3 Paws Saloon Attic

lil-wolfie · Guru

RE: Hi! How are you?

musical · Guru

I'm getting the *we need to talk about your computer* calls a lot - which I KNOW are scams because they won't call out of the blue for tech support like that. Don't have a number though...wonder if I can report them for harassing me even if I don't have much info?

In non-scam news, I have discovered that gorilla glue works GREAT for fixing flip-flops! The sides were coming off because the glue had weakened. I didn't have a CLUE on how to fix them - or even if I could. An acquaintance suggested gorilla glue to fix it...worked well :)

valkricry · Guru

You're talking the Microsoft phone scam, Muse?

If someone calls you from Microsoft technical support and offers to help you fix your computer, mobile phone, or tablet, this is a scam designed to install malicious software on your computer, steal your personal information, or both.

Do not trust unsolicited calls. Do not provide any personal information.

You can report this scam to the following authorities:

In the United States, use the FTC Complaint Assistant form.
In Canada, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can provide support.
In the United Kingdom, you can report fraud as well as unsolicited calls.

Whenever you receive a phone call or see a pop-up window on your PC and feel uncertain whether it is from someone at Microsoft, don’t take the risk. Reach out directly to one of our technical support experts dedicated to helping you at the Microsoft Answer Desk. Or you can simply call us at 1-800-426-9400 or one of our customer service phone numbers for people located around the world. (taken from https://blogs.microsoft.com/cybertrust/2014/09/18/how-to-report-the-microsoft-phone-scam/ ).

If you have had an annoying phone call or fax of any kind, there is one way to deal with it and help everybody else by getting the culprits taken care of.

First, please make a note of the details of the call or calls.
This includes:
the number that called you,
any information from Caller ID
the date and time of the call
the number that you received the call on.
It's important to note if you receive it on a mobile phone.

Then, you can report the call to the FCC on the internet.
The web site I will give will ask you for some personal information. This is secure because it is an official FCC web site. It's no different than making a report to the police, except that this will give you a result.
The web site has several options for reporting the problem call. You can report it using an online form, or print out a form to complete and mail in.
The easiest and best way is to use the online form.
It is easy to complete, and you get an acknowledgement for your own records, so that you can call them up if the calls continue.
This is the only way that is guaranteed to have some action taken.
Here is the web address:
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

musical · Guru

With wildfires raging all over the area (however, the nearest one is 50 miles away) the air quality has plummeted, we were told *stay inside if at all possible for a few days*. That is SUPPOSED to be over tonight, but who knows...

The interesting thought for the day: Why are black cats feared/assumed bad luck in the US, but the UK loves them?

valkricry · Guru

This is probably due to 'culture', Mus. When the Puritan fathers arrived at Plymouth Rock, they brought with them a devout faith in the Bible and a deepening suspicion of anything deemed of Satan and were a deeply suspicious group. They viewed the black cat as a companion, or a familiar to witches. Anyone caught with a black cat would be severely punished or even killed. They viewed the black cat as part demon and part sorcery. Hence black cats could be 'bad luck' as having one could label you a witch , OR be seen as spying on you for a witch.

musical · Guru

So that means that a witch is spying on me a lot, since I care for a (semi-feral) black cat? Wonder what they are reporting...?

The funny thing about weather here, we take whatever they say with a grain of salt. Supposed to rain...not sure it's following through though.

valkricry · Guru

Maybe that the kibble is too dry??? lol

Has been rainy and overcast all day here. I'm feeling a bit down. Nothing dramatic. I think it's just the question marks around my head bothering me.

musical · Guru

After discovering that my computer was corrupted and they needed to do a system restore to fix it (mutter mutter) I was thinking of something...

maybe, for trepause manor, have a computer that has been corrupted and will only show the most horrifying thing on the internet: Barney the dinosaur singing *It's a small world after all*!! (the horrors!)

valkricry · Guru

Hahahaha funny! But since Trespauze is Victorian, not sure that fits with the time frame.

However, I am considering creating another ghoulish abode, so I'll just file that idea. biggrin

musical · Guru

*sneaks in, puts flowers all over the place, then sneaks out*

valkricry · Guru

Wonders where all the flowers came from.

musical · Guru

Maybe someone who wanted to brighten the place up! :)

musical · Guru

No Christmas decorations until November 1!!! I went out Saturday and saw that a few places had Christmas decorations up already and was thinking *too soon for this!!!*

Fergie · Senior Member

We are having a heatwave at the moment. We slept under the sheet only last night, as it was 72F. Today will be another scorcher, reaching into the mid to high 90s again. We need a good rain badly, as the veld is dry and there is a danger of run-away veld fires.

"Christmas" has come early for hubby and I. My brother, in New Zealand, invited us to his wedding. I jokingly told him that the only way we could get there, was for him to pay for our tickets...... so he did! Gosh! What a surprise. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine going to NZ, especially at my age. We leave in a weeks time. I don't know if I am more scared than excited...... I hate flying!

We will only be back one day before Ray has to start his Xmas job - hope he will be over his jet-lag by then.

valkricry · Guru

Oh, gosh, Fergie! How exciting for you! Will you be staying very long? Don't forget to take pictures, lots and lots of pictures!

Have been thinking of you and hope all is well.

I agree, Mus. Too early for Christmas decor.

Fergie · Senior Member

Sorry Mus. I missed out on a comment to you. No Christmas decor around here either. We will wait in anticipppppation, LOL.

Val, we will be staying about five weeks. My brother seems very excited.......he is counting the Hours, till we arrive. Can you believe it? The last time we saw each other was in the period that Angel passed away, so I was not very good company at the time. Now, we can sit down together and Really catch up. I am posting a pic of my brother, Rob, and I, taken at my home

We are all good this side. I even managed to get rid of the irritating cough that I developed after I had to put Zeus down. That cough lasted for Months!

Yesterday afternoon Nicky's one dog, Muffin, went missing while she was at work. The weekly cleaning lady forgot to keep an eye on her, so she escaped the yard, and complex. Nicky was frantic, naturally. Fortunately, Nicky is one of those folks that has ID on her dogs collars, plus they are micro-chipped. Muffin was adopted from a shelter; Nicky was the 6th person to adopt her - the others all sent her back, probably because she was an escape artist. Nicky doesn't give up easily!
This story has a happy ending. By 8:30pm, 'mommy' and a very dirty fur-baby were reunited. Muffin only escapes when Nicky is not home, then runs miles and miles, probably looking for 'mommy'.

I have attached the latest pic of Shen and I.

valkricry · Guru

So good to see you, Fergie. Dang, I just can't believe how big Shen is getting!

Things are fairly quiet here.

Work's confusing as ever. That is to say, I cover a lot of places. Morning, I'm the baker, then it's cooking, and prepping. Followed with the salad department. Someone remarked I wear many hats, and I said, "No, just one - but it spins!"

musical · Guru

*gives Val a $255 bonus because she does so much at work* Do you get bonuses at work at all?

valkricry · Guru

Nope.

lil-wolfie · Guru

sorry i aint been here..been busy here n there.especially lately..getting ready to paint the living room and breakfast room..in which that includes moving furniture and other stuff to other rooms,to dusting,to getting rid of cobwebs...then of all things this morning.a small bird got into the house some how.i trapped it in my bedroom,and tried to catch it with a shirt.and to no avail..LOL..then i suddenly thought.close off the rest of the house.so i can make go into the laundry room.where i closed it off.and opened the garge door.bye bye birdie..lol

Fergie · Senior Member

Here I am in New Zealand, staying with my brother and his fiance on the outskirts of a little town called Waiuku, which is about an hours drive to the south of Auckland, on the North Island. The countryside is lush green and filled with meadows of brown and white cattle, and the occasional field of Merino sheep. Country lanes abound - it is so easy to get lost, as they all look the same to us tourists. My brother has lent us a small Ford to use while he and his future bride are at work.

We have been spoilt rotten! Last Sunday we left home at 8 am to drive two hours to Matamata, where Ray and I were put on a bus bound for Hobbiton, the movie set where "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" were filmed. We went on a three hour walking tour of the set, all out of doors. Mercifully, the weather was kind to us - not a drop of rain that day. By the end of the tour, (62 photos later) both of us were dog tired, but Rob (my brother) had more plans for that day. We drove for another hour to Rotorua to view one of the lakes, then were taken to see hot water springs in the middle of the city. They are all fenced off for the safety of the public. Steam rises from these clear pools and the smell of sulfur permeates the air - on the wall of largest pool, it gives the heat of the water as 212 degrees, don't know if that is C or F, whichever if is, if you fall in, your goose is cooked!

Next we were taken up the side of a dormant volcano, Mount Ngongotaha, in a glass-sided gondola. At the top, we were treated to a meal, seated on a terrace overlooking the city and lake - oh my, what a view!
By the time we arrived home, after 10 pm, we were all ready to roll into bed

valkricry · Guru

So, Wolfie is chasing birdies, and Fergie is dining atop a volcano. Sounds like everyone is having adventures!

Fergie, it sounds wonderful! I'm quite jealous!

I've been down with a rather nasty cold, so my only adventure has been figuring out how many times you can wipe your nose without wiping it clear off your face. lol

Fergie · Senior Member

Well, we are home again. Seen many wondrous sights and enjoyed ourselves immensely, but all good things must come to an end, eh?

So sorry to hear about your cold, Val. Hope it is all better by now and you still have a nose.

I would like to wish all my US friends a happy Thanksgiving day for tomorrow. Take care Val, I believe many of you will be having bad weather - plenty of rain and ice on the roads. I wish you all safe holidays.

valkricry · Guru

Fergie, great to have you home!

Weather can do what it wants tomorrow - I'm not leaving the house! lol But, as I know many will be on the roads, I hope travel conditions stay well.

It'll be quiet here tomorrow as Jerome has decided to go to his birth Mom's . Apparently he's known this since last Sunday but neglected to tell me until today, when she called saying it would be better to have him spend the night so she wouldn't have to deal with holiday traffic picking him up tomorrow. Imagine my surprise when he says to me, "So we can hold off ours until Friday, right?" HUH??? of course I say, 'yeah, sure.' And then she calls me up after a while inviting me over tomorrow, says she'll come pick me up if I want. Seriously, what happened to avoiding holiday traffic? I know it's a pity invite - just so she can say she invited me - sod that. I'd rather be alone than with folks that really don't care.

musical · Guru

Done with classes for the term. Got an 86% on one class, still waiting to see on the other...

What is everyone doing for Christmas?

Fergie · Senior Member

Well done musical!! I have my fingers crossed for your other classes - hope you have done as well, or even better.
We are getting together with very close family this Christmas. It's not going to be the 'usual' crowd this time. Some members just don't 'deserve' to be there, as they don't make an effort to see. or even speak to us during the year. (Note the bitterness in my tone?)
What are you doing, Mus?

Val, hope your Thanksgiving was all YOU wished it would be. I agree, rather be alone than with folks who couldn't be bothered with you the rest of the year.

Here's wishing everyone a fantabulous Christmas. May Santa fill your stockings with love, hope and strength.

lil-wolfie · Guru

yeah.congrats mus.and better luck with the other(s).

we'll be spending christmas at a brothers home..it seems like fewer and fewer are showing up each year..and thats for easter,thanksgiving and christmas,alike.. it seems like our family is growing apart.i have 3 brothers and 1 sister.in which they have kids.in which most of their kids has their own kids.they all rarely call.and the only time we see any of them.is during the holidays..it's a shame how things like that happen with families..

anyhow.i hope that everyone has a great christmas,and a better year next year..

valkricry · Guru

Good job, Mus!!! Fingers crossed for you.

Christmas here is small. I come from a big family, but you couldn't tell it. I guess time, and space has a way of shrinking families down. I understand the way you guys feel though. It's almost as if you get shut away with the decorations. Then too, time and space seems to have a way of shrinking families. I haven't seen most of mine for...27 years or so, I guess. No drama attached to it really. Just the way it is.

But Jess will be here for a bit Christmas Eve. I look forwards to that.

Ugh - I haven't even gotten the tree up yet. The kitchen cabinet above the sink decided it didn't like hanging around any more, so I've had everything from in that cabinet (long cabinet) and off the counter in the living room, until maintenance could come repair it. This took several weeks: illnesses and all hit on both sides, and frankly, after work I'm really not good for much. 4 more days of work and it's Winter break!!!

valkricry · Guru

Merry Christmas, everybody! This video is old but one of my first animations, done back before I had any lessons on how to do it. Hope you enjoy it!

lil-wolfie · Guru

i want to wish everyone a very nice and fruitful christmas.and everyone's new year is better than this year.and may your life be blessed with the joys of life.

musical · Guru

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Fergie · Senior Member

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I hope too, that all are safe from the freaky weather pattern in US. I have been reading, with dismay, about the tornadoes and snow storms in unexpected places, plus flooding. My prayers go out to those in affected areas.

lil-wolfie · Guru

we had a great christmas..i hope that everyone else did as well...

yeah.the weather has gotton weird and all..we had a pretty serious storm blow through.in which we got off easy..in which we never even lost power for any leanth of time.and that alone amazes me.on acount we normally lose power from a few minutes,to a few hours at times like that.

valkricry · Guru

Seems like we've all made it to the home stretch of seeing 2016!

lil-wolfie · Guru

and now we're saying..here go again with another year. HELP!! lol

valkricry · Guru

My, my, my. We have been so very quiet. Nearly a month since the last post! Ye gods and little fishies!

Anyone with any news to share?

Winter here hasn't been too bad yet, only a few days of sub-zero temps, and that was caused by windchill ( negative 25). Lowest actual air temp has been -1 so far. We haven't even had a decent snowfall yet. I'm not complaining.

Touch wood, I've managed to avoid that superbug (flu like) that was making the rounds. Hopefully everyone else has stayed healthy?

Fergie · Senior Member

All quiet on the Western Front here in SA. The extreme heat has abated and the rain is falling, so no complaints this side. I hear the US is getting the thick end if the stick, what with blizzards and earth quakes. I see you may be getting snow tomorrow, Val. Hope it isn't anything like Washington and Boston have experienced.

Oh good for you, Val! Hope you can keep up your clean bill of health for the rest of your winter.

lil-wolfie · Guru

winter aint been to bad here.the lowest temp here,so far was in the lower 20's...the folks along the east coast has it bad thoe.from florida up to maine i think..their saying 14 dead from it so far,and thats mostly from car wrecks.

mom and me got sick.im thinking a common house cold of some kind,but not sure.im pretty much over it,to the point where i can go off and do things without worry.but mom is still getting over it thoe.

valkricry · Guru

Nope, no real snow yet. My boss got shingles (internal) over Christmas break and her immune system is still out of whack. She's catching everything under the sun.

Take heart, Wolfie, the older we are the longer it takes to mend/get over viruses and stuff. Mom will soon be feisty as ever, in her own time.

I keep forgetting you're on the other side of the world, Fergie. I'm glad you're enjoying a quiet time.

valkricry · Guru

The one thing I can say about my job is that I'm never bored. Currently I hold down the position of 'baker', but unlike my predecessors, I do much more than just bake. You know you do a lot when co-workers say you are doing too much. Bless their little hearts they do try to help out here and there, but there are times my small area is so congested with racks and baking sheets and ingredients that I feel a bit claustrophobic. Add another body and someone just might get hurt.

Ideally the company I work for would like to see everyone crossed trained, but for some unknown reason I'm the only one 'trained' in 10 different areas. In reality much of my 'training' was me going 'ok, I can figure this out' and plunging in, but that is ME. Others seem to get their hands held and walked through for a couple of weeks. However, that isn't the point I want to make, for some weird reason whenever they shift folks around I seem to collect more duties. confuse Not sure how or why this is, it just IS. Some of the shifting makes no sense to me, like putting someone in an area that needs setting up and manned by 7AM, that doesn't start until 8, so that I have to somehow absorb doing this along with my other stuff.

Here's a breakdown of an 'average' day for me:

6 AM Take cooling and heating readings (cook use to do that). Make the doughnuts and muffins for the teachers, bake the day's cookies. Set dinner rolls to rise.

Prior to 7AM: setup register in Teacher's lounge, set out the napkins, salt & peppers, and the breakfast counters. Fill the silverware and cups. Wait on anyone who comes in until 8.

8-10 start prepping for lunch. Bake the dinner rolls, wrap the cookies, make the Boscos (cheese filled breadsticks) and bag them. Set out the cookies at cashiers' and snackbar. Put the Bosco's in snackbar. (Lord help me if it's a Stromboli day because I have to make a minimum of 30 of those and they are time consuming.)

Hopefully take meal break at 10- 10:20.

Then it's tray up the cookies and dinner rolls for the next day. Then it's cleaning up of racks, work area, etc. while helping out Cook if she needs it, running in to help the girl in Teacher's lounge, doing dishes, and whatever else needs doing. Sometimes there's a catering that I need to bake for, or someone's missing and I have to cover for them while still doing my own. I might be serving, or running a register. I just never know. Makes it hard to plot out the day, but it does make it interesting.

Now, it use to be at the end of day I was going in to breakdown the salad bar in the Teacher's lounge. This was suppose to be so that the girl who was there could go help do dishes, as the others whined that she was never doing them. We never could figure out why I managed to do all this stuff by myself when I was stationed over there, yet she couldn't, but each person is different. Anyway my manager made this big deal about I wasn't going to do that any more, today. All morning she'd been telling me I'd have that time to finish up traying for the next day and that then. Good thing I don't really listen to that and trayed things up as I could because last minute it was: "Could you do the salad bar tonight so that Anna can go to other unit to help them out?" evileye Like I said never boring...

lil-wolfie · Guru

confuse i know that this is a very foolish queston..but do you ever say no? LOL..only person that i ever do any extra for,(besides my self) is my mom.

valkricry · Guru

Only if I really have to, Wolfie. It's a bit of an unspoken trade off. I get away with a bit more than others might, because I obviously work harder. For example, I might take an 'extra' 5 minute break in the afternoon, but then the boss knows I don't sit unless I have a few minutes or feel I need to. Or I might have a cup of coffee (brought over to me by one of the girls - without me asking!) at my station, which is technically a violation, and she turns a blind eye. Small things, but valuable.

lil-wolfie · Guru

well,your definitely appreciated and respected there..and im sure they all know,they'll be losing a good person.if you should ever leave there..i hope things at least,get a lil bit easier on you there..

valkricry · Guru

Oh, geeze...Cook called off sick today. Got to be honest, it didn't ALL fall on me, but a good portion did. It was crazy. One of those times when 'help' seems to just get in the way, but at the same time you're just really grateful it's there.

Fergie · Senior Member

OMG! As if you haven't got enough on your plate already, Val. I hope you had a nice relaxing weekend to recuperate from your toils. Hope that this week will be easier on you too.

BTW, I remember a remark you made somewhere, not too long ago, something about you being tired all the time. I was reading an article the other day, regarding fatigue. I thought it just may apply in your case; insufficient vitamin D. What do you think? Do you think taking a supplement may be a good idea? Just a thought.

The rain has departed again, and the heat is back. At least it isn't the severe, strength sapping heat like before, but hot enough to make many tasks a real drag. I have put off vacuuming for two days already, promising myself I will get up earlier the next day to do it while it is cooler - hmm... that hasn't happened yet. Well, it has to be done this week. On Saturday, Nicky is dropping Shen off while she goes to meet up with school friends that she hasn't seen in over 30 years. Nicky is a 'neat freak' - she would have a cadenza if she saw the state of my house at the moment, so I shall have to get my butt in gear.

valkricry · Guru

Some vitamin D wouldn't hurt, Fergie. I'll look into it. This barely having enough energy to get through the day is being a real drag. I'm told yesterday at work was real interesting: both the cook and I were absent!!! I'm better today, and will be going in. Kind of dreading it. Doubt set up was done, etc. But...it is what it is. Was bad enough my boss called asking after my health (after hours) lol. Poor woman. But she is the one who flat out told me, I try to work when I SHOULD have stayed home. If it wasn't for the fever I would have gone in and just kept quiet (throat was sore too).

Neat freaks and I are not compatible. lol So, you have my sympathies there. Well, gotta get ready for work.

Laters, gators!

Fergie · Senior Member

I hope you are quite recovered by now, Val, and feeling on top of the world. Hope the cook is back and slaving over her hot stove, instead of you.

Well, I survived Nicky's morning visit, lol. The previous day, we had our gardener over. A thunderstorm blew over in the afternoon, so I got him into the house to wash floors till the rain let up. Aren't I a cleaver girl? LOL. I made a whole batch of ratatouille and put some in containers for Nicky to take home - she was ecstatic! (I don't make it often.) While Nicky was off meeting/visiting with her friends, a little storm blew up. It was still spitting with rain when she came to fetch Shenay, so she just popped in to fetch her frozen food and the sandals which Ray had fixed for her. She just had enough time to show us a pic on her phone of two girls she had been friends with in high school. She said they had a wonderful time catching up.

Later on Saturday night a HUGE storm blew up. The wind was blowing an absolute gale. At one point, I thought part of our roof was going to blow off. At about 21:40 I went out the front, into the lapa, to check on Cleo and give her some doggie biscuits. We are very lucky, bad weather doesn't bother Cleo, and she was perfectly sheltered from any stray drops leaking from the roof - her bed is under a canteen-sized table (seats 8.) I had just put the biscuits into her bowl and she had started investigating them when, a bolt of lightening with instantaneous thunder clapped right above our heads. I don't know who moved the quickest - me jumping about six inches into the air, or Cleo ducking back under the table, lol.

valkricry · Guru

Thanks, I'm much better now, Fergie. We're planning on having Torta de Arrachera for dinner. Translated that's a Mexican skirt steak sandwich. The roll it's served on is called a bolillo ( the 2 Ls said like Y, the O being long). It's a variation on a baguette, extremely yummy! Savory, crusty on the outside very soft on the inside. The steak is seasoned, grilled, and lots of vegies are heaped on.

Weather here isn't too bad. 17 (-8C) and spitting this grainy wanna-be snow. Don't think it will amount to anything. It's just annoying to be out in.

Fergie · Senior Member

Glad to hear you are feeling better, Val. Not feeling 'up to par' is always a crappy experience.

You guys in the US seem to have so many more cuts of meat than us; lol, maybe I am not a gourmet cook - never heard of 'skirt steak' here. I imagine it is steak cut very thinly? Also, our local breads and rolls can't compare with yours. Our assortment/choice is extremely limited. Your meal sounds delish!

I would be an ice block already, at your temperatures. Blood too thin. Our forecast for today is 97F, yes, the heat is back and loving it. For tonight, they say it will go down to 63F - I love sleeping under only a sheet. Already the thoughts of cold winter nights are plaguing me. I could live with our current temperatures all year round.

valkricry · Guru

Fergie, skirt steak is found below the rib and in-between the brisket and flank. Pretty much diaphragm muscle. One of the cheaper cuts of meat.

Being as I live in a mostly Mexican neighborhood ( yes, being 'white', I am the minority here) I eat a lot of Mexican foods. It has nothing to do with being a 'gourmet' cook, but more as to availability. Personally, I think of myself as being a fairly basic 'it's edible, isn't it?' cook.