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

Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots | Episode 50

Writer McWriterson

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

I wasn’t bored once while reading that quote.

Reading

When is a book considered “read?” I recommended Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet in last month’s tater tot post, and while I love his books and am all for saving the planet, I was 120 pages in when I was ready to say UNCLE. With each chapter, I felt as if I’d already read this book. I feel the same way about Pema Chodron’s books. They both have a soothing and understandable “voice.” However, the message is pretty much the same, and I became bored and no longer wanted to read it.

I felt I owed you this honesty because I told you that if you only read one book last month, it should be the one up there.

So, can I call that book “read” if I was only 40% through it? I mean, I’ve technically already “read” it, so…

Found in the gift section of Barnes and Noble. Maybe they should follow this advice?

Barnes and Noble

Speaking of books, Mike and I went to Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago, and I was disappointed with the selection. There were a lot of brightly colored book covers, sensational titles, and the employee picks felt calculated. “This is the Las Vegas of bookstores,” I said out loud to no one in particular. “Kathleen Kelly would NEVER,” I said even louder.

I’m not sure why it bothered me so much, but it did. It had a capitalistic feel to it.

As I walked away with my head held high, Starbucks cup in hand….🤣

It yet again reminded me of the stark difference between independent bookstores and big box bookstores. I doubt I’ll ever go to another massive bookstore again.

Except they do have a cute gift section…DAMMIT FOX BOOKS!!

Source

If you read one thing this month…

How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope by James Crews

This book wasn’t on my TBR list, but it was featured in a display at my local library in honor of National Poetry Month, which is celebrated in April. I had no idea my birthday month coincided with poetry month.

I was never a big fan of poetry for most of my life. But, over the last year or so, poems have been finding their way to me, and I’m slowly falling in love with them.

What I like best about this poetry book are the reflections and prompts that they provide every couple of pages.

So I picked up that poetry book while at my library to pick up my holds, and after a few seconds of thumbing through it, I decided it should come home with me. And let me tell you, that little poetry book has already made me cry three times already.

A good cry. 💕

If you watch one thing this month…

You’ve Got Mail If you’ve never seen it, or if you have, watch it again.

And this is a great list:

Twelve New Films That Highlight the Best in Humanity

If you listen to one song this month…

“Wait for Now “(featuring Tawiah) by The Cinematic Orchestra (Mary Lattimore Rework)

If you click on any links this month…

My Taste Is Basic. So What? (Make it this one. I like it. I like it a lot.)

These are also good.

What Have You Learned From Your Grandparents/Elders?

The Courtyard

At Japan’s suicide cliffs, he’s walked more than 600 people back from the edge

Depth | Personalized journal prompts powered by AI

An Articles Club

How can you be there for someone when you don’t know what to say?

Kindergarten children dropped seeds in the crack of the sidewalk to see what would happen

The bookends approach to reading

If you read any quotes this month…

“Home is where people notice when you’re not there.” -Alexander Haymen

“If while truly listening to you, I’m drawn to the sunlight behind you and hear birdsong above you, then this is more than being distracted. If loving you leads me to the sunlight and birdsong, perhaps I’m meant to bring these resources to you in your pain, when you can’t access them. This is one of the gifts of being sensitive and loving each other. In an immediate way, I’m called to give my full attention to you in your distress. And in a simultaneous, eternal way, I’m called to give my attention to everything around you that is not in distress. So I can be a conduit, bringing the restorative energies of life through me to you in your pain. To be sensitive is to be a thourough conduit.” – Mark Nepo

“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. ” – Mary Oliver

It is difficult

to get the news from poems

yet men die miserably every day

for lack

of what is found there.

-William Carlos Williams

Here’s to May…

47 thoughts on “Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots | Episode 50”

  3. I wish we had some small bookstores around but we really don’t anymore so my only choice is Barnes and Noble. That said I mostly take photos of books I’m interested in and request them through my library. (Is that awful of me?)

    I can not stand You’ve Got Mail; I love Meg Ryan’s bookshop it is so cute and I could spend a long time browsing in there… but ugh! I find that movie intolerably boring.

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    1. I take photos too! I thought I was the only one who did this!! 🤣🤣

      It’s funny to me how similar so many of us are in our daily lives and how different we are when it comes to books, music, and movies. That is so funny that it bores you!

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  4. The question of how to categorize books as DNFed versus read is really a challenge for me. Last year we had a book club book that had some very challenging topics (child abuse) and I just skimmed the book to get the major plot points. Does that count as read? And your example of reading quite a bit of a repetitive book, that should count as read, right? I think the bigger issue is why do I spend so much time thinking about this question!

    My taste is music is very basic and very strong, so I really resonated with the author of that piece. I think it’s great when people want to talk about Big Issues in entertainment (says someone who writes incredibly snotty book reviews sometimes), but I also think it’s great when you like something just because it’s fun. Look, I’m going to sing along to Cher and Guns ‘n’ Roses and that’s just how I’m going to be. Don’t take away my easy entertainments!

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    1. WHY ARE WE BOTH THINKING ABOUT THIS?? 🤣

      It struck a chord with me as well. I remember Nicole’s post about Goodreads reviews and how some people rate books harsher than others. I understand that some people have “higher” standards for books, music, food, etc., and that’s fine. However, I believe that they can sometimes make others feel bad about their choices.

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  5. All the small local bookstores are gone around here. They were so lovely, but I can’t make them reappear. I like the sound of the James Crews book and will look for it. Like you I’m not much into poetry but sometimes it resonates. I remember reading a book about 10 [maybe?] poems to change your life. I know I read it, I wonder how my life changed because of it… 🤔

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      1. You know I don’t know if I’d recommend it. I can’t tell you what the poems were, but at the time in the head space I was in, I thought it was valuable. Now… maybe yes, maybe no.

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  6. Idk I still read magazines, I like that I can still find certain ones at a B&N. I will say whenever we travel we seek out an indie bookstore. I try to find something quirky where as my wife likes to read local authors who write about the area where our B&B is.

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  8. Along the same lines as your post, if you ever find yourself in Portland, Oregon, the one place you must stop is Powell’s Books. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s an entire city block’s worth of independent bookstore goodness. I guarantee you the staff picks there are authentic.

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      1. Ahh, so she did! As a Portlander, of course she would know. Powell’s was my favorite rainy-day hangout. I’d spend hours there getting lost amongst the many aisles scattered across multiple color-coded rooms.

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  9. This was a very bookish tater tots. I like it. 🙂

    I am lucky to live in a city with a strong indie book store game (though I find Powell’s a little overwhelming, TBH, and they’ve had some labor issues that have made it not-my-favorite) AND a couple Barnes & Noble stores. There is one in the ghost-town mall I go skating in. I use it mostly for puzzles and Starbucks, but I have bought a book or two in there. (Don’t tell any Portlanders. It might be, like, a sin or something to do that here.)

    I would watch “You’ve Got Mail” just for the outfits and interiors. And the nostalgia. I miss the world before social media.

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    1. Now you’ve given me the “You’ve Got Mail” itch 😀 I’ll have to go and re-watch it! I wonder what it will feel like today as opposed to when it came out…

      As for an additional quote to join your collection, how about Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Everything has been figured out, except how to live”? 🙂

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    2. I like it as well! I had no intention of doing it that way. 🤣

      Portland is on my list of places to visit because of you and bookstores. Donuts, too? I think there is a decent donut shop there. All I know is that if I ever get there, I want you to plan the itinerary. I hope you don’t move before I visit..

      I love Kathleen’s bookstore. And her apartment. I mean, she couldn’t possibly have afforded it on her bookstore salary…

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      1. Movie characters living in places they could NEVER afford is a peeve of mine, but then I get over it so I can just enjoy the eye candy! I love the 90s style of her apartment. I also love her wardrobe. I’m sure the twinset will make a comeback.

        I would LOVE to take you all over Portland! And yesyesyes to donuts! There’s Annie’s for old-school goodness in the city limits, and Blue Star for hipster-fancy (in the very best way) goodness, and then I’ll have to take you to Joe’s in Sandy, OR (because we might as well go to Mt. Hood if you’re coming all this way) for the best all-around donuts ever + small town vibes.

        We can do bookstores, too! We’ll definitely go to Powell’s (because it really is something and you just have to) and also Mother Foucault’s (https://www.motherfoucaultsbookshop.com/) because it is just the coolest space.

        Basically food + books = Happiness. 🙂

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      2. The twinset! I had several when I worked at Kohls in 1998 because I got a (meager) discount. But I had disposable income because I didn’t have children yet.

        I ALREADY LOVE THIS ITINERARY. I also LOVE the idea of you and me exploring Portland together.

        Food + books = ultimate happiness. ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Kari, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that first quote by Thich Nhat Hanh!!! That is something I continually have to remind myself – to live in the present moment because that’s where everything happens.

    “It yet again reminded me of the stark difference between independent bookstores and big box bookstores. I doubt I’ll ever go to another massive bookstore again.”

    Yes! Reminds me of the movie, “You’ve Got Mail”, which highlighted that topic!

    And OMG, as I finished typing what I said (above), I scrolled down to read the rest of your post and saw that YOU MENTIONED THAT MOVIE TOO! Which, btw, I own that DVD! And isn’t it sad how the bookstore ” Shakespeare and Company” (which was featured in one of the scenes in that movie) is no longer open? The one here in Philly closed too. 😦

    Beautiful video you shared. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

    I also love that final photo. How CUTE!

    Happy Monday, my friend! X

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    1. Ron, I agree! I should post it somewhere I can see it on a regular basis to remind myself of this.

      I love that movie. Especially the scene where she is about to close her store for the last time and sees herself dancing with her mother.

      I had no idea it closed! How sad! Oh, how I hate that.

      Happy Tuesday, my friend! I had a migraine yesterday, so I was down and out. Here’s to a better rest of the week! 😘💕

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  11. I totally agree with you about the Thich Nhat Hanh and Pema Chodron books.

    B&N – The Las Vegas of Bookstores – perfect! The last time I was in a B&N was when I was at the Trader Joe’s in Algonquin. I saw there was a new B&N next door so I decided to check it out. It was awful. I couldn’t find their magazine section and finally discovered it in the very back of the store. There was maybe 1/4 of the magazines that they used to have. So disappointing. I used their bathroom and then hightailed it out of there.

    I have How to Love the World on my Amazon wishlist. My library doesn’t have it (I know I can request it), so I might buy it.

    Thanks for the links and quotes!

    xoxo

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    1. Okay, I thought it was only me.

      I believe each Barnes and Noble is unique, so perhaps it varies by location? Who knows, but Melody Farm’s was not having a good day. Their Starbucks, on the other hand, WAS. 🤣

      It’s a lovely poetry collection.

      You’re welcome, my friend! 😘

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  12. I don’t go to bookstores – but I do go to my library. Big secret – it’s free. 😉 I’m lauging at you admitting that the book you highly recommended bored you eventually. It happens. I’m not really into poetry. I’ll have to check out some of the links later, like the best in humanity link. Sounds promising. I did enjoy the photo of Bisquit’s ears. Aww. That’s cute.

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  13. I saw that “basic” link at Cup of Jo and I LOVED IT. We can like what we like!
    That said, I don’t agree with the friends quote. I don’t want to limit myself to few friends or books! That said, it’s been a while since I was in an actual bookstore as I’m always at the library.
    That book of poetry looks right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation!

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    1. ME TOO.

      I agree with you on the quote about friends, but I saw it at Barnes and Noble and it felt universal to the experience I was having. 🤣

      I also rarely visit bookstores because I love my library. I have a book on hold that I know will take forever to arrive because it is currently on the New York Times Bestsellers list. But when I saw it in the bookstore for 28.99, I thought to myself, I CAN WAIT.

      You’re very welcome! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do.

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  14. I love bookstores. Period.
    Large. Small. Corporate behemoths and independents. I never walk away empty handed. Though sadly most of our local brick and mortar book stores have closed.
    😰

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    1. Normally, I would agree with you. I believe Barnes and Noble managers have creative control over what they put in their stores, so it could have been an off month. As a former retail employee, I’ll cut them some slack because BOOKSSSS. 😊

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  15. Oh my gosh, I love the Stafford poem!

    It has been many years since I’ve seen You’ve Got Mail. Perhaps I should give it another go.

    I definitely have basic taste.

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  16. The marigolds in the sidewalk is beautiful. The ‘clumping’ of them makes all the difference. I only visit B&N at Christmas, but I do understand what you mean about its corporateness. However, the year that Middle Child had a story published in Chicken Soup For the Soul, we took her photo next to the display of the book at a B&N, which was pretty cool!

    My Taste is Basic was a fun read. The whole ‘basic’ thing reminds me of the book that was popular a while ago called, ‘Stuff White People Like’ which was a satirical look on things people say they like/dislike to feel better about themselves. I found it to be hilarious and true and I talked about it in a blog post back then. I remember one particularly liberal person was offended by it, telling me that ALL people like that stuff, which I didn’t think was necessarily correct. LOL!

    I love a courtyard. My kids’ elementary school had one and the hallway windows looked out onto it. I thought they should have put it to use more than they did (my kids said they only very infrequently went out there, like once or twice the entire time they were there).

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    1. I love going to Barnes & Noble during the holidays! I must say that they do an excellent job curating their gift section. I think I just went to the wrong store at the wrong time. 🤣

      I’d like to read that book! I have a tendency to take things personally even when they have nothing to do with me. I’m actually trying to work on that this year, so this felt like a nudge in that direction. I’ll have to look up that book…

      I love that their school has a courtyard! Our old high school had one, and it was a lovely place to congregate during lunchtime when the weather was nice. They demolished our high school this year, so finding that courtyard post made me happy.

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  17. I’m a basic bitch; so what? 😜
    You’ve got mail is such a great movie!
    I went deep into the Suicide Cliffs in Japan. What an amazing human that retired police officer is.

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  18. Sorry to hear about the book but, yeah, totally get what you mean by you’ve read it before, if not within the pages of *that* particular book.

    Thanks for the links, I lost a bit of time having a browse and signed up for a couple of diversions 🙂 That’s how this all works, right? 🙂

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    1. I suppose the takeaway is that if you’ve read one of their books, you’ve read all of them! I’d never be hired for their marketing department. 🤣

      That is precisely how it works! I’m glad I could provide you with a few distractions!

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