Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Week-long Welcomings from Moosylvania: Aug. 31 to Sept. 6

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Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings diary series 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?

…


Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 110 Comments

110 comments

  2. Diana in NoVa

    tonight! We do need rain.

    Um, actually, today is Sunday, 31 August. My son told me, deeply impressed, that this year August has five full weekends, something that hasn’t happened in 800 years. Where he gets this abstruse information I don’t know.

    Hope it’s a good day for all Moosylvanians! Just think–we’re going out to breakfast this morning at Virginia Kitchen with Miss Pink Cheeks, then out to dinner tonight at a non-fast-food restaurant with the gift cards Dearly Beloved received for his birthday. So lovely, not to have to cook today.

    Cooked some of the backyard pears for dessert last night, using a fast, easy microwave recipe, and they were quite tasty. The rest are so very small that I might simply scrub them well, then glaze them in a vanilla-flavored syrup.

    Will check in later to see how everyone is doing.

  3. anotherdemocrat

    Eating breakfast, watching Up. They had a great, in-depth, reasonable discussion about ISIS. No yelling. Today: church & visiting my friend. And lining up some activity every day next week that will make me leave the house.

  4. Portlaw

    with thunderstorms later in the day.  Have trouble waking up today. Guess more coffee. Have to make a drop off at one of those clothing depots that then sells stuff to benefit various charities. I’ve been saving stuff for years, in various sizes, thinking that I might wear them one day. Well that one day never came and I don’t think it ever will. Am sure some charitable vintage store can sell them and my closets will be much happier. I can’t believe I ever wore such dresses!

    Am thinking of getting a smart phone before they become obsolete.

    Hope it’s a good day for all.

  5. princesspat

    I forgot to check in yesterday but given my extremely boring low key day I have nothing of interest to report!

    All my computers are working (good luck Dee), I haven’t cooked and my grand kids are all in their own homes ( your busy schedule is admirable Diana), I sleep through UP, and I missed the pool on Friday ( hi Another D), my overflowing closets need to be sorted and donated (thanks for the reminder Portlaw), and maybe just maybe I’ll make some progress with my mess in the study and find and actually remember something interesting to read (hi JanF)….

    But now I need to go to the garage and make a bouquet for Ron to take to his brother’s new house warming party today. They live south of Seattle and it’s too long of a day for me to go so I’ll send flowers and Ron will drive up and down the freeway.

  7. JanF

    It is 70 degrees here in Madison with an expected high of 78 degrees. Storms are in the forecast and I see them on the radar just to the southwest but they appear to be breaking up. We need to cool down as yesterday was another hot one.

    I will be declaring today August 32nd to get a few more August projects done.

    Off to labor …

  8. DeniseVelez

    Very tired – was up very late last night.  Have company coming over later so I need to start prepping the food.

    Hope you all have a day of peace.

  9. Portlaw

    the door but will be back to check up on how everyone is doing. Saving whatever tranquility I have before reading about Ukraine and Syria.  

  10. Diana in NoVa

    rain. Very grateful for the rain. Still not over my incipient cold so will go on taking cold pills.

    Overslept and missed the news, so will have to catch up. Poor old Ukraine, being abducted by Russia,  and poor old Africa! Ebola is a scourge.

    Looking forward to a morning of writing, followed by a shopping expedition, then a barbecue at Younger Son’s house around the corner.

    Will come back to find out how everyone is doing. Happy August 32nd, Jan, hope you get your work done.

  11. anotherdemocrat

    With the heat index, it’ll feel like 102. Blech.

    Eating breakfast, watching the news. Must get out of the house today.

  13. princesspat

    I enjoyed a very restful day yesterday…..time in the garden, lunch at the bookstore with my book, and then a nap on the sofa.

    I can feel a big to do list shaping up in my mind though, so one more day of taking it easy and then I’ll let it surface.  

  15. JanF

    Definitely the beginning of the official work week and the first day of school for public schools in Madison WI.

    62 degrees on its way up to 78, mostly sunny.

    The president’s speech Monday was a barn burner. He is either coming down with a cold or just hoarse because his voice sounded a bit rough. But he was in a feisty mood (transcript and video on the Weekly Address post):

    THE PRESIDENT: So I just want everybody to understand — because you wouldn’t always know it from watching the news — (laughter) — by almost every measure, the American economy and American workers are better off than when I took office.  (Applause.)  We’re better off by almost every measure.  But, look, none of this progress has come easy.  Every inch of it we have had to fight for.  Every inch of it we’ve had to work against a lockstep opposition that is opposed to everything we do.

    But it was worth it.  Every gray hair is worth it.  (Applause.)  Every gray hair is worth it — and at least I’ve still got some hair.  (Applause.)

    AUDIENCE MEMBER:  And you look good!

    THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I look good — see, I like that.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Whenever folks say — whenever they see me they say, you know what, you look okay — like they’re surprised.  (Laughter.)  

    I am surprised! With all the guff he takes day in and day out from the “lockstep opposition that is opposed to everything we do”, he should look worn down. But he doesn’t: he is pushing back and fighting for use … and we are winning.

    See all y’all later!

  16. DeniseVelez

    here in the mountains of NYS- expecting rain later today.

    Getting prepared to go to school, finishing up Tuesday’s Chile, and trying to wake up.

    Moar coffee!

  17. DeniseVelez

    PBS Defends Airing Documentary on Late-Term Abortions

    Tonight, PBS will be airing the abortion documentary After Tiller–which centers around late-term abortion doctors–and some conservatives are none too pleased. In fact, one pro-life site actually reached out to PBS for comment, and the network defended its decision to air the documentary.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    After Tiller’s title refers to Dr. George Tiller, a physician who was targeted by pro-life groups because his clinic was one of very few to provide late-term abortions to women. Five years ago, Tiller was fatally shot by activist Scott Roeder. The documentary takes a look at how few doctors in the U.S., following Tiller’s death, provide late-term abortions.

    http://www.mediaite.com/online…

    I wish news sites would stop using “pro-life” for anti-abortion, anti-reproductive rights groups.  

  18. Diana in NoVa

    a high of 92 F. and thunderstorms. Got to throw on some “outer coverings” and run over to Younger Son’s house to help get the kids ready for today.

    We went over there for dinner last night, Younger Son having decided on a last-minute Labor Day barbecue. Nephew and family were there too. The 5-year-old Miss Pink Cheeks and 4-year-old Mr. B. ran around yelling like banshees.

    Managed to get some writing done yesterday so I’m happy. Must try to conserve energy today so I can continue working tonight. The news is bad, what can I say?

    Hope all in Moosylvania will find at least one thing to smile about today!

  19. Portlaw

    today. We’re going to hit 92 which is hotter than we’ve had most of the summer. Coffee and news and then starting the week! Will check in later to see how everyone is.

  20. anotherdemocrat

    Eating breakfast, watching the news. Must leave the house today. Glad I did the diary yesterday, the people who saw it seemed to like it. And I did get a couple of donations. And the music made me happy.

  21. bfitzinAR

    Hope everyone had a stellar Labor Day.  I had “the talk” with my lodger, spent a whole lot of time hanging on to my temper and calming saying, “I didn’t say that…” – gave her more room in the fridge and one more shelf in the cabinets (not that she isn’t taking a lot more space without asking, but she’s taking the top cabinets I can’t get to without standing on a chair so I don’t use them anyway) in the hopes of getting a better response.  That didn’t work but at least my counters are clear enough to work on for the first time in 3 months.  She seems to be totally incapable of understanding that just because I’m not using that space right now, it doesn’t mean I don’t use the space and I don’t want to have to clear it every time I need it.  

    I finally realized what’s setting my own back up as far as talking to her is concerned.  I thought I was dealing with an adult – I mean she’s in her 50s.  The tone of voice and the “Am I allowed to…” after “the talk” finally connected – I’m dealing with an emotional 14 y.o. who thinks she’s been unjustly reprimanded.  Which of course is part of why I’m so far not being able to tell to go away.  My own emotional system is reacting to 14 y.o. – you don’t toss them out just because they act like 14 y.o.s. Sigh.  Either things will have to get better or I’m going to have to get over that.  Anyway – have the good Tuesday and {{{HUGS}}} bf

  22. princesspat

    The light seems to have changed fast this year…..10:00 am PST and I need a lamp on to see the keyboard. The leaves on my old maple trees are still more green than not, but the color is changing.

    I have lots to do today and a serious lack of motivation so I’d best have a little chat with myself!

  24. JanF

    It is 59 degrees in Madison with an expected high of 82 and sunny skies.

    I hate computers!! I was cleaning up my out-of-control-from-July-August-crises Inbox and realized that I had not gotten notifications about my backups for some time. Turns out that the backup device on my server had failed and backups weren’t taking place. So I spent some time trying to reanimate it and had to give up and get an emergency backup done to a separate device, research a new device, and order it. Later this week I will try to figure out how to recover the data from the dead backup device because I think there are some archives there that don’t exist anywhere else (probably not a good idea … I should burn them to DVD).

    We are settling into the back-to-school routine with a few fits and starts (no one fed the dog yesterday morning and I did not realize it until almost noon). Today will go more smoothly as I have set up my school day reminders again in my online calendar.

    See all y’alls later!

  25. Portlaw

    not very good. Horrible in fact. I just don’t want to hear what the duo from Hades, McCain and Graham, have to say. Nor do I want to hear what some in our own party have to say. Will check in later to see how everyone is doing.  

  26. anotherdemocrat

    High today 97, but heat index will be 105. Blech.

    Slept in, eating breakfast, watching the news. Definitely leaving the house today, because I have some returns from my visit to Target yesterday. Maybe I can talk myself into going to the gym.

  27. bfitzinAR

    The good news is we hung on to the two Rs we needed and passed the early voting site ordinance last night.  The not so good news is the situation at home is getting worse.  And the so-what-else-is-new news is that I’ve got lots of stuff to deal with at work 🙂  Hope everyone has a lovely Woden’s Day wherever you are and whatever you’re doing.  {{{HUGS}}} bf

  28. Diana in NoVa

    Thank Goddess for that! Both Dearly Beloved and I had to go to Younger Son’s house this morning to help with The Littles. Miss Pink Cheeks dawdled over her breakfast. I’m now sorry I gave her a whole serving of porridge. Should have given her half, because it was just wasted. As I poured it into the garbage disposal I thought of the Syrian children who would have liked cinnamon-and-spice oatmeal and organic applesauce.

    Well, eventually we did get her dressed and walked to school. There is a great deal of information that has not been imparted to grandparents: (1) kindergarteners are released 10 minutes earlier than the other students; (2) they can be walked into school in the mornings instead of waiting outside the front door; and (3) their name badge has to be on at all times.

    Taking a break from the “baby in the sling across my chest” business as it really is hard on one’s back. We just laid him in his portacrib. I’m counting the days until September 2015 when he’ll be going to day care, I swear!

    There’s another HUGE fight at GOS. Gad. Going to just read novels on my Kindle, today, I think, since I can’t do much else while holding the baby. The news turns my stomach. Those ISIL people are barbaric!  

  29. princesspat

    We had over an 1″ of rain yesterday afternoon….time to start closing windows and putting the outdoor furniture back in the garage. And time for the pool….I’m late!

    Thanks to all for our friendly Moose gathering spot.  

  30. JanF

    Awakened by the storm and the dog crying (she hates lightning and thunder).

    It is 72 degrees here and the storm will be bringing in very hot air: 89 degrees is the expected high.

    As long as I am up, I am going to work.

    See all y’all later!

  31. DeniseVelez

    have puter issues on the agenda today – scheduled to take the new PC in to try to resolve Windows 8.1 mouse issues.

    Sigh.  

    Glad to see fast food workers protests growing



    Fast-food worker protests planned for more than 150 U.S. cities

    (Reuters) – Fast-food workers will stage another day of protests in more than 150 U.S. cities on Thursday as they seek a doubling in hourly pay to $15 and the right to form a union. Organizers expect their biggest protest to date, with fast-food workers from McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC restaurants expected to walk off the job. They will be joined by home-care workers.

    The union-backed actions, which started in New York and other major cities, have steadily gathered steam since 2012 and helped to spur a national debate about the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009. Protesters, many of whom are adults clocking 40 hours or more per week at around that wage, say they cannot survive on such pay and are pressing for $15 per hour – above the roughly $11 hourly wage that experts say is the poverty threshold for a family of four.

    McDonald’s Corp, Burger King Worldwide Inc and other major fast-food chains do not own most of their U.S. restaurants and leave pay decisions to their franchisees, who generally say that paying their employees more will be detrimental to their businesses.

    http://www.reuters.com/article…

    Was amazed to see some “so-called” progressives sneer at this since “no-skills” are required for these jobs (according to them)

    The elitism it burns.

  33. Diana in NoVa

    If and when fall finally arrives with cooler weather I’ll be very glad to see it. Hope this is summer’s last gasp.

    Nothing interesting to report on the personal front other than that I’m WAY behind on writing. In the evenings I’m just too exhausted.

    Not happy that the WaPo, my local rag, has been taken over by a Reagan worshipper. I have cudgeled my remaining brains and still cannot discover the appeal of that third-rate actor. I used to think he was our stupidest president ever when to my surprise, Dubya Boosh took over that title and ran with it.

    With the stomach-churning news from the Middle East and now the nail-biting news of the escaped albino cobra in California, I’m ready to retreat to a remote lamasery in Tibet.

    Hope all in Mooseland will have a good day!

  34. Portlaw

    The news from the Middle East is horrifying but even more horrifying are the headlines in the tabloids about it and the op ed pieces. The drum beats for war are getting louder. The attacks on Obama as a weakling are getting stronger,

    I hope Diana leaves some crumbs for me to follow when she heads off to that remote lamasery.  She may hear the sounds of  Moose hooves trying to keep up.  

    Hope it’s a good day for all. Hope the news get better.  

  35. anotherdemocrat

    high 99, heat index 104, ugh

    Slept in (wow, next week is gonna hurt), eating breakfast, watching the news. Must do 2 things outside the house today. And load the dishwasher. Been amazingly lazy this week. My introversion is really getting out of hand.

  36. anotherdemocrat

    Mary Engelbreit? She drew a gorgeous/heartbreaking print about Ferguson, dedicated all proceeds to the Michael Brown memorial fund and got a lot of flack about it? Well the print was too expensive for me, but she’s put it on a t-shirt:

    http://teespring.com/maryengel…

  37. bfitzinAR

    Have a headache which is making me groggy – good thing my lodger didn’t get up until I was heading out the door.  Not that she would have said anything to me but unfortunately at this point she doesn’t have to.  C.C. knows how I’m going to handle the holiday breaks!  Oh well.  I’ll either manage or I won’t.  Like the Quorum Court and Budget Committees – I’ll either manage or I won’t.  Being myself a “staff” person (peon, brownie and/or fairy who magically gets the work done without knowing what’s wanted and also without actually working so I how dare I want decent pay) I truly understand that taxes as paid for services that are performed by people who should be paid decently.  This concept has escaped most of the Court – but I’ve had more County employees than I can count, people whose names I don’t even know, thank me for speaking up for them and tell me they wish I wasn’t leaving.  (Not being able to do anything besides speak up for them is why I’m leaving.  It’s making me sick.  Literally.  Reflux attacks at every meeting.)  The last person to thank me was the IT Director yesterday when I called to ask about the safety of the Cloud – he said I was the only one of the 15 JPs to call, show any concern at any time about cybersecurity, or even understand that there could be an issue.  Sigh.  Anyway, have the good Thursday.  {{{HUGS}}}

  39. JanF

    It is 78 degrees here in Madison with an expected high of 73 degrees. Wut??!! Apparently a front is coming through that will cool us down into the low 70s but, Weather Channel peepuls!, the high today is still 78!!

    Great news in the courts yesterday. Wisconsin and Indiana same-sex marriage bans ruled unconstitutional … Scalia trolled again. Halbig ACA i-dotting/t-crossing ruling set aside, the full DC Circuit will hear case … the right-wing’s hold on judicial majorities appears to be waning. And BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL: Ohio’s new rules restricting early voting were ruled unconstitutional and a violation of the VRA. It is unlikely that any appeal will be completed before the November election.  

    I think I will go gloat in a diary …

    See all y’all later!!

  40. Diana in NoVa

    notice. Anyway it’s humid and warm.

    The WaPo this morning is basically the Fall of the McDonnells. On GMA it’s nonstop Joan Rivers, the passing of. This will make me unpopular, but I never cared for her version of humor. I hated her treatment of the Queen of England and the Queen of America (then Elizabeth Taylor). I maintain that it’s possible to be funny without being cruel, vulgar, or profane, and as proof I would point to an episode on “The Bill Cosby” show. Still makes me laugh my head off when I happen to catch a rerun of it.

    Friends from Montreal are driving here from Philadelphia today, estimated time of arrival 9 p.m. Never have I felt less like entertaining but I haven’t seen these guys in two years and I’m not likely to travel to Montreal again any time soon, so I’ll serve dinner by candlelight and hope they’ll ignore the fact that the house is a total wreck! 🙂

    Hope all in Mooseland will have a good day and are looking forward to the weekend!

  41. Portlaw

    Going to read Jan’s cheerful diary and then read about the ISIS plans.  Hope that won’t drive me to reading about Kim Kardashian. I did resist Angelina’s wedding!

    Hope it’s a good day for all with NO STRESS.  

  42. anotherdemocrat

    Last day of vacation so I stayed in bed extra long. Wonder if I’ll get around to seeing Guardians of the Galaxy today. We got a super heavy downpour yesterday. So it is super humid & the high will be 97.

    Tomorrow morning is going to hurt – 5:30 alarm to leave the house by 6:30 to be at workout at 7. Ugh. And I need to think about next week’s lunch. One of my co-workers had a bike accident – she’s ok, and there wasn’t a car involved, she said she just hit a curb wrong. But I feel sorry for my office, with both her & me out today, they will be hopping.

  43. princesspat

    I’ll be having fun with sun flowers today. We’re going to our daughters house tomorrow to celebrate our sil’s 50th birthday so I’m making several arrangements, cooking some Hor d’Oeuvers, and packing up the party plates and linens.

    Amazing my “kids” are all moving through their 40’s now!

  44. JanF

    54 degrees in Madison WI on its way up to 74. Sunny. It appears as though the cool weather will be around until at least next Thursday. It feels great.

    I had seen a fleeting glimpse of something odd on Twitter Thursday evening and thought it was snark. Then yesterday I saw that it was true: The Economist did a review of a book attacking the author for portraying all slavery as bad for blacks. JHC on a popsicle stick!! There really are people who think that slavery was anything other than a horror, that many blacks had it pretty good, and it was much worse to not be enslaved.

    slave: a person who is the legal property of another.

    If you have to start by convincing folks that that is not okay, no wonder it is difficult to have a conversation about economic injustice based on race.

    Busy day for me … on the road until noon. PLEASE stay out of trouble.

  46. DeniseVelez

    flooded with a slew of criticisms (like this one at TPM

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/l… )

    of it’s right-wing review (reviewer unnamed) of a book on slavery, has apologized and withdrawn it

    http://www.comunitee.com/showC…

    though they have left it up, on a separate page where you can see the reviewers conclusion:


    Unlike Mr Thomas, Mr Baptist has not written an objective history of slavery. Almost all the blacks in his book are victims, almost all the whites villains. This is not history; it is advocacy

    Um…advocacy.  A book that deals with the brutality of slavery, the breeding farms etc.

    Had I reviewed the book

    “The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism”

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Half…

    I would have pointed out that the story has been told – over and over, but the general public doesn’t want to read about the reality of slavery (north and south – though this book focuses on the south and King Cotton)

    OTOH am glad to see condemnation of the review – loved this comment at TPM


    My favorite comment so far on the Economist website to this review: Elie Weisel has not written an objective history of the Holocaust. Almost all the Jews in his book are victims, almost all the Nazis villains.

  47. Diana in NoVa

    late-day thunderstorms. Right now the sky is a soft pale blue with a few wisps of thin white cloud.

    Had a fairly rotten night, but hope to have a nap later. Our guests are still asleep downstairs. The almond croissants have been baked and are now cooling before being dusted with confectioner’s sugar. The raspberries and vanilla yogurt have been set out in separate bowls, as has the bowl of cantaloupe balls garnished with mint from our garden. I told the guys they could show up for breakfast when they felt like it–nothing is more annoying, when you’re on vacation, than have to present yourself, washed, brushed, and dressed, at the table at a certain hour.

    We had a nice dinner last night, which ended with fruit and cheese, so dessert was a no-brainer.

    No plans today except to REE-LAX! Younger son is coming to tea at four with DIL and the grandchildren. Younger son and DIL visited Montreal years ago, before they were married, and met our friends up there. Wish my third friend had come with the guys this time, but she has lost her taste for travel, alas.

    After breakfast I have to make the trifle for dessert tonight. Hubby is downstairs making the breakfast coffee so I’m going to join him. Hope Meese everywhere will have a good weekend!

  48. princesspat

    Thanks to yesterday’s pool workout, collecting flowers and greens, and making 5 arrangements for today’s party my knees are very creaky this morning. So I’m going to slowly load the car, take my legs up lounge chair, and enjoy the party while resting in the shade. My daughter has a lovely garden and I’ve got a spot in mind.

    The grand kids will keep me entertained and well supplied with food and beverages 🙂

  49. Diana in NoVa

    I like to think of your resting with your feet up in the lounge chair, admiring Daughter’s beautiful garden and your own flower arrangements, being waited on by your descendants.  What fun!

    About to  go upstairs for a much-longed-for afternoon rest. Currently reading the latest Darling Dahlias mystery on my Kindle. Bet the Dahlia books would hit your hot buttons, princesspat–they’re about gardens and flowers and life in a small town in the 1930s. The characters seem so real I can’t believe they’re not.

    The same author’s China Bayles mysteries are set in mythical Pecan Springs, Texas (very like San Marcos in the 1970s), and are full of info about herbs and flowers. They’re huge fun too.

    Enjoy your  party and weekend and I hope the knees stop acting up!

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