Annoyed with being an American in America. Spent some time on Wednesday at an event with likeminded and also annoyed Americans in America.
Gave a presentation at work to some up and coming scholars who were very bright and passionate and will contribute a lot to their fields. They read about and practiced introducing themselves in a unique way, and then read about and practiced pitching an idea. They’re each going to have to do a poster session at an upcoming conference, and I hoped this would help them do it well.
We went to see my brother’s family. It was my little niece’s third birthday. We got her a green dinosaur costume that she (and everyone else) loved. She gave a big “ROAR” while she was trying it on. It was neat to see how her big sister looks out for her and guides her. It’s clear she looks up to her already.
We audioread some of Man’s Search for Meeting on the drive. I’ve been meaning to read it since about 2007. I worked with a woman who helped me cut my teeth on training and adult learning. She recommended it as an essential piece. She also recommended The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I read that one years ago. I befriended her brother who was also gay, and we stayed in touch for a few years after I accepted another position. She wrote a glowing recommendation letter for me. I only got to work for her for about a year and a half. Eventually, I was promoted into a position at a different agency that was essentially the equivalent of the position she held when I worked for her - we would’ve been contemporaries. I always wondered what she would’ve thought of that. I think and hope she would’ve been proud.
I emailed with her brother a couple months ago as I was giving my contacts a new email address. I learned that she recently retired. I asked him to pass along my congratulations. I hope he did.
We watched Noises Off last night and I have no idea how I’ve gone my whole life without watching that movie. I believe it has the best physical comedy I’ve ever seen in a movie. I’ve never seen better comedic timing from an ensemble cast. It’s streaming on Prime. I give it two stars up.
We took Maggie to the vet. Her body is, essentially, rejecting her teeth. It’s a thing. And it sucks. Her poor gum is so swollen and jumps in pain when something too cold or hot or hard hits her tooth on that side. He’s putting her on an antibiotic, which I’m able to administer. We’re ordering a steroid which will be prepared tomorrow in liquid form (compounded with fish flavor). He wants to see her again in 10 days. We may have another terrible decision in front of us. Her heart murmur has progressed more (enough that he noticed it in the month since she last saw him). She may not be a good candidate for anesthesia because of her heart and age.
Highlights from the Week
📺 30 Rock; Abbott Elementary; Before; A Black Lady Sketch Show; The Last of Us (started); The Morning Show; Pushing Daisies; Severance; Somebody Somewhere; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
🍿 The Front Room (2024); Noises Off (1992); Trap (2024)
📚 Man’s Search for Meaning (Viktor Frankl)
🍽️ Started meal delivery service (Sunbasket)
🎧 Adele; Ani DiFranco; The B-52’s; The Bangles; Belle and Sebastian; Berlin; Big Maybelle; The Black Crowes; Backstreet; Blake Babies; Blind Melon; Boy George; The Breeders; Culture Club; Beth Hart; Heart; Indigo Girls; Kate Bush; The Lovemongers; Pat Benatar; Prince; R.E.M.; Throwing Muses; Tori Amos
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🙏 Smart scholars; Maggie; veterinary medicine
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