All I want to eat for the rest of my life is an assortment of various kinds of dumplings. I include things like empanadas and patties in this category. Anything that is a filling inside dough.

My aunt and uncle live near the golf course in Altadena last night, and evacuated with their two adult children as the Eaton fire grew. Strangers took them in. My cousin has muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair bound. There’s a very real chance their home is no longer standing.

Just heard Pony by Ginuwine in an Applebee’s commercial, which must mean middle age is nigh.

Today in my SEL classroom I did one little girl’s hair because mom leaves for work early & she can’t do it herself. I made sure another child left with granola bars because food is scarce at home. I taught a lesson about growth mindset & talked an 8 year old through a panic attack. All before lunch.

My kids started talking today about when our elves were going to be arriving, and I remembered that I’m going to have to move and dress the little stinkers every night for a month.

Already starting to dream about next year’s garden. Every year it gets more involved. I’m going to grow so many dahlias. Gorgeous bunches of dahlias.