random assortment of recent things

[unicornduke]

 I got groceries this morning because it was today or tomorrow since Lucy (dog I'm dogsitting) was almost out of food and there's a 30% chance of snow/rain wed night into thurs. I also was almost out of yogurt and while I totally want to make yogurt, right now it really won't work well because of the dog logistics.

This morning I hit snooze on my phone and Lucy moved around in her little dog bed and jingled her collar, which made Mara start moving around, who startled the cat who was standing on the couch with me and prompted her to try and leave via my computer which was on the coffee table. So I was suddenly blinded by my computer starting and seeing the cat in front of my face. 

Then I fed the dogs and the cat, starting with the dogs and then the cat harasses me for wet food the whole way, but she's fed in the living room and the dogs are fed in the kitchen. so many cat screams. 

Lucy is finally calming down whenever I come in the house or talk to her. I started giving her a lot of cheese yesterday and that helped a lot. She also discovered my heated blanket and likes that a lot. 

Mara is bemused constantly but she's being very good. Our morning walks are shorter because Lucy doesn't want to go for a walk with us because I'm still evil apparently and it's been so cold I don't want to have her sitting on the porch shivering. Then I do a long walk mid-day with just Mara to tire her out. Then go down to the house and let Lucy out, give her lots of cheese and just hang out so she wanders around and sniffs things. Then an evening walk where I walk Mara first, then we loop down to the house and let Lucy out for a bit. 

Good thing work isn't busy right now because I'm tired as heck. Other than attending a virtual conference this week.

Have been talking to the other technicians about duties and promotions and things. All three of us have greatly expanded out duties to the point where we are basically doing a different job but we haven't been paid for that job. So I have my performance review soon and I fully plan to push for the title change (and increase in pay) for all three of us. It literally only puts us up a pay band so the increase is a dollar or two an hour more but it's something! I've been chatting with the other techs and the specialists we support have been very encouraging and feel it is the right thing for the team to do. The big part will be the inertia and pushing the team leads to actually make it happen further up the chain. Biggest thing I think will be a push point is that the equivalent team across the state brings in their techs at the higher position.  

I've been watching a lot of olympics right now. The women's tournament is one of the first events of the olympics and there's been 2-4 games a night with the only ones watchable at 8am for me. But the replays are very good and I've spent a lot of time catching up. Plus I've fit in a little bit of watching snowboarding and figure skating. Mostly hockey though. Fun games, especially Group B! I'm currently watching the USA-Canada game that was at 11pm last night (no spoilers!)

Got a couple of sidejob plans done that I was worried about, I'm going to try and get another one or two done this week because I had three more requests come in yesterday. 

Comments

[rose_griffes]

Fist-bump for mutual making of yogurt. At least, I've done so in the past. (I stopped when Trader Joe's showed up in my area and I had better access to inexpensive-ish good quality yogurt.)

[unicornduke]

For me, I eat a decent size bowl of yogurt for breakfast every morning, so making my own is a big cost savings over time, a half gallon of the super high quality milk is $5 which is the price of a quart of the stonyfield whole milk plain that I like. Making it gives me 2 quarts generally, cuts the price in half with a little bit of work. I think I go through a quart a week? something like that. So it adds up and isn't too difficult to be honest. Now that I'm in the new apartment that is much colder by my choice, I think I will need to switch to an instant pot or something that will keep it warmer than my previous "warp in towel and wait"

[rose_griffes]

Yeah, I learned by hard experience that making yogurt in winter versus in summer required different methods. Or rather, modifying the method. I've done a crock pot wrapped in a towel, and I've even done a quart jar wrapped in a hot pad. The crock pot one was my go-to; in summer it stayed warm enough on its own, but in winter I had to plug it back in for a few minutes at a time now and then.

[which_chick]

I did instant pot yogurt before wrist thing and it went well, is good. Probably will not again until I have two hands once more -- instant pot not easy to wrangle one-handed.

[unicornduke]

my instant pot is in storage and I will probably need it to make yogurt given how cold I'm keeping the new place. Hopefully your wrist will heal up fast!