Life According to Steph: Thursday Thoughts - even the losers get lucky sometimes

Thinking I have soup phobia. I swear to god every time I make soup I avoid eating it and I don't know why.

Wishing I could get a grip on the state of my house. It is fright fest in there this week. There is shit everywhere.

Hoping you've heard the Tom Petty song Walls (No. 3), and if you haven't, that you'll listen to it now. It's my favorite. Rest in Peace.

Wondering if people against common sense gun legislation recognize how circular their arguments are or how hypocritical they sound. Guns should be owned by people trained to use them, people who respect them, people who took courses and paid money to hold licenses. If you think for one second the 2nd Amendment is still about the ability to arm yourself against your own government, you are a lunatic, my friend. You and a few of your buddies with rifles are not going to defeat the tyranny of a war machine with a $600 billion defense budget. This is not Red Dawn. Why does anyone who opposes gun owner regulation never hear that I don't want to take their guns? I don't want to take your guns...until you act like a nutter in your insistence that ZERO additional legislation will help prevent mass shootings from occurring. Then I want to take your guns because you're mentally ill and shouldn't have them. Oh wait, trump overturned a mental health regulation on gun purposes back in February. Never mind. You're right! Nothing left to be done except send thoughts and prayers. Or you can call your representative and ask about what can be done to keep weapons designed to kill out of the hands of nutters and angry white men with a misplaced rage problem and a heap of insecurities. And I'm sorry, the NRA does not exist for you, they are not your tribe. They exist to protect and promote gun manufacturers. Gun users are pawns. Can someone start an organization for responsible gun ownership of people who don't fetishize guns but respect them and know their place? Can people also stop taking photos with their guns like they are toys or new shoes? They're not either. They are serious business. See also: how to call your representative about gun control reform (thanks Tiffany for the link). Things I would read again: No More Shootings That Follow the Rules (op-ed in the NYT), 15 Things that are Harder to Obtain than a Gun (blog post), and finally images from the Internet that unfortunately resonated this week:

Dreaming of a world where the interest in legislating guns was triple the interest in legislating women's bodies. If you don't think politicians have the right to legislate vaginas, please call your Senator about this bill. It passed the House.

Raising money for pancreatic cancer research. My family is walking in the Purple Stride walk on November 4th in memory of my grandmother. We are Madeline's Marchers and you can donate to me here if you are so inclined.

Roaring with laughter that stirrups are back. Fucking stirrups you guys! I wore these in 1986. Stop it. They look terrible and it constantly feels like you're pulling your own pants down but not of your own volition.

Getting sick of the let them eat cake reaction to natural disasters in this country. Are you kidding me with the goddamn towel throwing in Puerto Rico this week? Disgraceful bully toddler impotent man. The best way to combat soulless life suckers is to donate - money, time, resources.
Evacuees of the Keys helps FL Keys residents, this is my first time sharing this link
Links to donate to PR in this post
Links to donate to TX & USVI in this post

Reporting in from Dog Town. Bruce is really good. He pees and poops outside and sleeps most of the way through the night. Any accidents inside have been because humans have not been paying attention. Mae is very pleased to have someone to growl at and lay with, but she prefers Bruce lay with her without walking near her so it's a delicate balance. Many people were asking about Gus's reaction to him, and the truth is Gus doesn't need anyone but Gus, so Gus does not feel left out or anything like that. Gus tolerates him which is all we can ask of Gus in any situation. LOL Humans are fighting over who will get up with the puppy in the middle of the night and happier than ever in their decision not to have human children. Excuse these photos, who knows what is going on with the camera on my phone.

Trying to get my shit together to put a blog together for tomorrow about the Pennsylvania Women's Conference I attended on Tuesday. Few words might be the best way to go.

Reading Poison by Galt Niederhoffer. Show Us Your Books is Tuesday! Third anniversary edition, which means prizes.