May 2021

The Perils of Cat Poop

As someone who's had cats my whole life, I know a thing or two about butts on counters. My family doesn't take it nearly as seriously as I do, but they haven't had to cut poop out of the fur of our long-haired cat, or clean up clumps of litter and poop that our flighty cat drags up with her once in a while. I know what's on these cats and I don't want it where I eat, thank you. This doesn't even begin to cover how their paws are in a poop box, too!

80s Stuff That Makes No Sense Today

It's really fun to go back and ponder over all the weird things we did or had during the 80s and 90s that make no sense today. I love seeing people look at, say, an image of someone winding a video cassette tape (or an audio one, for that matter) up after the tape came out. "What is that?" they ask. I think, "Is this how my grandma felt when we asked about radio programs and soda fountains?" The answer is likely yes, which is so fun. You have to wonder what kids will ask in another 30 years.

Weirdest Hidden Details On Family Guy

While I'm a pretty oblivious person when it comes to hidden details in movies and TV shows, my partner is one to catch everything he sees right away. It's pretty impressive, especially when I didn't even see what he's talking about, let alone understand its meaning. Super fans often find these types of details better than anyone else; of all the shows I've watched, catching them in Castle Rock was the easiest for me, for example.

Top 10 Grateful Dead Songs

When it comes to top 10 song lists, we are all bound to disagree, no matter what the content of the list might be. Even if you post every popular song, plenty of fans will argue that it's the underrated songs that deserve more attention. (For the record, this is often true.) So when you look for the top songs of the Dead over the years and find a billion lists, which one are you bound to choose as accurate, at least to you?

Inspiring Graduation Poems

Graduation season is upon us and it's time to start sharing those words of wisdom with graduates. Somehow I don't think Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You Will Go really cuts it anymore, and not just because of the complicated past of its author. Today's generation is dealing with more rapid change than ever, and the same general platitudes just aren't enough.

Shaming Sexuality

It baffles my mind that people still think that women don't like sex. My teen's friends were shocked when my kid told them they needed to respect one of their girlfriends when she told her boyfriend she was horny. They actually made fun of her in front of my teen, and dubbed her "weird" since "girls don't like that." Wow. If there's anything I wish I could change about the Internet, it's that pornographic content would lock for people under 18 since they can't understand it and then want to use it as the basis of their own sex lives.

Getting Ready for Summer

Summer will be here before you know it, and while it's not my favorite season by any means, it does mean that I have to get ready for it. My teen needs new swim gear after outgrowing last year's, we have Father's Day to prepare (which also means charcoal and wood chips to get for my husband's seasonal grilling), natural insect repellant and sunscreen to buy and much more.

Anti-Trans Bill Defeated

After battling an anti-trans kid bill that would penalize doctors who provide them with hormone blockers for months now, I'm happy to report that it failed in committee with a vote of 6-2 in my state. As I celebrate this I can't help but feel the dread of not only what is to come, since the Right has made it clear these vulnerable kids are their new targets, but also what's going to happen in states where these bills are passing.

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