T to the G to the I to the F!

[bullygirl979]

Happy Friday! We made it!

What's going on today? Anything good planned for the weekend?

[doglove]

It's so cold today. We have normal work hours today, but no one has bothered to show up on time?? It's going to be so cold this weekend, my plan is absolutely nothing except walk dogs when necessary. I am still reeling from our holiday craziness and ready for two days of nothingness.

[chalupa]

So, so cold today. All of our offices were told to WFH today (but the NYC/NJ/Boston offices clearly got a whole lot more snow/ice/everything than us. We're just cold). As a result, the whole network/server is SLOW with everyone remoting in.

I just ordered up some photo Thank You cards so we can properly thank our wedding guests.

My "big plans" for the weekend include buying a new dishwasher (I'm down to just 5 open tabs of dishwashers on my laptop right now, LOL) and finding some sandals and swim suit cover ups for our cruise next month. I am so looking forward to 8 days of being warm!

[bullygirl979]

doglove, I am so, so with you. After 11 non-stop days of family stuff, I am ready to RELAX this weekend.

chalupa, where are you going on the cruise?

[bullygirl979]

It's effing cold here today! It's currently a balmy -1 degree with a "feels like" of -17. I am SO GLAD I work from home now, lol!

Nothing much planned for this weekend. I'd like to watch more Star Wars (I have to rewatch all the movies before seeing the new ones) and we are currently on #6. We also have plans to work on the bedroom as we are still trying to patch holes before we paint.

Ohh, I do want to go exchange one of my Xmas gifts, too. P got my Burnt but he bought dvd and I want Bluray. I freaking love that movie.

[doriswe]

Crossing my fingers I'll have heat and hot water today!! If so, my weekend plans are real crazy....laundry, dishes, showering (in my own shower!!) and cleaning up the floors that are trashed from all the people in and out of my house! As inconvenient this has been, I am really thankful it's not any worse than it is and that I have the ability to figure out the financial part in a way that doesn't bankrupt me. I'm pretty damn lucky!

[mags]

Another snow day for us. Part II of cleaning out closets and taking over Danilo's so I will have 2!!!!

These snow days are delaying my retirement god damn!~

[udscoobychick]

We made it to Friday! No one (except me) wandered into the office before 9 am here lol. But I'm leaving around 2. I'll be celebrating Xmas with my parents tonight. Tomorrow, going to BFF's DS's first birthday party and then going to a wine and chocolate festival with my mom! Sunday will be hanging out with family and watching football. Monday, I fly back just in time to teach in the evening.

I'm so jealous of your cruise, chalupa! I keep daydreaming about vacations someplace warm, but I don't think it's going to be in the budget this year.

[tiramisu]

So glad we made it!

My weekend should be fun and busy, but as of now I have nothing planned Sunday. Tonight and tomorrow both I'm going to see our local hockey team play. Tonight they're giving away free blankets and tomorrow is first responders night. I'm going with two other single friends to first responders night, just in case! LOL

[bullygirl979]

mags, yay for having you play with us today!!

doriswe, love you, lady! I hope all goes well!

udscoobychick, that sounds like a super fun weekend!

[chalupa]

Jan 5, 2018 9:49:36 GMT -5 bullygirl979 said:

doglove , I am so, so with you. After 11 non-stop days of family stuff, I am ready to RELAX this weekend.

chalupa , where are you going on the cruise?

San Juan and St Thomas (or what's left of them, I guess  ), Turks & Caicos, and Carnival's private island

[doglove]

That sounds lovely chalupa minus the devastated areas.

[chalupa]

Jan 5, 2018 10:57:40 GMT -5 doglove said:

That sounds lovely chalupa minus the devastated areas.

I have very mixed feelings about stopping in San Juan and St Thomas. One one hand, I know they want/need the revenue from tourists, but on the other hand, it feels really terrible to think about frolicking around on vacation while so many people are without power/roofs over their heads. They didn't update the excursions available - I was hoping there'd be some sort of voluntourism activity added. I can't fix their power lines, but I could help clear a hiking path or something. 

[kaneen]

Jan 5, 2018 11:02:24 GMT -5 chalupa said:

Jan 5, 2018 10:57:40 GMT -5 doglove said:

That sounds lovely chalupa minus the devastated areas.

I have very mixed feelings about stopping in San Juan and St Thomas. One one hand, I know they want/need the revenue from tourists, but on the other hand, it feels really terrible to think about frolicking around on vacation while so many people are without power/roofs over their heads. They didn't update the excursions available - I was hoping there'd be some sort of voluntourism activity added. I can't fix their power lines, but I could help clear a hiking path or something. 

I have friends who have a place in San Juan and as such have gotten very involved with volunteer activities there to help with recovery.  I can ask them for some places you could contact on your own while you are there if you want.  Also, just going there and spending money is very helpful.  The lost revenue from lack of tourism due to the devastation has been one of the worst parts of what has happened.  

[kaneen]

Tonight I'm going to happy hour for a friend's birthday. Tomorrow I'm going to take down and put away my Christmas decorations and then do a deep clean. Tomorrow night I'll probably watch the Falcons game with my neighbors. Sunday I'll go to our normal sports bar for football.

[bullygirl979]

Jan 5, 2018 11:02:24 GMT -5 chalupa said:

Jan 5, 2018 10:57:40 GMT -5 doglove said:

That sounds lovely chalupa minus the devastated areas.

I have very mixed feelings about stopping in San Juan and St Thomas. One one hand, I know they want/need the revenue from tourists, but on the other hand, it feels really terrible to think about frolicking around on vacation while so many people are without power/roofs over their heads. They didn't update the excursions available - I was hoping there'd be some sort of voluntourism activity added. I can't fix their power lines, but I could help clear a hiking path or something. 

I know what you mean, but just going is doing good by bringing money to the area. They can't rebuild without $. Plus, we know you; you aren't going to be insensitive about the entire experience.

[doglove]

I can imagine chalupa.

[gault]

Jealous of your cruise, chalupa! I bet there will be opportunities to help. they'll pop up. You're a good one.

This weekend we're going to see All the Money in the World - the one that replaced Kevin spacey with Christopher plummer. It's becoming our weekly habit, movie on the weekend. Otherwise, grocery shopping and organizing the apartment a bit.

[idahome]

I’m on day 2 of whatever this sickness is and I’m on day 2 of calling off work. Even though I called off again, I have been on 4 calls today. I’m just ready to go back to bed.

Weekend plans: maybe going out for lunch tomorrow and definitely running to Target. Would like to do some organizing, it really need to focus on catching up on my sleep so I can make it into the office next Monday. This cold will help with the sleep.

Stay warm, everyone.

[doglove]

Ugh I feel defensive over the dog adoption because of someone who seemed to be a good friend of mine told me it's TOO SOON and we shouldn't make this decision yet because it hasn't even been a week. There could be potential expensive medical issues that have not been discovered yet. All of this because her dog - who was a permanent foster in the rescue - has very expensive medical needs and she has since adopted her since she left the rescue and has continued to pay the vet bills. I get that she's trying to be helpful to protect me, but when in life are non-medical issues a guarantee? Even with people.

We could go to the pound tomorrow and adopt someone who has a host of them. All the bloodwork has been done on this dog that indicates she's healthy and now spayed. I imagine the rescue would not want to keep her in program much longer anyways to make room for more dogs that need homes. She's got some behavioral issues because of her past, but we can work on those with her.

This is not an impulse decision either, we wanted to find a pup who fit in our family, who would be able to be an exercise companion for me and someone who was affectionate.

[chalupa]

doglove Buddy wasn't exactly low in medical bills, and neither was your previous dog, either - I'd say you're fully prepared for how much a dog could potentially cost. Been there, done that, have the care credit card.

[doglove]

Jan 5, 2018 12:15:35 GMT -5 chalupa said:

doglove Buddy wasn't exactly low in medical bills, and neither was your previous dog, either - I'd say you're fully prepared for how much a dog could potentially cost. Been there, done that, have the care credit card.

I know that's the thing - a dog can be healthy for years and then boom - expensive surgeries or cancer. Could ingest something at any moment and need surgery - boom bills. And I do know with Sheba that medical stuff can be chronic and ongoing for the duration of their lives.  I'm just really having a hard time with her delivery of all this topped off with the, "If I was your dog coordinator, I'd never let you make that decision so quickly!" I've adopted dogs out - under her - in this program in a shorter time frame than we have had this dog so I don't get it. 

Somethings just need to be kept to yourself? 

[chalupa]

Jan 5, 2018 12:22:06 GMT -5 doglove said:

Jan 5, 2018 12:15:35 GMT -5 chalupa said:

doglove Buddy wasn't exactly low in medical bills, and neither was your previous dog, either - I'd say you're fully prepared for how much a dog could potentially cost. Been there, done that, have the care credit card.

I know that's the thing - a dog can be healthy for years and then boom - expensive surgeries or cancer. Could ingest something at any moment and need surgery - boom bills. And I do know with Sheba that medical stuff can be chronic and ongoing for the duration of their lives.  I'm just really having a hard time with her delivery of all this topped off with the, "If I was your dog coordinator, I'd never let you make that decision so quickly!" I've adopted dogs out - under her - in this program in a shorter time frame than we have had this dog so I don't get it. 

Somethings just need to be kept to yourself? 

Yep. I guess she means well, but damn it, you're already so knowledgable. It's not like you're making uninformed decisions. Besides, when you have foster pups you know aren't a good fit, I feel like you've been ready for them to be adopted out in well under a week. I rate your dog-assessment abilities as superior  SaveSave

[bullygirl979]

doglove, holy shit. I mean, it's nice she's looking out for you but that last comment is a bit over the top. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There is no timeline. There is no prescribed way it runs it's course. The important thing is you two decide it's the right call. And, to your point, I adopted my pup and she lived a year without any issues. All of a sudden, BAM! The IMHA diagnosis and $4k later....

I get your friend is trying to be helpful but she needs to MYOB.

[udscoobychick]

I'm sorry she's being shitty, doglove. I agree with chalupa that you've always seemed good at recognizing when a foster dog is or is not a good fit.

A good friend of mine posted some BS video on FB about how lemons are more potent than chemotherapy. It ticked me off, especially since she's a teacher, so I would expect her to 1) believe in science, and 2) know how to critically evaluate sources. She posted it asking "does anyone know if there's any truth to this?" so I replied pointing out all the reasons it was BS. She's supposed to give me a ride to the airport in an hour, so I hope I didn't offend her, but geez. I did end my diatribe with a recipe for lemon bars to try to soften it a bit.

[cuddlyevil]

It is so effing cold. I didn't want to get out of bed this morning.

This weekend I don't have a lot planned. I am on kitty duty for my friends, but they're down to three cats because they lost one of their kitties yesterday I am pretty sure that I am not going to do shit this weekend.

[doglove]

Thanks guys, that’s what another good friend told me too. I usually have the gut instinct or not and it feels strong with this one. If t didn’t, I wouldn’t just keep her just to have a dog because I know how important finding the right fit is when adopting one.

[tiramisu]

doglove that was shitty of her. When you know, you know and we all know that you're not making this decision lightly. I'll confess I knew as soon as I saw the photos of her and from the way you and A talked about her, before you'd even met her. Some things are meant to be.

udscoobychick I'm imagining you ending with "and here's a much better use for lemons: recipe" and that's pretty fantastic. I'm glad you called her out and I hope she doesn't give you shit on your ride to the airport.

[mags]

doglove you are keeping her? hehhe another foster failure!

chalupa enjoy the cruise, people getting back to the islands helps them a lot! go shopping and help the economy, bring school supplies they can always use those.

We booked a cruise too Ours is in Nov. 10 days from ny to....Aruba, St. Marteen, Antigua.
I also booked Cabo last night Staying at Esperanza for a week in Aug.
A GREAT way to start my retirement.

10 inches here total....the main roads are perfectly fine they shouldn't have cancelled

[kaneen]

doglove, people always have opinions but only you know what's really in your mind and heart. Like tiramisu, I suspected you'd keep her the moment you told me about her. Try to just ignore her.

mags, I am so jealous!