So USAID employees, whose funding was provided/passed by Congress, have been told to stay home today. There is a stated goal by the administration to dismantle USAID. We need some (Republican) legislators to show some <frigging> backbone.

Time for dog math!

Dog +Snow = Awesome

(Dog + Snow) Toy =EPIC

One of the many Murphy's laws of home ownership: when the temperature dips into Sub-Zero numbers and the furnace therefore is used more, it is more likely to break.

#WaitingForTheFurnaceGuy

Starting holiday decorations early (for me anyhow). It's a good way to introduce some much-needed hope after the election.

OMG you guys, Lucretia and I just grabbed Taco Bell for dinner and the Carmel Apple Empanada is back!! -Hopefully for more than a limited time.

Seriously, we broke into our special "Carmel Apple Empanada" song that we would sing back before they were discontinued.

#YUM

Just a quick PSA:

If you don't already, find your nearest donation center and give blood. Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets. It's easy to do and you'll possibly be saving a life during the holidays.

I had an out of body experience today.

While clearing up fall leaves with the leaf blower I left my body and became my 10 y/o self using a rake like a schmuck and wondering if Dad would be willing to buy a blower. Yeah, fat chance.

TLDR: Sincerest blessings to whoever invented leaf blowers.

So... Just wrapping-up a 20-ish day vacation, @yndygo.bsky.social and I are flying home as I write this.

Normally I listen to around a dozen news podcasts daily, but not over vacation. Now, it's back to the "real world" of being informed... -But at least now I feel ready to face the news again...

<mic drop>