Let's Go Get Coffee

You know that perennial saying “don’t go to bed angry?” It’s such a great policy among argumentative couples (every couple).  It ensures that understanding is reached before the sun goes down where you might otherwise spend a restless night imploding inside knowing your bedmate didn’t really get what you were trying to say.  You may already see where I’m going with this considering what everyone’s week has been like.  But today it dawned on me that this YEAR on facebook has been a long drawn out scenario of “going to bed angry”  that shows no signs of winding down, but instead shows signs of ramping up.

                I have no intention of defending my political preferences here today because I now realize that would just add fuel to an argument that cannot be resolved on this platform.  My intention is to share what I’ve learned this week and offer my ideas for moving forward in a positive way.

I learned this week that I have A LOT of good friends who throw heavy support to a candidate I do not support.  I don’t know if past elections have been like this; I hear from others that it’s the most divisive one on record.  I’ve heard things, read things on people’s windshields, seen news videos of snippet-style arguments and of course there are the facebook articles.  I myself posted a facebook article recently that supported my political views and I very quickly learned that every time I do that, it enrages many of my friends. 

Nearing the end of this week, I feel like the current mood is that people don’t realize we all have friends on the other side.  Even though we all know it's true, that's not how our actions and impulses are playing out, including mine (it has been hard not to react defensively when I see a meme that brands me).  Today I think it’s finally sinking in that I am a more balanced person because I have close friends and family who differ in this way.  It has helped me walk away from a lot of things I could’ve said, because I know there is a good friend out there that it would hurt.  Those other supporters don’t live on another planet or in another universe, I tell myself.  They live next door.  Some are family. 

So my solution is to talk to them.  Actually my idea is to go get coffee and talk to them (cause that would involve going and getting coffee).  I now am starting to understand that both sides of this thing are deeply invested.  Many are very afraid now.  And we all have seen a political opinion blur into a moral opinion with everyone differing on where that moral line should firmly be. 

Instead of blasting fear, negativity and yes, unrelenting divisiveness into the space continuum, I challenge myself and everyone else who wants to do something about this election's results to pick up your phone and text a friend who you know to have a different opinion than you and go to your favorite café and talk about it with the intention of hearing them(again this gives the added bonus of going and getting coffee).  This, I believe will accomplish broader understanding, and will give us tools to help all of the kids out there who are watching our behavior understand how to deal with opposition in a loving way.  Really, what better way to fight for what you believe than to understand others?   

I am going to be taking a break from facebook for awhile.  I’m still on messenger though.  I think I may start blogging again in the meantime.  So, let’s go get coffee!  #letsgogetcoffee 

–Author of the “Let’s Go Get Coffee” Manifesto

A picture that says it all...

Well Tyler, this pretty much sums it all up-

more pictures to come, but of course they are just details

Literary Borrowing

This post is a repeat, but it is becoming the story of my life. I even feel like this isn't even a real person, but some collection of things and people that will never come together in a perfect moment that I can sit in and say "all that matters in life is right here." Well, a last post for awhile, maybe for good leaves me wondering if I should use quotations to quote myself. It's from a published source right? Allow me to indulge myself and use quotations.
"Without you I went through my day on less than a ringing note, because today is one more day I don't get to remember what you said, if you approved, if you wanted to cry, and why you didn't leave me. I'll lose you again tomorrow because these days are set in motion. Set in stone. Never setting in. Best friend, magic place, free fall, flash of brilliance. Good news, there were days I didn't have to say it, days I won't have to say it. I got dressed up and went out without you, I got up on a stage and played but you weren't there, I walked around aimlessly neglecting my responsibilities without you."

I looked up the definition of blog on dicitonary.com and it said diary. Diaries on display for all to read? I think that is amazing. Finally, I would like to point out that, when all other things are transient, like blogs, there are things that keep on going, like Ryan Yeo's voice in my head that sounds like bubbling water and silver and kittens. Things like this will keep me believing.

The pink eye turned out to be a false alarm. I guess, even though I've never been allergic to a single thing my whole life, living in Tennessee will guarantee an eventual breakdown. So my 2-day pink eye was induced by pollen and remedied by some very expensive medicated eye drops recommended by a very expensive professional opinion.
Hey Tyler, is it your birthday tomorrow? If it is happy birthday, if it isn't, well, happy unbirthday. Everyone should feel special on their birthday, so I think your freckles are pretty awesome, and I think you're pretty awesome. Thanks for reading my blog, that is pretty awesome too. I hope I will be able to experience more of this awesomeness. Online dialoging is all well and good, but a real encounter is oh so much sweeter. Take care friends

No preparation for a major, long awaited, transcontinental vacation is complete without getting a contagious bacterial infection a week before you leave. With this in mind, I got busy and now I have pink eye.

Screaming Children Are Kinda Cute

Today as I was looking down at all of the soaking screaming children, I got very nastalgic about camp. It has been a really long time since I've worked at camp, but today it kind of felt like it wasn't that long ago.
Usually lifeguarding could hardly be compared to being a camp staff, and the lifeguards at camp are generally known as the slackers. Yup, not much people or problem solving skills involved in sitting on a very high lifeguard stand looking stoic (I've always felt that lifeguards should be sort of stern). But after yelling at kids all day to walk and don't run and walk please and don't make me come over there and whoa full white moon, pull up those shorts, the nastalgia just kind of hit me. Kids are just where it's at.
I met the most adorable little child of my dreams this morning when the usual one o'clock load of kids from the boys and girls club rolled in to terrorize the facility for a good three hours. And somewhere around the adventure pool after the second whoa buddy slow down where's the fire, I noticed how perfect this little guy was. He was probably eight, and he was wearing aqua socks, which he thought where premium running shoes, and he was stick thin. But the really wonderful thing about this guy was the freckles. I think freckles make a person automatically whimsical. This fellow had the kind of freckles that I would probably paint on myself before going to a harvest party in overalls and bandana, right on his cheeks were huge red freckles and I was about this close to taking him home with me. I wish I had. He probably didn't belong to anyone, I bet he was a stray.
Anyway, now I just want to go sit on a splintery wooden bench and sing "I love you California" and my personal favorite, the extended version of "Old McDonald" (it's my favorite cause all the staff get to go on stage and act like morons). Sigghhh,
Well, when I got home this zuccini torte was waiting for me. It was so pretty, I felt I couldn't possible eat it, but I finally compromised and decided to pseudo-publish it. Mom has a special touch for making pastry, it's 'cause she's Danish.

Which is your favorite?

I got these 7 images from a list of the 50 most popular painting prints as of May 2006. Which one is your favorite? Pick one and tell me why you like it. Admit it, it's fun. The first one is called, "The Old Guitarist" by the mozart of the fine art world, Picasso himself.

"The Sleeping Gypsy"

This one is definately a favorite of mine. Although it was made by the same guy who did "Horse Attacked by a Jaguar" and I always assumed that the lion was not about to attack the gypsy but now I'm not sure. If that's the case then it isn't my favorite anymore, but don't you think that the lion is just saying hello?

"Nighthawks"

I don't know why, but I really like thise one. I really don't know what it is about it. I think it may be the cool glass window though. The whole thing has a mood, it makes me feel really relaxed and cozy. They're kind of in their own little world.

"The Football Players"

This one makes me really happy

This ones called, "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose"

So beautiful! This one may be my favorite. But maybe I have a few favorites.

Are these random or what?

These really make me laugh. I'm not morbid really, but look at the expression on the horse's face. You have to laugh. That one is called, "Horse Attacked by a Jaguar". The name makes it even funnier. I'm laughing now. The other one I don't know. Is it the earth made new or is it the new world? Or is it just supposed to be incredibly ironic? It's called, "The Peaceable Kingdom".