Stephanie Stone

Discovered that Caring for Creatures has a 2-for-1 policy. It’s ingenious and terrible. Ingenious for them because I’m sure it gets more pets into homes. Terrible for me when I’m deciding between kittens in a litter of 4 and I have real reasons that I need to only bring 1 home to our current cat.

Everyone in my household has now voted, including the 18yo. The phone calls and junk mail can stop now, thanks.

I wish to propose that generative AI materials come with a warning, like is mandated for cigarette packs in the US. Generative AI video on YouTube? Slap a black box on it. I couldn’t find info I needed yesterday because of how AI is leading the enshittification of all the things. I want to opt out.

I’m not sure what the heck is going on, but we are hearing persistent helicopter noise for the 3rd time today in southern Albemarle. 1st time it was an army chopper. 2nd and 3rd times it hasn’t shown up on the radar/flight tracking app I have. Anybody have a clue?

Trying a thing. (Darn the broken yolk!)

In Esmont, VA. No thanks.

I think I have a new favorite YouTube channel.

Raindrops on fennel.

My poor kiddo. He’s having a Groundhog Day situation with college admissions for his preferred program. Applied early- deferred to regular decision in February. Regular decision today- waitlisted. He should know by the first week of May, but it means he still can’t make solid plans now!

Charlottesville folks - any suggestions on who to hire for some one-off yard work? I’ve got a bad case of winter creeper along a fence line and I need some help to tackle it. It’s probably a half to full day’s work for one person down in Esmont.

Our friends at The Haven just sent a message asking for donations to support over 80 community members who are homeless that The Haven and other partners have placed in hotels during this winter weather. They need to raise $27k. Please consider donating today. www.thehaven.org/give-online

In case you’ve not heard… the models are now showing C’ville getting far less snow and an awful lot of ice… 😭

I had planned on having the boy read Brave New World, Animal Farm, and Fahrenheit 451 this semester for his 12th grade English/Modern Literature. It seems cruel to assign him a dystopian novel while living through real-life dystopia… that said, I think I should still assign him one. Help me decide!

DC traffic is an utter abomination and as I’m on the outer loop going 8mph (passenger), I’m feeling extra grateful that my husband’s office put a satellite location a couple of hours south 16 years ago. I would not like living up here.

I disappeared. My kid disappeared. We have a very small number of people we socialize with now and literally only one family who comes to socialize at our home. Why? We’re at risk, and too many people feel it’s not even worth the temporary discomfort of wearing a mask to hang out with us.

If you gave up masking long ago, you can start anytime. “But none of my friends do.” Think back: did some of your friends “just disappear” in 2021 and stop planning hang outs with you?

UVA is on the list. This makes it a lot harder to keep motivated to work through the common app (for both of us - I complete the guidance counselor portion as the homeschooling parent). The boy had planned for the last couple of years to apply only to UVA by way of early action. It’s due Nov. 1.

Why are all of my tomatoes getting nibbles out of them? These two. 😐 I wonder what happened to all of the wasps that parasitized the hornworms earlier this summer? Now they’re nowhere to be seen. Hoping that these guys are my biggest trouble today but bracing for more problems at midnight. Sigh.

Hacked into The Squash today. Well… none of my knives were doing any good so I threw it on the sidewalk until the hollow lower part cracked. It’s now filling 2 pans in the oven. But this top part? I may have to roast it whole or I need to acquire a hatchet before I cook the next one. It won’t break!

Early in-person voting at the Albemarle County office building on 5th St Ext - quick and easy. From exiting my car to getting back in it, it took me 7 minutes. I was voter #19!

It’s not growing where I want it, but I can’t help but be happy to see passion flowers blooming. They’re on the same trellis at the giant squash (spoiler, it’s twice as big as its previous photo)… that poor trellis was set up just for tomatoes but has been taken over by two monster vining plants.

The winner so far this year…

I’m watching the little brother of my respite kiddos crush Fuego Takis with a rolling pin to add the dust as a topping to his Flamin Hot Cheeto Mac’N Cheese and wondering if 10 years olds can spontaneously combust.