Jen Vestal
@jenvestal.bsky.social
Minnesota ex-pat, law firm librarian, professionally nosy. “The time to be happy is now; the place to be happy is here.” She/her 📍 Alexandria, VA
Trying to Google “law firm appropriate blanket” but my hands are too frozen to type
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Trying to Google “law firm appropriate blanket” but my hands are too frozen to type
I know I am extremely lucky for this but my migraines can be nipped in the bud by taking ibuprofen at the first twinge. Between that and cramps, you’ll have to pry it from my hands
JD Vance calls ibuprofen "useless medication" and implies it's not "necessary, safe and effective."
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I know I am extremely lucky for this but my migraines can be nipped in the bud by taking ibuprofen at the first twinge. Between that and cramps, you’ll have to pry it from my hands
Honestly for me it was the Dear America companion series “My Name is America,” which had male protagonists. I had never heard of Japanese internment camps until I read “The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559.” I believe very strongly in the importance of juvenile historical fiction.
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 12, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Honestly for me it was the Dear America companion series “My Name is America,” which had male protagonists. I had never heard of Japanese internment camps until I read “The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559.” I believe very strongly in the importance of juvenile historical fiction.
When I worked at Target 20 years ago, I watched my coworker eat a whole pack of turkey lunch meat plain on the floor
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 AM
When I worked at Target 20 years ago, I watched my coworker eat a whole pack of turkey lunch meat plain on the floor
I love my (adopted) home Commonwealth.
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I love my (adopted) home Commonwealth.
A little girl dressed in a taxi driver outfit (t shirt that says “taxi,” cute yellow and black tutu and leggings) lingered at our candy bowl.
Her friend, from up the street: “You might be a taxi driver but [name] you’re slow!!”
Her friend, from up the street: “You might be a taxi driver but [name] you’re slow!!”
November 1, 2025 at 1:40 AM
A little girl dressed in a taxi driver outfit (t shirt that says “taxi,” cute yellow and black tutu and leggings) lingered at our candy bowl.
Her friend, from up the street: “You might be a taxi driver but [name] you’re slow!!”
Her friend, from up the street: “You might be a taxi driver but [name] you’re slow!!”
I wish I could tell the random Vermonter who sent me a “please vote!” postcard that A) I did! And B) I really appreciate her writing these postcards! Thanks Colleen from Vermont!
October 30, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I wish I could tell the random Vermonter who sent me a “please vote!” postcard that A) I did! And B) I really appreciate her writing these postcards! Thanks Colleen from Vermont!
I actually did book stuff today- a rare occurrence for me, despite being a librarian
October 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I actually did book stuff today- a rare occurrence for me, despite being a librarian
He tried hard to be present. On the floor, bad back and all, making stuffed animals dance while my baby sister shriek-laughed. He was always down for a board game. He once listened to 8 year old me do my suffragette-themed slam poetry, followed up by singing songs rewritten to be about Pokémon.
What’s ONE green flag about your father?
October 13, 2025 at 10:13 PM
He tried hard to be present. On the floor, bad back and all, making stuffed animals dance while my baby sister shriek-laughed. He was always down for a board game. He once listened to 8 year old me do my suffragette-themed slam poetry, followed up by singing songs rewritten to be about Pokémon.
Allan and I rooted for the Cubs, but we met/fell in love/were young in MKE so we also like the Brewers. However- I’m still mad that Bernie Brewer no longer goes down a slide into a mug of beer when the Brewers hit a home run
October 12, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Allan and I rooted for the Cubs, but we met/fell in love/were young in MKE so we also like the Brewers. However- I’m still mad that Bernie Brewer no longer goes down a slide into a mug of beer when the Brewers hit a home run
Hey Chicago, whadya say???
October 10, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Hey Chicago, whadya say???
Me: My OCD is well managed thanks to my medication and therapy
Also me: I do not appreciate this person wearing bright green and sitting behind the plate at the Cub game
Also me: I do not appreciate this person wearing bright green and sitting behind the plate at the Cub game
October 10, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Me: My OCD is well managed thanks to my medication and therapy
Also me: I do not appreciate this person wearing bright green and sitting behind the plate at the Cub game
Also me: I do not appreciate this person wearing bright green and sitting behind the plate at the Cub game
My first attempt at baguettes didn’t turn out looking very “baguette-y” but I’m happy with the crust, texture and taste so I’m counting it as a win!
October 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
My first attempt at baguettes didn’t turn out looking very “baguette-y” but I’m happy with the crust, texture and taste so I’m counting it as a win!
Any and all late 90s/early 2000s Disney Channel Original movies. We didn’t have Disney in our cable package and I was the only girl at school not tuning into DCOMs or Lizzie McGuire
Inspired by a post I just saw in which someone admitted they hadn’t seen a single episode of Friends nor the film Love Actually… what cultural hole do you have that’s a bit weird for your generation?
I’ll go first: I haven’t seen Dirty Dancing.
I’ll go first: I haven’t seen Dirty Dancing.
October 5, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Any and all late 90s/early 2000s Disney Channel Original movies. We didn’t have Disney in our cable package and I was the only girl at school not tuning into DCOMs or Lizzie McGuire
No, /you’re/ hiding in your house because you went outside to bring the bins in and saw a raccoon
September 30, 2025 at 11:44 PM
No, /you’re/ hiding in your house because you went outside to bring the bins in and saw a raccoon
My neighborhood’s hottest attraction* is apparently a very cool backhoe.
*for toddlers
It’s actually really cute, multiple families have walked over to see this very exciting piece of equipment and the tots are stoked
*for toddlers
It’s actually really cute, multiple families have walked over to see this very exciting piece of equipment and the tots are stoked
September 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
My neighborhood’s hottest attraction* is apparently a very cool backhoe.
*for toddlers
It’s actually really cute, multiple families have walked over to see this very exciting piece of equipment and the tots are stoked
*for toddlers
It’s actually really cute, multiple families have walked over to see this very exciting piece of equipment and the tots are stoked
2007 Jen would have defended Juno to the grave
Best movie soundtrack?
For me, "Boogie Nights"
You?
For me, "Boogie Nights"
You?
September 20, 2025 at 12:52 AM
2007 Jen would have defended Juno to the grave
My husband is truly lucky. He didn’t understand one of my references was treated to like five full minutes of Homestar Runner lore
September 20, 2025 at 12:42 AM
My husband is truly lucky. He didn’t understand one of my references was treated to like five full minutes of Homestar Runner lore
The woman next to me at Hank’s asked what I ordered and if I liked it and she ordered the same thing. I don’t think she likes it (based on her facial expressions) and I feel personally responsible
September 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The woman next to me at Hank’s asked what I ordered and if I liked it and she ordered the same thing. I don’t think she likes it (based on her facial expressions) and I feel personally responsible
I’m not usually one to complain about WMATA, but yesterday going home the blue line had massive delays and we were advised to seek alternate transport, so Allan came and got me from Crystal City. Now I just got two separate alerts for two separate signal issues on the blue line this afternoon.
September 11, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I’m not usually one to complain about WMATA, but yesterday going home the blue line had massive delays and we were advised to seek alternate transport, so Allan came and got me from Crystal City. Now I just got two separate alerts for two separate signal issues on the blue line this afternoon.
We had a early 90s educational game where you’d spell words and they’d keep a list (I don’t remember the objective or really anything else lol). I was maybe 6 and I typed in “ass” assuming it wouldn’t let me enter it. To my horror, it did! I was consumed with guilt and told my mom, who did not care
Do you remember what age you were when you started cussing? LOL
I was in 4th grade.
I was in 4th grade.
September 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
We had a early 90s educational game where you’d spell words and they’d keep a list (I don’t remember the objective or really anything else lol). I was maybe 6 and I typed in “ass” assuming it wouldn’t let me enter it. To my horror, it did! I was consumed with guilt and told my mom, who did not care
Specifically the one on the left
August 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Specifically the one on the left
The only scary thing about my DC experience is the blue line having to stop in those tiny underground tunnels due to single tracking and delays. I get so claustrophobic!
August 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The only scary thing about my DC experience is the blue line having to stop in those tiny underground tunnels due to single tracking and delays. I get so claustrophobic!
@ajv.bsky.social and I have infiltrated the Pizza Palace
August 9, 2025 at 6:37 PM
@ajv.bsky.social and I have infiltrated the Pizza Palace
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you all, my community, that earlier today I pissed off a cat (by trying to enter my home)
August 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you all, my community, that earlier today I pissed off a cat (by trying to enter my home)