Seriously

Aside from the fact that the Lusitania and the U-20 submarine—which is down to just three torpedoes—are now in the same waters off the Irish coast, could this be any more perfect?

Margo is sitting on my lap!

Well, OK—she’s sitting NEAR my lap. But that’s way more dog affection than I get from herds-not-cuddles Bridget. So I’ll take it.

They do both share a complete inability to look at a camera on command though. So I get THAT continuity.

Fun fact: Kellyanne Conway has given elevator eyes in a State Department hallway to someone on this porch

Other fun fact: We all ran for a Silkwood scrub the second we learned of this unholy horror.

The sun has encroached on my porch-reading chaise longue

My lightly flavored sparkling water is consumed. The Lusitania is still defiantly afloat. Nap time is imminent.

The day is just PACKED.

The house across the street from my reading porch is new and stately and handsome and suitably-New-England-architecturey, but it seems to have an epic design flaw:

How the hell are they going to replace the shingles between those smooshed-together dormers?

Also: The Lusitania has FINALLY set sail. Its safe passage to Liverpool is secured!

I’m trying to enjoy a lovely(ish) read about a doomed passenger ship

at the dawn of a world war that is hardly a “world” war as the entire southern hemisphere seems to have been a bit of an afterthought but anyway I’m trying to enjoy a lovely(ish) read on my favorite porch in the world (including the entire southern hemisphere because *I* don’t see the world through the arrogant, entitled lens of Northern European privilege) but it’s too darn close to the beach and people with cute dogs keep walking by.

I’m finally here: my favorite porch in the world! Let the relaxing begin ...

Bridget is clad in her royal vestments and surveying her domain from the portico