It’s very important, as a single parent (or as a human generally) to recharge when you can, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do this weekend, in between bouts of cleaning and taking care of client work. Our snow melted and gave way to a violently windy storm with an exceptionally silly name. Even though I’m as far inland as it’s possible to be on King Chuck’s Island, we had some roads flooded out near me. So The Child and I have been pretty chill. I made an enormous pot of tomato and roasted garlic soup, which I ate with smoked cheddar melted on top. The Child is currently absorbed in a mug of hot chocolate and a big book of Japanese myths. There’s a fire in the woodburner.
All is decidedly not right with the world, but I am very grateful to be indoors with a loved one and in good health. Plus, we have cats to take our minds off things. Below the fold, a couple of tuxedo pals showing us how it’s done.
My resident knucklehead, Monty, has continued to expand his horizons, discovering interesting new perches at the ripe old age of nine. His current go-to spot is the basket of art supplies sitting on the sideboard in the kitchen.
If you need napping pro-tips in these anxious times, can I recommend commenter HumboldtBlue’s kitten, Noodles? HB shared this with me on Bluesky:
Hope you’ve had a few similarly chill minutes this Sunday. While it’s a holiday week for you guys, The Child and I am gearing up for another full week of work and school. At least one of us has had her fill of whipped cream beforehand, tho. Open thread.
Josie
It’s always interesting to see what is the cat’s latest chosen perch. I like to make a prediction on how long each one will last. They never seem to run out of ideas and can be very creative.
Weftage
I can’t tell what the object under Noodles is – a notebook? a cell phone? Either way, Noodles is generously helping the human avoid those unnecessary Shoulds and Musts. Good kitty.
satby
It’s sunny and not quite 50° here, so I’m cutting down the not completely dormant cannas and putting the tubers in storage anyway. If I don’t get it done today and tomorrow they’ll be a frozen sludge when I next get the chance, as the coming longest stretch of below freezing nights and barely above freezing days will decimate them. Even the ones in the (short) half barrel pot have produced a dozen more offspring tubers for next year. Taking a hot tea break with a neighbor cat in the sunshine now.
cmorenc
Dogs and cats live in a world almost completely insulated from contact or awareness of political events, except as they may pick up that their people are kind of high-strung and unhappy about something unfathomable to them. They are islands of cuddly therapy who can be great help to us in keeping from totally losing our shit about Trump, the GOP, media…and Merick Garland for being so slow getting out of the gate and giving Trump and 6 RW SCOTUS Justices enough time and room to stall.
Salty Sam
Recharge? Self-care?
I spiraled down into a pit of anger and despair a few days ago. Ended up giving myself a ragegasm. (When I relating the story to my adult step-daughter, she asked “WTF is THAT!?” I replied “An anger orgasm- you know how much fun a regular orgasm is- a ragegasm is just as much NOT-fun.”)
I have been remiss in the self-care department, so after contemplating it for awhile, I went to my first Friends’ Meeting for Worship (Quaker service) today. It exceeded all of my expectations; much silent meditation, broken up by folks sharing whatever the spirit called them to, very warm friendly people…. It was balm for my anger ravaged soul, warm milk with cookies, a cat sleeping on a wicker basket in the kitchen.
I’ll be back.
Kristine
@satby: Tomorrow the high will be around 50F here, which means it’s the last good day to work outside. I still have the front to mow/leaf mulch. Pots to put away. I tend to leave the dry stems of the goldenrod and boneset in place because the birds like to pick at the seeds and the finches use them as resting spots while they wait for their turn at the feeders. Not the neatest yard, but mine own.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
The Noodles photo needs to come with a warning:
“Head Explodingly Cute Kitten Photo”
laura
I have to scrub a stanky, stanky dog. He’s pregrieving his fate while I have a cuppa coffee to muster the things necessary to do the deed. Neither of us are looking forward the task, but he about killed us in our bed last night with the foul stench and so, it’s either a scrub up or death by dreaded doggy dutch oven.
Baud
I try to do it at least twice a day.
mrmoshpotato
That storm name isn’t silly enough! Now, Storm Basketball Jones! We’re talking!
The Audacity of Krope
@Baud: I need to at least do better at recharging myself than the batteries in my devices, which invariably get used until they’re all low simultaneously and I’m switching the plug between them trying to keep them all running.
realbtl
There was finally enough snow here for my #10 Pom mix Bear to get in his first puppy snow angels of the winter.
Raven
It’s a beautiful day on the gulf coast. Unfortunately I wore myself out on the boat yesterday and a not even going to try to go down to the water.
mrmoshpotato
@laura:
LOL! I want to nominate both!
Raven
@mrmoshpotato: I love to hit the open man on the pick and roll!
https://youtu.be/Bp2-c0szaV8?si=VWxg6tWjq0k6rfVh
MagdaInBlack
This week I finally moved the plants in from the balcony to their stand in front of the patio door. This displaced La Gordita, but she has now taken up winter residence on HER well clawed wing-back chair next to the plants. She likes to bask in the glow of the flamingo lights I put on Ruby the Giant Geranium.
I am just doing my standard weekend sloth-fest.
Rose Judson
@Salty Sam: There are tons of Friends’ Meetings around here, and I’ve been considering it. Glad it helped you.
mrmoshpotato
@Raven: oh baby, oo-oo-ooo!
bjacques
@mrmoshpotato: Storm Alice Bowie! In any case it gave us a good pasting here in Amsterdam. Second round coming tomorrow.
WereBear
Great pics. Seen them all. Time to look for them again.
10 Great Nazi-Punching Movies
MagdaInBlack
@Raven: I confess that I saw Cheech and Chong do that song at Joliet Jr College in 1975. Obviously without all the accompaniment.
They definitely were an eye-opening experience for a 17 y/o farm town kid.
NotMax
Weekend respite watch.
Lean back and enjoy a checkered history.
;)
Avalune
That sounds like a lovely time to me! Cute kitties are cute. I’m trying to wrap up my second emotional support chicken – so I can get to the knitted frog before my mother-in-law drives me crazy with the heavy handed Christmas gift hints. 😝
mrmoshpotato
@MagdaInBlack:
My bones are green with envy!
Geminid
@Raven: Whereabouts are you? Pensacola?
NotMax
@WereBear
Do kicks count? (Okay, okay, it’s TV, not a movie.)
;)
raven
@MagdaInBlack: You pigs wanna give us a push?
raven
@Geminid: Santa Rosa Beach.
Betty
Is anyone else having a problem with Bluesky? Since it seems I neglected to write down my password, I tried what I thought it was. They said no so I tried to change it and my first effort didn’t work. I tried a second time and they haven’t sent the re-set code. I’m at a loss what to do.
The Audacity of Krope
@Betty: Did you check your spam folder for the reset code?
Rachel Bakes
Desperately in need of respite here to recharge. Son woke up for the day at 1:30. Husband was up with him for first 2 hours, I took over at 3:30. Day has been spent tagging out and snatching 20 minute naps to get through. I did bake some bread though! Loaf of pane Bianco in the oven right now.
Jacel
When you, in the UK, said this storm had a silly name, I thought it would be something like Stormy McStormface.
MagdaInBlack
@raven: Keep in mind I had only heard them on AM radio, so only the “clean” the clean stuff. I was not prepared……….but dear god i sure did laugh
Eta: guy I was dating (and married) was going to college and living in Joliet, so I guess he broadened my mind a wee bit.
Omnes Omnibus
The Bears are doing this on purpose, just to spite the Packers.
Geminid
@raven: Ah. I bet it’s nice there. I’ve only been to the Gulf Coast twice, and both times I camped at Fort Pickens across the bay from Pensacola. It’s part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
I saw a guy catch some snappers from the little fishing pier there, on the bay side. He said he came down from Alabama a lot; no Florida licence required, just the $8 park admission. Now I want to go back.
WereBear
@NotMax: We welcome all forms of the art.
mrmoshpotato
@Jacel: LOL!
mrmoshpotato
@Omnes Omnibus:
What? Go Niners!
WereBear
Jeezum Crow! Lost a celebrity follow when I ditched ex-twitter. Now have one on Bluesky.
I like it. CAVU
WereBear
And I got to tell Jeff Sharlet what a fan girl I am.
Blocked three Nazis so far. Felt good!
raven
@Geminid: Geronimo was held there. We were there one freezing day and went into the educational center where we learned about the white sand on the Gulf Coast “The sand comes from the Appalachian Mountains, where the last ice age pulverized quartz into a fine powder. The Apalachicola River carried the quartz down to the Gulf of Mexico over thousands of years.
raven
@Omnes Omnibus: The first successful onside kick this year.
oldster
Thank you, Rose!
This is a very good post.
Chris Johnson
@Salty Sam: I made it to the Episcopalian coffee-hour today! It was a tiny group of olds even by my standards, but also very obviously decent nice people. I’ll go back. My schedule ruthlessly stops me being able to go there most of the time but I like knowing they are there, even if it’s not going to make much difference.
There is no circle of good people too small to matter to me <3
WereBear
@Salty Sam: I’ve been wanting to visit the Meeting in my town. Next week. You have inspired.
WereBear
This just in from Indivisible.
If you like it call your governors. If you can. I’m adding my favorite AG, Leticia James, who is already in support of this plan. Telling her staff she has my full support in re legal Nazi punching.
She corporate murdered the NRA and took away Trump’s businesses license.
Where’s your AG? What are they doing?
Democrats Safeguarding Democracy: A Blueprint for Blue States to Prepare for Trump 2.0
Chris T.
I am slowly (excruciatingly slowly) getting over this year’s Martian Death Flu (probably Flu A, H5N3, although I didn’t have a specific enough test to say for sure). Sheesh, first COVID and now the flu, it’s as if both of the immunizations I got in September were total duds.
laura
Welp, we survived! The dog is clean, shiny, had a biscuit, and was blown dry – and we are resting, listening to the 9’r game. I, too, showered after M’lil lord and am celebrating with a local IPA (Urban Roots represent!) from the local were we celebrated with BillinGlendale back when he was game for heat stroke in the pursuit of photos.
Now I’m busy imagining the run ins for Raven and other Santa Rosa beach visitors who could maybe possibly cross paths with Stonekettle who lives and takes fabulously amazing bird photos there. Man, a Raven Stonekettle meet up would be a thing to behold.
Betty
@The Audacity of Krope: Yes, I did. No luck, but thanks. So if you go to their help function, they want your password. Catch-22.
Brooklyn Dodger
@Raven: Thank you so much!! :-}
Another Scott
Meanwhile, …
There’s some lesson about other aspects in life there, also too, I think.
Best wishes,
Scott.
WereBear
@Another Scott: A fine explanation of superstition.
m.j.
This is Phil Woods with David Sanborn way back in the late eighties. It’s the kind of performance that mutates. It isn’t new, but it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lNZjtBnITM&list=PLD92B91B57951467B&index=13
karen marie
I thought roasted tomato and garlic soup sounded delicious but, sadly, I have no fresh tomatoes. Boo! The good news is, one can make it using canned whole tomatoes! I know what I am having for dinner!
Betty
Update. Switched from my Kindle to my phone and made it through to my Bluesky account.
mrmoshpotato
OT – fuck drug commercials!
She can do diabetes differently? Like how? In the butt?
Remember to ask your doctor if ooga booga beluga is right for you – like your doctor didn’t go through MEDICAL SCHOOL!
mali muso
Spent a pretty quiet afternoon in the kitchen, roasting vegetables for use next week (squash, pumpkin, beets, onions, garlic, fennel) and pulled out the Kitchenaide to make fresh pasta. I like kitchen projects for meditative calm.
mrmoshpotato
@mali muso: Sounds like a nice-smelling kitchen.
Traveller
I would just like to thank Ms Rose Judson for the great photography….and advice. And I suppose everyone giving honest snippets of their own lives…this has all been fascinating…Thanks again, I needed this, (without knowing that I needed you posting). Best Wishes, Traveller
mali muso
@mrmoshpotato: Yes, it’s giving cozy smells. :)
Josie
@Chris Johnson:
My middle son talked me into singing with him in his Episcopalian choir. It’s a bit high church for my taste, but the people and the sermons are top notch. I just feel better each time I go.
Kayla Rudbek
@WereBear: that reminds me that I should check and see if Spanberger has her ActBlue account for her governor’s race set up yet (being in Virginia, I am going to take great pleasure in voting for her and against Youngkin)
Kayla Rudbek
@mrmoshpotato: although plenty of doctors don’t really pay attention to continuing education requirements in my arrogant opinion, and many of them are misogynistic. The best thing to do is to have a woman as a doctor as you will have better treatment statistically
Yet Another Haldane
OMG, that sounds fabulous! Is there a recipe, or is it by-guess-and-by-gosh? The closest thing I turned up in a quick Internet search was roasted tomato and garlic soup, which also sounds delicious but probably different. Nothing relevant in Joy of Cooking.
HumboldtBlue
@Weftage:
It’s a kindle, and the oven mitt now serves as a gauntlet when six-month-old kitten claws come into play.