Category — Friday Blog Roundup

I got to see my best friend from childhood for the first time in two years this week. She lives now in Canada, though her parents still live locally, and she hasn’t been able to see them for two years either due to the closed borders. So… it was an emotional reunion; to go over to her childhood home and sit outside and talk with her parents and see my friend.

(P.S. Visiting her is my empty nest plan instead of wine. I’m just going to her house for long weekends to eat Canadian candy because it’s better than US candy.)

There are so few people in my life anymore from my childhood. I was lamenting that recently with the ChickieNob because I had discovered a funny connection between an old middle school friend and another person’s sibling, and I had no one to tell who would care. Everything seemed so important back then, and I don’t even remember most of those people now when I flipped recently through my old yearbook with the kids. I certainly don’t remember the meaning behind most of the things we wrote in each other’s yearbooks.

Maybe it helped the twins put their own experience into perspective. It is important now, but with the exception of a few people you’ll carry forward into adulthood, the weight of it will slide away. The people who are upsetting you today will be the people you only vaguely remember tomorrow.

*******

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 in order 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. In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff…

Okay, now my choices this week.

Much Ado About Nothing has been having strange dreams about loss. She writes, “There isn’t much in common with any of them, yet all involve a small baby somehow. A baby I hold and help care for yet isn’t mine to keep. It’s been 3 years since my last pregnancy ended.” I think the rest of the world thinks there is a day where you step over a line and no longer feel sad about pregnancy loss. But as she writes, it’s something that stays with you and pops up from time to time. She is definitely not alone in feeling this way. I think there are a lot of us who feel the same way, too.

Another Canadian on the go! The Road Less Travelled writes about seeing her family for the first time in 22 months for Thanksgiving. She writes, “When we arrived at my parents’ house an hour or so later, I sobbed in the embrace of both of my aging parents — a little slower, a little more frail and a little more stooped since the last time I saw them. I am beyond thankful to be here with them all.” I got emotional reading it, and I’m not even in her family! I had a huge smile with this post.

Lastly, Finding a Different Path created an awesome anniversary gift for her husband. I’ll let you click over and read about it. And, yes, she does look smoldering in the picture she posted. It’s a great story.

The roundup to the Roundup: I got to see my friend. 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 October 8 – October 15) 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.

We recently discovered The Other Two, which I call either “The Two of Us” or “The Other One,” never getting the name correct. But this time I was linking to it, so I saw the name. Win!

It’s one of the many shows across streaming services that Lorne Michaels has his fingers in, and it is very very very funny. We’re still back on Season 1 because we like to watch shows after everyone else has moved on from them.

It is our new Schitt’s Creek, making us laugh when we’re in poopie moods.

*******

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 in order 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. In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• None… sniff…

Okay, now my choices this week.

Infertile Phoenix breaks down the verb and noun of the same word: “I really wanted TO parent. Yes, I wanted to BE a parent, but I also wanted to do the parenting.” She realizes that she’s still getting to take that action, albeit in a different form than how she imagined. I love this idea of pushing against word limits and finding all the other spaces the definition fits.

The Barreness tells stories about going in circles. Beginning with a gallery opening and ending at the core: “I use to be able to do laundry lists of tasks in hours, weekends were full of tasks done and things completed… now I am lucky if I change clothes and do laundry!” Yes to all of this. Every small thing that doesn’t work out feels like it throws everything else off, and even the things that work out sometimes just feel exhausting.

Lastly, Risa Kerslake almost had her vacation upended, but a shift in plans saved the day. It was a getaway for two that became a getaway for one after her kids got sick. I love that she packed up the car and continued with changed plans. It sounds like such a relaxing (recharging?) time.

The roundup to the Roundup: The Two of Us… NO… The Other Two. 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 October 1 – October 8) 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.

As much as I love Carolyn Hax and advice columns in general, I love the idea of fake letters sent to advice columnists even more. What an art form! “I learned that a good letter is defined by two opposing values: it must be plausible, but it must also be ridiculous.” To write a letter that sounds just this side of real with a heaping tablespoon of “this can’t be real… right?” to boot—and to get 12 out of 25 answered. That is an impressive feat.

This article amused me to no end.

*******

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 in order 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. In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “You’re the Expert” (Infertile Phoenix)
• “Convincing Myself” (Stirrup Queens)—thanks, Jess!

Okay, now my choices this week.

A Half-Baked Life has a post about heavy thoughts and dessert. She unpacks her daughter’s fear about death and about one day losing her mother. She writes, “We did not talk about pregnancy loss, but we’ve talked about it before, and she knows that this is there too, the specter in the background.” It’s a heavy post, made lighter by cake. But yes, it’s hard to keep your brain in the here and now.

Family Building with a Twist processes the feelings that Mondays kick off, that stand in place of all the larger emotions that follow her the rest of the week. She explains about Mondays: “And it includes garbage needing to be dealt with. It sounds silly, but I don’t know…garbage symbolizes so much, and it is a huge pain. Garbage night symbolizes to me one of those tasks that I didn’t have to do previously but now must do now. And I fucking hate it.” It is a raw post (with a scary incident in the water), and the only thing to do is abide.

Hopelessly Infertile and Surrounded by Fertiles writes about daughter and son days on Facebook (who made up these holidays?) and how the posts make her feel. All I can say is that she’s not alone. I bet a lot of other people would raise their hand and say, “Me too.”

Lastly, Kmina’s Blog writes about anxiety and the pandemic. She says, “I keep letting little things ruin my mood. Why? Well, a leaking sink might or might not be a little thing, it all depends – my most favourite answers to most questions.” And I love the wish at the end: “I hope your anxiety is manageable and not giving you too much of a hard time.” Sometimes that is the best we can hope for.

The roundup to the Roundup: Fake letters. 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 24 – October 1) 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’ve been careful only entering Goodreads giveaways for books I really really want to read, AND I’VE WON ANOTHER BOOK. Yes, I have to scream that. Goodreads giveaways are the best thing ever.

I won a copy of Sophie Hannah’s The Killings at Kingfisher Hill—a print copy that just came in the mail. I have to finish a few other books that I’ve already started, but expect it to show up in a “best books of the month” post. Because, yes, I already know that it will be a best book. I loved her other Agatha Christie books.

*******

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 in order 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. In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

• “#WorldChildlessWeek 2021 Day One: Our Stories” (Finding a Different Path)

Okay, now my choices this week.

Empty Arms Broken Heart started a story about a foster placement that moved my heart into my throat as I read it. She could use support in the aftermath of a difficult situation.

The Next 15000 Days explains why she blogs. She started the space for herself but she keeps writing because of the connections. She explains, “I just love if there is someone reading the lines I write and she (or he) feels that just reading my thoughts help ease her (or his) pain.” Such a good reason to keep writing.

Lastly, it was World Childless Week, and No Kidding in NZ talks about walking the line of openness. How much should she share online? She write, “I was torn because whilst I want to educate people about the way they view, judge, talk to and think about childless people, I also don’t want to make it see as if I want pity. Navigating that fine line isn’t always easy.” It isn’t, but I love that last line of the post: “I much prefer to say that I am not kidding. It’s the truth, it doesn’t judge, and the play on words pleases me. I am Mali, and I am not kidding.” Brilliant! Go read the whole post.

The roundup to the Roundup: I won another 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 September 17 – 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.

Remember when I said a million years ago that I wasn’t getting a watch? Well, I lied. And I got myself a watch. It has definitely made me move more because I compulsively close my rings. As in, I’ve never not closed my rings. Even after the 2nd shot—I forced myself to walk for 20 minutes before curling up in a little ball again. So it’s good for that.

But I’ve now had it for 180 days, which means that I finally can see my trends. It was pretty much the most exciting thing that happened in my week. I immediately opened the app the second I completed my move goal for the 180th time to see ALL OF MY NEW GOALS.

This thing is like a goal-setting machine.

No, I mean, seriously. All it does is keep making up more reasons why I need to move. And all I want to do it sit and read. So… it’s kind of like a frenemy who lives on my arm.

But the trends are so pretty. Well done, UX designer, who used such happy colours.

*******

And now the blogs…

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

• None… sniff…

Okay, now my choices this week.

Searching for Our Silver Lining has done amazing posts on COVID-19, and this one is no exception. She’s straightforward and backs up everything with data. She writes about her family’s experience with COVID-19 as well as the greater world: “Over the past few months, I’ve watched a nation go from celebrating the end of a pandemic to return to lockdown.” I love the hope (and the weight) expressed in the ending.

Infertile Phoenix highlights the ways she has changed and the triggers that bring back up feelings about infertility. She gives an example: “One of my close friends from graduate school had her second baby. She texted me a pic of her and her newborn and… IT DIDN’T MAKE ME SAD. This is a Big Deal.” It IS a big deal. Though the comment(s) that she recounts in the aggravation section will make your head explode.

Lastly, It’s Inconceivable is back with an update and a post about friendships. She writes: “Anyone ever heard of the term ‘Friendship Apocalypse’ (to quote Jody Day). It’s a real thing and I love the terminology! It definitely exists in the CNBC community and I bear witness to many women noticing their friendships fading away as the passage of time slips past as their peers who go on to have children.” It’s about making friends when you’re older and nurturing friendships and letting the ones slip away that need to slip away.

The roundup to the Roundup: I’m going to keep moving and moving and moving. 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 10 – 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.