iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I emerge from helping with post-mortem house-clearing wondering how I'd never heard that story about his dad being imprisoned by the Shah's secret police (along with not having heard about their work defending Black Panthers until his wife's wake). The Marxists you meet at the gym! (in Cambridge)

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The way news unfolds on social media so ratchets up the tension. There was some good Paul Gross news, but what? How much scrolling would it take to get an actual answer instead of references? Why did bsky reload Again? So happy Canada's sexiest sexagenarian will be bring us all pleasure again <3.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

My favorite 3 year old is raising a pumkin to enter in the kids' pumpkin competition at his county fair and has named it after me. Has there ever been a more adorable honor bestowed upon anyone? May it grow, gallumptious and glorious!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Happy Birthday, @ryanspharmacy.bsky.social! Here's hoping the day is a happy one with lots of good family hugs and other celebrations! And may the year ahead be Awesome!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Good news! Shawn, new guy at financial institution, said that Linda is no longer with them and he'd get the account closing paperwork to us within the week. Then he sent it today. [And I'm going to let it gooo, not ask why it took my email and a year to do a thing that took him a day.]

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Deciding to spend the anniversary of my mom's death on nagging folks like the MI Dept of Revenue about her estate tax return was both Inspired, and exhausting. Shout out to nice bureaucrats who figure out that I need to fax 2 totally superfluous pages to them. In the year of our lord...

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Mourning and celebrating my friend Sandy; continuing a string of dreamwidth posts with my latest. And hey, if we're mutuals, I think you're pretty great, and hope you always let your unique star SHINE! (DM if you'd like access <3). ldthomps.dreamwidth.org/1639147.htm

ldthomps.dreamwidth.org

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Guys! Look who galumphed across the driveway today! I guess that explains who broke the birdfeeder. I still wanted to squish its ears, but instead went inside like a good human.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

I'd been excited about the Harvard Art Museum Celtic Art exhibit since I first saw pics of the almost-3000 year old pony cap, but it was even better in person. Ancient tartan (and another scrap of fabric) preserved in the salt at Hallstatt. Cool gold coins! harvardartmuseums.org/exhibitions/...

harvardartmuseums.org

Exhibitions, Celtic Art Across the Ages | Harvard Art Museums

Discover the many forms of Celtic creativity and their artistic legacies in this sweeping story that spans ancient to modern times. When you think of the word “Celtic,” what do you picture? Perhaps in...

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

The thing about doing leg presses in a pyramid (today's were 100x20, 115x15, 130x10, 145x5 twice, 100x20) is that the first set always feels Terrible, like who thought I can press 100? The 145s feel hard but mighty, much better, then the first of the last 100s feels like a Breeze. Brains!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Not recommended: hitting a stick on my bike and going over the handlebars. Rather miraculously seem to have walked away with a slight concussion, but ow. Very recommended: G bought a tortilla press and made homemade shrimp tacos complete with blue corn masa tortillas. Yum!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

I'm not a Container Store person, I tend to cheap out and/or try to divest. But I've been there 2x recently for returns/complex stuff and am so impressed by the staff - helpful w/o being creepy?! Also today G said, "Is this @traceynick.bsky.social's happy place?" And I had to laugh and say "Yep!"

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Chag Sameach, friends! I know I'm early, but it's almost dark (so gray and rainy!) and I'm heading to my brother's for a seder. To freedoms for all <3.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Just got a lovely condolence note from a Scottish friend of my parents (from dad's grad school days) that I've never personally met. She told me that they have a dinner every Fall called "Thompson's Day".

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

My grandfathers: a lawyer and an electrical engineer-turned VP of sales (and cooler humans than that sounds). My grandmothers: graduated from Bryn Mawr at 20, 3rd in her class (first 2 got to go on to grad school); and had all but her dissertation for a PhD in mathematics (a Badass knitter).

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Stealing is bad, especially if you're a government official who's supposed to be helping the needy. But I did chortle slightly at the very Masshole nature of the corruption in Quincy: official spent taxpayer dollars on (among other things) an Old used Prius and more than 150 POUNDS of steak tips.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

And also, autocorrect, no, I did NOT mean "butcher", and my bestie didn't mean "bitch" when referring to our recent haircuts, SHEESH.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

After many local "meh" exams/glasses-buying experiences, I thought to ask my hairdresser, who always has awesome glasses. Went today, got helpful eyecare info, new glasses, and Really Liked the whole shebang. The difference? These folks were all women, mostly (if not all) queer.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Wins: we took down the tree, decorations in basement, took the tree out for curb pickup tomorrow, did 2 loads laundry, remade the bed with clean sheets, reorged the last kitchen cupboard, made a dinner date with a friend, and I applied for an ongoing civic duty after talking with the DPW about it.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I keep thinking of the 300+ gators we saw in Colorado and some of their awesome names. Sir Chomps-a-lot! Mr Bo Mangles! These absolute units get to bask in hydrothermal springs all day while tourists like myself pay good money to throw gator chow to them. What a life!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

G, peering in the sous vide at the lamb he's going to grill later for his son's birthday dinner: Yep, it's lambing it up in there! *tough guy voice* You can call me The Lambinator. ...[I try not to encourage him, so I came over here to tell you y'all I thought it was pretty funny 😅.]

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

It's rough that my 83 yo friend has memory issues. But it's kind of great when she calls me a day later to tell me again that her leukemia is unexpectedly in remission (controlling it was the best case. She's also had Many cancers, a devastating stroke, seizures... she's one tough cookie <3).

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Nothing like catching up with old work friends, getting the juicy gossip - and being deeply, Deeply grateful for retirement. You? You're all doing great jobs! (Not so much a boss or two who will go unnamed).

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Sure, we all love Roadrunner, it's the state song. Now it has a companion! What do middle-aged Bostonians write their best punk songs about? The best grocery store. www.youtube.com/watch?v=syeK...

youtube.com

Stop Calling Me Frank - MB Anthem (The Market Basket Song)

YouTube video by Riff-Raff and Rock 'n' Roll

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

Augh. Super kind, sweet, inclusive friend just sent a note about how they rented a smaller ski cabin this year in the hopes it might be more welcoming for me. I like them? I like Vermont? But group weekend homes (especially when I'm not hosting) are an anxiety storm. I can still skip it, but Ugh.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Ok, y'all were right, switching to Qobuz was super easy, including free transfer of our 138 playlists (only one of which was mine, I think, but I do use his).

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

My favorite young Canadian turned 3 today, and we'd sent a metal excavator toy for his birthday. His mom sent me adorable thank you vids 😍. And then, my favorite, a photo of how he fell asleep this evening with his hand fully under said excavator. Not cuddly, but Awww!

child's hand disappears under a construction toy

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Having successfully hosted Thanksgiving for 8 (and G's sous-vide and grilled turkey was called "the best turkey I've ever eaten"), we thought we might watch something today. Like, on the TV! A rare treat for us. So we spent 45 minutes trying to get the Roku to work, and now, instead, we will nap.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Looking to buy a present for my favorite Canadian friend turning 3, and the descriptions here made me yelp with laughter. Maybe someone had a paste error?

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Such a good protest here in Boston today. Multiple bands, so many inflatable chickens and some frogs and unicorns and Cartman (???), great signs, great weather, angry and joyful and as I left a little early the roar of the crowd from blocks away was terrifying and awesome. Power to the people!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

So if things come in threes, the deaths should stop now that mom, G's ex, and my SIL's dad have all died in ~3 months, right? I mean, we're extremely fortunate in that (other than mom) these deaths only cause tangential effects in our lives. Still, here's to good health all around, folks <3.

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Reposted by ldthomps

Linnea Hartspooker @linneaharts.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I wrote a trilogy of novels published by HarperCollins about a brother and sister caught on opposite sides of the war to unite Viking Age Norway. Today is my birthday and if you are inclined to share this, it would be a lovely present! The first: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-half-d...

barnesandnoble.com

The Half-Drowned King|Paperback

"Linnea Hartsuyker brings myth and legend roaring to life in this superbly good page-turning saga of Viking-era Norway. The book’s fiercest magic shines in the characters of Ragnvald and Svanhil...

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

I'd cut my hair a good bit shorter after mom died (she had complicated hair feelings, mostly that long was best), and didn't love it. So I went even shorter yesterday, and though this isn't a great pic? It's making me So much happier. Here's to being comfier in our own skin/hair <3.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

@reginagiraffe.bsky.social - Happy Birthday! Sorry to hear about your ear infection, I hope you get to thoroughly celebrate soon! We're heading down your way for husband's 50th high school reunion this weekend, so you're still a youngster to some :D.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Saw One Battle After Another, it was good. Now I want the movie centered on Benicio Del Toro's character - competent, compassionate, well-networked, instead of the one about Di Caprio's flawed dude. Perhaps BdT wasn't given flaws like the others, but still, gimme all Competent fascism-battlers!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

"If there ever come a time where I got rabies, you're high on the bitin' list" - Tyler Childers, "Bitin' List". It's not high poetry (unlike some of his best songs), but it does get at the mood of 2025. I feel it, even if it also gets me thinking of my biting list.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

We got fewer strawberries from our patch this year, perhaps a result of new (generally better, but they'd blown over) bird nets. Still a tasty June haul. But last year we pruned the raspberries the way we were told? And holy cow! So many raspberries! We are going to be Feasting! 😍

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

I love that SO many people I know are headed to Pride, including folks who hadn't been in aWhile. YAS QUEENS!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Just saw someone mourning their mom, who was tiny but mighty, at 4' 11". Apparently she was fond of saying, "there's a reason dynamite comes in small sticks!" <3.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

My favorite sign at the political rally I went to earlier was on a dog. It read "Beware of Dog(e)", but the dog kept messing with the messaging by being Extremely waggy in meeting anyone within 10 feet (admirably restrainedly so, it never barked or jumped). A+, want more poli-dogs!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

G is a trivia wiz (on a TV team in the 70s!), and I have the memory of a goldfish. So I say, "the movie with handsome gray-haired man" and he says, "George Clooney!". This works for many less-obvious wrong guesses as I handwave, but was challenged yesterday by a movie with Vanessa Redgrave. (1/?)

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

I really enjoyed Frostbite (www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...), even if it's a poprocks of interesting facts. Refrigeration Has completely changed our food. Also, if you haven't listened to the Gastropod podcast about the heroes who saved the first seedbank in Leningrad, highly recommended!

goodreads.com

Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Plan…

An engaging and far-reaching exploration of refrigerati…

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Booo, it looks like I have covid. Thanks to vaccines and such it's pretty mild - I've had a worse colds (this season, even), but still. There are always better things to be doing!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Holy crap, this story about a bureaucrat, her great (failing) idea, and the connections that saved a girl's life. wapo.st/4buoiLX

wapo.st

Opinion | The free-living bureaucrat

Michael Lewis on Heather Stone of the Food and Drug Administration.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Between my frail mom (86), my friend with leukemia in a rehab hospital nearby (83), and my friend in home hospice (81) in Braintree, I've done a lot of visiting ladies with whatever treats I hope will get them to eat / find joy lately. Luckily no one is examining my chocolate budget.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

@linneaharts.bsky.social - I saw a mini-truck today and thought of you, it looked awesome. Then chuckled when I saw it had a bumper sticker on the back that said, "Calm your Titties". Always a good message for the road ragers!

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

We went to So Cal and the weather was Much Nicer than Feb in Boston. Weird! Highlights: the Getty, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA, Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego, San Diego Zoo, Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens, and sea otters and pups swimming in Morro Bay. And here's a Joshua Tree doing PG Arms with me \o/.

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I'm excited to be planning to go the renowned Casey's for a social meetup tonight. I will check out the women's bathroom paper towel sitch. I will eat one of the things people said weren't bad? And try to remember which things those were :D. (Any advice welcome).

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ldthomps @ldthomps.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

If only every day had the productive energy and general haze of gratitude that the first day of feeling better after a bad cold does. Maybe I should make a daily meditation practice that begins with the joy of being able to breathe through both nostrils and progresses from there?

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