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Post by souphound on Apr 7, 2024 20:27:17 GMT
I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow's total solar eclipse, the first with my city in its path since 1932 (no, I wasn't around for that one ). Astronomy in general has had a special place in my heart for ages and so, I'm pretty aware of what to expect, but still, a singular event for many around here. I'm planning of going in to the office and witnessing the shadow engulf the surroundings from the 25th floor - I can already pretty well see in my head what will be happening in the sky and there is a large number of organized public viewing spaces set up, but I want to witness a different aspect. Anyone else affected? Have you ever witnessed one? Thoughts?
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Post by sloopjohnc on Apr 9, 2024 14:12:45 GMT
So my wanderlust son has taken off again. He sure finds interesting living situations. He left Ohio a little over a month ago because his IG friend was going to live with him. He brought his mom to live with him, who was allegedly only going to visit, but stayed. They used to scream in Turkish at each other so my son did a reset and came to live with me. At first, he wanted to take a two-year small business management at the local community college, which is quite good, and start his own business, insurance or something like that - he's into money, which I'm not. He got a part-time job at a local hardware store, which was great. He was signed up to take an English class before really getting going in the Fall semester. He could bank money at the job and build up some goodwill when he had to take full-time classes.
I thought it showed a newfound mature patience. It was short-lived. He took off yesterday and is buying a vape shop in Pensacola, FL. Like Eugene, OR, with its dispensaries and tattoo shops, you can't throw a rock in Florida without hitting a vape shop. I tried telling him if he wanted to buy a business, explore something with less competition.
He's driving to Ohio, to hook up with another friend and then they're going to Pensacola. Looks like they have an apartment.
I give him a year at most before he comes back. I have an extra laptop I was going to give him so he could install some bookkeeping software and do the books, but he said he doesn't need it. On the flip side, apparently the shop owner is going to stick around a little and help get them going. I'm going to send him the laptop when he discovers it's indispensable to doing business.
Oy vey.
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rayge
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Posts: 8,804
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Post by rayge on Apr 9, 2024 18:29:10 GMT
While I was crossing the street with Scrap on Saturday lunchtime, my left ankle exploded. I'd damaged the achilles tendon in my right foot about ten years ago, so I knew what the problem was. Managed to walk home (mile and a half maybe) but in a lot of pain, whic gradually lessened over the next 48 hours, as I managed to find ways to hobble about, get up and down stairs, and so on (although no gardening, no carrying anything, no dog walking as yet).
Em & I are due to head back to France on May 21 to finish off the job we started back in September, so that we can get the rest of her belongings (incuding maybe 10,000 CDs) packed up to ship back to Blighty, and she can finally put the house on the market; it really has to be sold before we can spend any money at all on the place we live, or in stretching out in any way. I thought it would be good to find out if there was anything I could do to speed up healing before I left. Local GP offered me a physio's appointment on May 1, which I took pro tem. I phoned up a local foot clinic, and they wanted £80 just to speak to an expert, so I declined. I phoned the local NHS helpline, but they wouldn't - perfectly reasonably - find me a physiotherapist until I'd had a clinical assessment, so off to A&E at Musgrove Hospital (where our very own fonz once doctored). The guy there did a quick test and announced that my achilles had ruptured. The only possible treatments, which they recommended, were a surgical boot or plaster which I would have to wear for six weeks - i.e. until I left for France. I would not be able to walk in that time. So I left, refusing treatment. Just going to have to rely once again on my better than average healing ability and perhaps get used to the possibility that my abilities to stand on tiptoe, run on my toes or jump upwards will be permanently impaired. When I got back, I rang my oldest mate, Clive, at his place in rural Wales, for a chat, and found out that at more or less the same time as I got injured on Saturday, his wife, Mo, had fainted and fallen in their bathroom, breaking her hip. Took three and a half hours for an ambulance to get there, and the best part of another hour to get her out of the house and on the way to hospital, ten miles away in Aberystwyth. Mo is the only driver in the group, so Clive and his son, Sean, have to get a taxi in to see her. There is a bus, but it's on the other side of the valley, and getting to the stop involves a steep long climb that Clive can't easily manage - he had pleurisy a few years ago, which finally made him give up smoking, and his breathing isn't quite up to it.
it never rains...
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Post by Charlie O. on Apr 9, 2024 22:04:11 GMT
Ugh. Fingers crossed, Ray.
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Post by fonz on Apr 10, 2024 5:38:22 GMT
Sorry to hear about your ankle/achilles tendon etc
Don’t overdo it, activity-wise. I suspect your body will tell you when you’re pushing things too far. Stairs will probably be your enemy!
10000 cds though. Probably some good ones amongst that lot…
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Apr 10, 2024 10:46:16 GMT
Bad news and timing, Ray. Try to rest the ankle as much as you can, with cold compresses and keeping it elevated. Are you certain that you wouldn't be able to walk in the boot they could've given you? I see people hobbling around in those things quite frequently - especially during winter when things get icy and slips and falls are more common.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 10, 2024 11:31:08 GMT
Sorry to hear this, Ray.
Yeah, get as much rest as you can before you go back to France - although I suppose the ankle needs at least some exercise occasionally.
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Post by sloopjohnc on Apr 10, 2024 16:13:54 GMT
While I was crossing the street with Scrap on Saturday lunchtime, my left ankle exploded. I'd damaged the achilles tendon in my right foot about ten years ago, so I knew what the problem was. Managed to walk home (mile and a half maybe) but in a lot of pain, whic gradually lessened over the next 48 hours, as I managed to find ways to hobble about, get up and down stairs, and so on (although no gardening, no carrying anything, no dog walking as yet).
Em & I are due to head back to France on May 21 to finish off the job we started back in September, so that we can get the rest of her belongings (incuding maybe 10,000 CDs) packed up to ship back to Blighty, and she can finally put the house on the market; it really has to be sold before we can spend any money at all on the place we live, or in stretching out in any way. I thought it would be good to find out if there was anything I could do to speed up healing before I left. Local GP offered me a physio's appointment on May 1, which I took pro tem. I phoned up a local foot clinic, and they wanted £80 just to speak to an expert, so I declined. I phoned the local NHS helpline, but they wouldn't - perfectly reasonably - find me a physiotherapist until I'd had a clinical assessment, so off to A&E at Musgrove Hospital (where our very own fonz once doctored). The guy there did a quick test and announced that my achilles had ruptured. The only possible treatments, which they recommended, were a surgical boot or plaster which I would have to wear for six weeks - i.e. until I left for France. I would not be able to walk in that time. So I left, refusing treatment. Just going to have to rely once again on my better than average healing ability and perhaps get used to the possibility that my abilities to stand on tiptoe, run on my toes or jump upwards will be permanently impaired. When I got back, I rang my oldest mate, Clive, at his place in rural Wales, for a chat, and found out that at more or less the same time as I got injured on Saturday, his wife, Mo, had fainted and fallen in their bathroom, breaking her hip. Took three and a half hours for an ambulance to get there, and the best part of another hour to get her out of the house and on the way to hospital, ten miles away in Aberystwyth. Mo is the only driver in the group, so Clive and his son, Sean, have to get a taxi in to see her. There is a bus, but it's on the other side of the valley, and getting to the stop involves a steep long climb that Clive can't easily manage - he had pleurisy a few years ago, which finally made him give up smoking, and his breathing isn't quite up to it.
it never rains...
Great ruptured Achilles story, and there aren't many of those going around. Around your age, Ray, my dad ruptured his Achilles too. He had surgery and was laid up for a good couple of months. When he was recovering, I invited him to a local minor league baseball game. I dropped him off at the front of the stadium, went and found parking and then led him, hobbling and shuffling to our seats. Minor league games have a bunch of dumb, fun promotions and the San Jose Giants have one called the beer batter. If the home team pitcher strikes out the clean up hitter from the visiting team, it's discounted beers for the next 15 minutes. The beer batter stuck out and guys from the stands rushed out to the concession stands to claim their discounted beers. I looked at my dad's seat and it was suddenly vacant. I was enjoying myself, so I sat and watched the game. 15 minutes later, my dad comes walking up, barely limping, with two beers and hands one to me. I looked at him, made a Carl Lewis reference and asked him if his surgeon had suggested beer as part of an accelerated recovery program.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 15, 2024 8:06:31 GMT
I'm in BLACKPOOL and it's raining.
Checked into the Hotel Imperial (the only place to stay, here) yesterday and staying three nights while a guest complains about my Whitehaven flat.
Most things have been terribly disappointing so far but I will SOLDIER ON.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 15, 2024 8:17:55 GMT
It's repulsive watching people eat at close quarters, isn't it?
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Post by DarknessFish on Apr 15, 2024 8:36:39 GMT
OOooo, the Imperial Hotel, that's where all the politicians used to stop when they had party conferences in Blackpool. 4 star hotel. You're not getting the authentic Blackpool experience there.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 15, 2024 8:48:32 GMT
It's pretty run down. There are some lovely old features but much of it is tatty too. The bedside light sockets are properly old - those (pre-war) small two-hole things you almost never see today.
I went out to this new noodle bar last night - there was a very enthusiastic review by Jay Rayner in the Guardian recently - but it was rubbish. Just me and a couple of pissed-up Scouse women making a racket, and the ramen was poo.
The tide's out now so I'll go for a 'bracing walk' (it's blowing a gale) and then wander round the shops.
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Post by DarknessFish on Apr 15, 2024 11:08:43 GMT
To be fair, I quite like Blackpool when it's blowing a gale and the sea comes crashing over the wall. It's about the only time it's acceptable. I couldn't think of anywhere pleasant to eat there, there might be something near the pubs and clubs off the north pier if you're lucky.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 15, 2024 11:28:05 GMT
This place is great www.yorkshirefisheries.co.uk/and the Akash - same street - is a decent old-style Indian restaurant. Seriously strong winds now, mind. The kind where you get physically pushed down the street by the gusts. Bins and posters flying about. Maybe I'll head down the JOE LONGTHORNE THEATRE
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Post by fonz on Apr 16, 2024 7:13:54 GMT
It's pretty run down. There are some lovely old features but much of it is tatty too. The bedside light sockets are properly old - those (pre-war) small two-hole things you almost never see today. I went out to this new noodle bar last night - there was a very enthusiastic review by Jay Rayner in the Guardian recently - but it was rubbish. Just me and a couple of pissed-up Scouse women making a racket, and the ramen was poo. The tide's out now so I'll go for a 'bracing walk' (it's blowing a gale) and then wander round the shops. Stick around a bit longer (!) for the ILLUMINATIONS!
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