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, 33 and mostly cloudy in my part of the world today. Our pipes made it through the cold ok but my friends did not. She is feeling better now but her husband needs a major back surgery and is basically not mobile until that happens in February so I hope the cold weather fairy will please allow the pipe to thaw and to not break.
I see a new dentist this afternoon and I hope he’ll be a good for for me. I need to finish the implant process I started last year so like it or not I will. I want to have the tooth back, just don’t want to pay for it. Oh well, I’m grateful to have the choice. As always my best wishes to all.
Hope all goes well, princesspat!
Good Wednesday Meese. 15 degrees here in Kingston, going up to 25.
Puerto Rico
“Cesarean deliveries have increased dramatically in Puerto Rico, with more than half of babies (50.5%) being delivered via surgery in 2022, according to data released last week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This rate well surpasses the rate for the US mainland, which stands at about 32%.
Healthcare providers use cesarean section – the delivery of a child through an incision in the abdomen – when they believe it’s a safer option for the mother, the baby or both, and it is lifesaving in some cases. But doctors in Puerto Rico are increasingly using the surgical procedure as their main recourse, health experts on the island say”
“Puerto Rico has begun using batteries connected to residents’ rooftop solar panels to provide backup power for its grid, helping prevent blackouts and offering an alternative to fossil fuel-burning peaker plants. It could be the first step toward building one of the largest virtual power plants of its kind.
The yearlong pilot, launched late last year by Puerto Rico’s utility Luma Energy, will pull power from up to 6,500 households during energy shortages. It is part of a transformational effort to modernize a deteriorating grid and transition to clean energy.
If the program is successful, it could lead to a much larger virtual power plant with the potential to make peaker plants, which run only when demand spikes, unnecessary. “It could be really significant,” said Ben Hertz-Shargel, a grid expert at the research firm Wood Mackenzie, adding that if it were expanded to include all home batteries on the island, it would be larger than any residential-storage virtual power plant in North America.
Note: I’m concerned that this pilot is linked to LUMA, who have done a horrible job in PR”
“The last several years have brought disasters to the island that have killed and displaced thousands of people, and highlighted fissures of inequality that did not heal when the power came back on. “Whenever some sort of natural disaster affects Puerto Rico,” Lugo says, “it seems to highlight a problem, and how inefficient the government was in attending those situations.” When Hurricane Maria struck in 2017, for example, cutting people off from medical care and crippling the electric grid for months, it worsened child poverty in Puerto Rico.
In the aftermath of these catastrophes, researchers and residents are concerned many vulnerabilities have still not been addressed—raising urgent questions about how to best strengthen the island’s infrastructure. Building truly equitable and sustainable energy will require addressing complex issues like colonial legacies, poverty, and gentrification. But at the policy level, Lugo says, “conversations are fragmented between all these different spaces.” ”
Earthquake 4.4 Puerto Rico
Great Mother, hope help is on the way after that earthquake!
I had an emergency C-section but it really was an emergency (the pregnancy was 8 months along), not because the doctor wanted a long weekend. The doctors in question should go to the E.R. for an emergency ethics check.
Good morning. Still freezing but supposed to get up to the 40s this afternoon. Still probably going to exercise in the gym. Tomorrow morning is going to hurt. But I’ll enjoy my last day of vacation today.
Good morning, meeses! Wednesday …
It is 42 degrees in Tucson 🌵 with an expected daytime high of 63. Sunny skies are in the forecast.
I read some of the commentary on the Iowa cacas and it turns out that 50,000 or so white evangelical christianists have been allowed to declare Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee. If that is how they want to do it, I guess it’s their party, they can do what they want. But anyone willing to give such power to a state that once voted for Barack Obama and is now is run by a woman who rejects federal food money because “poor kids shouldn’t be eating anyway, they are all too fat”, is as insane as the majority of the people living there have become. Gross.
I am working on a project that I have been given an extension on and I need to not waste that gift. Back to the grindstone.
See all y’all later!
I will never understand these soi-disant “Christians” who would deny food to hungry children and lifesaving medical care to women.
Good Wednesday morning, Moosekind! It’s 15 F. in Ashburn, going up to 30 F., and a beautiful blue, gold, and white morning it is, with the dark boles and branches of the woods limned with snow.
Dearly is preparing to drive me to the shopping center so I can get my wiggie washed at the barbershop while he does a little shopping. More four-letter word has been forecast for Friday, although it’s not supposed to be very much. He brought me early morning tea in bed at a quarter to seven, which was good, because I’d been having weird dreams: to wit, my late mother was in the midst of a large group of people in a hotel lobby, conducting “La Traviata,” and I was waiting patiently for people to come out of the bathroom. They seemed to take forever.
Weird, right? No real news here at the ranch except that today is payday for bfitz and yrs truly, which is always a nice feeling.
At the next meeting of my writers’ group I have to convince them that if they read poetry, their prose will benefit. One of my favorite writers (she’s bfitz’s favorite as well) is Anne Louise Avery, who through her fiction creates the kind of world I would prefer to live in. Anne has kindly given me permission to quote a passage from her writing to illustrate how a knowledge of poetry can infuse prose and thereby double its impact.
In other news, I have written a letter to the Director of Philanthropy, asking if she would be willing to pay the cost of publishing our anthology. If she says yes, we will recoup that cost through booklet sales through the rest of the year, and donate the profits to the Benevolent Care Fund. If she says no, two members of our group have kindly offered to defray the cost. Isn’t that nice? But we’ll see what happens.
It’s a sunny day, I’m sending gratitude to Dearly, and good secret wishes to our beloved Kamala Devi Harris. Wishing a good day to all at the Pond!
Got started on my boosting & forgot to check in. It’s 25 heading for 36 and sunny. We generated .4 KWHs yesterday and the m-t-d is 68. I wish I had a way to clear the panels. sigh. Maybe we’ll get half a KWH today. Maybe.
I’m cold. But it’s certainly not as bad outside being 20 degrees warmer. Hands are stiff & I’m slow. Nothing new about that. Anyway, back to my boosting. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Thursday Meese. 16 degrees here in Kingston :(
Puerto Rico
USVI
I say again–Chef Jose Andres should receive a Nobel Prize for the work he does.
Oh, Dee, I meant to tell you that as I was walking to the UU meeting on Monday, a fellow UU member started walking with me. She’d just been to a program at the UU church in Reston, where the Reverend Julian Barber spoke! Imagine that. Senator Mark Warner was there also. She said Rev. Barber did not seem very well, and was supported by two sticks. Poor man. One can only suppose the enormous stress in his life has affected his health.
Oh dear – that is not good news! Will lift prayers for his health
I will do that too.
Good morning. Back to work. Wow, that alarm was early. Less horribly cold than I feared, I prepares for 20s & it was 37. Better over-prepared than not, though. Made it to 6 rounds of run 1.5 minute, walk 2. So the treadmill was helping; and the not being cold. Still, not bad. Got an AIDS Ride thing after work. Will see how long I can be around people.
Posted. I will be one of the speakers on Saturday:
Excellent, Sis!
Good morning, meeses! Thursday …
It is 48 degrees in Tucson 🌵 with an expected daytime high of 64. Sunny skies are in the forecast. Yesterday, it got to 72 at the airport – we are a little cooler in the foothills. But I am not complaining! I got two walks in, an afternoon one at the local community park as well as my regular morning walk around the apartment complex. I need to dust off the bicycle so I am ready for actual Spring.
Looks like Texas claims the right to let anyone die who attempts to cross the border. Last week, they refused to let the CBP help three migrants who were drowning – an alert sent to them from Mexican authorities – by denying access to a public park ceased by Texas law enforcement. The Biden Administration sent them a cease and desist letter which they apparently will defy, setting up who-the-hell-knows-what, maybe Civil War, maybe another Alamo?
It looks like House Republicans are poised to fire another Speaker – they are very angry that their tiny majority (the only thing smaller is their brains!) does not give them permission to thwart the will of the majority of Americans. One more day to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the government open, this time apparently until March. I have already made sure that bills are paid in case the shutdown impacts the banking system. What a freaking mess! I hope that every Democrat running in November points out that Republicans are terrible at doing their job and cannot must not be given power again.
I have some appointments this morning and I need to get a few things done before I head out.
See all y’all later!
Good Thursday morning, Meese. It’s 20 F. here in Ashburn under gray, lowering skies. Four-letter word is supposed to begin between 2 and 4 a.m. Friday morning and continue all day.
My voice is still raspy, probably from the almost-cold I had. Today I really, really want to get my nails done and pop by the grocery store to pick up a few things. Tomorrow I plan to stay IN, and Saturday as well.
We have a cousin in Austin who refused to sign the letter authorizing our oldest cousin to settle our aunt’s estate, so M’Daughter, who fears little, is planning to seek her out and make a scene. Even if Weird Cousin doesn’t want the inheritance for herself, she could donate it to a cousin who has medical bills to pay. People can behave in such an ugly fashion when someone dies and leaves an estate.
Tonight there are auditions for “Oklahoma!” We’re supposed to start at 7, but in keeping with the Ashby habit of getting everywhere half an hour early, I’d better be there by 6:30. Will have to defer exercise until I can get to the gym tomorrow. Just found out that “10,000 steps a day” is equivalent to 5 miles! Wow!
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond.
It’s 30 heading for 42 and sunny at the moment. The panels are still mostly snow covered but we did get 1.1 KWHs yesterday and should get at least that much today. The m-t-d is 69 and I haven’t a clue whether or not we’ll manage to catch up by end of month. We’ve only got 2 weeks left and we’re not even half way to the piddly 150 for the month goal.
Wretched night (sinusitis), slept in and am groggy. Also hands cold and stiff. So I am moving very slowly today. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Hope things will improve SOON, bfitz!
{{{Diana}}}
20 degrees here in Kingston going up to 27 and we may have some snow
Puerto Rico
FEMA approves extension to complete permanent works related to the 2020 earthquakes
Good morning. Chilly but not terrible, didn’t need hat and gloves. Did my 30 minute walk. Got to try the run/walk again tomorrow. I feel like if I never get the 8 repeats in out in the world (not on the treadmill), I can’t move on to the next week’s plan. Anyway, we’re having “cozy day” at work, people are supposed to bring in their slippers & loungewear, they’re going to have hot cocoa… Nice thing for morale. I’m wearing my unicorn slippers. I don’t wear them at home much because they’re a bit unwieldy. Still: unicorns.
Good Friday morning, Moosekind! ‘Tis but 27 F. outside, snowing quietly and not going to get much higher. We’re enjoying the sight because we so rarely see it. All public schools in the area are closed today, a fact that makes Elder Son livid. When anything, including the weather, interferes with his plans for his own comfort, he takes it personally, as if the Fates are against him. It’s an interesting point of view, but one that I don’t share.
We had auditions last night, followed by casting after all the auditioners had left. Um, some old people are hard to cast because they can’t remember lines, others because they’re impeded by the use of canes or walkers. Still, we did our best. This morning three of the Drama Club members, including yrs truly, have to call people to offer them parts. We hope there are no shrieks of outrage when we tell them which parts they’ve been cast in.
I had hoped for a writing day and still plan to get SOME writing in. This morning, because Dearly brought me early morning tea in bed, I cooked breakfast for him—scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, and biscuits. That should keep him going for a while.
Must go and get ready. I did get my nails done yesterday. They all appeared glad to see me at the nail salon and even gave me hot tea. Nora said her nails fell off last week, but before that she received many compliments.
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond.
I am glad you can enjoy the snow from the quiet of your apartment retreat. I am watching the cable weather channels as another system hits the Midwest and the Northeast and the system in the Pacific Northwest seems to just sit and churn. NFL teams will be playing football outside in Buffalo New York and Baltimore Maryland and indoors in Detroit Michigan. It will be dangerous for people to travel to the games and, for the people sitting outside, dangerous to be sitting in the cold getting wet. I wish there were a way to play those games in domed stadiums and warm climates but the money the teams get from hosting playoff games in their cities is huge. Seems a sad thing to risk your life to watch a game you can see on your TV.
Good morning, meeses! Friday …
It is 50 degrees in Tucson 🌵 with an expected daytime high of 68. Sunny skies this morning with a few scattered clouds this afternoon. The stars were brilliant today in the early morning sky over the mountains. Yesterday afternoon we could see the waxing gibbous moon in the broad daylight over the mountains. She appeared to be just over 1st Quarter and my Moon Phases calendar shows that she entered that phase on the 17th so I had that right. It is nice to see the moons in the daytime thanks to our omnipresent clear blue skies. We will be getting a storm system from California moving in on Sunday what will give us rain, over an inch expected on Monday into Tuesday. We are always glad to get winter rain to fill our reservoirs for the summer.
The government averted a shutdown, again just in the nick of time. This constant refusal by House Republicans to do even the most basic things for the American people is infuriating. Past a budget that reflects America, not just the Republican Cacas. I hope the Democrats pull out all the stops to barrage these deadenders with ads in advance of the November election. A group here is running ads against our first term (single term!) Republican congressman showing that he works for rich donors and not his constituents. Good. When he starts lying again about his position on issues important to Tucsonians, I hope people laugh in his face.
Funniest lead sentence in an article about how Ron DeSantis ran a terrible campaign: “Tim Pawlenty’s and Scott Walker’s presidential campaigns can breathe a sigh of relief. The mantle of Worst Republican Presidential Campaign Ever has been lifted from their shoulders by Ron DeSantis.”
I got everything I need to make a final push this weekend on a project with a hard deadline of Monday the 22nd. Today I can take a small break and get some accounting projects done so that I am caught up and ready for 2023 tax returns. I will owe money this year so I am in no huge rush to file but I do want to get taxes filed before the next government shutdown on March 1st so that I don’t have to worry about IRS payment portals being shut down.
See all y’all later!
It’s 11 heading to 20 and the sun’s trying to come out. The rest of the snow melted off the panels early enough yesterday that we got 7.6 KWHs and the m-t-d at 76.88 while certainly not on track did gain a smidge. We’ve enough time left in the month to achieve our “gosh, that was a miracle” goal. We’ve also got a full week of overcast & rain starting Monday so that we will be lucky to achieve our “better than last year” goal. We shall see what we shall see.
I have been blessed with being able to see the moon out my bedroom window when I’ve gone to bed these last few nights. We get so much cloud cover here and have so much light pollution that I’m lucky to see her 7 nights out of the 28. But I always enjoy and thank and bless her when I do get to see her. And always send my love to “friends far away” by her.
A better night. That’s all I can say for it. Hands are cold and stiff but there’s nothing unusual about – they will be until June. Anyway, off to start my boosting day. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good morning, 34 and light rain and snow outside my windows today. I hoped the snow would just melt away when the rain started yesterday afternoon but it’s slushy mess icy so another day of staying busy indoors. I’m warm and safe, just feeling restless. RonK shoveled some pathways yesterday and will prolly do more today. Best wishes to all.
Saturday Meese. 13 degrees here in Kingston. Will be headed into NYC around noon – to attend Pablo Guzman’s memorial.
Puerto Rico
USVI
Good morning. Another freeze last night, but at least it’ll get up to 40s this afternoon. I hope the laundry room managed to not have burst pipes, guess I’ll find out later. Going to try run/walk this afternoon.