Leftward Progressive

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/quiz/political-typology/

I found this Pew Research survey. They broke down the current political climate of the US into not two or three groups, but nine political typology groups.

I scored as a Leftward Progressive. The description feels accurate for me. I do want government to be something that serves all people, and is especially devoted to helping those who need extra support (impoverished, disabled, cast-outs from the hatred of others). Not sure that I view myself as "younger," as my health puts me decades older than my planetary time, but whatever. 

Not sure why the flag drawing has only 22 stars. 🇺🇸 I support statehood (and, more importantly, REPRESENTATION, for everywhere the US taxes, like Puerto Rico and Washington DC), so that'd be MORE stars, not less. 🤔

Anyone else take this? 

The Force be with my Coffee

 What I'm drinking:

Star Wars Mandalorian and Grogu coffee. (The drawing looks more like Yoda to me. Baby Yoda has bigger eyes. 🥹 And is more adorable, imho.)

This special edition coffee from Bones is good. It's very much like one of my favorites:

Coconut Caramel Crunch Flavor is more affordable (free shipping on Amazon Prime, no shipping at the grocery store). 

But

It's special edition so I tried it. No regrets.

But will I buy another box? No.

I prefer the Kauai. 

(Yes, I know the arguments that coffee from Hawaii can be problematic because the state is running out of fresh water because corporations suck and environmental regulations are as gone as the East Wing of the White House.) 

Book Bans or Protections

 

Please SUPPORT 

The Books Save Lives Act (HR 8235)

The Right to Read Act (HR 6440)

The Fight Book Bans Act (HR 7691) 

Diverse books are important and should be in school libraries. 

Federal Funding must be given to increase LITERACY, as it is the building block of all civilized cultures. Libraries should be extremely well funded! 

OPPOSE HR 7661 until the language of the bill is more clearly defined. While children shouldn't be sexualized, the wording excludes everything, including biology and health textbooks. It is a hate weapon against some children rather than a shield of protection against pedophiles. 

HR 8705 and HR 2616 are equally problematic as they target elimination of all books where race and gender are mentioned, thus banning most history books and causing prejudice rather than promoting equality and harmony. 

Books are too important. And getting real reading material into the hands of children has never mattered more than it does in this digital age. We must do better!

Neighborhood AI Data Center letter

Copy of my letter to my local government:

2401 W Emaus Avenue, Allentown PA is a TERRIBLE location for a data center. 

The Wynnewood Greens Apartments across the street has a plumbing disaster already. The sewer and water here has been in desperate need of repair for years. A data center? That's just asking for a serious problem! 

How will Allentown save the people who live here? Hundreds of people are going to be in serious trouble if that becomes a data center. Are there emergency resources ready to deal with this situation? 

Data Centers are getting national, even global, attention. Which means all eyes of the press will be on Allentown PA as the residents suffer from the effects of a data center. Is the local government ready for that level of embarrassment and scrutiny? 

Stop this BEFORE it happens. 

I urge you to send a qualified engineer from the Office of Water & Sewer Compliance to verify the poor conditions. Check the records of the water main break at Wynnewood Greens Apartments less than five years ago. To be informed and prepared is vital! Does a professional from that office honestly believe this area could sustain the needs of residents, businesses, and a data center? 

Has anyone looked into how the HUMIDITY in Pennsylvania is going to impact the machines in a data center?

https://ultrapureus.com/humidity-control-in-data-centers/

Water cooling is not synonymous with humidity tolerance when it comes to computer equipment. That warehouse was not built with climate control in mind. The building will require a massive overhaul to house a decent data center. The site isn't designed for such a purpose! Has anyone taken a thermal imaging device to 2401 W Emaus Avenue to see if the building is capable of properly retaining the cool air needed for the equipment? Especially the side with over 40 dock doors. Are they Energy-efficient sectional doors? The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that the cooling necessary to protect sensitive data center equipment can represent as much as 40 percent of its total utility costs. Has the building been tested for the International Energy Conservation Code? 

I-3 zoning requires significant buffering from residential areas. Except there are apartments ACROSS THE STREET. There's no buffer there. It is a residential community. And Camelot For Children is across the street, and the KR Early Learning Center and The Lehigh School Academy of Early Education Inc are less than two miles away. There are retail establishments, including restaurants, next door. How is the planning and zoning commission allowing such a hazardous danger in this neighborhood? 

I am one of the over 3,000 signers of the petition opposing any data center at this location. https://www.change.org/p/no-data-center-at-2401-w-emmaus-ave 

- Jamie 

🫡🇺🇸

(Note: I'm an American. I'm not Chinese. The government of China is not paying me. NO ONE is paying me. I am aware of the problems with data centers. I worry for my own poor health, mainly. I am concerned for the health and wellbeing of children in the area. And the lives of all living beings in the area as well. That is why I raise concern. 

Certain government officials are demanding the FBI investigates everyone opposed to data centers, saying we're anti American for choosing life over profits. 🙄 Obviously, they were voted in by money and have cash dollars as constituents. 🤦‍♀️ But, I'm uselessly adding this disclaimer anyway. Not that it'd matter. 

Where's the dumpster 🔥 fire emoji? We need one!)

IWSG my Maladjusted Hat

HATS 

(Wait for explanation)

I have a question. HOW does one comment on Substack blogs in the IWSG without creating an account on that platform. OBVIOUSLY it can be done, because it's right there in the rules, so I know there has to be a way. I can't figure it out. Is it because I'm using my phone? 📱

Anyone? Because when I click "post" it wants a profile and sign up thing. And I haven't found the work around. 

HATS

See, I put together the above yesterday.

Maladjusted 

It's another word they used in the early '90s. Gen X people were not neuro divergent or autistic or have ADD / ADHD. (Gen Y, they stood in lines at the nurse for their pills 💊, Gen X just got blamed and yelled at, like all generations before us.)

Seventh grade, we got new school planners. In addition to being a requirement to put homework assignments in them, they also listed school rules.

HATS MUST BE WORN INSIDE THE SCHOOL. Upon passing through the entrance, all hats and head coverings (including, but not limited to, baseball caps, scarves, wigs, etc, unless medical exceptions have been given prior approval) are to be removed and must be stored in the locker or closet for the duration. 

🤔 If you're normal, that rule didn't get your attention.

If your brain 🧠 has been training, you see a typo. (If you're an informed activist, you see that a Klan member wrote it to screw with certain people.) 

But if you're maladjusted (note the name of my blog), you'll understand what I did.

I went to the office to ask for a hat. 

🥺🧢 I didn't bring one. I didn't know about the new rule. 😭 

"What are you talking about? Go to class!"

If you're normal, you'd think I'd shut up about it. My friends begged me to shut up about it. 

But I was disobeying a rule! And, umm... not totally sure how to obey the rule. Which, by the way, EVERYONE was breaking! We're supposed to remove them and then wear them while storing in lockers or closets. Our lockers were freaking small, the slender ones that barely held a backpack 🎒. How were we supposed to store ourselves? 

I eventually ended up in the guidance counselor's office about this. 

Who, eventually, realized I wasn't trying to be a little shit. 

I was genuinely upset because I felt I was breaking a rule. There had to be some way for me to obey this rule! The fact that the other 500 people in the building were breaking the rule didn't matter to me. I WAS BEING BAD. And I desperately needed to be able to obey the rule. I wasn't being an asshole. This was a genuine breakdown of a good kid who didn't understand.

He took my planner and grabbed a red pen. ^NOT 

"Better?" 

I stopped crying.

"What about everyone else's planners?"

"If they notice, I'll fix it. If you see something like this again, please come tell me."

"Okay. So I'm not breaking a rule?"

"Nope. Look at what it says now. See? You're behaving. Okay?" 

I'm better as an adult.

But

It isn’t as if I'm on medication for this. Or have any actual professional help.

So

Sometimes 

Like a splinter in the mind

I get obsessed over a rule.

And feel there must be a way for me to obey that rule. 

(Do not take me to a Bible study. You will find out how many contradictions are in there.) 

(I'm diabetic and have stage 3 chronic kidney disease. The food plans contradict themselves. And omg you don't want to know about my meltdown trying to figure that out, because the Internet has a whole trash heap of more information. Including a very trusted site that says I should eat CANDY 🍬.  And my doctor had to explain that's for stage 5 people who can't get calories from anywhere else and.... you DO NOT want to know.)

Maladjusted 

I'm not normal. (I'm not perfect. I make mistakes and typos.) And sometimes I get obsessed with the dumbest things that don't matter to ANYONE and have zero impact on the world. And sometimes it takes a friend to shake me out of a meltdown. 

But see how well I recall that hat story? 

Because it still bothers me a little.

I know fully right well that it was a typo. I'm a grown-up, I know.

But it's still in my head. I haven't thought about it in years. 

But trying to figure out how to comment without creating an account on that platform, it derailed me. 

And my brain 🧠,  all maladjusted, was 100% certain that everyone else in the group knew how to do it. That I was failing. AND I FELT INSECURE (as a person, not just a writer).

And, yeah, probably other people just skipped those or made accounts. I'm probably, no, I am definitely, the only butt nugget who obsessed over this. 

It's me. 

It's just me.

And I know that. 

Because I am maladjusted. 

But I'm an adult so I have to just get over it.

Except my brain is forever going to try to work this out. Even though it doesn't matter.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

It does not matter.

The hats don't matter.

The inability to comment with creating an account doesn't matter. 

This has no impact on my life, on the world, on absolutely anything.

It doesn't matter. 

Unimportant.

Please don't contradict that.

It's the mantra. 

I have to keep telling myself that it doesn't matter. I'm maladjusted, that's why it matters to me. But it doesn't actually matter. It is not important. 

And I will NOT bring it up again. 🤐🙊

Motivation, Writing, Movies, #IWSG Story Ideas, 🏳️‍🌈 and AI neighborhood

Thank you to everyone who visited last month!
Here's a meme I found about writer motivation:

Movie 🎬  (on Netflix) Ladies First 

A misogynist wakes in an alternative reality.

It's not "women rule the world like women," but "women rule the world exactly like men in our reality," so he learns a lesson as to how life is for others. It'd make a smidge more sense if he had been turned into a woman and had to live in the real world. Or if he had trouble navigating the alternative reality because the ruling-class women didn't just mimic the shitty male rule to which he is accustomed.

QUOTE: "Balls [mean strength]? The delicate sack hanging off your body where the slightest tap has you weeping on the ground?" 

The signs and statues (especially if you know London) are fantastic. 

Still, a funny movie. Worthwhile. 👍

He learns to treat people with decency and respect. 

Watch with a pint of Guinness. 🍺

Movie 🎬  GOAT

Netflix animated movie. 

Basketball-like sport, but the courts, that's what makes this sport really interesting. Ice pond, a cave with stalactites, lava... 

And a team that doesn't practice together. 

They've got a LOT to learn and overcome. 🐐

Modo wins the most. "Roots run deep!"

Oh, and the twins are awesome. 🦏🦏

What's about to ruin my life:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1YKgsjAwY3 (Brief video about this.)


Petition (if you're willing to help)
https://www.change.org/p/no-data-center-at-2401-w-emmaus-ave
They plan to put it across from apartments and Camelot for Children (a daycare for disabled kids). It's a Neighborhood. It's MY neighborhood.
And the Governor of Pennsylvania is giving them incentives! 🤦‍♀️Desperate times here.

---

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

My story ideas are from all over. Several are from life (as I discussed last month). One came from a dream my husband had. Some are from someone else because I have done some ghostwriting, but I can't discuss the details, obviously.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Wkzqz3NB/

🏳️‍🌈 There are many books, authors, and people who need extra support (this month and always). 😶🧑🏾‍🏫 Censorship is a battle for everyone who favors freedom and equality.

You Might Be Grateful For This Post Someday

The above meme is about NOT saving anything "for a special occasion." That life, itself, is the special occasion. And that some people can alter their thinking to align with that belief. "Use the china, wear the clothes, your life is not a museum."

I envy that. 

From a VERY young age (toddler 👶) I was told, "this is for special." There was a BEAUTIFUL necklace made with crystal during the depression, and my great-grandmother said, "I want you to have it. We'll keep it here, locked in the drawer, but it'll be yours to wear for SPECIAL." I inherited it after she passed away. I locked it in a cabinet. I didn't attend prom, so I missed that chance to wear it. I figured I would wear it for my wedding. A month before my wedding, it went missing. The whole locked box is missing. I have since moved, and have no idea what the hell happened to that box. No one else knew where that box had been stored. Nothing else is missing from the cabinet. 

I never got to wear the necklace.

No one ever wore the necklace. I can only begin to imagine what my great-grandfather paid for it (or traded for it, as he did a lot of labor in trade because people were poor, though this was expensive jewelry, so who knows). 

Around 1990, my mom got me a white LA Gear jean jacket for my birthday.

She must have saved for weeks. Those were expensive! Here's a picture of me and my (then) best friend, Nikki, "sharing" modeling the jacket.
I never wore it outside of the house.

I was saving it "for good." For some super special occasion, like prom or something. Not something ordinary, like going to sixth grade. 

IDIOT!

Not only did I never go to prom, but it wouldn't have fit by then.

It's in my bedroom closet right now. In a protective garment bag. And I would be inconsolable if something happened to it. 

But I never wore it out. Just in the house a few times, after showering, less any spec of dirt land upon it. 

My mom was like, "I don't understand. I thought you'd never take it off. I thought you'd live in it."

I wish I did. I wish so much that I was able to think like that. But it felt so damn special, I had to keep it safe, so I just stored it. 

I still do shit like that. 

When we last moved, I had to downsize quite a bit. I am still DEEPLY bothered by every single solitary item I parted with, even though most of it was clothing I had outgrown. I took pictures of damn near everything before giving it away. 

Several boxes of stuff were lost. Almost certainly thrown out. (It was not well-planned. It was disorganized chaos, and that's putting it mildly.) 

I haven't let go.

There exists a large family property with two houses, an attached apartment, and an old church building. They are packed with stuff. The property was robbed multiple times. (The person was caught, no word on getting anything back or what's going on.) 

But, see, I inherited this mental condition. This inability to let go. Not quite as bad as some older family members, but still. 

https://www.facebook.com/drkojosarfo/posts/pfbid0L6jA5q68fmyNKFMBbeH9aPxg7avwNSU1B64ecNpu2YFa1yH5TrdLM6XX2517DDfKl

Is this ADHD? Is that what's wrong with me?

Or is it that I'm haunted by my grandmother saying, "You might be grateful for it someday"?

Grey's Anatomy debate

 Spoiler Alert 

This post is about a MAJOR plot point in Grey's Anatomy. If you haven't seen WHY the hospital was renamed Grey-Sloan, don't read ahead!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ayp3wsg5Z/

A fan group asked about Owen's responsibility for the crash. My reply: 

Some people, before they book a flight or buy a car or something, will research safety reports. 

Many of us hope that, if our boss/company is going to have us transported, that the company has someone researching safety. Many people believe their employer has invested time in training them, and therefore has an interest in their survival. 

No one who got on that plane asked any questions beforehand. And when Arizona took Alex's spot, no one questioned that. No one stopped to research if the airline had a decent record. Or if there was a limit to the types of doctors who could go. And, if it hadn't crashed, they'd have just kept going with their lives having never looked any of it up. No, "we made it! What were the odds?🤔" 

But

Should someone have done that?

Should an employer research before agreeing to a contract with some company? 

(The plane, the gloves that Pegasus bought which resulted in how many problems, the basement generator...) 

Contemplating this question for more than a few minutes has to bring up the subject of unions. Big companies get all angry about unions. The implication that employees need someone to protect their rights? That companies don't put their own people before profits? That they would dare to ever cut a corner to save a few million dollars? 😑 

In the Grey’s Anatomy universe, the chief of surgery has to make a ridiculously high amount of decisions that aren't about surgery. We saw in the early seasons that Webber had Patricia (Patrice?), a dedicated assistant who didn’t do surgery or medicine... she just assisted with the paperwork side. And she probably would have caught that the airline had a poor safety record. Maybe even caught that there is a limit of attendings on a flight. Her focus wasn't split ten different ways.

Owen didn't hire an assistant. He barely even used his office, because the paperwork didn't become his priority. So no one was focused on researching the decisions he had to make. (And that gave the writers lots of drama to play with! So much so that there still isn't someone doing that job. And everyone who becomes chief gets burned out. Even Mer, though becoming chief was obviously an original goal of the show, that she would achieve the position her mother never did.) 

So, yes, in a way, it was Owen's fault. It was also the fault of some unknown character who runs HR and doesn't hire a proper assistant to the chief. And no, I don't mean George O'Malley as the chief's intern. I mean a non-medical person who just does office stuff, paperwork, research, that "boring stuff" that doesn't play well on tv, but in real life absolutely has to be done. 

Because companies have to be sued when they get lax on safety. ESPECIALLY if they sign up for an agreement to ignore safety standards for a few years. (Current US environmental news. Not a fictional storyline from a show. 🤔 Though it won't be long before Grey-Sloan is treating patients for arsenic and mercury poisoning from water. 🤦‍♀️) 

Grey's Anatomy is a based in the US, a very litigation-dependent society. The writers have to work within the construct. Could a company be sued for such negligence? Yeah. And thus, it was written. 

But, for all the guilt he felt, when his next wife became chief years later, or when he saw his friend Miranda struggling, did he say, "you need an assistant"? 

Nope.

Did Webber point out that the reason he had been good was because he had one? Nope. And didn't get another when he tried to do the job again. 

So, it's a tiny bit, like 10%, Webber's fault for not keeping the position filled, not making sure the chiefs after him understood the value of that position. 

They know they need a scrub nurse to operate. But outside the ER, they act like the hundreds of other hospital jobs just don't exist. 

IWSG, Literacy, and #AtoZChallenge Reflections #Crossword Answers

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Remember, the question is optional! 

May 6 question - What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?   

Beyond my ghost writing (which has been published and, I'm told, sells well), and my published poetry, there's one YA novel I've been working on for a few years. The agents who have read it so far suggest I make my protagonist 15 before she celebrates her quinceañera. 

Now, in case you didn't know why that's not practical, here's the reason in a screenshot from Google, explaining that a quinceañera is the celebration of the fifteenth birthday. 

"So why is she at the end of her 8th-grade year if she's about to turn 15?"

Well, if you make it through the first three pages, you find out she was held back a year due to her mother's incarceration. 

(Because the book is partly about the injustice faced by children of incarcerated parents. Which is where the idea for the book comes from, because it actually happened to a child I know. Her stepmother was a drunk driver who committed a hit and run, resulting in the death of a classmate of the girl, and the girl was forced to leave school for a year because she was bullied to the point that "her presence causes a distraction to her peers." -- They kicked her out for being bullied. They kicked her out for what her drunken stepmother did. An absolutely brilliant girl who had been top of her class. 

And she was forced to sign a nondisclosure, despite being a minor child, so she isn't even allowed to tell her story! 😔 

But I didn't sign anything. And I'll write whatever fictional story I damn well please, thank-you-very-much. So her story is gonna exist!
I just have to find an agent who understands why someone would not be 15 before turning 15.
Or I have to self-publish, but I have no idea how to properly market a YA book. How to get it in schools. And there's a lot about discrimination and stuff in the book. Under the current political situation, it'd be banned before any publisher would even consider it. So, not hopeful right now.)

And none of that is inspiring! 😅

Well, I did a slice-of-life last month for the A to Z Challenge. And it included characters from an Adult Paranormal story I've been kicking around with friends for a few years. 

Comments included "fun" and "interesting."

I'm hosting this month and look forward to reading YOUR answers!

---

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D4VhSc3Uy/

What if we tried to raise the literacy rate in Pennsylvania? Too many adults don't read for fun! What if there was an incentive? The return of the BOOKIT program, where children read and earn goodies. Why can't we do something similar for adults? @resist.bot text SIGN PYSFRR to 50409 #literacy

[image or embed]

— Jamie (@jamiewriter.bsky.social) April 23, 2026 at 9:55 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/jamiewriter.bsky.social/post/3mk7g5wkbfs2x

---

{Story ending} 

Wren Noel's casts are finally off. We watch one more movie together before they go home. It's a romantic comedy, kidding! It's a psychological thriller with blood and gore and some amazing plot twists. SEND HELP. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien do an amazing job.

"Someone needs to earn an award for making Rachel McAdams look so unattractive and homely."

"Agree," Wren Noel says between bites of popcorn. 

"Are you going to fix the crossword error 26 Across, where I accidentally wrote the third movie instead of the fifth?"

"Nah. Let the fans write the magazine about it. That shows they're playing along and interested, which means the editor will keep hiring me to make more word puzzles."

I laugh. "Never thought about it that way. Intentional errors."

We discuss our desire to never be forced to try to survive on a deserted island.  Or some billionaire's private island. 

"But being stranded at your place while mostly helpless for a few weeks was a great time. You're an amazing friend, Liv."

"Aww. Love you, Wren Noel," I say as we hug goodbye. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8036976/   🎥🎬 SEND HELP 📺

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme was a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

• A 19 across — ANTARCTICA
• B 21 across — BETTY
• C 20 across — CLARITA
• D 24 down — DADDY
• E 14 across — ESPHENI
• F 22 down — FRANKIE
• G 10 down — GUMMIES
• H 9 across — HAWKINS
• I 13 down — GABRIELLE
• J 18 down — JACKRABBIT
• K 17 down — JEKYLL
• L 16 across — LAWS
• M 11 down — MAJUMDAR
• N 3 across — NORMA
• O 8 down — OKAY
• P 15 across — PAMELA
• Q 4 across — QUEEN
• R 26 across — ROY
• S 12 across — SCARAB
• T 2 down — EATS
• U 1 down — UNKNOWN
• V 23 across — VERONICA
• W 7 down — WISH
• X 25 across — MATRIX
• Y 5 down — YIPPEEKIYAY
• Z 6 down — FONZIE

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

I like the theme reveal. The reflection post gives me a reason to look back at the month. I have only seen a few people visit via the "road trip" on my blog. 🤷‍♀️ I definitely use the HTML badges to make my posts. I have met my blog posting goals, but didn't get to visit as many blogs as I had intended, which is probably why I didn't get a ton of comments. I don't know that I have favorites. Charlotte - MotherOwl- had a cool theme with the Wordle words. I did get comments from at least two co-hosts (J and Ronel). Liz A., Anne E.G., and Ronel left me the most comments this month. Pretty sure Blogger is open to everyone. IWSG is the other blog hop I normally do. Yes, I'll do this hop again next year. And I do visit the A to Z site a few times a year. 

https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2026/04/sorry-i-didnt-love-you-atozchallenge.html -- That's the post I'll pick for the Road Trip. Lots of emotion.

https://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/2026/04/hamburger-bowl-atozchallenge-shortstory.html...However, if you want a recipe and Netflix nostalgia, I'd suggest "H" 😉 


April Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2027 SIGN-UP March 29 -April 10 a-to-zchallenge.com

Politics Civiqs

Current approval of the 47th president is 38% in this poll.

56% of those polled se AI as negative 

Most people polled still care about the Environment 🌎

 

Zero #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 6 Down

I walk in with two bowls of roasted mushroom soup. "Kennett Square special!"

Our state, Pennsylvania, grows about 60% of the mushrooms in the United States. 🍄 I lift a spoonful to Wren Noel's lips. 

"Oh, so good," Wren Noel replies with delight. 

An overly cheerful song plays in the background. We both look at the television. 

"Liv? What in the nineteen-fifties is playing?"

"Oh. The streaming app sometimes just randomly turns something on. It's no big deal, we can watch something else."

"Leave it, for now. More yummy soup, please," Wren Noel says as Happy Days plays in the background. 

"Ayyy," the star of the show says as we eat our soup. 👍👍 We both laugh as the episode plays.

"So, the sister isn't supposed to date. But the brother is expected to date lots of girls. How did guys date girls if girls weren't dating?" I ponder.

"That's how math worked back then," Wren Noel laughs. "It makes no sense. I didn't notice how often these issues come up."

"Nor did I. Can't say I've ever binge-watched Happy Days before. I'm not sure the title is entirely accurate."

"Are the days happier now?" Wren Noel postulates.

"They were during Obama," I say with a wink before eating some of my soup.

"What's Henry Wrinkler doing now, do you suppose?" Wren Noel asks.

"He's doing a nude scene on Loot," I reply.

"What?"

"Yup. I guess 79 is the age to let your 🍆 member fly free on-screen."

"Liv, that's," Wren Noel's head shakes, "scrub it from my mind! Zero such images, please!"

6 Down - Happy Days cool guy

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Yes, but I live here #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 5 Down

"More action, more action, more action," Wren Noel chants after we finish watching all the Matrix movies. 

"Well, I guess we'll go with a classic." A few clicks of the remote and Christmas music fills the room. Bruce Willis is on an airplane, headed to California to see his wife, Holly.

"Die Hard," Wren Noel says in a deep voice before cheering. 

As the limo nears Nakatomi Plaza, I spot the low gas price. "Not even a dollar a gallon. Man, those were the days!"

Wren Noel chuckles. "You don't drive, Liv."

"Yes, but I live here and I can't farm. So the price of gas impacts the price of fuel to get food to the store, and the price of the bus to drive me to the store or Instacart to deliver groceries for me when even the wheelchair isn't enough to help me move around."

"True. It sometimes feels like there are villains from this film franchise running our government. And by the next election, neither one of us might have the right to vote." Wren Noel cracks their neck.

"Yup. Actually, they seem worse than these villains," I reply.

"We need a John McClane."

"Yes, John McClane, please report to the US Congress and help fight for some rights." We both laugh at my pretend paging. 

5 Down - Exclaimed with a swear by John McClane

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Xylophones #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 25 Across

"We need to binge something good for the letter X of the crossword," Wren Noel says.

"Or eat some Xylaria polymorpha," I say with a wicked laugh. "Dead man's fingers. It's a mushroom or fungi. Hard and woody, probably wouldn't kill you, but definitely not delicious."

We both laugh. I put on a short animated film called Self. "She gives up parts of herself to try to fit in."

"This is tragic. It's so dark, if you think about it."

"I know! Without any words, it's got all this depth about learning self-acceptance and self-value and inner beauty. The wood and metal sound like windchimes, but they could be xylophones. What do you think?"

Wren Noel shakes their head. "Maybe we should go with some famous trans siblings. A film with Switch as a character."

I pop on the first action-sci-fi film from the Wachowskis' series. Neo is told to follow the white rabbit, and heads off to a sex club. 

"Do you know that some people think that's just a dance club or a rave or something?" Wren Noel asks me as the movie plays.

"It seems kind of obvious to me, but I guess if you didn't pay attention, and consider this movie is only R-rated, it could seem more innocent," I answer.

"Maybe because most people have never been to such a club."

"Yeah, definitely a factor as well," I laugh.

We watch as AI robots threaten the human population, a future that feels like a too-real possibility.


25 Across - This simulated reality is part of the war between humans and machines.

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Wishing for Wing Zings #AtoZChallenge #ShortStory Crossword Clue 7 Down

"Introverts deserve sanctuary," the character Bazeema says as today's animated movie plays. 

"That's the truth," Wren Noel chimes in. 

"Do you consider yourself an introvert?" I ask. It's not a word I'd use to describe my friend here.

"Not all the time. But there are days when I prefer to be alone. Or, at least, alone with a friend." They smile and wink at me. I smile back.

"The trouble with this movie is that not all wishes are good or fully articulated. Still. Maybe it's not so bad to wish to be accepted."

Wren Noel ponders this before replying. "What if wishing to be accepted meant that others had to surrender their beliefs, or at least bend them?"

"That is what it means. That's seriously the primary roadblock. Some people are unable to accept others because they harbor an intolerant belief that not everyone deserves acceptance, or deserves to be alive without conforming to make others comfortable." I cross my arms.

"Easy now. You're talking to a transgender individual who dresses in splatter punk style. Trust me, acceptance isn't something I feel often."

"I know," I lean against Wren Noel's shoulder. "I didn't ask for my psychic abilities. Acceptance for being born would have been nice."

"Wish for loved ones to be safe. That'd be my wish."

"It's a good one. I make that wish often."

We keep watching the movie. It isn't overly popular, possibly because the plot is a bit complex for a children's film. Star, the nonverbal main character, is cheeky and adorable, though. Reminds me of some of the mythical creatures I care for around here. 

"Do you ever wonder why they call celebrities stars?" I ask Wren Noel.

"Probably because they stand out. I mean, we look at the night sky, and you know there are planets and space rocks and stuff, but you mostly see the stars."

I nod as I look up the answer online. "Interesting," I say before reading the answer provided. 

"Celebrities are called ' stars' because they are seen as brilliant, shining, and distant, much like celestial bodies, representing figures who stand out from the crowd and offer inspiration or guidance. This metaphor originated in theater, referring to top performers whose popularity and charisma made them shine brighter than others, with usage dating back to at least 1779. 

They act as guides in culture, providing a focal point in a chaotic world, akin to how sailors navigated by stars."

Wren Noel nods. "Yeah, that makes sense too."

"Want to wish for food from Instacart? I have some restaurant credits."

We end up ordering from Anna's Brick Oven in Bethlehem. A Shrimp Crabmeat Pizza and a 10-piece bucket of Boom Boom Wing Zings. 🍕🍗

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11304740/

https://yarn.co/yarn-clip/0fdbcf7d-b581-43c1-8a2f-0345a4733e10

7 Down ___ upon a star ⭐

The crossword clue will contain the LETTER of the day, though it might not be the *first* letter in the word. 

My April 2026 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme is a slice-of-life short story with two characters binge-watching shows and movies while creating a crossword puzzle. Read and play along!

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com

JDORNER1460A   🛒 💰✨ Get $10 off Instacart. Use my code JDORNER1460A at checkout or follow this link. Terms apply. https://inst.cr/t/493b819c5

Random Sunday Stuff

Random rant about AI and social media ^

Random humor about Virgin River horse scene 

19th Wedding anniversary meal

Steak w bella mushrooms, veggie mix, twice baked potato, and shrimp 

Attempt to hack my PayPal account.

I reported it.

Looked online, there are dozens of similar reports. The scam is they send a few cents, get authorization, then steal hundreds (or more). 

Not enough being done! 

Just trying to fight for LGBTQIA equality. Not that my current PA Congressional Representatives are going to be of any use or help. But I'll say it anyway. At least they'll know they fail to represent their consistency. They don't care, but still, they should at least know.

We got great food from our local food truck.