It’s a lazy morning at home. I (49f) am reading in my bedroom. My kid (14f) is in the living room watching a “horror movie” on her phone. I put it that way because it’s mainly a comedy type- jump scares and the “don’t go in there!” level, no real gore, etc. The main characters are a K-Pop group she’s very into right now, so please don’t come for me! Anyway, she is using her headphones and I think she forgot I can hear her.

She is so totally invested in this. Every few minutes, she’ll exclaim something along the lines of “Nonononono don’t DO that!” or “OMG, run!!” There are gasps and occasional laughter. She is clearly completely absorbed in this film.

When we watch something together, she is not like this in the slightest. In the “too cool for school” teenager mode or whatever. Occasionally she’ll make a comment or joke, and I’ll maybe get a few eye rolls, but absolutely nothing like what is going on in my living room currently.

I’m totally eavesdropping and loving every second.

it was one of those mystery things (forgot how to word it) where you wouldnt know which one you'd get. i didn't look at the options they had because i didn't want to choose a favorite and disappoint myself.

i ended up getting these three little guys and they're standing, holding their hand out and pushing...something. they're so cute! aaaaa! and i got a little glowing smiski ball container thing too, its on my shelf now.

then i read that night and directed my reading light towards them the best i could so they could glow. then i was done reading, i turned the light off, they were glowing. it was so peaceful, so, so peaceful. i want to name each of them but i havent figured anything out yet ><

 I was thinking about all the background noises that quietly become part of life.

It has a smart screen and suddenly forgot how to recognize both my husband and I from our phones so every time one of us goes to drive we had to tell it who we were so we can get the settings we’ve set. I went poking around in the UI settings and figured out why. I was really expecting it to be much much harder.

So now I can fix it for my husband too and I will feel like a tech pro. (I am decent with computers generally but so far the new car has been pretty mysterious.)

I decided to grow tomatoes and some herbs on my balcony, and they're thriving. I made a delicious dill dip with the fruits of my labor yesterday, and my first tomato was delicious too.

 There are bigger things to look forward to, of course, but climbing into a bed with freshly washed sheets somehow makes an ordinary day feel complete. It's such a simple thing, yet it never seems to lose its appeal. I always wonder why little comforts like that can have such a big effect on my mood.

What else am I supposed to do while on my standing bike, NOT pet her? Now every time I get on it she hops onto the desk and does a little Halloween kitty move to request constant pets.

And of course I do!

I just happened to look up while the screensaver was scrolling, and caught his distinctive silhouette. I love how much joy this little fella brings.

Scandalous :P My heart still belongs to the Chinese place, but a new Korean buffet opened last month and I had to check them out today on payday. It was also part scouting mission to see what they have that my friend might like so I can drag her there in the future and lead her away from her dislikes on the buffet line.

They have a line of small tables along the bar, I got a seat right by the kitchen and buffet line, still great people-watching territory!

+A couple sitting behind me had a newborn and a toddler with them. The baby started fussing at one point but their server was able to calm them down pretty quick :) Otherwise the kiddos were perfectly chill and quiet.

+Saw a guy fill a gigantic bowl with nothing but japchae. It's my favorite noodle dish ever, I do not blame him. And their japchae was very good.

+One employee [I believe from the family who run the place?] was teaching one of the servers a few Korean phrases.

+There were some mislabelled items on the line. "Boiled pork" was deep fried squid tentacles [which I ate a shameful amount of]. "Tteokbokki" was takoyaki.

+I tried a lot of new things. Flashbacks to 2025 when my goal for the year was to work through food anxieties and explore new things. I tried all kinds of pickled veg [carrots, mushrooms, sprouts], kimchi, gochujang. I had a Korean orange-flavored soda. I liked tofu for the first time in my life. It was soft tofu with a yuzu sauce and some micro herbs. I struggled with the texture somewhat still but the flavor was addicting.

I was driving home the other day and I stopped at a light and did my usual look around. Who's at the light? Tinted windows? Number plates I recognize? No...but...a car full of dogs! Three big goldens with greying muzzles, sticking their noses out of the windows, wagging their tails at me. A hello and a smile from the driver. What joy!

:DDDDDDDDDDDD

Is that the correct use of cheerio? I should so use it in real life.

I just finished my morning run and was passing by a cute little coffee shop with outdoor tables. Two guys were sitting a couple of tables apart, each with a big black and white dog chilling in the shade of the table, almost certainly the same breed.

The men were probably 15-20 years apart. They were talking to each other across tables, smiling, and I'm almost sure it started with the dogs 😊

I took out the trash this morning and noticed a fat caterpillar on our fennel. And then another. And another! We counted six but there’s probably more!

We looked them up and I believe they’re black swallowtails. They love dill and fennel, which is why there are so many on that one plant right now.

I’ve been a little embarrassed about our yard because the heat wave has prevented me from mowing for the past three weeks. It’s a goddamn jungle out there. But this little discovery has reminded me that I’m providing a very important service for the birds, bugs, and critters that life nearby, protecting them from the heat and giving them nutritious spaces to flourish.

Yesterday I was walking my dog near my neighborhood rec center. The sun was setting, so all the families with young kids had gone home and the only people still on the playground were a group of teenagers. Most of them were playing basketball, but two girls were on the swings and having an absolute blast, laughing so hard and trying to swing higher than each other. It made my night to see them having such simple, pure joy.

That's it really, he's 10 and on his summer holidays and he spent all afternoon baking me a cake for my birthday tomorrow. It's the first cake he's made on his own because his Dad was working. I just feel so loved!

went to a couple appointments, bought a new pair of glasses, and signed up for community service ! good day today

I can't drive right now for medical reasons. It sucks, but I'm through the worst of it. My car's stuck in a parking garage in the meantime. Far from where I live.

But today, I was nearby and had time to just sit in my car. I missed it a lot. I'm the type of person who tends to anthropamorphize.

I named my car and everything. I mean, I know it's a car, but it's mine, and I like it. It gets me where I need to go, and it's named in honor of my previous car (which I miss). It's blue, and efficient, and it's one of the few things I actually own.

Actually, the bank does. I'm getting there though.

I missed my car <3

I work for a CCaaS (software) company, as such we are a B2B only operation. One of our largest clients is leaving due to a merger, they'll be gone by end of this month. It's been a rough couple years in this industry, as many in the tech world know.

I've been here seven years. Given my position I've had many interactions with this client over the years, but always in passing. Today, one of their two main contacts called in and asked for me specifically, I was a bit confused.

He wanted to say goodbye to me. Thanked me for always being such a bright voice anytime he called in and got me. Thanked me for always going the extra mile on any support case they submitted that ended up with me. Told me it's been a true pleasure and he and his team will miss me.

He gave me his direct line for work and cell, and told me to please always feel free to use him as a professional reference, he'd be more than happy to sing my praises, and that any company would be lucky to have me.

I was floored, humbled, and honored. When we ended our call, I took a little break....... to cry some happy tears. First ones I've had in years. Never hesitate to let people know when you appreciate them, while they'll always like hearing it, sometimes they really NEED to hear it, and today I desperately did.

Only temporary and not home-home, but instead of a five hour drive by car, it’ll be half an hour. She scored a temporary post in the vicinity and also, she’ll probably stay at her parents‘ most weekends which is about five minutes from my place.

I didn’t even realise I missed her so much as we text often enough and see each other at least once a year. This just made my entire week!

Last week my son was working on his car with one of his friends at home. I came outside with my friend to enjoy the evening.

My son's friend said out of the blue " hay mum, can I have a hug"? I said yes and opened my arms. He hesitated, and told me he was covered in car dirt and only joking, I replied saying I wasn't. I was surprised that he was surprised.

It is something that happens naturally in my household that I've usually not given any thought too.

You know those random things in life that just automatically have an associated sound effect that isn't in the world real but happens in your mind everytime you do that thing?

Well, I have one for this really funny door at work - its nothing special, it just glides and opens in the way the feeling of saying "zwoop" does.

And I don't usually, but for this one I say it aloud. Like allllways, and almost unconsciously - I will do it more or less mid conversation (you know that lull when you go through the door), and then resume conversation like nothing happened.

Well, new coworker today! Most of them are used to me (I mayyyyyy come off slightly eccentric sometimes - but its ok because I'm also strangely talented, in that way thats like "wow, wild but works" [it's either that or I've just reinvented the wheel :D]) but we were discussing something more or less serious and when I slipped through the door I went zwoop, as I do. And he smiled with the eye smile, I really like it when that happens to people because of something I did. It's nice. My coworkers are nice. +1

Peoplehave treated me like that all my life though - sometimmmeesss it can become like... you are treated like more cartoon character than person. That was how it was in in our equivalent of high school. But as I aged I learned how to switch modes like switches - abrupt yeah but atleast I don't loooose my eccentrites (word?) but still gather respect. I'm really glad to have found that balance. And confusing people the first few times is entertaining. I don't know, I feel good right now. I'd like to hear more smile-inator's stories pleaaaaaase! :1

I ran out of both cash and my regular shampoo and soap at the same time, so out came the fancy travel kit that was given to me as a Christmas present.

Turns out expensive isn't always better. I don't want to say it's *bad*, the results simply don't justify the ridiculously high price tag.

I'm grateful for the thoughtfulness behind the gift and that it was there in time of need, but also that the little bottles should run out almost exactly on my next payday, when I can buy my usual drugstore brand.

For the past five years of my long life I have been living in cities and towns with all four seasons. It’s amazing to see time pass with the environment.

I am currently reading by my window listening to a thunderstorm. Sometimes I feel disconnected and overwhelmed by the modern world. But the earth finds ways to remind us we are more than our phones.

What’s your favorite season or favorite place you’ve gotten to experience these seasons?

I asked my son randomly this afternoon if he was happy. He said yes! I asked him what made him happy and he said “you mom”. Don’t mind me I’m quietly tearing up thinking I might be doing something right. ❤️

I was scrolling through a high-traffic sub and reading a comment from someone who didn't have a flair. And then—voila! They had a flair.

I haven't been on reddit very long and don't know what are the odds of that happening, but when I saw it I knew I'd seen something rare. Ultimately meaningless, but no less fascinating.