October - Outstanding or Objectionable

All good here so far! Weather has been decent, and though it's now officially too cool for me to swim I am still seeing other people in the water. (I have to get a wet suit.)

Good here too. We are officially out of the 3rd wave of Covid and down to level 1 lockdown. And today's paper is muttering about further easing of restrictions.

I started the month with a migraine, which is still with me. Hooray for drugs.

Despite that, I got the community garden plot cleaned out and ready for winter, and my husband and I heavily pruned the lilac (it looks terrible but needed doing) and I cleaned up and put the residue out for yard waste pickup today.

Also my 16th Thingaversary was yesterday and I have a lovely pile of purchased and library books to enjoy.

Everything was going well until my brother was diagnosed with lymphoma.

>4 Bookmarque: Oh no... I am so sorry. Do they know which kind yet?

>4 Bookmarque: So sorry to hear that. I hope they caught it early and that he responds well to treatment.

>4 Bookmarque: *hug*

>4 Bookmarque: Very sorry to hear that. Wishing you strength.

>4 Bookmarque: I am so sorry. With best wishes to you both.

>4 Bookmarque: What >5 clamairy: , >6 Taphophile13: , >7 MrsLee: , >8 pgmcc: and >9 -pilgrim-: said, plus more hugs.

>4 Bookmarque: Strength to you and him!

Thanks everyone. He's going for a consult w/primary care doc today and will get a referral for an oncologist. We hope that the prognosis is good and he can be cured. It's gutting though and I'm on the brink of tears if I dwell on it too much. Having been through cancer myself, I know how much it wrecks your head as much as your body - double whammy.

>4 Bookmarque:, >12 Bookmarque: Hope all goes well.

>4 Bookmarque: I'm so sorry. That is terribly rough on everybody.

My 30-year-old son was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma 5 years ago and was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Subsequent tests came back clean. He did suffer some organ damage from the chemo, which is pretty powerful poison, but he came back from it all very much able to go on. And if he'd only known that he was supposed to take the meds regularly to combat the chemo sickness, and not just ad hoc, he would have been a whole lot less miserable. He's good now, though.

I hope your brother does as well as that.

Thanks. I hope so, too. He has an appointment with an oncologist at what looks like an advanced and specialized organization with ties to Dana Farber. His regular doctor is hopeful.

I had physio this morning for my bicep tendonitis, which is slowly improving but still painful.

The day improved greatly, though, when I joined three friends for lunch at a nearby café. We arrived at 11:30, and left about 3; the food was excellent, the conversation even better. One of my lunch companions is a local author who has just released her second mystery (I'm halfway through and it's very good), and she autographed my copy for me. Needless to say, books were a major topic of conversation :)

October and November used to be two of my favorite months, but lately they seem to be months of departure from loved ones.

Anyway, this is not a departure yet, but quite worrisome. My mother-in-law, 91, is in the hospital with bowel obstruction. The two options were surgery (the doctor is not optimistic) or palliative care because she will not be able to eat without surgery. She and my father-in-law were able to talk on the phone and they opted for surgery. Hopefully it will happen today. Of course family is unable to visit.

>17 MrsLee:
My sympathy for your mother-in-law's predicament. Wishing her well and the rest of you courage and strength.

>17 MrsLee: What Peter said. Best wishes to you and your husband, and your MiL and FiL.

>17 MrsLee: What Peter and Richard said. Strength to all of you.

>17 MrsLee: Holding my thumbs for your MIL and the rest of the family. Hang in there. I second (and third) what everyone else said.

>17Your family does seem to be having it rough, but it is also clear what strong people you are. My prayers are with you.

Thank you, all. The surgery was postponed until this morning, not sure what time. The reason is that a more experienced doctor stepped up to do it. He seems confident. She has been losing the ability to process information over the last few months, she still has lucid moments. They don't think the surgery will help that, could make it worse, but one step at a time. She was lucid when she talked to her husband and very clear that she wanted to try surgery, but if heart or lungs quit working, she did not want measures taken to keep her alive.

My mother-in-law (she always said mother/daughter in love) is a character. She is sassy, headstrong, vibrant and has a naughty sense of humor. I love her. It has been hard to see that personality get dulled and fade. Not gone, but layered over. Hard to describe. Her husband is on oxygen and unable to visit even if he could because of his susceptibility to sickness. They were married in 1952, and never parted without a kiss. Mostly they've never parted.

Sounds like quite a woman, MrsL and if you lose her it will be sad, but on her terms more or less and it sounds like she had a full life with plenty of laughter and love. I'm sorry this is something you have to deal with. Getting old is so complicated these days.

>23 MrsLee: I was afraid you were going to say that she had declined or the doctors were too busy to do the surgery. Postponing to get the best surgeon is good news. Your MIL sounds like a wonderful person and you are so lucky to have her in your life. Wishing you a good outcome.

>17 MrsLee:, >23 MrsLee: Hope all goes well for your MIL.

>16 tardis: sounds good!

>16 tardis:
I hope your tendonitis continues to improve.

Your lunch sounds great fun.

>16 tardis: I hope you see continued improvements.

>4 Bookmarque: so sorry. Sending strength to all for the fight ahead.

>17 MrsLee: I hope the surgery goes well.

I had to leave work early on Friday due to a huge migraine. One of my worst. I had to get a ride home. I think it was triggered from my eye doctor appointment the night before. He shined some pretty bright lights in my eyes. Then the headlights on the way to work. Oofdah. Not a good combo. The headache is gone, but I developed a sneeze, too. I went and got a rapid test this morning. It was negative, so it is just a cold. I’ll have to miss Monday if I don’t feel better tomorrow. Subs are few and far between. I didn’t have one on Friday and wasn’t able to get one a couple weeks ago when I was sick. Odds are not good for me getting one for Monday.

I was supposed to start marathon training this week. That’ll be put off another week or two.

Weather is great here today! The Husband is outside decorating for Halloween.

We got the word that she is out of surgery and that it went well. 4-5 days in hospital, making sure the new piping works, then hopefully to a recovery center for a couple of weeks. Early days to predict, but we feel confident about the decision.

Hope your head improves daily! Very difficult these days when everyone is shorthanded. Those of us still working feel like we can't miss a day.

>29 MrsLee: Good news. Hope her recovery is non-eventful.

>29 MrsLee: That does sound good news.

>28 catzteach: Oh no! :o( That's very discouraging.

>29 MrsLee: Hope all continues to go smoothly.

>29 MrsLee:
I am glad to hear the procedure went well. Wishing her a peaceful recovery.

>28 catzteach:
Hoping you have a quick recovery. Migraines are so debilitating.

>29 MrsLee: Come to think of it, a dear friend here -- not as, er, mature as your MIL but still in her 80s -- had the same thing recently; spent a couple of months at their son-&-DIL's house before she could get home. At the same time her husband had a brief stay in the same hospital with heart problems. But they're back home now. So I have high hopes that your MIL will do the same, quicker.

>35 hfglen: Much what Paul's 83 year old mother did when she broke her wrist in January and needed surgery. She came to us after her discharge, and went home in May. She's now coping very well on her own, although doing much in the way of meal preparation is still a bit dodgy when it involves sharp knives - she's not got much grip in that hand.

Her other son comes over most weekends, and we come over occasionally, and do the online ordering for her. She's now going mostly for ready meals; fortunately it's not as bad as it was when I used to order for my late mother - I had to ingredient read like a hawk because of her IBS. Our main issue is making sure what we get can be eaten by her other son - who is an incredibly fussy eater.

>29 MrsLee: glad the surgery went well. I hope her recovery is smooth.

Thanks, everyone. Migraine was gone by yesterday afternoon. Somewhere in there I started sneezing a lot. So I went and got a rapid test yesterday. All is well and I’m feeling much better today. Which is great because I didn’t want to call in sick tomorrow. I didn’t want to do that to the staff and kids again.

I very much appreciate everyone's well wishes. It is a precious gift to be able to vent/share/mourn here and know there are caring people to hear you.

>35 hfglen: No one is really discussing what happens after hospital yet. Or at least I haven't heard it. My husband is staying with his father today, so maybe he will have news when he comes home. The only news I had this morning was that she was well, and hates the oxygen mask.

>37 catzteach: Glad you are better!

Before starting the BMW Tour, I intended to do quick tests every other day using the at-home tests. Couldn't find any ANYWHERE. If I saw a pharmacy, I stopped and asked. Bupkis until Day 10. It's currently Day 15 (Sunday). So, I bought two boxes which have two tests in them.
Late morning of Day 10, the test says I'm positive. Late evening of Day 11, another positive. Absolutely asymptomatic. I feel great.
Days 12 and 13, I spent over 8 hours trying to make an appointment online from my hotel room for a PCR test. Couldn't do it, mostly because the location of my room was cellular hostile. Could only communicate via text messages. In my car, I could only make a call if initiated it using the car's screen when Bluetoothed to my cell phone. Using the phone directly never made a connection.
Finally went to an emergency clinic. An hour and a half later, I got to see a doctor, who did a PCR test and a quick test. The latter was required to justify me getting monoclonal antibodies. But it came back negative. (!??!?!!!?!)
Won't get the results of the PCR test until Monday, Wednesday at the latest, he said. But Monday's a holiday, so my money is on Thursday.

The doctor says the at-home tests aren't worth the value of the cardboard box they come in.

"We'll see," said the Zen master.

>39 WholeHouseLibrary: Oh, sweet cheeses... Good luck with all of that. Great to know the test kits are worthless. :o|

>40 clamairy: Hi Clam! The likely source (if at all) of a COVID exposure was the hotel I had previously booked in New London - after I met up with you.

Although they're an okay place to stay in Texas, the one in NL was receiving subsidies for housing the homeless during the (ongoing) COVID crisis.
I wasn't aware of that when I made the non-refundable reservation there that the situation existed. It was, however, the only hotel in the area that cost less than $200 per night.

This may not be outstanding for most people here, but we appear to have a hedgehog living in our garden. My son spotted it a couple of nights ago in the front garden when he went out for a run. I spotted it tonight in our back garden. Our garden must be a food paradise for a hedgehog. There are plenty of ground covering plants and bushes, and oodles of slugs, worms and other creepy crawlies. I hope the hedgehog likes the place and hangs around for a while.

>42 pgmcc: Is this the right month in which to mention the bats living in our trees?

>42 pgmcc: I'm hoping the chilli powder I put on the new lawn yesterday hasn't deterred Spikelet. Mr Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed has been digging it up, along with The Tuxedo Mob, and I saw a suggestion to spray with chilli and garlic.

Penguins? You have penguins?

>45 MrAndrew: Magpies: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Birds_of_Sweden_2016_35.jpg

There's a gang of 5 routinely visiting our garden throughout the day in the hopes we've put more mealworms out. We think they're siblings from this year's brood. They're more tolerable than Mr Bright-Eyed as they don't dig - they just aerate.

At least the chilli powder didn't deter Spikelet - his bowl was empty this morning. Must get more - the bag I have was best before 2015 but I could still smell the chilli - Paul is back in the office next week and can do the exotic grocery stores in his lunch break.

Mix a bag of hot chilli powder with a bag of garlic powder, put results in a sugar caster, apply to lawn every few days.

>44 Maddz: I take it Mr Bright etc is a squirrel? We have some squirrel visitors too. And magpies. The European magpie is a different bird to the Australian one. I miss Australian magpies. Bigger than the European one, and no blue patches, but a very handsome bird all the same. When I had a back garden in Canberra, I sometimes had magpies follow me when I was digging in it, looking for anything edible that I might turn up.

Incidentally, as I've mentioned before, I have a study window with a sky view. There's a fair size tree in the view and I've taken to keeping a small pair of binoculars on the desk for the times I see a flash of wings outside (whether the wings are feathered or not).

ETA: No pterodactyls here. The "or not" just means aeroplanes. Sorry.

>49 haydninvienna: What about bats?

>48 haydninvienna: Yes indeed he is. The young ones took to using the new fence as a squirrel super-highway; they didn't like the short anti-climb spikes (which the pigeons could still roost on) and had to negotiate them cautiously, but they can negotiate the long anti-pigeon spikes reasonably fast.

What I suppose I will have to do is to get a halo either end of the fence to prevent them accessing it (although that won't work if they're on the roof of the caretaker's bungalow or my neighbour's shed). Or another set of long spikes and have a double row.

What I need is a Jack Russell... The one we had when I was a child loved chasing them although he thought it very unfair when they ran up trees.

>50 -pilgrim-: No bats. I'm not usually in the study at times when the bats are out. I don't mind bats—I well remember the time I had to eject a small bat from the front lobby of our house in Canberra. I think it managed it without injuring the creature. For that matter, I had to get a collared dove out of our conservatory the other day.

We have squirrels. They seem to like our fences too.

We used to have a couple of dogs that were part Jack Russell. I don't think they ever met the squirrels, but they certainly met a hedgehog or two. Unfortunately for the hedgehogs.

>52 haydninvienna: Bashir was a Jack Russell/fox terrier cross. He had a smooth head with the badger stripe and a rough-coated body. He got his name because his dam (a farm dog) had been feeding her pups on wild rabbit and the pups had all got worms. Mum named him because he had a big belly and was lolling on a cushion...

Why, yes this was shortly after we'd returned from Cairo.

>49 haydninvienna: "No pterodactyls here. The "or not" just means aeroplanes. Sorry."

I am deeply disappointed, but now you've got me thinking about what a pterodactyl feeder might look like.

>54 Marissa_Doyle: I think there's 2 schools of thought - either they're like those birds that skim just above water with the tip of their beak in the water and they go 'snap' when they hit something, or they're more like modern-day vultures in the scavenger niche.

If it's the second school, you just need to go to your local butcher and ask for a pack of soup bones and meat scraps and arrange them outside in a suitably artistic manner... Just remember to keep your neighbours up-to-date with fly spray and air freshener.

>54 Marissa_Doyle: Sorry about that. But maybe it’s just as well. After all, some of the pteranosaurs were the size of a light aircraft.

Thinks: and I thought pigeons were bad enough.

>55 Maddz: >56 haydninvienna: Maybe a disused grain silo, then, with perches made from recycled flagpoles and filled with meat scraps? Of course, that makes backyard feeding a dicey prospect...

I love the squirrels that come in our yard. But we don’t have a garden for them to tear up. It’s the jays that are bad. They’ve chased all the songbirds away.

It’s been a rough week. I went to a science class on Tuesday where the teacher did a really cool thing with magnets and an old tv. The static and colors tweaked my brain and I got another migraine. It’s been with me all week. Excedrin has been helping. This morning it’s much better, but still in the background.

Not much better work wise. The office staff has been arguing with the teachers about whether a child is sick or not. They are not being nice and gentle about it. They are very stressed right now, but it’s really tanking morale, which wasn’t great to begin with. Being one of the union reps means this is my circus and these are my monkeys. Teaching during COVID has been HARD! I’ve got a great class and I’m end-of-year exhausted already.

In running news, I’m going to start training for a marathon. It’s in April so plenty of time. Hopefully no stress fractures this time.

>58 catzteach:

Sorry to hear about your migraine. They are very hard to endure.

Also sorry about the disagreement at work. It is interesting that two groups of non-medics are arguing over the health of a child.

In your running news, and referencing your post elsewhere, will you be wearing waffle irons for your marathon?

>58 catzteach: Gentle hugs for you.

>59 pgmcc: >60 MrsLee: thanks. I think I’m past the migraine. So far so good today anyway.

>59 pgmcc: Yeah, we’ve all had the same training. I guess it’s been interpreted differently? I wish we had a nurse at school all day, every day, but no.

Hahaha! I don’t even wear the brand that evolved from the waffle iron experiment.

I'm finally beginning to pull loose from the morbid paralysis that has kept me immobile these nine months, since my husband's death and its terrible aftermath.

I'm seriously considering a move back to the East Coast, where I still have roots and family, and I've taken a big step: I've rented a one-bedroom duplex near me, which I am going to treat as transitional housing while I downsize (slowly, minimizing the panic and indigestion, and holding the back door open for mind changes and do-overs). Signing the lease was a huge hurdle, but it's done now, and I've already begun the enormous sorting and sifting process.

Meanwhile, my drug-using son has had a nasty relapse and is currently psychotic. Thank goodness for Al-Anon. It helps me learn how to say no and how not to blame myself for other people's bad choices.

>62 Meredy:
Congratulations on taking the first step and opening up options for yourself. I wish you all the best for your future and hope you enjoy the adventure that is today and tomorrow.

I'm so sorry about your son, Meredy. Addiction is a wrecker of lives. I would never have thought about renting a home the size of one you want to transition to in order to help make that transition. Brilliant. I wish you all the best with that and your continued journey back into the light. If your relationship with your husband is anything like mine with mine, I think I'd be in the dark wasteland for a long time.

>62 Meredy: As >64 Bookmarque: says, may your journey back to the light continue. You have taken the first and possibly hardest steps. My heart is with you.

If you come back east, you'll also have friends waiting for you.

I'm glad AlAnon is helping, but still, the pain.

>62 Meredy: grieving is hard. Sending you strength as you downsize. Also, so sorry about your son. Having grown up with three brothers who suffered with addiction, I know how hard it is on families. I’m glad you ah e the support of AlAnon.

>62 Meredy: Best of luck with all of it, and massive hugs to you for what you are dealing with. Hope it goes smoothly, and your son can beat his addiction.

Where on the East Coast is your family?

>63 pgmcc: >64 Bookmarque: >65 MrsLee: >66 Marissa_Doyle: (thank you!) >67 catzteach: Thank you all so, so much for your kindness, encouragement, and warmth. I deeply appreciate it.

I went through a lot of bad ideas before I thought of renting an apartment close by. Couldn't have done it if I hadn't come across my husband's secret fund, the one I think he used for all those trysts with his paramour in hotel rooms around the country, about which he thoughtfully left me paper documentation in plain view. That is a glimpse of the terrible aftermath I've been living through, realizing that I was deceived daily, wondering how much of the past 44 years was a wicked lie. A lot of things have broken or died since January.

>68 clamairy: My siblings and their offspring are ranged along the East Coast from Florida to Boston, and extended family goes on up into Vermont and the Maritimes. I don't know if this is the wrong time to move to any coast, but there are some nice hills in the Greater Boston area. I moved here to the Bay Area from Cambridge, but I grew up in Quincy. Never thought I'd go back in a million years, but I'm pretty much through being here in this beautiful, laid-back place of idyllic weather and comfortable familiarity, now fouled with betrayal. I'll be swapping the earthquakes and fires for good old blizzards and hurricanes, one bay area to another. And regaining a caring family too long distant, and the comfort of roots that were too New England-deep ever to have been truly transplanted.

wondering how much of the past 44 years was a wicked lie.

Ouch. Good god, I'm so sorry. that's the worst, and I hope you can be patient with yourself while you work through these thoughts, because it does take a lot of time. Other people's weaknesses are such a trial, between your husband and son I can imagine it will take everything you've got to be able to cope. Wishing you strength and support. {{hug}}

OMG, Meredy, I am so sorry. It's the complete opposite of what I had in mind and I regret typing so quickly. We like to think of marriage as a happy state, but it isn't always and I can't even imagine what you're going through. It doesn't sound like you are, but don't blame yourself for even an ounce of his behavior. There may not be room for any good memories or feelings right now, but I hope one day, if they exist, they will surface for you and paper over the black bits.

I have no words, Meredy. Except to reiterate that you have friends here. And that there's something very mentally cleansing about a good, howling nor'easter.

The loss of your husband and your son's illness seemed like so much to bear that I was at a loss for words. This is so much more that I'm amazed you are functioning and able to make good plans. Returning to caring family sounds like an excellent idea and, of course, you have your LT family too. Wishing you all the strength you need as you plot your course forward.

Holy Hannah, Meredy! All the hugs for you having to go through that. I think you're at the beginning of a good plan, though. Hope it works out well, and we are always here for you.

It's voting day in the municipal elections here: mayor, councilors, school board trustees, and a couple of stupid referendum questions courtesy of the provincial government. I am SO DONE with elections. I have voted, I will watch the results this evening, and then I will either be happy with the results or not. And all the ugly signs will be gone, hooray!

On a happier note, I put the bird feeders up this weekend and the magpies and blue jays are taking turns stuffing their beaks with nuts. Magpies are jerks, but they're so beautiful, and their contortions to get into a feeder that is too small and not very stable for such big birds is fun to watch. Once in a while the little birds (nuthatches, chickadees, etc.) sneak in, too.

>69 Meredy: and previous: One can only marvel at your "intestinal fortitude" in getting on with your life, making and executing good plans despite these disasters. What can one do from the other end of the world but wish you strength and good luck!

>74 tardis: You're lucky! We have to endure ugly signs and hot air from corrupt politicians for another fortnight yet! (And we have no less than 48 national parties -- I kid you not -- contesting them.)

>62 Meredy:, >69 Meredy: - sending virtual hugs. You have a lot to deal with right now, and seem to be handling it both well and sensibly.

In case this seems inappropriate, I'm putting it in spoiler tags. It refers to my own feelings about my former spouse. I remember (many years ago) thinking that it would have been easier if my ex had died, instead of leaving with the person he met on the internet. Now I realize that it could also have been much worse. FWIW I am much happier without him, and am rather fond of the following joke: How do you lose 200 pounds of useless fat? Get a divorce.

Goodness gracious, Meredy, I have no words. Sending you virtual hugs.

Well, I'm pretty happy with the election results, so day ends well :)

>69 Meredy: I can only imagine what you are going through Meredy, and join everyone else in wishing you strength and comfort as you build a new life for yourself.

>78 tardis: That's good to hear!

>69 Meredy: I am at a loss for words, other than to say how deeply sorry I am. I think moving is an excellent idea. I'll be holding you in the light, my friend.

>69 Meredy: It sounds very much what my mother went through with my father, although I think she did realise what was going on fairly early on. I do know her aunt and my father's uncle got their heads together and told my father he was not allowed to divorce my mother, and they informally separated when I was a teenager.

She did comment that after that happened she stopped getting migraines! It was certainly calmer at home without the constant rows about whether we were going to move to France or not, which helped with exams.

I'm so sorry, Meredy.

Thank you all for your kindness. I feel comforted by your sympathy and support. I'm facing some very big stuff alone, and it helps to feel that I have good people in my corner.

I'm eager to hear some more on the "outstanding" side of this month's ledger.

I finished most of the pre-winter yard prep today. I still have a couple of things left, but we're due a day or so of rain so I wanted to get the leaf mulch down and the branches chipped. I'm tired, but it feels good to get all that stuff done!

I've been working on the cross-country ski trails, helping get them ready for winter. We've already had a trace of snow, but mostly the fall weather has been lovely. I've been putting up some new signs and fixing some of the trail markers.

I really want to put up my birdfeeders for the winter, but there are still bears wandering around town. I don't want to attract them!

I just noticed that there is a new LT halloween treasure hunt - Hooray!

And I was excited to discover tonight that Lois McMaster Bujold has just released a new Penric novella. It's already on my ereader.

I am working on my Animal Crossing island like a fiend. I invited 2 of my nieces (in their 30s and 40s) along with a great-niece (7) and my son to come for a Spooktacular Treasure Hunt at my island on the 30th. It is consuming, and I don't think most of you will know what I'm talking about, but we are very excited. Husband is helping too. :)

>86 MrsLee:
Your island?
Sounds like a Bond villain base.
Now that I think about it, “MrsLee” would be a perfect name for a Bond villain. I can see it all now: Goldfinger; Doctor No; The Man With The Golden Gun; Blowfelt; Mrs Lee. All members of SPECTRE. Is your island called, “Spectre Island”?

>87 pgmcc: shhh, I don’t think we’re supposed to know about that island.

I’m excited for LT’s Hunt. I’ll have to wait till tonight to start working on the ones I didn’t get right away.

And I just found out the March Book Madness list is out. I did this last year with my class. There’s a list of books. We read them as a class then vote. There are brackets and an eventual winner. Super fun!

>88 catzteach:
I did better with this LT hunt than any previous ones. I got six without hints or Google. Thanks to a few hints and a bit more thought I managed to get the rest.

One really stumped Maddz and me. It would appear the book concerned is not widely known here while another one that fits the clue is very widly known on this side of the Atlantic.

>89 pgmcc: Yes, that's the one that kept coming up in my Google searches for that clue. It's also a character that I'm vaguely aware of - a colleague's young daughter is a fan and in our morning huddles we'd quite often see it in the background.

The correct answer I'd never heard of.

>87 pgmcc: Well, no. But that would be a great name for it this time of year. My island is named Aman.

>91 MrsLee:

Oh! The Island of Peace. Very nice. Perfectly located for launching a campaign to take over The World.

My October is both outstanding and objectionable, in a way. Mrs H and I are going to Vienna (Deo volente/inshallah) on Wednesday. That's outstanding. We both love Vienna, and it will be my first time on an aeroplane in over a year. But OMG the bureaucracy! And the uncertainty! Vaccination certificates! I've just spent a frustrating half-hour uploading scans of our vax certificates to British Airways, and getting them cleared, then trying to work out whether we need to pre-clear with the Austrian border authority. (We don't. I think.) That's objectionable. Then, of course, the rules might change while we're in transit.

We are hoping to go to Australia some time. Apparently things are going to open up next month, but who knows?

Another bunch of people who need to be congratulated: the website programmers who fixed all the extra stuff that you now have to do on line, and made it work (mostly).

>85 NorthernStar:: but there are still bears wandering around town

Aren't there always? Pesky beggars.

>85 NorthernStar: Has it been too warm for the bears to start hibernating? It's been oddly warm for the season here. I was still walking the beach in flip flops and shorts until Friday. I think it may finally be starting to cool off a bit.

I've spent the last week rearranging furniture so I can fit my plants back into the house. I'm getting too old for this. LOL Some of them are quite large.

>86 MrsLee: That sounds wonderful! My daughter was playing this for quite a while. Are you using a Nintendo Switch?

>93 haydninvienna: Best of luck with all of the scheduling and such. Hope it all goes as smoothly as possible.

>96 clamairy: Thanks Clam.

>95 clamairy: Heh, us too. I have a lemon tree and a lime tree that spend the winter in the tub in our bathroom, as there's a large window over it. If I want a nice whirlpool bath, I'd better take one before the temps drop. :)

>86 MrsLee: Yep, the Switch. It's our happy place because Mark and I don't do well killing things. Or more realisticly, dying over and over.

>95 clamairy: I brought in the bay laurel and rosemary in September, and they're already dead. I forget to water house plants. We acquired a calla lily and an elephant's foot palm over the summer. I didn't want them but I got emotionally blackmailed by my father-in-law into taking the calla and younger son brought the palm home, but doesn't have space for it in his bedroom. So they're living in the dining room, and the clivia (from same in-laws, but several years ago) is back on the stair landing.

>98 Marissa_Doyle: Oh no! That would be a hard choice for me to make. I had one in front of my desk last year, that I had to shift a little every time I needed one of my checkbooks, or other important papers. LOL

In addition to all my own plants I have these two giant papyrus plants that I don't even like that I have to put in a window ledge behind my washer in the finished basement. They require serious trims just to get them to fit, and they block a lot of the light that comes in there. They are offspring of my daughter's freshman plant from Mount Holyoke College. I also have her jade plant, and another succulent of hers that I'm not crazy about that we call 'The Mother of Thousands' as it drops babies into every pot around it, not to mention its own. I just don't have the heart to leave them outside to die. :o(

In between rain showers, I've been deadheading my mums in hopes of getting one more bloom out of them. They were pretty spectacular this year. I still have some tulip and daffodil bulbs to plant; again in between rain showers. I won these bulbs in a silent auction last week, and I'm pretty stoked as the daffodils are pink. My irises didn't bloom in the spring but some did this fall, so here's hoping next spring they'll do their thing. My dahlias (for which I spent a small fortune) have been slow to bloom, except for several yellow dinner plate ones, but I just noticed a pink one about to bloom.

Re: BEARS Hubby went bear hunting for 3 days last week, and found nothing but scat. This is Missouri's first bear hunt in decades. Hunters were put into a lottery to get a license; a total of 40 available. So far only 7 or so have been taken. Current estimates by the conservation departments says there are 300-500 in the state (bears, not hunters). Conservation departments estimates that population is going to go up significantly in the coming years; hence the allowance of hunting. Thanks to Mr.Retired, who was pretty excited to get one of the coveted licenses, I know more about bears and bear hunting than I care to. :)

>102 theretiredlibrarian: Oh, good luck to him. How long does he have to bag one? I've never tasted bear but I am told they are pretty tasty. Maybe not quite as good as wild boar, (which I have had!) but delicious. I have a lot less guilt about eating wild caught things than I do their factory-farmed counterparts.

Wednesday is the last day. I think I had bear 35 years ago when Jim's dad got a bear in Alaska. But I don't remember how it tasted. Today he went bow hunting for deer. And then when bear season and bow hunting season is over, it'll be time for gun season. Also, I think turkey are legal now. I smile and nod vaguely when he starts rambling about it, lol.

Bear is greasy as all get-out. You can boil them for a week and they'll still clog up your arteries.
When I was in college (forestry, hotel mgmnt, and ecology,) two of the professors there bought an old motel with several cabins on the property -- figured they could get a good income from renting them out to students. They had a huge Thanksgiving dinner their first year there - huge in that the kitchen was capable of cooking for 300 or more people. And as ThiMs was part of the staff at the college, we were invited to it. Easily a dozen different meats - rabbit, grouse, deer, pheasant, beaver, a wild turkey, bear, and I can't recall what else. Tons of other food, too. But that bear - even a little bit was too much - could have wrung it out and still have enough grease to lubricate a whole fleet of taxis and limos.

>94 MrAndrew: Well, not always, at least those pesky bears should be hibernating soon!
>95 clamairy: I hear there is still at least one wandering around. If people wouldn't leave their garbage cans out, we'd see them a lot less. (the same people who leave garbage out are the ones who complain that the conservation officer doesn't do anything about the bears)
We've actually been having really lovely fall weather, there is still hardly any frost in the ground.

>103 clamairy: I have tried bear cooked in a bunch of different ways, and haven't liked any of them. It is more gamey than deer or moose, mostly because bears eat meat. As a species we typically eat meat from herbivores. Bears can be very greasy, as WHL mentions, especially if they are eating from dumpsters.

We had major storms last night; a tornado touched down about 10 miles south of us and then again in the small town of St. Marys about 30 miles east of us. I don't think there were any injuries, but cleanup has begun.

An outstanding from yesterday - I found my saw! Last week, when working on the ski trails, my best little folding pruning saw fell out of my pack. Although we looked for it on the way back, it remained lost, on the farthest section of the longest trail. Yesterday on our dog walk I convinced my friends to go back out there, and I found it. There is snow forecast today (so far only freezing rain) so I was afraid it might not be found if I didn't get out there.

Earlier in the day, we cut and stacked a big pile of firewood for the moonlight skis. I also spent some time over the past few days putting up some new signs and fixing trail markers. Aside from some mowing on the long trail, which has to wait for hard frost in the ground, the trails are ready for winter.

The person I spoke to about the bear meat was Native American and they had preparations and a recipe that was suited to the higher fat content. Yesterday I read somewhere that bears taste the best when they first come out of hibernation, which is when they are the leanest.

>105 WholeHouseLibrary: Who in their right mind would boil bear meat? LOL Who boils meat? Even when I'm making soup I try to grill, roast or brown any flesh first. I often grill many of the vegetables before adding them to soup as well.

On the bad news front - turns out I have been exposed to Covid. I was at a bridal shower in a restaurant on Friday evening. I was seated about 50 feet away from the person that tested positive this morning. But who knows how close we got when we were getting food from the buffet. Yes, I'm vaccinated, but we all know about the breakthrough infections with Delta. *sigh*

>110 clamairy: - hope you did not pick it up, or that if you did it is a very mild case!

>110 clamairy:
Hoping you are infection free. Keep well.

>110 clamairy: Best of luck!

Thanks, all. NY State requires all restaurants to have HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters running when open, so hopefully that mitigated much of the spread.

>110 clamairy: It is clear you are not British.
Cf. the old music hall song:
https://youtu.be/7mIMIUqAa3w
(and yes, I remember the dish well too)

And I too hope you keep well.

>110 clamairy: It's easy to boil meat if you're not paying attention... Not saying I prefer it that way, but sometimes it happens. As for boiling bear meat, I meant it as an illustrative example.

Don't be tempted to waste your money to buy those at-home COVID quick tests. On the BMW tour, I wasn't able to find any until I tried a Walgreens in northern Maine. Two false (it turns out) positive tests taken 36 hours apart.
The two possible exposures were after I met up with you. A clinic in New Jersey indicated negative in both their quick test and the PCR test.

Those at-home quick tests are worthless.

>110 clamairy: The classic "national dish" of Austria is Tafelspitz, aka boiled beef/veal with trimmings. Just saying.

Stay safe; stay well.

Yes, yes. My mother used to boil chicken occasionally. 🤮

I talked to my sister (AKA Super Nurse) who was also at this event, and she's convinced we have nothing to worry about. So I'm a lot less concerned, but will still be extra-cautious.

>110 clamairy: The French have a famous dish that they all rave about (at least in the cookbooks and memoirs I have read) called Pot au Feu, which is mostly boiled meats and some veggies. I have never made a proper one and so cannot comment on the wonders of the dish. I'm with you, I like my umami of browned meats and veggies.

On the Covid front, we got a call last Wednesday from a customer who had been in on Tuesday and tested positive for Covid. She and her husband both had been vaccinated. I am careful to stay a distance from the customers and don't have long contact with them, so hopefully will be fine, and so far am negative on the test front.

Boiled meat...my mom always boiled corned beef and cabbage, with potatoes, carrots, and onions, for New Year's Day. We also boiled chicken for our chicken and dumplings. I know many prefer roasted chicken for this, but both my grandmas made it with boiled chicken and that's what my family prefers. These days, I cook the children in the slow cooker though. Other than those two exceptions, nope to the boiled meat.

>120 theretiredlibrarian: "These days, I cook the children in the slow cooker though."

I know it's almost Halloween, but I'll take a hard pass on this dish... Hahaha!

Yeah, I actually used to boil my corned beef for St Patty's Day, but my brother found a slow roasted rubbed CB recipe that is amazing, and now that is all I make.

>119 MrsLee: Hope you remain negative!

I love cooking children and pets.
Don't be a psycho - use commas.

Further to #117, I gather today (26 October) is the Austrian National Day. I imagine much Tafelspitz will be consumed in appropriate quarters.

My mother used to make a spiced boiled fowl dish that was very desirable. But it needed an elderly hen, something one doesn't see these days.

We boil a ham to go with the turkey at Christmas. We also use the water the ham was boiled in to cook the Brussels sprouts; delish!

>124 hfglen: But it needed an elderly hen

Why an elderly one? Does it work best with tougher meat? I'm challenged every year by my husband and his hunting friends when they bring back wild turkey and pheasant - the meat isn't like domestic fowl and I'm always looking for techniques to use.

Yes, partly. The extended exposure to heat tenderises the meat (I think by reducing collagen to gelatin, but don't quote me on that). The spices add to the flavour, as does what a free-range hen gets to eat in a year or three of scratching around in the garden. If you like I'll scratch around in the family collection of books by Hildagonda Duckitt and Louis Leipoldt and see if I can find anything that might just be useful. If I find anything I'll PM you.

>127 hfglen: Hildagonda Duckitt is a truly wonderful name and perfect for an authoress of cookbooks.

>127 hfglen: you don't need to go to so much effort on my account, but if you happen to know of any helpful techniques I'd be happy to know of them. Wild turkey suffers from toughness, and the flavor is very much dependent on whether the turkey had been eating grasshoppers; they make the meat bitter. Turkeys that have been living in cornfields are tasty, but still tougher than domestic turkeys.

Pheasants are awful, no matter what I've tried with them.

>129 Darth-Heather: How long do you hang your pheasants for?

>130 -pilgrim-: usually two days, but then we skin them and avoid the business of plucking feathers. I've tried following The Joy of Cooking recipes plus advice from other cooks who are experienced with wild game, but haven't hit upon anything I wanted to make twice.

>129 Darth-Heather: No problemo. First offering on your comment wall.

I wonder if your pheasants would be any better if treated the way the Kalk Bay fisherman handled malmok (see PM), then simmered for ages as Mrs Tulleken suggests? Curry them if all else fails; chillies can hide a lot of sins.

PS: Have just looked at Aged Mother's copy of Tulleken's The Practical Cookery Book for South Africa. It's the 28th edition, published in 1951.

>129 Darth-Heather: Hang them up by the tail in the game cupboard, they'll be tender when they land on the floor...

I buy my pheasant from the local butcher (he has a game licence) on the rare occasions my other half can be persuaded to eat them. Mine get any remaining shot dug out, then get larded with fat bacon, popped in a hot oven for not more than 40 minutes. Rest for 20 minutes and eat with game chips, redcurrant jelly and bread sauce, and the greens of your choice. The carcass and any left overs can be made into game soup (along with any other game left overs you may have).

I boil ham, and I'm known to make boiled chicken when we're ill. It's a comfort dish from my childhood. It's best done with an old hen rather than the birds from the supermarket. Other meats I'll sear before adding to the slow cooker.

Pop the whole (cleaned and trussed) bird in a large pot, add at least 1 whole onion (depends on size), scrubbed whole carrots (pony carrots not Chantenay), and 2 or 3 of the outer celery sticks cut into 1" segments (I usually try and remove the hard veins) and a bouquet garni and a chicken stock cube. Cover with cold water, bring to the boil skimming off the scum. Leave to simmer a good hour; poke the chicken and if it looks done, add peeled large whole potatoes. Reboil, and simmer until the potatoes are cooked. Mum would add the giblets apart from the liver to the pot (difficult to get hold of now), and would pop the liver into the pot shortly before the potatoes were done. Extract the bird and cooked veg from the pot, strain the stock, dispose of the giblets according to preference - the heart and crop would be given to the dog, the neck binned (too bony), and the liver minced. Make a white sauce with some of the chicken stock and add the minced liver.

That's enough for one hot meal, 1 cold meal, and several servings of broth. Just the ticket when you're ill and don't feel up to cooking.

>131 Darth-Heather:, >134 Maddz: Brilliat-Saverin recommended hanging the pheasant by its neck from your belt until the body fell from it. Then and only then was it ready to eat. He said it was possible that you may have to avoid others the last few days of this process.

>120 theretiredlibrarian: hahaha! I’m so glad you haven’t edited to fix your “boiled children!”

clamairy I hope the exposure ends up not effecting you.

In non-boiled meat news: I went way out of my comfort zone last night and auditioned for a play! I didn’t get a part, but I gave it a shot. And the director said I did a British accent well. :) being in a play is something I’ve always wanted to do. One day I’ll get a part.

Oh, and I got my booster today.

Outstanding:
1. Got annual flu shot
2. Yard prep for winter is DONE.

Now, what am I going to do for the next 4 months until I can start the veg grow op up again? Oh, right. there are all these books piled around. After months of trickle, the library has begun delivering my holds at a great pace, which means I'm not getting to the books I've been buying, so Mt. TBR is increasing again.

I hear people complain about the cold weather at this time of the year, but I love it. It's the only time my cats pretend to love me so they can curl up on my lap.

>135 MrsLee: Been a while since I read The Philosopher in the Kitchen. What I chiefly remember is the anecdote about a grand lady and machine-made lace...

>129 Darth-Heather: >134 Maddz: my butcher will also have pheasant in season, already hung and prepared. Roasts really nicely. I sometimes get venison for xmas.

>140 reading_fox: We used to have venison at Xmas, and pheasant on New Year's Eve, but Paul's family aren't too keen on game. Paul will eat venison (we regularly get bambi burgers from Waitrose), but he's not so keen on pheasant or other game birds.

When Mum went into a care home, we stopped getting venison - I used to get my Xmas meal at my sister's and they ate turkey. After Mum died and Paul's Dad went into care, I ate Xmas meals with them - and again it was turkey. A crown is enough for 4 with cold cuts on Boxing Day, and soup made from the bones and remains.

My booster shot is kicking my butt. I had a temp of 102 yesterday. Feel mildly better today. Luckily I can do my parent-teacher conferences from home.

My mom had gall bladder surgery yesterday. There were complications due to her hysterectomy scars. The docs think they punctured her intestine. Last update was she was going in for a scan and possibly more surgery. Poor mom.

Oh my goodness, what a typo on my part! Chicken...people, I cook chicken...NOT children.

>142 catzteach: I've heard that a strong reaction to the jab means your body is doing what it is supposed to do. Small consolation when you feel rotten.

Hope your mom doesn't need additional surgery.

I’ve been offline for a couple of days, but re the pheasant debate: we see them from time to time around Bicester—feral birds that haven’t been shot yet.

I remember reading of a French fin-de-siècle writer comparing a well-hung pheasant to an old courtesan’s flesh marinaded in a bidet.

And just now, autocorrect corrected whatever I typed instead of “remember” to “Romberg”. Which is sort of appropriate, since I’m sitting in a room in the Hotel Ambassador in Vienna, which was apparently founded by a mate of Franz Léhar’s. The lobby is decorated with Léhar memorabilia.

Incidentally, this hotel (IIRC) was requisitioned by the British as HQ during the occupation after WW2. I think the US took the Hotel Sacher.

>142 catzteach: Wishing your mom rapid recovery.

>143 theretiredlibrarian:
We believe you!

>145 haydninvienna:

Sounds nice.

Enjoy your stay in The Hotel Ambassador.

I always think of Harry Lime when Vienna is mentioned.

>148 pgmcc: We’ve just had dinner in Café Mozart, which has a connection.

>145 haydninvienna: well-hung pheasant to an old courtesan’s flesh marinaded in a bidet.

yeah, I'm not going to try that recipe either... :D

>142 catzteach: Best wishes for your mother.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my mom. She’s staying one more night in the hospital but hasn’t needed more surgery. Thank goodness.

>152 catzteach: Phew! That's great news about your mom.

I second what >144 Taphophile13: said. Feeling like poop means it worked. I felt like that after my second shot. Was hoping enough time would have passed before the booster to avoid that. They still haven't lowered the age enough for me to be eligible, but I'm guessing that's only a couple of months away. But if you've been impacted then I suspect many of us will be as well. Still beats the alternative!

>143 theretiredlibrarian: A chicken is somebody's child.

>152 catzteach:, >142 catzteach: Just catching up. I am sorry to hear about your mum, and glad she at least will notv need the surgery.

And yes, >143 theretiredlibrarian: is right - feeling crappy after the second shot is a sign that your immune system is raring to go.

I felt fine after both my shots. I guess my immune system is cooked.

>147 pgmcc: I'm not entirely convinced. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. I would like to see evidence that the house is not made of gingerbread.

>119 MrsLee: Are you still OK on the Covid front?

>156 MrAndrew:
I’m with you. I was just practising my sarcasm in >147 pgmcc:

>157 -pilgrim-: Yes, fine. Thank you.

We have been adopted by two kittens. We did not seek this adoption, and in fact would be happy to rehome them, but until then we are feeding, vetting and gentling them. I have named them Spink and Skabootch. They will remain outdoors, since my rightful owners resent them mightily for muscling in. Pictures will follow if I can get them to be still long enough.

>159 MrsLee: Oh! If you lived closer I might take one of them! Thank you for caring for them anyway.

>159 MrsLee: I wish I could have them. I miss being owned by cats.

Spink and Skabootch

Spink

Skabootch

>162 MrsLee: Oh, they are adorable.

>162 MrsLee:
Beautiful.

>162 MrsLee: It's a good thing they live half a world away from here and DD doesn't frequent the GD. Otherwise plans would be laid for a double Cat-napping. Though what our Overlords would say doesn't bear thinking about.

>162 MrsLee: So cute! I hope you are able to find them good homes!

>166 tardis: They may think they have already found a good home.

>162 MrsLee: My pride is full. My pride is full. I'm not allowed any more cats per the wife. My pride is full...

>162 MrsLee: Super cute! Do you know where they came from? Kittens are awesome!

>169 NorthernStar: Where they came from? I suspect that someone dumped them in the park behind my house. I opened the curtains to my patio door, and there they were, noses against the glass meowing for food. It was more than my heart could bear to deny them.

We took them to the vet for the first rounds of vaccinations, worming, etc. Ouch! To the pocketbook. They won't be ready to spay until after the new year. Hopefully they will be someone else's by then.

During the whole trick-or-treat evening, they played on the front porch and we offered them to one and all. Everyone admired, and everyone declined. So it goes.

They are adorable! I’d take them in a heartbeat, but The Husband says we do not need any more. :(

>170 MrsLee: that's what I was wondering, if they were feral or dumped. Poor things. Well, actually I guess they are lucky, because they found you. I hope you are able to find them good homes.

They are adorable. I would adopt them in a heartbeat if it were possible.

An update on my brother. He has Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - marginal node variety, stage 3 or possibly 4, indolent which means very slow growing. Likely he’s had it for many years and is asymptomatic. It is incurable.

A second opinion with a Dana Farber Cancer Institute doctor has brought up an available treatment to reduce the size of the lymph nodes and he says he’s going to try it. It isn’t chemo, but that could be used at a later date in combination with this other medication, also administered by IV. He will receive four courses in four weeks and then a CAT scan to see if the lymph nodes have shrunk. Prior to that though he has to let the COVID booster settle and work to make those antibodies before he can undergo this other treatment. Both of his oncologists will work together. All they can do is treat symptoms, but hopefully this will keep those from occurring.

I believe he and his wife are going to tell their 16-year old daughter soon. That’s been the worst - keeping it from my niece until they had some concrete information and a prognosis rather than just a diagnosis. She and my brother are VERY close and it’s going to be hard, but she’s a smart and level-headed person and they will get through it. Probably they’ll do her college tour this weekend and then tell her.

>174 Bookmarque: Much sympathy to your brother (and everyone else involved, including you). Best wishes for a successful treatment.

>174 Bookmarque: I'm sorry to hear this news, especially for the impact it will have on your niece. I hope the treatment will keep the symptoms at bay. Thinking of you and your family.

>174 Bookmarque: I'm so very sorry. I hope the treatments halt all progress, or at least slow things down as much as possible.

>174 Bookmarque: My sympathy and best wishes. Glad it is not worse.

>174 Bookmarque: My heart is with you and your family. *hug*

>174 Bookmarque:
My sympathy for your brother’s circumstances. Wishing all concern strength to cope at this difficult time. Wishing your niece a lot of strength.

>174 Bookmarque: Hugs and strength to all your family.

Thanks everyone. I was just texting with him and he had a good day going shopping for vinyl records. Tomorrow college tour for the kid.

Tour went well, she's excited about possibly going there. When they got home they sat her down and told her. It was rough for all, but today they're all at one of her softball games so I guess she's in good enough shape to play. I've sent her a long text and if she needs me I'm here.

Sorry to keep the old thread going, but it shouldn't spill into November.

>174 Bookmarque: I am so sorry to read this. I am thinking of you all.