Books, Chicago, Favorite Things, Garden, Life, Nonsense, Tater Tots, Writing

Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots- Episode 41

Writer McWriterson

If you’re new to my blog, welcome! Here is an explanation of the tater tot post.

ZINNIASSSSS

Excuse me while I share alllllll the zinnia photos.

I cultivated them from seed I purchased at Meijer in April. It was incredibly satisfying to see these flowers unfold. I will never again purchase a flat of flowers from a nursery or home improvement store.

Morton Arboretum

An arboretum in the suburbs where I live is hosting an art exhibition. I saw one of the stunning sculptures on TikTok in May and knew I wanted to go see it in person.

Hallow

Human + Nature is the work of South African artist Daniel Popper.

I can’t do these sculptures justice, so I’ll simply share the photos I took. However, I recommend that you go to his website to see all of his sculptures and read the descriptions.

There were a lot of people waiting in line to see her, and I wanted to capture that part of it. I can’t say that I blame them. Art deserves to be admired.

To say seeing these in person was a spiritual experience is an understatement.

Umi

I mean, look at her.

This place had a great energy as well. I had a number of meaningful interactions with strangers. It was a lovely day.

Sentient

The description for Sentient is as follows:

“A being sensitive in perception or feeling. Over exposure to phones, media, news blasting at us, fragmenting us, dislocating us. The daily digital dementia leads to a scrambling of our senses. Connecting with Nature and meditation are essential in finding one’s center in the chaos. The awareness that there is no separation between us and nature.”

If you live within a day’s drive of Chicago or are intending to come for whatever reason, I urge you to go. It will be on display at Morton Arboretum until March 2023.

Courtesy of Members Only

Members Only Jackets/Monthly rant

I was talking to Ella about Members Only jackets one night, so I went to Ecosia (remember, we’re replacing Google) to find one for her to look at, and I ended up on the Members Only website (yes, there is still a website). Did you know they’re $88? Were they that expensive back in the 1980s? Is capitalism taking advantage of the 80s’ resurgence?

*Edited to add: I found an inflation calculator online, and it turns out that if they were roughly $29 in the 1980s (as I estimated), they would now be around $86.

What I’m reading

Why Won’t You Apologize? Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts by Harriet Lerner (this should be required reading for every human being)

Your Sacred Self: Making the Decision to Be Free by Wayne Dyer (highly recommend)

What I’m watching

The Deep End (Hulu)

Girl in the Picture (Netflix)

How to Change Your Mind (Netflix)

The Bear (Hulu)

And, thanks to Katie, this important message. Please pass this on:

What I’m listening to

Drive

I Can See the Change

Everything is Free

What I’m clicking on

Girl in the Picture story: A (very simple) timeline of events

Is reheated pasta less fattening? – BBC News (Thanks, Gigi!)

Make Time for Reading: Here’s How to Do It, No Matter How Busy You Are

Dramatic Fairy Sculptures Dancing With Dandelions By R. Wright | Bored Panda

8 Wearable Stim Toys for Autistic and Neurodivergent People

Commonly Mispronounced Brand Names: Beauty Edition

Kate Bush Talks ‘Stranger Things,’ Meaning of ‘Running Up That Hill’

Critical Race Theory FAQ

This Is What a Real Apology Looks Like (And Why They’re So Hard to Get)

What I’m quoting

“It doesn’t make sense to call ourselves ugly, because we don’t really see ourselves. We don’t watch ourselves, sleeping in bed, curled up and silent, with chests rising and falling with our own rhythm. We don’t see ourselves reading a book, eyes fluttering and glowing. You don’t see yourself looking at someone with love and care inside your heart. There’s no mirror in your way when you’re laughing and smiling and happiness is leaking out of you. You would know exactly how bright and beautiful you are if you saw yourself in the moments where you are truly yourself.” – Unknown

Hello, August…

38 thoughts on “Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots- Episode 41”

  1. Chicago is def on my bouquet list 🙂.
    No Ma’am. Member’s only jackets could not have cost that much or I wouldn’t have had one. This was they in which if we the children actually made it “out to eat” we were sitting at a fast food eating a tiny kid’s burger and sharing a tiny fry. As teens.😝
    Got both books on hold at my library, thanks!
    So many good things to discover in this tot post.

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    1. YAY! I can hardly wait until that day…❤️

      So I discovered the best thing EVER. An online calculator for inflation! And if a Members Only jacket cost 29 dollars in 1983, it now costs 86 dollars! So there you have it!

      Here is the link:
      https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

      I’d love to know what you think of both books. I’m still reading Wayne Dyer’s book. It’s wonderful, Jessie. And because I’m taking my time with it, I ended up purchasing it used for $6 after having to renew it twice at the library. I didn’t want to be a library book hog. LOL

      Xoxo

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    1. Indeed! And I can only imagine what the sculptures look like in person if you feel your fantastic photos don’t do them justice. Your photos of the sculptures moved me, and felt like they touched my soul. It’s like what George Bernard Shaw said “You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.”

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  4. Wow – that sculpture exhibition looks AMAZING. I want to go to Chicago to see it RIGHT NOW. Stunning.

    And I had no idea how much I needed to see some zinnia photos!

    Will be interested in your thoughts on The Bear — I enjoyed it, but HOLY HAM was it stressful!

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    1. I hope you can do it before March. It’s well worth the trip.

      So I’m learning that I should just put them in the ground next year. Because they are outgrowing their pots…but they are truly stunning.

      IT IS VERY STRESSFUL ! 😂 So we didn’t like it at first. We actually re-watched episode one and liked it much more the second time around. We’re now on episode four and definitely liking it.

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  6. Those sculptures are beautiful and I would love to see them in person – I’m sure they’re even more powerful.

    I made the tater tots! I think we just continue to share each other’s links!

    I love the stim links. The chewing necklace might have to be a stocking stuffer for my nail chewers. I recently bought some loop earbuds that are great for noise reduction. You can still hear okay, but they filter down some of the noise.

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    1. We didn’t get to visit all of the sculptures, so we’ll return in the fall when it’s cooler.

      Your posts provide me with so much great content to share! ❤️

      I love the bracelets by Old Soul. A college student started the company!

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  7. The sculpture reminds me of our visit to the NJ Grounds for Sculpture, very cool. Thanks for sharing. Also so nice that there is a resurgence to running up that hill, I have loved that since first hearing it in ’85

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  8. Your zinnias are gorgeous! And you grew them from seed? I am impressed!!!! I loved zinnias as a child…almost forgot about them…thank you for reminding me about this fabulous annual. I will try my hand at growing them once I have a garden again. And those statues?! Wow. Thank you for sharing, Kari.

    Deb

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  9. Your zinnias are beautiful! I’ve always wanted to have some, but could never find them in the garden centers. Are they easy to grow from seed…did you have to start them in the house first and then move them outside?

    I *must* go see those sculptures. I can’t stop staring at your photographs. Even looking at the pictures stirs things in me.

    Members Only…OMG, the memories! Brian had a Members Only black leather jacket. It was sooo cool. It might even be hanging around here somewhere still. I remember Tim wearing it a few times.

    Loved that Brian Eno video. Going to send to Tim – he had told me about Brian Eno not too long ago. And that Joni Mitchell video…someone had posted that on FB. Heartbreaking song, especially seeing how Joni looks now.

    The quote about not seeing ourselves….we must’ve seen it in the same newsletter or something? Because I had printed it out, too. 🙂

    I have not watched any TV in weeks. I know – you’re probably not surprised. In fact, Brian was home on vacation for two weeks and we never once turned on the TV. I have been wanting to watch How to Change Your Mind though. I read the book…well, skimmed through it. It was long and very detailed.

    Going to check out your music and other links now.

    xoxo

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    1. They were SO simple! Nope, I just planted the seeds the weekend before Memorial Day! It was the least fussy flower I’d ever grown. ❤️

      In the fall, there is a meditation under the statues at Morton Arboretum…we should go.

      Oh, dig out that jacket! It’s now back in style.

      I love Joni Mitchell and the chair she’s sitting in. Doesn’t that music mean so much to us now?

      I’m so glad we both noticed that quote! I found it on the website A Cup of Jo.

      I think you will like the documentary. I really like Michael Pollan.

      Xoxo

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  10. Your zinnias are AHHMAZING. I love them, and every time I go out and visit mine (I cut quite a few yesterday) I think of you, and I actually keep meaning to take a picture, but have failed to do so.
    The sculptures at the arboretum are stunning…and I bet like you said, they are even more so in person.
    I watched two episodes of The Bear. I kind of lost interest…should I go back? Did you watch all of the episodes?

    I could listen to Joani Mitchell sing all.day.long.

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    1. I love that! Now I will think of you when I cut my zinniassss. ❤️

      They are. So massive and just, beautiful.

      Go back. We lost interest at the middle of episode two. Then Anna wanted to watch. So we watched it again with her and we liked it better the second time around. It will get better.

      I could also listen to her sing all day long. ❤️

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  12. I’m sorry to be so late. I’ve only had pockets of time this week between the day at the ER and follow up appointment and the regular ortho and sport physical. Then I was making food for this weekend with Coach’s side in Lake Lawn Wisconsin. Just got on the road.

    All that to say, I live 15-20 minutes from the Arboretum and we are members. I take the tots to the children’s garden. Love that place. I have not been all summer so I have not seen the sculptures. I keep telling Coach we should go there for a walk one day. It’s one of those places you don’t visit often if it is right under your nose, or you are just really busy and walking near home is more convenient. We should hold a blog meet and greet there. 😉

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  13. I love when artist’s works are featured in gardens, parks, etc. I’ve been lucky to view a number of such installations over the past five years at Stan Hywet (built by the Seiberling family) as well as some random spots like Yountville, CA.

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