Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings posts give the Moose, old and new, a place to visit and share words about the weather, life, the world at large and the small parts of Moosylvania that we each inhabit.
Welcomings will be posted at the start of each week (usually Saturday night with a Sunday date). To find the posts, just bookmark this link and Voila! (which is Moose for “I found everyone!!”).
The format is simple: each day, the first moose to arrive on-line will post a comment welcoming the new day and complaining (or bragging!) about their weather. Or mentioning an interesting or thought provoking news item. Or simply checking in.
So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania?
…
NOTE: The comments page will split off after 20 or so left margin comments with the most recent comments on the current page. To see the older comments, scroll to the bottom of the page (right before “Leave A Reply”) and use the Pages Tool to view previous pages, shown here with 3 pages of comments available and Page 2 circled.
…
Good morning. Slow start, but today’s exercise is at lunch. Pres. Obama was here yesterday, with gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico — just blocks away from me. Wish I had been more in touch with the campaigns because I would have ditched work. Anyway, hi. Have a good Wednesday.
It’s 62 heading for 82 and overcast at the moment but the widget says it’s going to clear off in another hour or so. Yesterday we generated 20.43 KWHs and the m-t-d at 203.6 is almost back on track. A sunny day today would get there. At least until the rest of the week’s cloudy days set us back again.
Had a restless night, not sure why. But I’m groggy this morning. And my vision’s a little more off than usual. Well, than usual when I’m not tired. This is pretty much usual for when I am. Not helpful, but usual. Natalia suggested I mix my cookie dough tonight so all I have to do in the morning is preheat the oven and bake them. Well, duh. Why the heck I didn’t think of that years ago. . . Anyway I’m off to start my boosting day. And hoping at least a few of my “regulars” have gotten something overnight so they don’t need to boosting today because I’m going to be slow. (Truly I hope/pray/visualize them all getting what they need everyday.) Holding the Good/Healing/Protecting Thought for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good morning, meeses! Wednesday …
It is 73 degrees in Tucson 🌵 with an expected daytime high of 97. Mostly cloudy skies are in the forecast. Yesterday we got three drops of rain (literally) but the sky did cloud over cooling things off in the afternoon. It is simply too hot for rain to reach the ground. There is a pretty waning crescent at about 15% illumination in the predawn sky this morning. The clouds frame her.
I got my eyeglasses prescription and there are some changes. My interocular lenses from my cataract surgery are still working and have not clouded up but the astigmatisms in both eyes (not corrected by the lens type I have) have shifted with one getting better and one getting worse. So I will go get some new glasses later in the week. Not working yesterday has me behind a bit so I need to catch up a little.
Four more WNBA games tonight, two that I will watch and one I will check the score on. Last night’s games did not turn out as I had hoped but the new Wings coach will have lots of film; I hope he has some ideas. I was surprised that the Portland Fire beat the Liberty but the home crowd, anxious for the new franchise’s first win, probably helped. Tonight the Toronto Tempo will try for their first win which would also be at home.
See all y’all later!
I’ll see those games on re-play tomorrow – sad about the Liberty (my team) losing but it is early yet.
I was glad to see the Tempo win Wednesday night. They will have plenty of losses so that will give them a pleasant memory. Natasha Cloud helped her new team, the Sky, win. The Liberty could probably have used her! You are right, it is early. I am enjoying seeing so many games and new players and old players in new places.
Good Wednesday morning, Moosekind! It’s 64 F. in Ashburn and rapidly clouding over. It was lovely this morning, but They Say rain is coming tonight.
Sitting here waiting for a call from Transportation. I’m trying to book a ride to the airport on the 29th of May and a ride from airport to home on 31 May. This is so I can fly to grandson’s wedding in Columbus. Busy day today, but I don’t have to be anywhere until about 4:30, at which time I’ll meet my dinner date, and we’ll walk across to Farmwell Hall after dinner to grab seats for the concert.
Decided to make Bfitz’s Lemon Muffin Bread today rather than tomorrow morning because the housekeeper will be coming at 1:15 and I need to tidy this place before she arrives tomorrow. I’m serving the muffin bread to my writers. I hope I can warm it up in the oven before I transport it across the Common or through the halls.
I also have notes to type up for the music group article and the book mss. to edit.
Wish the wind would ever stop blowing. It blows 25 to 30 miles an hour. I can’t set the screened porch to rights because the wind blows the furniture and rug to one side. I hate wind! First-world problem, I realize.
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond!
{{{Diana}}} glad you like that recipe. If it ever cools down enough I need to make that one again myself. Hope everything goes/went smoothly today. Moar {{{HUGS}}}
Thursday Meese
Raining here today but warmish.
Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans
Good morning. In the office, had a good walk – and yesterday I did both weights and kickboxing. Yay me. Hope this in-office day goes okay.
It’s 61 going to 81 and sunny at the moment although the western sky is pale gray instead of the more desired pale blue. Yesterday we generated 19.33 KWHs and the m-t-d at 222.93 is back on track. Barely.
Baked the cookies this morning. They smell great. I haven’t eaten any. Yet. Seems that chilling the dough overnight means I make a smaller cookie – got 27 out of this batch instead of my more usual 20. More along the line of the size of cookie my grandmother made. She’d have gotten 32 out of this recipe. But then she was making cookies for small children. To whom 2 small cookies are more than 1 big one, no matter how big that big 1 is. Anyway, I’ve opened the house to get some coolth inside. I’ll close up in a couple of hours. Meanwhile I’d best be about my boosting day. Holding the Good/Healing/Protecting Thought for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good Thursday morning, Meese! Time’s a-gettin’ away from me, so must hurry. Bfitz, glad your cookies turned out well. What kind are they? I put the lemon muffin bread into the fridge last night. When I take it out, I’ll cut it into writer-sized squares, then warm it gently for 20 minutes at 175 F.
We’re having a lovely morning but it will turn cloudy later. Last night was so funny: we went to the Encore Rocks! concert. They sang “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and “Purple Rain.” The minute we left the building, it began to rain—at first tentatively, then heavily. It was lovely. The high for today will be 61 F., do you believe that? As Dearly always used to say, “Cast not a clout ’til May is out.”
Another busy day today. Need to get ready for my writers at 1 p.m., the housekeeper is coming at 1:10, so I’ll leave her a note, and right after the Blue Ridge Writers are the Happy Hour Singers. I can’t sing, but our darling pianist and leader says, “No judgments. Just have fun.” Have messaged granddaughter to see whether she and grandson are coming over tonight for dinner.
My writers are going to be so surprised by my announcements! All the books on writing they could desire will be given away, and in August we may have a month off unless one of them wants to lead the group for that session. Off to get washed and brushed!
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond.
I made my grandmother’s WWII recipe for oatmeal raisin pecan cookies – except I used oat flour instead of wheat flour & butter instead of margarine. The old standby. I’m glad the lemon bread recipe works so well for you. I bet your writers will love it too. Enjoy your busy day. {{{Diana}}}
Good afternoon, 53m cloudy and breezy in Bellingham today. Both Bri and Vic were here to work in the garden yesterday so I was busier than I expected to be but the garden is looking cared for and all the spring work is nearly done so I’m feeling much more relaxed re my gardening while 80ish plan.
In addition to the garden work a friend asked me to make a large arrangement for a funeral on Saturday so she was here with the flowers she selected and those are prepped so they will be open and ready to arrange tomorrow. I’m a bit nervous about her flower choices because the colors (to my eye) not flowing but oh well…..I’ll do my best to make something nice.
So I’m hobbling around muttering about my old legs and how I’m going to enjoy life regardless. Best wishes to all.
I am glad you can still do your flower arranging. You are a true artist!
Good afternoon, meeses! Thursday …
It is 91 degrees and partly sunny. This morning I saw the delightful waning crescent in the clear skies and later had a nice 1.25 mile walk before it got hot. The new moon will be Saturday afternoon – seems like she was just full!
I had an early morning phone conference and then went to order my new glasses. Prices went up and my vision benefits went down so I had a bit of sticker shock! But I really wanted to tighten up my vision so it is an expense I consider necessary.
The NCAA softball tournament games start tomorrow and I have two teams I am rooting for. I hope they make it to the next round.
See all y’all later!
I meant to leave a note about the garbage techbro billionaire speaking at the UofA commencement. The plot thickens! Apparently he is a big time donor to the university so money I guess buys you honorifics. The university justified his speaking because he developed technology including AI when he ran Google. Don’t they realize that people despise AI, hate the megaacre data centers using up our electricity and depleting our water and do not admire billionaires? Talk about being out of touch. In any event I loved this quote from the head of one of the women’s groups protesting:
“Parading him around campus as our commencement speaker is disgusting and insulting to the thousands of college students who are victims of sexual violence and assault each year,” Audrey Zelinka said in a May news conference.”
+5 for “parading”!
I know its Politico and they ain’t our friend but this headline pissed me off anyway:
“Poll: Democrats would give up Black voting power to beat the GOP
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/14/poll-democrats-redistricting-black-voters-00919972
The Democrats in those polls are disgraceful. The Republicans would love for our party to toss people of color under the bus but it isn’t going to happen. They probably got the idea from Bernie Freaking Sanders – willing to toss women and people of color under the bus for a $15 minimum wage. No, you don’t trade rights for temporary economic gains. It is stupid and shortsighted.
Friday Meese. Going up to 66 here today. My NY Liberty won so I’m happy.
Puerto Rico
Your Liberty is learning to play well without their injured starters. People stepping up and filling in.
I realized after watching the Wings lose again that their coach is not a very good game manager. Wrong players wrong plays. Then I realized that the same guy who made the last two head coaching decisions is still in charge! He looked at the success of Karl Smesko of the Dream and decided to hire a college coach from a Florida mid-major instead of one of the women assistant coaches, Nola Henry, who knows the pro game and the players. Now she is an assistant for the Aces which, for all their flaws, has a history of recognizing and promoting talented women. PLUS he wasted the #1 pick on a shooter when their club clearly needed a big. So it will be another frustrating losing year for them. When you have a bad organization, you have to look at all the pieces. Head coach is an easy change but that team needed a new GM.
Good morning. Had a difficult night, woke up at 3:30, tried to go back to sleep but didn’t really. Sigh. At least it’s Friday. And there’s new U2 coming soon, they shot the video for Street of Dreams a couple of days ago in Mexico City.
It’s 70 heading for 82, muggy already, overcast but there are a few gaps in the clouds for the sun to find. Yesterday we generated 18.59 KWHs and the m-t-d at 241.52 is still on track. Widget’s showing 10 days of more clouds than clear. Sigh.
I managed o sleep from somewhere after 2 am until 5 am and then doze for another 45 minutes. I hate sinusitis. At least I finished my new library book (as in one I hadn’t read before) – she had so many thread woven into it that after the murder mystery part was solved it took 3 more chapters to wind everything up. Which is one of the reasons I like Donna Andrews. She treats the murder as a very serious but irritating interruption in the lives of all the people involved.
Got the house open and the HVAC fan running to pull in a bit of coolth. I’ll be closing up fairly soon though. It’s 74 here in the living/working area of the house but 68 at the sleeping end of the house. I’ve very groggy but at least my hands aren’t cold/achy. Off to start my boosting day. Holding the Good/Healing/Protecting Thought for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Good Friday moaning, Moosekind! What are we moaning about today? Why, the fact that it’s 56 F. in Ashburger and feels like 48 F. And this is tomato planting day, if one were inclined to do that.
Was attacked by leg cramps three times during the night, it was so cold. Found out that the house temperature was set to “cool,” which is not at all nice. I just turned the dam’ thing off. Will turn it back on in a couple of days when we’re having 94 F. temps.
Yesterday was so busy I had a hard time getting up this morning. The writers had a two-hour session, then I invited them to a “Running of the Books” (like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona), so we all surged into the next room where the donor and I had hidden the books on Monday. Cries of excitement ensued as the writers unearthed such gems as The Poet’s Rhyming Dictionary and the 1988 edition of The Writers’ Handbook. The books were in mint condition, so the writers were thrilled. We arranged the unclaimed books in the empty shelf of the bookcase in our meeting room. After that I was off to the Happy Hour Singers, then to a very late dinner with one of the singers and his wife. It was 8 o’clock before we left.
Today I have to pick up a prescription, run to Harris Teeter, which has the kind of tea I like, then attend the Diabetic Support Group meeting at 1 o’clock. After that I have a dinner date with the lady who donated the books. She’s the most famous writer here. So, here’s to another busy day and tomorrow will be equally so!
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond. Bfitz, the writers liked the lemon muffin bread. Still have some left.
{{{Diana}}} Glad the writers liked the lemon bread. Glad you have some left for breakfast. 😁
Good morning, meeses! Friday …
It is either 81 degrees or 96 degrees depending on whether you are looking at my phone or the backyard thermometer. I think the backyard thermometer might be in a spot where the hot sun is intensified. When I got up it was 65 so when I went to go for my walk and it was already 91, I was confused. I am going to wait until later in the day.
I had a lot of little things I woke up thinking that I should take care of and mainly just gathered notes. Now I am going to watch aome softball.
See all y’all later!
Saturday Meese. I’m up doing my writing. It’s going to be 80 here today.
Mystics beat the Fever – yAY
13 men killed by US military boat strikes identified: ‘These were flesh-and-blood people’
https://bsky.app/search?q=13+men+killed+by+US+military+boat+strikes+identified%3A+%E2%80%98These+were+flesh-and-blood+people%E2%80%99
“A five-month investigation has named 13 previously unidentified victims of US attacks on boats allegedly carrying narcotics in a campaign that has killed nearly 200 people in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.
It is unclear if the US has ever identified any of its 194 victims before attacking them, and the names of just three had previously emerged, after their families launched legal cases against the White House.
Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico President Signs Agreement with Molecular Center After Report Warned of Risk to Its Operations
https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2026/05/upr-signs-agreement-molecular-center/
That Mystics v Fever game made my day!
Good morning. Talking myself into going to kickboxing, my back is so stiff, I just want to sit on the couch. I know movement will help, but the instinct is to just curl up. Just a normal Saturday coming up, groceries, cooking, laundry. And refreshing spotify every hour or so, hoping for that new U2 song.
{{{anotherdemocrat}}} be careful with your back. Maybe just walking would be better? That’s movement but gentle movement. Nothing abrupt or jarring. Anyway, Healing Energy. Moar {{{HUGS}}}
It went okay. I never punch hard on the punching stations, and concentrating on my core muscles felt good. Ironically, the one place where my back objected was a standing squat & reach – the reach part was too enthusiastic.
I’m glad it went OK. Yeah, reaching does strain the back. Even when it’s not otherwise having trouble. Moar Healing Energy. Moar {{{HYGSS}}}
It’s already 75 heading for 85 and overcast. Yesterday we generated 6.11 KWHs and the m-t-d at 247.63 lost ground and is no longer on track. sigh.
I didn’t have the house fully open overnight because threat of rain – which of course we didn’t get – so we were only open about 45 minutes before I closed up again. The breeze is good but the air’s already 5 degrees warmer than it is indoors. With this overcast/7% chance of rain it’s very humid and even though it’s relatively cool it’s uncomfortable. I’ve got the ceiling fan on and that helps. As will the humidity going down as the day gets going.
Really enjoyed RonK’s diary on the PNW spring native/wild plants. Now I’d best be about my boosting day. Holding the Good/Healing/Protecting Thought for everybody. {{{Meeses}}}
Posted