Like Thursday Thoughts but on Friday

1. Yesterday just past 6:30 am I spilled half of my coffee in my lap in the middle of the Walt Whitman bridge. I should have known then that Thursday Thoughts was not happening on Thursday but I held out hope until 11:45 then lunch meeting. So here we are with Thursday Thoughts, Friday-style. It's been a week, and I don't mean that it's been bad, just full. 

2. I am thrilled with the OPI holiday collection this year. I'm not a product photographer but if you want to check these out on the interwebs I got all from beyondpolish.com - the website is a little clunky but they have availability when many others don't - all OPIs...Mylar Dreams, Paint the Tinseltown Red, To All a Good Night, My Color Wheel is Spinning, and Ready, Fete, Go. All sparkly and happy which is good in January and February too. 

3. Speaking of product shoots, Kim was up for a photo shoot at Evan's Evan Leslie Images Studio for her company Yunizon (sunglass folks, check them out, would make a great Christmas gift from a small biz too). She crashed with us and it was nice to see her face to face which happens once a year usually. Michelle stopped by the next morning and that was great too. A nice Tuesday-Wednesday change from the norm. We've all always been the don't sit next to our group in a restaurant type of people. Speaking of Christmas gifts, Evan does portrait work at his studio and beyond. 

4. I know there are a ton of aerie people out there but I haven't been one of them. This weekend henley mockneck sweatshirt thing changed that. Super comfortable, presentable on the zooms. They're 40% off right now and also my new uniform. 

5. As we approach the holidays and hell every day we know the importance of seasoning our food, yes? Yes. Very good, in the words of Tabitha Brown. Loving her Sunshine seasoning on chicken thighs. I also die for Fox Point by Penzey's on fish and veggies but since I was fresh out I subbed with this and it worked. Aside from no food period there is nothing worse than bland, unseasoned food.

6. I got my covid vaccine booster Tuesday. My reaction was similar to my reaction with shot #2 - symptoms arrived at the same time (23-25 hours after the shot) and were the same (chills, fever, general immobility) but were less intense and much shorter in duration. From like 12-15 hours of being totally down to about five. Lingering fatigue and general blah the next day too. As always still absolutely worth it especially as the Delta is still swirling. Bruce and Ben got their shots yesterday too and Bruce was up at 4 am telling me how hurt he was over it. I do not argue with dog vaccine recommendations either. Here's Billy Cat sandwich for good measure.

7. Photos from the week

8. This justice system does not work and is certainly not fair and balanced and I don't need to watch trials for this to be known. Neither do you. Why are you so invested in it? There is no possibility justice will be served in this trial in particular. What matters to me at this point is the lengths people will go to and the absolutely hypocritical mental leaps people will make to defend and excuse people like Kyle Rittenhouse while they puff up their chests and push out their comply or die bullshit in literally 90% of other cases. In trials like these, the defenses are invariably built on a shit scrap pile of white supremacy, patriarchy, and colonialism; and the people whose interests are served by maintaining these systems of oppression will go out among each other and demand they be defended. Guess what. Fuck off with your law and order bullshit when you know damn fucking well law and order only applies to some people and that you like it that way.

9. Reminder all the time but especially as we enter the holiday season (art via Banana Crush)

10. Ecards - 

TGIF. I'm off of work next week and I'm sliding into it with Adele. 30. 

Friday check in chat

Coming at you live from Philadelphia International Airport. The last time I was in an airport was March 16, 2020. This morning has simultaneously been foreign and familiar. Foreign in that a lot of things have changed. Familiar in a lot of things remain the same, including new Covid-era things: rolling with last minute changes like the lot where I made a parking reservation yesterday afternoon at 3 is closed this morning and I was redirected, maskholes who think they can put their mask on whenever the fuck they want so I am arguing with people in a small passenger van before 7:30 am. I understand in this life in the time of corona yet still detest a last minute change in airport parking. I always get riled up by people who think rules apply to six other people and not them. Those things have not changed either. 

You might notice some more This post was written for the Life According to Steph audience posts recently. I've accepted more sponsored posts because I've amped up my donations to literally everything, including new Afghan refugee and local Ida sufferer groups as well as some veteran support organizations and Ultraviolet to combat the outright assault on women in TX. If you have spare change or time I hope you help who you can how you can. So many people out there need it and we do not have the social safety net other countries have. I will die on the abortion hill. You can take your arguments about that or vaccine and mask mandates and shove them up your asshole. Not today, and not ever with me. Go elsewhere. 

What else...the second to last airport experience I had before the world changed was also to Boston. Kim was stocking supplies and I had no idea what was even happening because I was up to my ears in work deadlines and pulling 12 hour days. Kim and I were together in the afternoon of September 11 20 years ago and this might be the same time we've been together on that day since. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with her and Libby and Steve.

Did you know Auntie Anne’s has breakfast sandwiches?

The pineapple is the new pink princess bed, which Billy Hicks has gotten in the mix on. We have a pink princess bed at the shore and in Philly and both get daily, consistent use. We have a shark at the shore instead of a pineapple and so far only Billy has been in that but Ben and Mae love the pineapple. 

Yesterday I woke up to the realization I had forgotten to make coffee, which I made the day before obvi since I make iced coffee. My work day was packed and I was doing some extra since I had an afternoon appointment, plus it was raining so I was not in the mood to go get some. Flex time has been amazing yesterday and will be again today. Anyhoo I sulkily drank a smidge of MFD’s hot coffee and made it a point to get a medium this morning with plans to get another when I land. 

Show Us Your Books is Tuesday. Join me & Jana & our online reader crew.

Have a breather of a weekend.

Expat Life: Here's How to Make it Happen

TGIF! I am working from the shore today as is my current schedule. Two things: 
1. I hope you're following The Tumbling Nomads on IG and via their blog - it's Steph from Insert Classy Here and her husband Justin and they are  traveling the world for a year and it is awesome to watch and read about and please follow their adventures. 
2. On a related-ish note, here's an article on expat life written for this audience

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Living abroad for good may seem like a dramatic life change but if it’s something you’ve been dreaming about, it’s doable. Yes, you need to figure out how to make money while living there, sort out the visa process, and find a suitable place to live - but that’s also all you need to do.

Image from: Pexels

After those things are settled, you can legally stay and work in the country of your choice. These three tasks can be overwhelming, though, and particularly to those who have never done it before.

Here are a handful of excellent tips on how to make your expat dreams come true so that you can take one step at a time, finding your feet and settling in, without feeling that the process of moving is getting the best of you.

That way, you’ll have the time and the energy to make the right kind of decisions and can feel completely confident once the time to move abroad has come.

First: Where and how are you going to live?

Every expat’s situation is different, and it’s impossible to provide you with a one-size-fits-all solution to how you’re going to find a place to live. To most people, this is the first challenge they encounter when considering if they should become an expat: how do we find a place to live when we’re not actually living in the country yet?

Moving to an entirely new country without having a set roof over your head when you land is  daunting. But again, doable. You could check in at an Airbnb, and look for apartments for the first week or two while staying there.

The key to everything, as usual, is cash. Make sure that you have quite a bit of money saved up so  you’re able to rent a place on short notice. Money talksand most landlords will welcome you with open arms if you’re able to pay a few months up front. Bring a bulk sum, in other words, and you won’t really feel too scared when boarding that plane.

You do have many other options, though, and you certainly don’t have to go without having any other preparations than your savings account. If you already know someone living there, you can always ask them to look at a few apartments for you.

Ask them to take some pictures or even a video of the place, and you can rent it without actually seeing it yourself.

You could also hit the world wide web and look for a place to live right away. Check out the site of tanah dijual murah for some great places at affordable prices.

Next: Which type of visa are you going to get?
You need to consider the type of visa you need and keep in mind that many countries require a different type of visa depending on your nationality. Maybe you’re planning on moving somewhere you don’t need a visa at all - or maybe you’re going to a country where you’d be deported rather quickly if you attempted to work without permission.

Start by figuring out what kind of visa you actually need; if you’re going together with your partner, it may be enough for them to get a work visa and you can apply for a spousal visa.

This means that you’re going to have to prove your relationship, though, so be prepared to have both pictures and proof  ready. It may feel weird if you’ve been married for a decade already but it’s all a part of the application process.

You may have to get a work visa instead, however, and this means that you should have a job offer before you apply. This is where a lot of people meet the first few bumps in the road of their dream to become an expat. How are you supposed to have a job offer if you’re not actively looking for work in the country?

You can check out this site for some great visa advice as well so that you’re completely up to date on all of your options.

How are you going to make money abroad?
This brings us over to our next point which is how you’re going to make money while you live abroad. This may solve your visa conundrum as well, though, and it’s a good idea to think about this before you start to look for a visa - or you could just start off on a tourist visa, to begin with, until you have a job in the country you’ve set your eyes on.

Image from: Pexels

Look for jobs online, chat with your current employer about work opportunities in the country you’d like to move to, or talk to people you know who already live there. It’s not going to be easy but job hunting rarely is.

When you don’t have a job offer or a partner who is able to stay there legally, you still have a few other alternatives. One is to simply continue working remotely for your company at home or get a position as a freelancer; now you are able to make money in your home country’s currency while also staying overseas.

There are many jobs you could do from your laptop too and technology has made it really easy for people to become an expat. You could continue doing what you’re already doing, for example, as long as your company allows for it; there are many options out there in terms of video conferences and sessions through Skype. If they don’t allow this, you could consider setting up your own company. Offer counselling sessions or classes through video calls, make your own professional website, and use social media to market yourself. As long as you put some thought and effort into it, you will be able to find a solution.

Working remotely for your company at home or freelancing in your own currency means that you don’t have a visa that allows you to stay as long as you want to though, and you certainly don’t have a visa that allows you to work in the country. As long as you adhere to the limit on the number of days you can stay there and go home once in a while, you’ll still be alright - although that is definitely more of a hassle.

Many freelancers enjoy this kind of lifestyle, though, as they can increase their standard of living while also staying in a comfortable climate. Maybe you want to spend some time travelling when your visa expires - or maybe you just want to make a quick trip back home.

Other options are working for the web, in general, by doing copywriting, web design, programming, or anything else that the online world requires these days. It may not be as easy as it sounds but it will definitely ensure that you’re able to make a living - and live anywhere in the world.


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I know some of you out there are living that expat life. Any tips to add?

If you're not, have you ever considered it?

Two extra hours

One of my most frequent wishes that I'm sure I have in common with many of you is wanting more time. Since life is not a TV show there are limited possibilities for extra time. Working from home is one of those for me.

When I work from home, I gain two hours that are typically spent in transit. Here are some things I did with those two hours yesterday:

Cleaned out the freezer, froze some bone broth in the two missing Ball jars, sat out back with a La Croix and a book I decided not to finish, made power breakfast muffins and froze them,

treated the dogs to a dental sticks taste off, cleaned out my living room and bedroom humidifiers because I'm fucking done having the heat on, finally figured out storage for the washable flannel pieces I use in lieu of cotton balls or face wipes (it's only taken me over a year to move them into the bathroom instead of in the top drawer of my dresser), rescued Gus, washed both couches,

sat with my old dogs, played ball with the puppy, made a to do list for today and tomorrow, packed the 2018 beach tags to go to the shore tomorrow, put a pile aside for Lola Jean, and had the windows open all damn day.

Last night I went went to Pets Plus for Mae's special snowflake wet food and to Target for milk, eggs, TheraFlu, and buy one get 25% off sunblock. And I did those things totally forgetting I had glopped on a shit ton of two different new eyeshadows to test. People were looking at me weird and I was all don't worry I'm going to wash my hair tomorrow, everyone but it turns out the hair was not the only thing giving people pause.

When i got home and saw myself in the mirror I was crying laughing. What an absolute boob.

Anyway today is Friday and I hope to see many of you at MFD's campaign benefit tonight - tickets are available at the door. Don't worry, I'll either be wearing no eye shadow or matching eye shadow so you won't have to say Steph, what the fuck.  

If I won't see you tonight, I wish you all the time in the world to spend however you choose this weekend. 

That's enough todaying for today.

I have laughed at that picture a million times since Monday, and I needed the laughs this week. Was it bad in an apocalyptic sense? Certainly not. Just filled with little annoyances and setbacks and problems that when piled up feel bigger than they are and hello it is my birthday month and rude for this to happen now. Not every week is going to be a good week because that's not how life works.

I'm still sage cleansing my house this weekend to increase my odds for better next week, trust.

Anyway, I hope the pic makes you laugh too.

Cheers to a good weekend and a fabulous birthday week next week - for me and for you even if it's not your birthday next week.

I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.

What is today? What did I do last night? What do I have to do at work today? What do I have to do tonight? Is it Friday?
=
Me all week

So happy Friday, for real. Friday the 13th.

Here's a video of Bruce snoozing and snoring from last night with Mae growling at Thor barking over the fence. Far away. Not bothering her.

 Bruce report: He's insane. He goes up the stairs by himself - he is not yet eight weeks old. He walks on a leash, he goes outside with the other dogs, he loves food and already knows where Gus's is kept... right now all three dogs are eating different food. I'm transitioning Bruce to dry food and he's fine with it because he wants to be just like Gus. He loves to fuck with Mae and thinks it's funny when she growls at him. He was doing great in his crate but now does not want to be apart from the pack so he is doing the terrible terrible screaming and thrashing against the crate for more than five minutes so we're trying to get back on track with that.

I think I'm getting a cold or I'm just tired from keeping puppy hours, but I do feel better than yesterday because I got some shit organized last night and will attempt more on Sunday. MFD did indeed move his boxes out of that basement room is still a fucking mess and my kitchen needs a good purge too.

This weekend I'm going to chill the fuck out at the shore, drink a lot of coffee, lay around, read, play with my dogs, hopefully see my BFF Laura, and avoid the news because it has been fucking soul crushing. What is happening - or not happening - in Puerto Rico...like, we have the world's largest and most robust military who is more than able to drop food off so people don't starve to death. Our OWN people. But we're not doing that. That kind of order comes from the top. Does the president not know he needs to give that order? People are dying. And the recent executive order designed to take healthcare away from the most vulnerable Americans: the poor, the working poor, the elderly, and the ill. I'm just sick. I know, I'm a broken record.

I'm also off of Twitter today in solidarity with Rose McGowan and any woman who has been assaulted, spoken up, and then silenced. If you stand in solidarity with those people, I hope you're off it too for the day.

Weekend plans?

Hey guys! I got my poop in a pile

via

Can you resist the siren song of using poop in a title or an image of poop as a weapon? I can't.  What a world. What a world.

It's a good thing vacation is worth it, because the prep going into it and dealing with the cyclone coming out of it is a bitch. Yesterday I worked from home to concentrate on a lot of writing I had to do and knocked that out like a boss, even though it took me until 11 pm. With two more hours in my day because of the lack of commute and the ability to do a quick task on my way to or from the bathroom, I was able to get my house back in order, which was no small feat given the destruction on each level in every room. It's like we returned from vacation and vomited all over our own house with our own things.

Some things are still out of place as always - I don't have the fire within me to finish the basement purge and reorganization right now, so things are still going down there to sit and collect dust - but I do feel like things have been set pretty much to rights.

What needs to go back to the shore is packed up and in the basement ready to be loaded into cars, including my new beach chair, and the cluttered dining room table from hell was mostly cleared.

New sheets are on the bed, and that's the only place I am okay with pattern mixing. Five loads of laundry were done and some was put away. This is not dream life, this is real life. In dream life all the laundry is put away immediately, no one is a fucking asshole, everyone has more than enough of what they need, you can eat what you want and never gain too much weight, no one puts the toilet paper on so it pulls from underneath, we're all equal, you can always find the shoes you want in your size, there's no litter, and dogs never pee or poop inside.

A vat of iced coffee is turning itself into magic in the fridge, a fresh pitcher of mint green iced tea was made, power breakfast muffins were made and frozen, and mexican stuffed shells were made and half frozen. The ones with cheese are dinner tomorrow.

My reusable bags have made their way back to my trunk after a big Target re-stocking trip and I returned shoes to Famous Footwear that I kept forgetting to return. Hey Target, why the F would you sell a light up Hangry sign? It is a state of being that is frankly dangerous for the people in its line of fire. No one is safe. Bring food. 

Geege got his pre-dental bloodwork done at the vet and my furry coworkers got a shit ton of attention.

I used the sassy oven mitts I picked up on vacation and put some of my treasures in my living room shell jar. I like looking at my various shell spots and knowing they're from so many different places.

And I displayed a little art card I picked up on vacation. My God does not care what you look like outside but my God does care what you look like inside and my God don't like ugly. 

We're heading to the shore tonight, and I feel a lot better about my life getting my poop in a pile at home and work. I hope you're heading into the weekend feeling good about where you are today. If you're not, there's always tomorrow.

Toodleoo and TGIF, mofos. And happy birthday to my friend Mr. Chris.

I'm rooting for you today.

Whatever you're doing today, I'm rooting for you...unless you're an asshole. I don't root for assholes.

Everyone else, I'm rooting for you, because why wouldn't I? Being an encourager is an important part of who I am. It doesn't take away from anything I want in life to hope others find what they want too.

There's enough sun for all of us to shine under. There's enough pain for all of us to feel the pinch of that, too, but we won't talk about the pain and I wouldn't wish for you to get your fair share (unless you are an asshole, see above). Bottom line, there's enough of all of it to go around.

Today I'm off of work so I've already glided into the weekend, and I'm hoping you have a swift slide into it as well. Given what's going on in this crazy world, do whatever you need to to find your peace today. If we all think about what we can personally do to help others find theirs and then actually do those things, we'll be golden.

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Smilers wear a crown, losers wear a frown

This week I was dumb enough to schedule my tattoo getting one night and laser hair removal of the thighs the next. As I was laying there last night I was thinking cripes I have set myself on the other side of comfortable this week, haven't I? Self-induced discomfort is the worst kind. This is not a poor me, it's an idiot me. Ha!

I spent yesterday walking with my left arm really close to my body and modeling a one shoulder bra look since I can't pull the strap up on the other side. Does this sound like something a 20 year old or nearly 40 year old would do? Combine that with the lack of makeup and stretching of dry shampoo hair days and I'm looking like Gracie Hart before Victor Melling gets his hands on her.

Here's to a weekend of being back on the good side of comfortable. Enjoy!

I've got 99 problems but vacation ain't one

Today is the greatest TGIFs of all the TGIFs - the Friday before vacation TGIF.

MFD and I have never vacationed in December before. We've had a few long weekends throughout the year this year, but the week off from work and daily life responsibility has been a long time coming and I seriously cannot wait. I'm looking forward to just checking out for a while.

This vacation also brings the deliciousness that is about four and a half days of no cell phone or Internet. Perfect timing so I can avoid the pics of that dick the Elf on the Shelf.

Life at Life According to Steph continues - Show Us Your Books link up on Tuesday, a Thoughts from the Pick Up Line guest post from my friend Jana of Jana Says on Thursday, and this year's Christmas Decor on Friday.

If you typically connect with my blog posts on my personal facebook page, you won't see them unless you check them out on either on the blog's facebook page, twitter, or by coming right to the homepage here.

I was going to do a funny thoughts from the week before vacation post and I had some good shit for that but I have zero fucks left to give and I'm cruising towards a shut down. My eyes are on the 5 p.m. prize and then I'm peacing out.

Of course vacation would not be as relaxing or even possible without my awesome dog sitter who stays at my house and who my dogs love and my awesome neighbors who watch over everything for us whether we're home or away.

Have a great weekend! I'll see you on the other side.