Mr. Crowley

Last month the School of Rock celebrated Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath in a stellar show. One of their best ever. (I loved at the end when everyone was on stage and clapped for Ozzy and someone screamed SHAR-ON!!!! Just like Ozzy used to on the old Osbournes series.) It was so much fun to watch Jackson drum on Mr. Crowley and on War Pigs. The best was when Jackson spotted me filming him and smiled. I'm always worried that the kids in my life merely tolerate me and my neediness to spend time with them and that they actually can't wait to get rid of me. A smile from the coolest fourteen year old to ever exist made it so worth all the anxiety and frets that accompany my going to his shows. 

May 2026 Donations

While going through all the photos on my phone, which, including videos and screenshots, et cetera, is well over 26,000, and that is after I already deleted nearly 6,000! Anyway, while going through all that, I found this screenshot from Amber's IG page (back in November 2018) and decided that it was the universe telling me to donate money to Planned Parenthood this month.

Planned Parenthood

At Planned Parenthood our mission is to ensure all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. Founded in 1916, Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider, educator, and passionate advocate here in the U.S. as well as a strong partner to health and rights organizations around the world. Each year, Planned Parenthood delivers vital sexual and reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people. 

A Key Role in Public Health 

Community is the heart of Planned Parenthood and we strive to be good neighbors in partnership with on-the-ground health and rights organizations. Our expert health care professionals are dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate, and affordable care. No matter what. As a leader in sexual and reproductive services, Planned Parenthood is proud to serve the diverse needs of local communities through a national network of more than 600 health centers operated by our affiliates.

Planned Parenthood health centers provide a wide range of services — namely preventive care,  including birth control, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and screenings for cervical and other cancers. Our dedicated doctors, nurses, and support staff take time to not only talk with patients, but to see them for who they are as individuals and support the life they envision for themselves.

Science-backed Education and Resources

As a respected leader in sex education, Planned Parenthood delivers programs, resources, and tools in classrooms, communities, and online that help people make informed choices about their sexuality and relationships, so they can lead full and healthy lives. We are committed to advancing the health of young people in this country by providing comprehensive sex education that is medically accurate, culturally responsive, equitable and accessible — as well as inclusive of varying gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations. Planned Parenthood provides education and outreach to 1.1 million people every year, and millions more through digital sex education tools.

A Leader in the Fight for Reproductive Health, Access, and Rights

Planned Parenthood has 17 million supporters nationwide — activists and donors committed to helping us promote policies that protect and advance access to a full range of sexual and reproductive care and education. The Planned Parenthood Action Network engages activists in all 50 states to stay on top of the issues and get involved with campaigns that advance and protect access to reproductive rights and health.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund — an advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America — is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization; it champions policies that expand people's access to medically accurate care and education as well as the freedom to make their own decisions about sexual and reproductive care. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.

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!

Jane Graverol

In September of 2022 I saw the below paintings on Instagram and thought they were absolutely stunning, especially the first one. Just gorgeous.

Country Dining Room

Oh to have a home with oodles and oodles of bookshelves from floor to ceiling!!!

 

(photo kidnapped from bugungunlerdenkitap Instagram account - September 2024)

I Like to Kick...

(video kidnapped from Molly Shannon's IG account - theofficialsuperstar - on 3 February 2018)

Dear Lisa of Tomorrow

Originally written 11 November 2023, most likely a writing prompt for where I'd be at age 50:

Hello fifty year old Star! A lot has happened these last three years and you accomplished so much! You survived that dreadful upstairs neighbour and a depression unlike anything you'd felt before, and came out of it striving for better health overall. You've gotten yourself mostly out of debt and seem to be a bit more financially careful. You've even been able to travel more lately - back to Dublin and exploring more of Ireland plus out to Ohio in Phineas, your zippy lil' 'rolla Hatchback - to spend time alone plus time out and about with the Coleman gals. You're still hooked on documentary films and audiobooks and all things "Hart to Hart". You're living at the same place for now but it's much more homey and the lack of noise from the neighbours has been blissful. Jackson is (can you believe it?) fourteen and so tall! He's still fun to hang out with and hasn't gotten sick of you yet. Lucy is ten and still the sweetest girl in the world. She's cheering and has fun seeing Jackson play drums for school. I love seeing them and we've had the chance to make so many new memories together. You were finally able to shed those few extra dozen pounds (lol) and can finally wear all those cute clothes you've been hoarding for decades. Things are definitely better. Maybe they won't improve and you'll have to go with Plan S, but maybe not. At least there's options! Keep staying positive and especially KEEP MOVING! Dick Van Dyke knows what he's talking about. Try to keep going and I'll be back here in the past rooting for you and crossing my fingers!

The only thing on this list I remembered after writing it was that if I got a new or new-to-me car, his name would be Phineas and would have to be a Toyota Corolla Hatchback. When sweet lil' Roark was dying and I was looking for a new ride in April of 2025, I was determined to make one thing come true for me before I turned fifty. Phineas was it.

Also, Lucy loves that Jackson plays drums but she definitely does not like going to his performances - the noise level is too much for her. Oh, and he is crazy tall. Already 5 feet 11 and a half inches!! But I so enjoy seeing the two of them together and how they are more like brother and sister than cousins. They genuinely love eachother. Earlier this year I was talking to Jax about how some kid was bullying our sweet girl and he went into big brother protective mode - "What's his name? I'm gonna beat his ass." I'm so grateful that the world's kindest little lady has the best guy in the world on her side.

I did drive out to Ohio in October of 2025 in Phineas and was able to catch up with Autumn, Molly, and to see Maureen one last time.

In March of this year I spent a little bit of time of Dublin with Isabella - one morning of walking around to our favourite spots and one day where we checked into a hotel, showered, and went to bed at 3:51pm. Ha! (We were both exhausted.) I loved showing Bella around Antwerp and introducing her to my favourite little spots, the delights of Belgian waffles and frites, plus I got to check out a few new-to-me places, like the Cathedral. We had five full days in the city and mixed up relaxing at the flat and talking, with shopping and wandering around the world's most beautiful city. Getting there and then back home was rough as hell, but in the end, completely worth it. It was a great way to celebrate my upcoming fiftieth birthday with one of my favourite humans ever created.

For right now, I'm taking the down time that I have to really fix up all the things in my life that are broken and in need of repair. Letting go of people that don't seem to show up for me, getting my home organised and in tip-top shape, spending more and more time with my niblings and dearest friends, and taking care of my body in a way I never had before. I want to read more, write more, maybe get my stories published at last, and most importantly, focus on accepting me and improving what I can, while striving to carve out a pocket of happiness where I feel safe and loved. I want nothing more than to revisit this post a year from now and be in a truly beautiful place in my life, where I am at peace and feeling better than ever. Here's hoping!

Bday Message from Bailey & Avery

Back in 2020, when the world was on lockdown and Ashlee and I were still actually friends, she sent me a mini movie on my birthday from her two lovely we lasses.