Saturday August 5th I was in no hurry to get up and get moving this morning. So here it is not quite an hour before noon and I'm still drinking coffee. As you can see from the pictures above it's hot, it's dry.. like most past Augusts the grass is…
Thursday August 3rd It should be no surprise to anyone reading this blog that I am a bleeding heart liberal. And as such, I find today to be quite disconcerting. The very fact that this country has reached a place in its history or a large minority of its citizens…
saturday Every week or so I get an email from my congresscriter... Every email has a poll at the end, This particular poll question has shown up fairly regularly. It really makes me mad every time I see it because I can't think of a single American who could answer…
Tuesday Oh my God I've missed her wit and insight every day since she has been absent from Texas. Back in the day I would print out every column and bind them into hardbound volumes that ran from birthday to birthday for the mother of a high school friend. They…
It's Sunday Mary Shelly Once a week I receive an email from Maria Popova that she calls The Marginalian. Maria's essays are always an interesting hyperlinked brain teasing, twisting through time tying together of thoughts and ideas. This weeks essay on Mary Shelly left me with a profound respect for…
It's Saturday To hell with MAGA... I just want America to be America Again! And a bunch of angry old conservatives don't seem to care about what I want... Or even what a majority of my fellow citizens want America to represent. When precedent no longer matters, what makes them…
Monday afternoon The day started out in the upper 60s... It's now in the mid '70s. It's misted rain all day long. The prognosticators are foretelling of an overnight low in the upper 50s where the rain in the forecast. Tomorrow's high should be about the same as today. But…
Sunday afternoon It's cool and breezy out today. I'm on the back porch again with my Kindle. Y'all stay safe, stay healthy, and pray for our dysfunctional nation and the world... Pray for the Ukraine... Please.
Saturday It's a beautiful afternoon for mid March... It's warm enough that I have the ceiling fans on the porch on. Even though the day started off in the '40s and it'll be in the '40s again tomorrow morning... It's quite pleasant out today. Sitting on the back porch, and…
Tuesday https://youtu.be/Da1TdpwTBlk I walked out before sunup this morning and it was just a bit chilled on the back porch. I wasn't expecting the temperature to be as low as it was after the high of 70 degrees yesterday. But WeatherUnderground let me know it was all of 33 degrees…
Friday The deep dark blue of the southern sky almost makes up for the heat and humidity... Almost. It's 83° this morning when I walk out, and the humidity is only 83%. But that extra 5° of temperature doesn't make the lower humidity feel any better. The Delta variant of…
It's another hot muggy morning. My weather app tells me it is 81° outside. It also tells me that it feels like 91° because the humidity is 83%. Whatever the reason, after I snap to my pictures and came back inside only to discover the third one was a really…
Back out front this morning. Another June morning that feels like it should be in August. The temperature is 87°, the humidity is 86%. In the state of Texas is still suffering through the unreliability of our electrical grid. ERCOT such an oxymoronic name for an industry backed panel whose…
Looks like the rains of yesterday will continue into today. At least the temperatures down a few degrees. It's 73°, in the humidity is it 95% as a wide range falls outside. I see from the news reporting that ex-president Trump is telling those around him that the supreme Court…
Winter has decided to move back north and let some spring in the air... The temperature this morning is 56°. It should be 70° on the back porch by the afternoon. That's pretty much what the rest of the week is going to look like, at least according to the…
Well it's late. Afternoon actually. Our power came back on at 10:00 p.m. on the money. And surprisingly, it stayed on. After making the rounds of the house and making sure everything was copacetic, I went to bed in my own bed at 10:45 p.m. for the first time since…
It seems very strange, to me anyway, that in the year 2021 power generating companies in the state of Texas can't seem to figure out how to run as the temperature approaches zero. Other states, especially in northern states, don't seem to have this unusual difficulty. But not much seems…
There was a low rumble of thunder outside as my alarm went off this morning. by the time the grandkids were up and eating breakfast rain was falling. It's a cool, wet, winter's day, heading towards the heaviest shot of winter weather we've had all season. The weather gurus are…
The morning starts out warm and gray. An overall, overreaching, overwhelming gray to the world. Even the normally unheard cows in the neighbor's pasture are mooing mournfully. This transitional weather leaves a lot to be desired. Waiting for the change, anticipating the change even, frustrated by the slowness of the…
To the east there's a bit of clear sky for the sun to rise into. But from there all the way to the western horizon a rising fog bank is blocking the sky. It's also causing a strange phenomenon... as the sun comes up it actually seems to be getting…
2016 - A refresher
The ground fog is thickening as the morning brightens. It's cool out, but not as nippy as it has been. My thermometer said 56 before I walked our. It's cool enough to see my breath. But not cool enough to make me feel underdressed in my shorts and Henley. We…
I woke up, once again, before the alarm. There was such a glow in the bathroom window I had to rush out and capture the sunrise... boy, was it worth it! Now I'm back inside checking to see if anything has changed in the counting of the vote... looks pretty…
Wordless Wednesday
Walking out this morning was like a repeat of yesterday... a little nippy, clear sky, sun just hitting the tops of the trees... all and all... a gorgeous fall day. There's a calmness to the day I wish I could feel. I had this same feeling four years ago. Now…
I saw this on Facebook and just had to put it out there... here.
It's too cold to enjoy the back porch as the sun lightens the eastern sky... A clear, star filled sky. The thermometer is telling me the temperature on the porch is all of 47 degrees. That us just a bit too cool to enjoy without breaking out the winter hoodie.…
Ah, Saturday morning. Add in a cool front that had this morning's temperature in the 50's and a cool north breeze and the morning couldn't get much better. Though, I had to open the umbrella to keep the sun's glare out of my eyes so I can enjoy the morning.…
This is a nice morning. Two flights of whistling ducks flew over. At least three dozen birds or more. The sky is colorful. A mockingbird is starting to sing early. Well I made it to the polls yesterday. When Sherry got home from work we drove to the library to…
We're in a slow motion countdown to a momentous change in the life of America. Either American norms will win out, or by hook or crook, the most unprepared man ever to be handed the job will be returned to the White House. Almost two hundred years ago, a group…
I'm on the front porch this morning. Another below seventy degree morning. The crows are congregating, not quite a murder yet, but gathering... playing at follow the leader. Big black velvety birds with a big, area filling call. I slept thru sunrise. My favorite weekend activity in these pandemic times.…
Hurricane Laura off to the east. Rains to the south. It's warmish this morning, but the humidity doesn't feel so high. The one good thing about being on the dry side of a tropical cyclone. We, as in those of us in the Houston and Galveston area, are extremely lucky…
Sunrise is spectacular this morning. The sun coming up behind a thunderstorm over Galveston Bay. The temperature is also not too bad, though the humidity is up a bit this morning. Cardinals are chirping all over the yard. And hummingbirds dive bomb the feeder trying to claim it as their…
Happy Birthday Mom. I made it out before sunrise. Not usual for me. And to top it off, the outside temperature is almost the same as in the house. That makes the fan supercilious, almost chillingly. I'm going to have to get used to rising about this time to make…
Not too warm for the start of the day. 75 degrees, not bad for the full blown August. But it's oh so still. Not a breath of a breeze. And quiet... barely a bird singing. I have to go through the process of setting up a couple of computers today…
Ahhhhhh, the vagrancies of summer weather on the Texas gulf coast. It's the low 70's out here on the front porch. But with full sun, it won't take much to hit the forecast high of 97 degrees. The first load of laundry is in. The first cup of coffee is…
A cloudless sky greets me this morning. Sun on the concrete, warning an already warm world. Just a breath of breeze, a breath almost held. A faint tinkle of wind chimes barely heard. There's a sameness to the daily grind that is Donald Trump trying to break America. The schoolyard…
Thunder rumbles and lite rain pitter patters. My last couple of hours in bed weren't very restful. The thunderstorms the prognosticators promised in their foretelling yesterday moved over my house. At least, this time, the rainfall amount wasn't oppressive. Other than the patter of the falling rain, I'm hearing a…
I'm enjoying the almost, but not quite, coolness of the front porch again. I have my native American flute playlist playing in the background... and strange as it may seem, the birds have moved in close to join the band. A chickadee sits above my head. Some fledgling woodpeckers, downeys…
I thought I'd try the front porch this morning. Yesterday I moved the spare floor fan around so these morning muses wouldn't be to uncomfortable as the sun rises. Looking mostly north. I am joined again by a cattle egret wandering through the yard looking for breakfast. A Carolina wren…
In my oversized rocking chair under the ceiling fans on the back porch once again. The morning is cool enough, though, not really cool at all. It was quiet as well... then I was joined by my chatterbox of a granddaughter. My two resident tree ducks just flew over headed…
Once again I'm sitting on the back porch listening to the birds and a distant train whistle. It's 74 out already, but the ceiling fans make it just right. There's enough moisture in the air to make it hazy in the distance. The birds today are very active. I guess…
Laundry Day. If I can be said to have a schedule, about the only sure thing I do with regularity is laundry day. Every Tuesday I get up and take my shower, then I sort the dirty laundry and take the first load to the laundry room and get the…
It's not too warm, but, after raining almost all afternoon yesterday, it's all kinds of muggy. Seems appropriate for the first day of June. The sky is still overcast... really dramatic looking in today's photos. Looking southwest. There's a train in the near distance announcing itself at a crossing. Coming…
I'm out on the back porch once again. With the ceiling fans moving the air, it's comfortable. The birds are filling the air with song a bit more than yesterday. Even had a couple of crows cawing from a sentinel pine next door. And Linda, there's even a squirrel playing…
It's already after noon. I'm still drinking coffee so this still qualifies as my afternoon coffee muse. As I write this the first rumbles of thunder are rolling around the house. The thunderstorms the prognosticators were foretelling of are making their presence known. I've been perusing the interwebs this morning.…
It's been mostly cloudy this morning. Already, at midmorning, the temperature is 85. I've spent the morning doing chores, so even though today's photos are from the front porch. I didn't spend my morning muse time out in the heat and humidity. I stopped at the local HEB yesterday afternoon.…
It's frosty out there this morning. I wasn't expecting it... It's also pretty frosty in Washington. I listened to much of the hearings yesterday. What really came thru for me was the hate Republicans feel for Democrats... even as they accuse us of hating President Trump. Even as President Trump…
A cool, bright morning with clearing fog. Sadly, the fog in America politics isn't clearing. Between alternative facts and subjective truths, there is a fog of obstruction, a smokescreen of lies and conspiracy theories. With the President and his apologists screaming about fake news of their own admittance, Fox News…
Another overcast beginning to a fall day in paradise... morning coffee muses.
The humidity is so high that every surface outside has a film of moisture on this morning coffee muses.
The humidity is up, the temperature's steady in the mid seventies, my morning coffee muses will happen indoors.
Once upon a time I felt Lindsey Graham was as good a Republican as there was. But, after his speeches today... not so much.
The fireworks are early, lightning flashes and thunder booms on this gloomy morning coffee muses.
It's nippy out for this early morning coffee muses.
The Pledge of Allegiance is a mystery to me, promising fealty to a piece of cloth — and “to the republic for which it stands” — what does that mean?
PHOENIX — President Trump on Tuesday threatened to shut down the government over border wall funding, said the North American Free Trade Agreement is likely to be terminated and signaled that he was prepared to pardon former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is anathema to the Latino community. So, taking…
Overcast And Humid Morning Coffee Muses
Well, they did it... Now I start dealing with my Republican Senators. As far I'm concerned my Repugnant Representative will have one very pissed of old hippy doing everything I can to see that he has to go back to fixing air conditioners.
Warm And Muggy Before The Cool Morning Coffee Muses
Cool And Windy Coffee Muses Morning
Here's the truth of the 2016 Election... Donald Trump was elected by 19.5% of the American People. 22% voted for someone else.
Cool And Cloudy Coffee Muses.
A Bright and Sunny Winter's Sunday Coffee Muses
I find myself torn between ignoring the day and watching it unfold in a forlorn hope that my worst fears will be unfounded.
I guess what surprised me was I actually agreed with Republicans 19% of the time. To here my friends and relatives tell it, that's just way too high a percentage. Maybe they are talking about Maine Republicans, I always liked their Senators... Test Yourself... It's all in fun... Right?
The sun, for starters. Also lightning, choking on a chicken bone, drowning in the bathtub, and people who text and drive. But probably not terrorism. Source: What to Be Afraid Of Timothy Egan has I point that has never left my mind since the first World Trade Center bombing... It's…
Yesterday my wife came home with a passel of worries about Obamacare. She wanted me to go online and find out if what she had been told was true. It seems one of her coworkers had heard something on the radio that had her worried. There was talk about the IRS, an…
Mark Bittman makes the point in his column at the New York Times today, that the biggest killer of Americans isn't guns but industrial agriculture. A point I have made repeatedly with my family over the years. ...the root of that dangerous diet is our system of hyper-industrial agriculture,…
Now that we have baked our cookies and trimmed our trees,now that we have wrapped our gifts and planned our dinners,now that we have hung stockings, sent greetings and set tables,assembled toys, trimmed wicks, written Santa and hung wreaths,the time has come to abandon it all,if only for a moment.Hallelujah…
You tell me... November 2012 was the globe's 5th warmest November on record, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) on Monday. NASA rated November 2012 the 2nd warmest November on record. Global temperature records begin in 1880. November 2012 global land temperatures were the 6th…
Every news story about the coming "fiscal cliff" talks about what the "real" problem is. The consensus being, that American companies aren't making decisions on employment or investment because they don't know what is going to happen... They are putting off decisions until they see what Congress will do. The truth isn't quite that straight forward...I caught…
The advocacy infrastructure being developed by both sides in the post-Citizens United world will, over time, favor the most plausible side, which conservatives know is theirs. via George Will: Republicans must start over again - The Washington Post. The final sentence of his column says everything about what went wrong…
It shouldn't surprise anyone that knows me... But. I took myself down to the polls on Saturday and cast my ballot for America. And contrary to the signs I have been seeing scattered around the county, I cast my vote for the version of America that I think is embodied in the Obama presidency.…
http://www.youtube.com/embed/U9G8XREyG0Q
Wednesday’s presidential debate promises sharp contrasts. One candidate wants to repeal Obamacare, one candidate invented it. One opposed the auto industry bailout, one takes credit for it. One doubts the scientific consensus about climate change, one believes in it. One wants to “voucherize” Medicare, one wants to save it. One…
Just in case you didn't know...I lean progressive on the political scales. I try not to let my political rants take over this blog these days. I did that in the George W. Bush years and it was a pain. So pardon the following politcal rant ... I am a…
Watching President Clinton's speech last night, I was as impressed as I always am when President Clinton starts to explain the Democratic point of view. Every time someone would say about President Bush that he was someone they would like to have a beer with, I would remember listening to…
There’s something about Texas – if I didn’t live here, I wouldn’t live here. Juanita Jean sum's up all of my frustrations with my native state and then some... She goes on to lay out why: We have 248 kinds of snakes in Texas and 246 of them will kill…
Stupid? Arrogant? Crazy? Whoa, wait, isn’t that already the motto of the Republican Party? via Juanita Jean's | Truman Demands Romney Release His Tax Returns. A drop quote to love...
Now that the Supreme Court has declared the ACA to be constitutional I find most people still don't know what is in the law... I don't really know. My wife doesn't understand it. I know most of the folks I talk to don't. From the comments and email I get,…
I always knew that red state Texas was stingy. Governor Perry has spent most of his decade in office turning down federal money to help the poor. But this paragraph really spelled out the extent of Texas stinginess. The biggest losers are Medicaid and the poor. Very quietly, the Affordable Care Act…
Yes it does... Mitt Romney may have joked yesterday that the White House was “not sleeping real well” last night. But a lot of people tonight and in the future will sleep a lot better for this result. Young people, people with pre-existing conditions and mainly people who through the…
The one thing that makes it worthwhile to continue to wade through each new David Brooks Column isn't the fantasy fiction Mr. Brooks turns out each time. It's the quality of the comments from the readers that makes me waste so much of my morning on the days I give…
What? You missed it? Quite a lot of the internet was blacked out yesterday to give you a hint of what would be in store for all of us if these two laws get implemented. Do you want a better explanation? Try this one from Clay Shirky (Thanks to Seth Godin…
My wife and I were having a conversation about the weather/climate of our youth. What brought the conversation up was the fact that I was mowing grass in our yard on January 11 as the temperature approach 70°. I commented on the fact that when I was a teenager in…
https://www.youtube.com/embed/fX7Q-0QuID4 It also reinforced the fact that most of this years storms were pushed off out into the Atlantic. Watching Irene work her way up the east coast all the way to Canada had me remembering the pictures of the flooding in New England. I suppose only time will tell if this…
As the temperatures here in Texas hover around the century mark and the heat indexes are pushing 115 on a regular basis, I can understand the attraction of running for President in the NE. Reporting from Greenland, N.H.— All eyes were supposed to be on Iowas straw poll Saturday, but…
I know it's a mixed metaphor, but the GOP has really become a sad, sad representation of the old saying... You can lead a mule to water but you can't make him drink. “I am committed to not raising the debt ceiling,” Bachmann said at a National Press Club luncheon,…
(Rep. Eric A. “Rick”)Crawford, the freshman from Arkansas, was among 63 legislators who sent a letter to Obama on Thursday that imagined Aug. 3 arriving without a deal. In the letter, the legislators urged Obama to promise he would pay interest on existing debt, military salaries, and Medicare and Social…