Thursday Thoughts - Let the exits pass, all the tar and glass 'Til the road and sky align

Time is speeding up. Look, it's already October. JK but the past month is blurring. I always feel like we're hurtling toward the summer solstice in early June, with so many events and things compressed in between Mother's Day and then. I am trying to dig my heels in and slow it down, but it doesn't work like that, does it?

Let me set a morning scene for you that ends with this detector being installed where I would never, ever install it. The energy audit people MFD was supposed to be here for hijacked my morning, I had to wrangle my dogs, Bruce wouldn't stop fucking barking, there was a small gas leak so I had to call the goddamn gas company and be told and shown about the fucking leak, the  energy guy was so nice and helpful and identified with our Hate has no home here sign but was going on about fans and lightbulbs and Ireland as I was trying to work, I could not locate the shifty cat, and my house is a mess as all of these people are traipsing through it digging into corners auditing shit painting my heater doing all sorts of things changing lightbulbs touching windows and doors etc. 

Life with dogs who bark at the window.

Show Us Your Books is Tuesday. I've had a series of eh reads. Started this one last night.

Slivers of moon all over this week.

You all following the Humans of New York story today? It's a 15 part-er

Signs of adult restraint. I did not run over this sign

Anyone talking about how celebrities like Matthew McConaughy should stick to acting instead of talking about gun violence that impacts all of us and specifically his hometown of Uvalde, TX, recently, can shut the fuck up. You elected a fucking TV show host swindler as president, have elected a fucking actor with no business in politics as president in the 1980s, and worship at the blood soaked altar of the NRA, previously led by Charlton Heston, a fucking actor. Fuck off out of here

Have a good day, bye now.

What appears beyond the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts titles is what I'm listening to when I'm starting this - this week is Angela by The Lumineers, Aubrey's favorite

Thursday Thoughts - cause I've been walking down your street with a love that I can't hide

1. The Bangles are underrated. Like the title lyrics from Walking Down Your Street. Bebopping around to In Your Room while cleaning the house? Listening to Hazy Shade of Winter with a light grayish yellowish early January sky out the window? These are the times. These are the late 80s jams. 

2.  I am at an all time very bad cooking person level. I just do not fucking feel like it. Dinners this week have mostly been cucumbers and cheese and crackers or ordered out. I just went to the store to replenish my salad fixings and I am eating them, damnit.

3. Nail color picked out by my niece this week: OPI Go with the Lava Flow and on the pointers Suzi's Slinging Mezcal

4. New favorite after work activity: straight to the beach. My Mom and Rich and Kate and the kids are down until tomorrow night. My mom's birthday is tomorrow and I'm off. 

5. I talked a little about racial inequality in the publishing world in how much authors are paid in advance black vs. white and how that impacts which books get promoted, when, and how hard in the last Show Us Your Books. As always you can google for more information about this stuff. The best way to show support for any up and coming author or book you are excited about is pre-ordering books. That is doubly true for black authors. It tells publishers there is interest and it is worth it for them to invest in the promotion of these books. Here's a list by Bookriot of 45 upcoming books by black authors you can pre-order right now. If you are a reader and have the money, please consider doing that, and pre-ordering from an indie book store (Black-owned if possible). I used to buy books constantly, then stopped for years, and now I'm on the rise again. I have pre-ordered When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole and And Now She's Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall (also got from Netgalley as an ARC). I will order Luster by Raven Leilani (also got from Netgalley as an ARC) and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi before their pub dates. Since publishers do not promote books by Black authors as vociferously as white authors, you might not be reading as many of them. It will take a while to right that ship. In the meantime Buzzfeed has gathered 24 Black Bookstagrammers you should have on your radar, so start by following them if you don't already. In other exciting book news, my library in Ocean City is now doing curbside pickup. YESSSSSSS!

6. In other putting money where our mouths are moments, I am using the not insignificant amount of money I spent on OPC per week pre-Corona to donate to causes that align with me. This week is Matthew Shepard Foundation and Philadelphia Black Giving Circle. What causes are speaking to you recently? 

7. People are losing their fucking shit over Aunt Jemima being re-branded. Why is it hard for people to let go of things that were intentionally racist at their conception, even if it is not personally racist to them in 2020? Why is it so important to hold onto something steeped in racism so you can call your syrup what you've always called it? Similar thing with the statue humping. Stop. You are defending stone likenesses of people who fought for the Confederacy for five years and fucking lost. It is embarrassing at this point for people to be defending statues of oppressors instead of being like hmm, maybe we should reexamine our touchstones in this country. Check out this instagram thread and caption. 

Also, this thread on helpful terms for your google search bar and most importantly the caption. Learn things. 

8. Other mishmash I'm googling: construction and performance bonds (learn more), foot peel, Surfer dude, teak mat, safety first which led me to Canada https://calhounsuperstructure.com/the-calhoun-difference/safety-first/, LUSH conditioner, the true history of the Confederate flag, and water tank. 

9. Reminder:

10. E-cards...seriously though it's been pants and long sleeves weather at the shore a lot

Cheers to SCOTUS this week handing down decisions in favor of employment protections for LGBTQ+ folx and saving DACA. Huge, huge wins this week for letting people be who they are and not punishing them for that or where they come from.

Thursday Thoughts from you?

The words following the hyphen are the song I am listening to when I start the Thursday Thoughts post. This week is Walking Down Your Street by The Bangles (link in #1) 

The Marshalls Law

There must be a blip in the universe this week. I beat The Marshalls Law.

The Marshalls Law is when you see something in Marshalls and even though you want it, you don't buy it because you like to play with fire. As soon as you get home, the desire to have it burns deep inside of you. You wake up the next day obsessing about it, and you return to the scene of the crime to purchase your treasure.

Only it's not there. You got hit by the Marshalls Law, sucker! If you see it and you want it, buy it, because when you return it'll be gone.

Not this time! I beat it! I was there Tuesday night and was too lazy to stand in line even though I was on the phone with Laura and could've entertained myself. I hightailed it back there Wednesday after work and HARK! My precious buddha for out back was still there, nestled on its shelf. Thank you universe.

Have a fortuitous Thursday.

p.s. Thank you to my fabulous stylist Kristi Morgan at Sensational Scissors in Penndel. I had long hair for two years (leading up to and after my wedding) before bringing my bob back. Delayed wife chop. Do you want to borrow my hot pink pajama jacket?

p.p.s. I had to get a gel rest mouse pad and thing for my keyboard. Carpal tunnel? Hinky wrist? Whatever it is it's an enormous PITA. 

Life lessons A to Z

Happy Wednesday, worldwideweb! As part of my birthday month, I thought I'd share an A to Z of some things I've learned along the way in life. Enjoy! And try not to be a dbag today, to yourself or anyone else.

A. Actions speak louder than words. Do what you say you're going to do.

Photo from leloveimage.blogspot.com

B. Don't think so much. Just be. This is my favorite quote from the fabulous novel Ordinary People.

C. Comparison is the thief of joy. Appreciate what you have, don't worry about anyone else or what they have.

D. Don't drink and drive, and don't be an asshole drunk.

E. Excuses are lame.

F. Facebook is not a therapy office, nor is it a place to air dirty laundry. It's a social network. The End.

Photo from sanespaces.com

G. Graciously accept aging - some people don't have the privilege of growing old.

H. Honesty is the best policy.

Photo from letsbehonestdho.blogspot.com

I. If you don't love yourself, nothing else matters.

J. Jail is bad, so don't do anything that might land you there if you get caught, mm'kay?

K. Karma doesn't have a statute of limitations. Treat others how you want to be treated.

Photo from grazesandgroanswithlifesspillsandthrills.wordpress.com

L. Laughter cures most things. So do loving and loyal friends.

M. Manage your expectations of others and of situations and you will be happier overall and less bitter about things you never had any control over anyway.

N. NO DRAMA - don't create it and don't participate in it. It's like Beetlejuice. Don't even say it.

O. Own up to your part in things and take responsibility.

P. Play the best hand you can with the cards you've been dealt.

Q. Quit blaming other people for what's in your life. Whatever is there is there until you choose to get rid of it.

R. Race the sun - have productive and full days. You'll sleep better at night.

Photo from blog.wireguided.com

S. Stand up for what's right, especially when nobody else will.

T. Take vacations, enjoy every day, and have fun.

U. Use correct spelling and grammar.

No lie, I was fortunate enough to be behind this guy this very morning. Please sir, the possessive...you're killing me.

V. Vote. It's a privilege many people in the world don't have, and one of your freedoms that many soldiers died to protect. The least you could do is inform yourself about candidates and issues and pull the lever.

W. The world doesn't owe you anything, so check your sense of entitlement at the door. If you want something, you have to work for it.

Photo from themillionairesecrets.net

X. eXtremists are bad news and tend to ruin things.

Y. You can't control what other people do or say, but you can control your reaction to it.

Z. Zen states are good.


Sayonara, amigos.

SMD

Hello birthday month.

It's here.

Welcome March, month of my birthday, March Madness, daylight savings time, spring training, spring the season...My birthday is in 14 days, doo dah, doo dah. I'm sorry. I can't help myself.

How does one kick off the month of their 35th birthday? By buying gifts, of course. Mine: 

Hello, pretty. We're finally going to rendezvous. You will arrive in just a few days. I can't wait.



Ok, this is not a birthday gift, but it is on its way from Amazon. Free shipping and all.

I need it to make my own ranch dip mix and dressing and I can't find it in stores.

I will classify this as a useful birthday bonus.


A friend of mine from college had a book of poetry published, so I ordered that too. Check her out here.

HARK!

Guess what, guess what? I'm going to have my very own label maker.

Debbie gave me one of hers long ago, but it didn't work for long and I never replaced it.

Is it weird to be so excited over a label maker?

When you store everything in clear plastic containers and have handwriting like a serial killer's

(which I do) ...

I say it's very exciting to own a label maker. Very exciting indeed.

Thank you for the recommendation, Laura.

I have my eye on a few other things as well...specifically a dress, a cardigan and a glue gun after yesterday's blog.

Last night, I baked March two loaves of english muffin bread - my first time baking bread that was not a quick bread - as an offering of good will. It's quite good toasted. March, I hope you enjoy the bread and are a kick ass month in return.

Marching in like a lion,

SMD

p.s. Milo's Kitchen Treats for dogs might be recalled, they are making some dogs ill. Thanks Jennifer K for the info!

In 35 days, I will be 35.

I just thought you should know.

Happy Thursday. May the golden gods of work smile benevolently down upon you, giving you a productive yet speedy day. If you're off from work, please consider bringing me a coffee from Dunkin Donuts. The line was too long this morning.

Also, I want this hat.

Toodleoo mes amis,

SMD

p.s. Thank you MFD for cleaning off and warming up my car this morning. Doing those things myself makes me an angry troll.