not necessarily in this order

This month, I tell ya! <<gestures to the state of the world>> Work getting worse before it gets better. My first paper in my MLIS program. February school vacation with the week after having no school because of a blizzard. So much overwhelm.So much functional freeze. AND the   February FIG challenge   that has been such a bright light. Here are my final FIGs of the challenge, which include some stories about being back in school, parenting, puppies, and smiles. 14   How well Lil Momma did when school was canceled for the entire week after February vacation (sigh, thanks Blizzard of 2026 and the 30+ inches of snow in my backyard). School vacations are hard for only children and then to have another week off while the Mr. and I had to work was rough - but, she totally rallied! One day, we made a deal if she got 10k steps on the treadmill she could have ice cream for dessert, 12k and she could have fast food for dinner, and 15k to choose what we watched on tv fo...

  Friends, work and parenting and taking a class and being a human in this world is a lot.   I’m a little behind on a lot and a lot behind on a little. I’m haunted by tasks. I may have taken on too much, but the only way out is through.  I am loving the class I’m taking and I’m not loving the fact that I have not yet been able to get a week ahead in assignments. I know this is not exactly the format of the  February FIG challenge , but it’s where my heart is at and I think that is FIG-gy enough.  One  I’m taking  Introduction to the Information Professions  and this week’s chapter was all about the history of libraries and I really loved it.  Two  Work has been so oof but my work best friend and I have been randomly sending what we call “memes of hope and solidarity” throughout the day and they really help me keeping going through these long days.  Three  Maysie is just the best. She’s 50 lbs of love and joy (and jumping) (trai...

  The world is suffocatingly a lot right now.     Everything is a lot.    I don’t really have words. There’s just so much awful everywhere and it keeps getting louder and all the time.   I was listening to a bonus episode of  Maintenance Phase  on my drive yesterday and the hosts talked about how it feels bad to listen to the news and stay abreast of current events, but it also feels bad to hide and not be in the know of what is going on. That is me. I am that.    These FIGs are glimmers I found in these days, but in no way are meant to celebrate this week or this time because although I know two things can be true at once, it’s hard to say “I felt joy” – no matter how small – when the world is on fire.   Saturday : We watched the last episode of  Stranger Things  season 4 and Lil Momma, the Mr, and I had a “what we think will happen in the final season” conversation and wrote down our predictions to reopen when it ai...

  I am doubling down on  Finding Joy in Gratitude Collective challenge  Elisabeth is running and both keeping short joys on the tracker and sharing longer ones here on Fridays this month! (or forever?) Same, Junior. Same.  Saturday : Lil Momma and I went to see  Pippin  where she takes musical theatre lessons and even though I hadn’t seen the show in YEARS, I knew the verse they did for the audience sing-a-long like I’d just listened to it. It’s so lovely to be reminded of the theatre person I was every now and again in this other life that I live.   Sunday : I sat on a couch and finished  The God of the Woods  with a cup of tea and it was just so quiet and wonderful to just be.   Monday : I helped someone at work with a presentation and felt so in my zone with the feedback I was able to share! (Not sure if it was heard, but that’s a whole other thing, haha!)   Tuesday : Lil Momma and I had a wonderful day off for February Vacation ...

  I am doubling down on  Finding Joy in Gratitude Collective challenge  Elisabeth is running and both keeping short joys on the tracker and sharing longer ones here on Fridays this month! (or forever?) Saturday : Lil Momma and I went out to lunch and had a nice chatty time catching up on what was on our hearts.   Sunday : I made a “fun” cheese melt Hawaiian roll dinner that everyone liked! (This is mostly sparked at a recent run of tween dinner complaints).   Monday : Bella, our senior population Maltese-Yorkie, came upstairs and chilled in my office while I worked! (She always chooses to stay downstairs with the Mr.) (well, and her treats).   Tuesday : I really felt heard by my orthopedic surgeon and the appointment was both validating and forward thinking.   Wednesday : The Mr. and I chatted on the phone while I drove home from work and it was just so nice to talk like humans.    Thursday : Lil Momma texted me a movie of her scrolling ...

I am doubling down on  Finding Joy in Gratitude Collective challenge  Elisabeth is running and both keeping short joys on the tracker and sharing longer ones here on Fridays this month! (or forever?) small joys in kitchen chaos Saturday  – The Mr. and I had a babysitter for the first time in months and months, but he has some things going on that make going out to eat was a no-go. So, we spent a collective 3 hours in the car driving up to my aunt’s house that I am cleaning out, rescuing a spice cabinet and table, and then driving back. It was really nice to just talk and listen to music and be together!   Sunday  – I had to go to a wake (weird start, I know), but I went with two local mom friends and we caught up in the car waiting to go in and it was so nice to do some tween parent commiseration with people who are going through it, too.   Monday  – The Mr. had a late call so I was the parent in charge of getting Lil Momma to voice and acting. As a he...