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You are here: Home / Nature & Respite / Respite Open Thread: Little Turtle Having A Ball

Respite Open Thread: Little Turtle Having A Ball

by TaMara|  March 21, 201912:10 am| 60 Comments

This post is in: Nature & Respite, Open Threads

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This made me happy.

I’ve had some requests for a place to talk about anything that is not politics. So I’m collecting some pet pics and I’ll try and get some fresh pics of my crew this week, and I’ll try to make a post a day with something fun and NON-POLITICAL.

Please honor that for the jackals who need a break. Be kind.

Send me your pet pics or good stories:  whats4dinnersolutions (at) live (dot) com

I’m watching Queer Eye – I’m way behind – I can only do one episode a week or so, because I find them so emotional. I love these guys.  I also usually end my evening with an episode of Dick Van Dyke while I pick up around the house. Like a warm, funny hug before turning off all the electronics and opening a book. Which btw, the two I’m reading now are Good Omens and our Dorothy Winsor’s Finders Keepers. I’m a very…..slow….reader….mostly because I love to savor my books.

Politics-free open thread

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Reader Interactions

60Comments

  1. 1.

    Sab

    March 21, 2019 at 12:16 am

    I used to live in Las Vegas. Some of my neighbors had desert tortoises. Occassionally they would make a break for it. If I found them I would bring them home. I always wondered what was so awful that they would dig under the wall and escape into traffic. Ignorance? Not enough lettuce? Loneliness? Boredom?

  2. 2.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 21, 2019 at 12:18 am

    Just realized what day this was. The day my brother and his national guard unit were ambushed on the road to Iraq.

    http://netnebraska.org/article/news/966277/it-got-scary-nebraska-national-guard-soldiers-reflect-ambush-iraq-10-years-later

  3. 3.

    Sab

    March 21, 2019 at 12:21 am

    @TaMara (HFG): Jeez!

  4. 4.

    Jerzy Russian

    March 21, 2019 at 12:23 am

    One of the neighbors has some sort of tortoises in the back yard. He was out in our backyard beyond the fence looking for one of them one day. I even helped him look. It turns out it was hiding in or near their small pond. I learned that it was not uncommon for them to make a run for it, where “run” is a relative term.

  5. 5.

    eemom

    March 21, 2019 at 12:23 am

    @Sab:

    um….captivity?

  6. 6.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 21, 2019 at 12:24 am

    @Sab: Yeah. They get together every year and have a beer. And I tell them they are my heroes.

  7. 7.

    Sab

    March 21, 2019 at 12:28 am

    @eemom: I don’t know. And their alternative is extinction. But they don’t know that. I do know they aren’t big on sharing yards with dogs.

  8. 8.

    seaboogie

    March 21, 2019 at 12:29 am

    I love Queer Eye, and this season is the best yet. These gentle men are so kind and compassionate. I take care of what media I take in for my psyche, and this show is so full of compassion and generous spirit.

  9. 9.

    Adam L Silverman

    March 21, 2019 at 12:30 am

    @TaMara (HFG): They were very fortunate. And they did good!

  10. 10.

    Sab

    March 21, 2019 at 12:33 am

    @eemom: I don’t know. And their alternative is extinction. But they don’t know that. I do know they aren’t big on sharing yards with dogs.

    The turtle in the clip seems very young, not a two hundred year old who has seen and done it all.

  11. 11.

    eclare

    March 21, 2019 at 12:33 am

    Awww, so cute! I love Queer Eye too, those guys are so uplifting. I saw them on Kimmel and Karamo said that he does have a mental health/therapy background and degree, so that explains how he has those wonderful conversations.

    That story about the ambush, yes, they are heroes.

  12. 12.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 21, 2019 at 12:33 am

    Speedy tortuga!

    Enjoying a Ronnie James Dio tribute album here. About to start watching a documentary about Rush (the awesome Canadian band!).

  13. 13.

    Adam L Silverman

    March 21, 2019 at 12:36 am

    Is this appropriate? I don’t want to transgress.

    Remembering gospel pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, born 104 years ago. When asked about music in the 1960s, she said, “Oh, these kids and rock & roll — that is just sped up rhythm & blues. I've been doing that forever.“ In 2018, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/VtSSiM1db6

    — Dust-to-Digital (@dusttodigital) March 20, 2019

  14. 14.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 21, 2019 at 12:39 am

    @Adam L Silverman: I saw that earlier today and just loved it!

  15. 15.

    Lyrebird

    March 21, 2019 at 12:39 am

    Thanks, I needed a Dodo thread.

    The Google thing where you put notes in is fun, too. (Open a new Google window.)

    Should sleep.

    Best wishes to all of y’all.

  16. 16.

    Yutsano

    March 21, 2019 at 12:40 am

    @TaMara (HFG): Wow. Salutations to all of them including your brother.

    I’m on day 4 outside hospital. Second day of physio kicked my butt but I can feel things slowly getting stronger. Tomorrow I know I need to move more so that is the goal so I’m not stiff come my next session Friday. It’s going to take a while to get back to where I was, but it’s gonna come along.

  17. 17.

    Adam L Silverman

    March 21, 2019 at 12:42 am

    @Yutsano: Excellent news!

  18. 18.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 21, 2019 at 12:42 am

    @Adam L Silverman: I have so many stories about my brother’s tour. That was a bad night. I was so proud of them. And Yahoo will forever have my thanks because we kept in touch every day we could via their video app at no charge.

  19. 19.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 21, 2019 at 12:46 am

    @Lyrebird: That was fun!

    @Yutsano: So good to hear!!

    Okay, I have to put the ducks to bed and then turn off all the electronics. Play nice.

  20. 20.

    Adam L Silverman

    March 21, 2019 at 12:48 am

    @TaMara (HFG): They all made it out alive, that’s all that matters.

  21. 21.

    Aleta

    March 21, 2019 at 12:48 am

    If you love Dick Van Dyke you’ve probably seen this. In case you haven’t, it’s wonderful.
    Dick Van Dyke and Arlene Silver Van Dyke singing Young at Heart

  22. 22.

    MoxieM

    March 21, 2019 at 12:55 am

    TaMara, I’m awfully glad everybody came home. In your (their) honor, a lil vid about the fun of Big Dogs. Happy Spring everyone!

  23. 23.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 21, 2019 at 12:55 am

    @Aleta: That was sweet. Thanks.

  24. 24.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 21, 2019 at 1:03 am

    I finally picked up the Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin. It’s so good!

  25. 25.

    Rose Weiss

    March 21, 2019 at 1:07 am

    QE is an absolutely wonderful show and I love it. Those guys are all so talented in their various ways, and so amazingly generous. It’s inspiring. Truly, sometimes the show has given me new hope in humanity.

  26. 26.

    prostratedragon

    March 21, 2019 at 1:15 am

    Thanks for the marvelous turtle! And it’s always good to be reminded of Sister Rosetta.

  27. 27.

    Achrachno

    March 21, 2019 at 1:16 am

    @Sab: Yes, young, well-nourished, and growing fast. Look at all that pale color between the scutes!

    I’d bet “he” thinks that ball is a fruit of some sort. Greedy little guy.

  28. 28.

    Redshift

    March 21, 2019 at 1:17 am

    Today was the last radiation treatment for thymoma (a tumor of the thymus gland) for our bunny Rory. Other than being a little wobbly from the anesthetic for a few hours, she’s doing fine.

    Our vet caught it very early, there were no visible symptoms, just a muffled-sounding heartbeat during her checkup. Apparently on the x-rays, it was big enough to push her heart a bit out of place, and now that’s pretty much back to normal. Yay!

    She’s eight years old, so there’s a decent chance it won’t recur in her lifetime.

  29. 29.

    seabooge

    March 21, 2019 at 1:19 am

    @Redshift: yay for your bunny!

  30. 30.

    seabooge

    March 21, 2019 at 1:24 am

    My comment is awaiting moderation – can only assume the offending word rhymes with *funny*

  31. 31.

    seabooge

    March 21, 2019 at 1:26 am

    Really!?

  32. 32.

    meander

    March 21, 2019 at 1:26 am

    I’m quite interested in Japanese cooking, so I was delighted to find the show ‘Trails to Tsukiji’ on the NHK World network a few months ago. Each 30 minute episode focuses on a certain ingredient — like cabbage or soy sauce — starts at the Tsukiji market, and then visits farms, factories and restaurants to learn how it is grown/made/harvested/cooked.

    Here’s the top page: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/tsukiji/20190320/2054085/

    Some great episodes currently available on-line: Miso, Konnyaku, Turnip, Soy Sauce.

  33. 33.

    West of the Rockies

    March 21, 2019 at 1:33 am

    @Aleta:

    That was awesome, Aleta! Thanks for sharing.

  34. 34.

    seaboogie

    March 21, 2019 at 1:34 am

    @Redshift: yay for your bunny!

  35. 35.

    StringOnAStick

    March 21, 2019 at 1:34 am

    @Yutsano: I hear you on PT. I’m 9 days out from a total knee and today they graduated me to one crutch. Of course we did a bunch of other stuff and tonight I’m so stiff it’s back to the walker. At least for tonight anyway. There steps forward, one step back.

  36. 36.

    Adam L Silverman

    March 21, 2019 at 1:34 am

    @seabooge: You know what you did!

  37. 37.

    Adam L Silverman

    March 21, 2019 at 1:35 am

    I’m racking out. So you all stay out of moderation!

  38. 38.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    March 21, 2019 at 1:38 am

    @StringOnAStick: Nothing compared to you or Yutsano, but I’m still feeling the effects of the walk up the trail to see the flowers, my calf muscles are really stiff. The flowers were still incredible, so it was worth it. Here’s what the trail looked like.

  39. 39.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 21, 2019 at 1:43 am

    @meander: ooh, I’ll have to check that out, thanks!

  40. 40.

    VividBlueDotty

    March 21, 2019 at 2:36 am

    Animal threads are always fun. Here’s some news from my neck of the woods from earlier today

    Wayward wallaby captured, returned to owner after jaunt through Old East Dallas

    The news source is behind a paywall, but here’s a link to the video.

  41. 41.

    sukabi

    March 21, 2019 at 2:40 am

    Apparently RedBull gives you flaming wings

    That was the fireball over la this evening

  42. 42.

    joel hanes

    March 21, 2019 at 2:42 am

    @Adam L Silverman:

    You know what you did do!

    Move ZIG.
    For great justice.

  43. 43.

    NotMax

    March 21, 2019 at 3:12 am

    1) Good Omens premieres on Amazon Prime at the end of May,.

    2) When the Petri family well runs dry, from about the same time period there are four seasons of The Many Love of Dobie Gillis on Prime to scratch that comedy itch. Also the entire 1955 season of What’s My Line?. Bonus (from this century), three seasons of Miranda.

  44. 44.

    opiejeanne

    March 21, 2019 at 3:36 am

    @Adam L Silverman: Like Tamara, I saw this earlier and loved it too. This is one of the good things about Twitter, this ability to surprise and delight us, and educate us.

    My jazz history class never mentioned her nor any other woman other than the widow of a jazzman who took her husband’s place in his ensemble, and whose names escape me. I’m not even sure Ella was mentioned. Oh yes, I learned about Bix and Monk and Earl Fatha Hines in that class, but there was no mention of Ma Rainey, no Bessie Smith, no Sister Rosetta or any of the other women.

  45. 45.

    opiejeanne

    March 21, 2019 at 3:40 am

    @Redshift: Hooray for bunny’s recovery.

  46. 46.

    Dan B

    March 21, 2019 at 3:41 am

    @Yutsano: Hi Yutsano! Didn’t catch what put you in hospital but keep getting better. You didn’t miss much good weather and now it looks like it might really be spring. Seattle parks were full of people playing in the sun and sweating in the almost 80 degrees it hit yesterday and today – 79 officially. Hottest winter day on record yesterday. Wishing you some time in warm breezes!

  47. 47.

    Doug

    March 21, 2019 at 3:51 am

    Good Omens is so wonderful! It’s one of those books I have to be careful about picking up, because once I do the chances are good that I won’t do anything else until I have finished reading it.

  48. 48.

    Bluemouser

    March 21, 2019 at 4:21 am

    @Doug: Love Good Omens! Or anything by PTerry and most works by Gaiman. There is a really good audio play version by BBC. It’s almost as fantastic as the audio play of Neverwhere

  49. 49.

    rikyrah

    March 21, 2019 at 4:39 am

    That was too cute ??

  50. 50.

    sm*t cl*de

    March 21, 2019 at 4:48 am

    @Achrachno:

    I’d bet “he” thinks that ball is a fruit of some sort. Greedy little guy.

    Or a very well-endowed turtle of the appropriate sex.

  51. 51.

    J R in WV

    March 21, 2019 at 4:50 am

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I can’t think but that Sister Roseta Tharp was another old time giant — a blues rock guitarist that helped found Rock & Roll in the ’50s with old blues electrified and fast.

  52. 52.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 21, 2019 at 4:51 am

    @rikyrah: Good barely morning! ?

  53. 53.

    J R in WV

    March 21, 2019 at 4:55 am

    @Yutsano:

    Wow, that’s good news. You have to do the hard work now, the PT guys will usually know how hard to push, when, where, for every particular physical issue. Sometimes they hold us back, other times they push til it hurts a little. Take your time, but be persistent, that’s worked best for me. I gotta stick with it, for me, forever. whenever things act up or I have a chance.

    Best wishes for a full recovery, better than in a long while!

  54. 54.

    OzarkHillbilly

    March 21, 2019 at 4:57 am

    @sm*t cl*de: Either that or the evil Darth Turtler that he must vanquish.

  55. 55.

    BruceFromOhio

    March 21, 2019 at 7:05 am

    I’ll try to make a post a day with something fun and NON-POLITICAL

    Thank you! A brief respite is most welcome.

    @Major Major Major Major: Yessss! Was one of very few writings where I would finish a chapter and be so blown away I would flip back and read it again to make sure I got it all.

  56. 56.

    Karen S.

    March 21, 2019 at 7:51 am

    @Bluemouser:
    I have the audio drama versions of Good Omens and Neverwhere, which I bought at Audible. I like Neverwhere just a little bit better though they’re both great. I also love the original books on which the audio dramas are based.

    C2E2, the comics and pop culture convention at McCormick Place in Chicago, is where I’ll be this weekend. I’m going for several panels, a movie and TV show screening, and to see the cosplay. I’m not into dressing up, but my wife is interested in doing it, so I’m sure she’ll ask the cosplayers loads of questions. I’m hoping it’ll be a fun weekend.

  57. 57.

    kindness

    March 21, 2019 at 9:04 am

    Is it too early to say I’m looking forward to Game of Thrones next month?

  58. 58.

    CaseyL

    March 21, 2019 at 9:52 am

    I have Amazon Prime purely for the purpose of seeing Good Omens, which I’ve read so many times I’ve practically got it memorized.

    The casting is wonderful, judging from the trailers. David Tennant and Michael Sheen, goes without saying; but even the kid who plays Adam looks absolutely perfect.

    Can’t wait!

  59. 59.

    Marigold

    March 21, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    @Karen S.: Ooh, have fun! I’ve never been to C2E2, but a friend says it’s her favorite convention.

  60. 60.

    Bluemouser

    March 21, 2019 at 1:28 pm

    @Karen S.: Oh the C2E2 sound great. Never been to a convention though I have friends that go to ComicCon here in southern Cali.
    I think what makes the Neverwhere radio drama so special is the casting. Can’t go wrong with James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer, Cheistopher Lee, Sophie Okonedo to name just a few of the cast members. Though I do think Peter Serafinowicz has a voice made for radio and is a fantastic Aziraphael

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