4. I am extremely behind in magazines. I am going to try to get through some this weekend since we have no cable at the shore.
5. The thing that pisses me off when we discuss religion on a national level - like these stupid Starsucks cups - is that people seem to forget WHY this country was formed. People came here to escape a government-imposed religion...to be able to practice their religion freely and for others to do the same. They intentionally made sure church and state would be separate when they laid the framework for this country. Most Christians I know personally are intelligent people and they realize this. They know Jesus is not on a coffee cup, but in their hearts. Their faith is strong, so they don't get mortally offended if someone wishes them happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I bet Jesus would be like DUDE, it's a coffee cup used two months out of the year, what does this have to do with me? There is nothing more insufferable than Christian charlatans who are vocally Christian with their words but their actions suggest they harbor hate and fear in their hearts.
6. You know what I like doing? Preparing for Christmas in advance - I like to buy my gifts and get my cards ready so when the season begins for me, I am not stressed out and can actually enjoy it. But I don't like to celebrate, read about, listen to the music/watch the movies of, or anything else before Thanksgiving is over. We complain about how time flies but we rush the hell out of every single season so we can get on to the next thing. I like November. I think it's cozy. I love Thanksgiving, I find it to be a day of great reflection. I like Christmas, but Christmas is not my favorite time of year. A month of it is more than enough for me. I'm giving a big HELL YES to Nordstrom.
7. I booked plane tickets to New Orleans this week for February. In order to book travel using miles, please walk backwards for three blocks while reciting the alphabet in Greek and building a replica of the White House out of used matches. Seriously - the conditions need to be exactly right for a ticket to be obtained. I love when they're like oh, you can fly when you want...for additional cash monies. No thanks, I'll stick to the shitty flights you have available.
8. I'm not happy with the results from the meds prescribed for Gus's back end and leg issues so I'm seeking alternative treatment. On Tuesday, Gus went to an acupuncturist. Interestingly enough, she said my regular vet has called her a few times because my regular vet is learning acupuncture. Anyway Gus did well (I was surprised, he is usually a ruthless beast in public) and I have high hopes. In conjunction, I am taking my dogs completely off of dry food. Would any of you be interested in a dog stew recipe? Because one is coming. Use the force, Gussie.
Happy to be stuck with you,
Your book link up is one of my favorites, I get so many great recommendations :)!
ReplyDeleteI like to get ready for Christmas in advance, but like you wait to deck the halls and celebrate everything until Thanksgiving is over. I find the cup drama a bit silly on BOTH sides because both think THEIR WAY IS RIGHT! DD just came out with a super cute cup and I wonder if Starbucks did CUPGATE to generate more sales, it wouldn't surprise me. NOLA is such a fun place, you're gonna have a great trip!
I agree with you about the Starbucks issue (and the issue behind it). It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI know you'll love New Orleans--it's such a fun city with all kinds of delicious food and amazing music! Glad to hear that Gus' acupuncture is going ok! I hope that he sees results soon! And a HUGE yay for you finding your keys! That was a big relief Im sure :)
I wouldn't have even noticed there wasn't anything on the red cups without all the hulla baloo. Glad to hear Gus did well at the acupunc doc I would totally be down for a dog stew, and so would Boomer! I havea large pile of Christmas things I've been buying but I'm waiting until Thanksgiving to put it up, it's just tradition and I have some cute turkey things I want to make!
ReplyDeleteSo many questions!
ReplyDelete1. What kind of dry food were you feeding them?
2. What book did you read to Lola?
Sane Christians didn't even notice the red cups. I thought they were boring, yes. Offensive to anyone? No.
I like to put up my winter/Christmas decor but I don't plan to spend 3 months celebrating Christmas.
I lost my keys like that once. We searched the neighborhood for days. Never seen again. Glad you found them!
I love you reading to your little niece. So sweet!!! Clearly a born book lover right there. I completely agree with what you said about the Starbucks cup. Everything these days has to be some kind of issue, it has gotten to be a bit much. I hope that the acupuncture works for Gus! Why are you taking them off dry food? Just curious. My dogs love the hell out of wet food when they get it on occasion. I wish all stores would wait until Friday to be opened. I am not going to miss Thanksgiving dinner for a sale. Just no. And I hate that the stores expect their employees to miss it too.
ReplyDeletei've heard great things about alternative treatments for animals. as you know, i'm a HUGE believer in acupuncture so i really hope it works out for gussie!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found your keys, that would have sucked. I think it is awesome you are starting Lola young with books! :) I don't like Starbucks so I don't care about the cup but I don't get butt hurt about people saying Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas. I love the meme about actually helping others, feeding other, caring about others than thinking a cup is going to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet that you read to your niece already. My mom had started buying books for my daughter when she was still in utero and I loved that. I love that quote that you posted from Summerlong because I've been feeling the exact same way lately. Maybe it's an almost turning 40 thing. I keep thinking about things I wish I did different in my 20's and it's so pointless. It's not even like I usually sit around and do this, it's just recently. I'm also thinking about what it will be like when we retire. For some reason that's really freaking me out and I'm not sure why! I really hope the acupuncture works for your dog! My brother does it for his back and it really has helped him. Sometimes you just have to be open to the alternative routes. I can't even with the red cups anymore.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you were able to find your keys! Our neighbor once drove off with his cell phone on his car but he wasn't able to find it.
ReplyDeleteAnd totally agree with you about the Starbucks cups! There was nothing religious on the cups in the first place! I'm so over people making bigger deals out of things that aren't that big of a deal to begin with.
I'm glad stores are planning to be closed on Thanksgiving this year. I remember even when Black Friday was fun (I think I was twelve?), and stores gave out little presents, coffee and donuts while you waited. Then the psychos came and ruined it for everyone. Black Friday shopping hasn't even been fun for like the last ten years, and I feel so bad for the poor workers. Go Nordstrom, and others who won't be open!
ReplyDeleteI love the video of you reading Guess How Much I Love You to Lola. Just precious Thank Goddess for these phone cameras to catch those moments. JMJ, Amen on #4. Live the Christmas Spirit every damn day!!! Godspeed and may the Force be with Gussie. Ancient Chinese medicine really works- attn: Drug Companies and those who made their fortunes by banishing the real medicines. Let us all keep and nurture our Chi!
ReplyDelete60 year anniversary today for Gamma and Pop, by the grace of God/Goddess.
Love the midlife quote. The best keeps coming for all of us as long as we recognize and are grateful for every big and little thing. Love, Your Momma
Yes to #5 and Double Yes to #6. I think it's awesome that many of the stores are remaining closed on Thanksgiving this year. I love shopping just as much as the next person, but what I love more is spending time with my family and doing a little thing called "relaxing", which I'm pretty sure the rest of society needs to jump on the bandwagon for. When I was in college I worked as a cashier at Wal-mart and I can remember the incessant complaints from people about Wal-mart being closed on Christmas. I'm like really?! If you can't stay at your home for one day and live without whatever you HAD to have at Wal-mart that day, then that's pretty sad in my book.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you key situation worked out as well as it could have. Thumbs up to good neighbors (and great MFD!). I am loving that keychain.
ReplyDelete#5, 100%. I thought it was a joke but I did see some tweets and facebook comments about how... I dunno, satanic? Starbucks was being with the cups. It's absurd and ludicrous and, as you said, completely flies in the face of a) our country's founding principles and b) the actual teachings of Christ. And furthermore? Howard Shulz, the CEO of Starbucks, is Jewish. He is under NO obligation to produce a product that panders to a religion he is not a member of, or any one at all.
#6 Thanks for sharing that bit about Nordstrom. Michael and I just had a ranty conversation about Black Friday seeping into Thanksgiving. If people want to get up at 5 a.m. to save 20% on a TV, good for them. But let people stay home from work on one of the few nationally-celebrated non-religious holidays and spend some time with their families or by themselves, if that's what they want!
Sending Gus all my good and healthy vibes! Here's hoping accupuncture agrees with him.
Dog acupuncture? I didn't even know that was offered! I hope it works, and how cool that your vet is interested in it, too. And preach about Christmas coming too fast! I would love to get shopping and ordering cards done, but my house will remain undecorated until Thanksgiving is over!
ReplyDeleteI still don't fully understand the cup thing...totally bizarre in terms of what people find time to protest/complain about. I'm with you on Christmas. I will start shopping for gifts and thinking about prep stuff in November but I do not want to see a single decoration or hear any carols until December 1st!
ReplyDeleteI love Nordstrom so much for their decorating choice on Christmas! Kudos for keeping things where they should be.
ReplyDeleteI love that quote. I am finally really at that place in life where I just don't freak out like I used to. Life goes on for the most part unless something is going to literally kill you... don't sweat it just deal. The person who found your keys is going to have some good karma coming their way.
ReplyDeleteI don't particularly care for or about Thanksgiving, but November 20 is my birthday so my rule is no Christmas until Dec. 1. Because all of November is birthday month, obviously. I am totally done buying gifts though and halfway done with wrapping. Because December is way too busy and stressful to be worrying about that shit last minute.
ReplyDeleteOn my dog pinterest board, I have at least 2 detailed pins about home cooking (including in the crockpot!) for your dogs. FYI :) I haven't tried it all out yet, since Hawkeye and Thor are still only 6, but once John and I live together with both dogs, I plan on switching to cooking for them - no dry food. Glad you'll start it off for me and give me tips!
That passage is amazing. Absolutely love it. I worked for Nordstrom back in 05 and they've always held that standard. They're 110% family run - I've met the brothers - and I think that's why they're who they are. They don't compromise on family values. I'm really sad for you about the Dirty Dancing key chain.
ReplyDeleteNothing worse than (typically American) Christians complaining about everything and not doing a damn thing to actually help. My favorite is why the people picketing outside PP aren't using their time to adopt all the unwanted babies they're trying to save. Hypocrites. That's a great quote. I really liked Summerlong, but it was depressing. I definitely think craft stores should be stocked with Christmas stuff early, and I yeah, I bought a fake tree last weekend, but I don't decorate until after Thanksgiving. I remember when waiting until Black Friday was the norm for all stores, because all my retail friends had to work overnight on Thanksgiving after their feasts.
ReplyDeleteI never link up with the books because I haven't finished a book in months, BUT I always read everyone else's and continually add to my list. I'm behind on magazines too, ack!
ReplyDeleteAnd now you understand my obsession with Mr. Bakapoulos.
ReplyDeleteI can't with the red cups. It's insane. What people spend their time getting worked up over is mindboggling to me. And it bothers me that it takes one lunatic's rant to go viral for people to jump on the bandwagon. And I love that Nordstrom is taking a stand against the decorating before Thanksgiving. I have many rants about the way Thanksgiving is treated lately and to see a major retailer not buying into it makes me happy.
Hope the acupuncture works for Gus! I have a feeling something like that will be in the cards for Dobie in the next couple of years.
*Bakopoulos. Good grief, I should remember to spell his name right.
Deletei love nordstrom 5 times more now. i HATE going to the mall in EARLY november and seeing christmas lights up. it's just ridiculous to me. thanksgiving is such a wonderful and important holiday and i feel like it gets shafted most of the time. I'm sending more positive thoughts to Gus! and definitly sign me up for dog soup!
ReplyDeleteI read this whole post but had to go back and read #5. I could not feel more similar with you on this. I'm just so tired of the berating. spend your time loving and not hating and I bet it would do wonders! man people drive me nuts. I always love your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteLove all the pics of you with your beautiful niece, your face just lights up while you're holding her. And so glad to hear your keys were ok, and MFD and your neighbors saved the day. Such a "Mun-day" thing to do :-P
ReplyDeletePound of body weight so as to fabricate bulk You additionally need starches to fuel your body Go for grams carbs a day while building Pro Muscle Fit Likewise attempt to expend great fats, for example, shelled nut or almond spread An extraordinary approach to get your calories in is a changed protein shake Here's my own some oats tablespoons of nutty spread.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.healthybeats.net/pro-muscle-fit.html
Lola has a spectacular head of hair!!
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas and am guilty of decorating before Thanksgiving. We used to always travel, so I wanted to have the decorations up before we left for Thanksgiving, and so I could enjoy them as long as possible in December, since we always left the week before Christmas.
We were at the mall today and the trees are up and the lighting is this Saturday...and it was also 82 degrees today. It just seems so weird and effed up. Too early, too hot.
So much yes for all of this!
ReplyDelete1. The damn cup. #stahp As I said on my FB page, I'm an evangelical Christian and I'm not offended, nor do I care about a DAMN (didn't say that word exactly) red cup. But you know what I do care about? Christians that are REALLY being persecuted in India and China. Basically, everyone should just get over their stupid first world problems and start being passionate about issues that matter. Issues that mean life or death...not the religion behind a cup. End rant.
2. I'm the SAME way about Christmas and have been for my adult life. My family gets mad at me for asking them what they want in September/October but I'm like, "YOU KNOW ME! By now we are used this to process. So make a list."
3. What did they say is up with Gus? Did they diagnose him or did they just say he's down in the rear?
The StarbucksCupsGate is quite possibly the stupidest, most vapid, most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Anyone that posted a spirited response about how offended they were about their minimalist design is an idiot. I have been debating doing a post on this tomorrow but I don't know if I can do it without coming off as really rude so probably not ... but yes, pure idiots.
ReplyDeleteCheese making!!!! Sign me up!
Also, I think that's cool of Nordstrom too. Thanksgiving season is awesome.
Gus looks so cute in his costume. I hope the acupuncture helps heal him better.
ReplyDeleteMy sister's dog had a miraculous recovery from debilitating back problems... sure enough, acupuncture! Good luck. And why the switch from dry food?
ReplyDeleteI hope the acupuncture works well! I just met a vet who was also training in acupuncture for pain management issues with pets. Kind of cool! My lady in-laws are both acupuncturists so naturally, I am interested!
ReplyDeleteLOVE that passage from the book. I am struggling with career related things and approaching early midlife and oh man, I better have created everything well.
Starbucks cup drama...I can't with people. With a cup that will enter a trash can. PUH-LEASE.
I used to work at Nordstrom, and we always got such great feedback from folks happy to not see a single Christmas decoration until after Thanksgiving. I am normally a wait until December for Christmas movies person, but I'm dying to watch Gremlins for some reason...I'll try to at least wait until Thanksgiving weekend
ReplyDeleteLove the kindness of strangers! Once my hub cap came off when I bumped a curb. A day later, I went back to same spot and someone had moved it onto the curb, instead of leaving it on the street. Those are expensive to replace so I was thankful to a stranger that day.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the big deal about the Starbucks cup. Geez. Like that graphic pointed out, do what Jesus would do. Help people not gripe about a cup.
I had no intentions of making the focus of my post today be geared towards those red cups but once I started typing, I couldn't stop. Then I had to go back and edit heavily so I didn't hate myself for being too mean.
ReplyDeleteI would also love a dog stew recipe, I was convinced when I found my little dog two months ago she was not able to eat dry food (she was...she just hated what my sister-in-law bought) so I think she'd appreciate a nice stew. Also the big dog just loves food so he'll eat anything I put in front of him. Except lettuce.
Yes - your approach to Christmas is exactly how I feel -- which sometimes seems a little hypocritical! -- I want to get ready to enjoy it, but not actually start enjoying the decorations, food, etc. until after Thanksgiving. Honestly, I'm realizing after all these years that having ALL. THE. THINGS. hanging up for a month drives me a little batty. I think I'm going to try going (even more) minimal with my decorations this year.
ReplyDeleteSO with you on #5, all the way around. Seriously, that is the best blurb I've heard on this whole stupid fiasco to date. To go further, to ME this is PART of the reason why I turned away from religion as I grew older... things like this make it seem ridiculous - which is sad to me.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping that Gussie starts doing better with the alternative treatment and change in diet :( poor little lad.
ReplyDeleteThe words "Key Fuckery" had me rolling.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally down for the dog stew recipe as my older boy needs some alternative food methods now that he is older and ailing.
I can't even comment on the cups anymore. It's a cup. A CUP.
Okay so I'm a Christmas girl. No my tree isn't up yet (that is a day after Thanksgiving tradition) and I support stores not wanting to rush into the next thing like the big box stores do, however I watch Christmas movies and list to Christmas music literally any time of year because it makes me feel better.
I would love to hear about a recipe for dog stew. My golden/mastiff has terrible allergies. Maybe the stew would be better than the grain free, limited ingredient food I'm feeding now. My foster failed, 14 year old, deaf, one eyed shih tzu is on Metacam for terrible arthritis. He does pretty well with it.
ReplyDeleteI made it this weekend Christine! We were doing the grain free, limited ingredient style food too. I'll report back on it. Mae has terrible allergies too so I feel your pain!
DeleteI love finding passages in books that really speak to me. That's also one of my favorite things about certain music. It just makes you feel like someone else out there, someone you've never even met, really gets you ... And that's such an awesome feeling.
ReplyDeleteThe Starbucks thing started while we were on vacation and I wasn't checking stuff online as often. One night I happened to log in to Facebook and saw a bunch of stuff about the cup. I honestly thought it was a joke (like an article from The Onion or something similar), but then I realized that no, this was actually a thing. I still wonder if it was some sort of publicity thing, but no matter what it is, it's ridiculous. I couldn't agree more with your statements on this topic.
And yes to Nordstrom! I've seen Christmas stuff out in stores before Halloween. That's just too much for me.
HELL YES ON THE RED CUP RANT. If it wasn't meant to be a rant, it's my ranting. FIND A NEW HILL TO DIE ON THAT ACTUALLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS. Oops. There I go with that whole lack of patience thing. (Thumbs up to Nordies, too.)
ReplyDeletego Nordstrom! that is awesome. i am the same - i like to prepare for christmas by buying presents and such, but i don't like to do christmassy things before december 1st. and in america, the day after thanksgiving weekend is good for me lol.
ReplyDeletewait - i had no idea the red cup rant was because it didn't say merry christmas. is that real life? is this really about religion?! it's a freaking cup. wtf.
love love that passage from that book. it terrifies me, but i've learned to accept it and i feel so much more free than when i was super afraid of it, and afraid of living for fear of wasting the one life.. does that even make sense?
anyway! love that key chain.