January 15
We have fog today which is lifting a bit now but a winter storm is coming that the weather people say will bring the coldest temperatures so far this season. We plan to stay home and vegetate. I just tossed the stevia because it bloomed and has lost the sweetness I grow it for, and the lemon grass because it is simply too big to grow in the small space we have available. We can't put it in the larger space because the cats try to eat it. For that same reason I can't put roses there. Who knew cats would chow down on roses??? My attempts to overwinter plants have had limited success with the rosemary being the most successful. I have three pots; one a three year old plant and two others started as cuttings last fall. I lost my oldest rosemary, 7 years old at the time it decided to give up the ghost last spring. It provided the cuttings for the oldest surviving rosemary.
We watched part of the debates last night. It came on right after the Jeopardy "Greatest of All Time" championship tournament which was far more interesting and exciting. We stopped when that idiot of a moderator asked Sanders if he really told Elizabeth Warren a woman couldn't win the presidency and followed up asking her what she thought of the statement Sanders just denied making. The stupidity of asking a person about a statement another person allegedly made just after he denied making it is mind boggling. It was an attempt to manufacture a fight and, to both candidates' credit, they declined the bait.
It doesn't really matter is Sanders does or doesn't believe a woman can be elected president. I know enough people who agree with the negative. Several are family members. Time may (or may not) solve that problem if enough of those who don't think a female president can be elected either die or change their minds.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Monday, January 13, 2020
January 13, 2020
Well, here we are mid January of a new year which feels so much like the old one we look at a calendar (or to our computers) to be convinced of the fact. Our weather veers madly from fall to winter to spring and back. The heavy rains over the weekend felt more like early April than January. Today is colder and we have frost, ice and the remnants of snow but not cold enough to make it feel like winter.
The political scene is equally chaotic. I don't follow polls and all I really know about the Democratic primary races is what turns up on the news reports. I said early on that I would vote for any Democrat over the miserable excuse for a human being who now occupies the White House. That intention was challenged a bit when Steyer and Bloomberg entered the lists. I firmly believe we do not need another billionaire as President. Running a country is not like running a business as the last three years should have demonstrated--in spades. However, with every atrocity #45 commits I have wavered and now will vote for any Democrat--even the billionaires.
Isn't it interesting how the situation in the Middle East has gyrated between extremes. 1) Rockets fired by some Iran aligned militia (we think) kills an American contractor and a couple of Iraqis; 2) we retaliate by firing rockets as a militia base killing 25-30 "fighters" (depending on the source of the info); 3) for two days irate Shia crowds (supposedly members of Iranian linked militias) demonstrate at the American Embassy, set fire to a guard post, actually climb the wall before being driven back by tear gas; 4) a U.S. drone murders a high ranking member of the Iranian government/military (and it was murder however you want to pretty it up with euphemisms) which reconciles opponents of the Iraqi and the Iranian governments who had been demonstrating just a week before; 5) the Iranians fire off around two dozen rockets after giving warning they are going to do so resulting in no casualties (though their own media claimed 80 dead in the first reports); and then 6) shoot down a civilian air liner while still on alert expecting an American retaliation but not closing their airspace; followed by 7) lying for three days about the incident which has now led to renewed demonstrations against the government; oh, and 8) led to renewed demonstrations against Iranian and American influence in Iraq. Anyone else suffering from extreme vertigo and ready to upchuck all over? And the rally sad thing about all this mess is that situation is no closer to resolution than it was before the above chain of events occurred. Can you spell "futility?"
Ah well, I have other things to focus on. Several needlework projects on the hoop or hook and all my seed orders are in and it is time to figure out when to start what and where to put it when it is time. I have no tomatoes or peppers even as free gifts from the seed companies for my orders so I have no temptation to just put in the odd plant. I have some givens for the garden: lavender, basil, stevia, peppermint, spearmint, chives. Those always go in. This year I have a number of dye plants to try: woad, indigo, madder, Hopi black dye sunflowers. Otherwise, I have flowers: other sunflowers, blue butterfly pea, hibiscus, marigold. I have said before that the gardens I plan in the spring are never the ones I get in the fall. We'll see what happens.
Well, here we are mid January of a new year which feels so much like the old one we look at a calendar (or to our computers) to be convinced of the fact. Our weather veers madly from fall to winter to spring and back. The heavy rains over the weekend felt more like early April than January. Today is colder and we have frost, ice and the remnants of snow but not cold enough to make it feel like winter.
The political scene is equally chaotic. I don't follow polls and all I really know about the Democratic primary races is what turns up on the news reports. I said early on that I would vote for any Democrat over the miserable excuse for a human being who now occupies the White House. That intention was challenged a bit when Steyer and Bloomberg entered the lists. I firmly believe we do not need another billionaire as President. Running a country is not like running a business as the last three years should have demonstrated--in spades. However, with every atrocity #45 commits I have wavered and now will vote for any Democrat--even the billionaires.
Isn't it interesting how the situation in the Middle East has gyrated between extremes. 1) Rockets fired by some Iran aligned militia (we think) kills an American contractor and a couple of Iraqis; 2) we retaliate by firing rockets as a militia base killing 25-30 "fighters" (depending on the source of the info); 3) for two days irate Shia crowds (supposedly members of Iranian linked militias) demonstrate at the American Embassy, set fire to a guard post, actually climb the wall before being driven back by tear gas; 4) a U.S. drone murders a high ranking member of the Iranian government/military (and it was murder however you want to pretty it up with euphemisms) which reconciles opponents of the Iraqi and the Iranian governments who had been demonstrating just a week before; 5) the Iranians fire off around two dozen rockets after giving warning they are going to do so resulting in no casualties (though their own media claimed 80 dead in the first reports); and then 6) shoot down a civilian air liner while still on alert expecting an American retaliation but not closing their airspace; followed by 7) lying for three days about the incident which has now led to renewed demonstrations against the government; oh, and 8) led to renewed demonstrations against Iranian and American influence in Iraq. Anyone else suffering from extreme vertigo and ready to upchuck all over? And the rally sad thing about all this mess is that situation is no closer to resolution than it was before the above chain of events occurred. Can you spell "futility?"
Ah well, I have other things to focus on. Several needlework projects on the hoop or hook and all my seed orders are in and it is time to figure out when to start what and where to put it when it is time. I have no tomatoes or peppers even as free gifts from the seed companies for my orders so I have no temptation to just put in the odd plant. I have some givens for the garden: lavender, basil, stevia, peppermint, spearmint, chives. Those always go in. This year I have a number of dye plants to try: woad, indigo, madder, Hopi black dye sunflowers. Otherwise, I have flowers: other sunflowers, blue butterfly pea, hibiscus, marigold. I have said before that the gardens I plan in the spring are never the ones I get in the fall. We'll see what happens.
Monday, December 2, 2019
December 2
December already. Another year almost gone. We have a sheen of snow on roofs and grass but the pavement seems to be too warm for any to stick. At least, for now anyway, we missed the heavy snows other areas have been getting. The very high winds of a week ago hardly even inconvenienced us. We could, and did, choose not go out and decided not to put out trash tote for pick up. Only one small bag in it and I didn't want to risk having to chase it down as the wind rolled it down the street. Last year we caught the amusing, for us, sight of three or four in a line wheeling down the street propelled by the wind. We didn't put ours out that day either.
In the blogs this morning--David Kaiser had this very cogent and accurate assessment of the comparisons of #45 and Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson. The current occupant of the White House doesn't compare very well in either case. Unfortunately, #45's election also doesn't say much good about where our country is today. A worse indicator, however, was a poll I saw today which indicates that Republicans rated #45 above Lincoln. The only saving grace was that among Americans generally Lincoln is still favored.
William Astore also has a good blog at TomDispatch on our endless wars. Another dismal reflection on where we are today.
Ronni Bennett's post today conjures up some unpleasant memories. A couple of years ago CVS took over Aetna (my mother's insurance company) and the price of her medication more than tripled soon after open enrollment ended. She tried to cancel that insurance which came because of her deceased husband's job but the company insisted that she stay with them until the next enrollment period until she noticed that they could drop her if she didn't pay the premium. Note the company got paid by Medicare to provide the insurance and collected a premium from her as well. She refused to pay and after stringing the matter out for about three months (to continue collecting from Medicare I guess) they finally cancelled the insurance. Her doctor helped her find a low cost provider for that medication. Mom keeps a tab of the insurance premiums she isn't paying, and the co-pay (which she also doesn't have to pay) and has found that those savings more than pays for the doctors' visits (both her medical and her eye doctor) and her lower drug costs. Both her doctors were very happy to accept cash. The biggest criticism of the "Medicare for all" plans has been what would happen to those who are happy with their insurance and want to keep it. The critics pit that group against those who can't get insurance at all. But few are talking about those who pay through the nose for inferior service and have a hard time getting out of it.
December already. Another year almost gone. We have a sheen of snow on roofs and grass but the pavement seems to be too warm for any to stick. At least, for now anyway, we missed the heavy snows other areas have been getting. The very high winds of a week ago hardly even inconvenienced us. We could, and did, choose not go out and decided not to put out trash tote for pick up. Only one small bag in it and I didn't want to risk having to chase it down as the wind rolled it down the street. Last year we caught the amusing, for us, sight of three or four in a line wheeling down the street propelled by the wind. We didn't put ours out that day either.
In the blogs this morning--David Kaiser had this very cogent and accurate assessment of the comparisons of #45 and Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson. The current occupant of the White House doesn't compare very well in either case. Unfortunately, #45's election also doesn't say much good about where our country is today. A worse indicator, however, was a poll I saw today which indicates that Republicans rated #45 above Lincoln. The only saving grace was that among Americans generally Lincoln is still favored.
William Astore also has a good blog at TomDispatch on our endless wars. Another dismal reflection on where we are today.
Ronni Bennett's post today conjures up some unpleasant memories. A couple of years ago CVS took over Aetna (my mother's insurance company) and the price of her medication more than tripled soon after open enrollment ended. She tried to cancel that insurance which came because of her deceased husband's job but the company insisted that she stay with them until the next enrollment period until she noticed that they could drop her if she didn't pay the premium. Note the company got paid by Medicare to provide the insurance and collected a premium from her as well. She refused to pay and after stringing the matter out for about three months (to continue collecting from Medicare I guess) they finally cancelled the insurance. Her doctor helped her find a low cost provider for that medication. Mom keeps a tab of the insurance premiums she isn't paying, and the co-pay (which she also doesn't have to pay) and has found that those savings more than pays for the doctors' visits (both her medical and her eye doctor) and her lower drug costs. Both her doctors were very happy to accept cash. The biggest criticism of the "Medicare for all" plans has been what would happen to those who are happy with their insurance and want to keep it. The critics pit that group against those who can't get insurance at all. But few are talking about those who pay through the nose for inferior service and have a hard time getting out of it.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Friday, November 29
Well, here it is--Black Friday and no, we have not been and are not going shopping. We haven't indulged in that madness for some years except for once when we ran out of something and forgot what day it was. I saw more post with the caption "Black Friday--Save 100%. Stay home." But, given the stories on the news, ours is a minority opinion.
The weather is now and has been, with brief exceptions, gloomy. It feels colder than the thermometer says it is thanks to the moisture. We have had plenty of rain and a couple of days of high winds. The weather people have pushed back the end of this bleak weather to Tuesday.
We had a nice Thanksgiving with my brother and his family. We managed to not overeat though we had to refuse the pie. As I told one of the guests I was comfortably full but the pie would have left me uncomfortably (and painfully) overfull.
My first seed catalog arrived last week--Totally Tomatoes. Since I have sworn off tomatoes and peppers, which haven't yielded well for the last few years, I doubt I will be buying any of those seeds. I am still of the mind to concentrate on herbs and flowers but am still deciding which ones.
The stevia, lemon grass, and rosemary I brought inside for the winter are doing well so far. The miniature rose has had a hard time, though. When I had it outside the Japanese beetles went for it like it was bug candy. I cleared them all off and brought it inside where it began to come back, until I overwatered it. I think I managed to save it because it is now putting out new leaves. At least until the next crisis. I might add another next year. I can't keep on display in the big window downstairs because the cats also think it tastes good.
I am still ignoring the political news. It is toxic as hell and I am tired of being poisoned by it.
Well, here it is--Black Friday and no, we have not been and are not going shopping. We haven't indulged in that madness for some years except for once when we ran out of something and forgot what day it was. I saw more post with the caption "Black Friday--Save 100%. Stay home." But, given the stories on the news, ours is a minority opinion.
The weather is now and has been, with brief exceptions, gloomy. It feels colder than the thermometer says it is thanks to the moisture. We have had plenty of rain and a couple of days of high winds. The weather people have pushed back the end of this bleak weather to Tuesday.
We had a nice Thanksgiving with my brother and his family. We managed to not overeat though we had to refuse the pie. As I told one of the guests I was comfortably full but the pie would have left me uncomfortably (and painfully) overfull.
My first seed catalog arrived last week--Totally Tomatoes. Since I have sworn off tomatoes and peppers, which haven't yielded well for the last few years, I doubt I will be buying any of those seeds. I am still of the mind to concentrate on herbs and flowers but am still deciding which ones.
The stevia, lemon grass, and rosemary I brought inside for the winter are doing well so far. The miniature rose has had a hard time, though. When I had it outside the Japanese beetles went for it like it was bug candy. I cleared them all off and brought it inside where it began to come back, until I overwatered it. I think I managed to save it because it is now putting out new leaves. At least until the next crisis. I might add another next year. I can't keep on display in the big window downstairs because the cats also think it tastes good.
I am still ignoring the political news. It is toxic as hell and I am tired of being poisoned by it.
Monday, November 11, 2019
November 11
Happy Veterans' Day
We have snow today. It started about 5am for us and is supposed to continue through out the day. Tomorrow they say will be the coldest day in the season thus far. We, however, are snug and warm with nowhere to go or anything to do--so we won't go anywhere.
Instead it is a day to read and do needlework. Oh, and do several loads of dark clothes.
First up for reading was this piece by Ronni Bennett. I have curtailed my "news" watching because I can't stand more ad nauseam coverage of yet another outrageous action, tweet, or verbal flatulence.
Happy Veterans' Day
We have snow today. It started about 5am for us and is supposed to continue through out the day. Tomorrow they say will be the coldest day in the season thus far. We, however, are snug and warm with nowhere to go or anything to do--so we won't go anywhere.
Instead it is a day to read and do needlework. Oh, and do several loads of dark clothes.
First up for reading was this piece by Ronni Bennett. I have curtailed my "news" watching because I can't stand more ad nauseam coverage of yet another outrageous action, tweet, or verbal flatulence.
Friday, November 8, 2019
November 8
Quite cold this morning--in the teens. The weather reporter on the morning news said the temps were quite normal----for January. The plants that survived the last cold snap are pretty much gone now. Time to start planning for next season. I just ordered the new Baker Creek catalog. Should be getting several more soon. 'Tis the season.
Speaking of seasons is anyone else bummed out with the Christmas themed commercials that have sprouted like mushrooms? We hadn't even said goodbye to Halloween and the "Black Friday" ads popped up. Are we even having Thanksgiving this year? Can't tell by the ads.
I have become increasingly curmudgeonly (Scrooge like?) about our so-called holidays which our commercialized society has turned into buying orgies. I think Tom Lehrer said it well in this parody of Christmas carol.
Quite cold this morning--in the teens. The weather reporter on the morning news said the temps were quite normal----for January. The plants that survived the last cold snap are pretty much gone now. Time to start planning for next season. I just ordered the new Baker Creek catalog. Should be getting several more soon. 'Tis the season.
Speaking of seasons is anyone else bummed out with the Christmas themed commercials that have sprouted like mushrooms? We hadn't even said goodbye to Halloween and the "Black Friday" ads popped up. Are we even having Thanksgiving this year? Can't tell by the ads.
I have become increasingly curmudgeonly (Scrooge like?) about our so-called holidays which our commercialized society has turned into buying orgies. I think Tom Lehrer said it well in this parody of Christmas carol.
Christmas time is here, by golly,
Disapproval would be folly,
Deck the halls with hunks of holly,
Fill the cup and don't say "when."
Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the dickens,
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother, here we go again.
On christmas day you can't get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore,
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.
Relations, sparing no expense'll
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil.
"just the thing I need! how nice!"
It doesn't matter how sincere it
Is, nor how heartfelt the spirit,
Sentiment will not endear it,
What's important is the price.
Hark the herald tribune sings,
Advertising wondrous things.
God rest ye merry, merchants,
May you make the yuletide pay.
Angels we have heard on high
Tell us to go out and buy!
So let the raucous sleigh bells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend kris kringle,
Driving his reindeer across the sky.
Don't stand underneath when they fly by.
Source: LyricFind
We aren't exactly non-participants but we don't use it as an excuse for a buying binge. Especially not for stuff we don't need and (usually) don't want. For Mother's Day and Mom's birthday I usually treat her to a dinner at one of her favorite restaurants. When it comes to other family we opt for modest amounts of cash so they can get what they really want or use it in whatever way they see fit.
On to other things. This year is the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. David Kaiser has a good take on the event and its aftermath. Morning Joe had Tom Brokaw on for his reminiscences as the only reporter for a major news outlet on the scene. It was a interesting discussion.
Monday, November 4, 2019
November 4
Goodness!! It has been a while since I posted anything. Here it is--day before Election Day. The campaigning has been heavier than usual here. Our mayor of 16 years has opted to not run again though I could bet he would have been re-elected if he had decided otherwise. He has done a good job. The man from his party (Republicans) who is running to succeed him touts his close association with the soon to be former mayor but I am not convinced that is enough reason to vote for him. And I don't see much difference between his platform and the Democrat. However, the challenger is basically running on a "time for change" platform which given the last sentence means not much change. Also he doesn't specify what needs to change (besides the party in office) and what he means by a city government that works for all. Again--not much inducement to vote Democrat. They only strong feeling I have on the matter is that alternating parties is--generally--a good thing. I guess I will wait til I have the ballot in front of me to see how what ever spirit moves me. Given what I have seen of the campaign signs in yards I would place a small bet on the Republican.
The weather has turned decidedly colder of late. It feels like someone (or Someone) flipped a switch taking us from 70s and 80s to 30s and 40s. We had snow on Halloween. Along with hard rain and heavy winds. I think the snow and low high temp on Halloween threatened a record that had been set in the 1880s. The garden is pretty much gone now even though the chives, spearmint, peppermint, dianthus are still hanging on. I have done as much clean up as I intend to do and what plants are left will remain as a protective cover on the soil. The hard rains we have had over the last few years tends to splatter mud all over.
I haven't planned much on the gardens for next year. All I know for sure is that I am striving for one that provides max enjoyment and least work. And which can withstand what has become a brutal summer, partly because we are having more 85+ days and partly because heat tends to concentrate and magnify on the patio where the temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees higher than our official temperatures.
I don't write about politics much and I try to limit my exposure to a lot of what passes for political news nowadays. Some amusing thoughts have passed through my not-quite-fried brain. So many of the talking heads talk about Biden as the candidate votes think will reset our society and politics to something they consider "normal." I think they are living an illusion. Too much has been broken over the last 50 years and the last 3 under #45 are just the tip of the iceberg. Ain't no way we are going back to anything like what we once considered "normal." Finally, this morning on Morning Joe Pete Budiguige (a.k.a., Mayor Pete) said that though in a softer, kinder way. Evidently, according to the pundits, Wall Street is really scared of the prospect of a President Elizabeth Warren. Why escapes me. After all being elected is no guarantee that she will get her various "plans" enacted. I am glad she is running and that her various criticisms of our current bastardized "capitalist" system are getting more discussion than normal. I still wish Bernie and Joe had decided to sit this one out. Several of the lower tier candidates deserve more than a chance to issue a sound bite. Elizabeth and Pete are the only ones who have been able to get any attention from those two.
I will let this end for now. Just thought I would let the world know I am still here.
Goodness!! It has been a while since I posted anything. Here it is--day before Election Day. The campaigning has been heavier than usual here. Our mayor of 16 years has opted to not run again though I could bet he would have been re-elected if he had decided otherwise. He has done a good job. The man from his party (Republicans) who is running to succeed him touts his close association with the soon to be former mayor but I am not convinced that is enough reason to vote for him. And I don't see much difference between his platform and the Democrat. However, the challenger is basically running on a "time for change" platform which given the last sentence means not much change. Also he doesn't specify what needs to change (besides the party in office) and what he means by a city government that works for all. Again--not much inducement to vote Democrat. They only strong feeling I have on the matter is that alternating parties is--generally--a good thing. I guess I will wait til I have the ballot in front of me to see how what ever spirit moves me. Given what I have seen of the campaign signs in yards I would place a small bet on the Republican.
The weather has turned decidedly colder of late. It feels like someone (or Someone) flipped a switch taking us from 70s and 80s to 30s and 40s. We had snow on Halloween. Along with hard rain and heavy winds. I think the snow and low high temp on Halloween threatened a record that had been set in the 1880s. The garden is pretty much gone now even though the chives, spearmint, peppermint, dianthus are still hanging on. I have done as much clean up as I intend to do and what plants are left will remain as a protective cover on the soil. The hard rains we have had over the last few years tends to splatter mud all over.
I haven't planned much on the gardens for next year. All I know for sure is that I am striving for one that provides max enjoyment and least work. And which can withstand what has become a brutal summer, partly because we are having more 85+ days and partly because heat tends to concentrate and magnify on the patio where the temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees higher than our official temperatures.
I don't write about politics much and I try to limit my exposure to a lot of what passes for political news nowadays. Some amusing thoughts have passed through my not-quite-fried brain. So many of the talking heads talk about Biden as the candidate votes think will reset our society and politics to something they consider "normal." I think they are living an illusion. Too much has been broken over the last 50 years and the last 3 under #45 are just the tip of the iceberg. Ain't no way we are going back to anything like what we once considered "normal." Finally, this morning on Morning Joe Pete Budiguige (a.k.a., Mayor Pete) said that though in a softer, kinder way. Evidently, according to the pundits, Wall Street is really scared of the prospect of a President Elizabeth Warren. Why escapes me. After all being elected is no guarantee that she will get her various "plans" enacted. I am glad she is running and that her various criticisms of our current bastardized "capitalist" system are getting more discussion than normal. I still wish Bernie and Joe had decided to sit this one out. Several of the lower tier candidates deserve more than a chance to issue a sound bite. Elizabeth and Pete are the only ones who have been able to get any attention from those two.
I will let this end for now. Just thought I would let the world know I am still here.
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