E. A. Fredericks
@efredericks.bsky.social
West Coaster in exile, pining for sunshine & teaching literature to college kids in the Midwest. Ruled by a tiny dog. Books, baking, baseball (3rd generation Dodgers fan), film, #toastie
Someone decided that Saturday should start with barfing and she's not sorry.
It's fine, she immediately wanted bacon afterwards and settled for the sensitive stomach wet food, which has stayed down. She's just literally sick of winter, I guess!
It's fine, she immediately wanted bacon afterwards and settled for the sensitive stomach wet food, which has stayed down. She's just literally sick of winter, I guess!
February 7, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Someone decided that Saturday should start with barfing and she's not sorry.
It's fine, she immediately wanted bacon afterwards and settled for the sensitive stomach wet food, which has stayed down. She's just literally sick of winter, I guess!
It's fine, she immediately wanted bacon afterwards and settled for the sensitive stomach wet food, which has stayed down. She's just literally sick of winter, I guess!
"I am half sick of shovels,"
Said the Lady of Shalott.
Just in case you wondered what it would be like if Tennyson had been a midwesterner.
Said the Lady of Shalott.
Just in case you wondered what it would be like if Tennyson had been a midwesterner.
February 5, 2026 at 11:49 PM
"I am half sick of shovels,"
Said the Lady of Shalott.
Just in case you wondered what it would be like if Tennyson had been a midwesterner.
Said the Lady of Shalott.
Just in case you wondered what it would be like if Tennyson had been a midwesterner.
Such a well read dog is clearly #2.
February 5, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Such a well read dog is clearly #2.
Chuck had had too many bad walks in the neighborhood lately (snow and salt on her poor feet and no, she will not do booties) so she just hates walks at the moment. This afternoon I just scooped her up as soon as I got home & we hit the rail trail, & life was good again.
February 5, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Chuck had had too many bad walks in the neighborhood lately (snow and salt on her poor feet and no, she will not do booties) so she just hates walks at the moment. This afternoon I just scooped her up as soon as I got home & we hit the rail trail, & life was good again.
There is a Stephen Dobyns poem that describes art as "white silks from muddy paws," describing exactly this difficult truth, & that simple but tough summation has lived in my head ever since I read it. Extraordinary art can absolutely come from bad people, unfortunately.
A tough one to sit with--but we must--is that some people's ability to make good art in part derived from, or was protected by, the fact that they were enabling or doing terrible things. See also: We Need to Talk about Cosby doc. Even more troubling on this score: Read deep reporting on Alice Munro
"actually his stuff was very Derivative and not Original" like, you don't have to do this. it is good for us all to sit with the cognitive dissonance that a very bad person can make very good art. it is good for us to work through the moral ramifications of that.
February 4, 2026 at 1:38 AM
There is a Stephen Dobyns poem that describes art as "white silks from muddy paws," describing exactly this difficult truth, & that simple but tough summation has lived in my head ever since I read it. Extraordinary art can absolutely come from bad people, unfortunately.
I'm really hoping the end of February isn't quite so relentlessly hard frozen as the beginning, but we shall see.
At least it's good weather for being cozy inside with books, and thus: my February reads. 📚💙
At least it's good weather for being cozy inside with books, and thus: my February reads. 📚💙
February 4, 2026 at 12:08 AM
I'm really hoping the end of February isn't quite so relentlessly hard frozen as the beginning, but we shall see.
At least it's good weather for being cozy inside with books, and thus: my February reads. 📚💙
At least it's good weather for being cozy inside with books, and thus: my February reads. 📚💙
In all seriousness, this continuation of TPS for Haitians is something I have been praying for this week. Still nervous about the stay being observed, but I'm relieved by the decision.
BREAKING: Judge Ana Reyes, in DC, issues a stay of DHS Sec. Noem’s decision to end Haiti’s temporary protected status (TPS) designation, a decision that was to go into effect on Tuesday and could have ended legal status for up to 350,000 people overnight. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 3, 2026 at 1:01 AM
In all seriousness, this continuation of TPS for Haitians is something I have been praying for this week. Still nervous about the stay being observed, but I'm relieved by the decision.
A dog dreams of summertime's return.
February 3, 2026 at 12:25 AM
A dog dreams of summertime's return.
Poet Mary O'Malley is one of my favorites, and she had this response to recent events in Minneapolis in the Irish Times yesterday. 📚💙
February 1, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Poet Mary O'Malley is one of my favorites, and she had this response to recent events in Minneapolis in the Irish Times yesterday. 📚💙
Picked up these "pineberries" at the grocery store yesterday because in the midst of the Horrors one might as well eat the peculiar fruits. And they are pretty delicious! A bit more tangy than a strawberry but with ripe strawberry texture. (The name is meant to indicate a pineapple flavor.)
February 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Picked up these "pineberries" at the grocery store yesterday because in the midst of the Horrors one might as well eat the peculiar fruits. And they are pretty delicious! A bit more tangy than a strawberry but with ripe strawberry texture. (The name is meant to indicate a pineapple flavor.)
Adding to the chorus of people saying how Hamnet made them cry. Really a beautiful film, & Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal are just riveting. There are a lot of little graceful moments throughout & I think even the sentimental or seemingly self-indulgent spots help build to the catharsis at the end.
January 31, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Adding to the chorus of people saying how Hamnet made them cry. Really a beautiful film, & Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal are just riveting. There are a lot of little graceful moments throughout & I think even the sentimental or seemingly self-indulgent spots help build to the catharsis at the end.
Friend came over to fix my washing machine, which was not draining, and while he didn't find a clear problem, he did clean up some hoses and pipes and the drain pump, and now...it appears to be draining? (Running a load of hot water and vinegar right now.)
a woman with curly hair is crossing her fingers and making a face
Alt: a woman with curly hair is crossing her fingers and making a face
media.tenor.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Friend came over to fix my washing machine, which was not draining, and while he didn't find a clear problem, he did clean up some hoses and pipes and the drain pump, and now...it appears to be draining? (Running a load of hot water and vinegar right now.)
Nothing hits like a thank you note from a student that arrives *after* final grades are turned in. But really, this was a little salve for the soul.
January 26, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Nothing hits like a thank you note from a student that arrives *after* final grades are turned in. But really, this was a little salve for the soul.
Donated to several of these other fundraisers with much smaller totals. All these families deserve so much more.
Current status of the fundraisers for those killed by ICE:
Renee Good: $1,499,580
Alex Pretti: $1,289,249
Keith Porter, Jr. $302,423
Parady La: $45,848
Heber Sanchez Dominguez: $47,991
Luis Beltrán Yanez Cruz: $18,640
Victor Manuel Diaz: $2,538
Geraldo Lunas: $2,260
Luis Gustavo Núñez: $1,935
Renee Good: $1,499,580
Alex Pretti: $1,289,249
Keith Porter, Jr. $302,423
Parady La: $45,848
Heber Sanchez Dominguez: $47,991
Luis Beltrán Yanez Cruz: $18,640
Victor Manuel Diaz: $2,538
Geraldo Lunas: $2,260
Luis Gustavo Núñez: $1,935
January 26, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Donated to several of these other fundraisers with much smaller totals. All these families deserve so much more.
Forcing my dog to labor hard in the cuteness mines today in order to help with the Horrors. Here she is for all the rest of you, too.
Much love to Minnesota today, and to all with grieving hearts. No one should have to endure what's happening now.
Much love to Minnesota today, and to all with grieving hearts. No one should have to endure what's happening now.
January 24, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Forcing my dog to labor hard in the cuteness mines today in order to help with the Horrors. Here she is for all the rest of you, too.
Much love to Minnesota today, and to all with grieving hearts. No one should have to endure what's happening now.
Much love to Minnesota today, and to all with grieving hearts. No one should have to endure what's happening now.
Christ, this is awful.
January 24, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Christ, this is awful.
In a small interruption to the Everything Is Terrible (which it is) here is the very small way the universe is fucking with me this term. I have back-to-back intro sections that I teach & in both, I have students with Androgynous Name 1 & Androgynous Name 2.
January 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM
In a small interruption to the Everything Is Terrible (which it is) here is the very small way the universe is fucking with me this term. I have back-to-back intro sections that I teach & in both, I have students with Androgynous Name 1 & Androgynous Name 2.
Got 8 good hours of sleep last night & I still feel wrecked today. At least it's my WFH day, & I can do everything in soft clothes while huddled in blankets (it's flipping freezing today) with the dog.
January 20, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Got 8 good hours of sleep last night & I still feel wrecked today. At least it's my WFH day, & I can do everything in soft clothes while huddled in blankets (it's flipping freezing today) with the dog.
Got halfway through the Nia DaCosta/Tessa Thompson "Hedda" tonight and it is an intoxicating ride so far. Beautiful lighting, beautiful sets, costumes, sound design, & Thompson is doing a great spin on Hedda & her poisonous boredom/frustration.
January 16, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Got halfway through the Nia DaCosta/Tessa Thompson "Hedda" tonight and it is an intoxicating ride so far. Beautiful lighting, beautiful sets, costumes, sound design, & Thompson is doing a great spin on Hedda & her poisonous boredom/frustration.
Just lil recovery things: the elliptical is a total no-go at this stage of surgery recovery (even though I am greenlit for exercising). Way too much stress on my poor core, and probably shoveling snow this morning did not help either.
January 16, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Just lil recovery things: the elliptical is a total no-go at this stage of surgery recovery (even though I am greenlit for exercising). Way too much stress on my poor core, and probably shoveling snow this morning did not help either.
The PhDog has reported for spring semester duty.
January 15, 2026 at 4:14 PM
The PhDog has reported for spring semester duty.
Survived teaching, am completely exhausted. It has snowed almost all day. But good groups overall, I think. One intro class is rather quiet, so we'll see if they relax as the semester progresses; the other is more willing to talk. My Victorian/Modern group seems like they'll be delightful.
January 14, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Survived teaching, am completely exhausted. It has snowed almost all day. But good groups overall, I think. One intro class is rather quiet, so we'll see if they relax as the semester progresses; the other is more willing to talk. My Victorian/Modern group seems like they'll be delightful.
Well, despite everything, a new semester begins tomorrow. Syllabi are printed, course websites are updated, nails are painted, and I feel hideously unready nonetheless.
January 14, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Well, despite everything, a new semester begins tomorrow. Syllabi are printed, course websites are updated, nails are painted, and I feel hideously unready nonetheless.
There's also a Second Harvest Northland that focuses on the northern part of the state; I split a donation between the two.
Feeding America: Minnesota has several MN groups you can support, including both Second Harvest groups.
www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-am...
Feeding America: Minnesota has several MN groups you can support, including both Second Harvest groups.
www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-am...
January 11, 2026 at 1:58 AM
There's also a Second Harvest Northland that focuses on the northern part of the state; I split a donation between the two.
Feeding America: Minnesota has several MN groups you can support, including both Second Harvest groups.
www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-am...
Feeding America: Minnesota has several MN groups you can support, including both Second Harvest groups.
www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-am...
Trying not to judge myself, or my January reads, as harshly as my dog is clearly judging me in this photo.
She is small but her opinions are large. Anyway, here's what I read that she probably disapproves of. 📚💙
She is small but her opinions are large. Anyway, here's what I read that she probably disapproves of. 📚💙
January 7, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Trying not to judge myself, or my January reads, as harshly as my dog is clearly judging me in this photo.
She is small but her opinions are large. Anyway, here's what I read that she probably disapproves of. 📚💙
She is small but her opinions are large. Anyway, here's what I read that she probably disapproves of. 📚💙