what did you do today?

[TromboneAl]

Check out this clip of Julie and Julia from Conan:

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien - Conan & Andy On The Aisle (08/04/09) - Video - NBC.com

[freebird5825]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire No, I thought you were! The line inside was about 60 feet long and doubled back on the same 60 feet more than a half a dozen times...a mass of humanity, with people within inches of you or touching you in front, behind, and on both sides,...And then that wasn't enough space so the end of the line went out the door and into the parking lot where I spent the first 15 minutes in 90+ degree heat and direct sun. There was a guard whose sole job was to tell those outside when they could come inside. After you got through the line, there were about 400-500 chairs, about half filled, with people waiting for their numbers to be called. Such is life in the (once upon a time) big city... I am looking forward to moving to Springfield! While it isn't as remote as your location, I suspect that lines will be shorter.

Sounds like Disneyland with no fun ride waiting for you.
But then again, I just got off a cruise ship that was fully booked with over 3900 passengers and over 1200 crew.
I just had an inspiration for a thread, hopefully not a duplicate of past topics.
Look for "Country Mouse or City Mouse" as the title. See ya there!

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire No, I thought you were! The line inside was about 60 feet long and doubled back on the same 60 feet more than a half a dozen times. They had stands with straps connected to them, like at a bank (but much closer together), to keep you from cutting in. So for an hour you were in a mass of humanity, with people within inches of you or touching you in front, behind, and on both sides, the vast majority of whom did not speak English and/or had a cell phone glued to their ears at all times. Sort of like a giant subway in rush hour, I suppose. Not for the claustrophobic or the easily bored, and with all those bodies in close proximity the A/C just couldn't begin to keep up. And then that wasn't enough space so the end of the line went out the door and into the parking lot where I spent the first 15 minutes in 90+ degree heat and direct sun. There was a guard whose sole job was to tell those outside when they could come inside. After you got through the line, there were about 400-500 chairs, about half filled, with people waiting for their numbers to be called. Such is life in the (once upon a time) big city. I thought they did a great job getting all of us through that line so quickly - - obviously they knew what they were doing though it wasn't much fun. I am looking forward to moving to Springfield! While it isn't as remote as your location, I suspect that lines will be shorter.

Good God! You need to move to the Boonies!

[kalo93406]

I'm updating my spreadsheet on my IRA/ROTH.

Have been thinking of converting some of my IRA or even my 401k at some point to my ROTH. So many things to look at... which is a subject for another thread I'm sure. But one thing I did find over the past few days of sorting, shredding, trashing and organizing 28 or so years worth of financial/tax documents is that I probably didn't report to the IRS very accurately. I noted in my Fed Taxes that I didn't always send in a 8606 form the years that I did a non-deductible IRA contribution and It also doesn't look like I reported my prior years contributions always accurately when I did fill that form out. Looks like I've got a few more days of getting this all straightened out...

I think I will start separate threads on "What Papers to save for tax purposes" and another on my "IRA basis fiasco". Well it's not really a fiasco as I have essentially all the documents I need to straighten it out. Seems I made more errors on my taxes back when I was in my early 20s than I do now. Wish I knew how to be more organized back then.

I did play golf yesterday though..


Life is good.. R

[unclemick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire No, I thought you were! The line inside was about 60 feet long and doubled back on the same 60 feet more than a half a dozen times. They had stands with straps connected to them, like at a bank (but much closer together), to keep you from cutting in. So for an hour you were in a mass of humanity, with people within inches of you or touching you in front, behind, and on both sides, the vast majority of whom did not speak English and/or had a cell phone glued to their ears at all times. Sort of like a giant subway in rush hour, I suppose. Not for the claustrophobic or the easily bored, and with all those bodies in close proximity the A/C just couldn't begin to keep up. And then that wasn't enough space so the end of the line went out the door and into the parking lot where I spent the first 15 minutes in 90+ degree heat and direct sun. There was a guard whose sole job was to tell those outside when they could come inside. After you got through the line, there were about 400-500 chairs, about half filled, with people waiting for their numbers to be called. Such is life in the (once upon a time) big city. I thought they did a great job getting all of us through that line so quickly - - obviously they knew what they were doing though it wasn't much fun. I am looking forward to moving to Springfield! While it isn't as remote as your location, I suspect that lines will be shorter.

I used to get mine in Slidell and even there lines were sometime chewy - then they went to a 'take a number system.'

Here - 50 miles north of KC 15-20 in line and the locals say pssst - Savanah, MO at the right time has virtually no line.

Haven't tryed that - but I did go there (instead of south) for my fireworks this year.

heh heh heh - I see Madina's has a branch in Slidell now.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclemick I used to get mine in Slidell and even there lines were sometime chewy - then they went to a 'take a number system.' Here - 50 miles north of KC 15-20 in line and the locals say pssst - Savanah, MO at the right time has virtually no line. Haven't tryed that - but I did go there (instead of south) for my fireworks this year. heh heh heh - I see Madina's has a branch in Slidell now.

Yes, Mandina's has a branch in Slidell, another in Mandeville, and one in BR, now. Somehow since the storm, it's never been quite the same even on Canal. We used to go there every Saturday before the storm, but have only been there three or four times since.

I like the lack of lines you described!

[Nords]

Prepping for Hurricane Felicia:
Naval Maritime Forecast Center/Joint Typhoon Warning Center (NMFC/JTWC)
http://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc/warnings/ep0809.gif

Rarely had one this early in the season and almost never this far north. It's settled down quite a bit as it's hit the colder waters to the east of the Big Island. Yesterday it was a Cat 4 with a nasty-looking eye and over 130 knots but today it's "barely" above 100 knots. That's the remnants of Tropical Storm Enrique to Felicia's northeast.

If this trend continues then the fun should start Monday night for a few days of 3-6" of rain and perhaps winds of 50-60 knots. (This should ease the droughts on Maui & the Big Island.) We'll probably lose electricity for a couple days.

Red Cross alerted spouse yesterday that they might set up the shelter this weekend. (Elementary school a half-mile from our house.) She's a volunteer shelter operator but I don't think they'll actually be setting up cots on Monday.

It's been a couple years since one got this close, and everybody needs the practice. So yesterday we gassed up the cars, checked out the pantry, started making more ice, and vacuumed the palm nuts out of the gutters. Also checked on our tenants (they know the drill), a friend's house (she's on the Mainland) and the landlord of the house across the street (backyard missile hazards). Unless things turn really nasty at the last minute I don't think we'll have to resort to screwing plywood over the windows or filling water jugs. And of course we don't have to worry about the highways being clogged with evacuating cars...

I know our real estate can handle 75 knots but we've never really figured out the nasty forecast at which we'd stop talking about it, put the bunny in the closet under the steps with food & water, and then head for the shelter. Hope we never figure that out.

[ls99]

So I've been off kayakin at my favorite lake. One day I realized that my camera was in my pocket. Without any plastic bag to keep it from getting wet. It did not.

Took some random pictures:

Also had a visitor.

[freebird5825]

I had an unexpected unpleasant experience today.
I had the day pre-planned with a friend, as of yesterday. I was all showered and ready to go for some misc errands, lunch at a Greek restaurant, and then to a discount restaurant supply place.
My "friend" called me this AM, last minute and told me she had completely different plans, no apology, and maybe we could try again next week. HUH?
So I called dh2b, who said to pick up something quick and come and have lunch with him.
So Chopped Liver (me) had lunch with 2nd Fiddle (him).
Happy ending.

[citrine]

Landed an awesome opportunity for where I work and myself....to do chair massages for a local police department while they play golf at a country club on Monday! Yay....now if they were only in uniform
Got my own massage, went to a meeting, ordered a brooklyn pie for dinner, and plan on relaxing tonight

[Nords]

Shamelessly reposted from Ataloss on Raddr's board:
How Different Groups Spend Their Day - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com

"The American Time Use Survey": how different groups spend their day.

[Meadbh]

I spent the day in another city giving a workshop. I had a flight connection on the way home. The first flight was late and the last straw occured when a passenger failed to show and his/her suitcase had to be removed. We arrived at the stopover city four minutes before my second flight was due to take off. I was immediately whisked to the waiting plane, two gates away, and we left exactly on time. On arrival, my suitcase was one of the first to emerge on the carousel.

This was such a pleasant surprise that I went to thank the airline staff. I don't know how they did it, but I'm very pleased they did!

This is the airline: www.westjet.com

[TromboneAl]

Last night my group played a wonderful gig in this building (mouse over it to see what it really looks like). It was at a posh members-only club, and they really loved our singer. Unfortunately, I couldn't get pictures while we were playing; I took these while setting up.

[bbbamI]

I became rather nostalgic today, so I called a friend I have known for 26 years. I hadn't spoken to him in almost 12 years and it was great hearing his voice.

However, it seems his plans for early retirement have been put on hold. He found out a few months ago he has a 14 year old daughter.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI I became rather nostalgic today, so I called a friend I have known for 26 years. I hadn't spoken to him in almost 12 years and it was great hearing his voice. However, it seems his plans for early retirement have been put on hold. He found out a few months ago he has a 14 year old daughter.

I suggest DNA testing.

Ha

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha I suggest DNA testing. Ha

That was done...and he says she has his features. So there ya go....stuff happens.

[WhoDaresWins]

I am having a nice, quiet day today. Talked to my aunt, talked to my son, talked to a friend on vacation, went to the gym, went to B & N. Bought a book entitled "Becoming Jane Austen". The recent movie was based on it. Tomorrow I have tickets for a play in Pittsburgh "The History Boys". I saw the movie a year or so ago. The play has gotten great reviews. Will be hot tomorrow and (groan) they are doing lane closures on the parkway. These "road improvements" drag on for years.

[haha]

It is still early here, but later I will go to a Happy Hour with a son. So far I have taken some walks, gone to a favorite coffee house, called my brother to chat and done some health related web reading. I am making a list of lipid related studies to read at the Medical Library. I have found that it is useless to harmful to accept the paper summaries or abstracts, and doubly useless or harmful to accept the media coverage of health matters.

Ha

[freebird5825]

Just got off the phone with my best lady friend, who is dealing with her husband's colon cancer diagnosis and recent surgery (successful so far) and double job loss.
She had an interview last week that went extremely well. I helped coach her with some fresh ideas for that critical followup call to thank the interviewer and ask any more questions. Interviewer was the company Comptroller (not HR) and encouraged her to call him directly if they missed discussing anything the other day.
Her positive attitude and go-get-'em methods of dealing with this mess is so refreshing.
Once again I know why she is my best friend, no, make that adopted sister.

[CuppaJoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird5825 ... My "friend" called me this AM, last minute and told me she had completely different plans, no apology, and maybe we could try again next week. HUH? ....

You could win for losing this "friend"?

Let us know if there are any further chapters in this saga.