The Future is Looking Puntastic

Looking back at the week that was and thinking about posting for the future.

Let’s see . . . last Monday was Eclipse Day and I came up with a banger of a post.

I stare directly at the sun (with eclipse glasses) but never in the mirror . . .

It didn’t get a whole lot of likes but that’s okay; there’s no accounting for some people’s poor taste.

The eclipse also had me missing my friend Maria, who passed in 2022 and was so enthusiastic about the last eclipse. I explained this to a trusted acquaintance who said

“Would Maria want you to be sad on Eclipse Day?”

No

“It’s okay to be sad; but don’t let it overshadow joy.”

Well-played wordplay gets me 🧡😭

Monday was also International Romani Day. Now I am not Romani, but I have friends who are. International Romani Day was established to honor the culture, traditions, and contributions of the Romani people and draw attention to their resilience in the ongoing struggle for equality, respect, and in some places, basic human rights and dignity.

A good place for anyone to start would be to stop using a certain slur, especially for profit. Looking at you j*son M*mo* and Eliz*beth Ols*n). As the saying goes “culture is not a costume” (or a “brand” for that matter).

Tuesday was Name Yourself Day.

Here are some names I’d choose for myself (maybe):

• Nature-based name: Larch
• Old-Timey name no one uses any more: Agamemnon (could also go by Aggie)
• Name based on a random word: Gumption 
• Name once considered by my parents: Heidi (would not use)

I was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday to learn that a good friend actually finalized their name change on Choose Your Name Day (by pure happenstance) and I did a little dance in celebration.

Thursday offered a chance for nostalgia. Before streaming, before MP3s, before CDs, and before cassettes’ popularity . . . there was the eight-track. Did you cruise to the tunes of yesteryear while celebrating the magic of analog music in all its retro glory.? After all, why should records have all the fun?

Thursday morning I introduced a coworker to Mayday Parade’s cover of “Somebody That I Used To Know” and in the afternoon I introduced her spouse to Terry Pratchett, letting him borrow Reaper Man for thirty minutes. When I offered to let him borrow it he said “I think you’ve given me a new obsession.” One can only hope!!

Thursday night Krystal ordered pizza for supper – all I had to do was pick it up – and then I spent the evening watching the Tremors movies. It was a good night.

Friday was Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day! I tend to enjoy Münster and Gruyère with a few softened onions, but there’s also something to be said for the perfectly melty American cheese. For best results, serve with tomato soup and saltine crackers.

I departed slightly from this formula and made a sandwich with Gruyère and Cheddar on sourdough bread with enhanced canned tomato soup (milk, basil& other seasonings, cheese).

What’s your favorite way to prepare this nostalgic nosh?

Saturday was Slow Art Day. Stop & smell the Water Lilies, stroll the Garden of Earthly Delights, join The Boating Party or spend a (Sunday) Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, unwind at the Café Terrace at Night, admire the pageantry of the Night Watch – whatever you do, take it slow. And enjoy.

Other friends shared their favorite pieces, like The Corn Poppy by Kees van Dongen and Cezanne’s The Large Bathers.

And with as much fun as I’ve had at work and online sharing these statuses, I think I’m going to try that here. So get ready for a post a day about some fun, interesting, or other important holiday! Of course, I’ll still write about food and music and the other things I get up to in my weekend posts.

For example, this weekend Krystal and I went to the ENC Renaissance Fair. Look for a post about that specifically tomorrow!

What have you been up to?