Asteroid Astrology: Page 6

ivana cover

Fore! The Sad Final Resting Place of Ivana Trump

She was once the toast of Manhattan society, but the recently deceased Ivana Trump, ex-wife of the former president, now rests in her gold-tone casket at a barely marked plot overlooking the first hole at her former husband’s Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Why?  The tax break, of course!  The Donald (a nickname given to Trump by his erstwhile wife, and which stuck) never saw a write-off he didn’t like, or fail to grasp a grift.  In burying Ivana at Bedminster, the property now qualifies as a cemetery, bringing tax relief galore.  New Jersey’s tax code exempts all cemetery land from all taxes, rates, and assessments, and includes no minimum on occupancy, so one human remain would suffice (though allegedly plans are in the works to dump the entire family there in due “course”).  For now, Ivana’s grave is graced with a simple plaque bearing just her name, and the dates of her birth and death.

Continue reading

late litha9

Garden Glimpses: July Jewels

The daylily garden is really beginning to take off.  Some of the plantings are now in their third year on the property, and it shows.  I have one stubborn year two variety that just won’t bloom – Exotic Love.  Rather fitting, don’t you think, as elusive as love can be?  But all seven of the new first-years gave me something, which is unusual.  Small and sparsely budded, they bloomed out early, but as a group they have done better in their first season (by percentage) than the prior plantings.  They are in a prime location, ringing the seating area atop the sandmound, in full sun, so I’m sure within a couple more years they’ll be as voluminous as the rest.

Continue reading

forever susan10

Garden Glimpses: June 2022 – We’re Gettin’ There!

It’s been a cool spring, and as summer commences, that trend has largely continued.  So the garden is a good 2-3 weeks behind where it was at this time last year.  But on the upside, rainfall has been steady and regular, so everything is looking very lush, without any backbreaking effort on my part.  Just how we like it!

Continue reading

depp cover

The Depp v Heard Verdict

On 1 June 2022, a Fairfax, Virginia jury found for plaintiff Johnny Depp in a defamation suit brought against his former wife Amber Heard, awarding the actor $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages.  Heard, who had countersued for defamation, was vindicated on one count, and received $2 million in compensation, though no punitive damages were awarded. 

Continue reading

shade mix2

Garden Glimpses: Made in the Shade

I’ve put a lot of time, energy and money into establishing a diverse shade garden under the canopy of the paper birch and Norway maple in the southwest corner of the yard.  Flanked by a large, now ancient, stand of mixed lilacs in the south and the new eight-foot fence in the west, further screening it from the sun, the area cried out for development, and after three years, my efforts are beginning to pay off.  The problem was the rootiness of the area, the lack of proper amendment to the dense clay soil, and the insatiable appetite for moisture from the shallow-rooted birch, which creates a dry shade environment in its drain field.

Continue reading

derby cover

Rich Strike Strikes It Rich

The 2022 Kentucky Derby came to a startling and unexpected “Wow!” finish, as long shot Rich Strike came from behind in the last furlong to cross the finish line ahead of favorites Epicenter and Zandon.  At odds of 80-1, Rich Strike’s victory was the second-greatest upset in Derby history, and paid off handsomely for the few clairvoyants who saw it coming.  And it almost didn’t happen; as of 8:45 the previous morning, Rich Strike wasn’t even slated to run, but a last-minute scratch by Ethereal Road opened up a spot with two minutes to spare before the 9 AM deadline for registration.

Continue reading