I am going to be part of a research team to help phone banks be more effective. So I had to hit the ground running today, as it were. (maybe I will pretend all my calling is placebo from now on...it makes it more chill. Also, weekends are slower, which some folks hate, but suits my needs just fine.) Placebo doesn't mean completely fake, though--we signed up some folks to a local helpline, so that's probably good.

That’s a good idea, erikaj. I always wondered how they scripted those, so effectiveness tweaking makes sense.

Double Buffista birthday wishes go out today to Sophia Brooks & smonster! I hope you are spoiling yourselves today and that the year to come brings all good things into your lives.

Thanks, Calli, it reminds me of those articles that used to be in Nerve, "I Did It For Science" except without the sensuality.

Uuugh. I lost my AirPods at an event in August. I asked them shortly after and they were like yeah someone turned them in and I was like amazing I will pay to FedEx them. And they said no worries we will send them. And I asked when and they were like soon. And I said I’m out of town when are they arriving so I can have my neighbor grab them so they aren’t stolen off my porch. And they said we will ask the guy for a tracking number. And never heard anything. I finally get home today and there’s an empty regular mail envelope and a “sorry there was an issue” sticker from USPS. They stuck it in an envelope with three stamps on it. wtf. I was like y’all I would’ve paid to FedEx it and would’ve happily paid someone for their time to do so….ARGH.

How early is too early to go to bed? Asking for me, a very jet-lagged person

In my experience, sleep is the best remedy for jet lag.

Good morning and happy Monday, Buffistae.

The sun is out, the garbage trucks are making a ruckus, and we had an earthquake last night.

I slept through it. Which bodes well for my house and the bedrock granite it sits upon, and the old Redwood framework that holds it together.

This is Birthday Week in our family, with Emmett turning 29 tomorrow and Matilda turning 19 on Friday.

If you've been following along since Emmett was in single digits and Matilda was an announcement in Beep Me, you are now encrusted with years like a ship desperately in need of dry dock.

We'll go out to dinner on Saturday to celebrate.

Birthday Week has always been the unofficial kickoff to holiday season for us, with JZ beginning work on Matilda's Halloween costume and the dimming of the days.

After Emmett went to college it was also the time for us to reconnect with EM because it wasn't uncommon to go half a year without seeing her.

That early commitment EM and I made when we split up to spend all birthdays, Thanksgiving and Xmas together is the thing that made her a part of our family.

That commitment is a much easier said than done proposition, and it is truly a wonderful thing you did for your family.

Happy family birthday week!

It is almost as baffling to me that Emmett and Matilda are adult-aged as it is that my OWN child (who is also, clearly, A TINY INFANT BORN MERE DAYS AGO) is as well.