No S&H chat today

Mar. 29th, 2026 10:17 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Got up at 11:00, my cold felt a bit worse, I figure from being out in the cold yesterday. I had my breakfast and coffee, and then discovered there was no Starsky and Hutch creative work session today, Turns out Babs, who runs it, went to a concert today. Oh well...

I did a little writing anyway, not a lot, but the story is now over 4,400 words. So that's good.

Eventually I threw some clothes on and went and picked up my laundry.

I puttered on line for awhile, and then went to the bedroom to lay down for awhile. I played solitaire and fell asleep for a bit. The cold now feels better, I think a day of rest helped.

Woke up around 6:00, got up and had a snack. Then I got ready and Teamed the FWiB at 7:00. At 8:30 I called Middle Brother. He's doing fine and looking forward to Easter. I have to get his Easter basket made and mailed soon!

Finished Teaming the FWiB at about 8:40, and had dinner,

Went to the bedroom again, Called the Kid, who of course didn't answer. Texted her. Played solitaire until pet feeding time, and fed the pets.

That's all.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Clean laundry.

3. Wrote some.

4. Middle Brother is well.

5. Solitaire on my phone.

6. My cold is better.

Take me out to the ball game

Mar. 28th, 2026 10:57 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Got up a little after 9:00 and then hurried to have breakfast and coffee, and then shower and dress, because I was the speaker at my Al-anon meeting this morning and didn't want to be late.

I got there early actually, so that was good. My speaking went well.

Afterward I went with S and G but instead of the diner we went to Bay Terrace to Panera, because Bell Blvd was blocked for the Bayside St. Patrick's Day parade (and don't ask me why they were having it on March 28th).

Anyway we went to Bay Terrace an Panara, and I had the Autumn Squash soup which is delicious.

I took the 13 bus from there to Flushing and the 7 train to Willit's Point/Mets Stadium and joined Larry at our seats. The game was very odd, I guess a pitchers duel, someone said. It was 0 to 0 for the entire nine innings, so it went to extra innings, and then things heated up. We eventually beat the Pirates in the 11th inning, 3 to 2. The final runs were very exciting.

The giveaway for the game was a replica World Series ring, very flashy. I think I'll let [personal profile] mashfanficchick have it though, I like the shiny, but I think ze'll enjoy having it more than me.

I got an Italian sausage with onions and peppers, it was very good though terribly messy.

Larry and I took the 7 train back to Flushing, then went our separate ways. I took the 44 home, and Teamed to FWiB.

Some bad news, Matsir emailed me that she and Darin are not going to Montreal after all, some office politics stuff I gather. So that leaves me without a backup if I can't get a room. Fingers crossed that I can...

Good news. When I got home, there was mail from the nursing home that Oldest Brother was at when he died. It was a check for a nice amount, I assume what was left over from his social security deposits. Why it took a year to send it to me I don't know. I will talk to the Kid about it but I think it should be used towards paying off his cremation. Won't pay it off, but it will be a help.

Anyway, that was the day. I wish I had been able to go to a No Kings protest, but I didn't want to miss my meeting. I wish they would have the protests on Sunday rather than Saturday!

Oh, one more thing. There is soon going to be another Lois McMaster Bujold Penric and Desdemona story. And again I feel a pang at not being able to talk to Oldest Brother about it...

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My meetings and the people there.

3. Larry and his Mets tickets.

4. Mets won!

5. [personal profile] mashfanficchick arrived in Ohio safely.

6. New Bujold coming out.

Edited to add: Just discovered the final score of the game was actually 4 to 2, not 3 to 2. I didn't realize the Mets had two men on base when the final home run was scored. My bad!

The Friday Five on a Saturday

Mar. 28th, 2026 11:47 am
nanila: me (Default)
[personal profile] nanila
  1. What is a common ear worm that you get?

    My children rickroll me pretty regularly, so That Song gets stuck in my head.

  2. How long do they last?

    Not very long. My brain is usually too preoccupied with other sources of worry and stress to spend long on an earworm.

  3. What do you do to get rid of them?

    I don't know if this will sound contradictory, but on the rare occasions when an earworm sticks, I find that playing the actual song gets rid of it.

  4. What is the worst ear worm you've ever had?

    There's this Robyn song that I dislike intensely, and it popped in and out of my head for a week. I don't like the song so was very reluctant to employ my usual remedy.

  5. Do you get some guilty pleasure in passing the ear worm along?

    Not unless it's reciprocally rickrolling my children.

Did some stuff

Mar. 27th, 2026 11:22 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Woke up at 6:00 something, couldn't get back to sleep. Got up and had breakfast at 7:30, then turned off the alarm and went back to sleep.

Was woken up by my therapist calling just before 10 saying she would have a session with me at 11:30. I said that was OK, and was dwadling in bed when I got the session link at 11:00. So I hurried to get up and be ready for it, but she confirmed she'd sent the link accidentally. But I was up so I stayed up and we had the session at 11:30. It was good.

Then I made coffee and thought about going back to bed but didn't. I showered and dressed, and puttered on the computer. Then I took the bag of laundry from the other day down and dropped it off, I told them I couldn't pick it up til Sunday, though.

I decided I needed to really do some stuff though, so I bagged an took out most of the really disgraceful amount of recycling that had accumulated in my kitchen.

I took out two loads of two bags each, and there's still a bag and a load of cardboard left. I walked around the block twice too.

At 5:00 I left for my Al-anon meeting in the Bronx. The damn MTA has re-relocated the stop for the 25 to somewhere I don't know, so once again I walked to the 50.

Got to the Bronx, had my pizza for dinner, and went to the meeting, which was very good. We got a newcomer I think might actually come back.

The meeting ran late and I was worried about making the bus home, but as it has been the past several weeks, the bus was late too so I made it. Got off at my stop, and a 61 came along almost immediately. So I got home fast.

Got here an Teamed the FWiB. Then fed the pets and started here.

Annoyance of the day: I got a letter from the DMV. I have to retake my photo for the enhanced ID, so I have to go back to the DMV.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. The recycling is out.

3. The laundry is down.

4. My therapist.

5. My meetings and the people there.

6. I didn't miss the bus an have to wait a half hour for the next one.

Sleep doctor on my birthday

Mar. 27th, 2026 01:04 am
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
It was my birthday today of course, and also the appointment with the sleep doctor. I got up at a little after 8:30 and had breakfast and coffee, then showered and dressed and left for the sleep doctor.

I took the Q25 to Parsons Blvd and then the Q46 to where it turns onto Lakeville Road, and then I made a big mistake. I took the N25 from the stop where it goes up Union Tpk. And I thought I was going the right way because it got to New Hyde Park Road, but then it never reached the stop, and then it turned off New Hyde Park Road. I realized something was very wrong and got off and called an Uber. Which was expensive.

Of course I was late, but I called and said I was on the way and they said it was OK. The Uber got me there, and I got seen pretty quickly.

And the doctor was pretty adamant. Yes I have apnea, she could tell by one look down my throat. They did breathing tests, and they were normal. So that's good. They are going to do a sleep study, in the lab if my insurance allows it, or at home if not. I'll know in a week to ten days which.

Then I had to get home, not knowing how to go. I studied google maps, then I walked about eight minutes to Union Tpk, and took the N25 from there, which took me to known territory. I took the Q46 to Main street and the Q44 from there home.

I texted [personal profile] mashfanficchick who was at Mets opening day with Larry. Ze has decided it's safe for zer to fly to Ohio, so ze was going to zer father's to pick up zer laptop and borrow a suitace, so I said I would leave for zer place after the game was over and wait for zer there.

So that's what I did. The Mets won 11 to 9 I think, and I headed over to zer place, by bus so I feel like I've been busing all day. The 20 to the 46 again.

Got there a bit after 6:00. The Kid called me to wish me happy birthday which was nice. Nothing new with her.

I Teamed the FWiB from my phone at 7:00 and [profile] mashhfanficchick arrived around 7:30.

Larry sent me the ticket for the game on Saturday we're going to. Looking forward to that, Not really part of my borthday as Larry would have offered it to me anyway, but I'm considering it a birthday treat.

At 8:00 we watched 911, and at 8:30 I called Middle Brother. He is fine, nothing new.

We called in sushi for my birthday dinner, and had that during the show. Watched 911:Nashville at 9:00.

Ze surprised me with Carvel Nutella ice cream with a birthday candle, which was wonderful. Then we watched Tuesdays episode of Will Trent on Hulu.

Then I Ubered home and fed the pets and here I am.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Diagnosis of sleep apnea.

3. Uber got me there.

4. [personal profile] mashfanficchick

5. The Kid.

6. Middle Brother is fine.

Gaming night

Mar. 25th, 2026 10:38 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Woke up with the alarm at 10:00, went back to sleep til after 12:00. Had breakfast and coffee. Called [personal profile] mashfanficchick because ze had texted me during the night but I was asleep. There was some good news ze wanted to share, so that was nice.

I put in a Shipt order and waited for it to be delivered. Then for the rest of the day I didn't do much of anything. I did get a bag of laundry together but didn't feel up to taking it down. I think I have a mild cold, and I'm nursing it.

At 7:00 I Teamed the FWiB. We talked til my gaming at 8:00. I got the Discord working on the computer! I figured out why my microphone wasn't working, there was a setting I had to change. The game was fun, we killed stirges (blood sucking bird-like things), zombies, and an evil priest.

Then I fed the pets and had dinner. That was pretty much the whole day.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and also the day I'm going to the sleep doctor. I have to get up pretty early to get there. Then birthday dinner with [personal profile] mashfanficchick, and our TV shows.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My gaming group.

3. The cold is pretty mild.

4. [personal profile] mashfanficchick's good news.

5. Shipt.

6. Bed soon.

Gyn appointment cancelled

Mar. 24th, 2026 10:23 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
I got a phone call at 8:30-something to tell me that, since I had had my last gyn checkup on May 20th last year they didn't think the insurance would cover another checkup before May 20th this year. The woman said she would check and get back to me, and in a few minutes she called back and said no, unless there was an issue so that they could count the visit as a followup, I'd have to wait until May 20th. There was no reason I could honestly give, so I rescheduled for May 20th.

Then I couldn't get back to sleep, so at 9:30 I got up and had breakfast and coffee. But I was very tired, so I went back to bed, and then I did sleep, until after 1:00.

SO then I got up and wondered what to do for the rest of the day. I tried to make a reservation in the hotel Matsir told me about, but the system wouldn't take it. I think it's because it's too far in advance, over a year and a half. Matsir said Darin said there would be con rates posting at the beginning of 2027.

I also filled out the volunteer form for the con. I hope I am looked on kindly.

There were prompts in the S&H Facebook group for writing a 20 minute fic, which usually I don't do, but this time the prompts gave me an idea and I set a timer for 20 minutes and wrote. I think I can use it for the SHarecon Countdown Calendar.

I cleaned the cat pan, put on clothes and was just opening the front door to take out the dirty litter when my phone rang. It was the medical office, apparently someone from the insurance company called them back and said the first person they spoke to was wrong, I could have had the appointment today. And she asked did I want to move the new appointment up from May 20th. But having made the appointment, I decided to keep it. So I go in May.

So then I took out the cat litter and walked around the block. I came back and took out the garbage, and walked around the block again.

Came back in and puttered til it was time to Team the FWiB. We talked til it was time for my Al-anon meeting. It was a small meeting, just me and M and S. But it was good.

Then I had dinner, and went to the bedroom to lay down and call [personal profile] mashfanficchick. Then I played solitaire, and then I listened to something I'd only heard about before, the anti Vietnam War song, Waist Deep in the Big Muddy, sung by Pete Seeger. I think it is reminiscent of our situation in Iran now.

Then it was pet feeding time so I fed the pets and started here.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWib.

2. At least the appointment was cancelled before I got there and had to go home.

3. Clean cat pan.

4, Writing done.

5. Matsir and Darin.

6. My meetings and the people there.

Laila's big office visit

Mar. 24th, 2026 01:51 pm
dorchadas: (Azumanga Daioh Chiyo-chan bus gas)
[personal profile] dorchadas
Laila had a doctor's appointment downtown today, so after their appointment they came to the office to see everyone. The last time she was here, she was still a toddler and we were trying to get her to walk. Now, she's in her shy phase and we were trying to get her to actually say something.

First, the good news--the doctor says that Laila is healing well and she's now cleared to do flips (but still no spins), and if she keeps healing like this she'll be fully healed sometime in May. Just need to keep on her to make sure she doesn't climb on too many things, because if she hits her head too hard she'll end up with a skull fracture.

Anyway, [instagram.com profile] sashagee brought Laila to the building and, in contrast to how things were during the Plague Years, they just waved me in and took me at my word--though in fairness, I had given a nengajо̄ to the receptionist so they knew my family by appearance already. We went up and showed Laila around, one of my co-workers gave her an apple and another one gave her a little clapper toy. Laila's in her shy phase so she quietly said "hi" and "thank you" and waved at people. Unfortunately some of her biggest cheerleaders weren't in the office, but she'll be back in the summer for another visit!

After we the visit was done Laila was very hungry, so we went down to the lobby again. There had been a miscommunication between [instagram.com profile] sashagee and I about when we were going out to lunch--she thought I meant today when I meant tomorrow--but I suggested going to the work canteen. Originally I thought I would have to go up there and bring their orders down, but I asked the security guard if I could bring them up and she just waved dismissively and said, "Sure," which is pretty convenient but definitely makes me feel a little less safe! We went up to the dining hall and I picked up my lunch I had already ordered, paneer from a place called The Clove, and [instagram.com profile] sashagee ordered a pastrami sandwich and we sat down and ate. Laila ate all the toppings and none of the bread from her half of the sandwich, but she was happy when the man working the register gave her a free rice krispy treat that they had left over at the end of the day. My paneer was fine, not great, but fine, and I threw it in the "okay" category of the restaurant lists.

After that, I walked [instagram.com profile] sashagee and Laila to the L and they went home!

Oh, almost forgot to mention--there was a "Tea Lab popup" at work today, which meant that I got to go into a room and make a few teabags that I can take home. I just made ones with green tea and added spearmint, rosehips, lavender, and dandelion in various proportions. I'm going to take them home and have them in the morning with my fish, rice, and pickles for breakfast.

Unexpected lunch out

Mar. 23rd, 2026 10:28 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Got up at 10:00 this morning and had breakfast. Before I had my coffee, [personal profile] mashfanficchick called and asked if I would like to join zer for lunch in Flushing as ze was going to take a train to zer father's from there. So of course I said yes.

Had my coffee and then showered and dressed. Figured I'd leave at 2:00 to get there by 2:30, so I did some stuff. Took at look at the Montreal Worldcon 2027 page, they have hotels posted now and they are expensive. So I emailed the only person I know who I thought was probably going, Matsir, and asked if she and her husband were going, and could they offer any help/advice to a newbie. I also posted on ship-of-fools asking if anyone was going and if so would they like to be room mates.

Pretty quickly I got a reply from Matsir in the affirmative, so I asked her if there was a list of people looking for room mates, or if she knew any cheaper hotels.

Then at 2:00 I headed in to Flushing. Got a bus almost immediately so I was early, so I checked out one of the malls, got a small item I'm going to give to [personal profile] mashfanficchick as part of zer birthday present, and finally ended up getting bubble tea.

When [personal profile] mashfanficchick arrived, we went to the rice noodle place we've been going to, where I got my usual, the crossbridge mushroom noodle soup. Yum!

After lunch we went to J Mart and ze got some stuff and I tagged along. Then we went our separate ways, I tried to go to Duane Reade to get Easter candy for Middle Brother's Easter basket. But weirdly, it was closed, like the time they had to evacuate the store cause there was a smell of smoke. So I just went home.

Lay down in the bedroom for awhile, then puttered on the computer til 7:00 when I Teamed the FWiB. We talked for somewhat over an hour, then got off.

Matsir replied with the information that about nine months before the con there would be a "need a roomie" page on the website, and also the name of a much cheaper hotel. Also, the offer of if all else failed, I could crash on their couch in their room. So that's all very reassuring.

I had a snack rather than a full dinner, and then went to the bedroom until pet feeding time, and here I am.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. It didn't rain while I was out.

3. [personal profile] mashfanficchick and lunch invitations.

4. Matsir.

5. Looks like I'll be able to actually go to Worldcon!

6. Looked up directions to the sleep doctor and it's pretty simple.

Chatting and writing

Mar. 22nd, 2026 10:08 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Slept til nearly 12:00 today, then got up and had breakfast and coffee.

Went to the Starsky and Hutch creative work session, and chatted til after 7:00. During the session my doorbell buzzed. It was an Amazon delivery, of my new FitBit which the Kid got me.

I got a little writing done, the story I've been working on is now over 4,000 words. Go me!

After we got off, I grabbed a snack and then Teamed the FWiB. We didn't talk as long as usual tonight, but we were on for an hour. We had started late so it was 8:30 by the time we finished, and time to call Middle Brother.

Middle Brother is fine, nothing new.

After that call, I opened the FitBit and started setting it up. It is charging now. It's a lovely lavender color.

Then I had dinner and puttered online while I was waiting for the FitBit to charge. At pet feeding time I fed the pets, and then I started here.

That's the whole day.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. The Kid.

3. New FitBit.

4. Got some writing done.

5. Discovered a magazine that I will probably get the Kid a subscription to for her birthday.

6. Middle Brother is fine.

I declare victory

Mar. 20th, 2026 05:40 pm
dorchadas: (Teh sex)
[personal profile] dorchadas
After a couple dozen more hours, I've beaten all the original post-game content for Clair Obscur:

2026-03-19 - Gommaged Simon

This is the E33 ultimate superboss. I spent a while grinding while listening to podcasts and then fought him a few times. I could have fought him a lot more, learned the exact timing on his attacks, including all the double and triple attacks he does in later phases...but no. I abused a bunch of pictos to get extra actions, did damage stacking, stunned him at 40% health and then slammed him with a level 3 gradient attack to skip Phase 3 (that's the 16 million damage highest attack I did). That finished off my last achievement, making E33 the seventh game I've gotten all the achievements on.

Just need to do the new DLC area they added a couple months ago and then I can move on to something else.

It's not actually my birthday

Mar. 22nd, 2026 12:25 am
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
But I celebrated it today.

Started out with breakfast and coffee and showering and dressing and heading to my Al-anon meeting. It was small but good.

The S and G and I went to a different diner for lunch. I got French onion soup, whihc was good but not as good as the other diner. Then I went home via the 12 bus to Parsons Blvd. It was a nice springlike day.

Got home and went to the Starsky and Hutch episode watch and chat. I actually got to see a part of the episode, The Collector. Then we chatted until I left at 5:15.

I got ready to go meet the Kid and her boyfriend and [personal profile] mashfanficchick at Applebees in Astoria. That meant taking the 66 bus.

The bus was running with delays for some reason, and I waited about half an hour for it to show up. I was afraid I would be late meeting the Kid, but I got there right on time, and just as she and her boyfriend were arriving. ([personal profile] mashfanficchick had called me and said ze would be late). They had a big bouquet of flowers for me.

We got seated and ordered drinks. When [personal profile] mashfanficchick texted to say ze would be there in 15 minutes we ordered food (Ze had texted me zer order)

The food was excellent, and the Kid only a little annoying with her lecturing me about my weight and finances. I know she only does it cause she loves me.

I got dessert, and then we left. I took the 66 home again, only had to wait 7 minutes this time.

I got home around 10:00, and fed the pets and put the flowers in a vase. I Teamed the FWiB and we talked for a little less than an hour.

Then I frantically played solitaire cause I had an event that was ending at 12:00. I finished with literally one minute to spare!

And now it's time for bed.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. The Kid.

3. [personal profile] mashfanficchick

4. The Starsky and Hutch fandom.

5. My meetings and the people there.

6. Finished that solitaire event on time.

Al-anon night

Mar. 20th, 2026 11:36 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Got up this morning at 11:00, had breakfast and coffee. I puttered online for awhile, then showered and washed my hair.

I got dressed, and puttered online some more. I played some solitaire too.

I ate the chicken that [personal profile] mashfanficchick gave me that was left over from dinner the other night, for lunch.

Finally at 5:00 I went to my meeting in the Bronx.

Very annoying, I waited on 35th and Farrington for the 25. The bus stop is no longer marked, and the bus passed by me and didn't stop, so I have no idea what they've done with that stop.

I walked to the 50 stop, and just made a 50. But it's a long walk and I was annoyed.

Went to the pizza place and had pizza for dinner. Then went to my meeting. There was some confusion if we were supposed to be upstairs or down, but we figured it out.

The meeting was very good. M drove me to the bus stop afterward. It was raining but I brought my umbrella. The bus was about 11 minutes late.

I got to the stop for the 25 and 61, the 61 got there before the 25 which is unusual. So I took the 61.

Got home a bit before 10:00. Fed the pets, and got on the computer to Team the FWiB. We had issues that were not the fault of my computer!

We talked a little over an hour, and then I started here.

The Kid texted me today. We are meeting at 6:45 tomorrow at Applebee's for my birthday. [personal profile] mashfanficchick is coming too. So that should be fun.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My computer seems to be working well, mostly.

3. My meetings and the people there.

4. I had my umbrella.

5. The Kid.

6. My birthday is coming soon.

The Friday Five

Mar. 20th, 2026 09:09 pm
nanila: me (Default)
[personal profile] nanila
The preceding two weeks of Friday Five questions didn't pique my interest, but this week's are great. Love a bit of meta-blogging. Thank you for the opportunity to navel-gaze.

  1. What was the reason you began a Dreamwidth or LiveJournal account (or both)?

    I started off on LJ in 2001 because everyone was doing it. I created an account and then let it sit for a couple of weeks while I figured out what it was for. I think it was victorine who prodded me into posting regularly and then I just…never stopped.

  2. How many DW or LJ communities do you subscribe to?

    A few dozen in total. Most of them are dead, the LJ communities in particular. The only one I participate in regularly is DW community [community profile] awesomeers, because I'm one of the two people who puts up the daily “Just One Thing” posts. I find it easier to write a short comment about my day there than to write up a full post, especially during the work week.

  3. Do you have a favorite community or one you check out often to see what's new?

    See above. I also enjoy [community profile] thefridayfive, and I like reading [community profile] threeforthememories during its annual spate of activity.

  4. How did you pick your user name?

    My current username is a play on my actual name. My original LJ name was “lilith” as that's the pseudonym I first adopted when I started interacting with online communities back in the 90s. Eventually I felt I'd outgrown it, and I've been nanila ever since.

  5. If you could change your user name, would you?

    That would genuinely be a big decision after more than 15 years of using this one, in a lot more places than DW and LJ. I'd have to do substantive additional navel-gazing to work out what it would be.

dorchadas: (Do Not Want)
[personal profile] dorchadas
We've been having an unreasonable amount of trouble trying to get Laila registered to the school for her new IEP.

We'd already lost one slot because when [instagram.com profile] sashagee showed up, they only had her set for halfdays even though we were told that Laila would be started for full days, so they tried to contact Laila's home school to get the process started again. Well, the contact at Laila's school was slow so we lost our placement, but also Laila was in the hospital while all this was happening so I wasn't too worried. Well, they got her a new placement (at a much closer school, that she can even walk to if she wants), so we weren't very worried. Then things dragged. And dragged. And today literally right before she was going to go to school on what we thought was going to be her last day, we got a call that she needed to stay home because she couldn't be enrolled in a new school if she was already enrolled in an existing school. Then we got a phone call from her new school with the coordinator ready to start breaking things, trying to figure out why Laila had not yet been unenrolled from her old school (at 1 p.m. on a Friday) so they could start the process of enrolling her in a new school before spring break next week.

The case manager at her old school is completely incompetent, is what I'm saying.

[instagram.com profile] sashagee managed to call the central office and get the deadline extended so that we have plenty of extra time to make sure that Laila will properly get enrolled at her new school and we don't have to go through all of this again (for an IEP that was originally decided back in January), but seriously? She's already missed weeks of school due to illness and you're telling me, "Oh, she has to miss even more school now." Come on.

We mentioned this to her preschool teachers and by their reactions they were also not particularly enthused by any prospect of dealing with administration. [instagram.com profile] sashagee is done writing strongly-worded emails for today (hopefully) Emoji typing so now we just have to wait and see if the case manager can manage to locate the computer and push the few buttons necessary to release Laila instead of banging rocks together trying to discover fire or whatever they're doing in there.

I got my Stephen Colbert Pop!

Mar. 19th, 2026 11:51 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
I forgot to say yesterday that when I checked the tracking on the replacement Stephen Colbert Pop that I ordered, it said that delivery had been attempted but they had been unable to get the front door opened so the package was returned to the shipping facility.

Today I got up at 10:00 and checked the tracking and it was out for delivery again. So I had breakfast and coffee and called [personal profile] mashfanficchick and told zer that I would wait until it was delivered or 6:00, whichever came first, and then head over to zer place.

So I waited. I did useful things, I called and made an appointment with the sleep doctor for my birthday (actually first I made an appointment for the 24th, then discovered that was the day I have my gyn appointment
and had to reschedule), and made an appointment to have my taxes done on April 2nd. I put a new picture of the Kid in my wallet to replace the one I had there which was pretty messed up. I redownloaded VLC Media Player to the computer to use with the external dvd player. I filled in the application to renew my New York City ID. I put my unfinished stories that I saved to the external hard drive back on the computer, and I wrote a little.

I did take a quick shower, all the time listening for the door buzzer in case the delivery guy came. And I dressed.

Time went on. Finally it was 6:00 and nothing. So I put on my shoes and got ready to go.

And as I started down the street, got about halfway down the block, when an Amazon truck came around the corner and parked. (Funko uses Amazon shipping.) So I waited as the guy delivered packages to the first buildings on the block (I'm in the last building). I asked him if he had anything for my building and he said he didn't know but I'd have to wait. Finally he got to my building. He apologized he couldn't just give me my package, he had to deliver it to my apartment and take a picture.

But he had it, and I got it! All mine finally!!!

So I took it in and opened it and I have it here. Then, finally, I headed off to [personal profile] mashfanficchick's.

Got there no problem on the bus. We ordered Indian food for dinner, and watched 911 and 911:Nashville. Had fun. The lamb korma was delicious. And the mango lassi.

After the TV, we talked for about an hour, and then I Ubered home. I fed the pets and started here, And now I'm about done.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB, sadly didn't get to Team tonight.

2. Got my Stephen Colbert Funko Pop FINALLY!

3. Easy to make the appointments for the doctor and tax preparer.

4. Good TV.

5. Yummy dinner.

6. Got some writing done.

DMV day

Mar. 18th, 2026 10:34 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
I got up at 11:30 and had coffee, showered and dressed, and puttered on the computer a little. I packed the documents for the DMV in the computer bag, and left my backpack with my pajamas and clothes and stuff at [personal profile] mashfanficchick's. Then I left for the DMV with my computer about 1:40.

I just missed a subway, and had to wait longer than usual because the E was running with delays. I got to Jamaica and found the 6 bus pretty easily, but again I just missed one. I was worried about getting to my 3:00 appointment, and worried about finding the DMV after I got to the right stop, But it worked out, though I made the appointment by a hair.

Almost immediately I was called for them to take a new picture for the new ID. I'm sure I was a mess, but that's traditional for DMV pictures. Then I went back to a seat and filled out the application.

I waited awhile, I didn't time it, and eventually they called me to the counter. I handed over the application and my documents.

Unfortunately after all the trouble I went to finding the lease, it was no good because the renewal was two years ago and it has to be less than one. Which it does not say in the online information. So that was a problem but the man let me sign an affidavit that I live here. So that was OK.

Then I paid the $36.50 for the renewal and upgrade to enhanced ID, and that was all. Very simple, very fast.

I packed everything away and walked down to the McDonald's that I passed on the way and got a celebratory lunch. Something called the Big Arch Meal. Very tasty in a fast food kinda' way.

Then I went to the bus stop and took the 6 back to Jamaica. Rather than take the subway again I just took the 44 bus all the way home.

Got here around 6:00. Said hello to Oreo who was happy to see me! Put everything away, set up the computer and put in a Shipt order.

Then at 7:00 I Teamed the FWiB. We talked until 8:00 when I went to my D&D game.

Sadly, there was still trouble with Discord. Particularly in audio. I did most of the game on my phone.

But it was a good game, we killed a minotaur.

Then after the game I fed the pets, had a little something myself, called the Kid who didn't answer, and started here.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Got to the DMV on time.

3. Was able to use the affidavit for my address.

4. Everything was fine at home.

5. My D&D group.

6. Bed soon.

The Brown-White Wedding

Mar. 1st, 2026 11:46 am
dorchadas: (Kirby Celebrating with food)
[personal profile] dorchadas
Congratulations, [facebook.com profile] mabown and [facebook.com profile] alainamwhite!

2026-02-28 - Matt/Alaina Wedding
Quality due to spoooooooooooky lighting.

The whole family received an invitation to the wedding, including Laila, but for obviously hospital-related reasons not all of us could go. We discussed it among ourselves and decided that I would go as the family representative, but it did mean I spent quite a bit of my catch-up-with-friends time explaining just why it was that my family wasn't there.

[livejournal.com profile] ping816 officiated the wedding, which consisted mostly of the vows. I admit that I was expecting some kind of reading, especially when [facebook.com profile] alainamwhite showed up in a black wedding dress, but there was not. [livejournal.com profile] ping816 read the ritual about marriage being a sacred bonding of love, [facebook.com profile] alainamwhite recited her touching vows about how [facebook.com profile] mabown taught her that its okay to be excited for your passions and you don't need to try to lock in to some concept about what being an adult is like, [facebook.com profile] mabown protested that he had to follow that and recited his own vows, [livejournal.com profile] ping816 pronounced them married, and they processed out. It took maybe fifteen minutes. Straight to the point--the bonding of two individuals in holy matrimony.

After we left and waited for the reception room to be prepared, I mostly chatted with [facebook.com profile] shane.suydam and his wife [facebook.com profile] meaghan.figg, and later with [facebook.com profile] kati.smith.211, mostly about our respective children because that's what parents do when they meet up. It was mostly talking about Laila because everyone was worried about her, so I gave an update on her condition, mentioned that she was scheduled for surgery on Monday, and that the doctors were hopeful that the surgery would really help. [facebook.com profile] meaghan.figg offered to buy us dinner when we all got home, which was extremely kind of her--Mishkan did something similar for us when Laila had her spasms--and I'll definitely take her up on that. Otherwise, we drank the extremely strong drinks that the bartenders mixed up and when the doors opened, we went in.

I did learn that [facebook.com profile] shane.suydam and his wife [facebook.com profile] meaghan.figg live in my parents' town, about two blocks away, so we'll have to drop by next time we're in the neighborhood!

I was not seated with any of the aforementioned people inside, though I was seated with [facebook.com profile] MomoManLove and [facebook.com profile] johanna.jones.127, so they're who I chatted with while I ate the fish and drank the (delicious) wine on the table. I ended up dancing with [facebook.com profile] johanna.jones.127 as well, when she, starting with her boyfriend, went down the men at the table and all of them turned down her offer to dance until she got to me. [instagram.com profile] sashagee was surprised that I was willing to dance, too--after one of our first nights out she told me she had never dated a man who danced. Then I told her I had taken swing-dancing lessons during the swing dancing craze of the 90s. Sadly, there were no swing songs at the wedding. The music during dancing was mostly pretty conventional, actually, which I was surprised about since the music during dinner was mostly chamber instrumental covers of horror movie songs.

Since it's a wedding and therefore there were dozens of people to talk to, I didn't really get to talk to anyone for very long, and a lot of what I did talk to people about was Laila, but it was really nice to catch up with everyone. I learned that [facebook.com profile] seloy had gotten married and ran into [livejournal.com profile] smtemp for the first time since the Plague Years (she's moved up to Wisconsin). I got to see [facebook.com profile] kati.smith.211's five-year-old use up her energy by running circles around the table she and her parents were sitting at, proving that it's not just Laila. And I got to speak briefly to both [facebook.com profile] mabown and [facebook.com profile] alainamwhite and congratulate them on their wedding! It was a lovely night, though I always had a bit of worry about Laila in the back of my mind.

When I left, two women got out of the Lyft that I was getting into and one of them said:
"You look like an Irishman at an Italian club.

Final HP call back

Mar. 18th, 2026 12:42 am
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Hopefully, at least. Got up this morning at 11:00 and had coffee. At 12:00 I tossed on clothes an [personal profile] mashfanficchick and I went down to Cobblestones and got corned beef and cabbage and potatoes to go.

We came back and ate, waiting for HP to call back, which they were supposed to do at 2:00. They didn't, so at 2:20 I called them. And we worked on the computer.

They created the reboot flash drive, and then tried to use that. There was not enough disc space. So she stripped out as much from the computer as possible and rebooted it internally. Or something. I don't understand it, but we restored it.

And so far it seems to be working better. I have reinstalled some of the programs we took off, but it's working much better.

Anyway, we finished that somewhat before 6:00. At 7:00 I used it to Team the FWiB. Had a little trouble, but I think it was the app, not the computer.

Then at 8:00 I had my Al-anon meeting by Zoom. That worked too.

After that I puttered a bit while [personal profile] mashfanficchick napped. Then we had dinner, salad and cold chicken, and then watched tonight's episode of Will Trent which ze had dvr-ed.

Hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My meetings and the people there.

3. Maybe the computer is fixed!

4. Good TV.

5. Corned beef and cabbage.

6. Sunny nice day when we went out.

My nemesis appears

Mar. 17th, 2026 09:29 am
dorchadas: (Princess Peach Smash Wielding Toad)
[personal profile] dorchadas
Evidence of his foul presence:

2026-13-16 - Evidence of my bird nemesis

Or perhaps I should say...fowl presence?

A pigeon has decided that it wants to just hang out near our back door, in the rafters of the roof above our back stairwell. It's not nesting there, as far as I can tell, since there's no nest in our planting pots nor up on the rafters. It's just found its favorite spot and sits up there often, and of course, wherever a bird habitually sits, the ground below becomes a toilet. There's a ton of bird poop all over our back stairwell now and it's too cold for me to easily go out and clean it up.

I've taken to using a paintroller poll to just periodically go out and poke the pigeon when it's sitting up there in the hope that if I make staying near our door too annoying, it'll give up and hang out somewhere else. Watch this space to see if that happens.

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