This is a fairly large gator upriver from me:
Probably eight or nine feet, I’m guessing. Wouldn’t want to swim past it!
And here’s a swallow-tailed kite:
Enjoying your evening so far?
Open thread!
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NotMax
Why are lazy Sundays so much more pleasurable than lazy any other days?
debbie
Wouldn’t want to live near it!
debbie
I would, however, like that gator to take a run at this person.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I swear I was never afraid of Florida pre-twitter, where it seems like there’s monstrous-gator news every ding-dong day
SiubhanDuinne
O/T, but as far as I can determine (subject to correction), Trump hasn’t yet made any kind of public statement of concern or condolence about the lives lost — including eight American lives — in the Ethiopian Air disaster.
Even Reagan would have released something by now.
burnspbesq
@debbie:
No self-respecting gator would eat that crap.
bystander
He’s probably thinking the very same thing.
Betty Cracker
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: It’s not the gators you have to worry about.
Van Buren
My sister is camping by some river in Florida and sent a picture of a similar gator at a similar distance from her tent.
I’ll stick to the Adirondacks, thanks.
?BillinGlendaleCA
Went on a shoot last night with the local photography group to Pasadena, Pasadena City Hall. If you look real carefully you can see the moon and the lower portion of Orion.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Betty Cracker: tell it to Poke Salad Annie’s Granny (chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp)
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Betty Cracker: It’s the MAGA’s.
BruceFromOhio
Sheesh, and I was bitching about the deer eating the lilacs.
More totally goofing off today. BBQ chicken for dinner. Catching up on my video game fu. Trying not to think about the week ahead. Le sigh.
debbie
@SiubhanDuinne:
Checked his feed and there’s nothing yet, but I found this gem from yesterday:
Jerzy Russian
@debbie: In the spirit of previous threads, that dickhead should either be subjected to flung monkey shit, or should be attacked by a flock of geese and/or swans.
SiubhanDuinne
When I lived in Florida (1969-75), my then-husband used to golf nearly every weekend, and if I weren’t scheduled to work the morning shift at WUSF-FM, I would sometimes accompany him and his foursome as their Designated Golf Cart Driver. Don’t even remember the name of the course where they played, but it was lousy with gators — mostly babies, but every now and then, a big scary bull alligator.
This explains why I was always happy to be assigned the sign-on shift at WUSF.
burnspbesq
@debbie:
He’s probably thinking about how much he can charge Ethiopia for the NTSB’S assistance in the investigation, and how he can pocket it.
Yutsano
All I see is dat gator’s good eatin’!
James E Powell
Looking at it in the photo, I can see it is a fairly large gator. But if I were anywhere near it I’d call it HOLY SHIT
frosty
Yes, so far. After spending the day on the computer I looked out, saw blue sky and heard birds chirping. So I went for a walk. Now it looks like I have to spend some of the rest of the evening paying bills.
debbie
@burnspbesq:
You know, that attitude of his is really ticking me off. I think all the countries ought to submit bills to Trump for the assistance they rendered after 9/11. See what he says then.
frosty
Including another check to the IRS because I did my taxes on time last year then got mixed up on whether I efiled or mailed them and consequently didn’t file at all.
Can I just tell them I’ll be glad to send them the $$ as soon as they clear accounts with the Trumps, Kochs, and Mercers?
Wag
@Jerzy Russian:
Or attacked by a kangaroo
https://deadspin.com/kangaroo-congratulates-paragliders-safe-landing-with-a-1833175745
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve been struck by how nice it would be to have a back yard, rather than the mudflat we now have. There’s no grass. Only mud. Well, dirt when it’s dry out.
Also, when are we going to have another one of those writer chats? I want advice, damn it!
zhena gogolia
The Melissa Clark sausage-potato-red-cabbage recipe was delicious, in case anyone’s interested. (NYTimes so I won’t link.)
trollhattan
So when you say “upriver” that means it could come visit just putting into the current, and wouldn’t even have to paddle those chubby gator feet along the way.
Say “howdy” for me!
trollhattan
@Wag:
“Fuckin’ kangaroos.”
The most Australian thing possible.
Still laughing.
SiubhanDuinne
@Yutsano:
Tastes like chicken!
ruemara
Lying on the sofa for a bit. I’ve been dealing with a bad Achilles tendon thing for a couple of years now & the new acupuncturist has made serious progress in less morning pain & stiffness. So I decided to indulge in 1 Zumba class last week. No pain, at least not much during. Woke up Friday so stiff & in constant pain. Even warming up wasn’t helping. The acupuncturist had to jab a needle in there & today I had a sports massage treatment. I don’t think I’ve ever had as much pain as her working on my calves. I’m not very happy with this & I’m tired. I really want my legs back to normal & I miss dancing. This has to clear up before September when my rent jumps up again. I can’t swing all the out of pocket treatments indefinitely.
Just whining, tired & trying to get back up & finish my work to prep for next week, don’t mind my cranky.
SiubhanDuinne
@trollhattan:
“What’s up, Skip?”
The second-most Australian thing possible.
schrodingers_cat
@zhena gogolia: Ever since I swore off NYT, their cooking section is what I miss the most. They have the best food and cooking section, better than the dedicated food/recipe sites like Gourmet or Food Network.
Rob
That’s a mighty big gator. I’m glad the kites are back; maybe soon one will wander up DC way.
schrodingers_cat
Is that crocodile what BC sees from her porch? I am scared of lizards, that thing would scare the crap out of me.
Lapassionara
Thanks for the photo of the kite, Betty.
cmorenc
@Betty Cracker:
You’ve moved to the land of dragons and creatures without shoulders. Scenic, but watch your step, cause the creatures be watching yours :=)
HumboldtBlue
It’s a gorgeous, sunny, late-winter day in Humboldt and we need some sun after a winter of pounding rain.
Despite the lovely weather I have some dreadful news to pass along.
Many of you were not only interested but expressed your care and support for my niece and her son who was born with some serious issues in January.
He’s not going to make it and I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so sad.
After a long talk with the doctors they decided DNR was in order. Little guy never had a chance.
I just don’t know what the fuck to say or do.
Fucking bullshit.
Ramalama
@Betty Cracker: Is it a terrible tease to be on the water (or near it) and not be able to swim in it?
Yutsano
@HumboldtBlue: Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry for you and your family. Any chance for another opinion here?
eemom
@HumboldtBlue:
I am so sorry to hear this. It is heartbreaking.
WaterGirl
@HumboldtBlue: That’s so tragic, I hardly know what to say. I am so very sorry. I don’t know how a parent gets over that, but I hope they will find a way.
HumboldtBlue
@Yutsano:
No. It’s gotten to the end point.
@eemom:
It fucking hurts and there is nothing to make it better.
japa21
Right now sitting with some friends just south and east of Naples right by the Everglades. Arrived yesterday and staying until Friday. Did air boat in mangrove swamps today. Gators abound and one heck of a lot of birds you don’t see around Chicago. Camera has been very busy.
dexwood
So sad. Strength, comfort, and peace to all of you.
debbie
@HumboldtBlue:
So very sorry.
zhena gogolia
@HumboldtBlue:
I’m so sorry. That is horrible.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@HumboldtBlue: so sorry, wishing peace to you and the baby’s family
eemom
@HumboldtBlue:
I know. There isn’t. Heart goes out to all of you, and especially your niece.
Rob
@HumboldtBlue:
I am so sorry to read this. My heart goes out to all of you.
Amir Khalid
@HumboldtBlue:
I don’t think there is anything to be said, really. Virtual hugs from me.
mrmoshpotato
@burnspbesq: No self-respecting gator would eat that crap.
HumboldtBlue
Thank you all, you’re all very kind.
Sorry to have brought the dark cloud. Not the most welcome post on a Sunday evening.
There are drinks and snacks upstairs with AnnieLaurie.
Yes, I’m probably gonna get drunk
eemom
@HumboldtBlue:
You should do whatever you need to. Just take care of yourself and be safe.
sgrAstar
@Van Buren: @Van Buren:
“Camping” and “gator” are two words which should never appear in the same sentence. Spoken as one who has had numerous experiences with California black bears, and even worse…the scourges of the Sierra, (shudder) raccoons.
Kathleen
@HumboldtBlue: My heart goes out to you and your family. Do take good care of yourself.
Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho
@HumboldtBlue: Heartbreaking. No words are adequate.
Please do whatever it takes to get through the awful sorrow, all of you. I’m holding you all in the light.
sgrAstar
And ps, Betty- that thing is magnificent! Thanks for sharing that superb photo. My own environs are heavily infested by chickadees…not really in the same class.
kindness
How do you teach a dog to stay away from alligators? That is a toughie.
Miss Bianca
Heat. Humidity. Bugs. Gators. Huge and/or venomous snakes of every description. Did I mention bugs? All reasons I could never, ever live in Florida. Oh, and don’t you have jellyfish, too?
You Floridians are way, way tougher than I.
mrmoshpotato
@Miss Bianca: Lack of real seasons. Hurricanes. Rick Scott. Marco Rubio. Whoever the new governor is.
The Pale Scot
@ Betty
Thank you, I keep thinking those are Frigate Birds but I know it’s the wrong hemisphere
TomatoQueen
@HumboldtBlue: So very sad to see this news. Hoping for peace and comfort for you and your family.
TomatoQueen
@Miss Bianca: I ran away from Florida after ten years, don’t miss all those things. A Great Blue Heron at one’s elbow while trying to catch dinner, or mile after mile of orange blossom fragrance, or the night sky above the Everglades (there’s a place toward the Naples end of Alligator Alley where the road curves and you can stop for a moment to look up), drinks and a bucket of garlic shrimp at Durty Nelly’s, the smell of rotten baitfish when catching blue runner on the Pompano Pier, none of those things tempt now. DeSantis, new dubious governor, is saying and doing wrt the Water Problem many right and righteous things, hasn’t put a foot wrong on that issue yet. We shall see.
J R in WV
@HumboldtBlue:
I’ll have a drink with you. That’s terrible news, though not surprising. It’s bad enough to lose an old friend, but a brand new nephew, that’s a whole different world of hurt.
So sorry for your loss — please share our sympathy with your niece and her family.
Ron
I love the photos, thanks!
Luciamia
Hell.yes,I’d agree that’s a fairly large gator. He looks pretty well fed too. Any of your neighbors gone missing recently?
Another Scott
Pretty gator.
Our Ellie was barking up a storm in the backyard earlier today. I went out to see what it was… She found a garter snake, maybe as big around as my thumb, in some leaves near the fence. She really didn’t like it being there, and the snake didn’t like being bothered. I eventually got her to go away far enough that I could poke it with a twig and throw some leaves over it, but it wasn’t interested in leaving. So we went inside.
Dunno how Ellie would have reacted to the gator… ;-)
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
@HumboldtBlue: I’m very sorry. :-(
Condolences to you and your family.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Betty Cracker
@HumboldtBlue: How awful and sad. I’m so sorry. :(