Watcha Doin' - 2019 Showing 1,351-1,400 of 2,486

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy, you need to go to more game cons. I love it. You have lines out of the mens, and in the womens you have your choice of stalls. The guys I go with always have their mind blown as I welcome them to our world.

[Margo]

Oh god, we have an ant and flying ant invasion! Just sat down to catch my breath and then I must go back to commit more genocide :O

[Kristie, Moderator]

I’m on the road today driving from Virginia to New Hampshire to pick up our grandson for his summer visit. :) Lots of good audio time while driving.

[Peggy]

I'll keep that in mind Rusalka :D

Good luck with that Margo!

Enjoy, Kristie! How long is the drive? And how long will he be staying?

[Sandra, Moderator]

That is disgusting, Margo!

Good luck, Kristie. How old is he already?

[Kristie, Moderator]

He is 9 and staying for about 2 months. We have him from tomorrow until August 22nd. His mom will fly down for a weekend in July to celebrate his birthday. We’re really looking forward to it.

[Esther]

@Tricia. Not fun. Rumours has it that my town found the issue with our sewage backup. Sounds like the same issue on a larger scale as they managed to flood 30 basements.

@Margo. It s going to be a long month but do not forget to take care of yourself.

@Sarah: congrats!!!!


Basement recovery update: My office. I am almost done applying the grout on my new ceramic floor. Then I still have another coat of paint on the wall. Then I will have to go shop for new furniture and deco stuff. I am off next week and really hope I will be able to start work in July in my office. If everything lines up I should be able to do it. that we be at least one room done.

Most of my walls are still open, the cats really like it. Parkour!

[Margo]

Hey Rusalka, I got my psoriasis order on Tuesday so I've only been using the stuff for 2 days but I really like them. The Pawpaw is like my dream moisturizer for this rash. it really takes the itch away. it will definitely take the sting (and the itch!) out of my wait for specialist treatment. The lemon myrtle oil smells fab and seems to dry out the rash. it also turns my skin yellow so I will try diluting it :)

I'm back waiting for my son right now. he got a call to come in to the trauma centre today. Seems that I've been waiting around of chasing insects for most of the week!

[Peggy]

Rusalka wrote: "*glares disapprovingly at the Northern Hemisphere*"

I think this helped after all! A bit too well, actually. Temperatures of 37C are predicted for next week!

Did I mention my work has a really crappy airconditioning system? It works in a large part of the building, but not very well in the office I'm in. A while ago (when it was 25-30C) we were working there complaining how hot and muggy the office is, and then someone from the floor above us asked if she could work in our room because she was ice-cold upstairs..

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Hey Rusalka, I got my psoriasis order on Tuesday so I've only been using the stuff for 2 days but I really like them. The Pawpaw is like my dream moisturizer for this rash. it really takes the itch..."

Oh I am so glad. The last few times I have gone to Europe, my friends beg me to bring them large tubs of pawpaw ointment. I had to giggle today when I saw your comment in passing (I couldn't comment then as work, once again, exploded) thinking, "I've created another addict!". And I say this after plastering my face with it, as it's been a cold and windy day and my nose has been running.

I agree, lemon myrtle is such a beautiful smell. The dying you yellow is a bit weird, so I would dilute it. But if it's helping your particular rash (everyone's is different, as is every rash) then maybe stick with what's working. Just maybe not on your face...

Hopefully both get you through to the appointment.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "*glares disapprovingly at the Northern Hemisphere*"

I think this helped after all! A bit too well, actually. Temperatures of 37C are predicted for next week!

Did I mention my work..."

Urgh. Sorry!! That's too much. 37 there? I hope you guys have some public health measures kicking in, as that's going to be massive for you all.

I'll have to confess to Lexx's aunt, uncle, and cousin who are in the Netherlands and Belgium at the moment following the Hockeyroos around their games, that this is my fault. Dammit.

Our office block is like that too. It was built and therefore the airconditioners were installed for open plan pods. But more and more enclosed offices were installed, and now most of the building is offices. It's pot luck if your office's aircon/heating works. My normal boss, the General Manager of the faculty office is currently a fridge, and next door to his, the Dean's is a sauna. So it doesn't even help if you have the figurative power.

[Peggy]

I'll be working from home whenever I'm not needed at work. Luckily classes are over and so it's mostly grading exams, assignments and theses right now. I have appointments on Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, but that's it.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

... Thank you. You just reminded me that marks are due next Friday.

[Peggy]

My students exasparate me! When it's your last chance to pass a course and stay in the program, do you really think it's a good idea to commit fraud?!

On other news, we have a Dutch swimmer who had cancer in 2001 but made a come-back after that and he even became olympic champion in 2008. He's currently doing an 11-city-tour to raise money for cancer research. This means that he'll be swimming 196km almost non-stop! It will take him 4 days. He sleeps 1 hour during the first night and 3 hours during the other nights. And he eats a bit in the water every now and then. Isn't that insane? And amazing? It's incredible what people can do, to what kind of extremes they can push themselves.

He did this last year too but he got so ill after 163km (55 hours of swimming) that the doctors told him he couldn't go on. He raised 5 million euros last year.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Wow, that is insane and awesome. I hope he can finish this time. I'm sure it is very important for him.

[Janice, Moderator]

That is pretty amazing. I hope he's able to complete it this year.

[Margo]

I am absolutely boiling mad over some very bad behaviour in another group.

This was not an isolated incident. Members seem to think that it is OK to make fun people for all kinds of reasons and nobody tells them not to! It really makes me appreciate how well this group is run.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to our mods who not only keep this group running smoothly and come up with great challenges, but they also insist on polite, respectful behaviour at all times.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Completely agree, Margo. There is not another group like YLTO in GR. People in general is really nice here, but the mods definitively know how to make things go smoothly and respectful.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "I am absolutely boiling mad over some very bad behaviour in another group.

This was not an isolated incident. Members seem to think that it is OK to make fun people for all kinds of reasons and n..."

Yes, that is very frustrating and unacceptable. I'm not privy to the original conversation, but people should not make fun of others. It's very immature and unnecessary. Unfortunately, many people think it's ok to be mean / rude when they are online. Too bad the mods don't step in to put a stop to it.

Thank you for your mod compliments. :) We certainly try to make it a fun group. I think people enjoy groups more when the group is respectful and they feel like they can voice their opinions without other people insulting them.

[Peggy]

YLTO is great! But it's the people really, I don't think I ever had to ask people to stop behaving a certain way. I do think when there's a very good atmosphere in a group already it's easy to keep up and also new members will notice it, like it, and do the same.

I'm not in other GR groups but I have been a member of other forums and there always were mean people, harsh discussions, those kind of things.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thanks Margo. The members in this group make it easy for us mods.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Agreed! We have the best members. 😁

[Lisa]

Margo wrote: "I am absolutely boiling mad over some very bad behaviour in another group.

This was not an isolated incident. Members seem to think that it is OK to make fun people for all kinds of reasons and n..."

I agree, Margo. There is no excuse to let disrespectful, hurtful behaviour go unchecked.

YLTO is a great group. We have the best members and mods.

[Sarah]

Agree with Peggy that it's the members that make the group! I guess we just attract a good crowd. We've never had any bad behaviour to have to step in on. Which is good.


At the weekend, on the Solstice, there was a mini festival in a pub along the canal that just recently opened up again. Most of the boaters along this stretch of the canal went including us. We actually took our boat with us so that we wouldn't have to mess about with taxis afterwards. It was a great night. We've moved back to where we were moored originally now and we had Beans on the roof of the boat whilst we moved this time. It was his first time. He doesn't like being inside on his own when we move so thought we'd see what he was like outside. He was a little unsure of what was going on. We'll see what happens in the future. I found it all a little stressful having to keep an eye on him.

[Janice, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "He was a little unsure of what was going on. We'll see what happens in the future. I found it all a little stressful having to keep an eye on him...."

I can see that, especially since it seems that Beans likes the water. I'd have visions of him diving off the boat into the water. Maybe it was just the unfamiliarity of moving that concerned him. He'll likely get used to it and prefer being on the roof, and then you'll relax too.

[Margo]

Poor Beans! It must be really freaky to have your home suddenly move. I know my dog not like it one bit yet his litter mate who died 2 years ago would probably have enjoyed the experience. She took everything in her stride whilst he is a very nervous little animal.

It is so cool to be able to bring your home to the pub - no risk of DUIs for you pair hehe

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I just saw how hot it's going to get in Europe. Please look after yourself everyone!!!

Remember:
Just constantly drink water. Most important one.
Hand towels and ice packs in the freezer are a must. And sleeping with an ice pack on the back of your neck/on your forehead/or Lexx's go to, curled up around like a teddy bear is great.
If you don't have aircon, towel draped in front of a pedestal fan with one edge (towel, not fan) in a bucket of water works.
You can never have enough cold showers. And don't dry off.
Shorts and thongs are appropriate business attire once it's over 38 degrees.
Don't throw out beer or wine bottles straightaway if they came out of the fridge. You can suck all the cold out of them first by hugging them.
The road will melt, so don't walk on it with good shoes on, or bare feet. You will cover them with boiling tar. Similarly, don't walk your dog for the same reason, we have huge problems in summer with puppies getting massively blistered and burnt feet as humans forget when they are wearing shoes.
If you are that way inclined, your eyeliner, lipsticks, etc will melt too. Keep them in the freezer.

If I think of any more good hints for surviving 40+ heat, I will let you know.

[Peggy]

Going to get? It's already happening! Thanks for the tips Rus :D

It's been over 30C since Saturday, with 36C yesterday. Tomorrow and Friday will be just below 30C (and less humid thankfully), then back to 35C in the weekend. From Monday it should be below 25C.

We moved out mattrasses one floor down because the bedroom (in the top of the house) is a sauna.

Yesterday one of the ministeries sent out a tweet about skirt length for women on days like this. Basically it said you can skip the pantyhose as long as the skirt reaches your knee and your legs are 'well-groomed' and you wear closed shoes with them. Seriously?! What age do we live in? There was a lot of criticism and then they took down the tweet, apologized, and blamed it on the hot weather ;-)

[Sandra, Moderator]

I liked the "hug a beer bottle" one. That one will build great memories for my kids. :)

Now seriously, here in North France we are expecting a very hot Saturday, but the worst is suppose to be over (last Monday and Tuesday). It was bad, indeed. That if the forecast is not lying to me, what happens vary often, btw.

[Sandra, Moderator]

@Peggy, wow, that twit is offensive!

[Peggy]

I had to grade resits for papers this week. Two students failed (5/10, when 5.5/10 is a pass). However, the rule is that you can fail one course during the first year and you get a third chance for that in August, but if you fail more than one, you have to leave the program. I've been in doubt what to do with these two people because I know they both already failed another course earlier in the year. On the one hand it's really not sufficient so it goes against my principles to let them pass anyway, and if something would have been graded as a fail during the first try, the same rules apply during the second try. Also, it's not my fault that they already failed a course before. Every exam or paper should be rated independently of the other results. On the other hand, a lot depends on it for them.. one would have to leave the program, the other wants to go to university but he needs to have completed the entire first year for that.. And I think some (not all) other teachers are more flexible in these circumstances, so there may be students from other classes that have passed when it actually wasn't good enough.

I went back and forth for 2.5 days and in the end decided to follow my principles and give them a 5. I mean, if it was borderline or if they had always been present in class and would have clearly put a lot of effort in, I would have done the 5.5, but this just really didn't meet the requirements and they weren't very outstanding students either. I felt sure about it for a few hours but now the results have been published (can't change anything about it anymore) and now I'm in doubt again on whether I did the right thing... This is not fun at all.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh, sorry. Our news led me to believe that Thursday was going to be the worst day for you all.
Never mind me.

Nah, stick to your principles, Peggy. Either, they didn't study enough even though they knew that they needed to pass, or they may not be up to it and therefore this might be an indication to try something else. I'm guessing you guys have a pretty full on appeals process like us if they feel like something is unfair (and you have to prove why you made your decision, which is heaps easier when you've stuck to the facts). Or if something has happened, I'm assuming you have a special consideration process. So they should have ways to challenge if they need.

[Peggy]

Maybe some parts will have the worst later this week? I haven't checked anywhere else. Oh, except Iceland. 12C in Reykjavik!

And thanks for the support :) those are exactly all my other considerations but my post was getting too long already ;-)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I agree with Rusalka. It was their responsibility to present work that passed, not yours. They knew what the stakes were. If that’s what they turned in then that’s the grade they get. Stick to your principles. Just because they didn’t do their job properly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do yours properly.

[Peggy]

That's good reasoning Kristie. Exactly how it is.

I have to remember that. One of them already sent me an email asking to meet and talk about it.

[Janice, Moderator]

I grumble when it's over 25C. I couldn't handle anything around 35C. Too hot for me.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I just saw on the news it was going to be 40C in parts of France and Switzerland on Saturday.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "That's good reasoning Kristie. Exactly how it is.

I have to remember that. One of them already sent me an email asking to meet and talk about it."

Hah, didn't take long.

[Peggy]

I can't turn my ereader off anymore. Luckily it turns off by itself if you don't use it for a while. Weird thing is, you use the same button to turn it on and that still works! I'm a bit worried though that at some point that's not going to work anymore either..

[Sarah]

The weather has been crazy. Whilst it's been hot in the UK, mainland Europe has definitely had it the worst. I heard France topped 45C yesterday! It was 30C where I am. It was quite breezy luckily. I sat in the shade all day and I still ended up getting sunburnt. That really caught me out. I never put any sunscreen on thinking I was safe in the shade. I know for next time. The boat reached 33C yesterday which was pretty uncomfortable, hence having to sit outside until late last night. Poor little pussy cat wasn't all that keen on the heat with his furry pyjamas!

[Peggy]

Peggy wrote: "I can't turn my ereader off anymore. Luckily it turns off by itself if you don't use it for a while. Weird thing is, you use the same button to turn it on and that still works! I'm a bit worried th..."

It died :( I'm on the train and it won't start up. Worst thing is that I didn't bring a paper book!

[Peggy]

I can order a new one and I'll have it tomorrow. Or I can ask my dad to open it up and try to fix it but then I'll be a few days without it.. perhaps a good time to start on some paper books that I've owned for years!

[Peggy]

Okay, weirdest thing. I took it out of its cover, tried again, and it works!

Put it back in cover, won't turn on.

Take it out of cover again, button works.

But what if this is temporary and it really dies on the first day of our holiday? I would be completely lost! And bored.

I'll stop spamming this thread now.

[Sandra, Moderator]

That is weird. If I were you I would buy a new one, and see if your dad can fix this one as a back up.

[Sarah]

Ereaders can be very odd when they start dying.

[Peggy]

Ah, so better play safe and buy a new one then!

Good idea to keep the other one as back-up Sandra.

[Janice, Moderator]

That is weird behaviour. Best to buy a new one and not risk having it completely die while on holidays.

My iPad works well enough but it can't be upgraded to the latest IOS software, and I'm starting to get messages that there's not enough memory to load audiobooks. It seems they don't make them to last.

[Sandra, Moderator]

No, they don't make them to last. My Kindle is getting slower and slower when using Overdrive and also for downloading books. I still can use it of course, I just have to be more patient. I can't check GR on it anymore since it doesn't support the last few new versions. I know it is starting to get old, and eventually will die. Not too much to do about it.

[Peggy]

My ereader is 5 years old. Everything works as well as usual, except the on/off button, which is a pretty crucial part. I heard that all electronic equipment nowadays can be expected to live up to only 8 years.

My parents still have the dryer (or had it until recently, not sure) that they got from my mom's parents when they got married. That was 1973 and it still works well! Probably not the most energy-efficient machine though ;-)

[Lisa]

Janice wrote: "That is weird behaviour. Best to buy a new one and not risk having it completely die while on holidays.

My iPad works well enough but it can't be upgraded to the latest IOS software, and I'm star..."

I'm starting to get the same thing happening with my iPad, Janice. It still works but I reckon I will have to get a new one sooner rather than later. Electronic equipment definitely doesn't last as long as it used to. Although, having said that, my GHD straighteners are 12 years old and they still work fine.