The Senate has just passed the military NDAA containing 2 anti-trans provisions: a surgery ban using federal funds (dependents too), and a sports ban on military academy spaces. This will be the STARTING point for negotiations with the House, which has even worse provisions. Only 20 Dems opposed.

Noooo! Duke St Aldi's rearranged. (Especially not good when I am quick shopping for a Girl Scout event.)

Today is the day again to support a great org. And it is a national fundraiser!

@byronpeebles.com Christmas present? (It doesn't need a permit right?)

Did you know that many places have ways to get Narcan for free? Here in Alexandria you can get it through the Health Department. Even if you think you will never need it. Get it. Add it to your first aid kit. It could save a life. www.alexandriava.gov/health-depar...

Pro tip to landlords: get a good lawyer before you fuck over your tenant. (As in you are probably wrong and need someone to tell you that.)

Finally got a chance to check out Chinquapin playground's current status. Much better fencing to block only the broken fence rather than the entire playground. Many thanks to @sarahbagley.bsky.social for following up!

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Rain is so needed. (Second day of the weekend that I need to wash feet after being in a park/playground. Without doing intentionally messy things.)

Post your last photo of DC to show what a hell-hole it is. Here are stacks of canned goods waiting to be put into boxes at the Capital Area Food Bank. My Cadette Girl Scout Troop helped to fill a lot of boxes.

Alexandria folks- does anyone have information when the playground at Chinquapin is reopening? I can't find anything online about it. And the website about it does not mention that everything but the swings is still closed. @alexandriavagov.bsky.social

Picnic shelters are good! I wish more of our parks had them..... (Looking at you All Veterans' Park with a sun shade instead of a shelter.)

Today I was complimented for having patience with my children. I thanked the store worker for their patience with us. (Multiple people went ahead of us as we were deciding.) But, it is weird to be be complimented for doing the minimum of letting your children pick out what they want to purchase.

My kids have found the perfect card for all situations. I think we are raising them right.

And they are still here. (I got a great response from our Elections office. I sent her a follow up that they are still there.) I do notice that they are only signs for losing campaigns. @shannontaylorva.com @aaronrouse.bsky.social @levarstoney.bsky.social

Come! Say hi to me at the Girl Scout booth. www.alexandriava.gov/LGBTQ

Alexandria folks, who is responsible for picking up signs at a polling place after the election? This is the pile at Beatley today, made by the hardworking folks doing some green space maintenance.

"It is too early for mind games with Mommy." -me this morning to my kid

"The new board brings fresh perspectives"

Some thoughts about the military parade in my hometown of Washington DC today -- specifically, the route. Military parades in DC are quite rare. But when they happen, they have always begun, symbolically and geographically, at the Capitol and moved outward. 1/

I made this Pride flag using only NASA images and our team thought it would be cool to share on social (I work on the NASA heliophysics communications team), but it's getting all sorts of hate on the bird app and Fbook. Thought y'all might be more appreciative of it here. ☺️🏳️‍🌈💖

THIS IS TODAY! We are excited to share our first Panda Express National Fundraiser! On June 6th at over 2,000 locations if you enter in a code for us we will receive 28% of the sale in support for our work! You can place the order up to a week in advance for pickup or for delivery!

Can we just have all DASH busses like this? It is an awesome design and speaks to the welcoming nature of our city. @dashbusva.bsky.social

Trolley making inroads into faux Alexandria in support of a great cause, Fort Hunt Prechool's Touch a Truck.

I heard at midnight everything turns rainbow so I figured it was time to wish you all a Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

City of Alexandria Statement on the Trump Administration Listing Alexandria as a Sanctuary City. Read more: alexandriava.gov/go/7067

Alexandria folks. Does anyone know a place to get an dairy and egg free brownie? I also need a gluten free brownie, for bonus points. Ideally individually wrapped. (End of year Girl Scout Bridging gifts with allergy level difficulty.)

One reason to live in a walkable neighborhood: random neighbor offers their newly purchased post hole digger when they see you and your kids digging a hole for flowers.

From "Yummy: A History of Desserts" by Victoria Grace Elliot

Tonight! This is a critical need.

This sign gets me every time I use this bathroom. The old school clip art that is very pixelated and stretched (see round hook above for what a circle should be), the all caps, the lack of a period, and then 3 exclamation points! Also, this bathroom has an auto flush. It is delayed, but it does it.

@kaine.senate.gov and @markwarner.bsky.social: Are you willing to be on the record opposing this? Or do you agree with this mass disenfranchisement?

Lots of good causes to give to for Spring2Action, but I’m gonna ask you to give to the Patrick Henry PTA. As long as our schools are so socioeconomically segregated, Title I schools on the West End have bigger barriers to raising funds, and lots of need. www.spring2action.org/organization...

Y’all. Mi gente. My people. ALX Bluesky. Patrick Henry has more than 1,000 students. The largest elementary BY FAR, and some of the greatest need, and its PTA hasn’t even hit $500 yet today. I KNOW you all love our food and breweries over here. LOVE OUR KIDS, TOO. I just donated, will you?

I am confused where this list came from! It is missing La Casa and randomly added the word "Shop" to the end of Fairlington Pizza.

Fun Friday night learning a different state's taxes. Bonus for federal/state for an elderly filer as well.

Thank you so much for coming! They thoroughly enjoyed your visit. (And thank you for your patience and good humor as you learned lots of tidbits about their lives.) You are welcome back anytime!

Celebrating Girl Scout Week by filling a Little Food Pantry. #GirlScoutWeek #BeTheGoodProject #LittleFoodPantry

No notes. Imagine how different the world could look if a certain party would consider bringing this kind of energy.

My troop was so excited to join!

I just kept having the thought today that the Democrats should play Pink Pony Club and walk out. Possibly because Pink Pony club is stuck in my head. But also, imagine the Democrats dancing out!

Two important parade jobs. Town crier! And horse poop scooper!

Alexandria Folks: Anyone have a 6-11 year old that wants to learn (Nerf) fencing? My kids have signed up but there still needs 7 more to hold the class. (It has been cancelled many times.)

Can we not criticize people for doing what they can? It takes all types of actions to change the world.

So one of the things that I think is lost on AI proponents is what I call the card catalog effect, a thing I shouldn’t call it because a lot of people probably have no experience with a card catalog.

We watched a bit of the SNL thing. Some of it was funny. Some of it was bad (disability is not a joke!). But a lot of it my kid kept asking what? And not being able to pause meant we only explained like 1 out of every 6 jokes. Although one we just said "they are making fun of Trump" and she laughed.

This is also why I don’t think journalists should allow people to use “woke” without forcing them to provide a specific explanation of what is meant. Too much focus on racial justice? Too much focus on LGBTQ tolerance? Make them say it. Because to be blaming marginalized folks for what’s happening…

DEVELOPING: Department of Education launches Title IX investigation of Alexandria City Public Schools and other Northern Virginia schools

I've spent the last two years writing a musical for The Kennedy Center. The last week has been heartbreaking and mind blowing. And we are in the center of it all.