Figured you were taking time off. Well deserved. My husband passed 3 weeks ago..have a supermarket wreath on front door. Cannot do any more. He was an UK Geordie self made guy walked to his own drummer. Wild man. Kinda like a pirate. He hated Trump. In hospital shortly before he passed I told him
Trump won. He was quiet then asked “how did this happen??” Good question.
Oh I am so sorry Eleanor. This will be my 3rd Christmas without my husband. It does get a little easier, I suppose. But it still stinks. He had a military funeral and as the flag was given to me and the Major said “the President of the United States thanks him for his service,” my grandson sitting behind me said: good thing it isn’t Trump or she’d kick the guy! YUP!
Two years ago tomorrow I lost my dear mother, the most perfect person that ever lived, and a year to the day later, I lost my beloved dog, the most perfect dog that ever lived. In both cases, I thought "life must go on" and did up the house in full Christmas decor.
I fucking hated it both times around.
My unsolicited advice to you, if you want it, is don't let the voices in your head tell you the supermarket wreath isn't enough, because for you, it is. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel and spend the season embracing your grief. And remember that people like me whom you've never met, and I would guess most of us here, are empathetically with you as you process your loss.
I'm facing my 19th Christmas without my husband. He's been gone for so long that he missed all this Rump stuff! You really never stop missing someone; you just adjust to life without them.
I'm taking the next ~17 years off. I've been degenerating (devolving?) into disability since the late '80s, but I was finally approved for SSDI disability this summer... and years of back benefits finally hit my checking account Thursday! 😎💚🌵
I was terrified that it wouldn't come before 20 January...
Now, I'm afraid the Trump admin will stop paying disability, but that's a less immediate horror. My gnawing gut-level fear of NEVER getting those back benefits (thus remaining in debt and facing bankruptcy) ended Thursday.
I too am in fear of losing survivor benefits my husband signed up for from the Army. Without that pension....who knows! We shouldn't have to live in fear, but here we are!
Goosedown everything! Even leggings (long johns—I made mine). Unless weather's warm my apt stays ~20° above outdoor temperature. No relief—everybody I ever knew has moved from nyc, not *one* to a better climate.
A good silk sweater made me a believer! And I'm normally a solid wool man. But I tell you, knit silk is so smooth and comfortable and lightweight, and it keeps me as warm as twice as much wool can. No going back!
You've sold me on checking them out. My goosedown obsession was a sudden conversion too, from ratty antique fur linings. Rushing outside on a 9° day to see an extremely low Long Island Sound spring tide, I grabbed the closest coat, a big down parka. I absolutely could not believe the toasty warmth in that light weight.
Wouldn’t that be because “better climate” locales ONLY have weather going for them? Frankly, we’re better off wrapping up in goosedown and remaining in our BLUE HEAVENS!
Ah-ah-ah! The Bay Area has more than the best climate. It is the most beautiful place in the world. I can't tell you the times we drive down a street and I say, this is the most beautiful place in the world. The old brown shingles (houses), the beautiful flowering trees in the spring, the yards, the gardens. Unfortunately our city council is now in the grasping fingers of developers, and more and more buildings are now 10 story rectangular pieces of garbage. Words fail me and I am sorry to ruin everyone's Christmas, but really the residential area, rich or poor, are really nice. We are also known for some academic stuff, although the museums are second rate for the most part. But Berkeley does have the most bookstores and nurseries per capita in the USA...
But so *far*. During my only stay in San Francisco I kept wondering how could anyone get any work done in such a magical place, and I don't doubt that extends to the whole beautiful Bay area. Even when young, the knowing no one part (I already did that in nyc) was too daunting. … And so *far*. …
My son attended college at SFSU and I was in love at first sight - that was a long time ago, though. Going across the bridge to Marin County - heavenly. Still rural New England for me - I know...it's a bubble!
Every visitor to New Orleans I ever talked to was crazy about it except my San Francisco-native hostess. She couldn't understand what the big deal was about N.O.
Precisely, Christina. I almost ritually review the warm alternatives. Every last one has some fatal flaw. We'll always have New York, right? And goosedown. And fleece.
Well, you'll probably be happy when I say New York is like London, you can spend every day in a museum, as my family knows, my favorite way to spend time other than reading.
Right. New Yorkers with embarrassing amounts of money found civicly useful ways to use some of the excess. The same was true in my first city, Pittsburgh. Living with this cultural opulence makes me wonder what's wrong with today's ultra-rich who want to pinch every last penny. With those hundreds of billions, Muck hasn't spent nearly his *legal obligation* on charity. Plenty of them take write-offs for RW tax-dodges like the Manhattan Institute, Heritage, Federalist Society—you know them all. Earlier generations of wealth tried to help the deprived. Now too many work to make sure that people who are down stay there if they can't be disappeared.
Oh, the small museums are the best. When I worked in the City, one of my best friends and I used to walk to small museums near by at lunchtime. The alternative was we would take walks from a book I had on walks in the City. Ever walked up the Telegraph Hill Steps? Beautiful beyond belief...
We just lost my closest, and one of NYC's best smaller gems, the Rubin Museum of Himaláyan Art. But heads up—the art may come to you. The owners are loaning out items from its collection and organizing traveling exhibits. Now local aficionados get to take the Staten Island ferry to visit something similar, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.
Headlines the past day or two alarmed me—Vermont is turning red? The news turned out not to be good, but the state's liberal tilt is far from being upended. Here's hoping Vermont's traditional political values are part of what's attracting new arrivals.
Bernie's remark that this is probably his last term saddened me immensely. He's the only pol who ever drew me to a rally. Washington Square Park and spokes streets were packed. I never saw him, just heard his stirring speech on loudspeakers, but was glad I attended witn 27,000 like-minded souls. You and we are lucky to have him.
I'm suddenly coming across a LOT of far right content here on Substack, including actual Nazis such as Richard Spencer and his followers. Is Substack using some algorithm and because I clicked on an article or two to see what it's about I'm being given more of the same? Or is there a recent uptick in far right posters?
I have noticed the uptick in far right postings. I am not familiar with the far right names so click on them. I guess Substack is for all points of view, but my fuse is rather short these days with all the Trump shenanigans during the transition.. At least he is getting pushback.
I don’t have an answer, but I, too have noticed some unappealing hangers-on. That and fake message requests from “celebrities.” I have never had a social media presence, but my daughter told me the “celeb” requests happen all the time on Facebook etc. I suppose there is no escape from creeps: see Trump & Co.
I subscribe to every attractive leftie substack newsletter I come across, so my mailbox runneth over, I've never explored substack, and I see nothing like that. If that's so, the writers who switched platforms when substack decided nazi money is green too must feel vindicated. And if it's true, will subscribers continue to tolerate having no way to block drek? Welcoming vermin has inevitable consequences. Of course, what they want most is to plague—own—the left. Bluesky has an easy, powerful blocking option, or you can mute somebody. I've blocked several people just for being boring—after >a year there I've yet to see anything antisocial.
My guess as to why is that the nazis who have been here a while have found enough engagement that they've spread the word in their nests that libs here are just waiting to be owned. Jim Blake was a nuisance, not a nazi, but I made a mistake responding to him.
Substack has an issue with UI consistency. In some contexts you can click on the elipses above right of the comment text and the context menu will give you the option, sometimes you can’t. You can also click on the users name. To the right of Subscribe/Message button there's an elipses that opens a similar context menu and lets you select block (or mute, I don't know what the difference is).
In the android phone version of the UI the only rejection option under the ellipsis is to report a comment. Substack seems to be advantaging the app UI, from their pov a profitable choice. DMs are app-only. If you don't have the app and get a notice a DM is waiting no response looks rude but the only way to respond is to dl the app.
It's that time of year - everything everywhere all at once!! That is a beautiful tree and a lovely kitty! Hope you can rest and recharge when it's all over. Enjoy the family time! Greetings from Vermont where it is also very freezing!!
I can hardly wait to see the decorated tree. The kitties and Ruby are wondering what is going on too. it is a nice change from pounding out an article. Have fun.
Figured you were taking time off. Well deserved. My husband passed 3 weeks ago..have a supermarket wreath on front door. Cannot do any more. He was an UK Geordie self made guy walked to his own drummer. Wild man. Kinda like a pirate. He hated Trump. In hospital shortly before he passed I told him
Trump won. He was quiet then asked “how did this happen??” Good question.
Bless his memory, here’s to wild men 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹and here’s to strength surrounding you. Arms around you - if you’ll have them.
What a lovely thing to say!
Oh I am so sorry Eleanor. This will be my 3rd Christmas without my husband. It does get a little easier, I suppose. But it still stinks. He had a military funeral and as the flag was given to me and the Major said “the President of the United States thanks him for his service,” my grandson sitting behind me said: good thing it isn’t Trump or she’d kick the guy! YUP!
I’d give anything to know, to really know, how this happened, Eleanor.
I'm so sorry for this heart break.
Take good care of yourself, Eleanor. How indeed.
Geordies are a very special and wonderful breed. Condolences to you and your family.
Two years ago tomorrow I lost my dear mother, the most perfect person that ever lived, and a year to the day later, I lost my beloved dog, the most perfect dog that ever lived. In both cases, I thought "life must go on" and did up the house in full Christmas decor.
I fucking hated it both times around.
My unsolicited advice to you, if you want it, is don't let the voices in your head tell you the supermarket wreath isn't enough, because for you, it is. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel and spend the season embracing your grief. And remember that people like me whom you've never met, and I would guess most of us here, are empathetically with you as you process your loss.
I'm sorry. That's just ... sorry, no words come to mind that are good enough. Which is why the greeting card industry is still alive, I guess.
He sounds like a really great person -- someone I'd like to have met.
I'm facing my 19th Christmas without my husband. He's been gone for so long that he missed all this Rump stuff! You really never stop missing someone; you just adjust to life without them.
💔💔💔
Sounds like marriage to him ensured happy surprises. So very sorry for your loss, Eleanor.
I'm taking the next ~17 years off. I've been degenerating (devolving?) into disability since the late '80s, but I was finally approved for SSDI disability this summer... and years of back benefits finally hit my checking account Thursday! 😎💚🌵
I was terrified that it wouldn't come before 20 January...
Now, I'm afraid the Trump admin will stop paying disability, but that's a less immediate horror. My gnawing gut-level fear of NEVER getting those back benefits (thus remaining in debt and facing bankruptcy) ended Thursday.
I too am in fear of losing survivor benefits my husband signed up for from the Army. Without that pension....who knows! We shouldn't have to live in fear, but here we are!
Stay warm and good luck with the cats and the tree!!
we all need the downtime. good for you. cherish those moments that will make memories.
Just put up our first tree on 10 yrs. Nice🧑🎄
That's a beauty! And the tree's not too shabby either.
Goosedown everything! Even leggings (long johns—I made mine). Unless weather's warm my apt stays ~20° above outdoor temperature. No relief—everybody I ever knew has moved from nyc, not *one* to a better climate.
Silk sweaters. Close-knit. They are a miracle of warmth.
You're in a climate that makes you an expert, Kosmo. They sound luxurious-feeling too. Thanks for the tip!
A good silk sweater made me a believer! And I'm normally a solid wool man. But I tell you, knit silk is so smooth and comfortable and lightweight, and it keeps me as warm as twice as much wool can. No going back!
You've sold me on checking them out. My goosedown obsession was a sudden conversion too, from ratty antique fur linings. Rushing outside on a 9° day to see an extremely low Long Island Sound spring tide, I grabbed the closest coat, a big down parka. I absolutely could not believe the toasty warmth in that light weight.
Well! They haven't lived in Berkeley/the Bay Area. Of course, this is the best climate ever.
Wouldn’t that be because “better climate” locales ONLY have weather going for them? Frankly, we’re better off wrapping up in goosedown and remaining in our BLUE HEAVENS!
Ah-ah-ah! The Bay Area has more than the best climate. It is the most beautiful place in the world. I can't tell you the times we drive down a street and I say, this is the most beautiful place in the world. The old brown shingles (houses), the beautiful flowering trees in the spring, the yards, the gardens. Unfortunately our city council is now in the grasping fingers of developers, and more and more buildings are now 10 story rectangular pieces of garbage. Words fail me and I am sorry to ruin everyone's Christmas, but really the residential area, rich or poor, are really nice. We are also known for some academic stuff, although the museums are second rate for the most part. But Berkeley does have the most bookstores and nurseries per capita in the USA...
But so *far*. During my only stay in San Francisco I kept wondering how could anyone get any work done in such a magical place, and I don't doubt that extends to the whole beautiful Bay area. Even when young, the knowing no one part (I already did that in nyc) was too daunting. … And so *far*. …
My son attended college at SFSU and I was in love at first sight - that was a long time ago, though. Going across the bridge to Marin County - heavenly. Still rural New England for me - I know...it's a bubble!
Every visitor to New Orleans I ever talked to was crazy about it except my San Francisco-native hostess. She couldn't understand what the big deal was about N.O.
THE FOOD is what I have heard!
Precisely, Christina. I almost ritually review the warm alternatives. Every last one has some fatal flaw. We'll always have New York, right? And goosedown. And fleece.
Well, you'll probably be happy when I say New York is like London, you can spend every day in a museum, as my family knows, my favorite way to spend time other than reading.
Right. New Yorkers with embarrassing amounts of money found civicly useful ways to use some of the excess. The same was true in my first city, Pittsburgh. Living with this cultural opulence makes me wonder what's wrong with today's ultra-rich who want to pinch every last penny. With those hundreds of billions, Muck hasn't spent nearly his *legal obligation* on charity. Plenty of them take write-offs for RW tax-dodges like the Manhattan Institute, Heritage, Federalist Society—you know them all. Earlier generations of wealth tried to help the deprived. Now too many work to make sure that people who are down stay there if they can't be disappeared.
Where are the Andrew Carnegies of old? I guess the Dusks of today don't want their names all over everything?
Tech zillionaire Mark Andreeson has just remarked on what he considers "King FDR"'s pernicious legacy. Some difference between gilded ages.
New tonight: https://apnews.com/article/smaller-museums-nyc-holiday-travel-185b605531e7942a0d298f0af41ca9f0
Oh, the small museums are the best. When I worked in the City, one of my best friends and I used to walk to small museums near by at lunchtime. The alternative was we would take walks from a book I had on walks in the City. Ever walked up the Telegraph Hill Steps? Beautiful beyond belief...
We just lost my closest, and one of NYC's best smaller gems, the Rubin Museum of Himaláyan Art. But heads up—the art may come to you. The owners are loaning out items from its collection and organizing traveling exhibits. Now local aficionados get to take the Staten Island ferry to visit something similar, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art.
ABSOLUTELY!! Vermont has had the largest population increase since 2021 during Covid!
Headlines the past day or two alarmed me—Vermont is turning red? The news turned out not to be good, but the state's liberal tilt is far from being upended. Here's hoping Vermont's traditional political values are part of what's attracting new arrivals.
I think we're okay! We just re-elected Bernie. Our republican governor seems to be staying centrist and voted for Harris!
Bernie's remark that this is probably his last term saddened me immensely. He's the only pol who ever drew me to a rally. Washington Square Park and spokes streets were packed. I never saw him, just heard his stirring speech on loudspeakers, but was glad I attended witn 27,000 like-minded souls. You and we are lucky to have him.
I'm suddenly coming across a LOT of far right content here on Substack, including actual Nazis such as Richard Spencer and his followers. Is Substack using some algorithm and because I clicked on an article or two to see what it's about I'm being given more of the same? Or is there a recent uptick in far right posters?
[Sorry to post off topic]
I have noticed the uptick in far right postings. I am not familiar with the far right names so click on them. I guess Substack is for all points of view, but my fuse is rather short these days with all the Trump shenanigans during the transition.. At least he is getting pushback.
He is?
I don’t have an answer, but I, too have noticed some unappealing hangers-on. That and fake message requests from “celebrities.” I have never had a social media presence, but my daughter told me the “celeb” requests happen all the time on Facebook etc. I suppose there is no escape from creeps: see Trump & Co.
I subscribe to every attractive leftie substack newsletter I come across, so my mailbox runneth over, I've never explored substack, and I see nothing like that. If that's so, the writers who switched platforms when substack decided nazi money is green too must feel vindicated. And if it's true, will subscribers continue to tolerate having no way to block drek? Welcoming vermin has inevitable consequences. Of course, what they want most is to plague—own—the left. Bluesky has an easy, powerful blocking option, or you can mute somebody. I've blocked several people just for being boring—after >a year there I've yet to see anything antisocial.
Substack makes it pretty easy to block people as well. I'm just curious as to why I'm suddenly seeing all the people that need blocking.
How does a reader block on substack?
My guess as to why is that the nazis who have been here a while have found enough engagement that they've spread the word in their nests that libs here are just waiting to be owned. Jim Blake was a nuisance, not a nazi, but I made a mistake responding to him.
Substack has an issue with UI consistency. In some contexts you can click on the elipses above right of the comment text and the context menu will give you the option, sometimes you can’t. You can also click on the users name. To the right of Subscribe/Message button there's an elipses that opens a similar context menu and lets you select block (or mute, I don't know what the difference is).
In the android phone version of the UI the only rejection option under the ellipsis is to report a comment. Substack seems to be advantaging the app UI, from their pov a profitable choice. DMs are app-only. If you don't have the app and get a notice a DM is waiting no response looks rude but the only way to respond is to dl the app.
Well don’t send me a DM then- I’m the last holdout and refuse to get a smartphone.
Nice tree. Tricked out or not. 🌲
Love your tree and kitty
Not a fan of winter. It's this time of year I'm glad I no longer live in CT or NY! Stay cozy and have fun decorating the tree for the kitties.
It's time to enjoy some tRump free days. They're almost impossible to find. Your situation there looks so inviting, enjoy 🎄
Mr. Truscott:
I have two boy cousins of your cat…they are a joy.
It's that time of year - everything everywhere all at once!! That is a beautiful tree and a lovely kitty! Hope you can rest and recharge when it's all over. Enjoy the family time! Greetings from Vermont where it is also very freezing!!
Sending love, tender care and naps to your lovely household
I can hardly wait to see the decorated tree. The kitties and Ruby are wondering what is going on too. it is a nice change from pounding out an article. Have fun.