how about drinking?
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Hi ladies:
Hope everyone is doing okay mid-April, this month is going fast! Been back two weeks from my trip and recovered from the cold (although we have lots of blooms going on here and lots of pollen to go with it!) A friend made me a nice belated birthday lunch today at their home and we had many hours of chatting and catching up, it was wonderful.
It is unusually warm here right now with temps pushing upper 80s. Still very dry and some wind, and I found out yesterday I need some major repair work done on my drip system so that gets done next so we can keep things watered up here this spring, summer and fall. I have not needed anything major on this system since I built the house 21 years ago but it's time.
April is a good time to get pruning done, gardens cleared out and also putting a few indoor plants outside this weekend. We can still get a frost here into late April, so I have to watch if I need to cover the plants on the patio. I love working in the yard and gardens!
Wishing everyone a good Passover, Easter or any other holiday you may be honoring this month.
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Saturday! Not quite so happy around here, though. My Aunt Diane died yesterday early ayem, of Alzheimer's Disease. She was moved to a nursing home a couple months ago after spending almost a year in the hospital waiting for a nursing home bed to open. Auntie had gone on Hospice last week, so this wasn't a surprise. I was going to take Mom for a visit yesterday, and I'm kind of glad Mom didn't see how much Auntie had declined recently, and I can understand Mom wanting one last visit to say goodbye. Mom had been having a very hard time with seeing the decline for quite some time. Mom is absolutely terrified and horrified at the idea that she might get dementia herself.
Teka--that's just about right for right now. We're still getting a little bit of snow for a few minutes every day around here!
Minus--I didn't realize Kahlua and Tia Maria were made of rum either! I have a Kahlua recipe that starts with steeping vanilla beans in vodka for at least a month, so I guess I just assumed the spirit was vodka. In reality, I guess I never really thought about it at all!
Morning Carole and Wally!
Jazzy--your drip system really held up well for the last couple of decades!
Alzheimers Cocktail Recipe
4.28 from 29 votes
Calories: 278kcal
Prep Time: 3minutes minutes
Total Time: 3minutes minutesAlzheimers cocktail
Ingredients
• 2 oz Canadian Whisky
• 2 oz Citrus Vodka
• .5 oz Cola
Instructions
Fill with Ice:
• Fill a collins glass with ice cubes.
Combine Ingredients:
• Pour 2 oz Canadian whisky and 2 oz citrus vodka over the ice.
Add Cola:
• Add .5 oz cola to the glass.
Stir and Serve:
• Stir gently to combine.
Serve:
• Serve immediately and enjoy.From
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Yum on hot cross buns! We'll be watching the Masters a little later, recorded.
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I'm sorry for your loss, NM. I hope you and your mom find peace and ease. (((hugs)))
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NM - sorry about your Auntie. I agree with your Mom - thinking about developing Altzheimers is horrifying. Please let me die before that happens. A heart attack or even a plane crash. Don't mean to be morbid, but I'm getting up there & thinking about what's next.
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Monkey Day! Thank you all for the kind words and understanding. I have to admit I haven't gone to see Aunt Diane since she was hospitalized because I could not bear to see her that way in person. Her daughter has been sending pictures pretty steadily, and they just broke my heart, and as Auntie had not recognized or remembered me for several months before hospitalization I didn't see how forcing myself to visit would accomplish anything for either one of us. Mom has said many times over the years that if she ever gets to the point that she can't take care of herself and doesn’t know people to not do anything to prolong her living and let her go as comfortably as possible.
It's not morbid to be thinking about what is coming as we age and our health status begins changing. It's actually important to do that, and to talk about it with family members so they know what your wishes are. Filling out Advance Directives is helpful and important, too. Advance Directives start with a Living Will, which you can get at no cost from a hospital, doctor's office, clinic, home health agency, at many state government offices, in person and online. Each state provides free Living Will forms (often called an Advance Directive form) online. You can download and print one from:
AARP
AdvanceDirectives.com
Five Wishes is an Advance Directive form that goes into more detail, and gives space for more individualization and detailed direction. It covers the same things as the standardized Advance Directive forms but in more straight-forward language, and provides more examples and clarification. Five Wishes is available online and as a download. Many hospitals and doctor's offices have this form as well.
Kahlúa Coffee Cocktail
Ingredients
• 1 oz Kahlua Midnight
• 1 oz Irish Cream
• 1/2 oz Whiskey
• 6 oz CoffeeInstructions
• In a coffee cup, add the Kahlua Midnight, Irish cream, and whiskey.
• Fill the cup the cup with the coffee.
• Stir to combine
• Garnish with marshmallows if you’re feeling wild.From
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Popping in amid all the stuff going on in my life (minor medical annoyances, cat care, etc.). Work on the house has kicked into high gear—drywall & painting done, kitchen being tiled and laid out for cabinets (need to choose) and appliance re-placement (plus new range hood, this time vented). Hoping for a mid-May move-back date, which gives us a 2-week cushion till our lease here is up. Tough to ride herd on the contractors because the house is >4 miles away with brutal traffic getting there, the workmen speak mostly Polish and my lungs get vapor-lock from paint & varnish fumes.
Happy Passover—temple didn't do a Seder; over the years it was increasingly kid-oriented, with music tending toward Hebrew school summer camp—since we have no fulltime rabbi, the cantor & music director (who runs the kids' & volunteer choirs—a UCC minister directs the High Holy Day profession choir) lead services and they too are becoming more like a youth camp revival meeting. I miss the old stately classical Reform hymns, especially the Max Janofsky stuff, which we now have only at High Holy Days sung by the aforementioned pro quartet. We still belong because they need our dues.
So Sat. night we took the kids to Joe's Seafood & Steak for their Passover menu (all the Lettuce Entertain you places offer one). Big portions, took home leftovers. Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace rosé for the apps & dessert; a grand cru Chablis with the entree (halibut en papillote in lobster broth—not kosher but I'm ultra-Reform). Getting a Costco chicken tomorrow so will crack open the Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2023 Bob brought home. Speaking of wines, gonna be a nightmare packing up what's left of what we brought from our cellar—barely made a dent because Bob keeps bringing home bottles from Costco, WF and Binny's that I allow him (grudgingly) to "guzzle." Can't wait to get home to my Coravin which will let him "guzzle" the good stuff a glass at a time without wasting it. Not to mention we're drowning in bubblies from Mumm Napa. Wanna come over?
Going to Cooper's Hawk tonight for our monthly freebie bottle. I chose an albariño last month, so Bob gets to pick this one. In an hour, I'm outta here en route to the Apple Store to pick up my new iPhone 16ProMax (my 15 Pro is getting a bit "poky" and its battery runs erratically; and I want to strike while the iron is hot before you-know-who reinstates the tariffs on it as he's threatening to do a day after announcing the exemption). Will bring the old iPhone 14Pro (my backup, on the T-Mobile plan I use mainly for Gordy) so I can kill time online while the new one downloads my iCloud backup; at my leisure I'll replace it with the cheapest iPhone 16.
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As to eyewear, I've been wearing glasses since I was 8 and my 3rd grade teacher had to move me up front so I could read the blackboard (I was one of the taller kids back then—stopped growing at puberty and now I'm a shrimp). I tried soft contacts back in 1981 when I was in a rock band that emphasized visuals—but seasonal allergies made me tear up like crazy and sometimes they'd migrate to the back of my eye! Gave them up for good when I got pregnant with Gordy and the shape of my eyeball changed. Never went back—since then, despite having pretty good distance vision (especially since cataract surgery) frames have been part of my signature look—they hide dark circles & bags better than any concealer. Started wearing progressives at 39, and it was a very easy transition. Briefly flirted last fall with single-vision after reading an article about how progressives can cause falls in the elderly; but it was a PITA to have to switch between distance & readers (and switching while driving is impossible & dangerous). So I have my single-vision pair as a backup, especially if I lose these progressives (as I did my progressive sunglasses). Warby Parker used to replace lenses by issuing a new pair (and only if they had that frame in stock) but now they'll replace lenses in an existing frame in good condition—saves me $100 rather than $50. (And $450 if I'd require a whole new pair with updated frames).
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Sandy, I'll come over for the bubbly and in return, I can translate the Polish contractors for you!!
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday! We did enjoy the sunshine that we got yesterday peeyem, but of course, it's raining again this ayem. Sigh. Mud season has arrived in all its glory. It just doesn't seem to warm up at all, though. Hopefully it will soon.
Chi--how exciting for your place to be making good progress again! I'm sorry to hear about the temple rituals changing. I think that having some level of predictability as provided by rituals and customs is important, but that seems to be a minority opinion. It sounds like you and Bob have quite the wine cellar in both the leased place and the under-renovation home! Good luck with the new phone set up, that's a process that invariably leads to headaches for me. The cost of glasses frames and lenses is enormous, isn't it? I hate it when I have to buy a new pair of back up glasses, which, fortunately, isn't very often as my eyes have stopped changing very much from exam to exam.
Wally--sounds like you and Chi have the basis for a great relationship!
Presticles Spectacles Wallet and Watch
• 1 oz Tequila (Cuervo)
• 1 oz Brandy (E&J)
• 1 oz Scotch (Scoresby)
• 1 oz Peppermint schnapps (Phillips)To craft this exquisite cocktail, begin by carefully combining the following ingredients: 1 oz Tequila (Cuervo), 1 oz Brandy (E&J), 1 oz Scotch (Scoresby), 1 oz Peppermint schnapps (Phillips). Serve with the recommended garnish and savor every sip. The process is as enjoyable as savoring the drink itself.
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Miriandra, ROTFLMAO!😁 That Passover Satyr must be the G.O.A.T.!
The migration process between my iPhone 15Pro and my new 16ProMax was painless and faster than I remember it having been before. Having a pickup appointment and being assigned a "Genius" to guide me through helped immensely. I was out of there in under an hour. And I'm getting $550 back for my trade-in. I did get more storage (512GB) than the old one (256, of which I'd used half)—but the new iOS, photo and AI features will likely take up quite a bit of storage space. Besides, I find myself using my phone far oftener than the laptop on which I'm typing this, now that we have no landline and don't intend to get one (other than for faxing, assuming that newer printers have that function if our all-in-one was not salvageable—the cheapie we're using here doesn't fax and has trouble scanning).
Unfortunately, that nice big phone doesn't fit in the dedicated side pocket in my purse, and neither does my sunglasses case. They both do fit inside the purse itself, so I've relegated said side pockets to holding my inhaler, nose spray & little tub of hand cream. Bob definitely doesn't want a ProMax because he carries his phone in his shirt pocket—his Pro sticks out and the ProMax or Plus would fall out were he to bend over. (He refuses to get a belt case because he sometimes doesn't wear a belt with his jeans). Apple's ditching the littlest ones (Mini & SE), but since he uses so few functions on his phone, his & my trade-ins will more than cover the cost of the 16e, with enough to spare for accessories.
Last night at Cooper's Hawk, with sea bass I had the recommended Lux Chardonnay (Napa, heavily oaked). Bob had Malbec with his surf & turf of seared ahi & skirt steak. It was his turn to pick our monthly freebie, so he chose the wine-of-the-month, "California Riviera:" a Santa Barbara blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Syrah. If the neighborhood Greek joint's valet can find room in its parking lot, I will have Assyrtiko with the fish of the day. No retsina for me, and no Greek coffee after (already had my 2 cups today).
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Hump Day! Taking Mom to her appointment to get her new dentures fit tested this afternoon, then shopping. I'm not sure what else she has in mind for today, so it will be a bit of an adventure.
Miriandra--LOL!!
Chi--glad to hear the phone migration went so well! It does seem like cell phones are getting bigger and bigger all the time, soon they will be as big as the original mobile phones that came out so long ago, that you practically needed a suitcase to carry around! The chardonnay you had sound very yummy.
Golden Phone
Ingredients:
1 oz Patrón Silver blanco tequila
1⁄2 oz Yellow Chartreuse (or génépy liqueur)
1⁄2 oz Aromatized wine (e.g. Lillet Blanc)
1⁄4 oz Dutch Cacao white crème de cacao
1 dash Orange Bitters by AngosturaHow to make:
1. Select and pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist (expressed and discarded) & skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.
3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.From
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LOL on phones growing in size to match the first ones. I remember my bagged biggie that I never used. It rode around in my car. I enjoy using my smart phone as a minicomputer. I will probably leave my laptop/s at home and use my phone on the river cruise. I can access the same sites I visit regularly on the laptop. Heaven forbid I should miss solving the NYT puzzles, especially Wordle and Spelling Bee.
Happy Good Friday to all.
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I'm so far behind I won't try to catch up. Just had a delicious blueberry mojito with dinner tonight and look forward to more fun drinks as we leave for our French river cruise on Sunday.
Blessed holidays/holy days if you celebrate. I'll share pictures when we return. 🤗✝️❤️
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Saturday! Next weekend I'll be headed to the airport for vacation! Been busy getting Mom set up so she'll be taken care of during the time I'm gone. Still need to get some things stocked up in the freezer, but otherwise she's pretty well set up now. The puppers go to the kennel next Saturday, I fly out on Sunday. I'm getting excited, and really need to get working on packing now. I spent most of yesterday trying to get the old printer to work to print out luggage tags for the cruise and other docs that I want paper back-ups for, got totally disgusted with it, and did what I've been threatening to do for more than a year now--bought a new printer. I found a really inexpensive one, doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles but does the basics of printing, copying, and scanning, not as fast as many other printers, but will meet my needs here at home just fine. Going to get that set up today.
Carole--I don't usually get an internet package when I'm on a cruise, but one comes with the "All Included" special we got on this cruise, so I won't have to miss out on the puzzles and games I like. I like to do Wordle, Strands, Connections, and Letter Boxed.
Reader--you know the rule about ketchuping--not necessary! A Blueberry Mojito sounds really yummy! Can't wait to see the pics and hear the stories when you get back.
French Martini
ingredients
• 2ounces vodka
• 1ounce pineapple juice
• 1⁄4ounce Chambord raspberry liquor
• icedirections
• Mix all ingreidents in shaker.
• Shake well.
• Strain and pour into a Martini glass.From
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I can almost taste that martini NM! Soon, soon! ❤️
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cute Jazzy - thanks for posting
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Monkey Day! I'm now in the last week before vacation, and it's getting pretty real. I got an email to choose my meal on the New York to Amsterdam flight. I'm going to get all the clothes for the trip together and organized today. I've been working on getting all the electronics stuff on one place, along with chargers and adapters over the weekend. It's amazing how hard it can be to find the chargers and cords that I know I have many, many of, and the places they finally turn up! How one charger ended up on top of the fridge I cannot figure out. An internet package comes with the cruise ticket on this trip, but I think I'm going to go pretty much off line anyway. In the past I've only gotten a one day internet connection in order to check in for my return flights and the internet break has been a very welcome part of the cruise experience for me. So I don't expect to post much while I'm on the cruise, I may post more the week before while we're in Amsterdam, we'll see how it works out. I got the new printer set up, finally, thanks to having an ethernet cord on hand to plug it into the computer with. I could not make the wireless connection work no matter what method I tried. Once it was plugged in, no problem, off we went and it works just fine. Now to remember where I stashed the case of paper that I got on sale umpteen months ago!
Reader--yup, soon! Very soon!
Teka--Happy Belated Easter! Daffodils are beautiful!
Jazzy--cute Bunny!
Morning, Minus!
Drunk Bunny
Ingredients
• 1.5 oz white rum
• 8 oz pink lemonade
• Lemon slices for garnish
• Strawberries for garnish
• Pink or yellow Peeps bunny marshmallow for garnish
Instructions
• Serve: Enjoy immediately while cold.
• Fill the Glass: Add ice to a highball or rocks glass.
• Mix the Cocktail: Pour in the pink lemonade and white rum. Stir gently to combine.
• Garnish: Add a lemon wedge, a fresh strawberry, and Pink or yellow Peeps bunny marshmallow on the rim or float it on top.
Pro Tips
• Use fresh pink lemonade or make your own with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and a touch of strawberry puree for an elevated flavor.
• Try a flavored white rum, such as coconut or vanilla, for an extra twist.
• If serving at a party, rim the glass with sugar to add a festive touch.
• For a frozen version, blend the ingredients with ice for a boozy slushie.
• Lightly toast the Peep for a caramelized effect that adds a subtle sweetness to the drink.From
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Treating myself this evening to some Kavanaugh Salted Carmel Irish Cream from Total Wine. YUM.
NM - I'm sure you're racing to get everything ready. I can't remember what you said about Mom while you're gone?? And is someone coming in to take care of the puppers or are you boarding them? I'm sure you'll have a WONDERFUL time, but we will miss you.
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All you cruising ladies, Bon Voyage! We keep getting brochures from Viking but have no idea when we'll be done with the house and ready to travel again.
We went to Miru (in the St. Regis, Chicago's third tallest building) for Easter brunch—scored a window table on the river with a lake view. Had an Andre Clouet brut champagne. Last night we tried an old-school "supper-club" steakhouse in north Skokie, EJ's Place. Meh. Dunno how they managed it, but the Chandon Brut Rosé was flat right out of the bottle (a split which they opened tableside). Tonight with the leftover steak, the last of a bottle of La Vielle Ferme red. Definitely needed it, what with the home restoration delays (indefinitely now—applying for an extension through July); and the gig up in Madison I have Friday night…driving through storms.
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Thirsty Thursday! Mom is a very happy camper, she got her new dentures yesterday and celebrated by going to Longhorn Steakhouse and eating a steak for the first time in years! Going to spend the day with her again today, last shopping trip before my trip. Getting down to the wire and I am getting very excited!
Minus--the Salted Carmel Irish Cream sounds very, very tasty! Mom lives in a duplex, the neighbors lover her and check on her daily, bring in her mail, help her out with little things like getting the TV on the station she wants. I gave them my brother's and a couple of cousin's phone numbers for emergency contacts while I'm gone. I've got a weekly grocery delivery set up for her and we're picking up some extras to freeze and have on hand for more variety. One of my cousins will stop in and see her a couple times while I'm gone. The puppers are being boarded. I reserved the Presidential Suite for them so I can look in on them from time to time as long as I have internet connectivity. They've been there before and have been well cared for. I'm jealous of my cousin, the kennel she uses for her 2 dogs has real time streaming of the entire kennel, so she can she them where ever they are. My kennel only has static views updated every couple of minutes, an only in the Presidential and Vice Presidential Suites.
Chi--holy moly, why all the delays in the house work? That must be frustrating. Be careful driving through the stormy weather.
Bon Voyage
Ingredients
• 1 shot Gin
• 1 shot Tequila
• 1 dash Lemon juice
• 1 dash Blue CuracaoTo craft this exquisite cocktail, begin by gently stirring the following ingredients: 1 shot Gin, 1 shot Tequila, 1 dash Lemon juice, 1 dash Blue Curacao. Once blended to perfection, pour into the cocktail glass and enjoy.
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Hey all! Been busy here lately. Finally got a chance to pop in here since the last time. Fully used to my new glasses (such a blessing when crocheting), Easter was quiet (church, stopped at grandparents and Daddy's graves and then a quiet dinner at home, caught up on a few things here during the week. Transplanted three plants into new pots and lunch at my aunt's yesterday. Woke up feeling like crud (probably a cold starting, did some laundry and then went to Aldi's here in town for some food shopping. Broke down some packages of meat and a thing of broccoli for freezing. Detawing a big package of pork chops to make more room in freezer. Sitting down for a bit before I check on the package to see if its ready to break up into smaller packages.
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We finally got a decision from the appeals judge on our unpaid wages complaint!
As a recap, eight of my massage therapy team (including myself) from my former studio filed unpaid wages complaints because we weren't paid for being required to come into the studio before our shifts started to set up rooms, for time spent cleaning the rooms between sessions, or for other cleaning and side work we were required to do. We did this in May of 2022 - almost three years ago! Last year, we finally landed an investigator who found that we were due backpay and awarded us the maximum that the state could award. He also found that the wage theft had been willful, which increased the penalties from 2x backpay owed to 3x backpay owed. To encourage employers to settle quickly, CO says that if the monies are paid out early, they will cut the penalties to half (1.5x) and completely waive the penalties owed to the state. But to qualify for the decreased penalties, they cannot appeal the dollar amounts awarded. But he didn't like the 'willful' part of the decision and chose to appeal. He sent us a penalty check for 1/2 of the non-willful amount (1x) instead.
So technically, he won. The judge decided that the willful determination was not accurate and repealed that part of the investigator's decision. But since he appealed the dollar amounts, he no longer qualified for the reduced penalties. Since he only paid us 1x in penalties, he now owed us another 1x penalty check to bring it up to the 2x penalty from the initial decision. And he now owes over $27,000 in state fines as well. His ego cost him just under $100,000 - and that's not counting however much he paid his lawyer. If he doesn't pay us in 60 days from the judgement, the penalties all double.
He still has the right to appeal again, if he wishes. But filing an appeal after you "won" is kind of weird. If he tries it, I hope the judge will recognize it for stalling tactics and hold him to the post-deadlines amounts. It's nice to have something resembling closure, but I'm not done fighting until we have checks in our hands.
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Mirandra - sorry that he won even technically, but glad that you are going to get something out of it.
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OK - formally missing NM. And Reader & Carole on their river cruises. Hope I remembered everyone.
Am I the only one drinking? I just had my normal two gin & tonics last night - nothing exciting. Opened a bottle of Crimson Thread red blend last week. It's not a keeper. In fact I may not finish the bottle. Two neighbors are coming over for happy hour tomorrow afternoon.
Thursday evening the coordinator of our neighborhood Citizen's Patrol group is holding a "sip & talk" on one of our a dead end streets. Everyone brings their own chairs & their own drinks. But since this is for CitPat updates, and we're sponsored by the police dept, we've invited the police to join in. Since they'll technically be working, we'll have a cooler of water & cokes for them.
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I haven't really been in a drinking mood. But I am here.
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Minus, I have wine every night. I have boring stuff, so I don't often mention it unless it is a wow. I do love my Bogle Petit Sirah. Also, the Cotes du rhone from costco. Bought a case of it, it was that good…2 years running ..and CHEAP! I shudder to think what the embargoes will do to imports and prices. Rant.
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Been busy doing a little organizing here. We have a friend coming out from Connecticut for a couple of days before he continues on to his daughter's south of us in Iowa
while we are missing some of the regulars i thought I'd share a joke a friend sent me:
A guy named David received a parrot for his birthday. The parrot was fully grown, with a bad attitude and worse vocabulary. Every other word was an expletive. Those that weren't expletives were, to say the least, rude. David tried hard to change the bird's attitude and was constantly saying polite words, playing soft music, anything he could think of to try and set a good example.Nothing worked. He yelled at the bird and the bird yelled back. He shook the bird and the bird just got more angry and more rude. Finally, in a moment of desperation, David put the parrot in the freezer.
For a few moments he heard the bird squawk and kick and scream. Then suddenly there was quiet. Not a sound for half a minute.
David was frightened that he might have hurt the bird and quickly opened the freezer door. The parrot calmly stepped out onto David's extended arm and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I will endeavor at once to correct my behavior. I really am truly sorry and beg your forgiveness."
David was astonished at the bird's change in attitude and was about to ask what had made such a dramatic change when the parrot continued, "May I ask what the chicken did?"
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