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iris lilies
11-13-25, 10:22am
We were a little more impulsive next door at Elmendorf AFB. We had been dating for most of the year and on Friday, 11/5/76, knowing that my 4 year enlistment would be up in just a few months and wondering what would become of us afterward, I proposed. Surprisingly she agreed and we were married the following Friday, 11/12/76. Our reception involved drinks for 4 at the Holiday Inn at 4th & C Streets in Anchorage and our honeymoon involved a weekend stay in that same hotel. We don't even have wedding pictures, but boy do we have memories. >8)
Our memories of our equally simple wedding are sketchy, not because we were drunk but because it was just not a big deal.
As we were driving through Iowa not too long ago I asked DH hey, where did we get married (to test his memory.) He gave a wrong answer. I asked him who was the best man? He gave a wrong answer.
I think it is funny but I suppose some wives would be insulted.
So far I have made $1,588.00 dismantling my studio and selling my metalsmithing stuff! I am down to the barebones now and have finally posted the remaining items on Facebook Marketplace.
So far I have made $1,588.00 dismantling my studio and selling my metalsmithing stuff! I am down to the barebones now and have finally posted the remaining items on Facebook Marketplace.
That’s great to hear!
rosarugosa
11-25-25, 7:57am
Nice, sounds like you've done a good job finding the right people to appreciate your equipment and its value.
happystuff
11-25-25, 10:18am
Congrats, SiouzQ. I imagine it must be hard letting go, but great that you are getting some money from it.
iris lilies
11-25-25, 12:13pm
Well la dee dah, my blood is doing important work! I just got a notice from the Red Cross that my blood was sent to Johns Hopkins University hospitals. I guess my blood is good enough for the upper echelon of American medicine so yay me!
ha.
We had a very informal Thanksgiving since it was just the four of us. No dressing up and a buffet style dinner meaning I just lined up the food along the countertop in the pot/pan the item was cooked in. Put some plates at the beginning and you just walked down the line and filled up your plate. Without prompting, as my oldest was going down the line for seconds, he would take the pot/pan if it was now empty and rinsed it off in the sink and put it in the dishwasher. That small gesture made clean up for me so much easier and quicker.
iris lilies
12-9-25, 10:12pm
We had the nicest garden club luncheon today, my third garden club luncheon in six days.
This one was the classiest of the three. It took place in a beautifully restored Victorian Hall, and was hosted by the local gentry who owns major real estate and wineries. The matriarch of that family is a member of our garden club. They even comped everyone for their alcoholic drinks,
I have worked at my current job for 31 years (as of 1/1/26). It's a Police Department where for 23 years, I worked in the Warrant Unit and the last 8 in the Property & Evidence Section. About 28 years ago, I moved and my 15 minute commute became an hour and 20 minute commute. Now that I have my pension, I started looking for jobs closer to home but still in some sort of law enforcement type agency (Police, Sheriff's, Courts). Gone on a few interviews but nothing too meaningful. I am hoping my luck has changed because a few weeks ago, I applied for a job at our local Sheriff's Office working in their Warrant Unit. Today, I applied for jobs in the Sheriff's Office in the next county over in their Warrant Unit and also their Property & Evidence Section. These are all things I've been doing the last 31 years so I am really hopeful one of these will pan out and my commute can go back down to somewhere between 20-30 minutes. Bonus if I don't have to wake up at 2am anymore to get to work by 4:30am. Fingers and toes are all crossed!!
happystuff
12-26-25, 10:03am
Good luck, Klunick! Hope the new year brings you a new job!!!
rosarugosa
12-26-25, 12:08pm
Good luck!
That's really promising and I hope one of these new jobs comes through for you!
Good luck, Klunick!
I'm enjoying some badly needed time off from work. Christmas Eve was my first day off and I go back the 5th.
iris lilies
12-28-25, 12:46pm
We may be going to China in July. I mean, it looks likely at this point.
DH’s nephew has been teaching there for several years and he’s marrying a Chinese girl. will go for their wedding.
Good God, Commieland? Watch out with whatever electronics you take.
iris lilies
12-28-25, 7:13pm
Good God, Commieland? Watch out with whatever electronics you take.
what are they going to do with my electronics? Install listening devices?
I’m sure our relatives will have words of wisdom about traveling there. His parents have been there a couple of times and his father used to do business there also
early morning
12-28-25, 7:44pm
My SIL is from China, and she and my DBIL travel there fairly frequently, to visit and for business. SIL also spent a year with one of her mysteriously chronically ill children there, seeing if Eastern medications could do what Western could not. (upshot - while the treatments were only a little more effective than what they encountered here, they did get an immediate diagnosis - which, when they returned to the states, enabled them to get more effective treatment. So a win for the kiddo!) No electronic issues to date.
happystuff
12-29-25, 9:08am
What a great trip! I hope you end up going.
happystuff
1-1-26, 11:06am
Combo rant and rave :
Rant - it apparently snowed at some point last night!
Rave - as cold as it is and since accumulation was about an inch or so, the leaf blower is taking care of things nicely! (waiting for batteries to recharge to finish up. lol)
early morning
1-1-26, 1:27pm
I gotta say, if there's less than 3-4 inches, it would not occur to me to do any snow removal other than maybe swishing a path with my broom. Especially if it's over ice - more traction than smooth ice. And we seldom have snow stick around for too long. But I'm glad the leaf-blower worked for you! My SIL uses hers for all sorts of outdoor cleanups, including snow on the porches.
edit to add: there are no sidewalks here, which would no doubt change my lackadaisical attitude to snow removal.
Our snow is usually too wet to blow. We just all shovel our walks.
After taking down all the Christmas decor and dragging the tree into the woods, I got out my Winter decor. Seemed like barely any and I worried I had decluttered too much in my big seasonal decor declutter last July. But after having more decor out for Christmas, it feels really calming to have minimal decor out for Winter and what I had kept seems perfect.
Klunick, Isn't that great to realize that what you've done creates calm?
Klunick, Isn't that great to realize that what you've done creates calm?
Absolutely!! Seasonal decor was a hard thing to declutter for me but once I started, it got more easier to determine what I loved and what was just clutter.
Klunick: What is your seasonal winter, non-xmas decor? I'm wondering what that would consist of. Just curious. :)
At our house, I've put away the holiday decor, but will keep using the fairy lights, lanterns, and LED candles until the evenings are much lighter. I do have one little gnome guy that I decided could stick around awhile since he seemed more winter than holiday.
6680
Wish I could upload my picture of my gnome and lights but it's not working.
Found a "smoking gun" document in my search to get Italian citizenship for my dil and my granddaughters.
Wish I could upload my picture of my gnome and lights but it's not working.
Found a "smoking gun" document in my search to get Italian citizenship for my dil and my granddaughters.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
I have been researching and found an extremely important document that proves citizenship so she can file the court case.
I have been researching and found an extremely important document that proves citizenship so she can file the court case.
Awesome! Wish I could find a way to leave. The writing is on the wall on what this country will be shortly.
Congrats. Hope it works out as desired!
iris lilies
1-9-26, 9:33am
I have been researching and found an extremely important document that proves citizenship so she can file the court case.that is cool!
have they been to Italy?
Came back to work after nearly two weeks off to a ton of BS. Been there nearly five years. It was so bad that I checked the website of a good big broker on Wednesday evening. They had just posted a broker position, fully remote, no less (rare as hen’s teeth for my industry). I applied, not expecting much since they get tons of applications. I was shocked that I was contacted today and scheduled a pre-screen for next Wednesday. I refused to use AI. I have a distinctive writing voice and wanted to use it. Yes, I even included “I geek out on brokerage” in my cover letter. :D
Cool, Tradd! I hope the pre-screen goes well! And great that you were authentically "you" in your cover letter without resorting to AI. Good luck!
happystuff
1-10-26, 9:03am
Good luck, tradd!!
early morning
1-10-26, 1:34pm
fingers crossed, Tradd! And for everyone else job hunting!
I'm so tired of being the only source for customs related information at my company. I want to work elsewhere with more people for resources.
Tradd, What good news to think about! Good luck!!!
iris lilies
1-12-26, 6:47pm
File this under cheap purchases that make me unreasonably happy:
Hair bands you can wear as bracelets!
I always wear an elastic band on my wrist to pull back my hair when it’s getting in my way. So now there are inexpensive, thin, elastic bands with plastic beads on them to wear around your wrist and it looks purposeful, like you intend them as bracelets. They are sold as hair bands/bracelets. Brilliant!
6696
Husband's A-fib appears to finally be gone for good! He has gone through a couple procedures that only got rid of it for about a week or so. Last Summer, we drove to Washington DC to have what my husband called "the last straw" surgery. He was getting tired of having procedures done with no results. Surgeon basically burned the three common areas in the heart that causes A-fib. We were there all day and then had to drive the two hours back home (of course during rush hour traffic). He has been going back to the surgeon whose office is about an hour away every few months and been told that there is no A-fib. Husband went yesterday and still no A-fib and he didn't need to see the surgeon any longer. He is hoping that a once a year visit to the cardiologist (unless husband suspects something is wrong again) is all that is necessary now. Yay!!
iris lilies
1-13-26, 11:26am
Klunick this is such good news! Health improvements as ee get older are wonderful.
happystuff
1-13-26, 5:26pm
Wonderful, Klunick! Congrats to your dh.
Pre-screen interview (video call) at 730 am central tomorrow. Fingers crossed, please!
rosarugosa
1-14-26, 7:25am
IL: That's a really clever idea, although my hair isn't quite long enough to tie back.
Klunick: Great news about your DH!
Tradd: Fingers crossed for you!
iris lilies
1-14-26, 9:10am
Pre-screen interview (video call) at 730 am central tomorrow. Fingers crossed, please!
Yes, I hope it goes well.
happystuff
1-14-26, 9:45am
Pre-screen interview (video call) at 730 am central tomorrow. Fingers crossed, please!
Fingers are crossed!!!
Well, that was a bust. The salary was $30K less than I currently make. There's no way that would work for me. I was making that back in 2020! Plus I have to save for retirement. I think they must count on being fully remote making up for the low salary. It also wasn't for a newbie. They wanted someone with 5+ years experience working for a customs broker.
Well, that was a bust. The salary was $30K less than I currently make. There's no way that would work for me. I was making that back in 2020! Plus I have to save for retirement. I think they must count on being fully remote making up for the low salary. It also wasn't for a newbie. They wanted someone with 5+ years experience working for a customs broker.
Sorry it didn't work out for you Tradd. I too am looking to change career (more so change locations closer to home). Been looking for about a year and have gone on a few interviews but nothing has come together for me. Hoping we can both find something real soon!!
happystuff
1-16-26, 8:46am
Wishing you both the best of luck on the job searches!
iris lilies
1-18-26, 12:56pm
I want to give a shout out in the universe to the tiny cat rescue group in my town called “Ferals In Peril.” I’m blown away by the work they’ve been doing. Just in the last several months, they have opened an adoption center which is called The Cat Cafe where anyone can go in for a small fee and hang out with some cats and have some coffee.
They recently did a program at the public library for kids about cat care.
They have been operating for several years.
They are now expanding their trap, neuter, and release program throughout our county…
This is a wonderful example of what a small and dedicated group of people can do, and that’s why I urge everyone to get familiar with a couple of the nonprofit groups in your community and give your money to them. The big national groups may or may not be any good, I don’t know, but some of these tiny ones are just amazing.
https://www.facebook.com/feralsinperilinchermannmo.org?
Same for our Bulldog Rescue group which has been going for nearly 15 years now. I’m on the board. I know how the money is spent. The idea of anyone making any money from this operation is laughable. And like many organizations, I fear for its longevity when the current director decides to step down.
I don’t mean this exclusively for animal welfare organizations, I mean it for any small organization in your local community. Local support is very important, and don’t funnel your money through United Way, just give directly.
early morning
1-19-26, 11:55am
Local support is very important, and don’t funnel your money through United Way, just give directly. yes! Having documented local support is often key to receiving grants also, both at the local and state/national levels. I volunteer at a local historical/educational museum. We are almost totally donation/grant funded. We do sell merch in our gift shop, but much of what we sell is also donated, or purchased by supporters for our resale. We have several (grossly under-)paid employees, and are partially volunteer-staffed. I do think having some paid staff leads to stronger continuity of the organization, especially when a large number of people leave/time out from the BOD. I get your bulldog rescue concerns!
And don't get me started on United Way - I will never be a supporter, due in part to their ham-fisted efforts to convince businesses to force their employees to donate by waving that 100% participation "accomplishment award" around. Where I used to work, we had to sign a United Way pledge form even if we weren't donating, that specified NO contribution. I always refused to sign. Years later, I found out the secretary, under pressure, signed my name to those forms. I was livid.
rosarugosa
1-20-26, 7:46am
yes! Having documented local support is often key to receiving grants also, both at the local and state/national levels. I volunteer at a local historical/educational museum. We are almost totally donation/grant funded. We do sell merch in our gift shop, but much of what we sell is also donated, or purchased by supporters for our resale. We have several (grossly under-)paid employees, and are partially volunteer-staffed. I do think having some paid staff leads to stronger continuity of the organization, especially when a large number of people leave/time out from the BOD. I get your bulldog rescue concerns!
And don't get me started on United Way - I will never be a supporter, due in part to their ham-fisted efforts to convince businesses to force their employees to donate by waving that 100% participation "accomplishment award" around. Where I used to work, we had to sign a United Way pledge form even if we weren't donating, that specified NO contribution. I always refused to sign. Years later, I found out the secretary, under pressure, signed my name to those forms. I was livid.
We had that very same thing going on with the UW at my large employer (minus the form forgery, at least as far as I know). At some point there was finally a change in leadership that changed the corporate giving policy, and employees were given the choice to donate to their own preferred charities, with a generous company match. Employee donations went WAY up, what a surprise, lol.
I have worked at my current job for 31 years (as of 1/1/26). It's a Police Department where for 23 years, I worked in the Warrant Unit and the last 8 in the Property & Evidence Section. About 28 years ago, I moved and my 15 minute commute became an hour and 20 minute commute. Now that I have my pension, I started looking for jobs closer to home but still in some sort of law enforcement type agency (Police, Sheriff's, Courts). Gone on a few interviews but nothing too meaningful. I am hoping my luck has changed because a few weeks ago, I applied for a job at our local Sheriff's Office working in their Warrant Unit. Today, I applied for jobs in the Sheriff's Office in the next county over in their Warrant Unit and also their Property & Evidence Section. These are all things I've been doing the last 31 years so I am really hopeful one of these will pan out and my commute can go back down to somewhere between 20-30 minutes. Bonus if I don't have to wake up at 2am anymore to get to work by 4:30am. Fingers and toes are all crossed!!
Great news!! I got interviews scheduled for both the Warrants and Property jobs. One is on the 4th and the other is on the 6th. This is my best chance of finally getting a job closer to home.
rosarugosa
1-24-26, 7:55am
I hope one of them works out for you!
Thanks Tradd and Rosa!!
It hit me this morning just how much of a difference the huge decor declutter in July made. I had gotten up to feed the cats their breakfast. I saw something on the floor between the couch and coffee table. It was the table runner and wreath that goes on the table. Cats must have been chasing each other and slid across the runner and knocked everything off. When I was putting everything back, it hit me that the only things in the living room decorated are that table and the mantle. Years past, pretty much every flat surface in that room would have some sort of decor on it. The TV stand, the end table by the couches, the little table by the chair. No wonder the living room always looked so cluttered!!!
This is how it looks now.
happystuff
1-24-26, 9:12am
Fingers-crossed on the job prospects, Klunick! Hoping for positive outcomes for you.
That is gorgeous, so soothing and lovely.
rosarugosa
1-26-26, 7:56am
It looks really nice, welcoming and cozy.
happystuff
1-26-26, 9:06am
Cozy room! I like it!
Thanks everyone. We were going for a log cabin feel with real wood furniture and the warm colors.
iris lilies
1-29-26, 12:33pm
My cat got 1.7 thousand “likes” within 48 hours on a Facebook post. The image shows her sleeping.
She is very, very cute. At this point, she probably needs her own Instagram account.
Decided to decorate for Valentine's Day. Knew I didn't have a lot of decor so I figured it would go quick. Boy was I wrong. Got the mantle decorated and stepped back. Hated it. Tried again and still hated it. Something was wrong. Thought maybe I didn't have enough decor and maybe I had gotten rid of too much. Then it hit me. There was too much on the mantle. Spread it out between the living room and kitchen and that did the trick!! I literally just have a garland of hearts on the mantle now and it somehow looks better to me.
iris lilies
1-31-26, 12:13am
Decided to decorate for Valentine's Day. Knew I didn't have a lot of decor so I figured it would go quick. Boy was I wrong. Got the mantle decorated and stepped back. Hated it. Tried again and still hated it. Something was wrong. Thought maybe I didn't have enough decor and maybe I had gotten rid of too much. Then it hit me. There was too much on the mantle. Spread it out between the living room and kitchen and that did the trick!! I literally just have a garland of hearts on the mantle now and it somehow looks better to me.
I think it’s great that you are apparently developing an eye for less clutter.
I think it’s great that you are apparently developing an eye for less clutter.
Honestly, the way I had it at first was a lot less cluttered than in years past. I guess that is why I couldn't figure out why I still didn't like it. I only had 4 items on it. Never thought just having a strand of puffy hearts would make it better. Thought it would look too sparse. Even my husband didn't complain about the lack of decor on the mantle. He normally does if he thinks it looks too bare.
Looks like you've struck the right balance, Klunick! That's hard to do!
My rave is about Vermont's governor. It says a lot when you can be so popular that no one wants to run against you. It's especially amazing that Phil Scott is a Republican in a deeply blue, progressive leaning state. Bernie and Phil are about equally popular with the voters. Who says you can't bridge political divides?
https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/governor-approval-ratings
Great news!! I got interviews scheduled for both the Warrants and Property jobs. One is on the 4th and the other is on the 6th. This is my best chance of finally getting a job closer to home.
Both interviews are over. Did better on the Property one than Warrants mainly for two reasons. One, been 8 years since I worked in the Warrant Unit so procedures weren't readily on my mind. Second because the Warrant one posed more "philosophical " questions rather than about me and my qualifications. Hopefully I hear something soon. If offered both, I would pick Property over Warrants mostly because the diversity of tasks and communication with people rather than data entry of paperwork. Just happy the interviews are behind me and I can stop worrying about them and how I will do. Now I have to wait for a call.
Looks like you've struck the right balance, Klunick! That's hard to do!
My rave is about Vermont's governor. It says a lot when you can be so popular that no one wants to run against you. It's especially amazing that Phil Scott is a Republican in a deeply blue, progressive leaning state. Bernie and Phil are about equally popular with the voters. Who says you can't bridge political divides?
https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/governor-approval-ratings
Our Republican governor, Charlie Baker, was incredibly popular too. It is sad because although it was believed he could have won the popular vote if he sought higher office, it was also believed he could never make it through the primary process, since he was considered a "RINO" by so many in the GOP power structure. I was incredibly grateful for his leadership during the Covid crisis.
Both interviews are over. Did better on the Property one than Warrants mainly for two reasons. One, been 8 years since I worked in the Warrant Unit so procedures weren't readily on my mind. Second because the Warrant one posed more "philosophical " questions rather than about me and my qualifications. Hopefully I hear something soon. If offered both, I would pick Property over Warrants mostly because the diversity of tasks and communication with people rather than data entry of paperwork. Just happy the interviews are behind me and I can stop worrying about them and how I will do. Now I have to wait for a call.
Good luck! The waiting part isn't the easiest thing either.
Our Republican governor, Charlie Baker, was incredibly popular too. It is sad because although it was believed he could have won the popular vote if he sought higher office, it was also believed he could never make it through the primary process, since he was considered a "RINO" by so many in the GOP power structure. I was incredibly grateful for his leadership during the Covid crisis.
That's right! Massachusetts also had several Republican governors.
My cousin used to do an annual Christmas "Political Harmony" piece that was always fun. Here is the one she did with Charlie Baker, among others, in 2022.
https://www.nbcboston.com/video/on-air/as-seen-on/political-harmony-2022-sleigh-ride/2927948/
iris lilies
2-7-26, 10:45am
Looks like you've struck the right balance, Klunick! That's hard to do!
My rave is about Vermont's governor. It says a lot when you can be so popular that no one wants to run against you. It's especially amazing that Phil Scott is a Republican in a deeply blue, progressive leaning state. Bernie and Phil are about equally popular with the voters. Who says you can't bridge political divides?
https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/governor-approval-ratings
Catherine I think that is something to rave about. It’s very nice.
Good luck! The waiting part isn't the easiest thing either.
I don’t mind the waiting so much as the worry that I will get offered the job I don't want as much first. Will need to stall in hopes the one I do want more calls a day or two later. Not sure what to say to them make that happen.
That was cute, Catherine.
Klunick: If that happens, maybe say thanks and you will get back them, and then call your first choice and tell them if they want you, they need to make an offer NOW.
That was cute, Catherine.
Klunick: If that happens, maybe say thanks and you will get back them, and then call your first choice and tell them if they want you, they need to make an offer NOW.
The two are at the same place so I am hoping HR is the one who calls so I can ask them if I also got the other one. If they say they haven't decided, I will tell them I would like to wait a couple days and see what happens with the second one before I make a decision.
Good luck! The waiting part isn't the easiest thing either.
Ended up not having to wait very long. A week after my first interview, they called to say I got the job. Out of the two, it wasn't the one I was hoping for but it's ok. Just happy to finally have a job closer to home and leave the incompetent idiots I work with behind. Probably won't start until sometime next month because I have to go through a background check and put in my two weeks notice at current job.
rosarugosa
2-12-26, 6:53am
I'm so glad it went well for you!
Congratulations, Klunick!
happystuff
2-12-26, 8:42am
Congrats, Klunick! All the best in your new job!
iris lilies
2-12-26, 8:43am
Great news Klunick. Wishing you well.
I'm so glad it went well for you!
Congratulations, Klunick!
Congrats, Klunick! All the best in your new job!
Thanks everyone!! Trying not to get too excited because the last time I thought I was getting out of here, the bottom dropped and I ended up having to stay. Won't believe it's true until I can put in my notice and start preparing to leave. I qualify for my pension (been here 30+ years) but I don't want to reach out to them until I have a set date I will be leaving.
Great news Klunick. Wishing you well.
frugal-one
2-12-26, 10:42am
Happy for you, Klunick!
early morning
2-12-26, 2:58pm
Good to hear, Klunick! Best of luck with the new job!!!
Ended up not having to wait very long. A week after my first interview, they called to say I got the job. Out of the two, it wasn't the one I was hoping for but it's ok. Just happy to finally have a job closer to home and leave the incompetent idiots I work with behind. Probably won't start until sometime next month because I have to go through a background check and put in my two weeks notice at current job.
Congrats!
Good for you! Best wishes!
Happy for you, Klunick!
Good to hear, Klunick! Best of luck with the new job!!!
Congrats!
Good for you! Best wishes!
Thank you. It took about a year to finally find another job but because I wanted to stay within my field and those jobs are few and far between, I stayed patient. When I saw jobs for both the Warrant Unit and Property and Evidence, I knew this was my shot. I did Warrants for 23 years and Property and Evidence for the last 8 years. It was like the universe was finally taking pity on me and handing me my shot at finally getting a new position.
You’ll have to tell us the reaction of current employer once you give notice!
You’ll have to tell us the reaction of current employer once you give notice!
Boss knows but is new to the office so he really doesn't grasp how screwed he is when I leave. There is only 3 employees in the office. Me, a deaf girl who can't speak so never learned how to do anything related to the job, and a lady who doesn't speak English well enough to be taught how to do anything nor can communicate coherently.
Boss knows but is new to the office so he really doesn't grasp how screwed he is when I leave. There is only 3 employees in the office. Me, a deaf girl who can't speak so never learned how to do anything related to the job, and a lady who doesn't speak English well enough to be taught how to do anything nor can communicate coherently.
Wow. That’s a major cluster waiting to happen.
for husband's birthday bought him a Sangean radio on Bae's recommendation. He absolutely loves it, a great gift. We are particularly enjoying the sound quality and the local news and advertisements. May have to buy a second one for son.
Good luck! The waiting part isn't the easiest thing either.
Hopefully the time between having the background check started and getting confirmation that the job is mine and a start date is just as short as the time between the interview and the conditional job offer (one week). Tomorrow will mark a week and I'm getting really antsy about hearing back from them. Mostly because I want to give my two weeks at current job and get my pension stuff in order so that can start up in a timely manner.
Got notified today that I have successfully jumped through all the hoops for this new job I was offered almost a month ago. HR will be calling me sometime next week about a start date. Then I can finally put in my two week notice at the current job. So by the end of March or beginning of April, I will be at the new job... finally!!!
iris lilies
3-4-26, 6:56pm
Got notified today that I have successfully jumped through all the hoops for this new job I was offered almost a month ago. HR will be calling me sometime next week about a start date. Then I can finally put in my two week notice at the current job. So by the end of March or beginning of April, I will be at the new job... finally!!!
Major milestone completed so good for you!
congrats, Klunick....I think! ;)
congrats, Klunick....I think! ;)
Oh, most definitely a good thing!! Previous Supervisor completely tanked our office and it's just getting worse because the new Supervisor is just here to wait out when he's able to retire.
Great news! Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy the new job.
early morning
3-5-26, 10:12am
congrats, Klunick! Hope it's all you want it to be!!
congrats, Klunick! Hope it's all you want it to be!!
I am hopeful it will be but honestly, if it's not, it will still be 1000% better than my current situation. I have felt hopeless and trapped for at least a year if not more.
happystuff
3-5-26, 11:23am
Congratulations, Klunick!!! Wishing you a smooth and successful transition!
rosarugosa
3-5-26, 12:07pm
I am hopeful it will be but honestly, if it's not, it will still be 1000% better than my current situation. I have felt hopeless and trapped for at least a year if not more.
Well all things being equal, a better commute is always a good thing.
After several weeks of hunting for a missing hand towel, I finally found it. Behind our bedroom dresser. My only thought was I had put it down on the dresser because someone was in the bathroom. Somehow it got pushed off and ended up behind the dresser before it got put back into the bathroom. I only keep one hand towel for each set of bath towels which is two. I switch everything out on Saturdays when I clean the bathrooms. When the other one went missing, I had to wash the remaining one and put it back out which meant while it was getting washed and dried, we didn't have a hand towel in that bathroom.
early morning
3-14-26, 1:38pm
Well, glad you found it! I couldn't function with two hand towels, we go thru them quickly, and there are three out at all times. I prefer to line dry when I can, which limits my laundry days sometimes, and more is better for me, lol. But I don't like sets of things in most forms, and my towels don't match so that's not a problem here. Even when I had sets of towels (wedding and shower gifts, back in the day!) I wouldn't put them out in sets. I like things that go together, re: colors, etc, but don't match. (I also don't like most things symmetrical either - matching tables flanking a sofa with matching lamps...) Balance is fine, but not symmetry. Sometimes I think my eye-brain connection is skewed, lol. ** sorry, I seem extra chatty today, I'll stop now, lol.
Well, glad you found it! I couldn't function with two hand towels, we go thru them quickly, and there are three out at all times. I prefer to line dry when I can, which limits my laundry days sometimes, and more is better for me, lol. But I don't like sets of things in most forms, and my towels don't match so that's not a problem here. Even when I had sets of towels (wedding and shower gifts, back in the day!) I wouldn't put them out in sets. I like things that go together, re: colors, etc, but don't match. (I also don't like most things symmetrical either - matching tables flanking a sofa with matching lamps...) Balance is fine, but not symmetry. Sometimes I think my eye-brain connection is skewed, lol. ** sorry, I seem extra chatty today, I'll stop now, lol.
My towels aren't all the same color either but the hand towel does match one of the towels. In the primary bathroom, one towel is blue and the other is brown. The hand towel is always brown. We need different colors so everyone knows whose towel is whose. In our boys' bathroom, there is more of a variety of colors. Light blue, light yellow, black or dark blue.
early morning
3-14-26, 4:31pm
Makes sense! But here, I need more hand towels. I switch ours out at least 2x a week, they get a lot more use than bath towels, and in spring and fall (cooler temps, no air movement) they don't dry well in between uses. I buy them at yard sales or cut down bath towels and hem them, to keep the cost down. DH wanted some new hand towels for the upstairs bath he uses the most, and was appalled by the prices. He decided he'd just stick with what we had, lol. I try to stay away from light colors, as they don't seem to stay nice looking (and that should be on the peeve page, lol).
Just sayin here....I see lovely towels at our thrift store (Value Village) all the time.
iris lilies
3-14-26, 9:51pm
Just sayin here....I see lovely towels at our thrift store (Value Village) all the time.
I don’t know that I’ve seen hand towels or many of them anyway at Goodwill. I did pick up two nice bath towels and exactly the right color that I currently use in my bathroom.
rosarugosa
3-15-26, 6:31am
I like these towels from LL Bean because they dry so quickly. I have other, prettier towels, but I mostly use these now. I replace the hand towels more often because they eventually get discolored and I cannot get them looking clean again.
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/120494?page=organic-textured-cotton-towel-bath&bc=31-900-514487&feat=514487-GN3&csp=a&attrValue_0=9548&pos=2
catherine
3-15-26, 11:36am
I like these towels from LL Bean because they dry so quickly. I have other, prettier towels, but I mostly use these now. I replace the hand towels more often because they eventually get discolored and I cannot get them looking clean again.
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/120494?page=organic-textured-cotton-towel-bath&bc=31-900-514487&feat=514487-GN3&csp=a&attrValue_0=9548&pos=2
Nice towels, rosa! My latest towels have come from Muji. https://www.muji.us/collections/home/products/pile-weave-bath-towel-jjad4a2a-22aw?_pos=40&_fid=1c92326c4&_ss=c
I keep a basket of rolled washcloths, not hand towels, in the bathroom, and they serve as hand towels. I only buy white towels. I'm thinking of switching my color scheme to a darker color, but I think I've been heavily influenced by my business travels and the white towels in hotels. White is hard to keep looking white, however, so I may go with a teal blue because that's the accent color of my bathroom. Or maybe a soft grey. But I want only one color.
Finally got the start date for my new job. I turn in my two weeks at current job tomorrow.
happystuff
3-24-26, 7:37am
Congrats, Klunick! Hope the two weeks go quickly for you!
That's wonderful, Klunick, hope the new job is wonderful and glad the long commute is behind you.
catherine
3-24-26, 10:46am
Congrats, Klunick!! Best of luck with your new position!
iris lilies
3-26-26, 7:37pm
Yay! I finally got the job I wanted in a particular organization. We are booting out the head honcho. Someone who had the job I want is moving up to head honcho status, and I’m taking her job.
This set of dominos started when I wrote to the national organization complaining about our head honcho who simply does not communicate. Fortunately the national organization had the same experience with head honcho so we didn’t have to really convince anyone to remove him.
Yay! I finally got the job I wanted in a particular organization. We are booting out the head honcho. Someone who had the job I want is moving up to head honcho status, and I’m taking her job.
This set of dominos started when I wrote to the national organization complaining about our head honcho who simply does not communicate. Fortunately the national organization had the same experience with head honcho so we didn’t have to really convince anyone to remove him.
Congratulations!!
iris lilies
3-27-26, 7:19am
Congratulations!!
just to be clear for those who don’t know me: this is a volunteer job. This is one of my hobby groups, No salary is involved.
IshbelRobertson
3-27-26, 7:53am
Yay! I finally got the job I wanted in a particular organization. We are booting out the head honcho. Someone who had the job I want is moving up to head honcho status, and I’m taking her job.
This set of dominos started when I wrote to the national organization complaining about our head honcho who simply does not communicate. Fortunately the national organization had the same experience with head honcho so we didn’t have to really convince anyone to remove him.
Well done ��
happystuff
3-27-26, 8:06am
Glad it all worked out, IL. Have fun!
just to be clear for those who don’t know me: this is a volunteer job. This is one of my hobby groups, No salary is involved.
Congratulations still applies. You got something that you wanted and made you happy.
Happiness is laying out all your Easter decor on the bed and thinking you don't have enough and then finding out you have the perfect amount once you finish decorating.
iris lilies
4-10-26, 10:56am
we have started our six week nonstop schedule of flower show events where we will be gone from home a lot.
Last weekend we ate out four times and the reason why this is a “rave “ is because DH was able to find non-salad menu options in two of the four restaurants. Even then, in one of the restaurants, he could’ve found another option, it’s just that he didn’t want to.
the two successful restaurants were both Asian, one Vietnamese and one Indian.
We have been eating out in restaurants very sparingly since his diagnosis of Alpha Gal syndrome.
iris lilies
4-10-26, 5:09pm
oh boy, our neighbor just brought over a small sack of morel mushrooms. he is a rockstar neighbor!
oh boy, our neighbor just brought over a small sack of morel mushrooms. he is a rockstar neighbor!
I'm jealous! Rock star, indeed!
Picked 10 asparagus stalks today! Tender and delicious here in Piedmont MD. They are early.
iris lilies
4-13-26, 12:48pm
Picked 10 asparagus stalks today! Tender and delicious here in Piedmont MD. They are early.
we grow asparagus, I love fresh asparagus. Unfortunately I never get any because the deer eat it all.
iris lilies
4-18-26, 9:14pm
We went to a fundraiser Bingo night for Ferals In Peril, our local cat rescue group that does a fabulous job with just a handful of people running it.
it was at the VFW hall. So that’s what one does in a tiny town on Saturday night – play bingo at the VFW hall.
I won the second game and $75 which I donated back to the group because I didn’t walk in the door to win money. It was a nice little evening event.
I wish every town our size had a cat rescue group like this group. They are phenomenal. They have regular meetings, they have an informative Facebook page, they now have a “cat café “that a local businessman has donated to them. About a dozen cats live there until they are adopted. You go in and sit amongst the cats and can have coffee. And because it’s a tiny town, I know one of the key people through a plant society also. And then the main person in charge of the cat rescue just happened to show up in my house one week when DH brought people he met in the park here to see the renovation of our house. Like I said it’s a very small town and what I like about it is that the people who are involved in Civic improvement are involved in everything!
The bargain vegetable rack at Marketbasket had bags of potatoes that had started to sprout for 1.18, so I bought three of them and planted them all yesterday in a hayed over bed I started last spring. We should get plenty of potatoes for under four dollars.
happystuff
4-20-26, 7:51am
My rave is for taking retirement when I did. I said from the beginning that I wanted to have the time to help those who helped me. I am so grateful to finally have more time to do so.
catherine
4-20-26, 11:10am
My rave is for taking retirement when I did. I said from the beginning that I wanted to have the time to help those who helped me. I am so grateful to finally have more time to do so.
And those who helped you and who are now being helped by you are very grateful you retired!
early morning
4-21-26, 8:22am
Rosa, Hello from the Black Swan and Laurel Lake! It's looking lovely this morning! Rave of the day...travel in New England! So wish we could live up here. But Ohio is nice, and way cheaper lol.
rosarugosa
4-22-26, 6:16am
Rosa, Hello from the Black Swan and Laurel Lake! It's looking lovely this morning! Rave of the day...travel in New England! So wish we could live up here. But Ohio is nice, and way cheaper lol.
Hello Early, how lovely! I hope you enjoy your stay. We are currently enjoying a two-night getaway at The Brunswick Hotel in Brunswick, ME. We have a very nice suite for a quite reasonable price. No water view, but we plan to check out the Androscoggin today and also visit the art museum at Bowdoin College.
Hello Early, how lovely! I hope you enjoy your stay. We are currently enjoying a two-night getaway at The Brunswick Hotel in Brunswick, ME. We have a very nice suite for a quite reasonable price. No water view, but we plan to check out the Androscoggin today and also visit the art museum at Bowdoin College.
Rosa, we were at LL Bean yesterday and the whole main store has been moved inside a giant tent so they can renovate the big store. We were really surprised because we took the girls to see the main store.
Welcome to New England, early! You are in a beautiful part of it. How long will you be here?
rosarugosa
4-23-26, 5:21am
Rosa, we were at LL Bean yesterday and the whole main store has been moved inside a giant tent so they can renovate the big store. We were really surprised because we took the girls to see the main store.
Wow, we were also at LL Bean on 4/21! To think we might have passed each other like ships in the night, lol. Due to the construction, we had to walk all the way around the world (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration) to get into the store and to the shoe department. But at least I got a whole bunch of steps in, and I had success with finding a couple of pairs of shoes, which had become a challenging quest for me in recent years.
Wow, we were also at LL Bean on 4/21! To think we might have passed each other like ships in the night, lol. Due to the construction, we had to walk all the way around the world (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration) to get into the store and to the shoe department. But at least I got a whole bunch of steps in, and I had success with finding a couple of pairs of shoes, which had become a challenging quest for me in recent years.
That is so funny, wish I had known and met up!
Started new job two weeks ago and couldn't be more happy about it. The work is overwhelming right now but I am positive I will grasp it and feel much more comfortable with it in no time. The people are great. Helpful and friendly. Completely the opposite of the people I worked wit
h prior. Everyone works instead of getting paid to goof off for 8 hours. Loving the shorter commute as well. Every other Friday off is great.
Yesterday was my Friday to work and the Supervisor put together a little luncheon to welcome me. Pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, and homemade apple sauce and then ice cream for dessert.
Started new job two weeks ago and couldn't be more happy about it. The work is overwhelming right now but I am positive I will grasp it and feel much more comfortable with it in no time. The people are great. Helpful and friendly. Completely the opposite of the people I worked wit
h prior. Everyone works instead of getting paid to goof off for 8 hours. Loving the shorter commute as well. Every other Friday off is great.
Yesterday was my Friday to work and the Supervisor put together a little luncheon to welcome me. Pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, and homemade apple sauce and then ice cream for dessert.
Wow, that sounds great.
iris lilies
4-25-26, 11:54am
Wonderful news on the job front Klunick!
53rd anniversary on the the 21st. We took a little trip to Shepherdstown,WV for lunch and some walking the town. It was a glorious spring day! Great lunch at Blue Moon Cafe that had wonderful cobalt blue glassware all over. Black and bleu hamburger and magnificent French fries, crispy and obviously fresh cut potatoes. We have had a wonderful time in our life, for which I am endlessly grateful. The next day we both weeded, so two flower beds are looking presentable and are ready for mulch and seeds. Plants from the high school will be chosen next week.
frugal-one
4-25-26, 2:20pm
Happy for you Klunick!!
nswef… Sounds like a nice day you spent for your anniversary! November will be our 53rd also. May take a short trip too?
frugal-one
4-25-26, 2:22pm
Happy for you Klunick!!
nswef… Sounds like a nice day you spent for your anniversary! November will be our 53rd also. May take a short trip too? We, too, thankfully, have had a very blessed existence.
happystuff
4-26-26, 7:30am
Happy Anniversary, Klunick! Sounds like a wonderful time.
Happy Anniversary, Klunick! Sounds like a wonderful time.
Wrong person. It was nswef talking about an anniversary, not me
��
iris lilies
4-26-26, 8:41am
One of my plant societies has had nothing but weak leadership over the past 6 years. The latest head officer went incommunicado last fall after promising to do a variety of tasks. No one has heard from him since then.
I pointed out his absence to our National organization and they acted ( much to my surprise) swiftly. It’s one of those deals where the officer just fades away, failing to answer phone calls or emails. The Prez of our national organization instructed her lieutenant to send our officer a registered letter telling him he no longer holds that office.
I assume this registered letter will be sent soon, and we can get on with our business at hand. Because we have somebody willing to step into the Officer role, things will go smoothly.
happystuff
4-26-26, 3:46pm
Wrong person. It was nswef talking about an anniversary, not me
��
Oops! :|(
Well, Happy Anniversary to all! ;)
early morning
4-27-26, 7:00pm
Well, now we're in Maine, after a couple days visiting family on Cape Cod . Currently staying in Ogunquit, ran up to Portland for the day. Passed on LLBean, saw the tent last year and knew it was still tented lol.Headed to Bar Harbor/Acadia tomorrow, heading home Thursday. Waving to all you New Englanders. LOVE this part of the country.
rosarugosa
4-28-26, 6:11am
Waving back to you, Early! Hope you are having a great time!
iris lilies
4-28-26, 8:36am
Well, now we're in Maine, after a couple days visiting family on Cape Cod . Currently staying in Ogunquit, ran up to Portland for the day. Passed on LLBean, saw the tent last year and knew it was still tented lol.Headed to Bar Harbor/Acadia tomorrow, heading home Thursday. Waving to all you New Englanders. LOVE this part of the country.
your trip sounds so nice!
frugal-one
4-28-26, 8:39am
Well, now we're in Maine, after a couple days visiting family on Cape Cod . Currently staying in Ogunquit, ran up to Portland for the day. Passed on LLBean, saw the tent last year and knew it was still tented lol.Headed to Bar Harbor/Acadia tomorrow, heading home Thursday. Waving to all you New Englanders. LOVE this part of the country.
Enjoy the lobster rolls!
iris lilies
4-28-26, 9:18am
Enjoy the lobster rolls!
when we went to New England just before Covid, I was looking forward to the much vaunted lobster rolls. The first one I had was in a Boston area hotel. You can guess how much that cost! Ack. It was — ok.
later, we went out when we were along the coast and had another lobster roll and it was, again, just OK.
from that, I’ve decided I’m not that much of a lobster fan. I mean it’s OK, but I’m not gonna go out of my way to eat them.
when we went to New England just before Covid, I was looking forward to the much vaunted lobster rolls. The first one I had was in a Boston area hotel. You can guess how much that cost! Ack. It was — ok.
later, we went out when we were along the coast and had another lobster roll and it was, again, just OK.
from that, I’ve decided I’m not that much of a lobster fan. I mean it’s OK, but I’m not gonna go out of my way to eat them.
Did you have a cold lobster roll, or a hot one? My preference by a long shot is the hot one, drenched in butter. It was actually invented in my home town of Milford, CT. https://i95rock.com/milford-connecticut-should-have-a-lobster-roll-festival/
But some people feel lobster is rubbery and tasteless. That's OK. That's more for the rest of us! (I feel like we've had this discussion before.)
Did you have a cold lobster roll, or a hot one? My preference by a long shot is the hot one, drenched in butter. It was actually invented in my home town of Milford, CT. https://i95rock.com/milford-connecticut-should-have-a-lobster-roll-festival/
But some people feel lobster is rubbery and tasteless. That's OK. That's more for the rest of us! (I feel like we've had this discussion before.)
I like the buttered ones better, too. Honestly, I've gotten more hooked on the haddock roll.
catherine
4-28-26, 10:30am
Honestly, I've gotten more hooked on the haddock roll.
DH is going to partner with a local farmer to serve fish and chips (fish being haddock) out of her food truck. He's been experimenting with different flour recipes to make it as crispy and puffy as the traditional British fish and chips. He's doing great so far1
iris lilies
4-28-26, 10:35am
Did you have a cold lobster roll, or a hot one? My preference by a long shot is the hot one, drenched in butter. It was actually invented in my home town of Milford, CT. https://i95rock.com/milford-connecticut-should-have-a-lobster-roll-festival/
But some people feel lobster is rubbery and tasteless. That's OK. That's more for the rest of us! (I feel like we've had this discussion before.)
well doh, EVERYTHING tastes better drenched in butter!
to lose weight, I stopped buying butter. so many things are not worth eating now without it.
you’re probably right that they were cold or at least room temperature.
my taste buds are not very well developed, and so much seafood is lacking taste.Scallops are one of those.
probably fresh scallops, prepared competently and drenched in butter would be good, but it’s not worth it to take a low calorie thing like scallops and add a bunch of calories just to make it taste.
this is why I prefer so many kinds of Third World cuisines, they have stronger taste and are not bland.
DH is going to partner with a local farmer to serve fish and chips (fish being haddock) out of her food truck. He's been experimenting with different flour recipes to make it as crispy and puffy as the traditional British fish and chips. He's doing great so far1
Amazing! That is my favorite food in the world.
catherine
4-28-26, 12:24pm
Amazing! That is my favorite food in the world.
Yes, it's great when it's done right! We used to go to a fish and chips place in Kearney, NJ, which was then populated by a lot of Scottish people. Now it's almost all Portuguese, and the Scottish shops have closed (one, Cameron's, is in Florida now, but I still recommend them if you want mail order Scottish food). My MIL would buy meat pies and forfar bridies by the dozens, and we occasionally would go up there for Robbie Burns night.
iris lilies
4-28-26, 4:24pm
Yes, it's great when it's done right! We used to go to a fish and chips place in Kearney, NJ, which was then populated by a lot of Scottish people. Now it's almost all Portuguese, and the Scottish shops have closed (one, Cameron's, is in Florida now, but I still recommend them if you want mail order Scottish food). My MIL would buy meat pies and forfar bridies by the dozens, and we occasionally would go up there for Robbie Burns night.
Random Scottish fact: Today I learned Donald Trump’s mother was born inScotland. He spoke about this today in his welcome address to the King of England. The Trumpster was kinda funny in that he made a big deal that she was VERY Scottish, being born way up North in the Hebrides, not in a border place that was barely Scottish.
rosarugosa
4-29-26, 6:24am
I love lobster rolls, cold with mayo. I had an amazing lobster BLT at Cameron's Lobster House while we were in Brunswick, ME. It doesn't get much better than that as far as I'm concerned.
I never have butter with my lobster. If I'm dismantling a whole lobster, I just like some squirts of lemon juice.
The other dinner I had in Brunswick was a scallop dish: "Pan seared scallops, farro, shaved apple, radicchio, pepitas, preserved lemon." It was delicious.
rosarugosa
4-29-26, 6:26am
Catherine: Best of luck to your DH with the new business venture! So many places serve bad fried seafood, but it can be quite delicious when done right.
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