KK Chat -- 6 February 2022, Part One

[DesertRose]

[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:04 PM EST] Join KK has joined this channel.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:08 PM EST] <bynw> hi KK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Hi KK!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:10 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Hi Shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:11 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Hi Shiral and KK.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:14 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Hi KK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Hi KK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:19 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Hello, Katherine
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:31 PM EST] <KK> Hello, all. Sorry, but camera is not yet trouble-shot.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:42 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> @KK no luck with your camera yet?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:45 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Oh well, at least we have you here
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:50 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Maybe it should just be shot
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:54 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> You're here, so that's good enough for now.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:10:59 PM EST] <KK> Haven't had a chance to mess with it yet.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:01 PM EST] <The_Bee> If you shovel out a parking space for yourself, you're allowed to put something--almost any object will do--to keep someone else from parking there.  But you have to remove it two days later.  I'm not sure if the fights were over taking someone else's space or refusing to remove the space-saver after the 2-day limit.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:10 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Maybe you should borrow some neighbor's 14 year old grandson to set up an inexpensive webcam for you.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:12 PM EST] <The_Bee> Hi KK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:12 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> We're just happy to be able to talkk to you
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:22 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> It'd be nice to be able to Zoom, but text chat is good too.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:37 PM EST] <KK> I have one. It's simply not reconnected properly.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:11:54 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Does it have to plug into the back, or into any USB port?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:12:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Hi KK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:12:24 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Anyway you want to talk to us, we're just happy you're here
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:12:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> The ones I have at work are inexpensive (under $30), and you simply plug them into any available USB port and they're ready to go.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:12:48 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> My camera is just part of my laytop. no externals to plug ni
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:12:51 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> That
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:12:55 PM EST] <KK> It's plugged into the monitor, which is plugged into the computer. Should work, but it doesn't. I need to label the wires, once I get everything working again.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:13:20 PM EST] <The_Bee> Labels can be very useful.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:13:30 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> That's the kind of camera I have on my laptop, thanks to my brother. The camera that is internal to my laptop has pretty crappy quality
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:13:34 PM EST] <KK> Hi, Revanne. Like your resized wedding ring.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:13:37 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Ah. We had an issue at work with a camera that didn't work if we tried to plug it into the monitor, but it worked fine once we unplugged it and just plugged it directly into the computer's USB port.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:13:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Hi Revanne
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:13:59 PM EST] <The_Bee> Hi Revanne
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:06 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> It feels really good to be wearing it thank you KK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:15 PM EST] <KK> I'll try several things. Of course, once you've replugged wires, how do you test to make sure it's working?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:18 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Still maybe need to borrow a teenager to bend it to yoru will.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:22 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I use my built-in camera on my laptop, but I wear headphones that have a better mic
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:26 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> That was a lovely idea
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:28 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> And I was pleased to have got it blessed
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:31 PM EST] <KK> I think I need to enlist Cameron's remote services.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:47 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Parents could get some good money if they rented out their tech-savvy teenagers.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:50 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> *your
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:14:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> KK, You can open up a Zoom meeting and just see if the audio and video work even if no one else is in the meeting.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:15:32 PM EST] <The_Bee> Or the teens could rent out themselves.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:15:44 PM EST] <KK> Don't know how to open a zoom meeting; only to log into once when info has been sent. Remember that I was born in the first half of the <last> century!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:15:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Also a good way to earn college tuition money. =o)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:05 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Carys is not on my chest any more; that typo was just my usual transposition that I didn't catch before hitting enter.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:19 PM EST] <KK> I actually have a friend who was a teenager when I met him, but is now a young adult. He's helped me before.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I'm only half convinced that technology is non- sentient and not some mischievous entity.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:34 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> @KK LOL! Well, if you want to test it, just call me some evening, and I can send you a Zoom link and let you know if I can see and hear you or not.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:40 PM EST] <KK> Here there be dragons!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:42 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Titivillius lives in auto-correct/complete.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:53 PM EST] <The_Bee> Justbe sure you're hiring someone you can trust, not opening your computer to a hacker.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:55 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> (the patron demon of scribal errors, in medieval scriptoria)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:56 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> I agree, rent=a-teen a good idea. My 14 yo GS should do that, He is very tech savvy
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:16:57 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Technology is lovely when it works, but makes me furious and incoherent when it doesn't
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:17:04 PM EST] <KK> Thanks, Evie. I'll try to remember to do that.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:17:18 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Or if Evie's not available, you can call me.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:17:35 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> My sister in law has learnt how to do zoom and she is seriously technology averse.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:17:41 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I'm normally home most evenings after 7:00 pm Central (8:00 Eastern), sometimes earlier.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:06 PM EST] <KK> Using it is not the problem, once you've got the technology set up properly.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:22 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> My schedule is a little less consistent but more open; I'm generally home unless I have a doctor's appointment or I need groceries.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:24 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Usually earlier, actually, but I'm feeding Gigi and myself when I first get home.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:41 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> I think Titivillius has expanded beyond auto correct and seeing what other mischief he can get into
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:42 PM EST] <bynw> KK, see email i sent you a link you can use to open Zoom
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:46 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> In that order of course Evie.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:50 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> My mom who is also tech-averse, now runs her retirement community writing meetings. For the last two years, that's had to be via zoom
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:18:57 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Yes, definitely in that order, Revanne
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I am very, very not a morning person though, so afternoons/evenings are better.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:10 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Gigi is the Yvette of the cat world. 😉
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:15 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> ROFL
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:18 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I think so too DfK.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:22 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Lol
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:39 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Dmitri came downstairs yesterday when I had company and loudly informed me that HE was hungry, too
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:19:48 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> MROW
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:20:06 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Oh! KK, I sent you a story for the anthology to your author email, and have another one finished that might be a wee bit too long, but I'll let you decide that for yourself. The longer one, I've been posting on the forum this week, though the final section of it won't go up until tomorrow.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:20:11 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> There's no ignoring that cat when he's hungry
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:20:22 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Bynw and I got on the phone last week so he could show me how to fix a couple of forum things, and Carys and Kagi were singing a duet to each other over the phone.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:20:29 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> The one I already emailed you is very short, though.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:20:58 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> [duet] LOL!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:20:59 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> I would have liked to have heard that duet!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:21:01 PM EST] <KK> Evie, I got it but haven't had time to look at it yet. I'm spending too much time down the Olympics rabbithole.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:21:10 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Reminds of the siamese duet in Lady and the Tramp.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:21:22 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> OK, glad you got it
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:21:27 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Carys was meowing at me, and then Kagi started meowing at Bynw and after a while I think they were meowing at each other.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:21:28 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Now I have the mental image of pairs skating bunnies, KK....
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:21:34 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> It's an enjoyable rabbit hole though KK.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:22:24 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> So today we have had the same head of state for 70 years.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:22:29 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Bunny-Boy and the Olympics Rabbithole. Sounds like a band.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:22:49 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Meanwhile, he's trying to tell me where to find the settings that need changing with new forum threads, and I'm trying to write it all down so I don't forget/lose it . . .
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:22:51 PM EST] <KK> Indeed. I was just watching ski jumping on the "normal" hill. What constitutes "normal," I have to ask.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:22:52 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Wow.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:03 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Leave Bunny boy out of it!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I saw the Queen's letter this morning. 🥰
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:21 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> "Normal" by Olympian standards is "superhuman" for the rest of us schmoes.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:26 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> You are so lucky to have that kind of continuity and devotion to duty and continuity.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:27 PM EST] <KK> Yet, today is the Queen's big day, though sad that it's the anniversary of her father's passing.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:40 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> IF you go sailing off a ski jump, you have a somewhat different take on what constitutes "normality" I think
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:50 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> But Nez's portrait included those nice hares on the side
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:23:59 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> That too, Shiral. Adrenline junkie, much?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:24:10 PM EST] <KK> I think there's a bigger hill, too, or they wouldn't have to call one normal.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:24:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I was watching the snowboard qualifying rounds on TV last night.... There isn't enough money in the world to send me down that hill on a waxed board!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:24:44 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> That's why she doesn't celebrate accession day but rather coronation day.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:24:44 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> If it's not a bunny hill, it's too much for me
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:24:47 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I'll stick to watching the skating, which is also superhuman but I like it.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:11 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> True Jerusha, I liked the hares.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:14 PM EST] <The_Bee> Does anyone know what the "skeleton" event its?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:14 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Not only am I not jumping on skis, you're not getting me on any sort of ski that isn't pulled behind a power boat in the heat of summer.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> The ice surface is nice and level, for one thing.=o)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:17 PM EST] <KK> Nope. And luge is just simply a silly sport. I mean, who could willingly throw themselves down an icy track like that?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:28 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> If it's a hill, it's too much for me. Especially if it involves skis. 😄
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:45 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> The downhill skiiers at least look graceful
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:25:49 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Robin Williams had a very NSFW (language, mainly) comment on luge.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:26:27 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> The only person who comes close to that kind of devotion is former president Jimmy Carter
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:26:31 PM EST] <The_Bee> I once tried to ski in our back yard.  I promptly landed on my fanny.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:26:44 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> "I'm going to put on a wet suit, stick an ice skate up my [deleted], and throw myself down an icy hill." (or something like that, paraphrasing)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:26:48 PM EST] <KK> I tried skiing many years ago, after we moved to California. Spent far more time lying on the snow than gliding on it. Not for me. Water-skiing is also a no-go for me. Never did manage to get up on the skis or even on a towed board, the one time I tried it.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:27:22 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Mine was just not a skiing family
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:27:30 PM EST] <The_Bee> I prefer to pedal sitting down, if at all.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:27:35 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> They all sound like excellent ways to die for me. 😄
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:27:49 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I am just designed to keep my feet firmly on the ground.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:27:50 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I won't be water-skiing again in this life unless I get a new musculoskeletal system, but it was fun when I was a kid.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:27:57 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> I did manage water skis when I was MUCH younger
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:28:03 PM EST] <KK> Since I never saw snow until I was well into my 20's, it figures that I would not be drqwn to snow spsorts. That goes for skating, too, though I love to watch it.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:28:07 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Although we did do some water skiing back in the day. I was always frustrated because nobody let me try waterskiing. Because of the old reliable excuse "You're too little."
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:28:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I prefer to keep my feet firmly on ground, since having both feet go out from under me as I was crash-exiting a bus is what led to my back issues.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:28:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I can get around an ice rink up right and intact, but I don't do anything fancy
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:02 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Oh dear, Evie
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:06 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I would have liked to learn to ice skate, but there wasn't a rink in Charleston until the winter I had my left knee scoped, so I am a mere but devoted spectator to the sport.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:11 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> I love watching the skating too KK but those jumps they do are scary
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:39 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Almost everything they do at the Winter Olympics has a great big "Don't try this at home" warning.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:53 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> So true
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:55 PM EST] <KK> Ya think? Nathan Chen must have an anti-gravity pack hidden somewhere on his person.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:29:58 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> And a fairish number of the Summer Olympic events.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:08 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Unless of course, you started when you were four or five and worked your way up the skill levels
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:14 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> I think he could seriously fly
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:23 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Dementia says hi and sorry she can't make it. She is putting church accounts onto a spread sheet which task is beyond her otherwise very competent church treasurer.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:39 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I do hope you mean Demercia. 😄
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:41 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> Hullo folks. Just finished church. 🙂
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:43 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Speaking of Titivillius.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:46 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Hi Nezz.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:46 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Auto correct, Revanne?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:48 PM EST] <KK> The ski jumpers are the ones who seriously fly. Good think they also learn how to land more or less safely.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:52 PM EST] <The_Bee> Is that what you call her?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:30:53 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> LOL DR!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> snaps fingers and puts birthday cake and tea on the chat room table
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:13 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Hi Nezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:17 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Hi Nezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:18 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Hi Nezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:21 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Oops titivilius is at it again. She'll kill me when she reads this!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:24 PM EST] <The_Bee> HiNezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:24 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Oh, yes, happy birthday Shiral (I think a day late but eh).
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:26 PM EST] <bynw> hi Nezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:37 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I'll send flowers, Revanne. 😂
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Hi Nezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:38 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> And happy early birthday to TheDeryni, wherever he is.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:45 PM EST] <KK> Yes, happy birthday, Shiral.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:54 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> puts chocolate cheesecake on the tea table in case TD shows up.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> As long as people say it within seven days of the actual event, I call it good. =o)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:31:58 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Thanks Evie
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:03 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Happy Additional Orbit Around The Sun, Shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:05 PM EST] <The_Bee> and many more of them, shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:10 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> and Happy birthday again ShiralNezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:21 PM EST] <KK> And Nezz.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:21 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Happy birthday Shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:50 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> It's your birthday too, Nezz?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:51 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> Oooh, can we have chocolate cheesecake even if TD doesn't show up? 🙂
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:55 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Wait, is it Nezz's birthday too, or are we just saying Hi? I'm so lost. 😄
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:32:56 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Sure.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:04 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> No, she was just saying hi
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> It's just his favorite cake, so it shows up on the tea table for his birthday.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:17 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Thanks, all. I made my own birthday cake on Friday. Since I'm rather out of practice, I think I took too much volume out of the egg whites, and we agreed that the cake could have come out of the oven five minutes sooner. But it was still good. Even so, having a family full of British Baking fans can bite you in the behind when you least expect it!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:20 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> My birthday is about 6 weeks away
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:28 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> But it is magic chat chocolate cheesecake, which means there's as much of it as we want to eat.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:34 PM EST] <The_Bee> Happy Birthday to all born in February.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:33:41 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Lol Shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:34:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> And the tea in the teapot will pour whatever your favorite tea happens to be.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:34:13 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Do you get a Paul Hollywood handshake if it is especially good?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:34:34 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> I want a magic teapot like that
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:34:57 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Yes. But this cake wouldn't have passed the grade, I think. Still, I split it and filled it with homemade lemoncurd, so I thought it was pretty darn good.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:12 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> Oooooooh, nice!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:12 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Sounds yummy
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:19 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> That sounds yummy
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Lemon curd is good.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:38 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Anything lemon is good
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:40 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Lemon curd is divine, in my not so humble opinion
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:53 PM EST] * bynw is going to make some strawberry shortcake today for his girlfriend
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:55 PM EST] <The_Bee> I couldn't dine out on my last two birthdays because of covid.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:35:56 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Agreed
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:36:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> That sounds good Bynw
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:36:16 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Oh, BTW, next Saturday, around 3:30 pm US EST/8:30 pm GMT, we're having a crafting video chat on Discord, in the Crafting Chat voice channel. It started with Revanne teaching me to cast on knitting and me teaching her the single crochet (US definition), but it was fun so we did it again and Evie joined in, and we decided to open it up for anyone who wants to grab their knitting/crochet/handwork and join.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:36:36 PM EST] <bynw> the shortcake is homemade too
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:36:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> We had cracked crab for lunch yesterday. It was a BIG improvement over my birthday in 2021 when my Mom and I felt we took a big risk with our socially distanced visit in my living room.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:36:51 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I had angel food cake with strawberry sauce for my birthday cake this year. I wanted a bite of summer, for some reason.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:04 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Angel food cake is a lovely thing
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:07 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> It was fun. Saturdays are my day with my parents now, but I'll try to pop in for a short bit if I can.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Drat. There's not enough light where my laptop is to join in with my needlepoint
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:33 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Wow, homemade shortcake with strawberries. Want some more company
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Can the laptop be moved to, I dunno, your lap, maybe? 😄
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:40 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Can't do it next week, I'm afraid. Saturdays are working days for me
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:37:48 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Can you take the laptop to somewhere there is better light?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:38:14 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Not sure, though I'll have a look.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:38:17 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> We'll probably do it again, Shiral, so maybe next time will be a Saturday you have off work?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:38:21 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> The short cake sounds great, Bynw
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:38:35 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Usually the purpose for having a laptop instead of a desktop computer is that they're portable.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:38:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> If I moved my laptop to my lap, there would be no place for the needlepoint. 🙂
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:38:54 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> No, alas. I had yesterday off because it was my birthday. But we either have to work saturdays or sundays at work, lately.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:00 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I had a bit of a meltdown on Friday taking some things I bought for DH to the dementia( really do mean it this time) nurse at the hospital and had to restore myself at a teashop with cappuccino and home made apricot flapjack. Yummy, I might try to make it myself.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:03 PM EST] * bynw is on one of those portable laptops right now
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:03 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Phooey
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:13 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I picked saturday, since I want to be able to do Sunday chats
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> LOL, OK, but maybe it could temporarily sit in the dining room, or wherever you'd have more light
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:36 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> And because Sunday is family zoom day
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:45 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Makes sense.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:39:52 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> But still, phooey.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:40:04 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I've just recently discovered a nice little sandwich/tea shop in town
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:40:20 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Not quite a UK style tea shop, but the closest thing I know to one locally
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:40:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Teashops are very dangerous
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:40:42 PM EST] <The_Bee> ?!?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:02 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> They have an amazing beer cheese soup as their Saturday special, which you can get with a half sandwich if you want their "half and half" combo.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:03 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Too many tempting treats?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:05 PM EST] <KK> There used to be a wonderful UK-style tea shop in Santa Monica, many years ago. Nothing like that where I am now, that I've discovered.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:15 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Teashops will lift your spirits but alas, also expand waistbands
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:21 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> They encourage the spending of money and the eating of cake.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:31 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Seductive, yes. We used to have a place called the London Tea House in my home town. It was a little restaurant which was a great place for lunches and teas downstairs, with products from the UK for sale upstairs. It's been gone for years, and we STILL miss it
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:37 PM EST] <KK> Both noble sursuits.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:42 PM EST] <KK> pursuits
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:57 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I can achieve both of those things with scary ease
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:41:58 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Beer cheese soup? Sounds awesome.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:42:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Me too Shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:42:11 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> And I don't really like soup
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:42:41 PM EST] <The_Bee> sounds a bit like rarebit
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:42:47 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> We have a pub/restaurant here called The Little London, which has Harry Potter nights every so often, and they feature an outdoor dining area that's either on the patio or in an actual London double-decker bus that was imported to the US.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:05 PM EST] <KK> That's cool!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:11 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Sounds like fun
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:12 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Not the night bus I hope, Evie.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I'm not a soup fan unless it's cold outside, and I actually don't like beer, but I love their beer cheese soup.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> LOL, Revanne! Well, I've only eaten on the bus at night, sooooo....
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:42 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> There's a restaurant called the Duke of Edinburgh here in my current home town. It must be pretty good because it's been around for years. But I've never been there.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:48 PM EST] <KK> French onion soup with a really good crouton topped with melted cheese is wonderful!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:43:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> But no, it's not the Knight Bus
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:00 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> Oh y eah
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:07 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I'd just as soon skip traveling on the Knight Bus.=o)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:24 PM EST] <The_Bee> lobster bisque for me.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:26 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I thought I'd got the spelling wrong.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:43 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I love almost any kind of chowder I've ever had
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> The knight behind the shining radiator
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:49 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> cheddar chowder
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:49 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I like the soup part, but until very recently I would have had to remove the onions. I've only been able to eat caramelized onions in the past couple of years, and still can't stand raw onions.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:44:54 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Love French onion soup/ Panera's has a soup and half sandwich combo which is usually good
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:45:05 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> But I like soup for ONE meal. I don't want soup for lunch and dinner for three days in a row
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:45:15 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I like soup but can only successfully make tomato or lentil soup.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:45:44 PM EST] <The_Bee> My soup comes in cans.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:46:19 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> If you live in an area with a WaWa they have really good soups
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:46:30 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> never heard of WaWa
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:46:45 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> I've only seen a WaWa when I visited PA one year
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:46:55 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> We don't have them in my area
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:47:10 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Though I think DH told me they were starting to get some in Florida
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:47:20 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I bought myself a soup maker but I'm not convinced it's much easier than a decent saucepan and a blitzer. You still gave to chop the ingredients which is the boring bit.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:47:31 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Yup, they've invaded Florida like the snowbirds.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:48:01 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Floating cooked vegetables do nothing for me
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:48:02 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> It's mostly in the mid Atlantic. Gas station with convneience store and food service attached
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:48:11 PM EST] <KK> No WaWa here, though they have them in the DC area.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:48:13 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> ah
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:48:49 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> Put like that Jerusha, how could anyone resist? :-)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:48:51 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> I think there is a WaWa in Melbourne. It was packed the day it opened.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:49:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Probably, Jerusha.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:49:36 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> I do what I can, Revanne. 🙂
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:49:40 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> There are a bunch up here in Redneck Central, so I don't see why Melbourne wouldn't have its share.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:50:02 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> And it is a nice little store; I haven't gotten much of their restaurant food (a sandwich, once), but what I've had was good.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:50:07 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Haven't seen any WaWas out here
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:50:07 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> They are in Va, DC and Maryland, not sure where else. Of course PA because that's where they started.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:50:19 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> New Jersey, too, I understand.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:50:47 PM EST] <KK> I understand that the name comes from the sound that flying geese make.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:03 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> That's hilarious
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:11 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> We have lots of geese where I am, but no WaWas
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:14 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I guess that's why their logo holds a goose in flight.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:16 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Not Canada geese!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:18 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> A flying goose is their logo
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:25 PM EST] <KK> I could be wrong, of course. |May be an urban myth.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:37 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> The Soup Geese
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:47 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> We have Can-Florida geese, the non-migrating migratory birds. Apparently the eating is better down here.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:51:52 PM EST] <KK> We have lots of Canada geese that winter here.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:15 PM EST] <Eris> <Revanne> I'm going to say goodnight. I'm not sleeping brilliantly -no-one to put my cold feet on- and have been awake sine 2am. Nice to be able to chat with you all. Have a good week everyone.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:30 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Nice to see you, Revanne!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:31 PM EST] <KK> Good week to you, too, Revanne.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:32 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Goodnight, Revanne!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:33 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> My stepdad likes them because they chow down on the dollar weed in the yard, so it's not at all unusual for me to drive up in their yard and it's full of geese of various ages.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:33 PM EST] <The_Bee> we get Canada Geese mid-migration both ways.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:34 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Have a good week, Revanne!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:39 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> They actually started out as convenience stores like 7-11, added gas later
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:40 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> G'night, Revanne.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:49 PM EST] <The_Bee> Nighters, Revanne!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:57 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> casts Banish Insomnimonster and Foot Warming in Revanne's direction.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:52:57 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> G'night Revanne. Sleep well
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:53:02 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> dollar weed?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:53:04 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> night Revanne
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:53:18 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> sends Rhys to help Revanne get a good night's rest
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:53:43 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Then I send Duncan as well for back up
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:53:51 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I think it's something that grows only in swampy areas, but it's a little plant that has invaded my parents' yard. The leaves are about the size of a silver dollar, hence the name.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:54:08 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> The leaves honestly look like miniature lily pads.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:54:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Duncan will gladly go to be with Revanne, since I"ve just spent the past few weeks torturing the poor guy.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:55:11 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I don't really think my stepdad cares that much about the dollar weed. It doesn't get very tall; he's been joking about letting it take over the whole yard and then he won't have to mow the grass.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:55:12 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> "Can you believe what she put me through?"
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:55:28 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> If Duncan came, I would not waste my time sleepong
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:55:45 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I think he just likes having the geese around. He's a farm boy at heart.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:56:34 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> (I've just written the backstory for Duncan and Maryse, fleshing out the bits we got to see in your books, KK. Sort of like Sharon did once upon a time, but looking more into the aftermath as well.)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:56:36 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> They used to migrate through here but now they just seem to stay
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:56:40 PM EST] <The_Bee> Is sleepong a form of nocturnal pingpong?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:56:57 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Yeah, that's why we call them Can-Florida geese.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:57:22 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Lol
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:57:30 PM EST] <KK> I like the falling iguanas. Any of those where you are, DesertRose?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:57:31 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Species wise, yes, they're Canada geese, but they don't migrate back to Canada anymore.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:57:40 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> No, too far north here for iguanas.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:06 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> The gators just nap in their creeks/swamps; they don't climb trees mostly (and thank heavens for THAT!!).
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Falling alligators would definitely be unnerving.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:27 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> My word, could you imagine falling gators? LOL!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:33 PM EST] <KK> Really. I saw some ont he ground when I was in south Florida tending to my father's estate. They were sunning themselves on the banks of the canal next to the funeral home.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:39 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Yikes!!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:54 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I think I'd move inland/north with the quickness and let the gators HAVE the space!!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:58:57 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I like a nice sturdy barrier between ME and alligators
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:59:00 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> And those little guys can really move fast on land when they decide they want to
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:59:01 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> They show up on golf courses, too
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:59:44 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> They'll mostly leave you alone if you leave them alone, but you do NOT want to annoy one. Physics SHOULD say no, a creature with those proportions cannot move that fast on land, but gators don't care about no pesky physics.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [3:59:49 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I therefor do not live in a state with free range alligators
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:06 PM EST] <bynw> i'm with you on that too Shiral
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:08 PM EST] <KK> Never saw tiguanas when I lived in the Miami area, but that may be before they became an invasive species, from people releasing pets that were no longer wanted.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Noope
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:29 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Tiguanas sound like they should be playing in a mariachi band
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> LOL
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:38 PM EST] <KK> My dad lived in Ft. Lauderdale, and they'd have the occasional small alligator pass through their back yard.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:47 PM EST] <The_Bee> Don't adopt a pet if you're not prepared to keep it.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:00:52 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> If anyone else has ever played EVE Online, the game has an error message that I discovered while tidying up my inventory; I tried to put a container inside itself, and I got this pop-up that said, "Physics says no."
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:05 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> LOL!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:06 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I may have been overtired at that moment, but I almost fell out of my desk chair laughing.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Little tiny alligators I could handle. Definitely don't want to encounter a large one
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:29 PM EST] <KK> These were 2-3 ft. long apparently.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:39 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> That's already too big!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:51 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> When i was in Cuba, we had iguana crossings
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:54 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> newly hatched gaters are pretty dang adorable
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:55 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> My stepdad used to golf with his work buddies, and they made jokes about letting the gators play through.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:01:59 PM EST] <KK> Yep. They still have big chompers.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:02:29 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Q: Where does an alligator sit? A: anywhere it wants.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:02:32 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Because, what are you going to do, tell an alligator to get out of your way so you can smack a golf ball through its habitat? Only if you have no more sense than the golf ball itself.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:02:47 PM EST] <The_Bee> I once had a dream about little gators (or crocs?) swimming in our living room.  I had to sit on the couch to get out of their reach.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:02:49 PM EST] <bynw> now we do get an occasional cougar sighting in town every couple of years
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:03:11 PM EST] <KK> In Des Moines? Wow!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:03:23 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> There are a few videos on YouTube of purring mountain lions. It is far too cute a noise for such a large, well-armed creature to make.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:03:27 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> Oh yeah, we get plenty of cougars here in our mountains and the foothills
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:03:41 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> We've had bears, they come up out of the Dismal Swamp for a visit.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:03:57 PM EST] <bynw> yes in Des Moines
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:05 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> "The Dismal Swamp" sounds like something from a fantasy novel
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:18 PM EST] <KK> Or Princess Bride.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> I'll add it to my novel
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:26 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> LOL, yes!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:29 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Where the ROUSes live.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:38 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Or near the Bog of Eternal Stench
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:46 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> Labyrinth, IIRC
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:04:47 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> One home owner had 3 black bears asleep in a large tree in his back yard. They left before animal control got there.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:05:11 PM EST] <KK> Oh, goody. They went to sleep in someone else's tree.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:05:11 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I mean, it was their home first.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:05:14 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> We have bears in the area, and moose
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:05:31 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> The cougars/mtn lions, bears, moose, gators.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:05:53 PM EST] <bynw> https://www.khou.com/article/life/animals/iowa-dnr-confirms-mountain-lion-sighting-des-moines-iowa-home/524-30fa9f5e-eae8-4c11-8106-4d5910b1ca15
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:05:57 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> The Dismal Swamp is a real place, on the Va=NC border.George Washington actually did some surveying there
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:06:13 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I once had a raccoon come right into my apartment. It was easily scared off, though.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:06:22 PM EST] <bynw> there are bear sightings in the northern part of the state every decade, they come down from Minnisota
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:06:26 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Have y'all seen that photoset of the lynx kittens on the porch?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:06:27 PM EST] <The_Bee> The advice is, if you're hiking walk noisily, so the bears are alerted to move away.  they don't like surprises.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:06:43 PM EST] <The_Bee> No. where?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:06:46 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> True, Bee
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:08:00 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Where ae the lynx kittens/
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:08:54 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I tend to want to avoid bears, myself. Mutually respectful avoidance
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:09:09 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Same goes for rattlesnakes
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:09:12 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> "Man Wakes Up To Find A Family Of Lynx Playing On His Porch - The Dodo" https://www.thedodo.com/amphtml/in-the-wild/lynx-family-plays-porch-photos-alaska
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:10:20 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I love the quote from the article about how Mama Lynx had her paws full and how she must spend 1% of her life chasing rabbits and the other 99% chasing her children.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:10:28 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Cute fuzzy critters but don't want to get too close. Don
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:10:43 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> t know where mom is
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:10:45 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> No, definitely do not annoy the spicy wild kitty.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:10:53 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Definitely don't want the mother lynx feel you're a threat to her babies
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:10:59 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Cute as they are.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:11:36 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> But apparently taking pictures through the windows was sufficiently nonthreatening that Mama Lynx was okay with letting her crew use his porch for a playground.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:11:37 PM EST] <bynw> but kittens are so cute
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:11:47 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> My gosh, those PAWS!!!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:11:54 PM EST] <KK> Until they saw his eyes.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:12:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Baby animals are notoriously cute, but I'll stick to domestic kittens, thanks!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:12:48 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> I think I wouldn't have been able to resist taking pictures, either, though.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:13:05 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Well yes. That you can do from a safe distance
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:13:15 PM EST] <bynw> but they look soft
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:13:25 PM EST] <bynw> "here kitty kitty kitty"
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:13:48 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> Soft with sharp, little teeth. And claws
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:14:02 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> And a fierce mama
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:14:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> And Mama will ruin your whole day if she thinks you're a threat to her babies.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:14:17 PM EST] <bynw> befriend momma kitty first
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:14:29 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> No, let wild kitties stay wild.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:14:47 PM EST] <bynw> must resist soft kitties
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:14:49 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Feral domestic cats are another story, but do not attempt to acquire a pet lynx.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:15:15 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Too many people adopt wild babies and then when they grow up, don['t want them
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:15:22 PM EST] <The_Bee> Is Dismal Swamp where Colonel Francis Marion--the Swamp Fox--hung out during the American Revolution?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:15:57 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Noope. He was down in SOuth Carlina I think
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:16:09 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> There's a video somewhere of someone who had bobcats (?) in their yard so they threw some old toys that belonged to their house cats into the yard and pointed a video camera at the yard and captured bobcats playing with cat toys.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:16:15 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Yup, he was a Carolina boy.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:16:17 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Wild creatures are definitely not good pet candidates
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:16:44 PM EST] <KK> Bobcats playing with cat toys. Cool!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:16:52 PM EST] <The_Bee> Have you watched Hope ibn he Wild?  They prectice treating injured or orphaned animals and returning them to the wild.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:17:12 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Not far off the College of Charleston campus is a park called Marion Square, named for him. I used to go throw a blanket on the grass and study there on nice days.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:18:05 PM EST] <The_Bee> Disney did a tv show about the Swamp Fox.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:18:24 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> I remember that
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:18:27 PM EST] <KK> I remember that one, Bee.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:18:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I've seen video footage of lions and tigers having a wonderful time with refrigerator-size boxes =o)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:19:13 PM EST] <KK> Cats and boxes. It's universal, I think.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:19:21 PM EST] <The_Bee> You and I are of the same generation, KK.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:19:25 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Big or small cats, yes!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:19:27 PM EST] <KK> Yep.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:19:42 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> I cannot for the life of me get my cats to play in boxes
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:19:42 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> https://youtu.be/FZeG8H8c9XA
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:20:11 PM EST] <The_Bee> sspeaking of cats, any progress in your search for a new cat, KK?
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:20:22 PM EST] <bynw> that's easy .... have a cat, leave an open bo on the floor, cat hops in the box
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:20:47 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> bynw, that's what I thought... mine sniff at a box and then walk away.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:01 PM EST] <KK> That was on hold this past week. I hope to call the place tomorrow or the next day, to see about meeting the cats.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:02 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Tati says hello from under my desk
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:02 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> They must think out of the box
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:30 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> Hello Tati
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:33 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> loads the trebuchet with catfish and aims it at @@Jerusha2
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:41 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Hi Tati!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:44 PM EST] <KK> Most of my cats have liked boxes, some more than others.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:21:45 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> ducks
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:22:04 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> loads trebuchet with ducks
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:22:13 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Carys likes not only boxes but bubble wrap.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:22:24 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> uses duct tape as a defense
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:22:52 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I've tried leaving boxes around. Dmitri will only play in them when he thinks I'm not watching. Then h e'll ostentatiously try to make himself comfortable in an empty shoe box
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:23:12 PM EST] <bynw> your cats must be defective Nezz
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:23:16 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> Fuzzball stole a piece from a package (I think it was the picture frame I ordered with my birthday Amazon gift card, for my Award of Arms scroll) and napped on it. Every time she shifted in her sleep, pop pop pop. It sounded very rude.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:23:23 PM EST] <Eris> <Nezz> That would not surprise me, bynw...
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:23:34 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> lol, DR!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:23:35 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> No such thing as defective cats.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:23:40 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> WEIRD cats, sure.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:24:17 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Not sure there is any such thing as a normal cat
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:24:25 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> But yea, bobcat soccer is hilarious to watch.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:25:29 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> As my mom likes to joke, cats is cats is cats. There are certain traits they all have in common, from the great big kitties to the littlest wild kitties to the fuzzbutts that hang out with humans because we have food. And laps. And toys. And shelter from icky weather. And we think they're cute so we pet them.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:25:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> And they think we're odd, but useful
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:25:58 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> (They ARE cute. Even the great big kitties.)
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:26:12 PM EST] <KK> I've been wondring whether my new cat or cats will like a dedicated cat bed, maybe one of those felt cat caves. But previous cats have never been big on beds. They mostly slept where they liked, though Gus and his sister Tillie did share a basket when they were still kittens.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:26:30 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> Once, I left an empty-single serve bag of chips on my dining room table when I went to answer the phone in another room. When I came back, Isadora was scooching around the kitchen floor with her front half inside the bag. She was going to get every last CRUMB she could find
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:26:43 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> When the first polydactyl cat develops opposable thumbs, that's the end of human dominance of earth. I welcome our feline overlords.
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:26:56 PM EST] <Eris> <Evie> They might like a cat tree near a sunny window, that has platforms and enclosed spaces where they can choose to nap or not
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:27:01 PM EST] <Eris> <DFK> Murray has a cat bed, he will share it with us but he gets the middle
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:27:16 PM EST] <Eris> <DesertRose (she/her)> ROFL, DFK!!!
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:27:28 PM EST] <Eris> <Jerusha2> LOL, DFK
[Sunday, February 6, 2022] [4:27:32 PM EST] <Eris> <Shiral> I bought a cat cave. Cats will sleep ON it, but not IN it. But they'll fight over the saucer-shaped bed I got for Tati the day I adopted her