2018...BRING IT
Happy New Year! It is about 6 degrees here, but hey, starting the New Year with such definitive proof that global warming is fake news is a total win. Right?
Not to be a downer, but...you know shit's gonna happen, it always does. Sometimes you gotta work hard to have a good year. And I have a plan! <note that this is not the same as making a "resolution">
I'm drinking all the wine we've been saving for a special occasion. All. Of. It. 2018's gonna be one looonnggg special occasion, my friends.
I will be doing some work on the difference between "being nice" and "ignoring/quietly putting up with too much shit." You are probably thinking, "Oh Rebecca, no WAY you put up with any shit at all ever," but oh, honey, if you only knew. Not to pile on the whole new Rise of Feminism that's annoying the hell out of folks, but for Christ's sake, Putting Up With Shit is the default setting of every woman you know. Not lying.
I solemnly swear to continue to read "real news." And call your ass out when you shitpost a bunch of crap from some site that looks like a computer virus waiting to happen. WTF.
Also, I should clean up my language. Right. Which is why this is a Plan and not a Resolution.
I plan to read some good books...and some bad books too so I know what good books are.
Gonna learn something new, maybe not every day 'cuz that's exhausting, but at least a couple times through the year. It's important, and refreshing, and I'll be able to look back on the year and say "Yeah, but hey at least I learned some new things!" And those new things better not be stuff like "Wow, I did NOT know that friend was a bigot" or "Shit, my jeans are too tight."
I am blocking every single ad I see on Twitter and reporting all ads on Instagram as "spam." Yes, it's useless and bitchy but it feels righteous and you need to grab those moments when you can.
Related to Putting Up With Too Much Shit (see above), I will be happy to engage in a spirited debate on our opposing viewpoints. UNTIL you include any variation of following in your supporting arguments: only lazy people use "entitlement" programs; all Muslims are terrorists and support Sharia law; all those women "asked for it;" White Lives Matter; Milo and free speech; gluten is bad for you; football players/actors/celebrities should just sit down and shut up; Second Amendment precludes any sensible gun safety laws; flu shots make you sick; flat earth theory; cleanses; any use of the phrase "opens up" (as in "George Clooney opens up about chasing toddlers through 17-room Lake Cuomo mansion"); the wall; immigrants take jobs/money/welfare/whatever away from the rest of us; climate change hoax; OMG gay/lesbian/trans...whoa. OK some of these are in the pet peeve department, and clearly this list could go on and on and on. I guess come at me with facts? That might do it.
Drinking only the good beer. Wait. I already do that. In the Intolerance Department, you still cannot bring Bud Light into the house. It is allowed on the deck, but you gotta go around. NO, this does not violate ANY of your constitutional rights.
New chickens! In the spring. Which should be either awfully dangerous or highly amusing with the kittens in the house, but either way a nice distraction from whatever shit the world is dumping at the moment. Also, remember that raccoons are ALWAYS assholes, I don't care if you are following that cute one on Insta.
I plan to not feel guilty for disengaging when necessary. I'll be picking my battles, just like when the kids were toddlers and you could stress about whether donuts were a responsible dinner choice, or you could just invent "Donut Night" because the day sucked and everyone was tired and it all goes down in the annals of family history as the Best Dinner Ever.
I think I'm ready. Are you?