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Post by staytuned on Apr 25, 2022 13:29:17 GMT
Is it me or is April breezing right through end of this week already? Still rollercoaster weather, but looks like (I hope so) we're getting to the end of the track with smaller hills. On a personal note, today is my 6 year anniversary since I quit smoking. Hope everyone has whatever they feel is perfect weather today.
This one pretty much sums up how I feel about squirrels (aka tree rats)
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Apr 25, 2022 15:18:58 GMT
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Post by staytuned on Apr 25, 2022 19:52:55 GMT
It was 73 this morning. Line of fast moving rain and high wind gusts recently blew through (supposed to have more til around 8pm) already dropped temps down to 56. The large oak tree outside our building, which has finally sprouted to indicate winter must be over, actually moved at times, and that trunk has a pretty big circumference.
One thing about the 3" of snow we got last week, it made me even more appreciative of the weekend "tease" with both days 83 and abundant sunshine.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
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Post by val2525 on Apr 25, 2022 21:00:01 GMT
Rain and thunderstorms earlier, but it looks like they may have moved on now. Which is good, I need to go pick up some packages and I'd rather not get wetting doing it. Simon is such a goof. There used to be a scuffle over who got my lap at TV time, but now it appears Trixie and Simon have worked out an agreement. She gets the first show, then moves over to the blanket next to me and Simon hops in my lap. He eventually falls asleep and that's when it gets funny. He starts out all curled up and then stretches out as he sleeps, until finally he's so stretched out he slides off my lap to the side, usually ending up in a ball on his head, never even waking up.  I usually have to straighten him out. |
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Post by chapeaunoir on Apr 25, 2022 22:42:23 GMT
Congratulations, staytuned! Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known and quitting is no easy thing for many. Always remember, you're not an 'ex' smoker, you are a 'non' smoker! (I quit years ago but was never a heavy smoker). |
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Post by labbypaws on Apr 26, 2022 0:19:39 GMT
Congrats on 6 years staytuned. My parents were 3 pack a day each and quick cold turkey in 97 or so. Both have since passed.
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Post by RetroMonde on Apr 26, 2022 1:10:22 GMT
6 years without smoking is great Staytuned! We had a beautiful sunny weekend and now we're back to our classic gray clouds with some rain. We're gonna need a goat to mow the backyard; luckily DH mowed the front yard a couple of weeks ago but it's really shaggy now. I want a new rechargeable electric mower OR maybe a small riding mower that I can use. My shoulder isn't up to pulling the starter cord thing on our gas powered mower. This is the 21st century- I shouldn't have to be mixing gas to mow the yard.
The twins were born last Wednesday on 4/20- 2 adorable girls!! But because of hospital covid rules no visitors are allowed. Then Saturday they both went into the NICU unit for extra help eating, jaundice, antibiotics and another common newborn thing. They're still there; their mama was released Saturday night. So they get to visit the babies a brief bit each day until they get released- hopefully this weekend. DS said they're both doing better but if anyone wants to send prayers & good vibes to Ramona & Riley for their continued improvement that would be awesome :-) This grandma wants to meet & snuggle those babies in the worst way- but I know they're getting the extra care & attention that they need. I'm consoling myself with that.
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Post by labbypaws on Apr 26, 2022 2:22:36 GMT
Congrats. Hopefully they will be home soon!
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,720
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Post by val2525 on Apr 26, 2022 2:33:33 GMT
Congrats on the grandbabies, Retro!
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Post by staytuned on Apr 26, 2022 2:56:18 GMT
Congrats, Grandma! Prayers sent for Ramona and Riley (cute names for cute babies) they'll keep improving and able to go home soon and bringing joy to the entire family.
Thanks, everyone, for the congrats on quitting. I actually quit twice before for 6 months each. Both times, I got the "one won't hurt" idea and only took a week before I was right back to about 1 1/2 packs a day. I realize quitting tobacco, at least for me, is the same as being an alcoholic- there's no such thing as "just one". What's kinda funny is I'd bought the entire Nicoderm CQ patch levels for the 10 week (I think) program years before I finally decided to quit so they were all expired by at least a few years and still worked fine curbing the urge to smoke.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Apr 26, 2022 6:36:28 GMT
Yeah, that's what gets people - that 'one won't hurt'. It's why I say to consider one's self a NON smoker rather than an EX smoker, because non-smokers simply don't smoke, so there's never 'one won't hurt'. It's just a point of view, I guess. It's great that there are some tools to help people quit, given how hard it is.
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Post by labbypaws on Apr 26, 2022 15:02:26 GMT
Great day today ahead of some cooler weather and high winds. Took Gunner out walking again. Trying to get his front nails down. He won’t let me clip them.
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Post by jandsknight on Apr 26, 2022 16:06:27 GMT
Good for you, Stay!! I was never a smoker, but know how hard it was for DH to quit.
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Post by jesmelric on Apr 26, 2022 17:29:36 GMT
Hello guys, hope everyone is doing well. Congrats on the grandbabies, retro! That is so exciting! Definitely sending prayers for their well being 
Stay, that is great on your anniversary! I am 27 years myself. I quit when I was pregnant with youngest DD (I quit with the other 2 but started back again). I always told myself I would quit when I was "older". I had DD at 28 and realized that was older enough lol. I wish DH would quit 
We had some wonderful much needed rain yesterday and now the temps are a bit cooler. I am glad as we really needed it. And it is helping everything that's newly planted, especially my cherry blossom tree. Cooler weather is only here for another day or so, but this late in April it's really a blessing.
We had a nice visit with mom yesterday, they came over here and I made a lunch. I called the cardio dr office to ask about cancellations, and they are supposed to call me if there are any, so I guess we just have to wait and see. Mom seemed to be feeling ok, it's harder for her to get up and down the step to my front door, the hip that was broken has been giving her some grief lately. They said they are still getting her set up for a PT evaluation to see if she can get approved for a wheelchair. Everything takes forever in that place. Ugh.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,720
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Post by val2525 on Apr 26, 2022 23:00:21 GMT
I think I just placed my last food delivery order tonight. In addition to the food prices rising (expected), the services have raised their various extra fees (this is on top of the "blind" fee added to the individual food items) and delivery fees. It's just too danged expensive - easily 50% more than the last time I ordered online. Ouch! I may have to get some hamburger patties and red/green pepper/onion mix and keep it in the freezer for when I have a burger craving  Hmnn, I already have steakums in the freezer...that's an idea |
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Post by Emerald_Door on Apr 27, 2022 0:08:43 GMT
RetroMonde, congratulations on your two new granddaughters! I hope they'll be home soon. How early were they?
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Post by denise15601 on Apr 27, 2022 0:11:49 GMT
Congratulations Retro!!!! Sending a ton of prayers. My daughter Melissa was born a month early and was only 5 lbs, 5 oz. So she had to stay in the NICU for about 4 days.
It was pure torture, especially since I was nursing. But I was at the hospital very often to feed her. She was so tiny when I brought her home, but now she towers over me.
How lucky you are to be able to cuddle two girl babies!!!!!
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Post by staytuned on Apr 27, 2022 2:31:21 GMT
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Post by sunsetpainter on Apr 27, 2022 4:09:46 GMT
Congratulations Retro! Hope you can hug those babies soon!
And Congratulations to Staytuned! I quit smoking 15 or so years ago. My doctor gave me stop smoking pills (can't remember the name) but I quit with no problems. I got a severe skin rash with the patches and the gum never worked for me.. DH and I quit together so that helped. I will occasionally get a really strong craving but I ignore it and it passes.
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kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on Apr 27, 2022 15:00:24 GMT
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Post by staytuned on Apr 27, 2022 15:14:13 GMT
It's currently 36 degrees and only going up to maybe 42 today. Freeze warning tonight. Never thought I'd be wearing my down parka to go out this late in the month. Our thermostat, which for whatever reason maintenance won't replace, has been touchy the last few years deciding if it wants to work with either heat or a/c. I turned off the a/c Sunday when I went to do laundry and couldn't get it back on. DH finally got it going and told me not to touch it so I haven't. Here I sit in my hoodie. Shows 66 degrees but feels a lot colder. I just emailed him for "permission" to try to put the heat back on.
update: Thermostat down to 65 (felt like 45 in here) so went ahead and turned on the heat. Took a couple minutes but thankfully, the heat came on. Went to email DH I didn't wait for him to reply and he did saying to go ahead. We won't need the a/c again until at least the next 7 days anyway. Ahhhhhh, already feels better with warm air blowing through the vents.
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kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on Apr 27, 2022 16:18:29 GMT
As if I ever needed a reminder as to why I am so much better off being the Queen of My Castle, there it is.
It is no wonder that I failed at that marriage game. I am not good at asking for permission.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
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Post by val2525 on Apr 27, 2022 19:37:43 GMT
I suspect Stay asking her DH for permission to turn on the heat had to do with his temporary "fix" to get the thermostat working than any real need for permission Stay, have you and DH looked at just replacing the thermostat yourself? They're not that expensive and easy enough to install if either of you is decent at DYI repairs. Yeah, I know, the apartment should do that but it sounds like your apartment management totally sucks.  I guess Toby's pet carrier has become a permanent cat bed now. He loves to sleep in it. You can't tell he's in it unless he looks up at you and you see his eyes, or you look at just the right angle and see his shape (black cat in black carrier LOL). It's probably not a bad idea, it does make getting him into it for vet trips a lot easier.  I took off today except for running payrolls. It's been nice not to "have" to constantly check email and slack messages, although it's been hard to get myself out of the habit of constantly checking (and ending up doing work that could wait until tomorrow). I think it's time to go put on a pot of afternoon tea and start cleaning up the kitchen since that was what I had planned to do today.  |
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Post by staytuned on Apr 27, 2022 20:22:48 GMT
Yup, I had every intention of turning on the heat before I got his "okey dokey". I'd told him I wouldn't touch the thermostat or even look at it so it was more of a heads-up thing for him to put his seal of approval on. We've been together almost 39 years, both pretty independent yet very much on the same wavelength. I've made friends with the black cat downstairs that spends a lot of time looking out between the blinds. He/she has gorgeous green eyes. I stop on the way in to talk to it and he/she stares, does slow blink, meows, paws at window and/or stretches or combination and eyes follow me when I say bye and go up the stairs to the main door. Tenant (unknown who) also has a gray with black stripes cat that gives me a look like it wouldn't care if I dropped dead in the walkway.  Never made it above 37 and I wasn't the only one wearing my winter coat going anywhere. Already enjoying a large mug of hot tea.
I am going to ask DH to get a thermostat and replace it himself. I think he replaced MIL's and he's good with stuff like that.
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Post by labbypaws on Apr 27, 2022 23:02:07 GMT
One thing I hated about rentals - their setting when you could use the heat. My first landlord (private apartment) had a date in which he turned on and off the heat. Ugh.
Yes, a bit chilly here in PA. Supposed to be colder tomorrow morning. Not going to be able to wear shorts tomorrow on my walk unless it is 50 or so.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Apr 27, 2022 23:11:08 GMT
Another day of miserable sales. Going on a week of this out of the blue slow down and before that my store was on a vacation so sales weren't all that great. Looking back over the years it seems like this has happend before in April and it wasn't easy getting sales back up. The last two years I sailed through every month with pretty decent sales. Really struggling trying to figure out what do that I'm not already doing. I'm going to finish up the week with my normal shop schedule but cutting way back if things don't improve by Monday. Between sourcing inventory, fees and shipping... I think that I might be paying people to take my stuff. Luckily I have rent and mortage covered for May.
I was was just looking at my listings in searches using "newly listed". None of newly listed items are at the top where they should be. Not sure if that function is wonky at the moment or what.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,720
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Post by val2525 on Apr 27, 2022 23:11:36 GMT
One thing I hated about rentals - their setting when you could use the heat. My first landlord (private apartment) had a date in which he turned on and off the heat. Ugh. That was one of the few things I didn't like about living in ABQ. My triplex had swamp coolers so the landlord had to switch over from cooler to heat twice a year. He didn't notify me the first time he did it and he switched too late for the AC and too early for the heat, so after that I'd let him know when I was ready for him to switch the system over. Ugh. Never again if I can help it. I also won't rent places with utilities included, because you have no control over the heat and cold. No thanks. I'd rather pay the power bill myself, no matter how low or high it is. I tried to lighten my hair to platinum yesterday but only made it to light yellow. Arrggh. I used some violet shampoo on it this morning and it toned the yellow down a bit, but not enough. After researching, it appears I just need to leave the shampoo on a bit longer until I get the shade I want. Good to know! |
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val2525
Chaos Manager
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Post by val2525 on Apr 27, 2022 23:16:22 GMT
blissfullymiserable, have you tried branching out to other marketplace sites? There are a lot of options now that let you list across multiple platforms and some are pretty reasonably priced.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Apr 27, 2022 23:25:03 GMT
blissfullymiserable , have you tried branching out to other marketplace sites? There are a lot of options now that let you list across multiple platforms and some are pretty reasonably priced. I haven't, lacking the motivation to tackle a learning a curve. I know that I really need to branch out though. Maybe next week when I'm sitting here with no sales and nothing to do... lol Do you have any links for lising across multiple platforms? I used to put my listings on Pinterest but haven't been keeping up with that either. I've hardly had any messages or GSP sales. Sending out dozens of offers everyday... nothing. Just all around weirdness at every turn. I don't even sign into the ap anymore or even check sales from the time Cliff gets home until the next morning when I need to ship. Always hoping they'll be some sales. So far it's one if I'm lucky. Sooooooooo not normal. |
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Post by denise15601 on Apr 28, 2022 0:01:02 GMT
blissfullymiserable , have you tried branching out to other marketplace sites? There are a lot of options now that let you list across multiple platforms and some are pretty reasonably priced. I haven't, lacking the motivation to tackle a learning a curve. I know that I really need to branch out though. Maybe next week when I'm sitting here with no sales and nothing to do... lol Do you have any links for lising across multiple platforms? I used to put my listings on Pinterest but haven't been keeping up with that either. I've hardly had any messages or GSP sales. Sending out dozens of offers everyday... nothing. Just all around weirdness at every turn. I don't even sign into the ap anymore or even check sales from the time Cliff gets home until the next morning when I need to ship. Always hoping they'll be some sales. So far it's one if I'm lucky. Sooooooooo not normal. The sites like Posh, Mercari, Marketplace, Tradesy are incredibly easy as compared to eBay's listing. I list on eBay first, and then paste the description to the above sites, plus Kidizen and Grailed. I also just transfer the pics to the other sites. Each of those sites takes about 2 minutes to cross-post.
I have never used a cross-posting service since I want to control everything myself. There's really no learning curves on the other sites. My best selling sites are eBay and Marketplace.
On eBay, do you send offers to the watchers as designated under "tasks"? Some of my sales are from those.
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I usually have to straighten him out.
Hmnn, I already have steakums in the freezer...that's an idea 
