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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 12, 4:17pm
Post #1 of 29
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Welcome to this week's Fiesta Friday!
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Greetings, everyone!
Fiesta is upon us once again, and on Friday the (12.. almost the) 13th, of all days. Are you the superstitious type? I'm not at all, but I bet there were a few astronauts that may have had had second thoughts 54 years ago.
While perusing the internet yesterday, I came upon the interesting tidbit that it was on April 13, 1970 (a Monday) that Apollo 13 'had a problem' and spent the rest of their voyage trying to get back to earth alive. Apollo 13 also launched at 13:13 p.m. on that day. We saw Jim Lovell speak at a 'lunch with the astronauts' I treated B.G. to at Kennedy Space Center during our honeymoon. It was fascinating to hear his account of everything they, and the folks at NASA, had to do, plus their thoughts along the way.
Also, if you're ever in the vicinity of Hutchinson, Kansas, (yes, it would have to be very deliberate ), there's a museum there, The Cosmosphere, that I've mentioned a few times here. It has *the* Apollo 13 command module. We've seen it, and it's something to behold.
What's up with you? Has life been treating you well this week? Fun and exciting (or calm and restful) plans for the weekend? Have a go at the well=stocked buffet, order up your favorite drinkie, and let us know!!
*kicks juke box* the song that was at #1 in the U.S. on April 13, 1970 starts to play: Let it Be, by you know who.
Happy, wonderful weekend, everyone!!
[inline fiestafootersmall.jpg]
(This post was edited by Altaira on Apr 12, 4:50pm)
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dernwyn
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Apr 12, 4:33pm
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Heh, I think you're a day ahead of yourself, Altaira! It's the 12th here. But Friday the 13th's have always been sort of lucky days for me.
But not that day for Apollo 13, it is so miraculous how they were able to be returned, considering the "calculators" and other items they and the ground crew had to use! Lovell's talk must have been fascinating!
It's vacation week for the kids, but I've come in for a couple of days to snoop through their Chromebooks. Some of the older kids seem to be pro's at losing keyboard keys, and the younger ones at spilling stuff which then becomes sticky and yucky...
But otherwise I've been spending much of my week raking out the garden, deadheading the hydrangea, clipping dead stalks, etc. A friend gave me Dahlia bulbs, I hope I've not planted them too early! How are the green and growing things in your yard doing?
Really? Let It Be was #1 on that day? Coincidence - or not? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
(This post was edited by Altaira on Apr 12, 4:49pm)
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 12, 4:54pm
Post #3 of 29
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See, this is what happens when you're retired!
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Too funny! And this week has been particularly bad. I've been a very solid one day ahead all week. Oh well, there are worse problems to have.
Oooh, lots of progress on your garden this week! Excellent. Here in Colorado the little leaf buds are out on all the trees, but the only green things growing in the garden so far are, you guessed it, weeds.
Enjoy the end of your 'mostly' week off! 
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Annael
Immortal
Apr 12, 5:28pm
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I don't know how it is, but as others have found, one can get even busier after retirement! I try to go for a long walk most days, and twice this week it was 3 pm before I could get out the door, I'd been so consumed by things I was doing. Some writing, some prep for my upcoming talks, a lot of cooking and baking, some cleaning, and of course the errand-running. I have a house guest coming the end of the month and I needed to get a folding bedframe (some assembly required) and bedding so she can be comfy in my office; that also involved figuring out where I could move what is already in the office so the bed can go in. The cat, of course, has had to thoroughly check out and approve all furniture moves.
The cat will also be joining me for my talks, as he always does. Shutting him in another room only results in loud wails, and anyway, the people who attend seem to enjoy his appearances--and often, have critters of their own also participating. The joys of Zoom.
Still not warm here - temps going down into the high 30sF at night. April 15 is our typical cutoff for frosts, so hopefully it will warm up and I can finally get the starts I've been nursing along (outside during the day, in at night) into the garden itself. My friend is visiting from the San Bernadino Mountains where they are still getting snow, at least it will feel warmer to her!
I'll have an Angel Mist please barkeep! Not moving on to summer drinks yet.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
(This post was edited by Annael on Apr 12, 5:30pm)
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 12, 5:58pm
Post #5 of 29
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..about getting busier after retiring. Sounds like you're very efficient though, which helps. I *try* to be. 
Too funny about the kitty. Far better to let them have their way, to be sure. Enjoy your visitor prep, garden prep, etc. and your walks!
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Apr 12, 6:57pm
Post #6 of 29
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It never fails to amaze me how gripping the 'Apollo 13' film is, despite everyone knowing they came home safely. Sign of a good film, I guess! As far as I'm aware, the superstition about 13 being unlucky only really matters if you're a Christian, as it was - I think! - based on the Last Supper, Judas being the 13th.
I've been dog-sitting this week for my daughter and family who are in Italy having a great time. My place is like an obstacle course with dog beds, dog toys etc; the birds, who normally have the run of the garden, are rather nervy. He goes home on Sunday. Today I went down the garden to finish trimming some shrubs and discovered the so-and-so had 'left a message' IN THE BIRDBATH! Not nice... not quite sure how he managed that. Yuk. Otherwise, his stay has been fairly uneventful, thankfully.
We had very stormy weather and higher-than-usual tides on Monday (I live on a peninsula), which caused some coastal disruption and blew a lot of blossom off the trees; there's still plenty to go round, so I hope the pollinators will be out and busy now it's calmed down.
I'll skip the snacks thanks; I have my annual review at the doctor's soon so, being pre-diabetic, I need to see if I can trim off a few more pounds before the weigh-in happens! Have a good weekend, all - cheers!
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 12, 7:11pm
Post #7 of 29
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But *that's* a new one. Maybe since he can't catch any of the birds he thought of a strategy to mess with them anyway - pun intended, lol.
Our blossoms are just little buds at the moment, but our fruitless crab apple tree should be a beautiful pastel pink by next week. Other trees in the area are already on the go, however, which is always a cheery sight.
Have a wonderful weekend, GH! 
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dernwyn
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Apr 12, 8:47pm
Post #8 of 29
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Those can be dangerous words, I hope you got it put up with no problems! Too bad Charlie doesn't have opposable thumbs so he could lend a hand...er, paw.
Cats do like to be a part of their humans' lives. Does he like to interject with particular cat-speak?
How far into the Spring do they get snow in those mountains?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Apr 12, 8:56pm
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How in the world did he...urg. What a clean-up mess. I hope the family brings you back some nice souvenirs, it sounds like the trip has been fabulous!
I hope the flooding wasn't too bad. Spring tides and Spring storms go hand-in-hand.
Doctors always do get after us about weight, don't they - don't they realize that one naturally puts on weight as one gets older? But there's far more to diabetes than just one's weight. Best of luck with it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Apr 12, 8:59pm
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that "weed" is a four-letter word? Ah, if only they bloomed then immediately died for the good stuff to push through!
Have a relaxing weekend!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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cats16
Half-elven
Apr 12, 10:12pm
Post #11 of 29
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I didn't realize how hard they leaned into the 13 theme for the mission. I was just talking about Apollo 13 to a co-worker (for no legitimate work reason, lol) so it's funny to see Fiesta talking about it too.
An ever so slightly calmer week at work, so I'm trying to finish up a few more things and sneak out a bit early (or even just on time would work too). My girlfriend is at a work event this evening, so I'll be relaxing tonight at home and maybe throw on a long movie.
It's looking like a bit of rain here tomorrow and Sunday, though not a significant amount. We keep intending to go on a hike, but mother nature is saying otherwise for the time being.
After winning our pub trivia contest last week, we got second this week, losing by only one point, argh! The winner gets a $50 gift card for the bar and the runner-up gets $35, which is more than I'd expect but still very nice of them.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Ataahua
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Apr 12, 10:44pm
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We've got a day of 'scattered thunderstorms' (which is a bit of a waste during daytime - I love a good electrical storm at night). However I'll miss a chunk of it as I'll be going to the cinema this afternoon to see Civil War (89% on Rotten Tomatoes).
Not much else is happening, TBH. Work is chugging along, we will farewell our last 'made redundant' colleague at the end of the month and she's busy training her fulltime replacement (she's an awesome woman and her professionalism and genuine warmth through all this is heartening). I've got a long weekend coming up at the end of next week and I intend to get a good dose of sleeping done.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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Ataahua
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Apr 12, 10:45pm
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We have a work-team thing that at 3 o'clock, we (as a group) run through five quizzes that are on various NZ news sites. Our results are mixed, to say the least.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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dernwyn
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Apr 13, 12:38am
Post #14 of 29
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If your colleague's position is "redundant", then why is she training a "replacement"? Something doesn't smell right.
I drove through a downpouring thunderstorm on the way into work this morning. One of those lightning bolts hit too close for comfort. Yeah, I'd have rather been tucked under the covers while this was raging!
Enjoy (?) the movie - it sounds way too intense for me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 13, 12:40am
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are pleasant - as long as it's a gentle rain!
You're doing well with the pub trivia. It's sounding sort of addicting, like watching Jeopardy!
Enjoy the movie - what did you end up watching?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Apr 13, 3:30am
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Our 'family friendly' workplace has decided that part-timers aren't wanted.
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We had two women working 20 hours a week each: one as our web person and the other as a digital lead. Both of their roles were disestablished and replaced with a single fulltime (40hr) role - which neither of them could do because they have young children.
I'm seeing part-time roles disappearing throughout the org as part of this restructure, which largely affects working mothers. Family friendly, my arse. 
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Apr 13, 10:21am
Post #17 of 29
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Have just walked the miscreant
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in the local park, where crab apple trees planted by volunteers are absolutely smothered in blossom - beautiful. Got home and managed to cut the grass - it's threatening to rain now. Morris (that's his name) doesn't bother with small birds, but will be down the garden like a flash after a wood pigeon or anything of that size - or a squirrel, of course! He was called Boris when he came to join my daughter's family; that had to go!
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Apr 13, 10:26am
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Yes - the birdbath had a good clean-up!
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If you Google 'West Kirby flood wall' you'll see what happened. The wall took a lot of the force out of the waves, helping to protect homes along the promenade, but a lot of water from large waves overtopped it due to the rough weather - and took far too long to drain away! the Photoshop brigade have had fun adding narrowboats, gondolas etc to pictures. I lost 14lb and brought my blood sugar down a bit, so success is there for the taking - if I could just learn to hate chocolate!
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Apr 13, 12:17pm
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It's already the middle of April!?!
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I hope those who are still struggling with the Tax deadline have a happy ending very soon!
Just a quick stop to pass along the great news that my daughter's surgery went very well! The surgeon was delighted and exclaimed there were no surprises. The biopsy will be shared next week. We're back at my home as she begins her long recovery.
Take care everyone! And Thanks so much for you positive thoughts and prayers. They Worked! :D
HUGGLES
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Apr 13, 1:49pm
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you must both be very relieved. All the best to your daughter for a trouble-free recovery.
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Annael
Immortal
Apr 13, 1:57pm
Post #21 of 29
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good thoughts for a negative biopsy!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Apr 13, 6:22pm
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Oh, that's good news, in a hard situation.
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Sounds like she's on a good path, though.
Prayers!
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cats16
Half-elven
Apr 13, 9:17pm
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Sending lots of positive thoughts your way.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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cats16
Half-elven
Apr 13, 9:20pm
Post #24 of 29
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That sounds fun too, though probably quite challenging if you've been away from the news for a day or two.
I just saw an NPR story about a pub trivia cheating scandal in Washington, D.C. Apparently a team cheated in a music round by trying to subtly use Shazam on their smart watch. Pretty lame IMO to feel the need to cheat in something that's supposed to be an excuse to hangout with friends for a couple of hours. (Why this got a real news story, I have no idea lol.)
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
(This post was edited by cats16 on Apr 13, 9:27pm)
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cats16
Half-elven
Apr 13, 9:26pm
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...is that we pretty consistently did so-so for months, so the idea of winning pub trivia is more of an afterthought instead of something we really compete for.
I ended up trying out the new animated X-Men '97 show on Disney+ that my girlfriend's cousin was raving about. It's pretty fun - really does feel like a show that came out in the 90's! They're releasing episodes weekly and episode 6 (of 10) comes out next week, so I was able to catch up quickly in the last 24 hours. I've never been much of an X-Men person (or superheroes generally), but the older animated shows are ones I can mildly enjoy.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
(This post was edited by cats16 on Apr 13, 9:27pm)
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Kimi
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Apr 13, 11:11pm
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"No surprises" must have been very good to hear.
Best wishes for your daughter during her recovery, and for you as her caregiver and rock.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 15, 1:02am
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Continuing prayers and well-wishes for her recovery - and for both of you, as you help her mend!
*Hugs!*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Apr 15, 2:38am
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Thanks for passing along the good news!
“Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved.” - Tony Isabella
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