The way life should be

If you know me, you know I love me some Maine.

And I’m here right now which makes me extra happy (though I am in a car riding back to Boston as I type after a 5-day whirlwind of a visit, so I won’t be here for long…which makes me sad). (Also, cell signal is in and out so things keep glitching here so if I miss a word or something looks funny, blame technology not me. 🤣)

Anyhow, I’m going to get right to my thoughts because reading/writing in the car makes me a little queasy and I’m not really in the mood for that.

So…here we go:

1. The other day at the store I saw a woman wearing a t-shirt that said, in giant letters, NOT TODAY. To be perfectly honest, my first thought was that the shirt was redundant to her face, which had a very “DO NOT” expression baked into it. Then, after thinking about it for a millisecond, my second thought was that I am sure that if had I been wearing said shirt it would have been redundant to my face too. 🤣 By and large I feel as a society that we have more days during which we simply do not want to deal. Moral of the story: we’re in the same boat, just choosing different clothes to wear.

2. I don’t usually nap but a week or so ago I woke up from one, sweltering hot and wondering what had happened to the air conditioning. I jerked up and looked around only to realize I was on a pool float. It was a 97º day, I needed a cooldown, I zonked, and I was so disoriented.🤦🏼‍♀️ (In my defense the pool float *is* like a bed.)

3. Can we talk about that UFC fight on The White House lawn?

   1. If you have to try to convince Americans that you did it for Americans, you probably d isn’t do it for Americans. And you probably picked the wrong activity to celebrate America. Especially when the big event on the 🐓🌮🤡🐷👶’s 80th birthday and not on America’s 250th.

   2. The fact that the White House now hosts a food court seating area where the Rose Garden once was, a pile of rubble where the East Wing once was , and a circus tent on the lawn should be enough to make everyone question the administration’s priorities and intentions. But here we are.

   3. I’m guessing that the fighter who proclaimed “Michelle Obama is a man” spent months coming up with his “speech” for his big moment. I also be he thought it was the best burn ever…the only saving grace for me was that the crowd didn’t cheer. That said, the fact that I haven’t heard anyone in a position of power or influence say anything in response to that is more scary than the original statement.

4. Speaking of DC, seeing all that algae in the reflecting pool should not make me as happy as it does.

   1. But what really pisses me off is the fact that nobody is holding that f-cker accountable for an overpriced disaster of a renovation.

   2. You can see the drain in the deep end. Crystal clear waters at The 220.

5. Speaking of America, the World Cup sure is raising spirits in the US.

   1. Of course, despite our being the host nation, it’s the Scots and citizens of other countries who are showing us how it’s done and making us happy.

   2. We’ve lost our way but maybe we can find it back.

6. Speaking of the World Cup, Dan and Shay absolutely crushed the national anthem before the US’ first game last week. Like so good you should watch if you haven’t seen it.

7. And speaking of sports, the dismantling of the CITGO sign over Fenway Park during one of the most abysmal Sox seasons in memory is pure Boston sports…so symbolic…all the bad omens lining up and reporting for duty.

8. Sticking with sports, last Wednesday night my almost 84 yo mom was texting me about the Kicks-Spurs game.

   1. It was past her bedtime but she was all in and I said I kind of liked Wemby.

   2. The next morning she was clear she did not like his taunting (pointing like he was getting in their heads) and getting away with dirty fouls. “I think he’s kind of a bully,” she said.

   3. And you know what? I think she is right and I’ve changed my opinion—happy the Knicks won. They played like they wanted it. So good on them.

   4. My dad used to jokingly call my mom “Mrs. Cosell” back in the day, as if she was the female version of a top sportscaster back then. But you know what? She knows her sports. She probs could have a podcast,

9. Last one on sports…I’m glad Las Vegas didn’t win the Stanley Cup. The way the NHL welcomed the Canada 5 does not sit well with me.

   1. Yes, they were acquitted.

   2. But the talking head who said, essentially, “Even if the didn’t commit rate, there’s a character issue when 5 men have sex with a very drunk woman.” And that’s true. They are innocent of a crime but they are shitty people.

   3. They should be accountable, not celebrated.

   4. Glad the LVGK goalie who shall not be named sucked in the playoffs. DB.

10. AI is all the rage these days, but I think one of the biggest risks with it is where it intersects with bias, notably confirmation bias.

    1. When people like what they hear it stops people from questioning, from thinking deeper, and allows them to move on to the next thing without any thing having any meaning.

    2. And the there’s ego part of the bias (is that a real thing?) where people just like what it tells them and don’t worry about anything else. In any case, it’s another great case for the importance of critical thinking. I really thing the only thing that will save this country is a rise in critical thinking. Be accountable for your opinions, people.

    3. When people don’t like what they hear, they throw up their hands, say “AI sucks,” and they walk away.

11. It’s a sad day when you’re excited to pay $3.91 a gallon for gas because it’s under $4 for the first time in months…we’re being conditioned to accept a giant platter of bullshit and act like it’s choice filet mignon. Stop falling for it.

12. I’m a real creature of habit. Last week when I went to my substitute hairdresser, she checked me out in a different order than Jess does. Four hours later there was no sign of my license, credit card, Costco card, and $20 “tucky” where it *always* is, in my phone case. Fortunately I had misfiled it in my “cash purse” that I brought with my tip money. The struggle is real. 🤦🏼‍♀️

13. You may recall I am prepping for a very important family wedding next week. The beat goes on with that.

    1. First it was the shoes, when I was struggling to find a pair of strappy silver somethings and the Zappos algorithm offered me Doc Marten boots, Birkenstock Arizona, and a pair of chunky Doc M Chelsea-style boots. Thanks for nothing.

    2. Then someone said that if you don’t try your outfit on with the right bra you have no idea whether it works or not. The right bra? That’s a thing? I better try it anyway. Before it’s too late.

    3. And then I ran to Ulta for some tinted moisturizer, got “kidnapped” by one of the “artists” (?) and left there having spent more on makeup than on my outfit…and still have no tinted moisturizer. I can’t even.

14. So…saving the best for last…Maine.

    1. In general…

       1. Don’t be a dick when you’re driving.

          1. Don’t text and drive.

          2. And don’t be like the guy in the VW SUV who cut in front of us from two lanes over only to cut back across two lanes only to end up behind us. Pick a lane FFS.

       2. When someone gives you several recommendations for where to grab lunch, always opt for the dive bar.

          

       3. Still water out of a can is 👎🏼. I just can’t get behind flat water in a can, no matter how moving the origin story of the company is. Canned water seems all the rage up here.

    2. We went to a Hearts of Pine soccer game Saturday night and it was 🔥.The sprit of community in Maine (or Portland) (or among the HoP fan base) is enough to make anyone want to move to ME. In any case it was enough to make me want to.

       

    3. Monday we got up and headed to Monhegan Island in the rain.

       1. The ride over was not fun. No visibility and 4.5 foot swells.

       2. A little toast from a local plane and a cold drink later we were good to go.

       3. A hike through the middle of the island and around some cliffs brought us gorgeous views and—and you know I love this—previously unseen shades of blues and greens.

       4. The hike ended at an awesome brewery with a food truck that served some of the best (tied for first place, I think) fried oysters I’ve ever had.

       5. All in all it turned out to be one of those Top 10 days. It just so happens that I’m fortunate to have way more than 10 Top 10 days. 🤣

       6. Bonus points for ending the day with a lobster roll at McLoon’s.

          

          

          

    4. Tuesday we went up to Bangor and our happy party of 12 saw Mumford & Sons in concert.

       1. Marcus is the best.

          

          

          

          He sounded so good.

          What he sings there is so true—when we run, we run together.

       2. The opener (Dylan Gossett) was great too. I can’t wait to see them both again (plus Lord Huron) at Fenway Park on Monday.)

    5. Yesterday was a quintessential Maine lighthouse day. 10/10. Highly recommend.

       

I’m telling you, you can cram so much fun into a short period of time, and you really only have to be willing to make it work and make the best of whatever. I originally was going to go up for the game then back up for the concert and when I got the chance to stay for the duration plus, I hedged a little bit because of the concert Monday and then leaving for the wedding Tuesday.

But I’m so glad I did it. Moral of that story: say yes.

The larger lesson in all of this for me is in actively remembering that contentment and joy are found in the people and places and things that feed your soul and make your heart sing.

I am content, joyful, with a stuffed soul, and a singing heart.

And I hope you are in the same condition, because nothing beats it.

Thanks so much for being here and being part of this amazing ride. And speaking g of rides I need to get back to mine. Unfortunately it’s not-so-amazing (it’s early and raining…but I’m also not driving), so I should probs wrap up before I turn green and my stomach starts flip flopping.

Love you too.

And in case you haven’t had enough…

Also, I was not kidding about Sardineland.

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