The Black Lotus Magic Card Coaster

There is a card game called Magic the Gathering that’s been around for many years. I’m sure an actual player could describe it better than I, but I think of it as a variation on D&D with cards dictating what abilities you have, the circumstances you face, and the outcomes of your encounters.

Eating with a spoon

For years, when I was presented with my bowl of veggies and handed a spoon, I would quietly trade the spoon for a fork. I mean, I’m an adult: I eat with a fork! Ah, the power of subliminal programming!

The Unreliable Brain and Fake News

The other day I told my husband that the canned chicken ingredient list includes tuna. Did I really remember seeing tuna in the ingredient list? Or had I imagined it? What if I was wrong? And why does it matter, anyway?

Part 6: Wetland delineation report

After 5 months owning the lot, we have finally completed the first of the many “lot prep” steps that must be made be made before building can begin.

Lessons from the un-blanket

Several years ago—at least four, if not more—I decided to knit a large double-knit blanket. Partly I’m only writing up this blog post so I have a place to commemorate this work. But also, I’m sure there’s a moral to this story somewhere.

Merry Xmas, Happy Lothersday!

Christmas? Hanukkah? Xmas? I say the holiday season in December is whatever you want to make it. So why not make it something for everyone? For me, it’s Lothersday!

Part 5: You bought a wetland?!

With a deed to our new land in hand, you’d think that we’d be frantically completing the many, many steps toward building our new home. Instead, we are in standby mode.

Just Say Something

If someone in your life ever takes the time to send you an email, then you should bother to reply, even if it is only to acknowledge receipt of their message.

St. Louis, Missouri – November 2021

Another November, another Supercomputing show. Over the last 12 years, always in the week prior to Thankgiving, I’d worked at this show rotating between a small number of cities each year: Dallas, New Orleans, Seattle, Denver, and a few other US cities. Last year the show was entirely virtual due to Covid concerns, but this year — for… Read More »

Part 4: The house plan

The Lot Prep journey will take at least four months, most likely many more. While all of that slowly moves forward, Dave and I are working out exactly what house to build.

Part 3: Buying land in Long Beach

We didn’t put our plans on hold, but we switched into a more passive gear: we put ourselves onto several mailing lists, and kept a very critical eye on the results.

The finances of freelancing

Being a work-from-home freelancer has many benefits, but it’s likely that many freelancers haven’t stopped to add up what their flexible mode of working actually costs them.

On being self-employed

There are good things and bad things about working for yourself as a freelancer, but it’s definitely my preferred way to work. In this post I will list some of the pros and cons of being self-employed and working from home.

Splaining

I’ve decided the term mansplaining needs to lose the gender reference. Yes, men do it, but women do it too: So it’s not mansplaining, it’s just splaining.

Responding to a homophobe

Among the good things that I listed in my recent Good News in 2020 post, legislation was passed in some areas here and there that will help protect people who otherwise were at risk to be denied employment because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Laws such as this are often touted as a victory for people… Read More »