Thursday Thoughts - In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream

1. If you're not following Comments by Celebs on Instagram, you are missing out. Thank you Lauren for sharing this gold mine.

2. Somewhere over the last week I forgot that I never owe the world an explanation, even if the world is thirsty for one. I forgot that the world can't take what I don't in some way willingly give. Both of those things are so out of the ordinary for me to even think about that I was operating at like 20% of my normal capacity.  It has been almost five years since I’ve given away my personal power to circumstances or people or the world at large. Taking your personal power back is like running an errand in Mordor: it takes longer than you think, requires more energy than you have to spare, and is a dark, dirty, flesh eating mind fuck on the way there but you drag your ass home even more fierce than you were before because you've been reminded of how vital your personal capital is and you aren't going to let anything fuck with that again any time soon.

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3. But today is my 41st birthday and while that whole battle with myself earlier this week was a drag my birthday will definitely not be. We're meeting Melissa and Blane in New York and seeing Bruce Springsteen on Broadway and I could die of excitement, I've been waiting for this forever. Thanks to Mom for picking Bruce Springsteen The Dog up from Camp Bow Wow and hanging with the dogs!

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4. While that will be an exciting and awesome end to the day, I'm going to the library in the morning and that's nothing to shake a stick at either. Library love for life. Speaking of, did you catch up on the 56 awesome posts in Show Us Your Books on Tuesday? Man, if you can't find your next great read in one of those posts, you can't find it anywhere.

5. Aside from seeing Bruce Springsteen The Man, I'm possibly happiest about not commuting for two days in a row even though I will be on a train to NYC today. Being on a train for something fun is different than being on a train for work. I've had a series of very late trains and run ins with brain drainers. Yesterday a man  put a hat that was sitting on the seat next to me onto my bag saying very matter of factly, "There's your hat." I told him it wasn't my hat. "Oh...SURE it's not," he replied, his tone and look making it clear he thought I was lying and it was my hat but didn't want to tell him. Dude. Why would I lie. Go away.

6. You've got to have fresh nails for your birthday too. It's a personal rule. Essie Lots of Lux - this is textured polish and it's weird and I won't ever buy another textured polish but I love the color. Excuse the mess, I was painting my nails when the power went out last night. Not the best timing. I could've cleaned them up and taken it again but the world is an imperfect place. Plus Bruce Springsteen The Dog is freaking hilarious in this photo.

7. Another minor purge was picked up yesterday. Thanks Vietnam Vets of America!

8. I can't even, hour by hour now in this administration. Tillerson, Russia, Sessions orchestrating ICE illegal fuckery, fucking insanity abounds not day by day anymore but hour by hour. I'm taking my birthday off from this shit, I've had enough bad energy in my psyche this week. I'm tired. Please refer to Amy Siskind's Authoritarian list as always.

9. Reminder: courtesy of Jay-Z.

10. E-card of the week: me!

Made my March Madness picks on a wing and a prayer. I don't even have any idea who I picked to win.

Hello, March

Hello birthday month. Hello daylight saving. Hello March Madness. Hello corned beef. Hello spring. Hello Easter. Hello return of the green. Hello shore house reopening. Hello all of you beautiful March babies. Hello finally being able to use the March photo I took of balloons at the March for Babies last freaking April. Hello hello hello.

February feels like a month of waiting and inaction to me. March feels like forward motion and waking up. I like March's energy.

If you know me, you know I am all about the birthday. Mine is March 15. I celebrate my birthday all month and if you hate that people do that, I do not care. I will certainly treat myself. I save up my spare change and my gift cards and always do it up in March. But if you had one, I'd take a coupon code that will work on RayBans at Sunglasses Hut...Anyone? Bueller? I cannot find one to save my life. Some things on my radar: a dress from Old Navy, polarized Jackie Ohhhs, a shirt Kristen shared with me that suits me to a T, and a refill of my daily lip product.

Since I am fortunate enough to have all of my needs and a hell of a lot of my wants, I asked MFD to make his fundraising goal for the Covenant House Sleepout we're doing three days after my birthday in lieu of giving me a gift I don't need or doing a nice dinner out like we usually do. Thanks to many of you, I made my goal a while back so I'm being a pushy boss lady to get him to his because a) I love being a pushy boss lady, and b) helping others who truly need it is a totally awesome birthday gift.

On Friday, March 18, we're sleeping outside on the street with Covenant House on a team run by our friends Catie & Joe. For one night we are giving up the comforts of home knowing that by doing this small act we can help raise awareness and funds for homeless youth. Thousands of kids spend every night on the unforgiving streets of this great nation. So many others hop from house to house constantly worried about who will take them in next. Can you even imagine?

Add to that the stress of having to go to school and fly under the radar of other kids, hiding the fact that you're homeless.

Did you know many shelters will not accept homeless youth without a parent so these kids are turned away? We are choosing to force our kids out onto streets because there aren't enough places for them to go - and teenagers don't choose homelessness unless the alternative is something so ugly we don't dare speak about it in polite company.What kind of life is this for children in America?

Covenant House exists solely to serve this under-served sector of the homeless population. By doing this and raising funds, we are doing a small part to make sure the doors of Covenant House stay open for all who need them for a hot meal, a safe bed, and help in furthering their education, getting jobs, and finding permanent housing.

If you think supporting homeless teens is a worthy cause and would like to donate, you can get to MFD's fundraising page here. He's only $105 from his goal! No amount is too small, every dollar helps give a kid an opportunity most of us have taken for granted our whole lives.