


As it turned out, I was quite ill for my birthday last week. I did not want cake – no point if I’m not going to enjoy it, but some things were simply postponed.
Instead of cake, my husband got me Haagen Dazs White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle ice cream. It was delicious. 10/10 would recommend and would try it again.

My birthday drink from Starbucks was a bit more complicated. The birthday drink is only available on your birthday, and I couldn’t do that, so I got my go-to: iced chai latte, but with no ice. I kept it in the fridge for three days, added my own ice, and drank it when I was feeling better. It was excellent, and I’m glad that I opted for that.

Last but not least, eggnog is back at Starbucks. I’ve had their eggnog cold foam on an iced drink and their hot eggnog chai latte. Very rich, and its warmth is very soothing.
Finally, we had pulled pork sandwiches for dinner the other night. I did not want onions so I decided to put a slice of a Granny Smith apple on two slider rolls and ate that. Nice crunch, a little tart, but very nice with the pulled pork.

My birthday dinner consisted of a salad, a piece of brown bread and butter, and a baked potato. Overall, not exactly how I’d choose to spend my birthday, but it was still nice and I had some special time with my family.
Today is Human Rights Day, and I’m of a mind to share two quotations:
Women’s Rights are Human Rights. – Hillary Clinton
Trans Rights are Human Rights.
I’m finding it difficult to write about human rights today when the United States is violating them left, right, and center, every which way we look, on the land, in the air, on the sea.
I find it difficult directing you to the human rights watches of Amnesty International and the United Nations, both of whom I’ve respected my entire life and have now abandoned them as they’ve abandoned many of us.
I find it difficult accepting that human rights are a right for all humans when we see so many rights being torn away, stomped upon, and set on metaphorical fire.
Last week, I saw a picture online of a drunk racoon passed out next to a toilet in a public bathroom, a gas station, I think, and that seems to have summed up the last eleven months of where we are in terms of the world, of our elected leaders here around the world, and of the human rights being taken away and destroyed before our very eyes.
No, I’m sorry, there’s no witty twist, no redemption arc. It is what it is, and it’s a dumpster fire.

Wandering through Target, checking out the holiday goodies and displays, and I saw their plastic tableware along the main aisle.
Before I could even be intrigued, I saw that someone else had already put this smaller plate on top of the large charger, and I loved how it looked. I didn’t touch it. I didn’t change it. I simply photographed it, and went on my merry way.
I hope to use this as inspiration for a simpler holiday; something quiet and unobtrusive that has meaning without forcing it to have meaning.
Have a Blessed Advent.
Today is the day that we remember those victims of transphobia, hate, and violence. One day, may the terror and horror they face be eliminated.
The week leading up to today was Trans Visibility Awareness Week, and it’s important to recognize that trans people are in the world and of the world.
Especially this year, when trans people are at higher risk because of our government, and others across the globe, we need to remember those that gave their lives, those that are both out and closeted, and respect their choices.
I would also like to remind people that while LGBT+ youth are at the highest risk for abuse and violence (both from strangers and from domestic abuse/violence), trans youth have even higher rates of homelessness, assault, and suicide. Pay attention to the words you use and what you may post on social media. That clever quip may not be that clever. Take away the stigma and let us all use anti-stigma identifying and inclusive language.
My pronouns are she/her. Yours are?
This missive encompasses many issues, so I’d like to end with the reminder that today is for the commemoration of the trans dead. Please remember them – all of them, especially trans youth and trans people of color who have lost their lives to too much hate and too soon.
Note: This didn’t even get a chance to age poorly.
I hate this timeline.
We are one week beyond the historic Election Day. We reached Presidential year numbers in voters and we made our position clear:
Do NOT give in. Do NOT cave.
Anything the Republicans say – we know from experience is a lie.
They’ve made these promises and commitments before. They will say anything. And then they will laugh at us, and take the credit for ending the shutdown. They know we are the better people and that we trust our better angels. They have NO better angels. I don’t care if John Thune used to be a decent person. (I actually question that.) He is part of the Trump Administration – rubber-stamping ALL of Trump’s crazy and illegal executive orders, not standing in the way of Trump’s murder of foreign nationals in the Caribbean, not putting a stop to the illegal and extrajudicial ICE tactics as they tear gas children on Halloween in Illinois, and commit perjury in court.
They will say and do anything and then when we let them kick the can down the road, they block the road and “forget” their “promise to address the needs of the people.” Their people are the rich, the wealthy, and the connected.
They will never return to the table if we let them walk away from this.
And why should they?
They’re Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football, and they know it.
And just yesterday, Trump pardoned Rudy Giuliani and many of the other election deniers. What happens to the compensation they were supposed to pay? What happens to the jail time? What happens in the next election?
We are on the brink of the failure of democracy.
Senators would do well to stand their ground. No ACA extension through all of 2026; NO VOTES to end the shutdown.
Stand firm.
We, the people are with you.
Are you with us?
All the fast food places have dropped their holiday favorites and what they deem as “new” favorites. I’ve tried a couple; the rest I’m waiting until I’m in more of the holiday spirit.

Leftover Halloween Candy. It was a rainy night so we have more candy than usual. Halloween is almost the only time during the year that I eat the peanut/peanut butter candies. I have enjoyed the ghoulish green Snickers.
What candy do you have leftover?


From Dunkin’ Donuts, these are the Wicket Munchkins. You can get 10 of these in a cute tin for $9.99, but I just went for the bag. They were very good. The munchkins are a different consistency than regular glazed munchkins – more like the Halloween ones, but vanilla glazed with green and pink sprinkles. I have to admit I love a good crossover, and Wicked with DD munchkins are really a perfect combo.
On the right is the new Berry Sangria Refresher. This one came with a base of green tea, which I really enjoyed. The day before I had it with lemonade and that was too tart for me. It was lovely, but I’m going to wait for Starbucks to bring back their Blackberry Sage drink – that was my favorite.
In addition to the usuals (Snowman cookie, Polar Bear cake pop, Sugar Plum danish, and Cranberry Bliss Bar), Starbucks has added a Cinnamon Pull-Apart, which was quite good. Sticky and sweet, but enjoyable. I’d get it again.

Bonus: Red Cup Day at Starbucks is Thursday, November 13! Buy one of their holiday drinks and get a free reusable red cup! My daughter and I do this every year!


These leaves, the first before I voted, and the second, after stuck with me throughout the day. I ignored pundits. I ignored mainstream media. I ignored social media. And in the end, for the most part the inspiration held.
Blue.
Blue.
Blue.
From Pennsylvania to Mississippi to Georgia, even to Florida.
In 364 days, change is coming, and there is nothing the corrupt, the sychophant, the traitorous, the racist can do about it.
We will take back our democracy.
Tomorrow, I’ll share with you some of those people doing the work for democracy, for our future, and for our children.
See you tomorrow.
It’s Halloween and I’m dressed as…..I don’t even know what. I have struggled for months to decide on a costume and have been unsuccessful. I love Halloween and I feel like a frump. Maybe that’s my costume?
My two kids at home tried to help. #3 brought down a couple of chefs hat, and I thought with my kitchen apron that might work, but the hats were too small – perfect for a toddler head, but not for mine. #2 brought out his Indiana Jones hat. I liked that, but I don’t have a proper jacket. If I’d had time to think I could have worn my khaki shorts and a matching shirt with that hat and been Karen Gillan from Jumanji, but that won’t work. He even brought out his new Starlord helmut, but with my glasses, it would never have been comfortable.
I think I’m dressed as a Canadian. An odd choice. I tried to find a hockey stick, nothing. I have a ROOTS t-shirt with their trademarked beaver and an Elbows Up pin, along with dangly fall leaves earrings that include a maple leaf, pumpkin socks, and my hat.
It will have to do.



This is both a week early and a week late. Next Tuesday is Election Day.
A lot of people still think that off-year election days are less important that presidential or mid-term years. There are no more off-years. We need to be done with that nonsense. Just look at the past year to know the truth in that. Trump should not have won. I don’t say that as a conspiracy theorist, and I don’t know if anything untoward with Elon Musk caused the obvious change in the election, but what I do know is that if you look directly at Trump and his allies, he was losing and he knew he was losing. By the end of the campaign, he could barely stand up or string two coherent words together. And then someone “tried to kill him” in Butler, Pennsylvania. Do I think someone tried to kill him? I don’t know, but I’ll let my quotation marks speak to that. What I do know is that a man who is still whining about an escalator and toilet water has said not one word about his “assassination attempt.” So you tell me, what part of this man’s personality allows him to let this go?
My next point is that Congressional Republicans and the Supreme Court have completely shirked their responsibility and their obligation to their oath with the embarrassing failure of keeping the checks and balances on the Executive Branch. Almost none of his executive orders are legal. His tariffs most certainly aren’t. His murder of fishermen in the Caribbean is absolutely illegal and extrajudicial. His indictments of Comey and James are the pathetic cries of his own incompetence, and I swear on all that is holy that if the Justice Dept gives him one penny of the “settlement” he’s asking for, I will not be held responsible for my actions.
And if trampling over the Constitution and using its parchment to wipe his and his sycophants’ asses wasn’t enough, last week (it is hard to believe that it’s only last week) he took a bulldozer to the East Wing of the White House. No permits filed. No money disbursed by Congress. Private companies don’t get to work on an historic building, one that is one of the foundations of our capital city without the proper protocols in place: environmental impact studies, historic preservation, toxic safety. A wing of the building built in 1942 will certainly have asbestos in those walls they just ripped down. I’ve read that the company doing the destruction doesn’t have a permit or a hazardous waste certificate to clear asbestos, but what do I know. The East Wing also rests atop the secure bunker where the President goes when there’s a credible danger or threat. I guess not anymore, right?
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