Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: November 28th

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 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.

42 Comments

    • Bless Ono. (& Eff the medical industry. “Free” of the breast cancer, oopsies we didn’t notice the lung cancer is how patriotdailynewsclearinghouse went.)

  1. Good morning, meeses! Tuesday …

    I only have time to log in, say hi and then leave. I couldn’t sleep and was up way too early and then have been tied to my computer all morning. Now I must get off my computer and address some in-person issues.

    See all y’all later!

  2. Good morning, meeses! Wednesday …

    It is 36 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 50. Right now it says “wet snow” but I am not near a window so I will have to take their word for it. It is not supposed to linger which is good because I have a dentist appointment later today.

    FINALLY, CNN is taking out the trash. Chris Cuomo should have been suspended indefinitely after his Kamala Harris birther attacks but that apparently doesn’t bother them as much as finding out that he used his position to help his brother evade the law. I am still going to #ShunCNN for their role in elevating tRump and their plans to do so again because they know that chaos is good for ratings. Chaos is terrible for America.

    The Wisconsin Supreme Court, run by Republicans, has determined that the illegal gerrymander put in place in 2011 to solidify permanent Republican control of the legislature is “just fine” and should not be tinkered with. That comes after the 2018 election that swept Republicans out of statewide office and gave Democrats exactly one new legislative seat despite having over 55% of the total statewide vote. There is no fix for this as power begets power. I hope people are looking at the failed democracy in Wisconsin and realizing that if they don’t do something at the national level, we will lose democracy there as well. Joe Manchin doesn’t care, rich white men don’t need democracy – their wealth and privilege protects them.

    The calendar flipped over to December so there are some things I need to do. I am 100% certain that I am not ready for 2022. I got my TurboTax 2021 software downloaded last week and I really need to do a dry run on taxes so that there are no surprises. It is less of an issue after the 2017 tax law since the standard deduction makes it less likely for most people to itemize so there is little that can be tweaked. I did try to donate to our local food bank, Second Harvest of Madison, on Giving Tuesday to get the match but discovered that the matching donation was by an insurance company affiliated with a god-group and that if you donate, they have your contact information to proselytize. No thanks! I will try again today with an unmatched donation – if it is still linked to the god-insurance I will give directly to Feeding America even though it won’t help our local food banks. Why do organizations do this to themselves? Don’t they understand that organized religion gave us tRump and helps promote anti-vaxxers? Why be on their side?

    See all y’all later!

  3. Wednesday Meese. It’s 32 here (Wednesday is take out the trash day so I had to go outside)

    Thinking of all those family and friends who died due to AIDS today.

  4. Puerto Rico

  5. Good morning — warm here, highs in the 70s next few days. Working from home again. I watched the Beatles documentary yesterday. It is really good. A co-worker told me the 1st part had the most tension, so I dove back in. George quit the band for a few days, there was no yelling or drama. The rest of the documentary is just them keeping on making music, they bring George back, make more music….. I loved all the cross-talk, but I was a huge Beatles fan, though somewhat late. Really interesting was that Get Back started out at a protest song. There was racial unrest going on, and I was so proud to hear the boys talking about it. Also, they seriously talked about asking Billy Preston to join the band. Only decided against that because they were having so much disagreements they didn’t want to add a 5th person to all that. Going to watch a lot of Marvel stuff, use up that month of Disney+ really well.

  6. It’s 54 going to mid 60s and sunny this first day of December. We got 5.9 KWHs yesterday and finished up November right at 180. Yay! Still 6th place (by half a KWH) but in the little grouping that looks to be the “new normal”. December’s “gee it would be nice” goal is 200, not likely but good is 180, and 175 is a 2nd-place target.

    I truly don’t want anything scary or unpleasant to happen to the kitties, but I truly wish the twins would quit slipping out any time I open the back door. No matter how small and opening I do, how much I try to block the opening with my body getting myself out. Mostly I go out the front and around. Which is fine as it’s just about the only exercise I get, sigh. But not when the down-the-street dogs are wandering around. Especially not when they’re wandering through my yard.

    Everybody’s hanging on. As best I can tell anyway. New specifics to deal with, same old situation to deal with them in. sigh. Holding the Good Thoughts.

    I need to do my end of month “accounting” – which is not just money but also energy and water use. Meant to do it yesterday and got sidetracked. And my daily Twitter chores. But off to read Diana’s post first. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}

  7. Good Wednesday morning, Moose Peeps! It’s a lovely day, very December-ish, with pale sunlight and a chill in the air. Goodness, the temperature here in Ashburn has already climbed to 50 F. from the 34 F. it was when I took The Boy out to the courtyard at 6 a.m.

    My laptop has behaved badly for the last two mornings. I’m wondering whether it would be a good idea to turn it off at night. But that would mean signing in all over again every day, what a crashing bore.

    Got a couple of deadlines to meet today. Got to finish the online “paperwork” to send to the doctor as well. I MUST start getting more exercise.

    An author sent me a free copy of her book to review, which I will, but I foresee legal problems arising from one character’s name. Will have to see if I can get in touch with the author about that.

    Have a nail appointment today and must get to the barbershop, because my stylist is off Thursday and Friday.

    Wishing everyone at the Pond a good, peaceful day.

  8. Good morning, 54 and cloudy with more rain this afternoon. Roads are still flooded so Whatcom County remains soggy. Yesterday was a full day of laundry and trying to get my Dec lists together so we can enjoy the season :) I’ve got a haircut and some errands to do today and I hope to bring Christmas to the porches. I don’t have the greens cut for the winter porch arrangements but that will happen eventually.

    Best wishes to all.

    • I wish her luck! She came so close last time but faces an uphill battle with the new voting restrictions put into place. Republicans determined to hold onto power are terrified by the fair elections – Georgia will be ground zero next year.

    • Hope she wins! I am immensely cheered by how hard Stacey Abram, Beto O’Rourke, and Pete Buttigieg have worked to register voters and smooth the processes of democracy. May their efforts bear fruit.

  9. “the stench”

    • Justice Sotomayor was perfect in that sequence. And the answer is NO, the stench is permanent. The Supreme Court is supremely disliked and that is now becoming evident to even those who – sadly – weren’t paying attention over the past 8 years. I lay the deaths of women who can no longer find legal abortions at the feet of Bernie Sanders. His stubbornness and refusal to call off his berned deadenders led to tRump’s election in 2016. Everything – 750,000 people dead, democracy destroyed, now the loss of women’s rights – is on him. And the people who say that the end of Roe will make Americans “rise up” and demand change are as full of shit as the people who claimed that it was good for tRump to get elected because it would make millions “rise up” and demand change. No, no, 1000 times no. Losing elections puts the wrong people in power, crushes democracy and kills us. You “rise up” by voting, no one cares about your marching and clever signs. Goddess help us – this is a major setback for women.

      • Goddess help us – this is a major setback for women.

        Yes. Unwanted children have very unhappy lives. Gaia won’t be happy either. Our beautiful planet is already overpopulated.

  10. Puerto Rico

  11. Good Thursday morning, Meese. Breakfast has been had. I cooked a scrambled egg, bacon, and toast for Dearly, but today I just couldn’t face eating an egg myself. (Moans.) After tomorrow morning, when I shall have porridge, I won’t be able to eat anything for a long time.

    Still have major desk chores to achieve before noon. Not seriously depressed yet because I haven’t yet read the front section of the newspooper. Judging from the headlines, I’ll be depressed after that.

    Germany is experiencing a Florida-style outbreak of Covid. I noticed yesterday that the employees in the nail salon were not wearing masks. I was, of course. Well, the lack of masks makes it easier for them to utter remarks such as, “You nail thin like paper.” Yes, I know. Sigh.

    Anyway, it’s cloudy and 47 F. in Ashburn right now, going up to 63 F. and possibly turning sunny this afternoon. I have a meeting at three, which is good. I missed the last two for good and sufficient reasons.

    Have just learned that Miss Pink Cheeks may come over Saturday afternoon to decorate the Christmas tree! Yay! Earlier on Saturday she’ll be attending the birthday party of her best friend. I’m on Snapchat with those two, although I do try not to send messages before school’s over for the day. Cue a flurry of house-cleaning, gingerbread-baking, and hot chocolate-making!

    Well, that’s all from me folks, time to get on with things. Wishing a good day to all at the Pond.

    • Abrupt change of plans. My son had to go in today after all so he showed up here just as I’d started my twitter stuff and was heading for Dee’s diary. So. Shopping done – and an evergreen wreath on my wall where hopefully the cats can’t get it in lieu of a tree. 😁🎄

    • {{{Diana}}} I have no idea how my reply to myself ended up attached to your comment. I hope your day turns out well. Healing Energy & moar {{{HUGS}}}

  12. It’s 42 going up to mid, maybe upper, 70s and sunny. We did get to 6 KWHs yesterday so we’re on track for 180. Not a great start but a good start for December.

    My son’s bringing the car back today. We’ll have a nice visit as I take him home – stopping at the post office for stamps and the co-op for calcium citrate since they’re on the way. I’m not exactly sure when but I’ll try to get my twitter chores started at least before he gets here. It’s his day off so I don’t really expect him before 10.

    Amelia’s doctor’s office doesn’t seem to be answering the phone, just goes to a recording about new (reduced) office hours then to a full voicemail box. Jill’s being canny about what the plans are but she says things are coming together. The one trust-worthy medical facility in Taos County, NM is having a fund-raiser for the “community clinic” side of their work. Aji of course is fund-raising for it. Even though she hasn’t had the time or energy to do the NDN Silver threads for 10 days now. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody.

    Off to Twitter and Dee’s diary. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}

  13. Good morning, meeses! Thursday …

    It is 48 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 50. Sunny skies are in the forecast.

    I have a half dozen articles up about the end of Roe but I am going to have to save them and read them later – it is too depressing. As people pointed out yesterday, this is not just about abortion rights, it is about the right of women to plan their future, to end pregnancies that would stop them from having careers or go to school or to even survive in an economy that already pays them pennies on the dollar for their work. Or be stuck in an abusive relationship. That the state with the highest infant mortality rate, the highest rate of women dying in childbirth, the lowest rate of health insured people and the highest poverty rate want all the women in their state forced to give birth is the height of insanity. Mrs. Jesse Barrett and her “let them carry their pregnancies to term and then drop them off at a fire station to be adopted” is so gawd-awful, she should have burst into flames for even suggesting it. Susan “Coat Hanger” Collins is now very sorry that she did not understand that she was being lied to – what a literal pile of human garbage! She got her donor money for supporting Kavanaugh, banked it and duped the people of Maine into thinking she cared about them. Grrrrr.

    I have a stack full of beginning of the month things I need to do and I have already frittered away too much time reading the news.

    See all y’all later!

    • Yes, it’s depressing for all the reasons you state. Patriarchal religion is the reason that patriarchs and their caryatids (wives) hate women so much. And of course in a “power over” society, patriarchs want to hold on to power.

  14. Good morning, 45 and cloudy, but it’s not raining. I think we’ll try to get a Christmas tree today so we can clean it and put it in the garage to dry before bringing it into the house. I’m distraught re what’s happening in our country so trying to focus on the tasks December brings is a welcome relief. Best wishes to all.

    • I may have to stop watching MSNBC again – it is non-stop doom and gloom about things that I can’t personally change. We have the filibuster, we have the 6-3 tRump court and we have red state gerrymanders being put in place to take the House of Representatives from us. When my daughter was here, she did not let me watch MSNBC because she does not like politics. I need to go back to watching HGTV, Animal Planet and the weather.

        • She goes to college out of town and was visiting over the holiday. She does plan to move out of state after graduating – I will probably do the same thing once my residency here to get her in-state tuition is no longer needed.

  15. Friday Meese. 39 here in Kingston NY going up to 41. Worrisome reports of rise in COVID cases in my county – our county exec. declared a state of emergency.

    Puerto Rico

    • I wish the #RepublicanDeathCult was not able to drag others into their circle of death. Vaccinations against disease is what has allowed us to survive and thrive, what raised our life expectancy to what it is and what keeps us from dying painful deaths en masse. You just have to visit graveyards in small towns where the date of death for scores, young and old, are the same because a deadly disease ravaged it. We are a stupid people.

      Our county extended the mask mandate to January 3rd but most people are ignoring it anyway. The CDC should never have said that vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks – you can’t unsay that.

  16. Good Friday morning, Moosekind!

    Like everyone here, I just want to hide from the news, so focusing on Christmas-related chores helps.

    Just read some of my writers’ “intense experience” essays. At least two of them wrote about the current political scene and how they feel depressed about it. I’ll be reading them all at some point this weekend.

    Preparing to eat a toasted English muffin as I won’t be able to eat anything hard for quite a while. Going to the dentist for a jolly old root canal and tooth splitting this morning. I lead a weird life.

    It’s clear and 42 F. this morning in Ashburn, just a few little cirrostratus clouds drifting across a cool blue sky. Later the temp. will rise to 54 F.

    Dear Meese, I hope NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS today. No more adults ignoring rumors of potential school shootings, etc. What gets me is that some of the kids knew about it and stayed home! The parents should be arrested as they are accomplices.

    Here’s hoping everyone at the Pond will have a good day.

    • It sounds like there is a strong likelihood that the parents in the Michigan case will be charged. Someone needs to be made an example of, that there are repercussions to dangerous parenting.

    • {{{Diana}}} Healing Energy. Hope the procedure goes well and heals quickly. moar {{{HUGS}}}

  17. Yesterday, I couldn’t persuade my phone to bring up the site. Today I’m using the kindle. Nothing much going on. Working in the office. Since we’re allowed 2 each days, every Friday is a skeleton crew day. Lucky me.

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