wittenlover

September already... Crazy how fast the time flies. My cuke vines have been trying to fight the good fight against yet another fungus attack this year. Boo hiss. I've only gotten an average of maybe a cuke and a half per vine this year. Oof. Hoping for better things next year as I continue learning about best practices for my gardening and creative potential helps to keep the darn fungus at bay (or at least further limit its destruction). My brussels that have grown from those I did not harvest last year are starting to produce sprouts of their own for harvesting in about a month or so. I'm excited about that since no one really knew what would happen when I told them what the brussels were doing in the spring. Now I know! Fun to know I'll have a decent sprout harvest again here soon. Sorry to hear about your mom, Bopeep. Hugs and prayers for you and yours. Losing mom is rough.

Welcome to August... Wow how time flies. On the agenda for the month for me: - Once again fighting a potentially losing battle against fungus on my cuke vines (ugh) - Buddy coming in to town to visit for about a week. While she's here: Heading to MIS for the NASCAR races (will stay at home vs camping at track but will enjoy all the track activity) A few days at Cedar Point Possibly some other fun adventures as time permits - Finishing up plans and material list for my planned makeshift greenhouse space I am creating out of an existing tubular structure originally designed to hold up a tarp for entertainment space (to allow for a longer grow season and maybe even some late fall lettuce if I do it right) Hope all the GDer fam is doing well!

It is a combo unit. It's been dropping connection more lately. I've reset it multiple times, troubleshot other things, hasn't resolved the dropping connections... Line outside coming into the house was replaced shortly after I bought the house last year and is still in good condition. So yeah... Thinking it's just telling me it's time to retire it. lol

Yep. Thanks! As a Comcast user for almost 25 years, I am well aware, sadly... smh I'm looking at a couple from manufacturers I've had good luck with in the past and doing my homework before I pull the trigger on anything. It's certainly not an immediate need at the moment - I can just tell my poor modem/router is nearing its end... LOL I'm also checking to ensure I won't have issues if I switch internet providers (something I'm considering) within the next year or so.

After what I've determined is approximately a decade or so of solid service, my cable modem/router combo is in the process of kicking the bucket, so I'm on a hunt for a deal on that front. That said, I definitely prefer the combo to two individual pieces, even though I know there are some advantages of having them separated. I don't have a large footprint to cover nor do I have many devices requiring the network (counted max of 10 last night, I think, and that's when they're all turned on, which is rare). I figure on getting one that will hopefully last me at least another 5 , if not 10, years or so. Not exactly a great time for me to be spending money (had some other unexpected bills lately) but I have to have reliable access since I work from home half the week. With Prime Day sales going on, maybe I'll get lucky.

Thanks! We confirmed we unintentionally suppressed her thyroid a bit too much. She got a full break from the meds yesterday to give her little body time to rebound a bit and we restarted this morning with a reduced dosage in between what she was on before and what we'd increased to. I'm watching her appetite over next few days and, if it craters again, I'm supposed to call back and we can further re-assess. I have a hunch I know where the magic spot might be but I don't want to assume, as I am definitely -not- a vet nor medication expert. I will say her appetite began to return as the day progressed yesterday, so that was a good sign (and further confirmation of the overshot with the meds).

July already... Where does the time go??? Planning on seeing four fireworks shows this week, weather-permitting. Locally, Kensington Metropark is doing their display tomorrow night - always a solid show. Wednesday night, I'm taking a slightly longer road trip north to Frankenmuth for their show. Thursday will be a "game-time decision" as far as where I go because Mother Nature is not necessarily going to play nice for where I was originally planning on going, so I'm looking at alternative spots in case weather messes up "Plan A" (finding other fireworks shows on the 4th? Impossible! LOL). Friday, I'm headed to the "Salute to America" event at The Henry Ford, just a short 15 minute (give or take) drive from home. That said, my kitty Mew has not been feeling her best and I believe it is due to a rather large increase in her thyroid meds over the past month and a half or so. Going to be discussing this with her vet today. She's not wanting to eat at all now, which can be a symptom of taking her thyroid levels too low. It's one thing to increase meds initially to bring things back into a normal range quickly (fight the fire!) but I don't think we're at the "sweet spot" for her maintenance dosage at the moment. She seems fine otherwise but, as 16.5 years old, no telling how much longer we've got.

I call that "body out of warranty"... Seriously, hope June is kinder to you and that your back continues to heal. Definitely doesn't take as much as we get older. Ugh!!! (Getting older = 0 out of 10, do not recommend!)

As the executor on my mom's estate when she passed, I recall things being pretty crazy/chaotic for me for a while as well... Grieving while dealing with the business of settling everything was definitely not easy nor pleasant (obviously). I was very thankful, however, that Mom took care of setting her affairs in pretty solid order while she was still well enough to do so, which, according to her probate attorney, made my job far easier than it could have been. My prayers continue for you as you walk this journey and find/adjust to the new normal. I spent Saturday down in Detroit for some of the Detroit GP festivities (yep, race fan through and through). That was a good time, as I met up with a few friends and we wandered the race circuit together for much of the day. (My feet would disagree, though, as I walked more than 8 miles! LOL) My cats officially hate your team (but I know I appreciate knowing these important pieces of our warning system are in proper working order). lol This year, Father's Day once again falls on my mom's birthday so that will be a bittersweet day for me as I celebrate the blessing of still having my dad here while missing mom on what would have been her 74th birthday. Hard for me to believe that this year is 18 years that she's been gone... I'm actually spending the evening of the anniversary of her passing (6/12) up at Berlin Raceway watching a buddy of mine (whose primary job is spotting for one of my favorite NASCAR drivers) race his own car. Somewhere, I imagine Mom smiling, seeing as she's the reason I'm so into racing.

Avid? No... Enthusiastic rookie gardener still learning many things? Yes. lol

Indeed. And as one whose body revolts physically at even the scent of the stuff, there are certain areas I can't even visit any more because of it. Such a shame.

Hardest decision we pet parents ever have to make... Much love to you from one pet parent who's been there (and will be there again someday) to another.

This. Is. May. Greatest month for us auto racing fanatics, culminating with the triple on Sunday, May 26th (F1 in the morning, Indy 500 around lunchtime, NASCAR's Coke 600 around dinner time). Those of us in Charlotte for the 600 will start our day watching F1, move to the race track and catch the 500 via the screens in various merch haulers (and on our phones), then enjoy the 600 from the stands. Long, crazy, fun day.

Nope. I wished for good weather and Mother Nature delivered on Sunday. Was absolutely gorgeous. Win.

This is 48! Celebrated my birthday on Sunday. Had gorgeous weather here in SE MI, so I even broke out a dress for the occasion. Mark that on your calendars, folks! This doesn’t happen often! lol

Heading a bit south today into the path of totality. Co-worker and I discussed our plan on Friday and mapped out a target area we're aiming for, though we'll be traveling separately into said area. We're hoping to get out of the general crowds by getting off the beaten path a bit. Helps that we're both somewhat familiar with the area we're aiming for, so we have some thoughts on where exactly we'll watch from. It is a remote work day for us, so that makes it a bit easier, though our laptops and phones will be with us so we can still be productive as the need arises while we watch the eclipse unfold. (It may be a special event but, being in quality, we're always "on call", so to speak.)

Microsoft give us a bad Windows update??? NEVER!!! Blasphemy!!! Yeah most likely. I'll fight with it when I actually have a day (or a full evening) to swear at it. LOL

I should clarify - it powers on when plugged in but something has gotten corrupted (I think) that doesn't allow it to boot up unless in safe mode, no matter what else I've tried. It may require "format C:" to truly get anywhere, though with the shot battery, it's one of those "do I truly want to fight that hard to get it fully functional again?" with the answer being, "no, not really".

When you've got Reed Timmer and friends roaming in the Cincy area, you know it can't be good. Stay safe, buddy to the south of me. April is my bday month, so the emails have started rolling in with my bday offers. Looking forward to taking advantage of at least some of them, one of them being a free meal up in Frankenmuth! Yum yum yum! Totally worth the drive, especially if I make a full day of it and hit up the Cheese Haus as well! (Yep, I'm part mouse, for sure. LOL) Started the month with the April Fools joke of my personal laptop having croaked (battery completely shot, doesn't even want to boot up when plugged in but its also several years old, so...?). Oof... Sooooo did a little digging around since I needed a quick replacement. Found myself a gaming laptop with likely more capability that I'll ever need but for same prices as other ones I was looking at with far less. Difference? It was rated "Open Box - Excellent", so not quite brand new. Just about cut its price in half. Worth it. Set that up last night and I'll deal with trying to get the older laptop working enough to pull data later. Thankfully, I back up to an external hard drive, so I don't think there's much on there I don't already have saved, especially if it was at all important, but I'd like to try to look at least. LOL

Same here in MI. My morning commute was absolutely miserable... Not looking forward to trekking back home with the snow still falling. Oof.

Chief Elf still on duty in March. Nice...

I'm so very sorry to hear this, friend. Hearing your stories of how she so enjoyed the gifts and cards always brought joy to my day. Hugs to you...

Now that the Daytona 500 is in the books, I'm in the final countdown to my trip to Vegas. Leaving next Tuesday! Woot! Almost time! Many cookies will be baked in preparation this weekend. My crew boys will be HUNGRY!

Happy Valentine's Day, GD fam! (And a very happy birthday to one of my best buddies as he turns 39 today - I enjoy having a friend's bday to celebrate today since I don't have a Valentine to share the day with myself.)

Yayayayayayayayay!!! Happy February! NASCAR is back on track this weekend! Granted, it's only the Clash (no points implications yet) but this race fan is happy. Means it's almost time for me to head to Vegas (we fly on the 27th). Counting the days till I get to go see my track fam (spotters, pit crew guys, etc.). Can't come soon enough! Oh and go NINERS! (Been a fan since early 80s as a kid)