What did you do today?

[BlueSkyHigh]

I've been getting spam calls but haven't answered. Caller ID for my landline reads out the number with a voice. So it rang and said "Call from Probable Fraud".

Waiting for my friend to see if he can find a washing machine to buy so I can transport it for him. I need to clean litterboxes but lack motivation.

@Zanne, spam calls can be fun. If I am in a particularly playful mood, I will take great pleasure in toying with them, civilly and respectfully of course, until they are so frustrated that they simply hang up the phone:

Telemarketer: "Hello, are you the man of the house?"

Me: "Ma'am, there are no men in the house. My voice is hoarse."

Telemarketer: "Well, then, are you the homeowner?"

Me: "No ma'am. The bank owns the home."

Telemarketer: "We are with "X, Y & Z Window Replacement Service and we are in your area replacing windows. We noticed that your windows are builder's grade windows and replacing them could save you a ton of money in energy costs."

Me: "How much will it save me and how much will it cost?"

...... and round and round and round it goes.............. I know I've got too much time on my hands.

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

Even uglier in person:

 

[Zanne]

I'm not a big fan of seafood. I used to like it better but not as much these days.

Most of the time when I get spam calls I answer and then I hear a series of clicks and it dials out to another number or I get a robot thing that is pre-recorded with set responses. I very rarely get real people and when I do it's usually when I'm not in the mood to chat. I do not like talking on the phone to begin with. I leave the trolling of spam and telemarketers to my brother. He got some of those Indian guys riled up.

I failed to motivate myself to take out the litterboxes before it got dark. I started watching Youtube and the cats were so comfy on my lap. I didn't want to disturb my sweet Ginger.

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

I failed to motivate myself to take out the litterboxes before it got dark. I started watching Youtube and the cats were so comfy on my lap. I didn't want to disturb my sweet Ginger.
View attachment 47987

Your cats will let you know when it's time to change the litter box and I am sure you know what I mean

 

[cgilley]

Technically, yesterday. Had a fight / honest discussion with my wife.

To support my FIL, we feed him every morning and evening. Fine. But he wants to talk about <insert everything>. He won't shut up. I'm an introvert but he has become an absolute time suck on my life - 90 minutes in the morning and at least 2 hours in the evening. Of course, neither will help clean the kitchen. I've seen him sit for 20 minutes before my wife brings him coffee. Decades ago, I saw the same thing when he needed a fork.

FIL wants to go out to the local national cemetery in prep for my MIL demise. She might have 2 months or 5 years. It's an hour drive. On the way back, wife wants to make it a day out to get coffee and visit daughter. It's going to be 8 hours with him.

Honest discussion did not go well.

 

[Ludington]

Starting the day with coffee on the screened porch, first day in a while I've been able to get out here first thing. I think the tipping point is 60 degrees. If I'm really feeling cooped up, I could put on a havy robe and go out at 50. But 60 just feels good.
Todays job will be to check the gas regulator to my genenerator to make sure its set ok. Yesterday was completing the yearly maintenance, oil change, battery check, re-adjust the valve lash (that one is not fun on the back side . Lots of leaning and grunting, saying... ohhh my back)

 

[1911smith]

Technically, yesterday. Had a fight / honest discussion with my wife.

To support my FIL, we feed him every morning and evening. Fine. But he wants to talk about <insert everything>. He won't shut up. I'm an introvert but he has become an absolute time suck on my life - 90 minutes in the morning and at least 2 hours in the evening. Of course, neither will help clean the kitchen. I've seen him sit for 20 minutes before my wife brings him coffee. Decades ago, I saw the same thing when he needed a fork.

FIL wants to go out to the local national cemetery in prep for my MIL demise. She might have 2 months or 5 years. It's an hour drive. On the way back, wife wants to make it a day out to get coffee and visit daughter. It's going to be 8 hours with him.

Honest discussion did not go well.

That's a tough situation to be in the middle of and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Try and look at the bright side, at least FIL and MIL are not living with you yet!

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

Technically, yesterday. Had a fight / honest discussion with my wife.

Honest discussion did not go well.

@cgilley, I feel your pain but only somewhat. In my case, the FIL who never stops speaks only Ukrainian or Russian so when he speaks to me all I need do is nod. Additionally, he doesn't live with us so I only have to participate when we Skype or something like that. He's a good ol' egg and means well but still.......................

Also, I keep my honesty regarding subjects like this bottled up inside me because I don't need the stress.

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

Starting the day with coffee on the screened porch, first day in a while I've been able to get out here first thing. I think the tipping point is 60 degrees. If I'm really feeling cooped up, I could put on a havy robe and go out at 50. But 60 just feels good.
Todays job will be to check the gas regulator to my genenerator to make sure its set ok. Yesterday was completing the yearly maintenance, oil change, battery check, re-adjust the valve lash (that one is not fun on the back side . Lots of leaning and grunting, saying... ohhh my back)

Valve lash? You run it that much or are the adjusters of questionable integrity? I wonder why don't they simply use hydraulic valve lifters and be done with it?

Glad you got it done however!

 

[cgilley]

@cgilley, I feel your pain but only somewhat. In my case, the FIL who never stops speaks only Ukrainian or Russian so when he speaks to me all I need do is nod. Additionally, he doesn't live with us so I only have to participate when we Skype or something like that. He's a good ol' egg and means well but still.......................

Also, I keep my honesty regarding subjects like this bottled up inside me because I don't need the stress.

sometimes you have to vent, but I get your drift.

That's a tough situation to be in the middle of and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Try and look at the bright side, at least FIL and MIL are not living with you yet!

if that happens I'm 110% gone. We're at 90% now. They just came back from a visit to the veteran's burial site. 6 hours. Sorry, can't do it. I'm a hammer looking for a nail. I'm learning how to delegate and not feel bad about it.

 

[Zanne]

My cats already let me know that they are unhappy about the litterbox shituation. I'm not happy about it, but I should have cleaned them sooner and I procrastinated again and its already getting dark. I wish my brother would actually help with litter. Half the cats are his but I can't even get him to feed or water them. I love the cats too much to get rid of any of them though.

cgilley, sending virtual hugs your way. In-law situations are one of those things that can end marriages. It can be bad enough taking care of your own blood family members. I'm Mom's fulltime caregiver and sometimes the level of laziness drives me crazy. Like she will wake me up and call me using the phone intercom to come hand her something that is literally within 5 feet of her. Or to let the dog out of the room. She is able to stand up, walk, and open doors but she wants someone to do it for her. Your FIL sounds like one of those guys who is used to having someone wait on him hand and foot. I wonder if you can surreptitiously get some noise canceling earbuds or something and just nod and say mmhmmm so you don't have to engage in conversation or listen. But that doesn't change the having to spend time with the people and having your energy sucked away just by being near them when you want to be back home. Sounds like your wife needs to step up and start spending more time with the in-laws instead of putting it on you. I'm guessing she doesn't think that is fair, but they are her parents, not yours. I'm a bit on the anti-social side. I will chatter a lot online but I don't like being around people in person and can only tolerate so much of it. Vent all you need. I understand.

I prefer the company of cats. They don't make me feel drained or exhausted like people do.

Thus far I've had a lazy day procrastinating. I did cook for Mom though.

 

[cgilley]

appreciate the thoughts zanne.

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

I wish things around me would just stop breaking! Within the period of a couple of weeks I've had

1) the 25-year-old garage door opener quit,
2) the similarly aged under counter florescent light fixture go "tango uniform",
3) the failing PRV's complaining has increase significantly and is needling me to replace it,
4) the left rear TPMS module on our 2019 Jeep GC gave up the ghost,
5) the outside air temp sensor to our weather station kicked the bucket and
6) don't get me started on this failing 75-year-old body of mine that has developed a dull-but-constant pain in my right butt cheek that sporadically shoots down my right leg at all hours of the day and night. I'm thinking sciatica, DVT (blood clot), kidneys, cancer.......... At least the tendonitis in my left ankle has, for the most part, subsided and I chose not to go under the knife to fix it. And damn the internet all to hell for arming me with just enough information to allow me think I am a Doctor Gregory House Chief of Diagnostic Medicine!

My wife is tired of me complaining but is thankful that the little things, #'s 1-5, are being taken care of as fast as they break.

One a positive note, I am looking forward to Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl, the Superbowl commercials, and seeing Taylor Swift and the President sharing pleasantries in the VIP box in Caesars Superdome in N.O. May your Superbowl team. I'm hoping for a threepeat!

 

[cgilley]

blue - brilliant post. 15 years ago I slipped on some ice and probably broke my right hip. Being a man, I never had it checked. And I'm rooting for the Eagles - for the same reason I root against the Patriots.

 

[Ludington]

I think as we age, we all get these infirmities. I have a couple I could do without... I got the new shingles vaccine, it screwed up my nervous system.. if you watch the commercials, it even says it can cause guillian-barr . Plus I have a bulging disc.. they want to cut me open from the belly side, take it out, roll me over, open me up from the back and do some kind of fusion. I think not. My normal doc said to me. ... only last resort,, the leading cause of back surgery iss... back surgery. So I bought a decompression machine and use that.. it does help.but the shingles shot has caused my whole right side to be weak, cramps, shake hands, some drop foot. Peripheral neuropathy...Don't don't don't ever take that shot. And if you have and not gotten the side effects, then your lucky.
I'm solidly in the non-vax camp now. Oh yes I am fighting PMR where my own body is trying to kill me. On prednisone every day for that. Slow taper to get off of it.
Sorry for the owie rant. Oh, yes plus the other old man stuff, high blood pressure, diabetes, and now he is talking about cholesterol....
I think I need to go back to bed...

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

I’d like to try prednisone but my pseudo-doc won’t prescribe it,

 

[Ludington]

I’d like to try prednisone but my pseudo-doc won’t prescribe it,

Oh, it works great, but long term it isn't good for you, and when you taper off, it's definitely withdrawl...

 

[havasu]

I got the new shingles vaccine, it screwed up my nervous system.

Was this from the "2 part" Shingrix shot?

 

[cgilley]

I think as we age, we all get these infirmities. I have a couple I could do without... I got the new shingles vaccine, it screwed up my nervous system.. if you watch the commercials, it even says it can cause guillian-barr . Plus I have a bulging disc.. they want to cut me open from the belly side, take it out, roll me over, open me up from the back and do some kind of fusion. I think not. My normal doc said to me. ... only last resort,, the leading cause of back surgery iss... back surgery. So I bought a decompression machine and use that.. it does help.but the shingles shot has caused my whole right side to be weak, cramps, shake hands, some drop foot. Peripheral neuropathy...Don't don't don't ever take that shot. And if you have and not gotten the side effects, then your lucky.
I'm solidly in the non-vax camp now. Oh yes I am fighting PMR where my own body is trying to kill me. On prednisone every day for that. Slow taper to get off of it.
Sorry for the owie rant. Oh, yes plus the other old man stuff, high blood pressure, diabetes, and now he is talking about cholesterol....
I think I need to go back to bed...

The vaccine push is completely out of control - way too much profit involved.

biggest thing I did for my backpain? I'm an engineer that writes a lot of software, so I sit a lot. Became my son's hockey team equipment manager. Lugging around 2 80lb bags of gear - no more lower back pain.

 

[TomFOhio]

My wife and I got our shingle shots and had no problems. My brother in law who didn't get
the shot got the shingles. He said that he has never had such pain as that. I guess its like the lottery
do you want to take a chance or not.