Looks like we could use an open thread!
I’ve got noting, except a photo of the last of my flowers that I brought in because we are getting a hard freeze tonight.
Totally open thread.
by WaterGirl| 78 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
Comments are closed.
Nukular Biskits
It’s no fun being first if there’s no Baud to compete against.
😒
Alison Rose
The pink flowers in that blue vase look really pretty!
Suzanne
For anyone who is into the Peloton, one of the instructors has been pushing for a 120-minute cycle class. So I did it today. I was planning to do a long run today, but it rained most of the day, so indoors it is. I was pleased… I maintained a high speed the whole time and didn’t feel wrecked afterward.
Anoniminous
For no particular reason: Jazz flute
Jharp
Same here with the hard freeze.
I have some newly planted grass going on and it’s right close to not being able to handle a freeze.
Do I cover it in leaves (lightly) until the threat is over?
WaterGirl
@Jharp: Is it a whole big area of grass? Or just a big patch? If just a patch, could you put an old sheet over it?
I think the wet leaves would be hard to get back up off of baby grass without damaging the baby grass.
I am not a grass expert.
WaterGirl
@Jharp: The hard freeze is so sad. I teared up as I was coming in from putting something in the recycle bin.
Anoniminous
And here’s an example of the Bass flute
eclare
Very pretty hydrangeas!
WaterGirl
@Anoniminous: Jazz typically gets on my nerves, but that flute was just lovely!
eclare
@Suzanne:
Does the music keep your mind occupied for two hours? I’d be afraid I’d lose focus.
I used to take spinning classes when that was the big thing, but those were only an hour.
WaterGirl
@eclare: Thank you! I have like 50 or 100 baby blooms on my hydrangea and none of them will get to grow up. So sad.
japa21
@WaterGirl: That first hard freeze of the fall is always hard. This is the first year in over 40 years we haven’t had to worry about it. In reality, I remember many years it came earlier than this. I also remember many years that by this time most of the leaves had already fallen from the trees. Here in the Chicago suburbs, maybe only 20% have fallen and some trees are just starting to turn.
piratedan
still have some bluesky invites for anyone in need
eclare
@WaterGirl:
Oh no! Now I understand why you teared up.
WaterGirl
@Anoniminous: Apparently not a fan of the Bass flute, But that first one was so light and gorgeous.
Suzanne
@eclare: Most of the instructors do a good job both with a playlist and with being charismatic and entertaining, and I usually don’t get bored. There’s choreography to most classes, in terms of intervals and spin-ups and climbs. So usually I do fine, focus-wise. Two hours is long, tho.
I want to do a half-marathon next year, and I am honestly more concerned about being able to endure it mentally than physically. So I’m trying to practice those long efforts.
WaterGirl
@eclare: Thank you for that.
WaterGirl
@japa21: I’m surprised to hear that. We’re not usually that far off from Chicago weather.
eclare
@Suzanne:
Gotcha. My former boss trained for and ran a marathon without ever listening to anything. I don’t know how he did it, Memphis is not exactly scenic.
If you run the Marine Corps at least you get all the sights in DC as a distraction.
Suzanne
@WaterGirl: Don’t your hydrangeas come back in the spring? I planted some a couple of years ago and they have come back beautifully both years.
Gvg
We probably won’t get freezes till December but it’s started cooling down and hasn’t been over 90 in 2 weeks so it’s now safe to start my fall and winter seeds plus do weed treatments on my lawn. I bought fertilizer today too. All summer it hasn’t been safe to treat certain weeds. Roses are budding and blooming. It’s been very dry though. No rain predicted for weeks. Days are much shorter.
Tuesday is Halloween and I bought some path lights to add to the Jack o Lanterns. Have probably too much candy but the kid traffic increased last year and I don’t want to be short. Straightened up the yard all weekend to look nice. House clean tomorrow after work.
Suzanne
@eclare: That would eat me up. I need music, and I really like that the Peloton feels pretty close to an in-person fitness class. I like the competitive aspect to it, and the enforced routine of classes. I also do yoga classes, but those in an actual yoga studio.
Anoniminous
@WaterGirl:
Jazz is so vast and so personal Sturgeon’s Law applies with a vengeance.
Cameron
Never thought I would look for a full-time job again, but the opportunity is too good to pass up. Florida Studio Theatre, where I took playwriting classes, is looking for a grant writer – which was my second career after the railroad unloaded me. Fun place, easy to get to, decent pay, job I know how to do; only drawback is that I haven’t worked full time since the end of 2014…..
Anoniminous
Not jazz
Keithly
@Suzanne: Can confirm that a half marathon is a mental exercise. I was just interested in finishing and didn’t push myself physically. Good luck!
dmsilev
Some schadenfreude for the evening. Judge Chutkan reinstated the gag order on TFG and further said that it would remain in place even as he tries to appeal it. He’s …not taking it well:
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: Oh yeah, they come back in the spring. But all those baby blooms will never turn into flowers. But yes, there will be new flowers next year!
eclare
@Suzanne:
I had completely forgotten that the Peloton is at home! Yes, the instructors must be big on charisma and smart with the music choices.
Good luck with training for the half!
Suzanne
@WaterGirl: I have not pruned mine yet, but I’m planning to do it this year. I might have done it today if it had not been rain-ful. The internet tells me to cut them back approx. 1/3 of their size. So we’ll see in the spring if the internet is correct!
Jharp
@WaterGirl: I have a battery operated blower and it’s isolated patches in a very small yard. I’ve decided I am going to blow some leaves on top of it for the next few nights. Easy on and easy off.
eclare
@Cameron:
Sounds perfect, good luck!
Alison Rose
@dmsilev:
I missed the news that Judge Chutkan got a job in the White House.
eclare
@dmsilev:
Awesome, thanks for the update!
WaterGirl
@Anoniminous: Quite the compilation.
Suzanne
@eclare: It’s what keeps me sane on my WFH lunch breaks!
dmsilev
@Alison Rose: There you go again, applying ‘logic’ and ‘reading comprehension’ to TFG’s utterances.
WaterGirl
@dmsilev: Do you know if Judge Chutkan also made the partial gag order part of the agreement that lets him not be in jail? (forgetting the right term at the moment)
I know that Jack Smith asked for that, too, wondering if he got it.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: Huh. I never prune mine because the buds come on the old wood as well as new growth. But there are a bunch of different varieties of hydrangeas. Some bud on old growth and others do not.
WaterGirl
@Jharp: Hadn’t thought of a leaf blower. :-) And it’s been raining here for days, so I was somehow assuming wet leaves!
dmsilev
@WaterGirl: I believe those are two separate things, but I’m not certain.
mrmoshpotato
@Anoniminous: What the bass flute, Batman?
Anoniminous
@WaterGirl:
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a majorly huge Weird Al fan
WaterGirl
@dmsilev: They were two separate things, but in a recent filing Smith asked her to reinstate it AND to make it part of his [whatever it’s called] agreement.
WaterGirl
@Anoniminous: I did not know that. It apparently goes both ways.
mrmoshpotato
The Bears are out in LA – sucking.
CaseyL
Had a lovely long walk today with a friend, through Woodland Park/Greenlake.
It’s an interesting park, located between Woodland Park Zoo and Greenlake (“Greenlake” is the lake and the park surrounding the lake). All kinds of roads, playing fields, wooded areas, and paths; and easy to lose track of what direction you’re walking in. My friend, who used to cross country run in that area, swore she knew it well – but we still somehow got a little turned around and wound up walking further and longer than planned. Not a problem, as the weather was Absolutely Perfect (IMO): upper fifties, clear as a bell, bright sunshine.
We saw a lot of people paddle-boarding across the lake. There may have been some kind of Halloween event involved, since everyone we saw paddle-boarding was in costume.
eclare
@CaseyL:
I bet the costumed paddle boarding was fun to watch.
Sure Lurkalot
I’m a big proponent of video fitness. I have tons of content…and it’s easy to mix and match what you need or feel like doing. I’m lucky to have a basement and besides the TV and vids, I have weights, bands, balls and other torture devices. I admit that it does take discipline.
JaySinWA
@piratedan: My new Bluesky graft is finally bearing fruit. I now have one code to share.
Alison Rose
FYI if any of you use eyedrops:
The link in the quote takes you to the FDA list of all the product names.
Suzanne
@CaseyL: Sooooo we have a funny family story about Green Lake. SuzMom’s parents and grandparents were longtime Seattleites, and my great-grandmother lived out her senior years in an assisted-living community called the Hearthstone, right next to Green Lake. She was telling us one time that she would walk two-thirds of the way around the lake, and then turn around and walk back. SuzMom asked her why she didn’t just…. walk all the way around it. She said, “Oh, goodness, I can’t walk that far!”
If y’all ever think I’m dumb, now you know it’s genetic.
eclare
@Alison Rose:
Thanks! Luckily I don’t use any of those, Systane brand only. They are pretty expensive, but I guess they’re worth it.
eclare
@Suzanne:
Hahaha…
Suzanne
@Sure Lurkalot: I like that I can pick a specific duration and fit it into my day. And not waste time driving to and from the gym.
Lyrebird
@Alison Rose:
Aw crud! Thank you for the alert.
Cameron
@eclare: Thanks!
middlelee
@Anoniminous: Many months ago you suggested a beautiful song, “We Will Meet Once Again” and I have listened to it almost daily since. Have been wanting to thank you forever, so “Thank you.”
Alison Rose
@eclare: @Lyrebird: Welcome! Even if there haven’t been cases reported, this seems like something you don’t wanna take a chance with!
I’ve never been able to use eye drops. I cannot stand anything touching my eyes or going in them. I had horrid allergies growing up and I couldn’t get myself to use them even then. I’d automatically close my eyes as soon as I squeezed the bottle.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: hahaha
CaseyL
@eclare: It was! The first stand-up paddler we saw was a fellow in Colonial (US) garb – except for what he had on his feet, which were sensible sneakers and not boots. There were a few folks in 17th Century outfits (pirates?), but in canoes rather than standing on paddle boards, which I thought was smart since those are complicated and bulky costumes and you definitely don’t want to fall in the water wearing them.
@Suzanne: That’s a terrific story – not least because she wound up walking further than if she had just gone all the way around.
Suzanne
@eclare: Get Systane at Costco when it’s on sale!
Can you tell that I have comparison-shopped for this item? Mr. Suzanne uses, like, eight bottles at a time.
Suzanne
@CaseyL: The accidental extra exercise served her well…. she lived to 97.
eclare
@Alison Rose:
I’ve worn contacts since I was around twelve, so multiple decades. Putting stuff on my eye is no big deal. I don’t usually need drops, but they’re good to have on hand, especially with it getting colder.
Lyrebird
@Alison Rose: Oh hey I can be at least slightly useful! (claps hands)
After decades of difficulty with eye drops, I learned something from my kids’ eye exams: the eye doctor I took them to had them scrunch their eyes shut tight, she dropped in the drops on top of the inside corners of their eyes (next to the nose), and then said, okay blink a lot now! and enough went in. Why couldn’t my eye doctor do that? Instead of outright laughing at me (I switched away from that one)… But I tried it and it works.
(The eye drops in the house were mostly purchased for someone else, but at least one bottle is from Target, which is on the list…)
mrmoshpotato
Cubs win! Cubs win! There will be a game 6!
eclare
@Suzanne:
I’m about twenty miles each way from a Costco. I know they are great stores, but as a singleton (as opposed to a big family) just not worth the trip.
Alison Rose
@Lyrebird: If I ever need to use them for some reason, I will try that method!
Alison Rose
@eclare: I could never put a contact lens on my eye. If I ever need vision correction, which I presume I will some day at least for reading, I will happily wear glasses. Especially because one time in my 20s, I thought I needed glasses, and I got an eye exam and all that, but when I put them on, it was massively worse and I realized it was just the combo of shitting lighting and an old computer at work. But I looked heckin’ cute in the glasses, and I almost wanted to ask them to pop the lenses out and put plain ones in so I could keep wearing them.
Sure Lurkalot
@Suzanne:
That was what did it for me (especially in the winter) as well as not having to pack a bag of workout clothes only to find I forgot socks. Again.
I stopped going to a studio over 20 years ago when I had a demanding job and I just kept it up after that. I prefer outdoor activities but today it was 27 with 6” of snow on the ground.
eclare
@Alison Rose:
I wear reading glasses along with my contacts. They do make bifocal contacts, but I have a strange and strong prescription and my optometrist did not think I was a good candidate.
I am fine with readers and contacts, lets me exercise, watch TV, etc without glasses. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
wjca
In what passes for TIFG’s mind, everybody in the government takes orders from the President. He expected it when he was in office (and got pissy every time it didn’t happen). So naturally he assumes that, now, everybody works for Biden. He’s just not capable of taking the mental leap required to recognize an organization where the guy at the top isn’t absolute lord of all he surveys.
Alison Rose
@wjca:
His mental leaps are more mental baby’s-first-step.
wjca
Tsk, tsk. An insult to babies everywhere.
KSinMA
Late to the thread: Lovely flowers and lovely photograph, WaterGirl. Thanks, and thanks for all you do.
Denali5
Hate to be a downer, but recently I read that soon everyone will be affected by a mass shooting…..Last night my good friend called to tell me that her daughter’s partner’s nephew, who lives in Maine, you know the rest, is in the hospital in critical condition. He was at the bowling alley. Will this never end?
WaterGirl
@Denali5: Sadly, it’s not going to end for awhile. We need to win some more elections first. That’s why we fight. That’s why we work so hard for every election.
Very sad for everyone who is going through this. And for the rest of us, too, I guess, because we see it and we can’t change it. Not nearly fast enough
After Sandy Hook, at least, it should have been never again.