Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: Nov. 11th through Nov. 17th

November 10, 2018 JanF Community 117

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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  • Page One of Comments is HERE!
     

  • Page Two of Comments is HERE!
     
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56 Comments

  1. Good morning, Meesefolk; 28 early this morning with a high of 34. I guess that means the snow we got overnight is going to be around for a few days instead of melting off. The sky is blue, and it’s sunny, though, which seems like a good trade-off.

    I see the Crime Boss is back to tweeting his unhinged, ahistorical, and insulting screeds directed at Macron. I find myself reading his tweets in a Brando-as-the-Godfather voice; it helps me maintain some perspective and remember that he’s a very petty man who has earned zero respect. If I’m going to borrow worries, it’s about the damage that may be done during the lame duck. Here in MI, the Republicans have made doing extreme damage during the lame duck session a fine art; I hope the national Republicans don’t take a page from that particular book.

    Good day to and for all!

    • We are awaiting the damage planned in Wisconsin’s lame duck. We have not had the situation where a single party government lost its hold by losing a legislative body or the governorship and burned everything down on their way out. The state senate and assembly leaders have said that they will remove some gubernatorial powers that they willingly ceded to Walker claiming that the election of Evers just means that Milwaukee and Madison voted for Democrats, not that any of their own constituents wanted a change at governor. For one thing, that is mathematically impossible – some of their constituents had to have voted for Evers. That they have for 8 years depended on low-turnout mid-term elections is not a mandate, for crying out loud. Scott Walker is the wild card, though. Will he be willing to put an end to his political career by signing on to limit the powers he had as governor? If the Republicans do as they say they are going to, it will become a campaign issue in 2020 and there is a good chance that the unfair maps that gave them their majority will be undone for that election. Interesting times!

  2. Welp, 18 with windchill of 5 (which is nothing compared to Aji’s zero degrees with windchill of -5) but very sunny so that’s good. We only got 1.6 KWHs yesterday which was actually more than I expected so we’re back to not on track for the 180 for the month – but we should make up a little ground today. I’m supposed to only work half day today but the idea of going out in that wind and taking a bus home is a bit daunting. Still, I did wear my flannel-lined wool cape over my wool-lined London Fog coat which I wore over my boiled-wool hooded cardigan so… ????

    Holding the good thought for the various races still counting. Just winning back the House was “blue wave” but it seems to be getting bluer by the day and that is very good. Healing Energy to everybody everywhere shaped to the need. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}

  3. Good morning meese, 37 with high of 68 here. Did not sleep well last night with a few things on my mind, but hoping today will be better.

  4. Good morning, 38 and mostly sunny in Bellingham. Ready or not it’s time to start T day prep. My sister and her husband arrive next Monday and then the “kids” will start trickling in, so it’s better for me to have as much of the cooking done ahead as I can. We’ll make a rich stock today, and the herb seasoned butter and cranberry relish and gravy by Friday. I roast veggies and chicken parts for the stock, so the gravy tastes just fine when made ahead. I’m ordering a gf dessert from the bakery and my sister will make mom’s rolls and the pies. Makes me weary writing this, so I’d best rest up!

    Best wishes to all.

    • Set an extra place at the table; I’m on my way! I so miss the family chaos that seems to accompany Thanksgiving. My childhood memories are of too many people crowded into a too small space; being unbearably hot; stealing celery sticks from the table when Grandma and the great aunts weren’t looking (as if they didn’t know); and sound levels that today would break decibel-allowance laws. It was heaven. Now it’s just The Hubby and me, and we wait until Saturday for our festive meal. I still go all out, but I do miss the rest.

      • Your memories of decibel level sound are so real! The dogs add to our confusion, and while it is exhausting it is also fun. It’s important to remind myself to treasure the moments :)

  5. I’m at work in Costa Mesa, CA with partially cloudy skies, some wind and a temperature of 75. I’m looking forward to the new ballot count in 35 minutes. Yesterday, for CA-25, Katie Porter gained a 1000 votes and now is only 1011 votes the Republican incumbent Mimi Walters. As Gene Wilder said in Young Frankenstein “It could work!” Fingers crossed.

  6. 5pm drop. Orange County Registrar has announced new ballot totals: Democrat Katie Porter has taken the lead in CA-45 by 261 votes. WOOT!

    • Woot!! 2018 midterms were an extinction event for California Republicans. Too bad we couldn’t get to McCarthy and Nunes but we can take solace in the fact that they will probably not enjoy their time as backbenchers.

  7. Wednesday Meese
    35 going up to 36 here in Saugerties NY. Snow tomorrow.

    Looks like the using the “s” word is here to stay for Trump

  8. Good morning, meeses! Wednesday …

    It is 14 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 32. Sunny skies are in the forecast.

    I am still trying to catch up on the election counting. Florida is tightening up and, from the looks of Marco Rubio’s twitter feed, Florida Republicans are melting down. He is not doing himself any favors and I hope that Democrats planning to run against him in 2022 are making copies of all his utterances. He is embracing full-blown trumpism – not just going along to get along – and when the Republican Party crashes and burns after the 2020 election, he shouldn’t be allowed to walk it back.

    I am watching the new Freshmen Congresspeople arrive and I am not sure what to make of the AOC-Pelosi thing. Has she been sucked into thinking that she is more important than just one of 435 people in the House of Representatives? Most of her endorsees lost and she has hitched her wagon to people who regularly trash the Democratic Party. Maybe she does not understand the words “Democratic Party Leadership” if she thinks that is a pathway to success. You don’t protest at the office of your party leaders, you make an appointment and sit down and talk about the issues that are important to you or you make a floor speech at 2am on CSPAN. We need to work together, not put on a national shit-show ahead of what will be a brutal 116th Congress where the American people are expecting a united front against the destroyers in the Republican Party. I hope it is just youth and not ignorance. We already have plenty of the latter.

    See all y’all later!

    • I’ve seen a variety of takes on the AOC/Pelosi thing. For some, the reaction has been pure outrage at what they see as AOCs grandstanding. Others are applauding her for her actions on behalf of the planet. The more-nuanced view, which is the one I lean towards, is that it was a win-win for Dems. AOC had her moment and garnered attention for an important topic. Pelosi, by not shutting down the protest, gained publicity for an initiative she started in 2007, announced 5-6 days ago she wanted to revive, but that had largely been ignored by the media. However, despite thinking that Pelosi handled this perfectly, AOC is rapidly becoming my least-favorite freshman Dem congressperson. Grandstanding seems to be the only thing she excels at, and while her actions may garner attention, she doesn’t have the policy chops to use the attention to create useful legislation. I read on Twitter, but haven’t verified, that her staff is all 20-somethings with no background/education in business, management, or policy. I have doubts about how accurate that information is, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Too many of the OR/Justice Dems think youth is the answer for everything and place little value on experience.

    • this take on t he AOC-Pelosi thing made me feel much better:

      • I saw that too. I’m still not a fan; a primary winner (only, at that point) campaigning for another state’s primary candidate rubs me the wrong way. But mostly I think it’s her association with OR and her sketchy resumé that leaves me distrustful.

      • Thanks for posting that. Always need to remember who owns the media – & the memes they want pushed. Easy to do with AOC of course but she’s young and got “brought in” by OR. I’m hoping once she’s actually in the job and realizes how much work it is, none of which gets accomplished by throwing temper tantrums, she’ll find a good mentor. Probably not Pelosi, the woman with the gavel is gonna be too busy, but we’ve got a bunch of seasoned women in the House who can show her the ropes if she shows the respect and asks.

  9. Good morning, Moosekind! It’s a gray day here with mist in the woods, and quite cold—36 F., going up to 42 F. I’ll have to bundle up warmly for the demonstration in front of the NRA today. Speaking of the latter, did you know that Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut formed a $1 million fund to help anti-NRA Democratic candidates? All eight of them WON, including Virginia’s own Jennifer Wexton! Just read about it at Orange.

    Tomorrow is going to be quite nasty with regard to weather—wintry mix hitting right at rush hour—so I wonder if my friends are actually going to visit me. We shall see, as bfitz says.

    Thing has behaved horribly, not even visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans’ Day to lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The French from the French Embassy here did it for him. There was a great deal of speculation yesterday about Mueller actually indicting a few people, but as usual nothing happened. I’m starting to think it’s Fitzmas all over again: we speculate feverishly but the deliverance does not appear.

    Wishing a good day to all at the Pond!

  10. Ugh, freezing weather is not my thing. Just, no. One more night tonight then back to normal weather. Sadness about the fires in California — teams of firefighters are on the way to help, said on the news that they might be diverted to yet another fire that just broke out. Votes still being counted (it’s not a re-count if you’re just now opening the mailed-in ballots), one race in texas still fighting: ginaortizjones.com

    Brain is playing Head Full of Dreams, who am I to argue with it?

  12. Welp, 21 windchill 16 so at least the wind has died down a bit from yesterday. Mostly sunny at the moment although the forecast says mid-morning rain/wintry mix. Got 8 KWHs yesterday so are back to being a hair under on track for 180. If we get over 6 today we’ll be on track – but we’ve still got a bit more than half the month to go so we shall see what we shall see.

    The continued counting is great. The single thing a free form of government depends on is the vote – a 2-step dance of people voting and the votes being counted. Recounts – hand recounts of paper ballots – is part of making sure every vote counts as intended. I think we’ve turned the corner. Lots of slogging left to get out of this muck, but we’re at least headed the right way again. At least for this cycle. Meanwhile I’m home today. Just pulled some peanut butter molasses muffins out of the oven so the kitchen is warm(ish) and smells lovely. I’ve got 2 loads of wood ordered but neither have shown up yet so while I still have a full rick I’m being sparing of it. But I may build a fire this morning (instead of waiting until evening) anyway. I don’t like being cold and I am right now. sigh. Seriously concerned about a couple of friends’ health and well being. Little to nothing I can do except Channel Healing Energy and – well, I hate the word “pray” as it carries a boatload of rather nasty and overbearing connotations, but pray is a lot shorter than “holding the Good Thought”. Healing Energy to everybody everywhere shaped to the need. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}

  14. Good morning, Meesefolk; 25 when I got up with a sunny high of 30 today. I caught the weather on tv last night and even the weather guy was bemoaning the fact that “normal” for this time of year is in the 50s. I still expect a 70-80 degree day sometime in the next month, because normal isn’t normal anymore. Or maybe I’m just hoping…!

    Watching the #FiveWhiteGuys not only try to garner support for anyone-but-Pelosi, but change the rules to do it, is vexing. That so many of the freshman Dems seem willing to play along is irritating, but I have noticed that a fair number seem to be hedging their bets. I’ll start worrying about it when Pelosi does, but so far, she seems to be unruffled. Since she’s one of the best at working behind-the-scenes to garner support while others snag the spotlight, I’m just going to monitor and hope. November 28th can’t come soon enough.

    • I think that is key – we should start worrying when Nancy Pelosi starts worrying. I think the blowback to the coup attempt by Moulton and his conservadem henchmen was pretty fierce – people are lining up to primary him and as we saw during primary season in MA-07, no Democrat is safe from a primary in Massachusetts. We would not be in the majority if it were not for Nancy Pelosi’s messaging and money raising and steadiness. If those five idiots think that being in the minority is preferable to having a woman as Speaker, they are dumber than they look (p.s. they look like Republicans!). You can disagree about having Nancy Pelosi as Speaker and support someone else if that is your preference but anyone who gives these five guys aid and comfort should be shunned.

      Is November 28th when the caucus vote is? The full House vote won’t be until January when we take over, right?

      • Right, the 28th is the caucus vote. Nancy Smash should win that vote handily as long as the rules aren’t changed. The House vote in January is where trouble could arise. If her D opposers merely vote present, no harm done. If they vote no, as Spanberger and Lamb are saying they plan to do, it could create an opening for multiple ballots and/or a R Speaker. Not a good look and a potentially disastrous outcome.

        • If there is an R speaker, those five men – and anyone who joins them – will destroy the country and will deserve to be vilified for the remainder of their lives.

          • I think when push comes to shove they won’t go that far. If I have any concern, it’s that none of these dudes seem to be master strategists, and I could see a scenario where they get played by the Rs and muck things up unintentionally. At that point, intentions won’t matter.

  15. Good morning, 50 and pouring rain in Bellingham. Looks like the optimistic list I wrote about yesterday will happen in due time. We got the grocery shopping done and then ran out of steam. Oh well, that’s the main reason for starting early!

    I hope my TMJ misery has healed enough to allow the dentist to make a night guard as tRump angst and holiday stress are both happening now. I see him this afternoon.

    Take care everyone.

  16. It’s dark and slight windy with a temperature of 71 at about 5:10pm. OC Registrar announced more vote totals. Katie Porter has a lead of 3797. I’m going for it- She’s the winner!

  17. Good morning, meeses! Thursday …

    It is 19 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 41. Sunny skies are in the forecast with the potential for flurries overnight.

    Andy Kim’s win in NJ-03 against would-be ACA destroyer Tom MacArthur was the win of the midterm cycle. His “crafting” of an amendment that would cancel protections for pre-existing conditions in order to garner support from more people-haters in the Freedom Caucus was a perfect example of party over constituents and that moment made 2018 about healthcare. His district was Trump+6 but included actual human beings who had pre-existing conditions! And cared about them!! While I was watching the reaction to the race being called, this video popped back up into my timeline. It is why MacArthur lost. And why there is now only one Republican left in Congress from New Jersey.

    See all y’all later!

      • I vaguely remembered the speech during the health care repeal battle last year but listening to it again yesterday, I was shaken by the anger at MacArthur (who appeared to blow it off – sociopath!) and the passion about what it meant to that man’s family. THAT is why we won the midterms. People remembered that – and the Rose Garden kegger – and planned over the next year how to get revenge. The ACA – and protection for pre-existing conditions – is now a third-rail in politics. If the Texas federal judge strikes down the pre-existing conditions protections and Republicans in the Senate refuse to pass House bills aimed at protecting them, they will be gifting us the Senate.

  18. Thursday Meese
    23 degrees here in Saugerties NY going up to 33 with snow.

    The asshats going after Pelosi are beyond stupid

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    • Thing is BEYOND vile! I hope he and his mob family lose everything they have so they will know what it’s like to be poor and friendless.

      In a just world his assets would all be seized, turned into cash, and distributed to PR, VI, and to the disaster areas in California and Florida.

      • Someone said that the only people left who support him are Ivanka, Jared, DonJr, and Eric – and they despise him. He will die a miserable old man – I just wish he was not taking us along for his descent into madness.

    • What’s with Linda Sanchez and Marcia Fudge? We might not have Ben McAdams to kick around, btw, late ballots are shrinking his lead over Mia Love. He is stupid to join this fray as it simply exposes his pettiness and huge chunks of positive energy sent to him by Democrats around the country is being withdrawn.

  19. Good morning, Moosekind! It’s snowing hard here in Ashburn and in places round about in Northern Virginia. The current temp. is 36 F., going up to 38 F. “They” say the snow will change to heavy rain later. It’s unusual to get snow this early in the season but not unknown. Miss Pink Cheeks’ school is on a 2-hour delay, so I hope DIL is working at home today, even though her usual day to do that is Friday.

    Not much to say this morning except that obviously my friends won’t be visiting me for lunch, which means we have to hurry to use up our remaining meals. Eating two big meals a day is quite trying, but we’ll do our best.

    In the meantime I’ve written nearly 9,000 words of Turnabout. Considering I started this month with a bare 2,000 words, I’m feeling very encouraged. Will need help from the seamstresses among us for the technical details, however.

    I’m so glad Democrats have the House again and sad that once again misogyny has reared its vile head. “Yes, I’d like a woman as Speaker, just not that woman!” “They” would say that about any woman. I’ve said it before, will say it again: men hate women who are smarter than they are and work harder than they do, because it shows them up.

    We need Nancy and we need her until she’s had a chance to clean up the mess. Then she can go home and enjoy her grandchildren.

    Wishing all a good day!

    • I’ll answer your email later today, but I need a reminder. What era/year is this set in?

    • Diana, I forgot to send you my contact info. I’m sure DoReMI will answer all your questions, but if you need anything from me please let me know and I’ll try to answer. Sounds like you are making great progress with your writing challenge.

      • Princesspat, if you could send me your contact info I’d be grateful. Sometimes DoReMI might be out of reach, and in any case, I love getting additional info!

  20. Last freezing morning for a while. Good riddance. I left work early yesterday because I had slept so poorly I just couldn’t stay awake. My watch said I had slept continuously. It was very wrong. If the cold can’t even do the one good thing (be “good sleeping weather”) then it can go. Anyway. Listening to Empress.

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