Donald, One of the things I’ve learned to do since Laura and I’ve both been working from home is to listen to music using my ear buds when she’s either teaching her class or in zoom meetings. Previously I wasn’t one to listen to music while working, but it turns out that it’s really helpful … Continue reading May we stop accepting half-measures
Health Disparities
Laughing Buddha’s travels
To: The Chief Gaslighter It’s been a while, for sure, so it’s super unlikely that you’d remember that in addition to ceramic Cranky Buddha Baby, plastic Green Glow in the Dark Buddha, and inherited Ivory (sadly) Buddha, we have wooden “Laughing Buddha.” Laughing Buddha stands about 12 inches tall from his toes to his outstretched … Continue reading Laughing Buddha’s travels
Anti-historical America
To: The Anti-historian Supreme Since the calendar has finally turned to December, does that mean you only have 14 more days to cash in on your peeps, what with the final Electoral College votes set to be cast on the 14th? Or are you going to somehow keep the charade going up to 1/20/21? Or … Continue reading Anti-historical America
Resentments or gratitude ~ choose wisely
To: The Resentful Angry (would-be) Tyrant (aka The RAT) After reading that you’re being evasive about whether you’ll attend the virtual G20 this weekend I really wanted to use the word “slacker” in the salutation today but decided to go with something that can be shortened to a punchy acronym instead. I figure that the … Continue reading Resentments or gratitude ~ choose wisely
Vulnerability shouldn’t be a luxury
To: The Sorest, Most Messed-Up Loser Ever Yesterday our intern chaplain preached and near the end of her sermon our senior minister said in the chat that she thought it was one of the best sermons ever. It was a truly wonderful sermon on an incredibly challenging portion of the lectionary – Mathew 25: 14-30, … Continue reading Vulnerability shouldn’t be a luxury
Trumpian death panels
President* Trump, We’re back in the red “unhealthy” zone as far as air quality this morning after being in the orange zone for what felt like a nanosecond last night. Right now the air quality forecast doesn’t include the orange zone so I can’t tell what it’s called. The yellow zone is “moderate” – just … Continue reading Trumpian death panels
May we accept that real change is scary and hard
Dear President Trump, The overriding emotions for me today have been shame and fear, which may explain why I’ve been so irritable and sour. I don’t know about you, but often when I’ve got strong primary feelings on board, niggly secondary ones pile on and poke at me, trying to grab my attention. Well, I … Continue reading May we accept that real change is scary and hard
“Fixing” curves and bringing history into focus
Dear President Trump, This morning I had nada for you. All I could muster was the date and the salutation – I was so blank I thought I’d probably end up just writing a haiku. Well, you’re in luck because that was the then but now I have not one thing to tell you about, … Continue reading “Fixing” curves and bringing history into focus
Covid charades and “The Betrayals”
Dear President Trump, I know you have (and take) plenty of opportunity to look in the mirror, whether directly at yourself or at one of your surrogates, but I thought we’d start the day with yet another (from the WP’s coronavirus updates): “Although the rate of infection shows no sign of slowing, Vice President Pence … Continue reading Covid charades and “The Betrayals”
Gaping gaps
Dear President Trump, This next phase of the covid-19 crisis is clearly high stakes and fraught – on lots of levels. People are antsy and frustrated and many of us are still very scared while many of us not scared enough. The odds of getting the basics needed to safely reopen the country (massively scaled-up … Continue reading Gaping gaps