Good morning.
Early one for me today…this goddamn work sh-t is for the birds.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
Early bird gets the worm after all.
So there’s that.
Total upside to working—worms!!!
(Speaking of birds and worms, one downside of work—pigeon’s nests. Read all about those here.)
😂😂😂
I did get up early to drive to an all-day meeting today, which means I had to get up extra early to write this before leaving the house. Plan is to write this, drive to the destination to ensure an early arrival, quick proofread, send, and get to business. Wish me luck.
(Update: I’m here, later than I wanted but still early. Commuting is positively uncivilized. Tenses me up and erodes my sunny disposition. Anyhow…excuse typos…no time to proof it.)
Thursday is a day for thoughts, so away I go:
We both had to get ready and out the door at roughly the same time this morning, something that hasn’t happened in what feels like forever. Zero recollection of how we made it work in the days before Covid, but am grateful we managed to do it and remain on speaking terms. This morning was ok…we were like a couple of Gullivers in a Lilliputian studio apartment at times and we had more than a few laughs…still I wouldn’t want to do it every day. Good thing we don’t have to. (And don’t even get me started on the ironing and dressing up…)
Also speaking of work, here’s an interesting observation: people who didn’t acknowledge when I lost my job (who I might have liked to have had a little support from) have come out of the woodwork to congratulate me and wish me well now that I have a new one. The moral of the story: even if it is uncomfortable, acknowledge the hard things people are going through—that’s when they need you most. I could have used words of support and encouragement when I was feeling down and out…and while I appreciate the kind words now, I don’t really need them. You know?
This presidential campaign season already had indicated it is going to be like a sideshow at the circus. Ron DeSantis and his absolute shitshow of an “announcement” yesterday confirmed that fact. (Can someone close to the Cheeto alert him that calling Ron DeSantis Ron DeSanctimonious makes him sound kind of sanctimonious himself? Pot calling kettle, come in please.)
Speaking of politics, I’m a big (BIG!) fan of term limits. Maybe Dianne Feinstein is still sharp as a tack, but I’m skeptical. As someone who recently changed jobs, I see firsthand the benefit of fresh ideas and fresh energy. Not to mention I do think that “sharp for an 89-year-old” may not be the kind of edge that we need to keep our country on the tip of the spear of the world
We opened the pool last week and nothing says summer louder and clearer than seeing the pool drain. It’s not quite warm enough for me but it’s getting there.
Making toast works best when you actually put the bread in the slots before you push the lever down and wait. I discovered that the other day when I went to grab the burning toast only to find the slots were empty and that the crumbs in the bottom were the only things toasting.
Speaking of food…every now and then you gotta shake it up. When we go to Bates our usual app order is boneless sweet chili wings..Friday night I did the unthinkable and went off script…and the hot honey boneless wings were to die for
Yesterday, I threw away my old carryon suitcase. One of the zippers was compromised and I was worried that one of these days I’d be forced to check my carryon and it would come off the belt, exploded and empty. I got a new suitcase for my birthday (thanks Mom!) and knew the old one needed to go. But it was a more sad and emotional thing than I’d have expected…the old LL Bean roller bag was a gift from my mom and dad (the original replaced back when LL Bean had its infinite guarantee, in other words, back when the quality was so good you rarely needed to use it, before the quality went to sh-t and they changed their policy, thus admitting they can’t stand behind their products…which is sad, but I digress)…and it had a lot of happy miles on it. I felt like I was betraying a connection in some ways and the connections with my dad are fewer as the years without him pass…then I told myself it was an old ripped suitcase devoid of any practical or emotional value—so I gave thanks to the Universe for the happy memories it carried and put it in the bin. Fortunately I was on a call when the garbage truck came, so I didn’t have to watch it go.
Speaking of my birthday, last time I wrote here, I was 55. Now I’m 56. On my birthday, I held up my two hands, 4 fingers and a thumb on each, denoting 55. I lamented the fact that I’m so old I can’t show age on two hands anymore. Thank God for Kerri informing me that this is not the first time I couldn’t do so…namely 49, 39, 29, 19 (among many others)…and while it made me feel ridiculous that I didn’t think about that on my own, still I didn’t feel so bad after all. In any case, 56 is o-l-d.
Speaking of being old, every now and then I’ll see a pic of myself or a friend of mine, or maybe I’ll even catch it in real like…where we look more like our parents than ourselves…but not a good representation of our parents but more like a bad computer-aged version of them, like something you might see on Unsolved Mysteries...and I wonder if that’s the mind’s way of trying to trick me into thinking that I (and my friends) am not/aren’t as old as (older than‽) our parents were when our friendships started. But then I think that there are pros and cons to everything and while aging in general is a con, having lifelong friends to age with is a pro that far outweighs the negative.
While I’m prattling on about being old, one benefit is as I get older is so do my nephews and nieces. Which meant getting a nice bottle of Japanese Whisky to try as a gift this year. They know I love me a good Japanese Whisky highball…
And since I mentioned my mom earlier and she is on my mind, if she is ever looking for a side hustle, she could probably get a job rolling the pita bread around the cutlery and swaddling it in plastic wrap like a papoose at Brothers Roast Beef. I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but I think I burn calories trying to get the plastic wrap off…Tuesday night I watched the lettuce start to wilt as I desperately tried to get to the pita. My mom is a plastic wrap savant and would probably be a good fit.
Anyone else watch Jeopardy Masters? What was the big effing deal about revealing where the Daily Doubles were to the audience? So we could will our favorites to pick those clues and try to drive the villains away from them? I thought it was weird. No need to orchestrate drama. The world has enough of it on its own. (See #2 above, for example.)
Speaking of Jeopardy Masters the contestants do seem to enjoy a certain amount of celebrity as a result of their strong performances, some more than others. In Amy Schneider’s case, she has a huge platform and lots of work to be done—but clearly she is not studying like when she was an actual contestant and (SPOILER ALERT) it showed in the results.
Speaking of TV, I didn’t need another reason to love Somebody Somewhere. But when it featured a Joan Armatrading song in this week’s episode (Show Some Emotion), I found even more love in my heart for it. It’s always nice to be reminded that the heart can always find ways to make room for more love.
Yesterday I had a pedicure and about three minutes after making the appointment I had a little panic attack—do I even have 10 toenails. I ripped off my sneakers and socks and what do you know, 10 toenails? Well, maybe it was more like 9.75 but still. My toes look great.
Is it me or is every third car on the road a Ford Bronco? Those cares are everywhere. And now that I type that I can’t recall seeing a white one. Maybe OJ Simpson rendered those extinct.
The sound of a gang of gobbling turkeys taking over the yard is a most unpleasant way to wake up in the morning.
Speaking of unpleasant, hearing the (immediately debunked) rumor that Tom Brady and Kim Kardashian were a thing mad me gag, on the verge of dry heaving.
Speaking of being sick to my stomach, the Celtics are making me a bit nauseous. Crybabies who don’t play like a team or with any sense of responsibility (or interest) in the outcome are not destined to win championships. Blame the coach all you want, but it’s not the coach’s fault when grown-ass men getting paid a sh-t ton of money seemingly feel no obligation to play defense or, say, rebound. Looks like the BUSINESS will remain UNFIN18HED. The good news is the merch might still be useful next year…the bad news is it’s cursed. Also, I know…they still could come back, and I hope they do. I’m not a believer. I don’t think they have what it takes.
As a very (VERY!) angst-y product of the 80s, The Smiths hold a special place in my musical life. So when bassist Andy Rourke died last week, I had to listen to The Smiths, on repeat…and it takes a special kind of person to find listening to their dark and brood-y lyrics both uplifting and heartwarming. I’m one of those “special” people.
Speaking of dying musicians…the news of Tina Turner’s death yesterday hit hard. She was so badass. I saw her “Break Every Rule” tour at Wembley Arena with my sister in 1987…that tittle song gave me permission to break some rules in a weird way…and it’s probably no coincidence that I found the use of “The Best” as the soundtrack for the David and Patrick love story in Schitt’s Creek brilliant to the point of giving me goosebumps…and why it still gets me…every…single…time. And in #4 above I mention term limits. Kudos to Tina for going out on a high note and for knowing when to be done, for spending her final years on her own terms. Simply. The. Best.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the coming holiday, Memorial Day…to those of you who have lost loved ones in service to this great national, thank you, and them. This year, as I do each year, I will take time to honor them and appreciate all of the things I am able to enjoy as a result of the selflessness and sacrifice of so many. As previously mentioned, it’s a bit of a shitshow in the USA now…but this is still one great nation populated by some pretty amazing people.
As we approach the unofficial start of summer, I wish you an extra-happy Friday Eve and an amazing long weekend full of the people and things you love.
Speaking of love, love you too.
It’s officially almost unofficially Summer…
All very good points. Love you. Happy Summer❣️