Hi friends, I just realized that NaBloPoMo is slowly coming to an end again (can you believe it?). As so often, posting every day for a month seems daunting (especially if you’ve been out of the habit for a while) and almost impossible, but here we are again with only two days left, and I haven’t missed a day. Dare I say, I AM BACK?
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I was a little salty on Wednesday because it was the day before Thanksgiving, and I was working, and we don’t even get the 2-hour dismissal anymore that we used to get before a (big) holiday. All perks have been stripped from federal employees (or so it seems). Earlier this year, the 2-hour dismissal became the occasional 59-minute dismissal (← that is as ridiculous as it sounds) because 60+ minutes count as “administrative leave”, whereas 59 minutes are at the discretion of the supervisor and are charged to a project account. (GIVE ME A BREAK.)
Well, no case in point, because we didn’t even get a 59-minute early dismissal on Wednesday either. (I realize that this is a first-world problem and I should be happy to be back at work and not complain about an early dismissal after having 6 weeks “off” (NOTED!), but this is more about principle and how the federal workforce is being treated these days than the actual dismissal time.) I am still getting a long weekend because today is my RTO (regular day off), so it’s all good.
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My goal for this weekend is to put up the tree and Christmas decorations, order stamps and holiday cards. I am also doing some Christmas gift planning, although I will refrain from buying anything until after this weekend. I know, it’s probably silly (and maybe just performative) to “delay” the consumerism, but I am aiming NOT to be part of the statistics for Black Friday sales this year.
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I made cheddar chive scones yesterday morning, and they were so good. I made them higher in protein by substituting the low-fat yogurt and sour cream with high-protein plain yogurt and enjoyed them with my (cinnamon-spiced) coffee after the Turkey Trot. I really don’t know why I don’t make scones more often, they whip up so quickly and only need 20 minutes in the oven. What’s your favorite scone recipe?
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iPhone hack of the week: I know I just blew a few of your minds when I shared that you can upload photos to WordPress directly from your phone through the Jetpack (or WordPress) app(s), no need to transfer them to a computer. So, here’s another useful tip for you: I usually resize the images that I upload to my blog to a smaller size (so they don’t take up a huge amount of storage on the server). I used to run them through a photo editing app (Pixlr) to resize them, but I was THIS WEEK years old when I learned that you can create a shortcut on your iPhone that does it much easier and quicker, without the need for a third-party app. Tell me, am I sharing something completely new to you, or should I feel stupid for not having known about this sooner?
What are your weekend plans? Do you do any Black Friday shopping?
I am doing NaBloPoMo this month. 30 blog posts in 30 days. Come join me. #nablopomo2025
Links to the Participants List. Happy Writing!
Michelle G.
November 28, 2025 at 4:27 pmWow, my mind is blown!!! I had no idea about that iPhone hack, and I’ll be trying it immediately. I’m also in awe of the Jetpack app. How did I not know about these things? Do you have any hacks for automatically filling out the name, email & website in the comment form?
San
November 28, 2025 at 6:30 pmIn fact, I do have a hack for filling out name, email and website in the comment form. Stay tuned :)
Birchie
November 28, 2025 at 6:06 pmWell I will complain about the lack of a 59 minute early dismissal! Also TG Friday is a pretty standard school/corporate holiday so it should be a federal holiday as well.
Congrats as you’re heading toward the finish line of NaBloPo! You’re back baby!
San
November 28, 2025 at 6:30 pmYou’re a real friend, Birchie <3
Tobia | craftaliciousme
November 28, 2025 at 10:40 pmOh that iPhone shortcut sounds handy. I don’t use the photos app as I have everything in Lightroom and I always add a logo to my images so it won’t work for me. But I am sure many appreciate you shared that hack.
I also plan on doing some decorating this weekend. But first I need to do some major cleaning. Sigh. My list is so long. I told the husband yesterday my to-do list is extensive and all I want to do is the fun stuff like gift planning, wreath making Christmas card writing and such.
violet
November 29, 2025 at 3:05 amFirst off, I found your “dismissal” woes interesting. I had no idea.
And, now I really wish I had an iPhone to do all these cool things…
Lisa’s Yarns
November 29, 2025 at 4:12 amI knew about Jet Pack because most of my posts are written using that ap on my phone! I don’t ever resize my photos and now I wonder if I should?? Hmmm.
I hate that you are treated so poorly as a government employee and have lost some benefits over the last year. I know you plan to stick with your govt job but I would have such a hard time doing so!
Elisabeth
November 29, 2025 at 5:14 amThe only reason I DON’T upload my photos via my WordPress app is because of my need to resize photos (I move them to my laptop via airdrop and do a big resize). MY MIND IS BLOWN. Than you!!!!
Ugh. The work situation sounds horrible and so strained.
I LOVE scones/biscuits. Like you, I don’t make them as much as I should. They’re so easy and absolutely delicious.
Martha
November 29, 2025 at 5:16 amI didn’t realize you hadn’t been posting before NaBloPoMo. It had been over three years for me, so it’s really been a shock to the system. I’m very rusty, and it shows, but I haven’t missed a day either. Go us! I’m sorry to hear about the way you’re being treated at work. Sadly, I can’t say it surprises me at this point. I participated in Buy Nothing Day yesterday and will also not be buying anything over the weekend. Have a nice weekend!
Ernie
November 29, 2025 at 6:48 amI’m having second hand anger on your behalf. Not getting out early on Wednesday – that’s silly, not even 59 minutes. Grrr. Coach had to work Wed and Fri but he’s a PT, so patients need to get in to see him on those days. He could take days off, but he rarely does. I did not shop on Friday. I did order my vitamins and Easy Off – not sure if that counts (I can’t remember if I mentioned Easy Off as my fav cleaning supply in your post the other day – I intended too, but sometimes I go off topic . . . er, exhibit A). Our two city boys have been home since Wednesday evening, and planned to be here to watch Curly play in her game at 2:30 today. We’re being hit with a massive snow storm, so they left this morning – boo hiss. There’s a chance Curly’s game will be cancelled because we’re supposed to get 10-12 inches. I do hope to decorate a little, but first order of business is cutting Reg’s hair before he goes back to college and clearing the layer of clutter that the house is buried in right now.
Home stretch, baby! You’re def back!
Nicole MacPherson
November 29, 2025 at 7:12 amWell, that is annoying. Talk about red tape.
I did buy some things at Sephora that I use all the time – they were having a big sale so I stocked up!
SHU
November 29, 2025 at 4:07 pmMy outpatient office is closed Friday and we NEVER close -only 1/1, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, 2 days for Thanksgiving, and Christmas. (That said, we have to use PTO whether it’s a holiday or not, so it really doesn’t matter to me if we are open — I use up the day either way if I take it off :) ).
J
November 29, 2025 at 8:53 pmBAH about not getting off early on Wednesday! We have a newer boss, and I was surprised that he didn’t let us go early either. I worked a bit on Thanksgiving and Friday too, but that’s year end in my industry, and both days it was just minor cleanup. I think I have ALWAYS gotten off work early before Thanksgiving, and I don’t know whether this is a corporate decision or just my newish boss. Sigh. All I can say is, Solidarity Sister!
I forgot we weren’t supposed to spend any money this weekend. I did some small business shopping yesterday and today, and went to local restaurants, I feel like those are OK. But I also went to Sephora hoping for a Black Friday deal and did not get it. I mean, I spent the money, but did not get a deal. Sigh.
NaBloPoMo is rough in my industry, we have a lot of year-end stuff and I haven’t even been able to reply to comments on my own blog consistently. I take an hour a day and read other blogs, but that is nowhere near enough if I want to read other people’s comments, which is half of the fun, right? Happy NaBloPoMo, and Thank You again!
Suzanne
December 2, 2025 at 5:39 amUm, that iPhone hack is SO USEFUL. Wow. My biggest blog problem is that I’m running out of memory because my photos are so big. (Any hacks for making all the existing photos on my blog smaller without going in and replacing each one manually, LOL???)
YOU ARE BACK!!!! It has been such a rough year on your end, San, and I am hopeful that the tides are changing. I am so glad to be reading your regular posts again.
Stephany
December 6, 2025 at 6:26 amOoh, that is a super useful iPhone hack! I don’t usually resize my photos but it’s probably a good idea to do so since the space my media library takes up is probably astronomical, lol.
I’m so sorry you didn’t get early dismissal on Wednesday. That’s not cool! The 59 minutes thing is so silly, sigh.
Anne
December 24, 2025 at 7:25 amYou have EVERY RIGHT to be salty. I mean, come on. The Feds have always been annoying with this kind of stuff, but this is next level.
On the other hand, scones. They don’t completely make up for those in power taking away your early dismissal, but maybe they helped? :)