Getting sh*t done: we clearly have instilled in our 21 yo college student the value of getting your sh*t done during spring break - he’s been on a roll with summer program registration and car inspection and appt-making and rescheduling. #raisingpeople

Hey, I went for a walk in the sunny afternoon today. I needed a bit of a break, accompanied by some nature and deep breaths. The assabet wildlife refuge is a people refuge, too.

I bought tacos from a local stand, and flowers/chocolate from a two-locations local market. Otherwise, not a thing!

A disposable round tin holds three alpasteur tacos, on a wooden counter. Next to it is a vibrant red bottle of Jarritos watermelon soda.

Local and small:

For my financial protest today, I bought flowers and local chocolate from a small local grocery chain, and tacos from a small local burrito joint. And nothing else. Keep it small and local.

A sticker on a navy blue journal. It’s a cartoon fox holding a light blue sign that reads “respectfully, no”.

Saying no:

Saying no is always an option. Let’s practice together.

No, I’m not interested. No, that’s not going to work for me. No, thanks.

Got a new sticker for my journal, to remind me.

Hey, nothing troublesome on my pancreas so we’re good!

Don’t ignore yourself: tomorrow, I’m off work for a medical screening test. I know the world is burning down around us, but you’ve still got to put on your big girl pants and get sedated so they can stick something down your throat to make sure you don’t have cancer like your grandmother did.

Loving community: one of my church friends died late last week and I was kind of dreading facing everyone this morning. It turned out to be the most loving and supportive place to remember and love on my friend and her family. We can be the love for each other in the dark times. Miss you, Edith.

Shop local: this week I’ve eaten at an independent local bagel shop and a local tavern that sources its food from surrounding towns. I’m not ready to cut big stores out completely, but it’s on my mind.

Be neighborly: being supportive, sharing, and kind can be an act of resistance. I live in cohousing, where people choose to live in community. Just this weekend I got a secondhand sweater, shared homemade gingerbread cake, and watched my husband spread sand on sidewalks after the ice storm.

Rest when you need to: it’s February break for MA students and teachers, so I’m going to do a whole bunch of yoga and start working on being emotionally ready for my youngest to graduate high school in tumultuous times. So much, all at once.

In a new lawsuit, 17 states sue to do away with 504 protections - The Educators Room A high-stakes lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, is currently making its way through the courts, threatening crucial protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Seven...

Educate yourself: 504 plans are for students with disabilities. Blind students. Deaf students. ADHD. Anxiety. Students who have mobility needs. When Lula broke her arm? Temporary 504. Some kids need help accessing their school day, and this is bullshit. theeducatorsroom.com/in-a-new-law...

Only take what you can: today, I listened to my local NPR station while preparing supper. I had been avoiding audio news since 1/20, because print felt safer and easier to disassociate from. I made it about 15 minutes of political updates before it was enough. That was what I could handle today.

A photocopied program for Dear Edwina Jr is held from the audience perspective in front of a stage a few rows ahead. The stage has blue backlighting and several indistinguishable set pieces. There are audience members in the seats.

Finding joy: after testing negative for COVID yesterday, I went out to support my middle school students in their play this morning. The message was one of joy, positivity, and listening to your heart’s song.

Some brightness in tough times.

Start small: I’ve been laid up for a few days, but today I went out for a walk. Didn’t go back to my usual distance, but did do 0.3 miles with a neighbor. Masked, socially distant. If you can’t do it all, you can do something. Take the little steps first.

Stay safe out there.

A knitting project on a lap desk - a sweet little spring scarf in a 3-chevron pattern with pale colors. The circular knitting needles are attached still since it’s not finished yet. A little gem charm hangs from the bottom in the foreground.

Rest: no lie, I’m feeling yucky right now. So, I’m resting. Sick-day knitting, neighbor picking up some ginger ale, afternoon-nap type of resting. Self-care isn’t just the spa, friends.

Teach: I’m out of school this week with Covid, but the 6th graders are going to read an article about car racing (Newton’s Laws) and its environmental impacts (climate!) and write what I hope are thoughtful responses. Let’s get them started on the path… to scientific discourse.

Yup, turns out this is Covid. SO HAPPY I masked this morning.

Kim sits in an easy chair wearing a white medical mask, smiling at the camera. There is a yellow wall behind her with churchy windows.

Protect others: I have a mild head cold and I’m wearing a mask to church. Absolutely no need to share it, my dears. Let’s continue to normalize masking, because we care about other people.

Sounds like we have similar goals - not to remove Amazon from my life altogether, but to pause so that it’s not always my default choice. Nice!

Patience: one of my goals this year is to cut back on impulse Amazon shopping. Today I found we need another lingerie bag for laundry, and I automatically opened up my Amazon app to order one - then I closed it, and put it on my grocery shopping list for next week. I don’t need it in 24 hrs.

Lentil soup with parsley garnish, in a rectangular glass container with a metal spoon. On a faux wood-grain desk with a computer keyboard in the background.

Food: sometimes I don’t buy the garnish for a recipe at the grocery store because I don’t feel like it’s worth it for just a tiny bit of stuff. But this week I did, and I’m so happy. Parsley for the win!

Grateful: today I’m getting a third cortisone shot in my left knee, which puts off having to have it replaced for a while longer. The difference between pain and not-pain has a huge effect on my daily life, and I wish that everyone had the same kind of access.

Joy: four years ago, three eighth grade girls at my school proposed having the day off for Lunar New Year. They advocated with the school committee, made a worthwhile argument, and today they (and I!) got the day off from school. They’re now seniors and got the enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Packing leftovers for lunch is my favorite - and the goal is to have delicious food (leftover burrito bowl today) with as little packaging waste as possible. Today, just the aluminum seltzer can, which I recycled, and the wrapper of the Reese’s peanut butter bat that was leftover from Halloween. 🍬

Dark nights in the winter? Embrace it by keeping house lights to a minimum. Saves electricity and adjusts your rhythm to the season. Just be sure to get as much natural light during the midday as you can!

Today is a recovery day, a don’t-leave-the-house day, a leftovers and yoga day, a sunshine and laundry day. Best kind of day.

We’re traveling for the holiday next week, so this week is about eating down what’s in the fridge. I find it so satisfying to finish up a packet or a bunch of leftovers, so it should be a week of weird meals.

Today is about the emotional benefits of disengaging, if you can. Had a surprise day off of work due to electrical stuff today, and I’m going to disengage, go for a walk in nature, and take a nap. I feel as though it’ll be a nice respite from recent stress - hope you can get a break soon too.

Hi, I’m Kim, and it’s been a week since I bought a to-go coffee in a plastic cup. Home-brewed and carried in to work! #noplanetb