Watcha' Doing - 2023

[Christine]

Oh, fun, Fiona! That's a great way to miss the hour. lol

[Fiona]

Yes, I think so too! I'll let y'all know how it went lol

[Christine]

IT’S SPRING!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Christine wrote: "IT’S SPRING!"

Thank goodness! Now let's hope the weather decides to play along. lol

For those of you on the flip side heading into fall, is today your first day of autumn or does that fall on a different day?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Autumn starts on 1 March here. We don't do equinoxes, it's too complicated. We start seasons at the beginning of the month.

That said, it was 37C yesterday.

[Sandra, Moderator]

We woke up with temperatures below freezing! Where is Spring??

[Saar The Book owl]

I haven't thought about it that it's Spring, yay! Allthough it's gray and a bit wet, I'm going to work in my garden and vegetable garden Wednesday. I'm determined :)

[Jenn]

Waaah, I think my Spring is broken 😞 it is snowing here today 🤦‍♀️

[Kristie, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "Autumn starts on 1 March here. We don't do equinoxes, it's too complicated. We start seasons at the beginning of the month..."

That makes so much more sense to me.

[Kristie, Moderator]

It's fairly cold here today too, but supposed to be warmer later in the week. I can't wait. I'm ready for it.

[Janice, Moderator]

Jenn wrote: "Waaah, I think my Spring is broken 😞 it is snowing here today 🤦‍♀️"

We stole it. :) -2C and sunny all day today.

[Jenn]

Give it back, we had enough snow that it required shoveling 🤦‍♀️

[Peggy]

Lol Janice! That reminds me how different all our worlds are. Calling -2 Spring!

[Janice, Moderator]

Jenn wrote: " Give it back, we had enough snow that it required shoveling 🤦‍♀️"

I think we're still going to get our usual March 17th storm. Everything seems to be late this last year.

[Jenn]

No kidding Peggy, I watched a poor girl at the gas station yesterday, you could actually see her willing the pump to go faster while she was standing there in crop jeans, canvas runners with no socks, and no jacket 🥶
Then today we are back down to -20 and still snowing 🤦‍♀️

[Kristie, Moderator]

Oh my goodness... dress for the weather! I wear 20 layers when it's cold and still will the pump to go faster. lol

[Christine]

I agree with you Kristie and I agree with you Kristie

[Fiona]

I got my spring clothes out of the basement on the weekend but will still keep the winter clothes in my dresser just in case lol

[Janice, Moderator]

Most people here jump back in their cars after they switch the auto-fill lever. Maybe it was one of those nozzles that you had to hold?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Most people here jump back in their cars after they switch the auto-fill lever."

You have what?!?

I mean, I get it, you have temps that kill you if you stand out in them. But this is not a thing in Australia. We would use such a lever irresponsibly.

[Janice, Moderator]

There's a safety catch on it and it automatically switches off when the tank is full, and it stops pumping. I never jump back in my car. I stand there until it shuts off.

Only self serve have nozzles that you have to stand and hold. Full Serve stations have the auto lever (if that's what you call it), so the attendants can clean your windows and check your oil while the car is filling.

[Kristie, Moderator]

We used to have a lot of those levers, but most places around here removed them so that people can't do that. It's not common to find them. Full service stations are not common either.

[Fiona]

We only have self service stations here but we also have this automatic shut off thing. I just have no idea how it works and after 10 years of driving I find it too embarrassing to ask hahaha

[Saar The Book owl]

My plans for starting the works of my vegetable garden fell literal in the water today. Raining, again...So, I went shopping instead. Now diving into my study books and later on the day going to my horse. It's Spring indeed, but like they say in Belgium: 'Showers in March and a whimsical April.'

[Jenn]

That is interesting Saar, our saying is very similar. April showers bring May flowers 🌸 but sadly it doesn’t apply to me anymore because I am so far North 😞 am a little jealous as it sounds like you will be in your garden in no time, enjoy 😊

[Christine]

Wish me luck because this is the last time I’m seeing my only pulmonologist since I was 3 months old and I’ll be 36 next week. He’s getting ready to retire and passing me on to someone knew.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Fiona - Our automatic shut off just stops the pump when your car is full. It is on every pump and you don't do anything to turn it on. It is just some sensor or something.

I worked all weekend on my library, putting shelves and furniture together. My body was tired and my hands hurt (I even bled when a piece of a box slipped under a nail! Ouch!), but I am loving the results. It's taking some time and some work. but I'm so happy with it. The animals all seem to love it in there too. :) Craig brought down all my boxes of books from the attic and I added them to my shelves yesterday. I thought I had a lot of books, but there is still a lot of shelf space, which is good.

It's supposed to be beautiful out today. I have some plans with friends this afternoon, but I'm going to try to sneak outdoors for a bit to clean up some of my plants before I go. I'm happy to see everything starting to bloom.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Good luck, Christine!

[Fiona]

Kristie - here you have to push some button (I think?) but like I said - no idea how that works.

And loving the library progress!!

Good luck Christine!

[Christine]

Thanks Kristie and Fiona

[Kristie, Moderator]

I wouldn't know either, Fiona!

Thanks. :) I'm so happy with it. Every time I walk by I just smile.

While unpacking my boxes I realized that I had purchased a duplicate book and my mother just passed on a book to me that I already owned as well, so our local little free library will be getting a couple of new books too.

[Pragya]

Kristie, do share some pics of your library when it's ready.

[Fiona]

Oh yes, I would love that too!

[Fiona]

Y'all I think my boss was nice to us again.

I just came into work and had two cans of Red Bull (in fancy flavors) on my table.
Now first I thought that it could've been my colleague who put them there because I have this ongoing thing with two of my colleagues where we get strikes when we make a mistake. As soon as we have 3 strikes, we gotta get the other two a drink of their choice. His is an energy drink but mine is iced coffee so it wouldn't quite fit but he did have 6 strikes so it would've been two drinks.
So I went into their office and they both had 2 cans of Red Bull on their desks too. Which was weird. Sooo I investigated some more and found that the three people in the support office also all had two cans of Red Bull on their desks. Wild.
I wish I could ask someone but I'm always by far the first in the office so I can't ask anyone haha

[Kristie, Moderator]

That's so funny, Fiona! Maybe your boss thought you were sleepy. lol Of course, I'm kidding. So nice that they just randomly drop things off for you occasionally.

Thank you. Library is almost done. I bought a small cabinet, but when I went to put it together there was a broken piece so they need to send me a replacement. Once I get that and put it together it will be done! It does make me smile to see that room all the time now. So much nicer and more open than a dining room that goes unused and is crammed with furniture and stuff.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Fiona wrote: "Y'all I think my boss was nice to us again.

I just came into work and had two cans of Red Bull (in fancy flavors) on my table.
Now first I thought that it could've been my colleague who put them..."

That is nice from your boss, Fiona. I think we can all do with a surprise like this from time to time.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "That's so funny, Fiona! Maybe your boss thought you were sleepy. lol Of course, I'm kidding. So nice that they just randomly drop things off for you occasionally.

Thank you. Library is almost don..."

Sounds great, Kristie. :)

[Fiona]

Sandra wrote: "Fiona wrote: "Y'all I think my boss was nice to us again.

I just came into work and had two cans of Red Bull (in fancy flavors) on my table.
Now first I thought that it could've been my colleagu..."

Definitely! It was also much needed today as I had to hustle hard today because I have tomorrow and Monday off lol

[Fiona]

Trains in Germany are really the worst.
I am going to travel to see my family in about 1.5 hours and that hopefully won’t be a problem but of course there’ll be a strike on Monday when I’m supposed to go back and not a single train will be going. I can’t go earlier than Monday because of the strike and I can’t go later because of work. I can’t ditch the train completely and drive myself because y’all know the condition my car is in and I’m not gonna drive 1100km in one weekend with it. My uncle even suggested flying back but that would either take 14 hours or cost 700€ so no thanks. Now I’m gonna go by train today and I’ll have to rent a car on Monday to get back home. Ugh

[Jenn]

Wow, that sounds like quite an ordeal Fiona, good luck!

My Gus got neutered this morning, so have been laying around with my dad and uncomfortable puppy and reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller. I’m only a quarter done, but talk about gut wrenching! It is the memoir of a survivor of a sexual assault that went viral.
Rough read, but it’s been a rough day, so I guess that fits

[Fiona]

Thanks, Jenn! I’m currently on my second of four trains and will hopefully be there in about 5.5 hours. I’m so tired, I slept less than 4 hours, at 3am I just gave up. Currently it’s 6:40am 🥲

I hope Gus is taking it well. And that book sounds worth checking out!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Oh, Fiona. That's not good at all. I suppose it's at least better that you know in advance. It would be even worse if they kept it hushed and you only found out when you were trying to get home. That would be chaos. Sounds like you got off to a super early start this morning. Safe travels and have a nice visit.

That does sound like a rough read, Jenn. You're going to need something light after that.

[Fiona]

I’m in bed and dead now lol
But excited for the weekend!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Enjoy your weekend, Fiona. Get a good audiobook for your drive back. ;)

[Fiona]

Thanks! And yes, I already have 8 or so downloaded!

[Janice, Moderator]

Enjoy your weekend Fiona.

I hope Gus feels better soon, Jenn.

I'm at a quilt retreat this weekend, so likely won't be doing much tracking.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Have fun, Janice!

[Saar The Book owl]

@Jenn: that's a nice saying! Haven't worked in the garden yet. Rain, followed by sun, and when I just seem to glance a my garden, it rains again...Poor Guss. I hope he's doing well and hasn't got a lot of pain.
@Christine: good luck!
@Kristie: maybe you can share some pictures with us, when your library is done? But you don't need to if you don't want to, off course.
@Fiona: haha, the mystery of the energy drinks! It could be a theme for a cozy mystery. I hope your visit is going well this weekend. I hate it wen public transportation goes down.
@Janice: I hope you can enjoy your quilt retreat.

The last weeks I've went to see a neurologist for a CT-scan (Yay, I've got brains!) and a cardiologist, because I've got weird migrains with aura's and loss of visuals, chest pain, arm pain...but everything is okay. The explenation from the cardiologist was that it is all stress related and that I need to relax more and that the 'bow doesn't need to be so tight...and you need to relax more by doing the things you like'
Well, I couldn't do much with that explenation right now. Still hurting and taking Dafalgan. It's like no one understands the pain that I've got. It just comes in waves. Now I've started a cure with magnesium to relax the muscles and against pain and tiredness. Hopefully it'll work.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Oh, Saar. I hope the magnesium helps. Chronic pain is awful. I suffer from terrible migraines too, though I get them less frequently now that I'm older.

Just want to throw it out there that often people with chronic illness will have anxiety around it. So, for example, you feel / sense a migraine coming on and it causes you anxiety. The anxiety then causes the chest pain, etc. Sometimes anti-anxiety meds or even breathing exercises can help with that. Of course, that would be for you and your doctor to work out if that's the case. I wouldn't want you to miss something by passing it off as anxiety. Just something to consider.

[Christine]

I just got home from seeing my old pulmonologist and everything went well