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?
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NOTE: The comments page will 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 (right before “Leave A Reply”) and use the Pages Tool to view previous pages, shown here with 3 pages of comments available and Page 2 circled.
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Good “morning”, Motley Meese! The week begins …
Morning low of 66 degrees in Madison WI with an expected daytime high of 88. Sunny skies are in the forecast.
Have a great day, all y’alls!!
Sunday Meese. A lovely day ahead here in Kingston NY. 65 going up to 84 and sunny.
Special day for us
💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 love the picture!
Happy Anniversary!!! – Enjoy the day – & the future – together.
Happy anniversary, Denise and Nadhiyr! What a gorgeous picture. I’m going to try to capture it for my files.
Puerto Rico
Good morning, all. Eating breakfast & watching the news. Good to see so many stories about voting rights. Angry/depressed that they’re necessary, but glad people are talking about it. Today: make next week’s overnight oats, get ready to be in the office tomorrow.
As someone pointed out, just getting more Democrats to the polls is not going to be enough. The new laws have set the stage for the red-state legislatures to nullify any election outcome they don’t like. Next year will be a dry run with the main event being overturning state results and installing a president in 2024. Sadly, you can’t fix that without new laws. I wish we had been smart enough to fix this when we had filibuster-proof majorities in the Senate. Democrats get complacent when they are in power (we gifted scores of federal judgeships to the Republicans by not moving quickly in Obama’s first term) – we foolishly think that the power of our ideas will propel us to victory. Er, no. The power of hatred and bigotry and the brain-warping caused by having the first Black president, turned out to be more appealing than good government and smart policies. :(
There’s always an issue of morale. No, we can’t just beat them by outperforming them at the polls. This is truth. But if our leaders don’t pretend we can, then we won’t and all the other stuff we need to do will be moot. sigh.
Sunday music
It’s 74 heading for 92, heat index probably over 100 although the widget says under, and been raining off and on since 3 am. Which didn’t cool things down nearly as much as clear skies and low humidity would have. I opened the house at 11, closed the west windows at 3, reopened them at 7, and will be closing up the house and turning the A/C on as soon as I finish this post. Just hope the A/C doesn’t come on when I turn it on. Yesterday we generated 18.5 KWHs and the m-t-d is sitting at 399.8 – with the system still in night mode. Yes, we still can make 500 for the month. IF the last 6 days in July are sunny enough to make up for what we obviously are not going to generate today.
Unless/until we get a firmer and longer-term grasp – in many cases any grasp – on the various helms of all these ships of state in the fleet that makes up the U.S. we aren’t going to change anything. Just do damage control, not even much-needed maintenance, until they get it back. On all fronts. Voting rights, civil rights, environment, health, everything. & that’s effen depressing. So is the not just lack of progress but the falling ever behind – Aji (can’t start treating the lupus until they clear her of “latent TB”), Jill (the guy who tried to have her removed from her property has now hired some ABQ shysters famous for “legal” land grabs in NM), Amelia, my friend – they’re running as fast as the can but they aren’t managing to even stay in the same place. They’re all losing ground.
My hands are being less than helpful. And will be more so once the A/C kicks on. Among various other causes that come together most uncomfortably, the temperature drop when the A/C kicks on triggers a Raynaud’s flare. And of course just about any cleaning tends to trigger the carpal tunnel. Possibly/probably part of the reason for my jaundiced look on life. Along with the so-dark-the-lights-are-on weather. (& the fact my older son is starting off on a motorcycle road trip today. I’m hoping the weather clears up and road conditions are decent for him by the time he leaves & on his route. But I’m his mom. I’m worried. 🤗💕🤗)
So. Coffee. Dee’s diary and the lift that music gives. Then we shall see what we shall see. Bright the Day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Hope your day turns out better than expected, dear bfitz!
Sorry about the Raynaud’s and carpal tunnel.
Good Sunday morning, Moosekind! Breakfast has been had. In a couple of hours we have to go get “brunch.” What a stupid concept for a stupid meal.
It was overcast this morning at 5:30 when I took Monty out to the courtyard. Didn’t sleep very well last night. However, it looks as if the sky is trying to clear up—we have tentative sunlight. At the moment it’s 77 F. in Ashburn, on its way up to 91 F. and humid.
Yesterday at teatime clouds gathered and for a while it looked really possible that we might receive some rain. However, the clouds moved off merrily to somewhere else. We are 5 inches under for rainfall for the year. Bummer.
Nothing much to say. I’m continuing to stay off my foot and getting fatter than ever. Soon I’ll have a rolling gait. Discussions continue apace regarding the Authors’ Festival. There is one truly obnoxious fellow who thinks the world at large is interested in our little gathering. It’s as if a picnic is planned, but instead of bringing a canister of insect repellent, this guy is bringing a .44 gun, loaded for bear. Some of his more grandiose ideas have been shot down (by staff) so he’s in a bit of a snit.
Meese, if we aren’t under a lockdown for Delta this fall, we’ll be under a lockdown for gun violence. With Delta, gun violence, and climate change, why do we even bother to get out of bed in the morning? Interesting question.
Wishing a peaceful Sunday to all at the Pond.
Monday Meese. Sigh. I feel like I’m losing all my heros and sheros
It’s been a bad year. :(
He is a towering figure of American history. Imagine accomplishing as much as he did!
Rest in peace, Mr. Moses.
Good morning, meeses! Monday …
It is 61 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 90. Sunny skies are in the forecast. So much for the “break in the temperature” forecast last week. Storms projected for Thursday might bring us low 80s by Friday. I am trying to keep my air conditioner use low as it is on its last legs (temporary fix made last week) and due to be replaced at the end of this week. I don’t want it to break down completely. Fingers crossed!
A quick scan of the news reveals that the Delta virus is winning in states where the vaccination rate is low. #ThisIsTheFutureRepublicansWanted. The Lt Gov of Texas, wishing for people over 65 to die and die quickly so that the economy wouldn’t suffer, may be finding out that his party’s virus-denial and anti-vaxxing created a variant that is going to kill people 40 to 60. That should help the economy! If the economy is hospitals and funeral homes.
The Select Committee on the January 6th Insurrection begins work this week. Nancy Pelosi appointed Adam Kinzinger, the Illinois congressman who is probably looking for post-Congressional employment. His district is one that includes a fair number of Democrats but is definitely red. If he is successfully primaried from the right, I hope we have a moderate Democrat ready to run there.
The last week of July is upon us! I need to take a look at July promised work projects to see if there is anything I am missing. I essentially took the month of June off from work for vacation-planning, vacation and post-vacation. July has been house clearing month with the plan to assess the status the first week of August and see where we stand. Diana, to answer your question “where will you go?”, I don’t know yet for sure. The requirement to stay in Wisconsin is coming to an end with no need to live here in order to get resident rates for my daughter’s college tuition (Fall 2021 will be her last semester). I have been hankering to move to a less stupid state that has milder weather but I don’t want to try to sell my house in January so the plan is to clear and downsize, sell now, move to temporary housing and then decide on a more permanent location next spring. People on fixed incomes should not own houses unless they have very large rainy day funds (which I don’t due to years of self-employment) and are willing to deplete their savings to keep their house maintained and pay the property taxes. Plus mowing and snow removal get more and more difficult. So “somewhere but not here” is the short answer.
See all y’all later!
Connecticut might be good. Or Colorado. Of course, Colorado contains the hopelessly red Colorado Springs, but Boulder sounds nice. I’ve always wanted to visit the Mint Room of the Celestial Seasonings factory in Boulder, so I could be overcome by the fumes and fall senseless to the ground.
I have looked seriously at Colorado but I don’t want to do winter any longer so it would have to be south. South is Colorado Springs which is crazyland, southier is Pueblo which is not big enough to have the kind of support infrastructure I need.
H’mm. Well, I can recommend Northern Virginia, which is turning more and more blue. We basically don’t have winter any more. We do have four beautiful seasons—cold, not so cold, rather hot, and hot fading to cold.
Pennsylvania, despite its measly appearance (red spots everywhere) would be nice too. I seem to think Philly gets a bit more snow than we do but not much.
Monday Meese. 65 going up to 89 here in Kingston NY, and no rain predicted!
Puerto Rico
Good morning, meeses! I watched the men’s triathlon yesterday, the finish was awesome. The guy who was winning just could not believe it. He kept looking over his shoulder, almost turning around, to see his competitors. The women’s is today, unless the typhoon interfers. I’m in the office today, doing stretches and yoga for my back. Have a good day!
I watched the end of the biking portion of the women’s triathlon – the woman from the Netherlands won by over a minute! I cannot imagine the endurance that would take.
And the Olympic distance is so short compared to the Ironman races. I guess they wanted the marathon to be the only endurance event.
It turned out it was not the biking leg of the triathalon, I am not sure why I thought it was. It was the road race. And the winner was an Austrian woman.
I am going to have to “up” my Olympic watching game. :)
The triathlon was shortened, probably for short-attention-span TV viewers. Still grueling but definitely not what I expected. The woman from Bermuda – the first Bermudan gold medalist – looked like she was taking a bike ride and run in the park – calm cool and collected, big smile at the end.
Good Monday morning, Moosekind! The overcast early morning sky gave way to cirrostratus clouds stretching across the blueness, changing again to a white veil over the blue so we have filtered sunlight. Right now in Ashburn it’s 79 F., on its way up to 90 F. I’m disregarding the predictions of a stray afternoon shower, as every day at teatime clouds have gathered, looked threatening for 10 minutes, and then moved off. The grass around here is beginning to look parched.
Nothing much to say except that I’m disappointed not to have seen my grandchildren all summer. In previous summers I’ve had them for a week at a time. However, it’s an ill wind that blows nae body any guid—my poor husband’s nerves have been quite calm.
Today is National Ice Cream day so we’re going to totter over to the club house this afternoon to get some. Our family motto is, “Anything that’s free, go and get it.” Whatever happened to peach ice cream? I haven’t had any in YEARS. I might have to buy some peaches and make my own.
I actually managed to write the piece that has intimidated me for three months! Have to look up one or two tiresome facts, but that’s it. It’s about 9/11, and I simply don’t know how to write anything fresh about it. However, the whole point of the “My Brush with History” series is residents’ memories of major happenings. I picked three residents to write about. Of course, living where I do, the focus is the Pentagon.
The woman who conducts interviews for the in-house TV channel has asked to interview me. I said fine, September 10 sounds good. Perhaps by that time I’ll have shaped up a bit so I won’t look too bad on telly.
I must go down to my garden patch to water it, as it never rains, so I’m off. Wishing a good, productive, but not too hardworking day to all. I feel very creative today!
It’s 74 heading for 93, heat index over 100. We shall see how much over 100. It got to 110 yesterday. That was after the 2.5″ rain we accumulated between 3 am and 2 pm. Generation 11.1 KWHS, m-t-d 411 – 500 is still possible.
It didn’t cool down enough to open up before I went to bed. I opened when I got up just to air things out (6 indoor cats means house needs regular airing) but will be closing up again shortly. My son said he’d leave if the streets were dry by 3 pm and they were so I imagine he’s getting up in some motel one side or the other of the LA-TX border about now and getting ready to hit the road again. He plans to be at his brother’s house (bedroom community in the Greater Austin metropolitan area) by end of work day today.
Aji’s condition hasn’t changed – at least it’s not worse but not getting better is worse the longer it continues. Along with the toxic husband situation, the delay in being able to even file for divorce, & physical work on the house & land that really needs 2 or more able-bodied people Jill’s getting to fight a landgrabber (from a long line of white people land grabbers) who thinks he can scare her off the land by claiming it’s his. Well, she actually paid for the land (unlike a lot of folks up there who’ve been “squatters” for decades) and has a legal deed filed with the County. So he can bring a counter claim and possibly win, but he can’t have her removed unless/until he does. Things haven’t changed with Amelia. She still hasn’t managed the energy and concentration to call her doctor’s office. She’s going to try again today. And her “rent” is due 8/6 with no donations at all for a month. My friend is still struggling through her stuff – and between her father’s & her husband’s health issues plus work issues, that’s a lot of stuff. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody.
The breeze that’s coming in is still cool-ish but the temps are about to start going up fast. So I need to finish my coffee then close up again. Then go do my online stuff. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, 61 and partly sunny in Bellingham. Thanks to an early birthday brunch for Emma and a long nap after we came home I didn’t make it to the moose pond yesterday. We ended our day with a taco supper in the garden so it was a very nice day.
Emma is 19yrs old now, close to finishing her AAS degree, applying for a barista job, and deciding what to do next. I miss our busy with young grand kids days, but it’s very satisfying to see them growing up and becoming young adults.
Best wishes to all.
Good morning, meeses!
WednesdayTuesday* …It is 73 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 88. Sunny skies are in the forecast. The only benefit from the clear skies is that the moon has been spectacular. Since the full moon on Saturday, her light in the southern sky has been brilliant.
A reminder that sucking up to tRump usually makes him despise you as weak – George P. “I don’t mind being a member of a political party that thinks all Mexicans are rapists” Bush; running for Attorney General of Texas, he was dissed by tRump who supports future-felon Ken Paxton. As bubbanomics would say “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”!
Yesterday was a busy fractured day – again! – and I need to get back on track. It probably won’t be today as I have errands to run.
See all y’all later!
** Now I am losing track of days!!
Tuesday Meese. 63 here in Kingston going up to 89. Looks like the east coast is about to undergo a heat wave.
Puerto Rico
Good morning everyone. Working from home today, back is stiff but not the bad pain I had last week. The women’s triathlon yesterday was awesome — the woman who won was the first ever gold medal for Bermuda. Not for tri, for anything — the first gold medal for her country. And she was so far ahead she had plenty of time to savor. It was so wonderful to see. Anyway, today: work and listening to music.
It’s 75 heading for 94 and a 100+ heat index. How + we’ll see when it gets here. These last several days it’s been consistently 5 degrees above the projection. Sunny at the moment. Hope it holds. We generated 16.4 KWHs which isn’t quite on track and is a little short of what I use when I’ve got the A/C going. We also had a totally unexpected rain storm yesterday sweep across the region and knock the power out. Twice. At least the rain cooled it down enough to sit on the porch step and do my word puzzle book the first time. (After 7:30 and was too dark to see in the house.) The second time I was in bed reading anyway so I just put my book down and – surprisingly – went to sleep.
Aji couldn’t get the blood draw yesterday – test required before they’ll start treatment for the Lupus – b/c their intranet to the payment center was down and they couldn’t process her payment. Not even a situation of she couldn’t pay so they wouldn’t do it, they couldn’t process – and don’t have any backup or workarounds – so they wouldn’t do it. Our medical system is evil. Bastid her husband sic’d on Jill is still trying to bluff her into leaving. He probably figures he can because he has bluffed people out of their land way too many times before. And Taos County govt is practically designed for land theft by bluff. But she’s got knowledge, experience, and a deed filed with the county. He can buy her out if he wants it that bad but he can’t bluff her out. Nothing new that I know of with anybody else. (Or our country for that matter. sigh.)
I need to go close up the house and turn on the A/C again. Hopefully it won’t actually kick on for several hours. But when the outside and inside temps are the same, and the former are about to go up fast, it’s still time to close up. Then deal with email and over to twitter. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good Tuesday morning, Meese! It’s a spectacular morning. We have a blue sky with no taint of brown air pollution or the hot-looking purple-gray that presages thunderstorms, sunlight, and deep shadow. Problem is, it’s going to be HOT. Right now in Ashburn it’s 78 F., on its way up to 93 F.
Yesterday I accomplished nil except for making a couple of doctor appointments. Today I want to visit the farmers’ market, get my hair done, and…who knows what else?
Just about passed out when I heard the latest Rethug theory: Biden was repelled by the military from entering the White House in January, so he’s been conducting business out of an 80% replica. THUD! That sound was my jaw hitting the floor.
Back at the ranch, there’s lousy news coming out of Texas. Daughter texted me last night that she has tested positive for Covid. Mind you, she is fully vaxxed and has been for months. However, she has a little part-time business giving people rides to the airport (her angle is pollution-free rides in her Tesla), and she thinks she may have got it from passengers. Or possibly from flying to Ohio last week to see her daughter, my grown-up granddaughter. It’s weird, because she’s been wearing her mask 75% of the time, she says. At any rate, I’m waiting to see what she has to say this morning.
She texted that her symptoms are mild, but it was the cough that made her suspect she had it. Damn! It’s her birthday on Sunday. She just finished swimming 15 miles for a fundraiser for people with cancer. I’m pretty sure she’ll be OK, but it doesn’t stop a mother from worrying.
I must start my day. Wishing a good day to all at the Pond!
{{{Diana}}} – Holding the Good Thought and sending Healing Energy to your daughter (& all your family).
Thank you, dear one!
I hope she is okay! The infection is probably not from air travel since the airports (being federal buildings) still have mask mandates. I think we all forgot that the vaccinations make us less likely to get very sick and die, not immune from the virus itself. I just saw that the CDC is recommending masking again (which I never stopped doing). I hope there is a HUGE backlash of vaccinated people calling out the unvaccinated – people who do the right thing always have to put up with assholes who shit in the well.
Thanks, Jan! Yes, I went back to double-masking today. Have always worn at least one in public spaces.
Good morning, 60 and cloudy in Bellingham but no rain is forecasted. The garden is looking dry despite our careful watering. We used to pay a flat fee for water use but now it’s metered so we have to chose where to put the sprinkler and where a watering can will do.
Our quiet summer will be busier starting next week when Erica and Ryan arrive. Erica will be here for a visit and Ryan will stay with us while working a summer job. It will be good to be with them again but I hope we can keep the activity low key.
Best wishes to all.