@superbetsy
Director of Software Engineering. Apple alum. Star Wars, Math, Video Games, Books, Knitting, Spinning Wheels, Rowing, Dog Pictures, Minnesotan. My hair was weird before weird hair was cool. I’m cross-posting from Mastodon, find me there!
A paragraph of text on a white page. It reads: “Amanda, You look at life Through the eyes of a child, And I don't know where you got them, And it's making me very uncomfortable. Please, stop.”
I can't stop thinking about the dedication on the first page of the book I just started reading.
Toby places his head on my laptop keyboard
Helpful
I found some footage of me making a Jay and Silent Bob reference to a bunch of Gen Z and young Millennials this morning.
Caption: “2026 is the year of the horse” Then it says “the horse:” and shows a screen grab from Neverending Story, when Atreyu is trying to coax Artax out of the swamps of sadness.
To celebrate John Williams' recent birthday, the classical radio station that's part of Minnesota Public Radio has spun up a curated stream of all John Williams, all the time. It's called Celebrate the Maestro and it's great! And, of course, free! www.yourclassical.org/playlis...
3am dog thoughts:
"It looks like you're having trouble sleeping! I'll come over and snuggle. Oops, didn't mean to step on your face. Ahh this is a nice snuggle. My ear itches though so I should take care of that quick. Is it dusty in here? Because *aaaahchu*!! Mmm how cozy… *very loud snore*"
Do I know anyone who has traveled to Antarctica? I'm considering booking a trip over new years and about all I know I learned from the (magnificent) Shackleton book. Clearly I'd like to avoid the itinerary detailed in that book.
A memory of a dream I had last night just hit me. I was in charge of playing the drums for Epica's metaled out version of The Imperial March. As I don't play the drums, this was a daunting prospect. If you are unfamiliar, the track (and whole album) is fantastic. music.apple.com/us/album/the-...
In the book I'm reading (set in the 50s), a character has an oppressive husband who forces her to see an equally oppressive psychiatrist. She finally gets a divorce and uses the settlement to buy the doctor's office out from under him and open an art gallery in it for women artists. My kind of petty
The dog named Nazgul, who snuck away and ran an Olympic course, is making my withered grinch heart grow three sizes.
I just learned about the acronym AWFUL (I avoid right-wing rage bait like it's my job.) I have decided, similar to how I have adopted "spinster," that I am embracing this. I'm in the market for a tshirt that says "I am a blue-haired AWFUL human."
I just finished a rewatch of Heated Rivalry. Since I knew what to expect, I'm now prepared to offer the following critical notes:
*Connor Storrie is clearly not a smoker in real life.
*Hudson Williams' rowing and yoga form both suck.
That's it. Those are the notes. It remains 8 out of 5 stars
Holding my sign amidst other protesters. Mine says “There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men for this TREACHERY. But let's give FUCK ICE a try””
Reminder: any messaging that ICE has left Minnesota is straight up government propaganda. They are still here victimizing my neighbors. Don't forget about us!
Toby sits on my chest, staring off into the distance, a paw draped familiarly over me
He might be a little handsy, but it's nevertheless such a nice change to spend Valentine's Day with an emotionally available guy
A cartoon of a golden haired little girl sitting next to a spinning wheel. It’s captioned “spinning the same old yarn… be my valentine” but she’s sitting perpendicular to the spinning wheel, nowhere near where the yarn is made, with her hands on the wheel
Happy Valentine's Day! I love this old valentine because the little girl is deeply clueless about how to work a spinning wheel, and if that's not an allegory for my take on romance then I don't know what is.
"I'm going to post this on Insta!"
-basic
-tired
-very normal
"I'm going to put this on the internet"
-creepy
-serial-killer-y
-deranged
Guess which one my awkward ass felt compelled to employ tonight at "Galentine's."
It’s a British company called Topple and Burn. They gained notoriety with their “fuck the tories” jewelry. In recent years they’ve branched out.
Who is the patron saint of email?
Saint Francis of A CC.
(Don't @ me, I stand by my choices)
A large gold necklace that spells “FUCK ICE”
I got a pretty new necklace today. Happy Valentine's Day to me!
I’m in a yellow dress standing next to a classic yellow thunderbird
I’m holding a cup of rum and smoking a giant cigar
A man is singing to me while leading me in a salsa
I’m cast in silhouette, walking down a dusky Havana street.
I spent the past five days in La Habana, Cuba! It was AMAZING. Rum, coffee, cigars, salsa, food, art, cars… what a remarkable place. I'll try to find a place where I can share oodles of photos… but here's a taste.
My Lyft driver is preaching fire and brimstone to me. Based on the documentary series Mission Impossible, it doesn't look THAT hard to leap from a moving vehicle….
A picture of a McDonald’s sign on fire. Captioned, “the beacon is lit, America calls for aid”
Toby stands on the backrest of the couch so he is exactly level with me and yawns in my face
Toby steps directly on me, his back legs still on the couch cushion.
"Hey so I see you've decided to work from the couch. How very convenient for me!"
This pet rescue that, for a $25 donation will let you name a feral cat after your ex before it gets neutered, is bringing me joy in a dark time. www.critterswithoutlitters.or...
Last night I had a giant bowl of Ramen (supporting immigrant-owned restaurants in Minneapolis 💪) followed by half a bag of Dove chocolates. This morning I ran my fastest mile ever. I have clearly discovered a formula for success I will have no problem repeating. QED.
Update: this morning I found a way to spend some quiet, warm time playing Rollercoaster Tycoon while also emerging victorious over ice. Take care of yourselves, fellow Twin Cities folks!
A picture from Friday’s protest with a giant sign that says “end ICE terror”
I want to be playing Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic in my jammies, but instead I'm dressed like I'm on the Weddell Sea with Earnest Fucking Shackleton, heading to another protest because ICE won't stop kidnapping and murdering my neighbors.
Side one of my sign says in florid cursive “hey ICE, you are NOT invited to the cottage. Xoxo”
The other side of my sign says “there is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men for this treachery. But let’s give “fuck ICE” a try.
And a break from holding signs overhead was also so welcome. I was proud of my sign game. Heated Rivalry and LOTR. It's nice to have varied interests!
Four people bundled up so that only our eyes show smile (??) into the camera
I’m wrestling a giant boot over snow pants.
We know how to handle the cold in Minnesota. It's all about layers! While many businesses were shut down for the strike, some in downtown opened to act as warming houses and give out warm beverages and snacks to the protesters. Having a moment to take off a few layers and sip tea was life-giving.
