Blogging, Childhood, Favorite Things, Humor, Life, Nonsense, Tater Tots

Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots- Episode 46

Writer McWriterson

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

Share five things you’re good at

When I logged into WordPress recently and started to type in the editor, the following prompt appeared: “Share five things you’re good at.”

This is new. Is WordPress giving me writing prompts? They’re practically doing half the work for me!

Five things I’m good at..hmm.

1- Keeping plants alive

2- Eating

3- Naming the artist when I hear a song

4- Making playlists

5- Getting rid of clutter

What are five things you’re good at?

Me and my dad on a rollercoaster circa 2005

Rollercoaster

Last month, I discussed the movie Duel, which cracked the proverbial seal of old movies. So many of you shared old scary movies that terrified you.

Matt talked about The Car. That movie may be even scarier than Duel.

The trailer is really worth watching. Click on the link above.

Nicole mentioned a scary bear movie.

Then I remembered the rollercoaster movie that had kept me from riding any for years.

Aptly titled “Rollercoaster.”

These trailers…were we dumber back then? As much as we grumble about the internet, I feel like it has made us considerably smarter.

Also, Timothy Bottoms. Now that’s a name I haven’t heard since….well, since Rollercoaster.

Have you ever watched this movie?

Playing frisbee with my dad in the park

Inner children

One of my blogging friends recently wrote about her grandfather making her a dollhouse when she was a child. That was lovely, but it wasn’t my main takeaway. It was a photo of herself that she included in the post. A little girl with Kool-Aid stains on her mouth.

That isn’t her. That’s me. 🤣

It made me feel oddly emotional.

I recognized myself in her. 

That’s okay, you all enjoy your dinner while I work hard at ALL THESE DISHES. Sigh.

And seeing pictures of my friend as a child has made me feel even more connected to her.

Then I wondered if everyone shared more pictures of themselves when they were younger and more vulnerable, if they would feel the same way?

I forgot to inform my parents that it was picture day this day. So I wasn’t dressed up and my hair wasn’t coiffed like it would be for a standard picture day. As a result, I love this picture even more.

Healing each other.

One inner child picture at a time.

A woodpecker captured from my bird feeder camera!  I’m going to start sprinkling bird pictures throughout blog posts whether they belong there or not.

Feel your feelings

Side note- I sometimes have trouble distinguishing the difference between feelings and emotions.

Speaking of healing, I’ve been practicing something recently that I thought I’d share with the class.

You’ve may have heard the phrase “feel your feelings” before, but have you ever tried to actively sit with and experience your feelings, especially the difficult ones?

I used to try to avoid my feelings, pushing them aside and letting them come out later in angry outbursts.

Until one day, something upset me and I started crying. As I wrote in my vent journal to get my feelings out, I realized that I wasn’t really feeling them.

So I sat with the pain and let myself experience the feelings until they passed. It wasn’t easy at first, but it was a helpful way for me to process my feelings and work through them.

Then, I came upon this link the same week that seemed perfectly timed with my own journey of learning to feel my feelings:

How to feel your feelings — The New Happy

If you need a step by step guide for help practicing the skill, that up there is lovely.

I wanted to share this in case you’ve been struggling with avoiding or suppressing an emotion, as I had been. ❤️

What I’m reading

A Year with Rumi: Daily Readings by Rumi, Coleman Barks

Awaken Every Day: 365 Buddhist Reflections to Invite Mindfulness and Joy by Thubten Chodron

I’m not currently reading any books. I have a few books coming from Abe Used Books while I wait for a book on hold at the library. I’m just writing in my journal and reading my daily affirmation books (above) at the moment.

What I’m watching

The Swimmers

It honestly should be required watching for all human beings. Especially the boat scene.

Wednesday (Netflix)

The White Lotus (HBOmax)

Harry and Meghan (Netflix)

The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (Netflix)

Triviaverse (Netflix) This has been a lot of fun.

What I’m listening to

Bigger than the Whole Sky by Taylor Swift

Innocence and Sadness by Dermot Kennedy

Patience by Guns N’ Roses

Northern Wind by City and Colour

Whakaaria Mai (How Great Thou Art) by Hollie Smith and Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi

What I’m clicking on

Fundraiser by Brenna Darazs : Rare, Aggressive Blood Cancer

The real story behind Netflix film The Swimmers | Yusra Mardini interview

9 Online Therapy Sites For Affordable Counseling

100 questions to spark conversation & connection.

How to Give a Back Massage: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

This Is How Much You Should Tip for Every Service

Palliative care | Seth’s Blog

Cleaning Methods and Traditions From Around the World

My Dog, My Heart

Rosi de Ruig’s London house combines invigorating colour with a restful atmosphere

What Are Your Family Rituals?

SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms And Treatments

99 Free (Or Affordable) Self-Care Ideas For Your Wellness Routine

From this book

What I’m quoting

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been. -David Bowie

I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say. -Flannery O’Connor

The most precious gift you can give to the one you love is your true presence. -Simone Weil

Here’s to January…

46 thoughts on “Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots- Episode 46”

  2. Yeah the thing that made Rollercoaster special was the loud bass frequencies in the surround sound to make you feel as if you were on the rollercoaster, cheesy film though.

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  3. OMG, I need your “good at keeping plants alive” because I have a black thumb when it comes to plants and flowers. I kill everything. In fat, I’ve been known to kill silk flowers. LOL!

    Eating —– me too! Especially carbs (pasta, bread, rice) and CHEESE.

    I’m a clutterholic. I live in a small studio apartment, so I have to keep it decluttered. Clutter makes me nervous.

    I love scary movies, but I don’t do rollercoasters. I once went on Space Mountain in Disneyworld (eons ago) and have never been on one since.

    That first photo of you is adorable! Love your Charlie Brown shirt! And the one of you doing dishes is PRICELESS!

    “So I sat with the pain and let myself experience the feelings until they passed. It wasn’t easy at first, but it was a helpful way for me to process my feelings and work through them.”

    Bravo! I’m one who does the same. I learned many years ago to embrace my feelings. And in doing so, I’m able to move through them.

    As always, enjoyed your post! Wishing you a fantabulous 2023!

    Cheers and X

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    1. Kill a silk plant. OMG 🤣🤣
      I could be your plant hospital if I lived closer. I love plant rehabilitation.

      Carbohydrates are sooo good.

      Clutter makes me nervous too. That’s why I am good at getting rid of it.

      In your defense, Space Mountain is the worst rollercoaster ever. AND IT’S INSIDE. It’s a claustrophobic nightmare come true.

      Aww, thanks Ron. I love those pictures too.

      Thank you so much for your thoughtful and loving comments. They always improve my day. 😘❤️

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  4. We watched the documentary about the therapist with Noah (is that his name? the actor who did the documentary) and it was very good. So, I now want to see The Swimmers.

    5 things I’m good at:
    Making cookies
    working out
    telling stories
    potty training
    organizing photos
    (I asked my kids and they said bitching/arguing, but I’m not counting that)

    How Great Thou Are sounds good in any language.

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    1. I think you and your family will like The Swimmers.

      Those are great answers! I love learning about people’s strengths. ❤️

      BITCHING AND ARGUING. I love your kids.

      It’s one of my favorite hymns.

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  5. I’m great at eating and getting rid of clutter too but I never know artist names and barely even know song titles 95% of the time. I’m getting better at keeping plants alive though! Thankfully I never saw that movie either as I was terrified of roller coasters enough as it was until I became an adult and finally tried them again.

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  6. I am HERE for sporadic bird photos. A bird is never out of place. (Now I am reminded of that old Portlandia bit, “Put a bird on it!”)

    Love the pictures of child-you, especially the one at the sink. So full of glee!

    I had the opposite reaction to the WordPress prompts: why are you telling me what to write???? But I like your answers. I am also good at eating.

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      4. One of them is a “couple,” and the other is a wren. Is there such a thing as a red breasted wren? By the way, we got a cardinal this morning! I know they exist here in the winter, but I’ve never seen one in our yard. ❤️

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      6. It’s the strangest thing! Kristen lives just down the street, but her house backs up to the woods, and she gets cardinals all year. Cardinals only visit me in the spring. At least, that’s what I thought… I checked my bird camera this morning, and I had several cardinal visits around 6 a.m.! So our cardinals come early in the morning.❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  9. I noticed the WP prompts a while ago; I never thought actually to fill it in. So, you’re way ahead of me.

    I love the photos of you and your dad….and your not ready for a school photo, photo.
    So, you also had to do the dishes while the rest of the family ate dinner? 😜

    Hello Woody!

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  10. The childhood photos of you are precious. I particularly love the one of you and your dad on the rollercoaster. I see so much of Ella in your school photo.

    Feel your feelings…I have a hard time with this one, especially the hard feelings. A particular situation arose yesterday (will explain in person) that brought up verrry yucky feelings for me. Still with me today and I did name them but am trying not to feel them. Perhaps that’s why I’m still feeling them?! I will read the article you posted.

    That poem and the quotes…all **wow**.

    Only thing I’m watching right now is Somebody Somewhere (Hulu). Finished the two seasons of White Lotus before Christmas.

    The self-care article comes at a perfect time: I purchased (online) a self-care 2023 journal and I’ve been taking the time to really sit with it and write in it and think about these things. The article is giving me more ideas! (Getting out my notebook and pen right now…)

    And thank you for posting the article on SAD. Another one that pertains to me right now.

    xoxo

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    1. I was looking through some old Ella photos the other day, and she looked exactly like me. It’s incredible how DNA works.
      I believe that for many of us, those hard feelings manifest in our bodies. I’d like to notice a difference in myself this year if I stop pushing away the feelings and start feeling them instead.

      I’m glad a lot of what I said resonated with you. January can be a difficult month for many people, including me. Thank goodness for Ella’s birthday. It’s a bright spot in an otherwise bleak month.

      Sending you love, my friend.

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  11. HIIIIIII!!!!!
    I’m so happy that we are friends. Also, I love these posts. So much here to click on and I don’t have time right now BUT I’M COMING BACK.
    I read the year with Rumi and will be interested to hear your thoughts! I just looked at the Buddhist readings and that looks really good – I have already started The Book of Awakening, (on your recommendation!) so maybe I’ll put the other one on for next year. Nothing like planning for 2024 on Jan 3 2023.
    Those photos of you make me feel connected to you too! I will have to find some other oldies for you. xoxoxoxo
    COMING BACK LATER TO CLICK ON LINKS!!!

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    1. HIII! I am so glad we are friends too!

      The Rumi book is not what I expected. Much less Rumi, much more religion. But since I’m only reading it on a daily basis, I’m hopeful that will change.

      The Buddhist book is worth purchasing. I’ve already made so many notes and underlines in it, and I just bought it in September.

      Part of the reason I adore you is that you are planning for 2024 in 2023. 😂❤️

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  12. Well, first, our son gave us a year of HBOMax for Xmas and we just finished season one of White Lotus. Sooooo good!

    Old pictures and clutter have been the name of my game recently. I’ve been attempting to clean out my mom’s basement, meaning we sneak out about 8 large boxes at a time into the back of the SUV (backstory: my mom is a hoarder and is developing dementia). I am finding ancestor’s pictures from the late 1800’s, all of which I’ve never seen before. But most of the findings are junk; old calendars, travel brochures, coffee mugs. I’m proud to say I can break down 8 boxes in 5 days, redistributing it into the trash, charity, or keep piles. These photos though will be taking up a lot of time and research.

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  14. It took me a whole day to get through all the goodness in this post. 🙂 Good God but that trailer looks cheesy. I often have the same question when I see old movies: How could this have been scary? A few years back Cane and I saw The Exorcist for the first time. I remember, as a kid, stories of adults running out of the theater and throwing up, or crying or screaming. We laughed at how ridiculous it was. But now that I’m writing this, I’m thinking there was something really nice about how relatively easy it was to be shocked then. We’re so inured to horror and violence now, and that’s sad.

    Another standout in this post for me is the link to self-care practices. I almost didn’t click on it–thinking, how could it be anything different from the many, many things I’ve seen before–but I’m really glad I did. It has me feeling motivated to give my house a reset, which it needs after the holidays.

    Also, I just love those pictures of you. I want to give that girl a big, hard hug.

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    1. Watch Poltergeist again. It’s just as terrifying. Suburban sprawl is also terrifying.

      I’m so glad! I’m also grateful that you introduced me to Jill’s blog (Open Space Practice) a few years ago. Her blog is where I go for a lot of self-care suggestions. I consider myself quite lucky to have both your and her blogs on my feed.

      I want to hug her too, Rita. ❤️

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      1. Poltergeist is one that holds up better than many, I agree. We watched it sometime in the last year, and it was still a little scary. Maybe it was seeing how parenting used to be that got me the most, though. 🙂

        I am always delighted when I see online friendships forming between people whose connection travels through me. My experience in connecting with others through blogs is why I will never curse social media.

        Let’s each give our old inner kids a hug today, K? (I’m off to do some Yoga with Adrienne, which is pretty much the same thing.)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Right?? It’s almost unsettling to see the parenting in old movies.

        I feel the same way, Rita. ❤️

        I love the fact that you practice yoga with Adrienne. A lot of my friends do. What a wonderful connection.

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  15. I almost wrote a blog post about those mysterious WP prompts a few weeks ago, but then I figured out I could just go into Settings and unclick the option. Now each page is gloriously blank again.

    Did your birdfeeder come with a built-in camera, or is that something you rigged yourself?

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  16. That Flannery O’Connor quote!!! When I was a teen that line found me and I had a big Teen Life Epiphany. I’ve held that quote near ever since.

    True story – I had a marvelous dream where everything in the dream was a source of joy. Like… see a tree in autumn color & feel joy kinda stuff. And one of the joyful things? I read your blog and left a comment! 😊 I love that my subconscious misses you and decided to prompt me to put down my stressors for a bit & wander thru this lovely blog world you’ve carefully created. ❤️

    So me n my subconscious want to wish you a Belated Happy New Year Kari! I hope your 2023 is filled with joy!

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    1. MADDIE. I was just thinking about you, no lie!! Oh my goodness, seeing your name in my comments today feels like a cosmic gift. I want to cry happy tears. (P.S.- I did)

      I love that you had an epiphany about that quote when you were a teenager! ❤️

      Oh my goodness, this makes my entire year. My subconscious was longing for your words today, and now they’re right in front of me. My blog and this space would be meaningless without the beautiful people that read it every week. I’ve missed you so much, and I am so glad to see you here today!

      Happy New Year to you too, Maddie! I’m giving you a big hug and hoping you feel it. 😘❤️

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      1. Awww. Thanks friend. I needed that. Hugs go a long ways 😊

        You’ve been in my thoughts lately too. Wise words you wrote months ago bubble to the surface and I find myself, say, reading a soul-nourishing book from my childhood & thinking: Kari was so so right!

        Also? I have been thinking a lot about your practice of Soul Homework.

        I have always admired you for this and now I feel like maybe I have to do it too. But but but… *whines* I don’t wanna! I’m old! I shouldn’t have to do Homework! 😁

        Ugh.

        To quote (I think?) Chuckie from The Rugrats: “Life is so hard Tommy. Sometimes I think it’s the hardest thing there is!”

        At least we are all in it together, huh? ❤️

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      2. It’s funny that you quote Rugrats. Ella’s birthday was on Wednesday, and she requested that we watch Rugrats in Paris with her. We laughed at how dark the movie was, but also at how nice it was to watch it again. Who knew Rugrats could bring us both comfort this week? Whether we like it or not, we are all connected. It gives me peace to know that there is a world with Maddie in it.❤️

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