The border tile that I had to special order finally arrived. So I was able to finish the tile work in the walk-in shower at our Summit house today. I will find the time to do the grout sometime this week for those following along, going to go with a dark gray grout.

Beatrix’s 17th Birthday Celebration

Beatrix turns 17 tomorrow. Tonight she’s having 16 of her friends over tonight for a dance party. Last night, I helped her turn our dining room into a Disco. We revved up her playlist and danced together to test it out.

No matter what happens, this is my life. This is what matters.

Art is how we tell the stories in ways only the heart can hear.

I’m not supposed to say this but a certain pop megastar and her football playing boyfriend are having dinner right now in the restaurant my sister is a server at in New Orleans. They are not in her section.

They have good taste, apparently.

For those following along, my talking points for my calls to my congress critters today were from Talking Points.

I’ll add, I’m impressed that I’ve gotten a live human most days when calling Rep. Betty McCollum’s office and he’s been quite nice, receptive, and encouraging (sometimes commiserating).

Hey, local folks.

If you’d like a respite from… (waves hands around regarding the general state of the nation) go see A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Guthrie. Easily the best production of this play I’ve ever seen. An important reminder of what really matters.

Even in chaos there is art.

Because I need to think and post about other things than all of this …

Gosh, the advertisement for Hooked on Phonics was, perhaps, the most effective marketing ever created. I still spell out Eso Si Que Es every single day when I put on my socks.

Opinion | There Is No Going Back - The New York Times

At this point in any argument like this one, the question arises of what should be done and, more critically, what can be done? The sad answer is not that much. Those with the direct institutional power to slam the brakes lack the will and those with the will lack the power.

Yep. This is basically what my congresspersons aide told me.

I absolutely agree with the conclusion by the way, sad as it is. But, we must accept things as they are, because how we wished them to be is gone.