April Fool's Goat (April 2021 Scapegoat Blame Thread)

@njfan Next month…

@njfan You’ve been a worthy opponent…

@DoctorOW Walter is devastated.

@tinamarie1974
Oh, I love that! 🥰

@Kyeh thanks! I was trying to get one where he head butts the ball but I’m not fast enough. Eventually…

@tinamarie1974 The one where he’s up off the ground is pretty cool!

@Kyeh thanks, I just got a like on twitter from Purina for that one! I just wish it wasn’t washed out by the sun

@tinamarie1974 Cool! Maybe someone who knows how could tweak it to get a little more detail back into it? He just looks so joyful leaping around like that!

@Kyeh @tinamarie1974 In whatever default program you have on your camera or on your computer edit it to darken it. Usually more detail comes out when you do that.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh I tried, I didn’t have much luck

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @tinamarie1974 not sure if much of an improvement:

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @RiotDemon I think a little bit, it defines him more. Thanks

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974
If the picture is overexposed, you aren’t getting detail back that isn’t there to start with. You should try turning on your camera’s HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode, or put it on auto and pre-set levels on the brightest area (the siding of the house).

Or put it in “sports” mode if you’re capturing fast action like I think you were. And if you’re raising the ISO speed of the “film” (light sensitivity), shorten the shutter speed (how long you let light in). In most cases, “sports” mode and “bright sun” should do the trick with a modern “smart camera” (aka a phone).

@Kyeh @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974 Yeah I see what you mean. Too bad you can’t put a polarizing filter on your phone camera lens.

@Kyeh @mike808 @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974 Too bad you can’t do much of that stuff on phone cameras. That is where a “real” camera that isn’t point and shoot has a major advantage. Of course one doesn’t usually have one of those with them all the time.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mike808 @RiotDemon thanks, I’ll try sports mode next time see if that does the trick.

KL- I’ve got a couple SLR/DSLR cameras floating around, but it is a lot to try to throw the ball, grab the camera, get the pic. I need a few more hands lol. I may try with one of the “good” cameras on Sunday when the family is over. Someone else can be on ball throwing duty

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974
The modern photo apps (iPhone and Android) have HDR settings, and manual modes for ISO/shutterspeed/aperture as well as presets for “sports”, “landscape”, “night”, “portrait”, auto-flash, etc.

You just need to explore the settings in the app.

@Kyeh @mike808 @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974 My phone is really old so likely not on mine.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974

Gave it a shot myself

@DoctorOW @Kidsandliz @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974 Wow! How about the leaping one?

@DoctorOW @Kidsandliz @Kyeh @RiotDemon that is so much better! Would you mind trying the other one where he is in the air?

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @RiotDemon @tinamarie1974 Not sure if I did much better of a job than above but here you go:

@show_the_maw Umm, pretty sure you’re to blame for her being very pregnant.

@show_the_maw I would have gladly taken the blame for that. You are just a day late.

@Kyeh I don’t know. There’s still a chance @doctorOW could be to blame. Need to wait until July and see what she looks like.

@DoctorOW @Kyeh @show_the_maw
The wife or the kid?

@DoctorOW @Kyeh @mike808 @show_the_maw Ouch!!!

@Davidtrippy Ouch! That’s a bad one!

@Davidtrippy
OUCH! I bet you’ll be feeling something from that one for a while! For whatever reason I have missed clicking it the day after the the last 3 mehrathons, finally broke my streak today, the count goes on!

@Lynnerizer Wow-you hear about stories like that. Glad your mom is OK. DoctorOw is certainly starting off his month with a bang.

@Lynnerizer

Did her computer get wrecked? The photo of where she could have been sitting looks bad. I am sorry she has so much on her plate

@Lynnerizer I’m glad she’s okay - what a close call!

@Lynnerizer terrible, but oh so happy your mama is unscathed

@Felton10 @Lynnerizer Like I get this is the role of a scapegoat but wow what a heavy blame.

@DoctorOW @Felton10 @Lynnerizer Yeah, I think the guidelines actually say the goat ISN’T to be blamed for the really serious bad stuff! I guess it just gives people a place to tell the community about those awful things they’re dealing with and get some sympathy and thoughts and prayers.

@Felton10 @Kyeh @Lynnerizer Well definitely sending my finest vibes. Hope everyone turns out well.

@Felton10
This isn’t the first time it’s happened either, it is the most damage that’s been done though. The huge maple tree in the front lawn usualy gets the brunt of it, this time we think it slowed him down but he only got the bottom limb. Still waiting to hear how the guys making out. My mom’s still pretty pissed off and upset about everything, overwhelmed is the word.

@Kidsandliz
Yes, the computer and phone are out of commission, the shredder is in pieces all over the place!

@DoctorOW @Felton10 @Kyeh
You’re totally correct Kyeh, it’s a bit much for one goat! I actually DID feel a little bad putting the blame on DoctorOW and almost created a new topic for exactly THAT reason. I even waited to post thinking I might’ve been goat myself…
I don’t put this kind of thing on my other social media because those people actually know who I am, here I can have my anonymity and not feel like i’m attention seeking! I so VERY MUCH believe in the power of prayer, along with just putting “good vibes” out there in the universe. The more good vibes, the better the outcome! Thanks for your support, I really love this little community!

@DoctorOW @Felton10
Please don’t take it personal Doc, I really don’t blame YOU! Just in case nothing more exciting happens during your reign/goated month, i’ve made it somewhat memorable for you, right?

@DoctorOW
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause bad feelings, really, I didn’t!!

@Lynnerizer

This isn’t the first time it’s happened either,

Yikes. ??? she at the end of where a road “T’s”? On a sharp curve?

@DoctorOW @Felton10 @Lynnerizer Oh, you aren’t alone - people vent about heavy things all the time from what I’ve seen! Even blame for the pandemic deaths at one point, I think …and I know what you mean, sometimes it’s just nice to be able to tell people what’s weighing on your mind or causing you grief.

@Kidsandliz
She’s actually in a very quiet, OLD neighborhood, the house next door is a historical site. Her house is located on the corner of a four way stop. The speed limit for the entire area is 10-15mph, so no one should be going fast enough to do anywhere THAT MUCH damage! AND, it’s a school zone!! In the past 40 years, since she’s had the house, this is the fourth time someone’s hit her house, yard, tree/shrubs, and it’s not always from the same direction. This is the stop sign the guy blew through this time!

@Kidsandliz
You can see how that huge maple tree really helped the blow. My sister gave her that tree the first year mom bought the house, it’s taken a beating over the years.

@Lynnerizer Looks like she needs an wrought iron fence on both sides of the yard to stop cars before they get close to her house too. And to protect the tree too.

@Kidsandliz @Lynnerizer
Not wrought iron. Railroad track/rails or I-beams.
Something like this stuff. Razor wire optional.

Google “crash rated fence”.

@Kidsandliz @Lynnerizer @mike808 Some attractive, large, well-placed boulders would look a lot nicer. Such a pretty house and yard!

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mike808
I’m really liking the barrier in that video! I like it not only for the damage that it will do to the runaway car, stopping them from reaching the important stuff, but how it’s almost invisible and not to much of a eyesore, at least until impact! That’s pretty cool, good find!!

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mike808
Yes Kyeh, her home IS very nice. It took me a VERY long time (like 25yrs) to see it’s beauty and appreciate it. That wasn’t my childhood home (I liked that one WAY better) and you know, I was still dealing with those mommy issues. Time heals most everything! Lol
I’m going to show her that video up above from Mike, she’ll get a good laugh! She’s already had enough dealing with contractors, inspectors and everyone in between. It’s ONLY week 1, she’s got a loooong ways to go! Ugh

@DoctorOW @Felton10 @Kyeh @Lynnerizer

I guess it just gives people a place to tell the community about those awful things they’re dealing with and get some sympathy and thoughts and prayers.

That’s what the big add topic button is for. As long as it’s not a mehrathon people will respond.

@Lynnerizer I wonder if the driver had a medical emergency. We had a woman wrap her car around a tree in our front yard many years ago. I ran out, took one look at the tree where the driver’s seat should have been and said a little prayer that she didn’t make it. She did - and is permanently brain damaged. Apparently she was coming home from a work party.

About 10 years ago someone had a heart attack while coming down our road at a very busy time of the day. It’s a main road, very busy with lots of traffic. Veered off the road, sheered through a telephone pole (they were driving an old, big solid suv), went back on the road, then back off again, through some hedges and came to a stop at the corner of our neighbor’s house, right against their gas line. Knocked that loose enough for me to smell gas the moment I got close. In turn, I got far away again real quick. Amazingly enough, he didn’t hit any other cars or people. That guy was doa.

@mbersiam catwalk you say??

@tinamarie1974 yes, and sometimes i do my little turn on it

@mbersiam @tinamarie1974
/youtube right said fred catwalk

@sasantosh I am sorry you and your wife are sick. Fortunately what they are finding is that kids that young seldom get covid even if their parents do. Of course until everyone is well again of course you will worry about them.

@Kidsandliz Thanks for kind word.

As it turn out we got corona from one of the two neighbor’s kid. They had a corona breakout in the school. Both the neighbor’s kids have corona. hence the fear.

@sasantosh Don’t blame you for your fear one bit!

@sasantosh How are you guys doing?

@Kidsandliz kids are still running around. Thank God for that.

Wife is still positive, tested yesterday.
I am positive too, tested Friday.

We both have lost sense of smell and taste.

But we are alive and kicking. We should be good another week or two. Going to post an unblame soon.

Thanks for asking and following up. Appreciate the concern.

@Kidsandliz Wife’s test came negative today. But kids have it. We all have lost sense of taste and smell but kids are yet to lose the sense of naughtiness. They are going strong, so no fear.

@Kidsandliz

@tinamarie1974 This was a preventable death (well preventable 2 deaths). They already knew it was possible for dogs to get under the fencing. They saw, as I made them go look, how the cinder blocks were moved. Yesterday the mean dog managed to mostly destroy the old dog’s favorite large stuffed animal she’d sleep on and get one of her two blankets (yet again get the blankets). I pointed out how the mean dog was trying to go under the fencing (I think he got under it where they left the one blanket that was stuck on the fencing as that would have protected his back from the sharp edges although it was also preventing him from pulling what was left of the stuffed animal and the one blanket under there yet again)…

So today they remove and throw out both cages (these are more like 7’ high enclosures with makae shift tops on the ones if there is a dog in there who tries to jump out as some do). Turns out they had new ones they hadn’t assembled. They should have replaced those two cages the minute I brought this to their attention. Then no dog would have died and one wouldn’t have suffered for however long she lay there bleeding, chewed on and hurt. I hope they feel really guilty. As a volunteer I can’t do much about it, but knowing what they already knew and what I told them this was predictable.

It is also too close to having to put my almost 20 year old cat down to know that those two dogs died, especially the old one as she was such a friendly, gentle dog who so appreciated it when you’d give her a nice, thick fleece blanket for her to arrange under herself and roll around on. She’d then tuck her stuffed animal between her front legs and lay her head on it or burrow her head into it.

@Kidsandliz @tinamarie1974 some days my heart hurts. Sent a donation to our local rescue (from where I got all but one of my dogs) in honor of the gentle lady.

@Kidsandliz

@Kidsandliz Good immune system! Now reward it with ice cream or something.

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady
Definitely.
Perhaps some dark chocolate?

@Kidsandliz thank you for all that you do. Volunteering at the shelter and the help with covid patients. Last month was the 1 year anniversary of the passing of a friend’s son from covid and he had cancer.

@ironcheftoni I am sorry about your son’s friend. My aunt (mom’s sister), uncle (they died 12 hours apart) and cousin died of covid last Oct/Nov. My mom had covid and survived as did my niece and her entire family. I don’t help with covid patients though. I have a blood cancer so it would be too dangerous for me. I post science based info about it on the blood cancer lists I am on and am part of the covid blood cancer vaccination trial.

@Kidsandliz
Here’s the link without your tracking info.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKXDR1O

The code after /dp/ is the ASIN (their item number). That’s all you need.

@mike808 Oops. Thanks.

@riotdemon @ narfcake @thumperchick could you please fix my url above please? Thanks.

@Kidsandliz @mike808 Hmm. Something I also hadn’t known.

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady
Have some ice cream to reward yourself.
Keep learning!

@narfcake meant to flag you too to change my url but somehow I put a space between the @ and your name. Thanks.

@Kidsandliz @mike808 @OldCatLady that is just wrong

@mike808 @OldCatLady I didn’t even look closely at that ice cream bar until @tinamarie1974 posted. Whomever made that mold has a twisted mind. LOL

@Kidsandliz @mike808 @tinamarie1974 I think they used the wrong stick.

@mike808 @OldCatLady @tinamarie1974 If that ice cream bar was even more x-rated than it already is you’d have to buy it in an adult “book” store.

PS oldcatlady - I tried to find where they sell these for your eating pleasure but I couldn’t even find them at all.

@tinamarie1974 Why were you only able to do your training in a PetSmart? Is your dog training a side hustle? Dunno, your ask/entitlement seems kinda sus. It is their store, so they run it however they like.

As a normal pet owner consumer, I prefer Pet Supplies Plus, btw.

@mike808 not the only place I could go, it was a bit of a field trip for the pup. In addition I needed to do shopping anyway. Where better to go with so many distractions like food, treats, toys, people who want to pet the dog. Remember it is a store that welcomes people and caters to their pets so why wouldn’t it be an option?

Also, FWIW, the professional training I pay for is far from a side hustle. This was practice.

As follow up I spoke to the regional manager today. He was appalled at how the manager treated me and asked me to come in so we could meet. I likely won’t, as the location is not convenient for day to day shopping, but it was important for him to know how the mgr treats guests.

@tinamarie1974
I was thinking why the manager might have reacted the way tgey did, and my thought was they have had professional pet trainers (i.e. a side hustle) using PetSmart as their “free” office and training space for the same reasons you brought your pupper there.

Also, since they’re selling training services - at the store - it should be obvious that their own stores are used as training areas for their trainers. Especially if they’ve complained to the manager that they’re not getting any exclusivity for what they pay to operate inside the PetSmart when anyone can compete with them in the store.

It’s like you took your food truck and parked in front of a popular restaurant and can’t understand why the restaurant manager is pissed.

Not saying you were doing anything improper, but you did react in a pretty entitled way. Especially since you went Karen on the store manager.

@mike808 what makes you think I acted entitled or as a Karen,? I answered his question and asked why it was an issue. I did leave because he pissed me off and did not make any purchases, but why should I if I am not welcome in the store?

I waited until the next day (today) and called to complain, only providing facts. Unless you are secretly Chad the mgr, I am pretty sure you are drawing incorrect assumptions about the incident.

The Dist Mgr was very clear that what I was doing was not an issue, and he welcomed me to come back any time. His only issue would have been if I was soliciting business from customers, which I was not. Kind if like your incorrect analogy of the food truck. I would only be the food truck if I was trying to steal business. Not the case, as I am not starting a side business. I was just working my dog in a store that allows pets.

@tinamarie1974
What is “PetSmart approved training”?
How are the in-store pet trainers paid?
Maybe the manager was looking out for them, since they’ll be around longer than you would.

Maybe you were the 5th person doing in-store training with a pet that day, and the previous 4 were side-hustle trainers.

It’s not always about you.

@mike808 you are exhausting . Do let me summarize. I complained on the complaint string that I was asked to leave a store for no valid reason.

1. First you decided that I likely have a side hustle and was trying to steal business, or was with someone working their game. Nope!
2. Then you decided I was acting like an entitled “Karen”. Still no. Hummmmm. What else could it be, must be something
3. Oh I bet the mgr had a bad day and TM should be sensitive to that! WTF.

Mike it was a bad situation made by the manager. I personally don’t care if the manager had a bad day. First he is an adult and should be able to control his emotions. Not my job to coddle him assuming he is upset. Second he is the MANAGER and should treat his customers appropriately. I don’t care if one customer upset him, you don’t take it out on another. If you do be prepared to lose business and/or be reported for your actions

If I was wrong I would have quietly left, but realize I did nothing wrong based upon PetsMart policy. That was confirmed by both their CS dept and the Regional Mgr. So to clarify, I quietly left and went to Petco to make my purchases. I then called CS the following day to report him for his actions.

@mike808 @tinamarie1974 For over a year I have volunteered at Petsmart cleaning cat cages once a week. At times there are people in their with a trainer and their dog working with the dog on how to behave in public settings with lots of people. Petsmart is one of the few stores that allow dogs in the door so it makes sense people go there to do that. There has never been an issue about people doing that in the one I volunteer in. Sounds like this is more just an issue with that manager being a jerk rather than a violation of store policy.

It can be a pain if the people with their animals (whether or not doing training) don’t keep them under control, they jump on you or slobber on you, don’t tell someone when their animal pees or poops on the floor (the employees are used to cleaning that up and don’t judge the owners), or allow their dogs to create trouble with other animals but that is a fairly rare event. Most of the time owners and pets are under control and reasonably well behaved and everyone is happy. This manager’s behavior is not consistent with the ones at the Petsmart I volunteer at.

@tinamarie1974 You are not the center of the universe. Perhaps you wouldn’t be treated like a Karen or a jerk customer if YOU hadn’t decided that because YOU were doing something, the store manager has “NO REASON” to question YOU about anything going on in their store.

Self-entitled much? Upset because you were denied privilege and entitlements?

I never said the manager acted appropriately. I simply noted some potential reasons why in a place of business such as a PetSmart, that every interaction isn’t, just perhaps, always about YOU, or that everyone else on the planet knows and understands YOUR motivations as their primary focus in life in preparation for the life-affirming moment they will interact with you.

Get over yourself.

@mike808 you are so out of touch and volatile if anyone questions your opinion. Such a snowflake.

Believe me I know the world does not revolve around me, the point was that the manager was over the top rude. Did I have an issue with him coming over to speak with me, no. Did I have an issue when I was thrown out for doing something that is NOT against store policy YES.

Not sure why you are falling on a sword and taking a different stance than myself AND Petsmart (that is the actual company, get it)themselves? Maybe you know better than everyone else and should just tell everyone how to live and direct companies how to operate. Maybe you should get your head out of your ass

And goat, I am not blaming you for Mike’s childlike behavior. But maybe @Narfcake can delete all the follow up comments, because no one needs to be subjected to his negativity.

@Kidsandliz thanks for your comment. This is absolutely correct

@tinamarie1974 I’m pretty sure you’ve left out quite a bit of unbiased description of the events that occurred between the manager “coming over to speak with me” and “when I was thrown out”. Managers don’t throw customers out of their store without good reason, and you haven’t been honest about what it was about your behavior that caused them to 1) approach you, and 2) after interacting with you, decide to show you the door. There seems to be quite a bit missing between #1 and #2.

Whatever the reasons, whether you agree with them or not, PetSmart can run their business however they want and you are not entitled to go in and do whatever you please. Your absolute insistence that you “did nothing wrong” just doesn’t come across as being an honest or fair representation of the fine people on both sides of your discussion with the PetSmart manager.

It sounds more like the entitled anti-maskers demanding to wander through shared public spaces spreading COVID and describing the events leading up to them being thrown out of those establishments “for no good reason”.

I’m sorry you’re so touchy about being called out on your biases, but they’re clearly there whether you admit to them or not. Methinks you doth protest to much, so there must be something truthful about my exploring why the manager did what he did “for no good reason”, as you say. What was that reason? I don’t think he flipped a coin or had a bet with someone to throw a random customer out of the store. That you’re so adamant about there being no possibility of a rational store manager having any reasons to react to whatever it was that you were doing in his store is the very reason that gives rise to question the veracity and accuracy of your one-sided portrayal of events, conveniently where you are representing yourself in the most benefical circumstances, and you are characterizing the manager as reacting in the most unflattering manner. What a coincidence!

I’m pretty sure the truth is somewhere in between, and that you can’t see or acknowledge that is why I was contemplating as to why would the manager do such a thing, and presented some (to me) obvious reasons why they may have done what they did. I wasn’t defending them, simply trying to understand why someone else would do what they did in a situation to have a fair and balanced understanding of the full context before making informed decisions about next steps. Perhaps you should try that sometime.

@mike808 @tinamarie1974 Mike it is possible that a store has a really poor manager. One of the Petcos in my town has one of those. She is rude and disrespectful to some customers. Heaven help you if you disagree with her.

Back when Petco decided to try to become more upscale and no longer carry the less expensive lines of pet food, she was really obnoxious to people who came in, no longer saw the foods they usually bought there and asked about it. She’d put them down and be rude about the fact that they wanted to purchase things like cat chow, friskies wet food, etc. She is still the manager there several years later.

@mike808 you are right, I did not share every last detail on the thread. I only provided a high level explanation of the details. I did not realize it is a requirement to ensure you are fully satisfied with the level of detail provided. Confused as to how Liz could understand the situation, but you still seem to be confused. Argumentative I think.

I was only concerned about sharing all pertinent details with the folks at Petsmart. Realize that when I spoke with CS and the Regional Manager I calmly, rationally, and politely explained the situation and answered every question they asked. Both people were satisfactorily convinced that the issue was not mine and that I did not break any Petsmart policy during my visit. TBH this is really all I care about, whether you approve or not is of no concern.

@Kidsandliz @tinamarie1974
I never said it wasn’t possible the manager was rude. I never said I was defending the manager, several times, quite the opposite. What I said was the manager didn’t just randomly decide to react to TM “for no reason”. I simply posed the question about what might those reasons have been, and TM got defensive, which suggests her version may be less than accurate, given she wasn’t interested in being reasonable and just not shopping where you’re not welcome and more interested in retaliation for the perception of being “wronged”.

What I was stating, was that a description of events being only a set of facts very favorable to the self-determined “victim” smacks of self-entitlement and suggests an intentional misrepresentation of the events, so as to not cast doubt upon the storyteller’s version to garner sympathy under false pretenses, and to transfer all “blame” entirely to the other person involved.

I’m sorry, I just don’t buy the fact that the manager just picked on TM “for no good reason”. Did the manager offer a “bad” reason? Maybe. I don’t know PS policy on in-store training in the context that it appears they have subcontracted professional trainers offering their own reviewed and authorized fee-based training services.

PS certainly isn’t in the business of reviewing and approving whatever anyone off the street decides is “training” for their pet. I’m pretty sure there are some randos out there with some pretty unacceptable (to you or I or TM) methods for “training” pets, but to the person “training” their pets in-store that way, I’m pretty sure you would want the manager to approach the person and ask them to leave. Or if a professional training service pulled up and brough their trainees into the store to use it as a no-cost “free” training facility when their customers are paying them (and not PetSmart) to train their pets. I’m just saying there are plenty of reasons that PetSmart very likely doesn’t want to be in the business of deciding each case whether or not any rando person claiming to be “training” their personal pet (or if they are lying about that) and just has a blanket policy of “no in-store training period”, and to the extent that the manager allows it, that is the manager using their discretion, and at no time was it a policy of entitlement for store patrons to enjoy on-premises authorized self-directed pet training.

But since TM isn’t interested in anyone else’s views or understanding of events, I have a hard time believing the impartaililty and honesty in her claims, which doesn’t help her argument that she was “wronged” and needed to seek “justice” (i.e. retaliation) from the regional manager, nor garner much sympathy if that was the main point of the “story” posted.

@mike808 @tinamarie1974 Mike, as we both know, there are a people in this world who are rude and obnoxious to people without them having done anything. Maybe they are having a bad day, maybe they are jerks to the core, maybe who knows what…I have witnessed it, had it happen to me, on here are a couple of a-holes who bully and attack select others for no apparent reason…

Pets are routinely allowed in the store even when they bark, pee and poop in there. The only thing I am aware of is that they have to be under the control of the owner. Since neither of us were there it seems to me we don’t know what happened or why. As a result presuming the worst may not even be close to the truth. I am not sure why she is being attacked by you because for me, after reading her original post, the conclusion you reached were very different than than the one I reached. Maybe it is time for this conversation to end? Or at least continue it only in whispers?

@Kidsandliz thank you! I’m going to ignore Mikes messages. He just continues to shift his argument based upon the responses he receives, it is always never ending.

Have a good evening

@Kidsandliz @mike808 @tinamarie1974 which is why i quit shopping at petco. Not that was buying grocery store brands but the Pro Plan cat food variety I fed my cats wasn’t on their nice list.

@ironcheftoni @mike808 @tinamarie1974 I don’t shop there either for the same reason. They don’t even seem to carry the 42 pound packages of Scoop Away cat litter, just the far more expensive 25-28 pound (well I think they have dropped the number of pounds to 23 or something, but used to be 25-28 pounds containers). The one near me isn’t doing all that well financially. Gee I wonder why. Don’t sell common brands of cat food, be snotty about it and top it off with an asshole manager. Perfect storm for failure.

@ybmuG Whew! I hate it when they take my favorite thing off the menu - and it happens to me a lot!

@Kyeh @ybmuG
When a restaurant/chef/kitchen crew are good enough to be fine with making you whatever you want, then the menu doesn’t matter.

Growing up in New Orleans, when you are at a top joint, ordering off the menu is like a dance between kitchen and customer.

Knowing the capabilities of the staff, the ingredients they have available, and their familiarity with what you are asking for is as much a statement of your appreciation of them as it is their appreciation of you when they make it. That is why it is called a special order.

Eating is a celebration, and it sounds like you were celebrating them and they returned the favor.

@Kyeh @mike808 Yes, it was very clear from the other menu items that they still had everything they needed so I felt confident asking. Maybe the sides were different from before, but it’s really not about the sides. The magic is in the way they roast the pork and make the salsa verde. Also a confirmation that the wait staff are well-trained vs. “it’s not on the menu, we don’t have that”. But then again, if that was the kind of place, it wouldn’t be my favorite Mexican restaurant.

@ybmuG yea, that is fantastic!!! As FYI Mexican was my first take-out meal after being vaccinated. I still feel a little hesitant about eating out because of the low % of the population vaccinated, So takeout is my go to plan for a while

@ybmuG Last weekend, we went out with another couple to the pool side restaurant in the development where we live. First time out with another couple since we got our second shot after two week waiting period. Definitely felt a little weird, but at least a little return to normalcy.

@Felton10 @ybmuG
PSA: The vaccine does not prevent you from catching COVID or from spreading it!

Please keep on masking and social distancing.
Monitor your temperature.

The vaccine just stops you from getting sick, losing your sense of taste, needing an expensive taxpayer-subsidized ventilator and intensive hospital care for weeks, and maybe dying.

@Felton10 @mike808 @ybmuG Actually the vaccination greatly reduces your chance of catching it and greatly reduces your chance of spreading it. So far both Moderna and Pfizer have released studies that confirm this. The others reduce your chance of catching it, whether or not it reduces your chances of spreading it I don’t know as I am only tracking Pfizer since that is what I got.

@Felton10 @Kidsandliz @ybmuG

While it reduces those aspects, it does not prevent transmission or catching it. It protects you from getting sick.

People shouldn’t think it is a magic shield, in the oversimplified way media promotes things called “vaccines”. This one doesn’t work that way is what I am saying.

That’s why reaching herd immunity is critical to reducing the transmission rates before the virus mutates.

Being vaccinated doesn’t mean you can pitch your masks and hug it out at block parties. Mask and social distancing are still the new normal for a while longer, until we know the variants are gone too.

@Felton10 @mike808 @ybmuG The science based peer reviewed and pre-publication studies I have seen have found that that at least with those two vaccinations (again I am only following the mRNA ones) it substantially reduces the odds of transmitting the virus to anyone because it greatly reduces the amount of virus you have in your nasal passages. The studies I have seen it also greatly reduces the odds of catching it and if you do catch it it greatly reduces the odds of you getting sick. Depending on the particular vaccination they work better with some variants than with others.

@mike808 @ybmuG I am still wearing my N95 masks everywhere I go so I am still being extra careful.

@Felton10 @mike808 @ybmuG I am being careful too even though my spike protein antibody test came back pos that I had a response. With a blood cancer all bets are off even with that which is why I am part of a clinical trial looking at exactly this with us.

@Felton10 @Kidsandliz @ybmuG
Wearing masks and distancing here too.

I live in a deep red state that prioritized sending vaccine to low population rural areas over the high population urban areas. Because, you know, stick it to the libtards and POC that didn’t vote for their liar in chief.

So there is a high population of gullible fucktards in this state that watch Faux News and think Bill Gates put microchips in the vaccine.

So while folks here (on this site) read studies and do comparative behavioral risk analysis, many of my neighbors and people I encounter do not. Around here (in my state/region) , I will still need to keep demonstrating public health is important for a while longer by discussing getting the jab, wearing a mask, and social distancing, for the undeserved benefit of those proudly wearing their MAGA floaties who insist on splashing around in the shallow end of the gene pool.

@rm9116

@rm9116 Let them. You get to be the fun grandma. Adults have no memories before about 5-6 years old, so you can skip the crying and sleepless weeks and diaper changes and spitup and meltdowns. Do you really want a piece of that? They did you a favor.

@rm9116 That is sad. It also makes a statement about how the other family thinks about adoption and the place the adoptive family has in the life of the adopted child (I have an adopted child whom I adopted not as a baby as well and the number of people who don’t view her as my child in a tight family sense is surprising). They may not think of you as the “real” grandparents/parents and so don’t care as much about how you feel, etc. (or they could just be incredibly self centered jerks, or both).

Of course all of that misses the point of family and makes a negative statement about them. IF grandparents has been vaccinated the CDC has said it is OK for grandparents to visit grandchildren so germs and the baby is bogus There are going to be no more or less germs whether you visit day one or day eight.

Your kid is caught in the middle (as well has his fiance). And this is likely foreshadowing what is to come with the other side of the family with respect to holidays, birthdays, etc. You might want to, when things aren’t so emotional, sit down with your son and his fiance and talk about how you are concerned that your family is going to always end up taking a backseat, getting the short end of the stick; that you didn’t insist you see your newborn grandchild as you didn’t want a joyful event to turn into a family fight, but that you aren’t willing to have this happen over and over; that we need to figure out how to work this out so that there isn’t massive family strife each time there are family important events and the other family claims things need to be done their way to meet only their needs.

One big fear that some parents have is that their kid will emotionally separate from them (and the 20 something group does do this as they spread their wings and then they “come back” as they mature more; it is part of the normal developmental process) and so are also doing what they can to try to control and keep their kid under their control. It may be at some level they know they have been jerks to their kids as they have been growing up and so have a legitimate fear their kid will thumb her nose at them so are trying to intimidate, manipulate, control… in a desperate attempt to hold on

It sounds like both are afraid of her mother/her parents and so to avoid fights will always give in. This needs dealt with before it becomes a pattern. Unfortunately they are going to the be the ones who will have to put a stop to this which means being willing to stand up to her mother/parents.

Also if the other family goes home at night maybe you can come over then and everyone just doesn’t tell her side of the family.

Hard situation to be in. Good luck.

@mike808 @rm9116 Mike many grandparents want a relationship with their grandchildren prior to the grade school years. Sure it is nice to “give them back” when explosive poop lands all over the place, but they then will also miss out on the cuddling, reaching out to hold their finger, the baby smiles, watching this child and being part of their life as s/he discovers the world… Bonds with important people in a baby’s life start very early.

@Kidsandliz @rm9116 really well said

@Kidsandliz thank you. Your words are what I needed to hear.

@rm9116 Glad they were helpful. The other thought I had was it is abundantly clear that the future inlaws of you son care a lot about this baby. He and his wife now have leverage they didn’t have before. Before there was probably not much his fiance could do about the behavior of her parents. Now she has a bargaining chip that she didn’t have before that she could use to keep make her mom back off with her ruthless behavior. That will be hard for her to do since it sounds like that woman has a mean, self centered streak a mile wide. And she will worry what will happen if her mom calls her bluff.

The answer to that is stick to her guns because if she backs down things will only get worse and your son and your family will be blamed for failed her attempt to stand up to her. By backing down it will also reinforce that ruthless behavior gets her mom what she wants. Things will get worse before they get better (eg she will try in other ways since doing what she has done always had worked in the past) but usually when people finally hit an immovable force that doesn’t break down they eventually back down. And she may retaliate against your son.

The thing is she is already this way and so walking on egg shells around her suits her fine and isn’t going to change anything. There isn’t much you can do to change her other than use the bargaining chip they now have. Having the kids tell her parents, “I am sorry you don’t want to share our child’s birthday with her father’s side of the family. We will miss you on his/her birthday. If you change your mind and find you can come the party is at X time and place and we hope to see you there.” (all said calmly and repeated over and over if necessary) is going to be hard to do and stick to but not much else will help that woman realize that both sides of the family matter.

Good luck with all of this. It is so very hard.

@Kidsandliz @rm9116 it is terrible. My sister dealt with these issues but with her husbands AUNT. I remember when it hit the boiling point at their church when my niece was being blessed. The Aunt walked in and tried to grab the baby out of my moms arms and told everyone that the baby loved her more anyway! Really, she is a baby?!?!?!?

It was a HORRIBLE scene and nine years later she has not seen my niece again. My sister put her foot down and unfortunately it caused a divide.

Hopefully whatever you son and his wife choose to do they stand firm to their decision and everyone agrees to do what is in the best interest of the child. Sounds like other grandma may need to be reminded that it is about the baby and not her

@Kidsandliz @rm9116 @tinamarie1974 Wow. I’d say you guys must be making these stories up, because, you know, of course no one actually behaves that way. I’d LIKE to say that…but sadly, I know better. The worst part is how much it hurts the kids. Adults writing other adults off is sad; kids losing relationships is tragic - and unnecessarily selfish. You can’t get those years back.

@Kidsandliz @rm9116 @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG
Not to mention that as grandparents, they’ve already had their shot at raising kids. It isn’t a “do over” for them. The parents need to step up and do the work of … parenting. It isn’t called “grandparenting” for a reason.

@mike808 @rm9116 @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG Mike Given a choice though it is nice for the new mom/family to have help right after the baby is born - to cook, clean, do the laundry, etc. so that the new parents have more time to spend with their newborn and bond and get some sleep around a baby needing fed every few hours. That is something that happens a lot all over the world. Not to mention the new mom will be sore and tired. Sure new families can survive without help then (people can live through a lot where it would be more pleasant if they didn’t have to) but if help is available I see no problem with using it right after the baby is born. That is not the same thing as grandparents thinking they are in charge of parenting their grandchild.

I think the problem here is one side of the family is cutting out the other using dubious excuses, the kids are afraid to speak up because of past behavior of the one family, the entire thing has the potential to deteriorate into a big mess and all the kids want and the the new dad’s family want is for the entire thing to be a joyous occasion for everyone. The new mom’s side doesn’t give a damn about the dad’s side of the family, is being incredibly self centered and doesn’t give a shit about what the new mom/new dad want, she only cares about what she wants.

@Kidsandliz
I’m in agreement. The description sounded more like the maternal grandparents were more interested in “parenting” and “grandparenting” than they were with helping their daughter and son-in-law become the parents they want them both to become. It also sounds like grandpa is not going to stand up for himself either as an ally to the new dad, as he himself was a dad to his daughter.

Also, pupper says HI!

@tinamarie1974 What is that white stuff on the ground? Dandruff?

@Felton10 clearly the pup has a significant dandruff issue lol

@tinamarie1974 @DoctorOW I hate to say this but Walter has picked up the barking of the dog next door and now 50% of the sounds he emits is a bark. We may have to change the species on his driver’s license if this continues. I blame the Doctor for this.

@Felton10 @tinamarie1974 Don’t blame a doctor, blame me instead

@Felton10 @tinamarie1974 White stuff could be potato flakes… Just sayin’

@Felton10 @Kidsandliz that is A LOT of potato flakes!!

@Felton10 @tinamarie1974 Snacks for the pup

@Kidsandliz @tinamarie1974 I’ve lived in FL now for almost 20 years-have no idea what else that white stuff on the ground could be.

@Felton10 @Kidsandliz ground up packing peanuts?

@Kidsandliz @tinamarie1974 Don’t get me confused. I am expecting mass quantities of bubble wrap on Thursday and will be busy after receipt for the foreseeable future.

@Felton10 Might be shredded cotton from freshly harvested cotton bolls. You know. So the pup could have a soft bed wherever decides to lie down and nap. We both know @tinamarie1974 has only the best for him spoils him.

@Felton10 @Kidsandliz he is spoiled, but has lost dog bed privileges. He chewed up three beds in a row. Now he has to earn back his bed by being a good boy. Might be a while…

@Felton10 @tinamarie1974 There are dogs like that at the shelter. Doesn’t matter what it is. Give them 10 minutes and it is destroyed - beds, blankets, toys, you name it.

Be careful as he is likely to choose other things to chew… your shoe collection, your bed blanket or pillow, a couch arm… you should see what the dogs that have couches or stuffed chairs in their pens do to them (if they are too destructive they get moved to a different pen). My sympathies.

@Felton10 @Kidsandliz lol thanks. He isn’t too bad with other stuff, but I do have to watch him around the carpet pad under my area rug.

With his dog bed, he would ball it up and hump it, while biting part of it. Wouldn’t take long and there was a big hole.

I think there is just too much puppy that needs to burn out.

@ybmuG Where is this?

@compunaut Upstate NY

@compunaut @ybmuG Hey, we got almost a foot of it on Monday, so maybe that reduced your total.

@compunaut @Kyeh @ybmuG omg!!!

@compunaut @Kyeh

Hey, we got almost a foot of it on Monday, so maybe that reduced your total.

Well, that’s something

/giphy doing your part

@compunaut @Kyeh well…that was…unexpected. And it was literally my last try before time ran out. Really!

@compunaut @ybmuG Funny! Especially because I edited my comment which originally said
we got about 10" here
thinking yeah, that’s a TWSS for sure!

@compunaut @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG
…aaaand we’re getting more right now! (Snow, that is.)

Spring in Colorado.

@compunaut @Kyeh @ybmuG poor flowers. Is snow in April normal in CO?

@compunaut @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG Pretty common, but at least it usually melts fast - and we definitely need the H2O. I think March and April are our snowiest months, on average. Well, for the Front Range, at least.
The mountains maybe get more in the actual winter months.

@compunaut @Kyeh @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG Flowers can look likethat in NE Ohio too. I know someone whose birthday is April 22 and it snowed on his birthday more than once up there which also meant crocuses, daffodils and tulips had snow on them. As a kid I was always surprised that the snow didn’t kill them.

@compunaut @Kidsandliz @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG
bulbaceous flowers tend to be pretty hardy. The snow helps insulate them too. I learned that the hard way as a kid - I brushed the snow off my mother’s Snowdrops, thinking I was helping them, and they froze.

@compunaut @tinamarie1974 @ybmuG
Tinamarie, looking back in my photos, I posted that mini-snowman I made for you in April of last year!

@compunaut @Kyeh @ybmuG oh my gosh, really? So I guess it is normal

@speediedelivery But think how pretty the colors in the flowers and the green leaves look accented by the white snow.

@Kidsandliz But I had to go out in it. If I was warm and toasty looking out it would be different

Good job goat. Snow is nearly gone and supposed to be 70’s by Monday

@tinamarie1974 Cool! Is it at a brewery?

@Kyeh nah, because Covid. I pick it up on the 8th and for everything BUT the eggs it is cooked and has reheating instructions. The eggs are from Grant’s Farm and I just have to crack and cook em!!

@tinamarie1974 That looks really nice! And it does include beer! Where do you pick it up?

@tinamarie1974 Well, I guess not actually beer; I wonder if it’s to promote their hard seltzers and stuff?

@Kyeh @tinamarie1974 And what time should we arrive?

@Kyeh yup, I am pretty excited to try the bloody Mary. I think it is two of each on the alcoholic beverages.

Pick it up at the brewery. They are providing curbside service. Crazy part is it is brunch for four with a retail cost of $100. I CANNOT imagine paying that kind of coin, but for free I am happy to try!!!

@tinamarie1974 That’s great! You’ll have to tell us how it was.

@Kyeh @speediedelivery well it is breakfast for four, and I am serving it on mothers day to my mom and dad. TECHNICALLY that does leave one serving

@Kyeh it was a Twitter promo to advertise the Mothers Day brunch offering. I had to respond and tell them what type of beer my mom would drink w the spread. Not sure how many people won?

@speediedelivery @tinamarie1974 So what would she drink? Beer for brunch sounds weird to me, but that Bloody Mary or cider sounds good! I’d like to hear afterwards how it was, too…

@Kyeh @speediedelivery I answered Budweiser Zero b/c she does REALLY like it.

I am super excited about the Bloody Mary and have already called dibs on both cans. Will let you know what I think! And I’ve tried the cider at an event at the Brewery before. It is EXECELLENT

@Kyeh @tinamarie1974 I am not a beer drinker. What is the cider like, should I get some or is it an apple flavored beer? I love a good fresh pressed or mulled cider.

@Kyeh @speediedelivery it tastes just like apple cider, but it is an alcoholic beverage. I could get drunk very easily on it, goes down smooth.

@tinamarie1974 Ooo, sorry, Tinamarie - I just heard that the Avs beat the Blues tonight!
And are now headed into the playoffs.

@Kyeh yeah, not a banner year for the team or its fans. Lots of injuries, bad plays, etc

We will see what happens for my team. Good luck!!

@Kidsandliz What a mess!

@Kyeh Yeah. Water has gone on and off so likely they are jury rigging it until they can do a better fix (which would imply another outage on a weekday because why would anyone work overtime in this town to fix thing?). Not long after I posted the water was out again. I just checked and have some at the moment, although not full pressure, so flushed the toilet. We will see if it lasts.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh
“Jury rigging”? Was there a trial? Or is that code for “jerry-rigging” because that WW2 term is politically incorrect now? I’m sure in Mississippi you’ve heard the even worse local adaptation, unfortunately.

Sorry the public officials haven’t gotten their act together. It’s the price everyone pays for these sociopath “starve the government” conservative voters getting their wishes fulfilled.

@Kyeh @mike808 no that would be auto correct and me not re-reading what I wrote to catch it. We NEED to have a trial though to deal with the problems of years of lack of maintenance, money allocated to fix the water system, streets, infrastructure, etc. vanishing and no one going to look to see how is was “disappeared” and by whom…

Politics has little to do with what is going on locally. In this case this city has pretty much always been democratic and incredibly corrupt and run by people who are incompetent. Of course this is not helped by a republican governor who just said on the news it isn’t the state’s problem (never mind this is the state capital so it is their problem if it affects their buildings). That asshat just announced on the news he is removing ALL covid restrictions (except masks in schools) in a state with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh Like I said, the voters have spoken. Elections have consequences. Sorry the idiots in your state outnumber the rational, caring, conscientious, who aren’t sociopathic death cult acolytes.

@Kidsandliz @mike808
Wikipedia says:

The phrase “jury rigged” has been in use since at least 1788. The adjectival use of “jury”, in the sense of makeshift or temporary, has been said to date from at least 1616 when according to the 1933 edition of the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language it appeared in John Smith’s A Description of New England.

Thank you @Kyeh. That is what I thought. Wasn’t auto correct. I didn’t re-read mine after @mike808’s comment so had no clue what I had typed and didn’t read his comment carefully either. I just presumed auto correct had gotten me and didn’t really care. So we were both “right”. (grin)

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mike808 I like a happy ending where everyone gets to be right!

@Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mossygreen
/image tealc Indeed!

I think “jerry-rigged” equally applies in the situation as much as “jury-rigged”. LOL.

https://www.dictionary.com/e/jury-rigged-vs-jerry-rigged/