Recent reading
Mar. 2nd, 2026 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brickhousewenchI got quite a few recommendations for new books/series back when I attended Crime Bake New England back in November. I read a bunch of Christmas themed mystery in December, then after reading Four Queens of Crime I read some Margery Allingham (did not like her detective, Albert Campion) and started on Ngaio Marsh’s Inspector Roderick Alleyn series, which I am enjoying very much. And I've been picking single books off the To Be Read pile here and there.
In one of Ngaio Marsh’s books that I read recently, I was really starting to enjoy a character, who was sort of everyone’s favorite uncle. But it turned out (much to my dismay!) that he was the corpse! Of course, I’m so used to the corpse being someone that everyone hates that it was interesting to watch Marsh build a plot around a corpse that everyone really did actually love. Although I would have enjoyed seeing him become a recurring character, alas, his fate was to die to move the plot along.
I also finally got around to picking up a book that I’d picked up at Crime Bake, Murder at the Wham Bam Club. I picked it up because the book is set in the 1920s, which is my current sweet spot for mysteries, and because the protagonists were all Black. What I hadn’t realized was that our amateur detective was going to be psychic (one of my pet peeves is supernatural help with detecting). And her auntie is the local HooDoo practitioner. But, as it turns out, the author was writing what she knows. Her author bio says she is a Reiki master, a psychic medium and a Professor at Berklee College of Music Online. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music, she has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony and represented her country as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. When she is not writing, performing, or offering Reiki to students at Berklee, she maintains a private practice in healing and mediumship. It wasn’t a bad book, but there were enough weaknesses that I don’t think I’ll be buying any of her other books. There were lots of info dumps that just didn’t make sense. Like the heroine had been working for a catering company for eleven months, but for some reason, when they work a gig for their best customer, a woman who hires them at least once a month, her boss is busy explaining to her who the woman is and how to act when she’s in their house. Because somehow she’s never been there in the past eleven months? That sort of thing just doesn’t make sense. I know the author was trying to tell the reader about the client, but repeating things to the character that she should already know is a clumsy way of doing it. It violates the advice “show, don’t tell” that you hear so often when writing fiction.
I also recently picked up Richard Osman's We Solve Murders. He's the fellow who wrote Thursday Murder Club series, which are good fun, but this is not part of that series. I'd picked this one up a while back, read the back of the book, and put it back on the TBR pile. No idea why I didn't read it before, it was just as good as the Thursday Murder Club books, just a new set of people thrown together to solve a murder or two. I have to say, for someone who is only 55 years old, Osman really understands how to write older/elderly characters and their feelings about being retired and/or widowed. Plus, he’s one of the few murder writers who can make me laugh out loud.
In one of Ngaio Marsh’s books that I read recently, I was really starting to enjoy a character, who was sort of everyone’s favorite uncle. But it turned out (much to my dismay!) that he was the corpse! Of course, I’m so used to the corpse being someone that everyone hates that it was interesting to watch Marsh build a plot around a corpse that everyone really did actually love. Although I would have enjoyed seeing him become a recurring character, alas, his fate was to die to move the plot along.
I also finally got around to picking up a book that I’d picked up at Crime Bake, Murder at the Wham Bam Club. I picked it up because the book is set in the 1920s, which is my current sweet spot for mysteries, and because the protagonists were all Black. What I hadn’t realized was that our amateur detective was going to be psychic (one of my pet peeves is supernatural help with detecting). And her auntie is the local HooDoo practitioner. But, as it turns out, the author was writing what she knows. Her author bio says she is a Reiki master, a psychic medium and a Professor at Berklee College of Music Online. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music, she has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony and represented her country as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. When she is not writing, performing, or offering Reiki to students at Berklee, she maintains a private practice in healing and mediumship. It wasn’t a bad book, but there were enough weaknesses that I don’t think I’ll be buying any of her other books. There were lots of info dumps that just didn’t make sense. Like the heroine had been working for a catering company for eleven months, but for some reason, when they work a gig for their best customer, a woman who hires them at least once a month, her boss is busy explaining to her who the woman is and how to act when she’s in their house. Because somehow she’s never been there in the past eleven months? That sort of thing just doesn’t make sense. I know the author was trying to tell the reader about the client, but repeating things to the character that she should already know is a clumsy way of doing it. It violates the advice “show, don’t tell” that you hear so often when writing fiction.
I also recently picked up Richard Osman's We Solve Murders. He's the fellow who wrote Thursday Murder Club series, which are good fun, but this is not part of that series. I'd picked this one up a while back, read the back of the book, and put it back on the TBR pile. No idea why I didn't read it before, it was just as good as the Thursday Murder Club books, just a new set of people thrown together to solve a murder or two. I have to say, for someone who is only 55 years old, Osman really understands how to write older/elderly characters and their feelings about being retired and/or widowed. Plus, he’s one of the few murder writers who can make me laugh out loud.
(no subject)
Mar. 2nd, 2026 02:16 pmtotchipandaI started writing a post on Friday about how I wanted to be more mindful with my weekend buuuut I got sucked into a game and it just sat on my work computer all weekend. Ah well.
So, weekend recap. Trick and I watched a slime recording of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the musical (which our baby boy Jack Wolfe starred in) on Friday night. All I knew about it was one song, that it was a book and then a movie, and that the titular character goes for a walk and then goes for a heckin' walk. I was not expecting it to be so deep and dark. Trick sobbed through the last ten minutes while I made :( :( :( faces. Wow.
Saturday I kind of bummed around a bit as I was in short-term waiting mode. I started setting up my March pages by writing "New York City hangover... Take me back..." on the blank Febraury pages post-trip. My aunt and dad stopped by just after 1pm with her pattern collection, as her eyesight has become too poor for her to sew anymore. There's some gooders in there! A number of Folkwear and Truly Victorian ones, one RH (hissssss), one from Past Patterns, a bunch of big 4 costume patterns including some I needed to replace after the flood. She said that any that I don't want and can't re-home, to take them to the fabric sale at the church down the street at the end of April. I might actually get to go to that fabric sale this year as it's always the same weekend we go to the South City 3 hours away, but so far this year they have not announced anyone that makes me want to go (after spending $$$ in NYC, on my health, and also I'd like to get my brakes done before I do another long trip
Sunday I spent most of the day just bumming around after waking up at 6 am with the "i am not going to get back to sleep for 3 or more hours" feeling. Got out of bed at like 11am lol. At some point I did put FOUR needles worth of thread into the cross stitch, yay me.
Today I ordered fabric for one of K's requested dresses. It was a heckin' challenge to find it from a semi-local place that took Paypal, but I did it. Remains to be seen if they will fulfill. At lunch today I printed out scaled copies of the pattern pieces and did a mock up to see if it would work on 44" wide fabric. K is shorter than me, so I think it can work.
While I was filling the coffee machines, I was thinking about how being depressed makes it hard to do my hobbies, which would help me feel not-depressed. It's a terrible cycle, and I am going to be talking to my therapist this week so I will likely bring that up lol. Gonna keep trying to do the thing. One of these days, it will stick.
So, weekend recap. Trick and I watched a slime recording of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the musical (which our baby boy Jack Wolfe starred in) on Friday night. All I knew about it was one song, that it was a book and then a movie, and that the titular character goes for a walk and then goes for a heckin' walk. I was not expecting it to be so deep and dark. Trick sobbed through the last ten minutes while I made :( :( :( faces. Wow.
Saturday I kind of bummed around a bit as I was in short-term waiting mode. I started setting up my March pages by writing "New York City hangover... Take me back..." on the blank Febraury pages post-trip. My aunt and dad stopped by just after 1pm with her pattern collection, as her eyesight has become too poor for her to sew anymore. There's some gooders in there! A number of Folkwear and Truly Victorian ones, one RH (hissssss), one from Past Patterns, a bunch of big 4 costume patterns including some I needed to replace after the flood. She said that any that I don't want and can't re-home, to take them to the fabric sale at the church down the street at the end of April. I might actually get to go to that fabric sale this year as it's always the same weekend we go to the South City 3 hours away, but so far this year they have not announced anyone that makes me want to go (after spending $$$ in NYC, on my health, and also I'd like to get my brakes done before I do another long trip
Sunday I spent most of the day just bumming around after waking up at 6 am with the "i am not going to get back to sleep for 3 or more hours" feeling. Got out of bed at like 11am lol. At some point I did put FOUR needles worth of thread into the cross stitch, yay me.
Today I ordered fabric for one of K's requested dresses. It was a heckin' challenge to find it from a semi-local place that took Paypal, but I did it. Remains to be seen if they will fulfill. At lunch today I printed out scaled copies of the pattern pieces and did a mock up to see if it would work on 44" wide fabric. K is shorter than me, so I think it can work.
While I was filling the coffee machines, I was thinking about how being depressed makes it hard to do my hobbies, which would help me feel not-depressed. It's a terrible cycle, and I am going to be talking to my therapist this week so I will likely bring that up lol. Gonna keep trying to do the thing. One of these days, it will stick.
Sigh
Mar. 1st, 2026 01:16 pmkoshka_the_catIt's supposed to get to 85 today. I'm so tired of perpetual summer. But climate change isn't real...
Finishing Up
Mar. 1st, 2026 06:58 amatherleisureI finished off the 1878 bathing suit Thursday night and finished the 1930's geometric sweater last night. The goal for tonight is to finish hemming dresses for band freshmen and then to take a little off the top edge of my 1890's corset.
And if anyone noticed that there wasn't an update on the cross-stitching, it's because I've barely worked on it since the last update. I've been busy with other things.
And if anyone noticed that there wasn't an update on the cross-stitching, it's because I've barely worked on it since the last update. I've been busy with other things.
But...
Feb. 28th, 2026 06:22 pmkoshka_the_catThe world is falling even more apart, but my mom and I saw Spamalot today which was a very welcome and diverting two hours! I had seen it before, but the shortened for Las Vegas version, and a very long time ago. It was highly entertaining!
Also, the theater had booster seat cushions. My mom noticed another short woman with one and sent me to get them. Very comfortable and it was easier to see! They fit perfectly in the seats and my little feet dangled like I'm used to...
Also, the theater had booster seat cushions. My mom noticed another short woman with one and sent me to get them. Very comfortable and it was easier to see! They fit perfectly in the seats and my little feet dangled like I'm used to...
Long day
Feb. 27th, 2026 06:56 pmkoshka_the_catWork, every other week protest, then I helped my mom find a place she needs to go, then made dinner. I'm glad it's the weekend!
Today's AI post (only it's robots, not AI)
Feb. 27th, 2026 12:47 pmbrickhousewenchWhen I pulled up to Massage Envy for my appointment today, there was a huge truck parked in front of the storefront, and packing cases all over the sidewalk and in the reception area.
I walked in the front door and asked, "What in tarnation is going on here?"
The receptionist said they were delivering the massage robot, as if I was supposed to know about that. I had not heard about this yet (Jenny filled me in during my massage). A woman I did not recognize said something about Tom Brady being the chief innovation officer for the company. I laughed and said, "He's a football player, what does he know about robots?" She said something about he knows about wellness. Well yes, but that has ZERO to do with building robots or the software to run them. But I didn't say that out loud, because I sort of figured she might be the owner (and I was right) and I didn't want to say anything negative about what was probably a very expensive new purchase.
They're testing the robots (which are essentially more complicated massage chairs) because they're having trouble hiring massage therapists. A lot of massage schools have shut down in recent years, so there aren't enough therapists to fill all the open positions. Jenny said that she hadn't mentioned the robots to me, because she hadn't thought I'd be interested. And she's right. There's no way I'd let a robot touch me, not in the early development stages anyway. I know how buggy early software is, I'm not letting some robotic arm pummel me that's driven by software, even if you are supposed to have a tablet that lets you control it. Maybe in five years. But the prototype? Aw hell no.
The website, just in case you want to look at the thing.
https://www.aescape.com/massages
I walked in the front door and asked, "What in tarnation is going on here?"
The receptionist said they were delivering the massage robot, as if I was supposed to know about that. I had not heard about this yet (Jenny filled me in during my massage). A woman I did not recognize said something about Tom Brady being the chief innovation officer for the company. I laughed and said, "He's a football player, what does he know about robots?" She said something about he knows about wellness. Well yes, but that has ZERO to do with building robots or the software to run them. But I didn't say that out loud, because I sort of figured she might be the owner (and I was right) and I didn't want to say anything negative about what was probably a very expensive new purchase.
They're testing the robots (which are essentially more complicated massage chairs) because they're having trouble hiring massage therapists. A lot of massage schools have shut down in recent years, so there aren't enough therapists to fill all the open positions. Jenny said that she hadn't mentioned the robots to me, because she hadn't thought I'd be interested. And she's right. There's no way I'd let a robot touch me, not in the early development stages anyway. I know how buggy early software is, I'm not letting some robotic arm pummel me that's driven by software, even if you are supposed to have a tablet that lets you control it. Maybe in five years. But the prototype? Aw hell no.
The website, just in case you want to look at the thing.
https://www.aescape.com/massages
Pattern gluing...
Feb. 26th, 2026 05:48 pmkoshka_the_catI took advantage of a cat free area and glued the 30s dress pattern together at work. I did part Monday and part yesterday. I'll bring it home tomorrow. The skirt is large and awkward. I held it up to me and it's almost ankle length. I think the seahorse dress skirt was almost ankle length too. I'm so short...
Bathing Bag Started
Feb. 26th, 2026 06:08 pmatherleisureI started a bag for bathing (i.e., swimming) from a pattern published in Weldon's Practical Knitting in 1896. It should be a pretty quick project. I've done the first eighth of the first side in about an hour. I don't intend to have this project in progress for more than a couple of weeks, but we've seen how my Victorian bathing suit has gone. (That should be finished tonight, I hope!)
Whee!
Feb. 26th, 2026 05:56 pmbrickhousewenchAI really is becoming the bane of my technical writing existence this month. =P
One of our bleeding edge Technical Writers wrote a really nice post on Slack today about how we should not be worrying about keeping up with all the technology, that just focusing on a few simple things (editing topics, writing new topics) is all we should really be doing. Because trying to keep up with all the new technologies is too much, and we’re only human. And then he shared this file he uses to have AI check work against our Style Guide (SO useful!).
One of my coworkers thanked him, saying “You've lowered my blood pressure with a single post.”
I saved it to read again later when I need a reality check. It really was THAT good.
I just wish he hadn’t said, “Get really good at 1 and 2 [editing and creating topics] and your productivity will be 100x more.” Because I don’t want anyone to think that it’s humanly possible to be 100 times more productive. Even with AI. Especially because I just read an article last week about a study that found that “AI adoption increases labour productivity levels by 4% on average in the EU”. And that four percent is actually higher than the last study I saw, which IIRC (I can’t find it) was somewhere in the 2% productivity growth range.
* le sigh *
One of our bleeding edge Technical Writers wrote a really nice post on Slack today about how we should not be worrying about keeping up with all the technology, that just focusing on a few simple things (editing topics, writing new topics) is all we should really be doing. Because trying to keep up with all the new technologies is too much, and we’re only human. And then he shared this file he uses to have AI check work against our Style Guide (SO useful!).
One of my coworkers thanked him, saying “You've lowered my blood pressure with a single post.”
I saved it to read again later when I need a reality check. It really was THAT good.
I just wish he hadn’t said, “Get really good at 1 and 2 [editing and creating topics] and your productivity will be 100x more.” Because I don’t want anyone to think that it’s humanly possible to be 100 times more productive. Even with AI. Especially because I just read an article last week about a study that found that “AI adoption increases labour productivity levels by 4% on average in the EU”. And that four percent is actually higher than the last study I saw, which IIRC (I can’t find it) was somewhere in the 2% productivity growth range.
* le sigh *
(no subject)
Feb. 26th, 2026 11:29 amtotchipandaTuesday: slept fine, but had dance class. I am considering that as part of my 100 days, because it's out of the norm and moving my body in a creative way.
Wednesday: awake early again, damnit. Going to count looking at my journal and considering what to do with the next month(s) towards the 100 days. I skipped the last two deliveries because of NYC, so I'm going to get headers for the "free" pack I got last fall, and will likely order a smaller set for April and get back on track this month.
OK I started writing this before lunch and while I was nomming, I got a call from one of the companies I'd applied to. Just a screening, they will let me know if they want to go ahead with an in-person interview. I am heckin' distracted because my phone died after the call and I couldn't "dump out". I'm good now.
QPP reached out and offered me $$ for outsourcing some of their sewing/knitting/crochet and I am happy to do so! I'd do it for free labour/cost of materials but I also shared that my budget was teeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible and they've done this for me before to be able to like, live. Also I can't do my own work, but I can absolutely do someone else's? IDK spicy brains are spicy. If it works, it works. So we are currently discussing fabric options. QPP lives in the US and cross-border shipping of fabric could get pricey right now.
Wednesday: awake early again, damnit. Going to count looking at my journal and considering what to do with the next month(s) towards the 100 days. I skipped the last two deliveries because of NYC, so I'm going to get headers for the "free" pack I got last fall, and will likely order a smaller set for April and get back on track this month.
OK I started writing this before lunch and while I was nomming, I got a call from one of the companies I'd applied to. Just a screening, they will let me know if they want to go ahead with an in-person interview. I am heckin' distracted because my phone died after the call and I couldn't "dump out". I'm good now.
QPP reached out and offered me $$ for outsourcing some of their sewing/knitting/crochet and I am happy to do so! I'd do it for free labour/cost of materials but I also shared that my budget was teeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible and they've done this for me before to be able to like, live. Also I can't do my own work, but I can absolutely do someone else's? IDK spicy brains are spicy. If it works, it works. So we are currently discussing fabric options. QPP lives in the US and cross-border shipping of fabric could get pricey right now.
Called home
Feb. 26th, 2026 10:06 ambrickhousewenchI called mom and dad last night. Just to follow up on mom's call about the storm. She's said she was going to call back to find out how much snow we got, and neither of us thought to do it on Tuesday. I really just wanted to let her know that even though RI got three feet, I was fine. And had gotten less snow that other parts of Lowell.
dredpiratebunny lives on the other side of town and said the snow was up to her knees (She's over six foot tall). A coworker in Dracut said she got at least a foot of snow. So I guess Frogholm really did manage to miss the worst part of the storm somehow!
dredpiratebunny lives on the other side of town and said the snow was up to her knees (She's over six foot tall). A coworker in Dracut said she got at least a foot of snow. So I guess Frogholm really did manage to miss the worst part of the storm somehow!I worry about myself sometimes...
Feb. 25th, 2026 05:59 pmkoshka_the_catI left work a little early to pick up the school credit card.
There was a note on the district office door to ring the doorbell and stand with your ID showing, and call if no one comes. I pushed the big glass circle, I pressed the box below the circle. Neither felt pushable, but I tried. Nothing happened.
I called. I spoke to someone who wasn't there who called someone to let me in.
Then I noticed a very obvious round circle beneath the the glass circle. Clearly the doorbell.
The woman who came to the door asked why I didn't push the buzzer. The woman who gave me the credit card asked. I just said I don't know what happened, I tried pushing it. Which is true. I didn't feel like I needed to explain that I pressed the lens and a random box
Oh, oops? 😂
There was a note on the district office door to ring the doorbell and stand with your ID showing, and call if no one comes. I pushed the big glass circle, I pressed the box below the circle. Neither felt pushable, but I tried. Nothing happened.
I called. I spoke to someone who wasn't there who called someone to let me in.
Then I noticed a very obvious round circle beneath the the glass circle. Clearly the doorbell.
The woman who came to the door asked why I didn't push the buzzer. The woman who gave me the credit card asked. I just said I don't know what happened, I tried pushing it. Which is true. I didn't feel like I needed to explain that I pressed the lens and a random box
Oh, oops? 😂
Ugh
Feb. 24th, 2026 07:15 pmkoshka_the_catI'm still a little sore from the not-an-accident yesterday. I can't imagine what an actual accident must feel like.
I've wasted too much time looking up other cases of automatic braking braking unnecessarily. The internet is full of anecdata on it.
Anyway, my already long following distances are getting longer because I'm worried about other people's cars getting confronted with fluttering objects and stopping. Which probably means more people will cut in front of me. Whatever.
I'm kind of surprised how much this has gotten to me. Sigh.
I've wasted too much time looking up other cases of automatic braking braking unnecessarily. The internet is full of anecdata on it.
Anyway, my already long following distances are getting longer because I'm worried about other people's cars getting confronted with fluttering objects and stopping. Which probably means more people will cut in front of me. Whatever.
I'm kind of surprised how much this has gotten to me. Sigh.
Buttonholes
Feb. 24th, 2026 08:54 pmatherleisureI finally started the buttonholes on my 1878 bathing suit. Three more buttonholes and nine buttons will finish the project. It ought to be finished by the end of the week.
Weekend Update
Feb. 24th, 2026 07:24 pmbrickhousewenchSince they were predicting a huge snowstorm here for Monday, last weekend I really pushed myself to try to get stuff done around the house that I might not be able to do until we got ourselves dug out.
Saturday morning I ran out to Mann Orchards and Thwaites Market and picked up some salad greens and ready made food (because I hate cooking for one). Because we’d had about four inches of sticky snow overnight, I was driving through a winter wonderland. All the trees and bushes were frosted with snow. But I was having trouble enjoying it because I’m still pissed at our Property Manager and snow reminds me of the whole kerfluffle. I need to get that out of my system so I can at least enjoy a pretty snowfall again.
I hauled a bunch of stuff out to the dumpster. Kitchen trash, a box of purged papers, and lots of empty cardboard boxes. I checked the dates on food in the fridge and found a few things past their expiration date, so those went out too. I also did a bunch of laundry, washed my sheets and all my bedding, bath towels, whites and darks. Next weekend, when it’s warmer out, I’m going to have to wash my fleece vests and winter coat, because I’ve been sweating whilst clearing off the cars and they could use a wash.
I also made a run out to Target and picked up a few things there, and a grocery run to Hannaford, for milk and other perishables.
At the start of the weekend I was facing a huge pile of dirty dishes and almost all of my silverware was dirty. And I think I was down to my last emergency spoon. I’ve got all the dishes done, the only dirty dishes are the ones I’ve used today. And I put away a bunch of stuff that was sitting out on the counters. I haven’t had this much counter space clear in quite a while. That was probably my biggest achievement this weekend. Tackling the kitchen for twenty minutes, then taking a break, then back to the kitchen again, even when I didn’t feel like it. Go me! *\0/*
Saturday morning I ran out to Mann Orchards and Thwaites Market and picked up some salad greens and ready made food (because I hate cooking for one). Because we’d had about four inches of sticky snow overnight, I was driving through a winter wonderland. All the trees and bushes were frosted with snow. But I was having trouble enjoying it because I’m still pissed at our Property Manager and snow reminds me of the whole kerfluffle. I need to get that out of my system so I can at least enjoy a pretty snowfall again.
I hauled a bunch of stuff out to the dumpster. Kitchen trash, a box of purged papers, and lots of empty cardboard boxes. I checked the dates on food in the fridge and found a few things past their expiration date, so those went out too. I also did a bunch of laundry, washed my sheets and all my bedding, bath towels, whites and darks. Next weekend, when it’s warmer out, I’m going to have to wash my fleece vests and winter coat, because I’ve been sweating whilst clearing off the cars and they could use a wash.
I also made a run out to Target and picked up a few things there, and a grocery run to Hannaford, for milk and other perishables.
At the start of the weekend I was facing a huge pile of dirty dishes and almost all of my silverware was dirty. And I think I was down to my last emergency spoon. I’ve got all the dishes done, the only dirty dishes are the ones I’ve used today. And I put away a bunch of stuff that was sitting out on the counters. I haven’t had this much counter space clear in quite a while. That was probably my biggest achievement this weekend. Tackling the kitchen for twenty minutes, then taking a break, then back to the kitchen again, even when I didn’t feel like it. Go me! *\0/*
snow totals?
Feb. 24th, 2026 10:39 ambrickhousewenchI have absolutely no idea how much total snow we got yesterday. Things blew around way too much. I had maybe two inches of snow on the roof of one car, maybe an inch of snow on the roof of the other car, and drifts on the hoods and between cars.
My best guesstimate is that we didn't get more than six inches. But I have no way to verify that, other than my best guess.
My best guesstimate is that we didn't get more than six inches. But I have no way to verify that, other than my best guess.
So
Feb. 23rd, 2026 04:25 pmkoshka_the_catRemember how on Friday an actual car pulled in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes and the automatic braking system was all meh?
This morning, a small yellow plastic bag fluttered in front of my car, the auto braking started beeping, and the brakes slammed so hard that my things flew everywhere, coffee spilled, the Jeep behind me nearly rear ended me, and flung me forward enough that my hip, back, and shoulder hurt. I was so flustered with the force and the beeps from the car and all the cars beeping at me that I couldn't even figure out how to make the car move for a few moments.
I'm seriously considering trading it in for a ten to fifteen year old car. Except I also don't want ten to fifteen year old car issues. That's why I got this car.
Anyway, it was a long day and I'm happy to be home and still have the heating pad on my still sore shoulder.
The first thing I did when I got in my car on the way home was turn the auto braking off. I don't think I'd feel safe in a car with it again.
This morning, a small yellow plastic bag fluttered in front of my car, the auto braking started beeping, and the brakes slammed so hard that my things flew everywhere, coffee spilled, the Jeep behind me nearly rear ended me, and flung me forward enough that my hip, back, and shoulder hurt. I was so flustered with the force and the beeps from the car and all the cars beeping at me that I couldn't even figure out how to make the car move for a few moments.
I'm seriously considering trading it in for a ten to fifteen year old car. Except I also don't want ten to fifteen year old car issues. That's why I got this car.
Anyway, it was a long day and I'm happy to be home and still have the heating pad on my still sore shoulder.
The first thing I did when I got in my car on the way home was turn the auto braking off. I don't think I'd feel safe in a car with it again.
I can read my own weather report
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:36 ambrickhousewenchOh, forgot to mention that mom called last night to see how much snow we'd gotten already.
I'd been out to haul stuff to the dumpster and make a grocery run and had gotten back around 7:00 pm. Mom called around 8:00 to see how much snow we'd gotten? When I told her it hadn't started snowing yet, she asked if I was sure. I said I'd been outside in the past hour and she accepted that.
I said we were supposed to get 13 inches (6" on Sunday night, 7" over Monday) and she said, "No you're not, you're supposed to get two feet!" I told her that I'd been checking the forecast hourly all day, and that while they were forecasting more snow south of me, I hadn't heard anything about two feet for my area.
Lord, at my age you'd think she'd trust me to check my own weather forecast without her calling to warn me that the Snowpocaplyse is coming. She said she'll call back tonight to check how much snow we got.
She also asked about power outages. I told her I'm just down the road from the Water Company, so even when I lose power, I get it back pretty quickly.
I think she might be bored.
I'd been out to haul stuff to the dumpster and make a grocery run and had gotten back around 7:00 pm. Mom called around 8:00 to see how much snow we'd gotten? When I told her it hadn't started snowing yet, she asked if I was sure. I said I'd been outside in the past hour and she accepted that.
I said we were supposed to get 13 inches (6" on Sunday night, 7" over Monday) and she said, "No you're not, you're supposed to get two feet!" I told her that I'd been checking the forecast hourly all day, and that while they were forecasting more snow south of me, I hadn't heard anything about two feet for my area.
Lord, at my age you'd think she'd trust me to check my own weather forecast without her calling to warn me that the Snowpocaplyse is coming. She said she'll call back tonight to check how much snow we got.
She also asked about power outages. I told her I'm just down the road from the Water Company, so even when I lose power, I get it back pretty quickly.
I think she might be bored.