Thursday Thoughts: Consider this the Hint of the Century

1. The world feels right again in some aspect, at least. I liked the campy fictionalized reunion of the cast years later. I wasn’t expecting the show to pick up where it left off so for me this was a good compromise of them referencing the show and just being back together. LET ME HAVE THIS. Also I will never be over Luke Perry’s death. 

2. Fresh to death. I love to spend a lunch hour relaxing with a book while getting a pedicure. It doesn’t happen often anymore but I love it. My feet were trash. I am perpetually barefoot at the shore and sand and sea destroy the feet even more. 

3. When you're holding John Bender while wearing John Bender and drinking out of a Breakfast Club mug. Dorks R Us, founding member. 

4. My first Dropps subscription order arrived. I got the laundry detergent pods in clean scent and fabric softener pods. It's not as good smelly as I like, but I have to sacrifice some shit for the good of the environment. They do a good job of cleaning (I had ordered the sample pack previously), no waste packaging, the pod encasement dissolves in the laundry, cruelty free. If you decide to go for it and use my link, you get $10 off a subscription. 

5. I'm thankful for the tremendous body of work Toni Morrison left behind.

6. This speaks to me. Come to my house and see my weird things.

7. Currently reading. Show Us Your Books is Tuesday.

8. Some things for your consideration: Malcom Jenkin's post regarding the Galveston mounted police leading a black man on a leash behind them; this series of tweets from Ericka Hart presented on Instagram on the ways white supremacy devalues human life (click the arrows to read them all); this series of tweets by Ijeoma Oluo presented on Instagram on the violent patterns of white supremacy (click the arrows to read them all). Our mass shooting issue can't be separated from our country's white supremacy issue. They are fueling each other and both must be addressed with urgency. Seeing mass murderers apprehended without a scratch after they've killed over 20 people and injured over 25 like in El Paso just adds salt to the wound when black men are killed for selling loose cigarettes, or gunned down in their family's yard with a cell phone in their hand. I see one zillion comments from people desperate to cling to the system that has white at the top by default, people who have never considered being anything other than white. It is up to us to break this and help build systems that are even and equitable for everyone.

9. Reminder:

10. Ecards:

That'll do for today.

What appears after the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts is a song lyric to whatever I'm listening to when I start to write the post. This week is Losing My Religion by REM in homage to Dylan and Brenda's breakup song

Five things I'm grateful for on this Friday in March and every day

1. Women who have put their voices out into the world, whether it be on a large stage, on a smaller community stage, or in their personal circles of family and friends to empower, encourage, support, and advance all women. Women I know and women I don't. Strong female framily I have been lucky enough to have from all stages of life who are the backbone of my life. All the people who are feminists and not afraid to show it and say it. The people raising little girls and boys who are committed to an equal, equitable future for every kid. International Women's Day is every day. Women's History Month is every month. The world does not run without women. Recognize and use your power for good. 

2. Fun plates as meals. 

3. Growing up on 90201, loving it through its ups and downs, still following the cast, still talking about the story lines, arguing with one of my BFF's husband's over Brenda/Dylan vs. Kelly/Dylan almost 20 years after the show ended, and the collective commiseration over the young and unfortunate passing of Luke Perry. We were not okay this week, not only because we loved the show but because we saw these characters as a just out of reach peer group and when someone dies unexpectedly like that our own mortality is put in front of us for us to examine. Despite the sad death of the man who played Dylan McKay to our collective delight and by all accounts was a kind and generous human and family man, it's nice to have ever had such a connection to something in the first place that would even bring that collective not okayness about. 90210 forever. 

4. Patterned shoes and colored shoes and personality shoes. 

5. Nail polish. If you ever see me without it, something is wrong and you should send for help.

Happy Friday in March: a few days out from longer light, one week out from my birthday, less than two weeks out from spring equinox. What five things make your grateful list today? 

Stranded on a deserted island: Christmas movie edition

The title of this sounds like a nightmare to me. I am not the most Christmas-y of people. You will not find things like It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, et all on a list of my favorite Christmas movies or shows. However...

I'm sort of married to Clark Griswold, which would explain why I can't quit Christmas Vacation. I can't resist THE BLESSING, the shitter being full, and the neighbors. I mean, what about these photos does not scream Christmas to you?

Fun fact: whenever MFD and I are bickering I either picture us as Todd and Margo from Christmas Vacation or Meg and Hamilton from Best in Show. 

A Walsh Family Christmas - So it's not a movie, but it's 90210 and 90210 belongs on a deserted island with me. Cindy is sad because it's her first Christmas away from Minnesota. She invites everyone over but no one can come then they all end up there in the end. In between, Dylan visits his father in prison, Brenda stops the police from harassing an old man in a Santa suit he stole from the Peach Pit, Steve tracks down his biological maternal grandfather and finds out his biological mother is dead, Jackie and Mel get in a furious fight while Kelly pouts and David looks anxious, Donna sits there with her teeth in her mouth being Donna, and I'm sure Andrea spends the episode wringing her hands over some political or social injustice. HO HO HO MOFOS!

My final pick is a copout: A Christmas Story. I know every word and figure it would be a good memory test when I'm going insane alone on the deserted island. And MFD looks like Ralphie. Andplusalso, if I'm ever whiny or tired, I flop down like Randy so...

I'd also strand myself with a wish that there was a Christmas reunion version of Dirty Dancing. Now that would be a true gift.

What three Christmas movies would you take with you to a deserted island?

Linking up with Mix & Match Mama and A Little Bit of Everything

TWTW - the one before Memorial Day

Last week was a bear. Friday night I broke in the too puffy dog bed for the dogs, spending an hour or so laying on the new bed while the ungrateful bastards laid on the old one or the floor. I got some new stuff at ULTA and went to bed early.

The Far Northeast Farmers' Market had its grand opening on Saturday morning in its new spot in Somerton. It was great! I got some asparagus and mushrooms and the dogs got woofles. Local friends, follow the market on facebook and check it out!

I did weights since I skipped them Friday night, washed both couches, got groceries delivered, put my Memorial Day gear out, and went to Old Navy to replace my beloved, oft-worn seven year old pajama pants that finally gave out in the ass. RIP old friends.

My little friend Quinn turned 2 Saturday so I went to his party and ran into my littlest girlfriend Eva the Diva.

Saturday evening was Philly Gay Bingo benefitting the AIDs Fund with friends. The theme was West Beverly Prom. Could you die? Thanks so much to HAP for securing the table and inviting me along with some of my peeps.

I cut out a little early and hopped it on over to Johnny Brenda's to meet MFD to see Mark's band Mercury Radio Theater play.

Sunday was humid and gross. I hate having the house shut up but the air conditioner went on for the first time this year. Geege just can't breathe in the humidity and he's too old for that noise. I did the usual: change sheets, lay out clothes for the week, pick up, laundry, food prep, etc.

Weekly food prep: hard boiled eggs (that I make in the oven), for breakfast along with cottage cheese and berries; peanut butter bread that I ate with nutella and preserves like a fat ass (thanks Jana for the recipe); lunches and dinners are asian-inspired crocked pork and ramen salad and whole wheat pasta with shitake and oyster mushrooms cooked down with some garlic, shallots, and balsamic vinegar and greek yogurt and parmesan to make it a little creamy. I also made iced coffee in bulk.

Once all of my chores were finished, I glued my ass to the couch to do some blogging, lounging, magazine reading, and Mad Men bingeing. I can't believe it's over.

Can you believe we're rolling into Memorial Day week? How did that happen?

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

Friday Five: Favorite Fictional Places I'd like to visit

1. Downton Abbey. As long as the Dowager Countess is there. We can discuss what a week-end is.

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2. Fraggle Rock. I'd really like to consult Marjory the Trash Heap about some shit.

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3. Jane Eyre's moors. "I am no bird, and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with independent will." Have I waxed poetic about my love of Jane Eyre?

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4. Kellerman's. Duh. I know I can actually visit this place, it's in Virginia. But I want to go to THE Kellerman's, not the Kellerman's facade. Take me to the lake too, while we're at it.

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5. The Peach Pit. As long as Brenda and Kelly were there and Dylan was slumped in a corner, brooding. Andrea can stay home. I don't have time for her whining to Brandon.

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What fictional places would you visit?

 This post initially appeared on Northeast Bloggers.

Linking up with  Meet @ the Barre

Linking up with Joy as always

No apologies

There are times in life when apologies are necessary - when you hurt someone's feelings; when you want to convey your sympathy for the situation someone is in, when you spill red wine in someone's lap; when you forget someone's birthday.

Then there are things you shouldn't apologize for, and the things you know you won't ever apologize for...what are yours? Here are mine:

1. Thinking Beverly Hills 90210 is the greatest show to ever air on television. My car is named Kelly Taylor. That's right.

photo: sharetv.org

2. Laughing in inappropriate situations, or laughing at farts and people falling.

3. Liking something too quickly on facebook. Sorry to disappoint those who think I'm creeping on them. I'm not going to read something and think "Oh, I have to remember to go back and like that later so I don't seem like a creeper now." Live in the moment, people.

Photo: boston.com

4. Being organized, thinking and planning ahead, labeling shit and being prepared. It's served me well, and to those who say I'm anal, I say toodleoo and why do you care if I'm organized? I don't care that you're disorganized.

photo: undeniablestyle.com

5. Demanding silence when I am trying to fall asleep. I need quiet and dark.

6. Being hungover. I drank too much while having an awesome time, what's it to you?

7. Being a feminist. Women don't get paid the same, women are still victims of abuse and rape and discrimination, women's health/safety/reproductive rights are still threatened both here in America and around the globe...we are so far from equality I can't even see it on the horizon.

8. Treating my dogs like furry children, letting them sit on the furniture and sleep where they please, even if it is on top of my head.

9. Refusing to read 99.9% of nonfiction books.

10. Saying no to invitations even when nothing is on my calendar - I am very easily a victim of my own over scheduling, so now I schedule in free-time.

11. Liking my alone time. I love MFD, but I also love being alone in my house to putter and daydream.

12. Calling bullshit on someone.

photo: dailykos.com

13. Liking stupid movies. Keep your fa fa The English Patient movies. I'll take Moving Violations any day.

14. Having my mood be directly related to the quality of the nail polish on my nails.

15. Being me. I am always working on myself, seeking better ways to be and do, vacuuming negativity out of my aura, sucking knowledge in daily, but at the end of the day, I am myself. Warts and all. If you don't like me, that's totally ok. But that's your issue, not mine. Don't expect me to apologize for being me.

I hope you all list #15 as something you'll never apologize for, being you is your very essence. Swim in it.