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”, Motley Meese! The week begins …
Morning low of 77 degrees in the Desert Southwest with an expected daytime high of 105. Sunny skies are in the forecast with a 30% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm.
Have a great day, all y’alls!!
Sunday Meese. 69 here in Kingston, going up to 81 – going to have thunderstorms all day. Am celebrating my 25th year of initiation to Yemaya today. Up early preparing. Godchildren and friends are coming over after 1 o’clock.
Puerto Rico
Watched this unfold via Twitter:
{{{Dee}}} Congratulations! Have a good celebration.
And YIKES! about the boat & the folks on it. Holding the Good Thought. I boosted it & tagged the Coast Guard (not that I think that will help – in fact, I hope the emergency is over and everybody’s safe at this point).
Congratulations on 25 years of dedication to Yemaya! I invoke her frequently when I want it to rain.
posted
Good morning. Watching Le Tour and enjoying the smell of my tea while it steeps. I joined Threads, don’t really like it — like CounterSocial, my feed is just a gusher of everyone who’s on; I spent a lot of time yesterday blocking & muting sportsball accounts, comedians and “youtubers”. Anyway, today: church, making next week’s breakfast, and trying to squeeze in exercise.
I uninstalled the Threads app and will close my account later today. Apparently there will be no moderation (and the nazis are there already) and without the ability to tailor my timeline, it is useless. Also, without a website, I can’t use it – the App takes over my device and scrapes personal data. Yikes!!
I’m with you on that. Threads – closed and uininstalled
Some tech guys on Mastodon said that Threads plans to “link to” the fediverse which would allow people with Mastodon accounts to follow Thread users that they are interested in and vice versa. I am not sure how that would work and already some Mastodon server admins are saying that they won’t allow Threads to link because there is no moderation. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I have noticed more activity on Mastodon and finding more follows – I can open Tusky and find a timeline that actually has things that I can scroll instead of the same two or three toots from earlier in the day. :)
There was a Media Matters article about right wing and threads
Doesn’t Twitter scrape your personal data? And FaceBark?
The Twitter app definitely does (I uninstalled it and only look at the web site) and FaceBark does (but I never leave the app open while I am doing other things on my device – quick in, quick read, close, remove profile). Truly a PITA to manage access but its 2023 and everyone wants my data. It is bad enough that every search I do for a product on my computer winds up in an ad in the games I play on my cell phone – that is provided to the apps by my ISP thanks to Republicans who killed off Net Neutrality.
It’s 70 heading for 82 and overcast enough I’ve got the lights on. The PV system is on and trickling just enough to cover having the lights on. sigh. Yesterday we generated 16.5 KWHs and the m-t-d at 122 is not on track and losing ground.
Had a nice visit with my friend yesterday – we went to Braum’s for ice cream. Which we ate outside in some nice shade at the edge of the parking lot. Basket and earicicle will be heading for home this afternoon after lovely visits, him with pentathera and her with her mom. I talked to Fineena last night. I can’t say she’s doing well, but she’s not in panic mode any longer and that’s good.
I’ve done my Sunday housecleaning chores, with the usual complaints from my hands and back. I boosted the emergency Dee’s got above, and now need to get on with my regular stuff. To the music in Dee’s diary, of course. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Monday Meese. Had a lovely celebration yesterday – in spite of the pouring rain. Still raining here in Kingston. Have to head out to a doc appointment this morning. Sigh.
Puerto Rico
IN CASE YOU DID NOT SEE] The protest against the construction of a house in La Parguera, in Lajas, owned by the father-in-law of Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González ended with different altercations, 6 arrests and the use of “pepper spray”.
Jeez. You’d think anyone with a measurable IQ would know better than to build on top of a mangrove swamp.
Condo builders think only about the money – they get very high prices for beach front properties
Good morning. So incredibly hot this morning, just gross. I got my 30 minutes in, didn’t run at all. Did see a possum. It ran off before I got a picture, not sure who was more startled. Yesterday’s stage of the Tour was really exciting, a super-steep mountain one, and an American kid led for most of the day. Broke my heart when he was caught in the last 400 meters. Today is a rest day — they will do rides or workouts that are merely incredibly hard, rather than the superhuman stuff they do on race days. Anyway, in the office, eating breakfast. If the TdF guys can ride of multiple steep mountains, I can stand 8 hours in the office.
at least you saw your possum outside – I freaked when I found one in our kitchen :)
Good morning, meeses! Monday …
It is 82 degrees in Tucson with an expected daytime high of 100. Sunny skies are in the forecast. The first monsoonal weather system stayed west of us – we got scattered clouds but nothing else. Next best chance will be tomorrow late morning.
A bunch of parents pushed back against the right-wing “education” movement that took over the school board in Temecula California. The movement was born out of the anti-mask anti-vaccine insanity and their members managed to get three seats on the board. Apparently people who actually care about education are recalling them and several other California communities are doing the same. It is ghastly how the freeDUMB to die horribly from a disease animated such a large number of people and no surprise that they then embraced their rancid whiteness with their anti-CRT and book bannings. And also no surprise that they were encouraged to run by right-wing pastors. I hope they are soon relegated to the dustbin of history.
I only have a few things on my must-do list this morning so I could take time to catch up on the news. But I should take my walk now because it is going to get hotter more quickly – we did not get a cooldown overnight.
See all y’all later!
It’s 63 heading for 89 and sunny. Supposed to be sunny all day, which we can certainly use. Yesterday we got 11.6 KWHs and the m-t-d at 133.6 is definitely not on track. We shall see – IF the day really is sunny – how much we can do towards closing that 20-KWH gap.
Meanwhile, since it IS in the low 60s, I baked muffin bread this morning. Don’t know exactly what to call it. Instead of my usual brown sugar I used a leftover individual syrup container from IHOP that’s been sitting in my cupboard for about 4 months. Maple-ish muffins? Anyway, there are walnuts and raisins in it. Just came out of the oven and I’ll try it out as my midmorning snack. Right now I’m steaming 4 meals worth of potatoes since it’s still cool. That’s about 2 weeks of dinners as far as potatoes go. (I alternate with cabbage, green beans, and corn.) And yesterday evening my son brought me a pork loin from Sam’s Club and very sweetly cut it into chops for me. I used the electric grill and cooked them all – 5 weeks worth of dinner protein, packaged up in weekly allotments, 4 of which are in the freezer. So I’m pretty well set for the hot weather to come back. I’ve enjoyed the last 2 days of no A/C – but it IS July, after all.
Basket and earicicle got home safe and sound after a lovely trip. My son has gotten down to 204 and is looking better all the time. I bless the Sikh group he’s with. It took a couple of years of caring support before he started feeling good enough about himself to take care of himself, but it did and he is.
Off to start my online boosting chores. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good Monday moaning, Moosekind. What are we moaning about today? I’m in a rush again. Have a doctor’s appointment this morning—fortunately, it’s right here on campus, so it’s an 8-minute walk away—and L. wants the play to her about lunchtime, with the changes. Didn’t make them last night. Was exhausted from entertaining my 9-year-old grandson and the grandpuppy (a 3-month-old Boxer named Chase) most of the weekend. After Younger Son picked them up at 11 yesterday, I collapsed.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it’s a coolish, cloudy morning, 73 F. and going up to hellish. Less humid, though. Today there is no possibility of thunderstorms. We’ve been having giggly little rain showers for our Afternoon Delight all week. However, today I ventured to put the cushions back on the porch furniture.
The doctor is not going to be pleased with my weight gain. Can’t help it, have been wanting only vegetarian food since I interviewed all those vegetarians. (Some of them, BTW, have written to thank me for that article.) Problem is, vegetarian food involves a lot of carbs. When I lost weight down to 128 pounds, it was from eating meat, a green vegetable, and no fruit or other sweet things. I’m tired of that regime.
But enough of that. My writers and I are meeting on Thursday. Our assignment this time was to write an imaginary “Dear Abby” letter and the reply. Some of them are hilarious! I’m also planning to enter the Loudoun County short story contest because the topic is fascinating. Add to this I have to honcho the production of a literary magazine and you can see why I’m busy.
DIL and Nora had a nightmare trip to Japan–a 5-hour flight delay and it’s a 12-hour trip anyway—but are now somewhat recovered. They met some of Younger Son’s friends from the days when he worked for ANA. Beloved Nephew, Darling Niece, and the future East Coast version of Steven Spielberg met up with the cousin from Bellevue, WA, who also happened to be in Los Angeles yesterday and had a fabulous lunch. They hadn’t seen each other since April 2014, when they all met at my house for Easter dinner.
Yikes, 9:00 a.m. Shower time! Dearly is waiting for his turn. Wish we had two shower rooms. Wishing a good day to all at the Pond!
Been meaning to ask you if you go to the Thomas Balch Library. They were very helpful to me when I went to Loudoun to do family history research
Sis, I did visit with my mother and sister when they were alive. It’s a lovely place! I basically stick to the campus. We have books delivered to us from the Loudoun County Library—not that I ever order any—and we also have quite a nice little library here on campus.
I can’t be bothered with real books nowadays. If it’s not on Kindle I don’t read it. Our apartment is so small that I’m constantly tripping over the dead-tree books we do have.
Sigh. I wish the book by the last surviving person from the 1921 Greenwood Massacre had her book on Kindle. I’d like to read it, but not in hard copy. That ~!@#$%^&* Rethug judge in Oklahoma denied the survivors the reparations they should have had. May the crusty curse of Oliver Cromwell fall upon his poxy penis.
I’m doing almost all my book reading on Kindle too. Less eyestrain.
Good morning, 60 and mostly cloudy outside my window today. The past few days have been very busy for me as I have been helping my friend get settled into the main floor of her home. She loves her charming old house but the bedrooms and main baths are upstairs, the laundry is on the 3rd floor, and she can’t manage the stairs now. Her daughters are capable professional women but they are feeling overwhelmed so I’m happy I can help. I’ve know them since they were babies so lots of memories, and lots of coping as they face the reality of aging in place when serious illness happens. Needless to say, RonK and I have some decisions to make as well. But today I need to work at my desk and deal with neglected laundry stacks. Best wishes to all.
Good luck, princesspat! Although I will truthfully admit I did not like our continuing care community at first, I do now, despite the awful food. And it’s a lot easier for poor Dearly, as there are no stairs. Some people have patio gardens and some have galvanized steel tubs or earthbound gardens in the community gardens, so there’s no lack of gardening opportunities here.
Tuesday Meese. It isn’t raining! YAY! Rain returns on Thursday.
Puerto Rico
Yikes, a 6.4 earthquake is a BIGGY! Was anyone hurt?
Good morning. I slept in, will exercise indoors today, I have a video of standing exercises I can do. Watching Le Tour, getting ready for work. We have a second person in the Democratic primary to run against Ted Cruz. I don’t know either one well, just hope they keep it positive.
Just saw that –
I sent a donation to Allread, who I follow in Black Kos when he announced
He seems like a good guy!
Good Tuesday morning, Meese. It’s 78 F. in Ashburn and sunny, sure and ’tis a grand immortal day! Flawless blue sky, deep green woods, and deep shadows. High will be 92 F. There’s a breeze coming through the door open to the porch. Yesterday it blew the glass vase of flowers I had put out there (I was in a Better Homes and Gardens mood, ye ken), off the table and broke it. So now I have a mess to clean up.
Yesterday morning I had a doctor appointment. It wasn’t that bad because she told me I looked no older than 65, which is many years younger than my actual age. There’s no doubt that packing on the pounds smooths out potential wrinkles! I do have to take it easy on the ice cream, though, and eat more porridge.
Yesterday I had to kill off three more characters in the play. It bothered me because I was quite fond of Inez Garcia, Joe Jensen, and Takisha Green. However, there were just too many characters, so now the play has just seven. We’re going to read through it at a meeting tomorrow.
Today’s agenda includes getting my hair done and popping into the supermarket. I’m going to order more hyaluronic acid from Amazon for my voice, which is STILL raspy, even after 15 weeks. I don’t want to sound like this for the rest of my life.
Yesterday I saw an item on the TV news that made me giggle for quite 15 minutes. Do you all know about the orcas? It seems that orcas have fads, just as humans do. The fad is now to bite the tiller off sailboats. Years ago, it was to carry around a dead salmon on their heads all month long. Sea creatures are so entertaining! (Well, they are when they’re not biting one’s body parts off.)
OK, that’s enough from me! Wishing a good day to all at the Pond.
It’s 72 heading for 92 and so I’m sure the A/C will come on this afternoon sometime. Lightly overcast at the moment. Hoping that won’t last. Yesterday we generated 21.3 KWHs, highest for the month so far. The m-t-d at 155 isn’t on track but the gap is smaller. We shall see what today brings.
Cats escaped when I took a litterbox out a little bit ago. Those boys can hear the backdoor being opened from the other end of the house – and get to and through it in less time than it takes me to maneuver myself and the box out. Charlie and Cloud are back in. The twins are still out. Oh well, it’s trash day. They’ll be back when they hear the truck turn on our block.
Nothing new. It’s summer. My computer is starting to heat up/get slow in the afternoons. sigh. But also my hands are warmer and typing faster in the afternoons. A predicament. Meanwhile, I’d best get to my boosting chores. For what it’s worth. Which ain’t much right now. I’ve so many people who are getting NO help. 2 of them have been evicted already & 1 has been without power & water for over 2 weeks now. sigh. But I’ll keep trying. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good morning, meeses! Tuesday …
It is already 100 and there are clouds around in advance of our first expected monsoonal thunderstorm. We hope for one – it is not certain.
I am going to go news light for a while. Apparently tRump will be allowed to delay his trial until it runs right up against the 2024 election when he will use it as a campaign issue. So all you have to do is stack the courts with your friends and be a member of a cowardly political party that cannot win on their ideas and have to cheat and you can get away with crimes forever. Our country sucks – they should have had Founding Mothers rather than the gillible “who could have predicted that?” Founding Fathers to create a durable democracy.
I had to get to a lab this morning for a fasting blood test but did get my walk in before 7. I have decided to take the rest of the day off.
See all y’all later!
Good morning, 64 and sunny outside my window today. I’ve been so focused on helpong my friend deal with cancer and all that comes with it that I forgot to worry about covid, but it’s an issue now. My friend, her husband, and all 4 daughters have it now. We were with 2 of her girls on Sunday so we tested this morning and had neg results. Hope it stays that way as our daughter and her family are hoping to be here with us for the last 2 weeks of July.
I will do a few driving errands for my friend today and leave the packages on the porch…..seems like covid will never go away! Best wishes to all.
{{{princesspat}}} No, covid will never go away. And a hospital seems to be the surest place to get it. Healing Energy & moar {{{HUGS}}}
Wednesday Meese. 64 here in Kingston, going up to 88 – they predicted yesterday we would have no rain today – they predicted wrong – we have rain.
Puerto Rico
Kikes toons are on point – all the time – however they are never in English – and often reference PR politics not understood here.
You can’t eat money
Stuff is f-ed up
(Melinda Romero Donnelly – shadow delegate)
Puerto Rico shadow delegation to the U.S. Senate
https://ballotpedia.org/Puerto_Rico_shadow_delegation_to_the_U.S._Senate
Good morning. I had a terrible night’s sleep, so the last time I woke up (in the 3ish hour) I reset my alarm for the latest I can do for a wfh day. Lucky I don’t have a ton to do, if I can hunt down the 2 applicants I’ve had trouble reaching, I’ll just log off early. Ooooh, I have a library book to pick up, a memoir by an astrophysicist who grew up in Austin, so that’s a good reason to stop early. (Starstruck, by Sarafina Nance) Watching Le Tour. The American still has the mountains jersey. That’s really the only thing I’m cheering for, I don’t know much about the contenders for the overall race.
It’s 72 heading for 97 and sunny at the moment. Supposed to stay that way. Hope so. It didn’t yesterday. We generated 12.1 KWHs and the m-t-d at 167 is not on track and losing ground. Not helpful in a month when I’m having to use A/C. Even if I don’t keep the house as cool as a lot of people (and my computer) would like.
Aji’s internet is down. She doesn’t know when she’ll get it back because it’s not an area-wide issue. She thinks it stems from the botched installation they did 7 years ago that they never admit to so never fixed. They want her to pay to replace the botched installation instead which of course she can’t afford. Meanwhile she can check in from her phone but can’t do her usual content- and photo-heavy posts.
I’m a bit groggy today. Hoping that will clear off. So far hands and eyes are OK. We’ll see how long that lasts. LOL. Off to do my daily boosting. Holding the Good Thoughts for everybody. {Meeses}}}