What are you doing these days?

[basil67]

No new cases in our state this week...or maybe one.....can't remember which day he got diagnosed.   Pretty much back to normal except that hubby is still working from home because he works in a tower and it's impossible to get all the workers in a lift to deliver to their offices....and the offices have limited number of people anyway.   Enforced social distancing in restaurants, movie theatres reopening.  I'm back at the gym and the pool can have three people per lane.

We're a bit wigged out by the spike in Victoria.  It seems to be significantly due to security guards who were untrained in COVID management, caring for incoming expats who were quarantined. 

Edited July 4, 2020 by basil67

[sothereiwas]

This morning my son and I made a little project of lubricating and reassembling one of the AK-47 carbines I've not yet fired, partly because we might go to the range and partly because it's just good to oil them once in a while. So I guess oiling as part of care, and assembly just in case. After coffee and breakfast I think we'll rebuild a few of the insect electrocution devices and take care of some routine yard work, maybe throw a new tire on the front of his bike. Doesn't really need it but I have a few in the shop and he's been wanting to change the tire so why not. 

In other news there is a rumor there is an antifa bus making the rounds this weekend, but I believe that's just a chain email that's gone to making the rounds by word of mouth; no one is coming to this little burg in numbers enough to be noticable. Boring here, just the way I like it. 

[Ruby Slippers]

Happy 4th, y'all! 🎆

The day turned out better than I expected. I visited my parents for the afternoon and the highlight was going to the house of a friend of my mom's to pick tons of ripe, delicious figs. The tree is HUGE and loaded with fruit. Most of them are laid out on wax paper in my freezer right now, taking up several shelves. Later I'll bag 'em up and probably use them mostly in smoothies. The rest are ripening on the bar. My mom also sent me home with two jars of fig preserves she made.

Today I had the best pork ribs I've ever had, with this amazing sweet spice rub, which a family friend grilled and brought by, along with this delicious lemonade pie my mom made. 

Definitely a good food day! 

[Cornholio12]

Listening to fireworks go off in the distance and it's serene and almost calming in a way. Keeps my mind off things. 

[Fresh_Start]

6 minutes ago, Anonymous1 said:

Listening to fireworks go off in the distance and it's serene and almost calming in a way. Keeps my mind off things. 

It sounds like a warzone over here.  I'm having Vietnam flashbacks. 🤑

[Cornholio12]

As of now, trying to keep my head up. I've got more on my plate now than I simply care to have. There are things I just can't shake. 

[Happy Lemming]

Today, I'm finishing up setting granite tiles (countertop) on one side of my kitchen.  My plan was to do one side at a time, that way I'd still have a place to prepare meals. 

So far everything has gone well, with no set backs.  I need to make a run to the tile store for grout release/sealer and pick out a grout.  There are so many colors of grout.  I'm using a medium gray granite tile and leaning towards a dark gray (but not black) grout.

Last time I needed grout, the clerk in the store suggested the perfect color for the marble I installed in the master bath.  I hope he is still working there.  Apparently, he was a professional tile setter for over 20 years and just knew the perfect complementary grout color.

 

[Ellener]

20 hours ago, Anonymous1 said:

As of now, trying to keep my head up. I've got more on my plate now than I simply care to have. There are things I just can't shake. 

Hope you're doing okay today.

[Ruby Slippers]

I feel like I'm really beginning to let go of the breakup blahs and focus on what's next.

Today I've been cleaning and sprucing up the house. My house plants are looking much better, now that I've rearranged them for better light exposure and am tending them more closely.

The 4 mutual funds I selected have already yielded 1.84% growth in just 2 trading days! Man, it's soooo awesome to watch my money just sit there and grow. I'm beginning to dream about what I can do once I amass a lot more savings, including plenty of fun charitable giving. I've already been tipping a lot more generously since I got this new job. These are all pretty aggressive growth funds, so now I'm reading up on how to effectively diversify and balance my portfolio for optimum performance and risk.

If all this isn't enough adulting for one day, this evening I went for a jog, and will aim to do a little mat workout (strength training) here in a bit. I've definitely indulged in more sweet and carbs lately and it's showing, but I'm getting back to healthier habits so I can trim back down and feel better.

[Happy Lemming]

5 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said:

 I'm beginning to dream about what I can do once I amass a lot more savings...

Pay down/off your mortgage??

[Ruby Slippers]

Yes, according to my current plan, I can have my current house paid off within 10-15 years, in advance of retirement. I'll also be creating a fund to save up for a deposit on a house in a nicer neighborhood, one with a pool or room in the back yard to put in my own pool. I might also eventually move up in car - something modest and practical for the near future. I'll wait to get the zippy iridescent blue convertible until I've knocked out other big goals 😀

[Happy Lemming]

1 minute ago, Ruby Slippers said:

Yes, according to my current plan, I can have my current house paid off within 10-15 years, in advance of retirement. I'll also be creating a fund to save up for a deposit on a house in a nicer neighborhood, one with a pool or room in the back yard to put in my own pool. I might also eventually move up in car - something modest and practical for the near future. I'll wait to get the zippy iridescent blue convertible until I've knocked out other big goals 😀

I was with you up until the car idea...  Cars depreciate, real estate appreciates (for the most part).

When my old car died after 25 years of faithful service, I purchased the cheapest new car sold in the U.S.  It's a basic sedan that gets the job done and gets 40 mpg.  Never really cared about what I drove as long as it started and got me from A to B.

[Ruby Slippers]

I love driving like a race car driver and have always wanted a convertible. My dad and brothers are serious car guys and I guess I inherited a touch of it. My dream car is very reasonable in price, and I'm willing to work a little more to have some reasonable splurges. I won't splash out on that until I'm sitting pretty with my house and swimming pool paid off and a huge nest egg. I could buy my dream car right now but I'm being responsible 🤓

[Happy Lemming]

2 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said:

I love driving like a race car driver...

Yes... I understand.  When I feel the need for speed, I take the sportbike out (Yamaha R6).  I purchased it years ago and didn't pay much for it back them and it's really cheap to insure, so that is my "fun" toy.

Years ago, when I purchased it, the woman I was dating was tiny (4' 10") and loved being on the back of my motorcycle.  I'd roll on the throttle, tuck in under the wind screen and she'd lean forward (with me) tightening her grip around my waist. We'd fly down the highway.  She really enjoyed the thrill of it all.

[sothereiwas]

5 minutes ago, Happy Lemming said:

I take the sportbike out (Yamaha R6)

Love that - mine is an older Honda CBR954RR, but even with it not being a full liter, I'm not really able to wring it out. Lot of machine, and people don't get any younger

[Happy Lemming]

7 minutes ago, sothereiwas said:

Love that - mine is an older Honda CBR954RR, but even with it not being a full liter, I'm not really able to wring it out. Lot of machine, and people don't get any younger

Yes.. I was looking at an R1, but I realized that my reaction time wasn't as fast as it used to be.  A man has to know his limitations.

Moreover, the liter bikes were all very, very expensive to insure, where as the 600cc bikes are really cheap to insure.  Trust me I can wring quite a bit out of the R6 and have only hit its top speed a couple of times and that was entirely too fast for me. 

So all in all the R6 was the right choice and that bike is bullet proof, as I'm sure your Honda is, as well.

The woman I was dating (when I bought it) didn't know the difference between an R6 and a R1, she just knew to lean forward and hold on tight.  It was more than fast enough to invoke the adrenaline.

[Happy Lemming]

Yesterday, I picked up some grout for my kitchen counter top project & glued some scrap pieces of tile onto an old piece of plywood.  The clerk (at the tile store) suggested I test the grout with some scrap pieces before committing to that color.  I was also concerned about applying a grout release. The clerk advised me that on the granite tiles (I had installed) a grout release was not necessary and could "yellow" the granite. 

The test piece came out perfect, the color was "spot on" and no grout release was necessary.  My little test piece cleaned up with minimal effort.

I guess I'll be grouting the first half of my kitchen counter top tomorrow morning. 

 

[schlumpy]

Wife had to go in for a MRI today. We had to park in the back and all the doors back there were card restricted, so I had to push my wife around the building to the front entrance. They didn't like my mask but did give me a n95 mask to wear. Since my wife was using her wheelchair I got to stay inside. The AC felt pretty good considering it was 92 outside.

Lots of people coming and going but every one wore a mask and had their temperature taken.

MRI took two hours. They had to use a contrast. I think I nodded off after reading my astronomy magazine.

We got out of there and headed up to establishment that makes German cakes and pastries where my wife must have got a slice from every tray.

Headed home and that was the day.

Tomorrow I have a doctors appointment.

Can't seem to stay away from these guys.

 

[Happy Lemming]

Grouted my kitchen counter top this morning, it came out beautiful.  I'm very happy to have one side of the kitchen completed.  I did make one mistake and underestimated the amount of grout required to complete the other side.  I purchased a 10 pound bag and used most of it for just the one side.  So I will have to go back to the tile store for another bag.  I wish I had purchased the 25 pound bag on my first trip.  Oh well... live and learn.

 

[chillii]

Ok ,  l admit it ,  l am really starting to feel this thing. My gf rather than being back well over a month ago , is still stuck up in her city waiting on appointments 6wks overdue but the thing is they can't say when they'll reopen and these two have to b face to face . And they're very bloody important . She could've come back a mth ago and gotten at least right now 5 or 6wks back here , together, maybe mths we don't know.  But you can bet if she hops on a plane tomorrow now they'll call a day later, if she stays , who knows.

And l've lost one very important sale too, 3 times would you believe, because buyers couldn't get up here to pick the job up. lt has to tie me over but things are starting to get rather tight because of it falling through. All l can do is rerun the ads yet again but l'll have to specifically only except buyers from certain parts so that they can get here to pick it up.

Whining over , as you were .

 

Edited July 11, 2020 by chillii

[lana-banana]

Three things I'm doing that I never envisioned before:

1) Baby talking to our kittens. I always thought baby talk was stupid (my parents assure me they didn't use baby talk with any of their children) until I actually had adorable baby creatures to care for. Several of my friends have pointed out that baby talk actually serves an important function, whether for animals or children: it creates links between behaviors and responses. You use positive tones to reinforce positive behavior, offer reassurance, demonstrate love, and so on. Even if you're using complete sentences, baby-talking with exaggerated tones is very important for fostering emotional development. And the lack thereof probably explains a lot about my life.

2) Yoga. I have been doing Olympic weight lifting for almost ten years and managed to stay in solid shape even without the gym during quarantine. But at some point I hurt my back very badly---I don't know if I actually did anything or this is just what happens to you as you get older---and found myself unable to lift much at all without harming my lower back. So while I try to stay healthy I've been doing yoga, something I'd always ridiculed as white people appropriating Eastern religion. Well, shows what I know: yoga is hard as hell. While some sequences have been relatively simple and feel good, others have left me pouring with sweat. I am sorry I ever made fun of yoga and am learning to embrace it as a low-impact way to keep my body strong.

3) Ironing. We grew up and bought some actual serious cotton percale sheets, and they are game-changers---but it means ironing. I'm a millennial; I don't iron. The few clothes I own that require ironing just go straight to the dry cleaners. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let anything happen to these sheets, and the instructions say to iron them, so I'm ironing them. Such is adulthood.

Edited July 12, 2020 by lana-banana

[Ellener]

On 7/11/2020 at 12:18 PM, chillii said:

things are starting to get rather tight because of it falling through

Hear you @chillii It's frustrating. Life's on hold so many ways. (((((((((((((((((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I am doing this Monday morning thing of trying to start the week positively! write a paper of ideas/focus for my week ahead. Some stuff gets done, some doesn't, but the attempts and sense of purpose structure the week. 

Eating is good, got my sleep pattern back and my ribcage is almost back to normal, nice bruise but hardly hurts so I'll be able to workout again soon, just been doing gentle yoga and stretches and deep breathing. Haven't been able to take my dog on long walks so we've got into the habit of everywhere I go in the apartment I call her, she comes running and gets exercise and I am finding the talking to her therapeutic too @lana-banana there are days I don't hear another human voice but she responds to my every word! I think she's starting to think I'm a bit stupid for not being able to do anything without her assistance, but she graciously goes along with it 😀

I've been very accident prone lately so trying to slow down, do things slower and thoughtfully.

The highlight of my weekend was removing a rust stain from the bath enamel ( Tide laundry detergent; rinse; bleach; and repeat! ) Oh and bumping into an old friend waiting for my kroger pick up on Sunday, I was feeling a bit down and he appeared, one of those lovely moments!

My friend who died has appeared a lot in my thoughts, too, mostly as a criticism of the little pity party that I've been doing on and off the last few days. That started with a little bout of unhealthy behaviour, I very quickly become an emotional mess when I stop taking care of myself physically, I'm middle-aged now, you'd think I'd learn.

I'll put that on this week's plan 😃

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happy Lemming]

I pulled out my kitchen sink and moved the fridge to the dining room, so I could have access to the second half of my kitchen countertop.  First half has been sealed, buffed and is in service.

I found some rot under the sink lip, so I'll have to repair that; before I install the durock cement board. After that, I can begin to set tile.

I was able to "jury rig" the plumbing so I can still use the dishwasher.  Now I have to figure out a place to pre-rinse the dishes prior to loading them.  Maybe on the back porch with a hose??

[Ruby Slippers]

I've been dealing with a minor health issue lately. It's improving now, but I don't want to get out in the heat and do my normal jogging/walking until I'm back at 100%, so I've been feeling pretty limited stuck in the house.

With all the fresh juice I've been drinking lately, I feel like I can see my whole body shrinking. I have a feeling that in addition to purging fat, I'm also reducing inflammation and this is gonna be really good for me. I'm getting better with my blends and today's green juice is very tasty. 

[amaysngrace]

Today?  Taxes 🤮