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if using social media (and this—mastodon—is social media) is ostensibly a means to an end, the end being having relationships with real people, then there are very few of you I have actual, real, flesh and bone relationships with. I wish it were more! but, and I know this is obvious and borderline cliche, we've lost the end and have become so absorbed in the means—myself included

I dunno man, it seems to me that we've forgotten that this internet social media thing is just not Real, not True.

the boy saw a neighbor kid out yesterday he hasn't seen before. I asked him if he wanted to walk over and introduce himself and invite home over to play. as he started putting his shoes on I asked him if he needed help with what to say, and he goes, very nonchalantly, "nope, I'm just going to ask if he wants to be friends."

poe or poe not, there is no poetry

a beaver smacked its tail on the water at me tonight

what is this less-than-a-month-away-from-midterms bullshit? anyone else get this? check from treasury looks legit but if i also didn't just get (at the same time as this) my first bill for student loans after the Biden-era student loan forbearance thing ended i would be tempted not to cash it out of disdain

i frequently feel this way. I can't decide how meaningful it is that I feel that way. I also cannot decide how meaningful it might be to articulate the how and why and what of those feelings

The greater part of what my mutuals call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior.

—Thoreau, if he were online probably

went to the creek after dinner and we found the biggest salamander I've seen in that area. Pretty sure it was a spring salamander, not sure what else it could be. The salamanders of Ohio guide doesn't even list it in our county (surrounding ones yes). Exciting stuff

guess it's time to start re reading autumnal tints again

the top of a red maple across from me has begun to change color

I can't search for old posts on this instance so I can't find my old "big astronomy" post

equinoxes are not the beginning/end of seasons—don't let big astronomy tell you when your seasons are

okra dokra

fedi, generally speaking, seems to be rather hostile to (especially young) kids. I only know of a couple people with young kids on here but I think it could be worthwhile to have something like a parenting instance

are there fedi instances for parents?

ad break (positive)

(these were spontaneous dad jokes created on the ride home from school that I am positive someone else has made but am unaware of)

tomatoes