Denting the rut

[susandennis]

I forgot to reset my alarm after yesterday's day off and so this morning, I didn't wake up until 5. It turned out to be an interesting twist. The traffic is not quite as bad in Summer so my not getting to the bridge coming home until 6:30 was ok. The traffic was heavier than usual but not undoable. There's a train that barrels through for 15 minutes at 6:20. It means I can't easily get to the robot so I need to noodle that bit out. But, otherwise, it's ok. I think I'm going to set the alarm for 15 minutes later for a bit and see how that works out. I did eliminate the 5-7 minutes I've been standing at the door waiting for them to open the gym. And I was still the first person in the pool so I got my favorite lane.

I got my revised cable bill yesterday. Turns out, I saved enough to pay for my internet bill. I saw an ad yesterday for my cable company (the little, local-ish one). I went through and 'hid' the channels I no longer get. I had no idea what most of those channels even were. I'll be dropping a boatload more after baseball season. I think I'll be able to cut my current smaller bill in half. Nice.

Yesterday was bill day for some reason. I got the car tax bill, the car insurance bill, the internet bill and cable tv bill and my Audible membership renewal notice. All in one day. Very strange. BUT once they all get paid, I won't have to worry for a year (except the internet and cable TV).

I have to do a load of wash before I get to the sewing. The fabric I want to use needs washing first. I got an email yesterday on Ravelry asking me to make squares for a charity project in Mexico. They don't care what yarn I use, what pattern I use, whether it's knit or crochet and, most importantly, they only want squares. No sewing them together (which is the most horrible part). This is perfect for me. I'm making a sweater now but it's a pretty quick one and then I'm going to be susandennis square maker!

Yesterday's baseball game was amazing. It was THE most frustrating that I couldn't watch it. The radio is ok except no replay. If you miss what they are saying, you miss it. No go backs. I did record all the local news so I could see the fabulous finish. And I got TiVo to record today's pre-game show. If it all goes to shit today, it will absolutely have been the most fun season in decades. (Nearly two decades, actually, 2001 was fun, too.)

Next week, it starts getting hot. Like mid-80's hot. I have warned my air conditioner to get ready.

My neighbors across the street in the apartment building have a very cool cat tree that I want. It's one single tall scratching post with an inverted bowl at the top. Their cat loves that bowl and so would Zoey. But I can't find it anywhere and I can't even get a good photo of theirs. She still loves the cheap little brush/hammock/scratching post thing I got her not long ago but she's also now nearly scratch the posts ragged. I wish they made nicer looking cat furniture. I hate that shag carpet look.

Ok, time to get dressed and get this day going!

Comments

[boogaloo1962.livejournal.com]

Hi Susan. Funny all the bills coming together. Most of mine are done via Direct Debit, so only ever see the statements. I have recently had to get the car MOT'd (annual check for safety, etc), taxed and insured, but they are a few weeks apart. Boy isn't sewing up squares boring. I now don't sew. I either crotchet together which is much quicker or pick up and knit so no sewing there either, but it can get hot under the 'cover' if I'm making something big.
I've just started an account with Live Journal but haven't yet posted any entries, but plan to get to it tomorrow when I get a breather between work and weekend madness.
I love your webcam feed. Came across it completely by accident, but I may be inspired to get my own camera up and running again, if I can it linked to a site, which do you use? I need to update the software which is a bit of a pain in the bum as I'm not particularly techy and it takes me ages.
Enough. I'll see you around. Bye for now.

[susandennis]

Well hi there Boogaloo! Welcome to Live Journal!

My bills are all direct debit, too. I just get notice that they will be debited and all those notices came in the same day.

Sewing squares SUCKS. But, when I say sewing I really mean attaching. Crocheting or knitting them together is marginally less sucky but still I hate it. Having someone else do it is my favorite way.

I don't link any of my webcams to a site. I have provided unique URLs to make it easier.

one of them is at http://susandennis.net and another is at http://susandennis.rocks

I know that there are some sites that routinely post one or the other of these cams but that's only because I open up access to 'public' and they just troll around and pick up public web cams.

I hope you enjoy LiveJournal. It's a wonderful place.

[colestainedpage.livejournal.com]

You could go with some tree looking trees:

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/tucker-murphy-pet-60-gibson-cat-tree-tkmp1834.html

or

https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/new-cat-condos-51-premier-cat-tree-ncq1052.html

You're right though, a tall single post with a little bed on top is not easy to find. I wonder if they made theirs?

[susandennis]

Oh I always forget about Wayfair so interesting browsing. Thank you... But, cat furniture and carpet. Really??? I think maybe they might have made theirs. Oh well. Maybe when the leaves fall off I'll be able to get a good photo of it.

[siobhan63.livejournal.com]

When we had cats, I hated those carpet covered scratching posts because you end up with carpet bits all over the place. The best post we ever got was this sisal one (https://www.wayfair.ca/SmartCat-Ultimate-Woven-Sisal-Scratching-Post-3832-L1116-K~SRT1061.html?refid=GX185223812618-SRT1061&device=c&ptid=433984590426&network=g&targetid=pla-433984590426&gclid=CjwKCAjwpIjZBRBsEiwA0TN1rwFcrGjfvJFfQOJf4Tcdfuzjhvqpmhc5ArUdj8eZqUlsPGV_ajrkJhoCLQUQAvD_BwE). It actually looks good. We kept it for a time after we no long had cats -- I placed a plant on the top and it looked great.

[susandennis]

Yep. she has a round version of just that one and uses it all the time. I just need a bowl on top for her to lounge in but, maybe that's not such a far flung idea.... hmmmm

[mhaithaca.livejournal.com]

I need to see if my cable bill has caught up with the lower rate I talked to them about weeks ago. Thanks for the reminder!

[susandennis]

Yes! Stay on their backs until you see it in the bill!

[spiritgirl.livejournal.com]

Have you tracked your baseball games in ESPN?  You can get video replays, stats and recaps,etc.  I would think you would find the app a must have while tracking a game just to access additional info.   ESPN and twitter make watching sports much more fun IMO.

[susandennis]

I have not! Never even thought about it. There's an MLB app I check but my old fashionedness really never thought of ESPN except on TV. I'm off right now to check out the app. Thanks!

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Square maker sounds like a worthwhile occupation :0)