Monthly Archives: August 2024

Day 4260: It’s showtime!

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Today is my concert/fundraiser for ActBlue, which supports the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz ticket as well as Democrats nationwide.

Yesterday, I practiced my new song “Artificial Intelligence” as well as the rest of my set list, including “I Left the House Before I Felt Ready,” “It’s Hard to Get Shit Done When You’re Scared Shitless,” “Triggers,” “Don’t Kill Yourself,” “Shameless Appeals for Applause,” and “I’d Like to Win the Grammy for Best New Artist.”

My singing teacher, who plans to be there at showtime today, thinks that once I get good recordings of my material out there, I’ll go viral, but time will tell.

For now, I’m just glad that it’s showtime!

It’s time for me to show the images I captured yesterday.

The Daily Bitch is reminding me that I forgot to eat anything when it was showtime for me at the Lilypad two months ago, so I’ll be sure to Eat Outside before my show today.

Here’s what I find when I search for “it’s showtime!” on YouTube.

It’s showtime! Thanks to everybody who is here for me, now, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: ActBlue fundraiser, Angry Staffer, August 31 2024, Eat Outside Day, gratitude, It’s Showtime Family doing “Maybe This Time” dance challenge, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the Greater Boston area, The Lilypad, Twitter | 15 Comments

Day 4259: Comparing

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Ann Koplow

As a psychotherapist, I often tell my patients that comparing ourselves to others leads to dissatisfaction. At the same time, comparing is a way we understand the world.

For example, our cat Harley is much more nervous than our cat Joan — a comparison that helps us be more effective when we bring them both to the vet.

Do you see comparing in today’s images?

I am comparing myself to the Daily Bitch and I’m happy with the comparison.

How do you think my latest song compares to others?

Comparing that to my other songs, I’ve decided to include it in my concert/fundraiser tomorrow.

Thanks to all my incomparable readers, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, August 30 2024, Boston Animal Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey Evans, Harris/Walz interview on CNN, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, tuna dish, Twitter, Wordle | 11 Comments

Day 4258: What’s missing

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Ann Koplow

What’s missing can seem more important than what we have.

For example, when I was on a recent trip to Canada, I was sometimes excruciatingly aware of what I was missing during those eight days, including

my husband Michael,
the Democrat National Convention, and
the spectacular views I had yearned to see of Canadian mountains, which were obscured by rain and low hanging clouds.

What helped was when I redirected my attention from what was missing to what I had — the company of my son and other spectacular human beings.

As I’m preparing for my show/political fundraiser this Saturday, what’s missing is a new song. Therefore, I’ve been working on something called “Artificial Intelligence.”

What’s missing from that, here and now, is the answer to my questions as well as the music and the chords.

What’s missing from today’s post?

What’s missing from The Daily Bitch this year are any women of color. I wrote about this to the creators of the calendar and what’s missing, so far, is a real answer.

Here’s what I find when I search for “what’s missing” on YouTube.

What’s missing from this post is my gratitude for you, so here it is!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, August 29 2024, friendship, Hiding in Plain Sight: What’s Missing in Health Equity, Keri Norris, Kit Kat bars, Rubato HK Cafe, systemic racism, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 9 Comments

Day 4257: Memorable

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Ann Koplow

After a memorable vacation, thanks to our memorable friends in Vancouver, we’re home in memorable Boston!

Do you see anything memorable in my images for today?

Thanks to the enthusiastic and supportive response to my original songs I got from our memorable friends in Vancouver (who were always willing to lend a hand), I think I’m ready to give a memorable concert/Democrat fundraiser on Saturday.

Here’s what I find when I search for “memorable” on YouTube:

Now I am looking forward to your memorable comments.

Thanks to all my memorable friends, including YOU!

Categories: 2024 USA elections, original song, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: memorable moments from the Democrat National Committee, song lyrics, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist fundraiser, Twitter, Van Dusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver | 11 Comments

Day 4256: Seen and Heard

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Ann Koplow

From my work as a psychotherapist, I know that people need to be seen and heard.

Thanks to our fabulous hosts (who were celebrating their 40th anniversary yesterday), my son and I felt seen and heard as we saw and heard many wonderful things in Vancouver, including the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

As we get ready for our departure back home tonight, what is being seen and heard in my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “seen and heard” on YouTube:

Here is a brief video of some young people who were seen and heard at the Museum of Anthropology yesterday:

Thanks to all who are here for this seen-and-heard blog post, including YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: anniversary celebration, August 27 2024, “To Be Seen and Heard” TED talk, masks, Museum Of Anthropology at UBC, Nathan Spees, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, Vancouver | 16 Comments

Day 4255: Dream vacation

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Now that my son and I have reached the beautiful city of Vancouver and we are staying with my beloved blogging friend Maureen and her wonderful family, this is turning out to be a dream vacation.

Do you see elements of a dream vacation in my images for today?

Part of my dream vacation will be performing my original songs on Saturday and contributing all proceeds to support the Harris/Walz ticket and other Democrat races in the USA. Last night, Maureen and her family listened as I shared some of my songs and their supportive response helped make this a dream vacation for me. One of my dreams is that many people will hear and heed this song:

Thanks to all who are joining me on my dream vacation, including YOU!

Categories: 2024 USA elections, original song, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 26 2024, “Don’t Kill Yourself”, friendship, Harris/Walz t-shirts, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, Vancouver, what makes a dream vacation | 14 Comments

Day 4254: Complaints

Posted on August 25, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday morning, after I published my blog posts with some complaints, I noticed it was raining. I don’t like to complain, but that rain lasted the entire time the train went through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I felt very selfish complaining about that, since the rain was sorely needed by this forrest-fire-stricken area.

I have no complaints about the precious time spent with my only son, and we even got an hour of clear viewing at the very end of the day.

Do you have any complaints about my images for today?

Well, I have a complaint. None of my images seem to be loading.

Wait! It looks like WordPress has loaded the list of today’s “ holidays and observances,” so I don’t want to hear any complaints about that.

Ooops! Wrong day!

I’ll try to load one more image, lest there be complaints from those who love my son.

Yay! Here is one more.

Any complaints?

Thanks to all who listen to all my bloggy complaints, including Maureen who lives in Vancouver (and is kindly putting us up for our stay there) and YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: acceptance, August 25 2024, Canadian Rocky Mountain train trip, family travel, gratitude, Twitter, Weather Complaint Day | 12 Comments

Day 4253: Empathy

Posted on August 24, 2024 by Ann Koplow

I know I’ve written previous posts about empathy and I hope you have empathy for my decision to not spend time searching for those other posts now.

Last night, after I cried when I was stung painfully on my face and hand by an insect (a wasp?) moments before we started our long-awaited train trip through the Canadian Rockies, my son Aaron and I had a discussion about empathy.

Aaron said he thought empathy involved actually feeling somebody else’s pain; I disagreed and said empathy was rather the ability to understand how the other person would feel pain in that situation. By my definition, Aaron’s empathy helped me feel much better last night.

I have no Internet connectivity so I won’t be able to search for a definition or quotes about empathy. I wonder if you readers will have empathy if I can’t publish this post today and keep my 10-year-plus streak alive.

Do you see empathy in any of my images for today?

On our train ride today the views will be obscured by rain, but my empathy for those affected by the forest fires nearby makes me happy.

Thanks to all who have empathy, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: August 24 2024, Edmonton Fringe, the Daily Bitch Calendae, train ride through the Canadian Rockies | 15 Comments

Day 4252: Now

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Ann Koplow

Now I am writing this blog post from our hotel in West Edmonton, as my son Aaron and I prepare to spend the day at the Edmonton Fringe Festival and then board a train at midnight for a scenic trip to Vancouver.

Now I am telling my mind — which likes to anticipate and solve all possible problems — that everything will work out.

Now I am going to try to upload my photos and publish this blog post, despite the wonky internet connection here.

Now that the Daily Bitch has had her day, here’s what I find when I search for “now” on YouTube:

Now it’s time to express my gratitude for all who are here, now, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: after the Democrat National Convention, Artificial Intelligence, August 23 2024, Banff, solving problems, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the West Edmonton Mall, Twitter, […NOW!] | 13 Comments

Day 4251: Poets

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Ann Koplow

On Poet’s Day, my son and I discussed William Carlos Williams’s poem about a red wheelbarrow as we looked at scenery that would inspire many a poet.

On our tour bus, the driver talked about black bears and grizzly bears, which reminded me of the poem/song lyrics I wrote about bears a year ago. After I showed it to her during lunch, she asked me to read it to all the passengers on the bus in the afternoon.