129 Comments

Erin, I would love to see a deep dive in MM and the gospel of MM! She is my patron saint and I know her gospel isn’t accepted by the Church, but would love to learn more! This article made me so happy.

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Hi Everyone - I need a favor if anyone can help. My daughter just came out of a very brutal marriage (SA + mental abuse), and has 4 young children (ages 11, 10, 6, 5). She’s going back to work since being a stay at home mom, starting over and gaining her independence. She’s a 7th grade ELA teacher. Her ex has not paid any child support/alimony and she’s been struggling to get the kids backpacks, school supplies, shoes, clothes, etc. We helped her out enough with that so that they’re set on that end. What she needs help with is clearing her classroom list. She has a large list, but she’s starting our new and from scratch (so her list is expansive). I would say her #1 goal is to stock her classroom library. I know so many folks are struggling, and I would graciously appreciate any help, even if it’s just a pencil. Here is a link to her Amazon list. I was not sure where else to put this. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/ls/SDC39RYY1BQP?triggerElementID=huddles&ref_=wl_cl_ll_vl

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Since all of my old friends do not in fact live on adjoining properties to me, I had to go by myself to see the new Leonard Cohen documentary (trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11IPQYZMXjc&t=17s) and there is no one here I can force to listen to me go on and on about him. I have A LOT of thoughts. I have been into his music for a long time, but I don't think I was at a point in life where I could really get my head around it until recently. If you can find a theater playing this movie, please please go see it. It's such a beautiful portrait.

I saw the Diana Butler Bass sermon about Mary the Tower this week and it blew my mind. I now have several tabs worth of Elizabeth Schrader's research to make my way through. I really need everyone to get on board with Mary Magdalene.

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These tweets are hotter than OK in July.

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Isn't the dirty coke basically what Lavern drinks in Lavern and Shirley but with a twist? (i'm 33... I shouldn't know this.)

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Illinois thinks it is Gryffindor... it is actually Hufflepuff. As soon as I saw the headline, I thought, "Illinois is Hufflepuff." I can't say why - other Illinoisans have thoughts?

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The only comments I have.

1. vermont totally belongs in hufflepuff.

2. I'm sorry, since when do kids go back to school the second week of august? Here they start on the 31st.

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Hello everyone!

So that flamin' seasonal depression is what has gotten to me! I missed my back deck so much this past week! Fingers crossed that the forecast stays the way it does for next week since it's supposed to be cooler atm.

Things have gotten more stable around here- insurance and car stress is working out, transitions are becoming bearable, and I am looking forward to starting classes in a week or two for some added structure.

My treasures:

-We planted another round of cool crops (I know that that sounds like a joke right now, but frost begins in October in IA). Lettuces and peas are just starting to sprout up and they make my heart happy. Some marigolds that I grew from seed from the lovely @Rowen White (seriously go follow her) finally bloomed and it has made me so excited to start more plants from seed this winter.

-I finally finished 'This Here Flesh' by Cole Arthur Riley after starting it in March. What an absolutely magical, lif-changing book. I did not want it to end.

-I started teaching piano again for the first time since The Before Times (as my friend calls pre-Covid) and I love it.

Have the best weekend available and may all your thermostats and portable AC's or whatever you use to keep cool, function well for you. All my love. :)

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Happy Friday! Thanks for the links and the awesome tweets as always, Erin.

🏖 To close out summer, we try to bbq/grill/cook out and do something very summery - especially if it involves water (Kayak? Swim? Play "Water Wars Ala Jimmy Fallon. https://youtu.be/wLbSXX8kcpQ )

🍎 To kick off fall, I put out a big vase of sunflowers and a bowl of red apples on the kitchen island with new cool notebooks and packets of cool pens. Even if they aren't officially needed for classes, its fun to get school supplies that feel special somehow. And we have cinnamon apples (sliced apples sauteed on the stove in butter and cinnamon and sugar) or apple coffee cake for breakfast.

💰 My biggest treasure this week is that the Bananapants season of my Bananapants project is coming to a close and I can finally stop working overtime all the time. I can finally unpack and set up my house that we bought in April. I can finally have friends over for brunch and maybe listen to a podcast and work in the garden. Looking forward to being a person.

💰In the spirit of my new phase of life, I am having a friend to brunch tomorrow. She has had a hard, stressful summer and I'm hoping to give her 2 hours of rest. Scrambled eggs, trader Joe's croissants, a bottle of champagne left over from our anniversary…

🌳My husband surprised me with a portable hammock - something like this one: https://a.co/d/gVjCY89 and at 8:30pm when I can finally stop for the day I go out in the still sweltering heat and rock myself under the tree and listen to the neighbor kids play in their yard.

🃏 He also got me a set of the worlds smallest uno cards as a joke. But I will show him. I'm going to make him play with me this weekend. https://a.co/d/4otGykV

📚 I am reading RHE's "Inspired" - didn't have the heart to read it until now. As expected, good stuff. Blasted through "People We Meet on Vacation" - a millennial romance that felt kind of like a Norah Ephron Rom-com. The characters were funny! I laughed out loud a lot with this one. I did not read the book club book. Whomp whomp. I will miss you all again. Next I will read - Blake Crouch "Upgrade" which got a green light on a certain podcast we know.

📺 I have not watched TV in weeks, but I am hoping to finally start Stranger Things S4.

📻 Likewise I am behind on all my podcasts, but on Sunday I hope to unpack our books and games so I can start to catch up.

Looking forward to seeing your 💰 and 🗑in the comments!

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Most of the US is Slytherin- absolutely. Hawaii???Nope, no way. 1, there are no snakes in Hawaii other than in the zoo. 2, Slytherin looks after itself above all else and that is the very opposite of Hawaii values/culture. Hawaii is Hufflepuff and proudly so. Humble, hardworking, selfless. They shared their land and that’s how it got stolen.

🌈 I never forgot how much I missed rain while living in Southern California but I did forget how much I love rainbows. We’ve seen them most days since we’ve been back and they always make me happy.

🫠 Its particularly humid right now and I’m NOT used to it. Admittedly my flaming seasonal depression is actually just flaming seasonal RAGE. Do not touch me or be too loud in my presence right now lest I lose my sh*t. (Everything is louder when I’m hot, ok?)

🤯 Beyoncé’s album - ho.ly.mo.ly.

🤣 one of my new co workers looks like Bryan Cranston and Mr. Bean had a baby. Sometimes I look at him and think “Walter?” and others I’m waiting for him to wrap a gift that is not for my wife.

https://images.app.goo.gl/yt4q1xEVAsgd5ns88

Thanks to anyone who prayed for my silent request- situation is not resolved but I’m content with the place it is now.

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I'm not 100% sure why Utah made the Gryffindor list, but possibly related is the fact that we've been drinking dirty Cokes on the reg for years. 😆 Although we'd probably argue that a true dirty soda has coconut flavoring. My favorite drink from a soda place (and they are a dime a dozen out here) is Dr Pepper with raspberry puree and cream. *Chef's kiss*

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FULLY CACKLED at the "Flamin' Seasonal Depression" tweet. Twitter be fire this week

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Hi, Swipes!

Flaming seasonal depression IS A THING, y’all. I struggle so much more in the summer than in the winter. I swear I only ever liked summer because of vacation as a kid. I can only hope the return of fall is soon.

The tweet about everyone moving back--yes. It made me think of this song from Sara Groves: https://open.spotify.com/track/6XvbJGvtchXT7SsSyuZIfr?si=LWtFNsVaRHeOTArBQ4H8IA “I wish all the people I love the most could gather in one place and know each other and love each other well.” Yes.

Treasures:

- Since my mom’s diagnosis meant she couldn’t come to PA when my SIL had my nephew, I came up early this week to watch my niece while they were in the hospital. Toddlers are exhausting but she’s so sweet, and I get to meet my new nephew today when they get home! Also, my mom finished her second round of chemo and is so far doing very well. ❤️

Loving reading about your weeks and I also need ideas for summer closing/school opening ceremonies!

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I don't know what's happening but Wed and Thurs have been a dumpster fire! Starting with the turds again this week, lol

💩 My landlord did sell the apartment I rent, the closing was yesterday and while they're happy to have me continue to rent no one has reached out about rental terms or to confirm that they will not be raising my rent. 🤞🤞

💩 I preordered Anne Bogel's kids' reading journal to give as a gift and it got misdelivered! In Hickory NE/NW makes a big difference but this address doesn't even exist in NE, so where did it go???

💩 My sleep was doing much better until Thurs am when I woke up at 3:30 and just never went back to sleep. I woke up around 4 this morning, did some journaling, and happily went back to sleep for another 2 hours so that is a huge blessing.

💩 Things with 'old man coworker' were not good yesterday and I'm just tired of dealing with it. I know that setting boundaries means you have to remind people of the boundaries, but I just need him to get with the program.

Ok, now to remember some treasures...

✨ One of our patrons regularly brings us veggies, so I've made this amazing tomato galette at least three times now and I love it every time. https://joythebaker.com/2020/08/a-summer-tomato-galette/

✨ I read People We Meet on Vacation after putting it off last summer and it was lovely. Honestly probably my favorite of all three.

✨ This week I'm meeting up with a few of my former students who are leaving for college in a few weeks and I can't wait!!

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Long time reader, first time commenter!

Usually as a teacher, my back to school rituals are buying a new first day outfit and a new lunch box. However, I started a new job and am now working from home, having all sorts of weird emotions about watching all my friends go back to work after the summer. Is it normal to grieve even if it is a good change in life?

As a kid, our back to school ritual was my mom took us out to an early breakfast (McDonald's) to help us get back into the routine of getting up early again.

BUT as a midwesterner I am ready for fall weather and all the fun fall things. Maybe mostly because this is the first year my husband is not in school in the fall and we can actually celebrate and do the fun things together, like pumpkin patches and sunflower fields!

Anyone have any fun fall rituals you are looking forward to?

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Happy Friday! We are leaving 95-degree Denver tomorrow for the Outer Banks, where it is only 85 but *feels like* 95. We are all v excited to see the ocean and fly on an airplane. The last time we flew as a family was six years ago, when the kids were ten and six, and let me tell you: traveling with teens is SO MUCH EASIER. And we haven't even left yet! They packed their own suitcases! They organized the travel toiletries! They made individual snack bags for all of us!

We start school two days after we get back from vacation, which won't be particularly fun. But we are looking forward to our first (and last) day of school ritual: we drive through Sonic for happy hour slushes and tots, then go to a nearby brewery where my husband and I get beers and we all sit and debrief. At the beginning of the year we find out who's in their class, which teachers are new, etc. At the end of the year we do a "best and worst" for the year and discuss summer plans. We've been doing it for six years now.

Gotta go! Unlike my kids, I haven't done a lick of packing. 🤪

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