Part 2: Days 101 - 200
For the first 500 days of the pandemic, I kept covid journal. (My husband called them my “doomsday journals.” He missed the opportunity for some delightful alliteration by not going with “doomsday diaries.”)
Every day, I documented our life. Stuff that made us laugh. Milestones. What was happening in the world. (Seriously. What was happening in the world?!) And, of course, a plethora of POTUS references. I shared days 1-100 of my doomsday diaries previously.
Presidential references from days 101-200 are below.
Day 112
That’s right. I think Theodore is an overrated blowhard. If you disagree with me, hear me out.
Day 126
I stockpiled sketchbooks and pens the same way some stockpiled toilet paper.
Podcast recommendation: 1865. It helped me understand Reconstruction better.
Day 132
Yeah, yeah, yeah…. I had biographies on deck for Franklin Pierce (blech) and Andrew Johnson (augh). But What About Worms by Ryan T. Higgins is a delight.
I am cooler than Barack Obama.
Actual testimonial: “I got mail today from you and President Obama. First, what are the odds? Second, yours is way cooler than Obama’s. You heard me: You are cooler than Barack Obama.”
PS The Next President by Kate Messner and illustrated by Adam Rex is mind-blowingly beautiful and wonderful. If you have a little POTUS pro in your life, they need this book. Like, now. What are you waiting for?
Deep dark secret
I do not like riding a bike. There. I said it.
Day 143: my stamp obsession began
I received my first rubber stamps. (If you want your own, I have a couple First Lady stamps available. Check ‘em out. And let me know if you have any special requests. I plan to add other options over time.)
Did you know?
There’s only been ONE time that a party decided not to nominate an elected, sitting president who was interested in running. Franklin Pierce.
“Assassinated?! Who would assassinate someone with such A GREAT BEARD?!!”
- my son on James Garfield
Joe...?
Took me a minute to realize who this Joe was who wanted to give me a sticker. Joe Biden. HA! I’d already made up my own batch of Joe stickers, thankyouverymuch. (See Day 159)
I ❤ POTUS postage stamps
It’s possible I geeked out when the author of Boson Friends reached out to recommend that I read his book. And also followed along as I doodled my way through it.
My doodle was cookied!
My most delicious doodle ever. Check out Kelly’s Cookies — sugary works of art.
Son of a b*tch!
Apparently, the stories I’d told my kids about John Quincy Adams’ pet alligator made her think that presidents were a myth.
But also, turns out the story about JQA’s alligator was a myth. Which is a bummer and not just because I have an alligator on my John Quincy Adams trading card. Check out this Plodding Through the Presidents post for more debunking.
Use it in a sentence today!
“Overyester” … the day before yesterday. Let’s make this a thing.

Part 5: Days 401-500+