January 2026 Donations

Girl Scouts of America

Lucy's Girl Scout troop was selling cookies again and I managed to help her sell to Bishop, Alan, Bella, Melanie, Wayne, MeMom and Pop and of course, vegan ones for me!

When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you are creating opportunities for Girl Scouts to learn, grow, and thrive through the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. From learning how to interact with customers to creating budgets and taking orders, the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches Girl Scouts invaluable skills that they’ll need to succeed throughout their lives. 

The Girl Scout Cookie Program provides opportunities for Girl Scouts to practice and develop their entrepreneurial skills, giving them an edge compared to their non-member peers, according to a study by the Girl Scouts. 

Plus, Girl Scout Cookie proceeds stay local! From trekking through the deep woods to traveling the world, you're helping fuel new experiences and adventures for local Girl Scouts all year long.

Girl Scouts build a better future for themselves and the world. And the Girl Scout Cookie Program makes it all possible, thanks to your support. 

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Laundry Time

On November 4th, 2017, I went to visit Marina and her son up in Jackson Heights. We went to the basement of the building to throw in some laundry and I snapped this picture of the facilities. I love it because it's actually a colour photo. Wouldn't know it to look at it! 

Be Like I-95

(photo kidnapped from @nero_one on Instagram)

Choco-Mania!!!

I want every single one of these in my belly right freakin' now.

Winter Dogs

Last of the Wintery puzzles!

(artwork by Louise Cunningham)

Good Ole Ter

A close family friend's health has been declining so much these past few years that she's become a shell of a human being. Terri was always the fun, silly one who was full of love for everyone and gave the best reactions to good news. "Terri, guess what?! I bought cute, hot pink slippers and they are so warm!" "Oh my gosh, that's AWESOME!! Where did you get them? What's the brand? Were they on sale? I love slippers. I'm so happy you found ones that you like!" She was always, and to a small degree still is, so happy to see me or hear from me. Now her short-term memory is shot and conversations are reduced to small talk. Most recently she's begun to struggle with remembering to look at text messages or answer the phone. Mum and I kept waiting for her kids to grow up and head off to college so that she'd have time for us again. We daydreamed of going out for pizza together and to see a movie at the old Ritz, like we used to, but it's looking more and more like that will never happen again. Her future is scary, because it seems like there won't be one for her. Stumbling upon this voice mail from October 26th of 2019 made me miss the Terri I knew for so many years. 

Blizzard of '26

It's day one of being trapped in my icebox of a home, under oodles of blankies, wearing infinite layers, hat, scarf, shawl, you name it. I messaged Helen, my favourite Geordie, to keep her up to date on how people in the tri-state area prepped for the big storm. 

The Zeppelin Gig

Tonight's School of Rock concert was one of the best yet. Jax played drums on Good Times, Bad Times, Dazed and Confused, and Stairway to Heaven plus bass on Living Loving Maid and Communication Breakdown. The whole gang came out, with me bringing Lucy - Dave, Xavier & Mary, Syd, Zach, MeMom & Pop, Mum, Jen, Wayne & Chrissy and her son, Chase, Jackson's BFF. The show was phenomenal and Jax played on his new mango wood bass that his parents got him for Christmas, with Dave's approval. (Dave plays bass and keyboards.) Lucy couldn't handle the volume, even with earplugs, and only lasted for one of Jackson's songs before Dave had to take her home. I always stand in the back of the venue and so the footage I take is craptastic, but I filmed as much as possible and messaged them to Dave. 

Raddest Drummer EVER!!

I love this kid so stinkin' much. Last night I stopped by to drop off some Chad Smith Funk Blaster drumsticks and he let me film him, very briefly, playing with the Bonham sticks I gave him a couple weeks back. (Bishop sent him a pair as well, so he's gonna play with one set and use the other pair for display.) Here he is doing a little impromptu performance. 

(Just before I recorded this. he was playing and when he stopped I could hear Xavier in the next room shout "TRY HARDER! YOU SUCK!!" Ha!)

Captivating

I saw this gent (Chairman Paul Birdsong) on Instagram last week and was blown away by not only his handsome features, but by how confident, controlled, and well spoken he is. 

To Amy:

To Kay:

Find Your Joy

June 4th 0f 2022, Amber posted this on her Instagram and I love it. It's all about finding those tiny, seemingly insignificant things in the every day that make things just a little bit better. 

I Am Plaid Reed

Dear White People

Spot of Tea

Oh my gosh this puzzle was such fun! I finished it in record timing all while listening to The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah on audiobook.

art by Holly Maguire

Create the Life You Want

Night Forms: Infinite Waves

On January 6th of 2023 I took myself to Grounds for Sculpture after work to arrive at 8:30 PM for Night Forms: Infinite Waves. It was such fun that I went back the next night with Lucy and then later with her and Jackson. Each time was a great experience, but wandering the grounds on my own, in the dark, was something truly memorable. I'm so glad I felt confident enough to snap so many photos and record so many moments, even if just for me to look back on one day.

Mixtape for Dublin

I'm longing to return to Dublin and see all the new-to-me utility cabinets that are scattered around the city, Love Lane, the street art, the Green, the Chester Beatty, chips with salt and vinegar at Kingfishers, and to shop for jumpers at Retro. I'm hoping to see this one, but I fear it has been replaced...

Side A

Lankum - What Will We Do When We Have No Money?

Lisa O'Neill - Rock the Machine

Declan O'Rourke - Galileo

Mic Christopher - Heyday

Solar Bears - Our Future is Underground

The Gloaming - The Lobster

Wyvern Lingo - Out of My Hands

Loah - Unveiled

Clancy - Hope In Your Heart

Phil Lynott - Old Town

Fontaines D.C. - Big

Brendan Behan - Zoological Gardens (Intro & Song)

Side B

Uly - Redlight

Kormac, Jack O'Rourke - New Day

Toby Kaar - Snapdragon

Strabe - Acid Love

Caleb Kunle - Eden

Fehdah - Like No Other

Interskalactic - The Grunt

Shit Robot - We Got a Love

Saint Sister, Jafaris - Causing Trouble

R. Kitt - Dublin is Bubblin'

Le Boom, Æ MAK - Dancing Bug

Meltybrains? - The Vine

U2 - All I Want Is You

Natalia's Snappy Filters

In going through the seemingly endless posts I saved on Instagram, I found two of Natalia being silly and adorable with Snap Chat filters. I did a screen-record of them and here you go:

(originally posted 7 October 2017)

Broken Lavender Sky

Cal Solomon Blues - Dear & The Headlights

Thunderstruck - AC/DC

Six Feet Deep - The Warning

Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars

Everybody Scream - Florence + the Machine

Violet - Hole

Hushabye Mountain - Dick Van Dyke 

Parasite - Ozzy Osbourne

Too Funky - George Michael

In a Sentimental Mood - Duke & Coltrane

Heart of Gold - Johnny Cash

Raunchy Rita - Elvin Jones & Richard Davis

Manic Depression - Hendrix

Rumble - Link Wray

Paradise - Sade

Don't Interrupt the Sorrow - Joni Mitchell

Dear Mike - Wild Colonials

Love The Way You Lie - Eminem

Hands to Heaven - Breathe

Birdland - Buddy Rich

Lovesick Blues - Felicity

Black Tears - Imelda May

Africa - Toto

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths

True Believer - Hayley Williams

El Blues del Esclavo - Mecano

Give Blood - Pete Townshend

Showdown - Thin Lizzy

- November 2025 Playlist

This lady gets me.

I'm a 100% typical Gemini. Seeing this clip from Sara Parker Design on Instagram made it even more obvious how I truly fit into my astrological sign.

Sunday Out & About

Today I picked up Lauryn and we went to meet Melanie at Milkweed in Pitman. It was noisy as all get out, but still, it was cute. Hopefully our next lunch date will be at a place where we can really chat and catch up on one another's lives. 

Then I got lucky and was able to pick up Jax at my in-laws and take him out for yummy pizza. We talked about the last season of Stranger Things and how I couldn't get past the second to last episode and threw in the proverbial towel. It was dreadful. Jackson filled me in on what happened and I can so see me trudging through the lst two eps so we can discuss it further. The best was when I gave him a set of drumsticks for his show on Sunday and he loved them. Result! I'm hoping that he and I can go hit some local record shops on MLK Day together...more on that later!