Daily Discussion Thread: Sun 17 Sep 2023

I would describe the size of the Walk for Yes crowd here as "ginormous". I think that's the technical term, anyway.

Oh I hope so. The polls haven't been filling me with hope.
- The polls aren't to be trusted. Remember the neck n neck liberal v labor state election.

Walk for Yes is on today. Gorgeous day for it too. 12 noon at the State Library forecourt.

Battling for a photo

This steam train is a hoot. If you live on the Frankston line, or are between Glen Huntly and Mordialloc and want to see a steam train, today's your day. The driver is an absolute hoot and is going very heavy on the whistle (which is so much fun)

Yum. Pizza!
ham and brie on a bun, some peaches for dessert 🤷‍♀️
- Absolutely. Unfortunately I don't think it's enough to offset the entire loaf of bread I somehow managed to accidentally eat today 😬.

I'm thinking of signing up for one of those pet sitting services as a sitter for some side cash, since I do it so often and will have the time now. Thought it'd be hard without a car but actually I think I could make it work even around my suburb or with the occasional uber, esp in this busy upcoming holiday season (looks like I won't be going anywhere in Dec).

Sox's owner asked once again if I could look after her for 3 weeks (@_@) in Nov, I'll be away for part of it so it'll be two weeks, but this time I have asked if I could be paid a bit more than just covering food etc. He's had it really good up to now imo with how much I've looked after her despite the episodes, I never asked for money when I had to clean the whole house/furniture several times during her peemageddon earlier in the year. It's still barely over 20/day cash plus transport costs... pretty reasonable considering she'll be staying at mine. Let's see what he says. I absolutely hate, hate, hate setting prices/asking for money esp when I do love the cat, but I feel I gotta step up here.

I think you would be great at this. Also asking to be paid a little more is very understandable. You're a wonderful cat sitter and an even better person because you care about the kitties welfare.
- Thank you, I needed to hear that 😭 I chronically question my own value
Let me know if you do! I’d much prefer to have someone keeping an eye on the cat at home if we go away than to put her in a cattery, which she hates.
- I'm usually hesitant to connect IRL to reddit/Lemmy stuff (and those websites do require you to put your real first name and photo in your public profile for obvious reasons) but depending on your dates and location I could definitely get in touch.
I think for me it's the stress if something goes wrong that puts me off doing it.
Looking after bboi butters in 2 weeks' time (for free) and at the back of my mind.. is.. yea.
- This was definitely me at the start but I think I'm a lot more confident now. Doing it via these pet sitting services like Pawshake you can also get covered by insurance for emergency vet visits while sitting...

I've never posted one of these, because frankly, I rarely cook them and can't really claim credit for them. This is tonight's dinner: sausages with risotto. My lovely wife spoils us.

First time food poster long time lurker. That looks ripper mate.
A very worthy contribution. One of the meat items I craved a vegetarian equivalent for the most is sausages. They make so many meals work.
Your membership has been renewed for three (3) months.

I can't believe I survived today.

Bucks from 11am through to slamming drum and bass 1:30am

My social battery is FUCKED

The inexpensive shampoo bar I used to use has jumped from $3-4 to $10. Dude.

I know how you can get it for free!
- 🤏?
  Honestly some companies richly deserve it but I don’t take the risk. I’m very much against complicating my life
Yikes!
- Yeah the price more than doubled in a few years. I know it was that short due to using it during lockdown.

I'm a negative nelly today so I need to undo that.

The cherry blossom is heading head first into doing its thing.

Beautiful. My cherry is a late bloomer, so it is still doing it's dead stick impersonation. I spent the morning weeding around it, and have given it a good feed of manure pellets and layer of mulch so hopefully it will appreciate it and grow well this year.
Beautiful cherry blossom tree! I've got a bit of a grumpy funk going on too if it's any consolation.

Cat's losing his mind because I won't share my chilli & lime mission chips with him.

On the same note, as much as I love these chips, the coating is deadly! It's uncomfortably easy to inhale, so you've got to hold your breath as you put a chip in your mouth or risk choking.

Tell him it could be worse. I ate an entire tuna sandwich in front of Miss Meow yesterday without sharing. She was outraged.
- My dog got some of my HSP last night. I went at close, shop's not open on Sunday, they loaded so much meat into it, it was grouse.
- Prosciutto pizza with salami and cheese on Friday here. They're still heartbroken

Apropos of previous discussion re: snowpeas, I popped back to mine earlier today and these puppies have been growing away despite erratic watering thanks to a semi shade location and a water reservoir at the bottom of the planter box. In a couple of weeks as that spot continues to get more sun I think the flowers will finally start coming out.

- They need more separation but I've been too lazy to put lateral strings along the stakes. Also some surprise coriander has germinated in there...
Ohh… nasa peepo
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lyrdZ88lG-0
Healthy shcneepea!

I've brought myself out to Anglesea this morning with my audiobook and headphones. Looking forward to more sunny drives as the weather improves.

Looks at 2023 global weather events
...
Realises I'm no longer fun at parties.

Went for a 5.7km run this morning. Was slightly hungover. Felt alright in the end. Once again, doggo just trotted along beside putting me to shame.

Serious question here.
How do cats and dogs maintain physical fitness even tho they sit on their little fluffy arses all day? Especially cats.
- Dogs I can understand, especially since most of them need walking and are generally a bit more active. But cats??! Mfs sleeping for 20-22 hours a day. They must burn a lot when doing their 10 second zoomies.
- I think cats and dogs have a different muscle fibre profile than we do, they have a lot of quick muscles fibre, meant for the quick dashes of hunting prey, we have mostly slow muscle fibre , meant for marathons.
  Maybe that has something to do with it. I'm not a vet. 🤷‍♀️ I just want to be able to sit on my arse like a cat. 😂
- I think with dogs it's mostly about not over feeding them. Then regular decent walks are enough for most breeds. Not my doggo though. 2x 1 hour walks a day with park play/chasing frisbee else he goes nuts in the house.
- Not sure about cats and dogs specifically, but I can give a related answer. It’s been found that hibernating bears loose virtually no muscle mass and emerge with the same fitness they went to sleep with. They have some biological tricks that humans just don’t have, we are forced to exercise to maintain muscle. So maybe there’s similar effects in other animals, and we are just unlucky.
- Cats in general have evolved to sleep for long periods to conserve energy for hunting. Big Cats will sleep for 17 - 18 hours before going on a hunt and modern house cats haven't lost this need for rest. This is basically why cats get the zoomies periodically.

Honestly, Melbourne's network isn't bad. Perth's trains are far superior, but limited in coverage compared to Melbourne. We don't have trams any more, which is a crying shame.
Sure, the Melbourne network could be better, but it's the best in the country.
- Perth's trains and buses are so clean. Riding the trains was a blast because of the scenery. My favourite was the busport. Outstanding.

Can’t sleep. Mending pile it is.

Still so pissed off at the load of clothing I accidentally ruined a month or two ago. Some of that stuff was good quality and I wore it a lot.

Not to mention it went to landfill and on my budget it’ll probably be replaced by cheap potential sweatshop crap. Sam Vimes boots

I hate it when a favourite item becomes unwearable, but a whole load, oh no! Your’re right, clothing these days is lower quality and the manufacturing ethics well who knows. Hopefully you can replace the items with something nice.
- Thanks. Hopefully. I’m really picky about what’s comfortable and fit

It appears what I have is not fever of the hay, but I have captured the low temperature. If I am unable to attend to the first meal tomorrow, might any volunteers take my place? You will have my deepest gratitude and full reign of the kitchen.

Rest up, and I hope you feel better soon, Bacon. Here is some lemonade and broth to help speed your recovery 🥤🥘
- Ohhh thank you slurp
I'll be up early, happy to help with the buffet in the morning
- I and all the breakfast havers are most grateful.
Big shoes to fill.
Thinking about it seems so daunting for me, especially first thing in the morning.
Hope you feel better soon!
- Thank you!
Get well soon B! Doughnut for all!!
- Maybe I should get sick more often..
I am sure someone will step up to the plate. Will do so myself if no-one else does. Be warned, there may be some strange foods on offer if I do.
- Thank you. It would be interesting to try out drop bear liver.
Well boo to that.
- 👻

I can not find my writing pad and it's doing my absolute nut in. I don't lose things so someone has purposely broken into my house and stolen my notes on meal planning.

Update: I found it. I was going through important papers on Friday and I had segregated and rubber band them in to piles and it was on the bottom of one of them. Dinner is saved.

Check the dog's bed. Can't remember if you have a cat or not, but if you do, then check that bed too.
- Facts. I recently spent half a frantic hour trying to look for my keys, not long after I'd locked myself out in the morning and had to get a locksmith to come bail me out - here I was thinking I was unlucky with keys. But no, the cat had decided to keep them safe and warm.
- Yeah nah. I had a look and it's not there. Usually when he takes things he shows them to me. I don't have a cat.
Is there something you might have got up to do while planning? Like checking if you had a tin of tomatoes or something, and you put the notebook in the cupboard or somewhere nearby? I usually find lost things in places like that, or near the front door because I had to open it while it was in my hand and I put it down and forgot.
- The only thing I can think of is I've picked it up with the junk mail and put it in the inside recycle bin then thrown it in the outside one. I'm gonna need a few more coffees if I choose to have a look.

So today my fellow kids is why vegemite toast at the end of the night after a big one is important.

I didn't do that.

I am feeling that mistake.

There is still time. You can be saved.
I always drink water. As much as I can, something between 1-2L.
I don't get hangovers. I don't know whether that's my superpower, or if the water is my secret. I'm unwilling to experiment by not drinking the water, however.

The meowing/yelling won't stop. 🥺

I assume you've had Bill Cat checked out? Can he tell that he's getting attention or response from yelling? Trying to ignore a screaming cat is not easy of course 😞
- He's really healthy. I think he wants me to sit on the sofa and watch tv with him
You're doing something wrong slave.
- Yes but what?
  ( I think he hates my new pillow)
Poor bill cat. Do the things for kitty.

I meant to say something sooner but just a quick review on ubank debit and latitude credit cards for overseas travel in the US.

Absolutely flawless. The only negative thing I could possibly say is that the available balance on the latitude card takes a few days to replenish after you make a cleared repayment. With the limit being only $6k and things being so expensive over there I just had to be mindful. I was only using it for hotels/motels and the car rental and was paying it off regularly so it was never an issue. It was the pending/hold charges which were annoying.

Ubank was spectacular. I used it for everything else without a single complication. The one thing which did suck was nothing to do with the product but more the state of the dollar. Because you're converting at the time of purchase rather than locking in a price like with a travel card or buying cash, if the dollar drops like it was doing while I was over there, things start getting more expensive. If you're lucky enough for it to rise though then it's a great thing.

Anyway, if you've just taken the hit with conversion/exchange fees and other charges with other bank products in the past I'd urge you to look into these options if you're fine with not locking in an exchange rate. I did some quick maths and I was saving around $250ish AUD for every thousand I took out of an ATM compared to just using something like a CommBank EFTPOS card.

Forgot to get the fish out for fish tacos 😪😪

You could make fish icy poles
- While my cat would be delighted by that, I think I'll have to pass on fish icy poles.

Candle wax on the carpet. Fuuuuu….

Pick off as much as you can and then like @ReadEverything@aussie.zone says paper towel and a warm iron.
- Ok will give it a go
Paper towel and a warm iron?
- Thank you, I haven’t the slightest idea but I could try that.

Has store bought jam changed over the years? Im not really a jam person but I don't ever remember it being this gelatined. From what I remember it was more runnier or softer I guess.

And yes I have made jam in the past. I know all about the wriggle and wrinkle test.

jamflation is real
- I hate jamflation.
- You can't go wrong with the CWA. They produce the good stuff.
I'd say it has. I rarely buy it because I make my own, but we had some at work a couple of days ago and I thought exactly the same thing. It checked the ingredients, it's down to 40% fruit, and had a mysterious "gelling agent" added as well as pectin. It was ok, but the texture was more like a gelatin based jelly. Shrinkflation where they reduce the quality instead of the pack size.
- Yes. Thank you for the validation. I remember flavoured yogurt too being pourable. Now it's "thick and creamy" which is a lie. It's thickened with shit and it tastes like shit. I'm becoming one of those people back in my day.........
- To be jam it has to have a very high percentage of sugars so 40% sounds about right. When I make it I use 35% fruit, 35% sugar and the rest is water ( which gets boiled down ) So the end product is slightly more sugar than fruit.
- Hopefully he left his secret recipe to someone deserving and motivated.
I think the regular ones have. Hardly buy them anymore, I stick to the more gourmet brands. They are more expensive but worth it.
- Which gourmet brands because Bonne Maman is a little better but not much? I just want a jam that tastes like jam God damn it. Hahaha.
Yes, it has changed a lot. It's now made with corn syrup, not cane sugar. It's definitely got added setting agents, probably agar or pectin. Many have dried powdered apple peel , which ups the fruit content and helps with setting.
The varieties have changed too. Traditional jams like plum or 4 fruits are hard to find.
- That's interesting. No wonder the yanks call it jelly. Plum jam and forest fruits were always around. That's sad.
- I mourn the passing of Melon & Lemon jam. Apparently the right kind of melons just aren't grown anymore.
You can still get decent jam at the store, but it's $6+ a jar.
- Oh I'm happy to buy expensive jam if it means it's proper jam. I think I'll just buy homemade jam at the market.

why do i see people in puffer jacket i am in a tshirt did i miss a memo

The memo only said - Spring in Melbourne, it be that. So you didn't miss much.
No you are correct.
It's that time of year where everyone is confused.
Wimdy

Jungle Blues by Stoneking . 1930s style Caribbean and Delta blues .

it's got Africa blues yodelling. That's pretty weird. 😂 I think I love it.

well fuck me, it's Australian. The absolute best aussie bluesy music since Chris Wilson. It's awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mclo3kYr9Y

Saw him at the corner years ago. He's fantastic live if you ever get a chance
Edit- this was from the show - excuse the quality, was almost 15 years ago
- I saw him at Kmart once, and he was dressed exactly like he does when performing

I was out so early this morning I copped a spiderweb to the face.

I didn't catch a worm, but I did get a loaf of white bread and may have already eaten four slices.

One place I lived in many years ago had an orb spider living in or around the washing line. The golf ball size sort. There was a real risk of copping a spider bite in the face if hanging out laundry early in the day. And she could bite pretty hard. Only happened to me once but ow it hurt!

My cat caught a mouse in the backyard and brought it inside and straight into my bedroom and my mum just straight up shut my door, which I get as she is deathly afraid of mice. I haven't been back into my room, I don't know if the mouse escaped in my room or is dead, or escaped half dead and is now dead in one of the 500 nooks and crannies of my bedroom full of stuff and I don't really know what to do, I'm exhausted after a day of gardening and I really don't want to go on a mouse search right now but I know I have to. I'm just here to complain and seek comfort.

Edited to add: my cat is only allowed in the backyard when I am around to supervise, we had a previous mouse problem but had dealt with it.

It’s a shame the DT isn’t a neighbourhood. There are many things that stress me but I am able to put a mouse or spider outside
- That would genuinely be the absolute best! I wish that was an option. I found the courage and energy to check, I found half of a dead mouse on the carpet (the other half I'll assume is in my cats stomach) and I disposed of it whilst fetching heavily. I will be second guessing ever letting my cat out in the backyard ever again.
Sleep in the lounge room. Get somebody brave to check it out for you tomorrow.
I saw a mouse scamper into my daughter's room one time (she was toddler then) I shut the door, picked up my kid and went to my mother's house. Rang my husband and told him I wasn't coming home until it's gone. He laid about 8 mice traps. That night he heard a snap and I came home the next day.
- Glad to know I'm not the only one who would shut up shop and leave normally. But I really like being in my own space for sleep.
  The update is, I psyched myself up and found that there was half of a dead mouse visible on the floor, I then psyched myself up and used a dustpan and brush to scoop it up which was by far one of the worst things I've had to do. For that I'm quite glad I found the nerve to check but at the same time, deeply regretful as the nausea from retching hasn't subsided.

Got woken up by a chorus of birds this morning.

I got your message earlier, and my hopes rose up,
\ It feels nice to be thought of when times are tough.
\ I know you don't owe me your time or energy,
\ But I felt a bit put out when you left so suddenly.
\ You're not my therapist, I try not to speak too much,
\ I wasn't going to, but you left in such a rush.
\ I shouldn't feel this way, your transience is fine;
\ I'm projecting the past onto this present time.
\ My insecurities grow with every janky interaction,
\ I own that, I feel like I'm just your latest fleeting attraction.

Thought it was a good idea to go for run in the peak sun part of the day. I overheated out there. Got it done though!

Been a while since I’ve gone for a run on this track and wow the amount of unleashed dogs was staggering. It’s not an off leash track but people give no shits. Lucky all the doggos today were cute non-threatening breeds, but I’ve been chased before by a big scary off lead dog on this track so I’m quite guarded.

At the end of year wind up for the juniors at the hockey club. It's the first time I've left the house since last Friday.

It's one thing to logically be aware that hundreds of kids are going to be loud, buts it's something else to be sitting here head pounding.

Reddit really has been infected with something pretty vile. (Edit: The comments.)

That kind of activity isn't new unfortunately. Anyone remember the time African gangs were making people too scared to go out for dinner?
Multiple bad faith actors brigading the yes campaign.
- One of them seems like a burner account as well.
It's loooong been that way. Remember any indigenous thread?

I just wanna say after yesterday's bucks (then bender) everyone was really attractive.

First up was a VR experience was trippy af. Singularity and Farcry. Do not do if have vertigo that'd be bad.

Second was axe throwing which was good fun.

Headed to the pub for the bender bit at stomping ground in collingwood and my god everyone was super hawt. Realised that before the first drink. Also the pizzas are woodfire legit it was distracting.

Then hit laundry bar and again, super hawt.

And I didn't lose anything (except monies) throughout all of that which I'm very proud of.

I like r/CleaningTips. Not even the filthiest toilet pics or what's this growing in my sink get me. No what got me was "Cat puked in the air vent and I have no idea what to do" 🤮 There was no picture and I'm not even gonna click on the post.

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

Basic porridge with cream and honey, and a hot coffee please.
- 🌾🥣🥛🍯☕️
- 🧀🌽🥑
Damn you're up early! Can you share the worm you got?
- 🪱🐛

Breakfast (and probably my only meal today): zucchini, onion, garlic, capsicum and sardines fried with some butter, chilli, paprika, pepper. Make some wells for the eggs, add some cheese, lid on until eggs are done and cheese is melted. 9/10

I love your one pot wonders.
- Thank you😍 so easy, delicious and nutritious - and cleanup is a breeze!

I've screwed up my leave, I pick up my "new" car tomorrow, but when I booked my few days off to enjoy it, I forgot to book off the day I actually have to go get it. Fuck I'm a wally! In my own defence I'm on nights so dates and times mean absolutely nothing to me.

Exercises have been completed. I thought I'd better get them done as the Minipeelers pooled their finances and requested a delivery from All Day Donuts!

Fun day so far, aside from 3 assaults on Mt Washmore. Played "The Chameleon" with the kids and then "Throw Throw Avocado".

We wanted to play Hungry Hungry Hippo, but first the game had been put in my FILs old room by my MIL ("tidying up" 🤦🏼‍♀️) very high up in the cupboard. Then we couldn't find the step ladder to get it down. Then with much ungainly stretching I managed to get it down, but all the balls except one had been put somewhere else! When I went through the spare desk drawers where games also seem to live now, I find my MIL has shoved a whole lot of random junk in there ("tidying up".. I just chucked most of it out) but we found no balls. We found a table billiards game but the triangle and one ball were missing. I hate when people "tidy up" my stuff by just cramming things in random places. Don't offer me space in your part of the house because I haven't got much storage space, and then go randomly putting stuff in weird places. The games weren't even in the way, they were in a large storage tub under the desk, but they had to be "put away" so the council cleaning lady who comes over once a week to clean her part of the house can vacuum under the desk (she never does, judging by the amount of fluff under there). Aargh!

I don't want to badger anyone but is there anything on the news about the mushroom case? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIyixC9NsLI

Um I forgot what I was gonna say. I got hypnotised by badgers.
Last I heard was that samples were being sent overseas and wouldn't be available for a few weeks.
How have I never heard of this?
- it pretty much defines the interwebbles.

https://aussie.zone/comment/2697481: I wasn't joking (I've got no clue how to embed an audio file, but here's an m4a)

Today is DND day. I'm so excited to finally play DND with my friends.

We're trying out Pause Menu in Fitzroy because going to someone's house takes time (only 2 people in our group drives and they're both in the North). And as much as I love Fortress, it's too bloody loud, and I'm hard of hearing, and my DM is quiet. So we'll see if Pause Menu is good.

I'm hoping it is, because trying to find places to play DND that are in places where we can all get to. It's a shame Games Lab shut down, but apparently the emails from the owners were getting more and more weird.

I still get emails from the owners of gamelab. Can confirm, they're wack.
Edit: i searched my emails, and re-reading they're not wack. They're like, a blog kinda... lol
- Yeah partner told me they weren't weird, but that's what I heard so /shrug.
  Pause Menu was good, but thought we were getting a room, but we didn't sadly, but even then it wasn't so bad.

Hungry. Did lots of gardening today to build up an appetite. I think I'll start dinner early.

Unspecified anxiety has reared its head again. I think because after messing up my sleep cycle last night I've only taken one dose of my meds today. Tomorrow, back to normal on that front. Some major uncertainty about what kind of response I'll get back from work about stuff, last 3 days with a car and frantically realising I should stock up on some things before it starts costing me a lot more to get what I need, especially heavy stuff. Urgh! The things you take for granted with a car. Including the ability to easily cross the Chandler. -_-

Are there any Gogets or Flexicars parked near you? Might be worth getting a membership to one or other of them. And you're not limited to just one vehicle - they have vans etc. too.

it’s hard doing that in your 20s
Oh sweet summer child, etc...
- Oh sweet summer child
  It only gets worse, doesn't it?

#Worldle #604 2/6 (100%) 🎉⭐⭐🏙️ https://worldle.teuteuf.fr 📷 #WhereTaken🌎 #203 X/6 ⭐⭐ 📷 #WhereTaken🇺🇸 #187 5/6 🎉⭐⭐⭐⭐ wheretakenusa.teuteuf.fr

Watching batman movie commentaries. It's fun and not too boring. 😀

Just watched “The Mist”. Such a fucked up ending. Kills me every time.
- I adore that ending so much. More movies outside of the horror genre should go that route, I think.
... The recent one? Or the one from 1989 with Michael Keaton because that's the best one.... ....aaaaand scene
- Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. The kid movie ones.
  I really like the recent one .
  The Michael Keaton was really good.