103 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread

  1. Ricky's Mom August 12, 2017 / 8:11 am

    Gah.
    Thunk.
    Ded.

    • 6rabbits August 12, 2017 / 10:47 am

      Ditto. ?

      • Maia August 12, 2017 / 10:58 am

        me three. Plans for the weekend went right out of my head!

    • Murray C August 13, 2017 / 12:18 am

      Oh, yes, this little tidbit is a prime example of industrial strength cuteness.

  2. Gigi the cat lady August 12, 2017 / 8:22 am

    Today is our wedding anniversary, my husband and I will be having lunch together downtown and just wander around. It will be fun just spending time together, no chores, no housework. Later we’ll have cocktails before meeting our friends for supper at a Korean BBQ restaurant.

    Hope everyone has a good weekend!

    • Dubravkamcvmd August 12, 2017 / 8:38 am

      Happy Anniversary!

    • Ricky's Mom August 12, 2017 / 8:53 am

      Bonne fΓͺte!

    • AJ August 12, 2017 / 9:23 am

      Happy Anniversary, sounds like a fun and relaxing day! Yours is one week after mine and my husband’s. He was still out of town (he returns today – YEAH!!!!!!!!!) so we’ll be celebrating tomorrow by going to our favorite Japanese restaurant.

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 10:06 am

        Happy anniversary to you, too, AJ!

      • Maia August 12, 2017 / 11:02 am

        Happy Anniversary!

      • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 8:51 pm

        Happy anniversaries, Gigi and AJ!

    • N. Fritz August 12, 2017 / 9:36 am

      Happy anniversaries, Gigi and AJ!

      I am on the American side of the Atlantic for the next 3 weeks. Leaving Monday for the North Shore of Lake Superior. This weekend will be spent sorting what I need to take (art supplies, Kindle, comfy clothes and shoes) and leave behind (most but not all work). Can’t wait to be inspired by the lakes and the woods!

      And a breakfast purrito sounds pretty good right about now! Happy weekend, all!

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 10:07 am

        I hope you have a fabulous time – sounds like a great vacation!

        • N. Fritz August 12, 2017 / 10:27 am

          Thanks, Murray C! That area is my number one source of spiritual energy and our family trip there is the highlight of my year!

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 10:05 am

      Wishing you a very happy anniversary,GiGi! Sounds like a lovely day – a mini vacation! We’ll look forward to hearing more if you have any adventures – especially if they involve animals!

    • Maia August 12, 2017 / 11:01 am

      Happy Anniversary!

    • Kar August 12, 2017 / 5:57 pm

      Korean barbecue. yum.

  3. AJ August 12, 2017 / 9:30 am

    Oooh, looks yummy. But *burp*, I’m full from the doggy burrito I had earlier. Got up, tried to uncover the dog from under the sheets and it was all wrapped around him, lol. Such a silly animal.

    Hubby comes home today in approx. 13 hours and I’m so thrilled!! So today will be spent cleaning the house and getting organized plus running a couple errands and hopefully finishing my crafty project.

    Finally found a craft I can manage without it taking too much time or causing my hands to start hurting – painting flowerpots! I found regular coloring/painting is too detailed and involved holding a paintbrush/crayon/marker for too long a stretch which was causing my hands to cramp up so this is a nice happy medium plus I can make my own designs.

    Happy weekend everyone!

    • Nancy August 12, 2017 / 10:24 am

      I only know a bit about this as I am not on Facebook – but apparently there is a “thing” where people paint rocks – the size you can hold in the palm of your hand – very simply, like just a flower or butterfly or paint the rock to be a ladybug, that kind of thing – then I guess you leave them places to be found (store counter, sidewalk, parking lots) and when people find them they put on Facebook where they found it & then put them somewhere new. That might be a simple fun something you could try along with your flower pots?

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 10:58 am

        I am on Facebook but I’ve never seen that!

        • Nancy August 12, 2017 / 11:28 am

          Well then, maybe it’s not a Facebook thing but it sounds cheery and fun anyway! Maybe we should all start it!

          • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 11:34 am

            Eh, there’s plenty of stuff I don’t see on Facebook. I really only follow one group (employee group for my company) and a few friends. (I originally got on FB to get pictures of Pablo from my ex, because he had put them all on his FB page and it was easier for me to just download them from there, and I stayed mostly to keep tabs on my college friends who are scattered all over the East coast from upstate NY to Georgia.)

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 11:57 am

      AJ, you should see the movie “Maudie” – you may find encouragement and inspiration. She was an outsider artist from Nova Scotia who had severe rheumatoid arthritis and painted despite the difficulties.

      • AJ August 12, 2017 / 5:30 pm

        How interesting she was! AND she comes my mother’s neck of the woods – momma was born in Digby and lived in Halifax for most of her teen years before marrying my dad and moving to the US. Plus it was filmed in Newfoundland, where more of my family came from. I’ll have to try and see the movie.

        To help me paint, I’ve been looking for some adaptive grips – something that goes over the pen/marker/brush that makes it easier to hold. And the rock idea sounds fun too. A lady I know, picked up rocks when she went walking on the beach then painted them and sold them at craft fairs. The things people will buy!! Shades of the pet rock craze back in the 70s (yes, I know I’m dating myself, lol)

        • Dulcie August 12, 2017 / 5:55 pm

          Maude Lewis. Great story. She has some great cat art too. ?

  4. Nancy August 12, 2017 / 9:35 am

    Oh of course not hot sauce. My purrito is the sweet kind and I shal just top with Kisses! (Hershey or otherwise!)

  5. Nancy August 12, 2017 / 9:37 am

    My little Honey girl ( who was not eating for awhile) is doing much better, still has some ups and downs (this is unavoidably a noisy household which is upsetting) but right now we are enjoying “bed laps” while mommy tries to talk herself into a productive day

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 10:08 am

      That’s great news, Nancy! I hope her progress continues apace.

      Went to a nice Mexican restaurant with some friends last night – great food but NOISY – Friday night crowd. Tonight I go with hubby to a banquet. Many years ago he was involved in startingrowing regatta for disabled people and he is the “voice” of the regatta – he does all the announcing – they love his British accent. They have a very nice post regatta banquet to announce winners (prizes are given out after each race) and it’s very impressive. Many of the participants go on the the disabled Olympics, so there are some very fine athletes. The disabilities range widely – quadriplegics to blind – many have able bodied people rowing with them, obviously. Wonderful event.

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 10:14 am

        That’s supposed to say “a rowing regatta” above.

        • Maia August 12, 2017 / 11:08 am

          What a wonderful cause to be involved in!

    • Maia August 12, 2017 / 11:00 am

      I am so glad to hear that! Wonderful news about Honey.

      • Nancy August 12, 2017 / 11:26 am

        Thank you & Murray for kind wishes ?. We have progressed to couch laps but am being semi productive by attempting checkbook balancing (old school LOL!)

  6. allein ? August 12, 2017 / 11:17 am

    Morning, everyone! (Hey, I’m actually posting this in the morning!! Don’t think that’s happened in a while.) I’ve been developing an ear infection since Tuesday morning when I woke up and couldn’t walk straight (wasn’t dizzy, just had no balance when I first got up; I was okay after a few minutes). I was taking Sudafed and hoping it would resolve itself (because I really don’t want to take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary) but by Friday morning I could tell it was getting worse so I went to the doctor after work. She looked in my left ear, said there was some fluid behind the eardrum but no infection, then looked in my right ear and said, and I quote, “Oh, this doesn’t look normal at all…” So now I have a bottle of Augmentin and just took my second dose. A breakfast purrito is perfect, since I’m supposed to take it with food. πŸ˜‰ (Also, it’s not good when the doctor comes in and says [paraphrasing] “long time, no see”…I made an appointment for a physical before I left (which isn’t until September 8; my plan is to work on some of my bad health habits in the meantime.)

    So happy anniversaries to Gigi and AJ, and here’s my nerdy share for the day.

    A Day in the Life of a (mostly) Human Sundial

    Video Credit & Copyright: Astronomie-AG, Progymnasium Rosenfeld, Till Credner, AlltheSky.com

    Explanation: Have you ever wanted to be a gnomon? Of course, a gnomon is the tall part of a sundial that casts a shadow. The gnomon’s shadow moves as the Sun moves across the sky, indicating time by the shadow’s position on the dial face. So on July 19th, the Astronomy Group of the Progymnasium Rosenfeld [in Germany] created a human sundial, each participant patiently playing the role of the gnomon for 10 minutes. In this timelapse video of their temporal voyage of discovery, one image was taken every 20 seconds from 8 am until 4 pm Central European Summer Time. Drawn on the ground are the dial hour marks calculated to show the local time for that specific date. Behind, the tower clock offers a time check. Can you find the local time of solar noon? (Hint: At solar noon the Sun is on the meridan.) The persistent group plans a repetition of the human sundial performance next winter to compare the length of the day and the altitude of the Sun.




    https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170812.html

    My favorite is the skeleton in a t-shirt.

    • dubravkamcvmd August 12, 2017 / 3:44 pm

      I liked the pup.

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 3:51 pm

        You know, I totally missed the dog! Just watched again and saw a few others I missed – a little girl reading a book, and a beer bottle (well, it is Germany).

        • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 5:51 pm

          Speaking of skeletons, and beer…

          A skeleton walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a beer and a mop.

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 4:37 pm

        Me, too.

  7. allein ? August 12, 2017 / 11:38 am

    Oh, no, I’m in the mod lounge!!

    *pokes around dusty shelves looking for snacks*

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 3:48 pm

        Thanks, Mike! I was getting hungry. πŸ˜‰

  8. Murray C August 12, 2017 / 11:49 am

    I’ve just invented a Do-It-Yourself Bunny Making Kit – I once again had trouble trying to make this small enough to post – we shall see!

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 11:50 am

      Oh, goody, it’s there. I think Clementine is thinking “There’s a bunny in there somewhere!”

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 5:42 pm

        And, in case someone might be wondering, this is what I brushed off of Clemmie this morning. I think she’s waiting for her clone to appear.

      • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 8:53 pm

        She’s so pretty! She’s like “should I say some magic words?”

    • Kar August 12, 2017 / 5:59 pm

      Im surprised Clementine has any fur left.

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 6:08 pm

        This is only the first go-round. I cannot believe how much she’s shedding – she looked almost FAT before I got started on this, especially in the hindquarters. Amazing. And it floats around and goes in your mouth and up your nose. I’m glad it only happens a couple of times a year.

        • Faye August 12, 2017 / 7:27 pm

          I took you literally. I thought it was cotton craft project. I did not realize you were brushing Clementine.

          • Murray C August 13, 2017 / 12:20 am

            ?

  9. Duckie ? August 12, 2017 / 12:03 pm

    Hallelujah! We have genuine clouds today, and not smoke! Tomorrow, RAIN! Bye bye, heatwave!
    Grampa still in hospital, but projected discharge date is Tuesday. We are all scurrying around getting things ready (home nurse, etc).
    Starting to get ready for fall projects. Got LOTS of fabric, and looking forward to having some fun. Time to start Christmas presents, maybe.
    Quiet, calm, peaceful day. I wish peace to everyone.

    • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 12:06 pm

      I haven’t been outside, or even opened the blinds, but shortly after I went to bed last night (which was about 1am) I heard a heavy downpour for several minutes, then it let up for about 30 seconds and started up again.

      Yay for Grampa going home!

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 1:58 pm

      Good news on the weather and home fronts, Duckie! YAY!

    • Gigi the cat lady August 12, 2017 / 11:09 pm

      I’m glad your gramps is feeling better!

  10. debg August 12, 2017 / 12:25 pm

    So much good news this weekend, about people’s lovely vacation plans, anniversaries, healing family members! It’s delightful to hear! Happy wishes to all!

    Quiet weekend here–I can’t even work up the energy to make that much-needed trip to the recycling center. Been under the weather most of the week with a tummy ache and abdominal pains. Think I’ll just stay home and cuddle kitties while I knit. (Because I never do that!)

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 2:01 pm

      Awww, feel better, DEBG – that’s a long time for a tummy ache – maybe have it checked out?

    • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 8:55 pm

      Bleargh – I hope you feel better soon! Your recovery plan sounds like a good one.

    • Emsthemonster August 13, 2017 / 1:41 pm

      I hope you already feel better, Debg

  11. allein ? August 12, 2017 / 12:32 pm

    Aaaand the chain in my toilet tank just broke. Lovely.

    • Dulcie August 12, 2017 / 1:19 pm

      ?? Unchained Melody ?

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 1:20 pm

        Ha!

    • Patty August 12, 2017 / 1:45 pm

      A chain of paper clips is a good temporary fix for that. They will rust eventually, but they will work for a while.

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 1:53 pm

        I was able to flush it by lifting the stopper, at least. So annoying, though. I’m sick; I don’t need home repairs right now. Even minor ones.

        • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 2:02 pm

          You’re under the weather, too, Allein? I hope you’re on the mend and feeling better soon.

          • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 2:23 pm

            I have an ear infection. I posted a longer post this morning around 11:00 and it’s still in moderation; I assume because it has several links in it. I guess Mike hasn’t been around to see it.

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 2:21 pm

        My mom was going to the store and got me milk, and she fixed the chain. For now. I guess I could have figured it out myself; I just really didn’t feel like messing with it.

        • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 8:59 pm

          Does your mom make house calls? I need to fix mine too – the rubber flappy thing doesn’t drop into place properly (I think it’s actually an easy fix/replace, but I’ve been procrastinating).

          Hope you feel better soon!

          • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 9:42 pm

            Heh, shortly after she left it came off again. I fixed it and made sure the clip that connects the chain to the handle was secure. Though she did offer to come back and fix it again.

            (And no, I don’t make house calls. πŸ˜‰ )

    • Ricky's Mom August 12, 2017 / 1:49 pm

      If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em:




      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 1:51 pm

        grr..

      • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 2:06 pm

        Nice. What a voice. I liked her best when she kept her vocal ornamentations simpler, as in this song.

          • fkaWaldenPond August 13, 2017 / 8:19 pm

            Oh and here is another– listen for the incredible ‘studio musician’ do a after thought poly tempo knock-knock rap on the side of the snare drum. πŸ™‚ https://youtu.be/bJZwcaWResA

    • dubravkamcvmd August 12, 2017 / 3:06 pm

      Sometimes I feel life is a game of Whack-a-Mole.

  12. Patty August 12, 2017 / 1:43 pm

    That kitten is so cute!
    I’ve got no plans this weekend, other than visiting my daughter’s cats. I am taking care of them, but they don’t really need their food and water dishes checked every day. They just need some love every day, so I go over, brush them, give them treats, talk to them, and make sure the litter box is clean. They are not used to the quietness, considering there are 4 children living with them.

    My kittens are still around, growing, being adorable, and giving me hours of entertainment. I was trying to strip the bed to wash the sheets, and had to give up for an hour while they were sleeping, playing, and cleaning each other and their mother.
    Right now all the critters are sleeping, 2 kittens in a laundry basket, one cat on the arm of the couch, the dog behind me in the desk chair, a cat and 2 kittens on my bed.

    It’s been chilly here for August, into the 60s at night. I can live with that.

    • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 9:01 pm

      Hope you have a nice, relaxing weekend – both sets of kitties (*and the dog) sound like delightful company!

  13. Ricky's Mom August 12, 2017 / 1:52 pm

    Off-topic: Hey, Mike, if you’re out there, is there a guide on the site to posting videos and pix? I thought I knew how to do it, but I appear to be mistaken.

    • Not That Mike The Other Mike August 12, 2017 / 3:25 pm

      I could write one. Other people have made that suggestion, and thank you for reminding me. I’ll see what I can come up with.

  14. Faye August 12, 2017 / 2:10 pm

    Hi Everyone. Quiet weekend here. I finished a 34th drawing and a description so work on website is the goal of the day. Sketching two new ideas.

    Not a nice day to be out. Humid and hazy. Millie is asleep beside me. She had a ride in the car yesterday to get her nails clipped. She was more calm than her last ride. I used a calming pheromone spray on her blankie. It worked. She slept on and off.

    My good news is I have begun to solve some orthopedic problems on my own after not getting good results from Doctors. If I see consistent improvement I will share details.

    I am also losing weight which helps with that as well as other health issues. I have changed how and what I eat resulting in a very slow 17 pound drop. One pound at a time is my goal.

    Everyone sounds reasonably well. Wishing all a peaceful weekend.

    • dubravkamcvmd August 12, 2017 / 3:24 pm

      Great news all around, Faye.

    • Murray C August 12, 2017 / 4:39 pm

      Good going, Faye!

    • AJ August 12, 2017 / 5:43 pm

      Yeah Faye on the weight loss!! I’m trying to lose some too but my problem is I like sweets waayyyy too much. And have fun with your projects, I going to pop over to your site to see your recent work.

      • Faye August 12, 2017 / 7:30 pm

        Thank you AJ. New drawing up on home page.

    • fkaWaldenPond August 12, 2017 / 8:03 pm

      Hey Faye, good lifestyle changes on the orthopedic problems and weight loss. Slow and gradual worked for me too when my thyroid ‘blew’ about 10 years ago. As you may probably know, as I am always going on about it– annoyingly so, I term myself a ‘born again’ walker ;), walking and stretching were life changers for me. My injuries decreased when I lost the weight. Slow and steady, be well!

    • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 9:04 pm

      That’s terrific, Faye – glad to hear it!

    • Emsthemonster August 13, 2017 / 1:43 pm

      yay for gradual weightloss, just be able to stop when you have lost enough

  15. Laura August 12, 2017 / 5:04 pm

    Hi, all. Sorry you’re not feeling well, DebG and Allein; get better soon! Everyone else sounds like they’re happy and enjoying life, which is great.

    The only excitement we’ve had is that twice, I found a bag of Melody’s big dog biscuits on the floor, chewed open and partially eaten. We blamed her, naturally, since she’s a tall girl and Sebastian’s a short little guy. But then yesterday I discovered we shouldn’t have been so quick to blame her — I found Sebastian in the kitchen, jumping up on his hind feet, reaching with great effort onto the edge of the counter trying to pull a loaf of bread off it for a snack! Silly boy! He doesn’t like the diet he’s on, apparently — but he needs to be on it; he’s been sneaking too much of Melody’s food, and has gained 6 lbs (2.7 kilos) as a result! Which, for a dog who started off at 36 lbs (16.3 kilos), that’s a whole lot of weight!

    So now he’s back to looking optimistic any time anyone goes near the kitchen. Problem is, we’ve already been through our softie period; now we can be hard-hearted when it’s for his own good, much as he dislikes it. Silly little boy! He’s really a trip, I must say; life was a lot quieter and more dull before he joined the family!

    Otherwise, we’ve just been hiding away from the *hideously* hot weather and I’ve been getting through piles of work this week. I’m going to take off several days next week for sure!

    Everyone have a great week — it’s so nice we can all catch up with each other this way! It really makes for a sense of community here that’s missing from so many places online, doesn’t it? Mike’s a fantastic leader of this merry band of Cutetropolitans!

  16. Blue Footed Booby August 12, 2017 / 5:15 pm

    Anyone else here drunk, pantsless, and building models of Soviet tanks?

    • Duckie ? August 12, 2017 / 5:31 pm

      Erm…

    • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 5:32 pm

      I am not drunk, though ear infection might make me walk like I am.
      I am also wearing pants, but I wouldn’t wear them out of the house.
      I’m doing a jigsaw puzzle on https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/ and listening to (as I type this, at least) “Jim Henson’s Dead” by Stephen Lynch.

    • dubravkamcvmd August 12, 2017 / 5:35 pm

      Hmmm…..this is a reference to?

    • AJ August 12, 2017 / 5:40 pm

      Inquiring minds want to know – what the h e double hockey sticks is going on??? Or are you just trying to see who actually reads all the posts?

      • allein ? August 12, 2017 / 5:47 pm

        I took it to mean that’s just what he was up to today.

    • Kar August 12, 2017 / 6:01 pm

      I guess we should be grateful that the pantless, drunk genius isn’t building ACTUAL tanks.

      • Blue Footed Booby August 13, 2017 / 5:12 pm

        *bashful shuffling*

    • Blue Footed Booby August 12, 2017 / 6:06 pm

      Just finished assembling a BT-7. I’m gonna sober up before I try to paint it. Tamiya kit, 1:35 scale, aftermarket gun barrel I found on eBay after screwing up the stock one

      I have no idea if this link will become an inline picture but by golly I’m trying

      • fkaWaldenPond August 12, 2017 / 7:06 pm

        I say paint it while you are still inebriated and say it is camouflage style if you go outside the lines. (and I am all ‘commando’ if that counts as no pants.)

    • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 6:44 pm

      Hehe, well, I’m pantsless because it’s hot…but I’m sober, and I just finished unpacking my loot from a yard sale at the church across the street. Couple of nice coffee mugs for our local homeless-services org (one of the things on their wish list) and a cute amethyst glass votive holder for me. But your plan sounds like fun! πŸ˜€

      • Duckie ? August 12, 2017 / 7:52 pm

        Smartypants, did you go pantsless to the church yard sale?

        • Smartypants August 12, 2017 / 8:49 pm

          Nope – now that would have made quite an impression!

          Oh, and I have new next-door neighbors. I haven’t met the guy, but I met the woman and her little Jack Russell Terrier. They seem nice – no yelling, no smoking, no 2 AM rock concerts – cross your fingers!

      • Patty August 13, 2017 / 11:44 am

        I love church yard sales. They usually have baked goods, and I can’t say no to home made cinnamon rolls, or pumpkin bread.

    • Gigi the cat lady August 12, 2017 / 11:18 pm

      Well it’s 11pm and we just got back from the restaurant, I’m not pantsless yet but I’m definitely not sober LOL!

      • Murray C August 13, 2017 / 12:24 am

        Good for you, GiGi – sounds like you had a good time.

  17. Dulcie August 12, 2017 / 6:06 pm

    Gee, and after my post in yesterday’s links…

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