Reading that last post, I have several things to say about Ted Lasso. I started watching the show fully intending to hate it because everything I heard about it was that it was sweet and charming and witty, and I hear that about a show and I am totally amped up to go in and get my hate on and ruin it for everyone I talk to about it. Sadly, I fucking loved it. It’s really everything everyone says and more, and well worth your time. It’s even better that the whole thing is based on a commercial.
Second, I am ALL IN for a Roy Kent spinoff.
Third, I am in love with Hannah Weddingham.
In other news, my furnace needs to be replaced. I knew it would have to be replaced when I bought the house, but I had sort of forgotten about it, but the temps really dropped the last few days, I put the thermostat on 65 to warm up the house a bit, and a couple hours later noticed it was still cold. So I called up Gerald to have him look at it, since I don’t do anything repair wise that requires more subtlety than a hammer or hatchet, and honestly I shouldn’t be allowed to use them, either, and he said the whole thing is shot and has to be replaced. So the heating and cooling guys are coming this week at some point. Real fucking thrilled about that, but I suppose this means I will be installing something more efficient, which is good.
The upside is that now that there is no heat, the animals have all decided they like me again and are huddled around me on the couch. Which is nice. I am a little concerned about my mushrooms, though, which I am growing in a clear plastic tub, because I don’t want them getting too cold. I moved them into the bedroom where I have a little space heater.
I suppose I forgot to mention I am growing mushrooms now. I got interested in it in the spring and bought a clear plastic container, cut some wholes in it, dumped in some perlite, and ordered a couple different types of spores. Currently growing lion’s mane and turkey tail. It’s something new and fun and different, and another thing in my life I am trying to keep alive, so it’s worth the time.
How are you all doing. Also, fuck Joe Manchin.
Alison Rose
I love that your posts can be read as the stream of consciousness ramblings of the stoner next door. I mean that in a nice way.
Oh and fuck Sinema too
trollhattan
Heh, after a long, hot summer of fending off the dog now we’ve come to a heat-exchange understanding for the next few months. Furnace started up last week (always a fraught moment after six months hiatus) so we’re good for another winter. It’s even “sprinkling” whatever that is.
ronno2018
Somehow I am picturing you with a possum, a raccoon, and squirrel snuggled up with you and your more normal pets. LOL. Maybe a turtle and a frog too. :)
Leto
Fun fact: if you watched Game of Thrones, the scene where Cersei is marched through the streets naked with the nun behind her chanting “Shame… shame… shame…”- Hannah Weddingham.
slybrarian
Depending on how old your air conditioner is, you might want to look into getting a heat pump. My cousin replaced their furnace and AC with one when they had to replace their old unit, and it’s saved them quite a bit of money in the long run. You can get them with a natural gas backup but for most of the year it won’t be cold enough outside that the pump can’t supply all the heat the house needs.
Alison Rose
@ronno2018: John Cole, aka Dr Dolittle
RaflW
I have absolutely no idea what your current setup is, John, but I likely need to upgrade/replace the furnace here in WI in a year or two. I’m starting to learn about the new cold-tolerant heat pumps. If we as a country are ever going to decarbonize (or low-carbon output) our homes, ironically electric heat will be a key part. That assumes we do fuck Joe Manchin and electricity in this country is far less coal & fracked gas in a decade.
This is nothing like the shit heatpump I tolerated for a couple mild winters in Houston in the 80s. It worked just fine as a/c but could barely warm a fart in winter. Mostly it switched to the expensive resistance coil.
My cousin in SE put in an inverter heatpump in his house outside Stockholm a few years ago, and I thought, what? A/C? He said, nahh it’s 99% for heat. So they are for snowy cold places now.
Some of the gear I’ve looked at can also have a nat gas aux furnace, if a heat pump really won’t cover the deepest lows. But who the f— knows what the lows will be in 5 or 15 years? Warmer because of warming? Or warm except for polar votex deep freezes?
Anyway, if nothing else, yeah new gas furnaces are more efficient. Maybe consider a variable speed blower fan matched to a variable output furnace. Nice for shoulder season.
Good luck!
>eta: What slybrarian said so much more efficiently.
Villago Delenda Est
I was about to say, Cole, you’ve got all those critters to keep you warm at night. That doesn’t help during the day, of course, so some sort of heat generating device is necessary, be it a furnace or electric baseboard heaters or something. Perhaps a small heating unit for your home office would be helpful, you could probably tote it to the kitchen for meal prep.
Oh yes, Manchin and Sinema both can both fuck off.
JAFD
A story for the season …
In old Trans-Sylvania, a young shepherd boy came running into the village.
“There’s A Monster Coming Over The Hill!”, he cried
His grandfather hugged him, said “What sort of monster ?”
“It’s .. it’s .. a giant plucked-out eyeball, trailing nerves and blood vessels, walking on spindly legs …
It’s wearing a bush hat, and carrying a guitar ..”
“Oh, that’s nothing to worry about.”
“It’s .. it’s .. not ?”
“Of course not …”
(Grandpa and the village elders start singing…)
“It’s a wandering minstrel eye
Yes, a wandering minstrel eye …”
Have a glorious Halloween, Samhain, All Saints’ Day, Day of the Dead, or other autumn* festival of your choice.
*Or spring festival, for yon south-of-the-Equator jackals.
Adam L Silverman
@Leto: And the directors waterboarded her for 10 hours in her character’s comeuppance scene:
https://ew.com/tv/hannah-waddingham-waterboarded-game-of-thrones/
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: That’s some “trust fall” there.
prostratedragon
@JAFD: And there was much wailing and lamentation in the land.
Adam L Silverman
@Chetan Murthy: More like trust fail.
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: Well, the fall on her part, the fail on theirs, sure.
Adam L Silverman
@Chetan Murthy: The failure is they took advantage of her trust.
Auntie Anne
I changed out my old gas furnace for a high efficiency model with the variable speed fan and the variable output furnace 10 years ago. There was maybe $1500 difference between that model and the basic gas furnace. I “made” $1500 in savings the first year. It’s more uncomfortable on the old pocketbook, but oh, so worth it.
When my father was faced with the same decision last year, he did the same. And “made” the difference in savings his first year too.
Leto
@Adam L Silverman: Just more proof that those assholes don’t need to be around a camera, script, or anywhere near people. Jesus fuck, that’s some Stanley Kubrick Shelley Duval shit. Or Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. Wtf is wrong with these people.
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: hard agree
TaMara (HFG)
@RaflW: <<<—- What he said.
Also, I have friends who have done a ton of research on heat pumps for their new, off-grid home and I can pass that along as I have asked them to share it all with me.
Jess
I just started Ted Lasso this evening, thanks to all of you pushing it like crack. And just like crack, it is fucking hard to put down. I finally quit at 11:30 b/c I still have to prep for lecture tomorrow, but I’ll be at it again tomorrow evening. And yes, Hannah Waddingham is da bomb.
Citizen Alan
So you’re growing mushrooms. In your bedroom. If you’re naked at any point in the mushroom-growing process, that’ll be the most John Cole thing ever.
Craig
@Adam L Silverman: holy shit
mvr
@TaMara (HFG):
To add to the chorus, the latest issue (10/21) of Fine Homebuilding (good magazine for builders and advanced DIY folks) has an article on variable capacity heat pumps that is worth reading. Looking into these myself since our AC is 24 yo and we are going to have to disconnect it for some basement work in the early spring. Might be the time for us to upgrade.
A consideration is that fuel prices are apt to go up over time, so you may save more than just what you save relative to today’s prices. Though perhaps if you have a coal furnace Manchin can see to it that the the citizens of WV get a permanent price break in exchange for killing climate change legislation.
BeautifulPlumage
John, we need to hear more about the cat cave wool ball thingy you got for Steve last year. He loved it then…does he still use it? Should other cat owners consider it? Seems it would come in handy about now.
Another Scott
Sorry about the furnace, JC. It’s painful. :-(
Last year we got a variable speed heat pump with a variable speed/variable output gas furnace backup. We got the highest SEER Trane unit. Carrier has some higher ones, I think, but we’ve had good luck with Trane. It works well. The thermostat is on Wifi so one can operate it via the phone. We went with the heat pump to reduce our carbon output when it’s not extremely cold, but I have too many bad memories of old heat pumps not being able to cope with 25 degree weather to trust the claims that the new ones work to 19F(?). We do have occasional nights below that, so keeping the gas option made sense.
The prices can be scary, but fuel prices will keep going up so it’ll work out sooner than you think.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.
Adam L Silverman
@Leto: Apparently a whole lot is wrong with them.
The Dangerman
I’ll have to check it out.
In the vein of sports comedy, a shout out for Brockmeier. I laughed until tears many times.
Not for children, obviously.
ETA: Fuck Manchin.
Adam L Silverman
I’m going to watch some rugby, give the doggos some scritchees, and rack out.
Catch everyone on the flip!
Adam L Silverman
@Craig: And that’s an understatement.
HumboldtBlue
And it was NBC’s purchase of Premier League broadcast rights that got it all going almost 10 years ago.
NBC nailed this, the Premier League is top of the pile, and they were at least a year ahead of all U.S. broadcasters in recognizing the reach and appeal of Europe’s top league that featured the top players from around the world.
Eric S.
Natural gas prices are already high this year. Natural Gas prices in Chicago are 3x what they were a year ago. They’ll fluctuate but no doubt they will climb over time.
eclare
@The Dangerman: Hank Azaria is great in that show!
BigJimSlade
Mushrooms? Here you go, John – enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4oEs-MqOg
RaflW
@Another Scott: Even if Cole doesn’t do this, I am grateful for this info! (Saved a screenshot to my house folder so I can remember this rec later). It def. gets colder than 19 here — heck, it was 38 last night. And 66 this afternoon!
Fair Economist
I could *maybe* see actual waterboarding for authenticity, although actors don’t need to be shot to do gunshot scenes, etc. But for 10 hours? No way was that necessary. That’s some pervert in the creative team.
HumboldtBlue
“Be a goldfish, Sam.”
eclare
@Fair Economist: I was looking some things up. Netflix gave that team $200M to develop shows. I never watched GoT and don’t like especially violent shows. I am canceling tomorrow, well, today. The GBBS by itself is not enough to subscribe.
Mary G
eclare
@Mary G: That sounds wonderful! Good luck with all the projects!
I am also in a “no heir” situation. I plan to use it all myself or give to a worthy local charity, St. Jude.
mrmoshpotato
Dammit. I’m gonna have to watch Ted Lasso.
There had better be a sufficient amount of ridin’ and a-ropin’ on the trail.
mrmoshpotato
NotMax
@mrmoshpotato
Just a note that coming up on November 4th is Will Rogers Day.
;)
?BillinGlendaleCA
@NotMax: His ranch in Pacific Palisades is a state park.
Poptartacus
Shrooms there’re all over like horseshit but what touchy little fuckers they are. Grew some from a kit one year. Interesting
opiejeanne
@BeautifulPlumage: We have one of those, and right now it’s in the mushed down state, looking like a wooly cat bed. When I should return it to it’s ball shape, one of them would dive into it in a dramatic fashion, maybe stay inside lurking for a bit, then emerge looking for her next event.
They sometimes curl up in it when it’s smushed down, but not much recently. It’s covering the heater vent so now that the heater is running again, they may decide to use it again.
I should pull the sides up again to see if they like the ball, since one of them has been playing with paper bags all day.
lowtechcyclist
@RaflW:
This is very interesting. Our heating and cooling is via heat pump, and even though we’re in southern Maryland rather than Stockholm, more than half our electricity use is in December through March.
Our current heat pump is >10 years old and off warranty, so I’ll be looking into this so I’m prepared when it goes.
Mary G
It’s raining in NoCal, people are outside rejoicing, and #rain is trending on CA Twitter. A bit is predicted for here too, but I am not getting my hopes up yet. It’d be great ?☔?☂?
Chetan Murthy
Felt it on my roof a few hours ago. Thought: “hubba hubba”. It’s gone now, but I see this week will be rainy. One lives in hope.
TriassicSands
Since you live in West Virginia, John, I assume you’ll be buying an ultra-modern coal-powered furnace. Shoveling all that coal will keep you young and fit. Until your back gives out. And your lungs. And the planet.
After all, Joe Manchin is fighting for your right to heat the entire planet!
It’s terrible having crappy senators. I lived in Colorado when Ben Nighthorse Campbell announced that even though he’d been re-elected as a Democrat, he simply had to switch parties. His explanation was idiotic. It seems that well into his fifties he was still a Democrat because his mommy had been a Democrat. However, having moved away from home, it only took him thirty some years and a full six-year term as a Democratic senator to figure out he was really a Republican. My parents’ political influence over me ended before I went away to college. Ben took a little longer.
BC in Illinois
@prostratedragon:
A true story:
Over the weekend, I was called to the side of the car which held five of my grandchildren.
“Grandpa, you want to hear something?”
“Sure, what?”
Oh, what sad times are these when children can say ‘Ni” at will to their aging grandfather. There is a pestilence upon this land.
satby
@BC in Illinois: There seems to be a gap in the story. What did you say to your children raising these grandchildren?
Chetan Murthy
@satby: “Bring me a shrubbery!”
geg6
@BC in Illinois:
That is my favorite story ever.
rikyrah
I just got heat on Wednesday, so I feel you, Cole. Repairman took a long time, but it finally got fixed. I feel you.?
Ryan
Fuck Joe Manchin. John, the Great Uniter.
What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us
You should look into a geothermal HVAC system…much more efficient than anything else. The upfront cost is higher but they last longer and use far less energy. They can provide hot water too. Now is the time to maximize payback if your furnace is kaput. If your AC is close to the end too, geothermal might not be much more than replacing both.
I have a guy coming today to give me an estimate because the more I learn about the natural gas industry the less it looks like a “bridge fuel” because methane is leaking from the wellhead to the meter all along the supply chain.
sab
@What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us: Isn’t the willow tree where geothermal intallation would need to be?
sab
@What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us: When they knocked down and rebuilt the high school that I went to they installed geothermal heating and cooling. Grand-daughter says they are happy with it. NE Ohio. The installation wasn’t easy.
debbie
@Adam L Silverman:
Despicable. Where’s her union rep?
Betty
@Adam L Silverman: That’s just wrong.
cope
We used to have ‘shroom growing parties where we would cook brown rice for the substrate, sterilize Mason jars and ad the rice and mycelium to put in a crop of our…
Lion’s mane and turkey tail? Never mind.
Chief Oshkosh
@sab: Nah, the willow tree is going to hump the geothermal unit. It’s an Ent thing. Tolkien documented it in the Silmarillion II, but it’s rarely discussed these days.
Another Scott
@cope: One of my old bosses was into mushrooms. He would make spore prints (can be helpful for identification), collect various wild kinds. Colleagues would find giant puffballs and put them on his desk to find on Monday mornings. Hehe.
He started trying to grow morels (needed oak logs for that, IIRC). I don’t know how far he got with it.
Neat stuff, but deadly if you make a mistake! :-(
Cheers,
Scott.
RaflW
@mrmoshpotato: As a Minnesotan (who actually knows where Zumbrota is!) that’s a hoot. The one subtlety John Oliver didn’t notice: The mini van was a Chrysler product!
sab
@debbie: I don’t think the UK film/television industry has much unionization.
cope
@Another Scott: Our first efforts started with a mail order kit for growing Psilosybe cubensis. We did not even bother trying to identify, gather and propagate wild specimens. After the first batch, whenever the previous batch was in the mycelium stage, we sacrificed one jar to inoculate the jars in the next batch. Once we got going, somebody in our small circle of friends always had plenty to share with everybody else. We’re talking mid ‘70s here and I suspect that such kits are no longer sold.
UncleEbeneezer
We’ve watched 6 episodes of Ted Lasso (wife has watched all 6, I jumped in after 3) and I gotta say, I don’t get it. It’s a perfectly fine show. Charming characters. Makes me chuckle slightly every now and then and slightly moves me in it’s syrupy sweet moments but I just don’t get the hype or the Emmys landslide. I don’t hate it by any stretch. But it is one of those shows we watch and then don’t think about or come back to for days. I’ll probably finish the first season mainly to try to see if I can figure out what I’m missing, not because I actually have much desire to watch the show. Maybe it’s just not for me. I also gave up on The Good Place and Schitts Creek after only 15 minutes or so. But that said I totally love Sex Education, Master of None (first season) and The Detectorists which are all very earnest, feel-good comedies as well as Bake Off and Pottery Throwdown style reality shows, so it’s not like folksy charm doesn’t appeal to us too. It’s just so strange that of all the amazing shows on tv right now that Ted Lasso is the one that everyone is so obsessed with. I just don’t get it. It’s not even the best show on AppleTV (which is For All Mankind, imo). Oh well. Glad people are getting enjoyment out of it. To each their own.
J R in WV
A good thing in the mushroom growing arena is shitakes in a fresh cut oak log. You get spawn in dowels, drill holes in the oak log, and press the dowels into the log. Then you prop the logs up out in your garden in a shady spot where they will get rain on them, and wait.
Once the spawn takes off, you’ll get more ‘srooms after every rainy spell from spring thru fall, and a few more in wintery rainy spells where it isn’t too awfully cold. My next door neighbor always gives me a few logs when he plugs his new logs. It’s a very little bit more complicated than that, but not much.
Moderate Mom
I’m a straight heterosexual woman and I’m in love with Hannah Weddlingham, so don’t feel special.
WaterGirl
@Moderate Mom: First comments on Balloon Juice have to be manually approved before they are visible to other people. I just approved your comment, so future comments will show up for other people right away.
Welcome!
HumboldtBlue
@Jess:
I feel this comment.