Yeesh, the holidays can be exhausting. Every day this week, someplace I have to be. On the other hand, these are mainly fun things, so hey — the holidays! Exhausting in a good way! Tomorrow is the holiday breakfast for the sunrise swimmers, when we see what we all look like; every year I have to be re-introduced to people I work out next to three days a week but can’t recognize in street clothes because I only see them a) wet; b) mostly naked; c) wearing a plastic cap; and d) goggles.
Fun times. I plan to order the potato pancakes.
Kate will be home soon. She’s leaving California to tour with her band and hopes to be back in a few months. I just called her. She was having a farewell skate on Venice Beach. I could hear the seagulls in the background.
It is cold here. But you knew that.
It was a busy week, besides the personal stuff. Trumps in Michigan two nights running (Lara and her father-in-law). You probably heard the headline — he implied the recently deceased Michigan congressman, John Dingell, was in hell. Also, he looked like this, i.e. microwaved. We know he uses makeup, we know he has a tanning bed, we know he…well, we don’t know the state of his health. But that face kept ringing a bell. And then I got it:
I know, terrifying.
Almost from the moment he took office, President Trump seized on a theory that troubled his senior aides: Ukraine, he told them on many occasions, had tried to stop him from winning the White House.
After meeting privately in July 2017 with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Trump grew more insistent that Ukraine worked to defeat him, according to multiple former officials familiar with his assertions.
…One former senior White House official said Trump even stated so explicitly at one point, saying he knew Ukraine was the real culprit because “Putin told me.”
Sigh. Every country runs aground sooner or later. This is our time on the reef.
But now he’s impeached. So there’s that.
I think I have one more entry in me before the holiday, but just in case I don’t, let me take this opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate all you guys. Your eyeballs are a gift to me. I hope, at least sometimes, this site is a gift to you.
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on December 19, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Grace and peace to you, proprietress! This blog is indeed a gift.
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beb said on December 19, 2019 at 10:45 pm
If you’ve impreach a president but don’t sent the articles to the Senate, has he been impeached. Also, when the foreman of the jury boasts that he’s coordinating with the defendant isn’t that grounds for a mistrial? Finally, dishwashers that explode? That give you, like, four drops of water. Isn’t that enough to have a man committed to an Insane Asylum?
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Jakash said on December 20, 2019 at 12:44 am
Of course, this site is a gift. It’s free. It offers a compelling, incisive and no-nonsense view of the ever-more-disturbing passing parade that has largely replaced rational discourse in this benighted nation, along with more whimsical appeal. It’s way more elegantly produced and maintained than anybody has a reason to expect. And there are fewer grammatical errors (none) or typos in a hundred posts than in the average edition of almost any newspaper one could name. From the last row of the cheap seats, thanks to you, NN.
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jerry said on December 20, 2019 at 1:57 am
Following on from the topic of overheard phone conversations: a few years ago Myra and I were going into London on the train early on a Friday evening. A young man boarded and rang his wife(?) “sorry I’ll be late back having a drink with the lads”. Before he got off a few stops up the line he made calls to five friends inviting them out for a drink – none of them were able/willing to go drinking with him.
We felt it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.
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Deborah said on December 20, 2019 at 4:58 am
Yes, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
As Lawrence Tribe says, the House may delay handing over the impeachment formally to the senate for the next phase, but it won’t be indefinitely.
I’ve noticed lately that every time I type the word “may”, autocorrect changes it to “May”, why is that?
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Deborah said on December 20, 2019 at 7:01 am
This morning I woke up at 3, can’t get back to sleep so I got up and made coffee, I’ll be exhausted by 6pm no doubt. The downside of international travel.
Jerry, your story reminded me of a time on a flight, after we landed a guy behind us was having an intimate conversation on his cell with someone back where ever he traveled away from. Then we saw him later at the meet and greet kissing someone passionately who was picking him up. A girl at every port I guess.
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diane said on December 20, 2019 at 8:25 am
This site is indeed a gift and truly a bright spot, a mooring in the turbulent Internets in these troubled times.
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alex said on December 20, 2019 at 9:42 am
Sweet serendipity.
In looking at the comments from this date in 2013, there was mention of the big “Welfare Queen” story in Slate, wherein it was alleged that the story’s subject, Linda Taylor, was responsible for the unsolved 1964 kidnapping of baby Paul Fronczak from Michael Reese Hospital.
In the news this morning, Paul Fronczak has been discovered living in Michigan and his identity has been confirmed.
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Icarus said on December 20, 2019 at 9:43 am
we go to the Memphis area, for the holidays and this one will be a lot of fun since Nightingale’s parents are rural republicans and the other in-laws that are visiting are suburban republicans from Grosse Pointe.
They don’t necessarily like Trump or think he’s great. They just didn’t like the uppity black guy in the white house.
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Sherri said on December 20, 2019 at 9:53 am
I have to break my ironclad rule of not traveling during the holidays to hop on a plane the day after Christmas to go support my parents for my Dad’s hip replacement surgery on the 27th. Duty calls, and it’s just for a few days, but I’m not looking forward to it. At least, when I get back, my kitchen should be done!
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Jenine said on December 20, 2019 at 10:20 am
Good wishes to Nancy, JC and all the commenters here. Happy Holidays, y’all!
I am not feeling xmasy this year. I moved house in July and got rid of so much stuff I’m finding it hard to buy more objects, even to give away. On Sunday we’re driving to Austin to have Christmas tacos. I hope the togetherness is enough for my family.
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JodiP said on December 20, 2019 at 10:29 am
Thanks, Nancy, and the whole community for providing great conversation and friendship. May 2020 bring the beginning of positive changes for our beleagured democracy!
Deborah, I wonder if auto-correct is capitalizing may because of the former PM of Britain.
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Suzanne said on December 20, 2019 at 10:34 am
I concur on being thankful for finding this blog. It’s helped me get through the Trump years having a space to vent, surrounded as I am by Trumpsters.
Plus, I always learn things here, like the recipe for French Pork Stew that I am serving tonight when we have dinner guests!
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Deborah said on December 20, 2019 at 11:07 am
Jodi P, I thought it was because of the month of May, but I don’t remember it being capitalized every time I used may in a sentance.
Suzanne, that pork stew is my favorite. I made it for 20 people a month ago and it was a big hit. I didn’t have fun carving 12 lbs of uncooked pork roasts (three 4 pounders) into 1″ squares with a dull knife.
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alex said on December 20, 2019 at 11:47 am
When Christianity Today calls for Trump to be removed, it’s a sign things are a-changin’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/12/19/christianity-today-an-influential-evangelical-magazine-says-president-trump-should-be-removed-office/
Predictably, Trump’s flipping out over it:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/20/trumps-rage-christianity-today-gives-away-his-scam/
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Dave said on December 20, 2019 at 11:58 am
Deborah, you’ve reminded me of the time I had a flight on Allegiant from the Clearwater-St. Petersburg Airport to Fort Wayne. I saw a woman passionately telling a man goodbye, really thought nothing of it. She sat across from me in the same aisle on the flight. When we landed, she was on her phone telling the man in Florida that she was back in Fort Wayne and she’d be with her husband but thinking of him. Then, in the airport terminal, she was hugging a man welcoming her home.
Trump support I see on Facebook by people I know floors me. One man, who became very Christian after he was dismissed by the railroad for intoxication (he got his job back after completing a rehabilitation program), who credits his Christianity for turning his life around, all good and well, who is always posting things on Sunday like, “Let’s church”, posted, ” Trump, 2020, who’s with me”. Oh, how I wanted to respond to that but I don’t. It wouldn’t change him but I can’t understand how anyone claiming to be so religious as he does, supports that man. My response would probably get me banned, it would be along the lines of our hostess’s remark to the man seen wearing the maga (doesn’t deserve capitalization) hat in Morocco.
My first thought was the month of May, I didn’t even think of Teresa May, as far as capitalizing it. I really don’t like auto-correct all that much, despite the fact that it’s saved me more than once.
Your blog helps preserve my sanity after all the foolishness I read. I always enjoy reading it and all the remarks and I’m way back in the cheap seats, too, where I’ve been for a long time.
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Jakash said on December 20, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Those liberal weenies at Christianity Today, or ET, as most refer to it, have certainly lost one of their most faithful readers, that I can tell you!
“The President who paid hush money to a porn star over an affair he had while his third wife nursed his fifth child and admitted on camera, in front of a live audience that he’s never asked God’s forgiveness for anything is trying to give a religion lecture to…Christianity Today”
https://twitter.com/RobertMaguire_/status/1208027316661760000
Aside from that, I gotta say that the “Roast Kramer” photo as a reference to the Microwaved Mussolini is spot-on, and a delight to encounter when checking back in here…
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4dbirds said on December 20, 2019 at 1:22 pm
Happy Holidays everyone.
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Peter said on December 20, 2019 at 3:13 pm
Last year at Christmas dinner my dad said that Trump was sent by God to save the country from socialism, and I replied that you said the same thing about Hitler, so now you’re 0 for 2.
Dinner got kind of quiet after that.
Happy Holidays everyone!
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Colleen said on December 20, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Love this blog and have for years. And I’ll echo an earlier comment that the excellent grammar and spelling usually exhibited here is refreshing and appreciated.
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Deborah said on December 20, 2019 at 4:08 pm
France seems much more laid back about the holidays than Americans. Paris had fewer lights and decorations in stores and on the streets. Trees were for sale in florist shops, usually on the smaller side, and they didn’t seem to be available until the second half of our trip. I don’t think I heard christmas music being played anywhere, at least I don’t recall it. In Provence the villages had modest decorations if any. One village had a market that they have every Sunday year round that was quite expanded for holiday shoppers last Sunday when we were there, it was fairly spread out the previous Sunday and I’m sure this coming Sunday it will be a mob scene. In Paris they had Christmas street markets in many locations which were made up of a collection of small wooden huts in a row along the sidewalks, they had gift items and foods for sale, but again most of them weren’t around until the second leg of our trip. Bon Marche the large department store was tarted up for the onslaught of shoppers, but the day we went there weren’t very many there. None of the shop keepers wished us happy holidays or anything like they do here, but they all always say “bon jour”, everyone does, except at night they say “Bon soir” of course.
The last two years when we were in London shortly before the holidays we noticed that they went all out, maybe even more than Americans. The lights on the high streets were spectacular and many shops and stores had lights and decorations up the wazoo. The department stores were decked out like crazy.
Just my personal observation from limited trips, not scientific accuracy by any means.
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basset said on December 20, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Hard to believe that my first post here was fourteen or fifteen years ago… it’s one of the few places I can go for consistently reasonable conversation. And I’ve been privileged to meet three of our group in person, a treat every time.
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basset said on December 20, 2019 at 10:22 pm
That said… have to confess that I didn’t recognize the man in the turkey picture. Pop culture… sorry, I missed it.
Nance, is there an itinerary for that band tour yet? Not that I’d actually show up, at my age they’d probably just think I was the police.
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Dexter Friend said on December 20, 2019 at 10:34 pm
I don’t have anything of importance to add, just to say now I know what a wine cave is, thanks to E.W. for mentioning that in the debate. Well, I guess I could share an entry to my Facebook page I just sorta streamed off about today’s lunch in Findlay. “I rarely am in an establishment where alcohol is served, but today I observed the contrast as I had lunch with my family (killer pulled pork sandwich) . A few young men were at the bar in this sports bar/restaurant, enjoying a few beers and laughing. And I remembered when that was me on that barstool, laughing it up,having a good time. “I’ll get this round!” said I back then. So a flash back through memory lane. All those great times, round after round…and knowing if I woke up and was 25 years old again, and could see the future, how I never would have ever perched myself on a bar stool or stopped at a package store. Well, anyway, I haven’t thought about buying another round now in 26 years and 356 days. Here’s my outcome had I continued on with “maybe one more for the road” = https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fc8.alamy.com%2Fcomp%2FEBTDA0%2Fstaff-member-of-a-crematorium-is-stirring-the-fire-in-the-oven-EBTDA0.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alamy.com%2Fstock-photo%2Fcrematorium-oven.html&docid=azUCl2cCDWMCwM&tbnid=tojdOzDUwVWbMM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjEwIGr58XmAhUMB50JHVTXA7gQMwhSKAQwBA..i&w=1300&h=1215&hl=en&bih=852&biw=1745&q=crematory%20oven&ved=0ahUKEwjEwIGr58XmAhUMB50JHVTXA7gQMwhSKAQwBA&iact=mrc&uact=8
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Dexter Friend said on December 21, 2019 at 4:16 am
Oh…I have been quietly saying or writing to anybody who would listen that Donald John Trump, POTUS, is a Russian agent/asset and has been for years.
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Deborah said on December 21, 2019 at 5:29 am
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/boeing-capsule-launches-to-wrong-orbit-will-land-in-n/article_cf7cdfc2-8bcd-558b-8522-65e8ff331f77.html I wonder if the capsule will really come down in White Sands? What with all of the screw ups Boeing is having.
This morning I’m wide awake at nearly 4:30am CST, better than yesterday. I went to sleep a little before 7 so I got plenty of sleep. A few more days of being off kilter with time zones and I should be fine, except that we’re going to California for the holidays, 2 time zones away.
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Ann said on December 21, 2019 at 10:21 am
Just chiming in to add my thanks and that I’d be glad to give NN a whole platter of eyeballs if I had them to give. All my siblings drifting in to spend time with my mother on her birthday (95th) or at Christmas. If I do say so, I had a genius idea for her birthday. I asked my Facebook friends to do a good deed in her honor or make a contribution to a charity or progressive political candidate of their choice. I read her the whole list at her party and then, at her request, printed it all out so she could read it again. Fourteen pages, single spaced. “Holding the hand of a total stranger who was terrified of having a mammogram.” “Telling every single child with glasses ‘I love your glasses.'” Contributions to ten political campaigns (Warren outpaced Bernie five to one) and thirty causes, including “prosthetics for Bear, a disabled goat.” As we say to each other all the time, “we are so lucky.”
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Deborah said on December 21, 2019 at 11:10 am
I had no idea Charles Pierce was hit by a car recently until I read thishttps://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a30301196/charles-pierce-accident-dispatch/
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Deborah said on December 21, 2019 at 11:50 am
Well my link in comment at #28 doesn’t work because I didn’t put in a space between my comment and the link so here it is again https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a30301196/charles-pierce-accident-dispatch/
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Sherri said on December 21, 2019 at 1:06 pm
It’s really not fair that we get non stop rain for days at the darkest time of year: https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-darkest-day-in-seattle-history.html
Record setting rain *and* record setting dark. Makes you want to hibernate!
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basset said on December 21, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Mrs. B and I are on the way home from a dog run – helping two pups get from Athens, Alabama to a foster home in Nanuet, NY, right outside NYC. Believe I’ve mentioned these trips on here before – volunteers carry the dogs for awhile, usually an hour or so, then hand off to someone else. These two left Athens early this morning and will stay tonight in Staunton, VA… we did the Nashville to Cookeville, TN leg.
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Deborah said on December 21, 2019 at 3:50 pm
Basset, that’s so heartwarming that you and your wife do that.
This is the best time of year to watch the old Katherine Hepburn movie, Desk Set. Do yourself a favor and watch if you haven’t seen it, with Spencer Tracy, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill, Gig Young. It’s fantastic.
Lovely day in Chicago, sunny, 48º. I’m doing laundry from our trip, getting ready for the next one.
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diane said on December 21, 2019 at 4:01 pm
I’ve always thought the George/Kellyann Conway thing was a fraud but I must admit that the hashtag he coined #IMPOTUS is pretty good and is likely to drive the orange blight upon our Constitution nuts!
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LAMary said on December 21, 2019 at 6:27 pm
My brother who recently died used to work with American Brittanies to rehome Brittany spaniels. He really loved that breed and I have to say the ones he owned were great dogs. I’m a mutt person myself but a rescue is a rescue and my bro rescued lots of Brittanies.
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Julie Robinson said on December 21, 2019 at 8:06 pm
We’re at the airport waiting for our plane to Orlando. We moved over the last two days and I’ve never been so tired, and so ready for a vacation.
We’re in a senior apartment right down from my mom so I can help her more. It’s a nice little place, but one third the size of our house. We did lots of purging and ended leaving half our furniture for the buyers.
It’s a young couple who wrote us a thank you after the showing and it was so sweet it made me cry. They told us today, they just found out they’re pregnant and it’s a great family home.
They are writing a check for the furniture to our daughter’s church.
I’m feeling very fortunate right now, and wish everyone the happiest of holidays.
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basset said on December 21, 2019 at 8:37 pm
These came from an English setter rescue group, not purebreds for sure but still look like they’d make good bird dogs. Latest update says they’re down for the night in Staunton, VA.
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Dexter Friend said on December 22, 2019 at 4:29 am
Sherri ain’t exaggerating. Fierce rain and more coming for the NW. California is experiencing more mud slides as well.
I have watched more Netflix and TCM movies by far than ever before, and now I have Prime and other options. I seriously have to do something else in 2020 than watch movies every time the sports are in a lull.
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Deborah said on December 22, 2019 at 7:34 am
The good news is now the days start getting longer. In Paris the sunrise was around 8:40 and sunset around 5. In Chicago the sunrise is 7:15 and sunset around 4:30.
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Dorothy said on December 22, 2019 at 8:38 am
I’ve got tears in my eyes reading Julie’s comment about the people who bought her house, and Ann’s story about the idea she had for her mom’s birthday. And Basset I want to do that dog assist thing like you and Mrs. B do when I’m retired. What a great way to expand upon our love of dogs!
This blog has kept me sane for years and I’ll be eternally grateful I found it a long time ago. I was still living in Pittsburgh when I started hanging out here, and we moved away in April 2002! You all feel like family and if I don’t know what each of you looks like, I have a vivid imagination. Everyone is gorgeous, slim and smiling almost constantly.
We’ve had our granddaughter with us since Friday around 3 PM and a better weekend I don’t believe I’ve ever had. She is a delight and even when we correct her, and she narrows her eyes, I remind her I love her but she needs to listen to Mimi and Zah Zah. And she does. She loves on Nestle, reads books out loud (from memory, she can’t read yet at the age of 33 months), does puzzles and colors and lines up the zoo animal figurines (plastic) that we loaded up on just for her. The best part, though is reading books to her that I saved from reading to her daddy and aunt. Santa’s Crash Bang Christmas and Noisy Nora are two faves. She repeats lines the way I say them when I read them, and I think my heart is going to explode when she does.
I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a healthy New Year. XOXO to all of you!
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alex said on December 22, 2019 at 11:34 am
Treason’s Greetings, everyone!
(I’ll admit I stole that from a facebook post weighing Happy versus Merry Impeachment.)
Today shopping for Christmas dinner. Looks like I’ll be cooking it because my mom fell and landed on her head this week, and though not seriously injured she doesn’t feel up to the task.
I’m going with her usual tenderloin of beef and will attempt “Pommes Anna” from today’s Washington Post, a decadently buttery and splendidly thymey French version of scalloped potatoes. Today I plan to also shop for a mandoline slicer to replace the cut-rate one I never use because it sucks.
I’ll be sure and raise a toast to #IMPOTUS when we celebrate Festivus.
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Suzanne said on December 22, 2019 at 12:10 pm
I will say that my French Pork Stew on Friday was a great success! Tasty as always!
And we had lots of wine.
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Deborah said on December 22, 2019 at 12:18 pm
We arrive in Desert Hot Springs, CA on Christmas Eve day, later in the afternoon. Our room at the place we’re staying may have a microwave and a mini fridge. Depending on what’s open our Christmas dinner may be sad. But that’s ok there’s a natural hot springs pool there and that’s why we want to be there, not for the food.
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LAMary said on December 22, 2019 at 1:22 pm
Deborah, it’s supposed to rain in DHS on Monday and Thursday. I hope you hit the nice weather days. Pasadena is going to be wet Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Other than having a damp walk from the light rail station I’m happy it’s going to be wet. We’re still recovering from a five year drought. People in LA forget how to drive when it rains. A couple of weeks ago I counted three accidents on a five mile trip on the Pasadena freeway. All two spinouts and one three car rear ending extravaganza.
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Jessica said on December 22, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Yup, this place is an oasis and a gift of interesting reading and calm responses.
Right now I’m feeling the good-birthday-gift glow: my baby sister sent me a double-boiler insert, which arrived minutes before I was going to melt chocolate in the microwave for some Florentine cookies. Christmas isn’t my holiday, but I take advantage of the annual chance to bake cookies and give them away. And now it will be just that little bit easier.
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alex said on December 22, 2019 at 9:09 pm
Notes from the Wine Cave:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/21/about-that-wine-cave-dinner-i-was-there/
Put that in your snifter and swish it.
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Brian stouder said on December 22, 2019 at 10:14 pm
Well, we (Pam & the girls and I) ran off to Indianapolis today, and caught a live production of Hamilton in a full house (about 2500 people, I’d say); it was superb…and refreshing and uplifting, as 2019 winds to an end
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lisa said on December 23, 2019 at 2:41 am
Nancy, wishing you a truly joyful and happy Christmas with your daughter and husband!! Thank you for continuing to write in your blog. I enjoy it so very much.
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Peter said on December 23, 2019 at 9:35 am
Somebody said it best about the White House e-mails that were published over the weekend: The news isn’t that there’s more bad news to come out about that perfect Ukraine call; it’s that there’s a LOT more bad news to come out about that perfect Ukraine call.
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Deborah said on December 23, 2019 at 9:53 am
There should be more people on earth like this person https://medium.com/@james.hatch/my-semester-with-the-snowflakes-888285f0e662 a 52 year old freshman at Yale, former military guy.
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ROGirl said on December 23, 2019 at 12:22 pm
The toxic water that started gushing onto I-696 (major east-west commuter route) a few days ago?
It’s contaminated with hexavalent chromium, and it’s from the site of a closed business whose owner is in prison. The Erin Brokovitch story was about hexavalent chromium.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2019/12/21/green-liquid-i-696-lane-closed/2721790001/
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Deborah said on December 23, 2019 at 1:34 pm
Hard to believe anyone can be this much of a narcissist https://nowthisnews.com/videos/politics/donald-trump-is-apparently-the-expert-on-everything-according-to-him it’s astounding when you see it compiled into one video, and of course there’s a lot more that got left out. Sick.
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Dexter Friend said on December 23, 2019 at 6:36 pm
There have been many film versions and take-offs of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” . My opinion is that MGM’s 1938 production starring Reginald Owen far outshadows any others, some before 1938, many after. I love them all except the film starring Albert Finney, which makes me cringe. Anybody like another? By the way, the book is really great.
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on December 23, 2019 at 6:39 pm
With you on Reginald Owen, and also superlative in that one is Gene Lockhart as Tom Crachit, the best even beyond Mickey Mouse’s portrayal. (Gene is June Lockhart’s dad; he is the judge in “Miracle on 34th St.” and a great character actor — also is the hapless sheriff in “His Girl Friday.”)
Mickey was pretty good, though. I do like that amazing 24 minute rendition, but in a different way than “A Christmas Carol” (1938).
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Deborah said on December 23, 2019 at 7:19 pm
Since we’ve been back from France I’ve tried to watch TV but our system seems to be stuck on what appears to be HBO and we don’t even pay for that? We have to be out the door early tomorrow morning for our Flight to CA so it’s a good idea to get to bed early and I’m still getting over the time difference from France so it’s probably better that I don’t get caught up in a news program.
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Connie said on December 23, 2019 at 9:10 pm
I have ond memories of the Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol.
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Connie said on December 23, 2019 at 10:35 pm
Fond.
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Scout said on December 24, 2019 at 1:40 am
Happy Holidays to all. This place gives me hope every day that we’re going to be ok.
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jerry said on December 24, 2019 at 3:03 am
Best wishes for Christmas to everyone. May we have as much excitement as we can stand and all the peace and love we could wish for.
If anyone has some idle time over the holidays may I recommend the King William’s College Isle of Man general knowledge quiz. 180 questions that will really test your general knowledge. I will probably manage half a dozen and pass it on to our sons to struggle with.
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Deborah said on December 24, 2019 at 6:25 am
Thanks Jerry, that quiz is going to be fun (and hard), I had never heard of it before, this should keep me busy at the airport waiting for our flight to California.
Happy holidays to all.
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Deborah said on December 24, 2019 at 6:49 am
Well shoot, we just got word that our flight has been canceled. No explanation of course.
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Deborah said on December 24, 2019 at 7:30 am
We managed to get a flight to Salt Lake City then another flight to LA. Sigh. Awful seat assignments now on Southwest. We’re in a Lyft on our way to the airport, the SLC flight leaves 15 minutes earlier from Chicago than our original flight.
It’s very foggy in Chicago this morning.
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LAMary said on December 24, 2019 at 10:42 am
More expertise from the Potus:
“I never understood wind,” Trump said at the start of the lengthy tangent, days after he became the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. “You know, I know windmills very much. I’ve studied it better than anybody I know. It’s very expensive. They’re made in China and Germany mostly — very few made here, almost none. But they’re manufactured tremendous — if you’re into this — tremendous fumes. Gases are spewing into the atmosphere.”
He continued: “You know we have a world, right? So the world is tiny compared to the universe. So tremendous, tremendous amount of fumes and everything. You talk about the carbon footprint — fumes are spewing into the air. Right? Spewing. Whether it’s in China, Germany, it’s going into the air. It’s our air, their air, everything — right?”
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alex said on December 24, 2019 at 1:07 pm
LAMary, that was one of the Gasbag-in-Chief’s more vapid speeches, for sure. He’s an idiot and so’s anyone who voted for him and I’m becoming increasingly less reserved about saying so when people try to impose on me with their bullshit politics.
The grocery stores are a mob scene but because there are virtually no restaurants open on Christmas Eve, I’m going to have to venture out for a few things to make a nice dinner at home tonight. Torn right now between doing Jacque Pepin’s beef stew, which utilizes a whole bottle of wine, and a Spanish stew recipe I found that utilizes two cups’ worth. (I have a fancy bottle of merlot to use up.)
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David C said on December 24, 2019 at 1:14 pm
My damaged back and I were able to get out of the house for the first time since my MRI. It was only to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things, but it’s progress. A week ago, I needed Mary to dry my legs after a shower and help me get dressed. I can do it all myself now so I don’t have to feel like a 190 lb toddler. I’m hoping it bodes well for getting back to work after New Year’s Day.
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Deborah said on December 24, 2019 at 2:01 pm
Seasons Greetings from Salt Lake City, Utah. We have a spectacular view of snow capped mountains from our gate.
There was a crying, screaming baby on the flight, the entire time. It was aggravating because the parents seemed to do nothing to calm the child, no toys, no peek-a-boo type diversions or anything like that. I didn’t see them try to feed the kid, he just wailed nonstop. There was a slightly older brother who talked with an outside voice too. I’ve got a headache.
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beb said on December 24, 2019 at 2:33 pm
I wish people would stop called the President “commander-in-chief” except for when he is actually giving commands to the military because it implies more power in the presidency than the law actually gives him.
Trump in Wind turbines is a hot mess. The passage LAMary quoted is a hot mess. Does it even make coherent sense? At leasy when he jokes that he can’t watch TV tonight because the wind’s not blowing he’s making a coherent argument, albeit one based on a false premise.
I finally started reading “A Warning” by “anonymous.” Aside from the pages of the first chapter that were released before publication there isn’t a lot here that hasn’t been said before. Noticeably absent is an consideration that Trump is a white power supremacist, even though this has been obvious since the 70s. “Anonymous” seems blind to the degree to which the Republican Party has getting into bed with neo-nazis. He seems something of a Reagan-naut. That first chapter told about Trumps preference from single-point briefings, his erratic behavior during any meeting and his believe that any contradiction from others is betrayal.
I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday. And thank Nancy for creating this little community of interesting and thoughful people.
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LAMary said on December 24, 2019 at 6:38 pm
If someone sat next to me on the train and started saying that stuff Trump said I’d get up and move. It’s crazy-time babbling.
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Deborah said on December 24, 2019 at 10:55 pm
We’re finally at our destination in Desert Hot Springs. Took a long soak in the natural hot spring pool. I’m a relaxed wet noodle now, after a day of traveling stress.
Merry Christmas.
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Julie Robinson said on December 25, 2019 at 12:07 pm
With a pastor in the family Christmas Eve is crazy. She gave us two pieces of music to learn at lunchtime and we resurrected the von Robinson family choir.
So today is blessedly low key, and I’m sitting by the pool soaking up sun. Pulled chicken is in the crockpot for a family gathering later, John Rutter is playing, and we’re also hearing the greatest hits of Bernie Sanders as interpreted by our son.
Well, not everything could be perfect. Fa la la la to all my friends here.
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Deborah said on December 25, 2019 at 3:45 pm
So this place we’re staying is very zen, has raked gravel in geometric circles around the palm trees etc. You’re supposed to be quiet and use the natural hot springs pool respectfully. Now the people in a room across the way seem to be having noisy guests over and they’ve gotten onto the area where the raked gravel is, tromping around on it taking pictures of each other. And their Asian!!! You’d think they’d be more aware of the vibe? Ok millennials.
Bah humbug.
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beb said on December 25, 2019 at 4:38 pm
I was reading this article, The Army Of Prayer Warriors Fighting Trump’s Impeachment
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-evangelicals-trump-impeachment_n_5df950c6e4b08083dc5ae146
Which is disturbing in many respects. Apparently a number of these “White Evangalicals” literally believe Trump was “appointed and anointed” by God. If this were true I think we would have to evaluate our whole relationship to this so-called “God.” Clearly, anyone who thinks Trump represents the will of God has got him confused with the Devil. Maybe we have been worshiping the wrong deity all these years.
Or, if my dimly remembered “Revelation” is correct, Trump is the Anti-Christ, come to torment mankind before the end times.
Or maybe what passes for White Evangelicals are really just a bunch of Patriarchal worshiping Theocrats and White Supremacists.
Sorry, I over ate yesterday and must be having a sugar-related depression.
And with luck Nancy will start a new thread in the next twenty minutes and no one will have to read this…
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Deborah said on December 25, 2019 at 5:24 pm
LB pointed out to me in my last comment I said, “their Asian” instead of “they’re”. I hate it when I do that.
Also I was a little concerned that I was being racist when I made that comment above. Almost all of the other people staying in this place right now are Asian. Which reminds me of what Justice Kagan said when Lindsey Graham asked her what she was doing on Christmas Day (the day of the shoe bomber incident) she replied that she was probably at a Chinese Restaurant with her Jewish family because it would have been the only place open.
I only meant in my comment above that it seemed to me that Asian people would recognize raked gravel to be something someone had taken the time to make special for the calming benefit of people to observe peacefully. Everyone else here has been very respectful and as I said they’re all mostly Asian, but older. So it must be an age thing.
So now I’m stereotyping millennials.
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susan said on December 25, 2019 at 7:35 pm
Deborah- No need to stereotype anyone. *People* can be thoughtless and rude.
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MarkH said on December 25, 2019 at 7:51 pm
Merry Christmas the the Nancy Nall commentariat from the wintery cold Wyoming.
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LAMary said on December 25, 2019 at 8:23 pm
I just found out that one of my neighbors went outside to bring in his dogs today and found five pitbulls got into the yard and killed both his dogs. The pitbulls chased him into the house. He called the police and animal control and they caught the pitbulls. What a nightmare. He lost his schnauzer and an Australian Cattle dog.
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beb said on December 25, 2019 at 9:30 pm
LA Mary, what a horrible thing to discover. He’s lucky to get back into his house safely.
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nancy said on December 26, 2019 at 8:24 am
I’ll go on the record as saying I don’t care if someone messes up the gravel around a palm tree. Even a Buddhist should understand that people are people and as long as they’re not carving their initials on the palm trees, a little holiday celebration is OK. Raking the gravel in the first place is pretty human-centric, after all.
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Deborah said on December 26, 2019 at 11:25 am
Well OK then, I guess I got told.
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nancy said on December 26, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Don’t take it personally! I’m trying to be not-bugged by things that once bugged me. Today I am extending my generosity to Asian millennials, I guess.
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JodiP said on December 26, 2019 at 1:35 pm
The part that puzzled me about the comments regarding Asians in this context is that it assumes Asians are a monolithic group. Deborah, I think I know you well enough to say you know there are a ton of different cultures on that continent. It would be like someone getting upset with me, a white European descendent, for not knowing the proper protocol for a Catholic service or Jewish rituals.
I also appreciate Nancy’s comment about not getting upset about things like messing up gravel. We all have our pet peeves, and it’s a good reminder to chill.
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Deborah said on December 26, 2019 at 2:05 pm
I have been grumpy lately, I’ve got a sore throat today, it’s raining and my husband and I are trying to do the last minute set up on the mini iPad we’re giving his granddaughter when we meet up with her tomorrow in Death Valley. We’re having a hard time getting the Apple Pencil we got to go with it so she can draw with it. She’s 13 and my husband is trying to encourage her interest in art.
A couple more things I’ll say about the raked gravel, I realize Asians don’t have a monolithic culture, and I was remiss in not taking that into account in my comment. Also to get to the raked gravel one has to step up onto a ledge that’s 2 1/2 feet, above grade, no stairs up to it, so they went out of their way to get up there. That is all.
Now we have to drive 35 or 40 miles away to the closest Apple store, to get the pencil issue resolved today.
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