Groupthink

 Turn about's fair play; since I missed posting yesterday's open thread, I'll put this one up, since I don't see one scheduled. I forgot to go for my walk this morning, and since I've got my cereal cooking, it's a bit late now. I do have a library book to pick up, so I'll get a little bit of exercise in. My neighbour is currently on my roof finally installing the new gutters on his house. The houses are so close together, and the pitch of his roof is such that there is no other way for him to access that area, unfortunately. Since he's always creative in his solutions, usually to the detriment of my property, I hope he does an okay job. The next issue will be how to keep them clear of debris, since they will be in an awkward location and height. I used my new retainers last night, and was on the verge of calling the dentist to say, "I'm coming down; I can't get the upper off, and I'd like to have some breakfast, so YOU are going to take ...

    Good morning, all! How's your week looking?  It's going to be hot-hot-double-triple hot here all week, so I'm trying to get all walks and other outdoor time done by 11 am. I'm also enjoying all the cold brew this week. :)  My goals for today are to do some work for fall term, get a walk in before the heat descends, and do some cleaning. How about you?

 Good morning.  Happy Monday and Happy long weekend to those who have one. It is cold and damp here in the shire. I am grateful for that given that there's crazy wild fires in other parts of our province.   Today's about bread and packing.  We had family here for dinner and what-not for the entire weekend.  They take a LOT of energy and after 3 days I am ready for some quiet.   What's going on with you?

  Good morning, GT! Happy Sunday. It's a nice and cool morning here in SoCal and I'm very much enjoying it. Mornings like this are my favorite. Perfect for cuddling under a blanket with Cosmo. I was planning on going out to run a few errands, but I think I rather just stay home and loaf. Errands can wait.  How are y'all doing today? How will you be spending the day? 

  Happy Saturday night, friends! We're still exhausted from the week's excitement & have spent the past two days recharging our middle-aged batteries, lol. Staying out late is hard work. Tomorrow is for yard work; tonight is for pizza. ;) Here's a photo from my morning walk with Ruby, proof I have moved a little since Friday. The weather has been perfect lately. And here's a video of another cute & energetic Finn. Lol. pic.twitter.com/8imrG0VJF8 — Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) May 24, 2023 And here's a kitty in stealth mode. :) I see you.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/soF3jMtLX7 — Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 27, 2023 How's your evening going?  

  Bon weekend, mes amis! If you get one, happy long weekend!  What are you up to this weekend?  Today, I'm going to the first big farmer's market of the season. My mom is coming over afterward so we can go through some sentimental items that belonged to my grandparents, to figure out what should go to whom ahead of our memorial/family reunion. I'm sure it'll be bittersweet, but hopefully it helps Mom to feel less overwhelmed/helps her grieve. On Sunday, one of my besties is coming over to catch up on VPR; we're going to make lemonade frose and order in some dinner. I can't wait!  Enough about me. How about you? Do you get a long weekend? Are you restin' or runnin'?

Good morning, groupthink! We made it to Friday & it's a long weekend here in the States. I'm still exhausted from Pal's show last night so this will be a short one. It was a lot of fun, but we're so tired, lol. I'll just be brief & make my fuck it Republicans. Just generally. Here's a very exciting thing!  Biggest thing to ever come out of my little group. Pls help spread this finding! We found clean, CAUSAL evidence that the shingles vaccine prevents a good chunk of dementia cases. So, could a virus cause Alzheimer’s->YES! Hear me out & see preprint: https://t.co/25f5XFQj8R 🧵1/ pic.twitter.com/lCPqXj7i2q — Pascal Geldsetzer (@PGeldsetzer1) May 25, 2023 And here's a very funny one. Alright! Who did this?? #DeSaster pic.twitter.com/27ng2mDmNn — Al​ 🅖🅓🅐🅓➊ Criswell​ (@Gdad1) May 26, 2023 That's all I've got. Now it's time to drink enough caffeine to feel human & fetch groceries. How about you? Any fuck its &/or week...

Good morning! It's another beautiful day here & I'm a lot less grumpy & stressed out with plans to enjoy it. Pal's band is playing tonight & that means staying awake much later than usual. They don't play until 11pm. Will I make it? 😂  I saw the news here about Tina Turner's passing yesterday. It's sad to lose a legend & remarkable human. RIP to a goddess. Tina Turner was an icon, whom we loved for her voice, her dancing, and her spirit. As we honor her, let’s also reflect on her resilience, and think about all the greatness that can follow our darkest days. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us, Tina. You’re simply the best. pic.twitter.com/CZyaItp4Cb — Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) May 24, 2023 This is a fun way to map your mood. I'm transitioning from a 2 yesterday to a 1 today. Idk, a lot of them look pretty similar, lol. pic.twitter.com/OoLtcyWz23 — National Park Service (@NatlParkService) May 25, 2023 DeSantis had a bad time...

 Good morning gang.  June is coming quickly and my mind is on the summer.  I would like to get to Newfoundland this year and do some wild camping around the shire maybe. And I can't wait for tomatoes!  I'm curious about yall's summer plans.  Concerts, beaches, road trips, backyard parties, day trips-- whatcha daydreaming about? And what's going on today?

 I have an early appointment today, so I'll be out and about until about mid-morning. Talk amongst yourselves and I'll check in later.

  Good morning, GT, and happy Mon.! How's this week looking for you?  This is my first full, official week of summer break (yippee!). My plan is to do a lot of exercise, yardwork, and cleaning this week. Get my life a bit more in order. :) My mom laughs at me but I always say, my goal when cleaning is to make it look like two adult humans live in our house and not two adolescent raccoons who hoard. Anyway! How about you? What's up with you today?

  Good morning, GT!  I'm having a bit of brain fog this morning so I'm going to keep this post very short. I'm hoping the feeling wears off soon because I'm taking my grandma to the cemetery later this morning before going to brunch with my mom. Maybe I should try to take a short nap.  Anyway, how is everyone doing today? Any fun plans to closeout the weekend?

  Hello everyone! It's been a lazy & peaceful day around here. We're watching Yellowjackets & staying cozy. I predict an early curtain call because we both woke up way too early. Next week is busy & we really needed the sloth time.  Some solid advice. That's about all I have except for the enormous rat snake who took up residence on the front porch last night. Eek! They're harmless, but twas still quite the shock.   How's your Saturday night?

  Good morning, GT, and welcome to the weekend! What are you up to this weekend?  My plan today is to weed the flowerbeds which sounds not to bad but, gottdang, the weeds took over already! We had some wet weather, followed by some hot weather, and I'm already behind. Sigh.  We have our trip to CO in a couple of weeks and I'd also like to get some deep cleaning done before then. Sooooo... not much fun stuff, lol.  How about you? I hope you are doing something fun and/or resting up! Oh! And, P.S., does anyone have any recs for single story/season podcasts? If there's one thing that'll keep me focused on my chores, it's a compelling podcast. :D

  Good morning, friends! It's the best day of the week & I've been looking forward to it. Pal has band practice & I plan to order a pizza & laze around. First, Ruby & I have to take the recycling away & run some errands, but it’s rain & comfy clothes for the rest. :)  Even though the media believes it's evangelicals, here's an interesting fact.  Fascinating. https://t.co/McxgtVxMWr — David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) May 18, 2023 Lolol. Democrats Demand Recount After Insisting They Lost Race For Mayor Of Jacksonville https://t.co/ZKlPAfnCOb pic.twitter.com/NNKOmhHyP1 — The Onion (@TheOnion) May 18, 2023 Don't worry, it's still a fuck it Friday post, too. And a big one to TN for plowing ahead with the plan to refuse federal funding for education. Scary bs. That's all from me. How's your day so far? Any plans this weekend?  

  Good morning, groupthink! The sunshine is back, my mood is better, & it's the day before Friday. Not a bad start. Plus, I got to visit with an old horse friend in my dreams last night. Miss you, Golda. <3 I'm not sure what my plan is today. My right wrist hurts & I have no idea why. Can you sprain a wrist sleeping? Lol.  The South's assault on repro freedom is now complete. I don't have much to say yet, so here's some other stuff. This is an interesting read. My hometown has 2 grocery stores & nearly 50 of these spots. Ever wonder why Black communities struggle to get a grocery store? Or why there's so many Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree stores in low-income and high-income Black communities? Here's my latest: https://t.co/AkicRcEWU1 — Aallyah Wright (@aallyahpatrice) May 17, 2023 Just something cute. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NSsx7Ytzai — Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) May 16, 2023 Finally, this is an oldie, but still so fun...

 Happy Wednesday gang.   I don't have a lot today. It's foggy & grey here.  Baby girl is a whole mood and I am here for it.  🤍 Omg that face.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/sBwYLL601p — Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 15, 2023 What's going on? 

  Yesterday I bought two Red-Osier Dogwood shrubs, which I'm going to plant in the planters that my driveway gate is attached to. They are native plants, have flowers in the spring for pollinators, berries later on for the birds, and pretty red branches for winter interest. The planters are wood, so I have to get liners for them, and lots of soil. They should really start to make the front of the house look a bit more finished. I'm also planning to put up my window boxes this year. I haven't had them up for about 5 years. I usually put a wild colour mix of impatience in them; oranges, pinks and reds. The house a mushroom grey brown, because I wanted a neutral background for flowers.

      Good morning, GT--happy Mon. How's your week looking?  I have the day to myself! Tomorrow, I have some meetings and I'll do some end-of-year reports, so it'll be busy, but today, I am relaxing. No email, no nuttin'. How about you? What are you up to today?

  Good morning, everyone! Sending you all love today & sitting in remembrance for our friend Springboard. I'm so grateful he arranged for us to know. You will be missed.  It's also Mother's Day & may it be a very happy one to all our groupthink moms. And sending love to all of us who don't celebrate. It's hard to avoid & I'm sending you good vibes. <3 How 'bout a whole bunch of cute animals? Celebrate the tiny dogs day. :) It's International Chihuahua Appreciation Day! #InternationalChihuahuaAppreciationDay #ChihuahuaAppreciationDay #ChihuahuaDay pic.twitter.com/vA92nWK4Jo — HeyWhatDay (@HeyWhatDay) May 14, 2023   VIP baby wolves. 😊 The cutest update you’ll see all week – new Red Wolf pups! The Red Wolf was declared extinct in the wild in 1980, but our work under the Endangered Species Act makes this good news possible. I’m proud of @USFWS Red Wolf Recovery Program efforts. pic.twitter.com/nahu8QfwQ5 — Secretary Deb Haaland (@SecDe...

 I wish that this wasn't the post for SNS this week.   Our long time GT friend Springboard (Matt) has passed away.  We were informed via a comment on today's Weekend Vagenda.  Rest in peace, friend.  

    Hey, Lovies--today's commencement, so it's going to be busy! Hopefully, I get to see some of my students graduate and cheer them on. :) What's your plan for the weekend?

  Good morning, groupthink! It's Friday & not a minute too soon. :) We have zero plans besides eating at our new, neighborhood Korean spot & tackling some small tasks around here. I'm excited & all the rain means it's perfect weather for catching some new shows & movies. As for fuck its, CNN gets one for the stupid liar's party they threw on Wednesday. When will the media learn? (Never). And another for the FBI's public service ad floating around the web. Don't watch it! It invaded my brain & is probably the reason for all the shoot 'em up nightmares this week. It's scary & unhelpful & still not as traumatic as shooter drills for kids in schools.   Republicans pic.twitter.com/xDOWdgooFn — Guitars & Cadillacs 🟧 (@DuncanReport) May 3, 2023 And here's something evil, but funny. Poor cake, lol. It's a feline law. pic.twitter.com/rZSSap4Z9Q — Kimberley Johnson 🇺🇦 (@AuthorKimberley) May 4, 2023 How's your Fr...

 I don't see an open thread scheduled, so I'm throwing one up.

 We're halfway there.  Halfway to what IDK... Yesterday I was out nearly all day. It was glorious- especially getting the news while having high tea with bestie.   Today it's back to reality which includes a kitchen marathon of packaging, cooking and cleaning those weird spaces that shouldn't get dirty but do.   Your turn.  Tell me something good.

  I spoke with my roofer on Monday, later afternoon, and he wants to send someone over to confirm or eliminate the roof as the cause of the water drips down my living room's cathedral ceiling. He thinks, and I agree, that it's most likely condensation because of humidity, rather than a roofing problem. Then I'll have to come up with some solutions to deal with humidity, but that should be easier than a roofing problem. I'm hoping most of my current problems can be resolved soon, so that I can get on with the business of enjoying retirement!

 Good morning Monday.  I am watching a news story on taking ice baths?  It is (apparently) the newest way to  change your life. IDK what it would take for me to submerge myself in ice water, let alone soak  in there for  a while.  Yikes.   Just once I'd love for something totally comfy and slothy to be touted as "the answer".  Wouldn't it be great to hear some medical expert advise eating fries in bed or binge watching a ridiculous show?  Or both?   Doesn't  this look better?   I don't have much else today.  The rest of the news feels way too heavy atm.  What's going on with you?

  Good morning and happy Sunday! It's a cool but sunny day here in SoCal and it's wonderful. Sadly, it's also a reminder that the brutal summer is right around the corner and I'm not ready for it.  Anyway, how is everyone doing today? Any fun plans for closing out the weekend?  I'll be sticking around the house this morning but later on I'll have lunch with my mom and grandma. We are doing an early Mother's Day celebration since everything is way too crowded on actual Mother's Day. Ok, that's enough from me. How are y'all going?

  Happy Saturday night, y'all! We've had a relaxing one but our view wasn't quite this nice. Tonight, we're planning on watching the Dungeons & Dragons movie which looks like some silly fun.  How about you? The floor is yours. :)

  Morning, GT, and happy weekend! What are y'all up to today?  We're supposed to have a rainy weekend, which I'm looking forward to. Today, I'm going to be  BUMMMMMM! My plan is a long, hot shower, followed by a facial and changing of nail colors. After some lunch, maybe a book and a nap 🤞🤞 ? Homey wants to go see John Wick 4 in the theatre, but the idea of sitting through a nearly 3 hour long movie without a pee pause? Sounds unrealistic to me.  Anyway! How about you? Are you getting rain? Are you resting, are you running?

  Good morning, friends! It's finally Friday & a rainy day here. I love it when that happens & I don't have plans. It's like getting a message from Mother Nature to take naps & not do too much. Gladly! It's been a long week & my only task is picking up some groceries for a Tex Mex feast tomorrow.  Speaking of naps, this is great.  "Replace capitalism with a good nap" Stencil seen in Marseille, France pic.twitter.com/XxrQncykxN — Radical Graffiti (@GraffitiRadical) May 5, 2023 Here's a poll from one of our gun loving reps on Twitter. The results are telling, even on this rigged nonsense.  ⚡️FINAL RESULTS: 113,000 votes later a poll by @JasonZacharyTN (R-Knoxville) shows 89% say guns are the “core issue driving the evil acts of violence” pic.twitter.com/qDGd6otNiq — The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) May 4, 2023 Finally, this from the Onion. It's so much better than the Gray Lady's racist copaganda. This week had me finally sign...

Hello Thursday.  Where did this week go?   Today is date day.  We're going to the dump!  Honestly, I find it fascinating.  I could roam around the dump or a junkyard for hours.   Tonight is Chase the Ace at the fire hall.  I am glad to be back into my shire groove.   What unusual (or not so unusual) places do you like to visit?  And how are things looking for you today?  

Good morning & congratulations on making it to the halfway point of the week! It's another gorgeous spring day here & it's hard to stay inside & work when it's prime frolicking weather. I'm trying to wrap up early today so Ruby & I can go for a hike later.  In pay your writers & give them everything they want news, these WGA strike signs are fantastic!  Several reporters today were walking around asking writers how long we’d *actually* be willing to strike. I don’t know dude, how long do you think it’ll take 11,000 unemployed writers to run out of sign ideas? #wgastrong #writersstrike pic.twitter.com/C0cq81jTcF — mah ree nah (@marinarachael) May 3, 2023 Seriously, the execs better cave soon. The wealth inequality cannot continue. Plus, I'm still very sad about Pushing Daisies. Pay up! Here's some good trouble in Montanna. Nice! Apparently, one of the Karens trying to steal Rep. Zephyr's spot is the Speaker of the House's mommy. She...

 I got nuttin' this morning. Waiting the dog's biopsy results, and for her stitches to come out next Monday, so I'm kind of in limbo right now. And still catching up on sleep.

 Welcome to the first Monday of May!  And Happy International Worker's Day. Yesterday was lovely out and I did a bit of planting.  Today is grey, windy and gross out here.  The shire giveth and the shire taketh away. As promised, here's some pups! What's going on with you?