Sounds like a good, low key birthday, shrift

I've never done the take the day off for my birthday thing because I don't like canceling class, but it just occurred to me that, for the first time in forever, I won't be teaching in fall. Although I'm still not sure it's feasible to take the day off work, I don't know how much swirling chaos there will be in October.

Interesting discovery tonight, my cats are somewhat freaked out by the neighbor's pig squealing, but confused and curious instead of scared. Rather than running to hide like they do when they hear people in the stairwell, they went up to the door and listened.

So exciting, tomorrow we start climbing argh.

Very exciting indeed! Have a spectacular climb.

So amazing, Consuela!!

Belated Happy Birthday, shrift!

It sounds like a wonderful trip, Consuela! I hope your cold clears up quickly so you can enjoy it to its fullest.

We had snow here (NC) last night, and I'm working from home today. It's unusually cold for the area, so instead of the snow melting in the sun, it's blowing around in glittery clouds in the wind. Lovely to see from inside a warm apartment.

This is awesome: [link]

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the story misidentified the fictional character name Bannon uses to refer to Jared Kushner as Frodo, a "Lord of the Rings" reference, rather than Fredo, a reference to "The Godfather."

Sometimes I'm amazed my coworkers figure out how to exit their front door.

Right now my delight at seeing the Trump/Bannon bromance self destruct is outweighing my concern that this is just another distraction from keeping an eye on the real damage this administration is accomplishing every day. The various insane appointees in multiple agencies continue to wipe out rights and protections, and I may have to start praying or something that no supreme court judges die. The crazy judicial appointments are forever. So yeah, trying to focus on Trump seething and infuriated and hating every moment of life while all around him turns to shit. The upside?