Mo’s Musings

  • Savoring Grief

    Savoring Grief

    There is something beyond the pain of grief that can be appreciated– if not exactly enjoyed like a nice stinky cheese or a too-hot pepper. A feeling of opening up instead of shutting down. It can still be debilitating in a world driven by productively working through a predetermined to-do list. But not in the…

  • Resuscitating Canaries

    Resuscitating Canaries

    There are a couple of processes at work that I think of as canaries. They are the first things that start to slip when I (or a teammate) is no longer working at their best. The actual task is different for each person but usually it’s something that is supposed to be done regularly; it…

  • Cultivating a life free of violence

    Cultivating a life free of violence

    If you spend time with me in real life or follow me on Facebook, you know I’ve been donating to the Center for Nonviolence since the summer of 2020 when it finally became impossible for me to ignore the injustice that surrounds me, yet rarely touches me. I chose them because I wanted to support…

  • Goodbye, Paige

    Goodbye, Paige

    Our sweet cat, Paige passed away overnight. She was 13 years old. If you’ve ever been on a Zoom meeting with me, you likely met Paige as she was not one to let trivial things like “hey, I have a job” get in the way of the pets and attention that were her birthright. She…

  • How does your Garden Grow?

    How does your Garden Grow?

    I see how vigilant you are with the weeds. You notice each imperfection immediately. You pull it up from the root, hoping to eradicate it forever. But how will you recognize the emerging flowers? How will you provide them the sun, rain and protection they need to grow when you only have eyes for the…

  • Mistakes are Hilarious

    Mistakes are Hilarious

    This post is basically just the last post in more words because it’s blowing my mind. I’ve never been able to watch slapstick comedy or shows like The Office that are basically about laughing about how incompetent people are. They seemed deeply mean-spirited to me– why would you find humor in someone else’s deep shame?…

  • Bloopers

    Bloopers

    Blooper reels are all about capturing an actor as they miss their mark, lose their focus, fuck it all up. Hilarious. When is the last time you gave yourself the same grace? To laugh in the face of your foibles and let them bring you joy?

  • Probably should have read the instructions

    Probably should have read the instructions

    Pro Tip: When using a fountain pen either use the ink cartridge or the included “Plate Press (standard) converter.” Do not shove the plate press into the top of the ink cartridge and then screw both of them together into the pen, even though they fit snugly inside the barrel. The ink will not flow…

  • The dog really likes me

    The dog really likes me

    John put an air tag registered to his account on Chewie’s collar. I just got a notification from Apple that an air tag that doesn’t belong to me seems to be tracking my location. Evidently the amount of time the dog spends following me around is statistically significant.

  • Spring has sprung

    Spring has sprung

  • One down one to go

    One down one to go

    I’ve never been so happy to get jabbed.

  • Is it even a pandemic. . .

    Is it even a pandemic. . .

    If you don’t cut your own hair ?