63 thoughts on “September 10, 2018: La Tortuga”

  1. "Minor Details" will not appear tomorrow, as I'll be out of town. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll catch up Wednesday. It will be, at most, two games, so catching up shouldn't be hard. But of course, if something unexpected does happen, then all bets are off.

  2. Got some serious vertigo this morning. I had a little last night, but today it's like I'm on a ship at sea. Eventually had to lay down; I think it sinus/inner ear, but nothing else going on to make me think that.

    1. I had a bout of it not too long ago. It took my out for about a day, but I was right back up the next morning without any signs. Hoping it's quick-moving for you too!

  3. I learned late last night that a former girlfriend's oldest child was killed in a car accident. She had already had her son when we started dating, so I actually knew this kid when I he was a baby. It's been a long, long time, and we don't exactly keep in touch (we're silent facebook friends), but having dealt with my own tragic deaths, I feel really awful for her. If any of y'all could spare a prayer for her family, it seems worthwhile to me.

    Meanwhile, this happens on the day my oldest is turning 9 (thanks for the shout out Padre), so it's the type of thing that really has me thinking. Oof.

  4. Here's a random thought/question:

    We had a fire in the backyard last night, and I got to thinking. The previous owners "built" a "fire pit" in that they stacked a handful of bricks in a rectangular shape and called it good. I decided to upgrade it even though I've never built much of anything. I'm thinking to get a fire pit liner to bury in the yard, and then doing some sort of stone something or other going around it (also to be buried or whatever to make it level-ish with the ground). I'd prefer it in the ground rather than above because it seems a little cleaner and lawn mowing will be that much easier. As you can see, this isn't completely thought through yet. Any suggestions? Oh yeah, not looking to break the bank here naturally.

    Also, what's your fire situation like, or lack thereof?

    1. Are you looking to instead break the bank artificially?

      No fire pit here. My wife wants to get something, but in the nearly 11 years we've had precisely one fire in our backyard with a borrowed fire stand thing and I've never felt any demand for us to have more.

      1. I've been doing one about once a month lately to get rid of all the branches that fall into our yard and tree trimming I've been doing. As it gets chillier, I certainly wouldn't mind doing a few more.

          1. Our backyard is completely ensconced by a handful of large trees. The surrounding area is a little bare though. so if you check G-Earth, it looks like we live in a giant hunk of broccoli. It's perfectly shady back there pretty much all day, but obviously there's a lot more yard waste.

            1. My home in Buffalo, I had two 100+ year old maple trees in the front yard, and it took me twice as long to pick up sticks as it did to mow, and I had a bonfire at least once a month just to burn them all. Now I have a house with no trees over 6 feet tall. Mowing's a breeze, and the A/C bill is high.

    2. We're set to buy a house in about a month. We'll likely put in a fire pit too. Our previous home had one that was set into the ground but the brickwork still went above ground. So bad for mowing, plus water retention. Actually, I didn't hate it, but I think I'd just go recessed, as you were leaning.

      We would do fires about once a month in summer/fall for the same reasons you list, and because the kids love 'em (and I (and Philosofette) do too). Our previous neighbors had a very very nice fire pit, coming off of their raised patio/deck area. There was a large center fire pit, with a ring of seating around it, all raised a few feet off the lawn but recessed a few feet from the patio. I'd love to have that some day. The google images show lots of cool, similar set ups.

      For now I'm thinking of just getting one of the "portable" pits and using that for a while. Time and weather seem to take their toll on those, but for a few years it might be the way to go, until we can do something very nice.

    3. What’s my fire situation? Heh, it’s still so freaking hot that flames shoot out of my garden hose when I turn on the faucet.

    4. How big is the "fire pit" and the mower? I have a large mower and I don't think I'd mow over any reasonably sized fire pit. Plus, I know I would be lazy and not clean it out regularly so there'd surely be things above the ground.

    5. We do a few back yard fires every summer. I dug out the sod and put plastic edging in a circle with about a 8 ft radius. Put down some weed barrier a ft wide inside the edging. Then filled the circle with landscape rock (small). We then picked a bunch of bigger rocks out of the in laws farm rock pile and placed them in a circle a foot inside the edging. As a result, i can build nice big fires and also mow around it very easily.

  5. A question for the Crescent City contingent (or anyone else who wants to weigh in):

    My wife's sister is getting married in New Orleans in November, and the dress code is stated as "New Orleans Festive." What does that mean for guys? We got sequined hats, suspenders, and bow ties for the kids, but I'm at a loss for what to wear myself. The only thing we've gotten back from the bride-to-be for direction is "lots of glitter."

    Anyone have any ideas/thoughts/advice?

      1. I asked everyone I encountered today, and none of them had any idea what festive New Orleans means. The curator of decorative arts said that women in sparkly dresses, men in funky, brightly colored shirts / ties / novelty suits. The cultural institute of the south’s director told me that Mardi Gras beads and a brightly colored tie. My colleagues in exhibitions told me that you need to research Mardi Gras costumes and start glittering now. If you need some blinky beads, or muses throws let me know.

        1. Sheenie also suggested some sort of Mardi Gras costume. Maybe grab a mask when you arrive.

      1. The article mentioned The Simpsons and SNL but didn't mention Newsradio. That was a great show, especially the Hartman years, and I wish Hulu or Netflix would stream it. All I can find is one season on Crackle. Also, what Newsradio podcast? Do you have a link?

        1. Yeah, I didn't(/couldn't) bother with the Lovitz years, but have seen the Hartman years countless times. No link, but I believe it's called Dispatches From Fort Awesome. They do recaps of episodes, but I think they've gotten a good number of cast and crew to come on as well.

    1. It says he started a rehab assignment. Wouldn't that mean you're healthy enough to play but you're just playing in minor league games as sort of a spring training to get ready for MLB games?

      1. Just happened to start his rehab a couple days before the trade deadline though (and eligibility for postseason play). Did he actually do anything there?

        Also, heh:

        "I guess he got reinjured on the plane," an unnamed executive told The Athletic.

      2. Yes, but he immediately went back on the DL after the trade. Donaldson has also said he wouldn't be able to play in a rehab game that night, but it got rained out and he played the next day.

    2. I'm actually surprised there's a rule against trading someone that is injured as long as both parties have full medical disclosure. It would make sense for a team in a pennant chase to be able to trade controlling rights to a young pitcher that just had TJ surgery to a team out of it this year for a player that is in the final year of his contract but is healthy. The Twins essentially did that, paying Michael Pineda a little this year while he rehabs for control of him next year. Instead of a player, they traded the money they're spending on him this year.

        1. Right, if a player can go on the DL, it is easy to pick them up on waivers, you wouldn’t have to make a corresponding roster move.

  6. Timberbulls is happening!

          1. Especially easy for those of us who already did that last year. I'm really glad the rest of the NBA is a lot of fun (for the most part).

            1. I was hate-watching by the end of last season. Like Nate (or was it Eric?) said, Thibodon't extracts a Fun Tax from this team.

  7. If anyone is inclined to put up a First Monday Book Day post, I'd be tremendously grateful. (I figured last week was a holiday so I had extra time, but somehow that time didn't materialize and here it is Monday again already...)

  8. In case I have to reference it some time in the future and would feel sheepish for not mentioning...
    I have my first class tonight at the U. Carlson School of Management was awfully accommodating during the application process. Seems like maybe if you're experienced (old), have certain (military/vet) status, and a supportive Uncle Sam (GI Bill), they're glad to have you.
    At any rate, taking one evening class and one online class this semester. Kind of excited to get back into an academic mode, but on the other hand...God help me.

      1. Strategic Management is the night class, and Data Analysis and Statistics for Managers is online.

        1. I took strategic management at the U. My professor was probably 75 years old when I took it so I really doubt you'll have the same one.

    1. That's pretty awesome. Good luck!

      Just this morning I was looking into that last class I need to finish up an old minor. I wasn't gunning for the minor originally, just had enough classes from the major I switched from and it wasn't worth sticking another semester to get it. Might as well pick up one more piece of paper if it's not too much trouble.

      1. I'm my senior capstone away from a Math Major from Drake. I was so done with that department at the time I just walked out with my Rhetoric Major. I sometimes regret that, but I'm mostly cool with that decision.

        1. A lot of GIS jobs want a BA in geography, but Drake only offered a minor. I'm looking into the easiest way to transfer those credits around and get the Bachelors.

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