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Post by Emerald_Door on Dec 17, 2023 11:29:59 GMT
It's December 17. On this day in history... In 1903 the Wright brothers make the first sustained motorized aircraft flight at 10:35 AM, piloted by Orville Wright at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In 1989 "The Simpsons" premieres on Fox TV as a full animated series with the episode, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire."
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Post by frakinfashion on Dec 17, 2023 17:46:09 GMT
Beautiful picture, emerald! I wonder why the Wright Bros. picked a winter day for their first flight? You'd think that spring or summer would have been more comfortable and safer.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Dec 17, 2023 20:17:08 GMT
It doesn't get that cold in Kitty Hawk, though, so maybe it wasn't a consideration? My grandma remembered the Wright Bros and that first flight, it was in the newspapers. She was telling us about it when we were watching the moon landing many years later.
We're packing to leave for England for a month. Normally I'd go for a carry-on but have to pack for three (and possibly four) events - regular around town, hiking (sloppy weather), the gym/running and theatre. In a way it's fortunate that I have a small wardrobe of things that aren't completely tatty so not much choice. The DH, OTOH, has a much larger wardrobe of nicer items so he's moving neatly folded piles around and putting them into compression bags. I just piled my stuff in as best I could and zipped up my suitcase. Bleh - anything I forgot I can purchase there - as long as I have my passport, debit card, phone and Kindle I'm good.
The house sitter is due soon and then we can take off. It's a non-stop flight into Heathrow leaving this evening and we fly all night, so I just sleep.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 18, 2023 7:01:45 GMT
Wishing you a safe and fun trip, Chap! I put the luminarias out this afternoon and they look really good when they're lit up. Next door was putting up their lights today so I'll have to check them out tomorrow night. I'm a bit disappointed, though. In past years we had a lot of patios decorated, but not this year. Bummer. Yeah, I know, it's less competition, but decorated patios are so pretty and festive looking.
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Post by staytuned on Dec 18, 2023 9:59:14 GMT
The only time people decorate their balconies is when the office has a contest. We weren't able to put out a single string of lights without the tree rats chewing through the wiring. It was nice seeing so many balconies decorated. This year there's no contest and hardly anybody has anything lit up. Houses seem to have either gone full out decorating or nothing. Mostly nothing.
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Post by labbypaws on Dec 18, 2023 14:53:15 GMT
How high’s the water mama? 13 feet and rising. The creeks and rivers are over their banks. We are ok where we are. Lots of water rescues/vehicles stuck in low areas. Rain stopped for a little bit but now we are getting round 2. Supposed to move out of here this afternoon. Some photos from the local pages.
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Post by denise15601 on Dec 18, 2023 15:48:45 GMT
Ugh Labby.
We are having light rain here, but will have snow tonight through tomorrow.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 18, 2023 20:23:45 GMT
Sunny and low 70s here. I bet Kritter is out in the yard today. I need to move some lighted candy canes that I put up outside yesterday. I put them in front of the trees, but they disappear into the trees when the lights are on. I'm going to move them to between the trees, on their own, so they'll stand out more. I'm not putting up the lighted nutcrackers either. I'll save them for next year. Unless there is a flurry of lights going up in the next 3 days, there won't be a lot of us in the competition. So I decided I didn't need to climb up on a ladder and put up the nutcrackers I got my standing desk set up. It's going to take a bit of getting used to, but overall I like it. I can tell I need to do some stretches daily to help with the standing. It definitely helps with the shoulder and neck pain. I put some shoes on with decent insole support, that helped too. Labby, is your house getting flooded? I hope not.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Dec 18, 2023 20:35:12 GMT
You were right. Out in the yard since this morning and now on the way to Happy Hour. Life Is Good!
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Post by denise15601 on Dec 18, 2023 20:51:00 GMT
I'm so dumb. I forgot to buy strawberry jello for the pretzel salads that I will take to my daughter's on Christmas. But luckily, WM sent me a link for a free express order. So I ordered a few things, including the Jello and it will be delivered tonight. Hopefully, they can find my house okay in the dark.
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Post by labbypaws on Dec 18, 2023 21:01:53 GMT
Val we are ok. The roads were open to get to work. Of course the roads to work were covered with fallen branches and debris.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Dec 18, 2023 23:25:48 GMT
Safe travels Chap! Hope you have a great time!
It was so windy here today. Gale warnings until 9 tonight. Big difference from last week. We went fishing on Lake Michigan on Thursday and Friday and the temps were around 50. So nice! Caught the biggest jumbo perch ever in my life! Also caught a 20" brown trout, which I learned from the DNR guy checking licenses and fish counts is quite rare this time of year. That was a blast!
DH and I had to venture out to buy a new fridge. Our old one has been flaky for a few years now and is on it's last legs. There's a leak in the cooling lines that must be getting worse, buecause the freezer temp won't go below 20° causing the ice cream to be mushy! Bleh! We found a good deal at Lowes and decided to upgrade our 25 year old stove too. First time for having stainless steel appliances. Any suggestions on cleaners for them?
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 19, 2023 1:09:46 GMT
There are a few patios decorated. I didn't go to the back of the complex, I'll drive around there first tomorrow night and see if there are any decorated patios. A few: This one is prettier than the picture. The hanging lights from the ceiling are blue icicle lights and from ground level looking up, it looks like you're in cave of stalactites. I thought the wreath was a nice touch too: Most of the rest of the patios I saw just had some lights on the railing, maybe around the doors but nothing serious.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 19, 2023 1:12:05 GMT
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kritter
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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 Dec 19, 2023 1:59:33 GMT
I think it looks great. IMO you don't want to overload it so it looks too busy and distracting. Sometimes less is more.
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Post by denise15601 on Dec 19, 2023 2:00:13 GMT
Val-yours is the best, of course!
My daughter called me from her car at 3:30 and we were having an ice storm that was so loud that I could hardly hear her.
And Damn! I texted my friend/hairdresser tonight and her son wrote back and said to call him. She is in hospice at home and will probably pass tonight. Losing 2 good friends in one week is really upsetting me. She had a lot of health problems and has been in and out of the hospital for years.
Still waiting for my WM order that is 2 hours late.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 19, 2023 4:05:51 GMT
I'm sorry ((((Denise)))). Losing a friend sucks, even more so when it's two. I was kidding about putting up the nutcrackers. I'm lazy and saving them for next year
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Post by labbypaws on Dec 19, 2023 13:07:14 GMT
I am sorry Denise.
We have friends who were at the Medina Ohio Agility event. They drove home in snow last night. I would have said “it’s snowing. Not going to agility tonight.” Bad enough I drive to and from work when it snows. Ugh.
Got my walk in at work last night. Well a little less than 2/3 of it. Went in the fieldhouse and walked the indoor track. Figured no one would be in there as it is finals week and they should be studying. Anyway baseball players doing some batting practice, softball player doing the same. Lacrosse players tossing balls around. I had to leave to handle a fire alarm. Normally I do not walk at work except for what I walk checking buildings. Walk maybe twice a year on my dinner break. Last night I walked because it was slow.
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Post by Emerald_Door on Dec 19, 2023 13:33:53 GMT
Denise, that's so sad.
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Post by labbypaws on Dec 19, 2023 18:53:20 GMT
I am sorry Denise.
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Post by denise15601 on Dec 19, 2023 18:54:50 GMT
I canceled my WM order from last night and had it delivered today. But instead of the 6-ounce box of Jello for my pretzel salad, they send me a 3-ounce box.
So now I just ordered more Jello and a few other things to be delivered in an hour. We will see.
Anything to not to have to walk a mile through the WM parking lot just for a box of Jello.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 19, 2023 22:37:12 GMT
Anything to not to have to walk a mile through the WM parking lot just for a box of Jello. Anything to not have to go into Walmart at all until after Christmas - thru the parking lot or in the store! I'm waiting for our tech support to reset my password so I can log in and download some files to work on. The password is expiring message pops up on the virtual PC, so if it's due to expire and you didn't log in for a few days, you're screwed. Since I don't log in daily, I think I'm going to start marking the expiration date (every 30 days) on my desk calendar and not rely on the notification. High 60s-low 70s here thru Christmas Day, then it looks like we drop down a little to a more seasonable temperature.
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Post by labbypaws on Dec 20, 2023 1:27:20 GMT
I avoid the stores like the plague right now. Got enough dog food until after the 1st of the year. Went shopping 2 weeks ago. Just have to pick up the rib roast and some pies.
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Post by denise15601 on Dec 20, 2023 1:28:40 GMT
Yay that my second WM order was okay! Now I have plenty of strawberry Jello.
My daughter seems to thrive on last-minute stuff. She was shopping today at Aldi for stuff to make Christmas cookies tonight. She hasn't started to shop yet for her Christmas dinner, and still has to buy stuff for my grandson. I am the total opposite and hate last-minute stuff.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 20, 2023 1:38:11 GMT
I'm not shopping for Christmas dinner until this Friday, or maybe Saturday. I want to see if I win a HEB gift card Thursday . Plus I'm just cooking for me so it's no big deal. I shopped for Christmas gifts early but that's mainly because I had to mail most of them.
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Shirley U Geste
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Post by Shirley U Geste on Dec 20, 2023 3:20:38 GMT
In honor of Val's beautiful Christmas decorations.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 20, 2023 7:19:19 GMT
You hit the nail on the head, Shirley!
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Post by jesmelric on Dec 20, 2023 18:46:43 GMT
Yay that my second WM order was okay! Now I have plenty of strawberry Jello. My daughter seems to thrive on last-minute stuff. She was shopping today at Aldi for stuff to make Christmas cookies tonight. She hasn't started to shop yet for her Christmas dinner, and still has to buy stuff for my grandson. I am the total opposite and hate last-minute stuff. Me too! I get so stressed out waiting till the last minute. I am Johnny-on-the-spot! Lol. And Denise, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend
Val, thanks for sharing all the fun and festive pictures
And have a safe and wonderful trip, Chap!
It's a mild day here. I'm going to mow the yard tomorrow. The grass is wonky from the drought this summer then finally getting rain. And it will help mulch the leaves, too. I've been waiting for my toe to get healed enough to cram in a regular shoe. I think mowing in crocs is a disaster waiting to happen lol. So it's 4 weeks today and it's not all the way healed, but I can definitely do a regular shoe for 45 minutes or so, so that's good enough.
It's mild and sunny today. They are saying 80% chance of rain Christmas Eve That really sucks because we do an open house/buffet and we have a small house and it's so nice to be able to utilize the back yard. But it will be Christmas eve either way so we'll have to make the best of it. It's been a year of loss, so it will be nice just to get together with everyone.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Dec 20, 2023 20:38:47 GMT
Fingers crossed that you don't get Christmas Eve rain, jes. I replaced the bow on the top of the patio Christmas tree - original bow was too small. I just need to pull up the candy canes outside (can't really see them so they don't add much) and I'll be ready for the contest tonight I also have an alarm set for 5:45, to make sure the outside lights come on (they're on a light sensor timer) and I remember to plug in the windows before the judging starts (6:00 pm). I can't wait to see what next door did. And I love, love, love my luminarias. What's cool about the luminarias is the "bags" are white, and I can change up the light bulbs inside to make any color combo/effect I want. I bet they'd be pretty alternating blue/white, red/white or red/green depending on the overall decoration color scheme. They're a nice heavy weight but flexible plastic so I should be able to use them for several Christmases. I just got a notice from BritBox about their Christmas specials. Beyond Paradise Christmas special airs 12/25, and the Christmas special for Death in Paradise is on 12/27. I already caught the special for Sister Boniface (it was really cute). Madame Blanc Christmas special on Acorn is on 12/25 as well. I guess I know what I'm watching Christmas night. Life is good.
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Post by denise15601 on Dec 20, 2023 20:48:15 GMT
Good luck Val!
Yay me! I just saw my thoracic surgeon and the highly suspicious lung spot is almost gone! So it isn't cancer, and most likely from the respiratory thing that I had a few months ago. Kind of weird that a brief cold-type thing can mess up the lungs...
I do have a new 7mm spot beside my heart, but it is most likely nothing. Will see my oncologist tomorrow for another follow-up, to see what he wants to do about the new spot. But I would have to wait for a few months before being able to get another CT scan.
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