Daily Ooos: Friday, August 8

[faerywings]

Good morning, O-zies!!
I am not asking for the heat dome/triple-digit Real Feel temps to return. Not really. But it's been so cold and dark in the mornings this past week that I feel my brain is starting to slip into Autumn/Halloween mode. It's toooo soon!
(Still no sign of significant rain before the field trip next week, chance of light showers on Wednesday. That is it.)

I had one of those weird days yesterday. Not off the rails but just enough "wonk" to keep me off-balance. I got to my friend's house a few minutes early, which I thought would be a good start to the day. I realized that I left my headphones at home. Debated with myself for a few minutes: Did I want to spend the next three hours with my thoughts or did I want to kill a half hour and go home to get them?
That was a pretty easy decision so I went home and grabbed them. Bzzzzzpppp! Wrong decision!
My friend was home and feeling chatty. Very chatty. I think I had them in for maybe 30 minutes out of the three hours I was there. Not only did I start later than I liked, it took me longer than usual, too. And I didn't even get to the vacuuming, she said not to worry about it since I was there for so long.
When I got home, I was 100% thrown off my game. (yeah, I know it doesn't take much but my brain was sizzlin' around the edges at that point Haha!)
The afternoon was just a chaotic mess of trying to do this and that and feeling like nothing was falling into place. I was having a scrap-afternoon like Tracy did the other day-- I wanted to do the AJ challenge but spent way too much time fighting with the Search function in the shop. I have no idea why this happens but if I don't click on a page in the shop immediately after it loads, it flips to "No results found." If I click on the page quickly and it flips to that, I can go Back and it will load. It's frustrating and it happens no matter which browser I use.

Found a kit, started to scrap a LO, and currently hate everything about it.

Made dinner with pretty much the same results. Just blah.

I have to go to the dentist for a cleaning this morning and then head to work right afterward. I hope it is an easy day. I am not in charge of the day, I am helping the camp counselor, she gets to boss me around

Tell me-- what do you do when your brain is feeling crispy around the edges? Any advice and suggestions are welcome!

 

[faerywings]

Hopefully the Weis work will fall into place quickly for you!

It is, I think. I found a bunch of library books to read to the kids and put Holds on them. The activities are sketched out and I will finish them when I know exactly how many kids register. I don't want to put in a ton of time in case we don't get enough to run it.
The Field trip plans- I don't even know what to do as a backup.

I get teary looking through old photos of Tim and I, especially when I think about my wonderful life with him! So, I don't look through those very often. Tomorrow is the 8th anniversary of his death.

(((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))) Thinking of you and the family today.

Love the cooler temps! Not the rain for 3 days, however!

SEND THE RAIN HERE!!
Sorry for yelling. But it would be a win-win. I feel your pain and smell the smell of the septic.
Are you pretty much ready to head out for your trip? You must be very excited!

Chris, your monarch watching sounds so cool - will be happy to see photos and layouts, soon?

Gary has been taking a lot of pictures. When I left the house, the little guy was still in the J shape. Gary was hoping to catch the actual skin shedding/chrysalis formation, but missed it by minutes. When I went home, I shouted to him that it was done! He had been out there 10-15 minutes earlier, and it wasn't. Poor guy had spent all morning watching it and didn't get to see it. He has some cool pics of it changing inside. Now we wait and hope the changing and emerging are successful.

When I was little and we'd be driving to the shore house each weekend my Dad would say, "What's the name of this bridge" to my sister and I, the answer always being "The Raritan". I was much, much older when in recent years I saw a sign and discovered it's the "Driscoll Bridge", who knew? I guess us "locals" knew better! But still, every single time I go over the bridge I hear my Dad asking, "What's the name of this bridge?" Every single time...

hahahahah!! That is sooo funny!! I would have sworn that it was the Raritan River Bridge always. It's not even like the Tappan Zee, which is now the Mario Cuomo Bridge. I have no excuse for not calling it the Driscoll.
How sweet to hear your dad's voice after all this time, too ♥
One more silly bridge name story: When I was little and we would go to my grandparents' house in Kearny, we would go over the Stickle Bridge. I thought for years and years it was the *Pickle Bridge* (it was green, so at least there is that lol!). When we picked up Cait and Tom from their cruise, we went home over it and that name was still in my head.

OH MAN, for sure... Can you imagine, wow.... My friends' house I go to was the above 2½ year old's great-great grandma's, her Great-grandma who will be 92 soon went there all her life. She'll tell me about what it was like then. They too, are only 3 houses from the beach on 17th Avenue and it's the same old house they all grew up in.... Fifth generation enjoying it now!

That is so amazing! Yup, I am jealous!

Oh my for sure I felt that first one. I was laying in bed watching TV but really sleeping I heard the load rumble and felt both the house and my bed move.

DD#1 will be back at my place this afternoon so she can get packed and ready to leave for home tomorrow morning. It is about a 7 hour drive from here to there.

Please tell DD#1 we are all wishing her a safe trip home.
And lots of hugs to you, I know the house is going to feel quiet for a while. ♥

Her third fish yesterday, they were reeling it in when an eagle swooped down and grabbed the fish!!! Hubs quickly grabbed around grand to help hold the pole and child in the boat. The eagle was trying to fly away and couldn't because of the fish line attached to the pole. The eagle was probably 10 feet from them! The line finally snapped and the bald eagle flew off with grand daughters fish, lure and half the line that was on her pole. She was mad. Turned to hubs and said, that eagle was an a**h***

SOOOO many emotions when I read your post!! Pride, fear, indignation, and laughter!
Holy ****! That must have been one heck of a sight. Is there a new pink lure in grand-DD's future? She deserves it!
Any pics of the kitchen to share?

Today marks the end of an entire week with the air conditioner off! Not only do I love the fresh air, and the sound of kids' voices as they play, I keep thinking of lower electric bill - Yay!

For sure, ITA! All benefits, even though I am not happy with the shorter days.

've been making some good progress on my photobook from our 2016 "Great American Roadtrip" and very much enjoying remembering all the places we saw. My timeline in Google Maps is my salvation.

I never thought to use Google Maps/Timeline. So smart! Although my Maps timeline would not be much more than work/my parents' house/BFFs/and the grocery store

How long are they in the chrysalis?

Gary has been doing all of the research- but IIRC, he said up to 2 weeks. We saw the outline of the wing late afternoon. It is so *wild* that in the morning, he was just chilling as a caterpillar, turned into goo (yup, that is the technical term LOL), and now has wings!

Good morning ladies. We have been getting quotes and after having no hot water for two days we now have a company coming tomorrow to install a new tank. Thank goodness we have an on-demand hot beverage tap to use for washing dishes, that helps. I have dry shampoo so that has helped for my hair. But...I sure can't wait for things to get back to normal. Just in the nick of time too b/c we are hosting a BBQ this wkend for 11 of us, I need hot water.

Ugh, that sounds like a PITA. Good thoughts that the tank goes in easily and you have plenty of water for the BBQ!
Fantastic that you are doing a kids' jewelry line! I love it!! Please share some pics of them when you have time!


Hugs!!

 

[MariJ]

Good morning everyone, delightful morning in my part of NJ. It was only 52º when I woke up and is only supposed to get to 81º as the high. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but for now -- it's lovely.

hahahahah!! That is sooo funny!! I would have sworn that it was the Raritan River Bridge always. It's not even like the Tappan Zee, which is now the Mario Cuomo Bridge. I have no excuse for not calling it the Driscoll.
How sweet to hear your dad's voice after all this time, too ♥
One more silly bridge name story: When I was little and we would go to my grandparents' house in Kearny, we would go over the Stickle Bridge. I thought for years and years it was the *Pickle Bridge* (it was green, so at least there is that lol!). When we picked up Cait and Tom from their cruise, we went home over it and that name was still in my head.

I gotta agree. I still think of it as the Raritan River Bridge even though the signe says differently. And, yes, I love hearing my dad's voice each time. If I recall correctly my sister says same.
And YES! I know the Stickle bridge for sure - so funny you thouts it was Pickle!

Gary has been taking a lot of pictures. When I left the house, the little guy was still in the J shape. Gary was hoping to catch the actual skin shedding/chrysalis formation, but missed it by minutes. When I went home, I shouted to him that it was done! He had been out there 10-15 minutes earlier, and it wasn't. Poor guy had spent all morning watching it and didn't get to see it. He has some cool pics of it changing inside. Now we wait and hope the changing and emerging are successful.

Awwwww.. Poor Gary, isn't that just the way? Fingers crossed for the rest!

 

[vickyday]

Good morning, O-zies!!
I am not asking for the heat dome/triple-digit Real Feel temps to return. Not really. But it's been so cold and dark in the mornings this past week that I feel my brain is starting to slip into Autumn/Halloween mode. It's toooo soon!
(Still no sign of significant rain before the field trip next week, chance of light showers on Wednesday. That is it.)

I had one of those weird days yesterday. Not off the rails but just enough "wonk" to keep me off-balance. I got to my friend's house a few minutes early, which I thought would be a good start to the day. I realized that I left my headphones at home. Debated with myself for a few minutes: Did I want to spend the next three hours with my thoughts or did I want to kill a half hour and go home to get them?
That was a pretty easy decision so I went home and grabbed them. Bzzzzzpppp! Wrong decision!
My friend was home and feeling chatty. Very chatty. I think I had them in for maybe 30 minutes out of the three hours I was there. Not only did I start later than I liked, it took me longer than usual, too. And I didn't even get to the vacuuming, she said not to worry about it since I was there for so long.
When I got home, I was 100% thrown off my game. (yeah, I know it doesn't take much but my brain was sizzlin' around the edges at that point Haha!)
The afternoon was just a chaotic mess of trying to do this and that and feeling like nothing was falling into place. I was having a scrap-afternoon like Tracy did the other day-- I wanted to do the AJ challenge but spent way too much time fighting with the Search function in the shop. I have no idea why this happens but if I don't click on a page in the shop immediately after it loads, it flips to "No results found." If I click on the page quickly and it flips to that, I can go Back and it will load. It's frustrating and it happens no matter which browser I use.

Found a kit, started to scrap a LO, and currently hate everything about it.

Made dinner with pretty much the same results. Just blah.

I have to go to the dentist for a cleaning this morning and then head to work right afterward. I hope it is an easy day. I am not in charge of the day, I am helping the camp counselor, she gets to boss me around

Tell me-- what do you do when your brain is feeling crispy around the edges? Any advice and suggestions are welcome!

Can't help you. I'm feeling a bit dysfunctional myself today, LOL! Went back to bed after Mark left at 5:30. Mistake. Not only did it take me a while to go back to sleep, when I finally did I was dreaming stupid stuff! Woke up at 8:30 feeling discombobulated all the way around, LOL, which doesn't take much!
Guess what? My hummers are back! Showed up looking for food earlier this week, so I hurried and got some nectar together and put it out. I've only seen females so far. I wonder where they've been?

 

[vickyday]

It is, I think. I found a bunch of library books to read to the kids and put Holds on them. The activities are sketched out and I will finish them when I know exactly how many kids register. I don't want to put in a ton of time in case we don't get enough to run it.
The Field trip plans- I don't even know what to do as a backup.

(((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))) Thinking of you and the family today.

SEND THE RAIN HERE!!
Sorry for yelling. But it would be a win-win. I feel your pain and smell the smell of the septic.
Are you pretty much ready to head out for your trip? You must be very excited!


Gary has been taking a lot of pictures. When I left the house, the little guy was still in the J shape. Gary was hoping to catch the actual skin shedding/chrysalis formation, but missed it by minutes. When I went home, I shouted to him that it was done! He had been out there 10-15 minutes earlier, and it wasn't. Poor guy had spent all morning watching it and didn't get to see it. He has some cool pics of it changing inside. Now we wait and hope the changing and emerging are successful.

hahahahah!! That is sooo funny!! I would have sworn that it was the Raritan River Bridge always. It's not even like the Tappan Zee, which is now the Mario Cuomo Bridge. I have no excuse for not calling it the Driscoll.
How sweet to hear your dad's voice after all this time, too ♥
One more silly bridge name story: When I was little and we would go to my grandparents' house in Kearny, we would go over the Stickle Bridge. I thought for years and years it was the *Pickle Bridge* (it was green, so at least there is that lol!). When we picked up Cait and Tom from their cruise, we went home over it and that name was still in my head.

That is so amazing! Yup, I am jealous!



Please tell DD#1 we are all wishing her a safe trip home.
And lots of hugs to you, I know the house is going to feel quiet for a while. ♥


SOOOO many emotions when I read your post!! Pride, fear, indignation, and laughter!
Holy ****! That must have been one heck of a sight. Is there a new pink lure in grand-DD's future? She deserves it!
Any pics of the kitchen to share?


For sure, ITA! All benefits, even though I am not happy with the shorter days.

I never thought to use Google Maps/Timeline. So smart! Although my Maps timeline would not be much more than work/my parents' house/BFFs/and the grocery store

Gary has been doing all of the research- but IIRC, he said up to 2 weeks. We saw the outline of the wing late afternoon. It is so *wild* that in the morning, he was just chilling as a caterpillar, turned into goo (yup, that is the technical term LOL), and now has wings!

Ugh, that sounds like a PITA. Good thoughts that the tank goes in easily and you have plenty of water for the BBQ!
Fantastic that you are doing a kids' jewelry line! I love it!! Please share some pics of them when you have time!


Hugs!!

Thank you for the thoughts today!
Packed?! Are you kidding? The rain is keeping me from doing the laundry I need to do to get packed completely! I would LOVE to send the rain to you, but it seems to be STUCK above us!

 

[vickyday]

Quick in and out today. Just feeling off and can't think.
Got the template challenge done yesterday. Lovely template, @BrightEyes ! Loved working with it, Kay!
Lunch with Mark is planned. Nothing else! Can't do the laundry I need to get done to get my packing started for vacation next week because of all of the rain. It isn't raining at the moment, so I hope it is done.....but the sky tells me otherwise.
OK, have a great day!

 

[Terri M]

Here's my "funny" NJ bridge story. I commuted for 15 years to Staten Island on the Outerbridge Crossing, which showed up on my EZPass statement as OBX. The we moved to Virginia, and I see all these cars with OBX stickers. I'm so confused, why do people in central Virginia care about the Outerbridge? I lived here two years before I discovered that the OBX stickers refer to the Outer Banks.

I'm off to Costco and the bank this morning. Who the heck even goes to the bank anymore except my Mom? I sold some stock and for some reason the direct deposit didn't work so the broker mailed me a check. While I'm OK with depositing a couple hundred bucks by taking a picture with my phone, I'm kind of uneasy about this big one, so I'm doing it in person. My husband thinks I'm nuts; he's probably right. Although to tell the truth, the most risky part about the whole transaction is actually putting a check in the mail.

It looks like the weather will hold for our trail work day tomorrow. I wish more people had signed up but we often get several who just show up. I'm going to try the new electric mower on a part of the trail it's hard to get a mower to. SInce the electric one is lighter, I'm hoping it won't be too hard to lift it over a short place where tree roots block the trail. When we can mow it goes so much faster and easier than the string trimmer.

The kids have moved on from Crater Lake to a Great Wolf Lodge on their vacation. I'm figuring "lodge", somewhere in the woods, right? I checked where they were on the map -- the Great Wolf Lodge is literally next door to a Costco. I'm so disillusioned.

The weekend lies ahead!

 

[AK_Tracy]

Good Morning!

Tell me-- what do you do when your brain is feeling crispy around the edges? Any advice and suggestions are welcome!

Well, sometimes if its sunny, I grab a book, a beer and my phone. I sit out side reading a book and at the right time, order dinner to be delivered. But we have to have some major crispy edges for all three to come together. Otherwise I just push through until the edges soften and function again.

SOOOO many emotions when I read your post!! Pride, fear, indignation, and laughter!
Holy ****! That must have been one heck of a sight. Is there a new pink lure in grand-DD's future? She deserves it!
Any pics of the kitchen to share?

Exactly! So many emotions. Was the one time I was sorry I was busy doing something else and not fishing with them on the lake. I am sure at some point (soon) she will get a new lure. She for sure deserves it. No photos of the kitchen to share. DD doesn't allow photos online unless she posts them and even those are minimal.

It was only 52º when I woke up and is only supposed to get to 81º

When I woke up it was 54° but our high will only reach 61° and its raining. Because we have cramping plans right! Yep, had to rain.

Who the heck even goes to the bank anymore except my Mom?

Me. I still go to the bank. I dont get/trust that photo thing and also dont bank on my phone. So yeah, me, I'm old school. Plus the bank people are super sweet and its always a good time to say hi.

It rained all day yesterday. Its suppose to rain for the next three days. We need it. However it could have chosen different days. We have plans to camp, were talking tent camping, nothing fancy, and of course its raining. Oh well it will be fun anyway.
Off to grab more coffee. Have a wonderful day.

 

[BrightEyes]

Morning, all... Popped in earlier this morning to upload a couple of new release LOs and check on my challenge. Wow... three LOs loaded there! @vickyday Loved seeing your gal pals in your LO!!! So many delightful LOs...

DD#3 and hubby came over yesterday afternoon to see DD#1 before she heads home. Then DD#1's son came over for supper. Both of us called it an early evening (8 PM) to read in bed... and we both were asleep by 9:30PM. I woke up early - 6 AM.
DD#1 got up just before 8AM and we spent time getting her car loaded, she grabbed a bite to eat... and just left a few minutes ago. I gave her the good travel wishes from all and she said to say 'thanks'.

Have to get a couple of loads of laundry done this morning as the PTB ask all to conserve power usage in the early afternoon till late at night due to the high demand of A/Cs running then. Another heat alert today and for the next few days. And... we have smoke in the air so I plan on hibernating. I may work on the DVD inventory or read or watch movies (DVD or Netflix).

 

[BoatLady]

Wow I have read the chatter but not much time to write.

@faerywings I'm sorry my answer is so late. I grow my monarchs in a habitat or 2-purchased from Amazon...I get the caterpillars/ eggs on leaf off the outside plants then put them in the habitat so I keep them feed and watch the progress. The lizards eat the eggs and tiny babies so it's safer for them in the habitat. I keep it filled with fresh milkweed plants or giant milkweed leaves from my friends house-- it's a nice morning walk. When they emerge I let them dry their wings plus wait for later afternoon to release them so it's not in the heat of the day. I love to watch the progress close up. Enjoy your monarchs.
Yup our weather here in CT has been up and down temps too.

@Terri M Sounds like you are making great progress on your road trip. I'll butt in here to tell you my method for trips. The way I keep all my pics straight on a trip is I make a folder with trip name then a folder for each stop in order so I dump phone and camera pics in the correct folder so it really helps with the time line. Our summer trips are 4months so this method helps to keep me organized.

We have been getting together with friends so most days were are running around. We have been harvesting the veggies in Mikes garden. Sarah is not feeling well so I have been taking care of the animals for her. Yesterday they had a huge truck load of chips dropped off because they are trimming trees on the street. today they are cutting a tree here so there will be more chips. Reed will move some with the bucket loader later.
Yesterday was his actual birthday so Sarah made him a special cake. 1 chocolate layer then vanilla frosting then yellow cake yellow with Chocolate frosting all over, once sliced whipped cream and a cherry. He loves his new dirt bike. We got him a bunch of camouflaged stuff but made him to a treasure hunt to find everything...he loved it.
Today we are prepping for Reed's weekend party. We have to run a few errands but need to be here for 3 when bounce house and water slide get delivered...I look forward to the photo shoot of the kids playing tomorrow.
Last night I went to meet the lady who bought my parents house and found my dads wedding ring. They are so nice and I was able to tour my mom's old gardens..it's been 13 years and last owners of 10 years didn't take care so most have died. The trees got huge ...it was bitter sweet going there. I put my dad's ring on the pointer finger with my emerald and diamond band...it's perfect., so now I have mom's rings on right had and dads on left. I feel bad but I am not sharing with brother and sister but I am the oldest!!!

DD leaves for Greece tomorrow so I only had short chat because she is packing. I'm looking forward to seeing those pic's and hearing the stories.

Just got back from getting a new phone..I could not hear with my old one they tried reboot but it didn't work. I am glad it happened here in the states not when I'm going to be in Germany..things happen for a reason.

Have a great day everyone.

 

[MariJ]

When I woke up it was 54° but our high will only reach 61° and its raining. Because we have cramping plans right! Yep, had to rain.

WOW, we were actually lower than Alaska, but we did go up to about 82º! Hope yours gets better Tracy.