Friday Flotsam

Frrrrrrarrrararararar! (<—?)

What do we think 3am means?

I mean, I KNOW what 3am is, but what do you think it means? (besides an odd way to start a blog post.) Like, why do people wake up specifically at 3am on the dot? Or do you ever? Or have you never? Or do you always? It came up in a novel I’m reading (The Wedding People – loving it so much. It’s past the heavy stuff and now into the fun and hilarity.), and has me very curious. Is it the Witching Hour? Or is it Grieving Hour? That one is new to me. Grieving Hour. I’m capitalizing it like it’s something legit but I have no idea. I’m intrigued! I have woken up at 3am numerous times in my life and wondered what it meant. I also read it has something to do with cortisol levels in our body and if we keep a jar of peanut butter and a severed squirrel tail on our nightstand, and take a spoonful of the the peanut butter with the tail, the levels even out and you’re out like a light. What, I heard that!

Fine, not the squirrel tail part, but if we’re calling it Witching Hour let’s make it interesting.

Also what are cortisol levels?

I feel like we need Sandra and Nicole in on this chat. Minus the murder.

This week on a walk up to the school with my family for Will’s Mathletics competition, we passed another family and I said to them, “Howdy Ho!” and it legit embarrassed my kids to the deepest and darkest depths of the ocean. Which obviously tickled me to no end.

“Moooooom, you are so Ned Flanders! STOP.”

I truly like feel like my work here is done.

Okay, this blog is not going to become political, but I did want to share my feedback from you all from Tuesday’s IG post. You know I’ve been anti-Trump/anti-MAGA forever, and we’re not here to get nasty or fall into debate or attempt to change minds. That’s not going to happen. This is my fun and cozy slice of the internet and it’s going to stay that way. That SAID, I’m going to share ways to use your voice during this shit-show of a time, if we are like-minded. If we are not, carry on! The comment section will stay civil and chill. Cool? Cool. This is all from you. Pretty much copy and paste. Take what you want from it, and I fully appreciate you taking the time to respond!

1. Download the 5Calls app and make simple congressional calls. You pick an issue, they give you a script, you call, log it, done. Takes less than a minute. I’ve been doing this this week and it feels great.
2. Get involved in community work – helping schools, art communities and immigrant communities. 
3. Donating to Save Ukraine to help reunite children that were kidnapped by Russia with their families. They run an “underground railroad” of sorts.
4. Economic Blackout – which is today! Avoid shopping at Amazon, Target, Walmart, the big box. Shop small and local. 
5. I started volunteering for an organization that helps immigrants, refugees, and survivors of trafficking get back on their feet.
6. My neighbors and I have a monthly brunch where we show up to support each other and have these conversations.
7. I do nursing case management, and all of my members are Medicaid. I’ve had mom‘s cry to me on the phone, scared that their partner is gonna be deported while they’re gone at work. HUD housing is frozen right now. People truly are utilizing food pantries All the time now. So even just donating, decent food to food pantries is a huge help to people.
8. Just a few things to add to what you are already doing…. I listen to resistance live by ECM on patron or free on YouTube every morning. She’s a New York lawyer/activist who has great insight information. She’s a bit aggressive but she’s honest. 
9. Community networking is huge right now. Get involved locally is or will very much be needed in the next few months. Bake free lasagna on Fridays for families struggling, no questions asked. Donate to food banks.
10. So many food access nonprofits have lost federal funding have years of decreased individual donations- putting them in a tough place for 2025. Folks should consider donating to their favorite nonprofits!
11. Listen and follow to America the Possible. 
12. The step further if supporting Canadian businesses helps support our economy while Trump is trying to force annexation via the economy (tariffs).
13. Getting deeper involved in my local Independent School District and it’s board activities!
14. I am gearing up for more of that action but I read recently a list of ways to deepen our connections in our communities and I loved it so much – things like going to your local high school athletic events or performances even if you don’t know any students. That’s what I can face right now and hoping it will fill my cup again to take on the bigger activism that’s ahead.
15. I recently received some helpful advice to try and focus my energy on one issue that I’m super passionate about. For me, it’s reproductive & women’s rights (starting IVF later this year, so super fired up on a personal level). (<—LOVE THIS ONE)
16. Joined some trustworthy long standing orgs like my local chapter of ACLU and National Organization for Women…also check out Moms Rising, they are a great Natl org and starting some local pilot chapters as well. And 5 calls, like you mentioned, constantly calling reps and senators. 
17. Actively choosing to spend time doing free things with friends instead of spending our money supporting companies that rolled back DEI policies. I get the joy, corporate America does not get my dollar, it’s a win win.
18. I am working strongly with my local PTA and advocacy groups to make sure we are electing school district board members who are pro-public-schools and also value diversity. The federal govt is coming after public schools. We have to elect BOEs that are brave and will hold the line for our kids.
19. I highly encourage you all to follow Game on For Kansas Schools, Six Degrees of Activism and sign up for six degrees emails. She says action items for the state level and there is a lot going on, especially regarding public schools and vouchers. 
20. Keeping yourself balanced in what you can do and what you shouldn’t beat yourself up over. Laugh as often as you can. Focus on your local while thinking about the global. And prepare to do things you’ve never done before. It only take 3% of the population to move the dial. Think of being part of that 3%. And get ready to March. Even if it’s just down your street! Our country has been through worse, the constitution is for WE the people! We can do this!!
21. Scream into a pillow. 🙂

Weekend plans?

It’s a doozy and half around here. We’re getting the Variety Show stages up tonight which is a whooooole ordeal. We’ve recruited extra muscle (not Aaron’s, ha!) and hope to have it knocked out in 4 hours. I know you’re on the edge of your seats about this. An outdoor soccer game tomorrow, the school trivia night (’60s style! You know I’ll show you.), another activist meetup, a girl scouts cookie booth and another variety show practice. Already tired just typing that out.

From this week, you did see the Thai Noodles with Chicken Meatballs, right? GIRL. I’ve been eating on it all week and every bite is just as good as the one before. Splash extra fish sauce on top for that depth. And here’s the video. Make it this weekend!

So, 3am. What is that anyway?