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 19 degrees in Madison WI with an expected daytime high of 34. The forecast calls for variable cloudiness.
Have a great day, all y’alls!!
Good morning, Meese! A gray-and-white day here in NoVa, with snow covering the rooftops, car tops, and grass, but not, mercifully, the roads. Current temp. is 30 F., going up to 40 F. later. We did receive about 3 inches, which was exciting for the children. Our lodger’s little girl spent yesterday afternoon sliding down the slope at the back of our house.
We’re going out to tea today, taking Miss Pink Cheeks with us. Darling Niece and family will be there too. Afterwards, I probably won’t be able to move for hours, as the food is lavish enough to drug a python.
Trying not to think about politics too much this weekend, otherwise I’ll start feeling depressed. Already overwhelmed by the thought of all we have to do for Christmas.
Wishing all a good day!
Enjoy your tea and food.
Don’t let the politics spoil your day :)
Sunday morning Meese
Looks like we got only about 4 inches of snow – hard to tell because there are some drifts.
Will be discussing USVI history this morning on DKos – this year is the centennial of sale to the US
Queen Mary was one of the leaders of a revolt
Bless this man
Read your post and it’s dazzling, Dee.
Thank you!
I was following the DNC “Unity” Commission’s work over the past few days and it will be interesting to see what eventually gets adopted by the full DNC. The anti-democracy coalition who are pushing for caucuses and no input from long-time Democrats appear to have gotten some of their ideas incorporated. But if they think that “cutting down on the number of Superdelegates” will somehow open the door for their god, Bernie Sanders, they are math-challenged: Hillary Clinton would have won the nomination without a single Superdelegate. This is important, though:
I laughed out loud when Bernie Sanders declared that he was pleased that the DNC will make the process more democratic for “working people” but did not mention that his people on the commission are still advocating for the undemocratic caucuses, processes that make it impossible for working people – and the elderly and the disabled and those who don’t like being shouted at by aholes – to cast votes. And he is still barking orders at the Democratic Party that he refuses to join. Go home, Bernie. One of the tweets I saw yesterday summed it up well. Essentially, it said that if you are only interested in rules for an event that occurs every 4 years, you are not really interested in party building.
I was following by following Chris Reeves – who is a voice of sanity – and Armando’s comments – though he wasn’t there.
Those people are really really not working for democracy or Democrats
I made my oatmeal yesterday, it’s hard work but I’m pretty sure I’m good for breakfast through Christmas. Today, I need to visit my friend — who is home from the rehab hospital & might not need a wheelchair to go to the movie. And my Democratic club’s holiday party. And my U2 album finally arrived, got 1st listen through yesterday, want to listen more today. I bought it in album form, came with a cd, t-shirt & a download — which I seem to have done wrong, because when I put the flash drive I thought it was on in the car, it didn’t show up on the menu.
Story up
Retweeted! I had to go see what the comment with no Likes was. There is always someone ready to say “why didn’t you write a post that included what I wanted to talk about??!!?”, isn’t there? Pre-dick-table.
Good morning, 40 and cloudy in Bellingham. I woke up early, made my ambitious plan for the day, then went back to sleep. So now I’m in my usual lazy and late mode. Oh well, I’ll muddle on.
Time to find some coffee and face today’s realities. Take care everyone.
I had plans to get a lot done this morning and I let myself get distracted by two projects that are not critical but which were more fun than the things I was supposed to do. Now, the morning is nearly done and I will start the week (tomorrow) with a lot of queued up projects and “sorry” emails to my clients. :(
I am going to go sit where I can see my holiday tree (it has lights!) and read the paper and watch sporting events on my TV.
Right at 32 at dawn heading for 55 – next 48 hours predicted to be above freezing – and sunny. Got 7.3 KWHs yesterday and with this morning’s contribution the m-t-d is 60.4 – still heading for 200 for the month which is nice. Glad the Atlantic coast OMG snowstorm turned out to be normal winter stuff. Even the Weather Channel (which I don’t usually see but I was in a restaurant picking up some barbeque) apparently has to go for the clicks or something. sigh. We could use some precip of some sort – but I’d be just as happy if it waits a bit. Like another 3 weeks and we get the holiday travel behind us so fewer people get hurt.
What I’ve heard regarding the dis-unity commission or committee or whatever makes me just as happy to not be on twitter right now. (My opinion is that only Dems should have a say in what the Dem Party rules are and said rules should have voting procedures most inclusive of Dems and least inclusive of RFers.) But I’ll get there – too many people I cannot connect with anymore/easily unless I do. Want it safe though – I know I’m being followed/stalked by whoever managed to get me banned at another site and I certainly don’t want to give whoever it is the opportunity to do so in the wider world.
Sunday chores pretty much done. Pumpkin pie spice muffins this week – out of powdered ginger so I used chopped crystallized ginger instead. Seems to have worked well. I hung the sheets outside – they’ll be almost dry when I need to bring them in. The other stuff has room by the fire now and will be dry and put up by the time I bring the sheets back in and need space to hang them by the fire. Sunny and warm enough to open the front door and let the cats have front porch time. – the benefit of an enclosed south-facing front porch. I still need to make another batch of soup but that doesn’t take long. I’ll do it this afternoon in time for dinner. Heading over to DK to read Denise’s FP and see what is going on with the folks I follow. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Monday Meese
32 here in the Catskills – going up to 36 – snow still on the ground
Well tomorrow is the day we see how many vile people there are in AL – the voter suppression is ugly
Funny how the Rs paint themselves as the party that respects the Constitution
You know, it’s things like this that make me want the blue states to secede from the redneck states.
Puerto Rico
This is so awful I don’t know what to say. Many old people are frail and unable to get about to look after themselves.
If only we lived in a first-world country rather than a kleptocracy, or, what’s the latest word—kakistocracy?
At any rate, it’s just terrible.
Good morning, meeses! Monday …
It is 25 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 32. There are light flurries now and will be most of the day. They are expecting about an inch of snow, total.
The media is breathlessly claiming that the Alabama Senate race is a “referendum on Trump” and that if Moore wins it means that America is fine with the gropenfuhrer’s sexual misconduct. Erm, no. First, it is Alabama voting, not America voting and opinions of the orange orshole are nearly polar opposite in those two places. It is interesting that Sen. Richard Shelby, the other Alabama Senator, asked Alabamans to not vote for Moore. Whether he holds any sway with them, who knows? He is playing an interesting game, hoping people won’t notice that not voting for Moore is effectively voting for Jones (kind of like Jill Stein and Gary Johnson did in Wisconsin to tip the state to Trump with only 45% of the vote). Doug Jones does not need 50%+1 to be the next Senator, he just needs more votes than Moore or any single write-in.
I am not sure what votes are planned for this week in Congress but I notice that California Republicans are finally realizing that they are dead men (and women) walking because of their votes to raise taxes on their consituents – and lose tax deductibility for wildfire damages. If the California Republican Party wants to vote for an extinction event, I say “Please Proceed”. We can use those seats to get to 24 next year and welcome 2019 with Speaker Pelosi.
Busy day here as I did not get done everything I needed to during the quiet weekend mornings. That will make today twice as hectic because I will have to write emails telling people that their projects are not done and doing help desk. :(
See all y’all later!
Good luck with the work, Jan!
Cold this morning but it’ll be warm this afternoon. Pretty normal weather for us. Wondering how busy we’ll be since we were closed without notice on Friday. I feel bad for whoever has voice mail. Listening to lovely, flowy Book Of Your Heart (one of my friends’ comment was “what kind of magic is this?”
Good Moon Day morning, Moosekind! It’s lovely and sunny in NoVa this morning, with snow lingering on the rooftops although melted almost completely from the grass. It’s currently 31 F., going up to 43 F. today.
Had the night from hell—could not get to sleep to save my life. Finally managed it about 4:30, woke up at 7:30. As I have to drive 17 miles to the next county to look after my grandson, hope I don’t fall asleep at the wheel. I’m beginning to understand why people take sleeping pills, although the thought of ever doing such a thing fills me with horror.
Yesterday, when we had tea at the estate built by enslaved people, there was a new exhibit in the gift shop. In a glass case were displayed a “runaway slave punishment collar”—a horrible rusty circlet with spikes radiating out, a set of rusty iron handcuffs, and a branding iron. I explained to the Young Irishman and Miss Pink Cheeks what the objects meant. I’m not sure how much the boy took in, but Miss Pink Cheeks, who is very bright, was thunderstruck. For as long as I’m alive I’ll teach her the real Virginia history and American history. It was a sobering footnote to the festive meal. Oatlands Plantation was what Edward Baptist would call a forced labor camp.
Before I was awakened, I’d always found the Oatlands Plantation estate very soothing, since it stands in the beautiful rolling Virginia countryside near Goose Creek. Now I look at it from a whole different perspective.
Wishing everyone a peaceful day with no bad news.
This is important, Diana:
When my daughter started learning about the Civil War in American History it was just something to learn. But her high school courses, particularly English, have given her a glimpse of what slave life was like and how people were treated – she was horrified. Now, as she sees how the Republican Party has embraced the Glory of The South complete with flags and a longing for slavery she is aghast. This new generation, Gen Z, will reject the party built on the Southern Strategy and deliver us from this nightmare where “slavery was good for the darkies” is actually being mouthed by political leaders in 21st Century America.
Thanks Diana.
I have ancestors who were enslaved at Oatlands.
Denise—are your ancestors’ stories documented somewhere?
31 just before dawn, around 40 when I came to work, heading for mid 60s, and sunny again. They’ve changed the projected forecast so we are dipping below freezing as the lows for several days and the highs supposedly are alternating between mid 40s and mid 60s. I got 7.1 KWHs yesterday and the m-t-d is 65.6. Still trucking along towards 200 for the month which is nice. Just checked the y-t-d and while I’m not going to reach 4 MWHs, I am at 3.9 and my average annual usage is just under 3 so I’m good.
There’s a real blessing to not be on any media except my 3 blogs (or maybe I should say 2 blogs and a couple of communities on a 3rd) – I know the Evil Ones are out there doing Evil. I don’t have the specifics chewing at my stomach and messing with my sleep. Worrying about the folks on the community needs list – or who should be on the community needs list but aren’t – messes with my sleep enough as it is. If I can get a quiet minute in the office today I’ll make my pretty much useless calls – at least I won’t have to worry about quiet minutes in the office after I retire. Unfortunately there will still be evil things to worry about and call about after I retire. The Evil Ones are not going to stop of their own will. We have to take back Congress and prevent them from doing evil while ourselves doing good. So resist, block, push back now – and take Congress in November.
Non-stop search candidate interviews today through Thursday with the vote Friday. I’m mostly covering the office while everybody else deals with the search. Oh, except for the – oh yeah, that replacement lecturer for the Spring semester class up in Rogers we lost the lecturer for, do what needs to be done to hire her – ahem. And maybe I’ll actually get the travel claims sitting on my desk processed. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, 38 and partly cloudy in Bellingham. My morning dilemma……should I go to the pool or not? I’ve got another long sewing day ahead and wrestling the quilt through the machine is a work out so I’ve got to chose where my energy goes. I’ve got about a half hour to decide.
We enjoyed dinner and tree decorating with our son last night, and through the magic of iPhones the family shared our dinners and tree decc’ing progress. It’s fun to share the moments of our lives.
Time to find some coffee and decide what to do next. Take care everyone.
<3
Good morning, meese! Tuesday …
It is 16 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 19. Sunny skies most of the day with clouds and a chance of flurries this evening.
Today is election day in Alabama. One story I read suggested that Moore would have to underperform Trump by 28 points in order to lose. I am not sure how that happens. I was glad, though, to see the focus begin to switch from “child molesting” to the absolutely horrible positions Moore has on just about every issue – from slavery to voting rights to women’s rights to LGBT rights, you name it, he is on the wrong side of every one of them. The right-wing evangelicals aren’t going to dump him because he wanted to have sex with a minor; their bible states that women were put on earth simply to please men and are essentially their chattel. Trying to convince these people that “Roy Moore Demeans Women” is simply not going to find any hooks in their brains. Their reaction is the famous Dick “Dick” Cheney response when he was told that the American people wanted the United States out of Iraq: “So?”
Another busy day here that involves juggling work and errands that need to be run. I hate those! I am still looking for large chunks of time for projects – maybe tomorrow.
See all y’all later!
Good Tuesday Meese
Had quite a scare yesterday when the news broke that there had been a bombing at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC – and the hubby was o n his commuter bus heading into the terminal. Called him immediately – and he and the other passengers were stuck in traffic – heading into the tunnel from NJ into NY – and didn’t know why they were being delayed.
I was simply happy that he was not in the building at the time (and safe) – since the news was scanty at first.
He works on 42nd street right across form Port Authority – his bus was rerouted – they were dropped off about 10 blocks away – and he had to get through tight security to get into his job.
Glad that no one was seriously injured other than the idiot bomber – and New Yorker’s took the whole thing in stride.
OMG! Glad your husband and his fellow commuters were safe!
{{{Denise}}} – so glad your husband (and everybody else except the idjit bomber) are OK. Hat’s off to N’Yorkers for taking such in their stride. Seriously comes under the category of not letting the “enemy” win by terrorizing folks into changing their normal routines. moar {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, Moosekind! The sky is overcast today with white edges at 7:30 a.m. Current temp. in NoVa is 39 F., going up to 47 F. later. There are rumors of four-letter word happening on Thursday, owing to a cold front that’s descending this afternoon.
Had fun with my two-year-old grandson, Mr. Toddler, yesterday. He’s able to communicate through simple phrases now, which I find amazing in a child that’s just three months past his second birthday. But I must get off the “my grandchildren are brilliant” bandwagon or we’ll be here all day.
Hoping mightily that Jones will win in Alabama. If that doesn’t happen, we’re in for weeks of “Democrats suck and can’t do anything right.” More crazies than ever in Virginia are signing up to run against Tim Kaine (who would have been veep if HRC had won) next year. Hope the momentum, at least in this blue, northern part of the Commonwealth, will keep up and people will come out in droves to vote for Dems. I honestly did not expect Northam to win, or to win by the percentage he did, in view of how the corporate-owned MSM kept screeching about a Gillespie “squeaker” win.
As if I didn’t have enough to think about with downsizing and Christmas on my plate, I’m being tormented by the idea of a romance novel in which the tall, graying CEO is a woman who is falling in love (although she doesn’t realize it at first) with a 23-year-old guy who is a business analyst assigned to research her company. Her company manufactures jeans that don’t have a front opening for women’s nonexistent penises. Whaddaya think? Worth pursuing? Just throwing it out there.
Wishing everyone a day with GOOD NEWS from you-know-where.
Hi Diana! I think it’s perfectly okay to talk about your grandchildren, in my opinion. :)
That sounds like a very interesting idea for a romance novel! It’s not often that the protagonist is an older woman. Usually they tend to be “young and available”. Is she / was she married or in a long-term relationship?
Basket, she is an ex-Tart who, on turning 30, had to resign from the International Tarts Society. She is not, and never has been married, but for the last five years has been slavishly devoted to getting her company off the ground. Her company is a roaring success, as most women do not have male sex organs and therefore do not need front-zipping jeans. She is just at the point of being able to relax a little when the business analyst interviews her for the first time and finds himself all a-tremble.
That sounds like the groundwork for yet another spellbinding thriller! Looking forward to it if you decide to go ahead :)
[{{Diana}}} – I agree with basket on both counts. :) moar {{{HUGS}}}
Leaving work early today, my club has our endorsement meeting. On a weeknight. On the UT campus. 2 hours ought to be enough time to find a parking place…. Gorgeous, seasonable — for Texas — weather. Chilly nights & highs in the 60s. I hope Alabama does the right thing today.