Category — Friday Blog Roundup

Somewhere around this time five years ago, we first started hearing about this troubling virus. Back then, the only cases were in Wuhan, and it didn’t seem likely that it would reach the US. And if it did reach the US, it would remain on the west coast. By “likely” I don’t mean virologists — they probably had a very different understanding of the disease. I’m talking about the blissfully unaware state I was in this time five years ago.

What would that Melissa think if I told her that five years later, she would still be masking indoors?

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff.

Okay, now my choices this week.

Finding a Different Path explains the point of unhappy thoughts, kicking toxic positivity to the curb though a pack of slogan laden pencils with the best ending ever: “And that’s how the toxic positivity pencil met its well-deserved demise, shattered into a zillion pieces while 13-14-year-olds with pencil-murdering glints in their eyes looked on and cheered.” What is the story? Well, you’ll have to click over to read it.

Lastly, No Kidding in NZ proves the opening message that after five years, COVID is still around. She came back from an amazing trip and immediately fell ill. She shrugs her shoulders: “That’s fine. It’s the end of a long year, and I hope for you it passes peacefully whether you celebrate or not. I’m looking forward to the rest of summer (having missed the start of it in Europe), and health returning.” Here’s to better health soon.

The roundup to the Roundup: Five years of COVID. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between December 20 – 27) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

A few weeks ago, we went to a screening of Love Actually with a live orchestra. It didn’t work as well as it sounds. Despite pre-paying for parking, we couldn’t find a spot, so we missed the opening.

And then, when we sat down, we were between a woman who laughed (at things that weren’t funny) and then declared to the person she was with that, “I’m laughing! That was funny, too.” Over and over again. And a man who was licking the inside of his popcorn container and unwrapping dozens of cellophane-covered candies. And in front of a man who asked questions about ONLY things that were sexual in nature. (“Are those two people having sex? Is it not real sex? Is it pornography? What did you say? They’re standing in for other actors in a pornography film? Are those two people thinking about having sex? Where would they even have sex?”) It was a lot. We walked out at intermission and went home.

When I told the ChickieNob about the experience, she mused, “I’ve never seen that film.” NEVER SEEN THAT FILM? We must remedy this. So I think we’re watching Love Actually tonight.

I will make sure to be as annoying as possible so she can experience a taste of the chef’s kiss we got to experience in the theater.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff.

Okay, now my choices this week.

Infertile Phoenix points out the ways her family infantilizes women without children. It’s a heartbreaking post, but I love this sentiment: “I am enough and I don’t need to explain my existence or reasoning.” But that final paragraph is a gut-punch. Sending a hug.

Lastly, Middle Girl has a post about a strange dream that defies interpretation but is weirdly intriguing. And I loved this line: “I know not what any of these means. I do know that now I want kittens that I absolutely cannot have.”

The roundup to the Roundup: Love Actually tonight. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between December 13 – 20) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

It’s Friday the 13th, which I always point out when it aligns with the Roundup. It happens at least once or twice per year, or 33 times since the Roundup began. 34 if you count today, which you have to do because it is Friday the 13th; the second one in 2024.

Josh and I are celebrating by getting matching COVID and flu vaccines.

How are you marking the day?

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “Advent Calendars” (The Road Less Travelled) — it counts 🙂

Okay, now my choices this week.

Infertile Phoenix sends a preemptive text to protect her emotional well-being. But the kicker is the person’s response the next time she sees them: “She literally said, ‘I know you said you didn’t want to see any newborn pictures, but do you want to see just one’?” Nooooooooo.

Scientist on the Roof made me laugh with her list of things that are never ending vs. things that we wish were never ending. Especially the final point about sleep and the “finale of a romantic-era music piece.”

Lastly, Finding a Different Path has a post about the messaging around ‘giving up’. She points out: “It is so hard to move forward from something when the chanting beat of never NEVER never NEVER EVER give up! Next time will work! You’ll never know if you don’t just KEEP GOING!” She leaves us with a better message instead.

The roundup to the Roundup: It’s Friday the 13th. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between December 6 – 13) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

I’m sure advent calendars have been around forever, but I didn’t see my first one until I was in my 20s — a hazard of being a non-Christmas celebrator. But a co-worker had one, and then Martha Stewart had instructions for how to make your own matchbox advent calendar, and I made one for the countdown to Josh’s birthday that year.

But in recent years — and correct me if I’m wrong — I’ve noticed that people are moving from having one advent calendar to having multiple advent calendars. What went from opening one window and getting one piece of chocolate or a tiny toy has become opening four windows on four different calendars and getting a jar of jam + an airplane bottle of booze + chocolate + makeup. Am I correct? Have advent calendars multiplied?

It’s a fun idea, and four calendars must feel four times as festive, but is my perception correct? Have calendars multiplied? And where is the Elf on a Shelf? As advent calendar posts go up, Elf on a Shelf posts have gone down.

Or maybe that’s just my feed.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• Nothing… sniff.

Okay, now my choices this week.

Bereaved and Blessed reflects on her first pregnancy loss, 20 years earlier. She writes, “Though I don’t believe everything happens for a reason or that we need to try to find silver linings when we are grieving, I do think we can find meaning as we navigate difficult, uncertain and painful times in our lives.” A great message.

Lastly, No Kidding in NZ gives a look back on 22 years ago (if I’m doing that math correctly with 16 years + 6 years) when she was trying to figure out what came next and overwhelmed with sadness. On our hardest days, it would be so helpful to know how things look down the road. The most important point: “I don’t feel this way anymore. In fact, it has been a long time since I felt like this.”

The roundup to the Roundup: Advent calendar multiplication. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between November 29 – December 6) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

The kids are home after super-long travel days. Thanksgiving sides have been eaten. Family seen. We’re in the quiet days before they have to go back, a moment I started dreading before they even arrived.

But it’s a short stretch this time until they’re home for winter break. Have to focus on that instead of the goodbye.

Hope you had a good holiday if you celebrate.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “Acceptance Helps, Believe Me” (No Kidding in NZ)

Okay, now my choices this week.

Infertile Phoenix points out the possible difference of a neat vs messy house. The last time her house was neat, she was in a difficult marriage and trying to conceive. She writes, “My house was clean because I never cooked or created any art. I was barely alive so I didn’t make much of a mess.” I also love this line: “I’m holding on to so much because I’ve lost too much already.” I really loved this thought-provoking post.

Lastly, The Road Less Travelled has a post about the narrative around motherhood. She highlights two substacks that gave her a lot to think about. I liked this point: “The acknowledgement that motherhood is damned hard work, and it’s not all sunshine and roses, sometimes comes as a bit of a relief to those of us who get to experience neither.”

The roundup to the Roundup: Kids are home. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between November 22 – 29) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.