Random thoughts

[VerbalQuicksand]

Getting ready to sign up for Medicare in a few months....


WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS!!!

You're not kidding! Been helping my mother enroll recently and it's SO complicated. We ended up taking a Medicare enrollment class at a local senior center to help navigate this mess and to be honest we're still not sure she's getting the right coverage she needs without spending her whole social security (which I could do an entire other soapbox sermon on, it's a joke to live on) check on it monthly.

[herbalhippie]

^^I was told about a lady in town here who's a broker for Medicare Gap plans. My enrollment starts September 1st and I went and saw her for the first time a couple weeks ago. She gave me as much information as she thought I could handle at that time, handed me a couple packets of the local plans that were available to me and told me to come back towards late September and talk to her again. Also told me to acquaint myself with medicare.gov. she's going to be very very helpful to me in this journey.

Someone said welcome to old age where your social security is just enough to pay for your Medicare.

[StringThing]

I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when my dog dies.

Sometimes it feels he is the only reason I am alive anymore.

He is 16 and very fluffy

[herbalhippie]

Going to have another big sale probably next week on the Trading Post. Lots of greens. Some from 2018.

[herbalhippie]

I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when my dog dies.

Sometimes it feels he is the only reason I am alive anymore.

He is 16 and very fluffy

It is hard to lose a beloved pet. I'm sure you take good care of him, you probably have more time with him. <3

[WhiteAngelica]

I'm sad. It's a feeling that if I put into thought and translate to word it might make things worse. But this country. The news. I go out at night to see the moon and the second brightest star in sky, technically Venus. I remember growing up and staring into the planetary sky and how much simpler things were. I wonder if access to this much news and dire footage is taking away the best parts of me. I want to go back to that little girl, in the backyard with her dad, on a clear night where we pointed to moon and planets and constellations. I would love such pure simplicity in that world again. "It's like we weren't built for this world...but I wouldn't want to meet someone who was," to quote Of Montreal.

Love, safety, and hope for you all.

[PistolsAtDawn]

I'm sad. It's a feeling that if I put into thought and translate to word it might make things worse. But this country. The news. I go out at night to see the moon and the second brightest star in sky, technically Venus. I remember growing up and staring into the planetary sky and how much simpler things were. I wonder if access to this much news and dire footage is taking away the best parts of me. I want to go back to that little girl, in the backyard with her dad, on a clear night where we pointed to moon and planets and constellations. I would love such pure simplicity in that world again. "It's like we weren't built for this world...but I wouldn't want to meet someone who was," to quote Of Montreal.

Love, safety, and hope for you all.

I was feeling something very similar earlier. Life with chronic pain is radically different than anything else I've experienced, and the state of the world just sucks out loud.

I was browsing Netflix for something new to watch, and I settled on watching a Nickelodeon documentary. This brought me right back to my early childhood. Right in the center of that part of your childhood when you're aware of a bigger world outsider of you and your family's sphere, but still way too young and inexperienced to really understand the complexity of it all.

And it is upon this flood of memories that I realized that I'm thankful that I grew up in a pretty average way, with no health issues and a decent family (even if I'm totally the Black Sheep).

[StringThing]

I'm sad. It's a feeling that if I put into thought and translate to word it might make things worse. But this country. The news. I go out at night to see the moon and the second brightest star in sky, technically Venus. I remember growing up and staring into the planetary sky and how much simpler things were. I wonder if access to this much news and dire footage is taking away the best parts of me. I want to go back to that little girl, in the backyard with her dad, on a clear night where we pointed to moon and planets and constellations. I would love such pure simplicity in that world again. "It's like we weren't built for this world...but I wouldn't want to meet someone who was," to quote Of Montreal.

Love, safety, and hope for you all.

Accurate quote.

Humans are built for about 10-20k BC at the latest

The only thing that kept us from evolving our technology far earlier was the lack of mass industrialization. For most of human history we could just not produce the metals we needed to actually explore our ideas. Now we can.

[IndelibleDotInk]

If you've never had a good dog, you are missing out on one of life's greatest experiences; they truly are man's best friend. So to a lesser degree with a good cat, though cats are generally not as portable companions.

Good coffee is liquid ambrosia, an everyday delicacy. Fantastic whole beans and real cream make for one helluva cuppa joe. And the house is filled with the smell that is equal to baking bread or cookies.

[Dpninja711]

I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when my dog dies.

Sometimes it feels he is the only reason I am alive anymore.

He is 16 and very fluffy

Losing a dog/pet is truly like losing a family member! It’s so hard and the absolute worst part of owning a dog. My whole life I was blessed enough to always have Labradors in the family and have said goodbye to 5 in my lifetime. They are special animals and as stated above truly“mans best friend”. As much as it hurts saying goodbye, I wouldn’t trade the time/experiences good or bad that I had with all of them. The last two to pass Kooper-8 year old chocolate and Abby 15 yr old yellow, were the kind of dogs you could never imagine replacing. When Kooper passed from kidney issues my mom was devastated. After a month my dad surprised her with the latest edition Bailey-now two year old chocolate and she has the most amazing personality of any dog I’ve known. She makes me laugh everyday and is truly one of a kind! All of our dogs hold special places in our hearts and no dog can be replaced. If my mom had held strong to her word and never gotten another one because it was too painful to loose them, we would have never gotten Bailey. I can’t picture my life without Boo (nickname) but know it’s an inevitable part of owning a dog. Try not to focus on how much time is left and just cherish the time you have together! I truly understand how you feel and just know when your ready(if you are ever) there’s another best friend waiting out there for you. My dogs have had such a profound effect on my life and I’m so grateful for each of them. We just lost Abby about a year ago and I still miss her! The memories are here to stay forever so make as many as you can!!

[herbalhippie]

Just finished double straining and bottling up (jarring up?) a new batch of cannabis infused oil for the pain rub I make. One side of my kitchen is a coconut-oily disaster.

[PistolsAtDawn]

I don't like the feel of reddit anymore. I haven't for years now. It's grown too big and the original walls are bursting at the seams.

[Dpninja711]

I have to go to into Walmart and it’s scary!!! Hopeful I will make it out alive!

[herbalhippie]

There's a hill on fire across the river from me and down a bit. At least one helicopter and six air boss planes scooping water and a big retardant jet just flew over from the airport.

https://imgur.com/WrjtkXc

retardant drop

https://imgur.com/0OX7r0k

[StringThing]

I have to go to into Walmart and it’s scary!!! Hopeful I will make it out alive!

No update yet. We can presume they are dead.

[herbalhippie]

I have to go to into Walmart and it’s scary!!! Hopeful I will make it out alive!

No update yet. We can presume they are dead.

Nah, they posted today. They made it.

[Dpninja711]

I have to go to into Walmart and it’s scary!!! Hopeful I will make it out alive!

No update yet. We can presume they are dead.

Nah, they posted today. They made it.

Sorry I got lost in the clearance section!!

[StringThing]

No update yet. We can presume they are dead.

Nah, they posted today. They made it.

Sorry I got lost in the clearance section!!

I've lost a lot of good people to the clearance section. Glad you made it out.

[PistolsAtDawn]

Happy Friday, everyone!

[Dpninja711]

Happy Friday, everyone!

Happy Friday to you as well!! Hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!!

[IndelibleDotInk]

Was at McDonalds' drive through awhile back and saw a one-legged hen hopping around and caring for a chick and a teenage hen.

[Loveandpeace]

Was at McDonalds' drive through awhile back and saw a one-legged hen hopping around and caring for a chick and a teenage hen.

This sounds like a VERY Hawaiian experience. After spending some time there, feral chickens really do rule the roost.

[IndelibleDotInk]

Was at McDonalds' drive through awhile back and saw a one-legged hen hopping around and caring for a chick and a teenage hen.

This sounds like a VERY Hawaiian experience. After spending some time there, feral chickens really do rule the roost.

Depending on the neighborhood. I find it mildly unusual, as the area I grew up in didn't have them. Last few places we've lived, though, they're very common.

[Loveandpeace]

Was at McDonalds' drive through awhile back and saw a one-legged hen hopping around and caring for a chick and a teenage hen.

This sounds like a VERY Hawaiian experience. After spending some time there, feral chickens really do rule the roost.

Depending on the neighborhood. I find it mildly unusual, as the area I grew up in didn't have them. Last few places we've lived, though, they're very common.

They are very comfortable on North Shore. It was endearing but I can imagine too much of it can get obnoxious. Also, they go to where they get fed, it's that simple. So... good luck controlling excited tourists that don't stay long enough to see the results.

Sorry, a bit of a chicken rant there. I don't know where that came from. I miss Hawaii.

[herbalhippie]

So there are issues with supply lines again. Or still. I should have done it weeks ago but I went to Amazon today to buy a few 6-box cases of the tea I drink
and the usual Amazon listing was not available. Just a few sellers charging $10+ more per case. I bought some anyway.

Also did a quick inventory of my herbal supplies for the pain rub I make. I stocked up February of 2020 like I always do because I use my tax refund
to pay for it. Then around May I got wind of some things becoming unavailable so I made an extra order to the tune of about $400. I didn't have to
get anything early this year because I had already stocked up, and I've still got a lot of that, but I don't want to get low on an ingredient(s) and find
out they're not available so just placed another $400 order and now I have a headache. It will all get used, and I'll make my money back, but ouch.

I ordered some extra vape pods from the online company I use too because those come from China and I've already experienced getting down to my last couple, going
to all the stores in town and NOBODY has them, all on backorder. That was last year and that's when I found the online company I use, they're cheaper there anyway.

I'll just be glad if/when menthol crystals go back down in price. They come from India. I bought 5# from Mountain Rose in Feb 2020 and it was $175. 3 or 4
months later 5# was $350 and there is still sits.

Time for a kratom sale. lol

[PistolsAtDawn]

Time for a kratom sale. lol

I will be more than happy to add to your liquidity should you be serious. I think I remember you mentioning your stash size a couple of places here.

[herbalhippie]

Thank you

There's a few sales going on I'm going to let wind down before I put my stuff up I think.

[IndelibleDotInk]

Drifting off to sleep listening to a cat purring and a dog softly snoring is divine.

[IndelibleDotInk]

Being awakened from a dead sleep from a cat's fart is horrible. My cat had chronic diarrhea for the last year of his life and it was so toxic he sometimes barfed after giving his poop a sniff before scooping kitty litter on it. He would sleep by me at night and once in a great while release silent and deadly gas. When my dog got gassy, I could throw the sheet over her rear end and it'd be contained, but Max's gas was so potent it could escape.

My dog would fart a lot when I first got her, and after doing a lot of research on dog health in general and trying to learn everything about pitbulls, I switched her to high quality food like Taste of the Wild, and mostly Orijen/Acana. I was pleasantly surprised that she hardly had gas after that and her poops were of an easy to pick up consistency. There was one night in particular though, soon after I got her, we were watching Leno and my dad fell asleep. He was in his recliner and Mei was in her recliner (I bought my dad a new Lay Z Boy and Mei took over the old one), I was on the sofa. Then they both started releasing the most noxious gas. Their combined stink made my eyes water and drove me from the living room, through the dining room, into the kitchen, and rear of the house. Then I went in my room and had to shut the door. I still remember the trauma of the smell more than a decade later.

mei chair (2015_09_28 21_56_18 UTC).jpg

^one of the culprits^

[Loveandpeace]

Great post, Indelible

lol

[herbalhippie]

I'm going to make Bibimbap for lunch, I've never made Korean food before. I made the sauce on Friday and it's freaking DELICIOUS!

So excite!

[PistolsAtDawn]

I'm absolutely blown away at the variety and quality of homebrew on the Nintendo 3DS. I stepped away from it for a couple of years (I mostly prefer open devices, but hacking devices can be fun too). I recently sold a rare edition 3DS, and by so doing I became reacquainted with it.

[IndelibleDotInk]

A few weeks ago I was at a Meals on Wheels delivery to a client/friend and saw a monarch butterfly in her garage. It was hurt and I picked it up and moved it to a nearby tree. A puff of wind blew it off the branch and I put it in the shade, hoping it would get better somehow, but bummed it would prolly die.

Then I saw a caterpillar in the garage and was able to pick it up and move it to a bush where there were other caterpillars and butterflies. The bush had a lot of bite marks from them, so it was of a type to be food for the little guy I picked up.

[IndelibleDotInk]

My dad. I wonder where I was when this video was shot, as we volunteer together?

https://www.khon2.com/kupuna-life/kupun ... rs-on-oahu

He's a great guy.

[herbalhippie]

My dad. I wonder where I was when this video was shot, as we volunteer together?

https://www.khon2.com/kupuna-life/kupun ... rs-on-oahu

He's a great guy.

AWWWWWWW

I love your dad!! You are also a great guy!

[herbalhippie]

A few weeks ago I was at a Meals on Wheels delivery to a client/friend and saw a monarch butterfly in her garage. It was hurt and I picked it up and moved it to a nearby tree. A puff of wind blew it off the branch and I put it in the shade, hoping it would get better somehow, but bummed it would prolly die.

Then I saw a caterpillar in the garage and was able to pick it up and move it to a bush where there were other caterpillars and butterflies. The bush had a lot of bite marks from them, so it was of a type to be food for the little guy I picked up.

I also try to help critters whenever possible.

We along the riverfront get these house centipedes. They're big and scary looking and FAST but they eat every other kind of bug. Natural pest control. I have gotten used to them and
don't mind them but they freak my kids right out.

They are nocturnal and like to go in the sink and shower sometimes to try to get a drink of water. Then they get stuck in there, no traction to get back out. If I see one in there I make it
an exit ramp out of tp or a piece of paper towel so it can get out.

The other evening there was one in the kitchen and my son was all KILL IT STEP ON IT. I tried to get it to go under the stove where it couldn't be seen but it kept wanting to head towards
the sink. So I got a soup spoon, filled it with water and put it on the floor a half foot from the thing. Son is all WHY ARE YOUR FEEDING IT?????? I'm not feeding it, I'm giving it
a drink of water!

[StringThing]

A few weeks ago I was at a Meals on Wheels delivery to a client/friend and saw a monarch butterfly in her garage. It was hurt and I picked it up and moved it to a nearby tree. A puff of wind blew it off the branch and I put it in the shade, hoping it would get better somehow, but bummed it would prolly die.

Then I saw a caterpillar in the garage and was able to pick it up and move it to a bush where there were other caterpillars and butterflies. The bush had a lot of bite marks from them, so it was of a type to be food for the little guy I picked up.

I also try to help critters whenever possible.

We along the riverfront get these house centipedes. They're big and scary looking and FAST but they eat every other kind of bug. Natural pest control. I have gotten used to them and
don't mind them but they freak my kids right out.

They are nocturnal and like to go in the sink and shower sometimes to try to get a drink of water. Then they get stuck in there, no traction to get back out. If I see one in there I make it
an exit ramp out of tp or a piece of paper towel so it can get out.

The other evening there was one in the kitchen and my son was all KILL IT STEP ON IT. I tried to get it to go under the stove where it couldn't be seen but it kept wanting to head towards
the sink. So I got a soup spoon, filled it with water and put it on the floor a half foot from the thing. Son is all WHY ARE YOUR FEEDING IT?????? I'm not feeding it, I'm giving it
a drink of water!

I am with your son on this. I'm of the opinion that the sole purpose of centipedes is for squishing.

I know they keep pests away but... I keep pests away too.

Any bugs outdoors, I leave alone. That's their domain. I only have this little wooden cave to live in.

[herbalhippie]

I know they keep pests away but... I keep pests away too.

I'm just glad they keep me from getting invaded by the little sugar ants that so many people around here get. And spiders. So many black widows in this area, I never saw one until I moved here.

Which leads to another story.

Back in the 'oughts' my very Goth middle daughter found a black widow outside and decided she wanted it as a pet. I had a gallon glass jar so she made a nice habitat for it, punched some holes
in the lid and put the jar on the sideboard in the dining room. Fed it crickets and other bugs.

One day I looked in there and saw a new, nice big egg nest.

Jar got taken to the alley and nuked with Raid within the hour.

[IjustFeltLikeRunnin’]

When we were growing up, we used to play under our deck in the back yard. Made mud pies and whatnot. My parents kept a pile of scrap wood under there too, which eventually became home to many a different critters. Including these huge, bulbous spiders my parents called “cat spiders”, and said they are harmless.

https://freerangestock.com/sample/11538 ... moides.jpg

My mom was just in awe one day when she came across an egg sac on our deck stairs from one of these spiders. Us kids, of course, were freaked out and disgusted and contemplated ways to get rid of it. My mom then threatened to kick whomever out of the house that did anything to disturb that nest.

It eventually hatched, and there were so many tiny little bulbous-butt spider babies clinging to the side of our house for days.

Still gives me the willies to think about, but over time I have turned into my mother, and typically refuse to kill spiders in or outside of my house….as long as they keep to themselves.

(A Black Widow is a different story all together though. Those are not welcome anywhere near my house!)

[StringThing]

I know they keep pests away but... I keep pests away too.

I'm just glad they keep me from getting invaded by the little sugar ants that so many people around here get. And spiders. So many black widows in this area, I never saw one until I moved here.

Which leads to another story.

Back in the 'oughts' my very Goth middle daughter found a black widow outside and decided she wanted it as a pet. I had a gallon glass jar so she made a nice habitat for it, punched some holes
in the lid and put the jar on the sideboard in the dining room. Fed it crickets and other bugs.

One day I looked in there and saw a new, nice big egg nest.

Jar got taken to the alley and nuked with Raid within the hour.

I didn't know centipedes ate spiders. Maybe I'll leave the next one I see alone. "Enemy of my enemy is my friend" and all that.

Your daughter sounds wild lol. I'm okay with spiders and snakes and other creepy crawlies, but the venomous ones, NO THANK YOU. I sometimes find black widows and brown recluses in the shed.

Have you heard of the Brazilian wandering spider? Very venomous and deadly, gives men priapism, BUT the scariest thing about it is that its hyper aggressive and will chase after humans or attack you in your sleep. There are some others in the same genus or whatever that are not very venomous but still hyper aggressive.

Anyway, what's better: Hummus or guacamole?