Something About Nothing............ #14

[schumigirl]

Quick Thursday morning stop in

There is not a big pile of papers to shuffle today - even though it's month end tomorrow. I will make sure I am ahead of the game for tomorrow incase we decide last minute to head to the city to visit the kids. We were video chatting with dd and gd last night. She wants Poppa and Grannie to come visit.
Didn't make it to the gym last night. Between video chatting, a couple of phone calls to family, and I seen a couple of jobs to apply to it was an at home night last night. I did get some muffins made. I love them in the mornings with my tea at work.


Those sound like a great mix of classes. It will be worth it in the end.

Yay for working appliances!!!! I'm definitely one for convenience with appliances. I hope to upgrade our fridge soon. We were going to do it in 2020, but then...the vid happened. Once we started looking again, not much available and long wait time for delivery. So we will hang tight yet for a bit.

I/We were shocked at the prices of car rentals. We had locked ours in early...and the price never went down - only up! I am hoping to book some flights if we are going to do another holiday - as those are NOT going to get cheaper either. I think dh is waiting until we file our taxes to see what our return will be this year before we make any plans.

It's funny you talk about the Northern Lights, we were are set to have a spectacular show for the next 2 nights. Then that will probably be the last of them in our area until Fall. I'll see if I can see them or find a post that someone else posts in the coming days. We get some spectacular shows here. Many people think you have to go farther north...nope...we have great shows where we are based on our weather patterns due to the mountains close to us.

Well, I should finish shuffling these morning papers. I seem to have shiny squirrel syndrome today. Can't focus on much.

Have a great day everyone!

Yes, we can see them from here too. Moreso when we lived further North, but we can occasionally see that green visage, especially looking out to sea from here.

In Scotland they are much clearer and some photographers get some spectacular images. We did see the next couple of nights there is a chance to see them, but looking rather cloudy right now, so I doubt we will, we`ll have a look though.

Good luck with jobs you`re applying for.......

Car rental is obscene right now. I know we paid far more than we should have and for what would be considered sensible for our Christmas trip, but May shocked us even more.....we justify by saying it is for 23 nights!! Doesn`t help though......lol.......hope you find something you`d be happy to pay.





Dinner over for another night........I think I added to much honey to the sauce, so kept adjusting with the mustard.....then made it slightly too hot as I used English mustard instead of the sweeter Dijon, still nice though.

Weird looking outside tonight, sun still shining a little but dark clouds are looming around us so not expecting to see the Northern Lights tonight again.....shame as it can be quite amazing.

I am not going to get through our book group choice this month......Finnegans Wake is just the dreariest option anyone has ever chosen....ever!! I`ll give it a bash though.

Time for a pot of tea........

 

[soniam]

That is such a lovely period. our first year of not being at the world after thanksgiving day proper at home. Last year still ‘gold’ with our APs so able to enjoy parks, this year it’s black out for all but top undiscounted one. Bouncing forward to first full week of December & had a few moments of panic securing it. Had to settle for standard studio at AK as both value & savanna were walked.

Not going to complain too much there as so many are clamoring to even buy an AP at WDW. It’s ridiculous, take my money please Sort of thing.

We totally lucked out on APs. I had a voucher in 2020 so that we could get a discount on the Wild Africa Trek in July. Well, the tour didn't happen. DH and DS had tickets for July. In summer 2020, I wanted to book park reservations for Thanksgiving 2020, but I couldn't buy tickets for DH and DS. They had stopped selling them. I still had my AP voucher. I wondered if they were still selling APs though, and they were. I bought APs for them in the morning about 10am. By 11am, they had stopped selling APs. We just got under the wire. We have always purchased the Platinum, now incredipass, APs, because we tend to go during the blackout times/when school is out.

I had friends that moved to Orlando in February 2021. One was a CM, so she had her maingate pass. The other 2 had let the APs expire and couldn't buy new ones for a while. They were very unhappy. They had to buy tickets and hope to glom onto someone else's maingate pass guest tickets. They scooped them up the minute they went on sale.

We were actually picking DH and DS AP renewals at the Disney Springs ticket center on the day that they stopped selling everything but the pixie pass. I had to explain to the CM that they were already paid for and we just needed to redeem the vouchers. Several other guests were asking why we were able to get APs when they couldn't.

I took photography classes ages ago before digital was really common. I have never done photoshop though. I would like to learn it.
I took Spanish in high school, but have forgotten most of it.

I took photography in high school, where we actually got to develop our own film and make prints of the negatives. It was really cool. So I too was an old school photographer. We have had digital cameras for a while, and I have used them. However, I haven't really spent the time/effort to get really creative with it. Mostly just snapshots and vacation photos before.

I know everyone wants the walking distance resorts, but I can still pull SSR for last 2 weeks in August, 1st 3 weeks in September (1 bedroom). Kinda surprised finding anything actually. The boy wants to go back to Disney for his graduation trip in 2024 so hope to be able to find on property via our (CHEAP) TS trading in Interval international.

I actually look forward to staying at SSR and OKW at some point. I figure if I can't get what I want at my home resort, I can try for one of these.

Last night I made beef stroganoff for dinner. I had it over zoodles. Family enjoyed it! Husband has enough leftover beef for his dinner tonight. He can have it over pasta

I have also had it over cauliflower rice. We have a rice cooker, so I whip up some real rice for DH. I need to do some zoodles again. I tried making cacio e pepe with them, but it didn't turn out right. I think I was using shredded parmesan instead of grated. Plus, romano works better in that dish than parmesan.

 

[Charade67]

I have no idea what is going on with our weather. The forecast says thunderstorms, but it is sunny and windy out right now.

I read your graduating date as 23rd of May.....thought to myself, that`s quick!! Sounds like you`re getting there with your plans.

That would be nice, but no. It looks like the actually graduation date is May 13, 2023.

The boy wants to go back to Disney for his graduation trip in 2024 so hope to be able to find on property via our (CHEAP) TS trading in Interval international.

We are planning to go back to Disneyland for B's (and hopefully mine too) graduation.

There is not a big pile of papers to shuffle today - even though it's month end tomorrow. I will make sure I am ahead of the game for tomorrow incase we decide last minute to head to the city to visit the kids. We were video chatting with dd and gd last night. She wants Poppa and Grannie to come visit.

Aww...I think you should go.

Charade sure wish I knew you when I was trying to navigate thru the US medical system for my mom! Was a nightmare for me!

It can be very maddening, especially when dealing with elder care and Medicaid/Medicare.

I took photography in high school, where we actually got to develop our own film and make prints of the negatives. It was really cool. So I too was an old school photographer. We have had digital cameras for a while, and I have used them. However, I haven't really spent the time/effort to get really creative with it. Mostly just snapshots and vacation photos before.

I think I still have my non digital SLR around here somewhere.

 

[soniam]

I think I still have my non digital SLR around here somewhere.

Me too. It's an old Nikon FE.

 

[Charade67]

Me too. It's an old Nikon FE.

Mine's a Canon.

 

[Lynne G]

Well, I guess we got your rain, Charade. Two very loud, yellow weather radar blobs went by us about 10 minutes apart. Phone buzzed about 1/2 hour ago, storm warnings to expire 1/2 hour from now. I’ll be asleep.

Sweet dreams homies. Smile as you get up. Friday feeling to occur soon enough. Yay!

 

[schumigirl]

Well it is Friday and had changed my sleep schedule changed the past days/ nights as Mr Mac was out of town on a bike trip with a group of 22 other people

It’s after one now and a new day
I do not sleep well at all when he is out of tour
I would go to bed to sleep
Early morning when the sun would come up as I stayed awake

And he`ll be back soon if my brain is working correctly.....hope he enjoyed the trip away.




Well, nowhere near as bad as yesterday with the weather. One set of hailstones not so long ago woke me up and now it just looks wet. And cold. So, another day at home for us I think......we can fill a day or 10 nicely at home just the two of us.

Tom is popping out to the fresh fish store to pick up something for dinner, he`ll decide when he sees what`s on offer, I don`t mind as I love all fish. Lunch is turkey, brie and cranberry grilled sandwiches.

Going to attempt this darn book again today too.......got to be the worst book ever......actually, no, the worst book(s) I ever read were the 50 Shades of Grey books....they were so badly written it could have been a 12 year old, apart from the adult content of course......worst written books I`ve ever read. But, everyone was talking about them so I read them. Never again, handed them straight to the charity store.

Time for a pot of tea and breakfast later.........

And with it being April........I can say........we go to Orlando next month.........wooohooo......

 

[Lynne G]

Oh Mac, I’m sorry you don’t do well with sleep when Mr. Mac not home. I guess I never change my sleep times, when DH not home. With his work having him away for a year or more at a time, for most of my married life, we are a well oiled regular schedule family with or without him at home. Though as I’m older now, I do seem to find a nap in there every so often, if I don’t get a good night’s sleep.

Hehe, didn’t see little one’s text until the wee hour I got up, and saw she had texted you should have seen that lightning outside. Yeah, text was dated 10:36pm. Yep, missed it. Was sound asleep as soon as I hit the pillow. Felt like a really long day for me, yesterday.

No fooling, it’s a new month, and a Friday. Double woot, woot! And while a routine week day for me, it is my shorter work one, and have to do some banking, so glad to be done a little earlier. Banks are generally open the longest today, but like me, a pay day, so if I can get there earlier then I could the past 4 days, I should not see as many waiting to be served.

Ooh, was so warm yesterday, went to the local burger place that is known for its shakes, and little one and I had those and fries for dinner. Ordered a small fries. Was served a large plate of them. No matter, there was not much left when we decided we were done, and rolled out of there. Came home around later in the dinner time, as wanted to wait out the evening traffic. But instead of taking the main road that burger place is on, took this very beat up local highway detour on our way home, as after a Target run request, we figured. the big highway it’s on, would make coming home quick. And it was. Though why on a two lane highway, the car in the left lane has to go to same speed as the right car, with the right lane car to be what is the slower lane? Annoying such cars, including that the one we saw last night that made us, and at least five other cars, pass that slower left lane car, when gap in slower right line cars.

And so, it’s time for more tea. Back to routine in my early hour. I much rather start work early. I have been an early riser for as long as I can remember. Good thing is, my DH is the same way. When the kids have flown the nest, the house will still be buzzing in the early hours.

Thus, ending with that most fabulous Friday homies! Welcome to the day we can begin that wahoo! Weekend coming up. And a nicer weather one for us. As, still raining and oh so foggy this morning, and still warm. 51 degrees. Yay! Rain should be out of here soon enough, though early news gave wind gust warnings for the afternoon. Guess a bad hair day alert. And you will see shorts on little one if she comes to the bank with me. 63 the high. With that weather high temp, you will certainly see not only little one in shorts, but many others too. Though I may be in lightweight pants. No jacket though. And hair tied back. And just maybe my sunglasses too, as even with those gusty winds, partly sunny day will start around the lunch hour. Yay! Lunchtime walk, no jacket and sunglasses? Yay!

 

[schumigirl]

Hailstones still on and off all day, still absolutely freezing out there and light snow falling right now, but it won`t lay.

Organised all my clothes in drawers and wardrobes, shelves as well......like to give them a good tidy or sort out regularly. Cleared out some more for the charity store and found some weird and wonderful things I have no memory of buying!

Baked some cakes for the church bake sale tomorrow, some for us too of course, Tom will drop them off tonight for me. Then gave my hair a monthly deep condition and one of my friends has found a woman who has started doing mobile waxing...been looking for someone for a while as my own lady stopped doing it during lockdown, heard she`s good so gave her a call, will give her a try.

Been a quick day though considering......

Sea Bass fillets for dinner tonight, doing a champagne sauce with scallops on the side, I`ll use prosecco, it`s fine for the sauce, and a load of veg....top notch!! Just had a slice of coconut cake with a pot of tea, will keep us going till dinner later......

 

[Pumpkin1172]

TGIF!!! Wow...I'm doing a little happy dance!!! It feels like this week was really long for some reason.

Woke up with a horrible headache and stuffy nose. Must be allergies - took a " vid test" and it was negative. The street sweepers were cleaning the street behind our house (where our bedroom window faces) and I did have my windows open. Probably what it was. I guess the city is optimistic that spring is coming. They are out in full force - cleaning off boulevards and grassy sides, sweeping all the sand and dirt that is dumped on our roads then bladed to the sides or taken away. It was weird to see them working on the street, then seeing big melting/rotting snowbanks from parking lots while they are doing that lol. Whatever is left of the snoowbanks - is either brown from dirt/sand or the snow fungas that is my nemesis right now. Darn allergies.

And Timmy's got my order wrong today...gave me a coffee instead of tea...so my whole morning feels off. Sigh. Oh well. Only half a day today as we are heading to the city to see the kids this weekend.

Aww...I think you should go.

She did another videochat last night and asked Pappa to come visit lol. She knows Pappa can't say no to her lol. Little stinker.

the worst book(s) I ever read were the 50 Shades of Grey books....they were so badly written it could have been a 12 year old, apart from the adult content of course......worst written books I`ve ever read. But, everyone was talking about them so I read them. Never again, handed them straight to the charity store.

Yes...those and the Twilight series. I know that the Twilight series was geared for teenagers...but still - they were horrible.

Ooh, was so warm yesterday, went to the local burger place that is known for its shakes, and little one and I had those and fries for dinner. Ordered a small fries. Was served a large plate of them. No matter, there was not much left when we decided we were done, and rolled out of there. Came home around later in the dinner time, as wanted to wait out the evening traffic

You had me drooling at Burger place lol. We would rather frequent those local gems than a bigger box name restaurant.

Sea Bass fillets for dinner tonight, doing a champagne sauce with scallops on the side, I`ll use prosecco, it`s fine for the sauce, and a load of veg....top notch!! Just had a slice of coconut cake with a pot of tea, will keep us going till dinner later......

And now between you and @Lynne G I have a Hommer Simpson drool pool to clean up on my desk lol. YUMMY!!!!

Well, I should start shuffling some papers.

Have a great day!

 

[Sue M]

Lynne So lucky, I take earliest flight and can’t arrive before 5pm. So sometimes I take the red eye to salvage first day and get in at 6:00am.

Schumi I haven’t been able to see the Aurora so disappointed. It’s unusual to be able to see them this far south but they were further south this time. Just not my area I guess.

Soniam I’ve never heard of that dish. What is it? I like cauliflower rice too! Finding alternatives to lots of things since diabetes.

Pumpkin we’re you able to see the Lights? They were saying we had a chance but nope! Very unusual for us to be able to see them.
Good luck with rentals yuck. I never rent when I’m in Orlando staying on-site. Just Uber if I want to go somewhere.

Charade the US medical system was a mystery to me trying to navigate thru. Mom had Medicare thru an insurance company. It was crazy as I don’t understand the system.

Happy April fools day! Last night my daughters took me to Allegria, Cirque du Soleil show. It was amazing. We went to a Korean BBQ place before show. That was fun. Last time I was at one was in California.

Can’t have too many sunny days lol. Today cloudy. And going to tax accountant this morning .

Going out to dinner tonight with some neighbourhood friends for a birthday dinner!
Hope everyone has a fun day today!

 

[Lynne G]

Oh no, Pumpkin, sending you well wishes and good thoughts your headache and stuffy nose go away, and feel better soon. Yay for city travel to see the kids this weekend. Ah, Timmy’s must have been in that April fools day too literally. Ooops. Hope the coffee was good tasting though.

Little one’s request? Pasta and salad for lunch. Easy. Have some penne that won’t take long. Bag of romaine, and lunch we will have. With that wind chill, jacket was grabbed as soon as I stepped out. Went right back in to get it. That wind feels cold. And was all over the bees this morning, tornado touched down not much North of us. Down wires and trees, and some damage to buildings. We just got a trash can to pick up this morning.

Sue, yeah, one nice thing about being on the same coast as FLA. Yay for birthday dinner out tonight.

 

[schumigirl]

TGIF!!! Wow...I'm doing a little happy dance!!! It feels like this week was really long for some reason.

Woke up with a horrible headache and stuffy nose. Must be allergies - took a " vid test" and it was negative. The street sweepers were cleaning the street behind our house (where our bedroom window faces) and I did have my windows open. Probably what it was. I guess the city is optimistic that spring is coming. They are out in full force - cleaning off boulevards and grassy sides, sweeping all the sand and dirt that is dumped on our roads then bladed to the sides or taken away. It was weird to see them working on the street, then seeing big melting/rotting snowbanks from parking lots while they are doing that lol. Whatever is left of the snoowbanks - is either brown from dirt/sand or the snow fungas that is my nemesis right now. Darn allergies.

And Timmy's got my order wrong today...gave me a coffee instead of tea...so my whole morning feels off. Sigh. Oh well. Only half a day today as we are heading to the city to see the kids this weekend.


She did another videochat last night and asked Pappa to come visit lol. She knows Pappa can't say no to her lol. Little stinker.

Yes...those and the Twilight series. I know that the Twilight series was geared for teenagers...but still - they were horrible.

You had me drooling at Burger place lol. We would rather frequent those local gems than a bigger box name restaurant.

And now between you and @Lynne G I have a Hommer Simpson drool pool to clean up on my desk lol. YUMMY!!!!

Well, I should start shuffling some papers.

Have a great day!

Hope you feel better soon....pollen is high over here right now.....I`m not too bad but it is affecting me in the evenings right now. But sounds not much fun with that for you.

Yes, get a nice little trip sorted to see the grandbaby......

I`m not a fan of take out/sit in burger places......so that wouldn`t appeal to me at all, much prefer a nicer place if I`m going out for lunch. But, you`d love the sea bass.....I`m looking at it right now and it`s looking good even though it`s not cooked yet.

You have a great day too pumpkin.....

Schumi I haven’t been able to see the Aurora so disappointed. It’s unusual to be able to see them this far south but they were further south this time. Just not my area I guess.

Going out to dinner tonight with some neighbourhood friends for a birthday dinner!
Hope everyone has a fun day today!

No sightings for us either....far too cloudy.

Have fun tonight, have a good day too.




Prosecco open for the sauce.........soooooo........having a teeny tiny glass each now, well can`t waste it as I don`t use that much in the sauce.....

Missing the little clinking glasses icon.........

 

[schumigirl]

I think sea bass might just be my favourite fish.

Seriously struggling with getting into this darn book.....Finnegans Wake is aptly named. Chaucer`s The Canterbury Tales was so much easier than this!

And sun is shining, finally above freezing.......not much better tomorrow though.....

 

[soniam]

Soniam I’ve never heard of that dish. What is it? I like cauliflower rice too! Finding alternatives to lots of things since diabetes.

It's an Italian pasta dish. It means cheese and pepper (black) in Italian. It's pretty simple, but it's definitely not low fat. Here's a recipe. Be sure the cheese is grated (fine), not shredded. You can substitute zoodles for noodles. The wetness of the zoodles might prevent it from being as creamy as it would be with pasta.

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cacio-e-pepe

 

[soniam]

I think sea bass might just be my favourite fish.

Seriously struggling with getting into this darn book.....Finnegans Wake is aptly named. Chaucer`s The Canterbury Tales was so much easier than this!

And sun is shining, finally above freezing.......not much better tomorrow though.....

Love the Randy Vicker Argh! Still no emojis

NM: HTML picked them up.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

The Banff National Park posted this ok their FB page. The elusive "Belk" was spotted recently

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Pumpkin we’re you able to see the Lights? They were saying we had a chance but nope! Very unusual for us to be able to see them.
Good luck with rentals yuc

They were just coming.out as I went to bed. This is NOT my picture, but a local photographer. Hoping to maybe see them again tonight

 

[Charade67]

Good evening everyone. I don't know where my day went. I really didn't do much. This morning I paid bills then got a much needed hair cut. I asked my stylist what he thought of me going honey blonde. He actually thought I could pull it off and started to explain the process to me. I reminded him that today was April Fool's Day. I'm happy with keeping what used to be my natural hair color.

I got the financial stuff completed for fall semester for B. Now I just have to wait until my dependent aid gets posted and then I can do the same for me for Summer. Dh asked me if I was going to decorate my mortarboard for graduation. I said that I had no idea what I would put on it, so he suggested a sloth with a diploma. I found a couple of places on Etsy that will do custom work, so I am thinking of the sloth with a diploma and something like "It's never to late to graduate."

Going to attempt this darn book again today too.......got to be the worst book ever......actually, no, the worst book(s) I ever read were the 50 Shades of Grey books....they were so badly written it could have been a 12 year old, apart from the adult content of course......worst written books I`ve ever read. But, everyone was talking about them so I read them. Never again, handed them straight to the charity store.

You were brave. I couldn't bring myself to read those. I have a couple of friends who were really into them though.

Woke up with a horrible headache and stuffy nose. Must be allergies - took a " vid test" and it was negative. The street sweepers were cleaning the street behind our house (where our bedroom window faces) and I did have my windows open. Probably what it was. I guess the city is optimistic that spring is coming. They are out in full force - cleaning off boulevards and grassy sides, sweeping all the sand and dirt that is dumped on our roads then bladed to the sides or taken away. It was weird to see them working on the street, then seeing big melting/rotting snowbanks from parking lots while they are doing that lol. Whatever is left of the snoowbanks - is either brown from dirt/sand or the snow fungas that is my nemesis right now. Darn allergies.

Hope it is just allergies and you are feeling better soon. I am dreading spring allergies.

Yes...those and the Twilight series. I know that the Twilight series was geared for teenagers...but still - they were horrible.

I avoided those as well. There were times that I felt like I was the only one not reading them.

Charade the US medical system was a mystery to me trying to navigate thru. Mom had Medicare thru an insurance company. It was crazy as I don’t understand the system.

Sounds like a Medicare Advantage plan. I don't thoroughly understand anything about Medicare. We don't deal with it much at my office, but the little I have to do is such a pain.

tornado touched down not much North of us. Down wires and trees, and some damage to buildings. We just got a trash can to pick up this morning.

Yikes! Glad you didn't get any damage.

The Banff National Park posted this ok their FB page. The elusive "Belk" was spotted recently

This is the only Belk I am familiar with.

Our local parks and rec department tried to convince us that the local off leash dog park would start allowing cats. A few people fell for it.

They were just coming.out as I went to bed. This is NOT my picture, but a local photographer. Hoping to maybe see them again tonight

Gorgeous. I would love to see them in person but too much of a wimp to deal with the cold.


I don't know who here is a member of the pass holder Facebook page, but some of the members are creating memes with this sign. I guess they are doing maintenance on it right now and the sign is blank.

Here are some of my favorites so far.

 

[macraven]

Is anyone having glitches posting tonight?
Not sure why my posts are merging with other peeps

Trying again as I think I have finally solved it