monarda's recent activity
-
Comment on The powerhouse of American citrus is suffering a brutal, unrelenting decline in ~food
-
Comment on Tildes Survey #1: How old are you? in ~talk
monarda Link ParentI found some of the responses you received to be overreactive and reminiscent of a high school lunch room.I found some of the responses you received to be overreactive and reminiscent of a high school lunch room.
-
Comment on The Armenian Needlelace Initiative is dedicated to the study and evolution of Armenian needlelace traditions in relationship with ancestral lifeways and lands in ~arts
monarda Link ParentThe stories were more powerful than I expected. I’m glad to have read them. Thank you.The stories were more powerful than I expected. I’m glad to have read them. Thank you.
-
Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 13/4/26 in ~hobbies
monarda Link ParentThis sounds really interesting! How often do you have to add water or change out the water in your various vessels?This sounds really interesting!
How often do you have to add water or change out the water in your various vessels? -
Comment on Things that don't suck in ~talk
monarda LinkThank you for this topic. It inspired me to go looking for “local news that doesn’t suck.” I found that Northwest Public Broadcasting has a news section named Solutions. I wish there were more...Thank you for this topic. It inspired me to go looking for “local news that doesn’t suck.” I found that Northwest Public Broadcasting has a news section named Solutions. I wish there were more stories under that tab, but nonetheless it’s pretty cool that it exists. I found the following article there:
Pierce county Washington has been reducing youth recidivism by offering them the ability to participate in prosocial community programs instead of a more punitive based probation model. And it’s had results.
Pierce County youth probation program cuts down on reoffenses -
Comment on Is new music dying? Everyone’s flopping. in ~music
monarda Link ParentJohn in the morning. “You are not alone.”John in the morning. “You are not alone.”
-
Comment on Is new music dying? Everyone’s flopping. in ~music
monarda Link ParentI listen to KEXP which transmits in Seattle and retransmits in San Francisco as KEXC. It can also be listened to via a web browser or through their app (I recently found out I can even get their...I listen to KEXP which transmits in Seattle and retransmits in San Francisco as KEXC. It can also be listened to via a web browser or through their app (I recently found out I can even get their app on my Apple tv). They play a diverse range of music. It doesn’t always resonate with me, but I’ve found all kinds of music I never would have heard that does through them. They have real DJs playing music in real time without being beholden to commercial interests.
-
Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
monarda LinkI’m slowly going through the sci-fi catalogue at Tubi where the following were watched. Tales Beyond the Galaxy Sci-fi I rate this a bit above meh. It’s a series of slow moving vignettes. One I...I’m slowly going through the sci-fi catalogue at Tubi where the following were watched.
Tales Beyond the Galaxy
Sci-fi
I rate this a bit above meh. It’s a series of slow moving vignettes. One I liked, one I didn’t get, and one I didn’t like. The rest were okay. Would not watch again, but not unhappy that I watched it.Andromeda
Sci-fi
Not really sure what’s going on here, but the movie was engaging enough. For a supposed production budget of $20,000, it’s better than it ought to be. I’d be mad at the ending but there’s an Andromeda 2. I’ll refrain from judging how I feel about it until I’ve watched the second one.The Sheol Express
drama/sci-fi/fantasy short (30 min)
Odd, surreal, metaphorical? I mostly liked it. There were some crass moments I found unnecessary. -
Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 6/4/26 in ~hobbies
monarda Link ParentInvasive and noxious plants are the bane of my existence. They require diligence that I don’t always have. The US native plant, red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) is easily propagated and colonizes...Invasive and noxious plants are the bane of my existence. They require diligence that I don’t always have. The US native plant, red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) is easily propagated and colonizes extremely well. I’ve been propagating that, and it has finally started filling in an area that has been hard for me to keep on top of. I have hope that in another year or two, I won’t have to do much of anything in that area. If you’re in the US, the USDA has propagation protocols for most of our natives if you’re interested.
I think only one other person has commented on my name! I too loveMonarda and have tried my hand at growing many species, but they don’t do too well here. They are not native. I have noticed that other people have an easier time growing them, and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I suspect that my property is just too wet. I gave up a few years ago, but have been thinking about trying them from seed to save money. I do so love watching the hummingbird feeding from them.
-
Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 6/4/26 in ~hobbies
monarda Link ParentThat sounds really exciting! I think you’re right that some natives are better than no natives. And they should start filling in as time goes on.That sounds really exciting! I think you’re right that some natives are better than no natives. And they should start filling in as time goes on.
-
Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (March 2026) — Version 1.5 can search for posts in ~tildes
monarda Link ParentThank you! I appreciate the app and your attentiveness.Thank you! I appreciate the app and your attentiveness.
-
Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (March 2026) — Version 1.5 can search for posts in ~tildes
monarda LinkI’m on ios. Since updating to 1.5, I can only see 50 posts. I can’t scroll any further.I’m on ios. Since updating to 1.5, I can only see 50 posts. I can’t scroll any further.
-
Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 6/4/26 in ~hobbies
monarda LinkI didn’t get anything done this past week. The days I had available were rainy. Rain doesn’t usually stop me from doing stuff, but for some reason it dos this week. It’s good to read all the stuff...I didn’t get anything done this past week. The days I had available were rainy. Rain doesn’t usually stop me from doing stuff, but for some reason it dos this week. It’s good to read all the stuff the rest of you are doing!
-
Comment on University at forty in ~talk
monarda LinkI started school in my early 50s, and I’m now in my late 50’s. I’m not in a university because I can’t afford it and instead go to community college. I freaking love it. I started a year before...I started school in my early 50s, and I’m now in my late 50’s. I’m not in a university because I can’t afford it and instead go to community college. I freaking love it.
I started a year before the pandemic. I had a lot of fear about things such as not fitting in, standing out, not being academically inclined, not being smart enough, and being lonely. Surprisingly, I wasn’t the oldest in all my classes though I was in most. What surprised me the most is how many people didn’t care how old I was. I made a point to join study groups which went a long way to being seen as just a normal college goer. I have noticed that some of the older people I’ve attended classes with feel the need to know everything (young people do this also), and constantly begin their “knowledge” sharing with something like “Well, I did such and such for x years so I know better than you.” I don’t want to be that person. Sometimes it’s difficult because I’m studying in a field that is adjacent to where I spent a good portion of my working life.
I only passed 8th grade because I aged out of it and only spent a few months in high school, so I thought I wasn’t good at school. The reality is that life was just a freaking mess back then, and there just wasn’t any bandwidth left for school. But I didn’t know that going in. I think that fear, the fear of not being academically inclined, served me well. I immediately set up a large whiteboard mapping out all my classes with assignments, due dates, and what times I was working on what, and then adjusting everything on the fly based on reality. I wouldn’t have known to do that for myself when I was younger. It was something I learned from working for myself. I also brought a work ethic that I didn’t have when I was younger.
I dropped out during the pandemic and then changed my academic track when I reenrolled. I can only go part time now. Socially it has been more difficult. I struggled for a while feeling like I was further behind than everyone else, like I didn’t know where to go for help, and that I was working in a black hole all alone. It dawned on me that previously I had forged contacts in classes that everyone has to take and that as we started funneling to more specialized studies and class sizes became smaller, we all kind of knew each other at some level. This time I entered outside of that cycle and am kind of the “new” face and the oldest buy at least 15 years. Once I realized that, I took a deep breath and started making an effort to put myself out there. It’s paid off.
I’m doing this because I want to have gone to school. I want to have this experience. I like to stretch and expand my mind. I always felt less than because I didn’t go to school, and I have often been treated like I’m dumb or ignored because of the way I speak or write. Those thoughts and feelings also played a part in going to school. But they don’t really motivate me anymore. I just really freaking like it!
-
Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 30/3/26 in ~hobbies
monarda Link ParentI mostly try to source seeds from companies who source seeds from my general area because there is a good chance that seeds grown from plants in Florida won’t perform the same as seeds grown from...I mostly try to source seeds from companies who source seeds from my general area because there is a good chance that seeds grown from plants in Florida won’t perform the same as seeds grown from the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, seed catalogues from companies here will often make note whether a seed performs exceptionally well here compared to their other offerings. For example, dried beans are notoriously difficult to grow in my area because we don’t get enough heat for a long enough time, so more local seed companies will note in their catalogues ones that we can grow.
-
Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
monarda Link ParentWow. I feel liked a kid! That looks so easy. I’m wondering how that would scale up. Next time I go to the store, I’m going to give this a go. I’ll report back (might take a few weeks).Wow. I feel liked a kid! That looks so easy. I’m wondering how that would scale up. Next time I go to the store, I’m going to give this a go. I’ll report back (might take a few weeks).
-
Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
monarda Link ParentThank you! I’m super interested in trying it because it sounds good and easy :)Thank you! I’m super interested in trying it because it sounds good and easy :)
-
Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
monarda Link ParentSo many questions! Do you add the broth last? Does the chicken ever stick to the bottom? You said 1 cup of broth to 1/2 cup of rice was too much liquid, would you cut the liquid in half?So many questions! Do you add the broth last? Does the chicken ever stick to the bottom? You said 1 cup of broth to 1/2 cup of rice was too much liquid, would you cut the liquid in half?
-
Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
monarda LinkI’ve been on a chicken soup thing for the last couple of months with the Costco rotisserie chickens. I buy three of them, strip off most of the meat, throw the carcasses in the instant pot, cover...I’ve been on a chicken soup thing for the last couple of months with the Costco rotisserie chickens. I buy three of them, strip off most of the meat, throw the carcasses in the instant pot, cover with water (somewhere between 3-4 quarts) and cook for 45 minutes with a natural release. When it’s done, I strain it into a big pot, add any remaining water, if any, to get the liquid to 4 quarts, plus 1.5 pounds of carrots, and 2 cups of barley. When the barley and carrots are done, about 20 minutes, I add 1.5 pounds of the rotisserie chicken and a pound of kale, turn off the heat, stir, cover, and let sit for about 5 minutes. Without adding any seasoning it tastes good enough for us to eat on until it’s all gone, (I’m a lazy cook and often make large batches of things that we eat for all meals until all gone) but I wouldn’t call it delicious. The few times I’ve had MSG on hand has made it much yummier. The one thing I don’t like about it is the barley keeps expanding till it loses its texture. I could make the barley separately, but that would take up another pot, and I can’t be bothered.
The instant pot is a newish addition and, I really like it for my style of cooking, budget friendly and low effort. If anyone has any recipes for the instant pot that fit bill, I’d love to hear them. So far, besides the chicken soup, I’ve cooked beans for chili and soup and have made broth. We eat both vegetarian and non vegetarian meals. I hate chopping.
-
Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
monarda LinkFinished the second season of One Piece. When I first started watching season 1, I had no idea what it was and had doubts that it would be something I like. It just seemed so ridiculous. It turns...Finished the second season of One Piece. When I first started watching season 1, I had no idea what it was and had doubts that it would be something I like. It just seemed so ridiculous. It turns out ridiculous was just what I was looking for. I like the sets, wardrobe and hair and makeup. They are so wild just like the acting. Everything seems over the top and yet it works. I also think they did a good job of walking the line of episodic within an arc. I’ve been getting tired of shows being 8-10 hour long movies as it makes it hard for me to make the commitment to sit down and watch something. This show manages to give me, the viewer, time to breathe in between episodes. My only complaint about One Piece is that it’s only eight episodes and there are years between seasons. Another thing I’m hating about modern tv.
We used to have so many varieties of oranges, grapefruits and tangerines in Florida. They just didn’t transport well. I’ve never been able to find any of the flavors I grew up with once we moved away. I’ve always considered California oranges as an inferior product and am never satisfied when I buy them (maybe there are good ones that just aren’t good for transport out of the state, but I wouldn’t know). It’s been sad watching all the groves disappear throughout the years. Since I almost always visit in winter, the first thing I used to do is buy citrus to gorge on, trying to get my fill until next time. Each year that became more and more difficult where now I don’t even try.