Friday Randomness
The most exciting thing this week was time spent with Birchie and San (!!!), but that deserves its own post, so you will have to wait on that. Instead you will get my regular weekly roundup type post.
What else then? Well, I had a lovely Mother’s Day weekend. On Saturday, Maya took me to lunch downtown, where she had Penne con Vodka, and I had a citrus and arugula salad. We did some shopping and she bought me expensive face cream to add to my collection. Ted’s mom is awaiting hip replacement surgery, and isn’t up to going to a restaurant, so he brought her a seafood lunch from Red Lobster and spent the day with her. Sunday we took a nice walk to one of our local parks, and fittingly saw lots of mommy birds with their babies. I like seeing the different ages of goslings, from tiny to teen looking.
It was a cool morning, so there weren’t any turtles visible in the pond where we usually see them. But we found a few sunning themselves on the side of the canal. As you can see, we’re edging out of the green season and into the brown season around here.
After our nice walk, we came home and relaxed. On our new sofa! (I forgot to tell you, our new sofa came!)
It looks similar to our old one, and yet very different. Our old one was bigger, redder, and more traditional in shape. This one is more of a terracotta orange color, and has a distinctly mid-century vibe. It clashes horribly with the wine colored rug, so that’s next on our list I guess. This rug is pretty old, I think we got it in 2007 or 2008, and it’s not the kind that you find in Downton Abbey or anything.
At Saturday’s protest, I ran into our handyman, and he told me of The Majority Project. The idea is that we flood our congresspeople with the postcards above. Everyone mails them on the 1st of the month, so our representatives are flooded every month. I said that, living in our part of California, with Senators and a Representative that all work for these things already, it feels like preaching to the choir. He said that he sends them to Republicans all over the country. Great idea! If that sounds like a good idea to you, join me! You can download the postcards in a pdf and have them printed, but if you buy more than a handful, it’s cheaper to just buy them from Signs of Justice. (The first link is to the postcards, the second is to the company that sells them and other items like banners and signs.)
On my way to meet Birchie and San in Sacramento on Tuesday evening, I listened to this podcast episode about AI in education. If you don’t feel like watching it on YouTube or listening wherever you get your podcasts, you can read the transcript here. I found it really interesting. They discuss the dangers of AI in schools, as well as some ways that it can be used to improve education. Really good. The short answer here is that for the majority of students, using AI is a really bad idea, and we should not be pushing it into our schools.
When I arrived in Sacramento, I drove over the iconic Tower Bridge, which for some reason reminds me of the excellent movie, Lady Bird. The opening scene, when Lady Bird and her mom are on a long drive home from visiting colleges reminded me so much of one of Maya’s friends and her relationship with her mother, which is…complicated. I almost included the trailer instead of a poster, but gah, it tells you far too much. It’s a coming of age film about a young girl who lives in, and wants to escape, Sacramento. Just watch the movie and come back and tell me what you thought. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Wednesday I did the thing, which in this case means adulting and getting a mole check. My primary care found one she wasn’t sure about, so I went to the dermatologist. She thought it looked fine, but offered to remove it if I wanted her to. I decided that since it’s on my back and I can’t really see whether it’s changing or not, go for it. So now I am sporting a band-aid back there. Along the same lines, last month I had my mammogram, so I am feeling very responsible.
Thursday was more time with Birchie, which again, not this post. (Especially since I am writing this on Thursday, and am leaving in a few minutes to go meet her for lunch and adventures!)
Have a fantabulous weekend folks! I’m busy this weekend so won’t be blogging, but will check in at your place on Monday.
34 Comments
Nicole MacPherson
BIRCHIE AND SAN!!!! AMAZING! Cannot wait to hear all about it!
Lol on that first cartoon, that’s great.
Your new couch is perfect! I love it! It’s elegant but I bet it’s also comfy.
Good job on the mole thing. You can’t be too careful!
J
I’m seeing Birchie again TOMORROW, so am waiting to write that post. But it has been lovely.
Sarah
Love your couch! Love the shape! Love Ladybird and am SO JELLY of your meetup.
J
Yay! Another Lady Bird fan!
AC
It’s a nice weekend here: a long weekend with a holiday on Monday. It is traditionally when the anuual flowers get planted.
J
Oh, I hope you got your flowers planted, that sounds lovely.
Daria
Oh how wonderful that you got to meet fellow bloggers! For now I only met Lisa from Lisa’s yarns and she was lovely. Hopefully in the future I get to meet more folks!
Couch- awesome. Lady Bird – an amazing movie, I remember loving every little piece of it it when it first came out.
J
Thanks Daria, I hope you get to meet more bloggers too!
Elisabeth
You got to meet San and Birchie! (And they got to meet you?!) Colour my jealous. Though Birchie is set to come visit me later this year and I CANNOT WAIT!!!!
Love the shape of your new couch. It’s so chic but yet also looks very comfortable and inviting.
J
Thanks Elisabeth, we have been looking for a new couch for ages, and most of them are just horrible. So glad to find one that we like that we can afford.
Birchie
Thanks for the reminder on Lady Bird. After my time in Sacramento, there is no way that I’m not going to see this movie. I don’t even care what it’s about.
I am still pinching myself after a three day streak of hanging out with you and San! Good times with good peeps!
J
Yay for 3 days of consecutive blogger fun! And now tomorrow is another day, then you will be home with your Doggo and family. <3
Michelle G.
Everything about this post is awesome! Your couch is perfection. Good job on getting the mole removed. Now you don’t have to think about it. I can’t wait to read about your bloggers’ meetup!!! How fun!!!
J
Thanks Michelle!
Ernie
The couch is so cute. Our couches are over 19 years old. Replacing them might be the first thing I do when I retire from the daycare gig.
I love the movie Ladybird. So good. Mini loves it too. We should do a rewatch of it this summer.
Can’t wait to hear about your meetup. I imagine it was so much fun.
J
Thanks Ernie, do you use slipcovers on your furniture since you have home daycare?
Alexandra
Having a meet up sounds great. I look forward to hearing what you all got up to. And love the photos, and turtle? How lovely is that. Oh, and I love the mail in postcard to inundate members of Congress. Nothing like getting the point across.
Oh dear, I think I might be the only person that really didn’t enjoy Lady Bird. I don’t know, for me it never gelled.
I always say go for it getting any moles checked. My dad had an iffy one and had it taken away. They said it was benign but, with anything, you never know.
J
Alexandra, I have a friend who thought Lady Bird was meh, she didn’t like the ending. So you’re not entirely alone.
Lisa’s Yarns
I love your new couch! And I can’t wait to hear all about your time with Birchie and San!! I have met both of them in person although it’s been many years since I have seen San. Probably close to 10!!
J
Thanks Lisa! Wow, 10 years ago? Amazing.
Margaret
I loved “Lady Bird” and watched it three times. When it came out, I had the same TV as they did which made John laugh. Now I have a flat screen. (finally) The majority postcard is interesting but unless those people get out and vote, we’re still sunk. Darn it! You had a delightful Mother’s Day, just as you deserved.
J
Margaret, yes, if people don’t vote, we’re sunk. These postcards are for the officials, telling them that they are in the minority if they are against these things.
PocoBrat
Bloggy meetups, yay!
LOVE your new couch! The shelter shape, the velvety fabric, the midcentury vibe… everything!!
I wonder how many people thought _Ladybird_ was just like their relationship with their mom/daughter… I’ve had so many people tell me that. I saw it recently when Nu picked it out. They were crying at the end, and I felt quite… I don’t know… vindicated? Like moms are precious, yo!
And J–those postcards are *tremendous*! I’m going to get on them right away. It is so heartening to see those numbers and work to see them reflected in our laws.
I’m glad you had such a lovely Mother’s Day and that Ted’s mommy got her lobster :)!
J
Thanks Maya! I too wonder about how many people feel seen by that relationship. I felt so much for both of them. Well, for the dad too, but mostly it’s a mother/daughter movie.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I am a little envious you get to meet the cool bloggers. Sigh… sometimes its not great not living in the US. But a lot of things right now I am glad I am not to be honest. The postcard is nice. People should know theses things. It is not the majoriyt. Maybe even put them on car windshileds and in supermarket carts.
I’ve seen those goose duckoings too. I am waiting for the swan to be done sitting on his eggs.
Just earlier this month I learne that there are turtles/tortaises native to the US. I am not sure why I never knew/thought of it but obiously they are. I’ve only ever pictured them in the southern meditariannian and asia. Now I want to see them.
J
Oh, good idea on leaving the postcards out in nature! Perhaps I will do a bit of that as well.
You have swans there? We have them kind of nearby, but nowhere where I can get close and really SEE them. They’re so beautiful.
nance
Thanks for the link to the postcards. What an awesome resource. I have to say that I’m getting SO SICK of writing to my republican reps; it’s like an exercise in futility. I don’t even hear back from two of them, and the one I do hear from just sends me a generic form letter each time. So unfair, as I take the time to write a personal letter, not the prepared one.
Blogger meetups are the best! How fun to meet two at once.
Great couch! I also love the pillows. Now the Great Replacements begin. We tore out our wine coloured carpet in the living room and had the hardwood redone. That meant a new area rug, which meant replacing the area rug in the dining room. Then we got new end tables. (The rug and tables were donated to the Vietnam Vets.) Now I think we need a new dining room set (the one I have is 75 years old, from my grandmother). So–just be aware of what you start!
J
Yeah, I thought of that…first the sofa, then the rug…then perhaps the recliner? Then the carpet, which would also mean new flooring, and then paint…OH, NEW CABINETS! Might as well get some appliances while we’re at it. New bathroom vanities. Finally get the popcorn off of the upstairs ceilings. SO MANY THINGS TO DO. Gotta buy a lotto ticket.
Ally Bean
I’m glad your new sofa arrived and that you like it. Well done. What will you change next? That’s always how it happens, one new piece of furniture leads to another! Happy to know that you and some bloggy friends are able together. How cool is that?
J
Thanks Ally, yes, one bit of new often leads to something else. Sigh.
Jenny
I’m waiting with baited breath for all the news about your blogger meetup!!! San mentioned it and I knew Birchie was going out there to meet you guys. I’ll be it was SO MUCH FUN.
Those postcars are great. I agree that PART of the problem with our country right now is, we’re encouraged (by the media and politicians) to believe we’re highly polarized, when in reality most of us want the same things. Of course we might have different ideas how to go about achieving those things, but just recognizing how much we have in common would be a good first step.
I’ll bet that podcast is great. I listen to Ezra Klein every once in a while, like when someone mentions a great episode. I should definitely listen to him more often.
J
Yeah, part of the problem is that people are manipulated, when we do have a lot in common. But when folks vote the way they do, it’s hard to imagine much actually being the same, right? UGH.
I go weeks at a time without listening to any podcasts, when I’m in the middle of listening to books. But I do generally really like Ezra Klein.
Stephany
I need those postcards! I somehow got on the email list for one of our Republican congresspeople, and let me tell you, it made my blood boil as she talked about all the GOOD THINGS the president was doing. UGH. I have since asked to be removed and would love to flood her mailbox with those postcards!
AI is so complicated, isn’t it? I work in digital marketing and it’s something I can’t ignore or pretend doesn’t exist because it does and we’re using it and trying to be responsible, but where is the line? It’s hard.
J
Oh goodness, for a while there I was getting SO many pro Trump emails, and I have no idea how I got on that list. I don’t seem to get them anymore, I’m not sure if it’s that my efforts at unsubscribing finally paid off, or if they are in my spam folder being ignored.