I started writing a post about the possibility that our school district might close elementary schools, and my kids’ school might be on the chopping block (again), but I got so bored, I had to abandon it. I was going to write about “living with uncertainty” and “embracing change” but fuck it. That just feels too tedious. I want to write something joyful and uplifting, so these are 10 things currently making me incredibly happy:

1. Tennis lessons! Today was week 3, and we started serving.
2. The weather forecast: September in Pasadena can be brutally hot, but the highest temp in our 10 day forecast is 83. It’s humid AF but I’ll take it.
3. There are pumpkins at Trader Joe’s.
4. Playing around with AI to make this Avocado Superhero. The eye mask is perfection.

5. Pippa doesn’t have homework tonight! Which means she won’t be stressing over school work after volleyball practice.

6. Right now, Julian is riding his scooter back and forth down our block and waves at me whenever he passes our house.

7. I cleaned our living room and it feels so pleasant. I had several paintings that the kids made at art class lined up on windowsills and I put them away and the light has so much more light now.

8. The audiobook Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati. I love retellings of Greek myths, and this one is excellent.

9. One more AI image of porcupines having a birthday party (and now I want to create a picture book or graphic novel with AI)

10. Listening to my kids practice the piano.