The Frying Pan

It's a bit unusual to be this cold this early in the season. I'm happy to report that my car doesn't seem to mind it.

The news only puts the temperature at 0F, but there is a thermometer just outside the door. That's a weird thing about Anchorage, the temperature varies considerably 1 mile to the next.

7:57 AM

@ElendilTheTall I get something now that I didn't get when you first said it to me (like over 1 year ago)

It made sense without "getting" it, but it makes more sense now.

8:10 AM

@jolenealaska oh?

Yep. I suspect you were quoting a movie to me.

"Get Off My Lawn!"

I am only just now watching Gran Torino.

I'm 40 minutes into it. Please don't tell me that ends with Dirty Harry finding God.

(there aren't enough buckets in the world)

I think get off my lawn predates Gran Torino by a considerable period

And no, you won't need buckets

Ah yes, are you saying that you weren't thinking of the movie??

I have had an interesting last few hours. A little Yorkshire Terrier about pissed me off.

So, when Mom came to pick him up, I chose not to mince words.

"I want to muzzle him and then dare him to try to bite me again." (the dog is 7 years old)

She offered to buy the muzzle.

alrighty then, apparently we are in agreement

SLAM

8:33 AM

Yes, I wasn't thinking of that movie.

wow, OK.

It resonated very quickly.

You'd never heard the phrase 'get off my lawn' prior to then?

of course I have, but never quite like that.

I thought of you immediately

8:47 AM

I'm flattered

LOL... As I looked at the screen, a phrase popped into my head:

(I wasn't actually thinking of you)

"Ain't opposable thumbs a bitch?!?"

@Jolenealaska Do dogs not usually try to bite you then?

Sorry, that came out wrong.

No, not usually. Very rarely, actually.

What I meant to say was, are they usually well behaved?

@Jolenealaska Ok

They are wary of me

I put them off-center

So they listen, and it usually doesn't occur to them to bite.

If they do, it raises red flags.

8:55 AM

@Jolenealaska Interesting. Is this magic, or are there some tricks you could share?

I don't personally have issues with dogs, but I also have very little contact with them. I do prefer cats though.

I can count on one hand all of the times (in 30+ years) I have been bitten.

I do the "Dirty Harry" stare.

I know people can be afraid of dogs. I have a friend (a grown man) who would hide behind me if a dog came near us. But I find it hard to relate to other people's phobias.

Do you feel lucky?

That's the thing.

@Jolenealaska You mean, like Clint Eastwood? "Huh, do you, punk?"

@Jolenealaska So you stare at them and they cower?

I have no natural fear of dogs.

@FaheemMitha yep

8:58 AM

@Jolenealaska Most people don't. I think my friend may have had a bad experience.

Though even getting bitten should not be enough to produce a phobia, I think.

I don't especially like dogs. Many of them are loud, stupid, and annoying. I generally prefer cats.

And I find barking an extremely aggravating noise. But, whatever.

Of course "most people" react differently. Since I react (or don't) the way I do (or don't), I get paid.

I have (as a vet tech) been hospitalized with cat bites twice.

Cats are different.

I like them, but I don't get into their head the same way.

@Jolenealaska Interesting. You mean you can't intimidate them? Or just communicate with them?

@Jolenealaska Cat bites? Wow. I didn't know that could happen.

It's a bit of both.

Did the bites get infected?

Cat bites are way waaaay nastier than dog bites.

Cat mouths are nasty.

9:06 AM

@Jolenealaska I see. I did not know that.

Well, take it from me. 95 times out of 100, if a dog bites you, you can clean it and put a bandage on it.

If a cat bites you, you are as likely as not to need medical attention.

The Hunt: Trailer - BBC One

9:25 AM

Keep an eye out for the latest BBC nature series The Hunt

it is incredible

the cinematography alone is outstanding, but factor in what they actually capture (in many cases for the first time) coupled with the music and it is really a tour de force

hopefully this isn't blocked internationally

►

UGH! You might think that I can stand that, but I really can't.

It makes me cringe so badly.

Hungry polar bear surprises a seal - The Hunt: Episode 2 Preview - BBC One

►

@Jolenealaska stand what?

Sometimes I root for the predator, sometimes I root for the prey...

well, as they take pains to point out, the vast majority of hunts are unsuccessful

but, no matter who is the victor, he is an innocent animal.

Yes

so then I feel sorry for the animal that is hungry

I can't win

I do enjoy nature specials, but...

I would like to imagine that meat on my plate comes from a replicator.

9:34 AM

ok

I was so anticipating worse than that

You're overestimating how much of a fuck I give

oh, I'm glad you caught me just before I posted my last line.

@Jolenealaska I'll take your word for it. I don't think I've ever been bitten by a dog or a cat. But there's a first time for everything.

@FaheemMitha risking that bite has been a career for many years. If you have been bitten as many times as me, that would indicate that you need never become a dog trainer or veterinary technician.

9:41 AM

@Jolenealaska I don't follow that last sentence.

BTW, I'm allergic to dogs and cats, though I wasn't always so. Therefore, I can't spend much time around them, even if I wanted to.

Don't do it, you would suck at it.

@Jolenealaska well, now you have to post it

rule seven, subscript 62 paragraph eight

says

no

damn Dragon

ok

@FaheemMitha I don't mean really that you would necessarily suck at it, except that you have told me so.

9:47 AM

@Jolenealaska Now you've completely lost me. Suck at what? Being a vet? I wasn't aware that was a topic of conversation.

And it's never been on my list of ambitions anyway.

I don't think I'm cut out for medical work.

Look back through the chat transcript.

Are you really that easily lost?

Perhaps a compass?

I must admit I don't know what you're referring to either. Getting bit?

Well, that is how we got here.

Perhaps I am overly quick to jump down Faheem's throat.

perhaps

you could just use the reply function...

During the course of conversation, we establish that 2 plus 3 plus 4 equals 9. I get annoyed when the somebody from the balcony says, "2 what??"

I don't get it

9-4-3 equals 2

10:03 AM

> Don't do it, you would suck at it.

seems like a complete non-sequitur

AFAICS, Faheem hasn't said "I think I will do this" or anything like it

No, he didn't

he did say that:

24 mins ago, by Faheem Mitha

BTW, I'm allergic to dogs and cats, though I wasn't always so. Therefore, I can't spend much time around them, even if I wanted to.

So I said not to bother, he would suck at it.

I think it was the "even if" that put my teeth on edge.

I have had a highly emotional day. Maybe that's everything. I don't know.

I do know what bugs me.

10:19 AM

yeah, that wasn't an obvious response ¯\ _(ツ)_/¯

yeah, I think I walked into this chat room with my teeth bared.

As a matter of fact, I posted at least two responses thinking I was talking to you.

perhaps the Yorkie had rabies

Ha, you don't know the half of it.

After much discussion, it appears that that Yorkie may have caused the hospitalization of six weeks or so ago.

now I really need to go to bed, maybe I'll be a bit more sane tomorrow morning.

Good night.

good night

10:57 AM

@FaheemMitha I apologize.

again

I don't know why exactly you push my buttons, but you do.

On that note, it's not right that it pisses me off.

It certainly isn't right that I spout off.

so

goodnight again. And again, I really am sorry.

12:15 PM

@ElendilTheTall well, I finished it.

He came too close for comfort at the end.

But, all blood, no foul.

@jolenealaska cool

I thought you'd gone to bed

Of course that means a different thing for you than most other people...

Most people: I am leaving the room now and will not be back for at least 7 hours

Not really, I watched the end of the movie first.

Jolene: I will continue to chat for another 30 minutes, then will back after 2 hours or so

And licked my wounds.

and decided how pissed I had any right to be.

Answer: Not much

but, I reserve the right to be annoyed

Of course. I am in a more or less perpetual state of annoyance

Only the degree varies

12:28 PM

Maybe that's the connection

I've got the movie playing again in a little window. It would piss me off too to call a 27 year old kid "Father". I mean if I would call anyone but my father that.

"Get off my lawn"

12:45 PM

I don't recall that bit

Been a few years since I saw it

The young priest figures at the beginning and at the end.

He's a bit wiser at the end.

I like the smart-ass young girl (imagine that).

and the dog

"No worries, we only eat cats"

1:01 PM

oh yes

a complete change of subject: how weird does Carly Simon look?

she looks like a living caricature

wow...a bit ageless. Like The Bitch (ahem), Jeene.

she looks like Steve Tyler in drag

20 years ago

Ugh, what are those wrinkles for...

Hi, übrigens

wrinkles?

Really

?

1:12 PM

around the mouth

Holy shit

She's 22 years older than me.

She has some smile lines. I wouldn't call them wrinkles.

@Gigili you have made a powerful (if wrinkled) enemy today

Put 'em up!

smile lines? They are little lines around mouth area

I'd call them wrinkles anyway

po-tay-to po-tah-to

1:22 PM

Kill me with one bullet

@Jolenealaska me or Gigili? you can try with me of course, but you know how it'll end up...

@Gigili Ah, so a normal 48-year year old woman is what?

too quiet

I am supposed to fill in the blanks now...

I don't usually bite

I am not suggesting she is old, but those are weird wrinkles around her mouth and eyes

1:31 PM

the question is again something of a non-sequitur to be fair

Whatt?????

@Gigili that's what happens when you have about 300 face lifts

they're not so much wrinkles as creases

@ElendilTheTall 300?? I guessed something must be wrong with that face

@Gigili that number is pure surmise, btw

Surely 60 years is older than 48 (ahem) my years.

1:34 PM

yeeeees....?

I am puzzled

Hmmm, so you have no problem with revealing your age? Nice!

There was some chat over-play, but come on.

@Gigili I never have

:D

no comments

I have never pretended to be other than what I am.

I was born in 1967.

1:42 PM

@Jolenealaska Well, Not revealing your age doesn't mean you're pretending to be someone else.

it's unladylike like to reveal your age, as they put it

Who's "they"?

really??

It's unladylike to be who I am?

@Jolenealaska Common people

OK OK, I take it back.

Nice to know you're a 48 yo lady.

I've never claimed to be anything else.

Right.

On an unrelated note, I find this recipe quite interesting:

hmmm

1:47 PM

girlversusdough.com/2015/11/19/…

brown butter sweet potato buttermilk rolls

@Jolenealaska you are spiky today

Gigi didn't say it's unladylike to be who you are, she said it's unladylike to reveal your age. Two completely different things.

Albeit a slightly confused point. It's generally considered rude to ask a lady's age rather than for a lady to reveal it

Yet, it's unladylike to say who I am?

Ok, you got me.

I'm 23.

Sigh.

Well, WTF.

@Cindy hi there

1:58 PM

Voice of Reason (I hope)

@ElendilTheTall Hello! Finishing my coffee before I head off to the airport. Home today and get to see my kitty. :)

How was Chicago?

@Jolenealaska sssssppppppiiiiiikkkkkyyyyy

:P

@Cindy And hubby....

hmmm.... in a mood, I suppose.

@Jolenealaska Better than I expected. Found out a lot of stuff and actually learned that my manager was looking out for me by not giving me my district yet. She is preventing another manager from dumping a crapload of problems on me. She caught it and is looking out for me. Something I haven't seen often in my career.

@ElendilTheTall Well, of course. I get to see him first. :)

2:02 PM

hmm

so I call off the guns?

They're trigger happy

@Jolenealaska Yeah. At least for the time being. ;)

OK

How does one whistle in chat?

I'll give you guys the full details later. But I do feel a lot better about the job now. :)

@Jolenealaska put your keys together and blow

<snort>, but Cindy, that's great to hear.

2:10 PM

Gotta run. Have to put gas in the car so I can get a receipt. Stupid as I have only driven 8 miles and it will be 8 back to the airport. But if you don't give them a receipt they charge you for a full tank @ 9.89/gal.

take care

tum tee tum

@Jolenealaska think you scared faheem off

lol that whole age thing between jolene and gigili was very entertaining

I apologize since i know jolene was getting frustrated

@jay she's a little bit grumpy today, tread lightly

@Cindy YAY!!!

@Cindy 9.89/gall?!?!?!?! WTH?!!?!?! Premium in NJ is less than $2.75/gallon atm

@Jay Rental car trap.

2:21 PM

@Cindy ohhh yea i just read the whole sentence. I only saw the 9.89 part and zoned in on that haha

Im glad things are going better at your job and that your manager is watching out for you

@Jay Me too! :)

Okay, coffee's gone and so am I. I may jump on later from the plane. Longest flight first.

Bye sweetie!

I hope kitty is doing good too

@ElendilTheTall about time

oh when clashing personality types meet on the net :3

indeed

you just have to know how to deal with Jojo

2:32 PM

@FaheemMitha who is frustratingly literal and often say very insensitive things without realizing he is upsetting someone

And @Jolenealaska who is very "passionate" and have no time to suffer "fools"

@ElendilTheTall you are pushing it, young man.

@Jolenealaska yes ma'am

umhmm

2:34 PM

the question is what you're going to do about it :P

Virtual spanking!

Another random chinese word fact. Butt literally translate as "fart drum"

lol

@Jolenealaska csc

Hmmm

Maybe I'm grumpy tonight.

Did anything happen to make you grumpier than normal? Or just random mood

2:44 PM

A bit of both.

I have good reason to, but no excuse to be, grumpy.

@Jolenealaska Let's grumble together a bit? And cheer each other up in the process?

Oh yeah?

And - Hi, guys!

@Jolenealaska There are those days that smnply leave you in a bad mood. Got up with the wrong foot, so to speak?

Something like that.

I find that if I wallow a bit in self pity, pretty soon a self-preserving effect kicks in. Like "ok, you are done now, find something useful to do". Not always, but often.

2:52 PM

Me too; but occasionally, I wallow.

Anything I can do for you?

Thanks, but no.

Ok, confession: Last time I felt like that, I watched Vampire Diaries back to back. Stupid, senseless, loaded with wallowing.

And made me feel like a teen. Which I am very officialy not any more.