My girl is officially 11! It was a far more mellow birthday than we’re used to around here, yet oddly familiar now that we’re almost a year into the pandemic. The big party we’d normally throw was replaced with Zoom calls and socially-distanced birthday wishes. She also got a haircut, which she was very excited about (and it makes her look so much older, wah).

Slow down, time!

Around The ‘Net

~Old Acquaintances Of U.S. Capitol Attackers Are Turning in Their Worst Facebook Friends

~The Pandejo Movement Destroyed California’s Pandemic Progress

~My ‘Long Covid’ Nightmare: Still Sick After 6 Months

~‘But I never smoked’: A growing share of lung cancer cases is turning up in an unexpected population

~How a 22-year-old L.A. native became Biden’s inauguration poet

~This teacher was called to protect the U.S. Capitol as a National Guard member. He now holds class from a Humvee.

~For flight attendants, getting people to wear masks is now one of the hardest parts of the job

~Why swearing is a sign of intelligence, helps manage pain and more

~The Pandemic has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship

~UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis goes viral again

~French team designs ocean cleanup yacht that feeds on plastic trash

~Mystery surrounds birth of eagle ray pups after no males in display for two years

~All The Mouthwatering Food You See In Movies? That’s Someone’s Job.

~Geologist Finds Rare Formation Inside Rock That Looks Exactly Like Cookie Monster on Sesame Street

Fun Finds

~Annie has read all the Harry Potter books, so even though I couldn’t give her a big Hogwarts-themed birthday party, I was still able to bring a little bit of Hogwarts to her with a letter, some themed candy, and a snowy owl stuffy.
~She also asked for a bunch of fidget toys, so I got her this box full of them…I might have taken a few of the toys for myself. What can I say, the infinity cube is fun!
~We also gave her a ring light that she can use during Zooms for school, etc…and Mike and I might borrow it sometimes.

Happy Sunday, everyone! Stay safe and healthy out there.