I liked last week’s list format so let’s keep that going.
- I finished Girl Waits with Gun, am halfway through Love May Fail, and am still hanging on to A Little Life. The latter is a great book but so damn depressing I’m just not feeling it right now which is why it’s taking me longer than usual to finish. Picked up Hyacinth Girls and In a Dark Dark Wood. Reset my Goodreads goal to 65 (upped from 50, which I completed).
- School starts (finally) on Monday. I’m an underachieving mother so don’t expect any back to school posts on how I’m making my daughter’s lunches exciting or any cute outfits because I let her pick out her own clothes and as long as she matches, I truly don’t give a fuck what she wears or how I’m organized for the school year or whatever else it is that ambitious parents write about. I’ll take some pictures on Monday and that will be it. Then I’ll take a nap.
- Speaking of naps, I have been ridiculously, overwhelmingly tired this week. I cannot get enough sleep. I’m wondering if maybe the summer has finally gotten the better of me.
- YOU GUYS!!! There’s going to be an SOA spinoff!!! Kurt Sutter is developing it, it’s about one of the other gangs, The Mayans, and I CANNOT WAIT!!!
- Another week, another Duggar rant. It’s ridiculous at this point. Today, though, we’re not going to give any more attention to Josh (but Josh? Your “rehab”? I call bullshit. It’s nothing but a calculated move to be able to drum up money and draw back fans with your “redemption story”. I’m on to you and those who spawned you) but we are going to talk a bit about Anna. She’s been making headlines lately, thanks to her brother who’s actively trying to get her out of the house, the fact that she’s absorbing the responsibility of Josh’s actions, as well as that viral Facebook post (which I agree with while adding that, unfortunately, there are too many Annas who need that message but will never receive it). My two cents is this–there is nothing wrong with standing by a spouse who cheated on you (adding that we’re going to pretend it’s all he did because when I add in the molestation, it’s too difficult to continue this train of thought). It is okay to seek counseling and work on your marriage and try to move on from the cheating for whatever reasons you might have. Women do it every single day. The difference between Anna and other women is this: Anna has no choice but to stay. Not only is there immense pressure from her family and church leaders to stay but if she leaves, she will consider herself a failure, that she wasn’t godly enough to make her marriage work. For someone who’s been indoctrinated to believe that her self-worth depends entirely upon being a wife and mother, can you imagine the depression she’d endure if she left? How would that help her kids or her self-esteem (which is probably in the toilet already)? And is it productive to scream that she should leave knowing that she has absolutely no means to support herself or the children? So while it’s popular to say she’s weak for standing by that cretin she’s married to, there’s way more to it and I think, maybe, we should give Anna a break and let her deal with what’s happened (note: this is not at all an endorsement of the horrible way she was raised or the archaic belief system she subscribes to. But those beliefs are precisely why there’s a conflict).
- And then there was another shooting by another unhinged nutbag the same week the Aurora movie theater shooter (I refuse to acknowledge their names) gets sentenced to roughly a million years in prison. I’m not saying we need to take away all the guns but holy hell, what is it going to take to make some changes?
- I leave for Charlotte in about 3 weeks. If anyone knows of anything free or inexpensive to do, or has recommendations for places to eat or bars to visit, please let me know. I’m at a loss.
- The child and I went to the beach the other day. We got there early, staked out our spot, and, while we were in the ocean, a family of 23940937 incredibly loud, obnoxious asshats set up shop approximately 3 inches from our chairs. ON A WIDE OPEN BEACH. There is no reason for that nonsense at all. Respect personal space.
- As for internet reads, there were a lot but in the interest of loving my fellow bloggers, the ones you really need to read are Kristen’s post on books and the 7 deadly sins, Ali’s post on the awful way men treat women on dating sites and apps, and Erin’s happy songs (which is similar to a post I did including title because #twinsies). And also this one from Scary Mommy who is not a friend but did share an awesome post about 80s characters I could use in my life right now (hint: John Bender is on the list. So is Duckie. And Mr. Miyagi (oh, guy with the theory that Daniel is the bully? Fuck off. You’re an idiot). And many others. You should definitely read this post).
- And your funny of the week:
Have a wonderful weekend! See you back on Monday when we’ll discuss all the things I love about fall.
i can’t even talk about the duggar stuff. it bothers me that anna thinks it’s her fault somehow (i admit i am not well-versed in the quivering religion).
when the hell is mental health going to get the attention it deserves? i feel like i’m shouting in a crowd.
thank you for the funny at the end–those would be the only captcha i would get right! #grammarnerd
elle sees.net recently posted…NEW Back to School Beauty
It bothers me but I’ve been reading a lot over the years (religious cults like the one they belong to fascinate me) so I see where it’s coming from. It’s straight up wrong but it’s what she believes and has been told to believe basically since birth so I makes sense that she’s struggling. It’s not that easy to pack up everything and leave, especially with 4 kids and little education.
I would LOVE for this CAPTCHA to be a real thing.
haha i’m the same as you – ain’t nobody got time to sit there and make fancy lunches etc. kayla gets leftovers from dinner the night before and if she complains doesn’t want it? oh well, then she goes hungry. sorry, mama ain’t no short order cook.
kathy @ more coffee, less talky recently posted…a whole bunch of things
I don’t mind making a sandwich and throwing in some snacks but no way am I doing this Pinterest, overachieving mom stuff. Nope. Not for me.
So annoyed at the Daniel-san as bully theory. Shut up.
I am totally with you – most of us have no idea what it’s like to be indoctrinated like that. I feel terrible for Anna Duggar – she has no out, no recourse.
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Friday Five: Self Esteem Boot Camp
I want to punch the guy who thought of it. He’s an idiot.
I truly cannot imagine how Anna feels right now. And now he’s gone for 6 months so she’s left to deal with 4 kids and a wrecked marriage all by herself. Hopefully some of the aunts will be permitted to let Michelle parent her own kids (hahahaha) and help Anna, who truly needs it.
When you’re in Charlotte you should definitely eat at Mac’s BBQ, so good.
I forgot that the kid would be in school in September but her and I are going to try to get to Charlotte on that Saturday for a few hours. I really want to meet you!
Kelli recently posted…Sea La Vie – 8/28
Saturday is my ONE busy day. Maybe in the morning for brunch or something?
Thanks for the recommendation!
Yes takes notes on the cheap grub! 🙂 I was so sad and disgusted about the Virginia shooting. There was some babble about how the shooter said Alison made racist comments or something…but to quote Jon Stewart, no matter what someone says, you still don’t shoot them. I don’t know what is going to be done about guns. It seems we just keep bitching about it and nothing ever changes. But what I hate worse is victimhood. I’m not excusing anyone being a bully (not saying she was or even made any comments), but boo hoo someone made you feel bad so I’ll just go get a gun and shoot them. I actually hoped he would live so he would have massive guilt the rest of his pathetic life. God Jana you always get me riled up! 🙂
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…Financial Odds and Ends: Vol. 6
It’s good to get fired up sometimes.
I’m trying really hard to find inexpensive places!!! I promise!
I already planned to comment because of the Duggar thing and then saw my little shoutout- thanks so much!
Back to the Duggars. Actually, no – I have nothing to say because you said it all. I’m getting really sick of these self-righteous religious nutbags preaching about morals and finding out they’re all frauds. GO AWAY.
ALSO THE CAPTCHA THING YOU POSTED IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Have fun in Charlotte! My best friend lives there and it’s so stinkin cute.
The personal space thing? Yeah – cannot deal with that.
Ali A recently posted…#ROTD: Invisalign
That’s what it boils down to for me–the hypocrisy. I can’t stand it anymore.
I’m looking forward to Charlotte. I’ve never been.
Those people on the beach need to read Kelli’s beach rules! Have a great weekend!
lisacng @ expandng.com recently posted…Page Turners: The Princess Bride
Right?! I completely agree. Read the rules!!
oh my gosh, the last 2 memes to gain access to the internet need to happen.
everything you said about the Duggars – a big fat agreement from me.
Also, thank you for not acknowledging the shooters names. When is the media going to learn, and stop posting their faces and names? That’s what they want. They don’t deserve it.
kristen recently posted…How Beauty & the Beast and Pride & Prejudice are basically the same.
Exactly. The want the attention and notoriety. No. I won’t give it to them. And this particular guy, he knew exactly what he was doing. It was planned and calculated and enough is enough.
I wish I were savvy enough to make that CAPTCHA happen.
Ok so I basically agree with everything that you said about the Duggars. I never judge someone for staying with their spouse. It shouldn’t be chalked up to their weak or stupid or whatever. There are always other reasons that none of us can see or know because we aren’t in the relationship. The VA thing is scary as shit. I mean that guy stood there for awhile and no one even noticed him. I can’t even with that….
That funny! YES!!!! I think that should be a requirement before people post comments about anything because it would keep the really stupid ones from being able to do so!!! Hope you have a fabulous weekend.
Nadine recently posted…Friday Favorites
There are so many people I would love to eliminate from the Internet.
Did you see the cover of the NY Daily News about the shooting. O.M. G. Horrific. I can’t even imagine what went through their minds when they realized what was happening.
I have so much agreement with the spirit of what you’re saying here – I didn’t know Anna’s brother was trying to help her leave but hey, if she was able to somehow leave and shed any of that mega-conditioning she’s learned all her life, that would be amazing.
I’d like to say this for our friends with mental health issues: It really helps when we pinpoint the egregiousness of behaviors such as the shooters or the Duggars of the world as choices they have made rather than because they’re unhinged, crazy or otherwise mentally ill. It’s colloquial, I know, but I have learned and seen that it sucks for the people who do have mental issues to have scum like Josh Duggar and murderers lumped in with them, and seemingly excused for making those choices to molest, cheat, and murder, due to ‘being crazy [insert other common term for crazy here]’. It kind of lets them off easy and suggests that the behavior only happened because of “the crazy” and not because they’re allowed to get away with it. As we are absolutely seeing with Josh Duggar as an example of being allowed to get away with it.
It’s much like when that jerkwad of a pilot crashed the plane intentionally and everyone started pointing fingers at his depression which really had nothing to do with it. Many of my contemporaries struggle, and mightily, with depression, and to suggest that having depression inherently makes you equivalent or or grouped with murdering scum – or that that would cause you to murder – is incredibly hurtful to them and to our ability as a society to address mental health issues productively rather than the way we do now which … is not at all, it seems.
Revanche recently posted…Another attempt at refinancing falls flat
As someone with depression and anxiety, it does get frustrating to constantly have the mental illness pinpointed as the cause of their actions. No. You can become completely unhinged without the diagnosis of a mental illness like depression. The problem of guns and mass shootings will not end until there is open and honest discussion of all the issues contributing to the problem, including mental health treatment, gun laws, and media coverage and attention of the shooters. It’s why I won’t say their names.
UGH the whole Duggar fam and drama. CAN’T STAND IT. I just can’t. Bunch of fricken wackjobs. And I’m ALL for respecting personal space. And hearing about all of these shootings is just so unsettling…it doesn’t make me feel like going ANYWHERE these days… 🙁
It definitely does make me nervous to go places.
I hate when people don’t get personal space. It happens in empty movie theaters too. Sometimes we’ll go see a movie that’s been out for a while. So we’ll pick a spot and one other couple walks in and SITS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. Ugh.
Naps are the best.
Amber recently posted…Why I Don’t Do “Fancy” Lunches
That happens to us on the rare occasions we go to the movies. REALLY? There’s 7234 other seats. Use one of those.
There should definitely be a grammar test for those who want to use the internet…
We have neighbors that remind me of the ways of the Duggars. I wonder what Anna’s parents think…is the system so all-consuming that they don’t even have the sense to kick themselves over arranging this marriage?
Kristin recently posted…Stuff and Things 8/27
From what I understand, Anna’s parents are pretty poor so sending her off to Josh was like hitting the jackpot. Literally. And from what I read, they’re firmly in the camp that she should stay because fame and money are pretty enticing.
You sure did do a happy song post, and I sure did comment (because NOW I remember that it had For The Movies on it), but I sure didn’t remember when I shared my post. After that post, I’ve decided that the last Thursday of every month, I’m going to post a playlist. I have no doubt that you will enjoy the next one that I’m posting.
Erin of TexErin-in-SydneyLand recently posted…Friday Favorites: Food Edition
I love naps! I actually took one tonight. Best thing ever. A SOA spinoff??? Get out!! Eek! The Duggar’s disgust me and how much they are covering up of his sick behavior. I do feel bad for the wife, she doesn’t deserve that at all.
Kerry recently posted…Friday Favorites | Birthday Weekend
YES! It’s all about the Mayans! I’m so excited to see what they do with it!
YES to your statements about the Duggars! I admittedly don’t know a ton of stuff about them (I’ve never seen the show and I haven’t read every news article related to their family), but when all of this shit started coming out, I wondered how his wife must feel. I think it would be horrifying to deal with that sort of thing to begin with (especially in the public eye!), but if you’re part of a religious group that considers you a “failure” if you get a divorce, it has to be a million times more difficult. I can’t even imagine … It’s really just very sad.
Also, I love the captcha meme. If only it were real!
Kristen recently posted…Restaurants 7/12 and 8/12 in 2015: Which Wich and Toppers Pizza
The show is (was) an absolute trainwreck that I could not look away from and now, knowing all that we know now, so much of their behavior makes sense. I’m just so sad for Anna. So very sad.
SOA spinoff?! Hells yeah, son!
Amanda recently posted…Easy BreASy
I KNOW!!!
A Little Life is SO depressing. It’s so good, but really hard to read. I loved it though. We seem to always get stuck by those personal space invaders at games, movies, parks, concerts, beaches… I don’t understand it!
Christina recently posted…Cheers & Jeers