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Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: Jan. 25th to Jan. 31st

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Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings diaries 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.

In lieu of daily check-ins, which have gone on hiatus, Welcomings diaries will be posted at the start of each week (every Sunday morning) and then, if necessary due to a large number of comments, again on Wednesday or Thursday to close out the week. To find the diaries, 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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Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 170 Comments

170 comments

  3. anotherdemocrat

    high I think in the mid-60s, will be 80 by Wednesday then another cold front.

    I slept a good, long time last night. Meeting some friends for lunch. Maybe I’ll keep having hummus for lunch next week – does mean no cooking this afternoon. Though I’m not sure my stomach likes it.

    My friend is going to Houston next week for a 2nd opinion about operating. I’m not sure if this is a recurrence or if they just didn’t get is all like they thought they did. Her boyfriend is going to take her. I’m really glad they found each other. Though this may be hard for him, because his wife died of cancer.

    So, my day: church, lunch, groceries.

  5. princesspat

    Yesterday was essentially one long nap…just couldn’t stay awake. My sewing time with Emma was fun though. After she finished the baby blanket (for her orthodontist’s new baby) we changed the back porch flowers and plants from winter to early spring so that was fun as well. Her young legs fly up and down the stairs, the way mine used to!

    Ron will be coming home today. His mom is finally responding to the antibiotics and is is alert and eating again so he is very relieved.

  6. Diana in NoVa

    late tonight and all day tomorrow. Seems like a lot of effort for the Snow Goddess if all we’re going to get is 1-3 inches.

    Just finished reading Jan’s “Freedumb Summit” diary–heh, heh. Will head over to Orange later to read Denise’s diary.

    Have been out all morning. We took Miss Pink Cheeks out to breakfast at Virginia Kitchen and shopping at Trader Joe’s afterwards. Poor little mite, despite her bright eyes and pink cheeks, she’s suffering from a stuffy nose and a cough. Perhaps a snow day tomorrow would help–she can take a nap in the afternoon. I love naps too! If princesspat is the princess of naps, I’m one of the ladies in waiting.

    Worked on two things yesterday, my novella and sorting the income tax papers we’ve received so far. Haven’t read the newspaper yet. Don’t know how much time I’m going to spend on the news today, I have loads of other stuff to do while the electricity is still on.

  7. Portlaw

    WASHINGTON – President Obama will ask Congress to increase environmental protections for millions of acres of pristine animal habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in a move that already has triggered fierce opposition from the state’s Republican lawmakers.

    The White House announced Sunday that Mr. Obama would ask Congress to designate 12 million acres of the refuge’s 19 million acres as wilderness. The wilderness designation is the strongest level of federal protection afforded to public lands, and would forbid a range of activity that includes drilling for oil and gas and construction of roads.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01…

  8. bfitzinAR

    So overcast I doubt I’ll get a whole KWH the entire day.  (I got over 6 last Friday and almost 6 yesterday.)  So overcast it feels like it’s 5:30 instead of 3:00 – and it’s felt like it’s 5:30 since about 9 am.  Sigh.  Oh well, it’s supposed to clear off (and drop into the 20s) tonight and give us sunshine again tomorrow.  Have a peaceful Sunday.  {{{HUGS}}}

  9. DeniseVelez

    for the blizzard that is about to dump on us.

    As usual, my campus seems to be open, but I’m staying home and just emailed my students to cancel classes for today and tomorrow.

    Gov. Cuomo has just urged commuters to stay home

    https://www.governor.ny.gov/ne…

    so I’m staying put – though hubby is going in to NYC to work, but leaving early.

    I’m heeding this advice

    Focus on the serious impacts, not the snow totals

    The following National Weather Service headline says it all. In a forecast discussion issued on Sunday evening from the New York City forecast office, meteorologists wrote, “A LIFE THREATENING…HISTORIC WINTER STORM EXPECTED.”

    http://mashable.com/2015/01/25…

  10. JanF

    It is 12 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 28. Snow showers expected later this morning with accumulations of less than an inch.

    The anti-austerity party won power in Greece. It will be interesting to see how they deal with restructuring their debt. Will Germany now be forced to make concessions? I am not sure what genius thought that loaning money to a country with the restriction that they had to eliminate all government programs that help the country get back on its feet again made sense. You can’t pull yourself up by the bootstraps if you have no shoes.

    Busy day here. I mostly worked on end of year accounting over the weekend and the client project work was set aside. Now I need to do triage and make sure the squeakiest wheels get greased.

    East Coast peeps … please check in often!! We need to know you are safe.

  11. DeniseVelez

    Desperate journey, stupid act: Why Israelis voters should see right through Netanyahu

    PM’s efforts in recent days to save his slipping hold on his rule with the aid of the Republicans in the U.S. Congress is ‘Hannibal’ against U.S. President Barack Obama

    http://www.haaretz.com/opinion…

    If Netanyahu stubbornly insists on going to the AIPAC conference and speaking to the Congress two weeks before the Knesset election, it can be assumed the Obama administration will find a way to grant even more than equal honor to Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni. This is a cowardly act, which shows that the prime minister’s box of tricks is empty.

    In light of the hysterical frenzy of Netanyahu, who is searching for the kingdom and losing control, every Israeli who is uncertain how to vote must ask himself the question of questions: If Bibi is so good, how is it that everything is so bad?

  12. Portlaw

    headed to Trader Joes to stock up. Everything I was supposed to do has been cancelled. This will give me time to catch up on stuff like the rise of the young leftist Greeks who won the election. Wish we had such a rising population here.

    Will check back later. Hope to see that all is well in Moosylvania.

  13. anotherdemocrat

    I feel almost guilty about our weather. I needed a jacket this morning (40s), but it’ll be in the 70s this afternoon. I walked again! 35 minutes, 1.27 miles.

    Worried about my friend. She’s now not going for the 2nd opinion till next week. Have I mentioned that cancer sucks?

    Earworm: Invisible. “I’m more than you know

    I’m more than you see here

    I’m more than you let me be

    I’m more than you know

    A body and soul

    You don’t see me but you will

    I am not invisible”

  14. Diana in NoVa

    wintry morning. Woke up to just rain, which has now changed to something white, although the whimsical weather persons refuse to call it “snow.” It is white, however, and it’s sticking to the grass and the roofs: this is the exact opposite of what they said would happen. We weren’t supposed to get this until 3 p.m.

    I’m getting a day, or at least the morning, off although I would have preferred  it to be for another reason. Both Pink Cheeks and Babylicious are ill. Son and DIL are taking them to the doctor at 11:30. Baby sounded chesty even last week and Miss PC woke up screaming this morning with an ear infection. Feel so sorry for them because when they’re that age they can’t do what the rest of us do–swallow cough medicine, gargle, take decongestants.

    Yes, it’s interesting about Greece! The WaPo front page this morning talks about Ron Paul sabotaging Rand’s presidential run. Apparently he’s saying that the United States should become the Disunited States. Wish our stenographer-media would accord Dems and liberals as much attention as they do the crazies. Never thought I’d live to see the day I despised journalism.

    A good day to all–Denise and Portlaw, glad you are staying in! Two feet of snow, that’s too much for enjoyment. Hope everyone’s electricity stays on and hope bfitz gets some gleams of sunshine.

  15. bfitzinAR

    heading for upper 50s.  So, another warm (ish) spate this week.  As long as there’s sunshine, I’m content. 🙂  Soloing today at work (why I walked in, my ride is the other staff person) but hope to get to Jan’s diaries sometime today.  Bright the day, everyone.  {{{HUGS}}}

  16. princesspat

    It’s finally time to pack my bags! We leave for Seattle early tomorrow and the long awaited surgery is on Wednesday. I’m a bit nervous, but even more relieved this so close to being over.

    One lesson BCH has taught me well is how to recuperate, so  my after surgery sofa time isn’t a concern at all. I’ve got resting mastered!

  17. JanF

    It is 25 degrees in Madison on its way up to 29. Mostly cloudy skies today. We got about 2 inches of snow.

    I have been afraid to look at the weather news. I hope everyone is safe and warm and that the actual snow totals are less than are projected. Even here, where we have lots of snow, we don’t get three feet of it in one day. Sadly, these sorts of storms are going to become the norm because we have heated up the ocean water and the vapor is turning a normal snow event into a storm of the century decade year.

    In winter it is cold over the continent. But it is warm over the oceans and the contrast between the cold continent and the warm Gulf Stream and surrounding waters is increasing. At present sea surface temperatures are more the 2F above normal over huge expanses (1000 miles) off the east coast and water vapor in the atmosphere is about 10% higher as a result. About half of this can be attributed to climate change.

    In other news, the Koch brothers turned over the cushions in their couches and have $889 million to spend on the 2016 election. So when the pundits say that the real primary is the Koch primary, they are right. Whoever they choose to take on the establishment Republicans will have plenty of money to do so.

    Busy day here. See all y’alls later!!

  18. DeniseVelez

    looks like we got about a foot – hard to tell with wind blowing

    power only went out once.

    NYS Thruway is closed up here – which is good since idiot drivers in SUVs tend to think they can speed in snow and wind up flipped over or worse  

  19. Diana in NoVa

    white winter morning, going up to 32 F. We have three inches here, which is quite enough for everyone to panic. The schools are closed in this county and even D.C. schools have a two-hour delay. They usually open no matter what.

    Ended up taking care of Babylicious after all yesterday and his sister went to school since the doctor was too busy to see them. No word yet on what’s happening today. Apparently the “ear infection” cleared up on its own, but the baby has an elevated temperature.

    Dreamed about Portlaw last night. We both wanted to go to France but were obstructed by my 8th-grade art teacher, whom I greatly disliked. She had skinned-back hair, spectacles, and the general attitude of Miss Scatcherd in Jane Eyre, the old bee-yatch.

    It’s terrible that NY, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are getting slammed so hard. And there are people who don’t believe in climate change!

    Thinking about princesspat and sending good vibes, glad bfitz is getting some sunshine, and hoping everyone will stay safe and warm.

  20. anotherdemocrat

    I barely needed a jacket this morning, it’ll be in the mid 70s this afternoon. And I walked again. Hoping that the group isn’t walking at lunch today, but if they do, I ‘ll join. (I think it’s supposed to be a M/W thing).

    Hoping all the east coast people are ok.

    Earworm: The Miracle of Joey Ramone. Loud, happy — just what I need after 6 interrupted hours of sleep.

  21. Portlaw

    of snow. The storm of the century is waiting for another day.  I love big snow storms so am disappointed but also know the havoc they cause others so am also relieved. Hope it’s a good day for all.

  22. bfitzinAR

    we’re scheduled for another day of this tomorrow, then head back into winter (or at least very early Spring).  Got just over 6 KWHs generated yesterday.  Holding the good thought for princesspat – I’ll light a candle tonight, since the surgery is in the morning.  Also holding the good thought for the folks on the east coast.  I learned about “lake effect” snow when I lived in Madison.  Thanks to Global Warming, the east coast is getting “ocean effect” snow.  Wherever you are, stay safe and warm.  {{{HUGS}}}

  23. DeniseVelez

    for some reason.  

    All the work my husband did with the blower earlier seems to have been for naught 🙁

  24. JanF

    It is 24 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 34. Partly cloudy skies in the forecast.

    I hope everyone survived the storm more or less intact. NYC was spared but Long Island and coastal New England got hammered. I saw snowfall totals in the 30s when I watched the evening weather broadcasts. And winds of 78 mph at Nantucket! Yikes!!

    Mayor de Blasio was satirized by the Onion for his rather dramatic day-before Tweet about the power of the storm but since he is not a humorless Republican, he enjoyed it and made a dramatic reading of the piece.

    THIS is great news: Keep immigration riders off DHS bill, all Senate Dems say

    In a letter to be released later Tuesday, the Senate Democratic Caucus will press Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to put up a funding bill for DHS free of provisions rolling back President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration or other controversial riders.

    The fact that all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus are endorsing a clean funding bill is critical, since McConnell will need the aid of at least half a dozen Democrats to advance any legislation. In the letter, Senate Democrats also ruled out other potential Plan B’s for the DHS bill, such as passing a series of short-term funding measures – also highly opposed by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

    “While we agree our current immigration system needs comprehensive reform, including border security enhancements, this appropriations bill is not the place for this debate,” the Senate Democrats wrote in the letter to McConnell, provided to POLITICO in advance of its release.

    We have the power of the filibuster and the threat of a veto … and more solidarity than I have seen in a long time … to not roll back the executive actions of the president. It is the right side of history to be on and I am proud of our Senators for drawing this line.

    See all y’alls later!

  25. Diana in NoVa

    There’s going to be a 2-hour delay for the schools, which, I hope, will mean a 2-hour delay for me too.

    It’s unbelievable how much snow fell in the areas you mentioned, Jan. I read in the WaPo just now that Philly, which was supposed to get a foot of snow, received the same amount we did–a whopping two inches.

    Just scanned the headlines in that paper–Mrs. Obama is being criticized for not covering her head while visiting the armpit of the earth, Saudi Arabia. Sorority women at the University of Virginia are being told to stay indoors this coming Saturday night so the fraternity boys can have their night of partying. The innocent have to stay home while the potential rampagers get to party until they drop? Marissa Alexander has been released, sort of. She’s out of prison but will live practically under house arrest for the next two years.

    Anyone who doubts that women are hated in this country is invited to read this morning’s WaPo. Zimmerman, who murdered an innocent young man, gets off scot-free, while Marissa, an abused woman who fired one warning shot, was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

    Some days I feel we have made no progress at all. I’d rather think about princesspat and send her love and healing white light. Going to light a candle for her tonight.

    Hope everyone will have a good day!

  26. anotherdemocrat

    Walked again. 1.5 miles – not bad for the crack of dawn. Needed a jacket this morning – 40s. But headed for a record-breaking 83 this afternoon. The lunch walk should be great.

    My friend’s insurance company is making her move from the rehab place into a nursing home. Even though she might have surgery. She not going for the 2nd opinion till later, but she’s going to a friend of one of her friends who is a top ophthalmologist (it’s actually logical that ophthalmologists know neurosurgeons, they unfortunately are often the ones who spot a brain tumor – “there’s nothing wrong with your eyes, there’s something pushing on your optic nerve”). Anyway, I think that’s crazy – it sounds like the nursing home is actually more expensive.

    Stomach is unhappy. Not sure why. Meh. I added some songs to my race day mix, so now I have a Snow patron earworm: Called Out In The Dark. Happy & peppy — and literally nonsense. If you read the lyrics, they’re pretty much just a word salad.  

  27. Portlaw

    Have been hearing from friends and family in New England, including Nantucket and some of them are still reeling from the effects of the storm and will be for some time to come.

    Here it’s fine. It’s seventeen degrees and clear. I like the cold so this is my time of year!

    Am following with interest the Boehner/Bibi fiasco and am hoping that Schumer and Menendez will give the president more breathing room than they did yesterday. Can’t stand either one of them.  

    Am also following with interest the hearings on Loretta Lynch. She is really terrific and I hope she sails through but with that crew who knows.  

  28. bfitzinAR

    Nov’s energy production in about an hour 🙂

    Holding the good thought for princesspat and her nervous spouse – burned a candle last night and will burn another tonight, but like Jan I don’t leave them unattended.  Being at work I can’t put a lot of time on sending healing, but every time I surface/finish a task, I will do so.

    Also holding the good thought for the department chair who managed to damage himself at home somehow or other – it’s mostly “gossip” at the moment but he’s not here and the faculty meeting had to be canceled.  From a staff point of view the man should never have been put in a place of authority (or at least not over any group larger than the team for his special project), but I wish him no harm and in fact send healing energy to him, too.  (I do my best to wish no one harm, just rendered harmless – although there are those out there who would consider my wish to render them harmless is actually wishing them harm.  sigh.  Oh, for the Enterprise holodeck where they can play out their fantasies without hurting anybody!)  So – white light and healing vibes moving out from the center of me to those who need it.  {{{HUGS}}}

  29. Portlaw

    good news of our Princess Pat’s successful surgery. Sending all kinds of wishes and healing light to her and RonK and look forward to seeing her back with us.

  30. JanF

    It is 31 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 33. The skies shall be cloudy all day.

    Yesterday afternoon I took a break and watched Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaking via a live feed from the University of Utah (h/t jlmsqkw). She is so warm and engaging … and brilliant; we are lucky to have her on the court. If I can find a video, I will put up a diary on her speech and some of the screen caps I took. Here is one of her talking to a young woman who asked for advice on being part of the first generation in her family to go to college:

     

    THAT is a BHD.

    She talked a lot about her book and I was inspired to buy it “My Beloved World”.

    See all y’alls later!

  31. DeniseVelez

    yesterday – spent most of the day asleep with a bad headache.

    Feeling better this morning and have school.

    Healing waves to Princess Pat!

  32. Diana in NoVa

    they say, Don’t care for the news headlines this morning–they never report anything good. Glad to have the Pond, which tells me princesspat came through the surgery OK and is now resting. Hope they give her pain meds.

    My brain has become completely babyscrambled. Forgot to send my great-niece in Australia a birthday card and yesterday COMPLETELY forgot I had an appointment with the perio! This in spite of reminders, confirmations, etc. My  phone doesn’t indicate incoming phone calls or texts. I’m going to try to get a new one on Saturday.

    One thing that might have scrambled my brains is that Babylicious was diagnosed with an ear infection yesterday morning. Between giving him the antibiotic and saline solution and cleaning up the projectile spew-up from the formula, I really didn’t have time to think of anything much but getting him, the floor, and my shoes clean.

    The sun’s coming out and I have to go warm up the car. Have a good day, all! Please keep us apprised of princesspat’s progress!

  33. DeniseVelez

    Drastic water rationing may be put in place in Sao Paulo

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01…

    This story is not new…

    Al Jaz had this back in Oct.

    Water crisis squeezes Sao Paulo state

    http://www.aljazeera.com/news/…

    Itu, Brazil – The state of Sao Paulo is on the cusp of an unprecedented water crisis stemming in part from one of the worst droughts in decades, leaving millions scrambling to find clean water sources.

    On Friday, the city of Sao Paulo recorded its hottest temperature in more than 71 years, and 70 cities in the state are facing extreme drought, with 30 cities already on some sort of water rationing.

    The problem stems from a lack of water at the Cantareira, a complex of reservoirs and small dams built in the 1970’s that are the primary source of water for more than 10 million people in the state.

    The water levels at the Cantareira are now below four percent, the lowest in recorded history, and estimates on when it could totally dry range from November to March of next year.

    This should serve as a wake-up call to all of us – many of us take things like water – for granted.

    I happen to live close to the huge mid New York State reservoirs that supply the water to NYC. Driving past the Ashokan, over the past 15 years has made me more aware of just how fragile that pipeline of wetness is.  

    Few urban city dwellers think about the fact that you could turn on the tap – and one day have nothing come out.

    Drought, floods, n-easters…I wonder when we, as humans will deal with the increasing peril – world wide – of climate change.

  34. anotherdemocrat

    Too foggy to see the space station this morning, boo. But I walked for 40 minutes – 1.69 miles. I’m not walking tomorrow, want one day off before Saturday. We have a cold front coming through, no more record highs like yesterday’s 83. We’ll have to be content with 70. I think they said it’s going to be cold & rainy this weekend.

    Had a really bad night’s sleep. I woke up at 12:30, then a few more times. Got super-strong tea this morning, hope it helps. Earworm: Desert of Our Love, it’s an “extra” from the box set of Joshua Tree. Looking at the video is funny – they were so young & everyone had hair.

  35. bfitzinAR

    clouds are starting to move in.  Yesterday generated 6.38 KWHs, the highest for the month.  In fact, the highest since October 18, 2014! 🙂

    Wonderful news about princesspat.  Still sending white light and green healing energy – radiating out from the center of me, so some heading for Denise as well (I get migraines, fortunately not very often, but I can relate) – and anybody else who wants some is welcome Portlaw 🙂

    I tried to give blood yesterday.  It mostly didn’t happen. The nurse at the blood drive missed my vein, rather painfully “adjusted” so she nicked the vein, and we got just enough of my blood that had to be thrown away to keep me from donating again until the end of March – and I got a nice, painful bruise out of it all.  I’m going to have to give up on the blood drive personnel.  They are sweet, friendly, and competent for most people – but not for people like me.  My veins move and it takes an ace to nail them.  So if I really want to get back to donating – and I do because my blood is what they call “baby quad”, it can be safely used for premies, which is rather rare – I’m going to have to bite the bullet and drive up to Springdale to the Blood Center.  I’ll have to take time off to do it because they aren’t open after hours or on weekends (which might explain why they’ll usually running low on blood).  That’s not a problem as I have plenty of time saved back – I just hate the drive to Springdale. (Which is silly as it’s only 15 miles down the freeway from my house, which is 2 blocks from the freeway.)  Oh well.  Hope everybody has a good Thorsday.  {{{HUGS}}}  

  36. Portlaw

    As you know, I was furious that Boehner and the House slapped President Obama and his foreign policy on Iran by inviting PM Netanyahu to speak to the House opposing our President’s foreign policy. To say I was furious is putting it mildly. Of course, so was the White House.

    It turns out that Boehner worked out this deal with the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer

    an American-born former Republican political operative who is so close to Mr. Netanyahu that he is often called “Bibi’s brain,” became Israel’s envoy to the United States in 2013. White House officials were at first wary that Mr. Dermer would politicize relations between the United States and Israel, but over time cultivated a working relationship with him after concluding that there were advantages in his closeness to Mr. Netanyahu.

    The last week has borne out their initial concerns.

    Mr. Dermer relayed the invitation to Mr. Netanyahu from Mr. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, without notifying top officials in Washington or Jerusalem. American and Israeli officials said that Mr. Dermer, in the course of a lengthy meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry just before Mr. Netanyahu’s speech was announced, never mentioned it.

      bold here and below mine

    In addition,

    For those who have tracked Mr. Dermer’s rise – from his days as a young operative working under Republican strategist Frank Luntz during the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress to his ascent to Mr. Netanyahu’s inner circle – the maneuvering over the speech appears to be in character.

    “He’s a political operative, he’s not really an ambassador,” said Daniel C. Kurtzer, a former United States ambassador to Israel. “What he did was totally unacceptable from a standpoint of diplomacy. To think about going behind the back of a friendly country’s administration and working out this kind of arrangement with the parliament or the Congress – it’s unheard-of.”

    Frank Luntz!!!!!! Good grief!!  I should know better than to be schocked but I still am.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01…

  37. JanF

    From her keyboard to our eyes:

    “Hi….all the tubes and drains are out but pain is more than I expected. All the critical tests are good though and I’ve been for a short walk.”

    She expected to be discharged this afternoon.  

  38. JanF

    It is 17 degrees in Madison on its way up to 24. Partly cloudy skies in the forecast. They had snow in the forecast for the weekend but it is either passing us by or delayed. Now just a few snow showers late on Sunday.

    Scanning the news I am curious what the Republicans will find to demonize when President Obama finishes his term. Their laser focus is on him and he is not running! (He won his two races … ha!). And the attacks are so personal (“he favors Muslims and stomps all over Christians!!1!!”) I don’t see how one can transfer the outrage over to the next Democratic presidential candidate. His “policies are terrible” will transfer … they are Democratic Party principles … but the Kenyan Muslim usurper stuff – not so much.

    Charlie Pierce skewers the Senate Judiciary Committee’s “hearing” on Loretta Lynch’s confirmation. Day 1, was Ms. Lynch testifying and other than the usual bs from Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, it was cordial and productive. But day 2 they wheeled out the clowns. From Charlie:

    [Thursday, the Republicans turned the Senate Judiciary Committee into an impromptu episode of Fox And Friends.[…]

    … here came Catherine Engelbrecht of True The Vote, which is not, as their lawyers will remind you in sternly written letters, a voter-suppression outfit, but a ballot-security group, even though every ballot-security measure it advocates results in keeping the ballot secure from brown people, students, and other groups inconvenient to the Republican party. […]

    Ah, you say. But what about Fast And Furious? Benghazi? All the other conjuring words? Well, the committee had those covered, too. They’ve invited noted anti-vaccination crusader, lonely heroine of the Resistance, and noted computer incompetent Sharyl Atkisson to share her tales of the blows she has tried to strike against the empire.

     

    Ha! “Conjuring words”!! Indeed. Conjuring up anger and hoping to be able to direct the fury like a firehose at the next Democratic presidential nominee. I have a sense that it will not work they way they think it will.

    We are in danger of having nothing on our rec list so I will try to find something I can crosspost. Maybe a speech … we can never have enough speeches.

    See all y’alls later!

  39. DeniseVelez

    but the plow guy was here at 5AM and my driveway is clear…I can hear the salt trucks on the roadway outside while I type this.

    It should be cleared by the time I leave for school this morning.  

    It’s about 27 right now but will drop to sub-zero temps tonight…they have warned about severe black ice conditions.

    News stuff

    More Bibi… (from Israel)

    Senior Democrats to Netanyahu: Reconsider Congress speech

    http://www.haaretz.com/news/di…

    White House and Democratic Party leaders assert that Israeli prime minister’s behavior in the affair was inappropriate.

    Think Progress has a short piece refuting Republican black-talk

    No, Martin Luther King Jr. Was Not A Republican – But Here’s What He Had To Say About Them

    http://thinkprogress.org/polit…

  40. anotherdemocrat

    Wow, much cooler today. Even long sleeves & a jacket, I wished I’d brought gloves. I was definitely right to not walk this morning, my legs are tired.

    Playing happy bouncy music in my head to stay awake.

  41. Diana in NoVa

    The temp is 35 F. and will stay that way until afternoon. Scanned the headlines, with this result: 1. It has snowed. 2. It is snowing somewhere right now. 3. It will snow again tomorrow. 4. Super Bore on Sunday.

    Ye gods, just glanced at the headlines in the Obit section of the WaPo and learned that Colleen McCullough has died! Oddly enough I was thinking of the miniseries “The Thorn Birds” this very morning. Wow. McCullough’s series of Roman books were so learned that a university conferred an honorary doctorate on her (I think that’s what I read a while back). Read all the Roman books and was frequently horrified but always fascinated.

    Just found out this morning that a Kossack has bought my book. That makes three sales that I know of. 😉

    Earworms: my earworm has been “Bolero” because I referred to it in my exotic s*x story, “The February Lover.” Guess I’ll have to watch it again on YouTube this weekend. The orchestra is Viennese, and watching the expression of ecstasy on the conductor’s face makes the whole video worthwhile.

    Dentist today, visiting the Verizon store tomorrow in search of a phone that actually rings, also visiting with the fireplace store (after 20 years our Jotul is at the end of its useful life), and umpteen other errands.

    Will check back later for news of our princesspat–in the meantime, hope all will have a good day!

  42. bfitzinAR

    and sunny at the moment.  I’ll definitely get 125 KWHs for the month, possibly more.  Don’t think we’ll manage 130 unless tomorrow has some good sun which is not in the forecast.  (But then the forecast said – still says – we had a high of 60 yesterday which we most certainly did not.  We didn’t even hit 50 but stayed at 48 all day long.)

    Not exactly sure when Lodger is leaving.  The person currently in the apartment she’s moving to is moving out tomorrow and Management wants a couple of days to clean before Lodger moves in.  However “a couple of days” should have her out of my house by this time next week at the very latest.

    Still sending white light and healing energy to princesspat and anyone else who wants it.  {{{HUGS}}}

  43. princesspat

    Good morning everyone. Well I seriously underestimated the discomfort of after surgery. RonK says I look like I lost a knife fight…..my torso is a sight to see, and pain management is a challenge. But according to the surgeon there were no surprises and he’s quite proud of his work.

    I get the official pathology report when I come back for a post op checkup next week. Healing will take some time tough….no bath or pool and no twisting or lifting over 15 lbs for 6 weeks.

    I’m wishing I could just sleep until I’m all mended! We’ll stay in Seattle today, and see how I feel tomorrow. It’s just a two hour drive to Bellingham, but thank goodness I’m not trying to do so today.

    Thank you again for your kind thoughts and healing energy.

  44. Diana in NoVa

    Glad your recovery is ubderway. What will you do about the lack of baths? Can you use baby wipes, as American soldiers did in the field in Iraq?

    More love and healing vibes coming your way–have a quiet, restful weekend.  

  45. JanF

    It is 22 degrees in Madison on its way up to 35. Mostly cloudy skies in the forecast. Tomorrow we plunge into the deep freeze with some below zero temperatures expected on Sunday and later in the week.  Brrrr … February!

    The big news is that the Mittster will not be running … maybe. The right-wing pundits who were vested in a Romney candidacy (or hoping for the big story of two Goliaths duking it out) think it is part of a strategy. I think that Romney looked around, realized that he would have to self-fund this time and decided the price for he and Ann to be king and queen of the prom was too steep.

    The House GOP is putting together a task force to figure out what to do if SCOTUS kills the premium subsidies and cause 11 million or so of their constituents to lose health care. They have three choices: do nothing and hope the president can fix it (then complain about the fix), replace it with the non-existent Replace part of Repeal and Replace touted in 2011, or work with the president to repair the language in the bill. Our state, and some people I know, will be impacted by the loss of subsidies because our governor, running for president even back in 2011, rejected the ACA and we are on the federal exchange. So while my inclination would be to grab popcorn, I have to put all my hope into SCOTUS not wanting to endanger the lives of millions of Americans. Considering that this is the same SCOTUS that gave us Citizens United, laughing in their beards while saying that Congress can set disclosure rules, I have some concerns about what will happen. I am not one of those who will say “let the red states suffer for their choices” because it is not the politicians in those red states who will suffer: it is real people whose lives temporarily got better and who might now be on the hook for millions of dollars in treatments that they started in good faith and now have no way to pay for. People will die.

    On that cheery note, see all y’all later!

  46. Portlaw

    news, I see that the Census bureau is thinking of adding a new category.


    The federal government is considering allowing those of Middle Eastern and North African descent to identify as such on the next 10-year census, which could give Arab-Americans and other affected groups greater political clout and access to public funding, among other things.

    The U.S. Census Bureau will test the new Middle East-North Africa (MENA) classification for possible inclusion on the 2020 census if it gets enough positive feedback about the proposed change by Sunday, when the public comment period ends.

      http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin…

    Hope it’s a good day for all. Hope princesspat gets home.

  47. princesspat

    We were able to arrange a later check out time, so it will be easier for me to leave for home today. The hotel has been so accommodating, the kitchen especially. Ron has finally been able to relax and enjoy some good food and they have just made simple food for me.

    My overall pain improved last evening, so with the meds and moving very carefully I should be ok to travel today. It will be good to be home.

  48. Diana in NoVa

    Here in NoVa it’s 21 F. going up to 34 F. on a lovely, sunny day. From my office window I can see that 80 percent of the snow melted in yesterday’s sunny but blowy weather.

    February–gad! Birthday month in my house. Great-nephew on February 3, Miss Pink Cheeks’ father on February 7, Miss Pink Cheeks herself on February 16, and darling daughter-in-law on February 21. Time to get busy.

    Was heartened by the news about Mittens. For a while there I was regretting having thrown away my “Dogs Against Romney” bumper sticker. Now I can view that fact without regret.

    Not looking forward to Jebby, however. Can’t believe that Rand will get anywhere. And as for the others–a Rethug operative once opined to the WaPo, “There will never be a President Huckabee.”

    Let’s hope that Roberts keeps his legacy in mind and does NOT dismantle the ACA. How I despised the Smirking Chimp for appointing such a young man to be Chief Justice. But then, I despised Smirky on so many other counts it’s hard to rank them in order.

    Hope everyone in Mooseland has a good day and that we will receive encouraging news from princesspat.

  50. anotherdemocrat

    issues, sigh. Still got in 3.75 miles.

    I went to Best Buy & bought a replacement plug for my computer. They had a couple shelves of fitness watches & bands so I looked at them, too. Bought the Garmin one, brought it home & …. nothing. It won’t turn on. Yes, I read the instructions. So, back to Best Buy tomorrow.

    My friend texted me that she’s in the hospital & having the operation Wednesday. So something must have happened that made her skip the 2nd opinion. I asked if I should come over after church, she hasn’t texted back.

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