I Swear (All-4-One)

Despite what the above memes might make you believe, it's been a good week.  It's just that I really like to swear, the f-word being my favorite, which I sprinkle liberally into conversation.  However, I am slowly getting to know people in my new gardening community, and don't want to offend anyone... so I'm trying to become more selective about the words as well as situations in which I curse.  A worthy challenge or an exercise in futility?  We shall see... 😁

This week saw a lovely phone chat with Melanie, picking up Colin, Zoom with Nancy and Judi, my monthly massage, a Caring Community leadership Zoom meeting, and two garden events... one our regular Friday gathering and this morning a planting/tutorial on herbs.  We volunteers were given cut branches with dried lippia leaves, and I do believe it is now my favorite tea.  Yum!

Apparently Feel Good Friday has morphed into Feel Good Saturday (whoops!) and, as is tradition, five items below of beauty, interest, and humor to brighten/enlighten your day/weekend/week.  Enjoy!

~ Remembering Gary Paulsen, author of 'Dogsled' and 'Hatchet':  The Newbery award-winning author, who died Oct. 13, wrote over 200 books, many of which were tales of adventure aimed at young adults. In 1994, Paulsen talked about Alaska's Iditarod dog sled race.

~ The Paradox of Less is More (And How It Will Improve Your Life):  “Don’t use a lot where a little will do.”

~ Miami Book Fair is back with a street fair, in-person events — and new COVID rules:  This year the fair, which runs Nov. 14-21, is a hybrid, a blend of in-person and online events that brings the fair closer to what it was before our story took an unfortunate turn in 2020.

~ Mentor to Make a Difference:  Did you know that 43% of Florida students cannot read at a minimally proficient level by the end of third grade? ReadingPals, a statewide volunteer-based literacy initiative provides mentors for students from Pre-K through 3rd grade for one hour a week for 25 weeks to read to a child. 

~ Little Love Jar:  A jar stuffed with love, praise, friendship, and memories, gathered from the people who matter most. The recipient will be celebrated like never before with this personalized gift filled to the brim with joy, inspiration, humor and LOVE. Each Little Love Jar is filled with up to 175 messages, collected from friends and family worldwide. ($85.  Hmmm.  Is it awful that I'm going to "borrow" this *very* cool idea, and do it for my own family and friends this holiday season?)

SONG:  I Swear by All-4-One

BOOK:  How to Swear: An Illustrated Guide by Stephen Wildish

POEM:  Swear by Psalmist

A day can suck.
A day can blow.
It can go to hell
or go to shit.
You can screw it
— you can fuck it.
It can be damned like a soul.
It may kiss your ass, if you give it permission.
Or fuck you in the same ass once it’s been presented.
It can shit on you,
piss on you;
a day can be a bitch.
When you think about it, a day can be all kinds of expletives.
A day can be pretty damn insensitive,
perverse, uncouth, reprehensible,
lascivious, immoral, without principal,
improper, indiscreet, a libertine,
vulgar, crude, ribald, lewd, deranged.
A day can be all of these things.
But just you wait, because tomorrow,
I swear,
it could be inexplicably chaste.

QUOTE:  "Contrary to the negative stereotype that folks who swear have poor vocabularies, a fluency in taboo language correlates with overall verbal fluency. The more words you know, the more you know... and the more colorfully you can express yourself, with nuance, metaphor, and emotion." ~ Faith Salie