— They say God laughs when we make plans.
- Me: I’m going to post every day in November!
- My Body: BWAHAHAHAH!
–It’s Election Day! I can’t believe it! I often say this as a joke, but our long National Nightmare is almost over. I mean, I hope. God, do I hope. Just thinking about what could happen makes my eyes go black and roll back into my head and then I pass out. This election has brought out some of the worst in humanity and somehow we have to find a way to heal and move forward.
–I let Isobel be a few minutes late to school so she could help me drop off Anthony’s and my absentee ballot. We like to talk through each item on the ballot and do our voting together. We usually agree, but not always, and that’s okay. I still love the act of going to the polling place to physically participate in voting on Election Day. I felt it was especially important that Isobel be a part of this historic day, so I let her come with me. She will be able to tell her kids and grandkids she was there to witness her mother vote for the first female president. She can say she dropped the ballot into the box. Our polling place was crowded, which was amazing to see. I forgot to ask for stickers for me and the kids–my only regret.
–I was a strong Hilary supporter until I found Bernie. He matched my goals and my values better than Clinton, and my husband and I threw our hearts and souls into his campaign. He energized and ignited in me an interest in politics all the way down to the local level. I’m extremely grateful to him. I am also extremely excited to have voted for the first female president. As a woman, and as the mother of a daughter, it is particularly gratifying. It is exhilarating to take part in in this revolutionary and historic election. I still love Bernie and have many issues with Clinton’s platform. But I can certainly be critical of a candidate and still vote for them. Like this country, I contain multitudes.
–I get told I’m so positive despite my illness all the time, and it’s true, I often am, but in the nature of full disclosure: I cry a lot. I’m not one to only look on the bright side or deny the feelings I have. And I have a lot of them. With everything going on in the world and with me, personally, as well as with my loved ones, I have had many good cries lately, and they absolutely help. They don’t change anything externally, but they change me. And that helps.
–I finally took the Pottermore told me my Patronus quiz, and after bracing myself for what I was sure would be an animal I felt no special kinship with, the results came back: Unicorn. UNICORN. The animal I have been obsessed with since before I can remember. I now believe everything on that website forever now.
–I feel terribly when I haven’t updated here in awhile. This is my outlet, my space for creative expression. That’s very important to me, even as blogs I love are slowing down and stopping. I get it. It’s work. It’s not cheap. There’s a lot of pitfalls. It’s a labor of love. One of the things I really love about blogging is that it’s a field, in my niche anyway, dominated by women. Women who have a voice and are using it. It’s created a space for women of all stripes: disabled women, older women, very young women, women of color. Women whose experiences I wouldn’t have the privilege of being exposed to otherwise. As long as you keep writing, all keep reading, and I’ll keep posting here.
–A few weeks ago, in an act of pure desperation, Anthony bought Elias a handheld fan at the grocery store. After shopping we stopped by a drive through, and since the kids were practically gnawing on each other, they were so hungry, I hand-fed Elias fries while he sat in the back seat. They were hot, and I could feel his little breath puffs he used to cool the fries down before eating them. Then it suddenly got much colder, and the air blew much faster. I turned around and saw Elias using the handheld fan to cool down the French fries I gave him. He might actually be a genius.
–I have had some really awful health days lately, but I’ve also been lucky enough to have some fun: for my birthday my inlaws took us for an over night trip to Monterey so we could visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and just last weekend we made good on a promise to visit our friends who moved to Sacramento. It is really, really tough to travel when you have a chronic condition, but it was so very worth it.
–Thank you for all the wonderful well-wishes for my birthday. It was so heartwarming, and I cried a few times reading your sweet messages. My lovely friend Lena even sent me a goat! It was a terrific surprise! I named him Randy Butternubs and we are very happy together. He is my therapy goat and I hug him when I’m stuck on the couch. The kids adore him and are quite fond of fighting over him. That’s when I have to step in and yell RANDY BUTTERNUBS IS MY STUFFED GOAT FRIEND AND I SHALL HUG HIM BY MYSELF.
–My BFF Angela gave me a bag full of skincare products and even though I’m older I feel like I’ve never looked better. One night Isobel watched me apply various creams and lotions to my face and asked me what I was doing. I replied, “This is going to make my skin baby soft!” And she replied, “So, you want your skin to be like brother’s butt?”
Thrift Town Haul. Sacramento’s thrifting hotspot plus SQUIRREL HANDS!
Gorgeous Nebula Photos Reveal ‘Pillars of Destruction’.
A reminder that the scientist who coined the term ‘alpha male’ to describe wolves abandoned it as useless years ago. When people describe themselves as “Alpha” I mentally substitute “Asshole.” Even dogs know better.
What would the electoral map look like if it wore pants?
This is just a chair. How do they get any work done??
Whoa we’re half way there, Whoa-oh…
Please check your children’s candy!! Just found this in a twix!
Sticker placement guy. You Had One Job.
When you’re dead but then you see a puppy
don’t claim you like jazz if you dont know who this is
He’s a rescue, but I like to think he rescued me.
I went to this zoo thing dressed as a dead jogger…
Twitter killing Vine video service makes the internet worse. I only posted once or twice to Vine myself, but watching those videos, especially when I was feeling poorly, brought me endless amounts of joy. It also was a fantastic egalitarian tool that lead to great additions to our culture from the under represented, specifically, black kids.
“Siri, did Bob Ross have legs?”
Patient’s fart during surgery causes fire, severe burns. My worst nightmare.
It’s campaign season and Dan is doing it right. Thank you, Dan. I needed this.
Pumpkins drained of their spice by poachers
Excuse me, they’re called “livejournals”
Some great costumes: Frank & Dr Forrester/ Appa and Aang/ This is Nida. She’s a free elf. / My little brother dressed up as a stock photo for Halloween. / I am going to be a tardigrade one year, mark my words. / Axl, slash, and duff getting the band back together / No offence, but Dog Jareth is the only costume that matters / Blue Speed Mouse / I’m going to be the cover paper that comes when you get an inter-library loan / Amazon Prime
what is the government hiding from us
“He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.” Crying
you find a match for one of your kid’s 47 socks while folding laundry
I did it, you guys. I found the worst hyphen in history.
ME:After years dealing with my garbage- RACCOON:*raccoon noises*
The sacred land at the center of the Dakota pipeline dispute. Ways to help.
Just your average day for a woman.
isn’t that the guy from sherlock?
Teen accused of stealing $160K worth of cheese.
You know the scenes where Kermit sits on a wall to talk to a human
Reason Star Trek is deadly #328: nearly 20 years ago they established men taking birth control shots.
Trick or treat! Crying. So hilarious.
Jokes on you traditionalist, Humans were always weirdos!
i’ve never related to something this much
Ancient roman dice tower used in the playing of dice games. 4th century AD, found in Germany.
Travel to a royal wizard’s psychedelic palace in the Mexican jungle. A fun read!
Some are born grate. Some achieve grateness. Some have grateness thrust upon them.
A word of warning to all the people doing “Halloween names”.
if you’re in seattle and you drive by my house prepare for the fright of your life
I Had a Second Trimester Abortion & I Am Sick Of Hearing Politicians’ Opinions About It. A sad but important read. Women and their doctors should be making these decisions. Not politicians.
Fire Protection Engineer Says Donald Trump’s Comments Negligent, Reckless, & Potentially Deadly. A well-written article by my friend April.
How kindness & a liberal arts education changed everything for the heir-apparent to American white supremacy. A long, engrossing read. Racism is taught, and thankfully, can be unlearned.
Thrift Store Score: Community Sale. Everything! Must! Go! (In My Bag!)
Thrift Store Score: Catholic Thrift Store. A gorgeous painting, an unidentifiable cookie cutter, and a shirt that says Bend Over (really).
