Where Did the Week Go?
Elections: The Virginia elections went better than I expected. My area is not at all competitive so there were no surprises locally. (For example, our candidate for delegate was running unopposed.) And I can’t say that I was surprised that the candidate for county sheriff who had a long rant on his web page about why campaign contributions are unconstitutional, quoting from George Mason (who actually never mentioned campaign contributions since such a thing didn’t exist in his time) got nowhere. In the shooting yourself in the foot department, Democratic section, Susanna Gibson, the Henrico county candidate for delegate who live streamed sex videos with her husband, also lost.
But the important thing is that Democrats both kept the Senate and won the House of Delegates, which will keep Glen Youngkin’s more theocratic Christofascist tendencies at bay.
By the way, it was only on Friday (i.e. three days after election day) that I realized I slightly know the (losing) Republican candidate for state senator in my district.
Pandas: The National Zoo pandas are gone. They had special crates for their transportation to China, along with a FedEx truck with a panda picture painted on its side. (I’m not sure if their plane had a panda livery). The cuteness factor at the National Zoo is down by at least 50%.
Major Disappointment: Michael Tilson Thomas has withdrawn from the National Symphony Orchestra concert next weekend on his doctor’s advice. I can’t say I’m totally surprised, since he isn’t expected to live much longer. (Glioblastoma is really nasty.) There was the option to go to the concert with the replacement conductor, but the whole point of buying tickets was to see MTT. I’ve requested a refund from Goldstar, who are not great at customer service.
At least I got to see him conduct the New York Philharmonic in March.
Deli Food: This afternoon we had a Chavurah luncheon at Chutzpah deli. The tongue sandwich I got was fine. Their cole slaw is just okay, since I prefer mine more vinegary. And their potato salad is also a bit bland. In other words, it’s fine for deli food in Virginia (though Perly’s in Richmond is better), but my answer to the best Jewish deli food in this area is still to go to Union Station and take a train to New York.
Still, I was really there for the camaraderie and conversation and that was excellent.
Grimm Discussion Groups: This week’s Brother’s Grimm discussion was on Briar Rose, aka Sleeping Beauty. We had a wide ranging and interesting discussion. At the end, we were discussing spindles and, as a result of a comment someone made about the phrase “spindle, fold, or mutilate,” I have an interesting idea for a twist on the story, involving her fate depending on a spindle file, i.e. the spike used to store receipts at a diner.
My Animal Obsessed Neighbors: Today on next-door, somebody claims to have seen a hawk swoop down and grab a black cat. They wanted to know what kind of hawk it was.
But the important thing is that Democrats both kept the Senate and won the House of Delegates, which will keep Glen Youngkin’s more theocratic Christofascist tendencies at bay.
By the way, it was only on Friday (i.e. three days after election day) that I realized I slightly know the (losing) Republican candidate for state senator in my district.
Pandas: The National Zoo pandas are gone. They had special crates for their transportation to China, along with a FedEx truck with a panda picture painted on its side. (I’m not sure if their plane had a panda livery). The cuteness factor at the National Zoo is down by at least 50%.
Major Disappointment: Michael Tilson Thomas has withdrawn from the National Symphony Orchestra concert next weekend on his doctor’s advice. I can’t say I’m totally surprised, since he isn’t expected to live much longer. (Glioblastoma is really nasty.) There was the option to go to the concert with the replacement conductor, but the whole point of buying tickets was to see MTT. I’ve requested a refund from Goldstar, who are not great at customer service.
At least I got to see him conduct the New York Philharmonic in March.
Deli Food: This afternoon we had a Chavurah luncheon at Chutzpah deli. The tongue sandwich I got was fine. Their cole slaw is just okay, since I prefer mine more vinegary. And their potato salad is also a bit bland. In other words, it’s fine for deli food in Virginia (though Perly’s in Richmond is better), but my answer to the best Jewish deli food in this area is still to go to Union Station and take a train to New York.
Still, I was really there for the camaraderie and conversation and that was excellent.
Grimm Discussion Groups: This week’s Brother’s Grimm discussion was on Briar Rose, aka Sleeping Beauty. We had a wide ranging and interesting discussion. At the end, we were discussing spindles and, as a result of a comment someone made about the phrase “spindle, fold, or mutilate,” I have an interesting idea for a twist on the story, involving her fate depending on a spindle file, i.e. the spike used to store receipts at a diner.
My Animal Obsessed Neighbors: Today on next-door, somebody claims to have seen a hawk swoop down and grab a black cat. They wanted to know what kind of hawk it was.