I don’t know about any of you, but I’ve been feeling awfully good these last few days. Is it because Tim Walz is my new dad? Even though he’s only five years older than me, somehow?! Yes, obviously, that is why.

What’s new around these parts

We’ve been making the most of summer in the Hudson Valley, e.g., eating farm stand peaches over the sink while making inappropriate enjoying-noises. Our friends Scott and Sarah came to stay for the weekend and we went up into the mountains, where there were many signs being like “there are rattlesnakes, but don’t worry about it.” I decided to worry about it anyway, since everyone knows that intense, teeth-shattering-level fretting will keep rattlesnakes away. We made it most of the way back to the car—rattlesnake-free thanks to my efforts—when I let my guard down for a moment and we heard what sounded like a sprinkler going off. Surprise, it was a rattlesnake, shaking its lil’ maracas for all to hear, and we were inches from it—and certain death. Okay, honestly, I didn’t even see it. It was on the other side of a fence. But I did grab Scott and yoink him away from said Death Fence, and I’m pretty proud of myself for that. I’m glad my instinct didn’t drive me to throw him in the path of the rattler as I hightailed it down the mountain. It turns out I’m pretty selfless and, if you think about it, a saint.