Thank goodness for social contact

I screwed up. I read comments denigrating USAID. I got mad. 

Good news - I did not do anything with that anger.
Better news - I got together with a friend, even though I was quite cranky, and she cheered me completely up. 100%.

She even bought lunch. 

I was invited to be on the board of the Women’s Caucus for Art. Tonight was my first meeting as a board member. There are very serious concerns in the US about the future of free expression. I see this in all the people wanting to have their conversations on the most secure platform and then being afraid to use their real names on that platform. The WCA noted that federal money funds a lot of community art, one way or another, whether you see it or not, and there are shows that have already been cancelled. 

“Women” is a diversity, equity, and inclusion term. I know this, because we had to look at our position descriptions and put in a spreadsheet whether certain terms were used, and one of those terms was “women.” Therefore the concern is that women’s art may be defunded. Art for people of color may be defunded. 

There were many protests, throughout the country, today. 

Ukrainian drones hit Russia's Ilsky oil refinery and oil pumping station last night, prompting the suspension of pumping operations. At least 20 explosions were heard. The oil facilities were being used to supply Russia's military.