Weekly Chat Thread April 21 - 27

[val2525]

Still think you should paint the fence purple like the front door.

[kritter]

Although I do like lots of color in my life, a purple fence is just a tad too much fiesta in my front yard for me.

[Desire]

Kritter, glad your job is done and you are happy with it!  That's the most important of all. If you leave it natural will you put a wood preservative sealer on it?  The material these days is not as good as compared to years ago. 

Every house we lived in had a wooden deck and wooden rails, but this house has trex decking and the white plastic railings and posts.  Hated it at first but now I'm used to it and glad we don't have to do any periodic painting. We get a lot of green mold on the north side of our vinyl pool fence but power-wash or Jo-max mixed extra strong takes care of it. Is your new fence a completely closed privacy fence that your neighbor will not be able to see though or a see-through fence?

We have a split-rail fence way down on the back-side boundary, it's natural and does not look like what it did when it was installed. DH complains periodically that we should have sealed it. I always tell him to feel free to do it any time. Just let me know and I'll order the sealer. That shuts him up.

[kritter]

If you leave it natural will you put a wood preservative sealer on it?

Nope, just going to let it age gracefully.

Is your new fence a completely closed privacy fence that your neighbor will not be able to see though or a see-through fence

It is completely closed.  Comes across the front 9' on the intersection side and 6' on the neighbor's side.  6' up to the front of my house on each side and then 3' to the front property line.

[denise15601]

A few years ago, our news featured a dispute between neighbors. In order to irritate his neighbor, a guy painted the neighbor's view of the fence in wild colors.

I don't know if the dispute was ever resolved and a Google search showed a lot of disputes related to "spite fences".

[kritter]

Well, I wouldn't spend big bucks to spite that neighbor but if it happens to be a bonus buck, so be it.

My main reason was moving some of the front yard to the back yard because this year I am redoing the front yard.   A big reason for the 3' was eliminating some of the trash and foot traffic on the intersection side of the street.  Then I had to balance out what was on the intersection side with the neighbor section.  Wish I had done it years ago but I guess I finally hit the last straw.

[chapeaunoir]

We have a spite house down the road from me - it's actually quite cute, a wedge-shaped little thing someone built on a scrap of property. There's a locally famous spite house down in Seattle I used to pass all the time when I lived there - it might have been 8 feet wide lol.

Our house is bright blue now - the brightest thing around. If the DH had his way, along with the bright blue house we would have floors of every pattern, walls with every pattern and every colour in the rainbow - he says he can't help it, he's Slavic lol. I'm delighted with his sense of colour, but we do have to tone it down a bit for future sale (he understands me).

Our floors are finally leveled - I saw some tiles positioned in our foyer and some sheets of paper covered with diagrams and calculations next to his tools, so he's going to be starting on the actual tiling as soon as he sees if the floor is completely level. He has an laser leveler he uses that is very cool - he was showing me how it works, and tape everywhere with calculated depth. I have a feeling that our floor is a bit of a challenge because its dropped so much, so it's good to get this structural problem fixed. It will be weeks, though. I told the DH about the fridge in the living room for almost a year someone had here, just to give a little perspective.

I did a short hike on a hilly trail nearby then went to the Goodwill senior day sale right down the road. It was spitting and drizzling, with a cold wind but good hiking weather, and under the trees one never notices. It's just good to be out in the woods!

[staytuned]

Today is 8 years since I quit smoking.  Love watching old b&w movies and think times sure have changed from offering guests cigarettes when they visited and smokers lighting up everywhere (including planes, hospitals, workplaces, etc.) and nobody raised an eyebrow, including non-smokers. 

[val2525]

Congrats Stay! IIRC, Hollywood made the decision decades ago to stop smoking in TV shows and movies after public pressure/criticism that it was glamorizing smoking. Sadly, I'm seeing it creeping back in now.

Got a nice surprise yesterday. Ends up I'd already recreated the books for the messy QB online client. We've been so busy that I'd forgotten. Now I'm waiting on the client to identify some transactions for me. Whew.

[frakinfashion]

Apr 25, 2024 14:11:36 GMT staytuned said:

Today is 8 years since I quit smoking.  Love watching old b&w movies and think times sure have changed from offering guests cigarettes when they visited and smokers lighting up everywhere (including planes, hospitals, workplaces, etc.) and nobody raised an eyebrow, including non-smokers. 

Congrats, stay. That's a great accomplishment!
This week marks the 6th year since my open heart surgery. Yay...considering the alternative.

[frakinfashion]

Episode whatever on the stone shoulder and saddle. The very next day after my missive to Greg the US CEO of DHL, his assistant (I assume) wrote back with an apology and told me she would get to t he bottom of the mystery as soon as the weekend passed and DHL India opened back up. And she did! Apparently, Ankit was not so forthcoming with me and the stones were sent back to him TWICE because they were cracked, which I guess they saw thru x-raying them? Anyway, since DHL is now on the hook for the ill-fated shipment #1, I guess they don't play with him anymore. They sent a guy out to Ankit to recommend how to pack it. Ankit is not amused by being told how to pack since he packs all the time but someone had to set him straight (he scoffed at me asking him to use bubble wrap instead of styrofoam sheets). And now, he is getting in line and ordered a wooden box to ship the stones in as per DHL's recommendation. He showed me the pics; it looks like I will be receiving an indigent cadaver. I hope it arrives alive this time (I get the irony). He will mail it out tomorrow. Meanwhile, the wreckage of huge shipment #1 remains in my little living room. (Sigh...)

[denise15601]

Frak...looking forward to seeing pictures since I have no idea what you are talking about.

[val2525]

Frak, if the seller nor shipper are going to pickup the damaged tiles, why not put them on FB marketplace or somewhere you can sell them locally? Artists and DIY-ers use broken tiles for all kinds of stuff. And congrats on doing so well after your surgery!

My swimsuits came in from Temu today. They're the same style as the one in the first order that fit, just different colors/prints. They fit the same - yay!! Now I just need to check out the pool temp. It should definitely be warm enough in about 2 weeks, if not sooner. I can't wait, I'm hoping it helps my shoulder.

So far I haven't found a handy gadget that cuts watermelon on Temu Which is good, because now that I have the pineapple corer, pineapple is on my weekly grocery list

[staytuned]

I'm seeing various watermelon slicers, one that slices watermelon into squares or scoops out slices and a huge slicer (like the one you push down to evenly cut 8 slices of an apple), only larger and probably have to have smaller round watermelon to make it work.

We just cut a watermelon in half and use an ice cream scoop and spares the mess.

Congrats to you, Frak, and many many more years to you! Also congrats to getting an answer from DHL and fingers, toes and legs crossed you get undamaged tile and the ordeal will be over soon.

[val2525]

Apr 25, 2024 22:25:50 GMT staytuned said:

We just cut a watermelon in half and use an ice cream scoop and spares the mess.

Noooooooooooooooo! Did you really have to tell me that? Now I have no reason not to buy fresh watermelons (once they're in season).

[denise15601]

My Aldi had watermelons yesterday!

[kritter]

I got caught up in the kitchen stuff tonight. They have a corer, slicer, dicer for everything.

But they have lost my clothes business. Before they had certain measurements for bust, waist, hips, and length. Now they have a range of bust inches like 38" to 42 1/2" for a large. Instead of inches for the length they have a range of the height for the person like fits from 5' 6" to 5' 8".

Big mistake, Temu.

[val2525]

Apr 25, 2024 23:45:38 GMT kritter said:

But they have lost my clothes business. Before they had certain measurements for bust, waist, hips, and length. Now they have a range of bust inches like 38" to 42 1/2" for a large. Instead of inches for the length they have a range of the height for the person like fits from 5' 6" to 5' 8".

Big mistake, Temu.

I agree. They seem to change how measurements are presented on a regular basis. I lucked out with the swimsuits because the previous way made it easy to figure out my size. Example, they gave the length so I was able to skip the suits that were too short (26") and the ones that were too long (34"). But the way the measurements are given now? Useless. "Height" tells me NOTHING. I want to know how long the item is, not what height the wearer is I don't know why they keep changing it.

[val2525]

Ah ha! You can give feedback on the website. So I did LOL. Told them I don't care for the change in measurements. Not that it will do any good, but whatever. I'm just glad to know I'm not the only one finding the new way useless.

[val2525]

Apr 25, 2024 23:15:52 GMT denise15601 said:

My Aldi had watermelons yesterday!

Is that unusual? We have them all year down here. But there are months where the taste will be better than at other times.

[denise15601]

We don't have them until April-May here. But they aren't as sweet.

I need to get the little personal ones since I can't lift anything heavier. Those won't be out for a while.

[kritter]

"Height" tells me NOTHING. I want to know how long the item is, not what height the wearer is

Right, like how does height have any reference to at what length someone wears a skirt or dress.

And why would one buy a top or dress with a 3" bust variance? 

[frakinfashion]

Apr 25, 2024 21:28:00 GMT val2525 said:

Frak, if the seller nor shipper are going to pickup the damaged tiles, why not put them on FB marketplace or somewhere you can sell them locally? Artists and DIY-ers use broken tiles for all kinds of stuff. And congrats on doing so well after your surgery!

These stones aren't tiles; they are very heavy stones, like marble slabs, cut thick. I could barely lift the ones that are supposed to make the shower seat (ok, I'm a weakling but still). The shower shoulder is over an inch thick and about 53" long if I recall correctly. I'm not on FB. I did put left over actual tiles on Next Door but no bites. They are very pretty and would make a fab backsplash for someone but each pack is about 40 lbs so it has to be local too. 

[chapeaunoir]

Frak and Stay - congratulations to both of you!! 

It's interesting to find out the next episode in the DHL story, but looks like your letter really rattled some cages. I suspect someone will be glad to come over and get those stone pieces - garden features are very popular here and people tend to make them themselves - nautical themes are popular for obvious reasons. 

So the Big Stones saga is moving along with the Tiling Saga - we chose grout and spacing today, with the three of us on the floor whilst the tiler demonstrated various spacing and we discussed the aesthetics of grout - he wasn't sure if we wanted his suggestions and I said YES! He started laughing. So, between the DH, myself and the tiler, we've nailed down the grout. Then came the tricky bit - our rooms are not built on the square - they are all angled, some very oddly angled, so the tiler was demonstrating some focal points to calculate from to try to compensate for the odd angles without fighting with them, and options there. This is turning into a real puzzle. Some tile is lain down so he can map it out, with tons of little spacers all over. He went home to ponder it and come up with some more calculations. 

Anyway, I did all the laundry save for my inventory today. Used a new laundromat that ran on digital (no coin drawers) - I couldn't get Laundry Cat to work on my phone, but the very helpful owner has cards you can load up and took me through the entire sequence - the washers are digital. They're also very fast. He gave me options to make the most of my money and then I stuffed the washers and read my book. I'll go back next week with my bags of inventory, and probably the week after with the DH and our clothing as he has to run out at some point - he has more clothing than I have. 

ETA: They have two large screen TVs, an area for reading and little cubbyholes to sit in, along with a little juice machine. Also jazz playing in the background and restrooms! 

I remember in college when using the local laundromat with a lot of other youthful patrons, seeing people in what was obviously their last few rags - guys in running shorts and a Nehru jacket, or girls in basketball shorts and a blouse lol, washing ALL of their clothing and bedding at once because it was such a hassle toting that stuff five or ten blocks to the laundromat, scrounging up enough dimes and quarters, then dragging it all back again. 

[staytuned]

Ahhh, the days of the laundromat brought back memories. Back in the 80s, I did the same saving up quarters, loading up everything save last wearable top and bottom and either go by myself late or with friend for "midnight laundry run" at 24 hour facility. Many fond memories either b.s.-ing with friend or solo trip writing 20-30 page letters to out of state friend.

Thanks for clarifying about the stones/tile, Frak. Thinking if the company doing the work doesn't want them, maybe another business might to take the broken ones off your hands instead of many people entering your home, which I know I wouldn't feel comfortable with.

I learned one thing about watermelon and strawberries, both which are seasonal up here, is you don't buy them when they first appear because they have little to no flavor.

[denise15601]

ahhh, finalllly! I think that the frosty nights are over! My shrubs are still covered and I plan to remove the sheets today. Sunday will be 80 degrees...a far cry from the nights in the 30's.

I am anxious to start planting and there is so much to do. But it still isn't safe to plant for a few weeks. Going to work on my driveway garden area first. Will try putting down cardboard behind the dying daffodils, and covering it with pine needles. Will also cut holes in the cardboard and plant marigolds to deter deer (hopefully).

[val2525]

I logged in to see what time my doc appointment was today and discovered it was yesterday. When I switched over calendars, I wrote the appointment on the wrong day. Oh well. It was my regular cardio, so no big deal. I was thinking of switching docs anyway. The new specialist cardio is next week and I DO have that appointment on the right date It also helps that his office sends reminder texts. Now to figure out what to do with my whole day off since I have no plans. At least I'll be home for my UPS delivery so it won't get stolen

Apr 26, 2024 12:58:33 GMT staytuned said:

I learned one thing about watermelon and strawberries, both which are seasonal up here, is you don't buy them when they first appear because they have little to no flavor.

It's the same here. Just because they're in the store doesn't mean they're at peak flavor. I looked up watermelon and cantaloupe yesterday, to verify the peak growing season. I hate buying both, cutting them up, then discovering the taste is blah I did discover how to tell if pineapple is ripe or not though - you want one as yellow as possible. 🍍

[frakinfashion]

You need to knock on the watermelon and, if it ripe, it should sound hollow. Florida native here.

[Desire]

Apr 26, 2024 16:33:52 GMT val2525 said:

I logged in to see what time my doc appointment was today and discovered it was yesterday. When I switched over calendars, I wrote the appointment on the wrong day. Oh well.

Apr 26, 2024 12:58:33 GMT staytuned said:

I had to go to the old-fashioned paper calendars that I put inside my kitchen cabinet on a small nail.  Every appointment gets written on there for me and DH.  My name gets circled with a red fine sharpie, his with a blue sharpie so it's easy to see who the appointment is for.  There's hardly a week that goes by that there are not several appointments.  I was screwing up so many appointments trying to put them online on my laptop.  Now we just open the cabinet and look.  I get the Boys-Town calendars every year with the different bird pics on each month.  I'm really getting old.

[chapeaunoir]

Apr 26, 2024 18:37:23 GMT Desire said:

Apr 26, 2024 16:33:52 GMT val2525 said:

I logged in to see what time my doc appointment was today and discovered it was yesterday. When I switched over calendars, I wrote the appointment on the wrong day. Oh well.

I had to go to the old-fashioned paper calendars that I put inside my kitchen cabinet on a small nail.  Every appointment gets written on there for me and DH.  My name gets circled with a red fine sharpie, his with a blue sharpie so it's easy to see who the appointment is for.  There's hardly a week that goes by that there are not several appointments.  I was screwing up so many appointments trying to put them online on my laptop.  Now we just open the cabinet and look.  I get the Boys-Town calendars every year with the different bird pics on each month.  I'm really getting old.

I actually know younger people who use paper calendars, as well (and wear regular watches) - a lot has to do with efficiency. We may live in a digital world, but humans are still analog critters. 

We had a power outage in the middle of the night - nothing happening and boom - wake up to loud beeping from our network. There were two power outages in the entire county - two people way south of Seattle and our neighbourhood (always the same neighbourhood - someone sneezes and the transformer blows up). Anyway, we have power again. 

I need to make an appointment with the doc, but won't until I lose another 10 lb. So probably aim for summer and schedule to get whatever done then - that's kind of more slack time for medical facilities, anyway.