life in the USA

Day 5020: Not Working

Posted on September 29, 2026 by Ann Koplow

There are so many things that are not working these days, including

the U.S. government,
the climate,
the media, and
this blog, in terms of formatting and sharing.

Last night, when I was not working, I asked a question on social media about what’s not working.

Can you see what’s not working in my other images for today?

The site where I take a screen shot of the daily lists is not working for me lately because of all of the ads there.

When sleep isn’t working for me, I listen to this, which helps me deal with what’s not working:

When you’re not working, I recommend listening to that helpful video of Buddhist stories.

What’s not working for you?

Even though this blog is not working for some people who are still trying to read it, I hope you can still see my gratitude for YOU!

Categories: blogging, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, chicken puttanesca, Fall Asleep to Buddhist Teachings, September 29 2026, Sleepy Monk video, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter, WordPress problems, Zen stories for deep sleep | 7 Comments

Day 5014: Mistakes

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Lately, I’ve been trying to correct the mistakes WordPress has made keeping track of my unbroken streak of consecutive days of blogging since January 1 2013.

Because of WordPress counter mistakes that number is way too low: it should be in the 5000s.

In the course of correcting those streak-counting mistakes, I discovered yesterday that I have made mistakes since April 2023 keeping track of the correct numbers in my blog post titles. I am correcting those mistakes today by using Day 5014 in today’s title, even though yesterday’s title is Day 5012.

I don’t plan to correct all the mistakes in the title numbers between April 2023 and now, so I hope you can forgive my many numbering mistakes.

Over the years, I’ve made the mistake of catastrophizing the results of my mistakes and others’. Here and now, I’m realizing that most mistakes are survivable. Make no mistake, I’ve lived a long and productive life despite all the mistakes I’ve made and witnessed.

What mistakes do you see in today’s blog post?

AI makes many mistakes, but I believe it is correct here.

I made the mistake of signing up for this Road Scholar solo trip to Peru, which would have been too strenuous for me

Although my very unusual heart has two major structural mistakes, they kind of cancel each other out.

While I was away on my recent trip to Switzerland, my husband Michael made the mistake of allowing Joan to escape outside at night and then couldn’t find her. She showed up, safe and sound, but he hid this mistake from me until I got home.

I try not to make mistakes keeping my vitamin K consumption consistent from day to day.

I didn’t make the mistake of falling for this scam, which appeared in my calendar when I was away in Switzerland .

I’m not going to make the mistake of captioning all the images in today’s post.

Here’s what I find when I search for mistakes on YouTube:

Thanks to all who make mistakes, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries, correcting mistakes, Mairen Hamilton TED talk, September 23 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Power of Making Mistakes, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter, Warfarin and Vitamin K | 7 Comments

Day 5012: What Matters Most

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Ann Koplow

What matters most, here and now, is sharing the sign that inspired today’s blog.

To me, what matters most is creating safe spaces for people to heal and grow, and I’m spending time on that.

What matters most in my other images for today?

What matters most to you?

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

What matters most to me, here and now, I expressing my thanks to YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Barbara Streisand, cats, Ekua Holmes “Time Out”, healthy meals, Longwood Medical Area in Boston, relevant TV shows, September 22 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the media stands up to Trump, Twitter | 6 Comments

Day 5004: Having it all

Posted on September 14, 2026 by Ann Koplow

For me, having it all means having my health, home, work, husband, son, cats, friends, original music, and travel opportunities.

Here’s the Daily Bitch’s perspective on having it all:

I do have the extra five pounds, a busy schedule, and anxiety and angst about the state of the USA, but I’m not having depression or debt right now.

Having it all also means I get to share the thoughts, feelings, and images I have with you every day.

Here’s what I find when I search for “having it all” on YouTube:

What does having it all mean to you?

Thanks to all who are here for this having-it-all post, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Anne-Marie Slaughter TED talk, cats, National Live Creative Day, September 14 2026, superstitions, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Office, travel, tuna melt with salad, Twitter and Bluesky | 6 Comments

Day 4984: Hard to Believe

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Ann Koplow

It’s hard to believe that

there are so many stupid people in positions of power,
I’ve been blogging for so long,
I’ve made it to age 73 with my very unusual heart, and
I’ll be traveling to Switzerland by myself in less than a week.

What’s hard to believe in my images for today?

It’s hard to believe how somebody I’ve know all my life isn’t willing to kiss and make up.

Here’s what I find when I search for “hard to believe” on YouTube:

It’s hard to believe that I have so many great followers like YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 25 2026, Boston Ferry, cats, Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries, Eraserheads, Kiss and Makeup Day, swordfish dish with homegrown ingredients, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky | 6 Comments

Day 4982: Bothering

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Ann Koplow

As a group therapist, I witness what’s bothering people. I also hear how these people I work with worry about bothering others.

It’s bothering me how people in power aren’t bothering about about how their greedy, selfish, and short-sighted actions are bothering those they are supposed to serve and protect.

Is there anything bothering you about my blog post for today?

It’s bothering me that today’s online list of holidays and observances has a grammatical mistake.

When I search for “bothering” on YouTube, I find this …

… and this:

I hope I’m not bothering you with these daily blog posts and my constant gratitude!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 23 2026, cats, Kathleen Madigan “Bothering Jesus”, Le Madeline Restaurant, Reality Club - “Am I Bothering You?”, South Shore Plaza, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter and Bluesky, what’s bothering people | 8 Comments

Day 4968: Priorities

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Ann Koplow

My priority when I wake up every morning is to create a blog post for me and you.

In therapy, we often discuss how to identify, sort, and accomplish priorities.

One of my ongoing priorities is to do whatever I can to help enact political change in the USA.

Let’s see what priorities we can find in this blog post.

Here’s what I find when I search for priorities on YouTube:

As always, one of my priorities is expressing my gratitude to YOU!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: August 9 2026, Brassica restaurant, cats, Halloween stuff already?!, How to Prioritize Tasks at Work, most recently bought item, Phillips Chocolates, Twitter and Bluesky, Vihan Challiah | 9 Comments

Day 4961: Taking Up Space

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Something I’ve noticed about myself and people I work with in therapy: We are concerned about taking up space.

I’m so concerned about taking up space that I worry about my new shoes making too much noise when I’m walking through other people’s spaces!

I’d like to be more comfortable about taking up space.

Also, anxiety has been taking up space in my mind as I prepare for my solo trip to Switzerland at the end of this month.

Now, I’ll be taking up space with my images for today.

On International Forgiveness Day, I’m going to forgive myself for how I am taking up space.

Here’s what I find when I search for “taking up space” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who are here and taking up space, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston Animal Hospital, cats, International Forgiveness Day, Jamie-Lukas Campbell TED talk, noisy shoes, Twitter and Bluesky, Watertown MA, what takes up too much space, yearly vet visit | 6 Comments

Day 4935: Unsure

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Ann Koplow

With so much chaos in the world and the current corrupt administration in the USA, I am uncomfortably unsure about the future.

I have always been unsure about the future, but never so uncomfortably unsure.

Maybe that’s why I noticed this unsure pile at the hospital where I work.

As usual, I am unsure about the best way to present my other images for today.

I guess the Daily Bitch was unsure about what day it was.

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

I was unsure who Adam Savage is, but now I know. His advice to spend time on what I think about most helped me feel less unsure about myself.

What are you unsure about? Because I’m sure that I’m not alone in being unsure.

Thanks to all who are here for this unsure post, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Adam Savage, Boston, cats and other creatures, dealing with uncertainty, July 7 2026, outdoor art installation, salmon dish, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, Unsure What to do with Your Life? Do this. | 10 Comments

Day 4933: A Break

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Because of understaffing at work, I really need a break.

Because of the current corrupt administration, my country needs a break. Many of us are concerned that if we don’t get a break in the midterms that our democracy may break.

Yesterday, many of us took a break from our usual routines to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the USA.

Now it’s time for a break from this introduction with my still and moving images for today.