Stop means no. And no means no. So . . . stop.

Xander ,'Conversations with Dead People'


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.


Calli - Sep 28, 2024 4:43:15 am PDT #2754 of 4155
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

We have a few more days in the 80s. Then it should duck into something more fall like. I have the makings of beef barley soup for when it does.


JenP - Sep 28, 2024 6:10:30 am PDT #2755 of 4155

My soup turned out pretty well, but I over orzoed, so when it cooled, it turned into more of a congee-like situation. Not complaining, but I think I'll add more broth to thin it out some. And it needs some kind of added spices or something, but I can't figure out what's missing. I don't cook/play around enough to be good at that kind of thing. I added some cumin and juice from a lemon, and that helped, but... eh.

Do I want to do work today? I do not. But I will. My three days off were worth it.

Have I said that DH got laid off? His project wasn't renewed by the feds, so... poof. I mean, not that quickly, but. Oof, there's a lot to unpack with all of this, but not today. And then my hours got reduced because we lost a few clients. Great timing! I mean, we're fine and will be for a long while if nothing changes, but I certainly hope it will change within a few months.

I'm the finance person in our partnership, though, so it's low key stressful. He just... cannot deal with money. You know, we all have our money profile, and his is, "don't wanna; makes me cranky." And, I get that, but, like, adulting requires dealing, so lucky for us both of us that one of us can deal with money without shutting down. But also, I need to educate myself more.

Wow. Rambly. I believe I am venting my anxiety here. Thanks for playing along!


Steph L. - Sep 28, 2024 7:16:22 am PDT #2756 of 4155
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

Other parts of the country have it much worse than we do, but Cincinnati got pummeled yesterday. There's over 100,000 households without power. Fortunately we never lost power (knock wood).


Laura - Sep 28, 2024 7:37:12 am PDT #2757 of 4155
Our wings are not tired.

And it needs some kind of added spices or something, but I can't figure out what's missing. I don't cook/play around enough to be good at that kind of thing.

I mostly make it up as I go along, but a great process is to look at a few recipes and just take what you like from each one. I usually add a bit more of all the spices because we like the flavors in abundance. My poor super taster son doesn't even want to be at the table with some of the creations. He will eat plain pasta. And when I say plain I mean without butter and salt! The most complex thing he eats is plain cheese pizza, if the sauce isn't spicy.

I'm sorry about the stress, Jen. I'm the finance person here too. I try and give Brendon spreadsheets now and again, but he just can't. I really need to do some estate type stuff as we are getting older, but don't even know where to start. Every time I research my head explodes.


JenP - Sep 28, 2024 7:49:42 am PDT #2758 of 4155

My poor super taster son doesn't even want to be at the table with some of the creations.

Heh. My DH is a super hot and spicy food lover, and I'm a mildly spicy appreciator. He ranks what he's made for himself as Jen can eat/Jen should not. I rank by bring your own hot sauce/and.… yeah, just bring your hot sauce.

Soup is tasty this morning with the addition of broth from a different set of bones + a kick of some mildly spicy mushroom powder spice. Win!

Yah, I tried a spreadsheet share once -- that just amplified his anxiety. Lesson learned! Now I just get the convo down to as few details as possible, present steps we're taking and why, and open the floor for questions. Much better.

Glad you guys are powered, Steph.


Laura - Sep 28, 2024 10:15:50 am PDT #2759 of 4155
Our wings are not tired.

Speaking of soup! This was in my email today with 6 soups. Including my favorites, tomato, butternut squash, and mushroom varieties. [link] As always, I suggest looking at several recipes and picking and choosing what looks good. I would not recommend combining tomato, butternut squash, and mushrooms together though. That would be very tricky.


askye - Sep 28, 2024 4:52:35 pm PDT #2760 of 4155
Thrive to spite them

Dad got power back.

Main Street businesses here are open. We don't a have power. I got to work. Only had one close call with a car...came half a car length of hitting me. Managed to skip ahead of the line and turn to get into work. Almost everyone was in line for the Gas station..

We ran out of bread, about to run out of water , peanut butter, no candles etc.. most wal marts are closed due to no power. If it wasn't for the power outage Tuesday and the generator we got our store would be closed.

At home we have few candles. One flash light. My phone. I have a portable charge but it needs a micro USB to charge it and I left that charger at home. So it's for some power but not sure how much.

I don't have enough gas to get to work tomorrow. Or enough gas to wait on a long line for gas. M may get up early in the morning to see if the line would be shorter. I'm hoping. If he can get me gas I'll probably go into work.

I got hot from all the running around but I had hot food which was nice


Laura - Sep 28, 2024 5:48:15 pm PDT #2761 of 4155
Our wings are not tired.

Power~ma! Did you manage to clear out your freezer/fridge before the power went out? My sister starts going down to as little as possible refrigerated in the spring. I clear as much as I can before I go north for the summer. Summer in Florida means you will lose power at some point.


Sheryl - Sep 29, 2024 7:40:08 am PDT #2762 of 4155
Fandom means never having to say "But where would I wear that?"

Timelies all!

Got my covid shot yesterday. My arm hurts and I'm feeling a little blah. Of course I haven't gotten enough sleep because silly boy had to come into our room and be disruptive. Sigh...


meara - Sep 29, 2024 10:47:04 am PDT #2763 of 4155

Today much better than yesterday already. Got up felt ok and went and met my friend and her 2.5 year old at toddler soccer. Hilarious. Then we walked around a bit with the dog (toddler insists on having the leash, which is super cute), hit the grocery store, about to do some laundry, and then a soccer game! Yesterday I sat on the couch the whole day.