A must-read message from Colin and Sophie Hortman, Mark and Melissa's children:

I wish us all a very very boring and calm 2026. May we live in uninteresting times FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS PLEASE #NewYears

This message hits hard.

„The only thing we should fear is that we will surrender our homeland to be plundered by a gang of liars, thieves, and hypocrites. That we will surrender without a fight, voluntarily, our own future and the future of our children .“ Alexei Navalny, Patriot. Where else could this possibly apply?

Reading Alexei Navalny's memoir, Patriot. It's fascinating, funny, inspiring, all the good adjectives, but also completely heartbreaking. I don't know if I can stand to finish it, even though the end won't be a surprise. It hits especially hard since my country is now sliding into authoritarianism.

🤔 Weird.

Today will be a squinty day full of typos because I ran out the door without my purse, which contains my reading glasses.

Wanted to share my thoughts on the announcement that ICE is coming to the Twin Cities.

Until I read HCR‘s post this morning, I wasn’t aware that „underbussing“ was a word. I guess it’s more efficient to say, but I prefer the full phrase „throw X under the bus“ for its explicitness. Am I becoming an Old Fogey?

‚Tis the season when the front porch doubles as the auxiliary refrigerator! ❄️

My piano practice supervisor. #catsky

Has anyone seen the cat? #catsky

Hermes got the box seats for my morning yoga practice today. #catsky

I would like to say that event planning is not one of my gifts and I find it incredibly stressful. Give me an inbox full of people to do things for or respond to, but don’t ask me to plan an event! I’ll be SO happy when this thing I’m doing tomorrow for work is over.

First snowfall.

Rosy fingered Aurora in St. Paul.

Currently on display at the Boiler Room, my coffee shop of choice when I’m at work.

Late October lilac blooms.

St. Anthony Park Bugle, whither copy editing?

If gas pumps were out of order as frequently as EV charging stations are, I think there would be riots.

Why does my cat hate toilet paper? #catsky

Okay, who all had Chewbacca at their #nokings rally? I’m feeling pretty about his attendance in Minneapolis.

Are any Republicans out there thinking George Santos is a good guy and deserved to have his sentence commuted? Wait, maybe don’t answer that.

Welp, the dietitian I saw today thinks my episodes of extreme nausea, flushing, and shaking are caused by anxiety. *heavy sigh* It’s been a while since I heard that from a medical professional.

Welp, I started my workday by failing the phishing test our tech people sent out. I clicked the damn link! 😖

When you’re catsitting for a friend and you stop brushing the cat for a moment to take a picture of all the adorable floof. #catsky

This is a library DREAM JOB! And it's incredibly sad that the salary for a job that requires a high level of education and expertise pays less than what I make as an administrator for the notoriously frugal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. minitex.umn.edu/news/2025-09...

Semi rhetorical question: why do I have to download a new app at every charging station when I take my electric vehicle on an out of town trip? Why can’t I just use a credit card for all of them like at gas stations?

Last Sunday I was „toad“ by Happy Trails Towing when my tire developed a bulge in northern IA. The 5 year old grandson of the outfit gave me this charming keepsake. Highly recommend them if you happen to need a tow in that area.

Dear Instacart shopper, There isn’t a prize for buying me the biggest cucumber in the store! Quarter for scale.

Participant’s self intro in today’s work Zoom call: “Sarcasm is how I hug everyone.”

This morning I found this evidence that the squirrels have been enjoying the corn I was trying to grow. #dangsquirrels #gardening

RFK Jr. can almost make me believe in that lizard people conspiracy theory.

Tonight’s entertainment.

Ah, the euphoria when your #chronicillness flare up subsides!

I’ve officially entered Benadryl season. Curse you, ragweed!

I grew these yellow cucumbers this year along with the more usual green ones. I worried I’d left this one on the vine too long, but it is sweet and tasty. #gardening

On top of the fall of American democracy, we’ve got radioactive wasps in S Carolina. No problem, everything’s fine, don’t worry about us….

No thanks, #nytimes, I don’t want to see “inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan lair.” There’s enough ick in the the daily news that I don’t need to increase my dosage for that.

Apparently the Windex usage of the person in the office below mine was so extreme yesterday that it also permeated my office and made it uninhabitable (by me, anyway). #fragranceallergy

Today is one of those days where I wish I didn’t have to eat to live. WTF do I eat when everything makes me feel sick? #chronicnausea

The air quality alert that was supposed to expire today has been extended to Monday and I’m feeling really sad about not being able to hang out outside much this summer. #climategrief #wildfires

Dear #nytimes, you sent me the Josh Shapiro Op Ed “Finding moral clarity after an arsonist’s attack” AGAIN today. This is at least the 7th time you’ve sent it to me marked as “For You.” Seriously, don’t give me more reason to doubt you. Stop and check your algorithms.

If I had a screen on my forehead that showed my feelings when someone starts a conversation with me.

At the doctor’s office and I really want to play with this beautiful children’s toy. Is that so wrong?

Question: why are store bought radishes so huge these days. Apricot for scale. If I wanted a turnip I would buy one.

This piece from the Minnesota Reformer: minnesotareformer.com/2025/07/09/h...

Making a rhubarb pie in the good ol’ #minnesauna.