Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: Aug. 18th through Aug. 24th

Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings posts give the Moose, old and new, a place to visit and share words about the weather, life, the world at large and the small parts of Moosylvania that we each inhabit.

Welcomings will be posted at the start of each week (usually Saturday night with a Sunday date). To find the posts, just bookmark this link and Voila! (which is Moose for “I found everyone!!”).

The format is simple: each day, the first moose to arrive on-line will post a comment welcoming the new day and complaining (or bragging!) about their weather. Or mentioning an interesting or thought provoking news item. Or simply checking in.

So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania?

NOTE: The comments page will now split off after 20 or so left margin comments with the most recent comments on the current page. To see the older comments, scroll to the bottom of the page and use the link.

 

Page One of Comments is HERE!
 
Page Two of Comments is HERE!
 

 

27 Comments

  1. TGIF Meese. 65 going up to 80 and cloudy here in Saugerties NY.

    In case you missed it – Puerto Ricans are talking about Denmark

  2. Good morning, meeses! Friday …

    It is 59 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 72. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast.

    I scanned the news and there doesn’t seem to be anything new. The Amazon rainforest is burning, the DNC decided we don’t need a climate change debate, and ignorant people are running the federal government. I am not sure how a recession will be managed under a completely incompetent administration where the economic advisors are FoxPerts but I guess we will find out. I chuckled at the Paul Krugman editorial headline: “From Voodoo Economics to Evil-Eye Economics – Are Democrats hexing the Trump boom with bad thoughts?” Ha!! I have not read it yet but it captures pretty well the right-wing whine I have been seeing lately. No one wants a recession but it is natural reaction to be smug when a con man claiming that he “fixed” the American economy gets his comeuppance. tRump rode the Obama boom and claimed it for his own then ran it into the ditch by applying ideas from his “stable genius” mind – and Republican Party orthodoxy including the zombie lie that “tax cuts will stimulate the economy.” The result is not unexpected. Let’s hope the recession is short and that the pain can be mitigated by the good government people running the House of Representatives.

    How did it get to be Friday!!??

    See all y’all later!

  3. The past 2 days, someone got to the parking place I like before me, so I decided to get here really early, snag my spot & walk before work. I ended up walking 20 minutes — took it easy, because it’s 80 degrees even pre-6am. So, yay me. Got my spot & some very mild exercise. The Amazon is on fire, unknown how bad the nuclear problem in Russia is, the lead pipes problem is being found in more places….. I really wish whoever is running this sim would go ahead & hit the reset button. Ok, time to bring out the big guns of comfort/happy making music: U2 City of Blinding Lights.

    • and also Heal Me from Snow Patrol. Love this sweet, happy song — especially the (break? bridge? I don’t know what that’s called) at about 2:40 — it feels to me like that precipice right before you plunge into love or something else new & wonderful.

  4. Nice thing about being retired – if you couldn’t get to sleep until after midnight and it’s raining and you sleep until 7, it’s OK. Since it was raining the cats let me sleep in. LOL. It’s 66 heading for 75 (maybe) and still raining, not heavy but steady, and we’ve gotten an inch already today. Of course the PV system hasn’t come out of night mode… 😴😴😴 It did clear off yesterday long enough to generate 13 KWHs which was good especially since the A/C wasn’t on and the m-t-d is 307.5 at the moment. With the forecast being rainy all week even making 400 is iffy. We shall see what we shall see.

    In the greater situation nothing’s changed. Evil Ones being evil – also short-sighted and stupid – and we are doing our best to deal while we plan/work towards getting the reins of government back so we can stop the evil and work on survival plans. I doubt anybody thinks of it that way of course. But the research of 15 years back said there would be a point in global warming/climate change where Nature would kick in and if we all dropped dead and didn’t use a single gallon, pound, or RV-propane tank of fossil fuel again it wouldn’t matter. And either – not both – the Amazon rain forest or the Arctic peat (thawed permafrost) burning would be signs that just happened. So here we are. The issue now is not to stop it – we can’t. It’s to survive it – and keep as many species with us as possible. We do actually have time if we put our energy/money/mind to it, to do that.

    In the smaller realm of personal friends, Fineena had to put Julia down yesterday. Sounded like some kind of internal hemorrhaging but they couldn’t tell where other than she had blood in her mouth as well as her urine and she was painfully bleeding out. Julia was almost 12. A rescue Fineena’s had for over 10 years and of course loved dearly. That leaves Henry and hopefully they can comfort each other. And Aji’s not exactly found out because there are a few more tests to run but she and her doctor suspect she’s got a hereditary condition that’s been ignored all her life, even the symptoms not treated, which has been underlying all the medical issues except the possible cancer. The bad news/good news of not curable/not treatable is once she’s got that confirmed no more expensive tests, no expensive (or invasive) treatments at least in that area (still have the possible cancer and definite asthma). Just go back to what she’d instinctively tried and found helpful in decreasing the pain. Small things in comparison – but important to the individuals in question.

    So the world keeps turning and we either do or don’t enjoy the ride. Cats are sleeping and I need coffee. Then off to the internets I go. 😁😁😁 Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}

  5. Good Freya’s Day morning, Moosekind!

    David Koch has popped his clogs. I do not know anyone who will miss him. The harm he and his equally vile brother have done to this country is incalculable. What is it about being super-rich that makes people so nasty? You can only drive one Lamborghini at a time, wear one suit at a time, eat so much at one meal. If I were ever to win an obscene amount through the lottery I’d give most of it away to a host of people. It doesn’t do anyone any good to be super-rich.

    Right now it’s 70 F. in Ashburn, descending to a daytime high of 69 F. this afternoon. Outside it’s grey and ugly, with the wind tossing the tree branches around: positively autumnal, really. I might have to change to jeans rather than shivering in these Bermudas. I’ve missed seeing you all the last two days, but I sweartagoddess, cooking four different breakfasts and preparing four different lunches…well, it’s exhausting.

    After breakfast Thursday I hastily washed little hands and faces and the four of us set off for Mr. K’s school. On the way we saw a horrifying accident. A car was traveling the wrong way in the southbound lane on Route 28. It was rolling slowly toward a terrified woman who was in her own lane, waiting to move. The airbags were deployed front and back. As we watched in horror, the frantic young father pulled his wife out, then dived into the back and emerged with an infant seat. He managed to stop the car from rolling forward. The entire bumper had come off and was lying on the road. The front of the car was totaled.

    Feeling freaked out but glad the people were walking around without visible injury, we proceeded on our way. I’ve never before seen airbags deployed in real life.

    Grandpa and Miss Pink Cheeks dropped us off at the school, so Mr. K. and I went to his future classroom. We saw where he would be sitting. As luck would have it, a child from Mr. K.’s T-ball team is in his class, so at least he’ll know someone. His teacher is really nice. Then all the five-year-olds went to the front of the school to board a school bus so they’d know what it was like come Monday morning.

    Younger Son will put Mr. K. on the bus in the mornings, and I’ll meet him at the bus stop Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Mommy will do the other two days. Younger Son asked me to do this for the month of September, which is fine. He’s paying me for it.

    We returned the children to their mother yesterday at 5 p.m.! (She texted that having them stay with us felt like a mini-vacation.) Last night I was so exhausted by the day’s events that I was barely able to toss the salad, nuke the pasta, and scoop the strawberry ice cream for dessert.

    Had the night from hell, so after finalizing the last two stories and sending them off, I’m going to vege. Have at least one Hell Night a week. It’s bizarre.

    Hope it’s going to be a nice peaceful day for everyone at the Pond. I wish Thing would be taken away in a straitjacket if they can find one large enough to fit his ponderous frame.

    • The only thing I will say about “David Koch popping his clogs” is that it is important to be reminded that horrible people eventually die and that their money won’t save them from the inevitable. I don’t know if he has children – you never hear about them so it is possible that they lie low in the hopes that no one knows that their parent has been working non-stop to destroy the planet and all that is decent.

  6. Good morning, Meesefolk; 55 when I got up and going up to 72. I wish I was outside playing, rather than inside at work. That sentiment is intensified, because my boss just informed me that my last day of work is 30 September. He’s decided that I make more than him, so he’s going to dismiss me, take over my job, and he hopes I understand. I actually do understand, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not slightly panicked. When he said that he hopes I will stay until the 30th, I did laugh heartily…and then I realized he was serious. I pointed out that at my age, if I find another job, I’ll start when they want me to…there’s loyalty, and then there’s stupidity. Frankly, I suspect I’ll end up in retail somewhere. I just turned 62, and there’s not a huge demand for hiring folks my age.

    It does mean, however, that my participation here and at DK will probably be severely curtailed. Part of the reason I can participate is because I’m tucked away and have enough down time (usually) to be able to check-in, read, and write. I suspect those days will be coming to an end NLT 30 September. I’ll have to wait and see what happens, but it does look like the handwriting is on the wall.

    Good day to and for all!

    • {{{DoReMI}}} – It’d say definitely a sign of some kind. (Including how little your boss knows of the work you actually do and how much he thinks is done by brownies and fairies. One of my former bosses pulled that on me. I’ll admit she lasted a little over a year before she gave up and hired someone to do it again.) And it will allow you to leave DK without explanations that will always be answered by “yes, but…”

      Do please at least keep checking in at Moose even if you have time/energy for nothing else. We will worry about you, you know. And if there is anything we can do to help you through this, well, let us know. Holding you in my heart. Healing Energy for the blow & the stress. more {{{HUGS}}}

      • I’ll be around for awhile, but no matter what kind of work I find, it’s unlikely to be the kind that allows the sort of internet access I have now. At least I now understand the weird projects he’s been giving me of late; he’s basically clearing the decks of all the sort of work he does not want to do now or in the future. I may be doing as little on those extra projects as possible from now on, because I may not be passive-aggressive, but I do know how to play one. He also mentioned that I could always work one day a week (so he doesn’t have to work 6 days), but I’m pretty sure hell would have to freeze over before that happened.

        I do understand that the business has not been particularly healthy the past few years, but he has no one to blame but himself. He moved our location to a smaller, cheaper building, but it’s also way less visible so we don’t get the walk-in clientele that we used to. He did nothing to address that situation, because basically, he understands cutting costs but is clueless about spending money to make money. He’s just cheap. He’s also hugely unpopular with the clients, but that’s a story for another day.

        I’m not going to dwell on any of this today. Over the weekend, I’ll sit down and start thinking about budget, and what kind of work I can realistically perform, as well as what I want to do. I also need to find my updated resume; I’m hoping it’s on a thumb drive and not on the hard drive of my laptop that is now showing nothing but blue screen of death. Worst case, I should have a hard copy…somewhere.

        I’m confident I’ll land on my feet, although I won’t be the least bit surprised if my feet end up where I least expect them. I’ve already been invited to apply at the nursery where I used to work, but on the retail side. I’m not sure I want to go back to that, but it’s something to consider.

        • I always landed on my feet – and yes, my feet were seldom where I expected them to be when I did. But folks in our income ranges basically have to land on our feet as the alternative is drowning. You’ve already got options and options are always good. More {{{HUGS}}} more Healing Energy.

    • I will put out huge positive energy that that you will find a job worthy of your talents and one that allows you to continue writing the brilliant posts you publish both at DK and here.

      I have not worked for “the man” for the past 35 years – except that I have to continue to address the needs of my clients in order to stay in business – so I have been thankfully spared the vagaries of petty bosses. I hope that your soon-to-be-former boss finds that his doing your job means that it does not get done very well and that his boss treats him as he deserves to be treated.

    • So sorry to read this DoReMi. Job changes are unsettling, but I hope this one leads to new opportunities for you.

    • OMG, what rotten luck!

      We’ll see how well he gets along without you.

      Is there a possibility you could start your own consultancy? Or can you parlay one of your avocations into a paying gig?

      I am so sorry to hear this news. Damn! I know how it feels, having been laid off three times. I wrote a bunch of posts on Orange years ago about writing cover letters, creating resumes, and essentially creating your own job through a marketing letter.

      Best of luck to you and I hope you will get something good!

  7. Good morning, 60 and raining in Bellingham. Between seeing all the old ballet costumes and sharing the memories that come with them yesterday felt like a trip back in time. I’ve left them hanging from the radiator pipes in my sewing room so I can take some photos today, and then they will go back to the closet. None of them fit Emma so I’ll make her a black tutu skirt to go with a lovely leotard she already owns. Hope I can remember how to cut, gather and sew all the layers of net involved!

    I slept late so haven’t scanned the news. It seems to me that national unrest/dislike is finally building against tRump. May be wistful thinking, but his power and influence seems to be waning. I’ll hold on to that thought, find some coffee and start my day. Best wishes to all.

    • You wonder how long the rich will be content to watch a blundering dotard destroy the economy. Since being wealthy appears to have as its end goal to accumulate more wealth, even his base might find a recession unpleasant. The Dow had been steadying yesterday after Fed Chairman Powell had soothed things and then the Orange Orshole tweeting it down 700 points. What a maroon!

      • The problem is the regular rich don’t realize until it’s too late that they aren’t in the “Kool Kids Klub” – recessions and depressions is how the filthy rich become filthier and richer. When the Market drops that means people are selling – and they’re selling cheap. When the Market crashes those with capital pick up lots of stock and property for cents on the dollar then just wait until the Market recovers. And every group “under” them shifts down a notch or two, depending on how bad and how long the recession/depression lasted. The filthy rich like depressions – and after they’ve skimmed the cream they’re delighted when Dems get back in, clean up the mess…and the Market recovers.

  8. Good morning, meeses! Saturday …

    It is 52 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 73. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast.

    I was glad to see that Brazil finally relented – after threats from France – and will try to stop the fire in the Amazon rain forest. Rain forests burning, arctic ice melting – the damage being done to our planet may be irreversible. The people in 2016 who chose to stay home because of Wall Street Speeches will carry this destruction as a permanent blemish on their souls and the soul of the dangerous old man who gave them permission to act out their peevishness. That the DNC encouraged him to play a role in the party he hates in 2017 and 2018 and is allowing him to set the stage to bern it all down again in 2020 is why I will never donate a penny to them – ever. We are too often self-destructive; I hope we can get enough people to the polls next year to swamp the #BernieOrBust vote this time.

    The Democratic Party Weekly Address is about working #ForThePeople and because the House is still in recess, it will be light reading. As soon as I clear a few projects, I will put together the Fighting Back post.

    See all y’all later!

  9. Up & watching the news. Next Friday is another match for the Walk, having notice this time, I can plan. Today: groceries & the gym. Thank you youtube for suggesting I listen to Discotheque. Sounds fluffy but it’s actually deep — and a great thing to listen to at the gym.

  10. Good Saturn’s Day morning, Moosekind! The weather gods are on track to give us a truly spectacular day. Currently it’s 63 F. in Ashburn, on its way up to 77 F. We have glorious, golden sunshine, low humidity, the works! I might drench myself in insect repellent and go for a walk later on. Had to wear long blue jeans and a jacket over my shirt all day yesterday, it was so cold: our high was 66 F. Even the cicadas maintained a disgusted silence after sunset.

    Read an article by Allen Sloan in the WaPo just now to the effect that we shouldn’t worry about the inverted yield curve: the biggest threat to the economy is the orange-haired anal aperture in the White House. I do not doubt this is right. He’s like an enraged two-year-old.

    Speaking of articles, I turned in the final two to one of the editors, who wrote back this morning to thank me for my “major contribution” to the autumn issue and commented that they were “excellently written, as usual.” Very nice to hear, as I get so little encouragement on my writing. My latest has received only one written review on Amazon, even though the few people who’ve read it have told me they loved it.

    Have a day of laundry and letter-writing to look forward to. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? However, I’m delighted to have this time to myself without having to supervise The Littles.

    Wishing a nice, peaceful Saturday to all at the Pond, and I do hope we don’t receive embarrassing news from Beyond, by which I mean the G-7 in France.

    • Diana, I did enjoy reading your book and I’m sorry I haven’t written a review but I just can’t do so. The entire Amazon review system just renders me mute so I avoid it. Hope you understand and know that I appreciate your writing!

  11. It’s 70 heading for 77 in Fay., AR and it was damp and chilly enough last night I had to get a quilt out. One of my light ones, but still. (No, the A/C was not on.) It’s raining again. At least it’s light enough my PV system is on but that’s about it. I need a lamp by the computer to see the keyboard clearly. sigh. We generated 6.8 KWHs yesterday which is at least as much as I use when I’m not running A/C but our m-t-d of 314.7 is not on track for even 400 this month. sigh. Murf has decided where he wants to be when it’s raining is on my lap. Which he is at the moment. Sure beats holing up in a small plastic-wrapped box sitting on firewood to keep it out of the water. Doesn’t help my back and but he’s purring so I’ll live with it.

    Nothing new under the sun. Nothing new about what’s gonna happen next either. Other than this old planet has never dealt with the rapidity of this carbon dump in the atmosphere driving climate change. Heretofore the most rapid was 10,000 years – not 200 or so. One day at a time is all we humans can do – but if the “colonizer culture” had made sure their actions would benefit even their grandchildren’s generation we would not be in this situation. Those in power don’t give a damn about anybody but themselves and don’t see children, even their own, as people. So. One day at a time. And in our brief lifespan, try to do good by those around us.

    Gonna do my tour of the internets while Murf is still on my lap. I’ll get coffee when he gets up. LOL. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}

  12. Good morning, 58 and cloudy in Bellingham. The windows are still open, but the furnace is turning on. I’m not ready to close up the house so I’ll try to ignore the warm radiators for as long as I can. Seems like summer hasn’t lasted very long this year.

    Emma found a ready made tutu skirt, so all I have to do is alter the waist and add a black ribbon sash, yay! She needs it for a photo session tomorrow so I was pressed for time but this will be relatively easy to do.

    Time for coffee. My best wishes to all.

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