i didnt see the game but they held the big names for a tourney too long, that is clear. They were generally terrible on offense the whole tourney, excepting the thrashing of NZ who is terrible
New manager doesn't have enough clout to not bring a lot of vets who got in via reputation and legacy and not current form. (off the top of my head, Tobin Heath, Pinoe and sadly Alex Morgan) had good reasons not to be in Tokyo.
It's "sport climbing" because it oddly combines bouldering and a rock climbing wall - which kind of sucks - because most climbers tend to specialize (at least from what I've seen at the Asian X-Games). The Indonesian women are an Asian power.
I saw it in the upcoming schedule and set it to record. Sounds interesting. I've been enjoying several of the new sports this year, like BMX and BMX freestyle--those two brought back memories of riding BMX as a kid.
From what I've seen so far (I haven't watched the freestyle finals yet, only qualifying), pretty much. I'm really impressed with the caliber of the riders in the events.
The NCAA has lost a staggering amount of influence. It remains to be seen what the NCAA can do now to regulate intercollegiate athletics.
Losing the standard of amateurism totally undercuts their ability to hold sway on so many aspects, including recruiting, academic eligibility, restrictions on scholarships, etc. Member institutions can thumb their noses at the standards and do what they want.
This makes it easy for the bluebloods in football, harder on everyone else. It also means programs who felt constrained before won't be constrained now. The schools who hesitate to move boldly ahead in the new landscape will find themselves falling further and further behind.
The likelihood of a wild west scenario in college football has become a real possibility.
Exactly…the rich blue blood programs are just going to get richer in terms of $ & of course talent.
The overture of Clemson & others to join the SEC is probably going to seriously scuttle talk of CFP expansion bc they’re going to account for half of the 12 spots.
We're getting our first Delta variant cases in China - ~100 in Nanjing, apparently one was a truck driver who came to Shanghai so restrictions are up again with contact tracing and more public spaces (malls) asking for masks. Unlike the US, no one is being upset over it - people just put on masks and show our health codes. rumor has it - according to reddit - the Nanjing person ate at a restaurant on Thursday so they've picked up all the peopl ein the restaurant and placed them in monitored quarantine - but the hotels are all paid for.
Inside info: Contra Costa Cnty health matched republican vote rolls with vaccination records, and found 120,000 un-vaccinated republicans; they are now reaching out to them, not as CCC, but as Stanford Health in an effort to get them vaccinated.
I know I'm repeating prior comments, but I've been mildly concerned about the extent to which Delta is going to scorch through schools in the fall semester, especially in southern states with high Delta rates and schools that are returning now-ish. The data from the UK and other places appears to say that Delta spikes tend to drop off very quickly, but I wonder if we're about to add fuel to the fire to extend our domestic spikes.
The thing is, the UK rate got super fucking high, and even with the big dropoff is still nearly twice what ours is per capita, with higher vaccination rates. We have a long way to go yet, and it's going to get really ugly.
I would worry about this too, but it's less about the kids themselves (for whom the death rate is still very small) than about how it's going to continue to add to spread among unvaccinated adults.
entirely unsurprising. If the large social platforms didn't whitelist white supremacist's content, it would get automatically removed also, and many GOP elected officials would get warnings and timeouts regularly for what they post.
I can't decide. Maybe it was that lady's eyebrows. Maybe it was his staring at the eclipse. Maybe it was him putting halloween candy on top of the kid's minion costume. Maybe it was Four Seasons Landscaping. Maybe it was suggestions of injecting bleach.
The Oakland A’s spent the last week revamping their lineup, adding three new veteran hitters before the MLB trade deadline, and the results are already beginning to show up.
The A’s blasted the Los Angeles Angels in an 8-3 victory Sunday, with plenty of help from their recent acquisitions. The offensive outburst not only avenged the previous day’s shutout loss and wrapped up a series win in the four-game matchup in Anaheim, but also represented a lot of what we’ve pined to see from this group all summer.
Oakland’s biggest problem at the plate this year has been not getting on base enough. Enter Starling Marte, the new center fielder picked up from the Marlins, who now slots in to the second spot in the lineup. He did his sparkplug job to perfection, reaching base four times (three hits and a walk) and then causing havoc by stealing three bags. He ended up scoring twice.
Two of the Dodgers biggest offensive outbursts of the season have come in the last 23 days, both facing Caleb Smith and the Diamondbacks. Sunday’s laugher was 13-0 at Chase Field, chasing Smith after a whopping 70 pitches to record only five outs.
AJ Pollock continued his red-hot July into August with his second four-hit day of the season. He doubled twice, singled twice, and drove in two runs on Sunday. Pollock’s other four-hit game this season came on July 10, a game started by Smith in Los Angeles that saw the Dodgers set a Los Angeles record for runs scored.
Justin Turner hit the go-ahead home run in Saturday’s win, and followed that up with a three-run shot on Sunday, his 20th home run of the season.
Next is a 2 game series with the Asstrisks on Tues and Wed with Buehler and Scherzer. I had considered going down but then I saw that they jacked up ticket prices for this series. Hopefully the Dodgers can help the A's out and sweep the Asses
Giants take two of three from the Astros. Kris Bryant homers in his first game with SF, joining his former Cubs teammates in making a big splash with his new team.
And in so doing, the Giants preserve their MLB-best status for the moment, with a 2.5 game lead on Houston.
Had the Astros won 2 out of 3, they'd be only 1/2 game back of the Giants for MLB's best record. Had the Astros swept, they'd be 1.5 games ahead of the Giants.
I remain in disbelief that the Giants are really this good.
And now the Giants move on to a 4-game set against the D'backs. I hope they don't do a face plant like they did against P'burgh ten days ago.
Looking ahead, the Giaatns have a 3-game set against Milwaukee on the road this coming weekend, then come home for a 4-game set against Colorado and a 3-game set vs. the Mets. The Aug 16-18 series with New York starts off a stretch of the schedule which will feature teams leading their division or closely chasing their division leaders -
Aug. 16-18 vs New York Mets
Aug. 20-22 at Oakland
Aug. 24-26 at New York Mets
Aug. 27-29 at Atlanta
Aug. 30 - Sep. 2 vs Milwaukee
Sep. 3-5 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Excepting the Braves, all of those teams have winning records and are no more than 4.5 games out of 1st place in their respective divisions (Oakland, in 2nd place behind Houston). That's a 19-game stretch that could make or break the season.
To top it off, the Giants play the Padres ten times starting on Sep. 13 and finishing the regular season on Oct. 3. (10 out of their final 19 games).
Pads may have lost Tatis for the season. To me it was irresponsible to bring him back so quickly the first time, and then the next time. I think this is his third time hurting it. If he doesn't have surgery I think it'll happen more and more often. Bellinger had it after the WS and he's still struggling. If he needs shoulder surgery, he'll probably be out a majority of next year. Though he isn't a pitcher and I think it's his left shoulder so maybe it won't affect his fielding but I think it will impact his hitting since it is his front shoulder.
Even though Tatis is part of a team for which I don't have a particular affinity, he's a big talent who is fun to watch. I hope he gets the medical attention he needs and recovers fully.
I really hate to see injuries derail seasons...and careers.
Great moment for the USMNT. Beating Mexico twice in a row and once with a lineup of second and third choices. I think that low point from the last World Cup qualifying is behind us; the current talent base looks good.
the US talent base under the age of 23 is redonk, there is depth at virtually every position. Some of that won't develop like we hope but the difference here is we have 3 or 4 chances per position to have a star emerge versus the 0-1 we've had in the past.
I've been looking at the movement of various Euro soccer leagues around different streaming services and wondering if I should just stop watching soccer. What a pain in the ass.
Heading off to Iceland on Wednesday night. I've got the DBD's locked and loaded, so they'll get published. This time I am determined to see the north and eastern part of the island, which was snowed under record snow when I went in March 2014. Then it was Eyjafjallajökull. This time, I am going to go see Fagradalsfjall erupt. I am also going to go into a volcano (https://insidethevolcano.com).
Working holiday, if only because our big annual meeting coincides with the trip I'm about to take to attend two weddings--one in Boston and one in Cincinnati.
As a freelancer, I don't exactly have actual vacation. I had thought about a weekend in Guangzhou (since I can't get to Hong Kong and I miss being Cantonese) or Sanya (China's Hawaii! But not really) but with the delta variant starting to spread, I might just stay here and play golf.
Ever since the cabins burned last September, our vacation spot has turned into something else. A spot in limbo, awaiting cleaning, restoration, and redemption, if it can be called that.
No summer vacation for you!, karma seems to have said, with emphasis. You're gonna have to work for it, and work hard.
That sucks, and yet it's an opportunity to set the stage for future generations (that's me looking on the bright side).
For me, it's just that I hadn't anticipated when I said "yes" to the missus and girls going to Vermont for the summer in 2009 that it would still be the dominating feature in 2021. Oops.
When you say that, I am inevitably reminded of Tom Ewell in The Seven Year Itch. A married man at loose ends because his wife and progeny have gone off to summer camp, leaving him in sweltering New York City. I still marvel that this is a thing for you or anybody. Were it me, I'd spend my evenings watching baseball or movies.
I also have a certain affinity for Vermont, having backpacked most of the Long Trail in the summers of '77 and '78. Gawd, what a beautiful place.
As for setting the stage for future generations, that's absolutely right. And I am doing my utmost to do just that from the practical perspective (doing most of the labor, keeping costs low, and limiting wish list items to stuff that is practical and attainable). And there are others within my family who are just as practical. But because of the various people involved, doing so can be somewhat contentious and stressful. Unfortunately, I have come to view some family members as "limousine liberals" with all the rotten connotations that phrase entails. You know how some folks are well credentialed but seem to lack common sense? Well. There it is.
"I still marvel that this is a thing for you or anybody." It is pretty niche, both in terms of region and class. Seems largely to be sustained by multiple generations of the same families, with some leaving and others arriving.
"Were it me, I'd spend my evenings watching baseball or movies." In prior summers I've watched a lot of films and / or sports, but I'm pretty indifferent to both this summer. I haven't even been going for early evening walks, which is usually what I enjoy doing when I don't have to conform to a family dinner schedule.
"You know how some folks are well credentialed but seem to lack common sense?" Yeah that's not a great thing when you're trying to rebuild something, especially when it comes to keeping the overall project manageable.
Was hoping to get their this summer, but the powers that be's insistence in burning the world down (both figuratively and in some cases literally), has made that look highly unlikely for another year.
Very nice...the pup & I loved our visit to Acadia during the 2020 Coast -to-COVID road trip last summer.
My new pet sitter for Cal/TCU recently bailed on me, and now that we’re so close to the event, I had just the hardest time finding a new one that was available, soooooo...the now-two pups (7 month old puppy as well) & I are road tripping to Ft Worth, where a pet-friendly AIRBNB awaits, much to cat-loving Newellbany’s chagrin. Visits to the 2 NP’s each in NM & TX are on the docket, pushing the old red dogs total to near 40...she’s a well-traveled girl!
Am I the only one...
who started to read the text above the picture of the garage/shop in my own voice and then segued into Sean Connery's voice upon reading "Vasili"?
Judging by the lack of replies, yes you are the only one.
It was the "One thing, only" that cinched it. Too much like, "One ping, only."
Yes, that's what I thought.
Olympics
Not a good day for the USWNT.
i didnt see the game but they held the big names for a tourney too long, that is clear. They were generally terrible on offense the whole tourney, excepting the thrashing of NZ who is terrible
New manager doesn't have enough clout to not bring a lot of vets who got in via reputation and legacy and not current form. (off the top of my head, Tobin Heath, Pinoe and sadly Alex Morgan) had good reasons not to be in Tokyo.
Yeah, they were looking shaky from the start. Not a shock they exited early.
new sport alert. rock climbing starts tomorrow.
our family is waking up at 400a to watch the live stream since we know one of the US male climbers.
It's "sport climbing" because it oddly combines bouldering and a rock climbing wall - which kind of sucks - because most climbers tend to specialize (at least from what I've seen at the Asian X-Games). The Indonesian women are an Asian power.
I saw it in the upcoming schedule and set it to record. Sounds interesting. I've been enjoying several of the new sports this year, like BMX and BMX freestyle--those two brought back memories of riding BMX as a kid.
is BMX and BMX freestyle basically like watching the X-Games?
From what I've seen so far (I haven't watched the freestyle finals yet, only qualifying), pretty much. I'm really impressed with the caliber of the riders in the events.
That's cool!
Elsewhere in college
[Marc Ryan @ ESPN]: Clemson and FSU have reached out to the SEC to potentially join.
https://twitter.com/MarcRyanOnAir/status/1422255062185910274
It's only a rumor and not comfirmed.
This is becoming a freakin' circus.
The SEC is going to become it's own entity, like the NFL....
I wouldn't be surprised in the least.
The NCAA has lost a staggering amount of influence. It remains to be seen what the NCAA can do now to regulate intercollegiate athletics.
Losing the standard of amateurism totally undercuts their ability to hold sway on so many aspects, including recruiting, academic eligibility, restrictions on scholarships, etc. Member institutions can thumb their noses at the standards and do what they want.
This makes it easy for the bluebloods in football, harder on everyone else. It also means programs who felt constrained before won't be constrained now. The schools who hesitate to move boldly ahead in the new landscape will find themselves falling further and further behind.
The likelihood of a wild west scenario in college football has become a real possibility.
Exactly…the rich blue blood programs are just going to get richer in terms of $ & of course talent.
The overture of Clemson & others to join the SEC is probably going to seriously scuttle talk of CFP expansion bc they’re going to account for half of the 12 spots.
Today in Covid
We're getting our first Delta variant cases in China - ~100 in Nanjing, apparently one was a truck driver who came to Shanghai so restrictions are up again with contact tracing and more public spaces (malls) asking for masks. Unlike the US, no one is being upset over it - people just put on masks and show our health codes. rumor has it - according to reddit - the Nanjing person ate at a restaurant on Thursday so they've picked up all the peopl ein the restaurant and placed them in monitored quarantine - but the hotels are all paid for.
Inside info: Contra Costa Cnty health matched republican vote rolls with vaccination records, and found 120,000 un-vaccinated republicans; they are now reaching out to them, not as CCC, but as Stanford Health in an effort to get them vaccinated.
Heh...I wonder if they said they were part of the Hoover Institute if they'd have more success?
Friend who works at Stanford said they've gone full masks 100% on campus.
Florida reported a state-record 21,683 cases on Saturday, two days after DeSantis signed an order barring school mask mandates.
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/08/01/1023396466/florida-new-covid-case-record
I know I'm repeating prior comments, but I've been mildly concerned about the extent to which Delta is going to scorch through schools in the fall semester, especially in southern states with high Delta rates and schools that are returning now-ish. The data from the UK and other places appears to say that Delta spikes tend to drop off very quickly, but I wonder if we're about to add fuel to the fire to extend our domestic spikes.
I'm curious to see if Vandy does anything on top of already requiring all students, faculty, employees, and grade students to be vaccinated.
The thing is, the UK rate got super fucking high, and even with the big dropoff is still nearly twice what ours is per capita, with higher vaccination rates. We have a long way to go yet, and it's going to get really ugly.
Oh poo
I would worry about this too, but it's less about the kids themselves (for whom the death rate is still very small) than about how it's going to continue to add to spread among unvaccinated adults.
Would you be able to post links to the UK etc. data that shows Delta spikes dropping off fast? I'd like to have some hope.
Also I think Scott Gottlieb (former FDA director in Trump Admin, but competent, which is why he didn't last) has been good on communicating what's going on: https://twitter.com/RuhleOnMSNBC/status/1422190781889236992?s=20
Thanks--hope it goes this way. I guess we'll find out in a week or so.
Yeah, the UK and India both had big spikes and then very sharp drop-offs. We'll see, but I am expecting to see the same thing here.
here's an example https://twitter.com/smadixit/status/1421764839970467843?s=20
Unbelievable!
Counterpoint: given DeSantis' track record, completely believable.
Fauci warns 'things are going to get worse' with COVID
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fauci-warns-things-worse-covid/story?id=79192069
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
What happened to Lev and Igor?
Jihadists flood pro-Trump social network with propaganda
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/02/trump-gettr-social-media-isis-502078
entirely unsurprising. If the large social platforms didn't whitelist white supremacist's content, it would get automatically removed also, and many GOP elected officials would get warnings and timeouts regularly for what they post.
One dumb thing
I can't decide. Maybe it was that lady's eyebrows. Maybe it was his staring at the eclipse. Maybe it was him putting halloween candy on top of the kid's minion costume. Maybe it was Four Seasons Landscaping. Maybe it was suggestions of injecting bleach.
Infrastructure Week
https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1162112841421336578
PRO
Game #107: Yan Gomes, Starling Marte lead new A’s lineup in 8-3 win
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2021/8/1/22605087/oakland-as-game-107-los-angeles-angels-score-result
The Oakland A’s spent the last week revamping their lineup, adding three new veteran hitters before the MLB trade deadline, and the results are already beginning to show up.
The A’s blasted the Los Angeles Angels in an 8-3 victory Sunday, with plenty of help from their recent acquisitions. The offensive outburst not only avenged the previous day’s shutout loss and wrapped up a series win in the four-game matchup in Anaheim, but also represented a lot of what we’ve pined to see from this group all summer.
Oakland’s biggest problem at the plate this year has been not getting on base enough. Enter Starling Marte, the new center fielder picked up from the Marlins, who now slots in to the second spot in the lineup. He did his sparkplug job to perfection, reaching base four times (three hits and a walk) and then causing havoc by stealing three bags. He ended up scoring twice.
Dodgers pound Diamondbacks on getaway day
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/8/1/22605011/aj-pollock-justin-turner-mookie-betts-albert-pujols-dodgers-win-getaway-day-diamondbacks
Two of the Dodgers biggest offensive outbursts of the season have come in the last 23 days, both facing Caleb Smith and the Diamondbacks. Sunday’s laugher was 13-0 at Chase Field, chasing Smith after a whopping 70 pitches to record only five outs.
AJ Pollock continued his red-hot July into August with his second four-hit day of the season. He doubled twice, singled twice, and drove in two runs on Sunday. Pollock’s other four-hit game this season came on July 10, a game started by Smith in Los Angeles that saw the Dodgers set a Los Angeles record for runs scored.
Justin Turner hit the go-ahead home run in Saturday’s win, and followed that up with a three-run shot on Sunday, his 20th home run of the season.
GBBR
GBBR
Next is a 2 game series with the Asstrisks on Tues and Wed with Buehler and Scherzer. I had considered going down but then I saw that they jacked up ticket prices for this series. Hopefully the Dodgers can help the A's out and sweep the Asses
I might actually root for the Dodgers in that case. Maybe.
Giants take two of three from the Astros. Kris Bryant homers in his first game with SF, joining his former Cubs teammates in making a big splash with his new team.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31937114/kris-bryant-joins-ex-chicago-cubs-teammates-anthony-rizzo-javier-baez-mashing-debut-homer
And in so doing, the Giants preserve their MLB-best status for the moment, with a 2.5 game lead on Houston.
Had the Astros won 2 out of 3, they'd be only 1/2 game back of the Giants for MLB's best record. Had the Astros swept, they'd be 1.5 games ahead of the Giants.
I remain in disbelief that the Giants are really this good.
Well, I was wondering what might happen when the schedule got tougher, but the Giants just beat the Dodgers and Astros in consecutive series, so . . .
Exactly. Took 4 of 6 from those two contenders.
And now the Giants move on to a 4-game set against the D'backs. I hope they don't do a face plant like they did against P'burgh ten days ago.
Looking ahead, the Giaatns have a 3-game set against Milwaukee on the road this coming weekend, then come home for a 4-game set against Colorado and a 3-game set vs. the Mets. The Aug 16-18 series with New York starts off a stretch of the schedule which will feature teams leading their division or closely chasing their division leaders -
Aug. 16-18 vs New York Mets
Aug. 20-22 at Oakland
Aug. 24-26 at New York Mets
Aug. 27-29 at Atlanta
Aug. 30 - Sep. 2 vs Milwaukee
Sep. 3-5 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Excepting the Braves, all of those teams have winning records and are no more than 4.5 games out of 1st place in their respective divisions (Oakland, in 2nd place behind Houston). That's a 19-game stretch that could make or break the season.
To top it off, the Giants play the Padres ten times starting on Sep. 13 and finishing the regular season on Oct. 3. (10 out of their final 19 games).
Not an easy row to hoe.
Pads may have lost Tatis for the season. To me it was irresponsible to bring him back so quickly the first time, and then the next time. I think this is his third time hurting it. If he doesn't have surgery I think it'll happen more and more often. Bellinger had it after the WS and he's still struggling. If he needs shoulder surgery, he'll probably be out a majority of next year. Though he isn't a pitcher and I think it's his left shoulder so maybe it won't affect his fielding but I think it will impact his hitting since it is his front shoulder.
Even though Tatis is part of a team for which I don't have a particular affinity, he's a big talent who is fun to watch. I hope he gets the medical attention he needs and recovers fully.
I really hate to see injuries derail seasons...and careers.
USA 1 (116) - 0 Mexico; they couldn't beat our C-team with their A-team.
Great moment for the USMNT. Beating Mexico twice in a row and once with a lineup of second and third choices. I think that low point from the last World Cup qualifying is behind us; the current talent base looks good.
the US talent base under the age of 23 is redonk, there is depth at virtually every position. Some of that won't develop like we hope but the difference here is we have 3 or 4 chances per position to have a star emerge versus the 0-1 we've had in the past.
Except LB.
I've been looking at the movement of various Euro soccer leagues around different streaming services and wondering if I should just stop watching soccer. What a pain in the ass.
I think you have the best solution identified; stop watching soccer.
When played right, it is the beautiful game (TM)
somehow I don't think you're suggesting that because you are frustrated with soccer coverage 😉
Consider it an opportunity to avoid several soccer frustrations all at once!
NBA free agency begins today at 6pm EDT
CAL
Go Bears!!!
summer vacation
Also, YWC and I have written in the lightest possible pencil: Summer 2022 John Muir Trail (Whitney to Yosemite)
No summer vacay, but we're hoping to explore Santa Cruz Island for 1-2wks in October
We did a short tour of the Redwoods in July, and going to hit Yellowstone in Sept.
Going to Tahoe for two weeks at the end of August, and more excitingly, just booked a week in Anguilla in November.
Heading off to Iceland on Wednesday night. I've got the DBD's locked and loaded, so they'll get published. This time I am determined to see the north and eastern part of the island, which was snowed under record snow when I went in March 2014. Then it was Eyjafjallajökull. This time, I am going to go see Fagradalsfjall erupt. I am also going to go into a volcano (https://insidethevolcano.com).
Oh you went to Iceland? Amazing.
https://deadspin.com/oh-you-went-to-iceland-amazing-1792649369 (it's old deadspin, not zombie deadspin)
Have a great time!!
WaPo travel section had a story in yesterday's paper about driving around Iceland. May have an idea or two for you.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/iceland-new-driving-route-remote-scenic/2021/07/29/ff5cd374-ebeb-11eb-97a0-a09d10181e36_story.html
Iceland is near the top of my list of places to visit. Enjoy!
Me as well!
Bon voyage!
I really would like a visit there. It seems such a neat place.
Nice! I'd like to go back, to see much the same regions as you
Working holiday, if only because our big annual meeting coincides with the trip I'm about to take to attend two weddings--one in Boston and one in Cincinnati.
404 File Not Found 😐
As a freelancer, I don't exactly have actual vacation. I had thought about a weekend in Guangzhou (since I can't get to Hong Kong and I miss being Cantonese) or Sanya (China's Hawaii! But not really) but with the delta variant starting to spread, I might just stay here and play golf.
Nada for me too, I have wanderlust, but I can't seem to interest the wife in anything.
Boy, do I feel ya.
Ever since the cabins burned last September, our vacation spot has turned into something else. A spot in limbo, awaiting cleaning, restoration, and redemption, if it can be called that.
No summer vacation for you!, karma seems to have said, with emphasis. You're gonna have to work for it, and work hard.
That sucks, and yet it's an opportunity to set the stage for future generations (that's me looking on the bright side).
For me, it's just that I hadn't anticipated when I said "yes" to the missus and girls going to Vermont for the summer in 2009 that it would still be the dominating feature in 2021. Oops.
When you say that, I am inevitably reminded of Tom Ewell in The Seven Year Itch. A married man at loose ends because his wife and progeny have gone off to summer camp, leaving him in sweltering New York City. I still marvel that this is a thing for you or anybody. Were it me, I'd spend my evenings watching baseball or movies.
I also have a certain affinity for Vermont, having backpacked most of the Long Trail in the summers of '77 and '78. Gawd, what a beautiful place.
As for setting the stage for future generations, that's absolutely right. And I am doing my utmost to do just that from the practical perspective (doing most of the labor, keeping costs low, and limiting wish list items to stuff that is practical and attainable). And there are others within my family who are just as practical. But because of the various people involved, doing so can be somewhat contentious and stressful. Unfortunately, I have come to view some family members as "limousine liberals" with all the rotten connotations that phrase entails. You know how some folks are well credentialed but seem to lack common sense? Well. There it is.
Sorry to rant on.
"I still marvel that this is a thing for you or anybody." It is pretty niche, both in terms of region and class. Seems largely to be sustained by multiple generations of the same families, with some leaving and others arriving.
"Were it me, I'd spend my evenings watching baseball or movies." In prior summers I've watched a lot of films and / or sports, but I'm pretty indifferent to both this summer. I haven't even been going for early evening walks, which is usually what I enjoy doing when I don't have to conform to a family dinner schedule.
"You know how some folks are well credentialed but seem to lack common sense?" Yeah that's not a great thing when you're trying to rebuild something, especially when it comes to keeping the overall project manageable.
So... you're saying a fling with a very attractive woman is in DC's immediate future?
It would have to be very immediate, the lady of the house is due back next Wednesday.
No, not at all. I'm just saying that the basic circumstance at the very beginning of the movie is what I'm reminded of. Nothing more.
Headed out to Mt. Lassen tomorrow morning for a camping/hiking trip.
Was hoping to get their this summer, but the powers that be's insistence in burning the world down (both figuratively and in some cases literally), has made that look highly unlikely for another year.
AQI is green. Dixie fire is not really close, but not too far either.
Delightful!!
just back from a very pleasant 10 days in Acadia and Portsmouth NH.
at first i was still trying to keep up w/ work a little, but it was nice to take a good disconnected break.
back home for 4 weeks before we go to Glacier NP and MT to finish off the summer
Very nice...the pup & I loved our visit to Acadia during the 2020 Coast -to-COVID road trip last summer.
My new pet sitter for Cal/TCU recently bailed on me, and now that we’re so close to the event, I had just the hardest time finding a new one that was available, soooooo...the now-two pups (7 month old puppy as well) & I are road tripping to Ft Worth, where a pet-friendly AIRBNB awaits, much to cat-loving Newellbany’s chagrin. Visits to the 2 NP’s each in NM & TX are on the docket, pushing the old red dogs total to near 40...she’s a well-traveled girl!
awesome!!