What’s everybody up to this weekend? I didn’t even realize this was Easter weekend until one of my client’s offices was closed for the afternoon.
Got 3 of my 4 tomato plants in the mail yesterday. It’s way too early to plant here, so I put them in some smallish pots so they can spend the next 2 or 3 weeks growing up before they get potted in the real location. They are living on the screened in porch where they can get sun during the day and then covered up at night.
I also got one of my favorite tropical hibiscus today, and 5 night sky petunias. I put them on the front deck, but guess I need to check the weather to find out if they need to be on the porch in back, too.
Open thread!
Chris Van Hollen Press Conference (LIVE)
WaterGirl
Just checked the weather, and holy cow, we have a ton of rain coming up.
The top of the image is 100%.
Omnes Omnibus
I will be spending Easter weekend with my parents.
Rusty
After 3 inches of snow last weekend canceled my son’s first outdoor track meet, tomorrow will be 80 and the next meet is on. Easter dinner with him Saturday night, egg dying after, he needs to be back to school early Sunday. Should make for a really nice weekend.
wmd
I’m wondering about Betty Cracker’s butter lamb.
PsiFighter37
Just got back from Europe, so it’s a lot of sliding back into the usual kid’s activities for the weekend (except for Sunday, where both math and ice skating are off).
I was contemplating spending the Fourth of July up in Canada this year – not as a symbolic taking-of-sides of this stupid trade war, but more that I assume that the holiday is going to assume even more jingoistic, idiotic overtones under the felon this time around (even if I am in Manhattan and surrounded by like-minded sufferers). I’m not sure I have the will to convince my wife to spend the money up in Ottawa or in Halifax (my 2 main choices – we’ve been to Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City before; Halifax could be a nice departure from urbanized Canada but with great seafood, while we have never been to Ottawa), but next year, which will be America’s 250th, I am definitely of the mind that we should be away from the likely military parade and whatever other idiocy will be cooked up for that one.
WaterGirl
@Rusty: That sounds really nice.
Growing up, Easter was a big deal in my family. But not so much now that we’re all grown, the nieces and nephews are all grown, and my parents are gone. So just another Sunday for me.
Kristine
I did a little yardwork today–picked up branches, sowed the corn gluten weed suppressor, found a deer leg bone and tossed it back into the woods. I may do some more tomorrow if it doesn’t rain. Otherwise it looks like rain until midweek.
If it’s too wet, there’s indoor sorting to do. A book to format for trade pb. Writing has been spotty—I am struggling to concentrate. According to a friend’s FB post and the comments, I’m not alone.
Steve LaBonne
Will be singing in the choir in church on Sunday (kinda sorta Easter-themed service, as close as UUs get). Then on Wednesday will be driving to White Plains NY for the funeral of my aunt, who just died only a few months short of her hundredth birthday (!).
BlueGuitarist
Saturday going to 2 local pro-democracy/constitution demonstrations to protest fascism and to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American revolution.
eta: part of national demonstrations sponsored by indivisible and 50501 and others
MagdaInBlack
I had the day off and thus far have avoided all responsibility, as planned.
CaseyL
Just came back from a delightful day with a friend: brunch at the Edgewater overlooking Elliott Bay, then a stroll along the waterfront through the Olympic Sculpture Park. At points we had a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier bracketed by cargolifter cranes down at the loading docks, and (also in one frame, so to speak) the Space Needle and P-I Globe. Absolutely perfect weather, too.
A real mood lifter. My friend and I are thinking of making this outing a semi-regular thing, whenever we need something to lift our spirits.
Gin & Tonic
@PsiFighter37: Ottawa is boring.
dmsilev
This weekend, not much, but mid next week, I have family visiting for a few days so do have to do some prep for hosting them. It’s been a cold spring in New England, so my sister-in-law was very definite in specifying that “beach” be on the agenda.
scav
Started wheelbarrowing a VW-Beatle-sized pile of wood chips to its final destination(s). It’s not even my VW-Beatle-sized pile of wood chips let alone my destination(s).
Jay
@PsiFighter37:
Halifax would be my choice. Seafood, but it’s pretty urban, driving can be a pain, (just volume). If you decide on Halifax, let me know, I have a friend there who is a seafood addict. He knows all the best spots.
WaterGirl
@dmsilev: Is chocolate cake on the agenda? Or is that only for December?
WaterGirl
@scav: Wow, that officially makes you a good person and a great friend.
WaterGirl
I cannot believe that not a single person has commented on the giraffe that has been watching over us all day. I think he’s awesome.
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
What happens in Ottawa is boring, but there are great museums, great bike rides, canoeing and typical excellent food.
Halifax also has great music and lots of pubs.
Ohio Mom
Spending Sunday prepping for Monday’s colonoscopy, so not an exciting weekend. But then I’m good for at least three years and maybe the universe will end before then and I’ll never have to drink that prep ever again.
Running errands today, I got cut off twice, once by a black Tesla sedan, the second time by a white one. Then I watched the white one tailgate the car in front of it for a block until it turned into a side street. Make of that what you will.
Baud
@WaterGirl:
Makes me feel judged.
lowtechcyclist
Today we took our son and his girlfriend to see the orchids at the Botanical Gardens in DC. Had a very good lunch afterwards at Mason Social in Alexandria, and then went to see the Netherlands Carillon and the Iwo Jima memorial. The kids crashed out together in the back seat on the way home.
Tomorrow I’m helping my wife set up a table for our local theatre troupe at the local farmers market, then going up to Annapolis for a protest there. No kings!!!
On Sunday we will have an Easter dinner, just us and the kiddo and maybe his girlfriend.
Steve LaBonne
@Jay: Part of my family tree has a branch that made a stop in Halifax and I have somewhat distant relatives in Nova Scotia. I would love to take a leisurely drive through Atlantic Canada while my wife and I are still in decent physical shape.
WaterGirl
Is anyone playing the new game on the Waffle site? Not sure whether you have to have supported them to have access to the new game or not. It’s called Stackdown. So far the best I have done is one star. But it’s fun!
WaterGirl
@Baud: Not judging, just surprised because he’s so awesome. But I guess my wording might have sounded like the dreaded “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.”
dmsilev
@WaterGirl: Probably not. We’re going to be out and about pretty much the whole of the few days that they’re here.
Jay
@Steve LaBonne:
Cabot Trail is a must do, New Brunswick’s North Shore, (Acadia), Fundy Bay, etc. Lots of places to see, some to avoid.
I would take the ferry over from Maine to Dartmouth as the starting point.
WaterGirl
@dmsilev: I don’t know… mini chocolate cupcakes that you can just pop in your mouth would make a yummy beach snack. Just a thought.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: I am a live and let live guy. The giraffe hasn’t commented about me, so I was doing them the same courtesy.
Rachel Bakes
Today was spent cooking. Made a lemon tiramisu for an Easter dinner with 1 family on Saturday. Made kanellbullar for the other family’s Easter brunch. Tomorrow en route we’re climbing a mountain (CT mountain, so not a huge thing). Big kid got home Wednesday night from college and goes back Monday-the joys of a Catholic university.
Rachel Bakes
loving our giraffe guardian angel
Steve LaBonne
@Jay: Thanks. Whether it will ever happen I don’t know.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: There’s a lot to be said for that approach.
Baud
@WaterGirl:
I meant the way the giraffe was looking at me made my feel judged.
Gin & Tonic
@CaseyL: Is that the same Edgewater Inn that the Mothers sing about in the “mudshark” record?
WaterGirl
@Rachel Bakes: Glad you are appreciating him, too.
I never understood how folks could get the duplicate comments when they are editing, but I did it myself on Tuesday when I was commenting from my phone.
Not exactly sure WHAT I did to make the happen, but I now sort of know when it happens.
Also, with a nym like Rachel Bakes, you could have said you spent the day baking.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Oh. I actually thought he was judging all the evil this administration is doing. Maybe you have a guilty conscience? :-)
BlueGuitarist
@WaterGirl:
Thanks for the prompt to waffle – o frabjous day!
didn’t see the new thing, so guessing it’s special for supporters.
Eta: love all the Images!
Baud
@WaterGirl:
I probably should.
Rachel Bakes
@WaterGirl: removing the duplicate would be helpful.
true-baking would make sense. Figured I’d mix it up a bit? Then ordered a pizza for dinner.
Nukular Biskits
To answer the initial question and in no particular order:
And finishing the day with some Yuengling.
kalakal
@Baud: Looking down on you, was he?
WaterGirl
@BlueGuitarist: Well, there was a note that said they were testing it out with some subscribers and asked for feedback. So it might still be free going forward. We’ll find out.
I sent them $5 bucks when I first discovered Waffle – that’s all it takes. I wonder if even a dollar would work. But I liked the game and wanted to support them. Can you see their One Word Search? That’s fun, too.
Their Waffle Royale is just for folks who have donated at least once. That one is my favorite.
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl: I admired him greatly earlier today but didn’t have a chance to comment.
WaterGirl
@Nukular Biskits: That’s a lot of stuff! Do you guys do kind of an indoor-outdoor split?
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: It’s been a long week, I thought we might need a special guy to perk us up!
Glad to know you appreciated him.
In the really hard weeks, that’s when I put the Bodhi up. That picture comforts me because what he looks like in that photo is a reflection of exactly how I am feeling. And he’s beautiful, as a bonus. :-)
currawong
Our (self-growing) tomato season is over here in the South of Victoria. Didn’t have as good a year as last year except for one plant – a San Marzano. These are the tomatoes that are grown on the slopes of Mt Vesuvius and are the required tomato sauce for pizza in Naples and around the world. Shaped like a plum tomato but beautifully sweet and great in salads and sandwiches.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@WaterGirl:
Giraffes are cool, magnificent animals. It brightened up my day. Thanks for putting him up
Nukular Biskits
@WaterGirl:
You mean me and Ms. Biskits?
BlueGuitarist
@WaterGirl:
All I can see are daily and deluxe and a link for Royale that says just for supporters.
Origuy
@Steve LaBonne: Cape Breton Island is beautiful in the summer and great if you like Celtic music. I think every other person there plays the fiddle. They have a Scottish Gaelic language festival in a little town called Christmas Island; I went to the opening night concert. It was held in the firehouse and many in the audience were neighbors of the performers.
Salty Sam
Re: the giraffe- for Christmas, Spouse and I gave our 5 year old granddaughter Iris “A Day At The San Antonio Zoo With Oma and Opa”. The highlight of the trip was at the giraffe paddock where, for a few extra bucks, you’d get to go up on an elevated deck (eye level to the giraffes.and feed the giraffes a handful of lettuce. Iris was entranced!
Really cool animals, giraffes. Fourteen inch long tongue would curl around the bunch of lettuce and snatch it away!
WaterGirl
@BlueGuitarist: ah. Bummer.
WaterGirl
@Nukular Biskits: yep.
WaterGirl
@Salty Sam: that sounds like an amazing day and an amazing gift.
Elizabelle
@WaterGirl: Yes! I am thinking that Bohdi and that delightful cheetah should be in heavy rotation on tough weeks.
Never tire of seeing either of their beautiful faces
ETA: You could put last night’s photo of Thurston in his bandana/diaper up for comic relief.
Nukular Biskits
@WaterGirl:
Ms. Biskits is a city girl.
Mr. Biskits is a country boy.
Ruckus
@WaterGirl:
Pretty much the same here.
I was the youngest in my family of 5, now I’m the only one left. All the cousins are younger and one of them passed away 5-6 years ago. All aunts, uncles gone. Mom lived to the day before her 95th birthday. Her oldest daughter passed away 4 years before she did. My other sister passed 3 yrs ago. And I’m over 3/4 of a century old.
We all live what seems a long time – if we are lucky. We have much better health care than when I was born, I’ve known a number of people that had polio, including one of my current neighbors, because we were all born before the vaccine. In fact there was only one vaccine given when I was born, smallpox. Not the first vaccine but the first one we got as kids.
Ruckus
@Ohio Mom:
Lots of teslas here in SoCal. (I’m not capitalizing anything to do with the children trying screw up our country, including their names)
Given the price of gas in SoCal, average for regular is $4.50-4.60 currently. It’s been higher and that is at the off brand stations. Some places it is above $5/gal for regular. That’s in my part of SoCal. Some of the more expensive areas are likely over $5/gal.
dc
Teen Vogue for the win again: teenvogue.com/story/fsu-shooter-radicalized-white-man-real-threat-oped
Pete Downunder
Easter is different downunder. Good Friday is the everything closed public holiday. Saturday is just Saturday. Easter Sunday is a public holiday, but most retailers are open. Monday is also a public holiday because Sunday doesn’t count (any public holiday that has a specific date if that date falls on a Sunday the Monday after is always a public holiday). Aussies fiercely protect their holidays. Public holidays attract extra pay for most workers and many restaurants therefore impose a surcharge of 10%. Beautiful early autumn day here on the Sunshine Coast.
Sister Golden Bear
Spent much of the day gathering info about how to move to Portugal — at least for the next several years — since as a trans woman the US isn’t safe for me anymore.
Got a nibble from a recruiter about a contract job. Pays less than I’d like but pickings are slim. At worst it’s getting me off my butt this weekend to update my portfolio. On the off chance I land it, the good news is that it’s fully remote, so I could keep doing it from Portugal.
frosty
Here on the Mason- Dixon line it’s getting warm! 80s tomorrow and 70s and dry for the next few days, finally! I’ll be heading south to Montgomery County, MD in the morning ISO a Purple Gallinule. I saw one in Florida, but I’ll never get another chance to add it to my Maryland list.
Yes, many of us bird people are OCD, why do you ask?
Sister Golden Bear
@Sister Golden Bear: And technically while Portugal would be an early retirement, which I would love because I’m so DONE with the tech industry, it still fucking sucks to have to escape there.
coin operated
mrs coin and I get to have lunch with her daughters on Sunday. They both work in the entertainment biz here in Vegas…getting them (and their boyfriends…also in the biz) together at the same time is in ‘herding-cats’ territory.
BTW…I’m referred to as the ‘badass bonus dad’. My heart will be full on Sunday.
Jackie
@Sister Golden Bear: That’s wonderful news! And once there, you can continue shopping for a higher paying job!
And while Portugal might suck – it beats the hell of what’s happening here for you. Best wishes, always to you.
frosty
@Steve LaBonne: @Jay: Late to the thread, but we really enjoyed Lunenburg, NS. Bay of Fundy is a must-see.
If we had had more time we would have tackled part of the 300-mile bike trail on Prince Edward Island.
frosty
@Nukular Biskits:
Find another beer. The owner of Yuengling is a Trumpie. I gave up their beer (no big loss) and Maple Donuts of York (sob) when they put a Trump endorsement on their billboards.
Idiots! Why alienate half (OK, a third) of your customer base!
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Sister Golden Bear:
That’s awesome news for you. I’m sorry things have come to this, that you have to leave your own country just for wanting to live your life on your own terms, for being who you are
Nukular Biskits
@frosty:
Oh, fuck. And I like Yuengling.
Dammit.
Steve LaBonne
@Sister Golden Bear: Fingers crossed that this works out for you. This fucking country is so unsafe for so many people.
frosty
@Nukular Biskits:
I did my own research LOL.
All the articles I see are from 2016, so who knows what Dick Yuengling is doing now. Here’s one that says his views might not be the ones of the corporation.
summerstirs.com/is-yuengling-beer-supporting-trump/
On another topic, thanks to Home Depot and Lowes support of Republicans I can never go to a hardware store again. But fuck it, I’ve got a good Rheinheitsgebot Bavarian craft beer brewery within knee-walkin’ distance from my house.
Jackie
@Steve LaBonne:
Everyone who’s registered as a Democrat. He’s determined to retaliate against us all. He campaigned on it via Project ‘25. None of us are safe.
Nukular Biskits
@frosty:
There are a number of local breweries here but I’m not sure about their respective political affiliations. This is BFE MS, after all.
As for Lowes & Home Depot, I am still pissed at both of them … unfortunately, most of the local mom/pop hardware stores don’t carry a lot of merchandise.
David_C
Being in the church choir, this is kind of a big, and extended, weekend. Singing for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and two identical services on Easter. Dinner at daughter’s house; SIL is a chef. Also painting a fence and getting the lawnmower out.
With the recent assaults on public health in general, and my work in particular, I’m trying to remind myself that good can triumph over evil.
WaterGirl
@Nukular Biskits: that explains all.
WaterGirl
@coin operated: badass bonus dad. That is awesome.