A year

Since I last wrote on Mardi Gras, we passed the mark of a year at home, Jack has still not returned to any in-person school, Ol turned 12, my parents are fully vaccinated, my in-laws have each had one shot, spring is emerging in fits and starts, I took on a volunteer leadership position at a wonderful political organization that I admire, and the cats still disdain each other. Or rather, Nutmeg is still irritated about Ruthie coming to live with us. WHY do cats let their tongues hang when they’re resting?!

We have explored more of Virginia and West Virginia and been simultaneously awed by their beauty and much of the friendliness we’ve encountered and appalled by their racism, mad conservatism, and overt Confederate loyalty (more pronounced in the parts of western VA we spent time in).

I have gut-laughed so hard —see this link for a recent delight—”punches and scratches to the face…” I have cried, too.

I have learned fascinating things, from tidbits like this evolution of the UK flag:

to information about long-haul Covid.

I maintain that Freddie Mercury and Roger Federer are two of the greatest artists to ever walk this Earth. Witness remains an excellent film. Weekend at Bernie’s is an appalling blot on film history; my bright memories were justly extinguished one evening when I convinced Tom to subscribe to Cinemax and the boys to settle in for a treat. Any new or old faves for you?

I rarely enjoy cooking anymore and have lost interest in most meals. It all seems to taste the same; several of my friends feel this, too. I hope this disappears when Covid recedes into memory. Have you experienced this?

Have you watched The Last Kingdom or The Queen’s Gambit? I love the word gambit, and both series are utterly engaging. Plus, Alexander Dreymon? Meow!

Mardi Gras ‘21 in the books

If you celebrated Mardi Gras today, I hope you enjoyed it. We sure did. I made two king cakes and some gumbo, and after Mom got her second vaccine shot, she and Dad came over for a spirited Second Line through our neighborhood. A neighbor from Rio organized it, and we were a small but festive bunch of a dozen or so parading around with beads, masks, and music. Let the good times roll!

Impeachment 2.0

Thanks to everyone who has sent me funny shit and responded with laughter and/or “I am with you” to my recent posts.

If you didn’t watch the impeachment hearings today, you missed something. They’ve recessed for dinner until 6:15, and I am so grateful for this reprieve, because I am sick to my stomach and shaking with rage. Literally, I am both. I have stress-finished an entire embroidery piece, and I have opened a bottle of wine. I have ignored my kids for four hours because I am riveted. I managed to clean up cat puke while watching Swalwell close. It is worth finding his and Stacey Plaskett’s speeches today, all of which were brilliant and powerful. The new footage and information shared is as horrific as all you’ve already seen and read, but when put into timeline order and explained over hours, nothing by any sentient, fact-based human can be known or understood but that trump is guilty 100 times over, must be impeached and banned from ever holding office again, and he, his enablers, and all the insurrectionists must be punished to the greatest extent possible.

We should all give repeated thanks that the January 6 insurrection wasn’t worse than it was. We should thank the enormously brave members of Capitol Police and DC MPD that did their jobs. And we should all wish to hold accountable all who planned, supported, and perpetrated malicious intent and are to blame for loss of life, destruction of property, and violence.

Lastly, if you still wonder why Black Lives Matter matters (and if you do, I don’t like or respect you; sorry, truth), watch/listen to this.