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Daily things 5️⃣ Three Things Thursday

Did you have a buyer's realtor and go through the whole contract thing? I've heard a bunch of confusion from people locally about the process now. A few realtors refusing to show to non-represented buyers.
Yes. Our agent wrote it into our agreement that they would split the commission with the buyers agent. For the house that we are buying, the seller had that in the agreement with their agent. While we found the house, our agent has been extremely valuable with putting us in contact with local people for the mortgage and insurance, and walking us through the processes.

1) Wife's birthday is this weekend. We are going to try out some fancy restaurant in the City (in a safe part anyways)

2) It is amazing how much furniture we want to buy to fill the new house. For some of it, I am going to slow roll it so I can build some of it instead. Namely a desk and book shelves for the library and a dinning room table.

3) I got my annual blood work done recently from inside tracker. Based on the results, I need to eat more legumes and do more cardio exercise. It is also says that I am too stressed and my cortisol levels are high.
 
1. I've learned more from watching Henry Bittaker the last few weeks than anything else in AICP study prep.

2. Thinking I should get my tires swapped out (summer for winter) earlier than usual this year since we are heading over the mountains later this month. (Usually I do it mid-December).

3. I took a bunch of books back to the library this morning that I know I won't get to anytime soon. I feel guilty checking them out and not reading them, but I don't think the library cares. Besides, there are people on a list behind me waiting for those books. It's not fair to them for me to have the books just sitting in my beside cabinet when the books could be getting some love.

Jim
 
1) Still feeling bummed about the election results, but put on my big girl panties and am in the office today.

2) Weekend plans for both days. Also going to clean out the freezer in search of items to throw in the crockpot.

3) I cooked some beans and ham in the mini crockpot, experimenting with spices and consistency (soup vs. stew), and loved the results. Now, I just need to remember the ratio of spice to beans . . .
 
My 16+ year old cat is showing unmistakable signs of feline dementia. I don't think she has a lot of time left and I'll be crushed when she passes.

I've got a seriously disabled kid and a trans kid (young adults, really). This shift rightward is wigging me out, but I'm game facing in front of them. (I hope I'm convincing ...)

Can use a long weekend, what with Armistice Day on Monday. (I think Veterans Day should be moved to early August to break up the long stretch between 4 July and Labor Day. Then restore 11/11 to its rightful observance.)
 
1. It's a beautiful sunny 59 degree Thursday in November.
2. My wife is finally coming home this weekend after a long overseas business trip.
3. Need to cover the last of the patio furniture and get the garage organized so we can fit both vehicles in it.
 
Can use a long weekend, what with Armistice Day on Monday. (I think Veterans Day should be moved to early August to break up the long stretch between 4 July and Labor Day. Then restore 11/11 to its rightful observance.)
On the other hand, November is the only month with three holidays . . . so that makes it special.

Not to mention we also get Nevada Day here (last Friday in October), so that's four in close secession.

= = =

Thoughts go out to your kitty. Losing a pet is hard.

Jim
 
My 16+ year old cat is showing unmistakable signs of feline dementia. I don't think she has a lot of time left and I'll be crushed when she passes.

I've got a seriously disabled kid and a trans kid (young adults, really). This shift rightward is wigging me out, but I'm game facing in front of them. (I hope I'm convincing ...)

Can use a long weekend, what with Armistice Day on Monday. (I think Veterans Day should be moved to early August to break up the long stretch between 4 July and Labor Day. Then restore 11/11 to its rightful observance.)
Sorry for your pending loss
 
I've got a seriously disabled kid and a trans kid (young adults, really). This shift rightward is wigging me out, but I'm game facing in front of them. (I hope I'm convincing ...)
Following this election I'm expecting the fringe bigots and haters to feel empowered and emboldened. I fear for your kids' safety as well.
 
1. I don't need coffee this morning--I turned onto the street leading to City Hall parking garage (a one-way), only to find a car coming right at me in my lane. I honked and got out of the way. Car kept going, oblivious.

2. Taking a break from AICP studies tonight, but I have a good excuse: Commanders in a divisional game tonight. (Concurrent with the Canucks, who are playing second fiddle to the Commanders on my TV tonight.)

3. It gets a bum rap, but the wife and I enjoy the reboot of "Matlock" with Kathy Bates.

Jim
 
3. It gets a bum rap, but the wife and I enjoy the reboot of "Matlock" with Kathy Bates.

Jim
I think I might have watched part of an episode of the original Matlock back in the day and thought it was treacle. How does the new one compare?
 
I think I might have watched part of an episode of the original Matlock back in the day and thought it was treacle. How does the new one compare?
Congratulations! You have made ursus google the word "treacle". 10 points will be awarded to Gryffindor!
 
I think I might have watched part of an episode of the original Matlock back in the day and thought it was treacle. How does the new one compare?
Dunno. I never watched the original except maybe a minute or two here and there. I was not really a big TV watcher growing up. (I had books.)

Matlock is fun without being overly campy, and doesn't require a whole lot brain power. Lots of banter between the main characters.

Jim
 
Congratulations! You have made ursus google the word "treacle". 10 points will be awarded to Gryffindor!
Me too. I had never heard that word . . . and this coming from the guy who puts the "obscure word of the week" on his board at work.

Jim
 
1. Scheduled a Dr. appt. for my wife since she is at work (in the building next to the clinic)
2. Time does not work for her.
3. I cannot cancel; I can make, but not cancel.
 
1. Rain all day today.
2. I need to finalize the Thanksgiving menu and finish the shopping list tonight.
3. My wife and oldest daughter are both sick. So far I'm good.
 
1. Just got back from a big time groundbreaking for an 800 acre industrial site. Catered lunch and probably the best collard greens I've ever had!
2. Decided it was time to start watching Yellowstone. Through one season so far. Very entertaining but these are not good people. It's like when you were watching the Sopranos and you'd find yourself rooting for Tony and then you were like "oh yeah, he's a complete P.O.S."
3. Got my oil changed today ($30 off coupon!) and they called and said technician recommends replacing all wiper blades. I asked what that would cost. $115 with labor. I think I hurt the guys ears laughing.
 
2. I need to finalize the Thanksgiving menu and finish the shopping list tonight.
I picked up a Popeye's cajun turkey this year. Turkey is not my favorite so this should be a welcome change. Although I do have good childhood memories of my mother cooking the turkey in my grandmother's 1950s era roaster, which she still uses every Thanksgiving - the smell permeating through the house is the memory.
 
One of my favorite cooking aromas was when my mom sautéed (she'd have said "fried") onions and celery in butter Thanksgiving morning.

I get to go home today! I'm not working tomorrow.

My daughter plans to buy a house in a town next door. I don't think she thought it through. I'm a five minute walk away, which makes spending time with and helping her more convenient for both of us.
 
One of my favorite cooking aromas was when my mom sautéed (she'd have said "fried") onions and celery in butter Thanksgiving morning.

My daughter plans to buy a house in a town next door. I don't think she thought it through. I'm a five minute walk away, which makes spending time with and helping her more convenient for both of us.
I find it interesting that smells can trigger such memories. My wife said the same about her high school which was recently razed. She wanted to go back into the gym to get that smell one more time.

Look at the positive that she will still be close by. I am 750 miles from my parents, one brother is 2,500 and another is 2,800. My sister a 10 minutes walk (for the sister, not parents) so they at least have one nearby.
 
1) My sister's cat died the day before she arrived home. :cat::cry:

2) Because I thought today was Weds, not Thursday, and therefore looked at the wrong calendar day, I was late to a meeting.

3) I really want a nap this afternoon . . .
 
1) This week has been extremely busy and I am exhausted.
2) Had lunch at a country club today. Food was not all that impressive.
3) This weekend I am going to install the new pool pump. This one is a programable variable speed pump so I won't need to close the pool for the winter. The old pump didn't work well, was not wired properly, and is leaking. I figured if I needed a new one, I was going to get a good one.
 
1. The house across the street from us finally sold. December 5 is closing, but I doubt we will see the new owners then . . . December is a very bad time to move to a new place. I don't know anything about them or who they are. I guess I will meet them soon enough.

2. AICP exam Saturday afternoon. I think I am as ready as I can be.

3. Remembering the year the power went out at the house on Thanksgiving so I had to pull out the camp stove and set it up outside to finish cooking in the snow. It worked though.

JIm
 
1) For the past few months I have completely fell off the healthy living bandwagon. I have been eating too much bad food, drinking beer too often, and living in a stress state too much (new job, relocation to new state, rental then new house...). It has resulted in me getting further out of shape than I have ever been, even though I completed a Tough Mudder last month. It's not just the smart scale that is telling this, but also the annual comprehensive blood work panel that I have done. However, the past week-ish things have changed. We are in our new house and starting to get unpacked. Kids are getting settled in to their new schools and environments, and even my wife's work has seemed a lot better. Last night I reassembled the Peloton Bike and went for a ride this morning. I will do the same tomorrow morning. On Saturday morning I am going to join a larger gym and while it is kind of expensive, it is the same chain that I belonged to years ago and the price was an incentive to go work out in some capacity every day. The biggest thing is I feel so much less stressed than I have in a long time.

2) They are calling for a 'chance' of first frost tomorrow morning. When I get home tonight I will move several of the really nice potted outdoor plants that we have up close to the house to protect them. We are fortunate that the past owners left that stuff for us. They also left the basketball hoop as well.

3) I have a strange situation with a TV. The house that we have now as a family room area off the kitchen. Kind of an open floor plan feel. This area is an extension off the back of the house with cathedral ceilings and a fire place on the back wall. However, there is no cable connection in the room. We don't do cable, but the antenna does not pick up all the local stations if it is indoors. I found a great lower profile antenna that I can mount off the chimney outside, but I am struggling to figure out how to run the cable without ripping apart the wall and part of the chimney. Part of me thinks that I might just need to bite the bullet, open the wall up behind the tv, and run the wire far enough to get around the chimney then out the exterior brick.
 
3) I have a strange situation with a TV. The house that we have now as a family room area off the kitchen. Kind of an open floor plan feel. This area is an extension off the back of the house with cathedral ceilings and a fire place on the back wall. However, there is no cable connection in the room. We don't do cable, but the antenna does not pick up all the local stations if it is indoors. I found a great lower profile antenna that I can mount off the chimney outside, but I am struggling to figure out how to run the cable without ripping apart the wall and part of the chimney. Part of me thinks that I might just need to bite the bullet, open the wall up behind the tv, and run the wire far enough to get around the chimney then out the exterior brick.
Most local stations stream their digital signals nowadays. If you have a strong WiFi signal and a smart TV, you should be able to watch that way. (I set that up for my mom in California when she moved last year.)

If you call the engineering departments of your local stations, I find that they tend to be very helpful in walking you through getting it set up. The key is that a lot of channels broadcast on a different digital channel than the virtual channel number.

Jim
 
1. Parenting a tween is stressful!
2. Germans don't believe in the two hour delay for schools. The joys of public transportation means the kids are expected to go in all weather.
3. Friendsgiving this weekend. We are bringing GF cupcakes and a new Korean corn recipe.
 
1. Parenting any age is stressful. The stresses change, however, depending on the age of the child.
2. Wah Wah Wah!
3. I'm not hearing RSVPs from certain Thanksgiving invites that were extended
 
1. As far as parenting, I was once told that as your kids get older there are fewer problems, but the problems they do face are larger. I can concur.
2. I need to find a breakfast casserole recipe. Anyone have a good one?
3. No after work plans tonight. I'm sure my wife will find something for me to do.
 
1) ^^I use this recipe for when I have overnight guests: slow-cooker-breakfast-casserole (I downloaded it a while back)

2) I have multiple deadlines bearing down on me. That's what I get for volunteering to assist someone else.

3) Anyone else ready to see Gladiator II in the theater?
 
1. Parts ordered (pistons rings) for my snowblower.
2. Could not find in the US and a Canadian site said it was in stock; was not and do not ship to the US.
2.B Part is available in Germany.
3. Gave me a reference for a parts dealer in Cumberland, MD, called and ordered today.
 
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1. As far as parenting, I was once told that as your kids get older there are fewer problems, but the problems they do face are larger. I can concur.
2. I need to find a breakfast casserole recipe. Anyone have a good one?
3. No after work plans tonight. I'm sure my wife will find something for me to do.
We call this "Heart Attack on a Plate". Breakfast Sausage Casserole
 
1. Judging by traffic levels, most people--including me--did not get the holiday off today.

2. I forgot about 3TT for a few weeks. so I am glad I finally remembered it today.

3. So far this hockey season, the Panthers had a game cancelled against the Hurricanes because of a hurricane, and the Kings have had a game cancelled against the Flames because of fire.

Jim
 
1. Judging by traffic levels, most people--including me--did not get the holiday off today.

2. I forgot about 3TT for a few weeks. so I am glad I finally remembered it today.

3. So far this hockey season, the Panthers had a game cancelled against the Hurricanes because of a hurricane, and the Kings have had a game cancelled against the Flames because of fire.

Jim
1. Wait, today's a holiday? What for?
2. Thursdays aren't so bad. Frequently busy, but the good part is that the finish line is within sight and the work week is nearly over!
3. Sure wish a jug band was performing in the office today to help keep up employee morale.
 
1. Making Cuban garlic chicken for dinner.
2. Don't make any sudden movements, the kitty is on my lap.
3. Annnnd, she jumped down.
 
1. Gym after work.
2. Watching Notre Dame-Penn St. tonight.
3. My daughter goes back to Michigan State this weekend.
 
1. Wait, today's a holiday? What for?
2. Thursdays aren't so bad. Frequently busy, but the good part is that the finish line is within sight and the work week is nearly over!
3. Sure wish a jug band was performing in the office today to help keep up employee morale.
 
1. I get your busy, but respond to Teams message.
2. Nuclear power discussion as a energy source - can't imagine the federal approval/redtape to get such use online.
3. Is the world we live in now different than any previous generation or timeframe? All had conflict whether natural or man made.
 
I don't believe so. The world just feels smaller and more immediate because of technology.
That was my thought, too. No need for news to take three months via ocean sail, for example, and that is only coast to coast. Interior dissemination of news was not quick either.
 
1. Meeting up with friends for drinks at 6pm.
2. Just found out my niece has an away basketball game at 5pm literally right around the corner form where we're meeting. She lives an hour away.
3. So now I get to watch my niece play then go get drinks. Sometimes the world does align.
 
1) Listening to parking mandate discussion. Whee.

2) Lots of deadlines approaching, more work piling up.

3) Couple nice days, then the polar plunge hits.
 
1) I am ordering 5-guys for dinner tonight. Normally we don't eat that kind of food, but I am just in the mood for those fries.

2) Sounds like a storm is brewing with a local organization in our Town. The fireworks will be fascinating to watch.

3) I have a surprising number of meetings tomorrow... well for a Friday at least.
 
1. Was out sick yesterday (nothing in particular, just general "gunk"), so doing Three Things Thursday today.

2. Anyone see the Mars/Moon combination this week? Wow.

3. Commanders play the Lions tomorrow. I've already congratulated the Lions on the win. (Canucks play concurrently; I'll flop back and forth on the bedroom TV.)

4. Bonus: We had been worried about our male cockatiel and some odd behavior, to the point we thought it may be near the end for him (he's 15). Vet assures us it's just normal aging and some arthritis and can be treated.

Jim
 
1. Wife will be at work during Sunday's Commanders-Eagles match. I don't want to watch alone, and I don't really want to hang out at a sports bar for three hours, so I have some relatives coming up from California and a few other people popping in.

2. How is a fee for an RTA a city "money grab?" We had someone complain that there shouldn't be a fee for that, but, really, it barely covers our expenses.

3. Someone really should trim that tree in our front yard. It's becoming a hazard.

Jim
 
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