Amber

My husband voted this morning and he said it was well run and busier than he expected at 11:30 on a Sunday. While he was voting, I met up with some community leaders to fight misinformation by distributing literature at black churches in Muskegon and Muskegon Heights.

✅ I voted early! Steady stream of voters today in Muskegon County, Michigan on the first day of early voting.

Early voting in Muskegon County starts tomorrow.

If a Flock camera were installed next to my driveway with no notice, I’d be furious. What a waste at the expense of taxpayers who clearly don’t want this. The last one destroyed was replaced already.

On my way to Grand Rapids today, I tried out the new surveillance feature in MapQuest. An eyeball faded in and out on the routem. I look up and there’s a massive camera installation with super bright lighting. It works.

One of my husband’s colleagues knew it was our anniversary weekend and asked if we wanted to see the The Notebook the Musical because he couldn’t use his season tickets. Hubby accepted the tickets but sent me and our daughter instead. He said we would enjoy it more. He’s a keeper.

The day after a migraine is almost as bad as the day with the migraine. Sucks to feel hungover without having had any fun getting to the hangover.

The roses came with the house. I feel like mid-October in Michigan seems late for blooms but have never owned roses before this place. I dead-headed on Saturday and it seemed to rejuvenate the plant. A number of buds are getting ready to do their thing, too.

I saw two skunks foraging in the neighbors’ yard late at night this week. I went down the internet rabbit hole and know a lot more about skunks than I did last week.

Daughter and I watched the El-Sayed and Rogers debate last night. Could have made a drinking game out of “Muslim Brotherhood.” The breakdown into just rattling off the name of every Islamic group that installs the fear into Pearl-clutching grandmothers at the end was icing on the cake. #beserious

i can't force these eyes to see the end

“This election is likely our last chance to stop the march of fascism led by Trump and his enablers seeking to hold onto power by any means necessary…We should take seriously Trump’s repeated assertions that he intends to stay in power after 2028.” www.americaamerica.news/p/we-are-und...

She won’t make eye contact with me. My kitty has gotten a little greasy and smelly so it was time for a bath. The way she wailed you’d think I was yanking out her toenails. She didn’t even wait until she was wet to start crying bloody murder.

My cat apparently likes bear documentaries.

WZZM: “Grand Rapids man accused of holding woman captive, torturing her for days before she escaped at Woodland Mall” Me: “How’d he do all that shit at the mall????” WWMT with a much better headline: “Woman tortured at boyfriend's Grand Rapids home escapes at Woodland Mall, documents say”

Coworker introduced me to the 12 Axes. I knew I was progressive but didn’t expect to lean this hard on the results. I did the 60 questions version. #12axes

I am realizing that I’m reposting yet another of El-Sayed’s videos. But they’re so good. A lot of the younger voters probably won’t get the Mad Men reference and might be wondering why he’s sipping a cocktail.

Laughed out loud and sent this via old school text to my non-Bluesky fam.

Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize held a live painting event at John Ball Zoo. My daughter came up from Kalamazoo to met me there and we had a lovely time.

Selfie for our mom. Me and my big bro at GrrCON. He was telling me about how he attended the first one back in 2011. Just a ragtag group of nerds who didn’t have it all figured out. A well-oiled yet somewhat unpolished machine now but that’s part of its appeal. Looking forward to next year!

Caturday! Milo is pretty damned cute in “murder mode.” At least he’s too dumb to be sneaky when our bearded dragon Kiwi is getting her time out of the enclosure.

TIL the first ransomware scheme was in 1989. What’s wilder than that time frame is learning that the guy actually turned himself in. GrrCON 2026 - Keynote: The History of Malware: 40 Years of Viruses & Worms - presented by Eliad Kimhy

As a parent, thank you.

#GrrCON 2026

This is journalism.

My buddy is sick - going in for a strep test.

My siblings and me at my wedding in 2008 vs last night at my nephew’s wedding.

My inner (and oft outer) musical theatre nerd is geeking out.

That meme with Homer telling Bart it’s the worst day of his life so far plays in my head daily. This is unacceptable. Why didn’t any Dem in attendance address that???

Cat nap.

Someone is a bit wistful that her humans are leaving. It’s Roosevelt Park Day! We’d bring her but she doesn’t do great in crowds.

This flyer from local Republican state senate candidate was tucked in my door. The flyer does not mention his party affiliation. That is a conscientious choice—as is the absence of Oxford commas. I translated talking points.

I got a glass splinter in my foot and cannot find it. I’m trying to soak in baking soda warm water to see if that helps draw it out. My cat is very confused and curious. This is the 3rd time he stuck his paw in it and seemed surprised that it got wet.

Without saying your age, what is your favorite movie that came out when you were 20 years old?

This is Chloe. She got the mega zoomies and cannot stop panting.

My brother is 45 today. He’s a successful, suburban dad who has just about everything he could need, so we got him what any 17 year-old would want. A trick skateboard from our younger bro and a machete from me. He couldn’t be happier. His wife is less than thrilled.

My daughter moved out a few days ago. She’s in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University pursuing a BFA in acting. She left behind some clothes for me to repair. I think her cat, Milo, misses her because he keeps going back to that specific pile of clothes to nap.

I lowkey forgot about Mitch for a minute. The volume of crazy shit on the daily is a bit overwhelming.

I appreciate that my workplace has a comfortable place to eat outside and a wooded area and a cute office dog friend.

I’m literally 12” from my cat. She thinks I’m distracted by my phone. I’m done eating so it’s just a little turmeric/ginger/coconut milk broth leftover and some bay leaves she keeps biting and then spitting out. The nerve.

“Soil and dirt don’t vote”

Let’s win this tomorrow. For democracy.

I’m used to having my dog nap under me while I work from the kitchen table. I’m not used to having my 16 year old also nap under me. He started his first job this week and says he finally understands why I like naps so much. He worked 3 whole hours today 😂

I need to add my frustration as a woman. The Stevens campaign is diluting the seriousness and unfairness of misogynistic institutions and leaders. The smear of El-Sayed in this manner does a disservice to women’s causes.

Josh Johnson investigates the real reason behind America's war with Iran: an underground stargate

Naps are my favorite weekend “activity”

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Watched Hunt for the Wilderpeople and teared up at the thought of Sam Neill never being a part of another film.

AIPAC spending big💰for Haley Stevens. My daughter is voting for the first time in this primary and she’s looking forward to voting for @abdulelsayed.bsky.social I searched up his name to see what mainstream media coverage he’s gotten lately. No surprise to see top of page attack ad from UDP.