Five Things Friday: just five things I’m thinking about or things that made my week, or things that I otherwise feel like sharing.
Thanks so very much to everyone who chimed in on my friendship post the other day. I really appreciate your feedback, your commiseration, and your kind suggestions. I am planning to respond to each and every one of your comments (do you guys get emails when I respond to comments? You should! Please let me know if that’s not the case.)
When I said that I don’t feel lonely, I completely failed to point out – although you probably know – that this is because I have this amazing blogging community. I consider all of you friends and you probably know more about me than most people in real life. I just wish you all lived closer.
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September marks the the end of the government fiscal year and it’s always a little crazy. Accounts need to be closed out, you’re constantly juggling your hours around, and we need to get some last-minute things done before we roll over into FY2025.
It’s also always a time of uncertainty. There usually is a looming government funding deadline and the threat of a shutdown. Some projects will continue, some projects will end, and it’s not always clear what I will be working on next year. There’s a potential project that I am excited about, but which is still up in the air, so I don’t want to jinx it (and I don’t know the details yet anyway).
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Some family members and friends (in Germany) have recently had COVID again, I also heard that infections in the US are up. It’s a good reminder that COVID is still with us. With also the flu season around the corner, Jon and I got the updated booster shots today. Previous infections were mild for us, but I still don’t want to get sick again.
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I went to the Farmers Market last weekend hoping to find European plums again to bake German Plum Streusel Cake. Once a year during the plum season (which is really short – between July and September), I hunt down Italian (Empress) plums to bake this seasonal German cake. It’s so good.
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I finally got around to donating five pairs of old running shoes at the local Fleet Feet Store today. I knew they were taking old running shoes and most running shoes are still in good shape when I swap them out for new ones. I am not sure what exactly they do with the shoes but I know they try to either recycle them or give them to non-profit organizations. I am glad I didn’t have to just toss them.
Have a great weekend!
coco
September 6, 2024 at 10:03 pmso nice that you can donate those shoes. I usually give them to my helper, she takes them to someone. I wish Sofia wants to wear my 400-500 miles shoe that still look very new.
your cake looks sooo good.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:53 pmThat’s fantastic that you can give the shoes to your helper and someone else will use them!
Elisabeth
September 7, 2024 at 5:00 amThat cake looks amazing!
I loved Birchie’s comment on the friendship post about “how can we know if we’re going to like someone if they don’t post all their inner thoughts on the internet?” (or something along those lines) + Lisa’s comment about how she was 2nd best at knowing things about a bride. I think that bloggers (of our ilk) really love learning about the nitty gritty of people’s day-to-day lives and that tells us something about what we’re looking for in friendships. We tend to like to have deep conversations, strangely enough are likely introverted, etc. While I consider myself very fortunate to have some lovely in-person friendships, I treasure my online friendships I’ve made through blogging 100% equally and, to be honest, sometimes find them “easier” since everything happens online which makes it…less pressured?
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:55 pmI absolutely know what you mean when you say that sometimes online friendships can be “easier” because there’s less pressure on the friendship… it totally makes sense, and like I said, I value all of you so very much and you’re one big reason why I really don’t feel lonely. I always have a place to go and connect with people. <3
Nicole MacPherson
September 7, 2024 at 1:18 pmI made a plum cake recently but it wasn’t a STREUSEL plum cake and now I think…maybe I need to! I’ll see if plums are still available at the farm market.
I don’t ever get emails when you respond to a comment! I don’t know why not, but I don’t.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:55 pmOh dang, I was hoping I fixed the “email thing” when I respond to comments. It’s odd because I have the box checked but it doesn’t seem to be working (for everyone).
Ally Bean
September 8, 2024 at 9:46 amThis is the second post today suggesting it’s time to make a cake using plums. I feel the Universe is giving me a nudge to get baking.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:56 pmIt’s plum time… no surprise people are talking about plums :) Get baking!
NGS
September 8, 2024 at 1:45 pmIt does seem like COVID infections are up, but they also seem realllly mild, so that’s good news, right?
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:56 pmI’ve heard both – people who were down for the count and people who had really mild symptoms. I had mild symptoms in the past, luckily, but I also don’t want to get sick again.
Stephany
September 8, 2024 at 1:57 pmI don’t think I receive an email when you respond to a comment, FYI!
I just saw a Covid+flu test combo, which was cool. It does seem like Covid is being treated more and more like the flu, so at least it’s not as horrible as it used to be.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:57 pmDang, I thought I fixed the email thing. WordPress can be so weird sometimes.
ernie
September 8, 2024 at 3:31 pmI don’t think I get an email when you respond to a comment. Hmm.
Well, I do live far – but I also hope to one day visit California. I’ve never been. Maybe when I finally get out there, we can meet.
That plum cake looks amazing. I made a plum torte a few times after getting the recipe from Suzanne at The Life of a Doctor’s Wife. It’s a new favorite. I hope the job concerns fade away and are nothing but a passing fear. Great job recycling your shoes.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:58 pmI’d love to meet with you for coffee, Ernie. Definitely let me know if you’re out here some time!
Plums are so good – especially in baked goods. And have you tried plum butter? Yum!
Melissa
September 8, 2024 at 8:46 pmWe have a sports store here that takes old runners too, which is good. I think it’s a similar thing; they either try to find a new owner (even when runners are worn out for running, they are often OK for walking) or recycle them.
I always feel run down for about 6 weeks after a COVID booster so I’m a bit wary about getting another one (already had 5 so that’s not nothing). We got our flu shot in May and I’m hoping I have enough immunity for our trip in Europe as they head into flu season.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:59 pmOh cool, glad to hear that your sports store also takes old running shoes. I hate just tossing them out.
Oh no, I understand why you’re wary of getting the booster if it makes you feel lousy. I’ve been very fortunate with almost no side-effects.
J
September 10, 2024 at 2:11 pmI’m glad that you donate your old shoes! You run so much, you surely go through them pretty quickly. We donate ours at Road Runner sports. We also donate our old eye glasses at the optometrist office. I love thinking of them having a new home.
San
September 14, 2024 at 5:59 pmOh good to know that Road Runners Sports also takes new running shoes. Thanks for letting me know.
Lisa's Yarns
September 12, 2024 at 5:37 amI used to get an email when you responded to my comments but I haven’t in quite a while! I only get a reponse notification for a small handful of blogs. There’s no way to send a notification that I responded to a comment on my blog so that’s why I don’t respond to comments as I figure the person will never see my response! I try to remember to check back on the blogs where the person tends to respond to my comments but it’s easy to forget to…
I plan to get my next covid booster fairly soon to give me some extra protection. I have never had a single side effect from it so it’s easy for me to get it since I don’t have to worry about feeling like crud (although I wouldn’t let that side effect prevent me from getting it).
San
September 14, 2024 at 6:01 pmDang, I thought I fixed the email thing… I know that I had it set up at some point but then it must have stopped working along the way. It’s hard to keep track and go back to blogs where you left comments to check, so I totally get it… although you used to respond to comments via email, if I remember correctly.
I also never had a side-effect from the booster, so it’s a no brainer to get it. I am glad you’ll go get it soon, too.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
September 14, 2024 at 11:09 pmOh that plum cake. I am really craving it now. Maybe I need to bake some this week. The other day the grocery store sold the plums for cheap as they were over ripe and I had to think of you. But I didn’t have time to use them right away so they stayed in the store.
Anne
September 18, 2024 at 3:39 pmEvery time I see that plum cake I think, oh, yum. And then I look at the recipe and decide that I shall live vicariously through you. I hope it was wonderful.
I do get email replies! Now I’m wondering if they will stop if you fix it for other people. ;)
I was planning to get my shots but decided to wait 4-6 weeks to make sure I am covered through April, given my teaching schedule. I’m glad you are protected (again)!
San
September 18, 2024 at 8:19 pmYou really gotta get over the fear of baking with yeast, Anne ;)
Oh, I am so happy to hear that you’ve been getting my email replies. Always, or just recently?
Anne
September 19, 2024 at 2:32 amI just got this one this morning (looks like you replied last night). Funny, I don’t know how long it’s been that I’ve been getting the replies. Looking at my deleted emails, I’ve gotten them for at least a month, but I swear it’s been longer? (I am so far behind on reading blogs, though, maybe that’s around when you fixed it?)
And, it is hilarious that you know more about my irrational fear of yeast than everyone I know “IRL”. Ha! :)