Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Accepted! (Day 66)

I am happy to report that my son has been accepted as a transfer student to Mass College of Art, starting in the fall. There are still some details we need to work out regarding scheduling and financing (like everyone else), but this is for definite sure a good thing.

Deb in the City

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Safe! (Day 65)

Happy to report that I made it to this late hour without any more vehicular incidents. The car was indeed towed to a repair shop, and the young man who picked up the car was duly impressed. Er...not sure that's a good thing.

We have a rental and will be using it for hopefully not too many days while we wait for the repair. Fingers crossed that the drama is over (for now).

Deb in the City 

Crash (Day 64ish)

Hopefully I can be forgiven for not blogging yesterday. Reason: someone rear-ended my husband when he was yards away from the spot where he was supposed to pick me up. Pro-tip: drivers from the suburbs are the ones who make Boston's roads so scary. 

Everyone is fine, but the bumper, not so much. Hopefully it can be taken in for service immediately--and by taken in, I mean towed. Yeah, it was that bad.

Deb in the City

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Cold Sunday (Day 63)

Spring Break is over, so my husband drove one son back to college while I stayed back with his sick brother. I got some things done, but the cold in the morning sapped my will to do too much more.

When he got back, my husband assured me that it didn't feel that cold outside, so we went for a long walk along the Emerald Necklace so we could pick up art supplies for the remaining child at home. It was a long walk, but a good walk; I relish my ability to do these things, having seen so many people lose that ability. 

We took the train home--walking's great, but we didn't want to spend every waking hour on it--and arrived to find Purim treats from our good friends. We nibbled while I cooked and washed up and my husband read to me. 

Cold day, but not a bad one.

Deb in the City

Saturday, March 23, 2024

5 Stars for A Master of Djinn (Day 62)

Raining all day here, and the next best thing to batch cooking on such a day is reading. We finished P. Djeli Clark's A Master of Djinn, and I can't recommend it enough. Alternate History, mystery, fantasy, and really well done on all fronts. 

Now where is the sequel?

Deb in the City

Friday, March 22, 2024

Pro-tip: don't announce you're going to Haymarket (Day 61)

I spent too much time on the computer yesterday, and in general I feel that way a lot. Today I decided that I was going to have An Adventure, so I went to Haymarket and Boston Public Market. (Would love to show you pictures of my walk along the Charles, but this app is ridiculous with pictures, so I'm hoping you'll take my word for it.)

Adventures in Boston are extra special when the MBTA is dysfunctional, but the upshot is that I got to share a surprise bus ride with my daughter. Once we parted company, I dropped off a book at the library, walked along the river to Beacon Hill, got myself a cookie, hung out at another library (this almost balances Boston's deficits), and went shopping at Haymarket. 

My youngest son is home for spring break this week, so I offered to get him pizza from Haymarket Pizza. Alas, they are closed (again). He pleaded with me to go to Bricco in the North End, which I refused but then agreed to after my husband met me. He, it turned out, had some demands from my other son. Half an hour and a couple of shout-filled calls with the boys later, we had a sub (but not from Bricco), two chocolate chip muffins from Bova (the only place in the North End my other son likes), and then some hermits for my husband. 

Definitely an adventure. Next time I might not mention where I'm going until I get back.

Deb in the City

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Not sure if I feel better now (Day 60)

In light of the exchange I had yesterday, and a brief interaction with someone online, I decided to take a look at the Southern Poverty Law Center to see if I could grab some statistics. Well, I can, somewhere, but I got derailed while searching by, well, some loser who heads a not-at-all crazy neo-nazi organization (I don't want to name either of them because I don't want to show up in a search; also, these guys don't deserve proper case) advocating the sexual assault of women--white women--as "war brides" who can't be trusted to choose how to use their own reproductive systems.

I've lived through trauma, but my triggers are random and personal; I'm not someone who can't read about terrible things, and in some ways I think it's my responsibility. But the article above is deeply disturbing, so please be warned. And so is the whole site--because they are talking about deeply disturbing things.

I listen to Gaslit Nation, and I know people have accused them of being conspiracy theorists. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a widely respected organization, and believe me when I tell you that they come to the same conclusions. Or rather, don't believe me, go take a look for yourselves. If anything, Gaslit Nation sees more of a use for Twitter or whatever the hell it's called now; after reading just a little of this, I don't want to look at even references to tweets again, but Elon Musk is pure evil. Shame on the mainstream press, especially the business press, for legitimizing him. 

As hard as it is for me to read their analysis, I understand that the people who write for them have to monitor horrific people and spaces. I hope they rotate out of those jobs regularly, because that might rot their souls.

I'll be reading more of the Southern Poverty Law Center going forward. As I said, it's my duty. It won't make me feel better, but as a consolation, I won't feel as awkward when I have to clap back at people for off-handed bigotry.

Deb in the City