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 (every Sunday morning). 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 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.
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Good “morning”, Motley Meese! The week begins …
Morning low of 45 degrees in Madison WI with an expected daytime high of 55. Showers are in the forecast.
Have a great day, all y’alls!!
Good morning, Meeses!
MPLS/St Paul weather: Rainy with a high of 47.
I feel hope. For all the talk about republican infighting, tRump and Ryan’s poor handling, etc., it was the Resistance that brought down AHCA. This abomination of an election has awakened millions of women who are fighting back. There’s lots more to do, but I think America is going be OK.
The ACA staying in place – for now – is huge. I had been hoping that the fractures in the Republican Party that I had seen during their primary process would make it impossible for them to come together on a plan to destroy everything we hold dear. I thought we might see Republicans in Disarray in the Senate first but the fact that the House is reacting already to the politics of 2018 is extremely good news.
I have been sampling the news this morning and laughed out loud that tRump is not so subtly signalling his hope that the House Republicans fire Paul Ryan. Ryan has no natural constituency except the press and it is difficult to see him surviving except that there is really no other candidate who can win a majority vote. So he will likely stay Speaker by default – until he is replaced by Nancy Pelosi in the 116th Congress. :)
It came as no shock to me that the first reports show that Republicans do not blame the orange shitgibbon but blame Congress and Democrats. Someone on Twitter yesterday suggested that a reporter ask Spicey which Democrats tRump reached out to, since he is claiming that Democrats sunk the bill. Ha! I believe that number would be zero. He probably thought that the Republican Congress was a subsidiary of Oval Office, Inc. and a rubber-stamp. Someone really needs to get him a copy of the Constitution or show him the How a Bill Becomes the Law Schoolhouse Rock YouTube.
Stayed in bed, though certainly not sleeping. Still freaked out about yesterday’s news from the HOA. They are hoping for more bids for the repair work, but even the lowest one was over a million dollars. I am definitely disappearing down a rabbit hole of all the happy news & music I can find today. There’s nothing I can do till we have a real cost & I know what my share is, so worrying is pointless. Deliberately playing City of Blinding Lights, makes me feel better.
{{{anotherdemocrat}}} – maybe they should do what the feds did under Bill Clinton (and only under Bill Clinton) – announce all bids are too high and that they will put out a new call for bids next month. Definitely holding the Good Thought for you. Healing Energy.
Hi Meeses – since it’s Sunday I shouldn’t be online yet (only part of my Sunday chores I’ve done is bake the muffins – cinnamon almond – for next week) but today’s my older son’s 46th birthday and I wanted to be sure I managed to check in before I take off, as it were. After the gray day yesterday (only 2.5 KWHs generated) it’s sunny at the moment although the forecast says rain again this afternoon. Chilly at 42 right now but heading for 70.
Yesterday, aside from being gray, chilly, and rainy was also a slam day as far as community needs are concerned. Most of which I have nothing to do about but still hurt. I did add two people to my list although one is not well known – only a year on DK, active commenter but no diaries, no communities, and no personal profile information – and I really doubt it will help (I did give her as many alternate suggestions as I could think of and passed on a few from The Village folks). Her need is rather immediate so up or down she will come off the list in a few days. Little movement for anybody else which is just a big :::sigh::: – I’d hoped the “win” Friday would relieve enough tension to turn folks hearts and minds towards helping their cyber-neighbors. Oh well. I will persist.
Need to get some stuff done. Fortunately I can find Denise’s DK diary later – even this evening if necessary. Bright the day and wind to thy wings, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Enjoy your family day bfitz, and pace yourself with your generous community work. The need is great and can overwhelm you. I’ve had to stop much of my charitable giving because my family needs assistance with health care. Self employed people (2 of my kids) are particularly vulnerable, and an essentially high risk plan with an added HSO isn’t much better. So we fill in the gaps with the hope that someday affordable health care will a reality for everyone.
{{{princesspat}}} – thank you. I have had to draw back significantly on what I can give personally and am trying to make up for it with the community needs lists, comments and diaries, that I update and post regularly. I will have to pretty much put a lid on my personal giving after I retire at the end of the year. I’m definitely holding the Good Thought for really universal, really affordable healthcare some day. We will persist. Meanwhile, I’m about to take off for my son’s house. moar {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, 45 and cloudy in Bellingham today. I’m still absorbing the health care debacle…..deep relief that the ACA remains the law of the land coupled with deep anger that our right to health care remains vulnerable to political ideology. So much anger is exhausting though, so the struggle to keep my balance continues.
I’m reading an inspiring book, Cut Flower Garden, written by the owner of Floret Flowers, a flower farm in Skagit County, Wa. Planning a cutting garden is a healing antidote to tRump anger!
Good morning, Meese! Late to check-in today because this is the first day of the new Formula I racing season.
Outside it’s gray and still—rain is definitely in the forecast for tomorrow, and may be for today. Current temp. in NoVa is 47 F., going up to 64 F. Yesterday we reached 78 F., although it remained cloudy all day.
Feeling very tired as my trainer really did a number on me in yesterday’s session. Also, got to bed late and woke up too early, so I foresee a nap in my future.
Found out two things of interest this week: (1) “Ozymandias” is another name for Ramses II. (2) It was Richard Nixon, back in 1971, who said health insurance companies can make profits off sick people. So we have that dastard to thank for our present crisis.
Wishing everyone a good, quiet Sunday!
Good morning, meese! Monday …
It is 39 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 50. Cloudy skies are in the forecast.
It was a fairly quiet weekend in the news and gave me time to catch up on stories about how the Republicans Are In Disarray. Those help – a little. But I would prefer that they be in disarray in the minority because there is so much damage they can do in the majority and holding control over the executive branch. I saw this morning that Jared Kushner is going to be in charge of a new task force that will seek ways to turn the federal government into a business. Sigh. The government cannot be run as a business because its “charter” is the constitution, its “mission statement” to promote the general welfare. There have been a number of stories written about this right-wing fantasy – I will have to find them and get my talking points ready! :)
The tRump administration is now saying that Congress was just “not ready” to repeal the ACA and they will continue to work on ways to do that. From ABC News:
Thank you, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats, now and in 2010 when you courageously passed the Affordable Care Act and made life suck less for enough people that it became a third rail that even Republicans were afraid to touch.
The next big thing will be the filibustering of Neil Gorsuch, the vote will be next week, April 3rd. I have been gathering links to commentary and posting them in the Fighting Back thread. No one has convinced me that it is NOT a good idea – not for lack of trying! I may have to put my thoughts into a post. I will see if I have time this week. It is the last week of the quarter and I am behind on projects so that may not happen.
See all y’all later!
The simplest way to explain the difference between business and government goes something like this:
If you like it, use it in good health.
It is less about the economics of the situation than the purpose of government versus private enterprise. I have some old posts where I bloviated on it – I just need to revisit them and refresh my memory.
The worrying thing about this latest shitgibbonry is that the words “privatize” keep coming up. The entire federal government might be sold off before we can take power again!!
But it comes back to the economics – privatize sounds wonderful until you comment, as I did to my r-voting business degreed sister many years ago when she said government was inefficient because it didn’t show a profit. “I don’t want the government to show a profit. That profit comes from my tax dollars!” (BTW – her mouth dropped open. She’d never thought of it that way.)
So yes, they are going to try. But the response should still be, “Yeah, sure, the private corporation makes a profit out of lower wages/benefits and higher fees – but that profit is still our tax dollars going into somebody’s pocket rather than giving us more services for less money.”
Good Monday morning. I’m here in Pittsburgh up drinking coffee and then will be heading to the airport. I should get back this afternoon around 3. It was a wonderful event. They recorded it. I’ll post the link later. Was elated to get to spend time with my comrade sister Kathleen.
Looking forward to the link!!
There is no video yet – but here is an audio link
https://soundcloud.com/etta-cetera/revolutionary-sheros-kathleen-cleaver-and-denise-oiver-velez?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter
{{{Denise}}} – hope you enjoyed your coffee and glad you enjoyed your visit as well as being more than satisfied with your event. Safe travels home.
I’m home! Pooped :)
Good. Have some {{{HUGS}}} and some Healing Energy for whatever you need it. :)
Eating breakfast, drinking tea. I actually slept last night. Like I said yesterday, till they get all the bids & I know what my share is, there’s no sense in worrying. Actually, there’s no sense in worrying, it doesn’t actually do anything. I bundled up a bunch of books to sell at the used book store; if I’m lucky it might be $5, more likely not even that much, but it felt like doing something. Still playing comforting U2 in my head — the intro to A Sort Of Homecoming is so pretty & strummy.
Good morning, Moosekind! It’s a damp March morning here in NoVa, still with a gray sky, but considerably warmer. Current temp. is 46 F., going up to 74 F. later.
Hoping for another quiet day so I can get some work done. Luckily, I don’t have to pick up Miss Pink Cheeks from her after-school Chess Club until 4:30 p.m., so that gives me some time. I’m planning to call the offices of my senators today re Gorsucks.
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond and beyond!
Your Senators have not committed to filibustering. They should. If Gorsucks gets in, Mitch McConnell, and Republican destruction of the foundations of our democracy, wins.
Even Senator Nelson of Florida has committed to filibuster. He wouldn’t filibuster Alito because of the “deference to the president” thing. Mitch tossed that out the window and we should too.
Rumbly thunder started about 8 pm last night and the rain started around 10. Pretty much 55 since yesterday and most of today (hearing some rumbly thunder right now) – I do hope it clears off and I can get some electricity generation. With the fire yesterday I was able to keep the kittehs’ window to the porch open, but since I’m not home to do a fire today had to close it before I left for work. March looks to be going out the way it should have come in – alternating spates of chilly wind and rain with clear and warmer. I did get almost 15 KWHs yesterday and while it’s way under one KWH so far today, I’ve got 308 for the month with 5 days to go.
Nothing’s moving with the community fundraising – when I get paid Friday I’ll plunk $25 on each one and that may be the only movement we see. (Unless other folks are waiting for payday to plunk in their $5 to $25 donations – which are all welcome and those mickles do add up to the muckle eventually.) Next up for our team is try to block Gorsux while keeping an eye on what the Rs try to do to the ACA under the table (unfortunately with lots of help from the Extreme Left who seem to think we could actually pass any universal healthcare much less their magic “single payer” once the current less-than-perfect system is destroyed). At least those are 2 of my issues – I keep the 3rd slot “open” for whatever seems most urgent at any given moment.
3-day weekends mean i have a lot of work email to deal with so I’d best get to it – but I’ll check in with the Village Monday post first. Bright the day and wind to thy wings, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, Meese!
Good morning, meese! Tuesday …
It is 41 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 54. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast.
I have not had time to check the news yet but since I am sitting here and my Internet (which is hosted on the East coast) is still up, our nation has not been destroyed in a thermonuclear war. I am going to build on that.
Republicans passed a law to allow “hunters” to kill hibernating bear cubs and their president signed it. There is no limit to their cruelty and the joy they get from destroying living things and/or their habitat.
The focus of everyone in the resistance has to be the Gorsuck confirmation. The vote was delayed a week because it is no longer a slam dunk. Mitch McConnell is saying he will nuke the filibuster. Is he bluffing? Rumors are that he does not have 51 votes in his caucus to do that. We can’t blink on this – the SCOTUS confirmation process was short-circuited and unless the Republicans are willing to nominate a person with the character and moderation of a Merrick Garland, they should not be allowed to fill President Obama’s Supreme Court seat.
See all y’all later!
Good morning, Meese. Damp and gray with more showers expected. The current temp. in NoVa is 56 F., going up to 73 F. later on.
This evening I actually do have to lead that Brownie meeting that was postponed two weeks ago owing to snow. At least I’ve got some clue as to what to do now. I even wrote out a script for it.
My head is spinning with it all—unqualified Jared and Ivanka, liar Nunes, idiot Trumplestiltskin, and Gorsucks—wish we could get a rest. And WHEN, pray, is the stuff about the treason coming out in public? How long do we have to wait?
Wishing as peaceful a day as possible to all at the Pond.
Jared Kushner is getting a much-expanded job portfolio. Like: fixing the VA, and handling the drug crisis. Because he’s obviously qualified to do those things, having held numerous nepotism jobs. He’s a business man, he should know how to fix the opioid drug mess, right? Ugh.
When I opened a tab for youtube, to look for a video for the song playing in my head when I woke up (Discotheque), this one was sitting in my “recommended” list: Big Girls Are Best. I love this song.
Good Tuesday morning Meese
Trying to get myself in gear – tired from travel. Have Black Kos to write – am going to be sharing about one of the incredible women I met at UVA – Beverley Palesa Ditsie, South African black and LGBT activist and filmmaker.
Good morning Meeses…
Hi, basket, how are you? Raining here, what’s it like where you are?
{{{basket}}} – hope you are doing well, however you define that. :) and moar {{{HUGS}}}
48 at dawn, heading for 72 and sunny today. only 4 KWHs yesterday and it will be nice to get a good day’s generation in. Definitely feel better when the sun is shining. (Sleep better when it’s raining, so the best of all possible worlds for me is sun in the day and enough – but not too much – rain at night.)
The community needs stuff is at a dead stop right now. Hope it’s just everybody waiting on payday as I am. Filling a need is so energizing, not being able to is very depressing. So. I’ll keep on keepin’ on with this as with the calls and cards and political stuff. (Although sometimes I think my main political and every other contribution is just keeping – and expressing – The Faith that Good will overcome Evil, that Love will overcome Hate.
Very in and out because of work stuff. Had a major emergency yesterday that shoved back all the stuff waiting for me from the 3-day weekend so now I need to deal with that. Back when I can. Bright the day and wind to thy wings, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, 46 and cloudy in Bellingham. I’m grateful to have the pool routine be part of my life again, but regardless of how careful I am the workout is exhausting. Regardless, my knees need all the muscle support I can muster so exercise, recovery, and time in the garden will be my priority for now.
Martin Longman, at The Wa Monthly……
Trump Built His Own Prison
When President Obama held his last press conference, he mentioned that he told tRump that there was an aspect of his personality that would make it very hard for him to do the job. I suspect it is the unwillingness to assign blame to himself – although it could be any one of the other million personality flaws he has.
I hope that Booman is right: I don’t want the Republican Party or their president to have any success because when they succeed, we all suffer.
Good morning, Moosekind. It’s 4-blinking-28 a.m. and I can’t sleep. Outside the streets are still shiny with damp from the thunderstorm with heavy rain we had last night. It’s pitch-dark, of course, but mild, 58 F.
Think I’ll go downstairs and make a cup of tea. Hate when this happens! I’ve got a dental appointment this morning and a nail salon session this afternoon. See you all later.
Sorry you can’t sleep! I gave up on expecting to sleep well months ago and when my alarm clock wakes me up it is a shock. There is too much stuff roiling around and things are unsettled. For every step we take in the right direction, I see hundreds of other steps backwards. I need to do a better job of sorting out the things that are only planned monstrosities and concentrate on the more imminent dangers. Try as they might, the destroyers in the White House cannot roll back all of the good government initiatives that the Obama Administration put in place and a lot of the things they are doing is simply insuring that young people will grow to despise Republicans. I just hope we survive long enough for them to help us vote the bums out.