Of all the characters I’ve met in my life, Ryan was one of the best. If I had a dollar for every time he made me laugh! Unabashedly himself; there aren’t enough people like that. We live in a world devoid of genuineness & authenticity. He added a big supply. What a loss. I’m glad to have known him.

A week ago, Erin announced she wanted shawarma for Christmas dinner. I’m like “no, we aren’t gonna have shawarma for Christmas dinner” …joke’s on me, we went to Tangier for dinner because they weren’t too busy 🤣

My social holiday is Valentine’s Day. I got about a quarter ways through Christmas cards this year and due to a lost spreadsheet had no addresses and the whole operation imploded. So, as always, the valentine machine is consistently (annually) in operation for those in need- just DM an address! 💘

over a year ago, my MIL suffered some sort of cognition-impacting event at the same time as diabetic ketoacidosis. Since her hospital discharge, she’s lived at a facility that can provide her insulin and check her sugars, since she can’t and doesn’t remember why she would even need to.

This is your annual reminder: if you’re gifting a console to someone this holiday, gently open the box, saving all the packaging, plug it in, boot it, and set it up. Modern consoles connect to their respective services to patch and so on, and servers will be slammed tomorrow all day.

Not only did Santa not bother with wrap, but it also happened to be the best gift and left on the porch 🤣

“Do you recognize this name?” “I will do a little digging but not immediately, no” …coworker went ahead and opened the envelope…8 different Joel Osteen CDs 🤣 🤢

I have had zero waking hours with Erin where she has not been on the phone. That has continued this morning. Time for new plans. Discount Franz outlet, here I come. 😆

If you don’t follow @clairewillett.bsky.social she has said everything I feel about Archbishop (emeritus?) Dolan except kinder 😅 there’s nothing like the relief when something miserable has achieved closure.

Officially winter break and kiddo has been on the phone with a classmate since I got home over two hours ago. 🤨 I slid her a plate of chicken nuggets while she was showing him her perfume collection.

Idk why they’re calling this “makeshift”- it *is*. Poppet, gris-gris, voodoo/vodou- whatever you choose to call it. This one is FELTED! If you’ve never felted, here’s the rich joy of it: the item is created through hundreds, if not thousands, of stabs. How perfect! I wish I had time to felt more.

“I’m not enjoying this storm” she said on repeat for over four hours

Once upon a time, these candy canes lined highway 99 here. They eventually aged and were replaced (snowflakes, I think?) -the public was allowed to buy them cheap, all those years ago. I’ve always wanted one- but this year I have only seen 2. An all time low.🥺

Happy Feast Day, Our Lady of Guadalupe 🌹 🌹 🌹 Art by Ester Hernández (b. 1944, Dinuba, CA), La Virgen de las Calles, 2001, pastel on paper.

if you have the financial stability to do so, please take a tag (or several) off an “angel tree” this holiday. The need is greater than I have seen in a long time. If worried about cutting into your own kid’s Xmas budget, ask them if they’d like to help in place of a gift. They’ll surprise you!

Just saw an ad for a tee that reads “horse girl energy” and I think we need a group order. You know who you are 🐎

When you summon the strength to let the bad post go by without responding

🚨‼️ 2025 is the last year that Oregon State Parks will be selling their two-year parking pass. Current prices: -24 Month Permit: $50 (available through Dec 31, 2025) -12 Month Permit: $30 Buy here: bit.ly/oprdparkingp... Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the 12-month permit will double in price as well.

An important update for someone: tattie scones *today* at Frying Scotsman 🚨

Junction City, tomorrow night #julbock #yulegoat

Erin had her perfume stolen at school. The shock, wailing, and crying when she learned I have no intention of replacing it. Sorry kid; that ain’t no buy 3 get 3 free bath and body works ish. 😬 some lessons are hard; in December they can be harder. 😕

There’s a $314 direct flight to LHR from PDX but it doesn’t include checked luggage. I feel like this is the Primark challenge we’ve all been waiting for

Current mental health status: coming to you life from the Collum National Forest outside of Bellefleur

This was four days ago 😵‍💫offer has been accepted. So strange. No idea where we will be at Christmas- Holiday Inn, I suppose! Growing up is weird.

Complete meltdown yesterday. E had asked to go to Hollister- fine. She’s 14 now so I try to give her space; let her go into shops alone. Condensed version, it’s been awhile so I go in Hollister looking for her, not there. Not worried- maybe in another shop? Check Life360- says she’s by the freeway

A time for everything, I suppose. If you’re looking in Vancouver, this is a quiet, friendly neighborhood. Father Blanchet Park a literal ball toss from the porch.

Definitely seeing bird flu. Rehabbers in Oregon are NOT ALLOWED to take duck or geese per ODFW due to how contagious it is. Dove Lewis may take for euthanasia, but pls call them to confirm before handling any birds. And do NOT take inside the hospital. Staff likely to meet you outside.

So it *sounds* like folks will still get their SNAP 11/1. What a relief. I honestly didn’t know how our little church soup kitchen was gonna handle an influx; it’s already packed for dinner; the take home pantry & fridge food evaporates within 5 minutes each night. Not ready to breathe, but closer!

Getting to support patreons is worth skipping another indulgence like coffee or a snack, and the collective benefit is so great. This is one I love and support because it’s so dang cute and precious 🖤

Genealogy & DNA curious- can you help me sort something? 😂 I built a storage locker of gifted DNA kits because I’m creeped out by it, but E begged & I eventually relented. My grandpa, who I lived with, parents immigrated from Italy. Bari region, though great gran’s fam was originally from Napoli.

I spent 9 years on a landmarks commission that, amongst duties, held quasi judicial hearings re exterior changes to historic buildings/residences (incl demo). Best reference always Dept of the Interior standards. For this reason, wonton destruction of the east wing is particularly brain-exploding.

Woke up to a strange sensation- “pretend” tooth and its post just floating around in my mouth. “Trauma-tober” finally comes through in the last week 😆 Why couldn’t my body-keeps-the-score month be March or something 👻🎃💀

🎃 👻 Halloween tea 🫖

Am I the only one who gets an email or text about a “kids” deal and just gets a big ol’ sad because she isn’t wee anymore? 😆 one day you just turn around and they’re a junior adult. (Though fun fact: spaghetti factory will give you an adult size mac and cheese if you ask nicely)

Suddenly reminded of the time I got over my fear years later and stoically returned to the spookiest place in all of Portland, only to discover it had been torn down and replaced by very nice apartments 😂

The beef kerfuffle hits a little too close to home because I am a beefelitist 😆 I know the sense of schadenfreude/surprise leopards eating their face is real, but if we’re going to buy beef, we still should still be purchasing beef that’s as local as we can get.

Attn: @highme.org

Whenever I see an eyeroll-inducing comment on a local news outlet’s social media channel, a significant amount of the time I’ve met said commenter at a chamber of commerce social function I didn’t want to to attend😆

Seeing a lot of “I’lL mAkE a CoUpLe ThAnKsGiViNg DiNnEr BaSkEts To GiVe AwAy”. People legit aren’t gonna last that long; that’s over 3 weeks without food benefits. If you can swing a little extra, straight up cash to your local food bank or soup kitchen today instead will help so many more folks.

“I’m still hungry” “What do you want?” “A macaron” …I really shouldn’t laugh, it’s ten to ten and I’m eating frozen wontons in dollar tree ramen for dinner. A macaron sounds better

www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/west-ye... this makes me sad. I’ll be mad later. I wish he didn’t resign.

I just feel like somebody needs this

One time, on a bus to Seattle, someone brought and shared a big bag of Mars bars. I think of it every time I see an ad for Halloween candy. Like, pure joy in that moment 😆 when it came around a second time, I felt like the luckiest.🍀 it’s the little things, I suppose!

The idea is we’re supposed to make a donation to get someone to come pick them up. I, however, want them to stay forever

Once upon a time in 2023 the local GOP Chair yoinked a pic off my husband’s Facebook that included our daughter and used it for a negative ad Lo and behold here he comes, live-streaming the No Kings crowd so you can probably imagine how great that went 😬

The pope cares for the poor AND only has mustard on his hot dogs, a true Real One