Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Second rate reporter says what?

So many bastards, so little time.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Mediocre white men think RFK Jr’s pathetic midlife crisis is inspirational. The bar is set so low for them, it’s subterranean.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

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

Let there be snark.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

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262Comments

  2. 2.

    RedDirtGirl

    Since I don’t have a dog of my own yet, I was able to “borrow” my dear Finch for a week, who I have looked after numerous times over the past 2 years when her family has gone out of town. Last time they picked her up from one of those stays, they told me I could have her for a visit sometime, and I took them up on that!

  3. 3.

    Suzanne

    Something good: I am on a train, pulling through Huntingdon, PA, and I am seeing beautiful autumn leaves. Finally.

  4. 4.

    Evap

    I planted pansies and snapdragons in my mother’s memory today, with a dear friend who loved her almost as much as I did.  After a nasty rainy start, it turned into a beautiful autumn day.  I love planting things, it’s soothing and relaxing.

  5. 5.

    Old School

    Something good?  The FDA approved shots for those between 5 and 11 this afternoon.  After the CDC (hopefully) does the same next week, my kids will be getting vaccinated!

  6. 6.

    eclare

    Getting my House of Moderna booster and flu vax tomorrow at Walgreens at 11:30.  It took less than five minutes to sign up, and I could sign up as a guest, no account needed!

    I think when the vaccines first rolled out, people said the Walgreens website was awful.  At least for me, now, worked great!

  7. 7.

    HRA

    On the 21st I went to get tested for Covid due to someone I was near on the previous Sunday alerting me and family members he was positive for the Covid test. We all went to get tested near to each place to our homes. Only my test came back positive. Calls from county health and state health happened and I was told to isolate. A daughter came over with one of those home kits and I tested negative. Now I have to go for a blood test to check for antibodies in my blood.

  11. 11.

    StringOnAStick

    I rode my mountain bike 9 miles on the paved path to get to a 7 mile dirt mountain bike loop, rode that, and then that 9 miles back home.  Not bad for a 63 yo with new knees!

  14. 14.

    Dan B

    My news is I am close to triumph on assembling a dark brown chest of drawers for the downstairs bedroom.  It’s also good news that it was inexpensive and for Ikea whose furniture assembly tales are epic.  This piece exceeds anything I’ve ever purchased from Ikea.  It truly was assembled (and disassembled) three times.  Ikea for the win.

    And after my Shingrex shot and a restless dark night I treated myself to a long shower with Skinluvver’s ( Satby’s) Eucalyptus and Rosemary soap followed by Tangerine and Grapefruit lotion plus Tropical Teakwood lotion (for the hands).  It is possible to regain the will to live after Shingrex.*

     

    *My reaction wasn’t that bad – sore arm, touch of fatigue – but the shower of excessive indulgence sailed over that slowdown.

  15. 15.

    rikyrah

    I haven’t been around much because my sister had been getting weaker by the day. We had been to the ER a couple of times, but, nothing was working. She has Congestive Heart Failure, and she had swollen up. She had gotten so discouraged that she wasn’t going to go her doctor’s appointment on the 19th. I was like, nope, I’ll take the day off and take you myself. Trying to help her dress was a nightmare because I couldn’t find pants that fit because she had retained so much liquid in her belly region. We got to the doctor, he came in, did a prelim on her, and said, ‘ you need to check into the hospital. I’m going to try and get you a room.’

     

    I wanted to kiss the doctor. FINALLY, someone who heard that she was in pain, and needed help.

    So, she’s still in the hospital. She lost 32 pounds in  9 days- that much liquid.

     

    she hates her new diet, but, oh well.

    Hopefully, she will come home this weekend.

  16. 16.

    Scout211

    Something good? We got our Moderna boosters on Wednesday at CVS. The process was easy and they are efficient online and in the store.

    Our digital records were updated with the third shot by early the next morning!

  17. 17.

    Betty

    The volcanic ash from La Palma that had everyone here coughing and sneezing for the last two days blew away this afternoon and the sky is blue again. We can breathe easy!

  20. 20.

    Frankensteinbeck

    While I wait on my beta readers for A Spaceship Repair Girl Supposedly Named Rachel, I’m starting in on Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m A Giant Monster.  I firmly believe there is an audience of millions of teenage girls who wish they could just let it all go and break shit.

  25. 25.

    Dan B

    @Suzanne: Sounds great!  Better than the turnpike which seemed like an endless trek.  There’s a wonderful but shorter line between Seattle and Portland that hugs Puget Sound’s inlets and islands for miles.  Haven’t done the route to BC yet.

    Happy rails!

  27. 27.

    Betty

    @rikyrah: God bless her. I hope she is feeling better. Several in my family passed from congestive heart failure. My aunt was the only who swelled up like that. It was so painful to see her that way and feel so helpless.

  29. 29.

    The Moar You Know

    I too have a doggie.  He and my wife, they both keep me getting out of bed in the mornings.

  30. 30.

    JCJ

    @rikyrah:

    You always kindly offer prayers for Juicers who are themselves ill or their relatives.  I am a devout heathen, but I will offer up prayers for you and your sister.

  31. 31.

    Suzanne

    @Dan B: I like driving between PGH and Philly on the turnpike. It’s a shorter drive than train trip, by about an hour, when you consider gas and restroom stops. I enjoy the landscape here.

    HOWEV, I am also enjoying not driving in this rain, and looking out the window.

  32. 32.

    HRA

    @WaterGirl: I have been vaccinated since last March with both shots. The advice for the blood test came from my youngest granddaughter who is a new MD.

  33. 33.

    SpaceUnit

    Here along the Colorado front range we’re having the most glorious autumn in many, many years.  Usually it goes from sweltering heat to the first snowstorm in about a week, before the foliage really develops much color.  And after it snows the leaves just turn brown and fall off.  It always brings me down because fall is my favorite season.

    This year the colors are amazing.  That’s something good.  I’m off to the park!

  36. 36.

    debbie

    Well, it’s Friday and I was surprised to learn it was a payday (I am usually impatiently waiting for the check to pop up in my account). Plus I had the morning off to get errands done, and now get to sleep in tomorrow. Not exciting, for sure, but you take what you can get.

  39. 39.

    WaterGirl

    @HRA: Can they tell the difference between antibodies from Covid and antibodies from the vaccine?  Or maybe she thinks you should check to see if your antibody level is good enough for protection from covid, and that’s what she wants to know.

    Granddaughter is a doctor!  You must be proud.

  40. 40.

    UncleEbeneezer

    After years of really bad sleep due to breathing issues (stuffy nose in middle of night) I was finally diagnosed yesterday by an ENT to need Turbinate Reduction and Septoplasty to fix my deviated septum.  Gotta make sure it will be covered by my insurance, but if so, I’ll probably go ahead with it.  The idea of sleeping through the night without having to get up at 2-5 am just to get my nose unclogged enough to go back to sleep, would be a life-changer.

  45. 45.

    Suzanne

    @WaterGirl: So yes, Amtrak requires masks. Signs everywhere, and they even have an announcement playing in the station that says that masks are required, even if local regulations don’t require them. I was pissed on Tuesday morning, when I left PGH, because there was a large group of Amish people in the train station and not one of them was wearing a mask. Literally everyone else was wearing one, but not this cohort. I was wondering if there was a religious exemption for the Amish.

  46. 46.

    WaterGirl

    @rikyrah: Sounds like your sister is where she needs to be.  I’m glad you were there for her.

    Multiple TV shows these days seem to be highlighting the issues that black people have to deal with in the medical profession.

    Not being taken seriously, test numbers to qualify for transplant lists being skewed against people of color, etc.

  49. 49.

    Peale

    Off to get my booster. Have decided to lust lounge around the house this weekend in case shot 3 is like shot 2. If I feel exceptionally  good tomorrow, I’ll start reading up on my worst fears for Tuesdays election, just to make me feel normal.

  51. 51.

    Lyrebird

    @rikyrah: Sending prayers to Rikyrah Sis for continued excellent recovery and improvement beyond expectations!

     

    My good thing: I asked someone for help on a project that has me going out on limb, and that person said yes!  Plus, FOLIAGE.

  52. 52.

    Kim Walker

    Husband has been in northern NY visiting his mom and sister for the last week. I’ve been looking forward to this little break in our COVID living arrangements for months. Months! However, after about 36 hours I was missing him something fierce. And he will be returning home tonight and I cannot wait!

  53. 53.

    brendancalling

    I completed my PRAXIS Core Skills test today, and I’m hopeful I passed. If I did, it’s onto my content test, English Language Arts. If not, I know where I was weak now, and what to sharpen. TBH, I didn’t study too much. I took it in 2010, but the results aren’t saved online more than 7 years. So I knew what to expect. Oddly, the research essay—based on two excepts—was the toughest. I also need to bone up on inequalities so far as math goes.

    But, all things considered I think it went well, and it was actually a lovely break from the news.

  56. 56.

    dexwood

    Mrs. dexwood and her 93 year old mother got their Pfizer boosters today. I finished painting the kitchen this afternoon and am rewarding myself with a very good local beer at the moment. Shoes are off, feet are up, let the weekend begin.

  58. 58.

    Kropacetic

    Making one of my favorite instant ramen and managed to talk politics with my parents for a whole hour without screaming myself hoarse.

    We were also able to obtain confirmation that neither Joe Biden nor Kamala Harris told people not to get vaccinated.

  59. 59.

    Suzanne

    @eclare: I am 41 and my desire to break shit has not diminished even slightly since I was about 12.

    Fuck, if anything, I’m more radical than I was.

  64. 64.

    The Pale Scot

    So my sister was in town and against my opinion we went out to dinner. We’re at the table, my sister is telling us about the cruise she may take. The cruise is a comp from when my sister and BIL went to the Galapagos. Something happened yada yada whatever. (my BIL had cancer at the time and has since passed.) She explains that the room is deluxe with a large balcony and she will stay there and  get room service for the trip so as to not mingle with the horde . Originally her niece was going to come but she adopted a five year old so that ain’t happening. My father, who is either being a nudg or is sundowning, keeps harping they should just take the kid. My sister turns and loudly says “I’m not spending a 7 day cruise with a five year old”. Just as cute AA girl around 4 years old is walking by. She stops dead and looks at my sister with an open mouth and huge eyes (hey, I’ll be five soon). We all cracked up. The child was at a table next to us along with six other children. We had flambéed ice cream for dessert, the kids jumped up and gathered around. The table even had a young girl with glasses reading Harry Potter, it could have been a Norman Rockwell pic.

  66. 66.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @RedDirtGirl: despite the author’s comments, I use peanut butter when I make this.  I haven’t tried baking it at lower temperature as she suggested when using peanut butter. And I have a very small bottle of cherry balsamic vinegar that I use for this.

  68. 68.

    HRA

    @rikyrah: My prayers for your sister’s recovery to you. My Dad was a heart patient so I know about the difficulty to have him follow the diet. Stay strong!

  71. 71.

    debbie

    @Suzanne:

    The only real one I’ve ever had was from a place on Market St. back in the early 1990s. It was huge, but so, so good that I ate the entire thing and then felt worse than I do after Thanksgiving dinner.

  73. 73.

    Suzanne

    @WaterGirl: I don’t know if it’s more or less safe than anything else. It is much less crowded than air travel. If this train car is even half full, I would be surprised. Everyone has been behaving well that I can see, with the exception I noted above.

  74. 74.

    Barbara

    @rikyrah: ​ CHF is hard but it can be managed, well, at least sometimes. My husband’s aunt suffered from it — it seemed harder than it should have to get a good plan of care. Good for you for taking charge and getting it done.

  76. 76.

    Suzanne

    @Overland: Dude I am seriously coming up to that curve. We just pulled out of Altoona.

    These little towns are so cute, they look like Edward Hopper paintings.

  77. 77.

    E.

    I got my Pfizer booster at CVS here in this racist little county and they challenged me, saying I am too young (56) for the shot. I explained to them I work in a restaurant in a county where only 30 percent of the population is vaccinated and there is a pandemic. They went back and huddled for awhile while I got cdc.gov on my phone because that’s how ridiculous it is here. Eventually I prevailed, but I had to fight for it — they did not want to give it to me.

    One other person in CVS was wearing a mask. Getting that shot was probably the most dangerous thing I’ve done in a year.

  78. 78.

    RaflW

    A couple of things: First, the sun came out! We’ve had a string of cloudy days here in Minneapolis, and today is gorgeous. Went for a nice walk in the mid afternoon to enjoy the late-fall colors, which are holding on.

    Second, we accepted a small, calculated risk to attend a cousin’s wedding party last weekend (they married at the height of pre-vax Covid with 8 family guests). The venue was a historic barn with several open doors and a good, cool breeze. We think most guests were vax’d like us but it wasn’t a requirement. We talked and ate and danced, and attended a smaller family brunch the next day. It was soooooo good to see our fun and kind extended fam (on my side. Partners’ fam is also great but we see them for outdoor fun at the cabin all summer :) ).

    Anyway, by most reckonings, we’re probably good now, a full five days after the last, smaller hangout. Zero symptoms, nor news of anyone else from the event getting a dread breakthru. I don’t think I’m gonna get used to it or let my guard down generally, but it seems like this particular risk:reward decision is turning out okay. Phew.

  79. 79.

    Roger Moore

    @Suzanne:

    I’ve never had a cheesesteak.

    If you’re OK with the ingredients, you should try one.  I was surprised, though I shouldn’t have been, to learn that cheese whiz is actually really good on them.  When that’s the local preference, it’s usually a sign that there’s something to it.

  83. 83.

    Kropacetic

    Those who had or are getting covid boosters,  you mix and matching or sticking with your original manufacturer?

  84. 84.

    lowtechcyclist

    Good news? Nothing special, but still. I had a good day at work (‘at work’ being at my desk in the guest bedroom), I had time for a nap after calling it quits for the day, and I’m sitting here on the sofa, drinking coffee with some Bailey’s Irish Cream in it, and have a cat purring on my lap. And it’s Friday afternoon. Nothing special, just a relaxed, contented end of the week. Good enough for me.

    Oh, and I got an automated call from some Maryland state agency telling me I was eligible for my Moderna booster, and got a text from CVS saying the same thing. So I’ll be making an appointment to get that taken care of. Probably get my flu shot at the same time, because why not.

    ETA: Kropacetic – I’m staying with Moderna.

  85. 85.

    RaflW

    There was a great joint in, of all places, Ft Worth TX that had excellent cheesesteaks and excellent hand cut fries. This was the mid/late 80s. But they used provolone. Does that make them inauthentic? I don’t recall that they claimed a Philly lineage, but dang it was so good.
    Shame I more or less had to give up beef ~5 years ago. Rarely miss it, but I’m salivating now.

  87. 87.

    Kropacetic

    @Roger Moore: I can see Cheez whiz being good, you need to find somewhere with tasty steak, though.

    I add fried onions and mushrooms. Is that cheese steak kosher?

  93. 93.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Suzanne: My ENT said it’s a very simple procedure (he performs them all the time) with very little risk and a really good success rate.  Recovery is fairly easy too.

  94. 94.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @SpaceUnit: Yes! I’m in Colorado too and when a friend said she thought this autumn was meh, I wondered what she was looking at. No hard freeze or icy precip kept the leaves on the trees much longer to perform their colorful dance.

    I just got back from a 6 mile walk in the park, the leaves are raked and the couch is comfy.

  98. 98.

    Roger Moore

    @Kropacetic:

    I stuck with Pfizer because I got my shot from my employer, and that’s what they have been using since day one.  Well, not quite exclusively.  They recommend J&J for people who need full immunity ASAP, e.g. cancer patients who can’t start their therapy until they’re fully immunized.  There, the one and done is helpful in getting the process done as quickly as possible.

  102. 102.

    Suzanne

    @Anyway: So far, I have been there on work trips and haven’t gotten to check out the museums. I love museums, though, so next time I go for fun, I will definitely check it out.

  105. 105.

    HRA

    @WaterGirl: Yes I was thinking the same as you are thinking about the antibodies. I am proud of this grand daughter and also the other 9 grandchildren who are doing very well in their choices.

  106. 106.

    rekoob

    Moderna booster earlier this week at a Central Virginia Publix, following up on my initial J&J in March. No ill effects other than a sore arm for a day or two. Autumn temperatures and colors are finally arriving.

  108. 108.

    WaterGirl

    @E.: Good for you for fighting for what you need, and yay for getting the shot.  Guessing if you were white you think it wouldn’t have been an issue?

  110. 110.

    Suzanne

    @Spanky: Every one of them, about 25 people, had a mask hanging from their ears but pulled down below their chins. WTF. Some of them looked old, too.

  112. 112.

    Mike in NC

    Spent a bit of time this afternoon on the phone talking to Apple TV Tech Support. They got everything running again, so I don’t have to drive 45 minutes to Best Buy to hire the Geek Squad. I’ll take a small victory…

  116. 116.

    Spanky

    Something good? I got the basement bailed out from all the rains. The drain didn’t back up until mid-afternoon, luckily. The rain is almost over and it looks like the drain is keeping up. And the pond pump I got as a sump for just these occasions worked, as long as I kept up with the debris trying to plug it up.

    Small victories.

  123. 123.

    Mel

    @WaterGirl: From what I understand after getting an explainer from a couple of my doctors, thete are several different types of (blood) antibody tests available.

    One checks for spike protein antibodies. That is the test used in the Johns Hopkins study to determine if immunosuppressed patients (on CellCept, etc.) were able to mount an antibody response when vaccinated.

    Another, separate, test looks for nucleocapsid antibodies.

    The spike protein antibody test is used to determine if vaccination has caused an immune response to develop, )and to some extent if there has been a prior infection),   but it can’t specifically predict how effective / robust the actual antibody response will be in real life. The CDC doesn’t recommend using  the test to assess immunity because of that, but researchers are using it, and since I am on major immunosuppressive therapy, my specialists ordered the spike antibody test, with a specific purpose in mind: if I had not made any antibodies to the Pfizer vaccine, they were going to suggest that we try either the j&j or the Moderna  to attempt to elicit some level of immune response, because even a moderate antibody response is way better than having developed no antibodies at all.

    Thank goodness, I had a measurable immune response after my third Pfizer!  I understand that  having the antibodies doesn’t predict exactly how well those antibodies would respond to infection, but like my immunologist said, “At least we know that you have an antibody response!”

    I have to agree with him. As long as the patient understands that having an antibody response doesn’t mean that you should abandon all common sense, it’s helpful to know if there has been a response, esp. in immunocompromised / immunosuppressed patients. It can guide how to proceed with further vaccination needs.

    The nucleocapsid antibody test measures the type of antibody response made in response to a prior infection. It isn’t helpful, as I understand, in determining antibody response to the vaccine, since the vaccine targets the spike proteins. Again, the CDC says it doesn’t endorse using the test as a way to ascertain immunity, but that nucleocapsid testing can  be  useful, along with a molecular diagnostic test to help diagnose if a person has a current or had a prior Covid-19 infection.

    That’s how it was explained to me by my doctors. I know it’s an “in a nutshell” explainer, and it probably just scratches the surface of the complexities of it , but I hope it is helpful.

  127. 127.

    Kropacetic

    @WaterGirl: @mrmoshpotato: Interesting to see where people are at. I’ve heard of people making ad hoc changes of plans showing up for one then settling for another when it wasn’t available.

    Anyone who hasn’t gone yet should make sure the facility they use has what they want.

  128. 128.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Roger Moore: Tourists eat cheesesteaks. The real Philly sandwich is roast pork with broccoli rabe and provolone. Preferably from Reading Terminal Market.

  129. 129.

    The Lodger

    @RaflW: Speaking as a former local, provolone is OK if you like it. So is American. Shoot, even pepper Jack is good if you can get it. People are a lot pickier about the rolls, though. Amoroso’s bakery makes the best ones.

  132. 132.

    E.

    @WaterGirl: ​
      Oh no, I am white! But I am a white person who gets vaccinated and wears a mask when indoors around people, which is almost as bad as not being white.

  133. 133.

    Suzanne

    Something else good: I am thinking about Thanksgiving food, and I may make a tarte tatin. I am loving all these PA and NY apples.

    Add mascarpone. MMMM.

  134. 134.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Dan B:

     

    There’s a wonderful but shorter line between Seattle and Portland that hugs Puget Sound’s inlets and islands for miles.

    I’ve done that and it’s awesome. Well worth even missing out on the airline miles!

  135. 135.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @WaterGirl: I can’t even say “I wish” because I love raking leaves. We have 3 large ash trees that produce most of the leaves in the yard and we’ve been raking here and there for a couple of weeks now. Now they are nude so there probably will only be one more bag mostly of stubborn aspen leaves that are harder to rake.

  136. 136.

    no comment

    Tomorrow will be a busy, but good day. We’re getting a new dishwasher installed to replace the broken one. No more hand-washing everything! And then we have a Halloween party to attend tomorrow evening. Hosts and guests are all vaccinated. Hosts said costumes or Halloween themed clothes were mandatory, and we managed to find some costumes earlier this week. I’ll just have to decide whether I’m going to use face paint to up my costume game, or go with less time, less mess instead.

  137. 137.

    Suzanne

    Can I be a snobby asshole for a minute?! Primanti’s sucks. WTF. Stop putting French fries on everything like you’re in kindergarten.

  138. 138.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @NotMax: How to Order A Cheese-steak.  First, don’t go to Pat’s or Ginos…both are tourist traps with right-wing owners, iirc.  Honestly, just about every pizza shop in Philly has cheese-steaks that are just as good if not better.  My go-to when I lived in the suburbs was Pudges, in Blue Bell.  Phenomenal cheesesteak that puts Pats/Ginos to shame, imo.

  143. 143.

    Ruckus

    @UncleEbeneezer:

    I’ve done 3 things in my life to make the nose actually work like it’s supposed to.

    1. 1/2 a Claritin (loratadine) every morning
    2. Keep the humidity between 45-60%
    3. An air purifier. I use a Levoit

    I can breathe!

  144. 144.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Gin & Tonic: Bullshit.  I lived in the Philly suburbs for five years and every born & raised local I knew had cheesesteaks at least once a week, all year round.

    They did eat pork roll too (and scrapple) but cheesesteaks are absolutely a staple of the diet, even in places away from the tourists.

  147. 147.

    Eunicecycle

    My son and daughter in law have been trying to get pregnant for 3 years, and finally, through IVF, they are pregnant! It’s been quite a journey for them but I am so ecstatic for them, I cried when I found out.

  149. 149.

    Scout211

    @Kropacetic:

    We both had the Moderna booster after the first two Modernas.  Our daughter had a Moderna booster after the J&J original.

    The rest of my extended family who are eligible for a booster (by age or by profession) had a Pfizer booster after their first two Pfizers.

    Our Governor (Newsom) had a Moderna  booster Live! On camera!  after the J&J. Definitely go with either mRNA vaccinations if your first was J&J.

  152. 152.

    Spanky

    @Suzanne: That’s not being snobby. I don’t think Primanti’s was around when I was growing up. I had to try it when I went back once. Once.

    “Pedestrian” is a generous review. Totally like every other deli.

  155. 155.

    Mel

    @UncleEbeneezer: Had this done in March of this year, after years of sinus misery, and am so thankful that it was done!!! I also had a nasal bone spur removed. Recovery wasn’t too bad – just a bit messy and  uncomfortable for about five days.

    In my case, the whole procedure was a closed procedure done through the inside of the nose, so it didn’t require nasal packing. I just had to wear a gauze pad under my nose for a couple of days because of mild bleeding / drainage.

    Expect to feel really stuffed up and congested for the first seven days or so, because of the swelling and some post-surgical drainage. They’ll probably have you come in once or twice during the first seven days, and will literally “vacuum” the drainage and snot out. It’s such relief!

    And talk about relief: as it starts to heal and your swelling goes down, you will be so amazed at how good it feels to breathe  through unobstructed nasal passages!

  168. 168.

    KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))

    The last few times I’ve contributed, I’ve been a downer (sister died, cat was dying), so I’m glad to contribute good news. For one thing, the cat I was sure only had a few weeks to live back in July seems of have found one more of his nine lives. He still has cancer, but he has gained back his lost weight, and his oncologist says she expects not only to see him at his January follow-up, but at his 3 month follow-up after that. Even if he only makes it to Christmas, that’s 3 months longer than we expected to make it when we started on this journey.

    Also, and maybe I should have mentioned this first, my husband got his booster. He had Moderna originally, and he was going to cross-vax anyway, so I’d been bugging him to just go ahead and pretend it was his first vaccination, but he insisted on doing it legitimately. I didn’t dare ask what he thought of me getting my DYI Pfizer booster last summer to go with my J&J shot. I’m just not much of a rule-follower. But anyway now we’re both safe for another 6 months, and that’s good news.

  169. 169.

    Kathleen

    @JCJ: Hell I want to break shit and I’m 72. On another note I just picked up my bib for a 4 mile race tomorrow. My 3rd race this month. 2 years ago I ran just one race and of course no races held last year. I always place in my age group and have been awarded some awesome running apparel which more than covers my entry fee. Sucks to he slower but I’m grateful I can do it

  171. 171.

    debbie

    @Suzanne:

    I would. Also, the one I had didn’t have Cheez Whiz. It was either mozzarella or provolone. Also didn’t have peppers, yuck.

  176. 176.

    sab

    Ponyo’s tumor removed completely this week. Path lab results came back and she won’t need chemo.

  182. 182.

    MomSense

    @rikyrah:

    Sending prayers and love to you and your sister.  I went through CHF with my dear friend and I feel for you both.  I’m glad you insisted on taking her to the doctor and that she has a treatment plan.  I hope she starts to feel much better.
    ????

  185. 185.

    FelonyGovt

    I attended a Zoom yoga class Wednesday night, my first class in almost 2 years. It was wonderful and I think will help my body feel less creaky and decrepit.

    And I have an appointment next Friday for my Moderna booster.

  186. 186.

    lowtechcyclist

    @rikyrah: Glad you made sure your sister got to the doctor, and the doctor actually did something about it.  She will be in my prayers.

  191. 191.

    Dan B

    @Steve in the ATL: We have friends here who have a sister in Portland they visit via that Amtrack line.  It’s sublime.  Last night we watched the first episode of Maid (Netflix) and there she was on the ferry to Lopez Island and in a spectacular house on a Rocky beach on the south end facing the Olympics, and with her nutty mother at a park on Puget Sound.  It was glorious – and I love the North Cascades above everything, but the islands in Puget Sound and Salish Sea are, again, sublime, and breathtaking.

  194. 194.

    Joy in FL

    Four years ago tomorrow I went to a local PetSmart to see if there was a cat for me. My previous cat (13 year old Tig) had died suddenly right after having his teeth cleaned on Sept. 5.
    I could not leave that PetSmart without my magnificent tuxedo buddy, Hermes.  He is so sweet and mellow and funny, and I’m so glad I went that evening to see if there was a cat for me, because there was : )

  195. 195.

    Suzanne

    @FelonyGovt: That is fair.

    I am a crappy meditator, and far too pragmatic for prayer or other woowoo stuff, but yoga does get my inner monologue to quiet down in an important way.

  198. 198.

    Elizabelle

    The Smithsonian’s cheetah mom apparently moved her cubs back into the den with the camera.  Welcome back! (She’d moved them, one by one, out into the bushes when they were a week old. No more cub voyeurism — bummer.)

    They seem to be fine from their traipse about. All five cubs nestled in; seem to be thriving.

    Here’s cheetah cub cam, for your Friday night.

  201. 201.

    Ruckus

    @UncleEbeneezer:

    The air purifier made as much difference as anything else. I do live in a small apt and the model I brought does bigger rooms. It made a noticeable difference after the first day.

    A side note my sister was so bad with dust parents had to get a Rexair vacuum which uses a container at the bottom with water in it to trap the dust in. It worked amazingly well. And even at my worst I’m not as bad off as she was. I can’t take a full Claritin, like most drugs I have to take a whole is too much. And too much antihistamine is as bad as not enough for me.

  202. 202.

    Dan B

    @CarolPW: Ive done San Francisco (Oakland) to Seattle.  Portland to Seattle was the surprise because I’ve driven the route many times.  Amtrack / Coast Starlight was the most scenic stretch.  It’s all in daytime.  And it goes through some industrial areas in Tacoma and Seattle which are an interesting contrast and not industrial hellscapes – Thinking of Gary and Hammond, Indiana in the 60’s.  Seattle is not even close.

  203. 203.

    Mel

    @rikyrah: You are such a good and loving sister, and you likely saved your sister’s life. I am so sorry that she is going through such a difficult illness, but so thankful that she is getting the treatment she needs, and  so thankful that it sounds like she is getting her fighting spirit back as well. Sometimes, when you’ve been really ill for a long time, the frustration and feat of it all weigh you down and you just run out of fight, and what it takes to keep you going is someone who loves you picking up the torch and running with it for you, just for a little while, until you can catch your breath and find your footing again.

    That’s the gift that you gave her. Please keep us posted on how she is doing, and take extra good care of yourself, as well. It’s hard to be ill, but as you well know, it’s also hard to see someone you love struggling.

    Hugs and love to you both. You are in my thoughts.

  206. 206.

    Ruckus

    @CarolPW:

    I took that once with my older sister, I think I was about 6. We took the Coast route while my parents and other sister took the car. We went LA to SF or where ever you get off about there, to visit an aunt in Redwood City. Stunning. I’ve loved trains ever since.

  210. 210.

    Eunicecycle

    Thanks for all the good wishes for my new grandchild to be. I tried to link to all the comments but made a big mess of it so I have to settle for a generic post!

  213. 213.

    Reverse tool order

    After two years of extreme drought here in Sonoma Valley (CA), we got the last client vineyard picked recently in light mist. And after that, the deluge.

    Customarily here, rainfall years start Oct 1st, roughly the start for significant rain. Our site weather station shows 0.09 inches cumulative rain from 5/1/21 to 10/18/21. “Average” for city of Sonoma is 31 inches/year (79 cm). Site rainfall for last year (10/1/20 to 9/30/21) was 12.3 inches (31 cm). The year before that was 17.6 inches (45 cm).

    The mostly good news is site rain ramped up to 12.5 inches (32 cm) for the week 10/19-25/21, 8.9 on 10/24 alone. A lot of that ran off, but still a boost to early soil moisture. NOT an indicator of drought conditions for next growing season. That comes from the fraction of field capacity present next May-June.

    We do have and use drip irrigation, with last season irrigation well above typical. It was not uniformly applied of course, but averaged to 2 inches site wide over 5 months. That’s nothing like published numbers you may see and obviously doesn’t make up for drought. Thus the generally light crop and short shoots for the season. Onward to next season.

  215. 215.

    Suzanne

    @frosty: Oh yes, we got a nice little history lesson about its construction and strategic importance. Good timing, the sun set just a few minutes after we passed.

  217. 217.

    Ruckus

    @Suzanne:

    Whatever it takes. I like a brisk walk I aim for 2 miles a day, every other day. I am a slacker about it at my age though and sometimes it’s every 3 days. I sometimes make up for it as well. Lost 5 lbs over the last 2 months, only 4 more to go. I am a couple minutes slower per mile than I used to be, I could do 4-5 a day at 15 minute miles. Now I’m 17-18 per mile. Pretty good for this geezer.

  219. 219.

    eclare

    @Elizabelle:  I have been following them, so glad mama moved back into the den.  So much fun to watch the cubs take one or two steps, then just fall over!

  220. 220.

    Suzanne

    @frosty: I’m sure I’ll be back to Philly within a few weeks. I’ll try a cheesesteak.

    Why can’t they be famous for, like, amazing tabouli?! Yum.

  221. 221.

    Ruckus

    @Elizabelle:

    There is a movie on Netflix called Rising Phoenix, about the ParaOlympics that is amazingly good. In it is a South African man who runs on those carbon fiber spring things, shaped like an upside down question mark who has a pet cheetah. Amazing looking animal, when he walks he looks like he owns the world.

  226. 226.

    Mousebumples

    Happy good news thread! Nice to have some upbeat stuff to talk about.

    Our good news is that our first nanny (who had moved out of town back in January) is moving back, so we can go back to a reliable nanny versus facing the “It vIoLaTeS Hippa To aSk aBoUt VaCcInAtIoN sTaTuS” crowd of potential new nannies.

    Congrats to everyone on their good news, and best of luck to others that need some happy thoughts!

  228. 228.

    Brachiator

    @Kropacetic:

    Those who had or are getting covid boosters,  you mix and matching or sticking with your original manufacturer?

    I got my original Moderna vaccine shots at a Rite Aid. At the time, Kaiser was not yet giving them.

    I guess that Rite Aid reported this information to Kaiser, because I got an email to schedule a Moderna booster in two weeks.

    I would go for any other company for the booster had it been offered. I don’t think it’s a big deal.

  229. 229.

    JAFD

    There is a mystique about cheesesteaks, but basically, they’re a way to chop up tough meat, cook it quickly, have it taste good.

    A variety of cheeses can be used, but bland ‘plebian’ ones are usual, in the ‘platonic cheesesteak’ the meat flavor predominates, the cheese is background.  Likewise the onions, mushrooms, peppers, and other condiments.

    Almost any strip of stores between Harrisburg and Atlantic City has a place that makes good cheesesteaks, but if I had to pick one, Mike & Emma’s, in Ridley Township on MacDade Blvd, just S of Rt 420.

  234. 234.

    AM in NC

    My good news is that my mom seems to be tolerating her cancer medication well and we now have a great doctor helping with the awful vertigo she has suffered from for the past 3 weeks.  For the first time in a few months we feel hopeful.

  235. 235.

    JAFD

    @NotMax: ​
     Have been to Pinocchio’s, not for over four decades, tho. Parents lived in Media before they retired and moved South. Remember it as being very good. Anyone who eats there now, please report back.

  236. 236.

    stinger

    Something Good 1:  Henryyyyyyyyy!

    Something Good 2:  I have four different rose bushes with a bloom or two on each. This is quite late, in my zone. I could have November Roses!!! except Saturday night we are due for a hard freeze.

    Something Good 3:  My sisters and I agreed today to celebrate Thanksgiving the day before, at a favorite restaurant. (Nothing will be open on the day, and one sister has to work anyway.)

  238. 238.

    hotshoe

    Some bastards stole the catalytic converter from my car. No that’s not the good thing.

    The good thing is that the mechanic has found a new kind of shield which he will weld on which will keep it from happening again.

    Being a mechanic has never been a low-skill job, and this is just above and beyond; I’m so grateful to know they’re using their initiative to help me.

  240. 240.

    Reverse tool order

    @The Lodger: Kind of both. We have a fair amount of no-till permanent cover in row middles, other areas with alternating disked & perm cover middles to reduce soil moisture demand or incorporate compost. Usually have time post harvest to both seed and spread dry rice straw (no weeds!) for erosion control. Usually have both light rains and warm sun to get the mixed grass seed growing before heavy rains. Didn’t fully make it this year.

    So, some erosion, especially that one massive day. Only a couple of days previously in 70 years have I seen 6 inches. Far more typical is a fraction to a couple inches/day.

    As described, late spring thru early fall are normally very dry.

  241. 241.

    gwangung

    I am all done being a pin cushion…got my second shingles vaccine, after getting my booster (Pfizer) and senior sized flu shot.

    I feel satisfied.

  242. 242.

    Steeplejack

    For future reference on Philly cheesesteak:

    @TheRealHoarse had a Twitter thread a month or two ago about sandwich places in Philadelphia. Strong crowd support for the cheesesteaks at Jim’s, 400 South Street. (I have not eaten there.)

    For Italian beef (with gravy fries!) it’s Old Original Nick’s Roast Beef, 2149 S. 20th Street. (I have eaten there, and it’s awesome.) Be careful on this one, because there are about 28 places called Nick’s in Philadelphia. It’s like “Tony’s Pizza” in New York, I think.

  243. 243.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @frosty: Yes.  I forgot there is one in Lansdale too.  I think there’s 3-4 of them.  I still dream about those steaks.

  244. 244.

    LiminalOwl

    @Kropacetic: I wanted to mix and match, but it wasn’t yet allowed. I’m all-Pfizer. (And I wanted Moderna in the first place, but couldn’t get it.)

  246. 246.

    lowtechcyclist

    @mrmoshpotato: ​
     

    They’ve had robotic lawn mowers – basically a Roomba for your lawn – for a dozen years or so now. So it wouldn’t have surprised me if they had a similar gizmo for the leaves.

  248. 248.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Steeplejack (phone): ​
     

    Let’s go old school:

    Herman’s Hermits, “I’m Into Something Good”

    And damned if they aren’t on tour nearby. At the Birchmere in Alexandria on 11/4, and at Rams Head in Annapolis on the 14th. Don’t know that I’d be comfortable with attending an indoor event like that, though. Sigh.

  251. 251.

    Chacal Charles Calthrop

    @Steeplejack: I would just like to point out to everyone interested in cheesesteaks that South Street, Philadelphia, is the home of the Kosher Cheesesteak.  As in, one of the places hung out a sign saying “Kosher Cheesesteak.”

    Asked how it could be kosher, given that it was selling cheese on meat, the proprietor replied, well, according to the wrapping, the bread was kosher, the choose was kosher, and the meat was kosher.  So we figured we must be making a kosher cheesesteak.  Maybe someone might be interested in that?  So we put up a sign.

  253. 253.

    glc

    Got boosted 2 days ago at the local pharmacy. Booked for my wife at the same time but the next appointment was a week later. Odd.  Probably there are lots of other places we could have gone but this one is a block away.

    They were doing walk-ins for a long time but now are back to appointments.

    Big year for vaccines. I also upgraded to Shingrix (2 shots) and got the flu shot in early.

    However … I deferred the routine colonoscopy to next year. Gives me something to look forward to.

  259. 259.

    glc

    @Kropacetic: Sticking as per current rec.

    Not that it matters particularly. Once you’ve dealt with the second order aspects of risk reduction I think you can leave estimations of third order effects to the leisurely progress of science.

    Also had a friend over who recovered from COVID 3 weeks earlier via monoclonal antibodies. Not doing that too often, but the occasion arose and it seemed worth it. (Probably not more dangerous than showering, but less familiar.)

  260. 260.

    J R in WV

    Good thing:  The tail wheel assembly for my bush-hog came.

    Downside, in parts, loose in a box. So I get to assemble it as opposed to just bolting it onto the back end of the ‘hog.

    Maybe I will be able to just use a few parts and get it back in operating shape? Hope springs eternal…

  261. 261.

    lowtechcyclist

    @WaterGirl: ​
     

    But how would it know not to mow down my flowers? How would it know where my yard starts and my neighbor’s ends?

    With those currently on the market, you have to bury a wire that the robotic mower can sense. But iRobot, the folks who created the Roomba, is working on a system where you plant a couple of stakes in your yard that the mower senses and uses to know where it is, and then you drive the mower by hand one time around the borders of your lawn, and the mower remembers where they are. It looks like they’d intended to start selling it last year, but that’s gotten pushed back.

    I don’t have a robotic mower, instead I have a 14 year old who somewhat grudgingly mows the lawn. Since I’m already paying for the upkeep of the 14 year old, he’s way cheaper than a robotic mower.

  262. 262.

    J R in WV

    @lowtechcyclist:

    When we went to Italy several years ago, we spent most of the week out in the Chianti countryside, touring vineyards, with wine tastings, small town museums Etruscan tombs, etc. We stayed in what had been a winery/farm, repurposed into a hotel for tourists.

    They had a robot mower, wandering around the lawns, avoiding the flower beds, which were mostly  raised beds with stone or old brick low walls around them.

    Also saw a bright yellow Ferrari sports car with 6 inch wide clear “scotch” style tape  covering the seam around the driver’s door at a fancy countryside bistro parking lot. I must assume no one was able to keep the water out, hence the ad hoc waterproofing tape. No idea how the driver got behind the wheel to drive that beautiful machine around the beautiful countryside. Very funny, we all thought. A $270,000 auto with a door taped up to keep water out!

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