For those of you in my neck of the woods (WV), it is going to frost tonight so make sure you cover your plants and/or bring them in.
That is all. I’m tuckered out.
Also, one of the dogs from on of my favorite reader pics has passed away:
I’ve had hundreds of reader pics sent in, and posted a lot of them, but hands down, besides the dog in a bucket, this is my favorite. I think before I said they reminded me of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. At any rate, RIP, Onion. Although I have been informed that Tater has a new friend to pal around with:
I’m off to fold clothes and relax in front of the boob tube.
*** Update ***
I’ve also added “A dilettante blog from the great progressive state of West Virginia” to the rotating tagline because it is so full of win.
beltane
We’re supposed to get a foot of wet snow, which combined with power lines and partially leafed out trees will make for an interesting day tomorrow.
Those are some very sweet looking dogs. They almost make me take my mind off of the Arizona race law apologists.
fourlegsgood
Well, they are quite cute, but it’s only UR favorite picture because I have never sent you pictures of the plushygurlz.
So I’ll do that tonight.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
Are you going to punch your neck of the woods in the neck?
Bill Richards
Your relaxation relaxes me. Carry on.
BethanyAnne
My job fell through. They showed my resume to a different boss, and he vetoed it :( Both the “hiring” and the “unhiring” came with no interview. /boggle
Litlebritdifrnt
Ditto on the RIP Onion. Is that second pic a pic of Lily? If so I have to say John though, that that picture of Lily is the most joy filled, “I am a happy dog, I love my life, what did I do to deserve this” picture that I have ever seen, in my life, and I include pics of my own dogs in that. She is so absolutely and utterly in love with her you and her life, and when you consider the life she came from it is a joy to behold. You are a good man John Cole, curmudgeon that you are, if nothing else in life you can claim that happy, happy smile as your greatest achievement in life, and if it were me, I would take it. You done good John. I admire you for it.
fourlegsgood
In the meantime:
plushygurl 1 –
Maddie
and plushygurl 2 –
Ripley
they were cute behbehs too
baby plushies
The Grand Panjandrum
See! I knew it. The next thread would be a feel good, aw shucks, look at da kewt widdo animals thread. Aaaaahhhhh. I love me some Balloon Juice whiplash. It is the only way I can get to sleep at night. I’m addicted.
And those are some damn fine looking dogs.
AND the new tag is seriously full of win. One of the best new ones this year (and there have been many).
ETA: What is especially heartwarming about all the recent crazy shit is that we are still six months away from the election. It is only going to get crazier. Good times!
John Cole
@Litlebritdifrnt: That is not Lily. That is the new puppy that Onion’s owner went out and got to keep Tater company.
fourlegsgood
@John Cole: All puppies and kittehs should have a friend.
It’s only right.
jeffreyw
@BethanyAnne: Ack! So sorry!
Litlebritdifrnt
@John Cole:
Sorry looked like Lily, but it still has the “what did I do to deserve this” face, which I absolutely love. In any event my comment stands just because.
El Cid
Unfortunately it appears that 3 of the 4 suspects who beat a homeless man nearly to death with a baseball bat and a pipe in Cincinnati were U.S. soldiers.
Apparently the soldiers were on leave, drinking and having some sort of fun.
robertdsc
RIP Onion.
jeffreyw
@fourlegsgood: Those are some seriously good photos. Well done, sir or madam!
jeffreyw
Here’s another shelter inmate-“Benji”
Yutsano
@El Cid: They won’t be for long. Even if the civilian authorities let them off the Army will court-martial their asses for assault on a civilian. They’d better hope the civvies work them over first, that’s a one-way ticket to Leavenworth right there.
JGabriel
John Cole:
I am so proud to have personally inspired WingFull’o’Nuts to such arid heights.
.
demkat620
It was a beautiful day here. About 65 and sunny. And I was locked in a cube all day until lunch when some of us hit a New Orleans style cafe.
Had a turkey po’boy. It was good but made getting through the afternoon tough. All I wanted was a nap.
Litlebritdifrnt
Anyhoo, was speaking to my DH about the new Arizona law last night. He said it “could be a good thing” until I pointed out to him that a drivers license was not good enough for ID. The conversation went thus “so babe, you know, if we are in Arizona in the summer when you are really tanned (he is part native American) I have my papers cause I am a legal alien, you however are well and truly fucked” he looked at me as if I was insane, “do you carry your birth certificate around with you?” I asked he looked at me as if I was insane. “You see if we get pulled over I have my green card, I am safe, your ass would be in jail” he looked at me as if I was insane. “Not only that but they would probably put me in jail for being in the car with you” he looked at me as if I was insane. In this fifteen minute exchange DH decided that this new law was no longer “a good thing” and said “that is f**ked up” “But I am an American citizen, I was born here” I said “prove it” he was totally and utterly lost.
jeffreyw
Bea is anticipating a fishing trip.
Litlebritdifrnt
@El Cid: Unfortunately there are thugs in the military, we recently had a spate of them here. You cannot spot them in advance, you just have to weed them out after the event. Just as there are thugs in civilian life you will find them in the military. Punks with a tude, thankfully the punishment for them will be more than they will face in civilian life.
QDC
Has anyone posted this yet, because it is perfect. (From Calculated Risk):
Litlebritdifrnt
@jeffreyw:
My goldfish survived the winter. They were quite happy and content come spring. All of a sudden they have completely disappeared. I suspect a Heron or an Egret, I have no evidence however. I cannot believe that my cats would allow a Heron or an Egret to stand long enough to eat my goldfish but damn they are gone, and there is no other explanation (other than Jeremiah ate them but I think they were too big for him to eat).
JMY
So, my New Jersey people. How’s Gov. Christie working out for you? I read he’s cutting everything, from pensions, to after school programs and has a bad approval rating, I believe 33%. But of course it was a win for conservatives and massive loss for Obama.
jeff
I’ve watched a few hours of the Goldman testimony, and I’ve been reading the allegations: my conclusion is that nobody has shown that Goldman acted illegally in anything. Indeed, all that has been demonstrated is that people don’t like what investors do. I’m stunned that Senators are so oblivious to shorting, investment wrapping, insurance, and so on. Jesus. If you don’t like capitalism, then do something about it–only don’t act all surprised that investment banks practice investing and risk-management.
(Ducking and hiding.)
JGabriel
jeff:
Almost flawless. I laughed.
.
KG
@Litlebritdifrnt: yeah, I’m already seeing the “you want to ask me about my citizenship, I’m proud to admit I’m an American!” posts showing up on facebook. Because, in the mind of the teabaggers: if you haven’t broken the law, you don’t have anything to worry about… honest, really, we promise. Unless we suspect you’re lying, in which case, you’re guilty as sin.
I have a feeling I’m going to be very annoyed by much of politics in the next few decades.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
The last thread broke my zen cool. I will likely have to break out the beads and sooth my emo and generate some nature vibes to Earth Mother. Religion is simple for Reformed Druids. No tax breaks though.
And I am not drinking, except from the fountain of eternal love.
JGabriel
“A dilettante blog from the great progressive state of West Virginia”
Almost WordPress, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Progressive State Dilettante
Take Me Home, Bloggy Roads!
.
freelancer
DFH
Bad Horse's Filly
I couldn’t stand it any longer so I potted flowers for my deck, which means I’ll be constantly covering them or bring them in until the end of May. No matter, they’re pretty.
RIP Onion. I remember that pic from when JC first posted it.
@BethanyAnne: So sorry about your job. :-(
JGabriel
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
Hippy.
ETA: Fucking freelancer got there first: great minds, one thought, yadda yadda.
.
Kristine
@El Cid:
Now they’ll have some sort of court martial.
Annie
My head is ready to explode. Stopped for a good bottle of Malbec on the way home. As part of my usual routine of self-torture, I listened to religious wingut radio on the way home. Learned that the administration is committed to “Muslimizing” the military….
Proof — disinviting our national treasure Franklin Graham from speaking at the Pentagon for the National Day of Prayer.
Second proof — Mikey Weinstein, President, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, once talked about his contempt for Jerry Falwell, another national treasure. Now, Mikey (who we should know is Jewish) is devoting his time and talents to wiping Christianity from the military. He apparently is going against the Constitution and the will of our founding fathers….
I just sent the Foundation a check…..
fourlegsgood
@jeffreyw: Why thank you! it’s precisely why I have a really expensive camera.
To take pictures of my girls. :-) (seriously, I take pictures of other things too, but the kittehs are 2 adorbs not to photograph regularly)
fourlegsgood
@jeff: Dude, you better run and hide.
Annie
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
No problem. I am drinking enough for both of us…Need to change my radio stations….
Huggs to Charlie
srv
I’m seeing the blogosphere reacting more to various lunatics saying things that aren’t so crazy. Krauthammer calling for breaking up the banks, the whole Manzi affair, now Joe Scarborough calling the AZ law “un-American”
I have a theory, as we approach Peak Wingnut and the Wingularity, that the space time Overton Window will wrap around on itself and various wingnuts will get so crazy that they start making sense. I’m not sure what to call this. Overton Window Gobsmack, or the Inifinite Wingnut Theorem, but we should be prepared for an increased amount of discomfort as people we hate start agreeing with us.
freelancer
@JGabriel:
Who pooped in your Wheaties this morning?
All is full of love.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
@Annie:
Not conducive to good mental health. But the wine is medicine for that. Take two bottles and an aspirin. :)
Kristine
@jeffreyw:
Wow. Looks like my Gaby-bomb.
That’s King next to her. He’s almost 3x her size. He just looks smaller because he’s lying down and she’s sitting. I snapped this pic as I came out of the bathroom. They always wait for me like that. It’s as if they’re afraid I’m going to bolt out the window or something.
Bad Horse's Filly
@Litlebritdifrnt: Raccoon?
Kristine
And I will say that my heart goes out to Onion’s people (which one is Onion, btw?) Looks like they did the good thing with the new pup.
JK
@freelancer:
Who pooped in Jan Brewer’s Wheaties?
ellaesther
@BethanyAnne: Oh honey, I am sorry to hear it. I know it’s been awhile, and it seemed very certain yesterday!
Good, good luck.
ellaesther
@Kristine: Seconded. My cat of 17 years — who, it should be noted, I was only barely fond of — left us about a year and a half ago, and I still miss her. I hope Tater is doing ok, too.
(PS Awesome names).
Bad Horse's Filly
And because I’m evil, I must share this earworm, that has been stuck in my head all afternoon (no idea why):
In the year 2525
Annie
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
I will happily take your advice…Afterall, who am I to argue with a “General…”
Calliope Jane
Some “good” news RE Arizona’s SB 1070 (the hateful “immigration” law): Pima County (Tucson) Sheriff Dupnik is refusing to enforce the law, knowing he’ll probably be sued (but he thinks he’d be sued either way). He calls the law “disgusting” and “unnecessary” and says he’s going to follow the federal law. When asked (in an interview) what the “solution” is to this issue – he said “November elections.”
http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12384209
So, we’re not all crazy down here. There’s a lot of crazy, to be sure, but not everywhere. Pima County is the second largest county (population-wise) after Maricopa County (Phoenix-Mesa-Tempe; aka Sheriff Arpaio’s). It’s certainly impressive how much Brewer can ruin the state in such a short amount of time but I can only hope there will be (some) consequences for Republicans here this fall.
rootless-e
i cannot believe what lloyd just said under oath. he’s dumber than a republican senator.
burnspbesq
God, I hate Oliver Perez.
JSD
BTW, the whole dilettante thread is a must read.
KG
@srv: I think it only makes sense that the Purity Spiral would cast off the impure – no matter who they actually are. It has to end at some point, it really does; I’m just not sure how/when. My guess is that it will be when an elected Republican governor actually breaks down and raises taxes – borrowing Reagan’s old line in California about how he could find no other way.
WereBear
@BethanyAnne: Oh, towering pile of crap!
Nothing else to do but soldier on, I guess. I’m so sorry.
KG
@burnspbesq: As a Dodger fan, I appreciate the Mets giving us a chance to end our losing streak.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Bad Horse’s Filly: You know I hadn’t even thought of that, could be, or a possum, all I know is someone ate my goldfish and they are no more.
PurpleGirl
@El Cid: I wonder if these are some of those special recruits under the new lower standards… Ghod that’s awful.
WereBear
@fourlegsgood: OMG, those are the cutest behbehs. May I use the kittens pic on my kitty blog? I have rotating headers… just like John!
Well, sorta. His are funnier…
Bad Horse's Filly
And for those of you who don’t mind your characters bursting into ‘gleeful’ song at random intervals, Glee is on tonight!
(And yes, I’m doing everything I can to avoid even thinking about politics today – though I read great story about a woman who ran into the Prez while hiking in the woods – as one commenter said about her story – leave it to our great president to redeem ‘hiking the Appalachian trail’).
Bob K
My brother lives in Salt Lake City. When I would visit him I was struck by the beauty of the place and wanted to move out there some day. I’ve had to revisit those plans in light of the way these people think. Apparently the wingnuts are firmly convinced of the following – “It is patently appalling that a president of the United States would consider our flag to be a symbol of militaristic takeovers and colonialism, especially when serving (to a greater degree than any other nation on Earth) a humanitarian purpose.
Additionally, who would think we’d want to occupy Haiti ?!
No other country giving aid in Haiti has lowered its flag. But then again, no other country has a leader who is offended by their own flag.
Shorter version: The Sheriff is Near.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-03-14-haiti-flag-flap_N.htm
p.s. – If you are planning to move to Quebec please be aware that there is a French version of “O Canada” and you will need to learn THAT version rather than the English one.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
@Annie:
To cheer you up maybe. The little guy was sound asleep, tried not to wake him, but did.
Sleepy Charlie
edit- and RIP Onion
Gravenstone
Olbermann just had a gem of a construction during one of his segments, “Aryanzonans”. I lol’d.
And yes, before the AZ residents with advanced vapours come for my head, I recognize it’s unfair when applied to the state as a whole, but damn if it doesn’t fit the multiple generational inbreds behind the “Papers, please” law.
Kristine
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
Charlie is a cutie bug.
slag
@Annie: You must have the patience of a saint.
jeffreyw
@Litlebritdifrnt: A few years ago Mrs J came running in hollerin. “A snake has a goldfish in his mouth and he’s freaking out!
I was all cool n shit…
“Who is freaking out? The snake?”
“No! The fish is!”
“Can you blame him?”
spudgun
@BethanyAnne: I am so, so sorry…I know business is business, but WHY do they have to be so sh*tty to folks? This is a human being and this is their livelihood they’re messing with. Honestly, I’ve never known anyone to lose any money by showing a little courtesy and decency.
(Sorry for the rant, I just had a friend of mine whose gig fell through today as well, even after she was told it was a temp-to-perm gig and she had already been there two months!)
Hang in there, if you found this one then you’ll definitely find another!
ellaesther
@slag: Hold the phone. Do you design those shirts?
Elie
Oh what a happy smiling face! Makes me smile and smile. My blood pressure just improved about 20 points…
someguy
I dunno. Thought that this was a potential tagline too.
Of course he misses the boat here a little. Only 50% of people in W. b-g Va. pray when things go wrong. From what I’ve seen, the other 50% take crystal meth, drink Mountain Dew and eat junk food until their teeth fall out, their pants split, and their face rots off. So it’s not like W. b-g Virginians are totally consigned to sitting there helplessly, praying. They have other options.
Svensker
@BethanyAnne:
Awww, so sorry to hear that. Hope something good turns up in its stead.
slag
@ellaesther: Uh oh. Yes. Why? Am I in trouble?
Kayla Rudbek
Since this is an open thread, I can ask:
Cole, have you ever read any of Eric Flint’s books? Particularly the 1632 series? I think you might like it, as the 1632verse is full of kick-ass West Virginians…
RedKitten
My in-laws were recently in Cuba, and my MIL posted a picture of a dolphin kissing her cheek as her profile picture.
My comment: “But did he buy you dinner first?”
Her reply: “Buying dinner is just for the young things, at my age you take what you get.”
I love that woman.
JGabriel
@freelancer: And a Transatlanticism right back atcha.
And, as JK properly notes, it was Jan Brewer, or, more locally, WingFull’o’Nuts, who pooped in my Wheaties(tm).
.
Svensker
@JMY:
Much as I dislike the flabby assed little sucker, he is actually doing what needs to be done, otherwise NJ is going to go belly up. Corzine did not have the balls to go against the unions but Christie apparently does. Our small town of 5000 people where a crime spree involves selling cigarettes to minors has cops who get over 80K/year after 5 years. Toll takers around here get something like $150K/year. Teachers are pulling down around $90K. And they all have huge pensions and great benefits for life. It is unaffordable. Christie is pissing everyone off, but it must be done.
I didn’t vote for him, but he is doing the job.
JGabriel
@Calliope Jane:
That is so good to hear.
.
Svensker
@Bad Horse’s Filly:
You are a bad person. I HATE that song.
WereBear
I’m so sorry about Onion, but that second pic, of Sucha Happy Dog, has made me smile so much I think I’ll fall asleep that way.
Bless you, Tater’s Person, for understanding we can balance our sorrows with joy.
BethanyAnne
Thanks y’all. Yea, I’ve tried to not write here much about my job search drama. There has been all sorts of fucked up things happening. Just gotta keep looking, I guess.
Svensker
@RedKitten:
You must live in a free country. We Americans aren’t allowed to go to Cuba. Our government prohibits it, but somehow the wingnuts don’t find that an infringement on FREEDOM!
maus
So, request for assistance.
Asked my mother what she’d like for Mothers’ day.
Got “watch Glenn Beck” as a response.
I have no cable, not going to buy it (nor would I inflate Fox viewership), she lives all the way across the country so I can’t watch it at her house. Seeing as I’m not going to download it anywhere either, is there a place that transcribes his episodes?
Any other suggestions that don’t involve me losing my sanity?
I’d rather watch Alex Jones, FFS. He’s still a conservative apologist, but much more entertaining.
Linda Featheringill
@BethanyAnne: I am so sorry to hear that. Damn.
burnspbesq
@Svensker:
If Christie is making progress on economic issues, color me pleasantly surprised.
But something still has to be done about Scott Garrett. Fucker makes me ashamed of my home town.
Linda Featheringill
@fourlegsgood: Ahhh. The plushigirls are sweet!
JGabriel
@Svensker:
Okay, the toll takers are overpaid. But I don’t have a problem with cops getting 80k or teachers getting 90k. If that’s what’s causing financial problems for NJ, then the problem is not unions, but the people with greater than >300k incomes (and I know there’s a lot of them in NJ) whose state income taxes are too low. IMO.
.
Linda Featheringill
@El Cid:
Skinheads have invaded the Army. Is this a trend?
Anne Laurie
@BethanyAnne: I’m sorry to hear that. On the positive side, if the workplace is that disorganized, maybe you dodged a bullet! Hope that your next offer will be sounder, and SOON!
JGabriel
@maus:
Tell your mother that you won’t watch Glenn Beck any more than you would flog yourself barbed wire, and that you can’t believe someone who loves you would subject you to such torture.
It really is child abuse.
.
burnspbesq
@KG:
You may have spoken to soon, mijo.
Annie
@Svensker:
I understand your point — State governments are in trouble. Here in NVA, our taxes have gone way up…But, and I confess that I am a teacher of teachers, I believe strongly that teachers deserve good salaries and benefits. If we are to recruit good people, we have to have competitive salaries. And, people don’t realize the amount of time good teachers put into the classroom — not just during school hours, but evenings and weekends. It is a difficult job…one that we cannot leave to unqualified people…And, now we require that teachers have graduate degrees, which in many cases, puts good people more in debt.
maus
@JGabriel: Hah, my dad passed away some years back, right afterward as a birthday present for her I ended up buying tickets to his stage show (and accompanying, he cries on cue in-person as well!) He was a big ol’ hippie and kind of kept the crazy in check while he was alive. She’s kind of adrift right now, so I’d prefer to at least be able to read the transcripts and know what she’s being fed these days.
Anne Laurie
@fourlegsgood: Oh luvely plushies! Maddie is the image of our Demon Kishkan, assuming that Maddie (Iike Kish) tops out at only 7lbs or thereabouts. It bugs our veterinarian that Kishkan is such a “perfect Maine Coon” except for her size, but she’s got lots of company here in New England. Obviously the gene set for a lion-maned, bushy-tailed, ear-tufted, slab-sided cat with a piratical personality is quite well adapted for local conditions.
Tom
@maus: Tell your mother that she didn’t raise a fool. Watch a movie with her instead. Maybe “The Blind Side” ;-)
jeffreyw
Mmm…pozole
Linda Featheringill
@Kristine: Cute Kiddos.
My Tulip does the Secret Service thing in the bathroom: She goes ahead of me and checks out all the corners and then she will step aside and allow me to enter.
I don’t know if she is crazy or I am important. :-)
Mark S.
I guess Huckleberry doesn’t care that much about his precious climate change bill:
Huh, I think the goopers are a little worried about a battle over immigration reform. I wonder why that would be.
jeff
@fourlegsgood:
I know. I don’t want to like these guys, and indeed I don’t. Nevertheless, we cannot throw people in jail because they outperformed everyone else in a game we’re all a party to. Right?
slag
@maus: Jon Stewart’s impersonation seems like it could be all of Glenn Beck’s shows rolled into about 5 minutes. So, I’d watch that.
Otherwise, Media Matters may be able to help a little.
Linda Featheringill
@maus: Glen Beck.
Maybe radio?
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/radio/#AFFIL
This is from his website and should bring you to a function that is supposed to help you find a radio station that carries his show.
Yutsano
@RedKitten: Only a kiss? Dolphins have been known to fancy a shag with humans. In fact they’re the only other species known to actually have sex just for pleasure. We’re so behind them in this evolution game.
Maus
@99 already tried, of course the liberals always seem to take him out of context when they expunge the rodeo clown-dance and get straight to the heart of the matter.
I could try to download the radio show, possibly. But that’s far longer than the TV show, I’m guessing.
Anne Laurie
@Litlebritdifrnt:
No raccoons in your neighborhood? Around here they are the ones usually blamed for overnight goldfish extinctions… I have been told they will troll through a newly-discovered pond, eat until they can’t eat any more, and then flip any remaining fish out of the water to die. Of course the people telling me this were embittered ex-goldfish owners, so YMMV.
Linda Featheringill
Had a strange experience today:
Heard a song and it reminded me so much of tail-end-of-Vietnam-era-blues, deep, dark, and bitter. The music reminded me of “Tree Top Flyer,” which I always found depressing. The singer talked tough but was actually quite hurt.
Anyway, the mood the song evoked hasn’t visited me in about 25 years or so.
Does depression have vintages? “I’ll take a bottle of your best 1975 It’s Just Not Worth It Anymore”?
Strange. Makes you wonder just what “normal” is.
middlewest
I just learned via metafilter that a prominent gay deconversion group is named “Journey into Manhood”. Apparently, Tobias Funke is a real person.
IndyLib
@jeffreyw:
That looks really good. Is it related to pasole? Kidding, kidding.
Where I grew up you’d be strung up for putting tomatoes or anything else red in pasole.
It does look really yummy, what’s in the broth?
BethanyAnne
@Linda Featheringill: Oh, definitely. The Cure’s “Disintegration” is a particular flavor of pain and drama for me. And, oddly enough, beauty. I still love “Plainsong” from that album.
That depression is a really different vintage from The Golden Palominos. I love their album “Dead Inside”. Only music that works when I’ve been in really black moods recently. Nicole Blackman is amazing. And I love her on KMFDM’s “Dogma”.
Anyway, to a link for the thread… something positive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAgH6rpO-KQ
“Music, Cookies and Sex” by George Uetz. No video in that video, but the audio was really clean.
BethanyAnne
Oh, to continue that thought somewhat, the line I love from “Dogma” is: “You have nothing to say, and no way to say it, but you can say it in 3 languages”. Just perfect.
Yutsano
@BethanyAnne: One of the most quotable movies ever, and a true stroke of genius by Kevin Smith. Best part is the preface where he asks not to be excommunicated. You can tell he knew he was crossing lines but didn’t really care.
BTW suxxors about the job but I think Anne Laurie has the right take on the situation. If one agrees to hire you then another countermands her that organization has major issues beyond needing an employee.
Bnut
OMG it’s been a day and a half since I quit smoking. I’m losing my mind. Chewing gum, taking the dog on extra walks, trying to distract myself from the sweet smoothness of Camel Lights. Help me BJ universe! Tips/tricks??? I was a solid pack a day for the past 6 years (I’m sure that’s pretty tame compared to some on here). The military didn’t help the cause when I tried to quit 3 years ago. I decided enough is enough, though I am terribly dreading going out with my friends this weekend.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
For some strange reason, I thought this was funny.
jeffreyw
@IndyLib: ancho chili paste
Yutsano
@Bnut: You’re in the massive suckage part of the quitting cycle. The nicotine receptors are realizing they’re not getting their fix and are starting to rebel. You could try meditation or some other stimulating distraction. Oh and when you go out with your friends this weekend declare publicly and loudly you’re quitting smoking. If they’re any kind of friends they will be more than supportive and even help you out if you get a little weak. Ganbatte kudasai!
Linda Featheringill
@BethanyAnne: That is a cute song!
Joel
@Bnut: It gets a bit better by the end of the first week. Around week 6, you will start getting a voice inside your head saying “You’ve been so good, just one quick drag won’t hurt at all!”
Ignore that voice and you will be fine.
I do suggest that for that first week you avoid any stressful situations involving people or animals, because the urge to kill will be very strong indeed.
Linda Featheringill
@Bnut: Hang on. The first 48 hours are the hardest, physically.
BethanyAnne
@Yutsano: Yar, it’s one of my favorite movies ever. I was quoting the song “Dogma”, tho ;-)
MattR
@Bnut: Sunflower seeds are a pretty good distraction if you feel like you need to be doing something.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
I’m feeling a bit communist tonight, so It’s Reds on netflix instant, comrade.
Suck on that Palin!
BethanyAnne
@Linda Featheringill: and I’ve been loving the instantrimshot.com site you posted earlier. /easilyamused
kommrade reproductive vigor
@Bnut: Get the patch. Seriously. It worked very well for me. (I started again but it took an active decision on my part.)
But if you normally don’t have vivid dreams/nightmares, do not sleep with it on. Apparently the patch can cause your sleeping brain to treat you to an all night festival of horrors.
p.s. Good luck!
BethanyAnne
Dogma by KMFDM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O45Zwv1U9g
kommrade reproductive vigor
@Bnut: One other thing – If you get the patch, for the love of Christ do not forget you’re wearing it and light up.
Actually, if you don’t flop over it will help put you off cigarettes. In the same way an electric shock puts a rat off a bit of tasty cheese. Arrgh. No really don’t do it.
Yutsano
@Bnut: BTW if you pick up a cigarette and I find out I will hunt you down and kill you. How’s that for support? :)
BethanyAnne
@Bnut: No useful suggestions, but /cheers and wishes for success. :)
BethanyAnne
@Yutsano: That’s the Balloon Juice spirit!
Bnut
@Yutsano:
Fear is good motivation. Apparently more than the $10 a pack I pay here. NYC does give out free patches and gum from what I understand, going to look into that tomorrow.
Joel
@kommrade reproductive vigor:
Oh, yes. I second this comment. I would suggest taking the thing off at around 8 PM and scrubbing up with a good shower to get the nicotine residue off your skin just to be on the safe side.
Trippiest. Dreams. Ever. I’m talking your own original Buñuel masterpiece playing out in your subconscious.
Yutsano
@Bnut: Remember one other little factoid with that not-so-subtle threat: Marines don’t scare me. When you’ve had a 6’7 275 pound one purring in your lap, you figure them out pretty fast.
@BethanyAnne: I’m a happy Bjer and a proud Scorpio. No wonder I’m so fucking hard-headed!
Mike in NC
I started smoking in the Navy in 1980 and finally quit about 10 years ago. After a bout with the flu I was hacking up black phlegm, so that was enough to convince me to stop, cold turkey. The wife still smokes but is on some pill that has reduced her cravings to 2-3 cigs per day.
Worked in retail last summer and was amazed at all the new brands the cigarette manufacturers have introduced to get people addicted.
SIA
Probably too late in the thread, but I need some puppeh advice. I work out of my house and have an assistant that comes 2-3 days a week. She just adopted an ADORABLE shepherd mix (female). I have 2 dogs, Mickey & Woofie, both rescue dogs who do pretty well but like their human, are a bit anti-social.
I would love for her to be able to bring her puppy to work so that the 3 of them could hang out together. I know it can be done but I’m nervous aboout Mickey (dachsund- rottwiler mix) being kind of aggressive with her and freaking the new mom out. My dogs just aren’t that friendly to other dogs.
Is it typical for the established, older dogs to give the baby a rash of shit? I know Maggie did that (our beautiful girl that died last year) – was kind of rough with the new kid and then eventually adopted the little bugger. Any one with advice/experience please pass it on!
MikeJ
@Bnut: Good luck. I managed to quit a few years ago after several attempts. In the past I had tried the patch and gum, finally went without either. Just told myself, “I’m a nonsmoker, therefore I don’t smoke.” Which sounds stupid, but I have a long history of lying to myself so it did the trick.
Everybody’s different and there’s no right way to do it. Even if it takes a few attempts, you can do it.
Yutsano
@SIA: Paging Anne Laurie: Anne Laurie, please respond to comment #131 please.
SIA
@Yutsano: Is there anything one can’t find at BALLOON JUICE? ;-)
Dogs, cats, trolls, vicious political arguments, philisophical warfare, cooking, gardening, bird feeders, moral support, grief counseling, etc etc etc
Yutsano
@SIA: We’ve had a definitive lack of cookie recipes lately. Though that tends to be more of a fall/winter activity. I just made myself crave Mexican wedding cookies now.
kommrade reproductive vigor
@Joel: On the other hand, if your normal dream scape would make Hieronymus Bosch say WTF, sleep with it on and enjoy a nice Ritalin-type effect.
fourlegsgood
@Anne Laurie: No, Maddie tops out at around 18 pounds.
She’s a beast. Pedigreed maine coon. Luckily she is very, very sweet.
BethanyAnne
@Yutsano: tres leches! ooo, want tres leches. (ok, ok, not cookies, but still)
ellaesther
@slag: So sorry, computer died and children had needs and I am finally back to say: No, no, no trouble! You are not in trouble! You are in admiration!
In short, I love your shirts.
SIA
@jeffreyw: Wow, he looks just like Woofie when he’s not trimmed up. Sorry to always show the same photo – need to get some up on flickr or something. https://balloon-juice.com/2008/12/18/a-breather/ Woofie is on the left. He had that bit of black hair mixed in with the brown just like your little friend. How big is Benji? Hope he gets a home soon, sweet little guy.
SIA
@Yutsano: Speaking of cravings….
Mmmhmmm. Oh yeah. :)
Brian J
Here’s an incredible article from The Wall Street Journal regarding home nursing care. It’s behind a paywall, but here are a few paragraphs that seem to act as evidence that fee-for-service incentives are really killing Medicare:
I doubt the answer to saving lots of money, especially in the public programs, is all about blocking over treatment, but I have to think it’s a big part of it. The potential savings appear to run into the hundreds of billions, even if the problem is only half as bad as some people say.
SIA
@Bnut: Nicorette gum. Chomp on the gum. Just make sure you get off the blasted stuff as soon as you’re past the serious physical cravings – about 7-10 days. Then switch to regular gum if you can. I am not telling anyone how long I’ve been hooked on the fucking gum. Such an addictive personality, it’s really pathetic. But I’m not smoking!
I have a client that used the patch, and after about 2 weeks, each night he cut 1/10th of an inch off the patch, tapering himself off. A very precise individual. Worked for him.
MattR
@Yutsano: How about a dog biscuit recipe? The website I got it from appears dead so here goes.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
4 spoonfuls peanut butter
2 tsps vanilla
3 cups flour
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup oatmeal
Combine and mix water, oil, eggs and vanilla in a small bowl.
Combine rest of ingredients in a large bowl and add in wet mixture.
Mix thoroughly.
Roll dough on wax paper and cut into shapes as desired
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Place cookies on cookie sheet on middle oven rack.
Cook for 20 minutes
Mike Kay
those are some gorgeous dogs.
jeffreyw
@SIA: Dunno, all I’ve seen is the pic. Mrs J guesses 20-25 lbs, 1-2 y.o. He’s been at the shelter since Friday.
Kristine
@Yutsano:
I agree. I was once flown in twice by a company for interviews–duct tape and baling wire puddle jumper from Ohio to lower Michigan, but still–spoke with 5-6 people each time, met all my potential coworkers and several layers of management, and was thisclosetobeinghiredbutno. One of the managers even phoned me at home to ask me not to give up on them because they still wanted to hire me. I got the impression that they were being pressured to promote from within for less money. I wrote them off.
BethanyAnne–I hope you find something better soon.
FormerSwingVoter
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100427/pl_nm/us_financial_regulation_32
Well then… looks like we need to start applying some fucking pressure, then, don’t we?
Sen. Brown is hearing from me first thing tomorrow morning. I’d encourage my fellow Massholes to do the same. Anyone up in Maine, too.
Mary G
@Bnut: I quit smoking in 1982 and have never smoked since. The first week was sheer hell and nothing you do really makes it go away, just gut it out and it gets easier and easier as time goes on. Drinking cranberry juice was recommended but didn’t do anything for me.
You may have to change other things for a while. I completely gave up drinking coffee for the longest time (years) because I just wanted so badly to smoke with it.
I put the money I wasn’t spending in a jar and was able to buy a painting I really liked but never could have afforded; now when I look at it over the mantle I feel great.
Wishing you success and if you fall off the wagon, get right back on. You will feel so great about yourself when you accomplish this!
kommrade reproductive vigor
@Brian J: This looks a lot more like abusive (if not fraudulent) billing. Also:
Medicare is constantly trying different payment models, adjusting them and dropping them. One of the things it watches for is the type of patterns this article mentions.
And
I’m pretty sure this requirement is in the HRC bill, but I am too lazy to look it up.
demimondian
@Annie: I’m not really much of a fan of Weinstein, although I think he does good work. He makes me…nervous…though.
sfinny
@jeff: In what I’ve read the SEC may have a case for fraud. I don’t know the details or how a jury would judge, but what I’ve seen certainly justifies a trial. Even when individual actions are legal, there are circumstances of fact that are considered fraud, negligence or even criminal when applied in concert. That is one thing that the continuing education requirement of the securities business tries to emphasize. Sometimes you get sucked into a bad situation by mistake, sometimes you help it along because it suits you to ignore the regulations. It is a fine line sometimes, but I have to say that if these e-mails and senate response videos were part of my periodic complience training, I would probably go with the ‘don’t do it’ answer.
BethanyAnne
@Kristine: Thanks :) I’m really trying to stay centered through this rollercoaster.
FormerSwingVoter
While I’m poking around, I thought this blog post was phenomenal:
Imagine if the Tea Party was Black
http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html
Brian J
@kommrade reproductive vigor:
I know there’s a difference between fraud and waste, because the intent is different, but can’t they be encouraged by the same thing?
sfinny
And Bnut, man you are amazing. I am trying to ‘cut down’ on the smoking. In other words I don’t have the balls to quit. So keep on with it. Hope to join you soon.
Bhall35
Got into an argument about this with a conservative friend who gave me the “both sides do it” defense, citing the Thomas and Scalia confirmation votes as examples. I’m not sure how to respond, since I think Jeff Sessions is a douchecanoe of the highest order, and this kid is really quite sharp, respectful and nice to boot. I’ve already included this little history lesson to indicate that Sessions may have a chip on his shoulder:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1896394,00.html
BethanyAnne
@FormerSwingVoter: Yea, I *really* liked that one.
Bnut
@Mary G:
My mornings for the past several years have included the ‘breakfast of champions’ as I call it: a smoke, a diet coke, and another smoke. Then of course the one on the way to work, then sometimes mid morning, etc… May have to change my whole life at this point, lol. Now just have to convince the girlfriend to join me in my quest to not die so young.
BethanyAnne
@Bhall35: I’m not sure what the argument is. Both sides do what? Try to get judges that agree with their thinking and advance their agendas? Sure, and when Repub’s do it, it’s “calling balls and strikes” while Democrats only do “blatant politization and judicial activism”. /eyeroll. Please.
Look, if Obama was just half the “I won, we do it my way, screw you” sociopath that Shrub was, he’d put Chuck D or Jello Biafra on the court. Instead, he’s being very deliberate, and trying to bring the court back into a moderate vision of balance.
slag
@ellaesther: Awwww shucks. You have excellent taste. I knew I liked your blog for a reason.
SIA
@Bnut: Just remembering the first few days sans cigarettes. I had about 5 cigs left in my pack of Camel Filters (ah, my dear, lost loves). I hung on to that pack for at least a week. It made me feel I was making a choice instead of being forced to give us something I wanted. (Oh, and I heard a voice telling me not to go buy more cigarettes, but that’s another chapter of the story).
Bhall35
@BethanyAnne: Both sides are obstructionists to the president’s picks. I know, I know, I’ve already tried to explain Dem vs. Rep opposition as something of a false equivalency, but to him that can be easily dismissed as a bias in favor of one’s own ideology. I was hoping for something more persuasive, and it also makes me despair that the “both sides do it” narrative that has taken hold in the media has made young people irretrievably cynical.
Blah.
BethanyAnne
@Bhall35: Shame I don’t have the data at hand. The R’s are out laying groundwork for blocking and obstructing and grandstanding. At this point in the reverse situation, the Dems would barely be saying anything except about a vague “hope for bipartisanship”. Dem obstruction is weak and ineffectual, with rare exceptions.
Someone quoted James Carville here last week saying something like “Democrats say 2+2=5. Republicans say 2+2=5,000,000. The media says ‘See, both sides are wrong.’ ” That there’s a difference in orders of magnitude is a story that seems to never be told.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
No one could have predicted this.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
But maybe a silver lining.
We shall see. I don’t believe anything wingnuts say at face value these days.
Yutsano
@SIA: Mine. U no can haz.
(I’m not being selfish there. He isn’t bisexual in the slightest.)
BethanyAnne
Anywhoodles, off to bed. gnight all
SIA
@General Egali Tarian Stuck: Hopefully Voinovich will decide to retire from the Senate with a few tatters of his dignity left, and vote to allow debate. And Ben Nelson will get a big kick planted in his fat, greedy, self-serving ass and do the right thing, not the BEN thing. That brings us to 60.
The world’s greatest deliberative body.
BDeevDad
Hawaii legislature says Fuck You to birthers.
Bhall35
@BethanyAnne: Goodnight, and thanks for the words of wisdom!
General Egali Tarian Stuck
@SIA: Ben won’t be the 41st vote to block debate on this bill, I don’t think.
SIA
@General Egali Tarian Stuck: Yeah, should have added “chicken-shit” to my description of his ass, the ass.
Yutsano
Oh frabjous day! soonergrunt is back!
MattR
I think y’all will like today’s woot shirt
Anne Laurie
@SIA:
How old is the “puppy”? It’s rare for “normal” adult dogs to give a puppy under the age of 6 months much grief. (In fact, some puppies take total advantage of this to make the older dogs’ life difficult.) Also, ordinarily, male dogs (even fixed males) are naturally very, very tolerant about female dogs’ (even fixed females) sometimes snippy behavior. All else being equal, when you have a bunch of male dogs, there will be a predictable steady undercurrent of “social challenging”, snarls & stare-downs & the occasional noisy ‘hold me back! hold me back!’ sort of threats. When you have a bunch of female dogs, on the other hand, the overall noise level will be a lot lower, but the occasional fight that does break out will be swift, scary, and a lot more likely to end up with an emergency vet visit. But if any of the three dogs in your particular case are rescues, you can’t guarantee that they’ll react “normally”… especially since it sounds like your guys might be used to “resource guarding” YOU as something far too precious to risk sharing with other dogs.
My suggestion — and I am absolutely not a professional, just an interested amateur: First, set up your house so that there is a place where the puppy can be left safely on her own, but NOT in the same room with you if your dogs don’t get to go into your office. (If she’s crate trained, a travel crate would be perfect for this, but a puppy-proofed bathroom or ex-pen would also work.) When you want to introduce your guys to the puppy for the first time, have everybody on leash, including the puppy, even if she’s the sweetest friendliest love-sponge, because it’s important that your guys see she “belongs” to someone other than you. (Guests get better manners than potential roommates.) Ideally, you should do this first introduction in neutral territory, preferably outside, in the local park, on the street corner, or at least in the yard rather than “their” house. Have a big handful ready of some really REALLY desirable treat — not just standard biscuits, but chunks of cheese or hot dog or chicken. (For convenience, I like Zuke’s Mini Naturals from the ‘training treat’ section of the pet store.) Make sure your assistant has her own handful of wonderful goodies ready, as well. As soon as the puppy & your assistant come into view, say something like “Look! It’s [Melissa] and [Puppy]!” and immediately give both your guys a treat. Melissa, of course, gives Puppy a treat as well, as they approach. Keep handing out the goodies as M & P approach, then greet M the way you normally would, but don’t pay any attention to Puppy. If your guys are curious about Puppy, and she’s not overwhelmed, make a big display of what gooood dogs they are, and keep handing out them treats! Do NOT give Puppy treats yourself (this time), but Melissa can treat your guys if they’re being polite, as well as giving Puppy plenty of caloric affection. Basically, you want to imprint your guys with the idea that “Wow, this little girl shows up, and it’s party time — lucky us!”
If the boyz are okay with the proceeding so far, Melissa can go ahead into the house and shut Puppy up in her happy-place (crate or ex-pen or whatever) while you linger outside praising your guys for being such gentlemen. Once Puppy is safely confined, you and the boys can go inside and go about your usual business. Of course, Puppy may decide this is a good time to start complaining about being “abandoned”; Melissa can go calm her down, but you stay away from her, and don’t let your guys get themselves too worked up about it. (If necessary, you may have to take them outside again, but if you do, it’s best you go with them.) On the other hand, if Puppy just settles down with her favorite chewy and zonks out, win!
Give your guys a chance to get used to the idea that she’ll be doing this, over a period of several visits if you can manage it. Every time Puppy shows up, it should be Treat City all round (again — don’t you treat Puppy, not in front of your guys, because your attention is too valuable a resource for your guys to risk losing until they’re sure Puppy can be trusted). If you’re worried about calories, just cut back on their meals a bit, but be lavish with the goodies because it has been scientifically established that dogs really DO think with their stomachs.
With luck, after the first couple of days, your guys will be all “Yay! It’s Puppy Day, break out the snacks!” when they hear / see Melissa & Puppy coming up the walk, and you can let them start playing together. But don’t let Puppy run around unsupervised, even after your guys are good friends with her… she is a GUEST, and she should not have to fry her tiny puppy brain experimenting to find out what is & (mostly) isn’t okay to chew, climb, eat, or poop on, around your house, until she’s older & more experienced.
Best scenario, everything will go smoothly, and you’ll laugh afterwards about your fears. But believe me, it’s a lot easier to “waste” tons of treats & positive energy making sure everybody’s happy than it is to fix a bad first impression… although of course you know that already!
Forgive me if this is too long or over-explicit. My email address is up on the top right corner if you want to contact me directly. I’m looking forward to hearing about what I hope will be a very successful relationship for all three dogs & two humans involved!
MattR
@Anne Laurie: I know you said you are not an expert, but I’ll ask your opinion anyway. Do you think that when a dog encounters another dog the first dog recognizes and/or takes into account in some way who that second dog’s owner it? It may just be that my dog gave off the proper submissive signals, but my friend was shocked at how well his dog reacted the first time I brought mine over to meet her, and I am convinced that it was because his dog and I had a great relationship and so she accepted my dog as being with me. I am kinda curious if that has any basis in fact or was just a fantasy in my mind.
Anne Laurie
@fourlegsgood: Ah. Maddie sounds like a true princess. Our Kishkan, on the other hand… well, she forced herself upons some friends of ours, quite literally. Showed up at the front door of a non-pet-owning couple and darted into the house when they opened it. Kept doing this for several days, until they gave up & started feeding her. Nobody in the neighborhood recognized her or responded to the posters they put up. When they took her to the vet, it turned out she was somewhere around a year old & had already been fixed. Kishkan (‘kitten’ in Faroese) was perfectly happy living with our friends as an indoor-outdoor cat in a semi-rural area, but then they had twins (which Kishkan made it clear she thought was a bad decision) and then they ended up moving back to her native Faroe Islands, which has a strict six-month quarantine for cats. So Kishkan came to live with us, “just temporarily” — six years ago or thereabout. She is supposed to be an indoor-only cat here (we live in an area with a lot of truck traffic), and she is required to share her home with two other older cats & a floating population of two or three small dogs. Kishkan absolutely, positively does not approve of either of these conditions, but there aren’t many households in this area between the freeway offramp, the industrial parks, and the gun club territory… so even when she gets out, which she does (did I mention the dogs?), she hasn’t been able to find a new household that up to her standards… yet.
Anne Laurie
@MattR:
No, I’m quite sure you’re right. Which is not to underrate your dog’s natural diplomatic talents, of course. Remember, behavioral scientists are still being amazed at just how much attention dogs pay to humans, and how much more they “read” us than we expect — dogs are not just better than wolves at following a scientist’s gaze to pick out the box with the treat under it, they are better than chimps! From a purely mechanistic viewpoint, individual humans are a supremely valuable “resource” to a dog… they don’t have to understand that we have the power of life & death over them, but every modern dog is the descendent of ten thousand ancestors who survived because they picked up the sometimes subtle distinctions between “I like this puppy, I will give him my leftovers” and “I like this puppy, he will make a good stew”. Your friend’s dog trusted you not to be wasting your resources on a hopeless waste of dog-skin who needed to be shown his inferior position quickly. Also, quite as significantly, your friend’s dog “read” that this other dog would be going away with you, later, and therefore could be treated as a guest and not a potential competitor. Smart dog!
MattR
@Anne Laurie: She was a great boxer. I still miss her. I laughed when reading your comment about puppies taking advantage of older dogs and thought of her. Another one of my friends got a choclate lab pup when the boxer was about three or four years old. I went and visted when the pup’s family was dogsitting the boxer. While I was there the dogs were wrestling constantly. At some point the pup was tuckered out and went to sleep and I noticed the boxer’s jowls were all scratched up. I felt bad for her for about five minutes until I saw her grab a squeaky ball and start pushing it into the pups face until she got back up and played.
Several years later that lab pup got to play mother for my Ellie. We have all moved apart a bit so I don’t see them as often as I would like but Ellie and the lab have a blast when we do get together. One day I arrived at their place without Ellie. I went in and said high to the lab and then to my firends. After a few minutes we noticed the lab had not moved from sitting by the door. We figured she had to go out so we threw on her collar and opened the door. She made a bee line for my car and started sniffing all around it trying to find Ellie.
I so can’t wait to find and buy a house with a yard big enough for a couple dogs to play in. Right now it seems like if the yard is a decent size then the house is kinda crappy but when I find a nice house it has a yard that is about 25 by 40 feet.
asiangrrlMN
Awwwwww, cute puppehs. Run swiftly to the other side, Onion. My deepest condolences to your people on losing you. I thank you, though, for getting another friend for Tater.
As for the rest of the cuties in this thread, thanks, guys. Needed it after skimming the immigration thread. It’s a nice oasis amidst the craziness.
@BethanyAnne: Sorry to hear this. I congratulated you on a dead thread, so I’m sending you my condolences on another dead thread.
BethanyAnne
@asiangrrlMN: :)