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Altaira
Superuser
Jun 6 2025, 4:13pm
Post #1 of 55
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Friday and Fiesta! Come on in!
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Welcome to another Fiesta celebration, everyone!
B.G. and I have been chanting: "rain, rain, come and stay," all week, and darned if it hasn't cooperated, even here in dry Colorado. We've even had nice, cool weather.
We had someone come by about 2 weeks ago to turn on our lawn sprinkling system, and it turns out one of our underground pipes is leaking, so we can't run the sprinklers. They're so busy this time of year that they can't get back to us until June 18 to fix it. So, it just needs to rain once every few days for 12 more days. We do have a small sprinkler we can attach to the garden hose, so it won't be the end of the world if the weather dries up, but it *is* nice not to have to. So, if you're having any rain, send it our way!
What's going on in your part of the planet? The buffet is piled high with summery treats, and dare I say ice cream and fruity ice pops for dessert. I can already hear the blenders whirring at the bar, so order up, and tell us how you're doing!
*kicks juke box* "Here Comes the Rain Again" by Annie Lennox starts to play. Any other rainy day tunes? Play us one, and have a wonderful weekend!   
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dernwyn
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Jun 6 2025, 4:30pm
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Ice pops? I'll gladly take one!
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These past two days have been terrible here, with temps reaching into the 80's, and high humidity! I've been trying to get some more mulch spread around - we had a hickory cut down last Fall, and they shredded it into a big pile for us, so I've been gradually getting that put around the plantings. But even in the early morning hours I could only work for a half-hour before the sweat was getting into my eyes, and that signals my time to stop and get inside and hydrate.
We have showers predicted for tomorrow evening - crossing fingers! - but not sooner, which is good, as we're going on a guided historical walking tour of the nearby city in the morning.
What a pain about the sprinkler system, do they have any idea whereabouts the leak is occurring?
Love that Annie Lennox tune! Here's one from another lovely voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjFoQxjgbrs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Jun 6 2025, 4:50pm
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At least it's nice and fresh outside in the morning, with the morning sunlight coming through the trees.. ahhhh. Until you can't see the sunlight because of the sweat in your eyes, lol.
That walking tour sounds like fun! Is there a lot of interesting history there, or is it to see gardens or nice houses?
Our leak is right where the pipe goes into the ground from the above-ground water pipe, so it should be a fast and easy fix (hopefully).
Have a great weekend, and enjoy the tour!
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dernwyn
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Jun 6 2025, 5:28pm
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by a friend from the Historical Committee, and a woman who's recently published a book about the Conn. State Heroine, Prudence Crandall. We'll be visiting places - some still there, some long gone - where some of her students, and others involved in her legacy and in local Black history lived or had events. Ending at the New London Customs House, where the Amistad had been kept.
For a little city, New London has quite the history. Just don't praise Benedict Arnold...who burned the city to the ground after he turned traitor.
I hope the repair is made sooner rather than later!
Here's hoping for decent rains to come your way!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Jun 6 2025, 6:47pm
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In my Ancestry searches I've unearthed a lot of the history of my uncle in WWII and my grandfather in WWI. Thanks to B.G.'s help with some of the military jargon, I've traced where they were, who they reported to, etc.
My uncle was a paratrooper that trained and flew in those horrific WWII gliders. He parachuted into France after D-Day, but while there was still active fighting going on. A French farmer saved his live by hiding him from the Germans until he could hook up with the rest of his crew. It gives me shivers what ordinary people did voluntarily.
I also learned that my grandfather signed up to fight in WWII. Of course, he was too old by then, but he was ready to go back and help.
*raises a glass* to all veterans and those who serve and help protect us today.
(This post was edited by Altaira on Jun 6 2025, 6:48pm)
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cats16
Gondolin
Jun 6 2025, 7:22pm
Post #7 of 55
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Perhaps we could share a drop of rain!
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There were some flash thunderstorms down here earlier in the week: enough to make the seats at Dodger Stadium a little wet when we arrived for the game that night.  It was a great game, and we won in extra innings, so even a little drizzle couldn't ruin things.
Fingers crossed your sprinklers get the quick and easy fix it sounds like they need!
I'll gladly have some ice cream to help me get to the end of the work day. Work hasn't been driving me completely nuts this week, but that's always subject to change, lol.
We don't have many plans this weekend, as a young cousin of mine is coming to visit for a long weekend next week. So what I *should* say is: our plans this weekend are to clean our place so it's livable when she arrives.  She's never been here, so we'll try to do all of the LA "must do's" assuming the weather cooperates. Other than the Walk of Fame (you really don't need to do it, just drive by if anything), I enjoy going to those places because I only go when someone is visiting, so it's rare enough that I can find it fun rather than repetitive.
Wishing everyone a happy summery weekend!
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 Jun 6 2025, 7:23pm)
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Kimi
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Jun 6 2025, 8:52pm
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You may remember that a few weeks ago I mentioned that on a routine visit to the optometrist she found something of concern. I didn't go into detail then, but what she'd found was a hole in the retina and something less identifiable wrong with the optic nerve. She referred me to an ophthalmologist, I got an appointment, and proceeded to spend the ensuing period imagining the worst.
Well, this week I saw the lovely ophthalmologist, who has a sub-specialty in retinas, and is probably one of the most knowledgeable people in the country on the subject. After a barrage of tests, he said that although surgery to repair the hole is possible, the hole seems stable and isn't causing any issues with my sight, and there's only a very small chance (1%) of it getting worse, so if I'm happy with leaving it alone (which I very much am), he thinks that's the best thing to do. And the optic nerve issue isn't a problem at all.
So my sight isn't in danger, and I don't need surgery! I came out practically skipping! And unable to see properly for the next couple of hours, thanks to the drops in my eyes, but that was a very, very small price to pay for such relief. Mr Kimi had taken me, as I couldn't have driven afterwards, and we celebrated with a garden centre cafe lunch.
As for rain: I wish I could share some of ours! We've barely seen the sun all week. I'm hoping it'll be fine enough to plant out garlic bulbs, and possibly spread some of the pea straw that's due to arrive this morning, but it'll mostly be an indoor weekend, I think. Mr Kimi has a cake on the go, and I'm planning to make a mid-winter Christmas cake. I also just got around to getting the three-part Doctor Who specials of a couple of years back, so am looking forward to rewatching those.
Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.
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
(This post was edited by Kimi on Jun 6 2025, 8:54pm)
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Ataahua
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Jun 6 2025, 9:13pm
Post #9 of 55
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I'll see your nice, cool weather
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and raise you with f-f-flipping cold (I'm wearing fingerless gloves while typing). We've had a southerly front come up the islands that's brought the first proper snowfall of the year - I caught a peek of our mountain past dusk yesterday and the snow was already low and heavy, and it's still snowing up there. Hopefully the skies will clear sometime this weekend for the classic 'white mountain/blue skies' shot.
On Monday we launched a public consultation that I've been working on for the last six weeks (it was a short lead-in for what we wanted to deliver) so I've been busy this week updating Q&As based on the questions we've received so far, managing social media responses (urgh) and organising advertising for public open days - busy busy busy. We *were* going to have a chatbot on our feedback page but it was discovered that it kept 'breaking out of its paddock' and pulling in random information that had nothing to do with the consultation topic, and no amount of reining it in worked, so that was nixed just yesterday.
Speaking of AI, staff are being encouraged to use CoPilot to improve their work efficiency and quality. But this week, one of my colleagues drafted a document and sent it off to an engineering manager to review it and come back with corrections/comments ... only to find that the manager put the entire thing into CoPilot and sent the rewritten version back to him. Just, the gall of the guy.
He apologised later, but imagine if he were showing us a technical design and we advised him to run it through CoPilot to see if the AI came up with a better version.
Perhaps AI training needs to also come with modules on tact and thoughtfulness.
Anyway, the lesson from this week is that AI isn't the be-all and end-all, and trust your own skills to deliver what you need.
Cheers, 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
Jun 6 2025, 9:17pm
Post #10 of 55
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Sounds like a great baseball game. Extra innings are always exciting, especially when your team wins.
It's always fun to be a tourist in your home town, especially watching someone seeing those things for the first time. What are your favorites?
I always get geeky pleasure of standing on the steps in front of the state capital building in downtown Denver where you can stand exactly one mile above sea level (see below) - thus, Denver's nickname as the Mile High City. The words were carved in 1909 and apparently someone remeasured in 1970 and decided it was actually a few steps higher, so they added the gold medallion which essentially says the same thing. In any case, when one considers the size of the earth, 18 or so inches is a minute rounding error.
Enjoy the weekend cleaning!
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dernwyn
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Jun 6 2025, 9:21pm
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What an event your uncle lived through - brave paratrooper, and brave farmer!
Does anyone in your family have mementoes from his days in service?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Jun 6 2025, 9:22pm
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I wouldn't have been surprised to hear that you floated back to your car, lol. It's great that such a scary sounding thing isn't going to be a problem after all.
Cake and Dr. Who sounds like a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. Enjoy!!
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Altaira
Superuser
Jun 6 2025, 9:28pm
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Be careful what you wish for - wasn't it just last week or the week before you were lamenting that the snow on top of the mountain probably wouldn't stick?
That's too funny about your work colleague's method for reviewing a document. Well, funny in an ironic way. I can see using AI to do a first draft of something. But then that should be reviewed the old fashioned way both by the 'author' and the reviewer. *shakes head*. Some people are just lazy.
Have a great weekend, and try to keep warm!
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dernwyn
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Jun 6 2025, 9:32pm
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Getting your place spic-and-span for someone who's never been there before!
Has she asked about going to Disneyland or other famous places?
Glad you're getting to see some excellent games! Wish the Red Sox would stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory...
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Jun 6 2025, 9:37pm
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And now they know, when it shows up in future exams, that it's not a worrying thing!
What is a mid-winter Christmas cake? Is it like a Christmastime Christmas cake? And...mmm...now what kind of cake is dear Mr Kimi making?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Jun 6 2025, 9:42pm
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Maybe not for the accompanying cold, but a proper snowfall is nice!
AI has its uses - unfortunately too many folks are over-using it. Oh yes, training in proper use would be a nice recommendation. Nothing can replace a human's thoughts and intuition!
Stay warm!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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cats16
Gondolin
Jun 6 2025, 10:47pm
Post #19 of 55
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That's really wonderful, I hope you get to celebrate even more this weekend. And I suppose now you have a great ophthalmologist you're comfortable going back to, should you (hopefully not anytime soon) need one!
Have a great weekend.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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cats16
Gondolin
Jun 6 2025, 10:55pm
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I think Griffith Observatory and the Getty Museum are both wonderful, especially if one has the time to do a hike up to the former (rather than driving to the top). Those are places that are on everyone's lists, but justifiably so. Dodger Stadium too.
Others I would say are more so LA neighborhoods - Koreatown (the closest thing we have to East Coast density) Downtown, the San Gabriel Valley, the beach (can't leave that out!). I'm going to take some time this weekend to think about what a teenager might want to do here - my cousin has already said "let's do everything!" so while that doesn't really help me, I suppose I can't go wrong with whatever we do!
Oh that's fun about the one mile marker (and the slight revision)! I've only been to the Denver airport, but would love to visit someday.
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 Jun 6 2025, 10:55pm)
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cats16
Gondolin
Jun 6 2025, 10:59pm
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Luckily for us she has teenage brothers, so I suspect our place will be a *lovely* break from them and their messes, no matter what condition our place is in.
No mention of Disneyland! We considered it, but given we were just there and the cost these days, felt it would be better to punt that for a time she's out here with her whole family. I'm still checking on prices for a Dodgers game as an alternative, though. I mentioned above to Altaira, but I think we'll try some of the "greatest hits" like Griffith Observatory and the Getty Museum as well as letting her see different neighborhoods.
Thanks! I did see the Red Sox have been struggling - hopefully they can have some luck against the Yankees this weekend for a pick-me-up!
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 Jun 6 2025, 10:59pm)
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Annael
Elvenhome
Jun 7 2025, 5:11am
Post #22 of 55
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What a relief.
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
Jun 7 2025, 5:19am
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it rained last week, but we're looking at the start of the dry, and the fire forecast for the West is pretty dire for this summer. There's a chance of rain next week, hope it materializes!
I'm in between trips, relaxing a bit but beginning to prepare for my trip to Maine. Hoping we miss the blackfly season, but packing bug spray anyway. I've got one editing job to finish up - poor guy sent it to me before I went to Oregon, I found it to be quite rough and incomplete but did my best with it, sent it back - and yesterday he emails and says "I sent you the wrong version! That was an old version!" He's now sent me the right one, So I get paid twice for the same job . . .
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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dernwyn
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Jun 7 2025, 12:41pm
Post #24 of 55
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For that guy - no wonder the first draft he sent was so off. Hopefully his second draft was easier and more complete.
How's the snowpack on the mountains? It's strange to think of your area having a "dry" season, one tends to imagine the PNW as being constantly wet. I don't like that fire forecast...
Your trek out East isn't too far in the future, that will be so much fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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