Merry Christmas, BlueSky. Let’s be good next year, too. “I love the silent hour of night, for blissful dreams may then arise.” - Anne Bronte.

Maddie Waak, mvp. Ridiculously underrated setter, the way she is running this offense. A & M attacking from everywhere.

The end of The Family Stone will be devastatingly sad this Christmas. Love you, Diane.

Respect to Chrissie, but for me the Davenport/Carillo duo (plus Robson ftw) on plus is monumentally better. Just far more insightful commentary than Fowler and co.

This is how I feel after this week. Like Winnie. Nose and paws up on the couch together, eyes at half-mast.

I’m seeing a lot of blaming out there. Per Brene Brown, blame is simply the discharging of pain or discomfort. It is a non-adaptive, useless affect. When will our leaders lead with accountability rather than passing out blame because they are uncomfortable with the consequences of their own shit?

This match is…not good. Last 8 or 10 points all ended in errors. Yes, it’s a big occasion. But I’m surprised by Sabalenka’s level. Tis low.

Feeling this very much today: "Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up." - Anne Lamott Just making the next right choice.

Gutsy win by Coco Gauff, but either Qinwen is extremely stubborn or she just endured a major coaching failure directing so many balls to the Gauff backhand. Remarkable.

People who get upset with you for setting boundaries are the same people who were benefitting from you having none.

LFG Big Red. www.cornellsun.com/article/2025...

Hands Off Miami, Fl

Just incredible return to the tour from Belinda Bencic. Far fewer walkabouts in her matches, maintaining her focus beautifully, and unfazed by making an error or losing a set, whereas before she could implode with self-criticism and negativity. The timing, anticipation and pace remain world class.

Use your agency. Control what you can. Find your community and build it up strong. Make the next right choice. Choose discomfort over resentment. Keep your butt in the chair, and keep working. Stay in the arena. Don't let the crazy distract you. We shall overcome.

Apparently, we can’t have nice things. This is absurd.

Good morning! Q: given the recent opinion piece in the Times, it has finally lost me. How do we feel about resubbing to WaPo? My snap reaction was to unsub following the killed endorsement, but what of the journalists there? And where do we get our (facts) news, other than maybe Reuters, AP or BBC?

Quote for Friday, for my fellow struggling people pleasers: “Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird.

Hi! I'm Brett. I'm a lawyer, gay, married, 2 beautiful daughters. Longtime peruser, reluctant poster. But as Teddy Roosevelt said, "the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly..." Feels safer here.