10933 of 10965

Still, I enjoy crosswords and spending time with Buffistas, so it seems like it would be fun!

That is 100% the case.


Matt the Bruins fan - Jan 05, 2026 5:02:31 pm PST #10934 of 10965
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

My dentist's office called around 3 this afternoon to tell me insurance has determined what my next crown will cost me out-of-pocket and to ask if I wanted to schedule the appointment slot that suddenly opened up tomorrow morning.

Let me check. FUCK NO!!! Are you crazy?


Steph L. - Jan 05, 2026 5:41:33 pm PST #10935 of 10965
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine

My dentist's office called around 3 this afternoon to tell me insurance has determined what my next crown will cost me out-of-pocket and to ask if I wanted to schedule the appointment slot that suddenly opened up tomorrow morning.

"We would like you to bring us bushels full of cash, and please bring them tomorrow morning! That works for you, right?"


-t - Jan 05, 2026 6:30:47 pm PST #10936 of 10965
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Ha, I floated the idea of taking the train to the tournament to Mom and she’s down, so I guess I’m doing this. Not sure if she will come to the tournament or stop off and visit my nephew for the weekend, we will figure that out on Thursday…


JenP - Jan 05, 2026 6:50:23 pm PST #10937 of 10965

Woo- hoo!

Or should I say, "Choo-choo!"


-t - Jan 05, 2026 7:09:23 pm PST #10938 of 10965
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Stamford hotel has no rooms available, boo