Daily Discussion Thread: Sun 07 Jan 2024

Beach doggo is the happiest doggo.

Well after all this time, I have caught covid. I'm sooooo fkn sick it's insane, if my teeth aren't chattering with the fever I'm just crying.

Bugger! 🍜🍵
I'm so sorry! Sending hugs.
There's yet another new strain, so reminder to everyone to get your bivalent booster top up as it should offer you at least a bit of protection.
lots of gentle hugs

LAWD I am exhausted. Was stupidly up til 5 am reading Wool because I couldn't put it down... All I ate yesterday was a bowl of oatmeal and a packet of chips...

Despite that, I got up at 9:30 and got the hardest bits of my gardening done before the rains hit - hauled 45 L of fresh potting mix into planters, rejuvenated another 10L, planted out some seedlings and seeds, and shifted most things around. Started raining when I'd finished the last of the repotting... but I got it all fucking done!!!

Course while I was out there getting damp I decided it was a good enough time as any wash off dirt from the balcony with some hot water AND clean all the balcony windows inside and out (not cleaned since I moved in over 3 years ago)

I've also pulled out the flyscreen and vacuumed it and am contemplating washing it in the shower... But I decided to call a time out, made fancy instant noodles, and now that I'm sat on the couch, all the squatting and lifting and reaching is finally getting to me. And my jaw has been clenched to the max for the last 4 hours... Fly screen can be washed tomorrow.

- Ooh, that's a good idea. I loathe cleaning fly screens. Maybe I should do that next time I've got a car available. Do you wipe them dry at the car wash as well?
Wool is a fantastic read so completely understandable, are you reading the whole trilogy?
- Definitely, I'm pretty invested in the world now - just gotta try and get my sleep cycle back on track lol.
those noodles literally make me hungry
i'll go make some food now
- definitely the kind of day I'm grateful for my bougie laksa instant noodles, I don't think I'll be needing dinner
That’s an impressive array of potting and plants.
Also that bowl of noodles, yummy!
Sounds like you had quite the productive day even though the weather sucked big time.
- Something I like about gardening is that it forces you to pay attention to and act according to the weather/seasons. It is a salve for people like me often stuck in their head... I knew I had to get this shit done before it rained for very real and practical purposes rather than the threat of shame/punishment, so off I went.
  No way I was going out today anyhoo!
That’s an excellent day’s work! Your balcony is looking great; will be so lovely as the plants grow
- Thank you! I can't wait for the copper tape to come so I can snail proof my babies; especially the flower seeds I've sown. I sowed some cool chocolate coloured nasturtiums and really want to give them the best chance

I managed to reset the kitchen and living room and chuck clothes in washing machine for when I have a full load. I slept on and off all day and I have had an upset stomach - I think I must be a bit sick so the rest day was frustrating but needed. Rice+egg+soy for dinner then make a list for the week. Then bed

That's more than enough to feel like you've done something for the day - hope future you will wake up in slightly better spirits thanks to past/current you. Rest well, sounds like you needed it indeed

I can kind of taste lunch! This is an exciting development!

I struggled to get up this morning and now Marge is gonna start before I have a chance to get out and do my shopping and other chores.

I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling.
Something I found helpful was just giving myself permission to do an incomplete job of chores if the whole thing felt overwhelming. Emptying the dishwasher might feel too much, but you might but able to put away a couple of things for now and come back to the rest later. Or you might be able to move the dishes to next to the sink so you have space later to wash the individual items you need to use. Sometimes with laundry I would wash just a single set of clothing because a whole load seemed too much and it would end up sitting in the machine going mouldy. It might not be ideal, but it helps to keep things somewhat manageable.
The other thing I did when I was focused on doing something else was to use breaks in that activity as a trigger to do something else - it might be a chapter in a book, a level in a game etc., and each time I reached that I would get up and do one thing (like emptying that couple of items from the dishwasher). So there would be regular points through the day where I would get something acomplished. Never enough to seriously interrupt what I was doing, but enough that I was actually doing something.
- Thanks. That's good advice. Although I just tried that trick with the book chapter and fell asleep halfway through the chapter. I am sure that physical burnout is beneath this one. But I will keep these ideas in mind. Appreciate it.
When I was in the worst of my depression I would give myself absolutely must do daily tasks, no excuses.
And I had until midnight to do them.
I did not care if I did "morning" tasks at night or night tasks at midday as long as they were done.
- Thanksnfor the reminder. Yeah. I will reset the kitchen and get my dirty clothes into the washing machine today. Everything else can wait

I hate wasting the day away but sometimes it can't be helped. There's two days in a month where I don't want to talk and I don't want to do anything.

What did you end up doing that you considered a waste?
- Nothing. I did absolutely nothing today.

Morning has been productive - topped up the car (cheap place isn't open Sunday) and swapped the gas cylinder for the Soda Stream as it ran out last night just at the hottest point. Then tackled more of the stuff in the garage, which was mostly papers - only stopped because the yellow bin was getting chockers, also Marge.
In other news, took the cats to the vet Friday and she suggested that Zooks may be allergic to her food due to various symptoms. She's currently only sampling anything else I give her, even chicken, whereas Sammi is at least having some. Cats...
In other other news, did my first house viewing of the year and may have already found the right place at a very good price - ironically not the place I went to look at but a unit on the same block. I'll check out the listings and if anything else grabs me I'll organise an inspection, but it's very likely this is the one as it ticks just about all the boxes. Cross fingers!

Good luck with the house!
Any idea of what the allergic ingredient could be? I ran into this with Melbcat so might be able to suggest alternative foods

That was a sweaty sleep, gross.

I actually turned the aircon on in the middle of the night which I never do (I am usually the person under a doona in all circumstances)

Haven't heard back from the hinge person after inviting her to the tennis (been over 30 hours but who's counting)😩 maybe she got bored or maybe just a busy weekend (copium). Whatever.

Over investment in internet people before meeting isn’t good for the brain. Says she who purchased a fictitious numbat for strangers, but is also approaching 10 anniversary with Boyo from OKC. Enthusiasm can’t be scheduled. 🧀
- Excuse me that numbat is REAL and LOVED.
- Yeah it's definitely not good for me, especially someone with anxiety (self diagnosed). I keep checking my phone for no reason, I don't know why I keep downloading that app 😩
- What's > 0? She's been replying like once every 12-15 hrs anyway. I'll probably give up if I don't hear back tonight. 💁‍♂️
  Is it worth texting one more time or just let it be?

Cleaned out the birdbath and now covered in bird shit/slime. Turns out using a gerni for the job required a bit more finesse.

It's looking fresh though you're welcome little birdos I gotchu, but after a few 100m years of evolution pls don't poo in it other birds use it too.

Mine is a tiny little pet dish on the floor just enough for one bird at a time. No poop there so far and they nicely queue for it. The birds make a clanging sound with it if it gets empty. My customers are mostly black birds and spotted doves.

Weird dreams too. Including but not limited to an army of toothbrushes taking over the world.
a lot of weird dreams here too
Ditto. Including one about work, bleurgh

News showed footage of that random stabber creeping behind an unsuspecting person on a busy street and bending down to attack their leg. Holy shit. So scary.

Tried to stay off the news but couldn’t help but be sucked in.
What am I reading?! And my god, Melissa Hoskins? I just have no words. There are some certifiables… JF…
- Whaaat? Is this the orange from Nelson Place awhile back or more recently? 😮
omg
Yeeek!
But oddly it's a good sign something like this is so shocking. We don't usually have violence like this.

Back to work tomorrow, poo. I need another holiday.

I'll ring in sick for you if you ring in sick for me.
Ditto. At least I’ll be at home for it.

It's so muggy. And of course the one window that gets a decent breeze isn't safe to leave open

Edit: I've opened it and pointed a fan out another window to pull a crossbreeze through the bedroom. I may end up having to run the aircon

I have switched the aircon to dehumidify mode. In hindsight it probably wasn't the best day to steam mop the kitchen. However I was inspired to move the fridge out of it's alcove in search of some missing fridge magnets, and while it was moved it seemed a good idea to do a thorough clean. I did clean out a lot of fluff and a few unidentifiable objects that were presumably once food, but there were no fridge magnets. After thoroughly cleaning the kitchen floor and having a bit of a think about it I did eventually locate the magnets, in the cupboard above the fridge. I've obviously managed to knock them off the fridge while I was putting things in the cupboard and knocked them in there.

Today we make sauce!

Are they chilies? 🔥🔥🌶️
- Mostly habaneros with a scattering of other sorts

Mr Woof and I had a lovely walk in the rain this afternoon. Can anyone point me in the direction of the Pina Coladas?

I also took advantage of the fact that I was already a bit damp to do some gardening. A few seedlings of lettuce, celery, dill and chives have been planted. I got to wear my favourite wet weather gardening hat. The Vietnamese really knew what they were doing with their hat design - light, allows good airflow and great at keeping off both rain and sun. Their only real downfall is wind. If you want windproof the design from Cabanaconde in Peru is pretty awesome, with a brim folded down at the front and up at the back in a way that stops the wind picking it up off your head easily, but it is a felt hat (like our Akubras) so not much good in rain and a bit hot in warm weather.

I'm at an outdoor cafe (under cover) waiting for a friend and it's almost cold?

Melbourne weather's never boring anyway.

o/

o7

Gosh I'm so jet lagged. Woke.up at like 6am. Did a quick shopping run, made brekkie. Ate, and fell asleep by 11? I just woke up an hour ago. Looking forward to sleepless nights for the next week atleast 🙃

I was at the Redwood Forest and I heard, “If it’s rainforest, why isn’t there any rain?”

Cue the father saying that it’s a redwood forest, but it was the cutest thing.

TIL
The kid was right. So what is a rainforest? Very good question. Our rainforests are not rainforests.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_rainforest#
Australian definitions are ecological-structural rather than climatic:
Closed canopy of trees excludes at least 69% of the sky. Forest is composed mainly of tree species which do not require fire for regeneration, but with seedlings able to regenerate under shade and in natural openings.[3] Australian definitions would exclude some temperate rainforests of western North America that are Coast Douglas-fir dominant, such as parts of the Klamath Mountains in southern Oregon and northern California, the Puget Lowlands of western Washington and the Georgia Depression in British Columbia,[4][5] as their dominant tree species, the Coast Douglas-fir, requires stand-destroying disturbance to initiate a new cohort of seedlings.[6] The North American definition would in turn exclude a part of temperate rainforests under definitions used elsewhere.[7]
- 69%. Nice

A lot of washing and cleaning done today. :)

cats are hot and just lying around more than normal 🔥

Ours has been a lot less active this week.
I seem to be sensitive to the heat... temperatures inside the apartment finally got me sick with a fever and insomnia... the insomnia part is unusual.

Since it’s inevitable, I was hoping to get warmer winters out of global warming. Got tropical wet humid summer instead.

I'm constantly sweating like an animal. Fucking hate this weather.
- I'm ok as long as I'm not too active

I watched Renfield again and can totally recommend it. Lots of good laughs through out. 🧛😂

Renfield is such a good movie, excellent casting!
- I liked Renfield too! And Bottoms was great too, FWIW

Trying out the vital zing water drops to up intake and good lord that is some flavoursome shit.

Edit: ooooh I can add them to smoothies and bakings and yoghurts and sauces and creams and icings. This shall be fun.

(Cocktails. all the cocktails)

Well, kudos to all the painters out there, you lot must be fit. It’s really hard work, and I’ve only got a small laundry. Wish I’d taken befores and afters to show off my work, lol.

Also, the Casketeers is on the teev - it’s a beautiful show, well worth checking out if you like docos/ gentle reality shows

I hate this weather. Dislike humidity a lot.
Needless to say I didn’t sleep very well last night.
Unfortunately the humidity is here to stay for awhile.
- Same. I can't stop sweating and it sucks.

Big blob heading our way

Most of the rain this year seems to be crossing north of where I am, I keep getting just the edge. Which I am definitely not complaining about - I am getting a good amount of rain for the garden, but it is not getting washed out like last year.

Obligatory talon removal for RTW… sigh, they were the prettiest and strongest they’ve been and I didn’t even paint them once for the holiday season… Oh well, they can grow back whenever.

Side note: Random weekend getaways are a pocket burner. $440 burned for one pax and it hasn’t even been 48 hours…

Breakfast 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🫐🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🥭🍍🥥🥦🥑🫛🍆🍅🥝🥬🥒🌽🥕🥐🍠🫚🥔🧅🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🧇🥞🧈🍳🥚🥓🥩🍗🍖🫓🍕🍟🍔🌭🥙🧆🌮🌯🥗🍲🍜🍝🥘🍛🍣🍱🥟🦪🍥🍘🍚🍙🐠🍤🪼🦀🐙 🍗🥮🍢🍡🍧🍰🧁🥧🍦🍨🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🥜🌰🍪🍿🍯🥛☕️🍵🍺🍶🥤🧋🧃🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🧉🔋

A zooper dooper please.
- 🧪
My question this morning didn't fill me up as much as I'd have hoped. Can I please get some sardines and microwaved potat?
- 🐟⚡️🥔
A long cold tea please. And some ice cream and chilled fruit salad.
- 🧊🧊🧊☕️🍨🧊🥭🍍🥥🍑
Something to give me energy, please chef
- 🍗🌽🌾☕️
?
- ⁉️

#Worldle #716 2/6 (100%) 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↘️ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉 ⭐⭐⭐ 📷 #WhereTaken🌎 #315 2/6 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜⬅️ 🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🎉 ⭐⭐⭐

After this cricket match ends I think I’m going to watch Joyride.

Looks pretty funny and entertaining.

Interesting game tonight
CEO - 8 Duenan - 8
Your pick tomorrow Thunder or Scorchers
I think that's the score? Yeah it is because I checked.
- Yup. 8 all.
  Such a close one too. I wanted to see a Super Oval played. That would have been really fun.
  Even though three lost I think it might be hard not to pick them so i’ll go for the Scorchers tomorrow.
  Good luck!