This week I have been thinking about a variety of things. Things I like. Things I dislike. Things I’m going. Things I’m reading. So, today, I’m just going to subject you to some of the things and my thoughts on them. But, not to worry, this won’t be ALL THE THINGS, because that’s just too many things.

Overuse of Words

There are some words that we as a society need to just stop using – or use only when they are exactly the right word, particularly when it comes to bad (or only unfortunate) things happening. Not everyone is a “Hero” – please stop calling being a decent human “heroic”. Yes, the flooding in the Southern USA, the wildfires in the Western USA, the earthquake in Italy are all awful, tragic things, but they are not “apocalyptic”.

Soapboxing

The soap company called – they want their boxes back. The irony is, some of today’s post involves standing on one. But there seem to be an awful lot of people who are stepping up onto soapboxes just to shout about every tiny gnat of a subject just to have people pay attention to them. It doesn’t matter, build a bridge and get over it.

Reading

Reading is an excellent pastime and way to expand one’s horizons. People should do more of it, and not in the form of endlessly scrolling through their Facebook or Twitter feeds. I’ve recently subscribed to The Sun Magazine after a friend had given me a couple stacks of old issues which I proceeded to work my way through. I’ve also finished reading The Beekeeper’s Bible and have now started on Civil Disobedience and other Essays.

Gardening

This has been an odd year for the garden. Plants that were doing really well suddenly went downhill, others died, and late-planted vegetables all started to really take off. I’m going to have a lot of tomatoes this year (who knew that removing suckers and keeping my indeterminate varieties trimmed up would make such a massive difference). My Scarlet Runner beans are starting to get “beany” and I picked my first fistful last night. My watermelons are massive, the birdhouse gourds are gourd-geous (heh… I couldn’t resist), and I’m going to have ripe eggplants this weekend! Also, I finally figured out that a patch of plants in my goats’ corral were ground cherries. Guess I’ll be eating ground cherries in some form this year.

“I’m uncomfortable”

A cousin began saying this a couple years ago, and I laughed about the simplicity of it; I thought, “That’ll probably never work to say it”. But this week, I’ve said it twice in conversations with people who took things too far. Curiously enough, it worked. I stated “Now I’m uncomfortable,” and both people apologized. I thanked them and we moved on. Now, I’m making it my mission to say it whenever I become uncomfortable with the direction or tone a conversation is taking.

Sparkling Water

Why have I not tried this stuff before this month? I had essentially stopped drinking soda years ago because all the sugar and crap made my stomach hurt. I still like the occasional soda made with cane sugar or a nice “dry” soda, but then I tried sparkling water. It’s fizzy, it’s doesn’t have sugar in any form added, but it has flavor. I’m actually using it to wean myself from evening cocktails. After drinking three quarts of plain water all day, I craved something with flavor! Unfortunately, adult beverages were my go-to option, complete with all those empty calories (and feeling like crap the next day). Sparkling water is now my evening go-to beverage.

Slip Shorts

As someone who does not possess a “thigh gap”, I avoided wearing dresses during the summer months because of chaffing. Years ago I saw a product for newly-labeled hipsters called “Bicycle Bloomers” and I thought they were brilliant. I didn’t buy any and essentially forgot about them until this year. It’s been hot and sticky and I didn’t want to wear dress slacks to the office all the time. I thought, “There has to be a product out there to make wearing dresses more comfortable”. There is: slip shorts. SO MUCH BETTER than chaffing! Ladies, you’re welcome.

Cedric the Roaming Gnome found a friend at Scaturo’s!

Camera App

Prisma. Take a photo. Open it in Prisma. Apply a filter you like that makes your mediocre image look better (it’s not Louvre-worthy, but better), post to your social media account. Have fun with it. Just don’t think you’ll get 15 minutes of fame for your filter-applying skills, alright.

Snarkiness

Enough already. No. Really. If you have something constructive to say, perhaps a solution to an actual problem, by all means – please speak up. If you’re name-calling, body-shaming, oh-my-god-Becky-look-at-her-butt-it’s-so-big’ing, just keep it to yourself. You’re part of the problem that needs a solution.

Being 40

The great things about being 40 that I’ve discovered this year:
1. Makeup is a hassle – and people finally have stopped asking me if I’m sick when I don’t have it on.
2. Being told so-and-so doesn’t like you and literally not caring even a little bit.
3. Becoming bolder and calling people on their bullshit.
4. Becoming even more comfortable in my skin – I didn’t know it was possible.
5. Somehow I’ve developed a more pronounced “Do Not Fuck With Me” persona.

And thus concludes this weeks post.

What are the things you’ve been into, out of, or wondering about this week?