Thursday Thoughts - say what you wanna say and let the words fall out

1. Every day is International Women's Day in my house, but today is the official day. Press for progress, women.

2. What a feminist is/is not.

3. What a feminist is definitely fucking not.

And sorry, I can't resist. But I'm with you Amy Siskind. Remember when people when nuts because Obama wore a tan suit? This guy’s got dick pics about to be released, attempted to pay off a stripper, likely violated election law in the process, and then neglected to sign the contract so it’s all coming out anyway.

4. Birthday sneakers. Blue? Gray? Neither? The blue are a more me color but I think I like the execution of the gray better. ONE WEEK OUT, people. Birthday. One week.

5. Thanks so much for the supportive words on yesterday's post. It's very freeing to put it out there, warts and all, and own your fuckups and still feel supported. Especially when reporters call wanting to talk to your husband specifically about everything he’s ever done wrong. What a world we live in. Truly, from both me and MFD...thank you. And try it, living your full truth. You'll always have support from me.

6. Me: let me open the shore house this weekend! March: Sit down. Yesterday's scene. Another storm forecasted for Monday. MFD was out for hours shoveling us and neighbors out. I was working and if we’re speaking freely which we always are here, avoiding the shoveling.

7. Some days I just fucking can't. This is happening, and it's not happening only to the criminals everyone loves to wave around when they say they don’t like immigrants. This is happening to human beings doing everything right. Read the whole thing here on janefultonalt instagram. I couldn't even go back and screenshot it again. I ask the same, Jane. Can this be my country? I mean, it clearly is. How can this be my country? Clean DREAM Act now. And stop the demonization, torturing, and harassment of immigrants. Is ICE the SS? What in the fuck is happening while we sit in our houses and bitch about stupid shit? Get on the phone or the ResistBot. Make the calls. You know what to do. 

8. Show Us Your Books on Tuesday - sneak peak: I stayed up until 2 am to finish this book. That's a sure recommendation. Bruce apparently likes to read too. He prefers kindles.

9. Reminder.

10. E-card of the week. Chill, nor'easters. 

Today is my Mom Mom's birthday - I grew up at that fierce knee. She has more to do with who I am and how I am than even my parents. I've missed her every day for over 20 years now, but I've always felt her when I needed her. They do not leave us, only their bodies do. 

Thursday Thoughts - what's new with you?

1. Guess what month it is: It's my birthday month, bitches.

2. Charity: Covenant House Pennsylvania - an organization I truly can't say enough about. They provide an immediate safe harbor for homeless kids under 21 but also work to help these kids become self sufficient going forward. It's that time of year again. MFD and I are sleeping out on March 24 to raise awareness and money for these homeless youth - read about last year's sleep out here and donate here. And my friend Gladys of Old Lady Gladys is running 40 freaking miles to raise $5,000 for Covenant House THIS weekend. She is $1200 from her goal. Please consider helping her make that by clicking here.

3. Fatassery: My activity level has been zero. I am jump starting myself with the 40 in 40 - 40 minutes of activity for 40 days during Lent with a rest day every week. So that started Wednesday

4. Shore: Opening the house next weekend, probably a week earlier than we should, and I can't wait. That will help with #3 up there too, we're much more active down there and I'm looking for painting to be my activity for at least four out of the 40 days. It's rented for the summer with the exception of a week in June and Memorial Day Weekend. If it rents those times, great, if not, great - we extended to rent a week past we did last year so it's still the same amount of weeks overall.

5. Fixing things: I got my tattoo covered over last night. It only took me 10 years of wanting to cover it up. If you're near the Bucks County area, check out Outta Sight Studios in Fairless Hills. Aubrey referred me to them and Tom did an awesome job. Pictures later when it's not so red and hurty looking. The actual getting of the tattoo hurt less than I remembered (my last one was over 16 years ago) but the after hurt more than I remembered.

6. People I cut out this week: Anyone who believes in this insane invented war on the press by this administration. Done. Don't want to know you. Don't care how I knew you. Don't care to argue about it. Christ even George W. Bush spoke out about this. And if you'll notice, the president did not mention this EXTREMELY PRESSING ISSUE in his joint address to Congress. That should tip off any cult follower that it's made up. If it was pressing for America, you would've heard about it there. Everyone does realize how infantile and insane it is for a sitting United States President to spend so much time ranting about the media, yes? He's issuing surveys about the media to civilians. And people know that the only reason to mount a war against the media and make them out to be an enemy of the people is to discredit the media ("fake news" "liberal media") and remove an essential pillar of democracy, right? It's like seeing into the past and watching the first people who bought into Nazi propaganda believing the administration's tales about the lugenpresse. You can't argue with these fake news people and I don't care to be around anyone who can't critically think this through.

7. PA Politics My dear missing in action Senator Toomey moved offices yesterday from Center City to Old City. I joined other dying to be heard constituents at the last Tuesday with Toomeys gathering at his Center City offices. He was naturally not in attendance. He has not ever met with constituents in Philadelphia. Tuesday, constituents staged a peaceful sit-in and were arrested attempting to get an in-person Town Hall. Arrested for asking for representation for 17 weeks in a row in front of offices...accused of being paid protesters and of clogging up phone lines so "real" constituents couldn't get through. How disgraceful, Senator. If you are in PA and want to hear from Toomey, Tuesdays with Toomey happen during lunch at his offices all over the state.

8. A Day Without A Woman is on Wednesday, March 8, International Women's Day: If you can't/don't want to take the day off, you can still participate by a) wearing red in solidarity; b) seeking out any gatherings or rallies in your area; and c) refraining from shopping. Women are the world's most powerful consumers and are responsible for over 80% of household buying decisions.

9. Reminder: Every month is women's history month, but especially this month. Echoing my cousin's blog post - I am thankful for the strong women around me.

10. E-card of the week: 

Today is also Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss's birthday. Go read a book today! 

What's new with you? 

Linking up with Kristin & Joey and Kristen & Gretch

Show Us Your Books - What I Read in February

Seven days until my birthday and an entire day today devoted to reading about what you've been reading and going over my to be read list and requesting books from the library? Sounds like a perfectly crafted sandwich of joy to me. Except this week is the first Show Us Your Books that one of my favorite authors is no longer with us. Pat Conroy passed away on Friday. Lucky for us, he left behind a lot of treasures. 

Today would also be my Mom Mom's birthday. She's now been dead for longer than I had with her on earth, but she's such an intrinsic part of who I am that it feels like she's never left me. Probably because she hasn't. Fitting that her birthday is on International Women's Day. She's probably the strongest and most independent woman I have ever known.

And remember that podcast Jana dreamed up, The Armchair Librarians? Here's one of them. The first one. We're clearly not professionals, we're just friends talking about books. And while I had a cold, my voice always sucks on recording devices so I'm afraid it won't get much better. lolol 

Linkup Guidelines:

This link up happens the second Tuesday of every month.

The next one is Tuesday, April 12, 2016. 

1. Please visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me
2. Please display the button (need it? let me know) or link back to us on your blog post
2. Please visit a few other blogs who've linked up and get some book talk going!

Here's what I read since the last linkup. 

Engrossing Reads

Dodgers by Bill Beverly - I loved this book from beginning to end. It gave a glimpse into a life that's totally foreign to me - the criminal drug element and hierarchy of the streets. Beverly didn't go deep enough to overload you with info, but just far enough to make you realize it is a life with totally different rules that you can't even imagine. I loved the main character. I got an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad - I was hoping this was a series. I liked the police force and PI characters a lot. The story was twisted and there was a big ass twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Eric Rickstad, you should make a series around Frank Rath.

Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver - I found this read emotional and moving. I was a little ragged and achy inside when I finished this. I don't know if it hit me at a good time or what, but the entire reading experience with the story and the words and all of it was beautiful. This is one of the things I really love about reading - the after feeling.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy - I read this beginning to end in less than 24 hours. I loved the story and messages in this book. I thought Willowdean was just the right combination of kickass and vulnerable and enjoyed the blossoming of her misfit friends. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Brutality (Fina Ludlow #3) by Ingrid Thoft - The third book in the Fina Ludlow series did not disappoint. I had to stay up until 1 a.m. on a work night to finish it. I think Fina is a kickass female lead character and if you like mystery thrillers, you might enjoy the Fina books.

Passed the Time Just Fine

My American Unhappiness by Dean Bakopoulos - Good writing, a little bit of skimming, and characters that interested me...even the ones I didn't like. The problem with going through the books of a newly discovered author close to each other is the comparison issue. I think I liked this story more than Summerlong, but the writing in Summerlong better.

Hard No

The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud - I read this whole book waiting for things to happen. Nothing did. It was good writing on misdirected anger and uselessness feeling and obsession...but if that was what it was going to be about, it didn't need to take that long.

Leaving Shangrila: The True Story of a Girl, Her Transformation and Her Eventual Escape by Isabelle Gecils - One of my problems with reading non fiction is that when I talk about it and things I don't like, I feel like I'm judging someone's life. I think when you write about your life, it's quite hard to see what might not be necessary to the story - you want to lay it all out there. Even if the reader doesn't need it all.

Non-bloggers, what have you read recently? Let me know what you recommend and what to stay away from. Bloggers, link up your posts below.

An InLinkz Link-up