Thursday Thoughts

1. Monday, you guys know I was a dumbass and left my keys on the hood of my car on the way to work, right? I called my neighbor and MFD in a panic. My neighbor looked on the street in front of the house and MFD drove and walked the neighborhood and he freaking FOUND THEM. Someone had put them on top of the fire hydrant. Kind stranger, thank you for removing them from the street where they'd surely be smashed to smithereens instead of just a little mangled and sans my beloved Dirty Dancing keychain. And thanks to MFD for spending his Monday morning looking around the neighborhood and not bitching about it once. The thing that's bent in the right photo was a flat circle before. Sunday night I ordered a respect apostrophes keychain Lauren directed me to...like my Sunday night self knew key fuckery was ahead or something.

2. Once again, you all rock for joining me and Jana for Show Us Your Books on Tuesday. Later that night I went and read to my niece for the first time (my mom Instagrammed it here) so technically it was Lola Jean's first Show Us Your Books experience too. I think she liked it.

3. Speaking of books, this passage from Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulos rang so true with me where I am right now in life. I've accepted this is the one that I created and the only one I'll live and good Lord I want to live it. I love when I come across a passage like that in a book.

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.

9. I'll see you all back here Monday for the weekend that was. TWTW is the longest standing feature on this blog - the first TWTW post that appeared here was in October 2011. It became a regular feature in January 2012. It changes appearance and format every now and then, but it's a barnacle that's stuck on me now and, so, you know...also stuck on you.

10. E-card of the week...I don't think I've given the finger in a while...outside of giving it mentally, I mean.

Happy to be stuck with you,