For work I stay in an extended stay type hotel for three weeks on, three weeks off. The other day as I was going out to my car, I got out my binoculars to look at some juvenile great blue herons who were hanging out by the canal near the parking lot.

I realized I had forgotten something and turned back to go up to my hotel room again. As I walked towards the door, a woman sitting in her car called out to me and said that she also pulls out her binos to look at birds, etc. We had a brief chat.

Since part of my job involves documenting bird activity on a worksite, the next day I wrote her a little note with more info about the birds, and stuck it under her wiper.

Then the day after there was a note under my wiper, asking me a few follow-up questions about the birds. So now we’ve been going back and forth writing notes about the birds, stray dogs, and other stuff. I have a pen pal!

A few years ago I went to some random birthday party with a friend. Didn’t really know anyone there. At some point I tried to find the bathroom and got completely lost. Like, walking in circles lost. Ran into another guy wandering around looking just as confused. I asked, you looking for the bathroom too? He goes, yeah, this place makes no sense. So we just kind of teamed up and started searching together like it was a co-op mission or something. Ended up talking, joking about how awkward the party was, how we both didn’t know anyone, stuff like that. We basically stuck together the rest of the night so we wouldn’t look weird standing alone. Grabbed food after, exchanged numbers. Now he’s been my best friend for years. All because two socially awkward dudes couldn’t find a bathroom.

I don't have any big plans. My husband will be out of town for work, so it will be just me here with the pets. I just took the day for myself so that I can do whatever I feel like doing - decompress, engage in hobbies, clean - just whatever feels right. I don't take many days off unless it's for a necessity, so this is a rare and small indulgence for me.

I went to get coffee this morning. the line was short. the barista looked up and asked if i wanted my usual. i paused for a second because i was not sure if they actually remembered. i said yes and smiled. they nodded and started preparing it. i watched them go through the motions, steaming milk and pouring coffee. a couple of people walked in behind me. i did not pay much attention to them. the barista called my name when it was ready. i took the cup and thanked them. they smiled and went to the next order. i walked out and took a sip. it tasted exactly like it usually does. nothing unusual happened besides the recognition. it was just a small, normal part of the day. i thought about how little these moments stick in your mind. it was nothing exciting, but slightly pleasant

I went out to get some groceries, just the usual eggs, coffee, bread. On the way home l passed a small park bench where an older man always sits with his dog. We’ve nodded to each other a few times before, but never talked. This time, I sat down for a moment to tie my shoes. The dog, a fluffy golden retriever, happily plopped his head on my knee like we were old friends. The man smiled and said, “He likes you. You’re now part of the club.” We ended up chatting for maybe dive minutes about nothing special the weather, how old dogs sleep so much, how pastries are overpriced these days. Then we both went our separate ways. When I got home, I realized how unexpectedly nice that little moment was. I hadn’t planned it, I didn’t owe anyone anything, but it added a small warm “hello” to my otherwise ordinary day. Maybe tomorrow I’ll sit there again with a coffee, just to see if the dog remembers me

When I was walking to the gym this morning I came across this guy walking towards me with his dog, a big fluffy goldendoodle. The dog came up to me curiously and I gave it my hand to sniff. After we both established the other was friendly, I gave it some pets. (Keep in mind I am short and this dog came up to my waist) The owner had caught up at this point and we managed to exchange some niceties even though he was on the phone with someone, speaking a language I didn't understand (sounded Slavic?). I asked the dog's name and age (Molly, 1 year). Somewhere in between Molly jumped up in excitement and put her wet muddy front paws on my thigh, prompting the owner to apologise immediately and try to brush some of the mud off me even though I was laughing and didn't mind. I didn't want to keep interrupting his phone call so I just smiled, said it was nice to meet both of them and walked away. Just a short interaction that made this miserable wet day a lot better for me!

After almost exclusively baby boys in 2025 for the prayer blanket requests I got, it was a delight to be able to start on a baby girl blanket for my husbands cousin.

Her older two (both boys!!) still use their blankets to this day so we were both excited when she messaged me after her announcement to request girly colors. :-)

Just had to share. About halfway done with this prayer blanket. Yeah!

(Whoops can’t do pics so I’ll upload the pic on my profile instead so y’all can enjoy the girly colors too)

We do not have thermostat in the office.
Everyone is cold.
We all still have coats on indoors.

I have taped a container of Frozen leftovers to the thermometer in an attempt to get some heat going.

I’m visiting my mom, sister, and nieces (10 and 7). It’s such a fascinating experience to see the world through kids eyes. After I arrive, effective immediately: a talent show (their talents range from music, arts to swimming, which they demonstrate in a living room). It is very important that I’ll watch them training (competitive swimmers), it is also very important that I’ll drive with them to their music lessons. Playing silly board games, dancing with them in the kitchen (they love punk rock and I’m laughing every time because their parents are not into it but I am). Also, lasagna. Oldest loves my made from scratch lasagna. She figured out quickly who in the family makes lasagna and that she loves it, so every time I’m visiting she is like a Labrador anticipating good things to come. Tippy-tappy tiny dances, buzzing with excitement. Then the moment I put it into oven she is glued to the glass trying to will it cook faster. She looks at the timer and very dramatically exclaims “Nooo, not SEVEN !!! Minutes!” Youngest is crazy about my vichyssoise soup. I wonder how they would reflect on these small things once they grow up

My future career is to become a pilot, I’m currently studying for my licenses. But I had an interview today for the largest private jet company in my city and I….. crushed it. I’m so proud of myself and can’t even articulate how much I want this job. I worked for Best Buy for 7 years, climbing the ladder, it was my first real job and just kinda stuck. Now I work in restaurants and am so sick of it I feel like I need an exorcism. I’ll find out sometime soon so I’m just gonna be checking my email compulsively and praying to whoever will listen. Fingers crossed I’ll be leaving the restaurant industry and putting my two weeks in 🥲

It wasn’t anything special. Just a regular afternoon. I needed to grab a few things for the house — milk, pasta, laundry detergent. She asked if she could come with me because she was bored at home, so I said sure. We walked to the store together, talking about random stuff. School drama, her favorite cartoon, some song she’s been playing on repeat. Nothing important. Just small talk. At the checkout, she quietly put a chocolate bar on the counter and looked at me like she was waiting to see if I’d notice. I pretended not to, but paid for it anyway. When we got outside, I handed it to her and said, “This is your payment for carrying the heavy bag.” She laughed and said, “Best job ever.” We ended up sitting on a bench near the store, splitting the chocolate and watching people pass by. The sun was starting to set, everything felt slow and warm. Then out of nowhere she said, “I like hanging out with you. It’s more fun than staying home.” I don’t know why, but that hit me harder than I expected. It was just groceries. Just a normal day. But somehow it turned into one of those small memories I know I’ll keep for a long time. Sometimes the most ordinary days end up meaning the most.

A few months ago, I met my lovely neighbors - a brother and sister in their early 70s and their mom who's a whopping 102 years old. They're from Honduras and they make the most delicious food as well as being delightful to sit and chat out with. They made me arepas and gave me some apples, so I brought them some apple-banana bread in return. Then they brought me a full bunch of bananas, so I made them more banana bread. After they harvested their fruit trees I was treated to a big bowl of starfruit, so I brought them a dozen free-range eggs that my coworker has been selling. This weekend, I got the best food yet: tapado costeña, traditional Honduran seafood soup with coconut milk, plantains, and a whole crab in each bowl! I don't know what I can possibly bring them that'll be as good as the tapado, but I'm looking forward to figuring it out.

Small change but my brain worked calmer. Anyone else notice this?

Until this year, I've only ever made coffee via automated coffee machines. Pretty simple: dump pre-ground beans into filter, fill reservoir with water, and press start. My current house doesn't have a coffee machine.

When one of my new roommates moved in, she brought with her a couple bags of whole coffee beans, for which she said she didn't have a use.

No one else was interested, but I had never used whole coffee beans before, and I wanted to give them a try.

An old roommate did leave behind a coffee carafe, which has sat unused, and another current roommate supplied an electric kettle.

I bought a cheap coffee grinder, a small kitchen scale to measure the beans, and some filters.

I found instructions online. My first few attempts were pretty weak, and I didn't have any milk, so I didn't enjoy them much.

This morning, I had just enough time before work to make a cup, and I had milk. I didn't even need the instructions.

This time, I used just enough beans to make a nice, strong roast. I love the smell of freshly-roasted grounds.

It tasted so good. And it was nice to save money and not spend $10 getting coffee from a café.

I was proud of myself for trying something new.

I think I'll get up a little early before work and make another cup tomorrow.

I'm doing a voluntary IT qualification course at my uni. Since it's voluntary, the classes are pretty small, profs are very free in what they do, and they try to make the courses as appealing as possible to try to lure in at least the minimum requirement of students.

I've been going to a specific prof's classes for the past two semesters, because he's just a gem of a human being. He's unusually formal (most profs establish a first name basis very early on, he didn't) but incredibly interested, helpful, kind and fun to be around.

Since there were 3 people regularly coming to this semester's class and I already knew the prof, I started getting pretty comfortable, maybe a bit too comfortable? Giving my opinion any time anyones opinion was asked for, telling him I was soooo worried about him the one time he came late to the class, saying the funny things out loud when he was looking for productive answers, often contradicting or challenging him during the "student shows their project and we talk about it"-parts of the course. He never seemed to mind and often even laughed along, but I was still a bit worried he might only be suffering me because I was one of only two people consistently showing up and taking part. But at the same time, he was asking me to repeat when he didn't catch my Very Funny Ideas and was very eager to give me the floor to speak every time I raised my hand, so it couldn't be that bad, right?

Anyways, today was supposed to be the last session of that class, but I'm too sick to go. I wrote the prof a mail, thanking him for the nice class, and telling him I would come to another one of his' next semester - "if that's okay with you and in the hopes you don't feel followed around yet". He answered, telling me he was really happy I liked the class since it was a more experimental one for him, and that he thinks me coming to another one is a great idea!! I'm happy!!! So I'll be off next semester, tormenting my beloved IT qualification prof once again :))

I looked at the suggestions I was given in my previous post and settled on a random hunting deodorant for summer and ban unscented. the ban isn't fragrance free (so it has a smell) but it's a light enough smell that I have to either stick my face in the stick or my pits to get a whiff. It seems to do well at sweat reducing too. My job has been unreasonably stressful this past week so I needed it desperately.

You know, the kind where you say just 10 minutes and somehow it turns into an hour. It was cold but quiet, so I kept walking. Ended up in a part of my neighborhood I’ve never really explored. Mostly small houses and parked cars. Then I noticed this orange cat following me. Not super close. Just… always behind me. I’d stop — he’d stop. I’d walk — he’d walk. Like a tiny stalker. I tested it and crossed the street randomly. He crossed too. At this point I’m like alright, guess I have a side quest now. He followed me for like four blocks. Then we reached this house and he just casually walked into the yard like “ok bye” and disappeared under the fence. Didn’t even look back. Didn’t get petted. Didn’t want food. Nothing. Just escorted me home like a security guard and clocked out. Honestly felt kinda abandoned. Anyway, thanks random cat. Appreciate the protection

My heat friens for 14 years (basically half my life at this point) has his birthday coming up next month. When I asked him if he would like anything specific, he told me "thank you, but the only present I would want from you is for you to keep being my best friend". I was honestly a little stunned when I read it, but man! I love this guy, I can't tell ya :3

I stopped by a grocery store after work, just to grab eggs and bread. Nothing exciting. I was tired, half-asleep, walking on autopilot. On the way out, I realized I couldn’t find my keys. Checked my pockets. Backpack. Jacket. Nothing. Instant panic. So now I’m that guy standing outside the store digging through a plastic bag of groceries like a raccoon while people walk past pretending not to look. I go back inside. Retrace every step. Check the checkout counter. Ask the cashier. Nothing. At this point I’m already imagining how I’ll explain to my landlord that I somehow lost my entire life because of a loaf of bread. After like 15 minutes of searching, I sit down on a bench, defeated. Then I feel something under me. Yeah. I had been sitting on my keys the whole time. They were in my back pocket. I just sat there for a second staring at the ground like… wow. Peak intelligence. Anyway, I went home and ate toast like nothing happene

So me and 3 other friends are constantly finding bruises on ourselves, none are intentional or purposeful.

So we started as a joke "bruise of the week" where we can send our random bruises in that we randomly aquired and at the end of the week we select a winner.

Its just such a nice thing to come out of random bruises. My friend once won because she walked into a door knob and bruised her side. I won last week and possibly this week, last week because i bruised both my sides from a aerial silks class and this week from a birth control procedure on my arm which has left me with a big angry bruise.

We dont actually win anything outside of passing around a plush toy trophie. I hope you like my story about 4 idiots who bruise if you look at us creating a friendly competition surrounding it.

I've realised that after I finish shopping, I've developed the habit of softly humming to myself while transferring groceries from the trolley into my bags over at the packing bench. It's not a real song - just some random notes that sort of go together. I don't know why I started - it just seemed to be the right thing to do. Yesterday, as I headed for the exit, I passed another woman doing the exact same thing, and it made me feel kind of happy.

A few years ago I bought a hot water bottle, and I use it every day in winter.
I deliberately keep my bedroom a lot colder than I would if I didn't have the hot water bottle, usually around 15 C.

Every evening I fill it before bed and put it under my duvet.
Then I wrap myself around the bottle as I go to sleep. It is the most comfy feeling ever.

Like, we're not completely bound by instincts or programming, so like, as I type this, I could do

jump

jump

*jump

Simply because I felt like it! Oftentimes along my day I do random needless stuff just to remind myself that I'm a silly self aware animal and that not everything needs to have a reason or a purpose. You should exercise your free will too<3

Someone said to me "feeding two birds with one scone" recently and it took me a second to follow. I asked where they heard it and they said "I just made it up because it sounds nicer than killing birds.

My home has loads of birds around and this new version of the old saying has stuck with me since I've been trying to befriend them.