All are welcome!

Friends, can you guess what the theme is in the emoji chain? It will partially depend on your phone’s emoji variations.

And a picture of plumcots to go along with the theme.

Personal insight: I’m volunteering for too much in addition to teaching and managing health. I do not have limitless time and energy during the day. Do not do anymore because you think it will be fun or look good on your CV or to impress or irritate your boss. I admit to doing important faculty work to make my boss twitchy.

Termite update: we’ve had the first inspector come by and he will email us an estimate. We have one or two more inspectors coming to give estimates. The damage does not look profound, according to the first terminator. Notice there are no termites in my emoji chain.

Let’s talk distribution of labor in regards to meals. My maternal grandfather never cooked. He never set the table or washed dishes. My paternal grandfather was helpful and small ways. My father did nothing until my mother died leaving him with four young children. Post cancer my husband has been much better about helping with meals. We do the shopping together.

I do most of the brain work thinking of options and menus, and he does most of the cooking now. This is probably a little unusual for American men of his generation, at least in my location and culture. My sons were taught how to cook. Only one of them is regularly cooking. They are all single men. On many days I feel I am too busy to cook.

Any happy news? Anything you’re looking forward to? This is also a good place to rent and find support.

I’ve been rambling too long, so I’ll share books and exercise in Heather’s and Deb’s Sunday posts.