So. Here’s what happened as I understand it. I went over (and by over I mean way over) my storage capacity on my server. After a few days of unsuccessful attempts to get help from GoDaddy, my IT guy Steve was finally able to talk to them Tuesday night. The good news is that there’s nothing fishy happening regarding file creation. The bad news is that we aren’t entirely sure why I have so many files.

I mean, sure, I’ve been at this for a loooooong time. 18 years this week, as a matter of fact. But this massive increase in files only began about two years ago.

Right about the time that I started uploading my photos with the WordPress app. I think (and I understand very little about this and can really only relate my user experience) that there might be an issue with the app and Jetpack and it might have been uploading each photo many, many times. Steve was able to delete some files that he knew were redundant and he and I will be getting together soon to work out what else can be deleted and how I can prevent it from happening again.

In the meantime, I’m just glad to be back as I really missed writing for all of you. I had 2 anxiety dreams related (in weird roundabout ways) to technology which further confirms for me that blogging is very very important.

And that, my friends, is the rest of the story.

Update: I know the blog is problematic right now and loading very very slowly. I am getting most of your comments but not all. I have reached out to my IT person and am hoping they will be able to help me fix all of this soon. In the meantime, I appreciate your patience.

We’ve finally had a few mini snow events this last week and I captured this photo of the sled and skates that we have by our back door. You can see by the rust on them that neither are used anymore and they are strictly decorative!

Have a fun weekend, friends!

Update: I know the blog is problematic right now and loading very very slowly. I am getting most of your comments but not all. I have reached out to my IT person and am hoping they will be able to help me fix all of this soon. In the meantime, I appreciate your patience.

The other night I had the privilege of speaking at the dedication of a new Teen Zone at my town public library. This special area of the library was revamped and created with money raised after a former library employee died last year and her family requested that donations be made in her memory to the library. What a wonderful thing they did! And what a wonderful event it was.

Connie was an avid reader and long time patron when I hired her to work part time at the library back in the early 1990s. She was a model employee, a fierce advocate for the library, and a wonderful friend. We had so much fun together back in the day and Tuesday night was like a mini library reunion as several of my former coworkers were in attendance for the dedication.

In what can only be called great timing, Hannah texted me just as I was arriving at the program. When I realized so many of my dear friends were there, I told her to jump in her car and head to the library, because I knew she would want to see the women who supported me in so many ways. They saw me through my pregnancy, my return to work when Hannah was 3 months old, and those early days of being a working mom. They were there for me when my first marriage fell apart and they celebrated with me when I married Dale. Hannah spent a lot of time at the library when she was a little one and these friends of mine were part of her village and I knew she’d want to see them.

I’m so glad Dale snapped this photo of Hannah and I with my friend Anne, who was the Children’s Librarian for many years. I haven’t seen Anne for many years and it was fantastic to catch up and reconnect. When Hannah arrived at the library after our brief text exchange, Anne remarked how lucky I am to have Hannah live so close and I know she feels this keenly as her own daughter lives in Kentucky. While I know I’m lucky, it was a perfect reminder to never take this for granted.

The whole evening was a wonderful reunion of friends and a beautiful tribute to Connie. Life in a small town can be truly special sometimes.

Hello and Happy Monday! I didn’t mean to skip a post for Friday but . . . here we are.

I’ll start with the important part: the conference was great, of course. The good thing anticipatory anxiety is that once you get rolling with whatever it is that had you anxious, it generally goes away. And in this case, that’s what happened. My Uber was right on time and I was ready on time, too. There wasn’t much traffic into Boston and the check in process was simple and fast. I saw people I knew almost immediately. And I made new friends at the WEMO (Women Elected Municipal Officials) lunch. Dale made it in easily after work. Those were all things I worried about. And they all worked out just fine.

I even remembered to take photos!

Work friends. You see, this conference was for my role on my town’s Board of Selectmen, but there were people from the town where I work there as well. No one else on my board attended so it was nice to have fun with this crew.

And more friends. Some are colleagues, some are former colleagues, all are people who have either helped me, encouraged me, supported me, or mentored me.

One of the great things about this conference is all the receptions in the evening. Free drinks. Free food, including the best little lamb chops ever. Lots of laughs. And lots and lots of people. (The countdown to see if we avoid Covid has started.)

The hotel was great and we had a nice (albeit limited) view of the Boston skyline from the 20th floor.

And when we were on our own for food we did pretty well, too.

Burgers at Shake Shack.

And a wonderful seafood platter from a nearby restaurant.

I’m already looking forward to attending next year. And I’m going to come back and read this post every time I feel anxious about it.

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

I had a perfectly lovely long weekend.

We went to the home of a former coworker Friday evening and had a wonderful time, eating snacks and pizza and cupcakes and catching up. This is something we usually do before Christmas but we had to postpone because they had COVID. Honestly, I enjoyed it more in January and I might suggest that for the future of our winter gathering at their house.

On Saturday, Dale and I went to the RV & Camping Expo in Boston. It was at the Expo down by the seaport and it was really well organized and run, with shuttles from the parking lot right to the front door. And it was a gigantic show with sooooo many campers to explore. I was a little disappointed that there weren’t vendors there displaying and selling accessories but it was definitely fun to see a whole bunch of campers in one place. I’m happy to say that I didn’t see one in our size range that I liked better than the one we have. I’d gladly take one of those fancy RVs, though, if someone wants to give me one. Seriously, 2 full baths is more than I have in y house!

On Sunday and Monday I lazed around at home. It snowed just enough to make things look pretty and make the house feel extra cozy. We took down the Christmas tree (finally, right?) but still have winter trees up along with greens and twinkle lights for atmosphere. I read a lot and played some video games and did some cooking. We also started watching Three Pines and I like it but I think for fans of the book series it’s best to approach it as a completely separate thing from the books.

The one thing I didn’t do all weekend? Take a single photo! But, since every post needs at least one photo, I’m sharing my 2022 Top Nine collage from Instagram.

How was your weekend?