JennVT

Hi Tribe! It has been great to be back so far....we are all so happy to be in the same room with other people we all like each other!  I went directly into teaching this morning since we are starting out with one of my areas of instruction, sexual violence and child abuse. Nothing like starting the recruits out with something "light". 🙄

So I am glad to be back at it but guys....I have to wear a bra every day and real pants! 🤪😬😲

Hey Tribe! My car is all packed up with everything but my laptop and purse. I have a Zoom meeting at noon and then at 2:30 I can head to the Academy!

I'm super thrilled to be able to be with people again! Hahahaha Of course in about a week I will probably hate about half my coworkers. The recruits are all pretty neat people though.

I'll be in the classroom with them for 3 days starting tomorrow so I'm sending you all good thoughts for staying sane!

Please continue drinking for me! 

1 minute ago, maluhia87 said:

Shortly after I moved in my SO I played a game of "Which unlabeled container is the dried ghost peppers."  I won after I was sniffing jars and couldn't breathe.  I've only played this game once and always remember which jar I am looking for now.  

That game has no winners 🤪😂

OK does anyone have ideas about birthday presents for 12-13 year old girls? She isn't girly pink...plays basket ball...gymnastics.......arts and crafts?

Related what's a good brand of gel pens.....glitter/metallics a plus!

@AmyJA I ordered from Bouqs for the first time. Picked my delivery date as May 1st. Got my tracking info and check it with FedEx yesterday morning and see that the delivery date is kicked out to May 4th. Now if it were a pair of socks I wouldn't care but an extra 3 days on the delivery of cut flowers has me concerned that Mom is going to get a box of dead sticks. So I contact Bouqs using their online chat function because they have all of their customer service working from home. During the chat the CSA tells me that FedEx sometimes does weird things withe delivery date if something is scanned after midnight. OK? But she assures me the flowers will be delivered May 1. If not they will "compensate me appropriately". 

Last night I get an email from them saying the delivery has been delayed due to Pandemic and they will arrive.....May 4th! *cheeseandrice* I am all understanding about deliver delays just don't blow smoke up my butt about it when I ask! Their email included a 50% code for a future order and that I can reply to that email with any further concerns. So I fire back an email stating my frustration with contacting them with that very concern, being assured there's no problem, and 4 hours later being told the exact opposite.  

So this afternoon I get an apology email for my frustration and a promotional credit for the amount I paid for the flowers to be used for a future order. So I'm going to get some free and some discounted flowers once I'm out of quarantine. And I won't crab at them any further if Mom's flowers are in good shape...they say that FedEx keeps them refrigerated the entire time so the quality should be fine.

Wow that is a looooong post about flowers! LOL 

2 hours ago, kpark895 said:

 

Agree!  I actually enjoy the sauce more than the pasta.

DItto!

5 hours ago, SenatorsFan said:

It's one of my favourites, too! This Bongo is another one I really like. "Big Rig" was the nickname of Chris Phillips from my team, the Ottawa Senators.🏒 After he retired a few years ago he started a restaurant and brewery. They also make a delicious chocolate stout called "Midnight Kissed My Cow"! 😋 

 

Hmmm...I wonder if I can find that in the US? I mean Vermont is practically Canada....LOL

7 hours ago, mopedmom1 said:

I have endured lots of things to get Ralph to have an adult beverage with me.....If you look real hard, in the back of the pic is a handle of Fireball. Occasionally he would take a shot or two out of the bottle with me. Boy, could I kick his a$$!

I puffy heart Schofferhofe....!!! My fave summer beer...delish and low enough alcohol that I can drink several without landing on my ass. Once I get out of here I'm going to have a one with you!

@sid_9169 If I could just have a bowl of that sauce please and thank you......

@fyree39   Happy Birthday!!!   And Happy Anniversary!

23 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Awhile ago, I went wayyy down the rabbit hole of research into a new kitchen knife... I've been using the same old piece of junk that I've had for 20 years, and as much cooking as I'm doing now, I want something new... Some of the ones I'm looking at are over $100, but a good knife can easily last forever... I haven't pulled the trigger on anything yet, but I'm close...

Do you have a restaurant supply place near by? You must, even my po-dunk town has one. Head there and look at Victorinox knives. They make Swiss Army which is how most folks know them. I have a carving knife, paring knife, and an 8 inch chef's knife all by them. Not too expensive compared to some of the pretty looking high end stuff out there. But they hold an edge beautifully and are nice and durable. They will take a bit of abuse. I am a cooking knife junkie. 

Also, if you can put one up in your apartment, I highly recommend getting a  magnetic knife strip. Much better for them then putting them in a drawer and takes up less real estate than a knife block. The only knives I don't keep up there are my Grandfathers butcher knives and my carver....all too big. The carver has a 12 inch blade. I also have my Grandfather's butcher's cleaver which is a weapon for sure.

Hey Tribe...still living the solitary quarantine life here. Yesterday was pretty bad...I hit the wall with this and had a meltdown. The prior 2 days every time DH called me it was because something wasn't going well at home. Motorcycle won't start.....parts for the tractor he's restoring are expensive or will take a long time (relatively speaking) to arrive....and then to cap it off the dog got diarrhea and some puking which continued for 2 days. On top of feeling isolated/lonely I was feeling super guilty that I wasn't there to help with the dog....worried about the dog....not feeling like I could give decent support to DH. 

Melted down and felt very sorry for myself all day. 

This morning the dog is feeling better and so am I. Still got the lonely cabin fever but have put on my big girl panties and am focusing on the fact that I am on the home stretch of the solitary part of this. Monday I head back to the Academy where there will at least be other people. Granted some of them are assholes....and they will drive me crazy at times....but PEOPLE!! 🤪

Hope you are all doing well....and though I may not post it each time I am sending my well wishes to everyone who needs them!

6 hours ago, DeanDeeDee said:

One week ago today, my nephew passed away from Covid-19 (55 years old).  He had posted on Facebook that he had tested positive a week before that.  I just assumed that things would get better, but it turned into pneumonia and he actually died of a stroke, which apparently is another threat with the virus.  It has been a rough week, and I felt guilty -  like I should have done more, but he lived in New Jersey and I was in Florida, thinking all would be fine. I have a whole new perspective of this virus - it is real.  Stay safe everyone.

So sorry for your loss. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

28 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Prayers please my bil and his wife are enroute to ny hospital via ambulance, I am scared.

Sending prayers

6 minutes ago, firstimecruiseronncl said:

Does anyone stuff an artichoke? You saute garlic in butter, add salt, pepper, some white wine, and once simmered, add bread crumb and romano cheese. You stuff the artichoke with this mixture. I fill the bottom of a pot with chicken broth, add the artichokes, throw some garlic chunks into the chicken broth, bring to a simmer, cover and cook until tender. 

 We do! I used DH's Grandma Vivienne's recipe. It is similar. Though somewhat violent. hahaha

You cut the stems off the chokes and drop them in the pan where you will cook the chokes. Snip off the sharp points on the leaves, turn the choke over and slam it on the counter. (Stem side up) This opens up the choke so you can get to the prickly parts, you may have to repeat the slam a few times. (See? Violent! haha) Scrape out the prickly bits and put them in your pan with the stems. Shake in a bunch of bread crumbs, she recommends seasoned bread crumbs. Then shake on some garlic powder and italian seasoning. Drizzle heavily with olive oil and top with some Parmesan shreds.  Carefully add water to the pan until its halfway up the side of the chokes. Cover the pan, bring to a low boil and cook until the bottom pierces easily with a fork. 

Lift out of the water and let drain a bit. Devour. 

Current quarantine mood.....not even pretending to work......trying to make an order of flower seeds so they will be there to plant when I get home.

@fyree39 You are 100% right to change brokers. If their professional/personal integrity allows them to take "shortcuts"  of at minimum questionable legality it is a short hop onto a very slippery slope. 

Maybe I'm too suspicious but I'd move the money. Things are too up in the are with markets to have anyone touching money that you don't have complete confidence in. Dad and Bro will get over the move easier than they would get over it if Dad's money just disappeared one day.

The only other thing I can think of is to hit "Primary" bro with the idea that putting Mom in a facility/rehab is going to burn through money like crazy....since it seems he might be financially motivated. And clearly her welfare isn't at the forfront of his mind.

My parents told me at Christmas (yay?) that they put together their living will/advanced directives and made me the primary contact/decision maker. Not a job I am thrilled to get but Mom feels like my sister has enough going on with 2 teens (one special needs) and a semi-useless husband. Fortunately my sister and I are wired the same way so hopefully there won't be friction if we need to decide stuff.

Oh jeez Mimi will the social workers at MIL's hospital help?

@Greenpea2 I totally remember Bonnie Bell! Definitely went through at tom of 10-0-6 as a teen. And coveted the Lip Smackers. My Mom was anti-make up and I could not convince her to buy me more than one! Was jelly as hell with the girls who had dozens!

@Von & John Dinner wasn't bad actually. Chicken fingers and sweet potato wedges. Thankfully I have an oven to heat them in because I have a feeling that the microwave would have made them pretty horrid. I saved have the chicken to top a salad today or tomorrow. I did bring some groceries with me in case there were some meal fails. 

I will be pretty happy to get back to campus. I do tend to enjoy solitude but 2 weeks alone in a room is a bit much. There will be about 50 of us at the Academy including the recruits so even if I'm in my office there will be hustle and bustle.

I will be thrilled to get home to DH, the cat, and the dog. Our German Shepherd is a big baby and has figured out that Mom is not at work in the usual way. He went on a hunger strike yesterday so I had DH give him a can of the bland food for upset tummies which the dog loves for some reason. The cat is pretty stoic but when I get home I will be scolded and sat on. Hahaha

I hope all is well with you! And with the rest of the tribe!

31 minutes ago, blarko said:

 

Baby Girl Jenn

*smack*

Hahahahaha

51 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Just received a very unsettling phone call....my brother-in-law, who lives on Long Island, NY has tested positive for C-19.  He has NOT been out of the house except to have the test taken and 3 weeks ago he went to the emergency room of the local hospital because he was having chest pains.  While he was there the nurse advised him "it's best not to hang around here if possible".....so far no fever but he has the sore throat and is hoarse and has chest discomfort.  He is 77 and otherwise very healthy.  It really hits hard when its a relative and you are 3000 miles away.  His daughter has been delivering meals to their home on the door step.  His wife is not in good health and now she needs to be tested.

 

Thanks for listening rant over.

So sorry for your bad news!

1 hour ago, blarko said:

 

Sounds like we’ll be seeing you on 90 day fiancé 🤪🤪🤪

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! The first time I got called "Baby Girl" someone would get such a smack! 

(DH would probably object...)

I had the weirdest thing happen last night on Twitter. Some guy DM'd me and I braced myself for surprise dick pics because this is generally how that works. Private account, shifty replies, etc. Normally I ignore these but I was bored. LOL 

I pressed him regarding just ***** he wanted and it took an odd turn....he claimed to want to give people money and started asking about my debts. LOL SCAM! I told him to donate anything he had planned to "give" to me to a food bank. Silence after that. LOL I feel like it was possibly coming from Nigeria.