Eight to ten inches forecast.
Four p.m. and snow just beginning.
The grocery store in Fort was busy this morning, as people seemed to be stocking (probably quite unnecessarily) up for the storm. Still, it is fun to think of being snowed in, even if it's only a thought. We sat in the breezeway before dinner with the lights off, watching the snow falling on cedars, in the back yard.
Still, but still cold, with the temp dropping all day, but still sunny.
Lots of dog walking. (Did I mention that Buddy is here?)
On our walks we noticed that the main thoroughfares around town have been striped with liquid salt. Preventative plowing? Could snow be in the forecast?
Right now, both Pax and Buddy are curled up on the couch in the breezeway enjoying a bit of heat from the pretend wood-burning stove.
...the neighbors on the other side of Vi—Bill and Sally. He a former librarian and wrestling coach who now makes a good bit of change selling wrestling and boxing memorabilia on eBay. She a former healthcare worker. Over this past summer they trapped and removed four raccoons who had decided to set up housekeeping under the woodpile in our back yard.
Bill and Sally are also our snow-shoveling pals, and we team up and take turns digging out Vi. This, the first real social outing together, however, since we have lived in Whitewater, oddly enough.
At this moment it looks like we will be meeting again soon, on Vi's sidewalk, with the snowblowers. Snow is in the forecast.
And that reminds me, getting the blower going the first time in the season takes a bit of doing...and should have been done way back when, when there was some warmth in the garage.
Kind of crashed Democratic Party of Wisconsin election review meeting in Milwaukee.
Fairly rigid and detailed agenda, focusing on tactics and other minutia, until about 45 minutes into the meeting when my frustration got the better of me and I broke in to suggest a big re-think. After that, quite a lively and interesting, and perhaps productive, discussion.
Cold and very windy, with a few flakes flying furiously.
Movie, wonderful dinner of salmon and roasted root vegetables. Good conversation and a game of Timeline.
A certain amount of elfism in the sewing dept. and the woodworking dept. Wintery weather, but not too icy for walking--the temp hovering right around the freezing point.
We have our own Wild Goose pagoda right here in Whitewater (see above).
Three to four inches of snow. Bird feeders thronged.
Today we had the counting of votes.
Ducks and geese already know the score, so no recount necessary here.
Humans, on the other hand...
We were official Clinton recount observers for Walworth County. Today was the third day of re-counting, and the job is less than half done. On our stint, from 8 to 1, we saw a very meticulous, well-organized, incredibly tedious process unfold with absolute transparency. As of our departure, no discrepancies found and no numbers changed. We did meet and have great discussions with a few of the other observers. There was one Trumpista, however, who could only be described as a pit viper.
No shine for a long time.
...with very light precip,, probably resembling rain more than snow. Still and all, perfectly acceptable for dog walking and bike riding.
Attention is shifting to Xmas, but I'm having trouble finding anything to put on my "Dear Santa" wish list (and yet, certainly, Trump has a lot more stuff than I do). I will always remember a conference (or "teach-in," or whatever you might want to call it) that I attended while at UW, at which one of the speakers was beekeeper who lived in one of the more hippie-fied areas of northwest Wisconsin (such as Viroqua). I have no idea of what became of him or if his life turned out okay, but back then he seemed to be a sage, and I was impressed by his advice. (I must have been impressed because I remember it.)
Now, what was I saying? Oh, yes, the advice.
{{( "The less you spend the less you have to make." )]}
Don't get me wrong. I like living comfortably, and I probably have more big-boy toys than almost anyone, not including you-know-who. Still and all, the advice resonates, turning, as it does, things slightly upside down.
Postscript: I've rewritten my letter to the Wisconsin Dem Party, and have used it to replace the one posted back two blogs ago. I think the new version is less abrasive and more inclusive.
With Will in the afternoon at his class at the Audubon Center. Windy, wintery day for outside play and hike, but these kids are tough. Sue helped Ab with her major painting and redecorating project—the house is coming along and looking elegant. Prior to dinner Katy, Will, and I got in a good bit of poker (one card stud) and I lost my ten penny stake. Then Katy beat me in Sequence—twice.
Once again, the semi-annual chore.
And clogged they were. It's a cold, wet, thankless job, but rather satisfying, in a way. Apparently all the rain we got yesterday made it through the clogs and down the spouts. It was a significant amount of moisture, and WW creek is full almost to overflowing. Precip good for the big lakes, of course. According the the Canadian Gouvernement weather app, Manitoulin last night got upwards of 3 inches of rain, along with wind gusts of 50 mph. That would have been fun to see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the correspondence department:
Kory Kozloski
Executive Director
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Dear Mr. Kozloski:
Disappointment doesn’t quite cover it. And more of the same clearly won’t turn things around.
With the demise of unions and the loss of blue collar white voters, the Democratic coalition has shrunk. Further, the Democratic message (as presented this past election) is not resonating with a large group of people for whom it should be.
I therefore believe it is time for Democratic leadership to concentrate on thinking and acting strategically. The millions of voters who misplaced their core values and lost sight of their self interest, need to be co-opted, or more charitably, reeled back in. This isn’t going to happen through continued “identity politics” or through the current practice of sending emails to the Dem base about this or that latest outrage (and then asking for money). (I’m sure many other liberals are like me in getting tired of the constant barrage of donation requests; instead ask for monthly, semi-annual, or annual contributions and leave it at that.)
We Democrats have to begin talking in ways that don’t immediately turn a bunch of people off. While not compromising on our core values, we need to focus on areas of agreement, and speak in ways that bring potentially reasonable people back to reasonableness.
We need to de-fuse hot button social issues and concentrate on concrete things that ordinary folks can see as sensible and beneficial. We need to rephrase the agenda/re-write the platform. We need to focus on the wellbeing and quality of life of everyone.
We need some kind of inclusive, team-themed overall approach:
We are all on Team America. There is much we can all agree on to build our country and keep it strong. We can stop bickering and we can pull together, and that way we will all prosper. If we don’t come together as a team we will lose to other competitors. Just as everyone in the U.S. is a Cubs fan, so we can all be America fans.
Attached is an initial attempt to draft a winning agenda.
Best,
JBN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The New America Platform
1. We are pro-life. Abortion should be avoided if at all possible. This means good sex education and accessible and affordable birth control, both male and female. It means pre-natal support, parental leave, childcare support, and strong adoption programs. The final decision, however, must rest with the woman, her doctor, and her faith—government needs to mind its own business.
2. We are pro-gun. Americans have the right to own guns for recreational shooting, home protection, and hunting. We are also pro-life and we back the badge, so guns must not be available to terrorists, the mentally ill, and those on the do-not-fly list. Military-style assault weapons belong in the military only.
3. We are pro-privacy. The government should not be eavesdropping on our phone conversations or snooping in our email without a warrant.
4. We are pro-family. The government has no business in our bedrooms. Sexual preference is a private matter. Who we love and how we love is up to us.
5. We are pro education. America should have the world’s best public schools. Public schools have made us a nation. We can’t afford to lose jobs overseas, and can’t afford to have other countries out compete us.
6. We are pro-health. A healthy nation is a productive and prosperous nation. All Americans, rural or urban should have quality health care. We need to stop the big corporations, insurance companies, and drug companies from making health care unaffordable.
7. We are pro-country. It’s time for America to get busy rebuilding itself—roads, bridges, water and waste management facilities, and the like.
8. We are pro transportation and communication; all Americans should be connected, and all should be able to move quickly and affordably around the country and from home to work.
9. We are pro environment. It’s time to reclaim our fields and forests, our lakes and rivers, from polluters and exploiters. Americans deserve clean air and water, good places to hunt and fish. We, and our children and grandchildren deserve a planet that is safe from overheating.
10. We are pro jobs, and think that investment in education and training, health care, infrastructure, transportation, communication, and clean energy will create many well-paying opportunities.
11. We are pro secure borders and sensible immigration policies, and believe those living, working and paying taxes in this county should have a path to citizenship.
12. We are pro defense and pro service. America needs a strong and efficient military. All young people should have a two-year service requirement, either military or civilian (such as the Civilian Conservation Corps).
13. We are pro universal basic income (UBI). No more welfare. Every citizen receives a basic income sufficient to meet the cost of living. Those who don’t need it or want it can turn it back in. In the face of continuing automation and foreign competition, UBI gives Americans strength and security, the ability to follow their dreams, the ability to be entrepreneurs. UBI will grow the economy.
14. We are pro fair taxes. Corporations need to pay taxes on the wealth they generate in America rather than hiding money offshore. No loopholes for billionaires. The wealthy need to pay their fair share.
Warm front last night bringing rain. This morning, when it stopped, we walked to the library, only to get drenched— with Pax a soggy doggy by the time he got home.
Back to the Aquatic Center (more water) in the afternoon, having been absent since April. Nice to see significant upgrades—new carpet, new and brighter lighting, and new equipment in the workout area, including five new ellipticals! Furthermore, since we have Silver Sneakers, there is no cost—and, so, therefore, no more excuses.
Below, a bit of drizzle, or is that drivel?
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Mr. Penland’s Curse
He looked and spoke like Hamlet,
Here in small-town Illinois.
We, callow high school students,
Were enchanted by his voice.
Last term, last year,
With decisions to be made,
He bade us read and talk and think,
and try to explicate.
Oh, instant intellects we became,
heirs to culture, and the arts—
research and exposition—
all literature was ours.
Thinking deeply, writing sure,
We saw a future large
Of knowledge without measure—
And all the world a stage.
So on to higher learning,
The groves of academe—
Beowulf and Chaucer
And Shakespeare’s famous scenes.
But while I’m reading Rasselas,
Someone else is writing code,
Unwinding DNA to genomes,
Or walking on the moon.
Two roads diverged. And I chose
What seemed impossible to resist.
If it weren’t for Mr. Penland,
I’d have been a scientist.
—JBN
Gray and raw in the weather office, with light rain predicted to begin any moment. East wind suggesting that the forecast might be right.
Morning walk aborted due to distant gunshots. (Deer season is almost over, I think.) But long afternoon walk around the deserted campus when things were quieter. Pax romped and hunted, and almost caught a rabbit.
For dinner—Baked Miso-Glazed Tofu With Wild Mushrooms—as an antidote.
Sunny, warmish, nearly windless. Perfect for dog-walking and bike riding.
Mounds and mounds of corn (Zea mays). The bins are full and the temporary holding pens are overflowing, but still it comes. Destined for what? I'd say basically three things: inappropriate animal feed (I mean what creature evolved to eat corn besides weevils?); ethanol (with, after all the petroleum involved in making this pile, a net energy gain of approximately zero); and high fructose corn syrup (soda pop and other junk food).
Of course, some of it is headed to the distillery to be converted into sour mash, but that is okay, I guess.
Speaking of ethanol, the price of gas here in Whitewater remains below $2. Who knows what's coming.
And, speaking of who knows what's coming, I am trying hard not to write about what I think. I like many others, I have dialed back the news and switched from Huff Post, and CNN to poetry. Poetry is timeless and uplifting—making one relatively glad to be a human.
Recuperation; and good memories. Uninspiring weather, however—chilly, gray and damp, with various parties in some quarters expressing the wish that the misty drizzle was, instead, snow.
Now, after a full recovery, on to the leftovers.
Big group, big fun, lots of music. Great food.
And, of course, someone got whipped-creamed.
Obviously, it doesn't work to wait to the last minute. So, tonight, pies, squash, cranberries, rutabaga, and Brussels sprouts.
Ice/not-ice interface.
Dark, damp, drizzly day, but not so bad indoors. Even unlimbered the clarinet, in anticipation of tomorrow.
Question: in the photo above the willow branches droop down to about two feet of the surface, so what causes the uniform pruning?
Frozen, Cinderella and other Disney favorites. Katy and Will were great.
Katy, front row, right.
Will, back row, middle.
Damp and chilly, with the threat of rain.
Low near 20, and wind gone. Ergo, ice.
And, in the poultry department, a retelling of the myth of Baucis and Philemon, the old couple noted for their hospitality. In the myth, Jupiter spares the goose, but here, three days before Thanksgiving, the twenty-one pound turkey now chilling in the basement fridge had no Olympian to intercede. (btw, B&P ended up as trees, which, compared to the alternative available, was good.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Tree
I stood still and was a tree amid the wood,
Knowing the truth of things unseen before;
Of Daphne and the laurel bow
And that god-feasting couple old
that grew elm-oak amid the wold.
'Twas not until the gods had been
Kindly entreated, and been brought within
Unto the hearth of their heart's home
That they might do this wonder thing;
Nathless I have been a tree amid the wood
And many a new thing understood
That was rank folly to my head before.
Ezra Pound