I hope this won’t ring of me having a savior complex or whatnot, but as it’s Juneteenth (for another hour and a half), AND Pride Month, I just wanted to begin with a lil shout out.
Maybe it’s an impossible ideal. Maybe there is no ultimate end to prejudice, in every heart and every mind. But I’d like to think we can at least do better. We can ALWAYS do better. Personally, and collectively. Me, included.
Sometimes, I struggle with knowing how and when to express these things. How to uphold the ideals I strive toward. But I’m trying to learn, and to listen. I know I can’t speak for anyone but myself, and that my point of view has its privilege and its limitations. And that today’s holiday isn’t about me at all. And that’s okay. I just wanted to honor it, in my small way.
I’ll admit I’m still fairly sheltered in my day-to-day, even if I do my best to broaden my horizons. I could do more than just read poetry by marginalized authors, though I think that’s a good thing, too. There’s always room for improvement, especially at confronting embedded prejudice within. More ways to educate oneself.
I have two collections of poetry I have stalled on reading, because I found the language inaccessible to my experiences. I could crack those open again. Give them another try. Even if it’s just a little at a time. That would be a start, at least. And I had also thought to do some research into the historical figure who inspired an epistolary novel I recently finished. That would be good, too.
I was a little sad that my fundraiser for Point of Pride didn’t fare better. I had meant to donate more myself but forgot to do so, before the “event” of it was over. But I can give to them again, without it being a birthday Facebook thing.
I’ll see where else I can donate, and what else I can do, though I am also helping kiddo stay afloat, when I can. Her paycheck was delayed, and cat expenses were redonkulous. So I sent them some more money for dinner stuffs. Restaurant food. They were pretty occupied taking care of the cat, and cleaning, in preparation for her bf’s birthday tomorrow. They’re having friends over to celebrate.
Speaking of the cat… Jojo, aka Joey…
“How much is that (kitty) in the window?”
(Though I imagine as *I* am rather young for that reference, the rest of y’all must be, too…)
My grandson.
He’s already had one return visit to the vet as just a check-up and will have another one I think tomorrow, she said. So far, so good. New food, new medicines. We’re all wishing him the very best, and his posse of peeps are lovin’ on him every chance they get. And he apparently LOVES his Progressive-Pride-striped bed.
I figured the lot of you would MUCH rather see pics of my daughter’s cat than hear me unload about my day. It was a DOOZY!!!
HOWEVER… I was, indeed, successful previously in prepping mucho taco filling. Had tacos for dinner, breakfast, and dinner, again. Will keep on taco-ing it up until I hit the bottom of the skillet. Plenty of veg included in the mix, and herbs and seasonings, so they’re fairly healthy. May also mow the rest of the strawberries tonight, while they’re still this-side of overripe.
Proof of taco:
Phrased that way, it makes me think of Proof of Life. Yes, these tacos attest to my ongoing survival. The horrors do, indeed, persist, but so do I.
Maybe should’ve adjusted the lighting before posting. Lil dark in here. You’ll have to use your imagination somewhat. I assure you, they were fabulous. And I had also picked up Diablo and Fire sauces at the store. Added some of both to each one. Perfect blend of heat and flavor.
Not that Taco Bell is authentic Mexican cuisine. But hey. I do love their sauces.
And there are so many great memes out there about Baja Blast.
The mix of stuff I put into the skillet all by itself isn’t necessarily authentic, either, but I’m diggin’ it. I even included parsley, which is arguably more Italian-oriented, but I thought it would be fun to try, in addition to the cilantro.
Onward.
I also got a few chuckles out of my self-care app, Finch, today.
Check this out:
The question was something along the lines of “Guess what I learned about ogres today?” I chose the pre-written response that they have layers like onions. My “birb” took that in a WHOLE different direction. LOL.
Tonight, having checked in with my birb again, after work, I got THIS message.
RIGHT THE HELL ON!!! RAWR!!!
I accidentally missed a couple days, or it would have been 352, though the app used some of my rainbow stones to “repair” my streak of logins. But I am getting ever closer to my birb’s 365th adventure, when she’ll get a lil balloon to celebrate her hatch day.
Now that it’s not an infamous person’s birthday, and now that I feel I have more justification in reclaiming the notion of “patriotism” as a means of protest and a questioning of those in power and their motivations and actions… I’m gonna post my silly Fourth of July cowboy hat. It’s fun. I can’t resist a sequin.
And it was only $5.
Pre-haircut selfie, in front of the strip of stores where I purchased it, just before I got back into my car. The sheer ridiculousness of it as an accessory just filled me with so much joy. I was told by Neva and all that I should have worn it to the birthday shenanigans, but by then, it was already stashed away in my hall closet.
I did resurrect a front door decoration for summer, from that closet, just yesterday, I think, after leaving the clear plastic wreath hanger just chillin, empty, for some time. Sad. But it’s better now.
Much to do around ye old apartment, but I’m making headway. I had to compromise somewhat between garbage and laundry, and opted for laundry, so I would be within the margins of dress code, the rest of the week.
I did, however, take time to do Morning Pages today. A la Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.
Not “perfect” Morning Pages, since they weren’t my very first thing upon waking up. And really I suppose I could also get back into the habit of a 5 minute meditation then, as well.
But I did do them.
I didn’t even time myself. Maybe I should have, since I felt a bit under the gun, as they say, afterward, in terms of how much I had to get done before heading to work.
Three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing, in an honest-to-Goddess journal.
Handwritten, with one of my favorite pens.
And I wrote outside of the margins all over, so really, it was more than three pages “should” have been. But I have never seen the point in wasting white space in a notebook.
Did find time to meditate before work, in the car, parked out front. Good thing, too, because I can only IMAGINE how much MORE frazzled I might have been otherwise. Oy. Rough day. But we can leave it at that.
Not my photo below, but I HEARTFULLY approve of the messages.
I wish you all, all the blessings.
Here’s to hope, fresh starts, and another new day tomorrow.
And to an improved quality of life for ALL. “Y’all means all,” as my Pride magnet reads.
Let’s see what we can do to help get there, together.
All the Bright and Sparkly Things 
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