Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

T R E 4 5 O N

Second rate reporter says what?

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.

You cannot shame the shameless.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House" / Open Thread

Open Thread

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I only watched a little bit of the debate because I’m already angry at the world and I have already voted so why would I put myself through that?

Spent a chunk of time organizing and cleaning today and the house looked so good I took some pictures, and I love how the entrance to Home, Crap Home looks now.

Open Thread 4

Open Thread 5

Open Thread 6

Still a lot of room for more plants.

Reader Interactions

54Comments

  3. 3.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    The aloe is too close to the stairs!

    (winter version of that joke

    eta: If I were house hunting, I’d buy that place just for the cool stair post

  5. 5.

    Leto

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Agreed. The bit of stain glass in the window, plus the fact he kept the wood detailing on the stairs (instead of painting over it)… that’s a good looking place! Love all the pictures on the walls too. Overall a very inviting entrance to the home.

  11. 11.

    Omnes Omnibus

    The pictures aren’t straight.

    I notice this because the people who clean my parents’ house always leave the pictures a little askew to prove that they dusted them.  This drives my mother crazy and must be fixed asap every time.

  12. 12.

    OR Soder

    Your home is lovely. It is very warm and inviting.

    Your time was well spent; the debate was not a game changer. I think trump will get a pass for not exploding all over the stage but he contributed nothing as expected.

    I am so ready for this to be over.

  20. 20.

    R-Jud

    SO MUCH MORE ROOM for plants! I’d send you some cuttings from this monstera adansonii that wants to eat my house but I live too far away.

    (Also, that’s a snake plant, not an aloe, you guys.)

  21. 21.

    Ms. Deranged in AZ

    John, what color are the walls?  In the third photo I can’t tell if it’s just the light or it’s the paint on the walls but it looks like a very very pale blue. I’m questioning because I am getting ready to paint a very large living room and foyer and was looking for something like that.

  22. 22.

    jnfr

    I am a plant person and I think your house has plenty of plants.

    Looks gorgeous though. Can’t believe all you’ve done with the place.

  28. 28.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    Why would you want a Mother-in-Law’s Tongue to greet you in the entry when you don’t even have a mother-in-law?

    (Asks the woman who has two MILs, which is 1.75 too many.)

    JGC, the house looks lovely and you have every right to be proud.

  29. 29.

    sfinny

    Your home looks great and my apartment is a mess, but I did spend some time getting the plants in order.  I still have one plant on the patio with green tomatoes that I hope will ripen.  I brought the rest of the plants in and took in three from my neighbor, who doesn’t have the light that I have.  I’ve fostered several of her plants in the last few years, and haven’t actually killed any of them.  Yet.

  30. 30.

    La Nonna

    We have decided to spend a some time and money on the interior of our little stone house, having been home since February, no travel, and only early morning beach swims for July, August, September, in anticipation of perhaps another 9 months to a year isolating at home.  Newly painted pale blue living room, coral dining room, oxblood master bedroom, pearl grey kitchen, and took down all the artwork and decoration to rehang in a different configuration.  The small pleasures in the time of covid, really happy with the results.

  31. 31.

    NotMax

    @La Nonna

    Sounds delightful.

    Was recently watching something or other otherwise forgettable from the early 80s and snickered at this bit of a conversation:

    Woman #1: “She came into some money and totally redid the bathroom. Everything in avocado green.”

    Woman #2: “That’s what I have at my house! Lovely, isn’t it?”

  33. 33.

    Morzer

    My takeaway from the debate and reactions to it by voters is that this thing is effectively over. Trump’s going to lose and the only question is whether Biden can win by more than 10%. I think he’s going to win by north of 12% and probably 320+ EVs.

  35. 35.

    TS (the original)

    @Morzer:

    My loss of a trump supporting friend will be worth the heartache if Biden wins Texas. This is my dream. And your 320EVs will then be way too low.

  37. 37.

    Mel

    @La Nonna: Pictures, please!

    It sounds so lovely, especially the coral dining room!

    There’s something wonderful about reaching that point where you know that your house has truly become home, and then defying the “realtor neutrals“ rules and bringing the rooms alive with colors and personal treasures that make it a place where you feel true comfort and happiness.

  38. 38.

    Morzer

    @TS (the original): I hope to see Biden at 341 EVs, but I recognize that various states are unpredictable given the variable quality of polling and the unknown effects of vote suppression. I think this is especially true of Georgia and Texas.   That said, I absolutely have confidence that this cake is baked. I think the Democrats are going to take the Senate, kick Trump’s ass and take the trifecta. I sincerely hope that Biden is not trying to rule out expanding the court with his talk of a blue-ribbon commission to investigate judicial reform.

  40. 40.

    Ramalama

    Home Crap Home is gorgeous. I love all of the detail in the wood bannister. I’m not crazy about the blue, but it actually goes with the wood on the floor. So therefore my complain must be nullified.

    Meanwhile, has anyone been following Marcy Wheeler? She’s been on a tear of late against a Juicer favorite villain, teh Glenn:

    And one of the most famously abrasive people on Twitter accused others of creating “a climate of extreme hostility” on the platform.

  42. 42.

    Noname

    @La Nonna: Pictures would be great but I would appreciate the names of the coral and gray paints you used, please?  I’ve recently started thinking about some reno work and was considering a gray/coral color scheme for the kitchen.  Thanks!

  43. 43.

    Rugosa

    @Omnes Omnibus: I live across from commuter rail tracks.  This old house often shakes when a train goes by.  I stopped straightening my pictures years ago because they’ll be crooked again in no time.

    Why doesn’t your mother leave the pictures?  Next time, the housekeepers will leave them straight to show they’ve been dusted.  The pictures will be straight 50% of the time and mom will have let go of an irritation.

  46. 46.

    H.E.Wolf

    @Alison Rose: I too love the stairs and newel post. And I love a low window.

    The famous architect Christopher Alexander (The Timeless Way of Building; A Pattern Language; etc) agrees with you!

    He says that “big windows with low sills and comfortable [seats] drawn up to them… are necessary” – they create a sense of comfort and ease.

    That sense of ease and comfort describes John Cole’s home. It’s beautiful and functional, too. Christopher Alexander would walk around the house and grounds nodding his venerable head and muttering, “yes, yes, yes” as he went. :)

  47. 47.

    H.E.Wolf

    @Rugosa: The pictures will be straight 50% of the time

    Oh my goodness, that gives me a twitch just imagining it. The balance feels “off”. Maybe it’s an inner-ear thing. :)

    For me, it’s related to a sense of “square”ness, for lack of a better word. I can feel when a car I’m sitting in is parked an inch or two askew to the curb, and I can see “out-of-alignment” at a glance.
    No need for a plumb bob when I’m around!

  48. 48.

    laura

    It’s a beautiful and welcoming home fit for a man in the fullness of his life.

    Maybe it’s just me, but I cant help but be reminded of Walter and his toofs and how you saved his life and how Satby enriched his life till the end.

  49. 49.

    StringOnAStick

    Your place is gorgeous, John and you’ve obviously got an eye for design.

    One week from now we will be on the last day’s drive to our new home, which needs paint in every room and the carpet replaced  in most, probably with a plank vinyl in the non-bedroom areas.  We were feeling stressed about having to choose colours and such, so maybe paying for advice is the best idea (plus my husband is colour blind, so…).

  51. 51.

    Richard

    Nice digs. You could probably enjoy an african violet or two on your windowsill. No, seriously your place looks good. My little plants also look good to me. Thank you.

  54. 54.

    bluefish

    Gorgeous! And, as ever, a constant reminder of the wonderful tale of how you found this house, how you have made it come to life, and how my beloved Walter, symbol of hope and joy, came across my screen. I think of that story and all that followed every day.  Hope. I voted on 23 September and tracked my vote, received.  I so get not wanting to watch anymore.

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