Spending 2.5 years in engineering then switching to management science is something I would def change if I could do it over. The classes that got me to drop engineering: - Engr Graphics I - Intro Computer Eng - Principles of Physics - Network Analysis - Electromag Fields (I earned that D+!)

Talks about journalism & history? Sign me up!

Made it to the one appointment I needed to drive to this week (and no one took my cleared parking spot while I was gone!) and I don’t have to drive again until next week after it starts warming up. Gonna declare that a win. Yay.

Oh to be a cat.

So the good news is I woke up to find that W Mount Ida has a decently cleared lane down to actual pavement. Of course my car is now completely blocked in with a wall of ice. Wish me luck. Thinking I might need help with this so if anyone knows any teens w/metal shovels for hire let me know.

Yay: My last shoveling pass at 8pm last night apparently paid off as I’ve got non-icy pavement today! Nay: Two of the wheels on my car look to be fairly iced in. I also took a good butt plant on the ice & I’m icing my wrist hoping it is just sore.

#ALXcaffeinary Enjoying my snowy morning coffee in the mug I picked up at Art on the Avenue last fall. Here’s hoping the power stays on!

First pass. Snow is currently easy to shovel but it’s already getting more sleety.

Gotta love a community that can pull together a standing room only Bad Bunny Super Bowl tutorial on a Friday night before a snowstorm. So fun! Thanks @beckyhammer.bsky.social!

#ALXcaffeinary Hoping I’m all set for the coming storm. Grateful for my solar battery which has shifted into storm mode & is fully charged.

Great thread here. 🧵

#ALXcaffeinary All stocked up on coffee beans before the storm. There was a longer line at Swing’s than there was at MOM’s (which was much busier than normal on a weekday afternoon but not that bad).

Got a few minutes? If you live in Alexandria, please support the proposed bike & walking safety improvements on Braddock.

So crazy that it’s amazingly clear that the emperor has no clothes. Yet Republicans, world leaders, corporate leaders (anyone with any kind of institutional power) won’t call a spade a spade. What are we doing? Sigh. (Please don’t quote skeet this…I’m just venting & don’t have any unique insight).

Heads up for folks who live in Rosemont: “…and you can weigh in on extending the resolution that the RCA adopted in November -- "The RCA opposes the removal of parking spaces between Russell Road and Commonwealth Avenue on Braddock Road" -- to both East and West Braddock Road.”

Just voted at Beatley. No line, no waiting!

#ALXcaffeinary Morning vibes.

YIMBYs living in House District 5 voted, and overwhelmingly supported Kirk McPike for Delegate! @kirkmcpike.bsky.social is a proven housing champion, with a strong record on Council doing the behind-the-scenes work necessary to make Alexandria a more welcoming, affordable city

#ALXcaffeinary Going old school library today as I continue to work my way through my bag of Winter Solstice Blend. And, yes, I did as a kid make checkout cards for all my books & used a date stamp to check them in & out.

Another outside of Alexandria #ALXcaffeinary My acupuncturist doesn’t like me to drink caffeine after a treatment, so grabbed a decaf caramel latte from Cafè Amouri in Vienna.

Belated #ALXcaffeinary Met up with a friend at Breeze Bakery in Annandale. Caramel latte & a bean paste pastry.

Cast my vote! 🗳️ Voting is open until 7pm!

I hate that this admin is making me into someone that has to protest…but also glad that living in Alexandria makes it easy to find one…

#ALXcaffeinary I’m a creature of habit. Swing’s Winter Solstice Blend in a classic diner mug. Also demonstrating my hack for thwarting a cat who has a taste for coffee (not my two angels, but my son’s cat whom I’m cat sitting).

📚 2026 Books I’ve Read 📚 Found myself more fascinated with/ distracted by how the story was crafted than the story itself. Makes me want to find interviews with Saunders talking about it. May want to reread at some point.

#ALXcaffeinary Swing’s Winter Solstice Blend on a cozy rainy morning. Rounding out my collegiate mug collection is one from the University of Vermont where my youngest graduated in 2023 with a Wildlife & Fisheries Biology degree. Go Catamounts!

Well that was fun. My cat just caught a mouse. And now the other two are staking out the book case.

#ALXcaffeinary Decided to continue the collegiate theme repping University of Mary Washington where my oldest graduated with a history degree in 2019. Go Eagles!

#ALXcaffeinary Winter Solstice Blend in my Virginia Tech mug is always a good way to start the day.

#ALXcaffeinary Winter Solstice Blend in my favorite podcast mug. Pantsuit Politics is a really great listen especially if you are looking for a more nuanced, different approach to understanding what’s going on <with everything>.

#ALXcaffeinary Back to Winter Solstice Blend in my Rare Bird Coffee Roasters cup (a roaster in Vienna I discovered during COVID). Enjoying another bagel, this time with Raspberry Hibiscus jam.

This looks so neat!

My son just talked to the folks at Capital Auto Care (on Calvert) & looks like they are closing? Anyone else hear this? I was just in a couple of weeks ago & they didn’t say anything. In the meantime I’m looking for recommendations for a good local mechanic. Bonus points if walkable from Del Ray.

#ALXcaffeinary Finished the Sumatra Blue Tiger beans from Swing’s. Paired with my Swing’s vintage-style mug & orange marmalade from Christmas on a Bagel Uprising sesame bagel.

#ALXcaffeinary Back to the Sumatra Blue Tiger this morning. This time in my favorite thrifted mug with an egg & cheese from Bagel Uprising. Yum.

#ALXcaffeinary Tree is coming down today so felt like it deserved an appropriate send off. Winter Solstice Blend & my East Fork Pottery mug.

Any of my bookish friends want to join me on a retreat in Irving VA (~2.5- 3 hrs) in June? I’m treating myself for my birthday. I’m friends w/ Lisa (who’s hosting) and Christi (I’ve been on a previous trip she organized & it was so good!) sites.google.com/view/shelf-i...

#AlxCaffeinary Breaking out Swings’ Winter Solstice Blend & my Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market mug for this morning’s cuppa.

#ALXcaffeinary My basic set up. Cute mug. Beans from Swings. Caramel from Trader Joe’s. Brewed in a coffee press. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Enjoy!

Happy New Year! Here’s to a better year in 2026. 🤞🏻

TFW you discover there is a hole in your garbage disposal which is leaking at 10pm the night before NYE.

Perfect timing on my walk home from Hypergoat on Saturday. Love the holidays in Alexandria.

Trashie is having a 1 day sale on their unlimited bag program: $58/yr (reg $98). Great way to recycle old clothes, shoes & handbags. I usually get individual bags as needed but this is a great deal www.trashie.io/trashie-unli...

🎄 Merry Christmas Eve 🎄

Was wondering when the last time I sent holiday cards was. Pulled out my card box & found addressed but not sent cards (!) from 2017. 😂 As good a time as any to jump back into the fray…

Wishing you a peaceful solstice.

Who knew that replacing the hard/cracking weatherstripping on my back door would make such a huge difference? 😉 Best $3 I’ve spent in awhile.

Another crazy day on W Mount Ida. Came home, parked my car a little bit up the block. Came in the house & heard a tire squeal & a small crash. A car had somehow careened into the car parked in front of my car. Luckily no one was hurt. My car is fine but the other 2 cars needed to be towed away.

Yikes. Second time this year we’ve had someone electrocuted here on W. Mount Ida. Not sure how hurt he is. Road is closed.

Just got a text from “Tom at UHB Investments” wanting to know if I would consider selling my house for $222,000 less than I paid for it 3 years ago. Ummm…no?