That is so scary Nilly!! But glad you’re safe.

I went to the No Kings protest for a couple hours but did not march down to the Seattle center. Some good signs but all feels kinda futile.

So good to see your font, Nilly. Know I am holding you and yours in my heart and wish so many of the words you have to hear routinely didn't have to be said.

Meara, I know. It can be hard to know what really matters. Nilly, I'm touched you take time to read us.

Nilly, keeping you and your family and, of course, Shir, in my heart.

Sending you and your family love, Nilly. Thank you for checking in with us.

Much love to Nilly and Shir.

I did the Oakland protest today, and it was marvelous. Even bumped into a couple that I knew, and I dragged my BIL out to what I believe is his first protest. Tons of great signs, of course. I didn't stay for the rally, just did the march. Maybe 10,000 people, and not a single cop. I guess OPD decided not to start shit with thousands of middle-aged white folks, go figure.

And then I got to babysit for my adorable grand-nephew! He's at that amazing toddler stage where he's becoming a person but still can't really communicate. So fun.

Thank you for checking in, Nilly and Shir. Much safety~ma for you and your families.

Erikaj, that was a terrific poem—thanks for linking to it!

I cut down some thistle heads that were budding, but there’s a whole fallow field next to us absolutely full of them, so it was mostly symbolic. In good news, the community gardens deer fence is finally up, and my chard lived to see it.

I stayed home and donated to bail funds instead of marching yesterday. I haven’t really found my people, politically speaking, and I didn’t want to go alone. (Yes, that would have been a great way to find my people, but I didn’t.) I did love the contrast between photos of Trump’s parade route and No Kings marches everywhere else.

Totally know what you mean, Calli -- I think the only reason I was cool going alone is because I knew it would be smallish and completely peaceful (so not having a buddy seemed fine) and, therefore, less intimidating somehow. Also, I hid behind my phone camera a lot!

But, one of the organizers invited me/gave me a QR code thingy to the NoVa Childless Cat Ladies group, so I'm hoping maybe I can find some political community/activity there. I do have friends here of the same political bent, but we are spread out enough geographically that, unless we were all doing a DC march, our community activities are separate.

Dreary day today. Third wedding anniversary, so we're going to dinner tonight. And we just did our anniversary morning crossword, because almost everything gets the word anniversary added to it today. Like, I'm drinking my anniversary iced coffee, and DH is anniversary web surfing at the moment. This way, we don't have to bother with gifts or cards -- everything we do, say, or touch is the gift. Genius!

I love that anniversary routine! Great plan.

I did not venture down the beach for the protests because I know I can't take the heat—very nice turnout. My only disappointment is that it didn't downpour in DC as was forecast.

DH has a packed basketball schedule today with games and practice. Good thing since Father's Day is rough for him.

Today's house chores include travel planning, meal planning, and house cleaning. DH and Scully leave on Wednesday, and I leave on Sunday. Going to my sister's first to check in on my brother and pick up my road-tripping NY sister.

skip over icky health stuff ahead

My brother is not good in the hospital with fluid in his lungs. They are saying nodal metastasis. The tears in his rotator cuff and his lungs have him in a lot of pain, so morphine and oxygen are being provided. Tomorrow, maybe a cortisone shot in the shoulder, and a scheduled draining of the lung fluid, including biopsy. Although the tumor in his esophagus was eliminated and he can eat again, he hasn't been interested in food for the last week or so. So, there is nothing good in the current situation.

Well, let me get to my list.

Oh, geez, Laura -- I'm sorry it's so awful for your brother right now. Love to you all, including B on a rough day for him.

I should do some meal planning and prepping myself. I made an Instant Pot tikka masala chicken (which is to say, dumped Aldi frozen Chicken breasts and Aldi tikka masala sauce + some onions, potatoes, and corn... and maybe chickpeas?) and pressed a button. It's good, and voluminous, and in the freezer, mostly, but I could stand to add some variety to my choices for the week. Maybe you have inspired me to (anniversary) find a casserole or something to make!