Lily is pouting because it is raining and she only got one several mile walk on the rails to trails today. Such a poor, abused puppy. As such, you are stuck with a new Tunch picture:
Made pad thai tonight with some of the thai hot peppers I grew, and man did I underestimate how hot those babies were. Regardless, it was really good, and I needed to use up some cilantro, too, because that goes to seed so fast.
Also, the site is supposed to be rebuilt some time this week. The designer has been super busy, but should be free this week (crosses fingers), so maybe some of the site performance problems we have been experiencing lately will disappear. I couldn’t get on for several hours today, and I got a bunch of emails, so I know I was not the only one.
*** Update ***
One of our readers passes along this pic of his recently departed buddy Maxie, who just had to be put down:
Zifnab
IS A KITTY!
amorphous
Has he always had those markings? Am I so blind?
lamh31
Reform Supporters Outnumber Critics At Town Halls
Okay, so I don’t know if it’s true about the public options or not, hell, I’m not
even sure I understandi the issue that well, but here’s what I’m observing:
Before all the public option hoopla, GOP protesters were more organized, and more visible than liberal supporters. It seemed to me that only a few steady advocates were still 100% engaged in the healthcare “battle” particularly in the lib blogosphere. There was a number of issues that lib weren’t happy with, so no one was getting “fired up”. Enter a “slip of the tongue” about the public option, and now liberals are fighting mad. There are back to being engaged. They are pissed at Obama, but they are finally engaged in this debate in visible ways. Now you are seeing more reporting about how the liberal base has “come alive” over the public option. It kinda seemed to me that some of us libs were becoming complacent, we “know” that our way is a good one, and we “know” that our way is popular, but we forgot that when a small wild animal is backed in a corner, they fight back like a large predator…that’s what these protesters are.
Now that it seems that a the plan that libs liked may be in jeopardy, now we are energized. I’ve become something of a blog-fanatic, so I frequent alot of liberal blogs, and in all this, I don’t think I’ve seen as much visible passion about healthcare as there is now. It seems we libs have woken up, and finally decided to fight back against the GOP.
Now if we could only set our sites on the ConservaDems in the House and the Senate, ya know the people who are actually the ones who will be writing the law, and not fighting amongst ourselves, then we’d be straight.
smiley
Will the University of Florida win the mythical national football championship again this year or will a long-shot like Texas, Oklahoma, or the University of Southern California pull off a, um, long shot?
AnneS
Tunchie Wunchie! Love the delicate lick the paw action.
wasabi gasp
Every time I see Tunch I wanna eat a Thanksgiving dinner.
handy
@smiley:
Here’s hoping it’s not $C just so I don’t have to put up with another year of the obnoxious poseur bandwagon Trojan fans I’m surrounded by.
AnneS
@amorphous: A Balloon-Juice commenter once referred to Tunch’s mark (at the back of his neck) as a kiss of Allah or kiss of God. I do love the devil horns on top of his furry head that provide counterpoint!
xyzzy
For some reason, I expected to hear a foghorn going off when I saw this picture of Tunch.
Robertdsc-iphone
He’s pearl-clutching over the state of HCR like some of us are. <3 the Tunchinator.
demkat620
Wow that cat covers my whole screen? How big is he now?
Okay Pedro Martinez pitchign for the Phils, can’t get out of the first. I’m gonna bet he gets lit up by the D-backs tonite.
Didn’t like that signing at all.
South of I-10
@Smiley: looks like you forgot LSU.
My fun story for the day: Little kitty needed some medicine, so my vet called it into the local compounding pharmacy, who added tuna flavor. This is the easiest time I have ever had giving a cat medicine!
CaseyL
He is NOT FAT. He’s just a really bright white, which makes him look fat.
I think this is the first picture ever that Tunch isn’t either glaring or asleep. Or the first one that he looks kind of mellow, anyway.
Kirk Spencer
So, it goes to seed? Oh, wait – you don’t use coriander?
Do yourself a favor. Take some of the seeds, roast them just a bit, then crush them and smell. Think Indian.
Roast and grind up a couple tablespoons of that. Do the same (roast and grind) with a couple tablespoons cumin seeds. Add a couple tablespoons of tumeric powder. Now do the roast and crush with half a teaspoon of mustard seeds. Grind up half a teaspoon of red pepper flakes, and finish with a half teaspoon of ground dried ginger. (You can use fresh, but you start having shelf life problems.)
You now have a basic mild curry powder.
It’s a peppery and sweet smelling spice with a bit of cilantro background, and that’s the flavor it carries into a dish.
of course, you could also save the seeds and replant. Depending on your growing season you might even get another run this year.
burnspbesq
Going to be a fun night for SoCal Dukies tonight at Staples. Three of our most beloved players – Alana Beard, Mo Currie, and Lindsey Harding – start for Wahington, and Candace Parker married into the Duke basketball family. And I’d rather watch the WNBA than the NBA any time. One is basketball, the other is Hip-Hop Entertainment with a basketball as a relatively unimportant prop.
Damn kids – get off my court.
Jody
This was one of my favorite sites until I found out you use cilantro, at which time I realized you’re worse than a dump truck full of Hitlers.
Violet
That kitty on the blanket looks like she’s holding up Tunch. That’s one strong kitty.
Peppers frequently aren’t as hot if you remove the seeds. Doesn’t seem to apply to all types though. With exceptionally hot ones, wear gloves when handling them. And wash your hands, knife, and cutting borad thoroughly before touching anything else, especially your eyes. That can hurt.
Demo Woman
@Kirk Spencer: Thanks! I’m going to do a second crop next week, just some snow peas and swiss chard. I might plant cilantro, because your recipe sounds so interesting.
Pennypacker
Those thai chilis are wonderful, but they’re fairly high on the heat index.
Be careful to avoid getting the oil from them on your hands. I once carefully removed all the seeds with my fingertips, then walked off to take a leak. Later I regretted the burning sensation on my junk. Not recommended.
Gwangung
Any one get the feeling that peple bringing guns to a public meeting with the president are pretty much the wingnut equivalent of a street gang? That they’re doing it to intimidate and wave their dick around?
monkeyboy
I like hot peppers but I draw the line at food that burns going in and burns going out.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Kirk Spencer:
Ha I was thinking that exact thing! Cilantro seeds = coriander. (Plus saving some to plant for next year). As an aside cilantro lasts about two seconds in a container of water compared to parsley, I had to buy some for my Black Swallowtail caterpillars the cilantro was a nasty slimy mess in two days whereas the parsley lasted almost ten days and more than enough time to feed the caterpillars so that they could turn into crysalids.
handy
Later I regretted the burning sensation on my junk. Not recommended.
Thanks for sharing. No, really.
Keith G
The Great Tunch looks like he is praying for the Dems to grow a pair.
plaindave
I discussed peppers with a Thai friend long ago. She hated jalapenos. Said they were hot without flavor. Told me about a very small pepper in Thailand called ‘jump up.’ Said eating it made her face sweat but the flavor justified the heat.
I can only guess how that pepper came to be called jump up.
Kirk Spencer
@Demo Woman: heh – one point to make. My wife loves cilantro. She can’t stand coriander. Almost all the seeds I get to go replanting.
By “loves” cilantro, I mean such things as cilantro soup and using the cilantro leaves for sandwich greens instead of lettuce or watercress (Cilantro burying slices of avocado and fresh tomato with just a touch of lemon juice, salt and pepper between two slices of toast.)
Litlebritdifrnt
chrysalids – dammnit.
Kirk Spencer
@Litlebritdifrnt: Trick to storing cilantro for longer – or at least it works for me.
Take two paper towels. Dampen one, place it on the other. Wrap the cilantro bunch. Now place that in a plastic bag – the “grocery vegetable bag” works well for this – and put in the refrigerator.
No, it makes no sense. But when I do this my cilantro will keep for about a week instead of being slimy in two days.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Kirk Spencer: I spent a great deal of time making fresh, home grown salsa, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and fresh cilantro. It tasted so bad I couldn’t eat it, it tasted like mouldy cardboard smells, it was just nasty. I was told that it was the cilantro that was the problem, in than it can taste like that sometimes.
John Cole
@Jody:
I’m soooo stealing that.
Demo Woman
IMO cilantro and tomatoes go together but unfortunately in GA, it’s gets to hot to grow cilantro in the summer.
Kirk Spencer
@Demo Woman: Yep, even up here in the northern slice.
shelley matheis
Re: the Tunch pic. If there’s a more perfect picture of feline contentment, I haven’t seen it.
John Cole
@Demo Woman: Speaking of Ga, have we had a mom anon update?
smiley
@South of I-10: You have a quarterback?
I read one of the “experts” recently who said that UF would lose to LSU in a Baton Rouge (likely, but I’m working on tickets) , UF would beat Bama in the SECCG (maybe but working on tickets) and, get this, Bama beats LSU. And LSU and UF would meet again in the MNC game in Pasadena. HaHaHaHa.
linda
uh, i suspect tunch really doesn’t give a shit that it’s raining. anyway, he’s clearly otherwise occupied…
such a freakin cool cat.
Demo Woman
@John Cole: She had a few posts earlier today. Her husband seems to be on the mend and they went to a fair over the week end. The bills will start coming in soon.
shelley matheis
cbear
I’ve got Chicken Breast(s) Cordon Bleu, wrapped with bacon and stuffed with ham and swiss and scallions and chives, roasting in the oven.
Gonna eat em with some wild rice, some broccoli, and a nice salad of field greens, topped with my homemade cucumber-bleu-cheese dressing.
I’ll be thinking about you guys while I’m scarfing.
shelley matheis
Litlebritdifrnt
@shelley matheis:
I love brussel sprouts beyond reason. I will actually go to Golden Corral for lunch specifically to have brussel sprouts. Right now my brussel sprout plants have survived the onslaught of the unknown bug that has eaten all the rest of my brassicas, I am hoping that I will have a crop to harvest this year.
wasabi gasp
Back up that Hitler truck, we’ve got another.
Brick Oven Bill
Tonight is more practice pizza.
Budget $3k for a pizza prep table, and another $3k for all the fancy sinks and heaters State Health requires. Build your own big brick oven for $1k of materials. Add another $10k for everything else. And the shingle is out for under $20k.
If you are black or do not have a thingee, the government will probably fund you to do this for no interest. So it is free for you. The government will probably also force the people on the base to eat your crappy pizza.
But tonight is more practice for me.
Litlebritdifrnt
“Such a poor, abused puppy” read absolutely spoiled rotten, over indulged, absolutely adored, content in her life, can’t believe her luck after her previously shitty life, what did I do to deserve this, “ya mean I can sleep on this bed?” “ya mean I can eat all this food on my own?” have I actually died and gone to doggy heaven kind of thing. Yeah right.
Kirk Spencer
@cbear: eh, don’t bother. I just finished a squab in a coffin with some fresh beans from the garden that I lightly pickled and some fresh tomato slices. Dessert was a root beer float – and I don’t care how plebian it sounds, it tastes good.
General Winfield Stuck
@wasabi gasp:
Wonder if they come it Fleet Models.
Linkmeister
Any new pictures of the new baby (was it RedKitten’s) on the Facebook page?
Jody
John: Use it in good health. I’m so flattered it almost makes up for the cilantro thing. :)
Kirk Spencer
@Kirk Spencer: (I miss the edit button)
though in fairness I don’t use squab. chicken thigh for me, bacon wrapped chicken breast for the wife, and drumstick for the kid.
Comrade Mary
What Kirk Spencer said about coriander seeds. I had one huge, lush, glorious bunch of cilantro that I let go to seed over the past few weeks and I got almost a full spice bottle of whole seeds out of it. Note: let the seeds dry on the plant — don’t take them off while they’re green. The plant is going to look as ugly as sin, but you must be patient.
Roasting and grinding are great, but consider using the whole seed in some recipes. Just quickly dry roast any seed — coriander, cumin, mustard — in a moderately hot dry cast iron pan, then add to any curry near the beginning of a recipe.
The curry algorithm:
0) Get your shit together by reading through the list and preparing your mise en place.
1) If you’re using meat, brown it in a little oil or ghee/clarified butter, then take it out of the pan.
2) Put a little more fat in the pan and SLOWLY cook down sliced or chopped onions. You want them limp and glorious and golden, not half raw or burnt. Properly cooked onions give the right balance of flavour and body to a curry.
3) Add a little more fat and whatever mix of whole and ground spices you like and stir a little, just for a minute or two. You want it to start smelling wonderful.
4) Grate or finely chop ginger and garlic and combine with a little water. (I use my mini-food processor). Add this to the pan, stir a little.
5) Put the meat back in, add water/broth/tomatoes, plus cooked chickpeas or cubed raw potatoes.
6) Simmer on stove top or in oven. Toward the end of cooking, you can add some more salt and more ground spices.
==> WHOLE spices go in early; GROUND spices can go in early or late, but delicate mixtures like garam masala should go in just before cooking is finished.
7) When everything is cooked down and gorgeous, you can add a little yogurt to bring all the flavour together AFTER you have turned off the heat. A little cornstarch will help keep the yogurt from separating.
Fern
For the cilantro-loving faction – this recipe uses two whole bunches of cilantro. It is really really good.
Lemony Chicken Curry With Coriander
5-6 tablespoons vegetable oil
Approximately 2-½ pounds chicken thighs, skinned and seasoned with salt and pepper
2 1″ cubes fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped finely
½ habanero chile (or to taste), seeded and diced
¼ teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
2 bunches cilantro, cleaned, stemmed and finely chopped
2/3 cup water
2 tbsp lemon juice
Place ginger in bowl of food processor and blend with ¼ cup water, until pureed.
In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil. When hot, but not smoking, add chicken and brown on both sides, at least 10 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.
Add garlic and cook until medium brown. Add ginger puree and stir with a wooden spoon for a minute. Add the salt, spices, and chopped fresh coriander. Stir and cook for a minute. Return the chicken to the pot, together with lemon juice and 150 ml water.
Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer, 25 to 30 minutes, turning chicken pieces over after 15 minutes of cooking. .
From Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cooking
Litlebritdifrnt
@Comrade Mary:
I am a huge fan of curried potatoes, one of my favorite take outs is the curried chicken from “Elsas Place” down the road from me, while the chicken is on the bone, (which I hate) she adds potatoes to the curry, and I love curried potatoes. I have to admit that last week though there was zucchini in my curry, that is a crime, while I am all for using available veggies zucchini in curry is just wrong.
shelley matheis
freelancer
@Brick Oven Bill:
ROFLOL
robertdsc
RIP, Maxie.
freelancer
@robertdsc:
Thanks Rob
cbear
@Kirk Spencer: Elitist basterd!
Corner Stone
@Jody: Personally I love cilantro. But I gotsta honor your certainty here.
shelley matheis
Sympathies for Maxie. I remember reading somewhere that Max was the most popular dog name.
Demo Woman
John has a picture up of a recently deceased dog Maxie.
I’m sorry about the loss of your pet. Maxie looked very happy and well taken care of. He reminds me of my mother-in-laws former dog, Megan who was part german shepherd and as sweet as a dog can be.
General Winfield Stuck
@Brick Oven Bill: @shelley matheis:
I think BoB is having a fantasy of being trapped on an Army base with black female troops that he is either making pizza for, or they for him.
We’ll ask him when he comes to.
Corner Stone
@monkeyboy:
Nope. Burning on the way out is how you know you’re alive.
Lesley
Tunch looks almost “spiritual” in that photo. Like he’s communing with his …alter ego or altared ego. hehehe.
So sorry about Maxie. He or she looks like a lovely dog.
Kirk Spencer
I just had an interesting drink I want to share. It was a strawberry margarita made with red tequila.
Red tequila is a tincture of capsaicin using tequila for the alcohol. Take a habanero (or six), stem, seed, split, and crush the membrane thoroughly, then put them into your alcohol for a few hours. The capsaicin leaves the peppers, which by the way become mild enough to taste the OTHER flavors unless you leave them in so long they become … bleah. Anyway, capsaicin is red, and so it colors the alcohol.
The addition of the heat to the drink was quite interesting. Not for everyone, of course, but I enjoyed it.
Litlebritdifrnt
So Maxie went to the Rainbow Bridge, we just have to believe that he is frolicking around in a field right now. He is whole and he is happy. Hugs.
REN
So sorry about your dog. I’ve got a 16 year old short timer myself. Alas that those pure souls live such short lives.
freelancer
@Lesley:
She was a beautiful dog with the innocence of a puppy, even in old age.
http://forgetthisnoise.blogspot.com/2009/08/rip-maxie.html
Kirk Spencer
Actually, Brick Oven Bill’s post makes some sense if you saw his blog while he was linking to it. He’s built a(t least one) wood-fired brick oven and bakes pizzas in it. He sneers at the inferior restaurant product which requires, well, he gave the list above.
It’s one of the few places I agree with him – a home made pizza beats bought pretty much all the time, and if you’ve a hot brick oven to do it right… yum.
The rest of that racist crap is just the BOB we’ve come to know and… well, to know.
Litlebritdifrnt
@REN:
Ditto – this morning Lucky would simply not wake up, he just layed there, absolutely no interest in going outside. I am thinking that it is only a matter of time.
Katherine
My thoughts are with Maxie and his/her family. I’m currently cuddled with my 13 year old lab and preparing to say goodbye. The vet is coming over in the morning so that she’ll be able to pass in her house, surrounded by those who love her.
General Winfield Stuck
RIP Maxie
In doggie heaven/
Comrade Mary
Poor Maxie, but she was a lovely girl who was obviously loved. All we can do for them at the end is to give them an easy path home.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Katherine: Oh damn that is so hard, but she will pass in her house with her family, that sucks. I feel for you.
geg6
Go for it,BOB. Practice makes perfect, you know. Though I must take issue with your bash on the SBA. I actually know someone who works for them around here and the vast majority of people who come to him and who get approved happen to be white males. Mainly, I’m guessing, because white males have many more years experience in writing detailed business plans with realistic budgets that make the investment a good risk of tax payer dollars. Women and minorities are an increasing number, but too many don’t have the skills to submit a proper business plan. Work on your business plan if you can’t get the SBA to listen to you. Or perhaps there is a plethora of pizza places in your area. Either way, don’t blame women and minorities for your own failures or perhaps your lack of will to even try.
Comrade Mary
REN, Litlebritdifrnt and Katherine, I’m sorry to hear that your guys are so close, especially Katherine’s. Having the vet come to your house is a great gift at a very hard time.
Gus&Lenny
Gus & Lenny, two beagles from Santa Monica, say rest in peace, Maxie.
Katherine
@Litlebritdifrnt: Thanks. They are such amazing creatures that bring so much joy. We’re grateful for the time we’ve had with her.
Violet
So sorry about Maxie. She looks like a sweet and beautiful dog.
Annie
I love the daily pictures of Tunch. He is so good at reading the prevailing political winds…..
What I am curious about is where the name “Tunch” comes from?
My heart goes out to Maxie’s family. What a beautiful dog…
shelley matheis
Katherine, God bless your vet.
Wow, a lot of sadness here tonight.
geg6
Annie @78: Tunch is named for the former Steelers center and current radio voice for Steeler broadcasts, Tunch Ilkin. I like both Tunches.
General Winfield Stuck
The thumb screws tighten a little more.
cbear
So very sorry for you folks that are losing your little guys.
I believe that the very existence of dogs and cats are the best evidence we have that there may be a higher power.
If only they could be with us a little longer.
Peace.
South of I-10
Sympathies to Maxie’s family. Katherine, I am sure you will not get a lot of sleep tonight. I hope having your vet come to you will make things as easy as they can be.
REN
I wish our vet did that. It is beyond difficult to bring an old sick dog into a waiting room full of people. I’m way too emotional, it becomes a heartwrenching ordeal. I’ve had so many pets over the years that you would think a person would learn how to deal with it.
geg6
General Winfield Stuck @82: Ooo, now that’s a screw I like seeing turned. A few more turns of that one would actually be even better. Glad to see some spines.
South of I-10
@Litlebritdifrnt: Ugh! I missed your post earlier – s sorry to hear it.
General Winfield Stuck
@geg6:
Receiving offers they can’t refuse may bring wavering dems back to Donkey Jesus. We’ll see.
Katherine
@REN: I didn’t even know it was an option until our other dog’s health was failing a couple of years ago. The vet offered to come to the house, even though I live more than an hour away. He said that I’d driven to see him for many years and it was the least he could do. Animals really do bring out the best in people . . .
schrodinger's cat
You should make cilantro chutney with the excess cilantro or make a marinade using cilantro and the chillies.
Cilantro marinade Marinade
Cilantro 1 bunch ( 2 cups)
Chillies (1 or more)
Garlic (5 to 6 cloves)
Ginger (1/2 inch piece)
Lemon or Lime 1
Salt to taste
Oil 1 to 2 tbsp
Some water
Peel the ginger, grate it, chop the chillies, the cilantro and the garlic, make a paste in a blender or a food processor. Use as a marinade for fish, shrimp. You can store this in
the fridge for a week or so.
To make cilantro chutney, leave out the oil and the garlic,
add 1/2 cup of fresh grated coconut and 2 tsp sugar, use it as a spread over bread, as a condiment or as a dip, like pesto.
JenJen
@freelancer: Is that your Maxie?
I just want to give Maxie’s owner a big hug. I still feel that pain to this day. There’s just something about losing your best pal… you never really get over it. Your relationship isn’t over, it’s just different now.
A lift my glass to Maxie tonight!
schrodinger's cat
@90 second Marinade is redundant. I need the edit function.
South of I-10
@smiley: We’ll see! The LSU/Florida game is always a blast. Hope you can scare up some tickets!
Litlebritdifrnt
@South of I-10:
I am pretty much in a place where I know it is going to happen, I just keep remembering 13 years ago when he was a tiny puppy that fit in the palm of my hand and was about to die as a result of his first shots. I massaged his heart and kept him alive. After that I could not allow the neighbor to give him to anyone else, so he came to us. I am steeling myself right now. It is not going to be pretty. I am going to be a basket case.
JK
Barack Obama endorses entire Republican platform; GOP vows to impeach
http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2009/08/17/barack-obama-endorse-entire-republican-platform-gop-vows-to-impeach
“Huckabee, we are not pawns in your Armageddon”
http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2009/08/18/huckabee-we-are-not-pawns-in-your-armageddon/
schrodinger's cat
Tunch looks so plush and cuddly. What a cute kitteh!
Tunch, WANT
Shrieking crazy people at the townhalls, DO NOT WANT
Bad Horse's Filly
@Kirk Spencer: Squab in a coffin? Please share. Thank you.
asiangrrlMN
@freelancer: I am so sorry about your beloved Maxie. She is a beautiful girl, and may she run swiftly to the other side. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. I know I said it yesterday, but I felt like saying it again.
TUUUUUUNCHIE! He’s such a precious little boy, isn’t he? I just want to cuddle with him–I wouldn’t care if he scratched the hell out of me.
I had a girl cat visitor in my yard today. She was dragging her leash behind her. She’s a neighbor’s cat, looks like a little husky, and the friendliest cat I’ve ever met. She loves people, which made it easier for me to scoop her up and return her to her human. What a doll baby.
madmommy
@South of I-10:
I’m looking more forward to the LSU/Bama game myself. It’s hard to be surrounded by all this gaudy purple and gold everywhere!
josefina
@shelley matheis: (and litbritdifrnt):
I’m brussels-sprouts fan too and this is my recipe for promoting the brassica agenda: Throw a bunch of cleaned and sliced sprouts in a bowl. Add sliced bulb fennel. (If you’re fennel-phobic, use sweet white onions—Spanish, Vidalia, TX 1015s.) Toss with olive oil and kosher salt. Roast until tender and slightly browned. This has totally converted several militant sprout-phobes.
douglasfactors
I never thought I’d say this, but Roger Cohen was on fire today.
douglasfactors
I mean Richard, of course.
What happened to the goddamn preview feature…
Keith G
@General Winfield Stuck: I sure hate to see it come to this, but it certainly seems that both Dem caucases and the executive branch need to be reminded what is expected of them.
I am wondering about the dogs that are not barking. Minority groups, including women have the most to gain from progressive reform. So where the hell are they? It is foolish that they are not on top of this.
Bad Horse's Filly
Maxie is beautiful. So sorry for your loss.
Bad Horse's Filly
Am I the only one on this blog who does not like curry?
Also, when I’m so busy I can’t stop by as often as I like, I really miss you guys. Whodda guessed that a year ago when I started lurking.
Fern
@schrodinger’s cat:
Ooh, this chutney is definitely going to happen in my kitchen!
freelancer
@JenJen:
@asiangrrlMN:
Thanks for the sentiment. I came over to my ‘rents house and I did give my mom and my brother a big hug. They needed it, and my mom saw this thread, and though perplexed, she appreciates the kind words given here by total strangers.
We all explained it to my 4 year old niece, my brother saying “She was sick. She’s up in heaven now. She misses you too.”
My niece goes, “Oh, did she fly a plane up there?”
Thank FSM for little girls.
Anne Laurie
Tell her you could have adopted one of your uncle’s Papillons instead of her. They’re usually tough and unfussy little dogs despite their appearance, but Papillons are notorious for seeking cover at the first sign of rain. The same dogs who’ll happily cavort for hours in shoulder-deep snow will flee from a few raindrops like their tails were made out of sugar.
Svensker
For Freelancer and Littlebrit and Katherine — so sorry to hear about you losing your pets. It’s so hard. Big hugs.
John, was Tunch purring while he groomed his gorgeous self? I do love me a contented cat. Does the heart good.
Anne Laurie
@AnneS:
Yeah, breeders also call a spot like that an “angel’s kiss”. Given Tunch’s personality, obviously the angel had to sneak up from behind while Tunch wasn’t looking.
Kirk Spencer
@Bad Horse’s Filly:
You’ll need a baking potato and a cut up chicken OR cut up duck OR half squab (pigeon). Seasoning is wildly variable – start with simple salt and pepper and experiment later to your particular taste. You might need a bit of bacon.
Bake the potato. Cut it lengthwise, off-center by 1/3 to 1/4. Scoop out the larger potato leaving a wall. Rough chop what you removed, seasoning if desired, and add to within 1/2 inch of top of the larger potato.
Place meat – classically half a dressed squab, but I use (as stated) a chicken or duck thigh, drumstick, or breast with the skin on – in that depression, and finish filling around the meat. The chicken can be seasoned any way you want. You want to leave the skin on OR add some additional juiciness – as noted above when I use a breast without skin for my wife I wrap it in some bacon.
Place a lid over the bird to close the coffin (grin), and bake again in a medium oven till the bird is done – about 30 minutes for me, your mileage may vary.
The juices drizzle into the potato while baking, making it moist and flavorful.
You will have potato left over. What you do with it is up to you – I mix it into the next day’s potato pancakes.
South of I-10
@Litlebritdifrnt: That is so hard. My little cat Tupelo was the last animal I had to have put down, she had kitty cancer. I cried for days. Just know you will eventually get through it and somewhere out there is another animal that needs your help. Within three months of Tupelo dying, Pati flopped on my husband’s feet as we were leaving a restaurant. She needed us, so we took her home, and she has been with us since 2003.
John Cole
I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit I am enjoying watching Shaq v.
josefina
@freelancer: She clearly was a lovely, and much-loved, dog. And I totally understand your frustration with her living dog self and the regret over that frustration and impatience. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We’ve all seen how Lily’s become a loved dog; we can see the same in the pictures of Maxie. She lived her life surrounded by people who knew and cared about her, who loved her for and despite herself. Those people mourn her death and will remember her and tell stories about her all their lives. I think that’s pretty much all any of us can hope for.
Skepticat
My heart breaks for those who’ve lost or are losing their pets. I’ve already told the vet that when it’s time for one of my two cats to go, it’s I whom he’ll have to put to sleep. I haven’t begun to get over the death of my beloved tortie, who died a year ago 20 April at 10:30 in the morning (but who’s counting?), and dread the time when my eighteen-year-old cat with CRF becomes really ill. In the meantime I’m having a little weep for your pain.
John, extra scritches all around for Lily and Tunch.
geg6
Bad Horse’s Filly: I feel you with the curry thing. Not an Indian fan because of it. Thai, which has a lot of great dishes, is also problematic. I can take a little of it, bit not much. And it depends on what kind of curry. Some of them leave me with a dirty feet taste in my mouth. But that might just be me.
Polish the Guillotines
@freelancer: RIP, Maxie. Sorry for your loss.
South of I-10
@madmommy: That is also always a great game! Florida, Bama and Auburn can’t be missed. We had season tickets before Little South was born, it is just too much now! My brother is the true superfan, once he moved to Florida, it wasn’t as much fun. I won’t tell Little South you said purple and gold is gaudy. She told me she wants to be a golden girl and then she is going to be a vet. Do you get good seats if your daughter is a golden girl?
josefina
@John Cole: Now we all await with bated breath further embarrassing revelations…
John Cole paired with Tom Delay on Dancing with the
TurdsStars!CynDee
@freelancer: Thinking of sweet Maxie tonight. What a nice picture. My husband once made a reference to the idea that each of us lives longer than our own literal life as long is there is someone who remembers us. Look at all the people now who know about Maxie and have seen her pretty face and heard about her lively spirit.
Her goodness goes on in many ways. One of these ways is that knowing about a great animal is a wonderful comfort to all the daily worries we have to contend with. Maxie is still good for people — even when she’s not physically present.
My husband gave me the example that just before he was born, his grandmother was fond of and seeing a man who was ill. The man knew that he did not have long to live, and he knew that the family was expecting a baby. He said to Grandmother, “Tell him about me.” She did. That was 52 years ago. Now my husband has told ME about him. Now I’ve told you. This is how real life goes on. Who knows, maybe the man is petting Maxie right now.
asiangrrlMN
P.S. I loooove hot peppers–especially habaneros.
madmommy
@South of I-10:
I would imagine so!! It’s not quite as cool as being a Crimsonette, but not bad :)
Did she enjoy her first day of Kindergarten, and did you wait till she was in her classroom before collapsing into a puddle of tears?
asiangrrlMN
@Litlebritdifrnt:
@Katherine:
My deepest condolences to you and your families. May the passing be gentle as they run to the other side.
@Skepticat: I hear you. I have two beautiful black brother cats who are the lights of my life. They are relatively young, but I do imagine the day when I will have to live without one or both of them. For their sakes, it would be better if they went fairly close in time (they are strongly bonded), but for me, it would be devastating. Sorry about your tortie and your baby with CRF.
I’m going to give my boys big hugs tonight, whether they like it or not. In fact, one of them is snoozing at my side (he never leaves my side if he can help it). I just gave him an extra skritch.
DaBomb
I am hungry. Tuna sounds good right now. Then off to the gym. Talk to ya’ll later!
Annie
@geg6
I am shamed. Being a transplanted Pittsburgher in DC and a committed Steeler, I should have known that…
South of I-10
@madmommy: Miss Independent would not even let me walk her in on her first day. She wanted to go through the car line. She had a great first day, likes her teacher and was so happy to see her friends. I was bummed she didn’t even let me walk her in, until a friend of mine told me what a big help she was on the first day. My friend’s little girl is shy and the Mom was concerned about a scene entering kindergarten. Little South distracted the little girl and was helping her find her stuff and her chair. My friend was able to slip away unnoticed because mine was running the show! No tears is a big deal sometimes, you know? I’m glad all the sass I put up with paid off for someone! Little South is not just cute, she’s smart too – ask her, she’ll tell you!
Steeplejack
@amorphous:
Has he always had those markings?
No, he just had his highlights redone.
WereBear
@freelancer: What a sweet face. I’m sorry for your loss, but a good home for a long time… doesn’t get much better than that.
Gosh, Katharine, I feel for you tonight. We went through the same thing just a couple months ago, when we spent our last night with our 13 year old cat Puffy.
He was too sick to have his spoonful of ice cream, but he appreciated the offer.
It’s the last thing we can do for them.
Anne Laurie
@geg6:
No, it’s one of those little genetic quirks — to some people, cilantro/coriander has a taste that is politely described as “soapy”. From my personal experience, it seems to be common among those of Scandinavian extraction, such as my Spousal Unit. He also grew up in a tiny Midwestern hamlet where his first exposure to “foreign cuisine” was the pizza parlor that opened up when he was fifteen. Needless to say, after 30 years of communal meals, the tolerance for spicy foods I acquired growing up in NYC has been sadly reduced…
Steeplejack
@Jody:
Hoekstroika!
asiangrrlMN
@Steeplejack: God, you make me laugh. Hi!
I hate cilantro/coriander. A lot. However, if doused in a good sauce, I can tolerate it.
More Tuuuuuunch!
madmommy
@South of I-10:
Best possible scenario, though still hard on mom! Mine rode the bus from the first day, the carline at our school is awful. The principal nearly begs the parents to let the kids ride the bus. First day rule is if you take your kid into school you say goodbye at the entrance to the K hall, teachers walk them to their class. Less trauma all around. A friend who took her son on his first day said she’d never seen so many sobbing moms in one place as in the parking lot of the school after they’d dropped their babies off to school.
South of I-10
@madmommy: I have to admit, they run that car line like a well oiled machine. Her school is only about a block from work, so it is much easier to drop her off than put her on a bus. I always imagine that scene in Mister Mom where he is going the wrong way in the car line? Anyway, I am out, have a couple of things to finish before bed.
Anne Laurie
@Litlebritdifrnt: Oh dam’ do I know that sinking feeling. The good thing is, the beloved fourfoot lets us know they’re ready; the bad thing is, it’s always too soon…
@Katherine: Bless your vet, for going the extra mile(s) so you can give your companion that last little gift.
@freelancer: I had to go give Zevon and Sydney an extra hug in Maxie’s honor. Offered to do the same for Flicker, Miss Buta-Hime-Sama, but “daddy’s little princess” threatened to bite me if I didn’t respect her personal boundaries. Snerk.
valdivia
@Kirk Spencer:
I am late to the cilantro part of the thread but I must say I *love* cilantro and sometimes have a hard time finding it so switch up to coriander for cooking when in need (cilantro is ubiquitous in central american cooking which I do a lot of).
Steeplejack
Okay, now I feel like the proverbial doucherocket after reading to the bottom of the thread.
My condolences to all of you facing the loss of beloved pets. It’s hard to see them go. My last two cats lived 18 and 21 years (black alley cat and purebred Russian blue, respectively). I still miss them.
One died peacefully at home, the other I took to the vet when it was time. The vet and staff were great–they were expecting us and whisked us through reception to an exam room right away. Everything was handled very well.
That vet who makes end-of-life house calls is a saint.
valdivia
yes I also skipped and filed to give condolences to all of you who lost your beautiful pets. warm hugs all around.
Ruckus
@REN:
You did deal with it. You got another pet. You don’t have to forget the older pets, you just get to love another.
gbear
Barney Frank tells a town hall teabagger to stick it where the sun don’t shine. Very satisfying.
http://wonkette.com/410587/thank-you-barney-frank
FormerSwingVoter
Huh. Looks like Dems are ready to go it alone on health care reform.
amorphous
Apologies if this has been discussed earlier, since I saw it on Fox News’s website a few days ago, but RedState is latching on the fauxtrage with how many more words NOBAMA is using during town halls than the constituents.
You know, because questions tend to be paragraphs long, whereas answers that are attempting to explain complicated policy ought to be a couple of words long. But, then again, I guess the RedStaters don’t like answers that ask the listeners to think critically. I’m sure they’d prefer if NOBAMA cordoned off any people opposed to his positions blocks or miles away and only had DFHs ask questions like “President Obama, why are you so unfuckingbelievably awesome?” and NOBAMA could say “”Cuz.”
There you go, RedState, you fucktards:
8:1 word count in favor of the asker.
Go fuck yourselves.
Ben Richards
At the risk of sounding like BOB, I want to let everyone know that I am in a bar in Pittsburgh (here for work). Anyway, no joke, the bar has in the middle of it an inflatable life raft full of watermelon slices with strobe lights and loud music. The bar is normal in all other respects, sports on the TV, regular crowd etc. At midnight, two women are going to wrestle in the life raft….
Max
I hate that we outlive our pets. This thread made me tear up.
My dog Max is not even 4 but I’m already dreading life without him. He’s named after my beloved cat, Max, who I had to put down due to cancer 10 years ago.
I plan on always having a Max in my life.
My father was the same way, he always had a St Bernard named Stanley. The 4th one was my favorite.
Jon
NY Times reports Dems going it alone on healthcare! Woo!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/health/policy/19repubs.html?_r=1&hp
asiangrrlMN
@REN: I’m sorry I missed your comment. My heart aches for you. Good luck.
To all who have animal companions, make sure to give them a little extra love tonight.
@Ben Richards: B.O.B., is that you?????? No, you’re too coherent to be B.O.B.
satby
@freelancer:
Sorry, freelancer, on the loss of your Maxie.
asiangrrlMN
@gbear: Damn, but I need a cigarette now. Were it that other Dems would do the same. Thanks for posting the vid of Barney Frank. I like him. He’s right. My dining room table would understand the situation better than that idiot.
General Winfield Stuck
@Jon:
bout fucking time/
Max
@Jon: Douchebag Alex Castellenos on CNN just said if this is true “Obama is signaling that he is only President of the blue states”.
Yeah, cause Bush so believed in one america, not red or blue america.
Wanker.
Also.
Ben Richards
@asian girl
Not BOB. Only posted that since I am in Cole’s backyard.
40 minutes until the bell rings!!!
gbear
@asiangrrlMN:
Barney is my hero but he always looks like a pile of goo on the interview shows because he slouches so bad. I wonder if he has back problems.
Did you see the story about (D) Tim Walz trying to set up a joint town hall with (R) John Kline? Kline wouldn’t do it. He said he wanted to attend events where his constituents were the only ones in attendance. It was soon discovered Kline didn’t even have any meeting set up.
Chicken shit. It would have been fun to have Walz there to call bullshit on Kline’s granny snuffers.
asiangrrlMN
@Ben Richards: Let’s get ready to ruuuuuumble!!! You’ll be taking pics with your cell phone, I presume?
@gbear: Oh, I am so glad that some of the Dems are finding their backbones. In fact, my current political crushes are Anthony Weiner of NY and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Being progressive is sexy!
As for Kline, yeah, go figure the Republicans are a bunch of pussies. I mean, look at to what extent W. went to avoid unfriendly questioners.
Jon
@Max, @General Winfield Stuck:
Indylib
@asiangrrlMN: I see that Favre signed with the Vikings today. How you holding up?
asiangrrlMN
@Indylib: WHAT?????? You’re shitting me. Please tell me you’re kidding!
No. No. Motherfucking NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Gahhhhhhh. Why?????? Why???? For the love of god, whyyyyyyyyy??????????
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
Fuck ’em. I’m rooting for the Packers this year.
Words cannot describe the thoughts running through my mind right now.
Fulcanelli
Deepest condolences to those here whose pets recently passed away. Damn, it does suck that we outlive ’em. My one year old pup Max is on the floor beside me on his back looking for a belly scratch like he always does while I’m perusing the BJ comments… My shadow.
Why is it a ghey man named Barney has the biggest balls in the Democratically controlled Congress? That smack down was magnificent. Barry, you watching?
Indylib
@asiangrrlMN: So sorry, not kidding.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4406963
Indylib
Late to the thread tonight, but condolences to all of you who have lost or are near to losing a pet. One of the hardest emotional things ever. People ask us why we have pets when we have to move every 3 years and I tell them that they are part of the family. I would no more move without them or want to live without them than I do my kids. They are part of what makes life worthwhile.
Ben Richards
@asiangirl
The first rule of watermelon wrestling club….
Ash Can
Condolences to all of you who are losing/have recently lost pets. They may not be human, but they’re still members of your family. My sympathies.
@Jody: Please don’t let the cilantro scare you away. You obviously fit in exceedingly well here.
And on the subject of Barney Frank and Dems on health care reform, these were two of the first headlines I saw on the GOS a little while ago:
“BREAKING: CNN reporting Dems going it ALONE on health care!”
“Barney Frank to Protester: ‘On what planet do you spend most of your time?'”
Works for me.
asiangrrlMN
@Indylib: I’m still fuming. I cannot–what the f–I mean–what the hell–
Aaaarrgh!
gbear
@Indylib:
I saw that too. There is just no bottom to the joke that is the MN Vikings, although I do miss stories like Randy Moss pushing a traffic cop down the street on the hood of his car.
I may watch the games with the Packers just to see everyone go batshit crazy, but I won’t waste the rare commodity of an autumn sunday afternoon to watch something as useless as Vikings football.
asiangrrlMN
@Ben Richards: Oh, come on! Surely you can take a surreptitious pic or two!
Oh, and Brett Favre? BITE ME!
asiangrrlMN
@gbear: I want every single fucking game to end with a Brett Favre interception. Then, I want someone to say that it’s just Brett having fun out there. Then, I want someone else to punch the first person in the mouth.
Indylib
@gbear: @gbear:
I feel for you guys, I’m not exactly looking forward to watching my Broncos this year. Shanahan gets canned and the dipshit new coach who is still in pampers, trades the only decent quarterback we’ve had since Elway. Our offense is going to suck sooooo bad this year (and probably for several years in the future).
Comrade Luke
@asiangrrlMN:
You’ll probably appreciate this then.
Welcome To The Suck
Indylib
@Indylib: That last one was supposed to be for asiangrrlMN, also. I haz need of edit.
gbear
@asiangrrlMN:
Lol. I’d tune in during the last quarter to see that too.
Comrade Luke
@asiangrrlMN:
Actually, that wasn’t the article I wanted to send. It’s this one, which is much more…raw…
asiangrrlMN
@Comrade Luke: Thank you. Yes, That sums it up except I cannot root for that asshole. I, too, pray he doesn’t make it to the starting line up, but he will.
Go Pittsburgh!
@Indylib: Man, you and me need to throw a NFL pity party!
Fulcanelli
My Congress Critter Jim Langevin is hosting a town hall tomorrow night. It’s at a local police station in the public conference hall. Heh.
I joked with my wife about attending and bringing the portable playpen we have for our grandson and tacking a sign on it that says “Reserved: FOX News Viewers”. She’s afraid I’ll get beat up. Feh. Sounds like a plan…
Andrea
I wonder if Frank can provide cloned spine transplants.
A housecall making vet is WEP. Had one for my rescue lab at the end.
asiangrrlMN
@Comrade Luke: Ok, yes, the second one is much more how I feel about the whole matter. Thank you for the links! I’m glad not all Viking fans are zombie omigod over Favre.
Indylib
@asiangrrlMN: Our best hope is that the Steelers play like shit this year or we might have to kill John and several others for smugness.
asiangrrlMN
@Indylib: Well, this is true. However, the Stillers are my second-fave team, so….
@Andrea: Aw, so sorry about your beloved Samantha. She’s a gorgeous girl.
@Fulcanelli: Do it. Take pics. Post here. It would be most excellent.
REN
@ Ruckus
We always have many pets at all times. Right now we have four dogs and three cats. As I said on a previous occasion, it’s an animal avalanche if anyone comes to our door. That being said I miss every single one that has passed on and always will. Even old Cinders gets up to see what all the excitement is. She’s getting kind of deaf.
We live in the country so every aquaintance we have assumes we just can’t resist another little doggie or kitty face, and they are usually right.
@asiangrrlMN
Thanks for the kind words. I note your posts always and am sure from that we would be friends. But the bad news is that I’m from NW Wis and am a passionate lifelong Packer fan. I will say that I am no happier about the Favre situation than you, and your wish for his game endings is quite the same as mine.
Indylib
@Fulcanelli: This is a quote from the e-mail I got from my wingnutty Congresstwit, Paul Ryan,
“The widespread disrespect, and even violence, from the extremes on both sides of this debate is regrettable. I am disappointed by the attacks leveled by the White House and leaders in Congress against those raising the legitimate concerns and questions raised by citizens. To hold a differing view does not make one a “tool of special interests”, and to voice those disagreements is not “un-American” or a sinister “scare tactic”. There is room for common ground on common sense reforms – but this will require responsible leadership to trump partisan gamesmanship.”
He’s had to change the venue for his “listening session” here in the Kenosha area to a larger one. The more rural areas of my district voted McCain/CaribouBarbie, but Kenosha county went heavily for Obama, and we have a pretty significant population of African Americans, so this “listening session” should be fun. I plan to show up with a sign that says “Medicare is a Government-run healthcare”.
asiangrrlMN
@REN: I am rooting for the Packers this year, so, indeed, we would get along. I hope to see you posting more often.
@Indylib: Take pics. Let us know how it goes.
Comrade Luke
@Indylib:
BOTH sides? What’s the left doing, exactly?
Indylib
@asiangrrlMN: It really should be interesting. I have no idea what kind of mix is going to end up at the meeting. He’s holding several other meetings in the more rural parts of the district, so I don’t know if we’ll have a bunch of wingnuts show up or if he’s going to get his ass handed to him by a bunch of Dems from the Kenosha/Racine area, but it should be fun.
asiangrrlMN
@Comrade Luke: Saying some of the mob tactics are un-American. You know, faux balance.
Indylib
@Comrade Luke: Existing, I believe.
Comrade Kevin
I’ve got a nice, healthy Jalapeño plant with peppers all over it, but damn, they’re the weakest things I have ever tasted. I’m still waiting for some Thai peppers to be ready to use.
REN
@Indylib
A fellow Wisconsinite. While Wis. is called a middle of the road state, that’s not what we have way up north. It is solidly Dem up here. I work an election board in Bayfield County and since I started every election has been 66% Dem or better. Dave Obey is our Rep. and has been since time began.
@asiangrllMN
Glad to have another Pack fan. I am an inconsistent poster,but I really do enjoy the people ,attitude, and comments on this site. The pet things get me going as I am an unabashed animal lover. Not too happy with the wolves lately as they have killed a few pets in the area and have forced me to keep a closer eye on my babies when they are out. I will of course live and let live, unless they force my hand.
Bad Horse's Filly
@Kirk Spencer: Well, YUM. I’m going to try that.
Indylib
@REN: I’d love to have Obey as a Rep. Ryan could be worse, he doesn’t talk like those idiots who obviously still resent losing the civil war, and I’ve never heard anything out of him that I consider racist, but that’s not saying much.
He’s still 98% frickin’ wingnut, especially when it comes to fiscal stuff.
I’m not sure how he keeps his seat, maybe because there are a bunch of really well-off yuppies living out in the boonies of south/central Kenosha and eastern Walworth counties. It’s basically an excurb of Chicago and Milwaukee.
Bad Horse's Filly
asiangrrlMN – I feel like I’ve been missing you. I read your posts, but have been so late to threads these days, I don’t reply. But tonight I will at least try and say HELLOOOO from the Rockies.
RE: PETS A friend told me, after I’d let go of my second pet in two years that she believed animals lived shorter lives than us so we could meet and share our lives with many animal friends in our lifetime. I find comfort in that everytime I’m faced with that decision.
I’m at 23 friends in this lifetime – and that includes the duck. I expect to meet many more before I’m done. Love to all who love a pet.
Indylib
@Bad Horse’s Filly: What part of the Rockies do you hail from?
b-psycho
Remember that black dude that brought the AR-15 with him in Arizona? Well, that was planned in advance and coordinated with the local police — which contradicts their entire point.
Goddamn I hate these fucking shallow anarchy-chic types. If you are willing to hash out your plan with the cops, then you are collaborating with the force you claim to hate so much. Make up your damn minds, are you actually anti-state, or are you just a bunch of fucking right-wing authority suckups who think cops grow on trees?
asiangrrlMN
@Bad Horse’s Filly: Hi! Good to catch you for once. I hope you were out having fun!
REN
@Indylib
Who’s the next governor? Think Lawton can win? I was surprised Ryan didn’t jump in. I hope that peabrain AG doesn’t run. Actually I hope he does, because I don’t think he would win after doing Bush’s bidding. He used to bowl in our league when he was DA of Ashland County. Politician through and through. Sooner or later he will settle somewhere he can be assured of a wingnut majority and run for congress.
Yes, Dave Obey is a good Rep. and we’re lucky to have him. He ran interference for me with SS when my case was dragging on for far too long. He got on it and got action, and it was none too soon for us.
b-psycho
Since someone mentioned Favre:
What I’d like to know is why the hell do the Vikings even WANT him? He has said, not once, but TWICE, that he no longer had the desire to play, that he felt he couldn’t make enough impact in the league for it to be worth him playing, how can you trust someone like that on your team?
Anne Laurie
@gbear:
Goddess bless Barney Frank! One of my small points of pride is that I even got to vote for him once, before we moved 20 miles northeast and they re-drew his district.
The Boston-area nightly news showed two other clips from this town hall. An elderly lady asking “How am I — and people who are worse off than me — going to get in to see our doctor, right away, if you bring in all these new people?” To which Frank replied, “I know people, fishermen in New Bedford, who need health coverage. And I am not going to tell them, sorry, we have ours but we’re not gonna let you have any.”
Then a puffy young fella, shouting nothing coherent, and Barney saying, “You hate the deficit, but you don’t want to include the war? Who do you think is paying for the war, Santa Claus?”
(Quotes from memory, not guaranteed verbatim.)
I’ve been trying to find a video clip to front-page but my Google-fu is not strong enough. Maybe by tomorrow, if the more experienced longtermers don’t beat me to it!
Comrade Luke
Crazy night in Seattle tonight.
The incumbent Democratic mayor Greg Nickels, who was US Conference of Mayors in June, is currently third in the top-two primary. The current first place candidate never ran a TV ad and his biggest publicity came from being recommended by Seattle’s alt weekly, The Stranger.
This is also the first time the King County Executive is a “bipartisan” race, as a result of the Republican party winning a previous ballot initiative to make it “bipartisan”.
Shock of shocks, the top vote getter, by a wide margin, is a former local TV anchor who is a hard-core winger, and who has thus far not articulated an actual postion on any issue.
Her handlers refused to take any questions from Seattle’s liberal alt weekly reporters at her victory celebration, where they were openly mocking the “bipartisan” nature of her candidacy.
Comrade Luke
Also. in the No One Could Have Predicted Department…
Instead of having the testicular fortitude to impose a tax on plastic bags, the spineless Democrats in the (overwhelmingly Democratic) Washington State legislature, put it on the ballot as an initiative.
It got creamed.
Indylib
To tell you the truth, I don’t know much about anyone mentioned as a replacement for Doyle. I’ve only been in Wisconsin for about a year and a half, so I’ll have to educate myself on the people running. I know I’ve heard decent things about Lawton from people I’ve met here. And if the AG is the same idjit who threatened to be an ass about voter registration during the election last year, then yes, I agree, he’s a peabrain and pretty obviously a Republican hack.
It seems like a Dem would have a good chance, because you’re right, most of the state is pretty progressive, but I just don’t have the info to offer much insight. But give me time.
freelancer
Again, thanks for the support about Maxie. It’s amazing how when she was alive, and I was tasked with being her caretaker in my adolescence, and even a month ago, I’d feel dismissive and take her presence for granted, and just give her a treat and a pat on the head and then shrug her off. However, seeing my family earlier tonight, I can see the vacuum she’s left in her absence. My parents’ little scottie, who’s my favorite dog in the Universe can obviously tell that she’s gone.
She keeps running to smell Maxie’s bed, and when we took her outside, she kept sniffing around the ground that we buried her, because Onyx could smell that she had been there recently. She hunted down Maxie’s old collar because she could detect her scent. Onyx now wears two collars, at least tonight she does.
Someone here discussed memory as a way we might live on, and they’re right. Even amongst species, my puppy remembers her elder, and it’s a bittersweet thing to see. Again, thank you all. I’m not that broken up about it, but my feelings of sadness and of missing her have been mitigated by the surprising concentration of compassion and empathy of the people that contribute to this site. This is indeed a special place. And even as my thoughts might turn to the sadness and uncertainty my family and I are going through, I can’t help but think of the scene in As Good as It Gets, where Nicholson is crying, and lamenting, “Over a dog!” and though it it’s a pet I have lost, my thoughts return to those who have lost or have been on the short end of abject uncertainty even within the last year.
A Mom Anon, arguingwithsignposts, and Chuck Butcher come to mind.
As far as I’m concerned, I’m a little morose about a pet, whereas this community is better served bolstering these people and those who have experienced truly low points in their lives recently. Thank you for your sympathy and your goodwill, but I don’t deserve it, especially when others need it so much more.
amorphous
@freelancer: These are the kind of things that almost make me happy that my wife won’t let me get a dog. They’re gone too fast.
Hunter
Does Tunch ever do anything other than lounge on the futon, sleep, and give evil glares?
Hunter
My God, did I just describe Dick Cheney?
Bad kitty! :(
Gravenstone
@asiangrrlMN:
Welcome to PackerNation! Although I must confess to being more a follower than fan. It seems to be my curse to follow the “local” sports franchise (aside from my 25 year long exercise in masochism that is Cubbiedom). One thing I’m curious about from the Viking’s PoV, did none of them remember Favre’s truly execrable record in the HumptyDome? And now he gets to (maybe) play 8 games there? Good luck with that…
For those who have recently lost, or face the daunting prospect of soon losing a beloved pet, my deepest condolences.
Gravenstone
*sigh* I keep forgetting that block quoting has to be done for each individual paragraph…
Steeplejack
@asiangrrlMN:
Then, I want someone else to punch the first person in the
mouthneck.Fix’d for Balloon Juice protocol.
pika
Good fortune to you on the site switch. And my condolences to the person who grieves the passing of mighty hound-dog Maxie.
RedKitten
We always feel a little silly mourning over a dog, but when you think about it, why wouldn’t we mourn them? They love us unconditionally, and we love them unconditionally. We nurture and care for them, and the relationship tends to be one of the LEAST complicated ones we’ll ever have with another living creature. No baggage or issues, just pure love.
Losing a beloved pet IS a major loss.
asiangrrlMN
@b-psycho: Because the Vikings are stupid. And, because the quarterback situation is pretty dire. Still.
@Steeplejack: Damn it. That’s what I meant. I was just too upset to type it properly.
@Gravenstone: Vikings fans are stupid. Plus, they desperately need to have a spark of hope. Otherwise, what do they have?
@freelancer: I will be devastated when my boys go. I will make no bones about it. They are the lights of my life. We have enough empathy on this site to give some to everyone who needs it–we’re DFH, after all.
asiangrrlMN
Ok. Why???? Why the mod this time? Too many responses? Let me break it down.
@b-psycho: Because the Vikings are stupid. And, because the quarterback situation is pretty dire. Still.
@Steeplejack: Damn it. That’s what I meant. I was just too upset to type it properly.
asiangrrlMN
And the second half.
@Gravenstone: Vikings fans are stupid. Plus, they desperately need to have a spark of hope. Otherwise, what do they have?
@freelancer: I will be devastated when my boys go. I will make no bones about it. They are the lights of my life. We have enough empathy on this site to give some to everyone who needs it—we’re DFH, after all.
vacuumslayer
The daintily-crossed paws are mind-splodingly cute.
Joy
Condolences to Maxie’s family. I know it hurts really bad. My Maya passed away unexpectedly on Monday. I’m overwhelmed and devastated.
Bad Horse's Filly
Indylib – Northwest of Denver
asiangrrlMN – some fun, mostly work.
REDKITTEN IS BACK! Hi MOM! How’s it going. Can’t wait to get details in another thread.
Dog Is My Copilot
My sympathies go to the reader who lost Maxie. Some of the most difficult times in my life have been when I’ve lost beloved pets. It’s so unfair that dogs don’t live as long as we do.
Steeplejack
@Joy:
Condolences on your loss. Remember the good times.
Ned R.
Feeling others’ loss of their dogs and pets right now — our own family pooch Lexie is no more. My photos and thoughts here.
RedKitten
Hi BHF! It’s all going well. Samuel is adjusting, and so are we. On my Facebook, I did a little diary of his birth, so maybe I’ll email John and ask if he can front-page it, for those who are interested.
CynDee
@freelancer:
Steeplejack
@Ned R.:
That’s an affecting tribute at your Web site. My condolences on the loss of your fine pet.
asiangrrlMN
@Joy: Sorry for the loss of your dear Maya. May she look down on you from the other side from time to time.
@Ned R.: What a beautiful, moving tribute to your Lexie and your other family animals. May Lexie run swiftly to the other side.
Ned R.
My thanks. She’s playing on that beach somewhere, somehow.
REN
It must be a large community for so many to be having end of life animal issues.That is encouraging. Its truly a sad time for all those who go through it. I think we should have a thread sometime soon where commenters only talk about their puppies and kitties. Lets all look at the other side of the coin and be lifted up.