Lee Sanders

Fall 2025 feels like it begins today. Meetings, scoring, class prep. Goodbye, summer—I can’t say I’m sad to see you go this time around.

You’re getting it in just about the right dosage.

This whole transcript is insanity. Like, only in this dark-ass timeline is this whole Loomer testimony not an obvious, gaudy-af parody.

Last thing here: Hand in hand with this whole business is another little epiphany: It’s actually *expected* that I’ll be the one who pumps the brakes.

Other people will let you go until you drop—sometimes because they don’t care; more often because they’re assuming you’ll self-regulate. So do that.

I’m still conscientious about work things, but I’ve replaced the whole all-nighter “go hard” culture with an acknowledgement of my finite energy and focus, and with being smart about apportioning it accordingly. It’s the same thing: knowing my limits.

In the past I would have beaten myself up about it: Why can’t I do this thing that other people do all day? What’s the doctor going to think of me? …and like that. Now, though, I truly don’t care about any of that. And I’m as proud of that not-caring as I would have been at completing the test.

Claustrophobia wrapped iron bands around my chest, squeezed my heart up into my throat, jammed all brain signals except for raw, lizard-brain panic. So I bailed. I’m sure I wasn’t the first, nor will I be the last.

Case in point: the MRI I had a week ago (I’m fine! It was good news). I made it about 75-80% of the way through, and very suddenly realized I was done.

One upside of being a little older and (finally) knowing myself a little better is that I’m quicker to realize when I just can’t do
something. And when I tap out, there’s no
residual guilt or shame attached.

I admire you endlessly, Mark, but I can’t take it on faith that what you’re saying here is going to happen—as comforting and encouraging as it would be to do that. I don’t see much evidence right now that we make it out of this. MAGA is a death cult.

To combat the actual downfall
Of America, Hakeem Jeffries invokes the immortal power of… homophones. 🙄

There is no way we will be hosting the Olympics or the World Cup. Why would any country willingly put their people through this?

In fairness, those three days are gorgeous. But you’re welcome anytime!

Oh, man. All I did was stay inside and hide from the hot weather. I’m belating my own birthday until it’s a little less brutal out there!

'A Mother's Day Hell, From the GOP'

johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/to-hell-wi...

#MothersDay
#MothersDay2025
#HappyMothersDay

(This time)

Shunning works for the Amish… it should happen here. Every artist should do this.

I don’t know, but I wouldn’t mind some of it back. #TooManyBirthdayCandles

My inbox is out of hand with this crap. I’ve started a serious email purge as a result… we’ll see if it has any effect.

Came for the “surprised he wasn’t promoted” comments; leaving satisfied

Authors, if you see this, it's a sign to post the first line of your book.

“Weldon bit back a scream as the house collapsed around him.”

My own experience over the last year: 50% of my trips involved a flight that was either delayed by >6 hours or cancelled entirely.

Booking a flight now feels like a gamble, in a way it never did before. Maybe I’ll be able to fly; maybe I won’t. People need a reliable, convenient backup plan.

…and the current system is basically to shirk responsibility, leave passengers to their own devices, and ignore the panicked scrum that results.

The all-too-common process, where a single gate agent is usually stuck processing dozens—if not hundreds—of flight changes isn’t nearly good enough.

As Storm Eowyn blasts the British Isles (and seeing all the airport closures) it reminds me: Airlines need to come up with a WAY better, more comprehensive procedure and infrastructure for handling flight delays and cancellations than what they have now.

“Exceptional” weather is becoming the norm.

If Lorne Michaels wasn’t on the phone that afternoon, BEGGING Kate to come in for the cold open this weekend, he’s out of his mind.

Close-up of a blue gradebook, labeled “LHS CCC Scoring II—Notes & Grades SP25”

…just add grades.

No bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. (I’m bundled up like the damn Michelin Man at the moment, btw. I reckon I’d last a good half hour out in this)

The silver lining to all of this is that I’ll be working through lunchtime. If there is anything happening at midday that I’d rather pretend isn’t part of my reality, I mean.

The car heater is literally keeping me alive right now. It’s slightly unnerving to think about it that way—like walking out to check the mail in this cold. You double, triple check that you have your house key, just in case you lock that front door.

Bad day to show up early for a get-together. Currently sitting in my car, waiting it out until it’s socially acceptable to arrive. Current temperature (before wind chill): 3 degrees (F; -16 C)