Blog

July 31, 2025

So, American Eagle puts Sydney Sweeney in a jeans ad (blonde, blue-eyed, objectively gorgeous) and the slogan is "She's Got Good Jeans". It's a play on words. A double entendre, if you will. Apparently, that's all it takes for the Internet to start screaming "Nazi," "eugenics," and "white supremacy." You're joking, right?

I'm not here for this level of intellectual laziness. Sydney Sweeney isn't wearing a swastika. She's wearing blue jeans. The fact that she happens to look like my own daughter, who is also white with blonde hair and blue eyes, makes the outrage even more ridiculous. Since when did simply existing while white become a political statement?

If the roles were reversed and a biracial model had been featured with the exact same pun, no one would bat an eye. In fact, people would celebrate it. So what we're really looking at is selective outrage masquerading as social justice. It's not brave. It's not even rational.

Sometimes an ad is just an ad. Sometimes "good genes" means someone's parents passed along symmetry and clear skin. Not a manifesto. Not a breeding program. And if you can't tell the difference anymore, the problem isn't with the ad. It's with you.

 

July 30, 2025

I'm a little over AI. For one, it's not some big, scary issue that will take over. It's literally a language model without sentience. It can do things, sure. But it's limited by the humans who programmed it. Some of them flat-out lie or make up things. The one national newspaper that published a 20 book summer reading where half the books were made up by AI had me giggling up a storm. And a little sad because some of those books sounded amazing! Some of them victim blame. Because the programming is based on whatever the biases were of the people feeding it. Some of them are apparently racist but I've never encountered that. It will fight with me sometimes about ideas then concede that my side actually makes sense and that it is really just functioning on its programming. I think it's funny when I win arguments with it. I understand that more sophisticated graphical AIs can make what looks like superior art. But how much energy does it take to make soulless AI art and how much money do you save just having a real person who can take notes, create what you actually asked for, and doesn't make up nonsense to fill in its own blanks. The number of times I have heard people in outrageous, apocalyptic mindsets over AI is ridiculous. Use it a bit. Pay attention to who is telling you it's going to take over. Are they companies who have a vested financial interest in selling you an AI product? I bet they are. Critical thinking here, people. Let's go. AI isn't scary. It's subservient, at best. Garbage, at worst. Nothing to be feared. It still can't even write without using em dashes and outing itself!

 

July 29, 2025

Update on at least one of the indie author's affected by scammy Amazon KDP practices. She was given back her account, minus the royalties she would have earned in the 2 weeks she was fighting this. But at least her livelihood is back. She spent a great deal of the announcement thanking God for His grace and His mercy in the situation. Which I loved because I love when God is glorified in situations that seem too large and impossible. This was definitely a David vs. Goliath situation and God backed this author just like He backed David. His will prevailed and I love that. There will never be a day that I will not believe God is good, that He takes care of His children, and that He loves to lavish good things on us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Less joyfully is the fact that we decided, after long months of working with her, that Nova was not going to progress to where she needed to be in order to stay in the house. She had made leaps and bounds and then suddenly regressed. And, by regressed, I mean attacking, clawing, swatting, biting, etc. Often at random, especially if she didn't get her own way. Like being allowed to climb onto my body, rub all over, and bite me on the face afterward. I mean, it's not like I don't enjoy the occasional brush with facial mutilation, but I think my husband, who calls me Pretty Girl, might object if I wore a set of cat fang punctures like facial tattoos. She was a quirky, sometimes very sweet and affectionate, little dork. I had such high hopes for her but she just was not able to be motivated. Nothing we did worked. And, in spite of the rude way the woman at the cat café asked if we actually tried to stop her bad behavior, we tried everything and spent quite a bit of money in the process. So, not quite sadly, but solemnly, we brought her back to where we adopted her. I know she'll have a good life with someone who might better be able to understand and motivate her to successfully settle into a household. She deserves the best. Farewell, little Novaloo.

 

July 28, 2025

So apparently Amazon's KDP, their self-publishing platform, is going through some changes. It hasn't affected me but I have seen a lot of people in the BookTok sphere talking about being locked out of their accounts, royalties stolen by Amazon, and ending up with no Amazon platform to sell their books anymore. All because of glitches in a new, mandatory identity verification they are imposing. And, regardless of what the authors do or say, Amazon is not budging. It's stealing thousands from independent authors, holding their books hostage, and interrupting their small businesses. It's heartbreaking to see.

I'm grateful that my tiny little book isn't really a thing. A few people have read it but it was not really published for a wide audience or even marketed. I had no aspirations to hit it big with that book or begin a following.

Unlike the authors affected by this nonsense who had thousands of people reading their work. Fans eagerly awaiting the next installments to series. Or new readers excited for a book recommended by a friend. My only hope is that Amazon figures out their issue and stops doubling down that it's the authors who are at fault somehow.

STOP BEING A BULLY, AMAZON!

Also, any woman who was using the Tea app should be ashamed of herself. Just saying.

     

 

July 26, 2025

My husband and I have a private Discord server where we share things with each other that we find around the internet, think about, or write. Etc. I mean, there are channels for everything from pictures of our cats to internet memes to ai monstrosities to things we're not entirely sure about but they made us smile, laugh, or mildly terrified. I highly recommend this for other married couples who spend a lot of time online due to work. It's a massive morale booster. Like going in and unwrapping multiple gifts a day from the person you love the most. I keep threatening to create a channel for our lexicon where we keep a record of everything that has entered our collective vocabulary and the Delunaverse canon along the years we've been together. I'm not sure if Alex is ready for that one but it may need to be done. I don't ever want to forget about Bimber, Hoagie and the Chimichanga Shop, or the Council of the Dwarves and their inscrutable machinations against ugliness. Among others. :D

 

July 25, 2025

Recently fell down the rabbit hole with women who find it absolutely okay to get on social media and shame their husbands. For whatever reason, they think that gathering the support of thousands/millions of strangers on the internet against a singular man is the right thing to do. That their need for vindication means they have the right to shame, humiliate, emasculate, and completely disrespect the man they say they love. To which I say, "You do not love him." Love does not do that. That is serious immaturity and self-focused pride. My heart hurts for every man whose wife has "put them on blast" with the internet for being a human being, making a mistake, or saying the wrong thing accidentally.

And to everyone along the way who supported that woman, regardless of whether or not the man was wrong, she was worse in how she handled it. Shame on you.

 

July 24, 2025

Having started a Substack and a separate blog and, now even, a TikTok channel, I feel like I started an entirely new chapter of my life this second half of 2025. I'm writing regularly, giving advice, and sharing the skills and experience I have with others. I almost feel like Grandma Moses, though I suppose I am not that old. Who knows where this will take me.

But there is one thing I am sure of. I am somewhere in my life that I never thought I could ever be. I never dreamed I'd be married to my best friend, loving 2 furry babies with the most random quirks and personalities, successfully navigating (and enjoying!) being the mother of an adult child, published author(!!!). The fact that I am in a place in my life I didn't know could happen, let alone not think was possible, is blowing my mind. And I love every second of it.

That being said, I just figured I'd make the beginnings of the list of things I am grateful for right now. In no particular order.

 

July 23, 2025

I have to say that I find it funny when people get riled up over what is clearly rage bait. When they miss the point or it flies completely over their heads that the person they are watching on social media is messing with them. And get so angry they just cannot help themselves but leave nasty comments. What they haven't figured out is that they are the means of making money for the content creator. Every time they angrily type out a diatribe, that creator makes money. The algorithm loves spreading content that gets high engagement. Making the audience angry is the top way to get engagement.

The mainstream media knows this. And capitalizes on it.

And, while rage bait on social media is highly amusing to me, news spun to anger people tends to have wider ranging consequences that I cannot get behind or laugh at. I've said it before, I'm for freedom of speech, but I'm even more for logical thinking. I wish more people did that on a regular basis. The amount of nonsense I hear coming out of people's mouths that isn't based in reality should be hilarious. Instead? It's just frustrating and sometimes demoralizing.

Makes me look forward to the next life when love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will be the foundation of the society I'll belong to.

 

July 22, 2025

Alex and I call it Lizard Time. It's those first moments when we leave a restaurant or store that's so air conditioned we're chilly; walk straight out into the heat. And not just any heat. Blazing, dry, sometimes suffocating Texas desert heat. But somehow, it feels incredible.

We get in the car, shut the doors, and just sit there, soaking it in. Letting our blood thaw. It's ridiculous but it's relief.

I think about that sometimes when I've been cold in my spirit. When I've spent too much time trying to be fine on my own and failing. When I've gotten numb, to everything -- even God.

Then He brings the heat. Not punishment. Presence and conviction. Warmth. Love. Grace.

Grace doesn't always feel soft. Sometimes it burns in the best way. Like bare legs on a leather seat in the 110° Texas heat. It wakes you up. Reminds you there's still life and growth and joy to be had.

The cold might have felt manageable, more familiar even. But being in God's presence, feeling His love and grace? Knowing that He is growing and strengthening me? It's far better.

This is Lizard Time. And I'm not going back inside.

 

July 21, 2025

I heard someone once explain a couple of theological things in everyday terms and I loved it. So I figured I'd share because, why not?

The first was when people believe, regardless of acceptance of salvation from God, they can - and absolutely should have the right to - get into heaven. The man explained: That's the same thing as rocking up to a really nice house in an exclusive neighborhood and telling the owner you're going to live there now. You don't know that man. You have no relationship with him. What gives you the right to his house?

The second was when people believe there is more than one way to heaven. In spite of the fact that God, who created everything, has told us He is the only way there. The man explained: That's the same thing as me inviting you over and giving you directions. "You go south on the freeway to exit 33, get off and make a left." And you saying, "Eh, I think I'll go north on the freeway and get off at exit 2. Then I'll make a right."

None of that makes sense, does it?

And the question of heaven is not a difficult one really. God gave us explicit instructions on how to get there. He also gave us a personalized manual for how to operate and care for the body he placed you in, the community around you, and the world in general.

So now, one of my own explanations, for when people think the Bible (God's manual) is restrictive and meant to enslave you to a zero fun life. My explanation: You don't look at the manual for a computer or a washing machine and decide that the person who made those and wrote the manuals for them is trying to restrict your use of them for some slave master-y purpose of their own. Rather, the manual, written by the creator of the item, knows it best and what is best for it to function at its absolute best.

God's Word is full of God expressing His desire for us to live freely from the enslavement of trying to be or do things just to fit in with the world. Or do things that will damage us in some way. It's also full of His desire for us to live with joy and peace and purpose. For our lives to mean things. He created so much about this life for us to enjoy, as long as it's in the proper context. The context in which it builds benefits for us rather than breaks us down mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

But then, the Bible also says that, to the world, following it will seem like foolishness.

So, I guess, if you think I'm a fool --- I'm doing it right.

 

     

 

July 19, 2025

Say what you will about masculinity (or, rather, if you'd choose the bear, don't say anything because you've lost the plot), but I really think there's something to be said for the men who go out in the Texas heat and mow the lawn. They go out and they fix things in the yard, around the house. They work with their hands to take care of their domain. To me? That's highly attractive. It's sacrificial, and it shows they take pride in what they own or are responsible for. There's a measure of integrity in there as well. Personally, physically doing the things that need to be done.

My husband is kind of the king of this. Everything from yard work to minor plumbing indoors. He makes sure our house is functional and looks taken care of. Even if it means getting tanned out in the heat. Not that I'm complaining about the tan!

So, while angry women scream during the "moment of silence" meant for men's mental health, here's a raised glass in a toast instead. To the men who are doing what needs doing. And, in the case of my husband, looking damn fine doing it too!

 

July 18, 2025

Warning: Rant Level 11

Writing good books is apparently a rare and lost art these days. My theory is that there are far too many authors who self-insert. And they are either not very interesting or not very likable. Or both.

The most recent book I read was advertised as a cross between one of my favorite scary movies and one of my favorite thriller novels. It was not even remotely like either. The only thing that made it similar to the book was they were both wedding themed (my fave was at an actual wedding, whereas this was at the bachelorette party). The only thing that made it similar to the scary movie was that there was a killer on the loose. Ish. Not even really. There was mind-numbing nonsense about yoga, vegan food, and the female main character vacillating between self-loathing over the fact she'd done something morally reprehensible (with extremely sad consequences for someone OTHER than herself) and (re)discovering attraction to every single person she interacted with. Except, thankfully, not with her own sister. She was the most self-absorbed character I've read in a long time which made it even more ridiculous that she was the only one who was picking up on some strange undercurrent of dread and somehow "knew" what was going to happen.

No, no, you did not.

You were too busy flirting and internally whining. And nothing was actually happening.

This is a bestseller, by the way.

And the final chapter of the book, where we get a wrap-up of everything, we spend more time hearing about her new therapy session than finding out what happened to her latest crush, her sister, etc. who were all VERY much more physically damaged in the finale than she was. But, of course, she wanted us to know about her first and foremost as she struggles with psychological issues leftover from seeing horrible things happen to the people she loves. I could not have cared less.

I one-starred that review on Goodreads and moved on to wondering why in the world this is a bestseller. Supposedly written by a Swedish author, the amount of garbage these women talk about their sex lives is very authentically American intersectional feminist. And it was like a peeing contest at times. I miss books that had more happening than this.

And if you're going to say it's a cross between a scary movie and a thriller novel, the first 3 quarters cannot be almost solely about a self-absorbed whiner talking about being attracted to everyone she meets. That's juvenile at best. Lazy, self-insert nonsense at worst. This is not how to write books. This is not how to advertise books. I'm going back to reading Jane Austen. Just kidding. Well, maybe not really... Time to crack open the hard science fiction. Thank goodness I finally discovered my love for that!

 

July 17, 2025

Sometimes I wonder what goes through people's heads when they treat others the way they do. Not returning phone calls. Or emails. Responding to partial communication and not the entire thing. Professionally, that is. Because you're representing your company or organization absolutely poorly when you act like this. You risk people shaking the dust from their shoes and not taking a second look at you when you act like this. There is no excuse. None.

Which ties into another thought I've been having about professionalism as well. Now that I'm putting out feelers for jobs in this area and realizing that, because of the area of work I am in, people don't actually take me seriously. Here, at least. They act as though, because I am applying for a job in this field, that I must not be very intelligent or connected or who knows. But the one take away should be this: everyone is a potential customer. The way I've been treated? I would never recommend your services to anyone. And I know enough people in this area with enough money for that to actually make a difference if the time came. We'll be going elsewhere. Across the board.

 

July 16, 2025

I realized today that, in spite of the fact I wrote a blog post, I lost the entire day yesterday. Alex told me today is Wednesday and I couldn't believe it. Then I remembered I hadn't slept at all Monday night so I slept a lot yesterday. And it's funny that sleeping about 3 hours in the middle of the day on a Tuesday can feel like losing the whole day somewhere. Which led to bigger thoughts about how, not working in a traditional sense, has led to days bleeding one into another until I don't really keep track of what day it even is. I came to the conclusion that I need to buckle down a little and be more intentional about how I spend my time. Being more mindful of days. It does help that I have certain writing deadlines I have to meet but even those are usually finished in advanced and scheduled because I KNOW I'm bad at keeping track of the days. Oh well. Maybe one day I'll be important enough to have an assistant who keeps track of these things for me. Or maybe I'll end up the assistant to a CEO who needs me to do that for him. Only time will tell!

 

July 15, 2025

I don't know why I don't sleep sometimes. It's an odd feeling to have the sensation of exhaustion, mind and body (and soul too some days), yet no amount of lying in a quiet room with a pillow over my head sends me off to dreamland. And, even if it does, I quite often end up with some kind of night terror. Somewhere between awake and asleep, the weight of a person sitting on the edge of my bed will send a shot of adrenaline through my system. Aaaand I'm awake. For the long haul. Sometimes I don't even get that. For which I'm grateful. I really do prefer not waking up terrified from almost sleeping when I am exhausted.

Anyway, I'm a bit delirious. Still, I do come bearing gifts. A new venture. I Think I Love This Little Life. We'll see what happens. How long it lasts. But, for now, I'm having fun.

 

July 14, 2025

There's a sign on the road leading into our neighborhood, just before you get to the gate. Dusty and worn from desert air over the years. One of those that you pop flat, individual letters into. Long ago, it lost one letter. So it now simply says "STOR GE". We drove by it one day and I turned to my husband and quietly said, "Poor Storge."

"Storge?" Alex asked, a bit nonplussed but ready for whatever was coming next.

"Mmhm. Storge. He lost his A. I guess that makes him Storge." This time I pronounced it to rhyme with Jorge.

One of the best payoffs for a corny joke is the way he laughs when I've caught him off guard with something that is, in our household, considered the triple threat of humor. 1. Absurd. 2. Requires you to pause for a moment to think. 3. Comes out of utter left field. I pride myself in discovering new ways to triple threat my husband.

One of the best payoffs for Googling, is discovering that "storge" is actually the Greek word for familial love and affection. You could say we have a lot of natural storge in our home.

 

     

 

July 12, 2025

My husband has been 3D printing a lot lately. I think he's the only man I've known that does utilitarian projects with his 3D printer. He's created a new keyboard with it, designed and printed a stand for my Switch, and now he's creating pieces for something I thought up to help us train our cats.

Don't get any fancy ideas. We're not training them to do tricks but rather doing behavior training. Both were feral when we adopted them and at least one of them gets triggered into a very focused, stalking prey mode. We want to redirect. And the little item I thought up has turned out beautifully thanks to my husband's design work and 3D printing know-how.

Unapologetically, I thoroughly love when married life leads to moments of partnership. Especially with tiny things that take a little bit of me and a little bit of him and come together in the middle to be something completely us.

My take away is this: marriage is not hard. Don't let them tell you that. It's life that is hard. When you face it together with your best friend, you end up with creativity, joy, and a resounding sense of satisfaction. Not to mention a lot of laughter. Together.

 

July 11, 2025

Trial and error in my job has always been a strength. Trial and error in my life really hasn't. Learning what I am good at doing when it comes to my job is easy. I know what I am good at and I know how to get better at what I am not as strong in. When it comes to life? That's a whole different ball game with a whole different set of rules. It's both daunting and exciting (I'm working on switching the order of those words). First, I have to figure out what holds me back. What words are running through my mind, often without realizing they are even there, that are keeping me from moving forward? The even harder question is, what don't I know? If you don't know what you don't know, there's a lot of guess work involved. When it comes to some things, guess work is my least favorite part.

I guess, all that to say that I am aware that trying out new things and ways to communicate my experiences to the world has been an interesting, sometimes uphill battle. I'm still working on it. We'll see where it goes. And how long I'll tolerate the whole "not knowing if it's working yet" part before I give up and try something else.

 

July 10, 2025

The evil continues. I'm all for freedom of speech. I honestly think it's a good thing when people warn me ahead of time that they are nasty individuals to be avoided. It's a form of aposematism which I appreciate. Do I want to hear more of it? Nope. There's only so much one can handle, as a mother, listening to other women call innocent, dead children incredibly vulgar slurs. I can’t imagine the internal rot that would allow someone to do that.

Young men are coming out in support of the same rhetoric now too. Basing it on wildly misinformed ideas thanks to their consumption of mainstream news. When will someone clue them in that the news is a business. They have to make money. They make the most money when you're angry and demoralized. It all falls under freedom of speech. Which I support. But let's also think with our heads and not our emotions. Stop letting a business make money off of riling you up over and over. Stop letting anything rile you up over and over. Especially if you cannot control it. The only thing you can control is your consumption. I'm switching off.

 

July 9, 2025

In an effort to take my mind off things, I've cleaned my house from top to bottom. Aired it out. Rearranged it all - oh did it need it. We're still recovering from the move and weren't sure where we wanted things until we'd been moving around the space and had the cats capering about too. I've also started playing a cute game called Tiny Glade. Highly recommend it. Thanks to my wonderful hubby for the gift.

 

July 8, 2025

Back to the lady who was invited to a party that wasn't a party. More childish behavior has taken place. Apparently the homeowners didn't like the response they got from their side of the story, which they chose to post on the internet. So they attempted to get her husband arrested by pretending he had been making death threats against the sheriff. When the voicemail was played back, the people from Vermont were surprised anyone thought the southern accent was coming out of the husband's mouth. Seriously? I'm now curious to know if there is even more behind this. Who goes to the cops and tries to frame someone over a woman showing up at your house with food when you just didn't want her there?

 

July 7, 2025

The evil of some people. To come on social media and say that babies deserved to die because of politics. There are a lot of things I could say but I will keep my mouth shut. Employers and communities have already spoken enough. My heart goes out to the families of those who were lost in the Texas floods. I'm grateful my family and I were safe.

 

     

 

July 5, 2025

There's this story circulating the internet, or at least in some corners, about a woman who came to a party, that wasn't a party, brought food because she'd been invited, and was treated terribly by the homeowners. Who, apparently, were aware she was coming. But seemed to think that being rude to her once she got there was the best way to handle it. Instead of either letting the person who invited her know that they really preferred a smaller gathering or just being warm and welcoming to her anyway. Being rude was the default. Talking to her like she didn't belong there when she'd spent her hard-earned money to make food and be sure she wasn't just showing up to mooch. Throwing tantrums outside of the house. Calling someone's mother (they were all adults). This is how children behave. I just want to look the homeowners dead in the eye and ask them who left them unsupervised. SMH

 

July 4, 2025

I truly love fireworks and the celebration of our country. I am proud to live in this country. I've done enough research into other countries to know I wouldn't want to live in any of the others. Unfortunately, some people really and truly make me wish they lived in other countries instead of this one. God Bless America. Even the haters.

 

July 3, 2025

Hot Take #1: What other people think of you is not your business.

Hot Take #2: You can admire someone and still think they’re wrong because you can disagree but still have respect.

Hot Take #3: Hallmark needs to get into the horror movie business. The amount of revenue they could generate by producing heart-warming, romantic, horror films about Christmas is an untapped goldmine.

 

July 2, 2025

Okay, class, today's lesson is this: you cannot control how others think or feel. And you certainly cannot make those things illegal. You can only outlaw actions.

Also? The Handmaid's Tale is not about what you think it's about. Your take is reductive but good job conflating it with your personal agenda. Two thumbs up for effort and a trophy for participation.

PS: I see you using AI to write things. AI is the only thing using emdashes like they are still relevant—to the general population. lol

 

July 1, 2025

It's a shanty town here. Yes, bits and pieces everywhere. There's more to come. I've started a few new ventures. We'll see how they pan out. Checking out different platforms for getting my writing out there.

July 1 starts the beginning of the second half of the year. The first half was filled with a lot of changes. It's only now that I'm settling in, taking a breather, finishing a few things.

I know there are few who follow me here but that's because I haven't marketed. That is hopefully changing soon. I had very little idea as to what I wanted here in this space before when I set it up. Now, I'm cycling through new things and ideas. And I'm just rambling here but then, that's what it's like writing. You ramble until something starts to form on the page that makes sense. Like swathes of watercolors on an artist's canvas.

We'll see where it all goes. If nothing comes of it, so be it. I tried. That's all that matters!

PS: America's "sugar free" nonsense is garbage. 75-80% of what is labeled sugar free contains sugar substitutes that are worse than sugar. Be mindful of what you're consuming. It's almost like they want you to be sick.