Category — Friday Blog Roundup

Rosh Hashanah begins this weekend on Sunday night. (I’ll write my Microblog Monday post ahead of time.) For the past two years, we’ve been doing services online. It was weird the first year, but felt more normal the second. We debated for about two seconds whether we’d feel comfortable going masked in-person, and then Josh shrugged his shoulders and said, “Singing?” and it suddenly felt like the decision was made. Services in our pajamas, with our guinea pig.

Is it meaningful? Kind of. I think you need to work harder to connect with the moment, but maybe it keeps me more mindful of what is happening. It’s harder for my mind to wander when I have to focus to hear the person on the screen and follow along.

I hope to go back in-person one day. I’d like to see our friends. But this year, we’re home.

*******

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:

• “Applying a Lesson Learned from Infertility” (Infertile Phoenix)
• “It Wasn’t Meant To Be” (No Kidding in NZ)

Okay, now my choices this week.

Finding a Different Path asks an excellent question — even if you go through a similar thing as someone else, do you know how they feel? She makes the distinction: “There is a huge difference between ‘I know what it is experience loss, and I feel for you in your loss’ and ‘I’ve experienced loss, so I know EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL.’ I don’t. No one does.” Perfectly said.

Lastly, By the Brooke gave me all of the feels with her post about an exchange with her daughter. Maybe I processed it through a different frame because I know about the unspoken loss behind the written words, but I thought she captured such a gorgeous moment in a gorgeous way. Holding onto a moment (“I want to remember last night, a warm evening in September.”) and wanting to keep it forever.

The roundup to the Roundup: Happy new year from home. 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 September 16 – 23) 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.

Severance on Apple TV is the best thing I’ve seen in a very long time. When I say that to people who have seen it, they respond, “YES! That was brilliant. When is the next season coming out?” And when I say it to people who haven’t seen it, they respond with an “okay.” I was once in the “okay” camp, not realizing that I was bypassing an amazing, twisty, thought-provoking show. Then I saw it, and I moved to the other side, preaching to everyone that it is best 9 or so hours of television I’ve seen since… I don’t know… The Good Place?

I went in knowing almost nothing, and that’s probably the best way to see it.

*******

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:

• “Pathways, Not Barriers” (No Kidding in NZ)
• “Full Heart, Empty Arms” (Infertile Phoenix)
• “Summer Highlights by the Numbers” (Finding a Different Path)

Okay, now my choices this week.

It is World Childless Week, and there are many posts up around the web. The Road Less Travelled covers Day One’s theme: Our Stories. She explains: “As usual, I didn’t manage to get my act together to write something new — but I’m always happy to promote WCW — and last year, it occurred to me that I’ve covered many of the topics in my blog over the almost (gulp) 15 years I’ve been writing here.” Blog archives to the rescue! She pulls from past content on the power of stories.

PocoBrat writes about the last time doing something. The example she gives — picking up your child for the last time — is something I think about a lot because I was cognizant of the final time I picked up the Wolvog, though I don’t remember the last time I picked up the ChickieNob. I’m also beyond impressed that she can lift an adult!

Lastly, Family Building with a Twist celebrated a birthday and muses on having a very short beauty routine these days. She writes, “We’ve learned a lot since March of 2020. And if you don’t like my face as it is, minimally made up, then chances are you won’t like what I’m going to express or have opinions on.” Absolute yes.

The roundup to the Roundup: Go watch Severance if you like good tv. 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 September 9 – 16) 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.

ChickieNob and I had our own London Bridge, a plan for Queen Elizabeth’s death if it should happen while she was at school. I’m glad she was in a class with her brother when their teacher told them the news.

Even though it was a half hour to the end of the school day, I jumped in the car and drove over to get her. We drank tea and cried and watched the BBC coverage. I convinced her to take a brisk walk — I think her majesty would approve — and finally released her to sit quietly with her thoughts. She’s sad, but she’ll be okay.

*******

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.

Dubliner in Deutschland muses about things that have changed (or not changed) about the pandemic. I feel the same way: “It feels strange not wearing a mask after being so used to wearing one!” Sometimes I think about how the masks have changed — how we can look at old pictures and think, “Oh, I wouldn’t wear that type of mask anymore. I now wear this one.”

Lastly, Jewish IVF explains why she started a blog while going through infertility, and how the space has become a refuge. She writes, “I can take as little or as much time as I want to formulate thoughts. I can abandon thoughts if I feel like I’m finished thinking about them. I can look back at old pieces and see how I’ve evolved.” Yes. To all of that. Tell her why you write.

The roundup to the Roundup: The loss of Queen Elizabeth. 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 September 2 – 9) 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 spent the first day of school crying on and off. I cried hard when the kids left the house. Cried harder once Josh left, and I was alone. And then cried whenever I thought about the fact that it was the last first day. I cleaned my face before they came home.

Josh and I made a digital album of all of the first days and gave it to the twins the day before, so I only had one photo to slip in on the actual first day and then zero distractions.

I read a bunch of very mature social media posts from people talking about how they’ll miss their child, but they are ready and their child is ready to spread their wings and fly. You will not read anything like that here. I am a mess. I will be a mess this year. I realized this week that I’m not really interested in not being a mess because… that is who I am. And to change how I feel is to change who I am at the core. To pretend that a different way of being is somehow “better” when it is just… different.

So expect zero maturity. Zero ability to bask serenely while the twins go off into the world. You will read no advice on how to let go gracefully. My only goals this year are to try to be in the moment and not cry in front of them. If I succeed even partway, I’m calling it a win.

*******

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 admits sadness bubbles up sometimes. She returns from celebrating her grandmother’s 85th birthday and thinks, “I am so grateful for the life that we live, but it doesn’t erase that when we turn 85 (hopefully), there will be no giant picture of all the descendants. Because there will be no descendants. There will be no family to throw a party and make a speech about the impact our lives have had on the family.” It is a post about being happy with life while still acknowledging the losses we carry with us, and how those two realities exist at the same time, neither one negating the other.

Lastly, one of the nicest things about blogs is that wealth of community wisdom. No Kidding in NZ pulls together a post of it. She looks back on comments from healing posts, giving the reader a 360 view of wisdom between the original post and the comments on it. It’s a fantastic idea.

The roundup to the Roundup: Hard first week. 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 August 26 – September 2) 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.

After years of making fun of Josh and his love affair with his Yeti cup, I have tried and given in to the magic of the Yeti. It keeps drinks hot or cold for hours. Two hour meeting, no problem. (Well, I mean, a two hour meeting is a problem, but I have my tea to help me power through.) My iced coffee is now followed by a decaf English breakfast and sometimes a Twinings’ raspberry and lemon in the afternoon.

It feels positively luxurious.

I like to annoy the twins by talking about how I’m now part of Yeti nation, living the Yeti life, and part of Team Yeti.

They’ll learn, in time. They’ll borrow the cup and see the difference. They’ll understand the siren song of the Yeti.

In all seriousness, my long cups of tea really do make an emotional difference in my day.

*******

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:

• “Musings on a Soft Heart” (TheFrugalGirl)
• “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” (Afterward Honesty)

Okay, now my choices this week.

I had Afterward Honesty’s post for this week. She revisits her old hometown, returning after nine years away. I love this piece: “As we proceeded through the quaint, well maintained town center, and I laid my eyes on the very sidewalk that used to carry me from school to my weekly flute lesson, I felt myself beaming into young Sarah in ways new and unexplored.” It’s a beautiful post about seeing an old place through a new lens, one that incorporates all that came after. But I especially loved the question at the end.

Lastly, The Uterus Monologues has written a book. She explains: “Just over a year ago, I started writing a book. A book about everything that happened on the road to having a baby. A book about miscarriage. A book about how society treats miscarriage – or, more to the point, doesn’t treat miscarriage.” It’s coming out this winter, but you can order it now.

The roundup to the Roundup: Living the Yeti life. 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 August 19 – 26) 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.