Gratitude Monday: 2022

I’m going to start out 2023 by being grateful for the good things of the past year.

Like the drubbing Ukrainians have given the Russian invaders and the international sanctions that are having a real effect on Putin’s ability to continue to wage war. They're definitely in the find-out stage of operations.

Or the way people around the world have rallied to support Ukraine in ways large and small, crowdsourcing everything from meals to missiles. We are living in weird times.

I’m grateful that the expected Red Wave turned out to be more like light spotting, and that Republicans—who can still use their majority in the House for willie waving and assholery—may start out the year by being unable to elect a Speaker without leaving a lot of blood on the floor.

Speaking of elections, though, it seems wrong to have to express thanks that they went off like they’re supposed to in every state, without armed RWNJs storming polling places…but here we are. There was some nonsense in Phoenix with sore losers marching around the Maricopa County elections office and blowing trumpets in the expectation that Jehovah would cause the walls to come tumbling down, but surprisingly that did not occur.

I’m grateful that global inflation is beginning to taper off, at least in the US. Gas prices under $3 is a huge relief to everyone.

I give thanks that I appear to have onboarded to the Megalithic Software Company without resorting to violence on anyone involved, although there’s still one open matter, so I’m putting a “so far” caveat on this.

I’m grateful that I was able to take two wonderful trips, to Singapore and to France. I saw otters on the hoof and lots of Roman ruins. Life really can be wonderful.

And I'm thankful that I made it through the year with most days unremarkable. This is a good thing, given the world as a whole.

So—a good year.

And here's New Year's morning in the People's Republic: