Among Friends

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

---

@just bee 

We used to have a neighbor that had several hives.  He packed them up and went to Florida in the winter and camped near the orange groves.

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

---

@just bee 

We used to have a neighbor that had several hives.  He packed them up and went to Florida in the winter and camped near the orange groves.

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@geezerette 

Did the bees pick up the tab for travel expenses?

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

@geezerette 

I have a coupon for Total Wine that expires today.

Better start thinking about driving over there...

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@just bee 

A coupon?!

For heavens sake, quit thinking and start driving! 

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@geezerette 

I took your advice and had a not-so-great Total Wine experience.

I discovered this week that the Nero d'Avola I've been drinking has become too sweet.  It's tasty, it's fruity but just a tad too... well,  sweet.

I like the Primitivo and they were out of stock until recently.  When I saw it again I bought several bottles and realized I like it more than I thought I did.  They were out of stock today.

Then I bought several bottles of two wines that I purchase every time I go in there.  The two different wines are bottled in such a way that they look identical (except for the names on the label).  Nine times out of ten the person ringing them up assumes all the bottles are the same wine and rings them up as such.  Happened again today.  Doesn't that kinda screw up their inventory? 

And it's annoying to me because one was on sale.  No, she didn't ring them all up as the sale wine.  Minor detail -- I'm getting used to it. 

And it's my fault for not directing the transaction.  I worked in retail and I was able to ring up items correctly and I still assume people are able to do that without my interference.  Clearly I'm mistaken.

But the kicker?  And remember that I am one of the most patient and accommodating humans on earth, but this just set me off.  No, I did not assault the sales associate or call her a stupid ____.  I don't do that.

But maybe I should.  Everybody else does.

Picture this.  It's similar to when a person shops at Costco.  You buy your items and then the person at the register goes on a hunt for an appropriate box to pile your items into.  Although BH prefers to bag and/or box his own items.

Anyway, I thought I was being considerate and saving time for everyone involved by "recycling" the same boxes.  I leave two wine boxes in my trunk and take them shopping with me so the sale associate doesn't have to hunt for boxes.  These are the perfect boxes for lugging wine.

Every time I shop there, the person behind the register acknowledges that I have saved them the aggravation of hunting for boxes.  And they put the bottles in the boxes.

The sales associate today commented on the boxes and even thought it was a good idea that I brought my own.

She rang up the wine (incorrectly) and then, after lifting each bottle to ring up, placed the bottles back in the cart but not in the boxes.

If I had told her to go fetch me some boxes, don't you think she would have boxed the wine?

So BH and I -- and WGD -- left the store and boxed the wine when we got outside.

First World problem, I know, but Total Wine is the only store that doesn't annoy me.  Now it does.

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

---

@just bee 

We used to have a neighbor that had several hives.  He packed them up and went to Florida in the winter and camped near the orange groves.

---

@geezerette 

Did the bees pick up the tab for travel expenses?

---

@just bee 

I wouldn't be surprised.  That guy was really cheap.  If I remember correctly, he had some sort of deal with one of the growers to park on the grove property.  Guess the grower liked the extra pollination from the tourist bees.  

And now I'm picturing them with tiny little suitcases and sunglasses flying around the orange trees!😆

[just bee]

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

---

@just bee 

We used to have a neighbor that had several hives.  He packed them up and went to Florida in the winter and camped near the orange groves.

---

@geezerette 

Did the bees pick up the tab for travel expenses?

---

@just bee 

I wouldn't be surprised.  That guy was really cheap.  If I remember correctly, he had some sort of deal with one of the growers to park on the grove property.  Guess the grower liked the extra pollination from the tourist bees.  

And now I'm picturing them with tiny little suitcases and sunglasses flying around the orange trees!😆

---

@geezerette 

Bees on vacation.

[geezerette]

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

@geezerette 

I have a coupon for Total Wine that expires today.

Better start thinking about driving over there...

---

@just bee 

A coupon?!

For heavens sake, quit thinking and start driving! 

---

@geezerette 

I took your advice and had a not-so-great Total Wine experience.

I discovered this week that the Nero d'Avola I've been drinking has become too sweet.  It's tasty, it's fruity but just a tad too... well,  sweet.

I like the Primitivo and they were out of stock until recently.  When I saw it again I bought several bottles and realized I like it more than I thought I did.  They were out of stock today.

Then I bought several bottles of two wines that I purchase every time I go in there.  The two different wines are bottled in such a way that they look identical (except for the names on the label).  Nine times out of ten the person ringing them up assumes all the bottles are the same wine and rings them up as such.  Happened again today.  Doesn't that kinda screw up their inventory? 

And it's annoying to me because one was on sale.  No, she didn't ring them all up as the sale wine.  Minor detail -- I'm getting used to it. 

And it's my fault for not directing the transaction.  I worked in retail and I was able to ring up items correctly and I still assume people are able to do that without my interference.  Clearly I'm mistaken.

But the kicker?  And remember that I am one of the most patient and accommodating humans on earth, but this just set me off.  No, I did not assault the sales associate or call her a stupid ____.  I don't do that.

But maybe I should.  Everybody else does.

Picture this.  It's similar to when a person shops at Costco.  You buy your items and then the person at the register goes on a hunt for an appropriate box to pile your items into.  Although BH prefers to bag and/or box his own items.

Anyway, I thought I was being considerate and saving time for everyone involved by "recycling" the same boxes.  I leave two wine boxes in my trunk and take them shopping with me so the sale associate doesn't have to hunt for boxes.  These are the perfect boxes for lugging wine.

Every time I shop there, the person behind the register acknowledges that I have saved them the aggravation of hunting for boxes.  And they put the bottles in the boxes.

The sales associate today commented on the boxes and even thought it was a good idea that I brought my own.

She rang up the wine (incorrectly) and then, after lifting each bottle to ring up, placed the bottles back in the cart but not in the boxes.

If I had told her to go fetch me some boxes, don't you think she would have boxed the wine?

So BH and I -- and WGD -- left the store and boxed the wine when we got outside.

First World problem, I know, but Total Wine is the only store that doesn't annoy me.  Now it does.

---

@just bee 

Clearly you need at least another week off.

But I hear ya.  I think we all notice it.  The little things that build up and become big things that aggravate us.  I think it's because it's happening with everything, everywhere.  A small slip occasionally is easily overlooked.  But when you encounter something over and over again that is so simple a well trained dog could grasp it, it tends to get to us.

I guess you have to be content with the fact that they actually had some wine to purchase.  Don't even think about what you'd say if they didn't.

[geezerette]

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

---

@just bee 

We used to have a neighbor that had several hives.  He packed them up and went to Florida in the winter and camped near the orange groves.

---

@geezerette 

Did the bees pick up the tab for travel expenses?

---

@just bee 

I wouldn't be surprised.  That guy was really cheap.  If I remember correctly, he had some sort of deal with one of the growers to park on the grove property.  Guess the grower liked the extra pollination from the tourist bees.  

And now I'm picturing them with tiny little suitcases and sunglasses flying around the orange trees!😆

---

@geezerette 

Bees on vacation.

---

@just bee 

I knew you'd find something clever.  No tiny bee bikinis?👙

[just bee]

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

@just bee wrote:

---

@geezerette 

The stressed-out employees had better enjoy their day off.  The city is considering making admission more affordable -- or even free -- for lower-income guests.

Busy days ahead!

---

@just bee 

Not if they're only open when they're not stressed.  You know--like the bread lines in Russia.  (Probably get poofed for that one.)

I think you should look into bee management.  It's a natural.  And you could get the winter off while they're sleeping, or hibernating, or whatever bees do in winter.

---

@geezerette 

From Britannica:

Have you ever seen a honeybee in the winter? Most people in temperate climates probably have not. Without blankets, fires, or adjustable thermostats, honeybees have to stick together pretty closely to stay warm (and alive) in the winter.

When temperatures in the winter drop below 50 °F (10 °C), honeybees retreat to their hives and form a winter cluster to keep warm—sort of like a giant three-month slumber party. But it’s not all pillow fights and fun. The fate of the hive depends on how sufficiently the winter population has prepared for the cold. To survive and keep warm, the honeybee swarm must have a robust population of winter-ready bees, plentiful stores of honey to eat, and a secure hive. A successful winter cluster is made up of a generation of bees with different physiological characteristics from those of the summer population—bees that are a bit more plump to keep up the heat and have a longer lifespan to last the whole winter (4–6 months instead of only a few weeks).

The social world of honeybees is normally divided into three castes: workers, drones, and queens. But in the winter the male drones die off, leaving only the female castes: the workers and the queen. The all-female swarm of bees crowds together tightly to form the winter cluster, with the queen at the warmest, core section of the group and the workers shaking and shivering around to maintain a survivable heat.

At the center of the winter cluster, temperatures can climb as high as 90–100 °F (32–37 °C), while at the surface of the cluster, or mantle, the temperature fluctuates about the 50 °F mark. To sustain themselves and the heat, the cluster crawls and climbs in formation around the hive to reach their reserves of honey. For most of the winter, the cluster stays intact, but when temperatures outside rise above 50 °F, bees will leave the hive momentarily to relieve themselves of waste. In climates where the temperatures rarely, if ever, drop below 50 °F, the honeybee colony keeps working all year-round.

And they wonder why the bees are dying off?

---

@just bee 

We used to have a neighbor that had several hives.  He packed them up and went to Florida in the winter and camped near the orange groves.

---

@geezerette 

Did the bees pick up the tab for travel expenses?

---

@just bee 

I wouldn't be surprised.  That guy was really cheap.  If I remember correctly, he had some sort of deal with one of the growers to park on the grove property.  Guess the grower liked the extra pollination from the tourist bees.  

And now I'm picturing them with tiny little suitcases and sunglasses flying around the orange trees!😆

---

@geezerette 

Bees on vacation.

---

@just bee 

I knew you'd find something clever.  No tiny bee bikinis?👙

---

@geezerette 

Bees never wear beekinis.  They prefer one-piece suits.

[just bee]

---

@geezerette wrote:

---

---

@just bee 

Clearly you need at least another week off.

But I hear ya.  I think we all notice it.  The little things that build up and become big things that aggravate us.  I think it's because it's happening with everything, everywhere.  A small slip occasionally is easily overlooked.  But when you encounter something over and over again that is so simple a well trained dog could grasp it, it tends to get to us.

I guess you have to be content with the fact that they actually had some wine to purchase.  Don't even think about what you'd say if they didn't.

---

@geezerette 

I may need more than an extra week.  I was irritable at Costco yesterday.  I should probably avoid leaving the house.