Hey APW,
Well, it was the best slightly less shitty of times and it was the worst of times. We took the house back this week, and while we lost really significant races in Texas and Florida (and goddamn Georgia), the margins gave me a little bit of hope for how the tides might be turning in certain historically red states. I also saw more of my typically apolitical family members voting than I ever have, and that feels huge. But then Sessions “resigned,” and RBG broke three ribs, two huge wildfires broke out overnight just a few hours away from my house displacing hundreds, and there was another mass shooting yesterday. I don’t quite have articulate words for that one yet, other than I just know that I want to do whatever it takes to make it as hard to get a gun as Republicans have made it to get an abortion. (In the meantime, does anyone have recommendations for good organizations doing the work on anti-gun activism? I’m still processing the horror, but I want to divert some dollars where it’ll do the most good.)
For obvious reasons my anxiety has been all over the place the last few weeks. So I’ve been taking some measures to help balance myself out. I’ve stopped sleeping next to my phone (seriously, this is probably the number one thing that helps me feel like I have some semblance of control). I’ve started uninstalling Instagram and Facebook over the weekends. And I’m making things with my hands again. I made those headdresses for our plus size wedding dress collection. (By the way, we had a few cancellations for our D.C. popup tomorrow if you want it on that!) Then Michael and I threw together our Halloween costumes last week (I figure I only have a little more time to force my family into themed getups of my choosing). Medusa (above), Hercules, and tiny Cyclops:
And after years of complaining that I don’t know how to sew, I taught myself how to make a pair of baby pants over the weekend. (Shiny gold ones to replace the pair he outgrew. This kid’s got his dad’s gangly build.)
So with that, it’s your happy hour. I look forward to the weekly pet thread as an antidote to the thousand lives it felt like we all lived this week.
Cheers,
Maddie
Around the Web with Jareesa
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Another Day, Another Man Successfully Alleging Discrimination Against Men in Higher Education
Rebel Wilson said something stupid, and instead of apologizing, she doubled down and blocked her critics on Twitter.
This is heartbreaking: How an antiquated 911 system killed a woman.
