A (small) good deed
Jon and I went to the laundromat a couple of weeks ago. (Long story: we do have a washer and dryer at our house, but the washer is mediocre at best. It’s a Whirlpool Toploader, and we’ve tried different wash programs and different detergents, but the washer just doesn’t always do a good job. Jon, who does most of our laundry, is very frustrated by it. If you have any other tips we can try, I am all ears! So today, we went back to the laundromat that we used to frequent years ago when we lived in an apartment and didn’t have a washer and dryer at home.
As we were walking back to the car with our freshly washed clothes, a homeless man approached us and said he had lost his shoes and asked if we had a pair of socks he could have. At first, it didn’t really click for us (the request was so strange), and Jon brushed him off, but then I realized what he was asking. The reason he had asked for socks: he was walking around barefoot/with only one sock, and I realized that when it gets hot here during the day, the street asphalt gets super hot! It must be really uncomfortable to have to walk on it barefeet.
So Jon got a pair of socks from the laundry basket and gave it to him, and the guy was honestly so, so grateful! He thanked us profusely and as we were driving away in the car, Jon said: “I should just have given him my sneakers.” (It broke my heart.)
The best scone
On a different note: There is a great coffee shop next to the laundromat, where we used to sometimes get coffee or a baked item, and we decided to get some coffee and breakfast there today while waiting for our clothes. I ordered a coffee and a raisin scones and, omg, it was hands-down one of the best scones I ever had. I didn’t know raisin scones are even a thing. Fresh and crumbly, crispy outside and soft inside. Perfection.
AI THOUGhTS
I know people have very mixed feelings about AI (myself included) – ranging from excitement to skepticism. Have you noticed the AI-generated images that are taking over the Internet? I am not just talking about the clearly fake AI images that tR*mp posts of himself on his social media, but also AI images that appear much more “realistic” and hard to identify (unless you know better). I mean, you cannot convince me that the photo that was posted of M*tch McC*nnell from the hospital wasn’t AI-doctored (pun intended). He’s never looked that well in his life.
And then there are these images/graphics that pop on social media and Facebook. You’ve probably seen them. They all look kinda the same. Retro themed seems to be the hype right now. I get it: it’s easy to just throw some “instructions” at ChatGPT, or Gemini, or CoPilot (or what have you) and it puts together a graphic in minutes. And maybe for a Facebook post here and an Instagram post there, it’s fine. But is this what we will have to deal with going forward? Someone help us.
Happy Mail
In more exciting news, I got a postcard in the mail! From Birchie! From St. Louis! THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Frugal Wins
I don’t cut coupons – is that still a thing? – unless they’re digital, but I will look for sales and take advantage of other ways to save at the store. Are you shopping at Target? (Yeah, I am shopping at Target again.) Are you a Circle Member (free) and do you take advantage of Circle Rewards? If you don’t, you really should. You just have to check weekly in the app and activate the reward(s), and they’ll be applied at checkout. On my last trip, I was able to snatch up not one, but two rewards ($25 and $20) for a total of $45 in rewards (for future use) during my last purchase of $110. That’s a payback of 40%. Oh, plus an extra 5% off for using my TargetCard.
photo credit: @gaellemarcel via Unsplash
Birchie
July 15, 2026 at 4:39 pmUgh I have a Whirlpool top loader as well. I feel like it gets the clothes clean, but if you have one bad thought while loading it, the load doesn’t balance and the spin cycle doesn’t work well.
It’s fun to see the postcards arrive at their destination.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:27 pmOh interesting, Jon mentioned also that he thought the spin cycle wasn’t working well… might have to look into this!
Lisa’s Yarns
July 15, 2026 at 5:12 pmI really dislike AI. I am glad I don’t have to see these images since I am off social media. I am sure they are in other places but they are probably very prominent there. I have yet to use ChatGPT. I just have such an issue with it and I’ve done just fine without it for 45 years. Could it save time? Probably but how much more could I streamline or optimize my life! I am expected to use it at work so I do use it a bit to stay off the ‘naughty list’ (they track who doesn’t use it and I ended up on that list in Q1). Sigh.
The story about the man who asked for socks is so very sad. His poor feet. I can’t just imagine how hot the sidewalks get in your area as the heat can be quite intense. Poor guy.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:28 pmI know, AI is.. a double-edge sword! I don’t know, I am so conflicted on it in so many ways.
I was really sad for the homeless guy. The government really has to find a solution for this.
J
July 15, 2026 at 7:49 pmUgh, it’s been so hot. I’m glad Jon gave the man a pair of socks! I hate when I think of something better to do when it’s too late. If they weren’t the same size, though, the shoes would not have helped. SIGH.
That scone though, looks delicious. I love scones. My favorite are orange cranberry. SO GOOD.
Erm…I am pretty sure that I am a Target circle member, but have never tried adding savings via an app like I do at CVS. One more obsession! I don’t tend to go there very often, BUT the reason I wasn’t going was their pulling down their inclusion policies, and our Target employs at least one Trans person, so maybe punishing the company isn’t really the best use of my effort. I don’t know. I’d rather punish Amazon at this point. Going to look at my app now…
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:29 pmUgh, I know… I wish we would have ask the guy for his shoe size. Jon’s shoes might have fit him.
I hope you can take advantage of Target Circle going forward ;)
Nicole MacPherson
July 16, 2026 at 5:18 amOh that poor man. How the unhoused suffer. It breaks my heart. It’s such a cycle, and I just don’t know how to break it. Bless Jon for giving him socks. The pavement must be brutally hot.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:29 pmUgh, I know. So heartbreaking. There must be a solution for homelessness. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Michelle G.
July 16, 2026 at 12:06 pmAI sure is an interesting topic right now. Some people get really angry and start accusing others of using AI when they haven’t. It often turns into a witch hunt! I’ve seen it happen to artists and writers. Today, I saw a bunch of posts on IG about people boycotting summer parties if the invitations were made with AI. How can they tell?
It all makes me want to quit digital art and just draw in my sketchbook!
The scone looks amazing!
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:30 pmI guess the really hard thing is to really spot when someone used AI and when someone hasn’t… the lines get so blurry (and not in a good way).
NGS
July 16, 2026 at 2:06 pmSocks are one of the most requested items for people who don’t have homes. They can be used as mittens in the cold, too. Can you even imagine? *sigh* I almost typed “I don’t know what the answer is,” but I *do* know what the answer is. Give them homes and free/very low cost rent for two years. Within two years, most people get on their feet again. But is anyone in our government willing to do this? Absolutely not.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:31 pmYes, I heard that socks are the most requested items… and it makes sense! I also wish the government would find a solution for the homeless crisis in this country. I mean, if they would just spend a fraction of the money they waste on other things…
Catrina
July 17, 2026 at 3:16 amI don’t know why, but there is something so soothing and calming about having a coffee and a delicious scone while waiting together for the laundry to finish.
It forces you to slow down and step away from the hectic schedule for a little while. Sometimes those unexpected little pauses are exactly what we need!
And good thinking about the hot tarmac and the socks! The fact that he was so grateful is the most touching part. Oh my goodness.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:32 pmI agree, a fresh coffee and a scone while you wait… glorious :)
Elisabeth
July 17, 2026 at 5:34 amIt truly is mind boggling how so many things we just take for granted (like having access to shoes and socks) are not guaranteed for so many people. We are so blessed and it is an encouragement to both the giver and receiver in this sort of situation.
I need to make some scones! Years ago, I had some with orange zest and I LOVED them. Those need to go on my summer baking list. We have company coming in August; maybe that’s the time?!
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:33 pmI always “forget” how easy it is to make scones at home… you should definitely make some for your guests in August. I have a great recipe for some savory scones (cheddar-chive) as well.
Rachel
July 17, 2026 at 12:39 pmOoh I was just talking about that AI image thing today! I saw a few very similar posters sent out from local events and someone told me it’s AI generated and I realized it’s so crazy how similar it looked. The first one I saw I thought it was very professional for whatever kids event had put it together, but seeing the same exact layout with another event just felt weird and icky. I know AI is exciting and all, but I am definitely keen to keep using people for their artistic brilliance and not just AI generating things. I think that it’s tricky because the first time you see an AI thing it looks impressive, and then when you can spot AI it just looks lazy. Weird.
I love a scone and that looks delicious! I need to bake some scones, I remember they aren’t that hard and they are sooo good.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:34 pmYes, icky! I do not like to see recycled graphics over and over… it screams LAZY and dumb.
Scones are really so quick and easy to make. I always “forget”… ;)
Tobia | craftaliciousme
July 19, 2026 at 9:15 amA good can lift not only the receiving person up but also the giver, right? And I totally understand the feeling of giving more. I remember a day when the husband and I came back from easter holidays and we had food packed up from the fest. And then there was a homeless guy sitting in the rain. I asked im if he had anything to eat that day and handed over all the food we had planned to eat that night. When we were home the husband said we should have given him the drinks too.
As for AI… I am using it most daily now. But I hate al the AI images and I find it really scary that you can’t tell if it is made with AI and done good. But we have a law coming out August 2nd that requires everyone to label their work. We’ll see how many actually apply it.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:35 pmAww, I loved hearing the story about when you gave your dinner to a homeless person. Sometimes it’s a small gesture with the biggest impact!
I know you have to use AI for work and I can only imagine how tricky it can feel sometimes.
ernie
July 19, 2026 at 6:36 pmI just wrote about my thoughts on AI for my post tomorrow. I’ve hated it for so long, but I now see that I hate the way people use it to write. If you aren’t able to write your own content – blah, don’t use AI to submit chapters at writing group, because that’s annoying. I have found AI helpful when I’ve asked it for info. It has helped me in countless ways lately – find a friend from the year I studied abroad, for example. I don’t want AI to replace people though.
the story of the man needing a pair of socks was so heart breaking.
I do not shop at Target except once in a while. Maybe I should, but I am very much a shopper of convenience, so I grocery shop at the closest store.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:36 pmThere is definitely tasks for which AI is useful, I absolutely agree. But it shouldn’t replace actual thoughts and people.
Stephany
July 20, 2026 at 6:14 amI do find AI helpful in some ways, and we have to use it at work because we do digital marketing and AI SEO has become more popular than regular Google searches. But I also understand why people DON’T want to use it and how it is affecting the arts and our environment and the like. Sigh.
I’m glad Jon was able to give that man some socks. What a simple request, and it breaks my heart.
San
July 22, 2026 at 5:37 pmI see the pros and cons of AI, for sure, but I’ve definitely run into “problems” with AI where it got into a weird self-induced feedback loop and it was clearly going in circles and not helpful.
I am so glad we could give that guy some socks. Goodness, such a small thing to ask.
Daria
July 24, 2026 at 9:45 amHi San, I use AI for travel and some planning things. I have never generated an image, though. I have seen them and it’s very obvious it’s AI generated and I don’t like it. I have no plans to use AI generated images: don’t really have the need.
On homelessness… we are currently in Bologna and quite a few folks are living on the streets both Italians and immigrants. All ages, too. Saw a very young kid, in his twenties maybe, sleeping on the street.