Tag Archives: what I learned this week

Dec16

What I learned this week Dec 10 – 16

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I think we all learned what I learned on Tuesday. Never again.

I’ve also learned it didn’t work. But, thanks to Sled, I may have learned what is really wrong with me. This will take time, and I hope my physio will be able for it as so far, my experiments are fruitless. I know SFA about my musculature.

I learned that there isn’t a good version of C.W. McCall’s ‘Wolf Creek Pass’ on YouTube. Sometimes you hear something that sticks with you for life, and becomes “something I say all the time.” This song has one phrase I love and have used here on the blog, so I was trying to find it for a comment elsewhere. There’s tons of vid of the actual road. But there’s nothing that comes close to the droll, sarcastic redneck trucker perfection of McCall’s original. I would do such a better job than what I found online. Wonder if hubby could play the tune? Maybe there’s a future for me in cover versions of old comedy country songs. What a fun idea! I can do redneck and sarcastic with the best of ’em. And my singing voice, to me, is annoyingly nasal – so maybe country singing is my only hope.

I already knew that despite disliking country music as a rule, I have a soft spot for trucker songs. I blame my dad for having an 8-track tape of Trucker Music in our beautiful customised Ford Econoline van (how I loved that beast). However, I have just learned that I cannot find what that tape was anymore. I was going to post a picture. Wonder if dad still has it? Probably not, it’s been well over 20 years since we’ve had anything to play an 8-track on. And the tapes themselves went bad pretty fast, playing two or more tracks at the same time. Records are soooo much better, if impossible to play in a van. Yes, I still prefer vinyl above CD and most digital. The high end on CD hurts my ears, and I can’t afford a good sound system to let digital do all that it can do.

I’ve also just learned that despite talking about 8-tracks (and earlier today, rotary phones), I don’t feel old due to the changes in technology since those things were common. I’m totally confident that people who are kids today will look at iPads, CD’s and smart phones the same way when they hit their 40’s. Actually I think CD’s are already on the way out. I’m happy to be young enough to work the new tech without getting too irritated, and old enough to really appreciate how fantastic it is.

I think I’m done for the week. I’m not funny this time, if I ever am. I’m tired and hurting a bit, and worn out from getting packages ready to post to the states. At least we could do that much this year! Even if I really get cranky with all the tape and paper and tape and scissors and tape…

Dec9

What I learned this week Dec 3 – 9

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Well, I just learned that I thought it was still November, when I was putting in the dates up there. Sheesh.

You already know, but it bears repeating: I learned that hubby can’t put the lights on a Christmas tree. Awww.

I learned that Bear, who hasn’t ever met iDJ, is still willing to make fun of him. I love that! Those two will get along so well when they finally meet.

I learned that when I told hubby the top of the tree looked bare, he was willing to try to fix it. He took a stance quite similar to Bear’s while doing so:

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His arse isn’t really that big. Those are my sweats he’s wearing; I stretched them out. His hair is that poofy, though, when it needs a wash! Yes, it’s a crappy iPad photo and hard to see. The brownish oval thingie behind his back (the brownish oval thingie that is bigger than the arse I was worried you would think is fat) is actually the rest of his hair. Floofy in human form!

I learned I have to wait until February for more Walking Dead. And, I like the show so much better now that a certain person is no longer part of the cast. I don’t ‘do’ spoilers, no fair asking who annoyed me so much! Guesses are accepted.

I learned that we have all of season three of The Killing (Danish version), so now I know that my TV for the holiday season is sorted, even without zombies. Wonder if Sarah Lund gets a new jumper this season?

I learned that I’m more likely to draw something if someone asks me to. Ask away! I need inspiration, it seems.

I learned that I’m getting a shit-ton of spam lately, mostly on my face-chewing and Poulnabrone posts. Wtf? Why those? And why is all the spam about knock-off handbags? When did I ever mention handbags, except to say I don’t use one? Must be a holiday thing. I expect you are all getting the same spam sandwiches, too.

I learned that someone in the UK has been reading a lot of my past nonsense. Thank you! But please say hello now and again? I’m rather sad that my older posts get no lurve anymore (not that I have the time to read back on anyone’s blog, either).

I learned my town finally stopped using full-sized incandescent light bulbs on the town tree! The bratty hellspawn locally would break the ones they could reach, and the cost to keep them lit? Ouch on tender dog-feet and ouch to the city’s electric bill. But unless the little brats bring pliers with them, the new LED’s should be safe.

We learned that we were the only two people wearing holiday hats at the tree-lighting ceremony. Except for Bella the greyhound with her antlers, we were the only ones dressed for the occasion.

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Ok so this wasn’t taken at the lighting ceremony, this is Bella being a grey at home on the couch. Tonight it was too dark, even next to the LED tree, for my phone. iDJ’s fancy new(er) one that has a flash decided it had no battery left (a dirty, stinking iPhone lie, we found out, after we got home). Bella looked much more festive tonight in her new jacket and holiday-themed collar.

I learned, on Friday, that I get another chance at having a needle stuck into my spine this Tuesday. Hopefully they will have a spot for me this time. I was looking forward to sharing this pretty scary experience with you last week, and it depressed me when it fell through.

Finally, I learned that Spottie still is obsessed with strings. Its probably been two years since we let him play with a cotton cord, because he goes, well, a bit OCD. Today I brought something out of the box room (a kitty no-go zone) and it had strings. (I can’t say what, it involved making something for gifts). Spot went nuts when he saw the first string, and started chirping in the way that I know means ‘MAKE IT MOOOOVE!’ It’s probably my fault as I know exactly what every tone of meow means, and I shouldn’t translate for iDJ as he’s a big sucker. I kept up with my work, but hubby chose to be trained by the cat. Over and over, for at least an hour. Many hours later, the strings are on the floor and Spot is obsessively sitting near them, staring, and asking me, iDJ, and even the dog to MAKE IT MOVE.

Back in the box room for another few years, I think.

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Dec2

What I learned this week Nov 19-Dec 2

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Oh, dear. The first thing I learned was right after my last post. I learned that my husband doesn’t know how to wash a really, really, sharp knife.

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He’s lucky that at the bottom of that deep cut there’s the green scratchy bit that didn’t slice so easily. Or I would have been learning, again, about Ireland’s A&E waiting room. I also learned he never even knew he did this.

I learned that when I squeeze the old water and suds out of a bifurcated sponge, it squirts all over me, and the floor, and it is best to just retire it and get a new one. I’m thrifty, and will use it for something disgusting before I throw it out; but I’m not so thrifty I will put up with a squirting clown-flower for a dish sponge.

I just learned there was a bad car crash locally, and I might be going to another funeral soon. We were out driving about the same time, the fog was pretty bad. Hope I’m wrong about the funeral.

Speaking of cars and driving, I learned that black ice is quite possible in Ireland. And I learned my car is a deathtrap. It’s only my years of driving in Ohio snow that kept me on the road, albeit not in the direction I wanted the car to go. Warmer weather this week, new tires next weekend I hope.

I learned…no. I knew, but just confirmed, that I will never spell tire ‘tyre’ on my blog. I might have to do it at work but NO, not here. I also will not pronounce the letter Z, when spelling something out loud, as ‘zed.’ It’s a Zee, and that is that. I also will always say vy-tah-min and not vit-ah-min. I just cannot do it.

I learned that my Irish and English coworkers still know what I mean when I say zee and don’t even raise an eyebrow. Heh.

I learned that the socks that tried to kill me are about the warmest damn socks ever, and I love them.

I learned that after all the years I’ve done it, I still expect my animals to be freaked out when we bring in the Christmas tree. I’m either really good at having/training indoor pets, or I somehow picked ones that are entirely laid-back and mellow. We brought in a tree seven feet tall, nearly five foot wide at the base, stinking of tree and all the places a tree could possibly have been and of all the animals that could have possibly peed on it, or lived in it, not to mention the parking lot and van we shoved it into. And they ignored it entirely. All of them. Even the cat that never sees or smells a tree until we drag one into the house once a year. Not learned much here about them, just about me wondering why they are such good ‘kids.’

Nov25

What I learned this week Nov 18-24

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I don’t feel very edumacated this week. I’ll have to think hard for this one!

I (we) learned to get a second opinion when asking the Internet what temperature to cook a turkey. Dinner was meant to be on the table about 9:30 – it wasn’t done until 11:30. We were tired and cranky as hell by then. It was still really, really tasty, and we didn’t need to stuff ourselves into a coma when it was already soooo late.

I learned that my barley stuffing is friggin’ awesome. It would make a good side dish anytime. I’ll share if you like (it’s nearly vegetarian, only the chicken bouillon would need to be swapped out).

I learned that really old pumpkin purée, if not frozen because you can’t be bothered, turns sort of white and smells of bleach. But if you scrape off the white part on top, it’s lovely orange underneath and makes a good pie, even if you’re a little afraid to eat it at first.

I’ve learned that it is possible that my husband knows where a rarely-used kitchen implement might be located.

I learned that my husband was willing to try to make whipped cream by hand, when I didn’t find the whippy-attachment for the food processor where he said he thought it was.

I learned that he trusted me when I said I’d looked there, already.

I learned that I am still capable of being an asshole. Well, that shouldn’t have been surprise.

I learned we can get American Football over the net. Live from CBS. Go Browns!

I learned that nearly 8 years away from live American TV let me forget you guys are forced to watch commercials every damn 8 minutes. I am soooo sorrrryy.

I learned that American commercials are as stupid as they were 8 years ago.

I learned that the US pronunciation of ‘mobile’ as in ‘mobile phone’ now sounds totally silly to me. MO-bīle. Not moble. I’d shudder less if you said it like the city of Mobile, AL (That’s Mo-BEEL, for anyone not from the South).

I learned that I hate taking a shower as much as I hate having to go to work. At least the experience is shorter.

I learned how to upload to YouTube and post wherever I want! Just wait until I feel like uploading vids from ‘the real camera.’

I’ve learned it is possible to put away Halloween and bring down Christmas before December starts! Even when I don’t feel like Christmas at all! I’m not unpacking it yet, of course. I need a tree first. Next weekend?

I’ve learned that I still haven’t learned that when I know Lokii is going to steal and eat something, I need to remove it from his reach. I feel even worse about this after reading that a friend’s cat is in the hospital for eating a plastic bag. Lokii ate some plastic foam from a Halloween decoration and the fuzz balls off the socks that tried to kill me are missing. I knew better and I still didn’t move these things. And then I “gave out” (another Irish expression for you) to iDJ for not taking the tasty blanket off the bed every morning.

I learned, again, that I am still capable of being an asshole…

Nov18

What I learned this week Nov 11-17

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I learned that the chicken processing factory that I drive by twice a day smells worse, now that it is cold, than it ever did on the hottest days this summer. Gag.

I learned that the dog’s nails are way too long. But I have yet to do anything about that.

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I learned that I really, really need to check between my toes before getting in the bathtub, especially when it’s cold and I’ve been wearing socks constantly. I haven’t learned just what socks I might own that are full of magenta fluff, but it wasn’t easy picking it all out of the water.

I learned it was past time to bring in the big rain umbrella for the winter. It didn’t go flying over to the neighbours, but it might have smashed up one of my blueberry bushes. It’s too nasty out there for me to tell how much damage, if any, was done.

I’ve learned that I don’t care for the Lemony Snicket books. Bummer. Yes, I know they are for kids, but I wouldn’t have liked them as a child, either. I don’t like the style and I don’t like the author constantly interrupting the story to define ‘big words.’ And if you are going to have children invent things, maybe have them invent things that might actually work? Heating up fire tongs to white hot in an oven that won’t close all the way, then carrying the tongs in one oven-gloved hand while climbing down a rope for two hours to use it to melt steel bars? Ugh.

I’ve learned that I’m so lazy, I poured beer on the cat to shut him up. And it worked. I wouldn’t get up to fetch some water to dump on him instead (he’s on to that trick, anyhow). And I might be about to do it again if he doesn’t shut the hell up.

I learned that burning inedible bits of an orange in the fireplace does not make the room smell nice.

I learned that eating an orange while using an iPad is a messy mistake.

I learned that somehow, after blogging over a year, I wasn’t signing up for email updates on all the other blogs I follow. Durr. Sorry, I really wasn’t being an ass, I was being…an arse.

I learned that the toenails on my left foot grow faster than the ones on my right. This came about because I also learned I’m too lazy to take off the polish from the summer. I trimmed my nails and noticed that there’s more still left on my right foot.

I learned that I can hang two shirts in the hot press to dry faster. Sweet! (The hot press is Irish term for the little closet that has the house’s hot water tank in it. And usually all of the linens and towels. That’s your Irish lesson for the day: now I’ve taught something, too!)

I’ve learned that hubby will wash the halogen oven, as long as I wash the metal grate that the food sits on. Win-win for both of us! I hate cleaning the bowl and he hates cleaning the grate.

Nov11

What I learned this week Nov 4-10

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I’ve just now, just this instant, come up with an idea for a new weekly post. And now you get to see if it is worth a shit or not! Introducing:

What I Learned This Week.

I learned via the blog that I’m not as weird as I thought I was. Or, I learned that I know and like a lot of weird people. I’m guessing it’s a bit of both.

I learned that raw pumpkin in its natural state rots fast – but if it is cooked it a bit to get the skin off, you’ve got another week before you have to freeze it.

I learned my mother-in-law has room in her freezer for a ton of pumpkin.

I learned that eating too many roasted pumpkin seeds gives me a tummy-ache and a sore tongue from the shells and salt.

I learned that if you goose Lokii when he is all hunched up, low to the ground, ears flat, butt-a-wigglin’, ready to attack something (be it a toy, a ball of paper, his brother, or something only he can see), he will forget that he was about to attack. I totally expected that when he was so focused he would jump a mile.

I learned to be super-careful wearing the new socks with built-in soles that hubby bought me. I didn’t smash my face when tripping up the stairs, but only a fast elbow jammed into the baluster saved my nose (I was carrying something and only had one hand).

I learned that it worries me more when I don’t want to bitch to my best friend. She’s not judgemental: it isn’t her. But if I start closing myself off from her…well, that can’t be good. Or maybe I’m sick of hearing myself whine. Hmm, maybe I didn’t learn anything there, yet.

I learned that my dog has started shitting in the middle of the lawn, instead of just around the edges. Ick.

I learned the new John Irving book is too much like his others. I’m sad about that.

I learned that my coworkers had no idea who I would prefer to win in the US presidential election.

I learned that people here ask me, very cautiously, thinking they are being clever: ‘who do you want to win?’ because they are totally going to judge me on my answer.

I learned I always gave the answer they were relieved to hear. But I’m a bit sad that they ever thought I might be for the other guy.

I learned yet again that people can be cruel on the Internet. Even when apologies are offered and explanations given.

I learned not to look in the shopping bags until after hubby finishes unloading the car. Dangerous new socks were supposed to be for me, for Christmas.

I’d like to learn why Lokii is currently upstairs saying mmm, mmmm, mmm, mmmm, over and over and over…