Pharmacist: do you want to get both vaccines at the same time? Me: sure, why not? Me (this morning): fuck fuck fuck fuck this is why not. I just finished three classes in a row. My whole body aches and my brain wants to push through my eyes.

Without additional comment.

The gym has been packed like Best Buy on Black Friday. I got there five minutes before opening on Christmas Eve and there was a crowd at the door. This morning, it is filled to the brim again. #Chicago folks are working out this Christmas.

Taco and Queso made out like bandits this Christmas. Santa was good to the little menaces in 2025. Happy holidays to all of the @nocontextdogs.bsky.social families! #dogs

I had a flashback while walking the dogs yesterday afternoon. In a split second, everything about my environment (the light, the sky, the temperature, the relative quiet) reminded me of spring in Albuquerque. I miss that place and encourage folks to visit. Here's a photo from said time and place.

Queso Manchego holds court on Christmas Eve — #dogs

Taco Tuesday dreams on Christmas Eve. #dogs @dogs.bsky.social

The ghouls in this administration would also insist that we call the Kennedy Center by its new name.

Democrats across the country ought to be scheduling screenings of this.

My hopes for the Lions winning last night were one thing. My hopes for Aaron Fucking Rodgers losing were another thing.

The 2025 work year is officially in the books. My boss just told me I could go home. I am the boss. I work at home. To celebrate, we are going to the park!

The representative of my northern neighbors used Thomas Paine's writing as the premise of his end-of-year address. I reckon that @rezekjoe.bsky.social would appreciate it.

One of my retirement goals is to have an account that pays off people's veterinary debt. It breaks my heart that folks struggle to afford, or fall into debt because of, medical services for their beloved pets.

I'm itching to get started on the next year. :)

Oh my God and @govpritzker.illinois.gov — Please put more of my taxes into this! #Dogs make everyone’s lives better.

Taco in the morning. #dogs

We attended a performance of the #Chicago Symphony Orchestra last night, getting there by way of Union Station. A kind traveler took a photo of us at the station as we killed time. I love this station. Where else can you find a group of goth girls sitting next to an Amish family?

I'm glad to have avoided the temptation of throwing the 30 foot long tangled to Hades string of lights that didn't work into the garbage can.

I‘m trying my best to avoid drawing conclusions about a guy sitting across from me at the public library. He has a stack of three books: “Hitler’s People,” a biography of Eva Braun, and Walter Isaacson‘s biography of Elon Musk.

Weird. Who knew that O’Hare hosted a cosplay convention?

It seems that the owners of the #Chicago Bears are speed dating but the goal is to find which sucker will pay for the bill. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/17/c...

I took advantage of a break in classes. Queso took advantage of an opportunity to cuddle. #dogs

Look at this fucking loser.

My holiday season (so far) in one photo.

#Chicago Canine Rescue has shared the entirely reasonable Christmas gift wish list for Juice the good boy. vimeo.com/1146600287?f...

Is it okay to be caught in your thermal underwear?

Find yourself a partner whose tie matches their dog.

It’s been a long Monday morning for Taco Tuesday.

I'll be there. #Mayfair #Chicago

Saint Rollins: "Katy Rollins lives next door to the house being raided... [...] Rollins found her whistle, which is being used to alert neighbors to the presence of ICE agents, and alerted rapid response groups to the ICE presence before going into her front yard in her bare feet to observe."

I just heard a description of a person as "a popular YouTube atheist" and my eyes may have rolled right out of my head.

Saramago's novel is a revelation. Knowing that @seancasten.bsky.social both read it *and* has recommended it made my heart warm on a very cold Chicago morning.

This is how Taco communicates that there is a cat, deer, raccoon, possum, coyote, or *some other goddamned animal* outside!

Some boys watched Star Wars and couldn't believe that Darth Vader was the villain. Now, they are fascists of their own Empire and see themselves as the good guys.

Excellent.

Overheard at the coffee shop just now: “We just did a tour of Auschwitz.” An unexpected sentence spoken at a table filled with lattes.

Taco recognizes no personal boundaries or furniture etiquette.

'Tis the season to keep in mind that housing is a human right. I'm going to check in on this over the weekend.

This Reddit thread about horrible people from Chicagoland made for an unpleasant lunch break: www.reddit.com/r/chicago/co...

Chicagoans have responded... :)

I heard one of the rarest of English expressions in this episode: “a complete horlicks” podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Gentrification takes many forms: "but the homes had a total market value of more than $108 million — with the sales representing, in many cases, a transfer of wealth from Black neighborhoods to affluent outside investors."

This test shot turned out really well. James and Queso look so damned cute. #dogs

I have to imagine that Taco is thinking about getting treats for wants for Christmas. #dogs

Queso sleeping in the morning; Queso resting on the couch after a long walk in the snow. I love this little guys. #dogs

Heya, @phdhurtbrain.bsky.social — there may still be time to get up your Middlemarch word count before the end of the year. You might like the host’s description of the acts one does when writing prose. It starts at 37:40. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

My husband's baking skills get better all of the time. Our time at the gym also has increased. Perhaps those two things are related? Yesterday, he baked pumpkin spice muffins.

Filling the bird feeder had an immediate and dramatic effect on the wildlife activity in our front yard. None of this is unique to #Chicago but it does contribute to my love for it.

Savage.

Unexpected affirmation found at the leg press.