Victory

15 June 2020: Sometimes it is hard to believe it when you hear genuinely good news. But this is amazing and feels so wonderful.

States where you can now work as openly LGBTQ without fear of being fired are shaded in gray pic.twitter.com/LqouK6Bt2D

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) June 15, 2020

"...the beautiful, dark work of God"

14 June 2020: "Lately, I have been paying closer attention to the use of language, particularly the language around dark and light, black and white, and the values that are placed on those words. Let's consider the beautiful, dark work of God."

Lately, I have been paying closer attention to the use of language, particularly the language around dark and light, black and white, and the values that are placed on those words. Let's consider the beautiful, dark work of God. pic.twitter.com/sZOCH3Xy5g

— Bishop Eaton (@ELCABishopEaton) June 14, 2020

"Simply splendid!"

13 June 2020: That's how my beloved little weirdo niece Krista described the fun we had today while hanging out with her, Isla, Erin, and Eric for the first time since January. I could go on, but I think this is enough: it was lovely and I am very lucky and grateful.

Mail merge...

12 June 2020: Most boring post title ever? Maybe? But I am proud of myself for figuring out how to do a mail merge and send out 220 emails in the blink of an eye. (As always, youtube provides answers and patient guidance.)

And having those emails sent--they are important--makes me feel ready for the next step.

"Vacation"

11 June 2020: This song (plus a bunch of other bangers) was in my friends' Zoom trivia tonight. Instantly lifts your mood, right? And so did hanging with those awesome folks for a bit.

"...we got a love that the world won’t take away”

10 June 2020:



This is four minutes of brilliance and uplift from Dr. West. Amazing. I started writing down highlights and couldn't stop:

“What is it about these Black people, so thoroughly subjugated but wanting freedom from everybody? That’s a great gift to the world.”

“Couldn’t take it, man. Been at this for over 50 years. And yet…I got to bounce back, and I will bounce back, because we got a love that the world won’t take away.”

“We in it together, brother. And the beautiful thing about tears is: Socrates never cries, but Jeremiah does, and so does Jesus.”

Whew...

9 June 2020: I sat here for 15 minutes trying to decide on a post title. We'll go with that silly bit of inelegance above. Things have been low-key crazy since Friday. Busy, too, with a thousand different--wildly different tasks. Yesterday, I managed it all with real skill and grace, until some really upsetting and discouraging emails last night. Today started out rough and stressful, but some really promising developments lifted my spirits and now, though I still feel a bit overwhelmed, I am not as discouraged and sad. (Have to keep it all vague...)

One other factor: Orientation for first-year students started this week, but thanks to COVID, it is very different. All one-on-one appointments, all via Zoom or over the phone. It's been going well, but I miss the normal way. Trying to focus on the good part, though: interacting with students excited to start Shepherd.

Five...

8 June 2020: Bird-watching on her 5th birthday. Li'l Soups for everyone to follow later tonight.

Sunday Zen...

7 June 2020:

Fresh coat...

6 June 2020: Put a couple coats of fresh paint on the set that used to be on my patio. I bought this set 11 year ago (!) in the months before I closed on the house, so it's served me well. Looks good in its new spot on the back deck. I get such a sense of satisfaction from seeing it--a bit of control and progress in some crazy times.

“from Citizen, VI [On the train the woman standing]”

5 June 2020:

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

4 June 2020: Always loved this song and have taken comfort in it lately. This version, by the amazing Yola, is pretty great. (And I adore this version.)

Deck is ready!

3 June 2020: Today my friend Kevin finished repairing my old deck, which was in bad shape (complete with unusable, broken stairs). Basically, he took down everything but the posts and rebuilt it. Right now it's two-tone because he says to wait a year to paint the new wood, which is fine because the two-tone looks kind of cool.

A bit of light...

2 June 2020: Cancer and sickness fighters supporting those who are fighting a very different kind of cancerous condition.

Healthcare workers @sloan_kettering come out to cheer on and take a knee in support of protestors. The same people NYC has been honoring every night at 7pm now returning the support. pic.twitter.com/ezWpQtFdr0

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) June 2, 2020

Live-streams...

1 June 2020: Just watched a live-stream of a couple of friends getting married down in Arkansas.

In a little while, I'll watch Brandi Carlile do a life-stream performance of By the Way, I Forgive You. A ticket and a little extra to support the band/crew is a small price to pay for the respite it will provide.

Everything in the country is awful and sad and bad. But these things are very good and nice and I am grateful.