Brava, Susan!

I think if we don't throw sand in the gears every step of the way to slow them down there won't be (real) elections at that point.

Yeah. Among other things, Chuck Schumer watched Mitch McConnell for decades and apparently learned nothing. It's so fucking disheartening.

Hec, I'm looking at microblading myself: my brows are basically gone, and I look so washed out without them. And now I have to be in the office every fucking day, so I have to draw them on every day and it's annoying as hell.

In other news, I am still employed but the agency is "pivoting" to the border and I'm worried about the inevitable re-org that will involved. And I can't retire in dudgeon if Trump tanks the stock market, where my retirement funds live.

I'm processing my stress by buying too much wine and work clothes. Quince is pretty great, y'all. Gotta say.

In better news, I made this tonight and it's really tasty: [link]

but apparently he's had a few more and ... just didn't tell me?!

Dad!

And yay you on asking calm questions. Because that is hard in this situation.

I'm looking at microblading myself: my brows are basically gone, and I look so washed out without them.

I don't regret mine a bit and I have stupid sensitive reactive skin so they are randomly flaky. It's still been 100% worth it. I don't exfoliate them, as the acids also hurt the tinting. I just get the flakes away and apply something like a face or an eye cream .

It's not just the color, tweezing my brows is like having a permanent template. That is worth half the cost. Well, a quarter of the cost.

Totally a convert.

Hec, I'm looking at microblading myself: my brows are basically gone, and I look so washed out without them. And now I have to be in the office every fucking day, so I have to draw them on every day and it's annoying as hell.

I say go for it! Nanita has done it too.

It's not particularly painful (I only found it uncomfortable at worst), and while it seems dauntingly PERMANENT the ink does fade over time, and you need to get it touched up. (Which is a good thing, I've found.)

Just make sure you communicate exactly what shape you want, and don't freak out because the initial result is going to be darker because it settles down after a week. Just wearing glasses mitigates the initial effect somewhat.

If you're drawing them on every day this would probably be worth it for you.

Suela, I was reminded last May that your eyes are just utterly lovely. I hope you find something that isn't too much hassle and makes you feel good about highlighting them.

Go, Susan!

Yesterday I went to a robotics tournament, and it was so much fun! My nephew was in robotics all through high school and now he is mentoring a team, so I got to go cheer them on with my sister. The robots had to remove a bunch of big balls from a rack of tubes, accept wider tubes from a feeder chute, then manipulate the latter into the right angle and put them on the rack, over the narrower tubes. Then they had to grasp a dangly thing and raise themselves off the floor. It was surprisingly engaging, with balls and tubes flying everywhere and people cheering on their teams. My nephew’s team ended up in the top third, which is pretty good for a rebuilding year in a competitive region.

My personal favorites were one individual whose gender identity was "gender nonconforming" and gender expression was "genderfuck femme"

Awesome, Tep.

My agender child is in an improv class where their characters are usually gendered during scenes, or as we call it, "Assigned (Male or Female) At Bit"

Schumer has a "Why I Did It" (not the real title) article in the NYT today and part of me is compelled to read it to Be Informed And Shit and another, angrier part of me just wants him to grow a fucking spine.

His book tour is going to be a shit show, so at least he’s going to hear about it. For as much good as that will do now.

If you just read he excerpts piece in the magazine, you get the gist of his reasoning.

I was up until 3a last night, argh. Eh, at least I got some stuff done. Today should be interesting.

Yeah. Among other things, Chuck Schumer watched Mitch McConnell for decades and apparently learned nothing. It's so fucking disheartening.

Seriously, being in the minority didn't stop McConnell for a moment.

Well done, Susan.

Calli, I could really use a robot. Perhaps I was born too long ago to ever live the Jetsons life, but still hopeful it will happen.

Hanging out in the courtyard drinking coffee. This Keys place has orchids living in a number of the palm trees growing around the pool. Very lovely. The room itself is like 50s Florida with terrazzo floors and old timey tiles. But comfortable and more charming than the new resorts.