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Altaira
Superuser
Nov 22 2024, 5:17pm
Post #1 of 45
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Friday? Fiesta!!!
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Friday already, huh? Well, welcome then, to Fiesta Friday then!
I had a good week. A little work, a little play, did the errand thing. I'm coming out of it with a sense of accomplishment for once instead of moving all my to-do items to next week, lol.
I really enjoyed my client meetings this week. One of them was with a woman I've worked with going on 20 years across four different companies. Biotech is big in Colorado, and when one company gets acquired, many of its employees disburse to other local companies. She must like me and like what I do because she contacts me at each company she's moved to. So, meeting with her was a very natural, pleasant thing for both of us to do. 
We're going into our Thanksgiving week here in the U.S.. It's always the last Thursday in November which is falling later in the month this year than it often does. The result is there are fewer weeks leading up to Christmas. To make up for that, many retailers have already started their Black Friday sales, so fir me this weekend will include surfing to see if there are any good deals on things I've considered buying. That, and preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. B.G. and I will spend it with my brother and his family and we have various veggie, dessert, and wine duty. So, deciding on recipes and vintages will also be on the to-do list.
What have you been up to? Plans for the weekend? The buffet looks (and smells) particularly good today, and nice, hot, wintery drinks are the specialty at the Fiesta bar, so grab what appeals, and let us know what's been up with you!
*kicks juke box* a wintery song would be nice (or a springy one for our S. hemisphere friends)
Happy, fun weekend, everyone!!  
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dernwyn
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Nov 22 2024, 5:48pm
Post #2 of 45
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Some warm mulled cider would be very nice, please, Altaira!
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We're finally getting rain here, and fortunately the temps have been cool but not too cool - not too far west of us, they're getting their first snows.
It's hard to fully retire, when you have such a great client to work for!
I've got the turkey breast and all the fixin's for a nice dinner. Just the immediate family this year, a quiet day with a board game between the big meal and dessert. My daughters out in Chicago will be getting together, I've sent along their grandmother's recipe for cranberry chutney - it's one of those appetizers that we'd always nearly gorge on, before the main meal!
Just doing some cleaning and organizing this weekend. And preparing cardboard boxes for recycling - it's incredible how many I've collected over the years, but it's time to sort them between "usable for sending presents" and "why in the world did I keep this one with a tear", etc. I've been seeing those sales online - I may see what needs replacing, and take advantage of them.
I've also been preparing my notes for the community band's upcoming concerts. Here's one they'll be playing, for a start on the season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxW619hEwIg
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Nov 22 2024, 6:13pm
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On both the drink and the song.
I'm definitely in the holiday mood too. This weekend I'll get all our decorations out and plan to finally separate out things to donate *before* Christmas. The donation stores don't like to take them after the holidays.
Oh my. I can relate about the boxes. I can't resist keeping a perfectly fine, usable box in good condition either. Maybe I'll use one or two to put the Christmas decoration donations into.
Have a fabulous weekend, and week leading up to Thanksgiving!
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dernwyn
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Nov 22 2024, 6:59pm
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about taking a look at all the Christmas decorations, now, and donating any we haven't used for a long time but are still good!
And check what condition their boxes are in...
You have a great weekend, too! I understand you've gotten some snow! 
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Ataahua
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Nov 22 2024, 7:24pm
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I'm so ready for the holiday season to begin already. We're at that 'squeezed' time of the year at work, when we're trying to get projects done before Christmas and we're starting to operate on fumes after a long year. Just one more month!
One of the teams on our floor has put down a 'decorate your desks for Christmas' challenge, with the theme of Christmas carols. It's a fun idea - I just don't think anyone in our team has the energy for it.
I've been sore for the first half of this week because of some light gardening last weekend. I'm at *that* age, then. I'm thankful I've got an exercycle - it's a useful way to get the muscles working and gently sort them out. I really should use it more. BUT I did get this season's crops in: capsicum/bell peppers, beetroot, pumpkin, rock mellon (I'm determined to get fruit this time), lettuce and passionfruit. And there's some self-seeded potatoes and kumara/sweet potatoes coming through. Should be a good mix!
Happy 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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Altaira
Superuser
Nov 22 2024, 7:46pm
Post #6 of 45
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Aren't you ambitious! It all sounds wonderful, plus a nice mix of things that you can harvest early (like the lettuce) and later (like the pumpkin). Yum!
Oh yes, I can identify with 'that age.' I did a Costco run yesterday, and the sizes of things there mean lots of stuff is heavy - and I'm definitely feeling it today. The cycling sounds like just the thing for it. I usually work things out with our treadmill and exercise bands.
Bask in the garden accomplishments and beginning of the holiday season, and have a wonderful weekend!
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Altaira
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Nov 22 2024, 7:55pm
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At least not here. The mountains have been getting lots of snow which makes the ski areas very happy and makes the view from our house very nice!
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Nov 22 2024, 8:00pm
Post #8 of 45
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Happy Thanksgiving (for next week?) to those who celebrate it!
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This weekend, thanks to the imminent arrival of Storm Bert (who thinks up these names?!), two local community Christmas lights 'switch-on' events planned for tonight and tomorrow have been cancelled and our own, on Sunday, hangs in the balance. That'll be a lot of organisation - market stalls, mini-fairground etc - for nothing, which is sad, but safety has to come first. Hot chocolate all round for consolation, I think!
Members of my knitting group - well, a few hardy souls - were out yesterday putting up tree wraps and lamp-post collars around the village, until we lost all feeling in our fingers! It's been quite cold - first hard frost was that morning - but the weekend will be milder, thanks to Bert. That will save a bit on heating!
Normally I'd be at the photographic society meeting tonight, but they're doing a Zoom meeting. No thanks - that reminds me too much of lockdown!
Have a good weekend, folks - I can't bring myself to put any Christmas songs in the juke box just yet. Next week, maybe. Cheers!
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Altaira
Superuser
Nov 22 2024, 8:05pm
Post #9 of 45
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Sounds like good ole Bert (I think they're running out of names, lol) will have some good effects along with the bad. Fingers crossed that your Sunday events can go ahead!
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Meneldor
Doriath
Nov 22 2024, 8:06pm
Post #10 of 45
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They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Nov 22 2024, 8:18pm
Post #11 of 45
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Desk decorations for the work-weary?
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Just put up small banners reading "Shhhhhh", and tell them it's for Silent Night!
It's so easy to overlook how physical the planting can be. But good for you, in getting the crops in! And here's hoping the cantaloupe (rock mellon) produce.
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Nov 22 2024, 8:18pm
Post #12 of 45
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Nov 22 2024, 8:35pm
Post #13 of 45
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Storms have no consideration for human plans, do they! Hoping your area does not get hit so hard that it affects your event - folks will need it after having to deal with the mess. Is your area expected to have the rain and wind, but not the snow? (Hardy souls indeed to be working on those decorations in freezing temps!)
Thanksgiving comes late in the month here this year, making many of us feel like we should be already into the Christmas season. Some neighbors have already put up their lights!
Do stay inside for now, stay safe - sounds like a good evening for some hot soup to go with the hot chocolate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Nov 22 2024, 8:39pm
Post #14 of 45
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Something we can all relate to. Poor Gandalf.
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Nov 22 2024, 9:23pm
Post #15 of 45
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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
Doriath
Nov 22 2024, 10:12pm
Post #16 of 45
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but will be keeping a close eye on the weather - rain and wind. The outdoor parts of the event (some stalls and music) might be affected, but there are also stalls inside the community centre. Fingers crossed!
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Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Nov 22 2024, 10:15pm
Post #17 of 45
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Lots of rain and wind in store for us -
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snow expected at higher levels and further inland. I've noticed a few houses locally with festive outside lights up, and even a couple of Christmas trees in house windows. That's too early for me! Still, whatever makes you happy, I guess...
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Annael
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 12:18am
Post #19 of 45
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actually, it pretty much went around my valley - hit hard to the north and to the south, but somehow went easy on us. Many of my friends are still without power three days later. We had another, lesser storm come through today with some good wind & rain, but no power outages here.
I got in a mood and culled quite a few of my academic books, which I sold at the local used book store for a happy little sum. Got rid of enough that I could also take my small bookcase to Goodwill, along with a box of this&that. I seem to keep downsizing! All this necessitated rearranging furniture, so overall I got in a pretty good workout. I've been making it to the gym nearly every day, but I made that my excuse to skip one day.
Went to see "Red One" with friends yesterday. Very enjoyable. Glad we saw it on the big screen.
Nothing on for the weekend. I may practice my Japanese pumpkin cheesecake again; the first attempt was okay but not great. I think I've identified the problems: too big a pan, and next time I'll use the handheld blender not the stand mixer to whip the meringue.
An Angel Mist will hit the spot!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Annael
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 12:19am
Post #20 of 45
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good one.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Annael
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 12:21am
Post #21 of 45
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I think you meant "disperse," but given your field of expertise, perhaps that was a pun? 
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 1:34am
Post #22 of 45
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We never know what's going on for Thanksgiving as I've always left the holidays for my kids to plan with inlaws. Even now with the "kids" all grown up, I prefer to get together NOT on the actual holiday. Then we could always relax and not worry about misunderstandings. PLUS... I rather enjoy a quiet day when I know everyone is busy ;)
I still plan a whole Thanksgiving meal including taters, dressing, those green beans with mushroom soup and crunchy onion rings. Gotta have pumpkin pie! That way if people do change their plans at the last minute, dinner is at 2 :D
Have a great weekend, everyone! And thanks for taking such great care of us, Altaira! How very cool that you had such a great meeting with a long-time friend/client :D
We have been there and back again.
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 2:18am
Post #23 of 45
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I think part of the urge to get things sorted out and under control is to offset the anticipation of the holidays ;) At least that's what happens around here. It was cold here in Michigan today with high winds from the west, so I spontaneously chose late in the afternoon to rake the front yard of the leave and twigs covering everything. The nice thing about living in the country is that I just scooched all the piles across the dirt road and flung them in huge bunches with the rake as high as I could and the wind did the rest ;) No bags of leaves around here!
I'll bet it felt good to finally get through those boxes. Do you take them to recycling, or is there a regular pickup out front?
I'm glad you missed the snow! I saw on the news the massive dump a lot of the northeast caught. We had a light snow on Thursday morning, but it was melted by mid-day.
Your community concert is going to be awesome :D The picking and choosing what music to include has got to be so much fun!!! :D
Have a great weekend!
We have been there and back again.
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 2:31am
Post #24 of 45
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They do take a bit of planning and time, though, when you're already hard put to it. Throw some red fabric over your chair and put a Charlie Brown Tree on your desk and call it good ;)
You're doing great on the exercising if you've got all that gardening done already. And the exercycle is definitely the right direction without doing more injury.
I hope you have a great weekend and take some time time to just chill :D
We have been there and back again.
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 23 2024, 3:30am
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Good on you and your compatriots for getting so much done on decorating the area for Christmas. Absolutely hot chocolate all around for all of YOU! I hope that the storm passes very soon.
I don't blame you for not doing your photographic society meeting on zoom. It really is hard right now to get in the spirit of the season when so much of it is hampered with weather. Hang in there!
We have been there and back again.
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