Culture Appropriation

These days, everyone seems to be offended quite easily, and one of the easiest ways to offend is to eat, drink, cook, wear, buy, read ... basically enjoy ... anything from another culture.

Hairstyles, jewelry, type of clothing or the pattern of the fabric, theme parties, and even the use of certain emoji's can spell trouble, especially for celebrities who live in the spotlight.

The offensive Paella

The most recent outrageous accusation of cultural appropriation I can think of is a white, male celebrity who made Paella and posted a photo of it on social media. The problem? He used a square pan rather than a round one.

I know, right?! O.M.G.!!!

The social media firestorm unleashed against that poor man (who was just trying to make a tasty dinner!!) was relentless ... and ridiculous ... and from where I'm sitting ... comical.

I really don't get it. When I was growing up, we lived by the phrase "Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery", which ... by the way ... is precisely why things go in and out of style. After something has been around a while, its appeal grows stale, and another style emerges ... until it goes stale, and so on and so forth.

Personally, I'm more concerned with the raunchy selfies and risky life choices of some of the celebrities young people idolize. There are numerous serious issues to tackle before we spend our time and energy chastising white people wearing their hair in cornrows ... or throwing a taco party on Cinco de Mayo ... or cooking Paella in a square pan.

If You've Been Wondering Why I Haven't Been Posting ...

It's because I've had the flu. I missed a lot of work this week, and the little bit of time I was there, I was feeling pretty sluggish. I wasn't contagious, but everyone gave me wide berth when they heard me coughing like I was going to hack up a lung. Now it's gone into bronchitis and a sinus infection. Oh, goodie! I'm still coughing and feeling not quite my normal self, but I think the antibiotics have kicked in and I'm on the mend ... and I'm hoping I'm done with colds and the flu for a long, long time.

A friends has stopped by to bring me something to check on me and bring me something eat, but I haven't had much of an appetite. I've been thirsty as all get-out, but I haven't been hungry at all. This week, I've pretty much lived on milk, water, a couple of peanut butter sandwiches, animal crackers, and Goldfish ... the Goldfish cracker snack that smiles back ... not actual Goldfish.

My fever has finally broke ... again ... and I think I'm finally getting better. I have coughed until my abdomen aches and my throat felt raw, and I've gone through several boxes (and counting!) of tissues. When I told my bosses I couldn't come in, one of them mentioned that it sounded like I really needed the upcoming three-day weekend. I told him I needed "nose Drano" more!

Christopher Columbus Misktakes Manatees for Mermaids

On this day in 1493, explorer Christopher Columbus sees three manatees, misaking them for mermaids. He described them as “Not half as beautiful as they are painted." Since he genuinely thought he was seeing mermaids, I'd say he was right!

 

Ummm ... It's PRETZEL

Not pretzle.

(I love Craiglist ads!)

Look What I Found!

 

It will look perfect above the bed (whenever I get around to setting it up). The other prints can be sprinkled about the room.

 

The room isn't very big, so I bought a full size bed. It's a very light wood, and I don't like light wood. I don't think it's real wood or I would stain it darker, so my intention is to paint it white. I bought it last summer and I haven't even opened the box to inspect it, so if it's damaged, I'm in trouble. 

The bedside table in the room is really pretty. If I paint the headboard white, the tables would need to be white or it would drive me nuts! I have two of the tables, but they are such pretty wood, I don't know that I can bring myself to paint them. I realize it's acceptable to mix painted wood with natural finishes, but I don't think I would like that look in this room.

I'll worry about the tables when I get ready to set up the bed ... but I have a feeling I'll end up buying new tables for the room and leaving these tables with their beautiful wood finish ... and I hope this is the most pressing "problem" I have in 2017!

First Snow Day

It snowed this morning and the police are reporting accidents everywhere. As a result, schools are closed. Obviously, we don't deal with snow well in these parts!

It Looks Pretty, But ...

Thing 2 came over the other day and brought stuff to make smoothies. It looked pretty and it tasted okay, but the coconut was a little tough (meaning, hard to chew), and the pebble-like seeds from the blackberries didn't help. While it was a little uncomfortable to eat, it did have good flavor!

Meet Grandbaby Number THREE!

Thing 1 and her husband will be welcoming their little bundle of joy next summer. I'll have THREE grandbabies to snuggle and play with! 

As a child, Thing 1 thought getting her hair brushed was the most painful thing in the world. I was as careful as I could possibly be, but she still cried and whined the entire time I was combing her hair. I can't wait until she's at the worst part of her labor to ask, "So, which is worse ... getting your hair brushed or having a baby?"

All joking aside, they will both be amazing parents, and I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they hold their new baby for the first time. I remember the first time I held her. I cried, overwhelmed with love. I thought I loved my mother about as much as one human could love another until I held my own baby. It was very humbling to realize, "My mom loved me this much?"

Walking His Dog

Good thing it's not a real puppy!

2017 is Here

I was awake at midnight, but it passed without me realizing. Celebratory gunshots and fireworks started around 11:30, so the noise at midnight didn't alert me that 2016 was gone forever. I still can't believe another year has come and gone, but it has. 2016 wasn't my best year, but it was by far not my worst. I'm hoping 2017 will be a really good year ... but I'll settle for a so/so year if nothing bad happens!