Immigration courts speed-run deportation, a military family discovers the limits of service, and the president claims ownership of a crime decline already in progress.
I raised 5. I know. I made mistakes. I have a few regrets and millions of memories still being made. Wishing you all safety, health and amazing times.
What’s happening within our country ,to the rest of the world, I’ll never understand, but voting, volunteering, being informed best possible and patience is necessary.
People get fooled forgive them, work towards seeing justice eventually for those complicit in the MAGA intent. Keep a closer eye on who you voted for getting out-of-line.
We have other wars , but this one is an inside job few thought could happen here.
No effort is too small to stop it. All wars need stopped. Peace be with you.
I had a crappy day today. The crappiness was inside me, born of all the ugliness we've had to process. I heard that rat-bastard say that the sailors hadn't been out there nearly long enough yet and I felt so much anger and hate. I heard about those shock gloves that are being bought for ICE agents and I am sick with worry about who they will be used on. And I could rehash more but you all know the feeling that I had ... I desperately want it stopped and I want justice and I want it now. Then I saw a guest on the Bill Maher show tonight who's making it big time promoting the centuries old belief and practice known as stoicism. That sounds like exactly what I need so I'm going to start listening to his podcasts.
However, my dear friend Shanley, you always manage to give me an out loud laugh and tonight's was particularly hilarious. It was " Apparently, the laundry has developed its own reproductive system and no longer requires human involvement." Do those come right out of your mind? That's what your inner voice says when you sit down to write? Do they come only when you're writing or constantly as you move through your day? What a gift! You are really, really creative and talented and funny. And especially today, I really, really needed that laugh. Let's hope we both find calm and cheerfulness in our sleep and our dreams tonight and maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
Thank you for this beautiful comment. The things happening in our country are truly awful, and the anger, worry, and desperate desire for justice can become so heavy to carry. I’m especially glad I could give you a laugh when you needed one.
And yes, those lines come directly out of my mind. That is, in fact, what my inner voice sounds like, and it rarely takes a day off. That particular line came to me while I was cleaning the kitchen floor. I glanced into the laundry room, saw that the pile of clothes had somehow multiplied, and realized the only reasonable explanation was that the laundry had developed reproductive capabilities. I immediately knew I had to work that into the piece somewhere.
My husband gets a running performance throughout the day. Sometimes I save the snark for myself; sometimes it escapes like steam from a tea kettle.
It's a gift I inherited from my mom. When I was a kid, it sometimes felt as though she were training me for a very important mission. I would test her, she would fire back with a clever quip, I would return fire, and on and on we went. Somewhere in those years of competitive banter, a sense of humor was forged.
Thank you for reminding me why we make room for humor in the middle of all this ugliness.
I hope your day got better, and I hear you about the bad news.
Other good people to listen to and read are Heather Cox Richardson, Joanne B. Freeman, Heather Delaney Reese, Allison Gill. They are all here on Substack and also Facebook. I find it really helpful to listen to or read ALL of them.
Thank you Claudia!! I do listen to Heather Cox Richardson and I'll definitely check out the other three you suggested. I listen to Adam Kinzinger and Lucas Bean as well. And when I need some free spirited 'let it fly' girl talk, I put on the IHIP Girls podcast. It's now Sunday and I do feel better than yesterday.
I will add Katie Phang's podcast called Sidebar. She's a lawyer who sued Blanche to get the Epstein files fully released. She's a firecracker! And they have a good judge presiding. Blanche is not meeting judge's orders and the upcoming week in court will be interesting.
The only subscription I have is this one ... Geddry gals ... the rest are free versions. In a previous post I wondered about renewing my Geddry subscription and I just got an email letting me know my subscription is going to renew in 6 days. That's awesome ... I like to have that notification. Perfect!!
I have listened to the Daily Stoic podcast (Ryan Holiday) and I love it!! There are long ones (an hour) and there are short ones (3 minutes) and it turns out that 2000 years of Stoicism is the root of my one and only prayer/mantra which is the Serenity Prayer (written in the 1950's I think). I've relied on it for decades, it is displayed on a wall in my home, I know it by heart and use it for all sorts of situations. It never fails to apply to absolutely everything. So Stoicism is an expansion of my perfect prayer which takes us to The Philosophy Department of life ... my favorite subject in university! While Shanley's mind is creating fairylands and metaphors and similes and humour, my mind spends it's time on The Meaning of Life and Excel spreadsheets. I am boring, but nonetheless I recognize and adore when others are humourous. Being funny is one of my very favorite traits in other people!!!
I just LOVE your posts. And your attitude. And your mom's posts. And I love your kids, and what you and your blessed husband do for them, every day, no matter what.
And somehow, you still find the time to write these wonderful, positive posts, that tell us that yeah, things suck, but we can make it better.
You are salve for the soul. Thank you for all that you do, and please know that, all the way across America, in Flushing NYC, there is a 71-year-old woman who reads you every day, and sometimes laughs out loud,. and sometimes cries at what you have to say, BUT ALWAYS READS to the LAST line. And shares on Facebook, every single day. And is a paid subscriber, as well.
Claudia, thank you for this wonderful comment, I think I'll print it off and have it framed. Sending best wishes, hugs, and all the wonderful things your way!
What a travesty the immigration (or should I say 'deportation') service has become. What is happening now to the unaccompanied minors in the system, I wonder?
Stay strong on the homefront; your family sounds like an absolute joy, in spite of the never-ending laundry and bath bombs!
Just heard on CBS that Shadow has found a new lady friend (younger!!) and has already had her back at the nest. So he's not going to be lonely and pining and nor should he ... he's got a species to perpetuate. I wonder what her name will be. Stay tuned to that nest!!
Thanks, Mary. I fell behind after the sad loss. I don't keep it up and running bc they are quite vocal and my cats don't appreciate it. But I'll look in again today with the sound off. Katie is a great name. 'Katie and Shadow, sittin' in a tree ...'
I raised 5. I know. I made mistakes. I have a few regrets and millions of memories still being made. Wishing you all safety, health and amazing times.
What’s happening within our country ,to the rest of the world, I’ll never understand, but voting, volunteering, being informed best possible and patience is necessary.
People get fooled forgive them, work towards seeing justice eventually for those complicit in the MAGA intent. Keep a closer eye on who you voted for getting out-of-line.
We have other wars , but this one is an inside job few thought could happen here.
No effort is too small to stop it. All wars need stopped. Peace be with you.
I'm the eldest of five, and I do not understand how my folks did everything they did for us.
You're a hero, in my book.
I had a crappy day today. The crappiness was inside me, born of all the ugliness we've had to process. I heard that rat-bastard say that the sailors hadn't been out there nearly long enough yet and I felt so much anger and hate. I heard about those shock gloves that are being bought for ICE agents and I am sick with worry about who they will be used on. And I could rehash more but you all know the feeling that I had ... I desperately want it stopped and I want justice and I want it now. Then I saw a guest on the Bill Maher show tonight who's making it big time promoting the centuries old belief and practice known as stoicism. That sounds like exactly what I need so I'm going to start listening to his podcasts.
However, my dear friend Shanley, you always manage to give me an out loud laugh and tonight's was particularly hilarious. It was " Apparently, the laundry has developed its own reproductive system and no longer requires human involvement." Do those come right out of your mind? That's what your inner voice says when you sit down to write? Do they come only when you're writing or constantly as you move through your day? What a gift! You are really, really creative and talented and funny. And especially today, I really, really needed that laugh. Let's hope we both find calm and cheerfulness in our sleep and our dreams tonight and maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
Hi Laurie,
Thank you for this beautiful comment. The things happening in our country are truly awful, and the anger, worry, and desperate desire for justice can become so heavy to carry. I’m especially glad I could give you a laugh when you needed one.
And yes, those lines come directly out of my mind. That is, in fact, what my inner voice sounds like, and it rarely takes a day off. That particular line came to me while I was cleaning the kitchen floor. I glanced into the laundry room, saw that the pile of clothes had somehow multiplied, and realized the only reasonable explanation was that the laundry had developed reproductive capabilities. I immediately knew I had to work that into the piece somewhere.
My husband gets a running performance throughout the day. Sometimes I save the snark for myself; sometimes it escapes like steam from a tea kettle.
It's a gift I inherited from my mom. When I was a kid, it sometimes felt as though she were training me for a very important mission. I would test her, she would fire back with a clever quip, I would return fire, and on and on we went. Somewhere in those years of competitive banter, a sense of humor was forged.
Thank you for reminding me why we make room for humor in the middle of all this ugliness.
I hope your day got better, and I hear you about the bad news.
Other good people to listen to and read are Heather Cox Richardson, Joanne B. Freeman, Heather Delaney Reese, Allison Gill. They are all here on Substack and also Facebook. I find it really helpful to listen to or read ALL of them.
Thank you Claudia!! I do listen to Heather Cox Richardson and I'll definitely check out the other three you suggested. I listen to Adam Kinzinger and Lucas Bean as well. And when I need some free spirited 'let it fly' girl talk, I put on the IHIP Girls podcast. It's now Sunday and I do feel better than yesterday.
OOOH, you gave me some cool things to check out!! THANKS!!
I will add Katie Phang's podcast called Sidebar. She's a lawyer who sued Blanche to get the Epstein files fully released. She's a firecracker! And they have a good judge presiding. Blanche is not meeting judge's orders and the upcoming week in court will be interesting.
The only subscription I have is this one ... Geddry gals ... the rest are free versions. In a previous post I wondered about renewing my Geddry subscription and I just got an email letting me know my subscription is going to renew in 6 days. That's awesome ... I like to have that notification. Perfect!!
I have listened to the Daily Stoic podcast (Ryan Holiday) and I love it!! There are long ones (an hour) and there are short ones (3 minutes) and it turns out that 2000 years of Stoicism is the root of my one and only prayer/mantra which is the Serenity Prayer (written in the 1950's I think). I've relied on it for decades, it is displayed on a wall in my home, I know it by heart and use it for all sorts of situations. It never fails to apply to absolutely everything. So Stoicism is an expansion of my perfect prayer which takes us to The Philosophy Department of life ... my favorite subject in university! While Shanley's mind is creating fairylands and metaphors and similes and humour, my mind spends it's time on The Meaning of Life and Excel spreadsheets. I am boring, but nonetheless I recognize and adore when others are humourous. Being funny is one of my very favorite traits in other people!!!
I just LOVE your posts. And your attitude. And your mom's posts. And I love your kids, and what you and your blessed husband do for them, every day, no matter what.
And somehow, you still find the time to write these wonderful, positive posts, that tell us that yeah, things suck, but we can make it better.
You are salve for the soul. Thank you for all that you do, and please know that, all the way across America, in Flushing NYC, there is a 71-year-old woman who reads you every day, and sometimes laughs out loud,. and sometimes cries at what you have to say, BUT ALWAYS READS to the LAST line. And shares on Facebook, every single day. And is a paid subscriber, as well.
Claudia, thank you for this wonderful comment, I think I'll print it off and have it framed. Sending best wishes, hugs, and all the wonderful things your way!
I saw a clip of a documentary about Charles Manson. I saw some disturbing similarities.
Count on Shanley for brilliantly ordinary humanity.
What a travesty the immigration (or should I say 'deportation') service has become. What is happening now to the unaccompanied minors in the system, I wonder?
Stay strong on the homefront; your family sounds like an absolute joy, in spite of the never-ending laundry and bath bombs!
Just heard on CBS that Shadow has found a new lady friend (younger!!) and has already had her back at the nest. So he's not going to be lonely and pining and nor should he ... he's got a species to perpetuate. I wonder what her name will be. Stay tuned to that nest!!
I believe they are calling her Katie for her signifier KD-1
Thanks, Mary. I fell behind after the sad loss. I don't keep it up and running bc they are quite vocal and my cats don't appreciate it. But I'll look in again today with the sound off. Katie is a great name. 'Katie and Shadow, sittin' in a tree ...'