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 41 degrees in the Desert Southwest 🌵 with an expected daytime high of 66. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast.
Have a great day, all y’alls!!
Sunday Meese. 26 here :( Will be spending the day doing some cooking for Three Kings Day tomorrow – we’re joining some friends for a small Puerto Rican celebration.
Folks on the island are still furious about the arson committed by an American tourist
The background
Good morning. Got a lot done yesterday, today all I have to do is cook next week’s breakfast & cover the plants. Tea is steeping, watching local news. Cold front is pretty much all the news — first freeze of the season, so they need to remind us about cold weather stuff.
Okay, after really listening to the weather, I think I’m not going to walk before work tomorrow. A hard freeze with wind chill in the 20s is one thing when it’s been cold for a few weeks, but it’s been in the 80s — warm enough this morning that I’m wearing short sleeves to church. I think that’s just too drastic a change.
Posted
It’s 51 heading for 54 overcast and drizzling at the moment. The temps are going to drop like a rock after sundown. The drizzle, if it’s still doing it, may turn into snow or ice after midnight. Yesterday we generated 1.9 KWHs. The m-t-d is 24 so it’s on track, barely. It won’t be by tonight.
I’ve vacuumed the oven around the igniter but I’m nervous about trying it to see if that’s all it needed. I’ll check with my son when he gets here later. I’ve been discussing countertop ovens with Aashir’s nani/Suzanne – she used one for something like 20 years. Up until she moved into her new house last September. A decent one I should be able to depend on runs about $250. Which is less than what it cost me to replace the igniter 15 years ago. If I can use the bakeware I have in a countertop oven, then that’s really a better deal. If I have to replace my cookware, it may not be. I’ll talk that over with my son, too.
Household chores done. Oatmeal eaten. Time to be about my boosting day. Holding the Good/Healing/Protecting Thought for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good Sunday afternoon, Moosekind! What a day. It’s 32 F. right now in Ashburn under4 lowering skies, but the temp. will drop soon. Heavy snow is predicted: will it or won’t it materialize?
I ran to the gym and sweated, then I had to go to the barbershop. Every barbarian in town was there to get his hair cut before the snow arrives. I had to wait 45 minutes until Kathy was able to tend to me. All the barbers were busy.
Then everyone left the barbershop and went to the store. I came home laden with supplies. If it snows, we shall not suffer, except that we might run out of beer.
I am enjoying our President’s enjoyment of doing things that Thing won’t be able to undo. I also love the fact that the Rethugs are in disarray.
We just finished watching the Washington Commies football game. I cannot believe those guys!
Younger Son informed me that DIL and Nora are in Tokyo. I HOPE they are flying home today because I’m sure all flights traveling to IAD will be canceled.
Hope everyone has had a good day. Have a good evening, too!
Good Sunday afternoon, Moosekind! What a day. It’s 32 F. right now in Ashburn under lowering skies, but the temp. will drop soon. Heavy snow is predicted: will it or won’t it materialize?
I ran to the gym and sweated, then I had to go to the barbershop. Every barbarian in town was there to get his hair cut before the snow arrives. I had to wait 45 minutes until Kathy was able to tend to me. All the barbers were busy.
Then everyone left the barbershop and went to the store. I came home laden with supplies. If it snows, we shall not suffer, except that we might run out of beer.
I am enjoying our President’s enjoyment of doing things that Thing won’t be able to undo. I also love the fact that the Rethugs are in disarray.
We just finished watching the Washington Commies football game. I cannot believe those guys!
Younger Son informed me that DIL and Nora are in Tokyo. I HOPE they are flying home today because I’m sure all flights traveling to IAD tomorrow will be canceled.
Hope everyone has had a good day. Have a good evening, too!
Sorry for the double post. What on earth happened?
Your words were so wonderful that they beared repeating!
Dear BlogGoddess, you are lucky to be so kind! :)
Good afternoon, 39 and raining in Bellingham today. I had a very restless night so have napped and rested today away. I was going to take the tree out but will wait fora few more days now. And I’ve re thought my reading plan and will not try to finish the Malazan series this month. I just have two books left but they are challenging reads and I just don’t have the concentration and/or energy now. I am going to read The Greenwing and Dart series by Victoria Goddard instead. My daughter loved the books and I think I will too as they are easier reading and that’s appealing. As always, my best wishes to all.
Monday Meese. Just finished making 10 pounds of potato salad to take to the Three Kings gathering this afternoon. It’s not a traditional Puerto Rican dish – but the hostess asked me to make some “real Black potato salad” – lol so I complied.
I hope any of you in or in the path of the huge snowstorm stay safe.
Puerto Rico
I would be Puerto Rican even if I was born in hell
Three Kings Day – NYC El Barrio
In an interview with Time, also published on Jan. 5, Bad Bunny shared his views on wealthy foreigners moving to Puerto Rico.
“Politically and historically, they know nothing about Puerto Rico, nor are they interested in knowing,” the rapper said. “They don’t even know that Puerto Ricans on the island don’t even vote for the president, but they do know that they can go to the island to legally evade taxes. That’s something that shocked me.”
Diana – has this horrific story been on your local VA news?
Dee, not a WORD! The WaPo is not a newspaper any more, it’s a news pooper. It only reports favorable stories about Thing and his minions. I barely glance at the headlines in the front section.
What a horrific bitch. She’s insane. They should have caught her a long time ago.
ohmygoshitscold. I am glad I decided against walking in this. I got to work about 5 minutes before the building opens and even that few minutes of walking to “keep warm”…. ha! When I closed my windows yesterday it was still in the 60s, now it’s 28. In the office for the last time till the end of next week, I took several days off for my birthday. I guess it’s good to use their electricity to keep warm.
Good snowy Monday morning, Moosekind! It’s 27 F. in Ashburn and we woke up to several inches of the white stuff. (So mean of the weather gods to make it snow during the night when we can’t watch it falling.) It’s stopped for the moment, but another band will move through in the afternoon.
The DMV (District-Maryland-Virginia) loses its collective mind when it snows more than a flake or two. Schools are closed today and will likely be closed tomorrow. There will be a snowball fight at 11 a.m. today on the Ellipse. I won’t be joining in. We so rarely see snow that everyone is excited.
When we’re momentarily distracted from the snow, we’re excited about the Washington Commies, who at the last possible moment managed to beat the Dallas Cowboys! The Commies haven’t won this many games in a season since 1991.
What else—lots to do today: Read the Fawn Brodie bio of Thomas Jefferson, watch “Crazy for You” on YouTube, start reading my writers’ essays in preparation for the January 9 meeting. Tonight there will be an informational meeting about “Crazy.” I’ll pick up an audition packet and see if there is any part for which I can read.
Younger Son reports that DIL and Nora are stuck in Japan because there are so many stand-by passengers with higher priority that they can’t get on. Perhaps they have the right idea, traveling like this. I expect Thing to cause a worldwide depression so no one will be going anywhere except the Victory Garden and the chicken coop in the backyard.
Vice President Kamala Devi Harris will have to preside over the certification today. There are some Congress critters who won’t be able to get to the Capitol on time because of the snow. I hear Thing wants to get rid of the 14th amendment. Yeah? He’s going to find out that he’s not a king and that even some Rethugs will resist his efforts to become one.
Meanwhile it’s snowing again. We hardly EVER even see rain, let alone snow, so pray forgive me for being so excited. Wishing everyone at the Pond a good day!
The Washington Football Club whose ghastly name was changed to a dumb name is fun to watch this year. I am always glad when any team beats the Dallas Cowboys whose owner is a racist garbage person but it is easier to root for the Washington NFL team now.
It is my fervent hope that Republicans being in disarray lead to them being unable to pass most of their Project 2025 agenda. I am more concerned about SCOTUS which Mitch McChinless allowed tRump to ratfk for a generation. I am fairly certain that Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas would sign onto “revisiting” the Chinese Exclusion Act ruling and overturning that precedent which guaranteed birthright citizenship, the part of the 14th Amendment that tRump and the white supremacists are upset about.
By the way, Kamala Harris will be fine. I am sure that in a couple of years, we will be calling her Governor Harris and that she will be the executive in charge of a state that has sane citizens and decent legislators instead of the sh*tshow in Washington DC. It has to be frustrating to work in that environment.
It’s 16 heading for 28 and so sunny that even though we got a little snow overnight the PV system is on. The snow won’t melt of course but this kind of sunshine sublimes snow so that’s good. Yesterday we generated 1.2 KWHs and the m-t-d is 25.8 – not on track and not possible to get back on track today. But we could get a lot closer. LOL.
Yesterday brought good news. My son did come over prepared to discuss countertop ovens and we did. But then, before making any kind of commitment to something I really don’t want to do, he looked my gas stove. Looked up my gas stove as well. (Seems it was manufactured in 1996.) It is the igniter. It’s glowing yellow instead of white which means it’s going out and has already gone really. It’s not making enough heat to ignite the gas. He looked up the part and how to replace it. He says it’s easy and he can do it. He found the part online for $35 delivered. (I was really ripped off by the repair company 11 years ago. Or well, let’s say I paid a lot for someone else’s expertise.) So the part’s ordered and should be here Friday. He’ll be over next weekend to do the replacement. The most time-consuming part of it is taking off the oven door & removing the oven floor to get at the igniter – then putting them back, of course. The part itself is as simple as changing a light bulb. Unscrew the old one, screw in the new one.
Today a good person’s job is to certify evil. I’m glad it’s not my job and I’m not going to watch or even read the headlines about it. I’ve got stuff to boost that might help other good people get food or shelter or both. So. Off to start my boosting day. Holding the Good/Healing/Protecting Thought for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
I had an igniter replaced on my gas stove about 5 years ago as I was also reluctant to part with my very old but very simple stove. It was very easy to replace (I watched the tech do it) and not very costly, I think less than $200 with parts and labor. Glad your son took the time to diagnose it for you!
I looked up in my files. The last time it was done – by a service guy who told me the parts were no longer being made – was in 2013 and he charged me $240. Ahem. I’m glad I turned to my son this time instead of calling a repair guy again.
{{{Bfitz}}}! Glad you won’t have to spend a lot of money for a new stove or countertop stove! Yay for your son!
Good morning, meeses! Monday …
It is 45 degrees in Tucson 🌵with an expected daytime high of 68 degrees. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast. It probably won’t get warm enough to take my walk in a sweatshirt until afternoon. Pretty soon (like Wednesday!) I will need to wear a jacket for my walk.
Today is a sad anniversary. I hope that someday somehow, the Republican Party is made to pay the price for what they did on January 6th and what they allowed to happen this year. It is a permanent stain on our history that a man who led an insurrection is allowed to regain power. Shame on the Republicans, shame on the lazy press and shame on the corporate media that refused to report the truth. Future historians will not be kind to those who allowed this to happen.
I worked too hard over the weekend and got enough done this morning that I can shut down for the day and spend time reading and playing solitaire.
See all y’all later!
Good morning, 39 and partly cloudy in Bellingham. RonK is leaving soon to photo an Eagle feeding site along the Nooksack river but I’m staying warm at home. I have a few errands to do later and some desk work needing attention, but for the moment solitaire and coffee are keeping me occupied. Best wishes to all.
Good morning, meeses! Tuesday …
It is 46 degrees in Tucson 🌵 with an expected daytime high of 66. Mostly cloudy skies are in the forecast. Parka weather! We are hoping to get some much needed rain tomorrow and maybe some snow in the mountains. It is 21 degrees at the top of Mount Lemmon, cold enough for snow certainly.
It is disheartening to see “The January 6th Insurrection was Successful” headlines. It is certainly true, the rule of law was destroyed because the people responsible were not held accountable and were instead put back in charge of the government. The 1,600 people convicted of crimes committed that day, even those whose actions led to the deaths and permanent maiming of police officers, will likely be “pardoned” and back on the streets, emboldened and looking to create more havoc. It sounds like the trump legal team is trying to get Jack Smith’s final report quashed! Merrick Garland owes it to the American people to allow the report to be released and to do it quickly before it can be ratfked. We deserve to know what was uncovered in the investigation and the people who voted to trump, who will not get cheaper eggs, need to realize what they now own.
I spent the better part of the weekend working on a client project that was doomed to failure because I ignored the signs that “something was wrong” and plowed ahead. It did not involve a lot of total time wasted but it did involve a lot of interruptions during the day to tend a process that was running. Oh well! I am now back on track and should be able to finish the project this week. I am working through cleaning up my paper files to start a push to get caught up on my scanning and shredding. It is time to finish the last bit of archiving that has been put off since 2022.
See all y’all later!
Good Tuesday morning Meese. It’s 20 degrees hete in Kingston. Had a lovely time yesterday at the Three Kings Day gathering. Great food.
Poerto Rico – the Cabo Rojo arsonist
Another freezing night, I know other areas have way worse than this but it’s just weird. Figuring out when to walk/run. Local news is all about the “wintry mix” we’re expecting Thursday.
Good Tuesday morning, Meese! There is a gorgeous pale blue sky hanging over the dark winter woods, which are limned with snow. The sun is rising slowly, banishing the shadows over the snowy expanse. It’s 22 F., so I assume the pools of water in the woods are frozen too.
It won’t get out of the 20’s today in Ashburn. MORE snow is expected on Saturday, so once again we’ll have to stock up. Can’t run out of beer for Dearly!
They served a buffet dinner last night, carry-out only, in the Acorn Deli banquet room. I cooked at home, so we did not partake. It occurred to me that I’d get a lot more done if I didn’t have to cook. It’s just that the food here is so repetitive.(Brightening) However, the factory in East Hellsmoke, NJ, that makes the desserts makes excellent carrot cake, so that’s something. I eat only half a slice every other day.
Yesterday evening I attended the Drama Club informational meeting. I’ll audition next week. (But I can no longer sing—eek!)
Dee, the WaPo finally carried the story about the psychopath nurse. I couldn’t bear to read it. Did y’all see how that illegitimate offspring of a diseased camel REFUSE to shake hands with, or even look at, our accomplished, brilliant Vice President? Loathsome scum. May the crusty curse of Oliver Cromwell fall upon his poxy male appendage.
Racism is a stain, a hideous stain. One of my writers has written an essay about how she did research on her family tree and learned that her distant ancestors were enslavers! She doesn’t know what to do with this knowledge, or how to cope now.
I think she should acknowledge her history, realize that she herself is appalled by it, support reparations for Black citizens, and vote for the political party that supports diversity and equal opportunity for everyone.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk. The tech guy is supposed to come between 3 and 5 today to install the printer (if Dearly and I weren’t so dumb we could it ourselves). Before that, I’m accompanying one of my writers to a “Woman to Woman” meeting so she can get to know some new people, and I have arranged for Dearly and me to have dinner with two residents at the Pub. Whether that will happen I don’t know. The schools are closed again today and all our servers are still kids in high school, so…
Enough from me! Wishing all at the Pond a good day and wishing that JACK SMITH’S REPORT will be made public!
Thanks for the info on the WaPo story. Tell your writer not to fret (I have enslaver ancestors) Your advice to her was right on
Thanks, Sis!