Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

There are times when telling just part of the truth is effectively a lie.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

We still have time to mess this up!

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Is trump is trying to break black America over his knee? signs point to ‘yes’.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

So many bastards, so little time.

You are here: Home / Garden Chats / Monday Evening Open Thread

Monday Evening Open Thread

by | 118 Comments

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pollen count eden luckovich

(Mike Luckovich via GoComics.com)
.

This is my life, right now — despite three different forms of medication. And the tv weatherpeople are whispering about how potentially the worst allergy season ever is just beginning!

On the other hand, I spent a couple hours outside raking up the winterkill, and was rewarded with the sight of a fat bumblebee poking half-heartedly at the daffodils.

Climate or otherwise, what’s on the agenda for the evening?

Reader Interactions

118Comments

  3. 3.

    SuperHrefna

    Percocet! It’s my new best friend. And maybe some telly. I still haven’t finished Season 2 of Hannibal, plus I have Call the Midwife and Wolf Hall to watch. But owing to the Percocet I will probably put all that aside and watch My Cat From Hell or something similarly undemanding.

  4. 4.

    Phylllis

    Watching Antiques Roadshow. Hubs is out of town for work and the house is mighty quiet.

  6. 6.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    Starting my first week of getting serious about low-FODMAPs eating — tonight, mini meatloaves with mustard-maple glaze. I downloaded Kate Scarlata’s 21-day plan booklet for $10, but I got that particular recipe from the Once A Month Meals website. It’s very annoying to be following a restricted diet that’s not well known in the US.

    On the allergy front, I’m still surprised that I turned out to be allergic to virtually nothing, or at least nothing that’s commonly tested for. All of my sinus and bronchial issues are asthma alone.

  7. 7.

    Brendan in Charlotte

    Taxes!! And I’m off to a roaring start – can’t remember the security question to get my answer and password to log on….

  9. 9.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    @SuperHrefna:

    Food Network was usually my choice when I was heavily medicated after my knee surgery — for some reason, I found cooking shows to be both soothing and sufficiently interesting. Are you supposed to be doing anything else for self-care? I’m not sure what they would have you do to keep swelling down on the chestal area.

  10. 10.

    Baud

    Chris Hayes and guest were pointing out that future Cuba policy will be yet another a point of difference between the Dem and GOP nominee.

  11. 11.

    Major Major Major Major

    I called the eight month old kitty by name and he came! While he was eating no less.

    I mean he just sat there and looked at me funny, but… Progress!

  12. 12.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    @SuperHrefna:

    Australia is where most of the best FODMAPs research is coming from right now. I have the Monash U app for my iPhone, but a lot of the foods aren’t available in the US and some common US foods haven’t been tested. I’m supposed to do this for 3-4 weeks and then start trying to figure out which specific ones I’m most sensitive to.

  13. 13.

    BethanyAnne

    It’s been a solid month of pine tree bukkake here in Houston. Car’s just covered in yellow.

  14. 14.

    JPL

    @SuperHrefna: Call the Midwife was excellent but sad. Rylance’s portrayal of Cromwell is so engaging and I love the way that the series is showing more of a human side to Cromwell.
    Sunday night television spills over to Monday for me since I watch The Good Wife and Mr. Selfridge, also.

  18. 18.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @BethanyAnne:

    “Pine Tree Bukkake.” Almost a great band name, but eww. Although maybe there are some yoots out there sufficiently edgy to go for it.

  19. 19.

    Shana

    My hubby’s out of town for a couple of days, but taking a niece out to dinner while he’s in her town, so good for both of them. I’m starting to feel the pollen her in NoVA too today. Otherwise, taking care of making some arrangements for going to younger daughter’s graduation from U of Chicago in June. She’s done with her thesis and starting to enjoy her last quarter. She has an interview for a year-long internship in Dallas for next year coming up soon. She’s also applied for a couple of internships in the DC museums, which I’m selfishly hoping she gets instead of Dallas. It’d be nice to have her around again.

  21. 21.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Major Major Major Major: You still feeling better? She asked in hope for a positive response. Spring is wicked for the mood stuff and crossing time zones could not have been helpful.

  24. 24.

    lamh36

    @efgoldman: I’m not a fan of the Rocky films really, but ya can’t be Black and not love Apollo Creed from Rocky (although my fav Carl Weathers movie is “Action Jackson”) But I do like Micheal B Jordan though and I’d be happy just seeing him in the Apollo Creed boxing suit… :-)

    Apollo Creed

  25. 25.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @BethanyAnne:

    Same in Atlanta.

    I’m lucky. I get a little bit of congestion and a slight itchiness in the eyes, and I have to say it seems to be getting more noticeable each year, but nothing I can’t handle. My worst problem is that I wear black trousers pretty much every day, and whenever I sit down on an outdoors bench this time of year, I walk away with a bright yellow bottom :-)

  32. 32.

    SuperHrefna

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone): Weirdly enough I’m not allowed citrus, tomatoes or fizzy drinks for 24 hours. And I’m not allowed to shower for 48 hours. But mostly it’s a matter of wearing a supportive bra, not doing anything at all today and not doing anything strenuous for two weeks. They told me I will get swelling in the cavity where the mass was, but that it should pass.

  34. 34.

    Major Major Major Major

    @SiubhanDuinne: it’s japanese for a liquid pouring out strongly enough to cause splashing.

    It is used in the west in a fairly different sense.

    ETA: my mobile edit button works again! Oh frabjous day, kaloo kalay.

  39. 39.

    Violet

    Well, I’m back in from digging ditches. Two nights in a row. Fun!

    Fucking construction and their associated heavy vehicles and machinery have messed up the drainage. Recent rain has created a mess. I decided before it the rains come again later in the week I should try to do something about it. I’m tired.

  41. 41.

    Iowa Old Lady

    @Baud: My hairdresser’s husband is a very conservative politician, and she says he’s worried about Cuba. My mind boggles. What does he think Cuba will do that will harm the US?

    @JPL: We watched last night’s Wolf Hall tonight. It was so well done that I’m depressed by the events.

  42. 42.

    Josie

    @BethanyAnne: Same here in central Texas. Plus, in our little incorporated area we are on water restrictions and are forbidden to wash our cars, so I can’t hose the yellow crap off the top of my car. I may wait until the dark of night and take a chance on getting caught.

  45. 45.

    raven

    @efgoldman: Ours should start this week but I’m afraid the rain will delay it. Actually my ride in the Cobra Gunship will probably be postponed too!

  48. 48.

    Hal

    I saw a snippet of Clinton’s video and I have to say, when did you ever think a politician running for president would feature a gay couple looking forward to their summer marriage? At least a little progress.

  49. 49.

    Pogonip

    Has Geg6 reported in on whether her critters reached a modus vivendi? She was concerned about going back to work, about squabbling and about Lovey shrieking.

    You remember the Sad Puppies kerfuffle about the science fiction award? George R.R. Martin has actually become involved (is there nothing that man will not do to procrastinate)? From then it went into gleeful troll Vox Day, some lady whose name i forget who fears for her life when she goes to Australia (I also forget why, then, she keeps going) and some group called Required Hate, and that was where i decided the whole soap opera was getting too complex. Which is kind of a shame, because i did think of a way to settle it once and for all without cream pies at ten paces. I don’t think along standard liberal or conservative divides. Half my opinions would enrage Juicers, the other half conservatives. Therefore, if i write a book and it even gets published, much less wins the Nebula or Hugo Award, whichever it is they fight about, that would prove that the process is pretty much honest. So maybe I’ll try that and see what happens. For the record, the only award I’D be interested in is the prestigious twice-yearly Royalty Check Award, so that makes me another good test case: i won’t end up in either clique. So during my Intertubes break, i shall attempt to come up with a storyline!

  50. 50.

    Roger Moore

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone):

    Food Network was usually my choice when I was heavily medicated after my knee surgery — for some reason, I found cooking shows to be both soothing and sufficiently interesting.

    That’s what they like to show in the canteen at the blood donor center at work. It has the advantage of being generally non-offensive and non-political, so they don’t have to worry about it bothering people. I wish more medical places had the same policy.

  52. 52.

    scav

    @Iowa Old Lady: I found it soothing today, go figure. Perhaps because they leave all those pauses in and don’t babble. Not good people, necessarily, but at least they expect intelligence. Plus all the cloths and stonework. And the glasses of Thomas More/Anton Lesser. Good pet episode for this lot.

  53. 53.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @SuperHrefna: Follow the post-op restrictions and stay ahead of the pain with your perkoset. It’s hard to catch up once you get behind (speaking from experience). it’s good news that your doc thought it looked unlike a malignant mass. I wish you an uneventful recovery and a good path report.

  54. 54.

    srv

    I had no idear

    Five faith facts about Marco Rubio: From Catholic to Mormon and back to Catholic

    Isn’t that illegal or something?

  56. 56.

    ruemara

    I’m feeling slightly more confident about this trailer. Which is often about as high praise as I ever offer myself.

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’m sorry I wasn’t here to warn you.

  58. 58.

    Violet

    @efgoldman: I wouldn’t mind so much if the neighbors would be nice about it, like raven has been with his neighbors during the sewer work. Let people know, keep them updated, etc. But we’ve been dealing with new construction and some remodeling on all sides for a year. It was relentless. At some point you just start feeling like you’re constantly on alert guarding your property. I needed a moat and crocodiles. Or arrows I could set on fire.

    The construction finished a few months ago but then one of the new builds decided she had to put in a pool. Of course. And she had to access it via a right-of-way behind several properties, including mine. And then she buggered off to Paris. Of course. So she doesn’t know what the pool people are doing. The right-of-way that used to be virtually unused is now a rut-filled mess and a mosquito breeding ground. All the neighbors hate this lady at this point. She has made no friends in the neighborhood. When people are out walking their dogs or whatever we stop and bitch about her selfishness and lack of consideration for the rest of the neighbors.

    And then the drainage, which has never been a problem, has become a mess in the last year. One more reason to detest these people, as if I needed another one.

  62. 62.

    Steeplejack

    @raven:

    I think she said pet threads would be excepted, and since she mentioned pets . . . well, there you have it.

  65. 65.

    raven

    @Violet: Damn! We’re hoping the addition doesn’t bother folks too much. We don’t want to put the dumpster in our rental-nest-door-driveway bit, if we do, we’ll give our tenant another break on her rent.

  66. 66.

    Gene108

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    Cuba could land a MLB team?

    If full relations are restored, could be a way for MLB to expand to Latin America.

    Take the Marlins and move them to Cuba, where folks would be excited to have a team.

    Geographically a shorter hop than the Dodgers and Giants to California.

  69. 69.

    PurpleGirl

    @efgoldman: She also planned not to read all threads but just certain ones. She said she might comment but didn’t want to be too tied up in a thread. So this is an open thread and she could comment here without getting too involved in the topic, I guess.

  71. 71.

    Violet

    @SiubhanDuinne: There is not much you can do when dealing with asshole neighbors who are NOT raven.or don’t act neighborly like raven did. What exactly are you suggesting we have a word with raven about? I’m not the one DOING a project. I’m dealing with the assholes who are.

  72. 72.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @raven: Precisely why if I get crazy busy I’ll just let y’all wonder. Plus were I to expire, M. Q is aware he is to advise Balloon Juice, just like any other crowd of friends whether imaginary (a he calls online pals) or irl. A couple of people have my email in any event.

  73. 73.

    Roger Moore

    @efgoldman:

    In fact, I know toddlers with more self-control then the RWNJs. For one thing, any sensible toddler learns quickly that tantrums don’t work.

    That depends a lot on their parents. Some parents give in to the tantrums and are rewarded with more of them. The political lesson from that should not be hard to grasp.

  74. 74.

    Elizabelle

    @SuperHrefna: Wishing you the best as you recuperate. Percocet rocks.

    May I ask why you chose your ‘nym, and what it means? Caught a bit on earlier thread about your being from Berlin [?]

    Had a lovely walk, two cocktails, some time under the stars and what — Venus? What’s the planet out (early) over the DC area. Plotting to dress up some ramen noodles. Watching Law & Order.

    Studiously avoiding the starbursts over young Rubio. Gag.

  76. 76.

    Shana

    @efgoldman: We had that done today, markings from Miss Utility. Our mid-80’s constructed house was built with that crap plastic piping. We had enough leaks over the years to qualify for having the whole house replumbed as part of the class action law suit, but they never did anything with the pipes outside and now the main line leading from the street to the house (about 120 feet) has broken down and we’ve been living with having to go turn the water main on and off when we need water for the last week. The plumbers are coming to fix it Thursday, so if you’re keeping track at home that means that we will have lived with this for two weeks. And then have the joy of paying almost $10,000 to have it done on top of paying taxes this week. Sigh.

  78. 78.

    Pogonip

    @Violet: Some jurisdictions will cite people who maintain mosquito breeding grounds. It’s worth a tey.

    Goodnight! Call me if pupdates occur!

  81. 81.

    raven

    @Shana: You could rent a ditch witch and do it yourself. That’s a hell of a lot of dough for a water supply line that doesn’t get buried that deep.

  82. 82.

    Violet

    @raven: See, that’s how a proper neighbor and landlord behaves! Follows the law, makes every effort not to bother people, makes amends if you do. That sort of thing. These people have broken laws–done things like park heavy machinery and trucks in front of people’s driveways blocking them in and then shrugging when you go to find them to ask them to move. Oh, and stealing packages being delivered when people are at work. Caught one of them doing that.

    I really can’t describe just how much of a nightmare this has been. We thought it was over and then the pool work started.

  87. 87.

    Violet

    @Pogonip: Unfortunately it’s on a city right-of-way and the way the laws work in this particular location is that the city won’t maintain it. So…. Hate this new neighbor. HATE.

  88. 88.

    Roger Moore

    @Shana:
    Ugh. My building- I live in an apartment-style condo building- is looking at replacing all our vertical piping. The building was built in 1964, so our original galvanized pipe is now over 50 years old, and it shows. I am looking forward to having new piping, but not the process of getting from here to there.

  89. 89.

    raven

    @Shana: There were several. A woman that plays cello and has been with of Montreal and Gnarls Barkley came back from LA. The one with Hamm, Silverman Paul Rudd and a bunch of other celebs was someone from “Bob’s Burgers”, a writer I think. In a town that is known to be cool about Stipe sitings it was suprising how start struck people were on Facebook.

  90. 90.

    Steeplejack

    Fairly uneventful day. Minor thrill of finally pulling the trigger on a couple of things from Amazon: Bluetooth speaker and Bluetooth dongle to remedy about the only thing I don’t like about my tiny ThinkPad notebook (X130e)—the internal speakers are woefully weak.

    I bought one of these speakers when I was in Las Vegas recently as a thank-you present for the friend I stayed with. (Hidden agenda to see if I liked it and would want one for myself.) She does everything on her iPad—binge-watches TV series and really likes music—and it turned out to be a great gift. When I ordered mine I paid a few extra bucks to get the slightly more powerful, “outdoor” (water-resistant) version. Added the Bluetooth dongle because, although the speaker can be connected directly to the computer (cord included), I really liked the freedom we had at my friend’s house to move the speaker around without being it tethered to the tablet. And when the ThinkPad is on my desk at home it already has a lot of cords connected to it: power, network, Das Keyboard (clicky, clicky awesomeness!).

    Also ran the tune-up routine on my Nexus 7 tablet posted by Sister Rail Gun a few days back. I didn’t have to change a lot of settings, but I did plumb the depths of the developer options and also executed the dreaded recovery cache wipe. Performance seems to be somewhat improved in limited use. Will continue to observe and report.

  91. 91.

    Shana

    @raven: You obviously don’t know me or hubby very well. Besides, it’s a hill with mature oaks all over along with other landscaping. The plan is to bring in one of those boring machines to drill a hole 3 feet down and put in new copper piping to replace the plastic. Digging would take a week and tear up all the plants.

  93. 93.

    Violet

    @Shana: Yes, I like where I live. It’s just been nightmarish to deal with. I wouldn’t mind it if people would be nice and neighborly about it and helpful if there are problems. It has been an exhausting year in many ways but coming home to find what disaster the construction people have unleashed today has been another level of stress I didn’t need.

  94. 94.

    raven

    @Shana: Cooper? No wonder it’s $10k. Our rental water line was way off of our property so they moved it and put in a new black plastic line while the sidewalk was cracke.

  95. 95.

    trollhattan

    @efgoldman:
    Searching for a downside to your suggestions…searching, searching….

    The Raiders: eight perfectly good home-field teevee slots squandered per season. Rot in hell, Al, and prepare a cell for Cheney while you’re at it.

  97. 97.

    max

    @efgoldman: The NFL should send the Raiders to Baffin Island, or maybe the Ross ice shelf, or Neptune.

    Or Los Angeles.

    max
    [‘Same difference really.’]

  98. 98.

    Zinsky

    This fat old bumblebee of a husband might poke half-heartedly at my daffodil of a wife, if you get my drift….

  100. 100.

    SuperHrefna

    @Elizabelle: No, I’m British, not a Berliner ( cool city, tho. Or it was in the 90’s, haven’t been there recently). Hrefna is a name I use around the Internet quite often – it’s Icelandic and means female raven. ( the corresponding male name is Hrafn) I love ravens, and I have many fond memories of Iceland, my father lived there in the 70s, he’s a dark, brooding and ornery sort and I think he wanted to live somewhere Britain was at war with. SuperHrefna was a suggestion YouTube ‘s sign up software came up with since the nym Hrefna was taken there and it made me giggle, so there you are!

  102. 102.

    gogol's wife

    @eemom:

    Yes, I just read that. It’s a great column, and a great antidote to all the stuff I waded through in the news section about how she’s going to have to “define herself.”

    She’s a Democrat. Enough said.

  103. 103.

    Elizabelle

    @SuperHrefna: Thank you for answering. Icelandic, yet. Did not see that coming.

    You had that lovely recipe — for something — that included rose water, a few months back.

  104. 104.

    Steeplejack

    @efgoldman:

    I got mine from Woot too, back in January (?). Had been lusting and dithering for over a year, and then after I got it I spent a week kicking myself for not getting it sooner. For a fast touch typist it’s ecstasy. Like a musician having a good instrument.

  105. 105.

    gogol's wife

    @raven:

    I can’t imagine how anyone would be able to follow it if you weren’t either expert on Tudor history or had read the novel. I’ve read the novel, so I am really enjoying it, but it’s not done in a crystal-clear way for people who haven’t. It’s kind of illustrating favorite scenes from the novel rather than creating a new narration, or at least it feels that way to me.

  107. 107.

    WaterGirl

    @Steeplejack:

    Minor thrill of finally pulling the trigger

    Oh my god, not Steeplejack, too. (I thought, until I got to the rest of the sentence.)

  108. 108.

    Ajabu

    @JPL: Done your research on me yet? I may be old (& broke) but musically I’m the real deal. (And, I guess, too old to be humble about it…)
    Thanks for caring.

  109. 109.

    BethanyAnne

    @trollhattan: Oh, sweet! I’ve been looking at having a WASD keyboard built. Probably go with Cherry Blacks. I bought a Cherry sampler kit, and like the feel of the black best.

  110. 110.

    BethanyAnne

    Nice side benefit of going with WASD: I can have the keys screened with custom art. Which means I can do “Open Apple” and “Closed Apple” as control keys, ’cause I’m officially An Old.

  111. 111.

    SuperHrefna

    @Elizabelle: Ooh, I wonder what it was? I put rose water into so many things – sweet potato salad, whipped cream, scones, smoothies… Rose and cardamom are two of my favorite things.

  112. 112.

    Mike E

    @raven: PBS aired a docu on Henry VIII that did a nice job on his whole sordid tyrannical reign…if you’re doing business with the Big Dog, don’t expect job security especially when it comes to his predilections, if’n you know what I mean ;-)

    The drama’s use of movement, blocking and position is done quite well and says everything about who’s up and who’s down…think of the low post on a basketball court and it makes a lot more sense!

  113. 113.

    PurpleGirl

    @Mike E:

    PBS aired a docu on Henry VIII that did a nice job on his whole sordid tyrannical reign.

    You mean Inside the Court of Henry VIII? I’ve seen most of it twice now, keep missing the starting time. I’ll try to watch on the computer next. It’s a good show and fills in some of the politics of the court and Henry’s reign and background. I haven’t read the Wlkf Hall novels but I know a little something of the Tudor period, Queen Mary and then Queen Elizabeth I.

  114. 114.

    Mike E

    @PurpleGirl: That’s it…I love the “No Henry, no USA” assertion by one historian, but his mark on history was profound if unintentional.

    Certainly, no Henry, no Elizabeth I.

  115. 115.

    Aleta

    @SuperHrefna: Had a friend who loved to give dinner parties. He had thought up one single menu, and he always used that same menu every time. The dessert was always bittersweet chocolate ice cream with rose (water or extract?) sprinkled over it.

  117. 117.

    shell

    Annie, you must remember this eternal truth: Every allergy season is ALWAYS the worst allergy season EVER!

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