Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 19: Calmly through the day

[MissConductUS]

I've started a new one. Please join us and share the boring and mundane things happening in your world. It will be calming for all.

Here is the link to the prior thread:

Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 18: Calmly through the day

@nydj
Sorry, Duo is very strict with me and I am afraid he'll do something if I'm not on his side. I have already been reprimanded for being late.

But give it a try! The courses currently take you at least to A2, which gives you the basic vocabulary and grammar to start actively using the language.
What would you like to learn?

@Lemonsandlemonade

Meant to add is Black Friday as big in America as it’s portrayed to be by British media?

I just did my first ever Black Friday visit to a shopping mall. No crowds fighting or anything, but the mall was as packed as I've ever seen it.

DD and I did a quick trip into the Apple store, which wasn't too busy, then got out of the place as fast as possible.

On Duolingo I normally go to level 5 on each one before moving on to next section unless next one is especially tempting but that is just as I like order rather than any rule. The owl is happy as long as you do some every day, otherwise the owl will get cross.

DH took DD to get her own bank account, he may regret that later as we won't have control any more and DD spends money as soon as she gets it. But better she learns with us. Now she is still there will her friends and DH has gone an hour away to get his covid booster. We had a McDonalds for lunch as I got tempted by the adverts.

DH and I both have colds now but they are mild.

DD is back and I can hear here telling wabbit he cannot jump on Silkiecat and Silkiecat she needs to back away. She seems to have successfully negotiated.

There are six teen boys sat round my dining table. They are playing poker, drinking and have just started singing.

DH is off to collect pizza for them which may quieten them down slightly. They've been drinking since 5pm so hopefully not a late night, but it is lovely to see them actually having fun together after the past 18 months.

@Champagneforeveryone

There are six teen boys sat round my dining table. They are playing poker, drinking and have just started singing.

DH is off to collect pizza for them which may quieten them down slightly. They've been drinking since 5pm so hopefully not a late night, but it is lovely to see them actually having fun together after the past 18 months.

That sounds lovely. And makes me nostalgic for when DC still loved at home and had friends around the table playing poker and drinking and singing!

Assembled a sofa this morning. Went to bootcamp. Then for lunch with three old friends. DH off to choir soon and I will sit on new sofa by the fire with LunarCat and read. DS1 made me very happy by phoning to say the carol concert at his uni which he thought was sold out had four tickets left so he got two for us. He sings in the choir so I am looking forward to an excuse to drive over to his uni town and hear him sing and to feel festive.

It's that lovely lunar that I've come to work for a night shift, leaving DH in the lions den as it were

He had his Covid booster earlier so is planning to retire to bed with ChampagneCat. DDogs have abandoned him entirely, especially normally anxious DDog2 who is thrilled at having a posse of young men to make a fuss of her

I slept late after a marathon cooking and baking day (not forgetting eating), and a long washing up session with DS last night. I hate waking up the day after a holiday dinner to a kitchen with anything left to wash.

The brined turkey was a revelation. We will definitely brine all turkeys from now on.

I've already bought nearly all the Christmas gifts this year, so Black Friday isn't something I marked on my calendar. I just have one weird T-shirt to get for DD1, and a car jack for DS.

Black Friday used to be a far bigger thing in stores and malls before online shopping took off, and I suspect covid has changed people's shopping habits long term. There used to be scuffles and fisticuffs at my local Walmart on Black Friday, but not any more.

I suppose Black Friday Sales in the USA are like the UK a Boxing Day sales ( Boxing Day is on 26th of December) it has nothing to do with the sport boxing. People would get up at stupid o clock for the best bargains.

I haven't bought anything as yet, and being isolated not even the stars are up on our windows.

Currently trying to find out if DD can send a paket of homemade biscuits and bought chocolate to a friend in Sheffield without bancrupting him in custom's fees.

@Silkieschickens

On Duolingo I normally go to level 5 on each one before moving on to next section unless next one is especially tempting but that is just as I like order rather than any rule. The owl is happy as long as you do some every day, otherwise the owl will get cross.

DH took DD to get her own bank account, he may regret that later as we won't have control any more and DD spends money as soon as she gets it. But better she learns with us. Now she is still there will her friends and DH has gone an hour away to get his covid booster. We had a McDonalds for lunch as I got tempted by the adverts.

DH and I both have colds now but they are mild.

Thank you for the Duolingo feedback, @Silkieschickens.

I met a friend for a walk today, then we both came to ours for lunch followed by another walk then tea and cake and biscuits at ours again and then I drove her home. It was lovely and, I feel, sufficiently dull and uninteresting to mention here.

DC3 tested positive on lateral flow this morning. She and DC4 have been for PCR tests. (50% of DC’s class are off school!)
DC3 is one day behind her bestie, ‘they do even this together’ I said to her Mum. I suspect bestie knew before I did.

Oh no helena, hopefully DC are not too ill, but at least it should be out of the way by Christmas.

I've just spoken to DH, the boys are currently traipsing indoors and outdoors with DDog2 (who hates the cold) in close pursuit. They sounded happy in the background, DH sounds haggard

Glad you had a nice day Nydj

Glad you had a good Thanksgiving Math

Good you DS had friends round Champagne, last 18 months has been hard for them though my DD seems to have been trying to do 18 months socialising in 3 months since September as is out every day at weekends and every day in holidays but lovely she has friends.

Sorry you have more covid Helena

My lovely friend called from old area and will have DS over to see his old best friend on Sunday afternoon and we are also getting DS an x-box this weekend so they can communicate via that, well as much as teenage boys communicate. DD cooked him dinner again tonight, she seems very determined she is cooking for him now, which is lovely and they sit together for a while. Not much communication but think she is letting him know she is there for him and he seems very happy about that but sad otherwise. So hoping friend and an x box will start to turn that around.

DH had his vaccine this evening, said it was making him a bit tired, it was Moderna and he is sleeping now. I slept most of day in my peri-menopause weird sleep cycle but at least am sleeping at some point and must try the anti-histamines. I am now watching Below Deck 9.

The comment about 18 months socialising in 3 months did make me chuckle silkie, that is exactly how it seems. I'm exhausted even thinking about it

@Champagneforeveryone hope your DS and his friends had a good night.

@Silkieschickens good idea x box in my limited dealings with teenage boys consoles offer lots of interactions with friends. Hope it lifts his spirits a bit. It’s a lot to process for him ( and you all) I’m sure. I know I’ve said before but your DD sounds lovely.

@HelenaJustina hope your DC are ok.

Wind is howling here. DS has a real cough but only at night. Have first aid training in 5.5 hours time.

Brought the hanging baskets in and put them in the greenhouse. Swept a ton of leaves off the garden paving onto the flower beds. Hopefully they'll turn into leaf mould.

I picked some tomatoes this morning - they just keep coming (I was worried that they would have all blown away in the night). Had a booster jab yesterday so arm achey and feeling a bit lethargic/blue.

Ho hum - working on the work’s Christmas charity donation plan so that all good.

We've got quite a lot of snow this morning. DS's football match has been cancelled and I'm quite glad I don't have to go out in the cold! I'm planning a nice cosy day doing a bit of baking with the kids. I've also just taken my first dose of anxiety medication, fingers crossed the side effects aren't too bad

Happy Caturday, lovely people of the thread!

Yesterday was quite busy with shopping, furniture rearranging, and going to MIL's for dinner. She had not seen DD since last Christmas, so that was fun. We had a lasagna and salad takeaway.

It's been cold and blustery here too. There was snow in the forecast for tomorrow morning, but it's now been pushed off until Sunday night or later. DC go back to uni tomorrow. The only question is if they will go together, with DS dropping off DD on his way or if we will take DD back ourselves. It would add about an hour to the drive if DS takes her. For us to take her is about a five-hour round trip. Normally, it would be an easy choice but DS is going to hit a lot of traffic.

I did have one Black Friday bargain. The posh cat food our two demand prefer was 30% off. I have never seen it discounted before, so we ordered months worth and saved about $120.

Not really cold here (5°C) and dry.
I am still banned to my room and the cold bathroom (almost outside temperatures) I have my end of isolation PCR booked for the 30th.

I had to wriggle furniture around and now my WFH workplace is here in the bedroom next to a heater and the large table I used to work at is free for bookbinding, my sewing machine, board games etc. So win-win.

Went to bootcamp this morning then spent the afternoon priming all the woodwork in the bathroom, as I'm repainting it next week once the plasterer has finally returned to plaster the ceiling.

Currently having a tea break with Lunar cat acting as hot water bottle.

I’ve been for a run in the sleet, made the Advent wall display at church for the children’s advent journey. Made burgers for lunch and am waiting impatiently for my new vacuum to arrive! It’s a Shark and will replace a Dyson which must be at least 20 years old.

DC2 was PCR positive but surprisingly DC3 was negative. We’ll have to wait and see which way the dice fall tomorrow!

I've just realised that today is probably the last chance we'll probably get to clear all the leaves before they are buried under snow.

I'm sure I'll make the same decision I make every year... ignore it and do something else instead, then regret it in spring.

It started raining here - DH brought me chicken and lots and lots of carrots with chili sauce. I wonder if I have put on weight? or lost some? The scales are in the other bathroom.