So me and childhood friend are hitting it off wonderfully, as if it hasn't been 25 years and it wasn't her older sister I was best friends with! I think I'm keeping her. One of the things she keeps coming back to is that she had to come because of her sons; she wants them to see this is not acceptable and set an example for them, to fight for women and equality and justice even when it is inconvenient (though she's pretty stoked about sleeping in Sunday and Monday. She's a sahm who believes in a good breakfast and has kids my nephews' age...she gets up early and does epic breakfasts. Here, it's gonna be sleep ins and Starbucks after tomorrow.)

Her flight from ABQ was pretty much all women going to the march and one flummoxed dude. The SW crew was all in, down to pink lighting (yeah, I know) and free drinks. And she made a lot of new friends on the flight.

I can't help but wonder if this was her flight: [link] She did get interviewed by media and agreed to have picture taken.

Sorry you couldn't make it, aurelia. It was a fun and odd show. Fire eaters, a magician, and belly dancers of varying genders and body types, which was awesome. The person who invited me to the show did a Fury Roadesque belly dance with fire. It was really cool to see people so creative and open. And a bunch of money raised for the ACLU.

Dillo's class watched the inauguration in school and were asked to write a "polite" letter to the incoming president. (I should note that I am very sure that both his social studies teacher and his homeroom teacher are not supporters of this president.) His observations were fairly hilarious - of the inauguration itself he was most struck by Barron Trump ("there was this kid, maybe a little older than me, a handsome kid, and he spent the whole thing on his phone! He was on his phone when Pence did the thing, and then he looked up when Trump did it, but then he went back to his phone.") He initially wanted to have his letter say "Please don't start a frickin nuclear war" but dedided that was not polite and went with "don't build the wall it is expensive and won't work and also climate change is real." The kids are all right.

Oh, also, Cincinnati-istas, I am at work today and not marching, but mr. flea and the kids are, so if you want to meet up text him. (Or text me for his number.) And if you need a quiet or safe place, come to the library!

Good luck, marchers and marchers but at work/sick.

("there was this kid, maybe a little older than me, a handsome kid, and he spent the whole thing on his phone! He was on his phone when Pence did the thing, and then he looked up when Trump did it, but then he went back to his phone.")

My mom was really taken by the fact that apparently Barron didn't smile?

I didn't see the inauguration part, but Barron was smiling and seeming to enjoy the parade part in pictures I saw this morning.

I'm supposed to be at work today, on the weekend/minimally staffed shift, but it's been snowing all night, and the roads haven't been cleared, because, naturally, it's early Saturday morning. It puts me at risk of losing my bonus for the month, but I am not driving in this. Stupidly, I don't have the proper contact numbers for the weekend, but I will take the disapproval. This is why I have PTO.

And my7 manager just called me back to point out the number of absences I have this month due to sickness and weather, and I told him I'm willing to risk the bonus. This is the first time in ten and a half years I've been in this position, I'll take the hit.

You would think that work from home options would be used more in areas with weather issues.

FB is hard for me today. I want to enjoy all the pictures from friends and news reports from the marches, but the other stuff is really upsetting. Like my cousin gushing over Melania bringing class and dignity back to the White House. My DH says I will still have to be in the same place at the same time with her in the future, but she just disgusts me.

My heartfelt thanks to all participating in marches today. You bring me hope. I can't manage it. The closest one requires more walking than I can manage with a back that is uncooperative today. I took drugs and will see if things improve.