Sinuses, Pumpkins, Colds and Internet Woes or How I Apparently Upset an Ancient Spirit...

Hello Friends,

It has been a crazy few weeks y'all. I don't know what evil spirit I peeved off but dang! So follow me as I go through the craziness of the last few weeks. 

Sinus Woes of Halloween 

So the week following the Smoky Mountain Geek Expo I started having a big shift in my mental heath I wasn't feeling well and we had like a shift in weather it rained a few days which brought my mood down. Well close to Halloween I was noticing a lot mucus building up in me cause of post nasal drip, I was coughing a lot and it was causing chest congestion so I spent a few days panicking trying figure out if sinuses or a cold because I had a convention with the Captain coming up the 1st and she can't get sick. Well we did manage to figure out it was my sinuses, cause the Captain who has sinus problems too was going through the same thing. 

So Halloween came and in the midst of choking on my mucus I managed to carve a freckled face sweetie and My mom utilized pumpkin seeds in her Jack-o-Lantern.

Then we sat down to our Halloween meal that featured this Ham Monster:

                                                   

 We feasted as we watched the old Halloween shows late into the night. Very late...

 

Cons and Colds

Was up early for the Fall WNC Comic Con, which will get it's own post at some point. Captain and I felt great after being assaulted by our sinus issues. Had a good time until we went home and something we were talking about right before I was dropped off triggered my anxiety. So mood tanked again. 

Well the 2nd woke up to take my meds and saw my birth control. It came apparent quickly why I'd felt like crap the last week I was in PMDD H*ll Time. Normally my Mom gives me a heads up, cause she's in charge of filling our meds up in our boxes each week, but bless her she'd been sick, and forgot to tell me. As if that wasn't bad enough I started getting sick as the day went on... Apparently I caught Con crud! I messaged Captain to tell her what happened turns she caught it too! But unfortunately for her she has Cystic Fibrosis which got aggravated by the cold, and I think she is still on meds to heal from it. 

So yeah having a cold and mental health crap sucks, and we're entering that portion of PMDD season right before I start when I become a irritable bear, when my tooth on the right side of my face that's connected to the sinuses starts trying to swell up. I guess sinus issues plus the cold that was working the sinuses and the tooth decided to say "FU". It swelled up a little but not too bad, compare to other times.

Snow Days and the 80's

The 10th we awoke to snow and it brought frigid temps with it.

So this led to my Mom cooking delightful things to warm our body and souls. Like here homemade soup...

 

Cornbread...

And Brownies!

      

The next day it was still really cold, which makes me depressed and as Alwyn Oak would say hibernate. So I had a kind of 80's day. I watched The Last Unicorn, this is the first time I've watched it since I got my new TV, I don't know if it's the higher def or what but I noticed so many details I never noticed before, and saw the pirate cat's appearance at the end of the movie. Someone online mentioned the appearance, I wanna say it was someone on Epbot's Discord. Then I watched The Lost Boys then Tubi decided to line up to play The Lost Boys: The Tribe a movie I just learned existed this year. Wasn't too bad, not as good as the original, but Angus Sutherland was such a good vampire. Seriously how does a vampire hunter create such good vampires. Then we had the northern lights happen in our skies that night, a rare treat.

Internet Hassles and Fires 

The 13th I woke up to my internet being down, and I knew this wasn't just an internet outage. If it had been the top light indicating power to the internet modem would still work, but I had no lights. I unplugged it and plugged it back in. It worked for a bit then out again. I called the company dealt with all that to get a hold of someone. Upon checking they said that the modem had malfunctioned and they scheduled for the technician to come on Monday the 17th. I asked him if it could be cause the modem was just old, it's the one that I got when they installed everything 10 years ago. The guy starts kinda low key freaking out saying don't tell them that! I found it odd given a piece on the satellite for the set up had went out a few years ago and  they replaced it for no charge. That's why we pay extra. Well then the guy abruptly hangs up.

So for the weekend I'm unplugging and plugging this thing to get the internet to work, which was annoying. So it gets to be Sunday the 16th. My Mom is gone with my Grandmother for evening services at the church. So here I am by myself with the cats, it's dark, already a little low key nerve wracking for me, when my sister messages me in a panic asking if we were okay. I'm like why and apparently over the mountain from us a wildfire had started. This explained the sirens I heard earlier. I stepped out on the porch and didn't see flames or smell smoke, but it was slightly unnerving cause that is a fear of mine. Luckily they had it contained in like a couple days.

Monday the 17th comes when the technician suppose to come. I was a little concerned cause they had roads blocked both ways where the fire was and I didn't know if they could get through. Well no one showed up, no call letting us know what happened.  So Tuesday I call to see what happened. They said I hadn't been on the books and the guy had been disconnected and they said we tried to call back.Funny thing we got no call. So luckily they could get a technician to me Thursday the 20th. I picked the morning slot, cause my Mom and I needed to go grocery shopping. Sadly it'd be the day after my online therapy appointment. So Wednesday had to talk to my therapist on the phone.

So I wake up at the butt crack of dawn cause the morning slot would have the technician coming  between 8 or 11. Well waited each hour of the morning slot, no show, I gave him an hour grace period in case there had been issues at a previous job, still no show. 1:45 pm the guy calls saying he's on his way he'll be there in 45 minutes. By the time he gets there to start it's almost 3 and half hour late to the latest of the appointed slot. I'm livid, especially when he doesn't offer an explanation, but I don't say anything. Here's why: I noticed he arrived here at the time for the afternoon slot hours, so I start wondering did they company screw up, they did it before, and as the job went on I had a feeling this might be the case. We were so confused why he was working on the satellite and not the modem. He informed us he'd changed the part I'd just just had replaced a few years ago. Finally figured out it was the modem, and my suspicions correct just old. When we told him that's what the guy on the phone had said, he's like they didn't tell him. I actually brought up about the guy on the phone telling me not to tell him about it was that and he looked at me weird. He couldn't understand why. Then he said he had bad news I have to replace the modem with a new one cause mine was a dinosaur and they didn't make them anymore. My Mom's like do we have to pay for it? He goes no... I'm like I'm failing to see the bad. Hook me up! So he does I have to call the internet company to asked for the equipment upgrade and after a headache we get it. Tech looks at the order they sent him the wrong one. So he's like F it I'll call them on the technician's special line. So after all that got my  modem fixed. Yeah they tech was getting annoyed with the company.

Next day I remember I haven't checked my personal email in weeks. I keep eye on the work more. So I checked it, saw the email from that Monday where I'd made the technician appointment and it said the morning slot. The one they sent on that Thursday to let me know he was coming was changed to afternoon. So it was a mistake on their end. Glad I kept my temper.

Thanksgiving

So Thanksgiving came along and we had a nice spread.

 

At dinner I got to learn a funny story my Dad told my Mom about a prank my Papaw pulled on my Mamaw when my Dad was a little kid. It was a nice Thanksgiving and my sibling called we got to wish her a Happy Birthday which was also that day. 

 

The Last Couple Weeks

 

So the last couple weeks been meh. The 28th the teeth on the left side my face started giving me trouble, luckily that didn't blow up into anything. Monday the 1st we went out to do some essentials shopping. Get to Walmart, and even though it wasn't Black Friday it was crazy. This is the funny thing I can handle a convention crowd but holiday shopping at Walmart, gives me anxiety. I was already stressed trying to get a couple things for people on my list now dodging other shoppers, yeah it about sent me in a panic attack.

So also PMDD time again which has really been rough, even more than last month I think. Sunday the 7th we got a surprise. My Grandmother and Mom had gotten back from church and Mom was telling me about the service when two vehicles pulled up in the yard. I was like what the crap, cause my anxiety was out of sight I was not up for unplanned visitors. My Mom went out to see who it was. Then I hear singing and I'm like carolers?! I stepped out on the porch and sure enough there were carolers. I've lived here 41 years and never had carolers, wanted to do it, but the holler is not built to do it, or so I thought. That's why I went out this was like a rare event.

They were people from church, they prayed with us, and gave us a treat box. 

So yeah that's been the last month. It's taken me weeks to write this because stuff keeps happening and being unwell. I hope you all have a great week! Stay warm if you are in the colder climates, and I'll see ya next time.

*Thrifty Geek* 

Wanderings in Waynesville

Hello friends it's Friday again,

For today's post I'm gonna talk a little about some things that happened this Wednesday when Fangirl and I, who else, was in the town of Waynesville Wednesday where we took in a movie and dinner.

Smokey Mountain Cinema

We decided to take a matinées of Toy Story 4 at the reopened Smokey Mountain Cinema. We've missed this old friend of ours. The who place has been given a blue makeover. The concession stands that at one time split the room, but now is against the back wall. The ticket windows are just for show now, as you buy them from the concession stand now. The seats in the theater are nice and squishy and you can lean back in them a little now if you wish. Fangirl and I reminisced over the old water damaged panel that use to be on one of the ceiling panels, and when they'd fix it, this was back with the guy who originally owned it when we went to see movies. I'm just glad to see her open again.

Toy Story 4

Now I wasn't the most excited for the movie, I've watched them all, It's just not something I get excited about. Plus by the time we say it I was burnt out with it, cause it's like every product has used them in their commercials. But enough of my lamenting and on to the movie itself.

This movie was good, did manage to make me laugh. It had it's feels, not as bad as 3, but still heart string pulling. It also manage to have some jump scares that made me think of the Goosebumps movies. From the ending I think this is the final movie in the series, which if it is they ended it well.

A funny note, they were showing Annabelle in the theater next to us... an awesome mix don't you think?

Watami Sushi and Noodles

After the movie we went to eat at a restaurant that I hadn't seen before on Main Street called Watami Sushi and Noodles. It is a small little restaurant on a corner, but it was amazing. They include forks and chop sticks in your napkins so you can choose. I like that.

Fangirl had the Pink Lady sushi. It is salmon, crab, shrimp and avocado, rolled in rice paper with salmon eggs on top. She also had Japanese yaki soba with beef. It was a huge dish piled with noodles.

I had the Lemon Honey Chicken, named for it's sauce that includes broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots, and lemon wedges and a side of rice. It was really good though I mainly ate the chicken, mushrooms and some of the rice, I'm picky about how I like broccoli and carrots, never fear the left overs went to my Mom who I thought would enjoy it, and she did.
Depending on what you get the meal sized are huge, Fangirl and I had enough left overs for a second meal from our meals. Upside if you have a small stomach, you can have more of the yumminess later.

But I defiantly would suggest them when your in Waynesville. It's really good.

That ends this post. I hope you guys have a good weekend. Go see a movie, eat some good food, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Weekend at Captain's

Hello fellow mowers of lawns (if you have no lawn to mow... good for you),

Well May has continued to be a busy month for me. Fangirl and I made plans to visit the Captain's neck of the woods this past weekend.

Thankfully the day was lovely as we embarked on our journey. We even saw where they filmed scenes for District 12 in the Hunger Games movie.
To better write about the weekend I'm gonna break this all up into sections so we can have some better flow here.

The Food

When  we got  there we were greeted with homemade brownies and Lembas bread:

Nom Nom

They were both good, even the sugar free brownies, which surprised me cause I have had unfortunate experiences with sugar free baked goods.

We were treated to the Captains home cooking for supper all weekend. It was a yummy spread:
Friday Supper - Apple Pork Chops with Rice and shell mac n cheese
Saturday Breakfast- Scrambled eggs
Saturday Supper- Meatloaf with mac n cheese and corn (which I decided to avoid cause I didn't need to blow up Captain's toilet).

Lunches were eating out events. On Saturday we invaded a nearby Golden Corral, the Sunday as a farewell meal we unsurprisingly at a Chinese restaurant. We generally end up at one when we get together.

The Carnival

In a tiny section of the mall parking lot a carnival had set up, so on that hot Saturday we visited. Fangirl, who is very temperature sensitive had to seek shelter in the mall. Captain and I were gonna go on that mixer ride cause I love that ride and usually can ride it despite the fact I have a belly, but this one the safety bar cut of my hair practically, so I told the guy I couldn't breath, and then he had trouble getting the bar to release. I have a theory that this version of the ride was geared toward kids, cause even the Captain who was way smaller than me said it was tight on her.

The carnival wasn't a total bust Captain managed to win a cute, purple unicorn:

 *Insert a Despicable Me reference here*

Video Games

There was playing of old video games that weekend. I learned they had Monster Party which they hadn't played so I showed it to them, but I seemed to be having more trouble than I usually did on level one. then it hit me I think this was one of those games I played with the Game Genie.

Then Amber suggested Super Mario World, which the First mate demonstrated how to beat the game in record time. The First mate is endued with great geek powers. He is capable of teaching math and science to high schoolers, he kills it on a Dance Dance Revolution machine, he can solve a Rubix cube like nobody's business, oh and he kept owning our butts in Munchkin all weekend. As we were watching him kill the fish with his spit fire we realized this must be how the Mushroom Kingdom does a fish fry.

He also demonstrated his video game prowess by playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. As we sat around conversing he flew through the first half of the game. He did get a little stuck with the castle on Doom Mountain, which I do too. I'm serious Ganandorf as he's known as in this game is a wuss compared to this armor plated worm.

Card Games

We played two card games that weekend, one was Cards Against Humanity. They have so many cards for this game that Captain has a special storage case for them. I like the way this game is played, but I wish there was a cleaner version out there.

The other game that was played was Munchkin which Fangirl hadn't played before. Since this in an RPG card game Amber brought out the Funyuns®, all we needed was some Mountain Dew® and we'd be Stephen Lynch's D & D.

The Captain ended up with the "Chicken on Head Curse". It made me think of the Weathercock and the chickens from Zelda, which I learned are called cuccos. When she was a cleric I called her Cleric of the Weathercock, when she changed to a wizard Wizard of the Weathercock. I then explained to them what happens if you mess with cuccos too much. This is what lead to the playing of Zelda.

Cat Antics

The Captian owns a tuxedo cat named Kara, who was I hope I'm saying this right being an unsociable sociable cat. She'd either be hanging out just outside our range or storming the table during Munchkin. We were like what level of monster is Kara?
A couple times she was attempting to jump from the kitchen table to the top of the fridge, but she'd get distracted like when Fangirl nudged her with the Funyuns® bag. I called Funyun®  interference.

Other times she was content to sit in front of the door and what the world outside.

Kitty TV Time!

It was a fun time, it'd been a while since we've visited our friend. I hope we get to meet up more often.

I hope you guys have an awesome weekend, beware the ticks, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer