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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Bright Spot In A Hard Week (Open Thread)

Bright Spot In A Hard Week (Open Thread)

by WaterGirl|  May 7, 20226:28 pm| 63 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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It’s been a tough week, but thanks to all of you, today Voces de la Frontera has $43,000 that they didn’t have on Monday.

I don’t know about you, but I think that’s something to celebrate!!!  $43,000 will go a long way to help with their relational organizing efforts.

Today is a beautiful spring day, and we have another one tomorrow, and then spring is apparently over because it will be 92 degrees by Monday.  (ugh)

Here are some flowers I planted today.  Had to do it while it was still spring. :-)

And a bonus Henry sandwich!

Bright Spot In A Hard Week (Open Thread)

Open thread.

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Reader Interactions

63Comments

  1. 1.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    Are those Gerbera daisies? How do you keep them alive?

  2. 2.

    Yutsano

    May 7, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    First? Second?
    I’m not sure the amount of floof in that Henry picture is legal.
    Also too: ON WISCONSIN!!!​

  3. 3.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    @debbie: They are Gerbera daisies!

    Blazing sun, a ceramic pot, and plenty of water.  I think they are such happy flowers.

  4. 4.

    Starfish

    May 7, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Your flowers are beautiful.

  5. 5.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    @debbie: Plus, they like “tight shoes”, aka if they aren’t happy and you give them a bigger pot as an upgrade, they flip you right off.

  6. 6.

    Ken

    May 7, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    I was weeding today, and feeling vaguely guilty at the number of worms that came up. Do they have some sort of ecological relationship with dandelion roots?

    On the bright side, weeding is a great way to make new friends, if you consider robins and blackbirds friends.

  7. 7.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    @Yutsano: And you can only see half of it!  That’s a big round dog bed with another smaller big round dog bed inside, layered with Henry’s flat dog, which he carefully arranged so he could make a Henry sandwich.

  8. 8.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    The wind blew me off the beach 16-20 is just too much! We rent from a friend and her brother lives next door. We’ve always gotten along but they don’t and he’s celebrating his 70th tonite and we’re invited. Just what I want to do is hang around with bunch of Bama fans I don’t know!

  9. 9.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:40 pm

    @WaterGirl: One of my old friends, former Urbana council member, died this week and there is a “celebration of life” at the Esquire tonight.

  10. 10.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    @Raven: Oh no, who was it?  I bet I know them.

  11. 11.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    @Raven: You could toast them from your porch. :-)

  12. 12.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:43 pm

    @WaterGirl: Tom Cheverud.

    FROM THE FAMILY OF TOM CHEVERUD (aka THOR):

    Thomas Robert Cheverud (aka Thor and Old Tom) died peacefully at his home in Urbana, Illinois in late April 2022. Tom’s full and well lived life will be celebrated with family and friends on Sunday May 22, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Esquire Lounge, 106 N. Walnut St., Champaign, IL.

    Tom was born in Chicago on July 14, 1950 and grew up in Riverdale, Illinois until moving to Champaign-Urbana to attend the University of Illinois in 1968. In the 1970s, Tom co-founded the non-profit Record Service that supported coops for food and clothing and served as a Democratic 5th ward alderman in Urbana from 1977 to 1981. Tom worked a variety of jobs in construction and manufacturing over the years and served as a union steward before retiring from Plastipak several years ago. Tom had a lifelong love of knowledge, nature, and sports. As a voracious reader, Tom was a virtual walking encyclopedia on a myriad of subjects and was always interested to discuss and debate ideas. With his passion for bird watching and gardening, he beautified every home he lived in and enjoyed doing the same for others. Always learning, Tom trained himself on the guitar and took up poker in his later years. He most recently began the pursuit of designing micro aquascapes. As for sports, Tom was an avid follower of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, spent many years coaching youth baseball and basketball in Urbana and was a member of the legendary High ‘N Mighty softball team. Tom took great pride in his Norwegian heritage and considered his trip to Norway with his brother to visit family and ancestral sites as the trip of a lifetime. Tom showed great kindness, encouragement and interest in those he held dear in his life and he will be tremendously missed by all who knew him.

    Tom is survived by his son, Robert Thomas Cheverud of Champaign-Urbana; by his three younger siblings Joanie (Cheverud) Stern, Kathi Cheverud, and Jim Cheverud; and by his nephews, Eirik and Bryan Cheverud, and nieces, Emma Stern and Mary Grace Cheverud. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lloyd and Mary Ellen (Fox) Cheverud.

    Tom’s full and well lived life will be celebrated with family and friends on Sunday May 22, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Esquire Lounge, 106 N. Walnut St., Champaign, IL.

    Oh, its not tonight.

  13. 13.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    @Raven: Hmm, maybe I don’t.  Still very sorry your group lost another friend.

    edit: oh wait, if he founded Record Service, then I did know him, just didn’t remember the name.  Boy, Record Service brings back memories.  Just seeing the name, I was taken back to standing in the store.  Vivid memory.

  14. 14.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    @WaterGirl: So did my ex. . .it actually started in the basement of the Union and then expanded.

  15. 15.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    @Raven: I used to wash and wax the floors when it was above Mc Brides.

  16. 16.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    @Raven: I loved the upstairs.

  17. 17.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    @WaterGirl: We used to keep a “store stash” above the door in the office in case of emergencies! That 5cent “community tax” did much good.

  18. 18.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 6:56 pm

    @WaterGirl: And he’s not the only one who died this week. John “JR” Ropp once almost ran for mayor of Champaign and was one notorious streaker!

  19. 19.

    NotMax

    May 7, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    Floral-inspired music (with a distant nod to Ukraine) — Sunflower.

    ;)

  20. 20.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 7:00 pm

    @Raven: That’s a great photo!  I remember the streaker.

  21. 21.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 7, 2022 at 7:00 pm

    here’s my bright spot

    Steve Schmidt @SteveSchmidtSES
    I can explain this. When I kicked @MeghanMcCain off of the 2008 McCain plane, because of her outrageous behavior, I talked to her mom and explained what was happening and why. Cindy got weepy and said “I just want to say I raised two good sons” I said “everyone knows you did”

    2/My daughter was three at the time and I made a promise to myself that I would make sure that my number one priority in life would be raising a child that never acted like @MeghanMcCain, a spoiled rotten, entitled bully. She is graduating high school next week! Mission achieved!

    3/ Everyone who has ever worked with @MeghanMcCain from @abc @TheView @JoyVBehar @WhoopiGoldberg and a thousand others have seen the unfiltered version of what the whole of America has seen. That is why in a nation of 330 million people, 247 have bought it. Nothing new to learn

    I love that he tagged her! I’m ambivalent about Schmidt, but today he is my hero

  22. 22.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    @WaterGirl: There was a rash of them but JR stood on the top of the House of Chin for all to see!

  23. 23.

    Dangerman

    May 7, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    @Yutsano: Felonious Floof? I thought that only applies to Furries.

  24. 24.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Yes, love their sunny little faces!

  25. 25.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    @WaterGirl: The Illini we’re #1!!

  26. 26.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 7:06 pm

    @Raven: those were some good old days.

  27. 27.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    @Raven: We once put a bikini on “Alma” (our nickname for the Alma Mater statue).  A little late night fun.

  28. 28.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    @WaterGirl: Every time a virgin walks by she sits down!

  29. 29.

    Raven

    May 7, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    The biggest upset in Derby history!

  30. 30.

    JPL

    May 7, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    @Raven:  ha I just put it on a few minutes before seven. Rich Strike wins and then they all cry, cuz yesterday he wasn’t suppose to run.

  31. 31.

    trollhattan

    May 7, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    @WaterGirl: Definitely have “blazing sun” covered here. They purdy!

  32. 32.

    trollhattan

    May 7, 2022 at 7:18 pm

    Out front yesterday trying and mostly failing to photograph hummingbirds around our feeder. Glanced up to spot a Really Big birdy high above the house. Took some shots as it circled a couple times then headed north. Didn’t look like the typical vulture but too big for our occasional hawk or falcon. Asked some bird folks and learned it was an immature bald eagle. Cool!

  33. 33.

    trollhattan

    May 7, 2022 at 7:20 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Master class in how to deal with a bully. Good for him, and yay for his kid graduating from high school a fully formed human (also sort-of post-covid).

  34. 34.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:26 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Keep reading. She’s fighting back, calling him a pedo.

  35. 35.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 7:28 pm

    @debbie: Should someone tell the spoiled brat and all the rest of the republicans that if you call everyone a pedo, it kind of loses its meaning?

  36. 36.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:29 pm

    pic.twitter.com/RIwWMLWeB9— Hedy Lamarr-I Stand With Ukraine (@HedyLamarr0629) May 7, 2022

  37. 37.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:30 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    No. Let them continue looking ridiculous.

  38. 38.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Is this your Henry earlier this evening?

    If you had Rich Strike in the Kentucky Derby… pic.twitter.com/qgq9gN4qpN
    — Rex Chapman?? (@RexChapman) May 7, 2022

  39. 39.

    Cameron

    May 7, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ” A spoiled, rotten entitled bully” – exactly how is she different from her old man?

  40. 40.

    trollhattan

    May 7, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    @debbie: @WaterGirl:

    It gets worse, here comes Glem!

  41. 41.

    Elizabelle

    May 7, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:   It’s the mother throwing Meghan under the bus that is so classic.  “Well, Steve.  My sons turned out well.”

  42. 42.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 7:37 pm

    @debbie: Henry’s not nearly that big, but I love how that dog wants to be out there running with the big dogs horses.

  43. 43.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Oy.

    That was some Derby finish!

  44. 44.

    Elizabelle

    May 7, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    @debbie:  Amazing.  Is 20 horses an unusually big field?

  45. 45.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 7:43 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    I think it’s been around that number for a while. Too crowded, I think.

  46. 46.

    Elizabelle

    May 7, 2022 at 7:44 pm

    @debbie:   Yeah.  I tuned in just as the horses were being loaded.  I am always too nervous about horses breaking down, etc.

  47. 47.

    Joy in FL

    May 7, 2022 at 7:45 pm

    Henry is so sweet. I love when you post photos. The Gerberas are beautiful, too : )

  48. 48.

    Sure Lurkalot

    May 7, 2022 at 7:49 pm

    I want to rub Henry’s pink tummy. Is that wrong?

  49. 49.

    trollhattan

    May 7, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    @Elizabelle: just as the horses were being loaded.

    Horse bongs?

  50. 50.

    Ken

    May 7, 2022 at 7:53 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Makes me wonder what other (R) authors’ sales would look like if they didn’t have someone buying copies to hand out at CPAC and other events.

  51. 51.

    Another Scott

    May 7, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    Another bright spot, in the UK.

    The best video you’ll see today:

    pic.twitter.com/n0MeBTczIT

    — Dr Shan Hussain ? (@DrShanHussain) May 7, 2022

    They came prepared, knew what was going to happen, and took the consequences. And said what needed to be said where she would hear it.

    Well done.

    (via gavmacn)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  52. 52.

    Elizabelle

    May 7, 2022 at 8:04 pm

    @trollhattan:  LOL.  We will find out, after the fact.

  53. 53.

    Another Scott

    May 7, 2022 at 8:13 pm

    Meanwhile, if we’re willing to make changes in other areas – changes that we know how to make – we are not doomed about climate change either. Phys.org:

    Gradually replacing 20 percent of global beef and lamb consumption with meat-textured proteins grown in stainless steel vats could cut agriculture-related CO2 emissions and deforestation in half by 2050, researchers reported Wednesday.

    Compared to a current-trends projection for population growth and food demand, swapping half of red meat consumption for so-called microbial proteins would see reductions in tree loss and CO2 pollution of more than 80 percent, they reported in the journal Nature.

    “With a relatively small change in the consumption of ruminant meat, greenhouse gas emissions from tropical deforestation can be strongly reduced,” lead author Florian Humpenoder, a scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), told AFP.

    […]

    The global food system accounts for roughly a third of all carbon pollution, and beef production is the main culprit within the agricultural sector, according the UN’s climate science advisory panel.

    The cattle industry is a double threat.

    It not only destroys CO2-absorbing tropical forests to make room for grazing pastures and cattle feed crops. In addition, belching livestock are a major source of methane, 30 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2 on a 100-year timescale.

    Microbe-based meat alternatives have been on supermarket shelves for decades.

    […]

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  54. 54.

    MomSense

    May 7, 2022 at 8:23 pm

    Jackal favorite Adam Schiff is the speaker at our state Democratic Convention!  I’m going to have to go now.

  55. 55.

    eclare

    May 7, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    @Another Scott:   Awesome!

  56. 56.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 8:58 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    Overhead shot of the final turn. That horse has some amazing moves!

    This overhead of #RichStrike coming back…what a ride. #KentuckyDerby pic.twitter.com/r1MwVNbL2S
    — CHRIS TORELLO (@TorelloSports) May 7, 2022

  57. 57.

    MomSense

    May 7, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    @debbie:

    My mom turned it on and we watched the processional of the horses with their ponies before the race. My youngest (who was annoyed my mom turned on the race) picked Rich Strike to win! He ended up really enjoying the race.  My maternal grandma always picked the winning horses so my mom and I had a laugh about that.

  58. 58.

    debbie

    May 7, 2022 at 9:06 pm

    @MomSense:

    Your son can pick them! Rich Strike wasn’t a very good sport about winning, what with all that biting.

  59. 59.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 9:09 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot: The pink tummy is pretty irresistable.

  60. 60.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    @Another Scott: Goosebumps.

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    May 7, 2022 at 9:12 pm

    @MomSense: Oh, yay, I would go, too!

  62. 62.

    Al Nichols

    May 7, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    Hi everyone,

    Looks like I’m late to the party, as usual, but on behalf of Voces de la Frontera Action I’d like to take a moment to express our humble and sincere gratitude for your support.  The fact that a number of you have set up recurring contributions makes it even more meaningful.  We realize that none of you are wealthy enough to throw money around indiscriminately; the fact that you spend your resources on our organization speaks volumes about your trust in us.  I also want to express our special gratitude to the members of the group who put up the angel matches, and of course to WaterGirl who is an indefatigable fundraiser and organizer.

    As to the issue of the moment.  Three of us started yesterday to put the pieces in place to organize the shit out of this issue, beginning Monday.  We see an opportunity to turn this situation to our advantage, and thanks in part to the help you extended to us last summer we’re in a position to do that.

    We’ll keep you posted as we move forward, and once again, many thanks.

  63. 63.

    eachother

    May 7, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    Contentment. A very comfortable Henry. A very beautiful planter.
    92 degrees wilts.

    So does too cold wilt. Low 20s here at night for 3 nights  to come

    It’s the mix that spawns severe weather in the east in couple of days. Stationary Low in the Atlantic. Interesting.
    Warm moist air flows from the south.
    How are the farm fields in the mid West?  Plantable?  Wet?

    Any Mississippi River flooding?

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