Category — Friday Blog Roundup

I am 100% not a fan of April Fools’ Day. Still, I thought Lifehacker’s post about it was interesting because it made me think about how it moved from being a personal holiday (mess with your classmates) to a public holiday (post an obnoxiously confusing joke article online).

They point out: “Traditionally pranks were at least enjoyable for the one doing the pranking, but modern April Fools’ isn’t fun for anyone.” The people making the pranks are not enjoying it because it’s work. And they don’t know how people receive it. And the people being pranced aren’t enjoying it. It’s just a terrible “holiday” all around.

So heads up for tomorrow. Maybe stay offline.

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Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

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And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “Odds & Ends & Updates” (The Road Less Travelled)
• “A Moment with LGN” (The Road Less Travelled)
• “Speaking Up for the Non-Grandmas” (No Kidding in NZ)

Okay, now my choices this week.

If you were blown away by Finding a Different Path’s post last week of her husband’s icebreaker at work, you’re going to looooooooove this update of what they did for International Women’s Day. Your mouth will once again drop open as you read.

Infertile Phoenix marks her eighth survivor anniversary, marking the time from her last IVF cycle when she stopped trying to conceive. She admits: “I had a deep cry for about ten minutes yesterday. If I do not give in and feel it, it will persist for days. So, I went with it and felt it all. And it felt awful. And then it passed.” Here’s to the feelings that flow through you, marking the day and letting it go.

Lastly, Dear John marks a year without her husband, giving John an update on all of the things he missed as they neared the anniversary. She tells him, “I did not picture myself as someone who would make plans for the next time she visited the cemetery, so…thanks for that, I guess?” Sending her deep breaths as she starts the second year.

The roundup to the Roundup: April Fools’ Day tomorrow. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between March 24 – March 31) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

I bought an interesting book that I haven’t started yet called How To Be Your Own Therapist by Owen O’Kane. I was skeptical of the idea, but O’Kane IS a therapist, and the Goodreads reviews were overwhelmingly positive. I was sold on the concept of “small, short techniques.” The whole thing is supposed to take you at most 10 minutes daily, which is how long I meditate in the morning. It feels doable to slip three- to four-minute thought breaks into a day.

Putting this out there in case anyone else finds this helpful.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff.

Okay, now my choices this week.

Finding a Different Path recounts her husband’s icebreaker at work. It’s not just the question that will make you shake your head; it’s the new boss’s jaw-dropping response. Click over to read it.

Lastly, Infertile Phoenix also has an infertility-at-work story. I love the clarification of her response that it’s okay: “Thank you for saying that. I don’t say ‘it’s okay’ dismissively. For a long time, it definitely wasn’t okay at all. But it’s okay now.” It’s a wonderful realization. Go read the whole post to understand.

The roundup to the Roundup: Interesting book. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between March 17 – March 24) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

A local vegan restaurant sent out a newsletter featuring vegan colcannon and stew. I am debating throwing all dinner plans out the window so we can partake before it’s gone with St. Patrick’s Day.

Kottke.org is 25 years old. He writes, “Kottke.org is older than Google. 25 years is more than half of my life, spanning four decades (the 90s, 00s, 10s, and 20s) and around 40,000 posts — almost cartoonishly long for a medium optimized for impermanence.” It’s a remarkable feat.

I got myself a paid Zoom account because I wanted one. Just for me. I kind of love it hardcore. It’s silly that I waited this long or used a work one when I wanted to hold a longer chat. Instead of “buy yourself flowers,” I show myself that I care about myself by buying access to digital accounts. It’s kind of like flowers, only not flowers.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff.

Okay, now my choices this week.

No Kidding in NZ  has a post that taught me that Allison Janney is in a television show I didn’t know about. That wasn’t the main takeaway, BUT I really love this message from the show: “Overall, it reinforces that women have worth just because they are here, because they exist, because they are trying to be better. It emphasises that women deserve to be happy and respected. All of us. We are worthy.” We are. Full sentence.

Lastly, I love this story from Scientist on the Roof. I will tempt you with this: “Those secret Matzos – they made their way across the country, from Riga, where Baba Tanya ended up after the war, all the way to the Far East. Because our family mailed a package of Matzos to us. My parents did not do any religious stuff, but those Matzos – they were pretty special.” You need to go over and read the whole thing.

The roundup to the Roundup: A bunch of thoughts. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between March 10 – March 17) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

I’m going to see Kinky Boots for a second time this weekend. I went a few weeks ago — it was my first time seeing the play — and I loved it so much that I’m going back. That show proves why we need art. Because it can change a mood. I went feeling blah. I came out feeling elated. All from two and half hours of drag queens dancing on a conveyor belt in thigh-high boots. It was glorious.

Similarly, I’m just waiting for season 3 of Ted Lasso this week. I want to spend a half hour per night watching nice people do nice things and win.

It’s a hard news cycle. Happy art can make a happy heart.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff.

Okay, now my choices this week.

The Next 15000 Days encounters a bizarre growth mindset conversation. Click over to see the most frustrating use of the word “yet.”

Lastly, It’s Inconceivable takes us through some infertility observations. She sarcastically asks: “Did you know that when you get to be a woman of a certain age you become invisible? Not only does your hair fade to grey, so does your personality, attributes, opinions, dress sense – everything apparently.” But really, click over to read the whole thing because she taught me the term: “the most Selfish Fuckstick in living history.”

The roundup to the Roundup: Go watch something fun. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between March 3 – March 10) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.

2020 was the last time I sent mishloach manot for Purim. It was right at the start of COVID, and I questioned the intelligence of dropping off baked goods for friends and family. But we had already made the cookies and candies, and everything was ready to go. That was the last time I did a major project like that.

I only made treats for the twins and Josh for the past few years. But this year, we took a baby step back into the mishloach manot game. We didn’t have a theme — for the first time — but we made treats for immediate family, a friend, and Josh’s office. It was weird to open the packaging supplies box, which hadn’t been opened since February 2020. Or pull out ribbon I last saw three years ago.

Happy Purim Monday night to all who celebrate.

*******

Stop procrastinating. Go make your backups. Don’t have regrets.

Seriously. Stop what you’re doing for a moment. It will take you fifteen minutes, tops. But you will have peace of mind for days and days. It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

*******

And now the blogs…

But first, second, helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week. To read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “In Limbo Once Again: Long COVID This Time” (Silent Sorority)

Okay, now my choices this week.

A Separate Life talks about the blogger’s dilemma: you have so much to say until it’s time to sit down and write. But I snorted at the last line. Well played.

Lastly, Infertile Phoenix connects emotions to the time of year. I love this opening: “I can tell we are on the other side of winter. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still winter. It’s still cold and there is still snow on the ground. But there is less of it. It is melting. In another month or two, it will feel like spring.” Just capturing that knowledge that you’ve turned a corner. Even if you’re still in the middle of things. Again, I love the last line.

The roundup to the Roundup: Happy Purim. Your weekly backup nudge. And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between February 24 – March 3) and not the blog’s main URL. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week. Read the original open thread post here.