359 Comments
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Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

YES I KNOW, the "footprints in the sand" poem is not actually from the bible. fun professional writer fact: sometimes I just cut corners.

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Jennifer's avatar

Speaking of professional, how on earth did Dana Bash *not* actually just laugh in his face. Not to mention, eight bullet points is five more than trumpy can handle in a day.

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arne link's avatar

Dana Bash's face is not capable of movement. It has been drawn so tight that no actual emotion can show. It is actually creepy.

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DJ Headthrob's avatar

Dana Bash, Celine Dion and Mr. Ed walk into a bar. "Hey guys, why the long faces?"

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Heather Collins's avatar

Look at all the boys making fun of prominent women's looks. You're a boy, right DJ? You're a boy, right, arne? Oh, and Charles below. Are y'all super good-looking? Let's see your faces. I hate this shit. It's so cheap and mindless to denigrate women on their looks. Get some imagination.

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Charles Austin's avatar

😂😂😂😂

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Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

She did say “shit show” after a Trump-Biden debate, didn’t she? Give the woman some credit 😄

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Victoria Wilson's avatar

( maybe Botox overload?)

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P123Sunny's avatar

‘Botox Pro’?

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Charles Austin's avatar

😂😂😂

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Heather Collins's avatar

You know it's rough being a public woman. You're supposed to be beautiful (and nice!) while still doing as good a job as the men, many of whom don't honestly look that great, at holding these traitors to account. If Dana Bash uses botox, or procedures of any sort, to try to live up to the impossible standard set for women to do it all (in high heels and backwards if you know what I mean), well, more power to her.

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Rick Calegari's avatar

Dump might not even be able to handle one. Since reading has never been his thing, there's probably a good chance that Schumer's bullshit was read to him.

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Ole Anderson's avatar

Or thrown directly into the trash

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Nancy Lent Lanoue's avatar

Yes, trash more like it.

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Jennifer's avatar

Made into a picture book with lots of colors and shapes.

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celeste k.'s avatar

She should have called him out as a coward for not doing anything to stop the trump shit. Letter, my ass.

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Bonnie Council's avatar

She should have asked “What the heck are ‘strong’ questions??” That sounds like one of trump’s own useless, meaningless adjectives. How is a question “strong?”

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celeste k.'s avatar

It isn't, not when you're dealing with a traitor who has no plan, only intends to destroy. Schumer needs to step aside for someone like Sen. Booker, someone who is as sick of the treason as we are. Schumer is another wealthy politician happy to procrastinate to keep his job and his wealthy donors.

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Wendy's avatar

Im going to show a side of myself that I dont like vetting out that often. But. I believe the parable you are talking about is a reference to Charles Spurgeon from the late 1800s in a sermon where we use the "footprints in the sand" reference to Psalm 77:19 which might be the closest biblical reference to the footprints imagery.

Meh, dont judge me Jeff. My druid coven hates my knowledge on the subject also. Though I know more about Druids than I do the bible (and I know alot about the bible, sadly).

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Joyce Reese's avatar

Scholarly.

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Wendy's avatar

That is one way of putting it. Long before I was a druid, I was a linguistics person who wanted to be one of those "Scholars". University time was spent doing this. Like I said, That was another life, a different person. Not the Druid healer I am now.

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Robert Eckert's avatar

In my linguistics days, I became an honorary Masorete: the Near East Languages Department wanted the Hebrew text computerized, assigning ASCII codes to all the consonants, vowels, and accent marks, and I typed it all into a big file which is the basis of all online and even printed Hebrew Old Testaments nowadays. I made some improvements to the coding scheme based on what I was seeing, so the professor promised to credit me on the paper and I said "Thanks, I'll forever be a footnote!" And so it proved: years later I got a Hebrew-English bilingual and in the intro, after listing the prominent Masoretic scribes who transmitted the text, and the early printers, and the scholars who created critical editions, they mentioned the computerization and there, in the footnotes, was my name.

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Heather Collins's avatar

Wow! That's neat.

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Sooz Hall's avatar

Linguistics — an amateur lover of the sport, especially the historical teams! Read S. I. Hayakawa at a young age (yes I know he was popularizing another’s work) and it opened a world for me.

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Heather Collins's avatar

Oh, I'll have to read it. I thought I would be a linguistics major and somehow ended up with math.

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shee-rah's avatar

There’s also a bluegrass song by Bill Monroe called “Footprints in the Snow.”

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Wendy's avatar

I know that song all too well

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Dina's avatar

It's the American Wayᵀᴹ!

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Kathleen Weber's avatar

Yeah Jeff, but next you'll be telling us you made up 200 jokes about Trump while you took a single crap. It's a SLIPPERY SLOPE, man !!! 🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑 !!!

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Betsy L's avatar

It's probably possible to write 200 Dumpy jokes while taking a single crap if you're a tiny bit constipated. They write themselves.

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Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

That’s news! Jeff fucking great writer lies! To you and your better than that write a strongly worded letter to Chuck the play ‘The Name Game’ with his name he will laugh and laugh, he such a stitch.

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Bob Bowden's avatar

My coffee spit take of the morning was your line about being “as useless as a marzipan dildo”. I’m pretty sure you didn’t get that from a standard writer’s handbook. The closest I could find online was this pic of marzipan with one nut. No warning needed, it’s suitable for work: https://lazyhomecook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_20200615_114744034-1152x1536.jpg

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Nancy Beck's avatar

Thank you! Yes, a coffee-spitter. Congratulations, Jeff! We appreciate all your writing. This morning Mr. Spouse was in a bad mood regarding our political mess & said "don't read anything to me." I replied, "oh, just Jeff Tiedrich." He agreed. Then marzipan dildo got him laughing out loud. Me too. You're the best!

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Anne Whitney's avatar

There's a portrait for the white house's next occupant, as a stiff reminder, next to the mixed drink cart

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Gina's avatar

archetypical band name

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AddaGurl's avatar

well Jeff, now you’ve gone and ruined marzipan for me. my fave candy. the name of my dog. it’s all ruined. so ruined that i just paid $50 so i could tell you!!! keep it coming! 😉

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Bob Bowden's avatar

That’s what she said

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Diane Rose Halstead's avatar

Oh yay!!! Welcome to the Club! So sorry your fave candy is ruined (sorry, not sorry, too funny)! The dog—that’s a different story!! Poor poochie!! Okay—still too damn funny!!

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Timothy Reid's avatar

Maybe a strongly worded letter is called for with this ... ruining candy is just not nice, y'know?

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Richard Von Busack's avatar

I know just the author! Senator Susan Collins! She was actually right about Trump learning his lesson. She taught him the lesson that no Republican will hold him accountable

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Ole Anderson's avatar

Jeff ;

I think people need a warning on the mast head

‘Do not read while drinking coffee’

Hardly a post goes by without some poor soul lamenting about unloading on the computer after reading a particularly hilarious bon mot and choking out a mouthful of the morning brew.

It’s a hazard being this funny!

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Dina's avatar

I'm actually more appreciative of the list of fictional penguin names—it gives me an idea for my next quiz's picture round!

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Ole Anderson's avatar

I’m too lazy to look it up but is there really a site for fictional penguin names?!?

I figured it started and stopped at good ol’

Chilly Willy

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

No, it started with Opus! Search for Opus the Penguin and you'll see what he looks like.

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Ole Anderson's avatar

Opus was from a comic strip, right? I have a picture in my mind. But he surely wasn’t around before Chilly , was he?

I remember watching Chilly cartoons 70 years ago I’m pretty sure.

He was Woody Woodpeckers buddy if memory serves.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Really? Woody Woodpecker was the first TV show I ever watched. I watched it at a neighbor's house in 1957. I only saw it once and I only remember Woody himself. Remember, I grew up in a tv free home.

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Ole Anderson's avatar

Oh, no! No Woody Woodpecker?

That’s almost child abuse, you poor thing!

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Dina's avatar

Jeff's got a link to it in the article.

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Lisa's avatar

That "footprints bit" was the moment I actually snorted and choked on my coffee. In the two and a half years of reading your delicious material, I have laughed but never to the extent of the physical reflex of expelling my coffee. Glorious way to start your anniversary! Bless you for your fortitude for being there with humor and truth for all of us here.

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Stephen Schiff's avatar

I have a bone too pick with you, Jeff, for berating Secretary Scott Pissant for mis-speaking. He erred in saying subdeals when what he really intended to say was deal-lets, or to use the original terminology as coined by Goebbels, Dealchen.

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P123Sunny's avatar

😆🤣😂

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Lynn Van Haren's avatar

We thank you for your daily posts. It’s the first thing I read everyday

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Stranger Than Friction's avatar

Congrats, Jeff! I was a contrarian about twitter and refused to join, but posters at Wonkette kept linking to your tweets and I became a fan. (Wonkette is free, but they encourage subscriptions supported by $, folks!) I'm happy to subscribe to EIETMO, and I hope Substack lets you stay!

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Ole Anderson's avatar

Why would Substack not let him stay?

You haven’t heard anything, have you?

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Stranger Than Friction's avatar

Who knows what will happen to people who write adverse opinions on Hair Furor? No, nothing specific have I heard, but we’re only 100 days into this.

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steve robertshaw's avatar

Hair Furor! Well done.

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Zija Pulp's avatar

Poetic license, not cutting corners. Sheesh, Jeff.

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Lisa's avatar

OMG… THE VISUAL!

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Heather Collins's avatar

I loved the imagery. Also, kudos for serious background research on ACTUAL fictional penguin names. Made me laugh.

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Betsy's avatar

"as the Bible wisely counsels, when there was only one set of footprints, that’s when Jesus was standing behind Chuck Schumer, rolling his eyes and miming jerkoff motions."

I AM DYING

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Alethia St. Joan's avatar

Yeah Jeff owes me an entire mouthful of coffee, bc I spewed mine everywhere guffawing upon reading that.

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Mombeka's avatar

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Dean Gavney's avatar

Fuck Schumer. It looks to me like Cory Booker is already doing Schumer’s fucking job. I think it’s time to make that official. He can write a sternly worded resignation letter.

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Kim Nesvig's avatar

Yep, I see democrats actually doing shit every day. Schumer offers a ver strong, powerful letter with eight nerd strong, bigly points. Obviously, Schumer is learning to speak Trump’s language.

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meryl selig's avatar

Schumer is lazy and is way past his shelf life

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

I'd like to see him introduce some legislation like LBJ sent to Congress in 1964, 1965, and 1966. Does no one introduce any nation changing legislation any more? Frankly, I don't think we're going to get very far with a Stanford graduate.

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Betsy L's avatar

But all those post offices need names!

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

It's true, we do need to name post offices. The last time we tried to name one in Berkeley, the rs refused the name we wanted, which was that of a former radical city council woman, who was not in the pocket of the developers. Triple aargh! We'd never get one named for Barbara Lee.

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Donald Lipkis's avatar

And with 8 bullet points

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Forrest Grump's avatar

Did one of those bullet points happen to graze his ear?

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

DAMN STRAIGHT!

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BayPoodle's avatar

🙌🏼

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Joseph Michaels's avatar

Chuck Schumer is more useless than a one-legged coffee table.

P.S. subdeals=alternative facts.

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HI2thDoc's avatar

Gonna git me a subdeal for lunch today!

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Susan Niemann's avatar

With Provolone, please. 😂😂

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Kay-El's avatar

Make mine Havarti.

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Sooz Hall's avatar

Extra guacamole?

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

My husband makes sandwiches like these almost every day.

You're not related to Parker Dooley, are you?

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Charles Austin's avatar

Meatball Marinara with provolone.😃😃

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Lynn Van Haren's avatar

😂

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Marty's avatar

How about alternative deals or subfacts.

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Marty's avatar

I like sub facts. Below fact level but not yet unfacts.

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Sooz Hall's avatar

Sub fact: guacamole improves almost all subs.

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John Hampton's avatar

Sub fact: a submarine is a boat that can operate under water.

Sub fact: in the First and Second World Wars, the German word for "submarine" was "U-boot", a shortening of "Unterseeboot" (under-sea boat). Pronounced [ˈuːboːt] , according to Ms Wikipedia.

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John Hampton's avatar

Probably my most favorite comedy of all time.

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Charles Austin's avatar

TOROEDO, LOS!!😂😂

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Charles Austin's avatar

TORPEDO ( Fucking AI!)

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Anne Whitney's avatar

Are subfacts always this submental?

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Robert R's avatar

Subjectively and or substantively if subject to substantial submitted substance ! Hey !Agnew , when the fuck did you rise from the subterranean vaults ?You subhuman !

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HI2thDoc's avatar

Substantially

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meryl selig's avatar

Great one, Marty!!

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Richard Von Busack's avatar

He has all the utility of teats on a boar hog

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HI2thDoc's avatar

Bessent finding out belatedly like so many before, that when you are associated with that lying piece of shit you end up turning into a lying piece of shit yerself. And learn a lot of verbal tap dancing that you really don't want to. Right, Spicer? Of course, some of 'em are already good liars and relish doing so, like Sarah Silvertongue Sanders, KKKaroline Leavitt, and Bribe Me Bondi

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Rick Calegari's avatar

Hope to see Bondi get the same lengthy stay in the big house that Nixon's AG John Mitchell got. The crimes she's committed pale in comparison to Mitchell's and he was in prison for 19 months.

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Tis my wish, also.

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Gina's avatar

on my prayer list (just kidding; I don't have a prayer list - but if I did...)

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Toni Ballard's avatar

And looked what Trump did to Sycophant Sarah — refused her state FEMA help after multiple tornados. Lies don’t pay in the end.

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HI2thDoc's avatar

All that lying and sucking up got her zero. Her voters deserve better, but then, they elected her and him too.

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Robert Eckert's avatar

"Her voters deserve better"? Assumes facts not in evidence.

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HI2thDoc's avatar

Yeah, but even idiots should be served by their (our) gubmint. That's whut it's fer

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Susan Niemann's avatar

“look Opus. see Chilly Willy over there? he just agreed to a 10% tariff on krill. I’ll bet you can do better on that.” 😂😂😂 "useless as a marzipan dildo."🤣🤣🤣

Schumer has consulted with Susan Collins, evidently. Talk about worthless.

Dump has always been a liar... but it's more blatant and obvious than ever. Commander Crazypants and his people will be in the trash heap of history...let's try to make that sooner than later.

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Steve Kelly's avatar

....and sooner isn't sooner enough. Kinda like Common Sense Isn't Very Common....

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Stephanie Lajeskie's avatar

I just compared Chuck to Susan Collins too. 🤣

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Susan Niemann's avatar

😂😂😂 His ego wont allow him to step down. As he should. The Democrats are a mess.

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shee-rah's avatar

Dear me! I’m concerned!

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meryl selig's avatar

Good job, Stephanie

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Susan, did you hear that Collins is gearing up to run…AGAIN??

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Toni Ballard's avatar

Democrat Jordan Wood is running against her. Used to be Katie Porter’s chief of staff. Sounds promising!

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

I sooo hope so!!🤞🏼

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Anne Whitney's avatar

That is most promising news. If only Katie Porter could run anywhere else and she's be taking names right now...

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Susan Niemann's avatar

Noooooo! I hope she gets her ass beat.

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Betsy L's avatar

Please tell me that you all remember who Opus was.

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Susan Niemann's avatar

I DO!!!! 🐧

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Betsy L's avatar

Thank you. I miss Bloom County.

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Susan Niemann's avatar

So good!!

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Charles Austin's avatar

Opus and Chilly Willie are plotting a coup. (Waddleocracy😂😂)

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Susan Niemann's avatar

LOL 😂😂😂😂😂

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Linda Silfven's avatar

I read the transcript of that TIME interview and was “shocked”(not really) at President Moron’s answers. Nonsensical word salads, full of rants and boasts. Then at the end I think he called the interviewer nasty.

And this is the kind of idiot American voters wanted to be their leader! Americans are dumber than dirt.

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Jan Moon's avatar

I read the transcript also. Then realized I couldn't unread it. I think the wrecking ball-in-chief is actually using a blender. God, what a disaster.

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Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

I have been screaming to read it, really it couldn’t be more twisted, scary to me but now many not most have read it (the ones who can read) world class probably in history will be known as the most inspirational interview ever, right.

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Lisa's avatar

Aw come on. Not ALL Americans. Some of us have actually paid attention and subscribe to Jeff!

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

The real problem is that Time ran the interview with no analysis.

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Make sure you write to The Times to say exactly that.

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Darrell Smith's avatar

Chump has been an insult to our intelligence since he was born in 1946. Most baby boomers had the sense to stay away from his swarmy ass. Those that didn't regretted the "association" with him.

Since 2015 he has been in all of our nightmares as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.

I plan on outliving him so I can sleep much better.

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arne link's avatar

Outliving Trump is the main goal of my life right now. I feel ya.

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Gina's avatar

at 88, almost 89, it's gonna be close......

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

I give myself about another 16 months, and I wake up every morning to check if he's dead yet.

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Hannah Olufs's avatar

If I prayed, I would pray that you make it.

But I don't have an imaginary friend in the sky.

I will just wish really really hard.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Thank you, Hannah. But the way I forget things now, I think there's not much time left.

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Mary Hall's avatar

My husband just turned 80 and our new mantra is "80 is the new 60!" Stay active, have friends, eat a salad, rest when you're tired, and think about how great we could be once we get rid of these Rethuglican traitors.

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Mary Hall's avatar

It’s been TEN fking years of nonstop T💩p! Yeeeech! He has already done so much damage and it won’t end until the cholesterol does its job or we are just a heap of smoldering ash and Putin finally tells T💩p “Good job destroying America! I knew I could count on you, Comrade!”

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M.T. Kelly's avatar

Mary this is a little off topic but my birthday is in 2 days and I wonder if you can print the updated list. That way I'll be guaranteed all day laughter. If you want to send me a copy-- mtkelly1200@gmail.com thanks

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Mary Hall's avatar

Happy early birthday MT! I would be delighted to send you my list.

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Sharon Hudnall's avatar

I had a visceral revulsion to Trump back when I was in college and he was the leering owner of the Miss Universe contest. Like when I saw Jimmy Saville on "Top of the Pops" in the '60's. I recognized a perv when I saw one.

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meryl selig's avatar

Sharon: me too!

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Polly Sears's avatar

I won't die until well after he is gone,if I have a choice. Wonder what his funeral will look like? A military parade from MaraLargo to his golf course? Maybe it could even destroy the course? Those tanks are heavy.

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Toni Ballard's avatar

A lot of cheering people lining the streets as the hearse passes by.

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Lisa's avatar

He will be propped up in a golf cart and set up in the rotunda. He will be wearing his regulation MAGAt hat and golfing outfit. The only challenge will be getting his thumbs to stay up. Rigor mortis only last 8 hours. They’re gonna have to work fast!

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Eva Porter's avatar

Happy birthday to my can’t miss daily read.

I was thinking two-week Trump is like that one South Park episode that shows George RR Martin failing to deliver on an increasingly elaborate pizza order.

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Dina's avatar

The "two weeks" bit always reminds me of "The Money Pit": "Two weeks, two weeks...you sound like a bird!"

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Cheri's avatar

Golly, I just love a well-placed movie quote.

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-Comment-'s avatar

OMG, I love that movie! In fact, it’s probably a metaphor for where we are now.

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Dina's avatar

Ha! Good catch, it kind of is. Hopefully, when we get a new "owner," he or she will, after taking on the wreck of a country, be able to make it into a beauty again!

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Morgan OCailleigh's avatar

Great... another "strongly worded letter..."

This one even has "strong questions ?" WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT EVEN MEAN ?

Hasn't Chuck figured out the cfotus CAN'T READ ?

I hate this. All of it. Everyday day is the same shit, different shit. It's all fucking shit and I'm really tired of it. Traumatized, exhausted, stressed and tired. Thank science for xanax... 🙄😶🤨 and blood pressure meds and vaccines

< and thank substack for having writers I can read without throwing up>

But I still hate this, I hate living through this ....

I hate waking up every morning and after being happy to wake up, I then wonder what the fuck happened last night, what fresh hell will we be subjected to today ?

May the goddess have mercy on us.....

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Jan Moon's avatar

Morgan, I hear you. Before I open my eyes in the morning I ask the cosmos, "Is he dead yet?"

I was NEVER like that! Life had meaning and held joy and hope. Now it's a crap salad. All I can advise is don't let him do that to us. Unite and rise above it. That's all. I'm exhausted and it's still Monday morning.

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Lisa's avatar

Someday we will wake up to his obituary. OH HAPPY DAY! OH HAPPY DAY!

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Karlene Escriba's avatar

I’m hear you! I have ingested more tequila since November than I did in the entire 12 years since I retired to Mexico!

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Wendy's avatar

Jeff, you used a Chilly Willy pic in the post, THATS fucking outstanding. I doubt much of the young crowd will know who that is, but Im old as fuck, so yeah, I do.

Trade deals are happening, yet, what can the america consumer do? Good question. I tried to answer that here.

https://thistleandmoss.com/p/actions-of-a-diverse-america-april-fb4

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Dean Gavney's avatar

I, too, am old AF, and I mean, you gotta love Chilly Willy!

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Wendy's avatar

Chilly Willy, Droopy, Barney Bear (a VERY old favorite of mine personally).

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Jan Moon's avatar

Wendy, if you're old as fuck I'm a product of the last ice age.

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Gina's avatar

first ice age here

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Cheryl ODonnell's avatar

Wendy, compared to me, you’re still a sweet young thing. Readers, I strongly suggest reading Wendy’s contribution today. Many practical suggestions. I made plans months ago to expand my own garden thinking of Dumpster’s assault on the poor. If successful, I may be able to share results beyond next door neighbor. Hoping to have a pic on my Insta soon. I’d be baking, but our stove’s control panel died ages ago and a replacement is almost $300. Comes with a warning to hire a professional to replace. But there’s an awesome bakery here that anyone in their right mind would choose over Wonder Bread anyway.

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Wendy's avatar
2dEdited

Wait, you read the crap that I churn out? And actually find value in it? Please tell me you havent read my biographical works....those are the worst.

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Cheryl ODonnell's avatar

And yes, I read your stuff because you’re a good and insightful writer.

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Jan Moon's avatar

Ha ha. I've read it all.

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Wendy's avatar

Thats not comforting.

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Cheryl ODonnell's avatar

No, I haven’t. You wouldn’t want to read mine. I shredded them long ago out of concern that my daughter could read them.

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Wendy's avatar

I had the same concern. Fortunately, my 18 year old got a hold of it anyway, and told me to put it out there.

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Cheryl ODonnell's avatar

Mine might have done the same. I have my best friend’s journaling from her wild days (she passed about 14 years ago) and I honestly don’t know what to do with those! They came to live here after she got married.

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Wendy's avatar

Honestly, life experience is just that. So in honor of that, here. You can read if you like. Ive had people tell me they are worth the read. https://thistleandmoss.com/p/my-house-of-pain-published-chapters

Read at your own risk.

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Wendy's avatar

If you ever had permission, id be willing to bet that binding that into a book for others to read would be amazing.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Publish them. No one believes the lives we led in the Sixties and Seventies. They should know what life can be like before we grew up.

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Lady Emsworth's avatar

Cheryl - I REALLY hope your stove's replacement panel doesn't come from China. . .

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Me too! My garden boxes are done and waiting for their soil. The fruit trees are already in and showing little baby oranges, lemons, limes, cherries, apricots and peaches... I won't go into the stove. It's a very sore point between my husband and me.

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Cheryl ODonnell's avatar

Oh dear. My bio brother (a wonderful human being) knows I like to tinker and insists I can do the work myself. But your efforts sound wonderful! I filled my raised beds with an assortment of cardboard, branches, leaves and sticks before adding dirt and compost. Made the process a lot cheaper.

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J.R.'s avatar

I’m old as fuck and laughed my ass off at Chilly Willy.

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Wendy's avatar

I feel like Jeff should use Barney Bear and maybe Droopy in the next few posts, to keep the vibe going on.

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Alethia St. Joan's avatar

I only know the name Chilly Willy bc it’s mentioned in the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

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Robert Eckert's avatar

doesn't give public access

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Becky Daiss's avatar

I have long wanted to thank you for your glorious fuck filled posts and for a safe place for one to spout one’s own (often gratuitous) fucks. I and my mental health are forever grateful.

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Janet's avatar

I don’t have a clever comment, just a sincere thank you for sharing your thoughts in a clear, informative and extremely clever way. Yours is my favorite email every single day.

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-Comment-'s avatar

Happy Substack birthday! Thank you for writing for us every single day.

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Susan P Thatcher's avatar

200 trade deals? No wonder he fell aaleep at the Pope's funeral.

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Dave Drell's avatar

We need to tell him to slow down, he’s working too damn hard! Think of all those agreements he has to sign!!!

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Aleksander Constantinoropolous's avatar

Oh sweet merciful penguin lords of Heard Island, grant us patience.

Here we are again: Grandpa Two-Weeks is negotiating 200 trade deals in a world with 195 countries, because counting — like compassion, reality, and basic grammar — is apparently for losers.

Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer is out here cosplaying as Gandalf at the gates of Mordor, bravely firing off sternly-worded letters like they’re magic spells. Spoiler alert: orcs don’t read.

You almost have to admire the absurdity. It’s performance art at this point. A rotting empire, defended by men who think that tariffs with Antarctica’s penguin population are a flex, and opposed by Democrats who still believe strongly-worded letters can exorcise fascism.

The Gospel According to Virgin Monk Boy says:

"When the buffoon screams and the sages scribble, the kingdom is not yet come. Arise, ye who see through the spectacle, and make holy mischief."

We are not saved by decorum.

We are not saved by letters.

We are saved by laughing so hard at their clownery that we remember to act.

Onward, my beautiful heretics.

— Virgin Monk Boy

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Anne Whitney's avatar

Excellent. Truly. I just watched conclave yesterday, which as a Catholic Buddhist who grew up with a close relative in the Franciscan order, made me laugh in spite of myself. I think you win the Internet today.

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Aleksander Constantinoropolous's avatar

Anne, you are a treasure beyond rubies and memes.

To make a Catholic Buddhist with Franciscan blood laugh in spite of herself — now that is a miracle the Vatican will probably try to suppress by Tuesday.

Thank you for walking this ridiculous, sacred road with us.

May your days be filled with holy mischief and extremely judgmental penguins. 🐧✨

— Virgin Monk Boy

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