Today is 2's Day

Issue 20 appropriately lands on Tuesday, 2/22/22

Hi Friends. It’s a big day for you, I mean, 2! Off we (to)-go…

You know that definition of insanity that when repeated is the definition of insanity?

It starts with “They say,” at which point I’ve gone insane already. None of us question who “they” are because it sounds official enough and we’ve checked out—at least I have.

You know the definition I’m speaking of. They say (ahem), Albert Einstein said it, though there’s no evidence he did. Rather, it has a less glamorous origination—a Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet from 1981.*

No matter, let’s take a page from Albert’s book (death) and lay this one to rest. Bye now.

Hey, remember last week when I voiced my intention of traveling to Austin in 2022. 24 hours later the tickets were bought and the hotel was booked.

Watch out, Austin. I’ll tear you up (so long as it’s before 9:00 pm).

(*Research nerds, here’s more on the insanity definition.)

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Quick, Draw!

This charming program was made by Google as the world’s largest doodling database. A team of AI gals and guys share their machine learning research so we can pitch in.

You have 20 seconds to draw the prompt. Try it.

I have no idea why the program didn’t recognize my dragon.

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Fun Balls

I dare you to dislike these magnetic balls.

“$35?!” Yes, but the entire family will enjoy them, and in my case, fight over them and lose them in the grass. I wish for a better outcome for you and yours.

Enjoy a toy with integrity. They’re rare.

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The Baldwins

Hear me out. Hilaria is Alec Baldwin’s wife. They have 700 children under eight, but that’s not the point I want to make.

I follow Hilaria on Instagram. Not often, but enough, she’s spoken about paparazzi and the violation her family feels when being followed. Recently, she became so angry at a particular paparazzi she didn’t recognize herself.

(Pause) I’m cringing at the way I sound telling this story. The show must go on…

She tries to stop him. The police don’t care. The papa(razzi) don’t care. What’s a lady to do?

Hilaria turns to love.

(Violin plays)

She tracks down the man and invites him to her home. They spend time together. He shares his art. They find similarities among their differences.

His daughter was murdered two years ago. He has no answers.

Ah-ha! I suspect he cares less about hurting a privileged celeb family when he’s hurting the way he is. Hurt people hurt people.

I admire Hilaria for having so many children and not killing them. Also, for looking past the man’s annoying profession and learning about the whole of him.

Hilaria, the paparazzi, and his art.

After sharing all of this on Instagram, he responds to Hilaria with:

Thank you so much, you made my life 100x better by meeting you yesterday.
May we have a long lasting relationship ♥️ —Said Elatab

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Complimentary Compliments

After my newsletter each week, I receive a few beautiful comments from readers. It means so much that you read my baby. Then, to write—well, I’m grateful.

Last week, one reader wrote,

“Just wanted to tell you how fantastic this newsletter is and how rad you are (rather than just thinking it in my head)!”

The last part is really important. How often do we think something and assume we’re conveying it? So often!

I write to remind us all to speak our mind, within reason :)

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Pond Scum

I took this photo on our Mom-Owen Saturday walking date. I ordered matcha because the 49 cups of coffee I’d had already were plenty.

Owen said it tasted like drinking plants. I said, “I wish it tasted that good.” Instead, I detected pond scum (technically plants), and right in front of us was a pond. Oh, the serendipity!

(Donut added for decoration.)

Saturdays are for sprinkle donuts and mother-son time.

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✍️ As always, you can hire me to write for you. If you’re interested, please fill out this brief form.

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Have a great week, everyone.