I love stock photography. A woman whimsically laying in bed while wearing a party hat and laughing at a donut. I get that this is for a photo op, but what if it isn’t? What if this is her life?
Guess what?
IT’S BIRTHDAY MONTH.
This episode is jam-packed.
Like I like my men.
That made no sense.
But who cares. IT’S BIRTHDAY MONTH.
I turned 50 last year, right in the middle of a pandemic. So I demand a recount, I mean a do-over.
Maybe this means I don’t have to count last year?
That would technically make me 49 years old.
Diving right in
I mentioned in my gratitude list last month, that I finally conquered my fear of the “block editor”. Well, good thing, because last week I opened my WordPress dashboard and it was completely different and Word Press didn’t give me an option to go back to the old one.
So it looks like I am diving right in to block editor.
During birthday month.
(Throws confetti into the air)
This is my first full-length post written with a different editor. So far, I’m not complaining. But I’m not a huge fan of change. I’d like to stretch that aspect of myself. I want to get used to change, so this is good, this is good, THIS IS GOOD.
Butterfly whisperer
The picture up there is from my friend Suz’ blog. Again, I’m new to block editor and I couldn’t figure out how to put the credit beneath the image. It’s beyond me how my friend Suz hasn’t yet been discovered by the tv show That’s Incredible.
What do you mean that show hasn’t been on the air in over 40 years?
Get Aaron Spelling on the horn!
What do you mean Aaron Spelling hasn’t been alive for over 15 years?
Suz is to butterflies what I am to menopause. She is the butterfly whisperer. I wanted to share this really cool video of her feeding a butterfly, but that was before Word Press decided to be a poopy head. So head here to see this magic for yourself.
Evolution of hair
Last April’s tater tot post, I mentioned that I was on a hair mission.
It’s a convoluted story, so read it first and then come back here if you need a refresher. I’ve become lazy in my 50th 49th year of life.
I’ve come a long way.
Wearing a wig for fun while at my parents’ house a week before we found out about the pandemic. February 2020.
April 2020.
After working in the yard, May 2020.
(This would usually be the point I would be sick of my hair and cut it all off)
After a hike near Lake Michigan. July 2020.
Before leaving for a headache specialist appointment, August 2020.
I was getting ready for a Zoom migraine survey call, so I straightened my hair and did my makeup for the first time in months. December 2020.
How I realistically look on most days. March 2020.
When I don’t look like this. April 2020.
I can put my hair up in a bun, and I love that. The simple act of being able to tie my hair up has me thrilled. For many years, I believed I would never have long hair again. I didn’t have the patience to grow it out, but this year forced me to. There is a lot more to growing my hair out than just growing my hair out.
I’m getting my hair trimmed and thinned out next week, but not cut. I love my longer hair and I don’t want to go back to having short hair again. It’s no longer who I am.
You paid how much for a lamp?
The price of that lamp is $395.
That’s it. That’s the story.
I didn’t buy it. I thought it was cute when I saw it on Pinterest. So I did a thorough analysis, and yep, it’s $395.
This is your assignment: in ten words or less, explain why this lamp costs $395. Not an opinion, but a well-informed guess or answer.
Getting screwed over, even in old age
My AARP card application came addressed to the incorrect name.
This has been a lifelong struggle for me.
I’ve never known the thrill of a personalized bike license plate or a mug from a tacky souvenir shop. Carrie or Keri only.
Damn you Julie’s, Amy’s and Jennifer’s and especially Carrie’s.
I do. I really, really do.
Voice remote control caught me swearing. This post seemed appropriate to share it.
Helen Who?
Does anyone remember this made-for-tv movie? I’d like to see it in all its glory, but it is quite elusive.
Speaking of forgotten 80s shows: 60 Forgotten TV Shows From The ’80s That’ll Make You Truly Nostalgic For That Era
When I was little, I aspired to be a Solid Gold dancer. Here is a video of them dancing from the 80s:
What we’ve been watching
We started watching Blackfish a long time ago but never finished it. We finally finished watching it last month, and now I despise Sea World, and I need you to despise Sea World as well.
To be clear, I never liked them to begin with.
After watching, you may want to visit these websites.
Samantha Berg | The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature
Orcas and Dolphins Do Not Belong in Captivity! | Dolphin Project
What I’m listening to
I love TLC, but I really like this version too.
And Radio Garden is a cool AF find. If you click anywhere on the map, you’ll be sent to the local radio station in that area. It blows my mind to hear Toto on a radio station in the Philippines. I am a nerd like that. When you click on the link, it will take you to a radio station in Chicago (Hi!), but you may move the cursor around to explore other radio stations throughout the world.
Reading
This helped me in returning to the drawing board. I am grateful for books that genuinely desire to help writers succeed.
I cannot get enough of her books.
Rita recommended Natalie’s book, and several more of you agreed with her. This book took me two days to finish. It was such an easy read because the chapters were brief, and she gave excellent writing tips.
Rita also suggested the above book. Thank you everybody for your suggestions. They have not only helped me in resuming my book writing, but they have also helped me become a better writer.
Links
38 Best Documentaries of All Time – Best Life-Changing Documentary Movies
Five Things I Learned From Being a Trader Joe’s Sign Artist
Drunk Birds? It Does Happen From Time To Time
Showering daily — is it necessary?
Schitt’s Creek stars Dan Levy, Noah Reid recreate Casablanca
11 Books Featuring South Asian Characters to Read in 2021
Shedd’s Penguins Have Their Own ‘Friends’ Experience in Chicago
40 Mandela Effect Examples – What Is The Mandela Effect Definition
BTS Recall Experiences With Racism in Statement Against Anti-Asian Hate
Quotes
Happy Birthday Month!
A Grace Full Life 
Happy birthday month to you, Kari! Love your hair. Also love Writing Down the Bones and everything of Natalie Goldberg’s that I’ve come across. When I did my big purge prior to moving to the Wet Coast of Canada, Natalie’s books made the cut while the majority didn’t.
Deb
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I love getting referrals on books. It feels like I’m reading books with friends. I took your referral on The Artists Way book too. I am changing how I journal because of that. ❤️
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The lamp costs $395 because… kitschy items will always have a place in someone’s heart.
[This may be a duplicate comment. The WP system ate my comment before I hit POST. Like the blockhead editor, the comment system seems to be different now, too.]
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I do love a kitschy item. I have an owl lamp in my kitchen I got at Target for under $40 that looks very similar. I love a strawberry lamp, I just don’t love it THAT much. 🙂
I like “blockhead editor” much better and it is how I will be referring to it going forward.
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It’s because it’s a giant strawberry encased in plaster and turned into a lamp.
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Or, now bear with me, MAYBE it has a gold nugget inside?
No that can’t be it.
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Nope the strawberry told me telepathically, it feels like a prisoner in that lamp. Poopr mutant strawberry. 😥
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That is hysterical. I feel like this could be a book. The Mystery of the $395 Mutant Strawberry Lamp.
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It could be 😁
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🙂
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Happy birthday month! Blogger changed their whole blogger format too (like a year ago) and I’m still bitter about it! I miss being able to see all my old posts– I was trying so hard to access some posts from my first year of homeschooling today and I literally CAN NOT get to them. But I too am trying to embrace change (especially when I have no choice not to!).
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Oh no! I hate that for you. I know how much I love my old posts. I lost some in the love from Blogger to WordPress.
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Happy birthday month, Kari! I just saw some post about advice for people going on a job interview. One was to ask for the highest salary you can while keeping a straight face. That’s what the lamp people are doing. And if it’s working for them; great. But I will never, ever under any circumstance (even if I win the lottery) will I buy a lamp that costs $395.
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Thank you, Gigi!
That’s a good way of thinking. Hey, more power to them. The lamp is quite adorable. But like I said to Ally, not $395 adorable. 😂
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Happy birthday month!
On Writing Well is a classic. Read it many (too many) years ago.
That radio garden website is amazing! Brian’s now hooked too, lol.
Love the documentary list, too. I haven’t heard of a lot of these. More for my watch list!
xoxo
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Thank you!
I can’t believe I had never heard of it before. I took so many notes and have already used them in regards to editing my book.
I spent an entire evening on Radio Garden. Such a great find! I’m glad you both are enjoying it. 🙂
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Oh, how I love a good documentary. I was surprised that I’d seen so many on the list. The three strangers is unreal. Gleason, heartbreaking, but so good. Free Solo – nerve-wracking. We watched the whale one while in Vancouver a few days before going on a whale watching tour. Timing? The whales we saw were obviously free though, and after watching the documentary we all understood that they needed to stay free. We watched the OJ one too. I want to see the one about the deaf family contemplating the cochlea implants, and well so many more. BTW my brothers were in Hoop Dreams. I don’t think I’ve ever watched the whole thing. They played on a team that competed against the Hoop Dream guy’s team so they are in a scene playing basketball. So funny.
We watched Dumplin. Cute movie and appropriate for my younger viewers.
Happy b-day month to you. Love the progression of your hair.
The book ‘Murder Your Darlings’ is what all the writing groups and classes I’ve been in suggest. It’s very good at suggesting how to be concise, among other things. I might have to check out some of these books that you recommend.
No idea why that lamp is so expensive. Handmade? One of a kind? Doubt it.
Oh, and if Blogger changed things up so that I had to re-learn blogging, I’d be done blogging. I’m that kind of old bird refusing new tricks.
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Hearing those mama whales crying for their babies did me in. There is another documentary on Netflix about the seafood industry; I don’t think I can watch it. But at the same time, we all need to watch.
Right on all counts in regards to that lamp. Something smells fishy. Even the About Us page doesn’t sit right with me.
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that radio AP is very cool
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VERY cool. I have spent a lot of time on that website.
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Happy Birthday Month!
Guessing the lamp costs that bc: a. the more you charge, the more they’ll want it, b. made by famous person or brand with a following, c. folks have nothing else to do with their money (see stock market, real estate, recent insane EBay auctions), d. the mark-up / profit margin % is so high – they just need 10 buyers and they’re golden (compared to expense of selling more lamps at lower margin), e. the lamp is actually a whale sanctuary donation.
Hoping it is e.
Also, Seller thinks it is a BERRY nice lamp! (Not a punner but someone had to!)
Loved your Hair Journey. Blondie crooned it best – “Your hair is beautiful!” 🙂
PS. Death Cab! Always reminds me of Seth & Ryan from The O.C. (TV show). *sigh*
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Thank you, Maddie!
Should I charge that much for my book?
I love puns. That was berry good.
I always love a musical quote, especially from Blondie. 😉
I’ve never seen an episode of The O.C. Should I watch? I think it’s on Hulu.
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I’m so happy u like Blondie! She kicks butt.
I don’t know if u should watch The O.C.. I watched when I was young so for me it is a nostalgia thing. It is overly dramatic teen-drama with comedy. But the parents are not idiot walkovers. There are hysterical bits gently mocking brooding teen Ryan. Seth is himself and they let him be himself. The dad is that guy with the amazing eyebrows (no, not that one, the other one). The opening minutes (before music) used to be the funniest (I think). The facial expressions!
It is prob mostly bad and Whoa Dude the end is…. the shark, it jumpeth! BUT if u like it, it has a great opening theme song that must be scream-sung dramatically. Omg what if 86% of my love for the show is from the release of happy brain chemicals I get from dramatically scream-singing the opening song?
*shrugs* I’ll take it. Going to go scream-sing CALIFORN YAAA!!! now. 🙂
I saw a butterfly today & totally thought of Butterfly Whisperer Suz. Love her!
I don’t love Sea World. And what we do to ocean life is awful (the noise pollution alone). I try to do what I can but it is depressing. Thx for sharing all your links. You are a light in this world. That’s how I know you *won’t* sell your book for that lamp price. What price illumination, eh?
I hope today has been a fabulous day for you!
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She does kick butt. It’s funny you mention her. I loved her in the 80s and I found a Blondie concert tee-shirt online and almost bought it. I mean, it makes sense…
I think I would love it. I should preface this by saying, I love The Real Housewives chain, so my bar isn’t high for television. I didn’t want you to think I’m a tv snob. I’ve also seen The Hills; not the entire series but parts here and there. I feel like The OC and The Hills were similar??
I AM LOVING THE PUNS ABOUT THIS LAMP.
This day has been fabulous. Yesterday wasn’t. But today is making up for it.
I hope today is fabulous for you too, Maddie. 🙂
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That Helen Hunt trailer made me snort laugh out loud! “I want…to RUN!” Omg we watched crap tv.
I think the second-to-last Blockbuster was in the town I drove through every day for more than a decade—Sandy OR. We just like to think we’re progressive but actually we’re just weird AF. One of my kids’ school friends worked there until it closed for good.
I also grew my hair out because of Covid. Jury’s still out for me, but I really like your longer hair. I keep thinking I just can’t figure out what hair style I like, but I think the real problem is that I want a different face. The one I used to have. Welcome to the 50’s!
Hope you have an exceptional birthday month!
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I remember crying while watching that movie! I loved her so much. She had me convinced she couldn’t run. In fact, when I saw Helen Hunt years later, I thought…”oh wow, she can walk again.”
I never said I was intelligent.
The last Blockbuster is in Bend, Oregon. How far is that from you? You should visit.
I want my former face too. I want my former arms and thighs as well.
Thank you, Rita. 🙂
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Happy birthday month! I love your long hair. I was the same way, I thought I’d never have long hair again, but then TikTok showed me how to take care of my curls and now I need to grow it out to try it. Also the panoramic made growing my hair and not worrying about grays, a lot easier.
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TIKTOK. I need to find you on there. I am hooked now…..a year after everyone else was.
But yes to growing out the hairs. 🙂
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Thank you for the heads up. If Aaron Spelling calls me from the grave, I’ll know what he wants from me and not that he’s complaining about his daughter being a stupid head.
I LOVE YOUR HAIR. (did you hear me yelling from GA?) And I can’t get enough of that little girl with the oversized head/hair. Where is she now and don’t try to tell me she’s Kari.
The Strawberry lamp. I mean, obviously, it is made from actual heritage strawberry seeds that Jesu & Mary planted and then made it on the Ark before the earth was flooded.
DUH.
I totally forgot about Solid Gold. It was SOLID GOLD.
I’m digging all your tunes and I can not watch Blackfish. Can’t do it. It will haunt me and I already wake up in the middle of the night worrying about our world.
Happy 50th birthday. Or, are we skipping ANOTHER one? Happy 49th!!
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I think That’s Incredible needs to make a comeback. If they do, you will be nominated to be their first guest.
I did hear you yelling! I can’t believe I could hear it over ALL OF THAT traffic. I need to find that little girl. I am in love with her. I mean, she isn’t little now. And no, it isn’t me. I wish it were.
Okay, your answer wins. Even God agrees.
Those dancers were so overdramatic. I remember we used to make fun of them. (While also secretly wanting to be them)
Okay, then you’re not going to want to hear this: don’t eat seafood. Like for real. Unless it’s fresh off the boat and you can see the boat. I’ve already said too much.
Happy 49th. Also, I’ve decided I’m going in the opposite direction. Ala Benjamin Button.
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Happy happy birthday month, Kari!!
I have an appointment at the end of this month for my hair (which is the longest it’s been since 8th grade) and I’m almost 100% sure that I’m chopping it into a pixie. I always grow it out (usually to just past my shoulders) and then decide I hate it and cut it short. It’s almost to the middle of my back now and it’s just…long and I hate the feel of it when it drips on my back after I wash it. Basically, I’ve had the same experience but a different outcome this year. Maybe I’ll try something new and just get a shortish something? Not a full on pixie but like chin or clavicle length?
Anyhow….excited to go read your links! At first blush, showering daily might be necessary, but I sure do like it. (I only wash my hair every 3-5 days though)
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I’ve had mine short for most of my adult life. I don’t know why I thought I wouldn’t look good with long hair. I feel like I may get tired of it after summer though. We will see. I can’t wait to see how you get your hair cut! Something fun to look forward to. ❤️
I am counting showering as self-care as of late. But I agree with the hair washing. Especially now that it’s longer. 😂
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