Happy weekend! For open thread today we were lucky enough to secure the private lounge of Internet-famous millionaire Timo the Ragdoll Cat. Have a seat, and our waiter will be along to take drink orders shortly
Sender-inner Paul P. pulled some strings.
Morning everyone. I definitely need to lounge with Timo – looooooooong hike last night and I’m a bit sore today. My mother is celebrating her 80th birthday tomorrow so I have to bake a cake etc. today. Weather seems nice here so maybe some gardening too. Happy Saturday everyone.
Hikes are wonderful even with the earned soreness. And Happy Birthday to your Mom! How wonderful!
You had good weather for it– be sure to eat protein today, stretch today, gardening is ideal. Mmmmmm cake. Happy Birthday to your Mom!
Happy birthday to your mom, and good luck with the preparations you are making!
Hi everyone!
My shoulder surgery went well. My therapist is pleased with my range of motion. I AM doing my therapy. 🙂 I brush my teeth every day, but it still feels awkward 2 1/2 weeks out doing it with my left hand. (Shrugs shoulders but it looks funny because one doesn’t move the same as the other yet)
Taking my boy to the start of his freshman year at college. The surgery was all an elaborate ruse to get out of doing any of the heavy lifting. (Joking) I look forward to good things from him. 🙂
Haha, I’m glad that your shoulder is doing well. Congrats on your son starting college! He couldn’t have done it without you!
Very good, HaHa! It’s been almost a year since my shoulder surgery and it does take some time. And doing everything with your non-dominant hand is a challenge! Good luck with the whole schmegeggie – or however you spell it.
And, Birdcage – that soreness feels pretty good in a way, doesn’t it? And Happy Birthday, Mom!
Good morning Cutetropolitans, not much going on this weekend but I’ve had an appointment with my doctor this week and the new medication for my Type 2 diabetes seems to be working, my A1C numbers are down, so that’s good but I haven’t loss any weight, that’s not so good so I’ve been walking more this week.
The doctor also told me to stop taking my blood pressure medicine because the diabetes medicine he gave me also brings down blood pressure and that makes me VERY nervous. I did stop but I still have a full month’s reserve, so on my walks every day I stop by the pharmacy and get my blood pressure checked. It’s only been 4 days since I stopped taking my pills and my pressure is still OK but if it goes up I’m going back on my medication, I don’t care what my doctor says. My mother died after suffering 5 strokes caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure and I will not end up like her.
I hope everyone has a nice and safe weekend!
Great news about your A1C! I totally get what you’re saying about your BP. I’m glad that you have a way to monitor it for yourself. 🙂
Ahhh, Timo, how nice of you! Looks pawsitively relaxing and comfy. I imagine there are similar accommodations for the accompanying kitties who choose not to lap at the moment? Please tell that waiter I would love an orange juice on ice.
(Is THIS what they call the Mod Lounge???)
Good morning everyone! Thought we could all use a drink after this past week..
Tonight I’m going to my parents’ for dinner, then tomorrow is my friend’s daughter’s 5th birthday party (her birthday was the 9th), and somewhere in there I have to go check on my other friend’s cat.
Something I came across this week: I have a feeling I’m not the only one here who would like this book club:
http://lithub.com/how-the-silent-book-club-gave-me-back-my-reading-life
And finally, a friend shared this on facebook last night; thought I’d share here, too.
Now that’s my kind of 6-pack! Thanks, Allein and you, too, Mike for all the cute in these distressing times. The nonprofit I work for serves low-income, mostly minority families, many of them immigrants so I find the current political climate especially deplorable.
On a lighter note, I just bought lots of veggies at the farmer’s market (stir fry tonight!) and some flowers. Walked by the library and there is a line out the door due to distribution of free protective eye wear for the eclipse. Will be only a partial eclipse in this neck of the woods but still cool!
That six pack was from the Bored Panda funny cats link from the other day, but it was on one of the later pages so I figured some people might not get that far. I was saving it for today; funny that Mike had a bit about ordering drinks. 😛
My kind of beverage.
Mine, too. Drinks all around!
AMYLIZ – I have a quiet form of resistance. Whenever I receive a service from an immigrant, I over tip them (so think cabbies, restaurant servers, etc.) When an immigrant comes into the store I oversee, I give them a generous discount. If there are other customers around, I can’t tell them I am giving them a discount, or I would get complaints from the non-immigrant customers. So, if the immigrant checks his/her receipt later, they might find that they received an item free.
I am management at the store, so I am able to make this call.
I am also an immigrant and the business my parents created employs on average 10 to 15 “Americans” annually. “Americans” because since we’ve never hired a Native American, everyone else is technically from somewhere else, despite the American birthright.
🙂 Me too Julie. I work in insurance and live in an area that is actively welcoming refugees, mostly Syrian. We have three immigration consultants who about twice once a month bring to the office an entire family who just got off a flight and need tenants insurance (standard practice here) to get keys to their new rental apartment. I do bare bones, no frills, but solid, no gaps coverage with a ‘welcome’ discount thrown in. I try not to crack up as when I finish the application and announce the yearly price (ridiculously low) the immigration consultant looks at me in amazement and says some expression of amazement– then, they catch themselves and add the barter-back-and-forth-culture-thingy of ‘is that the best you can do?’ We look at each other, me with the ‘come on, I just did this ridiculous low premium for you’ and the consultant grins and acknowledges kindly, with many thanks– and away they all go with me truly wishing them well and success.
I don’t know what is going to happen to them but I try to make an honest, genuine kind expression of welcome from the get go.
Not sure why the book club article isn’t a link. It was when I first posted it on my tablet, then changed when I edited. Let’s try again..
http://lithub.com/how-the-silent-book-club-gave-me-back-my-reading-life/
Good morning, everyone.
It is a cool, cloudy day here in Abbotsford, BC. I am enjoying a good cup of tea for the first time in several weeks. I tend to stop drinking tea in the summer, and I really look forward to that first cup when it starts to cool down.
It’s our engagement anniversary today (book length story here), so I am looking forward to relaxing with my bestest friend in the world.
I’m budgie sitting this weekend for the lady upstairs. Blue is a very quiet bird, unlike a certain lovebird I know. I’m thinking that I might prefer a budgie to a love bird.
Feeling very peaceful today. Hope everyone else has some positive peace, too.
PS why does Timo get to have a koi pond with fish as big as he is? I’m so jealous!
Peace to you, too, Duckie. Congrats on your engagement anniversary!
In regards to Timo, I was wondering about the fire-coffee-table thing. Does anyone know how the top panel of glass does not overheat?
I don’t think there is a top panel – it’s just a fancy schmancy fire pit. I wonder if a certain adorable rag doll hasn’t singed her pretty furbelows on it!???
Good morning all.
I planned to go get my haircut today. I was up early and it was already 80F. The feels like temp for today is 96F. So…. Drawing in the AC wearing my PJs!
Working on a HAPPY drawing for a change. It is dedicated to Millie and is titled: The Girl And The Dog Are Playing. I will share when I complete it. This is my first happy drawing. It still originates in my therapy but signifies my feeling much better. Yay!
I cooked all day yesterday. I need to cut out prepared pasta sauce as it is too salty for me. So I sauted presliced yellow red green peppers and onions. Took them out of the pan and then made a simple tomato sauce with nosalt diced tomatoes and canned nosalt sauce. I have to tweak the sauce with a bit of sugar next time but it came together. Adding my own salt never adds up to the higher than needed salt of jarred. Then I cooked whole wheat rigatoni and mixed all together. I’m eating some and freezing portions.
Found an interesting group on FB. Elder Orphans. For people over 50 with no or estranged from parents siblings spouses kids aunts uncles cousins etc. you would be surprised how many of us are out there.
The group is to allay fears, share info, medical, financial and end of life ideas. Also positive suggestions re activities etc. They have a subgroup about PETS. Millie has already made her debut!
I plan to post Cutetropolis to the Elder Orphan group. Every little bit of cute helps when you are alone. I am very lucky with my living arrangements and Cutetropolis denizens.
Be safe!
I saw an article about that group- I am so glad that you found them, Faye!
I look forward to seeing your drawing when it is finished.
Thank you!
Faye, that’s great about your Millie drawing – I look forward to seeing it. And wonderful about the Orphans’ Group – what a terrific idea.
Something I learned on TV about making pasta sauce – when you’re sautéing your veggies prior to putting in tomatoes you put in some tomato paste and let it get caramelized leaving a “fond” (basically leaving a bit of crustiness tho’ not burned) in the bottom of the pan. It’s amazing what it does for deepening flavors, adding a bit of complexity. I sometimes put in some chopped-up sun dried tomatoes, too – and lemon zest.
Hi Murray! Great minds think alike. When I tasted it the first thing I thought was “tomato paste”! My mother taught me to let it carmalize a bit.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? I love learning those sorts of tips for making things more delicious – and so easy.
. . .in Italy we encountered orange zest in tomato sauce.
Lovely. I do this now.
Ooooh, that sounds good – I put orange zest in salad dressings but I’ll definitely have to try it in tomato sauce. Another thing I love to do is slice lemon or lime – rind and flesh – into fine bits and put them in toward the end but let them cook a bit – then when you’re eating you get a burst of citrus goodness.
I just made the mistake of doing a silly facebook game someone posted: type your name in the gif search in the comment box and post what comes up. I got this (among others on the same theme):
That didn’t help my mood today. 🙁
Oh, No, Allein! That is so not true! We’re here with you!
and this gives me a wonderful opportunity to thank you for all of your posts to Cutetropolis. From the funny pictures to the wry humor- they make me smile, which I very often need. Hugs to you! 🙂
Thanks
I second what Maia said, Allein ❤
Allein, I agree with all of the above comments – you are so funny and kind and interesting – you are a wonderful presence here.
Ditto ditto!
I am not worried that you won’t meet some fella Allein, I am worried that he won’t be good enough for you! Hang in there and no movement with the one you fancy who works at the bookstore?
I haven’t seen him that much lately, other than very briefly last Friday when I went to order a book. He was on his way out and didn’t stop to talk. Trying not to take it personally. (He dropped something off at the info desk while the guy there was looking up my book; I’m not sure he even realized it was me standing there until I said something, unless he was ignoring me.) When I picked up the book on Tuesday his car was in the parking lot but he must have been in the office or something because I didn’t see him. The last time I had an actual conversation with him was about a month ago and that was actually work related (I went in on behalf of my coworker to ask him about setting up a store visit for our summer intern).
Happy weekend, everyone! And Happy Solar Eclipse for the USA on Monday! I will be traveling tomorrow to see the totality, since I live in an area that will only get the partial. There are already articles about how awful traffic is supposed to be, and about how many of the solar glasses are not certified safe. My son and I will be making an old-fashioned viewer using a cereal box today.
Morning, all! Another crazy week at work, due to a last-minute change on the magazines going to press. When you’re told to eliminate 8 advertising pages–ON PRESS DAY–it’s akin to telling your builder, the day before closing, that you want to alter the blueprints. But it’s done. And my previous problem child magazine, Knitting Traditions, landed on my desk yesterday. It’s gorgeous. As soon as we’ve put up the store page, I’ll share a link for all you crafting/history buffs.
This weekend, I have to plan my front yard. Tomorrow, my lawn guy rents a rototiller to remove all the weeds. That leaves me with 600 square feet to fill with at least 50% live plantings over the next few weeks (before the weeds take over again). I love planning yards and gardens; I just can’t be bothered to maintain them. Thank goodness I’ve got a great lawn guy to do all the installation and maintenance.
I’m too young to join Elder Orphans. It feels weird to say that, since I’ve been feeling so old lately!
Happy birthdays to Cutetropolitans and their family members. Congrats to all who are feeling better, physically, mentally, or spiritually. With a 6-pack of kittens and a royally relaxed Timo, there is nothing we can’t do!
Not to put too fine a point on it, Debg, but what really needs to be done after your rototilling is to let the soil stay as is for a while until all the seeds that were rototiller sprout then dig them ( no more rototilling!) into the soil before they go to seed again. rototilling brings up seeds galore and a lot of gardeners don’t do it anymore for that reason. And anywhere you can do a raised bed the better off you are – I wish I’d done that 20-some years ago when I started my garden, it would’ve saved a lot of heartache.
Happy weekend, Cutetropolitans! I’ll make a longer post later, but wanted to share this nifty image I found (I’m attaching it as a reply – let’s see if it works…)
Okay, I tried a couple of things, but apparently the image is too large. If you do a Google Image search for “Wonder Woman liberty and justice for all” there’s a great comic book panel from the 1940s where she’s stating that the American promise is for everybody – “regardless of race, color or religion.”
I can’t believe we’re still having to say it in 2017, but so be it!
Is this the image? (I pasted its URL here and the website displays it automatically)
Oh, thank you Mike! That’s the one.
The serious countdown to surgery is upon me, only 48 hours left! Luckily, it’s a later surgery time so I will get to see the eclipse right before I have to leave for the hospital. I thought I was going to miss it!
I’m about to take Lily in for a claw trim so that she doesn’t completely shred my mom (who’s staying with me for a week or two post surgery). She’ll arrive tomorrow and I still have a bunch of stuff to do around the house. Everyone have a great weekend and I’ll see you all on the flip side!
The definition of concentration right here:
Good luck! Hope all goes well on Monday!
Good luck!
Bathed in a heavenly light!
Best of luck with your surgery, Jan – you know we’ll be looking forward to hearing from you on the other side! I hope all goes well – beyond your wildest imaginings. It may not happen all at once, but it will get better and better.
Good luck, Jan! I’m glad that you get to see the eclipse first!
Take care, godspeed, good luck and read you soon!
Good luck, Jan.
Since I was one of the people who really missed being able to share posts by email and asked about it, I want to thank Mike for restoring the feature so quickly. It is wonderful how you manage this site with the pleasure of your readers a top priority.
I also want to thank Smartypants for his (or her) helpful advice. Tech challenged as I am I think I could manage that method of sharing. Being a procrastinator par excellence I have not tried it yet but I intend to. It is always good to have options.
Finally I have a suggestion for the 2018 calendar. My 2017 Cat Shaming calendar has the following entry for August 5: Bizarre Holiday – National Mustard Day. It might be worth a mention.