Blogging, Humor, iPhone Notes, Life, Nonsense, Soul Homework, Things I Want to Remember, Universe, Writing

Things I Want To Remember | Part Twelve

Kari

I don’t want to forget these random thoughts that have been floating around in my head, so I’ve written them down in the notes section of my iPhone. I’m sharing them with you because I suspect they may be something that you can relate to as well.

If you’re here for the first time, welcome! You’ll be able to find the other parts of this series here.

1- The property where I now get my bloodwork and annual checkups in my early fifties used to be the club where my friends and I used to dance on the bar and do jello shots every weekend when I was in my early twenties.

Source

2- Does anyone remember the calico fabric craze of the 1970s?

What Is Calico? Take a Look at the History of the Fabric

3- As someone who frequently says “don’t take anything personally,” I take it very personally when I smile at someone in public and they don’t return my smile.

4- Danny Elfman was a member of the band Oingo Boingo. You won’t get that if you don’t know who he is. This was new to me, and it blew my mind.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

5- I believe I’ve mentioned this before, but I think restaurants are a strange concept. Public places where people can nourish the skin suits. And the reason I think it’s strange is that when I was younger, I used to get anxious going to places like this, especially with people I didn’t know very well. (I trust little Kari’s intuition)

6- I recently realized that I really like nonfiction books not only because I enjoy learning new things, but also because the chapters are usually organized in ways that help my brain stay focused. They are shorter and include charts, lists, and quotes, among other things. Fiction books, on the other hand, are rarely like that for me, which is why I don’t enjoy reading them as much.

7- I came across a funny Amazon review titled “I Found God in a Grocery Store Bathroom Stall.” It made me wonder if there is a website dedicated to the funniest Amazon reviews.

41 Of The Most Hilarious Amazon Reviews Ever | Bored Panda

My personal favorite is for Haribo gummy bears.

8- Who convinced us that we had to get rid of weeds? I looked up the definition of a weed the other day:

A plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth especially: one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.

I’m not sure about you, but that definition makes me never want to kill another weed.

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73 thoughts on “Things I Want To Remember | Part Twelve”

  1. There were some good ones here. Like going for bloodwork where you used to go for Jell-O shots. I don’t worry about people smiling back, often now people have headphones on, so they are either talking to someone or in their “own world.”

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, don’t take it personally. I worked in advertising sales for a long time. At first, like you, I would take how people acted personally. As I kept working in sales, talking to “people,” whether a CEO, small business owner, Bank Executive, etc. I realized, people aren’t trying to be mean, they have stressful busy lives. In fact, one guy who would always look mean and acted “mean,” but was really nice once we started talking, had anger issues. One day, I finally thought, WHAT’S his issue! ENOUGH, I didn’t make any efforts. Shortly after that, he ended up having a heart attack. Being owner of his own company was just too stressful. I would also learn of others having issues in life. So, I developed a tough skin. Realized “how” they acted was not turned toward me, it was their “inner” selves showing their expressions of whether they were happy or sad on that day. Go to a cocktail party, many people look unapproachable, but are really WAITNG for someone to talk to them. They are shy. I learned that in sales too. <3

        Liked by 1 person

  2. I remember the first time someone (a stranger) smiled at me in public. I totally freaked Kari! Had no idea how to respond. I dunno if this was because I hadn’t encountered many strangers at that point (youngster) or because my generation was conditioned to be deeply suspicious.

    I quickly learned to chill & just smile back…. but I remember that weird initial mo.

    It is so hard to learn how to human.

    Ooooo! I went to Plant School and (thankfully) was consistently taught “a weed is just a plant out of place”. I mean, there *are* extremely bad invasive exotics that cannot be allowed… but in general I think that “plant out of place” thing is a good metric. So if it is not out of place? It is a glorious addition to life.

    Fun fact – a lot of our natives that we used to see as “weeds” were treasured ornamentals in other countries long before we came around to valuing them…. Joe Pye Weed, Solidago, etc. Perspective is everything.

    Love that you used to go out where you now go for healthcare. Both seem good for you!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. What a wonderful observation: “it is so hard to learn how to be human”! And so many don’t even know it’s needed…

      The “don’t take it personally” seems like the first entry in a post titled “when you know you need to brace yourself for something awful” 🤣

      Like

    2. So, the more I thought about it on this list, the more I realized it could be a neurodivergent thing on the part of the other person. So I need to be compassionate while not taking it personally. DAMMIT, HOW COME I CAN’T LEARN THAT LESSON? Also, we all have bad days, and I’ve had days where I’m in pain or in a really bad mood, and smiling just isn’t in the cards. So, I understand.

      It is SO hard to learn how to human.

      I love that plant theory!! A plant out of place. I love this so much.

      Perspective IS everything. And I love the last part of your comment. “Both seem good for you!”

      Everything in moderation. You have no idea how much these words mean to me today. Thank you. 😘

      Like

  4. I do remember the calico trend. It went right along with the prairie skirts. God, what were we thinking!
    And sorry, but I’ll keep plucking all the weeds that try to choke out my more desirable, expensive, woodchuck proof plants.
    😉

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I had to Google both Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo.. sadly, it didn’t help! LOL. I feel so odd admitting I have never in my life had a jell-o shot.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Post-pandemic, I have only been to one restaurant. I sort of think the whole concept is kind of gross now because I think about all the people who have contact with the food before it gets to me and there are so many places where things could go intentionally and unintentionally wrong and it sends a shiver down my spine. Presumably I’ll get over this soon enough? And will once again resume eating out every once in a while?

    I follow an instagram account called goodreads_reviews that posts one-star reviews of books and is generally hilarious. I don’t have an equivalent one for Amazon, but maybe I’ll look for one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. YES. I remember going to a grocery store near us that had a deli where they could prepare food for you. A man was making a burger for me, and while it was cooking, he was scrolling on his phone and touched my burger and bun with his bare hand (no glove). 😶

      OOH. I will look for that Instagram account…

      Like

  8. Yes! I made a calico wrap around skirt in junior high home economics. Boy, was that thing ugly! I also made a red jumper. Remember jumpers?

    I did NOT know that Danny Elfman was in Oingo Boingo. That is hilarious and is similar to Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, who went on to do movie soundtracks and lots of children’s television ditties, like RugRats.

    Years ago, I did a blog post on the Amazon review of Haribo gummy bears. It made me cry, I was laughing so hard the first time I read it.

    Ok, I think I’m caught up on all your blog posts. Missed you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. JUMPERS! I loved jumpers!!

      Mark Mothersbaugh also did the show Yo Gabba Gabba, which was Ella’s favorite children’s show. He is a treasure.

      YOU DID?? I love that we both loved that review!!

      I’ve missed you so much! I’m so glad you’re back! 😘

      Like

  10. Yes, Kari! I most certainly do remember the calico fabric craze in the 70s! I also remember the polyester craze in the 70s as well. I used to wear Nik Nik polyester shirts at the nightclubs and thought I was SO cool! Looking back, however, polyester should be outlawed because it’s so damn hot.

    ” I take it very personally when I smile at someone in public and they don’t return my smile.”

    I can’t tell you how many times I smile at people on the streets here and they don’t smile back, but I no longer take it personally. Contrary to what many people hear about Philly, it is NOT the City of Brotherly Love. It should be called the City Of Miserable Faces and Unhappy People. LOL!

    LOVE the photographs of the dandelions!

    And I also love the video clip you shared. The male vocal sounds like David Bowie!

    As always, fun and interesting post, my friend. Have a flawless week! X

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I really hope you kept those shirts! By the way, today I would wear a calico skirt. They are amazing. 

      “City of Miserable Faces” OMG. Why are you not being hired by the Tourism Board? 🤣

      He DOES sound like David Bowie!! 

      Have a wonderful week too, my friend! 😘❤️

      Like

  11. I had no idea that Danny Elfman was a part of Oingo Boingo! That’s crazy funny.
    Kari, if you are ordering meat suits at restaurants, you’re doing it all wrong! 🫣😳
    I love a creative and funny review!

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Lololol at that amazon review site. That is gold.
    I personally enjoy eating at restaurants and to me, it’s a glorious concept. I can go and have a delicious meal that I did not prepare and it’s specific to MY TASTE! And people can go with me and eat totally other things! We are all joyfully eating delicious food that we specify! I’ve always been very excited by restaurants and we eat out so rarely that it is a huge treat for me.
    I agree mostly that a weed is a plant out of place BUT we have creeping bellflower problems here and they do take over everything if unchecked. But in general I agree. The Calgary growing climate is very difficult and so some plants I enjoy in my garden might be considered weeds elsewhere – but they grow nicely here and the weird climate keeps them in check.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I couldn’t stop laughing. 

      So the restaurant incident occurred during the lockdown. I should have linked to the post. Mike, Ella, and I were eating in the car due to COVID lockdown, and we got into a discussion about why we eat inside with strangers in the first place. That is how my mind operates, which, as you are aware, is quite unusual. BUT, as a social person (like yourself), I can see why you enjoy restaurants. I enjoy having my food prepared by someone else, but I dislike eating it with strangers.

      I have some stinging weeds that I dislike. So, the next time I try to yank that son of a bitch out of the ground, I’ll remember that definition.

      Like

  13. The jello shot bar turning into the place where you get your bloodwork and annual checkups . . . so which is it: the natural progression of life or a sign that the apocalypse is coming? Ha, ha, I tease my wife about the same thing. The club where her friends went to see the hot new bands when they were in their early 20s is now a kid’s martial arts gym. Ha, ha.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Maybe a little of both? I drive by this place every day and it always makes me laugh. I like to think my 24-year-old self is laughing as well.

      I love that yours is a martial arts gym. That’s actually pretty cool!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I knew Mr. Elfman from both the concert film Urg! A music war and with Oingo Boingo doing the end credit track Goodbye Goodbye for Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Weird Science Theme 😁

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Yah when I was a kid we loved Elfman soundtracks in my lil group. I think bc Beetlejuice? No one knew about the Oingo Boingo link – or if they did, they weren’t telling! ;-) Even my Knows Everything About Music Friend did not share this factoid. Ahh life before the internet… Where did we learn anything? Liner notes?

        Liked by 2 people

      4. I rented Urgh back in the day at Blockbuster but having seen Fast Times in yhe theater in ’82 and loving that track I made itva mission to discover OB

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Libraries!!! Yes!!! I have so much love for libraries. Maybe that’s why? Libraries=the old internet?

        Also magazines and Things That Arrived in The Mail (Zines? Random Newsletters? Indie Label Catalogs?) Things like that= the old internet. I used to subscribe to a southern literary magazine that sent out Compilation CDs of the coolest, most oddball music collections. A literary magazine as music source. Like really?

        Life used to involve more treasure hunting before the internet, you know? Every trip to the used records bin was an exciting expedition!

        Maybe that’s what I like about blogs?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Libraries ARE the old internet.

        That literary magazine sounds incredible! You already know how much I enjoy a good compilation CD. I love to make playlists. Side note- Have you seen the movie Elizabethtown, starring Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom? In that movie, she creates playlists. My dream job would be to curate music playlists for people based on what they are going through in their lives. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic job?

        I love vintage record stores. Do you have a record player? Years ago, I gave one to my mom for her birthday. My dad has an extensive 45 collection. He loves music. I really need to talk to him about the music podcast idea. He knows SO MUCH about music from the 1950s to the 1970s…and beyond.

        Maddie, you should start a blog. These fantastic nuggets in the comments. Many of my blog posts have been inspired by you. YOU are a treasure.

        Like

  15. Oingo Boingo is an ongoing joke with Jesse, my sister, and myself. Your mention of them gave me a smile.

    As someone who is having a horrible weed year in my vegetable garden, I can tell you that I am 100% okay killing weeds!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Deal!! I don’t mind them so much in my flower beds or grass, but I can’t let them steal nutrients from my veggies!! :)

        Liked by 1 person

  17. I knew Danny Elfman was in Oingo Boingo only because I once dated someone who was a huge Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman fan. You’d never guess it, huh?

    I really regret clicking on the “I found god” review, lol.

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Here’s why I love restaurants and coffee shops: I get to be near people without having to talk to them. I learned this through the pandemic. I’m not a total misanthrope. I missed being near people.

    Also: never eating those gum I bears now! 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. As I respond to this, I am sitting in a coffee shop. I started writing in a coffee shop last week while Ella attends summer school, and it’s become one of my favorite parts of the week. Partly because COFFEE, but mostly because I get to hear people talking all around me, which makes me happy. (Humans humaning)

      I can’t look at a gummy bear without remembering the bus scene at the end of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

      Like

      1. I cannot remember that, so you will have to remind me :-)

        I LOVE coffee shops. I am sitting in a library right now (to get internet), and it is not the same. This particular one is too quiet.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It’s when the blonde girl with the big glasses hands the principal a gummy bear and says she found them in her pocket, so they’re nice and soft.

        A coffee shop that doesn’t have any music?? The Starbucks I was in the other day was playing music from the 70s and 80s. I was loving every minute of it. ❤️

        Like

  19. I very much remember the calico craze…and me and my girlfriends in our calico outfits, thinking we were the coolest things going, in senior public school 🤣. I also knew about Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman…love the song Dead Man’s Party.

    Deb

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Aww I love that you think I’m interesting enough for a blog. Lol.

    My blog… hmm. I’d have to call it:
    This Is Not My Correct Timeline
    AKA
    Stop the World.
    I wanna go back.

    It would be the most boring, sad blog ever! 😁 I’m a natural listener n think other people are way more interesting than me. That + real life circumstances beyond my control… Omg the content would be almost 100% cute cat photos with occasional plant talk & awkward pauses.

    Speaking of plants… I read that Jack Hanna (yes! That guy your grandparents watched on Carson & let you stay up to see bc cute baby animals + Carson = giddy beyond all reason grandkids) has Alzheimer’s (I know 😢) & on his daily walks he stops to talk to the trees. I can totally relate. Trees just see and listen and give love.

    Wait… did I just write my first blog post? 😉

    I wanna read your post about your Dad n Music. I *love* old music. Remember those mail order music clubs? Penny CDs? And everyone complained about the ancient content? I was in heaven! Diane Ross & The Supreme’s Anthology! Aretha Franklin Greatest Hits! Bing *effing* Crosby! Score!

    Your dream job making Compilation Playlists for Life Events sounds *fantastic*. And realizing now that I’ve done this…. Playlists totally get us thru serious sh*t.

    Playlists and trees.
    And cool blog friends. YOU are the treasure! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. MADDIE! YOU AND I ARE SO IN SYNC. On Sunday, I was talking to Kristen about being in the right timeline (I believe in timelines, etc.), which prompted her to recommend that I watch the movie Interstellar. (Side note- Anna has been telling us for months to watch it) FOCUS, KARI. All of this is to say that you should start blogging right away because that is the perfect name.

      Because you are a natural listener, I think your blog would be a wonderful and safe space. We need more Maddies in the world.

      I just read about Jack Hanna. I grew up with him because I’m from Ohio and he worked for the Columbus Zoo, so he was always on the local news. Does he currently stop and talk to the trees? Because if that’s true, I love that so much.

      I’d like to write more about my parents. I get lost in my posting routine as well as the weekly routine of my life. I should just write when I feel like it and publish when I feel like it. Even if it’s the weekend. I’m not sure why I don’t do that.

      Do you remember Columbia House? I’d order SO MANY CDs…

      Aww, thank you friend. I am so grateful for you. 😘

      Like

      1. Kari you are the absolute coolest. You can roll with my timeline title and you have not one but *two* people in you life to discuss neat stuff like this! Omg! (Note to self: I need more people in my life like this!) Kari you rock.

        Also I laughed so hard at “You and I are so in sync” because the number of times you post stuff that I was *just* thinking about! We are holding the same thread of the Collective Unconscious, I swan.

        Haven’t heard of Interstellar but gonna find & watch!

        Yep, Jack Hana goes on a regular walk at home with his wife & he stops frequently to sorta commune with the trees. They don’t know why it is important to him but it is & he gets a lot of peace from it. And they prioritize it, even tho it takes quite a bit of time & he has to be supervised. So wondeful for him. And makes me sorta depressed for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia who cannot get easy, safe access to nature. Yet another reason to thank things like bird feeder cams and YouTubes of “forest sounds” and even houseplants that bring nature closer.

        Sorry for the late reply. Life is also kickin my you know what! Hope you are feeling better my friend.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I love everything about this. Your comments make me so happy, and they always come on days when I am beating myself up on the inside. So, thank you and thank you Universe for the reminder.

        So, last summer, when I was high at least three times a week…long story about pain and grief…I had this amazing realization (while high) about how we all become trees when we die. I was watching a TikTok about an old tree falling into a river because it was dying, and I felt all of my ancestors in that tree. Marijuana hallucination? Totally. However, I believe that hallucination is what humans say to justify what the universe/soul/magic is doing. We misplaced that magic somewhere along the way. I have a theory about Alzheimer patients and them seeing behind the veil while alive. I felt like the Jack Hanna tree story all came together in the comment section.

        You never have to apologize for a late response. Any response means a lot to me. I’m sorry life is beating you up. You can always come back here to get fluffed up again. I’m sending you lots of love. 😘💕❤️

        Like

  21. I enjoyed reading the Amazon reviews! I don’t leave a review very often, but when I do, I need to put much more thought into it!
    I also have a hard time with restaurants. On the one hand, if I am forced to eat with people, I’d much rather eat out than cook. I find cooking for others very stressful. On the other hand, I’ve had so many bad experiences eating out – getting food poisoning, finding unexpected things in my food, people at other tables being obnoxious, etc. I really dread it!
    I much prefer activities that don’t revolve around food!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t either! This made me wonder if there are any funny Goodreads reviews…

      I don’t like cooking for others either! I feel the same way you do about eating out! I’d rather eat at home with those I’m most comfortable with.

      “I much prefer activities that don’t revolve around food!” Agree. Unless we prepare the food ourselves.🤣

      Like

  22. I remember the calico fabric craze and haven’t thought about it in decades. I had a shorts and blouse set made from it. It wasn’t flattering but I was stylish!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Thank you for the love and the lovely reply. For some reason I can’t reply within our thread up there but I wanted to come back and say how much your tree story meant to me. And when you wrote: “we misplaced the magic somewhere along the way” & your theory about Alzheimer’s patients seeing beyond the veil… it hit home. Also I love trees and def feel my ancestors in them… so you basically had me the whole dang paragraph Kari!

    Also… I know a gigantic old oak and my whole life he has been slowly tilting into creek. This has been happening for decades now. He has survived wet snows and hurricanes. His canopy top towers above the other trees in the grove. Patchy & ragged – many dead branches – but in the spring the unfurling leaves are a pretty yellow-pink haze against the sky. And he is still there so far. And when I visit him I feel close to remembering something important.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love how we’ve connected in the comments section. I have these thoughts from time to time and wonder if I’m alone. Then I think of you, and it makes me so happy that you’re here with me. 😘❤️

      I wish you could send me a picture of that tree! That reminded me of my TikTok tree. (I am on a mission to find it and share with you) I believe we all have a favorite tree. 🖤

      I FOUND IT:

      @justjake85

      I was at work today and heard some loud pops and cracks coming from a tree by the river, talk about right place, right time!!! #fyp #timber

      ♬ original sound – Jacob Cordell

      Let me know if you can see it.

      Like

      1. Kari that TikTok video is so cool! No wind, no storm and the tree just gently eases into the creek. Can you imagine being there in that moment? So special. Reminds me of the magic moments that used to be such a big part of my life and somehow (maybe in growing up? Maybe in moving to a diff place – like is place tied to the openess for those moments?) those moments dwindled. But they’re still out there clearly. I miss that. Thank you for hunting down that link & sharing it with me!

        I wish I could send you a pic of my tree. I don’t have one tho! I rarely remember to take photos of things like that! I’m a dinosaur that way lol 😁

        Liked by 1 person

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