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To the man who hit my car last night

I don’t know you. All I know is what I learned from our altercation last night. And, based only on that, I’m betting you probably think you can get away with doing what you did without anyone calling attention to it.

But I’ve got this little blog here, and I can use it to seek justice.

And justice, in this case, means saying thank you.

You didn’t rescue me from a burning building. You didn’t pull me out of the way of a speeding train. You didn’t save my life or anything, but you did something right and honest. You did something decent. I give enough space — too much space — on this site to people who do things that are wrong, dishonest and indecent; the least I can do is dedicate a few paragraphs to the other end of the spectrum.

Let me give you some background: my day, leading up to our confrontation, was a little rough. I was stressed out from some things at work. I was tired. My back hurt. Whine whine blah blah yadda yadda. Get out your violin and let me sing you a song about my tragic existence. You get the picture. So last night, as I was leaving the store and getting back into my car, I was so absorbed in the task of complaining to myself that I didn’t notice you get out of the vehicle parked next to mine. I didn’t notice you rush over to me until you were already standing by my window. You knocked on it right as I was about to pull away. I looked at you and thought, “oh, Lord, he obviously wants to carjack me.” It’s not that you give off a carjacky vibe, it’s just that it was dark, and it was a parking lot, and everyone knows that strangers only approach you in dark parking lots if they intend to rob you.

I lowered my window. You started apologizing immediately.

“I’m so sorry, man.”

For what?

“I parked in the spot next to you a few minutes ago. I came around to the passenger side to put some bags in the car, my door swung open too far and hit your car. I think I scratched it. I might have dented it. I would have left you a note but I didn’t want it to blow away, so I just waited here for you to come out.”

Uh… Well, um… Thank you for telling me. I…

“Here, you can take down my insurance information. Or I can give you cash for the damage right now. Whatever you want. Sorry, man.”

No, no, I didn’t even notice a mark at all. It’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for telling me.

It took some convincing, but you finally agreed to not give me money for the alleged damage to my vehicle. I checked again, by the way, and I still don’t see so much as a scuff. In any case, the transcript of our conversation makes me sound more gracious than I actually was. It’s not that I was mad — I was just kind of flustered, I guess. Whatever the reason, I was gruff and short with you. It was my tone that I regret. You deserved better.

I’m not trying to make too much of this, but I really thought about it quite a bit last night when I got home. Seriously, man, you went above and beyond the call of duty. You could have driven away. That’s what a lot of people would have done. If you were inclined to be honest, you could have left a note on my windshield. That would be impressive enough. But you actually sat there and waited for me to come outside so that you could talk to me man-to-man.

I don’t know anything else about you. All I know is that you did the right thing, and you did it in the most upfront, classy way possible. When I was a kid, my dad used to capitalize on any opportunity to give me lectures about the importance of character. As I drove away, I could hear him in my head. “See, Matt, that’s called character.”

He’s right. Or, the subconscious voice in my head that impersonates my dad is right. That was a display of true character.

You know, I’m not sure why people read this blog. I think a lot of them come here for the “controversy.” Well, I guess I’m not giving them what they came for today. There’s no controversy — just a guy doing a nice thing. A couple of months ago a kid returned my wallet to me after I left it at a coffee shop. I mentioned the incident on Facebook, but I didn’t even give him any recognition here. I should have.

It’s easy to fail in the little moments. It’s easy to fail when the spotlight is dim, maybe even easier than when it’s bright and shining. Most of us never have occasion to be heroes. We’ll never make the news with our acts of courage. We’ll never be put in a situation that calls for cinematic feats of bravery. Most of us will just be given tiny, seemingly insignificant chances every day to be honest, honorable and forthright. And because the moments are negligible, many of us fall back on dishonesty and dishonor. We rationalize and assure ourselves that we are only dishonorable in small ways. But we fail to grasp the fact that we lead a life of small moments, and so being dishonorable in small ways means that we are dishonorable in every possible way. That’s why your gesture last night was so meaningful to me. It was a small moment. You did the right thing in a small way. And I think that’s a big statement.

Thanks. You inspired me.

Besides, I parked too close to the line. This whole thing was at least half my fault.

Find me on Facebook.

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131 Responses to To the man who hit my car last night

  1. Evan Aoki says:

    That was a true display of character, a very rare and refreshing encounter probably worth the minor scuff if you think about it.

  2. I heard a pastor once say the only thing your taking with you to Heaven is Character.

  3. I have loved so many of your off the wall thought provoking posts. but THIS by FAR is THE BEST i have read. i do love the controversial posts, im not gonna lie, it adds some spice (that isnt my own per say) to my SAHM life ❤ (btw loved THAT post too) Posts like this one give me hope for humanity and the future for our children.
    Matt, boy whom returned wallet (read that post too awesome kid!!) and classy door toucher, Thank you for every bit of good you do for humanity. To ALL unsung heros THANK YOU. Its people like you who help to keep the good things alive and a reason to keep fighting for whats right ❤

  4. Jack Crawford says:

    My understanding is that the local governments dictate that the parking spaces in paarking lots be so close together. They are the ones who don’t allow doors to be opened all the way. Bastards.

  5. Sarah says:

    Thanks for sharing! It is important for others to see or hear about people who show light in such a dark world (just viewed the Argentina footage of pro-choice group-SAD). This inspires me as well! Thanks!

  6. lucindalines says:

    Very nice of you to share this. So often we are gruff or mad or in too big of a hurry, but you are right this guy showed true character. Nice of you to share it in such a well written way.

  7. ryanspelts says:

    Thanks for sharing this. It is a reminder that in general most people are good. Most want to do good and be good. It is too easy and to common to focus on the short falling of humankind.

  8. piperbee says:

    I am glad you took the time to blog this, Matt. Generosity, kindness, and love are contagious, and we should recognize these things as often as we can.
    I also just want to say that I read your blog because you are smart and well-spoken, and what I’ve read of yours is completely true, even if it’s often (deservedly) harsh. Keep it up!

  9. Laura Suess says:

    Wow what a rare expression of kindness from humanity for this guy to do this. thanks for sharing it. It helps restore some of my faith in humankind after numerous encounters with rude, selfish, clueless people on a daily basis.

  10. robertdicks says:

    Character is its own reward.

  11. Jennifer says:

    Make no mistake, I do NOT read your posts for the controversy. I read them because you tell the truth, which unfortunately is becoming a rare action. It’s nice to know there are people in positions of influence who still tell the truth regardless of the consequences. Then again, truth be told, the truth will ALWAYS set you free. God doesn’t lie.

  12. Tina says:

    Thank you for reminding and inspiring me to be a better person!

  13. Bill says:

    This post reminded me of something I rarely talk about. I ruined 21 yrs of my life through alcoholism. I have been sober now for 24 yrs. One of the the most important lessons I’ve learned through my journey to clean living was to free myself from guilt. The small things in life that you speak of are all the little building blocks that make up who we are. Or at least what we perceive ourselves to be. If you try to lead a life of honesty and integrity you have no residual guilt building up inside you. Simple smiles or thank yous, helping a stranger or holding a door can go a long way. When I finally learned that life is not that complicated sobriety came easy. This post was well written as usual and important in a small yet huge way. Society seems to be a royal mess right now yet the answers to most of what tearing us apart are written between the lines of what you’ve said Matt.

  14. Peter Kramer says:

    Must have been the Chevy chase Starbucks. I hqqqqqte that parking lot – you Can’t park a bike there without hitting someone.

  15. luggnutz13 says:

    “To Whom much is given…” That was classy Matt. And obviously much more of the man you talk about. I’m on a feeling good right now level…Thanx!

  16. Tamara Palmer says:

    I have been in a situation very similar, only I was the one who hit the other car. I could see no damage but left a note on the windshield because I wanted to do the right thing. After a few days, a teenage girl (I was also a teenage girl at the time) called and told me that yes, I had caused extensive damage to her car and that it was going to cost $500+ to repair. I went to meet her and immediately her father told me that my note was a legal “confession” so there was no way I could get out of paying her (not that I was trying to). He had a stack of papers and I felt like he was trying to intimidate and bully me, even though I had freely given his daughter my name and phone number. Since then I have always thought that they were preying on me and taking advantage of the situation to get some money. I paid them out of pocket because my parents told me that if I used the insurance company, my rate would increase. I was really young and inexperienced and frankly, kind of dumb. I don’t regret that I tried to do the right thing at the time, but I hate to say that if the situation happened again I might not stick around, because I would be afraid of someone taking advantage.

    I think you deserve some kudos in the situation because there are probably a lot of people who would have seen your situation as an opportunity to get $$.

  17. Hi there are you currently with Facebook? Would
    be good for me to read your future articles

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I asked you to donate to poor people in Guatemala, and here’s what happened

I already posted this update on my Facebook page, but I think I should share it with people who aren’t on my social media bandwagon:

A couple of weeks ago, after just one weekend blog entry, we raised over 17,000 dollars for poor people in Guatemala.

Thank you.

My brother and several of his Christendom College classmates are going on a Guatemala mission trip this month. They plan to spend their two weeks building a well for a local village, providing food and necessary supplies, and running a free medical clinic. I threw up a quick post asking my readers to consider pitching in a few bucks to help them finance these efforts, and you guys responded eagerly and enthusiastically.

17,000 dollars. Awesome.

Every dime of that will be going to providing fresh water, food, supplies, and medicine to those in need. You aren’t paying for plane tickets for college students here. This money goes right where it belongs.

I don’t want to wander too far off the tracks and turn this into a political statement, yet I can’t help but notice something. I often get into arguments about the Nanny State. I make my point that multi-trillion dollar entitlement programs aren’t necessary because Americans are charitable and generous on their own. We will take care of each other, if only the government would back away and let us do what needs to be done. In response, I’m usually informed that I’m far too optimistic (which is just about the only time I’ll ever be accused of such a thing). I’m told that the government needs to do “what Americans aren’t willing to do themselves.” I’m told that the poor will be left to whither and die without the government facilitating forced “giving.” I’m told that the churches have failed in their duty to provide for the less fortunate.

I’m told such things. And then I write one post — just one — saying, “hey, can you chip in to help build a well and buy some food for poor folks in Guatemala,” and what happens? Scores of readers say, “absolutely.” A few days later, we’ve raised 17 grand.

Seventeen thousand dollars won’t solve world hunger, but it’ll sure help a lot of people in a lot of ways.

In fact, I’d say 17,000 bucks is a pretty good haul, considering most of my readers are heartless, uncaring, poor-hating, right wingers.

Thanks, everyone.

For anyone who missed my original appeal and would still like to contribute a buck or two, use this link to my original post.

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79 Responses to I asked you to donate to poor people in Guatemala, and here’s what happened

  1. Zeke Radford says:

    I too, believe that most people (Americans included, of course) are much more charitable than most people think.

  2. SLIMJIM says:

    Wow, praise God! It would be great to see some pictures and a report as well. Praise God…seriously!

  3. Our was all the bleeding heart liberals that just come here to insult you that donated the $17,0000, obviously 🙂

  4. Tapestry garden says:

    Thank you for the update. We are very blessed to be here in the United States of America. I know the funds were sent with love and prayers

  5. RobinA says:

    You make a great point, but I wonder how many times the 17k contributors have walked right past and chosen not to help someone on their own street. Yes, we are a very generous people. But we are choosy about who we are generous with. For example, to potential donors there’s a difference between people who don’t have water and people who live in a free country and get addicted to drugs. And there’s a difference between someone you admire asking for contributions to a noble cause and someone you’ve never met before (and perhaps have little respect for) asking for a handout. We help those who pass our judgment. It’s sad but true that some of the same people who contribute to humanitarian aide in, say, a central American country (providing food and medical care) are also the same ones who complain when their tax dollars go to help pay for medical care or food for a sick child of someone from the same country who is here illegally. I do agree, though, that the church can and would do its job if allowed to, but only if its members took the job seriously right here at the local level.

    • Alsatian says:

      Robin, I support giving medical care and food to someone here illegally. Then deport them. We cannot possibly house the entire world here in the U.S. We need to keep people from coming here illegally in the first place.

    • Laura says:

      I think what you are saying about charity is true, that people are choosy with who they are generous with, and that we help those who pass our judgement. But isn’t that our right to do that, with our own money? Shouldn’t we be allowed to decide for ourselves where our charity goes, instead of it being taken from us by our government and dolled out without our consent?

      • RobinA says:

        I think you can argue that right. I don’t necessarily disagreement with you. My post was in response to:

        “I’m told that the government needs to do “what Americans aren’t willing to do themselves.” I’m told that the poor will be left to whither and die without the government facilitating forced “giving.” I’m told that the churches have failed in their duty to provide for the less fortunate.”

        There is an element of truth to those statements. Just because we are willing to respond to the financial needs of a missions project doesn’t mean that we are willing to do the same for the poor and needy in our own communities. Can you honestly say that if the government quit taxing you for social services, that you would take that same money and find a local charity to support with it? I see both sides to this argument. A rising tide floats all boats, and there is value in a community where the poor are fed and educated (even if it’s the government doing it). Maybe I’m a cynic but I don’t believe that individuals, even churches, would take care of the local poor and needy if the government quit doing so. Some would, but I’m not convinced most would. Too many aren’t trying very hard to do what they can now. I believe churches do deserve some criticism for dropping the ball in this arena… they seem to value/promote foreign missions more than local ones. It’s been a long time since a church I’ve attended put as much effort and money into caring for local needs as they do raising money to travel internationally to meet similar needs elsewhere. Examples – a single mom whose husband walked out on her wouldn’t have to humiliate herself and ask for govt. assistance if the local church took serious God’s promise to be the father and husband to that family. Churches even put on programs/seminars on how to apply for govt assistance. A local dentist flies to Central America every year to provide dental care to a poor region (great! but what about the poor and uninsured right here in our own community – you offer no free clinic days for them!). We “adopt” children in other countries by sending money to cover their expenses, and we reach out to other countries to adopt their unwanted newborns (foreign adoption is all the rave now in local churches) while there is an embarrassing number of sad, unloved, unwanted/orphaned older children living in institutions right here in our own city. Sometimes I think pride is the problem. We do not what needs to be done but what makes us feel good about ourselves. It’s confounding to me, when you consider the importance and purpose of a local church.

        • If you want a church that helps locally you should check out the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. http://www.mormon.org

        • Jeff says:

          All these people you are criticizing just raised $17,000 so people in another country can get medical help and food. Sounds like the wrong crowd to accuse of being stingy towards the needs of others. I’m willing to bet that the people who give to this cause are the same people that give to local charities as well.

    • Alex says:

      IMO, people work harder and more passionately for causes they actually believe in. Charity under the duress of taxes has and will always garner the bare minimum of what people are willing to give. Just because EVERY American doesn’t wish to donate his hard-earned money to drug rehabilitation doesn’t mean that millions of people—perhaps those who have actually been affected by the problem—wouldn’t huddle around the cause. The same goes for green energy, MS, cancer, the arts, homelessness, libraries, museums…etc. We’ve all been touched by SOMETHING. People will give more to causes close to their hearts and actually feel GOOD about it. In a perfect world, we’d be taxed only for what it takes to run our municipalities and be able to do with the rest what we wish.

  6. Lisa says:

    Matt, I just wanted you to know the first time you posted the link, it wouldn’t allow me to contribute. It’s possible a lot of other people had the same problem. Fortunately, this time it worked and I was able to contribute. Where much is given, much is required. Bless your family.

  7. eikon6 says:

    Your brother did the right thing by asking for your help.

  8. Milo says:

    Many of us were very happy to give our little bit to others with the hope that it might really help someone truly in great need. I honestly hope great success to the recipients. In addition to installing a well as a perminate solution to clean water needs are there any plans on aiding the locals with a long term solution for providing food such as training the local population better ways to either farm or fish? Also, are there any plans to educate any of the locals on construction or any other ways to enable them to provide better for their lives? Many people want to help others and I know that those in need don’t want a handout but more of a helping hand to transition themselves into a better tomorrow.

  9. Jillocity says:

    great praise for the help your brother and his group received, even greater that it went directly to the people who needed the help…God is good, and so are a lot of his people…

  10. laurielou2 says:

    Do you really consider most of your readers “heartless, uncaring, poor-hating, right wingers”? Ouch.

    • He was being sarcastic. People call his readers that, so he was showing those people that clearly charity is not only done by the left.

    • Alsatian says:

      laurielou2, I think it’s liberals who would say that of Matt’s readers. Matt’s being sarcastic:)

    • @laurielou2, NO, Matt was being sarcastic…

    • Sarah says:

      Ummmm…. I’m pretty sure that was said tongue-in-cheek, considering the context of the post.
      Wait… Is this comment supposed to be tongue-in-cheek as well? Sometimes it gets a little thick around here and I miss things.

    • Jennifer says:

    • RobinA says:

      I believe that was sarcasm. That’s how conservative Christians are regularly portrayed.

    • not qualified for anything says:

      laurielou2, Matt was just repeating what many liberals say about conservatives. He was making a point that although they call us these names we obviously are none of them as evidenced by the quick response and the sense of charity..

    • Roelie says:

      Yes – double ouch! I have found most people support you and give your controversial subjects praise for bringing them out into the open ?? Is this really how you are seeing the majority of your readers? I think my feelings might be hurt ……..just a little.

    • Lacey says:

      I’m pretty sure that was sarcasm Laurie. 🙂

    • SJH says:

      That was a joke– sarcasm– based on the remarks he’s received about how he is too optimistic about human generosity (and probably also based on some liberals who seem to think they have a monopoly on charity). From reading this post, I’m pretty sure Matt thinks that many of his readers are kind, caring, concerned citizens. 🙂

    • Jill says:

      not sure whether you have been following him for awhile or not, but he has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. it was a joke b/c that’s the general belief left wingers claim right wingers are

    • johnspenn says:

      laurielou2 Matt was using a little sarcastic irony there, as that is how those on the left like to portray those on the right.

    • Fiveupnorth says:

      Matt was being sarcastic, as that is how crazy liberals refer to conservative, common-sense folks, many of whom read his blog and contributed to his brother’s mission.

    • S H says:

      I think there was a little bit of sarcasm when he said that. Right-wingers are mainly the ones sharing Matt’s views. We have been accused of being all those things, and he was adding a bit of sarcasm to that because obviously most of us are not that way as evidenced by the outpouring of support.

    • Jen D says:

      He was being sarcastic. Geez.

    • Becca says:

      No, he was sarcastically remarking on what a lot of liberals accuse him and his readers of being any time any sort of entitlement program is mentioned.

    • laurielou2 says:

      Thanks, guys. I’m usually very fluent in sarcasm, but clearly, I’m off my game today. : )

  11. Susan says:

    There should be an address where people who don’t use PayPal can send a check.

  12. Considering the stats you claim of two to three million hits per day on your blog, $17K is merely sweeping up the pennies that fell out of your readers’ pockets. A half a penny per person response rate is nothing to brag about.

    • Scott says:

      How much did YOU contribute?

      By the way, your online name is appropriate.

    • ? says:

      How much did you donate?

    • Chris Brooks says:

      I’ll admit $17 grand doesn’t sound like much given how many readers he has, but it’s still a lot of money for this project.

    • Yes, Chris, $17K is a lot of money, for Guatemala. We only brought up the dismal stats because thanking contributors wasn’t good enough for Matt. He had to try to use this fundraiser as an example of how generous Americans are (statistically, we are the most miserly) and ask why do we need trillion dollar government social programs. Sorry. Let’s say every person who read the post donated $1. That means half of one percent of the readers of the blog for that day gave a buck. That’s generous?

      • Curtis says:

        Unfortunately, not all of Matt’s readers are supportive. Some of Matt’s readers, like yourself, are haters. Go on drinking your haterade.

      • Your hatred is obvious. You went onto a blog to denigrate the contributions of others because their politics doesn’t match yours. You claim it’s because he was “bragging”, but we know better. He was trying to say thank you to his readers that donated, but you took this opportunity to try to make it seem like they did nothing.

  13. Faith says:

  14. ryoughn says:

    The only reason America is not finished is God does have a remnant still praying and putting legs to their prayers. Your brother is one of those. This was good news in an age of strife. It should give us hope. God has not abandoned America, He’s waiting for us to humble ourselves & repent.

  15. Sid Avery says:

    Thanks for informing us, Matt. I pray that many people will be blessed by your brother’s mission trip and this money raised.

  16. Vicki says:

    He was totally being sarcastic. This is the liberals definition of the right.

  17. Dennis B. says:

  18. madblog says:

    Another thing to point out: $17, 000 doesn’t sound like a lot in the U.S., but in third-world places it will go surprisingly far. It’s a fortune there.

  19. extratlc says:

    Dear Matt – some people do not understand your satire… I on the other hand prefer it. It’s so enjoyable and refreshing to have someone who is willing to point out the truth in such a way.
    Way to go on raising so much money and I wish we all would continue to do more good in the world wether it’s through money, acts, time, or any other gift the Lord has given us.

  20. Tom p says:

    Thanks, Matt for the report. It’s reassuring to hear. And it is also true that God’s blessing has not left the USA because of dedicated missionaries like these and our continued support of Isreal (albeit half-hearted of late) (read Gen. ch 12. My church also sends a group to India to help feed gypsies, support local pastors and most importantly to deliver the gospel which is what will set people free ultimately.

  21. Scott says:

    Please don’t ever stop using sarcasm or your delectably dry sense of humor just to avoid alienating the ignorant.

    I think you should require people to pass a test before they’re allowed to read your blog.

  22. redheadmom8 says:

    Once again, you’ve managed to make a great point. Congrats on the fundraiser and blessings to your brother.

  23. eaglecam5 says:

    I laughed out loud when I read his closing remark. He described well how those on the “outside” view those of his readers who share his world view. Matt obviously likes his readers, and is appreciated by them.

  24. Clifford says:

    We were pleased to help here in Canada as well, and oh yes, sorry for obliterating both your men and women’s hockey teams in the Olympics. Perhaps you can give it a try again in 4 years. Love your blog, Mattt !

  25. Al T says:

    Generally those who criticize the philanthropy of the private sector are those who make their living in the taxing, collection, spending, and distributing any remainder that leaves Nanny State proponents feeling good about beneficial use other peoples wealth. ,

  26. vikingbitch says:

    Why don’t those stupid churches spend the damn $17k RIGHT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY?

    Christians are so phony– off to save the ‘poor little foreigners’, when we have HUNGER RIGHT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. For God Sakes!

    These Christians don’t do it for the foreigners– they do it to make themselves feel like superiors people– look at me, I’m feeding the poor.

    I’d be more impressed if you fed AMERICANS. This country is in trouble–open your eyes!!

    • TheApostlePaul says:

      *Christians are so phony– off to save the ‘poor little foreigners’, when we have HUNGER RIGHT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. For God Sakes!*

      ‘Missionary evangelism’ is usually less about helping people than about creating a docile native labor force. Read “Diary Of An Economic Hitman” by John Perkins.

    • What the heck is wrong with you? People starve to death in Guatemala. Last I checked, that doesn’t generally happen in America. Why don’t you applaud the charity rendered and do something yourself instead of complaining about a country in much greater need receiving charity?

  27. Jen says:

    Matt. I think this is great and kudos to your brother and the group he is working with. I know that our government wants people to believe we are unwilling to help anymore, but I also know there is tons of church programs and other folks in the communities lending their hand when they can. AND not just at the holidays. If the government shuts their mouth and lets the churches go back to helping its communities then you could see this more. BUT.. the government will not do this because they would then lose the power over the poor and slowly make us all poor. I am not a right wing, by the same token I am not a left wing either. I am somewhere in the middle and believe you can only help those who want it. I have done this myself on many occasions. My husband and I have fostered a few children and have personally helped a few families and did it ALL without any assistance from the government. I think this is one arena that needs to be left to the community and they churches. It sure would free up billions of welfare dollars to go where it is better needed.

  28. TheApostlePaul says:

    *I make my point that multi-trillion dollar entitlement programs aren’t necessary because Americans are charitable and generous on their own.*

    The American people give around $5 billion per year to charity. That’s great-unfortunately, total need is more like $25 billion per year.

    • Need is a matter of perception. What do you consider people needing for charity? As far as most of the world is concerned, not starving to death is all they need. Plus, I’d be willing to bet that if all our entitlement programs went away, people would donate more because they’d know that there’s no fall-back for the poor.

  29. lgandre says:

    For what it’s worth–I tried to give when you posted that comment and it ended up being so complicated (I don’t remember the details) that I gave up. I wouldn’t be surprised if I wasn’t the only one.

  30. That’s a wonderful cause, I love that Guatamala is working to create a country that will thrive… they are working toward taking care of their orphans and villages (with the help of amazing missionaries) to keep the country alive and being to thrive. I always say the world is full of best.people.ever… the Gov’t didn’t help us when my daughter Madeline died, our friends, family and neighbors did…

  31. Victoria says:

    Thanks for the great update! I just finished a book that was mostly all statistics, all data drawn from actual transactions, that showed conservatives and Christians donate far more money to charity than any versions of left leaners. Written by a liberal turned conservative when the data itself proved that point.

  32. Alex says:

    Great cause Matt and funds well-raised! Congrats to your brother and his team, I’m sure they’ll do excellent work in Guatemala.

  33. Melissa says:

  34. Winter says:

    To those arguing need vs. donations, may I play devil’s advocate for a moment? I humbly suggest that if the government didn’t insist on taking 25% plus of my family’s income, we would have much more to donate to different causes.

    Congratulations! You have a generous readership.

  35. Carlos García says:

    As a Guatemalan I would like to offer my sincere and deep gratitude to people like you who care about their human brothers and sisters and forget their own person for a bit. I have helped as a translator to groups of Americans that come here to do humanitarian work and offer some relief to the sufferings of my people, and only the best we wish to your nation, its future and its citizens. Thank you in the name of my country, thank you sincerely.

  36. Wow. That post must have shown up on surgery day because I never saw it, or was too drugged to remember seeing it. That is amazing. Guatemala has a HUGE place in my heart. I will never ever ever forget the people that I met there and I am looking forward to the time when I can spend more of my time and resources helping people there.

  37. Allah_speaking says:

    >In fact, I’d say 17,000 bucks is a pretty good haul, considering most of my readers are heartless, uncaring, poor-hating, right wingers.

    Out of curiosity, did you personally check the voter registrations of your donors?

    I’d say that over the course of my heartless, uncaring, poor-hating, conservative life, I have easily donated that much as an individual to various causes and charities… I guess I’m just plain evil…

  38. billy says:

    This is great! I hope there are more opportunities like this

  39. Pingback: Matt Walsh (was almost right and then blew it) about: Private charity | What is Matt Walsh wrong about today?

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I am a faithful reader of The Medium…

Dear Editor,

I am a faithful reader of The Medium, and some (but not all) of my friends are, too. I don’t mean everyone should read everything in it. I mean that I always find something to read, and even to enjoy (though if what some people say about your paper is to be believed, God help me!). So never mind the odd look I get when I grab a copy off the stand; besides, there’s always at least one other person who, seeing that I didn’t die a horrific, melting-related death when I touched it, goes over and daintily picks up a copy, too.

You know what else is great? The way The Medium takes articles from anyone. Yeah, some are good and some bad. But I know that no one will hold it against me if I say that the one time my name appeared at the top of an article. So sometimes I just enjoy an article because I feel some personal connection with it—but every issue and every article has that, and not just for its author, but because it deals with UTM.

Of course, nothing’s perfect. For example sometimes you see the same person’s name a few too many times. But I guess the more people write in the less that’s a problem. Or sometimes there’s a bit more argument than discussion in the Opinion section. But I guess the more important the things we cover, the more heat it generates. Or sometimes the copy editor seems to have let in a few obvious mistakes.

But I guess he’s a student too and probably has as much schoolwork as the rest of us, on top of The Medium. Long story short, none of these are enough to make me skip the good parts.

Yeah, this letter may be a bit too positive. But I for one have read and heard enough of the opposite sentiment to think your paper deserves a little pat on the back once in a while.

Luke Sawczak


text:
Locusts and Wild Honey

… for this feast day of the first “Baptist”:  Saint John the Baptist, the kinsman of Christ.

Let thine example, holy John, remind us
Ere we can meetly sing thy deeds of wonder,
Hearts must be chastened, and the bonds that bind us
Broken asunder!

Lo! a swift angel, from the skies descending,
Tells to thy father what shall be thy naming,
All thy life’s greatness to its bitter ending
Duly proclaiming.

And what a splendour and a revelation
Came to each mother, at thy joyful leaping,
Greeting thy Monarch, King of every nation,
In the womb sleeping.

Angels in orders everlasting praise thee,
God, in thy triune Majesty tremendous;
Hark to the prayers we penitents upraise thee:
Save and defend us.

~ Paulus Diaconus, 8th cent.  Trans. R. H. R.

About middlingpoet

From the Gawain poet to Rainer Maria Rilke: I love traditional poetry.
This entry was posted in Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Church Year, Hymns and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Locusts and Wild Honey

  1. Scott says:

    Thank you for sharing this. Simple and enjoyable.

  2. middlingpoet says:

    Thank you, Scott! I’m sorry for the delay in posting your comment … I don’t know why I didn’t see it in my notifications earlier.

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Tag Archives: cheeseburger

Cheeseburger in Paradise, er Home

There is nothing like a good, juicy burger. Nothing. They are always my go-to choice when I go to a restaurant I haven’t been to before, or even ones I have. They are usually a safe bet to not be completely disgusting. I’ve very few burgers that blew my mind though. You know what I’m talking about –ketchup and mayonnaise smeared together, crisp delicious pickles, gooey cheese, juice drippings, charred taste. Ahh that charred taste, that’s the best part. Burgers are amazing grilled, no doubt about it. But it’s just too difficult to grill in the winter obviously. So how do you still get the juicy goodness inside? With a 2 step cooking process – fry and bake. Yeah you read that right.

I interrupt this blog post for a shout out to Mr. P. for enduring my 4:30p.m. chats requesting his assistance. An example:

me:  can you get 2 potatoes (in the hall closet in the orange basket) and microwave them for like 8 minutes. poke holes in them
Mr.P:  with a fork?
me: a knife please
Mr.P:   8 min on high?
me:  yes please
Mr.P: ok cool

And now back to our recipe…

1 lb 80% lean ground beef
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Cheddar Cheese slices
And all the condiments/sides you want

Start by blending the ground beef, garlic powder and worcestershire sauce together. To form your patty, take golf ball size pieces of meat and fit them together gently. The key is to form a nice airy burger, but firm enough so it will stay together.

Heat a skillet on medium/high heat. Spray the pan with cooking oil. Cook the burgers for 2 minutes of each side so they have a nice grilled look.

Next, place it in the oven for 10 minutes at 375 degrees (I like my burger medium rare). But always cut open a little to make sure its done all the way – not worth getting sick!

I like caramelized red onions on my burger. Simply amazing. I just chop up some red onion and throw in some brown sugar until its caramelized.

Don’t forget to top your burger with cheese!!!

So good. I served our burgers with some delicious homemade potato wedges.

What do you like on your burger?


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Friday, June 1, 2012

Candlelight Date Night Giveaway Event

Mom Of One and Having Fun, Loves 2 Read, Crazy About Deals, Oh My Heartsie, My Charmed Mom, Missi Rose's Coupon Spot, Coupondipity, Dnbuster's Place, 7 Kids and Us, The Mommy Island, and several other fabulous bloggers are bringing to you Candlelight Date Night,
sponsored by Diamond Candles!

Diamond Candles are Earth Friendly, all natural soy candles. While they are not organic due to resources not yet available, they are 100% soy. They do not contain bees wax, palm wax or parrafin wax. They will be looking into their candles becoming organic when resources come about. It's always great knowing that a company is looking for a more natural make. Not only this, but these are NOT your typical candles.

They come with rings inside them.

The rings value anywhere from $10 to $5,000.

YES- $5,000! Wouldn't you LOVE to be that person?!

Wouldn't it be fun to find out you had the $5000 ring?

Men here's a great idea if you cannot afford the Ring... Buy the candle and HOPE you get lucky! Even if the ring is worth $300-$500, that's still only $24.95 you spent. Click here to run and buy one NOW! How do you know it's worth? If the ring has 14K inside of it or any other branding your ring is worth $100+ and run to the jeweler's for the estimate. The ring sizes are typically 6-8. If you find that this is too big or too small, you can give it away or re-size it (if it's one of the $100+ rings).

Something else unique? They actually allow you to suggest scents. We bloggers are sure you would love to make YOUR favorite scent a candle. They have Cotton Candy (yum), Snow? Really... Snow? Anyone know what Snow smells like?! We're curious! Going to have to try that one in the future. Sweet Pea, Chocolate Truffle and many, many more.
I would love to try the Sweet Pea scented candle!

Ready to win? Diamond Candles is Giving Away 3 Candles worth $25 each! We hope you will be happy to enjoy these great scents, and have a nice romantic dinner by them. We know many parents could use a night to themselves. Just don't expect us to cook the dinner or babysit! 3 Winners will be receiving one candle of your choice. You get to pick the scent!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  1. Barbara Compton KestersonJune 3, 2012 at 12:36 PM

    Carnival Candy and Cupcake. Thanks for the giveaway.

  2. Cinnamon Roll and Vanilla Cream

  3. Nicole Davis (nicoledenae5_87@yahoo.comJune 9, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    Hawaiian Coconut, Pomegranate Lemonade :)

  4. My favorites are Cotton Candy and Chocolate Truffle.

  5. Cinnamon Roll, Hawaiian Coconut =)

  6. I like cupcake and fresh snow!!

  7. Hawaiian coconut and Tropical retreat....

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Category Archives: What’s On Our Radar

What’s On Our Radar 02/23/12

Turn’s out there’s been a fair bit on the radar this week:

First off, Tricia Romano asks Is Bi The Last Taboo? – The Daily Beast

Penis Enlargement: Why It’s A Big Ball Of DON’T is this weeks best title – Em & Lo

Breaking the stereotypes of exotic dancers in 4 Things You Should Know About Women Who Strip – Alternet

11 Works Of Sexology That Will Blow Your Mind (With Science) is the definitive collection of sexological writing in my humble opinion – io9

Great news: More Elite Colleges Are Covering Sex-Change Surgery And Other Transgender Student Needs – Jezebel

Why Do Straight Women And Gay Men Get Along So Well? Asks Lehmiller – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

Spiritual Women Have More Sex, Study Finds, the same doesn’t appear to be true for men, however – NBCNEWS

What Does Feminist Porn Look Like? – Role/Reboot

And finally, Tracy Clark-Flory, resident sex writer at Salon, interviewes Cheryl Cohen Greene, the sex surrogate who inspired the Oscar nominated film The Sessions:

What’s On Our Radar 02/13/2013

Floating around the internet, here’s what I found:

Bang With Friend’s Takes All The Fun Out Of Friend Sex, Bang With Friends is a new Facebook app that…well…yeah – Nerve

In other app news ‘Predicktor’ App Predicts Men’s Penis Size Based On Personal Stats – Huffington Post

There were a lot of lists going around, here’s two relavent ones from Alternet: 9 Interesting Things You May Not Know About The Clitoris and 10 Fascinating Facts About Men, Sex and Testosterone – Alternet

And a list for all my feminists: 17 Essays By Female Writers That Everyone Should Read – Flavorwire

When It Comes To Condoms One Size Does Not Fit All…because you’re huge! – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

And finally, this amazing new breast cancer app:

What’s On Our Radar 01/30/13

Here’s what’s been on my reading list this week:

My favorite title for an article ever, Monogamy Is Like Dubstep: I Don’t Understand It – Role/Reboot

Keeping on the Monogamy tip, Forget Online Dating: Here’s Something That Might Really Hurt Monogamy, in which the argument that technology is causing us to avoid commitment is challenged somewhat – The Atlantic

The Vagina Popsicle, a very intriguing post on The Feronia Project about how putting yogurt in your vagina can help ease the symptoms of a yeast infection…seriously – The Feronia Project

The War On Sex Workers tears into the United States’ war on prostitution –

A lady in Brazil put poison in her vagina and tried to kill her husband by getting him to go down on her…Death By Cunnilingus – Salon

No video today but I did find this infographic on The Feronia Project:

What’s On Our Radar 13/01/13

Heyo! Here’s some things I’ve been reading that you may be interested in:

Isaac Abel writes a very honest essay called Did porn warp me forever? He explains how he feels that viewing porn before becoming sexually active affected his adult sex life – Salon

Sex Degrees Of Separation: How Many Indirect Sexual Partners Have You Had? Find out – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

It’s all lies! 5 Lies We’re Told About The Female Orgasm – Sex With Dr. Jess

Darwin Was Wrong About Dating. An attack on evolutionary psychology’s tendency over emphasize gender differences – The New York Times (Paywall)

And on that note, Can Evolution Explain High Heels? – Salon

Finally, Penis Size: Men Complain Of Shorter Appendages Following Prostate Cancer Treatment. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t treating cancer a bit more important that that 6th inch?

Btw, we all started off as female:

What’s On Our Radar 01/03/13

Happy New Year Everyone! Here’s what we’ve been reading over at The “Oh!” Face offices (full disclosure, it’s just me, there’s no one else, I just say “we” because I’m lonely…or just cause it sounds more professional. There’s very little that is professional about any of this, especially my liberal overuse and misuse of brackets):

50 years after the introduction of the Pill and sexual double standards are still as rampant as ever, Study: “Slut-shaming” won’t go away – Salon

Ever Heard of Endometriosis? No? Hear about it! (It kinda sucks and affects quite a few women) – Feronia Project

Six Myths About Sexually Transmitted Infections Debunked – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

For all you ‘readers’ out there here is a list of Longform’s Best Sex Stories of 2012, not for the TL;DR crowd – Slate

Thanks Guys: Five Ways Men Are Fighting Sexism – Jezebel

Is My Vibrator Ruining My Relationship? Probably not, but relationships are hard – Salon

And even though this isn’t really about sex, did you know that Only 8% of people sleep naked? – Technorati

Alright, take it away George!

What’s On Our Radar 12/05/12

It’s hump day! Read some stuff, why not!?

The Night I Let My Wife Peg Me is a marvellous account of one man’s first (but not last) time – Role/Reboot

I Have: Vaginal Cysts is also a pretty marvellous account, this time of a woman’s journey through a medical system that couldn’t identify what was going on with her vagina. I know little about vaginal cysts myself but I think I’ll do my research and post about them in the near future – The Frisky

Young, Gay, Black — and at Risk for HIV asks why this is such a high risk cohort – The Atlantic

[Shameless Personal Plug] Considering The Female Condom is a breathtaking inquiry [written by me] into why women and men are so seemingly uninterested in using the Female Condom and why they might reconsider – The Feronia Project

The “Halo” Of Hot Women examines the “Halo Effect” in which people attribute qualities of “goodness” to people just because they’re hot – Science Of Relationships

Justin Lehmiller asks/answers: What is Sex Like With a “Friends With Benefits?” – The Psychology of Human Sexuality

And the ever controversial Hugo Schwyzer muses on Why We Still Fall For The Myth Of The Uncontrollable Boner – Jezebel

Finally, because I’ve been posting videos on the bottoms of some of the more recent What’s On Our Radar Posts, here’s Dan Savage on the worst advice he’s given and gay teens coming out (or not coming out):

What’s On Our Radar 11/27/12

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, I just got a new job (woohoo!) and all sorts of life is happening so all I got’s for you is a What’s On Our Radar post for now, but stay tuned for our regularly scheduled programming coming up later in the week. but without further ado:

Contrary to popular belief Guys Don’t Just Want Casual Sex – Salon

The wonderfully titled, Sex, Booze and the Meaning of Life in which Big Think makes fun of a recent study about how people prefer getting drunk and having sex than raising their kids – Big Think

New research suggests yet another reason why sex education should be taught in the classroom – because teens can learn from each other how to successfully use contraceptive methods. Sex education, a topic dear to my heart – Dollars and Sex

Sex Taboos: A brief and incomplete tour – Mind Hacks

This April the New York times had a great panel of 8 debaters pouring over the pros and cons of legalization of prostitution: Is Prostitution Safer When It’s Legal – New York Times

The Nasal Spray Created To Give Women Orgasms is as much about the spray as it is about the contentious issue of stigma surrounding “disorders’ and the medicalization of women’s sexuality – The Atlantic

Dr. Justin Lehmiller (one of my personal favs) asks: Are Men’s Standards Really So Low Their Willing To Date ‘Sociopaths?’ Answers: No – The Science Of Relationships

And finally there is a new web series coming out about animal sex (read more about it here), it’s called Wild Sex, check out the preview:

What’s On Our Radar 11/16/12

It’s that time again to close some of the browser tabs that are slowing down my computer:

Lehmiller asks Do “Nipple Orgasms” Really Exist? – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

Apparently there may be a link between Marijuana and Testicular Cancer, not to mention my favorite accompanying graphic ever! – The Feronia Project

Followed by my favoriet title ever: The Myth of the Boner Werewolf – The Pervocracy

The pretty self explanitory, I Was a Sex Surrogate – Salon

Despite Dire Warnings, Porn Does Not Necessarily Chang the Way We Have Sex – Slate

And lastly, the science behind Morning Erections:

What’s On Our Radar 11/09/12

Happy friday to everyone reading this today. So tuesday was a big day in the United States. Gay marriage and marriage equality laws were passed in four states and the number of women elected in the senate rose significantly. Also, the Republican rape apologists all got the boot. When 50% of the population is female, and almost 100% have mothers (except kids with two dads), you just cant say some of the ignorant shit that those old dudes said. So it was a good night…except in California:

So Measure B Passed… and porn actress Stoya is pissed. And rightly so in my opinion. Though I get the arguments for this measure I also fully understand the arguments against and I feel like it needs further discussion, something that is unlikely to happen in the main stream due to it being about porn. – Stoya

Perhaps worse than that Proposition 35 was passed, this pre-election article explains why that is a really, really bad thing for sex workers: California’s Prop 35: Targeting The Wrong People For The Wrong Reasons. – Truthout

According to a British study Children are becoming addicted to internet porn, I don’t particularly like the tone of this article but they make some good points about the availability of hardcore porn and young peoples expectations of what sex is – The Sydney Morning Herald

Dan Savage: The Gay Man Who Teaches Straight People How To Have Sex – The Atlantic

Only ‘Yes’ Means Yes: Why Sometimes What You Think Is Consensual Sex Is Actually Rape – Role/Reboot

And finally Lehmiller answers the question Are There Limits to Being Sex Positive – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

Lehmiller writes his brilliant definition of Sex Positive in this last article and I’m going to post it here for all the TL:DR types:

(1) adopting comprehensive and inclusive definitions of gender and sexual orientation, (2) rejecting narrow definitions about what constitutes sex (e.g., the view that only vaginal intercourse “counts”), (3) giving due consideration to the potential positive and negative consequences of being sexually active, (4) providing people with the information and tools they need to optimize their sexual health and to make healthy decisions, (5) promoting healthy and respectful sexual and romantic relationships, (6) recognizing that monogamy and marriage are not universal relationship goals and ideals, (7) understanding that not everyone is a sexual being and that a lack of sexual desire is not inherently dysfunctional, and (8) respecting people who have different views about sex than you.

What’s On Our Radar 11/02/12

Picking through the internet with a fine toothed comb, some of my favorite sites are less than fully operational thanks to Hurricane Sandy but here’s what I’ve been reading as of late:

Are There More Sex Crimes On Halloween? – The Psychology Of Human Sexuality

Is It Time We All Stopped Coming Out? Probably not but wouldn’t that be nice – Vice

Relationship With Dad Affects Teens’ Sexual Behaviour. Not as creepy as it sounds – Yahoo! News

Confessions of a Formerly Sexist Man – Daily Life

And lastly Tales From the Friend Zone: REALLY Just Friends! – Science Of Relationships


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The Charge of the Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise.

You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.

Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My Presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.

For My law is love is unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the holy grail of immortality.

I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.

Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.

Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of Whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the universe:

I Who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,

I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.

From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.

Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.

Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And you who seek to know Me, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am That which is attained at the end of desire.

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Monday, January 30, 2017

Once Should Be Enough by Nikky Kaye

Are friends with benefits worth the cost?

My cocky friend Will doesn't believe that I'm frigid, but what does he know? His promises might make me shiver but it doesn't mean he can give me a happy. He's so confident he's betting me money on it, and a thousand bucks is a lot of money to a poor college student.

Once should be enough to taunt him with "I told you so," right?

But I didn't know he meant trying everything once...

This super hot 25,000-word standalone new adult romance novella has adult language and themes, and a happy ending (several, actually).

“Let me ask you something,” he said, squinting his eyes at me. I nodded hesitantly, and his hands splayed out further on my face. His thumbs drew together to almost touch under my chin, and his pinky fingers grazed my earlobes, sending a ripple down my spine. It was like he was studying the shape of my jaw, the line of my throat and the curve of my cheekbones.
“Have you ever been aroused?”
My eyes widened. “Uh, I suppose so? I’m not a virgin,” I reminded him. Technically.
He scowled. “You can have sex without being aroused, though it’s sure as fuck a bad idea. And you can most definitely be aroused without having sex.”
I opened my mouth to say something then closed it, to which he raised an eyebrow.
“Do you want me to list the clinical symptoms?”
No, I didn’t. His hands trailed down my neck, the pads of his thumbs coming to rest in the hollow at the base of my throat. Hopefully he couldn’t feel my heart racing.
“Maybe I’m asexual,” I suggested, a lump forming in the back of my throat. “I mean, I’ve never even gone to a bar and thought someone was hot.” I felt like such a freak. “Aren’t girls my age supposed to get drunk and want to get laid?”
He tilted his head one way, then the other, examining me. “It’s possible,” he granted. “But I doubt it. You’re getting turned on right now.”
“Arousal is a physical reaction to stimulus, as well as a mental one.” While he spoke, his thumbs traced my collarbone on either side, back and forth, like he was rubbing a lucky penny in his pocket. “It’s easier to become aroused by someone you feel comfortable with already,” he informed me as I let out a little hum.
Then he must be wrong, I thought. I was feeling distinctly uncomfortable right now, like a cat whose fur was being rubbed the wrong way.
Bending his head towards me, he took me by surprise with a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth.
“What are you doing?” Oh god.
He leaned in again to kiss the other side of my mouth, but I was frozen in place.
“Testing your theory,” he said against my lips.

Nikky Kaye is almost my real name. I’m a former Film professor who likes more than her movies to be black and white. Sadly, the world doesn’t work that way. I have worked with movie stars, Ivy League brainiacs, and the United Nations—all of which means that I’m familiar with ass-kissing, power struggles, greed and faking it. In my spare time I parent 5 year-old twin boys, serve on the board of an independent cinema, and run a medical consulting company.

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Poem a Day Challenge #1

Over at Two Writing Teachers, Ruth and Stacey are hosting a Poem a Day Challenge.  My students are writing poetry in writing workshop and I want to follow their awesome example.  That means being brave and sharing my own poems!

While watching Oprah the other day, I was dumbfounded by her segment on the great landfill in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  I was inspired to write a poem using the Concerns about the World Door (Georgia Heard).

Just because we don’t see it,

does that mean it isn’t there?

across the Pacific,

the size of Texas…

A sea of garbage.

An ocean of waste.

The briny deep now a slimy heap.

Fish entangled in plastic bags

plankton strangled by lack of space,

sea turtles choked by bottle caps.

How do we live with ourselves?

How do we ignore it?

Chemicals spilled on the pavement fall into the sewers

run into our rivers

race to the ocean

and make their way into the skin, the gills, the lungs, the prey

of whales, fish, birds.

Our waste is cancerous.

What sickens the food chain

back to us.

Who will step up and take responsibility for the clean-up,

before it’s too late?

3 Responses

  1. Very powerful! I have a student doing an individual Inquiry of landfills, I will have to let her read your poem. I wonder how bad the disaster will have to be before we change the way we live? Even with my students…they are such little activists and yet when it’s hot they are the first ones to beg for the air conditioning or they lazily toss paper in the trash instead of the blue bin. Wastefulness is such a part of daily life we don’t even think about it.

  2. Strong feelings about an important topic — perfect backdrop for a wonderful poem! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

  3. Loved this poem-I missed this Oprah show but your poem says it all!

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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Great Frederick Fair

We had a great time at the Great Frederick Fair with Angela and her Mom on Saturday.  We saw a cow about to give birth, the girls pet a baby cow born that morning, and ten, 5 day old piglets.  They rode the carousel and munched on kettle corn.  Afterwards, Angela showed us around the city town (totally cute), gave us a tour of her church (wowsa! 400+ active members where her father is the senior pastor!) and then we went to her parents for Larry (her dad) burgers! Yum!


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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Daddy Meets Queen of Sweden

Daddy is in Sweden this week.  Yesterday he called the girls to tell them he met a real Queen and Princess.  And, get this, the Queen of Sweden's name is SILVIA.  How about that, just one letter off, but pronouced like Sylvia?!  The princesses name was Victoria.  You could tell Evelyn was a little disappointed her name wasn't Evelyn.

Color By Number

Check out these color by number skills.  Interesting that Evelyn took 2 days to complete hers, Sylvia completed hers in one.  Evelyn has gotten really deliberate in her coloring and does a great job staying in the lines.  Sylvia usually does a great job and often tries harder (Evelyn sometimes gets frustrated), but it seems like the roles are switching again!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Fun Fall Times

Just goofing off in the back yard!  The next day I buried Evelyn in leaves and she didn't want to get out.  Face and everything.  So silly.


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Supplier Day at The Scottish Cafe!

This Saturday 17th September from 2pm, we’ll be joined by suppliers from around Scotland to bring you a taste of our famous Scottish larder!

As a Grand Finale to Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight 2011, we are transforming the Scottish National Gallery, Gardens Entrance into a Supplier Day Exhibition where local supplier’s will showcase their produce and share tastings with the public in a collaborative celebration of Scotland’s fine food and drink.

Suppliers attending include: Cuddybridge Apple Juice; Peelham Farm; Manna House Bakery & Patisserie; Campbells Prime Meats; Scotherbs; Caledonian Breweries; H J Errington Cheese; Phantassie Organic Vegetables; Graham’s The Family Dairy; Summer Harvest Rapeseed Oils; Whitmuir Farm Organics; Findlay’s of Portobello; Crabbie’s Ginger Ale and Royal Mile Whiskies.

Our first supplier open day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate and share in the wealth of our great Scottish larder. We are proud of the time and commitment we take to sourcing and selecting our producers to ensure our customers receive the best quality when dining in the restaurant.

And, as extra special ingredients to celebrate the day, we will also be joined by Scotland’s own Ian Rankin, who will launch The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant’s new house ale, Reverend’s Reward, brewed by Caledonian Brewery, and be on hand with esteemed food writer, Sue Lawrence for book signings.

Join us on Saturday 17th September from 2pm and enjoy the fresh taste of Scotland! Find more information by following these links:

Supplier Day at The Scottish Cafe
Scotland Food & Drink Event Information
Scotland Food & Drink News Article

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I recently got into an unmarked car with a strange man who picked me up on the side of the road in one of New Jersey’s most notoriously dangerous cities. The police call this behavior unsafe and irresponsible. The general public calls it Uber Car.

On that note, here’s this week’s Useless Shit List…

1.) Biscuits and Gravy Lay’s Potato Chips! It’s time for Lay’s Do Us A Flavor competition. If you’re not familiar with this, it’s Lay’s yearly competition in which they ask the public to come up with chip flavors that sound absolutely disgusting.

My vote this year is for Biscuits & Gravy. When you first taste it you might be like, “This tastes like someone dumped Lipton soup into a bag of Lay’s potato chips. Ew.” But by the time you finish the bag (and you will) you’ll be like, “This tastes like someone dumped Lipton soup into a bag of Lays potato chips. And it’s de-fucking-licious!”

VOTE FOR BISCUITS & GRAVY NOW. Trust me, the world will be a better place with this chip in it. (And after voting you may even consider moving to Michigan where, as the map indicates, everything is amazing.)

2.) An Idiot Test: Do we eat hen eggs or chicken eggs? Vote now then check out the answer later in the post.

3.) The UroClub

I don’t golf. But I pee. So I appreciate the sentiment behind this product. However, it’s completely and totally sexist. I challenge any woman to use the UroClub without soaking her shoes–except maybe Caitlyn Jenner. (If you’re offended by this comment, don’t be. It’s actually a huge compliment and anyone who says that her anatomy makes her any less of a woman is an idiot. And not just because gender is mental but also because they’ve obviously never been forced to balance their ass over a bush while they soak their shoes and their dress and curse God for not giving them a wiener. So you see, Caitlyn Jenner isn’t just a woman…she’s a super woman. I wonder if she golfs?)

Want the UroClub? Buy it here!

4.) Batman vs. Superman Speaking of superwomen, this movie will be out in 2016 and nerds everywhere are in deep discussions about who will prevail. But to me, this seems like a really unfair fight because Superman is a superhero with, you know, superpowers, and Batman is just like a really rich Inspector Gadget.

And with that, nerds everywhere turned over in their mom’s basement. Sorry guys. If it makes you feel any better, Batman might still come out on top. He seems like more of a top than a bottom anyway. Right?

Here’s the trailer:

5.) Today’s Good Advice: Don’t Windex your magnifying makeup mirror. Keep a nice thick layer of dust on it at all times. Trust me. Seriously. Don’t do it. Ever.

IDIOT TEST ANSWER: If you said, “It’s the same thing, moron!” you’d be right!  And clearly much smarter than me and my husband.

But why would I ask such a stupid question? Blame this perpetually happy talking tractor, Tec, that my 12-month-old forces me to watch every night.

In a recent episode, Tec went on a hunt for hen eggs to eat for breakfast and this conversation ensued between Tom and me:

Tom: I want to try hen eggs! They sound good.
Me: You have tried hen eggs, idiot. They’re just chicken eggs.
Tom: Really?
Me: Yes! … right? … I mean, I think so…
(Blank awkward stare)
Me: I want to try hen eggs too…

And, if you’d like to waste 13 minutes and 42 seconds of your life, here’s the Tec the Tractor episode that started it all, Hunting for Eggs.

This week’s shout out goes to Stephanie Marsh at We Don’t Chew Glass for this hilarious post, The Tooth Fairy and Santa are Two Different Burglars. Seriously, even the title makes me laugh.

Want to be The Spew‘s blogger of the week? Like me on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter (see how I did that?) then I’ll like/follow you back so I can read your awesome posts every day. You can also send nominations to me herePlease note: While this title doesn’t come with anything of any real value, it does come with a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that you’re amazing.

If you like what you just read please click to send a quick vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs- The best mommy blog directory featuring top mom bloggers

About Diana Davis

I’m a writer with a blog that will send my kids to therapy one day. Until then I invite you to laugh with me at their expense. Don't worry they love it. They're smiling already—or maybe that’s just gas.
This entry was posted in The Useless Shit List and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to THE USELESS SHIT LIST #245

  1. Steph says:

    Awesome. Thanks, and nice to meetcha!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Tricia McCormick says:

    As I finished reading about biscuit and gravy lays, tears of laughter running down my face, I watched the uroclub commercial and just lost it…. keep it coming!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. veronica lee says:

    Hi! Stopping by from Mom Bloggers Club. Great blog!
    Have a nice day!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: dick holes | The Spew

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Old Soul Storytelling Hour

The Art of the Cabaret Singer

A poster advertising a tour of the Le Chat Noir’s troupe of cabaret entertainers. (Théophile Steinlen, 1896)

In Parisian cafes after the Franco-Prussian war of the 1870s, discontent grew. People were sick of social repression, war and constraints to expression. Artists, writers and other interesting people gathered to speak freely, often sharing their art with each other in small cafés. Eventually, these small gatherings became formal clubs. France, the first European country to give voting rights to all males, buzzed with a sense of equality, and perhaps the most alive with this bohemian restlessness was the city of Montmartre. Creative types flocked to its streets, and artists began to dismantle the notion of art as inaccessible fancies for aristocrats. They sought to create some art form crashing high-brow and low-brow together into something new.

From these efforts, Montmartre produced the most famous cabaret of all time – Le Chat Noir, “The Black Cat,” in 1881, named after the eponymous short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. In this small space, singing met spoofs met skits met shadow play in a low-cost hotbed of provocative entertainment. Cabaret was unpredictable, it was immediate, and, most importantly, it was fun.

Cabaret spread to Germany quickly, and by the 1900s, Germans managed to incorporate the traditional, unobjectionable variety show with experimental, avant-garde work, although they eschewed the risqué aesthetic of the Parisian cabarets with its nudity and casual profanity. World War I brought American jazz and African-Americans to German cabarets with legendary trailblazer Josephine Baker performing her cabaret revue in Germany in 1926.

Josephine Baker performing at the Folies-Bergère, Paris. (Walery, 1926)

This cultural blending across European borders eventually traversed the Atlantic to the United States where cabaret began to take hold in the Prohibition speakeasies where anything goes and everything went. Chicago and New York boasted the most vibrant cabaret scenes, with an electrifying racial mixing of dancers, musicians, Mafiosos, working class, poets, writers and the socially adventurous who sought to defy (or at least taunt) the strict separation of races, classes and mores of the day. In this liminal space, Billie Holiday debuted her haunting, classic exposé of white supremacy, Strange Fruit, at Café Society, a cabaret in Greenwich Village. This moment, a raw, unflinching, terrifying expression of honesty not just for Billie Holiday but for the audience, captures the great essence of the cabaret singer: a public performance of a private moment, the sense of a shared experience with a trusted friend, a story told in song. Often these rough emotional moments were followed by a rollicking number, and this structure of ups and downs, sentimentality balanced with humor, remains the winning combination for a solid cabaret show.

According to Katherine Anne Yachinich’s thesis The Culture and Music of American Cabaret, “The word ‘cabaret’ stems from the French cambret, cameret, or camberete, for wine cellar, tavern, or small room, but ultimately comes from the Latin camera, for chamber.” Today, 134 years after Le Chat Noir opened its doors in Montmartre, cabaret remains largely defined by the fact that it happens in a small space though what happens in that small space may be rather loosely interpreted by the artists performing within it.

CabaretProvidence Performing Arts Center

The 2016 National Touring cast of Roundabout Theatre Company’s CABARET, which comes to Tampa Jan. 24-29. Photo by Joan Marcus.

For the cabaret singer, opposed to song-and-dance numbers, puppetry or burlesque shows, which often also fall into the cabaret category, the art form relies on the intimacy of the chamber, his or her ability to make a performance space feel as comfortable as a living room. Cabaret coach Anita Hall said in an interview with writer Rita Kohn that “people [who] are drawn to cabaret are old souls. I’ve shared my stage with children who can phrase and swing better than entertainers that have been at it for decades. You either have it or you don’t.”

The cabaret singer’s challenge is one of balance: the subtle interplay of patter (talking or storytelling between numbers) and song choice, the correct push-and-pull of tension between him or herself and the audience, of measuring honesty and anecdote, of dancing around instead of delivering a theme.

Cabaret, unlike many performing arts, refuses to construct the fourth wall – the accepted, invisible barrier between the stage action and the audience – which means that the audience has access to the singer’s vulnerabilities. By its nature, since it was created to build community and expression, cabaret demands the flow of intimacy between the performer and the audience. Any good cabaret act knows how to take an audience to its edge and back again.

A great act convinces everyone to jump off the edge with them. In fact, they make it sound like fun.

The First To Taste The World

Singers, entertainers, recording artists and twins Will and Anthony Nunziata. (Photo by Andrew Werner.)

Singers, entertainers, recording artists and twins Will and Anthony Nunziata. (Photo by Andrew Werner.)

Rarely do we get twins performing together on stage at The Straz, so it is a double (quadruple?) treat to have Will and Anthony stopping by the Jaeb this Saturday for their cabaret show. We thought we’d celebrate this rare occasion with some interesting factoids about twins from around the world. We also threw in a few interesting factoids about Will and Anthony, just for fun.

In African Yoruba mythology, twins are knows as Ibeji, sacred spirits called Orishas, that symbolize wealth, power …. and trouble. The first born is called Taiwo, “having the first taste of the world,” and the second is Kehinde, “arriving after the other.”

The Aztecs were not as generous. One twin was killed to save the life of a parent and the other was thought to possess evil powers. No bueno.

The Lillooet tribe believes bears are the parents of twins.

Some famous mythical twins include Romulus and Remus, suckled by wolves in ancient Rome, and, of course, the Weasely Brothers, of Harry Potter legend. There’s also Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Artemis and Apollo, and the Hindu Ashwini Twins, who act as Healers.

Will and Anthony Nunziata. © Stephen Sorokoff

Will and Anthony Nunziata will perform Broadway Our Way as part of our Cabaret Series on Dec 6 and hold a workshop on Dec 7. (Photo by Stephen Sorokoff.)

Will and Anthony got their start on stage playing Judas and Jesus in Godspell. Wait til the show, and they’ll tell you who was who.

Their mother told them apart by dressing one in red and one in blue.

Their first professional gig was stealing (inadvertently, of course) a Cheerios jingle from the Harlem Boys Choir.

The twins’ first major show was called “Thank God the Egg Split: A Twin Show.”

They played with Upright Citizens Brigade. They are charming. They are funny. They are good-looking.

Seems like they prove a lot of the twin mythology just may have more than a little grain of truth.

The Lioness Returns

Kissy Simmons as Nala in The Lion King.

Kissy Simmons as Nala in The Lion King.

Kissy Simmons’ early career began on stages around the Tampa Bay region, one of which was our Jaeb Theater. She left for New York City the week of Sept. 11, 2001, to audition for Aida, a Disney production. Her audition led to an interest in her for The Lion King, and she and her husband stayed in the city during the chaos of the September 11th crisis. That Monday, Sept. 17, Kissy was cast as Nala in The Lion King, directed by lauded Julie Taymor, and began a decade-long journey with the show on Broadway, in Las Vegas and on the first national tour, which came to Morsani Hall in 2002.

Kissy, short for Kissimmee, a town close to her birthplace of Floral City, FL, returns to the Jaeb Theater Nov. 1, 2014, for a solo show as part of our brand new Cabaret Series. In many ways, she is returning to her roots, and we are happy to welcome her home. Caught in the Act caught up with Kissy by phone in her New York City apartment to talk about identity and place and her upcoming performance in the Jaeb.

CitA: We’ve been hearing rumors that your show is going to be a retrospective/introspective look at your life from the Straz to Broadway and back again. Is this true? And will you talk a little bit about how your upbringing in Florida has shaped your life as a performer?

KS (laughs): My show centers around the Straz, how I got my start, and where life has gone. For me, it all hinges from church. I was just a church girl who wanted to play the organ. I saw our organist in church and I thought “oh my goodness, I want to play the organ!” My talent derived from that environment and was facilitated there—even acting. We did skits and had to deliver Christmas speeches. You know, you don’t think about ‘down the road’ when you’re doing it, but now I look back and see. I look at my daughter (2-year-old Sadie), and I know that experiences like that matter. It makes a difference, at least it did for me. Those are my roots. The Straz … well, that was a really big deal. I had this idea of being a performer, but I didn’t know what that meant, it felt like a fantasy. I didn’t know how I would get there. I would audition at the [Florida] theme parks and couldn’t get a job with them. Luckily, the Straz was there and I was able to do so many cabaret shows. The Straz was a blessing. I even got married there!

We didn’t know that! Do tell.

Yes, by the water. We were in rehearsals for Swing! Swing! Swing! I approached Judy [Lisi, Straz Center President] to do something small, and she was like “oh, honey…” and my little idea turned into a wedding I never could have imagined! It was run like a show with calls and everything.

Kissy Simmons returns to the Jaeb Theater on Nov. 1 to kick-off the Straz Center's brand new Cabaret Series.

Kissy Simmons returns to the Jaeb Theater on Nov. 1 to kick-off the Straz Center’s brand new Cabaret Series.

That’s fantastic. So this is a real coming home for you.

I feel no shame in where I’m from. I’m from Floral City, the town with one traffic light. I walk around New York City in my cowboy boots. That’s where I’m from—I’m a small town country girl. You are who you are. For me to come back from being away and experiencing so many cultures, Vegas, New York … it’s refreshing to come home and see how people can ground you. When I go to Winn-Dixie [the grocery store], people say hello. My high school friends who stayed now have their kids at Inverness Middle School. It’s nice to see people I have roots with rooted in their own families. There are so many people to keep me connected, and it’s important for me to come back—but it is just as important for me to give back. You realize people have been rooting for you this whole time, and it’s a two-way street. It’s an opportunity to perform for people who supported me. People give me the strength to be able to do this, and I like to give it back. I’ll always be in and out of Florida even though New York is where we are.

You are an extremely down-to-earth person, with a relatively normal life, long-time marriage, a child … how do you stay humble in the entertainment business and stay out of a lot of the traps of the lifestyle?

I met Anthony [her husband] when we were both running track at USF [the University of South Florida]. I saw him and knew that was what I wanted, and that was that! (laughs) I know entertainment is what it is. I see it as such a blessing and opportunity. I get to do what I love. All jobs are important. All of our jobs no matter what it is are so important, and I view life that way. To blow it or waste it, for me, would be tragic. I know people recover [from addictions] and overcome, which is wonderful. But I just look at it like a huge blessing that I get to participate in. I’m my own worst critic, and in this business, it’s subject to people’s opinions. It’s a judged environment, and that can be hard. I learned humility through church, and maybe if I didn’t know to pray then I would be tempted to do something external to help me out, but I can stay grounded in being grateful for the opportunity. But that’s just my perspective, just the path I have been on.

We are really looking forward to having you to all to ourselves for your cabaret show. Will you give us a little sneak peek of what we can expect?

Let’s just say … expect some familiar tunes! Especially from shows done in the Jaeb. This performance is going to be a great time. Expect lots of fun and fun moments. Stan Collins, my piano player—he’s phenomenal. I wouldn’t do this show with anyone else! It’ll be me, Stan, and bass and drums. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Kissy Simmons, as Nala, and the Lionesses in The Lion King.

Kissy Simmons, as Nala, and the Lionesses in The Lion King.

William Ivey Long’s Designs on Broadway

William Ivey Long’s costume designs are a killer.

William Ivey Long’s costume designs are a killer. [Photo by Paul Kolnick; newcitystage.com]

The ultra-sexy revamped sheer black palette of the Chicago revival. The yellow dress in Contact. The frogs in Frogs. Sally Bowles’ maximum-leg-power mini-dress in Cabaret. The feather-trimmed muu-muu in Hairspray.

Long’s hand-drawn sketch along with the real-life costume shows the evolution from imagination to reality.

Long’s hand-drawn sketch along with the real-life costume shows the evolution from imagination to reality. [(c) Richard Kornberg and Associates and William Ivey Long]

And here, at The Straz, the mind-blowing, magical wardrobe changes in Rodgers+Hammerstien’s Cinderella.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. [http://www.williamiveylong.com]

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella.

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. [http://www.williamiveylong.com]

There is one mastermind behind these historic works of theater couture, and that man is the diminutive, Southern-spoken genius Broadway loves named William Ivey Long. As *the* costume designer of the Broadway set, Long’s name brand is sewn into over 70 shows and counting. His designs—spectacular, fabulous works created after intensive, obsessive research—have been known to become as famous as the actors who wore them and, in some cases, lasted as works of art far longer than the show itself.

This bodysuit, designed for Anita Morris in “A Call from the Vatican” for Tommy Tune’s original production of NINE is allegedly the sexiest costume in Broadway history.

This bodysuit, designed for Anita Morris in “A Call from the Vatican” for Tommy Tune’s original production of NINE is allegedly the sexiest costume in Broadway history. [http://imgarcade.com]

One of the most illustrative tales of Long’s creative design genius came from the set of The Producers, where he had created meticulously detailed pearl leotards for the chorus of Pearl Babes. During their number, they sit on a piano, and, as it turned out, sitting on pearls on a piano is terribly uncomfortable. Can you fix this? they asked Long.

Pearl Babes from The Producers.

Pearl Babes from The Producers.

Long thought about it, and he turned that difficulty over in his mind. He did not want to sacrifice his precious pearls shimmying in the back, and he didn’t want any other effect. So, he gathered up the costumes and took them home for a few days. Then he returned, handed each actor her costume and said the problem is solved.

The Pearl Babes put on their costumes and sat down, and, certainly, the pearls gave way beneath them. Long had replaced the hard plastic pearls with fake grapes, the kind found in most Grannys’ bowls of fake plastic fruit, and painted them an opalescent white. Problem solved.

And the audience never knew the difference.

Long’s designs for Dreamgirls exemplify his unique style that blends theatricality and haute couture.

Long’s designs for Dreamgirls exemplify his unique style that blends theatricality and haute couture.

For more on William Ivey Long:

William Ivey Long Keeps His Clothes On By Alex Witchel

“William Ivey Long, Costume Designer, Rodgers+Hammerstein’s Cinderella

William Ivey Long at TEDx Lizard Creek: “The Design Process”


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Accessories · Beauty Blogger · Collaborative post · Dress up with TSC · Dresses · Fashion of the season · FOTD · Gold · Hair · Hair curls · Hairstylist · Lipstick of the Day · Look Of The Day · Makeup · Makeup Artist · Midi rings · MOTD · OOTD · Pune · Rings · Style · Tips · Winter · Winter Fashion

Tiger Trails

Hello Lovelies 😀
I’m back with yet another OOTD post & accessories specially picked for my outfit from Vida Loca‘s new range of accessories!
Nothing makes a bigger statement than PRINTS! That’s the reason I bought this dress from this month the minute I saw it! The pencil fit of the dress is just the icing on the cake!
I love all kinds of animal print & I decided to take it to the next level by getting this tiger(s) print dress 😉
Recently gifted Steve Maddens from my BFF on my birthday seemed like a good option to team up with the dress! The turqoise colour absolutely broke the monotony of the black-yellow combination & added a very unique & fun touch to it.
Tip- when wearing bold prints whether wearing minimal or statement accessories, the prints will over power the accessories so don’t concentrate too much on accessorizing! Have a nice bag/ clutch or earings or even swag heels 😉
Found this lovely blue & green neckpiece called Inca from Vida Loca matching my shoes. I don’t like being ‘the girl who was confused what colour to wear, so she wore them all’ :p
Styling Tip– In any outfit don’t let the colour play have more than three shades! It just becomes chaos.
Every look has to have that unique swag factor! The dress & the heels were already so unique but I still thought that the swag factor was missing! But, the minute I laid my eyes on this nail ring from Vida Loca, I just knew it was made for this dress especially 😀 The ring absolutely completed that Cat look 😉
Makeup was quite simplistic so kept all the attention on the lips & wore my Lancome Rouge in Love lippie- pink bonbon.
Hair was first blow-dried to smoothen out my natural curls & frizz & then curled with a curling tong (loved the look so much that I really want to keep my hair this was for NYE)
Get bold! Wear the prints this party season 😉
Do check out Vida Loca Accessories you will fall in love with their stuff & especially Karishma who will sweetly attend to your styling needs. FB- Vida Loca & On Instagram- @vidalocaindia
Be Yourself & Shine On ❤

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Tag Archives: High Museum

The last 30 days, in a nutshell

April really flew by and spring is officially in full swing in Atlanta. Even though the pollen is an inch thick on my car, I haven’t had so much as a sniffle. High-five immune system! So with a little spring in my step, … Continue reading

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Hello. It’s Me.

This week’s blog was written by WCO graduate assistant and Adele-fan Lily Cason.

Have you seen Saturday Night Live’s recent skit about how Adele’s song “Hello”* can keep your family from fighting at Thanksgiving?

In the video a family gets into some conversation minefields, but the holiday spirit is saved when the family is united by their love of Adele. We all love Adele. Her single “Hello” has reached #1 on the charts in 28 countries and became the first song ever to have more than 1 million digital sales in a week. Adele seems to be universally loved and appreciated.

But “#1” doesn’t just apply to music. There’s another thing that unites us all: water. More than 7 billion people use water every day in every country around the world. I was wondering if maybe water could unite our families at Thanksgiving as well.

Hello from the other siiiide! Those of us who work for water utilities have a special glimpse into a hidden world. In the time that I have been working for the ACC Public Utilities Department, I have learned so much about our infrastructure and the issues we deal with in the water world. I often joke that this job has ruined my life, because I am now obsessed with scraping my dishes clean so as not to send clog-producing fats, oils, and grease down the drain. I make sure to only flush the 4 Ps (Poo, Pee, Puke, and toilet Paper) and throw floss and tissues in the trash instead. I refuse to leave a restaurant water glass without drinking all of the water in it (water conservation and hydration win!). I turn the faucet off while brushing my teeth. I use grey water to water my plants.

Why do I do all of these things? Because I am so grateful to have clean water. In the United States we are lucky to have clean drinking water and wastewater treatment that keeps our waterways clean. So I do what I can to help maintain these systems that I feel so lucky to have. Part of that means sharing what I’ve learned. At the Water Conservation Office we lead tours of our facilities, talk about water in school programs, and post to social media to share what we know.

My friends and family may get tired of hearing about my Adele and water obsessions, but at least I can say that I’ve tried (too much?).

I encourage you to share what you know about water with your loved ones this Thanksgiving. Whether you talk about how to handle the grease left over from your delicious holiday cooking (eg. don’t pour it down the drain), how the water bears that help clean our wastewater can survive in outer space (!), the 2.5 billion people in the world who don’t have access to improved sanitation, or whatever else you find interesting.  Remind your loved ones to conserve and appreciate our water resources because it’s no secret that the both of us…are running out of time.

When my family goes around the table on Thursday to say what we are thankful for, I will definitely say: Adele.

And water too, of course. 🙂

* Here is the original music video for Adele’s “Hello” in case you missed it

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